SHOOTINGS are commonplace in South Africa but racing is rarely troubled by such extremes of violence.

However, the revelation that a stipendiary steward had been shot by trainer Juan Nel sent shockwaves through the industry.

Hardly anybody knew about the latest incident until nine days ago when the National Horseracing Authority issued a press release stating that the shooting (admittedly only with an air gun) happened at a petrol station near Fairview racecourse on May 6th, a day when racing took place at the Port Elizabeth course and Nel had trained a winner.

Nel, who pleaded not guilty at last week’s NHA hearing, was found guilty of firing the air gun at the unnamed stipe who suffered a leg injury.

Surprisingly Nel was fined only R100,000 (€6,075) and, although his “privilege as a trainer” was cancelled, the cancellation has been suspended for five years on condition that he is not found guilty of a similar offence during that time.

The National Horseracing Authority also revealed that it had imposed an interim suspension barring Nel from entering and declaring any horses. This has now been lifted.

Nel told me on Monday: “It was all very unfortunate.

“We are now locked in a legal battle but we are hoping to get it resolved as soon as possible.”

Amazing Captain’s Ransom ‘doesn’t know how to lose’

South African Fillies Sprint (Group 1)

THE remarkable Captain’s Ransom, winner of the Paddock and Majorca in her last two starts, completed an amazing Group 1 hat-trick at Scottsville’s day of speed last Saturday by making light of being dropped to six furlongs in the South African Fillies Sprint.

Suzette Viljoen’s R225,000 (€13,670) bargain buy was prominent throughout and the white-faced Captain Al filly really asserted her class in the final furlong to win pulling up.

This was the four-year-old’s fifth Group 1 victory and she has now won 11 of her 13 starts.

“We took a bit of criticism going for this race but she’s a freak,” said trainer Justin Snaith but Richard Fourie, beaten only once 10 rides on the filly, never had any doubts, explaining: “She showed a tremendous amount of speed when she galloped here about a month ago. She doesn’t know how to lose and she turned it on phenomenally.”

The Moutonshoek-bred marvel is now expected to seek compensation for last year’s disappointing defeat – she was only sixth – in the Garden Province over a mile on July day.

Sean Tarry and Calvin Habib took both the two-year-old Group 1s with Drakenstein’s homebred Trippi filly Sweet Pepper and Mary Slack’s Avontuur-bred Thunderstruck, a daughter of the highly promising sire Rafeef.

Interestingly, Tarry, who has now won a record 15 Scottsville Group 1s, mentioned the over-racing of two-year-olds and commented: “I think a lot has to do with how much they are ready for these races. If you get every bit out of them as two-year-olds they are going to be found wanting at three.”

Corrie Lensley, a victim of the decision to close both racing and the training centre at Kimberley, had the first Group 1 of his long career when Muzi Yeni partnered Alesian Chief to victory in the Golden Horse Sprint.

But the veteran trainer missed the race – he was at his son’s wedding!