WHAT A DAY!
The front-of-grandstand start of the New Turf Carriers Gr3 Western Cape Stayers at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, captured by Chase Liebenberg
TWO ON ONE!
Team Valor International’s recent purchase, and one of the most exciting fillies to grace our tracks in recent times, dual Gr1 winner Quid Pro Quo will be the star attraction at Turffontein on Saturday when the opening legs of the 2025 SA Triple Crown and Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara headline a bumper ten-race card.
Labelled by some experts as the 21st century version of the much loved ‘Galloping Goldmine’ after slamming the males in the Betway Gr2 Dingaans in her first start as a 3yo, the daughter of unheralded Jet Master sire Lance takes her place for the first time in the TVI red and green silks from an 11 draw in a field of 14 that will contest the R750 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas.
Barry Irwin of Team Valor International has previously confirmed that plans are in place to export the Barend Botes-trained Equus champion to Europe and ready her for Dubai in 2026, flight logistics dictate that she will stay on African soil ‘for a run or two’.
While she will start a red-hot favourite on Saturday, Quid Pro Quo is not the highest rated filly in the race. That honour falls to Tony Peter’s Vj’s Angel, who will face an uphill battle as she jumps two gates outside of the Botes bomber.
There was talk that Quid Pro Quo may take on the males, dependant on her barrier gate, but the field of 13 for the R1 million TAB Gr2 Gauteng Guineas hosts 13 starters, all boys.
Mike de Kock’s Betway Gr3 Got The Greenlight Stakes winner Greaterix will be a popular choice, but it looks fairly open.
The TAB Gauteng Guineas is the first leg of
the SA Triple Crown for 3-year-olds, billed by 4Racing as the richest series of races in Africa. A bonus of R2 million will be paid to the connections of the horse that wins all three legs of the SA Triple Crown.
The Crown has been worn by Horse Chestnut (1999), Louis The King (2014), Abashiri (2016) and Malmoos (2021).
The Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas is the first leg of the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara, again billed as the richest series of races for fillies in Africa.
A bonus of R1 million will be paid to the connections of the filly that wins all three legs of the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara.
After Igugu’s inaugural Triple Tiara triumph in 2011, Cherry On The Top (2013), Summer Pudding (2020), War Of Athena (2021) and Rain In Holland (2022) have walked the golden path.
Such a pity that there are no out of province raiders!
The first race at Turffontein on Saturday is off at 12h00.
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Racing history was made as R30 000 Ready To Run Sales graduate and Summerhill-bred War Of Athena took the Triple Tiara, whilst Malmoos – a R4,4-million yearling by Captain Al bred by Varsfontein Stud, each took their crowns on the same day at Turffontein – a first in the history of the event.
On a terrific historic day for South African racing, 19 year old former SA Champion apprentice Luke Ferraris added the SA Triple Crown trophy to his Cape Town Met silverware when Malmoos sauntered home to bank the R2 million bonus in the R750 000 World Sports Betting Gr1 SA Derby at Turffontein.
Malmoos put the cherry on top of the smashing War Of Athena’s success earlier to write their names into the history books as the first of both sexes to win the series on the same afternoon.
And in the end, they both stayed – even if the girls’ 2450m was won in 1,23 secs faster!
The Avontuur-sponsored Ferraris became the youngest jockey to win the SA Triple Crown as he partnered multiple champion Mike de Kock in the master trainer’s personal third strike overall – Igugu (2013 SA Triple Tiara) and Horse Chestnut (1999 SA Triple Crown) being his previous successes in both series.
But the moment belonged to the
Varsfontein-bred Malmoos, who made it 7 wins from 8 starts and joined the honour roll of Horse Chestnut, Louis The King (2014) and Abashiri (2016).
With 250m to go, Malmoos was on his way to stardom and he drew clear to beat the game Pamushana’s Pride – bidding gallantly to emulate his Dad Louis The King – by 5,25 lengths in a time of 157,61 secs.
Paul Matchett and his loyal owners the Wentzels have enjoyed the season of a lifetime. And they joined the rarified ranks of Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara winners courtesy of Muzi Yeni and their Summerhillbred superstar War Of Athena.
A daughter of Dynasty stallion Act Of War, War Of Athena started at prohibitive odds and earned a R1 million bonus as she joined the hallowed honour roll of past SA Triple Tiara princesses Igugu (2011), Cherry On The Top (2013) and Summer Pudding (2020), when she overcame a solid pace set by the opposition camp and put the naysayers to bed with an impressive victory in the R375 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 SA Oaks.
SA Champion trainer Justin Snaith celebrated a third consecutive R5 million World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Town Met victory in the Nic Jonsson silks when the 3yo Eight On Eighteen stormed through a gap down the inside to become only the fourth sophomore in a quarter of a century to win the Cape’s flagship trophy.
While some experts noted the perceived lack of genuine vintage and depth amongst the older horses in the 163rd renewal of the 2000m contest, the now four-time Met winner Justin Snaith’s astute planning again hit the bull’s eye in a year that unravelled perfectly for the taking by a progressive 3yo.
Receiving kilo’s from his 15 opponents, the lightly raced Eight On Eighteen was given a superbly confident ride by Richard Fourie, who was celebrating a personal second success in the Met.
After Oriental Charm, Montien and Red Palace had entered the final 300m with a shout, Fourie directed Eight On Eighteen (18-10) from the midfield to the inside, to get up to win going away beating the revitalized Oriental Charm (8-1) by half a length in a time of 123,68 secs for the 2000m.
Hats off to Piet Botha, who had two runners and will be thrilled by Louis The King’s son Montien’s terrific showing, finishing under a length back in third.
See It Again (17-2) thankfully found his better form to run on smartly for fourth, with both Rascallion and Red Palace not disgraced.
The winner, a R700 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, made it 3 wins with 4 places from his 7 starts for stakes of R3 809 588.
The Cape Derby looks his for the taking!
Raced by Nic Jonsson and Johann Rupert, he is a son of deceased War Front stallion Lancaster Bomber out of the unraced Captain Al mare, Sempre Libre.
While there has been some speculation about how Eight On Eighteen got his name, and Mr Jonsson gave the media ranks a bit of a rev in the post-race interview, here is the story behind the name in Justin Snaith’s words post his Langerman victory last season: watch the interview here:
The Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse in Cape Town buzzed with excitement, dazzling fashion and thrilling racing action as the 2025 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met was in full swing.
The mainstream media reported that despite the scorching temperatures, crowds turned out in large numbers to experience the prestigious racing event.
Complementing the fast-paced energy of race day was the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met’s fashion showcase, inspired by the daring theme Couture Unleashed. Designers Gavin Rajah, Masango by Siphesihle, Imprint, Thula Sindi and Cindy Bam brought flair to the racecourse, adding an extra layer of excitement and entertainment to the day.
South Africa’s famous faces made an effort to attend, making it a star-studded affair.
Renowned presenters Siv Ngesi and Jeannie D hosted the event. Speaking to IOL, Ngesi expressed his excitement, saying he was thrilled to be part of the experience and couldn’t believe he was paid to do such enjoyable work.
Ngesi donned a classic black and white suit by Craig Port and had nothing but praise for the fashion on display, particularly complimenting the women’s outfits.
Legendary comedian Marc Lottering made his return to the Met after nine years, eager to embrace the lively atmosphere, especially the after-party when, he noted, guests would have loosened up and kicked off their shoes.
Rapper K.O, dressed in a suit by Karl Lagerfeld, told IOL that events such as the Met provide excellent networking opportunities, allowing attendees to connect with people who can offer various prospects.
Dean
Kannemeyer and the Khaya Stables Racing team celebrated another glorious WSB Cape Town Met day Grade 1 success when the outstanding Gimme A Prince repeated his 2023 victory with an
emphatic win in the R1,5 million HKJC
Some experts suggested that the 6yo, extraordinarily originally a WSB Cape Town Met entry, couldn’t come back to a 1000m Grade 1 contest after his outstanding third behind superstar sophomore One Stripe over the mile of the L’Ormarins King’s Plate three weeks earlier.
But Kannemeyer is a master and the 64-yearold Milnerton veteran showed his guile, freshening up the champion, a horse labelled by ecstatic winning jockey Craig Zackey as ‘possibly one of the best sprinters in the world’. Zackey rode Dyce to victory in this race in 2024.
Released at the 400m by Zackey, Gimme A Prince (9-2) turned on the jets and drew away to beat Surjay (20-1) by many lengths in a time of 56,76 secs for the 1000m.
In an all Grade 1 winning quartet, Sean Tarry’s Lucky Lad (17-2) found his best form
and stayed on for third ahead of defending champion Dyce (9-4).
The Khaya Stables bred winner was raided in the beautiful Varsfontein paddocks and is 6yo gelded son of champion sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the smashing.
Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint winner Real Princess. Like Gimme A Prince, the Klawervlei-bred daughter of Trippi was raced by Khaya Stables for Dean Kannemeyer.
Real Princess was the most expensive filly sold at the 2013 Cape Premier Yearling Sale when knocked down to Form Bloodstock for R2,7 million. Gimme A Prince was her first foal.
This was Gimme A Prince’s third Gr1 success and he took his tally to 7 wins and 8 places from 16 starts for stakes of R3 293 263.
Longstanding Dean Kannemeyer Racing team member Morris Mg Cube was the proudest man at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday after his favourite charge Gimme A Prince had stormed to an eyecatching victory in the R1,5 million HKJC World Pool Gr1 Cape Flying Championship.
Now a 6yo, Gimme A Prince won the same prestigious contest back in 2023, and after missing out due to injury in 2024, bounced back with emphatic vengeance to stamp himself as South Africa’s leading sprinter.
For the 67-year-old Morris Mg Cube, who has worked at the Milnerton Training Centre for 48 years, and close on thirty of those with the Kannemeyer family, the sensational victory by the Gimmethegreenlight gelding earned him the World Pool Moment Of The Day accolade and a very welcome bonus of R100 000.
The 2025 Moment of the Day series launched on Cape Town Met Day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and earns the Groom of the selected horse a prize of the equivalent of HK$40 000.
A delighted Morris told the Sporting Post that he had won the same prize back in 2023, and expressed his gratitude to the HKJC World Cup organisers, Cape Racing and to the champion sprinter’s internationally renowned owner Lady Christine Laidlaw and trainer Dean Kannemeyer.
World Pool is an exciting and innovative version of international commingling and aims to promote the world’s best horse races, using the IFHA Top 100 Gr1 Races as a benchmark. As of the 2024-2025 racing season, World Pool has featured over 80 prestigious Gr1 races from past three years. Elite races from different continents are available to punters worldwide.
Morris will join the other winners this year and get the chance to be named World Pool Moment of the Year and win a VIP trip for four to Hong Kong for either the 2026 Hong Kong Derby or 2026 Champions Day.
Each individual World Pool Moment of the Day winners will be narrowed down to a shortlist, before being voted on by the public to determine the World Pool Moment of the Year, which will be revealed at the Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin in December.
City of Troy and his groom David Hickey were crowned World Pool Moment of the Year winner in 2024.
The 67 year old Morris joined the Kannemeyer team under Dean’s late Dad Peter in 1997, and has tended to some top gallopers, including the likes of stable champion Free My Heart, said that he was thrilled and proud to have been acknowledged.
Born in the small village of Tsolo in the Eastern Cape, Morris started working for the legendary horseman Johnny Cawcutt in 1977, and also did stints with David Coleman and Paddy Kruyer, before he signed up with the Kannemeyers in 1997.
The father of three, and a proud granddad, lives with his wife and three adult children in the sprawling Dunoon township near the Milnerton Training Complex. Two of his three children work, while his wife has a three day-a-week job as a domestic.
“Life is very expensive and inflation eats away at every hope of saving for education to improve our situation and building an asset base. We don’t have much more than family love and togetherness but the World Pool cash prize is a lifechanger for my family. I am almost speechless right now but so privileged to be a part of a champion team at Dean Kannemeyer Racing,” concluded an emotional Morris.
A week earlier Glen Kotzen saddled his first winner after a frustrating six week drought. On Saturday the Woodhill Racing Team were celebrating a heartstopping Grade 1 victory after the gutsy dual Grade 2-winner Rascova had pipped her arch-rival Double Grand Slam to win the R1 million Maine Chance Farms Gr1 Majorca Stakes.
A week earlier Glen Kotzen saddled his first winner after a frustrating six week drought. On Saturday the Woodhill Racing Team were celebrating a heartstopping Grade 1 victory after the gutsy dual Grade 2-winner Rascova had pipped her arch-rival Double Grand Slam to win the R1 million Maine Chance Farms Gr1 Majorca Stakes.
Silence descended on a bustling Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in the dying strides as the 7-10 favourite Double Grand Slam looked to have the prestigious trophy in the bag.
But a determined Gavin Lerena had other ideas and the photo showed that the bang in-form Highveld rider had gotten Rascova (5-1) up on the line to win by a nose in a time of 98,34 secs for the mile.
The moderate pace of the race didn’t pan out for Double Grand Slam, and a rematch during the SA Champions Season could be
a mouth-watering possibility! Roccapina (7-1) was 1,25 lengths back in third.
It was a first Grade 1 success for owners Sandy and Eugene Arundel, and a landmark success for trainer Glen Kotzen who would have assisted Clodagh Shaw with dual Majorca winner Donatella back on 1999 and 2000.
The now 4yo Rascova was her sire’s first winner and also his first black type winner when she won the Listed City Of Cape Town Summer Juvenile Stakes Christophe Soumillon on Met day 2023. She also happened to be the son of War Front’s maiden Gr2 winner.
A R260 000 Cape Yearling Sale graduate, the Cheveley Stud-bred Rascova is out of the fivetime winning Western Winter mare, Netsuke.
Now a winner of 6 races with 10 places from 20 starts, Rascova took her stakes earnings to R2 371 363.
On a mostly premier weekend for South African racing, an altercation between two jockeys in a Maiden contest at Turffontein made the news lengths ahead of the World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Town Met in Britain’s leading racing media.
The Racing Post reported on Sunday’s that the Turffontein incident may have shocked but it is far from the only time things have become heated on and off the track. They went on to provide a number of high-profile ‘clashes’ over the decades.
Former South African champion jockey Gavin Lerena has issued a formal statement following the incident.
The National Horseracing Authority advised in the official Stipe’s report of the day that
an Inquiry will be opened into an incident at approximately the 150m mark of the second race.
Lerena was riding the 28-10 Gimme A Storm and was in close quarters with Jason Gates (riding 66-1 Blurred Vision) for much of the duration of the home straight.
Interestingly, subsequent video footage of the race itself suggests that Gates was no innocent victim, and appears to strike his colleague a good few times earlier on in the contest.
In the statement, Lerena says that following the incident that occurred during Race 2 at Turffontein, he feels that it is imperative to offer a formal statement to the racing community.
He adds that what took place is entirely inconsistent with his character, and he deeply regrets the incident. He extended his sincerest apologies to the owners and trainer of the horse, his sponsors, the racing fans and the relevant race day authorities affected.
He says that he wants to clarify that his reaction followed encounters and actions from Mr. Gates.
He notes that in any competitive sport, the instinctual response to a perceived threat, provocation or aggression can lead to a reaction that, under normal circumstances, one would not exhibit or do.
He acknowledged that his response has raised views and opinions. He says that the inquiry process will allow for all factors to be considered, during which time he will submit all
the necessary factors in mitigation.
He tells that the sport of racing has a special place in his heart and that he holds it in the highest regard and remains dedicated to contributing positively to its reputation.
“I aim to uphold the values that make racing truly exceptional. Regrettably, today’s incident detracted from that commitment, and I am deeply remorseful for any disappointment caused to the punters, owners, trainer, fans and officials.To my supporters, your understanding and support is deeply appreciated. Once more, I apologise to all involved and reaffirm my commitment to upholding the integrity of our beloved sport,” he concludes.
Lerena is enjoying the season of his life and is involved in a three way tussle at the top of the national log with Craig Zackey and reigning SA champion Richard Fourie.
The Sporting Post believes that the Inquiry is scheduled to take place sooner rather than later.
An important scientific complimentary tool of the trade for punters and racing enthusiasts, sectional timing data can enhance both the form study and horseracing viewing experience on both KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape race meetings.
In our brand-new weekly column entitled Time Is Money, we look at some of the past weekend’s highlights, and commence with last Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Kenilworth WSB Cape Town Met racemeeting.
No rain fell in the seven days prior to this prestigious meeting and as a result 65mm of irrigation was added to the track during this same period.
The penetrometer reading was given as 25.
Most significantly though it was 23 in the straight and 27 on the turn. This gave us a very unusual situation where the going was good on the straight course and soft on the bend.
The false rail was in its original position from the 1700m mark with a 2m spur at the 600m mark. The outside running rail was moved inwards 4m from the 600m mark.
There was a light to moderate north westerly tail wind of 7-25km/h.
ORIENTAL CHARM made the early running and although the overall time of the race was 0,12 seconds slower than the only other event run over 2000m on the day, the Gr3 Summer Fling Stakes, they entered the turn in a time over 2 seconds faster.
The field was well strung out at that point with the heavily supported favourite EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN easily 9 nine lengths off the pace.
What is interesting here is that in all of the races around the turn, the sectional times for most of the runners showed an average increase in speed between the 600m and 400m markers of approximately 0,8 seconds. They then showed a similar amount of time in slowing over the final 200m. Did they all really speed up at the 600m marker? I suggest not. They naturally quickened because they hit the better going early in the straight, but what about the final 200m? Food for thought.
The winner of the Green Point Stakes in soft going in his penultimate outing, ORIENTAL CHARM went to the closer than usual outside running rail entering the straight and at that point the Met was still being run 1,4 seconds faster than the Gr3 Summer Fling Stakes.
The 3yo EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN meanwhile steadily began to make headway at the top of the straight and under a well-judged ride from Richard Fourie, he got up 50m from home. The comparisons with the Gr3 suggest that the early pace in this race took its toll on the leaders in the straight.
One for the notebook from this race is Eight on Eighteen’s stable companion PACAYA. Freely available at 40/1 on the off, this son of Trippi lost two lengths at the start after taking a bump
and becoming unbalanced. As a result of this he raced in the rear and was a good 4,5 lengths behind the winner entering the straight. He ranon very strongly over the final 300m and was only beaten a length and three quarters.
Gr1
The pace was slow early and led by the very hard held FATAL FLAW, the field was very tightly bunched on moving into the bend.
The Snaith trained DOUBLE GRAND SLAM was the first to make a move and with the race looking wide open, she struck the front 400m out. Sporting a compression mask and ear muffs, the eventual winner RASCOVA had always been handy and was on the heels of Double Grand Slam when that one struck the front approaching the 400m marker.
Both finished well and in a thrilling finish RASCOVA only got the verdict by a short head. A very false paced affair.
Run at a good pace throughout, the Flying Championship was won in a time just 0,29 seconds outside the course record.
The nibbled at outsider CRUISE CONTROL made the early running whilst the eventual winner GIMME A PRINCE sat seventh of the fourteen some four lengths off the pace.
He ran on strongly as the early leaders all began to slow over the final 400m and after striking the front 200m out, won going away. Also worthy of note in this race is LUCKY LAD who finished third. Sean Tarry’s charge was still positioned eleventh going through the 400m. He had to switch out for a run 250m from
home and although he was unable to make any headway on the winner, he cut through the leaders late on.
As mentioned earlier in this column the overall time of this race was 0,12 seconds faster than that of the Met and the sectionals suggest that it was run at a truer pace. Allowed to drift at the track as if a good run was out of the question (6/1 out to 16/1), the mare TIME FOR LOVE made most of the running.
She kept up a healthy gallop throughout and fought on gamely when challenged by the always handy RAINBOW LORIKEET 200m out.
The pair quickly drew clear, and separated by just a neck at the wire, they had the rest well beaten.
With Richard Fourie taking the ride on REGULATION after this one put up a very smart gallop with his stable companion and subsequent Met winner Eight On Eighteen, it was no surprise to see this son of Legislate heavily supported into favourite.
On leaving the stalls it was FRENCH FLAME and NATIVE RULER who elected to make the running whilst the money horse sat eighth of the eleven. The pace was not a hot one early on and with the field quite tightly bunched rounding the turn, GARRIX who had raced in the rear, began to circle runners. Indeed, entering the straight he was nicely positioned in third.
A length behind Garrix at that point was the eventual winner ZEITZ. Garrix kept on strongly over the final 400m to take second position, but
having clearly used up energy on the turn, he could find no extra when Zeitz began to draw clear, 200m out.
As for Regulation, he never got into the race, and although he was reported as having to steady 150m out it didn’t really make a great deal of difference.
Known for her speed, the Querari filly CANDY TOWN fairly flew when the gates opened and going through halfway, she was 7 lengths clear.
The friendless I’M SO PRITTI (10/1 out to 25/1) sat in the box seat in second, with the tightly bunched remainder a minimum of two lengths behind her. Candy Town gave her all at the business end of the race and only relinquished her lead when swamped close home.
In what was clearly a falsely fast run race then, the cleverly positioned I’m So Pritti struck the front 120m out and held on by three quarters from the faster finishing DISTING.
The runner up had been kicked by another horse en route to the start and was also brushed by MIA MOO in the closing stages. Also, of note are the card changes for Disting. She raced without the compression mask. Wore a tongue tie and sported blinkers for the first time.
Sectional timing data, which has been produced by the internationally acclaimed French company McLloyd, who also provide the service to French and Hong Kong horseracing, is currently available on:
With the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth WSB Cape Town Met day carryover Pick 6 reaching an encouraging net of R11 784 469, Aldo Domeyer grabbed his second feature success on the sunny afternoon as the Twice Over gelding Mucho Dinero found the winner’s box in the opening leg of the exotic after a year plus absence.
Looking for his fourth win on the trot, the highly vaunted Highveld raider Poets Warrior (5-2) went off tote favourite and after a curious crowd had gathered at the front-of-grandstand start, the Wylie Hall gelding carted them along in the 2800m R500 000 New Turf Carriers Gr3 Western Cape Stayers.
With a flowing easy-on-the-eye kind of action, Poets Warrior was going well into the home straight but came under pressure from the only mare Love Is A Rose and Mucho Dinero.
While the race appeared to be running in stages, Mucho Dinero (5-1) was gathered again by Domeyer and he finished well to beat the gallant Love Is A Rose (20-1) by 1,75 lengths in a time of 183 secs for the 2800m.
This was the Snaith team’s second feature of the day after winning the opening Heineken Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes.
The winner’s fancied stablemate Triple Time (94) had no luck in running, but saved PA players when staying on for third, a further 0,40 lengths back.
The handsome chestnut Poets Warrior probably found the heat on the day and the rigours of his travels a touch too much and ran out of the money.
A R1,4 million BSA National Yearling Sale purchase, Mucho Dinero races for Nic Jonsson and is now a winner of 7 races with 3 places from 20 starts, and earnings of R1 052 126.
Bred by Drakenstein Stud, the winner is a son of Twice Over (Observatory) out of the prolific stakes-winner producing four-time winning Casey Tibbs mare, Cash Register.
A full-sister to Equus Champion and Gr1 Durban July winner Big City Life, Cash Register has produced a number of stakes winners.
The three-year-old, Eight On Eighteen, has seen his rating increased from 115 to 127 after capturing the World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Town Met at weight for age terms over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
The Handicappers agreed to use runner up, Oriental Charm, as the line horse to assess this race, leaving his rating unaltered on 125.
The winner aside, there was also merit ratings increases for four more horses. Rascallion, who finished fifth, went up to 124 from 122, while Pacaya went up from 116 to 118 and Future Swing was increased to 117 from 114. This will ensure that Pacaya and Future Swing meet on correct weight terms in a handicap race.
Lastly, Baratheon received a partial adjustment of two points from 106 to 108.
Two horses were given merit ratings drops following this contest. See It Again was dropped to 128 from 131 after failing to confirm his pre-rating of 131 in his recent outings. Al Muthana went down to 114 from 116.
HKJC World Pool Gr1 Cape Flying Championship
Gimme A Prince, who remains unbeaten over 1000m, has had his rating adjusted to 134 from 129 after impressively landing his second HKJC World Pool Gr1 Cape Flying Championship at weight for age terms over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
Runner up, Surjay, was considered to be the most suitable line horse to rate this race, leaving his rating unchanged on 124.
In addition to the winner, two more horses received upward adjustments in their ratings. Future Variety went up to 114 from 112 and Café Culture was adjusted from 113 to 114.
Bereave was the solitary runner to receive a drop in the ratings and he dropped slightly from 116 to 114.
Rascova has seen her official merit rating adjusted to 122 from 119 following her victory in the Maine Chance Farms Gr1 Majorca Stakes at weight for age terms over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. Here it was runner up, Double Grand Slam, who was used to assess this race, leaving her rating unchanged on 122.
There were merit ratings increases for two more runners besides the winner. Third place finisher, Roccapina, was adjusted to 116 from 111 while Kinda Wonderful, who finished fourth, went up to 109 from 104.
The were no ratings drops for any runner in this race.
Rainbow Lorikeet’s official merit rating remains unchanged on 111 after winning the Tsogo Sun Gr3 Summer Fling Stakes for fillies
and mares over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
The Handicappers believed that Rainbow Lorikeet herself made for the most ideal line horse to rate this race hence her unchanged rating.
Runner up, Time For Love was the only runner to go up in the ratings, and she went up to 105 from 102.
There were, however, merit rating drops of three points each for two horses following this contest. Saartjie, who was rated to win this contest was dropped to 113 from 116 and Gold Poker Game went down from 107 to 104.
Mucho Dinero’s official merit rating was adjusted from 110 to 115 following his victory in the New Turf Carriers Gr3 Western Cape Stayers over 2800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
Here, it was third place finisher, Triple Time, who was deemed to be the most suitable line horse, leaving his rating unchanged on 110.
Runner up, Love Is A Rose, was one of three other runners that went up in their ratings in this race and she went up to 105 from 101. Fourth place finisher, King Pelles, went up to 105 from 96 and Otto Luyken, who finished fifth went up to 104 from 100.
This ensures that King Pelles and Otto Luyken meet at correct terms should they meet in a handicap.
It should also be noted that these two horses were rated to finish at the back of the field and clearly outperformed their official pre-ratings, hence their adjustments.
Future Pearl was the only runner to receive a drop in the ratings and he went down slightly to 115 from 116.
Zeitz has seen his rating upped to 97 from 85 after comfortably landing the City Of Cape Town Gr3 Politician Stakes for 3-year-olds over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
The Handicappers were of the opinion that fourth place finisher, Dawn Till Dusk made for the most suitable line horse to assess this race leaving his rating unchanged on 93. There were increases for two more runners besides the winner.
Runner up, Garrix, went up to 97 from 95 while third place finisher, Native Ruler, was increased to 91 from 85.
The only runner to receive a drop in the ratings was French Flame who went down to 93 from 98.
I’m So Pritti has had her official merit rating increased to 100 from 92 after winning the SABC Listed Olympic Duel Stakes for fillies and mares over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
Here, it was third place finisher, Siddeley, who was used to assess this race leaving his rating unchanged on 99.
Runner up, Disting, had to be capped on 92 even though she achieved a much higher mark. This is due to the conditions of this race that do not allow for an increase of more than three points for placed runners.
No fewer than three horses received merit ratings drops after this race. Symphony In White went down to 105 from 107 and Pineapplemintgreen was reduced to 95 from 99. Lastly, Golden Tatjana dropped to 87 from 92.
Thunee Playa has had his rating adjusted to 105 from 103 following his victory in the 4Racing Listed Dr Richard Maponya Handicap over 1800m at the Turffontein Standside Track on Sunday.
Here it was runner up, Silent War, and third place finisher, Son Of Raj, who were considered the most suitable line horses, leaving their ratings unchanged on 100 and 119 respectively.
Royal Edition, who finished sixth in this race, was the other runner apart from the winner to receive an increment in the ratings and he went up to 90 from 85. This partial increase received
by Royal Edition was due to him being 16 points (8kg) under sufferance at the weights. Two horses received drops in their ratings. Fifth place finisher, Marauding Horde went down to 99 from 100 while Hotarubi was reduced to 112 from 114.
Littlemarysunshine’s official merit rating has been increased from 89 to 95 after she captured the 4Racing Listed Spook Express Stakes over 2400m at Turffontein on Sunday.
Runner up, My Soulmate was considered to be the most suitable line horse to assess this race, leaving her rating unchanged on 106.
There were no other increases to any other runner in this race but there was a drop in the ratings for Patches Of Grey who went down slightly to 71 from 72.
• Media release by the NHA on Tuesday, 28 January 2025.
A traditional Derby trial, the R350 000 City Of Cape Town Gr3 Politician Stakes wound up the carryover Cape Town Met day Pick 6 with a dividend of R109 292 and unearthed a progressive gem in the shape of the Plattner-raced grey, Zeitz, who made short work of his ten opponents.
A maiden winner at his penultimate start, and trying the 1800m for the first time, Zeitz (10-1) was given a patient ride from midfield by Serino Moodley, before lengthening down the inside rail to beat the highly regarded Garrix (33-10) by 2,75 lengths in a time of 111,24 secs.
Pacemaker Native Ruler (25-1) finished best of the Snaith quintet to stay on 0,30 lengths further back in third, with Dawn Till Dusk (25-1)
in fourth. A R625 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, the Maine Chance Farms-bred Zeitz is a brother to the Snaith’s Big Cap prospect The Grey King and is a son of Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the Aussie-bred Redoute’s Choice mare, Zappy Choice.
Now a winner of 2 races with 4 places from 6 starts, Zeitz took his stakes bank to R329 726.
Leading South African-based owners Hollywood Racing have broken new ground with the acquisition of five yearlings during the Book 1 session at the Karaka Sales Centre, 30 minutes minutes south of Auckland.
New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale attracts buyers from far and wide in search of the classic-type horses the country is famous for producing, and a new name joined that list this week.
New Zealand media reports that Bloodstock agent Craig Ramsay made five purchases for his South African-based client, who was a first-time purchaser at Karaka under the name Betting Entertainment Technologies International Limited. The total spend was NZ$885,000.
Ramsay’s first purchase was Lot 265, a Savabeel colt from the Trelawney Stud draft that was knocked down for NZ$275 000.
The colt is out of the winning Fastnet Rock mare Samoon, who is a half-sister to Gr1 Oakleigh Plate winner Shamal Wind.
Six lots later, Ramsay secured a Tivaci filly for NZ$110 000. Offered by Waikato Stud, the filly is out of a winning half-sister to last month’s Gr3 Bonecrusher Stakes winner Sethito.
Another member of the Waikato Stud draft, Lot 382, was bought by Ramsay for NZ$100 000. The colt is by Savabeel out of the well-related Pins mare Vanilla Essence.
Ramsay paid NZ$240 000 for Lot 449 from Riversley Park. The Almanzor colt is out of the Listed Ottawa Stakes winner Applegate, who is the dam of six winners from seven foals to race including stakes winners Impendabelle and Cloudy.
Lot 510, a Tivaci filly out of the unraced Savabeel mare Caramel Sundae, was bought for NZ$160,000.
While the yearlings were bought with the intention of taking them to South Africa, logistical challenges may see them begin their careers in New Zealand.
“The plan is to get the horses to South Africa, but the issue is with transport,” Ramsay said.
At the close of selling, the Book 1 aggregate reached NZ$75,322,500 from a slightly smaller offering of 588 yearlings, while the average rounded out at NZ$164,819 and the clearance rate improved to 78%.
All yearlings purchased at Karaka 2025 are eligible for the Karaka Millions Series.
See the price list here.
‘After lying dormant for several generations, Zarkava and Igugu miraculously reasserted the female line of Petite Etoile, one which continues to flourish in Zarak and now Zeitz’
Vercingetorix three-year-old Zeitz, an impressive winner of the City Of Cape Town Gr3 Politician Stakes, not only stamped himself a genuine Cape Derby prospect, he is proof that a female family can thrive and survive off just a single line of descent.
Sabine Plattner’s talented colt traces to one of the most charismatic fillies to have graced the English turf, the Aga Khan’s grey Petite Etoile. Regularly partnered by maestro Lester Piggott, the combination of her brilliance coupled with his confidence, charisma and ice-cool nerve, proved electrifying and together the pair garnered the Epsom Oaks, Sussex Stakes, Yorkshire Oaks and Champion Stakes. She also won the Coronation Cup twice.
In stark contract to her fabulous racing career, Petite Etoile proved to be nothing short of disastrous as a broodmare and in a chequered career at stud, managed to produce just a
handful of foals, the last of which, a filly by Habitat. Named Zahra, she managed just four places as a three-year-old but as a broodmare, would single-handedly revive the legend of her illustrious dam.
In 2008, she rose to prominence through the exploits of the remarkable Zarkava, whose third dam Zarna, was the result of Zahra’s liaison with Shernazar, a half-brother to the Aga Khan’s outstanding champion Shergar.
Zarkava carried all before her at two and three and never tasted defeat in seven starts. She bagged Gr1 victories in the Prix Marcel Boussac, French 1000 Guineas and Oaks and the Prix Vermeille. The remarkable bay ended her career in a blaze of glory with a smashing victory in the 2008 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and not surprisingly, was crowned Europe’s Horse of the Year.
Zarkava has since become a noted broodmare for the Aga Khan’s stud, her progeny including the Gr1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Zarak, who is fast making a name for himself as one of Europe’s leading sires.
The sire of 12 per cent stakes winners to runners and 72 per cent stakes winners to runners from all his crops, he is notably the sire of the Gr1 French 2000 Guineas winner Metropolitan, as well as Gr1 winners Haya Zark and Zagrey.
As for Zeitz, he was bred by Maine Chance Farms out of the Australian-bred mare Zappy Choice, whose dam Zarakiysha just happens to be an unraced half-sister to Zarkava. She found her way to Australia, where she counted Gr3-placed filly Zarzali amongst her six winning foals.
another exceptional headline-maker in the shape of Mike de Kock-trained Horse of the Year Igugu.
A dominant force at three and four and also the country’s very first Triple Tiara winner, this exceptional filly’s swan song victory in the 2012 Met capped a notable seven-win streak which also included the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July and Gr1 Woolavington 2000. To date, she is the first and only filly or mare to complete the Vodacom Durban July/ Met double.
Igugu has as her third dam Zariya, Zahra’s daughter sired by the brilliant miler Blushing Groom. Igugu’s dam Zarinia was culled from the Aga Khan stud as an unraced threeyear-old and like Zeitz’s dam, found her way to Australia, where she foaled Igugu as her second foal in 2009.
By the way, Zeitz is not the first member of this family to race in the Plattner silks, so did Igugu’s Fastnet Rock half-sister Ngaga. Successful in the Listed East Coast Cup, she also ran second in the Stormsvlei Mile and third in the Gr3 Final Fling Stakes.
Trained by Mike Azzie, Zappy Choice won once at two and has turned out to be an inspired purchase by Maine
Chance, as in addition to Zeitz, she is also dam of his full brother The Grey King, who ran second to champion Green With Envy in last year’s Politician Stakes.
Incidentally, Zeitz is not the first South African stakes winner to emerge from this particular female line, for Zahra is also ancestress of
After lying dormant for several generations, Zarkava and Igugu miraculously reasserted the female line of Petite Etoile, one which continues to flourish in Zarak and now Zeitz.
The factors which contributed to its revival may be subject to conjecture. However, all the mares in the direct chain of heredity were winners of some sort or were closely related to top performers. In addition, the Aga Khan’s judicious selection of high-class sires for Zahra and her descendants in each subsequent generation may well have been the catalyst which set in motion the revival of this illustrious family.
Long may it continue.
Zac Bloch’s Yuppie Syndicate continued their dream summer season when the Querari filly Rainbow Lorikeet registered her second Grade 3 success in the space of six weeks as she ran on well to win the R225 000 Tsogo
A filly leased by a group of enthusiastic young professionals, Rainbow Lorikeet’s swashbuckling victory on the big day was a great advertisement for a sport crying out for new generational support, even if Zac Bloch’s shouting was not exactly music to the ears of some of the paying customers around him!
In an open looking fillies and mares contest, Gavin Lerena took Time For Love out to lead the way ahead of Saartjie and Indian Ocean. The order stayed much the same for a long
way before Aldo Domeyer shook Rainbow Lorikeet up.
Gliding forward at the 300m, Rainbow Lorikeet (5-1) had plenty in hand but got a fright with the persistence of long-time leader Time For Love (16-1), who gamely kept finding and ensured the Bass-Robinson filly was honest. Just 0,30 lengths separated the two at the line, with Rainbow Lorikeet clocking 123,56 secs for the 2000m.
Saartjie (4-1) was 3,75 lengths back in third, with Mano Pandaram’s maiden feature representative Indian Ocean (10-1) rounding off the quartet.
Rainbow Lorikeet was bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein and is by Maine Chance resident Querari (Oasis Dream) out of the Silvano mare Nightingale.
The latter coincidentally gave trainer Candice Bass-Robinson her maiden Grade 1 success in the 2017 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes, when ridden by present day Hollywood Racing manager Anthony Delpech.Rainbow Lorikeet has won 5 races with 7 places from her 16 starts for stakes of R823 901.
Will Zach Bloch be jetting back to London on Sunday? Chances are we will see him at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth for the next racemeeting on Saturday 1 February.
SA champion trainer Justin Snaith launched the 2025 WSB Cape Town Met day at a sun-drenched Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday in the best manner possible as Grant van Niekerk steered the Drakenstein raced and bred Wild Wild Green to a smooth victory in the R600 000 Heineken Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes.
A winner on debut of the Flash Summer Coronation Plate on Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas day in mid-December, Snaith stable elect Wild Wild Green again showed that her heart outweighs her frame as she powered forward at 4-1 to get the better of her more experienced stablemate and 13-10 favourite Clair De Lune by 1,25 lengths in a time of 65,36 secs for the 1100m. After winning on her Fairview debut last month Canford Cliffs
daughter and Gqeberha challenger Instaworthy (16-1) was not disgraced, a further 2,25 lengths back in third.
A Gimmethegreenlight half-sister to the wellperformed dual stakes winner Sheela (The United States), the compact but athletic Wild Wild Green is out of the once winning Trippi mare, Trip To India.
Despite pinning her ears back, she put her best hoof forward to make it two from two as she took her stakes earnings to R475 000.
The high-riding Justin Snaith team made it four winners at the halfway mark of the twelve-race WSB Cape Town Met day racemeeting at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday when the Vercingetorix filly I’m So Pritti rocked the boat with a career peak victory in the R225 000 SABC Listed Olympic Duel Stakes.
The lightning-fast Candy Town let rip out front as she blazed a trail a few lengths ahead, stretching her 15 opponents and creating a ready-made platform for an upset result.
When Candy Town started coming up for air at the 250m marker, Kabelo Matsunyane pressed the launch button on the stalking I’m So Pritti (25-1) and the 3yo catapulted forward to hold fellow longshot Disting (66-1) to three quarters of a length in a time of 70,26 secs for the 1200m.Snaith’s Siddeley (20-1) stayed on
well into third, some 0,40 lengths back in third, with Highveld raider Mia Moo (20-1) rounding a healthy quartet that paid R152 138,50, with a carryover of R17 700,62.
A R225 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate, the winner is raced in partnership by Greg Bortz, Bjorn Nielsen and Friday’s birthday girl, Gina Goldsmith.
Bred by Maine Chance Farms, she is by Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the unraced Trippi mare, Pritti.
Now a stakes winner of R316 975, I’m So Pritti has won 3 races with 3 places from 8 starts.
Wilgerbosdrift’s young stallion Hawwaam got off the mark as a sire when his first-crop son Read All About It made a winning debut at Turffontein on Sunday.
Trained, like his sire, by Mike de Kock, twoyear-old Read All About It was allowed to settle early before Muzi Yeni unleashed him close home.
From there, Read All About It hit the front and he powered away to win Turffontein’s 4Racing
Welcomes You Maiden Juvenile Plate run over 1000m by a length and a half.
Bred by his part-owners Ridgemont, Read All About It is out of the London News mare Picadilly Miss. The colt is just the second runner for his sire Hawwaam, with first runner, Take It As Red, finishing fourth in her only two starts.
A son of six-time South African Champion Sire Silvano (whose star sire son Vercingetorix is
carrying all before him this season), champion Hawwaam won ten of just 13 starts, with the strapping bay earning R6,769,775 in stakes.
Like Vercingetorix and Dynasty, Hawwaam won the Gr1 Daily News 2000, with his remaining Gr1 successes coming in the S A Classic, Premier’s Champions Challenge (twice), and H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes. Hawwaam won eight graded races, with the champion winning over distances ranging from 1200m to 2000m.
Bred on the potent Silvano/Jet Master cross, Hawwaam is out of the Jet Master sired Gr3 Prix Du Cap/Listed Off To Stud Handicap winner Halfway To Heaven, Equus Broodmare Of The Year in 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.
Hawwaam, a full-brother to Kings Cup runnerup Celestial City, is a half-brother to 2020-2021 Horse Of The Year Rainbow Bridge and dual Gr1 winner Golden Ducat.
Hawwaam has a single lot on offer at the Cape Yearling Sale -a filly (Lot 53) whose twice winning dam is a 3/4 sister to the stakes winning dam of Gr1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes winner Humdinger.
Sandy Arundel dispels
the common belief that marketing horseracing is unlikely to make an impact as she revealed she did not even know horseracing existed a few years ago and considering how much she and husband Eugene are now getting out of it she now finds that fact ‘sad’.
Gold Circle reports that on Saturday they were on tenterhooks for a minute or two after initially believing the Glen Kotzen-trained Lancaster Bomber filly Rascova had given them their first Gr 1 victory, because they then learnt it was closer than they had believed.
She said, “We stood there staring at each other and the angst of those few seconds … did she, or didn’t she?! Then obviously when they said she had won we all just went hysterical … it has been a long time coming. She has always had the ability. Some of the other fillies are bred for a mile and further, whereas she is probably better at 1400m. But anyway, she pulled it off and I think if we stick to that running style, we’ve got a chance to catch a few more.”
Sandy’s confidence was buoyed when Rascova was given a lead for a change.
She said, “There’s never another horse who jumps as quickly as she does and she is out of a mare who won over 1000m, so a mile was always going to be at the end of her range. We felt Gavin is such a master jockey there is no way you can give him instructions; he’s got to do what he’s going to do. Interestingly, when I saw Fatal Flaw going forward, I felt we were really in with a shout. Rascova got to conserve
some energy early on for a change. Normally she does not have the energy in reserve for the kick at the end, because she is aggressive and uses up that energy early in the race. It worked out much better with something to chase. She just fought and fought and fought and, on the line, caught Double Grand Slam and got her head down.”
Rascova is a feisty filly and Sandy explained, “She’s kicked the gates before. She has to have three of her own booths in the truck otherwise she wants to kick them. Sometimes they have to unload her and arrange for a two berth to take her on her own to the races. She is a naughty madam. She pulls the blankets off other horses and tears them up, she pulls their tail hairs out! “
Sandy spoke about her introduction to horseracing.
She said, “I had no pony pedigree. I wish we had actually. My husband dabbled in betting, but in a very small way many, many years ago. I didn’t even know horseracing existed, to be honest. It’s quite sad, because if it is not in people’s faces, they don’t even know it exists. But I think it is getting better.”
She added, “My husband was always taken by the idea of horseracing as he had a friend growing up and his father had racehorses. We were friends with Bob Yearham and during Covid I didn’t have an idea what to buy my husband for a birthday present so I ended up buying him a small share in a horse (Mount Laurel) in the syndicate Bob was in.”
It escalated quickly for the Arundels from there.
Although racing is chiefly marketed around betting the purists will always say it is the traditions and history behind the sport and the fascination of pedigree and conformation
etc which are the chief attraction. And for the financially secure here is a sport where you can select your own team according to a specific budget.
It is clear the Arundels are racing purists.
Sandy said, “I have always been a reader and my husband always says I speak as if I have been in horseracing for 30 years, because somebody would talk about a mare and I would go ‘Yes, that is the dam and these are the sisters and this is that.’ I’m probably quite a detailed person and I find the pedigrees very interesting.”
She continued, “Selecting horses is now something Eugene and I love doing together. It starts with me looking at the pages, I am the pedigree researcher, and Eugene is the specimen analyst.”
Sandy has got to know the various good families in the stud book very well and she added, “I have to say we have typically been
stallion snobs. You know you are getting a good winners-to-runners percentage when you are buying the Vercingetorix’s and Gimmethegreenlights and One Worlds. But then just look at Rascova and what Lancaster Bomber has done with just one-and-a-half crops. It makes you think and so I think we will probably dabble a bit in a few of these new sires, although 75% of our crop will probably still be proven stallions.”
They have been mentored by the like of the late Jane Thomas and have consequently learnt a lot and she said, “It is not that difficult anymore to spot a bad walk or an over the knee or back of the knee.”
Sandy also looks at the numbers her trainers have got on their shortlists at any sale and if there is a significant overlap with her list, she knows she is on the right track with those ones.
The Arundel’s, whose IT business is in Johannesburg, initially had all of their horses in KZN, because they had a holiday home there, so it was actually Summerveld trainer Wendy Whitehead who picked Rascova for them.
Sandy said, “We’ve always worked very well with Wendy and she’s such a lovely woman and we are eternally grateful to her.”
She continued, “After being in racing for close on two years we figured we want to race in different centres. It really coincided very much with Greg’s (Bortz) introducing those early juvenile incentives, so we wanted to put a few in Cape Town and Rascova was one of them.”
The next exciting engagement to look forward to for the Arundels is the Sean Tarry-trained World Of Alice in the Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas on Saturday.
A decision to split the longstanding traditional January Premier Yearling Sale into two defined sales platforms has reaped rich rewards for vendors and the Cape Racing Sales team, with last Thursday’s inaugural Summer Sale delivering the highest average South African yearling auction price in eight years.
The CRS 2025 Summer Sale recorded the highest SA Yearling sale average in eight years | Credit: Chase
The numbers don’t lie and when the hammer fell on the final lot just after 15h15, 74 of the 86 lots had banked an aggregate of R46 355 000, at an average of R626 419 and a median of R500 000, the latter reflecting a consistent flow of prices across all sectors, without the skewing factor of isolated big-ticket bombers.
To find a bigger average, we have to go all the way back to the Premier Sale in the heady days of 2017, where 223 lots went through the ring at an average of R699 000.
But the median of R375 000 then, versus R500
000 on Thursday (23 January), probably tells the true story of improved health and a brighter more stable future.
After scorching hot weather in the build-up, the first Summer Sale was held in pleasant conditions last Thursday afternoon with a range of diverse buyers present from around South Africa enjoying the WSB Cape Town Met week vibe and related social activities.
And like most anything in life, successful outcomes are achieved through considered timing and properly listening to your market,
realities that have not been lost on Cape Racing’s Executive: Racing & Bloodstock, Justin Vermaak, who was delighted to acknowledge the strong statistics as an indication that Cape Racing Sales are headed in the right direction and that their strategic consultation and planning was paying dividends.
“We are thrilled for all stakeholders. The plan was to offer the more precocious, well grown forward types at what is a specimen focused sale in the thrill of the Met build-up, as opposed to a two-day March sale that caters for the more classic, pedigreed types. We have had fantastic buy-in from buyers and vendors, and I am so pleased that the rewards were there for the breeders who delivered the goods and staunchly supported us through a few challenges on the venue front,” Vermaak told the Sporting Post.
The buying bench included many of the big hitters, including Laurence Wernars who secured the top lot of both sexes in Triple 8 Clothing’s spend of R10 050 000 for 11 yearlings at an average of R913 635.
Jonathan Snaith bought 10 youngsters for R8 500 000, while Hollywood Racing got 3 for a gross R2 350 000, an average of R783 333.
Cape Racing Chairman Greg Bortz, who is no doubt eyeing the Met trophy after his Hollywoodbets Durban July success last term, bought 4 for R2 050 000, an average of R512 500.
Highveld-based owner Arun Chadha completed the aggregate top 5 with his 2 yearlings totalling R1 700 000, an average of R850 000.
Drakenstein Stud sold the topseller, a Vercingetorix half-brother to two winners, including the useful Gimmethatpearl.
Falling to the R2,2 million bid of Laurence Wernars’ Triple 8 Clothing, Chestnut Verse (#87) is out of the Gr1 Golden Slipper winner Chestnuts N Pearls.
The top filly on the sale was also acquired by Triple 8 Clothing and is also by Vercingetorix.
Bred by Avontuur, the nattily named Proud Mary (#66) fetched R2 million and is bred on the same cross as ill-fated Gr1 winner Alesian Chief. She is a half-sister to champion Thunderstruck, who stands at Ridgemont. Proud Mary is out of Var’s Gr2 Post Merchants winning daughter Varikate.
A pleased Pippa Mickleburgh told the Sporting Post that she was ‘very chuffed’ with Avontuur’s results and lauded the CRS team for a well-run sale.
“Proud Mary is a lovely filly and I am very happy with my other three yearlings. They were a really good bunch and this sale is actually always a good one for us. I took one off the sale as the heat was an issue – in fact the one and only drawback was the heat. But Mother Nature is Mother Nature, and she’s not a controllable. It was a compact catalogue and the strong buying bench meant that the prices were good. Well done Cape Racing Sales!” she concluded.
Avontuur’s quartet sold for an aggregate R3 625 000, at an average of R906 250.
Klawervlei (as agent) topped the vendor charts with their 14 achieving an aggregate of R8 275 000, at an average of R591 071.
Drakenstein sold 7 for R7 850 000 at an average of R1 121 429, while Varsfontein’s 10 lots grossed R4 050 000.
John and Renee Everett were pleased with Narrow Creek’s sextet grossing R3 800 000, at an average of R633 333.
And as history has shown, it was the in-demand proven stallions that again dominated the show.
Vercingetorix has had eight individual stakes winners this term and looks long odds-on to clinch a well-deserved first General Sires title.
The son of Silvano could be on the cusp of an overdue maiden Met success and topped the sire’s averages, his 6 lots selling for R8 275 000 at an average of R1 379 167.
Ridgemont’s Redoute’s Choice star Rafeef is always in demand, and his 6 sold for R5 825 000, an average of R647 222.
Freshman champion One World may be the new kid on the block, but he doesn’t stand back for the proven gang, his 6 selling for R5 350 000, an average of R891 667.
Cape Racing Sales will now begin preparations to host the prestigious Premier Sale, scheduled for 14 and 15 March 2025 at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. After having received overwhelming support from breeders, this auction will be a two-day sale.
See the CRS Summer Sale full price list here.
The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa advises that at an Inquiry held in Johannesburg on Thursday, 23 January 2025, Jockey C Zackey was charged with a contravention of Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline M in Appendix E on the use of the crop).
The particulars being that he misused his crop by striking World Of Alice more than 12 times (14) in the entire race during Race 6, the Betway Gr3 Fillies Mile at Turffontein Racecourse on 30 November 2024.
Jockey Zackey pleaded guilty and was found guilty of the charge.
The Inquiry Board, after considering the mitigating factors presented, the evidence of the patrol films, and the status of the race, imposed a penalty of a suspension from riding in races for a period of fourteen days and a fine of R14 900 (Fourteen Thousand Nine Hundred Rand).
Jockey Zackey was given the Right of Appeal against the penalty imposed.
This notice supersedes and replaces all previous NHA notices on Bisphosphonates.
Bisphosphonates is a class of drug which prevents the loss of bone density in the racehorse.
These substances are prohibited substances within the Rules of the NHA:
• 73.4.1 Substances capable at any time of causing an action or effect, or both an action and effect:
• 73.4.1.6 the musculoskeletal system;
The International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) has advised that, from 1 January 2027, the International Agreement on
Breeding, Racing and Wagering (IABRW, Article 6) will contain a total ban on bisphosphonates (BPs) administration to racehorses.
This ban in the use of bisphosphonates in racehorses at any time is due to significant IFHA welfare-related concerns associated with the use of BPs, including BP-induced interference to bone adaptation and remodeling in growing and exercising horses (potentially resulting in an increased risk of fracture), and evidence that BPs have an analgesic effect (and may be used/abused for this effect). This ban will correspondingly be adopted by the NHA on 1 January 2027.
Racehorses treated with bisphosphonates on or after 1 January 2027 will be subject to a minimum six-month ban from racing.
In the same week that he was licenced to train for his own account, Randjesfontein-trainer Mano Pandaram broke the ice – and that with a very hard-earned feature winner at Turffontein on Sunday.
While Mr Pandaram has been around for some years, this has been quite a week across the length and breadth of South Africa for the blue, yellow and black silks.
He saddled his first two placed runners at the Vaal on Tuesday, two runners, including a feature fourth place, on WSB Cape Town Met day on Saturday, and then returned to Turffontein on Sunday to saddle Thunee Playa to win the R250 000 Listed Dr Richard Maponya Handicap – but not before surviving a double objection!
Sporting Post-sponsored jockey Kaidan Brewer has a wonderful relationship with the 4yo colt and rode a cracker from midfield after Royal Edition and Silent War brought the field for home.
Brewer produced Thunee Playa down the centre after Son Of Raj had been bounced into the lead at the 300m and looked to have designs on the first cheque.
In a thrilling three-cornered finish, Brewer rode a confident race – even saluting late- to get Thunee Playa (8-1) home by 0,30 lengths in a time of 112,15 secs for the 1800m feature,
formerly run as the Drum Star. Malesela Katjedi rode for his life on the second placed Silent War (16-1), who became the proverbial filling on the sandwich between the winner and his stablemate Son Of Raj (14-1).
The objection hooter sounded twice –first on behalf of Katjedi on the runner-up and then owner Steve Chetty for the third placed Son Of Raj.
There was unquestionably movement in the finish by Thunee Playa, but the Stipes didn’t believe it impacted the end result and overruled the objections.
Raced and trained by Mano Pandaram, Thunee Playa was scoring a maiden stakes success and was bred by Maine Chance from the bang in-form Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the onetime winning Galileo mare, Cavalleria.
Thunee Playa has won 5 races with 6 places from his 16 starts and took his stakes earnings to R539 688.
Fresh off a WSB Cape Town Met day double that included a glorious Grade 1 victory on Gimme A Prince, national logleader Craig Zackey booted home a fourth Turffontein
Sunday winner for Mike de Kock when Littlemarysunshine finished best to win the
R225 000 4Racing Listed Spook Express Stakes.
Winless in over 16 months, Littlemarysunshine (25-2), a 5yo daughter of Silvano (Lomitas) was trying the 2400m for the first time and finally banked some paddock-value boosting black type when she ran on powerfully under a well-judged Craig Zackey ride to beat fellow Varsfontein Stud product My Soul Mate (3-1) by 2,30 lengths in a time of 153,87 secs for the 2400m.
The tote favourite United Council (13-10) had a few traffic issues late and never troubled the top two, running a further 1,20 lengths back in third.
Trainer Mike de Kock conceded that he had originally taking the winner out of the race but put her back in the race when he saw how the field cut up. Only 7 started.
“She ran a week ago, was fit and I told Craig (Zackey) to ride her for luck. This was a good ending,” added De Kock, who said it was ironic that Johnny Geroudis was interviewing him after a feature named in honour of champion Spook Express.
“Johnny G was the only jockey to ever get beaten on Spook Express,” he laughed.
Raced by leading owners ASSM Racing Syndicate, the winner was a R225 000 National Yearling Sale buy and was bred by Varsfontein.
A daughter of late multiple champion Silvano (Lomitas) out of the five-time winning Judpot mare, Little Genie.
Littlemarysunshine is a winner of 4 races with 13 places from 32 starts and stakes of R539 250.
Maine Chance Farms’ champion sire elect Vercingetorix reached a notable milestone on Sunday. Vercingetorix produced his 50th individual stakes winner when his son Thunee Playa won the 4Racing Listed Dr Richard Maponya Handicap run over 1800m at Turffontein.
A first winner for his trainer Mano Pandaram, four-year-old Thunee Playa picked up his biggest win to date when victorious in Sunday’s 1800m.
Kaidan Brewer bought the Vercingetorix colt with a sustained late challenge, and the pair got up to win, going away, by a long neck.
The winner had to survive a double objection after the race. Thunee Playa unquestionably moved in the finish, but the stipes didn’t believe it impacted the end result and overruled the objections.
Bred by Maine Chance, Thunee Playa has won five races from 16 starts and took his stakes earnings to R539 688 with his first black type victory.
The colt is out of the Galileo mare Cavalleria and was a R1 250 000 purchase from the 2022
National Yearling Sale. Thunee Playa was the third stakes winner of the weekend for his sensational sire, with Vercingetorix also the sire of Saturday’s Listed SABC Olympic Duel Stakes winner I’m So Pritti and Saturday’s Gr3 City Of Cape Town Politician Stakes winner Zeitz.
Sons of Vercingetorix filled the first placings in the Politician Stakes, and the first four placings in the fifth race run at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
Remarkably, offspring of the Maine Chance star ran second in all of the Maine Chance Farms Gr1 Majorca Stakes, HKJC World Pool Gr1 Cape Flying Championship and World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Town Met on Saturday.
South Africa’s Leading Sire for 2024-2025, Vercingetorix has a single lot on offer at the Cape Yearling Sale.
Wilgerbosdrift’s young stallion Hawwaam got off the mark as a sire when his first-crop son Read All About It made a winning debut at Turffontein on Sunday.
Trained, like his sire, by Mike de Kock, twoyear-old Read All About It was allowed to settle early before Muzi Yeni unleashed him close home.
From there, Read All About It hit the front and he powered away to win Turffontein’s 4Racing Welcomes You Maiden Juvenile Plate run over 1000m by a length and a half.
Bred by his part-owners Ridgemont, Read All About It is out of the London News mare Picadilly Miss.
The colt is just the second runner for his sire Hawwaam, with first runner, Take It As Red, finishing fourth in her only two starts.
A son of six-time South African Champion Sire Silvano (whose star sire son Vercingetorix is carrying all before him this season), champion Hawwaam won ten of just 13 starts, with the strapping bay earning R6,769,775 in stakes.
Like Vercingetorix and Dynasty, Hawwaam won the Gr1 Daily News 2000, with his remaining Gr1 successes coming in the S A Classic, Premier’s Champions Challenge (twice), and H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes.
Hawwaam won eight graded races, with the champion winning over distances ranging from 1200m to 2000m.
Bred on the potent Silvano/Jet Master cross, Hawwaam is out of the Jet Master sired Gr3 Prix Du Cap/Listed Off To Stud Handicap winner Halfway To Heaven, Equus Broodmare Of The Year in 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.
Hawwaam, a full-brother to Kings Cup runnerup Celestial City, is a half-brother to 2020-2021 Horse Of The Year Rainbow Bridge and dual Gr1 winner Golden Ducat.
Hawwaam has a single lot on offer at the Cape Yearling Sale - a filly (Lot 53) whose twice-winning dam is a 3/4 sister to the stakes winning dam of Gr1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes winner Humdinger.
It was a case of champagne déjà vu for trainer Juan Nel and one of his foundation gallopers Evie’s First when the 7yo Jay Peg gelding successfully defended his Fairview Merchants crown at the Gqeberha racecourse on Friday.
The Heuningsfontein-sponsored Yuzae Ramzan, who enjoys a 50%-win strike-rate on Evie’s First, was again the man in the irons as he was a year ago when the Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud product beat Firealley to win the 2024
renewal. In fact, the only difference on Friday, bar the reality that we are all a year older, is that Evie’s First went off at 40-1, as opposed to the 20-1 of his win last year!
Always in the firing line, Evie’s First (40-1) stuck relentlessly to his task and repelled a solid challenge from Khaya’s Hope (10-1) in the final stages to win by a neck in a time of 67,86 secs for the straight 1200m.
Kelly Mitchley’s Anuschka’s World (5-2) maintained his consistency with a solid effort in third.
Trainer Juan Nel thanked his former colleague Yvette Bremner for sourcing Evie’s First, one of the former jockey’s foundation equine residents.
The Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud bred galloper is by Jay Peg (Camden Park) out of Rock Of
Rochelle’s daughter, Evies Rock. Not exactly bred in the purple, but he has been rock-solid, his 7 wins and 22 places coming from 43 starts and earnings of R767 950.
The next Fairview racemeeting is on Friday 31 January, when the Lakeside Handicap heads the card.
It was heartening that two of the smaller Eastern Cape yards scored feature wins at Fairview on Friday to break the stranglehold of the powerplayers who well and truly dominate matters week in and week out.
One of the game’s great survivors and a soldier amongst SA’s fairer sex trainers, Tara Laing has done a remarkable job with the former Mike de Kock resident Sequoia, who has paid his way since purchased off a BSA online sale and having his first outing for the family yard back in September 2023.
“He was so ill a year ago, He had a virus and we thought we were going to lose him. But he’s a tough fellow and he showed that he still has plenty in the tank. Of he wasn’t boxed in on Friday, I reckon he wins by a length,” Tara Laing told the Sporting Post as she asked that a special mention of thanks goes out to her partner Gavin Venter for mapping out Sequoia’s prep runs, prior to Friday’s success in the non-black type R175 000 Fairview Mile
“Congratulations to our loyal owner Lorette Louw and breeders Maine Chance Farms,
and to Chase Maujean for a fantastic ride,” she added.
Regular pilot Maujean got the gelding up at 7-2 to beat Cherry Ano (5-2) by a head in a time of 98,99 secs.
The favourite Underworld drifted from 7-10 to 9-4 and ran third, a further three quarters of a length back.
A R650 000 National Yearling
Sale graduate, Sequoia is a 6yo gelded son of Querari (Oasis Dream) out of the wellrelated unraced Rakeen mare Shasta Daisy.
Raced by Lorette Louw & Tara Laing, Sequoia has now won 7 races with 14 places from 37 starts and has won R655 800 in stakes.
Put him in the black book – he will win more.
Champion two-miler Constitution Hill faced little in the way of opposition in the Gr2 Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday afternoon. Trials Day it may have been, but as his starting price of 1/12 indicated, this was little more than an exercise gallop.
Brentford Hope did give him a lead for the first part of the race but by then Nico de Boinville had had enough and eased Constitution Hill into the lead in the back straight.
He never appeared to come out of second gear and although the field did close up a little approaching the last, Constitution Hill was cruising under a motionless de Boinville.
What followed at the final hurdle however, had
those who had taken the short odds left with high blood levels and sweaty palms.
Constitution Hill seemed to lose concentration and jumped late resulting in him clattering through the hurdle, and for a split second looking in deep trouble.
Somehow, he managed to navigate the error and, still on the bridle, sauntered up the final furlong to win easily.
Brentford Hope rallied to beat the remainder to finish a three length second.
“My heart was in my mouth,” said jockey Nico de Boinville. “He was just doing it so easily and he was either on a long one or just going to fiddle away and he’s done something in the middle, but he found a leg and that was fine. He wouldn’t even blow a candle out here, he’s hardly blowing.”
“It’s fantastic and to have him back at Cheltenham as well, it’s great that everyone has come to see him. Delighted with him, just angry at myself really.”
A relieved Henderson said: “He was very good, of course he was. Once he gets the bit between his teeth, as they say, he was off and there’s no point holding him up from thereon; nothing was going to take him along. He enjoyed himself and I suppose if anything he was just getting a little bit dreamy at the last.”
The favourite obliged in the other Group 2 on the day, the Betfair Cotswold Chase, but this looked a lot more competitive.
L’Homme Presse (4/5 favourite) edged out Stage Star to win by just three parts of a length, but in truth it was rather more comfortable then the margin suggests.
Last seen finishing third in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, the Venetia Williams trained chaser won under a confident Charlie Deutsch who only resorted to the stick once after jumping the final fence.
It had been some time since Stage Star had shown his best form, but he appeared to enjoy himself out in front although L’Homme Presse and Gentlemansgame were never too far away.
Two out and Gentlemansgame and Chantry House were readily left behind as the front two kicked on.
They couldn’t be separated at the last although Stage Star was now under a ride while L’Homme Presse was still travelling. Charlie Deutsch didn’t get serious with his partner as they did just enough to secure a notable and confidence boosting win.
Trainer Williams observed: “I think Charlie is blowing more than the horse. Stage Star, on his day, is a good horse but we haven’t seen that for a bit. L’Homme Presse was very laid back the whole way round, his jumping was superb. We’ll see about the Gold Cup now.”
The Chinese New Year Raceday is one of the biggest events of the season at Sha Tin racecourse, typically drawing a large holiday crowd, and the HK$2.84 million Chinese New Year Cup Handicap on Friday, 31 January has attracted 11 smart entrants, including Group 3-winning Healthy Happy.
The Frankie-Lor trained Healthy Happy won the Hong Kong Classic Cup in his rookie season as a four-year-old, and further improved in his five-year-old campaign, making his Group race breakthrough by winning the Gr3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup.
He added another Group 3 victory in last season’s Celebration Cup and Lor admitted that 1400m is the horse’s ideal distance, as the
Chinese New Year Cup has all long been his target.
Lor said: “1200m is too short but a mile is a bit long for him, and therefore we have always planned the Friday’s feature as his target. Last start he raced in a strong Group 3 race, but he was not beaten far. It will be an easier race for him this Friday.”
“The only concern is the weight – and therefore I decided to put apprentice Ellis Wong on who have seven-pounds claim. As this will be the first time Wong is engaged to ride him, I will arrange Wong to ride him in trackwork,” Lor added.
Healthy Happy ran well without winning after last season’s triumph in the Gr3 Celebration Cup. The Zoustar gelding made an encouraging comeback when third behind The Golden Scenery in his season reappearance last September.
“He always run well fresh,” Lor said. “But on his current rating he should be very competitive,
and I am pleased with his condition now. If he can race comfortably in the front, he should be there and thereabout.”
Friday’s eleven-race card which starts at 06h30, also features the Hong Kong Classic Mile, the first leg of the 2025 Four-Year-Old Classic Series and the Gr3 Centenary Vase Handicap, in which Ricky Yiu-trained Straight Arron is set to carry top-weight.
The Triple Trio’s estimated dividend for a single HK$10 winning unit could reach HK$18 million for the Chinese New Year Raceday. The Quartet & First 4 Merged Pool will also be topped up with a HK$2.8 million jackpot.
Selwyn Elk has lived and breathed horse racing for most of his adult life. His journey through the sport has had many thrills and unforgettable moments. With a treasure trove of memories, Selwyn (75) has become a captivating storyteller, drawing in friends and fellow enthusiasts with his vivid recollections of racing and its characters from yesteryear.
George Croucher recognised Selwyn’s ability to bring racing history to life and invited him to host Call Back The Past on his new podcast service, racingradio.net.
The podcast will be airing every Friday from 07h00 to 07h30, starting on 07 February. It promises to transport listeners on fascinating trips down memory lane, while Selwyn showcases his talent for spinning tales that capture the essence of the sport.
Before we share a taste of some of his stories, here’s a glimpse into Selwyn’s background as a racing fanatic.
Selwyn’s father David, a SA Airforce Gunner, owned a small share of C’Est Si Bon (Sadri II), who won the Durban July Handicap in 1954. That was a joyous occasion for the family, but Selwyn’s mother, Hetty, grew to dislike horseracing intensely due the old man’s addiction to its many charms.
Selwyn also joined the Airforce, based at Valhalla in Pretoria. He met fellow service member, Anthony Dell, the son of Archie Dell (breeder of the great Hawaii), and they started going racing at Turffontein.
“We were paid a salary of R15 per month, which came to about R8 after deductions. But that was enough to spend at the racetrack, where we won most of the time and went home with more than our monthly wages,” Selwyn recalled.
Auntie Hetty was keen to welcome her son on what was scheduled to be his first weekend pass, and his second, and his third, but Selwyn phoned every time to inform her that his pass had been cancelled. He went off to the races on Saturdays, until his mother threatened to phone the Sergeant Major on duty to find out why the young serviceman was not allowed to come home!
Towards the end of his National Service in November 1967, Selwyn also started visiting the old bookmakers’ ‘Rooms’ at the Tattersalls in Loveday Street, Johannesburg. One Saturday, he was having a haircut with a barber in the Tattersalls building and met a punter who said, “I am friendly with jockey Gerald Turner. He gave me a tip for today. It’s a two-year-old colt called Home Guard in the first at Gosforth Park. ‘GT’ said it cannot possibly lose.”
Selwyn recalled: “I took all the money I had and put it on Home Guard (Penthouse II) at 3-1. He won by six lengths over 800m and I collected a wad of notes. I was smitten with racing, learning more every day. At that early stage I was thinking of becoming a professional punter. This looked like an easy game!”
With his parents, however, keen on a more conventional career, Selwyn joined a shipping company as a junior administrative assistant
in Durban. He indulged in his racing hobby on the side and snuck away to the tracks as often as he could.
Selwyn met jockey George Davies, who rode mostly for trainer Herman Brown (Sr) and one day received a true insider’s tip from his friend. Brown’s runner Full Stretch (Michael Roberts) was the hot-pot favourite for a Maiden Juvenile Plate at Hollywoodbets Greyville on 13 February 1971. Davies was booked for the firsttimer, In Full Flight (New South Wales), from the stable of a new, young trainer, David Payne. George had ridden Full Stretch in a race and had also sat on In Full Flight in work. He said that In Full Flight was a champion, Full Stretch was not.
There was some 9-2 available on the Payne runner, and young Selwyn was excited. During his lunch hour, he broke away to the course and lumped on. In Full Flight, inexperienced, only won by a quarter-length, but the result was in the frame and Selwyn collected what was the equivalent of almost one year’s salary at his shipping company.
“The race was at 13h50,” said the man with an elephant’s memory. “My lunch hour ended at 14h00 and I only arrived back at my office at 14h20. My manager was waiting, and he let me have it. He got nasty, warned and threatened me with dismissal. But I had a pocket full of cash and got brave. I said, ‘Take your job and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine!’ and walked away.
That was Selwyn’s first and only 8-5 job for a boss. For the next several years, he bet on horses and made a good living. In 1974, he founded the form guide, Racing Mirror, with attorney Tony Dumas and pharmacist-comephotographer, Philip Goldkorn.
Racing Mirror was an excellent alternative to the market leader, Duff’s Turf Guide, published for many years by Durban’s race caller, Ernie Duffield. “We used Philip’s colour photographs in Racing Mirror and had some great race analysis. Ernie’s publication only carried blackand-white pics. He started losing readers to us. Racing Mirror sold very well, and we even gained advertising support. The adverts on the front cover paid for the printing bill!”
Racing Mirror was sold to Computaform in 1977. Selwyn stayed on as a consulting editor for a few years. In the early 1990s, he was signed as consultant to CallNet, who ran a highly successful racing advice service during the boom of the 087 Premium Rate tipping lines.
He concluded his career owning a number of high-traffic totalisator agencies in Durban’s Plowright Avenue, Hunter Street, Morrison street and the old Club Med at Kingsmead Tattersalls. These agencies suffered the devastation caused by Covid-19, forcing closure.
Click on the image below to read the full story!
