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FEED YOUR DESIRE TO WIN THE GREATEST GRADE 1 RACE IN SOUTH AFRICA KOMMETDIEDING Congratulations to all connections of Kommetdieding on winning the Vodacom Durban July 2021 (Grade 1) Trainer: M Rix & H Crawford Jockey: G Lerena Owner: A Reynolds
Advert by kind permission of trainer Photo: Candiese Lenferna
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www.redmills.com
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Cover Image July winner’s joy! Kommetdieding Groom Luvo Zingelwayo celebrates the moment with winning jockey Gavin Lerena. Image courtesy of Candiese Lenferna.
4 Family joy! Cape racing legend Harold Crawford and his daughter Michelle Rix after the victory
Candiese Lenferna
VODACOM DURBAN JULY JOY! 5
This was truly one for the people! Passionate racing supporters across the Cape Flats and the rest of South Africa celebrated a glorious victory in South Africa’s greatest race at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday afternoon when bargain buy Kommetdieding soared to a glorious victory in the 125th renewal of the R2 million Gr1 Vodacom Durban July. While it hardly matters in the greater scheme of a dream sporting moment for anybody involved in the great game,
owner Ashwin Reynolds, who reportedly turned down tempting telephone number offers early on, became the first person of colour to own a Durban July winner and Kommetdieding is also seemingly the first horse with an Afrikaans name on the illustrious roll of honour. But the emotions aside, what a terrific story of firsts for a horse that cost a mere R55 000 on the 2019 Klawervlei Farm Sale! A winner of his first four starts, before being half put in his place with two feature places at
‘Dus ‘n Cape Flats Ding ‘n lekker lekker Cape Flats ding En ons kannie warrie nie Want ons gaan wen Kommetdieding’
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his subsequent first two starts in the SA Champions Season pressure cooker, Kommetdieding showed he is a really special customer when winning from the widest gate on Saturday. A first Vodacom Durban July runner for the youthful Michelle Rix and her veteran former jockey Dad, Harold, winning jockey Gavin Lerena put weeks of dietary challenges behind him as he chased the 53kg scale target to set the final stages in motion of a beautifully conceived plan come together.
Gavin Lerena relaxed Kommetdieding early and into the straight went for an outside path as Sovereign Spirit lugged out on to him. At the 200m Kommetdieding was in full flight and he went on smartly at 10-1 to beat the gallant 3yo Linebacker (3-1) by half a length in a time of 133,71 secs. The favourite Got The Greenlight (5-2) ran a terrific race a neck away in third, with dual past winner Do It Again (7-1) a length away in fourth. Winning rider Gavin Lerena paid tribute to owner Ashwin Reynolds and to his own family for ‘always having my
back’. “I made a forward move at the 800m and he simply grew under me,” added a breathless Lerena. Trainer Michelle Rix thanked ‘an owner in a million’ and said she was honoured to enjoy a legend of Cape racing in her Dad Harold being there to share and enjoy the precious moment. She thanked all the professional support behind the victory, including Billy Jacobson who rode all the work. And let’s spare a thought for journeyman regular jockey Sihle Cele.
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The top-class Gavin Lerena was called up to replace him after two SA Champions Season feature places. Cele chose to retain a dignified silence in the public domain and he no doubt experienced massively mixed emotions on Saturday. A son of the superb treble Gr1 winner Elusive Fort (Fort Wood), the Klawervlei-bred Kommetdieding is out of the thrice winning Captain Al mare, Adorable. He has now won 5 races with 2 places from 7 starts for stakes of R1 676 000.
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Candiese Lenferna
Riverton Winner! Duncan & Natasha Barry of Riverton Stud kindly sponsored a weekend away for two at their stunning Wine Down Cottage on the scenic stud in Robertson. The challenge was on as
Passion
the ‘celebs’ took on Sporting Post readers to see who could get closest to a Vodacom Durban July top 4 selection. Our winner is Brian Onkruid of Cape Town whose
Pedigree
selection was deemed closes to the result by our judges. Congratulations to Brian and thanks to Riverton Stud and all who participated so sportingly.
Performance
9 Duncan Barry - +27 (0) 82 335 8951
www.rivertonstud.co.za
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11 Artwork by Winning Media
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Candiese Lenferna
14 Vodacom Durban July 2021 stampede
JULY DREAM FOR LERENA 15
Twenty four hours earlier the former SA Champion jockey went to scale at 53 kgs and figuratively earned the freedom of Durban – and the Cape Flats – with a polished professional ride to win the R2 million Gr1 Vodacom Durban July on the nationally popular people’s horse, Kommetdieding.
Gavin’s own 36th birthday celebration passed by with little fanfare on Friday, and he had avoided the temptation to weaken at Ashton’s seventh birthday party on Thursday. While a disciplined approach to his chosen profession has meant that retired jockey Tex and Avril Lerena’s talented son has never had to fear the weight boogie man, he has also never forgotten the opportunity granted him nineteen years ago. With his height and weight loaded against him, he gained admission to the SA Jockey Academy as an equestrian student. Being a professional jockey far outweighed (excuse the pun) a future as a showjumper in the starry-eyed teenager’s eyes,
and three months later the seventeen year old’s steely determination had not gone unnoticed as he became an apprentice jockey proper.
Candiese Lenferna
Vodacom Durban July winning jockey Gavin Lerena permitted himself the decadent pleasure of two slices of the delicious Bar One and strawberry bedecked Death By Chocolate cake baked by his wife Vicky on Sunday as he blew out seven candles in a joyous, albeit belated, birthday celebration for his son Ashton.
July 2002 was the beginning of the Gavin Lerena rise to stardom. July 2021 saw the realisation of a career dream. In shades of champion Garth Puller’s remarkable feat to famously shed 6kg to waste to 49kg when winning the Durban July aboard Bush Telegraph in 1987, the sub-plot of a memorable Vodacom Durban July fairytale success for owner Ashwin Reynolds and trainer Michelle Rix and her Dad, Harold Crawford, unfolded. Gavin’s commitment to lose 4kgs in four weeks had Candiese Lenferna
16 The victorious canter-past
Death by chocolate – the delight that broke a diet! worked. That enabled him to ride Kommetdieding at his allotted 53kgs in Saturday’s showcase. But it was no walk in the proverbial park. “When I got the offer to ride at 53kgs, I bounced it off my good mate Devin Habib. He has gone through the trials and tribulations of coming back from 65kgs to ride again, and he gave me the inspiration to accept the challenge,” says Gavin as another bite of the Death By Chocolate cake paints a false moustache on his broad smile. Gavin went to see Dr Cathy, the family’s medical doctor. A DNA swab of his mouth followed and science and
technology took over from that moment. “I was allowed 800 calories a day, which I measured with one of the numerous apps available. And I cut out carbohydrates and sugar completely. Then the journey began.” We asked if the discipline and temptation that shadowed his new diet regime had impacted on his mood. “Strangely, not. I felt a sense of purpose and with the goal set – I always felt this was my big chance to win the July – I kept at it with my wife Vicky’s motivation and meticulous attention to detail with every meal preparation.” Did he weigh himself every day?
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“No, I only stood on the scale when I rode. The idea was that doing it every day was overkill and I never ever panicked.” Gavin adds that the last two weeks of his journey to the July victory was the toughest. “I had no more fat to lose, so that meant my only option was to cut muscle weight. On Dr Cathy’s guidance and advice, courtesy of my DNA profile, I lowered my protein and upped my vegetable intake.” He points out that additional exercise was never an option. “I stuck to my regular routine of riding work and walking. More exercise could have
had the effect of bulking my muscle and that means additional weight. It’s a fine balance!” A lean and mean Gavin arrived at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday with five rides – and picked up a confidence booster when Desert Miracle won the Zulu Kingdom Explorer Gr2 Golden Slipper for his sponsors and trainer Mike de Kock. Gavin has had numerous tilts at the big race and came closest on Rainbow Bridge, when second in 2019 and concedes that many of his July opportunities have been curtailed by his riding weight. But the 2021 plan was unfolding and he felt an overwhelming sense of pride and determination when he saw Kommetdieding in the ring. “I must mention Billy Jacobson who did all the work on Kommetdieding when I wasn’t at Summerveld. Michelle (Rix) had her champion looking a million dollars. I also knew there was an extra burden of emotions and dreams riding with me and felt that I had to make it a big moment for their team, the public, the connections and for my family,” he says as he tells how the 18 draw was always a blessing in disguise. “He is a relatively young and
inexperienced horse. I don’t think he would have coped at this stage with the hurly burly of being knocked about in the scrum. I knew I could keep him well out of trouble from the wide gate and ensure a clear passage all the way. My biggest focus after watching him in the Guineas and the Daily News 2000 was that I would need to conserve as much energy as possible for as long as was realistic.” Gavin smiles when he tells how well things panned out. “He was a professional for every stride. He relaxed early. I had envisaged following Do It Again through – but Kommetdieding started building from the 800m and at the 600m we were alongside Do It Again. I kept him there and we peeled off at the 450m and went for home as I realised I had the run of the race and this could be what I have been dreaming about for so long.” The Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein sponsored rider says that his focus into the final 300m was to keep his mount’s mind on the job. “He is just such a determined horse – a really good horse. Linebacker and Got The Greenlight were coming for us. But Kommetdieding kept answering my call. I feel his best season is ahead of him. He is going to be quite something as a 4yo.”
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The rest is history and whatever happens in the next three weeks remaining of the season, Gavin says a frustrating season has turned out really well. And he has new resolve to maintain his riding weight at 55kgs – which opens new opportunities! “The jockey travel restrictions had me stuck in Durban and Cape Town at varying times for extended periods. When I eventually got back to Gauteng I found myself having to rebuild relationships But in the end just look at the lovely horses I have gotten to ride – Catch Twentytwo, Second Base, Copper Mountain, Desert Miracle – and now Kommetdieding, to mention just a handful.” He says that on the Sunday of the KZN Breeders raceday at Hollywoodbets Greyville a week prior to the July, he won the headline feature on Copper Mountain. He was flying back to Joburg with trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren and owner Laurence Wernars and discussing the season. “I said then that I was determined to ride a Gr1 winner before the end of the term. It feels like a dream come true.”
Candiese Lenferna
19 Gavin after his win on Desert Miracle in the Zulu Kingdom Explorer Gr2 Golden Slipper
20 The Vodacom Durban July winner Kommetdieding – blood rules the land!
Candiese Lenferna Lenferna Candiese
YOU CAN PICK YOUR FRIENDS…BUT
FAMILY RULES! 21
There is plenty to like about the 2021 Gr1 Vodacom Durban July winner Kommetdieding's pedigree. Not only is he a son of Equus Champion, and proven Gr1 sire, Elusive Fort, but the colt hails from one of the very best families in the stud book.
as the dam of ten winners, including the useful galloper Boondoggle - by Roland Gardens.
His dam Adorable, by Captain Al, won three and finished runner up in the Listed Gardenia Handicap, and she ranks as a three-parts sister to Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes, Gr1 Champions Cup & Gr1 Gold Challenge winner, Captain America who is sired by Captain Al.
Crystal Light's third dam is 1000 Guineas winner Picture Play, and her granddam is the hugely influential mare Queen Of Light by Borealis.
Adorable's dam was the high-class mare Dacha by Russian Fox, a dual winner of the now Gr3 Prix du Cap, with Dacha going on to produce a trio of black type winners. In turn, Dacha was produced by Riding Light, a daughter of Prix du Jockey Club winner Top Ville, a top-class sire and broodmare sire of, among others, outstanding racehorse and sire, Montjeu and the Gr1 winners Dar Re Mi (dam of champion Too Darn Hot) Rewilding and River Dancer. Riding Light, who was also dam of Gr2 winner Cruise Collection as well as the dam of Captain America, was a half-sister to Enchufar by Pharly, who also ended up in South Africa and who ranks
Flash On, dam of Riding Light, was a useful filly who ran third in the Gr3 Prix Cleopatre and who is out of Never Say Die mare Crystal Light.
The latter, a high-class mare who won both the Child and Criterion Stakes, features as the dam of numerous top-class performers including British classic winners Fairy Footsteps, Light Cavalry, Moonshell and Royal Palace, as well as such standout Gr1 winners as Crocket, Desert Prince, Doyen, Greinton, Lawman, and Miss Finland, to name but a few! This is also the family of Celebration Mile winner and promising sire Kodi Bear (Kodiac) -whose daughter Mystery Angel ran second in the 2021 Gr1 Cazoo Oaks. Further back, Picture Play's third dam Absurdity produced a trio of high-class performers in Absurd in the Middle Park Stakes and is a multiple champion sire, Black Jester by St Leger and Jest in the 1000 Guineas, Oaks. The latter produced the game
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but short-lived Epsom Derby winner Humorist by Polymelus. Kommetdieding, whose half-brother Quantum King ran second on debut, traces back directly to the taproot mare Paradoxical. The latter also features as the fourth dam of one of history's greatest broodmares La Troienne. La Troienne's numerous high-class descendants continue to make their mark around the world, and include current North American stars Maxfield, by Street Sense, and Essential Quality by Tapit, as well as high-class sires Flatter and More Than Ready. The 2021 Vodacom Durban July winner's sire Elusive Fort has had a memorable season in 2020-2021, with the champion son of Fort Wood responsible for five black type winners this season - Kommetdieding, Catch Twentytwo, Elusive Trader, Chitengo and Elusive Fortune.
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Candiese Lenferna
Favourite Got The Greenlight & Muzi Yeni in the canter to post
JOEY’S 3 WINNERS – BUT NO JULY Beaten fair and square. No excuses. No summising of what could have been. If is for children… That was the word from trainer Joey Soma after his Vodacom Durban July favourite Got The Greenlight finished under a length back in third in a vintage renewal of the big race at Hollywoodbets
Greyville on Saturday. He did saddle three winners at his Turffontein HQ, though! The eternal charismatic good sportsman, Joey Soma was quoting a Roger Whittaker ballad of the 1970’s and giving away his age in the process. But he was full of the positive joys of his professional life
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when we spoke to him on Sunday morning. “What a privilege to train a five time Gr1 winner who has run second and third in the Vodacom Durban July. And I doff my cap in respect and admiration to Michelle Rix and her legendary Dad, Harold Crawford. I don’t know owner Ashwin Reynolds but
my best wishes to him and his family. On Friday the game lost a good racing man in Jumat Cola and the mood was understandably subdued,” added Soma, who saddled three winners at Turffontein on the same afternoon. “If you had told me I would celebrate a placing in the Vodacom Durban July and three winners at Turffontein from our small string on the same afternoon, then I’d say that 3 July 2021 ranked amongst the great days in my racing career. What a privilege to have just been part of the great day. Thanks to Gold Circle, to Vodacom and to my team – and everybody that made the day,” he said. On the performance of Got The Greenlight, Joey observed that many of the jockeys may have anticipated a stronger pace than they got. “That led to a concertina effect and some horses suffered. But the ifs don’t matter today. Nothing changes the result. We all went in with our eyes open, we knew it’s a tough race and agonising with post-mortems are not going to change the result. Let’s rather salute the winner – hell what a plan come together. Michelle Rix is a dedicated
up-and-coming talent in the ranks and Harold Crawford is a soldier. I remember him when he was an apprentice with Jumbo Goldstein up in Gauteng. The man has had his own battles – like we all have, I suppose. It took him the best part of a lifetime to stand on a Vodacom Durban July winner’s podium – he got there and most of us go through entire careers not coming within a length or two of the greatest honour in SA racing.” Joey says that he will make a decision as to whether to travel back to Turffontein HQ or to leave Got The Greenlight at Summerveld. “Got The Greenlight went for a walk this morning. He looks outstanding and he has eaten up. I’d like to run him in the 1800m Gr1 Champions Cup at month end. Then African Adventure won well on Saturday so will bring him down for the Gold Cup. I also have a few 2yo’s that could run on the day.” Joey’s observation regarding the pace is underscored by Kommetdieding winning in a time of 133,71 secs – way off Trademark’s 2001 benchmark of 131,76 secs. The second 3yo home was Linebacker who finished with a sustained run and was beaten 0,70 lengths.
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Got The Greenlight was a neck behind the 3yo back in third. Do It Again didn’t have the best of passages and was 1,75 lengths off the winner. Justin Snaith joked that he’d be back carrying 55kgs in 2022! The rest are listed below: Rascallion 2,25 lengths Sovereign Spirit 2,85 lengths Cirillo 4,25 lengths Rainbow Bridge 5,15 lengths Belgarion 5,45 lengths She’s A Keeper 6,55 lengths Crown Towers 6,95 lengths Matterhorn 8,05 lengths Nexus 8,10 lengths Expressfromtheus 8,85 lengths Running Brave 9,15 lengths Johnny Hero 12,05 lengths Shah Akbar 16,05 lengths Tristful showed early pace but finished last and 18,15 lengths off the winner.
Candiese Lenferna
CONGRATULATIONS
ANITA!
Racing photographer Anita Akal was acknowledged by Gold Circle on Saturday for her half century of dedication through the lens to KZN racing. The 2021 Vodacom Durban July was her 50th. Here’s to another 50, Anita! 32
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Design by Winning Media
Candiese Lenferna
Shango (Luyola Mxothwa in red sleeve) bursts between Black Knap and Silver Host to win a cracker
TARRY GOES TO HOLLYWOOD Sean Tarry’s Vodacom Durban July reserve Shango found his best form for an admirable consolation success when he scythed through the centre late to win the R150 000 Gr3 Hollywoodbets 2200 at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
Tarry and part-owner Chris van Niekerk.
The 4yo bay gelding has been on the fringes but was finding the winner’s enclosure for the first time in eighteen months. Shango had surgery after running unplaced in the July last year and confirmed his form for the old firm of Sean
Coming into the 300m, it was anybody’s race as Shango shifted out slightly for a clear run.
In a race of muddled fractions, Diego De Gouveia on Share Holder and Richard Fourie on The Gatekeeper upped the ante a measure early on after Keagan de Melo had hit anchors on the grey Azores.
Under a terrific balanced ride by the underrated Luyola Mxothwa, Shango (8-1) got 34
up in a thriller to hold off the luckless favourite Black Knap (3-1) with another July reserve in Silver Host (5-1) only a head back in third. The winner’s time of 138,45 secs was over seven seconds outside the course record. On missing out on a Vodacom Durban July run for Shango, Sean Tarry was philosophical. “You think you have planned things perfectly and you don’t even get a look in. But full marks to Hollywodbets for
again putting down the money,” he added. The Heritage Stud-bred Shango was a R425 000 CTS Ready To Run graduate and has won four races with seven places from 15 stars for stakes of R724 375.
The original first graded stakes winner for former SA Champion Sprinter Captain Of All, the Heritage Stud-bred Shango is out of the four-time winning Jet Master mare, Scorched.
of success with the family. This was the first leg of the Place Accumulator. The pool reached R1 576 257. The projected target was R1,8 million.
Sean Tarry has enjoyed plenty
The Merits
There were ratings increases also for runner-up BLACK KNAP, who goes from 100 to 102, and for 3rd placed SILVER HOST, who
is up to 112 from 110. The only other increase was for ORIGAMI, who was fully 14 pounds or 7 kgs under sufferance at the weights, and who goes up from 85 to 88 although in fact achieving a mark of 95. The Handicappers opted not to take this literally, but were of the view that at least a partial increase was justified.
six horses were given a drop. THE GATEKEEPER is down from 110 to 109, FLYING CARPET also drops from 110 to 109, SHARE HOLDER is down to 97 from 98, AZORES was dropped from 104 to 101, DIVINE ODYSSEY was trimmed from 109 to 108, and lastly TREE TUMBO is down from 109 to 108 as well.
There were no other ratings increases, but no fewer than
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Candiese Lenferna
SHANGO has had his rating raised from 111 to 114 following his win in the Gr3 Hollywoodbets 2200. It was 4th placed SACHDEV who was deemed to make for the most suitable line horse here, which leaves him unaltered on a rating of 108.
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Candiese Lenferna
The Garden Province stampede - winner Zarina is in blue cap
JUDGE RULES IN GARDEN PROVINCE Racing fans debated the Judge’s decision in a July day feature when the much anticipated North-South duel in the R750 000 Jonsson Workwear Gr1 Garden Province Stakes between two champions enjoyed something of a variation on a theme at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
The ham on the sandwich was Candice Bass-Robinson’s Oldlands Stud-bred Zarina, who seems to have plenty of scope and oodles of talent, but enjoys cropping up when she is least expected. And while she represented the ‘South’, Zarina wasn’t everybody’s idea of a likely winner.
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The Sporting Post published the official photo finish as many readers debated the outcome. We have published it here. With the hype of a boat race between Gauteng’s SA Triple Tiara star War Of Athena and Snaith dual Gr1-winning champion Captain’s Ransom distracting punters’ attention in a tricky Pick 6, the talented
filly was allowed to start at 75-1 and produced a scintillating late surge to beat Princess Calla (12-1) by a nose, with the odds-on War Of Athena gallant in defeat another nose away in third.
her skin off her official 107 rating, clocked 96,13 secs for the mile as Keagan de Melo rounded off a great day after winning the Durban Gr2 Golden Horseshoe on Waterberry Lane for Dean Kannemeyer earlier.
War Of Athena has had a long hard campaign and probably warrants a break now.
On a day where Justin Snaith had little luck and only found his footing late, winning the last two races, Captain’s Ransom ran out of the money.
The winner, who ran out of
Bred by Oldlands Stud, the winner is a third Gr1 winner for Master Of My Fate (Jet Master) and is out of the Kitalpha one-time winner, Mamalushka. Zarina, a R200 000 Cape Yearling Sale purchase for Marsh Shirtliff, Ian Longmore and Bryn Ressell, has won 5 races with 3 places from 10 starts for stakes of R686 325.
The Merits ZARINA has had her rating increased from 107 to 119 after she captured the Jonnson Workwear Gr1 Garden Province Stakes for fillies and mares on Weight For Age terms over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. It was the
consistent runner-up PRINCESS CALLA who was used as the line horse, leaving her unchanged on a rating of 118. The only other increase was for 4th finisher MOUNT LAUREL, who goes up to
The contentious judge’s photo that has had fans speculating 39
114 from 108, this was only a partial adjustment as she runs to a mark of 117. Only one horse was given a rating’s drop, with FREESTATE STAR being cut to 106 from 108.
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‘Bred in Zimbabwe, she was sired by American blue-blood Kitalpha out of Breezing On, who was by English import Hallgate out of a mare sired by a South African-bred son of King's Stand winner Drum Beat’
Zarina pips Princess Calla (far side) and War Of Athena in the Garden Province
ZARINA REVIVES A FAMILY
What a weekend it's been for Barbara Sanne of Oldlands Stud. Delighted to have bred the dam of Vodacom Durban July hero Kommetdieding, Barbara again earned bragging rights as the breeder of Zarina, who ran out a surprise winner of the Jonsson Workwear Gr1 Garden Province Stakes thirty five minutes later.
Friendless in the betting at 75-1, Zarina flashed a devastating finishing burst to claim the scalps of two exalted rivals, Triple Tiara winner War Of Athena and multiple Gr1-placed Princess Calla. Sired by Master Of My Fate, Zarina is also the second winner of this prestigious mile with a Zimbabwean
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background. The 2004 winner Battle Maiden was bred across the Limpopo by Geoff Armitage and trained by the late Neil Bruss. By Goldkeeper, she likewise prevailed in dramatic fashion by defeating none other than future Horse of the Year Ilha Da Vitoria in a photo finish. Zarina is out of the
Zimbabwean bred Mamalushka, and was raced by Barbara in partnership with the late trainer Ernie Anderson. Not the biggest of individuals, she scored her sole win as a five-year-old at Turffontein over 1160m. Mamalushka's pedigree is the epitome of international breeding. Bred in Zimbabwe, she was sired by American blue-blood Kitalpha out of Breezing On, who was by English import Hallgate out of a mare sired by a South African-bred son of King's Stand winner Drum Beat. Her sire Kitalpha was arguably one of the best-bred horses to stand in Zimbabwe. A son of Mr. Prospector and the legendary Miesque, this unraced own brother to champion racehorse and successful stallion Kingmambo enjoyed great success at stud where he topped the 2009 sires list and sired four champions including Horse of the Year Rebecca's Fleet. He spent six seasons in Zimbabwe before his repatriation to the States where he stood in Kentucky until his death in 2012 at age 13. Interestingly, he is also the broodmare sire of last season's Zimbabwean Triple crown winner Lily Blue. Successful in all of the Zimbabwe Guineas, Derby and Oaks, the daughter of
Black Minnaloushe has twice scored on the Highveld this season. Mamalushka's dam Breezing On, a stakes-placed juvenile winner over the minimum trip, was very much her father's daughter, the tip top sprinter Hallgate. He counted Ascot's Cornwallis Stakes amongst seven juvenile wins (he also lost one race in the boardroom) before adding the Diadem Stakes at three and the Palace House Stakes at four. He probably ran his best races in defeat, when beaten a neck by Green Desert in the Vernons Sprint Cup at Haydock and also finished third in a tight, threeway finish to the Gr1 Prix de l'Abbaye at Longchamp. Breezing On was out of the prolific broodmare Gold Leaf, whose eight winners from 13 foals also included the fine sprinter Tobacco Trail and Bohemian Star, the dam of Guineas winner Bohemian Arch and stakes-placed Bohemian Flyer and None Better. A daughter of the stakes winning Drum Beat horse Cover Note, Gold Leaf too, had flashed her precocity as a juvenile by winning the Nursery. Her dam was the modest one-time winner Gold Laurel, by Aureole's disappointing son Laureate. Whatever talent Gold Laurel lacked on the racetrack, she certainly made up for as a
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broodmare and counted the stakes winners Gold Villan, Gold Crown, Gold Leaf and Gold Gremlin amongst her five foals. This formidable quartet dominated Zimbabwean racing in the eighties and earned their dam a Broodmare of the Year award. Furthermore, daughter Gold Gremlin became the dam of Zimbabwe's 1999 Horse of the Year Goldie. Zarina's Gr1 victory in the Garden Province has revived a family which has gone rather quiet in recent times and underlines once again that while excellence in a pedigree may lie dormant, it has an uncanny knack of resurfacing. Barbara reports that Mamalushka has a yearling colt by Quasillo, a weanling colt by Potala Palace, and is once again in foal to Zarina's sire Master Of My Fate. Remarkably, she is now one of a duo of brand new Gr1 producers amongst the Oldlands broodmare band as Kommetdieding's dam Adorable is also back at the stud. Offered online last year, Barbara was quick to snap up the daughter of Captain Al for a bargain R8000. The mare dropped a Gold Standard colt in November and is safely in foal after visiting the July winner's sire Elusive Fort.
Candiese Lenferna
Kasimir storms to victory under Richard Fourie
SNAITH’S DOUBLE CONSOLATION Vodacom Durban July day 2021 won’t exactly go down as a vintage renewal for South African championship log-leading trainer Justin Snaith. After lifting the Durban July silverware for the previous three years, there was no fairytale this time round. But you can’t win them all and the former SA Champion left it to the final two races on the card to restore some respectability.
Snaith said from early in the premier season that his horses would peak on the big day. He came armed with 18 bullets to the July gunfight, and left it late to register a feature double in the last two races of what turned out to be a highly entertaining day’s racing – with improved camerawork worthy of a mention. “To win a race on this competitive day, I will take it with two hands. To Michelle Rix and everybody who won races
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today well done. They made the right decisions at the right time,” said Justin as he breathlessly described a scintillating last to first effort under a back-breaking 62kgs by his former Equus Champion Sprinter Kasimir to win the R300 000 Gr2 Post Merchants. “I suggested that Kasimir was maybe ready for retirement. But Justin sorted out a few niggles and had other ideas. The game plan was to drop him out and he really did take
off,” said Richard Fourie of one of his favourite horses.
three-time winner Aquatint (Peintre Celebre).
R450 000 at the National 2yo Sale.
From the 13 draw, it was a tactical plan come together as Kasimir (14-1) stormed down the inside to gain a 0,80 length verdict from the luckless Chantyman (12-1), who looked a winner late in the game.
A R1,2 million Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate, he took his earnings to R3 978 875 with his eleventh win and twelve places from 29 starts.
A winner of 4 races with 2 places from his 9 starts, Native Tongue took his stakes bank to R144 000.
Kasimir clocked 70,67 secs for the 1200m, with the consistent 3yo favourite MK’s Pride (5-4) running another game race to bank the third cheque. Bred by Drakenstein Stud, Kasimir is a son of deceased champion sire Captain Al (Al Mufti) and is out of the top-class Gr1 producing
Snaith rounded off the day when he saddled the Master Of My Fate 3yo Native Tongue (5-1) to an impressive late victory under the unstoppable Richard Fourie in the R150 000 Listed Compendium Insurance Brokers Thukela Handicap.
“You cannot look that good and not run well,” observed Justin Snaith afterwards. He said that Richard Fourie had a top-class day in the saddle. “If there was one man who could win on this horse from that draw today it was him,” concluded Snaith.
The Wicklow Stud bred gelding is out of the Silvano mare Nature Girl, and cost
The Merits KASIMIR has had his rating increased slightly from 124 to 125 following his success in the Gr2 Post Merchants. It was 2nd placed CHANTYMAN who was deemed to make for the best line horse, which Candiese Lenferna leaves him unchanged on a mark of 119. In rating the race this way, both MK’S PRIDE and SOLID GOLD also run to their ratings, which leaves them unchanged on marks of 120 and 107, respectively. IKIGAI also runs to his rating and is thus unchanged on a mark of 108. The specific conditions of this race do not allow for an increase in the rating
of any horse aside from the winner. Therefore, 4th placed CARTEL CAPTAIN and 5th finisher GAINSFORD remain unchanged on marks of 115 and 99 respectively, although they respectively ran to marks of 118 and 105.There were ratings drops for three horses.
97. The five pound increase in NATIVE TONGUE’S rating is explain in part by the fact that he carried 1 kg overweight. SILVER OPERATOR who beat the line horse by 2 pounds was accordingly adjusted from 112 to 114.
ULTRA MAGNUS was trimmed from 120 to 119, MOMBELA is down from 102 to 101, and lastly WARRIOR’S REST is down from 118 to 115 NATIVE TONGUE has had his rating raised from 101 to 106 after he captured the Listed Compendium Insurance Brokers Thukela Handicap. It was 3rd placed CAT DADDY who was used as the 45which leaves line horse here, him unchanged on a mark of
The winner aside, there were no increases for any other runner in this race, but five horses were given a rating’s drop. APPROACH CONTROL is down from 105 to 104, TREAD SWIFTLY is down from 95 to 93, GURU’S PRIDE was trimmed from 104 to 103, CABO DA CRUZ is down from 98 to 94, and lastly DUC D’ÓRANGE drops to 94 from 97.
Candiese Lenferna
Native Tongue (Richard Fourie in pink cap) gets up to nab Luke Ferraris on the luckless Silver
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EUROPE’S PREMIER MIDSUMMER SALE
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 48
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Candiese Lenferna
KANNEMEYER’S EXCITING 2YO 50
Kannemeyer stable rider Keagan de Melo after the Gr2 win for Waterberry Lane
Dean Kannemeyer is excited about the prospects of Mike and Norma Rattray’s Soft Falling Rain colt, Waterberry Lane. The Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein product showed an electrifying turn of foot to win the R300 000 Durban Gr2 Golden Horsehoe at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. The Gatecrasher Stakes placer made up lengths in the short home straight under stable jockey Keagan de Melo at 8-1 to beat the highly regarded AJ’s Captain (14-1) by 0,70 lengths in a time of 84,82 secs. Glen Kotzen’s three-time winner Good Traveller (6-1) did well from a wide draw to run third. “It was a bit of a rough race early on and I felt he had a bit too much to do at about the 300m. But he confirmed his recent improvement when he turned it on to win well,” said Kannemeyer, who last won this contest when still ranked a Gr1 with Fred Crabbia’s Afrikaburn. Dean explained that the team purchased Waterberry Lane
at the Mistico Yearling Sale, where they paid R250 000 for him. “The secret with this horse is that he has just grown and developed physically like we had hoped him to. Sometimes one finds a horse that ticks the boxes at that time – but then he just doesn’t develop like we would have wanted him to. Waterberry Lane has gone the right way. He has improved beautifully in three months and can only get stronger and better from here. Mike and Norma Rattray have been staunch supporters of ours for many many years. I’m pleased to have given them a winner on such a great day,” he added. As to Waterberry Lane’s future plans, Dean says that he will be nominated for the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville on 31 July. Entries close on 12 July. The son of Soft Falling Rain was sent to Jane Thomas’ Far End Training after Mystico and has only ever raced in KZN out of the Kannemeyer Summerveld Satellite yard. “I don’t have as big a pool of 2yo’s this season as previous
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years. But the quality is certainly there and I am looking forward to the Cape Summer. But in the immediate future, we will see how the draws go and how they progress for the rest of this month.” Dean explained that his experiment to undertake his string’s AHS innoculations in KZN last season with the sun on their backs had set him back time-wise for the Cape summer. “Given the programme and the second shot timing, we only got going mid September last year. So we will go back to Cape Town in August and get the housekeeping done.” Waterberry Lane is a son of the international champion Soft Falling Rain (National Assembly) out of the Fort Wood one-time winner, Gain Ground. It seems surreal that he won his maiden at his second start at 50-1! He has won 2 races with 2 places from 5 starts for stakes of R249 250.
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De Kock’s only runner on July day, Desert Miracle (Gavin Lerena) cruises home
Mike de Kock hasn’t come armed to many Vodacom Durban July days in the last 20 years with just one runner. But the veteran former globetrotter made his solitary shot count on Saturday at
Hollywoodbets Greyville with an eyecatching showing in the R250 000 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Gr2 Golden Slipper. Tipped by the seasoned handler on the official Vodacom Durban July panel during the build up week, the
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daughter of dual Gr1 winning Welwitchsia, who was also trained in the same silks from the same yard, Desert Miracle looks headed for Gr1 success since going round the turn and she should be an early candidate for the Cape Fillies Guineas.
Candiese Lenferna
Gavin Lerena rode a confident race in the Wilgerbosdrift silks as he rounded the field and charged away on the 19-10 favourite to win by 7,90 lengths in an unextended time of 84,81 secs.
A daughter of late champion Dynasty (Fort Wood), Desert Miracle was bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein and is out of the seven time winning Oasis Dream mare, Welwitschia. She has won 2 races with
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2 places from 4 starts and stakes of R297 250 and could start next in the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes on Gold Cup day.
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RASCALLION – JULY LINE HORSE The National Horseracing Authority handicappers have advised that KOMMETDIEDING has had his merit rating raised from 122 to 127 following his triumph in the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July. The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that 5th placed RASCALLION made for the best line horse here, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 123. It needs to be borne in mind that KOMMETDIEDING was two pounds or 1 kg under sufferance at the weights, which partially explains the five pound raise in his rating. Runner-up LINEBACKER and 3rd placed GOT THE GREENLIGHT both go up from 124 to 126, while the only other increase was for SHE’S A KEEPER, who is up from 96 to 104. She did in fact achieve a mark of 104 when winning the Grade 2 Greyville 1900 at her latest win but was capped to 96 in that race due to the specific conditions applicable to the Greyville 1900. SHE’S A KEEPER more than confirmed that she is much better than 96 in the Vodacom Durban July, where she in fact runs to a rating of 110, the Handicappers opted to only adjust her to 104. The only drop was for SOVEREIGN SPIRIT, who is down from 122 to 120.
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FORTUNE SUSPENDED The National Horseracing Authority confirms that it is aware of an incident that took place at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on Saturday.The incident between Stable Employee and Colour Holder Mr Andrew Fortune and the South African Police Services has resulted in criminal charges being laid against Mr Fortune by the South African Police Services. Ed – In reference to ‘criminal charges’, the Sporting Post has learnt that Mr Fortune was fined R1 000 after being found guilty in a Durban court on Monday on a charge of crimen injuria. The incident is closely related to the enforcement of the current strict protocols to ensure that Horseracing can continue to take place behind closed doors in a safe and responsible manner. Any contravention of the Racing behind closed doors protocols and the Disaster Management Act are seen in the most serious light. After considering the incident and the disciplinary history of Mr Fortune relating to his conduct on Racecourse property, the Chief Executive and Racing Control Executive have decided that urgent intervention is required to ensure that Horseracing can continue to take place in a responsible and safe manner for the sake of all of its stakeholders. In terms of the provisions of Rule 91.2, Mr Fortune is suspended and as such is precluded from attending race meetings until an Inquiry Board has finalised the determination of this matter. The interim suspension is effective with immediate effect.
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Candiese Lenferna
GOLD CUP SEAT BOOKED 60
Nebraas storms home under Lyle Hewitson
While reigning SA Champion trainer Sean Tarry looks unlikely to defend his national title this season in the face of the rampant Snaith challenge, the Gauteng conditioner enjoyed a decent enough time of it at Hollywoodbets Greyville’s showcase day on Saturday. After winning the Gr2 Hollywoodbets 2200 with his Vodacom Durban July reserve Shango, Tarry was back in the winner’s enclosure a half hour later after the 4yo Nebraas booked his Gold Cup ticket with a flawless endurance display to win the R150 000 DSTV Gr3 Gold Vase. Moving through his field effortlessly under Lyle
Hewitson, the once promising 3yo Nebraas (6-1) stayed on best to register a 1,70 length victory in the 3000m contest, clocking a time of 194,77 secs. Candice Bass-Robinson’s Holy Warrior (20-1) is still looking for his first stakes strike but did best of the rest, outgunning the winner’s stablemate Before Noon (25-1), who ran third. In an open betting race, weak favourite Dream Destiny (4-1) failed to confirm his previous run and ran out of the money. Bred and raced by Al Adiyaat South Africa, the gelded Nebraas is out of the Archipenko mare Noor Dubai. Nebraas has now won three of his 13 starts for earnings of R279 125.
Nebraas is the 12th stakes winner for Vercingetorix, whose son Great Warrior ran out a convincing winner of the fourth race for Joey Soma at Turffontein on the same afternoon. A Gr1 winner in both Dubai and South Africa, Vercingetorix has had an excellent season in 2020-2021, with his runners having captured nine black type races thus far. South Africa’s Leading Second Season Sire and Leading Sire of 3YOs in 2019-2020, Vercingetorix is currently third on the Leading Sires of 2YOs list for 2020-2021.
The Merits NEBRAAS has had his rating increased from 89 to 95 after his win in the Gr3 DSTV Gold Vase over 3000m. It was 4th placed WEALTHY who was used as the line horse when assessing this race, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 89. The specific conditions of this race do not permit for an increase in the rating of any horse aside from the winner.
Accordingly, 2nd placed Holy Warrior remains on a rating of 90 although running to a mark of 92, while 3rd finisher BEFORE NOON is unchanged on 82 despite achieving a mark of 87. Five horses received a rating’s drop. PATHS OF VICTORY is down from 103 to 100, PAYBACKTHEMONEY drops from 92 to 90, and MERLIN
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FROM BERLIN is down to 88 from 90. DOUBLEMINT drops from 118 to 116 (which is the best he has achieved in his last seven starts), and lastly FLICHITY BY FARR (who had already dropped from 91 to 88 following the publication of weights for this race) was given a further drop and is now on a rating of 87.
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64 Trainer Corne Spies and Groom Motseki Ranoha lead in Lyle Hewitson on board the outstanding Supreme Quest
Candiese Lenferna
SUPREME SPIES STARTS JULY DAY 65
Punters got a flying start to Vodacom Durban July day under sunny skies at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, courtesy of Lyle Hewitson and Corne Spies. The tote favourite Supreme Quest showed the benefit of her race experience when she ran out a convincing winner of the R400 000 Bloodstock SA Sales Cup for fillies. Restricted to eligible graduates of the 2020 BSA
National 2yo Sale, the 1300m contest hosted a field of 13 fillies at level weights. Going off at 5-2, Supreme Quest had the run of the race from her 1 gate and showed no signs of uncertainty, despite it being her first run in KZN. She was produced at the 300m marker and carried too many guns for the fancied, but lesser experienced, Big Burn (5-2), whom he beat by 3,50 lengths. Alyson Wright’s One Night In
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Paris (6-1) ran third. Supreme Quest clocked 78,22 secs for the 1300m. A R90 000 National 2yo Sale graduate, the winner was bred by Gold Star Stud and has now earned R264 000 for 2 wins and 3 places from 5 starts. A daughter of Maine Chance stallion Querari, she is out of the once winning Lecture mare, Supreme Lecture.
Candiese Lenferna
NOW FOR GOLD CUP DAY! 67
Sales race success! Corne Spies proudly shows off the trophy
After a terrific strike on Saturday, Corne Spies boasts the rare achievement of a winner on Vodacom Durban July Day for three consecutive years. “My dad had three winners on the 2019 Vodacom Durban July day. Last year we had a win with the exported Nourbese and on Saturday Supreme Quest won the BSA Sales Cup for the fillies. It was overall a great July Day experience.” He went on to say that the crowds are missed terribly. “It’s not the same without the buzz and hype of the locals cheering the horses on. But overall it was a very efficient day. The Hollywoodbets Greyville team made a lot of effort to ensure all the protocols were in place, and sanitizing and social distancing was enforced, so everything ran smoothly,” Corne says. We taxed him on future plans
Keep Up With The
for Supreme Quest. “Our next stop will naturally be the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes at the end of the month. She is likely to stay the mile as she did the 1300m on Saturday so easily. Hollywoodbets Greyville is possibly an easier mile for her. We just hope to crack a good draw again!” He pointed out that the alternative was a tempting one. “The Thekwini is on Gold Cup Day and a week later there is the BSA Sales Races at Turffontein. We’re going to have to make some tough choices and decisions so it may be a bit early to say for sure what will transpire - but those are the races we have to keep in mind going forward,” he says. Corne tells us Supreme Quest ‘really came through on July Day’. “She settled in a nice position and didn’t drop right out as she has previously. It looks like
Pace! 68
she’s finally starting to figure out what racing is all about.” The team have a few runners to possibly keep an eye out for on Gold Cup Day. This includes the colt William Robertson for the Premiers Champion Stakes. “It is unfortunately the same conundrum as Supreme Quest, with the sales races being a week later at Turffontein!” He says that they will also look to possibly run Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint winner Singforafa in the Mercury Sprint and Laird Of Breedon in the Premiers Champion Stakes. “We do also have another filly or two that we may look at bringing down. There are a number of appealing races for the sprinting juveniles. We’ll be bringing down a strong contingent of horses regardless and try burgle another race or two,” he concludes with a laugh.
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69 Design by Winning Media
70 Andrew & Ashley Fortune salute as Bard Of Avon (Muzi Yeni) is led in
Candiese Lenferna
FORTUNE & FAME 71
The Ashley Fortune trained Bard Of Avon continued the happy run of favourites on Vodacom Durban July day at Hollywoodbets Greyville when he stayed on strongest of all to win the R400 000 Bloodstock SA Cup (Colts & Geldings) under Muzi Yeni. The Var gelding started the shortest price horse on the big day and looked a decent bet in the 1300m contest restricted to eligible graduates of the 2020 BSA National 2yo Sale, after an eyecatching second in the Gr1 Gold Medallion at his last start.
He duly delivered as the Bipot pool exceeded the R600 000 target to reach a healthy R659 931 – despite a week of uncertainty in the betting outlets. It was an emotional win as part owner Jumat Cola had sadly passed away on Friday afternoon. In a thrilling finish, Muzi Yeni extracted more out of Bard Of Avon (5-8) who beat the late finishing Gaudi’s Masterpiece (14-1) by 0,40 lengths in a time of 78,92 secs. William Robertson (9-2) maintained the hot Spies
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Stable form as he finished right on top of them for third. Bred by Ridgemont Highlands, Bard Of Avon is a son of evergreen Var (Forest Wildcat) out of the unraced Dynasty mare, Shakespeare’s Ros. The winner looks like a terrific buy at R260 000 off the National 2yo Sale and has taken his earnings in three runs to R302 000 for two wins and a place. And plenty more to come!
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74 Sales topper : Mystical View (Canford Cliffs – Mystical Miss)
Magic Millions
1-3-4 IN JULY DAY SALES CUP!
GOOD WEEK FOR TEAM RIDGEMONT 75
The powerful Ridgemont Highlands team achieved a notable feat on Saturday – with their products Bard Of Avon, William Robertson and Team Gold finishing first, third and fourth in the R400 000 Bloodstock SA Sales Cup. Third placegetter William Robertson is a son of Ridgemont’s highly promising sire Rafeef, who is on course to be named South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire for 2020-2021. Saturday’s race, open to colts and geldings sold off last year’s National 2YO Sale, was won by the very promising Ashley Fortunetrained gelding Bard Of Avon. The latter, an impressive winner on debut before finishing a close second in the Gr1 Gold Medallion on his only other start, was all the rage for the Bloodstock SA Sales Cup (1300m) and duly
arrived in eye catching fashion.
A$160,000 (R1,72m).
Under Muzi Yeni, the Ashley Fortune trained Bard Of Avon hit the front 200m from home and kept going courageously to score by nearly half a length.
Offered by Peters Investments, the filly is a two-time winner and was placed in both the Listed Belgravia Stakes and Listed Placid Ark Stakes late last year. She is a half-sister to multiple stakes winner Mystery Miss (Animal Kingdom), with her grandam the multiple Gr1-winning filly Magical Miss (Danehill).
Now a winner of two of just three starts, Bard Of Avon was a R260 000 buy from last year’s Bloodstock South Africa National 2YO Sale. The son of Var is out of the Dynasty mare Shakespeare’s Ros, an unraced half-sister to G3 Magnolia Handicap winner Fair Rosalind -the dam of Var’s G2 winning daughter Schippers. In a great last week for the champion nursery, their five-time winning Gr1 sire Canford Cliffs daughter Mystical View topped the Magic Millions Perth Winter Racehorse Sale after selling to Gold Front Thoroughbred Breeding and Racing for
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Canford Cliff is the sire of 42 stakes performers internationally. Other notable fillies sired by the Royal Ascot star include the group/graded stakes winners Jin Jin, Al Jazi, Fish River, La Falaise, Most Beautiful, Princess Asta and Princess Posh. His first South African yearling crop impressed in the sales ring this year and he will stand the upcoming breeding season for a fee of R20 000 (Live Foal).
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CHALLENGE ACCEPTED...
DURBAN PLAYER IS R50 000 RICHER!
The Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge provided plenty of excitement and thrills on Vodacom Durban July day with a 25 year old Durbanite finding some elusive winners, including the 75-1 Zarina, to win the R50 000 must-be-won prize. To mark Africa’s greatest horseracing event, Hollywoodbets offered a R100 000 must-be-won prize to be shared amongst the top 50 on the day’s leaderboard, with R50 000 going to the first placed player. This was over and above a 100% winner clean sheet target which would have seen the player/s scooping the top prize in the progressive bonus jackpot of R1 125 000. Player ZZB topped the leaderboard. Playing under the initials of her three dogs that she loves so much, she is a single 25 year old from Durban who works in the engineering industry and learnt about racing from her Dad, a lifetime punter. “I’m shocked. Fantastic news. Thank you Hollywoodbets
for the lovely surprise,” ZZB said as she told how she had fancied Kommetdieding, but included Rainbow Bridge in her challenge play. Kommetdieding produced the Vodacom Durban July magic under Gavin Lerena, and became the first July winner owned by a person of colour when rocketing to victory for the Crawford-Rix family operation. A thrilled ZZB intends putting the welcome R50 000 winnings towards buying a car.
While she actually found six winners in Bard Of Avon, Shango, Zarina, Kasimir and two scratchings where the tote favourites won, on the ten race card, she benefitted from the Punters’ Challenge value factor of the prices, particularly on her last three winners. Players receive points depending on where their selection finishes in a race, and how many actual runners there are in a race. Points are awarded in accordance with the horses’ finishing positions i.e. – in a 10-horse field, the winner will
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be awarded ten (10) points, 2nd place is nine (9) points and so on with the last horse being awarded one (1) point. In addition, and this is where ZZB found the aces, points are awarded according to the price of the winner only. The winning selection receives a bonus of the Hollywoodbets starting price. ZZB found Longshot Zarina, who got up in the final stride to win the Jonnson Workwear Gr1 Garden Province Stakes. One player who may count himself a little unlucky is SAMU, who was running strongly after Kommetdieding’s Vodacom Durban July victory with seven out of seven winners on the card to that point. He fell away to finish out of the top 50, who all shared in a R50 000 cash prize. The next leg of the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge is scheduled for Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday 11 July 2021.
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82 Lyle Hewitson has Peace In Our World flying late
Pauline Herman
PEACE RULES THE WORLD 83
Avishek Gopaul’s Mauritius based Future Racing Syndicate celebrated a thrilling feature victory as part owners of the Gavin Smith-trained Peace In Our World, an eyecatching winner of Friday’s R100 000 Listed Champion Juvenile Cup at Fairview. One of a three winners on the day for the red-hot Gavin Smith yard, Lyle Hewitson produced the Varsfontein Stud-bred son of Ideal World in his post-maiden outing after a tardy start with a flashy late run at 8-1 up the outside to beat the dual feature winning Whatever Next by 0,75 lengths in a time of 85,67 secs. In the process, the colt became Ideal World’s 27th individual stakes winner – and follows Kimberley Star as a
Champion Juvenile Cup winner for the son of Kingmambo.
of his 3 starts for stakes of R97 500.
Alan Greeff star Whatever Next was going for his fourth consecutive victory, but had no answers for the sustained finishing burst of the Smith galloper.
The Future Racing Syndicate are passionate about their racing and recently extended their footprint here when purchasing a Ridgemont Highlands-bred Canford Cliffs colt (#135) off the De Grendel Farm Sale for R100 000.
Hollywoodbets sponsored Gavin Smith was saddling his 126th winner of the season and he has formed an inspired partnership with Lyle Hewitson – their current win strike-rate is 21%. A R70 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Peace In Our World is out of the Horse Chestnut mare, Our Lady Peace and is bred on the same Ideal World/Horse Chestnut cross as the Met winning champion Smart Call. Peace In Our World has won 2
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Syndicate spokesman Avi Gopaul told the Sporting Post that they loved racing here in South Africa. He said the Vodacom Durban July was very popular on the island and even though their fancy Rainbow Bridge (coincidentally a son of Ideal World, like their Fairview feature winner) had failed to deliver, they had enjoyed the entertainment spectacle of the great race.
Candiese Lenferna
Gallant Vodacom Durban July mare Running Brave - on the sale
DON’T MISS THIS! Twelve well-bred and well-performed race fillies and mares have been entered for the CTS Select Fillies for Stud Online Sale, to be held via the Meerkat Platform, on Friday, 16 July 2021 at 17h00.
Durban July contender Running Brave.
accepted for any filly is R50 000.
Recent stakes winner Hello Winter Hello is another notable entry, alongside Gr1-placed Trickster, and multiple Graded-placed, Wisteria Walk.
For more information, please contact: Grant Knowles – Managing Director, CTS – Mobile: 082 882 9774
Alistair Cohen will assist as auctioneer.
Sought-after Captain Al is represented by the four-time winning sprinter, Alsflamingbeauty.
The catalogue for the sale has been published online – please click here for more
The small, high-quality line-up is packed with black type, and is headed by 2021 Vodacom
The minimum price that will be
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The supplementary catalogue can be found here
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Gold Circle / Mauritius Racing A file pic of Undercover Agent winning the Princess Margaret Cup under Derreck David last season
MOUTONSHOEK AGENT WINS ISLAND GR1
Former Brett Crawford trained Undercover Agent was something of a surprise winner of the second Mauritius classic of the season at the Champ de Mars on Sunday. The son of Captain Al is now trained by Ricky Maingard and won the Gr1 IndianOil Barbé Cup under Piere Corne Orffer – his regular pilot when he raced here. Leading from the break, Undercover Agent showed impressive reserves of courage to withstand a daunting challenge from Bernard Fayd’herbe on fellow SA-bred Twist Of Fate – the latter won the first classic, the Gr2 Duchess Of York Cup
last month.
Undercover Agent clocked 1m 36,68 secs for the tight mile. The winner’s stablemate Alshibaa, completed the trifecta ahead of Alyaasaat. Fayd’herbe pleaded guilty to a charge under MTCSL Rule 160 for accepting a ride whilst being overweight. He was fined Rs 5 000. Undercover Agent won 7 of his 22 starts here for stakes of well over R5 million. His victories included the 2018 Gr1 Gold Challenge – giving both breeders Moutonshoek and apprentice Lyle Hewitson a maiden Gr1 success – the 87
2018 Gr2 Drill Total Stakes, and the 2018 Gr3 Byerley Turk. He ran fourth in the 2019 Sun Met behind Rainbow Bridge. The now 7yo has won 2 of his 7 starts and been placed at 4 of those outings on the island. A R325 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate, plans were afoot to send Undercover Agent to stand at Klawervlei from the 2019 season. These were abandoned. Undercover Agent was bred by Moutonshoek and is out of the twice winning stakes winner Secret Risk (London News) – from the family of Evening Attire.
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Sandown Racecourse St Mark’s Basilica wins the Gr1 Coral-Eclipse
FEATURE ECLIPSED BY BLUNDER The close finish at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday in the Jonsson Workwear Gr1 Garden Province Stakes and the accompanied comments and discussion by punters about the result was nothing compared to what transpired on the same day at Sandown Park racecourse in the UK. At least at Hollywoodbets Greyville the declared result was correct (if not contentious), but controversy and high drama occurred at Sandown as, firstly the incorrect result was declared, and then subsequent decisions by the course officials only made matters worse.
The impressive winner of the Gr1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes, St Mark’s Basilica was the highlight after the three-yearold colt finished with a withering run from off the pace to beat the multiple group one winners Addeybb and Mishriff by three and a half lengths. However, earlier on the card there was confusion and outright disbelief as the judge announced the incorrect result of the first race – the Coral 'Beaten-By-A-Length' Free Bet Handicap. “It is – oh! – very, very close indeed," Nick Luck told viewers before mentioning Hurricane Ivor as the most likely winner.
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To his audible surprise, the judge named Phoenix Star as the winner just over a minute after the finish. A full five minutes later came a stewards' inquiry to review the photo finish and then some 15 minutes after that came the completely unexpected news of a dead-heat. Phoenix Star was called the winner after a tight finish with Hurricane Ivor, but the official photo appeared to show that William Haggas' horse had won by the finest of margins. The mistake was spotted immediately by the stewards but, although an inquiry was called before they weighed in, the result was surprisingly
changed to a dead-heat after some deliberation. Jessica Macey, trainer of Phoenix Star, said: “It’s fair to say that was a rollercoaster of emotions, but I’ll take a dead-heat!”
The Newmarket handler William Haggas stated “In the top picture it looks like we’ve won, but in the bottom picture it looks like a dead-heat. “The amazing thing is how the judge called the other one the
winner. That’s one thing that didn’t happen!” “It’s pretty difficult, but I won’t be appealing. It’s the original result I’ve a problem with.”
Stipes Report An enquiry was held into the circumstances surrounding the correction of the placings of HURRICANE IVOR and PHOENIX STAR in Race 1. The Judge, the Photo Finish Operator and a Steward were interviewed. Having heard their evidence, it was established that a distortion of the
mirror, that was not identified until after the Provisional Result had been called, led to an inaccurate mirror image on the Photo Finish. As a result, the Judge could not use the mirror image when reviewing the Photo Finish, so with insufficient evidence from the Field Image to accurately split HURRICANE IVOR and PHOENIX STAR, a dead-heat
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for first was called. The Stewards further enquired in order to ascertain the possible reasons for the Photo Finish mirror being distorted. A report was forwarded to the Head Office of the British Horseracing Authority for further consideration.
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that he had to wear his suit on Saturday. I am at a loss for words – what a terrible shock,” said Fortune Racing spokesman Andrew Fortune. Born and raised in a family with eight siblings, Mr Cola started out as a labourer but saw an opportunity to start his own construction company in Pretoria. The company grew exponentially and from one employee has grown to 40 employees in 15 years.
Sad and sudden passing of Jumat Cola has shocked many
JUMAT COLA
WILL BE SADLY MISSED The sudden passing on Friday afternoon after a short illness of Jeffreys Bay-based owner Jumat Cola shocked the South African racing industry. A passionate racing man over many decades, Mr Cola is a part owner of Bard Of Avon who won the R400 000 Bloodstock SA Sales Cup on Vodacom Durban July day at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
“I am shocked. Jumat was only diagnosed the previous weekend. This virus is evil. I feel desperately sorry for his loved ones. On behalf of the Fortune family I would like to extend our deepest sympathies and sincere condolences to the Cola family. He was a wonderful man who loved his three daughters and was fanatical about racing. And I reminded him just a matter of days ago
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He went back to his roots and founded Tsitsikamma Manor in Storms River in 2016. According to Andrew Fortune, Mr Cola has owned horses for many years and passionately followed his runners all over the country. “He has had some nice horses. Tsitsikamma’s Dance and Dalai’s Promise are two worth mentioning. Bard Of Avon who won on Saturday is really smart. He has a good few with us in training and a few unraced horses on the farm too. We are very sad this evening,” concluded Andrew.
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updated 2021-07-06
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�
1214 946 999 553 739
189 141 128 85 69
156 121 111 73 70
127 95 111 61 61
15.6 14.9 12.8 15.4 9.3
Other Places Place % 162 95 116 65 68
445 311 338 199 199
36.7 32.9 33.8 36.0 26.9
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
9,498,425 14,239,925 7,608,700 11,725,050 6,221,800 10,516,950 5,273,850 7,562,675 4,323,388 6,584,488
JOCKEYS Name
Runs Wins Win%
2nd
3rd
Mr L Hewitson Mr W B Kennedy Mr S Khumalo Mr M A Yeni Mr G M Cheyne
1617 1070 826 1115 819
210 135 87 119 104
187 129 97 116 132
248 166 148 135 135
15.3 15.5 17.9 12.1 16.5
Other Places Place % 239 158 104 145 120
636 422 288 380 356
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
39.3 10,744,725 16,763,850 39.4 9,628,475 14,167,475 34.9 6,997,000 10,370,738 34.1 8,085,150 12,290,075 43.5 4,156,800 6,776,425
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
436 304 222
2453 43,031 158 1686 58,479 146 1296 49,926 77
165 132
899 63,551 754 60,554
86 58
227 225 139
36.2 48.0 34.7
806 574 358
10 12 7
14 18,761,488 19 17,777,588 16 11,083,613
152 97
52.1 43.9
336 251
10 8
13 10,485,950 14 7,993,100
SIRES Name Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) Master Of My Fate What A Winter Silvano (GER) Elusive Fort
Runrs Runs AEPR 193 186 179 164 157
1097 1216 1037 941 1032
57,734 50,173 50,240 52,282 52,593
B.T. Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Rnrs % 95 83 84 73 65
153 127 135 112 103
49.2 44.6 46.9 44.5 41.4
357 442 368 289 338
See all the detailed standings - Click here 93
12 7 4 7 5
B.T. Wins
Total Stakes (R)
15 9 6 12 7
11,142,750 9,332,175 8,992,975 8,574,325 8,257,163
BEST BETS OUTSIDE OF
EURO 2020 94
While much of the focus is clearly on Euro 2020 right now, Chad Nagel takes a look at the lesser-known leagues around the world and picks out a four-leg multiple bet in an effort to make some extra cash. Friday 9 July 49/20 Chapecoense | Draw 18/10 | Corinthians 12/10 (02:00) Starting in Brazil’s Campeonato Serie A and Corinthians look a top bet at 12/10. The team coached by ex-Barcelona defender Sylvinho have been draw specialists this season, but should have enough about them to see off Chapecoense, who currently languish in 19th place after going winless in their first nine games. Select the visitors to claim their fourth straight victory over Chapecoense.
get back to winning ways after succumbing to a 3-2 defeat last time out. Croatian striker Antonio Colak was on the scoresheet, netting twice which brought his personal tally up to five goals after nine games for his new club. IK Sirius broke their five-game winless streak with a 2-1 victory and will be hoping their hosts put more focus on their midweek Champions League clash instead of this encounter. At 4/10, Malmo is my banker of the weekend. 13/20 Rosenborg | 51/20 | Kristiansund 7/2 (18:00)
4/10 Malmo | 33/10 | IK Sirius 6/1 (15:00)
Rosenborg come into this Norwegian Eliteserien clash as the bookies favourites despite winning none of their last four league games. Meanwhile, Kristiansund have failed to score in three matches on their travels and haven’t faired any better against Rosenborg, failing to score in the last three meetings against the hosts. The home win is a solid bet at 13/20, however, I suggest having a punt on Clean Sheet Home Team (Yes) at 14/10.
Malmo will be desperate to
Sunday 11 July
Saturday 10 July
7/20 Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 32/10 | Yokohama FC 7/1 (11:00) Sanfrecce Hiroshima play host to the J League’s bottom side Yokohama FC on Sunday at the Edion Stadium. The hosts are priced as heavy favourites largely due to their opponents instead of their own performances. Yokohama FC have failed to win any of their last nine games, tasting defeat seven times. The 7/20 price is quite short but it’s the best way to go for this clash – stay away from the exotic options. QUAD @ 9/1 Malmo Win 4/10 Corinthians Win 12/10 Sanfrecce Hiroshima Win 7/20 Rosenborg – Clean Sheet Home Team (Yes) 14/10
CAN YOU HELP? CARING FOR EQUINES COSTS PLENTY! Please visit us at www.coastalhorsecareunit.org.za 95
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