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Candiese Lenferna
Red Saxon (Julius Mariba) storms home down the inside to beat Safe Passage (Smanga Khumalo) in a thriller
NOW JOEY’S GOT THE RED LIGHT! Mike de Kock saddled present day Ascot stallion Heavenly Blue to win the Gr1 SA Classic in 2017. Since then the multiple champion has alternated top honours in the 1800m contest with his senior colleague, Joey Soma, who enjoyed the honour of opening the champagne this time round. Under leaden grey skies at Turffontein on Saturday the two top conditioners
appropriately fought out the 2022 renewal of the second leg of the WSB SA Triple Crown, with Joey Soma’s longshot Red Saxon getting the better of the De Kock favourite Safe Passage in the last few strides to take the honours in the R1,5 million WSB Gr1 SA Classic. While few may have seen the pattern unfolding, history shows that Joey Soma saddled the subsequently exported Lobo’s Legend to win the SA Classic in 2018; De Kock was
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on top with Hawwaam in 2019; Joey bounced back with Got The Greenlight in 2020; De Kock’s Malmoos took the honours in 2021 – and today it was Mr Soma’s time to celebrate. And celebrate he sure did, as Kimberley-born journeyman Julius Mariba, celebrating a career first Gr1 success, produced Red Saxon (251) with a powerful run down the inside rail after Smanga Khumalo really looked to
have done it all right on the Gauteng Guineas winner, Safe Passage (12-10). While the outcome was in the balance until the final strides, Red Saxon stayed on the better down the inside in the sticky underfoot conditions
to win by a quarter length in a time of 112,66 secs. Ashley Fortune’s pacemaking Captain Lannister (33-1), having his first try beyond 1450m, ran the race of his life after doing all the donkey work, to secure third.
The son of Captain Of All was still running powerfully into the final 250m and was only swallowed up by the top two late in the race. “My instructions to Ryan (Munger) were to make Chase Liebenberg
5 Joey Soma embraces winning Groom Elias Mabunda in the joy of the post-race celebrations
sure they both come back in one piece. At the end of the day he rode the right race and let him stride out front. He is not a horse that enjoys kickback, so he was in the right place. We have schooled him to settle and are thrilled with today’s effort. We will now give him a break and possibly consider the KZN Guineas down at Hollywoodbets Greyville ,” said trainer Ashley Fortune. The previously unbeaten Zeus did not seem to enjoy the conditions and finished seventh and 7,80 lengths off the winner.
While there was little betting support for Red Saxon, Turffontein-based Joey Soma was genuinely surprised that there was not more interest in his horse. “We got enough work in to him and based on his Dingaans and Guineas runs, he didn’t have many lengths to make up on Safe Passage,” he said. The veteran continued and said the win was in honour of his former Equus and multiple Gr1 winning champion Got The Greenlight. Red Saxon is now a two-time with 3 places from 7 starts for
stakes of R1 091 250. Bred by Narrow Creek Stud, Red Saxon is a first Gr1 winner for Birch Brothers sire Red Ray (Western Winter) out of the Casey Tibbs three-time winner Rodeo Sioux, who, like the Granddam Dancing Sioux, was also trained by Soma and won to 2600m. While the SA Triple Crown won’t be won in 2022, the third leg of the series, the R1,5 million Gr1 WSB SA Derby run over 2450m at Turffontein on Saturday 2 April, should be a fascinating return match.
The Merits RED SAXON has had his merit rating raised from 107 to 118 following his success in the Gr1 WSB SA Classic over 1800m on the standside track at Turffontein on Saturday 5 March. The Handicappers took the view that 5th placed ARAGOSTA made
for the most suitable line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 109.
placed SUPER EXCITED, who was raised from 107 to 109.
There were increases also for runner-up SAFE PASSAGE, who goes from 116 to 117, for 3rd finisher CAPTAIN LANNISTER, who goes up from 105 to 115, and for 4th
There were no other ratings increases, and there were no drops for any of the runners in this event.
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8 Joey Soma welcomes Red Ray’s first Gr1 winner, Red Saxon
Candiese Lenferna
‘Now that he has reached the important landmark of a first Gr1 winner in his very first crop, Red Ray must surely be worthy of better support…’
THE CLASSIC UNDERDOG! 9
In an age where the dominance of large powerful stables and breeders has become the norm, the outcome of last weekend's Gr1 SA Classic bucked the trend on all fronts. Victory went to unfancied Red Saxon, who not only entered the classic under the radar, he was bred by a smaller stud and was sired by a low-profile stallion. Notwithstanding the fact that the colt had run the race of his life to finish second in the Gr2 Dingaans straight out of the maidens, the pundits had somehow forgotten that effort by the time the Classic loomed. Granted, he subsequently finished sixth in the Gauteng Guineas, but considering he was no more than three and a half lengths behind the winner Safe
Creek Stud punching way above its weight. Red Saxon's Gr1 success came on the heels of fellow Narrow Creek-bred filly Sprinkles chasing home Rain In Holland in the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic. She has clearly gone from strength to strength since winning the Gr3 Three Troikas Stakes and also ran third in the Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas. And let's not forget the fellow Narrow Creek-bred stakes winners Bold Fortune, Big Burn and Freed From Desire. The former, a daughter of Flower Alley, counts both the Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge and Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap amongst a hat-trick of wins.
As the colt's trainer Joe Soma, arguably one of the shrewdest and knowledgeable trainers around, wryly quipped after the Classic: "Listening to the panel in the week leading up to the race, I thought my horse had been scratched!"
Big Burn, an Elusive Fort own sister to multiple Gr1placed Dingaans winner Catch Twenty Two, won the Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge and most recently finished second, beaten a neck, by Freed From Desire in a onetwo Narrow Creek finish to the Listed Swallow Stakes. Freed From Desire moved past MK’s Pride in the Gr2 Hawaii Stakes on Saturday and looked a winner until collared late by the progressive Al Muthana. A terrific run from the 3yo filly!
For Red Saxon's breeder John Everett, this was yet another triumph in a season which has seen his Narrow
John bred Red Saxon from the Casey Tibbs mare Rodeo Sioux, who like her son, was trained by Soma. She proved
Passage, he had certainly not disgraced himself.
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herself a fine stayer and counted a second in the Gr3 Racing Association Handicap and a third in the Gr2 Gold Bowl amongst a string of black type places. "She's a medium sized mare, with lots of substance," John said. "I took her over from Joe at the time when her first foal, a Seventh Rock colt, had won. She needed speed, hence I sent her to Red Ray. Red Saxon is her second foal and was followed by a cracking Twice Over filly who is also with Joe. Rodeo Sioux has a weanling by Erupt and is in foal to Canford Cliffs." At historical Vogel Vlei Stud, young stud master Colin Birch likewise was over the moon and rightly so. He stands the newly-minted Gr1 winner's sire. Bred by Lammerskraal Stud, Red Ray mixed it up with the best in a career spanning four seasons and ran out a facile two-length winner of the Gr1 Mercury Sprint from Jet Dark's 'uncle' Night Trip. He is the latest son of champion Western Winter to taste Gr1 success as a stallion and for those not familiar with his pedigree, is one of six stakes winners out of the blue hen mare Nacarat, of which five were sired by the standout son of Gone West. Red Ray arrived at the famed Dordrecht nursery in 2018 after standing just one
season at Klawervlei. Colin, who has great belief in the horse, has supported him strongly and remarked: "He ended up getting 40 mares last season, of which I sent
him about 30 of my own." That's a far cry from the threefigure books the top tier of stallions have access to. Now
that he has reached the important landmark of a first Gr1 winner in his very first crop, Red Ray must surely be worthy of better support. Candiese Lenferna
Warren Kennedy returns on Narrow Creek-bred Sprinkles after her gallant second to Rain In Holland
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WILGERBOSDRIFT CONGRATULATES THE CONNECTIONS OF
RAIN IN HOLLAND on winning the
WILGERBOSDRIFT SA FILLIES CLASSIC (Gr 1) 1 800m the second leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara. Owner: Drakenstein Stud Trainer: Sean Tarry Jockey: Richard Fourie Breeder: Drakenstein Stud
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14 The Soma Team returns with Red Saxon and an elated Julius Mariba
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Chase Liebenberg
MAGIC MISTER MARIBA
Beating his good mate and champion colleague Smanga Khumalo in a thrilling finish to Saturday’s WSB Gr1 SA Classic will go down as the nearest thing to the most memorable moment of 29 year old Julius ‘Juju’ Mariba’s eleven year career in the saddle. In increasingly deteriorating wet conditions, Red Saxon showed the improvement over the 1800m on his home track to beat the highly vaunted SA Triple Crown first leg winner, Safe Passage. “It felt like a dream as Red Saxon surged forward down the rail to grab Safe Passage in the final run to the line. The world sort of went quiet, and all I recall at the pull-up was Gavin Lerena, Muzi Yeni and Craig Zackey shouting ‘well done Juju’. I am still pinching myself today,” the elated Dad of two told the Sporting Post in a catch-up on Monday morning.
winner home for trainer and part owner Joey Soma and the Bhana family when Red Saxon found reserves of courage to lower the colours of the fancied Safe Passage. On Sunday 13 March 2011 Julius steered his first career winner past the now consigned to the scrapheap of history Clairwood lollipop when Mogok’s son Sunday Monday won for trainer Ivan Moore. “Maybe there is something in March, but my birthday is on 23 October,” he laughs. But those two major March month milestones, albeit some eleven years apart, are highlights and we asked the clearly chuffed Juju how it happened that he rode a
Gr1 horse for a top Gr1 conditioner. “I suppose you can say that I haven’t ridden a lot of Gr1 horses over the years. It’s all about the opportunities and the breaks along the way. Not that we don’t make our own luck, but my three winners – Happy And Glorious, Great Warrior and African Adventure – for Mr Soma at Turffontein on Durban July day 2021 was probably the turning point in our association. The great man has motivated, driven and supported me ever since. I am most thankful to him for getting me working, no matter whether the sun is shining or it’s raining – he’s a true professional and I’m really honoured to be a part of the team,” adds Julius, whose Chase Liebenberg
“When I got back to the weighing room the guys were all so kind and happy for me. What a memorable feeling!” he adds emotionally. There has to be something in the ‘rides of March’ metaphorical moniker for the Kuruman-born Julius Mariba. On Saturday 5 March 2022 he steered his first ever Gr1
Classic! Julius Mariba has not stopped smiling since Saturday afternoon
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five winners this term are all for the Soma yard. He said that after a year in Port Elizabeth, he had moved back to Gauteng and tried his luck at Randjesfontein. “Most trainers have their dedicated jockeys. And now with the standalone meetings on a Saturday, it is really tough securing rides without support. So I must thank Mr Soma again!”
Julius is excited about Red Saxon and cautioned that we have definitely not yet seen the best of the 3yo son of Red Ray! “The Classic really all worked out well. Mr Soma had Red Saxon spot on, and I was feeling great. You know professional riding is also about confidence. When Mr Soma gave me a leg up there was no pressure. He just said to me that it was my time to show what I could do. Red Saxon had done his work as there had
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not been much rain in the build-up. He simply said to me that I must ride my race. And I did. I am still on cloud nine!” Julius is the ham on the Mariba family sandwich – with two brothers and two sisters on either side of the age spectrum. He knew nothing about horses and less about racing the day the SA Jockey Academy Marketing
Manager pricked the interest and changed the life of the slightly built youngster in the assembly of a non-descript High School in the dusty backwaters of the Northern Cape, 14 years back. He walked through the doors of the world respected jockey training centre in 2009 alongside Jason Smitsdorff, Denise Lee, Keagan De Melo and Stallone Naidoo. While racing is a fickle game, and Julius is riding the crest of the wave in the aftermath of Saturday, it certainly hasn’t been a walk in the park for the young man whose career has vacillated between a tardy start, a winner in New Zealand during the Asian Young Guns Challenge in August 2013, some frustrating
times, and now a potential gamechanging Gr1 victory. Julius, who lives with his fiancé Glodine Visagie and their 4yo daughter in Eden Park in Alberton, acknowledges that with this confidence-boosting success behind him, fitness, no health or weight issues (he goes to scale at 52kgs), and terrific family support, he has no excuses at all not to go on and emulate his heroes, Smanga Khumalo and Joao Moreira. “The rock-solid support of a happy family life is very important. I only see my folks in Kuruman about once a year, but my Alberton family are always my greatest fans!” We asked how he was feted
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when he arrived home after races on Saturday. It appears there was no ticker tape parade to speak of! “Well, my family aren’t exactly people who are glued to the television watching racing all afternoon. There was no real fuss as Glodine had been in church at the time of the race and had picked up the result on her cell-phone. But when it all sank in, there was great jubilation!” And how will the Kaiser Chiefs fan be formally celebrating the big win? “The jocks have already reminded me that the braai is on me!
WHO’LL STOP THE RAIN?
MJ puts another subject on the spot! 20 Richard Fourie guides Rain In Holland to a superb victory as Sprinkles (striped cap) and Perfect Witness (on rail) chase hard. Desert Miracle (red cap) stopped late
Chase Liebeanberg
MJ puts another subject on the spot! 21
Amidst the doom and gloom of a wet Turffontein on Saturday, Richard Fourie produced another professional ride to get Rain In Holland home to win the R1 250 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic. The Sean Tarry-trained daughter of Duke Of Marmalade is now set to join the illustrious SA Triple Tiara champion honour roll when she lines up in the final leg, the R750 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 SA Oaks to be run over 2450m at Turffontein on Saturday 2 April. The Highveld weather has played a key role in the local feature season and caused a lengthy delay after the running of the Hawaii Stakes. But there can be no excuses and Rain In Holland recorded her second Gr1 victory of her career, in scintillating style.
The ultimate pro in the saddle, Richard Fourie explained how the race panned out. “The pace was on – faster than I actually expected. She is so relaxed but I was actually worried before the race – she was more hyped last time. At the 400m she was ready and there were no flat spots like last time. She deserved this win. Well done to the Tarry and Drakenstein teams, as well as the sponsors Wilgerbosdrift.” With Supreme Quest rearing over backwards and unseating Apprentice Rachel Venniker at the gate, the field was reduced to nine, with De Kock’s Definitely Maybe streaking away to lead them. Rain In Holland loped along some eight lengths back in fifth but moved up at the 400m looking ready to pounce. At the same time Smanga Khumalo was working Desert Miracle through a gap.
But Fourie was clearly armed with the big gun and Rain In Holland (12-10) lengthened her stride to draw clear of Sprinkles (5-1) by 3,25 lengths in a time of 112,85 secs. Sean Tarry said that Rain In Holland had the credentials although he always respected the opposition. Raced and bred by Drakenstein Stud, Rain In Holland has won 7 races with 4 places from 11 starts for stakes of R1 758 500. A daughter of deceased Danehill sire Duke Of Marmalade, she is out of the Aqlaam mare Imvula, a half sister to Durban July winner Dancer’s Daughter. The mare was purchased in the UK, where she won once from two starts. We now look forward to the SA Oaks on Saturday 2 April!
The Merits RAIN IN HOLLAND has had her rating raised from 115 to 118 after her victory in the Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday. Here it was the runner-up SPRINKLES who was deemed to make for the most suitable line horse, especially given that she had also finished 2nd behind RAIN IN HOLLAND in the Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas
in February, leaving her unchanged on a rating of 110. 3rd placed PERFECT WITNESS was raised from 103 to 109, while 5th finisher DEFINITELY MAYBE was picked up from 79 to 92. DEFINITELY MAYBE in fact ran to a mark of 105, but the Handicappers chose not to take this literally and only gave her half of 22the achieved adjustment - 92 being halfway
between 79 and 105. This adjustment makes her higher that the 88 rated LOOK YOURSELF which she beat by 2.5 lengths at level weights. There were drops for two fillies. 4th placed DESERT MIRACLE was cut from 117 to 115, while ETERNITY RING drops to 103 from 105.
Dynasty Daughter To Be Rested Mike de Kock’s charge Desert Miracle reportedly pulled up coughing after Saturday’s Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic and was found to have bled. She finished fourth to Rain in Holland, fading late, beaten 4.5-lengths. The official Stipes Report indicates that the daughter of Dynasty made an ‘abnormal respiratory noise’.
There was no mention of a bleed, which would entail a suspension. Mike de Kock reported on his website www.mikedekock. com : “We’ll give Desert Miracle a three or four month rest, she’ll go to the farm where she will run out and recover. “It’s hard to form an opinion now on whether Desert Miracle stays or not, She was ridden the way I wanted,
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coming from off the pace. She moved up well to a point, but the coughing/ bleeding was probably the reason for her weakening over the last 200m.” Mike said that Clafoutis, who was up with the pace in the same race and faded right out, choked up in the running and might need to race with a tongue-tie.
24 Richard Fourie enjoys a bloomin’ memorable moment
Candiese Lenferna
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WEICHONG TRAINING FROM TURFFONTEIN One of South Africa’s most accomplished internationally performed jockeys, Weichong Marwing has opted to change direction marginally, after years of wear and tear and hard knocks in the top league forced him to hang up his boots recently.
He won’t, however, be lost to racing! The man who turns 52 on Monday 14 March is now sponsored by World Sports Betting and sent out his first runner on Thursday 3 March. Ridden by his son Wesley, Lazer Grace was not disgraced in third.
Weichong said that when the day dawned that he had to face the reality that his riding career was over forever, he had to decide what to do. “I am relatively young and could not sit all day doing nothing. I know horses – in fact racing and horses is all I have ever been exposed to – so it makes sense, despite the testing times
30 Weichong (far right) enjoys a selfie with son Wesley, Craig Zackey & Callan Murray
that the industry finds itself in, to take out my licence and put something back into the game.” He acknowledges that it is a very different experience saddling a horse to riding one. “But I’m very excited to be setting out on this new venture and looking forward to the challenges,” added the 1996/7 SA Champion Jockey, who says he was fortunate to learn from the very best in his decades in the saddle. The man who was known first as Weichong Mawing – the ‘r’ in Marwing only came later – explained that his Dad was an immigrant from China and his English was poor. “When he registered my birth at Home Affairs, the clerk left out the ‘r’ and that became my surname by default. However, when I rode in Hong Kong it was picked up and corrected – and it’s been Marwing ever since!” Weichong, who had his last ride on Three Hills for Corrie Lensley at the Vaal in June last year, rates Horse Chestnut the best he sat on and also rode international winners Gr1 winners for Mike de Kock on two continents. He is the first to admit that he worked for some of the best in the game in Hong Kong, England, the USA, Dubai,
Singapore and Australia.
resident in the USA.
His local highlights include 6 winners on the Turffontein card on 1 January 1992 – a feat he repeated at the Vaal on 8 April 2004.
“They have already bought me horses and pledged support. I am very fortunate, indeed.”
“Training is effectively starting on a clean slate. I can wax lyrical about my achievements all over the world. But it’s a new day and once the gates open now the big races and history won’t count for much. What I can say is that I am very honoured and privileged to have had some of the best bosses in the game over many years, and it’s that knowledge and experience that I will be putting to use now.” Weichong is based at Turffontein and has started with eight horses. He is quick to acknowledge the depth of experience around him. “I am in illustrious company here! Look at my neighbours, who have all been warm and welcoming – Paul Peter, Ormond Ferraris, Tony Nassif and Joey Soma. I will have to wake up very early to stay with the programme here and I’m just happy to be able to count myself amongst these big names!” He says that he is fortunate to have had support from his partner, Veterinarian Dr Jani Coetzee, and her Mom, Dr Martha Coetzee, who is
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Weichong lives in Bedfordview with Jani and his son Wesley, who had the honour of riding his Dad’s first runner. “Wesley works hard and I will support him as much as I can. Naturally there are owners who want certain jockeys to ride their horses, and we must respect that. For now, our string is comprised mainly of youngsters and we won’t have a lot of runners initially. Patience is key and we will take each day as it comes.” Weichong may be contacted at wmarwing@global.co.za
‘Al Muthana has been a revelation and this just shows what confidence can do to a horse. He looks like a proper Grade 1 horse now, and that’s exciting’ – Mike de Kock
32 Eyes on the prize! Smanga Khumalo and Al Muthana carve a picture of purpose as the line nears
Candiese Lenferna
AUSSIE-BRED’S HIGH HAWAII
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Mike de Kock’s Wolf Power 1600 winner Al Muthana took his next step up the ladder with a sensational late run to win the R400 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Hawaii Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday. The 4yo probably finds the 1400m on the sharp side, but has a turn of foot second to none and was given a superb ride by Smanga Khumalo, who has been aboard at 4 of his 6 victories. With stablemates Freed From Desire and MK’s Pride looking set to fight the race out over the last 150m, Khumalo unleashed the Australian-bred from some lengths off. The son of Deep Field mowed them down late to win going away at 3-1 by 0,30
lengths in a time of 84,26 secs. The Jackson 3yo filly Freed From Desire (5-1) ran a cracker to run a highly meritorious second, with MK’s Pride (4-1) fading late to secure third a further 2,20 lengths away in third. A Shadwell home-bred halfbrother 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. This was his second stakes success, and took his stats to 6 wins with 3 places from 12 starts.
feature under weight-for-age conditions, and described it as a ‘big victory’. De Kock earlier saddled Bonnaroo to win the third race under Richard Fourie. The Pick 6 pool was boosted by a R1 million carryover. The target was R5 million, with the eventual nett reaching a pleasing R5 625 697. He said: “Al Muthana has been a revelation, this just shows what confidence can do to a horse. He looks like a proper Grade 1 horse now and that’s exciting.”
The 4yo has won R638 625 in stakes. Trainer Mike de Kock was clearly pleased that his charge had won a
The Merits AL MUTHANA has had his rating raised from 115 to 122 after his success in the Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Hawaii Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday. The Handicappers were unanimously of the view that 4th placed BINGWA made for the most suitable line
horse here, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 118. In rating the race this way, 5th finisher PUERTO MANZANO also runs to his mark of 111, effectively making him a line horse as well. The only other ratings increase was for 2nd placed
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FREED FROM DESIRE, who goes up from 110 to 116. There were drops for two horses. VARS VICKY was trimmed from 109 to 108, while CIRILLO is down from 116 to 114.
JC Photos
Oratorio daughter Pin Up charges home under Warren Kennedy
PETER’S POSTER POWER Trainer Paul Peter may not be giving his Cape rival and ruling SA champion Justin Snaith sleepless nights quite yet. But after three Paul Peter winners, including a feature double, at Turffontein on Classic Day and with two months of the Highveld Season left, there is only R1 million in it. Snaith has trained 104
winners at a 13% strike rate, with gross stakes of R12 457 338 versus Peter’s log-topping 128 winners at an 18,7% strike with the Gauteng yard’s runners having grossed R11 498 688. With the SA Champions Season stakes pot having been dramatically boosted, and Snaith a key player there historically, the Capetonian may well fancy his chances of defending his SA title.
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But for now the Peter team are on song and the first of their feature strikes on Saturday was Pin Up who romped home under Warren Kennedy to win the R200 000 Gr3 WSB Club Prive Acacia Stakes. The feature was scheduled a week earlier and reslotted after the final two races of the Turffontein meeting was lost to rain. Warren Kennedy brought Pin Up (5-1) with a sustained
late rain to get the better of evergreen 8yo Rouge Allure (25-1) by 3 lengths in a time of 99,50 secs. The eyecathing finish of the race was the rousing run in fourth by Sean Tarry’s
Seeham (16-1), who came from miles back into the home straight. Pin Up was bred by Eenfontein Stud and is a 61st stakes winner for Avontuur’s Danehill stallion Oratorio
out of the Model Man mare Centrespread. A R50 000 buy from the 2018 April Yearling Sale, Pin Up has won 6 races with 6 places from 17 starts for stakes of R417 475.
The Merits PIN UP has had her rating increased from 89 to 93 after she won the Grade 3 WSB Club Prive Acacia Stakes for fillies and mares over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday. Here it was runner-up ROUGE ALLURE who was considered to make for most suitable line horse, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 90.
The specific conditions of this event do not permit an increase in the rating of any horse except the winner, and as such 3rd placed OPERA GLASS remains on 84 despite actually achieving a mark of 86. There were ratings drops for no fewer than five horses.
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4th placed SEEHAAM is down from 99 to 98, SENTBYDESTINY goes from 102 to 100, SARAGON drops to 90 from 93, ROSAPRIMA was dropped from 90 to 88, and lastly VICTORIA PAIGE is down from 101 to 98.
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38 Warren Kennedy drives Shangani out to a smooth win
JC Photos
‘SKY IS LIMIT’ – PAUL PETER 39
The R5 million Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July could be on the radar for Paul Peter's very talented Soft Falling Rain gelding Shangani. The 4yo made it five wins from seven starts with a fluent strike in the R175 000 Listed Aquanaut Handicap at a gloomy Turffontein on Saturday. With two races still to run, racing was abandoned after the running of the 2400m contest after jockey representatives informed the Stipes that they were concerned with the kick-back and consistency of the track. It was unanimously decided to abandon races 10 and 11 in the interests of rider safety, welfare of the horses and the integrity of the remaining races. Trainer Paul Peter rounded off another good day at
the office, with stablemates Shangani (12-10) and Green Haze (12-1) leading the charge home in the Aquanaut, with 3,75 lengths separating them. The dual stakes-winning Shangani, who is a model of consistency, clocked 156,13 in the less than ideal conditions, and has now won from a mile to 2600m. Trainer Paul Peter was thrilled for his two ‘soldier owners’ Laurence Wernars, who was absent at a wedding, and Harry Wilson. We asked him what the plans were for the 4yo gelding and whether he was just a good stayer, with relatively limited options on South Africa’s stamina programme. “The sky is the limit for this horse! I think this was a clever mating as the classy stamina of the dam is injected with speed from Soft Falling Rain. He is
no dour plodding staying type – he has a turn of foot and I think the 2200m of the Hollywoodbets Durban July could well suit him. But I still have to sit down with the owners and look at the options. I’m just privileged to train some nice horses. We can’t do it without good owners and good horses,” added Paul Peter. A half-brother to dual Aquanaut Handicap winner Chitengo, Shangani was bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein and is by illfated champion Soft Falling Rain (National Assembly) out of the Montjeu sired Gold Bowl victress Gorongosa. Shangani cost R250 000 at the National Yearling Sale. He has won 5 of 7 starts with 2 places for stakes of R417 475.
The Merits SHANGANI has had his rating increased from 98 to 105 after he captured the Listed wsb.co.za Aquanaut Handicap over 2400m at Turffontein on Saturday. It was runner-up GREEN HAZE who was used as the line horse here, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 100.
3rd placed BLACK THORN (who was 4 pounds or 2 kgs under sufferance at the weights) was raised from 87 to 91, while 4th finisher BARAK (who was 10 pounds or 5 kgs under sufferance at the weights) goes up from 80 to 88. There were no other increases, but two horses 40
were given a rating’s drop. OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE is down from 104 to 102, while DON’T LOOK BACK drops from 98 to 95.
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WATSON TO CRACK WHIP While Classic Day will go down as an undoubted success on the track, the Racing 240 television broadcast came in for some serious criticism, with technical issues making it something of a nightmare day for the new brand. With South African’s racing television honeymoon still very much in its wine and roses stage, Racing 240 Chief Stephen Watson reassured the Sporting Post on Saturday that he would be dealing with the countless audio and video issues that plagued the broadcast of the weather interrupted major day at Turffontein. Please Read more here
SA OWNERS – LOST THEIR MOJO? We used to have a spirit of adventure and a willingness to reach for the stars – Ipi Tombe from Zimbabwe winning in Dubai and USA in a global campaign; Lizards Desire from PE going to Dubai to be beaten a whisker in the $10m World Cup and then succeeding in Singapore’s $3m race; Paris Perfect from PE ran 3rd in the Dubai World Cup; Barry Irwin’s South African purchases winning Gr1’s across America, Dubai and Hong Kong. South African Gr1 winners in Australia and even New Zealand; Victory Moon Horse of the Year in Dubai; Vercingetorix Gr1 winner in Dubai. The veteran Robin Bruss feels SA racing is letting itself down. Please read more here
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BRITISH RACING SET FOR CHANGE Annamarie Phelps will leave her position on the BHA board at the end of May, with the outgoing chair revealing on Tuesday that the controversial tripartite decision-making committee which effectively governs racing will be reviewed as part of governance changes. The BHA appears set to retain its role as both governing body and regulator despite radical plans unveiled last autumn to give racecourses and horsemen, the other constituents of the tripartite Members' Committee, a more dominant position. The BHA board, meanwhile, is set to expand its powers by leading the strategy for industry growth.
A LEADING SA JOCKEY TWEETED THIS WEEKEND…
People always forget the PAT on the BACK...... but they always remember the KICK in the ASS! 46
FARM SALE RACE GOES NATIONAL Cape Thoroughbred Sales (CTS) announced recently that the popular CTS Farm Sale Race will be staged in three centres in 2023. The stake for each race will be between R225 000 and R250 000. Grant Knowles, MD of CTS, said that spreading the stake between three centres was a decision made on request, and that it will enable buyers from upcountry to participate with their runners in their respective home centres.
This year’s CTS Farm Yearling Sale will be held on 19 June at De Grendel Estate and graduates will qualify for the sales races. Entries are open to all stud farms and the closing date is 21 March. There is a nonrefundable entry fee of R1,750 plus VAT payable per entry, with an acceptance fee of R2,000 plus VAT due for each
lot catalogued - the latter to be deducted from vendor proceeds. Knowles said: “For every five entries, vendors will receive an additional entry and acceptance at no charge, so, for example, if 12 horses are entered, they will only pay for 10.” A minimum bid of R15 000 per yearling will be accepted in the sales ring. For more information, contact: Grant Knowles, grant@cthbs. com or mobile 082 882 9774.
Chase Liebenberg
“Three races will give everyone an equal chance of a return on their investments and more enjoyment from their purchases.”
He added: “Travel restrictions and costs involved are hampering factors for owners with farm sale graduates outside of Cape Town and staging a sales race in three centres is fair to all. The three races will be scheduled for June 2023, around the time of the 2023 Sale.”
MJ puts another subject on the spot! 47 Masked Vigilante wins the 2021 CTS Farm Sale race
CATALOGUE ONLINE – IT’S THE COUNTDOWN TO NATIONALS!
Bloodstock South Africa recently published the catalogue for the 2022 National Yearling Sale, and this catalogue is now available to be viewed online at www.bsa.co.za. South Africa's premier yearling auction, the National Sale continues to unveil outstanding thoroughbreds year in and year out.
Among the many recent star graduates of the National Yearling Sale are such Equus Champions as Rainbow Bridge, Do It Again, Jet Dark, Hawwaam, Good Traveller, Anything Goes, and Celtic Sea, while the numerous Gr1 winners sold off this prestigious sale include the recently retired WSB Triple Crown winner Malmoos and the likes of Captain's Ransom, Eden
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Roc, Kilindini and Missisippi Burning. Recent Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby winner Pomp And Power and the likes of fellow graded stakes winning three-yearolds Aragosta, Follow Me, Safe Passage, and Trip Of Fortune, also feature among past National Sale graduates.
The catalogue for this year's National Yearling Sale is an exceptional one, with leading South African stallions Gimmethegreenlight (40), Master Of My Fate (28), Querari (25), Rafeef (30), Silvano (23), Trippi (9), Var (9), Vercingetorix (50) and What A Winter (21) all strongly represented. Excitingly, this year's auction also includes yearlings sired by such outstanding international G1 winners as Helmet and No Nay Never. Stallions with first-crop yearlings on offer this year include Danon Platina (17), Fire Away (15), Hat Puntano (1), Heavenly Blue (6),
Horizon (4), Lancaster Bomber (33), and New Predator (9). This year's catalogue is jampacked with well bred yearlings, with no fewer than 13 G1 winning mares represented on the sale. Among the Gr1 winning mares represented on sale are All Is Secret, Bambina Stripes, Bilateral, Imperious Star, Little Miss Magic, Pine Princess, River Jetez, Silver Mountain, Siren's Call, Spiced Gold, Takingthepeace, Thunder Dance, and Viva Maria. A further 20 Gr1 producing broodmares have yearlings on offer -namely Agbalat, Aquatint, Bardot, Bold Nimph, Darling
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Moon, Grail Maiden, Halfway To Heaven, In Camera, Inner Temple, Ireland, Miss October, Pagan Dance, Pirate Queen, Pretty Waves, River Jetez, Royal Drummer, Spiced Gold, Tinder Box, Townsend, and Young Sensation. Another highlight of the sale looks sure to be Hope And Dreams -the Fire Away colt out of outstanding broodmare Halfway To Heaven, the dam of champions Hawwaam and Rainbow Bridge, and dual Gr1 winner Golden Ducat.
Pauline Herman Photography
JP IS BACK IN STYLE!
50 JP van der Merwe - cracking return to the saddle on Tuesday!
After a testing six months that included an intercontinental move, Metwinning rider JP van der Merwe and his wife Abbi celebrated a return to their Gqeberha hometown on Tuesday with a winner on his first ride back.
couple who had to shelve their Singapore dreams and uproot their lives after a ride by JP had fallen foul of the local stewards.
The 30 year old JP told the Sporting Post that he could not have dreamed of a better start on his return to the saddle after a suspension at Kranji in Singapore last year had seen him out of the saddle and ‘unemployed’ for six months.
But that is now behind them and the couple are happy to be back on African soil with the support of family and friends.
He says that he feels very fit, but that race riding fitness ultimately only came with riding in races.
Abbi explained that the family had spent the Christmas holidays together but that they had travelled to Gqeberha on Saturday evening. JP rode work at the Gavin Smith yard on Sunday and Monday, and returned to their Gauteng home on Tuesday evening after the Fairview meeting on Tuesday.
“I was walking around at 58kgs during my time off but rode at 55,5kgs on Tuesday and I will be at 52kgs in short time. I am enjoying things and it really feels good to be back in the swing of things.”
With his Mom and his wife Abbi on course at Fairview, JP rode Pianta to win the opener at 10-1 for his fatherin-law Gavin Smith, in what was an emotional return to some normality for the
There was a shock reaction to the severity of the punishment, and many still believe that JP did nothing wrong.
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JP says that he has been riding a lot of work at Randjesfontein for trainers that he has enjoyed success with previously. He has rides at the Vaal on Thursday and at Turffontein on Saturday.
Simon Zackey is acting as agent for JP – he may be contacted at 084 086 0842.
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Lord Glitters does it again! 54 Charles Ndlovu drives Europeana ahead to beat Zambaq (Chase Maujean) in a good finish to the feature
Pauline Herman Photography
RAISE A GLASS TO CHARLES!
Lord Glitters does it again!
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Winning Form-sponsored jockey Charles Ndlovu produced a gem of a ride on the lesser fancied Alan Greeff runner to win the R200 000 Listed Breeders Guineas (Fillies) at Fairview on Friday on the 14-1 Europeana. On an afternoon where the Greeff yard were in sparkling form with three winners, Ndlovu rode a beautifully judged race to keep the Foster bred and raced Europeana (33-1) out of trouble up the outside in the mile feature.
At the 200m, the odds-on favourite and Cape raider Queen Of Shadows was going up and down, with Tara Laing’s Zambaq (16-1) running strongly and looking a likely winner. But Charles Ndlovu had other ideas and he rode Europeana with balance and confidence to hit the front and beat Zambaq by a length in a time of 98,56 secs.
Bred by Alec Foster, the winner is by SA Champion sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the twice-winning Red Ransom mare, Excelsea.
Queen Of Shadows stayed on without fireworks for third a further 1,25 lengths adrift, with the winner’s stablemate Sweet The Sound (8-1) having no luck in running and grabbing fourth.
The training honours on the day were shared by Gavin Smith and Alan Greeff with three winners apiece.
Europeana was registering her first stakes success and her second win in total, with 7 places from 13 starts for stakes of R234 425.
Greg Cheyne and Kyle Strydom rode a double each.
The Merits EUROPEANA has seen her rating increase from 77 to 92 after she landed the Listed Breeders Guineas for three-year-old fillies over 1600m on the Fairview turf track on Friday 4 March. The Handicappers were of the view that runner-up ZAMBAQ made for the most suitable line horse, which
leaves her unchanged on a rating of 90. 4th placed SWEET THE SOUND is up slightly from 84 to 85, 5th finisher WINTER SCOUT also goes up to 85 (from 83), while DO SI DO was raised from 69 to 74. In rating the race this way DO SI DO in fact runs to a rating of 83, but the Handicappers
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opted not to take this literally and only gave her partial ratings increase. There were drops for two horses. TWICE TO HEAVEN is down slightly from 82 to 81, while LOLLAPALOOZA was dropped from 88 to 85.
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Hail The Senor!
Saturday’s Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes at Turffontein honours a champion sprinter.
Northern Guest’s best sprinting son, Senor Santa reigned as the Champion Sprinter of South Africa for many seasons and won his final Gr1 as an eight year old. The old warrior, who lived out the bulk of his retirement
days as a “tutor” to the Summerhill weanlings, is remembered for his seven Gr1 victories including two Computaform Sprints, two Star Sprints, a Natal Flying Championship, the First National Bank 1600, and a Smirnoff Futurity.His victims included Champions Goldmark, Divine Act, Miss Averof, Harry’s Echo and Simonside.
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As memorable a moment as any though, came in defeat in the Winning Form Match Race Challenge, in which, ironically, his lack of stamina cost him the race in the dying strides by Northern Guest’s most celebrated daughter, Northern Princess. Senor Santa was euthanized on 23 June 2014.
- Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden
n Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies -
Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies
Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golde
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HANG ON! THE FUN STARTS TUESDAY 60
Cheltenham Festival
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There is just under a week to go before the ‘great roar’ from the crowd as the runners for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the first race of the Cheltenham Festival, start on their quest for Group One glory. No runner No bet is the norm this year with corporate bookmakers, and betting on the feature events has taken off over the last few weeks. The great mare Honeysuckle is at the centre of most Cheltenham Festival multiples say bookmakers with the double on the Champion Hurdle favourite and Champion Chase market leader Shishkin described as a "bit of a headache".
A quad involving that pair and the Willie Mullins stablemates Facile Vega in the Champion Bumper and Allaho in the Ryanair Chase, all of whom are odds-on, was described as "easily the most popular multiple for the week". The six-day confirmations and 48-hour declarations will bring a great deal more clarity, but the feature event on day one is the Unibet Champion Hurdle where Honeysuckle, who is no bigger than 11/20, will defend her crown for jockey Rachael Blackmore and trainer Henry de Bromhead. UK bookmakers report the 17/10 double of Honeysuckle
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and Allaho being "very popular" and also mention the Grand National winner Tiger Roll as another who is included in plenty of multiples. The veteran attempts to match Quevega with a record equalling sixth Festival success in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. "It's clear to see punters are very much leaning towards the Irish camp," said Ladbrokes' Nicola McGeady. "The top five most popular horses in accumulators have been Honeysuckle, Allaho, Tiger Roll, Facile Vega and Shishkin." Champion Irish trainer Willie Mullins has nominated star novice Sir Gerhard in
Cheltenham Festival
both the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle over 2 miles and the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle 2 miles and 5 furlongs. His leading novice chaser Galopin Des Champs is also dual nominated in group one events – the Turners Novices’ Chase over an extended 2 miles and 3 furlongs and the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase over 3 miles. Hugely impressive and unbeaten this season, these two horses have punters (and rival trainers) waiting
on where the Mullins yard will decide to run them. Where Sir Gerhard runs could have a significant bearing for customers and traders as most of their multiple business has been centred on the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. If Sir Gerhard runs in the Ballymore, that makes the Nicky Henderson trained Constitution Hill more popular in the Supreme, and the same is true if Galopin Des Champs swerves Bob Olinger in the
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Turners Novices’ Chase. "The biggest amount we would pay out at the moment would be on Shishkin, Sir Gerhard and Honeysuckle, but it's Sir Gerhard for the Supreme, not the Ballymore," said Michael Shinners from Sky Bet. • Cheltenham runs from Tuesday 15 March to Friday 18 March.
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66 The outstanding Redoute’s Choice
THE CHOICE IS ALWAYS YOURS
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Redoute's Choice, whose Gr1 Computaform Sprint winning son Rafeef is currently South Africa's Leading Second Season Sire, came up with his 131st stakes winner as a broodmare sire when his granddaughter Seven Veils (Shalaa) made all to land Saturday's Gr2 Yarraman Park Reisling Stakes. Seven Veils, who is out of the Redoute's Choice mare Mesmereyeser, is bred on a similar cross to her sire's
talented son Shaquero (with the latter's dam Fimatino having been sired by Redoute's Choice's son Not A Single Doubt). Redoute's Choice is also broodmare sire of top Australian three-year-old Hitotsu (Maurice) -who won Saturday's Gr1 Australian Guineas at Flemington. Winner of the Gr1 Penfolds Victoria Derby back in October, Hitotsu is out of the Redoute's Choice mare Love Is Fickle. Redoute's Choice is also broodmare sire of prominent Australian sire Zoustar -whose son Lightsaber ran second in Saturday's Australian Guineas. Redoute's Choice also ranks as the broodmare sire of multiple Gr1 winner Anamoe (Street
68 Hitotsu wins the Gr1 Australian Guineas
Boss) -who ran second in Saturday's Gr1 Randwick Guineas. Out of the Gr1 winning Anamato, a close relation of South African dual Gr1 winner Wylie Hall, Anamoe had previously enjoyed success at the highest level when victorious in the 2021 Gr1 Inglis Sires' and Gr1 Neds Caulfield Guineas. Other horses out of daughters of Redoute's Choice to have won at least one Gr1 race in Australia this season include Profondo (Spring Champion Stakes) and Regal Power (Kingston Town Classic). At Turffontein, Redoute's Choice made headlines with his high-class daughter
Magic Millions
Saturday proved a memorable one for daughters of the late Redoute's Choice (Danehill), who made his presence felt in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere.
El Daana responsible for Saturday's Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Hawaii Stakes winner Al Muthana (Deep Field). El Daana was a smart performer who won the G2 Edward Manifold Stakes in 2007 and she is also the dam of Australian Gr2 winner Wawail (Lonhro). Al Muthana is bred on a similar cross to the aforementioned Zoustar, with the former sired by a son of Northern Meteor out of a daughter of Redoute's Choice, and Zoustar a son of Northern Meteor himself and the Redoute's Choice daughter Zouzou. Remarkably, Redoute's Choice success did not end there -his well bred daughter
Florentina is the dam of In Italian, an impressive winner of the Gr3 Honey Fox Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. A daughter of Dubawi, In Italian has won three of just four starts -and her dam, a half-sister to Gr1 winner Gathering, sports the remarkable Dancing Show (also granddam of Redoute's Choice) as her third dam. Redoute's Choice's consistent success has seen him soar to the top of the Australian Leading Broodmare Sires List for 2021-2022. At the time of writing, the four time Gr1 winning son of Danehill features as the damsire of 12 black type winners in Australia this season, with this stakes winners having already collected 17 group or listed races.
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The late Redoute's Choice has already made his mark as a broodmare sire in South Africa. Not only is he broodmare sire of Al Muthana and this season's smart three-year-old Master Redoute, he is damsire of top-class gelding Linebacker (Captain Of All) -winner of both the Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby and Gr1 Daily News 2000 in 2021-and Gr3 Sycamore Sprint winner San Fermin (Charge Forward) among others.
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results up to: 2022-03-08
TRAINERS Name
Runs
Wins Win%
789 683 492 319 726
Mr S J Snaith Mr P A Peter Mr S G Tarry Mr M F de Kock Mr G D Smith
105 128 54 61 79
13.3. 18.7 11.0 19.1 10.9
2nd
3rd
Other Places Place %
Win Stake (R)
99 98 46 47 79
104 72 50 35 73
173 140 93 66 123
8,349,025 12,541,088 7,720,813 11,498,688 5,188,500 7,260,688 4,814,938 6,972,250 3,356,250 5,254,675
376 310 189 148 275
47.7 45.4 38.4 46.4 37.9
Total Stakes (R)
JOCKEYS Name
Rides Wins Win%
2nd
3rd
Other Places Place %
Win Stake (R)
Mr W B Kennedy Mr S Khumalo Mr R D Fourie Mr K de Melo Mr M A Yeni
1036 714 563 673 902
156 86 99 90 113
136 79 75 79 106
200 141 118 150 196
9,549,750 14,536,588 8,642,825 12,120,838 8,270,300 11,132,088 6,157,700 9,321,400 5,235,563 9,031,625
173 118 107 104 100
16.7 16.5 19.0 15.5 11.1
492 306 292 319 415
47.5 42.9 51.9 47.4 46.0
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 Ridgemont Highlands
252 1116 302 1345
53,595 113 157 42,444 99 126
44.8 450 32.8 524
9 6
12 7
13,505,825 12,818,188
133 129 109
77,819 59,943 52,691
43.6 243 39.5 229 42.2 231
12 4 5
14 5 5
10,349,900 7,732,675 5,743,325
B.T. Wins
Total Stakes (R)
11 8 8 1 1
8,667,000 8,070,700 7,681,625 7,504,350 7,041,500
585 558 480
58 51 46
87 76 63
SIRES Name Vercingetorix Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) * Silvano (GER) Master Of My Fate Querari (GER)
Runrs Runs AEPR 135 157 137 161 166
586 677 565 754 725
64,200 51,406 56,070 46,611 42,419
B.T. Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Rnrs % 61 62 56 71 63
85 82 78 92 86
45.2 39.5 40.9 44.1 38.0
251 275 242 341 299
See all the detailed standings - Click here 73
8 8 6 1 1
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ARE YOU BETTING ON IT? The highlight fixtures just keep coming – and we simply love to see it! The Premier League proves that it is the most captivating league in Europe week in and week out. Ryan Liberty writes that the highlight fixture of course sees United host Spurs – but the intricacy of the weekend’s betting opportunities run much deeper than that!
Saturday 12 March 54/10 Brighton | Draw 36/10 | Liverpool 9/20 (14h30) Brighton has somewhat gone off the boil recently… their attacking prowess is rusty and just lethargic to be completely honest. Now, when you compare that to that of Liverpool – its chalk and cheese!
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The visitors have won their last 12 games in all competitions, scoring 28 goals, including the last seven in the league. It truly is a relentless charge. Yes, they were made to work against West Ham, but those are the sorts of games that win you championships. Back the away win and add to everything, provident fund confidence!
11/10 Brentford | Draw 23/10 | Burnley 24/10 (17h00) The reliance Burnley have on Ben Mee is monstrous. Without their defensive talisman, the Clarets have failed to win their last 13 fixtures! It’s ridiculous to think that without their defender, their organizational and robust approach to football games is non-existent… Brentford know they are now fully apart of a relegation scrap, and it seems to have kicked them back into gear. My only concern is the defensive style the visitors usually employ on the road – they just give away too many chances. I think over 2.5 goals at 5/4 might be the safer play. Sunday 13 March 1/4 Chelsea | Draw 46/10 | Newcastle 11/1 (16h00) Chelsea is certainly beginning to look as though they are somewhere near their best again. Thomas Tuchel has done an excellent job of keeping everything at Stamford Bridge together amidst their off-field politics… and there isn’t any point trying to hide from it, there must be some effect on the players mentality when the leadership of the club is uncertain. Newcastle have been brilliant in their own right; I agree Chelsea win this…I just
don’t think 1/4 is an accurate depiction of that win. Under Eddie Howe, the Magpies are unafraid of getting stuck in and adapting to their opposition. They will be happy to sit back, and counter and I back them to ‘nick’ a goal. 5/4 about both teams to score looks inviting – and I can’t seem to help myself. 13/20 Leeds | Draw 31/10 | Norwich 37/10 (16h00) I think Leeds were desperately unlucky against Leicester. Jesse March suggested much of the same under his leadership – and after that performance I think I believe him! Leeds seemed to be more structured and secure in what they were doing, but the fluidity with which they go forward, and attack goal has remained! The home win is a banker – get on! 13/10 Everton | Draw 22/10 | Wolves 22/10 (16h00) Everton were thrashed by Spurs in midweek, but I wouldn’t read too much into that. I’m not suggesting Everton win this, but their away form is well…let’s just say ‘in line’ with their Monday night horror show. Wolves have proven themselves a difficult side to beat. Their European charge isn’t going anywhere, and I must admit – its brilliant to see.
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Back both teams to score at 19/20. 21/20 West Ham | Draw 49/20 | Aston Villa 26/10 (16h00) The work being done by Steven Gerard is impressive. Villa’s shape is increasingly reliant on a narrower approach since their win at Brighton and whilst they don’t seem to be concerned about playing with an awful amount of width…they still reach an expansive field position by the time they end up in the final third. West Ham should have beaten Liverpool – you can take that to the bank. The chances they let go were embarrassing and just unbecoming a professional football team! Ok, I might be emotional – but that isn’t the point! I think Villa win the game, but I think given the way the visitors play…a safer bet would be West Ham winning the corner race. Back the former on the nose and the latter for those extended multiples. 6/10 Southampton | Draw 31/10 | Watford 42/10 (16h00) I think Watford’s performances under Roy Hodgson have been incredibly underestimated, they are often overlooked, and I can’t understand why.
Since Hodgson’s arrival, Watford have been able to put together defensive performances which just seem to keep them in the game – and that’s all they need really. Southampton have been brilliant at home, but I’m going to take them on here. Back the away win/draw double chance at 12/10. 5/10 Arsenal | Draw 7/2 | Leicester 48/10 (18h30) Arsenal have been immense. Their surge toward the Champions League places is remarkable when you consider the start they had to this season – another reminder of the fickle nature of the modern sports fan.
Martin Odegaard has been superb for his side and has been directly or indirectly involved in everything. Leicester looked a little lackluster against Leeds, and to be fair, I don’t think they deserved the win. Arsenal to win is a banker for all multiples – but I wouldn’t discourage a bet on the nose for the Norwegian to find the back of the net. Monday 14 March 17/2 Crystal Palace | Draw 46/10 | Manchester City 2/7 (22h00) Manchester City is simply titanic! The fluidity of their play, the aggressive and powerful approach they take to every
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element of the football match and the sheer quality on display all the while is truly out of this world. Palace have been decent this season, they aren’t completely out of the woods, but I don’t think they’re in too much danger now. Of course, Liverpool fans around the world will be hoping for a repeat of that night at Selhurst for the Citizens…but I’m sure they’ve learnt their lesson about living in hope! Back the visitors to score in both halves at 9/10. TREBLE @ 3/1 Liverpool Win 9/20 Leeds Win 13/20 Arsenal Win 5/10
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