BLITZ!
On the cover
Double duo blitz! Highveld raider
Clinton Binda and Hollywood Racing jockey Sean Veale enjoyed a double at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday with Kwagga Blitz and Pure Platinum both ending up in the winner’s enclosure. Candiese Lenferna took the happy photograph.
THE AGA KHAN - A MAN OF GREAT INFLUENCE BREEDING – ‘A GAME OF CHESS WITH NATURE’
The recent passing of His Highness
The Aga Khan has robbed the international racing industry of one of its most influential supporters.
For over six decades, his famous silks of green with red epaulettes graced the racetracks of France, Britain and the US with tremendous success, primarily by horses bred at his Irish and French studs. At latest count, the Aga Khan has owned the winners of more than 160 Gr1 races, amongst which five English Derby winners and 27 French Classic winners.
Those he raced with success, which later became stallions of note include Zeddaan, Kalamoun, Darshaan, Blushing Groom, Sinndar, Siyouni and now Zarak, whilst the emphasis he placed on the importance of top fillies resulted in female families which have served him with distinction, their success stretching as far afield as South Africa.
Arguably the most successful South Africanraced horse to emanate from one of its famed female lines is the phenomenal Australian-bred filly Igugu, whose dam, the unraced Zarinia, hails from the family of unbeaten champion Zarkava. Significantly, both Zarinia and Zarkava share the brilliant Petite Etoile as their fifth dam through her only surviving daughter, Zahra. Zarkava of course is the dam of abovementioned Zarak.
With the Aga Khan’s breeding and racing programme very much geared towards the classics, it can be argued that South Africa, where speed, rather than stamina is the hallmark of its racing programme, has failed to capitalise on the excellence of especially its female families.
Financial constraints aside, very few breeders can count amongst their broodmare bands these prized bloodlines, a rare example being Maine Chance’s broodmare Dynasty’s Blossom.
Winner of both the Gold Cup and Gold Vase, she boasts an excellent Aga Khan female line, that of French and European champion and influential sire Darshaan.
Conqueror of Sadler’s Wells and Rainbow Quest in the 1984 French Derby, his legacy continues through his many excellent daughters, one of which Varsfontein Stud’s noted foundation mare Alexandra Bi.
From a dozen foals, she produced seven stakes performers, which included four stakes winners. Her descendants include the American Gr1 winner Oleksandra, as well as local Gr1 winners Forest Indigo and Main Defender whilst this season, she added Gr1 Summer Cup hero Atticus Finch and Gr3 Fillies Mile victress World Of Alice.
With the Aga Khan’s breeding and racing programme very much geared towards the classics, it can be argued that South Africa, where speed, rather than stamina is the hallmark of its racing programme, has failed to capitalise on the excellence of especially its female families
Iconic blue hen Mystic Spring, who has had such a profound impact on the South African Stud Book, has as her grandam a daughter of Zeddaan.
Voted Broodmare of the Year in 2017, she counts champions Bela-Bela and ill-fated Rabiya amongst seven stakes winning foals, while her daughters and grandaughters have produced a steady stream of top performers, notably Gr1 winners All Is Secret, The Secret Is Out, Snow Dance, Snow Pilot, and most recently, Cape Town Met winner Eight On Eighteen.
Zeddaan’s first-crop son Kalamoun emulated his sire when he claimed the French 2000 Guineas and he too, became a successful sire, perpetuating the sire line through his son Kenmare and grandsons Highest Honor and Kendor.
In South Africa, the blood of Kalamoun coursed through the veins of Gr1 Cape Guineas winner Noah From Goa, Gr1 Woolavington 2200 victress Zirconeum and her full brother, the (then) Gr1 Merchants winner Stellite.
Lest we forget, there is powerhouse stallion
Blushing Groom. Purchased as a foal, he too, won the French 2000 Guineas but after the Aga Khan failed to syndicate the chestnut amongst French breeders, he ended up spending his entire stud career in the US, with immense success.
He gave us Jallad, the champion sire of 2001. Sadly, the handful of Jallad sons to enter stud cut no ice as sires, hence his legacy too, is through his daughters, who have produced the likes of Shea Shea, Solo Traveller, Martial Eagle, It’s My Turn, Russet Air, Liege and Redberry Lane, not to mention Lyrical Linda, whose son Lance has sired champion Quid Pro Quo.
Also worthy of mention is former Normandy Stud-based son Comic Blush, the sire of champions Basic Instinct and Spook Express. Stallions currently doing service who carry Blushing Groom in their female lines include Ideal World, Twice Over, One World and Hawwaam.
This article barely scratches the surface as to the influence the Aga Khan’s racing and breeding programme has exerted on a global scale, suffice to say, it has produced more black type than many newspaper editors.
Blushing Groom – a legend | Credit: Supplied
Mumtaz Mahal – grey f 1921 by The Tetrarch ex Lady Josephine | Credit: Aga Khan Studs
SPRINTERS OR STAYERS?
‘Any mug can train a 1000m horse. It’s very hard to train a two mile horse.’ Turffontein’s straightshooting veteran Joey Soma has held his licence for 34 years and can always be relied upon to have his say. There are no sacred cows with the horseman who saddled a smart winner in Flower Alley mare Damova at Turffontein last Thursday.
None of us are getting any younger and it was something of a sentimental flashback to watch stalwart Clyde Basel chatting to Joey Soma after Muzi Yeni had booted home the first leg of a personal double on the eight-race card.
The Moutonshoek bred Flower Alley mare Damova, a R130 000 National 2yo Sale
purchase, started at 7-2 and made it win number 5 from 25 starts, taking her earnings to R380 000 when accounting for the 8yo Afraad (20-1) by 1,25 lengths to win the MR 80 Handicap over 3000m, clocking 194,25 secs.
It was a nice form return after Malesile Katjedi had erred last time.
Joey was an assistant to Sandy Fletcher and Mike Azzie, before being granted his licence in 1991. Since then he has trained multiple Grade 1 winners and clearly has his thoughts of South Africa’s dearth of staying races.
Watch the final stages of the fourth race and Muzi & Joey’s interview
‘FALSE NARRATIVE’ – NHA TAKES ACTION
As a background, the NHA received a written complaint on 17 January 2025, regarding an incident on 4 January 2025, at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse.
The NHA subscribes to a zero-tolerance policy and given the allegations within the complaint, the NHA immediately opened an inquiry into the aforementioned events, which inquiry process allowed for due process to unfold.
As a result of the abovementioned, certain individuals grasped the opportunity to deliberately fictionalise at least two (2) known recordings/voice clips, published and circulated it in the public domain, for dramatic purposes to instigate a false and equally damning narrative, designed to defame the name of the party/s involved as well as that of the NHA.
The NHA distances itself from such malicious
recordings/voice clips which have been generated using artificial intelligence.
Due to the nature and the false assertions of the recordings/voice clips, the NHA has established through its internal investigatory division, the suspected company and individual/s involved in orchestrating these events and the NHA will be handing over the preliminary information to the office of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation to continue the investigation and prosecute those directly involved, along with those individuals associated thereto.
To the extent applicable, the NHA reserves the right to simultaneously proceed against any member or licenced official in terms of the Rules of the NHA including but not limited to Rule 72.1.43.
• Media release by the NHA National Board on Tuesday 11 February 2025.
Trainer Justin Snaith has a cracking record in the Cape Derby | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
SPLASHOUT CAPE DERBY – 12 ENTRIES RECEIVED
The R1,5 million SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby to be run on Saturday 22 February has now attracted 12 entries after the deadline was extended 24 hours after only 7 entries were received for the prestigious classic on Monday morning.
Justin Snaith has won the Cape Derby four times, dating back to his maiden success in the classic with Russian Sage in 2008 and his most recent being Pomp And Power in 2022. The SA champion conditioner has 5 of the 12 entries, headed by recent WSB Cape Town Met winner Eight On Eighteen.
SA champion jockey Richard Fourie has been aboard 3 of the 4 Snaith Cape Derby winners and is likely to partner the 127-rated Eight On Eighteen, should the Jonsson galloper take his place.
While her famous Dad saddled 2006 winner Floatyour boat, Candice Bass-Robinson is looking for her first Cape Derby success and has two entries, including the only filly in Scarlet Macaw.
This century Vaughan Marshall saddled Linebacker to win in 2021 and 2011 champion, Top Seller.
The Milnerton veteran’s dual Grade 1 winner One Stripe was scratched on Wednesday, 12 February.
While Dean Kannemeyer routed the 6yo Gimme A Prince via the mile of the L’Ormarins King’s Plate back down to win the 1000m HKJC World Cape Flying Championship, it could be a different challenge for a 3yo stepping up from the mile to 2000m, and then back to 1400m in under a month.
Supplementary entries are due on Friday, and then we look forward to the final field on Monday 17 February.
SCRATCHED
RIDGEMONT SIRES ON FIRE!
Easy Tiger roars under Richard Fourie | Credit: JC Photos
The undefeated in two starts Easy Tiger crowned a royal weekend for the Ridgemont team and their Grade 1 Computaform Sprint winning Redoute’s Choice sire Rafeef, who celebrated four winners over three regions and two different racing surfaces from Friday evening through Saturday.
Ridgemont jockey Richard Fourie got his first feel of the exciting Mike de Kock-trained Rafeef filly Easy Tiger, who stormed to her second consecutive win at Turffontein on Saturday.
Raced by Ridgemont and Devin Heffer, Easy Tiger quickened and ran on strongly to beat Glastonbury. She was green in the run to the line and jockey Richard Fourie had to change his hold and give her a straightening reminder, but the win was impressive all the same.
“She’s quite spunky, but she travelled well and picked them up quite nicely. She’s a nice filly, a good mover,” said Fourie.
Champion trainer Mike de Kock clearly has a soft spot for the filly.
“Easy Tiger is still very naughty. She has good acceleration and the further she goes, the better she’ll be. It’s three from three for our association (with Ridgemont and partners) and I’m sure everyone is happy. Julia Kieswetter (from Ridgemont) is here, she is the one responsible for all these youngsters.”
Julia Kieswetter noted that she was currently
working with about 80 young horses on the Kieswetter family’s pre-training farm in Wellington.
Despite her previous winning rider’s encouraging observations that she should go a mile, Easy Tiger is bred to fly, being a daughter of champion Redoute’s Choice’ outstanding Ridgemont-based Grade 1 star Rafeef, out of the four-time winning Where’s That Tiger mare, Tiger’s Touch. She is a half to the speedy Dynasty four-time winning mare, Great Cat.
Easy Tiger was one of three winners for Rafeef on Saturday, with Mountain High and Golden Destiny winning at Turffontein and Hollywoodbets Kenilworth respectively.
Three-year-old Golden Destiny looks decidedly progressive and made it back to back wins when he won the Summer Country Championship 1200 Final on Saturday.
The Dean Kannemeyer trained gelding swooped late, under Craig Zackey, before going on to win a shade cosily by just under half a length. The lightly raced Golden Destiny has won three of just nine starts, the victories coming in his last five outings, to give one an idea of his improvement.
Consistent three-year-old Mountain High got off the mark when she won a Maiden Plate for Sean Tarry and Gavin Lerena at Turffontein on Saturday. The daughter of Rafeef, who was bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, is out of the Master Of My Fate mare Oh Mercy Me.
Under the lights at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday evening, the 6yo Rafeef mare Drive By lived up to her name when flashing past late to down her opponents in a Class 5 1200m contest and register her sixth career victory in cavalier style. Out of the Australian-bred
Hussonet mare Spitfire Lady, Drive By has proven versatile and consistent.
South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire of 2020-2021, Rafeef has a single lot on offer at the BSA Cape Yearling Sale, and 17 lots on offer at the CRS Premier Yearling Sale on 13 and 14 March.
There was also champagne being opened North of the Limpopo when yet another Ridgemont stallion registered his 27th black type winner.
Canford Cliffs’ son Action Zone won the Listed Ipi Tombe Stake over a mile at Borrowdale on Sunday. In the process, the Thomas Mason-
trainedfive-year-old made it four wins from his last five starts.
His five-time Gr1 winning sire Canford Cliffs, who has enjoyed a flurry of early 2yo winners, looks to have another smart potential feature performer to his name, in Tenango, who made it back-to-back wins in the final race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
Tenango has won three of his last four starts, and is out of the Trippi mare Tripadvisor.
Ridgemont’s five time Grade 1 winning sire
Canford Cliffs has two lots on offer at the BSA Cape Yearling Sale, and a single lot on the CRS Premier Yearling Sale.
Ridgemont’s Julia Kieswetter leads in Easy Tiger with the De Kock team | Credit: JC Photos
VARSFONTEIN WELCOME KHAYA’S GREEN MACHINE
Green With Envy by Gimmethegreenlight ex Miss Coco (Galileo) | Credit: Jeremy Nelson
Dean Kannemeyer’s
dual Grade 1 winner Green With Envy will retire to the place of his birth to take up stud duties in the new season.
Bred by Khaya Stables and raised at the beautiful Varsfontein Stud, Green With Envy is by SA champion sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the Irish-bred Miss Coco, a daughter of champion Galileo, who was unbeaten in one start over 2400m.
A winner of 6 races, with two Grade 1 successes from just 10 starts for stakes nearing R3 million, Green With Envy injured a tendon sheath in his final Cape Town Met gallop.
“It would have taken six months of rest, but it was decided by Lady Laidlaw and her Racing Manager Jehan Malherbe to rather send this magnificent athlete to stud. He is a young and superb specimen, and I believe he is a
very exciting prospect,” added Kannemeyer who has trained three previous Khaya Stables stallions.
Form Bloodstock’s Jehan Malherbe told the Sporting Post that Green With Envy was a champion, by a champion sire, out of a Galileo mare.
“His performance on track was top class, his pedigree speaks for itself, he is a good looker and Varsfontein is a top stud,” concluded Malherbe.
In a statement, a spokesman for Varsfontein Stud said that they are pleased to announce that South Africa’s highest rated older colt and
Equus Champion Three-Year-Old of 2024 will be retired to Varsfontein Stud.
A Champion son of a multiple Champion Sire Gimmethegreenlight, he is out of a daughter of the legendary Champion Galileo.He stands 16.2, is an outstanding looker, and hails from a top class international family.
His dam is an own-sister to an International Group winner, half-sister to two further Group winners, and 3 further black type horses including the dam of a Grade 1 winner.
He is being syndicated into 40 shares at R150 000 per share (excl VAT & insurance). Each shareholder may send an additional mare for the first four years as a bonus service. In addition to Varsfontein Stud, many leading breeders have already taken up shares incl
Blue Sky, Hemel & Aarde, Maine Chance, Mauritzfontein, Owloon, Syrilla, Wilgerbosdrift, etc.
Should you have any further queries, please contact Jehan Malherbe at your earliest convenience.
Jehan Malherbe FORM BLOODSTOCK
Mobile +27 (0)83 252 8146
Office +27 (0)21 510 1455
jehan@aro.co.za
Green With Envy beats the ill-fated Flag Man to win the 2024 Gr1 Daily News 2000 | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
ORIENTAL CHARM - SOLD OUT!
Happy connections after Oriental Charm’s Hollywoodbets Durban July victory | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Unprecedented interest and prevailing positivity from breeders saw the sale of shares for the syndication of the 2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Oriental Charm for the balance of his racing career and for stud sold out in less than 24 hours when offered on Monday morning.
“It is quite staggering! Despite a reduced mare population and two stallions being marketed simultaneously, there is still a lot of bullishness amongst the breeders. Perhaps it’s also a reflection of the recent successful sale, coupled with him being a son of Vercingetorix and an opportunity to own a ready-made Hollywoodbets July runner,” a delighted Jonathan Snaith told the Sporting Post on Monday evening when making the announcement.
In a spirit of enthusiasm and shared opportunity, owners Greg Bortz and Gina Goldsmith invited breeders and friends to embark on an exhilarating journey with them and their remarkable racehorse.
A son of the Equus outstanding sire, Vercingetorix, this season’s leading sire with 51
stakes winners at 11.8% and thirteen black-type wins, his dam Souk is by champion 3-year-old and Durban July winner Grey’s Inn. She was a speedy three-time winner and listed-placed over 1400m. Oriental Charm hails from the family of Danehill, Northern Dancer and Halo, one of the most successful sire-producing families in the international studbook.
Oriental Charm had the speed to win first time out over 1250m and the class to stay 2200m, attributes so desirable to South African Breeders.
The current owners have committed to funding his remaining racing career until he retires to stud at the end of July, following three races:
the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge Gr1, the Hollywoodbets Durban July Gr1, and the HKJC Champions Cup Gr1, with a combined gross stake of R8 million. The new shareholders may thus benefit from a risk-free chance to recover a significant portion of their initial investment.
When retiring from racing, Oriental Charm will stand at leading breeders Drakenstein Stud Farm and will be managed by Jonathan Snaith.
NO JOKES –NO HOAX!
Craig Zackey guides Rich Folks Hoax down the inside rail to a popular win as Azzurri (Chad Little) plugs on gamely | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
Dean Kannemeyer and Craig Zackey were amongst the Grade 1 winners on Cape Town Met day, but the duo showed their versatility across the spectrum on the Summer Country Championships finals day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday when winning the opener.
Cape Racing’s initiative to highlight genuine race and earning opportunities and to illustrate that lower-rated horses in the Cape have the ability to earn considerably in the province, has worked a charm and well patronized fields for the five Summer Country Championships R200 000 finals on Saturday underscored that in no small measure.
The Country Championships caters for the lower merit-rated horses in the province, which race predominantly in Class 4 and Class 5 races, but the lightly exposed 3yo Rich Folks Hoax could have bigger fish to fry and he showed courage and good ability when cutting a swathe down the inside rail from some lengths back in the run for home to win the R200 000 Summer Country Championship 1600 Final.
Under a confident ride by Zackey, Rich Folks Hoax (3-1) carried too many guns for the game
year older Azzurri (14-1) to beat him by 0,40 lengths in a time of 100,92 secs.
The grey Master Of Paris (7-1) descended on the leaders from the clouds to gain an eyecatching third, a further 0,30 lengths back, with Iconic Destination (5-1) rounding off the quartet.
A R725 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, the winner was bred by Rathmor Stud and races in a partnership of Mauritzfontein, Noelene Malherbe, George Ragunan and Wayne Thompson.
A son of Mauritzfontein’s Deep Impact stallion Danon Platina, Rich Folks Hoax is out of the twice-winning Trippi mare Jane S Piddy. She raced in the Willempie Englebrecht Jnr silks for Glen Kotzen and was named after a terrific school-days song of the 1970’s on the Rodriguez Cold Fact album, if sentimental memory serves the writer correctly.
Rich Folks Hoax has now won 2 races with 4 places from 8 starts for stakes of R226 038.
Rich Folks Hoax was a popular tote favourite and the net Pick 6 pool of R493 062 saw 175 181 tickets surviving, with a minimum opening leg dividend of R2,80.
Trainer Dean Kannemeyer receives his accolade from Cape Racing’s Felix Guni | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
LA PULGA ON THE UP
La Pulga (Aldo Domeyer) wins with ears pricked |
Chase Liebenberg
Candice Bass-Robinson and Aldo Domeyer teamed up to win the R200 000 Summer Country Championship 1800 Final as the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Pick 6 results remained on a popular early track on Saturday.
The second of the five Summer Country Championships R200 000 finals went according to plan as the lightly raced Pomodoro gelding La Pulga endorsed his post-maiden consistency when produced late by Aldo Domeyer for a fluent victory and his biggest career payday.
La Pulga (33-10) clocked 112,64 secs for the 1800m and beat the revitalized 6yo Gentleman Joe (25-2) by 1,75 lengths, with the tote favourite Groovejet (7-2) rattling through from some way off for third. His stablemate Kwite A King (5-1) rounded off the quartet.
Bred by Millstream Farm, La Pulga is by July winning Jet Master stallion Pomodoro out of the
well-performed five-time winning Al Mufti mare, Gilden Minaret.
A R275 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale buy, La Pulga – which directly translated from Spanish means ‘flea’ – has now won 2 races with 3 places from 7 starts for stakes of R229 200.
The 3yo gelding races for a partnership of Philip Bamford, Andrew Brand, Monty Govender and Marsh Shirtliff’s Greenacres Trust.
The Pick 6 minimum jumped to R17,90 after the second leg, with 27609,59 combinations in the mix still.
Aldo Domeyer unsaddles after an eye catching victory | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
SON OF ERUPT ROCKS THE EXOTICS
Diamond Rock (Joshwin Solomons) keeps rolling as Masterofthedesert (Louis Mxothwa) chases hard | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
The bomb dropped in the R200 000 Summer Country Championship 1400 Final at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday when the mostly formless Diamond Rock swept through the centre of the track to win at 75-1.
Ridden by Joshwin Solomons, Diamond Rock came from the clouds as the duo booted the Pick 6 minimum from the R17,90 minimum dividend of the second leg to R2830, 60 – with over 27 000 combinations blowing in the wind.
Just as his stablemate Devil A Saint (16-1) looked dangerous into the final stages, Solomons was stalking and kept the 4yo gelding Diamond Rock balanced as he soared clear to account for Masterofthedesert (25-1) under replacement Louis Mxothwa by 1,25 lengths in a time of 87,46 secs for the 1400m.
The well-backed Paratrooper (13-2) ran on steadily a length back in third, with Lady Look Alike (20-1) crowning a partially carried over and hard to find quartet.
The tote favourite Swiatek finished in midfield in a disappointing effort.
Bred by Varsfontein Stud, the winner is a son of Erupt (Dubawi) out of the Windrush mare Elysian Gem.
A R200 000 Cape Yearling Sale purchase, Diamond Rock is trained by Des ‘Tjoppies’ McLachlan and races for Denis Le Breton. He has won 2 races with 4 places from 16 starts for stakes of R275 926.
Joshwin Solomons is all smiles after the shock win | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
QUERARI GELDING STAMPS AUTHORITY
Aldo Domeyer has Un Bel Di in control as Bluff On Bluff (Ashton Arries) on the inside battles on. Go It Alone (Morne Winnaar, light blue cap) and All About Al (Craig Zackey, inside) complete the quartet | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
After the knockout blow by Diamond Rock a half hour earlier, some sanity returned to the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Saturday Pick 6 when the smart Querari gelding Un Bel Di justified favouritism to win the R200 000 Summer Country Championship 1000 Final in fluent fashion.
A second winner on the afternoon for Aldo Domeyer and also the second leg of a double for SA champion trainer Justin Snaith, the 3yo Un Bel Di (9-4) tracked the pacesetter Casino Ace before asserting himself late to beat the gutsy 6yo Bluff On Bluff (11-2) by three quarters of a length in a time of 58,54 secs for the 1000m.
Piet Botha’s Go It Alone (40-1) ran an improved race for third under replacement Morne Winnaar, a half-length back, with All About Al (13-2) in fourth.
Bred by Drakenstein Stud, and raced by L’Ormarins & Friends, Un Bel Di – named after
a soprano aria from the Puccini opera Madama Butterfly – is a son of Querari (Oasis Dream) out of the thrice-winning Trippi-mare, One Fine Day, who was trained in her track career by Sean Tarry.
Now a stakes-placed winner of 2 races with 6 places from his 9 starts, Un Bel Di took his earnings to R311 151.
Delighted owner Gaynor Rupert hugs winning jockey Aldo Domeyer | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
DK RACING SYNDICATE CELEBRATE GOLD
Dean Kannemeyer and Craig Zackey rounded off a great day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, winning the first and last of the five R200 000 Summer Country Championship Finals.
a thriller | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
Craig Zackey celebrates a double as Golden Destiny flies late to collar Captain’s Destiny (Ossie Noach) in
After Rich Folks Hoax’ terrific win in the first leg of the finals, it was the DK Racing Syndicate’s handsome Golden Destiny who went back-toback after his surprise victory on Cape Town Met day, when winning the R200 000 Summer Country Championship 1200 final.
Ridden cold, as is his wont, Golden Destiny (5-2) powered home late to nab the consistent Vaughan Marshall trained filly Captain’s Destiny (8-1) to clock 72,39 secs for the 1200m and registering an official win margin of 0,40 lengths. Street Outlaw (8-1) got the better of Sooty (7-1) in fourth.
Bred by the Everetts at Narrow Creek Stud in Wolseley, the 3yo Golden Destiny looks to have a bright future was a R700 000 National
Yearling Sale buy and took his tally to 3 wins with 2 places from 9 starts for stakes of R297 501.
He is a son of Rafeef (Redoute’s Choice) out of the five-time winning Querari mare, Spring Wonder.
One of our most successful owner syndicates, the DK Racing Syndicate gets a good one every season after African Warrior started the ball rolling in the pre-covid years.
The son of Vercingetorix was bred by Boland Stud and was purchased for just R100 000 at the KZN Yearling Sale. African Warrior was a multiple graded stakes winner and also won the KZN Breeders Million.
James and Brett Crawford – ready for the changes! | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
BYE BYE BRETT
Father-and-son training partnerships are very much in vogue in South Africa right now. First we had Mike and Adam Azzie, then the Hollywoodbets-sponsored Brett and James Crawford, and most recently Mike and Mat de Kock.
While Mathew de Kock has returned home to South Africa after a stint abroad to join his veteran Dad, it is the middle-mentioned Crawfords that will soon undergo a professional and domestic restructuring, with Dad Brett spreading his wings and taking on the big guns in Hong King, while the good son holds the fort.
But according to both Brett and James it will be business as usual at Hollywoodbets-sponsored Crawford Racing down Futura Park way in Philippi, despite Zimbabwe-born trainer of champions realizing a long-held dream to train internationally.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club broke the news early on Friday that the 53 year old has been licenced in one of the world’s greatest and most competitive racing jurisdictions, with effect from the new season.
One of South Africa’s most decorated trainers, with 38 Gr1 victories among a career tally of almost 1500 winners, and the current Hollywoodbets Durban July title holder, Brett Crawford told the Sporting Post that it was a ‘massive honour’ to have been afforded the rare opportunity to train in Hong Kong but that the transition in his absence on African soil would be ‘seamless’.
“I will naturally be engaging with each of my owners ahead of the end of the term, but nothing much will change with the same team in place and our unparalleled attention to detail and a commitment to customer service excellence in place, as has been the case for the past 25 years,” Brett said as he proudly pointed to son James as being the ‘new generation’ – and as a treble Grade 1 winning trainer already, James has shown that he is ready to fill Dad’s shoes.
James learnt the early ropes as a youngster shadowing Dad, and his coaching included stints at the maestro Mike de Kock. James has been running the yard’s Randjesfontein satellite yard with plenty of success.
“In fact my move to Hong Kong sees a welcome injection of youthful energy and enthusiasm into the leadership of our team, which boasts a superb core of loyal
staffmembers and owners. We are privileged to enjoy the support of some of the sport’s top personalities, as well as a cross-section of patrons who race for the fun and the love of it. We are a happy family of racing professionals, and that’s the way things will remain,” added Brett.
He began his horse racing journey as a child, riding work before transitioning to a stable employee immediately after finishing school.
Brett tells how he gained valuable experience under the guidance of some of South Africa’s most esteemed trainers, including the internationally renowned Mike de Kock, as well as South African champion trainers Eric Sands and Dennis Drier.
At the age of 19 Brett left Zimbabwe and moved to Johannesburg in 1989 were he joined the Mike de Kock yard. In 1991 he moved to Cape Town and became assistant trainer to Peter Muscutt, running the satellite yard for 2 months in Gqeberha with great success.
In 1993 Brett moved to Eric Sands where he stayed for 4 years and had the pleasure of working with one of South Africa’s best sprinters, Flobayou. In 1997, Brett had the opportunity to move to Durban through a job offer from the now retired racing legend Dennis Drier.
After a rewarding four and a half years with Dennis, Brett developed in many ways and learnt fundamentals in mastering the art of training a thoroughbred.
In 2001, he successfully applied for the position of private trainer with Sabine Plattner, one of South Africa’s leading owners, marking the start of his training career. He obtained an open licence in 2010.
Crawford’s best season in South Africa came in 2017/18, when his stable claimed six Group 1 wins.
He operates primarily from the Western Cape, along with a satellite stable in Randjesfontein in Johannesburg. In the 2023/24 season, he achieved third place in the South African Trainers’ Premiership with 106 winners at a strike rate of 11.7%.
Crawford started the 2024/25 season in strong fashion with 29 wins under his own name before forming his partnership with James Crawford.
David Ferraris, Tony Millard and Doug Whyte are the most recent South Africans amongst the Hong Kong training ranks and Brett Crawford will be looking to continue the proud tradition.
Tony Millard told the Sporting Post that Brett’s work ethic and vast experience would stand
him in good stead. “It’s not easy, but nothing worthwhile achieving ever is,” added Millard, and he should know, after plying his trade there for almost a qrater century.
Millard trained 709 winners after moving to Sha Tin from South Africa in 2000 and will forever be synonymous with the major race achievements of dual Hong Kong Horse of the Year Ambitious Dragon, one of his two Hong Kong Derby winners, while he also campaigned abroad with success, triumphing in Korea with Super Jockey.
Tony Millard’s last Group elite victory in Hong Kong came via Panfield in the Gr1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, a success which secured Panfield the mantle of Hong Kong Champion Stayer in 2020/21.
We could be talking about Brett Crawford in the same breath twenty years hence!
Selukwe wins comfortably under Serino Moodley
Credit: Candiese Lenferna
PLATTNER GALLOPER GOES FROM START TO FINISH
Nathan Kotzen’s former Betway Summer Cup winner Royal Victory was the biggest disappointment of the local weekend when the son of Pathfork failed to flatter at 4-10 when finishing a lukewarm fourth of six runners in Sunday’s umThombothi Stakes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
Serino Moodley and Andre Nel produced the goods when the 5yo Selukwe (6-1) galloped relentlessly from the break and stayed on best to beat the 50-1 Miss Platina by 3,20 lengths in a time of 119,21 secs for the 1950m.
The MR 91 rated Positive Attitude (16-1) stayed on best of the rest for third, a further 1,05 lengths back in third, with Royal Victory running fourth 5,75 lengths off the winner. A poor run!
A dual Grade 1 Highveld Grade 1 winner, the disappointing Royal Victory has not won since clinching top honours in the World Pool Gr1 Premiers Champions Challenge at Turffontein in April 2024. What are we going to blame today for his below par effort ?
Selukwe has now won 5 races with 9 places from 21 starts and stakes of R508 400.
A Plattner home bred, Selukwe is a son of Pomodoro (Jet Master) out of the Captain Al mare Sovereign Flo.
FLOP - A RUDE WORD!
The non-black type umThombothi Stakes run at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday has received engagement and interest on this platform on a par nearing that of a Grade 1.
That, mostly due it seems to the fact that the Sporting Post headlined the race report, ‘Royal Victory Flops’, after the dual Gr1 winning 4-10 favourite plodded in fourth of six runners and some 5,75 lengths behind gun-to-tape winner, Selukwe.
‘Flop’ is a four-letter word that clearly evokes powerful emotions when used in a sensitive place. Google describes ‘flop’ as an informal term that means something is a complete failure or unsuccessful. We seemed to have touched a nerve and got into a jam on what looked like a quiet Sunday of bread-and-butter racing.
When we covered the race in the morning, our headline screamed ‘Kotzen’s Royal Victory Is The Class’.
The son of Pathfork looked head and shoulders above the opposition.
We knew it was a prep run, but he had had an outing just a month earlier.
Muzi Yeni knows him well.
He won his last Grade 1 on soft ground.
His five opponents were, with all respect, not exactly Equus candidates.
The ‘flop’ headline in the subsequent race report was written without malice, absolutely definitely not from the pocket, and with no agenda.
The Kotzens – the Woodhill clan and their Natalian counterparts – are the nicest people around. Muzi did nothing wrong.
So the headline was simply an opinion about the effort of a 4-10 shot that, in our book, didn’t run like a 4-10 shot.
We really do hope that Royal Victory comes out and wins another two Grade 1 races this year.
Remember, we’re never nasty, definitely not malicious, and talk to anybody and everybody who wants a voice – no matter what side of the fence you’re on. And that fence counts in this game!
If we offended anybody, we need to say the hardest word.
After all that, let’s get down to a letter to our Sporting Post Mailbag.
It comes from well-known owner Rob Haswell, former Mayor of Pietermaritzburg – it is published as incoming, unedited.
Rob Haswell writes that he has had horses trained by Nathan Kotzen for more than twenty years, and I have come to know and appreciate that his quiet and unassuming nature, belies a horseman of exceptional ability.
Two of my horses — Cumulus and Master Keys — won first time out, and being green and over ambitious, I pushed for them to race at Turffontein and Fairview, with place success.
If that is considered a flop, then the buck stopped with me not Nathan.
In fact, in all of these years Nathan has never said ” your horses cannot lose”.
Fit and working well is all you ever get, as he quietly and modestly builds up a horse to a
targeted race, so by definition his horses do not flop, they win when they are ready, and show ” winning work”, working very early and usually alone on the bend at Summerveld.
So to describe Royal Victory’s admittedly sluggish run at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, as a flop, is unwarranted, wide of the mark, and even insulting in that Nathan never said the horse is a good thing.
After all, you should know that he builds Royal Victory up slowly without fanfare and that he is following the same prep this year.
Why change when he won not one but two Grade Ones at Turffontein, and is clearly intent, and nobley assisted by Ted Hughes’s transportation services, following the same prep route this year.
How could you be so blissfully unaware of his amazing training feat by raiding the Highveld which bigger stables have chosen not to, for fear of flopping. Again your choice of the word is completely wide off the mark.
In my view and in the new South Africa, ‘the people’s horse’, an over used title, will come from a smaller stable and not necessarily be owned by a billionaire.
Lastly, to expect Royal Victory to romp home in minor races months before his main mission and earning penalties, is frankly amateurish, and the real flop is committed by those tipsters, who are readily it seems, misled by the pricing up of the horse at odds on.
The only certainty is that he was not primed for Sunday’s second race @ Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
Time will tell.
Have your say – send your name and address with your letter to editor@sportingpost.co.za.
A SMASHING DUO FROM RIVERTON
Riverton Stud have bred a long list of top-class thoroughbreds, with the Robertson farm’s alumni including such Gr1 winners as Astrix, Captain Of All, Domino Man and Pearl Of Asia, to name but a few.
Duncan Barry will be offering buyers a chance to acquire their own top-class Riverton Studbred star when he brings two choicely bred fillies to the upcoming BSA 2025 Cape Sale on 23 February at SARDA Centre.
Duncan had the following to say about his pair on sale:
Lot 69 – Unnamed (f) by The United States ex On High (Seventh Rock)
By Galileo’s high-class son, she is big and strong, good walking with a great attitude. By the same sire as such smart females as
Sheelah, United Council, and Rodeo Drive, her granddam is a twice-winning Jet Master halfsister to champion Jay Peg.
Lot 77 – Unnamed (f) by Real Gone Kid ex Queen Of Thrones (Rebel King)
She is racy, correct with a pedigree filled with speed. A real Riverton-pedigree from the first crop of Snitzel’s speedy son Real Gone Kid, her dam is a half-sister to the Riverton-bred champion Captain Of All
Riverton’s two yearlings can be viewed from Block E.
Riverton Stud Farm – where quality is key! | Credit: Supplied
Jikkie de Wet’s beautiful Prosper Stud | Credit: Prosper Stud on FB
This is also the family of legendary racehorse and sire Bold Ruler.
Erik The Red and Malmoos are two other sons of Captain Al represented in this draft.
Prosper Stud will be offering five well-bred yearlings and acting as agent on another two youngsters at BSA’s Cape Yearling Sale on 23 February. This string, made up solely of fillies, includes yearlings sired by both proven and promising stallions. Among the established stallions represented here are Captain Of All, Futura and Pomodoro, while promising young sires with lots on offer include Triple Crown hero Malmoos and Snitzel’s speedy son Real Gone Kid.
Lot 61 – Cash Out (f) by Captain Of All ex Money Surger
Daughter of the tough as teak racemare who made more than 80 starts, won ten times and earned more than R650 000 in stakes, hailing from the same family as Met winning champion Peter Beware.
Lot 79 – Tongetjie (f) by Captain Of All ex Rippit Whippet
Out of a three-time winning full-sister to Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes winner Woljayrine, granddam is a stakes-placed winner of seven.
Lot 25 – Princess Positano (f) by Erik The Red ex Dolomiti
Out of a high-class Gr3 Magnolia Handicap runner, hails from the same family as champions Darshaan and Too Darn Hot, among many others.
Lot 88 – Mad About You (f) by Malmoos ex She Will Rule
Bred on similar lines to the Captain Al-sired stakes winners Captain In Command and Canadian Sunset.
The farm’s string can be found in Block B at the SARDA Centre in Constantia.
JOHN’S HIGH-CLASS CYS
Narrow Creek Stud on FB
Sprinkles, Homely Girl, Bold Fortune, Elusive Heart - all graded stakes winners sold by Narrow Creek Stud at past renewals of the BSA Cape Yearling Sale.
John Everett will be offering another high-class consignment at the 2025 Cape Yearling Sale, to be held at SARDA Centre on 23 February.
The farm’s impressive draft includes yearlings sired by the likes of Buffalo Bill Cody, Danon Platina, Elusive Fort, Futura, Malmoos, Querari and What A Winter.
While he is ecstatic to present this whole draft, John picked out a trio of yearlings he thought would do well:
Lot 37 - Sweet Potato Pie (c) by Erupt ex Gimmethemoney
A strong, early half-brother to Khethiwe’s Destiny who has shown some promise, winning two of her first four starts, with Mike de Kock.
By the sire of Moonlight Trader and Unzen, out of a twice-winning daughter of multiple champion sire Gimmethegreenlight.
Lot 62 – Unnamed (f) by Futura ex Musical Romance
A big, well grown half-sister to some promising horses like Freed From Desire and Buffalo Storm Cody. Bred on the famous Futura/Trippi cross, her granddam is a stakes placed winner daughter of Captain Al.
Lot 83 - Copper Head (c) by Real Gone Kid ex Saraaba
This is a neat speedy type by the exciting new kid on the block Real Gone Kid who seems to be throwing a nice type. Out of a mare by legendary shuttle sire More Than Ready (whose progeny include Gimmethegreenlight), his third dam is multiple Gr1 winner Nastique.
This draft can be viewed from Block D at the venue.
MOUTONSHOEK’S MAGNIFICENT PAIR
Moutonshoek – where equine athletes grow up strong! | Credit: Romi Bettison
A farm known for its motto of “where the horses come first”, with their large paddocks on limestone-rich soil, at Moutonshoek Stud the equine athletes play, run and grow up strong with good bone.
Moutonshoek’s Bennie Van Der Merwe is a firm believer in the importance of land, and says, “This is real horse country and was the area they used to breed cavalry and Green Point tram horses.”
The farm has bred numerous classy gallopers including the ill-fated Horse Of The Year Captain’s Ransom and will be offering two quality colts at this year’s BSA Cape Yearling Sale.
Lot 12 – Tycoon Mo (c) by Royal Mo ex Care To Dance
From the underrated sire, whose progeny include the top-class R6 million plus earner
Royal Aussie. An exceptional female line and a three-parts brother to a winner, dam is a Smart Strike half-sister to Gr3 Darley Stakes winner Steele Tango.
Fourth dam is the wonderful producer Mill Princess - dam of Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner, and champion sire, Last Tycoon and ancestress to a host of international stars including Moutonshoek’s own successful sire The United States.
Lot 59 – Thomas Burchell (c) by Flower Alley ex Miss Chance
Sire’s current flagbearers include the likes of Chyavana and Firealley. Dam is a full-sister to exported Listed Sea Cottage Stakes winner Majestic Mambo, and closely inbred to the great mare Lassie Dear.
This draft can be viewed from Block E at the SARDA Centre in Constantia on 23 February.
Credit: Moutonshoek
Just another heavenly day at Hopes And Dreams Stud | Credit: Hopes And Dreams on FB
HIGH HOPES FROM HOPES AND DREAMS
Hopes And Dreams Stud is a relatively new farm, and an exciting addition to the Cape stud farm ranks. Situated just outside Wellington, the farm is home to a top-class band of mares, and, more importantly perhaps, blue blooded stallion Frantastic.
A son of legendary racehorse and sire Frankel, the regally-bred Frantastic is a full-brother to four-time Gr1 winner Cracksman, the sire of unbeaten Arc winning champion Ace Impact, among others.
He won at 2 and 3 years of age and twice from seven runs, over 1600m and 2000m respectively, before incurring a career-ending injury. Winning on both all-weather turf surfaces, proving his versatility, he could have been anything had he stayed in training.
The lightly raced Frantastic, who also hails from the family of legendary sires Nasrullah and Royal Charger, proved popular in his first season at stud, when he covered a high-quality book. He certainly looks to be an exciting young sire in the making.
Hopes And Dreams Stud will be eight-strong at BSA’s 2025 Cape Yearling Sale on 23 February, with their draft made up of yearlings sired by Buffalo Bill Cody, Canford Cliffs, Erik The Red, Heavenly Blue, Horizon, Royal Mo and Talk Of The Town.
The only colt in this draft is by the son of Redoute’s Choice:
Lot 9 – Unnamed (c) by Buffalo Bill Cody ex Burnt Paper Sky
This sire has made a cracking start to his stud career, this lot is out of a winning daughter of Listed Betting World Laisserfaire Stakes winner Joshua’s Mistress. From a top-class family with numerous high-class relatives including the July winning champion Heavy Metal among others.
Talk Of The Town is already a sire of smart fillies Famous Lady and Miss Lia. He is represented in this draft by two lots:
Lot 32 – Unnamed (f) by Talk Of The Town ex Flick Flack
Very closely related to Var’s high-class son Vars Vicky
Lot 36 – Unnamed (f) by Talk Of The Town ex Gallic Girl
Dam a winning daughter of Vercingetorix
Other appealing lots to be found here include:
Lot 42 – Unnamed (f) by Erik The Red ex Just Judy
From the family of Breeders’ Cup winning fillies Caledonia Road and Moira
Lot 97 – Unnamed (f) by Canford Cliffs ex Tallinn
Dam is a three-time winning daughter of Vercingetorix
This draft can be found in Block B at the SARDA Centre.
WELL-RELATED YEARLINGS FROM BLUE KAROO
The Blue Karoo Stud will be bringing a pair of well-related yearlings to the BSA 2025 Cape Yearling Sale at SARDA Centre on Sunday, 23 February.
Proven sire Ideal World is no stranger to siring high-class performers, with his best including such champions Rainbow Bridge, Smart Call and Hermoso Mundo.
Lot 65 – Money Smart (f) by Ideal World ex New Money
The son of Kingmambo is represented here by a half-sister to the useful filly Easy Money. Her numerous high-class relatives include Gr1 Benoni Guineas victor Michaelmas, out of the Captain Al mare New Money, herself a daughter of the stakes winning Fort Wood mare Cinnamon Sugar.
Blue Karoo’s Lot 105, Okayama (c) by Danon Platina ex Vul Indlela | Credit: Dr Marni Strauss on FB
Bred on the same Captain Al/Fort Wood cross as such stars as Captain America, William Longsword and Malmoos.
Ideal World’s stablemate, and Japanese Champion, Danon Platina is enjoying a fine season in 2024-2025, with the son of Deep Impact’s stars including the graded stakes winners Great Plains and White Pearl.
Lot 105 – Okayama (c) by Danon Platina ex Vul Indlela
A half-brother to the smart Copper Fire, he is out of the winning New Approach mare whose granddam, High And Low, ran second in both the Gr1 St Leger and Gr1 Yorkshire Oaks.
These two yearlings can be viewed from Block A.
TENANGO IS ONE FOR THE NOTEBOOK
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 this third of a new weekly column, Time Is Money, we look at some of the past weekend’s highlights, and commence with Friday evening’s Hollywoodbets Greyville racemeeting.
Hollywoodbets Greyville (poly) 7 February
Track Condition:
37mm of rain fell in the week leading up to this meeting with 30mm of that landing in the last 24 hours before this information was disseminated.
The going was posted as standard There was a light to moderate north easterly headwind of 5-15km/h Course Variant: 0,77s slow
Even before the condition of the track clearly deteriorated prior to race 7, the times of the earlier races show that the course was rain affected. 80% showers had been predicted and looking at the puddles at the side of the track before the first race, plenty of rain had clearly fallen.
Aldo Domeyer and Tenango leave them chasing shadows – he is one for the notebook! | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
Hollywoodbets Bright Future Class 3 1200m
Taking all of this into account then, the fastest of the evenings’ eight races was the Class 3 1200m event won by the well-supported favourite MR MASTER STARTER (33/10 into 9/4).
Early followers of this column would have already picked up the trend of horses sitting in the box seat, as was the case here with the winner. Mr Henley looped runners at the start of the race and then proceeded to slow with every 200m section. Racing in second was Common Ground and he too followed a similar pattern before fading even more quickly. Confidently ridden meanwhile, “in the box seat” in third, the winner took up the running 100m out and won going away.
Hollywoodbets Kenilworth 8 February
Track Condition:
Just a half of a millimeter of rain fell in the seven days leading up to this meeting so during the same period 55mm of irrigation was added to the track.
The resulting penetrometer readings were 23 in the straight (good) and 24 on the turn (good to soft).
The false rail was in its original position from the 1700m mark with a 4m spur at the 600m mark. The outside rail was in 4m from the 600m mark.
There was a moderate north westerly tail wind of between 10-18km/h.
Course Variant: 0,55s fast (straight) 0,51s slow (bend)
Hollywoodbets Bright Future Class 3 1200m
By far the fastest of the three 1200m races on the card was the aptly named Hollywoodbets Bright Future Class 3 event in which the highly regarded TENANGO registered his fourth
career victory from just eleven starts.
Backed into 5/4 from 5/2 at the track, Candice Bass-Robinson’s charge raced three and a half lengths off them in seventh early on. His sectionals were consistent and strong though from there onwards and only having to be pushed out, in order to take up the running 150m from home, he won with authority. Another to keep tabs on from this race is the runner up Rosh Kedesh. Racing behind the winner, he too set solid fractions and finished well.
Country Championship 1000 Final
The favourite was also on the mark in the 1000m Country Championship Final in the form of UN BEL DI.
In a race that was also run at a fair clip, the 3yo son of Querari broke well and raced just half a length off the speed. He kept up a strong gallop throughout and although the pace naturally slowed over the final 200m, his 400m to finish time was only 0,16 seconds behind that of the fastest finisher of the afternoon. That was recorded by Go It Alone who finished third in this race.
Country Championship 1800 Final & 1600m Final
Comparatively the fastest of the four races around the turn was the 1800m final in which LA PULGA scored a facile victory. The pace was a fair one in the early stages, and led by Gentleman Joe they clocked a time rounding the turn considerably faster than the two 1600m races.
The front runner kept on determinedly in the closing stages of the race and did well to hold on for second place. Nicely positioned in sixth some four lengths off the pace for most
of the journey though, La Pulga had always been travelling well and soon began to make headway on entering the straight. He was ridden to lead as they approached the 300m marker and after quickly going clear won easing down by a length and three quarters.
The 1600m final was not surprisingly the faster of the two 1600m events. In a race that was run comparatively slowly around the turn, the field was tightly bunched entering the straight and the race developed into a sprint. Joint favourite RICH FOLKS HOAX quickened nicely at that point and under a well-judged ride from Craig Zackey, he put his head in front 100m out.
Fastest Times:
1200m (3) Tenango 71,43
1600m (2) Rich Folks Hoax 100,92
400-finish Go It Alone 23,02
Hollywoodbets Scottsville 9 February Track Condition
31mm of rain fell in the previous seven days and so no irrigation was added to the track. With the penetrometer reading 28 on both tracks the going was posted as Soft. The false rail was out 3m.
There was a light to moderate south easterly crosswind of between 10-15km/h.
All races around the turn were run on the inside track.
Course Variant: 0,53s slow (straight) 083s fast (bend)
UmThombothi Stakes (NBT) 1950m
Favourite backers got off to a rough start in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday when the 5/10 market leaders got rolled in the opening two races. The latter of which was the 2023
Summer Cup winner Royal Victory in the bill topping Umthombothi Stakes.
Thrown in at the weights and well suited to the posted soft going, Nathan Kotzen’s charge raced fifth of the six early on. The pace wasn’t a hot one though and the 800m-600m segment (approaching the straight) was noticeably slow. In the following segment all of the runners quickened by a higher than normal amount of between 1,25 & 1,5 seconds. Clearly the race developed into a 600m sprint then and Royal Victory never got in a blow.
Meanwhile at the head of affairs throughout, the Pomodoro gelding SELUKWE set consistently strong fractions over the final 600m and went on to record the afternoon’s fastest 400m to finish time.
Gallop TV B Stakes 1400m
Three of the afternoon’s nine races were run over 1400m and in the fastest of these IMPOSING registered his fourth career victory. The pace was a good one and Michael Roberts’ charge sat in midfield for most of the journey. Once in the straight though, he quickened best of all and in what proved to be the second fastest 400m-finish time of the afternoon (just 1/100th of a second slower than Selukwe) he
got the better of the well supported Tyrconnell by a neck.
Interestingly, taking times around the turn, the three 1400m races were run a minimum of two seconds faster than the two 1600m races and the 1950m race. The 1400m times, also suggest that the going on the inside track was not so soft.
Hollywoodbets Bright Future Class 4 1200m
Two 1200m events brought the afternoon to a close and in the faster of these the lightly raced ABADDON gained his second win from just four starts. Easily 8 lengths off the pace for the first half of the race, the Flying The Flag gelding quickened best of all when the early effort began to take it’s toll on the leaders. He struck the front 60m from home under a well-judged ride from Tristan Godden and won going away.
Fastest Times:
1200m (2) Abaddon 70,10
1400m (3) Imposing 83,60
1600m (2) Tomyris 97,78
400-finish Selukwe 23,47
Notebook:
Tenango (C Bass-Robinson)
Rosh Kedesh (D Kannemeyer)
Tristan Godden steers Treaty Of Paris to victory | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
FIRST SHOT FIRED BY RATHMOR STUD’S WAR FRONT SIRE
From just two runners to date, Rathmor Stud’s War Front stallion Declarationofpeace celebrated his maiden winner at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday, when the Mike Miller-trained colt Treaty Of Paris stamped his authority with a good victory at his second start.
Bred by Blue Sky Thoroughbreds, Treaty Of Paris is out of the five time winning Var mare, Our Destiny and showed top class improvement as he lengthened down the inside under Tristan Godden to win at generous odds of 14-1, beating Black Frost (10-1) by 2 lengths in a time of 65,81 secs for the 1100m.
Highveld raider Zacatoo was a warm order 4-10 favourite but had no answers to what the locals dished out and had to be content with third.
Raced by Sterling Miller and James Grant, Treaty Of Paris was purchased by Sterling Miller for R350 000 on the 2024 CRS Breeze Up & Unbroken 2yo Sale.
Declarationofpeace arrived at stud in 2021 in the hoofprints of his half-brother Noble Tune.
From the proven Danzig sireline, Declarationofpeace is by War Front (sire also of Fire Away and much-missed Lancaster
Bomber) and raced successfully for Ballydoyle, scoring the pinnacle win of his career in the Listed Qatar Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. He won 3 races in Ireland and America.
A specialist sprinter, he is out of Storm Cat’s stakes winning daughter Serena’s Cat, the dam also of American champion and sire Honor Code.
Declarationofpeace was given the thumbs up by KZN breeders, who supported him to the hilt with a first book of over 80 mares, a good number of which were black type performers/ producers.
He boasts amongst his first crop, siblings to champion Lady In Black, the Gr1 winner Bohica and stakes winners Nexus, Mercury Rising, Jo’s Bond, Harry Lime and Leaving Las Vegas.
Declarationofpeace was a $2,6 million foal and represents an opportunity to mine the speed of Danzig that has served us well in South Africa, as he was a precocious 2-year-old.
He stood in 2024 for R12 000 plus vat, live foal.
Enquiries to:
• Des Gonsalves – 082 779 2800 or
• Brad McHardy -073 045 8101
The CRS 2025 Summer Sale has proven to be a monumental success, with results that highlight the strength of the South African bloodstock market.
Credit: Chase Liebenberg
The sale recorded the highest average price for a yearling sale in South Africa since 2017, underscoring the exceptional quality of the individuals on offer.
Vendors who presented top-class specimens were justly rewarded, with impressive purchase prices further validating the standard of their offerings.
Among the standout lots, two yearlings captured the spotlight. The top colt, Chestnut Verse (Vercingetorix ex Chestnuts N Pearls), fetched a remarkable R2.2 million, while the top filly, Proud Mary (Vercingetorix ex Varikate), sold for R2 million.
The Summer Sale achieved a total aggregate of R46,355,000, with an average price of R626,419 and a median of R500,000.
This year’s Summer Sale also marked the inaugural event at the new venue, Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. The venue’s layout and facilities were met with high praise from both vendors and buyers, ensuring that the transition to this new location was seamless and well-received.
Looking ahead, anticipation is already building for the Premier Yearling Sale. The catalogue is now available online, and there is growing excitement about the quality of horses on offer.
Day 1 will showcase yearlings with exceptional pedigrees, while Day 2 will feature some outstanding individuals that may not tick every pedigree box but are nevertheless top-class physical specimens.
Please note that the Premier Yearling Sale will take place one day earlier than advertised. Day One will be held on Thursday, 13 March 2025, and Day Two on Friday, 14 March 2025,
with both days starting at 16:00.
See the catalogue – please click here.
Incentives for Premier Yearling Sale Graduates:
• CRS Slipper 2YO 1200m R3M – to be run in 2026
• CRS Mile 3YO 1600m R1M – to be run in 2027
• CRS Sprint 3YO 1200m R1M – to be run in 2027
• CRS Juvenile Stakes Bonus – R100,000 (R75,000 for the owner and R25,000 for the vendor)
• CRS Big Cap
• Great news for sellers of horses on the Day Two part of the Premier Yearling Sale is that the Cape Racing Sales’ highly successful Pinhook initiative will be active.
All prospective pinhookers are welcome to apply to the initiative with Cape Racing Sales in advance of the sale.
The pinhook initiative allows approved pinhookers to buy horses and only pay once selling at the Breeze Up and Unbroken 2-yearold Sale. For more information, please visit www.caperacingsales.co.za and refer to the incentives tab. Terms and conditions apply.
We also remind all buyers to apply for their digital buyer’s card in a timely manner to avoid any delays. We look forward to welcoming you to the Premier Yearling Sale, where your future champion awaits.
For further information, contact:
• Vicky Minott – vicky@caperacing.co.za
• Janine van Blerk – janine@caperacing.co.za
• Phone – 021 700 1600
Media release by Cape Racing Sales on Friday 7 February 2025
MASTER CHEWY TOO STRONG IN SPIRIT CHASE
Master Chewy (11/1) was too strong in the finish beating his four rivals to land Gr2 William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Game Spirit Chase for his connections.
The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained eight-yearold, ridden by his son Sam, won by just over a length from Libberty Hunter at Newbury on Saturday afternoon. His front-running stablemate Matata (11/8 favourite) was a further three-quarters of a length back in third.
Matata jumped the last in front but drifted slightly on the run to the line, handing the advantage to the game Master Chewy who stayed on all the way to break his winless run.
The Sam Twiston-Davies ridden winner had a much easier task after the short-priced and
unbeaten Sir Gino was withdrawn overnight due to a sore hind leg.
Nicky Henderson is now considering running Sir Gino just over two weeks before Cheltenham after the Arkle favourite missed his Newbury prep.
Henderson has identified the Pendil Novices’ Chase at Kempton on February 22 as the likely pre-festival target.
Despite the trainer admitting the Pendil trip of 2m4½f is “not ideal”, he is desperate to get
Master Chewy wins well under jockey Sam Twiston-Davies | Credit: Coolmore
more experience into Sir Gino, who has run only once over fences, before the Arkle on March 11.
After an electric chase debut victory over Ballyburn in the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase at Kempton over Christmas, Joe and Marie Donnelly’s top novice chaser was made favourite for the Arkle.
“The reason I wanted to come here rather than the novice at Warwick was to get horses who could give him a lead and go a right good gallop. Therefore, he wouldn’t have had to go around on his own, and that’s the one thing I don’t want to do,” said Henderson.
One of Sir Gino’s potential Arkle rivals is the Dan Skelton trained L’Eau Du Sud who made no mistake in the Gr2 Unibet Kingmaker Chase up north at Warwick.
An overcast day at the Midlands track provided a fitting backdrop with the big grey providing a poignant success in the late John Hales yellow and red silks.
Hales’s daughter Lisa was in attendance and said: “It’s been a tough week, and the big man is up there watching. He would be proud of this. He’d have loved today – he loved having horses with Sir Alex [Ferguson] and Ged [Mason] and all his trainers. He lived and breathed racing.”
L’Eau Du Sud jumped particularly well and looked set for a wide margin win in the home straight. However, Harry Skelton’s mount idled on the run-in, and in the end held on by a length from Rubaud in the four-runner Group 2 worth £75,000.
L’Eau Du Sud finished second in last season’s Betfair Hurdle and County Hurdle and is now 4-4 over fences this campaign.
He is third in the Arkle betting behind 8-11 favourite Sir Gino and 15-8 shot Majborough.
Dan Skelton said: “His jumping was really good, and it was an important race, even more so with Harry wearing John’s colours.”
“He’s a really good two-miler; he’s got the speed, and he can jump at that pace. He and Rubaud went really quick. He was superior from the back of three out to the last and probably got a bit lonely late on. That will put him spot on for next month.”
“He has more experience than Sir Gino and Majborough, and experience counts for a lot, but ability supersedes experience the majority of the time. I don’t think L’Eau Du Sud is lacking in ability, though. He’s a very good horse; been a great novice this season and we go there full of hope.”
LUKE FERRARIS SALUTES ON LUCKY YOU
Luke Ferraris continued a blistering form surge with success aboard veteran sprinter Lucky With You in the HK$3,72 million Class 1 TVB Cup Handicap at Sha Tin on Sunday, leaving the young South African jockey with three feature victories in 10 days.
Buoyant after wins in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile on My Wish at Sha Tin on 31 January and the HK$3.12 million Class 2 Tsun Yip Handicap on Mr Ascendency at Happy Valley on Wednesday, Ferraris continued a stunning season with Lucky With You’s triumph.
Ferraris, 23, produced a copybook ride on Frankie Lor’s seven-year-old, who had been
competing at Group 1 level against champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising and clearly appreciated the drop in grade.
Sitting fourth on the rails throughout, Ferraris drove dual Group 1 runner-up Lucky With You (129lb) between Harmony N Blessed and Magic Control inside the final 100m before powering clear of Gorgeous Win (123lb) and
Luke Ferraris salutes on Lucky You | Credit: HKJC
Magic Control (127lb) in 1m 08.47s.
Lor said: “Class 1 is different for him because usually he’s in Group 1 or Group 2. He’s seven years old now and it was great to get another win for the owners. Perfect ride by Luke.”
Having his first ride on the Artie Schiller gelding, Ferraris was elated after extending a remarkable run of form.
“Lucky With You is a lovely, game horse. He’s a real soldier. He does have a bit of a short sprint so the way the race panned out was ideal. We got behind a nice horse, Magic Control, and he pulled us through to the 250m and when he had done his job, Harmony N Blessed started to fall away,” Ferraris said.
“It worked out really nicely and he hit the gap really strongly and powered away to the line, so thanks to Frankie and his team. Hopefully
we can keep rolling. The support has been fantastic, and I’ll be looking to keep that going and if it does, hopefully I can keep capitalising on the decent rides.”
Californiatotality advanced HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby hopes with victory in the Class 3 TVB Midlife, Sing & Shine 3 Handicap for Tony Cruz. Ridden by Brenton Avdulla, the Zoustar gelding notched his fifth win from 16 starts.
Cruz made it a double when Righteous Arion clinched the Class 3 TVB Heroes In White Handicap under Alexis Badel.
Jamie Richards posted his third winner in as many meetings when La Forza capped an eventful 24 hours with victory under Zac Purton in the Class 4 TVB Yan Chai Charity Show Handicap.
Californiatotality (Brenton Avdulla) wins well | Credit: HKJC
A three-year-old by Toronado, La Forza posted his second win from four starts after galloping riderless at Sha Tin on Saturday morning (8 February) after losing his rider.
“It was just unfortunate that he shied basically at the TV screen there. But he didn’t go too fast when he did a little quiet lap without the rider on and thankfully everything’s gone nice and smoothly for him today,” Richards said of La Forza’s trackwork incident.
“He’s a horse who last season was very immature, and we backed off him and we thought we had him ready to go earlier in the season and we just had to back off him again because he was just a little bit shin sore. He was very weak last season, but he’s put on a lot of weight and strengthened up.”
Purton took his tally to 84 wins for the season when David Eustace’s Light Years Charm swept to victory in the Class 3 TVB Tung Wah Charity Show Handicap after Lyle Hewitson slotted a double, scoring aboard Benno Yung-trained Special Hedge in the Class 5 TVB Lok Sin Tong Charity Corner Handicap and Francis Lui’s Gallant Epoch in the Class 4 TVB Yan Oi Tong Charity Show Handicap.
“Obviously, it’s fantastic. It’s just been a slow start this season, but I feel like over the past two weeks, I’ve been feeling really good in the saddle and I think that is showing – and that’s a positive,” Hewitson said.
“On top of that, I’ve been given one or two opportunities each meeting which I’ve been able to convert.”
Pierre Ng reclaimed the lead in the 2024/25 trainers’ championship with Gale Saga’s victory for Matthew Poon in the Class 4 TVB Tung Wah Celebrity Show Handicap before Dennis Yip’s Super Love landed the Class 4 TVB Pok Oi Charity Show Handicap for Teetan.
Jimmy Ting posted his sixth win of the campaign when Flash Current snared the Class 4 TVB Po Leung Kuk Gala Spectacular Handicap for Harry Bentley. Winning Gold claimed the Class 3 The Fading Gold Handicap for Karis Teetan and Chris So.
RIVELLIVNO SCORES THRILLING
Rivellino (James McDonald) wins the Inglis Millennium at Randwick | Credit: Inglis
Unbeaten 2YO Rivellino (Too Darn Hot) – a colt that had “so much swagger to him and thought he was the king of Riverside’’ – scored a thrilling victory in Saturday’s A$2m Inglis Millennium at Randwick.
Having won impressively on debut at Randwick five weeks ago, trainer Kris Lees devised a plan to target the Millennium and today that plan paid incredible dividends for Rivellino’s large ownership group.
The colt is now two wins from two starts and will target the Gr1 Golden Slipper at Rosehill on March 22.
Lees teamed up with Justin Bahen to purchase Rivellino – bred by Scott Murray with Brian and Pat Ireland – for A$180,000 at last year’s Classic Yearling Sale, where he was offered in the Lime Country Thoroughbreds draft.
Rivellino was bred and raised at Segenhoe Stud, whose General Manager Peter O’Brien is among the owners of the exciting colt. Lime Country’s Jo Griffin – the vendor of three of the 16 runners in Saturday’s Millennium, all from last year’s Classic Sale – was ecstatic post-race.
“He’s such a great colt. As I said in the lead-up, he’s such a beautiful mix of So You Think and Too Darn Hot. He was a very sharp, stylish colt from the get-go and he was just so impressive today,’’ Griffin said.
“At Classic last year he just had so much swagger to him, he just thought he was the king of Riverside, he rocked along all the time, he was a very bully colt, but he’s obviously enjoyed the routine of being in training and Kris Lees and his team have done an amazing job with him.’’
When asked how she thought the Lime Country draft of 15 yearlings would fare at Riverside
over the next three days, Griffin said: “We’re gonna smash it!’’Bahen remembered Rivellino at last year’s Classic Sale and was far from surprised to see him winning a big race like the Millennium so early in his career.
“It’s great to get a good horse like this for one of my best mates in racing in Kris Lees and hopefully he goes on to win plenty more big races like this,’’ Bahen said.
“When I saw him at the sale, he was one of those horses that was pretty easy to like. We had a bit of intel on the family in that Kris trained the mother (Intrinsic) and I had a fair bit of knowledge with my European background on Too Darn Hot, so we were probably a year ahead of the game as far as Too Darn Hot being a well-found stallion in this Hemisphere goes. Every now and again you get it right!
“The Inglis Race Series is fantastic for all participants, the prizemoney is off the charts, it’s unheard of, it’s just one of the great race days now this.’’
Rivellino’s part owner Edward Throsby agreed, adding: “It’s a great thrill. This is the biggest race personally I’ve ever won and probably the biggest race I’ll ever win. The Inglis Race Series is a fantastic concept. It’s wonderful that a horse who wasn’t one of the high-priced horses at the sale can come out and win a A$2m race.’’
Winning trainer Kris Lees described the win as “incredible’’.
“I trained the mother, which is always a nice start when you go to a horse sale to buy
horses, and he’s by a very, very good stallion and from each trial to races he’s just kept showing us that he’s got plenty of ability and that he wanted more and more,’’ Lees said of Rivellino. “He’s an incredible 2YO, he’s got a lot of upside and this is a huge thrill to win a race like this today.’’
Lees also won a pair of Swarovski Optik binoculars on Saturday for being the winning trainer of an Inglis Race Series event, as well as surging into second place on the Inglis Race Series Theault Trainers’ Challenge, behind only Bjorn Baker.
Rivellino defeated Within The Law and Artistic Venture on Saturday.
Another big winner out of the Millennium were the connections of the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained galloper Bubion, who won the A$400,000 Inglis Pink Bonus for being the first eligible runner home.
Bubion is owned by the Salter family, with Liz Salter today saying: “It’s absolutely unbelievable, this is just so exciting. I mean
A$400,000 is just absolutely massive for us. We’re renovating our house at the moment so it’s sure going to come in handy! This is huge, we’re absolutely over the moon.’’
The Inglis Pink Bonus is the most lucrative women’s incentive in world racing.
It is active in four races in the Inglis Race Series – the Inglis Banner (A$200,000), Inglis Nursery (A$200,000), Inglis Millennium (A$400,000) and Inglis Sprint (A$200,000).
You do not need to win the race to win the Pink Bonus – the first eligible Pink Bonus runner to cross the finish line will win the bonus.
To be eligible, a horse must have minimum 75% female ownership and must be fully paid up to the lucrative Inglis Race Series. Off the track today there were more winners thanks to the Inglis Best Turned Out Award. Prior to each race in the Inglis Race Series, the strapper of the horse deemed to be the Best Turned Out wins a cash prize.
www.inglis.com.au
ARABIAN LIGHT SHINES IN LORD GLITTERS
Arabian Light could be a name to watch out for in the future after Charlie Appleby’s charge made his second Meydan Racecourse start a winning one in the featured Lord Glitters Handicap (sponsored by Azizi Developments).
Ridden by William Buick, the four-year-old looked unlucky when third in the Lord North Handicap last time out but made amends here with a conclusive victory.
Despite slightly missing the break and being bumped at the start, the son of Kingman and Meydan Listed winner Pure Diamond was able to hit the lead inside the final 400m and deny veteran Sean, who ran a stormer in second, by half a length.
“He was a bit slow away, but I managed to get in the slipstream of the leaders, and he had a nice run round,” said Buick.
“He perhaps got a bit lonely in front late on. There’s plenty for him to look at here and he’s still a young horse.”
Godolphin took all three feature races, their winning spree starting when Symbol Of Honour took the Dubai Trophy (sponsored by Azizi
Arabian Light (William Buick) wins the Lord Glitters Handicap | Credit: DRC
Developments), for three-year-olds over 1200m. Appleby’s grey was the hot favourite to follow up his course and distance win in the Al Wasl Stakes and he didn’t disappoint.
Ridden by William Buick, he took his time to get on terms with leader Dark Saffron but was eventually the comfortable winner, crossing the line a length and three-quarters in front.
“The form of his last win, beating subsequent Gr2 winner West Acre, worked out well,” said Buick. “I was delighted with him today. He’s a real pro and goes out there and does what he has to do. I think he’ll stay 1400m”
On a week which saw the sad death of leading owner and breeder The Aga Khan, it was fitting that the Vazirabad Handicap (sponsored by Azizi Developments) was named after his threetime Dubai Gold Cup winner.
The race itself provided the third leg of Appleby’s treble, but there was a different jockey onboard this time when Mickael Barzalona cajoled Royal Power to a late charging narrow success over stablemate El Cordobes.
“William Buick told me before the race that he should have improved for the last run and I was able to get in an OK spot,” said Barzalona. “When I got him into the clear he fought hard to get to the winning post.”
Pinheiro Impresses in Opener
Earlier on, the opening Azizi Venice Handicap, over 1600m on turf, produced a finely judged riding performance by Bernardo Pinheiro on Folk Festival.
Salem Bin Ghadayer’s four-year-old beat No Retreat on their previous outing at Abu Dhabi three weeks’ ago and it was the same one-
two here, with No Retreat and Adrie De Vries traveling well and hitting the lead in the final 200m, only for Folk Festival to swoop from the very back of the field, winning by half a length.
“I know what I have under my legs!” said Pinheiro. “I really like this horse, even though he only started racing here 15 days ago.
“Three weeks ago, I was up there with the speed, but today from barrier 15 he would have been too keen, so I had to ride him patiently. He was flying at the end.”
Out of luck here, De Vries gained recompense later when Moon Blade won the Azizi Mina Conditions race for three-year-olds.
De Vries had been in the saddle when the son of Central Banker was last on debut at Jebel Ali over 1200m, but he relished the step up to 1600m this time. Off the home turn he set sights on the leading pair of Poet Orten and Galactic Star, reeling them in with ease for a length win.
“We always thought a lot of him, and he’s been working well,” said De Vries of Moon Blade, who is owned and trained by Marwan Al Baidhaei. “When he ran up the hill (Jebel Ali) it was way too short for him, but he came on a lot and he’s a nice horse for the future. I think he’ll get a mile and a quarter easily.”
Power Mode… On!
The most impressive win of the night award went to Power Mode, who was far too good for his 14 rivals in the Azizi Riviera Handicap, over 1200m on turf.
The four-year-old had been a straight track winner for trainer Danny Murphy in Ireland but only tenth on his local debut at Abu Dhabi. However, he seemed to thoroughly enjoy
himself here. Ridden by Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar’s trainee led throughout and kicked for home at the 400m marker. From then on, it was game over and he stormed to a three-length win over stablemate Jungle Mac.
“At Abu Dhabi I got absolutely no run on him. I was on the inside and went for two gaps and both closed on me,” explained O’Shea. “He’s been training very well, and he winged the gates today. I just laid up his neck and let him do the rest.”
Few Meydan meetings go by without a win for Musabbeh Al Mheiri and his Elyabri eked out success in the penultimate Burj Azizi Handicap, over 2000m on dirt.
Ridden by Richie Mullen, this was the second win of the season for the four-year-old who was poised to strike in the straight and able to outbattle leader Book Review by a length.
“Connections gave me plenty of confidence and said if I could get down the inside, he would love it,” said Mullen. “He hit a flat spot halfway round the turn and then I angled him out to give him a clear sight of things. The second, Book Review, battled back and he had to dig deep, but you only have to look at his form to see he’s a nice genuine horse.”
Sand Storm in the Desert
Sand Storm AA has been held in high esteem by trainer Ernst Oertel since joining him from France and the mare was tenacious in the Purebred Arabians’ Azizi Wasl contest, for nonwinners of two.
Ridden by O’Shea, she was prominent through much of the 1600m contest and dug deep in the home straight to see off Saafeer by a length.
“She gallops super at home and we’ve won one race with her, but we were always hopeful of more,” said O’Shea. “Arabians will go once for you, but if you stop and ask again, they’ll likely say no – you have to keep it smooth with them.
“She was value for the win as she was pulling out more at the end. This is her first run for new owners, Joe and Betty Gillis, so it’s nice for them to have a winner at Meydan.”
Meydan resumes on Friday, 14 February, with an eight-race card.
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