Times to tell a tale
Karl Neisius said: “For the last two years it has been done on a national statistics basis instead of on winners ridden in the Western Cape as in the past. A similar change has been made to the way the trainers’ award has been calculated.
“So far as I know neither the jockeys nor the trainers were approached to give their opinions and it makes a mockery of the honours boards in the Kenilworth grandstand.
“We intend writing a letter to request a return to the old system."
Greg Cheyne won the award this time with 156 winners on the national log but 83 of these were in Port Elizabeth where he topped the log. The jockey who rode the most winners in the Western Cape was Grant van Niekerk with 80.
It was a similar story with the trainers. Justin Snaith took the Cape trainer of the year award as he was the highest-placed Western Cape trainer on the national log but Mike Bass won the most stakes in the Western Cape. A tricky open handicap at the MR 95 level over 1 600m heads the card for the polytrack meeting at Greyville today where the two four-year-olds in the race, Stormy Eclipse and Tell The Tale, could have the edge over their older rivals.
It is noteworthy that the runners mentioned above are two of only three horses in the race that are sons of South Africanbred stallions - Dynasty and Jet Master - with the third being the son of Classic Flag, Qatar Springs. Dynasty and Jet Master are legendary racehorses and stallions and trainers Charles Laird and Dennis Drier, who run Stormy Eclipse and Tell The Tale, have built reputations of similar status.
The two geldings are owned by Ingrid and Markus Jooste and that adds another element to the equation as both stables will be doing their best to secure the victory for the country's leading owners.
Stormy Eclipse has won three of his seven starts, all over the course and distance, while Tell The Tale has won two of his five starts also both over the course with the second also over the distance which sets things up nicely for an interesting duel.
Not to say that any of the other runners cannot win, but this pair look to be the main contenders.
Relating times to weights on their best performances over course and distance, Tell The Tale could have the edge on Stormy Eclipse. The Laird runner clocked a comfortable 95.20 secs when beating Petite Master last October carrying 58.5kg and will carry 1.5kg less today.
Tell The Tale carried 57kg when easily beating Mumsy's Jet in a comfortable time of 95.97 secs and today has a mere 52kg to shoulder
The variable factor in the poly going is minimal so if both horses run their best races, on exposed ability Tell The Tale should have a 3.5kg advantage irrespective of their merit ratings.
On paper it is an interesting analysis but only the race will show as the variables must also include the fact that Anton Marcus is on Stormy Eclipse and Sean Veale is aboard Tell The Tale and both are aggressive, strong riders.
Gavin van Zyl runs the Stronghold gelding Buffalo Bill whose last win was over 1 400m on the Greyville poly but has only managed a fourth in two starts over 1 600m.
However, last time over the trip he raced well off the pace before making late progress and it is difficult to assess how he will go today.
National Key from the Brian Wiid stable has won one of his two races over the course but failed to feature in his one run over the course and distance. Last time out he won over 1 400m at Turffontein and before that he ran second over 1600m at the Vaal.
He does have a money chance along with King Jace from the Garth Puller yard while Cat In Command from the Pat Lunn stable is also not without a money chance.
While we enjoy the performances of the equine athletes, the thoughts and prayers of everyone in racing will no doubt be with Cape trainer Mike Bass and his family as the man who is loved and respected throughout the country lies desperately ill in hospital.
Mike is not only one of the most accomplished trainers of our time, he is a true gentleman and one of the nicest men I have had the honour of knowing in my 35 years in racing. We wish him a speedy recovery.