v
1
v
2
v
3
HISTORY AWAITS US v
4 War Of Athena & Muzi Yeni – will this be the scene again on Saturday?
Chase Liebenberg
v
5
v
The history-seeking duo of Captain Al’s son Malmoos and Act Of War’s daughter War Of Athena are both at short odds with Hollywoodbets for Easter Saturday’s Gr1 World Sports Betting SA Derby and the Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks respectively. The two races form the final legs of the WSB SA Triple Crown and the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara and will be run over 2450m on the Turffontein Standside track. The meeting is the undoubted highlight of a bumper weekend of racing that includes the contentious aspect of racing at Fairview on Good Friday.
But Turffontein action will dominate and this will be the first time in our racing history that two runners will be aimed at the respective sex titles in the same year. The final fields for the meeting were declared on Monday and trainer Mike de Kock has taken up the challenge to earn the R2-million bonus offered for SA Triple Crown success. Should Malmoos be victorious, it will be the second time a runner from the De Kock stable has claimed the honour. He won it in 1999 with Horse Chestnut. Other horses who have won the SA Triple Crown are Louis The King (2014) and Abashiri
(2016). A victory would also be a fitting tribute to owner Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum who sadly passed away in Dubai last week. War Of Athena will also become the fourth winner of SA Triple Tiara should she win the Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks and claim the R1-million bonus. The other winners are Igugu (2011), Cherry On The Top (2013) and Summer Pudding (2020). Follow all the big race build-up news on www.sportingpost.co.za
Carryover Reserves – Just Talk?
TAB’s commitment to publish a weekly table of carryover monies with reserves displayed seems to have been something of a hollow commitment.
customer anger at what is seen as a dark hole.
• Race 5 : Jackpot ONE Leg 1 - Likely pool R600 000.
On Saturday at Turffontein, a Pick 6 pool of R5 million is projected.
• Race 7 : Jackpot Two Leg 1 - Likely Pool R250 000.
As South African horseracing’s leading media platform, we can confirm last having had sight of the schedule on 11 March.
• Race 2 BiPot Leg 1 Carryover R50 000 - Likely pool R400 000.
That’s not good enough on TAB’s part after their move in a positive direction the unshackle the years of
• Race 3 : PA Leg 1 - Likely Pool R700 000. • Race 4 : PICK 6 Leg 1 Carryover: R1 000,000 - Likely Pool: R5 000 000.
6
• Race 8 : WSB SA DERBY - Pick 3 Leg 1 - Carryover R100 000 -Likely Pool R250 000.
v
7
WILGE RBO SDRIF T
v
Owner: Mauritzfontein (Pty) Ltd Trainer: PA Peter Jockey: Warren Kennedy Breeder: Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein
8
JC Photos
v
Owner Jeannique Vermeulen, trainer Phillip and Groom Doubtful Mabola hoping to repeat the Drum Star thrill
16-1 SAVANNAH STORM’S NEXT STEP
Just over a fortnight ago, trainer Phillip Vermeulen’s subsequent Listed Drum Star Handicap winner Savannah Storm was a modest 76 rated handicapper. On Saturday the lightly raced 4yo takes on some big guns at weight-for-age in the Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein. He was priced at 16-1 by
Hollywoodbets as we went to print. The best son of unheralded and now retired sire Sudden Storm, Savannah Storm won the Drum Star start to finish 13 kgs under sufferance at the weights. He starts as a 106 on Saturday. Trained by Phillip Vermeulen for his wife Jeannique, the stable flagbearer steps up for his next major test on Saturday, again under sufferance.
9
His conditioner says he is fit, well and ready for the challenge. “With all due respect to our opposition in the Drum Star, Savannah Storm takes on stronger on Saturday and we will know more about his ability afterwards. But all we hope for is that wherever he finishes, he comes back safely,” said the quietly spoken trainer. When pressed on why Craig
v
Zackey, who won on the gelding at his penultimate start, replaces Marco van Rensburg on Saturday, Phillip explained that trainers with small strings faced an ongoing challenge securing the services of the top jockeys. “I needed a lightweight last
time as Craig (Zackey), who won on him at his post maiden outing, couldn’t do the weight. Marco did nothing wrong in the Drum Star. But the moment the entries came out, I had a call from Craig Zackey’s agent and, based on the fact that Stuart Pettigrew has Expressfromtheus, a horse who Marco has partnered regularly,
in the race, I accepted Craig Zackey.” Phillip said that it was common sense and economics that dictated that jockeys who had access to the bigger yards, received and rendered preference from and to those trainers.
NEWS FLASH CONGRATULATIONS! SA Jockey Academy Apprentice Wiseman Njokwe rode a career first winner Hollywoodbets Scottsville Racecourse today when he won the fourth on Quick Star (20-1) for Hollywoodbets trainer, MJ Odendaal, seen leading in the proud winner. Reigning SA Champion jockey Warren Kennedy was beaten under a half length in second on tote favourite William’s Land. The thrilled Wiseman said that MJ had told him this would be his first winner!
10
v
11
JC Photos
v
Warren Kennedy steers Summer Pudding to her tenth victory
SHE’S QUEEN OF TURFFONTEIN!
The undisputed reigning Queen Of Turffontein, SA Horse Of The Year Summer Pudding took the next stride back to her champion best with a fluent win on Saturday and shortened in to 25-2 with Hollywoodbets in the Vodacom Durban July ante-post betting market.
style.
She scored her tenth victory from eleven starts, romping home in the R250 000 Gr2 Colorado King Stakes in
Stepping out 8kgs over her ideal racing weight – Peter quipped that we all have the problem as we get older –
Rested 11 weeks after a below-par effort in the Gr1 Paddock Stakes at Kenilworth, Summer Pudding vindicated trainer Paul Peter’s confidence expressed to the Sporting Post in the build-up week that his charge was ‘fit enough’ to win her comeback start.
12
Summer Pudding was slow away, but raced up to her pacesetting stablemates in the straight to win going away by 3,50 lengths in a time of 124,36 secs. Under Warren Kennedy, who has been aboard at 8 of her 10 victories, Summer Pudding (5-10) accounted for Divine Odyssey (30-1) easily in a marginally slower time that she won the WSB Summer Cup (124,07 secs) in November last year.
v
Steven Jell was on course to lead in the Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein-bred winner who has won 10 of her 11 starts for stakes of R2 239 500. She is by champion sire
SUMMER PUDDING remains unchanged on a rating of 129 following her fluent success in the Gr2 Colorado King Stakes over 2000m on the Turffontein standside track. Runner-up DIVINE ODYSSEY was deemed to make for the most suitable line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a rating of
Silvano (Lomitas) out of the seven-time winning stakes winner Cherry On The Cake(Strike Smartly) – the latter a half sister to SA Triple Tiara winner Cherry On The Top (Tiger Ridge).
The Merits
110. In assessing the race this way, SUMMER PUDDING only runs to a rating of 116, hence her unchanged mark. There were no ratings increases for any horse in this race, but ZILLZAAL was dropped from 118 to 116. HEART STWINGS, who was dropped from 102 to 94 following the publication of weights for this
13
Next stop is likely to be the Gr1 Premiers Champions Challenge at home base on 1 May. Then the Vodacom Durban July beckons!
race, has, however, had her rating restored to 102 (although she does in fact run to a mark of 104). PORTICO, who was dropped from 100 to 95 following the publication of weights for this race remains on a rating of 95 and as such was not adjusted for his performance.
v
14
v
CAPE TOWN RULES!
Western Winter stallion Capetown Noir sired his second Summerhill Stud-bred feature winner in the space of 24 hours when Sean Tarry’s Under Your Spell cruised clear to win the ‘combined’ R125 000 Gr3 Protea Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday. Capetown Noir sired the Listed East Cape Guineas winner Jaeger Moon at Fairview on Friday and followed up here with a very promising 2yo filly.
Now unbeaten in three jumps, the recent Listed Ruffian Stakes winner registered her second feature strike in good style under a composed Kuda-sponsored Lyle Hewitson. The Gr3 Pretty Polly Stakes, scheduled to be run on Saturday, was dumped by Phumelela at declarations for this meeting.
the process when he said that Under Your Spell has a few options – ‘that is if they don’t decide to combine the colts and fillies Nurseries!’
“She is definitely looking for further. Thanks to all the guys who got involved. It’s lovely to race a decent horse,” he added.
Under Your Spell (16-10) drew off to overcome the weight turnaround and beat the strong finishing Heavens Girl (17-2) by 3 lengths in a time 63,89 secs.
Tarry bought Under Your Spell as part of a parcel of horses online and unseen.
The backed Captain’s Run showed smart speed but tired late to run 1,25 lengths behind the runner-up. Lyle Hewitson said the winner had come on at work and did well to counter the weight turnaround with Heavens Girl. Trainer Sean Tarry described it as a workmanlike victory and said that she was a decent filly.
A Summerhill bred daughter of Capetown Noir (Western Winter) out of the unraced Irish-bred Deceptive Charm (Kingmambo), Under Your Spell is from the same family as the accomplished Witchcraft who Tarry trained to win over a trip. Under Your Spell made it three wins in three starts and took her stakes earnings to R177 000.
JC Photos
Both sexes were filtered into the Protea Stakes – with only one male taking on the girls. We may still get the Pretty Polly Stakes – but unfortunately no media release has been forthcoming from the racing operator. But winning trainer Sean Tarry indicated how he feels about
Under Your Spell cruises in under Lyle Hewitson
15
v
16
v
‘HE LOVES A SCRAP!’ After the race fell victim to the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, Hollywoodbetssponsored trainer Gavin Smith, who saddled 50% of the winners on the programme, made it a double in the R85 000 Listed East Cape Guineas at Fairview on Friday. Smith won the local classic with The Highway Man in 2019, and the veteran conditioner, on a dream day at the office, was back in the winner’s enclosure after Marco van Rensburg produced a peach of a thinking ride to make it six wins on the trot for Frank and Joyce Burggraaf’s powerful galloper, Jaeger Moon. “I think they expected me to go hard. But I had the lead for free. He was lobbing along. I didn’t want to go as hard as we do on the poly, but I had to find a balance. This horse loves a scrap. He hates losing!” enthused Van Rensburg, who has been aboard at all six victories on the good-looking son of Capetown Noir. After winning his maiden on the Fairview polytrack over a
JAEGER MOON remains unchanged on a rating of 94 after he captured the Listed East Cape Guineas over 1600m. It was in fact JAEGER MOON who was
mile in September last year at his fourth start, Jaeger Moon has not been beaten since – this was his first score on the turf – and overcoming a dramatic up in class took his tally to 6 wins with 2 places from 9 starts for stakes of R194 250.
winners for the yard on the day. Snaith’s Salvator Mundi (33-10) was a further 1,75 lengths back in third, with the odds-on favourite Adios Amigos a weak fourth.
In the face of some stiff opposition from down South, Jaeger Moon was allowed to start at 9-1 and came right back at Glen Kotzen’s Northern Song (13-2) in the final stride.
A R140 000 2019 BSA Ready To Run graduate, the winner was bred by Summerhill Stud and is a son of the multiple Gr1 winning Equus champion son of Western Winter, Capetown Noir.
The Smith galloper got his head down to win in a time of 98,1 secs – and made it four
He is out of the five-time winning Parade Leader mare, Maritime Mist. Pauline Herman
An obscured Jaeger Moon is stretched all the way to the line by Northern Song (Luke Ferraris) in a thriller
The Merits
deemed to make the best line horse, hence his unchanged mark. Two horses were given an increase. 17 2nd placed NORTHERN SONG goes up from 90 to 93, while
3rd finisher SALVATOR MUNDI was raised from 86 to 90. There were no drops for any horses in this event.
v
18
Pauline Herman
v
TWO GUINEAS ON THE TROT 19
v
The next Fairview racemeeting is on Good Friday – and it probably wouldn’t be happening if it was Gavin Smith’s call. The man whose Dad Andy was a legend in the region says that he recalls a time when the Eastern Cape would not race on the important day on the Christian calendar. “It was quite a contentious issue for some years and stakeholders were given an opportunity to stand down if they chose to. In the 21st century the commercial demands to race 364 days a year, coupled with a more relaxed approach makes it a regular slot on the programme. We also have to respect the reality that the world has a diversity of different religions,” he suggested. So the show goes on and the eight-times East Cape champion trainer has bounced back from a tough 2020 in fighting style. The Hollywoodbetssponsored conditioner holds an SA National log top ten position and saddled four of the eight winners on last Friday’s Fairview card. His strikes included the progressive East Cape Guineas winner, who could be headed for the forthcoming SA Champions
Season on the East Coast. Winning his sixth race on the trot, the Summerhill-bred Jaeger Moon announced his arrival in the big league in the fashion of a horse gradually going places, when fighting right back under regular pilot Marco van Rensburg to beat quality Cape raiders Northern Song and Salvator Mundi. “We really don’t know how good Jaeger Moon is as every time we ask, he steps up to the plate. I thought the way he handled the challenge on Friday showed genuine heart and courage. It’s not easy for a front-runner on the long turf straight to rally and come back like he did. Those Cape horses are decent so we are very encouraged by this victory. And well done to Marco (Van Rensburg) on a great ride,” the 54 year old Gavin Smith told the Sporting Post as he reflected on his second consecutive East Cape Guineas success. Former Gauteng-based owners Frank and Joyce Burggraaf, who return to Saudi Arabia on Good Friday, were on course to enjoy their Capetown Noir colt’s first stakes win. “I’m so glad the timing panned out well for Frank and Joyce. Frank works in Saudi and they spend six months there and six months here. Covid has naturally played a role in their
20
routine being out of order, but they have bought a home on the Port Elizabeth beachfront and are now true PE owners!” Gavin selected the R140 000 ticket Jaeger Moon from the Summerhill Ready To Run draft in 2019. “I have been lucky with the Summerhill horses. And I just liked the way he used himself in his gallop. He was a bit tall and lanky, and needed the time. The Burggraaf’s patience has reaped rich rewards. We would have half the horse today if we had pushed him too early. And he continues to mature. He is exciting,” adds the veteran. On to the subject of where to from here for Jaeger Moon, Gavin says that he will be monitored in th next few weeks and consideration given to taking him up to KZN for an SA Champions Season feature. Gavin mentioned the Querari filly Sugar Gum, who registered her 4th win from 9 starts a few weeks ago, and the uber consistent Gimmethegreenlight colt Stranger Danger as two other 3yo’s worth noting amongst a promising crop. Unlike some of his colleagues, Gavin doesn’t enjoy the direct support of the big breeders with their ample stock of well-bred horses.
v
“Nothing is easy in racing.
home life, work is not easy.
Hollywoodbets!”
Covid knocked the stuffing out of all of us. But the young horses are the future. We have buckled down and worked hard. That’s included going to the sales and trying to buy well. We have come back and put the horses together, and thanks to our staunch patrons and loyal staff, it’s so far, so good!”
I am very fortunate. My son Dean has developed into a really top-class assistant. Then my ‘smaller’ older brother Andrew, a lecturer at UPE, also lends a hand and is very capable in the yard.
We asked about his daughter Abbi, and her Met winning husband JP van der Merwe’s wellbeing in Singapore.
The man who turns 55 three days after the 2021 Vodacom Durban July has formed a powerful team in his 26 years. “I have been lucky, always having great people around me. My wife Marilyn is my rock and a huge factor in our success. Without a happy
The Covid attrition factor has meant that he is down to 85 horses. “As I said earlier, we were all impacted upon. But as a team we resolved to remain competitive and up our game. Hard work and luck help, too! And we are fortunate to enjoy the backing of the country’s leading racing sponsor in
Include the Gavin Smith runners in all of your bets. The powerful team’s on fire!
Pauline Herman
Gavin says that the key to his positive start to 2021 has been the performances of his younger horses.
Stalwarts Victor and Jarryd have been with me forever. They are the mainstay of the team. In a racing yard, staffing is as important as quality horses!”
“They haven’t visited South Africa for some time as the lockdown protocols would prevent them from returning. But they have settled well and love Singapore. JP rode a double last week at Kranji and has adapted well. They have applied for residency there. It really has been a happy experience for them and they make a great couple,” adds the proud Dad and Father-in-law.
21
v
22
v
23
PIEMONTE’S CAPETOWN NOIR v
TABLE MOUNTAIN’S IN SIGHT!
24
JC Photos
v
25
v
Nothing provides better publicity for a stallion than to sire a stakes winner. For Capetown Noir the stars aligned not once, but twice this past weekend, as the champion miler celebrated a stakes double in the space of just 24 hours. The Piemonte Stud-based son of Western Winter first struck with three-year-old son Jaeger Moon, who provided his sire with a classic success in the Listed East Cape Guineas at Fairview. The Gavin Smith-trained colt has not looked back since cracking his maiden on the polytrack and came into the mile event with a five-win streak in tow. Considering that all his victories had been on that surface, there were doubts as to whether he could pull off another win on the grass, in addition to which he was facing the usual strong contingent of Cape Town visitors hoping to cash in on some black type. No worries, though, the three-year-old rose to the occasion and took control of the race from the jump. Briefly headed in the straight by Glen Kotzen's Oratorio colt Northern Song, he showed true grit and fought back tenaciously to score for the sixth time in succession. The very next day, Capetown Noir again hit the headlines when juvenile daughter Under
Your Spell became his first Graded stakes winner with a dominant score in Turffontein's Gr3 Protea Stakes. On the strength of her impressive victory in last month's Listed Ruffian Stakes, Sean Tarry's charge started a warm favourite to make it a stakes double and duly obliged when she blitzed home, leaving her rivals trailing by a handsome three lengths. Summerhill Stud can claim the honours for having bred both Jaeger Moon and Under Your Spell. Jaeger Moon hails from his sire's second crop and is out of the five-time winner Maritime Mist, dam also of the Await The Dawn stayer Before Noon, a shorthead loser of last season's Gr3 Gold Vase. A grandaughter of Lammerskraal Stud's Broodmare of the Year Fashing, Maritime Mist is by underutilised Parade Leader, who is quietly making a name for himself as a sire of broodmares. As a matter of fact, he is also the damsire of Western Winter's Gr3 Cape of Good Hope Nursery winner and Gr1 Cape Guineas third Kingvoldt and of the stakes winner and Gr1 Mercury Sprint third Fabian, who is by Western Winter's son What A Winter. Even more significant, Parade 26
Leader is a son of outstanding racer and stallion Kingmambo, the broodmare sire of Under Your Spell. She was produced by his Irish-bred daughter Deceptive Charm, who never raced, but has proven herself a more than capable broodmare. In addition to Under Your Spell, she is also the dam of Kahal's talented daughter Witchcraft, a dual winner of the Gr3 Track and Ball Oaks, and of the Gr3-placed Visionaire gelding In Cahoots. Following a glittering career which saw him named the Champion Miler of 2014, Capetown Noir took up stallion duties at Summerhill Stud in 2015. Rated by his trainer Dean Kannemeyer as "the best miler I have trained, a magnificent mover with character and a terrific temperament," he made a more than respectable start with seven first-crop winners, amongst which the stakes-placed fillies Brandina and Scarborough Fair. That crop also includes his first black-type winner Bohica, who has emerged as a sprinter of note this season. Successful in the Listed Spring Spree Stakes, the four-year-old most recently looked assured of victory in the Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes until nabbed on the line by Vars Vicky. Instant success is non-negotiable in a tough
v
industry and having started the current season with no stakes winners amongst his first two crops to hit the track, it came as no surprise that Capetown Noir was soon looking for a new home when Summerhill changed hands in 2020. In hindsight, that now seems a somewhat premature move when one considers that since his departure, the handsome bay has redeemed himself as the sire of a stakes winner in each of his first crops. Capetown Noir (Western Winter - Akinfeet)
27
v
ALEXANDERS SELL UP In what will amount to an emotional end of an era for SA racing, the Alexander Racing Team are in the process of relocating to Murray Bridge in South Australia and a dispersal sale of horses and equipment will be held at their yard at Turffontein at 12h00 on Wednesday 7 April. The buyer’s card application and any enquiries can be emailed to Gabriel@mgas.co.za or WhatsApp it to 076 724 0585 - or to Dylan on 078 1777 073. The catalogue is available here
RAFEEF THUNDERS! Currently South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire (by stakes and winners), Rafeef is well represented at the upcoming National Yearling Sale. His 20 lots on offer include a half-sister (Lot 1) to Fillies Guineas winner Maybe Yes, a colt (Lot 12) out of Gr3 Three Troikas Stakes vixen Fish River, a colt (Lot 157) whose dam is a stakes winning daughter of multiple champion sire Captain Al, and a colt (Lot 311) out of Gr2 Post Merchants winner Varikate. The impeccably bred son of Redoute’s Choice came up with his fifth first crop winner on Tuesday when his son Star Of The West scored at Turffontein on Tuesday.
28
v
29
v
CORRIE ON THE MOVE
Milnerton trainer and former Northern Cape champion, Corrie Lensley has relocated to the Vaal and expects to saddle his first runners towards the end of April. Speaking to the Sporting Post from his Vereeniging base, and with his twelve horses safely in their boxes after a long trip on Monday, Corrie said that he had made the move from Milnerton to an area he was far more comfortable with. “I had to face the reality that I did not have the horsepower to saddle winners and earn a living in the Cape. I have put the experience down to a life lesson and can say that I left Cape Town richer for having met some wonderful people,” he said.
HANDICAPPING’S FAULT? In the early 1980’s The Buggles told us that Video Killed The Radio Star. Fast forward to the 21st century, the leading question is, did handicapping do the same to the sport of kings? And if so, how? We know that handicaps attract bigger fields. We also know bigger fields attract more betting and more income. Over about 12 horses, races can sometimes make an individual profit. And we also know good horses can give us profitable races, but they hate handicaps. Please click here to read more and tell us what you think
SANTA ANITA DERBY Saturday’s 1800m $750 000 Gr1 Santa Anita Derby looks there for the taking for $35 000 bargain Medina Spirit, who not only brings versatility as either a pacesetter, presser or stalker, but he also owns the right speed figures to win. Inaugurated in 1935 shortly after its host track’s opening, the Santa Anita Derby has for more than eight decades served as the West Coast’s premier Kentucky Derby prep. 30
v
DRUG DANGER A British jockey has expressed regret after he was 1 000 times above the cocaine limit in a test at Chelmsford races in 2020. Adrian McCarthy said he was depressed during lockdown and took the drug four or five times while drinking in a pub a day or two before the fixture. The 42-year-old had his riding licence withdrawn for six months by an independent disciplinary panel. Panel chairman James O'Mahony said the use of cocaine by riders was "pernicious" for the sport. In another case heard on Thursday last week, jockey Finley Marsh, 22, also had his licence withdrawn for six months. He admitted evading anti-doping testers after taking cocaine, calling it "a mistake that broke me for a very long time".
AUSSIE SALES FLYING It has been a superb year for yearling sales in Australia. Measured against the backdrop of an economy tentatively emerging from COVID-19’s shackles, it has been positively astonishing. Adding fuel to the flame ahead of the upcoming sale of the 466 bluebloods catalogued for this year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale at Riverside on April 6 and 7 is that elusive x-factor called the wealth effect, one created by property prices rising faster than they have in two decades. Ergo, a perfect storm that could see demand for future stallion prospects and handsomely pedigreed future broodmares richly reward vendors, only a year on from the start of the worst global pandemic since the Spanish Flu in 1917.
31
v
32
v
33
v
THABI CELEBRATES… 34 AND DUNCAN BREAKS DROUGHT!
Candiese Lenferna
v
Trip To Africa storms to victory under apprentice Gumede A multiple KZN Champion trainer, Ashburton-based Duncan Howells has endured a dry run of some proportions and probably couldn’t be blamed for having forgotten where the stakes winner’s enclosure is.
planned. It feels like we have won the Vodacom Durban July,” laughed Howells after Trip To Africa had bounded to victory in the Listed Kings Cup.
000 Listed Kings Cup was for Marshall’s recently gelded Silver Operator, fresh off an unplaced run in the Cape Town Met.
Howells said that things had been ‘very rough’ but that they were boxing on.
But the fortunes of the veteran horseman changed for the brighter in just over 97 seconds at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.
With visiting trainer Vaughan Marshall opening his KZN season account earlier in the day courtesy of Captain Of Stealth, the first signs of the forthcoming SA Champions Season are in the air and Justin Snaith was also in the feature mix, saddling Myhopesanddreams.
And it was not to be a fairytale start for Marshall as, much like his PE-based cousin Gavin Smith in the East Cape Guineas on Friday, Duncan Howells wasn’t to be intimidated by the big name Cape raiders and led the hometown charge to register an all KZN feature trifecta.
“This was a pleasing and important win for the yard. To be frank, I wasn’t confident of winning it but felt that the rain during the week helped and it all came together nicely as
But all the support in the R100
35
Under a handy galloping weight, and with his regular pilot, the Candiese Lenferna Photography -sponsored Apprentice Thabiso
v
Gumede aboard, Trip To Africa tracked Ashton Arries and News Stream all the way round. At the 300m the gelding with the ungainly racing style picked it up and went on powerful to beat the well-backed Tristful (8-1) by 1,50 lengths in a time of 97,7 secs. The pacesetting News Stream (16-1) ran a game race to stay on for third, just under a length back, and round off the hometown trifecta.
TRIP TO AFRICA has had his rating raised from 97 to 101 after he won the Listed Kings Cup (handicap) over 1600m on the turf course at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday. Ultra-consistent 3rd finisher NEWS STREAM
Winning Form-sponsored trainer Duncan Howells confirmed that Trip To Africa was not the easiest of rides but Thabiso Gumede knows him well. “He had his issues as a young horse but he has grown into his frame. And thanks to my patient owners,” he said. Gumede, who grew up close to Summerveld and the SA Jockey Academy at Shongweni and credits his Uncle, a former SAJA Security Guard, with having introduced him to racing and a career as a jock-
The Merits
was used as the line horse here, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 96, but 2nd placed TRISTFUL goes up slightly from 112 to 113. There were no other increases, but three horses received a rating’s drop. PRICELESS
36
ey, was celebrating his first stakes victory – his 42nd overall. Bred by RidgemontHighlands, Trip To Africa is a son of Trippi (End Sweep) out of the twice-winning Horse Chestnut mare, African Lily. A R700 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate, Trip To Africa was recording his first stakes success and took his stats to 5 wins and 3 places from 14 starts. His stakes total is R309 000.
RULER is down from 110 to 108, WEALTHY drops from 92 to 90, and BABY SHOOZ was cut from 97 to 96.
v
37
v
38
Pauline Herman
v
The angle is deceptive – but Ryan Munger keeps Pleasedtomeetyou at his task
PLEASED FOR PLATTNER!
Winless in over two years, the lightly raced Querari gelding Pleasedtomeetyou made the Sabine Plattner Racing longhaul from the West Coast worthwhile when he stayed on powerfully to win the R85 000 Listed East Cape Sprint Cup at Fairview on Friday. After the Cape raiders saw their dreams dashed in the East Cape Guineas a half hour earlier, the visitors bounced back strongly in the speed feature to bank the first
three cheques. Ryan Munger rode a well-judged race from the front after a false start and Mother Nature had dished up a trick or two – the tailwind becoming a blustery headwind just as they loaded. But there was no stopping the Andre Nel-trained 5yo, who plugged away at 10 to 1 to hold off the more fancied Snaith charge Captain Tatters (12-10) by a diminishing short head in a time of 70 secs flat.
39
Constable (33-10) was a further 1,75 lengths adrift after failing to quicken late in the charge for home. A La Plaisance Stud home-bred, Pleasedtomeetyou is a son of Querari out of the twicewinning Fort Wood mare, Plaisir De Fete, who won up to 2000m. He has won two from 4 from 17 starts with 7 places and took his stakes earnings to R394 750.
v
PLEASEDTOMEETYOU has had his rating raised slightly from 105 to 106 following his narrow success in the Listed East Cape Sprint Cup over the straight 1200m course at Fairview on Friday. It was 5th placed KIMBERLEY STAR who was used as the line horse,
The Merits
leaving him unchanged on a mark of 94, and in assessing the race this way, 2nd finisher CAPTAIN TATTERS also runs to his rating of 105 and he in effect becomes a line horse as well. The winner aside, there were no increases for any other runners in this race, but four horses were given a
Candiese Lenferna
Jabu Jacobs gets Miss Putin (quartered cap) up late to beat stablemate Civil Rights
QUASILLO BREAKS ICE
The Normandy Stud-bred Miss Putin scored the surprise in the second race at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today to give regally-bred stallion Quasillo an icebreaking first winner. Trained by Michael Miller, Miss Putin, a R50 000 2020 Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate, had finished fourth
on debut and went one better with a fine display, against winners in the Juvenile Plate (Fillies) over 1200m. Out of the Gimmethegreenlight mare Yekaterina, Miss Putin is the only runner thus far for Quasillo, a half-brother to Maine Chance Farms’ top-class Querari and a winner of two of his three starts including the Gr3 Bavarian Classic. 40
rating’s drop. Third placed CONSTABLE is down from 103 to 102, FLY MY FLAG is down from 100 to 98, RACINE is down to 100 from 101, and lastly LA BELLA MIA drops from 105 to 102.
The only son of legendary racehorse and sire Sea The Stars – whose progeny include the exciting British sire Sea The Moon – at stud in South Africa, Quasillo is one of four stakes winners produced by the stakes placed Acatenango mare Quetena. The latter is also dam of German champion, and now leading South African sire, Querari, Gr2 Ballston Spa Stakes victress Quidura, and Doncaster Mile winner Sharjah Bridge. One of more than 70 stakes winners for his outstanding sire, the Klipdrif Stud-based Quasillo has a single lot on offer at this year’s National Yearling Sale. Quasillo moved from Klipdrif to Maine Chance when it was apparently found that he was sub-fertile.
v
41
v
WHEN NEXT IN THE CAPE…
SPOIL YOURSELF!
The luxurious Avontuur Villa is situated on the family owned Avontuur Estate.
The recently refurbished historic Cape Dutch Manor House nestles beautifully between pristine horse pastures and vineyards, with panoramic views of Table Mountain, False Bay and the winelands. This luxury villa/guesthouse consists of 8 en suite bedrooms, which includes a honeymoon suite, a large
kitchen, living rooms, a library and dining room.
the tN2 highway into Cape Town.
Amenities include a tennis court, swimming pool and jacuzzi, all surrounded by immaculate lawns and gardens.
Guests can enjoy hiking, surfing, fishing, wine tasting and fine dining in the area.
Situated within walking distance of the Villa is our Winery which consists of a tasting room and the internationally famous Avontuur Estate Restaurant. The location allows for easy access to the famous Stellenbosch Wine Route, and 42
Conference facilities also available on request. Talk to Devon via email: enquiries @avontuurestate. co.za or mobile: 072 106 6807 Visit www.avontuurestate. co.za
v
43
v
Mike Barnard and the late Robin Hamilton, with close friend Brian Allison pictured with Daytona-bred champion What A Winter
DAYTONA – WHAT A SALE AHEAD! The draft includes two yearlings by promising young sire Rafeef, a colt by proven Gr1 sire Pomodoro, and a regally bred daughter of five times South African champion sire Silvano. Chengelo (Lot 136) is a Silvano full-sister to Gr2 Gold Bracelet winner Miyabi Gold and Jockey Club Stakes heroine Konkola, and half-sister to Gr3 Campanajo 2200 victor Ultimate Dollar. This filly's dam, the stakes placed Mkushi Gold, is a
half-sister to champion Disco Queen as well as to the stakes placed dam of champion French Navy. South Africa's current leading first season sire Rafeef is the sire of both Suit Up (Lot 6) and Fun Zone (Lot 320). The former is a colt out of four time winner and Gr3 Diana Stakes third Fear Not, while Fun Zone is a blue blooded filly out of a full-sister to Kenilworth Cup winner Mercurana and half-sister to July winning champion Marinaresco.
44
Namaqua Red (Lot 400), who shares his July winning sire Pomodoro with the Gr1 winners Return Flight and Russian Rock, is a half-brother to 3 winners including the stakes placed two-year-old Watsonia. South Africa's best bred yearlings are set to go under the hammer on 15 and 16 April, with trading commencing at 10h00 on each day.
v
45
v
46
v
47
v
48
v
49
v
Only the ROYAL have
CROWNED JEWELS. Don’t miss out on his 5 GEMS at the National Yearling Sale!
@RoyalMoStallion
@royal_mo_sire 50
www.royalmo.co.za
INDUSTRY LEADERS all agreed that these GEMS have... v
GREAT TEMPERAMENTS ARE HORSES
OF SUBSTANCE ~ JOHN KOSTER (KLAWERVLEI STUD) ~ PIET BOTHA (PIET BOTHA RACING STABLES) ~ MICHELLE RIX (CRAWFORD-RIX RACING) ~ LINDI GARLICKI (CONNEMARA STUD) ~ DAVID HEPBURN-BROWN (HEMEL AND AARDE STUD)
51
v
52
v
53
v
54
v
55
v
56
v
57
v
58
v
59
v
60
Candiese Lenferna
v
'GROWTH POTENTIAL IS THERE’
NEW KBC CHAIR 61
Candiese Lenferna
v
Cathy's proud Hadlow Team after the recent KZN Breeders Awards The newly elected Chairperson of the KZN Breeders Club, Cathy Martin hopes to be a catalyst for change and improvement in the industry.
incentives.”
With Covid-19 hitting the racing and breeding industry hard in the last year, Cathy says that she feels that KZN Breeders is now more relevant than ever.
“We hold various events and marketing campaigns to provide a link with other bodies within the industry. This serves to facilitate sharing information and support amongst our members.”
“More so than ever we as an industry, and in particular as a region, need each other to remain competitive. The Breeders Club provides a platform to grow this camaraderie as well as to pool ideas, support and
Cathy says that KZN Breeders was established to help its members promote and market their horses and the industry in the province.
Having grown up on a farm just outside of Grahamstown, Cathy is a ‘farm lass’ through and through. She completed her Matric at Kingswood College before graduating from Rhodes University.
62
She ended up working for Rainbow Chicken Farms in the field of Industrial Relations/ Labour Law. She has been a member of the KZN community since 1998, when she and her husband of 28 years, Jonathan, moved to Mooi River. Cathy found it easy to form friendships with her fellow horsey people in the area. “Having been a horse-lover and rider my whole life, it was sense that we made friends with the horsey people in the area. We were introduced to the racing industry, followed by the breeding industry and
v
the rest is history.” Cathy went on to explain how their Hadlow Stud have produced many successful racehorses over the years. “They include eleven-time winner Thunderflash, eighteen- time winner and East Cape Horse Of The Year, Celtic Fire, as well as the ill-fated sprinter, Jimmi Choo,” she says proudly. They stand the majority of St John Gray’s Graystone Stud horses, and have produced the likes of Gr1 winner Ronnies Candy, Dawn Assault and the incredible DancewiththeDevil. “While I love the breeding and fertility aspect of the business, Jonathan enjoys the growing and prepping of yearlings for sale and racing
- so the combination works well for us.”
develop and be made more user friendly.”
In her new position Cathy has a positive outlook for the entire industry. She believes that the changing of structures within local racing will in due course see a stronger, leaner and better run racing industry.
Cathy concludes by suggesting this is where something like the Breeders Premium comes into play.
“The tough times we have endured have meant a drastic swing in the likely supply and demand ratio with the national breeding herd having been reduced dramatically. Add improvements in the local scenario and the potential opening of the export market, and those that have hung in there are surely due to reap major rewards. There are actually few industries that have the same potential for growth that breeding enjoys. Hopefully the export market will
63
“It is a fund that offers to promote breeding and racing in our province. It is there to assist in the improvement in the quality of the horse being developed.” To find out more about the KZN Breeders Premium Scheme, click here.
v
64
v
65
v
Danehill & Sadler’s Wells at Coolmore Stud
THE DANEHILL LEGACY
This year marks what would have been the 35th year of deceased legendary sire Danehill. He was born on 26 March, which means last Friday marked his 35th ‘birthday’, so to speak. One of the greatest stallions of the modern era, Danehill achieved staggering heights as a sire, sire of sires and broodmare sire, and his legacy looks set to continue for decades to come.
The sire of 347 stakes winners, and a further 235 black type horses, Danehill's numerous sires titles included nine in Australia and a further four in Britain/Ireland. Danehill's descendants continue to make their presence felt across the globe, with his legacy particuarly strong in Australasia. His grandson Snitzel was Australia's Champion Sire for a third straight year in
66
2019-2020, while Snitzel's sire Redoute's Choice, broodmare sire of among others top Australian sire Zoustar, was Australia's Champion Broodmare Sire last season. Redoute's Choice's now pensioned son Not A Single Doubt currently heads the General Sires List in Australia this season. Danehill's son Fastnet Rock, sire of more than 40 Gr1
DRC & Mathea Kelley
v
Subjectivist takes the Dubai Gold Cup for leading UK trainer Mark Johnston
winners, has enjoyed a tremendous year in 2020-2021, with the dual Australian champion sire supplying a second consecutive winner of the Gr1 New Zealand Derby courtesy of his son Rocket Spade. Fastnet Rock enjoyed more success on Saturday when his son Packing Rockstar won the Gr2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy, while fellow Danehill champion sire, Exceed And Excel, is the sire of Saturday's Gr2 Godolphin Mile hero Secret Ambition. The Danehill influence also
continues to be felt in the Northern Hemisphere through his sire sons Dansili, Danehill Dancer, Exceed And Excel, Fastnet Rock, Kodiac - who had 3 sire sons finish in the top ten in last year's Leading First Season Sires List in Great Britain - and their numerous high-class descendants, while his son Darci Brahma is the sire of recent Hong Kong Derby victor Sky Darci. While critics of inbreeding to Danehill point out the number of times it has been done without success, there remains a large, and growing, number of top-class gallopers
67
inbred to the mighty son of Danzig. The latest example of Danehill inbreeding can be seen in Saturday's Gr1 LONGINES Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside. Sired by Danehill's great grandson Extreme Choice, Stay Inside's granddam Nothin' Leica was sired by Danehill's multiple Gr1 winning son Nothin' Leica Dane. Stay Inside was not the only horse closely inbred to Danehill to capture a Gr1 race in Australia on Saturday -tough as teak mare Verry
v
Elleegant claimed her eighth Gr1 success when scoring a thrilling win in Saturday's Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill. Verry Elleegant's sire Zed (Zabeel) is out of Danehill's Gr1 winning daughter Emerald Dream, while her dam Opulence was sired by Danehill's Gr2 winning son Danroad. Saturday's impressive Gr2 Dubai Gold Cup victor Subjectivist is yet another inbred to Danehill, with his sire Teofilo (Galileo) out of the Danehill mare Speirbhean and Subjectivist's own dam Reckoning a daughter of Danehill's top class sire and broodmare sire son Danehill
Dancer. Saturday's Gr3 TAB Birthday Card Stakes winner Seasons is another inbred to Danehill her sire Sebring out of a mare by Danehill's Golden Slipper winner Flying Spur and her dam a daughter of Danehill's Gr1 winning son Al Maher. In South Africa, Danehill's sons include proven Gr1 sources Duke Of Marmalade and Oratorio, while Rafeef, a grandson of Danehill, currently heads South Africa's Leading First Season Sires list for 2020-2021. This coming weekend’s Triple Tiara bidder War Of Athena is out of a mare by Danehill's Gr2 winning son Requiem, while
Horse Of The Year Legislate, who made such a promising start to his stud career, is out of a mare by Danehill's son Restructure. While Legislate was sired by Dynasty, War Of Athena was sired by Dynasty's son Act Of War. Danehill has also become an influential broodmare sire of successful sires, with his daughters having already produced the likes of Frankel, Siyouni and Teofilo, to name but three. One can but wonder what the modern day stud book would look like without the impact of Danehill!
Business Rescue Latest - Gold Circle Seek Justice In his latest report published on Wednesday, Phumelela Business Rescue Practitioner John Evans advises that no objections to the proposed amendments to the plan were received within the prescribed period of 14 days after 12 March. Those amendments are thus now effective. Amongst others he advises that Broll has been appointed to sell by auction the Arlington race course property owned by the Company. The auction is set to take place at 10h30 on 23 April 2021. Please contact Ismail Hendricks on 082 908 6653
or ihendricks@broll.com for information on the property and the auction.
retired Judge to agree the format, timing and rules of the proceedings.
Evans also confirmed again that Gold Circle’s claim to own 39% of the issued share capital of PGI has been rejected and will be resolved in terms of the Dispute Resolution Process, as amended, in the Business Rescue Plan.
Gold Circle will thereafter be obliged to file their statement of claim and Phumelela will then file its statement of defence. The matter will then proceed until finalised.
Gold Circle have nominated retired Judge Kriegler to preside. Evans advises that he is approaching the Judge to confirm his appointment and willingness to act. Once appointed, the parties will meet with 68 the nominated
The decision/ruling of the nominated retired Judge is, pursuant to the terms of the Dispute Resolution Process, subject to appeal to an appeal bench of three retired Judges. Read more - please click here
v
69
Dubai Racing Club // Mathea Kelley)
v
Luis Saez salutes as Mystic Guide wins the big one
9 FOR GODOLPHIN
Twenty-five years into the $12 million Gr1 Dubai World Cup and it is still tough to beat the race's host!
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, creator of the Dubai World Cup and the UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, won the race for a record ninth time on Saturday at Meydan when Mystic Guide powered to a 3 3/4-length victory. The 4-year-old Kentucky-bred son of
Ghostzapper is a homebred that races for Godolphin, the racing and breeding operation of Sheikh Mohammed.
More than the home team could claim victory. So, too, could America—with Mystic Guide being trained in America by Mike Stidham and ridden by U.S. jockey Luis Saez. Mystic Guide became the 12th U.S. trainee to win the race. Saez is no stranger to winning major races in the Middle East, having piloted Maximum Security across the wire in first in the inaugural $20 70
million Saudi Cup last year. He had Mystic Guide perfectly spotted in Saturday's race, as longshot Hypothetical and Cappezano showed the way. Then Mystic Guide did the rest. He advanced into second entering the second of two turns, and caught Hypothetical in early stretch before drawing away. The winner raced the 2000 meters in 2:01.61. There was an eventful preliminary to the race with Great Scot being withdrawn after dropping jockey Frankie
v
Dettori and Military Law also taken out of the field after breaking out of the stalls. Saez said: "Our plan worked out. To break well, get a position and then I knew he would give me that kick at the top of the straight - and he did. I didn't want to be too far back and I just asked him turning for home and he kicked. The plan worked out perfectly. He’s a young horse and last time I rode him I knew he was a Gr1 winner. "Today he proved he is a champion and I know he is going to get better and better. What a nice horse, he has all the ability. It’s an honour for me. This was my dream as a little kid and I can’t believe I’m here now. It's a dream come true. "He was a little nervous be-
fore the race and in the post-parade, but he does that sometimes and I wasn't too worried. He is just a very talented horse and it is amazing to win this race. I can't believe it." For Stidham, who saddled his first winner in 1980, it was the pinnacle of his training career. "I want to start by giving my condolences on the passing of Sheikh Hamdan," said Stidham. "This was a special night. You’re seeing 40 years of emotions right now. "I am so happy to be here and the horse performed to his capability. It's a beautiful thing. He was getting antsy in the parade ring and then with a loose horse it made it more difficult, then we had to load a couple times. It was a little scary at the start but he stayed relaxed.
"All that added to the concerns. He gets a little tough and doesn't like being restrained a lot. I saddled him outside the stall because he was getting a little antsy in the stall. With all of that that went on, I was really concerned, like I said, but he overcame it. "I got a good feeling when I saw him lying in third on the backside then down the lane it was amazing. I’m so proud to be here on the 25th anniversary of the Dubai World Cup for Sheikh Mohammed and the sky’s the limit for this horse. We’d love to come back next year, I’ll know the lay of the land better then!" Read all the feature news on www.sportingpost.co.za
High Hawaii! Godolphin’s Americanbased homebred Mystic Guide has the great South African thoroughbred Hawaii in his pedigree. Former Durban racing journalist Robbyn Ramsay was quick to pick this up and remark on it. David Thiselton writes on www.goldcircle.co.za that Mystic Guide is by Ghostzapper (Awesome Again) and Hawaii is the sire of the latter’s third dam Sailaway.
The 1964-born Hawaii, bred by Archie Dell at his Platberg Stud in the Karoo, was by Utrillo II (Italy). He was out of the matriarch Ethane, who was also dam of Hawaii’s famous half-brother William Penn, among others, and whose legacy has continued through the like of recent Equus Horse Of The Year Legal Eagle. Hawaii, trained by George Azzie, was champion colt as a two-year-old71 and three-year-old. He won 15 of
his 18 starts in South Africa before being sent to the USA, where he won six of ten starts and was named Champion Grass Horse in North America. All three of his defeats in SA happened at Greyville, including in the 1968 July in which he started 6-4 favourite as a hitherto winner of all nine of his three-year-old starts.
v
72
v
updated 2021-03-30
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�
844 646 652 412 567
129 91 90 61 55
111 82 66 51 59
81 63 75 44 39
15.3 14.1 13.8 14.8 9.70
Other Places Place %
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
35.1 32.5 33.6 35.9 26.5
6,423,375 4,779,700 4,309,550 3,754,100 2,989,888
9,796,750 7,431,050 6,876,450 5,311,050 4,752,363
Other Places Place %
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
6,988,475 6,059,475 3,231,600 4,778,500 4,476,725
10,688,100 8,914,125 4,983,300 6,699,863 6,192,450
104 65 78 53 52
296 210 219 148 150
JOCKEYS Name
Runs Wins Win%
2nd
3rd
Mr L Hewitson Mr W B Kennedy Mr G M Cheyne Mr S Khumalo Mr A Marcus
1098 729 574 539 416
146 96 69 53 64
120 87 91 63 42
164 108 107 103 94
14.9 14.8 18.6 19.1 22.6
162 110 79 64 60
428 293 239 180 166
39.0 40.2 41.6 33.4 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
389 262 205
1758 30,325 1188 44,989 960 35,771
122 112 62
160 158 102
31.4 42.7 30.2
601 398 248
8 8 6
8 11 11
11,796,463 11,786,988 7,333,013
140 113
623 51,371 526 48,664
67 44
110 65
47.9 38.9
232 182
7 5
7 10
7,191,875 5,499,025
B.T. Wins
Total Stakes (R)
7 4 6 2 2
6,776,350 6,339,450 5,991,400 5,945,300 5,458,350
SIRES Name Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) Master Of My Fate Silvano (GER) What A Winter Querari (GER)
Runrs Runs AEPR 171 170 141 151 178
783 876 683 734 858
39,628 37,291 42,492 39,373 30,665
B.T. Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Rnrs % 73 68 64 62 60
103 92 87 89 84
42.7 40.0 45.4 41.1 33.7
254 325 196 258 288
See all the detailed standings - Click here 73
7 4 5 2 2
v
74
LIFE GOES ON
For the first time in 16 years, there’ll be no Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League quarter-finals. But there’s no shortage of big-name players with the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah, Kevin De Bruyne and so much more. The quarter-finals draw gave football fans mouth-watering ties to look forward to, including the replays of two recent finals. Chad Nagel writes that Manchester City’s quest for a maiden Champions League title continues when they host Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday, while Real Madrid and Liverpool do battle in the Spanish capital in a rerun of the 2018 final. In the battle of the dark horses, Chelsea take on FC Porto at the Estadio Do Dragao on Wednesday, the same time
v
that holders Bayern Munich face Paris Saint-Germain at the Allianz Arena in a repeat of last season's final. Tuesday 6 April 4/10 Manchester City | Draw 38/10 | Borussia Dortmund 54/10 (21:00) Manchester City are hot favourites to brush aside Borussia Dortmund, but history shows they can’t afford to underestimate their opponents. Pep Guardiola's side have faltered in the latter stages of Europe’s elite club competition, losing to several sides they should have comfortably accounted for. Dortmund aren't having the best season domestically as they sit outside of the Bundesliga’s coveted top four. But City’s defence have a tough task ahead of them trying to contain the star-studded BVB attack that boasts the likes of Jadon Sancho, Julian Brandt, Marco Reus and the goal-scoring machine Erling
75
Haaland. Sancho will try to haunt the club he spent time at as a teenager, while for City, Ilkay Gundogan comes up against his old team in red-hot form. While Dortmund have the ability to break down City with their attacking play, their leaky backline will be their undoing. I’m going for Man City to Win & Both Teams to Score at 18/10. 14/10 Real Madrid | 49/20 | Liverpool 18/10 (21:00) Real Madrid and Liverpool will do battle in a rerun of the 2018 Champions League final, with the Spaniards beating the Reds 3-1 in Kiev to win the last of their record 13 titles to date. Jurgen Klopp's side bounced back from that to lift the trophy for the sixth time in Madrid in 2019, but their Premier League title defence this season has unravelled, with the English side seventh in the table having lost nine times in 17 games in 2021.
v
Real Madrid, on the other hand, are unbeaten in 10 games in all competitions with eight wins, including three in a row before their home tie against Eibar. Karim Benzema scored six goals in four games last month and he’ll fancy his chances of scoring more against a Liverpool defence without Virgil Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip. Mohamed Salah, meanwhile, will be on a mission to even things up with Sergio Ramos after the Real Madrid centre-back dislocated his shoulder in the 2018 final, forcing him off the pitch 26 minutes into the game. The Egyptian has scored in each of his last three matches in the competition. I'm expecting a tight affair here, with Real Madrid tipped to grind out the victory. Wednesday 7 April 33/10 Porto | 49/20 | Chelsea 17/20 (21:00) Thomas Tuchel's unbeaten Chelsea are overwhelming favourites to reach the semi-finals but Porto will be
out to upset the odds once again. The Portuguese giants stunned Juventus in extra time to progress on away goals, while the Blues surprisingly made light work of La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid in a 3-0 aggregate victory. The Dragons have the ability to make life tough for Tuchel's side, but the Blues will fancy their chances of getting the better of the Portuguese outfit. Sergio Conceicao will be without talisman Sergio Oliveira and Mehdi Taremi for this clash, though Malang Sarr is allowed to play against his parent club. Chelsea, on the other hand, will have Mason Mount and Jorginho available after the duo missed the second leg of the clash against Atletico Madrid due to suspension. I'm backing the Blues to edge a hard-fought encounter. 6/10 Bayern Munich | 33/10 | Paris Saint-Germain 36/10 (21:00) Holders Bayern Munich will face Paris Saint-Germain at the Allianz Arena in a repeat of last season's final. With the kind of European pedigree that PSG can only dream of, Hansi Flick's side are favourites
to advance to the semis. The quarters have frequently proved a stumbling block for the French champions in the Champions League, and last season represented the first time they successfully progressed beyond it since 1995. The duo of Neymar and Mbappe will want to avenge the narrow 1-0 loss to the German giants in last season's final, but it's hard to go with anyone but the reigning European champions here. Thiago Silva kept Lewandowski quiet in Lisbon last year, but with the Brazilian now at Chelsea, Presnel Kimpembe and Marquinhos must try to nullify the Poland star who has 13 goals in his last eight games for Bayern. Back the champions at 6/10. QUAD @ 19/1 Man City Win & BTTS 18/10 Real Madrid Win 14/10 Chelsea Win 9/10 Bayern Win 6/10
CAN YOU HELP? CARING FOR EQUINES COSTS PLENTY! Please visit us at www.coastalhorsecareunit.org.za 76
v
77