L’Ormarins King’s Plate favourite Charles Dickens and jockey Aldo Domeyer enjoy some beach time on the Cape West Coast – image courtesy of Chase Liebenberg
Charles and Aldo – the newsmaking combination will have all eyes on them on Saturday
‘Such has been the hype surrounding Charles Dickens that for once, the powerful Snaith stable finds itself in the unaccustomed role of 'underdog', so to speak’
The 162nd running of the L'Ormarins King's Plate at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth this weekend rings in a new era in the history of arguably the country's premier mile race.
To many racegoers, this iconic race has always been known as the Queen's Plate, for the simple reason that we have known no British monarch other than the recently passed Queen Elizabeth II, a greatgranddaughter of Queen
Victoria, in whose honour the mile race was first contested way back in 1861.
Not surprisingly, the recent name change to the King's Plate has been frowned upon by purists, yet it must be pointed out that following Queen Victoria's death and during the reigns of Edward VII and George VI, the race was run as the King's Plate. It only reverted to its original name in 1953 after the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the throne.
But back to this weekend. It's
official, as far as most pundits are concerned, star three-year-old Charles Dickens is 'home and hosed'.
The Drakenstein homebred has taken the South African racing scene by storm and puts his unbeaten six-win streak on the line when he takes on the cream of the battle-hardened older generation. The son of Trippi enters the race off a sublime victory in the Guineas, where he left last
season's champion juvenile Cousin Casey trailing.
No horse has grabbed the imagination since Horse Chestnut blazed across the racing sky like the proverbial comet, before leaving these shores midway through his sophomore season. For those who don't remember, he turned his swan song, the Gr1 J&B Met, into an eight-length tour de force.
Should Charles Dickens succeed on Saturday, he will be only the 11th three-yearold winner in the history of the race. In addition, he will also become the first King's Plate winner for the Bass stable since the heady days of the mighty Pocket Power. Rumour has it they regard the colt superior to
the triple Horse of the Year, who racked up a record four Queen's Plate wins from 2006 to 2010. High praise indeed.
Such has been the hype surrounding Charles Dickens that for once, the powerful Snaith stable finds itself in the unaccustomed role of 'underdog', so to speak. That is a rarity, considering it will be represented by a true champion, Jet Dark. Winner of the last two renewals, he is bidding to match Legal Eagle's hat-trick and reserve his place in history as the only horse to win both the Queen's and King's Plate!
Connections have already indicated that Charles Dickens will not have a crack at the Gr1 Cape Met. That comes as no surprise, as victory in the King's Plate comes with a sting in the tail in the shape of a Gr1 penalty. Also, let's not
forget, the colt is only three and is deserving of a wellearned rest.
Racing needs its superstars; they are the crowd pullers and contribute to the sheer spectacle of the sport. Here's hoping he will be given the opportunity to strut his stuff outside of his home province and if not in Gauteng, then in Durban for the KZN Winter season.
Besides, we are sure we speak for those who feel no horse is truly tested unless he has proven he can travel and win away from home.
Someone asked Justin Snaith recently if his hattrick bidder Jet Dark had a nickname.
Justin answered: “Yes, Oliver Twist, as everyone has forgotten about him!”
Drawing parallels with Dickensian themes, is the tough-as-teak Kommetdieding perhaps the Artful Dodger?
Now to banker Charles Dickens in the projected R6 million
Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Pick 6, or include Jet Dark and Kommetdieding? The first leg is off at 13h50.
‘When people are part of history or greatness they sometimes struggle to acknowledge it because it’s the present and real. I think that in 20 years time – maybe I will still be here – we will be looking back and saying that we were there on 7 January 2023’- Hassen Adams
Top South African breeder and businessman Hassen Adams knows what it takes to win our most prestigious weight-for-age mile with a 3yo. When his smashing Aussie-bred Gimmethegreenlight won the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate back in 2012 he became the first sophomore in almost half a century to achieve the rare distinction.
Talking to the Sporting Post on the eve of the Cape Premier Yearling Sale, the now 70, but still remarkable sprightly – ten cancers take their toll - Hassen said that he wished Gaynor Rupert and the Drakenstein team well on Charles Dickens’ bid to emulate the rare feat.
“Charles Dickens is quite
something. But you know that. The problem is, when people are part of history or greatness they struggle to acknowledge it because it’s the present and real. I think that in 20 years time – maybe I will still be here – we will be looking back and saying that we were there on 7 January 2023. It’s a rare privilege to watch a top thoroughbred or sportsman in action,” he waxes as he says he will make every effort to attend the big day for a few hours, despite his discomfort.
“It feels like yesterday. I wasn’t even 60 yet!” he laughs as he reflects back on a horse that he loved and picked up for A$150 000 at an Inglis Weanling Sale.
He says he was sitting at a table with James Bester and Sue Snaith. Hassen loves to tell the story: “Sue really is one of those people with a special affinity – a spiritual
link – with horses. She has a great eye for a good horse. I said to them I am going to try and get him for A$50 000. Next minute, bidding opened at 50k! I kept going and eventually landed up paying three times that. But he was worth every cent in hindsight!”
Next week – Hassen Adams speaks to us about his draft for the Cape Premier Yearling Sale, and other exciting ventures, including a new ‘Val de Vie type’ equestrian city on the Cape West Coast, and his luxury units at Rondebosch Golf Course.
The talented Chase Liebenberg candidly admits THAT he is still relatively ‘wet behind the ears’, but is focussed on building a name for himself behind the lens as one of South Africa’s upand-coming professional photographers.
The 28 year old hails from a family steeped in horseracing and the L’Ormarins King’s Plate day’s eclectic mix of fast horses and fashionable people makes it one of his favourites. Then of course there’s a small matter of a horse called Charles Whatsisname…!
Chase sat down for a coffee with the Sporting Post and we pitched a few questions to find out who the man is in those natty shirts and trousers, behind that notso-expensive (apparently!) camera.
SP: Where were you born – please tell us a bit about your school and family life.
Chase: I was born and bred in Cape Town. I first saw the light of day on 18 March 1994 and grew up predominantly between my grandparents in Bothasig and my mom, Wendy Michel in Table View.
I have two older half siblings in my brother Craig
and sister Genevieve. I went to Edgemead Primary and High School and matriculated in 2012.
I was blessed with a horse racing background as two of my great uncles - Frankie Serra and Dennis Houston – were jockeys. My sister Genevieve was the first female jockey to qualify through the SA Jockey Academy and has been a massive inspiration in my life to achieve. My mother was an assistant trainer for many years for various yards. Her longest stint was with the late Peter, and then Dean Kannemeyer. I was very lucky to grow up with horses like Dynasty, Free My Heart, Capetown Noir, Eyeofthetiger - the list goes on!
Chase: I took a gap year and worked for Charles Faull and Jehan Melherbe at Form Bloodstock. I decided I wanted to further my studies after a year so I worked part-time at Form and studied at Ruth Prowse School Of Art in Woodstock. I studied Advertising and design, my majors were illustration and graphic design. Funny enough, photography was only a minor subject in my first year.
SP: What makes you tick and thrive?
Chase: I think I thrive on the fact that I love to work. I'm not somebody that can just sit and do nothin. Most days and nights I'm behind my laptop either designing or editing. But when I do eventually take time off I take it
off properly - down time is important!
I also am lucky enough to run the stable media for Bass Racing which places me in a yard four days a week. Being part of a stable and team such as the powerful family operation and being around horses every day and outside the typical office environment is something that also makes me tick.
SP: Was photography your very first choice?
Chase: Photography, funny enough, was not my first choice in life. Graphic design and art direction were. When I worked at Form Bloodstock, Charles Faull actually was the first person to ask me to shoot to assist with photo cataloguing for the Thoroughpedia Project. I did start to enjoy what I was doing and my uncle, who is also a photographer, helped me get my first camera. But it wasn’t until quite a few years later that the photography bug bit and went from a parttime endeavour to a fullyfledged passion - and now a business!
SP: What challenges do you face in the workplace?
Chase: Racing comes with many challenges. One
being that your clients are depending on you to capture that special moment in time as best you can. And if I miss a finish or have a technical mishap, or even someone walking in front of the shot ( yes it happens), there is no retake. This is it, this is your moment. We are all humans and we all make mistake. Peter Kannemeyer used to say when things didn’t go to plan in a race, “Well nobody died” –certainly words to live by. But I do pride myself in going out there and trying my very best.
SP: What have been some of your best moments?
Chase: I have so many
really, really good moments in racing, be it laughing at the finish line with my colleagues to recently being able to photograph my own horse crossing the line. Literally
I could go on and on. Going to photograph in Hong Kong in 2019 has to be a truly special moment for me and seeing the likes of Admire Mars and Glory Vase in the flesh and race and photograph on an absolutely massive scale.
Locally I’ve had a few good memories. Photographing the Green Point stakes back in 2018 was something truly special, four incredible horses finishing on the line together, with Legal Eagle the eventual winner. But I am known for shedding a few tears after a Grade 1 victory, especially if it is a horse I have been following throughout my career. I remember
when Clouds Unfold won her second Majorca Stakes
I kept fogging up my viewfinder from my tearsthat was a very special win.
SP: What’s the best time of the year and your favourite course to photograph?
Chase: My favourite course to shoot is Hollywoodbets Kenilworth – and definitely the summer course. But
I do enjoy shooting at Turffontein and I must say Hollywoodbets Scottsville, because I find it such a challenge and love the outcome if you get it right.
SP: Who has been your biggest supporter?
Chase: My biggest supporters are my friends and family as they play a role in always being behind me and encouraging my career and work. I can't actually thank them enough. When it comes to role models I have to say my contemporaries. I wouldn’t be the racing photographer I am without the likes of Liesl King and John Lewis who have been massive influences and sounding boards in my career. Both are legends in their own right and have always been there for guidance and assistance.
Candiese Lenferna is also a
role model to me as she just gets it right. The long days, the sleepless nights, doing her best for clients all for the sake of the passion for horse racing.
Besides the above, the love and support of my clients really makes everything so much more special. I have enjoyed the support of some clients for many years nowWinning Media, Drakenstein Stud, Hollywoodbets, Bass Racing and Woodhill, are amongst valued supporters who have been with me since the very start.
SP: What philosophy do you live by?
Chase: “It’s not the tool, it's the fool”. I love this quote because many people have gone out and bought the most expensive equipment - but it’s not about that.
It's about living for what you do and having an eye for the unique. That's always been what I have tried to invoke in my work.
SP: So where is the future for Chase?
Chase: Doors are slowly opening for me abroad. I have already travelled to Dubai for the World Cup and to Hong Kong. Offers have made their way to me but I feel I will always be based in South Africa and if anything I would travel for the major global racedays.
It's still very early days in my career and I do see myself as wet behind the ears.
Chase Liebenberg – lives, eats and sleeps racing
Kelsey Mayhew-Munger gets to know Country Time ahead of the Okapi
The inaugural R200 000 Okapi Ladies International is the opening race on a bumper L’Ormarins King’s Plate card programmed for Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 7 January 2023.
While the 162nd renewal of the R2 million Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate presents a vintage contest of one of our oldest races, the Lady riders contest down the 1200m straight is bound to attract plenty of interest.
The concept is the brainchild of Drakenstein’s Gaynor Rupert who was impressed by a similar concept, the Magnolia Cup at Glorious Goodwood in Britain, deciding it would be a great idea to implement in South Africa.
The race hosts twelve experienced equestrians,
including former professional rider Vicky Lerena (nee Badenhorst) , who rode a cracker to win a Workriders race recently, and pioneering former Zimbabwe apprentice O’Meara Chiedza Rusike.
The Lady riders have been preparing specially for this event since October, under the tutelage of riding master and former jockey, Craig du Plooy. “I can’t begin to tell you how impressed I am with the candidates – they are outstanding,” said du Plooy.
“They have joined my normal training classes for race riders and have been putting in the hard graft, showing lots of commitment. I want each rider to take the necessary precautions and make them as familiar as possible with all aspects of race riding. They have been doing track work, grass gallops and going through the starting stalls, backed up with video analysis. I’m getting so excited to see how they
cope and develop.”
Gina Goldsmith, who, together with Jonathan Snaith was instrumental in making the unique race happen, confirmed that safety comes first.
“All candidates are training rigorously on their strength and fitness. It’s been hard work, but Craig is an excellent coach and the ladies have been supporting and encouraging one another. Thanks, are also due to trainers around the country for supplying candidate horses for us to practice on. Lucinda Woodruff at Milnerton has been especially helpful,” she added.
The Snaith Racing Team dominate the line-up with 6 of the 12 runners. It is off at 12h05.
Ten-times French champion and internationally acclaimed Gr1 winning rider Christophe Soumillon will ride Eric Sands’ charge Golden Ducat in the R2 million Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate on Saturday.
As reported in the overseas media, Soumillon will end three months of self-inflicted exile when he takes his first rides since his elbow ban, nearly 6 000 miles from home in South Africa.
The well travelled champion, who attracted worldwide headlines when he was suspended for knocking Rossa Ryan out of the saddle in the middle of a race, will ride Golden Ducat in the feature, one of four horses he is declared to ride on the bumper card.
Soumillon completed a 60-day ban in December but has not ridden in a race since 6 October last year.
The extraordinary incident, from which Ryan was lucky to walk away unscathed, occurred during
a race at Saint-Cloud in September when Soumillon used his elbow to unship his opponent off his horse and onto the ground.
The Belgian lost his job as the Aga Khan’s retained rider and also sat out key meetings like Qipco British Champions Day, the Breeders’ Cup plus a shortterm stint riding in Japan.
The anticipation is building in advance of the 2023 Tattersalls Cape Premier Yearling Sale which makes a grand return under new management to the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Thursday 12 January.
The inner city sale features all of our top stud farms back on the vendor list after a long absence, including Varsfontein Stud and Sandown Stud and boasts a strong representation from super stallions in Vercingetorix (10 yearlings) and Gimmethegreenlight (17), alongside a good variety of other leading stallions, including What A Winter, Querari, Master Of My Fate, Rafeef and the Drakenstein pair of Trippi and Lancaster Bomber, whose available progeny are now limited;
The sale will be clientdriven, more than ever, with
a variety of entertaining events before and after, as part of the Cape Summer Festival of Racing.
Events include a Golf Day, a Lunch at Avontuur Estate, the Maine Chance Farms International Dinner and the 2023 King’s Plate.
The catalogue screams quality with Varsfontein Stud’s prolific ‘Mystic Spring’ family (Snowdance, Bela Bela, Rabiya, et al) represented by Lot 2, a bay colt by top five stallion Master Of My Fate out of Canukeepitsecret (Captain Al) – one to ensure spirited bidding early in the auction.
Klawervlei have several lots bred in the purple. They include Lot 28, a half-brother by Vercingetorix to Hammies Hero (Twice Over), one of this season’s outstanding three-year-olds, and Lot 45, a Gimmethegreenlight colt out of a half-sister to Vercingetorix himself.
Ridgemont will present Lot 31, the first foal of Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Front and Centre (Dynasty), a colt sired by Canford
Cliffs; also Lot 117, a halfbrother to 2022 stakes winner Cliff Top, sired by Rafeef.
Avontuur have a handful of impeccably bred yearlings to go through the ring, including Lot 23, a colt by Oratorio born from the Listed winning Captain Al mare, Esteemal, from the potent Ever Seeking female line (Elusive Fort, Easyjadeasy, et al); also Lot 82, one of the last fillies by VAR from a Listedplaced mare, and from the immediate family of Pocket Power.
A half-brother to Gr1 Classic winner Red Saxon (Lot 83), sired by Erupt, comes to the sale courtesy of prominent Narrow Creek Stud.
The SPRINT is interactiveVisit www.sportingpost. co.za to enjoy our lot-by-lot preview.
James Armitage’s Sandown Stud returns to the 2023 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, powered by Tattersalls, for the first time since 2012 and his single entry, Lot 52, is well worth a look.
This is an unnamed colt by Erupt out of stakes winner Kinematic Countess (Count Du Bois), who has produced three winners from four foals to race, including Justin Snaith’s promising Kalahari Ferrari, and looks to have a top horse pending. Said Armitage: “He is
a scopey colt with a nice hindquarter and a good length of rein. He is going to develop into a beautiful horse.
Varsfontein Stud returns to the Tattersalls Cape Premier Yearling Sale on 12 January 2023 with a lovely draft of eight lots.
The multiple award-winning stud welcomes buyers to look at their yearlings at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from Tuesday, 10 January.
Varsfontein’s Carl de Vos named his personal favourites from their varied selection:
Lot 2 - Talktothemaster, colt by Master Of My Fate ex Canukeepitsecret (Captain Al):
“He is a medium size colt with a good shoulder and hindquarter, a speedy type that should come early. Has a high quality,
exceptional pedigree – the incredible Mystic Spring female line.
Lot 8 - Lonely As A Cloud, colt by What A Winter ex Cloudsuponcamelot (Camelot):
“A medium sized colt with a strong build. He is a correct and forward type, tough
and workmanlike from a potent international family.
Lot 59 - Handsome Prince, colt by Querari ex Maleficent (Judpot):
“A big, strong colt that stands over ground. Eyecatching and has presence.
Precocious, two-year-old type with a pedigree stacked with black type. Top class.”
Lot 67 - Nemorosa, filly by Vercingetorix ex Nepeta (Tale Of The Cat): - to be sold as agent.
“She is a well made filly that stands over ground, with good substance
and depth of girth. Very correct and a good walker.”
We are now just over three weeks away from the inaugural running of the R7,5 million WSB Gold Rush which will be contested over 1600m on WSB Cape Met day, 28 January 2023.
The unique race is based on the same principle as The Everest in Australia with the Gold Rush offering 16 ticketholders (prospectors who bought in at R400 000 a pop) the opportunity to race for the massive stake.
The WSB Gold Rush is open
to graduates of the 2021 Cape Premier Yearling Sale.
While the latest log is unchanged and the Sporting Post learns reliably that near 50% of the runners are spoken for, there are still plenty of negotiations underway.
And what of the unraced horses?
One would think that any 3yo worth his salt over a mile would have lined up in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas on 17 December. But there is a six week vacuum between the prestigious Gr1 and the Gold
Rush, and maybe there is a secret weapon lurking in the shadows somewhere?
Entries for the WSB Gold Rush are due by 11h00 on Friday 13 January 2023, on which date the weights will be published – nothing too complicated here, as the boys carry 60kgs and the girls get a 2,5kg sex allowance.
Declarations are due by 10h00 on Wednesday 18 January 2023 – the same day as the WSB Cape Town Met.
Ken Truter and Lammerskraal Stud’s Pieter Graaff share a Gold Rush Prospectors Ticket and theirs had value added when Graaff’s three-yearold contender Winter Greeting won an MR92 Handicap over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth last Saturday.
The novel R7,5-million Gold Rush over 1600m is scheduled for WSB Met Day, 28 January, and Truter said: “We are getting excited and we are happy we got involved. I bumped into Pieter at the 2021 Cape Premier Yearling Sale and
he said, ‘Ken, are you buying in, this sounds exciting?’ I shared his sentiments so we decided to buy a ticket together. We have Winter Greeting and Billy Spellbound as hopefuls, both nice sorts and at this stage we have to think Winter Greeting will be our runner.”
Graaff paid R300 000 for Winter Greeting, who was raised at Connemara Stud. She is a daughter of What A Winter and Eastern Greeting (Kahal), unbeaten after three starts and winning with confidence for trainer Sean Tarry.
Truter said: “Billy Spellbound is our colt. He is by William Longsword, also from a Kahal mare, Witchcraft which many will remember.
We secured him for R200,000. Witchcraft was a lovely filly I raced alongside Bruce Gardner and Chris van Niekerk. She won the KZN Oaks as a three-yearold and again as a five-yearold mare when they opened the race to older fillies and mares.
“My wife Jane, and Bruce and his wife Jo, are my partners in Billy Spellbound. Sean Tarry Racing also kept a share. He enjoys his racing and runs on strongly and stays well so is well suited to the race. But it is likely that Winter Greeting will get the preference for our ticket.”
Ticking the boxes on pedigree, looks and track performance, Blue Sky Thoroughbreds’ New Approach stallion New Predator has made a flying start to his career at stud with his only two runners to race finishing first and third in the opener at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday
28 December 2022.
Taking on a mixed sex field in the 1000m Juvenile Plate, the Yadev Singh-trained Predator’s Feast skipped to an impressive win under Smanga Khumalo after placing at her first two starts.
Clifton Stud bred both the winner and third placed Teerex, a son of New Predator, who had run
second on an eyecatching Hollywoodbets Scottsville debut three weeks ago.
The duo are New Predator’s first runners and the auspicious start augurs well for the well-bred sprintermiler.
Predator’s Feast is out of the Western Winter mare Winter
Feast and cost just R30 000 at the KZN Yearling Sale in June this year. She has nearly doubled her purchase ticket in two starts and owner Vinolin Patchappen won’t have anything to complain about.
The handsome multiple Gr1-placed first son of sire-of-sires New Approach (Galileo) at stud in South Africa put in some cracking performances in the famous red, white and black of the Wernars family silks during a track career which saw him win five races from 1200m to 1600m.
He is out of a winning Fastnet Rock mare,
Head Over Heels, a half-sister to Australian 10-time winner (including three Listed races) Presently, as well as Gr3 horse Another Time.
A dual Gr2 winner, New Predator’s Gr1 form was exceptional having defeated the Vodacom Durban July winners The Conglomerate and Legislate in graded stakes races. A classic sprinter-miler, New Predator also dominated Gr1 sprinters Rafeef, Will Pays, Attenborough, Talktothestars and the likes of multiple Gr1 winners Abashiri, Rabada and Deo Juvente.
A delighted Laurence Wernars told the Sporting Post that New Predator has enjoyed good support in his first three seasons and that he has seen some quality
mares, covering 192 in his first three seasons.
He adds that based on the strength of quality of the solid-boned foals produced and exceptional conception rate of well above 90%, he is satisfied with the return rate of mares, even in this notoriously testing third season.
New Predator stood this season at a live foal fee of R10 000. Great value in these testing times.
The evergreen Trippi, South Africa’s Champion Sire of 2015-2016, had a superb year in 2022.
The son of End Sweep’s progeny excelled in South Africa last year, while Trippi’s maternal grandsons Not This Time (Giant’s Causeway) and Liam’s Map (Unbridled’s Song) both enjoyed notable success in North America.
Trippi ended the 2021-2022 South African racing season having supplied nine black type winners, with Trippi runners having claimed
ten black type races in South Africa this season. The former Gr1 Vosburgh Stakes winner has been on fire in the 2022-2023season, having already supplied five stakes winners of seven black type races this season thus far.
Trippi also made his presence felt in this country as a broodmare sire last season, his mares having produced five stakes winners during the 2021-2022 season including Gr1 Brentford FC Garden Province Stakes winner She’s A Keeper (Gimmethegreenlight).
He again also made headlines as a broodmare sire when Duke Of Sussex (out of the Trippi mare
Pemba Island) won the recent World Sports Betting Grand Heritage.
The bay standout, whose tally of stakes winners is approaching the 100 milestone, is enjoying a very fine season even by his high standards. Not only is Trippi sire of this season’s sensational Gr1 Cape Guineas winner Charles Dickens, he is also responsible for recent graded stakes winners Jet Dark, Santa Maria and Trip Of Fortune.
and Liam’s Map, both out of the Trippi mare Miss Macy Sue, made their mark in 2022 with the pair responsible for nearly 20 stakes winners in North America during 2022.
Not This Time proved particularly successful, with his flagbearers headed by the Gr1 winners Epicenter (Runhappy Travers Stakes) and Just One Time (Madison Stakes). Epicenter, also runner up in both the G1 Kentucky Derby and G1 Preakness Stakes, will now attempt to add to his sire’s growing legacy having entered stud at Ashford Stud for 2023.
Liam’s Map’s four G1 winners include Colonel
Liam –who is being aimed at a third consecutive win in the Gr1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational.
Trippi looks set to enjoy further success at this weekend’s L’Ormarins King’s Plate meeting. Trippi is sire of leading King’s Plate contenders Charles Dickens, Jet Dark and Trip Of Fortune, Trippi is also set to be represented in Saturday’s Gr2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes, Ge2 Anthonij Rupert Wyne Premier Trophy, and the Gr3 Merchants On Long Chairman’s Cup.
Should one of the trio capture the King’s Plate on Saturday, it will be a third consecutive year that the L’Ormarins sponsored feature has gone the way of a Trippi son.
It is also further testimony to
Trippi’s versatility as a stallion that he will be represented by runners in graded stakes over 1200m and 2500m respectively on Saturday.
Trippi’s Selangor Cup winning son Gold Standard is also set to be represented by a runner in a big local race on Saturday, with Gold Standard’s first crop daughter Hold My Hand entered for Saturday’s Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes.
With the likes of Charles Dickens and Jet Dark yet to retire to stud, the final word is yet to be written in the Trippi legacy.
Royal Victory remains unchanged on a rating of 111 after he easily beat four rivals to win the Gr3 Tony Ruffel Stakes for three-year-olds over 1400m on the standside track at Turffontein on Monday 2 January 2023.
In assessing the race, the Handicappers were of the view that 2nd placed ARIVIDICIO had not run worse than the 97 which he
achieved when finishing second in a Listed handicap for three-yearolds over the same course-anddistance on Christmas Eve. His rating was raised to 97 following that event, but as the weights for the Tony Ruffel had already been issued, he was carded off his old mark of 93.
In rating the race this way, ROYAL VICTORY only runs to a mark of 105, hence his unchanged rating. The specific conditions of the race do not allow for a rating’s
increase for any horse beyond the winner, and as such 3rd placed GOLDEN PROSPECT remains on 96 despite actually achieving a mark of 97.
The only ratings drop was for NOW I GOT YOU, who is down from 103 to 100.
MISS COOL remains unchanged on a mark of 103 after winning the Gr 3 Three Troikas Stakes for three-year-old fillies over 1400m on the Turffontein standside track on Monday. It was in fact MISS COOL herself who was used as the line horse
when assessing this event, hence her unaltered rating.
Again, the specific race conditions do not permit any ratings increase for horses other than the winner. Accordingly, runner-up KINKY BOOTS and 4th placed MORAINE remain unchanged on marks of 82 and 88, respectively, despite
actually running to ratings of 97 and 96, respectively.
Two horses received a rating’s drop. BLESS MY STARS is down from 103 to 101, while BERENGARIA drops from 84 to 82.
PUERTO MANZANO remains unchanged on a rating of 123 after he landed the Gr 3 London News Stakes over 1800m on the standside track at Turffontein on Monday.
The Handicappers were
of the opinion that 2nd placed ELECTRIC GOLD would not have run below the 106 he achieved when winning a Middle Stakes on 6 December 2022 (the specific conditions of that race did not permit for more than a 6 pounds adjustment for the winner and accordingly ELECTRIC GOLD was
capped to 104). Again, due to the specific conditions in the London News Stakes, ELECTRIC GOLD remains unchanged on an official rating of 104 as no upward adjustments are permitted for placed horses.
In assessing the race this way PUERTO MANZANO only runs to a mark of 113, which is the reason for his unaltered rating.
3rd placed TOTAL PROTECTION remains unchanged on 96 although actually running to a higher mark for the reasons explained above.
The only drop was for MARIGOLD HOTEL, who is down to 103 from 105.
CANADIAN SUMMER has had her rating raised from 104 to 108 following her win in the Gr 3 Flamboyant Stakes for fillies and mares over 1600m on the turf course at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday 1 January. The Handicappers believed that 3rd placed TOP ME UP HOLLY made for the most suitable line horse, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 98.
Owing to a peculiar set of circumstances, threeyear-old CANADIAN SUMMER met her older rivals on 1 kg or 2 pounds better terms than she should have in terms of the
Weight-For-Age scale applicable to January. This is because the race was originally scheduled for 26 December 2022 but was postponed to Sunday (January) due to inclement weather and the race was transferred in its entirety with the field as carded for 26 December, and the WFA element for three-year-olds over 1600m drops by 1 kg between December and January. The weights could not be re-issued in the circumstances as the race was not reopened for nominations but moved to 1 January as it originally stood. Thus, CANADIAN SUMMER received the greater December WFA allowance despite the race taking place in January.
The winner aside, the only
other increases were for 2nd placed DAWNOFANEWDAY, who goes up from 92 to 99, and for 4th finisher MONASHADA, who is up from 91 to 94.
There were ratings drops for three horses. SOUND OF WARNING is down from 112 to 110, WISHFUL GIRL LIN drops from 94 to 92, and lastly HAWKER TYPHOON was trimmed from, 94 to 93.
BELLA SICCOME has had her rating raised from 89 to 93 after winning the Listed Christmas Handicap over 1600m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf course on Sunday. It was 3rd finisher PYROMANIAC who was deemed to make for the best line horse here, leaving him unchanged on a rating of 105.
The winner aside, the only other ratings raise was for 2nd placed PRINCE OF TARANTO, who is up from 90 to 91.
Two horses were given a drop. 4th placed CAPTAIN CASEY – a three-year-old who was 1 kg or 2 pounds well-in for precisely the same reason as set out regarding Canadian Summer in the Flamboyant Stakes – drops from
105 to 103, while LOVE BOMB is down from 90 to 88.
• Media release by National Horseracing Authority on Wednesday 4 January 2023
A good 3yo won’t win the L’Ormarins King’s Plate. But a top-class sophomore can. And we will know a lot more about the strength of our current crop of 3yo’s after Saturday’s royal mile at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, remembering that both Kommetdieding and Jet Dark will be keeping Charles Dickens honest and on his champion chestnut toes.
That’s the opinion of Summerveld trainer Louis Goosen, who saddled the winning horse in the 2022 KZN Hollywoodbets Sizzling Summer Challenge at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday evening.
The 62 year old veteran told the Sporting Post that he literally ‘cannot wait’ for
Saturday to watch another vintage renewal of South Africa’s premier weight-for-age mile.
“Look at the honour roll of this great race. Ordinary horses don’t win it. On Saturday we will know how good this 3yo crop really is and whether Charles Dickens is a champion. I must admit that my heart is with Charles Dickens – his presence is really great for our racing. But caution. Jet Dark is a dual winning champion and goes for a rare hat-trick. And then Kommetdieding, a Durban July and Met winner, is the ‘people’s horse’. I would be thrilled for Michelle and Harold (Crawford), as well as owner Ashwin Reynolds, if he were to win. Any horse can have an off day. But both of these seasoned gallopers won’t! It is going to be a fascinating race!”
Still on a high after an amazing plan come together following Princess Tea’s crowning as the winner in the
Equine category of the R1 million Hollywoodbets KZN Sizzling Summer Challenge on Friday evening, Louis paid tribute to Hollywoodbets for the contribution and support of racing.
“How good are these guys? Over R1 million in prize money and just when everybody needs it!” he enthuses.
He says he is ‘so chuffed’ for Princess Tea’s owner Preggie Somasundram.
“The man is a soldier and understands racing. She came to me as a one-time winner. A few months ago, Preggie suggested we retire her. I told him, he mustn’t – she was my secret weapon to win this fantastic competition! I offered to lease her then. But Preggie
said I must be smoking my socks, or something even stronger! Thank heavens he stuck with her,” laughs the man who gave up 46 years of chain-smoking just three years ago.
He digresses. “My Dad was a jockey and I started puffing when I was a teenager. I had no choice – I was sharing my room with an apprentice. They all smoked and taught me how to smoke. That way I was part of it and wouldn’t pimp them!”
The charismatic trainer, a great conversationalist, is distracted for a moment as he reflects that in those days, 28 of 30 jockeys smoked.
“Today it’s the reverse - 28 are nonsmokers. Interesting how fads and life change. I had to give up, otherwise I wouldn’t have been here talking to you today. I probably wasn’t a very nice person for a while in the withdrawal phase. I’m okay today and boy it’s cheaper, too!” he laughs.
The Hollywoodbets -sponsored conditioner runs an immaculate yard, with the assistance of his Equine Artist partner Lauren, who does the ‘mollycoddling’ and looks after the seven different feed options for the 16 Goosen charges.
He says he is happy at Summerveld and observes that every training centre had its ‘challenges’.
Louis moved from Ashburton to the Vaal 2 years prior to covid’s arrival.
Then four months after he arrived at Summerveld the epidemic was wreaking havoc.
We asked about his small string and he explains that covid was a killer blow.
“I have always preferred a yard of 20, while 30 is probably commercially viable. I like to know all of my horses and to treat them like the individuals that they are. Many of my owners were in the leisure industry so were worst impacted by the scourge. Others, already in their seventies, decided to not renew their colours. Many of us have a side business to allow us to enjoy our passion, the horses. And my top-class
So what does he plan to do to grow his string?
“I look at Mark Bass as an example. The Cape guys really have mastered the syndication aspect. It’s one way to get people involved. We don’t have enough owners of the ilk of Mary Slack, Gaynor Rupert and Greg Bortz, amongst others. We probably have 20 – we need at least 70. And bringing the man-in-the-street in via syndication means that more ordinary get to enjoy this wonderful game.”
Louis frowns as he points to the reality that here in South Africa most trainers ‘are fighting over the same bone’.
“All of us need to change our mindsets. One markets a prospective new owner and introduces him to the game. The next moment that owner is being approached by all and
sundry. I have seen the emails. Not even subtle! And the sales companies also tend to provide the introductions to the larger yards. Look, I am not whinging – I am not a cry baby either, but it’s bloody difficult. But I wouldn’t give it up for anything, either!”
He touches on an international ‘top 5’ owner that may be looking at racing here.
“They race 70 horses in the USA. They had a Gr1 winner in Sydney the other day. Gold Circle have been fantastic in hosting them. But I must say there is only one man I will refer them to when it comes to training – and that’s Mike de Kock. An officer and a gentleman!” adds Louis.
Louis ‘The Goose’ Goosen was born into a racing stable. His late Dad Danie was a multiple Champion Trainer in the Eastern Cape, after his weight caught up with him as a jockey.
The silverware proudly displayed in the Goosen cabinet bears testimony to the late Danie Goosen’s many achievements and championships as a trainer before his untimely death in a
motor accident in 1977.
Louis started training in 1994, after a spell as Assistant Trainer to Chris Erasmus, then based at Newmarket.
The late Buddy Maroun was a longtime friend of Louis and the friendship really grew from 1996 onwards once the Goosen string moved to Randjesfontein. Buddy became a mentor and his passing on 18 February 2008, whilst in Argentina, left Louis devastated.
The Goosen Racing philosophy is: Without owners, a racing yard is useless. Respect for owners and their needs, regular communication and nothing but 100% effort and honesty are vital, at all times.
One of Europe’s leading racehorses of recent years, Mishriff (Make BelieveContradict, by Raven’s Pass) will unfortunately have his stud debut held back as a result of a condition that is ‘nonlife threatening’ but which hasn’t been fully explained, according to bloodhorse.com.
Owned by Prince Faisal, whose France-based breeding property Sumbe-Haras de Montfort et Preaux stands Mishriff, a winner of almost £12 million in earnings, will not start serving until the middle
of March, putting him about a month behind contemporaries.
Commenting on the situation, the farm stated, "Equine welfare ranks at the top of our values, and we are taking every precaution to ensure Mishriff's swift and complete recovery in accordance with our standards.
"This unexpected situation is a big blow for us, all the more considering Mishirff's tremendous popularity and his soaring first book of quality mares. We will soon confer with the owners of all booked mares and find individual solutions. We are thankful for the great anticipation Mishriff has
triggered, and we are hopeful for your continuous support today and in the future." A multiple Group 1 performer, triple Gr1 winner Mishriff, who also captured the lucrative Saudi Cup, descends from the immediate family of prominent stallions Invincible Spirit and Kodiac.
sponsors Hollywoodbets are a big boost too!”
Longstanding KZNbased owner Preggie Somasundram capped a great weekend at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday when his 3yo Canadian Summer proved a touch too classy for her seven older rivals in the R125 000 Gr3 Flamboyant Stakes.
On Friday, Mr Somasundram, who is holidaying with his family in Dubai, banked the R80 000 winning owner’s cheque for the Louis Goosentrained Princess Tea who topped the log in the Hollywoodbets KZN Sizzling Summer Challenge.
48 hours later at the same venue, last season’s
Gr1 Thekwini Stakes winner Canadian Summer – the only 3yo in the field – handed her opposition a galloping lesson in the Somasundram green and black when she relaxed in the box seat for much of the trip before smoothly finding her stride and going on powerfully under regular pilot Jason Gates.
The popular 18-10 favourite, Canadian Summer easily held off a late challenge from Dawnofanewday (8-1) to win by 2,10 lengths in a time of 99,06 secs.
Top Me Up Holly (10-1) stayed on for third, with the pacemaker Monashada (25-1) fading tamely into fourth.
There were ‘nerves’ expressed by both the winning trainer and
jockey, and the win would have been particularly pleasing as her work had apparently not been 100%.
“I must thank my old boss and mentor Charles Laird who helps me with ideas on her programme,” added a delighted Darryl Moore.
An astute R80 000 2021 BSA August 2yo Sale buy, the winner was bred by Oldlands Stud and is a daughter of retired Avontuur stallion Oratorio (Danehill) out of the twotime winning Silvano mare Autumn Splendour.
Canadian Summer has now won 4 races with 3 places from 7 starts for stakes of R585 750.
Daryl Moore receives his trophy from Gold Circle Director, Lance Whiteford
SAJA apprentice Siphesihle ‘Spare’ Hlengwa made it a flying start to 2023 when he rode a beautifully judged race to register a personal milestone as he booted the 14-1 Bella Siccome home to win the weather-delayed R100 000 Listed Christmas Handicap run under changed race conditions at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.
Siphesphile Hlengwa was runner-up and earned the highest strike-rate bonus
of R5000 behind SA Champion apprentice Rachel Venniker in the Hollywoodbets KZN Sizzling Summer Challenge that ended at the same venue on Friday evening, and has thus enjoyed a terrific weekend.
After tracking the equally handily weighted pacesetter Prince Of Taranto all the way around in the first of the double feature billing on Sunday, young Mr Hlengwa produced the Maine Chance- bred daughter of Silvano Bella Siccome to break the ice and register his personal first feature race victory. It was also something of a
milestone race for the Paul Lafferty-trained 4yo, who made it 4 wins on the trot and notched her first stakes success.
In a thrilling finish, Bella Siccome (14-1) hold off Prince Of Taranto (14-1) by 0,70 lengths in a time of 99,31 secs.
The Gauteng raider and favourite Pyromaniac was a lonely topweight and only got going late to snare third cheque, a half length further back.
A R120 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Bella Siccome was bred by Maine Chance and is a daughter of their late multiple champion Silvano (Lomitas) out of the well-performed Dynasty
mate, Bella Spumante.
A winner of 6 races with 10 places from 17 starts, Bella Siccome has banked R387 900 in gross stakes.
Part owner and former SA
footballer
Jason Gates salutes as Canadian Summer powers home to win the Sunday feature
Puerto Manzano (Keagan de Melo) fights off the younger Electric Gold (Muzi Yeni) in a rousing finish to Monday's third Turffontein feature
JC Photos
Trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren capped a happy 41st birthday celebration of note at Turffontein on Monday when he saddled three winners, including his Argentinian hero Puerto Manzano who made it a double for the stable when winning the R250 000 Gr3 London News Stakes.
Coming in fresh off his courageous victory in the Betway Summer Cup last November, the Wernars’ silked Puerto Manzano got the better of a spat with the clearly smart 3yo Electric Gold to win the third of the Turffontein public holiday features.
While there was some concern from both the stable and racing observers in the preliminaries that the gelding was not stretching
out as fluidly as they may have liked, the 5yo dug deep when it counted to make light of the 9kg weight differential.
In the process he kept the 6-10 hopes of his supporters alive and kicking when he beat the 4-1 Electric Gold - under a determined Muzi Yeni - by 0,40 lengths in a time of 113,33 secs.
Winning jockey Keagan de Melo has certainly bounced back from his year end week-long suspension and took his benchmark season tally to 124.
After stablemate Second Base’s victory in this feature in 2021, it was a happy moment for the birthday boy Van Vuuren who said his charge had now earned a nice break.
“Keagan de Melo had said he wasn’t 100% and full marks to the physio’s for having him ready today. We will give him a month
off an then probably bring him back for a sharpener in the Hawaii Stakes, before tackling the Horse Chestnut and Champion Stakes,” said the happy trainer.
The Argentinian-bred’s back story from his acquisition by Justin Vermaak in the Argentine to his present day status as a very reliable galloper and a stable favourite, has been told before.
Puerto Manzano has now won 7 races with 8 places from 20 starts for stakes of R2 655 600. He was bred by Dr Ignacio Pavlovsky at Haras Carampangue and is a son of Speightstown’s Gr1 Hollywood Derby winning son Seek Again out of the two time winning Orpen mare, Poser.
Horses from seven different countries will battle for the spotlight at Meydan Racecourse on Friday as the track stages the opening meeting of the 2023 Dubai World Cup Carnival.
The seven-race card, sponsored by Zabeel Feed, features five Stakes races, including the $250,000 Group 2 Maktoum Challenge R2 for Thoroughbreds, for which a capacity field of 16 has been declared.
Run over 1600m on the dirt,
2022 winner Golden Goal attempt to become just the second horse to win it twice, after Le Bernardin in 2016 and 2017. He is one of five for trainer Doug Watson, who has won the race three times.
Prince Eiji, the pick of number two stable jockey Sam Hitchcott with number one rider Pat Dobbs suspended, looks to be the first string following his win in the Listed Dubai Creek Mile last month.
“What we liked about it most was that he was vying for the lead with Danyah, took back a little bit and then really grabbed the
bit,” said Watson of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Obaid Al Maktoum's gelding. “So we know he can come from off the pace and we learned a lot that night, plus he’s strengthened up a lot this year.”
Watson also runs threetime course winner
Thegreatcollection, fourth in the Creek Mile, and 2021 Gr3 Burj Nahaar winner Midnight Sands, as well as Everfast, third in G2 Maktoum Challenge R2 last season.
After a string of top-class feature race places, the Nathan Kotzen-trained Royal Victory provided his supporters with a stress-free victory when he cruised home under a motionless and posing Smanga Khumalo to win the R250 000 Gr3 Tony Ruffel Stakes at Turffontein on the Monday public holiday.
A warm order favourite, Royal Victory (1-3) cruised forward at the 300m, and with the popular ‘Bling’ not touching the crop, the son of Sandown-based
stallion Pathfork (Distorted Humor) accelerated ahead to beat his four opponents in effortless fashion.
The official win margin was 3,75 lengths with the winner clocking an unpressured 86,66 secs.
Arividicio (6-1) was well beaten in second, with the pacemaking Golden Prospect (20-1) a quarter length back in third.
While the scratching of Sean Tarry’s Gr1 winner Thunderstruck undoubtedly took some of the lustre off the prospect of a showdown, Royal Victory could really not have been more impressive.
Smanga Khumalo said that the small set of blinkers had done the trick.
“He won with plenty in hand and this will give him the confidence to go forward,” added the WilgerbosdriftMauritzfontein-sponsored rider.
Trainer Nathan Kotzen labelled the winner a straightforward horse to train. He thanked his former boss Mike de Kock who had looked after Royal Victory after his Dingaans run.
Bred by Ambiance Stud, Royal Victory was a 15th stakes winner for Ridgemont’s Distorted Humor stallion Pathfork, Ireland’s Champion 2YO Colt of 2010 and is out of the four-time winning Kahal
mare, Kailani.
A very smart R90 000 buy off the National Yearling Sale, he has now won 2 races with 5 places from 7 starts for stakes of R463 750.
Part-owner Pieter Victor, who suffered ill health last year, said
that this was kind of moment was the reason that people own horses.
The Gauteng Guineas is next on the agenda for Royal Victory.
LOT 14 – Deputy Chief by Visionaire out of Deputy Ryder
LOT 33 – Grand Force by Global View (USA) out of Gail
The 2022 Heineken Gr2 SA Nursery winner Miss Cool found her best stride at her third start for her new owners Sandy and Eugene Arundel when she caused a minor surprise to win the R200 000 Gr3 Three Troikas Stakes at Turffontein on Monday.
The former Paul Peter charge had caught the eye in April 2022 when beating the boys in the Nursery and after a string of fair performances caught the eye to maintain her unbeaten record over the Turffontein 1400m and give the Arundels a welcome maiden Gr3 success.
After Rock The Fox and Berengaria had shown the way, Muzi Yeni produced Miss Cool (10-1) with a fine ride from her wide draw to beat recent debut winner Kinky Boots (11-2) by a length in a time of 86,43 secs.
The favourite Bless My Stars (3-1) was a neck back in third.
Jockey Muzi Yeni said his mount was ‘a standout’ in the preliminaries.
“I was worried about the draw, but I knew I was up against a few maiden winners and Miss Cool only needed to repeat her form to be a factor,” added the top jockey.
Miss Cool was originally purchased
for R60 000 off the National Yearling Sale and then changed hands for R300 000 when purchased by CK Racing off the BSA Turffontein September Sale.
A winner of 4 races with 3 places from 12 starts, Miss Cool took her earnings to R551 250.
Bred by Mike Jolly Breeding, the winner is a daughter of What A Winter (Western Winter) out of the Miesque’s Approval mare French Rose.
Mission accomplished and after a short family island holiday, Denis Schwarz flew into Johannesburg from Port Louis on Tuesday after a very successful stint with Mauritius trainer, Vincent Allet.
Looking suntanned and refreshed after an experience he described as both rewarding and of great value in terms of his race-riding experience, the Alberton-born 23 year old is looking forward to picking up from where he left off in August.
“I feel I have benefitted tremendously in terms of my skill set as the Champ de Mars track has a unique structure. As you know it’s very tight and the margin for recovery is very limited in view of the short home straight. It’s a very tactical racetrack and you snooze, you lose. I really enjoyed it!”
The 2019 Gr1 Summer Cupwinning rider told the Sporting Post that the on-course atmosphere and vibe was ‘amazing’.
“It lifts any sportsman’s game to be playing in front of a crowd. It
gives one an energy boost and the roar is amazing from the fans as we hit the home straight. It really is a tonic and the Mauritian people’s passion for racing is unparalleled in my experience!” he adds.
Joined by his Mom, Dad, Sister, Granny, and girlfriend Alexis Terry, the family soaked up the Mauritius sun over Christmas and New Year.
In just over three months last year, Denis rode 17 winners from just 60 rides,
with a number of places. A pleasing achievement for a young rider in a racing jurisdiction notorious for shattering dreams and bringing South African riders plans down to earth, particularly in recent years. He rode alongside fellow countrymen Bernard Fayd’herbe, Billy Jacobson and Chase Maujean.
Denis was a Northern Cape Champion Apprentice
and his only other ‘international’ experience prior to last year was in Zimbabwe.
“I am looking forward to obtaining my clearances to ride and will start riding work this week. I am at 55kgs in my boots and am feeling relaxed and motivated,” he says with enthusiasm.
Denis Willem Schwarz was born on 6 July 1999 and grew up in Alberton in Johannesburg. He went to Orion Primary and
attended Marais Viljoen High, before transferring to the SA Jockey Academy.
The inspiration for applying to the SA Jockey Academy came from his stepfather Pieter Brown, who encouraged him to consider it as an option because of his size. “It was never something I was definitely going to do, he just told me about it and said if I was interested, I should try.
When Grade 9 came, my step-father told me it was time to apply if I still wanted to do it, so I decided to try and see. Just after my first interview, he took me to Summer Cup day at Turffontein. When I saw that, I was totally interested and it convinced me that’s what I wanted to do,” Denis is on record as having told the Sporting Post in an earlier interview.
Denis joined the intake of
2015 alongside the likes of Ashton Arries, Calvin Habib, Louis Burke, Sandile Mbhele, Dylan Lerena, Khanya Sakayi, Liam Tarentaal and Daniel Kotzen.
Denis’ first ride under rules came on Sunday, 20 March 2016, when he piloted the Craig Eudey- trained Last Summer and Gavin van Zyl’s Ginger Biscuit at Scottsville, grabbing a 5th place cheque with Ginger Biscuit.
His first winner was Chronological for Gareth van Zyl on 11 May 2016.
The former SAJA Head Boy is geared for the next phase. With some international experience to his credit and a Gr1 victory under the belt, the promising 23 year old has the world at his feet.
The sun has set on another eventful year for horse racing, which makes this a good time to look back at some of the highlights.
The country’s premier races lacked nothing in excitement.
The WSB Gr1 Cape Town Met was claimed by Kommetdieding, who became the first Durban July winner in a decade to complete the sought-after double.
Victory proved sweet revenge, for after chasing home Jet Dark in the Gr1
L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, he turned the tables on his adversary.
The pair again locked horns in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, however both had to bow to a member of the fairer sex when Mary Slack-owned Sparkling Water ran out a facile three-length winner from Jet Dark.
Jet Dark and Kommetdieding then had the Gr1 Champions Cup to themselves, with the former prevailing by a neck, a fitting end to a season which saw him garner a further three Equus awards as the country’s Champion Older horse, Champion Miler, and Champion Middle Distance Horse.
However, the most coveted award, that of Horse of the Year, was scooped by Suzette Viljoen’s outstanding filly Captain’s Ransom.
She had enjoyed a near flawless season, winning four Gr1 races, three off which against her own sex. The most important, and one which arguably clinched the odds in her favour, was her defeat of the country’s leading sprinters in the Gr1 Mercury Sprint at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
While there was no Triple Crown winner, we did
celebrate yet another Triple Tiara winner in Drakenstein homebred Rain In Holland, the daughter of Duke Of Marmalade proving herself the country’s best sophomore filly.
Either our breeders are producing exceptional fillies, or the format should be tweaked, perhaps drop the Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas, and make the Gr1 Woolavington 2200 the final leg?
It would be remiss not to make mention of
Drakenstein’s phenomenal achievement as breeders of a record 18 individual stakes winners over the 2021/22 season, a tally which obliterated the previous benchmark of 12 jointly held by Wilgerbosdrift/Mauritzfontein and Summerhill Stud.
As the year drew to a close, we witnessed the emergence of arguably one of the most exciting three-year-olds in recent times and yes, it was yet another Drakenstein homebred, the unbeaten Trippi colt Charles Dickens.
Trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, the colt enters the new year with a
perfect six-win streak in tow, the most recent of which a dominant victory in the Gr1 Cape Guineas.
Inevitably, there are those who left us last year, the most notable of whom was without a doubt HM Queen Elizabeth II, whose passing arguably robbed racing of its greatest ambassador.
Locally, we lost two stalwarts of the game in Mike Rattray and Henry Devine. The former wore many distinguished hats: a past Chairman of the Durban
Turf Club, previous owner of Lammerskraal Stud, breeder of Horse of the Year recipients Yard-Arm and Celtic Grove, a Springbok polo player in his youth and a captain of industry who put the world-renowned Mala Mala game reserve on the map.
Centenarian Henry Devine also left his mark on the South African racing industry and will forever be remembered as the co-owner with wife Pat of champion racehorse and seven-time champion sire Jet Master.
In September, the racing community was hit by the proverbial bombshell when newly crowned champion trainer Paul Peter announced he was calling it a day. The trainer of seven Gr1 winners, including Triple Tiara winner Summer Pudding, cited personal health reasons for his decision to relinquish his licence.
With Phumelela now a faded memory, we witnessed the first steps of new racing administrator 4Racing, as well as the birth of Cape Racing.
Off the racetrack, the industry continues to grapple with the existing export rules and notwithstanding an EU audit
held in October, the issue remains in limbo.
As has been suggested from some quarters, perhaps it is time to draw a line under this never-ending saga regarded by many as a lost cause and one which has come at a tremendous cost to the industry.
Without wishing to sound cynical, the current export protocol has ruined many good horses, the majority of which never regained top form overseas after enduring a tortuous journey to reach their destination.
On a brighter note, the past year has seen a remarkable upswing in thoroughbred sales. Buyers’ appetites for young horses knew no bounds and across the board, sales returned impressive gains in turnover.
Whilst being accustomed to the National and Cape Premier Yearling Sales hogging the limelight, it came as somewhat of a surprise that the year’s most expensive youngster was sold at Bloodstock SA’s August Twoyear-old sale, this a R3 800 000 son of former champion stallion Gimmethegreenlight purchased by Form Bloodstock.
The year also saw the demise of Cape Thoroughbred Sales and the birth of Cape Racing, whose sales division will run the flagship Cape Premier Yearling Sale in early January with the backing of the renowned Tattersalls Group.
With the country bedevilled by
loadshedding and a tough economic climate, there is no doubt that racing in South Africa faces an uncertain future.
So, what can we look forward to in 2023?
From a racing perspective, the new year looks set to start on an absolute high with the running of the Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate on Saturday.
TEL: 031 314 1500
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150 AVONDALE ROAD, GREYVILLE, DURBAN, 4001 P O BOX 40, DURBAN, 4000, SOUTH AFRICA
Position: National Racing Bureau Agent / Programming Administrator Division: Racing Department: National Racing Bureau Employment Status: Full-Time
Closing date: 13 January 2023
Reporting to the National Racing Bureau Manager, the successful candidate will be responsible for, but not limited to:
• Dealing with Entries, Declarations, Card Changes for all race meetings throughout the country.
• Liaising with external customers;
• Programming administration and
• General Administration.
Applicants must be in possession of the following:
• Matric with Mathematics being essential;
• Relevant Degree/Diploma or equivalent tertiary qualification
• Advanced Knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word;
• Basic financial experience
• Administration experience within the Horse Racing Industry will be advantageous;
• Strong organisational, planning and administrative skills;
• The highest standards of integrity are required;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• Ability to work well under pressure and independently;
• Be articulate;
• Must be able to work flexible hours, weekends and public holidays;
Please note that applicants may be required to undergo skills and knowledge testing as well as credit and criminal verification.
Interested candidates must email their CV detailing working experience to Nirvana Doodhram –nirvanad@goldcircle.co.za Kindly indicate the name of the position on the subject line of the email.
Applicants who do not comply with the above-mentioned requirements, as well as applications received late will not be considered.
Note that correspondence will only be conducted with the short-listed candidates. If the applicant has not been contacted within two (2) weeks of the closing date of the advertisement, the application should be treated as unsuccessful.
Nirvana Doodhram HR SpecialistGold Circle (Pty) Ltd reserves the right at any time to withdraw or alter this advertised position.
130 Gold Circle (Pty) Ltd · Reg No: 1998/024366/07
DIRECTORS: G M Bortz, D Chetty, G M Grant (Vice Chairperson), C Moodley, S Naidoo (Chairperson), M J L Nairac (CEO), M Nhlanhla, Y Pillay (CFO), M W Rohwer, B F Scott, L R Whiteford, Z Zulu
2022 saw the passing of Her Majesty The Queen, horseracing’s greatest supporter and Lester Piggott, widely regarded as the greatest of all flat racing jockeys.
There were also momentous achievements set during the racing season - both on the Flat and the National Hunt jumps.
Multiple Irish Champion trainer Willie Mullins once again dominated the Cheltenham Festival. He broke the previous record for training the most winners at a single Cheltenham Festival in 2015 when sending out eight winners over the four days. That total was then matched by Gordon Elliott in 2018, but Mullins raised the bar in 2022 with a new record total of ten wins in March which made him leading
trainer at the Festival for the ninth time.
Ominously for the opposition, especially the English, most of his stable stars did the business over the Christmas festival at Leopardstown. There were ‘bloodless’ victories for Galopin Des Champs, Energumene, Blue Lord and Facile Vega amongst others
in the Grade 1 fixtures.
In early June at Epsom, Aidan O’Brien broke John Scott’s nineteenth century record of 40 British Classics when the filly Tuesday narrowly denied favourite Emily Upjohn.
Tuesday was O’Brien’s tenth winner of the Oaks, equalling his number of wins in the 2000 Guineas for which he holds the record. It was in the 1998 2000 Guineas that O’Brien opened his account in British classics when King of Kings was successful, a victory that was quickly followed by Shahtoush winning that year’s Oaks. O’Brien has also won the Epsom Derby a record eight times, his first winner Galileo in 2001 being Tuesday’s sire, along with seven wins in the 1000 Guineas and six in the St Leger.
Mark Johnston, Britain’s winning-most trainer,
reached a new landmark in his training career when Dubai Mile won at Kempton in August. A truly amazing total of 5,000 winners in Britain. That came four years after breaking Richard Hannon senior’s previous record of 4193.
A significant landmark, it was also a year of transition in Johnston’s training career as he recently announced that he would be handing over the reins to his son Charlie with whom he held a joint licence during 2022.
2022 was also the year in which Paul Nicholls became British Champion jumps trainer for the thirteenth time and he wrapped up his latest championship in style on the final day of the season at Sandown in April by completing a five-timer thanks to Knappers Hill, Saint Calvados, Greaneteen, McFabulous and Samarrive.
Nicholls also ended the year with another noteworthy thirteenth success, in the King George VI Chase at Kempton. It was a race he first won in 1997 with See More
Business who was to be the first of his several winners to be successful more than once, returning to win it again in 1999. The great Kauto Star became Nicholls’ most successful King George winner, winning five of the six runnings between 2006 and 2011.
Finally at the end of December, the charismatic maestro Frankie Dettori announced that 2023 will be his final season in the saddle. We all look forward to that and the highs that Epsom, Cheltenham and Ascot will surely bring in 2023.
A second meeting for these two sides in as little as three days! Two strong English rivals going hammer and tong once again for a place in the Round of 16 in the FA Cup – only one can adorn themselves in glory!
Manchester City vs Chelsea | Sunday 8 January | Etihad Stadium | 18h30
To Win (90 mins)
• Manchester City 5/10
• Draw 36/10
• Chelsea 5/1
Manchester City
At the time of writing, City are about to play Chelsea in the Premier League, before hosting them in the FA Cup. As I said in the Premier League preview, it’s difficult to see past a City win should they kick into gear and play like we know they can. They have an intensity and prowess about them under Pep Guardiola which has now stood the test of time and won pretty much everything in England.
Players of the FPL would be familiar with the so-called ‘Pep Roulette’, effectively it is the uncanny ability of Guardiola to rotate his squad…without losing too much of its quality. I suspect this might be a feature on Sunday evening, Guardiola has made no bones about
his feelings toward this time of year and the high volume of games, so expect to see wholesale changes.
I suppose the big question then is how seriously is City going to take this tournament? We all know, and the media coverage has been absolute, that what City really want is a Champions League trophy against the backdrop of the Premier League – so where does the FA Cup rank?
Nevertheless, City have the firepower to hurt Chelsea from almost every area of the pitch. They have options in midfield to dictate the game, they have numerous combinations to call on upfront and even from set pieces (an area Chelsea have struggled in) they can be lethal.
A lot was made about Graham Potter when he got the Chelsea job, ‘holistic football coach’, ‘cares deeply for his players and his systems’ and ‘the right young coach for Chelsea’s future’ were some of the comments made –and for the most part I agreed.
Potter proved, during his time at Brighton, that he was a coach capable of getting into the sinew of his players and extracting the very best from them. Why wouldn’t you then get excited about his prospects at Chelsea? I mean, the talent is superior, the money runs deeper, and the history of the club is far more intimidating than any opposition he might face in Europe….
So where has it gone all wrong for him? Chelsea fans continue to lament that the young coach simply needs time and support from the club. Pointing toward managers like Erik ten Hag, who started out awfully at United before finding some sort of form. My only concern is that the issue’s I have with Chelsea football club are more aligned to a lack of impotence rather than a dip in from or ability.
The Blues simply roll over too easily, their dog fight mentality seems to have been nullified and really doesn’t even play a factor anymore. At the time of writing, they have won just once since playing Dinamo Zagreb at the beginning of November and in that time scored just five goals conceding seven times.
I’m not sure this club deserves your confidence going into a fixture against City…
Predicted Line-up:
Manchester City: Ederson; Akanji, Cancelo, Stones; Gundogan, Rodri, Lewis, De Bruyne; Grealish, Haaland, Mahrez
Chelsea: Kepa; Cucurella, Silva, Koulibaly, Azpilicueta; Jorginho, Kovacic; Pulisic, Mount, Sterling; Havertz.
Prediction: Manchester City (5/10)
Manchester City win this. Simple as that. I won’t get
too many pats on the back for calling a City win at 5/10, but I really cannot see Chelsea posing too much of a threat at the Etihad.
Look, 5/10 isn’t the worst price and on Manchester City I would empty the coffers.
The DStv Premiership is back! It returned with an emphatic bang, and now the games are coming thicker and faster than ever before. Will Sundowns breakdown the best defence in the league? Can Pirates bounce back when they make a trip to Cape Town City? Will Chiefs’ Itumeleng Khune keep back-to-back clean sheets against Truter’s Sekhukhune?
Check out all the weekend’s predictions and a spicy quad below.
Friday 6 January
15/4 Richards Bay | Draw 23/10 | Sundowns 7/10 (19:30)
Ronwen Williams has kept five consecutive clean sheets in the league, his best such run since October/November 2011, and now his opposite number Salim Magoola in this matchup has kept 10 clean sheets, conceding just six in 14 matches. This will be a tough test for the defending champions, but Masandawana should edge this fixture and walk away with all three points.
15/10 Swallows | Draw 2/1 | Chippa United 17/10 (19:30)
Swallows have had two tough fixtures since the return of the DStv Premiership and Ernst Middendorp must capitalize against Chippa United at Dobsonville. The Chilli Boys surprisingly sit pretty on the log, and the more distance they can put between the bottom fighting clubs the better. The away side on the Draw/Win Double Chance at 43/100 is one for multiples.
21/10 Arrows | Draw 2/1 | SuperSport 5/4 (15:30)
While Golden Arrows sit midtable, there are not many points difference between them and the bottom four with fluctuating results. SuperSport’s Durban training camp during December should yield positive returns when they travel to the 031. This encounter is always fairly high scoring, but I do believe Gavin Hunt’s boys should secure the win.
13/10 Gallants | Draw 2/1 | Maritzburg United 2/1 (15:30)
last two against CT City and Al Ahli Tripoli in the CAF Confederations Cup. The home win is value for money.
16/10 Cape Town City | Draw 2/1 | Pirates 16/10 (17:30)
Orlando Pirates have now lost 24 league matches versus Sundowns, more than against any other opponent in PSL history, and that will be a bitter pill to swallow. Now, AmaBuccanner must pick themselves up when they fly down South to face Eric Tinkler’s Cape Town City who has a new Columbian striker, Jose Camilo Zapata, that’s hit the ground running. Back the draw here.
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Gallants welcoming Maritzburg will be a pretty tight encounter, but I have quiet confidence in the home side. Gallants are unbeaten in 18 home fixtures, winning their
