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4 Pamushana’s Pride – carries the Louis The King flag on Saturday
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SA CHAMPIONS SEASON ROLLS ON 5
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The 2021 SA Champions Season is delivering quality racing action every weekend and the focus reverts to Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday for the running of the unique ‘open’ R250 000 Track & Ball Gr2 KZN Oaks and the R150 000 Track & Ball KZN Derby. Alec Laird’s Derby Trial and SA Derby runner-up Pamushana’s Pride looks the horse to be with in the Derby. The son of Louis The King was well beaten by Malmoos in the SA Derby but meets nothing of that level here. These features are run at weight-for-age plus penalties, a bold move initiated by Gold Circle in 2014.
The KZN racing operator leant on international precedent offered by similar amendments to the Irish St Leger and the Yorkshire Oaks. The decision to tweak the conditions, while innovative, has aggravated the purists amd was really just a local means to an end, addressing symptoms more than the core problems of the broader staying race picture. It was based on the rationale that the chief focus of 3yo’s during the SA Champions Season is the Guineas, the Daily News 2000, the Woolavington Stakes and the Vodacom Durban July. Further justification for the move was seen in the fact that there are no weight-for-age
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races in South Africa over the 2400m trip and it was hoped that the overall programme for stayers would actually benefit from the change. Five years on, it was clearly just a drop in the ocean.
Note Name Change Please note a name change of a runner in the second race at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday. The National Horseracing Authority confirms that the registered name of Oh My God It’s Roy, a bay colt sired by Act Of War, out of the mare Magic Potion, foaled on 27 September 2018 and bred by Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd, has been changed to that of Oh My Word It’s Roy.
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8 Rainbow Bridge defends his title in grand style as he holds off Catch Twentytwo (Gavin Lerena)
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FROM HERE TO JULY 9
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Rainbow Bridge stalked a quality field in the R1 million Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday and victory was never in doubt as he loomed over them the whole way round. With stake earnings now over R8 million, the son of Ideal World and Halfway To Heaven’s 134 rating all but guaranteed to hold back the field. Originally a R300,000 purchase from Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein to the late Mr MC Gerber, the Rattray’s chose extremely well to achieve a July win, ironically winning two Mets on his journey. In a race last won backto-back in 2012/13 by Variety Club, Rainbow Bridge
affirms that elite status of ratings at 130 in a race with a roll of honour that includes many July winners. Luke Ferraris who now has 3 wins and two 2nds from 5 runs with Rainbow Bridge said, “It’s a credit to Mr Sands’ team to manage a horse that has it’s quirks”. He chirped that his plan went awry when he lost his cover in the race, but he was never worried from the feel he got in the race which was much easier than how it may have appeared on screen. Eric Sands explained that keeping his horse in KZN is a matter of trust, and he has full trust in his host trainer, Peter Muscutt. Muscutt who has looked after Rainbow Bridge this season was assistant to Sands in Cape
Town in the 90’s before he moved on his own. Flattered in second position, Catch Twentytwo, the 3yo son of Elusive Fort, got another 1.60 lengths closer to Rainbow Bridge over the extra 400m compared to their previous meeting in the Drill Hall Stakes. Entire Chimichuri Run, a son of Trippi showed his never-say-die courage once again gave us a solid performance although that finish over the 1600m would have surprised many. Rainbow Bridge who looked the proverbial million dollars, did new sponsors Hollywoodbets proud to make a memorable performance by a proper champion in the R1 million Gr1 Gold Challenge.
The Merits RAINBOW BRIDGE remains unchanged on a rating of 134 following his success in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge. It was ultraconsistent 4th placed SEEKING THE STARS
who was deemed to make for the most suitable line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a rating of 121. In assessing the race this way, RAINBOW BRIDGE only runs to a mark of 127, hence his unaltered rating. The only
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ratings increase was for runner-up CATCH TWENTY TWO, who goes from 123 to 126. The only drop was for SOVEREIGN SPIRIT, who is down from 124 to 122.
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11 Eric Sands - a job well done
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14 Crown Towers (Richard Fourie) holds off Tristful (Gavin Lerena) in a rousing finish
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SNAITH'S TOWER OF POWER 15
Vodacom Durban July entry Crown Towers, the best son of Camelot to race in South Africa, took the Gr3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial Handicap by the bit and relentlessly held off all challengers. Richard Fourie bounced Crown Towers to the lead and trusted the gelding to relax in front. Justin Snaith had a 4-horse coupling into the race with most of his string lightly raced in KZN this season. Owned by Nic Jonsson in partnership with the late Jack Mitchell,
Crown Towers flew the flag loyally to take his 7th victory in 21 starts. Although out of a Galileo mare, Crown Towers has been campaigned like a horse who just gets 2000m which might explain his withdrawal from The July this year. “He’s an incredible horse,” Justin Snaith praised his gelding’s effort as the proper beginning of his season. Snaith went on to praise his fellow Cape trainer’s performances saying that Vaughan Marshall has dominated the SA Champions Season.
Crown Towers is out of 5-time winning Galileo mare Miss With Attitude and was bought for AUS$280k in 2017. Punters were treated to a thrilling finish as Crown Towers, a cool favourite at 4/1, bravely held off Tristful, Nexus and last year’s winner Capoeira who all finished within 0.90 lengths in 110.36secs which was a little slower than the class record of 108.7 seconds.
The Merits CROWN TOWERS has had his rating increased from 115 to 117 after he made virtually all the running to win the Gr3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial (handicap) over 1800m. Third placed
NEXUS and 4th finisher CAPOEIRA were both used as line horses here, which leaves them unchanged on marks of 117 and 113, respectively. Aside from the winner, the only other ratings increase was for runner-up
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TRISTFUL, who goes from 112 to 113. There were drops for two horses. AZORES is down from 107 to 104, while AFRICAN NIGHT SKY was cut from 107 to 105.
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17 Justin Snaith hit them for a six in the race and practices his strokes with the Hollywoodbets Dolphins autographed cricket bat - a lovely keepsake for the Cup Trial winning trainer
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Rainbow Bridge becomes joint July favourite as he storms to victory in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge on Saturday
Paul Matchett’s SA Triple Tiara champion War Of Athena has been withdrawn from the Vodacom Durban July and will take on her own sex, including the likes of Snaith champion Captain’s Ransom, in the Jonnson Workwear Gr1 Garden Province Stakes on the same afternoon. Veteran conditioner Paul
Matchett withdrew War Of Athena at 08h05 on Thursday morning from the July and told the Sporting Post that the 3yo star had her whole career ahead of her still. “When you have a young prizefighter, one doesn’t throw them into the ring with streetfighters. You allow them time to develop and mature and we can come back next
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year to win the Vodacom Durban July,” added Matchett. He said that the July was inevitably a rough and tough race and that his filly was still maturing. “We have kept her going for ten months and she has given us her heart and soul. We will rather take on her own sex and clash with the likes of Captain’s Ransom in
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the Garden Province – and that should make for a fascinating contest,” he added.
get one as good as her, I am going to look after her every step of the journey.”
He said that he had discussed the plans with the Wentzels, who have enjoyed such a wonderful season with their small string of horses.
Muzi Yeni will ride War Of Athena in the Garden Province. Paul Matchett has had a remarkable run of success in recent years with budget priced stars.
“I don’t have the luxury that the big yards enjoy of a whole bunch of top horses. When I
A real soldier, War Of Athena made it six graded victories on
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the trot when winning the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 at Hollywoodbets Greyville at the end of May. She was bred by Summerhill Stud and is out of Requiem mare Qaphela. A R30 000 buy from the 2019 Ready To Run Sale, she is raced by Roy and Dr Rose Wentzel.
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The Zimbabwe born Paul Matchett had his first job in racing as a starting stall handler. After matriculating in 1980 he worked in a bank as a teller for a year, but quickly realised it wasn’t the life for
him. He was then taken on as an assistant trainer by the legendary Ginger Halfpenny, where he spent five years. He then moved on to Neil Bruss for another five-year stint.
It wasn’t long before he made his mark as a three-time Zimbabwe champion trainer before relocating down here in 2002.
In 1990 he received his trainer’s licence and set out on his own.
July...Weight For It! Rainbow Bridge’s scintillating victory in Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge has added more impetus to the suggestion that the 2021 Vodacom Durban July is set to be the hottest renewal in many a year. Thirty entries remain in the
running for a berth in the R2 million Gr1 Vodacom Durban July after final supplementary and weight stage was reached on Tuesday. Final declarations for the 125th renewal of the 2200m spectacular to be run at Hollywoodbets Greyville on 3 July close at 11h00 on
Monday 21 June. The announcement of the final field of 18 plus 2 reserve runners, and their barrier draws, will take place on Tuesday 22 June.
BSA SALES CUP LOGS The latest logs for the two Bloodstock SA Sales Cup races for the respective sexes to be run on Vodacom Durban July day at Hollywoodbets Greyville have been published. The 1300m races will be run for a stake of R400 000 each and are restricted to eligible graduates of the 2020 BSA
National 2yo Sale. Stake cheques will be paid down to sixth finisher. They will run at level set weights of 60kgs. Vaal trainer Ashley Fortune has a powerful hand in the colts & geldings race where Gold Medallion runner-up Bard Of Avon heads the standings,
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ahead of smart stablemate, Captain Lannister. In the fairer sex race, Corne Spies’ Supreme Quest, who placed in both the Ruffian Stakes and the SA Fillies Nursery, heads the log. See the logs – please click here
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VODACOM DURBAN JULY WEIGHTS HORSE
A/S
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JOCKEY
Rainbow Bridge Belgarion Do It Again Got The Greenlight ExpressFromTheUS Sovereign Spirit Linebacker Rascallion Kommetdieding Cirillo Shah Akbar Doublemint Crown Towers(AUS) Nexus Atyaab(AUS) Tristful Shango Flying Carpet Silver Host Divine Odyssey Tree Tumbo Johnny Hero African Night Sky Pack Leader Azores Super Silvano Matterhorn Running Brave Seeham She's A Keeper
(6G)
60
134
A
ERIC SANDS
(5G)
58
130
A
JUSTIN SNAITH
(6G)
57,5
129
A
JUSTIN SNAITH
(4C)
55
124
AT
(4G)
54
122
A
(5G)
54
122
BA
(3G)
53
124
A
VAUGHAN MARSHAL
(3G)
53
123
A
VAUGHAN MARSHAL
(3C)
53
122
A
HWJ CRAWFORD/M RIX
(5H)
53
120
A
SEAN TARRY
(3C)
53
119
AT
SEAN TARRY
(6G)
53
118
A
JUSTIN SNAITH
(5G)
53
117
AM
JUSTIN SNAITH
(5G)
53
117
A
JUSTIN SNAITH
(5G)
53
114
A
ZIETSMAN OOSTHUIZEN
(5G)
53
113
A
TONY RIVALLAND
(4G)
53
111
BAT
SEAN TARRY
(3C)
53
110
AT
SEAN TARRY
(4G)
53
110
A
(6G)
53
109
BA
(4G)
53
109
A
(4G)
53
106
BA
(7G)
53
105
A
(6G)
53
105
AT
(4G)
53
104
A
DEAN KANNEMEYER
(4G)
53
104
A
BRETT CRAWFORD
(4G)
53
101
A
ALYSON WRIGHT
(5M)
52,5
119
A
FANIE BRONKHORST
(4F)
52
107
A
SEAN TARRY
(4F)
52
96
A
GARETH VAN ZYL
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JOE SOMA STUART PETTIGREW CANDICE BASS-ROBINSON
JUSTIN SNAITH J A JANSE VAN VUUREN SEAN TARRY TYRONE ZACKEY JUSTIN SNAITH ALEC LAIRD
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28 Tibouchina Stakes winning trainer Glen Kotzen, Stacey Norman , Boni Mchunu, Kuyan Kotzen & Kathi Kotzen
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CAYA COCO & BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE 29
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Paarl-based trainer Glen Kotzen cracked another SA Champions Season feature winner when Caya Coco won the Gr2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. Caya Coco rewarded her fans who had been waiting for her to show the kind of form she displayed as a late 2yo when she beat the subsequently all conquering Captain’s Ransom as she won a double as a juvenile, with her third win in only 9 starts. Caya Coco is a daughter of Maine Chance’s top-5 sire
Querari and Right Approach mare Atlantic Beach, bred by Ndoro Stud/Applewood Trading. Highest rated filly in the race and best weighted Wisteria Walk led the charge and looked to win this year’s Gr2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes. Wisteria Walk, also by Maine Chance sire Vercingetorix was runner up after Musi Yeni said they were tracking Richard Fourie on Keep The Lights On, with Zimbaba in 3rd by 1.65 lengths. Glen Kotzen said, “I knew we were in with a chance when Snaith scratched their
champion and we cracked a draw (3)”. An excited Glen said he went way back with the breeder’s manager (Johan Loftus) remembering a star from the past in Ghostly Galleon who was the first horse he ever bought. He was thrilled for owners Mark Greene and Brad Ralph. The race was run in 84.56 seconds, which did nothing to detract from a creditable result from an open looking feature where many had chances.
The Merits CAYA COCO has had her rating raised from 102 to 110 following her win in the Gr2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes for fillies and mares over 1400m. The Handicappers were of the view that 5th placed RIO’S WINTER made for
the most suitable line horse, which leaves her unchanged on a mark of 105. The winner aside, there were ratings increases for two other horses. 3rd placed ZIMBABA goes up from 96 to 106, while 4th finisher HUGS ACCEPTED was raised from
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96 to 105. There were drops for two runners. MOUNT LAUREL was trimmed from 109 to 108, while IN THE DANCE drops from 99 to 97.
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Gold Circle
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Gold Circle
The late Alec Forbes guides Louvre to victory in the 2013 Tibouchina Stakes
A RACE FOR THE AGES While Caya Coco (Querari), the winner of Saturday’s Gr2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes, and several of her rivals have plenty to recommend them, this year’s field has a long way to go to reach the heights achieved by a number of runners in the
2013 renewal. The winner of the 2013 Tibouchina, Louvre (Doowaley) who was saddled by Duncan Howells, hit the headlines last week when her two-year-old son Trip Of Fortune (Trippi) made it two wins from three starts by land-
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ing the Listed World Sports Betting Somerset 1200. Prior to Trip Of Fortune, Louvre, who made much of the running when causing a 28-1 upset in the Tibouchina Stakes, had produced the smart filly Marmalisa (Duke Of Marmalade).
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Runner up to Louvre in the Tibouchina Stakes was Gr2 Betting World 1900/Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge winner Espumanti (Dansili), and the latter has also gone on to enjoy success at stud, with her runners headed by Gr2 Joburg Spring F&M Challenge runner up Gin Fizz (Soft Falling Rain) and this season’s Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks runner up Sparkling Water (Silvano). Remarkably, the third place finisher in the Tibouchina of 2013, Earth’s Orbit (Captain Al), also enjoyed success as a broodmare last week, with her two-year-old daughter Mercury Rising (Gimmethegreenlight) landing the Listed World Sports Betting Perfect Promise Sprint. A half-sister to Winter Oaks/
Settlers Trophy winner Francia (Dynasty), Earth’s Orbit sells at Wednesday’s Cheveley Sale and has a Twice Over colt on offer at this year’s KZN Yearling Sale. Further back in the running of the 2013 Tibouchina Stakes came dual Equus Champion Princess Victoria (Victory Moon), Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery winner King’s Temptress (King Of Kings), and Gr1 Thekwini Stakes/Gr1 Garden Province Stakes winner Happy Archer (Dubawi) -who ran sixth, seventh and eighth respectively. However, it was the fourth place finisher Halfway To Heaven (Jet Master) who has really made her mark on the South African turf. Not only did Halfway To Heaven win seven times,
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including both the Gr3 Prix du Cap and Listed Off To Stud Handicap, she has become one of the best broodmares in South Africa in recent years. Halfway To Heaven, already twice named Broodmare Of The Year, produced a staggering three Gr1 winners from her first three foals. Her Gr1 winners are Saturday’s Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge hero Rainbow Bridge (Ideal World), five time Gr1 winner and Equus Champion Hawwaam (Silvano) and dual Gr1 winner Golden Ducat. Remarkably, both Rainbow Bridge and Hawwaam have won five Gr1 races apiece!
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EUROPE’S PREMIER MIDSUMMER SALE v
Tattersalls July Sale JULY 7 – 9 Horses/Fillies in Training, Broodmares, etc. including major consignments from Godolphin, Juddmonte Farms, Shadwell Estates, etc.
CINNAS RANSOM dam of CAPTAIN’S RANSOM winner of Majorca Stakes, Gr. 1, Cape Fillies Guineas, Gr. 1, etc. purchased at Tattersalls December Mare Sale for 25,000 gns
HARLECH dam of HUNGRY HEART winner of Australian Oaks, Gr. 1, Vinery Stud Stakes, Gr. 1, etc. purchased at Tattersalls July Sale for 60,000 gns
Jeremy Nelson T: +2783 2617953 jeremy.nelson@tattersalls.com www.tattersalls.com 37
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Imbewu streaks clear under Lyle Hewitson
IMBEWU’S SMART DEBUT Klawervlei Stud’s young stallion William Longsword produced another eye catching first crop winner on Thursday at the Vaal when his two-year-old daughter Imbewu made a winning debut at Turffontein for the Hollywood Syndicate. Trained by Sean Tarry, Imbewu pulled clear in the closing stages of Thursday’s Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) (1160m), and drew off, under Lyle Hewitson, to post a convincing one and a half length win.
Bred by James Armitage, Imbewu is out of the Judpot mare Natural Beauty. Imbewu joins the likes of Gr1 contender Safe Return and the promising Bon Vivant as other exciting winners to have emerged from William Longsword’s first crop of two-year-olds this season. To date, the Cape Guineas winning son of Captain Al has had ten runners either win or finish in the money, and there is plenty more to come from William Longsword! A full-brother to this season’s
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Listed World Sports Betting Sweet Chestnut Stakes winner Really Royal, William Longsword has some very well bred yearlings on offer at this weekend’s CTS Farm Yearling Sale. His draft includes a filly (Lot 15) out of a three-parts sister to millionaire Isphan from the family of exciting filly Marina, a three-parts brother (Lot 21) to Gr1 winning sprinter Sergeant Hardy, and a half-sister (Lot 114) to dual Gr1 winning champion Seventh Plain.
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46 Keagan de Melo gets Cosmic Highway up in the final stride
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GATECRASHED! 47
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Dean Kannemeyer looks to have another really promising colt on his hands in the shape of Cape Nursery winner Cosmic Highway, who produced a sustained effort to win the R100 000 Cell C Sharks Listed Gatecrasher Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
catch the pacesetter.
Keagan de Melo had the goodlooking son of Gimmethegreenlight some eight lengths off the healthy pace set by Mike Miller’s recent maiden winner, Party Time.
The winner’s stablemate Waterberry Lane (33-1) caught the eye back in third, albeit over three lengths in arrears.
Ridden with supreme confidence, Cosmic Highway was almost nonchalantly switched in around horses for a run at the 300m and looked to have mountain to climb to
But in the manner of a good horse, the Khaya Stables galloper put his ears back and reeled in the leader to win the battle of the nod of the heads. The favourite Cosmic Highway (16-10) clocked 85,17 secs and beat the game Party Time (7-1) by a nose.
The winner’s sire Gimmethegreenlight looks on track to be named Champion Sire this season, and enjoyed his second 2yo stakes winner in four days after Mercury Rising won the Listed World Sports Betting Perfect Promise Sprint at Kenilworth
on Wednesday, beating fellow Gimmethegreenlight filly Kwinta’s Light. Cosmic Highway has won 3 of 4 races, including the Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery, only to lose his unbeaten record in the Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes last time out. Bred by Maine Chance Farms, Cosmic Highway is bred on the same Gimmethegreenlight/ Silvano cross as multiple graded stakes winner Barahin. He was a R400 000 buy from the 2020 Cape Premier Yearling Sale. The winner is out of the Silvano one-time winner Cosmic Dream. He is the fourth Gatecrasher winner for Gimmethegreenlight.
Hardly Elusive! Sons of Fort Wood excel as stallions, yet they are in very short supply these days. The one still at the centre of things and performing excellently at stud, and on the track, is triple Gr1 winner Elusive Fort. Cape Breeders report that in the current season Elusive Fort has sired more black type wins than every available sire in South Africa except two excellent ones – although availability is a moot point
regarding Gimmethegreenlight at more than 8x Elusive Fort’s fee and Vercingetorix at more than 5x. Last season Elusive Fort exceeded Vercingetorix, Master Of My Fate and Querari’s black type wins and we await the status as at 31st July with anticipation. In recent seasons, the Elusive Fort boys have caught up with the girls through the exploits of Cathc Twentytwo, Kopmmetdieding, Out Of Your League, amongst others. The colt’s winners/runners ratio 48
(overall) is 60% and the fillies 56%. Added to that balance is his emergence as a sire of juveniles and as a broodmare sire at roughly the same time, which is quite unusual. He is at 6th in the 2yo tables (winners), and as a broodmare sire with few runners has a Gr3 winner and a Gr1 place.
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52 Dean Kannemeyer chats to jockey Keagan de Melo
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Cover Image: Roslyn Vivienne Coetzee leads Rainbow Bridge (Luke Ferraris) in after his blistering Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge title defence – image courtesy of Candiese Lenferna 53
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Trainer Dean Kannemeyer happily joined the ranks of the 2021 SA Champions Season feature winners at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday with a bang, courtesy of the progressive 2yo, Cosmic Highway, who stormed home to win the R100 000 Cell C Sharks Listed Gatecrasher Stakes.
The 60 year old was one of South Africa’s longest serving assistant trainers when taking the reins from his legendary Dad ‘Peekay’ in 1999. His move to open a permanent satellite base at Summerveld has paid dividends for the powerful Milnerton yard, and Dean says he has never looked back.
The top trainer is hoping for further success at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday when sending out Silva Magic in the Gr2 Track & Ball Oaks and Legitimate and Favour in the Gr3 Track & Ball Derby.
“There are logistical and cost challenges in running two yards, but it’s vital to offer our clients a spectrum of opportunities to optimise the potential of every horse,” he added after unsaddling the exciting Cosmic Highway, who races in the Khaya Stables yellow and black.
“I have been waiting a year for a 2400m for Silva Magic! She is a consistent sort who never runs a bad race. She has been restricted from a mile to 1900m, and I feel she will relish the test. She is a well-bred filly and it is a really nice chance to earn some black type, too.” On the prospects of Legitimate and Favour, Dean says that the latter stays very well and ran a decent race in the Lonsdale. “Legitimate got a 20 pound rating hike when second to Kommetdieding and the Cape Derby wasn’t his run. He ran a cracking pipe-opener and I need to find out if he stays. On breeding he does, and he goes in fit and well. I’m looking forward to a good day!”
And for the Kannemeyer team, visiting KZN for the SA Champions Season has become part of an annual routine spanning nearly 50 years. The closure of Clairwood in 2012 meant a change of thinking and adapting to the new, but Dean has learnt to love his ‘homefrom home’, Summerveld. “For years we were told by top people in the game that we could never produce the same results out of Summerveld as we did for forty years of coming up from the Cape and being based at Clairwood. In my first year at Summerveld we saddled the July winner,” he says proudly. This season he enjoyed a highlight when the grey
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Pomodoro flyer Russian Rock won the WSB Gr1 Cape Guineas. It was a sixth win in the prestigious classic for the former amateur rider and the yard’s ninth overall, as his late Dad also won it three times. So while Dean was always looking forward to the 2021 SA Champions Season, he concedes that it is ‘never easy’. “We have the national cream of the crop in action, and the right horse on his A-game is an imperative to even hope to be competitive. So to get amongst the feature winners is very pleasing and we have some nice runners at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday,” he adds. Dean is the ultimate conservative horseman and is the last trainer to go trumping up his stock. He says it’s important to always keep one’s feet on the ground. “I really liked the way Cosmic Highway won on Saturday. He is still learning and didn’t really know what was needed of him. When the penny dropped, he accelerated very smartly. I am going to enter him for the Durban Gr2 Golden Horseshoe on Vodacom Durban July day and then let’s see how he draws – that’s important – and how he
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goes in the interim. I thought Waterberry Lake ran a nice race in third too. He is doing very well and will also be a Golden Horseshoe candidate.” The Golden Horseshoe is a race that Dean won when it was still a Gr1 event with Fred Crabbia’s Afrikaburn. He also has the impressive recent Hollywoodbets Scottsville debut winner Gimme A Prince, who didn’t have any luck in the Gold Medallion, when just under 3 lengths behind Ambiorix. Then there is Mr Master
Starter, who caught the eye on 6 June when winning his debut at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. “He is a lovely horse with loads of natural speed. He is the kind of horse I would sit on and give some time. One always has to bear in mind with all the 2yo’s that their 3yo season still lies ahead and the classics are our target – that is, if they are good enough. I have never been one to try and force the youngsters – in fact our 2yo’s have always been monitored with an eye on their 3yo summer in the Cape.” On his Vodacom Durban July entry Azores, Dean is likely to
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scratch him. “His form in the Cape seems much better than in KZN. We had no luck again this year after a decent summer down in the Cape. He came out of the staying race on Met day after a two month break and ran in the Sledgehammer at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. But then we detected some mucous in his respiratory tract and had to go easy on him. He was up there with them in the Cup Trial on Saturday, but then tired – a clear indicator of a lack of race fitness.”
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TARRY’S TWICE THE TRIP! Winning trainer Sean Tarry with Nondumiso Mkhwanazi, COO of the Lighthouse Foundation A facile maiden winner at her fourth start, Sean Tarry’s Twice The Trip caught the eye when she powered to a smart victory in the R100 000 Listed The Lighthouse Foundation Devon Air Stakes to open
the feature action at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. In a tricky looking open leg to the Place Accumulator, the Corne Spies pair of Eastern Belle and Captain’s Run were
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quickest out the gates and led for much of the trip. Lyle Hewitson had been stalking the leaders in fourth and he switched Twice The Trip into the clear at the 300m. Just when the
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Gauteng visitor looked to be going away from them, Grant van Niekerk produced Kailene wider out. In a thriller, Twice The Trip (7-1) stayed on best to beat Kailene (4-1) by 0,25 lengths in a time of 87,65 secs. Miss Putin had been in the mix for quite some way and was not disgraced in third and 1,65 lengths away.
Bred by the Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud, Twice The Trip, a R100 000 buy from the 2020 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, has now won 2 races with 1 place from her 5 starts. Her stakes tally totals R120 500. The winner is by Twice Over out of the twice winning Trippi mare, Tripinthemist. Her sire Twice Over has some very well bred yearlings on offer
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at the upcoming CTS Farm Yearling Sale. His draft includes a colt (Lot 27) out of a Gr2 winning daughter of Captain Al, a half-brother (Lot 32) to Gr3 Godolphin Barb runner up Irfaans Boy, a colt (Lot 54) out of Gr3 Acacia Handicap winner Off The Mark, and a filly (Lot 76) bred on the same cross as dual Vodacom Durban July winner Do It Again.
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‘As to nicking patterns, the honours are shared by sons of world champion Galileo and our own late standout Dynasty. The former is the sire of Trippi's former barnmate, Kingsbarns, who left Gabor and King Of Gems, and of Moutonshoek-based The United States, sire of Sheela’
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Drakenstein Stud
Candiese Lenferna
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Durban July hopeful She’s A Keeper – another flying the Trippi flag It is not uncommon for successful stallions to become equally effective broodmare sires and recent stakes race results suggest Drakenstein kingpin Trippi is starting to make an impact in that sphere. The champion sire of 2016 registered his ninth stakes winner as a damsire when juvenile filly Twice The Trip captured the Listed Devon Air Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville last Saturday. A daughter of Twice Over, she is the first foal out of the Trippi mare Tripinthemist, who scored twice in succession for Paddy Kruyer.
The filly's success continues Trippi's purple patch, coming as it did on the heels of a remarkably successful run in May, where he featured as the broodmare sire of no less than four stakes winners, a feat which also propelled him into eighth position on the Broodmare Sires list.
years of this important pointer to the Vodacom Durban July, which is firmly on her radar. Rounding out the quartet, three-year-old Hoedspruit unleashed a powerful challenge in the Gr3 Legal Eagle Stakes to collar long-time leader Crimson King in the final strides.
Drakenstein homebred sensation Sheela started the month on a high when she defeated colts in the Gr2 SA Nursery, Kom Naidoo-trained Vihaan's Pie stunned her rivals in the Gr2 Poinsettia Stakes, while She's A Keeper comprehensively defeated male rivals in the Gr2 World Sports Betting 1900 to become the first female winner in seven
Lest we forget, Trippi's tally as a broodmare sire of South African stakes winners already included two Gr1 scorers, champion juvenile filly Gabor and Miss Florida, winners respectively of the Thekwini Stakes and Allan Robertson Championship.
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Gabor was sired by the short-lived Kingsbarns, as
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was the Gr2 Concorde Cup winner King Of Gems, yet another stakes winner out of a Trippi mare. As to nicking patterns, the honours are shared by sons of world champion Galileo and our own late standout Dynasty. The former is the sire of Trippi's former barnmate, Kingsbarns, who left Gabor and King Of Gems, and of Moutonshoek-based The United States, sire of Sheela.
Dynasty's sons Futura and Legislate have between them sired three stakes winners from Trippi mares. Ridgemont Highlands-based Futura is the sire of Gr2-placed Bauhinia victress Sweet Futura and Vihaan's Pie, while Hoedspruit is by former Horse of the Year Legislate. Trippi initially stood in the States where his Americanbred daughters have to date produced the likes of Breeders Cup Sprint winner Liam's Map. A son of Unbridled's Song, he made a flying start to his stud career as the sire of two first crop Gr1 winners.
represent him, particularly at Drakenstein Stud, where he has had access to a wonderful selection of mares. Although both the dams of Gr1 winners Gabor and Miss Florida were stakes-placed, it is quite significant that none of other stakes winners were out of black type mares. Surely it will only be a matter of time before such prominent daughters as Inara, Real Princess, Hammie's Hooker and Lanner Falcon add to their sire's accomplishments as a broodmare sire.
Locally, Trippi has plenty of talented daughters to
Candiese Lenferna
Interestingly, both Gabor and King Of Gems carry Royal Chalice close up in their female lines. Gabor's dam, the stakes-placed Se Agabor, is out of his Gr1-producing daughter Roxy Café. King Of Gems is out of Saphhire Gem, a daughter of the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Sparkling Gem, whose dam
Crystal Chalice is by Royal Chalice out of Gr1 winner Flying Snowdrop.
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The news that Ridgemont Highlands triple Gr1winning sire Jackson will be transferring to Heversham Park Stud on the Highveld has been welcomed by Advocate Nigel Riley as a great opportunity and a boost for the Northern region. “The move provides our customers and all local breeders with the opportunity to breed to a Triple Gr1 winner with movie star good looks, and who is a proven sire of group winning progeny, at a low price on a live foal basis. We at Heversham Park will also be supporting Jackson with our own mares,” added Nigel Riley. The 350 acre Heversham Farm is currently home to two resident stallions in Moofeed (AUS) and Wings Of Desire (IRE). The beautiful property is located in the scenic unspoilt Daleside Valley, just south of Johannesbuburg, and is overlooked by the majestic Paardekop. Their water supply is sourced from a natural spring, which is high in calcium and other minerals, ensuring that all residents that are raised on the farm are healthy. The property traces its origins back to the turn of the previous century and has an ethos of raising
animals slowly and naturally. A charismatic seasoned horseman and legal eagle, Riley told the Sporting Post that on one of his earliest trips to Ireland he proudly announced that he had just purchased shares in a newly imported stallion with Gr1 credentials and a great dam line. “I was congratulated on my purchase, but after a few pints of Guinness the comment was made to me: “Pity he is not by a sire of sires”. The observation proved to be correct and has resonated with me ever since.” When purchasing Wings Of Desire Nigel tells that it was a major consideration that his sire Pivotal was an outstanding Sire of Sires. “Similarly, and based upon the same reasoning, we have been looking for a son of Dynasty for the past few seasons. Ridgemont Highlands have now generously and kindly made Jackson available to breeders on the Highveld at Heversham Park.” Ridgemont’s Craig Kieswetter said that his team was always dynamically assessing the need to utilise resources where they would achieve optimum potential. “Jackson is a favourite on the farm and we are really sorry to see him go. He possesses the
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handsome athletic physique, the race record and the blood – in fact everything required to make it as a stallion – and we wish Nigel and his team everything of the very best. It’s a privilege to assist them in raising their profile and doing our bit for racing in that region while the ownership of Jackson remains with the syndicate and Ridgemont Highlands,” added Kieswetter. The smashingly handsome Jackson was trained by Brett Crawford in a distinguished track career that saw him crowned SA Champion 3yo of his year. Jackson won the Gr1 Champions Cup, Gr1 Cape Derby, Gr1 Daily News 2000 and was placed second twice in the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate – South Africa’s most prestigious weightfor-age mile. His regular jockey Karis Teetan is making waves in Hong Kong this season again. “He proved himself the best when he beat Variety Club. You can’t describe the feeling – he flies when he runs,” added Teetan. Nigel Riley observed that in the Cape, Jackson appeared to have lost favour with the commercial breeders and
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buyers, due to his progeny taking a little longer to mature and not being readily raceable as 2yo’s. “On the Highveld – and paradoxically like good wines – there is no doubt that our horses take a little longer to mature. Therefore, the requirement of the 2yo runner is not as essential to our stallion customers. On the Highveld, as almost a type of ‘default position’, Jackson’s progeny will get the time they require in order to reach
maturity, and their full ability,” he added. And he is excited that things are happening up North. “Unlike the rest of the country the breeding industry on the Highveld is expanding. As an example of this expansion, at the last National Yearling Sales there were three Highveld-based stud farms represented. Five years ago there were none. Notwithstanding this there
are also many owner-breeder enthusiasts that either board their mares or have them on their own properties. It is primarily to this owner-breeder market that we intend to offer Jackson,” he enthused. Nigel is categorical when he says that the resurgence of the Highveld Breeding Industry is mainly due to the enthusiasm of the local owner-breeders and the excitement that the birth of a new foal brings.
Image Credit
The top-class Jackson in race action
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Heversham’s Nigel Riley – excited about new sire “Almost every proud new ‘parent’ has visions of leading their latest arrival into the winner’s circle at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the first Saturday in July.” But he adds soberly that it is unfortunately this type of enthusiasm and excitement that is being ignored by the operators and has now
created a situation where generally horseracing has become dull, bland and irrelevant. “All the stake holders in the industry, including breeders, need urgently to go back to the basic reason that we all initially became owners which was (whether we admit it or not) for purposes of fun, ego,
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prestige, and excitement. There is absolutely no fun, excitement, or prestige in attending any racemeeting in this country at the current time, and until this situation is remedied, the horse racing industry will continue to suffer the slow life-threatening suffocation that it is currently experiencing.”
Chase Liebenberg
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COUNTDOWN TO SUNDAY SALE The 2021 CTS Farm Yearling Sale, formerly the Klawervlei Farm Sale, will be held at the De Grendel Wine Estate on Sunday 20 June.
This is a sale with high quality at value prices and, given its nature, also with opportunities for speculators.
Cape Thoroughbred Sales recently announced a substantial increase in prize money for the 2022 CTS Farm Sale Stakes Race. The race, scheduled for June 2022, will now be worth R400 000, doubling its current R200 000.
This has been proven time and again by its graduates, from the likes of present leading stallion Captain Of All and Gr1 Cape Derby winner Edict Of Nantes in the early days of the original Klawervlei Sale, to the first three winners of the Farm Sale race in Rock The Globe,
Watch preview of the sale here
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Kommetdieding and Masked Vigilante. The catalogue boasts 136 entries, including lots from leading stud farms Klawervlei, Ridgemont/Highlands, Wilgerbosdrift, Maine Chance, Nadeson Park and Normandy. Read our lot-by-lot preview here
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Chase Liebenberg
‘The Farm Sale is an important reminder of the equine side of things. When the chips are down, we just want to get on with breeding sound, tough racehorses, and not worry too much about the fickleness of select sales’ v
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‘IT’S WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO’ I have a video on my phone from the 2019 Farm Sale. It was taken late at night, way after the conclusion of the commercial side of things, when the fellowship of racing people is being recharged around the bar.
Wild Rover:
Oscar Foulkes writes that there was a man with a guitar, but the singing action (at least for one song) was directed by John Koster as he led everyone in the chorus of The
It is no accident that Susan Magnier reserved so quintessential an Irish phrase for a horse that would be so successful for Coolmore.
And it's no nay never No nay never no more Will I play the wild rover No never no more Watch the video here
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Horsemanship is as natural to the Irish as breathing (or so it seems). It’s important for us to connect with what this horse thing is all about, and why we do it. The social side of things – especially when John Koster is around – is important for that. The Farm Sale is also an important reminder of the equine side of things. When the chips are down, we just want to get on with breeding
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sound, tough racehorses, and not worry too much about the fickleness of select sales. As the SPRINT is published on Thursday, we’ll load 10 yearlings for De Grendel. They might not be quite as rough as in the past – as I said to John on WhatsApp: “You know how you comb your hair and polish your shoes on the first day of a job you really need?” Other than being stabled overnight for the past month, they haven’t been mollycoddled in any way.
over 150 years, and I’d like to think that the same principles of horsemanship are still being applied.
My family has been breeding racehorses in this valley for
Lot 2 c. Twice Over – Ekaterina
This is all about the basics, one of which is that young horses are on a growth curve. It’s a curve that progresses at its own pace, and we mess with that at our peril. With these yearlings in particular, they are nowhere near the finished article. There is plenty of improvement to come. Here is the Normandy line-up:
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His pedigree received a timely update courtesy of the Devon Air Stakes, won by a daughter of Twice Over, with Miss Putin showing up nicely in third. She, of course, is out of a half-sister to this yearling colt. He’s a neat, well-made chap, who could be a smart buy early in the sale before the buzz gets going. Lot 19 f. Master of My Fate – Greendale There’s a lot of Captain Al about this well-balanced filly. The dam has a 100% record, including the exported De la
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Chase Liebenberg
Cruz. Lot 21 c. William Longsword – Hard Lady He’s a three-parts brother to Cape Flying Championship winner Sergeant Hardy. Other than him being chestnut, there are many physical similarities. The only reason he’s here, rather than on NYS or CPYS is that he was just too backward for those sales. Even now, I wish we had a few more months. I’m pretty certain he’ll get 1600-2000m. Lot 30 c. Wylie Hall – Keep on Dreaming Here’s another immature colt.
He’s tall and scopey, and nowhere near being the finished article. Dam was a 5-time winner, with a Grade II third. Lot 47 c. Twice Over – Miss Madelein This November foal has plenty of improvement to come. He’s the close-coupled type of Twice Over, and should attract the smart money. His dam has already produced an 8-time winner. Lot 50 f. Pomodoro – Night on the Hill
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STOP PRESS! Nordic Rebel, a R20 000 purchase from our 2016 Farm Sale draft, added another third place to his record on Monday at Turffontein. His consistency is remarkable. He’s now a seven-year-old (almost eight), with 45 starts, 7 wins and 21 places for stake earnings of over R700 000.
JC Photos
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This is a smashing filly; strong and well-grown. It’s the family of top-class sprinter Cap Alright, and she looks as if she can add to the family’s heritage. Lot 55 f. Master of My Fate – Ooh La Var This is a high-quality, well-made filly out of a half-sister to the multiple champion Legal Eagle. Lot 67 c. Pomodoro – Prima Donna
This is an eye-catching guy. He’s tall, scopey, strong and good-boned. His dam is a half-sister to multiple graded stakes-winner Depardieu, from the Winter Solstice and Mother Russia family. Lot 132 f. The United States – Cymbeline We had a setback with her late last year and we’ve been playing catch-up ever since. She has a big, scopey athletic frame, which she is slowly filling. Her sire has started with a bang, and her dam was a Winter Oaks winner. She could
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be anything. Lot 133 f. Pomodoro – Dans With Sally This is a neat, substantial filly, most often the ringleader when the yearling fillies are playing in the paddock. She’s very active! Her imported dam has a most promising breeding record thus far.
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ONLY 20! Laura Pearson became only the fourth woman to ride a winner at Royal Ascot with victory on Lola Showgirl on Wednesday. She follows Gay Kelleway, Hayley Turner and Hollie Doyle after Lola Showgirl beat her David Loughnane-trained stablemate Ffion in the Kensington Palace Stakes. "I dreamt of it but never thought it would happen," said Pearson, 20.
75 - MAGIC Love dug deep to win the Gr1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot in her first race for 10 months on Wednesday. Last year's 1,000 Guineas and Oaks victor, ridden by Ryan Moore, held off Audarya to give trainer Aidan O'Brien a 75th career victory at the meeting. Earlier, jockey Frankie Dettori also clocked up his 75th Royal Ascot win - with victory on Indie Angel.
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NEW SALE – NOTE DEADLINE! Cape Thoroughbred Sales (CTS) has announced the CTS Select Fillies for Stud Online Sale, to be held via the Meerkat Platform, on Friday, 16 July 2021. This is the time of year when breeders plan their matings, and many actively look for new bloodlines to complement their broodmare bands. This sale is an ideal opportunity for owners of fillies who are at the end of their careers, and have a pedigree or black type race record, to unlock value and sell them to breeders for a future in the broodmare paddocks. A favourable commission structure has been implemented as per the entry form. The minimum price that will be accepted for any filly is R50 000. Guaranteed payments to vendors will be made 45 days after the sale. The online entry form for the sale is available here, and can be mailed to entries@cthbs.com. Closing date is 18 June 2021. For more information, please contact: Grant Knowles, CTS Marketing and Bloodstock Director on 082 882 9774.
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NO JULY FOR THE LEGEND One of South Africa’s greatest riders and a multiple record setting six-times national champion jockey, Piere Strydom will sadly miss an opportunity this season to win the Vodacom Durban July for the fifth time. Striker turned 55 last Monday and was keen to go out in a blaze of glory this term and hang his boots up by the end of July. But his plans have been scuppered by an issue with the retina in his right eye, which is likely to keep him out of the saddle until October.
happening. I had a bloody nose and was concussed and confused afterwards,” he said. Piere’s plans for a grand exit on an illustrious career have thus been put on hold for now. First of those was to win the Durban July for a fifth time. His first July victory was on London News 24 years ago, and his most recent on The Conglomerate in 2016.
Piere rode his 5000th career winner on Joey Ramsden’s Act Of War at Kenilworth in the Selangor Cup on 22 November 2014 and immediately set out to reach the 5000 winner mark on SA soil. He reached that further goal on the Lucky Houdalakis trained Allegorical at the Vaal on Thursday 14 May 2015.
He is also only eleven Candiese Lenferna
“I am very disappointed naturally, but I cannot risk losing my sight through a race-riding injury and am on specialist orders to stand down,” Piere told the Sporting Post on Thursday. The champion explained that he was experiencing ‘lightning flashes’ in his eye and attributed the issue to an injury sustained late last year on a Diane Stenger trained horse. “When the horse jumped I got a heavy smack in the face and rode the race without realising what was
winners away from his 5500 mark.
Piere Strydom – out until October
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Ascot Racecourse
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HOLLYWOODBETS’ ROYAL REFUND Leading bookmaker Hollywoodbets will refund patrons in South Africa and the UK as a gesture of goodwill after a dramatic incident at the start of the Kensington Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on Wednesday. Hollywoodbets customers who backed Godolphin runner Stunning Beauty in the
seventh race will have their accounts credited this morning, after race stewards declared her a runner. This was despite the fact that jockey Silvestre de Sousa was unable to remove the hood from his mount before the gates opened. The www.racingpost.co.za reports that De Sousa’s
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annoyance was matched by punters and bookmakers who were forced to wait for over 30 minutes after the final race had finished to determine whether Stunning Beauty would be deemed a runner or whether bets would be refunded. The former champion jockey immediately pulled up the 7-1 shot once they had
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finally exited stall three, having been left trailing by the others as they jumped out after De Sousa unsuccessfully fought to remove the blindfold. De Sousa was clearly annoyed at what he felt was over-eagerness from the starter to get the race underway, and said: “The hood didn’t come off so I couldn’t race. He could have
waited two more seconds for me to get it off, but he wouldn’t wait and opened the stalls before I could take the hood off. I was shouting, there was a lot of talking going on in there, and they could have waited for me. They just didn’t wait.” It is understood the starter told the subsequent inquiry that he heard no calls to wait from jockeys.
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The concluding race of day two was won by Lola Showgirl, ridden by Laura Pearson. Royal Ascot continued today from 15h30! For more, please visit blog.hollywoodbets.net
Ascot Racecourse
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90 Juan Elcano pleased trainer Kevin Ryan with his ability to quicken to win the Listed Wolferton Stakes under Andrea Atzeni at Royal Ascot on Tuesday
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The Royal Ascot sparkling fun and games continues on Day 3 from 15h30 today with Ladies Day, and hosts the running of the Gr1 Gold Cup. This is the oldest race at the festival, where the Frankie Dettori ridden Stradivarius attempts to equal the mighty Yeats by winning a fourth trophy. The son of Sea The Stars has 6lbs and more in hand with this field. Ryan Moore rides last-years five length Derby winner Serpentine. The Galileo colt was disappointing on his seasonal return at the Curragh last month and tries this marathon trip for the first time. The King George V Stakes or ‘Ascot Derby’ is run on Thursday at 18h35. A maximum of 19 runners are declared with many unexposed and potentially smart three-year-olds including Siskany and Sir Lamorak representing Godolphin and Ballydoyle respectively.
Both colts are unbeaten in their two starts this season and along with Nagano from the Roger Varian yard are the three that top the betting. From a South African perspective, the John Gosden trained, and Frankie Dettori ridden First Light is very interesting. After running third on his seasonal return (his second start) behind the highly regarded John Leeper at Newcastle, the son of Dubawi then bolted up by twelve lengths at Ripon racecourse over 2000m. The owner is Cayton Park Stud which was sold by Prince Khalid Abdullah in 2017 to Mrs Gaynor Rupert. Perhaps the step up in trip will bring out further improvement in this colt whose dam’s sire is none other than Galileo. There have been some sparkling performances this week with the highlight being the world’s top-rated racehorse Palace Pier following up his St James’s Palace Stakes win from 2020
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with victory in the opening contest, the G1 Queen Anne Stakes over a mile. Sent off a red-hot 2/7 favourite under Royal Ascot’s most prolific current jockey Frankie Dettori, the four-year-old was pushed out for a comfortable length and a half success over Lope Y Fernandez (12/1), with Sir Busker (22/1) another length back in third. Last year’s Gr1 victory over the round mile was played out in front of empty grandstands, but today 12,000 spectators were able to enjoy a classy performance from Palace Pier. This victory was a 74th at the meeting for the rider, and a first for John Gosden in a training partnership with is son Thady. A relieved John Gosden said: “It was a slowly run race over a straight mile and he's a very relaxed horse — you saw how he cantered down, he hack cantered down.”
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Healthy Happy (inside) finishes second to Sky Darci in the Gr3 Lion Rock Trophy Handicap
HEALTHY HAPPY WHAT MORE? After their enthralling one-two finish in last month’s Gr3 Lion Rock Trophy Handicap Healthy Happy and Sky Darci will renew their burgeoning rivalry when they lock horns in Sunday’s HK$3.5 million Gr3 Premier Cup Handicap at Sha Tin.
demanding three-race Four-Year-Old Classic Series, the pair rose to the challenge against more experienced rivals to stake their claims as Hong Kong’s ‘generation next’, fighting out one of the season’s most exciting finishes which went Sky Darci’s way by a short head.
With Royal Ascot this week, there is no Hong Kong midweek meeting.
“I thought for a short moment he (Healthy Happy) was going to come back but he kept on well, he fought very hard and he’s still a very young and progressive horse, he still has a
Following an arduous season which included the
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lot to improve – I believe he’s going to be a top horse for next season,” jockey Alexis Badel said. Aided by a handy pull in the weights last start, the youngsters this time find themselves further up the handicap as they ready for the traditional end-of-season seven furlong G3. “It was a great effort from the horse, it was a tactical race because the pace wasn’t very fast, it was very gradual and
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he sprinted very well, the winner is a very good horse who showed a very sharp turn of foot,” Badel said.
a three-time winner in Hong Kong with one victory earlier this term over 1400m at Sha Tin.
very strong and I believe he is going to be one of the good ones for next season,” Badel said.
The pair have met four times so far; Healthy Happy has one victory over his adversary in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m), while Sky Darci has two, firstly in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) before last month’s G3 over the mile.
“He’s kept his form and he’s doing really well, at least you can see he’s kept improving, so I’m really happy and the winner who defeated him was the Derby winner,” Lor said.
The 109-rater arrived in Hong Kong as a two-time winner in Australia when known as Leviathan under the care of Peter and Paul Snowden.
“In a handicap race when you carry 114 (pounds), it’s always a huge advantage and obviously then when you have a horse with a bit of quality it makes a big difference, in my mind, he is a very classy horse and he will keep improving – there’s something there,” Badel said. Trainer Frankie Lor has been equally as happy with the Zoustar gelding, who is
“After this run he’ll be put away for next season and he’ll continue to run in Group races from now on with his rating,” Lor added.
“He needs a smooth run and because he’s a very easy to ride you’re not afraid to position him without cover or when you step away from a bad draw.
While impressing both Badel and Lor already this term, the pair is in agreement that increased maturity could well see him regarded as a future top-liner in Hong Kong.
“He can be positive and you can use his big action, so I think the key to him is a smooth run and as long as he is happy and sound he will give 100 percent,” Badel said.
“He’s got great ability and he will take all of the benefits from the off season – he will come back stronger, he’s already
Karis Says… Entrenched in the top three behind Joao Moreira and Zac Purton in the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship, Karis Teetan hopes to bookend another productive season with more black type success on Champion’s Way and Charity Fun at Sha Tin on Sunday (20 June). With 73 wins for the 2020/21 term, including
Panfield’s Gr1 triumph in the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m), Teetan hopes to continue recent outstanding form with a full book of 10 rides at the weekend, highlighted by Champion’s Way in the Gr3 Premier Cup Handicap (1400m) and Charity Fun in the G3 Premier Plate Handicap (1800m). The ‘Mauritian Magician’ 95
believes Charity Fun is capable of making the necessary improvement to be competitive at his second Gr3 assignment after being runner-up to Butterfield in the Gr3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m) at Sha Tin on 2 May.
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updated 2021-06-17
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�
1134 879 932 518 707
176 135 121 81 67
147 112 106 68 69
117 87 103 56 56
15.5 15.4 13.0 15.6 9.5
Other Places Place % 146 89 107 60 66
410 288 316 184 191
36.2 32.8 33.9 35.5 27.0
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
8,788,675 13,150,375 7,347,700 11,215,800 5,899,300 10,064,200 4,987,100 7,131,425 4,239,388 6,370,488
JOCKEYS Name
Runs Wins Win%
2nd
3rd
Mr L Hewitson Mr W B Kennedy Mr S Khumalo Mr G M Cheyne Mr M A Yeni
1554 1008 756 774 1035
203 130 75 98 110
179 119 90 125 106
237 157 138 131 120
15.3 15.6 18.3 16.9 11.6
Other Places Place % 231 148 94 115 133
613 397 259 338 349
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
39.4 10,039,475 15,624,850 39.4 9,082,725 13,279,100 34.3 6,553,000 9,578,738 43.7 4,006,800 6,482,675 33.7 7,369,150 10,988,700
BREEDERS Name
B.T. B.T. Total Runrs Runs AEPR Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Wins Stakes (R) Rnrs %
Wilgerbosdri� & Mauritzfontein Klawervlei Stud Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) Varsfontein Stud
298 430 216 163
1597 2331 1221 839
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56,231 38,206 48,707 60,084
141 153 73 84
214 216 127 146
47.3 35.6 33.8 51.5
541 772 332 317
10 10 7 10
16 16,756,963 13 16,428,688 16 10,520,613 11 9,793,750
715 60,194
55
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43.3
235
7
13
7,644,600
B.T. Wins
Total Stakes (R)
15 6 5 9 5
10,537,225 8,482,275 8,271,050 7,906,725 7,859,850
SIRES Name Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) What A Winter Master Of My Fate Silvano (GER) Querari (GER)
Runrs Runs AEPR 189 172 180 160 203
1042 975 1151 895 1122
55,753 49,316 45,950 49,417 38,718
B.T. Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Rnrs % 89 79 80 69 75
147 127 118 104 112
47.1 45.9 44.4 43.1 36.9
336 346 415 272 388
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BOUND TO EXPLODE
DANISH DYNAMITE! Denmark and Belgium meet in the second round of group stage clashes in arguably the best match that Group B could produce, as well as being a definitive factor in deciding if Belgium, one of the tournament favourites, would top the standings before the crunch knockout stages begin.
steam roll every opponent in their path and live up to their tag of the number one ranked team in world football and claim their first ever European Championship.
The Danish Dynamite will enjoy home advantage at Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium, while Roberto Martinez’ Red Devils aim to
Denmark 31/10 Draw 43/20 Belgium 1/1
Group B – Denmark vs Belgium | Thursday 17 June | Parken Stadium | 18h00 To Win
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Denmark Bryan Naicker writes that the entire football world is in full support of the family, friends and teammates of Danish talisman Christian Eriksen. The Inter Milan playmaker received emergency medical treatment on the Parken Stadium pitch during their opening round 1-0 defeat to tournament debutants Finland. Fortunately, Eriksen is well on his way to recovery and Denmark’s number 10 will
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now be cheering his mates on from the side-lines. Coach Kasper Hjulmand’s side will have a tough week ahead of them, trying to focus on the task at hand, displaying professionalism in preparation to face the world’s best, in front of the expectant home support, while remembering the tragic scenes just a few days earlier. Luckily for everyone involved, football is our passion and solution to our problems. Finding a way to beat the Red Devils is going to an uphill task for an ageing defence. Romelu Lukaku was too much to handle for Danish captain Simon Kjaer’s AC Milan in recent meetings. Lukaku scored four goals in four meetings against the Rossoneri and will be the biggest weapon in Belgium’s arsenal on Thursday night.
Belgium With Lukaku in imperious form, the Red Devils cantered to a 3-0 win over Russia in Saint-Petersburg. Worryingly for every other team that have their eyes set on the grand prize, Belgium never seemed to hit top gear in their opening fixture and there’s definitely plenty more to come with Eden Hazard only playing a cameo role as he nears full fitness. Meanwhile, playmaker Kevin De Bruyne and dependable box-to-box midfielder Axel Witsel are also nearing returns to the matchday squad after being absentees for last Saturday’s encounter. Spanish mentor Martinez has his troops well-drilled and it would take a monumental effort to get anything from a team that has suffered just two defeats from their last 30 competitive games.
This tie will see two of the best goalkeepers in world football go toe-to-toe as Kasper Schmeichel and Thibaut Courtois target clean sheets when it matters the most. De Bruyne is set to make his return which will heavily tilt the scale in Belgium’s favour and leave the Danish with very little to delight in. Prediction: Belgium -1 Handicap (26/10) Like the previous game, I’m going all in on Belgium to win handsomely, put your money on the (-1) Handicap again, this time around at healthy odds of 26/10. With Thierry Henry expertly guiding red-hot Lukaku from the sidelines, I expect Belgium to run riot and Inter Milan’s spearhead to extend his record as the nation’s all-time leading goal scorer.
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