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DRC / Neville Hopwood
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DRC / Erika Rasmussen
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Godolphin’s Mystic Guide – ready to rock! A cast of 14 Group or Grade 1 winners, with a combined 23 victories at the highest level, are set to line up for the 25th running of Dubai World Cup day at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday. A total of 117 horses from 11 countries will compete across a spectacular day of racing worth USD$26.5m that features six Gr1 and three Gr2 contests.
(IRE) also representing the home team. The third Godolphin runner comes in the shape of Magny Cours (USA), the charge of French maestro, Andre Fabre who is making his dirt debut in the Dubai World Cup.
The Gr1 $12m Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline and run over 2000m welcomes a 14-strong line up headed by the highest-rated Mystic Guide (USA), trained by Michael Stidham in the USA.
Yet the Godolphin runners face stiff competition from a three-strong team of US raiders including the 2021 Pegasus World Cup runner up, Jesus’ Team (USA), for trainer Jose Francisco D’Angelo and the Miguel Angel Silva-prepared Gr2 winner Sleepy Eyes Todd (USA). Title Ready (USA) winner of January’s Gr3 Louisiana Stakes trained by Dallas Stewart completes the US lineup.
Mystic Guide is one of three Godolphin-owned runners in the field with the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Gifts of Gold
Japanese interests are represented by Gr1 winner, Chuwa Wizard (JPN), who claimed the Champions Cup
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at Chukyo Racecourse in December 2020 for trainer, Ryuji Okubo while Uruguay’s Ajuste Fiscal (URU) lines up for trainer, Antonio Cintra. Bahraini handler, Fawzi Nass saddles a first Dubai World Cup runner with Salute The Soldier (GER), whose route to the Dubai World Cup included victory in two out of the three traditional Dubai prep races – the Gr2 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 over 1900m and the Gr1 Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 over the same 2000m of the Dubai World Cup. Great Scot, third in The Saudi Cup last month, flies the flag for Saudi Arabia and trainer, Abdullah Mishriff. All the big day news is available on www.sportingpost.co.za
Candiese Lenferna
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Eyeing the prize – Summer Pudding looking a million dollars!
CHAMP CAN WIN ON SATURDAY
With the Vodacom Durban July her provisional prime season target, Paul Peter’s SA Horse Of The Year Summer Pudding resumes her 2021 campaign at Turffontein on Saturday with her top trainer telling us that the daughter of Silvano is fit enough to win the R250 000 Gr2 Colorado King Stakes.
effort down in the Cape early in January, Paul Peter says that his charge begins the second phase of her season in good shape.
Coming in refreshed and reasonably fit after her Paddock Stakes below-par
Peter in fact saddles three of the six runners in the Colorado King Stakes and is pleased that
“I have given her one grass gallop. She is the Summer Pudding of old and while she hasn’t seen race action for ten weeks, she is good enough to win on Saturday,” he added.
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he has some support fire. “I need to ensure that there will be a reasonable pace in the 2000m race and we won’t have any excuses in that respect with half the field!” Plans are that Summer Pudding will go next for the Gr1 Premier’s Champions Challenge on 1 May, and then be aimed at the Vodacom Durban July.
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Creative Programming? This coming Saturday’s Turffontein raceday was the subject of some frustrated social media activity on Tuesday morning, with Phumelela opting to combine the two individual sex 2yo features into one race – the Gr3 Protea Stakes, where 8 of the 10 runners are females. See the fields for Saturday here Sentiment was divided as to
the wisdom and racing morals of the move, with a senior trainer bemoaning the fact that decisions were made first and foremost about impact on the bottom line rather than the stud book. “A speed 2yo filly gets a few chances to register some black type against her own sex. The Gr3 Pretty Polly Stakes was one of them. I feel for my colleagues and the owners and breeders that planned and programmed
and hoped. I hope we get this rudderless ship seaworthy sooner rather than later.” Another was more philosophical, saying that in trying financial times, betting turnover and small fields had to be viewed with circumspection. Either way, there has been no explanatory press release from Phumelela prior to us going to print.
QUEEN ON THE MOVE
Dual Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes winner, Queen Supreme, will be aimed at the Breeders’ Cup Championships scheduled for Del Mar, San Diego, in the first week of November 2021. The connections of Queen Supreme received an invite from Breeders’ Cup organisers following her second win in Cape Town’s flagship event for fillies and mares earlier this year, and has entered the quarantine station at Kenilworth, where
her long journey to San Diego will begin.
Trainer Mike de Kock, who has been vociferous in his calls for action from the European Union in auditing South Africa’s bloodstock export protocols so that the shipping of top racehorses from South Africa to other parts of the world can be simplified, said: “It will take Queen Supreme four months to get to the United Kingdom, where she will remain for a further few weeks before travelling on to the United States.”
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Queen Supreme, a five-year-old mare by Exceed and Excel from Call Later (Gone West), ends her racing career in South Africa with seven wins and five places from 14 starts. She’s earned R1,59-million in stakes thus far.
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Chase Liebenberg
Masked Vigilante sweeps clear under Greg Cheyne
MASKED
AND SOCIALLY DISTANCED! The Maine Chance bred Masked Vigilante, a R90 000 sale graduate, won the third running of the R200 000 GG Gaming Klawervlei Farm Sale Graduate Race in grand style from a wide gate at a sunny Durbanville on Sunday. The only winner in a race restricted to graduates of the Klawervlei Farm Sale and reduced to twelve runners with the late scratching at the start of Justforkix, Masked
Vigilante started at 7-2. Under a polished ride by Ridgemont jockey Greg Cheyne, the colt overcame the widest barrier gate to overtake the long-time leader Persistance (10-1) close to home and drew off to register a happy victory in the Sherrell silks. Now unbeaten in two starts, Masked Vigilante clocked 75,15 secs for the 1250m and beat Persistance by two lengths.
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Both the top two were bred by Maine Chance. Justin Snaith’s Rafeef daughter Zambaq (15-2) ran an improved race a further 0,40 lengths adrift in third after showing up well. The Kotzen charge Oh So Squishy (50-1) came from the clouds to grab the final stake dividend in fourth in an eyecatching effort. The unlucky horse of the race is probably fifth placed Karen
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Blixen (10-1), who encountered traffic problems at a crucial stage when making her run down the inside. Her owners may feel a bit unlucky at going home empty handed. Hailing from the sale where he found his Gr1 winner Edict Of Nantes, trainer Brett Crawford said philosophically that he believed ‘horses find you’.
A son of boom sire Vercingetorix (Silvano), who produced another feature winner at Turffontein 24 hours earlier, the winner is out of the Casey Tibbs one-time winner Masked Lady. He took his earnings to R154 200 in two starts. The 2021 renewal of the popular farm sale has been rebranded to the CTS-De Grendel Farm Sale and will be held on 20 June.
Marketing Director of CTS, is on record saying they the dynamic sales company look forward to partnering with Klawervlei, along with their fellow breeders, for the 2021 Farm Sale. “We will look to maintain the unique Farm Sale experience, while delivering new and exciting initiatives to the event, ensuring further growth and success.”
Grant Knowles, Bloodstock and
Chase Liebenberg
“Lance Sherrell and Mike Sharkey were big on this youngster. To get a Vercingetorix for the price we paid – it shows you need a bit
of luck in life!” he added.
11 Happy connections celebrate the Sunday win
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Pauline Herman
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Sound Check benefits from a strong ride by Teaque Gould
VIEW TO A THRILL!
The Ascot Stud-bred Global View produced the first stakes winner from his second crop when daughter Sound Check kept the Listed East Cape Fillies Nursery trophy on home soil at Fairview on Friday. She caused a minor upset to follow up on her maiden success earlier this month to win the 2yo feature. The Alan Greeff trained Sound Check (16-1) made it two wins from just four starts, when staying on gamely to post a three-parts of a length win in 69,93 secs, under a strong ride from Teaque Gould. She got the better of Gavin
Smith’s debut winner Waymaker (17-2), who maintained the recent purple patch of the Louis The King progeny, when she held on for second. The favourite, Snaith visitor Europeana (13-10) was never in the hunt and ran third, a further length back. The nine horse field was reduced to seven with Grace Lightning (intractable) and Pot Sox (injured) being withdrawn at the start. A R160 000 buy from the 2020 National Sale, Sound Check was bred by Ascot Stud out of the National Assembly mare Rexana. A son of Galileo, and graded
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stakes winner at both two and three, Global View made a tremendous start with his first two-year-olds last season and was South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire of 2019-2020. The sire of Eastern Cape star, and five time stakes winner, Global Drummer, Global View has 19 lots on offer at this year’s National Yearling Sale, including a colt (Lot 270) out of Eastern Cape star Stormy Appeal, a half-sister (Lot 323) to Golden Loom Handicap winner Bold Ransom, and a half-sister (Lot 342) to Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner Pacific Trader.
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‘The Galileo x Storm Cat cross is also responsible for the emerging young Coolmore stallion, champion Gleneagles’ Global View in his racedays
A GLOBAL PHENOMENON South Africa is finally cashing in on the Galileo phenomenon. Considered too stout an influence in a country where precocity is
a quality in demand among breeders, it strikes one as rather ironic that a number of the great stallion's locally-based sons have 16
made an early impact with their first-crop juveniles. The short-lived Kingsbarns, while plagued with fertility
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problems, sired the juvenile Gr1 winner Gabor in his first of three small crops before his untimely death at age eight, while The United States has made a scarcely believable start to his career as the sire of a stakes winner with his very first runner. Then there is Global View, who won the battle for supremacy amongst the 2020 freshman class of first crop stallions and is also the sire of juvenile filly Sound Check, an impressive winner of last weekend's Listed East Cape Fillies Nursery. A rare American-raced son of the global powerhouse who proved himself a fine miler with Gr2 and Gr3 victories on turf, Global View is out of a Storm Cat mare and traces in female line to Canadian Stakes winner Ocean's Answer, a three-parts sister in blood to Storm Bird, the sire of Storm Cat. Significantly, the Galileo x Storm Cat cross is also responsible for the emerging young Coolmore stallion, champion Gleneagles. Following the untimely demise of their promising stallion Sail From Seattle, Rose and Ashley Parker of Ascot Stud trawled the international bloodstock market for a stallion with the right physical stature and pedigree profile and Global View fit the bill.
Described by Rose Parker as a "handsome bay, who stands at least 16.1hh", Global View arrived at Ascot in 2016, and what an asset he is proving to be. The young stallion made a cracking start to his stallion career with his first two runners Delicasea and Global Drummer both scoring on debut. The latter in particular, gave notice of a bright future when trotting up by the best part of six lengths. He duly became his sire's first stakes winner with victory in the Listed East Cape Nursery, where he led home another Global View colt, Fireview. After reeling off further victories in the Listed Dahlia Plate and Champion Juvenile Cup, Global Drummer was voted Port Elizabeth's leading juvenile. Not to be outdone, Storyland added to Global View's growing reputation by finishing second in both the East Cape Fillies Nursery and Lady's Slipper Stakes. This stakes-performed trio headed a total of seven juvenile winners for their young sire, who ended the season as the country's leading freshman sire. Global View continues to build on that heady start. Global Drummer solidified his reign amongst the Eastern Cape three-year-olds with Listed stakes wins in the Racing
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Association and Ibhayi Stakes, while Sound Check is her sire's first second crop stakes winner. Significantly, both were bred by Ascot and boast distinguished female lines. Global Drummer is a half-brother to two high-class siblings by Sail From Seattle in the shape of Gr1 Cape Flying Championship hero Gulf Storm and Gr3 Sycamore Sprint victress Seattle Singer. His dam Royal Drummer is a Kilconnel half-sister to champion Rock Opera, who produced Godolphin's Gr1 Criterium International winner and young stallion Royal Meeting and the durable and multiple Gr2 winner Heavy Metal. Another half-sister, Rock Concert, is the dam of Oratorio's Gr1 Gold Medallion winner Van Halen. A half-sister to Bold Silvano's multiple Gr2-placed son Bold Rex, Sound Check is the latest stakes winner to emerge from the celebrated Soho Secret family. A stakes winning daughter of Regent Street, she scaled new heights as a broodmare and counted Horse of the Year London News amongst eight stakes-winning foals. Sound Check descends from her Gatecrasher daughter, the Fairview Breeders Guineas winner Underground Lady, whose best offspring was the Gr1 Spring Challenge winner
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Majestic Global View: Galileo - Egyptian Queen (Storm Cat) Lady Brompton, a daughter of Ascot's phenomenal stallion Al Mufti. She became the dam of Silvano's champion son Kings Gambit, a winner of the Gr1 SA Classic and Gr1 SA Derby and a subsequent Gr2 winner in Britain. Sound Check's dam, the Gr2 Diana Stakes runner-up Rexana (National
Assembly), is out of Lady Brompton's own sister Soho Society. That Ascot Stud hit pay dirt with Global View goes without saying. Crucially, he has received the sustained support necessary for any young stallion to
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become established and covered close on 100 mares in each of the past two season. With plenty of ammunition to go to war with, he should continue to bolster his standing among the country’s leading young sires.
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Tropic Sun breaks the stakes ice with a smart performance under Lyle Hewitson
SUN BLAZES TO VICTORY
The Sean Tarry-Lyle Hewitson partnership was in devastating form at Turffontein on Saturday. The duo enjoyed three victories on the afternoon – including a feature double. Tarry saddled a total of four winners. A half hour after a runaway victory by stablemate Seeham in the Listed Jacaranda Handicap, the
speedy Tropic Sun overcame the adrenaline drainer of a false start, to register her first stakes success in the R125 000 Gr3 Sycamore Sprint (1160m). The daughter of Bosworth’s clearly underutilised Jet Master stallion Skitt Skizzle (18-10)– who won thrice in the same Chris van Niekerk red and blue – paced it down the outside, matching strides with market rival Winter Smoke (7-2).
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Into the final 200m, Tropic Sun was clearly going better than her opposition and stayed on really well to win by two lengths in a time of 66,58 secs. Running over a trip marginally short of her best, Rio’s Winter (15-2) ran a cracker, navigating her way from some distance off the pace. The daughter of Oratorio weaved through under Gavin
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Lerena to snatch the runner-up cheque away from Winter Smoke, who stopped late a further two lengths back in third. Lyle Hewitson said that a few months ago Tropic Sun was quite one dimensional with her tearaway style. “But she has matured and we have worked on her. This was a very satisfying win,” he said. Trainer Sean Tarry’s heart was in his pocket after the false start.
“My three were definitely not candidates for a false start. And Spring Break’s chances were nullified after that. But well done to Chris (van Niekerk), Bosworth Farm and Klawervlei. This was a good win by Tropic Sun– a couple of weeks ago she would have just ripped away. It’s a happy moment for Chris as he owns both the stallion and the mare,” he added. Skitt Skizzle (Jet Master), a half-brother to Gr1 Gold Medallion winner Zeeno, has only 18 foals registered in three crops. He has produced two
black-type horses in stakes winner Cordilerra and Tierra Del Fuego. Bred by Klawervlei Stud, the winner is out of the lightly raced Captain Al two-time winner Caribbean Dream – who also raced for Chris van Niekerk. She has 3 wins with 5 places to her credit from 9 starts and took her earnings to R261 750 with this victory.
Captain’s Double
Klawervlei Stud’s multiple Gr1 winning stallion Captain Of All continues to enjoy a good run of success and the former Champion Sprinter produced a pair of winners at Durbanville on Tuesday afternoon. Captain Of All runners opened and closed the meeting, with the sire’s daughter Gillian Anne victorious in the first race and his son Captain Dizzy winning the eighth and final race.
The Peter Wrensch owned and trained Gillian Anne stayed on strongly to shed her maiden over 1250m.
Bred by Klipdrif Stud, the 3yo Gillian Anne had been fourth in her two previous starts and was having her first start at Durbanville. Captain Of All’s second success on Tuesday came when his Piet Botha trained
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son, and former Klawervlei Farm Sale graduate, Captain Dizzy ran on strongly to score a last gasp win. Bred by Klawervlei Stud, the 3yo Captain Dizzy was making it back to back wins. The treble Gr1 winning sire has eight yearlings on offer at the upcoming National Yearling Sale.
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A week after winning the Listed Oaks Trial at Turffontein, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum’s Al Adiyaat South Africa posted another feature success for trainer Sean Tarry when Vercingetorix’ daughter Seeham stormed clear early in the home straight to win the R100 000 Listed Jacaranda Handicap. After things hadn’t gone her way in the Acacia Handicap at her last start, the progressive Seeham put her best foot forward when Kuda jockey Lyle Hewitson set her alight at the 450m marker. Seeham, who can only get stronger over more ground, gathered momentum after stablemate Magical Flight had set the fractions and she won easing up by 5 lengths in a time of 109, 22 secs. De Kock’s Sparkling Water (5-1) stayed on for second, with Heather Adamson’s charge Fort Anne (25-1) boosting the trifecta in third. Hewitson has formed a solid relationship with the winning filly, making it three strikes in
three starts. Trainer Sean Tarry said that he felt Seeham was unlucky last time but was pleased that she had won so well. “She is a daughter of a blue hen – it’s a lovely family. Well done to Al Adiyaat and the whole team,”he added. When quizzed on where to next for Seeham, Tarry quipped dryly– “The handicapper places our horses. We will wait and see.” The winner is a first-crop daughter of internationally successful Equus champion Vercingetorix, who raced in the same silks. She is out of the top-class Al Mufti mare, Alderry, whose wins included a win in the Gr2 November Charity Mile. Alderry is a half-sister to the high-class Royal Vintage and is the dam of G1 SA Derby winner Al Sahem – whose sire Silvano is also responsible for Seehaam’s multiple Gr1 winning sire Vercingetorix.
happy association with the Tarry yard. Seeham has won 4 races with 1 place from 6 starts. Her sole non earning effort was in the Acacia Handicap on 27 February when she was carried out and forced to race wide around the turn. Her rider that afternoon was Apprentice Joshwin Solomons who was questioned with particular reference to his ride around the turn. He explained to the Board that it was his intention, after jumping well, to sit 3 or 4 lengths off the pace – but into the first turn he ended up racing wide after being carried out. In order to correct this and sit closer to the fence, he was forced to sit back further in the field than he had intended. These actions resulted in him losing ground to the field. The Board noted the explanation, which was corroborated by the patrol films.
The family have enjoyed a
CAN YOU HELP? CARING FOR EQUINES COSTS PLENTY! Please visit us at www.coastalhorsecareunit.org.za 24
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Owner: Mauritzfontein (Pty) Ltd Trainer: PA Peter Jockey: Warren Kennedy Breeder: Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein
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Al Mufti: Roberto (USA) x Lassie Dear (USA), by Buckpasser (USA)
THE AL MUFTI INFLUENCE
Deceased champion South African sire Al Mufti continues to make his presence felt on the South African turf. South Africa’s Champion Sire of 1999-2000, Al Mufti’s top-class daughter Alderry is dam of Saturday’s impressive Listed Jacaranda Handicap winner Seehaam (Vercingetorix), while his multiple champion sire son Captain Al is broodmare sire
of both Saturday’s Gr3 Sycamore Sprint winner Tropic Sun (Skitt Skizzle) and Saturday’s impressive debut winner Pyromaniac (sired by Vercingetorix’s own sire Silvano).
Saturday’s Sycamore Sprint.
The latter is a two-year-old son of Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks winner Pine Princess.
Winner of the 2010 Gr2 Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile, Alderry is dam not only of Seehaam but also of Gr1 SA Derby winner Al Sahem and the Gr1 placed Almutawakel.
Another son of Al Mufti, Cataloochee, is damsire of Winter Smoke – third in
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Alderry must rank among her sire’s best daughters, having enjoyed high-class success both on the track and as a broodmare.
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Other notable broodmare daughters of Al Mufti include Laptop Lady – whose five black type horses include globetrotting champion Jay Peg – Drummer Girl (dam of champion Rock Opera, and granddam of Gr1 winners Gulf Storm and Royal Meeting (now at stud in Australia), Larapinta (dam of triple Gr1 winner Smart Banker, granddam of graded stakes winners Halve The Deficit and Mombela), and the likes of Circle Of Gold, Copper Horizon, Divine Nymph, and Quick Succession.
Al Mufti mares having already thrown Gr1 winners Al Sahem, Bold Silvano and Kings Gambit to the cover of Silvano.
According to various sources, Al Mufti mares have produced 76 black type horses, with
Al Mufti’s grandson Captain Of All confirmed himself as a sire of considerable promise when
Captain Al is broodmare sire of Vercingetorix’s Gr1 winning daughter Vernichey as well as Vercingetorix’s useful son Fearless Warrior. Captain Al has had another big year, thanks to his Gr1 winning 3yo’s Captain’s Ransom and Malmoos, as well as the likes of Celtic Sea and Erik The Red, and the Cape Guineas winner also continues to impress as a high-class broodmare sire.
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his son Linebacker captured the recent Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby, while another grandson, William Longsword, came up with an impressive first crop winner in the form of Safe Return. Inbreeding to Al Mufti (Roberto) has already enjoyed success-and has resulted in the graded stakes winners Flash Drive, Hot Affair, and Redcarpet Captain. • Al Mufti: March 9, 1985 – March 3, 2011
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BMW GR1 HONG KONG DERBY
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He’s been tagged the new generation Frankie Dettori. Not many top jockeys are liked by their rivals, but Joao ‘Magic’ Moreira has the personality and charisma to complement an extraordinary balance in the saddle and a raw will to win. And we can’t find anybody who doesn’t like him!
in one memorable day in March 2017 from eight rides on the nine event Sha Tin card.
After clocking his 100th winner of the season at Sha Tin on Sunday, the 37 year old Moreira went on to grab his second Gr1 Hong Kong Derby success, with trainer Caspar Fownes’ labelling it the longest last 200m he has experienced in a race.
But 8 wasn’t a new number for the Magic Man. He rode eight winners on a day in Brazil and, in Singapore, won the last eight one day and the opening race the next for nine in a row.
Moreira made world headlines when booting home 8 winners
The Brazillian fell short by one of equalling what is believed to be the world record – nine wins on June 4, 2005, by American jockey Eddie Castro at Calder racetrack in Florida.
So what makes him so good? Maybe trainer David Hall summed it up best when he said Moreira’s knack of getting
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lower class horses to up their game was a key point. “It’s one of his best assets – you see horses that race in the back half of the field in the lower grades and Joao gets on them and suddenly they are in midfield or the front half of the field and it is the difference between winning and losing for them,” Hall said. “And, on top of his skills, he has a winning personality. Everyone likes him.” A multiple Hong Kong Champion, Moreira moved to 22 winners clear of nearest rival Zac Purton and capped a memorable day on Sunday, conjuring a special performance from Sky Darci
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Sky Darci staves off a challenge from Russian Emperor (Karis Teetan) to overcome serious stamina doubts. The Darci Brahma gelding was plucked from New Zealand as a PPG (Privately Purchased Griffin), joining the Fownes stable as a raw, unraced gelding in 2019. Less than two years later, he is part of Hong Kong racing folklore. Eleven starts after debuting in Hong Kong on 9 November, 2019, the four-year-old emulated the feats of fellow unraced import Golden Sixty, now the highest-rated horse in the jurisdiction, by staving
off stouter-bred stayers to lift Hong Kong’s most coveted Classic. In the end, only a head separated Sky Darci and a charging Russian Emperor – the son of super-sire Galileo and champion Australian mare Atlantic Jewel – as Panfield, a triple Gr1 winner in Chile, closed menacingly. On a day of milestones, Moreira celebrated his second Derby achievement after Rapper Dragon in 2017, as the Brazilian gave an icy display on Sky Darci, sitting behind Shadow Hero as Healthy
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Happy and Silver Express set a solid clip in front. “It was such a smooth run – he jumped out well and immediately I just grabbed hold of him and tried to put him to sleep,” Moreira said. “Once those two horses (Healthy Happy and Silver Express) ran away in front, it was such a good section for us and at, the 800 metre mark when Russian Emperor was moved out and left the fence for me to start improving, it actually forced me to go a little bit too early.
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“I had to angle my way out but once I got into the straight, I had taken the lead a little bit too early but I knew I was on the best horse in the race and I had a lot of confidence in the horse.
I haven’t had too many rides in the big races for him and he’s a tough trainer, he’s won the championship a number of times, he’s won the Derby before and this is such a great training achievement.
“I knew they (rival runners) were coming, they were good horses as well. He’s not a specialist 2000 metre horse, in my opinion, but he’s got heart and even if they were coming, he was giving his best. Going across the line, oh my goodness, it’s such a meaningful race for me, for Casper too and his family.
“He’s got this horse to a great level – if he didn’t do such a great job, I don’t think we would have won the race.”
“This is the first Classic that I’ve had for him (Fownes).
Sky Darci was the high point of a Moreira treble after the ‘Magic Man’s’ success on Courier Wonder in the Class 3 Designs On Rome Handicap (1200m) and Fantastic Way in the Class 3 Luger Handicap (1200m).
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Hong Kong racing continues to captivate the racing public worldwide and their next big day sees Japan’s elite and Hong Kong’s brilliant best among the list of 77 horses holding entries for FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin on Sunday, 25 April, 2021. FWD Champions Day features three world class Gr1 races, the HK$25 million FWD Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2000m), the HK$20 million FWD Champions Mile (1600m), and the HK$18 million Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m). A total of 19 Gr1 winners are among this year’s exciting entries.
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SHEIKH HAMDAN PASSES AWAY Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, one of the most prominent and influential figures in international horseracing and breeding for more than four decades, has died aged 75 Sheikh Hamdan raced champions such as Nashwan, Dayjur and Battaash in his famous blue and white silks. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum was UAE Minister of Finance and Deputy Ruler of Dubai.
HARRY - HONG KONG’S NEW ROYAL Harry Bentley has ridden 51 winners in the UK this season and has has been granted a jockey’s licence for the period from 16 April 2021 to the conclusion of the current 2020/2021 Hong Kong racing season on 14 July. The 28-year-old Gr1-winning hoop, best-known for partnering Henry Candy’s Limato (Tigula-Come April, by Singspiel) to victory in both the July Cup and Prix de la Foret, will be the latest rider on the Hong Kong roster, joining the likes of Moreira, Zac Purton, Alexis Badel and former British-based jockey Neil Callan.
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FUTURA FIRES Drakenstein Stud’s four time Gr1 winning stallion Futura has made a superb start to his stud career, and the former Horse Of The Year enjoyed another notable result at Borrowdale Park on Sunday. Futura filly Dindingwe made it five wins from just six starts when she won Sunday’s Zimbabwe Guineas, while accounting for another promising filly, and stablemate, in the form of True Beauty. Bred by the Ndoro Stud, Dindingwe has four Zimbabwe feature race wins to her name.The smart winner is out of the Jallad mare Miss Delish.
DERBY DAY BETTING
Hollywoodbets have opened their ante-post markets on the SA Derby Day features that will host a historic bid for SA Triple Crown and SA Triple Tiara glory by Malmoos and War Of Athena, respectively. Both Malmoos and War Of Athena are at the top of the betting boards for the Derby and Oaks respectively, after entries were received on Tuesday for the big day on Saturday 3 April. Please click here to see the betting
WEDDING BELLS Keagan de Melo and Demi (nee Murray, sister of jock Callan) tied the knot in a private ceremony in Johannesburg last week. They are seen here with daughter Mia, on their happy day. We wish them everything of the very best for a happy future together.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY A globetrotting pioneer, Silvano, Germany’s Horse Of The Year and Champion Older Horse of 2001, celebrated his 25th birthday on Monday. He won seven times, while earning over $4 million in prize money, winning prestigious feature races in all of Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore and the USA. Silvano’s notable wins included triumphs in all of the 2001 Gr1 Arlington Million, 2001 Gr1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup and 2001 Singapore International Cup, and he was also runner up in the Gr1 Man O’War Stakes. Champion Sire in South Africa five times, sire of 99 stakes winners, (25 Gr1 winners) Silvano’s progeny include nine Equus Champions, as well as German champions Fair Breeze, Lucky Speed and Mi Emma. Click here to watch a tribute clip
IT’S BIG IN JAPAN The Japan Racing Association have released their statistical report for the 2020 season showing that, despite a drop in racetrack attendance of over 85 percent due to COVID-19, turnover continued its upward annual trajectory. Domestic betting turnover increased for the ninth consecutive year, up 3.4% on 2019, to ¥2,992,750,308,400 (R402 billion). The pandemic caused a significant drop in attendance with the 288 meetings only attended by 909,970 people in 2020, down from 6,236,197 in 2019.
CLOCKING IT
Hollywoodbets’ Devin Hefer and Odwa Ndungane chat to Neil Andrews on the Clocking The Gallop show about the emotional whirlwind that was Shampompo Shampizi’s recent debut victory. Click here to watch the show 40
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Big Sky’s Greg Morris and his partner Leanne Quinton
IT’S BIG SKY COUNTRY!
Formerly known as the Gary Player Stud, but now owned by Greg Morris, the Big Sky Ranch will be bringing four yearlings, one on behalf of John Slade, to this year's National Yearling Sale. Mauritzfontein's successful sire Ideal World, whose progeny include a pair of Met winners in Rainbow Bridge and Smart Call, has two lots in this draft. Sky Jewel (Lot 391) is a three-parts brother to both Kenilworth Cup winner Mercurana and Syringa Handicap heroine Persian
Rug, while the colt (Lot 445) out of dual winning Jet Master mare E-ticket is a three-parts brother to the Ideal World sired champion Hermoso Mundo. Another close relative of former Equus Champion Stayer Hermoso Mundo is the filly (Lot 448) by The United States, with this filly's dam Eistfull a Fort Wood half-sister to Hermoso Mundo and full-sister to the stakes placed Eugenes. Jet Master's high-class son Master Of My Fate, whose offspring include champion Tempting Fate, is the sire of Colour Of Money (Lot 138), with this filly a half or full sister
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to 3 winners including Christmas Handicap runner up Kazaar. Pedigrees of the Big Sky Ranch yearlings are now online and can be viewed at www.bsa.co.za With recent graduates of the National Sale including such standout performers as Captain's Ransom, Malmoos and dual Met winner Rainbow Bridge, you can't afford to miss the 2021 National Yearling Sale on 15 and 16 April. Find the online catalogue – click here
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STAYERS A MARATHON DEBATE There seems to be a chicken and egg situation with races over distances longer than 1800m. There are fewer of them – especially in the vicinity of 2400m – and the fields are often small. If the races may not be filled, then there’s less chance of them being programmed. Oscar Foulkes writes in the Sporting Post Mailbag that this is a concern, not just for the spectacle of racing, but
also for the Stud Book as a whole. It is pertinent to quote arguably the most influential breeder of the 20th century, Federico Tesio: “The Thoroughbred exists because its selection has depended, not on experts, technicians, or zoologists, but on a piece of wood: the winning post of the Epsom Derby. If you base your criteria on anything else, you will get something
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else, not the Thoroughbred.” While the more recent Derby winners have not matched the record of the golden years between 1968 and 1978 (Sir Ivor, Nijinsky, Roberto, Mill Reef, Shirley Heights and The Minstrel), consider how regularly these sires appear in the pedigrees of modern champions over all distances. Traditionally, 2400m is the classic distance, not a stayer’s race. However, its modern categorisation
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doesn’t diminish its importance. On a less prosaic level, stayers are interesting to regular punters because their improvement, as they get extended in distance, is relatively predictable. A horse with a stamina pedigree, running over a longer distance for the first time, is likely to show above average improvement. Sticking them into exotic bets can be rewarding. From a handicapping perspective, stayers’ established form is generally extremely reliable. Using the example of two late season four-year-olds that finished close together under level weights, when they meet again carrying different weights, the lower weighted runner will most often finish ahead of the other. The weight-for-age improvement factor is also extremely relevant for stayers. A three-year-old that shows up well over 2000m+ against older horses (even in a lesser handicap) is likely to have smart prospects. At this point I should probably declare a bias. It’s understandable to have a
soft spot for stamina when as an eleven-year-old boy you listened to the radio commentary of Tribesman (bred by Normandy) winning the SA Derby after a duel with Beau Art for pretty much the full length of the long Turffontein straight. A few years later, another Normandy-bred, in the form of Aquanaut, became the best stayer of his era. There’s another angle, though, which is the opportunities for decent stayers. The competition is just so much less than for sprinter-milers. It is my observation that many more horses could be given a chance over 2000m and further. In my book, any progeny of Silvano, Twice Over, Ideal World, and others needs to prove that it doesn’t perform over 2000m+ before keeping it to shorter distances. Sometimes the speed in their progeny’s female lines will mitigate against that, in the same way as stamina-laden mares will breed stayers by speed stallions.
handicaps, which severely limits the competitiveness of a top-class stayer that’s attracted the attention of the handicappers early in its career. The Gr3 status of the Gold Cup is an unfortunate end result of this vicious circle. Top-class stayers are not devoid of speed – they finish their races at the same pace as sprinters – it’s just that they take longer to build up to it. Great stayers have a special kind of aura. They are a different sort of equine hero to the sprinters or milers. Racing all around the world has benefited from the greatness of Stradivarius. His light has shone bright for many more seasons than the well-bred precocious three-year-olds that get shuffled off to stud as soon as they’ve done enough on the racetrack to be marketed as commercial stallions.
These views need to be shared with a caveat, though.
Supporting the cause of stayers is not difficult. All we have to do is enter our horses in those races. Many more of them are bred for the distance than we may think.
The many failings of the merit rating system are at their worst for stayers. All but two stayers’ stakes races are
Whatever happens, we’ve learned something in the process. There really is nothing to lose.
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Candiese Lenferna
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Life's a beach alright!
GOOSE ON A BEACH
KZN trainers don’t make a lot of use of the beach as a conditioning tool. So when veteran Louis Goosen arrived with four of his charges at Laguna Beach last Friday morning, heads turned and public interest was pricked. And our energetic photographer Candiese Lenferna was there to capture the moment - including this week's Sprint cover.
The Cape trainers – or Mountain Goats as Mike de Kock once labelled them – have been spoiling their horses for years with the Snaiths using Muizenberg, and the Milnerton crew down on their strip of paradise where the surf meets the turf – that’s before property developers scarred their world forever. These days the Paarl-based Kotzens are also often seen on Melkbosstrand.
cise benefits of the beach for racehorses is nothing new for Summerveld resident Louis Goosen.
But the therapeutic and exer
Louis recalled how the late
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“My Dad Danie, a seven-times champion trainer, was using the beach near the farm in Coega outside PE in the late 60’s when I was a laaitie still,” explained Louis in a chat with the Sporting Post earlier this week.
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Roy Curling and his Dad, formerly a jockey, worked the horses in the low tide and how the salt pans in the area were utilised for exercise. Interestingly and unrelated, the Cerebos slogan on their containers was ‘see how they run’! Clearly proud of all of the valuable knowledge passed on from his old man, Louis also says that years before Monty Roberts introduced his own science, his Dad was already using the principles of the horse being broken in where the animal and the trainer could see each other only. On Friday Louis took only four horses and no saddles down to the beach that
fringes the Blue Lagoon and the Suncoast Casino. “It was a beautiful day and this was intended as a psychologically energising exercise. It was a beach visit, not work. I was wanting to get them used to the environment and enjoy it. I took no saddles. It was fascinating to watch a 5yo like Great Rhythm so tentative initially as he watched the waves and the Indian Ocean creeping up the sand. He eventually started enjoying it.” Louis Goosen served his apprenticeship under two astute horsemen in Chris Erasmus and the late Buddy Maroun, before taking out his trainer’s licence in 1993 and made a fresh start when moving from the Vaal to
Ashburton in 2017. He has since been fortunate to move again and get accommodation for his operation at Summerveld. But 2020 knocked him – and most of the racing world hard. “Ashburton was too far away for me. Summerveld is a glorious place for man and horse. The facilities are outstanding. But the pandemic knocked us all hard. And I’m down to just 20 horses today but determined to box on. I have loyal and staunch sponsors in Hollywoodbets and top notch owners. But I need to rebuild and we will do that slowly. Patience is key in racing. See you on the beach!”
Around The Corner… With R16-million in feature race stakes on offer for owners during the three-month festival of high-class thoroughbred racing from May to July, South Africa’s Champions Season in KwaZulu-Natal will launch at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse in Durban on 2 May 2021. Champions Season will kick off with the traditional running of the Independent On Saturday race meeting featuring the IOS Drill Hall Stakes, the World Sports
Betting Guineas and the World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas at the Theatre of Champions, where we will see a number of the official Vodacom Durban July hopefuls stake their claim for a chance to line up in the final field on 3 July. A feast of 53 feature events will follow that attracts the best horses from the leading stables around the country, promising racegoers, general racing fans and the average public plenty of excitement and entertainment throughout 50
the three-month programme. Champions Season represents one of the biggest and most comprehensive festivals of racing in the world, attracting international interest and includes a feature race platform for all categories of racing from the exciting juveniles to the mature stars over distances from 1000m to 3200m.
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updated 2021-03-24
TRAINERS Name
Runs
Wins Win%
2nd
3rd
Mr S J Snaith Mr P A Peter Mr S G Tarry Mr M F de Kock Mr P F Matche�
831 617 629 405 549
128 87 84 61 54
108 78 64 50 57
80 59 75 44 38
15.4 14.1 13.4 15.1 9.8
Other Places Place %
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
34.9 32.1 34.2 36.3 26.4
6,392,175 4,486,700 4,011,050 3,754,100 2,943,388
9,700,200 6,990,925 6,529,200 5,293,550 4,656,863
Other Places Place %
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
6,437,775 3,197,400 5,775,475 4,648,000 4,426,725
10,016,825 4,918,700 8,509,750 6,497,113 6,110,450
102 61 76 53 50
290 198 215 147 145
JOCKEYS Name
Runs Wins Win%
2nd
3rd
Mr L Hewitson Mr G M Cheyne Mr W B Kennedy Mr S Khumalo Mr A Marcus
1052 561 698 522 409
141 68 91 50 62
118 88 85 61 42
152 106 104 100 93
14.4 18.9 14.9 19.2 22.7
154 78 106 63 59
413 234 282 174 163
39.3 41.7 40.4 33.3 39.9
BREEDERS Name
B.T. B.T. Total Runrs Runs AEPR Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Wins Stakes (R) Rnrs %
Klawervlei Stud Wilgerbosdri� & Mauritzfontein Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) Varsfontein Stud
385 259 204
1705 29,832 1156 43,581 934 34,949
121 108 61
156 152 99
31.4 41.7 29.9
585 386 242
8 8 5
8 10 9
11,485,163 11,287,488 7,129,513
138 111
604 50,947 510 48,302
66 43
108 64
47.8 38.7
222 171
7 5
7 10
7,030,725 5,361,525
B.T. Wins
Total Stakes (R)
7 4 2 5 1
6,443,850 6,206,875 5,876,700 5,662,500 5,258,275
SIRES Name Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) Master Of My Fate What A Winter Silvano (GER) Querari (GER)
Runrs Runs AEPR 169 165 149 139 177
761 848 718 661 834
38,129 37,617 39,441 40,737 29,708
B.T. Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Rnrs % 69 68 62 63 57
98 91 88 84 81
40.8 41.2 41.6 45.3 32.2
244 318 252 191 280
See all the detailed standings - Click here 51
7 4 2 5 1
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THIS IS THE BIG ONE 52
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Saturday 27 March 7/20 Croatia | Draw 7/2 | Cyprus 15/2 (19:00) Joshua Gaillard writes that coming in as underdogs in 2018, Croatia stole the hearts of many in the last FIFA World Cup to finish as runners up. Watching Luka Modric in tears as he walked up to receive his second-place medal was heart-breaking to say the least as we all sat with baited-breath for the underdogs to lift the prestigious trophy. Croatia are clear favourites to win against Cyprus with no glory, or even “missed glory” to boast of. Back Croatia to win. 8/10 Norway | 5/2 | Turkey 36/10 (19:00) The most competitive fixture of our select few would have to be Norway vs Turkey. These teams have faced each other eight times with Turkey being triumphant in four and Norway with just one win in the year 2000 when they met in a friendly. Sensational young talent Erling Haaland will look to carry over his club form this season to steer the Lions against tough opponents Turkey. Halaand has made seven appearances and scored six goals for the Norwegian first-team outfit, and
you can count on him to bag some more. The goalscoring machine in Haaland will charge the way to Norwegian victory. 1/5 Netherlands | 6/1 | Latvia 11/1 (19:00) Netherlands are in Group G, which is possibly the toughest of the lot and they still rise as standout favourites. The Dutch FA (KNVB) have set a plan in motion which their government have approved to allow 5,000 fans to attend their fixture against Latvia. The world-renowned Orange Army will be in full voice at the Johan Cruyff Arena. World class defender Virgil Van Dijk is out indefinitely and will miss the upcoming three World Cup Qualifiers as well as the Euro 2021. But not to worry for the Dutch outfit as they have a host of stars set to lead them to what should be a breeze as Latvia have yet to score a goal against Netherlands in three previous attempts. Back Netherlands to Win To Nil. 4/1 Czech Republic | 11/4 | Belgium 6/10 (21:45) This should turn out to be a one-sided affair as the Czech Republic sit a staggering 41 places behind number one ranked Belgium in the FIFA World Rankings. Belgium vs England in the 2018 World Cup third and
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fourth playoff saw the dubbed ‘dark horses’ by many football fans and professionals take home bronze after defeating the already-derailed “it’s coming home army.” With star attacking player Eden Hazard out due to injury, there is no lack of choice for head coach Roberto Martinez upfront as Romelu Lukaku and Kevin de Bruyne are both finding the back of the net regularly this season. Belgium are tipped confidently. 32/10 Serbia | 5/2 | Portugal 17/20 (21:45) When we hear Portugal, there is one name that comes to mind, Cristiano Ronaldo. There are a host of Portuguese stars to line up against Serbia, but I would be labelled a mad man if I did not mention the engine of their midfield, Bruno Fernandes, who will play a key role in Fernando Santos’ team. Serbia have never beaten Portugal in six attempts and you can expect them to fail again. Get behind Portugal to win. Sunday 28 March 15/2 Kazakhstan | 42/10 | France 1/3 (15:00) Our first FIFA World Cup European Qualifier for Sunday sees reigning,
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defending champions France take on Kazakhstan in their first-ever encounter. Didier Deschamps will now look to be only the second team to ever successfully defend their title as champions. Kylian Mbappe’s last goal was an historic one as he became only the second ever teenager to score in a World Cup Final behind legendary footballer Pele. Kazakhstan have never qualified for the FIFA World Cup and I will put money on them not grabbing three or even one point against Les Blues towards their crusade. France to Win To Nil is the way to go. 54/10 Albania | 36/10 | England 9/20 (18:00) The media have made a spectacle in the run up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad selection as he has a host of talent to pick, choose, and refuse, whilst Albania sit quietly in the back and lay in wait for their fixture against The Three Lions. Besides the established stars in the England squad, Southgate has put faith in a select few youngsters, namely the teenagers Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka who are sure to be impressive in the upcoming fixtures.
Albania has been on a decent run of form, winning three and drawing two in their last five, with their star striker netting three times in four starts. But even a good run of form and an in-form attacking player will not be enough to take on England. Get on the Three Lions. 17/2 Georgia | 6/1 | Spain 2/9 (18:00) In Georgia’s last outing against Spain in 2016, they stole a one goal win at Alfonso Perez Stadium in Getafe, but have not won a fixture in their last five matches. The Spanish squad do not resemble the greatness they once did, but there remains one who has stood the test of time and has been recently named in Luis Enrique’s squad, and will captain the Red Fury, Sergio Ramos. Ramos’ Champions League goal tally recently overtook Ronaldo Nazario, David Villa, and Zinedine Zidane, scoring his 15th goal. Back La Roja to win. 58/10 Romania | 4/1 | Germany 4/10 (20:45) After the longest serving international football coach decided to step down after almost 15 years, we will watch Germany wide-eyed as they take on their first fixture without Joachim Low.
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Germany has always had a stacked squad full of big names and the latest to really make a name for himself is Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan, who you can expect to be the star performer throughout Group J. Romania’s last and only win against Germany came during a friendly in 2004 where the Romanians defeated Germany 5-1, but have lost two and drawn two of their other fixtures. Germany are tipped to win here. 37/10 Bulgaria | 3/1 | Italy 13/20 (20:45) Our final game and only game I can truly say I believe is an absolute banker, we have Bulgaria welcoming Italy. Italy have not lost a game since September 2018 to Portugal in the UEFA Nations League. The infamous Gli Azzuri have played a total of 22 games and have won 17, scoring a whopping 57 goals. I am behind Italy to win convincingly and I’ll go by a 3-0 scoreline, using the correct score market. TREBLE France Win To Nil Netherlands Win To Nil Italy Multiscores: 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0