Black Swan Stud Busy few days ahead

Nice run by Encryption in 2nd even though the race scratched down to just 4 runners. Secret Dream missed the break, but otherwise no excuses for the other three runners on Friday.
Sarah seems inconsistent these days.
Very happy with Just for Laughs- raced wide and too keen from wide draw, and stayed on gamely for 4th, close up with the other placed runners, although very easy win by the favourite.
Fantastic day for our stallion to get a July winner ( his 4th Gr 1 winner)- a great win by Kommetdieding from the worst draw, and beat the other top 3 year olds at levels and GTGL at level WFA terms. Do it Again very game in defeat at the weights- remains a couple of lb better than the first three home. While half the field were under sufferance, this was still one of the strongest July lineups in recent years.
An exceptional training feat for the small yard of Harold Crawford and his daughter Michelle, and a very polished ride by Gavin Lerena.

The old warrior, Ernie, ran 2nd in Mauritius on Sunday. He is approaching his 9th birthday, but could maybe pick up another race this season.
Just one runner on Wednesday, *Elusive Tango in race 5 at Kenilworth. The course will be soft, but a couple of days of sunshine and a bit of wind behind us, we should be good to go. The main issue is the work interruption during the past week or two, so not all horses will be 100% fit. Glen Kotzen has scratched his runners as his track at Woodhill has been badly affected. Our boy has done enough to stay fit, and cracks the 1 draw which is a big plus with his style of running. With bottom weight I'm expecting a good showing from him.
A couple of runners at Fairview on Friday, and a couple at Kenilworth on Saturday. However, there is more rain forecast for Thursday so we will have to see what happens in CT.

Elusive Tango ran a game race, but unfortunately our game plan of a soft lead scuppered by the jockey on Zeb deciding to go too hard around him, and duly stopped to nothing at the 200m and ran last. Tango stayed on well and was caught by the bunch 50m short of the line.
Friday at Fairview we have two runners.
*Jean Paul is still very babyish, but we are trying to get a MJP win for the R60k bonus. 3 CT raiders in race 1, as well as the Greeff and Smith runners make this a small but competitive field. If he can settle and run on, and show the form of his 2nd race, then he has an ew chance.
Our other juvenile *Vic Falls runs in the 9th race. She won her maiden very impressively, and has been in strong juvenile company her last 3, and not disgraced against some of the better 2yos. In a handicap, she has been rated 82 so not an easy task, and again a useful CT raider to contend with. Quite difficult to assess her chances here only getting a couple of kg from the likes of 3yo Mesmerising Moon, but hopefully she is up to the task.

Elusive Fort another 4 winners this week so far since Kommetdieding. He now sits 2nd on the sires of 3yos list and 5th on the general sires list which is a fantastic achievement with just a few weeks of the season to go.
Pleasingly, bookings for the imminent breeding season are picking up nicely as he is undoubtedly the best value for money sire in the country.

The rain bucketing down again (Thursday) in CT. It is supposed to clear up tomorrow, but at least a further 20mm have fallen on an already soft track, so Saturday Kenilworth must be at risk of another washout.

No joy with the two juveniles in PE on Friday.
Racing went ahead on Saturday despite a further 30mm of rain on Thursday. Although it was heavy, the course held up well.
Super win by Grey Princess, and an excellent ride by Ossie Noach who seems to really get the best out of this mare. He has ridden her in 4 of her last 5 starts for a win and 3 places. Drawn 10/10 but managed to get into a good position, and when the chips were down she ran on strongly.
The final race of the day was a cracker with an enterprising ride on the winner which at one stage was 10 lengths clear and looked to have gone too fast, but stayed on gamely. Fynbos ran on stoutly from far back, and in a nail biting finish had to be content with fourth, although just a neck behind the winner.

Just one runner for the stud this week- Montfort runs in the 5th race on Monday on the Greyville poly. Very disappointing effort last time, and a wide draw so I’m not sure what to expect.

A couple of nice feature races next Saturday at Kenilworth, and we should have some useful runners in the Final Fling Stakes.

Not easy to think about racing with everything that’s going on.
Two runners for the stud on Friday at Fairview.
My partners and I have sold Secret Depths, and she runs in the EC Paddock Stakes for the new connections. A bit out at the weights with the top ones, but she left CT very fit and well, and I would expect her to maintain her form.
* Encryption runs in race 8. A competitive handicap, but if she bounces back to form with regular rider Luyolo Mxothwa she has an ew chance. Below par her last two, and I don’t think that she got great help from the saddle on either occasion. Blingking has been leniently treated by the handicapper and I think is the one to beat.

The rain has stayed away for a few days in CT, and with none forecast, the course should be fine, although should still be soft.
*Gentleman runs in race 1. He was quite dumb on debut, but he has come on nicely from that. Everyone trying to pick up the BSA bonus before month end. I think he will need a bit further, but he seems to handle the soft going. I’ll be happy if he can run a place this time.
*Cape Point and Exceeder meet again in race 4. Both ran shockers last time after a couple of promising earlier runs. Hoping they can both bounce back.
*Pretty Betty and Major Attraction clash in the Final Fling Stakes, and both are on winning streaks but are out at the weights, so would need to keep improving to win again. Major Attraction has been winning over 1400m, but should get this trip. PB also goes the trip for the first time, but again the distance should not be an issue. Quite a bit worse off at the weights with Sleeping Single and Rain at Newmarket, but I’m hoping that PB can step up again.
Driving Miss Daisy is the class filly to beat if she regains her best form.

Understated runs in Jhb, and is again in with an ew shout of cracking his maiden.
His half sister, * Miss Jacqueline runs at Scottsville on Sunday. She has had a break as she has gone through a growth spurt, and if she does not need the run, has a place chance, although not a great draw. She won’t be a maiden for much longer.

Encryption ran a solid 3rd but as expected was no match for the well weighted Blingking.
Secret Depths ran to her CT form but outclassed in this feature. She will do well in the handicaps in PE.
Sadly, Major Attraction scratched in the Final Fling.

In addition to those mentioned in my previous post, we have Groban running in Mauritius.
Also in race 1 at Turffontein, Power Surge was bred in partnership with Maine Chance. He is the last foal before her untimely death of our champion Princess Victoria. Not a bad debut run, and could make his presence felt in what looks a useful maiden field.

A great performance by Pretty Betty on Saturday- she just gets better and better and she won easily with her ears pricked. While it is true that the runner up was slow away, and would obviously have got closer had she jumped on terms, I have no doubt that Betty would have repelled any challenge. Luyolo said that she was doing it very easily, and he was waiting for something to challenge, and that she would have found extra if required.
She will have a well earned rest now, and then tackle the Cape Summer Season. We have always believed that she will be better next season, and anything is now possible. She got this trip easily, and I think that she could stay further.
Using Musical Glitch as the line horse, she will probably go up to MR104 on this performance.
A wonderful hattrick for Luyolo, and I think his ride on Rockin Ringo was exceptional.
Cape Point ran a much better race to finish 3rd, and he will hopefully crack his maiden soon.
Miss Jacqueline was dropped out to last from the draw, but then badly placed in what seemed to be a slow run race. Very disappointing, as the race was won by her unfancied stable companion which she has met and beaten in both her first two runs.
Understated another placed effort, but proving costly to follow.

Quiet week ahead, with just Super Tanaye in race 1 at the Vaal on Tuesday and *Fort Dawn in race 4 on Wednesday.

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3 runners for the stud this weekend
Versailles in race 5 at Kenilworth. Has been improving steadily and should enjoy the step up in trip. Has a fair ew shout in a small field.
Major Winter in race 9 at Turffontein. Hopefully has recovered from the mishap last time when clipping heels. At a very long price but an open field and could upset.
*Princess Anastasia in race 5 at Scottsville ( bred and raced in partnership with Maine Chance ).Got a huge hike in MR last time, but is a smart, improving filly and we expect a good run. There are a couple that look well weighted against her, but I’m hoping she will show more improvement and score.

Elusive Fort is in a tight tussle with Vercingetorix for 5 th place on the sires log, and is a clear 2nd on the sires of 3yo log, just R200k behind Gimmethegreenlight. If Catch Twentytwo can win next week, it’s just possible that he tops that section.

Not much luck this weekend.
Major Winter dropped the rider on the way to the start and gave himself a strenuous warm-up. Showed good pace and not surprisingly ran out of puff the last bit.
Versailles was full of running but the jockey tried to go up the inside, was baulked and switched out. Ran 3rd but would have gone a lot closer with a clear run.
Princess Anastasia disappointed- was not well positioned early despite a good draw, and then was switched in and out a couple of times trying to find a clear run. Not a smart move following the pack to the outside when behind a wall of horses.

This week three runners:
Montfort in race 5 at Greyville. Disappointing efforts last 2, but dropped in the ratings. Down in class but a big weight. Returns to the poly where she did win her maiden. Hard to predict what she will do.
* Treasure Hunt in race 2 at Durbanville. We opted to run in the colts race as a couple of very smart Snaith fillies in the earlier race. She has run well at Durbanville and we are expecting a decent run, but up against some lightly raced colts with potential to improve. Would think that with the 3kg fillies allowance she must have a fair ew chance.
* Elusive Tango runs in race 8- a very competitive handicap where anything could win. He is fit and well and has been holding his form. Unfortunately another poor draw so will have to work hard early to get to his usual position up handy. Needs some luck but is always in with an ew shout in this class.

Peter, I would like your unbiased opinion on the ride on Elusive Tango in the final stages of race 8,at first glance it looked to me that that the horse was snatched back near the winning post,then the Jock continued to ride,which cost it third place.

I waited for the head on to see if a gap closed on ET,which it might have but still think the Jock could have persevered.

Your thoughts please.

P.S.Thank you for always taking the time to post on the well binging of your runners and your thoughts on the another runners on the card,I find your contributions most helpful on the occasion that i do play.

Many thanks