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Theatre Pure 1
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Laurence Wernars (centre) and supporters in happier times
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MAUJEAN GETS R60 000 FINE
WERNARS CALLS IT A DAY
In another testing week for South African horseracing, former National Horseracing Authority Board Member Laurence Wernars, one of the country’s leading owners, has decided to call it a day with his racing interests. This follows an NHRA inquiry on Tuesday into the ride by Chase Maujean on the Wernars owned first-timer Puerto Manzano, who dead-heated with stablemate Thumbs Up (Raymond Danielson) in the first race at Turffontein on 29 September.
The dead-heat by two runners in the same silks from the same stable was an historic moment in our racing – but it also evolved into a turning point for a successful businessman who, for the past thirty years, has invested heavily in the sport on the racing and breeding front. Maujean was fined the sum of R60 000 of which half was suspended for a period of 12 months, provided that he is not found guilty of a contravention of the same rule during that 12-month period.
His ride on Puerto Manzano was deemed by the NHRA Inquiry Board not to be to the standard expected of a competent and professional Jockey.
Maujean pleaded not guilty to the charge, but was found guilty of the charge. He has the right of appeal against the fine and the penalty. “The wound is still very fresh and I’d prefer to issue a formal press release in a few days. But I’m happy to confirm to you that I will be disposing of my racehorses, but retaining my stallion and broodmare interests,” he told the Sporting Post on Tuesday afternoon. Mr Wernars joined the NHRA Board in December 2019 but resigned a week ago when he was labelled as having a ‘conflict of interests’. “It is inevitable that NHRA Board Members may also be owners or other stakeholders invested in the sport. I declared upfront to the NHRA that I wished to be a witness in this Inquiry as I own both horses and was privvy to the instructions given by the trainer to the jockeys.
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Yet, together with the jockeys and the trainer, I have had my integrity brought into question. I have spent my entire life building up a successful business – this leaves a sour taste,” he added. Mr Wernars said that he had enjoyed four first-time winners this year – all at relatively unfancied odds – and the jockeys had not used the whips on them. “We get behind the principle of reducing the use of the whip, then punish a jockey as he is deemed not to have used the whip sufficiently. There is nothing in the rules that says a jockey has to use his whip. Chase’s mount is bred for 2000m and he made up a lot of ground. Chase got him up to dead-heat. In other words, he is being punished for effectively winning. Who knows how the result would have gone if he had made more liberal use of the whip?”
Chase Liebenberg
Snaith’s exciting Jet Dark v
BACK TO
KENILWORTH! 4
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Chase Liebenberg
Justin Snaith will be looking to avenge the defeat of Captain Tatters by Vaughan Marshall’s Silver Operator in the 2019 R125 000 Gr3 Cape Classic when a double feature menu kicks off the venue switch to Kenilworth on Saturday. While Hollywoodbets have priced Brett Crawford’s Invincabelle, the mount of Anton Marcus, up as an early 5-2 favourite, there are two other local powerhouses with seven serious runners between them. Milnerton master Vaughan Marshall has a powerful four-cornered attack and will be bidding for his third win in the classic pointer in four renewals – Tap O’Noth went on to win the 2017 Cape Guineas. But the Snaith’s trio are no slouches and the race will etch the first blotches of colour on the canvas that will hopefully evolve into the Cape classic masterpiece. “I’m nicely represented, with Rascallion the stable elect – he is jointly top-rated at 100 with the Snaith horse. But Linebacker (14-1) is definitely worth including,” cautioned the veteran Vaughan Marshall, whose record with top 3yo’s is legendary.
recent weeks – they hardly ever go off the boil – and their smart Legislate colt Speed Machine, winner of the 2020 Listed Sophomore Sprint, is the mount of Richard Fourie. “He has impressed us tremendously in how he has developed – a little like his father. If he stays the trip he will run a monster. Rascallion looks the likely danger to our runners,” conceded an upbeat Justin Snaith. Second of the Snaith trio, Jet Dark is described as ‘a progressive and classic son of Trippi’.
run right on top of them. He could be anything,” admited Justin, while saying that Hyde Park is ‘a beautiful horse who hasn’t yet found his feet’. “He has raced green in all of his starts yet continues to impress – he is an exciting prospect to follow. He will give a good account of himself!” he concluded. The Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship will be run on the same afternoon – find the preview on www.sportingpost.co.za
“If he overcomes his wide gate, he will
Chase Liebenberg
The Snaith yard has been red hot in
Hyde Park – one to watch when he finds his feet
5 Glen Kotzen’s My Bestie – upset potential
A PATCH OF PARADISE
6 Proud Grandfather Luiz Cunha with a future champ!
Image Credit
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The sale of a magnificent equine property within a stone’s throw of the Summerveld Training Centre in KwaZulu-Natal has evoked plenty of interest. It is a rare opportunity that a facility of this stature comes on the market and well-known racing man Luiz Cunha says that the decision to sell has not been taken easily.
yet so close to Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It will come under the hammer at 12h00 on Thursday 5 November.
Located in a quiet cul-de-sac bordering on a conservancy and private game reserve within the KZN development corridor, the Cunha property is ideally situated and is one of three private properties in Summerveld that has free conditional use of the world - class Summerveld training facilities. It has all the amenities for a private training establishment, pre-training, show jumping or breeding establishment.
Luiz has a post graduate accounting qualification and runs his own accounting practice. But he admits he prefers his ‘main profession’ as a racehorse owner! He has owned and bred horses since 1987. Sovereign Man was his first winner in 1989.
There are many more great features, but it really is a patch of paradise quietly tucked away from everything,
Father and son team, 63 year old Luiz Cunha and 41 year old Dylan, a Gr1 trainer in his time, are both well known in racing circles in the holiday province.
Given the fact that Luiz is nearing retirement age now, and wants to be with his beloved wife and grandchildren overseas, while also pursuing his first love of breeding and dispensing bloodstock advice over there, he feels that the time is right and says that he has much to give to
7 Dylan Cunha enjoys a different cockpit
the industry. “Both Dylan and I have always been KZN boys. I am married to Jennifer for the last 42 years and going strong. We have 4 children. Dylan trained and is now an airline pilot. Clinton owns and
Cover Image ‘‘Soetendal Horse On Hind” Image courtesy of Taubin Grove
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runs his own pub in the UK. Simone is married to John Nel, an ex work-rider and trainer in SA, and they live and work for Simon Crisford, the trainer with the highest strike rate in the UK.
ridden by Glyn Schofield in 2008. “Wow those are great memories and it was a nine month plan to look after his handicap that came together. And a great
Kirsten is an Attorney and is also in the process of emigrating to the UK, but is still an avid show-jumper in KZN,” Luiz proudly tells the Sporting Post. After school Dylan worked for Barry Hills and Robert Armstrong in the UK before joining Snaith Racing for a few years and then pursuing training for his own account. He is married to Taryn and they have four ‘horse crazy kids’, including Emily, whose stepfather is Gauteng jockey Gavin Lerena. “So we are a family still very involved in racing and totally mad for the game,” quips Dylan, who at 28 was the youngest trainer to win the Summer Cup in the 21st century. Strategic News, an AUS$40 000 Magic Millions bargain buy by Dad Luiz, was
Dylan and Luiz Cunha talk racing
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team effort – that’s from Vee Moodley showing me past preparations and me bugging him about handicaps, to Justin Vermaak my assistant at the time, and myself, living, eating,
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dreaming and sleeping the Summer Cup - and to our wonderful team of grooms,” says Dylan.
Randjesfontein race meeting as well as my only two raids as a trainer to PE to win the Guineas and the Paddock Stakes.
He recounts how they had engaged MJ Odendaal to ride Strategic News, but the top jock unfortunately fell badly at Clairwood and Glyn Schofield, as professional as ever, stood in and gave the Aussie-bred son of Strategic a great ride as per the game plan, which worked 100% for nine months – something which doesn’t often happen with horses!
Traveling horses was our specialty, something I learned well in the UK. Pacific Charm and Pacific Warrior also won and raced well in feature races over marathon trips and Pacific Charm actually won the Gr3 RA Handicap on Summer Cup day when we won the big race. Coconut Grove was just below top class and also provided us with many fun days in the early stages of my career. Gold Game won the Listed Sophomore Sprint raiding from Durban to the Vaal sand as well. Cameronskingmaker ran third in the 2400m Gr3 Aquanaut Handicap raiding from Durban after the float rolled with him the day before near
Dylan’s other career highlights include winning a race at every racecourse in South Africa – a rare feat. “That also includes winning at the fun
11 MJ Odendaal – keeping his hat on!
Harrismith. Thankfully John Fox was not far behind and kindly loaded him onto his float and finished the trip to Johannesburg. Strategic News also went on to win a race in Dubai for us with Ryan Moore in the saddle, which was also great. Ryan Moore was an absolute champion to deal with,” recalls Dylan. He handed his trainer’s licence in during May 2010 - his last winner was Danger Point in a 2500m Maiden Plate at Clairwood on 21 April 2010. In a letter to his clients that is now ten years old - but very appropriate today - Dylan cited a lack of support at the yearling sales, the high cost of purchases in relation to stakes,
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Hollywoodbets-sponsored trainer MJ Odendaal.
escalating costs of operations and the difficulty of competing with larger stables as some of his reasons for quitting.
“MJ is a revelation in the training ranks and is doing really well with a small string and we hope the bigger owners and breeders see this and support him.
Now resident in Umhlali Beach, First Officer Cunha flies the Mango Airlines Boeing 737’s on our domestic routes. Luiz has always been a great breeding enthusiast and very early on put together matings and purchased Gr1 winners and performers for his friends.
He really makes racing fun and his eccentric personality is much needed in racing,” suggests Luiz. Luiz and Dylan are clearly passionate about racing,
These include some big names like Shah’s Star, Fov’s Dancer and, of course, Strategic News. There were many others, including all the horses Dylan trained and others such as Split The Breeze, Festive Freddy, Fearless Gun, Giants Jewel and Citizen Dante. “We were also the underbidders on many Gr1 winners, frustrating as it was. There are a few I currently own that are looking promising as well - such as Shavout and Duquesne Whistle – two definitely worth following,” says Luiz. He goes on to point out that all of this was done on a limited budget and lots of value has been found over the years.
“I also think Anton Marcus’s last few rides for us when training, maybe 4/5 of them won for us and the top jockey has continued that into ownership for us winning on our last 3 winners - Shavout, Wintertime and Carbon Fibre.” Luiz still breeds with 4 mares and has 6 horses in training with up-and-coming
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“There is always money for a good horse so racing needs to fall back to its basics and look after the smallest owner, breeder, punter, jockey, fan and not forget the lifeblood of racing as SA racing has done in the past. A classic example is post COVID lockdown - look what happened to the pools when the small guy couldn’t get into the tote? The pools were destroyed. Cape Town also has the biggest players in the game and can’t fill a field or raise a decent pool - this is proof the smallest players need looking after!” say Luiz as he stands up to bid us goodbye.
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JC Photos
Top notch Mount Pleasant - undefeated
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A SOPHOMORE
EXTRAVAGANZA It’s unanimous. Experts have given the current crop of three-year-olds the thumbs up. Since the start of the new racing season, we have witnessed some sterling efforts from a number of newly-turned sophomores and look forward to more when racing returns to Kenilworth on Saturday.
Particularly impressive were last season’s Gr2 SA Nursery winner Mount Pleasant (Vancouver) and Stuart Pettigrew’s champion juvenile filly Anything Goes (Var), both of whom took on older foes for the first time and passed the test with flying colours while keeping their perfect records intact.
The former, an Australian-bred colt trained by Mike de Kock, defeated the likes of top level performers Cirillo (Pomodoro) and Chimichuri Run (Trippi) in Turffontein’s Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge while the latter dispatched her elders with deceptive ease when taking the filly and mare equivalent. War Of Athena (Act Of War), who had run Anything Goes to a diminishing neck in the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes, likewise made a huge impression when powering to victory over 1200m, a distance patently short of her best. The pair are set to renew rivalry in the R900,000 Emperors Palace Ready To
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Run Cup on October 31, while future engagements could include the Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas, which is also a likely target for Candice Dawson’s Sentbydestiny (Master Of My Fate), who stunned the colts in the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes. Also lying in wait is KwaZulu-Natal-based Love Bomb (Oratorio), who ended the unbeaten run of Devon Air Stakes winner Caralluma (Pomodoro) in the Gr2 Golden Slipper. At Kenilworth, Captain’s Ransom (Captain Al) took full advantage of her light weight when she lowered the
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Candiese Lenferna
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Last weekend, impressive debut winner Malmoos took the step up to handicap class with aplomb when putting his rivals to the sword over 1450m at Turffontein. A R4.5-million yearling purchase, the Captain Al colt delivered the knockout punch at the quarter mark and increased his lead with every stride to power home by a widening six lengths. Completing De Kock’s talented trio is Shadwell homebred Nafoorah, a son of former stable star Soft Falling Rain. He likewise set pulses racing when scoring a dominant gun-to-tape victory over 1800m at the Vaal. The gelding’s refusal to relinquish the lead saw him quicken every time a challenger snapped at his heels and he kept up a relentless gallop to score by a good couple of lengths.
Tempting Fate – champion juvenile colt colours of dual Gr1 winner Clouds Unfold (What A Winter) with a breathtaking last gasp win in the Gr3 Diana Stakes, her first success at Graded stakes level. Suzette Viljoen’s filly had won the Listed Perfect Promise Sprint as a juvenile and has tasted defeat just once in four starts when beaten a longhead in the Listed Irridescence Stakes. Port Elizabeth’s champion juvenile Global Drummer (Global View) made an impressive start to his sophomore campaign with a smooth victory at
Fairview, his fifth from six starts. Gavin Smith’s charge should continue his dominance in that region and who knows, he may yet venture further afield. While Champion juvenile colt Tempting Fate (Master Of My Fate) and Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes winner Erik The Red (Captain Al) are yet to return to action, a number of ‘rising stars’ have made their presence felt, amongst which a pair of blue-blooded stable companions to Mount Pleasant, both owned by Sheik Hamdan.
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Another worthy of mention is Vercingetorix colt One Way Or Another, who hacked to a comprehensive six-length debut win over the Vaal strip, while paternal half-brother Rascallion has notched up two smart victories from as many starts since his eye-catching third in the Gr3 Cape Nursery on debut. Invariably, more talented sorts are likely to emerge as the season progresses, but for now, there appears to be plenty of strength and depth to this crop of three-year-olds and with the first classics approaching, we are likely to be treated to some scintillating racing!
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Summer Pudding
Summer Cup FAVOURITE TO GALLOP
SA Horse Of The Year and current Gauteng Summer Cup ante-post favourite Summer Pudding will have a grass gallop at Turffontein on Friday to form a better picture of her current state of fitness. Currently at second place on the official race-log behind Got The Greenlight, who is unlikely to run, Summer Pudding is currently quoted at 22-10 with Hollywoodbets. The daughter of Silvano, undefeated in her seven starts to date, was sent for a rest at her birthplace Mauritzfontein after winning the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 in sensational fashion last term.
She has last seen race action on 28 June. She has been back at Turffontein for six weeks now and has only had sand work to date. “The grass-work on Friday will give us a better idea of where we are with her,” said trainer Paul Peter when contacted by the Sporting Post on Tuesday. The man who currently heads the national trainer log and has achieved wonders with South Africa’s favourite equine athlete, said that Summer Pudding is likely to go into the Gauteng Summer Cup with just one run under the belt. “There is a mile Pinnacle Stakes at
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Turffontein on 7 November. That’s not ideal but she is likely to run there.” Asked if he wasn’t concerned about the big handicap, her first test against male opposition, coming up as a second run after the rest, Peter said that she had not had an issue with that in the past. “But let’s gallop her on Friday and we can catch up thereafter to advise the public,” he concluded.
Click here for the Hollywoodbets ante-post betting
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Soetendal
A Platform Of Champions!
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Taubin Grove
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With 28 representatives on the forthcoming CTS Ready To Run, Two-Year-Old, and Mixed Sale, Soetendal Estate will again be proudly flying their flag – this year online for the first time. Julia Pilbeam has played a leading role for many years with prepping sale candidates and she was pleased to tell the Sporting Post that they again have a quality group of ‘students’ for the 2020 renewal, including horses by in-demand sires such as Trippi, Dynasty, Gimmethegreenlight, What a Winterand up-and-coming sires Master Of My Fate, Captain Of All and Futura.
“Only 74 of the 150-odd entries on the sale are Ready To Run, with the rest unbroken. So we are hoping for plenty of interest in the RTR horses,” confirmed Julia.
Heritage site which has been renovated and extended to suit their ever-growing business - and the happiness of their horses.
And what a tonic! Facing the dramatic mountains of the Limietberg range just 15km outside of Wellington, Western Cape, the beautiful Soetendal Estate boasts scenic views and a tranquil setting – a divine environment for horses to be pre-trained and developed under saddle.
Julia and her team of dedicated individuals have years of experience in starting young thoroughbreds. She has found the Monty Roberts method of join-up to be the most successful and rewarding method of producing young horses to become calm, confident and willing individuals in all aspects of their careers.
Taubin Grove writes that the farm was founded in 1852 and is a National
Each horse is individually assessed and trained, so time for each backing
Taubin Grove
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Taubin Grove
horse is ready for the rigours of full training. Having worked at Soetendal Estate, I can vouch for the love and care that the team puts into each individual horse. Every horses’ diet is reassessed each week to meet the requirements of their work load vs their weight. They are checked over thoroughly each morning and evening, taking care that even the smallest of scrapes, bumps and bruises are treated with the utmost care and love. Julia personally backs many of the youngsters that arrive on the farm, taking care to note how each horse is doing daily, whether it be the foals at foot, mares in the paddock, or the two-year olds working in the ring.
and pre-training may vary, as just like with people, learning new things is easier for some than for others. Of course, each client has different
requirements before they are sent off for training. With that in mind, the package is tailor made to suit, and Julia and her team take the utmost care and pride to ensure the
She knows the comings and goings of her farm like the back of her hand, nothing slips her notice. The grooms and staff all have incredible respect for her, and she is perhaps one of the kindest individuals I have ever had the
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Taubin Grove
divided into multiple barns. The horses at Soetendal Estate live the life of absolute luxury. The lush green paddocks are perfect for young stock to roam and for foals to develop into strong yearlings. While Julia only currently has a handful of mares on the property, they are treated with such great care and live the lives of champions they are bred to be.
With both the top filly and top colt in the sales ring in 2019, this is where you should be sending your ready to run sales candidates for many years to come!
The foals born each season are spectacular and turn into wonderful well-developed horses.
pleasure of working with. Soetendal Estate boasts a fully functioning sand track of over 700m in length, with more than 80 stables
With many lush green paddocks after the winter rain, it’s no wonder her horses are always in top form at the CTS Ready to Run Sale each year, giving top quality gallops and standing out in the sales ring- as with sale toppers in 2019 like Track Commander (Gimmethegreenlight ex Cherry Orchard) who was sold for a whopping R2,4 million!
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JC Photos
Unbeaten Anything Goes – ready to run!
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ANYTHING GOES!
First entries for the R900 000 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup (Presented by Bloodstock South Africa) over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday 31 October, closed on Monday and that has resulted in the handicappers having to rejig the log.
Goes and War Of Athena who were the respective first two past the post in the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes at Greyville in August, is still on the cards. But while the Stuart Pettigrew-trained Anything Goes has drawn at No 12, Paul Matchett’s charge landed No 21 draw.
The race is open to eligible graduates of the 2019 Bloodstock South Africa Emperor’s Palace Summer Ready To Run Sale.
There were 28 entries for the Non-Black Type race but that could still increase as there is a supplementary entry stage on Monday 26 October.
The problem facing the handicappers is that there are some nominees who are still maidens and have not raced three times or more times to attain an official merit rating. As a result, and for the purpose of this log only, they were given “performance ratings”.
The field will be limited to 16 runners plus two reserves.
The clash between the top two on the log, unbeaten five-time winner Anything
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Declarations close at 11am on Tuesday 27 October.
The final field will be determined by a panel appointed by the racing operator.
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Candiese Lenferna
Gr1 winner Warrior’s Rest – one of seven Tarry entries
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CHARITY MILE COUNTDOWN
Runners from the Sean Tarry stable dominate the entries for the Gr2 Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile to be run over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday 31 October.
29 entries have been received, with Tarry having nominated seven runners. Among them are Gr1 winning Warrior’s Rest, Tierra del Fuego, lightly raced Cornish Pomodoro and Zillzaal, who has not run since winning the Gauteng Summer Cup last year. The others are Tree Tumbo, Silver God and filly Victoria Paige. Justin Snaith has nominated two horses – Crown Towers, winner of the Listed Michaelmas Handicap over 1900m at Greyville on Sunday, and Stopalltheclocks. Brett Crawford has entered Hudoo Magic, who went
down 0.50 lengths in a Pinnacle Stakes at Greyville on Sunday. All three runners from the Cape Town-based trainers are currently stabled in KwaZulu-Natal.
Non-Black Type R900,000 Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup (Presented by Bloodstock South Africa) over 1400m.
Mike de Kock only has one runner entered, Charles, who had his first run on the Highveld when finishing a 4.75-length fifth behind Astrix in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m on the Inside track at Turffontein.
There are two Listed races – the Golden Loom Handicap over 1000m and the Java Handicap over 2400m.
It was his first run since February. Astrix has also been entered from the Paul Peter yard along with Riverstown. Also run at this meeting are the Graham Beck Stakes for three-year-olds, the HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes for three-year-old fillies – both over 1400m – and the Yellowwood Handicap over 1800m for fillies and mares. One of the highlights at the meeting is the
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Supplementary entries close at 11h00 on Friday 23 October after which the weights will be announced. Declarations must be in by 11:00 on Tuesday 27 October. The final field and draw for the charities draw will take place on Tuesday 27 October and will be shown on TellyTrack.
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Candiese Lenferna
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BSA CAPE YEARLING SALE BREEDERS CAN WIN BIG!
The next phase of the rollout of Bloodstock South Africa’s new generation incentives for breeders will be introduced at the genuine value-for-money Cape Yearling Sale which will be held again at the scenic and extremely equine-friendly Mistico Equestrian Centre outside of Paarl on Sunday 28 February 2021.
The linked 2022 Cape Yearling Sale Cup, to be contested by qualifying graduates of the 2021 Cape Yearling Sale, has already been underwritten by Bloodstock South for a minimum stake of R500 000, of which the winning breeder will bank R100 000! As an additional incentive in these trying economic times, the 2021 Cape Yearling Sale entry fee has been reduced to R3000, which cost will be set-off against payment of the purchase
price to the breeder by Bloodstock SA.
That means the breeder completes his entry form for the sale and does not have to submit any payment upfront.
inaugural Cape Yearling Sale Cup, which will be run on Cape Derby Day at Kenilworth on Saturday 27 February 2021 – a day before the Cape Yearling Sale.
“We are well aware of the pressure on breeders and this cash-flow friendly structure is a move on the part of BSA to streamline and encourage access to a sale that has a long and proud history of producing quality stakes performers,” said BSA CEO Michael Holmes, who also confirmed that the ever popular BSA Value Added Stakes incentive will be continuing into the new year.
In a fitting climax to the Cape Summer Season, South Africa’s longest established sales company intend to reward vendors and supporters, and are putting their weight behind an event worthy of framing a landmark feature on a major Gr1 raceday in the Cape Summer Of Champions, while acknowledging all of their loyal supporters.
In what will be a major week for Bloodstock South Africa and their customers, the company have planned a festive family occasion to launch their bumper 2021 annual nationwide sales programme, while also celebrating the
The 2021 Cape Yearling Sale Cup, to be run for a stake of R550 000 over 1200m, will be contested by qualifying graduates of the 2020 Cape Yearling Sale.
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VIRTUAL QUALITY! The catalogue for the 2020 renewal of the CTS Ready To Run, Two-Year-Old, and Mixed Sale has been published online, on the Cape Thoroughbred Sales website. The sale, renowned for its high-profile winners and a return on investment, will be staged online in partnership with Gavelhouse.com on Sunday, 29 November. For the first time, this year, the auction will include 93 unbroken two-year-olds which also qualify for the RTR race, as well as 12 lots in a Mixed Sale Section. As per custom, potential buyers will have an opportunity to watch the pre-trained entries gallop, and the gallops have been scheduled for Durbanville Racecourse on Monday 16 and Friday 20 November, preceded by
a champagne breakfast, and open to all. The entries will be split between the two dates. Horses will be available for viewing after the gallops. The 2020 CTS Ready To Run Sales Cup (R1.25-million) has been moved forward to take place on Saturday, 21 November, at Kenilworth, to be contested over 1400m. The CTS R2R Sale has been hugely successful in terms of the number of big race performers to have come from it, producing a host of graded and stakes performers including Red Ray (stallion), Rabada (stallion) Captain America, Liege, Sergeant Hardy, Bold Respect, Brave Mary, Hero’s Honour, Surcharge and Takingthepeace, to name but a few. The 178-strong catalogue shows its customary depth of variety and quality,
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and includes offspring from an array of superb stallions including the recently retired multiple champion Silvano (4 Lots), the deceased but still dominant Dynasty (2), Trippi (4), VAR (1), Gimmethegreenlight (11), Zoffany (1), Querari (11), What A Winter (10), Vercingetorix (9), Master of My Fate (7), Futura (5), William Longsword (6), and Rafeef (5).
Click here for the
catalogue
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HYACINTH CONTINUES TO BLOOM v
Descendants of the well performed mare Wild Hyacinth (Royal Prerogative) have already accomplished great things on the South African turf, and they continue to make their mark on the local studbook. Promising filly Really Royal, whose dam Pagan Princess (Fort Wood) is a granddaughter of Wild Hyacinth, followed up on a striking debut win when she ran second over 1250m recently and she looks a filly with a bright future ahead of her. Really Royal (Captain Al) is a full-sister to Gr1 Cape Guineas winning sire William Longsword and half-sister to both Gr1 South African Fillies Sprint winner Real Princess (Trippi) and Wolf Power 1600 hero Silver God (Silvano). The handsome William Longsword, a winner of six of just eight starts, could be poised to add further to his family’s success, when his first runners grace the turf later this season. He has some exceptionally well bred two-year-olds representing him, and hopes are high that he can follow in the footsteps of his own multiple champion sire Captain Al.
The well bred Pagan Princess was produced by the three time winning Dancing Champ matron Dancing Flower. One of a number of her daughters to make her mark at stud, Dancing Flower left behind nine winners, with her five black type performers headed by champion stayer Kelly (Ethique), Woolavington Handicap victor Flame (by Flaming Rock) and UAE 2000 Guineas/ Derby winner Victory Moon. The latter, sired, like Captain Al, by Al Mufti, had a brief career at stud, with Victory Moon leaving behind just four crops. His best performers were dual champion, and four time G1 winner, Princess Victoria, G2 The Debutante winner Straight Set, short-lived G1 Golden Horseshoe winner War Horse and the globetrotting, G3 Cape Nursery winner Nocturnal Affair. Victory Moon, whose Champions Cup placed son Blaze Of Fire also ended up at stud, is also having some success as a broodmare sire, and his daughter Golden Pathway ranks as the dam of last season’s Gr2 Durban Golden Horseshoe winner Nourbese (Futura). Really Royal is not the only promising 3yo
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filly this season descended in female line from Wild Hyacinth. Caralluma (Pomodoro), whose fourth dam is Wild Hyacinth, showed real promise at the start of her career, winning her first two starts by over eight lengths (headed by the Devon Air Stakes), before finishing second in the Gr2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper. Yet another descendant of Wild Hyacinth to have made good this year is Paths Of Victory (his third dam is the Majorca winning Wild Hyacinth). The latter picked up the biggest win of his career when scoring a surprise victory in the 2020 G3 World Sports Betting Gold Cup. To date, Paths Of Victory (Noble Tune) has won five and earned over R640 000 in prize money. Wild Hyacinth, whose own sister produced the Met winning champion Imperious Sue, was a daughter of champion sire Royal Prerogative, who also ranks as the broodmare sire of such major winners as Angus, Divine Force and Spanish Galliard to name but three!
Top-class Magical
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CARTIER STANDINGS:
Latest
A full sister to Bush Hill Stud’s Flying The Flag and multiple Gr1 winner Rhododendron, Galileo daughter Magical Magical now tops the standings for Cartier Horse of the Year in 2020 following her third place in the Gr1 QIPCO Champion Stakes, the highlight of QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on 17 October.
at Ascot, Britain’s most valuable race of 2020, was won by Addeybb (96), owned by Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum and trained by William Haggas. This was the third success at the highest level for Addeybb this year following his two Australian G1 wins in the spring.
The 30th annual Cartier Racing Awards will be awarded in November. Cartier continues its ongoing support with the presentation of Cartier Racing Awards in 2020, despite the cancellation of the traditional awards ceremony at The Dorchester in London, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Cartier looks forward to resuming the awards ceremony in 2021.
Magical, a Galileo mare trained by Aidan O’Brien for a Coolmore syndicate, now heads the standings for both Cartier Horse of the Year and Cartier Older Horse with her Ascot effort taking her narrowly in front of Godolphin’s Ghaiyyath (118), trained by Charlie Appleby.
The Gr1 QIPCO Champion Stakes
Runner-up to Addeybb at Ascot was Skalleti (46) with Magical (120) in third.
Interestingly both Magical and Ghaiyyath are five-year-olds and both have won three Gr1 races in 2020. The duo met each other twice in 2020 with the score
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standing at a 1-1 draw - Ghaiyyath prevailed in the Gr1 Juddmonte International at York in August with Magical getting her revenge in the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown the following month. It was announced on October 19 that Ghaiyyath has been retired to stand at Kildangan Stud in Ireland, while Magical remains a possible starter at the Breeders’ Cup in November.
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LOGAN’S RUN!
Players that follow former New Zealand trainer Donna Logan would have backed at least two good winners at Kranji on Saturday.
Once described in her faraway homeland as a trainer who had turned classic race success into an art-form, Kranji-based trainer Donna Logan combined with progressive apprentice jockey Hakim Kamaruddin for a double on Saturday, Known as being a talent spotter of
young riding prowess, and having groomed many top apprentices, Logan had been supporting fellow Kiwi Mark Walker’s lad from Malaysia regularly in the last three months. Three seconds have come their way, including two with Good Luck Charm, but that first success has proven elusive.
Two races later, the same duo were on the podium courtesy of Official who won the SG$30,000 Class 5 Division 2 race over 1700m.
Until that Good Luck Charm turned exactly that at their 11th pairing by winning the SG$50 000 Class 4 Division 1 race over 1000m on Saturday.
Hakim’s 3kg claimed helped but Logan was more impressed by his balance in the saddle.
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Both winners are sired by The Factor and are also raced by champion owner Falcon Racing Stable.
“Hakim’s a very capable rider. He
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listens to instructions, but obviously horses also run for him,” said Logan. “There’s just something about him. When you watch his ride on Good Luck Charm, you could see how he didn’t go eyeballing the (favourite and) leader (Resolution), and waited until the last 100m to get to work on him. He thinks about what he is doing, he will go a long way. Most of the time, it’s the first time he gets on my horses as he doesn’t ride them in work, but he rides them to instructions and it’s very encouraging for him. You actually saw how he carries instructions out to the letter on Official even more. I told him this horse doesn’t like kickback, and to get the best of him, he has to go around runners. As he was drawn in three, you could see how he was thinking ‘how am I going to get out?’ but he did get the horse out and they won a nice race.” Hakim, who was formerly indentured to Frank Maynard in Malaysia and has now taken his Kranji score to 19 winners, six behind reigning champion Simon Kok Wei Hoong, showed maturity beyond his years. Earlier this year, Donna decided to close her Logan Racing Stables at Ruakaka, New Zealand. She relinquished her NZ Trainers Licence in 2018 when she made the move to Singapore to set up a new yard but retained the ownership of her Ruakaka base. Chris Gibbs and Michelle Bradley trained succesfully from Logans base in partnership after her departure but from 1 June this year the ownership passed to Chris Gibbs.
And they don’t make them too much tougher than Donna, who was treated by her Dad like a tom boy! Donna was born in Kawakawa and moved to Whangarei at a young age. She learned to ride before she could walk. Her Secondary Education was not extensive. Donna left at the age of 15 and worked for her Father in his Demolition Business. She was no Silver Spooner and soon learned Management skills when she was left in charge of a group of tough men. She drove a D8 Bulldozer and could dismantle a house or building and get it stacked on trucks to take back to the yard. Bruce and her mother, Betsy, also operated a mobile Takeaway called the Pie Cart. Donna would often have to sleep in the car and could take a cooked chicken to School for lunch that she would swap for sandwiches. Donna worked in the Pie Cart and in a Vege Shop they owned. She also did contract work at the Port lagging pipes with Tar Tape and an Oxy Acetalyne Torch and worked in a Maunu Road Dairy part time. She was brought up tough and had to work hard. Donna’s introduction to horseracing ironically started in the days of the Pie Cart when her parents became good friends with NZ Racing Legend Baggy Hillis and they raced horses with him.
in Northland. She was called Long Shot Logan. Donna thought it would be a good idea to take out her trainer’s licence so that she could get more rides. She leased yards from Whangarei Racing Club in 1985. It was very difficult to get a Trainers License in those days but she got one eventually. Her first winner was Silver Kris , half brother of Champion horse Uncle Remus. She trained him for Northland Racing Icon Les Donaldson. Donna trained in partnership with her husband Dean Logan from 2003 until Dean’s death in 2015. They were both members of the Whangarei Racing Club Committee for many years, Dean for many years as President. Apart from Donna’s ability to train she has a great eye for buying a horse and has successfully bought many great horses, aided by Racing Guru Gary Cossey. Her eye and her Equine ability has been inherited by her daughter Samantha and son Robert who works for NZB and exudes knowledge, intellect and style that will carry him up through the ranks in racing. Pencil in the name Donna Logan! The next Kranji racemeeting is on Sunday 25 October – the Gr1 Lion City Cup heads the programme – visit blog.hollywoodbets.net
In the late 80’s Donna, then a qualified jockey, rode 8 winners but found it hard to get rides being based
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This milestone was both a sad and exciting time in Donna’s Racing Career. She trained at Ruakaka for 35 years and owned the business for all that time. She trained nearly 900 winners, 326 of which were at Ruakaka, with many at Group Level in New Zealand and Australia. She moved to Singapore to set up a new Stable and after 2 years of hard work has built a thriving business and is ranked in the top-ten Trainers there.
Official wins under Hakim Kamaruddin
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Russian Camelot – big runner in Cox Plate
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RACING DROPS
‘ELITIST’ DECISION Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has backflipped on a decision to allow crowds to attend two race meetings in Melbourne this weekend. Approval was granted for up to 500 owners and connections to attend Friday night’s Manikato Stakes and the Cox Plate on Saturday, but late last night that approval was rescinded after community backlash. “I suppose I can only be clear and that
was the wrong judgment,” Mr Andrews said. “I apologise for any concern it caused and again I’m not here to defend the decision. We have basically changed that, it is not happening on Saturday.” Mr Andrews conceded the plan was overturned because of the community response, and not because of any flaw in the approval process.
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“It went through the normal process but it was the wrong decision. I will cop that.” “The issue is it didn’t meet the expectations of the community.” Meanwhile, Saturday’s weight-for-age Gr1 WS Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in Melbourne has attracted a capacity field of fourteen.
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According to punters.com, there were fifteen acceptances, however the MVRC committee used their discretionary powers to leave the Joseph O’Brien-trained Brockhurst, a Gr3-winning son of Australia (Galileo), as the first emergency. Sneaking into the final field was promising local 3YO Grandslam. Although only a one-time winner, the full-brother to Caulfield Cup winner Jameka finished a bold third in the Gr1 Caulfield Guineas after attempting to make all. Early pre-post favourite Russian Camelot has drawn the widest barrier, however that might actually suit the
imported horse who will probably get last crack at them off the camber. Second-elect Arcadia Queen has drawn a pleasing marble in eight, although she is unlikely to get the slow pace which brought Russian Camelot undone in the Caulfield Stakes. At a tempting price in the market is the Aidan O’Brien-trained Armory who beat all but Magical and Ghaiyyath in the Gr1 Irish Champion Stakes.
SEE THE FIELD
HERE
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John Wheeler, who owns Cox Plate runner Russian Camelot, criticised the State Government’s handling of the issue, saying it “smacks of the lack of competence we’ve seen throughout the coronavirus”. “You’d have to say it’s a little bit shambolic of the Government in the way they’ve managed this, but look we’ve had other things that are worse, so smile and get on with it,” he said. “It set the industry up to be seen as elitist and getting special favours and in some ways the backlash is understandable.”
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updated 2020-10-20
TRAINERS Name
Runs
Mr P A Peter Mr S J Snaith Mr St John D Gray Mr P F Matche� Mr A C Greeff
230 282 176 210 219
Wins Win% 33 39 24 22 35
14.3 13.8 13.6 10.5 16
2nd
3rd
24 35 21 19 32
22 29 23 17 30
Other Places Place % 24 26 15 20 27
70 90 59 56 89
30.4 31.9 33.5 26.7 40.6
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
1,358,950 1,113,925 1,000,500 954,450 846,000
2,019,675 1,753,825 1,577,600 1,516,425 1,371,250
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
1,930,900 946,800 1,655,500 1,145,825 1,119,350
2,925,700 1,309,650 2,260,800 1,465,125 1,935,125
JOCKEYS Name
Runs Wins Win%
2nd
3rd
Mr L Hewitson Mr G M Cheyne Mr S Khumalo Mr A Marcus Mr W B Kennedy
316 179 170 125 230
36 20 19 14 28
35 24 20 12 23
45 39 34 28 25
14.2 21.8 20 22.4 10.9
Other Places Place % 58 20 21 16 44
129 64 60 42 95
40.8 35.8 35.3 33.6 41.3
BREEDERS Name
B.T. B.T. Total Runrs Runs AEPR Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Wins Stakes (R) Rnrs %
Wilgerbosdri� & Mauritzfontein Klawervlei Stud Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd Varsfontein Stud Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)
170 250 155 77 96
367 556 342 159 187
16,739 9,760 12,534 21,451 16,194
38 39 32 19 24
48 40 35 22 30
22.4 15.6 20.6 24.7 25
120 174 70 52 78
1 1 2 3 1
1 1 2 4 1
2,845,650 2,439,950 1,942,725 1,651,725 1,554,625
SIRES Name
Runrs Runs AEPR
Master Of My Fate 125 Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) 119 81 Var (USA) 132 Querari (GER) 87 Oratorio (IRE)
271 238 171 286 187
14,828 14,215 19,628 11,239 13,944
B.T. Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Rnrs % 24 26 21 23 16
27 28 27 24 17
19.2 21.8 25.9 17.4 18.4
100 78 60 94 67
See all the detailed standings - Click here
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1 1 1 0 1
B.T. Wins
Total Stakes (R)
1 1 2 0 1
1,866,025 1,675,500 1,589,875 1,453,600 1,366,650
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UPS ‘N DOWNS
Old rivalries will be renewed on Saturday as Manchester United host Chelsea at the Theatre of Dreams. After sharing a spot in last season’s top four, expectations are much higher for both United and Chelsea with both clubs making huge signings in the transfer window to go one step closer and mount a title challenge. Jesse Nagel writes that so far, there’s been plenty of ups and downs, but seasons aren’t defined in October with plenty of time for both English heavyweights to put themselves in the
mix again at the top of the pile. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has a superior head-to-head record over Frank Lampard, although the Blues did knock Manchester United out of the FA Cup semi-finals in their last encounter. With just two wins each this campaign, this tie becomes even more significant than it already is with pressure likely to start mounting on the losing manager here. English Premier League | Saturday 24 October | Old Trafford | 18:30 To win Manchester United 15/10 Draw 26/10
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Chelsea 33/20
Manchester United Just when the pressure seems to be at its peak, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer manages to find a way out and turn things around at the most crucial time. Against Newcastle United, the Norwegian manager made a number of changes, which were considered as strange to the public, with the likes of Daniel James, Scott McTominay, Fred and Juan Mata playing ahead of Paul Pogba, Donny Van De Beek, Nemanja
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Matic and Mason Greenwood, who Solskjaer later confirmed wasn’t fully fit to play. Despite ringing the changes, it was something we hadn’t seen very often from Manchester United this season. The Red Devils were fluid in their passing, showed plenty of quality in the final third and afforded the opposition with very few guilt-edge chances. Marcus Rashford had one of his best performances under Solskjaer and Bruno Fernandes looked the player he was before lockdown. With the duo picking up form at the right stage of the season, it remains to be seen how Solskjaer could utilise them alongside Greenwood, who should be fit, and Edinson Cavani, who looks set to make his league debut following his move from Paris Saint-Germain in the transfer window. Although the Red Devils were superb against Newcastle, consistency remains a big hurdle they cannot get over. Defensively, you never know what to expect from club captain, Harry Maguire, and Victor Lindelof. After Luke Shaw’s own goal scored last weekend, new signing from FC Porto, Alex Telles, deserves a start, although new players are gradually eased in as we’ve already seen under Solskjaer. Anthony Martial is still out due to suspension so Solskjaer’s hand could be forced regarding Cavani.
Chelsea Chelsea’s difficult start to the season continued as they let a two-goal lead slip at home to Southampton, eventually drawing the tie 3-3. It wasn’t the first time that the Blues’ defensive frailties have let them down this season. They’ve been involved in two six-goal draws in the last three matches which doesn’t bode well for when they come up against some of the opposing attackers that Manchester United have. Lampard has some of the flashiest players in the league and certainly boasts an attacking quartet to rival all frontlines in the division. However, the Blues lack players who are ready to go to war when the going gets tough. If they concede once, the opposition always feel that they have a chance to get more from the game. Every time Chelsea have dropped points this season, defensive individual errors have been the reason, which doesn’t help Lampard’s cause. Luckily, the 42-year-old English boss will welcome back Thiago Silva and Edouard Mendy who missed out last week. With them in the team, the Blues are a much different team. Up front, Chelsea still have plenty of players to hurt Manchester United and expose their defensive frailties as well. Hakim Ziyech could get his first start, while Timo Werner and Kai Havertz got off the mark in the league as well.
managerial career that he knows the perfect system to deal with a mobile number 10, where he brought on Jorginho and played three defensivemidfielders when playing against Mesut Ozil at Arsenal. The Blues went on to turn that game around because of that tactical switch with the Chelsea boss expected to stick with his tried and tested. Probable line-ups: Manchester United: 4-2-3-1 De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Pogba, Matic; Greenwood, Fernandes, James; Rashford Chelsea: 4-2-3-1 Mendy; James, Silva, Zouma, Chilwell; Jorginho, Kante; Ziyech, Havertz, Pulisic; Werner Prediction: Manchester United (15/10) Manchester United tend to raise their game against the big guns and have an incredible record over the league’s ‘Big Six’, most notably against Chelsea, who they beat three times last season. Based on how both defences have fared this term, a goal fest is definitely on the cards here. With more going for them at the moment and Chelsea’s squad needing a bit more time to gel, I fancy Manchester United to get the job done over Lampard.
With Fernandes being United’s biggest threat, Lampard has shown already in his
CAN YOU HELP? CARING FOR EQUINES COSTS PLENTY! Please visit us at www.coastalhorsecareunit.org.za 44
KZN Racing v
BIDS A FOND FAREWELL Circle back to profitability and weathering pressure to amalgamate with Phumelela. He was a staunch supporter of KwaZulu-Natal racing and his Invermooi Stud was one of the leading thoroughbred nurseries in the country. Saunders’ white silks with red stars and cap were a familiar sight and he stood the likes of Rollins, the broodmare sire of champion racehorse and sire Jet Master.
Chris Saunders Chris Saunders, former chairman of Gold Circle and the first chairman of the Tongaat Hulett Group, passed away on Saturday evening after a lengthy illness. He was one of the first directors of Gold Circle and was elected chairman after the company’s first chairman, Roy Eckstein retired. Saunders retired as chairman in 2005 after steering Gold
Saunders raced many of his home-breds, easily recognised by alliteration such as Raise A Raucus (Rollins) or Slewper Slipper, named after her sire, Slewpendous. At the KZN Breeders awards in 2013 he was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award where in his absence his good friend Bill Lambert gave a stirring speech on his behalf. Bill Lambert, Gold Circle’s racing ambassador and a long-time friend of Chris Saunders, paid tribute on
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Saturday night.
“Chris was a special man. The members voted by particular resolution to install Chris Saunders as the chairman of Gold Circle. At that period the company was experiencing turbulent times following the merger of Greyville, Scottsville and Clairwood and then the addition of the Western Cape. In fact, the whole racing industry was experiencing difficulties as it is now. He was chosen because of his illustrious business career as a captain of industry and also his undying passion for the sport of racing. He brought stability to the company and proved to be an outstanding chairman. His contribution to the racing industry is inestimable and he will be fondly remembered by us all.”
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