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True To Life – top filly and set to go close
LIFE IS LIFE
Turffontein specialist True To Life has got the nod of approval from Gavin Lerena and looks the one to beat in Saturday’s R250 000 Gr2 Senor Santa Handicap, which headlines the Gauteng feature programme on the day. The race sees the reversion to sprinting of Mike de Kock’s highly vaunted 3yo, Mount Pleasant.
A daughter of Duke Of Marmalade, True To Life was given a peach of a ride when winning the Gr3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap in a thriller a month ago. She has won three times, finished second twice and third once from as many starts on this course. A winner of his last two starts and a class act, Sean Tarry’s Chimichuri Run has decent track and trip form and the hat-trick is on the cards for the evergreen entire. Another winner of his only start over
Saturday’s course and distance, Mount Pleasant is said to be much better than his last two starts suggest. He could bounce back down the straight track.
Race Challenge, in which, ironically, his lack of stamina cost him the race in the dying strides by Northern Guest’s most celebrated daughter, Northern Princess.
Eden Roc has been a bit disappointing but is decent sort on his day.
Watch the Winning Form match race here
The Gr2 Senor Santa Handicap is named in honour of a champion sprinter, and Northern Guest’s best sprinting son, Senor Santa who reigned as the Champion Sprinter of South Africa for many seasons and won his final Gr1 as an eight year old.
Mick Goss said that Senor Santa’s drawing power was such that on a day when there was a cricket test at Kingsmead, a surfing international at North Beach and the usual distractions of New Year’s Day, Senor Santa packed them into Hollywoodbets Greyville for the match race, so that only the July outpointed him for attendance.
The old warrior, who lived out the bulk of his retirement days as a tutor and lead to the Summerhill weanlings, is remembered for his seven Gr1 victories, including two Computaform Sprints, two Star Sprints, a Natal Flying Championship, the First National Bank 1600m and a Smirnoff Futurity. As memorable a moment as any came in defeat in the 1989 Winning Form Match
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“He was 29 in June 2014 when Dr Bechard saved him from the agony of the arthritis that finally got him, and the only humane thing we could do was to end it all as gently and as kindly as we could,” recounted Mick Goss.
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PREMIER TIME v
AND ALL SYSTEMS GO!
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CTS Sales Director Amanda Carey says that it’s all systems go for the much anticipated 2021 renewal of the CTS Cape Premier Yearling Sale, to be staged for the first time at the elegant De Grendel Estate on Sunday. While it’s been a busy few weeks in the build-up, Amanda told the Sporting Post that the CTS team was ready for the big day. “It’s been an exciting experience planning the sale in the magnificent new venue. And in the new times that we live and work, logistics and operational processes and arrangements require great attention to detail, and I must stress that Covid-19 regulations will apply in all respects. We encourage prospective buyers to optimise their convenience and to register timeously and to please contact me in need,” she urged.
For purposes of housekeeping, the sales veteran asked that the following housekeeping items be noted: *Registered Buyers will be accommodated in the main Bedouin. *Vendors will be accommodated in the Vendors Bedouin at the stable area. *Mobile Food Stations are available . * De Grendel wine station available in the Bedouin. * Punters Gin Bar also available in the Bedouin. *Seating is reserved for Buyers only. *Masks are please to be worn when not eating and drinking. This sale has produced an impressive 42 Gr1 winners since its inception in 2011.
The list includes the likes of Master Of My Fate’s flying son Tempting Fate, 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. Please register for a buyer’s card via this link: https://capethoroughbredsales.com/ sales/2021-cpys
SUNDAY – 13H45
Every buyer who secures a yearling at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale will have an opportunity to participate in the CTS Gold Rush, a 1600m race planned for January 2023. The R7,5-million on offer will make this innovative stakes prize the richest in South Africa. The winning owner, or owners, will receive a lucrative R5-million. It all starts at De Grendel where one shrewd buyer, or a syndicate of buyers, will spot the right thoroughbred, and the journey of pure potential, hope and anticipation will be riveting for all involved! Grant Knowles, Bloodstock and Marketing Director of CTS, reminded buyers that the Gold Rush will not be limited to the 14 Prospectors who have registered their slots. He said: “Anybody who buys a horse has a chance of sharing in the rewards. If you acquire a top runner, the Prospectors will be knocking down your door to negotiate outright purchases or partnership deals in the lead-up to the race, and opportunities will be created for all connections of form runners.” The draw for the CTS Gold Rush will take place 15 minutes before the start of the sale.
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CONVENIENCE
The CTS Cape Premier Yearling Sale has received an innovative boost which will complement the live auction and strengthen the buyers’ bench, by allowing bidders from all parts of the world to participate, in real time. CTS will be joining forces with the South African online auctions company Meerkat, a leader in the field, having conducted over 50 large cattle and game sales in the last year, all with seamless efficiency. Ro’an van Tonder, owner of Meerkat, said that his company had cut online delays down to ‘a split second’ using the latest technology, and that their UPS-driven platform is not affected by power outages. “We have connected buyers around the globe to live cattle and game auctions, even in remote farm areas, so we are well geared up for our first thoroughbred sale, and excited to be involved.” Auctioneer Andrew Miller said: “Auction sales have changed since the advent of Covid-19 and we have all had to adapt, but it’s safe to say that this kind of technology is of high value to buyers and sellers. Buyers who are not able to attend the sale can watch or listen
online, and make their bids at lightning speed.”
(before 13 March) and to bid on 14 March:
Miller added: “The online offering is supported by Meerkat team members who are physically present at the live sale, one of whom acts as an extra bid spotter, focussing only on the bids being struck on their platform.
Samsung and Android:
I, as the auctioneer, perform my customary duties on the podium, while interacting with the Meerkat representative in his capacity as a bid spotter. There is no lag time waiting for online bids to come through. When they do, they reflect instantly, to compete with the bids struck in the live arena.”
https://apple.co/2yDd362
Grant Knowles, Marketing and Bloodstock Director for CTS, reminded buyers who will not be at the live sale, that they should register before 13 March on the Meerkat website, www.meerkatonline.co.za and added: “This is exciting, modern technology which takes us a step forward!” For more information: Grant Knowles : grant@cthbs.com Amanda Carey : amanda@cthbs.com Download the Meerkat app to register
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https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=za.co.dankospark.meerkat iPhone and IOS Apple:
OR Register, bid and follow autions LIVE on the Meerkat website: ▪️https://portal.meerkatonline.co.za/authentication/login ▪️ www.meerkatonline.co.za Meerkat contact details: Ro’an van Tonder: 082 567 0069 Jaap Coetzer: 083 234 9586 (iOS) Henno Bakker: 072 458 327 (Android)
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Vercingetorix’s
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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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THE DERBY DEAL’S ON! v
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Chase Liebenberg
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Mike de Kock’s ‘real deal’ Malmoos gets his golden opportunity to join the illustrious ranks of past SA Triple Crown stars Horse Chestnut, Louis The King and Abashiri when he lines up at the 2450m start of the WSB Gr1 SA Derby at Turffontein on 3 April. Malmoos (5-2) booked the space for his partly written entry into the SA horseracing history books with a scintillating score in Saturday’s R750 000 WSB Gr1 SA Classic at Turffontein. The big-hitting son of champion Captain Al was, as expected, ridden with more restraint over the 1800m trip on Saturday after being placed under pressure by Catch Twentytwo late in his Gauteng Guineas strike at his last, and the plan worked a charm. Avontuur jockey Luke Ferraris has been aboard at all of Malmoos’ seven starts. The past SA Champion Apprentice rode a peach of a race on this really smart 3yo, who was settled in midfield before boldly clicking into top gear at the 300m. He went all the way with impressive resolve to resist the challenge of the
MALMOOS has had his merit rating raised from 117 to 120. The Handicappers were of the view that 3rd placed CATCH TWENTYTWO – who has now been beaten by MALMOOS three times from as many encounters – made for the best line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 116. Runner-up SECOND BASE went
gallant Sea Cottage Stakes winner, Second Base (7-2) by two lengths in a time of 110,18 secs.
stayer Captain Splendid, the confidence that he will get the 2450m of the Derby next month appears well founded.
Catch Twentytwo appeared to have run in snatches and only came on the scene when the race was over to finish a further quarter length back in third. He shouldn’t be written off!
The well-related Malmoos is by Captain Al (Al Mufti) out of the Spook Express Handicap winner Justthewayyouare, a half-sister to Varsfontein’s boom sire Master Of My Fate.
Luke Ferraris said that given the fact that Malmoos was going 1800m for the first time he was reluctant to be up there.
The second top lot at R4,4 million sold off the 2019 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale, he races for Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum, who advised recently that his racing operation in the Southern Hemisphere will be rationalised.
“This was really impressive – he gives me goosebumps when he starts to unwind down the home straight!” Mike de Kock joked that Luke was the third Ferraris he had had dealings with – and probably the only one who has done him a favour! “It was obvious that the further he goes the better he gets. He had tightened up today.,” he added.
The final leg of the WSB SA Triple Crown will be run at Turffontein on 3 April. It’s now become a massive day with both sexes in line for the top honour after War Of Athena’s smashing victory in the Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic earlier on in the afternoon.
Malmoos has won 6 of his 7 starts – his sole blank remains the Cape Guineas unplaced effort – and he has now earned R1 037 100.
Malmoos is now in line for the Triple Crown bonus of R2 million payable to the connections of the horse that wins all three legs.
As a full brother to the dual Group-winning
The Merits
up from 112 to 116, while 4th placed FLYING CARPET was raised from 101 to 108, which equals his previous best achieved mark, which he ran to when finishing third in the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup last October. He in fact ran to 114 in the SA Classic, but the Handicappers opted not to up him all the way to that mark. There were
also increases for BOLD JAZZ, who goes from 91 to 103, and for SHAH AKBAR, who is up from 97 to 102. However, the Handicappers again only applied a partial adjustment for both these horses, who in fact run to 113 and 112, respectively. The only drop was for BINGWA, who is down from 109 to 106.
Within A Heartbeat Of A Good Time! Over 11800 contestants played the free Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday with one nervous contestant watching the last race with his hopes of winning the R1 475 000 100% winner prize riding on the back of Goodtime Guy.
On a day that always looked to favour the fancied horses, 1627 players stood their ground after race 4, this being reduced marginally to 1409 after race 5. But the bomb arrived in the sixth race when Truly Wicked stormed home at 14-1, leaving 22 players in the running for the big prize.
The competition is free and the lucky player thus had a free punt and a chance to win a lifechanging prize in the last.
With Mashari winning the penultimate, only one player was left standing with Goodtime Guy carrying his dream in the final race. Unfortunately the dream
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failed to materialise - but 7 winners is a terrific achievement! On Sunday R500 000 must be won – follow the action and news here
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A ROYAL SALUTE! v
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Chase Liebenberg
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Chase Liebenberg
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Muzi Yeni and War Of Athena head for Tiara glory
SHE’S ONE FOR THE OAKS! War Of Athena finally tasted Gr1 success when she put her opponents to the sword in last weekend's Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic. Based on that scintillating victory, it will take a monumental effort to better her in the Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks. On delving into her female family, this first-crop daughter of Cape Guineas hero Act Of War boasts a thoroughly classic pedigree which has 'Oaks winner' stamped all over it. Bred at Summerhill Stud, War Of Athena is the sixth and last foal out of Qaphela, a placed daughter of Australian import Requiem. He was by breed-shaping stallion Danehill out of a full-sister to New Zealand champion sire Grosvenor, while a half-sister to the pair produced the dam of Australian Horse of the Year Lonhro.
A strapping bay, Requiem lacked nothing in stamina, winning the Gr2 Quality Stakes over 2400m over a number of Gr1 winners. Notwithstanding his credentials, he failed to fire the imagination of local breeders, especially as his progeny generally took time to mature, witness the fine stayers Gr2 Gold Vase winner and Gold Cup runner-up Kolkata and Oaks Trial and SA Oaks second Salutation. That said, his daughter Scripture was a precocious juvenile Stakes winner of the Listed East Cape Nursery! War Of Athena's female family traces its origins at Summerhill from the imported Godille, purchased in France by former owner Mick Goss. By champion miler Bolkonski, she was a winning half-sister to the high-class filly Dunette, who won the French Oaks at the expense of the then unbeaten French
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1000 Guineas victress and subsequent Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Three Troikas. Godille's grandam Gourabe, a dual stakes winner and third in the Prix Vermeille, also counts amongst her notable descendants the Aga Khan-bred champion Shardari, French Gr1 winner Ajman Princess and the fine stayer Lear White. "We bought Godille from the partnership of Alec Head and Roland de Chambure's Societe Aland", Goss recalls. "Like the rest of the family, she was smart and well-proportioned, but also tending more towards the small side. I never saw Dunette in the flesh, but at the suggestion of Dr John Chandler, who looked after the late Khalid Abdullah's bloodstock affairs, John Slade and I flew out to inspect her Gr1 winning son French Glory at Andre Fabre's yard and he was a slight, athletic type with easy movement,
WILGE RBO SDRIF T
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Owner: Mauritzfontein (Pty) Ltd Trainer: PA Peter Jockey: Warren Kennedy Breeder: Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein
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Chase Liebenberg
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typical of the family, which incidentally, has graced the pedigrees of such top French breeders as The Aga Khan, Niarchos, Quesnay, etc. Godille, who arrived in South Africa as a ten-year-old, left behind winners in France by Bellypha, Caerleon and Ti King. She immediately made an impact with her first South African foal, the Home Guard filly Selborne Park, winner of the Final Fling Stakes. Also third in the Gr2 Majorca Stakes, she returned to Summerhill and to the cover of Kahal, produced Desert Links, who claimed the Gr1 Gold Cup and finished second in the Gr2 Derby at Clairwood.
WAR OF ATHENA remains unchanged on a rating of 122. In assessing the race, the Handicappers felt that runner-up NETTA would at least have equalled the 102 she actually achieved when winning a progress plate at her previous start. At the time, the Handicappers could not give her a rating higher than 87 because the restrictions applicable to plate races do not allow the winner of such an event to receive a greater
Godille's foals by Belmont winner Coastal included the filly Siren Song, the grandam of War Of Athena. She too lacked inches and never raced, but redeemed herself in the paddocks as the dam of the stakes-winning half-sisters Ithala and Mzwili.
Goss recalls selling War Of Athena as 'a very neat, fluent moving filly with an easy temperament. Like Siren Song, Mzwilii, Selborne Park and Ithala, she too was on the small side." They say dynamite comes in small packages and that certainly applies to War Of Athena.
Ithala, by Roberto's grandson Albarahin, won the Listed Syringa Handicap, while Mzwilili took after her speedy sire Muhtafal and captured the Gr3 Pretty Polly Stakes as a juvenile.
What she lacks in size, she has more than made up for in class and ability.
A R75 000 purchase from the 2006 Ready To Run Sale, she was trained by Paul Matchett, who returned to the same sale 11 years later and in another shrewd move, snapped up War Of Athena for the bargain basement-price of R30 000.
The Merits
than six-pound upward adjustment. However, following the Fillies Classic, NETTA’s rating has been increased to 102. The Handicappers felt that using WAR OF ATHENA to rate the race would inflate the other participants especially as WAR OF ATHENA was rated to win by a bigger margin and appeared to win with plenty in hand and as such decided to take a more lenient view of the race. In rating the race this way, WAR OF ATHENA only runs to a
Considering that her Gr1 relatives Dunette, French Glory, Shardari and Desert Links all excelled at 2400m and beyond, the Oaks looks well within her scope and she may well be crowned racing's newest Triple Tiara winner on April 3!
mark of 106, hence her unchanged rating. There were however increases for 3rd placed MAGICAL FLIGHT, who goes from 92 to 98, and for 4th finisher SPARKLING WATER, who is up from 92 to 97. There were no other increases, but three fillies were given a rating’s drop. MISS ELEGANCE was trimmed from 106 to 105, GEE FOR GO also drops from 106 to 105, and CARALLUMA is down from 101 to 98.
Get Lucky
Do Your Studying! The Raceform Buyer’s Guide is a detailed summary of dam and siblings of Cape Yearling sale lots for Sunday’s big sale. It gives insight to what to expect of yearlings in terms of class, stamina, sale price. A must for every prospective buyer! Please click here to read the guide
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Warren Kennedy steers MK's Pride to a historic win
A NATION’S PRIDE Paul Peter’s MK’s Pride became the first horse this century to win the R250 000 Ilha Bela Gr2 Hawaii Stakes as a 3yo when he stormed to victory at Turffontein on Saturday to register his maiden stakes success. First run fifty years ago when called the Keith Hepburn Champion Stakes in honour of the Turffontein chairman who died in the inception year of 1971, the race now commemorates the George Azzie-trained Hawaii, who achieved more fame on the racecourse and at stud overseas than any SA-bred horse. Voted Champion Grass Horse in the USA in 1969, while at stud in Kentucky Hawaii enjoyed the distinction of being the first SA-bred to have sired a North-
ern Hemisphere Gr1 winner when his son Henbit won the 1980 Epsom Derby. Top past winners of the race include National Emblem (1997) and Jet Master (1999 and 2000), who both went on to become champion stallions. Other more recent Hawaii Stakes winners who went on to stud are Elusive Fort (2007) and Rafeef (2017). So MK’S Pride, backed to 16-10 favourite on Saturday, is in illustrious company and the 3yo son of Willow Magic stamped himself as a colt of genuine serious upward potential when he overcame a tricky gate and powered home to beat the long-rested Durban July runner-up Got The Greenlight (13-2) by a half length in a
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time of 84,63 secs. Got The Greenlight ran a cracker after his break and Joey Soma will be over the moon as his champion now goes into 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. Stuart Pettigrew’s Expressfromtheus (7-1) maintained his consistent form in third, with Clint Binda pacemaker Whorly Whorly (18-1) enjoying the moment when staying on for a fairly well beaten fourth. The winner’s dedicated jockey Warren Kennedy conceded that he had
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reservations ‘about taking on these older horses’. “I don’t where the bottom is of this horse. Every time we ask he gives. He appears to like being ridden with a bit of restraint. He won a good race today,” said Kennedy. Trainer Paul Peter said that the winner was a lovely horse to train. “He doesn’t know he is a colt. He eats well and is a good doer. Thanks to the sponsors, Mr Nkale, my team and this is dedicated to my wife, who works quietly behind the scenes,” said Peter. Charismatic owner Koos Nkale still has the season’s big luck bragging rights as MK’S Pride is his first ever horse after a
MK’S PRIDE has had his rating raised from 117 to 119. It was the ever consistent 3rd placed EXPRESSFROMTHEUS who was considered to make for the best line horse, which leaves him unaltered on a mark of 118. In rating the race this way, 5th finisher PACK LEADER runs to his mark of 110, which effectively
lifetime of punting. He was accompanied at the post-race interview by Jessica Motaung, pictured above, the Marketing Director of Kaizer Chiefs, as well as by his eloquent son, whose energy could be used constructively to market racing! Mr Nkale, holding the impressive trophy aloft, dedicated the victory to Kaiser Chiefs and to the Motaung and Peter family’s – as well as pilot Warren Kennedy. One of the fairytale stories of racing’s roughest year ever, MK’s Pride, who was not sold at the Ready To Run Sale, hails from the first crop of the Dubawi sired Gr1 SA Nursery and Dingaans winner Willow Magic (Dubawi).
The Merits
makes him a line horse as well. There was no change for runner-up GOTTHEGREENLIGHT, who ran to within two pounds of his 124 rating in his first start of the season, but 4th finisher WHORLY WHORLY is up slightly from 110 to 111. There were no other increases, but five horses were given a rating’s drop. CHIJMES is down from
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The Summerhill Stud-bred colt is out of the Admire Main mare Ikimasu, a winning half-sister to Gr2 K R A Guineas third Corredor, and his fourth dam Guadaloupe is a full-sister to the July winning champion Gondolier. MK’S Pride is a winner of 5 races with 2 places from 8 starts. His stakes earnings are R807 600. Ed – from Stipes report: Following the running of the eighth race, an electrical storm moved in over Turffontein. Following a delay and with no sign of the storm dissipating, a decision was made to abandon races 9 and 10.
116 to 114, CIRILLO drops from 125 to 123, TIERRA DEL FUEGO drops from 113 to 110, MILL QUEEN was trimmed from 108 to 107. Lastly, despite being beaten 26 lengths, MARYGOLD drops from 112 to 110 as she has failed to run to 112 since running 2nd to SUMMER PUDDING in the Fillies Classic on 7 March 2020.
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GOLD ‘N BLACK – WINNERS! 46
Messiah, Kaiser Chiefs’ Jessica Motaung and Dad, Koos
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Resident in Eersterus, Pretoria East, Ofentse Messiah Nkale won’t be known to many people in racing, beyond the Paul Peter Racing Team. Messiah, as he is called by family and friends, wasn’t addressed by his name when invited forward as the ‘well-spoken young man’ to round off the post-race interview at Turffontein on Saturday after MK’S Pride, his Dad’s super-smart Summerhill-bred son of Willow Magic, had become the first 3yo this century to win the historic Hawaii Stakes. The thunder rumbled in the steel grey skies above Turffontein as the eloquent Messiah suggested that the great joy of winning was that ‘every time feels like the first time’. “It’s probably not a well-known fact that my Dad, a deeply religious man, had been punting for some forty years, until he decided one day that he wanted to own a horse. And while he never had a lifechanging win as a punter, he stuck to the game he loved and luckily for him, he got the golden horse as an owner!” Talking to the Sporting Post on Sunday, the 27 year old University of Johannesburg student, who shared the happy winner’s podium with Dad Koos and Kaiser Chiefs Marketing Director Jessica Motaung, who was smartly attired in the gold and black of the Amakhosi, told of his early recollections of racing in the family.
“When I was young, it wasn’t a great experience, to be quite honest. My Dad always seemed to be engrossed in the Computaform or watching racing on television. It was so tiring – he was so passionate!” He says that it was really only when he got a bit older, respecting that this was the great game – together with soccer, of course – that made the old man tick, that he started being able to relate to the idea of the competitive spirit of the sport. “The tactics. The chase for a champion. The excitement. The disappointment. That’s when I started appreciating it and decided, hey I’m a fish I may as well swim with the rest of the fish!” The Clapham High School matriculant says that the early exposure pricked his interest. He is not a gambler today, but he studies form and enjoys the challenge of the brain game – picking a winner, to challenge his own skills. Messiah says that he believes that, while it may sound like a cliché, horseracing needs to reach the vast untapped market that never had an interest in catching a Pick 6 or leading in a winner, fuelled by a parent, through a structured educational approach. Following proudly in career teacher Dad’s footsteps, and in his final year of an education degree, Messiah is likely to become an educator next year. But the man who was born in Mokopane – the old Potgietersrus – has other varied interests and is concerned by the consid-
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erably reduced attraction to himself, as a relatively gregarious communicator, of the understandable shift to online education. “I have always enjoyed tutoring and teaching and have relished imparting knowledge to fellow students at the University of Johannesburg. I believe that education first needs a sweetener or incentive – we have to get folk interested in the ‘why should I’, before they have the motivation to want to actually open a text-book, or like you would suggest a Sporting Post racecard maybe, and learn more.” That’s where he acknowledges that racing has something of a mountain to climb. “We switch on the television and it’s music, movies or major sports. While I know that Saturday’s features were beamed on Supersport, horseracing as a sport is seldom, if ever, in the mainstream. So what could be a cheap sweetener is not really ever deposited into the subconscious of the masses. They grew up on soccer, or the movies, or whatever they did, and racing just doesn’t reach the social bucket list.” Messiah, who enjoys writing poetry and staying fit, says that he has observed how the stunning success of MK’S Pride has created curiosity and interest in his circle of friends. “Good happy true stories about ordinary people are clearly so much easier to sell
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than pipedreams or advertising slogans. The prospective entertainment has to be exciting and aspirational, I suppose. And I have seen the interest – through
a million questions – some of which I haven’t been able to answer – and a quiet admiration. I have tried to introduce some friends to racing over time and, while the
lockdown has been a negative, I must admit it’s not difficult when your Dad’s horse is a champion!”
JC Photos
Durban Demon Eyes HK Derby South African Dougie Whyte will saddle his first BMW Hong Kong Derby runners in next weekend’s four-year-old feature, with Russian Emperor and Congratulation among the final field confirmed by the Hong Kong Jockey Club today. Russian Emperor will be one of the favourites while Congratulation is the bolter of the line-up after only racing once in Hong Kong. “I didn’t have a Derby horse last year unfortunately and now I’ve got two, so I’m very chuffed,” said 13-time champion jockey Whyte, who is into his second season as a trainer. Congratulation is one of two horses in the field making the step-up from 1400m to the 2000m of the Derby – along with the John Size-trained Silver Express – after finishing fifth in his Hong Kong debut last month. “I thought his first run in the Chinese New Year Cup was very pleasing – he seems to have come on from that,” Whyte said of the Irish import, who raced four times at Gr1 level for a best finish of second while under the tutelage of Aidan O’Brien.
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Santa Therese wins well under Ridgemont’s Greg Cheyne
LOCAL IS LEKKER!
The Cape raiders were forced to play second fiddle for a change as the East Cape champion combination of Alan Greeff and Ridgemont Highlands jockey Greg Cheyne produced the gem with an impressive victory by the progressive Flower Alley filly Santa Therese in the R85 000 Listed Breeders Guineas at Fairview on Friday. While West Coast visitor Andre Nel bagged two winners, Greeff and Cheyne dominated the sunny afternoon with a four-timer that included the 27th stakes winner for Wilgerbosdrift’s Gr1 winning Travers Stakes sire Flower Alley (Distorted Humor). Santa Therese was the first local winner in the event since Andrew Fortune steered Beataboutthebush to victory in March 2017 in the same silks for the Greeff team.
After Santa Therese’ good last victory in the Breeders Guineas Plate, she went off a well backed 17-10 choice on Friday, although there was interest in Snaith’s Getrude Bell (9-2).
Greg Cheyne had Santa Therese within spitting distance of leader Upper Ten and made his move early in the straight. “I always knew the race was devoid of pace, so I wanted to be thereabouts and not be caught flat-footed,” added the Melkbosstrand resident. Despite late challenges from Glen Kotzen’s Musical Glitch (12-1) and the Plattner flagged So Flawless (9-2), Santa Therese had too much in the tank and held off her challengers to win by 1,25 lengths in a time of 100, 19 secs. Getrude Bell pulled hard during the mid stages and was unsurprisingly empty when asked for her effort by Richard
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Fourie – she plodded to a well beaten fourth and five lengths off the winner. Racing in a partnership of Celso and Lee Scribante with Steven and Jessica Jell, Santa Therese was a R160 000 National Yearling Sale buy. She has now won four of six starts with two places for stakes of R145 250 Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Santa Therese is out of the twice winning Tiger Ridge mare, Santa Clarita. Her sire has produced 50 black type horses internationally, including Kentucky Derby winning champion I’ll Have Another and Gr1 Ashland Stakes victress Lilacs And Lace, and has two lots on the upcoming Cape Premier Yearling Sale on Sunday 14 March.
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Chitengo (Gavin Lerena in red cap) nabs Tyrus Express (Muzi Yeni) on the line
DOUBLE FOR CHITENGO Gavin Lerena excelled in a thrilling finish to the R100 000 Listed Aquanaut Handicap when the tough-as-teak Elusive Fort mare Chitengo got the better of a tight tussle with Tyrus Express to win the 2400m feature for the second consecutive year at a hot Turffontein on Saturday.
keep their mounts on a straight course, Chitengo appeared to drift inwards slightly – but it made no difference with Lerena straightening his mount and getting the Alec Laird-trained mare’s head down on the line.
Bred and raced by Wilgerbosdrift, Chitengo was never far off the action and came alongside Muzi Yeni and Tyrus Express to set up a thriller over the final 250m.
The winner is a Wilgerbosdrift Maurtzfontein-bred daughter of Equus Champion Elusive Fort (Fort Wood).
With both riders doing their utmost to
Chitengo (16-1) got the verdict by a nose in a time of 151, 66 secs.
The dam raced here for Mike de Kock and was a €110,000 graduate of the 2008 Goffs Million Sale. She won to 3200m amd is out of the juvenile winner Parvenue, who is out of Patria, a winning full-sister to the Gr1 Middle Park Stakes winner Lycius and to the imported mare Sit Akul, who produced Gr1 Gommagomma Challenge winner Eddington (Model Man). Chitengo has won 7 races with 5 places from 24 starts for stakes of R602 975.
Chitengo is certainly bred to stay all day and is out of the Irish-bred nine-time winning Montjeu mare Gorongosa.
The Merits CHITENGO has had her rating raised from 105 to 109. 3rd placed DON’T LOOK BACK and 4th finisher AFRICAN ADVENTURE were both used as line horses here, leaving them
unchanged on marks of 90 and 103 respectively, but 2nd placed TYRUS EXPRESS goes up from 91 to 94.There were no other increases, but three horses had their ratings dropped. IMPERI-
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AL RUBY is down to 102 from 104, OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE goes from 105 to 102, and DAWN ASSAULT drops from 102 to 99.
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JC Photos
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Warren Kennedy has Sound Of Summer in front on a smart debut
SONG'S SUMMER LEGACY
Sound Of Summer, the Silvano gelding who made such an eyecatching debut when winning over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday, traces back in female line to an exceptional mare.
Trained by Paul Peter, the Drakenstein Stud-bred winner is raced by the Wernars family and was purchased for R370 000 at the 2019 BSA National 2yo Sale. A half-brother to Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes winner One Fine Day (Trippi), Sound Of Summer's dam Peace Bell
(Kingmambo) is a full-sister to four time Gr1 winner Campanologist, with Peace Bell's own dam, Ring Of Music a Sadler's Wells daughter of legendary racemare and producer Glorious Song (Halo).
Ring Of Music is bred on similar lines to champion Singspiel (by Sadler's Wells son In The Wings) as well as Gr1 Hollywood Turf Cup winner Sligo Bay (by Sadler's Wells). A full-sister to champion Devil's Bag and champion US sire Saint Ballado, Glorious Song won 17 of 34 races, including the Santa Margarita Invitational Handicap,
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Top Flight Handicap and La Canada Stakes -all Gr1 races, and was Canada's Horse Of The Year in 1980. A member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall Of Fame, Glorious Song is honoured by the Glorious Song Stakes at Woodbine. The mare, who died in 2003, went on to enjoy considerable success at stud, producing globetrotting champion, and subsequent successful sire Singspiel, outstanding sire, and broodmare sire Rahy (Blushing Groom), and Gr2 winner Rakeen - whose progeny
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included former Horse Of The Year and multiple South African champion sire Jet Master. The latter continues to make his presence felt in South Africa through his sire sons Master Of My Fate, Pomodoro and Skitt Skizzle, as well as a host of Gr1 producing daughters -notably the outstanding Halfway To Heaven. Rakeen's half-brother, the multiple Gr1 winning Singspiel, also made his mark, with Singspiel sire of Gr1 winners like Solow, Confidential Lady, Lahudood, Moon Ballad, and Papineau, as well as successful Cape sire Potala Palace.
a host of top-class Japanese gallopers including Gr1 Japan Cup winner Cheval Grand (Heart's Cry) and Vivlos (Deep Impact) - a Gr1 winner in both Japan and Dubai. The legacy of Glorious Song continues to be felt around the world today. Rahy is the broodmare sire of Horse Of The Year and multiple champion sire Giant's Causeway, whose son Shamardal became one of the world's leading stallions prior to his untimely death.
Singspiel's multiple Gr1 winning daughter Dar Re Mi is the dam of champion, and multiple Gr1 winner, Too Darn Hot - who ranks as one of the more attractive stallion prospects in Britain at the moment.
Shamardal's 150 plus stakes winners, to date, include the very successful stallion Lope De Vega, the sire of a very promising sire son in the form of Belardo, and such standouts as star sprinter Blue Point, French classic winner Castle Lady, champion Pinatubo, and Breeders' Cup heroine Tarnawa, to name but a few.
Glorious Song, also granddam of Gr1 Prix Vermeille heroine Mezzo Soprano, also features as the ancestress of
Shamardal also made his presence felt in Dubai on Saturday-his son Canvassed won Meydan's Gr3 Mahab Al Shimaal,
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while Shamardal's daughter It's Midnight ranks as the dam of Saturday's Gr3 Burj Nahaar winner Midnight Sands (Speightstown). Glorious Song's son Rahy ranks as broodmare sire of Final Song - the winner of Saturday's Gr3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint winner Final Song (Dark Angel). Both Giant's Causeway and Shamardal have also enjoyed notable success as broodmare sires, with Giant's Causeway mares responsible for the likes of champions Gun Runner, Soft Falling Rain, and Met winning sire One World, and Shamardal broodmare sire of the likes of Irish Derby winner Latrobe, top sprinter Hello Youmzain, Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship winner Mighty High, and Irish 2000 Guineas winner Awtaad.
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ACTION TAKEN Phumelela Racing Executive Patrick Davis says that the operator will be checking all areas of the track between each race to prevent a recurrence of a hole – see the pic - at the 1750m marker at the Vaal on Tuesday. “The problem was not visible on the surface until this area collapsed - we believe it was caused by some form of subterranean pest activity. Accordingly we have engaged pest control specialists to assess the area today and deal with the problem as a matter of urgency. In the meantime, we’ve switched the 16 March meeting from the Vaal classic track to the main track to give us sufficient time to resolve whatever the issue turns out to be and give the necessary assurances to all stakeholders that the track is safe for horse and rider.” Davis added that this is a different issue to the one caused by meerkats two weeks ago: “On that occasion, the track was checked pre racing as usual and the visible meerkat damage repaired, however while races 1 to 4 were taking place in the front straight, the meerkats must have returned and re-dug the area in the back straight we’d repaired earlier.”
ROYAL SMILES It hasn’t been a particularly happy week for Britain’s Royal Family. But Meghan and Harry aside, prize money for Royal Ascot 2021 was announced on Tuesday at £6 million over the week – a 66% increase on the £3,61m offered in 2020. The Royal Meeting will take place from 15 to 19 June. The King George VI & Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes, which takes place in July, will be run for £875,000 (2020: £400,000). Ascot’s Flat Season begins with Royal Ascot Trials Day on 28 April, where the Gr3 Longines Sagaro Stakes and the Gr3 Merriebelle Stable Commonwealth Cup Trial will each be run for £70 000.
LIFE IS GOOD
A day after Life Is Good recorded a commanding win in the Gr2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert reflected on the colt’s ability three races into his career. “He’s very green,” Baffert said. Life is Good is now second on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leader board with 60 points, equal with Greatest Honour (Tapit-Tiffany’s Honour, by Street Cry) who claims the top spot due to more earnings in non-restricted stakes races. Life is Good was a $525,000 purchase by China Horse Club and Maverick Racing at the September Keeneland Yearling Sale. The Kentucky Derby will be run at Churchill Downs on 1 May.
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Candiese Lenferna
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RACING OPERATORS GO HEAD TO HEAD Gold Circle is working with its legal team to lawfully address its relationship with Phumelela so that it can determine and implement its own future strategy. This was one of the aspects of a detailed statement issued last Friday.
The discussions in regard to the creation of a new television entity with MOD have not been successful in that Gold Circle is not prepared to relinquish ownership and control of its intellectual rights to the KZN televised racing image to a company wholly owned within the MOD structure.
The company has engaged with MOD in this regard, but save for discussions around the creation of a new television entity, MOD has informed Gold Circle that it is unable to engage with in relation to many of the issues Gold Circle would like to address until the successful completion of the various MOD related applications to Gambling Boards and the Competition Commission.
Gold Circle regards the televised image of its racing product as part of the lifeblood of its operation. Gold Circle needs to plan carefully for its future and to ensure its survival and sustainability, which is of even greater importance in the light of the non-payment by Phumelela to Gold Circle of approximately R 123 million in aggregate. Reluctantly Gold Circle is proceeding with
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the finalisation of its future strategy without consultation with MOD but hopes that once the MOD licensing and competition applications have been dealt with, MOD will engage with it to explore strategies and opportunities to benefit the South African racing industry and its stakeholders. Once Gold Circle has finalised its future strategy and has, together with its legal team, addressed the final elements of its relationship with Phumelela, it will address another circular to members in which its own future strategy is detailed. Click here to read the full report by Gold CircleChairman Neil Butcher
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Salute the Soldier (Adrie De Vries) wins the Gr1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3
NOW
THE COUNTDOWN TO WORLD CUP! The Dubai World Cup racemeeting celebrates its historic 25th anniversary on 27 March, with six Gr1 races and three Gr2’s, including one of the world's premier races, the $12 million Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline. Last weekend, Super Saturday was the dress rehearsal for the big day and the second biggest meeting of the UAE season at Meydan. It was officially highlighted by the $390 000 Gr1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3 sponsored by Emirates Airline, Run over the same 2000m on dirt as the Dubai World Cup, the race was won in determined fashion by Salute The Soldier. The 6-year-old Sepoy gelding
was given a polished ride by Adrie de Vries, the pair in front after about 100m and staying there. Victorious on this card last year, when never headed in the 1600m Group 3 Burj Nahaar, he arrived here having landed his previous start, the 1900m Al Maktoum Challenge R2 and has now won four times for current connections having won the same amount when trained in Britain by Clive Cox. Purchased for 380,000gns at Tattersalls in October 2019, he has proved a shrewd purchase who is equally effective on dirt and turf. Trained by Fawzi Nass for Victorious, he was always travelling well for De Vries who set sail for home at the top of the straight, the pair always seemingly holding the challenge of Hypothetical.
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De Vries said: “He stayed the 1900m so well last time we were confident the extra 100m would be fine and so it has proved. I was able to set the fractions to suit myself which was ideal and that was a very good performance. I did not expect to be able to lead really, but was more than happy to do so. “This is my biggest UAE winner and it is a massive result for myself and the whole team. This horse is a lot more relaxed this year and has really matured. I am now really looking forward to the World Cup in three weeks’ time.”
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WAR? WHAT WAR?
65 at Turffontein on Saturday encapsulates the thrills of This wonderful pic captured by SP photographer Chase Liebenberg War Of Athena’s terrific victory in the Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic.
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Juddmonte Farms have announced that their super broodmare Kind (Danehill-Rainbow Lake, by Rainbow Quest) died on Monday due to complications after foaling a colt by Kingman (Invincible Spirit-Zenda, by Zamindar) a few days prior.
FAREWELL TO FRANKEL’S MOM
The 20YO broodmare was a good race mare, winning six races including two at stakes level, and was a half-sister to three other stakes winners including Gr1 winner Powerscourt (Sadler’s Wells). Her first foal was group winner Bullet Train (Sadler’s Wells), followed by dual Horse of the Year and emerging high quality sire Frankel (Galileo). Her third foal was triple Gr1 winner Noble Mission (Galileo), while her fourth foal, Morpheus (Oasis Dream) was also a winner. Kind’s fifth foal was her first filly, and Joyeuse (Oasis Dream) emulated her dam by winning two Listed races, while Kind’s sixth foal, Proconsul (Galileo) only had the two starts. Her seventh foal, Chiasma (Galileo) is an unraced 3YO in training with John Gosden, while her final foal is the 2021 Kingman colt. Kind has five stallion sons at stud – Frankel, Noble Mission, Bullet Train, Morpheus, and Proconsul. Her name has been added to the International Federation of Horseracing Authority’s international list of protected names.
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updated 2021-03-10
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
787 581 580 381 524
122 85 77 60 53
99 70 59 48 54
75 55 68 41 38
15.5 14.6 13.3 15.7 10.1
Other Places Place %
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
34.3 31.7 34.0 36.5 26.5
6,195,675 4,398,200 3,639,050 3,704,100 2,896,888
9,341,950 6,708,800 5,967,825 5,164,175 4,541,113
Other Places Place %
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
5,761,775 2,904,000 5,195,475 4,247,500 4,208,025
9,069,575 4,500,300 7,713,750 5,951,863 5,748,900
96 59 70 50 47
270 184 197 139 139
JOCKEYS Name
Runs Wins Win%
2nd
3rd
Mr L Hewitson Mr G M Cheyne Mr W B Kennedy Mr S Khumalo Mr A Marcus
980 529 637 490 384
130 61 83 46 54
112 84 78 59 39
138 100 91 91 88
14.1 18.9 14.3 18.6 22.9
141 73 99 60 57
383 218 260 165 150
39.1 41.2 40.8 33.7 39.1
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
374 255
1620 29,612 1087 42,142
121 103
153 145
32.4 40.4
550 363
7 8
7 10
11,075,038 10,746,263
136 201 108
586 50,291 876 33,399 477 48,229
63 59 43
104 94 63
46.3 29.4 39.8
218 226 159
7 5 5
7 9 10
6,839,575 6,713,138 5,208,700
B.T. Wins
Total Stakes (R)
7 4 2 5 12
6,080,325 5,845,275 5,576,100 5,460,925 5,108,400
SIRES Name Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) Master Of My Fate What A Winter Silvano (GER) * Captain Al
Runrs Runs AEPR 165 163 145 137 98
729 801 671 630 430
36,85 35,861 38,456 39,861 52,127
B.T. Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Rnrs % 67 63 60 60 40
91 85 84 80 62
40.6 38.7 41.4 43.8 40.8
234 303 234 179 150
See all the detailed standings - Click here 69
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NORTH LONDON DERBY TIME! 70
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The Premier League returns with a full complement of fixtures this weekend. The North London derby will be the pick of the bunch but there is plenty of drama and enough competition all neatly packaged with a delicate bow of passion to get us going once again! English Premier League: Gameweek 28 Preview Friday 12 March 28/10 Newcastle | Draw 49/20 | Aston Villa 19/20 (22:00) Ryan Liberty writes I’m without even an iota of confidence when it comes to putting money on Newcastle – and I’ve endeavoured to make no secret about that. To be fair though, Steve Bruce’s side have a decent shape, and approach their defensive responsibilities with an enjoyable robustness. However, they have an attacking threat which leaves much to be desired, and now without Callum Wilson, Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron, I’m not sure the Magpies will recognize what a goal will look like the next time they see one. The ‘clean sheet away team’ offers incredible value, at 29/20 it’s a banker to get the weekend underway. Saturday 13 March 34/10 Leeds | 29/10 | Chelsea 15/20 (14:30) What an incredible impact Thomas Tuchel has had at Chelsea. I hate to sound like another who is simply jumping on the proverbial bandwagon but, often we can harp on about giving a manager time. But, as my colleague Jesse Nagel said in his understanding Thomas Tuchel’s blueprint at Chelsea piece, Tuchel required just one training session to impact their approach to games and subsequently their system. Defensively, Leeds will ask questions of Chelsea and, at the risk of confusing the punter, they aren’t completely out of the game. They too have a strong-willed manager who will want to impose his style of football on the game.
But Chelsea should come away with all three and at 15/20 it’s easy to back the Blues. 11/10 Crystal Palace | 9/4 | West Brom 26/10 (17:00) The betting on offer in this game is very enticing, but I wouldn’t be fooled. Palace play one way and one way only, smother games. On the other hand, Big Sam has put together a side who understands that making a game as cagey as possible is always in their best interest. This game certainly won’t be the highlight game of the weekend, and I can’t see anything other than a rather stale draw at the end of it. Get on at 9/4. 8/10 Everton | 51/20 | Burnley 34/10 (19:30) Carlo Ancelotti, for the most part, has done an exceptional job at Everton. They are – in my opinion – still in the hunt for European places and possess enough firepower upfront to cause teams some serious issues. Burnley come into this game off the back of an excellent result at home to Arsenal. Turf Moor is, and always has been, a tough place to go. It’s tough to go off that encounter though, were Burnley that good or was Arsenal just terribly flat? Nevertheless, one should give credit where it is due, and Burnley earned a point at the end of the day. I don’t see the same sort of mediocrity from the Toffees though, I’m all over the home win at 8/10. 15/2 Fulham | 4/1 | Manchester City 7/20 (22:00) What a result from Fulham! Going to the home of the Champions and somewhat outplaying them is a massive statement. I know the Liverpool fans reading this will relegate such a comment to ‘propaganda’ or an extreme example of a hyperbole, but surely you do not think the Fulham victory was against the run of play? I’m not sure when in that game I ever thought Liverpool could score – but then again, I can’t remember the last time they did!
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I would love to see a repeat in fortune for the Cottagers, but in terms of finding a place to lay our bets you have to get behind City. If 7/20 is too short for you, consider looking at City to score in both halves: Yes, at 21/20. Sunday 14 March 7/4 Southampton | 2/1 | Brighton 7/4 (14:00) This is a tough game to call, both of these sides are incredibly unpredictable and often inconsistent. Southampton has more quality in the field, but Brighton have been a complicated side to put away. My heart is saying back the Saints, but this might only be because I (like many South Africans) have started to fall out of love with Brighton given how often we see Percy Tau…but at 2/1 the draw makes plenty of appeal. 9/20 Leicester City | 32/10 | Sheffield 58/10 (16:00) I am happy to report that Sheffield and I have gotten through a mutually amicable separation. I now see them for who and what they are: a fighting and very proud team that will play Championship football next season. There were a lot of doubts cast over Leicester without some of their big names, but after an early scare they dispatched Brighton in what was at times an incredibly intriguing game. Brendan Rodgers has come in and completely embraced the Leicester approach to a domestic season – and fair play to him. Why reinvent the wheel? The Foxes will have too much for this Sheffield side and the home win should be fiercely backed. 29/20 Arsenal | 24/10 | Tottenham 18/10 (18:30) Another edition of the North London Derby greets us on Sunday evening. You have to say that Tottenham are finding a rich vein of form at just the right time. Four wins in just over a week has rejuvenated the side and even produced something of a grin on Jose Mourinho’s face.
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Heung-min Son, Harry Kane and Gareth Bale are starting to enjoy each other’s company and when Spurs put their foot on the pedal, they certainly have the firepower to hurt most other sides in the league. Arsenal (and hopefully their fans) however, come into this game relatively humbled and potentially less bullish than they otherwise would have been. Of course, they still have some seriously talented players who, on their day, can win it for them. Yet in saying that, I’ve been on the Spurs train for a while now, and I can’t let up backing them at 18/10 – see it as a reward for sticking with Spurs and their Portuguese magnifico. 17/20 Manchester United | 26/10 | West Ham 32/10 (21:15) What an incredible victory for Manchester United at the Etihad! Tactically they were astute, defensively they were brave, going forward they asked questions of an incredible defensive line every single time and
historically they kept intact an away record which is becoming exemplary. That will hopefully give the Red Devils a whole lot of confidence to put together a run of racking up some all-important points. West Ham will not be an easy game though, they will cause United problems at set pieces and you can take nothing away from their defensive ability either. For me, I like the look of Manchester United to Win and Both Teams to Score at 11/4. Monday 15 February 7/2 Wolves | 51/20 | Liverpool 8/10 (22:00) For betting purposes, I’m not sure how we can trust Liverpool. Everyone talks about Liverpool’s defensive failures so far this season, but their attack has been just as bad, if not worse. Wolves have a young and exciting team, one that looks to go forward and pin teams back especially when they play on their own patch. I know that Aston Villa without Jack Grealish isn’t the same side, but Villa didn’t ever look like they were in
that game and that is credit to the way Wolves approached that game. I know what this looks like, but I’m going to back Wolves to get a result. I just cannot find any reason to back Liverpool at the moment. It’s almost like they’ve just run out of ideas and are hoping that by moving players around something will happen. To show a little respect to the Champions of England (who are currently duking it out with West Ham, Everton and Spurs for the Europa placings) I’ll say go for Wolves on the Win/Draw Double Chance, as opposed to a straight win, at 9/10. QUAD @ 6/1 Chelsea Win 15/20 Everton Win 8/10 Man City Win 7/20 Leicester City Win 5/10
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