Striker could be trump card

After booting home the second of his two winners at last Saturday’s rain-affected at the city track, S’manga told me: “Piere has ridden winners all over the world so he’s used to international competition. He’s been in great form this season – he could be our trump card.”

S’manga is captaining the South African side for the first time and believes he can make the score 5-2. In the last six years, the international side has only won twice.

According to S’manga, another important factor is that “four of the team can be considered senior riders, which gives us plenty of experience.”

That “four” must be Striker, Anthony Delpech, Bernard Fayd’Herbe and presumably himself. However, S’manga is hardly an old hand. He celebrates his 29th birthday in a fortnight’s time.

He feels team members, Bernard Fayd’Herbe, and Richard Fourie will be particularly important for the Cape Town meeting. “Both know Kenilworth so well – it’s another plus for us.”

Then, quite correctly, the captain himself goes into the contest full of confidence. “I guess I’m riding a bit of a wave and just hope it can continue.”

With Richard Hughes (crowned champion jockey for the third year in a row at Doncaster last Saturday) not on the Egypt Airlines flight this year, the international side has a younger look this year.

Although German rider Andreas Helfenbein is 46, James Doyle, Martin Harley and Adam Kirby are in their mid-twenties and Tellytrack viewers have seen this trio regularly among the winners during the 2014 UK season.

It has, of course, been the best year yet for James Doyle who – according to the internet – nearly hung up his saddle in 2010 and enrolled in a plumbing course.

Well, James has flushed his opposition away in some important races this year thanks to John Gosden’s star three year-old, Kingman.

After a defeat by Night Of Thunder in the 2000 Guineas, Kingman and young Doyle went on to capture the Irish 2000 Guineas, St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot (revenge on Night Of Thunder), the Qipco Sussex Stakes (beating Toronado) and the Grade 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville.

Kingman has now joined Frankel at Prince Khalid Abdullah’s Banstead Manor Stud – Coolmore usually boast that they have the best stallions but the Banstead “duo” couldn’t have been more impressive on the racetracks.

The first of two questions members of the SA press would have liked to have asked James Doyle at Sun City this week is: “which of those four big wins do you consider Kingman’s best performance?”

Sadly, as usual, it’s a case of “no room at the Inn”. Jack Milner confirmed yesterday he hadn’t been invited to the popular resort so the organisers have again left the media out in the cold. This is in such contrast to Hong Kong and Singapore where some 50 to 60 members of the press are accommodated for five days in a five-star hotel.

The second question for James – for which he’d probably give a Ryan Moore response – is “just how much has it cost Sheikh Mohammed to sign up you and William Buick for Godolphin in 2015?”

One scribe described it like signing Ronaldo and Gareth Bale on the same day. Eyebrows have understandably been raised because Prince Khalid Abdullah isn’t exactly down to his last few bob!

With a German horse (Protectionist) winning last week’s Melbourne Cup, it would be no surprise if the German factor came into play next weekend. Andreas Helfenbein, champion apprentice three times in his home country, has ridden all over the world and should be an asset for the visitors.

We see Turkish racing from time to time on our screens and Selim Kaya is one of their best riders and he won’t be found wanting on a fancied runner.

Interesting that only trainer St John Gray is making use of the visitors in Saturday’s Victory Moon Stakes. He’s booked James Doyle for Everest and Adam Kirby for stablemate, Glorious Jet.

My thoughts on Saturday’s feature race – expect a big run from Mountain Master about whom I am holding a 125-1 place voucher for the Summer Cup. Mike Bass’ charge has to win to have any hope of making the final

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Hats off to “Bonski” (Andrew Bon) who put together an excellent tribute to Jimmy Lithgow which is currently being aired on Tellytrack.

Basically, both Jimmy and Andrew have put together some notable interviews over the years – if Jimmy is looking down he’ll have appreciated this as a fine piece of work.

Bonski managed to get opinions from some of the leading players in the sport including Robin Bruss (excellent as expected), Geoff Woodruff and John Freeman. At its conclusion, it had me wondering whether Jimmy’s unflinching commitment to the sport was really appreciated.