1
2
3
A CHANCE TO MAKE A SERIOUS PROPHET! 4 Medallion Corne Spies’ unbeaten Prophet – big runner in Gold
Candiese Lenferna
5
Battle Force – the Golden Horse defending champion has more to do this time The Paul Matchett-trained Battle Force, victorious in the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint in 2021, heads a full field of 16 as he bids to defend his crown at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday, June 4.
weight and finds himself at the top of the handicap this time round, where there is only 4kg separating top from bottom to conform to international Gr1 conditions.
forms the last leg of the Gr1 jackpot along with the Allan Robertson and Gold Medallion and the SA Fillies Sprint.
This year's race will be a tight contest.
It will be a tough task as last year he carried bottom
The Golden Horse has attracted the country's top sprinters and
National representation is a feature of the popular raceday, which incorporates a Jackpot of four Gr1 1200m contests.
6
Candiese East CapeLenferna kingpins Alan Greeff and Gavin Smith, who have both enjoyed past success on this historic speed day, will make the long trek up from Gqeberha to the KZN Capital City for one of the SA Champions Seasons best racedays. Included in the minor centre candidates for Gr1 glory are Canford Cliffs star 2yo Cliff Top and Global View’s fifteen time winner, Global Drummer.
and recent WSB Fillies Guineas winner Under Your Spell add to the diverse spread of classy runners. With field sizes restricted to 16 down the straight, there was some decision making for the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint, where 8 had to be axed, after 26 were declared. A R500 000 Jackpot 1 carryover will boost the pool for to R2 million on what is always a cracker of a raceday for all stakeholders.
Cape Champion Captain’s Ransom is an interesting runner in the SA Fillies Sprint, while Highveld champion 2yo Karangetang
Keep Up With The
PACE! The Sporting Post Sprint offers winning advertising options email advertising@winningmedia.co.za
7
Candiese Lenferna
Hithemhardsunshine takes his next step up the ladder on Sunday
FEATURE FUN The local weekend programme incorporates three other feature races, commencing with the Listed Lady’s Slipper Stakes at Fairview on Friday. On Sunday Kenilworth will host a feature double, incorporating the Listed
Somerset 1200 and the Listed Perfect Promise Sprint. Eric Sands’ unbeaten What A Winter gelding Hithemhardsunshine looked to be a Gr1 Gold Medallion contender and the fact that he stays at home to contest the Somerset 1200 makes for an interesting contest
8
that includes two Candice Bass-Robinson eyecatching debut winners in Charles Dickens and Michael Faraday. Follow all the feature news on www.sportingpost.co.za
9
TIME FLIES – A HISTORY OF SPEED Top class! Tracys Element wins the 1995 Gr1 SA10Fillies Sprint
11
The jackpot of four Gr1 1200m speed contests on the Golden Horse Sprint raceday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in Pietermaritzburg celebrates its 61st year on Saturday. All four races have a long and illustrious history. The Golden Horse Sprint, which started life as the Gilbey Stakes back in 1962, is the oldest of the four
races. It was the first sponsored race in KZN and was run for the princely sum of R7 000. Gilbeys commissioned a special floating trophy of an elaborately tooled golden spur, featuring a valuable diamond. The SA Racehorse issue in February 1963 reported that Epsom Downs had nothing on Scottsville on ‘Gilbey Day’. There were pipers in full dress marching and counter-marching in front of the stands, and after a fanfare of trumpets the runners were
32 years ago! Wainui wins the 1990 Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint
12
led on to the course by a beautifully turned out grey, ridden by a gentleman in hunting pink. The inaugural running of the Gilbeys was won by Mr Chris Saunders’ Zealous after a rare tussle with Blithe in the final stages, prevailing by a head. Zealous was bred by the Birch Bros, trained by Fred Rickaby and ridden by Duncan Alexander. However, the report goes on to say that “the hero of
the race was Inverthorn (9st 3lb) who was only beaten about a length and a half, trying to give the winner two stone.” The Gold Medallion started life in 1963 as the Smirnoff Plate, when it was won by Mr C.T. Tehini’s Ptolemy, trained by L Coetzee and ridden to victory by Bennie Little. Interestingly, Ptolemy proved quite a versatile horse, winning both the SA and Cape Derbys as a 3yo and finishing a close third in the 1964 Rothmans July.
The Allan Robertson, originally named The Breeders’ Champion Fillies Stakes, was first run in 1964 when it was won by Raymond & Graeme Ellis’ Fantastic, trained by Joe Joseph and piloted across the line to win by a neck by Charlie Barends. The stake was a generous R5k and the SA Racehorse reports that “Certain prominent breeders kindly donated free services to their stallions to be selected by the owner of the winning filly.” The SA Fillies Sprint is the youngest of the quartet. First run as the Scott Bros Fillies Stakes, it was inaugurated in 1971 and won
13
by owner/trainer JV Goss’s Swan Song, ridden by Brian Passmore. On Saturday, four more Gr1 winners will get to write their names into the fastest history book in SA horseracing. Enjoy!
14
QIPCO British Champions Series
Unbeaten Desert Crown - exciting prospect
The True Blue Riband Of The Turf Often referred to as the ‘Blue Riband’ of the turf, the Cazoo Derby is run at Epsom Downs over an undulating 2400m on Saturday. This year's event takes on extra poignancy, after the death of legendary nine-time Derby-winning jockey, Lester Piggott on Sunday. It is open to three-year-old colts and fillies, though as with the 2000 Guineas, fillies very rarely run. They
have the Cazoo Oaks over the same course and distance reserved for them the previous day of the meeting.
Dante Stakes at York, Sir Michael Stoute's Desert Crown was propelled to the top of the Derby market.
It is the biggest Flat betting race of the year and carries a total prize fund of £1.5 million, with the winner taking home £850,650, but it is not just the prestige this title holds, it also means that the owners will likely fetch a pretty penny when they send the victor to stud.
The son of Nathaniel showed a decisive turn of foot to put the Dante to bed and moved above the Aidan O'Brien-trained Stone Age, who impressed when taking the Leopardstown Derby Trial by five and a half lengths.
After a devastating display in the
Another Irish challenger
15
comes from O'Brien's son Donnacha who trains Piz Badile, winner of the Ballysax Stakes. Charlie Appleby has already completed the 2,000 Guineas treble [English, Irish and French] and after Adayar won here last year, the Godolphin trainer is bidding for back-toback Derbys with his trio Nahanni, Walk Of Stars and Nations Pride. The Derby was first run in 1780, a year after the inaugural Oaks. The 12th Earl of Derby and Sir Charles Bunbury, the Senior Steward of the Jockey Club, are said to have tossed a
coin to decide who the race should be named after, although Bunbury probably deferred to his host. Workforce produced a blistering finish as well as a record winning time to take the 2010 Cazoo Derby, sealing a Classic double for jockey Ryan Moore, who had won The Cazoo Oaks 24 hours earlier. Workforce, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, stormed past 100-1 shot At First Sight to win by seven lengths. The race was watched by a crowd of more than 100,000. The widest winning margin was recorded by the ill-fated Shergar during his 10-length triumph in 1981. The Derby is often referred to as the ultimate challenge.
16
The Cazoo Derby Festival is run over Friday (Ladies Day) and Saturday. Watch all the action on GallopTV. Read more on page 66
DRAMA AT THE DERBY The Derby of 1962 was among the most dramatic ever run. Seven of the 26 runners fell or were brought down on the run to Tattenham Corner. This included the favourite Hethersett, the Lingfield Derby Trial winner Pindaric and the Guineas second Romulus. Sadly, one of the fallers, King Canute, broke a leg and had to be put down. Six of the seven jockeys ended up in hospital. The sole exception was Bobby Elliott, the rider of Pindaric. Years later, when asked what
he remembered of the incident and the moments leading up to it, Elliott provided a step-by-step analysis. “There were 26 runners that year, which is a big field for Epsom. If you looked through the form there were only about five who’d get the mile and a half. They were nearly all milers and they went off at mile pace. The staying horses such as mine were all running at the back. There were all these fast horses in front of us, and the ones who were going to get the trip couldn’t stay up with them. “They were at the top of the hill, about six furlongs out and just starting to run down, when they
17
all concertinaed and there was nowhere to go. I’d just started to run as the leaders were coming back. I was going to go right round on the outside and try to drop in before Tattenham Corner, but I thought I’d wait and see what Harry Carr was going to do on Hethersett. Then, the next second, a horse clipped the heels of the one in front and went down. Harry went down, I’ve gone over the top of him, and three horses have fallen behind me. And that was it; all over, simple as that. “The funny thing is that, in that instant when I saw Harry
go down, I thought, ‘well, there’s the favourite gone, I might win now’. I don’t know how I thought I was going to get out of it but that’s what went through my mind. It was a terrible fall, I rolled and rolled, but maybe it was because I felt so relaxed when it happened that I walked away without a scratch. All the other jockeys were taken to hospital.” The incident occurred at a point of the course where
there were no photographers. The TV coverage of the 1962 Derby also missed it; hence Elliott’s recollection of the incident remains the most authentic and reliable testimony. The eventual winner, 22-1 chance Larkspur, narrowly avoided disaster. He was alongside Hethersett when the favourite went down. Larkspur went on to score by two lengths, giving trainer Vincent O’Brien his first Derby winner. O’Brien thereby joined the select group who have trained winners of both the Derby
18
and the Grand National. Larkspur had been bought by O’Brien as a yearling for 12,200 guineas for American owner Raymond Guest. He was the first son of a Derby winner (his sire was Never Say Die) to win the Derby since Mahmoud (by Blenheim) in 1936.
19
PULLER RECALLS PIGGOTT 20
Cover Image National log-leaders Paul Peter & Warren Kennedy. Captured on Daily News 2000 day last Saturday by Equus-Award winning photographer, Candiese Lenferna
21 A younger Garth Puller and Lester Piggott at Milnerton over 30 years ago
A legendary horseman and a man remembered for being something of a cut-throat competitor, Lester Piggott passed away at the age of 86 in Switzerland on Sunday. Summerveld trainer Garth Puller remembered ‘The Long Fellow’ as one of the greatest riders and judges of pace he has ever ridden against. Statues of Piggott adorn nine racecourses in England and only a week prior to his
passing, another was unveiled at Ireland's premier racetrack, The Curragh. Piggott’s influence on racing was such that he spawned a new ‘shorter’ race-riding style with pulled-up stirrup leathers which changed the art of jockeyship. “It’s sad. The world really has lost one of its greatest jockeys. He was a good man and an enigma at the same time. He suffered from a cleft palate and had a hearing problem. But he was the kind of guy who turned those disabilities and negatives into winning opportunities in life and on the
track,” Garth Puller told the Sporting Post on Monday. A trainer these days, Garth recalled the days that Lester Piggott would spend a few days in the Cape with him prior to riding in exhibition races in Kenya. “I would take a few of the late Trudi Houreau’s horses to Kenilworth and Lester would work them to get fit and ready. I recall him falling just after the winning post in one of our first gallops. Woodworth
22 Lester Piggott – an enigmatic and brilliantly talented horseman
A greying Lester Piggott I felt so bad – but thankfully he stood up and dusted himself off. He was old school – no cry baby, believe me!”
racing fans, Lester Piggott always labelled his ride to win a lowkey mile race at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on The Maltster as a career highlight.
Garth tells that he rode alongside Piggott in the Jockey Internationals and the Bull Brand.
It happened in November 1975, when Piggott was on one of his annual visits to South Africa to visit his cousin Fred Rickaby, a top KZN trainer at the time, and to ride in an international jockey festival.
“He just had a magic touch. I recall one day in Rhodesia, I was on Lester’s inside and we were the last two going into the turn. He turned to me and said, ‘let’s go’. I hate running wide, as you know, but he went around the field and, I thought, let’s go and follow him and see how this turns out. We ran 1-2!” laughs Garth. Ironically for South African
Mike Moon writes in The Citizen that the great man had landed a ride on a bad-tempered 3yo called The Maltster, trained by Basil Cooper. For all his skill and strength, Piggott was not able to get The Maltster to jump on terms with his rivals at the start on the Scottsville back stretch. Eventually the horse condescended to leave the starting stalls and start galloping, some 20 lengths in 23
arrears. It was a hopeless situation – for anyone but Piggott. The Maltster might have thought he was a tough guy, but he’d met his match in the man they called The Long Fellow – taller than most jockeys at 5 foot 8 inches. The horse got a wake-up call and realised he’d better pull finger. A packed crowd at Hollywoodbets Scottsville watched in disbelief as the black, gold and white silks caught up, knifed through the field and won going away. The racegoers stood as one and applauded till the old grandstand roof rattled. For a young man in that crowd,
it was an unforgettable moment and sealed my infatuation with horse racing, recalls Mike Moon. In a book written by Sam Magee called My Greatest Race, Piggott nominated his win on The Malster as his greatest ever ride – that despite picking up a fine for swearing at the Starter. And now it’s all over. On Sunday Piggott’s son-inlaw, Derby-winning trainer William Haggas, said: “Sadly we can confirm that Lester died peacefully near Geneva in Switzerland this morning.” Frankie Dettori, the only jockey since Piggott to share similar fame, was quick to pay tribute. He told Racing TV: “Lester was very special and was one of my heroes. I was one of the lucky ones [to have ridden alongside him]. I was in that [Breeders’ Cup] race when he won on Royal Academy [in 1990] and I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. A month out of retirement and he did what he did – it proved what a legend he was.I kind of got close to him personally, because obviously we were both good friends with [trainer] Barney [Curley], and Lester was a good friend to me. He will never be forgotten.” Piggott earned the nickname ‘The Long Fellow’ because of his relative
tallness among jockeys at 5ft 8in, but became popularly known as ‘the housewives favourite’ during a period when he won nine Derbys at a times when the Epsom Classic was one of the most famous races in the world. His father Keith, a former champion jumps jockey turned trainer, provided his son with his first public ride in 1948 at the age of 12. The boy, whose shy exterior resulting from partial deafness and a speech impediment masked a ruthless streak and a fiercely competitive will to win, was successful on The Chase at Haydock, laying the foundations for a glittering career in the saddle. Piggott won his first Derby at 18 on Never Say Die and was champion jockey 11 times between 1960 and 1982. Despite his height there was no more natural rider in the saddle during a golden age for the sport which included rivals Pat Eddery and Willie Carson. The 11-time British champion jockey rode 16 Irish classic winners at the track largely due to his partnership with trainer Vincent O'Brien.The three-time Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winning jockey, rode over 4000 winners Willie Carson said on Sunday that he felt like a part of him had died with the most iconic racing figure of the 20th century. “I feel as though I have lost part of my life in way, as Lester has been part of my life ever since I came into racing,” said an emotional Carson. “I came to his in-laws as an 24
apprentice and he was part of my life right from the word go, until the end. He was an iconic figure in the horse racing world. He is a legend. We had the luck of some ding-dongs on the track and he was a person who made us all better – because we had to be better to beat him. We had to up our game to compete with him, because he was so magical on top of a horse.” Controversy never strayed far from Piggott during and after his career on the Turf and he was banned from the track ‘until further notice’ for what the stewards labelled his ‘dangerous riding’ on Never Say Die at Royal Ascot, a few weeks after his Epsom victory. He returned six months later and in 1955 replaced the retired Sir Gordon Richards, his only rival for the outstanding jockey of the 20th century, in the top riding job in British racing as jockey to Noel Murless. Piggott’s association with Murless and his subsequent ones with Vincent O’Brien and Henry Cecil were the basis of his domination of the upper echelons of the sport, which included completing in 1970 the Triple Crown of 2000 Guineas, Derby and St Leger on Nijinsky, an achievement that has still
not been equalled. His association with the Ballydoyle stable of O’Brien during the most successful years of the 1960’s and 70’s became a key part of his glittering career and the current incumbent Aidan O’Brien, no relation of his predecessor, said: “Lester was a very special man and his knowledge was second to none. He didn’t say a lot but every word you hung on to. He had so much natural ability to assess a horse. We are so sorry that he has passed.”
Piggott retired for the first time in 1985 but his burgeoning training career was cut short when he was sensationally jailed for tax fraud. He was stripped of his OBE before being released on parole after a year in 1988. He then stunned the sporting world when returning to the saddle in 1990, a comeback which spawned a fairytale story within days when he executed an audacious ride on Royal Academy to win at the Breeders’ Cup in America. The famously taciturn Piggott won his 30th and final Classic on Rodrigo De Triano in the 1992 2000 Guineas but only finally
25
hung up his boots for good in 1995. God threw the mould away when he made The Long Fellow.
26
27
Candiese Lenferna
Safe Passage (Muzi Yeni) storms home as Pomp And Power (Richard Fourie) and Waterberry Lane (Keagan de Melo) chase in vain 28
SAFE, MY MATE…A NEW HOLLYWOODBETS DURBAN JULY FAVOURITE! 29
Mike de Kock’s top-class 3yo Safe Passage has moved to the top of the Hollywoodbets Durban July ante-post betting boards after a scintillating victory in Saturday’s R1 million Gr1 Daily News 2000.
added the former multiple national champion.
The big race sponsors displaced former favourite Pomp And Power at the top of South Africa’s premier race’s betting boards, with Safe Passage marked up at 7-2 after he scythed through late under Muzi Yeni to beat the Snaith Cape Derby winner by an emphatic 2,10 lengths in a time of 124,23 secs.
“Now we get the chance and it’s an honour and privilege. One can feel the class,” he added.
The victory made it a glorious Drakenstein owned and bred Silvano Gr1 double on a memorable afternoon, after Silver Darling had captured the Woolavington 2000 a half hour earlier. De Kock had made it clear in a Michele Wing Racing News interview earlier in the week that Safe Passage would be in need of the run after a twelve week break. But it was no race after the 7-10 favourite Pomp And Power was probably his own worst enemy out front. “It’s been the best decision I have made in a long-time to establish a winter base at Summerveld like I did in the slim and trim old days,”
Muzi Yeni was clearly pleased to find himself in the Gr1 winner’s enclosure again and said he remembered the day when the ‘Shea’s and Delpeches were riding these horses’.
Of the other Hollywoodbets Durban July entries, third-placed De Kock SA Derby winner Aragosta and Dean Kannemeyer’s Waterberry Lane fared best as they fought out third and fourth cheque. While Aragosta cost himself ground by hanging in badly, Waterberry Lane was given plenty to do turning for home last and then being switched out wide for a run. He was 2,25 lengths adrift at the line and a decision will be made whether he takes on the big guns on 2 July. Vaughan Marshall’s Senso Unico was another Hollywoodbets Durban July entry. He has been withdrawn after running 6,15 lengths off Safe Passage, while Joburg visitor Red Saxon was a further 2,70 lengths back. Owned and bred by Drakenstein, Safe Passage was another Gr1 strike on the day for deceased champion Silvano (Lomitas) out of the four-time winner and Gr2 The Debutante heroine My Sanctuary (Antonius Pius).
30
A R500 000 National Yearling Sale buy, Safe Passage has won 6 races with 2 places from 9 starts for stakes of R1 918 562. De Kock previously saddled Daily News winners, Hawwaam (2019), Vercingetorix (2013), and Irish Flame in 2010.
– Advertorial
BETXCHANGE SPECIALS EVERY WEEK AHEAD OF THE JULY! Betxchange Specials Every Week Ahead of the July! “If you’re horse doesn’t start, don’t worry, we’ll back your bet.” Warren Ho. Betxchange announces the first of many new specials to come ahead of the Durban July. Africa’s greatest race is around the corner, with just
4 weeks and 5 days to go until the much-anticipated running of the 2022 Durban July on Saturday, 2 July. Set as the most prestigious horseracing event on the continent, it has taken on a new dimension of intrigue with the news earlier this year that the 2022 stake has been increased by 250% on 2021’s offering to R5 million,
31
making it the continent’s richest stakes race. With all eyes on the first open to public spectators July since the start of COVID, it’s no doubt that the pressure is on to show up with a bang. This is the one time a year punters and fans alike, will be scanning bookies for the best of the
best odds, predictions, and specials ahead of the big day. One of SA’s oldest and most reputable bookmakers, Betxchange, will be releasing new specials throughout the month of June, each week building up to the July leaving the best for last to be announced the week of the Durban July. Their first special available for bets placed is on ante-post betting. The special is called “No Run No Bet” and allows punters the opportunity to get a full refund on their Durban
July bets. If horses backed to win the Durban July (from the antepost field) don’t start, punters will receive a full refund on their stake for the bets. The promotion is available for all bets placed on the 2022 Durban July ante-post betting on Betxchange.com and will conclude once final field betting is made public. Full Terms & Conditions for the promotion can be found on their website. What more can we expect from them ahead of the July? Warren Ho, director of Betxchange, weighs in- “Our team plans to release 1 or 2 new specials weekly starting
32
with No Run No Bet. What I can say in reference to the remaining specials is that they will give punters more opportunity to win BIG with us. I definitely think punters will enjoy and make the most of the specials we will release for the 2022 Durban July.” Specials will be released first & exclusively on Sporting Post every week up until Race Day!
33
SNAITH GRABS FIRST GR1 OF CHAMPIONS SEASON ‘22 34
Candiese Lenferna
35
Grant van Niekerk guides Silver Darling to win – third placed Sprinkles (Warren Kennedy) stays on for third
Justin Snaith picked up his fifth Woolavington 2000 and the opening Gr1 contest of the 2022 SA Champions Season, when the lightly raced Silver Darling stormed to victory to give Drakenstein Stud a glorious 1-2 in the prestigious contest at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. In something of an ironic champagne moment following the non appearance, for veterinary reasons, of the top farm’s SA Triple Tiara champion Rain In Holland, the Drakenstein
Stud-team race and bred the top two finishers, Silver Darling and Light Of The Moon – the latter from the raiding Botes/Vosloo yard. Following in the hoofprints of esteemed stablemates In The Fast Lane (2014), Bela-Bela (2016), Oh Susanna (2018) and Silvano’s Pride (2019), Silver Darling was given a beautifully-judged ride by Drakenstein jockey, Grant van Niekerk. After Monashada had led at another pedestrian pace, Grant van Niekerk produced the slightly green Silver Darling (4-1) down the
36
centre with a sustained late run. Chased by the wellsupported Light Of The Moon (4-1), the Cape raider carried too many guns and went on powerfully in an all Drakenstein-blue finish to win by 1,30 lengths in a time of 126,07 secs. Paul Peter’s Hollywoodbets Durban July entry Sprinkles (5-1), carrying the quarter cup blinkers first time, ran on well for third from wide outside a further 0,15 lengths back.
The other two Hollywoodbets Durban July entries Perfect Witness and Marigold Hotel ran out of the money. Jockey Grant van Niekerk said that the last time Silver Darling had encountered trouble. “We didn’t know if she was good enough. But she has done really well,” he added. Justin Snaith thanked Summerveld Centre Manager, Tony Rivalland. “He does a terrific job in
KZN. And then to Gaynor Rupert – it’s not easy to decide which mares need to be sent to which stallions. But here she bred a horse for the Woolavington – and she achieved it. Well done to Drakenstein – all I applied were the finishing touches,” he added. A daughter of deceased multiple SA Champion sire Silvano (Lomitas) out of the versatile seven-time winning Jet Master mare Jet Belle, who won from 1160m to 2000m, Silver Darling was registering her maiden graded stakes score and had not distinguished herself at her only previous try at 2000m in the Ardmore Jamaica Handicap during the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate 37
festival earlier this year. She has now won 4 races with 3 places from 9 starts for stakes of R633 600.
38
Candiese Lenferna
Justin Snaith leads Silver Darling (Grant van Niekerk) in after the Gr1 victory
GRANT’S FOOT IN MOUTH Gr1-winning jockey Grant van Niekerk was called in after winning the Woolavington 2000 on Silver Darling at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday to explain certain comments made in the post-race interview. The top-class Cape rider
is enjoying a terrific season with a 20% win strike-rate, but may have naively just overstepped the mark with an injudicious choice of words, when he referred to his having ‘looked after’ certain of his earlier rides. Van Niekerk rode Hoedspruit (1110) into third in the fourth race, a Pinnacle Stakes, and One Way
39
Traffic (5-1) – also third – in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup. Both rides were for Justin Snaith. The Stipes’ reports following both races raised no concerns about the way both horses were ridden. But Van Niekerk’s polite transparency and
enthusiasm in the adrenaline charged moments of his Gr1 success landed him with his proverbial boot in his mouth. The official report states that Van Niekerk appeared before the Board after winning the Gr1
Woolavington and was questioned regarding his post-race interview with reference to his rides in Race 4 and Race 5. Please click here to watch the interview He explained that his feedback
could have been misconstrued. Van Niekerk was advised to be more mindful of the comments made by him during media interviews going forward.
Jockey Warns Of Racing’s ‘Terminal Decline’ Just days away from potentially creating history by being part of the first father-son duo to ride against each other in the Cazoo Derby, senior jockey John Egan has accused British racing of failing to address a series of problems he believes could culminate in a terminal decline in the sport's standing. The Racing Post reports that like many jockeys, the multiple Gr1 winner has missed opportunities lately due to a run of recent abandonments, but the 54-year-old believes the sport faces much bigger long-term issues which pose a threat to the sport's viability. Egan, who will ride the supplemented El Habeeb for Stan Moore in the Classic at Epsom on Saturday, when son David could partner the Roger
Varian-trained 2,000 Guineas fourth Eydon, told the Racing Post: "I'm devastated by what's happening right now to our game, absolutely devastated. "I think there's a lot of people just burying their heads in the sand at the minute and from what I can see it's taking the same turn as greyhound racing took. "In the 1980s, look how big the greyhound racing was, and slowly but surely it's nearly a thing of the past, and I think if we don't address the situation hard and fast there will be no game." A combination of small field sizes and poor prize-money against the backdrop of a growing cost of living crisis have made Egan question the kind of future the sport has to offer his son. Egan said: "The young people, they don't know what the game used to be like and they accept what it's like right now. I've been in the game a long time now and I remember the real good days and I see it sliding rapidly. It's going to
40
affect his [David's] career the way it's going." Small field sizes have dominated the headlines for nine months and Egan thinks there is a surplus of racing for a diminishing horse population that frequently produces uncompetitive and unappetising affairs for punters. "It's ridiculous," said Egan. "Take Sandown: not that long ago you were racing with 16 to 18 runners in mile handicaps. Now you're going down and there's six and seven runners. I mean, you don't even have to really go out and ride. It's like going out and riding a piece of work now and it's getting a bit boring, I'd say for the public to look at as well."
41
Candiese Lenferna
MJ puts another subject on the spot! MJ puts another subject on the spot!
DRAKENSTEIN DOMINATE THE DAY Silver Darling wins the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 42
MJ puts another subject on the spot! MJ puts another subject on the spot!
43
‘Silver Darling also brought up a century of locally-bred stakes winners for the fivetime champion stallion Silvano - a mean feat in itself!’
The all-powerful outfit is no stranger to doubling up on a Classic. Lest we forget, back in early February, homebreds Safe Passage and Rain In Holland took the honours in both the Gauteng Guineas races at Turffontein. The former, who was put on the backburner after his neck defeat in the subsequent Gr1 SA Classic, returned to action on Saturday to claim the Gr1 Daily News 2000 in a manner which immediately propelled him to the top of the betting for the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July. But for being side-lined by surgery to correct an entrapped epiglottis, Drakenstein's Triple Tiara winner Rain In Holland would surely have started a hot favourite for the fillies equivalent, the Gr1 Woolavington 2000.
account at the expense of fellow Drakenstein runner and favourite, Light Of The Moon. Drakenstein's second Woolavington winner, Silver Darling follows in the footsteps of the outstanding Australian-bred Oh Susannah, who won the race in 2018 in a 3yo season which saw her crowned both Horse of the Year and Champion 3yo filly. Saturday's Gr1 double was a poignant one, for the simple reason that both winners were sired by the late great Silvano, whose 27 Gr1 winners also include two former Daily News 2000 heroes, Vercingetorix and Hawwaam. To the writer's knowledge, Silver Darling also brought up a century of locally-bred stakes winners for the five-time champion stallion, a mean feat in itself. She joins Do You Remember (2013), Silvano's Pride (2019) and Summer Pudding (2020)
as Silvano's fourth Woolavington 2000 winner and, like Silvano's Pride, was bred out of a daughter of Jet Master. Silver Darling is out of Jet Belle, who incidentally, finished third to Do You Remember in a headbobbing three-way finish to this race nine years ago! She mixed it up with the best that season, also running third in the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic and Gr2 SA Oaks. At four, she finally opened her stakes account in the Gr3 Poinsettia Stakes, defeating Hammie's Hooker, who just happens to be a half-sister to Gem King, a winner of the first two legs of the Cape Winter Series! Jet Belle notched up a first Gr2 success when claiming the Gold Bracelet at the expense of paternal halfsister Jet Aglow. Kept in
Gold Circle
Cream always rises to the top. That much was evident at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, where the familiar Drakenstein light blue and white silks flashed across the line first in both the Gr1 Daily News 2000 and Gr1 Woolavington 2000.
‘Silver Darling also brought
No worries though, the up a century of locally-bred arsenal of Drakenstein fillies is such that Silver Darling stakes winners for the five-time MJ puts another- subject on the spot! proved a worthy substitute champion stallion Silvano a Jet Belle wins the 2014 Gr2 Gold Bracelet by opening her stakes mean feat in itself!’ 44
training at five, she ran third to Drakenstein standout Inara in both the Gr1 Paddock and Gr1 Majorca Stakes, before making it back-to-back victories in the Poinsettia, where she left her rivals trailing by a dominant four lengths. While Silver Darling is her only runner to date, Jet Belle also has a juvenile colt by Dynasty and a yearling full brother to the Woolavington winner. She is
currently in foal to What A Winter. Jet Belle’s dam, the Argentinianbred Bella Bianca was a stayer of note. Trained by Tony Millard, she capped her racing career with a splendid victory in the Gr1 Gold Cup. Excellence runs deep in this female line, as Bella Bianca is out of Argentinian Gr1 winner Bianca Maria, who in turn is out of La Fornarina, an own sister to Argentinian powerhouse stallion Farnesio. Silver Darling is one of a quartet
45
of Gr1 winners amongst a formidable total of 14 individual stakes winners bred by Drakenstein this season. What odds that tally will increase before the racing season ends on 31 July?
Three Chimneys Farm
MJ puts another subject on the spot! Gun Runner stands at Three Chimneys Farm
RUNNING GUNS IN SAFE PASSAGES Safe Passage became the third son of Silvano to win the Gr1 Daily News 2000 following his triumph in Saturday's R1 million race at Hollywoodbets Greyville. The Drakenstein Stud bred and owned gelding joined
the likes of Vercingetorix - sire of Saturday's Daily News 2000 runner up Pomp And Power - and Hawwaam as past Daily News 2000 winners for Silvano, whose daughter Silver Darling won the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 just a half hour earlier. Sadly now deceased, Silvano has a
46
total of 27 G1 winners to his name and his influence on the South African turf looks set to be felt for years to come. Safe Passage, who was produced by talented, if temperamental, G2 Debutante winner My
Sanctuary, also sports an illustrious female line. My Sanctuary was sired by Antonius Pius - a son of Danzig, with Danzig also sire of National Assembly, the broodmare sire of the aforementioned Vercingetorix. My Sanctuary, in turn, was produced by the winning Pulpit mare Temple Goddess, a mare with an interesting pedigree. Temple Goddess was sired by a son of A.P. Indy in the form of Pulpit, and her dam Temporada was a daughter of A.P. Indy's classic winning half-brother Summer Squall. Similar inbreeding to A.P Indy and Summer Squall's remarkable dam Weekend Surprise has resulted in the likes of Breeders' Cup champion British Idiom, Gr1 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Happy Saver, and US champion Stevie Wonderboy. My Sanctuary's third dam was high-class racemare Lemhi Go, whose 12 career wins included triumphs in both the Gr2 La Prevoyante Invitational Handicap and Gr3 Arlington Matron Handicap. However, perhaps of more current interest is the fact that Safe Passage hails from the same female line as one of the hottest stallions on the planet. Safe Passage is directly
descended in female line from the Challenger mare Gallita -a full-sister to outstanding racemare Gallorette. The latter, a member of the US's Racing Hall Of Fame, is ancestress of a host of high-class performers, perhaps none more current than the outstanding young stallion, Gun Runner. A son of another top stallion in Candy Ride, Gun Runner was North America's Horse Of The Year in 2013. The chestnut won 12 of 19 starts, with his six Gr1 triumphs headed by a win in the 2017 Gr1 Breeders' Cup Classic. Retired to stud in 2018, Gun Runner has made a phenomenal start to his stud career, and was Leading First Season Sire and Leading Sire of 2YOs in 2021. His first crop, now three, include 11 stakes winners, with his early runners headed by no fewer than five Gr1 winners. This tally includes recent Gr1 Preakness Stakes winner Early Voting and Gr1 Breeders' Cup winning champion Echo Zulu. Gun Runner has made one of the best starts of any young sire in recent memory! His Gr1 Hopeful Stakes winning son Gunite has an interesting pedigree -being out of a mare by a son of Giant's Causeway, the broodmare sire of Gun Runner. Considering that he only improved with age, the sky appears the limit for Gun Runner as a stallion. However, Gun Runner is by
47
no means the only star performer to hail from his immediate family -his Gr2 Molly Pitcher Stakes winning dam Quiet Giant was a Giant's Causeway half-sister to another US Horse Of The Year in the form of Saint Liam. Clearly, excellence is to be found on both sides of Safe Passage's pedigree!
Candiese Lenferna
MJ puts another subject on the spot! Muzi Yeni and Safe Passage greet the grandstand after their Gr1 success
THE MERITS OF IT ALL! The National Horseracing Authority handicappers have assessed the weekend features and provide their reports per feature, below: Gr1 Daily News 2000 SAFE PASSAGE has had his merit rating raised from 117 to 122 following his fluent success in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 for three-yearolds over 2000m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf course on Saturday 28 May. The Handicappers were unanimously of the view that runner-up POMP AND POWER, who stayed on at the finish after making the pace, made for the most suitable line horse,
which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 118. In rating the race this way SENSO UNICO confirms the 110 performance he produced when finishing 10th in the Grade 2 Guineas at the same venue three weeks earlier and it seems unlikely that he would have run worse than that here. In fact, POMP AND POWER beat SENSO UNICO by 3,45 lengths in the Guineas and 4.05 lengths in the Daily News 2000 and as such confirm the Handicappers’ selection of POMP AND POWER as the line horse. It is very unlikely that both these horses have run below their Guineas form considering that they were both making their KZN debuts on that occasion. The Handicappers opted not to raise SENSO UNICO for his 110 in the Guineas as it was felt that he
48
might have been flattered in something of a blanket finish on that occasion, but having in fact confirmed that level of form in the Daily News 2000 SENSO UNICO has been given a rating of 110. In other increases, 3rd finisher ARAGOSTA goes up from 109 to 118, while 4th placed WATERBERRY LANE was raised from 115 to 117. There were no ratings drops for any runners in this race. Gr1 Woolavington 2000 SILVER DARLING has had her rating increased from 105 to 113 after she captured the Grade
1 Woolavington 2000 for three-year-old fillies over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the view that 3rd placed SPRINKLES made for the ideal line horse here, which leaves her unchanged on a mark of 110. Runner-up LIGHT OF THE MOON had her rating raised from 92 to 110, making her the equal of 3rd placed Sprinkles. 4th placed MONASHADA was picked up from 87 to 106 to at least make her the equal of 6th finisher KAILENE, who remains unchanged on 106. BYE BYE BOMBSHELL was raised from 90 to 98. She in fact ran to a mark of 106, but the Handicappers were reluctant to take this figure literally and gave her an increase of half the achieved improvement, 98 being halfway between her old mark of 90 and 106. There were smaller increases for CAPETOWN BEAUTY, who is up from 83 to 87, for LILLYBELLE, who goes from 79 to 85, and lastly for AERIAL VIEW, who was raised from 76 to 84. This last trio were effectively rated relative to each other and would meet on the correct terms in a handicap race. In making these marginal
adjustments the Handicappers took into account that this race was run at a slow pace which is evident in the substandard time it produced, being a full 1.84 seconds slower than the Daily News 2000m time. While it is expected that the Woolavington would produce a slower time than the Daily News, given the difference in the quality of these races, it is unlikely that SILVER DARLING would finish approximately 10 lengths behind SAFE PASSAGE when comparing the race times of these races. There were no ratings drops for any of the runners in this event. Gr3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup (Handicap) SHANGO has had his rating raised from 108 to 111 after landing the Gr3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup (handicap) over 2400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. Here it was 3rd placed ONE WAY TRAFFIC who was considered to make for the most suitable line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 104. 2nd placed FLYING BULL – who carried 0.5 kg overweight – was picked up from 99 to 101. 4th finisher CHEWBACA, who was fully 18 pounds or 9 kgs under sufferance at the weights (the Lonsdale was benchmarked at 52kg = 97), has had his rating raised from 79 to 96 (beaten 1 pound by the line horse). DECORATED has had his rating increased from 84 to 88. He in
49
fact runs to a rating of 94, but the Handicappers were very reluctant to take this literally even though he also ran above his rating when running to a mark of 92 in the non-Black Type Highland Night Cup at the same venue in April. Lastly, REX UNION was raised from 80 to 86 to keep him in line with DECORATED and thus ensuring that the pair would meet on essentially the correct weight terms were they to cross swords again in a handicap event. The Handicappers considered, when adjusting the unplaced runners, that the entire field was covered by 2.95 lengths (over 2400m) which is often indicative of a slowly run race. The race produced a time that is 5.03 seconds slower than the class average which is appreciably slower than the other races on the day when comparing actual race times to the class average times. There were no drops for any of the runners in this race. Listed Milkwood Stakes GLACIER GOLD has had her rating raised from 95 to 102 following her victory in the Listed Milkwood Stakes for fillies and mares over 1000m on the turf course at Fairview on Friday 27 May. It was runner-up FRANCA
who was considered to make for the most suitable line horse here, which leaves her unchanged on a rating of 102. There were also increases for 3rd finisher WINTER MOSAIC, who is up from 89 to 99, and for 4th finisher PHIL’S DANCER, who is up to 102 from 99. Other
ratings increases were for 5th finisher GREEN LIGHT GAL, who is up from 93 to 96, and for 7th placed VICTORIA TOWER, who was raised slightly from 84 to 85 to at least make her the equal of the 85-rated 8th finisher AFTERNOON TEA.
CHECK drops from 101 to 99. Media release by National Horseracing Authority on Tuesday 31 May 2022
Two runners were given a rating’s drop. JOYFUL NOISE is down from 97 to 95, while SOUND
Racing TV – Separate Pictures Remain 4Racing have announced in a media release that, further to their joint announcement and agreement with Gold Circle on 2 March 2022 that KwaZulu-Natal racing will be available on Racing 240 on DStv Channel 240, they would like to update the horse racing community on the status of this broadcast agreement. 4Racing has delivered on its commitment to Gold Circle to broadcast KwaZulu-Natal racing on Racing 240 – for the benefit of punters and the broader horse racing industry – and remains fully committed to doing so. 4Racing remains committed to finding a long-term agreement in this regard and initially proposed a 3-year
arrangement to Gold Circle.
partners.
Gold Circle and GallopTV’s co-funders Hollywoodbets have, however, expressed their preference to make its KZN racing product available to Racing 240 on a short-term month- to-month basis, effective from 1 June 2022, with both parties entitled to give the other one calendar month’s notice to terminate the agreement.
4RacingTV responds to punter calls for fixed odds data graphics
4Racing will respect the GallopTV committee’s wishes and looks forward to working with Gold Circle on the ongoing broadcast of its KZN Champions Season. 4Racing respects and supports the right of each operator to develop and produce its own horse racing broadcast product for its punters and for bookmakers, but does believe that a single national broadcast product is ideal to service all punters and to make the industry attractive to national and international sponsors and
50
In the meantime, 4Racing continues to work to refine and enhance the Racing 240 channel based on the feedback we have received from stakeholders and our overarching product strategy. Media release by 4Racing on Wednesday 1 June 2022
Candiese Lenferna
MJ puts another subject on the spot! Sam Semela leads Hollywoodbets Durban July chart-topper, Safe Passage (Muzi Yeni)
Eye On The July Favourite
There were 7 scratchings at second declaration stage on Monday for the R5 million Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, to be run on Saturday 2 July. The withdrawal of Lyrical Dance, Motown Magic, Marchingontogether, Decorated, Perfect Witness, Senso Unico, Future Prince and Salvator Mundi this morning, leaves 40 entries currently, with one final supplementary entry opportunity, which closes at 11h00 on Tuesday 14 June.
The final Hollywoodbets Durban July ‘golden ticket’ race is the R1 250 000 Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, for which 14 entries were received on Monday. The Gold Challenge will be contested at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday 11 June. See the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge entries – please click here. The Hollywoodbets Durban July weights will be published on Tuesday, 14 June. The announcement of the final field and barrier draws will take
51
place on Tuesday, 21 June. All runners are required to participate in public gallops scheduled for Hollywoodbets Greyville on Thursday, 23 June. Twenty horses will be carded for the stakeboosted R5 million Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July. With two reserves in the final field, a maximum of eighteen runners will line up at the 2200m marker for the 126th renewal of Africa’s richest graded stakes race, sponsored for the
first time by South Africa’s international sportsbook operator, Hollywoodbets. WThe latest Hollywoodbets Durban July log, issued on
Tuesday 31 May, is shown below:
A GOLD CHALLENGE! The 51st renewal of the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge will be run for an increased stake of R1 250 000 on Saturday 11 June, and presents Hollywoodbets Durban July hopefuls with a final golden ticket opportunity into Africa’s Greatest Horseracing event on 2 July. While not in the 2022 entry list, Justin Snaith’s now 7yo Do It Again was the most recent star to achieve the Gold Challenge – Durban July double back in 2019. Past Durban July winners to score in the Gold Challenge include Dancer’s Daughter and Pocket Power, Big City Life and Legislate. With ruling SA Horse Of The Year Rainbow Bridge now retired after achieving a Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge double in 2020 and 2021, the runway has been cleared for a new star to emerge in the premier SA Champions Season weightfor-age mile. For more information – please click here.
52
GTH
MJputs putsanother anothersubject subjecton onthe thespot! spot! MJ Start your weekend with intense excitement in August and September. Watch the GTH Live Series at the Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse or tune in to SuperSport on Fridays
COUNTDOWN TO THE GTH SERIES 2022! • GTH will soon be announcing teams and jockeys • Watch the races live on SuperSport if you cannot get to the racecourse • Tickets will SOON be available through TIXSA There is intense excitement as two teams go head-to-
head under lights. Excitement ripples around the stadium at the end of the first session, with the Reds pulling ahead. Anticipation mounts as the teams line up for the next round. The Yellows have changed their strategy to ensure that they remain in the game. And away they go……. No, this is not cricket, soccer, or rugby, but two hours of intense excitement under lights at the
53
Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse where Global Team Horse Racing (GTH) are holding their first race of this season in August. What a way to start you weekend! The event starts at 18h00 and will be finished at 20h30, at which time you will know which team has the upper hand going into the next event a week later,
at the same place, at the same time. Three teams from three regions will be competing for the honour of holding the title of GTH South African Champions for 2022. Team names and jockeys will be announced soon and you can show your support for your team by donning the appropriate colours. Team caps and tops will be available at the venue as well as online from July. Tickets will be available online from TIXSA with various packages starting from R80 per person and
kids under 14 are free. If you cannot make it to the venue, then there is the option of watching the event “live” on SuperSport. The GTH Series will be broadcast from 18h00, covering all 8 races where the scores count for team cumulative scores, until 20h30. This is the first of the GTH events and it is being launched in South Africa. Choose your team, support them and see who makes it to the final! The first event of the GTH series takes place at the Hollywoodbets Greyville racecourse on Friday the 5th of August 2022.
54
If anyone would like more information on how to get involved in the GTH Junior programme contact us at https://www.gthracing. co.za/
55
LONSDALE CENTURY GOES TO SHANGO MJ puts another subject on the spot!
Gavin Lerena gets Shango up on the outside to beat the gallant Flying Bull (Richard Fourie) in an exciting finish 56
Candiese Lenferna
MJ puts another subject on the spot!
57
The 100th renewal of the 2400m R175 000 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup turned into a sprint for home, and probably blunted the prospects of the more fancied runners in the process. But there is no denying the accolades for a meritorious showing by Sean Tarry’s enigmatic 5yo, Shango. The 2019 Gr2 Dingaans champion was winless coming into Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Greyville support feature since capturing the Gr3 Hollywoodbets 2200, or consolation July, in 2021. But he produced a powerful finish under Gavin Lerena to get the better of Flying Bull, who looked to have been given a near perfect tactical ride by Richard Fourie.
Winning jockey Gavin Lerena confirmed that Shango had jumped clear of his field at the start. “I would have led but Richard (Fourie – Flying Bull) came around us and eased it up to a walk at the 1400m. It worked out well,” he added. Trainer Sean Tarry said that he was pleased that Shango was coming to form at the right time.“It has been a tough season and we may have expected more. But Bruce and Jo Gardner know the game well and love this horse. We are happy to take the win,” added the former multiple champion. The Heritage Stud-bred Shango was a R425 000 CTS Ready To Run graduate and has won 5 races with 9 places from 25 starts for stakes of R883 250.
The good-looking Flying Bull (33-10) led for much of the trip but Lerena kept him in his sights and challenged at the 300m.
Interestingly, when winning the 2018 Gr2 Dingaans Shango was a first ever graded stakes winner for his sire, a former SA Champion Sprinter Captain Of All, and a son of the legendary Captain Al.
Shango (13-2) eventually got the upper-hand to gain a quarter length victory in a time of 152,89 secs.
Shango is out of the fourtime winning Jet Master mare, Scorched. Sean Tarry has enjoyed plenty of success with the family.
One Way Traffic (5-1) received some solid betting support but was probably doomed from halfway off the pedestrian gallop. He nevertheless took flight late to get up for third, a further half length back.
The R1 million carryover Hollywoodbets Greyville Pick 6 reached a very decent total of R6 040 199. South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire of 2018-2019, former Klawervlei Farm Sale graduate Captain Of All has seven lots on offer at the upcoming CTS Farm
58
Yearling Sale, including a filly (Lot 45) bred on the same cross as Captain Of All’s top-class son Linebacker.
EUROPE’S PREMIER MIDSUMMER SALE
BUMBASINA dam of AMELIA’S JEWEL winner of Karrakatta Plate , Gr. 2, Gimcrack Stakes, Gr. 3, etc. purchased at Tattersalls July Sale by Astute Bloodstock for 75,000 gns
KNIGHTS ORDER winner of Sydney Cup, Gr. 1, Brisbane Cup, Gr. 2, etc. purchased as a Tattersalls horse in training by McKeever Bloodstock/Gai Waterhouse Racing for 250,000 gns
HARLECH dam of HUNGRY HEART winner of Australian Oaks, Gr. 1, Vinery Stud Stakes, Gr. 1, etc. purchased at Tattersalls July Sale by Sheamus Mills BS / Yulong Investments for 60,000 gns
TATTERSALLS JULY SALE Horses/Fillies in Training, Broodmares etc.
July 6 - 8
South African Representative: 59 Jeremy Nelson T: +2783 2617953 www.tattersalls.com
Pauline Herman
MJ puts another subject on the spot! Greg Cheyne gets Glacier Gold up to beat Franca (Richard Fourie) in a thriller
RIDGEMONT-HIGHLANDS BRED FLYER IN THE BLACK The Alan Greeff yard dominated the finish of the R150 000 Listed Milkwood Stakes at Fairview on Friday when the super-consistent grey 4yo Glacier Gold beat her year younger stablemate Franca in a rousing finish to the afternoon’s topliner. Starting a weak 3-1 favourite in the 1000m contest, and one of a powerful Halo Stables quintet, Glacier Gold deservedly registered a black-type strike when she produced her customary turn-of-foot late down the inside to hold off a determined Richard Fourie on the 3yo Franca (9-2), who fought all the way to the wire. Only a head separated the Greeff pair at the line, with
the beautiful grey Glacier Gold clocking 57,09 secs. Justin Snaith filled the third and fourth slots, with Winter Mosaic (9-2) a length back, and stablemate Phil’s Dancer (8-1) running another game race to bank the fourth cheque. The winner races in a partnership of Ryan Graham, Dante Cicognini & Robin Strydom, who lease her from her breeders. Mr Graham was on course and confirmed that he now has 19 winners to go to reach his century! Not bad going for a well attired gent who doesn’t look a day over 40. The Ridgemont Highlandssponsored Greg Cheyne clearly knows how to get the best out of Glacier Gold, and that probably made the difference as they went to the line.
60
The versatile Glacier Gold is now a winner on both surfaces of 6 races up to 1300m, with 10 places from her 19 starts for stakes of R428 274. Bred by Ridgemont Highlands, she is a daughter of Equus champion sprinter What A Winter (Western Winter) out of the five-time winning Fort Wood mare, Himalayan Hill. Richard Fourie took the riding honours with three winners. Alan Greeff saddled a treble on an entertaining afternoon of racing.
61
62
63
SALES COMPANY SUPPORTS EQUINE TRUST CTS have recently raised and donated R21 000 to the Western Cape Equine Trust and are hosting another fundraiser on their behalf at the Barnyard Theatre, Tyger Valley on Friday 17 June 2022. Ken Truter, the Chairman of WC Equine Trust, is extremely grateful to CTS and its Managing Director Grant Knowles for the donation and the effort to bring in more funds. He said, "We used to have an annual fund-raising
day but that was scuppered by Covid-19. Without the private donations like this one we would not be able to survive."
Potential buyers are obliged to work with the chosen horse at the facility before application.
The aim of the WC Equine Trust is to re-home ex-racehorses.
The buyer and the facilities where the horse will be rehomed are carefully vetted before the horse is released.
However, they go the extra mile. They first re-train the horses for a potential second career. Therefore, money is needed for feed and veterinarian bills. The horses are then put up for sale to ensure they do not get into the wrong hands.
64
What is even more admirable about the WC Equine Trust is that, unusually for such organisations, follow ups are done on the horses to make sure they are being well looked after.
65
66
Frankel daughter With The Moonlight carries the Godolphin flag
Godolphin
OAKS WILL BE FRIDAY HIGHLIGHT The Gr1 Cazoo Oaks runs on Friday at 17h30 and twelve fillies were declared at final acceptance.
today and tomorrow, and then Thursday, Friday and Saturday look dry with temperatures around 20'C."
Good to firm ground has been the norm throughout the UK over the last week, but after a heavy hour of rain on Monday evening, Epsom's clerk of the course Andrew Cooper has declared the ground to be soft, good to soft in places ahead of the Cazoo Derby festival.
The Clarehaven stables of John and Thady Gosden have a strong chance of landing the first prize of £311,905 as they field the top two in the ante-post market – Emily Upjohn (1/1) and Nashwa (7/2).
"In terms of rain we've had 9mm," Cooper said, “it was a very heavy hour of rain and one small shower earlier in the day.” "There is a shower risk
Emily Upjohn, an imposing daughter of Derby hero Sea The Stars, is the mount of Frankie Dettori and looks the one they all have to beat. Unbeaten in three starts, she was a very easy winner of an Oaks trial - the Gr2 Musidora at York last time by five and a half lengths. Interestingly, none of the field have ever raced on the course, but Emily Upjohn was taken for a canter around
67
Tattenham corner a fortnight ago. Stable companion Nashwa is described by her jockey Hollie Doyle as “everything you want in a racehorse” ahead of her bid for Oaks glory. The Frankel filly looks to give Hollie Doyle a realistic chance of becoming the first woman to ride a British Classic winner. The filly has impressed in facile fashion in both her wins at Haydock and Newbury this spring. The one question that remains unanswered ahead of her appearance at Epsom is whether her stamina will last out on her first start
over a mile and a half, but Doyle is optimistic. She added: “Stepping up into Listed company at Newbury I just wanted to ride her quietly to see how she’d relax and go through the gears and she relaxed beautifully – and was very responsive when I asked her.” The Godolphin operation are represented by With The Moonlight. Another daughter of Frankel, she impressed on her seasonal return when winning the Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket at the beginning of May where she produced a smart performance in a good time. With The Moonlight showed
much improved form stepped up to a mile and a quarter when given a more positive ride. A step up to a mile and a half in the Oaks could well bring about further improvement which will be needed if she is to provide her in-form trainer Charlie Appleby with further Classic success this season. Rogue Millennium is currently 16/1 and is the other unbeaten filly in the race. Fledgling trainer Tom Clover bought her at the Shadwell dispersal sale last year. The Dubawi filly is two from two and she handled the tricky Lingfield grass track to win the Oaks Trial in early May. She was supplemented for the Oaks at a cost of £30,000 to her sporting connections and could be involved in the placings. Aidan O’Brien has four fillies declared with Tuesday and Concert Hall looking the stables leading
68
lights. Jockey bookings have not as yet been finalised, but these two fillies are bred for this race. Tuesday, by Galileo is a full sister to Oaks winner Minding, whilst Concert Hall is by Dubawi out of Oaks winner Was. They finished second and third behind Homeless Songs in the Gr1 Irish 1,000 Guineas in May and that run would have brought them both on for Epsom. Retainer rider for Coolmore, Ryan Moore’s choice will be of great interest. Also see page 18.
69
Japan Racing Association
Yutaka Take steers Do Deuce to victory ahead of Equinox
JAPANESE DERBY THRILLS ON SUNDAY Third-favourite Do Deuce registered his second Gr1 victory in the 89th running of the Japanese Derby at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday, with jockey Yutaka Take recording his sixth Derby win. The 3-year-old colt completed the 2400m turf race in a record two minutes and 21.9 seconds, with the 53-year-old Take becoming
the oldest rider to win the major. After some pedestrian stuff at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, no canter-and-sprint nonsense in the big race at Tokyo Racecourse 24 hours later! “It felt electrifying coming around the final corner. I’m over the moon and really happy,” said Take, who last won aboard Kizuna in 2013. Take held Do Deuce in the middle of the pack until catapulting
70
forward in the final stretch to see off second-favourite Equinox, who made late progress, by a neck. “There’s no better feeling than this. I hope to keep giving my best with Do Deuce, including on the international stage,” Take said. Seventh-pick Ask Victor More, who led until the
last 150 m, was third, two lengths further back. The win was trainer Yasuo Tomomichi’s third in the Derby and his first in four years. First prize earned Do Deuce a total of nearly ¥227 million ($1.8 million). Equinox pushed Do Deuce hard but settled for a second straight runner-up finish after April’s Satsukisho, one of Japan’s three triple crown races for 3-yearold colts.
Sunday Silence and his dam sire, Vindication , is by 1977 U.S. Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew . Vindication won the Gr3 Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes at Turfway Park and the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Arlington International Racecourse in 2002. Named champion 2-yearold male that year, he was retired with a suspensory injury. Dust and
campaign with a secondplace finish in the Gr2 Hochi Hai Yayoi Sho Deep Impact Kinen while stepping up to 2000 meters for the first time in preparation for the Satsuki Sho at the same trip. The further step up to 2400 meters seemed to play right into his hands, as Tomomichi predicted before the race.
You can watch the replay! ‘After some Please click here. pedestrian stuff at Hollywoodbets Greyville on “I had a good response on Saturday, no canterthe straight and thought we had won as we moved and-sprint nonsense outside, but Do Deuce found another gear from in the big race at there,” jockey Christophe Lemaire said. Tokyo Racecourse “The pace of the race was 24 hours later…’ fast. We had to stay behind more than we were hoping for, and we also started from an outer stall. It couldn’t be helped.” “He was second but did a good job.” Japanese connections have lusted after the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe prize for decades. Bred by Northern Farm, and racing for Kieffers Co Ltd., Do Deuce certainly has the pedigree to continue that quest, as his sire, Heart’s Cry, is by 1989 Kentucky Derby winner
Diamonds finished second in the Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita in 2012 and was never out of the top three in 11 career starts. Do Deuce also appears to have the temperament to handle top challenges.
“He’s an easy horse to deal with, so there’s nothing to worry about with him at all,” trainer Yasuo Tomomichi said. Do Deuce was undefeated in three starts as a 2yo, culminating in the Futurity win. He started the 2022 71
YOUR CHANCE TO BUY A COVER
The catalogue for the Cape Breeders Club Stallion Services Auction is now available on the app and website.
iPHONE & IOS Apple
For technical support:
Huawei
Leanie 072 314 1774
Bid LIVE on our website
Schalk 076 226 3434
Click here to see the catalogue.
For more auction information:
Mariaan 064 214 7487
Download the Meerkat app to register and bid
Wendy Probert - 074 375 4018
Ro'an 082 567 0069
Samsung & Android
secretary@capebreeders.co.za
72
73
results up to: 2022-06-01
TRAINERS Name
Runs
Wins Win%
2nd
3rd
Mr P A Peter Mr S J Snaith Mr S G Tarry Mr M F de Kock Mr G D Smith
979 1051 732 435 1030
184 134 91 78 111
128 128 75 63 112
108 136 76 48 102
18.8. 12.7 12.4 17.9 10.8
Other Places Place % 203 221 148 85 169
439 485 299 196 383
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
44.8 13,789,563 19,258,438 46.1 10,337,150 15,759,550 40.8 8,460,375 12,384,563 45.1 7,283,688 10,659,000 37.2 4,977,188 7,866,413
JOCKEYS Name
Rides Wins Win%
2nd
3rd
Mr W B Kennedy Mr R D Fourie Mr K de Melo Mr S Khumalo Mr M A Yeni
1391 845 932 940 1166
211 140 139 112 145
187 118 107 102 133
229 154 149 147 131
16.5 18.2 16.0 15.6 11.2
Other Places Place % 259 174 211 189 238
657 432 457 403 516
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
47.2 13,154,750 20,386,200 51.1 12,762,800 17,409,688 49.0 9,354,575 14,772,650 42.9 10,228,763 15,193,775 44.3 8,413,688 13,521,063
BREEDERS Name
B.T. B.T. Total Runrs Runs AEPR Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Wins Stakes (R) Rnrs %
Wilgerbosdri� & Mauritzfontein Klawervlei Stud Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd
289 1523 343 1861
69,274 139 206 51,69 135 181
48.1 39.4
609 720
14 7
19 10
20,020,313 17,729,538
162 149 143
92,512 74,052 58,528
44.4 42.3 35.0
358 324 299
14 7 4
19 9 5
14,986,988 11,033,700 8,369,538
B.T. Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Rnrs %
B.T. Wins
Total Stakes (R)
16 13 6 4 10
13,006,213 11,862,263 11,457,500 11,411,375 11,251,213
835 776 878
72 118 63 103 50 75
SIRES Name Vercingetorix * Silvano (GER) What A Winter Master Of My Fate Gimmethegreenlight (AUS)
Runrs Runs AEPR 147 812 88,478 147 764 80,696 183 977 62,609 186 1076 61,351 182 954 61,820
82 65 85 90 82
116 106 136 136 112
55.8 44.2 46.4 48.4 45.1
347 328 425 477 399
See all the detailed standings - Click here 74
12 9 6 2 9
75
76
77
78
INTERNATIONALS PREP FOR WORLD CUP ‘22 79
The 2021-22 season has come to an end in the major European leagues and football fans will turn their attention to friendly matches taking place on Friday and Sunday as international teams begin their preparations for the 2022 World Cup. Chadley Nagel reports… Friday 3 June 12/10 Ecuador | Draw 19/10 | Nigeria 22/10 (02:30) Ecuador will begin their preparations for this year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar with a friendly against Nigeria at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey on Friday. The Tricolors finished fourth in South American qualifying to grab the continent's last automatic berth for the World Cup. Their place was sealed when Enner Valencia scored a late equalizer to earn a 1-1 draw against Argentina. Nigeria, on the other hand, will not be playing at the World Cup after losing the spot to archrivals Ghana in a decisive two-legged tie. Still reeling from that disappointment, the Super Eagles lost 2-1 against Mexico in a friendly last Sunday. Ecuador are tipped to win. 15/10 Mexico | Draw
37/20 | Uruguay 7/4 (04:00) Mexico will face off against Uruguay at the State Farm Stadium on Friday as both countries prepare for the World Cup in Qatar this November. The Tricolor finished second in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifying standings, behind Canada and ahead of the United States. Uruguay, meanwhile, booked their ticket for the showpiece tournament after finishing third in CONMEBOL qualifying, behind only Brazil and Argentina. In their last friendly meeting four years ago, it was a rather one-sided affair with the Sky Blue running out 4-1 winners at the NRG Stadium in Houston. I think it will be a closer scoreline this time around, but Uruguay, seeking a fifth straight victory, are tipped to win. Nepal vs Oman (18:00) Oman will play Nepal at the Qatar SC Stadium in Doha on Friday. Nepal are winless in their last two friendlies, losing 2-0 to Thailand
before drawing 2-2 last time out with a Timor-Leste side that had lost 12 in a row. Oman, on the other hand, are unbeaten in their last three matches (WC Asian Qualifiers). They played to a 2-2 draw with Australia before recording back-toback wins over Vietnam and China. Oman have won the last five meetings against Nepal convincingly, including an emphatic 7-2 win in September last year. This should be another comfortable victory for them. Sunday 5 June 5/10 Peru | Draw 26/10 | New Zealand 54/10 (17:30) Peru and New Zealand face off in a friendly at the RCDE Stadium on Sunday. Both teams will use the game as preparation for their upcoming World Cup intercontinental playoffs. Steve Haag Sports
Paul Pogba is on his way
80
Peru are ranked 27 in the FIFA rankings, while New Zealand are currently ranked 122. The South American nation are tipped to win.
single point. The Saudis are on an upward trajectory and I’m backing them to win this.
Saudi Arabia vs Colombia (19:00)
Japan vs Brazil (12:20)
Saudi Arabia kick-off their World Cup preparations with a friendly against Colombia at the Enrique Roca stadium on Sunday evening. Herve Renard's side booked their spot at the tournament with a minimum of fuss, winning seven of their 10 matches to top their qualification group ahead of Japan and Australia. Los Cafeteros, on the other hand, finished sixth in the South American qualifiers, missing out on a playoff spot by a
Monday 6 June
Brazil will play a friendly against Japan as part of their preparations for the World Cup in Qatar. The Selecao are the favourites to take the trophy this year, having breezed through their qualifying campaign unbeaten and set a new record for points in the single South American group. The Samurai Blue, meanwhile, came second in their Asian qualification group, behind Saudi Arabia but ahead of Australia. Having won each of their last five meetings against Japan, Brazil are confidently tipped to win.
Korea Republic will play a friendly match against Chile in Daejeon as part of their World Cup preparations. The Taegeuk Warriors booked their spot at the tournament with a minimum of fuss, finishing second in their qualification group with 11 points clear of thirdplace United Arab Emirates. Chile, on the other hand, finished seventh of 10 teams in the South American qualifying group, winning only five of 18 games. The Koreans have won seven of their last eight at the time of writing. Back them to win.
Korea Republic vs Chile (13:00)
Pogba Bids United Farewell Paul Pogba will leave Manchester United when his contract expires at the end of June, the Premier League club have announced. The Old Trafford academy graduate joined Juventus as a free agent in 2012, only to return four years later for a then world-record fee of 105million euros (£89million). But Pogba has had a topsyturvy second spell with
United, who he will leave for nothing for second time when his deal expires this month.
and thank him for his contributions to Manchester United.
“The club can announce that Paul Pogba will leave Manchester United at the end of June, upon the expiry of his contract,” United said at the start of a lengthy sendoff statement on the club website.
“We wish him all the best for the next steps on a remarkable journey.”
“Everyone at the club would like to congratulate Paul on his successful career,
81
Pogba scored 39 goals in 233 first-team appearances for United, who he first joined from French club Le Havre in 2009. For more information – please click here.
82