20210901 - Sporting Post Sprint Ver 1.2 Single Pages by Sporting Post

Cover Image KZN Champion trainer Garth Puller & his partner Wendy Heyns at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday for the season's racing awards. Image courtesy of Candiese Lenferna v

2 Brett Crawford’s Zapatillas won impressively on debut – he could be anything

Chase Liebenberg

RAIN LIKELY BUT BE POSITIVE! 3

Delayed a week due to inclement weather the R85 000 #womaninracing Listed Sophomore Sprint, as the name suggests, a feature for 3yo’s at weight-for-age plus penalties, is contested over the straight 1200m at Kenilworth on Saturday. Rain is forecast for Friday

and on Saturday morning – but we live in hope! Improved field sizes herald the opening feature of the new season in the Cape where Cape Racing hosts 126 runners over the ten race programme. Vaughan Marshall’s Safe Return is back down the straight

4 Candiese Lenferna

after a fair effort behind champion Good Traveller in the Premiers Champion Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville at the end of last season. The exciting Futura debut winner Xavion heads Candice Bass-Robinson’s duo, and Ian Longmore’s Ridgemont Highlands-bred colt could not have

been more impressive when storming home by many lengths on debut at the end of last term. It is a fact that he started at any price, but horses make fools of experts every day, and Aldo Domeyer now takes over from Anthony Andrews – the lot of the second string stable jockey! Snaith’s trio is headed by the Alado gelding Captain’s Knot, who has his first run of the term after being well beaten in a Fairview feature last time. Riding arrangements suggest that the Snaith elect may well be the What A Winter

gelding, You Know Who. Grant van Niekerk takes the reins on the most experienced runner in the field, and with fitness on his side, he looks a massive runner. Keep It Secret travelled to PE to follow his maiden win with a fair victory. The son of Pathfork was an impressive course-anddistance winner previously and could be anything. Brett Crawford’s Klawervlei Farm Sale Race winner Masked Vigilante is undefeated, but comes in off a five month break. His stablemate Zapatillas was an impressive debut winner

over the track-and-trip in June, and if not in need of it, could be anything. Glen Kotzen fields the good-looking grey Silver Salmon who is having his first run since an unsuccessful tilt on the Gr1 Gold Medallion at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in early June. The son of Soft Falling Rain has shown lively early promise and warrants consideration. It's an interesting race on a quality card that includes the week-delayed season debut of former Equus Champion Sprinter, Kasimir.

Spring Spree At Turffontein The R125 000 Listed Spring Spree Stakes heads the Turffontein card on Saturday. The 1200m feature could herald a winning stakes feature opener for the proven duo of Sean Tarry and Lyle Hewitson, who partner with the grey 4yo Willow Express.

four good efforts since being gelded and set the pace in the KZN Breeders Mile last time. He was only caught late by the classy Copper Mountain. The smart galloper returns from a 10-week break and gets the blinkers fitted for the first time. If not in need of the outing, he could well return to winning ways.

The son of the exciting Willow Magic has produced

Johan Janse van Vuuren’s progressive Puerto Manzano

has won his last three starts in good style and the drop back to 1200m should not pose a concern as he won his only run over the track. The Argentinian-bred galloper will be right there under Gavin Lerena. Follow all the feature race action on www.sportingpost. co.za

KZN CHAMPIONS

SALUTED v

8 Ashwin Reynolds holds the trophy , watched by his wife Rene and Gold Circle’s Mayesh Chetty

Candiese Lenferna

The KZN Racing Awards for the 2020/21 season were presented between races at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday. While none of the results were a surprise – they were announced well in advance to facilitate limited attendance – the lifting of the KZN Horse Of The Season award by Vodacom Durban July winner Kommetdieding’s proud owner was a deserved accolade. The popular son of Elusive Fort, a bargain Klawervlei Farm Sale graduate, has captured the public imagination and ended the season a winner of five of his seven starts.

served holiday at Soetendal Estate, in advance of the Cape Summer season. His owner Ashwin Reynolds was accompanied by his wife Rene when receiving the trophy from Gold Circle director, Mayesh Chetty. Klawervlei Stud, who produced the magnificent Kommetdieding, were crowned champion breeders. All the KZN Awards winners: Champion 2yo Filly MARYAH Champion 2yo Colt/Gelding GOOD TRAVELLER

He is enjoying a much de-

Champion 3yo Filly VERNICHEY Champion 3yo Colt/Gelding PRAY FOR RAIN Champion Older Filly/Mare SHE’S A KEEPER Champion Older Male PEARL OF ASIA Champion Sprinter PEARL OF ASIA Champion Middle Distance SHE’S A KEEPER Champion Stayer SILVER HOST Champion Apprentice KYLE STRYDOM

Candiese Lenferna

10 Champion 3yo colt / gelding - Pray For Rain

Champion Jockey LYLE HEWITSON Champion Trainer GARTH PULLER

Champion Owner HOLLYWOOD SYNDICATE (Nom: A Delpech)

Champion Breeder KLAWERVLEI STUD Horse of the Season KOMMETDIEDING

70 – AND STRONG! When he was a teenage apprentice in the weighing room, the 45 year old jockeys paraded with an air of authority. To the wide-eyed youngster, they seemed like relics of a bygone era. Then he rode his third Met winner in the year he turned 54

and the vintage perspective shifted. On Friday the KZN Champion trainer celebrates his 70th birthday. Crowned champion conditioner in the holiday province for the second consecutive season at Hollywoodbets Greyville 11

on Monday, the Hollywoodbets-sponsored Garth Puller is a straightshooting professional – a man who has made a science of the extremely testing business of training racehorses. The lifetime teetotaler, who

Candiese Lenferna

12 KZN Champion trainer Garth Puller hoists the trophy aloft

says that he can still do handstands and push-ups and the like, is something of a health and fitness fanatic, who has always prided himself on living a life of physical fitness. Garth only retired from the saddle at the of 54, and his last ever ride on 27 December 2005 was a winner – so he was hardly a battling ‘old toppie’ jock with aches and pains, who puffed and gasped to finish off his races. His first runner as a trainer was a winner – that was back in the relative glory days of Clairwood in 2012. “I am not sure what 70 years old is meant to feel like, but I can say that I am fortunate to be in excellent health. I am on my way to stables before 03h00 every day and don’t get home before 19h00. That also means that I don’t have time to run and exercise like I used to. So if anything, I feel a touch overweight and I could be fitter!” Garth, who was accompanied by his partner Wendy Heyns to

the KZN awards racemeeting, said that he was pleased and very proud to have clinched the champion trainer title for the second year running. But the harsh reality is that in terms of pure numbers, he is probably the biggest owner in the province. He observes that nobody quite realises the lot of trainers in keeping the wheels of racing turning. “Believe me, it’s tough! Mathematically, I own over 40 horses in my own yard. My accountant keeps reminding me. But it’s a reality of the tough times in which we live. Years ago we could spec at the sales and put a horse together with a few owners. Now I buy, take it on risk and prep the horse towards racing. Then I can assess the progress and say with confidence to interested parties that the horse is showing promise. Then folk are more willing to get involved.” He says that he often reads on the forums about various sectors of the sport claiming strategic importance.

“The whole is greater than the sum of the parts in racing. The game can’t survive, in no particular order, without grooms, without jockeys, without owners, without trainers, without punters, without breeders, without horses. Every sector plays a strategic role – we could throw the big sponsors in too.” Despite the uphill battle, Garth concedes that if he wasn’t training and enjoying the horses as he always has, that he would be a ‘much older’ 70 year old come Friday. “I am really fortunate to enjoy the support of a dedicated team of hardworking staff, vets, a top farrier and some loyal owners, as well as a top sponsor in Hollywoodbets. I have always been competitive and love these beautiful animals.” Garth’s success is founded in his ability to keep his horses sound and placing them well. It doesn’t come from feature race strikes. That said, he’d

really like to train a few more top horses.

Durban July with Kommetdieding.

“The 4yo Captain Fontane is the kind of horse that could go on to greater things. He is a classy and really smart sort. He runs at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday. He may just need it, but he could get away with the ringrustiness. He is unbeaten in 3 starts and this looks likely to be his last start here as David Ferraris wants him in Hong Kong. I would have enjoyed sending him to the Cape for the summer but have no doubt he will be very competitive in Hong Kong.”

“Harold is one of the best around. One can’t buy experience and knowledge. I am really very happy for my old friend and colleague.” He is also happy to have seen his sponsors being acknowledged for the massive role they play.

About the awards afternoon, the veteran said that he was particularly pleased for the Reynolds family and for Harold Crawford and his daughter Michelle Rix, on their big victory in the Vodacom

Anthony Delpech accepted the award for the Hollywood Syndicate as Champion Owner. The former multiple champion jockey said that he was proud of the results after their big season and was looking to up the standard further. “It’s wonderful being a part of a professional winning team and thanks to Owen Heffer who puts his money down for the benefit of racing,” added Delpech.

Garth is looking forward to two weeks off – he and Wendy leave for Botswana on 8 September. His long-time assistant and equine dentist Michael Clarke, will be managing the Puller yard. “Michael knows what he is doing, so I can go away and know that things are running like clockwork. The holiday is a chance of a lifetime and we managed to get it at a vastly discounted rate. We are going with two couples and will be based near the Okavango Delta. We are living in tents and it’s back to basics. No phones or wifi connections. No TV. No running water. No fences. Just plenty of wildlife on land and crocs and hippo in the rivers. I can’t wait!”

WE’RE

HIRING! JOIN OUR TEAM

Bookkeeper / Administrator Cape Thoroughbred Sales is looking to employ a bookkeeper and administration assistant. The successful candidate will be expected to carry out the accounting function to trial balance. Experience in dealing with debtors and engaging with clients is required. You will be based at our offices in Durbanville, and will be expected to travel to and from meetings from time to time. If you are a team player, looking for an exciting challenge, and have a keen interest in 14horseracing and breeding, we would like to hear from you. Please forward your CV to Jacques at jchowles@cthbs.com

STAKES - STILL MEDIUM RARE The Racing Association announced last week that it will be contributing towards additional stakes in its jurisdictions from September to the end of December 2021. Horseracing in South Africa has been severely impacted over the last 18 months and stakes remain lower than pre-Covid-19 levels impacting the entire value chain of racing. Revenue streams of the current operators remain under severe pressure as a result of, amongst other things, Covid-19 restrictions and the economic realities of the industry and the country. Phumelela remains under business rescue with 4Racing yet to acquire all of the gambling licenses in order to take transfer of the racing assets. Cape Racing, is inextricably linked to Phumelela as part of the management agreement. While they wait for the transfer of the racing assets

to 4Racing and discuss what a future partnership looks like, the matter of stakes remains a pressing one.

Racing Association Stakes (L) and the Algoa Cup (L) to R150,000 and R200,000 respectively.

The Racing Association has taken a decision to further support owners through an increase in stakes for minor races in the Eastern and Western Cape and additional sponsorship of feature races on the Highveld. As a result of this and in recognition of the importance of owners in the industry, the racing operators have agreed to increase their contribution to stakes.

From 1 September stakes for minor races in the Western Cape will be supported by the RA with an additional R10,000 per race. Cape Racing have agreed to match this increase with a further R10,000 per race. This results in minor races increasing from R52,000, R57,000 and R63,000 to R72,000, R77,000 and R83,000 respectively.

Stakes for minor races in the Eastern Cape have increased from R50,000 to R60,000 per race in July and with the additional funding made available by the RA, minor race levels will increase to R65,000.

From the start of the Highveld Spring Season in October, Phumelela has already announced that minor races in the three current tiers will increase from R70,000 to R85,000; R77,500 to R92,500 and R85,000 to R100,000 respectively. Simultaneously, Maiden Plates will receive an even bigger increase and rise from R70,000 to R90,000. The RA will sponsor stakes in the following feature races from 1 September;

Additionally, Listed and Non-Black Type feature races in the Eastern Cape have increased from R85,000 to R100,000 and R80,000 to R90,000 respectively. The RA have bolstered the stake of the

Spring Spree (L) Lady’s Stakes (NBT) JHB Spring Challenge (G2) JHB Spring F&M Challenge (G2) Charity Mile (G2) Graham Beck (G3) Starling (G3) Yellowwood (G3) Golden Loom (L) Java (L) Victory Moon (G3) Fillies Mile (G3) Gardenia (L) Dingaans (G2) Ipi Tombe (G2) Merchants (G3) Magnolia (G3) RA Hcp (L) Grand Heritage Heritage Consolation Sophomore Secretariat (L) Lebelo (G3)

In addition to the support detailed above, the Racing Association is pleased to introduce RA Bonus Races for selected Maiden Plates to be run throughout the remainder of the season. The added stakes bonuses will

Current Stake

Contribution New from the RA Stake

R100 000 R95 000 R200 000 R150 000 R200 000 R150 000 R125 000 R125 000 R125 000 R125 000 R150 000 R125 000 R125 000 R200 000 R150 000 R150 000 R125 000 R125 000 R150 000 R100 000 R100 000 R125 000 R150 000

R25 000 R20 000 R100 000 R100 000 R200 000 R50 000 R50 000 R50 000 R25 000 R25 000 R50 000 R50 000 R25 000 R150 000 R100 000 R50 000 R50 000 R25 000 R50 000 R25 000 R25 000 R25 000 R50 000

be paid to owners who are RA members in good standing as follows: Highveld bonus R15 000 Western Cape bonus R15 000 Eastern Cape bonus R10 000

R125 000 R115 000 R300 000 R250 000 R400 000 R200 000 R175 000 R175 000 R150 000 R150 000 R200 000 R175 000 R150 000 R350 000 R250 000 R200 000 R175 000 R150 000 R200 000 R125 000 R125 000 R150 000 R200 000

Should the winner be owned in partnership, both/all partners will have to be members in good standing in order to qualify for the full bonus. Failing this, the bonus will be halved.

#LETSFIXSARACING! We are a month into the new South African racing season. Owners and breeders came to the party at the National 2yo Sale recently.

racing.

So there is a good vibe – but what else is happening and what is being done to improve things that make a difference?

Please use your name and surname and drop your suggestion in the comments box – please click here

A reader requested we run a post just calling for suggestions on improving SA

No criticism, no swipes, no harping on the wrongs of the past – only constructive suggestions.

We will leave the comments open until Friday 3 September at 17h00 and undertake to send the

bundled suggestions to anybody and everybody who can make a difference after closing. We will then publish their responses. #letsfixsaracing! The comment adjudged best wins a case of Avontuur premiere wines.

Brave Tin Soldier v

S to r m C at – B l e S S b y m r P r o S P e C to r

(USA)

Sold for US$3-million as a foal Stakes winning miler in UK & USa - timeform 115 at 2

Classic

Gr1

by Champion Sire & Sires-of-Sires

sire of

producing sire-of-sires

to the core

Rabada

StoRM Cat

won Gr1 Daily News 2000, Gr1 Premier’s Champion S.; sire - first crop will be yearlings

out of full sister to Kentucky Derby winner & G1 sire

bRave MaRy

FuSaiChi PeGaSuS

won Gr1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship

and grandam full sister to Preakness Stakes winner & Gr1 sire

RunninG bRave

won Gr2 Gold Bracelet (2x); 2nd Gr1 Empress Club S. (2x), 2nd Gr1 Summer Cup

Pine bluFF (by Danzig) R5.000 live foal Contact: Jill Fox

072 289 8471 • nfo@thefortstud.co.za Property of The Fort Stud

22 Via Africa – champion filly

Gold Circle

SA’S LOSS

OFTEN AUSTRALIA’S GAIN! v

Former champion sprinter Via Africa has firmly put the spotlight on the success of South African-bred broodmares based in Australia. Last weekend, the daughter of Var joined the ranks of stakes producers when her second foal, the Snitzel colt In The Congo, scored a hard-fought win in the Gr3 San Domenico Stakes. Trained by Australian legend Gai Waterhouse, the three-year-old won for the second time in three starts, whilst making amends for his unlucky second in the Listed Rosebud at Randwick. Via Africa was sent to Australia following a stellar racing career during which she won ten races and never finished off the board in 16 starts.

For the purpose of this article, we go back to the nineties and the export of the lightning fast Geordoba. Trained by the late Buddy Maroun, this daughter of Cordoba from the illustrious 'Lily' family arrived Down Under as a Gr3 winner of ten races. She visited some notable stallions during her broodmare career. To Danehill she bred stakes-placed Zyzzxx, and when mated to his son Commands, she produced the New Zealand stakes winner Khemosabi. Australia also became home to the blue-blooded Lady's Delight. Imported in utero by Maine Chance Farms, she was by Northern Dancer's son Local Talent out of the Roberto mare You're My Lady, whose half-sister Razyana achieved lasting fame as the dam of Danehill. Even better, their dam Spring Adieu was a Buckpasser

half-sister to the immortal Northern Dancer! Trained and part-owned by St John Gray, Lady's Delight became a Gr1-placed stakes six-time winner. Coupled with her top international bloodlines, she too, caught the eye of the shrewd Australians and was soon on her way Down Under. South Africa's loss once more became Australia's gain, for in addition to producing the stakes winning Snitzel filly Express Power, Gr3-placed Rezyana and stakes-placed Sunday Service, she is also ancestress of the high-class galloper Ace High. Trained by ex-pat David Payne, the son of High Chaparral captured both the Gr1 Victoria Derby and Gr1 Spring Champion Stakes,

Trained by Duncan Howells, she defeated Mercury Sprint winner Red Ray in the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship and twice won the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint. Via Africa has a newly-turned juvenile filly by Golden Slipper winner Vancouver, and was covered by Redoute's Choice stallion The Autumn Sun last spring. She is just one of a select number of South African-bred mares whose loss to the gene pool is keenly felt.

National Colour with Sean Tarry and Brett Smith in saddle

Alexandra Rose at Arrowfield was runner-up in the Gr1 Australian Derby and earned in excess of A$2.2 million. Al Mufti's champion daughter Arabian Lass, a four-time Gr1 winner bred by Ascot Stud, was covered by Fort Wood and sent to the UK in foal. She had produced a winner by Montjeu by the time she departed for Australia, where she became the dam of the stakes winning filly Soldier's Lass and the stakes-placed Dash For Home. Ascot Stud acquired her Danehill Dancer daughter Arabian Jazz, who returned to South Africa and ran third in the Gr3 Syringa Handicap.

Australian breeders have always put a high premium on speed and precocity, which made the Count Dubois filly Asylum Seeker yet another alluring prospect. She had won both the then Gr1 Golden Slipper and Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery when trained by Roy Magner. She was good enough to be named the champion juvenile filly. Australian dollars once again prevailed, which proved to be money well spent, for amongst her six winners from as many runners to date are the stakes performers Scarlet Dream and Runaway Girl, both by Sebring. The former put together a string of graded places which

include a second in the Gr1 Australian Oaks, while Runaway Girl twice placed at Gr3 level. For a breeder, there is nothing like international success and in that respect, Varsfontein Stud has certainly tasted plenty Down Under. The exceptional Caesour filly Perfect Promise was foaled and raised at the farm on behalf of then stud manager Hendrik Winterbach. She won the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas and went on to make history as the first South African-bred filly to score at Gr1 level in the C F Orr Stakes. Retired to stud in Australia,

Perfect Promise bred the Gr3-placed stakes winner More Energy to Fastnet Rock, and stakes-placed Hard Promise to Danzig's son Hard Spun. Her Rock Of Gibraltar daughter Caesour's Promise

is dam of stakes-placed Caesour's Dream. Varsfontein can claim outright breeding rights for their overseas Gr1 producer Alexandra Rose. The daughter of Caesour, a Gr2 winner of the Golden Slipper, was purchased

26 On the left – Carry On Alice’s 2020 Snitzel colt

by Team Valor, for whom she won at Gr3 level in the States. She too has spent her broodmare career in Australia, but as fate would have it, her best foal, the Animal Kingdom filly

Oleksandra, raced with distinction in the States! She carried the Team Valor silks to seven victories and put her dam on the map with a last-to-first victory in Belmont Park's Gr1 Jaipur Stakes. Covered early this year by leading American sire Into Mischief, she closed out her career in June with a sensational victory over male rivals in Belmont Park's Gr3 Poker Stakes, where she looped the field from 20 lengths off the pace to get up on the line Also dam of the stakes-placed Redoute's Choice gelding Hostwin Galaxy, Alexandra Rose

foaled a Mendelssohn filly early last spring before visiting Australian powerhouse stallion Snitzel. Champion sprinter and Joint Horse of the Year National Colour also spent her broodmare career Down Under. Ironically, her two best offspring, the Redoute's Choice colts Rafeef and Mustaaqeem earned their Gr1 stripes in South Africa. Whilst the latter was exported, Rafeef is now based at Ridgemont Highlands and judged by the excellent start he has made to his stallion career,

the country's leading freshman stalllion looks set to continue his dam's legacy. History still has to judge another Australian-based champion, the Sean Tarry-trained Carry On Alice. The daughter of Captain Al was voted South Africa's top sprinter in 2016/17 following an illustrious career which saw her triumph in five top level sprints and rack up more than R4,5 million in earnings. She has to date produced a juvenile and a yearling colt, both by Snitzel and returned to him in 2020.

Design by Winning Media

30 Design by Winning Media

Twice Over (Observatory – Double Crossed) is ready for the breeding season to commence

TWICE THE QUALITY

Klawervlei’s four-time Gr1 winning stallion Twice Over has made the perfect start to the 2021/22 season. The sire of past SA Horse Of The Year and dual Vodacom Durban July winner Do It Again has come out firing on all cylinders, and has already had a whopping nine individual winners this term. Twice Over has also enjoyed

one of his best ever years in the sales ring.

He produced a lot of outstanding colts and fillies, as a result of extremely positive breeder support and enthusiasm. These yearlings will stand him in good stead on the tracks over the next few years and he is sure to maintain his prominent position in the stallion ranks.

Twice Over has enjoyed great support from the likes of Nick Jonsson, Bernard Kantor, John Freeman, Team Snaith, Reynolds Chung, Roy Magner, Mark Currie and Wehann Smith, amongst a host of other top racing people. And it goes without saying that all of the Twice Over progeny in the sales ring had underbidders, which shows

the depth of appreciation for his stock, notes John Koster. His colts sold for R1.4 mil, R700k, R600k, R500k, R400k and his fillies for R300k, R250k, R200k etc “Twice Over finished 15th of active sires with 70 wins and over R5 million in stakes last season. He has kicked off the new season with vigour and lies in 5th place on the sires log,” says the Klawervlei Stud owner. Twice Over had an excellent last season, with his two-

year-olds headed by Gr2 4Racing SA Nursery runner-up Smorgasbord and Listed The Lighthouse Foundation Devon Air Stakes winner Twice The Trip. His older runners include New Turf Carriers Jet Master Stakes winner, Doublemint. “He is looking really great as he heads into the breeding season. He is fit and well and ready to get started. “He was a top-class racehorse with the most wonderful temperament. The ability to pass on these genes and the backing he has received have

been key to his success at stud,” John concludes. Twice Over’s stud fee for 2021 is R10 000 with no nom, and R10 00 live foal fee. If you’re interested in sending your mare to Twice Over, don’t hesitate to contact John Koster on the info listed below: Tel: +27 (023) 616 2980 Cell: +27 (082) 880 7943 email: john@klawervlei.co.za

36 Warren Kennedy guides You Deserve It to victory

Candiese Lenferna

BINDA’S BINNELANDERS BLOW THEM AWAY 37

It hasn’t been a half bad year for Gauteng-based trainer Clinton Binda. The veteran conditioner enjoyed the distinction of training the Hollywood Syndicate’s 200th winner in February and followed up with a rare training feat at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday, after a superb three meetings in four days at the city track. The eight race card hosted the KZN Season awards, but for the Binda team it was mission accomplished in more ways than one as the newly-crowned KZN Champion Owners Hollywood Syndicate’s Pathfork filly You Deserve It rounded off a remarkable hat-trick to give

the yard a great double on the afternoon. In fact it was a terrific road trip to the coast for the Binda Binnelanders travelling party of five: • Ramchandani Road ran second on Friday • Freedom Dancer ran second on Friday • You Deserve It won on Friday • Soweto Rose ran second on Sunday • Princess Sabrina won on Monday • You Deserve it won on Monday

A Ridgemont Highlands-bred daughter of Pathfork, You Deserve It overcame the odds on Monday to record her third victory on the trot in the space of a fortnight – and her second in just four days. In the process, the 4yo filly, who was part of a package of horses bought directly by Clint from Ridgemont Highlands, registered her fourth career victory from 18 starts. She had returned from a two month break after pulling up sore and travelled down to KZN to win on the 16 August. She was then returned to her Gauteng home base. So that’s three wins in 14 days, with two Joburg-Durban

trips into the bargain. “Another defiance of the logic, and some trivia, is that she stays, while her recently retired full brother Look To The Sky was very fast,” Clint told the Sporting Post. In a further jolt for the urban myth makers, both the Binda’s first race winner Princess Sabrina (who races for the family’s Dreamstar Racing) and You Deserve It, raced and won barefeet. “I only race my horses with shoes if they need them,” says the unconventional horseman as he points out that he shouldn’t really be taking all the credit for the plan come together, and thanked his team of Groom Tinashe and workrider turned heavy-duty float driver, Watson.

He also modestly points out that the Hollywoodbets Greyville meeting last Friday came up by chance after Fairview fell away. “So I could brag about a master plan but that ham on the sandwich on Friday was fortuitous. But we took on the boys with You Deserve It when the opportunity presented itself and won. I must mention the excellent work of my Assistant Clinton Naude, who travelled down to Durban on Friday for the racing. He was the gentleman who checked on You Deserve it on Saturday morning and gave me the green light that she would be ready again for Monday after she had emptied the manger. He then returned to home base on Saturday. Once again, it’s a team effort,” he adds proudly.

wasn’t a difficult ride. “Warren (Kennedy) rode two good races on her. Richard Fourie did the honours to launch the hat-trick. But he is incapacitated at the moment.” Clint reminded us that he still holds the record with the Western Winter gelding Saint Stephen, who won on the Vaal sand on Thursday and the very next evening at Turffontein on the turf. That was way back in October 2010. Earlier this month we were extolling the virtues of another top traveller in Vaal-based Corne Spies, who is equally adept at keeping his horses beautifully on the boil.

He added that You Deserve It

Pathfork Power The Sandown Stud based Gr1 winner Pathfork has been in great form, and the champion son of Distorted Humor made it six South African winners in five days after You Deserve It scored her hat-trick at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday afternoon. The Binda galloper’s smart win continued the good run enjoyed by her Gr1

boylesports.com Vincent O’Brien National Stakes winning sire. The latter had previously produced Path Of Fortune at the same venue on Sunday, and a pair of winners at the Vaal on Thursday, before You Deserve It and Hamsa Grove won their respective races at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday.

From the same female line as leading sires El Gran Senor, Redoute’s Choice and Try My Best, Pathfork is currently the sire of 26 stakes horses, headed by the Gr1 winners Mighty High and Pearl Of Asia.

Candiese Lenferna

Miss Frankel – some family to consider on the sale

PEDIGREE STUDENTS…

READY TO CHASE YOUR DREAM?

The 2021 CTS Ready To Run and Unbroken TwoYear-Old Sale catalogue is due for release later this week. The Sale, scheduled for Sunday, 31 October, will be preceded by the R2R gallops on Friday, 29 October. This will be

followed by the R900 000 2021 De Grendel Ready To Run Stakes Race on Saturday, 30 October, for which CTS and Cape Racing have joined forces.

The extended deadline for this year’s auction drew

several extra entries from among several top breeders including Klawervlei Stud, Drakenstein, Lammerskraal and Normandy, with Julia Pilbeam’s formidable Soetendal Estate again well represented with a variety of beautifully-bred and

well-prepped two-year-olds. “This is a catalogue with outstanding depth and variety, one of the best we’ve had, and there will be the customary value buying potential for pedigree students willing to do their homework,” said Grant Knowles, MD of CTS. In total, 127 lots will be going through the auction ring and all the top sires are represented,including Gimmethegreenlight, Querari, Captain Of All, Vercingetorix, What A Winter, Elusive Fort and Rafeef. A number of superbly bred first foals will come under the hammer and among them are a Soetendal-prepared William Longsword colt bred from Dream De Ra, the half-sister to exported Listed winner, Miss Frankel. From the same

farm comes a Rafeef colt out of Golden Cloud (Silvano), from the immediate family of stallion Pomodoro. Also sure to attract lively interest will be a colt sired by Twice Over from Jo’s Bond (Captain Al), who won eight races including the Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes. Winterbach Stud also has a beautifully-bred William Longsword first foal from Kilauea (Trippi), the four-time winning and Graded-place mare from the close family of Kildonan. Riethuiskraal will present a Visionaire first colt foal from Favour’s Pride, the multiple Listed and Graded placed mare by Harry Hall, who brings world champion broodmare sire Pivotal into his female line. Nadeson Park has an Elusive Fort first filly foal on offer –

she’s out of a four-time winning mare by leading international broodmare sire More Than Ready, from a good international female line. Normandy brings a second foal of Matushka (Windrush), a full-sister to star mare Mother Russia. This one’s a filly sired by Elusive Fort; and Soetendal (as agent) have the third produce of Casey Tibbs-mare, Eva Tibbs, whose one runner so far is the Listed winner, Paisley Park. For more information, please contact: Grant Knowles - Managing Director on 082 882 9774

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Candiese Marnewick

A LADY GOING

PLACES! 50

Dacha’s Rachel Venniker – loving every moment of it

A lady jockey hasn’t created a stir in South African racing for many years. But BUSH brand ambassador Rachel Venniker is booting home the winners with regularity and registered another superb double at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday. With seven winners on the board in the first month of the new season, Rachel boasts a 17% win strike-rate. But boast is the wrong word to use around the pretty blonde 21 year old, who has shown that she can take on the men at their own game. We put it to her that her seat has grown in stature along with her confidence, and that she has found the winning recipe. We asked her what the secret was. “That’s kind of you! But I don’t know really. I guess that my fitness and strength has improved – and only race riding can do that. I have also shortened my irons and all factors considered, maybe that’s why I am getting lucky and riding winners!” laughs Rachel modestly.

Perseverance paid off in the end and Rachel is now fulfilling the promise that she always showed. Hailing from a dynasty of showjumping champions headed by her Dad Brett, Rachel has been riding since the age of 4, competing in the show arena, and riding work on racehorses since the age of 14. She goes to scale at around 53kgs and is loving every moment of it. That said, bar enjoying a sponsorship by Dacha, nothing much has changed in her life. We asked her if she had bought a new car and was enjoying the new-found public attention and trainer support. “No, nothing much has changed! I am living at the Academy, so there is only hard work and plenty of focus on the racing. It’s nice to have more

trainers wanting me on their horses and the 4kg claim helps too. And I am really thrilled to be sponsored by Dacha and their enthusiastic and supportive team.” A spokesperson for her sponsors, Shannon Smith told the Sporting Post that they were immediately fixed on Rachel’s potential as a rider, her endurance as an athlete and her power as a woman. “We are proud to have Rachel on board as a Bush Brand Ambassador. Being a female in a male dominated sport, this is one of the many ways Rachel keeps herself looking young and fresh and photogenic. Horseracing is the ultimate test of our synergy with the thoroughbred and we are proud of this wonderful emerging talent and our association with her.”

A year ago we spoke to the then Roseway Waldorf matric student who was banging her head against the doors of the SA Jockey Academy, after being declined twice by a panel on weight grounds. Posed - for commercial purposes

FUTURE STARS – THE LAUNCHING PAD The arrival of new foals heralds a time of rejuvenated hope and optimism. The Sporting Post is proud to partner with BUSH and offer our breeders and our readers the opportunity of enjoying the new generation of future

stars. Terrific prizes will be offered every month to readers who will be asked to vote for the foal of the month.

us your foal pics to editor@ sportingpost.co.za. Please include the date of birth/sex/breeding/any relevant family information

Note: Breeders – please send

Drakenstein – (c ) born 16 August: One World – ex Trip Poker – Met winner One World’s first!

Avontuur – (c) born 17 August: Talk Of The Town ex Reason To Believe

Avontuur – (c)born 13 August: Rafeef ex Torra Bay

Wynnholme Stud – (f) born 18 August: Oratorio ex Rainbow Rock – half sister to Van Halen

56 Hawwaam

Chase Liebenberg

HAWWAAM CATCHES THE EYE 57

Some of the Cape’s top breeders turned out to view Wilgerbosdrift’s exciting line up of stallions on Sunday afternoon. Guests, who were treated to an array of snacks and drinks beforehand, turned out to view Wilgerbosdrift’s homebred champion Hawwaam, who is set to stand his first season at the Piketberg farm this season, and the likes of Buffalo Bill Cody, Fire Away and Flower Alley. The latter led the showing, with Flower Alley making his

presence felt in no uncertain terms. The strapping son of Distorted Humor looked an absolute picture, and clearly in good heart going into the 2021 breeding season. Flower Alley, whose 50 black type horses include Kentucky Derby/Preakness Stakes winning champion I’ll Have Another, has made a tremendous start to his stud career in South Africa, with his most recent flagbearers including the likes of Princess Calla and Santa Therese.

Buffalo Bill Cody, a quality son of legendary Australian sire Redoute’s Choice, was the next to parade. From the same female line as top-class sire Hard Spun and dual US classic winner Little Current, Buffalo Bill Cody showed tremendous ability in a brief career, winning six of just ten starts including five in a row. By the same sire as top class stallions Not A Single Doubt, Snitzel and Stratum, Buffalo Bill Cody’s first foals arrive this season.

Chase Liebenberg

Buffalo Bill Cody Fire Away, a son of outstanding US sire and emerging sire of sires War Front, was the next stallion to parade on Sunday. The seven time winner who won the G3 Dixie Stakes is a half-brother to G1 Belmont Derby winner Mr Speaker as well as to the very smart Vigilantes Way -winner of Saturday’s Miss Liberty Stakes. Fire Away, a grandson of legendary racemare and producer Personal Ensign, has his first yearlings this season and they include a

half-brother to the G1 winners Golden Ducat, Hawwaam and last season’s Horse Of The Year Rainbow Bridge. The magnificent Hawwaam, who made a big impression on Sunday, is an eye catching and athletic individual. The son of the late, great Silvano (also sire of current sire sensation Vercingetorix) was an outstanding racehorse and South Africa’s Champion 3YO Colt of 2018-2019. Hawwaam won ten of 13 starts, with his five Gr1 wins including a pair of triumphs in the Gr1 59

Premier’s Champions Challenge as well as the Gr1 Daily News 2000 - a race won by such star stallions as Dynasty and Vercingetorix. Hawwaam will stand his first season at Wilgerbosdrift for a fee of R30 000 and is expected to cover some top-class mares.

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INSIGHT IS POWER 62

Racing analysist Matthew Stevens – captivated by the game

Bitten by the racing bug at a very early age, professional tipster and racing analysist Matthew Stevens was captivated by the game from day one. His father had one or two shares in horses, but unfortunately for him, children weren’t allowed on the track at Clairwood Park to watch the races. “We would station ourselves in the parking lot and stand on top of the car to watch the horses racing. I may have crept through the fence on occasion to get a closer look,” confesses Matt. At the age of sixteen Matt started working at a stable yard during his school holidays. When back at school he spent a good few hours in the Principal’s office for sneaking his racebooks into class. After finishing school, he took a year off to learn more about the game and more about life in general. He moved up to a stud farm and racing stable in Nottingham Road, owned by the Fox family. “I ended up really loving working with horses and

became an assistant to trainer John Fox when he moved to Summerveld Training Centre. John was a great horseman and I learnt so much about the animal itself while working with John. That knowledge still helps me to this day to understand certain aspects of a raceday,” he tells us. As time progressed, Matt began to realise that his real passion lay with analyzing form. He would always be the first person to pick-up a racecard when they were delivered to Summerveld. He would ride his bike early to work just to wait for the delivery of the racecards in the morning. He would spend days studying the form and doing pretend race-calls. Trying to work out the form and possible results. “I approached Owen Heffer at Winning Form and Sporting Post when I was 21, x he offered me a job in the racing office on a trial basis. I grabbed the opportunity with both hands and the rest is history. “Matthew Lips was my

mentor for five years. He taught me the handicapping system inside and out. He is now one of South Africa’s official handicappers, so I got to learn from one of the best!” he says enthusiastically. Matt later started up a publication called Stable Info to try and make the game more transparent for punters. He would call every trainer in the country and ask for comments on their runners at the time of publication. “As I’m sure you can imagine, we had a few trainers that told me where to shove my phone,” he chuckles. “But it was just a few of the old school trainers, most trainers were for the idea in helping the punters’ succeed!” It received great feedback and was going well until the phone bills came in. Matt soon realised that it would be financially impossible to continue. He then moved on to tipping for Winning Form before branching out on his own. “Tipping and writing summaries a week in

advance was not easy! Especially when the legendary Buddy Maroun was around who could run a horse three times in seven days,” chuckles Matt. Tipping a week in advance often led to horses being scratched or horses having a

run between the time the card was done and the next racemeeting. That was the indicator Matt needed to start up his website. “Not tipping the scratchings was great. Doing the selections on the day of the meeting gave me so much more time to analyse the form and watch

reruns etc,” says Matt. One thing Matt learnt in racing was that you can never know everything. As soon as you think you do, it will teach you a swift lesson. Click here to read more….

REHOMERS READY FOR NEW CAREERS 66

Jozi Hustle is ready for his new home- contact Nicole now for more info

Every racehorse deserves to find the perfect home and career after racing. Nicole Wille has partnered with the Hollywood Syndicate to create an initiative that will guarantee horses get the after racing life that best suits them. Since starting the programme, Nicole has had three different horses enter from two different trainers.

“All of them have been vastly different in temperament, looks and personality. It has been an absolute pleasure getting to know them as individuals and approaching their training in unique ways,” Nicole tells the Sporting Post.

Nicole currently has two geldings in for training, having already successfully rehomed the four-time winner Calvary.

“This aspect keeps me on my toes and tests my knowledge. I have to make sure I’m starting each horse in the best way suited to them as an individual.”

Nicole notes that he is a lovable horse with plenty of personality. He loves to please and is a fast learner.

Jozi Hustle is a 16hh bay gelding currently in the programme and set for a new forever home.

The five-year-old gelding is

an uncomplicated ride, a safe and sweet boy with a soft mouth.

training before Nicole will begin his rehoming process so keep an eye out for him in the future.

“He is a lovely horse and would suit a variety of riders as as his schooling continues,” says Nicole about the one time winner.

“It has been so rewarding to see each of them blossom into the lovely individuals they are. It is wonderful to get them ready for their life outside of racing,” Nicole concludes.

Nicole’s third and latest addition is a handsome Pathfork gelding – Look To The Sky. He is still undergoing his

Or contact Nicole directly for inquiries on the info below: • Cell: 071 013 8797 • Email: hollywoodbetslifeafterracing@gmail.com

Click here to view the Hollywoodbets Life After Racing Facebook page.

Calvary looking stunning in his new home after Nicole’s successful training program

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KATAK RUNS AT KRANJI v

72 Winter Series champ Katak – next phase starts on Saturday

Chase Liebenberg

Unbeaten Cape champion Katak will make his long awaited international debut for South Africanborn trainer Ricardo Le Grange on the Kranji polytrack on Saturday. After a long and arduous journey, the son of Ridgemont stallion Potala Palace will be having first start in almost 15 months and runs in the Vasco Stable silks in the Kranji tenth race on Saturday. He will be partnered by Frenchman Marc Lerner, who has ridden all the work. The blue and pink silks that Katak will carry were famously worn by Equus Champion sprinter What A Winter during his illustrious South African track career. Speaking exclusively to the Sporting Post on Wednesday, an excited trainer Ricardo Le Grange said that there were many people to thank for the incredible journey. He paid tribute to the passion and commitment of owners Bryn Ressell and Marsh Shirtliff for the risk and considerable financial expense undertaken to get Katak around the world to Singapore. Le Grange also said that the team that looked after the champ in Mauritius had done a sterling job, and gave

a special mention to Phillipe Baratte Prevost in France who did an amazing job in pre training Katak. “Katak has been in Singapore since 20 July where he served a mandatory 2 weeks in quarantine. Fortunately we had the use of a walker so he was trotting from day 2 onwards. He arrived at our stables in Kranji on 4 August. He has had one trial and a few training gallops. He has taken all of this in his stride, showing a lot of improvement from gallop to gallop. He has maintained his weight and even though he is a free sweater, he hydrates himself quite quickly – he is a big water drinker,” confirmed Le Grange. Katak steps out on Saturday in a class 2 1200m race on the poly surface. The SA off time of the tenth race is 10h30. “He drew 11/11 which gives us options. It’s a race which doesn’t have a lot of speed on paper, so hopefully he can position up midfield, get some cover and run home. I feel the run will bring him on big time and he will be a much fitter horse going forward.” Le Grange explained that looking ahead, the plan is to run Katak two weeks later in the Gr1 Raffles Cup , a 1600m on the turf at weight for age, and then on to the Gr1 Queen Elizabeth 1800m and the Gr1 Gold

Cup 2000m in November, which is run at handicap level. “The journey has been long but I’m looking forward to seeing what this amazing animal has in store for us,” concluded Le Grange. The 2020 Cape Winter Series Triple Crown Champion was unbeaten in his five SA starts from 1200m to 2400m. He was trained from Milnerton by Piet Steyn. The Ridgemont Highlandsbred Katak was raised by Graham Koster and is a second crop son of Ridgemont Highlands’ Singspiel Gr1 winner Potala Palace. He is out of the Windrush three time winner Sapphire Silk.

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HK$1.46

BILLION

STAKES FOR NEW TERM The opening race meeting of the brand new Hong Kong racing season will be held at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday. In view of the stabilising COVID-19 pandemic situation in Hong Kong – unlike last year’s opening race meeting which had no public attendance – the Hong Kong Jockey Club will welcome thousands of public members to enjoy the exciting races on Sunday, which also features the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup (Class 1 – 1200m). The new season will be ushered in with the traditional

gong-striking opening ceremony taking place in the Parade Ring at noon after a lion dance performance, when Champion Jockey Joao Moreira leads all jockeys in attendance to wish fans the very best for the new racing season. The Season Opening meeting is the first of 88 racedays scheduled for the 2021/22 season, a term which will be highlighted by LONGINES Hong Kong International Raceday, the BMW Hong Kong Derby and FWD Champions Day. There will be 12 Gr1 contests in total, leaving Hong Kong’s world-class jockeys and

trainers to vie for supremacy in the world’s most competitive racing jurisdictions. Overall, there will be HK$1.46 billion in prize money on offer across more than 830 races in a season which is again expected to deliver an endless stream of unforgettable moments. To usher in the new season, a mega prize totalling HK$70 million is up for grabs across the first two race meetings, split evenly between the two meetings. Each racegoer will receive one complimentary 2021/22 Racing Calendar for free as a door gift upon admission.

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80 Luke gets the feel of things at a trial last week

HKJC

LUKE’S READY FOR SUNDAY v

Dual SA Champion Apprentice Luke Ferraris rode work in Hong Kong for the first time last Saturday, trialled three horses for his father David on Tuesday morning and is itching to taste the real thing at the season-opening meeting on Sunday. South African jockeys have a rich and successful history in Hong Kong and young gun Luke Ferraris – the son of currently licensed Hong Kong trainer David Ferraris – is eager to add further gloss to his nation’s racing heritage in the world’s most competitive jurisdiction.

Following in the footsteps of highly successful compatriots Douglas Whyte, Basil Marcus, Felix Coetzee and Robbie Fradd, to name a few – Ferraris, at just 19 years of age joins the riding ranks as the second-youngest expatriate rider awarded a contract in Hong Kong history after Michael Walker in 2003. “There were a bit of mixed emotions – having grown up here I have seen how tough and competitive it is but riding back in South Africa, the more success I had the more my confidence grew and if you’d asked me at the start of my career whether I would be here

at age 19 – I probably would have laughed. “As time went on and I rode in big races getting the results that I wanted, Hong Kong became more of a dream turning into reality – I’m happy and honoured to be here,” Ferraris said. Ferraris honed his craft at the well-regarded South African Jockey Academy, this came a few years after shadowing father David around the stables at Sha Tin Racecourse in his youth. “I was born in South Africa but moved here at a very

young age and for the early part of my childhood I grew up here going to trackwork with my father. It feels a little bit different to be riding trackwork but at the same time I’m very excited and happy to be on the other side of the fence,” Ferraris said. The youngster has enjoyed a stellar 2021 with five Group 1 wins, including a G1 Cape Town Met (2000m) triumph aboard Rainbow Bridge. His South African Triple Crown success this year aboard Malmoos included a pair of Gr1’s and was the fourth in history with only Horse Chestnut (1999), Louis The King (2014) and Abashiri (2016) accomplishing the feat before him. “It was a huge milestone of my career, what was really rewarding was knowing him (Malmoos) as a two-year-old and getting on his back then. The special ones have that sort of sparkle in their eye and you could see it as a very young horse and to stay with him from his maiden win through to the big races was huge. “The SA Triple Crown has two

Gr1’s in it which was massive for me and being the fourth Triple Crown winner, especially at my age – I was over the moon winning it and it has had a huge impact on my career,” Ferraris said. Ferraris attributes much of his rapidly successful career to grandfather Ormond, whom he was indentured to as an apprentice in South Africa. “I started going up to Johannesburg when I first started riding in South Africa and I was stable apprentice to my grandfather – he just about moulded me into the rider that I am today. “He’s had a lot of success, my dad was assistant to him when he was trying to get his license to be a trainer – that was a long time ago, but when I came through ranks, I was his stable apprentice and he gave me lots of good support and advice on what to do and that has made me the rider that I am today,” Ferraris said. Twice crowned champion apprentice in South Africa (2018/19 and 2019/20), Ferraris has had success with a number of the country’s top trainers including Mike de Kock

as well as a G1 triumph for Vaughan Marshall atop Ambiorix, earlier this year. “Working with some of the big names like Mike de Kock, who is recognised worldwide, I had to step up hugely when I rode some of his big horses owned by the likes of Sheikh Hamdan and that matured me a lot as a rider, it made me a lot more ‘sharp’ because you had to be on top of your game every time you rode for him,” the rider said. Ferraris is under no illusion regarding the challenges he will face through his first contract to ride in Hong Kong which will conclude on 13 February, 2022. “Racing in Hong Kong, I’ve seen how competitive and tough it is having grown up here and support is definitely a huge thing. I think the hardest part is coming in here new and trying to prove yourself to trainers and owners that you can ride against the big names and still be successful,” Ferraris said.

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‘MOVIE STAR TRAP’ FOR AUSSIE JOCK 85

Jamie Kah – an expensive party

Aussie rider Jamie Kah’s first boss believes the star jockey may have fallen into the movie star trap, with a sense of entitlement and a growing belief she is different to others potentially being the catalyst for her ‘dumb’ Covid breach. Racenet.com.au reports that South Australian trainer John Macmillan is dismayed and surprised by the actions of the jockey he helped to mould, with Kah turning up at his stables at age 14 to work as a groom and later a four-kilogram claiming apprentice. With Australia’s headline jockey banned for three months for an Airbnb party with a group of fellow jockeys which broke racing and Covid-19 rules, Macmillan now feels the champion hoop may have let success go to her head. “I think any sportsperson in general, getting as much media hype as Jamie and getting told how great they are all the time, there is a certain element of entitlement,” Macmillian told News Corp. “They tend to start believing their own press a little bit too much and I think that may have happened with Jamie. “It happens all the time, you see it happen with football

players and movie stars. “They get that sense that they are not like everybody else because they read about themselves so much.” Macmillan has been cheering Kah every step of the way as she became the golden girl of Australian racing but believes the actions which saw her banned from the sport “are just dumb.” The trainer hopes it may act as a wake-up call for Kah but says the road to redemption must start now. And it must not just be about paying lip service. “Jamie needs to own this and take responsibility for her actions, that’s the main thing,” Macmillan said. “If she can take genuine responsibility for her actions, then she can move forward and it becomes just a memory. “But the question will be whether its genuine remorse or whether she thinks it’s just the right thing to say? “We can’t really know that at the moment, but you’d like to think she would realise how stupid she has been. “Sometimes people actually have to cop a bit to wake up in life.”

With the scandal rocking racing and becoming headline news, Macmillan has not contacted Kah since. He says he will leave it a couple of days before ringing his one-time star apprentice for a heart-to-heart. He hopes some good can come out of troubled times with the ban hopefully reinforcing to Kah, who has profusely apologised for her actions, how much racing means to her. “There are a lot of people who talk about the fact that she has other ambitions outside of racing but they miss the fact that she really values racing and she knows that without racing she wouldn’t have the lifestyle she has,” Macmillan said. “This might be a bit of a wake up call that you can’t take all of that for granted. “With the right people around her, they need to ram it home this is a big mistake and you have done the wrong thing, I think she can become better for it.”

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Personal Ensign – one of the greats

A PERSONAL BEST

Legendary US racemare and broodmare Personal Ensign, honoured by the running of Saturday's Gr1 Personal Ensign Stakes at Saratoga, continues to make her presence felt in graded races.

Never beaten in 13 starts, Personal Ensign (Private Account) won one of the greatest races of all time when getting up in the shadow of the post to beat Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors (Caro) in the 1988 Gr1 Breeders' Cup

Distaff.

champion War Emblem.

The full-sister to dual Gr1 winner Personal Flag went on to enjoy an equally successful career at stud, with Personal Ensign named North America's Broodmare Of The Year in 1996.

Personal Ensign is not only the dam of a Breeders' Cup winner, but her Breeders' Cup winning daughter My Flag is the dam of Breeders' Cup winner, and champion, Storm Flag Flying.

She left behind a trio of Gr 1 winners - Miner's Mark (Jockey Club Gold Cup), My Flag (Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies) and Traditionally (Oaklawn Handicap), with another son Our Emblem siring Kentucky Derby winning

Classy three-year-old Jouster (Noble Mission), whose granddam is the aforementioned Storm Flag Flying, showed her class when she won this year's Gr2 Appalachian Stakes, while Title Ready (whose granddam

is Personal Ensign) captured the Gr3 Louisiana Stakes earlier this year. Progressive three-year-old Dynamic One (Union Rags), who ran in Saturday's Gr1 Travers Stakes, is a classy sophomore whose performances this year include a win in the Curlin Stakes and a runner up finish in the Gr2 Wood Memorial Stakes. Dynamic One's granddam is champion Storm Flag Flying -the granddaughter of Personal Ensign, while Storm Flag Flying's dam My Flag is granddam of 2021 Runhappy Travers Stakes third placegetter Miles D (Curlin). Personal Ensign's very

talented descendant Performer (Speightstown), who is out of Personal Ensign's great granddaughter Protesting (A.P. Indy), is set to stand his first season at Claiborne next year. He won six of just nine starts, including the Gr3 Discovery Stakes and Gr3 Fred W. Hooper Stakes, and was third in the Gr1 Cigar Mile. Personal Ensign's influence could well be carried forward into South Africa-her grandson Fire Away (War Front) is set to have his first yearlings in 2022. Winner of seven races including the Gr3 Dixie Stakes, Fire Away is out of Personal Ensign's Gr2 placed daughter Salute (Unbridled). The latter is also dam of Gr1 Belmont Derby winner Mr Speaker (the sire

of G1 winner Speech), star hurdler Snap Decision (Hard Spun) and this season's very smart four-year-old Vigilantes Way (Medaglia D'Oro). The latter has won six times thus far including the 2021 Gr3 Eatontown Stakes, last year's Tropical Park Oaks, and Saturday's Miss Liberty Stakes. Personal Ensign's granddam Dorine (Aristophanes) ranks as the fifth dam of Gr1 Gold Medallion winner Guiness (Seventh Rock).

results up to: 2021-08-31

TRAINERS Name

Runs

Wins Win%

99 78 57 80 65

Mr G D Smith Mr P A Peter Mr S G Tarry Mr A C Greeﬀ Mr S J Snaith

19 14 12 10 13

19.2 17.9 21.1 12.5 20.0

2nd

3rd

12 12 5 10 4

10 9 6 11 11

2nd

3rd

25 9 19 6 10

20 20 14 5 14

Other Places Place %

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

42.4 41.0 28.1 46.3 33.8

731,250 559,500 540,000 400,000 455,900

978,750 889,375 686,750 624,500 595,200

Other Places Place %

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

1,766,250 1,024,200 727,000 855,000 564,300

2,378,875 1,420,200 1,317,000 1,093,500 922,950

20 11 5 16 7

42 32 16 37 22

JOCKEYS Name

Runs Wins Win%

Mr W B Kennedy Mr S Khumalo Mr M A Yeni Mr L Hewitson Mr C Zackey

169 127 141 49 88

38 23 16 16 15

22.5 18.1 11.3 32.7 17.0

24 26 33 5 14

69 55 66 16 38

40.8 43.3 46.8 32.7 43.2

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 Varsfontein Stud Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd

137 95 59 45 42

168 121 89 59 54

8,303 11,556 11,627 14,086 12,850

17 15 9 11 7

17 15 10 11 8

12.4 15.8 15.3 24.4 16.7

54 53 29 22 24

0 1 0 0 0

1,137,525 1,097,825 686,000 633,850 539,700

SIRES Name Master Of My Fate Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) Pathfork (USA) Elusive Fort Twice Over (GB)

Runrs Runs AEPR 70 55 34 56 63

88 66 48 76 72

11,880 14,311 19,222 10,589 9,149

B.T. Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Rnrs % 11 13 10 9 9

12 13 12 9 9

15.7 23.6 29.4 16.1 14.3

41 23 20 33 24

See all the detailed standings - Click here 89

0 0 0 0 0

B.T. Wins 0 0 0 0 0

Total Stakes (R) 831,575 787,100 653,550 592,975 576,400

PARK HOUSE LEAD THE CHARGE v

It’s the halfway mark in the UK trainer’s championship, and Andrew Balding has increased his lead over his nearest rival Charlie Appleby to nearly £424 000. Successful this month at the Ebor festival with Valley Forge in the Melrose Stakes, his juveniles Hoo Ya Mal and Harrow also won features at the York meeting. The Park House Stables need to keep up this steady flow of winners as reigning champion trainer John Gosden has closed the gap into third place. One of his leading older horses, Mishriff was highly impressive when victorious in the £1million Gr1 Juddmonte International. Mishriff, currently one of the highest earning horses in the world with over £11million in stakes is due back for one of the lucrative races at Ascot on Champions Day in October. Charlie Appleby is aiming his stable star, the Epsom hero Adayar at the Arc, which is run at ParisLongchamp and prize money from that race will not count towards the UK trainers title. Stablemate and dual Derby winner (Ireland and France), Hurricane Lane goes for the Gr1 St Leger at Doncaster in mid-September and will help the Godolphin operation in their bid for title honours.

Aiden O’Brien, with a mere nine winners is fourth on the log with nearly £2.8m in stakes. With the autumn juvenile group races still to be decided together with the large string he will send to Ascot, he’s not out of it. His unbeaten juvenile Point Lonsdale is ante-post favourite for the Gr1 Vertem Futurity Trophy over a mile a Doncaster at the end of the season. Another Ballydoyle star, St Mark’s Basilica is being targeted at the Gr1 Champion Stakes at Ascot after being forced to miss the Juddmonte with a slight injury. A rematch with Mishriff in the Gr1 Champion Stakes is not to be missed and could well decide the UK champion trainer’s title.

is based on flat trainer prizemoney totals that run from January to December.

Current UK Trainers log:

Current UK Jockey’s log:

Andrew Balding 113 wins 613 runs Total Stakes £3,435,771

Oisin Murphy 118 wins 498 rides Strike Rate 24%

Charlie Appleby 70 wins 251 runs Total Stakes £3,012,006

William Buick 100 wins 484 rides Strike Rate 21%

John & Thady Gosden 89 wins 419 runs Total Stakes £2,963,048

Tom Marquand 92 wins 525 rides Strike Rate 18%

Aidan O'Brien 9 wins 95 runs Total Stakes £2,764,729

(as at 30 August 2021)

(as at 30 August 2021) The championship data

Reigning champion jockey Oisin Murphy is 1/8 to regain his title after riding an incredible 40 winners during August and that was up to 30th. With 118 wins to date he looks like smashing last year’s winning total of 142. William Buick has just notched up a century of winners and currently occupies second position. The strike rates of both these top riders is over 21%, well worth following as they battle for the 2021 UK jockey’s title that ends in mid-October at Ascot.

The jockey flat championship runs from the 2000 Guineas until Champions Day in October.

BELGIUM – OUR ROVING BANKER

The first interval to our already fiery domestic season has arrived, the World Cup is almost just twelve months away and while we quietly wait to get excited again at the global spectacle…there are some further qualification fixtures which need attention. Ryan Liberty writes that he has tried to pick out a couple which might grab your attention, but more importantly offer you a little opportunity to replenish the coffers before we get back to our domestic leagues. Enjoy!

Friday 3 September

23/10 Zimbabwe | Draw 16/10 | South Africa 27/20 (15:00) The real talking points here have really revolved around experience. Zimbabwe brings a multiplicity of European club scene experience into this encounter whilst South Africa have opted for a rather fresh squad under new manager, Hugo Broos. Bafana Bafana have tried and failed at the experience approach, and I think a new age and look to our national side might inspire some sort of

revigorated passion and energy for achieving on the international stage. South Africa will head into the fixture with a negative approach and probably look to absorb any attack Zimbabwe launch. A draw usually offers enough value in any encounter, and I think it might be the bet for this one. Saturday 4 June 13/2 Latvia | 31/10 | Norway 4/10 (18:00) Latvia have managed to

muster just one win in their last five games – conceding twelve goals. Those aren’t exactly glamorous statistics considering that their last two World Cup qualifier games have ended 3-3 and 0-2 to Turkey and the Netherlands respectively. Norway, on the other hand, boast three wins from their last five. The Norwegian contingent have certainly got an attacking threat to pressurize Latvia, and Over 2.5 goals should be a banker for the weekend. 1/4 Netherlands | 6/1 | Montenegro 15/1 (20:45) The Netherlands haven’t played together since their performances at the European Championships in June, but I think they’ll pick up where they left off. They have some big-name players around world football and would have been disappointed with their summer performances. Montenegro will always want to make a football game of the affair, but they don’t outclass Holland anywhere on the field and I think the scoreline will reflect that. Take the men in orange to win on the (-1) handicap… and if the handicap offered by Hollywood is (-2) don’t be shy, get stuck in any

way! 4/1 Ukraine | 47/20 | France 13/20 (20:45) The last time these sides met in a qualifier game, a rather lackluster French side was held to a 1-1 draw. This French side is littered with talent and on paper look difficult to overcome, but as we saw in the European Championship, they often make life difficult for themselves. The Ukraine won’t expect too much of the ball, but I think they might be comfortable with this come Saturday. They’ll be looking for that chance and will put everything into taking it. Nevertheless, I think France start a strong side and take the game out of reach early. The firepower they have available in attacking areas is silly, really, and I think they’ll want to make a statement here against a strong side. 26/10 Slovakia | 39/20 | Croatia 1/1 (20:45) This is a difficult game to call, both sides have enough quality to hurt the other but are simultaneously incredibly inconsistent. I wouldn’t be surprised to see any result here, but neither side have managed to keep a clean sheet in their last four outings. Both teams to score might be play, but I would try wait until the very last minute to place the bet.

If I was pushed for a winner though, Croatia lives off of what they became under the guide of their ‘former’ stars…I would suggest that a new guard is needed and they aren’t the same side anymore, so a smart wager might be getting behind Slovakia who showed earlier this year just how fluid and positive they can be. Sunday 5 September Betting available closer to kick-off at www.hollywoodbets.net England vs Andorra (18:00) England will be an incredibly short price, but for any multiple, single bet with the provident fund, double or nothing you might find yourself in, England should be punted all the way to financial glory. England have played Andorra four times since 2006 and never conceded a goal to them – I don’t think anything will change on Sunday afternoon! The robust and yet speedy defensive line of the English is underpinned by modern quality and really supple to watch. Spain vs Georgia (20:45) The rhythmic blend which exists in this Spanish side is truly something to behold.

They have enough experience and quality to add value to their national side on and off the field, and yet also give their youngsters an incredible platform to show the world what they can do. The European Championship is a brilliant example of this, the Spanish had their critics after announcing their side but enjoyed a deep run in Europe’s elite national side tournament. The home win is an obvious choice, but for more value back them to be leading after the first ten minutes. Their direct and speed induced start to games often catch opponents unaware and I think Georgia could very well fall victim to an early Spanish inquisition. Germany vs Armenia (20:45) The last time these sides met, Germany burgled the fixture and ran out 6-1 winners. The quality this German side has in wide areas is scary and

now coupled with a coach who isn’t shy to exploit those areas…this could get close to that previous score line. Hansi Flick has shown in the Bundesliga that whilst he tips his hat to Bavarian tradition, he isn’t afraid to add new variants and strains to his game…I’m really looking forward to seeing his impact and contribution to German national football. Germany will steamroll Armenia and looking at them to score in both halves might be the path to follow. Switzerland vs Italy (20:45) The true European champions come into this game with all the confidence and guile pursuant to a team with just a touch of swagger and a whole lot of class. The Italians have had a perfect record against the Swiss stretching back to 2003 and I can’t see a situation which would change that powerful statistic. Players like Lorenzo Insigne and Alessandro Florenzi will want to dazzle and I wouldn’t

put you off throwing a couple coins at Insigne scoring anytime. Belgium vs Czech Republic (20:45) A rather flat 1-1 draw was all we got last time out in March, but I suspect the story might be different this time around. The Red Devils will be confident about bossing the ball and getting onto the front foot through a delicate combination of skill and brute strength. Their big number 9, Romelu Lukaku, will have his tail up after a positive start to life again in England and you can expect that link up with the likes of Thomas Meunier, Leandro Trossard and Hans Vanaken to pick up where they left off. The Belgian win should be a player in all multiples and can end us off on a high going back into the domestic circuit.