20220202 - Sporting Post Sprint Ver 1.3 Single pages by Sporting Post

KOMMET IS KING!

Chase Liebenberg

A sundrenched Kenilworth erupted in joyous celebration on Saturday afternoon as hometown hero Kommetdieding asserted his authority and superior ability to become the first horse in a decade to register the Durban July – Cape Town Met double. The rags-to-riches story of the gallant son of Elusive Fort has been well documented in the mainstream media since the Klawervlei-bred star caught the public imagination with a devastating turn of foot to win Africa’s greatest race on the East Coast six months ago. After a terrific second behind Jet Dark in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate three weeks, Kommetdieding turned on the charm in front of his adoring home crowd and an elated owner Ashwyn Reynolds and his family on Saturday, to give trainer Michelle Rix, who conditions in partnership with her Dad Harold Crawford, the honour of becoming the first lady trainer to win the historic

Cape flagship – a race first run in 1861. Allowed to stalk the pacesetters, Kommetdieding found himself in no man’s land at the 400m as the leaders fell away. But after repelling a threatening late run wide out by the highriding Grant van Niekerk on multiple Gr1 winner Linebacker, Kommetdieding was gathered under a superb display of cool cucumber big race riding by Gavin Lerena. The 4yo colt knew only one way and that was home James as he accelerated -despite getting his tongue over the bit – to hold off the attentions of a late finishing Jet Dark (9-2) down the inside, to win by three quarters of a length in a time of 123,80 secs. Linebacker (4-1) was not disgraced in defeat, staying on for third, a neck further back. The 3yo Double Superlative (61) was beaten into fourth and 1,70 lengths off the winner.

An elated owner Ashwin Reynolds, dressed for the theme, emotionally dedicated the victory to Morne Barnes and other late family members. And promised that ‘a regte Boesman fees’ would follow! Trainer Michelle Rix said the winner wasn’t a horse, but a member of the family. “But I don’t want to make an Oscar acceptance speech – thanks so much to Ashwyn!” But the emotions aside, what a terrific story for racing and a horse that cost a mere R55 000 on the 2019 Klawervlei Farm Sale! A son of Elusive Fort (Fort Wood) out of the three-time winning Captain Al mare Adorable, Kommetdieding registered his sixth victory (with 4 places) from his ten starts for stakes of R3 234 000. Fairytales happen. What a day for Cape racing and, more importantly, for the ordinary man on the ground.

Master Of The Met In news tweeted late on Sunday, the 2022 WSB Cape Town Met recemeeting at Kenilworth on Saturday received a further confirmation of its renewed appeal when the World Pool turnover on the day was confirmed at HK$325 367 236.

This means that Met Day produced the fourth-highest World Pool turnover on any day since launching in 2019. The Cape Town Met racemeeting was classified as a World Pool event by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, with TAB Win, Place, Swinger and Quinella pools on Races 4 8

to 11 commingled into the Hong Kong Jockey Club tote, which operates the biggest tote pools in the world. At current rates of exchange, the turnover figure equates to R650 million.

The Merits KOMMETDIEDING has had his merit rating raised from 127 to 129 following his triumph in the Gr1 WSB Cape Town Met on WFA terms over 2000m on the Kenilworth summer course on Saturday 29 January. The Handicappers were of the view that 3rd placed LINEBACKER – who essentially replicated last season’s Vodacom Durban July form with KOMMETDIEDING – made for the most suitable line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 126. The Handicappers are

cognizant of the fact that 2nd placed JET DARK on 130 remains rated higher than the winner despite the two meeting at level weights however the Handicappers were not convinced that JET DARK had reproduced his Queens Plate winning effort on Saturday and took into consideration that he only beat the 116-rated pair of HOEDSPRUIT and SECOND BASE by 3,5 and 4.25 lengths receptively. The Handicappers believe that JET DARK had only achieved a 127-performance in the WSB Cape Met, due to his proximity to the

runners when compared to his proximity to the runners in the Queens Plate when producing a 130 performance and comfortably accounting for the likes of KOMMETDIEDING (then 127) and RAINBOW BRIDGE (then 134). Aside from the winner, the only other increase was for 4th placed DOUBLE SUPERLATIVE, who is up from 113 to 125, but there were ratings drops for two horses. DO IT AGAIN is down from 129 to 126, while CIRILLO drops from 118 to 116.

10 The world arrives to greet the hometown hero

Chase Liebenberg

Pride! Michelle and daughter Courtney enjoy the thrills

MICHELLE REWRITES THE HISTORY BOOKS Saturday’s popular WSB Cape Town Met victory by her stable star Kommetdieding, with its associated entry into the history books, hasn’t quite sunk in yet for Milnerton trainer Michelle Rix. “I would describe it as very surreal,” Michelle told the Sporting Post on Monday as her new phone rang intermittently with calls from a hungry media and friends and supporters.

In the dizzy whirl and blurr that was a hectic Saturday, Michelle sadly had her phone stolen – but that frustrating inconvenience has failed to dampen her spirits. “The media and public have been amazing. However, my phone was taken before the last race on Saturday so I feel terrible for not answering calls,” she explained apologetically. So who is Michelle Rix? Around horses all her life, she

spent her early racehorse training days under the guidance of the late Andre Heyns, who was a regular producer of graded race winners before his tragic and untimely passing. Her vastly experienced Dad was a key mentor for over a decade, and Michelle even spent some time in Durban where Summerveld veteran Dennis Bosch taught her ‘a great deal’ about corrective shoeing.

Perovskia was a stable star from the early days of the partnership and won the Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes before being exported to Mauritius. Michelle has certainly shown the qualities needed to be successful in a maledominated environment. We asked her to sum up her approach. “Well, the horse always comes first, so that would be paramount. Then good people skills and the ability to market your brand is important. And there is no question that

having a thick skin is an added benefit,” she laughs. The bottom line of it all is that the 35 year old blonde horsewoman has achieved what no lady trainer has in close on 140 years of the Met. This after winning the July six months earlier with Kommetdieding! In 2017 Candice BassRobinson became the first fairer sex conditioner to win the Durban July after 120 years. Her Milnerton neighbour Michelle Rix has raised the

bar and now won the two leading races consecutively after a combined 260 years. Quite something, and she is a newbie really – it’s not even three years since she realised her lifelong ambition to train horses, going into partnership with her Dad, Harold Crawford. It was in fact Dad that found the Klawervlei bred Kommetdieding at the champion nursery’s Farm Sale. This sensational horse cost only R55 000 and has been the dealmaker in Michelle Rix’ rise to stardom.

Chase Liebenberg

17 Michelle hands the lead to Dad, Harold

But having a good horse is no automatic licence to big race success. We asked when she felt that they had the Met won. “I really never like to be too bullish. But I felt we were going to win when we nominated. I based this on the fact that I knew he was a better and stronger horse going into the Met, as opposed to the Durban July.” On Saturday’s race, Michelle’s eyes brighten when she reflects on those dramatic closing stages. “We had Gavin Lerena in the irons. He really is the consummate professional who is not only a great rider but a very knowledgeable horseman. And Kommet is a horse that really likes to fight back when challenged. I feel that many thought he would get swallowed up by Linebacker and Jet Dark when he was in the open going into the final 300m. But he really has the heart of a lion and he went on to make it a dream day for Ashwin (Reynolds) and our team. As I said, I am still mentally digesting it!” she laughs. While her vastly experienced former jockey Dad Harold is approaching 70 and has taken a deserved back seat in the operation, Michelle leans on some passionate and enthusiastic support,

including her beautiful daughter Courtney, who was there to support her Mom and is involved at the stables every day. “Dad has earned the opportunity to enjoy the back seat, but he still plays his role. Then there is our assistant Gary Mynhardt, who has been with us for 7 months, and Warren Teixiera and his fiancé Michaela van Staaden who are actually owners of ours, but are there daily helping me out. Grant Behr has also been an important player in Kommet’s work programme. We also have 14 grooms who are a great bunch of guys who take really good care of their horses. Luvo Zingelwayo is Kommet’s groom and he is so proud to be associated with a champion! I am very fortunate to enjoy the support of a team that I would go to war with,” adds Michelle. We observed that owner Ashwin Reynolds was on record as saying that he spends more time at the stables than at home these days. Is he one of those famous ‘owner-trainer’ types? Michelle says that her top owner ‘is a super person who leaves all the training up to me’. “Ashwin has been an amazing support and really has my back in so many aspects of racing.”

Racing is a fickle – at times even shallow – game and we asked Michelle if she had observed some taking her more seriously, or even giving her the time of day, when they hadn’t previously. She laughs as she points out that she has had messages and calls from people in the industry who she hadn’t spoken to before. “But I’m a firm believer in treating everyone the same and staying humble as this game can put you in your place very quickly if your head gets too big.” Asked about the short-term plans for Kommetdieding and whether he may be travelling abroad, Michelle says that they may consider the Premiers Challenge on the Highveld on 30th April. “I can’t see Ashwin selling the People’s Horse!” she adds with a broad smile. On her own short-term plans after a stressful few months, Michelle indicates that she is looking forward to a ‘much deserved’ holiday in Mauritius with her Husband and Daughter, and close friends Brett and Gwen.

Chase Liebenberg

‘Adorable is once again roaming the Oldlands paddocks and needless to say, is carrying a full sibling to the Durban July/Met winner!’

Gavin Lerena waves as Kommetdieding is welcomed by trainer Michelle Rix

KOMMET WHAT A STORY! Kommetdieding's fine victory in the WSB Gr1 Cape Town Met proved a rare occasion in more than one respect, for while Michelle Rix made history as the first woman to train a Met winner, the son of Elusive Fort is also the first Durban July winner in a decade to complete the coveted double! In fact, Kommetdieding's biography reads like a novel, right from the start. Had owner Peter de Beyer not returned his champion Elusive Fort to South Africa, we would have been deprived

of this exceptional galloper. A champion and triple Gr1 winner in South Africa under the expert tutelage of champion trainer Geoff Woodruff, the son of Fort Wood was exported to the States at the end of his four-year-old season to continue has racing career. Based in Florida, his best effort amongst a handful of starts was a second in Gulfstream Park's Gr3 Appleton Handicap. Sadly, by the time Elusive Fort returned to South Africa to embark on a stud career at the now defunct Arc-En-Ciel Stud, his outstanding local racing

career had become a fading memory, with the result that he received scant support from local breeders. Despite the lack of patronage, the handsome bay quickly showed he had what it takes when siring Gr1 winning fillies Siren's Call and Lauderdale in his first two crops. SA Oaks winner Secret Potion followed, while Kommetdieding and Gr1 SA Derby hero Out Of Your League became his next two Gr1 winners. More important though, Elusive Fort joined the elite ranks of stallions last season

when he finished seventh on the General List and now holds court at his owner's Black Swan Stud near Robertson. Kommetdieding's female line traces to Varsfontein Stud import Riding Light. A daughter of Top Ville, she raced in France for Mrs Kalmanson, winning twice as a three-year-old before arriving in South Africa, where she scored once more before making the Varsfontein paddocks her home. Stud manager Carl de Vos remembers her well and recalls: "Riding Light was

a lightish mare and difficult to work with. We sent her to Riverton Stud to visit Russian Fox. Needless to say, Duncan Barry told me she kicked the stallion, but they managed to get her covered. She came back to the farm and was checked by the vet, who maintained she was not in foal. We left her alone and when the next breeding season came along, we checked her again and would you believe it, she was pregnant after all! Because she had been fed like a barren mare, she gave birth to a very small filly. That was Dacha, who we sold at the then

Goodwood Yearling sale for R3000!" Despite her size, Dacha showed she could run by winning the Prix du Cap and finishing second in the Gr3 Diana and third in the Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship. Barbara Sanna purchased Dacha at the end of her racing career and she retired to Oldlands Stud, where, despite her size, she proved quite prolific, producing 11 foals. Nine of those became winners and included a trio of black type performers, amongst which the Captain Chase Liebenberg

22 Owner Ashwin Reynolds gives his champ a congratulatory kiss

Al filly Adorable, who would become the dam of Kommetdieding. Sold at the National Yearling Sale for R400 000, she was trained by Charles Laird and scored three times, in addition to which she chased home triple Gr2 winner Gibraltar Blue in the Listed Gardenia Handicap. She eventually joined the Klawervlei broodmare band and had produced just two winners by the time Kommetdieding was a three-year-old. The colt had been sold off the

farm for a trifling R55 000 and after foaling to Twice Over, she was on the list of mares to be culled.

own sister this past spring."

Once again, fate stepped in.

Adorable is once again roaming the Oldlands paddocks and needless to say, is carrying a full sibling to the Durban July/Met winner!

As Barbara elaborates: "We saw Adorable was offered online. I think ours was the only bid and we got her back for R8000! She was in foal to firstseason sire Gold Standard and produced a colt which we have named New Standard. By then Kommetdieding was a stakes winner, so we sent her back to Elusive Fort and she foaled his

So the wheel has come full circle.

Cover Image Met winning owner Ashwin Reynolds on his big day – courtesy of Chase Liebenberg

Fiona Ramsden

MJ puts another subject on the spot! Breeder John Koster on the Met winner’s podium with owner Ashwin Reynolds

‘Met A Triumph For Racing’ John Koster

Multiple champion breeders Klawervlei enjoyed the distinction of breeding Saturday’s WSB Cape Town Met first and third finishers. Kommetdieding and Linebacker carried the flag with pride, but Klawervlei boss John Koster told the Sporting Post that the 2022 Cape Town Met was a triumph in so many ways. “It was a triumph for the cheap horse with wings on his feet, the history making Kommetdieding.

“It was a triumph for the charismatic, popular and passionate owner Ashwin Reynolds and his lovely wife Rene. “It was a triumph for the Crawford and Rix families, both steeped in horse racing tradition as a father/ daughter combination. And it was a massive triumph for Thoroughbred racing in general,” said the veteran breeder.

He was thrilled that this combination has brought ‘the people’ back into the game.

“The crowd at Kenilworth was beautiful in its typical South African diversity – all cheering madly, all rejoicing emotionally and all enjoying the moment where ‘David triumphed over Goliath’. \Racing needs to pounce now and not miss this opportunity. We must be transparent, disseminate all information and entice new and old back into this wonderful sport - we have so much to offer. Bring it on!” he concluded.

28 Bohica scrapes in under Smanga Khumalo

Candiese Lenferna

AZZIE BURIES CAPE FLYING GHOSTS 29

Gauteng raider Bohica dealt a body blow to many Pick 6 aspirations at Kenilworth on WSB Met day. But for veteran trainer Mike Azzie the gelding’s victory in the Pongracz Gr1 Cape Flying Championship buried a frustrating legacy of treble runner-up finishes in the speed spectacle, as well as the hotly debated National Currency third place behind Eli’s Game in the 2003 renewal. Azzie, who trains in partnership with his son Adam, has won every Gr1 sprint in the country, but the Cape Flying Championship had eluded the top conditioner until Saturday, when a terrific ride by Smanga Khumalo got the son of Capetown Noir home in a thrilling three-cornered finish. It was sweet revenge for the Gauteng operation after Bohica was beaten into second by Saturday’s favourite Rio Querari in the

2021 Computaform Sprint at Turffontein. In a race not unsurprisingly packed with raw speed, Bohica was always up with the pace down the inside as Pleasedtomeetyou and the fancied Real Gone Kid stayed in touch. Inside the final 250m the challenges were coming from all sides but Bling kept Bohica (20-1) at his task to hold the Bass-Robinson 40-1 pair of Mr Cobbs and African Rain to two short heads, with the favourite Rio Querari just over a half length back in fourth. Real Gone Kid was not disgrace disgraced, running fifth and just a length off the winner. Trainer Adam Azzie’s initiative in schlepping down on the long road trip from Johannesburg was richly rewarded. The connections had debated the decision over three days before committing to the extra

costs -and challenge. “We’re pleased we took the chance – Bohica may be a bit in and out but on his best form we felt he could run close. S’Manga gave him a great ride, sticking to pacesetter Pleasedtomeetyou’s girth, coming off the bit late, then being so strong in the finish!” said Azzie A handsome son of Equus Champion Miler and a Cape Derby and L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Capetown Noir (Western Winter), the Summerhill Stud-bred winner is out of the unraced Mullins Bay mare, Wysiwyg – a half sister to Model K from the family of Mannequin and Kalami. A R300 000 graduate of the 2018 Summerhill Ready To Run Sale, Bohica has won 7 races with 9 places from 24 starts for stakes of R1 239 175.

The Merits BOHICA remains unchanged on a rating of 125 after he captured the WFA Pongracz Cape Flying Championship over 1000m at Kenilworth on Saturday. Here the Handicappers were of the opinion that 6th

finisher BEREAVE made for the most suitable line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 106. In assessing the race this way, BOHICA only runs to a mark of 114, hence his unaltered rating. The only ratings increases were for 2nd placed MR 30

COBBS and 3rd finisher AFRICAN RAIN, who both go up to 113, from ratings of 101 and 106, respectively, and for 5th finisher REAL GONE KID, who is up slightly from 111 to 112.

Chase Liebenberg

The happy Bohica team with their longshot winner

WINTER'S STILL FLYING When Bohica (Capetown Noir) caused a surprise win in Saturday’s Gr1 Pongraz Cape Flying Championship, he continued the remarkable success his grandsire Western Winter has enjoyed in the race. The 2022 Cape Flying Championship was a triumph for Western Winter sire sons with the latter's Equus champion son Capetown Noir responsible for Bohica and Western Winter’s highly successful sire son, and

multiple Equus Champion, What A Winter sire of Flying Championship runner up Mr Cobbs. Mr Cobbs was one of two runners in the race for What A Winter (also the sire of seventh place finisher Hello Winter Hello) – who triumphed in the Cape Flying Championship both in 2011 and 2013. What A Winter also finished second to champion Val De Ra (Var) in the 2012 Cape Flying Championship.

What A Winter has already enjoyed success in the Cape Flying Championship as a sire –his subsequent Equus Champion son Russet Air winning the Cape Flying Championship in 2020. His sire Western Winter is also the sire of 2010 Cape Flying Championship winner Warm White Night, as well as Cape Flying Championship runner up Red Ray. (Red Ray ran twice in the Cape Flying Championship, and also ran third in the 2017 renewal).

Western Winter’s influence on the Cape Flying Championship is not, however, limited to his sons. His Gr2 winning daughter Carry On Katie is the dam of 2017 G1 Cape Flying Championship heroine Carry On Alice. A three time champion sire in South Africa, Western Winter has also enjoyed success in top sprint features the Gr1 Mercury Sprint (Red Ray, What A Winter), Gr1 Computaform Sprint (Attenborough, What A Winter), and Gr1 South African Fillies Sprint (Lady Windermere). He is broodmare sire of not only champion sprinter Carry On Alice but also high-class sprinter, and now Varsfontein

Stud based sire, Erik The Red (both Carry On Alice and Erik The Red were both sired by Captain Al).

subsequent successful sire Mr Greeley, and durable Dubai sprinter Conroy, among many others.

Western Winter’s hugely successful sire Gone West (Mr Prospector) was also no stranger to siring high-class sprinters.

Western Winter’s influence on Saturday was not limited to the Pongracz Cape Flying Championship -his daughter Baqueira is the dam of Saturday's impressive Listed City Of Cape Town Summer Juvenile Stakes winner Cliff Top (Canford Cliffs).

Not only did Gone West sire champion sprinter, and outstanding stallion, Speightstown (winner of the Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint), another son, Grand Slam, ran second in the Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint of 1998. Grand Slam went on to sire a Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner in the form of Cajun Beat. Gone West was also responsible for Gr1 Breeders' Cup Sprint runner up, and

Master Of The Met Varsfontein Stud’s resident sire Master Of My Fate enjoyed a memorable two days on Friday and Saturday, with the imposing son of Jet Master supplying a pair of winners at Fairview on Friday and two more winners at Kenilworth on Met day on Saturday. Master Of My Fate opened Met day in fine style when his 3yo daughter Peut Etre Moi won the first race on the card, the World Sports Betting Maiden Plate. Under an inform S’Manga Khumalo, the Varsfontein Stud bred filly pulled clear in

the closing stages to shed her maiden by a convincing two lengths. Runner up in her three of her four previous starts, Peut Etre Moi is out of the Captain Al mare Possibly Me and she is thus bred on the same cross as Master Of My Fate’s graded stakes winning daughters Basadi Faith and Pretty Betty. Master Of My Fate’s second success at Kenilworth on Saturday came when his son Han Solo captured the 11th, and penultimate, race on the card, the Prime Trees MR 84 33 Handicap.

Trained by Glen Kotzen, Han Solo motored home, under Richard Fourie, to win going away by a length and a half. Bred by his part-owner Judy Wintle, the consistent Han Solo, now a three time winner, has either won or finished second in each of his last four starts. South Africa’s second Leading Sire by stakes in 2020/21, Master Of My Fate has five lots on offer at this week’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale and a further eight lots on the Cape Yearling Sale.

Candiese Lenferna

Richard Fourie and Captain’s Ransom storm past Grant van Niekerk and Chansonette and Anton Marcus and Princess Calla in a thriller

An extraordinarily confident, charismatic, cool – call it what you like- ride by regular jockey Richard Fourie capped a second Majorca Stakes victory and fourth career Gr1 success for Suzette Viljoen’s star filly Captain’s Ransom at

Kenilworth on Met day. While SA Champion trainer Justin Snaith rationalised his lengthy successful partnership with Fourie some months ago, the duo are deadly when they partner, even on an average day, and they

didn’t want to know about the Moutonshoek-bred 4yo getting beat. After the Bohica Pick 6 knockout, the majority of exotic hopes rested on Captain’s Ransom’s shoulders in the Schweppes

Gr1 Majorca Stakes – and at the 200m, those that had covered with the year younger Chansonette were probably celebrating. Grant van Niekerk had set sail on Chansonette (28-10) at the 250m and the Andre

Nel 3yo looked set to avenge her Paddock Stakes defeat. But it was not to be as Fourie coaxed the fleetfooted Captain’s Ransom (17-10). Two bounces and a few strides later, Fourie stood up in the saddle and saluted

the enthralled crowd, with Captain’s Ransom gaining the verdict to win going away by 0,40 lengths in a time of 99,68 secs. The Sporting Post was contacted after the race with questions as to why Van

Niekerk had not shown any penchant for his crop when it counted. But the Stipes had no issue, and it was a win full of masses of merit as Van Niekerk would have need a set of wings to stop the Snaith star. Richard Fourie confirmed that the slow-run race had not gone according to plan. “I said to Justin (Snaith) we would win by 20 lengths. But I had her 20 lengths further back than I should have . So it worked out well,” smiled the top rider.

Captain’s Ransom, a R225 000 buy from the 2019 National Yearling Sale, was bred by Moutonshoek.

Captain’s Ransom took her stakes tally to R1 981 000 with her tenth win from twelve starts.

She is a daughter of deceased champion sire Captain Al (Al Mufti) out of the unraced Red Ransom mare Cinna’s Ransom. The latter, dam of multiple winners in Britain, is a half-sister to Gr3 Prix de SaintGeorges winner Black Rock Desert and multiple Japanese stakes winner Toyo Seattle.

Former jockey Louis Burke was singled out for special mention for his effort with prepping the winner.

Cinna’s Ransom’s own dam, the Plankton Stakes winner, City Dance is a full-sister to multiple Gr1 winner, and successful sire, Slew City Slew.

The Merits CAPTAIN’S RANSOM remains unchanged on a rating of 126 after she recorded a second successive victory in the WFA Gr1 Majorca Stakes for fillies and mares over 1600m at Kenilworth on Saturday. After much deliberation, the Handicappers took the view that 4th placed ZARINA would not have run worse

in this Grade 1 contest than when she finished fourth behind CAPTAIN’S RANSOM in a pinnacle event in early December and accordingly used the mark of 115 she achieved in that race as the yardstick by which to assess the Majorca Stakes. Nevertheless, ZARINA – who won her most recent race before the Majorca Stakes – remains unchanged on a mark of 119.

In rating the race this way, CAPTAIN’S RANSOM runs to a mark of 123, hence her unchanged rating. The only increase was for 2nd placed CHANSONETTE, who is up from 118 to 123. No horses were given a rating’s drop after this race.

Candiese Lenferna

Heavy work of it, but Smanga Khumalo gets Sparkling Water up late

SIMPLY SPARKLING STUFF! S’manga Khumalo had a Plan A and a Plan B for Sparkling Water in Saturday’s Gr2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers run over the 2800m at Kenilworth. But things didn’t go exactly as he’d hoped and he had to revert to ‘Plan C’. All’s well that ends well and she got up in the last stride of the marathon to post a popular win. “She got a nudge at the start, the boys were bullying her a bit so we had to sit at the back. But I remembered how she’d won from the back of the field over 2400m so I didn’t panic. I followed them

through, there was a bit more barging down the straight but she is gutsy, she put them to bed!” said the half relieved top jock. Mike de Kock said: “She got away with this win because she is so good. She’s a special filly and she was generously treated at the weights, so this race was tailor made for her.” Mike thanked the sponsors, New Turf Carriers, owner Mary Slack and 4Racing for putting up am excellent day. “4Racing raised the bar, this was a wellmanaged, well marketed and enjoyable day and gave us all hope for the future. What we on the Highveld would like to see

now is some Cape trainers pull finger to come and race with us on the Highveld!” Sparkling Water is a now six-time winning daughter of Silvano and Slack’s former smart stakes winner, Espumanti, bred at Wilgerbosdrift Stud. Mike said about Cape Met winner Kommetdieding: “This was an old-fashioned, excellent training feat into a big race by Michelle Rix and Harold Crawford. It’s not always easy to train champions, it takes true skill and they did it magnificently.”

The Merits SPARKLING WATER remains unchanged on a rating of 112 after she won the Grade 2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m at Kenilworth on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the view that 4th placed ONE WAY TRAFFIC would not have run below the mark of 104 he actually achieved

when finishing 2nd on more favourable weight terms in the Grade 3 Chairman’s Stakes three weeks earlier and used that performance to rate Saturday’s event.

93 to 104, while 3rd finisher BAYBERRY drops slightly from 105 to 104, thus ensuring that the 2nd, 3rd and 4th horses are all rated equal on 104.

In assessing the race this way, SPARKLING WATER only achieves a rating of 101, hence her unchanged mark. 2nd placed HOLY WARRIOR was raised from

There were no ratings increases or decreases for any other runners in this race.

RACING TV: TAKING A LONG-TERM VIEW 46

Steve Watson – a man with a refreshing approach to communication

Access for international viewers and Tellytrack’s grab of subscriber’s hardearned cash. These are just two of the concerns doing the rounds this week as we adjust to our new racing television world – something akin to learning how to watch when the SABC launched 47 years ago! In an open letter to all stakeholders, 4Racing.tv Head Steve Watson offers some insights and updates on the racing television situation. I write to you today to appraise you of developments on 4racing.tv and to respond to comments noted on various industry platforms, social media groups and direct messages to the business. I trust that you will find the information contained in this letter of value and I encourage you to please continue to provide us with constructive feedback as we transition and evolve our products.

I appreciate this communication is somewhat lengthy with everything that is going on right now, so thank you in advance to all who take the time to read it through. Tellytrack.com We are aware that this service was terminated by the partners of Tellytrack at midnight on 31 January. This service included access to SA racing for both local and international subscribers, as well as local access to the Tellytrack 1 and 4 channels, amongst other content. I am aware that there are many disgruntled patrons to this service who have acquired longterm subscriptions which have now been terminated by virtue of the service ceasing to exist. I further note with concern that 4Racing is being labelled with this termination and I would like to remind stakeholders that 4Racing is not a partner in Tellytrack and in this instance we do not have access to the database of subscribers

to Tellytrack.com or the right under the POPI act to communicate with them in direct communications should we have received it. Irrespective, and as a gesture of goodwill from the 4Racing team, we would like by way of this invitation to offer you the following: ‘’Any stakeholder who had a valid paid subscription on Tellytrack.com, that has been terminated early as a result of the service no longer being available, a complimentary, equivalent subscription on 4racing.tv” Please email support@4racing.tv with the details of your Tellytrack.com subscription and our Service Suite agents will enable your service on 4racing.tv. Please read the balance of the open letter by clicking here

MJ puts another subject on the spot! 50 Craig Zackey steers Universal to an impressive win

Candiese Lenferna

UNIVERSAL RULES! MJ puts another subject on the spot! 51

Adam Marcus’ well-related Gimmethegreenlight colt Universal set the record straight after an unfortunate incident in the Cape Guineas at his last start when he registered a career first graded stakes success, winning the R250 000 Cape Racing Gr3 Politician Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday. A 9,50 length winner of his maiden at his second outing, Vardy’s handsome halfbrother had excuses in both the Cape Classic and the Guineas, but bounced back and showed an appreciation for the 1800m, winning a tightly contested finish under regular pilot, Craig Zackey.

With plenty of support for the Snaith galloper Pacaya, Universal started at 6-1 and didn’t put a hoof wrong as he held off a determined late by the high-riding Grant van Niekerk on the Nel runner Master Redoute (20-1) by 0,75 lengths. The winner’s time was 111,76 secs, with the consistent Zapatillas shaded a nose away in third after overcoming a wide gate, and finishing with zest. Universal is raced by Darryl Yutar, Jimmy Sarkis, Greg Blank & Hilton Yutar. He is by champion sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the Jet Master mare Cupid, and was bred by the Tawny Syndicate at

Klawervlei Stud. Universal is a winner of 3 races with 1 place from 6 starts for stakes of R241 275. The colt looks to have booked his SA Champions Season ticket and is clearly improving quickly.

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The Merits UNIVERSAL has had his rating raised from 105 to 113 following his success in the Grade 3 Cape Racing Politician Stakes for threeyear-olds over 1800m at Kenilworth on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the view that 4th placed SENSO UNICO would not have run worse in this Grade 3 event than when finishing 2nd in an ordinary Merit Rated 82 handicap at his most recent start and

accordingly used his actual achieved rating of 100 from that race to rate the Politician Stakes. Accordingly, SENSO UNICO goes up from 93 to 100. There were increases also for 2nd finisher MASTER REDOUTE, who goes up from 87 to 99, and for 3rd placed ZAPATILLAS, who is up from 107 to 111. There was also an increase for 6th placed BARATHEON, who goes up from 80 to 86 to at least make

him equal to the 86-rated 9th finisher CHOLLIMA. WAITING FOR SUMMER, whose rating had dropped from 99 to 97 following the publication of weights for this event, remains on 97. There was a small drop for NEVER ENDING RAIN, who is down from 105 to 104 and XAVION was dropped from 102 to 100.

Chase Liebenberg

East Cape raider Cliff Top pulverizes his opposition to win the Listed feature(Pic – Chase Liebenberg)

CANFORD CLIFFS ON TOP!

Just under a week after their multiple Gr1-winning stallion Canford Cliffs celebrated his maiden SAbred winner, the Ridgemont Highlands team opened the champagne again at Kenilworth on WSB Met day when their champion miler’s son Cliff Top went start to finish to win the R175 000 City Of Cape Town Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes.

Trained by East Cape Champion trainer Alan Greeff and ridden by Ridgemont jockey Greg Cheyne in the Ridgemont silks, Cliff Top carried too many guns for a diverse field and stamped himself as one to follow, enjoying the distinction of becoming his sire’s first SAbred stakes winner. East Cape champion Greg Cheyne also rode the first

Canford Cliffs SA -bred winner Body Electric at the same venue on 23 January. Showing no signs of any ill effects after his long Garden Route road-trip from his Gqeberha hometown, the imposing Cliff Top (4-1) was never headed and opened the R14 269 188 big day Pick 6 when bolting home by 1,50 lengths as tote favourite in a time of 59,18 secs.

Local hope We’re Jamming (4-1) stayed on for second, with 20-1 shot Grinkov shading Cousin Casey (9-2) a further 4,25 lengths back in third. With only a handful of runners from his first SA crop having seen the racecourse, Canford Cliffs, who was recently recognised by Timeform as one of the greatest milers to grace the turf this century, could not have hoped for a

better start to 2022. Europe’s dominant miler at three and four, Canford Cliffs won five consecutive Gr1 races over the trip. He has produced winners in over 30 countries, including more than 40 stakes perfomers. His smart son Cliff Top had run a course-record breaking cracker for second on his 800m Fairview debut and has now won at his second time of

asking. In the process he took his earnings to R122 375. The winner was bred by Ridgemont Highlands out of the Western Winter one-time winner Bacqueira. Buyers will be happy to know that Canford Cliffs has nine lots on the CTS De Grendel Cape Premier Yearling Sale on Sunday.

Chase Liebenberg

59 Trainer Alan Greeff - successful raiding expedition from Gqeberha

JC Photos

Desert Miracle – special filly sets out on a journey on Saturday

DE KOCK WON’T NEED A MIRACLE The 2022 Highveld Feature season opens on Saturday and after the fun and games of Met day, we are going to need some fireworks to get us excited! One man who could give us that is Mike de Kock who looks to have a strong hand in both the World Sports Betting Gauteng Guineas and the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas. Both Gr2 races are to be run over 1600m on the Standside track at Turffontein on Saturday and form the respective first legs of the SA Triple Crown and the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara for fillies.

The two other legs of the Triple Crown are the Gr1 SA Classic over 1800m and Gr2 SA Derby over 2450m, while in the case of the Triple Tiara, they are the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic and Gr2 SA Oaks.

Last year there was a unique situation where De Kocktrained Malmoos won the Triple Crown while Paul Matchett’s charge, War Of Athena, captured the Triple Tiara.

The Cape Guineas and Cape Fillies Guineas count as alternate first legs for the Triple Crown and Tiara which means we could see WSB Cape Town Met fourth-placed Double Superlative and Chansonette, a close runner-up to Captain’s Ransom in two Gr1 fillies’ features at Kenilworth, on the Highveld for the respective Classic races.

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Tattersalls

Top gavel man John O’Kelly

SUNDAY AT DE GRENDEL...

SHADES OF PREMIER NORMALITY! The presence of John O’Kelly — one of the best auctioneers on the planet — on the rostrum for Sunday’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale at the De Grendel wine estate is an indication the bloodstock world is getting back to normality.

Irish-born O’Kelly, who lives in Belgium, has a busy schedule as Tattersalls auctioneer in the UK, but he has always found time to demonstrate his expertise at SA’s premier Cape sale. Dave Mollett writes on www.businesslive.co.za that although the Covid-19

pandemic has meant no visits here for two years, his overseas interviews have been bullish. He told TDN Europe: “This [interruptions of sales] is a blip and it will get better. Now whether it will get better immediately for yearling sales, who knows. But it will

get better. “Everybody is concerned about the virus and its effects. Breeders have gone to a great deal of trouble and bred their horses and they’re ready to sell, but they are concerned about where the market is going to be. “I think it’s reassuring that the American stock market is picking up again and people are reinvesting for the future,” said O’Kelly. Around May and June every

year, O’Kelly sets out from his Belgium home to go and inspect yearlings on behalf of Tattersalls on a large number of stud farms. With most people grounded because of the pandemic, O’Kelly came up with the perfect solution in 2020 and embarked on a journey to France and Germany in a camper van. “In the space of five days, I drove between some 20 stud farms in France [he is fluent in the language] and Germany.”

At Sunday’s sale, O’Kelly will team up on the rostrum with Andrew Miller, the leading auctioneer in this country. Between them they will sell a total of 188 lots. Miller will sell the first 20 lots, which include a Querari colt from Maine Chance Farms (lot 6), a Trippi colt from Klawervlei (lot 10) and a Gimmethegreenlight colt from Nadeson Park Stud (lot 19). O’Kelly’s first lot should prove popular as the filly (lot 21) — consigned by Ridgemont

Highlands — is one of only six of the progeny of red-hot stallion Rafeef on the sale. She is a half-sister to the three-time winner Stream Ahead. Other well-bred yearlings in O’Kelly’s first session include a Twice Over colt (lot 29 from Nadeson), who is a half-brother to KZN Fillies Guineas winner Gimme Six. Futura is another sire going great guns and Avontuur Farm are offering one of his sons (lot 32) out of the fivetime winner Easy Game. O’Kelly ends off his first spell with a William Longsword colt (lot 40) from Klawervlei, who is the first produce of the six-

time winner Exquisite Touch. The Irishman’s second spell includes another first produce — Drakenstein Stud have consigned a What A Winter colt (lot 74), who is the first offspring of grade 1 winner Lady In Black. Of course, the CTS team will have alerted O’Kelly to the fact that — later in the sale — he will be offering a half-brother (by William Longsword) to trainer Vaughan Marshall’s top performer Linebacker. The colt (lot 158) heads up Klawervlei Stud’s large draft. t

LOTS OF LOTS! The Sporting Post’s done some homework and our De Grendel Cape Premier Yearling Sale lot-by-lot snapshot is now available – please click here

Klawervlei Stud

Looking to maintain his excellent start! William Longsword : Captain Al – Pagan Princess (Fort Wood)

CONQUER THE WORLD

Klawervlei Stud's homebred Gr1 Cape Guineas winner William Longsword (Captain Al) has made a cracking start to his stud career.

The strapping bay, a winner of six of just eight starts, has made the perfect start at stud, with William Longsword's eye catching first crop headed by Gr2 Epol Umkhomazi Stakes winner DYCE, Listed Secretariat Stakes queen BON VIVANT and Listed Model Man Mile victor HASTA MANANA. Other promising sorts to have emerged from this crop include Gr2 filly REMEMBER WHEN, Listed #WomenInRacing Sophomore Sprint runner up

SAFE RETURN, and the smart COIN SPINNER. Understandably, the progeny of this exciting young sire have proven popular in the sales ring. A daughter of William Longsword made R1 000 000 at the 2021 National Yearling Sale, while William Longsword himself topped the Top Sires by Aggregate List at the 2021 CTS Ready To Run Sale. William Longsword has an exceptional draft on offer at the 2022 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, with his lots on offer including Lot 40 c William Longsword -Exquisite Touch This colt is out of the speedy Gr3 Man O'War Sprint/Ruffian

Stakes winner EXQUISITE TOUCH, herself a daughter of Var who was bred on the same cross as champion Val De Ra. Her granddam STORM SURGE was a stakes placed full-sister to Durban Nursery winner HOOVES OF GOLD (Golden Thatch) and half-sister to Gr1 Queen's Plate/Gr1 SA Guineas winning sire CRIMSON WAVES (Bush Telegraph). Lot 47 f William Longsword -For The Lads This filly is out of Gr1 Golden Slipper winner FOR THE LADS. Already the dam of two winners, For The Lads is herself out of Listed The Scarlet Lady Handicap

winner SKIN TIGHT (Winter Romance). The latter, herself out of Gr1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship runner up TIGHT DRUMS (Hard Up), is a half-sister to the winning dam of Gr1 July winning champion HEAVY METAL (Silvano). Lot 89 c William Longsword -Memorable Bred on the same cross which produced Gr2 winner DYCE, this colt is out of a fullsister to the Gr3 placed dam of Gr2 winner MONGOLIAN FALCON (Fastnet Rock). His third dam is Gr1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and US champion PHONE CHATTER (Phone Trick). Lot 103 c William Longsword -Off The Mark

This colt is out of Gr3 Acacia Handicap winner OFF THE MARK -a daughter of multiple champion sire and broodmare sire JET MASTER (Rakeen). A full-sister to Gr1 Gold Medallion runner up SPORTS COACH (Jet Master), Off The Mark is a daughter of Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner SPORT'S CHESTNUT. Lot 113 c William Longsword -Polar Trip A half-brother to this season's CTS De Grendel Ready To Run Stakes winner FIFTY FIVER (Vercingetorix), this colt is out of a winning TRIPPI (End Sweep) half-sister to champion ALWAYS IN CHARGE, the remarkable, 24 time winner CAPTAIN LARS and highclass filly ALASCAN MAIDEN -all of whom were sired by William Longsword's own

sire Captain Al. This colt's granddam POLAR CHARGE (Polar Falcon) was second in the Italian Oaks and she was a sister in blood to top sprinter and outstanding sire PIVOTAL (Polar Falcon). Lot 158 c William Longsword -Thin Red Line Out of Gr3 Fillies Mile second THIN RED LINE (Redoute's Choice), this colt is a threeparts brother to Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby/G1 Daily News 2000 winner LINEBACKER (whose sire CAPTAIN OF ALL was also sired by Captain Al) This colt's dam is a three-parts sister to Gr1 Winx Stakes winner SAMADOUBT (Not A Single Doubt), and his broodmare sire Redoute's Choice was one of the greatest Australian stallions this century.

Klawervlei Stud

The handsome Pomodoro : Jet Master – Golden Apple (Northern Guest)

POMODORO IS AT PREMIER! Klawervlei Stud's versatile Gr1 Vodacom Durban July winner Pomodoro (Jet Master) continues to catch the eye as a sire. South Africa's Leading First Season Sire of 2017-2018,

Pomodoro is a proven source of high-class gallopers, with his progeny already including the likes of dual Gr1 winner, and Equus Champion, RETURN FLIGHT, Gr1 Cape Guineas winner RUSSIAN ROCK, R5 million earner CIRILLO, and

short-lived Gr2 WSB Camellia Stakes winner GOLDEN BELLE. Pomodoro also has a number of promising sorts waiting in the wings, with his current representatives including

BLACK THORN (winner of three of his last four starts), BARZALONA (winner of the recent Need For Speed Sprint) -and POMODORO'S JET. The latter made a big impression when shedding his maiden impressively on L'Ormarins Queen's Plate day, and he looks a progressive three-year-old in the making.

CTS Million Dollar winner ILLUMINATOR (Trippi), Klawervlei Farm Sale Stakes winner ROCK THE GLOBE (Seventh Rock) and the 3 time winning dam of recent Gr3 Tony Ruffel Stakes winner WILLIAM ROBERTSON (Rafeef). His dam is a stakes placed AL MUFTI (Roberto) half-sister to speedy Gr1 winner SILVER ARC (Silvino).

The July winning Pomodoro has an exciting bunch in the Klawervlei draft on offer at Sunday’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale, as can be seen from below:

Lot 126 f Pomodoro -Safe Harbour

Lot 63 c Pomodoro -Intergalactic Bred on the same cross which produced Pomodoro's talented daughter CARALLUMA, this colt is out of Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge winner INTERGALACTIC (Kahal). The latter, also third in the Gr1 Empress Club Stakes, is out of a mare by one of the greatest stallions in history -GALILEO (Sadler's Wells), and Intergalactic herself is directly descended in female line from arguably the most famous mare in the studbook -LA TROIENNE (Teddy). Lot 106 c Pomodoro -Pacific Lights This colt is a half-brother to seven winners, including

This filly, closely inbred to RAKEEN (Northern Dancer), is out of Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes winner, and runner up in three Gr1 races including the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas runner up, SAFE HARBOUR (Elusive Fort). This well bred filly, whose third dam is G1 winner SAINTLY LADY (Peacetime), is directly descended in female line from the hugely influential SISTER SUBLIME (Dante). Lot 163 f Pomodoro -Trophy Wife This filly, whose full-brother WITHOUT EQUAL ran fourth on debut, is out of G2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes winner and Gr1 Empress Club Stakes 2nd TROPHY WIFE (Tiger Ridge). Trophy wife earned nearly R2 million during her racing career which saw her win from 1200m to 2400 metres.This filly's granddam is Woolavington

Stakes winner MY SQUEEZA (Goldmark), and her fourth dam is G1 winner, and champion, BOLD CHERRY (Plum Bold). Lot 179 f Pomodoro -Witchcraft Bred on the same cross as stakes winning two-yearold CARALLUMA, this filly is out of dual G3 Track And Ball Oaks WITCHCRAFT, she a half-sister to Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship winner UNDER YOUR SPELL (Capetown Noir). Her granddam is a daughter of breed-shaping stallion KINGMAMBO (Mr Prospector), and is a half-sister to Gr2 Park Hill Stakes winner MEEZNAH (Dynaformer). Third dam is a stakes winning sister to successful SA sire CASEY TIBBS (Sadler's Wells), and this is the immediate family of the remarkable full-brothers LE MOSS (Le Levanstell) and LEVMOSS.

78 Hassen and his son, Rayaan – big plans to get more involved again

Chase Liebenberg

STILL IN THE RACE

– HASSEN’S NO PAST MASTER! 79

When Kommetdieding stormed to victory in the WSB Cape Town Met on Saturday for Ashwin Reynolds another former Met winning owner from similarly humble beginnings reflected on his own joyous day in the same race a decade earlier.

what a top horse he has in Kommetdieding. It’s important for the community of the Cape Flats to see tangible proof that if you work hard and keep at it, you can make your own luck,” says South Africa’s first racing steward of colour, who partly quotes his friend and fellow breeder, Gary Player.

Approaching his seventieth birthday this year, and having suffered the ravages of various cancers over the past few years, internationally successful businessman and racehorse breeder Hassen Adams is considerably greyer and casts a slighter figure these days than the robustly charismatic owner with the mop of black hair that led Gerrit Schlechter and Past Master in after the Darryl Hodgson-trained gelding had won the 2011 J&B Met.

Hassen understands the value equation – his first venture was Damascus Stud from where he bred Sleek Machine, which was sold for R500 and came within a heartbeat of catching London News in the 1996 the Durban July.

The man born in Cape Town’s famous District Six was selling newspapers on the winter streets of the Mother City before he was ten years old. When the Sporting Post visited him at his beachfront apartment on Monday, he was clearly delighted at Ashwin Reynold’s hometown success in the Cape’s flagship race. “Hell, I am so happy for Ashwin. He is a hardworking man and deserves the success. And

While he enjoyed a nice double saddled by Weiho Marwing at Turffontein on Sunday, the late James Lightheart was his first trainer and also gave him his first winner. “Thatching’s Fire was a filly I raced and she won me six races. I eventually sold her to the Becks. I also, by fluke, bought into Russian Fox and as time went on I got involved with trainers all over the country. To this day, I have always tried to support the underdog. Hassen has served on a variety of boards in business and in the racing industry over 40 years, and we asked him if he saw racing converting the ‘Kommet factor’ into marketing mileage. “I would like to believe that once the euphoria has

subsided that something tangible will be done to develop the concept of the ‘people’s horse’. Talk is cheap you know. Racing needs to genuinely win back the manin-the-street as it is betting turnover that ultimately fuels the industry engine.” While he wasn’t keen to go into great depth about his health issues over the past six years, Hassen marvels at what medical science can do and after seven different forms of cancer, he hasn’t been subjected to chemotherapy and its potentially debilitating side effects. “I have been lucky, and it’s amazing the strides that medical science has made. Robotic surgery is one. You lie there and nobody touches you. It is remarkable,” he says as he picks up Sunday’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale catalogue. He had a triple bypass last year and shows us the scar that runs like a mountain path up the centre of his upper body. But despite the health setbacks, he isn’t going anywhere right now and in fact wants to get more involved in racing, with his 31 year B Com graduate son Rayaan taking the lead. “Here’s the future,” he says

Rayaan and Hassen with Justin & Jono Snaith after Gimmethegreenlight’s L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate victory in 2012 as he embraces his son into the conversation and chats about their Nadeson Park draft on Sunday’s De Grendel Cape Premier Yearling Sale. “I have a yearling that is the closest in looks and conformation I have ever seen to Gimmethegreenlight. He is lot 19 – quite a brute and I rate him my best in this draft,” he says in his trademark quietly confident manner. “Here’s my notes on my top ten boys and girls. It looks like things are turning around and I hope we have a good turnout on Sunday. We need more happy winners like Ashwin!” The top lot 19 is by one of the great horses that Hassen raced. Gimmethegreenlight is

SA Champion sire and Hassen recalls the trip to Australia where the lovely weanling kept talking to him. “It was at an Inglis Weanling Sale. We were sitting at a table with James Bester and Sue Snaith. Sue really is one of those people with a special affinity – a spiritual link - with horses. She has a great eye for a good horse. I said to them I am going to try and get him for A$50 000. Next minute, bidding opened at 50k! I kept going and eventually landed up paying three times that. But he was worth every cent in hindsight!” Gimmethegreenlight was retired to stud as a 3yo, three months after his glorious L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate 81

victory. At the time, respected pedigree analyst and successful breeder Rob Knuppe sent an email to Hassen saying:“Of all the thousands of deep pedigree searches I have undertaken in the past decade I have yet to see a more exciting pedigree make-up come close to that of Gimmethegreenlight. It is a foregone conclusion that he will be challenging South Africa’s top Sires in just a few years from now”. Prophetic words! • Next week – Hassen talks about some exciting plans

HASSEN'S DE GRENDEL CAPE PREMIER YEARLING SALE NOTEBOOK Lot 19: Colt by Gimmethegreenlight (USA) Comebackanddance “He, to me, is a splitting image of his sire. He is quite a brute and I rate him my best in this draft.” Lot 20: Colt by Gimmethegreenlight (USA) – Comet Chaser “He is good looking, a nice walker and a bull of a horse. He looks like he will be an excellent sprinter-miler, his dam is very well performed. The pedigree speaks for itself.” Lot 29: Colt by Twice Over – District Six “This is a magnificent specimen, his dam is from the powerful Mystic Spring female line who has thrown me some nice horses. Again, the page speaks for itself. Lot 88: Colt by What A Winter - Maureen De Lago “He comes from a very good female line. His dam won two races and was Graded placed, she would have gone

to the top if not for a hip injury. A nice colt with a half- brother who has already won three races.” Lot 93: Colt by Twice Over Mohave Princess “He is from Mohave Princess, a bold black type mare who won the Devon Air Listed and was G1 placed. His half-brother Picture Perfect (by Trippi) won by 3,50 lengths on debut at Turffontein on 30 January. A big horse, looks like he will go over ground, smart sort.” Lot 139: Colt by Horizon Sensible Lover “By a promising new stallion from a bold black type mare called Sensible Lover. He’s a lovely bay colt that will get his share of attention at the sale.” Lot 146: Colt by What a Winter – Single Rose “This one comes from a wonderful family, the pedigree is there to see, and he is a very well conformed colt, number three on my list.” Lot 150: Colt by Potala Palace - Spring Orchid

“By the sire of Katak from a full-sister to Snowdance, again the great Mystic Spring family. I sent her to Potala Palace for a specific reason, this could be a ‘lucky packet’ buy, he is a really nice mover.” Lot 166: Colt by Time Thief Valediction “A beautifully conformed colt, hence the reason he is in my top ten. This could be a good value buy for someone with a small budget. He is out of the same female line as Trademark and others, a Gr1 producing female line.” Lot 186: Colt by Pomodoro Amber Orchid “This colt is from a wellperformed Australian filly that raced for me. A big, well-balanced colt, lovely pedigree.” Lot 25: Filly by Gimmethegreenlight - Cream Of Chrome: “A nice Gimmethegreenlight filly from a sparingly raced mare that placed, but I am expecting her to do well at stud. The second dam is

Listed winner Kiribati, who was a really good galloper. The filly is well conformed, her half-brother was just beaten into second on debut and then won in impressive fashion last Sunday with his jockey and trainer most complimentary afterwards.” Lot 35: Filly by Gimmethegreenlight Emerald Gal “This filly is out of a winning Galileo mare. She’s bred in the purple. The dam’s fullsister is already a Group winner in the UK. I am hoping to breed some very good horses with her. This one is smart.” Lot 41: Filly by Trippi Fairyinthewoods “This filly is by a sire that needs no introduction and comes from a fast family, her dam won six races including the Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes and has bold black type. She is well conformed, another filly I think will get some spirited bidding.” Lot 42: Filly by What A Winter - Fanfare “She is from a half-sister

to Durban July winner and Equus Champion Heavy Metal. A beautiful filly with a deep, classic female line.”

the close family of top sire Vercingetorix and could be one of the showstoppers at the sale.”

Lot 80: Filly by Master Of My Fate - London Secret “Number one on my list of fillies because she is an exceptional specimen. Normally Jet Master mares go very well with Gimmethegreenlight. Here we have a Jet Master stallion over a winning mare by Gimmethegreenlight. She looks a splitting image of her sire; I think she will be one of this sale’s top sellers. The female line goes to Secret Pact, which brings a host of stars into the mix. I have big expectations for her.”

Lot 148: Filly by Gimmethegreenlight - Six Of The Best

Lot 97: Filly by Gimmethegreenlight Mysterious Jet “She is a good-looking fullsister to La Bella Mia, the recent Gr2 winning sprinter who won eight times and was placed 14 times. From a family of champion fillies.” Lot 98: Filly by Gimmethegreenlight - No Doubt “A beautifully conformed filly from a young mare. She is from

“Another one bred from a Jet Master mare. Her full brother Cane Lime N Soda is now a four-time winner. She also comes from the Mystic Spring female line.” Lot 155: Filly by Gimmethegreenlight Teresina “She is from a Jet Master mare, and sheis a full-sister to Gr2 placed Ready Steady Go, the six-time winner. From the formidable Young Polly family, I owned a few, and I expect her to fetch a good sales price.” Lot 187: Filly by Captain Of All - Arctic Green “From a leading and versatile stallion and the close family of Gr1 winner Silver Arc, she is one for the buyer’s market. A lovely filly, come look at her.”

CTS

HKJC

Lot 74 – Smashing What A Winter colt

DRAKENSTEIN DAZZLERS Kevin Somerville of Drakenstein Stud gives his impressions of the farm’s CPYS 2022 consignment : they are all colts this year, and they are all goodlooking! Lot 74: Colt by What A Winter - Lady In Black: “By the champion two-yearold sire, this is the first foal of former champion two-yearold, Lady In Black. He comes

from the wonderful family of Nexus Talahatchie and Lizarre. An easy moving colt with a wonderful action, there is plenty to like about him.” Lot 86: Colt by Trippi - Mar Del Sur: “By Trippi, this colt comes from the family of Pacific Warrior, Pacific Charm and Dashing Eagle. A well-balanced individual that will get his share of attention.”

Lot 104: Colt by Lancaster Bomber – One Fine Day: “Yamadori is from the first crop of outstanding G1 winner Lancaster Bomber (War Front) from a very precocious Graded stakes winner by Trippi. This bay colt is a half-brother to Pinkerton from the outstanding family of four times G1 winner, Camponologist. He is a wellbalanced colt with plenty to like about him.”

Lot 127: Colt by Lancaster Bomber - Sail: “This colt is from the Philanthropist mare, Sail, from the family of Sailing Ship and Santa Maria. This big, scopey colt has an easy way about him, with plenty to like.” Lot 130: Colt by Gimmethegreenlight - San Fermin: “This colt comes from the wonderful Australian family

of Bentley Biscuit and the celebrated Denise’s Joy. He is well balanced, easy going and strong.” Lot 142: Colt by Trippi – Shout Out Loud: “J Roops is a colt by the outstanding Trippi, from Shout Out Loud, an unraced fullsister to Singapore Sling. This is the same family of former champion older female sprinter Whistling Dixie, and the international winner Grand

Emporium. J Roops is a special colt!” Lot 162: Colt by Gimmethegreenlight - Trip Poker: “Here’s a colt by top sire Gimmethegreenlight, from a two-time winning Trippi mare. He comes from the family of Liquid Mercury, Captain Gambler and Canadian Horse of the Year in 2018 and multiple champion, Wonder Gadot. This is a strong and well-made colt.”

JC Photos

Muzi Yeni guides Al Muthana to an easy win

AL MUTHANA’S GOT THE POWER A horse whose early career was thrown off track by the handicapper, the 4yo Australian-bred Al Muthana registered his first stakes success when an easy winner of the R175 000 Listed Wolf Power 1600 run on soft ground at Turffontein on Sunday. Trainer Mike de Kock has been patient with the Shadwell home-bred, and it was a no frills win as Muzi Yeni guided the gelding to an easy off-the-pace victory.

“He was 105 as a young horse, came down to 91 and has built again from there. He’s typical of horses we see week in and week out – with careers hampered by ratings that are way too high,” De Kock is on record as saying, and while Al Muthana wasn’t the first, and won’t be the last, he looks to now go on and win his races. He scored by over 5 lengths beating Stone Cold in a time of 98 secs. A strung out field stretched to near 27 lengths behind him.

Al Muthana has won 5 of his 11 starts with 3 places for stakes of R388 625. A 4yo Shadwell homebred half-brother to Gr2 winner Wawail, Al Muthana was foaled and raised at Yarraman Park and is by smart sprinter Deep Field (Northern Meteor) from the Gr2 winning Redoute’s Choice mare, Daana.

The Merits AL MUTHANA has had his rating raised from 109 to 115 following his easy win in the Listed Wolf Power 1600 (handicap) over 1600m on the Turffontein standside track on Sunday 30 January. It was 2nd placed STONE COLD who was used as the line horse here, but as he was one pound or half-akilo under sufferance at the weights his rating goes up from 95 to 96. In assessing this race, the Handicappers took note of the soft conditions in which it was run and kept in mind the effect of exaggerating

the margins between horses that such going can have, especially towards the end of a race meeting when the track is becoming somewhat cut up. As such, a very conservative view of the race was taken and effectively the Handicappers halved the gaps between horses instead of taking them literally. To have adopted a literal view would have seen AL MUTHANA achieve a mark of at least 120, and the Handicappers were not convinced that this rating would be sustainable for AL MUTHANA given the aforementioned circumstances.

There were no increases aside from the winner, but no fewer than six horses received a rating’s drop. WILLOW EXPRESS is down from 101 to 100, CHIJMES drops from 102 to 100, EXPRESSFROMTHEUS is down to 108 from 111, LEOPOLD drops from 96 to 93, INDLAMU was cut from 99 to 97, and lastly WHORLY WHORLY is down slightly from 105 to 104.

results up to: 2022-02-01

TRAINERS Name

Runs

Wins Win%

709 554 260 408 611

Mr S J Snaith Mr P A Peter Mr M F de Kock Mr S G Tarry Mr G D Smith

96 101 54 44 67

13.5. 18.2 20.8 10.8 11.0

Other Places Place %

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

159 113 52 69 109

7,204,650 10,723,713 5,827,063 8,552,563 3,658,688 4,959,000 3,427,625 4,940,063 2,819,688 4,429,888

2nd

3rd

87 81 37 37 70

87 61 29 42 60

2nd

3rd

Other Places Place %

Win Stake (R)

129 81 80 95 72

115 75 66 90 66

161 127 100 160 121

7,534,125 11,258,288 7,661,575 10,608,588 5,729,675 7,940,938 4,790,250 7,889,325 3,755,825 6,243,900

333 255 118 148 239

47.0 46.0 45.4 36.3 39.1

JOCKEYS Name

Rides Wins Win%

Mr W B Kennedy Mr S Khumalo Mr R D Fourie Mr M A Yeni Mr K de Melo

853 662 472 781 535

142 114 94 92 73

16.6 17.2 19.9 11.8 13.6

405 283 246 345 259

47.5 42.7 52.1 44.2 48.4

Total Stakes (R)

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

241 939 289 1149

46,055 37,036

99 133 83 103

41.1 377 28.7 451

8 4

10 5

11,099,138 10,703,538

128 120 119

55,378 45,672 40,239

50 43 34

39.1 204 35.8 193 28.6 187

10 2 2

7,088,400 5,480,688 4,788,450

B.T. Wins

Total Stakes (R)

9 1 6 6 3

6,792,013 6,240,213 6,048,625 5,763,113 5,743,463

499 470 548

74 61 47

SIRES Name Vercingetorix Master Of My Fate Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) * Silvano (GER) Elusive Fort

Runrs Runs AEPR 128 154 149 130 106

492 632 549 487 484

53,063 40,521 40,595 44,332 54,184

B.T. Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Rnrs % 57 61 53 53 36

75 76 70 68 49

44.5 39.6 35.6 40.8 34.0

208 289 212 206 212

See all the detailed standings - Click here 100

7 1 6 5 3

FA CUP THE DRAMA UNFOLDS 101

The FA Cup fourth round gets underway this weekend, and Chad Nagel takes a look at the top sides in action, as well as two all-Premier League ties. Friday 4 February 7/20 Manchester United | Draw 4/1 | Middlesbrough 7/1 (22:00) Manchester United will be full of confidence heading into Friday's FA Cup fourth round clash against Middlesbrough after beating high-flyers West Ham last time out. United have enjoyed a noticeable upturn in form under interim manager Ralf Rangnick and will look to take another giant stride towards Wembley. Middlesbrough, however, have been in fine form themselves, having won eight of their past 12 matches in all competitions under Chris Wilder, and will arrive hoping to cause an upset. It should be a close, entertaining affair, but United should have enough to progress. Saturday 5 February 1/20 Chelsea | Draw 11/1 | Plymouth Argyle 38/1 (14:30) Chelsea will be overwhelming favourites to reach the last 16 when they welcome third division side Plymouth Argyle to Stamford Bridge.

Thomas Tuchel's side sit third in the Premier League table, whilst the Pilgrims are seventh in League One. The Blues might make tweaks to their team but with Timo Werner, Christian Pulisic and Kai Havertz all attacking options it's safe to say they'll be very strong regardless. Back the Multiscores market – Chelsea to Win 4-0, 5-0 or 6-0 at 31/20. 11/10 Everton | Draw 49/20 | Brentford 9/4 (17:00) Everton take on Brentford in what will be Frank Lampard's first match in charge since taking over from Rafa Benitez, and the former Chelsea boss is determined to start his tenure on a winning note. The Toffees could unleash their new signings Donny van de Beek and Dele Alli as they aim to secure their passage to the fifth round. After a brilliant start, Thomas Frank's Brentford have struggled to maintain their early season form and come into this game having lost four in a row. The Bees will be hoping the arrival of Christian Eriksen will give them a bit of sting, but I’m backing Lampard's team to take the victory at 11/10.

loss against Crystal Palace in late October, the Citizens have gone unbeaten in their last 14 games across domestic competitions. Fulham will command plenty of respect seeing as they sit top of the Championship table, but masterminding a victory over Pep Guardiola’s men may be a step too far for Marco Silva. A raft of expected changes from City may have the London side feeling optimistic about their prospects of a giant killing, but the Sky Blues have plenty of options for rotation and should have enough to emerge victorious. City to win and both teams to score might be the play. Get on at 29/20. 13/20 Wolves | Draw 28/10 | Norwich 42/10 (17:00)

1/7 Manchester City | Draw 15/2 | Fulham 15/1 (17:00)

Wolves are at home to Norwich in an all-Premier League tie. Both clubs have experienced vastly contrasting seasons this term. Bruno Lage's side are eighth in the league and have the second tightest defence with only league leaders Man City leaking fewer goals on 14. They come into the tie unbeaten in their last six matches with five wins and a draw against Chelsea.

Runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City welcome Fulham to the Etihad Stadium. Since their shock 2-0

Meanwhile, the Canaries are languishing in 17th place and have both the worst attacking and defensive record in the

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league. Back Wolves on the Home to Win to Nil at 31/20. 9/10 Tottenham | Draw 51/20 | Brighton 29/10 (22:00) Confidence will be sky high in the Brighton camp after beating Tottenham last time out. Graham Potter's side will look to pull off another upset, while Antonio Conte will be looking to take Spurs a step closer to winning their first trophy for 14 years. The north London club tasted defeat in their last home game; a 1-0 loss to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup. But prior to that, they were unbeaten in four matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, winning three in a row before earning a draw with Liverpool. Spurs have bolstered their

squad with the signings of Dejan Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur from Juventus and will be confident of exacting revenge. I’m tipping them to edge what should be a very close contest. Sunday 6 February 1/6 Liverpool | Draw 6/1 | Cardiff City 15/1 (13:00) Liverpool should get past Championship strugglers Cardiff City with minimal difficulty. Jurgen Klopp will most likely field a second-string side, although Reds fans could get a first glance of Colombian winger Luis Diaz, who arrived from Portuguese side FC Porto. The Merseysiders come into this one riding a three-match winning streak, including a

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3-0 home win over Brentford last time out. The Bluebirds, meanwhile, are winless in their previous four away matches and were beaten 3-2 on their last trip to Bristol City. Liverpool should comfortably put Cardiff to the sword. Back them on the Half-Time Full-Time Double at 5/10. MULTIPLE @ 127/1 Man United Win 7/20 Chelsea Win 4-0, 5-0 or 6-0 31/20 Everton Win 11/10 Man City Win & BTTS 29/20 Wolves - Home Win To Nil 31/20 Tottenham Win 9/10 Liverpool/Liverpool HT-FT 5/10

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