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Malmoos and Catch Twentytwo – Guineas 1st and 2nd meet again
CROWN & TIARA LEG TWO LOOMS
Gauteng star 3yo’s Malmoos and War Of Athena will be looking to keep their respective challenges for the WSB SA Triple Crown and the Wigerbosdrift Triple Tiara alive at Turffontein on Saturday.
Mike de Kock-trained Malmoos won the Gr2 WSB Gauteng Guineas last month and will line-up in the Gr 1 World Sports Betting SA Classic over 1800m, the second leg of the Triple Crown, on Saturday.
By the same token, Paul Matchett-trained War Of Athena will be looking to stamp her authority on the Triple Tiara with a victory in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic, also over 1800m.
ground at final acceptance stage.
Malmoos, however, will be lining up against Catch Twentytwo, the runner he beat by a neck in the Gauteng Guineas.
De Kock was in the international media this week after a fascinating interview conducted by Laura King on Thoroughbred Racing Commentary.
The same is not true for War Of Athena who will not have to contend with arch-rival Anything Goes, as Stuart Pettigrew’s charge did not stand her
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Luke Ferraris is back aboard Malmoos and Muzi Yeni renews his relationship with War Of Athena.
She writes that De Kock’s Blue Stables at Meydan are something of a sad sight. Once they were full of horses and
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with a South African flag flying proudly outside. Now there are just a couple of heads poking over the doors and the trophies in the office date back a few years. We can’t even blame Covid-19 for the demise of the Dubai branch of Mike De Kock’s hugely successful business. The travails began way before that, when a ban on the direct import of horses from South Africa to the European Union began in 2013, due to an outbreak of African Horse Sickness.
The ban on direct travel effectively keeps the horses away from the track for six months, meaning inevitable loss of fitness as well as racing opportunities. As a result, De Kock has slipped from training 16 winners in the UAE in 2011, to just one in 2020. His last Dubai World Cup meeting success was with Mubtaahij in the UAE Derby, back in 2015. Now, De Kock spends less time in Dubai and more in South Africa, where his run-
ners continue to plunder top races with regularity, Queen Supreme’s Gr1 Paddock Stakes and Malmoos’ Gauteng Guineas being the latest big successes. The current world #12 trainer wants more, though, and is planning a return to the glory days in Dubai, as well as using it as a base from which to send horses to Australia, where his son Mathew has entered into a training partnership with successful trainer and former jockey Robbie Griffiths. Read the full story here
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Since then, De Kock’s string have had
to travel to Dubai via the UK, and only then after first spending 30 days in quarantine in Mauritius.
War Of Athena – difficult to beat on Saturday
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Veteran Joey Soma – thumbs up for Got The Greenlight
SOMA STAR
HAWAII STARTS JULY BID
Hollywoodbets have set the pace with the ante-post betting on the 2021 Gr1 Vodacom Durban July, which is scheduled to be run at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday 3 July. The 2020 July runner-up and multiple Equus Champion Got The Greenlight, quoted at just over 8 to 1 for the 2021 renewal, returns to action in Saturday’s Gorongoza Gr2 Hawaii Stakes at Turffontein.
Trainer Joey Soma told the Sporting Post on Sunday that training routines had been badly disrupted by four weeks of rain.“We don’t have the luxury of treadmills and swimming pools, so when the tracks are not usable we are stuck. But we have done what we can. I was happy with his last gallop. He has been blowing hard after his work, but that is
to be fully expected. He will have his final sprint-up on Tuesday. But we have to start somewhere and he is nicely drawn,” added Soma, who has done a terrific job with the 2020 Gr1 Daily News 2000 winner.
the Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein over a mile on 3 April, and then the Gr1 Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m on 1 May.
Asked why his talented charge had been off for so long – he hasn’t run since the July – Joey said that he had taken the big effort in the Hollywoodbets Greyville showpiece ‘very hard’.
Thereafter it is likely to be another tilt at winning the Vodacom Durban July,” added Joey.
“We sent him to the Peters’ at Precentor Place for a bit of rest and relaxation, and then brought him home. He has furnished and matured beautifully. We have high hopes for him once we can get him fit,” he added. The veteran trainer said that Muzi Yeni would be Got The Greenlight’s jockey of choice for the season. “Muzi stepped in for the July and did nothing wrong. Our plan is to go next into
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In the ante-post market for the 3 July spectacular, Hollywoodbets have priced up Cape Town Met winner Rainbow Bridge as favourite with July defending champion Belgarion and unbeaten Cape newsmaker Kommetdieding next best. Click here and follow the prompt via horseracing for the betting
Cover Image: Malmoos, favourite for Saturday’s WSB Gr1 SA Classic – courtesy of Chase Liebenberg
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The 2021 renewal of the CTS Cape Premier Yearling Sale, to be staged for the first time at the elegant De Grendel Estate on Sunday 14 March, has produced an impressive 42 Gr1 winners since its inception in 2011. The list includes the likes of Vodacom Durban July winner Power King, recently retired Equus champion Carry On Alice, Undercover Agent, Vardy, Van Halen and Kasimir. There are also more than 180 stakes winners on the Premier honour roll, including international performers Janoobi, Singapore Sling and Lobo’s Legend. The sale has also produced five current stallions in Saturday Gr1 SA Fillies
Classic favourite sire Act Of War, William Longsword, Red Ray, Horizon and One World. The 2021 freshman sires include Erupt, Canford Cliffs, Gold Standard and Royal Mo. Top sires represented are recently retired, multiple champion Silvano, Dynasty, Trippi, Var, What A Winter, Gimmethegreenlight, Vercingetorix, Querari Oratorio, Futura and Master Of My Fate. An exciting newbie is Rafeef, who produced an impressive feature winner at Kenilworth on Derby day. Black type runs freely throughout the catalogue, with siblings to Gr1 winners Antonoe, Normanz, Noah from Goa, English Garden and Rail Trip; as well as
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siblings to other graded performers She’s a Giver, Wonderwall, Perovskia, A Women’s Way, Cosmic Light, Dynasty’s Blossom, Depardieu, Happy Valentine, Happy Forever, Louvre, Kangaroo Jack, Seeking the Stars, Flying Ice, Trickster, Celtic Voyager and Helen’s Ideal. Grant Knowles, Marketing and Bloodstock Director for CTS, commented: “We are very excited about the 2021 CPYS catalogue. It represents the strongest stallion portfolio in the country, as well as some impeccably bred first-season sires.” All graduates of the 2021 CPYS qualify for the first ever R7,5-million CTS Gold Rush, to be run over 1600m, and in which 16 ‘Prospectors’ will stake their claim for the massive purse, R5-million
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CTS’ Amanda Carey – excited of which will be paid to the winning owner. CTS announced on Friday 26 February, that 16 applications had been received to date for the inaugural CTS Gold Rush. There are 14 slots on offer now, and two buy-ins will be available within a
year of the 2021 Cape Premier Yearling Sale at De Grendel on 14 March. The 16 runners will compete for a total purse of R7,5-million. “This is most exciting, as the Gold Rush concept is the first of its kind in South Africa. We are extremely pleased by the support received for this initiative,” said CTS Sales Director, Amanda Carey.
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Prospectors are reminded that the draw for the CTS Gold Rush will take place 15 minutes before the start of the 2021 Cape Premier Yearling Sale. The first 14 names drawn out of the box will be awarded a Prospector’s certificate. Please click here to read the lot-by-lot sale preview
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Vercingetorix’s Great Rebellion 52BC
How Gaul-ing!
Lot 127 Great Rebellion - Vercingetorix x Nutcracker Sweet colt 16
Breeder Duncan Barry Cell +27 (0)82 335 8951 Website www.rivertonstud.co.za
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Chase Liebenberg
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Linebacker storms to victory under Grant van Niekerk
MARSHALL'S THE DERBY CAPTAIN OF ALL! Cape Guineas runner-up Linebacker, a ‘scary horse’ in the words of his veteran trainer, and now a Derby-winning a son of an Equus Champion Sprinter, allayed any stamina doubts when he stormed home to win the R750 000 Jonsson Workwear Gr1 Cape Derby at a sundrenched Kenilworth on Saturday. In a stamp of top rank achievement again for the Captain Al sire line, former Equus Champion Sprinter Captain Of All, a speed machine who clocked 55,96 seconds when setting a new 1000m record at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in 2015, celebrated his Cape Derby winner courtesy of a rampant Grant van Niekerk teaming up in a rare moment for the Marshall yard. Vaughan Marshall, SA racing’s own ‘heart of the Captain’, previously won the Cape classic in 2011 when Marthinus Mienie booted home the Al Mufti son Top Seller for the late Roy Eckstein.
And Saturday’s victory would have been an extra sweet one for the greying trainer, as he saddled the first two home, when Rascallion (5-2) chased his stablemate Linebacker (7-1) – a deficit of 1,50 lengths being the difference at the line. With the Cape Guineas winner Russian Rock sadly destroying his chances and fighting his rider out front all the way around, the pace was not genuine – although the 124,38 secs clocked by Linebacker was faster than that registered ten years ago when Top Seller went the 2000m in 124,99 secs. The well-backed 7-2 favourite The Gatekeeper had every chance but had to be content with third, a half length behind Rascallion. Another Snaith runner filled fourth as Legislate’s son Hoedspruit (20-1) rounded off the quartet. Despite being above himself in the pre-race and looking awkward in running, Russian Rock managed to stay on for a midfield finish and 6,75 lengths off the
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winner. Grant van Niekerk, who rode three feature winners and a few near misses on the afternoon, is riding at the top of his game and overcame the negative of the 12 draw. He said that he knew that there was going to be no pace. “Mr Marshall gave me the authority to drop him out. My mount turned it on instantly when he went to fetch the leaders. It’s scary – Linebacker has so much improvement to come,” said a clearly impressed Van Niekerk, who rides some fair horses at the Snaith yard. Vaughan Marshall confirmed that Linebacker had been unlucky in the Cape Guineas. “He was caught wide in the Guineas but relaxed well and stayed all the way to the line. There had to be a doubt over his stamina today, but he is a horse that just gets better the more we throw at him. Well done to our owners and to Klawervlei.”
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Gr1 regulars Ken and Jane Truter own the winner in partnership with stalwart Cheryl Gabler, whose first Gr1 success it was.
Chase Liebenberg
“I wanted a Gr1 winner before I die. I’m ready now,” she laughed. A R425 000 Cape Yearling Sale graduate and bred by Klawervlei, Linebacker is out of the Australian-bred Redoute's Choice mare Thin Red Line, whose two career wins were both over 1000m - but she was placed over 1800m and 2000m. Linebacker has won 2 races with 4 places from 6 starts and stakes of R761 500.
LINEBACKER had his merit rating raised from 112 to 115 after he ran out a fluent winner of the Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby over 2000m. The Handicappers were of the opinion that 4th placed
Happy winning team
The Merits
HOEDSPRUIT made for the best line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 108.There were increases for both the runner-up RASCALLION and the 3rd finisher THE GATEKEEPER, with RASCALLION going up from 110
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to 111 and THE GATEKEEPER from 109 to 110. There were no other ratings increases, while the solitary drop was for JUAN CARLOS, who goes from 90 to 88.
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Chase Liebenberg
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Every so often, a horse comes along and defies the logic of its pedigree a case in point being last weekend's Jonsson Workwear Gr1 Cape Derby winner, Linebacker. Vaughan Marshall's charge is certainly an anomaly, considering that speed, rather than stamina, was the hallmark of both his parents. His sire, the Equus Champion Sprinter Captain Of All, boasts a female line redolent of speed. He is by the late Captain Al , who had no peer when it came to siring precocious two-year-olds and led the juvenile list for eight straight years. His dam Serious Side is a daughter of Middle Park hero Fard, while grandam Forty Jewels is by Gimcrack runner-up Forty Winks, whose sire Philip Of Spain ran second in both the Middle Park and Gimcrack. Captain Of All's third dam Casket is a daughter King’s Stand Stakes winner and superb sprint influence Drum Beat. As for Linebacker's dam Thin Red Line, the Redoute's Choice mare won twice over the minimum distance at two, albeit that she finished a well-beaten second in the Gr3 Fillies Mile at three, while her half-brother Samadoubt scored a career best win in Randwick's Gr1 Winx Stakes over 1400m.
With two full crops at the track, statistics show that the majority of Captain Al's offspring take after their sire, that is to say, they sprint. Remarkably, until Linebacker became his sire's first top level winner, the tip top miler Shango was considered Captain Of All's best runner. From his sire's first crop, he captured the Gr2 Dingaans over a mile and almost pulled off a classic win in last season's SA Derby. After moving into the lead 300m out, he just ran out of puff close home and had to bow to the superior stamina of Out Of Your League, a son of SA Derby winner Elusive Fort. Strangely though, history shows that Captain Of All is not the only speed stallion capable of siring a Derby winner. His own sire Captain Al also counted the East Cape Derby winner Captain Splendid amongst his plethora of stakes winners! Former Highlands and Cifton-based West Man, a dual Gr3 over 1000m and 1200m and third in the King's Stand Stakes, sired SA Derby hero Silver Sliver as well as the East Cape Derby winner Central Pacific. The sprinter Qui Danzig, a son of Danzig, lived up to his speedy sire line as a stallion, yet his admirable son Key Of Destiny not only won the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint, he was also capable of
stretching his stamina to 2400m when capturing the Gr2 Gold Circle Derby at Clairwood! Another member of the Danzig tribe, grandson Lizard Island, won over 1000m and 1200m, yet his best offspring Lizard's Desire was a runaway five-length winner of the East Cape Derby and after his export, reached new heights when triumphant in the Gr1 Singapore Airlines International Cup at Kranji. Drakenstein champion Trippi cannot be regarded as a source of stamina. Notwithstanding the fact that he has sired Gr1 winners up to 2000m, his progeny generally take after their speedy sire, prime examples being the Gr1 winning sprinters Chimichuri Run, Real Princess and For The Lads. Yet he too, has a Winter Derby winner to his credit in Liquid Mercury. As for the Cape Derby, purists will argue that the Kenilworth 2000m is not as stiff a test of stamina as the 2400m SA Derby run at Turffontein and that Saturday's classic was a slow run affair. Be that as it may, Linebacker won in the style of a horse who has no trouble staying beyond a mile.
Gold Circle
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Chase Liebenberg
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Grant van Niekerk steers Rio Querari to a facile win
A CARNIVAL FOR RIO! While a few performances at Kenilworth on Cape Derby day went straight into the little black book, none was more impressive than Rio Querari in his facile stretch in the R200 000 Khaya Stables Gr2 Diadem Stakes. Now jointly rated South Africa’s top sprinter alongside his former Equus champion stablemate Kasimir, who at 6 may be on the downgrade, the 4yo Rio Querari was super impressive when building on his second behind exported star Run Fox Run in the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship at his last start One of four feature race winners on the day for trainer Justin Snaith, the gelded Rio Querari (14-10) hit the front 200m
RIO QUERARI remains unchanged on a rating of 125 following his success in the Khaya Stables Gr2 Diadem Stakes over 1200m at Kenilworth on Saturday. It was felt that 3rd placed CARTEL CAPTAIN was
from home down the inside and coasted in under a hands and heels ride from Grant Van Niekerk, to win by 1,75 lengths in a time of 72,49 secs. Adam Marcus’ Hello Winter Hello (16-1), the only member of the fairer sex in the line-up, flew late to collar the pacy Cartel Captain (8-1) and earned second cheque. The winner’s stablemate Kasimir failed to fire and ran out of the money, and 3,50 lengths off the winner. Bred by Normandy Stud, Rio Querari has now won 5 of 15 starts with 9 places for prize money in excess of R1,1 million.
mare Arctic Breeze, was a R625 000 purchase from the 2018 CTS Ready To Run Sale. He is the 23rd stakes winner for his Gr1 winning sire Querari – South Africa’s Leading Sire of 2YO’s in 2018-2019. One of more than 120 stakes winners sired by champion sprinter Oasis Dream, Querari has 12 lots on offer at the 2021 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, including a half-brother (# 40) to Saturday’s impressive G3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery winner Cosmic Highway.
Rio Querari, who is out of the Windrush
The Merits
the most appropriate line horse to use in assessing this event, which leaves him unchanged on a rating of 109. The only increase was for runner-up HELLO WINTER HELLO, who is up from 100 to 104, but there were drops for three
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horses. RUSSET AIR is down from 123 to 121, KASIMIR drops from 128 to 125 (making him equal to RIO QUERARI), and BOLD RESPECT goes from 118 to 115.
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Chase Liebenberg
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OSSIE’S BLOCKBUSTER RIDE The Oldlands Stud-bred Master Of My Fate filly Zarina gave last Sunday’s Cape Yearling Sale a timely boost when she stormed home to cause an upset in the R150 000 Vasco Gr3 Prix Du Cap. Ridden by the in-form Ossie Noach, Zarina (13-1) came through a gap on the inside from some lengths off at the 250m marker, and ran on too powerfully for the game 80 to 1 shot Icon Princess. The official winning margin was three quarters of a length - the time was registered as 85,38 secs.
ZARINA remains unchanged on a mark of 107 after her victory in the Gr3 Vasco Prix du Cap over 1400m. ZARINA was deemed to make for the best line when assessing this race, hence her unaltered rating. 2nd placed ICON PRINCESS was raised from 104 to 105, 3rd placed MALE-
Maledimo (22-1) also produced her best late in the race to grab third, with the winner’s stablemate Lemon Delight (40-1) rounding off a massive quartet. It was a memorable win for Candice Bass-Robinson and her team - although the banker of the day and the most fancied of her trio Clouds Unfold (8-10) failed to produce her usual flair and ran well downfield. Bred by Oldlands, the winner is a 3yo daughter of Master Of My Fate (Jet Master) out of the Kitalpha one-time
The Merits
DIMO is up from 94 to 105, 4th finisher LEMON DELIGHT was picked up from 101 to 104, and CAPITANA which ran to a rating of 103 was only adjusted to 98 so that she would meet POINT OF SALE (97) and LA QUINTA (96) on correct weight terms should they meet in a handicap. There were no other increases, but no fewer than five horses
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winner, Mamalushka. Zarina, a R200 000 Cape Yearling Sale purchase, has won 4 races with 2 places from 7 starts for stakes of R205 075. Described as a ‘quirky filly’, she was given a peach of a ride by Ossie Noach from the favourable 2 draw in a another feature success for the partnership of longstanding owners, Marsh Shirtliff, Bryn Ressell and Ian Longmore.
were given a rating’s drop. PRETTY YOUNG THING drops from 113 to 110, CLOUDS UNFOLD was trimmed from 120 to 119, CAYA COCO drops from 104 to 102, THIRD RUNWAY is down to 101 from 104 and lastly, DAD’S CATCH is down from 91 to 86.
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Cosmic Highway strolls to a facile win under Keagan de Melo
KHAYA & KANNEMEYER ON CUE! Dean Kannemeyer and his staunch owner Lady Christine Laidlaw opened the Cape Derby day feature action at Kenilworth on Saturday when the Maine Chance bred Cosmic Highway strolled in to win the R150 000 Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery. Kannemeyer won the fillies’ equivalent in 2020 with Delta Queen in the same black and yellow flag of the powerful Khaya Stables, and the Milnerton conditioner looks to have something decent on his hands in the Gimmethegreenlight colt Cosmic Highway.
Keagan de Melo was slow out on the R400 000 Cape Yearling Sale graduate and had the handsome colt watching his opponents all the way.
At the 400m De Melo came forward under the hands on Cosmic Highway (5-1) and he went right away from his field to win by 2,50 lengths in a time of 72,37 secs. The 13-20 favourite Ambiorix had no chance with the winner in second place, while Cosmic Highway’s stablemate Sheldon (25-1) ran another game race three lengths away in third.. Dean Kannemeyer labelled this an
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impressive win, despite admitting that he did not know the strength of the opposition.
A son of Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready), the winner was bred by Maine Chance out of the Silvano one-time winner Cosmic Dream. A R400 000 Cape Yearling Sale buy, Cosmic Highway has won 2 from 2 for stakes of R147 500. He will be on the Dean Kannemeyer Racing SA Champions Season bus come mid March!
Chase Liebenberg
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Grant van Niekerk steers Gimme Dat to victory
ANOTHER GIMME NURSERY!
CTS Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduates by Varsfontein sire Gimmethegreenlight made a clean sweep of the nurseries on Derby day at Kenilworth when Gimme Dat bounced clear to win the R125 000 Gr3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery for international owner, Bjorn Nielsen.
off late to hold off her stablemates Winter Mosaic (19-10) and Super Siri (25-1) in a 1-2-3 for the Snaith Racing Team.
The winner was bred by Lammerskraal from the twice winning Western Winter mare, Mizzen Mast.
Gimme Dat was an impressive winner on debut and her win mirrored that of Cosmic Highway a half hour earlier in the colts’ race.
She has won two from two and took her stakes to R120 000.
In another small field feature, Gimme Dat (2-1) was the lesser fancied of the Snaith trio on jockey choice, but took
Ridden by Grant van Niekerk, Gimme Dat won by an unextended 2,75 lengths in a time of 73,26 secs.
South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire of 2015-2016, Gimmethegreenlight has produced near 60 stakes horses.
Querari – Firing
Fresh off producing Saturday’s Gr2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes winner Rio Querari, Maine Chance Farms’ Gr1 winning Oasis Dream horse
Querari was back in the headlines at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday. Querari was responsible for three of the eight winners on Monday’s card, while
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his son Duran ran second and daughter Bell Jar filled the runner up berth on the same programme.
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Eye on the prize! Inaugural BSA Cape Yearling Sale Cup winner Mounia
MISTICO HOT BUT HAPPY! After a highly successful inaugural running of the BSA Cape Yearling Sale Cup twenty four hours earlier at Kenilworth on Cape Derby day, the heat was turned up a few degrees – literally – as the 2021 renewal of the great value-for-money regional sale was hosted by South Africa’s oldest thoroughbred sales company at the Mistico Equestrian Centre outside of Paarl. With the Cape summer sun blazing down, and temperatures advancing into the early 40’s, the vibe was remarkably positive in Tito Mboweni’s budget speech week.
Throw in the parlous state of the economy, the ongoing Covid-19 impact, and the overall uncertainty in the racing industry in a year that will likely herald great change in the structures, and one realises that the human spirit is near indomitable when passion and horses are in the mix!
the atmosphere was upbeat and the vibe was very good. I feel the sale was boosted by the Cape Derby day sales race hospitality and experience. The linked race really worked very well in building momentum for the sale,” she added.
Speaking to the Sporting Post, Avontuur General Manager Pippa Mickleburgh said that she felt encouraged and complimented the Bloodstock South Africa team on a job well done.
Pippa’s smile and positive disposition is underscored by the raw stats which show good improvement year on year, and paint a positive picture of genuine hope, despite the background of depressed stakes.
“I have words to describe the heat – let’s just say that it was extremely hot! But
A total of 189 lots were catalogued with Sunday’s aggregate of R11 770 000 up
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almost 50% on last year. The average of R84 071 soared 29% year-on-year, while the median of R65 000 increased 63% from 2020. While the fairer sex filled the top four places in the Cape Yearling Sale Cup on Saturday, the boys filled the top two positions on Sunday’s price chart. Three lots cracked the R300 000 plus mark. Topseller was Galic War (#64), who fell to the Hollywood Syndicate bid of R375 000.
Mauritzfontein’s Kingmambo stallion Ideal World, producer of 36 black type horses including dual Met winner Rainbow Bridge, topped the sires chart on aggregate, his 8 lots achieving R1,1 million at an average of R137 500. Leading stallion on average was Varsfontein’s ever popular star Gimmethegreenlight, who only had 3 sell – averaging R213 333. Vercingetorix produced the chart-topper and averaged a healthy R158 333 for his trio. Bennie van der Merwe of Moutonshoek would have been thrilled by the interest in Galileo son The United States, whose sweetly timed first winner – Sheela won the Listed Storm Bird Stakes on debut 24
hours earlier – saw plenty of interest. The United States’ six totalled R740 000, at an average of R123 333. After siring Mounia to win the inaugural Cape Yearling Sale Cup on Saturday, the much talked about Rafeef also had plenty of supporters – the Ridgemont based son of Redoute’s Choice’ quintet averaging R124 000. Top vendor was Wilgerbosdrift who sold 16 of their 20 for an aggregate of R2 060 000 and an average of R128 750. Top buyer was Willem Ackerman who bought three yearlings for R690 000 – an average of R230 000. Paul Peter Racing bought ten youngsters for R650 000 – an average of R65 000. See the sale prices here
Candiese Lenferna
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift, Galic War (#64) is a son of Maine Chance’ exciting Silvano stallion Vercingetorix, out of the Dynasty mare, Oojooba. The handsome dark bay colt is a first foal and hails from the female line of Salsabeel and Lehaaf.
Home Of The Brave (#130, a The United States colt) and Inner Sense (#9, a What A Winter filly) sold for R350 000 and R320 000, respectively.
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Sheela wins readily on debut under S’manga Khumalo
MOUTONSHOEK SIRE IS FLYING
Galileo’s Gr1 Ranvet Stakes winning son The United States made a bold statement when his very first runner, Sheela, made a winning debut to land Saturday’s Listed Storm Bird Stakes.
A well performed and durable sort, who earned over $2 000 000 during his racing career, The United States bought an extremely attractive and fashionable pedigree with him when the chestnut retired to Moutonshoek in 2017. His first crop went through the sales ring at Mistico this past weekend with his sextet totalling R740 000, at an average of R123 333.
A group winner in two different countries, The United States is out of Gr2 Prix du Gros-Chene winner Beauty Is Truth, a daughter of top sire and broodmare sire Beauty Is Truth. The well bred Beauty Is Truth – a half-sister to French 1000 Guineas runner up Glorious Sight and a daughter of G3 Prix du Bois winner Zelding – is one of a handful of elite broodmares to have produced three Gr1 winners, with her daughters Hermosa (1000 Guineas, Irish 1000 Guineas) and Hydrangea (British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes, Matron Stakes) joining The United States as a top level Gr1 winner for Beauty Is Truth.
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The United States is a son of the world’s premier stallion Galileo, who, while yet to sire a stallion son close to reaching his own staggering heights, has already sired a slew of high-class sire sons. Among the dual Derby winner’s best sire sons are proven Gr1 sources Australia, Frankel, Nathaniel, New Approach and Teofilo, while young Galileo sons yet to be rep resented on the track include such standouts as Churchill, Highland Reel, Ulysses and Waldgeist. Galileo has also, already more than made his mark in South Africa, despite having only been represented by a
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handful of runners. His local representatives were headed by Horse Of The Year, and July/Met winner, Igugu, fellow Equus Champion Mahbooba, and the graded stakes winners Alvaro (Winter Classic) Il Saggiatore (Gold Circle Derby), Rain Gal (Final Fling Stakes) Sidera (Fillies Mile), as well as stakes winners Galileo’s Night (Durbanville Cup) and Miss Galilei (Spook Express Handicap) and Gr1 Cape Guineas runner up Galileo’s Galaxy.
Global Drummer captured Friday’s Ibhayi Stakes, was South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire of 2019-2020. Fellow Galileo sons responsible for stakes winners in South Africa include Frankel, New Approach and Teofilo. New Approach’s multiple graded stakes winning son New Predator is currently standing at the Bush Hill Stud, while unbeaten champion Teofilo’s local representatives include graded stakes
Hamish Niven Photography
Galileo’s stakes placed daughter Grail Maiden is the dam of Gr1 SA Derby winner Hero’s Honour (Await The Dawn) and Gr1 Thekwini Stakes runner up Railtrip (Trippi). Despite not having a long innings at stud, Mahbooba (South Africa’s Champion 2YO Filly of 2009-2010) went on to make her mark at stud, as the dam of group winners Dubai Warrior (Gr3 Winter Derby) and Mootasadir (Gr3 Diamond Stakes). Galileo has also had several sire sons make his presence felt in South Africa. Former Drakenstein Stud resident, and G1 Racing Post Trophy winning son Kingsbarns left behind champion Gabor and Gr2 Concorde Cup victor King Of Gems in his first small crop, while Galileo son Global View, whose son
Handsome The United States
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winners Tamaanee and Brazuca. It is interesting to note that while Sheela is out of the Trippi mare Trip To India, Gabor is out of Trippi daughter Se Agabor and King Of Gems out of Trippi matron Sapphire Gem.
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FISO’S GOT LOTS TO GIVE 50
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Candiese Lenferna
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Fiso is flanked by Andrew Miller & Graeme Hawkins as he makes his own history He’s not even 21 years old yet. But Fisokuhle 'Fiso' Hadebe travelled the long road from his hometown of Estcourt in the uThukela District of KwaZulu-Natal last Thursday into the lion’s den of the Mistico Cape Yearling Sale arena on a sweltering hot Sunday. And came away with a lot more than his dignity intact. Standing on a podium in a 42 degree Cape Summer pressure cooker, watched by a mostly streetwise mixed audience of dreamers and cynics on his auctioneering debut, while trying to achieve a happy seller-happy buyer balance in the toughest and most demanding of times for racing and breeding, was never going to be a walk in the proverbial park. “We arrived in Cape Town on Thursday and I knew this was my big chance to break the ice. But the nerves kicked in.
I couldn’t pronounce routine words in ordinary conversation – they came out wrong. It was crazy! But I decided - stop overthinking. And Gary ‘Schweggers’ Schwegmann, who acts as a bid-spotter, was a great help for me in terms of the practicing. On Saturday evening we grabbed some shut-eye from 11 o’clock. We were awake at 1 am and were going through my lots.
shaking, I was quivering. But then the horse was introduced into the arena and my training kicked in. The rhythm started – the people were bidding.
Over and over. We were up bright ‘n early at 6am on Sunday morning and were going through the motions again, warming up. It was literally hours and hours of prep!” But by the time he stepped onto the podium to commence his maiden first lot, Fiso was a bundle of nervous sweat.
Fiso was allocated limited lots and enjoyed the distinction on his debut in a team of seasoned veterans, of selling the top lot of the sale - #164, a Vercingetorix colt bred by Maine Chance Farms and sold to the Hollywood Syndicate team, led by former champion jockey Anthony Delpech, for R375 000.
“Some guys said I looked really cool and confident. Good grief – don’t judge a catalogue by it’s cover – hell, no! I was sweating in all directions, my knees were
The irony is that Fiso only realised he had actually sold the top lot of the entire sale when it was tweeted later by his favourite racing rag, the Sporting Post.
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Hands and books were going up – the words flowed, I was urging them on. I thought, let’s get on with this. It’s actually happening – the adrenaline was flowing – it was great!”
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On Sunday evening he couldn’t fall asleep as the replays reeled over and over in his head.
Candiese Lenferna
“I felt a great sense of accomplishment. I kept mulling that I should have done this or said that. But there are no second takes – the horse has his time in the ring and what happens, happens, I suppose!” So who is this modestly brave and talented young man, who voluntarily threw himself to the wolves, and came out of the street fight looking slicker than James Bond? The 20 year old Fisokuhle 'Fiso' Hadebe is one of two brothers and seven sisters from a well established family in Estcourt, a little town 160km north of Durban with a population of just over 20 000.
Fizo Hadebe looks and learns
Fiso’s folks - he proudly tells us his Dad turns 50 in September – run a charity NPO that teaches the local community self sufficiency through small-scale soya bean and maize growing.
another goal. To watch racing, read up and pick the brains. There are so many people who have offered to coach me.
Fiso attended Weston Agricultural College in Mooi River.
It’s an exciting and vibrant industry and the support has been wonderful.”
The boys’ only high school is situated on a 1200ha working farm Mooi River. The school’s education focus, Fiso points out, is through the integration of academic and farming instruction, with sport, cultural and leisure activities in the mix.
Asked about life and marriage and the future, Fiso says that his entire focus is on his career.
“I’m fortunate – my education gave me a flying start and then I met Michael Holmes and I feel like I was adopted by Bloodstock South Africa and love being a part of their family. And now my heart is set on a career as an auctioneer. I had the taste of it on Sunday, and while I still have it all and more to learn, I’m hungry to absorb and to progress.”
“I’m quite boring I suppose. I don’t gamble, drink or smoke. And I still live at home with Mommy and Daddy!”
Fiso says that he has watched the replays from Sunday and his goal now is to modify, improve and build his own style, while gaining confidence slowly. He thanked Bloodstock SA and said that he was being mentored by legends of the industry in Andrew Miller and Graeme Hawkins. “And I also have lots to learn about horses, racing and breeding. That’s
He doesn’t drink or smoke – we put it to him that he had to have at least one suburban vice. Like, does he gamble?
One of Fiso’s mentors, and South Africa’s most experienced thoroughbred auctioneer, Graeme Hawkins, who broke into an impromptu rendition of ‘Release Me’ on Sunday, has been wielding the gavel since the days that Engelbert Humperdinck really did actually occupy the popular music charts, spoke to the Sporting Post after the sale. With over 40 years’ experience, Graeme, who shared the podium with Andrew Miller, Angus Williamson and Fiso in the Mistico hothouse, said that the young man from Estcourt appeared to have all the fundamental traits and makings of somebody who could carve out a career in the sales arena.
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He also said that BSA had commendably invested time and valuable solid training via institutions like the Hedley Harris Auction College in Johannesburg, in the budding talent. “It’s a profession where training and education can only take one so far. The only way to learn is to be taught the basics and then be thrown into the real life situation – as Fiso did so well on Sunday. We all had to start somewhere and learn from our mistakes along the way. It’s vital to practice - and then build street cred and a brand. A particular style grows on the individual over the years. Fiso is clearly keen to learn and has a humility about him that is really likeable. As us old hands know, in this game it is dangerous to try and become a showman or get ahead of oneself too quickly! I wish Fiso the best – we are here to help with advice and guidance,” said Hawkins. For now, Fiso says he can’t wait for the next sale.
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LOOKING UP A sublime three days of trade at Oaklands has seen almost every conceivable record smashed as the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale took on a new level of success. The sale grossed A$71,235,000, a 25% year-on-year increase, and beat the previous Premier gross record of A$60.6m set in 2017. The Book 1 average of A$139,803 is a clear Premier Sale record. The top end of the market surged spectacularly, with a 266% increase in yearlings sold for A$400,000 or above (22 this year, up from six last year) and a 105% increase on lots sold for A$300,000 or above (37 this year, up from 18 last year).
Chase Liebenberg
ALL GOOD Vaughan Marshall’s Gr1 Cape Derby star Linebacker (Captain of All-Thin Red Line, by Redoute’s Choice) not only became the first Gr1 winner for his Klawervlei Stud-based triple Gr1 winner Captain Of All (Captain Al), but is also the twentieth individual top rank winner for Champion Redoute’s Choice (Danehill-Shantha’s Choice, by Canny Lad) as a broodmare sire. The winner’s dam Thin Red Line (Redoute’s Choice-Isadora, by Gold Fever) is a three-quarter-sister to the Bjorn Baker-trained Gr1 Winx Stakes winner Samadoubt (Not A Single Doubt).
ENABLING ROYALTY A 15-day scan has confirmed that champion racemare Enable (Nathaniel-Concentric, by Sadler’s Wells) is in foal to Kingman (Invincible Spirit-Zenda, by Zamindar). The positive test was tweeted by Juddmonte Farms, whose late principal Khalid Abdullah raced both horses. Enable retired at the end of last year as one of the greatest mares ever, her eleven Gr1 wins contributing to astonishing earnings of close to £11 million. Kingman, by the rapidly emerging Invincible Spirit (Green Desert) branch of Danzig (Northern Dancer), is amongst the most popular young stallions in Europe.
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LOVE & LYLE Congratulations to Kuda-sponsored former SA champion jockey Lyle Hewitson and Hannah Runnalls who got engaged on Monday 1 March at a romantic garden rendezvous in the magnificent surrounds of the Avontuur Estate gardens on the R44 outside of Somerset West.
Chase Liebenberg
BLUE SKIES AHEAD Candice Bass-Robinson bid a fond farewell this week to a mare she described as ‘the best I have trained’ when dual Gr1 Majorca winner Clouds Unfold stepped on to the float bound for her birth-pace, Drakenstein Stud. The champion chestnut was a racing public favourite, winning nine of her twenty starts for earnings of close on R2,9 million. What A Winter’s first Gr1 winner, Clouds Unfold is out of Montelissima, a Montjeu half-sister to Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes winner Arria and Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes third Pivotal Pursuit. Her second dam Issa is a full-sister to unbeaten Yorkshire Oaks winner Catchascatchcan, dam of Breeders’ Cup Mile winner and former Highlands Stud sire Antonius Pius.
BRIGHT FUTURE! The Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on 5 June is the medium term plan for Futura’s smart daughter Sweet Future who toyed with her opposition as she made full use of her weight advantage to win Saturday’s R100 000 Listed Bauhinia Handicap at the Vaal. A half-sister to 2 winners, including the useful Queen Of Quiet, the Drakenstein bred Sweet Future is out of the Trippi mare Cape Sugarbird.
JC Photos
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Reggie left with the late Patti & Peter Kannemeyer
FAREWELL TO A GENTLEMAN A gentleman from a bygone era and a respected figure in Cape racing and breeding circles for many decades, former Cape Trainer and Noreen Stud Manager Reggie Knight passed away at the age of 90 from a heart attack on Tuesday 23 February.
with a string of only 20 horses produced the likes of 1970 July winner Court Day and 1977 Queen’s Plate winner Bold Monarch, among others.
Reggie’s wife Mildred passed away in October 2020. He had been suffering with heart problems and had valve surgery on Friday 19 February.
Owner-trainer Alfie Abrahams had a small yard across the road from the Knight household and Reggie befriended a coloured groom by the name of Kiepie.
A conservative, quietly spoken and knowledgeable horseman, Reggie Knight was a successful small-string racehorse trainer who switched to Graham Beck’s Noreen Stud quite late in his career.
He would collect Reggie with a tap on his window at 04h30 and take him out with the racing string, sneaking him back to the house just before his parents came to wake him up for school.
In a 2019 interview with the Sporting Post he spoke of his disappointment with the overall impression that racing creates, but always maintained a gentlemanly and diplomatic civility that prevented him from being too caustic. Reggie Knight trained from small premises on Milnerton racecourse and
At the age of 8, he moved with his family to the suburb of Brooklyn.
Reggie eventually got a job with trainer AB Kruyer. He was paid 10 shillings a week and eventually left Kruyer in search of better prospects and went to work for Sydney Laird. However, when Russell Laird joined the yard a few years later, Reggie knew there was not enough room for two assistants and decided to strike out on his own.
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He leased two horses from Stan Elley’s brother – Shamrock and Beylic – and got horses here and there. Considering that he never had more than 20 in his string, he had some good ones. Those included Bold Monarch (left in his care by Herman Brown for the 1977 Queen’s Plate), Mickey Livanos’ Court Day (Rothmans July), sprinters Top Sail and Hearing, and he also claimed Gatecrasher’s 1976 Met win as Herman Brown was at the sales in New Zealand and left the horse in Reggie’s charge. Reggie inherited two Graham Beck owned horses from the late Michael Roberts. That was to be the seed of his move to Noreen Stud. He is survived by his son Trevor, daughters Regina and Dalene, and three grandchildren as well as three great grandchildren. The Knight family will be holding a private memorial service.
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Wylie Wench storms to victory under Chase Maujean
AZZIE TREBLE
The father-and-son team of Michael and Adam Azzie combined to make it three feature strikes on the trot, when the good looking Wylie Wench won the Gr3 Acacia Handicap at the Vaal on Saturday. A lightly raced four-year-old, Wylie Wench was registering her first stakes success. Despite being challenged strongly by Wisteria Walk, the Lammerskraal
Stud-bred Wylie Wench found more in the closing stages and stayed on to score by just over a length. Now a winner of five of just ten starts, Wylie Wench won in a time of 93,25 seconds. A daughter of Redoute’s Choice’ dual Gr1 winning son Wylie Hall, Wylie Wench was a R600 000 buy from the 2018 Emperors Palace National 2YO Sale. Hailing from one of the top families in the
South African studbook, Wylie Wench is out of champion Enchantress, whose previous notable progeny include Gr1 Thekwini Stakes winning champion Laverna (Parade Leader) and Gr3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup victor Nevvay (Western Winter). Wylie Hall has just one lot on the Cape Premier Yearling Sale – click here to see #102 from Maine Chance Farms
East Cape Grooms Initiative
The Racing Association has announced that a new initiative was launched on Friday 26 February 2021 to reward grooms for their contribu-
tion to horseracing. A cash prize of R1000, as well as a trophy, will be awarded to the groom of the winning horse of each Listed Race on
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the East Cape Racing calendar until the end of July 2021. The initiative is sponsored by Epol.
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updated 2021-03-02
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 A C Greeff
772 556 542 368 597
120 80 72 58 89
97 65 53 48 88
75 52 61 40 83
15.5 14.4 13.3 15.8 14.9
Other Places Place %
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
34.3 31.5 33.0 37.0 41.4
6,111,475 4,075,700 3,420,050 3,212,100 2,457,000
9,217,800 6,043,550 5,473,450 4,625,925 4,076,750
Other Places Place %
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
5,701,775 2,664,600 4,205,500 4,208,025 4,772,975
8,921,200 4,209,900 5,849,613 5,748,900 6,959,750
93 58 65 48 76
265 175 179 136 247
JOCKEYS Name
Runs Wins Win%
2nd
3rd
Mr L Hewitson Mr G M Cheyne Mr S Khumalo Mr A Marcus Mr W B Kennedy
952 507 468 384 601
125 59 44 54 76
112 80 58 39 72
136 93 90 88 84
14.3 18.3 19.2 22.9 14.0
139 71 56 57 96
376 210 158 150 244
39.5 41.4 33.8 39.1 40.6
BREEDERS Name
B.T. B.T. Total Runrs Runs AEPR Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Wins Stakes (R) Rnrs %
Klawervlei Stud Wilgerbosdri� & Mauritzfontein Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd Varsfontein Stud
367 249
1557 29,013 1047 41,654
117 101
148 140
31.9 40.6
524 348
7 6
7 8
10,647,838 10,371,963
135 197 107
570 49,556 840 30,228 457 42,525
61 58 41
101 91 59
45.2 29.4 38.3
215 217 150
7 4 5
7 7 9
6,690,075 5,955,013 4,550,200
SIRES Name Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) Master Of My Fate What A Winter Silvano (GER) Querari (GER)
Runrs Runs AEPR 162 162 144 135 173
699 768 655 609 774
34,407 34,401 37,572 38,329 27,736
B.T. Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Rnrs % 64 61 58 57 53
87 81 81 75 73
39.5 37.7 40.3 42.2 30.6
222 289 230 176 260
See all the detailed standings - Click here 63
7 4 2 5 1
B.T. Wins
Total Stakes (R)
7 4 2 5 1
5,573,950 5,572,900 5,410,325 5,174,425 4,798,300
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NO BULL – FOR REAL! 64
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All eyes will be on the Spanish capital on Sunday afternoon as La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid host city rivals Real Madrid in a crunch derby clash at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Atletico and try to cut their lead at the top of the table to two points, while Simeone’s men aim to pull further away their city rivals as they target a first La Liga title since 2014.
Diego Simeone’s men are five points clear of Real Madrid having played a game less and could strike a real blow to Zinedine Zidane's side’s chances of retaining the La Liga title.
To Win
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid | Sunday 7 March | Wanda Metropolitano | 17:15
Real Madrid 15/10
But Los Blancos will take confidence from Atletico's dip in form that has seen Simeone’s men win just two of their six matches in all competitions last month.
Atletico Madrid – WLLDW
Chad Nagel writes that while Los Rojiblancos have struggled in recent weeks, Zidane's side are in an excellent run of form, winning five games in a row in all competitions and have kept four clean sheets. Real are unbeaten in their last nine La Liga meetings against Atletico with four wins and five draws. These sides played out a goalless draw at the Wanda Metropolitano last season, but Los Blancos claimed an emphatic 3-1 victory there the season prior. Atletico’s last win over Real came in the 2016/17 Champions League with a 2-1 victory at the old Vicente Calderon stadium. But Zidane's side still had the final say as Los Blancos won 4-2 on aggregate. Real will look to continue their impressive head-to-head record over
Atletico Madrid 37/20 Draw 9/4
Recent Form - All Competitions
Real Madrid – DWWWW Team News Atletico Madrid will hope to have starting centre-back Jose Gimenez back for the Madrid derby after he missed the Champions League tie with Chelsea following an injury picked up in the defeat to Levante. Yannick Carrasco also remains a major doubt, while Kieran Trippier is still serving his suspension. For Real Madrid, Karim Benzema and Marcelo are set to return to action, but Zidane is likely to be without captain Sergio Ramos, Dani Carvajal, Eden Hazard, Fede Valverde, Rodrygo Goes, Alvaro Odriozola and Eder Militao. Probable line-ups: Atletico Madrid: 3-4-2-1 Jan Oblak; Hermoso, Gimenez,
Savic; Llorente, Koke, Saul, Lemar; Joao Felix, Correa; Suarez. Real Madrid: 4-3-3 Courtois; Vazquez, Varane, Nacho, Mendy; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric; Asensio, Vinicius Jr, Benzema. Prediction: Real Madrid (37/20) Atletico failed to win a match at the Wanda Metropolitano last month, drawing 2-2 with Celta Vigo before losing 2-0 against Levante last time out. Real, meanwhile, have won their last four matches away from home, including a 1-0 victory over Atalanta in their last-16 first leg. Los Blancos will be confident of claiming maximum points on Sunday and due to Atletico's recent struggles, I’m backing a win for Zidane's side.
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