19 March 2025
R9 000 000!
WE ARE FAMILY!
Father-and-son duo Andrew Fortune and Aldo Domeyer rode at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday on an emotional and historic day for the famous family. Dad Andrew has just been relicenced and was having first ride at the picturesque Southern Suburbs track since Met day, 28 January 2017. While neither rode a winner, it was a small chapter in our turf history. Candiese Lenferna took the photograph.
Recordbreaker! Lot 85, the Drakenstein consigned Wreath Of Snow (Vercingetorix - Snowdance), stopped the clock at R9 million! | Credit: CRS
On a game changing evening to remember, Cape Racing Chairman Greg Bortz signed the chart-topping chit at R9 million for lot 85, a magnificent high-spirited Vercingetorix colt out of the dual Gr1 winning Captain Al mare Snowdance.
Records fell and new benchmarks of excellence were established as the curtain came down on the select first session of the 2025 CRS Premier Yearling Sale at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on a vibrant last Thursday evening.
On a game changing evening to remember, Cape Racing Chairman Greg Bortz signed the chart-topping chit at R9 million for lot 85, a magnificent high-spirited Vercingetorix colt out of the dual Gr1 winning Captain Al mare Snowdance.
Consigned by Drakenstein Stud, Wreath Of Snow, a half-brother to both Gr1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas star Snow Pilot and Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship third-placer Symphony In White, set a new record mark for a yearling sold at auction in the Cape, and equalled the tag paid by Mike de Kock for a Silvano colt at the 2019 Emperors Palace Bloodstock SA National Yearling Sale.
And the record numbers didn’t end there!
With 149 of the 164 lots catalogued on offer, a healthy clearance rate of 92% saw 137
yearlings find a new buyer, fuelling a Day 1 aggregate of R104 350 000, and a dazzling new SA thoroughbred auction record average price of R761 679 and a median of R500 000.
“We are delighted. It started with an idea, a concept. We had a goal to establish the sale to eclipse all sales and the dream is taking shape! With the vendors coming to the party by showing amazing support and buy-in with high quality stock, coupled with a diverse local and international buying bench against the backdrop of a superb venue, this was a winner and the numbers don’t lie. We are already planning for 2026,” enthused Cape Racing’s Executive: Racing & Bloodstock, Justin Vermaak in a chat with the Sporting Post afterwards.
Vermaak lauded the ‘massive’ support of major players, including the Hong Kong Jockey Club,
Hollywood Racing, Greg Bortz, Arun Chadha, Laurence Wernars, Form Bloodstock, Mike de Kock and Sean Tarry, amongst others.
“This was a partnership of quality stock, buying power and a belief in the future of racing in South Africa. We thought there would be a slow-burn amongst the breeders. Those that bought in were rewarded. Those that didn’t bring their best will no doubt have a rethink in advance of 2026. We are aiming higher after this flying start,” concluded Vermaak.
Traditionally held in the hustle and big-race bustle of January, and centred around the Cape Town Met, the improved Premier Sale concept gained momentum when it was decided to extend the Summer Festival Of Racing to
mid March, and crown the celebration of five glorious months of high-quality turf action with a Cape Racing Festival Sales Day, dovetailed by the two-day Premier Sale.
Following subsequent buy-in by the Monaco Sport of Kings Group, the day evolved and charity also benefitted as the inaugural The Royal Raceday was held at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday. Read more about that dramatic event from page 46 onwards.
please click here for all the sale prices.
After the champagne and big numbers of the CRS Premier Sale Day 1 last Thursday, Day 2 on Friday gave a wider spectrum of buyers a realistic opportunity, with the only Pomodoro colt offered over the two days topping the charts when purchased by Jonathan Snaith for R525 000.
The sire this season of Gr3 New Turf Carriers Merchants winner Mount Pilatus and Listed Wolf Power 1600 hero Pomodoro’s Jet, the latter running at Turffontein on Saturday, the son of Jet Master is the sire of Friday’s topseller (#228), a full-brother to the useful War Chariot, and a half-brother to Listed Gardenia Stakes victress Bella Chica, and smart Hong Kong performer Super Commander.
Out of the three-time winning Captain Al mare War Path, the unnamed colt was offered by Klawervlei Stud, as agent, and signed for by Jonathan Snaith.
Day 2 saw 96 lots catalogued, with 87 offered and 80 sold for an aggregate of R17 475 000, an average of R218 438 and median of R200 000. Cape Racing Executive Justin Vermaak was on record, pointing to the
Day 1 average of R761 679 per foal, which is a South African record.
“We had diverse buyers at the top end, and the Day 1 sale yielded an aggregate of R104 350. We decided to keep our January sale during Met week as a boutique auction for early, precocious runners and then build on the March Premier Sale for the classic, knockout horses.
“The Premier Sale will be marketed separately and the Day 1 Figures will apply. Day 2 is our old farm and winter sale, which won’t be individually staged anymore. We won’t be combining the figures of Day 2 with the figures of Day 1. I think we did well by splitting the January and March auctions. We are very pleased with our results.”
The final CRS sale of 2025 will be held on 26 October 2025. This sale will continue the popular format of a combination of breeze-up and unbroken 2-year-olds.
The new-look 2025 CRS Premier Yearling Sale saw two days of recordbreaking auction-ring action at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth last week. In the following pages we celebrate some of the people that made it happen. Images are courtesy of Cape Racing Sales.
Avontuur’s Philip Taberer makes a point
Chart-toppers! Gaynor Rupert and Greg Bortz caught in a moment of history
One of the most striking aspects of the first session of last week’s CRS Premier Yearling Sale was the dominance of a handful of stallions. Vercingetorix and Gimmethegreenlight accounted for seven of the top eight lots sold on Day 1, with the former the sire of the top five yearlings sold at the session.
The late Captain Al shone as a broodmare sire on both the first and second days of last week’s auction.
Remarkably the first three lots sold on the first day are all out of Captain Al mares.
Thursday’s R9 000 000 Vercingetorix colt, Wreath Of Snow, is out of Captain Al’s Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas/Gr1 Majorca Stakes winning daughter Snowdance.
The latter is a granddaughter of Mystic Spring (Royal Academy), as is Gr1 Allan Robertson
Championship winner The Secret Is Out. A fullsister to champion All Is Secret, The Secret Is Out’s Vercingetorix filly was knocked down for R4 100 000 at the Premier Yearling Sale.
Captain Al is also the sire of Listed World Sports Betting Sweet Chestnut Stakes winner Really Royal, whose Vercingetorix colt sold for R3 500 000 last week. The second day of the Premier Sale again saw Captain Al to the fore as a broodmare sire.
His daughter War Path was responsible for a Pomodoro colt, who made R525 000 to top Friday’s sale.
A great granddaughter of French classic winner Houseproud (Riverman), War Path won three times and finished second in the Listed Banyana Handicap. At stud, she has produced four winners led by Listed Gardenia Stakes winner Bella Chica (Rafeef) and smart Hong Kong galloper Super Commander (Vercingetorix).
Captain Al also enjoyed notable success as a broodmare on the racetrack this past weekend. At Turffontein on Saturday, close relatives Pomodoro’s Jet (Pomodoro) and Mia Moo (Vercingetorix) impressed when winning at Turffontein.
Winner of Saturday’s 4Racing Gr3 Sycamore Sprint, Mia Moo is out of the Captain Al sired Listed Irridescence Stakes winner Leeward. The latter’s full-sister Gorgeous Al is the dam of Saturday’s winner Pomodoro’s Jet, with the latter having won his last three in a row, including the Listed Wolf Power 1600.
Sycamore Sprint third place finisher Chrome Tourmaline (Gimmethegreenlight) is out of
the Captain Al mare Cream Of Chrome, while promising two-year-old Tina Lovelace, who won a good race on Saturday, was produced by Captain Al’s daughter Linda Loves Lace.
At the time of writing, Captain Al headed South Africa’s Leading Broodmare Sires premiership for 2024-2025, with his daughters’ runners having already earned in excess of R18,4 million this season.
Star performers out of Captain Al daughters in 2024-2025 include Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes winner Double Grand Slam and World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Town Met/SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby winner Eight On Eighteen, to name but two.
Captain Al also made news as a sire of sires this weekend when his paternal grandson All Out For Six (by Captain Al’s champion son One World), won Sunday’s R5 million HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap.
High drama and some potentially dangerous race-riding cast a dark cloud over the inaugural running of the R5 million HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the Royal Raceday on Sunday, with the red-hot internationally bound favourite One Stripe being badly hampered in a concertina movement when making his run down the home straight and running out of the money.
Gavin Lerena, who partnered One Stripe, said that he took a few bumps from eventual winner All Out For Six early.
“The gap was always there after I had managed to balance him up nicely in the straight. The incident was very unnecessary and unsafe. I am sorry for the public and the connections for what happened to this poor horse. Please God he pulls up sound in the morning,” added a bitterly disappointed Lerena.
The incident that Lerena was referring to is the subject of an Inquiry, and which could see Grant van Niekerk in the spotlight.
All Out For Six can be seen moving across on to the original pacesetter The Grey King in the hands of Craig Zackey. The rules do not allow a horse running sixth, as One Stripe did, to object.
But let’s wait for the Stipes Report and take no credit from the winner and stablemate to One Stripe, the talented All Out For Six (25-1) who ran on well to beat La Pulga (33-1) by 1,75 lengths in a time of 85,38 secs for the 1400m.
Great Plains (14-1) came on powerfully late for third, ahead of The Grey King (10-1). The gallant One Stripe (1-3) ran a six length sixth.
Labelled a ‘bitter sweet’ victory by an emotional Ken Truter, who raced One World and is a member of the winning syndicate, All Out For Six ironically carried the Big Cap slot ticket of Hollywood Racing, with Rikesh Sewgoolam holding the voucher for One Stripe.
Ironically, Grant van Niekerk said All Out For Six would have won even easier, without the interference and had he gotten to the front early. Many will see that as a bizarre observation.
Raced by the One World Racing Syndicate, All Out For Six was bred by Drakenstein Stud and is a son of Champion Freshman One World out of the one-time winning Trippi mare, Howl.
All Out For Six has won 3 races with 5 places from his 10 starts for eye-catching stakes of R3 503 801.
The slot-holders and where they ran:
• Hollywood Racing – All Out For Six
• Triple 8 Clothing – La Pulga
• Nic Jonsson – Great Plains
• Snaith Racing – The Grey King
• Dyalan Chinsammy Racing – Empire State
• Rikesh Sewgoolam – One Stripe
• MF De Kock Racing – Coastal Commander
• Sean Tarry Racing – Tail Of The Comet
• Maine Chance Farms – Paschendelle
• Nic Jonsson – Makazole
The Stipes report for Sunday’s incident riddled inaugural HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap is summarised below.
• LA PULGA (S Veale) and MAKAZOLE (M Yeni) were slow into stride.
• At the 1200m ONE STRIPE (G Lerena) and ALL OUT FOR SIX (G van Niekerk) bumped on two occasions when ALL OUT FOR SIX (G van Niekerk), which over raced in the early stages, shifted in when awkwardly placed on the inside of the heels of COASTAL COMMANDER (G Wright).
• GREAT PLAINS (R Fourie) was held up for a clear run until the 300m and was directed outwards and into clear running.
• At the 250m ALL OUT FOR SIX (G van Niekerk) rolled inwards and brushed THE GREY KING (C Zackey).
• Approaching the 150m THE GREY KING (C Zackey) and ONE STRIPE (G Lerena) made heavy contact and both horses became unbalanced and lost momentum when racing on the inside of ALL OUT FOR SIX (G van Niekerk).
• After reviewing this incident, the Stewards were satisfied, taking into account the finishing position of the horses concerned, that an objection in terms of Rule 68.2.6, read with Rule 69.3.1 and Rule 69.3.2 could not be sustained and took no further action.
• An Inquiry will be held into this incident.
• The Veterinary surgeon was requested to examine ONE STRIPE.
• ONE STRIPE – examined post-race. Nothing obvious detected
• LA PULGA – cast right hind shoe
Retirement was probably the last thing on Piere Strydom’s mind on December 7 last year after he had won the WSB Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas on the Brett and James Crawford-trained Fatal Flaw, but a nasty fall on December 31 at the Vaal has taken its toll.
Piere Strydom told Turf Talk last week from St. Francis Bay, where he was having a break:
“I’m really close to retirement, but I’ve just got to make a date and call it. Maybe the Hollywoodbets Durban July will be the day, but I don’t know when, I have got make a call when I’m going to say enough is enough.”
Striker has ridden 57 winners this season and has the highest strike rate on the national log,
27,14%, and for most of the season he has looked evergreen and capable of continuing for a few more seasons.
However, he revealed: “That last fall took its toll, I have struggled to get over some of the injuries, because I pushed myself as well to get back early enough to ride See It Again in the Met and to ride Dyce. So maybe I came back a bit soon. I did do well straight after that, but I could feel it. A lot of people will say I had announced my pending retirement a long time ago, but I have never actually announced a date before.”
Glen Kotzen’s Woodhill Racing team celebrated a notable exacta in the R200 000 Monaco Sport Of Kings Listed Kenilworth Cup on the Royal Raceday at Hollywoodbets Kenilwoth on Sunday.
While the money came for the Paarl stable’s Bombers In The Sky, it was their very progressive 4yo Holding Thumbs (33-10) who went from start to finish under Sporting Postsponsored jockey Sean Veale to record his second stakes victory this summer, beating his revitalised stablemate Blackberry Malt (25-1) by a facile 3,25 lengths in a time of 151,31 secs.
Groovejet (33-10) plugged on a mile back for third, with the fancied Triple Time fading after upping the ante in mid-race, to run last.
Holding Thumbs reminds us a bit of the perpetual motion machine Saccharum, who raced for the Fleggs and was trained by the late Theo de Klerk in the 1970’s. The son of St Cuthbert became a fan favourite as he used to bowl along under Dana Siegenberg and always found more.
Sean Veale clearly enjoys the partnership and has won 3 of 4 races on Holding Thumbs.
“Mr Kotzen keeps trying to tell me to tuck this horse in. But with an action like that, I allowed him to stride,” quipped the charismatic Veale.
Glen Kotzen, who earlier this season labelled Holding Thumbs as a potential Hollywoodbets Durban July candidate, said that his charge was strengthening and getting better all the time.
“I managed to get hold of all the owners to express our confidence,” added Kotzen.
It was a special moment for seasoned owner Jill Warner who represented the partnership on her birthday.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Holding Thumbs is by super sire Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the Fort Wood mare Withbatedbreath.
A R1 million BSA National 2yo Sale graduate, Holding Thumbs is now a winner of 7 races with 3 places from his 17 starts, and has earned R729 782.
Maine Chance Farms’ star stallion Vercingetorix enjoyed another wonderful last week.
The champion son of Silvano’s great run continued when his son Holding Thumbs ran out an impressive winner of the Monaco Sport Of Kings Listed Kenilworth Cup on Sunday.
The Kenilworth Cup was a great result for Vercingetorix, with another son, Nebraas, finishing fourth.
The classy gelding, who was bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, has won seven of 17 starts, with Holding Thumbs having also triumphed in this season’s Listed World Sports Betting Cape Summer Stayers Handicap. His outstanding sire also enjoyed feature race
success at Turffontein on Saturday, where his daughters Mia Moo and Komati River finished 1-2 in the 4Racing Gr3 Sycamore Sprint.
Vercingetorix dominated proceedings at last Thursday’s CRS Premier Yearling Sale, where Vercingetorix yearlings made up to R9 000 000.
South Africa’s Leading Sire of 2024-2025, Vercingetorix has an outstanding draft on offer at the National Yearling Sale, including a colt (Lot 28) out of champion Bela-Bela, a half-sister (Lot 49) to champion Captain’s Ransom, and a colt (Lot 249) out of globetrotting Met winner River Jetez.
Peter Muscutt’s progressive Fire Away colt Military Command ran his ten opponents off their feet with a gun-to-tape victory in the second renewal of the R1,5 million CRS Cape Slipper at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the Royal Raceday on Sunday.
A winner at his second outing over 1000m at the same venue at end of February, Military Command relished the step up in trip to the 1200m as Craig Zackey enjoyed an armchair ride in a race restricted to graduates of the 2024 Premier Yearling Sale.
With the two unbeaten colts Dreamworld (2-1 tote favourite) and Black Cheetah (9-4) the popular choices, Military Command (7-1) overcame a few nervous moments in the gates and was never seen again, going all the way to beat debut winner Dreamworld by 2 lengths in a time of 70,17 secs for the 1200m.
Malmesbury Missile (16-1) made good ground late to be beaten a nose into third, with Black Cheetah a half-length back in fourth.
Log-leading jockey Craig Zackey, who was enjoying a day at the office sandwiched between two suspensions, said he was impressed by Military Command when he won his maiden last time out and the youngster had confirmed his confidence.
An ecstatic Hollywoodbets-sponsored trainer Peter Muscutt observed that his charge had done it the hard way and took advantage of the absence of the wind.
A R425 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale buy, the winner races in a partnership of former Gold Circle Director Steve Sturlese, Gino
Da Silva, Blaine Hamilton & Tony Zackey. Sturlese’ black and blue silks were prominent on our tracks some years ago and this looks like a special comeback!
Military Command’s big payday now sees him with 2 wins from 3 starts, with a place on debut and stakes earnings of R1 033 688.
A son of Wilgerbosdrift’s blue-blooded War Front stallion Fire Away, Military Command was bred by Kiliminjaro Bloodstock and is out of the twice-winning High Chaparral mare, Lady Val.
Prepped at Soetendal prior to sale, the astute Julia Pilbeam labelled him ‘a colt that is hard to fault’ in our pre-sale notes just over a year ago.
He looks like one for the black-book.
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 Time Is Money this week, we look at some of the past weekend’s highlights, and commence with Sunday’s Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Summer Season curtain call racemeeting.
Going: Good
Penetrometer: 23
Rain: Last 7 days Nil
Irrigation: Last 24hrs 7,5mm – Last 7 days 37,5mm
False Rail: 2m out from 1700m with 2m spur at 600m mark.
Wind: 7-21km/h North Westerly tail wind
Course Variant: 2,61s fast straight – 1.15s fast bend
The first of the two big money features to be run was the R1,5M Cape Slipper for juveniles over 1200m. Dreamworld and Black Cheetah dominated the betting market, but it was the nibbled at MILITARY COMMAND (10/1 into 7/1) who landed the spoils. An easy winner when setting the pace over 1000m last time out, Peter Muscutt’s charge again raced from the front. Without making a big effort he gained a soft length and quarter lead early on and quickly doubled that when turning up the heat. He set honest fractions throughout and went on to score unchallenged by two.
By far the fastest of the three 1400m races on the card, this R5M showpiece was run at a good pace throughout. The 4yo The Grey King made the running and raced two lengths clear for most of the journey. The King’s Plate winner One Stripe was sent off a strong favourite, and fifth, just four lengths off the leader turning for home, he was perfectly placed. The son of One World went for a rail’s run in the straight whilst at the same time one of his two stable companions ALL OUT FOR SIX, (raced fourth three lengths off the pace), moved up to tackle The Grey King on his outside.
Allowed to drift in the betting market as if a win was out of the question, All Out For Six (10/1 out to 25/1) put his head in front 250m from home, but then shortly after passing the 200m marker he shifted in a little and brushed the pacemaker.
The Grey King in turn rolled inwards and then becoming cramped in the middle he became very unsettled. As a result of these actions the favourite was badly hampered and fell out of contention. All Out For Six quickened well thereafter and went on to score very comfortably by a length and three quarters. After taking everything into account, the stipendary stewards decided to take no action. No doubt there will be plenty who disagree with their findings. La Pulga ran on well to finish second and recorded the fastest 400m-finish time in the race.
Three of the afternoon’s ten races were staged over 1000m and stopping the clock in the fastest of these was PEACE OF MIND in the C Stakes. Another front runner to take advantage of the tail wind, the daughter of Var set a good
pace and soon had the field well strung out. She kept on strongly at the business end of the race and although the 2/1 favourite Rattlesnake ran on strongly to take second, she still had a length and three quarters to spare at the wire. Rattlesnake had been five lengths off the pace going through halfway and recording the fastest 400-finish time in the race, did well to get as close as he did.
Sent off a co-favourite at 33/10 after opening up at 18/10, HOLDING THUMBS got to the front quickly in this distance event and was allowed to dictate matters throughout.
The pace on the whole was steady and at different stages, the field were both quite strung out, and tightly bunched. The sectional times clearly show that the son of Vercingetorix accelerated in the 600m-400m segment and quickly turned his one and a half length advantage, into four. The rank outsider of the seven horse party Blackberry Malt ran on strongly to take second position over the final 400m, but the early move made by Sean Veale proved to be decisive.
FIRST MASTERPIECE recorded the fastest 400m-finish time of the afternoon when third in the Middle Stakes over 1000m.
Races 4,5,6,7 & 9 were all false paced affairs.
Turffontein 15 March
Track Condition
Going: Good to Soft
Penetrometer: 25
Rain: Last 24hrs 7mm – Last seven days 47mm
Irrigation: Last 7 days Nil
False Rail: 3m back straight to 8m on bend: 8m spur at 700m mark
Wind: 9-28km/h South Westerly cross/head wind
Course Variant: 0,41s slow straight – 1,18s slow bend
The two 1100m races on the card were both maiden juvenile plates. Both winners were trained by Sean Tarry, and interestingly, both came out of the same form line.
The first division (open to both males and females) was the faster of the two and here we saw a smart performance from the What A Winter filly ONE FINE WINTER. A neck behind Charming Cheetah in the listed Storm Bird Stakes on debut, One Fine Winter took up the running 400m out. She only had to be pushed out from there onwards and won going away by four and a quarter.
Tina Lovelace (5th beaten 1,85 length in the listed Storm Bird stakes) was not quite as impressive in the fillies division, but nonetheless won with authority by a length and a tail.
Three of the nine races on the card were staged over 1400m. They were all run at a fair pace and the fastest of these was the Book For Champions Day 29 March Pinnacle Stakes. The best bet on the card for many, the winner POMODORO’S JET was always handy. The
friendless Gimmeanotherchance (7/2 out to 10/1) got first run and on striking the front 300m out was looking like the winner. The 4/10 favourite steadily worked his way through the gears though, and without being given a punishing ride, he got up 50m from home and won going away.
Run at a good pace throughout, the Gr3 Sycamore Sprint was won by the 4yo Vercingetorix filly MIA MOO. The third winner on the card for trainer Sean Tarry, Mia Moo raced prominent throughout. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the rallying pacemaker Komati River by a half.
Fastest Times: 1100m (2) One Fine Winter 64,69
1400m (3) Pomodoro’s Jet 85,54 1600m (2) Apache Chief
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Capping a good day at the office for the Sean Tarry yard on the former champion trainer’s late Dad’s birthday, the Vercingetorix filly Mia Moo registered her maiden stakes success at her first run since returning from her Cape Summer campaign.
The smart filly won the R225 000 4Racing Gr3 Sycamore Sprint at Turffontein on Saturday.
Racing in the orange and blue silks of World Sports Betting, in partnership with Sandy and Eugene Arundel’s Itssa IT & Business Solutions – the same ownership of Sunday’s recently auctioned Cape Slipper candidate Malmesbury Missile – the Klawervlei bred flyer was given a superb ride by veteran champion Piere Strydom, who guided her to an overdue and deserved victory. Strydom produced Mia Moo (6-1) late in the race to hold off the pacy and
determined year younger Komati River (25-1) to win by a half-length in a time of 67,07 secs for the 1160m.
Chrome Tourmaline (7-1) maintained her consistent form in third, with gallant topweight Elegant Ice (7-2) rounding off the quartet, some 2,65 lengths off the winner.
Stablemate to the runner-up and the 18-10 favourite, Almond Sea was relaxed after a slightly slow start, and then appeared hesitant under Gavin Lerena to take a gap between
Elegant Ice and the outside rail. She ran fifth and 3,55 lengths off the winner. We’d suggest that this run is best ignored.
Winning rider Piere Strydom called it a ‘pleasing win’. “Mia Moo flew the gates and showed plenty of speed. I pulled her back. At the end she had had enough on the sticky going. Well done to Sean Tarry for having her ready to win,” added Striker.
Tarry said that Piere Strydom had given Mina Mou ‘a sympathetic ride’. “We went light on her the last ten days , given the continuity of work we did in the Cape. Our team did a really good job in the Cape. This is my late Dad’s birthday
and it’s funny how the yard always seems to have a good day,” added the former national champion emotionally.
A R300 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Mia Moo took her win tally to 4 with 8 places from her 14 starts. She has earned R488 325.
Bred by Klawervlei, Mia Moo is a daughter of Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the four-time winning Captain Al mare, Leeward.
4Racing have addressed all members of the racing community, sponsors, partners, media and all other stakeholders, and advised that TAB.co.za experienced a system outage on 15 March at 12h15.
This affected both tab.co.za and bookmakers who offer our tote pools on their sites.
The underlying cause of the outage has now been confirmed as a technical issue at
4Racing’s data center run by Microsoft. The issue did not affect the legacy betting site play. tabonline.co.za, which was re-activated.
After extensive collaboration with Microsoft the team recreated a new environment to reestablish tab.co.za and the bookmakers’ sites that offer tote pools.
4Racing apologised for any inconvenience caused.
Christophe Soumillon and Shea Shea showcase the SA flag at Meydan – dreams for a repeat with Isivunguvungu on 5 April? | Credit: Supplied
Like the tide, the fortunes of many thoroughbred female families tend to ebb and flow. Take last weekend’s Syringa Sprint winner Mia Moo, who, together with close relative Pomodoro’s Jet, has revived a fine family which has given us some really outstanding gallopers over the past five decades.
Like the tide, the fortunes of many thoroughbred female families tend to ebb and flow. Take last weekend’s Syringa Sprint winner Mia Moo, who, together with close relative Pomodoro’s Jet, has revived a fine family which has given us some really outstanding gallopers over the past five decades.
The female line goes back to Daddy’s Girl, a stakes winning daughter of the shortlived Prized. By Prince Chevalier out of the celebrated broodmare Bride Elect, he stood just three seasons at Highlands before succumbing to gastroenteritis at the age of seven, a huge loss, given that he also sired the stakes winners The Mask and Iron King.
However, it is as a broodmare sire that he made his mark, for in that sphere, his daughters produced a host of stakes winners, notably Gr1 Cape Derby hero King Charles and the crack sprinter Zatopek. In addition, he features prominently in the bottom lines of the Met hero and four-times Gr1 winner Pas De Quo and Durban July hero Classic Flag.
Daddy’s Girl was a fine advert for her sire and excelled over the minimum trip, winning eight races from two to four, which included the Listed Nautical Week Handicap. As a broodmare, she boasted a perfect score card with eight winners from as many runners, pride of place going to her Preamble II colt Fly By Night.
Trained by Colin Palm for the Ovenstones, the colt won the Langerman at two and at three romped home by six lengths in the Green Point Stakes before finishing a gallant third to Politician and Big Swinger in a pulsating threeway finish to the Gr1 Cape Guineas.
To the Canadian-bred stallion Rouletabille, Daddy’s Girl produced three-time winning filly Moppet, who was bred to champion sprinter Harry Hotspur and produced the National Sprint and Natal Free Handicap winner Empire Ruler. Moppet also visited Prized’s half-brother Royal Prerogative, which yielded the filly Queen’s Favourite, who was destined to become the fourth dam of Mia Moo and Pomodoro’s Jet.
Fourth in the Gr2 Golden Slipper at two, Queen’s Favourite eventually retired to the paddocks with six wins in tow and became a Gr1 producer, courtesy of her Foveros son Fov’s Favourite.
Trained by the late Buddy Maroun, this grand sprinter carried Andre and Joyce MacDonald’s silks with distinction in a career spanning seven seasons. He first struck at the highest level when defeating his equally talented stable companion and Gr1 winner All Is Well in the Mondi Sprint. The gelding reached the ultimate peak of his powers at age five with a second Mondi Sprint success, this on the heels of a facile victory over top sprint filly Ruby Clipper in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint. Remarkably durable, he showed that he still had what it takes at age eight when third in a headbobbing finish to the Gr3 Joburg Sprint.
It was Fov Favourite’s Northfields half-sister Georgie Gorgeous who would provide the family’s next star galloper through her Jallad daughter, the Ladies Mile winner Yankee Clipper, whose accomplishments on the racetrack paled into comparison to her deeds as a broodmare. She became the dam of yet
another grand sprinter in the shape of Shea Shea.
Bred by Klawervlei Stud and trained by Geoff Woodruff, the son of National Emblem captured the Gr1 Golden Horseshoe at three and notched up a second Gr1 success at four when he ran his rivals off their feet in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint, never letting up to score from Magico and What A Winter.
As successful as he was locally, he really came into his own on the international stage. Transferred to Mike de Kock’s Dubai stables, he won the Listed Meydan Sprint in a new record time, thereby casting himself as the one to beat in the Gr1 Al Quoz Sprint on World Cup night. The five-year-old didn’t disappoint. Sent off the shortestpriced favourite on the card, he proceeded to burn off his rivals with a strong display of speed and ended up smashing his own track record set in the Meydan Sprint.
Royal Ascot’s Gr1 King’s Stand Stakes was also on the agenda, and again Shea Shea acquitted himself with aplomb. Backed down to favourite, Brian Joffe and Myron Berzack’s star sprinter looked set for an historical and elusive first South African victory inside the final furlong, but in the end, was beaten in the last stride and went down by a neck. He is further proof that speed runs like a golden thread through this female line.
Enter Yankee Clipper’s half-sister Budding Beauty. By American-bred Lambent Light, she was versatility personified, winning four times from 1000 to 2000m. She too, returned to birthplace Klawervlei and produced as her first two foals, fillies by Captain Al. The first, Gorgeous Al, managed just two places, whereas younger sibling Leeward became her dam’s first and only stakes winner when she claimed the Listed Irridescence Stakes as a late juvenile.
Both returned to Klawervlei for broodmare duties where Gorgeous Al struck first as the dam of the Crawford-trained Pomodoro’s Jet, who, by the time he made his Highveld debut in the Gr3 Jubilee Stakes in June, already boasted five wins. He has since gone from strength to strength and in January added yet another piece of silverware to Khaya Stables’ display cabinet with a maiden stakes success in the Listed Wolf Power 1600. Maturity has clearly brought out the best in the six-year-old, whose gritty victory back over 1400m rounded out a fine hat-trick of wins.
Leeward too, is now a stakes producer as the dam of Sean Tarry’s Mia Moo, who took the Gr3 Sycamore Sprint thirty minutes later.
Already Gr3-placed - she had finished second in the Umzimkhulu Stakes and third in this season’s Mother Russia Stakes, the daughter of champion stallion elect Vercingetorix was finally rewarded with full black type in her first run back home after the Cape summer season, where she had finished fourth in both the Gr3 Prix du Cap and Listed Olympic Duel Stakes.
Ridgemont rider Richard Fourie and his Gqeberha boss Alan Greeff registered a hat-trick of East Cape Fillies Nursery successes when the unbeaten Varsfontein-bred Master Of My Fate filly Anotherdanceforme romped home in the 2025 renewal at Fairview on Friday.
Fourie and Greeff hammered home four winners on the afternoon, and besides the fact that Peter Moor’s Anotherdanceforme looks progressive and special at this stage, there are some remarkable similarities in this year’s Nursery victress and the combination’s 2024 winner, Splicethemainbrace.
Both are daughters of Master Of My Fate bred at Varsfontein, and both maintained their unbeaten records at their third start.
The Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein Stud –bred Fire Away filly Luna Halo provide the combination with their 2023 East Cape Fillies Nursery winner, Luna Halo.
While both Luna Halo and Splicethemainbrace have gone on with distinction, there looks to be something extra special about
Anotherdanceforme, who simply lengthened her gigantic stride from the 450m and drew clear at 5-4 to beat Fiery Countess (25-1) by 5,25 lengths in a time of 67,13 secs for the 1200m.
On her return run after a meritorious effort at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Cape Town Met day, Instaworthy (5-1) looked dangerous late and just failed to go on with it, running a further three quarters of a length back in third.
A very pleased Ridgemont-sponsored Richard Fourie said of the long-striding Master Of My Fate filly.
“She’s a top shelf filly. She wasn’t a cheap buy. She’s not a 6-furlong horse either! She has a bright future. She’s actually got wings,” quipped the happy jockey.
Trainer Alan Greeff labelled the winner ‘a very nice filly’.
“She won the 1000m races on pure class. She is going to be better over further. Well done to Varsfontein and to Mr Moor. He paid a lot of money for her and he is going to have a lot of fun with her.”
Now unbeaten in three starts, Anotherdanceforme has banked R194 375 in stakes. Anotherdanceforme, who is out of the unraced What A Winter mare Destiny Dancer,
is a full-sister to Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes winner Princess Izzy.
She was a R650 000 buy from the 2024 National Yearling Sale and looks a serious black-booker.
Mia Moo’s rating was increased from 103 to 108 after she won the 4Racing Gr3 Sycamore Sprint over 1160m on the Turffontein Standside Track on Saturday.
The Handicappers deemed the third-place finisher Chrome Tourmaline to be the most appropriate line horse for assessing this race, therefore her rating remained unchanged at 100.
Runner-up Komati River also received a merit rating increase. She was thirteen points under the minimum benchmark and finished 1.40 lengths ahead of the line horse, which meant that her rating was raised from 80 to 96.
Five horses received downward adjustments to their ratings. Elegant Ice was reduced from 108 to 107, while Calantha and Callmewhenuneedme were dropped from 87 to 86 and from 101 to 100, respectively.
Wings Within Me went down from 90 to 88, and Exchange Student was dropped from 105 to 104.
Monaco Sport Of Kings Listed Kenilworth Cup
Holding Thumb’s official merit rating was adjusted from 103 to 107 after he secured victory in the Monaco Sport Of Kings Listed Kenilworth Cup over 2400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday.
The runner-up, Blackberry Malt, was selected as the line horse for this race, so his rating remained the same at 98.
No other horses received an increase in their ratings. The only decrease was for Nebraas, whose rating dropped by 2 points from 100 to 98.
• Media release by the NHA on Tuesday, 18 March 2025.
Ridgemont’s red-hot five-time Grade 1 winning stallion Canford Cliffs maintained his extraordinary season with his fourth juvenile winner from just four starters when his clearly talented daughter Hot Sauce did some low-flying on debut at Fairview on Friday.
The versatile sire followed up with an eye-catching winner over ground at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the Royal Raceday on Sunday.
Canford Cliff’s ability to introduce speed and stamina was again to the fore as his 3yo son Umfula impressed with a cracking post-maiden effort, winning the 2200m C Stakes in the fashion of a progressive sort on Sunday.
Ridden by Richard Fourie for the Brett & James Crawford team, Umfula rocketed home to beat Ahead Of The Facts by 2,75 lengths.
The impressive winner was bred by Ridgemont and is out of the thrice-winning Western Winter mare Cool River, a winning producer, including the Gr2 Igugu Stakes winner Beating Wings (Rafeef).
On Friday, the Canford Cliffs spectrum of versatility was demonstrated again – this time with a 2yo filly over the sprint track.
Bred by Ridgemont, who have struck a vein of gold with the Canford Cliffs – Great Britain cross, Hot Sauce stalked Supreme Leader until drawing clear to beat Cape raider Blown Away by 2,75 lengths in a time of 68 secs under Ridgemont rider Richard Fourie.
“She cantered down and felt like a professional – a filly who could win anywhere in SA,” observed a clearly impressed South African champion jockey. Trainer Alan Greeff endorsed Fourie’s views and said that the youngster had shown good work in the build-up.
With just a handful of runners, Canford Cliffs is stalking Querari and Gimmethegreenlight on the National 2yo Sires Log, and in fact beats allcomers with his AEPR of R213 100!
His cross with Great Britain mares has been something of a talking point, with unbeaten SplashOut Gr3 Cape Nursery winner Direct Hit and Instaworthy both boasting similar lineage in recent months.
Hot Sauce is out of the three-time winning Great Britain mare, Queen Laurie and is another remarkable example of precocious speed from Canford Cliffs (Tagula), who was Europe’s dominant miler at three and four, winning five consecutive Gr1 races over the trip. His splendid Gr1 treble of the Irish 2000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes (over multiple Gr1 winner Dick Turpin) and Sussex Stakes (over champion Rip Van Winkle), saw him rated the top three-year-old miler in England and Ireland in his year.
A former resident of the illustrious Ridgemont stallion barn in the Highlands days, Great Britain had a TFR of 118 and won the Al Quoz Sprint, subsequently a Gr1 contest which has been won by stars like J J The Jet Plane, Ortensia and Shea Shea), and as a son of July Cup winner Green Desert (by Danzig), was one of the best bred stallions in SA in his time.
Green Desert has had a tremendous influence on the modern-day stud book and was an outstanding sire of sires, his sons including such world class sires as Invincible Spirit, Volksraad, Oasis Dream and full brother, Cape Cross.
Great Britain, who originally stood in New Zealand and produced winners in Australia, boasts a female line which is equally illustrious. His dam Park Appeal was a Champion at 2 when her wins included the Gr1 Moyglare Stud Stakes and Gr1 Chevely Park Stakes.Like Park Express (dam of hot sire New Approach) and Princess Athena (dam of leading sire Acclamation), Park Appeal is a daughter of top sprinter Ahonoora.
Great Britain was a direct descendant of one history’s greatest ever mares – Pretty Polly. A winner of 22 of her 24 outings, Pretty Polly’s victories included the 1000 Guineas, Oaks, St Leger, Champion Stakes and Coronation Cup. Her descendants include leading sires Nearctic, Great Nephew, Preamble II and Sybil’s Nephew.
4Racing confirms that Fundi Sithebe has decided to step down as CEO.
After dedicating herself fully to the role for four challenging years, the increasing demands on her time and personal life have led her to reassess her career direction.
In recognition of her outstanding contributions and commitment to our transformation, Fundi will remain in her role until the end of May 2025, ensuring a stable and well-managed transition as she sees out the Champions season.
The Board remains committed to the ongoing success, transformation, and stability of
4Racing and will work closely with Fundi during her remaining tenure to ensure a seamless handover and to identify future leadership that can build on the remarkable progress achieved thus far.
Further details regarding changes in 4Racing’s executive oversight will be communicated in due course.
4Racing thanked their partners, regulators, and the broader horse racing community for their continued support during this transition.
• Media release on behalf of the 4Racing Board on Thursday 13 March 2025
The South African racing community was shocked to learn of the passing on Sunday 16 March 2025 of longstanding owner Tony Jelinski.
A celebration of the passionate racing man’s life will be held at the Summerveld Clubhouse this Friday 21 March at 12h00.
Please wear yellow, and if you ever enjoyed the privilege of smiling and laughing with Tony, try and be there to celebrate the wonderful person that he was.
The Sporting Post extends condolences to his family and friends at this sad time.
Two smaller stables made their mark last week with notable victories, each carrying a backstory.
Halfway through the meeting at Fairview last Friday, Jurgen van Heerden halted Alan Greeff and Richard Fourie’s dominant winning streak with a Maiden Plate triumph posted by Anchor Man.
At Turffontein last Saturday, Van Heerden’s former neighbour, Brett Warren, saddled Romeo’s Magic to his ninth career success. Anchor Man (Vercingetorix) started at 14-1 and
snatched a narrow win, getting there in the nick of time from the favourite Asinantanga.
Jurgen said: “I didn’t really know what to expect, I thought he wouldn’t be fit enough after his five-month break. Thankfully, he was. I am pleased, because I think I have finally figured out the best ways of working horses on my home track.”
In 2019, Jurgen and his wife Vanessa opted for a lifestyle change, relocating from Randjesfontein in Gauteng to the Eastern Cape, where Jurgen was born.
Settling near Kenton-on-Sea, he built a 700m training track with a 30m incline and established a stable yard with 12 boxes.
His head groom Joseph Dlamini relocated with the Van Heerden family. He has been in Jurgen’s employ for 29 years and plays an important role in the day to day life of the stable.
Jurgen said:
“A few years ago, I started consulting jockey Greg Cheyne, who works for William Haggas at Newmarket, where they utilise the renowned Warren Hill track for training. Based on his advice, I’ve refined my approach to exercising my runners, incorporating heart rate monitors and using recovery rates as a key metric. My work riders have also learnt about fractions. This has made a significant difference to my training methods.”
Anchor Man was bred from Van Heerden’s now deceased mare Africa’s Touch (Al Mufti), who had produced earlier winners in Africa’s Gold and Dumisani.
Africa’s Gold and another of the mare’s offspring, Duchess Of Africa, moved on to Amy Ratcliffe for showjumping careers. Both are jumping over 1.10m fences and doing well.Jurgen said that he was extremely grateful to Mary Slack for her huge and ongoing contributions to the industry, which has given everyone a chance to continue doing what they love.
He believes there is untapped potential in the synergy between the racing and show jumping industries. He noted that many individuals, like himself, are willing to train and race a small number of racehorses as a hobby, and this crossover could be further encouraged and developed.There is the famous story of low-key Australian trainer Peter Moody, who had only a handful of horses and kept things quiet and personal. He’d often travel with his superstar Black Caviar in a caravan when they were on the road for races.
Jurgen said: “There are people like this in the sports horse industry who would love to train a few runners, but they don’t because it takes too long and it’s too cumbersome and expensive to get a trainer’s licence. It can take several years to get through the process, so they sit on the side-lines instead of getting involved.
“I think that we can licence aspiring new trainers a lot quicker now that we have access to so much incredible technology and freely available online training courses. There has to be good control and examination schedules, but I think it can be done and racing will benefit. There is no or very little prize money to win in showjumping and eventing, but yet there is a lot of money going into it. There is an affluent community for racing to tap into. Horse people want to be involved in the day-today experience of the horse. There is nothing like watching your horse develop, get strong and finally winning. It is almost as exciting as watching your child do well on the sports field.”
A number of trainers came into the game from the showjumping and events circuit in years gone by, including John Nicholson, Willie Pieters and Nigel Riley.
More recently Philip Vermeulen moved into Jurgen’s old property at Randjesfontein.
He and wife Jeannique have enjoyed a fair amount of success with unfashionably-bred horses.
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Multiple French champion jockey Christophe Soumillon has some seriously big race commitments over the next three weeks. The 43 year old will partner South African speed star Isivunguvungu in the Gr1 Al Quoz Sprint at the Dubai World Cup meeting at Meydan on 5 April, but in the short term he will bid to partner Noisy Boy to win the BMW Hong Kong Derby on Sunday, for the second time.
t’s been a while between drinks for the Belgianborn rider, who last won the richly endowed Derby aboard Viva Pataca all the way back in 2006.
As we went to print, a lost passport threatened to sabotage his trip, but if the top jock’s local Home Affairs office are half as efficient as many of ours have become, he should be at Sha Tin for the 148th renewal of the HK$26 million contest on Sunday.
Soumillon was in South Africa with his wife Sophie in January 2023 and entertained local racing fans with his velvet-smooth saddle-craft, riding a treble at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, that included a maiden SA Grade 1 winner for his old boss and friend, Mike de Kock. Desert Miracle beat ill-fated SA Horse Of The Year Captain’s Ransom in that memorable renewal of the prestigious Majorca Stakes.
Trainer Dennis Yip Chor-hong has engaged Soumillon to ride Noisy Boy on Sunday.
The 2024 BMW Hong Kong Derby-winning trainer - courtesy of Massive Sovereign - Yip is holding faith in Noisy Boy’s ability and stamina to bounce back after the Real Steel gelding’s slightly disappointing thirteenth behind Rubylot in the Hong Kong Classic Cup, the second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series last month.
Noisy Boy is the only course and distance winner in the 2025 Derby field, beating Winning Dragon over 2000m two starts back. Winning Dragon went on the finish fourth in the Gr1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup to frank the form.
Yip explained Noisy Boy’s last start defeat: “He was the victim of circumstance. My instruction was to ask the jockey to settle the horse in third or fourth position, or to take a soft lead if the pace was too slow. However, the jockey reported that after he jumped out quick, he couldn’t cut across and had to make some use of the horses in the early stages and the horse was on the bridle to take the lead. His first three sectionals (13.82s, 21.69s and 23.85s) were a bit too quick for him.”
He went on to say that with some on-pace runners like Beauty Alliance in the field on Sunday, Noisy Boy can follow the leaders comfortably this time and as long as he can
relax in the early stages, he should be very competitive as he reportedly is a very fit horse.
Having finished second in the Gr2 Tulloch Stakes and eighth in the Gr1 Australian Derby in Australia pre-import, Noisy Boy won twice in Hong Kong from just five starts, breaking his local maiden over 2200m at Happy Valley before winning at the Derby trip in January.
Yip said: “Christophe has plenty of experiences in riding big races and he is also the one who will give you a detailed post-race report. I don’t have too much concern on the draw but of course anything from draw one to six will be ideal.”
Noisy Boy clocked 52.4s (28.9s and 23.5s) over 800m on turf on Monday , pleasing his trainer.
First run in 1873, the BMW Hong Kong Derby is restricted to 4yo’s and is run over 2000m. Past winners of the coveted crown include River Verdon (1991), Oriental Express (1997), Vengeance Of Rain (2005), Viva Pataca (2006), Ambitious Dragon (2011), Designs On Rome (2014), Werther (2016), Rapper Dragon (2017), Golden Sixty (2020), Romantic Warrior (2022) and Voyage Bubble (2023).
Joining the winners of the first two legs of the HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series –My Wish and Rubylot – is a cavalcade of stars bringing form references from many corners of the globe.
Besides Christophe Soumillon, other international jockeys jetting in for the big day are Joao Moreira, Ryan Moore, Craig Williams and William Buick.
Hailing from a racing background, Soumillon is the son of jump jockey Jean-Marc Soumillon. He rode in pony races and left Belgium at fifteen to attend the racing school in Chantilly,
France, where he was apprenticed to trainer Cédric Boutin.
He rode his first Group race winner at eighteen when Berine’s Son, trained by André Fabre, won the 2000 Prix de Fontainebleau. The following season he won four Gr1 races, including the Prix du Jockey Club on Anabaa.
Soumillon won the cravache d’or – the golden whip or French champion jockey title – for the first time in 2003 and won his tenth title in 2018. Although a flat jockey, he has also ridden over hurdles, winning the 2010 French Champion Hurdle on Mandali.
Soumillon’s ambition remains to win the Epsom Derby. “I have ridden many big races in my life and the Kentucky Derby was one which
was amazing. For me the Epsom Derby is the toughest race I have ridden in and I have enough experience now to understand how it works – you need a champion horse to win it.We’ll see, I’m not done, there’s plenty under my belt and I’ll keep going until my head tells me stop.”
You can enjoy the Sha Tin racemeeting on Sunday by entering the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge, South Africa’s most popular horseracing competition.
Entry is free, but it makes every sense to wager a minimum of R50 on the programatically generated betslip, thus creating the opportunity of doubling your potential jackpot payout.
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Any owner, trainer or jockey in Hong Kong is eager to participate in one of the city’s most prestigious races – the BMW Hong Kong Derby.
Janice Cheng Po Hei and Patrick Kwok Ho Chuen, Members of Beauty Syndicate, are no exception and they are thrilled their four-yearold son of Starcraft secured a late admission ticket to the Classic, thanks to the horse’s impressive victory last Wednesday, 12 March.
The 148th BMW Hong Kong Derby, carrying the total prize money of HK$26 million, will be held on Sunday, 23 March and on Friday, 14 March, 14 youngsters were confirmed as starters in the BMW Hong Kong Derby. After a convincing win two days ago under Alexis Badel, Beauty Alliance’s rating climbed 12 points to 77, earning him a spot in the Derby.
Cheng said: “We are very happy to get the chance to run in the Derby as all along we believe Beauty Alliance has the ability. Patrick and I had been the racehorse owners for many years in Hong Kong and it is most delighted that our horse can be take part in it.”
Kwok also can’t hide his feeling and said: “Our horses had been selected in the Derby for a few times but frankly we are ‘ten-time’ more happy than before as not only last Wednesday meeting was the last race meeting before the selection announcement today, but also the race he won was indeed the last race of that meeting. All Members of the syndicate were
very excited and were eagerly looking forward to a confirmation call next day. We were on top of the world.”
Though Beauty Alliance is the lowest-rated runner in the field, both Cheng and Kwok believe the horse has the stamina edge to run well in the Derby.
Cheng said: “We believe Beauty Alliance is a stayer and he had displayed his quality with big-margin wins in his recent two starts. As such, 2000m shouldn’t be a problem.”
Kwok shared Cheng’s view: “I would say that among those have stamina in this year’s Derby
field, Beauty Alliance will be one of them. I think he can stay to 2000m or even 2400m. He is by Starcraft who was a winner up to 2400m, and I would reckon that Beauty Alliance is the type of one-paced but can run in a solid tempo.”
Alexis Badel will retain the ride in the BMW Hong Kong Derby as Cheng and Kwok are both pleased with the Frenchman’s riding performance last time and mentioned that Badel knows the horse well.
Kwok added that this year’s BMW Hong Kong Derby will mean a lot to the syndicate Members, as Beauty Alliance is the syndicate’s first runner in the Derby and also the syndicate
consists many Members who are not from the Kwok’s family. “If we can win this time the excitement we get will definitely be more,” Kwok said.
Cheng described Beauty Alliance is a horse with plenty of fighting heart, while Kwok opined
the horse always keeps improving. Kwok said: “He looked not that outstanding at the very first beginning among the same batch of horses we bought, but he keeps on improve and now he becomes the best one among that batch.”
HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE – WEDNESDAY, 31ST JULY 2024
Supplemented at a cost of £25,000 by his owner JP McManus, Inothewayurthinkin challenged Galopin Des Champs at the final fence, before powering up the hill to a famous victory.
Galopin Des Champs was odds-on favourite to win a third Cheltenham Gold Cup and was settled in mid-field in the initial stages by his rider Paul Townend. However, the Willie Mullins star didn’t jump with his usual fluency
and raced wide on the first circuit of the race, suggesting all was not going to plan.
A couple of scruffy jumps, and a scare after being hampered when rival Ahoy Senor fell on the back straight were all forgotten when Galopin Des Champs loomed large as the horses cleared the third-last fence and headed for the home turn. Galopin Des Champs led the field two out, but Inothewayurthinkin had followed him through heading for the
final fence. The young pretender challenged Galopin Des Champs and went clear over the last, securing a second Gold Cup in those famous gold and green striped silks.
Inothewayurthinkin was instantly slashed for the Randox Grand National at Aintree on April 5, a race he had been favourite for prior to the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Having been a general 8/1, Inothewayurthinkin was no bigger than 3/1 favourite for the world’s most famous race after his Cheltenham success.
His trainer Gavin Cromwell was delighted: “I’m absolutely speechless. We’ve had a lot of faith in this horse and a lot of credit has to go to Keith Donoghue. He’s rode him all the way along and done all the schooling. The pace of the race on the better ground was a worry, and he was only just hanging on in there the whole time. He’s a very good horse. I’m just thrilled.”
Inothewayurthikin is likely to run again this season, but his Randox Grand National backers are set for a nervous wait, with the Ladbrokes-sponsored Punchestown Gold Cup looking a serious alternative.
Gavin Cromwell told the media on Sunday that the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner had emerged in fine form after his victory last Friday and said he does not see why the seven-year-old
wouldn’t be seen again before the season ends.
Inothewayurthinkin’s revised official rating is likely to be in the region of a stone higher than the 160 he was awarded when the National weights were revealed last month, making Aintree an obvious temptation for Cromwell and owner JP McManus.
Galopin Des Champs was gallant in defeat, twelve lengths clear of third placed Gentlemansgame on ground that would have been too fast for the now nine-year-old. Paul Townend noted that Galopin Des Champs had never given him the same feel as he had in the previous two years: “He’s been beaten on the day by a better, younger one. Everything was a bit laboured on him, but he’s tried his heart out and owes no-one anything.”
“He came half alive at the top of the hill for the last time but initially the first thing I thought going around was that this [ground] is livelier than he appreciates, but he gave them something to shout about for a long time and went out on his shield.”
Laurel River will miss the opportunity to defend the Dubai World Cup as connections say they are unable to get him fit enough for the race 4on April 5.
The Racing Post reports that the Juddmonte seven-year-old shared the Horse of the Year award with City Of Troy last season after romping home to an eight-and-a-half length triumph in the race last March.
Yet he was not seen again in 2024 and was surprisingly turned over at odds of 4-11 on his comeback this year in a Group 3 at Meydan in January.
The son of Into Mischief was then forced to miss the Saudi Cup, the world’s richest race, having endured a setback and trainer Bhupat Seemar said he would not be ready for Dubai.
The trainer said: “Laurel River is doing very good but after his last gallop we realise that there won’t be enough time to get him fit for a race of this calibre. “Juddmonte decided to give him the time and he can come back for the Saudi Cup and Dubai World Cup in 2026.”
Saudi Cup winner Forever Young is 5-6 favourite to follow up in the Dubai World Cup.
It might have been the final meeting of the Dubai Racing Carnival, but 14 March 2025 will live long in the memory of Hilal Kobeissi. The British trainer collected a first overseas winner when Max Mayhem stormed home in the featured Longines Spirit Flyback Handicap.
The seven-year-old was making his fourth start of the Carnival, but was much the best here, settling towards the back of the field in the 2410 m contest. Jockey Adrie de Vries was patient, asking his mount for an effort with 400metres left to go and charging home by three and a half lengths from Valdivia.
“There was plenty of pace,” he said. “I was a bit
worried when I lost my cover on the backside, but I was pretty confident once we turned for home.”
The race was also notable for the return of De Vries, after some time out through injury.
“I clipped heels and had a bad fall a few weeks ago,” he said. “It was a very frustrating couple of weeks, I missed a few nice rides, but I’m lucky to be back so quickly. Everything seems fine.”
It was a huge win for Newmarket-based Kobeissi, who has a relatively small string at the moment, having previously run a pre-training operation.
“That was a De Vries masterclass!” he said. “This is a huge for our small team. We’re a young set-up with big ambitions.”
De Vries celebrated a quick double when Strobe took the very next race, the Longines Master Collection Moon Phase Chronograph Handicap, over 1200metres on dirt.
Simon and Ed Crisford’s six-year-old settled just behind a fast pace set up front by Sir Harmony and Smart System and was well positioned to take the lead in the straight, before needing to dig deep to see off the closing Deep Hope by half a length.
“There was a strong pace and I was always in a nice position,” said De Vries. “I always felt
that the two in front would come back to me. He probably hit the front a little bit too soon and then kind of pulled up a little bit – I needed the line.”
Meydan is next in action on Saturday 5 April when the $30,5 million Dubai World Cup fixture will see some of the very best horses, jockeys and trainers in the world compete across the nine-race card.
After being on course for Apache Chief’s hat-trick of runner-up finishes at his last three starts, owner Julia Kieswetter didn’t make the trip to Turffontein on Saturday but would have enjoyed the thrill of seeing her Ridgemont-bred gelding score an overdue win – and a runaway one at that!
Starting at 1-4, Apache Chief continued the rout of favourites at the standalone SA racemeeting, and scored like a gelding who could follow up.
He beat the 50-1 Blurred Vision (50-1) by 5,10 lengths in a time of 101,79 secs for the standside mile.
The son of deceased War Front sire Lancaster Bomber out of the unraced Australian bred
Umatilla mare Sorencisco has earned at over 50% of his 15 starts and appears to have relished the move from the Cape.
Winning jockey Gavin Lerena, who said that the going was ‘sticky’, added that the cheek pieces had made the difference and hoped that the victory would boost the 4yo’s confidence.
Hollywoodbets-sponsored trainer James Crawford quipped that if ever there was a day for Apache Chief to win, it was today!
“We are hoping that he can win a few more from here after that emphatic win. Thanks to Julia (Kieswetter)for standing strong with this boy,” he added.
It was reported by Cape Racing that the silks worn by the winner have stood the test of time
– and straddled continents –as Julia Kieswetter continues a family history that started over 60 years ago and spans three generations.
Kieswetter, nee Conway, grew up in Australia but relocated to South Africa in 2017 where she married husband Ross. Having her own racing colours were far from her mind at the time.
“I took such enjoyment in watching the Ridgemont horses that I never felt the need,” she says. “Of course, things change, and my riding horse is now a broodmare and has produced three foals. The second foal, a Lancaster Bomber gelding called Apache Chief is now a four-year-old and I would like to think is knocking on the door,” she told Gary Lemke. He got it right on Saturday!
“One other horse I have in training is a fiveyear-old gelding that’s come back from a significant suspensory injury. He is back in full training, so he won’t be far off racing. I don’t think he will shoot the lights out, but he’s a lovely athletic horse. It will be lovely to see him back on course in the purple and gold.”
The purple and gold silks they race in were registered in Australia around 1960.
“My paternal grandfather Maurice Conway was a bookmaker and therefore couldn’t hold a training license, so his friend Tom White took up the licence to train Standardbreds in Victoria around 1960,” Kieswetter says of the origins.
“Tom was from a small place called Yaapeet, and together they chose purple and gold as they were the local football club’s colours. That club was always the heart of the remote, small farming town communities.
“People have moved away though these small towns have shrunk. Yaapeet, some 400km
from Melbourne, has a current population of 75 people!
“But back in the day my grandfather purchased a stallion from America named Tarport Low to stand at their farm stud. My father then took over as a trainer. When I was in my 20’s we registered the family colours with the Victoria Racing Board and had a mare called Must You Go. She had two wins for us in the family silks and it was such a thrill. And now those family silks are in South Africa!”
It was a day of fairytales for Inglis graduates at Caulfield on Saturday as a A$14,000 Premier Sale buy won the A$1m Showdown and wonder mare Pride of Jenni returned to racing with an emphatic victory in the Peter Young Stakes.
Bargain buy McGaw (I Am Immortal) made it two wins from as many starts with a tough victory in the A$1m Showdown.
The victory was a huge result for a range of people – it was a career high for trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne, it was a monumental result for Ryan Arnel’s Stonehouse Thoroughbreds who sold both McGaw and runner-up Befuddle (Inglis Gold Sale) and an emotional moment for David Azzopardi of
Dream Thoroughbreds, who bred both McGaw and Befuddle and races Befuddle.
“This is huge,’’ Arnel said.
“Obviously I’m lucky enough to be in the mounting yard on race day but the first two texts to come through after the race were from staff back on the farm, they follow the horses just as much as we do, and it was as awesome for them as it was for me.
“It’s a great ownership group. I remember at the sale last year Dave and Em were the only ones to look at this bloke twice, they really liked him, and they bought him and here we are today.
“Hopefully it’s the start of something because they came back to the well and bought another I Am Immortal colt out of our draft at Prem last week too.’’
Co-trainer Emma-Lee Browne was ecstatic post-race.
“It’s just so good!’’ she said. “Honestly, I’m gobsmacked. There was a lot of yelling! It means so much to us. We went to the sales… we found a couple of cheapies and gee, I can’t believe it.
“David’s a pretty good judge. He got off him one day and said, ‘oh I like this one’ and here we are.’’
From just two career starts McGaw has now won A$580,000 in prizemoney.
Earlier on the program it was a stunning return to racing for Pride of Jenni (Pride of Dubai) as she annihilated her rivals with a dominant all-the-way win in the Gr2 Peter Young Stakes.
Pride of Jenni hadn’t raced since Melbourne Cup Week in November and had been retired by her owners Tony and Lynn Ottobre of Cape Schanck Stud.
But the Ottobre’s had a change of heart and decided to bring Pride of Jenni back into Ciaron Maher’s stables and that decision proved wondrous with a spectacular victory.
The Ottobre’s paid A$100,000 for the Trelawney Stud-bred Pride of Jenni at the Classic Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Segenhoe.
“She did a fantastic job today,’’ Tony Ottobre said. “She was well ridden by jockey Craig Froggy [Newitt] and he had her in a great position and just kept her going.
He wanted to keep her pretty steady for the first 1000m, it would have been nice to be out 30 lengths in front but the job was done and what a fantastic horse she is.
“It ain’t over until you’re really close and I’m never confident until you cross the line but she got the job done in great style.’’
Maher was confident Pride of Jenni could return in winning fashion on Saturday.
“On her data it was on par or better than before. I’m rapt to have her back and rapt to have options with her again,’’ the trainer said.
“She’s only had a short prep but we thought we’d change tack a little bit. She hadn’t won first up and normally she goes in the toughest races, usually seven furlongs, so we thought we’d stretch it out and thought she’d get it a little bit easier and fortunately it’s worked out really well.
“She’s getting a little bit softer each season she comes back which enables us to kick her off over nine furlongs like we did today.
“Because she puts so much into every run –she’s remarkable how she just keeps doing it –the holiday was probably a blessing in disguise because we’ve re-thought her prep a little bit.’’
Pride of Jenni will head to Sydney for either the Gr1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes or Gr1 Queen of the Turf Stakes, with a possible Gr1 Australian Cup start beforehand.
Meanwhile beautiful mare Eagle Nest (Shalaa) resumed with a strong all-the-way win in Saturday’s Gr3 Maurice McCarten Stakes at Rosehill.
Trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou and racing for a syndicate that includes Newgate, Matthew Sandblom’s Hollymount Stud, SF Bloodstock, Peter O’Brien and John Moore, Eagle Nest has proven a shrewd purchase having been picked up at last year’s Chairman’s Sale for A$300,000.
Stakes placed at the time of her purchase last May, Eagle Nest has since won a pair of Stakes races and added in excess of A$305,000 to her prizemoney haul.
The now 5YO mare sold out of the Arrowfield draft to Newgate Bloodstock at the Chairman’s Sale, having initially been a A$550,000 Easter
Yearling Sale purchase for George Moore and IRON, where she was offered by her breeder Segenhoe.
And at Kembla Grange on Friday Verona Rose (Castelvecchio) led in an Inglis graduates trifecta in the Gr3 Kembla Classic when defeating Inevitable Truth and Brigidine Gal.
Trained by Gary Portelli, Verona Rose is unbeaten in three career starts and will likely follow a traditional path to next month’s Gr1 Australian Oaks via the Gr1 Vinery Stud Stakes in a fortnight.
Portelli bought Verona Rose for A$40,000 at the Classic Yearling Sale, where she was offered by her breeder Arrowfield.
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Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) continued her extraordinary and unbeaten autumn campaign with a tenacious victory in Saturday’s Gr1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill.
The 3YO filly’s start to her career is nothing short of phenomenal – Lady Shenandoah has now won threeGr1 races from just seven starts and earned A$1.8m in prizemoney. She’s a A$525,000 Easter Yearling Sale
purchase for Hermitage Thoroughbreds from the draft of Arrowfield, who bred her with Planette Thoroughbreds, and is one of 103 Gr1-winning Inglis graduates since 2018.
Overall Lady Shenandoah has won five of her seven starts with two minor placings.
Arrowfield’s John Messara was in awe of Lady Shenandoah’s tenacity following today’s victory.
“She’s good, she’s very good, you can’t do more than what she’s done so far,’’ Messara said.
“You just don’t see it. You don’t see horses winning three Group 1s in their first seven starts. She’s unbelievable. She’s had a tough
little campaign and really been tested but she’s delivered at every point.
“It’s also another big result for Snitzel, he’s having a bumper season yet again. There’s not a week goes by without another Stakes horse for him and it didn’t surprise me to see this filly come out and do what she did today.’’
Arrowfield will offer Lady Shenandoah’s Maurice half-brother (ex Star Pupil) at next month’s Easter Sale at Riverside, as part of a draft that also includes siblings to the likes of Switzerland, Shoals, Super Seth, Kenedna, Profondo, Estriella and others.
“He’s going to be popular, isn’t he,’’ Messara said. “We’ve got some lovely horses coming to Easter, gee it’s a nice draft and I’m really very excited to get back to Riverside in a couple of weeks to offer them to the buying bench.’’
As well as Lady Shenandoah, Arrowfield graduates of the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in recent seasons include the likes of Switzerland, Autumn Angel, Estriella, Tutta La Vita, Makarena, Cap Ferrat, Autumn Ballet and a number of other high-class horses.
The Easter Yearling Sale will be held on April 6 and 7.
On Lady Shenandoah’s win, trainer Chris Waller said: “She’s a superstar. I wouldn’t say it’s scary but it’s unchartered territory for me to run a filly against the older girls, I don’t normally do it… but we got away with it.
“When the barrier draw came out… I thought she doesn’t owe us anything so if she doesn’t win this race, she’s still going to be a good filly in the future and we’ll look after her but to come out and do that, it blew me away to tell the truth, hence why I got a bit emotional.
“I don’t know what else she’s got to prove this time in so she might go for a break now, that’s an option.’’
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Frankie Dettorri – master jock says he is ’embarrassed’ | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
‘EMBARRASSED’
Veteran jockey Frankie Dettori says he feels ‘embarrassed’ after he filed for bankruptcy having been unable to reach agreement with His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs over a long-running case of tax avoidance.
The BBC reports that the 54-year-old Italian, a mainstay of the British and European flat-racing scene for 37 years, has ridden more than 3 300 winners during his career.
Dettori’s financial situation became public knowledge in December last year when his plea for anonymity lodged in November was rejected by a High Court judge.
The case was brought against Dettori after he had employed professional specialist tax advisers to oversee his and his family’s financial affairs.
Dettori, who was awarded an MBE in 2001, terminated relations with those advisers last year and subsequently employed the services of a different set of financial experts in attempt to resolve the case.
“For the last six months, my advisors have been working with HMRC in an attempt to find a solution to my financial situation,” Dettori said in a statement.
“I am saddened and embarrassed by this outcome and would advise others to take a stronger rein over their financial matters.
“Bankruptcy is a major decision and its consequences will affect me for many years.”
It is estimated Dettori, now based in California, has earned between £15-£20m from racing alone.
He has also made a name for himself outside racing, having been a captain on BBC programme A Question Of Sport, appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here and opened a series of Italian restaurants.
There has been no indication how much Milanborn Dettori, who partnered 287 Group One winners and rode all seven winners in one meeting at Ascot in September 1996, owed.
A HMRC spokesperson said: “We take a supportive approach to dealing with customers who have tax debts and do everything we can to help those who engage with us to get out of debt, such as offering instalment plans.”
Dettori stopped riding in the UK in 2023 but has continued his career in the United States and says he now hopes to be able to concentrate on his day job.
“I am relieved to be drawing a line on this long-term matter, which enables me to reset and focus on my international riding career,” he said.
Interestingly, the late Lester Piggott spent 365 days in prison for tax evasion in the late 1980s.
In 1987 the Inland Revenue brought charges against Piggott for what amounted to £3.2m in fraud, at that point the biggest ever individual tax-dodging case of all time.
According to an analysis of high-profile tax evasion cases by the ATT’s Steven Perryman, Piggott channelled his earnings into bank accounts in Switzerland, the Bahamas, Singapore and the Cayman Islands to keep them away from tax inspectors.
Following a joint Customs/Revenue investigation, the prosecution alleged that Piggott made false declarations during three successive inquiries into his tax affairs between
1970 and 1985. According to the BBC News archive, the specific amounts included failing to disclose £1.36m of riding income during that period and another £1.0m from bloodstock operations.
Piggott’s fortune at the time was estimated to be worth roughly £20m.
Passing sentence, the judge noted that Piggott had misled his own accountants “until the matter was forced out of you” and sent him to prison for three years. In the end, he served one year and one day and two years later he was back out on the course, adding to his tally of wins.
Legend has it that the tax authorities only pressed charges after Piggott settled outstanding liabilities from the third tax investigation with a cheque drawn on an undeclared account, though the jockey dismissed this as a media hoax.
The Sporting Post presents this week’s National Horseracing Authority Calendar.
The calendar is a summary of the week’s penalties and registrations and is an easy-read snapshot of information.
The rationale behind the decision to publish this document arises from queries from stakeholders, who have felt it unfair that only certain matters are published by the Sporting Post.
The historic process is that if a defendant signs an acknowledgement of guilt, NO PRESS RELEASE, except in prohibited substance matters, is issued by the NHA.
That means that the anomaly arises that only those that exercise their full rights of legal recourse and defence are likely to find their case on our pages via the NHA media releases.
Publishing the NHA weekly calendar means everybody can read everything that happened in the past week.
Candiese Lenferna captured this shot of Gavin Lerena as he cast a lonely figure walking the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth track ahead of Sunday’s R5 million HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap where he partnered the odds-on favourite One Stripe.
It’s well documented that the fairytale failed to materialise as we all expected it to ahead of the son of One World’s international campaign.
But champions bounce back. Watch this space.
Bon voyage One Stripe!