CLASSIC!
On the cover
Trainer Joey Soma and Mary Slack, in her role as sponsor, with the Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic trophy after Fiery Pegasus’ impressive victory on Saturday. Joey saddled Athina to win the same race in 2014 for Mary Slack. Candiese Lenferna took the photograph.
CHARITY WINS ON THE ROYAL RACE DAY
Hollywoodbets Kenilworth is set to host The Royal Race Day as the curtain comes down in a grand finale to the 2024/25 Summer Festival of Racing on Sunday 16 March.
With the CRS Premier Yearling Sale being held on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 March, the Cape Racing Sales Festival offers top tier racing to round off just under four months of pulsating track action.
The Royal Race Day will be headlined by The Monaco Sport of Kings Listed Kenilworth Cup and the HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap, and originates from a partnership between Cape Racing and the Monaco Sport Of Kings Group, which was founded by the passionate and energetic Mike Wittstock, father of South
The sport of horse racing has been around for centuries, and it continues to draw in enthusiasts from all over the world. While it may not be prominent in Monaco, a generous group of businessmen has made it their mission to support the industry, while also helping the underprivileged.
The Monaco Sport of Kings group thus underscore their dedication to both horseracing and charitable causes by participating in The Royal Race Day.
As a result of the association, two deserving charities in The Earth Centre and Sisters Incorporated are set to benefit.
African-born Princess Charlene of Monaco.
The Earth Centre provides equine therapy with its horses in supporting the disabled, vulnerable, and disadvantaged and which partners with 11 special needs schools in Gauteng
Sisters Incorporated provides support for women and their children to heal through holistic therapy during challenging times in their lives and plays a critical role in protecting, supporting and empowering women who are survivors of domestic violence, abuse and stigmatization.
It’s a ‘Royal Affair’, so please come dressed for the occasion, and besides the high quality racing, there will be a market, food trucks, and live entertainment.
For those that want something a little more elegant, the Racing Pavilion will be ‘A Royal Affair’ themed venue with a high tea. Tickets for that area will be R450 and will include:
• Harvest table lunch and high tea
• Bubbly station
• Water
• Shaded seating
• Full bar facilities available
Entrance to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth is free, but tickets need to be obtained for access control. These tickets will be available on Quicket.
Trainers are reminded that entries for the day close at 11h00 on Friday 7 March, with declarations due by 11h00 on Monday 10 March. While the inaugural running of the HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap is set to host what could be the final local appearance of internationally-bound dual Gr1-winning 3yo star One Stripe, the Monaco Sport of Kings Listed Kenilworth Cup and the CRS Cape Slipper add a diverse spread of great feature racing as the sun sets on a memorable Summer Festival Of Racing.
COUNTDOWN TO R5 MILLION BIG CAP!
The inaugural running of the R5 million HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 16 March, the final day of the inaugural Cape Racing Sales Festival, is set to host what could be the final local appearance of internationally-bound dual Gr1-winning 3yo star One Stripe.
The Vaughan Marshall – trained One Stripe put in a nice gallop at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth last Wednesday morning, with Gavin Lerena jetting in to partner him.
The 1400m HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap is open to all CRS sales graduates.
With massive stakes paid down to sixth finisher, and the race conditions dictating that no merit rating penalties will be incurred for the placed and unplaced runners, there is every incentive for owners and trainers to take their chances.
There are still slots available at R325 000 per gate.
Current slot-holders:
• Hollywood Racing
• Snaith Racing (The Grey King)
• Snaith Racing (Makazole)
• Snaith Racing (Great Plains)
• Rikesh Sewgoolam
• Dayalan Chinsammy Racing
• Triple 8 Clothing
• MF de Kock Racing Stables
The HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap headlines the Cape Racing Festival Sales Day, a high value racemeeting that will offer bumper stakes
Gavin Lerena takes Big Cap candidate One Stripe through his paces at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth recently
Credit: Chase Liebenberg
racing from R6,5 million this year, increasing to R10 million over the initial three years.
The HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap was modelled on the Everest concept introduced in Australia and has been featured successfully previously in South Africa when run as the ‘Gold Rush’.
Here are the HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap weights conditions:
Open to Graduates of all Cape Racing Sales
• Benchmark at 53,0 kg = 96
• Maximum Weight to be 62,0 kg
Penalties for 3-year-olds:
In addition, further penalties to accrue as follows for races won in the period 13 months prior to the date of issuing of weights –
• Winner of a Grade 1 . . . . . . . . . 2,5 kg
• Winner of a Grade 2 . . . . . . . . . 1,0 kg
Maximum Weights:
• 3-year old C and G . . . . . . 60,0 kg
• 3-year old Fillies .
• 4yo & over C and G
. 57,5 kg
. 62,0 kg
• 4yo & over F and Mares. . . 60,0 kg
Penalties not cumulative.
There will be no rating increase for placed & unplaced horses.
Sex Allowance of 2,0 kg for Fillies and Mares.
Cape Racing Executive: Racing & Bloodstock Justin Vermaak explained that the HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap will be run as a handicap, with conditions, but that importantly, there will be no merit rating penalties for placed horses.
“With the massive drawcard of champion 3yo One Stripe (132) in the mix, it’s clearly a consideration for lower-rated runners to take their chances. As we found with a race like the recent SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby, that attracted only six opponents to take on the standout 127-rated Eight On Eighteen, connections are wary of accruing big penalties,” said Vermaak, who added that the large spread at the weights will ensure that a vast group of graduates come into the race with a chance.
“You will appreciate that as the HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap offers a more extended spread, it creates a more level playing field, as handicap racing is intended to do. At only R325 000 a slot, we still have slots open, and it opens up a broader list of potential slot owners. In keeping with our philosophy of acknowledging a very important sector of the horseracing ecosystem, the groom of each runner will receive a payment of R12 500.”
Kaiboy is at 11 on the big race log
Credit: Chase Liebenberg
Entries for the HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap are due by 11h00 on Friday 7 March, on which date weights will be published.
Declarations are due by 11h00 on Monday 10 March.
The final field of a maximum 16 runners with up to 6 reserve runners, will be determined by the HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap Committee at their sole discretion at final acceptances.
The field will be embargoed and announced on Monday 10 March 2025 at an event to be announced and where the barrier draws will be done.
The stage is set! How we heard the news last Friday!| Credit: Candiese
Lenferna
The highly anticipated theme for the Hollywoodbets Durban July was unveiled last Friday in spectacular fashion at an exclusive event at Hollywoodbets Greyville, attended by media, fashion schools, racing enthusiasts, and celebrities.
As the proud title sponsor of Africa’s premier horse racing and social spectacle, Hollywoodbets is honoured to reveal the 2025 theme, ‘Marvels of Mzansi’. This captivating theme celebrates South Africa’s rich heritage, cultural diversity, and breath-taking landscapes, paying tribute to the nation’s extraordinary achievements.
Since the dawn of the Rainbow Nation, South Africa has had much to celebrate in the sporting arena – from the 1995 Rugby World Cup, when Francois Pienaar lifted the trophy as Nelson Mandela cheered him on in the iconic number 6 jersey, to Bafana Bafana’s 1996 AFCON triumph and Siya Kolisi’s historic back-to-back Rugby World Cup victories. These moments have united and inspired the nation.
In the same spirit, the Hollywoodbets Durban July brings people together to celebrate South Africa’s heritage, resilience, and vibrant culture, showcasing the marvels that make Mzansi extraordinary.
As South Africa’s premier horse racing event, the HDJ has given the nation memories that will last a lifetime. Who could forget when Sparkling Water, a then four-year-old filly, like a bolt out of the blue, set the world alight by winning the prestigious event? The excitement continued in 2023 when Winchester Mansion, ridden by Winning Form-sponsored jockey Kabelo Matsunyane, narrowly defeated legendary jockey Pierre Strydom, who was aboard the pre-race favourite, See It Again. For tens of thousands of people at Hollywoodbets
Hollywood Brand ambassador Odwa Ndungane was there| Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Greyville, it was a race to remember, as the excitement reached fever pitch while they witnessed equine excellence.
Stephen Marshall, Gold Circle’s Events and Marketing Executive, expressed his excitement for this year’s theme, “Our pride in Mzansi’s heritage and culture extends beyond sporting excellence—it’s also reflected in the innovation, tenacity, and resilience of its people. The HDJ is more than just a major event that attracts visitors from across South Africa to KwaZulu-
Natal; it provides a platform for participants to showcase their skills and talents to a highly engaged audience.”
The HDJ is one of the most significant events for the economy of KwaZulu-Natal, with a profound impact on various sectors. As one of the premier horse racing events in South Africa, it attracts thousands of visitors, both local and international, leading to a surge in tourism and hospitality spending. Hollywoodbets, a proudly South African brand, is honoured to support
Michele Wing chats to Hollywoodbets’ Devin Heffer| Credit: Candiese Lenferna
an event that not only boosts the economy but also unites South Africans in celebration.
Hollywoodbets Brand and Communications Manager, Devin Heffer commented, “The Hollywoodbets Durban July is more than just a race—it’s a cultural phenomenon that unites fashion, entertainment, and world-class horse racing on an electrifying stage. As a proudly South African business, this year’s theme, ‘Marvels of Mzansi,’ couldn’t be more fitting. It celebrates our country’s rich heritage, diversity, and extraordinary achievements, all set against the vibrant energy of Durban. Last year, the event welcomed close to 40 000 attendees and contributed an incredible R717 million to the city’s GDP, reinforcing its status as a major
driver of tourism and economic growth. On the 5th of July, Hollywoodbets Greyville will once again be the heartbeat of the nation, as we come together to showcase the true marvels of Mzansi.”
By announcing the theme to KwaZulu-Natal’s top fashion schools, the Hollywoodbets Durban July aims to inspire South Africa’s fashionistas, young designers, and avant-garde creatives to interpret ‘Marvels of Mzansi’ in their own unique ways—where the possibilities are endless.
The Hollywoodbets Durban July takes place on Saturday 5 July at Hollywoodbets Greyville racecourse. Tickets will go on sale in April on the Ticketpro website.
Gold Circle’s Veronica Jack enjoyed the launch| Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Gold Circle CEO Michel Nairac in serious conversation | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
ARE YOU SET TO BET?
Big race sponsors Hollywoodbets set the pace in the pre-nominations ante-post betting market for the 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July with defending champion Oriental Charm topping the opening board on Monday morning.
With just over four months to go to the 5 July spectacular at Hollywoodbets Greyville, things are clearly still very much in the melting pot, with plenty of water yet to run under the bridge.
While it is no surprise to see Oriental Charm at the top of the boards, recent Cape Town Met and Cape Derby winner Eight On Eighteen is right on his heels, even though the Snaiths have indicated that there is a chance
that he will skip Africa’s greatest race.
Joey Soma’s season prospects brightened considerably at Turffontein on Saturday with the victory of the talented Fiery Pegasus in the Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic.
Sean Tarry’s Cosmic Speed found his form in the Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes on Saturday and he is next at 25-2, with TAB Gr1 SA Classic runner-up Fire Attack catching the eye as he chased Confederate home, and shares the 25-2 ticket on the big race board.
Ed – please click on the artwork to see the betting.
JOEY’S BACK IN CLASSIC MODE – ELEVEN YEARS ON!
Fiery Pegasus (Richard Fourie) wins the second leg of the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara | Credit: JC Photos
Veteran trainer Joey Soma last won the R1 250 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic in 2014 with Fort Wood’s smart daughter, Athina.
At a wet Turffontein on Saturday he repeated the feat when Fiery Pegasus overcame a rather frustrating recent form-line to register a career peak success under Richard Fourie.
Run in driving rain, the second leg of the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara produced a minor turn-up with the fancied and previously undefeated Spumante Dolce, who coincidentally races in the same silks as Soma’s 2014 winner Athina, failing to repeat her scintillating effort in the first leg.
After Sensoria had led Bakwena and Willy Meet Again, Richard Fourie started unwinding Fiery Pegasus down the middle, as Spumante Dolce also looked to have plenty in the tank.
Inside the final 300m, Fiery Pegasus (17-2) had
given her field the slip and she ran right away from them to beat Olivia’s Way (17-2) by 4,75 lengths in a time of 114,71 secs for the 1800m.
World Of Alice (20-1) looked dangerous late, but was beaten a further 2,25 lengths into third, with VJ’s Angel (3-1) crowning the quartet.
Richard Fourie said that the winner had ‘alot in her favour and the question was the trip’.
“Mr Soma changed the bit and we rode her cold. I ended up behind the biggest danger. The track is heavy now. But she made it up quickly. A top run,” added the reigning national champion.
Charismatic trainer Joey Soma was thrilled saying ‘we love winning the Grade 1’s’.
“We earmarked this race for her as a 2yo. The whole family on the dam side is stamina. Her work was outstanding. I am thrilled for all the owners. A great team effort,” he added.
A R300 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Fiery Pegasus was bred in partnership by Greenacres Trust and Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud and is a daughter of speed champion Captain Of All (Captain Al) out of the four-time winning Jet Master mare, Scorched.
She is raced in partnership by Messrs J R Blumberg,D Chinsammy,R G Coppin,E Naicker,B M Nassif, G, K & M M Nassif,Mr B & Mrs K Ncube,MGAS Bloodstock, Kisten Pillay
Racing (Trevelen) and took her tally to 4 wins with 4 places from 10 starts and stakes of R1 167 500.
The third leg of the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara is the R750 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 SA Oaks run over 2450m at Turffontein on Saturday 29 March.
FIERY PEGASUS – IMPRESSIVE!
Fiery Pegasus skates home under Richard Fourie | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Fiery Pegasus joins Cape Derby hero Linebacker as the second top level winner sired by champion sprinter Captain Of All and hails from a female family which had its origins at the famed Zandvliet Stud.
The outcome of the Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic did not go according to script. Unbeaten Spumante Dolce, an impressive winner of the Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas, started a warm favourite to add the second leg of the Triple Tiara, but ran way below expectations and trailed in 13 lengths behind the winner.
There were valid excuses for her disappointing effort though. Coupled with the rain-softened going, a post-race examination revealed significant mucus in her trachea.
Let’s take nothing away from the winner Fiery Pegasus however, she gave her rivals the slip in midstretch to bolt up by almost five lengths.
It was the first stakes success for the Joey Soma-trained filly and a fully deserved one at that, given that she had gone down by the proverbial whisker in the Gr2 Joburg Spring Fillies & Mares Challenge and had run a promising fourth in the Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas.
Fiery Pegasus joins Cape Derby hero Linebacker as the second top level winner sired by champion sprinter Captain Of All and hails from a female family which had its origins at the famed Zandvliet Stud.
Revered for its fine wines and excellent racehorses, Zandvliet owner Paul de Wet built his broodmare band around a band of imported mares from families of world renown. He purchased the English-bred Molvedo mare Molfetta in 1969, and as a half-sister to leading English sire Great Nephew, out of the Queen Mary winner and Coronation Stakes second Sybil’s Niece, she exemplified that policy to a tee.
Zandvliet’s late Dan de Wet – master breeder | Credit: Supplied
Molfetta lived up to her celebrated bloodlines and proved a prolific mare to boot, producing no less than 14 foals, of which ten became winners, prime amongst which the stakes winners Termoli, Bari, Mayfair and Daddy’s Own, who just happens to be the third dam of Fiery Pegasus.
Molfetta became a stakes producer with her second foal Bari. A son of Zandvliet’s ace stallion Noble Chieftain, he proved himself a stayer of note, winning the Len Harvey Memorial Handicap.
Next up was his year-younger half-sister Termoli. This daughter of New South Wales showed her best form on the opposite side of the stamina spectrum, winning both the Gr2 Argus Festival Nursery and Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes.
Mayfair, by the Forli horse Folmar, twice won the Nomads and became one of his dam’s two Gr1 performers when third in the Germiston 100, the other being Plum Bold half-brother Brubaker, who chased home Charles Fortune in the Gr1 Cape Derby.
Which brings us to Daddy’s Own. Successful in the Juvenile Free Handicap and runner-up in the Langerman, she was from the sole crop of Irish 2000 Guineas third Dapper, who stood at Zandvliet before his untimely death. A son of the mighty Forli, his loss was keenly felt, considering he also sired T R Lewis Memorial victress Corn, ancestress of Gr1 winner Irish Flame, as well as the stakes winners Cornglow, Flaming Corn and Vertical Takeoff.
Daddy’s Own duly retired to Zandvliet, where she proved as prolific a broodmare as her dam, producing 13 foals.
Whilst the stakes-placed geldings Castlewood, Dad’s Army and Master Magnum headed
her ten winners, her legacy continues through her daughters and grandaughters. Her descendants include Gr1 Cape Flying Championship victress Nobely Born, multiple Gr3 winner Trip Tease, as well the likes of Dame D’Or, Legally Blonde and Dance Variety.
Daddy Own’s three-time winning daughter Run For Daddy, by Damascus Gate features as the third dam of Fiery Pegasus.
By the time Run For Daddy returned to Zandvliet, the stud had passed into the care of Paul de Wet’s son Dan who was a great fan of champion Jet Master and faithfully sent him four mares from the start. Run To Daddy featured amongst the imposing champion’s first book of mares (as did a certain mare by the name of Stormsvlei), the resultant foal of that mating a filly named Scorched, who would go on to score four times on the track.
When Zandvliet was sold in 2015, Scorched had already produced four winners from her first five foals. Dan continued breeding on a modest scale under the Heritage Stud banner, having retained Scorched. Her Captain Al colt Captain And Master became her first stakes performed foal, reaching the frame in all of the Gr2 Durban Golden Horseshoe, Gr2 Merchants and Gr3 Jubilee Handicap.
Captain Al’s covering fee had by then risen into six figures, which no doubt prompted Dan to send Scorched to the next best thing, his champion son Captain Of All, who had just joined his sire at Klawervlei Stud.
The resultant colt foal, named Shango, won the Gr2 Dingaans before running second in the Gr1 SA Derby. Trained by Sean Tarry, he would show his class over ground, winning both the Gr3 Hollywoodbets 2200 and Gr3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup.
Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud master David HepburnBrown had acquired Scorched when Shango was strutting his stuff on the racetrack, and he repeated what looked like a winning recipe by sending the mare to Captain Of All in 2020. In early November of 2021, she gave birth to Fiery Pegasus.
Incidentally, David bred the filly in partnership with Greenacres Trust’s Marsh Shirtliff, whose links to Zandvliet are tangible as co-owner of the legendary Pocket Power, Jet Master’s firstcrop foal out of Stormsvlei. Undoubtedly Dan
de Wet’s greatest breeding achievement, the strapping bay was arguably the finest horse to emerge from the Zandvliet paddocks.
Sadly, Marsh confirmed that Fiery Pegasus was Scorched’s last foal, the mare having passed on in 2023.
He is philosophical about the fact that the newly-minted Gr1 winner was sold as a yearling and added: “I bet David will now be looking for the What A Winter daughters Scorched produced before Fiery Pegasus came along!”
Fiery Pegasus’ brother Shango wins the Lonsdale in 2022 under Richard Fourie | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Confederate (Craig Zackey) gives his sire Fire Away a maiden Gr1 success |
Credit: JC Photos
Wilgerbosdrift’s War Front stallion Fire Away marked his maiden Grade 1 success and dominated the R1,5 million TAB Gr1 SA Classic at Turffontein on Saturday with a 1-2 finish, courtesy of two of his progressive sons, Confederate and Fire Attack.
It was a memorable day for trainer Fabian Habib who celebrated his second career Grade 1 success as he had the long-striding Confederate turned out in mint condition to lead from gun-to-tape under national log-leader, Craig Zackey.
Running in the same silks of veteran owner Dayalan Chinsammy, and with an overlap of joyous owners –including birthday boy Mark Nassif – as Fiery Pegasus, who clinched her first Grade 1 success a half hour earlier, Confederate (8-1) never looked in danger of defeat and kept going to beat tote favourite Fire Attack (2-1) by 0,70 lengths in a time of 114,7 secs for the 1800m.
Legend Of Arthur (11-2) ran on best of the rest for third, some 3,40 lengths adrift.
The Moutonshoek-bred Confederate, a R280 000 National 2yo Sale graduate, has now won 4 races with 4 places in 8 starts and took his stakes earnings to R1 251 625. He has never finished out of the top two in his career to date.
His sire Fire Away (War Front) won seven times and earned more than $600 000 during his career with his trio of stakes wins headed by a triumph in the 2018 Gr3 Dixie Stakes.
The impeccably bred Fire Away is a half-brother to graded stakes winners Vigilantes Way (Gr3 Eatontown Stakes) and Mr Speaker (Gr1 Belmont Derby). The latter has also enjoyed success at stud, with Mr Speaker having sired the Gr1 winners Speech (Ashland Stakes) and Speaking Scout (Hollywood Derby).
Confederate is out of the UK-placed Danehill Dancer mare, Acquavella.
The third leg of the SA Triple Crown is the R1,25 million Gr1 SA Derby run over 2450m on Saturday Saturday 29 March.
The Confederate connections celebrate the victory | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
ARE YOU ON THE WAR FRONT?
Claiborne Farm’s top-class stallion War Front had a big day on Saturday. War Front celebrated a pair of graded stakes winners on the day, and two of his sons struck gold as well.
At Gulfstream Park, War Front son Fort Washington won the Gr3 Canadian Turf Stakes, while War Front mare Liguria just got up to claim Saturday’s Gr2 Buena Vista Stakes at Santa Anita.
To date, War Front has sired 118 stakes winners, with his tally including champions like Declaration Of War, U S Navy Flag, Brave
Anna and Air Force Blue. War Front is also the broodmare sire of Saturday’s Gr2 Mac Diarmida Stakes winner Capture The Flag, a son of Quality Road and the War Front mare War Flag.
A full-sister to Gr2 UAE Derby winner Lines Of Battle (who raced as so successfully as Helene Super Star in Hong Kong), War Flag
The outstanding War Front in action | Credit: Claiborne Farm
was a top-class performer, winning five races including the Gr1 Flower Bowl Stakes and Gr3 Prix Chloe.
It is however, as a sire of sires that War Front, one of the best sire sons of legendary stallion Danzig, has really made his presence felt of late.
On Saturday, the Drakenstein Stud bred and owned Beach Bomb, by War Front’s much missed son Lancaster Bomber, made all to claim the Gr3 The Very One Stakes sponsored by MyRacehorse at Gulfstream Park.
Beach Bomb had made three starts prior to her The Very One Stakes win, with the daughter of Lancaster Bomber finishing second in the Violet Stakes, third in the Gr2 Rodeo Drive Stakes and eighth (beaten ) in the Gr1 Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
It was a first US success for Beach Bomb, winner of both the World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas and Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes in South Africa. Her late sire Lancaster Bomber has enjoyed another wonderful, albeit posthumous, season this year, with the 2018 Tattersalls Gr1 Gold Cup winner also the sire of this season’s World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Town Met/SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby winner Eight On Eighteen, the 2025 Maine Chance Farms Gr1 Majorca Stakes winner Rascova, as well as 2025 SplashOut Gr3 Prix Du Cap heroine Siddeley. Eight On Eighteen and Saturday’s luckless TAB
SA Classic third Legend Of Arthur highlight Lancaster Bomber’s second and final crop.
One can but speculate what Lancaster Bomber might have achieved in a longer stud career, with his first crop, which produced Beach Bomb, also including Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot, dual
graded stakes winner One Fell Swoop, and the aforementioned pair of Rascova and Siddeley.
Another son of War Front, Fire Away, came up with his first Gr1 winner when his progressive three-year-old son Confederate won the TAB Gr1 S A Classic. Fire Away provided the first two home in the S A Classic, with his TAB Gr2 S A Nursery winning son Fire Attack storming home to take second spot behind Confederate. The first three home in this year’s S A Classic were all sired by sons of War Front.
The luckless Fire Attack has now finished runnerup in three consecutive graded stakes race, with the chestnut taking second spot in both the Betway Gr2 Dingaans and Betway Gr3 Got The Greenlight Stakes prior to Saturday’s runner second cheque.
Fire Away, also responsible for recent Listed Ibhayi Stakes winner My Best Shot, has made a cracking start with his first two crops producing 7 stakes winners from 80 foals, an impressive strike rate indeed. With some well-bred crops in the pipeline, Fire Away appears to be a stallion set to go from strength to strength.
War Front is also the sire of first season sire Declarationofwar, whose first three runners have yielded two winners, including the very impressive debut winner Spacebound. The latter defeated impressive subsequent winner Military Command (ironically enough sired by Fire Away) when he won first-time out at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
Speed
CRAIG ZACKEY’S
GR1 DOUBLE ON CLASSIC DAY
With the favourite Main Defender declared a non-runner after appearing to get his muzzle caught up in the left-hand grille of the starting gate, the balance of the big guns were forced to eat humble pie in testing conditions in the R1,5 million Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday.
Main Defender’s action of turning his head and making contact with the gate saw the handler release the gelding momentarily late, and this was deemed by the Stipes to have impacted his chances. He was thus declared a nonrunner, and his backers got a refund, while the Cosmic Speed supporters incurred a 40% deduction.
And it was national log-leader Craig Zackey who celebrated a personal Gr1 double when
getting the Sean Tarry-trained Cosmic Speed home in what turned out to be a dramatic race.
Cosmic Speed tracked the gutsy pacesetter Texas Red and Barbaresco for much of the journey, before edging forward at the 250m.
With Zackey in a rampant mood, Cosmic Speed (8-1) stayed on best to beat the gallant Texas Red (40-1) by 1,75 lengths in a time of 101,28 secs for the mile.
Cosmic
(Craig Zackey) takes the lead as 3rd placed Imilenzeyokududuma (Raymond Danielson) and 4th placed Greaterix (Muzi Yeni, blue cap) try hard|
Credit: JC Photos
As the soldiers fell by the wayside, Hollywood Racing’s 6yo Imilenzeyokududuma (50-1) came flying through late to grab third, ahead of the 3yo Greaterix (11-2), who was the tote favourite after Main Defender’s no show.
Bred by Maine Chance Farms, the winner, a half-brother to the well-performed Cosmic Highway (Gimmethegreenlight), is a son of Oasis Dream stallion Querari out of the onetime winning Silvano mare, Cosmic Dream.
Now a winner of 4 races with 3 places from 8 starts, Cosmic Speed has earned R1 648 750 in stakes. He was purchased for R725 000 at the 2023 National Yearling Sale and is raced by Mrs H Kuhn, Krishen Naidoo and The Hon Justice G N Kruger.
Craig Zackey celebrated a personal Gr1 double Credit: Candiese Lenferna
TURFFONTEIN GR1 GO SLOW
Cosmic Speed (Craig Zackey) stays on well to beat Texas Red (Kabelo Matsunyane) in a slow-run race | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
An important scientific complimentary tool of the trade for punters and racing enthusiasts, sectional timing data can enhance both the form study and horseracing viewing experience on both KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape race meetings.
In our weekly column entitled Time Is Money, we look at some of the past weekend’s highlights, including some slow-run Grade 1 contests at Turffontein.
Turffontein 1 March
Track Condition: Good to Soft
Penetrometer: 24
Rain:Last 24hrs 6,5mm – Last 7 days 6,5mm
Irrigation:Last 24hrs Nil – Last 7 days 18mm
False Rail:Zero back straight to 5m on bend with a 5m spur at 700m mark
Wind:11-30km/h North Westerly cross/head wind
Course Variant: Due to the deteriorating track condition throughout the afternoon, overall course variants for the straight and the bend could not be formulated
Wilgerbosdrift
Gr1 SA Fillies Classic 1800m
The first of the three Gr1 events to take place was the Fillies Classic and in a race in which heavy rain fell throughout, we saw a very smart performance from FIERY PEGASUS. Stepping up in distance here, this progressive daughter of Captain Of All raced 8th of the eleven early on. Joey Soma’s charge was clearly unfazed by the conditions in this her first run in the wet and accelerated in good style early in the straight. She struck the front 300m from home and
cruised clear in the closing stages of the race to score by four and three quarters.
TAB Gr1 SA Classic 1800m
Run in a time just 1/100th of a second faster than that of the Fillies Classic, there was no real pace in the early stages of the SA Classic. Indeed, several of the leaders were hard held. The eventual winner CONFEDERATE got to the front without having to make any real effort and under a clever ride from Craig Zackey he then raced clear throughout. He ran on strongly in the straight and four lengths to the good going through the 400m, he never looked like being overhauled. The runner up FIRE ATTACK did suddenly take off over the final 200m though and gaining quickly at the finish was only beaten by three quarters of a length. Alec Laird was said to have been devastated when Fire Attack couldn’t take his place in the Guineas due to a virus, and he did then miss his prep race last week as the meeting was washed out. He can improve plenty.
Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes 1800m
The 5/4 favourite, and indeed the best bet on the card for many, MAIN DEFENDER was declared a non-runner after getting his muzzle caught up in the grill of the gate at the start.
In what then completed a hattrick of false run Gr1 events victory went to Sean Tarry’s lightly raced 3yo COSMIC SPEED. Comparatively this was a slowly run race. They went steady early on, before some pace was injected rounding the turn. However, they were very tightly bunched on entering the straight and nicely positioned in the box seat in third, the Querari gelding quickened nicely. He struck the front 300m out and went on to win well from the staying on pacemaker Texas Red by a length and three quarters.
Fastest times:
1000m (3) William Robertson 57,23s
1160m (2) Cymric 67,97s
1600m (2) Gimmefabulous 99,80s
1800m (2) Confederate 114,7s
Notebook:
Fire Attack (A Laird)
Hollywoodbets Scottsville 2 March
Track Condition: Going Soft
Penetrometer: 27 Both tracks
Rain: Last 24hrs Nil – last 7 days 17,5m
Irrigation: Last 7 days Nil
False Rail: 9m
Wind: 10-15km/h Southerly head wind Course Variant: 0,84s Stand side – 1,12s slow Inside
Hollywoodbets Bright Future B Stakes
1000m
Topping a rather moderate bill was the 1000m B Stakes and in what proved comparatively to be the fastest race on the card the easy to back KALAHARI ROLLER registered his third victory from just eleven starts. Nicely positioned in third just three quarters of a length off the strong pace set by both Ibhele and Luhamba
Phambili, Garth Puller’s charge was always poised to challenge He did so as the leaders began to tire 250m out and fending off a determined challenge from the always handy Don Querari (20/1 into 15/2) he won well by a half. With a time of 23,45s Kalahari Roller recorded the fastest 400m-finish time of the afternoon.
Open A Tabgold Account – 031 314 1874
Class 4 1200m
Three of the afternooon’s eight races were run over 1200m and in the fastest of these ONE SMART COOKIE gained her third career victory. Backed into favouritism at the track, the daughter of Lancaster Bomber sat 6th just 3,5 lengths off the pace for most of the journey. She ran on strongly at the business end of the race and won comfortably by a length and a quarter.
Gallop TV Youtube Channel 1600m
The two 1600m events were both false run affairs, with by far the faster being that in which the well supported TERMINATOR (10/1 into 9/2) did the business. The pace was good on leaving the stalls, but then they were by far the slowest on the bend of the four races to round the turn. The winner made the running and was a length to the good when the race developed into a sprint at the top of the straight. He kept on strongly over the final 400m and went on to score by almost a length and a half from the
running on Papa C. The runner up had raced 12th and was easily six lengths adrift turning for home. He had to switch out for a run twice over the final 400m and recording the fastest 400-finish time of the four races around the turn, he did well to get as close as he did.
tabGOLD Soccer 13 Class 5 1400m
The Wendy Whitehead trained THE QUEEN BEE won by far the faster of the two 1400m events. The confirmed frontrunner Head Girl set a strong pace, but once in the straight
she soon began to tire. The daughter of The Apache meanwhile had raced close up in fourth and she quickened well coming off the bend. She hit the front 300m from home and won well by a length and three quarters from her running on stable companion My True Love.
Fastest Times:
1200m (3) One Smart Cookie
1400m (2) The Queen Bee
(2)
MATCHETT’S RAFEEF FLYER OPENS CLASSIC DAY
Rachel Venniker keeps Glastonbury balanced all the way
CRS Cape Slipper candidate Glastonbury produced her best performance to date with a resounding victory in the R200 000 Wilgerbosdrift Listed Ruffian Stakes at Turffontein on Classic day.
After an untidy start, where the eventual winner jumped sideways hampering Princess Keira, Rachel Venniker kept Glastonbury (28-10) balanced all the way and then stayed on well to beat eye-catching first-timer Green Diamond (6-1) by 2,10 lengths in a time of 57,66 secs for the 1000m on sticky ground.
The 7-10 tote favourite and recent debut winner Elegantrix (7-10) was beaten a further 0,30 lengths back in third.
The winner is raced by the Kapnias family and is trained by Paul Matchett.
A R250 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate, Glastonbury was bred by Pippa
Mickleburgh and is a daughter of boom Redoute’s Choice sire Rafeef out of the onetime winning Gimmethegreenlight mare, Gimme London.
Now a winner of 2 races with a place from her 3 starts, Glastonbury took her stakes bank to R281 250.
Entries for the R1,5 million CRS Cape Slipper close at 11h00 on Friday 7 March.
Declarations for the CRS Cape Slipper are due by 11h00 on Monday 10 March.
KLAASEN’S CHEETAH FLIES IN STORM BIRD
KZN-based rider Rachel Venniker rode a scintillating 150-1 double to own the early Classic Day feature action at Turffontein when she followed up her Ruffian Stakes win with a knockout 66-1 victory aboard Robyn Klaasen first-timer Charming Cheetah in the R200 000 TAB Listed Storm Bird Stakes.
With debut winner Read All About It and twice-placed maiden Bingo expected to show the benefit of their experience, it was first timers that dominated with Charming Cheetah (66-1) scything showing maturity and through late to gain a 0,30 length win over Tarry stablemates One Fine Winter (33-1) and Reigning Alice (100-1) .
The winner clocked 58,39 secs, marginally slower than the filly Glastonbury carrying 3kgs more in the first race.
Only 12560 combinations survived the Bipot blow with a provisional minimum dividend of R19-90 after the first leg.
The winner is trained by Robyn Klaasen and raced by Dayalan Chinsammy, Stincky Pooe and Trevelen Pillay’s TKP Racing.
A R500 000 KZN Yearling Sale graduate, Charming Cheetah was bred by Clifton Stud and is a son of the ill-fated New Predator (New Approach) out of the twice winning Jupot mare Enchanting.
A debut winner, Charming Cheetah took his stakes bank to R125 000.
GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT DAUGHTER REGISTERS THE DOUBLE
Leading owner and breeder Laurence Wernars enjoyed a rewarding day at Turffontein on Saturday and the victory of his homebred Gimmefabulous, who followed up her Betway Gr3 Mother Russia Stakes victory with a courageous win in the R250 000 Wilgerbosdrift Listed Acacia Stakes, was an encouraging one.
Trained by the father-son Azzie Racing Team, the well-backed Gimmefabulous set up the double as she hit the front from a few lengths off after Tried And True had led.
Showing resolve amid challenges from a flying Let’s Go Now (4-1) and Lady Fallon (10-1), Gimmefabulous (9-2) dug deep under Winning Form-sponsored Kabelo Matsunyane to score a 1,75 length victory in a time of 99,80 secs for the mile.
The consistent Let’s Go Now ran second, with Lady Fallon overcoming her awkward draw with a top effort from some lengths off for third.
The winner’s stablemate Francine (25-2) was led all the way to the start by Gavin Lerena
A courageous win from Gimmefabulous under Kabelo Matsunyane | Credit: JC Photos
and ran a decent fourth in the circumstances.
The tote favourite Minogue (5-1) ran out of the money.
Bred by Laurence Wernars, Gimmefabulous is a daughter of champion sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the five-time winning Aussie-bred High Chaparral mare Being Fabulous.
Now a winner of 4 races with 2 places from her 8 starts, Gimmefabulous took her stakes to R514 213.
An elated Laurence Wernars shares a moment with Gimmefabulous | Credit: JC Photos
Rafeef soldier William Robertson returns under Ryan Munger | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
The R1 million Gr1 Computaform Sprint is the next target for Corne Spies’ top-class Rafeef gelding
William Robertson who lumbered top weight of 62kgs when running out a convincing winner of the R300 000 TAB
Gr3 JJ The Jet Plane Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday.
Ridden by Bryanston Auctioneers’ Ryan Munger, who won his maiden at the Vaal in June 2021, and returns to Canada on 31 March, and thus probably a partner for the 6yo in the Champions Day Grade 1 contest on 29 March, William Robertson was always going superbly well in the 1000m contest.
On this showing, nobody told William Robertson that he had blown from 4’s to 10’s on the betting boards!
At the 200m marker it was race over and William Robertson (10-1) went on well to beat tote favourite Golden Sickle (33-10) by 2,25 lengths in a time of 57,32 secs.
Maintaining Fabian Habib’s happy day, the 66-1 Mover And Shaker completed the trifecta.
Raced in a partnership by Rob Macnab, Keegan Govender, Xander Spies, Corne Spies Racing (Pty) Ltd & Jannie de Lange’s Waste Glass Recovery (Pty) Ltd, the Ridgemont- bred William Robertson is by the champion farm’s inform sire Rafeef (Redoute’s Choice) out of the
thrice winning Trippi mare, Massachusetts.
The 6yo gelding cost R500 000 on the BSA National 2yo Sale and is a winner of 14 of his 41 starts with 16 places – he has earned R2 407 375.
Some readers are puzzled as to why Karate Kid, who unseated Rachel Venniker inside the gates, was not declared a non-runner, while Main Defender was.
The rationale is that Karate Kid was deemed to be the master of his own undoing, even though he reared a split second before the gates were sprung.
On the flipside, Main Defender turned his head and stuck his muzzle in the gate, which forced the handler to react and hold on to him momentarily, which caused him to be considered slightly prejudiced.
Had Main Defender finished in the money, the Stipes would have been obliged to consider him a runner.
Non Starter Or Starter?
Race How the Stipes saw it: Outcome
Race 8 (1) A race review was called into the start of this race with regards to MAIN DEFENDER (G Lerena) in stall gate 5. The Stewards established that as the start was effected, and this gelding launched itself from the starting stalls, its muzzle was caught in the grill of the left front gate as it opened, and its head was turned as a result. The Handler was slow to release the head of MAIN DEFENDER because of this. The Stewards reviewed this incident from various angles and at various speeds, and were comfortable to the requisite degree that MAIN DEFENDER had been prevented from starting on equal terms and its chances in this race had been materially affected as a consequence of this incident.
Race 9 (13) A race review was called into the start of this race with regards KARATE KID (R A Venniker) in stall gate 11. The Stewards established, after viewing the Patrol films from several angles, that this gelding had been restless shortly before the start and as the gates were released, reared badly and dislodged its Rider in the process. When assessing this incident, the Stewards were of the view that the front gates had opened on terms, that the Handler had released this gelding timeously and that the incident was as a consequence of this KARATE KID’s own behaviour.
Declared to be a non-runner
Declared a runner.
COSMIC SPEED CLIMBS TO 120
Cosmic Speed was increased from 116 to 120 following his victory in the Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m at the Turffontein Standside Track on Saturday.
The Handicappers unanimously agreed that the third-place finisher, Imilenzeyokududuma, was the most suitable line horse for assessing this race, leaving his rating unchanged at 114.
Runner-up Texas Red also saw an increase in his rating, going up to 115 from 110 for beating the 114-rated line horse at level weight terms.
No downward adjustments were made to any runners in this race.
TAB Gr1 SA Classic
Confederate’s official merit rating was adjusted to 118 from 107 after he led from start to finish to win the TAB Gr1 SA Classic for three-yearolds over 1800m.
The Handicappers decided to use the thirdplace finisher, Legend Of Arthur, as the line horse, keeping his rating unaltered at 109. Besides the winner, three other horses received merit rating increases.
Runner-up Fire Attack was raised from 111 to 116 after finishing 3.40 lengths ahead of the 109-rated line horse at level weights. Fourth-place finisher Grey Jet moved up from 96 to 108 after finishing just 0.40 lengths behind the line horse at level weights. Lastly,
Busstopinhounslow was increased from 95 to 104.
Chestnut Bomber was the only runner to receive a drop in ratings, dropping slightly from 106 to 104.
Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 Sa Fillies Classic
Fiery Pegasus has had her rating increased from 115 to 119 after she won the Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic for threeyear-old fillies over 1800m.
The Handicappers considered World Of Alice to be the most suitable key horse for assessing this race, leaving her rating unchanged at 108.
Runner-up Olivia’s Way was one of two other horses that received upward adjustments, moving her rating from 110 to 112. Gerbera, who finished 0.50 lengths ahead of the 98-rated Care Forgot, was adjusted from 88 to 99.
No runners received a drop in their merit ratings in this race.
TAB Gr3 JJ The Jet Plane Stakes
William Robertson’s official merit rating has been adjusted from 125 to 128 following his victory in the TAB Gr3 JJ The Jet Plane Stakes over 1000m.
The Handicappers selected the third-place finisher, Mover And Shaker, as the line horse, leaving his rating unchanged at 112.
Three horses received downward adjustments in their ratings after the race. Taxi To The Moon and Exchange Student each received slight drops, with Taxi To The Moon going from 105 to 104 and Exchange Student from 106 to 105. Mrs. Browning saw a drop of three points, from 118 to 115.
Wilgerbosdrift Listed Acacia Stakes
Gimmefabulous’ rating has been raised to 102 from 96 after winning the Wilgerbosdrift Listed Acacia Stakes over 1600m.
Due to the specific conditions of this race, which do not allow for an increase of more than six points for the winner, Gimmefabulous’ rating was capped at 102, even though her performance warranted a higher rating.
Third-place finisher Lady Fallon was used as the line horse to assess this race, leaving her rating unchanged at 102. Francine, who finished fourth, was the only other runner to see an upward adjustment, increasing from100 to 101.
tThree horses received drops in their ratings: Cape Lights went down to 91 from 92, Elembee was reduced from 81 to 79, and Key Element dropped by one point from 98 to 97.
Listed Breeders Guineas
Splicethemainbrace’s rating remains unchanged at 108 following her victory in the Listed Breeders Guineas over 1600m at Fairview Racecourse on Friday.
The Handicappers unanimously agreed to use the runner-up, Can’t Say No, as the line horse, leaving her rating unchanged at 87. Two other runners received merit rating increases; Bela Vista was raised from 81 to 86, while From A Distance was increased to 85 from 81.
There were no downward adjustments for any runners in this race.
• Media release by the NHA on Tuesday, 04 March 2025.
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M 082 334 4940 E jo@kuda.co.za
RIDGEMONT’S RAFEEF – ANOTHER MAJOR DAY DOUBLE!
‘Cometh the hour, cometh the man’. Winston Churchill’s famous phrase applies in more ways than one to Ridgemont’s Redoute’s Choice crackerjack Rafeef, who produced yet another well-taken dual sex feature double at Turffontein on Classic Day.
Blood once again rules the land and Rafeef’s potent power-packed pedigree, coupled with the Horse Of The Season’s racing record as a Grade 1 winner of 6 races from 1000m to 1400m, have equipped his offspring of both sexes with superior ammunition.
Not many sires can boast Gr1 winners from 1000m to 2400m, and Rafeef again stepped up on Saturday, with two feature race winners on sticky gound at Turffontein.
The in-demand sire’s 2yo daughter Glastonbury was first up, as she made it two wins from three starts with an emphatic victory – her sire’s 23rd stakes winner – when scoring in the Wilgerbosdrift Listed Ruffian Stakes.
South Africa’s only lady jockey, Rachel Venniker was full of praise for the Paul Matchett trained Glastonbury, who now looks a serious candidate for the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship in May in the KZN Capital City.
Rafeef’s 2yo daughter Glastonbury wins the Wilgerbosdrift Listed Ruffian Stakes | Credit: JC Photos
Bred by Pippa Mickeburgh, Glastonbury had won on debut before finishing second to very promising fellow Rafeef daughter Easy Tiger, at Turffontein in February.
Glastonbury is out of the Gimmethegreenlight mare Gimme London and was a R250 000 purchase from the 2024 Premier Yearling Sale.
In the process she became one of three twoyear-old winners this term for her in-form sire.
The Corne Spies-trained Rafeef gelding William Robertson is a firm fan favourite, as the 6yo does not know how to have an off day!
On Saturday he set up a bid to follow in Rafeef’s hoofprints in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint at end March, when he registered his fourteenth career success in winning the TAB Gr3 J J The Jet Plane Stakes.
The Ridgemont bred gelding romped home
under Ryan Munger to score in impressive style and now looks beautifully poised to add a Gr1 to his Gr2 and Gr3 trophies.
Rafeef also celebrated a third place in the same race behind William Robertson, with his son Mover And Shaker staying on smartly.
Rafeef’s 2024/25 season is flying and with five months left, there is plenty of water to run under the bridge.
At sixth on the national General Sires premiership table, Rafeef is in the big league mix and his graded stakes flagbearers include Chasing Happiness, Mon Petit Cherie, and Outlaw King. Clearly bigger days lie ahead!
Rafeef has 16 lots going through the ring at the CRS Premier Yearling Sale at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 13 and 14 March, and a further 34 lots on the BSA National Yearling Sale in April.
14! Rafeef’s soldier son William Robertson sets up a date in the Computaform Sprint with a top win on Saturday | Credit: JC Photos
A supreme
catalogue has been drawn up for the CRS March Premier Yearling Sale, and this catalogue can now be viewed online at www.caperacingsales.co.za.
The auction is set to take place at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 13 and 14 March 2025.
Each day of trading is set to commence at 16h00 sharp, with Andrew Miller, John O’Kelly and Tom Hodgson as the three auctioneers for the two-day affair. The CRS Premier Yearling Sale is set to follow on from the sterling Summer Sale, which enjoyed such tremendous success earlier in the year.
Many of South Africa’s top stud farms will be represented by high-class drafts at the sale, and hopes are high that prices will continue to soar for vendors.
Among the top stallions represented by yearlings on this year’s sale there are Gimmethegreenlight and Vercingetorix who have 51 lots between the two of them.
Also featured on mass are the likes of: Master Of My Fate, One World, Querari, Rafeef, Trippi, and What A Winter. A number of exciting young sires have members of their first crop on offer, including Ridgemont’s exciting pair of Malmoos and Real Gone Kid.
Apart from the sires, the band of broodmares with offspring are outstanding on the Premier sale.
The following stakes winning mares are represented at the sale: Amber Orchid,
Amy Johnson, Being Fabulous, Bilateral, Celestial Love, Cockney Pride, Comtesse Dubois, Cosmic Light, Darling Moon, Desert Rhythm, Due Diligence, Dynasty’s Blossom, Easy Game, Elusive Heart, Exquisite Touch, Fairyinthewoods, Field Flower, Gathering Fame, Gibraltar Blue, Girl On The Run, Golden Dawn, Green Pepper, Green Plains, Haizi, Ha Lucy, Hanabi, Happy Archer, Hello Winter Hello, Herrin, Hollywoodboulevard, Insignis, Intergalactic, Jet Belle, Kinematic Countess, Lady Windermere, Lesedi La Rona, Mana Mou, Mighty High, Mina Salaam, Mirage, Negroamaro, Netta, Omaticaya, Pan Amm, Princess Royal, Principessa, Purple Orchid, Really Royal, Red Dor, Return Flight, Schippers, Schism, Secret Of Victoria, She’s A Giver, Silvan Star, Siren’s Call, Snowdance, Sovereign Secret, Speedy Suzy, State Factor, Sting Operation, Tambalang, Temple Grafin, The Secret Is Out, Thunder Dance, Torra Bay, Trinity House, Trophy Wife. Proven producers are a premium at the Premier Sale, and they include the dams of such stakes winners as All Is Secret, Ambiorix, Baltic Secret, Bella Chica, Black Knap, Call To Unite, Canukeepitsecret, Cat And The Moon, Chyavana, Cockney Pride, Dagmar, Desert Rhythm, Eros’s Girl, Flying Myth, Gimmefabulous, Gobsmacked, Good Council, Kommetdieding, Linebacker, Litigation, Mercantour, Mighty High, Montien, On That Boulevard, Pamushana’s Pride, Poets Warrior, Princess Calla, Proceed, Roman Agent, Seeking The Stars, She’s A Giver, Silver Darling, Silver Operator, Snow Pilot, Sound Of Warning, Strathdon, Strawberry Bear, Sweet Pepper, Tap O’ Noth, The Secret Is Out, Thunee Playa, True To Life, Universal, Vardy, and Zapatillas.
There are a number of mouth-watering prospects on sale at the Premier Sale including:
Lot 7 - a One World half-brother to Gr1 Allan
Robertson Championship winner Sweet Pepper Out of a graded stakes winning daughter of Gimmethegreenlight, this colt’s granddam is a winning Fort Wood half-sister to the Gr2 SA Oaks winning dam of dual Gr1 Summer Cup winner Master Sabina.
Lot 28 - a Vercingetorix three-parts brother to Gr1 Woolavington 2000 winner Silver Darling This colt’s first dam is triple graded stakes winner Jet Belle, a daughter of champions Jet Master and Bella Bianca.
Lot 42 - a Gimmethegreenlight filly whose dam is a Gr3 winning half-sister to champion Mythical Flight.Mana Mou the dam of this filly has already produced six winners including Listed Storm Bird Stakes winner Flying Myth.
Lot 46 - a Vercingetorix filly out of Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship winner Mighty High.
Also victorious in the Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes, Mighty High is a half-sister to Gr2 winner Gobsmacked.
Lot 50 - a Gimmethegreenlight full-brother to Gr2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans runner up Shoemaker and half-brother to Gr2 World Sports Betting Guineas winner Zapatillas. This colt’s dam was a stakes placed winner of five, and he is bred on very similar lines to Gimmethegreenlight’s champion son Sandringham Summit
Lot 51 - a Gimmethegreenlight colt out of the Fort Wood sired Gr3 Fillies Mile winner Negroamaro. This colt is a full-brother to the high-class gallopers Barbaresco and Outofthedarkness and half-brother to this season’s high-class three-year-old Salenio Peninsula.
Wreath Of Snow (c) by Vercingetorix ex Snowdance | Credit: CRS
Lot 58 - a Gimmethegreenlight out of the Gr2 placed Dynasty mare Perfect Air. Out of a three-parts sister to the Dynasty sired dual Gr1 winner Make It Snappy, this colt’s dam is a half-sister to Gr1 winning champion Russet Air.
Lot 62 - a Vercingetorix half-brother to former Horse Of The Year and five time Gr1 winner Princess Calla. Bred on the same Vercingetorix/ Captain Al cross as Gr1 winners Double Grand Slam and Vernichey, this colt is out of a Gr2 winning three-parts sister to dual Equus Champion Princess Victoria.
Lot 68 - by champion Vercingetorix, this colt is out of the dual Gr1 winning Equus Champion Return Flight. Return Flight herself is a direct descendant of Easy Lass, the dam of outstanding US galloper Coaltown.
Lot 74 - this Rafeef colt is out of the Var sired Gr2 Camellia Stakes winner Schippers.His first two dams are both graded stakes winners, and he is bred on the same Rafeef/Var cross as G1 winning sires Master Archie and Thunderstruck.
Lot 77 - this Erik The Red colt is a three-parts brother to the Captain Al sired Gr1 winners All Is Secret and The Secret Is Out. His dam Secret Of Victoria, who has produced four black type winners, is a Gr2 winning half-sister to champions Bela-Bela and Rabiya, and this is the immediate family of this season’s Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met winner Eight On Eighteen.
Lot 82 - this What A Winter filly is a half-sister to dual Gr3 winning filly Sound Of Warning and Listed Settlers Trophy winner Call To Unite. She is out of the outstanding racemare Siren’s Call, who won both the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic and Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas.
Lot 85 - this Vercingetorix colt is a half-brother to two high-class performers headed by Gr1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot. His dam is Captain Al’s dual Gr1 winning daughter Snowdance.
Lot 92 - this Gimmethegreenlight colt is a half-brother to dual graded stakes winner Silver Operator, and his dam is a stakes winning daughter of Captain Al and Gr1 winner Roxanne. Bred on the potent
Gimmethegreenlight/Captain Al cross, this colt hails from the family of champions Gabor and Legislate among others.
Lot 96 - this Futura filly is out of Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes winner Temple Grafin. The family of champions Monyela and Horse Chestnut, as well as graded stakes winning half-brothers Smorgasbord and Zen Arcade.
Lot 97 - a Vercingetorix colt out of Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship winner The Secret Is Out. The Secret Is Out is a full-sister to triple Gr1 winning champion All Is Secret and threeparts sister to the Captain Al sired dual Gr1 winner Snowdance.
Zapata (f) by Futura ex Temple Grafin | Credit: CRS
Lot 98 - a Captain Of All full-brother to dual Gr1 winner Linebacker, who earned more than R2.3 million in prize money. His dam is a Gr3 placed Redoute’s Choice three-parts sister to Australian Gr1 winner Samadoubt.
Lot 100 - a filly by Vercingetorix out of dual Gr1 winner Thunder Dance. The latter was produced by another dual Gr1 winner Shadow Dancing -a half-sister to champion sire Captain Al.
Lot 106 - a Rafeef half-sister to ten winners including Gr3 Starling Stakes winner She’s A Giver. This filly is bred on very similar lines to the Rafeef sired Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner Master Archie.
Lot 110 - a Gimmethegreenlight half-brother to three graded stakes winners including Gr1 Cape Guineas victor Tap O’ Noth. His dam is a
winning Western Winter own-sister to the dam of graded stakes winners Black Arthur and Robert The Bruce.
Lot 112 - a Querari half-brother to champion Proceed and full-brother to promising twoyear-old Parental Guidance. This colt is out of a winning Captain Al half-sister to triple graded stakes winner Second Base.
Lot 114 - an Elusive Fort full-brother to Gr1 Vodacom Durban July/Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met winning sire Kommetdieding. This colt is out of a stakes placed daughter of Captain Al who is closely related to Captain Al’s triple Gr1 winning son Captain America.
Lot 128 - a Gimmethegreenlight full-sister to this season’s Gr3 Betway Mother Russia Stakes winner Gimmefabulous. This filly is out of a
Exposure (c) by Gimmethegreenlight ex Dream De Ra | Credit: CRS
stakes winning daughter of High Chaparral, and her granddam is a dual Gr1 winning daughter of legendary stallion Danehill.
Lot 134 - this Querari colt is a full-brother to Gr2 Prosport International Debutante winner Gobsmacked and half-brother to Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship winner Mighty High. He is out of a Shamardal half-sister to Listed Somerset 1200 winner Sky Link and this is the family of US champion Tom Rolfe among many others.
Lot 148 - this is a Vercingetorix half-brother to three stakes winners notably Equus Champion and Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Vardy. He is out of a full-sister to multiple Gr1 winner Ebony Flyer and half-sister to globetrotting Equus Champion Captain’s Lover.
Lot 149 - this is a Vercingetorix full-brother to Gr1 Gold Medallion winner Ambiorix. His dam won the Listed Lady’s Slipper and is a half-sister to dual graded stakes winner Astro News, sired, like Vercingetorix, by Silvano.
Lot 152 - Exposure colt by Gimmethegreenlight out of Dream Da Ra By South Africa’s reigning
champion sire, this colt is a half-brother to the very exciting two-year-old Dreamworld (Avontuur Estate)
Lot 154 - a Gimmethegreenlight filly out of a Gr3 winning Silvano half-sister to Gr3 Fillies Mile winner Ghaalla. Bred on the same cross as champion Bless My Stars and multiple graded stakes winner Barahin, this filly is from the family of the Gimmethegreenlight sired graded stakes winners Cala Muretta and Hack Green.
Lot 155 - this Vercingetorix filly is out of Dynasty’s Gr3 Gold Cup winning daughter Dynasty’s Blossom. This is an outstanding family; whose members include champion and red-hot young sire Too Darn Hot.
Cape Racing Sales continues to raise the bar in owner and vendor incentives with all purchases qualifying for multiple incentives including the R100k juvenile bonus ( R75k to the owner and R25k to the vendor).
Interested parties requiring more information about the Premier Sale can speak to Vicky Minott at vicky@caperacing.co.za
FIND YOUR ELUSIVE CHAMPION!
Evergreen sire Elusive Fort (Fort Wood ex Ever Seeking) has 15 yearlings from 7 different vendors at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale. He is a proven sire of top performers of both sexes.
The standout is clearly Lot 114 from Oldlands Stud – a full-brother to Kommetdieding, winner of both the WSB Gr1 Cape Town Met and the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Durban July, and now a sire with his second crop on the ground.
His 3yo-full-sister was the top priced lot at the 2023 BSA National Yearling Sale. She is already
a smart winner at her second start. Oldlands also offer Lot 192, a filly out of Noble Princess. Her dam, Arabian Secret has been very successful with Fort Wood line sires.
Black Swan Stud have four fillies and one colt by their resident sire, and Lot 80, a filly out of the well performed mare, Silvan Star and Lot 91, a filly out of promising young mare Step Out appear on day one. ,
Lot 193, a filly out of stakes winner Omaticaya, Lot 249 a filly out the very well related Call Of The Hunt, and Lot 178, a colt from Julila, a
The handsome Elusive Fort (Fort Wood – Ever Seeking) | Credit: Supplied
proven producer of winners, make up their draft on day two.
Narrow Creek Stud have enjoyed great success with Elusive Fort, with the likes of Graded Stakes winners Catch Twenty Two, Big Burn and Elusive Heart. Lot 130, a colt out of Red Ray mare, Bethany is from the family of Ignition Lady, the dam of Catch Twentytwo and Big Burn.
They also offer Lot 179, a colt out of Keara, by Orpen. The mare hails from a successful Argentinian family.
Normandy Stud have 3 on offer. Lot 170 is a colt out of Good Cause, a half-sister to graded stakes winner Crowd Pleaser. Lot 191 is a colt out of Night On The Hill, a half-sister to stakes winner Penthouse. Lot 222 is a filly with paddock potential out of the very well related Western Winter mare Travel Up Front.
Klawervlei Stud, the breeders of Kommetdieding, have Lot 173, a first foal colt out of Herstel, by Captain Of All. Elusive Fort has had a phenomenal success rate with daughters of Captain Al, so this is a shrewd mating.
Riethuiskraal offer Lot 203, a colt out of 4-time winner Rock Pigeon.
Prosper Stud have Lot 225, a filly out of the Captain Al mare Valediction. She won 4 races, and this is a proven nick with greater than 90% historic success rate in producing winners.
The CRS Premier Yearling Sale will be held at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 13 and 14 March.
ELUSIVE FORT
A DAZZLING PREMIER DRAFT
Drakenstein Stud, one of South Africa’s top stud farms, has a very attractive line up of stallions. The farm stands such proven sires as Futura, What A Winter and the sensational One World, as well as such exciting young stallions as A Case Of You, Charles Dickens, Jet Dark and Sharp Frank.
The farm gained yet another attractive prospect when it was announced that Oriental Charm would join their stallion line up for next season. A son of outstanding sire Vercingetorix, and from the immediate family of legendary stallion Danehill, Oriental Charm showed his class when he downed a top-class field to win the 2024 Hollywoodbets Gr1 Durban July. The farm will be bringing a top-class consignment to the CRS 2025 Premier Yearling Sale, with their draft including yearlings by South Africa’s top sires and from some of the best families in the stud book.
Drakenstein’s Kevin Somerville is delighted with the farm’s Premier Yearling Sale draft, “We’ve got a draft with something for everyone; a good variety that includes three colts by Vercingetorix, three yearlings by leading threeyear-old sire One World, two colts and a filly by What A Winter, a colt by Gimmethegreenlight as well as Futura, Querari, Legislate and Gold Standard.”
Lot 85 - Wreath Of Snow (c) by Vercingetorix ex Snowdance
The pedigree speaks for itself, being a half bother to Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot. Well-balanced with a lot to like, he’s got a great walk with a powerful shoulder, a lot of power behind the saddle and a good hind leg. He should be a very popular colt.
Lot 28 - John Coltrane (c) by Vercingetorix ex Jet Belle
Dam to Gr1 Woolavington 2000 winner Silver Darling. Despite being a later foal, he has plenty of size and bulk and looks very powerful. Again, the farm expects him to be a popular lot.
Lot 65 - Kalahari King (c) by Vercingetorix ex Really Royal
Out of the stakes winning Captain Al. This family has been in the headlines recently with
Gimme A Prince’s win in the Cape Flying Championship. He is an athletic sort in a classic mould with plenty to like about him.
Lot 7 - One Pepper (c) by One World ex Green Pepper
A particularly strong type, well-balanced and easy moving with a wonderful temperament. Out of Gr3 winner Green Pepper and a halfbrother to Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship winner Sweet Pepper.
Lot 138 - The Flat Cat (c) by One World ex Casino Queen
Flashy with a phenomenal coat on him. Out of the sprinting mare, Casino Queen (Kingsbarns) and the farm expects him to be the same.
Lot 37 - Green Sensation (c) by Gimmethegreenlight ex Lilac Sensation
From the prolific Mystic Spring family, which of course includes Snowdance and Snow Pilot. This is a more classic individual with plenty of length, a typical Gimmethegreenlight, very flashy with lots to like.
Lot 82 - Final Winter (f) by What A Winter ex Siren’s Call
The last foal out of a Gr1 SA Fillies Classic winner, as we sadly lost her last season. She is lighter framed and easy moving, a ½ sister to Grr3 winner Sound Of Warning.
Lot 10 - Lucy’s World (f) by One World ex Ha Lucy
Attractive, like all of the One World’s and has a lot going for her. She will have plenty of speed.
• For more information on Drakenstein’s CRS 2025 Premier Yearling Sale draft, interested parties are asked to contact Kevin Somerville on 072 167 9971.
A POWERFUL PAIR FROM PAARL DIAMANT
The picturesque Paarl Diamant Estate is located only 40 minutes from training centres like Milnerton and Philippi. Their horses are turned out into lush grass paddocks daily, where they can roam freely and enjoy the open space.
Paarl Diamant enjoyed notable success at the 2024 Breeze Up & Unbroken 2YO Sale, where the estate’s two-year-olds made up to R550 000.
Monique Schabort will be offering a pair of well-bred yearlings at the upcoming Premier
Yearling Sale, and both lots have plenty going for them.
Lot 194 - Eye Opener (f) by One World ex Open My Eyes
Sire sensation One World is not only the sire of current star three-year-old One Stripe but is also responsible for a number of classy fillies, including Betway Gr3 Fillies Mile winner World Of Alice, Gr2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes runner up Roccapina and Listed Somerset 1200 runner up Miss World.
With a number of well-bred fillies yet to race,
Picturesque Paarl! | Credit: Paarl Diamant Estate on FB
One World’s tally of talented daughters looks sure to grow considerably.
Dam is a twice-winning half-sister to Gr3 Algoa Cup runner up Malabar, has produced five winners, including a full-brother to the filly on sale, Listed Racing Association Stakes runner up Look For Hounds and millionaire Coastal Commander.
She is a daughter of Kahal, whose daughters have produced such Gr1 winners as Royal Victory, Chimichuri Run and Mrs Geriatrix.
Lot 205 - Big John Mac (c) by Talk Of The Town ex Saints Alive
Sire a son of the late, great Var, won three of just five starts, came up with the smart performers Miss Lia, Sakurajima, and Famous Lady in his small first crop.
Bred on the same cross as Betway Gr3 Mother Russia Stakes third Miss Lia, out of Saints Alive, a three-time winning own-sister to Safe Harbour, who finished second in all of the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas, Gr1 Paddock Stakes and Gr1 SA Fillies Classic.
A direct descendant of Sister Sublime, dam’s granddam is Gr1 Lancome Handicap winner Saintly Lady.
• For more information on these two yearlings, interested parties are asked to contact Monique Schabort on 083 310 9751.
JULY WINNER’S BROTHER SET TO SHINE FOR OLDLANDS
Situated on 200 Hectares of land in the Hemel en Aarde Valley near Hermanus, Oldlands Stud is a farm which continues to come up with top-class horses.
Past star thoroughbreds bred and raised by Oldlands includes champion Canadian Summer, as well as Gr1 winners such as Ambiorix, English Garden and Zarina.
The farm will be bringing an exceptional draft to the CRS 2025 Premier Yearling Sale on 13 and 14 March at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
An undoubted highlight of Oldlands draft is the full-brother to star galloper and exciting sire Kommetdieding, while the consignment also includes yearlings sired by the likes of Erik The Red, Futura, Heavenly Blue, Pathfork, Rafeef and Vercingetorix.
Lot 11 - Bello Gallico (c) by Vercingetorix ex Hanabi
Very balanced, correct and athletic, a fullbrother to Hotarubi.
Lot 114 - One Point Champion (c) by Elusive Fort ex Adorable
Striking full-brother to Vodacom Gr1 Durban
July and World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Town Met winning sire Kommetdieding. He is a well grown, correct and imposing beautiful individual.
Oldlands Stud – 52 years of experience | Credit: Oldlands Stud
A must on everybody’s shortlist - a serious horse for a serious buyer.
Lot 149 - Guiding Star (c) by Vercingetorix ex Darling Moon
Dam a stakes winner. A full-brother to Gr1 winner Ambiorix. Classy and very pleasing to the eye, extremely well put together with an athletic walk.
Lot 156 - Son Of The Moon (c) by Rafeef ex Earn A Moon
A half-brother to Cat And The Moon (dam of Light Of The Moon) and Taxi To The Moon. A late foal that is well grown and will mature into a beautiful specimen. He walks very well, engaging his whole body.
Lot 171 - Red Hot Rifle (c) by Erik The Red ex Guns And Roses
Dam to Querari Rose (recently won 2 consecutively) and a winner of 5 consecutive
races. He is typical of Trippi, well grown, correct, good walker.
Lot 192 - Loreley’s Rock (f) by Elusive Fort ex Noble Princess
Dam is a multiple winner, out of Arabian Secret by Al Mufti. She is a very good-looking, stamped by her sire.
• For more information on this draft, interested parties are asked to contact Barbara Sanne on 082 566 3450.
MASTER OF MY FATE FILLY
IS TOO CLASSY FOR THEM
Splicethemainbrace (Richard Fourie) wins the Friday Fairview feature | Credit: Pauline Herman
Varsfontein Stud’s homebred stallion Master Of My Fate looks to have another high-class filly in the form of Splicethemainbrace, who notched her ninth win from eleven starts when winning the R200 000 Listed Breeders Guineas run at Fairview on Friday.
An impressive winner of her two starts leading into Friday’s 1600m contest, the Alan Greefftrained Splicethemainbrace was a 5-10 favouritel
Under regular rider Richard Fourie, the threeyear-old raced keenly off a slow pace, before hitting the front 200m from home.
From there, Splicethemainbrace (5-10) cleared away to win a shade cosily by a length and a quarter in a time of 97,53 secs for the mile.
She beat stablemate Can’t Say No (40-1), with the grey Snaith raider Bela Vista (7-2) staying on for third.
Bred by Varsfontein Stud, Splicethemainbrace has won 9 of her 11 jumps, including four Listed races, having prevailed in all of the
Listed East Cape Fillies Nursery, Listed East Cape Nursery and Listed Lady’s Slipper Stakes last season.
She took her stakes earnings to R715 625.
Splicethemainbrace, out of the Sail From Seattle mare Summer Cruise, was a R200 000 buy from the 2023 August Two Year Old Sale.
She is one of 28 stakes winners for her sire Master Of My Fate (Jet Master), who has ten lots on offer at the CRS Premier Yearling Sale and a further 20 yearlings set to go through the ring at the BSA National Yearling Sale.
The high-riding Ridgemont sponsored Richard Fourie rode 4 winners on the day, while Alan Greeff saddled 3.
Richard Fourie and Alan Greeff – a winning duo! | Credit: Pauline Herman
WHAT A DAY!
Gabriel Soma with his mentor, Uncle Joey | Credit: JC Photos
Classic Day at Turffontein last Saturday produced some humdingers, including a likely world record for staunch owners Dayalan Chinsammy, Trevelen Pillay and their partners, who celebrated two Grade 1 wins and a Listed race victory on an afternoon when nobody even noticed the rain.
On a memorable occasion for the power of partnerships, the heady joys of horseracing, and a proud billboard for transformation in the owner ranks, the party went on late into the evening and we will be talking about the achievements for a long time to come.
4Racing Head Of Racing Gabriel Soma was one of the overjoyed part-owners of the Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic winner Fiery Pegasus.
“What a joy to see so many different people from varied walks of life united under the flag of passion for horseracing. It’s a wonderful privilege to race with Jonathan Blumberg, Dayalan Chinsammy,Roger Coppin, Marlon Naicker, Bronson, Gerome, Kevin and Marc Nassif, Bafana and Kgaladi Ncube, and Trevelen Pillay. What a wonderful partnership!”
The 37 year old Gabriel, a married Dad of one and keen golfer, proudly tells the Sporting Post that he picked Fiery Pegasus at sale for R330 000 and said that she was ‘a standout.’ Soma takes immense pride in his ability to compete at the highest level, regardless of the financial constraints. His sharp eye for talent allows his MGAS Bloodstock to identify champions where others may overlook them.
The Soma family’s love for the game goes back many decades. Gabriel’s late grandfather –also Gabriel Soma - was one of the greatest judges and personalities to grace the game. He is still spoken about today by many high profile people.
“My late Dad Gary was one of the best form studiers around. He was agent to Anton Marcus
for over ten years and the retired multiple champion jockey will attest to his feeling for the game. My late mom Cecelia was an avid enthusiast and was born into the game. Her parents were owners for many years and her passion and love for the game was with her to the end.”
The expertise has been honed over years of learning under the guidance of his uncles, Gr1 winning trainer Joey and Neville Soma, renowned judges of horseflesh who have identified champions such as Special Preview, Divine Force, Got The Greenlight, Lobo’s Legend, Wagner, and Happy Landing, among multiple other group winners.
Countless hours spent at sales, studying catalogues, and analyzing horses in the parade ring on race days have provided Soma with an invaluable education in identifying future stars.
“Attending sales is one of my great passions, and being able to find top horses on a regular basis with next to no buying power is the fuel that fires me up,” he enthusiastically tells the Sporting Post.
“While finding top horses requires an eye or gift as well as buying power in certain cases, we are fortunate to be in the unique situation of being able to identify class.”
In the fiercely competitive world of bloodstock sales, where finding value can seem like an impossible task, MGAS Bloodstock has emerged as a force.
The boutique operation, founded by Gabriel Soma, has built a stellar reputation for its
uncanny ability to select elite racehorses, transforming shrewd investments into feature race triumphs with remarkable efficiency.
Gabriel, who attends sales across the country, follows a stringent set of guidelines when evaluating horses. He gave us some insight into his philosophy:
• Every horse at a sale undergoes a thorough inspection.
• Horses must meet seven essential conformation criteria.
• Only horses deemed to have feature-racewinning potential based on conformation are considered.
• Pedigrees are analyzed for value rather than as the primary selection criterion.
MGAS Bloodstock first embarked on its journey with a syndicate in 2021, acquiring horses at the National Yearling Sales.
These purchases proved to be inspired investments, yielding multiple success stories:
• Back In Business (R325K) – Winner of the Gr2 Betway Spring Challenge and a listed race, securing six wins from twelve starts.
• Lady Of Power (R175K) – A remarkable bargain purchase who triumphed in the Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas.
• Rule By Force (R160K) – Finished third in both the Gr1 Betway Summer Cup 2024 and the Gr1 SA Derby.
• In The Beginning (R160K) – A multiple winner.
• Brave Viking (R275K) – Another multiple winner.
Following a lack of syndicate support in 2022, Gabriel says that MGAS Bloodstock returned in 2023 with renewed determination, raising R1,5 million to target yearling sales. Soma made a bold promise to his syndicate members: he would secure them a Group 1 horse—and he delivered with just four purchases at the sale:
• Fiery Pegasus (R330K) – The standout of the 2023 crop, winning the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic in dominant fashion.
• Believe In Fate (R400K) – Won impressively on debut but suffered an injury in the Gr1 Gold Medallion. Now back in training and expected to be a feature race contender.
MGAS Bloodstock is now setting sights on
the upcoming Cape Premier Yearling Sale and National Yearling Sale.
“We are out to find our next Fiery Pegasus. We know she’s out there somewhere!” he laughs.
Fiery Pegasus was right up there on the charts when Hollywoodbets unveiled the pre-noms ante-post market for the 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July on Monday.
Visit www.hollywoodbets.net.
For more information, or to join MGAS Bloodstock’s Cape Premier Yearling Sale Syndicate or National Yearling Sales Syndicate, please contact Gabriel Soma at +27 76 724 0585.
Ed – later this week we meet some of the big players.
THE OZONE THERAPY REVOLUTION –POWERFUL HEALING
Ozone therapy is increasingly recognised worldwide for its powerful healing properties in animals. In horses, it accelerates wound healing, reduces inflammation, boosts immunity, and combats infections.
In Brazil, Dr. Jean Juaquim has been a passionate proponent of ozone therapy for over 20 years. He has dedicated his expertise to advancing its use in both human and veterinary medicine.
His pioneering work in the field has been a driving force in the treatment’s advancement and, in the last decade, his success has led to recognition among a wider audience.
Interestingly, in the world of equestrian sports and horse racing, South African Alexander ‘Zaan’ Thompson has played a key role in the development and promotion of the ‘Ozone
Blanket’ for horses in Dubai and now also in South Africa.
While the concept has been used globally in different forms for several years, Thompson’s innovative design and delivery method are unique, earning him widespread support and praise for their effectiveness.
“One cannot patent a gas and patenting my delivery system would cost around US$100,000. That isn’t worth pursuing because the system is relatively easy to replicate.
In fact, several copycats are already using my methods—some have even copied the exact wording from my promotional leaflets.
Zaan’s original blanket design | Credit: Supplied
There’s nothing I can do about this, but I’m not concerned. I have 14 years of hands-on experience, I’ve refined my methods and protocols through trial and error and I have a growing, satisfied client base that includes trainers and showjumpers in Dubai, France, the UK, and the US. That speaks for itself—my blankets are delivering exactly what the market wants.”
Thompson’s blanket, designed with a latex layer and an array of nozzles, is wrapped and fastened around the horse’s body. The nozzles connect to an ozone generator, which dispenses the gas for transthermal absorption. As the horse warms inside the blanket, its
pores open, enhancing absorption. The ozone then enters the bloodstream and begins its therapeutic effects.
There are specific programmes for healthy horses, happy hackers, competition horses (showjumping and dressage) and racehorses who, as athletes in daily training, receive treatment once or sometimes twice a week. Each treatment is divided into segments of time, depending on the injury or condition.
Thompson’s clients include French trainer Nicolas Caullery, Doug O’Neil in the US, Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi’s RRR Racing in Dubai and the entire Dutch Olympic Showjumping Team.
In South Africa, Sean Tarry has used the blanket with good results in the last year.
Click on the image below to read the full story…
SA-BRED FILLY SCORES
US GR3 VICTORY
Cayton Park Stud Ltd’s Beach Bomb, a two-time Group 1 winner in South Africa, led every step of the way to register her first North American victory in Saturday’s $165 000 Gr3 The Very One at Gulfstream Park.
The 37th running of the 1 3/8-mile The Very One for fillies and mares 4 and up on the grass was the fifth of nine stakes, eight graded, worth $2,15 million in purses on a blockbuster 14race programme headlined by the $415 000 Gr2 Coolmore Fountain of Youth for 3-year-olds.
In her first start since running eighth in the Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf on 2 November
last year, Beach Bomb gave jockey Luis Saez his first win in the three-turn The Very One. It was the second for trainer Graham Motion following Inimitable Romanee in 2014.
Beach Bomb, with Saez aboard for the first time, broke alertly from Post 5 in a field of nine and settled on the front end through splits of 24.17, 50.48 and 1:16.05, with 12-1 longshot Whatlovelookslike in closest chase.
Saez had plenty of horse left on the second turn for home and outsprinted Immensitude and late-running La Mehana to the wire to win by a length. The winning time was 2:14.03 over a firm turf course.
SA-bred Beach Bomb bounds home
Luis Saez | Credit: Herringswell Stables
Queen Regent, Forever After All, Whatloveslooklike, Be My Sunshine, Youknownothing and Blush completed the order of finish.
In 2023 the Drakenstein Stud-bred Beach Bomb won the World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas and Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes in back-to-back starts. She made her U.S. debut last summer running second in the Violet at Monmouth Park and was third in the Gr2 Rodeo Drive in her Breeders’ Cup prep.
Winning trainer Graham Motion said: “I kind of told [Luis] to go forward, so I’m not surprised. Luis helped him away from there. It looked like nobody wanted to go.”
“I think Grade 1 may be a stretch for her, but she didn’t run badly in the Breeders’ Cup. She didn’t get beat that badly. We liked her. Everything had to go perfectly to get to the Breeders; Cup. We gave her a little break after that to let her catch up with herself and settle in. Things went well for this race.”
“I haven’t thought much about [what’s next]. I don’t know if a mile and a half is what she wants to do. I think a mile and a quarter is a pretty good trip for her.”
Winning jockey Luis Saez said: “We were expecting to sit second or third. We knew we had some speed inside. But she broke really well, and she controlled the pace. So we decided to take the lead. I had a lot of horse and when I asked her, she gave me a good run.”
AVDULLA CELEBRATES SHA TIN TREBLE WITH HONG KONG CLASSIC CUP WIN
Brenton Avdulla continued a blossoming season by dominating at Sha Tin on Sunday, crowning a stellar display with victory in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup on David Hayes-trained Rubylot before piloting emerging HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby hopeful Enthralled to an important triumph.
Avdulla, 34, moved into third place in the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship with 29 wins behind injured Zac Purton (84) and Hugh Bowman (42) after taking riding honours with three successive wins after also striking with Young Champion in the Class 2 Tai Hing Handicap for John Size.
“Nice day. I had four rides, I thought three of them were good, competitive rides and they’re the three that have lobbed. They all had nice runs in transit, got the job done,” Avdulla said.
“Hayesey’ had Rubylot spot on. He had a nice run through, and I was confident at the 250m he was going to get the job done. I’ve got no doubt if he drew a gate in the Hong Kong Classic Mile, he would have gone very close to winning.
“I was just back in No Man’s Land and he still ran on well, so I was confident enough to stick with him to come to 1800m. I thought the draw (8) was a little bit tricky again (today) and, ideally, I would have been a bit closer, but it just didn’t look any good after 50m, so I just rode
Brenton Avdulla salutes on Rubylot | Credit: HKJC
him quiet and my only decision was whether I go inside Mickley or around him.
“I just felt I was going good enough to get Mickley out of the way when I cornered and to his credit the horse found the line really well.”
Crowning a glorious eight days, David Hayes immediately set sights on the BMW Hong Kong Derby with Rubylot on 23 March when the Australian horseman will attempt to win the Classic for a second time.
Leading the 2024/25 Hong Kong trainers’ championship with 35 wins, Hayes last Sunday (23 February) saddled HK$13 million G1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup victor Ka Ying Rising before claiming the DBS x Manulife Million Challenge at Happy Valley on Wednesday (26 February) with Soleil Fighter and then striking this afternoon with Rubylot.
Rubylot steamed from the tail of the field at the 400m to overhaul Hong Kong Classic Mile winner My Wish (Luke Ferraris) and score by three quarters of length in 1m 46.29s with fastfinishing Johannes Brahms (Karis Teetan) half a length further back in third.
In clinching the second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series, Rubylot improved his record to six wins and eight placings from 18 starts for his owners, the HK Football Club Horse Racing Syndicate, while taking his earnings to HK$15.5 million.
Settling second last, Rubylot tracked Mickley (Ryan Moore) into the straight before angling into the clear and accelerating powerfully with a race-best 22.30s final 400m sectional to quickly settle the contest and atone for a luckless sixth in the Hong Kong Classic Mile.
Dual Hong Kong champion trainer, Hayes last won the BMW Hong Kong Derby in 2003
with Elegant Fashion, who was the first filly to triumph in Hong Kong’s most coveted race since Corvette in 1976.
“It would be very nice to win another BMW Hong Kong Derby Derby. It’s been a long time. It’s one of the races everyone in Hong Kong wants to win,” Hayes said. “To my eye, Rubylot was the strongest late and that’s a good sign stepping up to the 2000m. Being a Rubick you were always concerned, but he’s out of a Dubawi mare and stoutly-bred on the dam side.
“You always look at this race (Hong Kong Classic Cup) to find the closers and that’s a good pointer to the Derby. I don’t think anyone ran home faster than him today. It was a brilliant sectional.”
A two-time winner in England for Sir Michael Stoute, Size-trained Enthralled showcased his staying potential with a last-to-first win in the Class 3 Yan Tin Handicap to earn a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million and impressing Avdulla.
“I actually said to John after I first rode him that if you had another two months up your sleeve, he’d be one of the live chances in the Derby,” Avdulla said. “So, he’s had to get him there quickly. It’s not often you see John give them only a couple of trials and then run them in a mile.
“I think he’s a good quality horse and if he makes his way into the Derby field, he’ll be a live hope for sure.”
Size joined Hayes and Ricky Yiu in scoring a double with Young Champion’s impressive display before James McDonald completed a brace with victory on Dennis Yip’s Fast Network in the Class 3 Yau Oi Handicap.
McDonald opened his account on Lucky Fionn in the Class 4 Yan Oi Tong Cup Handicap for
Yiu, who also combined successfully with James Orman and The Concentration in the Class 5 Lung Yat Handicap.
Orman was elated after notching his first Sha Tin victory – four days after the Queenslander posted his first win at Happy Valley on Yiutrained Charming Babe on Wednesday (26 February).
“It’s pretty surreal, I’m still pinching myself from Wednesday to be honest with you,” Orman said after notching his second win from only six rides. “To be honest, I was pretty confident with this horse today because I know he’s only won one from 17 but he was one of the first horses I trialled when I got here, and he trialled up really good against horses higher in the ratings.
“I galloped him on Thursday, and I thought he would be really hard to beat. I was always going to get a good run from that alley (2) and I got a good run through today.” Justifying made a striking debut for Caspar Fownes when the three-year-old surged to a three and
three-quarter length win in the Class 4 Fu Tai Handicap under Luke Ferraris.
“He’s a very fast horse and he’s got a long way to go because he’s still quite mature. I gave him two trials and normally I’d give them a few more but he looked to be ready to come to the races. He’s a pretty straightforward horse, he showed a lot of speed and I think he’s quite exciting,” Fownes said of the Justify gelding.
Britney Wong slotted her 10th win of the season with Hayes-trained Ariel’s triumph in the Class 3 On Ting Handicap before Blake Shinn and Benno Yung combined with well-backed Ballistic Win to clinch the Class 4 Po Tin Handicap as Ellis Wong piloted Danny Shum’s Shanghai Style to victory in the Class 4 Sam Shing Handicap.
David Hayes gives the thumbs up | Credit: HKJC
EMPEROR FUELS SYNDICATE’S DUBAI WORLD CUP DREAMS!
There almost wasn’t space on the presentation stage at Meydan on Super Saturday for the 14 delighted owners of Imperial Emperor after Bhupat Seemar’s gelding stormed home in the Gr2 Al Maktoum Classic (sponsored by Emirates Airline) and gained entry to the Gr1 Dubai World Cup.
Six of the day’s nine races offered automatic entry to corresponding races on the big day on 5 April, including the featured Gr2 Al Maktoum Classic (sponsored by Emirates Airline), over the Dubai World Cup course of 2000metres on dirt.
The gelded Imperial Emperor, an AED300,000 Racing In Dubai Sale purchase in March, was favourite for the AED 1.7million contest but had to deal with draw 15.
Jockey Tadhg O’Shea was able to secure a spot to the outside of the leaders and was
in the perfect position from which to strike in the straight, leading off the final turn and storming home by eight and a half lengths from stablemate Artorius and Korean raider Global Hit, who ran a superb race from the front.
“Wow, what a horse!” said Ryan Tongue, Director of British-based syndicate Deva Racing. “This horse didn’t owe us anything before tonight, we just wanted him to come home safe.
“This a dream come true. I can’t believe we’re in the Dubai World Cup!” O’Shea added: “This horse is on the up. I’ve only thrown my leg over him three times and I’ve won all three. That was probably a career best for him. It was a true run race and there was no hiding place out there. He’s very, very genuine.”
Imperial Emperor and the happy connections | Credit: DRC
TRAINERS
JOCKEYS
BREEDERS
SIRES
