20211201 - Sporting Post Sprint Ver 1.3 Single Pages

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HARD TO BEAT! v

4 Desert Miracle (Gavin Lerena) is led in after the Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes by owner Mary Slack and the Mike de Kock team


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Chase Liebenberg

Cover Image Cape Guineas favourite Desert Miracle wins at Turffontein under Gavin Lerena image courtesy of Chase Liebenberg


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The World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas at Kenilworth on Saturday is the first Gr1 of the Cape Summer Season. While hometown big-hitters Justin Snaith and Candice BassRobinson saddle seven of the twelve runners, it’s a Gauteng powerhouse that looks near unstoppable. Mike de Kock’s Desert Miracle looks something really special and her recent wins at home a Progress Plate blow by nine lengths and then beating the males by almost 5 lengths in the Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes – are recommendations of some note.

David Thiselton writes on www. goldcircle.co.za that the chief danger could be Candice’s Amanzimtoti, who is by Trippi out of the legendary Dynasty filly Beach Beauty. She has inherited the terrific turn of foot of her mother. Last time out in the Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championships over 1400m she rounded the field on the turn from midfield in the running to get a run and so it was no mean feat that she won going away by 2,25 lengths because there is not much straight to work with on the Kenilworth Old Course. Interestingly, she beat Kailene by 9,25 lengths as the latter was the 7,90 length

runner up to Desert Miracle in the Golden Slipper. History has a chance of repeating itself because Beach Beauty herself downed a De Kocktrained filly called Berry Blaze when winning the KRA Fillies Guineas at Greyville just over ten years ago. Amanzimtoti should relish the step up in trip being by Trippi. However, she does have a tough draw of 12 as opposed to the six draw of Desert Miracle. Chansonette has 2,25 lengths to find on Amanzimtoti. She stayed on well in the WCFC and this long-strider has already proved she stays this trip so is interesting from pole position. Chase Liebenberg

6 Candice Bass-Robinson has a strong hand, including longshot Jet In Time


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Maria Querol beat Amanzimtoti by 3,25 lengths in the Listed Irridescence for two-year-olds last June despite giving her 2kg. She should come on from her 4,20 length fourth in the WCFC although she had the run of the race there. Mercury Rising stayed on well from last in the WCFC after being dropped out from a wide draw and she now has a good draw. Marigold Hotel is the third highest rated horse but lost by 1,50 lengths last time to Follow Me in the Fillies Mile and the latter was beaten 2,25 lengths by Desert Miracle in

a juvenile event over 1400m although she was giving Desert Miracle 2kg that day. Desert Miracle has however improved a lot since then. She’s A Rainbow kept going well last time over this trip and before that was just two lengths behind the well regarded Silver Sabre over 1400m. Queen Of Shadows ran well last time for third in the Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m. She is by Vercingetorix out of the Trippi sprinter Quippi so the jury will be out on whether she will stay the trip.

well held by Desert Miracle and Amanzimtoti. Homely Girl also looks held on formlines as does Jet For Time. De Kock loves to win – but he dearly wants the silverware on Saturday. He said recently; “It’s a wonderful story, really, with Mary (Slack) having bred Desert Miracle’s sire, importing Desert Miracle’s dam and breeding her at Wilgerbosdrift.”

Kailene is one of seven runners rated in the 100s but does look

Saturday – Some Green Pointers Only five runners are carded for the WSB Club Prive Gr2 Green Point Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday. While betting turnover is another ball game, it doesn’t take double digit numbers to make a horserace. Remember the 2018 Gr2 Green Point Stakes? The big race stepping stone was the talking race of that memorable day and the four-cornered finish that spanned just a long head and gave Avontuur’s magic miler Legal Eagle a third consecutive victory in this event will live on in our memories for years.

The dual SA Horse Of The Year beat Undercover Agent and Do It Again, with Rainbow Bridge in fourth – beaten for the first time in his illustrious career. Amazingly, the evergreen Rainbow Bridge, a Green Point regular and now a 7yo, is back for the 2021 renewal on Saturday as one of only a quintet that have stood their ground for the R200 000 feature on Saturday. Rainbow Bridge went third behind Vardy in the 2019 Green Point Stakes and was then runner-up to Belgarion in 2020, before going on to turn the tables on the Snaith gelding to win his second 7 Met.

While it is a well established preparatory race for the two bigger Gr1 prizes that still lie ahead, the last Queen’s Plate – Met winner produced by the Gr2 Green Point Stakes was the now pensioned Vardy in 2019, and prior to that the legendary Pocket Power back in 2008! Saturday’s line-up includes last year’s L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Jet Dark. Get all the latest news on www.sportingpost.co.za


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Chase Liebenberg ‘A nostalgic trip down memory lane takes one back to the seventies, a decade in which a heady cocktail of winners included the likes of Kendal Green, Party Time, Rose Bay, Festive Season and Wild Ash, all of which became fine broodmares’

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Missisippi Burning (Craig Zackey) after her 2019 Cape Fillies Guineas victory. Racing Manager Des Gonsalves and trainer Adam Marcus enjoy the moment

A Tradition Of Excellence This weekend, a crack field of sophomore fillies will come to blows in the World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas at Kenilworth. Rich in history, a scroll down the honour roll of this mile classic makes for impressive reading and has been won by some exceptional fillies in the past, many of which have gone on to enjoy success as broodmares. A nostalgic trip down memory lane takes one back to the seventies, a decade in which a heady cocktail of winners included the likes of Kendal Green, Party Time, Rose Bay, Festive Season and Wild Ash, all of which became fine broodmares.

Kendal Green, who claimed the scalp of the future Paddock Stakes winner Ovarownde in 1974, bred the Gr1 winning juvenile This England and also features as the grandam of Michael de Broglio's SA Oaks winner Sabina Park, who in turn produced the dual Summer Cup hero Master Sabina. Party Time not only proved her superiority on the racetrack, she also established her own dynasty for the Cohen's Odessa Stud. Ancestress of a host of fine gallopers, her descendants include such exalted names as champions Trademark, Let's Rock'N Roll, In The Fast Lane and the Gr1 winner Morisco, to name a few. Australian import Rose Bay captured both the Cape and 9

KZN Fillies Guineas and she made her mark at stud as the dam of champion Mark Anthony, one of an elite group of winners of both the Met and the Queen's Plate. How can we forget the wonderful racemare Festive Season. Her Fillies Guineas victory aside, she will probably always be remembered for her gallant neck second behind the mighty Politician in the 1979 Met. The daughter of Persian Wonder became a broodmare of note, her treble of stakes winners featuring her outstanding daughter Festive Forever, the first of two Gold Cup winners trained by Tony Millard. She in turn became


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the dam of Champion juvenile Fearless. The Zandvliet-bred Wild Ash likewise completed the Cape/ Natal Fillies Guineas double. She produced Champion three-year-old and Met winner Wild West and also features as the grandam of another classic winner in Gr1 Cape Derby hero Ultrasound. The eighties winners include In Camera, Flying Snowdrop, Jallad's half-sister Petrava, Kiss Of Peace and the Argentinian grey Fanciful. Kiss Of Peace, who took the classic in 1988, became a

matron of note for Varsfontein Stud, her progeny including the graded stakes winners Kiss Me Quick and Mason Dixon. She is also grandam of Gr1 Cape Guineas winner Kilindini and the Gr1-performed stakes winner Kiss Again. A good number of descendants of 1983 winner In Camera have graced the tracks in recent years. Grandaughter Tatler was the country's Champion female sprinter of 2001, whilst another grandaughter, the Gr1 winner and champion juvenile Consensual produced Just Sensual, who emulated her dam by winning the classic in 2017.

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The Jaffee-owned Petrava achieved similar success when her champion daughter Hoeberg followed in her dam's footsteps in 2000. Imported Fillies Guineas winners Petrava, Flying Snowdrop and Fanciful have gone on to prove worthy additions to the local gene pool. Sparkling Gem emulated her grandam Flying Snowdrop in the 2008 Cape Fillies Guineas, while Argentinian-bred Fanciful produced SA Fillies Classic victress Cover Look, who in turn bred the English Gr2 winning stayer Shipmaster.


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The top-class Festive Season

Fanciful's grandsons Orange Alert and Winter Fever also flew the South African flag in Hong Kong and Britain respectively. The mighty Olympic Duel rang in the nineties with her Cape Guineas success, a forerunner to no less than six subsequent Gr1 wins, amongst which the J&B Met and two renewals of the Paddock Stakes. Equally as successful in the paddocks, she produced Gr1 Daily News 2000 hero Flying Duel, whilst her stakes winning daughter Lightning Duel bred Gr1 Gold Cup winner and Champion stayer Thundering Star. Olympic Duel also features

as the grandam of young Drakenstein stallion, the Gr2 winner Gold Standard. KwaZulu-Natal bred and trained Dance Every Dance, who won the classic in 1995 , did broodmare duty for Lammerskraal Stud and although she died all too early at age 11, her legacy is assured through her stakes-placed daughter Akinfeet. Broodmare of the Year in 2013, she produced the Champion miler and sire Capetown Noir and is also grandam of 2019 Champion Juvenile filly Anything Goes, who had the distinction of defeating Triple Tiara War Of Athena as a juvenile.

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Since the start of the new millennium, Fillies Guineas winners to have made their mark in the paddocks include Shadow Dancing, Perfect Promise, Field Flower and Sport's Chestnut. A Fort Wood half-sister to champion sire Captain Al, 2004 winner Shadow Dancing bred the dual Gr1 winner Thunder Dance, while Perfect Promise became a stakes producer in Australia and also features as the dam of Bush Hill-based stallion Redoute's Promise. Also resident at Bush Hill is the handsome Last Winter, a son of 2009 victress Field Flower. A R3.7 million yearling by Western


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Winter, he capped a six-start local campaign with a flying second in the Gr1 Sun Met and placed at stakes level in the UK before returning to his birth country. Sport's Chestnut, by Sportsworld out of a half-sister to Horse Chestnut, lived up to her fine pedigree by producing the Gr3 winner Off The Mark and Gr1-placed Sports Coach, both by Jet Master. She is also grandam of Gr3-placed Le Clos. It is probably a bit premature to judge the Fillies Guineas winners of the last decade, many of which have virtually just embarked on their careers. Those which are

already represented on the track include the 2013 winner In The Fast Lane. The champion daughter of Jet Master's first two foals, both born in Australia, are the exciting sprint prospects Real Gone Kid and Stiptelik. Snowdance, who landed the 2017 running, produced her first foal, a colt by ill-fated Lancaster Bomber in 2020, while 2018 winner Front And Centre's first foal by Canford Cliffs was born this spring. Sadly, the 2019 winner Missisippi Burning, has joined Just Sensual as the latest Cape Fillies Guineas winner to join the Australian broodmare ranks.

But back to this weekend's renewal. The tradition of excellence continues, as two of the twelve runners are grandaughters of previous winners. Dancetildaylight will attempt to become the second Gr1 winner for Broodmare of the Year Akinfeet, a daughter of 1995 winner Dance Every Dance, while Brett Crawford's She's A Rainbow is out of Thunder Dance, the Gr1 winning daughter of 2004 winner Shadow Dancing.

Hamish Niven Photography

12 Just Sensual (Anton Marcus) wins the 2017 Cape Fillies Guineas


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Chase Liebenberg

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Kevin Sommerville and Candice Bass-Robinson with Beach Beauty's daughter, Amazimtoti (Aldo Domeyer)

A CLASSIC DYNASTY! The presence of the late, great Dynasty looks to be well and truly felt in Saturday’s Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas.

Dynasty is also the sire of champion Beach Beauty, who is the dam of Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship winner, and Guineas contender, Amanzimtoti.

Dynasty is the sire of favourite Desert Miracle, and is also broodmare sire of two more runners, while his son Jackson is responsible for a Cape Fillies Guineas starter in the form of Kailene.

The final field for the prestigious classic was declared on Monday. Another Dynasty daughter, Maria Theresa, is responsible for Cape Fillies Guineas hope Maria Querol, with the

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latter having finished fourth to Amanzimtoti in the Fillies Championship. Desert Miracle, already a dual graded stakes winner, is the sole stakes winner thus far to have emerged from her deceased sire’s current crop of three-year-olds, although this crop does include a number of well-bred and progressive looking sorts who could well pick up black type later in their careers.


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Should Desert Miracle win on Saturday she will become Dynasty’s 17th G1 winner. He has already surpassed his sire, who left behind 15 winners at the highest level. The late champion is yet to leave a crop behind which has failed to produce a stakes winner, with Dynasty’s most prolific crop, born in 2013, unleashing 11 black type winners, headed by the Gr1 winners Just Sensual and Lady Of The House.

Dynasty, whose sire Fort Wood ranks as the broodmare sire of Fillies Guineas hope Dancetildaylight (Gimmethegreenlight) and the damsire of fellow Guineas contender She’s A Rainbow (Silvano), is no stranger to having success in the Cape Fillies Guineas. The former Horse Of The Year has already been responsible for a pair of Cape Fillies Guineas winners in the form of Just Sensual (2016) and

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Front And Centre (2018). Dynasty’s record in various Fillies Guineas is not restricted to the Cape, with daughters Alexis, Beach Beauty and Bela-Bela all victorious in the Gr2 KRA Fillies Guineas of their year and another daughter, Smiling Blue Eyes, the winner of the 2016 Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas.


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First Cape Fillies Guineas winner - the top notch Cilaneum

IT STARTED BACK IN ’69! One of the greats of the modern era, Terrance Millard saddled nine Cape Fillies Guineas winners, including the very first running of the race, the 1969 Benson & Hedges Cape Fillies Guineas – with a filly called Cilaneum. Great progress was made in the Cape at the time by the shift of sponsorship by the

United Tobacco Company from a handicap to a new classic, the richest one confined to fillies in the country. Despite the attractive stake, no visiting fillies arrived for the first running and it was left to the cream of the Cape crop to decide who would be the first name on the Roll of Honour. Cilaneum was sent out favourite to reverse the Sceptre

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Stakes decision over New Edition, with Eastern Dish the next most favoured. Late in the race, New Edition drew clear, with Cilaneum putting in a strong finish under Bert Abercrombie to head the Prince Tor filly near the line and win by half a length. Eastern Dish was some four lengths off third and Sarotti fourth.


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Then came Francaise fifth, Act of Grace sixth, and By Night seventh. Parasol and Madeira were trailed off. Cilaneum was a chestnut filly bred by the Birch Bros. Mr Millard recalled in a chat with the Sporting Post. “It was exciting to win the first running of the race and even nicer that I had her on lease. She was a typical Birch filly – sound as iron and beautiful to train. And she took a lot of racing. I was doing okay at the time, but to have a filly like her that could earn regularly was wonderful. She won me a lot of races, I was very lucky to have her. She had a very short burst and then she’d stop, so she had to be held up and only asked at the very last minute. She was perfect for Bert to ride and he got it exactly right and they won the first Fillies Guineas. Two weeks later was the Paddock Stakes which was going to be very difficult for her as she was more of a sprint/miler.

career that spanned 4 seasons for a career total of 38 starts for 11 wins. Cilaneum made her track debut as a juvenile. With Herbie Lasker in the saddle, she faced the starter over 1000m at Kenilworth on 2 December 1967. She finished down the field on that occasion, but the outing brought her on considerably and with Bert Abercrombie in the saddle on her second outing, she beat Theo de Klerk-trained Daddy’s Girl home by a short head over 1000m at Milnerton on 23 December 1967. Cilaneum won the Listed WP Nursery at Milnerton in January, dead heated for 2nd in the Listed Nursery Trial Stakes over 1000m at Milnerton in February 1968 and then took on the colts in the 1968 Gr2 Cape Nursery, finishing 4th

behind Goldwater. She joined Millard’s KZN raiding string, beating a field of males in her first outing at Greyville – the African Breeders’ Plate over 1200m on 1 June 1968 with David Payne in the irons. Johnny McCreedy partnered her to a desperately close 3rd placed finish in the 29 June Gr1 Breeders’ Champion Fillies’ Stakes at Scottsville, where a neck, short head and a neck separated the first three past the post. Cilaneum also took her chances in Greyville’s Champion Nursery Stakes and the Natal Free Handicap to close out her juvenile season. Cilaneum kickstarted her 3yo term with a win in the 14 December B Division Koeberg Handicap over 1000m at Milnerton, doing just enough under Herbie

Because of the weights I got Duncan Alexander to ride – he was a lightweight that rode the same as Bert. He rode a wonderful race and put her head on the post at precisely the right time.” She proved a phenomenal filly, regularly taking on – and beating – the males in a

The late Terrance Millard was unmatched at his peak

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Lasker to win by a neck. She was half a length second to Jackie Bell-trained New Edition in the 28 December Gr3 Sceptre Stakes and then lined up for the inaugural running of the Benson & Hedges Cape Fillies Guineas. Cilaneum had a busy 4yo season, which included 17 starts for 3 wins including the Listed Hector Shaw Cup

at Milnerton and 7 places, including a third in the 1969 Gr1 Paddock Stakes, a 5th place behind S’Now Fun in the 1969 Gr1 Metropolitan, 2nd in theGr3 Somerset Plate. She only had 2 starts as a 5yo, finishing 3rd in the Rietvlei Handicap at Milnerton over 1200m on 1 August 1970 and then finishing her career in the 5 September 1970 Flying Handicap at Turffontein on 5

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September 1970, beating a field of males to win by 2.5 lengths. Cilaneum produced 5 foals, of which 5 were runners and three were winners. The best was her 1971 Hospitality colt named Ocean Blue who won 12 races, including the Gr3 Keith Hepburn Stakes.


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A FLYING TOAST TO THE NEW DAWN 22

Winning smile – Jockey Calvin Habib enjoyed a big win


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In 1999 Phumelela reintroduced the historic Summer Cup to the racing calendar in its traditional format. On Tuesday the beleaguered racing operator vacated the South African racing landscape forever on the proverbial Flying Carpet as they hosted their final renewal of the big race, now known as the World Sports Betting presents the Gr1 Gauteng Summer Cup.

now all we wanted to see was the big meeting delayed from Saturday go ahead. And despite Weiho Marwing’s apply named Thunder Shower rocking the boat by winning the opener on the improvised Tuesday slot, Mother Nature generously played ball and Randjesfontein trainer Sean Tarry produced the goods for the fifth time in the Highveld showpiece.

Great expectations and talk of a new dawn for the game will have the new incumbent 4Racing under the cosh from the jump on Wednesday.

After Puerto Manzano had carted them along for much of the journey following his prominent jump from his wide gate, there was plenty of jostling for position all the way around.

But that’s politics and commercial realities. For

In the final 300m, it was anybody’s race with former

Capetonian Majestic Mozart looking to script a fairytale under Diego de Gouveia as he cruised up almost nonchalantly. But the joker was still in the pack, and inside the final 200m Calvin Habib unleashed the 25-1 Flying Carpet off the middle inside with a devastating late run. The son of Judpot made up the ground effortlessly and went on to score the upset by a quarter length in a time of 124,84 secs. As we noted, Ashley Fortune’s 6yo Majestic Mozart (16-1) looked a winner late in the race and what a pleasure it is when a plan nearly comes together. He JC Photos

a 23 Calvin Habib (yellow cap) gets the best out of Flying Carpet as Majestic Mozart and Diego de Gouveia threaten to spoil the party


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should yet win his fair share in Gauteng. Barend Botes and Yolande Vosloo’s 7yo Golden Pheasant (40-1) ran a cracker 1,25 length back in third, with Tyrone Zackey’s soldier Johnny Hero (100-1) shading SA Triple Tiara queen and favourite War Of Athena out of fourth, to crown the record quartet dividend. 38 lengths separated top to tail and there will be many hard-luck stories, with the delay and the weather in the build-up hardly being ideal. But that’s the rub of the racing green – life goes on. Winning rider Calvin Habib was registering his second Gr1 strike of his career and has made a miracle recovery in just four months since

fracturing his back. “I put my faith in God. And Mr Tarry has put his faith in me since my injury. Thanks to Mark Tarry who gave me the insight. Thanks to the owners and to the team,”he added. Sean Tarry expressed his gratitude to his team and particularly his well-informed brother Mark. History shows that the former SA Champion trainer won the Summer Cup in 2017,2018 and 2019 – and now in 2021, all with lightweights! An astute buy for R100 000 at the 2019 BSA Ready To Run Sale, Flying Carpet is by former Varsfontein A.P. Indy stallion Judpot, who is now based at the Birch Bros Vogel Vlei Stud.

Kabool mare, Zahir Shah. Flying Carpet has won 3 races with 6 places from 16 starts for stakes of R1 477 550. Talk was that with the compressed handicap, we had to look no further than the top six. But a record quartet dividend of R4 299 615, with a nominal carryover, will attest to the fact that not everything went according to plan for the form gurus on the day. What a race. Let’s drink a toast to the new dawn.

He was bred by Riethuiskraal Stud from the twice-winning

Another Cliffhanger! Ridgemont Highlands stallion Canford Cliffs continues to churn out winners all over the world, and the son of Tagula enjoyed more success at Sha Tin on Sunday. His gelded son Silver Express powered home to lift Sunday’s R6.5m Chevalier Cup (1600m) for trainer John Size and jockey Vagner Borges. Borges produced his mount

at the right time, with Silver Express staying on gamely to lift the Chevalier Cup by a length and a quarter. Bred in Australia, five-year-old Silver Express who is out of the Elvstroem mare Rechichi, was winning for a second time, from seven starts, in Hong Kong. Winner of five Gr1 races in a row, and a group winner at Royal Ascot three years running, Canford Cliffs is

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set to be represented by members of his first South African crop shortly. With winners in 30 individual countries, including 100% winners to runners in South Africa via his imported runners, his locally bred two-year-old son Cliff Top and daughter Crionna have both been entered for a maiden juvenile plate on 10 December.


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26 Smanga Khumalo steers Safe Passage to a smart victory


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SAFE PASSAGE DOMINATES DINGAANS v

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Following his success in the 2017 renewal with champion Hawwaam, Mike de Kock took the Gr2 Dingaans silverware back to his mantelpiece again on Tuesday afternoon when the very progressive Silvano gelding Safe Passage capitalised on the prevailing conditions to register a maiden stakes success. While the victory was downplayed to some degree by the multiple champion trainer, who said he felt it was not a vintage renewal of the Dingaans, the Silvano gelding could have done little more than have stamped his authority in the manner which he did to register a fourth straight success. Smanga Khumalo steers Safe Passage to a smart victory (Pic – JC Photos)

“I think the sticky conditions brought stamina into play and he enjoyed that. I must admit, Smanga (Khumalo) was more confident than I was,”he added. The race developed into what looked like a possible surprise outcome for punters when Bernard Fayd’herbe bounced the 33-1 shot Red Saxon to lead at the 300m. The recent maiden- winning son of speed star Red Ray was going hell for leather inside the distance. But Khumalo, who celebrated his 36th birthday 24 hours earlier, had matters under control. Safe Passage (5-1) moved up effortlessly and went on by to win going away by 1,50 lengths in a time of 99,85 secs. Stablemate to the winner, Aragosta (8-1) only got going late but secured third a further length away.

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The favourite Pyromaniac (21) was always near the rear. He made up some ground late but may not have enjoyed the underfoot conditions and finished a disappointing 9,50 lengths back. Owned and bred by Drakenstein, Safe Passage is out of the four-time winner and Gr2 The Debutante heroine My Sanctuary (Antonius Pius). A R500 000 National Yearling Sale buy, Safe Passage has won 4 races with 1 place from 6 starts. His stakes bank is R368 562. Maybe we will see him down in the Cape for the Derby.


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Diego de Gouveia salutes as Bold Fortune charges home

SOLD ON BOLD!

Treble Gr1 winning jockey Diego de Gouveia has formed a winning partnership with the Flower Alley filly Bold Fortune and the duo made it three wins from their last three starts together with an impressive finish to win the R250 000 World Sports Betting Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge at Turffontein on Tuesday. Hollywoodbets-sponsored trainer Stuart Pettigrew summed the victory up quite simply, by saying ‘ít was a

bloody good win – she had to give weight to some good 3yo’s.’

Bold Fortune (Diego de Gouveia) gets the measure of Perfect Witness (Warren Kennedy) and Rain In Holland (Grant van Niekerk) in a cracking finish (Pic – JC Photos) While it looked a confident ride visually, a relieved Diego de Gouveia admitted that he was a bit further back than he had anticipated, after the astute

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Warren Kennedy looked to have pulled a rabbit out of the hat on the front-running Perfect Witness. “But she won well and I’m thrilled to get a Gr2 on the board for the owners, Willem Ackerman, Anton Marx and Mark Campbell, as well as Mr Pettigrew and his team,”added the jockey who has done well since returning from a stint in Mauritius. Flying up the outside under a balanced ride, Bold


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Fortune (6-1) followed her Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap success as she stayed on to beat the gallant front-runner Perfect Witness (7-2) by aa quarter length in a time of 100,38 secs. Rain In Holland (2-1) was

never going smoothly, and plodded on to run third a further half length back. Bred by Narrow Creek Stud, the winner is by former Gr1 Travers Stakes winner Flower Alley (Distorted Humor) out of the three-time winning

Rich Man’s Gold mare Plata Parana. An R80 000 buy from the 2019 Ready To Run Sale, Bold Fortune has won 5 races with 4 places from 12 starts for stakes of R439 875.

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a 33 Hollywoodbets trainer Stuart Pettigrew – ‘you need the horses to train the winners’


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Alesian Chief powers home under Jarryd Penny

CORRIE’S GOT A GOOD ONE! Vaal trainer Corrie Lensley continued his dream season when the Ambiance Stud-bred 3yo Alesian Chief went beyond the 1000m marker for the first time to win the R200 000 World Sports Betting Gr3

Merchants at the weatherdelayed Turffontein meeting on Tuesday. Deserted by regular pilot Muzi Yeni in favour of the bigger fish Battle Force, Alesian Chief came out with all jets firing 35

and after cutting throats briefly with the Spies flyer Singforafa, showed that his recent Listed Golden Loom Sprint success was no flash in the pan.


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Alesian Chief (6-1) stayed on powerfully under his galloping 52kgs to beat Bartholdi (7-1) by 0,75 lengths in a time of 66,89 secs for the 1160m. KZN visitor Cartel Captain (25-1) had no luck but stayed on well for third a further quarter length back, with Ikigai (16-1) in fourth. Ridden to perfection by journeyman jockey Jarryd Penny, who only booted home his first Gr3 in the 2016 Tommy Hotspur on Viking Hero for Grant Maroun, Alesian Chief is clearly progressive and his trainer’s aspirations of the Gr1 Computaform Sprint may not be far-fetched.

“I woke up in a sweat. There were six Gr1 winners in the field. And I know he got weight – but he is a 3yo – he should. He showed today how good he is. And thanks to Jarryd Penny. He came to ride him and said he has never sat on a horse that loves running this much!”added the enthusiastic Corrie Lensley, who has beaten the odds between Flamingo Park and Milnerton to bounce back to the top rank. Part -owner Peet Boonzaaier said he had almost suffered a heart attack and unashamedly labelled Alesian Chief the ‘best sprinter in South Africa’.

races with 3 places from 8 starts for stakes of R356 250. He is a son of Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the five-time winning Var mare, All In The Mind.

The Sporting Post Sprint is interactive. Click on the live links throughout and enjoy the read!

SUGGESTIONS? Please email editor@sportingpost.co.za

Bred by Ambiance Stud, Alesian Chief has now won 4

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a 36 Chiefs! Petrus Boonzaaier, Emmie Lensley, Corrie Lensley, Peet Boonzaaier & Herman Beukes enjoy the moment


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Grant van Niekerk gets Sound Of Warning home after a bumping match with Big Burn (Warren Kennedy)

SOUNDS LIKE A MELODY! The World Sports Betting Summer Cup day was always scripted for drama. And the weather-delayed feature programme started with a rumble as Cape jockey Grant van Niekerk survived an objection from runner-up Warren Kennedy, to maintain the top position in the World Sports Betting Gr3 Magnolia Handicap. An exuberantly talented rider on any raceday, Grant van Niekerk has had his share of run-ins and bumps over the years. With his mount Sound Of Warning and Kennedy’s

Big Burn coming together in the final stages, it was hardly surprising to see why the former SA champion thought he had scope for an objection. The Stipes didn’t spend too much time overruling the matter though, and Van Niekerk duly kept the race with Sean Tarry commencing his assault on what was to turn out a great day at the office. Sound Of Warning started at 7-1 and got the verdict by a quarter length in a time of 67,18 secs. Big Burn (2-1) made it a 3yo exacta, with the winner’s

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stablemate Zimbaba (331) shading another Tarry resident in Full Velocity out of third. Bred and raced by the rampant Drakenstein Stud, Sound Of Warning is a daughter of the farm’s champion sire Trippi (End Sweep) out of the terrific five-time winner Siren’s Call (Elusive Fort), who also raced out of the Tarry yard for owner Peter de Beyer. A winner of 3 races with 2 places from 5 starts, Sound Of Warning has earned R335 125.


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An elated Gavin Lerena gets Marchingontogether to go all the way

MARCH TO GLORY

After a dull run of form in KZN, the past Track & Ball Derby winner Marchingontogether appears to have found a new lease on life with the wily St John Gray at Randjesfontein.

The 6yo son of Pathfork made it two wins from his last four starts in Gauteng when he stayed on best off a modest gallop to win the R150 000 Listed Racing Association Stayers to bring the curtain down on the weather-impacted WSB Summer Cup day feature programme at Turffontein on Tuesday.

Trying the 3200m for the first time, and with concerns he wouldn’t have the legs to go all the way, Gavin Lerena rode a cracker of a well-judged race.

Bred by Jagessar Limited, Marchingontogether has now won 7 races with 11 places from 37 starts for earnings of R942 275.

Coming forward about 350m out, Marchingontogether (4-1) always had the measure of the handily weighted Barak (8-1) down his outside and went on to beat the De Kock charge by 0,75 lengths in a time of 214,67 secs.

He is by the supremely versatile Sandown Studbased Irish Champion Pathfork (Distorted Humor) out of the Varsfontein imported Montjeu mare, Souen.

The tote favourite Super Handsome (4-1) never threatened to finish a further 1,75 lengths back in third. Jockey Warren Kennedy was dislodged from Smoking Hot at the pull-up.

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The Pick 6 pool fell short of the projected R12 million – eventually reaching just over R11,1 million. The exotic dividend paid a healthy R641 927.


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Hamish Niven Photography v

Mike de Kock’s last Cape Fillies Guineas winner was Majmu (Anthony Delpech) back in 2014

MDK Won’t Need A Miracle! Mike de Kock will fancy his prospects of saddling his fourth Cape Fillies Guineas winner, and his first SAbred to win the race, at Kenilworth on Saturday.

The New Zealand-bred Rumya was next when she won the race in 2012 under Anthony Delpech.

The master conditioner saddles the exciting Dynasty filly, Desert Miracle, recent winner of the Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes. The daughter of Dynasty has won 4 of her 6 starts.

The multiple champion trainer’s last Cape Fillies Guineas winner – a 3 to 10 shot - dates back to 2014, when Sheikh Hamdan's champion Majmu outclassed her rivals to win the Avontuur Estate-sponsored classic. She was again piloted by Delpech.

De Kock’s first Cape Fillies Guineas winner came in December 2003, when Kevin Shea rode the Argentinianbred Emerald Beauty to victory.

In landing the race, the Australian-bred daughter of Redoute's Choice took her record to five wins from six outings and stamped herself as the best 3-year-old filly in 41

training in South Africa at the time. The South Africa's champion 2-year-old filly the previous season, Majmu was bred by Arrowfield Stud from Chilean classic winner Spontaneous, by Hussonet. An A$300 000 buy from Arrowfield's consignment at the 2013 Inglis Easter yearling sale, Majmu traced in female line directly to Geisha, the dam of champion and influential sire Native Dancer.

- Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden

n Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies -

Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies

Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golde


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BIEBER’S CLASSIC BIRTHDAY

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Justin Snaith, whom colleague Mike de Kock affectionately labels ‘Bieber’, took over the family business from his Dad in 2000 with 22 horses, and bids for his second consecutive Cape Fillies Guineas victory, and his seventh overall, when he saddles a quartet of runners in the Cape fairer sex classic at Kenilworth on Saturday. And it’s a victory he’d relish as the man baptised Seamus Justin Snaith – a name taken by Dad Chris from a Louis L’Amour novel and one Jono just couldn’t pronounce - celebrates his birthday on Friday. When the Sporting Post asked for the big age number, we were told 32. That’s about as believable as Phumelela making a comeback in 2022. In an interview some years ago with the Sporting Post, Justin – or Seamus – told us that a certain prominent trainer, who he suggests looks very similar to the artist Meatloaf. has been known to call him ‘Bieber’. When asked to name his favourite food, Justin/ Bieber answered, Mike de Kock. Sounds like Saturday’s Gr1 is going to be as competitive as ever. Oh, and happy birthday Justin!

PENSION PARTY The favourite Contrail, a son of Deep Impact, signed off his racing career in the perfect fashion by landing the 41st renewal of the JPY 648 million (over USD 6 million) Japan Cup for Yoshito Yahagi and Yuichi Fukunaga on Sunday. Sent off an odds-on favourite, the Japanese superstar powered home to reel-in Authority inside the final furlong and win, going away, by two lengths. He now heads off for his stallion duties having been champion two and three-year-old in Japan as well as completing the Triple crown. Japan fared best of the two Aidan O’Brien runners, staying on into eight, about six lengths adrift of the winner. Broome was never a factor in 11th. While his racing career is done, much is expected from Contrail in the years to come as he heads to stud at Shadai Stallion Station. He followed his sire in winning the Triple Crown while undefeated and now has joined him in winning the Japan Cup. The next step would be to extend 43dominance over the nation's racing. the influence of the Sunday Silence /Deep Impact


CHAMPION

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Kiwi horseman Mark Walker claimed his fourth Singapore Champion Trainer’s title on Saturday night with a Class 4 victory by King Arthur extending his seasonal tally to 66 wins, eight clear of second-placed Michael Clements, who sent out a late double. Heading into Singapore racing’s December month break, Walker can reflect on an outstanding record in Singapore where, according to racingnews.co.nz, he has been champion trainer in 2015, 2017 (a record 87 wins), and 2019, while also finishing runner-up three times, third, and fourth. Walker ventured to Singapore in 2010, where he has made every post a winner for Te Akau Racing after joining the operation straight from school. The talented trainer won the New Zealand Trainers’ Premiership on five occasions before extending that success to Singapore. The former Matamata trainer was the youngest New Zealand premiership winner with his first trainer’s title coming in 2003/04 when only 31, subsequently eclipsed by Te Akau Racing’s current mentor Jamie Richards when winning aged 30 in 2019/20.

When trainer Alan Greeff awoke to a gale-force tailwind bearing down the Fairview straight on Friday he had his reservations about his talented sprinter Regimental being able to pick up his feet when it counted in the R90 000 Glendore Sprint. But the local champion needn’t have worried – Regimental, running in blinkers first time, showed an almost arrogant turn of foot deep into the home run to make up lengths on the pacesetter in the 1000m non black-type feature. With Ridgemont Highlands rider Greg Cheyne confidently biding his time, Regimental stormed up the outside inside the final 200m and went on really smartly at evens to win under a relatively soft ride in a nice time of 56.11 secs. The winner was bred by Klawervlei Stud and is a son of the champion farm’s deceased star sire Captain Al (Al Mufti) out of the Lawyer Ron mare Crazy About Me, who won six races in the USA. Originally purchased for R1,7 million off the 2018 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, Regimental has established himself as a leading sprinter in the Eastern Cape and took his stats to 7 wins with 6 places from 21 starts. Six of his victories were achieved since he arrived in the Eastern Cape, where the polytrack is clearly his preferred racing platform, with 4 victories on the all-weather He has earned R310 187 and, while he is unlikely to ever recover his original purchase price, that’s all academic as his second phase owners are having fun. 44


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NOMS – NOTE DEADLINE

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CEO Vee Moodley has advised that in terms Clause 14.3.3 of the constitution of The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa, Owners are required to appoint one person to serve on the Nominations Committee of The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa. Should you, as an Owner wish to nominate a candidate, kindly complete the Nomination Form (see the NHA website) and return it to The National Horseracing Authority as directed. The form must reach the NHA by 16h00 on 3 December.

MET TIME! Time sure flies! First entries for the 2022 Gr1 Cape Town Met, to be run at Kenilworth on Saturday 29 January, were received this morning. The Sporting Post notes that the race carries a stake of R2 million and believes that no sponsor has been contracted at this point. Given the uncertainty in our lives at the moment, that is probably not surprising. First supplementary entries for the 2000m contest close at 11h00 on Monday 20 December. Final supplementary entries close at 11h00 on Monday 10 January, when weights will be published. Declarations are due by 11h00 on Wednesday 19 January. Barrier Draws will be done electronically by the NRB on the same day.

SHADWELL – NO TO CITY There are reports doing the rounds that the owners of Premier League champions Manchester City have had discussions with the Shadwell Estate Company about purchasing part of the racing and breeding enterprise. It is believed that City owner, Sheikh Mansour, the UAE's deputy prime minister and one of the Middle East's most powerful businessmen, made preliminary enquiries following the death of owner and founder Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum in March this year. It was subsequently announced that Shadwell was to undertake ‘a full review of all its activities that will result in important changes for the business’. However, the discussions fell at the first hurdle, according to Chris Kennard, the UK director of Shadwell Estate Company Ltd. He confirmed: "That is not happening. There was some interest and some discussions, but nothing came to fruition. There was a discussion but it did not lead anywhere. As is evidenced by our earlier announcement, we are undergoing a reorganisation and nothing is set in stone at the current time." The racing and breeding enterprise was established by 46 Sheikh Hamdan in the 1980’s, with the famous blue and white silks carried by some greats of the turf.


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CHRISTMAS IN QATAR 48

Clare Sapire – happy to have a stable job


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While she is one of our best qualified horsewoman, top jobs in South African racing and breeding are scarce and one has to go where one has to go to put bread on the table. Chatting to the recently divorced 38 year old Clare Sapire, one realises that all the passion, love for the horse and experience in the world don’t necessarily equate to a snazzy job. Clare and her 7 year old son Chaime, whom she labels the ‘love of my life’, are based in Qatar, where she manages the Al Samriya Riding School for Sheik Faisal Al Qassim al Thani. “They say when you looking you never find, and when you find they all want you. This is partly true. I received an offer in July to come to Qatar and accepted. Once I received and accepted the offer, a lot more jobs were being posted in SA, but nothing that could really sustain a two-person house, and was more suited to single people - so I had to take the plunge and return back to the Middle East.”

its nothing new to me, having been overseas for so many years - and with my past Middle East experience.” Clare was born in the South of Joburg and attended Glenvista High. “I never really had nicknames - Glen Kotzen had one for me - I blush to say what it was, and my Dad always called me Toffee,” she laughs as tells that she started riding early in her life. “Thanks to my Grandmother, I would take riding lessons after school during the week. I remember the kids at school teasing me, because as it was I wasn't popular and now I had all my riding gear at school with me, which gave them a full opportunity to be nasty. I loved being a rider but

She says that her family were elated and many of her racing friends were extremely supportive. “While we will have to be creative at Christmas, living here has being fairly easy as

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was never in the position to be a competitor due to limited finances. But what my parents could do for me I really appreciated.” While Clare didn't study further after leaving high school, she holds many equine certificates, which she is extremely proud of. “I am a registered IQEC International equine teaching passport holder. I am a qualified Dressage Judge with the UAE, federation judging up to Advanced medium.I hold a BHS ( British Horse Society) qualification,” she adds modestly. While horses was never a career choice for her growing up, when she met her now ex- husband, who is a farrier, the choice of horses as a


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career really kind of took the lead. “My first Job in racing was as an Assistant to Tony Rivalland. He really developed my skills and made me a horse woman and no longer simply a horse lover. And he gave me the opportunities to really see what the equine industry is all about and how horses should be handled in the racing industry.” Clare’s second job in racing came via Michael Miller. “Mike and Rae, were the most amazing people to

work for. I had the opportunity to work with stunning horses who were sold on to Herman Brown for Dubai racing. The early mornings at Mike were an absolute killer, but never did I once not appreciate all I was learning from it.” But love summoned and Clare left the Millers following her husband around the world for his career. “I was a showjumping instructor in Kuwait, at Al Messilah Equestrian. I helped out at Basil Marcus for a short while in Singapore until the Singapore Turf Club saw it as a conflict of interest. I took on the

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role of Equestrian Manager in Johor Malaysia and then came the big move to Dubai!” she adds. Clare arrived in Dubai in November 2011, to work at the Dubai Polo and Equestrian Club. But she always looked at getting back into the racing scene. “A dressage rider in the UAE at the time, who worked in the international racing department at Meydan and needed an assistant, offered me a job. I happily accepted the seasonal role at Dubai Racing Club. It was the most intense and busiest I think I


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have ever been, but allowed me to keep my administrative side of horses in good form,” she says proudly. She explains that they accepted entries for the Dubai World Cup Carnival, arranged flights for horses, flights for jockeys and family, accommodation for the Grooms and the related logistics. “We also organised the Dubai World Cup pre-party for Trainers, Owners and Jockeys, worked at the racemeetings too. It was a broad scope! I learnt a lot and it always helps me today.”

Clare eventually took up a permanent post with Meydan at Emirates Equestrian Centre, as senior riding instructor/head of dressage. “This position was truly an experience and would take another whole story. But I was made redundant in February 2020 and made it back to South Africa three days before the first lockdown. Being home with family was so nice as I am the only child and we are a close family. But we also planned, as most had expected, for Covid to be a quick thing.” She explains that she had an assistant job waiting for her in Macau. 52

“Unfortunately this did not go ahead as planned and Covid forced us all to spend a year and more with our families. Not a bad thing for some, but unfortunately 2020 was not a year for me,” she adds ruefully. “I also went through my divorce and needed to start looking for work in SA to try and support myself. I spent days sending out messages and emails to trainers offering my time three days a week, to those who would let me work in the yard and be around, to stay in touch with horses. Some trainers replied and had nothing they could offer me, but then a little message


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appeared in my inbox and Ashley Fortune said she would happily let me come around and be a part of the team until I went overseas.” Clare says Ashley and Andrew were so welcoming and allowed her to see the ins and outs of the yard and made her feel a part of their successful team. As the pandemic persisted Clare needed to find a permanent role though. And our local industry was

struggling so there was just nothing available. “I sat day in and day out and sent my cv to every job post that I found back in the Middle East and Asia. I needed to make a move that would be good for me and my son. I found it. I am happy here and thrilled to be working, have school and able to move on with life. I hope in the future to take up bigger and better roles in the country - but for now life’s good. Please say hello to everybody at home in SA.”

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PACE! The Sporting Post Sprint offers winning advertising options email advertising@winningmedia.co.za


JAMIE BREAKS THE ICE! v

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November finished on a terrific winning note for both of Hollywoodbets’ sponsored jockeys in the UK. While Daniel Muscutt rode a superb treble at Lingfield on Saturday 20 November, it was jumps jock Jamie Moore who broke the ice for the popular purple brand at the same venue just days later – and then followed that up with an extraordinary Gr2 success at Newbury last Friday. The 36 year old Jamie Moore hails from a family steeped in horseracing. He is the brother of Champion Jockey Ryan Moore, National Hunt jockey Joshua Moore, amateur jockey Hayley Moore and the son of successful trainer Gary Moore. Jamie joined the Hollywoodbets family only weeks ago, to become the leading SA-based Sportsbook’s first ever sponsored jumps jockey. And things have started with momentum! Jamie tells that he is thrilled to have made such an early and auspicious start for his new sponsors – registering his first winner at Lingfield on Thursday last week, and then following up in grand style with a Gr2 trophy just 24 hours later. Riding the 10/11 favourite Movethechains for his Dad

in the 4700m 12h45 Handicap Chase at Lingfield on Thursday, Jamie showed his experience with another finely judged ride. Plotting a patient path early, a clearly fit Movethechains made steady headway and went clear of his field 600m out to register his third win on the trot - with an aggregate winning distance of 48 lengths over the three! Twenty four hours later, he was back in the number 1 box! While, depending on your allegiances, Jamie’s mount Nassalam was variously regarded as something of a fortunate winner after the 2020 Betfair Hurdle winner Pic D'Orhy and Millers Bank fail to complete the Gr2 Ladbrokes Committed To Safer Gambling Novices' Chase at Newbury. But the number was in the frame! Tea Clipper was the only other finisher, beaten 30 lengths back in second in a race where the Judge and his staff could have taken their annual vacation. Jamie’s Dad Gary trains the four-year-old Nassalam, who was in receipt of weight from all his rivals. He had made a winning chasing debut at Ascot but he really looked up against it in the home straight in the Gr2 contest. Harry Cobden's mount Pic D’Orhy appeared to have the race won as he turned into the straight. But it’s racing and counting chickens is not

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advisable! There were three fences still to jump, and Cobden took a crashing fall. That left Millers Bank in front and scenting a big cheque. He appeared to be going better than Nassalam only to hit the top of the second last hard, sending Harry Bannister flying over his head. Nassalam and Jamie Moore were then left to pick up the pieces and came home 30 lengths clear of Tea Clipper, who was ultimately very disappointing. "We had luck on our side for a change, as the ground was too quick for him," said trainer Gary Moore. "Whether we would have got the same result, I'm not sure, but I'm glad we've won. It is all about jumping and that is the one thing he does very well, but we won't be running him again on quick ground. It is not quick ground, don't get me wrong, but he is a slowground horse. "We will have to be patient, like everyone else. It is not going to be easy to place him, now that he has won a Gr2, but his handicap mark shouldn't change. "He has a lot of time on his side - he is only a baby, he's only four. "I said to Jamie, take your time, as I wasn't sure he


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would get two and a half (miles) in a true-run race. I didn't want him to be in in any hurry, but I think he has enough pace in soft ground for two miles. I think he is a very talented horse and his greatest asset is his jumping. The other thing was he was

getting a lot of weight. "I would love to go somewhere like the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase, but he is a better horse going left-handed. So, I would say he may go to Cheltenham at the end of the month for the Dipper."

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The French-bred Nassalam is raced by owner John Stone and is a gelded chestnut son of Dream Well out of the German-bred Shirocco mare, Ramina.


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A TOP CLASS QUINTET v

The Sporting Post is proud to partner with BUSH to bring you the cream of this season’s foal crop – our future stars. Outstanding prizes will be offered every month to readers, who are asked to select the foal of the month. See our latest competition in these pages.

We have an exceptional quintet to showcase this week, including a filly out of a sister to Live Life and Cold As Ice from Pippa Mickleburgh at magnificent Avontuur. We also have a handsome One World colt out of Mar Del Sur. The mare is by What A Winter, out of the stakes performed Dynasty mare, Pacific Dynasty. Standing at Drakenstein, the

dam is a half-sister to the stakes performed Frank Lloyd Wright. Hemel ‘N Aarde are showcasing three of their top quality Horizon colts. Located in Hermanus, these colts have the phenomenal class of their sire and exhibit the best qualities to be found in the Future Stars of racing.

Drakenstein Stud (c) One World ex Mar Del Sur – born 28 September

Avontuur Estate (c) Rafeef ex It’s My Life – born 21 September

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Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud (c) Horizon ex Miracle Play – born 27 August

Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud (c) Horizon ex Sizedoescount – born 7 September

Baby Trivia The world’s most expensive showjumping foal sold for a world record €160,000 in a ‘night to remember’ at the Zangersheide Quality Auction in September this year. The top lot of the sale, which ran alongside the World Breeding Championships for young horses, was colt Especial For Fun (Eldorado Van De Zeshoek x For Pleasure), who sold to a German buyer. The foal is out of Portuguese rider Luciana Diniz’s Rio Olympic 17-year-old ride Fit For Fun, whom she co-owns with Ralf Jünger.

Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud (c) Horizon ex Big Sugar – born 9 August

While Especial For Fun Z was an embryo transfer foal, Fit for Fun is expected to become a dam herself next year, with the foal sired once again by Eldorado Van De Zeshoek. Mr Jünger is hoping for a filly this time! 59


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PICK YOUR NOVEMBER STAR - WIN A FESTIVE HAMPER! 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. In October our winner was Francois van Ghent of Centurion, who selected the Winterbach Stud-bred daughter of Danon Platina out of Polar Jet. This week we are asking our readers to select their choice

from this thirteen-strong stunning class of November 2021. All you have to do is select your foal of choice by means of a comment on this post on our website. Please quote the number and tell us very briefly why you decided on your pick. Votes close on Tuesday 7 December at midday. The winner of the BUSH WELLNESS HAMPER will be

announced in the Sprint on Wednesday 8 December. Note: Breeders – please send us your foal pics to editor@sportingpost.co.za. Please include the date of birth/sex/breeding/any relevant family information. Scroll down to view the foals and provide us with a comment on www. sportingpost.co.za quoting your winning number and any supporting thoughts!

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Spring Valley (C) Willow Magic ex Magical Trip

Summerhill Equestrian (f) Act Of War ex Noodle

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Dreamers Stud (f) Moofeed ex Music World

Ay-Jay Farm (f) Pomodoro ex Cornelia 5

Evergreen Farm (f) The United States ex Sea Bean

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Golden Touch f() Lancaster Bomber ex Valentine’s Girl


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Sandown Stud (c) Soqrat ex Varachino

Heuningsfontein Stud (c) Horizon ex Vision To Kill 9

Fort Stud (c) New Predator ex Biker Babe

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Avontuur (f) Oratorio ex Miss Ipanema


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Heuningfontein Stud (c) Skitt Skizzle ex Celebration

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The Fort Stud (c) Danon Platina ex Wild Encounter 13

The Fort Stud (c) Danon Platina ex Rosey’s 63 Song


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Don't forget you can purchase your own using discount code "SPORTINGPOST"

Thank you! Thank you to those winners who have sent through photos 64

of their prizes. We'd love to see more!


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PILL POPPING & OTHER FUN!

Have you ever been prescribed something by your doctor and scrutinized the contents of the medication? What are all those long words that we can’t pronounce, and why do we need to put them into our bodies? Why is the list of side effects longer than the list of benefits?

There’s a classic Catch-22 of “I need to take these pills to reverse the side effects of that one.” No one is exempt from being caught up in this cycle either, because let’s face it - Chronic medication or not - you’ll lean on your go-to for when a headache, a hangover, a sore foot, throat or stubborn knee injury arises.

The crazy answer to this is that not many people ask or even blink an eye when we’re told to shove a handful of pills in our mouth. Yet, we are quick to question a plant that grows from the Earth and has been used for centuries in ancient healing. We’re realising that this success process takes many baby steps.

A basic, innocent Panado has listed side-effects ranging from dizziness to vomiting, abdominal pain, and - ironically enough - headaches. (Really Google it). I’m not trying to be the deliverer of bad news, but it’s likely that your medication makes things worse. The actual effects of what is going on in your body doesn’t cure the pain - all it does is block the channels within your body so that your brain is no longer registering it as pain. However, it is still there. So where does it go? This isn’t a quick-fix, it’s just shifting it’s form into something else. It’s like your therapist says - “Don’t bottle up your anger, otherwise one day you will just explode.”

South Africa has a fairly unique health situation, with TB and AIDS as prominent as it is. (Yes, do you remember that those still exist, taking more lives than even COVID…?) South Africa currently has about 4 million patients on chronic health medication programmes. This is 4 million people taking medication on a daily basis, unconscious of the knock-on effects their medication is having on the rest of their body.

Similar concept, except here, we’re working with your body’s natural algorithms. So why am I telling you this? Not because I’m a doctor or a scientist - nowhere close,

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but I do know a thing or 2 about our bodies and the way our systems are meant to work. They’re meant to work in homeostasis. And this is exactly what the endocannabinoid system contributes to. I’ve spoken about it before, and I’ll keep speaking about it. Every mammal, even your horse, has this system in their bodies. This system acts as a natural receptor to CBD. It is also responsible for assisting in the regulation of sleep, moods, digestion, your central nervous system as well as your immunity. Certain substances enable this system and certain substances disable it. When you consume CBD, it “unlocks” these receptors and sends the CBD to areas in your body where it is needed most. This is dependent on exactly what CBD you’re using, and what is being targeted. (Sleep, inflammation, anxiety etc). We aren’t medical experts, but we also aren’t in the CBD Industry for the fun of it. It is tough being questioned every step of the way, especially when clinical trials and years of pharmaceutical trials on your white tablets and blue


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pills are against you. But we have faith, and through our R&D, we’re happy with the results we’ve achieved so far. It’s education, it’s giving away loads of free stuff, and it’s putting yourself out there, no matter how intimidating it is. Look at Pineapple Express, for example - from placing almost stone last in her first race, she came second in her race last weekend! It just takes time, patience and honouring the journey. We have more races on the 5th and 6th - Watch this space for competition info!

As far as our Bush Wellness Range goes, as new as she is, we’re excited for her success so far. The Future Stars winners will know all about it - With the November winner being announced next week, you could also be in on this action. We’d love to get some photos of you with your prizes if you have won! Connect with me at shannon@dachacorp. com or even cooler - tag us on Instagram @bush_cbd_ wellness - You know what’s even cooler than that? We also now have Bush branded Hemp

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Shoes. Yes - I’ve spoken about the many uses of Hemp before, and now it’s here. For Christmas, we can provide you (male, female, LGBQTI, whatever) with a pair of sustainably sourced, hemp high top shoes, branded with Bush - and we’ll also throw in a free CBD Infused Lip Balm with each order. Because we’ve got you - from head to toe, you can be changing the world - one sustainable hemp step at a time.


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Receive a free Bush CBD Infused Lip Balm with your order!

GET YOUR KICKS! Bush branded unisex hemp high-top sneakers 67

Order via orders@dachacorp.com


Fairyhouse Racecourse

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Fairyhouse was pure action entertainment

STARS OF THE STICKS Honeysuckle and Epatante, winners of the last two runnings of the Champion Hurdle, won on their seasonal returns over the weekend. The two multiple Gr1 winning mares are likely to meet next year at the Cheltenham Festival.

last to share victory in the Gr1 Fighting Fifth. What a contrast on Sunday at Fairyhouse, with racegoers treated to a glorious sunny afternoon, where Honeysuckle demolished a competitive field by a yawning eight lengths in the Gr1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle.

On Saturday evening at a cold Newcastle race course with the snow falling, Epatante battled back after being headed jumping the

Basking in the cool November air, trainer Henry de Bromhead, whose superstar Honeysuckle had just completed her ninth consecutive Gr1 victory, was 68

understandably delighted to have a horse as good as the unbeaten Champion Hurdle winner. Honeysuckle, one of the most durable performers in recent years, had punters applauding her and Rachael Blackmore all the way back into the winner’s enclosure. Her trainer tried to put the performance into words. “Rachael was brilliant on


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her and they're just a lethal combination,” De Bromhead said.

point and now has a National Hunt record that reads 13 from 13.

He added: “She gave me a little fright in this race last year, so we did a little bit more with her this year fitness-wise. When you have only so many runs in a season, they need to be pretty straight for them.”

The race itself was no dawdle and it was clear from the outset that Honeysuckle was not going to be handed anything easy as the Willie Mullins trained Stormy Ireland set off at a good pace.

“She's an incredible mare and to be associated with her is amazing. The reception she got from everyone here is unbelievable.” Honeysuckle won a point-to-

Expressing his views after the race, the trainer said: “They were racing from a long way out and Stormy Ireland went a right gallop. We know what she did at Punchestown, so you wouldn't want her getting away from the field.”

He added: “Rachael was wise to that. But then Stormy Ireland stopped quite quickly, and I was wondering if we had gone too fast. I was looking for the dangers in behind us. But in fairness, the thing I must do is remember how good Rachael is and not worry as much. I need to try to do that.” He added: “Touch wood she'll be okay in the morning and we'll go to the Irish Champion Hurdle. That has worked for us before. We can back off her now for a few weeks and prep her for that race.”

Newcastle Racecourse

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The Fighting Fifth race meeting at Newcastle was close to being abandoned due to Storm Arwen and track conditions were dire.

whole way round. At the back of the last I just wasn't finishing as strong as I wanted to be, but she's got a result out of it so I'm very happy."

Snow and sleet were falling in running but still three of the field of eight jumped the last hurdle virtually as one.

Jonathan Burke, jockey of Not So Sleepy, said of the photo finish: "I really didn't know. I was hoping more than anything, so we'll take the dead heat.

Nicky Henderson's Epatante, Hughie Morrison's Not So Sleepy and Alan King's Sceau Royal were in a three-way battle after the last flight with Epatante and Not So Sleepy forging ahead on the run to the line. After two miles and in a dramatic finish, the judge was unable to split the pair. Epatante's rider Aidan Coleman said: "She felt great and jumped brilliantly the

"As the ground worsened that probably helped my horse's chances. We went back to riding him aggressively as he likes being in the thick of it. When each horse came either side of him, he really stuck his head out. "He's really quirky but that's why we like him."

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HKJC

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Loves Only You - Yoshito Yahagi’s superb three-time G1 winning mare who boasts top-level scores in the United States, Japan and Hong Kong

COUNTDOWN TO 12 DECEMBER Loves Only You is among a stellar line-up of 49 horses selected for the HK$100 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) at Sha Tin on Sunday, 12 December. Fresh off Breeders’ Cup success in the United States of America, Yoshito Yahagi’s mare is just one of 22 Group 1 winners set to compete. Returning to Hong Kong in a bid for a second Gr1 success in the city, the daughter of Deep Impact is looking to cap

a superb year and she is just one of the exciting contingent of overseas raiders aiming at this year’s “Turf World Championships”. Loves Only You spearheads a strong cohort from Japan, which includes first and second out of the G1 Sprinters Stakes (1200m) at Nakayama Racecourse last month, Pixie Knight and Resistencia, respectively, with both plotting raids on the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint. Danon Smash returns to defend his crown in the dash, while Glory Vase

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will attempt to recapture his LONGINES Hong Kong Vase title from Mogul - last year’s victor - who also returns from Ireland to represent Aidan O’Brien. Joining Loves Only You in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup is Lei Papale, winner of the Gr1 Osaka Hai rearlier this year who is looking to remain unbeaten over 10-furlongs. Bolshoi Ballet - O’Brien’s American Gr1 winner - plots a course for the Hong Kong Cup, as does Mac Swiney for


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Jim Bolger and Dubai Honour for William Haggas. Both Mac Swiney - a two-time G1 winner - and Dubai Honour placed behind Sealiway in the British Champion Stakes with the latter getting within a length. Featuring prominently once more, Aidan O’Brien will return to Hong Kong in strength with 2020 Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) winner Mogul while stablemates Broome, Japan,

Bolshoi Ballet and Mother Earth also feature. While the COVID-19 pandemic has created uncertainty around many international racing events, the strength of the international presence in this year’s line-up confirms that the Sha Tin showpiece retains its pre-eminent position at the top of the agenda for international horsemen. The LONGINES HKIR is the sport’s global year-end

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spectacular and features the HK$30 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m), the HK$26 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m), the HK$24 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and the HK$20 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m). The Cup, Mile and Sprint are the world’s richest Gr1 races on turf over their respective distances.


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Tattersalls

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Lot 965: Dubawi (IRE) x Madonna Dell’Orto (GB)

RECORDSETTER!

Buoyant trade on the third day of the Tattersalls December Foal Sale was crowned by the sale of a Dubawi colt for 1,800,000 guineas, the equal second highest priced foal ever sold in Europe and the highest priced foal sold in Europe since 2002. The DUBAWI colt out of

MADONNA DELL’ORTO became the equal second highest priced foal ever sold in Europe when selling for 1,800,000 guineas to Anthony Stroud on behalf of Godolphin.

Stroud, who was bidding to the podium from outside the sale ring, was taken to the sevenfigure sum by Coolmore Stud’s MV Magnier who was stood in

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the bidders’ area in the sale ring.

Genesis Green Stud’s Michael Swinburn was leaning on the rail just below the Coolmore team during the protracted bidding duel and was visibly emotional when the hammer finally came down. After shaking hands with the underbidder


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and the successful purchaser he explained just why the sale had such personal ties to Genesis Green and the Swinburn family; “I just wish Walter was here to see this, he owned the mare and had her in training. I Can Fly was the last one he knew and he was absolutely over the moon. “She is a mare that I always thought would suit Dubawi, the shape of her. When I Can Fly came up I approached Liam O’Rourke at Darley and asked what was the chances of a foal share to Dubawi, and he said he would be delighted to have her. She is just a pure vessel of a mare, anything she has produced has been a good version of the stallion. She hasn’t had any foal the

same as the other one – she just throws to the stallion and throws a good version of him.” He added: “It is so hard to get one that is nice, to get it through x-rays, through scopes. I just hope he comes up lucky for Sheikh Mohammed. I have loved the stallion since his early days, I am happy for everyone at the farm, the lads are so loyal and it is a big effort.” Swinburn recounted the rocky start to the investment into the family; “I bought the granddam Sabria at a September Sale here years ago with Oliver St Lawrence, I went home and went into the kitchen and Mum and Dad must have got wind of it that I had bought a mare – it caused an outcry! Walter bailed

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me out at 25,000 guineas and we have had the family ever since, it has been fantastic for us – it has probably built Genesis Green.” SABRIA is the dam of Gr1 Poule d’Essai des Poulains winner LANDSEER and the great granddam of Japanese Gr1 winner MICKI ROCKET. Her daughter MADONNA DELL’ORTO is the dam of Gr2 Solonaway Stakes winner and multiple Gr1 placed I CAN FLY and the Listed winner and Group placed VISCOUNT BARFIELD.


EUROPE’S P R E M I E R BREEDING STOCK SALE v

featuring major consignments from

Godolphin, Juddmonte Farms and Shadwell Estates

TAT T E R SA L L S DEC E M BE R SA L E 2021 YEARLINGS: November 22nd FOALS: November 24th-27th BROODMARES, FILLIES IN TRAINING, etc: November 29th-December 2nd

Jeremy Nelson T: +2783 2617953 jeremy.nelson@tattersalls.com www.tattersalls.com 77


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results up to: 2021-11-30

TRAINERS Name Mr P A Peter Mr S J Snaith Mr G D Smith Mr M F de Kock Mr A C Greeff

Runs

Wins Win%

330 462 418 144 324

63 70 47 37 47

19.1 15.2 11.2 25.7 14.5

2nd

3rd

55 60 48 27 32

39 65 43 13 38

2nd

3rd

91 58 65 56 41

75 58 54 45 43

Other Places Place %

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

46.7 46.5 41.4 44.4 39.2

3,492,688 3,251,525 1,953,125 2,088,375 1,934,375

5,073,063 4,681,700 2,803,625 2,794,375 2,417,313

Other Places Place %

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

111 90 97 55 70

5,302,563 3,995,325 3,144,313 2,724,050 2,011,925

7,770,563 5,799,588 5,115,788 4,021,050 3,296,213

60 90 82 24 57

154 215 173 64 127

JOCKEYS Name Mr W B Kennedy Mr S Khumalo Mr M A Yeni Mr R D Fourie Mr C Zackey

Rides Wins Win% 585 465 488 307 374

102 82 63 61 45

17.4 17.6 12.9 19.9 12.0

277 206 216 156 154

47.4 44.3 44.3 50.8 41.2

BREEDERS B.T. B.T. Total Runrs Runs AEPR Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Wins Stakes (R) Rnrs %

Name

Wilgerbosdri� & Mauritzfontein Klawervlei Stud Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd

216 266

610 763

32,494 21,954

73 63

95 75

33.8 260 23.7 296

6 2

6 2

7,018,688 5,839,850

117 107 107

311 306 347

29,765 29,598 25,220

36 36 25

52 45 31

30.8 126 33.6 133 23.4 119

3 1 1

3 1 1

3,482,463 3,167,013 2,698,563

B.T. Wins

Total Stakes (R)

4 3 1 0 2

3,987,313 3,782,413 3,553,300 3,364,150 3,231,288

SIRES Name

Runrs Runs AEPR

Vercingetorix * Silvano (GER) Master Of My Fate Querari (GER) Flower Alley (USA)

116 127 136 131 93

302 338 405 399 260

34,373 29,783 26,127 25,681 34,745

B.T. Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Rnrs % 44 45 35 41 37

55 52 42 47 48

37.9 35.4 25.7 31.3 39.8

127 143 199 158 97

See all the detailed standings - Click here 79

4 3 1 0 2


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SEEING RED? YOU SHOULD BE! 81


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A new era beckons for Manchester United, but their first encounter with their new interim manager is a heavyweight clash against an old rival. Every eye in world football will be on Old Trafford on Thursday evening when Arsenal come around for a visit. This should be a spectacle, both sides will think they can win the game, and neither will be insecure. For the hosts, it’s another audition. For the visitors, it’s the sort of game where winning puts your confidence in another stratosphere. It’s Mikel Arteta against (possibly – pending a work visa) Ralph Rangnick. Fred the Red against Gunnersaurus. Manchester United against Arsenal! Manchester United vs Arsenal | Thursday 2 December | Old Trafford | 22h15 To Win (90 mins) Manchester United 1/1 Draw 26/10 Arsenal 51/20 Manchester United Manchester United did well to hold Chelsea to a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge last time out, but it should still be noted that Chelsea absolutely bossed the game for the entire 90

minutes. Nevertheless, for a team placed 10th in the league to travel to the home of the Premier League champions-elect and get a point is surely positive? Now before you feel that urge to log into twitter and rain down on me in a storm of ‘told you so’ and ‘it’s too early to say Chelsea is winning’ – these are just simply facts! Ryan Libert writes that Ralph Rangnick has now signed with United and will likely be in the dugout for the fixture. Of course, the German master coming into England and, in particular, United, is an incredible acquisition. There has never been a doubt that the squad is riddled with quality and complemented with experience and youth. Where many questions have prevailed this season, were largely concerned with the dugout.

Have a go in the Champions League (because you have nothing to lose), prioritise the FA Cup as an opportunity to win a piece of silverware and possibly look to ensure you maintain a top four finish in the league? Or is this too safe for a club like this? Either way, in terms of the league and those coveted top four places, this is a massive game then. Arsenal That win over Newcastle at the weekend was an exceptional display of clinical and positive football. I’m still not convinced Arsenal have shored up their defence, but there is enough solidity to provide something of a base for their attacking players to get going.

Both these sides have incredible quality in their attacking spaces – there’s The Red Devils are likely the no doubt about that. But in only side in Europe who look order to bring those players as though they are constantly into areas to be effective you chasing the ball once their are going to have to transition attempted press breaks down. To be fair, United looked to press correctly and defend. Chelsea for the first 10 minutes Arsenal have come out of of their game – but again it nowhere. After a torrid start failed. They just don’t look like to their season, the Gunners a side who have been trained have turned things around or coached to press the ball trading a relegation scrap into in numbers with the adequate a Champions League place aggression and tactical knowchallenger. how. I’m very interested in what the club makes of the remainder of this season, do you right it off?

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Mikel Arteta will continue to learn and develop as a manager, but nobody can


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question that the young coach has the complete buy-in of his side. He hasn’t always gotten it right, but I think he can be something special over time, in fact it’s a breath of fresh air really – the fact that even when their whispers of his sacking early on, he’s been given the time he deserves. Arsenal have lost just once in their last 12 games in all competition – and that was at an in-form Liverpool side. I thought they were competitive in that game until Arteta invited the Anfield crowd to turn up the heat. Yes, he defended his side and I think he stood up for himself and

his players…but experience might have suggested Liverpool at home relish those environments. So why create it for them? Prediction: Arsenal Win/Draw & BTTS (Yes) @ 33/20 Traditionally Arsenal come unstuck against the league’s big boys. And playing at Old Trafford will be a tricky game, there’s no question. My only concern here is I think punters might start to get ahead of themselves in how they view United now. The new manager will have an impact, and players will

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want to impress him in these moments for sure. But I just don’t think United is the smart bet here. Arsenal have a clear understanding of their strongest side, they are high on confidence and Old Trafford isn’t exactly the fortress it once was. As I’m sure you know, I wouldn’t mind be wrong here, but I think Arsenal on the win/ draw double chance and both teams scoring is the bet. And at 33/20 it’s certainly justified in the market.


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