On the cover Kabelo Matsunyane enjoys the post-race euphoria after winning the 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July on Winchester Mansion. Candiese Lenferna took the photograph.
BIG GUNS TALK TURKEY
Don’t miss the official Hollywoodbets Durban July panel discussion at 19h00 this evening. Hosted by Alistair Cohen, and with guests Kabelo Matsunyane, Richard Fourie, Anthony Delpech, Mike de Kock and Justin Snaith, the panel will go through Saturday’s bumper card and the entertaining show will be broadcast on Supersport channel 209 and Gallop Tv.
Here two hard-knocking colleagues Stoute Michael and Justin Bieber, as they affectionately tag each other, prepare for the show. Candiese Lenferna took the photograph.
IT’S TIME TO RIDE THE WAVE!
Durban’s sporting and social event of the year is just days away as the Holiday City braces itself for the Hollywoodbets Durban July, which is expected to inject over R600 million into the local economy as 50 000 fans and once-a-year players are hosted at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
A capacity field of 18 runners will line up at 16h00 on Saturday, with Dean Kannemeyer’s 3yo Green With Envy the ruling favourite.
Tote betting on the bumper racemeeting opened on Monday and it’s your chance to get set to bet and win on Africa’s biggest betting day of the year.
All TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella and Swinger bets for Races 7 and 8, that’s the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Durban July and the Ridgemont Gr1 Garden Province Stakes, will be commingled directly into the Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool tote.
These will be the biggest tote pools in the history of SA horseracing – so you can effectively bet your maximum without denting the payout.
Expect Exacta pools of some R5 million, with a Win pool on the July of about R20 million, and pools of over R10 million on the other bet types!
Race 1: Leg 1 Jackpot ONE – likely pool
R750 000
Race 2: Leg 1 BiPot ONE – likely pool
R750 000
Race 3: Leg 1 Place Accumulator – likely pool
R2,5 MILLION
Race 4: Leg 1 R2,000,000 carryover Pick 6 –likely pool R20 MILLION!
Race 5: Leg 1 Jackpot TWO – likely pool
R2 MILLION
Race 7: Hollywoodbets Durban July
R2 000 000 carryover Quartet – likely pool
R12 MILLION!
Also Leg 1 BiPot TWO – likely pool R250 000
Race 9: Leg 1 R500 000 carryover Jackpot THREE – likely pool R3 MILLION!
Looking back at last year’s 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July, pools were as follows:
Win: R8,7 million Place: R3,4 million
Exacta: R1,14 million (first two to finish exact order) Quinella: not offered in 2023 (first two to finish any order)
Swinger: R4,4 million (two of first three to finish)
Trifecta: R2,7 million (first three to finish exact order)
Quartet: R10,9 million (first four to finish exact order)
For sentimentality’s sake, here’s the photo-finish of the 1966 Durban July, won by Java Head and Johnny Cawcutt
DON’T MISS THE WINNING INSIGHTS!
Five individual big race winners will be sharing their insights into the 128th renewal on the official Hollywoodbets Durban July panel discussion which will be broadcast this evening at 19h00 on SuperSport channel 209 and GallopTV.
Mike de Kock and Justin Snaith have trained 9 Durban July winners between them, while Richard Fourie, Anthony Delpech and defending champion Kabelo Matsunyane have ridden a combined total of 8 winners of Africa’s Greatest horserace.
This evening’s panel discussion will be hosted by Alistair Cohen and will not be shown on Racing240.
A schedule of the SuperSport rebroadcast times is available by clicking here.
Find all the latest big race news on www.sportingpost.co.za!
Host Alistair Cohen chats to Kabelo Matsunyane, Richard Fourie and Anthony Delpech on the big race panel
Credit: Candiese Lenferna
RACING STARS SELEC TIONS
RACING STARS SELEC TIONS
RACING STARS SELEC TIONS
JULY REFLECTIONS - NOSTALGIA AND DRAMA APLENTY
As we continue our nostalgic walk down the Hollywoodbets Durban July memory lane, one thing is certain, the most recent decade lacked for nothing in drama and splendour.
From a successful objection, to a first winning lady trainer in over a century, maiden July successes for a black jockey and an owner of colour, it all added to the colourful fabric and allure of Africa’s greatest race.
But let’s start our journey in 2011. Twelve months after Bold Silvano gave Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa al Maktoum a first
success in the famed race, his silks again adorned the winner’s enclosure following the convincing victory by standout filly Igugu.
Raced in partnership with Andre and Joyce McDonald, the Australian-bred three-year-old entered the July off a dominant four-win tour de force in the Triple Tiara and Gr1 Woolavington 2000.
Pomodoro (Piere Strydom) holds off Smanjemanje (Grant van Niekerk) to win in 2012 | Credit: Supplied
Sent off a warm favourite, she moved in for the kill 300m from home, to a mighty roar from the Greyville crowd. Challengers were lining up, yet this remarkable daughter of Galileo kept finding more and fought off all comers to cross the line a length to the good.
She gave trainer Mike de Kock a fourth July success and joined Ipi Tombe as his second distaff winner. And just like his two other winners, Greys Inn (2004) and Bold Silvano (2010), she was partnered by Anthony Delpech.
SA Derby winner Pomodoro overcame the extreme outside draw to claim the biggest prize of his career in the 2012 Durban July, thereby providing the owner/trainer team of Sean Tarry and Chris van Niekerk with a first victory in the country’s premier race. For winning jockey Piere ‘Striker’ Strydom, it was a third July success, having guided London News (1996) and Trademark (2001) to victory in the glamour event.
Pomodoro stalked the pacesetters before storming into the lead at the top of the straight and although briefly headed, he rallied
tenaciously and in a pulsating finish, the son of Jet Master found extra to snatch victory on the line, thus emulating previous winners Flaming Rock and Dynasty, who had scored from the same position.
Tarry and Van Niekerk made it back-to-back July victories twelve months later, courtesy of Heavy Metal’s fiercely contested triumph, which saw him prevail in a thrilling, three-way finish. It was an historical moment in South African racing, with winning rider S’manga Khumalo being the first black jockey to win the coveted prize.
In a dramatic twist, the following year’s July was decided in the boardroom, resulting in the first successful objection since 1994 winner Surfing Home was disqualified twenty years previously.
Wylie Hall and Legislate had locked horns fully 300m out and in a protracted duel, during which they came together on a couple of occasions, the former tenaciously maintained his advantage to finish a head in front of his younger adversary. The hooter sounded when
Marinaresco (Bernard Fayd’herbe) wins in 2017 to make it a big moment for lady trainer Candice Bass-Robinson | Credit: Supplied
Legislate’s jockey Richard Fourie lodged an objection.
The general consensus on course was that the result would stand but after lengthy deliberation by the stipendiary stewards, the race was awarded to the runner-up on the grounds of interference in the straight.
The 2015 renewal of the July was a rare triumph for Maine Chance Farms and resident champion Silvano, breeder and sire respectively of the first three across the line. Victory went to Power King, who led home paternal half-brothers Punta Arenas and Tellina.
The winner came roaring into the lead 300m from home under Stuart Randolph and appeared to drift towards the stand side where Punta Arenas uncorked a strong rally. The pair made contact inside the final furlong but Power King regained his stride and drew clear in the closing stages to score by the best part of a length, with Tellina rounding out a dream result for breeder and stallion.
It was a maiden July win for owner Lady Laidlaw on her very first visit to the Durban track, whereas trainer Dean Kannemeyer had previously tightened the girth on Dynasty (2003) and Eyeofthetiger (2006).
Unheralded 20-1 shot The Conglomerate joined the Gr1 ranks with a career-best effort in the 2016 July contested at the packed, if chilly, Durban track.
Having overcome the widest draw of all, the Australian-bred raced within striking distance of the leaders and when jockey Pierre Strydom popped the question, he quickly moved into the lead before holding off three-year-old Marinaresco by a fast-diminishing neck.
Twelve months later, top weight Marinaresco laid the ghost of his second place to rest when he powered home to score in a humdinger finish, where a blanket could have covered the first seven home.
Piere Strydom overcame a wide draw to win in 2016on The Conglomerate | Credit: Supplied
Ridden by Bernard Fayd’Herbe, the four-yearold progressed from mid-field at the top of the straight and finding a timely split, unleashed a whirlwind finish to prevail from favourite and Gr1 SA Derby winner Al Sahem, thus providing his sire Silvano with the exacta, two years after his magnificent trifecta.
Trainer Candice Bass-Robinson, in her first season as a fully-fledged trainer after taking over the reins from her father, maestro Mike Bass, stepped into the history books as the first woman to win the Durban July in its 120-year history.
In 2018, the winner of South Africa’s premier race came from the powerful stable of Justin Snaith in the shape of his lesser fancied threeyear-old Do It Again, who took top honours in a slow-run race under Anton Marcus.
Fast forward to 2019, and the four-year-old lived up to his name when he came with a wet sail to
run down dual arch rival Rainbow Bridge in the shadow of the post to become the first backto-back winner since El Picha completed the double in the millennium year.
For stalwart owner/breeders Alec and Gillian Foster, the stars also aligned in the 2020 July, as their four-year-old homebred Belgarion provided them with a well-deserved first success.
With the world firmly in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic, the race was moved from its traditional ‘first Saturday in July’ position to the end of the month.
To add further intrigue to these extraordinary circumstances, the event took place behind closed doors, which meant Belgarion stormed home in front of eerily quiet and empty stands. In winning the coveted race, he emulated his sire Dynasty, who won it back in 2003 and also sired Legislate, the promoted winner in 2014.
Kommetdieding’s victory in 2021 proved a refreshing triumph for the minnows, at a time when a handful of large, powerful outfits dominated local racing.
A first July runner for both coloured owner Ashwin Reynolds and the training team of Harold Crawford and daughter Michelle Rix, Kommetdieding raced wide throughout but produced a withering run and in a pulsating dash for the line, gamely held on to record a first top level victory.
In 2022, Wilgerbosdrift owner Mary Slack, breeder of 2003 winner Dynasty, led in her very first Durban July winner, homebred Sparkling Water, thus continuing a fine family tradition, given that her parents Harry and Bridget Oppenheimer had won the race no less than six times.
The only female runner in the line-up, Sparkling Water stalked the early pace and scooted clear of her male rivals in the homestraight to earn
her Gr1 spurs by an empathic three lengths. The fifth July winner sired by Silvano, she also broke an eleven-year drought for maestro Mike de Kock, whose previous success came with champion Igugu in 2011.
Last year’s July was all about Drakenstein Stud. Having assembled an impressive army of five contestants, it was homebred Winchester Mansion who stepped up to the plate and he outdueled favourite and fellow Drakensteinbred See It Again after a tremendous tussle over the final furlong.
Whereas Drakenstein were partners in 2014 winner Legislate, Winchester Mansion is their first July success as a breeder, whilst it was also a first for his sire Trippi, trainer Brett Crawford and jockey Kabelo Matsunyane.
On Saturday, Winchester Mansion will renew rivalry with old adversary See It Again when he returns to Hollywoodbets Greyville to defend his crown.
High drama as Wylie Hall (MJ Byleveld) and Legislate (Richard Fourie) go head to in 2014 – it went to the boardroom| Credit: Supplied
GRANT LOOKING TO LIFT HIS SEASON
‘This is by far the roughest race on the calendar. It’s a hard race to ride in with everyone jostling for position. So being drawn out wide gives you options to give your horse every chance…’ – Grant van Niekerk
Grant van Niekerk rides Future Pearl in Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Durban July | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
A loss of a big job, seven weeks of suspensions, and the priority of focusing on living a balanced family life has meant that Grant van Niekerk hasn’t enjoyed the greatest season professionally. But winning the Hollywoodbets Durban July could change all that in just over two minutes on Saturday.
A natural lightweight, the Cape Town-born Grant, who celebrated his 33rd birthday on Sunday, has enjoyed a rollercoaster ride since joining the SA Jockey Academy in 2007, his brilliance and balance in the saddle overshadowed at times by lapses of concentration – as evidenced by his seven weeks of suspension this term.
“I take my hat off to Richard Fourie on what he has achieved this season through sheer hard work and endless travel. But I have no championship aspirations and prefer to have a balance in my family life. My pigeon pair are
very young still. These are precious days that we can’t get back and I love being a Dad. That doesn’t prevent me though from enjoying my profession and working hard.”
By his own admission, it’s not been his best season to date.
“I’m currently at 10th on the national log and it’s been tough due to my suspensions and the loss of the job with the Snaiths. But I am not going to change my focus on riding in Cape Town and only travelling to other centers for big race days when the opportunities arise.”
“Some people would mistake that as me being a waste of talent, but I would rather enjoy my life, and be there for my children while enjoying my work.”
And the call-up from Sean Tarry early last week for Grant to ride Future Pearl in Saturday’s big race is just the gap that he was waiting for.
The Hollywoodbets Durban July is missing from Grant’s CV. He came within a short head of winning twelve years ago on Smanjemanje, bumping the genius Piere Strydom and Pomodoro. He has also placed second in Africa’s Greatest Horserace on two more occasions: with Marinaresco in 2016 and Linebacker in 2021.
His initial engagement was on Hluhluwe for Justin Snaith. He is a first reserve runner.
“My first preference was Hluhluwe but there was always a question mark if he would get in. Mr. Tarry then offered me the ride on Future Pearl. However, I made it very clear to both Mr Tarry and the Snaiths that if Hluluwe doesn’t get in then I will ride Future Pearl as I felt he had a lively chance.”
Van Niekerk travelled to Johannesburg to partner Future Pearl in the official gallop that was pre-recorded and shown as part of the gallops on Thursday last week.
“He is feeling amazing, and Mr. Tarry has the knack of getting him spot on this time of the year. He is really good in Durban and enjoys the Hollywoodbets Greyville circuit and that is a big plus. Future Pearl has only been beaten at this track once. That was in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup of 2023. He was very unlucky not to win that race as he got caught up on the rail.”
Grant adds that the multiple champion conditioner and himself have spent time studying the form properly and watching all of Future Pearl’s runs.
“He runs really well at this time of year. He’s a horse with a massive action, needs to get going earlier, and his turn of foot is really good. So he will be mowing them down in the home straight.”
Grant is also not overly concerned that he will drawn from the widest gate of all – closer to the Durban beachfront than he would have chosen to be.
With a chuckle he adds: “Let’s face it, over the years I’ve always been unlucky with Durban July draws. I actually prefer it, because this is by far the roughest race on the calendar. It’s a hard race to ride in with everyone jostling for position. So being drawn out wide gives you options to give your horse every chance. You can slot in and judge the pace, so it’s not a bad thing. However, it’s not ideal to be drawn 18, but from some way back, it’s easier to see how the race is unfolding.”
With plan A and plan B in place ahead of the big race, the Capetonian is feeling relaxed and quietly confident.
“When riding for a big yard, it’s less stressful as the horses are prepped to the moment, and you can ride with confidence. Your horse feels that and in turn delivers their best,” he concluded.
It’s that combination of determination, dedication, and the ability to make split-second decisions that defines a successful jockey.
Grant van Niekerk’s confidence going into the Hollywoodbets Durban July, bolstered by his experience and strategic mindset, could very well be the key to breaking his Gr1 duck this season. With his talent and track record in big races, he certainly has what it takes to make it happen.
You can back Future Pearl with Hollywoodbets at 16-1.
As the expression goes, “For one to fly, one needs only to take the reins”. This was the case for the industrious duo of Francesca Snaith and Gina Goldsmith, the founders of equine insurance specialist Winx Brokers.
One seldom gets to talk about exciting news in the insurance world.
Finding the words ‘excitement’ and ‘insurance’ in the same sentence is as rare as breeding a Triple Crown winner! That said, the entrance of Winx Brokers into the equine insurance sector is newsworthy for numerous reasons.
Francesca and Gina’s business is named after Winx, possibly the world’s greatest-ever mare, with 37 wins, including 25 Group One races to her credit.
Both Gina and Francesca have a longstanding association with the horseracing industry.
Francesca, a seasoned insurance executive focused on short-term insurance, collaborated with Gina to commence the equine division of Goodsure Brokers.
TEAM WINX - OUT THE GATES AND FLYING!
The rapid growth in this division led to Francesca and Gina’s decision to separate this business from Goodsure through a management buyout so that it could function as a dedicated, standalone operation under their exclusive ownership and leadership.
And so Winx Brokers was born.
No doubt, it has been a busy period for the Winx team, with the launch of a new business, the opening of new offices, multiple yearlings, and ready-to-run sales, the launch of a new Sports Horse insurance division, and the impending launch of the Owner Administration division.
Activity for the Winx crew will not be letting up anytime soon, with the BSA 2024 KZN Yearling Sale just days away.
When asked about the new Sporting Horse division, Francesca explained: “Gina and I have been in and around horse racing for a long time. The Sporting Horse world was a logical next step for us. We convinced Tamara to join Team Winx, and we are now out the gates with
Partners in providence – Francesca Snaith and Gina Goldsmith | Credit: Winx
our Sporting Horse offering at a rapid pace!”
The ‘Tamara’ that Francesca is referring to is Tamara Rueda, one of this country’s leading show jumpers.
When asked about her new role, Tamara added, “The energy and passion that Francesca and Gina have for Winx is infectious – I could not pass up on the opportunity to be a part of its growth and evolution.”
Tamara is the granddaughter of renowned racehorse owner Shirley Pfeiffer, who owned Flaming Rock and many others – a venerable racing dynasty. Interestingly, Flaming Rock won the 1991 Rothman’s Durban July and was trained by Francesca’s father-in-law, Chris Snaith.
As for the Owner Administration division, Gina explained that this is a critical next step in providing a full-service
platform for Winx’s clients.
“We could not offer this service without experienced, knowledgeable and well-regarded professionals at the helm. We are exceptionally fortunate that Jo Knowles is coming on board to spearhead this effort. Dealing with owners, trainers and horse sales is second nature to Jo, and we cannot think of anyone more suited to run this business unit.”
We asked Francesca and Gina about their plans and goals for the future.
Gina explained that Winx’s mantra is to always put the client first and be available 24/7/365 to provide the best customer service possible.
Francesca added that based on the depth of Winx’s client relationships and her background in short-term insurance, it is a logical next step for Winx to provide all short-term insurance (and not just equine) to their clients.
South Africa has very few exclusively femaleowned (and staffed) insurance firms. But we doubt too many people will be betting against Winx’s success.
First as Goodsure Equine and now as Winx, Gina and Francesca have rapidly built a sizable presence in the equine insurance market from a standing start. In speaking with the Winx team, the excitement is palpable.
Gina, no doubt, is doubly excited as her horse Oriental Charm – owned in partnership with Leon Ellman and Greg Bortz – will be contesting arguably South Africa’s greatest race, the 2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July. Oriental Charm is currently priced up at 7/1 with Hollywoodbets.
If Oriental Charm can run with the same determination and focus as Gina and
Francesca, who knows…he might just be a serious runner! We hope he is insured!
Details of the Winx offering, together with all contact information, can be obtained at:
• www.winxbrokers.co.za or by contacting:
• Francesca Snaith (francesca@winxbrokers. co.za) or
• Gina Goldsmith (gina@winxbrokers.co.za) directly.
TCO2 – NHA GIVE ASSURANCES
In light of recent concerns regarding the Total Carbon Dioxide (TCO2) analysis conducted on race days, the National Horseracing Authority (NHA) advises via a media release published late on Friday afternoon that it wishes to reassure all stakeholders, including trainers, owners, and racing enthusiasts, of the robustness and accuracy of their TCO2 analysis procedures.
We acknowledge and take seriously the concerns expressed by some stakeholders and remain confident in our procedures and the technology utilised by the NHA.
Every step, from specimen collection to analysis, is meticulously carried out to uphold the highest standards of accuracy, reliability and fairness.
These methods are scientifically validated and have proven reliable in detecting elevated TCO2 levels, which can indicate the use, presence or administration of an alkalinising agent.
Between 6 April 2024, and 26 June 2024, a total of 2 133 TCO2 analyses were performed on 1 941 horses.
Of these, 153 horses (7.9%) tested above 35 mmol/L and were retested a minimum of 10 minutes later. 39 horses (2%) were withdrawn from a race due to TCO2 levels above 36 mmol/L.
The remaining 1 902 runners had a TCO2 range of between 26 and 36 mmol/L, with an overall mean of 32.9 mmol/L and a standard deviation of 1.7 mmol/L.
In a normally distributed population, this means that 68% of all horses will have a TCO2 level between 31.2 and 34.6 mmol/L. About 95% of horses will have a TCO2 level between 29.5 and 36.3 mmol/L, and about 99.7% will be between 27.8 and 38 mmol/L.
During this period, the NHA has also formulated a TCO2 biological passport for every horse tested, allowing us to analyze repeated measurements from the same horse each time it is presented for testing.
The NHA consistently evaluates the accuracy and reliability of the adopted testing methodologies.
To ensure the utmost precision, we are advancing our processes to measure TCO2 levels independently of pH and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2).
This adjustment will eliminate potential concerns related to relative humidity, barometric pressure and air temperature, continuing to provide an accurate reflection of each horse’s TCO2 levels.
To further address any potential uncertainties and limit the occurrence of purported false positives, the NHA will henceforth and for the foreseeable future, withdraw a horse from a race if the TCO2 level is above 37 mmol/L. It is anticipated that a further review will occur on or after 31 July 2024.
As part of our ongoing commitment to integrity and transparency, we remind all trainers of the new collection procedures that will be adopted with immediate effect.
The following SPECIMEN collection procedure for TCO2 ANALYSIS will apply on race day:
• TRAINERS shall be notified of the HORSES selected for pre-race TCO2 sampling and
ANALYSIS via the Notice of Pre-Race Blood Collection.
• A blood SPECIMEN shall be collected from each selected HORSE approximately 60 minutes prior to RACE time. Immediate ANALYSIS shall be performed using an NHA approved handheld blood gas analyser.
• Where such ANALYSIS shows that a HORSE has a TCO2 concentration of more than 35 mmol/L, a second blood SPECIMEN shall be collected, a minimum of 10 minutes later.
• If the TCO2 concentration of the second blood SPECIMEN is more than 37 mmol/L, the STEWARDS shall withdraw the HORSE from the RACE and detain the HORSE for additional SPECIMEN collection.
• Under these circumstances, a third blood SPECIMEN shall be collected a minimum of 30 minutes later. If the TCO2 concentration of this SPECIMEN is less than or equal to the international threshold of 36 mmol/L, no penalty shall be imposed on the TRAINER.
• The STEWARDS may, at their discretion, instruct a SPECIMEN COLLECTOR to subsequently collect SPECIMENS from the HORSE for analytical testing of all PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES.
• The NHA is dedicated to maintaining the integrity of horse racing in South Africa.
We are continuously monitoring our processes.
The NHA has been in communication with the Racing Operators to identify alternative specimen collection areas dedicated to the collection of pre-race blood specimens.
Our commitment remains unwavering in ensuring that the sport continues with transparency, fairness and integrity, for all participants and stakeholders.
Cousin Casey – one of a trio of Vercingetorix flagbearers in Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Durban July
Credit: Chase Liebenberg
VERCINGETORIX SET FOR A BIG DAY
Maine Chance Farms stallion
Vercingetorix could well be set for a big payday at Hollywoodbets
Greyville this Saturday. Fresh off having enjoyed Hollywoodbets
Greyville success with his G1winning daughter Mrs Geriatrix last weekend, Vercingetorix’s good form looks set to continue in KwaZuluNatal this weekend.
In Saturday’s R5 000 000 Hollywoodbets Gr1 Durban July, Vercingetorix is represented by both Oriental Charm and champion Cousin Casey, with the former having captured the Gr3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial last time out, and the latter finishing a close-up second last time out in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge.
Another son of Vercingetorix, Hotarubi, is the second reserve runner for the big race.
However, the Vercingetorix impact is unlikely only to be felt in the July this year.
He is also responsible for two runners, Double Grand Slam and Celtic Rumours, in Saturday’s Ridgemont Gr1 Garden Province Stakes, and his speedy daughter Golden Sickle contests Saturday’s Gr2 Post Merchants - a race won last year by Vercingetorix gelding Gladatorian and the year before that by another Vercingetorix son Val D’Orcia.
Vercingetorix gelding King Of Gauls is the first reserve runner for Saturday’s R500 000 Post Merchants with his sire seeking a hatrick of Post Merchants wins.
Sire of champion two-year-olds Cousin Casey, winner of the 2022 G2 Durban Golden Horseshoe, and Mrs Geriatrix, victorious in the 2023 G2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper, Vercingetorix has another strong crop of juveniles this season.
His G2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Nursery winning daughter Little Ballerina has a wide draw to contend with in Saturday’s G2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper, with Vercingetorix also the sire of Gr2 Durban Golden Horseshoe hopeful Taxi To The Moon.
Vercingetorix is also broodmare sire of Golden Slipper hopeful Whistle The Tune (Captain Of All), winner of the Listed Hollywoodbets Super League Devon Air Stakes last time out.
Other feature race runners representing Vercingetorix this Saturday include Cape Eagle and Ponte Pietra (Gr3 SplashOut 2200), Nebraas (Gr3 DStv Gold Vase), and Get Impressed (Listed Compendium Insurance Brokers Handicap).
Vercingetorix’s late sire Silvano, the sire of July winners Bold Silvano, Heavy Metal,
Marinaresco, Power King and Sparkling Water, could also make his mark at the Hollywoodbets Greyville showpiece this weekend.
Six times champion sire in South Africa, Silvano is the broodmare sire of Garden Province Stakes hope Bavarian Beauty (Querari), and sire of leading Garden Province contender Silver Sanctuary. Silvano’s son Narina Trogon is a runner in Saturday’s Listed Compendium Brokers Insurance Handicap -a race for which Silvano’s son Celestial City ranks as a second reserve runner.
Silvano is also the broodmare sire of Gr2 Durban Golden Horseshoe hopeful Cosmic Speed (Querari) and Gr2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper runners Just Reckless (Gimmethegreenlight) and Sorceress Supreme (Erupt).
As a sire, Silvano is responsible for Gr3 SplashOut 2200 contenders Pyromaniac and Red Maple.
‘The legacy of both Al Mufti and Rakeen continue to resonate in this year’s renewal, with Jet Master being the damsire of Gr1 Met winner Double Superlative, while Al Mufti sired the dam of champion stayer Future Pearl, who enters the big race off a smooth victory in the Gr3 Tabgold Derby’
NO SA CHAMPION SIRE HAS EVER WON THE JULY
For all its historical importance, it is somewhat remarkable that not a single South African champion sire managed to win the country’s most iconic race, the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Durban July.
In recent times, 2003 hero Dynasty probably came closest, considering the weather gods cruelly robbed him of that coveted title in 2014 when the final deciding meeting of the season, Hollywoodbets Greyville’s Gold Cup day, was
postponed by a week due to a waterlogged track, thus falling into the new racing season.
Involved in a tight race with Captain Al at the time, history will show that the victory of Futura in the Gr1 Champions Cup would have assured him of the title.
In contrast, a number of placed July horses have gone on to huge success at stud, notably Model Man, Al Mufti and Rakeen.
Dynasty wins the Durban July under Robbie Fradd in 2003 – the weather robbed him of champion sire status in 2014 | Credit: Supplied
Model Man, who had to bow to Bush Telegraph (the sire of London News) in the 1987 July, enjoyed a fruitful stallion career while standing at the Cohens’ Odessa Stud, siring the likes of Gr1 winners Special Preview, Amberpondo and Glamour Boy.
A son of the grand stallion Elliodor, he also made a name for himself as a broodmare sire, his daughters producing close on 50 stakes winners, headed by the Gr1 winners Pointing North, National Spirit and Along Came Polly.
Sadly, as a sire of sires, Model Man made little impact and it is only Special Preview who sometimes pops up in female lines. The champion juvenile of his generation, he features as the damsire of Pomodoro’s champion daughter Return Flight.
The finish of the 1991 July was a rarity in itself in that a trio of outstanding imports filled the first three places. Al Mufti and Rakeen looked to have the race to themselves, but were thwarted by Flaming Rock, who powered up the standside to snatch victory on the line.
History will show that all three eventually joined the country’s stallion ranks but fate decreed that Flaming Rock’s sire innings would be all too brief. The Irish import left just three crops before his untimely death at age nine and one can only guess at what impact he could have made, given that he sired Gr1 Paddock Stakes winner Savannah Queen, besides featuring as the broodmare sire of Horse of the Year Irish Flame, a son of Dynasty.
Al Mufti and Rakeen became powerhouse sires, not surprising, since both boasted impeccable bloodlines and were sired by breed-shaping stallions.
The former was by Roberto, out of the sire producing blue hen Lassie Dear. He took up residence at the Parkers’ Ascot Stud in the Eastern Cape and was the leading first crop sire of 1993.
In a long and honourable innings, he sired such standouts as Captain Al, The Sheik, Victory Moon, Al Nitak, Alastor and Cataloochee. The country’s champion sire in 1999, he has established a successful male line via the Cape Guineas winner Captain Al, who emulated his sire when he claimed the title in 2014.
When it came to siring precocious two-yearolds, Captain Al had no peer and he led the juvenile sires list for eight straight years. Remarkably, he seems to have passed on that trait to his Gr1 winning son One World, who has
made a sensational start to his stallion career with 25 individual winners to his name at the time of writing.
With a month to go to the end of the racing season, what odds the Drakenstein-based freshman will better his own sire’s record of 30 individual winners set in 2008/9.
July third Rakeen started his stallion career in KwaZulu-Natal, boasting impeccable credentials. A Gr2 winning son of the mighty Northern Dancer, he was after all a half-brother to the successful sires Singspiel and Rahy, whilst his dam was the Canadian Horse of the Year Glorious Song, who counted amongst her siblings the champion Devil’s Bag and outstanding sire Saint Ballado.
Rakeen made a huge impression with his first local crops, to the extent that he was sold to America after just a couple of seasons at the now defunct Aldora Stud. He would spend three years in the States until his return to
Model Man bowed to Bush Telehgraph in the 1987 July | Credit: Supplied
South Africa and the stallion barn at Mike Rattray’s Lammerskraal Stud. His impressive tally of stakes winning progeny included joint Horse of the Year and champion sprinter Jet Master, the dual Gr1 winners Young Rake and North By Northwest, all sired during his KZN stint, and the Gr1 winners Angelina and Malteme.
It is his exceptional son Jet Master, who has single-handedly continued his sire’s legacy. Retired to stud in 2001, the imposing bay confirmed the promise of his remarkable racing prowess and proved a roaring success at stud.
He was both the leading freshman sire and champion juvenile sire with his first crop, which ultimately yielded no less than 17 stakes winners, amongst which multiple Horse of the Year Pocket Power and Gr1 winners Floatyourboat, Stratos and Soft Landing.
Remarkably, he first reached the top of the South African General sires list with just three crops on the track and would garner that title a total of seven times. Jet Master also left an indelible footprint as a broodmare sire, leading the log four straight years.
Considered by many as the most successful post-war stallion bred in South Africa, his death at the comparatively early age of 17 came as a massive shock to the breeding and racing industry.
A number of well-performed sons followed their sire into the breeding shed, the most successful of which, Master Of My Fate and 2012 July winner Pomodoro, both siring more than one Gr1 winner. As recently as this season, they were joined by lesser known son Lance, whose juvenile daughter Quid Pro Quo claimed the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship.
The history books show that Al Mufti and Rakeen have both left their stamp on the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
Al Mufti features as the broodmare sire of 2010 hero Bold Silvano, while Rakeen’s son Jet Master went one better as the sire of a brace of aforementioned Pomodoro and the legendary Pocket Power.
The legacy of both Al Mufti and Rakeen continue to resonate in this year’s renewal, with Jet Master being the damsire of Gr1 Met winner Double Superlative, while Al Mufti sired the dam of champion stayer Future Pearl, who enters the big race off a smooth victory in the Gr3 Tabgold Derby.
The late Peter Kannemeyer proudly leads Dynasty in Credit: Supplied
MRS G IS BACK TO WINNING WAYS
Mrs Geriatrix (Richard Fourie) scores her first win over a mile – second placed Prince Of Taranto (Smanga Khumalo) tries hard | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Richard Fourie labelled it a ‘fun gallop’ but a R375 000 first cheque for a shade over 99 seconds of exertion is not half bad in anybody’s book!
Sean Tarry’s one-time Equus champion juvenile Mrs Geriatrix brought the curtain down on her 3yo term in the best manner possible with a good win in the R600 000 KwaZulu-Natal Breeders Mile at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
Raced by the Magical Lady Syndicate, Mrs Geriatrix has personified the roller-coaster of racehorse ownership, winning her first six starts and making the whole ownership thing look easy!
But a trip down South earlier this season saw 7 runs without a win, and the abortive Cape Town trip really set her back.
But her after some regrouping and clam heads from the Sean Tarry team, Mrs Geriatrix (11) found her winning stride again in clinical fashion on the big day for the local breeders, when she cut through her field and showed
the benefit of the decision to drop in class and regain her confidence.
She beat the 33-1 Prince Of Taranto by 0,90 lengths, clocking 99,22 secs, with Noble City (7-2) a further 2,60 lengths back in third, in the only turf contest of the restricted racing afternoon.
“She’s elegant, classy and just lacks a bit in size. We took the decision to run her here rather than the Ridgemont Gr1 Garden Province Stakes next Saturday. I think she will train on and I’m pleased she stayed the mile,” said Sean Tarry, who trained 3 winners on the afternoon.
A R200 000 2022 National Yearling Sale graduate, the Clifton-bred Mrs Geriatrix is by Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the Kahal mare Velvet Glove, whose breeder Peter Blythe described as ‘not too good’.
A winner of 7 races with 4 places from 13 starts, Mrs Geriatrix took her stakes earnings to R1 784 750.
Clifton Stud bred two winners on the afternoon.
CAPE DUO CLEAN UP AT FAIRVIEW
Milnerton-based veteran trainer Eric Sands made a rare trip up the Garden Route to Fairview on Friday and turned the visit into a perfect black-type plan come together when Corne Orffer steered the Varsfontein Stud-bred Pineapplemintgreen to an eyecatching victory in the R150 000 Listed East Cape Breeders Stakes.
With only one runner and one ride on the day respectively, the Cape duo came, saw and conquered a decent field of opponents, including some hotshot locals.
With the high-quality Alan Greeff 3yo pair of Three Rocks and Luna Halo fancied to possibly fight things out in a quality fifteen horse field, it was left to Corne Orffer to provide the finishing touches and continue his personal good form
ahead of his ride on Master Redoute in the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
Pineapplemintgreen (10-1) took charge from some way out to beat Miss Greenlight (33-1) convincingly in a time of 68,22 secs, with Passchendaele (16-1) in third and Golden Pacific (16-1) rounding off a R21 707 quartet.
The 17-10 favourite Three Rocks was never in it and ran well downfield. The Greeff yard have
Eric Sands and Corne Orffer – a fabulous Friday flip to Fairview! | Credit: Pauline Herman
been very quiet by their own high standards, and had a rare blank day again.
A winner of 4 of her 13 starts with 3 places and stakes of R399 589, Pineapplemintgreen races for a mix of old and new generation interests in a partnership of the Kalmansons and Rowetts, and was bred by the family’s Varsfontein Stud.
A daughter of the top farm’s resident champion Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready), she is out of the six-time winning Windrush mare, Sunsational.
Many years ago, Farm manager Carl de Vos told the Sporting Post about the acquisition of the mare that has served them so well.
She was on sale after midweek racing at the Cape’s country course and, unsurprisingly, there was hardly anybody present in the dimly lit parade ring.
“There were two Windrush fillies on the sale and myself and Frikkie jumped in our truck and drove the half hour trip through to the
racecourse. We were confident of getting both of them and when I saw the scant attendance, I knew we were in luck,“ he recalled.
The former Mike Bass-trained Gr3 Prix Du Cap winner Sunsational, and a good looker called Elysian Gem, were the two Windrushers loaded on to the Varsfontein float.
Sunsational, a versatile stakes winner of five races from 1000m to 2000m, was to go on and produce a nuggety first foal called Juxtapose, which was purchased by Roland Bouwer for R130 000 on the 2015 National Yearling Sale.
Varsfontein is celebrating 50 fabulous years in 2024.
WINNER GOES TO A 104
The NHA Handicappers have advised that Pineapplemintgreen has seen her rating raised from 90 to 104 following her emphatic victory in the Listed East Cape Breeders Stakes over 1200m on Friday at Fairview.
The Handicappers believed that third placed Passchendaele, made for the most suitable line horse and as such her rating remains unaltered at 97.
Second placed Miss Greenlight, was the
only other runner to receive an upward adjustment in the ratings, and she goes up to 101 from 92.
No fewer than four horses received drops in the ratings.
Golden Pacific dropped to 98 from 100, while Gimme’s Lassie got a point drop from 101 to 100. Mythical Dream and Esther received a 3-point drop each, from 89 to 86 and 102 to 99 respectively.
SUNCOAST
- A HORSE FOR EVERY POCKET
There is a hive of activity at Suncoast as vendors and prospective buyers count the days down to Thursday’s BSA KZN Yearling Sale, with the weather playing ball too!
A past graduate, star three-year-old Purple Pitcher, a R170 000 purchase off the 2022 KZN Yearling Sale, stamped his Equus Award claims this season when victorious in all of the Gr1 TAB SA Derby, TAB Gr1 SA Classic, and Jonsson Workwear Gr2 Dingaans, with the classy sophomore having already taken his earnings to over R2.536 million with the promise of plenty more to come. He lines up in the Hollywoodbets Durban July on Saturday.
Fellow star three-year-old Frances Ethel, a R160 000 buy from the 2022 KZN Sale, showed her class when following up a score in this season’s Listed Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial when storming home to land the Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Bridget Oppenheimer SA Oaks and she looks destined for even bigger and better things as she is exported to take on the world.
Crimson King, purchased for R200 000 at the 2019 sale, is another current flagbearer for the KZN Sale.
The son of Dynasty, victorious in both the 2021 World Sports Betting Gr3 Pocket Power Stakes and 2023 SplashOut Gr3 2200, has had a fine season in 2023-2024 with Crimson King having
won both the Listed TAB Aquanaut Handicap and TAB Listed Gold Bowl this season.
Yet another KZN Sale purchase, Celtic Beauty captured this season’s Listed World Sports Betting Scarlet Lady, while promising two-yearold filly Just Reckless, bought for R500 000 off last year’s auction, won the 2024 Tabgold Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes in tremendous style.
Among the promising, proven and popular stallions with yearlings on offer are Danon Platina, Elusive Fort, Fire Away, Futura, Gimmethegreenlight, Ideal World, Legislate, Master Of My Fate, New Predator, One World, Pathfork, Querari, Rafeef, The United States, Trippi, Vercingetorix, and What A Winter.
Stallions represented for the first time at the KZN Yearling Sale include Declarationofpeace, Erik The Red, Hawwaam and Summa Cum Laude.
THE SPRINT IS INTERACTIVE
Duncan Barry and Robbie Hill were spotted
KLAWERVLEI STUD SET TO IMPRESS!
Klawervlei Stud, many times Champion Breeders of South Africa, will be offering a stellar draft at the BSA 2024 KZN Yearling Sale on Thursday, 4 July at Suncoast Casino.
Not only does this draft include yearlings by such top class and exciting stallions such as Gimmethegreenlight, One World and Vercingetorix, but it also includes yearlings from outstanding local and international families.
One yearling bound to attract her share of attention is Lovecomesknocking (Lot 72), a daughter of reigning champion sire Gimmethegreenlight and the Captain Al sired Listed East Cape Oaks winner Eros’s Girl.
Bred on the same cross as champion Sandringham Summit, Lovecomesknocking is a three-parts sister to the Gimmethegreenlight sired Gr3 winner Universal, with her dam, Eros’s Girl, also a half-sister to Equus Champion and Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Vardy.
The Klawervlei bred champion and Gr1 Sun Met winner One World has made a sensational start to his stud career and he is represented here by a colt (Lot 162) whose dam was sired by unbeaten superstar Frankel.
This blue-blooded colt hails from an outstanding family with his numerous highclass relatives including such notable Gr1 winners as Sudirman, Deputy Commander, Gentildonna, and former South African stallion Malhub. The highly successful sire Dandy Man is another member of this top-class family.
Yet another champion, and prominent stallion, bred by Klawervlei Stud is the ever-popular Vercingetorix. Already responsible for nine
individual stakes winners in South Africa this season, Vercingetorix has four lots on offer.
His quartet is headed by a filly (Lot 94) out of Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Heaps Of Fun, and a full-brother (Lot 117) to this season’s Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes runner up Mia Moo. Vercingetorix is also represented here by a half-sister (Lot 175) to Listed KwaZuluNatal Stakes winner Mirage, with this filly’s dam Sea Glitter a three-parts sister to Gr1 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo.
Among Vercingetorix’s growing list of stakes winners is Celtic Beauty, a winner of three of her first six starts including the Listed World Sports Betting Scarlet Lady. The classy Celtic Beauty has a Captain Of All half-brother (Lot 111) on sale, with the pair produced by the three-time winning Rip Van Winkle mare Killer Woman.
Klawervlei’s string can be found in Blocks B and C.
A BLUE-BLOODED COLT FROM RIVERTON STUD
LOT 110 – BROD (C) BY CANFORD CLIFFS EX KILCROSS
Riverton Stud, as Agent, will be offering a very well related colt in the form of Brody (Lot 110) at the upcoming KZN Yearling Sale.
A colt by five-time Gr1 winner Canford Cliffs, Brody shares his sire with 26 stakes winners including this season’s very smart two-yearolds Almond Sea (Listed Wilgerbosdrift Ruffian Stakes) and Simply Majestic (Gr3 TAB Pretty Polly Stakes).
Other high-class gallopers sired by Canford Cliffs (whose progeny have earned more than $38 million in stakes) include such group/ graded stakes winners as Cliff’s Edge, Crystal Cliffs, Jin Jin, Fish River, Cima Emergency, and La Falaise.
Canford Cliffs is also the sire of classy fouryear-old Meridius, who won the recent Gr3 Jubilee Stakes and he is now likely to be supplemented for the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July.
However, it is his female line which really makes Brody a standout prospect. A half-brother to three winners, including Fujisan, who recently won again, Brody is out of Kilcross, a halfsister to Gr3 Prix Miesque third place finisher Eloquently.
His granddam Elegant is a half-sister to Listed Warren Stakes winner Peking Opera, with Elegant herself a granddaughter of outstanding producer Balidaress. Not only did the threetime winning Balidaress produce a trio of Gr1 winners in the form of Alydaress (Irish Oaks), Desirable (Cheveley Park Stakes), and Park Appeal (Cheveley Park Stakes, Moyglare Stud Stakes), but her daughters in turn have produced a flood of top-class gallopers and stallions.
Dual Gr1 winner Park Appeal is the dam of Gr1 Lockinge Stakes winner Cape Cross, an outstanding sire and Champion Sire in France in 2009.
Cape Cross sired more than 120 stakes winners headed by such outstanding Epsom classic winners as Golden Horn, Ouija Board and the once beaten, and now top sire, Sea The Stars.
Another top stallion descended from Park Appeal is Iffraaj. Out of Park Appeal’s daughter Pastorale, Iffraaj has sired nearly 100 stakes winners, including outstanding miler Ribchester and star sire Wootton Bassett.
Balidaress also ranks as the granddam of 1000 Guineas winner Russian Rhythm, granddam of Gr1 Prix Jean Prat winner Good Guess, while dual Gr1 winner and successful sire Diktat was produced by Park Appeal’s daughter Arvola.
Brody is closely inbred to Gr1 St James’s Palace Stakes winner Marju, broodmare sire of Canford Cliffs and the sire of the colt’s granddam Elegant. A top-class performer and sire, Marju sired
more than 50 stakes winners and his broodmare daughters have produced a further 55 stakes winners including outstanding miler Ribchester.
THE CLASSY ERUPT FILLY FROM RIVERTON
LOT 143 – UNNAMED (F) BY ERUPT EX NEUROSE
One of nearly 60 Gr1 winners for his outstanding sire Dubawi, former Gr1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris/Gr1 Pattison Canadian International winner Erupt has been enjoying a good season in 2023/2024.
Not only has Erupt enjoyed consistent success in South Africa this season, but his son Buster Barnes won Zimbabwe’s Triple Crown in 2024.
Erupt’s South African flagbearers this season include not only speedy stakes winning fillies and classy two-year-olds, but also a real hard knocker in the form of Unzen. Winner of the 2023 World Sports Betting Grand Heritage, Unzen went on to finish a close second in the Listed Betway Wolf Power 1600 before thrashing the high-class Dave The King by three lengths when winning over 1400 metres.
To date Unzen, bred at Riverton for Tawny, has earned more than R750 000 in prize money.
Other flagbearers for Erupt this season
including Listed Pongracz Olympic Dual Stakes Winner Ripple Effect, the classy Mount Pinatubo (who beat subsequent Gr1 winner Proceed into fourth when second in the Gr2 TAB SA Nursery), and promising filly You Bring Me Joy.
The latter won three of her first six starts and beat subsequent Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship winner Quid Pro Quo when winning over 1000m at the Vaal.
Riverton Stud will be offering a well related Erupt filly at the BSA sale on Thursday. The filly in question is a half-sister to three winners including the smart Great Shaka, a seven-time winner who ran third in the Listed Golden Loom Handicap and earned more than R670 000 in
prize money, and Major Apollo.
The latter made a big impression early in his career, with Major Apollo running third on debut before winning a good race next time out. In a pedigree update, he rocketed home to win again this month.
Neurose, the dam of the three horses in question, won twice up to 1400m, and her sire Dubai Dust, a son of US champion sire Broad Brush, enjoyed plenty of success at stud in Brazil with his offspring headed by such Gr1 winners as Hacksaw Ridge, Mojito, and Princess Zuca.
His daughter Neurose is out of Fiestera Fitz -whose sire Fitzcarraldo left his mark in South Africa as the sire of champion Escoleta Fitz, Gr2 SA Oaks winner Logetta and the brilliant Resfa.
The latter made just four starts in South Africa but won three of them including the 1998 Gr1 Cape Derby.
Neurose hails from a potent black type producing family and is directly descended in female line from 1000 Guineas winner Electra.
Among the many top-class performers descended in female line from Electra are Irish classic winners Spy-Ann and Skoiter, St Leger winner Salmon-Trout, and Melbourne Cup victor Jeune.
A BUNKER HUNT RELATIVE TO SHINE FOR RIVERTON STUD
LOT 146 – UNNAMED (F) BY HORIZON EX NUTCRACKER SWEET
Riverton Stud’s late sire Russian Fox has enjoyed plenty of success as a broodmare sire. One daughter, Midnite Lady, produced Gr1 Arc-en-Ciel Paddock Stakes/Grr1 Guardian National Fillies Guineas winner Shepherd’s Moon.
Another Russian Fox mare, Faberge Flowers, both Gr1 by Triple Tiara 1600 winner Kournikova and Gr3 Magnolia Handicap queen Princess Faberge. Yet another daughter of the grey, Dacha, is the granddam of Gr1 July/Gr1 Met winning sire Kommetdieding.
One of Russian Fox’s most successful broodmare daughters has been Sweet Natasha. The latter produced seven winners including the stakes winners Princess Sassi (Gr2 Golden Slipper) and Secret Obsession (Listed Syringa Handicap).
Between the pair, they have produced 12 winners headed by the graded stakes winners Bunker Hunt (Gr2 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes) and Salvator Mundi (Gr2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers).
Secret Obsession also ranks as the dam of this season’s top-class three-year-old My Soul Mate, who was runner up in both the Gr2 TAB Igugu Stakes and Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer SA Oaks this year.
Sweet Natasha, in turn, was a half-sister to the Gr3 winning granddam of multiple Gr1 winner, and champion sprinter, Mythical Flight.
Riverton Stud will be offering a very close relative of both Bunker Hunt and Salvator Mundi (both sired by Dynasty) at this year’s KZN Yearling Sale. This filly (Lot 146) was sired by Dynasty’s impeccably bred son Horizon and she is out of Sweet Natasha’s daughter Nutcracker Sweet.
The latter has already enjoyed success at stud, with Nutcracker Sweet producing two winners including Listed Spook Express Handicap winner, She’s A Cracker. The filly on sale, thus, has paddock value already.
Her sire, Horizon, won the Gr3 Politician Stakes and ran third in the Gr1 Daily News 2000 and he lacks nothing in terms of pedigree. Not only is he a son of outstanding sire Dynasty, but Horizon’s dam Shina is a full-sister to six-time South African Champion Sire Silvano. Safe to say, Horizon is bred in the purple!
Riverton Stud have enjoyed plenty of success at the KZN Yearling Sale in years gone by. Among the subsequent top horses sold by Riverton at the KZN Sale are dual Gr1 winner Same Jurisdiction, Gr3 Umkhomazi Stakes winner Al Mariacchi, Gr1 Mercury Sprint winner Pearl Of Asia, and this season’s promising twoyear-old One More.
This KZN Sales graduate won impressively on debut before going on to finish a close up fourth in the Gr1 Gold Medallion and One More looks to be a very promising sort indeed!
AN IMPRESSIVE ONE WORLD COLT FROM RIVERTON STUD
LOT 158 – UNNAMED (C) BY ONE WORLD EX QUEEN OF ALAMO
Captain Al’s Gr1 Sun Met winning son, and Equus Champion, One World has made a truly outstanding start to his stud career. Both the Leading First Season Sire and Leading Sire of 2YOs in South Africa for 2023-2024, One World is on course to set a new South African record for individual twoyear-old winners sired by a first season sire.
At the time of writing, One World had been responsible for 20 individual juvenile winners this season, with his first crop, at the time of writing, having won 26 races.
Among One World’s early star performers are Gr3 City Of Cape Town Cape Of Good Hope Nursery/Gr3 Winter Nursery winner One Stripe, Listed Somerset 1200 hero Lion Rampart, Listed Somerset 1200 runner up Miss World, and Sahara Cat, a winner of two of just three starts.
One World has also made his presence felt in the sales ring - a pair of One World colts made R900 000 apiece to jointly top the 2024 Cape Yearling Sale.
Riverton will be offering a beautifully bred colt (Lot 158) by this sensational young stallion at the KZN Yearling Sale.
This colt is a three-parts brother to promising two-year-old One Party, who finished third in each of her first two starts.
His dam Queen Of Alamo, whose sire Pathfork is also responsible for the Riverton bred Gr1 winner Pearl Of Asia, was a smart performer
who won four and ran third in the Listed KwaZulu-Natal Stakes over 1000m.
The well-bred Queen Of Alamo is a half-sister to a pair of Riverton Stud bred graded stakes winners in the form of Gimme One Night (Gr3 Cape Summer Stayers, Gr3 Heineken Chairman’s Cup) and Cousin Liz.
The latter, sired by One World’s champion sire Captain Al (also sire of the Riverton-bred champion Captain Of All), was a R2 900 000 yearling buy who won her first two starts including the Gr3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery.
Queen Of Alamo is out of Fiesta Queen, a winning half-sister to both Gr1 Empress Club Stakes winner Fair Maiden (dam of Gr3 winner Lady Of Steel) and Gr2 Hawaii Stakes winner Braggadacio.
This is also the family of this season’s high-class three-year-olds Mondial and Gimmeanotherchance, to name but two.
Riverton Stud have already enjoyed success with One World, with the farm having bred One World’s very promising son One More.
A smart winner on debut, One More, himself a KZN Sale graduate, ran fourth in the Gr1 Gold Medallion at just his second start and he looks destined for bigger and better things.
THE BEAUTIFUL BELLA IS UNSTOPPABLE
Amazing mare Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) secured a third career Gr1 win and took her earnings to almost $11m with a breath-taking victory in Saturday’s Tatt’s Tiara at Eagle Farm.
The Ciaron Maher-trained Bella Nipotina is an incredible racehorse – she has finished no worse than sixth at her past 17 starts and has been within 2.3L of the winner at 16 of those 17 runs.
In the past three months alone, she has raced in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and WA and she has contested four Gr1 races during the Brisbane Winter Carnival – the Doomben 10,000, Kingsford Smith Cup, Stradbroke Handicap and Tatt’s Tiara, finishing in the quinella on each occasion including two wins.
Today she was forced to race three-wide without cover from barrier 17 but it mattered
Bella Nipotina secures a third Gr1 victory | Credit: Supplied
little as jockey Ryan Maloney guided her to the easiest of victories.
The 6YO mare will now be sent for a freshen up before being set for the $20m The Everest, to be run at Randwick in October.
Bred and raced by Michael Christian, Bella Nipotina was just an $80,000 purchase out of the Rosemont Stud draft at the Premier Yearling Sale for Lindsay Park, Andrew Williams and Mt Hallowell Stud.
She is one of 99 individual Gr1-winning Inglis graduates since 2018 and one of 44 that could have been purchased for $100,000 or less in that period.
Christian described Bella Nipotina as a “freak’’ following Saturday’s victory.
“I’m numb all over, I’m just in awe of her,’’ a delighted Christian said.
“It’s been an amazing day and she’s an amazing mare, a freak of a mare. In 51 starts before today, she’d only started favourite two or three times and while she doesn’t know the odds, it was quite nerve-racking today knowing so many people had backed her and I was just happy for the mare that she was able to deliver for those who had their money on her.
“The Everest is the clear goal now. Based on what she’s done against the absolute best sprinters – not only up here in Queensland but her 2nd in the Gr1 TJ Smith she beat home some very good horses that day – I think she’s proven once and for all she can mix it with and defeat the best.’’
Bella Nipotina is $13 with Ladbrokes for The Everest, to be run at Randwick on October 19.
Winning trainer Maher added: “She’s just phenomenal, I don’t know what else to say about her.
“To race in all four Gr1’s in Brisbane and be as good in the last as she was in the first, and that’s on the back of going to Perth and running in the autumn in Sydney, it’s phenomenal.’’
Bella Nipotina was one of six Stakes-winning Inglis graduates around Australia today, joined by Vow and Declare (Gr3 Tatt’s Cup), Zarastro (Gr3 WJ Healy Stakes), Cottee (Listed Tatt’s Mile), Princess Rhaenys (Listed Tatt’s Gold Crown) and Femminile (Listed Oaklands Plate).
The 8YO Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War) wound back the clock, winning the same race at Eagle Farm today that he won in 2019 prior to his Gr1 Melbourne Cup victory the same year.
The Danny O’Brien-trained star – a Classic Yearling Sale offering of Kitchwin Hills – has now won almost $7.7m in prizemoney in what has been a spectacular career.
Vow And Declare was bred by Paul Lanskey.
It was an Inglis graduates quinella in the Listed Tatt’s Mile at Eagle Farm as Cottee (Merchant Navy) defeated Iknowastar.
Trained by Mark Currie in Toowoomba, Cottee secured a valuable first Stakes success with the tough victory, securing a sixth career win at just start No.14.
The Go Bloodstock-bred Cottee is a $20,000 Classic Yearling Sale bargain buy for Ciaron Maher, from the Coolmore draft.
The 4YO mare has now won $260,000 in prizemoney.
• www.inglis.com.au
O’BRIEN HOLDS OFF ENGLISH ASSAULT
Once again Aidan O’Brien came out on top as Los Angeles held off a three-pronged English assault in the closing stages to win the Irish Derby on Sunday. Third home at Epsom, the Camelot colt confirmed his status as a leading contender over middle distances later in the year.
The €1.25 million Dubai Duty Free-sponsored event saw a field of eight line-up at for the Curagh showpiece with Epsom Derby runnerup Ambiente Friendly, the 5/4 favourite.
In a small field, race tactics were always going to play their part. Ballydoyle saddled half the field, and they dominated from the start. The race unfolded very nicely for the winner who had the company of three stablemates at the front end for the first mile or so.
Ryan Moore had Los Angeles hard against the inside rail from an early stage. Anyone who wanted to keep him company was out of luck
because another Aidan O’Brien-trained runner, The Euphrates, was alongside him for most of the way in joint third.
They had a charmed run up the inside when pacesetting stablemate Euphoric cornered wide turning in, with Ambiente Friendly following ominously in his slipstream.
Under a determined Ryan Moore, Los Angeles found plenty over the final couple of furlongs to out-stay Ambiente Friendly before fending off the late surge from the Oisin Murphy ridden Sunway who had been held up in rear.
Los Angeles and Ryan Moore pull ahead of Sunway | Credit: Coolmore
As was the case at Epsom, Ambiente Friendly couldn’t quite sustain his challenge inside the final furlong. Sunway denied him second for trainer David Menuisier, with Roger Varian’s Leicester winner Matsuri also finishing purposefully in fourth place, beaten a length and a quarter.
An incredible 16th victory in the Group 1 for Aidan O’Brien, and a second for Moore. Despite also being a Group 1 winner as a juvenile in France last season, Los Angeles clearly remains a work in progress.
“We were delighted with him at Epsom, and we thought he would come forward,” O’Brien stated post-race.
He added: “We think he’ll get better. He’s a big, hardy horse. He looks like he’s a baby, but he
was a Group 1 winner at two as well and he keeps progressing.” Ambiente Friendly, in contrast, is likely to drop in distance.
“He came there looking good,” a magnanimous James Fanshawe said. “At the two-pole you were happy, but I just feel maybe he would be better over ten furlongs. He has come a long way in two months.”
NG SEIZES UPPER HAND IN HONG KONG TRAINERS’ TITLE BATTLE
Pierre Ng reclaimed the ascendancy in the rollercoaster tussle for the 2023/24 Hong Kong trainers’ championship with a crucial double at Sha Tin on Monday to edge two wins clear of Francis Lui.
With only four meetings left in the season, Ng leads Lui 67-65 after Alexis Badel piloted Gangnam Star to victory in the Class 5 Uncompromising Integrity Handicap and Super Bonus won the Class 4 Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup Handicap under Andrea Atzeni.
“Brilliant. I’m quite happy. At this stage, I just have to keep going. Hopefully we get more winners in the next few meetings,” Ng said of the championship standings.
“Andrea told me he lost his iron out of the gates, on Super Bonus, but managed to pick it
back up. Luckily the pace wasn’t that fast - they did the first section in 24.35s, which is quite easy for him to roll along.
“He was three-wide all the way, but he’s made improvement. He used to just stop or want to get away from horses in the straight, but now he’s more straightforward and finishes off hard.”
Gangnam Star triumphed at his 12th start.
“He took a bit of time to get his first win. He was very difficult from the start when he came to Hong Kong, so he needed time to get settled down. When we tried to run him, last October, he had a heart problem, so then we had to step back again and start him later on,” Ng said.
“It’s good that he can find some confidence
Super Bonus (Andrea Atzeni) seals a Pierre Ng double at Sha Tin | Credit: HKJC
today to hit the front because he’s a thinkerhe’s always thinking what to do and what not to do. He won well.”
While Ng shared training honours with Chris So, Lyle Hewitson snared a treble with wins on So-trained pair Flying High and Parterre before saluting on Michael Chang’s Ching in the Class 3 Better Future Handicap.
“Just really happy, I came to the meeting thinking I had a decent book,” Hewitson said. “I didn’t think there was a standout, but the cards fell in my favour and everything worked out really well.
“To cap it off with Ching was great. He’s been a special horse to me in Hong Kong and, like Chris So’s horses, Ching was beautifully prepared, and I was the lucky recipient.”
Zac Purton logged a brace on a pair of promising talents – Bottomuptogether, who is
unbeaten after three starts following his searing win in the Class 3 Sportsmanship Handicap and Amazing Fun, who made an impressive debut with success in the Class 4 Racing Goes On Handicap for Dennis Yip.
In the saddle for each of Frankie Lor-trained Bottomuptogether’s victories, Purton said: “He did a really good job. He had barrier one, but he came under pressure mid-race, which I didn’t appreciate. He let down well in the straight, he’s done a good job.”
Ridden quietly by Purton, Tivaci gelding Amazing Fun clocked 56.22s up the straight course.
“He’s got ability, this horse. Early in the season I trialled him and he was very good but at that stage he didn’t relax,” Yip said. “After that he was ready to race, but he got injured. I put him in Conghua and told my son to teach him to relax in the morning.
“The horse is now very relaxed and it’s lucky this race was there for him. When he passed the other horses, Zac said he didn’t know what to do and the horse was looking around a bit. He needs time to keep improving.”
Alexis Badel also achieved a double and predicted a bright future for Manfred Man’s Chiu Chow Spirit after the former Australian galloper’s victory in the Class 2 Hong Kong Reunification Cup Handicap.
“Brave horse, very good quality – he deserved this,” Badel said after the Frenchman threaded a gap along the fence to deny Tomodachi Kokoroe by a short head to earn a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million plus the winner’s purse of HK$1.59 million.
“I’m very happy, Manfred has been a good supporter and I’m happy that they stuck with me on the horse and I’m happy that I could deliver.
“I was a bit worried about the draw because with the small field and from that gate (9), I was worried about finding the right spot. But it worked out well, the pace was good enough and this horse has really got a great turn of foot – he can out-sprint the field.
A Group 3 winner for Tony and Calvin McEvoy when he raced as Twin Stars in Australia, took his Hong Kong career earnings to beyond HK$7 million with his second Sha Tin win.
Flying High made it five course and distance wins after unleashing a powerful finish to clinch the CMA 90th Anniversary Cup Handicap before Parterre controlled the speed before fending off Giant Leap to land Class 4 Serving The Community Handicap.
Jimmy Ting’s Smiling Collector held on courageously to defy Forerunner and land the Class 4 Continuous Development Handicap for Harry Bentley before Ricky Yiu-trained Mighty Strength prevailed in another tight finish to snare the Class 4 Riding High Together Handicap.
Hong Kong International Sale graduate Harmony N Home posted his first win since March 2021 with victory in the Class 5 WorldClass Leadership Handicap under Matthew Poon for Danny Shum.
Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Thursday
Chiu Chow Spirit (Alexis Badel) wins the Hong Kong
TRAINERS
JOCKEYS
SIRES
