MISS PERSONALITY
Rachel Venniker rode a terrific treble at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday, just 48 hours after deservedly being crowned KZN Racing Personality Of The Year at the 2024 KZN Racing Awards. he is riding with great confidence this season and it remains a puzzle for us as to why the National Horseracing Authority have deemed it logical, or necessary, to have granted her a lifetime 1,5kg allowance.
It is almost inevitable that Rachel will land up riding abroad, and go on to prove that the ‘subsidy’ is actually an insult to her talent and capabilities. The photograph was taken by Candiese Lenferna.
On the cover
Gerald and Karen Kalil have become SA racing and breeding’s newest power couple over the past few months – despite having been passionate supporters of the game for over 30 years. Hot on the heels of their Equus triumph with the brilliant Quid Pro Quo last month, they enjoyed a tremendous last week, breeding three winners and owning another three individually and in partnerships. On Friday evening they were again on stage at the KZN Racing Awards. May the Kalil purple patch continue! Candiese Lenferna took the photograph.
SA POWERHOUSES SLUG IT OUT
Two South African horseracing and breeding power players were involved in the finish of the $100 000 Listed Violet Stakes at Monmouth Park in New Jersey, USA, on Saturday.The Ridgemont’s Kieswetter and Drakenstein’s Rupert families are major players in our horseracing and the Monmouth feature thus held more than a passing interest for many of us.
The diminutive Drakenstein bred and dual Gr1 winning Lancaster Bomber daughter Beach Bomb was having her first start since runner-up behind the top-class colt Green With Envy in the SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in February and showed courage to run a well-beaten second for Maryland-based Graham Motion.
Beach Bomb was ridden by Jairo Renden. Motion also trains the Hollywood Syndicate -owned Isivunguvungu.
But it was the Ridgemont Kieswetter family’s Co Tipperary-based Barnane Stud who bred the winner Maman Joon, a daughter of Sea The Stars out the Norse Dancer Listed Pretty Polly
Stakes winner Dorcas Lane, who is also dam of the useful Atty Persse and the Kieswetter’s first Royal Ascot winner in 2022, Candleford.
A direct descendant of legendary broodmare Horama, Dorcas Lane’s third dam is Irish Oaks winner Give Thanks.
Slow early fractions were not an issue for the odds-on fancy Maman Joon, with her laterunning style this time as the Chad Browntrainee unleashed a strong late kick to earn her first stakes victory with a 1¾- length score.
Maman Joon, who won her first two starts for Brown after being transferred to his barn this spring, was pace-compromised in a pair of Gr3 events her past two starts, though she turned in solid efforts in both.
The winning time for the mile and a sixteenth over a turf course listed as firm was 1:45.34.
“I wasn’t really worried about the slow fractions because she was kind of close this time,” said Luis Cabrera, who oversees Brown’s
division at Monmouth Park. “She
wasn’t
too far back.
So I knew
as soon as he moved her outside she would be running. (Jockey Vince Cheminaud) moved a little earlier with her this time so it was perfect.”
Maman Joon beats the gutsy Beach Bomb (Drakenstein blue silks) with pacemaker Damaso in third | Credit: Monmouth Park Racecourse
Maman Joon, owned by Amo Racing USA, was second in the Gr3 Eatontown Stakes, beaten just three quarters of a length, before a fifth-place finish in her last start in the Gr3 Matchmaker Stakes. She was only 3¼ lengths back of stablemate and Gr1 winner Beaute Cachee that day.
Both of those graded stakes went in 1:15 for three-quarters of a mile as well.
“I feel very good for the filly,” said Cabrera. “She has her first stakes win and I knew she was capable of doing that so it’s a good feeling. She deserves this. She always tries.”
ANOTHER SUPER SA SUCCESS!
Just days after celebrating a big victory at Monmouth Park in New Jersey as breeders of the progressive Sea The Stars daughter Maman Joon, who scored an emphatic victory in the Listed Violet Strakes, the Kieswetter family’s County Tipperary based Barnane Stud teamed up with Owen Heffer as owners of the Night Of Thunder filly Greatest Drama.
The progressive filly showed genuine courage and resolve at her second start to win Gowran Park’s opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden run over 1400m on Tuesday afternoon.
Starting at 11-4 after a smart debut in mixed sex company, the daughter of Night Of Thunder got the better of the persistent favourite Mint Candy by a short head in a good win for trainer Johnny Murtagh and jockey Ben Coen.
A delighted Murtagh said afterwards that his charge had worked well during the week.
“We thought that she had a chance after having a good run against the colts and that looked a very good race, so we were coming here with a bit of confidence. Ben (Coen) said she’s still a bit green, is still learning on the job and hopefully there is a bit more to come. I’ll have a chat with the owners and she should be able to do one more this year. It was a good battle to the line, and she should have learned plenty
v Greatest Drama (Ben Coen) wins the Irish Stallion farms EBF Fillies Maiden | Credit: Healy Racing
today. I’m delighted for the owners who have supported us over the last couple of years.”
The winner is by Kildangan Park’s Dubawi stallion Night Of Thunder, who is having a terrific season with Ombudsman his fourteenth Black Type winner of the year so far when his progressive son flew home to record his first Black Type victory in the
Listed Prix Nureyev at Deauville, France on Sunday 11 August. He also has Economics, who was the easy winner of the Gr2 Dante Stakes and Fairy Godmother, a Gr3-juvenile winning filly, amongst the highlights of his year.
Greatest Drama is out of Sweet Acclaim, a daughter of Acclamation out of the Deputy Minister mare Wildsplash.
v SA Bloodstock At Play On WORLD STAGE
‘The Breeders Cup Distaff is definitely still on the cards and Beach Bomb will probably have one more race before then’ – Gaynor Rupert
Beach Bomb – acquitted herself well on Saturday and may have another outing before Breeders’ Cup | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
South African racing and breeding take a bow. Last weekend’s stakes action on two continents underlined the fact that our bloodstock continues to exert its influence on a global scale and can compete with the best.
At Rosehill Gardens in Australia, Autumn Glow, a daughter of Var’s champion sprint daughter Via Africa, enhanced her growing reputation when she became the first filly in history to land the Gr3 Up And Coming Stakes. A member of the powerful Chris Waller stable, the three-year-old stretched her record to a perfect two from two with a comprehensive defeat of male rivals in the 1300m race, barely two weeks after scoring a similarly dominant two-length debut victory over the course and distance.
She never looked threatened and charged away in the final stages to win with ease, thereby solidifying her reputation as one of Australia’s most promising three-year-old fillies.
The undefeated miss is the second stakes winner out of Via Africa, who has certainly made a name for herself as a broodmare Down Under. Her first, the Snitzel colt In The Congo, followed in his mum’s footsteps as a sprinter of note when he won the Gr1 The Golden Rose and now stands at stud in Australia. One can but speculate whether Via Africa would have
tasted similar success had she remained in South Africa, suffice to say that her loss to the local gene pool has been a costly one. Autumn Glow is no stranger to the limelight. Originally sold for A$600,000 as a weanling, she topped the 2023 Easter Yearling Sale when knocked down to powerhouse stud Arrowfield and Hermitage Thoroughbreds for A$1,8 million.
Incidentally, ex-pat Dr Gary Baitz, who now runs his own veterinary practice in Australia, vetted the filly on behalf of a client at the time and commented: “She was a very correct and athletic yearling. There is talk that she is the stable’s next superstar.”
The filly’s talent was confirmed by winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy: “I think she is pretty good. She has gone a long way in her couple of starts and she just gives you that good horse feel.”
Trainer Chris Waller echoed this sentiment when he added: “She’s a very serious horse.”
Bookmakers now have Autumn Glow as favourite for the Gr1 Flight Stakes at Randwick in early October, but consummate professional that he is, Waller is cautious about pushing his charge too soon and suggested the Gr2 Tea Rose Stakes on September 21 as a more likely target, emphasising the importance of managing her career carefully.
Later that same day, a duo of fillies with South African ties dominated the Gr3 Violet Stakes at Monmouth Park halfway across the globe in New Jersey. The 1700m race on turf featured the highly anticipated American debut of Drakenstein’s dual Gr1 winner Beach Bomb, now trained by Graham Motion.
Autumn Glow makes history on Saturday in the Gr3 Up And Coming Stakes | Credit: Inglis
This was her first racetrack appearance since she chased champion Green With Envy home in the Gr1 Cape Derby on February 24 and the daughter of newly crowned Broodmare of the Year Beach Beauty acquitted herself with aplomb, finding only one too good in Irish-bred Mamoon Joon, who had finished fourth in the last year’s Gr1 Epsom Oaks. She too, has South African connections, as she was bred in Ireland by the Kieswetters family’s Barnane Stud, who raced her stakes-winning Kingman half-brother Candleford.
Beach Bomb’s effort was full of merit given that she carried 3kg more than the winner and is seven months younger. It was a great learning curve for the filly, to experience the American style of racing.
Owner Gaynor Rupert commented: “Yes, it was a very good run considering all she’s been through.”
In addition to Beach Bomb, Graham Motion, who saddles Equus speed champion Isivunguvungu in the Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs on Saturday, also trains Drakenstein stakes winners Distant Winter and Golden Hostess.
The former, by What A Winter out of Gr3 winner Fromafar, proved a rattling good juvenile, winning the Gr3 Winter Nursery while picking up valuable Gr1 black type with a third in the Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes. She is currently in light training and is scheduled to resume galloping.
Gold Standard’s talented daughter Golden Hostess, who won the Gr3 Diana Stakes and finished third in both the Gr1 Majorca Stakes and Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint, is in full work and last week breezed 62 secs over 1000m. Drakenstein also has a pair of homebred fillies with trainer Bill Mott. Coldhardstare, a
three-time winning daughter of What A Winter, chased home Mrs Browning in last season’s Gr3 Carry On Alice Stakes. She has only done one piece of work so far which went well.
Mrs Rupert reports that Mott is taking it slowly with Hunting Trip, after the filly suffered a slight setback. The daughter of Trippi score four times in South Africa and also finished third in the Listed Olympic Duel Stakes.
As she remarked: “All seems to be going well, but it’s a tough ask after standing in quarantine for 60 days.”
Meanwhile, Beach Bomb came out of the Violet Stakes in fine fettle.
“The jockey said she is looking for further, Mrs Rupert added. “The Breeders Cup Distaff is definitely still on the cards and she will probably have one more race before then.”
While nothing is cast in stone, that may well be the Gr3 Waya Stakes over 1800m at Aqueduct on 4 October. Watch this space.
Gaynor Rupert – exciting prospects in action in America Credit: Chase Liebenberg
Witness Stand wins by 3 lengths at Goodwood
Witness Stand (Expert Eye) wins the Whispering Angel Handicap at Goodwood by 3 lenghts over 1400m on 3rd August 2024, on good to firm ground.
Expert Witness (Expert Eye) won the Peter Bromwich Handicap at Epsom by 3/4 length over 2000m on 1st August 2024, on good to firm ground. (view the race here).
Witness Stand
SA SPEED STAR RUNS
The
Isivunguvungu fan club will be looking forward to Saturday! | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
In what will be just a week after fellow SA Gr1 winner Beach Bomb made a very respectable US debut, trainer Graham Motion will saddle South Africa’s 2022/23 Equus Champion Sprinter and Hollywood Syndicate star Isivunguvungu in the $150 000 1100m Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs on Saturday 7 September.
Last year’s narrow Da Hoss winner Nobals went on to capture the Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita and the Isivunguvungu connections will doubtless be harbouring similar dreams – even if their star is likely to bump the accomplished Noble Mission gelding, amongst a number of speed big-hitters.
Isivunguvungu, rated 130 in SA, has drawn gate 5 of 14 for Saturday in what will be his first race on a left-handed track. He will have jockey Manny Franco aboard.
The Narrow Creek Stud bred son of What A Winter has not seen race action since 6 January at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, when he was pipped by the new season Ridgemont stallion Thunderstruck, who subsequently took over Isivunguvungu’s champion sprinter mantle this season.
In what was a bitter disappointment for his supporters, Isivunguvungu did not have the opportunity to clinch what would have been a third Gr1 success after having to be scratched at the start of his main mission for the Cape summer season, the World Pool Cape Flying Championship, following a freak accident. He never raced here again.
A dual Gr1 winner, Isivunguvungu was a member of the eleven-strong SA shipment
that touched down at JFK Airport in New York on 7 March following a direct flight from Johannesburg, which included a refuel stop in Barbados en route.
Located in New Kent, Virginia off interstate 64 between Richmond and Williamsburg, Colonial Downs’ boasts a 2024 stakes programme of 27 races worth $5.7 million, which is contested in a 27-day season, running from 11 July to Saturday 7 September.
The American racecallers will no doubt be practising the pronounciation of Isivunguvungu’s name, which means ‘storm’ in isiXhosa. The lightning fast gelding was named by former Sharks/Springbok Winger and Hollywoodbets Brand Ambassador, Odwa Ndungane.
Saturday’s sprint feature is named after an unlikely dual BC Mile winner, Da Hoss, who was the first gelding in history to win two Breeders’ Cup races.
Da Hoss’ amazing story includes Michael Dickinson,his trainer for his big wins, who earned two nicknames, ‘Mad Genius’ and ‘Picky Dicky’ – and very patient owners. He was a really courageous equine athlete who overcame numerous physical issues to stage an unlikely and emotional comeback in 1998.
All going well, Isivunguvungu is likely to be aimed at the Prevagen $1million Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint over 1000m on Saturday 2 November.
The 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championships will take place at Del Mar in Del Mar, California on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 November. The Breeders’ Cup World Championships consists of 14 Grade 1 races with purses and awards totaling more than $31 million.
KALIL STAR STAYS IN SA
It will be good news for South African racing fans that, despite a number of offers from abroad, Gerald and Karen Kalil’s multiple champion Quid Pro Quo will continue her 3yo season on African soil.
The Equus champion daughter of Lance was crowned KZN Horse Of The Season in Durban on Friday, and is currently enjoying a well deserved farm break after her busy 2yo campaign where she started seven times for five wins and two places.
She won two Gr1’s and earned close on R1 769 000.
Quid Pro Quo’s breathtaking victory, with the odds stacked against her in the R1 million Gr1 Douglas Whyte Stakes on World Pool Gold Cup day, saw her enter the SA racing history
books by becoming the first filly to win all of the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m, the Gr2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m, culminating in the Gr1 mile, where she ran without front shoes after spreading a plate on the way to the start.
Podium power! Dean Sawarjith (Commercial Executive Gold Circle), Sam Nati (Commingling Head HKJC) and Gerald and Karin Kalil enjoy the trophy (Pic - Candiese Lenferna) Quid Pro Quo power pair! Gerald and Karen Kalil (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)
v
Champion Quid Pro Quo – stays here to race as a 3yo | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Speaking to the Sporting Post on Saturday morning, owner-breeder Gerald Kalil said that Quid Pro Quo would likely commence her 3yo campaign at Turffontein in November.
“As much as we’d like to, we don’t believe the Cape is a viable option at this stage, given the various logistical challenges, so we will ease her in by focusing on the Highveld feature season, ahead of the SA Champions Season. We are looking at possibly the first two legs of the SA Triple Tiara,” added Gerald Kalil.
When taxed on whether he felt his star was geared to go beyond a mile, he cited the Douglas Whyte Stakes victory as a pointer that she had ‘something in the tank’.
“Nothing went right for her there – from the
shoes, to the change of tactics and the rest, yet she won full of running. Naturally the 2450m of the third leg of the Triple Tiara would be considered only against the background of her progress at that point and the standard of the opposition she’d face. But we will let the road unfold and enjoy this wonderful journey. I know our trainer Barend Botes will always do what is best for Quid Pro Quo,” said the proud man who offered the extraordinary filly at the 2023 KZN Yearling Sale and bought her back due to a lack of interest for just R60 000.
A daughter of the Heuningsfontein-based Jet Master stallion Lance, whom we believe has had a number of bookings at his R5 000 service fee since his daughter started burning up the tracks, Quid Pro Quo is out of the five-time winning daughter of The Sheik, Delightful Diva.
“Lance was a completely different class. He was as good a 3yo as anything else that I’ve trained at a similar stage in his career.” Sean Tarry, Multiple Champion Trainer
Stakes winning son of multiple champion Jet Master
Damline has produced multiple group winners
Powerful family of champions - Big Swinger, Duc Du Orleans, Rebel King
50% winners to runners
Covered 25 mares last season - limited opportunity prior to that Excellent fertility
r 5.000 live foal
LANCE FILLY IS STAR OF THE SHOW
Nicolette and David Roscoe accept the award for champion 3yo colt obo Khaya Stables | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Quid Pro Quo was the Belle of the Ball at the 2024 KZN Racing Awards celebration dinner held at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday 30 August, emerging as Champion Horse Of The Season following her historic victories in the Allan Robertson Fillies Championship over 1200m, the Golden Slipper over 1400m and the Douglas Whyte Stakes over 1600m – the first juvenile filly in history to take out all three legs of the ‘unofficial’ Triple Crown.
Owned and bred by Gerald Kalil, the daughter of Lance reigned supreme throughout Champions Season winning her last five starts on the bounce, and the fact that she has won over a range of distances suggests Quid Pro Quo could be far more than just a precocious two-year-old.
Trainer Barend Botes and regular pilot S’Manga Khumalo joined Gerald Kalil on stage as Quid Pro Quo became the first ever juvenile to receive this prestigious accolade.
Richard Fourie heroically made the journey from Gqeberha to Durban after riding a full card at Fairview and was personally on hand to receive the Trophy as Champion Jockey in KwaZulu Natal.
Fourie rode 126 winners in the Province at a winning strike rate of 24,5%, a significant contribution to his new National record of 378 winners in a single year.
Gareth Van Zyl secured the KZN Champion Trainer title by a short-head from Alyson Wright, the pair finishing the season on 54 and 53 wins respectively, while the Hollywood Syndicate
were dominant winners of the KZN Champion Owners title.
Rachel Venniker was honoured as KZN Racing’s Personality of the Year and Kumaran Naidoo received Anita Akal’s special award in recognition of his dedication, passion and never-say-die approach, even under the toughest of personal circumstances.
Champion Apprentice Kobeli James Lihaba and Graeme Hawkins | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Royal Victory connections celebrate Champion Middle Distance Horse award | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Byron Foster accepts Champion Stayer for Master Redoute | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
2024 KZN AWARD WINNERS
Champion Two Year Old Filly
Quid Pro Quo
Champion Two Year Old Colt
Cats Pajamas
Champion Three Year Old Filly Rascova
Champion Three Year Old Colt
Green With Envy
Champion Sprinter King Of The Gauls
Champion Middle Distance Filly Saartjie
Champion Middle Distance Horse
Royal Victory
Champion Stayer
Master Redoute
Champion Breeders
Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein
Champion Apprentice
Kobeli James Lihaba
Champion Trainer
Gareth Van Zyl
Champion Owner
Hollywood Syndicate (Nominee: Anthony Delpech)
Champion Jockey Richard Fourie
Anita Akal Special Award
Kumaran Naidoo
KZN Racing Personality of the Year
Rachel Venniker
Champion Horse Of The Season
Quid Pro Quo
Groom Of The Horse Of The Season
Asithandile Mgadeni
DAMYAN BREAKS THE ICE IN KZN CAPITAL CITY
The elated Damyan Pillay poses with sister Thalya, Mom Anneleen and Dad, Yugan, after the memorable icebreaker | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Keeping cucumber cool under pressure is second nature to 17 year old second year SA Jockey Academy apprentice Damyan Pillay, who booted home the well-supported Red Mountain at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in his home city of Pietermaritzburg on Sunday.
Backed from 10’s to 7-2, the Robbie Hill-trained Red Mountain was given a perfectly balanced ride by the matriculant, who was writing a final Life Orientation exam less than 24 hours later. But the weight of stable or punter money, and the impending exam on Monday, looked to be the last things on Damyan’s mind as he calmly produced the first-time blinkered son of Potala Palace to win going away, for the thrilled rider’s first career winner.
With his family on course, Damyan broke the ice at just his ninth ride and looks set to be an asset to local trainers as he goes through his 4kg claim in the next few months.
While her son is focussed on his studies, the Sporting Post spoke to proud Mum Anneleen Pillay on Monday. A 47 year old Afrikaans teacher and educator for some 27 years, the Grade 12 Head Of Department at St John’s Diocesan School For Girls in Pietermaritzburg was at Hollywoodbets Scottsville with the happy apprentice’s 52 year old Dad Yugan, a Finance Admin Manager at Medi-Clinic, and 13 year old sister, Thalya.
“We are so thrilled at what Damyan has achieved in short time. Even though we raced horses for many years in the pre-covid years, the sense of joy that we felt on Sunday was something too special for words,” added the delighted Mum as she told of how Damyan’s interest in horses had commenced when he joined the Canterbury Equestrian Centre at the age of 6.
“With both of his late Grandfathers loving the game, and us owning horses, horseracing is
part of our DNA. Showjumping was the start for Damyan and he simply loved being around the horses. That coaching and experience probably gave him a confidence edge when he joined the SA Jockey Academy. We hardly see him as he is always working these days!” she laughed.
A riding accident at the age of 10 almost proved a setback for Damyan.
“ “
He was really very shaken. But I am probably not the stereotyped mollycoddling Mom. I told him that the best thing to do was to get back on the horse as soon as possible, and while it took some convincing, he never looked back – and we stand here today as a very proud family, with Damyan on his way towards his dream of being a professional jockey
With race-riding a dangerous profession, we asked Anneleen whether she was nervous watching her son on the back of a half-ton thoroughbred at high speed.
“We know he loves what he is doing. That’s all that counts,” she adds.
The Orient Heights family can look back on something of a plan come together and Anneleen explained to the Sporting Post that her good son was not accepted originally at the world-renowned SA Jockey Academy as applicants had to be 16 in Grade 10.
“His birthday is late in the year,12 November, but he was resolved to pursue a riding career and has enjoyed his time there. But we are also determined collectively that he gets his Matriculation pass. My being a schoolteacher has meant that he and his sister keep their eye on the ball in terms of education. A career as a professional jockey is a dream for Damyan, but he understands that he has to have an educational foundation to fall back on to.”
A former St Charles College student, Damyan is quite tall, and Mom says that he was
actually ‘very tiny’ for a large part of his teen years, but has ‘grown up substantially’.
“In the SAJA assessment, they take account of the applicant’s Mother’s height. As I am vertically disadvantaged, the opinion was that Damyan is unlikely to grow much taller than he is now!” laughs Anneleen, as she tells that he has always had a sporting bent, enjoying squash and hockey.
Asked about life and values, Anneleen says that their family philosophy is ‘do good, be good’ and that she believes that respect and values are learnt at home.
Damyan drives the well-backed Red Mountain to victory on Sunday | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
AND NOW FOR THE NEXT 1000!
South Africa’s most popular horseracing competition of all time, the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge has created a host of big winners, paying out prize money of over R31,5 million over the past four years.
The groundbreaking challenge reached a magical millennial milestone this past weekend with the 1000th renewal of the rewarding game of fun and excitement that has well and truly become a way of everyday life for thousands of seasoned and new generation punters.
Over 8,3 million free entries by over a million players have started local racedays, Hong Kong and Singapore fixtures, in the hope of finding all the winners on the card in a dream quest to win the all-or-nothing jackpot.
Player Revash was the very first big winner when he banked R2 325 000 in December 2021, finding all the winners on the Hollywoodbets Greyville card.
Interestingly, of the 113 jackpot winners to date, every racecourse countrywide has hosted at least one Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge jackpot winner, with Hollywoodbets Kenilworth seemingly the toughest to find, with 8 winners sharing R630 000 on the only winning day at the Southern Suburbs track in April this year.
While each winner has their own story to tell, sixty-something Merewent pensioner Blaikes, who won the Hollywoodbets Punters Challenge
bonus jackpot of R1 275 000 with eight straight winners at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in February 2023, was on a bus completely oblivious to the fact that he had won.
Blaikes was overcome with emotion, declaring that he would be spending some of his windfall on beautifying his late wife’s grave, and buying himself a new head of hair.
Retired Bloemfontein-based military man
Trip2Cairo enjoyed a lifechanging R880 000 just over a fortnight ago, becoming the latest of 17 jackpot winners to enjoy a combined payout of R17 490 000.
Trip2Cairo only discovered the wonderful world of horseracing less than a year ago, to show that literally anybody and everybody is capable of winning big.
Sunday’s Hollywoodbets Scottsville fixture commemorated the 1000th racemeeting to host the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge since the competition was launched in 2020. Regrettably nobody found the all-or-nothing jackpot, but the next winner is surely just around the corner!
A key to the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge, beyond finding the winners, is to double your payout prospects by wagering a minimum R50 on the programmatically generated betslip.
For local racemeetings, the value of the all-or-nothing jackpot prize is determined by the number of runners multiplied by R10 000, for all venues.
Who will be the next Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge jackpot winner…?
Credit: Candiese Lenferna
For example, if there are 103 carded runners and 3 scratchings, then the all-or-nothing prize will be based on the net 100 runners at R10 000 each, giving a value of a cool R1 million as the prize. If you wager the minimum of R50 on the betslip, your payout doubles to R2 million!
For Hong Kong and Singapore race-meetings, the jackpot prize is calculated on the number of races carded.
With 8 or 9 races carded and completed, the jackpot is R125 000 (or R250 000 with a betslip minimum of R50) or with 10 or more races carded and completed, R250 000 (or R500 000 with a betslip minimum of R50).
Over and above the premier aim of finding all the winners, daily prize money of R5 000 for each of the scheduled race meetings will be shared by the top 20 players on the points leaderboard at the end of the day.
These payouts are also doubled if the minimum R50 wager on the bet slip is taken!
The Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge is very easy to understand and to play.
All one needs is a Hollywoodbets account and the choice is yours to either select one horse in each of the races at the designated race-meeting, or opt to make use of one of the ‘quick-pick’ options and take a chance on the universe!
Players receive points depending on where their selection finishes in a race, and how many actual runners there are in a race.
Taking the example of a twelve-horse race, the winner will receive 12 points, second earns 11 points, third 10 points, all the way down to
last position with 1 point. In a seven-horse race, the winner will receive 7 points, the runner-up will receive 6 points, and so on.
Bonus points are awarded for winning selections, where the Hollywoodbets Starting Price (SP) for that horse will be added to the points awarded. If the winning horse’s SP is 4/1 for example, then an additional 5 points (4 + 1) will be added to the points earned. In the mentioned twelvehorse race example the winning selection, if starting at 4-1, would have 17 points awarded (12 plus 5 bonus points).
It’s fun to follow your progress on the log throughout the race-meeting by visiting the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge website.
SPRING SPREE WINNER UP TO 106
Back In Business has had his rating adjusted to 106 from 96 after easily landing the Listed Betway Spring Spree Stakes over 1200m at the Turffontein Inside Track on Saturday.
The Handicappers unanimously agreed that 3rd placed Zinovi made for the most suitable line horse here, and his rating remains unchanged on 114.
Second placed, long-time leader, Cliff Hanger, was the only other horse to receive a ratings increase and is up to 111 from 106.
Cliff Hanger finished 2.2 lengths or 5 points ahead of the 114 rated line -horse, Zinovi, while in receipt of 4 kg or 8 points in weight. This makes Cliff Hanger perform to a rating of 111.
Two horses received slight drops following this contest. Halberdier drops to 88 from 89, while Fire ‘N Flames also dropped 1 point, from 98 to 97.
Jockey Club Stakes (Listed)
Joy And Peace who is unbeaten in her last 5 starts has seen her rating increased from
107 to 110 following her impressive win in the Listed Jockey Club Stakes over 2000m at Fairview Racecourse on Friday.
It was 5th placed Flower Of Saigon who was deemed to be the most suitable line horse, leaving her rating unaltered on 102.
The winner aside, three other horses received upward adjustments in their ratings. 2nd placed Crimson Princess was adjusted to 102 from 99 while 4th placed Official Secret went up to 101 from 96.
Sixth placed Unyielding, who was rated to finish last on a rating of 80, received a partial increase from 80 to 88 which makes her higher than the 85 rated Chere For Me whom she beat here at level weights.
No runner received a drop in the ratings except for Chere For Me who had already dropped 1 point after her penultimate start.
• Media Release by the NHA on Tuesday, 03 September 2024.
IT’S JOY AND PEACE FOR HALO SYNDICATE
A nominee along with Luna Halo and Three Rocks for the Champion 3yo Filly title at this coming Friday’s East Cape Awards, the top-class Master Of My Fate filly Joy And Peace made it five wins on the trot when slamming a representative field that included three Cape raiders to win the R150 000 Listed Jockey Club Stakes at Fairview on Friday.
The Halo Syndicate have enjoyed plenty of success for the Alan Greeff yard and celebrated their star make her 4yo debut a winning one when Richard Fourie produced her from some way off the gallop down the outside.
Into the final 100m Joy And Peace (2-1) was well in command and she held stablemate Crimson Princess (16-1) to 2,75 lengths in a time of 121,83 secs.
Richard Fourie has Joy And Peace in command | Credit: Pauline Herman
The consistent Cape raider Gold Poker Game (3-1) was a head back in third, with yet another Greeff representative in Official Secret (33-1) boosting the quartet in fourth.
A winner of both the Listed East Cape Oaks and Listed TAB East Cape Derby last season, Joy And Peace made it 7 wins from 15 starts with 5 places and stakes of R749 626.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Joy And Peace is by Varsfontein’s kingpin Master Of My Fate (Jet Master), out of the Spectrum mare Amazing Grace.
A R130 000 buy from the 2022 August Two Year Old Sale, the exciting Joy And Peace is one of 25 stakes winners to date for Master Of My Fate.
The next Fairview racemeeting takes place on Friday.
Even the
got a
commentator
look in! Nico Kritsiotis (far left) enjoys the celebrations with the Halo Syndicate | Credit: Pauline Herman
HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE – WEDNESDAY, 31ST JULY 2024
HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE – 01ST SEPTEMBER 2024, SUNDAY
Race 1 - Khaya Nqetho - QUERARI ROSE
Race 2 - Sindisile Dlevuza - RED MOUNTAIN
Race 3 - Siviwe Chiliza - THE SHEPHERD
Race 5 - Sfiso Gwwxe - GOLDEN PEACE
Race 6 - Yanga Mavuka - RICCARDO
Race 5 - Sandile Jali - HOT STRIKE
Race 6 - Mkuseli Ngayeka - CONNERY
Race 7 - Simphiwe Ntusi - AFRICAN DUSK
Muzi’s easiest feature winner in some time as
JOEY’S BACK IN BUSINESS
Joey Soma’s lightly raced 5yo Back In Business showed his class with an eyecatching victory in the R175 000 Betway Listed Spring Spree Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday.
The 1200m contest on the draw-sensitive Turffontein inside course 1200m track was the first Highveld feature of the new 2024/25 season and proved a popular one for punters, as the well-supported 15-10 favourite moved up effortlessly under Muzi Yeni to haul in the free-striding Cliff Hanger (252) to score a really good win in a time of 70,9secs.
The 4yo Cliff Hanger showed oodles of speed for most of the trip, while the recently gelded Zinovi (8-1) put in a promising effort for third under topweight of 62kgs.
From his pole position draw, Tony Peter’s Silent War (25-2) rounded off the quartet.
Raced by ANOA (Pty) Ltd, whose nominee is Andria Dannhauser, the winner was bred by Klawervlei Stud and is a son the farm’s Captain Al stallion William Longsword out of the three-time winning Var mare, Enchanting Cathy.
A winner of 5 of his 10 starts with 2 places, Back In Business, a R325 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, was registering his maiden stakes success and took his stakes bank to R382 000. He looks to have plenty more to come.
Muzi Yeni rode three winners on the day to move into the number one position on the National Jockeys’ Log.
The Turffontein Pick 6 month-end carryover of R500 000 was projected to hit R3 million. The estimation fell some way short, the pool getting to a rather disappointing R2 220 786.
The Hollywoodbets Durbanville Pick 6 pool on the same afternoon paled in comparison, reaching a net R476 051.
TIME TO
PARTY
The revitalised Where’s The Party (Chase Maujean) stays on doggedly to beat Blue Horizon (Kaidan Brewer) | Credit: JC Photos
Another solid mobile billboard for BSA’s Online Sales, the
Pathfork mare
Where’s The Party won the R150 000 non black-type Betway The Lady’s Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday to register her third victory with two places from her five starts in four months since going under the electronic hammer.
Sold out of the Piet Steyn yard in Milnerton by owner Rod Mattheyse for R85 000 on the BSA April Online Sale, the Tony Peter charge literally owes the Sham family nothing after turning her career around on the Highveld.
“We look for a particular profile of horse and have been fortunate to buy three decent sorts on the online sales. In this case we shook hands with the seller and undertook to give him a first option when she retires for breeding. Hopefully she will be able to pick up some black-type at some stage. Tony Peter and his team eat, sleep and live for their horses and he has done really well with her. Their horses are all happy,” said Mark Sham, who added that they would not be dipping their toes into breeding waters again.
“We leave breeding to the experts and just have more fun buying second-hand horses. Not that we are complaining, but the only ‘problem’ now is that the handicapper has pushed Where’s The Party up from an 82 to a 93 rating for her win. But on the flip-side of the coin, that at least gives us a squeak of getting a run in a small feature,” he added.
Backed from 8-1 to 28-10, Where’s The Party hit the front inside the 300m and stayed on doggedly under Chase Maujean to beat the 25-1 Blue Horizon by 0,30 lengths in a time of 72,20 for the 1200m.
Bred by James Armitage, the winner is by Pathfork (Distorted Humor) out of the five-time winning Joshua Dancer mare, Danseuse. The winner’s 3yo Potala Palace half-sister Palace Dancer ran a promising second at 33-1 on her Vaal debut for Tony Peter on 21 August.
Where’s The Party has now won 5 races with 9 places from 23 starts for stakes of R431 177.
CANDYMAN LICENCE –WILL FAIR PLAY PREVAIL?
Former SA Champion jockey Andrew Fortune’s six-month quest to be relicenced to ride again reaches something of a watershed on Wednesday 11 September when his application comes before a National Horseracing Authority appointed appeal board.
in brilliant fashion, getting up on the post at Hollywoodbets Greyville, coming from way back. He is one of my favourite riders, along with Jeff Lloyd and Kevin Shea,’ wrote Graham MacKenzie in an email that mirrors the widely held affection for the charismatic champion.
Hazel Kayiya confirmed to the Sporting Post some months ago that the NHA had received an ‘informal enquiry’ on 17 February 2024 from Mr Fortune.
But the man born on the wrong side of the rails, who beat the mean streets of Elsies River and the dreaded demons of a variety of addictions and has admittedly walked close to the edge at times in his clashes with officialdom over the years, had his application for relicencing rejected earlier this year on a variety of grounds, including technical issues.
No media release was forthcoming from the racing regulator.
Andrew Fortune – the comeback kid waits to hear his fate | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Talking to the Sporting Post earlier this week, Fortune confirmed that 11 September was the latest hearing date and that he was hopeful that justice and fair play would prevail. Apparently, there was information that was absent from his original hearing that his Attorney Heidi Barter was seeking to have admitted to be placed before the Appeal Board.
‘The Candyman’, who handed in his licence in 2017 after becoming a national champion at the age of 40, emigrated to Australia with his family in 2023.
He returned to South Africa to resurrect a
career on African soil that captivated and entertained the SA racing public for close on 30 years.
His Attorney Heid Barter told the Sporting Post some months ago that it is now long overdue for the judicial debate surrounding the applicability of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000 (Act No. 3 of 2000) to the actions of the NHA, to be resolved.
When asked previously about the possibility of resorting to the courts, Heidi Barter emphasized that pursuing legal recourse via the courts is ‘always a final measure’.
“ “
The statutory test used to determine whether the NHA actions are administrative action, is whether they are exercising a public power or performing a public function. How can their role as the sole regulatory body for horse racing in South Africa, tasked with issuing licenses and thereby restricting the public’s ability to freely participate in this industry, be perceived as anything other than an administrative action? PAJA seeks to protect us from unlawful, unreasonable and procedurally unfair administrative actions and decisions. It safeguards individuals and the public at large from actions by law enforcement officials that may be deemed unlawful, ego-driven, or overly controlling. I hope we don’t have to go that far, but if we do, it will without a doubt benefit the entire racing industry.”
ROBERTS’ STAR GELDED
EYES ON SUMMER
The Michael Roberts-trained dual Grade 1 winning 5yo See It Again has been gelded and now has the R6 million Betway Gr1 Summer Cup as his immediate target this season.
Speaking to the Sporting Post on Monday, Michael Roberts confirmed that See It Again will have a prep start in a mile Pinnacle Stakes in KZN about three weeks prior to the Highveld flagship, the Summer Cup.
Now Africa’s richest race, the Betway Summer Cup will be run over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday 30 November.
Confirming the decision to geld the uber consistent chestnut, the internationally renowned former champion jockey said that owner Nic Jonsson had made the final call based on a variety of factors.
“It’s always a tough decision to geld a top horse who has won Grade 1 races, but he has been haemoconcentrating and he could be
lethal with a bit of luck and being allowed to focus on putting his best hoof forward. We saw the change in Dave The King after gelding,” added Michael Roberts who indicated that See It Again is a sound horse who could race on for a further few seasons.
See It Again is likely to relish the long Turffontein run-in and if he starts on 30 November, the stakes-boosted Grade 1 contest will be his first start on the Highveld.
All going well, after the Summer Cup See It Again will travel to the Cape for a repeat of his Grade 1 Summer Season programme of last term. He ran second behind Charles Dickens in the 2024 L’Ormarins King’s Plate, and three weeks later was fourth behind Double Superlative in the WSB Cape Town Met.
RIDGEMONT’S RAFEEF REELS OFF TREBLE
Aldo Domeyer drives Empire State (Rafeef – Elusive Spirit) to a smooth win over Let It Be Said (JP van der Merwe) at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
Ridgemont’s Gr1 Computaform Sprint winning sire Rafeef has started the new season with a flyer and enjoyed three winners on the trot at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday.
South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire of 2020-2021, Rafeef, a son of champion Redpute’s Choice, enjoyed a cracker of a season in 2023-2024, ending the term on a high when his son Cats Pajamas won the Gr2 @Worldpool Twitter Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the World Pool Gold Cup day season climax on 28 July.
In the process, Cats Pajamas became Rafeef’s 20th black type winner.
On a bright sunny day at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday, the Rafeef progeny reeled off a hat-trick of wins in just over an hour!
The treble started with an eye-catching victory for the Clifton Stud-bred Mai Sensation. Out of the two-time winning Vercingetorix mare Mai Tai, she shed her maiden at her second start for Lucinda Woodruff and owners. The R500 000 National Yearling Sale purchase gave JP van der Merwe a tough time, and her victory was eye-catching!
Brett Crawford saddled the next Rafeef winner when Gareth Wright rode a comfortable race from the front in the 1250m contest on the twice placed Mon Petit Cherie, who races for Craig Kieswetter and Devin Heffer, and was bred by Ridgemont.
Interestingly, her dam Exotic is by Galileo and won over 2400m in Ireland. It was a good win from the wide draw, and this looks like one for the notebook.
A runner-up on debut, Empire State was one leg of a boat race with the marginally more fancied Snaith charge Let It Be Said in the fourth race, another Maiden Plate over 1250m.
Empire State, a R750 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate, caught the eye on his course and distance debut, and produced a smart effort under Aldo Domeyer to win well on Saturday. He was bred by Beaumont Stud from the five-time winning Caesour mare, Elusive Spirit and is trained by Candice Bass-Robinson.
Rafeef’s flagbearers last season include the graded stakes winners Beating Wings, Cats Pajamas, Frances Ethel, Mover And Shaker, Mrs Browning and Thunderstruck – the latter will stand alongside his Dad in the Ridgemont stallion barn this breeding season.
Gareth Wright drives Mon Petit Cherie to a facile victory
Credit: Chase Liebenberg
ON THE RIGHT PATH
Inform Cape stallion Pathfork (Distorted Humor) hails from an outstanding family, and his half-brother, War Of Will (War Front), is doing his bit to keep his famous family in the news.
The Claiborne Farm resident was not only a top-class racehorse, but a very versatile one. War Of Will won at the highest level on both dirt and turf, with his four graded victories including the classic Gr1 Preakness Stakes (dirt) at three and the Gr1 Maker’s Mark Mile (turf) at four.
By the same sire as successful sires
Declaration Of War, Fire Away and the much missed Lancaster Bomber, War Of Will has
made a very encouraging start with his first twoyear-olds this year.
Currently the sixth Leading First Crop Sire in North America, War Of Will, runner-up in the Gr1 Summer Stakes at two, has already been represented by seven first crop winners, headed by the stakes placed pair of My Emmy and Garden Of War.
War Of Will: by War Front ex Visions of Clarity (IRE) by Sadler’s Wells | Credit: Claiborne Farm
His early winners include She’s Got Will, a winner on debut at Saratoga, and Streets Of War, who broke his maiden by eight and a half lengths.
Given that War Of Will improved with age, it appears safe to say that his progeny should do the same.
War Of Will and Pathfork are sons of Visions Of Clarity (Sadler’s Wells), a Listed winner in France, whose five other winners include Listed Birdstone Stakes/Listed Temperence Hill Stakes winner Tacticus (A.P. Indy).
Visions Of Clarity’s fourth dam Best In Show (Traffic Judge) also ranks as the fourth dam of legendary Australian sire Redoute’s Choice (Danehill).
Redoute’s Choice’s Gr1 Computaform Sprint winning son Rafeef was another horse in the news over the weekend, with the Ridgemont resident coming up with three winners at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday.
Best In Show’s numerous high-class descendants include such US champions as Arcangelo (Arrogate) and Rags To Riches (A.P.Indy), champions El Gran Senor (Northern Dancer) and Try My Best (Northern Dancer) and 2024 G1 Schweppes Sydney Cup winner Circle Of Fire (Almanzor).
She is also ancestress of former champion South African sire Northern Guest (Northern Dancer) as well as young stallion Talk Of The Town (Var).
Former Irish Champion Pathfork (Distorted Humor), winner of the 2010 Gr1 boylesports. com Vincent O’Brien National Stakes, had an excellent season in 2023-2024.
Pathfork’s flagbearers last season included Royal Victory (Equus Champion Middle Distance Horse) and multiple graded stakes winner Main Defender.
Between them, Royal Victory and Main Defender won seven black type races, including the Betway Gr1 Summer Cup, Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse
and
Royal Victory was also named Champion Middle Distance Horse at the recent KZN Racing Awards ceremony.
Pathfork’s good run continued at last Saturday when his daughter Where’s The Party captured the Betway The Lady’s Stakes at Turffontein. The same day saw Pathfork gelding Shifting Path win at Hollywoodbets Durbanville.
At the time of writing, Pathfork has been responsible 17 stakes winners from just over 300 runners, which gives the son of Distorted Humor a highly respectable 6% stakes winners to runners.
Chestnut Stakes
World Pool Gr1 Premier’s Champions Challenge.
Pathfork: by Distorted Humor ex Visions Of Clarity (IRE) by Sadler’s Wells | Credit: Jeremy Nelson
JOIN CAPE RACING AT BREAKFAST GALLOPS
Cape Racing have introduced Breakfast Gallops, a unique way for seasoned fans and newbies to enjoy background insights into the Sport Of Kings.
With the Cape Summer Season around the corner, we could see some big names in action.
And the event is not weather dependant as it will be hosted in the owners lounge.
The first social morning will be held at Hollywoodbets Durbanville at 07h30 on Thursday 19 September.
A continental breakfast, fruit juices and coffee will be available.
Email: members@capeturfclub.co.za or Whatsapp: 071 012 0486.
FIVE HAPPY FORECASTERS BANK THE CASH
Heversham Park Farm staged a unique competition in the build-up to the Bloodstock South Africa August Two-Year-Old Sale last month and have announced the names of the five astute winners.
Two cash prizes of R5 000 were offered to the individual who could correctly predict the topselling colt and the top-selling filly at the sale.
The idea was to stimulate interest among buyers and the general public, and in their own eight lots, said to be their best ever draft.
In a media release from Heversham Park on Sunday 1 September, it was advised that four entries correctly predicted the top-selling colt, Lot 29, Torremolinos, which sold for R2,8 million.
They received 43 entries in total.
The correct entries came from Jacobus Fieland, Gregg Howarth, Marshin Chettiar and Kevin Naidoo.
Jacobus Fieland is an employee of Wilgerbosdrift Stud, and like the other winners he’s a keen breeding and racing follower.
A decision was made to split the prize in four instead of drawing a single winner, and therefore each of the four gentlemen received R1 250.
The single winner for the top-selling filly was Chris Lawrie, who also loves his pedigrees and has a collection of now valuable old SA Stud Books.
He will receive R5 000 for selecting Lot 306, a One World filly out of Summer Moon, who was knocked down for R1 million.
Jacobus Fieland predicted the top-selling colt, Lot 29, Torremolinos, which sold for R2,8 million | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
CAPE RACING - BIG IN JAPAN
As reported previously by the Sporting Post, Cape Racing Chairman, Gregory Bortz, was among the speakers at the 40th Asian Racing Conference (ARC).
The Conference, held in Sapporo, Japan, between 27 August and 1 September, served as a pivotal platform for industry leaders to discuss the future of horseracing and explore innovative strategies for growth.
Bortz, together with National Horseracing Authority CEO, Vee Moodley, and SA Equine Health Protocols MD, Adrian Todd, were part of a panel discussion entitled Developments: Big Changes Across The ARF Footprint, which placed the spotlight on key racing, betting and breeding developments in ARF member countries, as well as the key advancements and strategic initiatives that would promote and grow the industry.
The ARF is a regional federation comprising 28 national racing authorities and racingrelated organisations from across Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East.In his keynote address, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, CEO of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and Asian Racing Federation Chair, urged the industry to collaborate globally to address its most pressing challenges, warning that fragmentation threatens racing’s growth.
He also emphasized the need for a joint approach to overcome these obstacles and ensure racing’s relevance in the face of generational change.
The conference came to an end last Sunday | Credit: Cape Racing
“The 40th ARC in Sapporo marks a pivotal moment for the international racing community. It’s not only a celebration of our shared achievements but also an opportunity to chart the course for future growth and sustainability,” Engelbrecht-Bresges emphasised.
The Conference provided Cape Racing with invaluable insights and the opportunity to engage with international industry experts, forge new relationships, gain valuable knowledge from best practices in innovation and technology, and strengthen South African horseracing’s international standing.
Another key takeaway from the conference was the emphasis on the power of liquidity in totalisator pools.
World Pools, a collaborative initiative driven by the Hong Kong Jockey Club that pools betting resources from various racing jurisdictions, was identified as a crucial catalyst for achieving this goal. Cape Racing is honoured to participate in World Pools on its showcase race days and is committed to expanding this partnership in the years to come.
From left: Donovan Everitt (Cape Racing Chief Operations Officer), Ray Sharman (Premier Gateway International Commercial Executive), Gregory Bortz (Cape Racing Chairman), Damon Waddington (Premier Gateway International Chief Operations Officer), Dean Sawarjith (Gold Circle Commercial and International Executive) | Credit: Cape Racing
In alignment with Engelbrecht-Bresges’s vision, Cape Racing has been making great strides on and off the course to work towards changing the social perception of the sport among younger audiences.
“Sustainability is a major focus here in South Africa, and especially at Cape Racing,” noted Bortz, who took Cape Racing’s reins when it was at its lowest point. “Not only was the company broke; the culture was completely broken. A key component of our revival is using the assets that exist on our racecourses to generate non-racing related revenues that can be used to sustain racing…”
It is this revival strategy that has seen Cape Racing embark on a massive upgrade and
revitalisation project that is about to enter its next phase. Once complete, the property will write a new blueprint for a sustainable racing and entertainment business model that attracts horseracing, sport, and entertainment lifestyle enthusiasts alike.
And as the international horseracing community navigates a rapidly evolving landscape, Cape Racing remains committed to drive innovation and foster collaboration, while leading the way to continued growth and success.
• Media release by Cape Racing on Monday 2 September 2024
TECHNOLOGY BOOSTS ILLEGAL GAMBLING THREAT
James Porteous, Hong Kong Jockey Club Senior Manager, Due Diligence and Research presents at the 40th Asian Racing Conference in Sapporo | Credit: HKJC
The 40th Asian Racing Conference has been told technology advances and an unprecedented customer migration to illegal gambling operations connected to organised crime are a growing threat to international sports, including horse racing.
Speaking at a session titled Integrity: Tackling New-Age Threats, James Porteous, Hong Kong Jockey Club Senior Manager, Due Diligence and Research, said:
“Technology means that it is easier than ever to become an illegal bettor. The customer recruitment commissions for illegal betting agents are now so potentially lucrative that they are massively incentivised financially to exploit every technological platform. Illegal betting is a pillar of which these organised crime groups depend on funding. The Asian Racing Federation (ARF) was one of the first to highlight how the exact same organised crime groups in illegal betting are also behind the global epidemic of cyber fraud.
“Through COVID we saw a surge in illegal betting and now, in 2024, it’s clear that the surge in illegal betting was not temporary – that has been sustained. Unlicensed illegal betting platforms, which are highly competitive on price and product, have massively expanded through technology.”
Porteous said illegal operators have the ability to recruit customers via online platforms, chat channels and livestreams by rewarding
influencers financially to market their product.
“The illegals have zero regulatory overhead and zero concerns about reputational or ethical considerations about how they deploy technology to markets and consumers to attract customers and to boost their turnover. The theme over the last two years has been that technology has turbocharged illegal betting,” he said.
Chairing the session, Martin Purbrick, Chairperson, ARF Council on Anti-Illegal Betting and Related Financial Crime, said:
“Integrity is a key word in horse racing and it is fundamental to the success of horse racing, and fundamental to any sport – if you don’t have integrity then the public doesn’t believe in the integrity of the sport and public confidence will drop.
“This migration of customers from betting on legal licensed markets into illegal markets, and then the complete loss of financial contribution from these operators to racing. It doesn’t just affect the legal betting operators, but also the funding of racing as well.”
Tom Chignell, Hong Kong Jockey Club Executive Manager, Racing Integrity and Betting Analysis, said: “One of the largest threats is that the illegal market becomes normalised for the average racing punter. We’re talking about the recreational market, we’re not looking at the high-end professional syndicate, who is dedicated to maximising their profit.
“There are a number of key factors driving this movement from the regulated market to the illegal market or stopping betting on racing all together. The illegal market is growing far greater in jurisdictions where there is the demand but not the supply, and supply is under threat by greater regulations and costs.”
Describing the drastic, late shortening of odds as the ‘Achilles’ heel of parimutuel wagering”, Fitzsimons outlined a host of planned innovations to expand the highly successful World Pool operation.
Fitzsimons said the shortening of odds immediately before the start, and often after the races start, was racing’s “perception challenge” and a “terrible customer experience”, suggesting officials should collaborate with professional gamblers to address the issue.
“We believe professionals are welcome and necessary in the pool and in Hong Kong we have developed a lot of expertise in managing them professionally and sustainably for everyone,” Mr Fitzsimons said.
“For the first time, we are proposing this year to work on the World Pool professional hubs, where we come together with operators
to agree the rules and through our smart contracts technology, we will enforce these rules no matter where the professional enters the pool.”
Fitzsimons said new technology has reduced the time between online bet placements and odds updates by 45% and said: “We won’t rest until we have this down to mere seconds”.
Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs, Ascot Racecourse, told the Conference the launch of World Pool at Royal Ascot in 2019 was “and remains the most significant innovation in pool betting since the inception of pool betting.
“It was an immediate success with turnover increasing by more than 400% and the expansion of the World Pool since then has been breathtaking, quite frankly,” Smith said.
BRITNEY IS BACK HOME
Preparing to compete against Hong Kong’s stellar jockey roster, Britney Wong is committed to learning from the world’s best riders as she embarks on the opening phase of her career as an apprentice jockey in her home city.
Britney Wong chats to the media recently | Credit: HKJC
Wong, 25, is Hong Kong’s first homegrown female jockey to ride full time in the city since the retirement of Kei Chiong in 2018. Indentured to David Hall, Wong is determined to work hard and take her opportunities after learning to ride at The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School.
“I actually don’t think words can explain my excitement because it is a very huge
opportunity for me. I’ve been working very hard to get it, so I’m very pleased that the Club has given me the opportunity now,” Wong said.
“As long as one works hard, you can achieve success in Hong Kong, which is a tough place with the world-class racing and there are also a lot of top-class jockeys riding here, so it will be a challenge to ride against them but I will try my best.
“Riding in Hong Kong is a really big step up for me. I’m not going to have any silly expectations, but every win is a win and every ride is a ride. So, I’ll just do my best to give every possible chance for my horses in each race.
“I regard every senior jockey as a role model because they all have different riding styles and different merits to learn from. I had the chance to ride against Jamie Kah in Australia and I learnt from watching Jamie how focused she was in races.
“Zac (Purton) came over to the jockey school to share his thoughts with me on Tuesday. His preparation and everything is very thorough and he covers everything. I think that’s a big thing to learn from.”
Asked how she would cope riding in front of large crowds at Sha Tin after competing at a variety of smaller courses in Australia and New Zealand, Wong said: “I don’t pay any attention to the crowd when I am riding in races. I only focus on doing my best during races.”
Wong thanked the Club’s Head of Racing Talent Training and Headmistress, Apprentice Jockeys’ School Amy Chan and former champion jockey and Chief Riding Instructor at the school Felix Coetzee for their guidance.
“I’ve always loved doing sport and whenever I got a chance, I always tried to learn a new sport. Then eight years ago, I saw this opportunity turn up in front of me and I thought it’s the ideal job for me combining sports and animals so I gave it a go,” Wong said.
“They have helped me a lot through these eight years to get me through some challenges and to improve my riding skills.”
Amy Chan said: “We are very pleased to see Britney, having had training in Australia and also from our Racing Trainees’ programme, now become a local apprentice jockey. She will learn a lot from David.”
Hall, who previously mentored Matthew Poon, said: “I want to congratulate Britney on making it this far – it’s a big challenge, coming from scratch for a young girl. Now she’s a young lady. It’s been a long journey, but the journey is just beginning.
“She’s had experience in Australia and New Zealand and now she’s ready to be thrown in the deep end in the big league but it’s a great
opportunity for her and I’m looking forward to trying to help and guide her as much as I can.
Hall indicated Wong would be available to ride for other stables, subject to discussion.
Wong, who rode 50 winners from 602 rides in South Australia, thanked Hall for his support.
“I want to thank David Hall for taking me on because I know he’s an easy-going person and he’s been giving me very good opportunities in the trials, even before I went overseas,” she said.
Intending to ride at 105lb, Wong is eligible to claim 10lb.
The 2024/25 Hong Kong racing season starts at Sha Tin on Sunday 8 September.
Trainer David Hall and his newest indentured rider, Britney Wong | Credit: HKJC
SEASON FINAL CLASSIC AT DONCASTER
The final Classic of the season, the Betfred St Leger, will be run at Doncaster on Saturday 14 September. Contested over 2800m it is open to both colts and fillies and brings the curtain down on a three-day festival of racing.
Continuous was victorious last season for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore, but this year the Ballydoyle ‘battalion’ will be without their number one jockey who rides at Leopardstown in the Irish Champion Stakes.
At time of writing, Ballydoyle had nine of the fifteen declarations, with three stablemates
dominating the ante-post market - Illinois, Grosvenor Square and Jan Brueghel.
Wayne Lordan is set to ride Illinois, the Great Voltigeur runner-up, and they head the market at 2/1 followed by the unbeaten Jan Brueghel at 7/2. The well-backed Grosvenor Square is third in the betting (5/1) after a facile Group 3 success at the Curragh last month.
Los Angeles victorious over Illinois at York last month in the Voltigeur is declared but will probably line up in the Irish Champion Stakes on the same afternoon.
Continuous was victorious last season for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore | Credit: Doncaster Racecourse
Aidan O’Brien commented: “We were delighted with his run at York. We could go to a Leger with him, but we have three other horses that look like real Leger horses.”
The son of Camelot looks likely to join stablemates Auguste Rodin and Luxembourg in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes. They form a strong coupling as the stable attempt to secure a 13th success in Ireland’s most prestigious horse race.
Auguste Rodin denied Luxembourg back-toback wins in the Leopardstown showpiece 12 months ago, and O’Brien expects Ryan Moore to keep the faith in Auguste Rodin on Saturday week.
Los Angeles, on the other hand, is on the crest of a wave, having won the Irish Derby and the Great Voltigeur since placing third behind Ballydoyle superstar City Of Troy in the Derby at Epsom.
O’Brien is favouring a step back in trip for Los Angeles ahead of a potential tilt at the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
“It looks like at the moment Los Angeles is going to run. We had it in our head going to York that we might go that way and that was the reason for doing it,” he said on Monday.
“We thought he’s the kind of horse that could finish in the first three, four or five in a Champion Stakes and could go onto an Arc. That’s what we still think and if the ground got soft in France, he’d have no problem with that.”
O’Brien blamed underfoot conditions for Auguste Rodin’s below-par effort in the King George and is confident he is back to his best ahead of the defence of his Leopardstown crown.
“He loves fast ground, and his last bit of work was excellent. He went by his lead horse very easy, whereas usually he wouldn’t at that stage of the work. He was very confident, and it was a bit different,” he said.
Aidan O’Brien has won the last five renewals, but this year has a huge obstacle in his path in the form of the English raider Economics.
A brilliant winner of the Dante in May, the three-year-old followed that up with Group 1 glory in France and now challenges Ballydoyle supremacy in Ireland.
DEVON & SELANGOR
NOW A REGULAR FEATURE FOR SA FANS
Former Cape racecaller Devon Pretorius has slotted in well to the demands of his new position and called the first five races on the Selangor Turf Club card on Sunday.
Having only called his first race at Fairview in 2022, Devon jetted out of Cape Town on 28 July to take up a new position as a Race Commentator with the Selangor Turf Club in Malaysia, a golden chance for the 23 year old.
In another polished performance on Sunday, Devon, who has been behind the mic for a
month already, called the first five races, and then presented for the balance of races 6 to 10, tipping 4 winners into the bargain.
The pools grew steadily over the card, and with Singapore racing sadly coming to an end on 5 October, this new platform could provide an appetising alternative.
Going places! Devon Pretorius has slotted in well | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
It was announced last week that Selangor Turf Club racing will be telecasted and offered for totalisator betting in South Africa via 4Racing from Sunday 1 September.
The agreement between 4Racing and the Selangor Turf Club is also entering into new ground whereby racing fans in South Africa can place their bets via commingling.
Commingling of pools is the process where one totalisator organisation combines its wagering pool with another to create one common dividend. With a bigger betting pool, customers can enjoy greater dividend stability and potentially better dividends.
Selangor Turf Club racing has been wellreceived by International Clubs and Racing Jurisdictions Worldwide.
With the latest inclusion of South Africa, the Club has been successful in simulcasting its races to all parts of the world.
Prior to South Africa, the Club has been sending its racing feed to Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, India, Turkey, United Kingdom, Ireland and North America.
THE SPRINT IS INTERACTIVE
ENJOY DEVON’S OPENING CALL FROM SUNDAY BY CLICKING HERE.
KRANJI: SCHOFIELD REPLACED BY AUSSIE JOCKEY
Kyle Wilson-Taylor will ride at Kranji on penultimate feature day on Saturday | Credit: Supplied
Wilson-Taylor will replace jockey Chad Schofield to ride the Tim Fitzsimmons-trained Golden Monkey in the second-last feature race of the season run over 1800m.
The 24-year-old jockey was previously invited to ride the Jason Ong-trained Great Warrior in the Gr1 Singapore Derby on 21 July but did not make the trip after the gelding pulled out of the feature race, which was eventually won by Lim’s Saltoro.
Growing up in suburban Melbourne, WilsonTaylor first rode a horse at a school camp and was only 12 when he spent time with trainers Lee and Shannon Hope in Seymour, Victoria while he also received help from pre-trainer Bronwyn Upjohn, who taught him to get on a horse from scratch in Melbourne.
Despite having gone through a difficult teenage life of being homeless and being rejected twice from the Victorian apprentice jockeys’ programme, Wilson-Taylor heeded his uncle’s advice and went to Coffs Harbour in New South
Wales where trainer Brett Dodson took him in as an apprentice jockey. He made his debut at Port Macquarie in July 2018 and won on one of his three mounts. Wilson-Taylor then moved further north to Queensland to trainer Lindsay Hatch and quickly became prolific on the country and provincial circuit.
He won the 2021/2022 Brisbane champion apprentice premiership and graduated to seniors’ rank in March last year. Three months later, he won his first and only Gr1 race to-date after he partnered Palaisipan to score in the Tattersall’s Tiara at Eagle Farm.
Wilson-Taylor had his first overseas ride in New Zealand in March this year when he steered Grail Seeker to claim the Gr2 Wellington Guineas. All-up, he has chalked up over 340 wins in six years of riding.
Currently licensed by Racing Queensland, Wilson-Taylor finished 10th on 27 wins on the 2023/2024 Queensland Metropolitan jockeys’ premiership. He goes to scale at 54kgs.
TRAINERS
JOCKEYS
SIRES
