26 April 2022 by Sporting Post

ASSISTANT MANAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY

Ridgemont Highlands seeks a competent individual to assist in the management of their breaking in, pre-training and spelling farm in Wellington. The successful applicant must have experience in the management and handling of horses, as well as strong administrative and staff management skills. Preference will be given to those with experience in pre-training and sales preparation of young horses. Please send a cover letter and résumé, and include three contactable references.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE 18 MAY

EMAIL YOUR CV TO: ross@ridgemont.co.za

Cover Image Candiese Lenferna captured this joyous post-race celebration after Saturday’s Gr1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein

R5 Million Pick 6 & Some Champions 4

Master Archie – steps up to Gr1 level on Saturday

Kommetdieding heads up the final field for the R2million TAB The Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m. The Grade 1 race is the main event on Saturday’s Champions Day card on the Standside track at Turffontein. There are two Grade 1 races taking place at the meeting, the second being the Computaform Sprint over 1000m. There are also four Grade 2 events – the Heineken SA Nursery and 4Racing SA Fillies Nursery for Juveniles, the 4Racing Gerald Rosenberg Stakes for fillies and mares over 2000m and the Racing 240 Camelia Stakes for fillies and mares over 1160m – as well as the Grade 3 The Citizen Gold Bowl over 3200m. The TAB The Champion’s Challenge is one of the “Big Four” races in the country and it looks all systems go for Kommetdieding to add the third of these to the two he has already won, the Durban

July and Cape Town Met. The fourth is the Summer Cup. Kommetdieding, trained by the father and daughter team of Harold Crawford and Michelle Rix, is the best handicapped runner under the weight-forage conditions and has a 3.5kg advantage over MK’s Pride. Paul Peter’s charge did finish in front of Kommetdieding in the Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes but that was over 1600m and has yet to prove he will see out 2000m. Peter also has Shangani and Astrix in the line-up. Puerto Manzano, who will see out the distance and will have Anton Marcus in the irons, finished second in the Horse Chestnut with Kommetdieding in third, but the champion was having his first race on the Highveld and will be a different proposition this time. Sean Tarry has three runners – Zillzaal, Shango and Summer Cup winner Flying Carpet – Mike de Kock will be represented by Sparkling Water, while Johan Janse van

Vuuren has Puerto Manzano and Second Base. The Computaform Sprint is always a thriller and 15 runners have accepted to take on this 1000m dash. Peter has a strong hand with six speedsters, the best of whom appear to be Master Archie and filly Big Burn. Brett Crawford has brought talented Real Gone Kid, a winner of six of his 11 races in the Western Cape, to the Highveld for this race while Mike and Adam Azzie send out Bohica, winner of the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship at Kenilworth in January. Another highlight of the meeting comes up in Race 10, where the work riders will take on the jockeys in a Maiden Plate over 1160m. Bettors will also have the opportunity to bet into a massive Pick 6 pool. There is a Pick 6 carryover of R1 million which is likely to produce a pool of R5 million.

Chase Liebenberg

Trip Of Fortune – a National Yearling Sale graduate

It’s Sale Time! South Africa’s premier yearling auction, the BSA National Sale continues to produce the stars year in and year out. The sale will be held this week on Thursday and Friday and both sessions commences at 10h30. Among the many recent star graduates of the National Yearling Sale are Equus Champions Rainbow Bridge, Do It Again, Jet Dark, Hawwaam, Good Traveller, Anything Goes and Celtic Sea.

Gr1 winners sold off this prestigious sale include the recently retired WSB Triple Crown winner Malmoos and the likes of Captain’s Ransom, Eden Roc, Kilindini and Missisippi Burning. Recent Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby winner Pomp And Power and the likes of fellow graded stakes winning threeyear-olds 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 Gr1 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 (29), and New Predator (9). This year’s catalogue sees no fewer than 13 Gr1 winning mares represented. Among the Gr1 winning mares represented on this week’s 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 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. See the catalogue here Enjoy our snapshot of each lot – in sire alpha order – please click here for more

The Buyer’s Tool Have you seen the Raceform BUYERS GUIDE? It is a detailed summary of the dam and siblings of the BSA National Yearling Sale yearlings. The easy-to-use guide gives insight to what to expect of the youngsters in terms of class, stamina, sale price. It’s essential reading for the prospective buyer. Click here for the Raceform Buyers Guide

Lancaster Bomber – athletic and handsome

A FIGHTING FORCE!

With an impressive draft of 29 yearlings coming under the hammer at Nationals later this week, there has been plenty of talk about the quality of the Lancaster Bomber ‘squadron’. While he left just two crops before his sad premature passing, Lancaster Bomber, the only Gr1 winning son of War Front, Claiborne’s ‘International Super Sire’ to stand at stud in South Africa, left us plenty to get excited about.

Drakenstein and the Syndicate that owned him are confident that his progeny will make a meaningful impact because he covered many of the best mares in the stud book.

This dual Irish Champion Older Horse of 2018 was trained by Aidan O’Brien. He competed against the best in the world and won or placed in 8 Gr1 races. He was precocious enough to win over 1400m at only the second time of asking at 2yrs before finishing runner-

up to Churchill in the stallionmaking Gr1 Dewhurst Stakes and the Gr1 Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf. The Breeders Cup raid to USA as a juvenile was the start of an impressive international campaign. Back in the UK at 3yrs he finished close runner-up to Churchill in the Gr1 2000 Guineas and 2nd to Barney Roy in the Gr1 St James Palace Stakes.

Back across the Atlantic again to finish 2nd in both the Gr1 Woodbine mile and the Gr1 Breeders Cup Mile. A well-seasoned globe-trotter he raced successfully in UK, USA (at 2 & 3), UAE and HK (at 3yrs). He trained on at 4yrs to win the Gr1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh over 2100m and was also 3rd in the Gr1 Lockinge.

produced stakes winners! Lancaster Bomber’s dam produced five winners, four stakes winners. It is rare for any mare to produce one Gr1 winner; Lancaster Bomber’s dam produced two! Lancaster Bomber’s halfbrother Excelebration won three Gr1 races and was rated the 3rd best miler in Europe behind Frankel in 2012.

He retired to Coolmore and sired multiple Gr1 winner Barney Roy from his first crop. Barney Roy won 8 races from 2 to 4 years including four Gr1’s and was placed in 5 more Gr1 races. Excelebration has sired 256 winners (62%) and 23 stakes horses who have earned over $21m at time of writing. See the catalogue for the BSA National Yearling Sale here

His Timeform Ratings were top-notch throughout his career: 113 at 2, 122 at 3, 123 at 4. War Front, son of the legendary Danzig, has already produced 8 champions, 23 Grade 1 winners, 12 millionaires, including Lancaster Bomber who won over £1m. He is the number one sire in America by percentage of graded stakes winners. He is the sire of 536 winners (73%), 102 stakes winners and 75 stakes placed with earnings of over $106m. At the end of the 2021 season War Front was Leading Sire (Lifetime) in USA by % of Black Type winners with 14.2% stakes winners/ runners and 24.7% black type horses. War Front is already an established Sire of Sires. He has 16 sons at stud that have

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Adrian Todd – ‘We have our audit date and now the hard yards begin’

EXPORT PROTOCOLS – AUDIT DATE SET Adrian Todd, managing director of SA Equine Health And Protocols NPC (SAEHP), has announced a breakthrough in the battle to change the equine export protocols and allow direct travel to Europe. SA's director of Animal Health Dr Mpho Maja sent an official signed letter to Todd stating, "It is our pleasure to inform you that we have confirmed availability for an audit of the animal health controls in place in South Africa in relation to the export of equidae from South Africa to

the European Union (EU) from 10 to 21 October 2022." Previous intended scheduling for this important audit was interrupted by the Covid19 pandemic. However, on this occasion a physical audit will be supplemented by video or virtual options depending on Covid19 constraints. Todd was high in his praise of the chief funder of SAEHP, the Hong Kong Jockey Club. He was thankful to plenty of others who had given up time and put

in a lot of effort with the goal of getting over a hurdle which will provide an immense boost to South African racing if it can at last be jumped. HKJC Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges (pictured) said last year after the funding announcement, “The Hong Kong Jockey Club is pleased that funds from its simulcast of South African racing into Hong Kong will support the critically important steps being taken by the South African industry to restore direct horse exports."

Dr Maja is awaiting further information from the EU inspectorate in order to begin preparing appropriately for the audit event. Todd stated “We have our audit date and now the hard yards begin making sure all our preparation translates into a glowing report and the opening of exports.” Todd has always been confident that the all encompassing measures put in place to control diseases like African Horse Sickness (AHS) and prevent their spread will see South Africa pass the audit. Dr Maja also conveyed her confidence in a successful audit outcome. The non-profit SAEHP was founded in January 2018 by Adrian Todd, Mike de Kock and Chris van Niekerk. They worked hard to correct the shortcomings of the failed 2013 audit. In the process they successfully moulded and solidified public private partnerships with national and provincial government. In 2021 Abery took over the reins as chairman. He and Todd then successfully negotiated a funding agreement with HKJC.

This worldwide-renowned nonprofit organisation is one of the oldest institutions in Hong Kong, having been formed in 1884, and they have funded SAEHP in its entireity since 2021. In doing so they showed their respect for South Africa's racing product, for the quality of their bloodstock and for the excellence of their thoroughbred breeding stud farms. Most importantly they displayed their desire to increase the overall strength of the Asian Racing Conference region by facilitating ease of movement for all of its member countries, including South Africa. Abery formally thanked HKJC, stating:“Getting to this point in our drive to allow the export of horses from South Africa to the EU is due to the hard work and support of various role players, including our partners in the South African Government, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, , the NHRA as well as various racing bodies and individuals who have supported SAEHP to date, and of course the efforts of the team at SAEHP. I would like to especially thank the Hong Kong Jockey Club for their funding of SAEHP’s operations over the last year and for their insight and support during the process. I would also like to thank Adrian Todd and his team at SAEHP for

their hard work and tenacity in getting us to this critical point.” Todd reserved the final word for Chris van Niekerk, saying: "He deserves recognition as both a founder member and for the effort and financial support he has poured into this cause even after he had resigned from the board, without the vision of Chris van Niekerk as well as his unwavering support and mentorship, SAEHP would have never gotten off the ground. Chris has always been there and without a doubt is the single biggest private financial contributor to this cause, even after he stepped back from the board his financial support continued as well as his mentorship.” Chairman David Abery leads a board currently consisting of Mike de Kock, Vaughan Koster, and Managing Director Adrian Todd.

A ROYAL FORTUNE! MJ puts another subject on the spot! 18

JC Photos

MJ puts another subject on the spot! 19

Dreams do come true! Vaal trainer Ashley Fortune struck gold at Turffontein on Saturday when her former Cape-based 4yo Princess Calla won the R1 250 000 HSH Princess Charlene Gr1 Empress Club Stakes to give the popular lady trainer and her consistent horse their respective maiden Gr1 success. Formerly resident with Adam Marcus at Milnerton, Princess Calla has to be one of the best 4yo fillies around not to have won a Gr1 prior to Saturday. A recent winner of the Gr3 Prix Du Cap, South Africa’s newest equine millionaire was already a Gr2 winner and had twice won at Gr3 level, with two Gr1 runner-up credits to her name. But justice was done on Saturday when Aldo Domeyer made it a Fortune family celebration with a beautifully judged ride to get the Maine Chance bred filly home. After stalking Pretty Betty and Sprinkles all the way around, Domeyer unleashed Princess Calla at the 400m in a show of confidence. Running fresh at her first Gauteng start and a break of eight weeks, she gave her sire Flower Alley (Distorted Humor) his first SA Gr1

winner and a royal feature double on the big day. Princess Calla (15-10) charged to a popular victory as she staved off a gutsy late challenge by 3yo Under Your Spell (15-2) to win by three quarters of a length in 98,24 secs. Sparkling Water (13-2) stayed on for third in an encouraging prep for Champions Day, with Cape raider Zarina (11-2) a well-beaten fourth. An emotional Aldo Domeyer, whose trophy was presented by a relaxed looking former multiple champion in Piere Strydom, had handled the pressure like a champion. His decision to excuse himself from the Bass-Robinson stable rides in the race, resulted in giving him the rare pleasure of providing his former SA Champion jockey Dad Andrew and step Mom Ashley with a milestone moment in all their lives. Ashley Fortune thanked her entire team and the likes of riders Ryan Munger and Chad Little, and paid tribute to seldom seen owner Mario Ferreira and his Racing Manager Des Gonsalves for their patience and confidence. Des Gonsalves’ comment that the Snaith’s Captain’s Ransom had gotten in the way of Princess Calla winning a

Gr1 in her former hometown, and that they had decided to give this race a bash, set up an interesting showdown in the SA Champions Season between the two top racers. Bred by the red-hot Maine Chance Farms, Princess Calla is out of the Captain Al mare Princess Royal. A R600 000 purchase from the 2019 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, Princess Calla has now won 5 races with 9 places from 16 starts for stakes of R1 759 850. She is one of a growing number of top-class fillies sired by Flower Alley, who is also responsible for this season’s Gr2 WSB Ipi Tombe Challenge/Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap winner Bold Fortune, and the Racing Owners Association Listed Spook Express winner, Opera Glass.

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The Merits PRINCESS CALLA (rated to win) remains unchanged on a merit rating of 121 following her success in the Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Stakes for fillies and mares on WFA terms over 1600m on the Turffontein standside track on Saturday 23 April. It was PRINCESS CALLA herself who was considered to make for the best line horse when assessing this event, hence her unchanged rating.

In rating the race this way, 6th placed SPRINKLES, 8th finisher BOLD FORTUNE and 11th placed SENTBYDESTINY all run to their marks, effectively making them line horses as well, leaving them unaltered on marks of 110, 105 and 103, respectively. 2nd placed UNDER YOUR SPELL was raised from 114 to 119, while the only other increase was for 5th finisher MARIGOLD HOTEL, who is

raised from 104 to 110 to make her at least equal to 6th placed SPRINKLES. There were ratings drops for three horses. 4th placed ZARINA is down from 119 to 116, SHE’S A KEEPER drops from 116 to 115, and lastly, CHAT CHING is down to 102 from 104.

Candiese Lenferna

FERREIRA’S FLOWER CHILD

22 Aldo Domeyer takes it easy after the big race

The result of the Gr1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein’ s Royal meeting was a first all round. The winner, former Cape-based Princess Calla not only broke through at the elite level on her Highveld debut, she also provided trainer Ashley Fortune with a maiden Gr1 success. Furthermore, the filly is the first South African Gr1 winner for Wilgerbosdrift-based stallion Flower Alley. A powerful chestnut of great balance and symmetry, the son of Distorted Humor certainly enjoyed a redletter day, Princess Calla’s Gr1 success following immediately after the running of the Listed Spook Express

Stakes, where Opera Glass become his fifth stakes winner of the season. That quintet also includes Gr2 Peninsula Handicap winner Firealley and Bold Fortune, who claimed the Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap and narrowly defeated Perfect Witness in a Flower Alley onetwo finish to the Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge. Port Elizabeth-based daughter Santa Therese, a triple stakes winner and successful in this season’s Listed Jockey Club Stakes, incidentally hails from the same female line as Opera Glass, that of the mighty Horse Chestnut. Princess Calla was previously trained by Adam Marcus, for whom she won the Gr2

Umzimkhulu Stakes and Gr3 Prix du Cap, while placing in a string of Gr1 races, notably the Cape Fillies Guineas, Woolavington 2000 and Garden Province Stakes. Her female line is exemplary, to say the least. She is the first foal of Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship second Princess Royal, who was trained by Glen Kotzen. A quirky, if talented, daughter of Captain Al that would invariably play up on her way to the start, but with the assistance of renowned horse whisperer Malan du Toit and the comforting presence of lead pony Ghostly Galleon (a former Cape Nursery winner and 22 years old at the time), she put it all together to win the Gr3 Sceptre Stakes at three. Candiese Lenferna

23 Ashley Fortune and her special Princess Calla

Glen recalls: “She absolutely had loads of talent and it was only when she got to the course that she played up. Ghostly Galleon took no nonsense from her and the two of them got on like a house on fire.” Princess Royal’s second foal, the three-year-old Silvano colt Platinum Sky, finished third in this season’s Gr3 Sea Cottage Stakes. Her juvenile son Power Factor, also by Silvano, was purchased for R2.4 million by the Hong Kong Jockey Club at last year’s National Yearling Sale. Kotzen also trained Princess Royal’s half-sister, the champion Princess Victoria, a four-time Gr1 winner of the Allan Robertson Championship, Durban Golden Slipper, Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas

and Garden Province Stakes. Interestingly, both fillies were raced in a partnership which included Georgina Jaffee, a daughter of the late Laurie and Jean Jaffee. True doyens of the South African turf, they had a relationship with this female family stretching back to Princess Calla’s fourth dam Precious Platinum. By the legendary Sir Tristram, she was a half-sister to the Jaffee-raced champions Petrava and her daughter Hoeberg. Petrava also reserved her place in racing lore as the dam of champion sire Jallad. Flower Alley’s stakes double once again underscored his impact as a sire of superior fillies - of his seven South African-bred stakes winners, only Firealley and Kenilworth

Cup winner Bayberry are males. This ability to produce a high proportion of good fillies probably comes as no surprise, considering he boasts a particularly strong female line. His fourth dam Dumfries is a daughter of Goofed, which makes her a half-sister to the important stallion Lyphard. In fact, Flower Alley’s dam Princess Olivia is inbred to Goofed, as her sire Lycius is out of a Lyphard mare. Flower Alley has eleven yearlings catalogued on this week’s National Sale.

Candiese Lenferna

Ashley Fortune and her Gr1 dream, Princess Calla

PRINCESS ASH REALISES A DREAM After starting out with just a handful of horses four years ago, Ashley Fortune has grown her operation to 90 horses. On Saturday Princess Calla soared to victory in the Gr1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress

Club Stakes at Turffontein on a momentous milestone day for the 40 year old Zim-born horsewoman. Mission accomplished, the daughter of Flower Alley now transfers to Lorenzo Karriem in

KwaZulu-Natal. We put it to Ashley that bidding farewell to the top filly just two months after her arrival, must be something of a blow.

“Not at all. Mario Ferreira’s operation runs on a team basis. Princess Calla arrived here after the Prix Du Cap victory on 28 February with the Gr1 race on Saturday as her target. Now it’s time to raid the riches of the SA Champions Season. For that campaign she will be based with Lorenzo Karriem. He knows her well and has been doing so well since taking out his licence. He is very qualified to bring out the best in her!” Looking back at Saturday, Ashley says that her feet have still not touched the ground after achieving her maiden Gr1 success in such short time. “Now I know just a little bit of how Mike de Kock and Paul Peter and the other top guys feel, having a fancied Gr1 horse to prepare. I have had Gr1 runners. But Princess Calla was favourite. Public money was riding on her back. It was an adrenalin sort of pressure for me that is difficult to describe. A great feeling that I am sure I could get very used to,” she laughs. We asked her how she felt when Princess Calla hit the front 400m out. “Look,it’s a blur! We were shouting and screaming. My heart was in my throat. But Aldo was so confident and

even though the 3yo Under Your Spell moved up to her, Calla blew her chest out, asserted her authority and was not for the beating. She is topclass!” Ashley explained that from the day Princess Calla got off the float, she had a presence about her. “She’s a madam. And she knows she’s good. But she is professional and has a great demeanour. She fell in love with our one-time winning gelding called West Point. They were inseperable , so we allowed him to travel with her to Turffontein on Saturday – as a companion.” She says that the vibe at their yard had lifted visibly since Saturday. “The staff have a pep in their step, everybody’s smiling. They will be having a nice braai on Friday to celebrate. I can’t stress how many people were involved to make this work. From the vets to the farriers to our staff, it was a terrific team effort that panned out so well. Aldo Domeyer had been up a few times to ride and on the day he rode her with confidence. Our team at home all did a great job. Ryan Munger and Chad Little rode the work when Aldo wasn’t here. I allocated Princess Calla to Tendai Kamhulnukamwe – an experienced horseman

with an affinity for fillies. They bonded so well. Craig Mayhew and Kelsey MayhewMunger our assistants are so professional. And then thanks to Mario Ferreira and Des Gonsalves for their belief in us and to the lovely Princess Calla for bringing her A-game to the party. 23 April 2022 is a day I will remember forever!” Ashley says that it was also a proud family moment. Aldo in fact rode her first ever winner too – in the Gr3 Gold Bowl on Champions Day! “We were all very emotional and extremely thrilled. Aldo is a real professional and my husband Andrew is in the background directing matters. I think I would also like to give Charles Laird a mention. Whenever I need help, advice or guidance in the yard, I call him. Whether it’s at 22h00 at night or 06h00 in the morning. He is there with his years of experience and wisdom.” “Horses are my life and this is all I have ever wanted to do since my school days,” says Ashley, who recalls that when other kids were aspiring to be doctors, dentists and civil engineers, all she ever wanted was a job – any job – with horses. “It’s tough economically but I am living my dream – something few people have

Candiese Lenferna

32 We are family! Aldo embraces Stepmom Ashley after the Gr1 glory

the privilege of doing. Ashley was born in Harare on 20 July 1981. She lived with her parents and a younger sister on a farm near a small town called Ruwa.` Her Dad was a transport contractor and the facility allowed space to store the vehicles – but more importantly, horses too!

“We were horse crazy from an early age. I spent my life doing polocrosse. It gave me a great foundation for what I do today.” She recalls modestly that she was an ‘okay’ student at Chisipite High School but couldn’t wait to spend more time with horses. She lost her sister seventeen years ago and her folks are

‘just down the road’ in Parys. She tries to see them often as she can. It was while working for champion trainer Noelene Peech in Zim that Ashley met the charming South African jockey who was to change her life forever. And now the Fortunes are training Gr1 winners!

36 Opera Glass (Smanga Khumalo) charges clear of a flying Aryaam (Joshwin Solomons) and third placed Ontheverge (Nathan Klink)

Candiese Lenferna

WHAT A SHOW! 37

Another month, another feature winner for Stephen Moffatt! The Vaal-based conditioner followed up his Listed Jacaranda Stakes victory of March, when runner-up Opera Glass maintained her consistent formline to register a first stakes success in the R100 000 Racehorse Owners Association Listed Spook Express Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday. Beautifully ridden by the in-form Smanga Khumalo, who survived an objection to win the Pinnacle Stakes a half hour earlier, Opera Glass relished the first time try at 2400m and stayed on powerfully after stalking the pacesetting Western Dance and She’s A Cracker.

While Nathan Klink ghosted up ominously on Ontheverge and looked a danger, Khumalo had judged his ride perfectly and the daughter of Flower Alley stayed on like a soldier at 7-1 to beat a low-flying Aryaam (6-1) under the day’s 60 win milestone man Joshwin Solomons by 0,70 lengths in a time of 156,65 secs. CK Racing stablemates Ontheverge (17-2) – who was a neck back – and Smoking Hot (10-1), rounded off the quartet. Trainer Stephen Moffatt celebrated an exacta in the Jacaranda last month and after Opera Glass had played second fiddle to her evergreen stable companion Rouge Allure, he had the 4yo daughter of Flower Alley tuned to the minute.

Opera Glass is now a winner of 6 races with 11 places from 23 starts for stakes of R496 332. Bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein, the winner is a daughter of Travers Stakes winner, Flower Alley (Distorted Humor) out of Fort Wood’s three-time winning daughter Loupe. Interestingly, Flower Alley is emerging as an increasingly successful broodmare sire, and is already damsire of international Gr1 winners Cyberknife, Lucky Lilac and Smooth Like Strait, as well high-class US 3yo My Prankster.

The Merits OPERA GLASS (rated to win) has had her rating raised slightly from 90 to 91 after she won the Listed Racehorse Owners Association Spook Express Stakes for fillies and mares over 2400m at Turffontein on Saturday. It was the consistent 5th placed UN DEUX TROIS who was

used as the line horse here, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 84. The specific conditions of the race do not allow for an increase in the rating of any horse except the winner. As such, 2nd placed ARYAAM and 3rd finisher ONTHEVERGE remain

unchanged on ratings of 75 and 77, respectively, despite actually achieving marks of 78 and 86, respectively. LA LUVIA had been dropped from 89 to 84 subsequent to the publication of weights for this race and remains on a mark of 84 and as such there were no drops for any runner in this event.

DUNCAN’S READY TO ERUPT!

Riverton Stud is a name synomous with high-class thoroughbreds. Established in 1918, the farm was originally a wine - as a member of the Robertson winery - and fruit farm, before George Barry added horses to the mix. The farm enjoyed plenty of success and was home to top stallion Jamaico. Duncan took over the farm after returning from a stint in Ireland, and Riverton soon acquired another successful grey stallion in the form of Russian Fox. Russian Fox went on to become Champion First Season Sire and it took 17 years for any stallion to beat his record for the most winners in a season!

Notable thoroughbreds bred by Riverton in more recent times include Champion Sprinter, and successful sire, Captain Of All, Gr1 Cape Guineas winner Domino Man, Gr1 Mercury Sprint winner Pearl Of Asia, and they also either bred or reared the winners of three Grr1 Gold Medallions from 2010-2013. Riverton's grooms also pulled off a notable accomplishment when they sold subsequent champion and current top sire Vercingetorix for R1 400 000 at the 2011 National Yearling Sale. The Robertson farm will be offering three colts by Dubawi's dual Gr1 winning son Erupt

at this year's National Sale namely a colt (Lot 74) out of a half-sister to champions Kelly and Victory Moon, a half-brother (Lot 159) to Gr3 Umkhomazi Stakes victor Al Mariachi, and a colt (Lot 162) whose three time winning dam is a half-sister to the dam of this season's highclass three-year-old William Robertson. Riverton's three colts can be viewed in Block H at the TBA Complex in Germiston.

HENHAM ARE RUNNING BRAVE AT NATIONALS MJ puts another subject on the spot! 52 Admiral Henry John Rous – arbiter of all matters equine

Founded in 1967 by Dr Robin Rous, Henham Stud was named after the farm in which legendary British handicapper Admiral Henry John Rous was bought up on. Early on, the stud only had 15 mares give or take, but managed to produce horses of the ilk of top-class sprinter Tucson and fellow smart sprinter, Cavilan, winner of the SA Airways Sprint, among others. Robin was passionate about his horses and on his death, his sons, Trevor and Gavin took over his breeding operation. Through all the ups and downs of the racing industry, older established stud farms have gone but these two die-hards continue their father’s legacy and love of racing. Henham Stud has continued to produce topclass thoroughbreds from a relatively small band of mares, including Gr3 Gold Vase winner, and Equus Award nominee, Walter Smoothie, ten time winner

Ghost Dog, and the smart Abbottsbury. Remarkably, that trio were sired by Biarritz, Mellifont and Grey Eminence respectively -stallions who were hardly the height of fashion! At the Summerhill Dispersal Sale, Henham Stud managed to procure Jet Master mare, Movingandgrooving for only R5000. This was before her first foal, Pilgrims Progress had won and before her second foal, Running Brave was sold. Running Brave subsequently went on to earn nearly R2 000 000 in stakes, winning the Gr2 Gold Bracelet twice as well as the 2021 G3 London News Stakes. At the National Sale this year, Henham Stud will be offering a beautiful Vercingetorix halfsister (Lot 66) to Running Brave by the name of Miracle In Motion. Judy Rous describes the three other lots in their draft as: Lot 155: a neat, beautiful moving filly by Potala Palace out of the Galileo mare Sehaba Lot 341: a tall handsome colt by Potala Palace out of the Western Winter mare Cresta

Lot 26: a beautiful big racy colt, he is a Querari full-brother to Liberty Hall, who ran second in the G1 Premiers Champion Stakes The latter colt is offered by Henham Stud on behalf of John Slade. The Rous Bros' quartet can be viewed in Block B in the TBA complex during the week leading up to the 2022 National Sale.

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Chase Liebenberg

MJ puts another subject on the spot! Gem King (Bernard Fayd’herbe) slips through down the rail to hold off Louis Mxothwa and Future Prince

Pocket Power, Katak…Introducing Gem King A red-hot Bernard Fayd’herbe rode four winners at Kenilworth on Sunday, including a finely-judged brave escape through an almost non existent inside rail gap to

give Milnerton trainer Piet Steyn a belated birthday present, courtesy of Gem King’s impressive victory in the R250 000 World Sports Betting Gr3 Variety Club Mile.

In shades of past Winter Series heroes Pocket Power and Katak, the Varsfonteinbred Gem King carried the famous Marsh Shirtliff Greenacres Trust pink, white & blue silks, as he stormed

to victory in the opening leg of the WSB Cape Winter Series. Whether the son of Master Of My Fate, clearly a versatile sort after his impressive 1100m prep run victory, can go on and emulate the two past Shirtliff stars beyond the 2400m of the final leg remains to be seen. Price is no yardstick, but Gem King certainly cost more than the combined purchase prices of the dazzling duo! A veteran of the local training ranks, Piet Steyn saddled a Gr3 Cape Nursery double at the end of February, and closed a great week after his 64th birthday celebration on Thursday, when Gem King lifted from last to first to win going away.

Steyn and Fayd’herbe also won the opener when Miss Marguerite, another Varsfontein Master Of My Fate product, charged home. After the consistent favourite Future Prince had swept into the lead at the 300m, the race looked to be for second. But a determined Fayd’herbe, now clearly back from the wilderness, rode for his life and squeezed through down the rail, with Gem King setting hoof on the narrow mowed strip under the rail. With on-course and television broadcast communications still in the dark ages, we do not know whether the Stipes called a race review. That will come from the official report later. Starting at 11-2, Gem King finished full of running to beat

Future Prince (18-10) by 0,40 lengths in a time of 101,15 secs. Cape owner Marsh Shirtliff has enjoyed great success in the Cape Winter Series (Pic – Chase Liebenberg) The 40-1 longshot Chollima moved up dangerously and ran a gutsy race in third, three lengths ahead of the recently gelded Pacaya (2-1), who had nothing to come. Bred by Varsfontein from the winner producing Damascus Gate mare Gem Queen, Gem King has won 4 races with 4 places from 11 starts for stakes of R327 600. The gelding was a R250 000 purchase by Piet Steyn off the 2020 BSA Mistico Cape Yearling Sale.

The Merits GEM KING has had his rating raised from 94 to 98 after he captured the Grade 3 WSB Variety Club Mile for three-year-olds over 1600m on the summer course at Kenilworth on Sunday 24th April. It was runner-up FUTURE PRINCE who was considered to make for the most suitable line horse here, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 97.

Aside from the winner, the only increase was for 3rd placed CHOLLIMA, who is up from 83 to 89. In rating the race this way, CHOLLIMA in fact runs to a mark of 94, but the Handicappers were reluctant to take this literally given CHOLLIMA’S overall career history and opted to raise him by just over half of the ostensible improvement shown.

There were no other ratings increases, but two horses were given a drop. 4th placed PACAYA is down from 108 to 105, while 6th finisher BARATHEON was dropped from 89 to 84 to make him lower than the 86-rated 5th placed SUGAR MOUNTAIN.

Runner up on the South African General Sires List last season, Gem King’s sire Master Of My Fate (Jet Master) has a top-class draft on offer at this week’s National Yearling Sale. Among his yearlings are a full-brother (Lot 61) to this season’s Listed #WomenInRacing Sophomore Sprint winner Zapatillas, a colt (Lot 172) whose Gr3 winning dam is a three-parts sister to Durban July winning champion Bold Silvano, and a filly (Lot 252) out of Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift SA

Oaks winner Wind Chill. The next leg of the Cape Winter Series is the R250 000 Gr3 WSB Legal Eagle Stakes to be run over 1800m at Kenilworth on Saturday 21 May. The third leg is the R250 000 Gr3 WSB Pocket Power Stakes run over 2400m on Saturday 25 June. A bonus of R200 000 will be paid to the connections of the horse that wins all three legs of the WSB Cape Racing Winter Series. Marsh Shirtliff has banked the cheque twice

previously. He could be in for more fun as the Cape turns cold and wet.

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

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Chase Liebenberg

MJ puts another subject on the spot! Grant van Niekerk gets Young Love to come again down the inside as Greg Cheyne pushes hard on Going Up

A GROOVY KINDA LOVE The enigmatic Grant van Niekerk has been known by various names, including ‘Mr Muscles’ and ‘Big John’, in a career that has see-sawed between mostly sheer brilliance, average, and plain outstanding on some days. At Kenilworth on Sunday, the man with the sometimes love-hate relationship with the racing public showed what an astute racing brain he possesses, when he rode a perfect race to win the R150 000 World Sports Betting Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes on outsider Young

Love for the Plattner Racing Team. The Cape Town born 30 year old dictated matters on the Andre Nel-trained Young Love in the opening leg of the Cape Winter Series for fillies and mares, and frankly looked dead and buried as Going Up sailed past her at the 300m. Greg Cheyne looked to have timed his run to perfection in the Hollywood Syndicate silks. But briefly consigned to a frustrating a second cheque, the competitive Van Niekerk had other ideas as he gathered 64

the Plattner galloper and got Young Love to come right back. In a rare racing moment, the daughter of Twice Over rallied powerfully at 20-1 to gain what mostly looked to be an unlikely victory. She beat the luckless Going Up (10-1) by 0,40 lengths in a time of 103,73 secs. The top two were miles ahead in the small field, as Brett Crawford’s She’s A Rainbow (5-1) ran on into third, but 4,25 lengths back. The winner is a La Plaissance

Plattner home-bred and a daughter of Twice Over (Observatory) out of the Casey Tibbs four-time winner, Rosie Tibb. She has won 2 races with 1 place from 6 starts and stakes of R151 250. Her dam stayed 2000m, so Young Love looks likely to go into the second leg, the Listed Stormsvlei over 1800m at Kenilworth on Saturday (we hope!) 21 May.

She is one of a number of high-class performers to have emerged from Twice Over’s current crop of three-yearolds, which also include Gr1 Cape Guineas winner Double Superlative, Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes victor Smorgasbord and Listed Ibhayi Stakes winner Resonate

Also sire of current unbeaten Zimbabwe star Call The Wind, Twice Over has five lots on offer at the upcoming National Yearling Sale The third leg of the series will be the Listed River Jetez Stakes to be run over 2400m at the same venue on 25 June.

Young Love was one of two winners for Twice Over at Kenilworth on Sunday with the Klawervlei sire’s three-yearold daughter Cruizin California breaking her maiden when victorious in the fifth race.

A bonus of R150 000 will be paid to the connections of the horse that wins all three legs of the Cape Racing Winter Series.

MJ puts another subject on the spot! 68 Cliff Top powers home to win the East Cape Nursery under Greg Cheyne

Pauline Herman

CANFORD CLIFF’S SON BACK ON TOP MJ puts another subject on the spot! 69

Canford Cliffs handsome son Cliff Top booked his Gr1 Gold Medallion ticket for Hollywoodbets Scottsville in June, with a fairytale ‘comeback’ effort at Fairview on Friday, powering to a stylish victory in the R175 000 Listed East Cape Nursery. Multiple local champion trainer-jockey combination Alan Greeff and Greg Cheyne conceded that they had learnt a valuable lesson when Cliff Top, clearly above himself, had blown up after starting a red hot favourite and overracing to fall in a hole at his last start. “He came out with a reputation and after winning the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes at Kenilworth on Met day with a front-running performance, he had ‘burnt no cherries’ when green that day. Back on home ground last time, he overraced and used up all of his energy. Today I gave him a chance and he ran on and delivered like I expected. Well done to Alan and his team – and to Hollywood and my sponsors Ridgemont Highlands on their partnership. This was an important win and he showed us that he is as good as we believe he is,” added Cheyne. A visibly relieved trainer Alan Greeff admitted that despite believing that they had a good horse on their

hands, one could start ‘second guessing’. “We were bitterly disappointed last time – but we learnt our lesson. Well done to the Hollywood Syndicate and breeders Ridgemont Highlands,” he added, confirming that a trip to KZN was now on the cards. After Cruise Control had led the way, Greg Cheyne produced Cliff Top (11-2) at about the 250m mark. The athletic colt extended like a professional to beat Forest Spy (5-1) by 1,25 lengths in a time of 69,49 secs. Khaya’s Hope (14-1) was always in the mix and stayed on for third, a further 0,75 lengths back. The Cape visitor and 18-10 favourite Alpine Challenge was never in the hunt and finished a well-beaten fourth. When Cliff Top stepped out at Fairview on 1 April, he was the first runner of a 15 strong draft leased by the Hollywood Syndicate from leading Robertson-based breeders, Ridgemont Highlands. The unique bulk lease, initiated by Gauteng trainer and longstanding Hollywood supporter Clinton Binda, is a platform to extend their national footprint, particularly in the Cape. “This was an opportunity to also diversify our trainer support and enjoy the rare 70

privilege of racing beautifullybred high quality racehorses,” said former Champion Jockey Anthony Delpech, who manages the operation. “It’s an association that we’d like to build on as we reinforce our goal of supporting the industry by not only investing back into racing, but also taking an active role in thoroughbred racehorse ownership throughout South Africa,” added Delpech. Now a dual stakes winner with earnings of R233 500 from his 2 wins and a place from just four starts, Cliff Top was bred by Ridgemont Highlands out of the Western Winter one-time winner Bacqueira. With only a handful of runners from his first SA crop having seen the racecourse, his sire Canford Cliffs, who was recently recognised by Timeform as one of the greatest milers to grace the turf this century, has quickly caught the attention and his five lots on the BSA National Yearling Sale next week will be watched with keen interest. 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 performers. Exciting times for all!

First Is Cliff Top’s Second Name! the 200m and he drew off in style to win the Listed East Cape Nursery- his second stakes success in four starts!

MJ puts another subject on the spot! Cliff Top - the cute flying foal! Ridgemont Highlands’ five time Gr1 winning sire Canford Cliffs has made a big impression with his first South African crop and it’s of more than passing interest that the very first foal of the top-class racehorse to be born on the beautiful Robertson farm is now a dual stakes winner! The handsomely athletic Cliff Top turned heads when he travelled to Cape Town from his Fairview base as a maiden at his second start, and duly won the

City Of Cape Town Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes on WSB Cape Town Met day at Kenilworth. Overracing on his return to action on 1 April, Cliff Top, one of a number of wellbred Ridgemont Highlands bred gallopers now leased to the Hollywood Syndicate, found top form at Fairview last Friday when ridden with restraint. Clearly enjoying being given a chance, Ridgemont Highlands jockey Greg Cheyne produced the smashing colt at

Out of the high-class Western Winter mare Baqueria, Cliff Top looks likely now to be aimed at the Gr1 Gold Medallion which is run at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in June. The Irish 2000 Guineas winner, Canford Cliffs has made a smashing start with his first locally-bred runners racing this season. It is no surprise that the son of Tagula currently ranks as the Leading First Season Sire in South Africa for 2021-2022. Already sire of 21 stakes winners, Canford Cliffs has four lots on offer at this week’s National Yearling Sale -including a colt (Lot 209) out of Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic/Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Takingthepeace.

16% feature wins to runners in South Africa

CLIFF TOP

(2 x Listed winner)

FISH RIVER

(Grade 3 winner)

DORSET NOBLE (Listed winner)

Craig Carey | E: craig@ridgemont.co.za | M: +27 (0) 82 654 5169 | w w w . r i d g e m o n t h i g h l a n d s . c o . z a

Ridgemont Highlands

RIDGEMONT HAVE THE NATIONAL CURRENCY! Leading Robertson thoroughbred nursery Ridgemont Highlands is enjoying a fantastic season. Not only are the farm's resident stallions Canford Cliffs, Potala Palace and Rafeef enjoying plenty of success, alumni of Ridgemont Highlands continue to find the winners circle week in and week out. Among the numerous success stories for Ridgemont this season include Gr3 Tony Ruffel Stakes victor William

Robertson, Listed City Of Cape Town Summer Juvenile Stakes hero Cliff Top, impressive debut winner Body Electric, and Gr3 Cape Racing Cape Of Good Hope Nursery winner We're Jamming. Ridgemont Highlands, which will also stand National Sale graduate and Triple Crown winner Malmoos this year, is a farm with a long and storied history. The farm, which today extends over 300 hectares, was founded by the Stubbs family who sold it to the late Graham Beck in the 1970's. Originally known as Highlands Farm Stud, the Robertson stud 74

was sold to the Kieswetter family in 2017 when its name was subsequently adjusted to Ridgemont Highlands. Among the numerous top stallions to have graced Highlands over the years were Dynasty, Elevation, Jallad, Jet Master, National Assembly and the legendary Persian Wonder. A few of the top horses bred by Highlands are National Currency, Franny, Soft Falling Rain, Russian Sage, Jackson, Sweet Sanette, Trust Antonia, Potala Palace, Harry’s Charm, Ravishing,

Grand Emporium, Warm White Night, On Her Toes, Agra, Divine Jury, Highland Nights, Night Watch, Dancer’s Daughter and Bush Telegraph -an impressive list to say the least. The farm's outstanding young sire Rafeef is well represented in Ridgemont's National Sale's draft, with the son of Redoute's Choice lots including a half-brother (Lot 5) to graded stakes winners Olympic Owen and Speedy

Suzy, a filly (Lot 71) out of G3 Magnolia Handicap winner My Friend Lee, and a filly (Lot 135) out of a stakes winning daughter of champion sire Trippi.

Other stallions represented in this string include Danon Platina, Erupt, Var and reigning champion South African sire Gimmethegreenlight.

Fellow Ridgemont resident, and five time Gr1 winner Canford Cliffs, has three yearlings here, including a regally bred colt (Lot 209) out of top racemare, and Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic winner, Takingthepeace.

Ridgemont Highlands' National Yearling Sale draft can be found in Block A at the TBA complex in Germiston.

JULY TICKETS ON SALE! Africa’s greatest horseracing event, the Hollywoodbets Durban July, has been run behind closed doors for the past two years. However, on 2 July the public can look forward to experiencing the excitement and thrills that this famous race has delivered time and time again over the past 125 years. There are a limited number of general entrance tickets (R230) going on sale from 12pm on Tuesday 26 April through Computicket. These can be purchased online at www.computicket.com or from all participating Shoprite stores countrywide.

There will also be a temporary Computicket kiosk at Hollywoodbets Greyville, Gate 9, from Thursday 28 April. Under current legislation, all spectators at the Hollywoodbets Durban July will need to provide a valid Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate or negative PCR Test (taken within 72 hours of the event), together with their entrance ticket, in order to be granted access to the racecourse for the event. Every year the Hollywoodbets Durban July delivers a mix of thrilling horseracing, live entertainment and exquisite fashion. A general access ticket will provide spectators

with a front row view of the racing action from the grandstand and track-side lawns, live DJ performances, as well as runway and public fashion competitions that will be hosted on two stages. Multiple popup bars, food trucks and comfortable shaded seating areas will ensure everyone in attendance will be able to enjoy the full 12-race programme and all the entertainment on offer in between races. Whilst spectators are encouraged to use the Drop & Go facility at Gate 12, parking tickets for the golf course with access via DLI Avenue will also be available on Computicket at R170 per vehicle.

For those customers looking for five-star hospitality experiences, contact details of various marquees and venues synonymous with the event such as EQUUS, Boomtown, Pegasus Lounge, One Stop and many others are listed on the event website at www. hollywoodbetsdurbanjuly. co.za/hospitality-experiences. Customers purchasing hospitality packages for the day will be able to purchase their HDJ entrance ticket from the hospitality vendor.

KZN design students are already drawing inspiration from the 2022 theme, Show Me The Honey, in hope of standing a chance to win the coveted HDJ Young Designer Award competition which has seen past winners launch their fashion design careers. There will be various public raceday fashion competitions which will be detailed on the event website and via the official event social media handles. Last week saw an initial entry of 68 of the country’s best thoroughbred racehorses that

will try and secure one of the final 18 starting berths to do battle for the biggest prize in South African horseracing, with a highest ever stake of R5million. Last year’s champion, Kommetdieding is the early ante-post favourite at 6/1 with Hollywoodbets, with his old adversary Linebacker next best at 10/1. Get the full ante-post betting at www.hollywoodbets.net.

Chase Liebenberg

John Kinsley – passion for the game

Kinsley Joins NHA Board In a media release published on Friday, and in terms of Chapter 4 of the Constitution of the National Horseracing Authority, the Nominations Committee, consisting of Messrs M Currie (Chairman), N Nalliah, B Ralph, A Rivalland and R Sewgoolam have advised that they have appointed Mr John H Kinsley to fill the vacant position in terms of Clause 15.4.5.5 on the National Board. The vacant position is due to Mrs Susan Rowett not making herself available to be re-appointed for another term. Mr Kinsley, pictured above, is a registered Breeder and Owner of Ay-Jay Farm and is also a registered Colour Holder since 1999. Mr Kinsley holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a

LLB degree with the University of Natal and holds a Certificate of Financial Planning with University of the Orange Free State.

This appointment has been ratified by the National Board and is effective immediately.

Mr Kinsley is a retired executive with 30 years of experience in the financial services industry in South Africa.

The Nominations Committee is working on identifying a suitable candidate for the remaining vacant position on the National Board in terms of Clause 15.4.5.3 of the Constitution.

He has previously served in an executive capacity on a number of Boards in both South Africa and Namibia. He remains a non-executive director of two businesses in the financial services sector and looks to take on one or two other fiduciary roles in businesses or industries where he will be able to add value.

Ed – John Kinsley has owned horses since 1999. He started out with Stan Elley, then moved to Vaughan Marshall and also had horses with Alan Greeff. His best was probably Dynastic Power who won the Gr2 Betting World 1900 in 2015, beating subsequent Durban July winner Power King.

The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa

John told the Sporting Post that he has a passion for the game.

welcomes Mr Kinsley to the National Board.

Candiese Lenferna

Mysterious Girl (Ashton Arries) breaks the ice for Rabada

Rabada Takes His First Wicket The Summerhill Stud-bred Mysterious Girl shed her maiden at just her second start in the opener at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday to give KZN stallion Rabada a deserved first winner, and a timeous boost for his two progeny on this week’s National Yearling Sale. The Spring Valley-based Rabada, a son of Brave Tin Soldier, was the only colt of

his generation to win Gr1’s at two and three, and retired with 5 victories and 3 seconds from 10 starts. Trainer Mike Azzie described him amongst the best he ever trained. Rabada’s 2yo daughter Mysterious Girl, born and bred like Dad at Summerhill Stud, put it all together in good style at her second start on Sunday. Ridden by Ashton Arries for Yogas Govender, Mysterious

Girl was backed into 8-1 and drew away late to win the 1400m Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) by 1,90 lengths in a time of 90,48 secs. Pat Lunn’s Minstrel Gallery improved nicely for second, ahead of dual Durban July winner Do It Again’s William Longsword half sister, Virginia Sweet, who started favourite. Initially in training with Mike Azzie and ending his career with Brett Crawford, Rabada

retired a 5-time winner, including the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes as a two year old, and the Gr1 Daily News 2000, as well as the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes. He carries a pure Summerhill pedigree, being out of a Fard / Braashee mare – Jordie. His sire Brave Tin Soldier

stands at The Fort Stud – the sire of two Gr1 winners including export Brave Mary, and Gr1 runner up Running Brave. Brave Tin Soldier was the most expensive weanling in the world at his time of sale, knocked down for a record US$3-million.

Rabada is a stallion that has quality in abundance and stands 16.1h. Blue Sky Thoroughbreds offer a Rabada filly (#203) and a colt (#237) at the BSA National Yearling Sale.

Royal Ascot Entries Are In Entries from nine countries were unveiled on Wednesday for the eight Group One races at Royal Ascot, headlined by the world’s three highest rated sprinters: Nature Strip (Chris Waller, Australia, 124), Golden Pal (Wesley Ward, USA, 121) and Home Affairs (Chris Waller, Australia, 120). The Australian pair, who could clash with Golden Pal in the King’s Stand Stakes or run in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes, are joined by compatriot Artorius (Anthony & Sam Freedman) who is set to run on the final day of the meeting. Last year’s Everest winner Nature Strip has a formidable CV comprising eight Group One victories and looked as good as ever on his latest start as he posted a stunning success in the G1 T J Smith Stakes

at Randwick on 2nd April. Home Affairs is the new kid on the block and had the measure of his stable-mate in the G1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington in February, when the pair were separated by a short-head in a thrilling finish. The Lightning Stakes has been a key stepping-stone for Australia’s five Royal Ascot winners, with Choisir, Takeover Target, Miss Andretti, Scenic Blast and Black Caviar all winning the five-furlong highlight. Waller’s assistant trainer and racing manager Charlie Duckworth said: “We have nominated both Nature Strip and Home Affairs for the King’s Stand Stakes and the Platinum Jubilee Stakes. This is to keep our options open as anything can happen with horses but we should have an exciting Royal Meeting, that is for sure.

“It is phenomenally exciting for Chris to be entrusted in the training of one champion sprinter but to have two champions in the same year is just incredible. Then to be in a position to travel to Royal Ascot, especially in The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year, makes it all the more special. “Nature Strip really etched his name in the history books when winning his third T J Smith Stakes, which brought his total prize money up to AUS$18m. He is a champion year in, year out, and most importantly doesn’t seem to be slowing down despite his age.

Chase Liebenberg

Nursery winner We’re Jamming (now with Snaith) is joint top

CTS FARM SALE RACE – FIRST LOG The first log for the 2022 CTS Farm Sale race has been published. The 1200m race, scheduled for 15 June at Kenilworth, will be contested for a stake of R400 000, doubling its previous purse. The log is topped jointly by two smart 2yo’s. The Glen Kotzen trained colt Grinkov, a son of Twice Over, who won his Maiden over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on 4 April, and gave the impression of more to come, heads the log alongside the very smart We’re Jamming, a smart son of Duke

Of Marmalade who has been rested and changed stables to Justin Snaith, since his win for Piet Steyn in the Cape of Good Hope Nursery over 1200m in February, when Grinkov was behind him, in third. Trompie (Captain Of All), third on the table, was all the rage before his easy debut over 1000m. He was, however, soundly beaten by We’re Jamming and Grinkov in the Nursery. Piet Steyn a runner in the Top 4 – she is fourth-placed Epsom Girl (Pomodoro), impressive winner of the G3 Cape Fillies Nursery over 1200m.

That both this year’s Cape Nursery winners are graduates of the 2021 CTS Farm Sale again reflects the quality of the auction’s annual offerings. This year’s CTS Farm Yearling Sale will be held on 19 June at De Grendel Wine Estate, and graduates will qualify for three sales races to be staged around the country in 2023. Please click here to see the log

HKJC Chase Liebenberg

Karis Teetan rounds off a lifechanging week on Romantic Warrior

Teetan Family Celebrate Surging into history with another remarkable performance, Romantic Warrior has capped an unlikely ascent from obscurity to stardom for Danny Shum and Karis Teetan with a stunning HK$25 million Gr1 FWD QEII Cup victory at Sha Tin on Sunday. Joining Werther (2016), Designs On Rome (2014), Ambitious Dragon (2011) and Vengeance Of Rain (2005) in completing the Hong Kong Derby-QEII Cup double, Romantic Warrior crowned an unlikely advance – in the space of eight fleeting starts – from Class 4 company at

Happy Valley in October to Gr1 success today against Hong Kong’s elite stayers.

two-length success over Tourbillon Diamond and Panfield in 2m 00.13s.

Selected by former Irish champion jockey Michael Kinane from the 2019 Tattersalls Sale at Newmarket on behalf of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Romantic Warrior was purchased by owner Peter Lau for HK$4.8 million last year at the 2021 Hong Kong International Sale.

Cosseted away from trouble in fourth place behind a stopstart tempo to the 800m mark, Romantic Warrior angled into clear running in the straight and was never seriously challenged, powering over the final 400m in 22.62s to seal a wondrous first-season.

With his seventh victory, the son of Acclamation boosted his prize money earnings to an imposing HK$39.96 million – a figure bolstered by a top-up bonus of HK$900,000 for his latest conquest, a scintillating 92

For Teetan, it was a perfect bookend to an already glorious week. “It’s been a great week with my little baby girl (Isabelle) being born on Tuesday, so all my focus was going into her.

I was trying to be a daddy and also put my focus into the racing,” the Mauritian said. “He’s an amazing horse, well done to the team. “The Derby was very special for all of us. This race we thought was a good plan with no international horses coming but we had in mind that he’s a bit younger than the other horses – but he’s better than all of them so he proved what kind of horse he is today. “Danny and his team have done a great job.”

Renowned as a horseman with a keen eye for the smallest detail, Shum was adamant at his first inspection of Romantic Warrior at last year’s Hong Kong International Sale that he was clearly the best lot on offer. “I feel great and happy to see the horse steadily improve and I’ve always loved his manner, but his manner is getting better and better,” Shum said. “He’s very easy to train. He’s a very nice horse. He’s a superstar. “He’s surprised me. When I bought him for Mr Peter Lau, I thought he was a nice

horse – that’s all I could say. I thought in the Hong Kong International Sale he was the best horse but I didn’t know how good he was. “I’m very happy for the owner, he has encouraged me to do better and better.” Romantic Warrior’s sole career defeat came in the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) in February when caught wide and fourth behind California Spangle and an inspired Zac Purton ride.

Congratulations! Our best wishes to Karis and Xaviere Teetan, seen here with gorgeous Isabelle who was born on Tuesday 19 April 2022. May she bring you much joy! 93

HKJC

Golden Sixty wins the 2022 G1 FWD Champions Mile Golden Sixty wins the 2022 G1 FWD Champions Mile

R225 Million! Golden Sixty stands alone as the highest prize money earner in Hong Kong racing history after the faultless defence of his HK$20 million Gr1 FWD Champions Mile crown at Sha Tin on Sunday. Sealing his sixth Gr1 in the process for jockey Vincent Ho and trainer Francis Lui, Golden Sixty enhanced his all-time bank to HK$113,400,600 with HK$11.4 million for first place today, surpassing the mantle of HK$106,233,750 (R225 million) previously held by

Beauty Generation. Ho described Golden Sixty eloquently post-race: “He’s one in a lifetime.” Following today’s effort, a campaign to Japan is an option for Hong Kong’s champion with Lui confirming his entry for the Gr1 Yasuda Kinen at Tokyo on 5 June. “Yes, he is entered already but of course, we have to see how he recovers and we also need to see the quarantine, whether we can go and how the arrangements work.

“If everything is easy, we will go,” Lui said. Fairy King Prawn (2000) and Bullish Luck (2006) are the only two Hong Kong-trained horses to have won the Yasuda Kinen. Ho, 31, relished his third consecutive FWD Champions Mile triumph after previously succeeding aboard Southern Legend (2020) and Golden Sixty (2021). Stepping away cleanly from gate two, Golden Sixty settled in fourth spot on the rail as

California Spangle led the field under Zac Purton. In the straight, Ho pulled the six-year-old out and in the blink of an eye he had the race shot to bits as California Spangle battled bravely for second, beaten by only two lengths while Excellent Proposal filled third. “He did well. He travelled comfortably and actually when Zac steadied the pace a little bit he started to travel a bit keen but he is strong enough and brave enough to push through that gap and run them down easily,” Ho said.

Sunday’s victory marks Golden Sixty’s 21st, achieved across 24 starts in Hong Kong. “He still wanted to slow down a bit the last couple of strides but he did amazing,” Ho said. Golden Sixty – in the silks of owner Stanley Chan – clocked a winning time of 1m 32.81s (24.79, 22.16, 23.31, 22.55), much to the pleasure of Lui. “He did his job, like last time. Last time he had a good draw and he followed the pace and this time he just did the same. “He can really follow the pace now, not like before when he needed to sit behind to start and sometimes he got too far

behind. He’s really stepping up. “It’s not easy to have a horse who wins so many races. We are very happy, we all feel glory about this horse,” Lui said. Only Bullish Luck (2005 & 2006), Xtension (2011 & 2012), Beauty Generation (2018 & 2019) and now Golden Sixty have defended their titles in the FWD Champions Mile.

Chase Liebenberg

ROA CEO Natalie Turner – looking forward to hosting the event

Save The Date – Highveld Feature Awards

The Racehorse Owners Association have advised that the Highveld Feature Season Awards Dinner will be held on Saturday 21 May 2022 at The Venue, Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, to honour equine and human achievements during the Highveld feature race season. The voting panel comprises Jack Milner, Robert Garner and Nico Kritsiotis. ROA Chief Executive Natalie Turner thanked the judges for their participation and also

sent a word of appreciation to the Handicappers at the National Horseracing Authority for assisting with information required in determining the winners. The following are the equine categories: • Champion two year old filly • Champion two year old colt/ gelding • Champion three year old filly

• Champion three year old colt/ gelding

100

• Champion older horse • Champion sprinter

• Champion middle distance horse • Champion stayer Nominees in the various categories will be announced after the running of Champions Day, taking place at Turffontein Racecourse on Saturday 30 April. All nominees are in contention for the Horse of the season Award.

Feature season trophies are also awarded to the human achievers. These are Champion Apprentice, Champion Jockey, Champion Trainer, Champion Breeder and Champion Owner. Work Rider of the season is also recognised at this event. The equine categories will be deliberated by the judging panel and take into account all feature season performances run on the Highveld and the undermentioned points system will be used for the human awards.

For first, second and third, points allocated Grade 1 12-9-7

Excitement is building as the industry has, in recent years, been forced to host virtual awards as a result of the restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “We look forward to this social event and the pleasure of hosting and honouring the stakeholders who have played a major role in keeping our industry moving forward during these challenging times,” concluded Ms Turner.

Grade 2 9-6-4 Grade 3 6-3-1 Listed 2 -0 -0

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A Classic Saturday Ahead MJ puts another subject on the spot! 104

MJ puts another subject on the spot! 105

Monday saw the forfeit stage for the first two English Classics over the weekend and there were no more shocks to compare with the withdrawal of the 1,000 Guineas favourite Inspiral on Sunday.

term winning the Gr1 Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster in good style. Bred to be much more effective over middledistances, he's got a long stride and should enjoy this track providing he handles the run into the Dip.

Craven Stakes winner Native River was among the 19 colts confirmed for Saturday’s 2,000 Guineas and he is now odds-on with some bookmakers to take home the £283,500 first prize. The final field and draws will be announced on Thursday.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien remarked on Luxembourg’s Classic chances last week. “He's a bigger horse than Camelot and I think he has more pace, so that would give you hope going for a Guineas. We'll have to wait and see what Newmarket tells us, but we hope he's a Derby horse too.”

The Charlie Appleby trained Native Trail, champion juvenile of last season with four straight wins, including two at Group One level, heads the betting. He didn't need to improve to land the Craven on his comeback here earlier in the month, although it was noticeable once more that he briefly hit a flat spot in running.

Stable companion to the favourite, Coroebus is a serious runner on his juvenile form. The Dubawi colt looked a top miler with a blistering turn of speed last year so it’s no surprise that he's been included in the line-up despite the stable having form horse Native Trail. Unfortunate not to be unbeaten following a neck defeat in the Royal Lodge, a more patient ride paid off handsomely in the Autumn Stakes when last seen. He looked the part in recent gallop on the track prior to the Craven Stakes. James Doyle is carded to ride, and he could pose the biggest threat to the favourite.

He found plenty for pressure on the climb over the last two furlongs and this should play to his strengths on Saturday. Luxembourg and Coroebus are the obvious dangers according to the betting and on official ratings. Luxembourg is trained by the Master of Ballydoyle who has already won 10 Guineas, so there’s every reason to take this Camelot colt very seriously. He ended last

Others to consider at bigger prices include Bayside Boy for Rodger Varian and Point Lonsdale, another for Aidan O’Brien who will enjoy the stepup in trip and the predicted

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good going. The unbeaten Tenebrism, representing Aidan O’Brien now heads the market at around 11/4 for Sunday’s 1,000 Guineas. Sixteen fillies were declared, including two from leading French stables, whilst the Irish have four of the top five in the ante-post betting. A daughter of new sire Caravaggio, Tenebrism was a comfortable winner of the Gr1 Cheveley Park Stakes over six furlongs on the Guineas track last September. The stable has also declared the impeccably well-bred Galileo filly Tuesday, a recent taking winner of a Naas maiden over a mile. The stable has not declared jockey bookings at present. Discoveries, a two-time winning filly for top Irish connections, narrowly denied Tuesday (who was having her debut run) at the Curragh before going on to land the Gr1 Moyglare Stud Stakes, confirming the form of these well-bred Irish raiders. Mise En Scene for James Ferguson, Godolphin’s Wild Beauty (William Buick engaged) and Nell Gwyn winner Cachet for young trainer George Boughey are next in the ante-post betting at double figure odds and are the highest rated British runners.

results up to: 2022-04-26

TRAINERS Name

Runs 857 934 613 379 919

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

Wins Win%

2nd

3rd

Other Places Place %

167 121 70 72 101

113 112 65 55 96

92 121 67 42 92

182 202 113 76 156

19.5. 13.0 11.4 19.0 11.0

387 435 245 173 344

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

45.2 10,905,188 15,602,813 46.6 9,109,025 13,753,925 40.0 6,844,750 10,195,563 45.6 6,396,188 9,019,250 37.4 4,476,563 6,938,400

JOCKEYS Name

Rides Wins Win%

2nd

3rd

Other Places Place %

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

1249 735 824 798 1043

189 120 95 118 134

165 100 91 96 122

240 158 166 172 221

213 134 132 129 114

17.1 18.2 16.0 16.2 10.9

594 378 352 386 477

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

47.6 12,162,250 18,460,988 51.4 11,111,550 14,806,863 42.7 9,438,138 13,503,275 48.4 8,085,825 12,645,775 45.7 6,760,563 11,384,188

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

274 1339 328 1647

64,353 129 189 47,015 116 153

47.1 529 35.4 640

12 7

17 8

17,632,650 15,420,838

147 138 133

84,070 71,436 56,157

44.2 306 43.5 285 32.3 264

13 6 3

16 8 4

12,358,225 9,858,138 7,468,913

B.T. Wins

Total Stakes (R)

715 677 774

65 102 60 92 43 67

SIRES Name Vercingetorix Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) Master Of My Fate What A Winter * Silvano (GER)

Runrs Runs AEPR 139 173 174 173 144

704 830 933 857 680

73,582 56,637 56,120 55,205 64,758

B.T. Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Rnrs % 73 72 85 74 63

102 97 119 116 95

52.5 41.6 48.9 42.8 43.8

298 345 417 378 290

See all the detailed standings - Click here 107

11 8 2 2 8

14 9 2 2 10

10,227,900 9,798,275 9,764,950 9,550,413 9,325,113

THE AWAY WIN LOOKS VALUE!

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It was probably a toss-up between this encounter and the Chelsea v Everton game for our feature focus this week. Admittedly, I was surprised when our editor published the memo – but then again neither of these sides have any undue pressure, tension or stress associated with their home form… and I guess the London Stadium pitch is still in complete working order! Good people, this could certainly turn out to be a real spectacle. Here’s to David Moyes picking the right side for the top four race – sorry, for West Ham’s season – and giving his side a chance! West Ham vs Arsenal | Sunday 1 May | London Stadium | 17h30 West Ham 33/10 Draw 26/10 Arsenal 8/10 West Ham Ryan Liberty writes that to start, I think it would be remiss of me to not mention the incredible work being done by David Moyes at West Ham. He is, in my opinion, right where he needs to be at the London club. He has turned them into a proud League side who remain competitive against any opposition. They

are into the semi-finals of the Europe League competition and look as though they might still progress. It truly is reminiscent of the work he did at Everton, giving the club a soul. Allowing the fans to get behind him and buy into the work and effort of the players. With the greatest amount of respect, David Moyes is made for these sorts of clubs. West Ham will be kicking themselves after coming away from the Bridge empty-handed. They were brilliant against Chelsea; they asked the right questions and just never allowed their hosts to settle. Declan Rice, Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio all started on the bench for the Hammers – which just increases the size of the feather being squarely positioned in their caps! Craig Dawson, who himself had a sterling performance, will be annoyed with himself after picking up a red card which obviously shifted the game, but also rules him out of selection. West Ham are currently in seventh position, eight points off the top four. They haven’t been spoken about nearly enough, and whilst they aren’t likely to gate crash the Champions League spots, to be in such a position after the start they had this season is superb.

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The dilemma then for this game is simple, should David Moyes select his best West Ham side I think they could cause Arsenal some worry making life incredibly difficult for their visitors. If he opts for sticking with the side that impressed at Chelsea, I think Arsenal have the quality to overcome them, but also the inconsistency required to justify a raised eyebrow and a hesitant breath before putting your money down. My concern is, why rest a side against Chelsea if you aren’t intending to replicate it against Arsenal – or indeed until the Europa tie is put to bed? Arsenal Arsenal stepped up their cavalry charge for a place in the Champions League next season. They came away 3-1 winners against Manchester United at the Emirates and claimed an invaluable threepoint haul. Of course, the Gunners came into the game with all the confidence in the world after thrashing Chelsea 4-2, but it was their ability to maintain consistent which should be what Arsenal fans celebrate the most this week. Before that superb win at the Bridge, Arsenal had lost three league games on the

bounce and were beginning to look as though their hopes of Champions League qualification were being bottled. I don’t think Mikel Arteta’s side were unplayable against United, in fact their defensive attributes left a lot to be desired, quite frankly. However, every time they went forward, they looked as though they could score at will and pleasure. Arsenal took their chances in front of goal and gave themselves a chance. The punditry at the weekend suggested that Arsenal need Bukayo Saka to perform, and they will subsequently reap the rewards…truer words haven’t been spoken in a while. The young English attacker has been brilliant for his club, much like Martin Odegaard,

Eddie Nketiah and Nuno Tavares, he drags his team up the pitch at blistering pace. He is happy to take defenders on 1v1 and makes a nuisance of himself in the final third. If Arsenal can replicate this performance, they swat aside West Ham and continue charging toward a respectable top four finish this season. It’s been brilliant to see everyone who follows the North London side finally ‘trusting the process’ as opposed to calling for their manager’s head. Patience is becoming a lost art in football; Arsenal’s season may serve as a reminder why it should never be disdained. Prediction: Arsenal (8/10) Don’t get me wrong, I think this could be a hard-fought game and victory. I mean, it is a London derby after all.

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Arsenal has the quality and pace necessary to break down a well-coached and patient West Ham side – who themselves can counter at the speed of light and with immense power. My only concern with the visitors is there inconsistency. West ham’s lineup will be difficult to predict, and I’m not sure their focus is on the domestic season now, so I wouldn’t suggest trying to find reasons to back them here (hope is fine). Get on the away win, at decent odds.

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