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Chase Liebenberg
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Princess Calla – Marcus, Ferreira & Zackey’s Fillies Guineas dream double?
Cape Summer
The Mercury Is Rising! Saturday’s Kenilworth racemeeting hosts the first Gr1 of the Cape Summer Season. It is a quality programme peppered with Gr1 winners and sees the return to action and season first appearance of the likes of July hero Belgarion and Rainbow Bridge, as well as class Gauteng-based raiders Celtic Sea and Rivarine, amongst others. For Milnerton-based Anton Marcus, it is a day that has delivered lifechanging moments in years past. Our cover this week shows young Adam and his regular rider Craig Zackey enjoying a golden moment after the smashing Missisippi Burning’s victory in the 2019 R1 million World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas. It was a momentous occasion for Marcus, as the daughter of Captain Al was his first Gr1 winner. Not bad going as he took out his trainer’s licence at the relatively tender age of 22, going on his own at 23, under
the watchful guidance of his champion jockey Dad, Basil. It was proof that he had come of age. In fact, this Guineas day has previously been a happy one for the young man – it was in 2016 that he saddled the much loved and sadly ill-fated Royal Badge for victory in the Gr3 Cape Summer Stayers Handicap. On Saturday he returns to the well, and while recent KZN Breeders Champion Missisippi Burning runs in a minor race on the day, Adam’s major focus will be on Flower Alley’s daughter Princess Calla, who runs in the WSB Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas. Princess Calla, who races in the now familiar Ferreira silks worn by last year’s winner, won the Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship over 1400m at Kenilworth at her last start. She is again ridden by Craig Zackey and, while they have some serious hurdles to overcome, the double must be on the cards.
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Princess Calla, who is reported by the Marcus team to be doing ‘exceptionally well’, is second favourite behind the Snaith’s Captain’s Ransom. She has run three times for two wins and a 3,30-length third behind Anything Goes and the fast ascending War Of Athena in the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville in August. Adam told the Sporting Post that he respected the favourite, Captain’s Ransom. “Even in receipt of weight, any 3yo who can beat Clouds Unfold must have plenty of ability! Captain’s Ransom is the only opponent that we don’t have a direct line of collateral with, but our Princess Calla ran a great third in the Gr1 Thekwini at Hollywoodbets Greyville and she will relish the longer run-in of the Kenilworth summer course,” added the Milnerton trainer. He said that Missisippi Burning was being prepped for the Majorca and
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Chase Liebenberg
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July winner Belgarion is back! Paddock Stakes and was probably at 85% fitness for her prep run on Saturday. “I made a mistake running her at Durbanville – the only two times she has been unplaced in her life were at the country course. But she is progressing nicely and ran a good race recently. She will be at her peak in January,” he assured us. Suzette and Basie Viljoen have become anchor owners in the game and made a gallant attempt to win the WSB Gr1 Gauteng Summer Cup, courtesy of Zietsman Oosthuizen’s PE raider Atyaab, who ran a gallant sixth in the Highveld flagship event at the end of last month. They get a big chance on Saturday to realise the dream and race Captain’s
Ransom, the best handicapped filly in the classic.
is a watershed prep for the Gr1’s that lie ahead.
Justin Snaith’s charge has won three of her four starts, including a breathtaking 0,30-length victory over Clouds Unfold in the Gr3 Diana Stakes over 1400m at Durbanville in October. She is at least 4kg better weighted than any of her opponents and has been priced up favourite. Richard Fourie takes over from Joshwin Solomons. There are two visitors in the line-up. Mike de Kock will be running Due Diligence with Gavin Lerena up while Sean Tarry saddles La Luvia, to be ridden by Lyle Hewitson.
Eric Sands’ charge was scratched from his planned warm-up run last month so he will go into the race without a prep run. Luke Ferraris has been given the ride.
After being withdrawn with a skin allergy at his last scheduled start, Rainbow Bridge has been priced up as the 14-10 favourite for the WSB Gr2 Green Point Stakes to be run over 1600m. This race
Cape Met entry and Vodacom Durban July winner Belgarion returns for his first outing since the July and will have Fourie up. The only other runners quoted in single figures are Cirillo and Clouds Unfold. This is the race that produced that humdinger finish in 2018. We look forward to Saturday!
STOP PRESS KENILWORTH PICK 6 CARRYOVER Saturday’s Kenilworth Pick 6 will be boosted by a R1 million carryover. The pool is estimated to reach R4 million. Leg 1 is Race 3 @ 14h10. 5
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stakes winning sisters Northern Heritage (Western Winter) and Supreme Sunset. Another Cape Fillies Guineas winner represented by a sire son at stud in South Africa is 2009 victress Field Flower (Silvano). She hails from the immediate family of legendary US racehorse and sire Bold Ruler, and is the dam of Gr1 Met runner up Last Winter (Western Winter), who is currently standing at the Piemonte Stud.
In The Fast Lane wins the 2013 Cape Fillies Guineas
In The Fast Lane At
PARTY TIME!
Saturday sees the running of the Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas at Kenilworth. The race has been won by some exceptional fillies during its history. But what of their success at stud? How many Cape Fillies Guineas winners have left their mark on the South African stud book? The 1975 Fillies Guineas winner Party Time (Filipepi) foundered her own dynasty, and her numerous high-class descendants include 2013 Cape Fillies Guineas winner, and Equus Champion, In The Fast Lane (Jet Master). Other notable descendants of Party Time include the Gr1 winners Chestnuts ‘N Pearls (Horse Chestnut), Let’s Rock’N Roll (Muhtafal), Morisco (Royal Chalice), Out Of Your League
(Elusive Fort) and Trademark (Goldmark), as well as international graded stakes winners Light The Lights and Consumer Credit. Last season’s SA Fillies Nursery winner Springs Of Carmel’s fifth dam is Party Time. Multiple champion Olympic Duel, victorious in the 1990 Fillies Guineas, also enjoyed notable success at stud, with her stakes winning progeny headed by Gr1 Daily News 2000 winner Flying Duel and stakes winner Lightning Duel -the dam of Gr1 Gold Cup winning champion Thundering Star (Fort Wood). Olympic Duel’s legacy could continue still further, with her Selangor Cup winning grandson Gold Standard (Trippi) set to have his first yearlings on sale in 2021. In total, Olympic Duel’s notable descendants number ten stakes winners, including the graded
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The 1988 winner, and champion, Kiss Of Peace (Fordham) came up with Gr2 Gold Bracelet winner Kiss Me Quick (Caesour) as well as the stakes placed dam of of last season’s Gr1 Cape Guineas winner Kilindini (Silvano), while the short-lived Dance Every Dance, victorious in the 1995 Cape Fillies Guineas, left behind six foals -notably 2012-2013 Equus Broodmare Of The Year Akinfeet (Fort Wood). The latter has produced five black type horses, notably triple Gr1 winner, and Equus Champion, Capetown Noir - the sire of this season’s Spring Spree Stakes winner Bohica. Akinfeet also ranks as the granddam of current unbeaten star filly Anything Goes, winner of the 2020 Gr1 Thekwini Stakes and Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge, as well as exported Gr3 Sea Cottage Stakes hero Green Laser. Dance Every Dance also produced Gr1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint runner up Centaur (Western Winter), while her daughters Full Card and Frostbite are dams of the stakes winners Grandalea (Emerald Fillies Handicap) and St Vladimir (East Cape Derby), respectively. Shadow Dancing, victorious in 2004, produced dual Gr1 winner Thunder Dance (Jet Master) and the daughter of Fort Wood is also granddam of current useful performers Astrix
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Image Credit
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Olympic Duel wins the 1990 Cape Fillies Guineas (Vercingetorix) and Indlamu (Pomodoro). Champion Petrava, victorious in the 1985 Cape Fillies Guineas, left behind a champion sire son in the shape of
Jallad (Blushing Groom) as well as a fellow Cape Fillies Guineas winning daughter in the form of Hoeberg (Maroof). Petrava hails from the same family as
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recent Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship winner Princess Calla (Flower Alley) - a leading contender for this year’s Cape Fillies Guineas.
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An Owner & A Vet v
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MELANDIE’S LOVIN’ IT!
Cover Image: Chase Liebenberg captured the joy after Missisippi Burning (Craig Zackey) won the 2019 World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas in the rain. Des Gonsalves and Adam Marcus are clearly thrilled!
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The 32 year old Melandie Taljaardt is not your run-of-the-mill 2020 owner. She exudes energy and a tangible passion for her horses – and, something quite rare in these times, she also beats the drum for the sport at large. Chatting to her in Cape Town on Monday, where she was visiting her Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner Rivarine at Eric Sands’ yard at Milnerton, Melandie told the Sporting Post that she didn’t want to hear anything about negativity and whinging about stakes. “What’s done cannot be undone overnight. The only way we are going to turn the ship around is by getting involved and making a difference yourself, while being positive and getting everybody working together. Positive actions and thoughts breed
positive outcomes. Yes, we’d all love to be racing for better stakes. But we all need to commence rebuilding first. And unless we start today and spread the love of the game - and look after the owner and punter - we aren’t going to keep the people we have, never mind try and attract new players!” The handsome Avontuur-bred Rivarine, who races in Melandie’s emerald green and blue silks under the Azzie family banner, is settled at the Sands yard at the training centre where the surf meets the turf. The 7yo runs on Saturday in a strong Pinnacle Stakes at Kenilworth. His target for the Cape Summer is the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship, whereafter he could return home to defend his Computaform Sprint crown. Following a ‘hectically happy’ afternoon at the Vaal on Saturday, where S’manga Khumalo got the Lucky Houdalakis-trained Dark Tide – described by Melandie as her ‘R15000 baby’- home in the support feature, she drove the 120km back to her Centurion home. After grabbing some shut-eye, Doc Melandie did a few patient rounds on Sunday morning and then jetted off to Cape Town in the afternoon to visit the
12 Melandie and Team Houdalakis lead in Saturday’s winner
horse who provided her with her first ever Gr1 success – after only 4 years as an owner! Interestingly, Rivarine was also the Gr1 icebreaker for his Met winning champion Mom, River Jetez, a full sister to Bass champion Pocket Power. “Rivarine has his aches and pains and needs TLC. I know him so well. He is looking a million dollars and the jockeys riding him in work say he has never felt better. He was just over two lengths back at his last start in the Golden Loom, and won his penultimate under 62kgs. He is in experienced good hands at Eric Sands. So I can sleep at night,” she laughs. Melandie grew up with her folks and two younger sisters in Nelspruit, and after matriculating in 2006, commenced nine years of study, that produced three degrees on her impressive cv. She holds a B Sc Animal Science, a B Sc Wildlife Management, as well as her Veterinary qualification. She credits her parents as her life inspiration. Her Dad is in construction and the family farm pecan and macadamia nuts.
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Ever met an owner who really understands vets? Or a vet who really understands owners? Racing Equine Vets’ Dr Melandie Taljaardt is a new generation player in horseracing, and was the proudest and most enthusiastically emotional owner of Saturday’s Heritage Consolation winner Dark Tide at the Vaal.
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Melandie and the beautiful stakes performer, Snow Palace Growing up, Melandie never touched a horse ever and had no connection to racing or any equine disciplines. Her ambition was actually to become a wildlife vet – but she changed tack, excuse the pun, in her fourth year and focussed on horses. “I have never regretted that decision and have met the most wonderful people in this game,” she says proudly. Melandie was doing her mandatory ‘state year’ in 2017 after qualifying, when Lucky Houdalakis trained her first winner, Ninjara. The filly won by over 8 lengths at the Vaal – coincidentally under S’manga Khumalo, who also rode the good Doctor’s Saturday feature winner, Dark Tide. She now has majority shares in 18 horses and simply loves the game.
They are all her favourites, but some stand out. Her grey Corne Spies charge Snow Palace ran third at Gr1 level as a 2yo and was fourth in the Gr2 Gold Bracelet. She is currently having a holiday. Then Saturday’s feature winner Dark Tide looks very progressive. “He used to be a tear away type. But Lucky Houdalakis has sorted him our beautifully and his recent consistent form is evidence of that. He is also living proof that one doesn’t have to lay out six figure sums to buy a nice horse. He cost only R15 000. And I was so thrilled when his breeder Hanno Joubert of La Berg Stud phoned me just as they passed the post!” Melandie explains that owning horses serves a dual purpose of passion for her.
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“I earn my living out of the sport, so am putting something back. At the same time ‘my kids’ (horses) provide me with thrills, excitement, pride, sadness, disappointment – all of life’s emotions rolled into one. How could anybody not want to be part of this extraordinary hobby, pastime, lifestyle, call it what you want?” Melandie is not married and has no children. She works a seven day week and is building her Veterinary Practice, Racing Equine Vets, into a leading service provider to the industry. “My aim is to grow my business and employ young people. This is a dynamic industry and support services like ours play a strategic role in the equine economy. I also want to do my bit to try and change owners’ perceptions of vets. I think there can be a communication disconnect
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Dark Tide gets the better of the De Kock challenger on Saturday between many owners and their vets. The only interface is often a nasty bill. It’s understandable that it is not always a positive association.”
Asked what she does differently as Dr Taljaardt the vet, she said that, for example, if she sees multiple horses at a particular centre, she doesn’t levy the costs of her 100km of travelling.
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“Fair’s fair. We can’t charge travelling costs for each individual patient, when we made the one trip to see a few of them.”
Melandie and Gr1 star Rivarine – in action at Kenilworth on Saturday
Her love of the horse, open demeanour and enthusiastic outlook has attracted the support of many of the region’s top trainers at Randjesfontein, Turffontein and the Vaal.
businesses and strengthen their relationships with their own customers,” adds Melandie.
“Paul Matchett gave me a kickstart, and I have grown to provide a service to some well established yards, including the likes of Mike and Adam Azzie, Erico Verdonese, Lucky Houdalakis and Corne Spies. I’d like to believe I can add value to their
“Emerald green is my favourite colour. It’s healthy and fresh. And I want to disprove the superstition, or fear, that green is bad luck in racing!”
Do her blue and green silks have any significance?
With ‘her child’ running at Kenilworth on Saturday, will we see her down in the
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fairest Cape again this weekend? “My patients are my priority – my child is in good hands with Eric Sands, as I told you! But if Saturday is not busy, I may well jump on a flight!”
Marco van Rensburg punches Expressfromtheus out – in his wake is third placed Spanish Boy, with Craig Zackey up
EXPRESSFROMTHEUS
TRUMPS THEM!
Hollywoodbets-sponsored Stuart Pettigrew’s What A Winter gelding Expressfromtheus ran on powerfully in the hands of Marco van Rensburg under joint topweight to win the R150 000 World Sports Betting Grand Heritage at the Vaal on Saturday.
The Pettigrew-Van Rensburg combination won the first leg of the then R500 000 WSB Grand Heritage in 2018 with Soldier On, when the Vaal track was controversially twice not available to field the 28 horse capacity, and the two legged event was run at Turffontein. Soldier On did not take up the invitation for the R250 000 match race, which was won by Dan The Lad, who beat Tsitsikamma Dance. A race that was introduced to fill
the void left by the Emerald Cup, the ‘unique’ contest has lost some of its shine and lustre through dwindling stakes that no doubt contributed to it falling over 30% short of capacity on Saturday.
But the distance of 1475m is unique and Stuart Pettigrew and owner Clive Barnard will be banking the first cheque of R90 000 with gratitude in these trying times. Described as a very difficult horse, Van Rensburg paid tribute to Stuart Pettigrew’s training skills. “He really has his work cut out with this fellow,” added Van Rensburg, who is riding with great fluency again. Expressfromtheus (15-2) bounced into the lead at the 250m marker and drew away to beat Clint Binda’s soldier
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Whorly Whorly (17-2) by two lengths in a time of 87,37 secs. Spanish Boy (7-1) raced a kilo overweight for the services of Craig Zackey, but stayed on well for third another three quarters back. Mike de Kock’s 9-4 favourite Oscar Wilde was never in the hunt and ran 9 lengths downfield. The winner is bred and raced by Clive Barnard’s Rooispruit Stud. Mr Barnard was on course to lead his winner in. By What A Winter (Western Winter), out of the twice winning Mullins Bay mare, Stylish Bay, Expressfromtheus has now won 4 races with 7 places from 11 starts for stakes of R267 200.
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Rafeef
TWO YEAR OLDS STEP OUT
THE FIRST SEASON SIRES –
WHO WILL FIRE?
It’s that time of year when the new crop of two-year-olds are stepping out for the first time and all eyes will be on the progeny of young sires who will be represented by their first runners. As their racing careers are now a fading memory, it would be more than appropriate to recall the credentials of the more prominent newcomers. Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner Rafeef, an Australian-bred son of stallion standout Redoute’s Choice and former South African Horse of the Year
National Colour, proved extremely popular with local breeders when he retired to Ridgemont Highlands in 2017. His first crop, which includes siblings to the Gr1 winning sprinters August Rush and Normanz, as well as foals out of champion Laverna and Gr1 winner Bambina Stripes, made quite a splash at the sales, the general consensus amongst buyers being that he physically stamps them, yet they are quite scopey. Rafeef has already had a runner in the shape of Star Of The West, who reached the frame when third in the very first
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baby race of the season, an 800m scurry up the Turffontein straight. Another young stallion who ticks all the boxes is champion Red Ray. He too excelled as a sprinter and mixed it up with the best in a career spanning four seasons, capped by Gr1 honours in the Mercury Sprint. Boasting a pedigree out of the very top drawer, Red Ray is by champion Western Winter out of blue hen mare Nacarat, whose numerous liaisons with the Lammerskraal standout also yielded Gr1 winner Nania, Gr2 winners Brutal Force and Bishops
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Red Ray Bounty and the Listed winner Valor Red.
Real Princess and Wolf Power 1600 hero, Silver God.
Red Ray stands at the famous Vogel Vlei Stud and as young studmaster Colin Birch remarked: “”He’s a speed machine who oozes class. If his foals look like him and can run like him, he will have a great chance at stud.”
Trippi’s son Gold Standard chased home William Longsword in the Cape
Klawervlei Stud will be hopeful of Cape Guineas winner William Longsword stepping into the shoes of his much-missed champion sire Captain Al. The handsome bay was lightly-raced, facing the starter just eight times for six wins, prime amongst which a half-length success in the Gr1 Cape Guineas. Bred on the proven Captain Al x Fort Wood cross, he is out of Victory Moon’s half-sister Pagan Princess, a successful broodmare who is also the dam of Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint victress
William Longsword
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Guineas after claiming the Gr2 Selangor Cup and the Listed Racing Association Stakes. A R750 000 yearling who scored all
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three wins over a mile, he appropriately joined his sire at Drakenstein Stud in 2017. He likewise has a female line out of the top drawer. His dam Olympic Dam is a Model Man daughter of the mighty racemare Olympic Duel, a seven-time Gr1 winner and one of a rare number of fillies to defeat the colts in the Cape Guineas. An own sister to champion Dancing Duel, she proved that was no fluke with splendid victories in the Met, Mainstay International and Champion Stakes.
The United States is a Gr1-winning son of Galileo, sire also of last season’s leading freshman sire Global View. A debut winner at two and a Gr3 winner at three in Ireland, he was sent
Moutonshoek’s regally-bred
The United States
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to Australia, where he acquitted himself admirably at the elite level, winning the Gr1 Ranvet Stakes. Out of a brilliantly fast daughter of
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Admiral Kitten Pivotal, this full-brother to two exceptional fillies in Irish and English 1000 Guineas queen Hermosa and the dual Gr1 winner Hydrangea, hails from the family of champion sprinter/ miler and successful sire Last Tycoon.
he was injured when favourite for the Gr1 German Derby but returned at four to run second in the Gr3 Maxios Trophy.
Admiral Kitten who started his career at Moutonshoek alongside The United States, now stands at David Southey’s Southford Stud. An unbeaten juvenile, he scored a career-defining victory in the Gr1 Secretariat Stakes on turf. From the Sadler’s Wells sire line, he is by champion American stallion Kitten’s Joy whose speciality have been turf runners, while his female line is that of successful sire Cozzene. German champion Quasillo, a three-part brother blood to Querari, is the only son of European champion and successful sire Sea The Stars at stud in South Africa. The lightly-raced chestnut scored twice in a career confined to just three starts. Successful in the Gr3 Bavaria Classic,
Quasillo
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Considering he’s by an Epsom Derby winner and won over 2000 and 2400m, it looks unlikely that his progeny will contest the first baby races!
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was, Brett Crawford told me how he had 100 horses for just one owner, and Justin Snaith said I was welcome to come and watch his horses work anytime. The one thing I couldn’t understand was why there were so few spectators – only around 20 people watching the goings-on in the parade ring – even though admission was free. Even today I am puzzled, particularly when I look at those murals inside the grandstand showing the place packed to capacity. I think I now have some of the answers. For a start racing is not in the South African psyche, not in the way rugby and cricket are, and it is organised to generate betting turnover rather than appeal to the public. Eight race cards, with 35 minutes between each race, is the norm – and on big days there are usually more with even longer intervals between races.
SA Racing – We Can Get It Right
Let’s Rethink The Show
A jockey, chartered accountant, published author, and better known to South African racing folk as a top-notch journalist, Michael Clower announced his retirement last week at the age of 76.
Enjoy the inimitable Clower Power style!
We covered his background, which makes for interesting reading, some years ago – read more here
The stands were as good as anything in Ireland, and infinitely better than those on the majority of that country’s 26 courses, while the broad expanse of white-railed course and its beautifully mown lush green grass was a sight for sore eyes.
We asked Michael to give us a short recap of his time here and provide some of his informed opinion and a few anectdotes of his life in the game.
When I walked into Kenilworth for the first time in February 2006, a few days after arriving in this country, I thought: “Wow! What a racecourse.”
Everybody was friendly and helpful – Joey Ramsden seemed to know who I
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Who has got four or five hours to sit and watch nothing happening for half an hour at a time? You’ve got to be a racing addict to want to do that, particularly when a 25-minute interval would be plenty long enough. Seemingly, though, Phumelela wants to mix it with overseas races every five to ten minutes, and it seems to have persuaded many overseas countries to follow suit. Could this be one of the reasons why attendances have been falling steadily around the world in recent years? These days it’s all flat-racing, even though hurdle racing proved such a hit at the old Hunt Club meetings. People in South Africa say jump racing is cruel. I say that’s b***s. Horses are bred to race, most like jumping and those that don’t wouldn’t be worth persevering with.
Read the full fascinating story
click here
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Candiese Lenferna
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Henning Pretorius (left) of Summerhill Equestrian accepts the Stallion Prospect award for Act Of War from Warwick Render
KZN Stars Celebrate
The KZN Breeders Awards function for the 2019/20 season was held at the Nottingham Road Hotel on Friday evening.
The theme was ‘A Touch Of Tweed’ and despite the lockdown restrictions and social distancing, it was a typically intimate gathering of the local band of breeders and guests, including sponsor representatives, to celebrate the nationwide successes of the #KZNbred.
Breeders Horse Of The Year. The chestnut Ronnie’s Candy is by the ill-fated King Of Kings (Sadler’s Wells ) out of the three-time winner Bennie And the Jets (Jet Master) – who received the accolade as Broodmare Of The Year.
Champion 3YO Filly - sponsor: Far End Pretraining Missisippi Burning Champion 3YO Colt-sponsor: Equifeeds Captain Tatters
The Winners: Champion 2YO Colt-sponsor: The Equine Group
Champion Older Female-sponsor: Candiese Lenferna Photography Ronnie’s Candy
St John Gray’s Graystone Stud-bred mare Ronnie’s Candy, a sensational winner of the R425 000 Gr1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein in June, was a multiple award winner, including KZN
Garrulous Champion 2YO Filly -sponsor: Odds On Colours
Champion Older Male-sponsor: Epol Prince Of Kahal
War Of Athena
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Candiese Lenferna
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Warwick Render is awarded the Anita Akal Industry Award and accepts the trophy from friend and colleague, Bruce Le Roux Champion Sprinter-sponsor: Choice Carriers Prince Of Kahal Champion Middle Distance Female-sponsor Hollywoodbets
Stallion Prospect-sponsor:Thoroughbred Breeders Association Act Of War Broodmare Of The Year-sponsor: Almiray Vet
Ronnie’s Candy Champion Middle Distance Male-sponsor: Golden Sword
Lifetime Achievement - sponsor: Truck Centre Durban Peter and Jenny Blyth Anita Akal Award
Bennie Andthe Jets Champion Breeders-sponsor:Truck Centre Durban
Chijmes Champion Stayer -sponsor: High Eagle Stud
Rathmor Stud
Warwick Render Horse Of The Year -sponsor: Gold Circle
Summerhill Stud Breeding Achievement-sponsor: Summerhill Equestrian
Paths Of Victory
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Ronnie’s Candy
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STAMPEDE FOR THE
CTS GOLD RUSH!
In a first ever for South African racing, Cape Thoroughbred Sales (CTS) has introduced the CTS Gold Rush, broadly based on the Pegasus World Cup, with 16 slots available to owners, whose runners will compete for R7,5-million. The CTS Gold Rush, to be run over 1600m, presents the exciting challenge to find the right horse to contest this restricted race in which 16 Prospectors stake their claim for the massive purse, R5-million of which will be paid to the winning owner.
Prior to the commencement of the 2021 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, to be staged at De Grendel Estate, 14 slots will be sold for R400k each. Two additional slots will be reserved, for a
12-month period, for ‘buy-ins’ at R600k each. The ‘buy-in’ slots will be sold on a first-come-first-served basis.
The Prospectors (16 ticket owners) have a right to the 16 slots in the race, irrespective of who owns the horse. This allows for the 16 Prospectors to negotiate outright purchases, partnership deals, or lease agreements with the owners of any potential contending sales graduates, which will create opportunities for every single 2021 CPYS buyer, not just a select few.
in Australia and the US. It has been modified for the 2021 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, and early responses are encouraging.” The breakdown of prize money will be as follows: 1ST PLACE: R5-million 2ND PLACE: R1-million 3RD PLACE: R600,000 4TH PLACE: R500,000
Six emergency acceptors will be in place, to ensure full participation in the race.
5TH PLACE: R400,000
Grant Knowles, Bloodstock and Marketing Director for CTS, commented: “The Gold Rush is an exciting concept that works effectively
Click here for Application form
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Click here for Terms and Conditions
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Subscribed
Candiese Lenferna
Bass Racing’s Centenary Syndicate has been fully subscribed less than 2 days after its launch.
IRON BREW! Monday 7 December 2020 will go down as a big day in the life of SA Jockey Academy second-year apprentice Kaidan Brewer, who rode the first winner of his career.
The 4kg claiming Kaidan steered the unfancied Roy’s Magic to victory for owner Roy Moodley and Hollywoodbets trainer Kumaran Naidoo in the fifth race at Hollywoodbets Greyville. It was his 25th ride.
Fractional ownership opportunities make racing accessible and affordable to the mass market. South African racing has seen a lot of success already in syndicates like Greenstreet Bloodstock, Onamission Syndication, The Tractor Syndicates, Dean Kannemeyer Racing Syndicate and Normandy Racing Syndicates. “We want people to enjoy racing, be enthusiastic about owning a racehorse and all at a highly affordable rate. The filly we have purchased is Nippy Winter, a daughter of What a Winter out of Noosa. She has been 100% syndicated in what must’ve been a day and a half. The popularity of the syndicate has been outstanding,” said a spokesman for the Bass team. Nippy Winter was pre-trained by Bass Racing for the recent CTS Ready To Run Sale and 100 shares were sold for R3500 each, excl vat. The once -off cost includes training fees, post-sales vetting and insurance during her racing career.
IT’S AUTHENTIC ALRIGHT While fractional ownership may be catching on here, micro ownership created plenty of joy for 5300 owners when Bob Baffert trained his sixth Kentucky Derby winner, Authentic. Among Authentic’s partnership owners is Myracehorse.com, a website-based syndicate operation allowing subscribers to purchase tiny shares in their horses. Included in the partnership are Spendthrift, Madaket Stables and Starlight Racing. Global racing fans recently voted Spendthrift Farm’s new 2021 stallion Authentic (Into Mischief) as their Horse of the Year. Authentic earned 5 wins and 2 placings from 7 starts in 2020. Two of his victories came in the Gr1 Kentucky Derby and Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Classic. What added to his wide-spread appeal with Vox Populi voters in 50 different countries is that a percentage of Authentic is owned by My Racehorse Stable.
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Young captain – colt by Captain Of All ex Red Eminence
Raving At Riverton! Riverton Stud are consistently among the leading breeders in South Africa in terms of Average Earnings Per Runner and the vast number of black-type horses bred from a relatively small band of mares is a prime example of how a smaller farm can produce genuine quality. Natasha Barry sent us this image of a lovely racy colt born on the beautiful Robertson farm on 25 November,
He is by the Riverton bred Captain Of All, a son of champion Captain Al and an Equus Champion Sprinter in 2014/2015. The treble Gr1 winning Captain Of All won 6 races. He has produced some decent sorts, including Gr2 TAB/Betting World Dingaans winner Shango, Gr2 Pospack SA Fillies Nursery winner Springs Of Carmel and high-class sprinter Cartel Captain.
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The colt is out of the beautiful grey one-time winning mare Red Eminence (Grey Eminence (USA) ex Queen Of Rubies by Dominion Royale). Red Eminence is a half sister to Hard Rock, Mia Joshua and Solar Galleon – the latter is dam of the exported stakes winner Potent Power.
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Chase Liebenberg
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Chase That Dream In this second of our new series on jockey sponsors, we tell how Cape-based racing photographer Chase Liebenberg has joined forces with award-winning apprentice Joshwin Solomons. Joshwin, son of the established lightweight rider Morne Winnaar, was crowned Cape Jockey of The Year at the recent Cape Racing Awards. Hailing from a racing family, that includes former amateur jockey and assistant trainer Wendy Michel, as well as sister Genevieve, who was a groundbreaker in the female riding ranks in SA, the 26 year old Chase is a familiar face on Western Cape racetracks, doing his rounds of the training grounds and sales around the country, producing top quality and emotionally captivating images. In 2018 he decided to take the leap
and begin freelancing. “I love what I do when it comes to racing photography, with a variety of clients, both local and foreign, in many sectors of the game. They all love their horses and that is key for me to produce the work I do,” he told the Sporting Post. Joshwin grew up on the mean streets of Manenberg and Chase says that the sponsorship provides him with an opportunity to kickstart the career of somebody who didn’t have the same opportunities he had. “He is a well-rounded individual with tons and a balanced rider. For someone who is still so young and wet behind the ears, he has the ability to follow instructions to the letter.” It’s been a flying start for the partnership and in double quick time Joshwin has racked up three wins under
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the Chase Liebenberg Photography branding. While Covid-19 has impacted upon Chase’s business like the rest of the world, he is happy to be up and running again. “It drastically affected me, not being allowed back on the course to work with the recommencement of racing earlier this year. I didn’t enjoy the fact that I could not be there for my clients. Luckily this has changed and we are working again!” he concluded. We will be running a weekly profile of jockey sponsors. If you would like to tell us about your brand, or are in a position to offer a sponsorship, please drop us a line at editor@sportingpost.co.za
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BRINGING SMILES TO CHRISTMAS Former leading Tellytrack presenter Shaheen Shaw is looking to play his part to make this a special Christmas for many.
www.gertradamalgas.org.za.
these kids’ Christmas the best ever.
They add necessities, as well as a toy and some lovely eats.
The Gertrada Malgas Foundation was initially founded in 2014 to help better the lives of a community close to Phillipi where there are a huge prevalence of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome.
Can you assist?
If you wish to donate for a box, follow the link to the GMF website, or you can make an EFT Gertrada Malgas Foundation
The organisation now feed up to 200 people 2 meals a day – most of them children. Food alone is not the answer, and they are now in the process of teaching the woman to sew to earn money. The Foundation plans to give every child a Love Box for Christmas – see details of what will be in the boxes on
Please either pack a box and deliver it, or you can donate R180 and sponsor a box – that is often the easiest way as you then do not have to go shopping and can rather donate the money you save on fuel or courier cost, for a second box. If you like to be hands-on and want to experience this project, you are also welcome to volunteer to help pack and sort boxes. So many exciting options. Maybe this year companies can skip the office parties? Covid is still an issue and rather donate that money to help make
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• Bank: FNB • Branch number: 250655 • Account number: 62873227360 • Ref: Love Box + your Cell no If you would like to visit and/or help pack boxes, please contact Shane or Rashida on 081 584 0464 If you cannot donate R180 and still would like to help, you are welcome to donate what you can toward the project – a lot of small amounts can add up to a lot of boxes and many happy faces!
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updated 2020-12-07
TRAINERS Name
Runs
Mr P A Peter Mr S J Snaith Mr P F Matche� Mr S G Tarry Mr M F de Kock
351 464 342 274 192
Wins Win% 47 69 33 30 34
13.4 14.9 9.6 10.9 17.7
2nd
3rd
35 57 33 29 23
32 49 26 35 19
Other Places Place %
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
31.1 34.1 25.7 33.6 35.4
2,581,200 2,157,625 1,509,450 1,368,050 1,628,100
3,632,925 3,301,375 2,589,925 2,541,200 2,336,675
Other Places Place %
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
3,412,900 1,857,600 3,352,600 2,431,000 1,746,250
5,308,450 2,587,600 4,792,375 3,460,175 2,561,100
42 52 29 28 26
109 158 88 92 68
JOCKEYS Name
Runs Wins Win%
2nd
3rd
Mr L Hewitson Mr G M Cheyne Mr W B Kennedy Mr S Khumalo Mr K de Melo
585 319 414 263 318
81 38 48 28 31
66 43 46 30 39
85 70 54 50 49
14.5 21.9 13.0 19.0 15.4
82 39 74 25 51
229 120 168 83 121
39.1 37.6 40.6 31.6 38.1
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 Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) Varsfontein Stud
206 302 173 111
597 926 526 351
25,153 15,970 19,286 27,366
56 70 44 42
78 81 53 61
27.2 23.2 25.4 37.8
196 294 123 141
2 2 3 1
2 2 3 1
5,181,550 4,822,825 3,336,413 3,037,650
86
261 29,499
25
33
29.1
87
5
8
2,536,950
SIRES Name Master Of My Fate Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) Silvano (GER) Querari (GER) Var (USA)
Runrs Runs AEPR 137 131 123 147 93
442 408 363 476 288
22,508 22,584 23,460 17,709 26,051
B.T. Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Rnrs % 39 41 34 38 29
47 52 42 46 39
28.5 31.3 27.6 25.9 31.2
169 129 106 157 105
See all the detailed standings - Click here 42
2 2 3 0 1
B.T. Wins
Total Stakes (R)
2 2 3 0 2
3,083,625 2,958,475 2,885,575 2,603,275 2,422,725
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PIRATES FAVOURED IN DURBAN Orlando Pirates and Bloemfontein Celtic will battle it out for the MTN8 title at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday.
Maduka’s side, who overcame hefty odds to beat favourites Mamelodi Sundowns and holders SuperSport United.
Chad Nagel writes that Josef Zinnbauer’s charges enter the clash as heavy favourites, but they’ll have to bring their A-game against John
Pirates last won the MTN8 in 2011 and Celtic have not been champions of this competition since 2005 when it was known as SAA Super 8.
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• Bloemfontein Celtic vs Orlando Pirates | Saturday 12 December | Moses Mabhida Stadium | 18h00 To Win Bloem Celtic 15/4 Draw 5/2 Orlando Pirates 7/10
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To Lift Cup Bloem Celtic 21/10 Orlando Pirates 7/20
times in the DStv Premiership.
Probable line-ups:
Orlando Pirates
Bloem Celtic: 4-3-3
Bloemfontein Celtic
Orlando Pirates remain unbeaten in the DStv Premiership but sit fourth for drawing too many games. The Buccaneers have won just two and drawn four of their six matches played in the league.
Mabokgwane; Ngobeni, Pfumbidzai, Mahashe, Baloyi; Luthuli, Phalane, Masuku; Potsane, Mabena, Letsoalo.
Bloemfontein Celtic are aiming to win their first trophy since the 2012/13 campaign when they lifted the Telkom Knockout Cup under then coach Clinton Larsen. Standing in Celtic’s way is a newly assembled Orlando Pirates team who many analysts and pundits have tipped for silverware this season. It certainly will be a tough task for Maduka’s team but Siwelele have proven they are adept at punching above their weight. Coming up against a big side like Pirates holds no fear and it will bring the best out of the squad. This will be Celtic’s third final in the last few years and Maduka will be desperate for a better ending after his team went down to Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup final at the end of last season. Maduka captained Celtic to glory in this very competition in 2005 when it was still called the SAA Super 8. Come Saturday, he’ll be looking to make history and become the first person to lead his team to top-eight cups as captain and coach. Worryingly for Siwelele, there’s been a lack of creativity in midfield and a shortage of firepower upfront, having found the back of the net just four
However, one of those victories came against Bloem Celtic at the beginning of the month. Siphesihle Ndlovu came off the bench to score the winner as the Bucs secured a 1-0 win at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium. With that victory still fresh in their minds, Zinnbauer’s side will fancy another win over Siwelele and bring the club’s six-year trophy drought to an end. The Buccaneers have won the MTN8 trophy twice and Zinnbauer will be under pressure to add the third. Pirates kicked off their MTN8 campaign by beating Cape Town City 1-0 in the quarter-finals before defeating Kaizer Chiefs 5-0 over two legs in the semis.
Orlando Pirates: 4-3-3 Ofori; Jooste, Nyauza, Hlatshwayo, Maela; Makaringe, Motshwari, Monare; Pule, Lepasa, Hotto. Prediction: Orlando Pirates (7/10) Zinnbauer’s side haven’t been firing on all cylinders so far this season, but the signs are there, and it’s just a matter of time before they find their rhythm. Celtic lie 14th in the DStv Premiership, having lost three of their five matches. Pirates are the better side with so many X-factor players and I fancy them to win this game and finally end their trophy drought.
Zinnbauer’s side haven’t conceded a goal in the competition with new signing Thulani Hlatshwayo forming a solid partnership with Ntsikelelo Nyauza. Vincent Pule netted a well-taken brace in last weekend’s 2-2 draw against Cape Town City in the DStv Premiership and the Bafana Bafana winger will be looking to continue where he left off and help Pirates claim MTN8 glory.
CAN YOU HELP? CARING FOR EQUINES COSTS PLENTY! Please visit us at www.coastalhorsecareunit.org.za
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