THE KING!
On the cover
Gavin Lerena and 3yo star One Stripe return after winning the 164th renewal of the L’Ormarins King’s Plate at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth last Saturday. Candiese Lenferna took the photograph.
ONE STRIPE, TWO GUNS!
Former SA Champion jockey Gavin Lerena triumphantly hoists his L’Ormarins King’s Plate trophy high after a memorable Saturday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. As in the Grade 1 race itself, nobody was laying a finger on the star jockey as he was joined on the podium by his cousin and WBC bridgerweight belt champion Kevin ‘Two Guns’ Lerena – who was once a workrider, before turning to boxing. Candiese Lenferna captured the moment, Read what Gavin had to say about the big race on page 42.
SALE OF SA STAR GETS VET GREEN LIGHT
Team Valor International’s purchase late last year of star filly Quid Pro Quo has been finalized after a veterinary green light was given earlier this week.
“All completed. She ticks over in the Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas at Turffontein on 1 February,” TVI’s Barry Irwin told the Sporting Post. First entries close on 20 January for both sex Guineas, which are the first legs of the SA Triple Tiara and SA Triple Crown.
The transaction was originally concluded late December subject to export blood tests clearance.
While Barry Irwin of Team Valor International confirmed that plans are in place to export the Equus champion to Europe and ready her for Dubai in 2026, flight logistics dictate that she
will stay on in the Barend Botes yard for a run or two
When beating the boys in the Betway Gr2 Dingaans at her first start as a 3yo, Quid Pro Quo had some experts comparing her to the ‘Galloping Goldmine’ Empress Club.
Quid Pro Quo runs off a rating 115, which makes her the joint second highest rated fairer sex sophomore in the country behind VJ’s Angel (119), and alongside WSB Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Fatal Flaw (115).
The reigning KZN Breeders Horse Of The Year is a daughter of Heuningsfontein-based sire Lance (Jet Master) out of the five-time winning daughter of The Sheik, Delightfull Diva.
Already a dual Gr1 and Gr2 winner, the multiple award-winning filly has won 6 races with 2 places from 8 starts for earnings of R2 175 250.
2025 CAPE TOWN MET
Flashback- 2024 Cape Town Met winning jockey Danny Muscutt on the podium | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
After Saturday’s potentially gamechanging L’Ormarins King’s Plate day, a total of 28 thoroughbreds remain in contention for the 163rd renewal of the R5 million World Sports Betting Cape Town Met after the weights were published for the Cape flagship Grade 1 on Monday 6 January 2025.
The ill-fated Flag Man, Frances Ethel, and Cape Eagle, as well as the Snaith quartet of Snow Pilot, Hluhluwe, Get Impressed and Triple Time have been withdrawn from the original entry draft for the 25 January showdown, with SA Champion trainer Justin Snaith holding a strong hand with six still in contention.
Snaith goes for his fourth success in the big race and is in line for a rare Met treble after he saddled Double Superlative to victory in the 2024 Cape Town Met, following Jet Dark’s success in 2023.
Visiting trainers with likely runners include Mike de Kock, Sean Tarry, Alec Laird and Johan Janse van Vuuren.
The 2025 Met theme, ‘Couture Unleashed’ is
set to make this year’s event the ultimate social occasion, attracting both fashion lovers and racing enthusiasts.
Tickets and hospitality packages now available on Quicket.
Final field declarations are due by 10h00 on Wednesday 15 January 2025.
The maximum field size is 20, and, if necessary, elimination will be at the discretion of the Handicappers in consultation with Cape Racing.
It is an express condition of this race that the Handicappers in consultation with the operator, reserve the right to exclude any horse which, in its opinion, does not warrant inclusion in the race.
In addition, the Handicappers, in consultation with the operator shall have the right to decide on the final field for the race.
The final field will be unveiled and barrier draws announced at an event on Wednesday, 15 January 2025.
WEIGHTS - R5 MILLION WORLD SPORTS BETTING GR1 CAPE TOWN MET
STARS, A STRIPE, WHITES & BLUES –WHAT A DAY!
Leading owner-breeder Suzette Viljoen enjoys the big day with her brother and sister-in-law Sanette and Edwin Ludick, as husband Basie completes the quartet with a wave | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
The 164th renewal of the L’Ormarins King’s Plate was held at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, welcoming over 2500 guests in an exceptional day of hospitality, competitive horse racing, and refined fashion.
As the inaugural Grade 1 race of the 2024/25 Cape Racing Summer Festival Of Racing, the event successfully showcased the pinnacle of the sporting and social calendar.
The highlight of the day was One Stripe’s victory in the headline feature. Bred by Drakenstein Stud and ridden by jockey Gavin Lerena, the star 3yo is trained by Vaughan Marshall.
In the realm of fashion, Christine Vermaak was honoured with the title of Best Dressed. Wearing a blue and white silk dress by local designer, Sindiso Khumalo, paired with an Okapi x Millerner headpiece.
Christine reflected on her win by stating, “It was so exciting to be nominated and an incredible honour to win best dressed at the L’Ormarins King’s Plate! It means a lot to be recognised, and the exposure for the designers is wonderful.”
Each winner in the Best Dressed category received exquisite jewellery, and accessories, all generously sponsored by Cartier. Ryan Burks, representing America, was awarded the title of
Best Dressed Man, while Gaby Mengstab won recognition for Best Hat with her beautifully crafted artisanal headpiece.
Commenting on the fashion, Sophie Doireau, Chief Executive Officer MEIA for Cartier, noted, “Everyone looked especially sophisticated and elegant this year, making the final decision quite challenging.”
While the competition on the track may be over, the wins continue with the L’Ormarins King’s Plate Moments and Writers competition.
Here, racegoers have the opportunity to win R20 000 for either the best photograph or written retelling of the day. This competition is open to all attendees and encourages the day to be captured through unique memories and experiences from the event. Entries are to be submitted to:
info@lqp.co.za on or before Sunday, 26th January 2025.
Visit www.lqp.co.za for more.
Gary Player and partner Susan Waterfall enjoyed a great day, including spending time in the winner’s enclosure! | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Cape Racing’s Brandon Bailey and Vicky Minott kept us up to date | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Cape Racing Chairman Greg Bortz – second L’Ormarins King’s Plate under his watch | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Drakenstein’s Kevin Sommerville – big day for the champion breeders | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Adam Azzie chats to Joshwin Solomons | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Familiar faces in Cape racing! Kathi Kotzen and Mom Judy Wintle cut elegant figures en route to the parade ring | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Sean Veale and Philasande Mxoli deep in concentration during the pre-race | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Owner Etienne Braun chats to Richard Fourie | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Hollywood Racing Manager Anthony Delpech after Asiye Phambili’s eyecatching Gr2 victory | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
KING OF THE WORLD!
One Stripe and Gavin Lerena tick one off trainer Vaughan Marshall’s bucket list | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Beaten by Vardy in the 2020 renewal, SA Champion Freshman
Sire One World made good for master trainer Vaughan Marshall to give the Milnerton veteran his maiden success in the 164th renewal of the R3 million L’Ormarins Gr1 King’s Plate courtesy of his standout son One Stripe at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
The Sporting Post observed in the build up to the prestigious weight-for-age mile that history really was not on the side of the young guns, given that, prior to Saturday, there have been only ten sophomore winners since its inception in 1861, two of which, Gimethegreenlight and Jet Dark, arriving in the new millennium.
But the Vaughan Marshall Grade 1 bucket list was itching to tick this one off and the fairytale unfolded as the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner burst his way between two senior athletes to also give owner Rikesh Sewgoolam and jockey Gavin Lerena their personal ‘blue and white’ firsts.
After Snow Pilot showed the way, having crossed from his awkward 13 draw, to lead Montien and Oriental Charm early, the race changed complexion into the home run as Craig Zackey aggressively slipped Gr1 winning sprinter Gimme A Prince (14-1) down the inside rail in what looked a potential match winning move.
But Piet Botha’s longshot Montien (75-1) wasn’t going away and the two locked horns, with One
Stripe making ground further back. Inside the final 200m, Lerena slipped the champion 3yo through and the popular 11-10 favourite showed his class as he drew away to beat the gutsy Montien by 1,75 lengths in a time of 97,63 secs for the mile.
Gimme A Prince just tired late, but was not disgraced in third, ahead of Royal Aussie (25-2) and Oisin Murphy in fourth. The remarkable
One Stripe took his stakes bank to R4 161 763 with his sixth win and a place from eight starts.
The R1,4 million sales-topper at the 2023 Cape Racing Ready To Run And Unbroken Two Year Old Sale, One Stripe was bred by Drakenstein and is out of the three-time winning Silvano mare Silver Stripe, who stayed well and won up to 2450m.
On a memorable day for the Marshall team, they also celebrated a Grade 2 success when Rascallion won a thriller in the Anthonij Rupert Wyne Premier Trophy, earlier.
A delighted trainer Vaughan Marshall lifts the King’s Plate after One Stripe’s sensational victory | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
‘One Stripe became the first 3yo in over 50 years to win both Gr1 races in his sophomore year since In Full Flight completed the double almost a lifetime ago in 1972’
MARSHALL STAR EMULATES IN FULL FLIGHT’S SOPHOMORE STRIKE
Hollywoodbets Kenilworth came alive when Cape Guineas winner One Stripe downed his elders in the Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate last Saturday.
It was a momentous occasion, as not only did the colt provide trainer Vaughan Marshall with a first success in the prestigious mile race, he also became the first three-year-old in over 50 years to win both Gr1 races in his sophomore
year since In Full Flight completed the double almost a lifetime ago in 1972.
Trained by David Payne, this supremely talented colt won the Queen’s Plate barely a fortnight after his Guineas success and would subsequently claim all of the Rothmans Durban July, Woolavington Cup and Champion Stakes. Tragically, he died of a ruptured lung barely a week after running third in the 1973 Met.
Incidentally, One Stripe went one better than his own sire One World, who had chased home Vardy in the 2020 King’s Plate.
Where to now for this budding champion?
Vaughan Marshall has confirmed that his charge will be targeted at the R5-million Big Cap in March, after which he will have “a nice long rest”.
Sadly, that puts paid to a KZN campaign, more’s the pity, since champions of the past earned their titles by being tested against all
comers, over various distances, and racetracks.
Legendary greats like Sea Cottage, Hawaii, Politician, Gatecrasher, Sledgehammer, Horse Chestnut, Jet Master and Pocket Power never flinched from leaving the comforts of their homebase, traversing the country and flashing their brilliance in the principal races on the calendar.
So did some of the more recent King’s Plate winners. The mighty Pocket Power, whose four consecutive Queen’s Plate victories will likely never be matched, proved nigh invincible at his
Gavin Lerena drives One Stripe clear as longshot Montien (Corne Orffer) and top sprinter Gimme A Prince (Craig Zackey) chase hard | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
beloved Kenilworth, yet went on to deadheat in the Vodacom Durban July and won the Gr1 Gold Challenge at Clairwood.
He certainly was a chip off the old block, as his sire Jet Master proved himself a true champion wherever he went. Following his first Queen’s Plate success, the Geoff Woodruff-trained bay returned to homebase Gauteng where he added the Keith Hepburn and went undefeated in three KZN winter season starts, amongst which the Gr1 Golden Spur at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and the Gr1 Nissan Challenge at Clairwood.
Following his second Queen’s Plate success, he proved nigh invincible in five starts, winning the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship, Hawaii Stakes, a second Golden Spur and also his swansong, the Gr1 Mercury Sprint. His sole defeat came in the Gr1 Gold Challenge at
Clairwood, where he was beaten a neck.
Sean Tarry’s Legal Eagle had already won the Gr1 SA Derby by the time he landed the first of three consecutive Queen’s Plates and would add two more renewals, as well as the Gr1 Horse Chestnut and Champions Challenge. Remarkably, he only raced twice in KZN, both times finishing just out of the placings in the Vodacom Durban July.
Star miler Variety Club was rested after his Queen’s Plate success and resurfaced in Durban for the KZN winter season. After defeating Pomodoro in a Pinnacle Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville, he clinched yet another Gr1 success in his final South African start, beating Beach Beauty a length in the Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge at Clairwood. Sent to Dubai, he won the Gr3 Firebreak Stakes on debut and ran second in the Gr3 Burj Nahaar
Craig Zackey keeps Vardy at his task to win the 2020 renewal of the royal mile as One Stripe’s Dad, One World (MJ Byleveld), keeps him honest, with Rainbow Bridge (Gavin Lerena) in third | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
before claiming the Gr2 Godolphin Mile over Soft Falling Rain. His career ended on a high in Hong Kong, where he stunned the racing world with a four-length victory in the Gr1 Champions Mile.
Jet Dark’s Queen’s Plate double bookended a victory in the Gr1 Champions Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville and subsequent to claiming his second Queen’s Plate, he chased home Sparkling Water in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July before successfully defending his Champions Cup crown. He closed out his career on a high in the 2023 WSB Gr1 Cape Town Met.
Racing needs its superstars; they lure old and new fans to the racetrack, those eager to see their heroes in action.
Whilst the absence of One Stripe is certain to rob the 2025 KZN champions season of some
of its glitter, there remains the possibility that he may still wing his way overseas, given that his King’s Plate victory gives him an automatic berth into the $2 million Gr1 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile Breeders’ Cup Mile, which this year will take place at Del Mar.
Champion Jet Master beats Classic Flag in the 1998 Cape Guineas | Credit: Supplied
‘He’s right up there with the best. And I have no doubt he will go further. He’s a wonderful horse!’ - Gavin Lerena
Kings all! Trainer Vaughan Marshall and Gavin Lerena enjoy the post-race moment | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
19TH GRADE 1 VICTORY FOR LERENA
It has been a decade since Gavin Lerena won the SA Champion jockey title and all the signs suggest that the 39 year old is all set for a vintage season after securing his maiden L’Ormarins King’s Plate trophy on the exciting Vaughan Marshall-trained 3yo One Stripe in scintillating fashion at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth last Saturday.
On a short suspension this week, and taking a snap break with his family at Zimbali on the North Coast, Gavin chatted to the Sporting Post. He is tied in joint first with Craig Zackey on 106 winners on the national log as the sun set on another weather interrupted racemeeting at the Vaal on Monday 6 January.
There are still seven months to go in the current term, but with reigning champion Richard Fourie hot on their heels, Gavin says he is maintaining a level head, playing his own game, and, most importantly, enjoying his riding.
He wouldn’t have forgotten the 2012 season championship tussle that went right down to the wire at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the final day of that hurly burly time in his life.
Anton Marcus won on Scaky Phane and Pirate Flag to beat him by just a solitary winner and secure the coveted title.
That was despite Gavin breaking his leg in the April and being off for six to seven weeks. The dreadful experience clearly built character and today the man, who hails from a famous racing family that dates back to his great Uncle Frederick Chapell, who was also a jockey, and trained the winner of the 1957
Durban July – a 3yo filly called Migraine – is at his pinnacle. In the background is his mentor, Dad Tex, back in the day, a top jockey himself.
On last Saturday’s success – the 19th Grade 1 winner of his career – Gavin tells the Sporting Post about the unadulterated joy of partnering a ‘very special horse’.
“One Stripe is exciting. He has courage, heart, ability, no fear. What an honour and a privilege to break the L’Ormarins King’s Plate ice alongside two great racing men in owner Rikesh Sewgoolam, and trainer Vaughan Marshall, and his superb VHM Racing Team.”
Asked how he ended up riding One Stripe, Gavin says that he has always enjoyed good support on the Highveld, and also riding for Peter Muscutt and other yards in KZN, but that a phone call in May last year from Rikesh Sewgoolam, changed the landscape in a province where he has enjoyed ‘okay’ support.
“Bernard Fayd’herbe had done a great job, winning two races on One Stripe, including the Gr3 Cape Nursery. But he had weight issues I believe, and I got the call-up prior to the Gr3 Winter Nursery – which we won. That was One Stripe’s final run as a 2yo. This season I have been honoured to partner the colt in all of his starts – with a Grade 2 and two Grade 1 victories to show for it. What a dream horse!”
Asked about Saturday’s historic win, as One Stripe became only the third 3yo to win the
prestigious weight-for-age mile this centuryand overall the tenth in 163 years - Gavin tells how the race unfolded and admits that he felt that he had it won at the top of the summer course home straight.
“He’s a versatile horse. I had him relaxed just back of midfield alongside former winner Al Muthana. I had to help him a bit between the 500m to 400m. But he was all over them and inside the final 300m he was going well, although I thought Gimme A Prince was going really well. When One Stripe went for the gap between Gimme A Prince and Montien on the outside, he did it largely on his own. That’s raw guts and solid gold character from a young horse!”
Asked to rate One Stripe – the handicappers have already shared the love, boosting him to a 132 – and whether he will go further, Gavin enthuses: “He’s right up there with the best. And I have no doubt he will go further. He’s a wonderful horse!”
One Stripe will not be going for the WSB Cape Town Met, but will be aimed at the inaugural CRS Big Cap on the Cape Racing Sales Festival day on 16 March.
The R5 million CRS Big Cap, which will be run over 1400m on handicap terms with conditions, is a new ‘slot’ race and has been modelled on the Everest concept introduced in Australia. This type of event has been featured successfully previously in South Africa as the ‘Gold Rush’.
For now, Gavin is looking forward to the next few months. Asked about his likely WSB Cape Town Met ride, he says that he has ‘a few exciting options’.
Jane Truter and Jenny Jones congratulate Gavin after his superb ride
Credit: Candiese Lenferna
IT’S A CHIP AND A PUTT FOR
The powerful duo of Double Grand Slam and Richard Fourie made winning look like a breeze on Saturday | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Justin Snaith and Richard Fourie combined with a very special daughter of Vercingetorix at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on L’Ormarins King’s Plate day as Double Grand Slam silenced the doubters in emphatic style.
Trying the 1800m for the first time, the Varsfontein-bred 4yo stormed home from lengths off the pace to grab a career pinnacle success with a popular victory in the R1 million Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes.
Giving Justin Snaith his first Grade 1 victory in close on a year, and his seventh success overall in the prestigious fillies and mares contest in sixteen renewals, Double Grand Slam (18-10) reaffirmed her status as one of the most popular members of the powerful champion yard’s equine arsenal as she showed she gets the trip, cutting down the gutsy Red Palace (11-2) in the final 150m to win going away by 1,50 lengths in a time of 109,86 secs for the 1800m.
Glen Kotzen’s Rascova (11-2) enjoyed the proverbial box seat ‘run of the race’ behind enthusiastic pacesetter Lavender
Bay for 1500m of the contest and stayed on courageously for third. Owners Gary Player, Dave MacLean and Gaynor Rupert were on course to enjoy the win.
Richard Fourie clearly has an affinity with Double Grand Slam, who was his recordbreaking 335th season winner on 8 June 2024 when she won the East Coast Radio Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
A R1 million National Yearling Sale purchase, Double Grand Slam was bred by Varsfontein from Maine Chance kingpin Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the two-time winning Captain Al mare Princess Peach.
Double Grand Slam has now won 7 races with 6 places from 15 starts and took her stakes earnings to R1 893 088. There is plenty left, yet!
Elated owners Gary Player and Gaynor Rupert celebrate the win with a hug | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE – WEDNESDAY, 31ST JULY 2024
HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE - WEDNESDAY, 1ST JANUARY 2025
As an added investment into the amazing sport of horse racing Hollywoodbets & Gold Circle award R1 000 to each winning groom
RACE 1 - ABADDON - MABHUTI YALO
RACE 4 - GALAXY EXPLORER - BONGANI MSISHANA
RACE 2 - FLYING HAFLA - SBUSISO SOMCO
RACE 5 – BUTTERCUP BABY - MKHULISENI ZULU
RACE 7 - FUTURE FLO - LUTHANDO NGILANI
RACE 8 – ON BOARD - MZUKISI NXAZONKE
RACE 3 - ICE RAIN - SAKHIWO MTATA
RACE 6 - PHAKA IMALI - BANDILE NONKWABUZE
BREEDERS’ CUP INVITATION
OPEN TO SATURDAY’S GR1 STARS
There could be some serious global travel decisions to be made for the connections of Saturday’s L’Ormarins Gr1 King’s Plate winner One Stripe and the eye-catching Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes victress, Double Grand Slam.
The winner of the 1600m L’Ormarins
King’s Plate gains an automatic berth into the $2 million FanDuel Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Mile, while the Paddock Stakes star receives complimentary entry into the $2 million Maker’s Mark Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.
There was plenty of debate and doubt that the Varsfontein Stud-bred Double Grand Slam would actually see out the 1800m trip, but she did so in style.
However, the Del Mar Grade 1 to which she is
invited is run over 2200m. So that may be the deal breaker.
Now in its 19th season, the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of stakes races, the winners of which receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held from 31 October to 1 November at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California.
As a part of the benefits of the Challenge series, the Breeders’ Cup pays the pre-entry and entry fees for the winners of Saturday’s races to start
One Stripe – CRS Big Cap and then Del Mar? | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
in the World Championships. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the Championships.
The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup programme by the pre-entry deadline of 20 October to receive the rewards.
The 2024 L’Ormarins King’s Plate winner Charles Dickens was retired to his birthplace Drakenstein Stud, while 2024 Paddock Stakes heroine Beach Bomb, who won as a 3yo, took up the Breeders’ Cup invitation.
She was saddled by Graham Motion, who also had star sprinter Isivunguvungu in his care. Both acquitted themselves well, with Beach Bomb beaten 3,50 lengths into 8th. Motion attended the L’Ormarins King’s Plate meeting on Saturday.
Interestingly all of the races at the Breeders’ Cup are weighted on the northern hemisphere weight-for-age scale.
On the South African weight for age scale Beach Bomb was actually 1kg under sufferance in the Gr1 Breeders Cup Filly And Mare Turf considering four-year-olds in South Africa still get 1kg over the 2200m trip of the BC Filly And Mare Turf in the month of November, whereas she got no age allowance at all.
Her European and American four-year-old counterparts, who are all officially seven months older than her, would not get any age allowance on that same scale, it being the eleventh month of their four-year-old career.
November is the fourth month in the SA racing season and in the UK, horses do not receive any weight for age allowance over one mile and three furlongs in the fourth month of their racing season i.e April.
It is believed that consideration of hemisphere differences in weight for age allowances could soon be brought to the table for discussion amongst BC organisers.
Trainer Graham Motion at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday – now a familiar face to SA racing fans Credit: Candiese Lenferna
HOLLYWOOD RACER ON FIRE
Asiye Phambili (Richard Fourie) wins the Cartier Sceptre Stakes while Roccapina (JP v’d Merwe) holds on for second | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Touched off in the 2024 renewal, the What A Winter mare Asiye Phambile made no mistakes this time round in the R400 000 Cartier Gr2 Sceptre Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday when registering a career peak success with an emphatic low-flying performance to become South Africa’s newest equine millionaire.
Apopular banker bet for many in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate Day carryover Pick 6, Asiye Phambile registered a feature double after her WSB Gr3 Southern Cross Stakes victory at the same venue a month earlier.
Relaxed early on as is her preferred competition style, she powered home up the outside at 17-10 under Ridgemont rider Richard Fourie to hold off a late challenge from 25-2 shot Roccapina and the top-notch 3yo Gimmie’s Countess, who ran on from last.
Asiye Phambili clocked 69,81 secs for the 1200m.
Formerly with Duncan Howells, Asiye Phambili means ‘moving forward’ and has enjoyed further success for Gareth van Zyl, who has done a sterling job for Hollywood Racing.
Besides giving the Hollywood Racing Team their first feature success of 2025, Van Zyl saddled the powerful team’s final feature success of 2024 when the 6yo Imilenzeyokududuma won the Listed Christmas Handicap at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the Day Of Goodwill public holiday.
That success capped a ‘purple patch’ of note as it came just weeks Saturday’s smart winner Asiye Phambili won the World Sports Betting Gr3 Southern Cross Stakes.
Van Zyl also gave the passionate team their 600th winner on African soil when Luhamba Phambili won the Need For Speed Sprint, also at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, back in November.
A R500 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale purchase, Asiye Phambili has now won 8 races with 7 places from 21 starts for stakes of R1 012 863.
A daughter of SA Speed Champion What A Winter (Western Winter), the valuable broodmare prospect is out of the six-time winning Rambo Dancer mare, Cast A Spell.
With a R1 million carryover injection, the Pick 6 pool on the day unfortunately failed to reach the R5 million projection, and ended on a nett of R3 787 907,79.
Asiye Phambile (Richard Fourie) is led in by the Happy Hollywood Racing Team | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
and
MARSHALL WARRIOR
– THE VEALE DEAL!
‘He’s your WSB Cape Town Met horse’. So suggested co-owner Marsh Shirtliff after his relatively low mileage 7yo Rascallion had the crowd on their feet to pip the 4yo Magic Verse in a thrilling Vercingetorix 1-2.
With a third and second Met credit to his name and now a winner of 3 features in his last 4 starts, Vaughan Marshall’s popular warrior Rascallion dug deep in typically cavalier style to grab the top honours in the R500 000 Anthonij Rupert Wyne Gr2 Premier Trophy at a festive
Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
Sporting Post-sponsored jockey Sean Veale, who declared he would go to war with the gelding, is enjoying a terrific season, and with his family on course, he wasn’t letting JP van der Merwe steal the thunder on Magic Verse
Rascallion (Sean Veale) on the outside,
Magic Verse (JP v’d Merwe), provide the finish of the day | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
after the pacesetting Litigation had tired late in a race of fluctuating pace and fortunes.
In a drive to the wire, Veale somehow got Rascallion’s (3-1) head down on the line to pop Magic Verse (9-2) to win and register 109,69 secs for the 1800m.
Sean Tarry’s Gauteng raider Litigation (252) showed courage down the long summer straight, and was 0,40 lengths further back in third, with Future Swing (8-1) rounding off the quartet.
Bred by Dr Veronique Kritzinger, who was on the winner’s podium, Rascallion was sold on the Cape Premier Book 1 Sale for R350 000 and is a son of Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the Jet Master mare, Sofala.
Rascallion has won 7 races with 14 places from 28 starts for stakes of R2 170 714.
Sean Veale shows his appreciation for the victorious Rascallion | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
King Pelles (Athandiwe Mgudlwa) storms clear for an emphatic victory | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
PLAYER POWER!
Summerveld trainer Gareth van Zyl crowned a glorious L’Ormarins King’s Plate day feature double at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday as the Duke Of Marmalade gelding King Pelles finished well to register a maiden graded stakes success in the R300 000 Glorious Goodwood Gr3 Chairman’s Cup.
In a 1-2 for Sporting Post sponsored jockeys, Athandiwe Mgudlwa got the lightly weighted 4yo home to beat the more fancied Holding Thumbs, who was given every chance by the high-riding Sean Veale.
Something of a Pick 6 knockout on a day of favourites, King Pelles started at 20-1 and beat the 28-10 Holding Thumbs by 1,75 lengths to clock 155,25 secs for the 2500m.
The consistent Mucho Dinero (8-1) was a further 1,50 lengths back in third, with his pacesetting stablemate and favourite Daimyo fading late to round off the quartet.
Raced in partnership by Lucky Vest 12 CC (Nom: Mr Ravi Padayachee), Messrs D MacLean, G J Player & N V Parmanand, King Pelles is a R475 000 National Yearling Sale graduate.
Now a winner of 4 races with 6 places from 16 starts, King Pelles has earned R493 988.
Bred by Drakenstein Stud, the winner is a son of the champion farm’s late stallion Duke Of Marmalade out of the four-time winning Galileo mare, Grail Maiden (AUS).
Happy connections - Wayne Player, Dave MacLean, Susan Waterfall and Gary Player share their excitement with Cape Racing’s Vicky Minott | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
A MAIDEN OF HONOUR
A proud moment for Gareth van Zyl as he poses with King Pelles (Athandiwe Mgudlwa) after his feature win last Saturday | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
When
King Pelles (Duke Of Marmalade) won last Saturday’s Glorious Goodwood Gr3 Chairman’s Cup (2500m) at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, he further embellished the fine record of his dam Grail Maiden.
The daughter of Galileo, a four-time winner who ran third, beaten two lengths, in the 2010 Listed Winter Oaks, has produced five winners, of which four are black-type performers.
A further feather in the cap of Grail Maiden is that all four of her black-type performers were sired by different stallions.
Her first performer of note was G1 SA Derby winner Hero’s Honour (by Await The Dawn), while the following year she foaled the Trippi filly Railtrip. The latter won three times and ran second, to champion Return Flight (Pomodoro), in the 2018 Gr1 Thekwini Stakes.
Subsequently, Grail Maiden produced King Pelles in 2020, and followed that up when producing the classy Legend Of Arthur (by Lancaster Bomber) in 2021.
Legend Of Arthur made a cracking start to his career when running third on debut before winning his next two starts by an aggregate of ten lengths.
This season, Legend Of Arthur gave Grail Maiden more black type to her credit when finishing third, beaten just over half a length, in the Betway Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes.
Arguably, Grail Maiden could well have enjoyed greater success but some of her mates in between her black-type stars were not stallions out of the top drawer.
Grail Maiden’s success as a broodmare should come as no surprise, however, given her pedigree. She is a daughter of one of history’s greatest stallions (Galileo mares have already produced well over 350 stakes winners), and hails from a family packed full of high-class performers.
A three-part sister to the top-class Galileo sired broodmare Starfish (dam of dual Gr1 winner La Collina, and no fewer than four other stakes winners), Grail Maiden is directly descended in female line from Cheveley Park Stakes winning champion Sixpence (Ballyogan).
The latter’s granddaughter Sorbus (Busted) was a high-class, if unlucky, racemare. Sorbus was demoted from first to second place in the 1978
Oaks
Sorbus, the granddam of Grail Maiden, founded a dynasty through her Oaks Trial Stakes winning daughter Bahamian (Mill Reef).
Among the numerous stars descended in female line from Bahamian are top-class gallopers and stallions Kingman, New Bay and Oasis Dream, as well as Gr1 winners Zenda (French 1000 Guineas), Beat Hollow (Grand Prix De Paris), Reefscape (Prix Du Cadran) and Wemyss Bight (Irish Oaks).
Through his son Querari, Oasis Dream also made his mark at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, with Black Cheetah landing the Charles Dickens Stakes and his daughter Candy Town victorious in the Franschhoek Motor Museum Winchester Sprint Cup.
The late Duke Of Marmalade, has already enjoyed success with the daughters of Galileo. Other group/graded stakes winners produced on the Duke Of Marmalade/Galileo cross include Gr3 Track And Ball Oaks winner Seville Orange (out of the Galileo mare Serruria), and Gr1 Irish Oaks/Gr1 Yorkshire Oaks runner up Venus De Milo (out of the Galileo mare Inchmahome).
Galileo is also the sire of Duke Of Marmalade’s Gr1 Investec Derby/Gr3 Chester Vase winning half-brother Ruler Of The World, as well as his smart full-brothers Norway and Giovanni Canaletto.
Duke Of Marmalade is one of just several sons of Danehill to have excelled when sent Galileo mares.
The outstanding Fastnet Rock has sired more than 40 Gr1 winners - of which 11 are out of daughters of Galileo, while Danehill’s multiple champion sire son Redoute’s Choice sired the five time Gr1 winner and promising sire, The Autumn Sun, when sent Galileo daughter Azmiyna.
QUERARI 1-2 OPENS BIG DAY
SA Champion trainer Justin Snaith and breeders Drakenstein Stud stamped their authority early on L’Ormarins King’s Plate day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, with a 1-2 finish in the R400 000 Non-Black Type Charles Dickens Stakes.
The 1000m contest was reduced to just five runners but produced a finish that hopefully sets the stage for the big day.
After Paul Reeves’ debut winner Parental Guidance set the early fractions, Richard Fourie, fresh off his five-timer at Fairview on Friday, swept up the outside and had Black
Cheetah (6-10) staying on best to hold off the attentions of stablemate Clair De Lune (8-1) in a time of 58,62 secs for the 1000m.
Parental Guidance (33-10) was hanging in running but stayed on gamely for third.
Raced by his breeders Drakenstein Stud and
Richard Fourie gets Black Cheetah home to beat stablemate Clair De Lune (Oisin Murphy) | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Fiona Carmichael’s Westward Bloodstock, Black Cheetah was a R1 million CRS Cape Yearling Sale purchase and is a son of Querari (Oasis Dream) out of the one-time winning Var mare.
Now a winner of 2 of his first 2 starts, Black Cheetah took his stakes earned to R385 938,
and is likely to be aimed at the R1,5 million CRS Cape Slipper on 16 March.
Richard Fourie – thumbs up for an early winner | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
W QUERARI HITS THE SWEET SPOT
ith the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth sprint track running fast in near windless conditions, the Andre Nel-trained Candy Town ran the R250 000 Franschhoek Motor Museum Winchester Sprint Cup field clean off their legs with an impressive display of speed on L’Ormarins King’s Plate day.
Something of a shrewd placement in a quality field off her 51,5kgs in the non-black type contest, the 4yo jumped flying under visiting KZN jockey Serino Moodley and was never headed as she bolted clear at 10-1 to beat the
hard knocking Gr3 winner Questioning (6-1) by a length in a close to course record time of 56,79 secs for the 1000m.
Adam Marcus was clearly pleased with the return to form of his 7yo soldier Bereave (66-1), who filled the final PA slot a further 1,50 lengths back in third.
The place exotic was paying a minimum dividend of R3-40, with 162543 live tickets in a net pool of R553 668. The tote favourite Meu
A powerful performance from Candy Town under Serino Moodley | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Capitano (7-2) finished a 4,50 length sixth and never got into the mix in a nippy affair.
Bred by Lai Plaissance Stud, Candy Town was a second feature winner on the day for Maine Chance stallion Querari and is out of the Captain Al five-time winner, Captain’s Flame, who also raced under the famous Plattner flag. A winner now of 3 races with 5 places from
her 10 starts, Candy Town took her stakes bank to R383 876.
Trainer Andre Nel and Serino Moodley engage in post-race discussions | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
With just under seven months left of the current season, reigning SA champion trainer Justin Snaith looks well set to add to his haul of 5 national titles, despite ‘only’ winning one of the two Grade 1 races at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
Snaith saddled Double Grand Slam to a scintillating Doubting Thomas-bashing victory of note in the Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes.
But the race that he dearly wanted, eluded him.
Justin Snaith – well ahead on the national champion trainer log | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
“I’d take a single L’Ormarins King’s Plate victory for any five other Grade 1 races,” declared the 50-year-old in the build-up last week.
But sadly, even though the team registered three winners on the big afternoon, the highly vaunted stable elect Snow Pilot failed to deliver and add to the existing Snaith quartet of prized trophies in the prestigious weight-for-age mile, the best of the big yard’s trio being Royal Aussie’s fourth.
Snow Pilot has since been scratched from the WSB Cape Town Met.
Snaith is at 9-20 with Hollywoodbets to win the SA trainer championship this term, with ‘any other trainer’ at 5-2, and another big-hitter in Sean Tarry at 8-1.
Those punters that took the 7-2 average about Brett Crawford to lift the national title have been refunded their full stake by Hollywoodbets, without any deductions applicable.
James and Brett Crawford chat to Vicky Minott after their Oriental Charm comeback | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
Crawford and his son James joined forces in a father-son partnership in early December, and this has effectively created a new entity in the title race, while turning the taps off on the Brett Crawford title chase.
Hollywoodbets’ Patrick Bradley explained to the Sporting Post that the Crawford refund was a goodwill gesture by Hollywoodbets, as it made full sense that the NHA were maintaining independent statistics on earnings for Brett Crawford and the Crawford partnership, separately.
“While nobody realistically can foresee the timing of the establishment of any partnership, we felt it fair to refund bets struck on Brett Crawford,” said Bradley.
After a terrific weekend, Milnerton veteran Vaughan Marshall has surged into second place on the title log, admittedly over R5 million behind Justin Snaith.
“Vaughan Marshall and Alec Laird have both won lucrative races lately and are in the betting group ‘Any Other Trainer’ – it would not be fair to list them individually as punters who have already placed bets on that ‘runner’ had probably already factored them into their wagers. I can also mention that we have zeroed Mike de Kock in the betting, as there is talk of a possible imminent partnership with his son Mathew. That would create a similar situation to the Crawford family scenario,” added Bradley.
So who is taking the 9-20 on Snaith?
Marshall
11TH GRADE 1 SUCCESS FOR VERCINGETORIX
Maine Chance Farms’ champion sire elect Vercingetorix enjoyed another outstanding day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
The son of Silvano had three winners on L’Ormarins King’s Plate day, with Vercingetorix runners Double Grand Slam and Rascallion winning the day’s Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes (1800m) and Gr2 Anthonij Rupert Wyne Premier Trophy (1800m) respectively.
Vercingetorix is also the sire of promising three-year-old Sail The Seas who caught the eye when winning ninth and final race on Saturday, while Vercingetorix gelding Holding Thumbs ran second in Saturday’s Gr3 Glorious Goodwood Chairman’s Cup.
In landing Saturday’s Paddock Stakes, Double Grand Slam became her sire’s 11th Grade One winner.
Maine Chance Farms’ star stallion had a memorable start to 2025 with a trio of winners at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the first day of the New Year.
Vercingetorix fillies Flying Hafla and Ice Rain won the second and third races with Vercingetorix mare On Board victorious in the eighth and final race.
Vercingetorix (Silvano – National Vixen by National Assembly) | Credit: Jeremy Nelson
TVI GALLOPER CATCHES EYE IN SATURDAY WORKOUT
Team Valor International galloper Facteur Cheval took to the all-weather surface on Saturday at Cagnes-Sur-Mer in a team work for Calas-based trainer Jerome Reynier, who was giving his 2024 Dubai Turf hero his final bit of serious work in advance of his dirt racing surface debut in the 24 January renewal of the Gr1 Al Maktoum Challenge as a test to see if the now 6-year-old gelding can act over that surface.
Choosing the synthetic track to allow the Gr1 winner a chance to experience some kick-back, which figures to be more severe on the Meydan dirt track, Reynier was very happy with how the large animal handled the track in the workout.
“He was never off the bridle, yet he delivered some speedy internal splits, including 600 meters in less than 34 seconds,” said the horseman.
Reynier consults with a software company that generates various particulars of a workout and the analyst told the trainer his stride length, heart recovery and respiratory rate compared favourably with the horse’s best previous training moves.
Facteur Cheval basically worked 1400 meters, beginning slowly, picking up the tempo after half a mile, threw in 400 meters in :22 1/5 and 600 meters in :33 4/5.
He finished up the work in 1:26 and galloped
out an additional furlong in :14 1/5.
“He dipped under 11 seconds for one furlong at his fastest, which is moving right along in a workout,” Reynier pointed out.
Facteur Cheval departs Reynier’s Calas headquarters on Thursday for Chantilly and leaves from Europe to Dubai on Saturday, exactly 2 weeks before he steps on the dirt at Meydan for the Gr1 $1-million Al Maktoum Challenge.
Reynier said of the Team Valor International and Gary Barber-owned Irish-bred “If he takes to the dirt it opens up opportunities such as the Dubai and Saudi Cups.
If he fails to handle the dirt, then he will defend his Dubai Turf title in late March.”
Mickael Barzalona, who has ridden Facteur Cheval previously, returns aboard the horse in Dubai.
FIVE FOR FOURIE AS HOLLYWOODBETS PUNTERS’ CHALLENGE PLAYERS STRIKE GOLD
The Ridgemont-sponsored reigning SA Champion Richard Fourie banged home five winners at Fairview on Friday to get 2025 off to a flyer for himself and two happy Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge players who banked R350 000 cash each.
Players Rumba777 and LMS13 both found the 8 winners on the Fairview card to tie on 91,17 points and share the all-or-nothing Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge Jackpot prize of R700 000, becoming the year’s first winners of the popular competition. Six of the eight winners were tote favourites.
“This is straight from heaven,” quipped the 55-year-old LMS13, a lifetime player who told the Sporting Post that he had recently endured ‘the worst few years’ of his life, having lost his job during the covid pandemic and endured a divorce.
“This is life-changing. It really is. You have no idea what a difference this will make. Thanks to Hollywoodbets for providing the platform. I
should have had the minimum R50 bet which would have doubled my payout, but I am nevertheless very very thankful,” added the former Game Ranger, who loves his racing.
Rumba777, a 64-year-old Grandmother from South Beach in Durban, told the Sporting Post that her prayers had been answered and she would now be able to assist her three grandchildren, who she looks after, with a better education.
The former laboratory assistant at a Durban hospital, whose username comes from her love of dancing the Rumba in her younger years, admitted the family was sweating going into the final leg as her selection Articuno was injured en route to the start and then scratched.
Richard Fourie – a fiver at Fairview last Friday! | Credit: Pauline Herman
In terms of competition rules, she was allocated the tote favourite Lovegrass, on whom Richard Fourie rounded off his five-timer.
“My son Damian guides my Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge selections and we are a family who love our racing. I want to send my two younger grandchildren to a better school, and I have another who is starting college now. So, this windfall could not have been better timed. We must thank Richard Fourie for riding so well, and Hollywoodbets for creating a competition that everybody is talking about as it’s an even playing field for every player,” she concluded.
The Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge is a free-to-enter competition that is available on all local racemeetings, as well as Hong Kong fixtures.
The jackpot on local meetings is calculated by the starters on the day, multiplied by R10 000 a head – so at Fairview, there were 70 starters over the 8 races, resulting in a jackpot of R700 000.
All players have a chance of doubling their potential payout, by spending a minimum of R50 on the programmatically generated betslip.
Unfortunately, both Rumba777 and LSM13 failed to wager that amount and lost out on the opportunity of doubling the payout.
Richard Fourie was certainly in fine form at Fairview on Friday.
Fourie’s Fairview Friday five-timer included a treble for Alan Greeff and a double for Justin Snaith and took the record-breaker to 96 wins (23,82%) and third place on the national log at the time of this writing.
Craig Zackey and Gavin Lerena (also a fivetime at the Vaal 24 hours earlier!) recently reached their respective centuries of winners for the season.
Fourie’s winners included Silva City, Joy And Peace and Lovegrass for Alan Greeff, while he booted Crowned Hornbill and Run The World home for Justin Snaith.
PROCESS ERROR – BUT TRAINER OBLIGED TO USE EQUIPMENT
A clerical error and a dropped ball over an equipment checklist at Fairview has ended well with the Stipes taking no action against the trainer – who it appears, was mostly in the right in the first instance.
On 30 December, the Gavin Smith-trained Oliver Twist ran in the Fairview second race, a 1600m Maiden Plate.
The start of the race was delayed as there was confusion over the fact that Oliver Twist had apparently proceeded to the start incorrectly equipped.
A set of cheek pieces were sent to the start and fitted to the gelding, causing a lengthy delay.
The Stipes duly opened an investigation and it was established that in the communication that was shared by the National Racing Bureau, there was a clerical error that had occurred, whereby the cheek pieces that were removed by Assistant Trainer Dean Smith after final acceptances were erroneously put back on the system.
Interestingly, the Stipes, who somehow missed the physical absence of the equipment in the parade ring, then insisted that assistant trainer Smith get the handler back from the start to fetch the cheek pieces and run Oliver Twist with them.
Smith had no choice, despite the error and the stable’s decision to not use them, to abide by the Stipes’ insistence and run the gelding in the equipment.
Despite the administrative challenges in the background, Oliver Twist duly won in the end.
The Stipes confirmed that after taking the facts into consideration, they decided to take no further action. That part makes sense.
Assistant trainer Dean Smith, with Andrew Smith and jockey Craig Zackey | Credit: Pauline Herman
L’ORMARINS KING’S PLATE WINNER MOVES UP TO 132
One Stripe had his rating adjusted to 132 from 118 after impressively winning the WFA L’Ormarins Gr1 King’s Plate over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse on Saturday.
The Handicappers were of the opinion that Royal Aussie confirmed the 124 he achieved in the 2024 L’Ormarins King’s Plate, when 3rd to Charles Dickens, and were unanimous in selecting Royal Aussie as the line horse here, hence his unchanged rating of 124.
The runner-up Montien, who beat the 124-rated line horse Royal Aussie at level weights by 2.80 lengths, was adjusted to 129 from a rating of 120.
Three horses received drops in this race. Thirdplaced Gimme A Prince was dropped to 129 from 130 as this was his highest achievement in his latest 4 starts.
At My Command was dropped from 119 to 118 and Al Muthana received a 4 point drop from 120 to 116.
Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes
Double Grand Slam had her rating adjusted to 122 from 119 after emphatically winning the WFA Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
The Handicappers were of the opinion that the runner-up Red Palace was the best candidate
for a line horse and used her rating of 119 to rate this event.
Rainbow Lorikeet, who was rated to run 3rd last in this event, had her rating increased from 105 to 111 after outperforming her official prerating.
There were no other increases to ratings in this race and only one finisher received a drop in ratings. Saartjie was dropped to 116 from 118.
Anthonij Rupert Wyne Gr2 Premier Trophy
Top rated, Rascallion remained on a rating of 122 after landing the Anthonij Rupert Wyne Gr2 Premier Trophy over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that Litigation, who is somewhat of a distance specialist, made for the most suitable line horse in this event and as such he remained on a mark of 113.
In rating the race this way, the runner-up Magic Verse produced a performance figure of 114 as he beat the 113 rated line horse by 0.45 of a length and was accordingly adjusted to a rating of 114.
Future Swing, who was unlucky not to have finished closer, was the only other runner to receive an increase in ratings and was adjusted to 114 from 110.
The following horses received drops to their ratings, Pacaya was dropped from 118 to 116, Triple Time was dropped from 111 to 110, Rapidash was dropped to 109 from 110 and Without Question was dropped to 115 from 118.
Cartier Gr2 Sceptre Stakes
Asiye Phambili remained unchanged on a rating of 116 after her win in the Cartier Gr2 Sceptre Stakes over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
The Handicappers were of the unanimous view that fourth-placed Summer Lily made for a suitable line horse here and her rating remains on a mark of 100.
The runner-up, Roccapina, saw her rating increased to 111 from 99 following her effort when producing a strong finish to be beaten by a narrow margin.
The only other runner to receive an increase in ratings here was Siddeley, who was beaten by a short head by the 100 rated line horse at level weights and was accordingly adjusted to 99 from 95.
Only two horses received drops to their merit ratings here, Gimmie’s Countess was dropped
by 1 point from 111 to 110 after failing to confirm her pre-rating in her last 3 runs, while Pineapplemintgreen was dropped to 99 from 104.
Glorious Goodwood Gr3 Chairman’s Cup
King Pelles had to be capped to a rating of 96 after impressively winning the Glorious Goodwood Gr3 Chairman’s Cup over 2500m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
The Handicappers were of the opinion that both the runner-up Holding Thumbs and third-placed Mucho Dinero made for the most suitable line horses here, hence their unchanged ratings of 99 and 110 respectively.
The specific conditions for this event do not allow for an increase of more than 8 points for the winner and as such King Pelles had to be capped to a rating of 96.
Four horses received drops to their ratings. Vihaan’s Bomb was dropped to 91 from 93, Future Pearl dropped to 116 from 117, Nebraas dropped to 100 from 103 and Han Solo dropped to 102 from 104.
• Media release by the NHA on Tuesday, 07 January 2025.
KZN ’25 – THE START OF GREATER THINGS
A superbly timed ride by Sporting Post-sponsored Tristan Godden for trainer Mike Miller got the South African racing year underway at Hollywoodbets Greyville on 1 January 2025 as KZN Racing launched its ‘New Dawn’.
A new era of increased stakes, RaceCoast incentives, improved and simplified race programming, and operational and information add-ons, including weighing of horses and branded saddle-cloths in work, has commenced, thanks to the proposed acquisition of Gold Circle by the Hollywood Sportsbook Holdings group.
The ultimate goal is an upliftment of the racing product through boosted field sizes arising from better support via increased ownership, with improved betting turnovers.
The first race of 2025 was a R110 000 Mixed Maiden Class G over 1000m. There was
plenty of talk about Alyson Wright’s firsttime Gorgeous Bomb, and the daughter of Lancaster Bomber duly showed plenty of speed.
But with Gavin Lerena just three wins short of his century, it wasn’t to be as Tristan Godden timed the effort of the 9-4 tote favourite to perfection, the 4yo chestnut son of Flying The Flag returning from a 66 week break to shed his maiden by a nose in a time of 59,55 secs for the 1000m.
Catavar (7-2) was best of the rest, a further 1,30 lengths back in third.
Tristan Godden gets Abaddon up in the final stride to pip Gavin Lerena and Gorgeous Bomb | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Delighted co-owner Tony Jelinski explained that Abaddon had clearly benefitted from his break at Mike Stewart’s piece of paradise, The Dunes, down at Noordhoek in the Cape.
“Erica Beck deserves plenty of credit. She had Abaddon in and out of the Atlantic and he came back here delivering above expectations. Well done to the whole Miller team here at Summerveld too and this is a great start to 2025,” he added.
The winner had run second on debut and then a close up fifth, where after he was suspended following a nosebleed.
A son of Galileo sire Flying The Flag, he was bred by Bush Hill Stud from the twice winning Mogok mare, African Angel.
A R60 000 November 2yo Sale graduate, Abaddon took his stakes tally to R87 813.
In the second race of the day, Gavin Lerena found his 98th winner of the term when Flying Hafla kept on powerfully.
The new era includes the process of barrier draws after declarations – and the victory of Ice Rain from the 11 gate in the third race over a mile was a lesson that if they are good enough, they can win from anywhere.
A great start!
Click here to view the brochure
FOURIE FOUR - AND CENTURY UP!
Fourie
Credit: Pauline Herman
The Ridgemontsponsored reigning SA champion jockey Richard Fourie followed up his five-timer at Fairview last Friday, with another four winners, including his season century milestone for his sponsors, in Gqeberha on Tuesday.
On a day dominated by the power players, Alan Greeff and Richard Fourie enjoyed four winners, with Gavin Smith’s trio coming courtesy of Craig Zackey (2) and Stallone Naidoo.
Tara Laing and Chase Maujean were the only other combination to have a say, when the 16-1 Thread Of Life won the fourth in an exotic bump.
But the day largely belonged to Fourie, who has clearly turned up the volume to start 2025 with a soaring win strike-rate.
The champion’s season century was registered in the opener when he celebrated the milestone for his sponsors Ridgemont who bred the Canford Cliffs filly, Baie Mooi, who was a runaway winner on debut. Raced by Ridgemont and Devin Heffer, she is out of the Stratum twotime winner, Mushi Sterek.
Fourie then made it 101 in the day’s feature, the R150 000 non-black type Aloe Stakes.
Starting at 4-10 in the six horse field, the diminutive Splicethemainbrace shot clear 350m from home under Richard Fourie to beat
stablemate Ignitethelight (10-1) by 1,50 lengths in a time of 75,45 secs for the polytrack 1300m.
Alan Greeff saddled the trifecta, with Can’t Say No (50-1) a further half length back in third.
Bred by Varsfontein, the winner is by Master Of My Fate out of the Sail In Seattle mare, Summer Cruise.
Splicethemainbrace has now won 7 of her 9 starts and took her earnings to R540 625.
She was a R200 000 purchase from the 2023 August Two Year Old Sale.
Fourie then won the sixth, an MR 81 Handicap, on the seasoned sprinter Whatever Next.
A nasty accident in this race saw Marco van Rensburg take a tumble from Purple Operator, who was humanely euthanized. Van Rensburg came away with a broken arm and is likely to be out for six weeks.
While the mood on course had become sombre after the tragic incident, Fourie capped his four-timer on the Gimmethegreenlight filly, Sweet Nothings in the last.
The 3yo showed little in the Cape for Justin Snaith, but has turned her prospects around in two starts in Gqeberha.
The next Fairview racemeeting is on the turf on Friday 10 January, when the Lady’s Bracelet, now a non-black type contest, heads the card.
WET, WET, WET – CLAY TRIUMPHS IN MUD!
Plenty of rain in Ireland provided a thorough test for the eight runners in the Gr1 Lawlor’s of Naas on Sunday afternoon.
The Gordon Elliott trained The Yellow Clay, a well-backed 11/4 second favourite, was a dominant eight-length winner.
The six-year-old travelled well under Sam Ewing following his pace-making stable companion Wingman in third for most of the 4000m journey. He moved up easily on the turn for home, jumped on at the second last and kept up the gallop to score easily.
That took The Yellow Clay’s record over hurdles to four from four and represented his best effort
yet. The Yeats gelding added his name to a notable recent roll of honour including Envoi Allen and Bob Olinger. They went on to win the Turners at the Cheltenham Festival and Elliott’s initial reaction was that The Yellow Clay would be aimed at that same Novice championship event this March.
He’s currently quoted second favourite behind Challow Novices’ Hurdle winner The New Lion, subsequently purchased by JP McManus, in the betting for the Turners.
Up and over! The Yellow Clay (Sam Ewing) on his march to Cheltenham | Credit: Naas Racecourse
Jasmin De Vaux, winner of last season’s Champion Bumper, was favourite after a convincing Navan maiden success last month, but disappointed finishing fourth. He didn’t jump with any fluency down the back straight and was passed by his stable companion Supersundae, who finished well for second.
The pace setter Wingmen ran a commendable third and should be followed over further.
Earlier, the Willie Mullins-trained Ile Atlantique was given a fine ride by Paul Townend to win the Gr2 Racing Post Novice Chase over two miles.
The seven-year-old was backing up his chasing debut success at Navan in early December and was never far off the pace. The Tony Bloomowned seven-year-old jumped well in the main and was kept wide coming into the home straight.
With fellow pace-maker Firefox making several
jumping errors over the last five fences, the Mullins runner ultimately found another gear after the last and drew away to score by five lengths.
The disappointment of the race was 11/10 favourite Inthepocket, who didn’t jump well throughout, and found little for pressure under Rachael Blackmore in the straight.
Willie Mullins noted: “His efficient jumping won it for him. He loves that ground and from an early stage you could see he was jumping more efficiently than everything else.”
“He’s one that we can now go two miles or two-and-a-half. We’ll look at the Dublin Racing Festival and see which direction we go.”
“Majborough would be in the two-mile race (Irish Arkle) and maybe he could go along with him. We have a few for the two-mile-fivefurlong race, which would look the place where Ballyburn would go.”
A muddied Sam Ewing after his big win at Naas | Credit: Naas Racecourse
KING GEORGE ’25 WILL BE RICHEST RACE EVER AT ASCOT
Ascot Racecourse announced on Sunday that prize money will reach a record £17.75 million in 2025, with the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (‘the King George’) to be run for £1.5 million for the first time (£1.25 million in 2024), which will make it the richest race ever run at Ascot.
The £17.75 million figure excludes the industryowned QIPCO British Champions Day (£4.1 million in 2024).
In addition, the King George will become a ‘Run For Free’ race, with connections of all horses that run (except supplementary entries) refunded their entry fees in full.
Prize money at Royal Ascot in 2025 will once again be £10m with no race run for less than £110,000 and all Group 1 races worth a minimum of £650,000. Across the rest of the programme there are some other targeted increases, with no race scheduled to be run for less than in 2024.
Ruth Quinn, Director of International Racing and Development at the British Horseracing Authority, said:
“The King George is obviously a wonderfully iconic race and plays a vital role in the programme, particularly in terms of the everimportant middle-distance horse.
“Ascot’s ‘Run For Free’ concept, especially for this extremely valuable prize, is an example of tremendous initiative and dynamic thinking.
“The £1.5m prize fund, particularly against the backdrop of increasing international competition to entice high-quality runners, is
Goliath winning the 2024 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes | Credit: Megan Coggin
extremely welcome news. The ability for owners to have entry stakes returned, and therefore be able to compete in this great race for free, shows welcome enterprise and should help to increase the attractiveness of lining up in this event.”
Other race condition changes in 2025 will see the early closing entry requirements for the four Group 2 races at the Royal Meeting that currently close in April removed. These are the Ribblesdale Stakes, the King Edward VII Stakes, the Duke of Cambridge Stakes and the Hardwicke Stakes. This will enable connections to make later, better-informed decisions about entering and running their horses.
The combined effect of the prize money increases and race condition changes will see Ascot’s executive contribution to prize money increase from £9.4m in 2024 to a budgeted £10.1m in 2025.
Paul Johnson, Chief Executive of the National Trainers Federation, said:
“Trainers will certainly appreciate the extra flexibility that converting these Group 2s to becoming normal closers offers. This will allow for more informed decision-making in the build up to these races and will hopefully see Ascot rewarded with competitive contests.
“The introduction of ‘Run for Free’ for the King George is also a concept that we hope will encourage runners in tandem with the significant increase in prize money.”
Felicity Barnard, Chief Executive Officer at Ascot Racecourse, said:
“We are delighted to be continuing our upward trajectory in prize money for 2025 and, through
changes to entry conditions for the Group 2 races at Royal Ascot and ‘Run For Free’ for the King George, we will be absorbing more costs usually paid by owners.
“The King George is our midsummer highlight and Britain’s top all-aged mile-and-a-half race. It is vital that its prize money reflects that, and this year’s renewal will be the most valuable race ever run at Ascot.”
Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs at Ascot Racecourse, added:
“We have been thinking about the concept of ‘Run For Free’ for the King George for some time as a mechanism for incentivising runners at decision-making time, as there are other alternatives lower down the Pattern and overseas.
“Field sizes are very important, especially in the World Pool era, and we hope that connections of horses that aren’t at the top of the betting might see this as a good reason to go for the big target, especially with record prize money on offer.
“The four races with historical early closing at the Royal Meeting will now close at the five-day stage, giving connections more time to identify the right horses for these races, with the Epsom Classics, Coronation Cup and such like behind them.
“Once again, we are ensuring that no race at Ascot will be run for less than the previous year.”
All figures are planned numbers for 2025, subject to abandonments.
PURTON EDGES EVER CLOSER TO WHYTE RECORD
Packing Angel has emerged as a potential Four-Year-Old Classic Series contender after the gelding’s victory in the Class 3 Broadwood Handicap at Sha Tin on Sunday shunted Zac Purton to within eight wins of equalling Douglas Whyte’s Hong Kong record of 1,813 wins.
Trained by Francis Lui and rated 63, Packing Angel handled the rise in grade to Class 3 with aplomb, edging clear of Kaholo Angel to win by three quarters of a length, impressing Purton.
“He’s got a long way to go on ratings, but he’s a young horse on the way up. He’s improving all the time and it was a pretty soft win in the end. There’s a bit more there,” Purton said after sealing a double and taking his Hong Kong
career tally to 1805 wins. Two wins is always a good result, but a couple of things didn’t quite go right in races – I had a few people taking me on, making it hard but that’s Hong Kong.”
The HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile is carded for Sha Tin on 31 January and will be followed by the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup on 2 March and the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby on 23 March.
Packing Angel gallops clear under Zac Purton | Credit: HKJC
Last season’s champion trainer, Lui shared training honours with John Size and David Hayes, with the trio snaring doubles.
Lui also struck with Baby Crystal, who gave Frenchman Alexis Pouchin his second Hong Kong victory in the Class 3 Tai Tong Shan Handicap, clocking a slick 56.32s and winning by almost three lengths.
Hayes moved into third position in the Hong Kong trainers’ championship with a brace, combining with Purton to win the Class 4 Tai Mong Tsai Handicap with Circuit Jolly before apprentice Ellis Wong guided Ariel to all-theway success in the Class 4 Po Leung Kuk Cup Handicap.
12-time Hong Kong champion Size continued his surge with a double, triumphing with Raging Blizzard in the Class 2 Tai Tong Handicap for Hugh Bowman and Country Dancer in the Class 5 Tsam Chuk Wan Handicap under Karis Teetan.
“There was pressure on, and the tempo of the race suited him,” Size said of Raging Blizzard, who settled last before overwhelming his rivals for the second successive start. He’s obviously done no work early and he got an inside run and saved a lot of energy. He was able to finish it off well.
“There’s a Class 1 over 1200m for him on 9 February, so we’ll have a look. He’s never been racing this well.”
Bowman said: “Raging Blizzard is very genuine, he has a beautiful attitude toward racing, he enjoys being left alone early but he’s there for you when you need him, and he’s got a good record together now. He’ll head up to Class 1 and he won’t be out of place there.”
Frankie Lor-trained Sword Point survived an objection before being declared the winner of the Class 2 Pak Tam Chung Handicap and will now be considered for an overseas campaign.
Lor hopes the 105-rater, unbeaten after two starts on dirt, will be invited to run in the US$1 million (approx. HK$7.7 million) Gr2 Godolphin Mile at Meydan on 5 April.
Dylan Mo posted his first win of the season with a copybook ride on Danny Shum’s Super Legends to win the Class 3 Leighton Handicap.
“I need to say a big thank you to the owner and trainer for giving me a chance to ride this horse,” Mo said. “In this time, it has been a bit hard for me, but I will try my best 100 percent to ride these horses well.
“I was told with Super Legends that if I could not lead or the pace is too fast to get the box seat and it worked out well.”
Another World overcame difficulties in the straight under Lyle Hewitson to clinch the Class 4 Caroline Hill Handicap to continue Benno Yung’s strong form.
“Nine times out of 10, you think you are just
gone, when blocked for a run, and there’s nothing left but once the gap re-opened, I just felt him pick up the bridle again and I went with him,” Hewitson said of Another World’s chequered passaged in the straight. “Most horses can’t give two kicks, it was quite an impressive win, actually.”
Hong Lok Golf made it two wins in a row, finishing strongly under Harry Bentley to land the Class 4 Tai Lam Handicap to confirm trainer Chris So’s high opinion of the Grunt four-year-old.
“He’s a good horse. He drew wide (9) and I didn’t think there was much pace in the race, so I was worried. But he showed he’s a good horse. He was three-wide all the way. It was impressive. I expected him to run a good race, but I wasn’t confident,” So said.
“Hong Lok Golf and The Boom Box - when I bought them, I expected them to be good horses – especially this one. It seems like I’ve got a couple of good ones.”
HONG KONG RACING GETS 2025 OFF TO A FLYER
Francis Lui will consider a tilt at the HK$13 million Gr1 Stewards’ Cup with Patch Of Theta after the talented gelding’s emphatic HK$4.2 million Gr3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap triumph at Sha Tin on New Year’s Day.
Purchased for HK$8.6 million at the 2023 Hong Kong International Sale, Patch Of Theta took his career earnings to HK$11.1 million with his sixth win from only 14 starts after settling sixth before Teetan issued a late challenge to easily defeat Drombeg Banner and Green N White in 1m 20.91s.
The impressive nature of the win under Karis Teetan prompted Lui to consider entering Patch Of Theta in the Stewards’ Cup – a race he won twice with Golden Sixty.
“He showed he’s a really honest horse and he keeps improving every time. After the race,
Teetan told me the horse was very good and he’s got a third gear, not a second gear,” Lui said. “Of course, we’ll think about trophy races. Now he can run between 1400m and 1600m, next time we will think about the Stewards’ Cup, on 19 January.”
Teetan said: “I still think this horse once he knows how to race properly, he’s going to be even better. But with that weight on his back, he went through them and when I got into the straight, he changed gears pretty quickly.”
Howdeepisyourlove provided master trainer John Size with his fifth HK$4.2 million Gr3
Patch Of Theta storms home under Karis Teetan | Credit: HKJC
Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap win when the 2022/23 Hong Kong Champion Griffin edged out favourite Magic Control by a short head in 56.16s. Beauty Waves was third.
Jumping from barrier one, Howdeepisyourlove tracked Magic Control throughout before Purton angled along the outside fence to narrowly clinch his third win in the race after Little Bridge (2012) and Not Listenin’tome (2016).
Previously successful in the race with Grand Delight (2003), Amazing Kids (2017), Premiere (2018) and Sight Success (2023), Size was impressed with Howdeepisyourlove’s application in running down one of Hong Kong’s fastest sprinters.
“He did the job well, it was a pretty impressive effort, actually, to get the leader, Magic Control, down, he’s a hard horse to get past and he did the job very well. I couldn’t expect any more from him,” Size said.
With six wins and 10 minor placings from 25 starts, the Deep Field gelding has forged a reputation for consistency, often performing well at elite level without winning.
“He’s made small improvement along the way, his pattern changed a little bit and his tracks have changed – he’s come to Sha Tin and run well – and as he’s gone up in class, he hasn’t looked anything flash but he’s always been there to do the job. Today, he got one of the rewards he’s entitled to,” Size said.
The Gr1 Al Quoz Sprint run over the straight course at Meydan in Dubai in April is a possible target for Howdeepisyourlove.
“I’ll see how he is after the race at home and see what our options are and how he pulls up but, that’s the Bauhinia Sprint Trophy, a straight race so that opens up a possibility for him,” Size said.
Purton, who slotted a treble to move to 1,803 Hong Kong wins, 10 shy of Douglas Whyte’s record of 1,813, said: “The outside fence looked the place to be in the small field and the gate (1) allowed me to get out there because the speed in the race was great, it just opened everything up.
“We just followed the favourite and sneaked through. He is a consistent horse, he’s just a step below our top ones so he needs to take his opportunity when he can get it and today was that.”
Purton also scored on Frankie Lor’s Legend St Paul’s in the Class 4 Tsung Pak Long Handicap and Jamie Richards-trained Storming Dragon in the second section of the Class 3 Cha Kwo Ling Handicap.
Vincent Ho marked his return from injury with a double on Chris So-trained pair The Boom Box, in the second section of the Class 4 Lai Chi Chong Handicap, and Devas Twelve in the first section of the Class 4 Lei Muk Shue Handicap.
“It’s been really tough the past few weeks, but I’m grateful to be riding him today,” Ho said before praising The Boom Box, who is unbeaten after two starts. “We wanted him to relax early to teach him the right way for the future when we might step him up and he’s got a great turn of foot and showed bravery between horses, so he’s on the right path.”
Britney Wong and Benno Yung combined with Fun Elite to win the first race of the New Year – the first section of the Class 4 Lai Chi Chong Handicap – as Wong posted her seventh victory of the season, while Yung slotted his fifth win from the past six meetings.
Ricky Yiu-trained Chilli Baba won his first race in exactly two years with success in the Class 5 Yau Kom Tau Handicap. The Capitalist gelding’s previous victory came on 1 January,
2023. Yiu completed a double with Solid Win under Hugh Bowman in the second section of the Class 4 Lei Muk Shue Handicap.
Caspar Fownes teamed with Ellis Wong to win the first section of the Class 3 Cha Kwo Ling Handicap with Dancing Code before Harry Bentley’s clinical ride enabled Huge Wave to snare the Class 3 Chuk Yuen Handicap for Jimmy Ting.
Eldar Eldarov will be taking up stud duties |
ELDAR ELDAROV TO STAND AT CHAPEL STUD
Chapel Stud has announced that Eldar Eldarov, the Champion Three-Year-Old Stayer in Europe and winner of both the St Leger at Doncaster and the Irish St Leger, will take up stud duties in 2025 in a deal brokered by Richard Venn Bloodstock.
This exceptional racehorse brings British breeders an unparalleled opportunity to access a true Classic-winning pedigree and proven racing ability.
His stud fee will be £5,000 01 October SLF.
Trained by Roger Varian and campaigned by KHK Racing, Eldar Eldarov’s illustrious career includes standout victories in:
• St Leger (Gr1): Displaying his grit and stamina to clinch this prestigious Classic at Doncaster.
• Irish St Leger (Gr1): Dominating the field, including Champion stayer Kyprios, to secure a second Classic victory.
• Queen’s Vase (Gr2): A thrilling come-frombehind victory at Royal Ascot, announcing himself as a top-class performer.
Bred by the esteemed Lanwades Stud, Eldar Eldarov boasts an enviable pedigree. By Dubawi, one of the world’s leading sires and a proven sire of sires, he is out of All At Sea, a Sea The Stars Stakes-winning daughter of the outstanding mare Albanova. His pedigree is rich with Group 1-winning performers and producers, underscoring his potential as a transformative sire.
With career earnings exceeding £1 million, Eldar Eldarov excelled at the highest level,
Credit: Chapel Stud
winning as a two-year-old, three-year-old, and four-year-old, and showcasing his versatility and athleticism over a range of distances.
Roisin Close of Chapel Stud shared her excitement, stating: “Firstly, I would like to thank His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa for entrusting us with Eldar Eldarov.
I am delighted to be able to bring a horse of this calibre to British breeders. Bred by Lanwades Stud, one of the best in the business, he boasts a pedigree full of top-class racehorses and producers.
He was an exceptional athlete, and had it not been for a freak accident, he would most likely be out of my league.
It is no secret that he suffered a potentially lifethreatening injury in Dubai, and it is thanks to his owner’s dedication to his recovery that he is now able to stand at stud. With his welfare a priority, we will be limiting his mare numbers. We will also be offering a limited number of breeding rights.
I keep having to pinch myself—having a Champion three-year-old Stayer and dual Classic winner standing at Chapel Stud is a dream come true!”
On behalf of KHK Racing, Oliver St Lawrence added: “Eldar stood out as a colt for the future at the breeze ups especially with his fabulous Kirsten Rausing pedigree stuffed with Group 1 winners like the tough Alpinista. His will to win, guts and ability are what defined him.”
Eldar Eldarov represents a unique opportunity for British breeders to access Classic-winning performance, proven stamina, and a worldclass pedigree. With his welfare prioritised, demand is expected to be high for his limited book of mares.
For enquiries about breeding rights or nomination bookings, please contact Chapel Stud directly.
• Media release by Chapel Stud on Friday, 03 January 2025.
HELL TO PAY CRUISES HOME AT SUNSHINE COAST
Progressive three-year-old Hell To Pay shrugged his maiden tag in brilliant style with victory in the A$250,000 Canadian Club Magic Millions Maiden Plate at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
John O’Shea and Tom Charlton’s gelding started his career with four consecutive minor placings in strong maidens in New South Wales during 2024 but, much to the delight of his large team of connections, he saved his best for a win in one of two Australia’s richest Magic Millions maidens.
Under champion jockey Craig Williams, Hell To Pay jumped well from barrier four and settled just behind the speed before taking over inside the final 300m when asked to quicken.
Bjorn Baker’s Stardeel and the Ciaron Mahertrained Paccadero loomed as threats inside
Hell To Pay (Craig Williams) wins the Canadian Club Magic Millions Maiden Plate | Credit: Magic Millions
the final 200m of the race but Hell To Pay responded to riding and held a length margin on the line.
The son of Hellbent was purchased by Champion Thoroughbreds for A$280,000 from the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. O’Shea said he was confident Hell To Pay would be hard to beat based on his strong Sydney form.
“To be fair to the horse, he just kept running into some really smart ones in Sydney –Tuilleries is a Group horse on ratings,” O’Shea said. “He loves to get his toe in, Willo rode him like a good thing and he got the job done. “We were optimistic about his chances. We’ve got our eye on a lot of yearlings, we usually
buy eight to 12.” Williams said the horse was trained perfectly and his chances were aided by a soft draw that allowed him to race near the speed.
“Today that horse was favourite, he was stepping up to a suitable distance and he was too good for them,” Williams said.
“So far my day is amazing.”
Yarraman Park Stud will offer the full-brother to Hell To Pay as Lot 1001 in next week’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The colt hails from the same family as Everest champion Yes Yes Yes and Group 1 winner In Her Time.
WOOLOOWIN AND REDFORD IMPRESS IN RISING STARS
Wooloowin’s rise through the ranks for Newcastle horseman Nathan Doyle continued in Saturday’s Magic Millions Rising Stars 3YO & 4YO Class 4 Plate for fillies and mares at the Sunshine Coast.
The daughter of Capitalist advanced her record to four wins from only seven starts with a dominant two-and-a-half length victory in the lucrative A$250,000 contest, comfortably defeating Bjorn Baker’s Infatuation and Ciaron Maher’s Until Valhalla.
Doyle, who paid A$80,000 for the daughter of Capitalist out of the Kingstar Farm draft at 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, said
the victory was reward for the patience of the mare’s connections.
“She was very dominant,” Doyle said. “Me and Jason Collett had a plan about what we wanted to do in the gates to get her to step better and she did step better so she didn’t have to do too much work. It was a perfect ride and it was a pretty easy watch from the top of the straight.
A powerful performance from Wooloowin | Credit: Magic Millions
“She had 12 months off the scene because she had a knee issue and then we had her ready to go and there were plenty of wet tracks in the middle of the year, but I didn’t want to push the button, so I said to the owners that I wanted to tip her out again.
“They showed patience and they’ve been rewarded. She’s still only lightly raced, she’s only a four-year-old and I think she’s got many more wins to come.”
The colts’ and geldings’ division of the Magic Millions Rising Stars 3YO & 4YO Class 4 Plate was won by Stuart Kendrick’s blueblood Snitzel gelding Redford, who upstaged odds-on favourite Moravia.
Moravia was given a textbook ride by Blake Shinn and shot clear halfway up the Sunshine
Coast straight, but Redford continued to find under the urgings of jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor and claimed the lead inside the final 50m of the race.
Like Wooloowin, Redford is building an impressive record in the early stages of his racing career with Saturday’s win in the A$250,000 contest taking his CV to five wins from seven starts and more than A$250,000 in prizemoney.
Redford was purchased by TFI for A$1.05 million when offered as part of the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Arrowfield will offer the full-brother to Redford, who hails from the same family as Not A Single Doubt and King’s Legacy, as Lot 335 at next week’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
STARS SHINE AT MEYDAN’S SWORD OF HONOUR RACENIGHT
Meydan’s Sword of Honour racenight produced a battle worthy of the name when Poker Face edged out Holloway Boy in the featured Gr2 Zabeel Mile (sponsored by Phi Advertising).
The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained six-year-old was having his first Meydan run and was also ridden for the first time by Pat Dobbs, who timed his challenge impeccably. Racing in middivision for much of the race, Dobbs was able to squeeze through a small gap and produce Poker Face right on the line to deny British raider Holloway Boy by a nose.
“I thought I was beaten! “said Dobbs. “I said well done to Danny Tudhope on Holloway Boy pulling up, so that’s a nice surprise.
“We got racing from three [furlongs, 600m] out and I had a lovely position to keep things smooth with him. I got in behind William Buick,
on Noble Dynasty halfway down the back and I was happy with where I was then. I thought a furlong out we’d pick up William and then I saw Danny on the other side was probably half a length in front of me.
“This horse has improved as a six-year-old.”
Tuz Does Tuz Things
Tuz has become one of the leading lights of UAE racing and the sprinting superstar racked up his third win in a row in the Gr3 Dubawi Stakes (sponsored by Binghatti Developers) –becoming just the second horse to win it twice, after Reynaldothewizard.
Poker Face (Pat Dobbs) edges out Holloway Boy (Danny Tudhope) to win the Zabeel Mile| Credit: DRC
Ridden by Tadhg O’Shea for whom it was a remarkable 800th UAE winner, Tuz perhaps had to work a little harder to beat Colour Up than in December’s Al Garhoud Sprint, but the result was the same; but a five-length victory instead of a six-length one.
“He’s a special horse, a great horse for the barn,” said O’Shea. “It’s a great privilege to be able to steer him around for my 800th winner. I remember winning my 700th in this very same race on Switzerland.
“I had one slightly anxious moment going to the start when he saw something and slammed on his brakes but thankfully, I stayed on.”
Poet Writes International Script
International success came in the very last race on the card, the 2810m Zoho Conditions Stakes, when Epic Poet gave UK-based trainer David O’Meara a sixth Dubai winner.
The victory may have made up for Tudhope’s earlier narrow defeat on Holloway Boy as this time he was able to hold on, hitting the front 200metres out and having just enough left to hold off the fast-finishing King Of Conquest and Keffaaf.
“He was a bit fresh tonight which isn’t
him,” said Tudhope. “But the race panned out nicely and he
got the job done.
“The plan will probably be to go to Saudi for the two-mile race, Red Sea Turf Handicap.”
One of the most impressive handicap winners on the card was Asaassi who showed his rivals daylight in the opening Zabeel Turf (sponsored by Daman Markets).
Ridden by Ray Dawson, the Michael Costa trainee survived both a bump at the start and racing keenly, but still had plenty of energy when leading from 400metres out. He beat the Godolphin pair of El Cordobes and Endless Victory by two lengths and the same, taking his career stats to four from 11.
The race may have looked tricky for Dawson, but he didn’t think so, saying: “You never get a race to go as smooth as that! It was perfect, especially from that draw [12].
“I was just hoping to get mid-division and luckily enough I was tracking Will Buick and my horse had plenty of gears and a lot of class.”
Bin Harmash and Beasley at the Double
It was another good night for the consistent Ahmad Bin Harmash team, who celebrated a quick double, initiated when Rasas won the Sword Of Excellence Stakes (sponsored by Zoho), over 1200m.
The four-year-old was having just his third start on turf under Connor Beasley and was always up with the pace, sticking his neck out for a dour length win over the closing Bombay Bazaaar and Topper Bill.
“His result here over 1000m was a massive run and the boss found the right race there today,” said Beasley. “He had no weight on his back and was gutsy all the way to the line.”
The Bin Harmash team have always been adept with juveniles and collected the second leg of their double with Golden Vekoma, who won the UAE 2000 Guineas Trial (sponsored by Kentucky Derby).
The son of Vekoma paid a handsome compliment to the absent Heart Of Honour,
who beat him into third last time, with a smooth win here. He hit the lead off the home bend and never looked like being caught, crossing the line two and a quarter length ahead of Nimble Boy.
“He’s got everything – the class the looks,” said Beasley. “I was delighted when I was drawn wide [12] as 1400metres is sharp enough for him.
The winner, however, looked to be his second string as William Buick was booked on the better fancied Hallasan. But it was Age Of Gold and Richie Mullen who emerged on top, striking slightly wide to reel in longtime leader The Fingal Raven and holding off Hallasan by a length and a quarter.
“On their homework Will’s horse had the measure of him, but sometimes they don’t show it on the track,” said Mullen. “He was freshened up out here. He’s a small horse and probably his early form will be his best.
“I wanted to keep it as uncomplicated as I could without going too wide.”
The key to him is that he was in a rhythm all the way tonight and going the mile or even further will be no problem.
It’s rare that a Meydan card containing turf races goes by without a Charlie Appleby winner, but he left it late this time, striking in the penultimate Jumeirah Stakes (sponsored by The Jockey Club).
His exciting filly Arigatou Gozaimasou could only manage eighth against the colts in the Guineas Trial, but Salem Bin Ghadayer still collected a winner when Crown Estate won the Sword Of Honour Stakes (sponsored by Daman Markets) on his UAE debut.
The appropriately-named Dubawi gelding was bred by the late Queen of England and took to the dirt beautifully here, coming with a sustained run to beat stablemate Made In Dubai by a length.
The win may have been a surprise to some, but not to jockey Xavier Ziani, who said: “I think I was just lucky as last week the gallop didn’t go according to plan so Bernardo Pinheiro, stable jockey, chose the other one, Made In Dubai.
“He’s a good purchase from the October Tattersalls Sale. When you have a son of Dubawi and you put him on the sand, he’s a different horse.”
www.dubairacingclub.com
TRAINERS
JOCKEYS
BREEDERS
SIRES
