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De Kock star Malmoos – can he redeem his reputation?
SPOTLIGHT ON GAUTENG FERRARIS RIDES MALMOOS
With the Cape having dominated the national racing landscape for some weeks, the focus shifts this weekend to the running of the World Sports Betting Gr2 Gauteng Guineas and the Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas at Turffontein on Saturday. The two races will be run over 1600m on the Standside track. The WSB Gauteng Guineas is the first leg of the WSB SA Triple Crown while the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas is the first leg of the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara for fillies. The Cape Guineas and Cape Fillies Guineas are alternative first legs should Dean Kannemeyer and Justin Snaith decide to bring Russian Rock
and Captain’s Ransom to Turffontein for the respective other legs.
Paul Peter’s charge is sure to unearth any flaws in the De Kock pair.
Trainer Mike de Kock has brought out two of his stable stars for the WSB Gauteng Guineas in Mount Pleasant and Malmoos.
Second Base has done little wrong and is a winner of five of his six starts. This will be the acid test for the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained runner.
The former is the best-handicapped runner in the field and is probably better suited to 1600m.
Another clash between Anything Goes and War Of Athena is sure to get the taste buds salivating in the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas.
The mount of Met winning jockey, Luke Ferraris, Malmoos, on the other hand, could be preferred once they start going further for the second and third legs. Both disappointed in their respective last starts but De Kock is sure to have sorted out the problems. Dingaans winner Catch Twentytwo has been superb since he was gelded, and
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The latter finally had her first victory over Stuart Pettigrew’s runner, but Anything Goes was in need of the run and the contest with Paul Matchett’s charge should be a lot more competitive on Saturday. Click here for the final feature fields
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Chase Liebenberg
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A thrilled Luke Ferraris salutes as Rainbow Bridge storms to victory
A BRIDGE OF BEAUTY
Eric Sands’ gallant 6yo Rainbow Bridge joined the rarified ranks of dual Met winners Pocket Power and Politician when he stormed up down the wide outside of the Kenilworth track in the famous Rattray silks – worn by 2004 victor Yard Arm - under newly qualified jockey Luke Ferraris, to win the R1 million Gr1 Cape Town Met.
A winner of the race in 2019 under Anton Marcus when running in the silks of the late Chris Gerber, Rainbow Bridge has been a model of top league consistency and seemed to relish the absence of the crowds as racing on Cape Town’s biggest day went ahead in sunny, almost windless conditions, behind closed doors. Avontuur-sponsored Luke Ferraris, who only months ago came out of his time as SA Champion Apprentice, rode a cracker at his third start on the smashing gelding. After marginally frustrating seconds on Rainbow Bridge in both the
Green Point Stakes and the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, Ferraris got the hang of things and rose to the big occasion, producing a peach of a ride from lengths off the Cirillo gallop into the home straight. And it wasn’t as if there was no pressure on the young man’s shoulders – trainer Eric Sands, who has been through his frustrations with trying to find the perfect jockey fit for the Ideal World gelding, told how he had sent Ferraris a message on Friday evening, telling him he believed he ‘had the right man on top’. Ferraris said afterwards that ‘it doesn’t get better than the Met’ and it all felt surreal. Off a muddling, but not always pedestrian gallop, Gauteng challenger Running Brave conceded the charge to Cirillo coming for home, and Gavin Lerena had the son of Pomodoro in front and galloping comfortably. Inside the final 300m Richard Fourie
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launched his own plan and sprung Belgarion into a lead down the inside - and the son of Dynasty looked to have done enough. But Ferraris had other plans and Rainbow Bridge grew wings as he flew down the wide outside to win by a deceptive margin of 1,75 lengths in a time of 123,51 secs. Candice Bass-Robinson’s 100-1 outsider Sovereign Spirit threw something of a question mark on reality, when running the race of his life in the conditions to find third 3,25 lengths further back. The dual July winner Do It Again is battling to find his feet and was well beaten in fourth. The rest didn’t really feature, with many folk’s lurker and Premier Trophy surprise runner-up African Night Sky, also failed to deliver. The Met win was Ferraris's second feature success on the day after
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Chase Liebenberg
Ambionix won the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes earlier. Originally a R300 000 National Yearling Sale buy, Rainbow Bridge was bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein and is a 6yo gelded son of Ideal World (Kingmambo) – himself a son of champion racemare Banks Hill, a full-sister to champion sire Dansili as well as the Gr1 sires Cacique and Champs Elysees. Rainbow Bridge, whose younger Philanthropist half-brother Golden Ducat failed to spark and finished out of the money, is out of the seven-time winner and multiple SA Champion broodmare Halfway To Heaven (Jet Master. Rainbow Bridge has won 9 races with 11 places from 21 starts for stakes for stakes of R7 593 125.
The Merits Rainbow Bridge has had his rating raised from 132 to 134 after he recorded his second win in the Gr1 Cape Town Met. As it happens he also achieved a mark of 134 when he won the race in 2019, and again when finishing 2nd behind the subsequently re-
tired One World in the 2020 renewal of the Met. It was 2nd placed Belgarion who was used as the line horse to assess the race, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 130, while 3rd placed Sovereign Spirit goes up from 106 to 124. The only other increase was for
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Princess Calla, who is up from 116 to 118. Three horses were given a ratings’ decrease. 4th finisher Do It Again is down from 131 to 129, Cirillo was trimmed from 126 to 125, and African Night Sky is down from 115 to 110.
COOL HAND LUKE
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Chase Liebenberg
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Cover Image: Anton Marcus shows his love for Run Fox Run after the Foxwedge mare won the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship on Saturday Image courtesy of Candiese Lenferna
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The Rainbow Bridge master plan to attack up the outside rail to win Saturday’s R1 million Gr1 Cape Town Met was hatched well in advance of the race and carried out to clockwork precision by 19 year old reigning SA Champion Apprentice, and now a fully-fledged jockey, Luke Ferraris. Saturday’s 159th renewal of the Cape flagship was held without a spectator in sight for the first time in its history. But the morbid absence of buzz and on-course atmosphere was hardly noticed as Avontuur’s massively talented fresh-faced flagbearer Luke Ferraris rode himself into the history books as the youngest modern era jockey to win the race. Coming from last turning for home, he charged up the outside rail on Eric Sands’ 6yo Rainbow Bridge – only the third horse after Politician and Pocket
Power to win the great race more than once. Multiple Met winning jockey Garth Puller told the Sporting Post that the young Ferraris rode ‘the perfect race’. “Luke rode Rainbow Bridge like this really good horse wants to be ridden. He is a top horse who wants to be sat on – that’s what he needed, and he enjoyed going to fetch the opposition. Luke really got it right – a jolly good ride. I’m so happy for him and his family – these are defining moments in a young man’s career,” said the former champion. A third generation member of a famous SA horseracing family, with Granddad Ormond and Dad David great trainers in their own right, Luke also became the first Ferraris to win the Met. It was a sunny Saturday in January 1998 that Piere Strydom produced the David
Chase Liebenberg
Celebrations for Luke Ferraris and Eric Sands
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Ferraris-trained North By Northwest who flew up to head Anthony Delpech and Imperious Sue in the final stages of the R750 000 J&B Met. Just when it looked like the Ferraris team would be celebrating, David Payne’s Imperious Sue dug deep with her 5,5 kg weight advantage to reel in North By Northwest and gain the narrowest of verdicts. While he was only born a couple of years later, Luke Ferraris was to be the man to engrave his famous family name on the Met silverware twenty two years after his Dad’s crushing disappointment. The soft spoken rider said that the plan on Saturday was always to switch to the outside of the track in the run for home. “Rainbow Bridge is a horse with a reputation for hanging out. So we knew that if we went to the outside
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he could hang all he wanted, and it would not make any difference. That way we also avoided trouble, scrimmaging and any traffic issues. He was so relaxed at the back of the field, and when I asked him he responded like a horse who knew exactly what he wanted.”
proud to have achieved this victory in the famous Rattray silks. At this point I want to mention my sponsors, Avontuur. Pippa Mickleburgh has been a truly wonderful support and sounding board. I really do appreciate and value everybody’s support – and that includes my wonderful family!”
Luke said that it was around the 100m marker that he drew level with Belgarion and felt he had the race wrapped up.
We asked him how it felt to have bagged South Africa’s most prestigious race just months after coming out of his apprenticeship, and to have topped what British champion Ryan Moore couldn’t do twelve months earlier when running second on Rainbow Bridge to One World.
“I had them all on the phone all of Saturday evening. They are all so chuffed about the Met win. I miss them naturally, but I have been away at boarding school for many years – so one gains independence and it toughens us up.” What are his future plans?
“Richard Fourie probably got away two or three lengths from us on Belgarion on the inside of the track – but Rainbow Bridge has such an unbelievable turn of foot, he converted the deficit in strides. He really was at the top of his game on Saturday. All credit to Mr Eric Sands and his team for having him so well.” We asked if the message from the veteran trainer on Friday evening that he felt he had the right jockey on board was any pressure? “To the contrary, Mr Sands’ endorsement actually boosted my confidence and I went into the race full of positivity. It’s a good feeling for a jockey when you have the belief of the team behind you. And I’m
Luke said that he could not have achieved what he had in his short career without the rides and support of leading stables, and that international champions like Ryan Moore were his role models when growing up. “Words really cannot describe how it felt to win the Met. I’m still digesting it and replaying the race in my mind.It feels a bit surreal.” While Luke lives with his good friend and colleague Lyle Hewitson in Johannesburg, we asked if he was finding it difficult with his family so far away in Hong Kong?
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“I am looking forward to riding Malmoos for Mr De Kock on Saturday in the Gauteng Guineas. He drew against the paint and we’d like to bounce back from his Cape Guineas performance – he is much better than that,” he said of the impressive 3yo who won his first four on the trot before a below-par effort in the classic in December. While there is talk about Australian plans, we asked if Hong Kong was on his radar and would he go East if given the opportunity? “That’s out of my hands entirely. I am working hard to gain experience and ride as many winners as possible. To answer your question – yes, I would definitely go and ride in Hong Kong if the opportunity ever presented itself.”
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Mauritzfontein
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Met stallion: Ideal World (Kingmambo – Banks Hill)
IT'S AN IDEAL WORLD
Rainbow Bridge's stirring repeat victory in the Gr1 Cape Town Met made him only the third horse in racing history to win the Western Cape's premier race more than once.
when beaten three shortheads in that remarkable Gr2 Green Point Stakes won by Legal Eagle, finished third in the Gr1 L'Ormarins Queen's Plate and capped his summer campaign with a splendid first Met win in 2019.
He finds himself in the very best of company considering he joined legends of the turf Politician and Pocket Power, the latter completing a record hat-trick in 2009.
He has since established himself amongst the country's elite runners with additional Gr1 wins in the Champions Cup and last season's Gold Challenge, while reaching the frame in top level races such as the Vodacom Durban July (second) and L'Ormarins Queen's Plate (second and third twice).
Lest we forget, Rainbow Bridge had given notice of his considerable talent as a three-year-old when he ripped through his first five starts, winning both the Gr3 Winter Guineas and Gr3 Winter Classic, while shaving almost a second off the 1450m Durbanville track record in the Gr3 Matchem Stakes.
So much has been written about Rainbow Bridge's remarkable dam Halfway To Heaven, whose first three foals are all Gr1 winners, yet it must be remembered that , like his sire Ideal World, she contributed just half of her son's genes.
He tasted defeat for the first time
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Based at Mauritzfontein, this son of world-leading sire Kingmambo out of Dansili's champion own sister Banks Hill is fast stamping his authority on the Met. Rainbow Bridge's first win came exactly three years after first-crop daughter Smart Call claimed the scalp of subsequent Horse of the Year Legal Eagle in the 2000m race. A multiple champion and triple Gr1 winner in her birth country, she subsequently departed for Britain and under the tutelage of Sir Michael Stoute, went on to cap an English campaign with victory in the Gr3 Hopping Stakes. Ideal World, who entered stud in 2010 as a Gr2-placed, dual French stakes winner, has to date sired 26 stakes winners and in true Mauritzfontein tradition, the blue-blooded stallion has made his mark as a classic stallion.
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His third Gr1 winner is SA Derby hero Samurai Warrior, while Cape Speed won the Gr3 Track and Ball Derby and daughter Zante the Gr3 Track and Ball Oaks. She was nosed out by paternal half-brother Hermoso Mundo in a pulsating finish to the 2017 Gold Cup, the pair finishing well clear of their rivals. With the Gold Bowl and Gold Vase in the bag, Hermoso Mundo made it a clean sweep of staying events, a feat which earned him the Equus Stayer Award. Adding to that memorable occasion, Ideal World's son Shady World had won the 3600m Port Elizabeth Gold Cup 48 hours earlier! Daughter Onesie likewise captured the country's longest staying event and is still earning her keep at age seven, a marvellous example of
toughness and endurance! While Ideal World's progeny tend to come into their own with maturity and many excel over ground, he is quite capable of siring stakes class juveniles, his daughter Inverroche being a fine example. A winner on debut, she next captured the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes before picking up Gr1 black type when third in the Allan Robertson Championship.
amongst Ideal's World's tally of stakes winners. Those that come to mind include Vistula (Gr2 Joburg Fillies & Mares Challenge), Zen Arcade (Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes), Mount Laurel (Gr3 Three Troikas Stakes), Helen's Ideal (Stormsvlei Mile) and Luna Child (Breeders Guineas). And while Rainbow Bridge is not a miler per se, he captured the mile Gr1 Gold Challenge with a bold display of front-running elan!
Coral Bay was imbued with precocity, winning both the Kenilworth Fillies Nursery and Irridescence Stakes, son Kimberley Star captured the Champion Juvenile Cup, while Syringa Stakes winner Persian Rug had given notice of her talent early on when third in the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes. Milers also feature prominently
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RIDGEMONT FOX CAN RUN! It’s been quite a long hot summer for the Brett Crawford Racing Team, but the cooling champagne breeze arrived in under a minute of race action for the power players as the Ridgemont speed queen Run Fox Run scored a well-deserved maiden Gr1 victory, outgunning a high-class field to win the R750 000 Cape Flying Championship. In perfect conditions, Anton Marcus rode a perfectly judged race on the daughter of Foxwedge, who further enhanced her considerable paddock value in the prestigious speed contest. Backed from an opening call of 8-1, Run Fox Run (9-2) relished the near
wind-free conditions as she put her extraordinary speed into play – and then kicked on powerfully under Marcus to easily resist the late challenge of Rio Querari (11-2) by three quarters of a length in a nippy 57,74 secs. The favourite Celtic Sea (18-10) had no answer and had to be content with third, a further three lengths back. Trainer Brett Crawford called it ‘mission accomplished’ as the speedy mare realised the sought after Gr1 prize.
Run Fox Run has won 8 races with 3 places from 11 starts for stakes of R1 140 350. An A$420,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Craig Roscoe and Brett Crawford from the Mill Park draft, Run Fox Run was the most expensive yearling by her sire sold at that sale. The winner is a half-sister to stakes-winner Guard of Honour and is the third winner from the well-related General Nediym mare Victory Cry.
Crawford said that he believed that to win races at the highest level, preparations need to go through without a hitch, and that is what Run Fox Run enjoyed.
Chase Liebenberg
Anton Marcus steers Run Fox Run to victory
The Merits Run Fox Run remains unchanged on a mark of 122 following her success in the WFA Gr1 Cape Flying Championship over 1000m at Kenilworth on Saturday. She was used as the line horse, along with Erik The Red, who accordingly remains unchanged on a rating of
114. In assessing the race this way, Tempting Fate and Elusive Trader ran to their ratings as well, which leaves them unchanged on 113 and 105, respectively. 2nd placed Rio Querari is up from 113 to 125, while the only other increase
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was for Cartel Captain, who is up from 107 to 109. There were ratings drops for four horses. 3rd placed Celtic Sea was cut from 126 to 124, 4th finisher Bold Respect is down from 120 to 118, Russet Air was dropped from 125 to 123, and Pacific Trader goes from 123 to 120.
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Chase Liebenberg
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Anton Marcus – Gr1 number 108 and his fast Fox
RIDGEMONT’S FLYING FOX GR1 GLORY FOR MAGICAL MARE An 108th career Gr1 success for Ridgemont Racing’s former SA Champion jockey Anton Marcus, and an overdue Gr1 icebreaker for the leading Cape breeders’ Australian-bred speed queen and equine millionaire, Run Fox Run.
now joining the illustrious company of the likes of the great Sentinel, and subsequent multiple SA Champion Sire Jet Master, amongst a host of big names of the South African speed turf.
As the shadows lengthened over Kenilworth on Cape Town Met day on Saturday, the sensational showing by the Brett Crawford-trained Run Fox Run to win the prestigious Gr1 Cape Flying Championship would go down as a standout performance on a superb day of racing.
While Run Fox Run was registering her eighth win from just eleven starts on Saturday, she turned the tables on her Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint conqueror, multiple Equus champion Celtic Sea, and courageously lifted her game from a fourth in the same event a year ago, to have her top conditioner Brett Crawford conceding that she was ‘the best today that I have ever had her’.
First run at Milnerton 52 years ago, the ‘Cape Flying’ has become the benchmark for sprinting excellence. The honour roll is populated by champions over the decades, with Ridgemont’s crack flyer Run Fox Run
“This is how really good she is off a perfect prep! We knew she had this in her. I’m thrilled for the Ridgemont team. Let’s enjoy the moment,” added Crawford, who said that future plans would be discussed with the Kieswetter
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family. Jockey Anton Marcus, who had ridden a record 107 Gr1 winners prior to Saturday, has been aboard at 6 of Run Fox Run’s 8 victories, and was overcome with a rare show of emotion as he hugged and kissed the magnificent mare. In his typically laconic style, Marcus told the Sporting Post that Run Fox Run was ‘very good’ and that the Brett Crawford training feat was achieved with ‘military precision’. Flashing her awesome power and speed, the daughter of Foxwedge burned the emerald Kenilworth turf and enjoyed the windless conditions to win in 57,74 secs. “I will make a statement – she would
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have won today in a gentle breeze, or even in a howling south-easter. She was just better than a really class field of sprinters,” he said. Marcus said that Run Fox Run was at the top of her game and he’d consider it a privilege to return in 2022 for a defence of the prestige title. “I am not aware of what the plans are for her. I’d obviously love her to stay in training!” The Ridgemont team have been building their broodmare band with Gr1 performed impeccably-bred athletes for some seasons, and the victory by their magnificent mare had Craig Kieswetter over the moon.
Craig confirmed Brett Crawford’s statement that plans for the relatively lightly raced Run Fox Run were fluid. It would be a treat for SA racing fans were she to make her to KwaZulu-Natal for the SA Champions Season! Bred by Mill Park, Quality TB Joint Venture, SA, Run Fox Run was an A$420,000 buy from the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
five wins included the Gr1 William Reid Stakes. Foxwedge spent the middle of last decade at Whitsbury Manor Stud in Hampshire before returning to Australia, and has been based at Woodside Park Stud in Victoria. The champion is out of General Nediym mare Victory Cry – dam also of Heritage Stakes winner Guard Of Honour, and a full-sister to the stakes winning Victory Chant. A close relative of Run Fox Run will be consigned by Mill Park at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale at Oaklands Junction from 28 February to 2 March 2021. Lot 540 is a colt by Gr1 Caulfield Guineas winner Shooting To Win, out of the Starcraft mare Champagne Jane, a half-sister to Run Fox Run.
She is the fourth Gr1 winner for the Fastnet Rock stallion Foxwedge, whose
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“At Ridgemont Highlands we are always striving for excellence. It’s a fact that reaching the top in the thoroughbred breeding industry is
a process of selection, application and investment – peppered with a bit of luck along the way. A proud asset for our brand, Run Fox Run has been a stalwart of consistency and courage and she has formed a lethal partnership with both Anton Marcus and Greg Cheyne. We saw a show of speed here in a high quality field that included an SA Champion Sprinter, that simply took our breath away,” he said.
James Crawford and Gwen MacGregor lead the speed star in 17
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Happy winner – Dinell Pillay
MET DAY
BIG WIN FOR STAUNCH PLAYER While nobody managed to win the record R10 million on offer for selecting all the winners on the Kenilworth Met day card, a happy Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge regular from Chatsworth in KZN
won himself R100 000 in the special edition of the popular competition on Saturday. The Cape Town Met day on Saturday played host to the first Hollywoodbets
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Punters’ Challenge held on a Cape racemeeting, and with R10 million on offer for all the winners on the day, and R200 000 shared between the top fifty.
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A thrilled Dinell Pillay, who plays under the pseudonym ‘Terdin’, even had his wife excited when he checked his Hollywoodbets account and saw that he was the winner of the R100 000 first prize.
was pleased that his assurances to his wife that one day he was actually going to win big, had finally been realised! “I am also so pleased that the major win came on such a big day on the horseracing calendar,” he said.
Relying on all of his experience and racing expertise, Dinell selected 9 of the 12 Kenilworth winners, including 2 places and accumulated 166.8 points on the leader board.
Dinell says that he spends hours studying form and checks factors like fastest times over the last 400m, and also studies comparable times over the various distances.
He finished marginally ahead of ‘Deanvz’, who won R40 000, scoring 164.88 points – and in hot form, tipping 8 winners and 2 places.
“Horse racing is a big hobby for me and I even sometimes stay up late after my wife and children have gone to bed to study the form and work out my selections. I have taken so many Pick 6’s that went out just one leg – I don’t know how many times I would have been a millionaire,” he laughs.
‘Enver’ was not far behind on 159.99 points, winning R20 000 for his very commendable performance of 7 winners and 2 places. Dinell, a big fan of online betting and a Hollywoodbets customer for six years, told the Sporting Post that it was an ‘amazing feeling’ to win, and
Besides breaking the good news to his family, the next people that he informed are the members of a horseracing group that he belongs to. They share tips and opinions about racing and were
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thrilled to hear that he had won. A father of two, Dinell is a sales team leader and has been employed at the same company for thirteen years. He has been playing the Hollywood Punters’ Challenge since it launched and concedes that the R100 000 windfall was ‘completely unexpected’. He says he would like to invest the cash – but his young sons celebrate their birthdays in February and March respectively, and those important events will be a priority!
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Names like Captain’s Lover and Ebony Flyer flashed through the memory as we watched Justin Snaith’s super smart 3yo Captain’s Ransom make short work of her opponents in Saturday’s R500 000 Gr1 Majorca Stakes at Kenilworth.
The Cape Fillies Guineas winner was backed into the red to win one of three Gr1’s on the big day, and duly delivered a second Gr1 success for owner Suzette Viljoen, who enjoyed a terrific Met day as her staying stalwart Atyaab won the New Turf Carriers Gr2 Western Cape Stayers a few hours later.
In so doing, she became the seventh 3yo winner of the Majorca in eleven runnings of the prestigious contest. Trainer Justin Snaith said of the rising star, who has only been beaten once in her six starts: “She recovers immediately, breathing goes back to normal, just no stress at all…” Captain’s Ransom, a R225 000 ticket from the 2019 National Yearling Sale,
took her stakes bank R775 875 with her fifth win in six starts. She has never missed the cash. She became her multiple champion sire Captain Al’s 24th individual Gr1 winner when she won the Cape Fillies Guineas back in December. Bred by Moutonshoek she is out of the unraced Red Ransom mare Cinna’s Ransom. The latter, dam of multiple winners in Britain, is a half-sister to Gr3 Prix de Saint-Georges winner Black Rock Desert and multiple Japanese stakes winner Toyo Seattle.Cinna’s Ransom’s own dam, the Plankton Stakes winner, City Dance is a full-sister to multiple Gr1 winner, and successful sire, Slew City Slew.
Chase Liebenberg
Jockey Richard Fourie described Captain’s Ransom as, ‘the real deal,
phenomenal and deserving of being called a champion’ after she reeled in proven Gr1 star Clouds Unfold, who was on a Majorca hat-trick, in the final stages, before going on to a facile 3,25 length win in 97,92 secs.
Richard Fourie has Captain's Ransom in full flight as Clouds Unfold (Aldo Domeyer) tries hard
The Merits Captain’s Ransom has had her rating raised from 116 to 126 after she ran out a very easy winner of the WFA Gr1 Majorca Stakes. The Handicappers were of the view that runner-up Clouds Unfold had run to the same mark of 119 as when also finishing second in the Gr1 Paddock Stakes three weeks earlier and used this level to rate
the Majorca Stakes. The decision was made to drop CLOUDS UNFOLD from 122 to 120. Aside from the winner, there were ratings’ increases for two horses. 3rd placed Kelpie is up from 107 to 115, while 4th placed Sing Out Loud is up from 109 to 111. Kelpie ran to a mark of 119, but the Handicappers decided to peg her at
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115 to keep her higher than 4th placed Chat Ching, who remains at 114. Three runners were given a ratings’ drop. Silvano’s Pride is down from 118 to 116, Pretty Young Thing drops to 116 from 118, and Third Runway drops from 107 to 104.
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PE raider Atyaab (Warren Kennedy) outstays his field to win well
ATTIE – A MET DAY HERO Another chapter in the Atyaab fairytale was written at Kenilworth on Saturday when the Australian-bred former big stable resident powered to victory in the R200 000 New Turf Carriers Gr2 Western Cape Stayers as the shadows lengthened over a largely deserted Kenilworth Racecourse. Purchased mostly blind, but with the enthusiastic support of trainer Zietsman Oosthuizen by owner Suzette Viljoen for just R150 000 off a BSA sale from Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum, the Mike de Kock 2019 Gr1 Cape Derby winner had clearly been deemed to have reached time for moving on in his environment. But former Kimberley trainer Zietsman Oosthuizen saw a flicker of hope and tending the big fellow back from just a trot when he arrived at Fairview in September, to a glorious Gr2 success on one of South Africa’s
major racedays, was professional satisfaction that he couldn’t have dreamt possible in his first full season as a trainer. Ridiculed in some quarters for trying the Summer Cup after a ten month break with only a track prep, Atyaab was in Cape Town on L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate day and ran a gutsy second behind Silver Host in the Okapi Gr3 Chairman’s Cup run over 2500m. On Saturday, he enjoyed a 3kg turnaround at the weights, was going 300m further and Warren Kennedy had gotten to know him. He was ready to go one better and showed no hangover from his ten hour road trip, looking a picture in the ring. The Fairview raider staked pacesetter Run Red the whole way round and then kept on resolutely in the straight when challenged and stayed on best at 6-1 to beat the favourite Silver Host (12-10) by 2,25 lengths in a time of
180,94 secs. This was a second feature trophy on the day for Suzette Viljoen after Captain's Ransom had annihilated her field in the Gr1 Majorca Stakes an hour earlier. Originally acquired for A$260,000, the Inglis Easter purchase for Shadwell from the Arrowfield Stud draft, is from the first crop of High Chaparral’s champion son Dundeel and is a half-brother to stakes-winner Vesper. Atyaab has won five of his nineteen starts for six places and stakes of R1 223 937. Zietsman feels that Attie’s best is yet to be seen and he has big plans on the East Coast, that include a possible tilt at the Vodacom Durban July.
The Merits Atyaab remains unchanged on a rating of 113 after his success in the Gr2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers. The Handicappers were of the view that Atyaab – who was the highest rated runner in the race – made for
the best line horse, hence his unaltered rating. Two horses were given a ratings’ increase. Runner-up Silver Host goes up from 107 to 110, while 3rd placed Catchafallingstar was raised from 92 to 97.
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There were drops for three horses. Kampala Campari is down from 108 to 105, Moon In June drops from 110 to 107, and Holy Warrior is down from 90 to 87.
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ATYAAB – TOP ADVERT FOR HIS SIRE
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Attie's impressive Dad, Dundeel Sadler’s Wells’ dual Derby winning son High Chaparral did not enjoy the longest of stud careers, dying at the age of 15. One of his legendary sire’s very best sons, High Chaparral’s six Gr1 victories included two Derbies, two Breeders’ Cup Turf wins (one a dead-heat), and a controversial win in the 2003 G1 Irish Champion Stakes. Nonetheless, High Chaparral enjoyed plenty of success at stud (particularly in the Southern Hemisphere), and left behind more than 130 stakes winners-including more than 20 Gr1 winners. His runners enjoyed success in many of the world’s premier races, with High Chaparral’s progeny capturing such major races as the Melbourne Cup, Irish Champion Stakes, Coral-Eclipse, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, Prince Of Wales’s Stakes (twice), Cox Plate (twice), Sussex Stakes, Queen Anne Stakes, and Caulfield Cup. His six time Gr1 winning son Dundeel made headlines at Kenilworth on Saturday, when his Gr1 Cape Derby winning son Atyaab lifted the Gr2
New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers in smart fashion. Atyaab, whose career earnings stand well over R1 000 000, is a fine local advert for Dundeel – whose latest stud fee was registered at A$66 000 -or more than R760 000. Dundeel, whose dual Gr1 winning son Castelvecchio stands alongside him at Arrowfield, has a 100% strike rate in South Africa, with Atyaab his sole local runner here thus far. However, Dundeel is by no means High Chaparral’s only son to make a mark in South Africa. High Chaparral’s son Enaad was crowned the country’s Champion Stayer in 2015-2016, with Enaad capturing the Gr2 Gold Cup and Gr3 Gold Vase in 2016, before going on to enjoy further success in Mauritius. Another son of High Chaparral, Gr3 Chester Vase hero Golden Sword, is the sire of Oaks Trial winner Belle Rose, while the sire’s ten time Gr1 winning son So You Think has been responsible for a handful of winners, from just a small number of runners, in South Africa.
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High Chaparral was also responsible for the classy South African based filly Chevauchee, who won both the Ladies Mile and Olympic Duel Stakes during her career. Despite spending much of his stud career pigeon holed as a better sire of colts than fillies, High Chaparral’s tally of Gr1 winners include seven females who won at the highest level. In South Africa, High Chaparral’s daughters included not only the aforementioned Chevauchee, but also Syringa Handicap heroine Being Fabulous, Michaelmas Handicap third Princess Varunya and the talented Cascapedia -victorious in all of the Gr2 Joburg Spring F&M Challenge, Gr3 London News Stakes and Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap. Also third in the 2018 Gr1 Summer Handicap, Cascapedia earned over R2 000 000 in stakes. With his sons Dundeel and So You Think both continuing to make their presence felt in Australasia, High Chaparral’s influence could continue to be felt in South Africa.
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World’s Best Racing’s top stars have been nominated for the highly an�cipated 25th running of the Dubai World Cup, which is scheduled for Saturday, 27 March at Meydan Racecourse. Among the global stars highligh�ng the nomina�ons are Knicks Go, Charlatan, Bivouac, Chrono Genesis, Addeybb and Mogul. A total of 1511 nomina�ons were accepted from 762 horses trained in 19 different countries. See all the nominations here
Ticket To Ride Some rare good news from the NHRA for a change. On Monday evening President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed to the na�on that things are looking be�er on the pandemic front. Our racing regulator moved quickly to get the albatross off their neck and re-opened the conten�ous interprovincial travel lockdown for jockeys. Addi�onally field sizes will revert to normal, while owners and their guests will be allowed access to the racecourse.
Lucky Man
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While he has had his fair share of close shaves and downright bad luck in his brief career, jockey Sandile Mbhele will be happy to have come out of a drama�c fall off My Bes�e in the Gr3 Poli�cian Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday in one piece – even though he lost out on what would have been a personal first Met ride later in the day. His mount is fine and ‘Sanzi’ came out of it with a concussion and is expected out of hospital this week and hopes to be back for the Cape Derby.
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Zak’s Back on Track! Hollywoodbets are sponsoring form fundi Dominic Zaki with a brand new daily podcast. Be�ng moves, best bets and the Zak Pick 6, are amongst the features that are covered as Dom looks at all the local mee�ngs. Available from 08h30 daily, it’s convenient, handy and won’t keep you occupied for longer than 7 minutes at best. And in this age of transparency, he gives a round-up a�er the last race – so engage with him and enjoy – click here for more
Real Rescue?
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Phumelela Gaming and Leisure Limited Business Rescuer John Evans has issued his latest status report in terms of sec�on 132(3)(a) and (b) of the Companies Act 71 of 2008 (as amended). What it all means and where it’s going is not clear. But read it here if you are interested
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THE DREAM RACES ON! The Cape’s newest equine idol and fan favourite, the Crawford-Rix trained Kommetdieding, ran the Cape Derby prep that his supporters were dreaming about, in the process keeping his perfect four-from-four unblemished record intact, when he cruised to victory in the R150 000 Gr3 Politician Stakes at a sundrenched Kenilworth on Saturday. The Klawervlei Farm Sale R55 000 bargain buy has captured the imagination of the local racing public in a phenomenon not witnessed since the heady Pocket Power days.
Perennial placer Rascallion (14-10) had every chance and was a further 1,25 lengths back in third.
their best hope ever of going on to conquer SA and the world. The winner is a son of the Black Swan Stud-based SA Derby winner Elusive Fort (Fort Wood) and is out of the thrice winning Captain Al mare, Adorable.
There was drama in the running when the forward galloping My Bestie appeared to clip heels and fell, dislodging jockey Sandile Mbhele who came down heavily. My Bestie got up and returned to the unsaddling enclosure.
He has a clean sheet in his four starts and took his earnings to R321 000 on Saturday.
But the afternoon belongs to Kommetdieding, his journeyman jockey Sihle Cele - who was very emotional post race - and the Crawford-Rix family training operation, who look to have
And the Hong Kong audience watching the race could mean there are a few feelers from abroad this week.
Next stop for Ashwin Reynolds’ star will be the Cape Derby at the end of February.
Chase Liebenberg
He made it a first stakes success and four straight wins from 1200m to 1800m when he cut them down late
under a cool ride by Sihle Cele and beat the well-backed late charging Legitimate (8-1) by 1,50 lengths in a time of 110, 61 secs.
Sihle Cele unsaddles as Michelle Rix enjoys the moment
The Merits Unbeaten Kommetdieding has had his rating raised from 112 to 117 after he recorded his fourth win from as many starts in the Gr3 Politician Stakes. The Handicappers were of the view that consistent 3rd finisher Rascal-
lion made for the most suitable line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 110. 2nd placed Legitimate has been raised from 81 to 101, 4th finisher Hoedspruit is up from 107 to 108, Juan Carlos goes up from 85 to 90,
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and Dubai Lights was raised from 91 to 93. There were ratings drops for three horses. Crimson King is down from 108 to 103, Fast Love drops from 92 to 89, and lastly Red Lark drops from 103 to 100.
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Chase Liebenberg
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Luke Ferraris rides the first leg of his big feature double as Ambiorix storms to victory
A Dazzling Debut! Vaughan Marshall and Avontuur-sponsored jockey Luke Ferraris opened the feature menu at a morbidly deserted Kenilworth on Cape Town Met day when the good-looking Vercingetorix colt Ambiorix skated clear of his opposition to win the R110 000 Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes. Attracting plenty of betting support to start at 6-1, Ambiorix showed maturity and smart pace to win impressively by 2,50 lengths in a time of 58,79 secs. He was too strong for debut winner Barzalano (5-1), who looked to have an awkward moment on the rail
The well-bred favourite High Hosanna scuppered her prospects at the start, but was well beaten a further length back in third. A Cape Premier Yearling Sale R250 000 buy, Ambiorix took his stakes to R66 000. He is raced by David Allan’s Burns Racing and was bred by Oldlands Stud from South Africa’s Leading Second Season Sire and Leading Sire of 3YO’s last season, Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the twice winning Indigo Magic mare, Our Darling. An Equus Champion, Vercingetorix has made a really very bright start to his
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stud career, and it was only a matter of days earlier that his undefeated daughter Naarah became her Dad’s first 2yo winner this term – that from just a handful of runners. The Gr1 Jebel Hatta winning Vercingetorix has three lots on the upcoming Cape Yearling Sale, and a further eight lots on offer at this year’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale . On the latter sale, these include a filly (Lot 135) out of a half-sister to July runner up Punta Arenas, a colt (Lot 162) from the same female line as champions Ajdal, Arazi and Noverre, and a half-sister to Swallow Stakes winner, Sarah.
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Seen today - Norma and Peter
90 TODAY!
Former Milnerton Course Manager and Cape Starter Peter Petterson celebrates his 90th birthday today with Elaine, his wife of almost 65 years, at their home in Plattekloof. Described as a gentleman of the Lionel Howes and Eddie Seymour vintage by Cape Trainer Peter Wrensch, Peter Petterson worked in horseracing for many years and will be known to the more senior age group amongst us. Peter was born in Cape Town on 3 February 1931, and grew up in Claremont as one of six children.
He spent time in Tanganyika as a young man and married Elaine (neè Gorton), daughter of Stanley & Phyllis
Gorton, on 17 October 1956. They lived in Bonnievale before heading to Kitwe, Zambia. Stanley’s stable was taken over by Peter Kannemeyer in the late 1960’s. Peter and Norma had four children, and three grandchildren, with one great granddaughter. Daughter Adrienne is resident in the USA, while Howard and Fiona live in the UK. Their son Guy, a popular figure in local racing and squash circles, sadly passed away suddenly in Cape Town on 19 October 2021. In a long working career, Peter was employed at Heinrich Syndicate brewery which made Chibuku Beer. He also trained a horse called Filibuster.
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Ronnie Paterson (who became a close friend) was his jockey. He played polo in Kitwe with lifelong friends and brothers, Ralph & Roy Rixon. He lived in Zambia around 1958 until 1966. On returning to the Cape in the mid-sixties, he lived in Milnerton and worked at Milnerton Race Course as Course Manager and a Starter in later years. We thank Peter Wrensch for facilitating this happy news and we join the racing industry in wishing Peter Petterson every strength on this milestone and in the years ahead.
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Lisa Young is the happy winner
WINE DOWN COTTAGE A WINNER! The Riverton Stud ‘Name Our Dam House’ Competition enjoyed a massive response from Sporting Post readers, with a host of creatively clever names for the beautiful cottage, which was launched this month. Gardens-based professional Lisa Young was over the moon when informed that her entry – Wine Down Cottage – had been adjudged the top choice after days of deliberation by the Barry Family judging panel. “I have never won anything and this is really so special as we loved Barry House On Riverton when we stayed there in my birthday week in 2019,” said an elated Lisa, who added that
both her and boyfriend Jacques worked from home in their City Bowl flat and thus their prize of a seven day breakaway at the magnificently appointed cottage was ‘a dream come true’. The brand new guest house on the dam sleeps 2 and has a separate office to ‘work from home’, while relaxing and unwinding. Riverton’s Natasha Barry confirmed that they were looking forward to hosting Lisa and Jacques, and have author, lecturer, historian and keynote speaker, Dr Dean Allen – see his website https://www.deanallen.co.za/ – and his partner as their inaugural
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guests booked for the month of February at Wine Down Cottage. “Dr Allen will be finishing his latest book in the office overlooking the dam,” said Natasha, who thanked all of the competition entrants for their efforts. Click here to find out more and to make your booking
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updated 2021-02-03
TRAINERS Name
Runs
Wins Win%
2nd
3rd
Mr S J Snaith Mr P A Peter Mr S G Tarry Mr M F de Kock Mr P F Matche�
685 501 470 315 458
107 70 62 50 46
89 57 44 46 47
66 47 54 33 36
15.6 14.0 13.2 15.9 10.0
Other Places Place %
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
34.7 30.7 33.0 38.1 27.1
5,367,975 3,611,700 2,992,550 2,585,100 2,091,450
8,104,300 5,249,925 4,787,950 3,879,925 3,555,175
Other Places Place %
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
5,441,650 2,373,600 3,619,000 3,453,150 3,287,025
8,298,950 3,589,150 5,080,425 5,754,325 4,495,025
83 50 57 41 41
238 154 155 120 124
JOCKEYS Name
Runs Wins Win%
2nd
3rd
Mr L Hewitson Mr G M Cheyne Mr S Khumalo Mr M A Yeni Mr A Marcus
850 443 406 670 327
110 47 40 74 50
101 69 48 81 28
130 84 77 75 72
15.3 19.0 19.0 11.2 22.0
127 60 48 85 49
338 176 136 240 127
39.8 39.7 33.5 35.8 38.8
BREEDERS Name
B.T. B.T. Total Runrs Runs AEPR Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Wins Stakes (R) Rnrs %
Wilgerbosdri� & Mauritzfontein Klawervlei Stud Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd Varsfontein Stud
242 356
908 37,998 1371 24,646
89 101
121 125
36.8 28.4
304 455
5 6
7 6
9,195,525 8,774,150
126 192 101
501 47,872 753 26,954 395 35,087
58 56 37
93 82 47
46.0 29.2 36.6
190 189 133
5 3 5
5 5 8
6,031,825 5,175,138 3,543,825
SIRES Name Master Of My Fate Silvano (GER) Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) What A Winter Querari (GER)
Runrs Runs AEPR 155 131 150 138 166
676 542 610 569 680
31,276 35,523 30,454 32,906 24,558
B.T. Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Rnrs % 55 50 56 51 46
72 66 74 69 64
35.5 38.2 37.3 37.0 27.7
251 160 194 196 228
See all the detailed standings - Click here 48
3 5 4 2 0
B.T. Wins
Total Stakes (R)
3 5 4 2 0
4,847,775 4,653,550 4,568,075 4,541,075 4,076,675
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Orlando Pirates (3/10), JDR Stars (11/20), Golden Arrows (12/10) and Cape Town City (9/10) all to win. Sunday 7 February
BANK ON IT! With the Telkom Knockout Cup taken away from us this season, the footballing calendar year has become a tad less hectic for clubs who can now go into each tournament fresh with ample time for preparations. With so much to look forward to in the Nedbank Cup this weekend, we’ll be taking a look at some key battles in the tournament as we look for those potential upsets, while also separating the bankers to include in all our multiples. Friday 5 February Jesse Nagel writes that there is just the double header to look forward to on Friday afternoon in the Nedbank Cup as Pretoria Callies host Royal AM, while Maritzburg United entertain Sekhukhune United. Considering Pretoria Callies are two places above Royal AM despite playing a game less, they should make it through to the next round. Callies have also won four games in a row.
Maritzburg United haven’t looked like their usual selves and face the GladAfrica’s log leaders, Sekhukhune United. With Ernst Maritzburg likely to tinker his best team around, perhaps an upset could be on the cards here. Take Pretoria Callies to win (18/10) & Maritzburg United to draw with Sekhukhune United (24/10). Saturday 6 February There are five games on Saturday in the Nedbank Cup, but our main focus is undoubtedly the KZN derby between Golden Arrows and AmaZulu. Arrows are unbeaten in Natal and have previously beaten Usuthu 2-0 at Kings Park Stadium earlier this term. The tie between Cape Town City and Bloemfontein Celtic should also prove to be a fascinating affair after the two sides played to a six-goal thriller earlier this season with City coming out 4-2 winners in the end.
As straightforward as it may have seemed on Saturday, Sunday’s Nedbank Cup ties look to be fairly easier to call with some of the DStv Premiership’s big guns taking on some favourable opposition from the GladAfrica Championship. Kaizer Chiefs, despite their derby defeat to Orlando Pirates, have looked decent in recent weeks and should be all over Richards Bay, while Swallows have the chance of overachieving yet again with a solid cup run, where they host Cape Umoya United first. The toughest game to call on the day is undoubtedly the clash between Jomo Cosmos and Black Leopards. Personally, I don’t buy into the fact that they could sacrifice this game to focus on survival. After all, it’s only February. Back Chippa United (17/20), Black Leopards (17/10), Swallows (7/20) and Kaizer Chiefs (4/10) to all get through to the next round in 90 minutes. Monday 8 February Cape Town Stars are down in a relegation fight in the GladAfrica Championship and face a Baroka side who come off the back of holding Kaizer Chiefs and Cape Town City to 1-1 draws. The Limpopo-based side seem to have turned the corner from the team they were becoming recently as they were slowly being roped into a relegation scramble. Baroka (9/20) should be in all your Nedbank Cup multiples.
My money is on TS Galaxy (13/20),
CAN YOU HELP? CARING FOR EQUINES COSTS PLENTY! Please visit us at www.coastalhorsecareunit.org.za 49