SNAITH…AGAIN?
On the cover
SA Champion trainer Justin Snaith bids for his third straight WSB Cape Town Met success and his fourth overall. Here he holds aloft the 10 draw ticket for Eight On Eighteen at last week’s barrier draw function at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Chase Liebenberg took the photograph.
For A Third?
holds a strong hand!
TEN YEARS AGO
A flashback to the recent past as Futura returns under Bernard Fayd’herbe after winning the 2015 J&B Met. The son of Dynasty was trained by Brett Crawford who has Oriental Charm and Zapatillas in Saturday’s line-up. But could Justin Snaith’s Future Swing carry the flag and be the first Met winner for his Dad, Futura? Hamish Niven took the photograph.
WE CAN JUST SEE IT… PLENTY TO PLAY FOR!
With a massive Pick 6 to play for and a quartet that could reach telephone number proportions, Saturday’s R5 million World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Town Met is surely one of the most open renewals in years.
Preparation is key to winning the big races, and there are a number of runners, including See It Again and Oriental Charm, who need to bounce back and prove a point.
It’s a race that could also well script a fairytale for Milnerton-based former jockey Piet Botha,
who saddles a coupling. What an achievement to get this far with an ordinary string!
Cape Racing reports that middle distance races in Cape Town are rarely run at a tearaway gallop but there are plenty of potential paceforcers in this years, Cape Town Met. This
probably won’t quite lead to a pace meltdown but ability to see out ten panels should be important.
Oriental Charm went all the way in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Durban July over 2200m so he will be dangerous from a low draw; Atticus Finch won the Betway Gr1 Summer Cup and has dominated Highveld races from prominent positions; Litigation is an on-pace runner; Baratheon also likes to press on whilst classy filly, Red Palace, the long-striding and athletic, Montien bang-in-form, Magic Verse and superdependable Rascallion have all done best stalking, or occasionally, setting the speed.
The weight terms of this race and the projected strong pace should suit See It Again ideally. Previously high class from a mile upwards and bred to be even better over a test of stamina, he would be the pick but for some sub-standard recent tries. Former champion jockey, now trainer, Michael Roberts has quite a challenge to revive and refocus the fickle 5YO gelding who finished dead last in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate three weeks ago.
While Future Swing does not rate nearly as highly as See It Again on pure ability he is in prime condition to give it a shot. He should work out a good trip, settled midfield off a brisk
Three Met contenders in Rascallion, Zapatillas and Montien pictured with Gr1 Cape Flying Championship hopeful, Gimme A Prince | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
pace and has the stamina and finishing kick to make an impact in deep stretch.
Justin Snaith trained stable mate, 3YO, Eight On Eighteen is handicapped a big chance on a line through star contemporary, One Stripe.
Working on the basis that he’s length or so inferior to One Stripe -a recent winner against elders in the prestigious King’s Plate, then he will be a major player carrying just 54kg’s. There is a lingering query – he is untried over the distance.
Of the balance, Al Muthana has been way below par for a while; Royal Aussie is talented but arguably best up to a mile; the enigmatic, Pacaya is more bust than boom these days and Baratheon is probably in too deep and in any case, better on tighter tracks.
Master Redoute comes in here 26 weeks after winning the 3200m Gold Cup. He is a versatile sort that can show if diligent horseman, Andre Nel has him fit enough on resumption.
Zapatillas is on the comeback trail after an injury and is running credibly under the circumstances.
He is not the worst long shot as his form ties in closely to the ever-reliable Rascallion, who ran second in last year’s Met and has won three features from the last four races contested.
The 2025 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met is a fascinating and contentious race.
Exotic bettors may choose to cast a wide net to cover the plausible chances. It jumps at 16h05.
R10 MILLION PICK 6 ON THE CARDS!
There are just a matter of days to the 163rd renewal of the R5 million World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Town Met, with tote betting on the twelve race card having opened on Monday. A R500 000 carryover will see the WSB Cape Town Met (Race 8 @ 16h05) Quartet pool reach R2 million.
With the scratching last Thursday afternoon of Green With Envy, the field for the headline feature has been reduced to 16 runners.
In response to questions from certain quarters as to why no reserve runners were provided, there were only 17 final acceptors and all earned their place. A field of 20 can be ordinarily accommodated for the Met.
The first race is the Heineken Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes at 11h50 and launches Jackpot 1.
Jackpot 2 commences in the fifth at 14h10, with Jackpot 3 starting in the ninth, the City Of Cape Town Gr3 Politician Stakes at 16h45.
The third Jackpot is boosted by a R500 000 carryover with the pool expected to reach R2 million.
The golden carrot on the day is the Pick 6, which starts in the fourth, the New Turf Carriers
Gr3 Western Cape Stayers at 13h35 with a R2 million carryover. The Pick 6 is projected to reach R10 million!
Bipot 1 starts in the second at 12h25, while Bipot 2 starts in the seventh, the HKJC World Pool Flying Championship at 15h20.
The World Pools will apply to races 6 to 12, and it should be noted that only 3 places will be paid in these races.
The fashion theme for 2025 is ‘Couture Unleashed.’
Attendees are encouraged to push boundaries and reimagine luxury by blending art, technology, and fashion in bold, innovative ways.
From avant-garde ensembles to unexpected couture designs, racegoers are invited to unleash their creativity and make a statement.
Tickets are available via Quicket.
Gates open at 10h00 on the day and the festivities continue until 22h00. Please note, no one under 18 is allowed at the event.
ORIENTAL CHARM BIDS TO
Double! SA Horse Of The Year Igugu (Anthony Delpech) charges home to beat Bravura (Anton Marcus) and win the 2012 Met | Credit: Supplied
The son of Vercingetorix will aim to become the latest Durban July/ Cape Town Met winner – no mean feat, given that in modern times, just six horses have completed the sought after double
With just days to go until Hollywoodbets Kenilworth hosts the 163rd renewal of the famed WSB Gr1 Cape Town Met, Brett Crawford and son James are putting the finishing touches to current favourite Oriental Charm.
Last season’s Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner will bid to give the Crawford stable a fourth win in the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth showpiece race.
Eight years ago it was a fine one-three result, with victory going to the Kieswetter-owned Whisky Baron. The Australian-bred denied Horse of the Year and favourite Legal Eagle victory by a length and a half, while stable companion Captain America finished just a neck back in third.
Brett’s first Met winner, Angus, carried the Plattner silks to victory in 2003 and twelve years later, Brett finally found himself lifting the winner’s trophy for the second time after Futura had scored with the minimum of fuss.
Oriental Charm will also aim to become the latest July/Met winner, no mean feat, given that in modern times, just six horses have completed the sought after double.
That elite club started in 1973 when the Syd Lairdtrained Yataghan won the 1973 Rothman’s July at a packed Hollywoodbets Greyville and six months later, prevailed in the 1974 Met.
He was followed five years later by stable companion Politician, the first horse to win both races in the same year. He gave Laird a record seventh July success in 17 years when he captured the 1978 July, having won the Met six months earlier. The champion returned in 1979 and notched up a second Met win in scarcely believable fashion, making up at least two lengths in the final furlong to hurtle past the filly Festive Forever for a neck victory. The stuff of dreams.
Eighteen years later, Laird’s son Alec added to the family fortunes as the trainer of that wonderful galloper London News. He had justified his 14-10 odds in the 1996 Centenary July, and duly won the 1997 Met under Douglas Whyte.
Angus (Piere Strydom) wins the 2003 Met – Brett Crawford’s first | Credit: Supplied
The first decade of the new millennium was dominated by the mighty Pocket Power. A legend in his lifetime, he won the Met not once, but three times, the second of which in 2008. Six months later, he deadheated with English import Dancer’s Daughter in a thrilling finish to the Vodacom Durban July.
The only filly to win both races is Galileo’s exceptional daughter Igugu. One of the best fillies this country had seen for some time, she captured the 2011 July as a three-year-old and lined up for the 2012 Met as the reigning Horse of the Year.
Despite an interrupted preparation and a tardy start, she showed her undisputed class, digging down deep to lunge past Bravura in the shadow of the post.
A decade later in 2021, Kommetdieding became the most recent Durban July winner to complete the double. A first July runner for owner Ashwin Reynolds and the training team of Harold Crawford and daughter Michelle Rix, the colt had run out a game winner of the hallowed 2200m race and twelve months later, justified favouritism with a smooth victory over L’Ormarins Queen’s
How Politician won the Met in 1979 | Credit: Supplied
Plate winner Jet Dark, who incidentally, turned the tables the following year.
We will have to wait until Saturday to see if Oriental Charm has what it takes and should he succeed, he will also become an overdue first Met winner for his sire Vercingetorix, given that the Maine Chance stallion has come close these past two years.
In 2023, Pomp And Power finished third behind Jet Dark and Kommetdieding and last year, Rascallion looked set for victory until he was caught close home by Double Superlative.
The Vaughan Marshall-trained warrior returns for another crack at the big race and is in the form of his life, coming off a second win in the Gr2 Anthonij Rupert Wyne Premier Trophy.
Runner-up Magic Verse, who was beaten no more than a shorthead, gives Vercingetorix a third string to his bow.
Victory by any one of the trio means Vercingetorix will finally emulate his own sire Silvano, whose son Martial Eagle defied huge odds to win the 2013 Met. Besides which, it will also strengthen his lead at the top of the General Sires List. Such is his advantage right now, that he looks long odds-on to clinch a well-deserved first General Sires title.
Oriental Charm is one of eight individual stakes winners for Vercingetorix this season, but that tally could well change. Long-striding daughter Spumante Dolce created quite an impression when she cruised to an easy post-maiden victory at Turffontein, having won her debut by a facile two lengths.
Trained by Mike de Kock, the three-year-old has some way to go to match the achievements of her three-part sister champion Sparkling Water, as well as her dam, the Gr2 winner Espumanti, but she appears to have ‘stakes winner’ written all over her.
Oriental Charm (JP van der Merwe) wins the Green Point Stakes in early December ‘24 | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
A WHOLE LOT OF HISTORY AND TRADITION
Six Jockeys and six trainers from Saturday’s WSB Cape Town Met class of 2025 have won the big race before. The weather men are already forecasting a scorcher and around 16h05 on Saturday new champions will be crowned.
Justin Snaith goes for a third straight Met win after Double Superlative and Jet Dark in the past two years, after saddling his maiden Met winner courtesy of Oh Susanna in 2018.
Vaughan Marshall grabbed the spotlight with One World in 2020, and prior to that with Hill Fifty Four in 2014 and La Fabulous back in 1996.
Sean Tarry provided veteran Garth Puller with his final Met winner Alastor in 2005.
Brett Crawford won the Met with Whisky Baron in 2017, Futura in 2015 and Angus in 2003.
Alec Laird saddled Smart Call to win in 2016, while London News is the famous winner in 1997.
Ricky Maingard saddled the fabulous grey Wolf Power to victory in 1984.
In the saddle, Gavin Lerena steered Kommetdieding to victory in 2022.
JP van der Merwe rode Smart Call as a late call-up in 2016.
Grant van Niekerk won the big one on the 3yo filly Oh Susanna in 2018.
Robbie Fradd steers La Fabulous to victory in the 1996 Met for Vaughan Marshall | Credit: Supplied
Richard Fourie won it in 2023 on present day Drakenstein stallion, Jet Dark.
Aldo Domeyer upset the odds on Martial Eagle in 2013.
Piere Strydom names Angus in 2003 as his only Met success.
The first recorded winner of the Metropolitan Mile, as it was originally known in 1883, was Sir Hercules and, while the Met had a chequered existence for many years in the early 1900’s, by the 1960’s it was firmly established as one of the ‘big three’ races in the country alongside the Durban July and the Summer Cup in Gauteng.
Plattner Power as Yogas Govender and Aldo Domeyer celebrate Martial Eagle in 2013 | Credit: Supplied
HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE – WEDNESDAY, 31ST JULY 2024
HOLLYWOODBETS KENILWORTH - WEDNESDAY, 15TH JANUARY 2025
RACE 1 - SECRET PASSAGE - AVUYILE NKONYA
RACE 2 - IT IS MY TIME - TSWANE
RACE 3 - GIVE ME EVERYTHING - MZANYELWA MAQELANA
RACE 4 - RED DAWN - MNCEDI SIGENU
RACE 7 - SOHOT SOWHAT - GOODMAN FENI
RACE 5 - NOON DAY GUN - BONGI
RACE 8 - BARNEY MCGREW - SIYABONGA MLINDI
RACE 6 - DECEMBER DAWN - ZIMASILE JEVU
RACE 9 - KING VISERYS - APHIWE
Photo Credit: Chase Liebenberg
KANNEMEYER’S PALACE OF DREAMS
Dean Kannemeyer – ready to shatter the Met hoodoo! | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Milnerton trainer Dean Kannemeyer celebrated three thrilling Met winners while working for his late Dad ‘Peekay’.
But 26 years after stepping into the late legend’s shoes, victory in the Cape showpiece has eluded him. That said, he believes that he has a live chance of breaking the ice when the field lines up in the R5 million WSB Gr1 Cape Town Met shortly after 16h00 on Saturday.
The one time Parabat and accomplished former amateur jockey saddles the only filly in the race in Red Palace, and was philosophical after having to endure the agony and frustration of having his dual Grade 1 winners Green With Envy scratched just 24 hours after acceptance last week.
Dean’s most recent ‘near miss’ in the big race came in 2017 when Piere Strydom unleashed Last Winter from near last to flash up and chase Snaith’s historic 3yo winning filly, Oh Susanna, who had a half length to spare at the line.
“Second certainly beats third, but hard luck stories don’t pay the bills and nobody really cares or remembers!” muses the 64 year old as he reflects on a race that is at the top of his professional bucket list.
As a much younger man – age is definitely not his favourite subject – Dean tasted the joy and elation of leading in a Met winner at the historic track. He was shadowing his Dad when
“It is what it is. We are dealing with flesh and blood and owner Lady Christine Laidlaw was very understanding. Green With Envy is a very valuable racehorse and he still has a big role to play. We will give him a nice long rest and bring him back when he is fit and ready.”
DKR Met hope Red Palace – can the girl show the boys? | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
Felix Coetzee steered Sunshine Man home in 1980, Jeff Lloyd guided Divine Master in 1992, and Garth Puller won that dramatic renewal when coming up the outside from last into the straight on Pas De Quoi to beat Waitara in 1994, a watershed year for our beloved country.
But it has been over thirty gruelling summers since Pas De Quoi, a talented and much-loved son of Roland Gardens, scored in the flagship race.
Fact is that Dean has been running the show for 26 years now, and in that time, he has won the Hollywoodbets Durban July three times, a host of classics and Grade 1 contests - but the Met remains his nemesis.
“One doesn’t obsess over it, but alongside the Hollywoodbets Durban July and the L’Ormarins King’s Plate, the Met is an indelible part of the holy grail of the sport in this country and I don’t
want to be looking back thirty years from now wondering why,” he laughs.
Dean’s three colleagues, Michael Roberts, Andre Nel and Piet Botha are also bidding for a maiden success on Saturday.
Only five members of the fairer sex have won the Met in the last three decades, and the 4yo Potala Palace filly Red Palace looks to follow in the golden hoofprints of the likes of Oh Susanna, Smart Call, Igugu, River Jetez and Imperious Sue.
“She has been with us since 12 December and I spent some time allowing her to ease in and get used to her new surroundings. She was not at peak fitness when she ran a decent second behind Double Grand Slam in the Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes on King’s Plate day. That run has brought her on and she is emptying her manger – eating more than some of the males! She is very well!”
Dean and late Dad Peekay – formidable Milnerton family | Credit: Gold Circle
Asked whether Red Palace’s 1 draw was an advantage, Dean says that he’d rather be drawn there than at 17!
“Red Palace has the gate speed to overcome any obstacles at the jump and Gavin (Lerena) is experienced and has won this race previously. She’s a versatile filly, so we can approach the race as it unfolds in terms of pace.”
Dean has six other runners on the day, including past winner Gimme A Prince and Cosmic Highway in the HKJC Gr1 Cape Flying Championship.
They are both 6yo’s.
“Gimme A Prince ran a peach of a race in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate. He moved up at the 300m to win it, and then just emptied out late. At age 6, the 1000m Grade 1 may be quick for him, but he is well and is proven class.”
Dean says that Cosmic Highway is being aimed at the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes next month. He has had a half-set of blinkers fitted to sharpen his focus.
“He is a Hollywoodbets Kenilworth specialist of note! Don’t be surprised to see him running at them late.Go have a look at the replay of the Diadem Stakes from last year. Watch Cosmic Highway’s finish behind Thunderstruck.”
Rosh Kedesh runs in the fifth, a Winx Class 3:
“Ignore his last run. A number of my horses returned coughing around that time. His work is good. He is well. Include him!”
French Flame runs in the ninth, the City Of Cape Town Gr3 Politician Stakes:
“We thought about this race and we aren’t even sure he will stay the 1800m. But after
his last good run over a distance short of his best, and the fact that Snaith’s Eight On Eighteen opted for the Met, we suddenly found ourselves in a position where French Flame’s MR of 98 (he has run to a 101) in relation to the opposition, suggests he should be here. So the handicapper is telling us something. We will take our chances!”
The Real Prince runs in the eleventh, a World Sports Betting A Stakes over 1400m:
“The Cape Flying would have been a touch quick for him and he has won his only start over Saturday’s trip going away. It’s a tricky draw to overcome, but we regard him highly and he will be right there.”
Golden Destiny runs in the twelfth, a World Sports Betting Class 4 over 1200m:
“He is better than his last two runs and strips a fit horse on Saturday. I’d be disappointed not to see him running a forward race.”
• The first race on WSB Cape Town Met day is off at 11h50.
Peter Kannemeyer saddled Pas De Quoi (Garth Puller) to win the 1994 Met | Credit: Supplied
Garth Puller’s third and final Met winner, Alastor, is led in by Sean Tarry | Credit: Supplied
“The draws always count! But to be fair, Hollywoodbets Kenilworth’s long back straight and long run-in means that a wide draw can be overcome.” The words of former SA Champion jockey and three-time Met winner, Garth Puller who was talking to the Sporting Post after last Wednesday’s WSB Cape Town Met barrier draw function.
“Inevitably top Grade 1 races with decent sized fields like the Hollywoodbets Durban July and the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met tend to produce a good racing pace. Those with stamina want to stretch them and those more limited will be looking to conserve energy. The outside guys will be looking to go a bit to find a position inside, while the inside will need to maintain position. That’s why a 1 draw is not always great – unless you have the gate speed and stamina to maintain position. Ideally I’d say 3,4,5,6,7 or even 8 are nice gates,” added Puller, who had his first Met ride in 1970 while still an apprentice on a horse called Sun Tracker for Jackie Bell.
The pair finished over seven lengths back and out of the money, but Garth recalls the thrill and excitement. He said it was won by a horse called Snow Fun, ridden by Duncan Alexander, who beat Peter Beware with Bert Abercrombie up.
Interestingly Garth was to stand Snow Fun as a stallion at the first farm he owned next to the world famous Broadlands Stud at the foot of Sir Lowry’s Pass: “ I have always enjoyed the breeding side and dabbled with a few mares. Snow Fun was by Joy 11 and quite well bred.”
Puller did not have to wait long to register a first Met win. The year was 1976 and he rode the galloping machine Gatecrasher for Herman Brown. “He was a freak of a horse and brilliant. He was unbeaten on a left hand track.”
Puller had a long and successful association with Peter Kannemeyer, and it was perhaps appropriate that he rode his next Met winner for the man known affectionately as Peekay.
It was 1994 and he got up wide out in his trademark style on the 14 to 1 outsider Pas de Quoi to nab Waitara, ridden by a then young man called Anton Marcus, who was to give Garth his first winner as a trainer, at Clairwood some eighteen years later.
Puller rode his third Met winner for Sean Tarry on the Al Mufti gelding Alastor in 2005.
“I had run fourth on him in the Queen’s Plate at his previous start. That was a top run to finish under three lengths to Joey Ramsden’s top horse Winter Solstice. Alastor had his problems,and I assisted Sean in working him in the build-up. He had the ability and heart and it goes to show the importance of having a ticket! I got him up to beat the filly Icy Air by about a half length, while Winter Solstice proved
Royal Aussies! Owners Jill Warner and Suzette Viljoen seem very happy! | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
again that he was more brilliant at a mile when running a great third.”
Of his worst Met memory, he was unequivocal when stating Stella Maris for Dolfie Maeder: ” Stella Maris was a top horse. I had won the 1983 Cape Derby on him and I rated him to win the Met in 1984. We turned for home with a full tank and then he clipped a horse’s heels and came within inches of a bad fall.
I gathered him up and he recovered to run sixth and only 6,75 lengths behind the big grey horse (he means Wolf Power!). Stella Maris had
such courage. I have never been a believer in hard luck stories, but I think we would have won it,” he says with a distant stare.
Of Saturday’s race, Puller felt that, once again, any one of half the field could win it: “The Hollywoodbets Kenilworth 2000m is not the toughest 2000m in the country, particularly if the wind doesn’t blow. Good milers can often get away with it. Particularly if the Cape crawl kicks in and they sprint for home. But there are a few stables with multiple runners, so the gallop will likely be on from the jump.”
WSB Cape Town Met draw hosts Alistair Cohen and Vicky Minott | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
Lucky 13! Lizzy Kriel and Nicole Botha draw for Baratheon | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
Number 1 for the girl! Cape Racing’s Tammy Gilmour draws 1 for Red Palace | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
HOLLYWOOD RACING
A dual Grade 1 winner and South Africa’s highest rated racehorse, the Vaughan Marshall trained One Stripe will campaign in a partnership of Hollywood Racing and Rikesh Sewgoolam after news broke early on Friday (17 January) that a deal had been signed that will henceforth see the 3yo son of One World campaigning under new ownership.
One Stripe – athletic elegance and power on the track | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
One Stripe provided veteran trainer Vaughan Marshall and his original owner with a maiden success in the prestigious L’Ormarins Gr1 King’s Plate earlier this month when he became the first three-year-old in over half a century to win both the prestigious weight-for-age mile and the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas in his sophomore year since the David Payne-trained champion In Full Flight completed the double almost a lifetime ago in 1972.
In registering his sixth win from eight starts, and so becoming only the eleventh 3yo winner of the weight-for-age mile since its inception in 1861, One Stripe took his stakes earnings to over R4 million and earned an automatic ‘win and you’re in’ ticket into the $2 million FanDuel Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Mile.
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 will continue to race in the orange and blue flag of owner Rikesh Sewgoolam in partnership with leading owners, Hollywood Racing, with his next target being the inaugural running of the R5 million Big Cap at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 16 March.
In making the announcement of the acquisition of a majority share, Hollywood Racing Manager Anthony Delpech told the Sporting Post that One Stripe was one of the most exciting sophomore prospects seen on South African racetracks in recent years.
“What an honour it is to have shaken hands in this transaction with a passionate racing man like Rikesh Sewgoolam, who shares many of the ideals and harbours the dreams that we at Hollywood Racing do for the sport in South Africa. One Stripe was not on the market, but we are pleased to have clinched a mutually beneficial deal that works for both parties,” added a delighted Delpech, who said that
the plan was to travel One Stripe to the USA, as they had done with champion sprinter Isivunguvungu in 2024, to take on the world’s best at Del Mar in November.
One Stripe also holds an invitation for the LONGINES Hong Kong International races in December this year at Sha Tin.
“In the space of under twelve months One Stripe has gone from a runaway maiden 1200m winner to a dual Grade 1 winning 3yo miler, with outstanding scope to go further, and he literally has the world at his feet. Hollywood Racing wish to showcase the quality and class of SA bloodstock to the world and the Breeders’ Cup remains a goal for the team for 2025. Horseracing is about dreams and reaching for the stars and who knows where One Stripe could land up as a stallion prospect in the years ahead? Hollywood Racing invite all racing fans and One Stripe supporters to join us on this incredible journey,” added Delpech.
As part of the agreement, One Stripe will continue to race in the Rikesh Sewgoolam silks on South African soil but will campaign in the familiar yellow and purple of Hollywood Racing in the USA.
Owner Rikesh Sewgoolam, who has enjoyed the best year of his twenty plus summers in the sport of kings, told the Sporting Post that it was ‘truly a privilege and honour to forge One Stripe’s future racing career alongside Hollywood Racing’.
“I look forward to beginning our shared journey with such a phenomenal and special racehorse. It will be remiss of me not to mention the gratitude I have toward Vaughan Marshall and the VHM Milnerton team for the ongoing mentoring of One Stripe and the invaluable time and care invested in turning this special colt into a multiple Gr1 Champion.
And to Owen and Devin Heffer, and Anthony Delpech, I say thank you for the confidence and belief in One Stripe. May he have a safe and successful international journey.”
Milnerton veteran Vaughan Marshall also trained One Stripe’s sire, One World, a son of champion Captain Al. One World was runnerup to Vardy in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate in
2020 before landing the Cape Town Met.
Crowned champion freshman sire last term, the Drakenstein Stud resident broke the record for winners by a first-season sire when securing 30 strikes last season. One Stripe was his first Grade 1 winner when he took the honours in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas in December.
One Stripe – the world beckons! | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST
Fate and the weather conspired with the South African Turf Club to make the 1986 J&B Metropolitan Stakes one of the most successful meetings ever. Nothing went wrong and the hot, still afternoon kept the big crowd at the course till long after the last race.
With the early favourite Fools Holme (USA) out of the race with a sprained hock the outcome of the race itself was predictable. The 22/10 favourite Wild West, the only horse really in the betting (6/1 and better being offered about the rest of the field), fulfilled all expectations. Trainer Ralph Rixon sent him out in magnificent shape and stable jockey Greg Holme did the rest in spite of dropping his whip at a crucial stage of the race.
Voodoo Charm set a fair pace from the break with Supreme Sovereign in second spot and Wild West next best – a position they kept into the straight. Holme then sent Wild West after Voodoo Charm, catching him just inside the 200-marker. Holme kept him going to hold off strong challenges from High Wonder, who had raced wide all the way, and Mauritzfontein. Wild West passed the post ¾ length clear of the
fast finishing High Wonder and Mauritzfontein (GB), who were separated by a short-head, to give Ralph Rixon his first Metropolitan Stakes winner. He carried the colours of the Circle Seven Syndicate (nominee Dr A Moffson) and to that date had earned close on R400 000.
A striking looking chestnut, and never more magnificent than in the Metropolitan preliminaries, Wild West was bred at Paul de Wet’s Zandvliet Stud by the Derring Do sire Roland Gardens (Ire) out of the New South Wales (GB) mare Wild Ash, a winner of seven races up to 1600m, including the Cape and Natal Fillies Guineas.
Her dam Ashplant (Herculaneum (GB)) produced among others, Whiteoak (Noble Chieftain (Ire)) who won nine races and was placed in both the Cape Guineas and the Metropolitan.
Greg Holme brings Wild West home to win the 1986 Met | Credit: Supplied
DYCE COULD GET LUCKY AGAIN
Craig Zackey wins the 2024 Cape Flying Championship on Dyce | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
Trainer Lucky Houdalakis returns from Vereeniging to the fairest Cape for his annual summer vacation that yielded a Grade 1 trophy last season.
His charge Dyce is back in a field of 15 of South Africa’s finest sprinters that will contest the Gr1 HKJC World Pool Cape Flying Championship and dash down the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth 1000m straight course. The race is off at 15h20.
All runners are set to carry 60kg’s, barring the mare Asiye Phambili who will carry 57.5 kg’s.
Cape racing report that Dyce is the defending champ. Trainer Lucky Houdalakis guided J.J. the Jet Plane to global success, including the Gr 1 Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin in 2010. Those accomplishments were achieved despite J.J’s skew front legs, and Houdalakis has faced similar challenges to keep the unsound, Dyce in one piece. Remarkably he has won ten of 21 starts and will give it a full go once again.
Cape Flying Champs victor in ’23, Gimme A Prince also battles with rickety knees. But for those physical issues he would have won more than just six races to date. He is a brilliant performer on a going day and a threat to stun them all with his devastating acceleration.
Questioning is a paragon of consistency and will run to his rating. He is a principal contender.
It’s hard to know what to make of King Of The Gauls. His outstanding Umgheni Sprint victory from draw 14 out of 14 around Hollywoodbets Greyville’s tight bends suggested that he can win a Gr 1 sprint. But he was dismal on his local seasonal debut and has been deserted by ace jock, Richard Fourie for the mare drawn next to him, Asiye Phambili. She has a fine record down this straight, is in excellent nick and will try adding to her 8 wins from 21 start record, though she is a bit shy on the speed figs.
Eastern Cape speedster Cruise Control gets the perfect set up on a track that has been aiding speed on the inside rail at recent meetings. He could be vulnerable to the ‘swoopers’ late but should give a good sight for a long way.
Bereave mixes his form and tends to drift out when under pressure. He clocked in third, only 1.4 lengths back, in the 2024 edition of this race so can hold his own in this class. There were signs of a form return three weeks ago so he might be used underneath in wider single race exotic combos.
Future Variety shows a seasonal preference, tending to come to light at this time of the year. But his figures are light for this elevated class level.
King Regent won the Eastern Cape Poly Challenge between 1200/1600m, and this turn back to the short cuts is not an obvious move.
Café Culture who won the Post Merchants, is a mighty-tough pace-presser over extended sprints but may find this all too torrid.
Lucky Lad is a seriously talented deep closer who won the Gr1 Golden Horse with a withering turn of finishing speed. That was over 1200m, and he too could find this a bit sharp, but is respected, nevertheless.
Surjay is very game yet was beaten 3.5 lengths in this last year and a similar fate is likely given he prefers stiffer sprints.
Hollywoodbets Kenilworth specialist Cosmic Highway is ultra talented when all parts are in working order but has not won in 59 weeks. He now gets blinkers in hopes of a revival.
Double Grand Slam and Richard Fourie: can do the Paddock-Majorca double | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
SNAITH AIMS FOR SEVENTH MAJORCA
Won by the exported Princess Calla last year, the R1 million Maine Chance Farms Gr1 Majorca Stakes is the second race (12h25) and Bipot 1 leg 1 on Saturday’s big card.
Justin Snaith goes for his seventh victory in the paddock-boosting contest and saddles star filly, Double Grand Slam who has only missed the money at two of her 15 starts, with seven victories, including Gr1, Gr2 and Gr3 medals to her name over a range of distances – and at three different courses.
Cape Racing report that is quite some resume, and it seems highly probable that she will embellish her CV on Saturday.
Justin Snaith’s filly takes on six opponents over 1600m. Regular jock Richard Fourie remains on top.
She comes in off a career top, having run a peak figure in the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes over 1800m. The final time of the race was equivalent to what classy Rascallion recorded in the Premier’s Trophy over the same distance, but Double Grand Slam’s finishing fraction was noticeably quicker than what Rascallion, or indeed any of those older Graded male horses, managed.
Those powers of acceleration should again prove decisive and enable her to run down World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas winner, Fatal Flaw and regular rival, Glen Kotzen trained, Rascova who ran second in this contest last year to Princess Calla. Both like to move up front, and the race shape will hinge on how the lead is contested, and the resultant early pace set by these front-runners.
Scarlet Macaw ran on determinedly at Fatal Flaw in the World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas, getting within two lengths of Brett Crawford’s strong galloping filly.
Kinda Wonderful has a nice turn of foot and will do better than her World Sports Betting Fillies
Guineas fail when suffering a wide/no cover trip. She finished close in the false run, Fillies Championships, staying on purposefully, which is a better reflection of her ability.
Celtic Rumours will need to improve on her recent form – even her best might be insufficient to trouble the main candidates.
That leaves Roccapina as the dark horse. Candice Bass Robinson’s 3YO closed sharply after switching to get within half a length of Asiye Phambili in the Cartier Sceptre Stakes over 1200m and now tries 400m further. The stretch-out may elicit improvement from this sparingly campaigned filly in which case she could give older, established rivals a scare.
MAJORCA’S ILLUSTRIOUS HISTORY
Saturday sees the running of the R1 million Maine Chance Farms Gr1 Majorca Stakes, a race with a proud history and impressive roll of honour.
Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot’s dam, Snowdance (Bernard Fayd’herbe) wins the 2018 Majorca Stakes | Credit: Hamish Niven Photography
Recent winners of the race include Princess Calla and Captain’s Ransom, both of whom were named Horse Of The Year, while other notable champions to win the Majorca Stakes include Beach Beauty, Mother Russia, Dancer’s Daughter, Sun Classique, and Olympic Duel.
The Majorca Stakes has also unveiled a host of future broodmare stars.
Indira, who won the Majorca Stakes in 1971, would go on to produce dual Gr1 South African Fillies Sprint winner Marie Galante (Mexico II), while one of the most influential South African
broodmares to win the Majorca Stakes was Party Time, who triumphed in 1974.
A top-class racemare, who also won the Gr1 Cape Of Good Hope Paddock Stakes and Gr1 Benson And Hedges Cape Fillies Guineas, Party Time’s numerous high-class descendants include champions In The Fast Lane (Jet Master), Let’s Rock’N Roll (Muhtafal) and Trademark (Goldmark), as well as the US graded stakes winning half-sisters Consumer Credit (More Than Ready) and Lady Radler (Kantharos).
Wild Hyacinth (Royal Prerogative), who took the Majorca Stakes in 1983, continues to make her presence felt on the South African turf. Her Gr1 Cape Guineas winning great grandson William Longsword is the sire of current high-class performers Back In Business, Dyce, and Ice Star, while the sire’s Gr1 South African Fillies Sprint winning half-sister Real Princess (Trippi) has produced dual Gr1 winner Gimme A Prince (Gimmethegreenlight) and this season’s Gr3 Baker McVeigh Diana Stakes winner Gimmie’s Countess (Gimmethegreenlight).
Wild Hyacinth’s other notable descendants include Dubai champion Victory Moon, and South African champions Future Pearl (Futura) and Kelly (Ethique).
Olympic Duel, who won the Majorca in 1990, was one of the very best horses to win the race.
A champion at three, and twice champion older
filly/mare, the daughter of Dancing Champ won seven Gr1 races including the 1991 J&B Met and 1991 Mainstay International. She went on to enjoy a successful stud career, producing a trio of stakes winners headed by Gr1 Daily News 2000 winner Flying Duel (Foveros), with Olympic Duel also the granddam of Gr2 Selangor Cup winning sire Gold Standard (Trippi) and Gr1 Gold Cup winning champion Thundering Star (Fort Wood).
The grey Sarabande (Goldmark) was another Majorca Stakes winner to enjoy notable success as a broodmare. Her seven winners included a pair of graded stakes winners in the form of Chesalon (Gr2 Premier Trophy, Gr3 Winter Classic) and Mardi Gras (Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes, Gr2 Merchants Handicap), with Sarabande also granddam of Gr1 Computaform Sprint winning sire Master Archie (Rafeef).In 2009, subsequent champion Mother Russia (Windrush) won the
Display Model wins the 1992 Majorca Stakes | Credit: Supplied
Gr1 Majorca Stakes, before going on to add a trio of Gr1 wins to record. She produced a single foal before her untimely death, but that foal was dual Gr1 Empress Club Stakes winner, and Equus Champion Nother Russia (Tiger Ridge). In turn, Nother Russia has produced unbeaten Equus Champion Gimme A Nother (Gimmethegreenlight).
The beautifully bred Covenant, who won the Klawervlei Majorca Stakes in 2011, is the dam of multiple graded stakes winning sire Erik The Red, and granddam of both Gr2 World Pool With Gold Circle Debutante winner Cala Muretta (Gimmethegreenlight) and recent Gr2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes runner up Roccapina (One World).
Multiple champion, and 2014 Majorca queen, Beach Beauty (Dynasty) was an outstanding racemare who has gone on to an equally successful career at stud. Equus Champion
Broodmare of 2023-2024, Beach Beauty has produced five black type horses, including the graded stakes winners Beach Bomb (Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas, Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes), Amanzimtoti (Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship) and Wild Coast (Gr2 World Sports Betting Guineas).
The latter is now standing at Gelykfontein Stud, while Beach Bomb showed good form in the US, where she finished second in the Violet Stakes and third in the Gr2 Rodeo Drive Stakes.
In 2017, Silvano daughters Nightingale and Star Express ran 1-2 in the Majorca Stakes before both going on to produce graded stakes winners at stud, while the 2018 Majorca Stakes was won by Snowdance (Captain Al). The latter is the dam of Gr1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot (Lancaster Bomber) as well as the Gr1 placed filly Symphony In White (What A Winter).
ARE YOU READY FOR SUMMER?
Viewing for the Cape Racing Sales 2025 Summer Sale opened on Tuesday, 21 January, with 95 yearlings catalogued to go through the ring from 12h00 on Thursday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
The CRS Summer Sale, which will be held just 48 hours prior to the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met raceday at the same venue, is a boutique high-end sale, providing the most precocious and highest quality of yearlings.
The Summer Sale is fashioned after the Goffs London Sale, which is held in Kensington Palace Gardens in the build-up to Royal Ascot – a smaller, select, high-quality sale to take place in the week leading up to a prestigious race meeting.
Klawervlei – nursery of blue bloods | Credit: Supplied
Klawervlei Stud is based on the banks of the Breede River east of Bonnievale, a village in the renowned BAR valley. This area has traditionally been associated with the breeding of high-quality racehorses. These traits are procured predominantly because of climatology and soil type.
Klawervlei were the Champion Breeders in SA from 2013 to 2021. Some of their Champions in recent times include Always In Charge, All Is Secret, Carry On Alice, Edict Of Nantes, Hill Fifty Four, Just Sensual, Kommetdieding, Linebacker, One World, Real Princess, Seventh Plain, Shea Shea, Thunder Dance, Vercingetorix and William Longsword – as well as Rafeef and Mustaaquem with Arrowfield Stud,
Klawervlei, as an agent, will be sending 18 babies to the upcoming CRS Summer Sale at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Thursday.
The knowledgeable John Koster and superefficient, Tracey Nash are happy to discuss all Lots in greater detail and arrange viewings.
Let’s sneak a peek at some of those catalogued, starting with Lot 1. Rule of Engagement is a Gimmethegreenlight colt out of Eros Girl, by Klawervlei’s legendary stallion, Captain Al. The mare is a three- quarter sister to Captain’s Lover and a half-sister to Vardy and Universal. A potent page!
Lot 4 is a filly by resident stallion, William Longsword out of the Captain Al mare Experience Counts who won three sprints. William Longsword’s stats withstand scrutiny having yielded 10 SW’s from just 238 runners.
The same sire is responsible for Lot 7 out of For the Lads, winner of the Gr1 Golden Slipper and Ruffian Stakes. This chestnut filly is beautifully balanced and very athletic.
Mastercrafter is a Master Of My Fate colt ex I Lived. The Western Winter mare is a half- sister to Champion 3yo colt and now an ace stallion, Vercingetorix, making Lot 15 a must see.
Jet Master mare, Off The Mark won five races including the Gr3 Acacia Handicap. Her filly by three-time Champion Sire in SA, Gimmethegreenlight is Lot 36, this cross has today produced 7% stakes winners to runners.
Fans of Vercingetorix must check out Lot 39 and Lot 45, both fillies, by this remarkable sire who has produced 46 SW’s and 11 Gr1 stars from 419 runners.
Safe Harbour was a fine turf performer, consistently placing four times in Gr1 contests. She has a Captain Of All colt entering the ring as Lot 48.
The same stallion (an influence for speed) has a colt out of Silver Holly, a Listed winning Silvano mare who won up to 2400m. Lot 53 is an interesting blend of pace and endurance with lots of Black-Type deeper down on the female side.
What A Winter is consistently high up on the Stallion rankings. He has a magnificent filly out of the well-performed, Captain Al mare, Alascan Maiden that is worth checking out closely. This filly, Lot 75, is a full sister to the talented speedball, Axl.
Hawwaam’s oldest progeny are 2yo’s and it will be interesting to see how the
Champion 3YO colt in SA in 2018/19 fares in the breeding shed. Lot 78 is out of the Captain Al mare, Almost Captured. Second dam, Encircle is surrounded by potent Black-Type with her best offspring, Captain in Command, Reconcile and Canadian Sunset.
Trippi remains one of SA’s most sought after sires, and with only 5 registered foals in his last crop, this stunning filly out of the William Longsword mare, Calandiva (her first foal) is listed as Lot 83.
Rafeef is quickly making a name for himself. Check out Lot 90, his colt out of
Consequentially, a half-sister to Champion 3-year-old filly of 2016/17, Just Sensual.
Lot 92 is a big-ticket item, for sure. This bay colt by leading sire, Vercingetorix is out of Cupid, who has already produced the Champion Miler of 2019/20, Vardy and high class, Universal. This is the same family as Ebony Flyer and Captain’s Lover – a seriously power- packed pedigree!
Viewing of the Klawervlei draft opened on Monday and will continue until the sale on Thursday.
SUMMERY SEVEN FROM DRAKENSTEIN
Drakenstein Stud are four-time winners of the Equus Outstanding Breeder’s Award in South Africa. With a formidable stallion roster and top of the range broodmares, any draft they send to market demands scrutiny, such is the quality of the Stud’s bloodlines.
The farm will kick off at the CRS 2025 Summer Sale, on Thursday with Lot 9, From Winter, a son of former Champion Sprinter and established sire, What A Winter, out of the Trippi mare, Fromafar, who produced recent winner From A Distance.
From Winter is a full-brother to recent US export, Distant Winter, who won the Kenilworth Nursery. The dam is a half to Armando, who also excelled as a juvenile, winning the Cape of Good Hope Nursery before being exported to Hong Kong.
Futura’s progeny are effective at the opposite
end of the distance spectrum. Lot 12 is bay colt ex High Hosanna family of HOTY Oh Susanna, the cross is hoping to emulate the accomplishments of Graded winners, Future Swing, Future Pearl, The Futurist, and Pink Tourmaline having produced 23% SW to runners.
One World is causing a sensation with his offspring – One Stripe has just added the L’Ormarins Gr1 King’s Plate to his Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas romp. The sire is responsible for Lot 28, ex Magic School, who was placed up to Gr2 level on the Highveld.
Drakenstein Stud Farm is situated on the luscious lower slopes of the L’Ormarins Wine Estate | Credit: Drakenstein Stud Farm
SW Princess Irene (by Duke of Marmalade), who won three times over middle distances, has a first foal called Tshwane by three-time Champion Sire in SA, Gimmethegreenlight that will go into the ring as Lot 46.
Lot 55, Final Say (being sold as an agent) is a colt by now retired champion sire Trippi (USA) out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Song Of Happiness. He hails from the family of Ebony Flyer, Captain’s Lover and Vardy.
There is plenty of Black Type on Lot 63’s page. The female side features accomplished producer’s, Trip Poker (first dam) dam of US export Coldhardstare , Skip Poker (second dam) and Hard Knocker (third dam.) Winter Poker is a daughter of What a Winter, leading sire of 2YO’s in 2020 and consistently ranked within the Top 5 stallions in SA.
Lot 87 is by Vercingetorix ex Chestnut ‘n Pearls. The sire, who started at stud in 2015, is building a remarkable resume with 44 SWs from 419 runners, including 10 Gr1 winners. Together with Gimmethegreenlight, his stock is the most sort-after in South Africa at present, as well as the stud’s very own One World – recordbreaking champion freshman sire, leading sire of 3YO’s, etc. The dam of this enticing chestnut colt won the Gr1 Golden Slipper at two and has produced the SP Chestnut Bomber as well as four-time winner Gimmethatpearl. Chestnut Verse can be viewed in Stable C15.
Drakenstein Stud Farm’s draft is available for inspections on the Stud.
For viewing, contact: Client and Sales Manager, Tarryn Putz on 083 787 1982.
PENDENRA PRESENTS A SON OF RAFEEF
Judy Davies offers a Rafeef colt out of the Dynasty mare, Maria Theresa that will enter the ring as Lot 31 at Thursday’s CRS 2025 Summer Sale.
Best of this mare’s progeny to date include, Maria Querol (four wins including the Stormsvlei and Irridescence Stakes) and Maria Corolina (six wins) whilst the full brother, Rhydian showed real promise as a
youngster in training with Dean Kannemeyer.
Major update to pedigree is that Voyage Bubble (under 3rd dam) is now a winner of 9 races, including the Gr1 Hong Kong Mile, Gr1 Stewards’ Cup (won twice) and Gr2 Jockey Club Mile.
Rafeef was the Leading First Season Sire in South Africa in 2020/21.
Pleasant Pendenra! | Credit: Pendenra Stud
HONG KONG GR1 UPDATE FOR CRS SUMMER SALE CATALOGUE!
While underscoring his status as Hong Kong’s premier miler, Voyage Bubble claimed a second straight HK$13 million Gr1 Stewards’ Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday afternoon for jockey James McDonald and trainer Ricky You and also had the champagne corks popping 12000km away at Judy Brannigan’s Pendendra Stud in the beautiful Robertson valley.
The victory by Voyage Bubble provided an important update to the catalogue page of Pendendra Stud’s CRS Summer Sale lot 31, Duke Of Lorraine.
The attractive, tall and athletic colt, a half brother to black-type winner Maria Querol and
six-time winner Maria Corolina, is by Ridgemont star Rafeef (Redoute’s Choice) out of the Dynasty mare, Maria Theresa.
Eyecatching Sunday winner Voyage Bubble is out of Raheights, a ¾ sister to Duke Of Lorraine’s Aussie-bred granddam , A Star For Maria (Noverre).
Receiving a smooth passage throughout, sixyear-old Voyage Bubble settled behind leaders California Spangle and Beauty Eternal after breaking from barrier four.
Turning for home, Voyage Bubble quickly made ground to hit the lead with 400m left to run.
Voyage Bubble storms home under James McDonald to win the opening leg of the 2025 Hong Kong Triple Crown | Credit: HKJC
“I reckon this is the best he’s felt since I’ve ridden him. He strode around to the start with a real purpose and he’s such an easy horse to read,” McDonald said. “He’s superb. He’s just bomb proof, jumps fast, puts himself in a good position and quickens.”
This is Voyage Bubble’s third Grade 1 success after wins in this race last year and last month’s HK$36 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile.
The uncomplicated Deep Field gelding – owned by the Sunshine And Moonlight Syndicate – now boasts nine wins from 23 starts and earnings of HK$77.87 million. Among his triumphs is a 45/1 success in the 2023 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m).
“When he’s got a real pep in his step, he’s on song and he’s a privilege to ride,” said McDonald, who also won today’s HK$1.17 million Class 4 Beat The Clock Handicap aboard Blazing Wind and HK$1.86 million
Class 3 Mr Vitality Handicap atop Four-Year-Old Classic Series aspirant Bundle Award.
Voyage Bubble – rated 128 – clocked 1m 33.58s in winning ahead of a closing Galaxy Patch (second), Red Lion (third), Beauty Joy (fourth), Beauty Eternal (fifth), Chancheng Glory (sixth), Patch Of Theta (seventh) and California Spangle (eighth).
“I’m going to watch the replay a few times,
that was a good race to watch. He seems to do his job a little bit easier every time and you can see he’s improving still with every race. He’s just a really talented horse and he’s very straightforward to ride,” Yiu said.
The Stewards’ Cup is the first leg of the Triple Crown which carries a HK$10 million bonus on offer to any horse who can also win the HK$13 million Gr1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup on 23 February and HK$13 million Gr1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup on 25 May.
“We’re going to give the Triple Crown a crack. Besides his Derby win, he was second to a very good horse (Romantic Warrior) in the Gold Cup last year. That’s a very good indication that he can go up to that distance no problem,” Yiu said.
Yiu scooped a double at Sha Tin, earlier winning the HK$1.17 million Class 4 Peniaphobia Handicap with Sky Joy.
River Verdon (1993/94) is the only Triple Crown winner in Hong Kong racing history.
Voyage Bubble (2024 & 2025) joins Always Plentiful (1985 & 1986), Electronic Unicorn (2002 & 2003) and Good Ba Ba (2008 & 2009) as the fourth horse to claim consecutive Stewards’ Cups.
BLUE SKY THOROUGHBREDS
DASHING DOUBLE
Just a bit of horse play at Blue Sky Thoroughbreds | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Bruce le Roux and Tinus Gericke’s from Blue Sky Thoroughbreds situated in the KZN Midlands have two yearlings on offer at the CRS 2025 Summer Sale on Thursday.
Lot 16 - a New Predator colt ex Imperial Wish by Silvano. He is a half-brother to Luna Wish, from the family of American Graffiti, Inaninstant and Nastergal.
Lot 93 - a Master Of My Fate colt ex Cup Of Rubies by Mogok. That makes him a \half-brother to multiple GSW Crimson King and the versatile top notch, turf and Poly Champ, King Regent. This is the family of Barahin, Mochachino, Mocha Java and Hunting Tower.
Blue Sky Thoroughbreds also stands former champion sprinter, Chimichuri Run.
SUPER STARS FROM NORMANDY STUD
Over the course of Normandy’s nearly sixty-year history, the foundation broodmares chosen by the Foulkes clan have developed into proud families. Originally, Tommy, Veronica, and now Oscar Foulkes have carefully chosen appropriate stallions to suit their mares, breed quality racehorses, and make it all commercially sustainable.
Ultimately, it is the race-track performance that matters. Luminaries bred at Normandy include Aquanaut, Quick Wit, Little Ballerina, Grande Jete, Mother Russia, Winter Solstice, Sergeant Hardy and Rio Querari. Normandy offers seven yearlings at the CRS 2025 Summer Sale, to be
held at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Thursday.
Lot 5 is by freshman sire, Hawwaam, the Champion 3YO Colt in SA in 2018/19. The colt is out of the multiple-winning sprinter, Fleeced, by Querari.
Lot 24 is a Legislate filly out of Lady Wyllie, a half-sister to Sergeant Hardy, mentioned above as a former winner of the Gr1 Cape Flying Championships.
Normandy Stud - built on tradition! | Credit: Normandy Stud
Lot 32 is an Elusive Fort Colt ex-Windrush mare, Matushka. This is a renowned Normandy family. The second dam Russian Muse yielded Mother Russia, Champion Older Female in SA in 2009/10 who, in turn, was the dam of Nother Russia, Champion Older Female in SA in 2017/18 and Champion 3YO filly 2023-24, dual Gr1 winning Gimme a Nother.
Lot 33 is the first foal of Miss Putin, with Russian Muse popping up as the fourth dam. Her chestnut filly is the result of a mating with The United States (Galileo).
Oscar Foulkes is impressed at how Erupt upgrades his mares, so he sent Pelaya (Silvano) to be covered by the son of Dubawi. Lot 38 is the result.
Lot 64 is by Legislate ex Twice As Nice, a daughter of Russian Muse. Third dam Terpsichore is one of those redoubtable old mares on which Normandy Stud has built such a venerable legacy.
Normandy Stud closes the sale with Lot 95, a Futura filly ex Dreams Are Made who is a halfsister to Tamaanee, winner of the Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg. Oscar Foulkes is a pedigree boffin, happy to answer any questions from interested parties and delve deeper into the nuances of these enduringly successful Normandy bloodlines.
Oscar may be contacted via email on oscar@normandystud.co.za or on mobile 083 297 3402.
FIVE-TIME
GRADE 1 WINNER IS IN RED HOT FORM
Direct Hit cruises in under Richard Fourie | Credit: Pauline Herman
The Ridgemont team celebrated their second juvenile debut winner sired by their five-time Grade 1 winning sire Canford Cliffs in the space of just a matter of weeks when Direct Hit lived up to her name with a facile victory first up over the Fairview 1000m straight on Friday.
Gavin Smith saddled the Ridgemont-bred Canford Cliffs daughter Instaworthy to win the opening juvenile event of the season in the Eastern Cape a few days before Christmas. She lines up in the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on World Sports Betting Cape Town Met day.
On Friday it was Alan Greeff’s turn to produce what looks like a real cracker.
Like Instaworthy, Direct Hit is out of a speed laden daughter of Green Desert stallion Great Britain and is raced by a partnership of Ridgemont and Devin Heffer.
She was backed into 6-10, taking on a mixed sex field, and had most of them off the bit early before drawing away with Ridgemont jockey Richard Fourie to win unextended by 7,25 lengths in a nippy 56,3 secs for the 1000m.
Out of the six-time winning Great Britain speedball Wrecking Ball, who peaked with a victory in the 2017 Gr3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap, the winner is another remarkable example of precocious speed from Ridgemont resident Canford Cliffs (Tagula), who was Europe’s dominant miler at three and four, winning five consecutive Gr1 races over the trip.
His splendid Gr1 treble of the Irish 2000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes (over multiple Gr1 winner Dick Turpin) and Sussex Stakes (over champion Rip Van Winkle), saw him rated the top three-year-old miler in England and Ireland in his year.
The broodmare sire of both winners is a former resident of the magnificent Ridgemont Robertson stallion barn. Great Britain had a TFR of 118 and won the Al Quoz Sprint, subsequently a Gr1 contest which has been
won by stars like J J The Jet Plane, Ortensia and Shea Shea), and as a son of July Cup winner Green Desert (by Danzig), was one of the best bred stallions in SA in his time.
Green Desert has had a tremendous influence on the modern-day stud book and was an outstanding sire of sires, his sons including such world class sires as Invincible Spirit, Volksraad, Oasis Dream and full brother, Cape Cross.
Great Britain, who originally stood in New Zealand and produced winners in Australia, boasts a female line which is equally illustrious. His dam Park Appeal was a Champion at 2 when her wins included the Gr1 Moyglare Stud Stakes and Gr1 Chevely Park Stakes.
Like Park Express (dam of hot sire New Approach) and Princess Athena (dam of leading sire Acclamation), Park Appeal is a daughter of top sprinter Ahonoora.
Great Britain was a direct descendant of one history’s greatest ever mares – Pretty Polly. A winner of 22 of her 24 outings, Pretty Polly’s victories included the 1000 Guineas, Oaks, St Leger, Champion Stakes and Coronation Cup. Her descendants include leading sires Nearctic, Great Nephew, Preamble II and Sybil’s Nephew.
Canford Cliffs sired Almond Sea, winner of the Betway Listed Swallow Stakes on Saturday and has a filly (#8) and colt (#60 – a full brother to Almond Sea!) on this Thursday’s CRS Summer Sale.
RIDGEMONT SIRES
FEATURE PROMINENTLY!
Ridgemont’s big-hitting established sires Canford Cliffs and Rafeef enjoyed a 1-2 in Saturday’s Betway Listed Swallow Stakes at Turffontein when the blisteringly fast Almond Sea stormed home to beat Poblano, with another Canford Cliffs filly, Pointer, running fourth to her paternal half-sister.
The feature capped another winning weekend for the five time Gr1 winning stallion with the five-time Gr1 winning Canford Cliffs enjoying success internationally both as a sire and broodmare sire.
On Friday, classy three-year-old Bosustow , who is out of the Canford Cliffs mare Bumbasina, won the A$3 million Gold Coast Magic Millions 3yo Guineas.
The speedy Almond Sea has won five of eight starts, including the 2024 Listed Wilgerbosdrift Ruffian Stakes.
Her sire, champion miler, Canford Cliffs also ranks as the broodmare sire of classy Australian galloper Bosustow. The latter, a half-brother to Gr1 winner Amelia’s Jewel, was stakes-placed on four occasions prior to Friday night, including when third to Broadsiding in
Ridgemont sires 1-2 as Canford Cliffs flyer Almond Sea beats Rafeef daughter Poblano | Credit: JC Photos
last year’s Gr1 J.J. Atkins Stakes. Canford Cliffs also looks to have a very promising two-year-old to his name in the form of Direct Hit. The latter made a winning debut when romping home by seven and a quarter lengths at Fairview on Friday.
That victory came hot on the heels of a victory for the Ridgemont bred Canford Cliffs daughter Instaworthy to win the opening juvenile event of the season in the Eastern Cape a few days before Christmas.
She lines up this Saturday in the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on WSB Cape Town Met day.
Ridgemont barn-mate Rafeef (Redoute’s Choice) maintains a top 5 AEPR position on the SA national sires log and is enjoying another good season. The top producer also has a runner in the opening feature on Met day when his son Churchillian steps out on debut.
Other Rafeef flagbearers this term include graded stakes winners Chasing Happiness, Mon Petit Cherie and Outlaw King.
BSA 2025 CAPE YEARLING SALE CATALOGUE IS ONLINE
The BSA Cape Yearling Sale has unleashed a flood of high-class performers in recent years. Among the stakes winning graduates of the sale in the past decade are the likes of Alula’s Star, Chollima, Gem King, Golden Sickle, Homely Girl, Main Defender, Pistol Pete, One Fell Swoop, Rascova, Questor, Sprinkles, and Whistle The Tune.
This year, the storied auction is set to take place at a new venue, with the 2025 Cape Sale due to be held at the SARDA Centre in Constantia.
The venue reflects the new partnership between BSA, SARDA and the Constantia Valley Riding Club. The latter is based at the SARDA Centre in Brommersvlei Road, Constantia Heights, approximately six kilometres from the old site.
The online catalogue for the Cape Sale is now online and can be viewed at www.bsa.co.za.
Many of South Africa’s top breeders will be offering drafts at the one-day auction, while top stallions Gimmethegreenlight, Master Of My Fate, One World, Querari, Rafeef, Vercingetorix and What A Winter are all represented here.
BSA Sales graduate Main Defender (Calvin Habib) in action! | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
A few potential standout lots include:
Lot 3 – a Gold Standard half-sister to Listed Jacaranda Handicap
Lot 24 – a Pathfork full-brother to the smart Desolate Road
Lot 28 – a Master Of My Fate own-sister to Joost Droochsloot
Lot 29 – a Malmoos filly out of dual Gr1 winner Europa Point
Lot 34 – a Gimmethegreenlight colt bred on the same cross as Proceed and Sandringham Summit
Lot 39 – a Horizon half-brother to rising star and Listed Wolf Power 1600 winner Pomodoro’s Jet
Lot 40 – an Erik The Red colt from the family of Malmoos and Master Of My Fate
Lot 41 – a What A Winter colt from the family of Gr1 winners Little Miss Magic, Lucky Lad, and Bavarian Beauty
Lot 49 – a What A Winter filly out of a half-sister to dual Horse Of The Year Variety Club
Lot 56 – a Buffalo Bill Cody full-brother to Artist’s Model
Lot 57 – a Buffalo Bill Cody colt out of a Gr2 placed daughter of Var
Lot 62 – a Futura ¾ sister to Listed Swallow Stakes winner Freed From Desire
Lot 69 – a filly by The United States from the family of Jay Peg
Lot 71 – an Erik The Red half-brother to Listed Champion Juvenile Cup winner Peace In Our World
Lot 78 – a Chimichuri Run half-brother to Gr2 SA Nursery runner up Jerusalema Rain
Lot 85 – a Danon Platina half-brother to Gr2 winner Cats Pajamas
Lot 87 – a What A Winter filly out of a half-sister to Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Go Indigo
Lot 90 – a Rafeef filly out of a Gr3 winning daughter of Silvano
Lot 94 – a Master Of My Fate filly out of a halfsister to the Gr3 winning dam of champion Bless My Stars
Lot 107 – a Vercingetorix filly out of a Gr2 placed daughter of Western Winter
Lot 109 – a Querari filly out of a three-time winning daughter of Western Winter
The 2025 Cape Yearling Sale is set take place on Sunday, 23 February 2025 at 12h30.
DAUGHTER OF LANCE HEADS UP GUINEAS ENTRIES
A strong entry of 28 runners have been nominated to run in the R1 million TAB Gr2 Gauteng Guineas over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday, 01 February.
The race constitutes the first leg of the SA Triple Crown, the other two being the Gr1 SA Classic over 1800m on 1 March and the Gr1 SA Derby over 2450m on 29 March.
Also run on the day is the R750,000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas over the same course and distance, and that has received an entry of 18.
That race is the opening leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara for fillies, the other
two being the Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic over 1800m and the Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 SA Oaks over 2450m.
There is an overlap as some fillies have also been entered to take on the colts so they have double entries and topping the list is Gr2 Dingaans winning filly Quid Pro Quo.
The daughter of Lance will be having her last race in South Africa after having been purchased by Team Valor and will soon be
Quid Pro Quo (Piere Strydom) will run her last race on South African soil on 01 February | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
jetting off for an international career. Right now, she is still in the care of trainer Barend Botes.
Interestingly, the Guineas might be their option as she drew No 6 in that race but No 14 in the fillies’ event.
Of the colts, Mike de Kock-trained Greaterix is among the entries as if Alec Laird’s charge Fire Attack and Sean Tarry-trained Cosmic Speed.
While the connections of Fire Attack will be delighted with his No 1 draw, there will be groans in the Greaterix and Cosmic Speed camps as they have drawn
No 15 and No 25 respectively.
Kommetjie Storm, a full sister of Kommetdieding, has also been entered in both races and Tony Peter’s charge has landed No 14 in the Guineas but No 2 in the Fillies Guineas.
There is a supplementary entry stage on Friday, 24 January with declaration by 11h00 on Tuesday, 28 January.
• Media release by 4Racing on Tuesday, 21 January 2025.
TAB GR2 GAUTENG GUINEAS
A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY AS KOTZEN’S PAARL TEAM BREAK DROUGHT!
Glen Kotzen played a material role in Chad Little’s return to the saddle and the duo show their emotion after Bombers In The Sky won | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
Woodhill Racing trainer Glen Kotzen broke a frustrating six-week drought in the Cape when saddling a very welcome, and emotional double, at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
While their Summerveld satellite yard enjoyed winners over New Year up in KZN, the Paarl branch of the popular family operation have been tearing their hair out.
But, as it always does in racing, the wheel turned, and it did so in style on a sun-drenched afternoon.
“This was the first morning I woke up with a smile where we took the bloods, and everything was fine. It’s been a dreadful time and I must thank my owners for their patience and a special mention and best wishes to Rob MacNab who was admitted to hospital on Friday. Hopefully this win will get his heart-rate up ,” said Glen Kotzen, who probably found
the winner’s podium with the aid of his GPS and will feel rejuvenated about his prospects of acquiring additional equine ammunition at the CRS Summer Sale on Thursday .
The drought broke with a 1-2 in the third where JP van der Merwe got the Vercingetorix gelding Circumbendibus – which means an indirect way of expressing something – up to beat his gallant and lesser fancied stablemate Tripping Thunder, on whom Chad Little looked a winner inside the distance.
Bred by Ten Einde Farm, Circumbendibus was winning at his eighth outing and could go on from here which will excite part owner Devin O’Brien, whose first winner it was.
Bombers In The Sky comes home well under Chad Little | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
“I could become addicted to this,” he chirped, and the young man has certainly started in style, some of his partners in the gelding having already celebrated a Hollywoodbets Durban July victory!
The next Woodhill winner came up in the seventh race when Chad Little rode a superbly judged race from the front on the Lancaster Bomber gelding Bombers In The Sky, who was shedding his maiden at his ninth start after placed efforts indicated he was overdue.
It was a special win as it was the first for the Kotzen-Little combination since the jockey’s amazing return, with the support and assistance of the Woodhill Team, to the
saddle in November. A R475 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate, Bombers In The Sky was bred by a big-hitting partnership of Drakenstein Stud, Katom & Maine Chance, and is out of the Giant’s Causeway mare, Song Of Happiness.
The next Hollywoodbets Kenilworth racemeeting will be on Saturday 25 January –WSB Cape Town Met day!
ALMOND SEA – BUY HER BROTHER ON THURSDAY!
Another raceday and another fascinating duel between Gavin Lerena and Muzi Yeni! After Thursday’s Main Defender knockout at the Vaal, it went Lerena’s way this time round when the classy Canford Cliffs filly Almond Sea asserted her authority to win the R225 000 Betway Listed Swallow Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday.
The debate over the cancellation by 4Racing of the third race due to reduced numbers threatened to overshadow the feature on the seven race card, but after a fascinating tussle into the final stages, with the lesser fancied Poblano (25-2) digging deep, it was Almond Sea (7-10) who grabbed the public attention and got the upper hand to win the 1160m contest by 0,30 lengths in a time of 68,43 secs and give Lerena a double on the afternoon.
In contrast to her earlier aggressive racing style, Gavin Lerena had the smart 3yo relaxed last of the seven runners, before producing her late.
Bred by Black Swan boss Peter de Beyer, who will enjoy the timing of the victory as he offers the ‘magnificent’ full-brother as
Lot 60 on Thursday’s CRS Summer Sale, Almond Sea is a daughter of the red hot Ridgemont star Canford Cliffs (Tagula) out of the Dupont mare Sylvie, who won once in the De Beyer silks.
Raced by Johnny Peter’s Hyperpaint Syndicate, Almond Sea has now won 5 races with 3 places from 8 starts for stakes R556 750.
Sean Tarry and Piere Strydom enjoyed a double on the day, while Mike de Kock saddled a double.
Almond Sea (Gavin Lerena) gets the upper hand with Poblano (Muzi Yeni) digging deep in the final stage tussle | Credit: JC Photos
RIVERTON-BRED GELDING SHOWS HIS CLASS AND COURAGE
We were reminded again that there is no such thing as a racing certainty when Tony Peter’s Grade 1 winning star Main Defender was forced to play second fiddle in a 1500m Pinnacle Stakes at the Vaal on Thursday.
Going off at 4-10, Main Defender was given every chance by the bang in-form Gavin Lerena, as he loped along out front early.
The situation started unravelling down the home straight as the 4yo came under pressure close to home, and Muzi Yeni floated Melech up down the hands on the inside.
Into the final 100m, Melech (33-10) shifted out slightly but comfortably held his quarter length
advantage to the line, to clock 89,72 secs for the 1500m.
Gavin Lerena threw the reins and the kitchen sink at Main Defender, who had no answers.
The top jockey then had a look at the replay and lodged an objection against the winner on the grounds of interference. It was overruled. Be interesting to hear what our readers think!
The winner is raced by seasoned owner John Finlayson and was bred by Duncan and Natasha Riverton Stud. A R220 000 BSA November 2yo Sale graduate, Melech has now won 7 races with 5 places from 17 starts for stakes of R720 625.
The competitive Muzi Yeni gets Melech to dig deep and beat Main Defender | Credit: JC Photos
The 5yo is by Klawervlei kingpin William Longsword (Captain Al) out of the thrice winning Greys Inn mare, Pippi. The mare is now with Anton Shepherd at Beaumont Stud.
Melech’s year younger The United States halfbrother The US Of A (Richard Fourie) runs on WSB Cape Town Met day, where he bumps fellow Riverton products Rougarouin and
Carriacou in the twelfth race, a World Sports Betting Class 4 over 1200m.
ALMOND SEA REMAINS ON 112
Almond Sea remained unchanged on her official rating of 112 following her victory in the Betway Listed Swallow Stakes for threeyear-old fillies over 1160m at the Turffontein Standside Track on Saturday.
In fact, it was Almond Sea herself who was deemed to be the most suitable line horse to assess this race, hence her unchanged rating.
Runner up, Poblano had to be capped at 93
due to the specific conditions of this race that do not allow for an increase of more than three points for placed runners.
There were, however, drops for two runners following this race. Simply Majestic went down to 96 from 98 and You Bring Me Joy dropped to 86 from 90.
• Media release by the NHA on Tuesday, 21 January 2025.
KA YING RISING STUNS RECORDBREAKING WIN!
Ka Ying Rising surges to record-breaking success | Credit: HKJC
David Hayes anointed Ka Ying Rising as “probably the best horse” he has trained, while Zac Purton described the speedster as a “really special horse” after the four-yearold’s incredible record-breaking win in the HK$13 million Gr1 Centenary Sprint Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Clocking 1m 07.20s in a phenomenal display of sustained speed, Ka Ying Rising lowered the track record for the second time this season, eclipsing the 1m 07.43s he posted on 17 November, to secure his 10th win from 12 starts and leaving Hayes and Purton awestruck.
Pitted against seven rivals, all drawn to his inside, Purton drove Ka Ying Rising out of the barriers and crossed the face of the field inside 200m to lead Magic Control and Victor The Winner – and was never headed – clocking 23.30s for the first 400m before unleashing a devastating mid-race split of 21.54s to have the race at his mercy.
Rounding the home turn, Purton flicked Ka Ying Rising into overdrive and the gelding responded with a blistering 10.59s burst from the 400m mark before easing down the 1.1 favourite to finish three and a quarterlengths ahead of Helios Express, with Howdeepisyourlove a neck further back.
“He did surprise Zac when he jumped well and then went to the lead – to lead those fast horses so easily just shows his versatility. He can take a sit, or he just leads. He’s certainly the best sprinter I’ve had anything to do with and probably the best horse,” Hayes said.
“He’s quite freakish what he does. The last 100m, Zac switched the engine off, so in the two track records he’s broken, he’s actually eased him down the last 100m or 80m.
David Hayes celebrates his first Centenary Sprint Cup success | Credit: HKJC
He just doesn’t lose – and I know he lost twice when he was immature – but now he’s mature, he’s just got that ability to win. He’s got amazing cruising speed and he’ll quicken off it, which is very hard to compete against.
Purton, who has ridden a string of champion Hong Kong sprinters during a glittering career, said facts and figures underscored Ka Ying Rising’s extraordinary talent.
Asked if the four-year-old was the best sprinter he had ever ridden, Purton said: “He’s right up there. He’s doing things that other sprinters haven’t done, winning with the ease he’s winning with, running the times, he’s running.
“We’ve had a lot of champion sprinters grace our turf here and they’ve all had the chance to run the times, he’s run. So, yeah, he’s starting to become a really special horse.”
Desperate to avoid a repeat of the HK$26 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint in December when Ka Ying Rising triumphed by half a length in his slowest time of the season –1m 08.15s – Purton enacted a simple plan.
“Jump, be positive and just work it out as we go,” he said. “They went too slow in December and it allowed the horses to be too close, so today I made sure the man was going to take care of the boys.
“He can run sectionals comfortably and kick off it. It’s very unique to have a horse that can do that, but he can. But when you go too slow, it allows the other horses a bit of an opportunity. Today, we made a statement again.”
The Centenary Sprint Cup is the first leg of the Hong Kong Speed Series, Hayes confirmed Ka Ying Rising would chase a HK$5 million bonus by winning the HK$13 million Gr1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup on 23 February and the HK$22 million Gr1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize on 27 April.
Longer term, Hayes is contemplating a tilt at Gr1 The Everest – worth a staggering AU$20 million (approx. HK$96.4 million) – at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia on 18 October.
“It’s the richest turf race in the world, it’s at his distance, so it’s getting more realistic every month we go on. We’ll really start thinking about a pathway towards it after the international race here in April and then after that, he’ll probably just be set for the big sprint,” Hayes said.
Purton finished meeting with 1,812 wins – one shy of Douglas Whyte’s Hong Kong record –having also scored on David Hall’s Mr Energia in the Class 4 Seasons Bloom Handicap, while James McDonald took riding honours with a treble.
The New Zealander claimed the HK$13 million Gr1 Stewards’ Cup on Ricky Yiu’s Voyage Bubble, the Class 4 Beat The Clock Handicap on Danny Shum-trained Blazing Wind and the Class 3 Mr Vitality Handicap for John Size on Bundle Award, who claimed a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million.
Andrea Atzeni slotted a double with Manfred Man’s lightly-raced Gold Master, who won the Class 4 Helene Paragon Handicap and Noisy
Boy, who enhanced HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby credentials, with victory for Dennis Yip in the Class 2 Able Friend Handicap.
Man also sealed a brace when Patch Of Cosmo clinched the Class 3 Sound Print Handicap for Matthew Chadwick, while Craig Williams posted his first Hong Kong winner since 2016/17 when Cody Mo’s Forerunner triumphed by a head in the Class 4 Waikuku Handicap.
“It’s great to be here, it was a home away from home for a long period of my life, my riding career and I was very grateful for the opportunity I had many years ago to make me the rider and the person I am today,
so it’s nice to come back,” he said.
Three-year-old Sky Joy continued his impressive progress with victory under Jerry Chau in the Class 4 Peniaphobia Handicap, posting his second victory for Ricky Yiu, before Prince Of Porty’s success in the Class 3 Aerovelocity Handicap under Matthew Poon gave Hall a double.
Zac Purton fired in a double on
HENDERSON ON FIRE AS JONBON CLAIMS
CLARENCE HOUSE
Jonbon (Nico De Boinville ) wins the Clarence House Chase at Ascot | Credit: Coolmore
The Group 1 Clarence House Chase returned to Ascot for the first time in three years, with Jonbon and Energumene, the beaten favourites in the last two runnings heading the market and, in the end, the race itself.
Nicky Henderson’s charge was taken to the front early on by Nico De Boinville and he was never to be headed despite Energumene keeping close tabs on him.
Turning in there was still very much a race on but the 8/13 favourite gradually broke his eleven-year-old rival and by the time he flew the last, the race was his.
At the line he was six lengths clear and moments later was cut to 11/8 favouritism for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Nico de Boinville said: “The race went fairly smoothly. I felt I was only doing a half speed, but I think we were trapping along really.”
“I think you have seen the usual Jonbon as he is just so consistent. He is a fantastic horse and a horse of a lifetime really.”
Henderson noted: “It is not the Champion Chase today, but that was the right to earn the place as favourite for the race. Energumene has been a good horse over the years, and he might be getting a bit older, but he is still a very good horse.”
Earlier on the card, the well-touted Lulamba, who had already shortened dramatically for the Triumph Hurdle even before running this season, shortened significantly once more after giving 10lbs and a three and a half-length
beating to the well-touted Mondo Man in the BetMGM Juvenile Hurdle.
The Nicky Henderson trained runner was well on top at the line and can only improve for the run. Henderson’s fine weekend continued when Jingko Blue maintained his unbeaten record over fences in the Gr2 Hampton Novices’ Chase at Windsor on Sunday.
After making a triumphant start over fences at Uttoxeter 40 days ago the gelded son of Great Pretender was sent off the 4/9 favourite to add to that tally in the three-mile contest which was re-routed from Warwick earlier this month.
A major error at the final fence on the first circuit failed to halt his momentum as he tracked a good early pace set by second favourite, Lowry’s Bar. However, the complexion of the race changed three out when Lowry’s Bar blundered his chances and from there on Jingo Blue was away and gone.
Meeting the last on a good stride, Jingko Blue ran on strongly all the way to the finish to score by two and a quarter lengths and give Henderson his first winner back at the track since jump racing returned to the course last month.
An outing in the Gr2 Ebony Horse Club Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase at Ascot on February 15 is next on his agenda ahead of the Gr1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
BONUS CAN STIMULATE INTERNATIONAL INTEREST!
Ascot, Goodwood and York Racecourses have announced the ‘British Midsummer Bonus’ available to connections of horses trained outside Europe, who are being considered for three of the top Group 1 races in Great Britain in 2025.
Up to £1 million in bonuses will be available for sending horses for both the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot (TPF £1.5m) and the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Goodwood (TPF £1m), which are run days apart from each other, minimising travel complexities.
The £1 million win bonus will pay out should the winners of both races be owned or trained by the same person (or entity in the case of owners). If the horses are placed in both races, a £250,000 bonus will be paid.
Additionally, any horse that wins either the King George or Qatar Sussex Stakes and then runs in the £1.25m Juddmonte International at York will receive a £250,000 appearance fee, whilst any horse that is placed in the King George or Qatar Sussex Stakes and then runs in the Juddmonte International will receive a £150,000 appearance fee.
Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs at Ascot Racecourse, said:
“We have been collectively considering how to maximise global attention on the midsummer period in Britain, when there are less major overseas events taking part than at other times of the year.
“The thinking behind the Midsummer Bonus is that the opening races are, effectively, the same week, and this presents an opportunity to promote the whole week and all its international options as one entity.
“By linking the high-summer flagship races at Ascot, Goodwood and York and promoting them together, with bonuses, we are hoping that there is a greater incentive to travel horses to the UK for this significant spell of racing with seven Group Ones.
“We are offering full equine travel costs, stabling and such like within the bonus scheme, along with business class flights and hotels for connections, very much as is expected at major international meetings around the world these days.”
Ed Arkell, Director of Racing and Clerk of the Course at Goodwood, commented:
“We are delighted to be partnering with Ascot and York with the Midsummer Bonus. Given the ever increasing globalisation of racing it is key that Britain continues to attract the best horses in the world to compete in our top races. We hope that this scheme will aid that outcome and we look forward to welcoming connections to Britain’s leading racecourses.”
William Derby, Chief Executive and Clerk of the Course at York added:
“The prestige of this high-summer spell of racing, when Britain can shine with the spotlight on it, is widely acknowledged and this promotion further demonstrates the commitment of all three racecourses to showcasing our racing on the global stage.
“York will be paying an additional £50,000 in appearance fees for any horses travelling under this scheme, should they go to the Juddmonte International, recognising of course that milers and mile-and-a-half horses can go the 10f route. The £50,000 goes up to £150,000 should any horse be placed at Ascot or Goodwood and £250,000 if they have won.”
Yoshito Yahagi, leading Japanese trainer, said:
“I am excited to hear the news about this original bonus scheme which is very attractive for owners and trainers in Japan. Ascot, Goodwood and York Racecourses are adored by Japanese trainers, and this new scheme will certainly mean we give consideration to the venture when we plan our international programme. I hope I can become the first trainer to win the King George and Sussex Stakes in the same year.”
Full details of the scheme can be obtained by clicking on this link.
TRAINERS
JOCKEYS
BREEDERS
SIRES
WELCOME BACK LOUIS!
Louis Mxothwa gives the thumbs-up after winning on longshot Aladdin’s Lamp | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
Sporting Post-sponsored jockey Louis Mxothwa made a winning return to the saddle at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday after a two month injury enforced lay-off.
He booted home Aladdin’s Lamp for Brett Crawford and is now ready to take up his WSB
Cape Town Met engagement for the same yard on Saturday when he partners Zapatillas.
He was injured at Fairview in mid-November when fracturing his clavicle and shoulder blade.
Charles Ndlovu also came down in the accident but he escaped without injury.
