SP Sprint - Wednesday 12 April 2023

Wednesday 12 April 2023

MIRACLES HAPPEN

A Royal Day At Turffontein

06 Princess Calla Skips Title Defence The final field for Saturday’s Gr1 at Turffontein

20 Duncan Howells – On The Move! Ashburton to Summerveld – in his stride

42 Our National Pride Snapshot of each of the yearlings on offer

98 Monday Racing Misery Gold Circle make a good call

101 Danny Muscutt The Champ All-weather glory for top jock

On the cover

Christophe Soumillon and Desert Miracle are greeted by Mike de Kock racing assistant Trevor Brown after her giant-killing victory in the Schweppes Gr1 Majorca Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Cape Town Met day. The daughter of Dynasty runs in the HSH Princess Charlene Gr1 Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday

Issue: 15/2023

Mountain Goats On The East Coast!

Mike de Kock famously coined the Cape stars ‘Mountain Goats’ some years ago. Multiple Equus Award winner Candiese Lenferna snapped early Mother City visitors Richard Fourie and Vaughan Marshall in the ring at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday. It’s a sign that we are on the fringes of Champions Season!

Gimme A Shot beats Under Your Spell in the Ipi Tombe – she can return to winning ways on Saturday

CALLA SKIPS IT – BUT PLENTY OF QUALITY

Defending champion Princess Calla will not line up in Saturday’s HSH Princess Charlene Gr1 Empress Club Stakes, but the final field of seven promises a tightly contested race.

Former SA champion trainer Sean Tarry told the Sporting Post on Tuesday afternoon that Princess Calla had recorded a slightly raised temperature a fortnight ago and a decision was made to rather skip Saturday’s Gr1 contest.

“One can run a maiden two weeks after a mild temperature, but she’s a class Gr1 performer and I would not want her to have run a sub standard race. The temperature also meant that she missed a few days work. The owners understand racing, and while we are all disappointed, we will be back this season,” added Tarry, who

has two serious contenders in Hawaii Stakes winner Under Your Spell and Marigold Hotel.

The seasoned conditioner said that while the 2023 Schweppes Gr1 Majorca Stakes winner Desert Miracle was the horse to beat at best, it was a fascinating race looking at the formlines.

He pointed out that in the Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge on Summer Cup day, Gimme A Shot (52 kgs)had beaten Under Your Spell by 3,50 lengths in receipt of 8 kgs, with Feather Boa (52 kgs) and Marigold Hotel (59 kgs) in third and fourth.

“Both Under Your Spell and Marigold Hotel are very well. It’s going to be interesting at the weight for age terms on Saturday,” said Tarry.

Under Your Spell was a fair fourth behind Trip Of Fortune in the HF Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes last time out and was just under a length in front of the Azzie’s Gimme A Shot (received 2,5kgs), who was badly impeded in running.

Standout top-rated Desert Miracle has had just the single start since her Gr1 success on Cape Town Met day, and was clearly in need of it when beaten 5,50 lengths by Humdinger and Marigold Hotel (both in receipt of 4 kgs), with Feather Boa (receiving 6kgs from Desert Miracle) a neck behind the top two.

As Sean Tarry suggests, there are a number of sub-plots and formlines and nothing is cut and dried.

HOW GREAT IS YOUR GATSBY?

It will be a Royal Raceday in every sense on and off the track on Saturday as Turffontein Racecourse hosts a special raceday sponsored by Her Serene Highness, Princess Charlene of Monaco.

It will be a raceday when the grandeur of the famous sovereign Principality on the French Riviera meets the warmth and hospitality of the Johannesburg South, with plenty to entertain punters and racegoers keen to dress up

and have a good time. With its ‘Roaring 1920’s Great Gatsby’ theme racegoers are encouraged to dress up at Turffontein this weekend, with R15 000 on offer in the Best Dressed competition. The winner of the Best Dressed prize will walk away with R7 000, the runner up will get R5 000 and third place will win R3 000, so there is good reason to dress to impress at Turffontein on Saturday.

Dress in your Great Gatsby

best and be on course between 14h30 and 14h45 in the front parade ring for the selection of the Best Dressed competition winners on the day.

While Princess Charlene’s Monaco touch undoubtedly brings plenty of glitz and pizzazz to the event, the raceday will as always focus on giving back to charities and supporting the Turffontein community.

DE KOCK AT INGLIS

Mike de Kock, who saddles Gr1 winner Desert Miracle in Saturday’s HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein, was a busy man in Australia last week.

The veteran attended the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale where he acquired a filly by the Dubawi stallion Too

Mike and partners will be racing her in Australia with Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock.

Entisaar was bred in Australia by Echo Beach Bloodstock, Vic. She is by More Than Ready (USA) out of the Gr3 placed Catbird mare, Purrpurrlena (AUS), a daughter of stakes-winner Magdalena.

Entisaar storms clear under Johnny Geroudis to win the 2015 Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship

Darn Hot out of Entisaar, who won the Gr1 Allan Robertson Memorial for the stable in 2015 and was Equus Champion Two-Year-Old.

4RACING HEATS UP THE WINTER

4Racing has announced a 14% increase of total stakes equal to R33 360 000 for this year’s Highveld Winter Programme, a considerable increase from last year’s stakes of R29 053 000.

Stakes for this period have been strengthened by R4 307 000 for the 405 races from the beginning of May to the end of September on the Highveld Winter Program this season, for the benefit of the owners, trainers, jockeys and grooms who are key industry participants at all levels.

The increase in stakes was made possible by a budgeted increase by 4Racing of 8% in stakes for the season, plus an

amount carried forward from lost meetings and races to date this season.

The stakes increase has focused on beefing up 4Racing’s most common Handicap racing types, with stakes for the 26 races for horses with a Merit Rating of 72 going from R55 000 to R70 000, for the 26 races with horses with a Merit Rating of 76 going from R55 000 to R75 000, the 33 races with a Merit Rating of 80 going from R60 000 to R80 000 and for horses with a Merit Racing of 88 going from R80 000 to R85 000.

For Fillies and Mares in the Handicaps division with a Merit Rating of 68 stakes have increased from R55 000 to R65 000, for horses with a Merit Rating of 72 stakes have increased from R55 000 to R70 000, and for the 23 races for horses with a Merit Rating of 76 stakes have increased considerably from R55 000 to R75 000 and from R70 000 to R80 000 for horses with a Merit Rating of 84.

R300 000 MAIDEN ON SATURDAY!

Saturday’s Turffontein raceday is staged by the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA), supported by 4Racing, and is passionately driven by Princess Charlene’s father, Mike Wittstock.

The major beneficiary charity from the Royal Raceday this year will be The Earth Centre in Ruimsig, which provides equine therapy with its horses in supporting the disabled, vulnerable and the disadvantaged and which partners with

11 special needs schools in Gauteng.

Other charities that will benefit from the proceeds of the Royal Raceday are the Hamlet School for intellectually disabled children and their families and the United Cerebral Palsy Association of South Africa – which are both in close proximity to the Turffontein Racecourse.

There will be a bumper 18-horse field of maidens lining up in the R300 000

Monaco Sport of Kings Charity Maiden Sprint over 1160m, which is a popular addition to Royal Raceday.

The Maiden Sprint had unique entry conditions aimed at giving as many owners of maidens as possible a chance at winning. The race is open to all maidens which have run at least three times and allowed for one horse per trainer at ballot stage until a maximum field of 18 was drawn – giving smaller stables a chance to get a runner into the race.

SUMMERVELD - HOME FROM HOME!

Mission Rocks and Muzi Yeni open the Howells Summerveld account

Just days after uprooting his decades long rural Ashburton home base for the quite different environs of Summerveld, former KwaZulu-Natal champion trainer Duncan Howells celebrated his first winner, and two second cheques, from just three runners at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Easter Monday.

The decision to mothball the Ashburton Training Centre and relocate Duncan and the four other resident trainers and their horses to Summerveld was made at a Gold Circle

board meeting in February. In the years that the centre was originally built by the Pietermaritzburg Turf Club, the financial dynamics have changed dramatically.

In a week where his former stable superstar Via Africa, described by the Hollywoodbets-sponsored veteran horseman as ‘one of the best I have had’, set the Inglis sales ring alight Down Under when her yearling daughter sold for a saletopping A$1,8-million on Day 2 of the Inglis Easter Sale in Sydney, the enforced move

down the N3 from Ashburton is being taken in his stride.

“We have been thinking on and off about moving for years now. Ashburton has changed character in the last five years – the illness level of horses, for example, has increased. The drive up the N3 has also become a nightmare. And racing has shrunk, so we have to be realistic. We didn’t jump in the end , we were pushed. But we were probably stuck in a rut anyway and the reality is now upon us. That said, the whole team are really looking forward to the

Candiese Lenferna

Duncan receives his string in the new barn

exciting challenge,” an upbeat Duncan told the Sporting Post on Monday.

After Poppy Of Bayeaux had gone second in the fourth, the lesser fancied Mission Rock bolted home under Muzi Yeni to beat stablemate Birdwatcher in the final event of a tough Easter Monday card. It was a ‘Howeller’ of a day in the end, and a deservedly defining launch from the new home base for a man who has been known to be his own worst critic over the years.

At age 57, the one-time

accomplished amateur rider is mellowing and, in his own words ‘learning to become a good loser’, and realising that life is not always as serious as he may have made it – which includes not getting as peeved off as he used to with his jockeys!

And being back at Summerveld is something of a circle of life moment. Duncan worked at the scenic training centre for eight years under the leading now Australian based trainer, David Payne.

“You know I often think that we don’t realise the true value

of experience. David Payne once told me that he regretted not being more experienced when he had a great horse like In Full Flight. Look how well he did with the champion,” he reflects.

With Payne, and other top notch mentors of the ilk of Andy Smith, Roy Curling and Eric Sands, Duncan Howells and his racing operation garnered national respect at his peak, from humble beginnings where he was reminded that he no longer had the luxury of the Payne bombs and would need to

Candiese Lenferna

Duncan says he is excited about the new challenge

learn to train lesser horses to win.

“It’s all about the basics–keeping them sound , feeding them properly, and practising good stable management. Cathy Rymill, my partner, has been the foundation of our success, finding the quality horses at the right prices. We are going to have to adjust to the tracks here at Summerveld but I’m very happy with what I have seen so far and there are many experienced brains around me that I can pick,” he adds with enthusiasm.

Duncan has built up a strong team and says that bar one individual, his loyal Grooms all made the move and appear to be settling in quickly.

“We haven’t done too much yet and are still finding our feet. The results today were thus really encouraging. Bar having two winners, I couldn’t be happier and I am not complaining,”

he smiles modestly.

On the personal front, Duncan is happy with the scope of the accommodation at his yard, and rather than commute up the frustrating N3 daily, he intends to overnight at Summerveld.

“It’s a big move on the personal front. Cathy and I have been happy living up in Pietermaritzburg, but we realise we are going to have to sell up there eventually. Life is all about change,” he adds philosophically.

In the short term, Duncan intends to build his twenty six strong string up.

“I probably don’t have any genuine Group 1 horses, but I have some really nice sorts of the likes of Kitchakal, Mia’s Athena and El Rey Viene, that will be competitive in the features. My aim is to build the string with young horses, and to start having fun again.

That’s the essence of enjoying this wonderful again and I have proven my capacity to train Gr1 winners. That’s where we’d ultimately like to get back to.”

So will he be attending the National Yearling Sale on the 21st and 22 April? And does he have briefs and mandates?

“I am not so sure I have ever had briefs and mandates, as you say!” he laughs, but confirms that be there they will.

“I have three of my ex charges with their first foals in the catalogue. So that’s exciting. Let’s see what happens. We need to restock the arsenal and It’s encouraging that I recently have had inquiries from owners that are coming back into the game. That’s a very good sign!”

You can follow Duncan Howells Racing on Facebook!

Candiese Lenferna

Duncan supervises settling the big guns in to their new home

‘Some trainers prove to be dab hands at getting the best out of fillies. Duncan's track record clearly places him in that category’

DUNCAN – A QUEENMAKER OF NOTE!

Trainer Duncan Howells reacted with delight at the news that Via Africa's yearling filly topped the prestigious Easter Sale in Sydney. After all, he was the one who took the daughter of Var to dizzying heights during her star-studded racing career.

That the champion sprinter and a three-time Gr1 winner was one of Duncan's favourites goes without saying.

"She was an angel and one of the easiest to work with. For a sprinter, she had the most amazing temperament."

Via Africa was also blessed with an iron constitution.

Duncan added: "You know,

for two years running she did consecutive Cape Town, KZN and Gauteng seasons. Strangely though, she always worked on her own. If I worked her with a companion, she just would not put it in."

Voted the country's Champion sprinter in 2014, Via Africa never finished off the boards in 16 starts and left for Dubai a triple Gr1 winner of ten races. Sadly, she failed to replicate that same brilliance in two subsequent starts and was sent to Australia.

"Such a pity that she ended up in Australia," Duncan mused, "I told the owner not to take her to Dubai, but that's racing I suppose."

Needless to say, South Africa's

loss has been Australia's gain. She became a Gr1 producer with her second foal, the Snitzel colt In The Congo, who clearly inherited his dam's blistering speed and won the Gr1 The Golden Rose. The announcement of his retirement to stud came a week before his yearling sibling's star turn in the sales ring.

By the way, Via Africa was not the first of Duncan's Gr1 winning fillies to be exported - that honour belongs to the Mogok filly Gypsy's Warning.

Unlike Via Africa, she was a quirky individual and as Duncan recalls: "She was difficult in her box, she used to rear up and smash the infrared lights. I can tell you, she

never got another one after the third one."

Be that as it may, Gypsy's Warning won the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes as a juvenile from Zirconeum and Mother Russia.

Sold to Team Valor and transferred to Ormond Ferraris, she went on to win the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic prior to her departure for the States. She took to American racing like the proverbial duck to water and added a second Gr1 success with victory in the Gr1 Matriarch Stakes whilst running third in both the Gr1 Beverly D and Yellow Ribbon Stakes.

Sold to the Niarchos family, she never hit the same heights as a broodmare and produced just two modest winners from five known foals, the best of which French-raced daughter Snakeless, who ran fourth in the Listed Prix Coronation.

Via Africa's success in the sales ring came hot on the heels of the Gr2 Hawaii Stakes, which went the way of Drakenstein homebred Trip Of Fortune.

A rare Cape Town-based winner of the Turffontein race, the four-year-old is out of Doowaley mare Louvre, who spent the latter part of her

career racing from the Howells stable.

"She came to me from Weiho Marwing and was a tall, coarse mare," Duncan recalls.

Although no oil painting, Louvre could run.

"She used to race from the front and was so honest, she always gave you 500%." Duncan trained her to her first stakes success, a win in the Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes, which came at the expense of none other than Espumanti, the dam of Durban July winner Sparkling Water.

Duncan Howells trained the top notch Same Jurisdiction

Although that was her sole stakes success, Louvre raced in the best of company. Notable performances include her second in the Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge, where she went down by a head to Demanding Lady, who in due course became the dam of Charles Dickens and she also chased home Beach Beauty and Espumanti in the Gr1 Garden Province Stakes.

Louvre's fine race record did not go unnoticed and at the end of her track career she was purchased by Drakenstein. That came as no surprise, since the stud also owned Compass Point, a half-sister to Louvre's grandam Prive. The daughter of Model Man was acquired after producing Gr1 Cape Guineas winner Pointing North and now features as the grandam of Drakenstein-bred Sand And Sea, winner of the Gr1 Gold Medallion for Dennis Drier.

Other Drakenstein acquisitions formerly trained by Duncan are Graded stakes winners Same Jurisdiction and My Sanctuary.

Raced in partnership, Same Jurisdiction won the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes in the colours of Ian van Schalkwyk, after which Drakenstein purchased a half-share in daughter of Mambo In Seattle. A year later, she carried their blue and white silks to victory in the Gr1 Garden Province Stakes, defeating future Met winner Smart Call in the process.

Duncan Howells trained the flying My Sanctuary

Duncan Howells trained the gutsy Fiorella

She has yet to make an impact as a broodmare, unlike former stable companion My Sanctuary, who is dam of last season's Champion three-yearold and Gr1 winner Safe Passage.

Snapped up for a paltry R55 000 as a yearling, the daughter of Antonius Pius won the Gr2 Debutante and as Duncan recalls: "She was big, athletic filly, a typical sprinting type. Cathy bought her on spec and what a bargain she turned out to be. She was very headstrong and while she was fine in the box, she proved very difficult to get to the start. I still believe she turned Craig Zackey into a jockey!"

Antonius Pius also features as the sire of Duncan's Gr3 Strelitzia winner Neptune's Rain, who is now a member of

the Wilgerbosdrift broodmare band, as are former stable companions, the Gr1performed Fiorella and Dawn Calling.

"I'm disappointed that I never managed to win a Gr1 race with Neptune's Rain," Duncan admits. "I still feel the draw made the difference in the Allan Robertson, where she finished third.

"Fiorella was a very good filly. She won the Gr2 KZN Fillies Guineas and ran second to Oh Susanna in the Gr1 Woolavington. That was a very hard race, and she was never the same after that."

Although Trippi's daughter Dawn Calling failed to win a stakes race, she lost no honour in defeat, going down by a head in the Gr2 Golden

Slipper and also ran second in the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes.

Next week's National Yearling Sale looms large and in the days leading up to the sale, Cathy and Duncan are sure to inspect the latest progeny of their former stable stars.

Drakenstein will offer a What A Winter colt out of My Sanctuary, while the Wilgerbosdrift draft includes the first foals of Dawn Calling and Fiorella, colts by Fire Away and Flower Alley respectively, as well as the second foal out of Neptune's Rain, a colt by Flower Alley.

Some trainers prove to be dab hands at getting the best out of fillies. Duncan's track record clearly places him in that category.

Duncan Howells trained Louvre – a tough customer to stop!

VIRGINIA’S A SWEETIE!

Pauline Herman

Ashton Arries has Viginia Sweet in command as Silverlinks puts her head into the frame

Ashton Arries opened his win account in the Eastern Cape with a well-balanced ride on Glen Kotzen raider Virginia Sweet to grab top honours in the R150 000 Listed East Cape Oaks at Fairview on Good Friday.

The Cape visitors dominated matters in the six horse field, with Kotzen’s William Longsword filly, a smart halfsister to Snaith champion Do It Again, scoring an overdue victory after two Cape seconds when getting the better of

a short duel with the more fancied Snaith galloper Silverlinks in a thrilling finish. Drawing clear late in windy conditions, Arries got Virginia Sweet (15-4) into full stride to beat Silverlinks (5-4) by 1,15 lengths in a time of 122,95 secs.

Sharon Kotzen, who saddled the winner on behalf of Glen Kotzen, had Medlers Tart (11-2) run into third.

Raced and bred by Lammerskraal Stud, the

A prolific producer of winners, Sweet Virginia’s offspring include Do It Again (Twice Over), a dual Durban July winner

winner is a daughter of Captain Al’s Gr1 winning son William Longsword out of the diminutive High Season Stud-bred six-time winner Sweet Virginia, a daughter of Casey Tibbs out of the Royal Prerogative mare, Millie Bovana.

Sweet Virginia was purchased

for R160 000 by George Naidoo of the Summerveld Trust and sent to Dennis Drier. After an ordinary debut at Hollywoodbets Scottsville she was transferred to the Cape, where she was ultimately gifted to past Glen Puller assistant Riaan van Reenen, then just starting on his own.

Sweet Virginia achieved 5 wins at 3, proving herself the lion-hearted heroine of the 2005 Cape Winter Series by defeating the boys – including subsequent Gr1 winner, African Appeal – in the 1800m Gr3 Winter Classic and repeating the feat in the 2400m Gr3 Winter Derby.

Good enough to be entered for the 2007 J&B Met, a foot injury left her watching from the sidelines as African Appeal, who she beat easily in the Winter Classic, ran third. Riaan van Reenen gave George Naidoo a 50% share and she won the Gr3 Final Fling Stakes in the Summerveld silks, defeating subsequent Gr1 winner Saraband by 2 lengths. Sweet Virginia retired with 6 wins and 12 places from 40 starts and is fondly described by Riaan as the best and gamest horse he ever trained.

A prolific producer of winners, Sweet Virginia’s offspring

include Do It Again (Twice Over), a dual Durban July winner and 2018/19 Horse Of The Year with earnings in excess of R9 million and Strongman (Stronghold) who made R18 ,000 at the 2012 CYPS and won the Sophomore Sprint before being exported to Hong Kong to race as Horse Of Fortune for another 7 wins and in excess of R30 million in earnings.

Other winners from Sweet Virginia are Mighty Emperor (Kahal), sold to Pat Shaw to race in Singapore He was a winner of 8 races and in excess of R5 million in earnings.

Riaan van Reenen – great success with Friday’s winner’s dam

HISTORY AND HOTSHOTS

– NATIONALS IS THE PLACE TO BUY

Candiese Lenferna

It’s the big one and it’s under two weeks away! This year’s National Sale will once again be held at the TBA Complex in Germiston, with the two day sale set to commence on 21 April.

Trading will get underway at 10h00 sharp on both Friday 21 Saturday 22 April.

South Africa’s premier thoroughbred auction, the National Yearling Sale has a long and storied history, and its graduates continue to score at the highest level.

This year’s Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met winner Jet Dark was a R200 000 buy from the 2019 National Sale, and he must surely rate as one of the best bargain buys of recent times.

Now retired to Drakenstein Stud, multiple Equus Champion Jet Dark earned more R5.697 million than during his illustrious career with the son of Trippi claiming five Gr1 victories among his nine career wins.

Star sires Dynasty and Vercingetorix were both sold off the National Sale, as were both Captain’s Ransom and Rainbow Bridge, both of whom were named Horse Of The Year in recent years.

A plethora of hugely promising two-year-olds also rate as former National Sale alumni including unbeaten recent stakes winners American Graffiti and Mrs Geriatrix, and

the very promising Outlaw King.

Approximately 400 horses have been catalogued for the 2023 National Yearling Sale, with top stallions represented including Elusive Fort, Flower Alley, Futura, Gimmethegreenlight, Master Of My Fate, Querari, Rafeef, The United States, Trippi, Var, Vercingetorix and What A Winter.

Fire Away, Lancaster Bomber and New Predator have all made cracking starts with their first two-year-olds this season and all three have yearlings on sale, while stallions with the first yearlings on sale at a National Sale this year include Buffalo Bill Cody, Last Winter, One World, and champion Soqrat.

The catalogue also includes a colt (Lot 297) sired by US champion and Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, and a colt (Lot 76) by Irish 2000 Guineas winner and hugely successful sire Mastercraftsman. Visit

of each lot!

RAFEEF – STAR

QUALITY AND STATS TELL THE STORY!

Ridgemont Highlands’ Gr1 winning Redoute’s Choice stallion Rafeef maintained his magic momentum in his second season with another smart winner at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth last Wednesday and is well on his way to establishing himself in the exclusive upper echelons of South Africa’s most sought after sires.

Having only his second start after a runner-up cheque on debut, the Ridgemont Highlands-bred Lunch Money

flashed up late under Aldo Domeyer to win the 1200m opener at the midweek meeting. Being out of an Oaks placed mare who won up to 2450m, the son of Rafeef is clearly looking for ground and was winning on class alone.

Rafeef has 39 winners of 57 races this season so far, with Lunch Money’s victory coming just days after his ultraconsistent daughter Shantastic showed her customary turn of foot to leave her highly vaunted opposition for dead

as she soared to victory in the R200 000 Gr3 Umzimkhulu

Stakes at Hollywoodbets

Greyville on Sunday, in the process becoming her super sire’s 12th stakes winner – that from just two crops on the track!

Just 24 hours earlier at Turffontein, the top-class sire enjoyed a double courtesy of his Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner Master Archie and the consistent four-time winner, Whafeef.

Lunch Money storms up under Aldo Domeyer to win at his second start

South Africa’s talking stallion of the moment, Rafeef was always set for great things. After all, he had the athlete good looks, the blood and racetrack performance blocks ticked when he arrived at Ridgemont Highlands from champion trainer Mike de Kock’s Johannesburg base in 2017.

After covering 170 and 150 mares respectively in the last two breeding seasons, and with Gr1 winners from 1000m to 2450m, the demand for the son of Redoute’s Choice has not unexpectedly risen exponentially.

This year his mare book is nearly full, according to Ridgemont’s

veteran manager, Craig Carey.

“We are in a very fortunate position. But it’s not coincidental - the market loves Rafeef. And so they should! He has come out of the blocks and started his stud career in fantastic style. Any trip, any level, any sex. He gets real racehorses! There is also no compartmentalising his virtues. Simply, Rafeef adds value and upgrades any mare. He really is a dream stallion in every respect,” Carey told the Sporting Post on a recent excursion to the beautiful Robertson estate.

On the national sire log, with six black-type winners Rafeef is positioned behind the likes of past champion sire

Gimmethegreenlight (9), and Vercingetorix and the long established star Trippi, with seven black type winners apiece. Looking at the 3yo Sires log, Gimmethegreenlight has five black-type winners, with Rafeef on three.

A past Highveld Champion, Rafeef is out of SA Horse Of The Year National Colour, who won 8 races from 1000m to 1200m in SA, UAE & UK. He was purchased by Shadwell Australia for A$800 000 at t he 2014 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

Today Rafeef the proud stallion has a presence and clearly knows he is the man as Carey proudly shows our team the majestic athlete.

JC Photos

Champion Rafeef wins the Gr1 Computaform Sprint

A winner of the Gr1 Computaform Sprint over 1000m and the Gr2 Hawaii Stakes over 1400m, the lightly campaigned star won 6 races from 1000m to 1400m at 3 to 4, and achieved a highest official rating of 116.

“He is a supremely fertile young stallion, and if he was full of nonsense and a bit arrogant we’d absolutely understand. But he has a relaxed nature – a true professional, and he really loves his job! He is a pleasure to work with and that biological and emotional package transfers to his foals. They are athletic and have a

wonderful temperament. He would be welcome at any stallion station on earth,” enthuses Carey.

It’s the time of the year when stallion owners are reviewing service fees. Rafeef has stood unchanged from his first season fee of R50 000 and a review of this fast ascending star prospect looks overdue. But Carey wouldn’t be drawn on any specifics at this stage of play.

“The product is proven quality. The Rafeefs are in demand in the breeding barn and the sales ring. I’m just stating the realities.

It’s not my call on his service fee as that decision rests with the Rafeef Syndicate. Let’s not forget, and I’m not oversimplifying things, but breeding and racing thoroughbreds is a long game. It’s about weighting factors in your favour and eliminating the controllable risks. That’s why, considering all the metrics, you’d want Rafeef on your team. He has graduated in double quick time to genuine top league and one knows what one is getting!”

Rafeef has 19 lots on the BSA National Yearling Sale on 21 and 22 April.

BORTZ MAKES NEXT MOVE

There could be some exciting times ahead for horseracing after the news broke on Wednesday that Kenilworth Racing Chairman Greg Bortz now owns 53.65% of Grand Parade Investments (GPI), which was started as an empowerment gaming company and BEE partner to Sun International.

The energetic Bortz has been a massive playmaker in the pressured local horseracing industry and has turned the Cape racing ship around in just over six months since bringing in a new team and refreshing concepts and ideas.

Horseracing in South Africa’s thoroughbred breeding rich Western Cape province is seen as the crown jewel of the sport in the country, and Bortz has some exciting plans.

The businessman told the Sporting Post that beyond the obviously attractive investment potential, the acquisition of the majority share in GPI made good sense, purely on the face of it.

“Grand Parade is a part owner of the two best gaming assets in South Africa (GrandWest Casino and Grand Slots). Grand Parade’s exposure to

these assets was “obscured” by its food investments. Now that Grand Parade has returned to its roots as a pure play gaming business, I am expecting strong cash flow and profitability going forward. We intend to continually explore how best to utilize this cash flow to maximise shareholder returns. And of course, this includes investigating any mutually synergistic opportunities that may exist between Grand Parade and horseracing in the Cape. For now, we are keeping an open mind and moving as fast as we can,” he added. As reported on www.businesslive.co.za , Bortz said the company is now a ‘pure play gaming asset’ — which owns 30% of Sun Slots — a firm with limited payout gaming machines, a 15.1% interest in gaming and leisure group SunWest, which owns GrandWest Casino, a 15.1% interest in Golden Valley Casino in Worcester and the Table Bay Hotel, amongst other commercial properties.

Bortz owns the stake through one of his family investment vehicles, GMB Liquidity Corporation (Pty) Ltd.

Once a shareholder owns 35% or more of a firm it must make a mandatory offer to buy

the entire company in terms of the Companies Act. Upon reaching that milestone, Bortz extended the mandatory offer to all shareholders, at R3.33. The transaction closed on April 6th, with Bortz winding up with 53.65%.

Bortz, who grew up in Durban, and who made his money in private equity in the US, began snapping up shares in GPI last year and when his stake exceeded the threshold in November, he made the offer. Bortz was given the go-ahead by the Competition Commission for the buyout in the middle of March.

Independent expert KPMG Services found that the offer price of R3.33 a share offer was fair to shareholders.

Sun International owns about 25% of GPI and has previously expressed interest in buying out its 30% stake in Sun Slots.

GPI’s shares are now trading at a 27% premium to net asset value.

Bortz said with a free float of about 22% — referring to shares traded on the open market — he has no intention of delisting the firm.

No other stallion other than Captain Al and Jet Master have produced more first season juvenile winners than Canford Cliffs.

CLASS THE LEVELLER AT AVONTUUR!

Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm, long regarded as one of South Africa's top stud farms, will be offering another top-class consignment at this year's National Yearling Sale.

Not only does this draft include yearlings by such prominent stallions as Gimmethegreenlight, Lancaster Bomber, Master Of My Fate and Oratorio, it also includes lots from some of the best families in the South African stud book.

Avontuur's Pippa Mickleburgh is, understandably, keen on her entire draft but rates the following as potential standouts.

Lot 139: Winter Fever - f What

A Winter - Viva

Smashing flashing daughter of our prolific mare Viva first for many a year we have offered

one of her progeny on public auction. Paddock value in bucket loads; many of her sisters in the UK been covered by the likes of Frankel and Kingman so immense potential here.

Very precocious looking and a lot like Western Winter to me.

Lot 249: Xenophon - c Vercingetorix - Dream De Ra

Super powerful strong colt from our imported mare by Oasis Dream form the female line of Val De Ra.

Imposing colt with a look of speed to me.

Lot 303: Rare Collection - c Gimmethegreenlight - Hannah Gorgeous

Gimmethegreenlight colt, imposing correct big walking colt— rugged and workmanlike.

Mare has got off the ground with a winner and from the wonderful female line of exciting sire Futura.

Lot 374: October Fest - f Master Of My Fate - Miss October

Tall very athletic, correct race filly…. Classy. Full sister to the Champion Tempting Fate and half-sister to both Spring Break and October Fair…great paddock value here.

Avontuur's draft can be viewed from Block C at the TBA Complex in Germiston

SWEET’S BITTER BUMP!

Virginia Sweet has had her merit rating raised from 76 to 97 after she won the Listed East Cape Oaks for three-year-old fillies over 2000m on the turf course at Fairview on Friday 7 April.

The Handicappers were of the view that 4th placed Hazy Crazy Night made for the most suitable line horse, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 88. This makes the winner at least equal to the runner up

Silverlinks who remains on a rating of 97.

Aside from the winner the only other ratings increase was for 3rd placed MEDLERS TART, who goes up from 77 to 90.

BENMARNE – QUALITY THE KEY

The Botha family's Benmarne Stud will be bringing a small but smart draft to this year's National Yearling Sale.

This string is made up of lots sired by Global View, Heavenly Blue and the ever successful Querari.

Benmarne Stud have already enjoyed plenty of success with the progeny of Querari, having bred Gr1 winner Querari Falcon and Gr2 Gauteng Guineas winner Monks Hood by that sire.

Arne Botha has a few personal

preferences with his standout lots as follows:

Lot 281: Solar Sail - c Querari - Fly Rebecca Fly

This is a very precocious colt, who is well balanced, strong boned and is a good mover.

Lot 118: Tucannon Blue - c Heavenly Blue - The Widow's Club

He is a scopey, big colt who is strong boned. He is also very forward and mature. It was great to see Heavenly Blue get off the mark with an impressive recent winner in the form of Zinovi.

Lot 72: Kaleesh Cyborg c Global View - She's A Dragon

This very well-balanced colt has good legs and is a great walker.

Benmarne's string for the 2023 National Sale can be viewed from Block B at the TBA Complex.

GR1 ROYALTY FROM ASCOT!

Ascot Stud's Ashley Parker is delighted with the quality of horse he is bringing to this year's National Yearling Sale.

Ascot will be offering a very smart consignment at the 2023 National Sale, with their draft made up of lots sired by resident stallions Global View and Heavenly Blue, as well as by such exciting sires as Fire Away, Querari and The United States.

However, it is a number of yearlings with Gr1 connections which really catches Ashley's eye, and he says of them:

Lot 38 Global Drumbeat: c Global View - Royal Drummer

A strong good-quartered full brother to East Cape champion Global Drummer15-time winner and 6-time stakes winner, and also a halfbrother to the G1 winning Gulf Storm and G2 winner Seattle Singer. His dam is a

four-time winning half-sister to the Ascot bred champion Rock Opera, the dam of French G1 winner and Australian sire Royal Meeting and G2 Godolphin Mile winner Heavy Metal.

Lot 39 Fantasy Girl: f Global View - Royal Fantasy

A beautiful racy filly out of Royal Fantasy, herself a Gr1 winner, and this filly is a half-sister to two stakes winners. Royal Fantasy is herself a full-sister to champion Royal Aproval and this is also the family of champion fillies Cherry On The Top and Summer Pudding.

Lot 98 Play Act: c Heavenly Blue - Star On Stage

A strong powerful colt out of an international family. His Sadler's Wells sired dam is already the dam of a stakes winner in Italy and she also ranks as a full-sister to the classic placed Olympian Odyssey. Star On Stage's dam Field Of Hope won the Gr1 Prix de la Foret.

Lot 129 Da Silva Fire: c Fire Away - Tuvana Silva

A strong well-made colt out of a multiple stakes winner. Ascot bred the very exciting Fire Away's first winner in the form of Storm Bird Stakes runner up Fire 'N Flames, and this colt is out of a multiple stakes winning daughter of multiple champion sire Silvano.

Ascot's string can be viewed from Block B at the TBA Complex in Germiston

FINE FAMILIES SET TO FIRE!

Winterbach Stud's draft for this year's National Yearling Sale is replete with quality. Not only does this string include yearlings by such sought after stallions as Danon Platina, Gimmethegreenlight, Lancaster Bomber, Rafeef, Vercingetorix and What A Winter, it also includes lots from some of the finest families in the South African stud book.

Among the numerous star performers with relatives to be found in the Winterbach draft are Double Superlative, Fly By Night, Forward Filly, Gabor, Lady In Black, Legislate, Love Is In The Air, and Singapore champion Lizarre.

The farm's Hendrik Winterbach is confident of success at this year's National Sale, and has singled out the following lots to keep an eye on:

Lot 4 : c VercingetorixPatchit Up Baby

A strong very correct son of Vercingetorix. One of the best ones in the draft. Buyers must be ready for him or else they

are going to miss out being early. He is out of the Gr1 placed Patchit Up Baby, who has a fantastic pedigree.

Lot 17 : f Rafeef - Princess Of The Sky

This is a super filly out of a Listed winner.

She is a big filly with lots of scope. Looks a lot like Rafeef himself. We all know what he is doing.

Lot 53 : f Vercingetorix - Schippers

Great mating and lovely pedigree. This is a strong filly that looks to come early. First foal out of a multiple graded stakes winner.

Lot 110 : f Lancaster Bomber - Talitha Borealis

Super athletic filly, out of a five-time winner, with a great attitude and walk.

Lot 185 : c One World - Awayinthewoods

Quality colt with lots of scope and a top walk . A lovely running family. He should be popular.

Lot 223 : Powerandtheglory c Gimmethegreenlight - Come Fly With Me

This is a super yearling . He is a half-brother to the Gr1 winning Double Superlative. This colt, whose dam won five and was Gr3 placed, has everything. And more to come because he is a late foal.

This consignment can be found in Blocks D and G at the TBA Complex in Germiston.

ALL THE KING’S HORSES

Riverton Stud, whose alumni include champion sprinter and successful sire Captain Of All as well as last year's Gr1 TAB The Premier's Champions Challenge winner Astrix, will be bringing three eye catching yearlings to this year's National Sale.

All three of Riverton's yearlings were sired by G1 winners, with the trio of stallions represented being Captain Of All, Dubawi's up-and-coming son Erupt, and Met winning champion One World. Duncan Barry has high hopes for this trio, and

says of Riverton's National Yearling Sale draft:

Lot 71: c Captain Of All out of Seventh Heart

This is a big strong, well-balanced colt with great depth.

Lot 205: c One World out of Brigtnumberfour

I think a lot of this well-balanced, good walking colt who has loads of presence.

Lot 307 : c Erupt out of Heliane

He is a big, strong, great walker with a lovely attitude.

Riverton's string can be viewed from Block H at the TBA Complex in Germiston.

SUMMERVIEW

– SELECT IS THE WORD!

Lancaster Bomber. New Predator. Captain Of All. These three exciting stallions are all represented in Summerview Stud's draft for the 2023 National Yearling Sale.

A boutique young farm with a hands-on approach, Summerview has steadily built up its broodmare band, and continues to upgrade their stock with regular visits to the Cape Mare Sale.

The farm aims to keep their broodmare band small while focusing on purchasing choicely bred mares, and this is clearly reflected on the draft they are bringing to the National Yearling Sale this year.

Summerhill's Colleen de Klerk is excited about the string she is bringing to the National Sale, and has the following comments to make about her draft.

Lot 131 Miss Munroe: f Lancaster Bomber -Valentine's Girl

A nicely topped, strong, scopey and well balanced filly who walks well and is out of 5 time winning mare Valentine’s Girl. Family of Sunset Tripp, Blue Heather and Imperious Sue.

Lot 202 Captains Clover: f Captain Of All -Bon Bon

A neat filly out of Bon Bon, a 6 time winning mare - daughter of multiple Graded performer Spring Clover. This is the mares first produce. Family of Hall of Success, Aslongasyoufollow and In Raptures.

Lot 268 Fearless Bomber: f Lancaster Bomber -Fear Not

A nicely put together filly with a deep girth and walks well, out of the black type 4 time winner Fear Not, a full Sister to Stakes placed Free State. Family of Equus Champion Kimberley Mine, General Sherman and Two Tone.

Lot 341 Magna Carta: c New Predator -Lady Carter

A stunning strong Colt who is nicely topped with strong hindquarter, well balanced and walks well, out of the 3 Time winning mare Lady Carter. The mare has 1 runner 1 multiple winner. Family of Cartel Captain, Lady Caroloty, Crazy Icon, Teichman and Carolera.

This draft can be viewed from Block E at the TBA Complex in Germiston. Summerview's draft can also viewed online at www.bsa.co.za.

HENNENMAN REMEMBERED

Saturday’s Turffontein race meeting marked the 35th anniversary of the Hennenman plane crash of 1988, the worst disaster in the history of local racing.

On Tuesday 12 April 1988,

a United Airways charter flight crashed into a field outside the Free State town of Hennenman, claiming the lives of all 24 on board.

The day’s races were named in honour of those who lost

their lives and 4Racing CEO Fundi Sithebe, along with the families, placed a wreath at the memorial statue, which donated by Mr Emmanuel Cambouris and Dr Hilda Podlas at the main entrance to the course.

JOCKEY DEMAND – SANITY PREVAILS

The Racing Operators, comprising of Cape Racing, 4Racing and Gold Circle, announced on Friday that following a productive conversation and dialogue with the Coastal Jockeys Association (CJA), the demand letter of the CJA dated 24 March 2023 has been withdrawn.

Greg Bortz, Chairman of Cape Racing stated:

“We are pleased that the parties are committed to dialogue and progress. We are a frail industry that needs unity, not division. I look forward to continuing to work with the CJA in addressing their concerns. I believe that actions speak louder than words. On behalf of the

funders of racing, I believe that our actions up until this point demonstrate that both our hearts and wallets are in the right place. Personally, all I am looking for is the CJA to demonstrate both an understanding of the current situation, an appreciation for what has been achieved in a relatively short space of time since our involvement, and an understanding that there can be no automatic entitlement by any stakeholders in racing at this time. We will work together, and we will make this work.”

Added Aldo Domeyer, Chair of the CJA said:

“Mr Bortz has agreed to address a number of our major concerns and I believe fellow riders will now be able to perform their duties with peace of mind. I am confident that we will be able to reach a fair, reasonable, and suitable outcome. I am pleased that the extent of our concerns for the future have been acknowledged and understood, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with Mr. Bortz and the other operators to ensure that our jockeys are treated in a fair and appropriate manner.”

Both Bortz and Domeyer stated that meetings between the Racing Operators and the CJA (to be represented by Aldo Domeyer, Corne Orffer and Richard Fourie) will resume immediately.

Presenting our draft for the Bloodstock South Africa

JP van der Merwe – had the answers

STIPES CHERRY PICKING?

The Stipes were kept busy at Fairview on Friday, but paid particular interest and attention to the previously unbeaten Cherry Ano in the fifth

Cherry Ano was stepping up in class and beaten 2,15 lengths into second place by 16-1 shot Bush Tracker.

It’s not often that we get insight into such a detailed interrogation!

When questioned regarding his riding of Cherry Ano in the home straight Jockey JP van der Merwe told the Stewards that as he had established a forward position before straightening, he was mindful that with the wind blowing across the racecourse, he could be impeded if he maintained his position on the inside running rail behind other runners.

For this reason he asked Cherry Ano for an effort approaching the 600m as he was concerned that the risk of being in restricted galloping room would not favour this free-striding colt and he felt that it had the class to sustain an effort for the majority of the home straight.

When it was put to him that he had expected too much from this colt to sustain an effort from the 600m, he disagreed with this assessment and told the Stewards that the colt showed some greenness but that he was comfortable that it would be able to close its race off strongly while using these tactics.

He added that this colt would furnish into a stronger specimen in future and would be able to comfortably sustain front-running tactics.

The Stewards noted that the colt had changed stride in the concluding stages and asked Jockey JP van der Merwe if this was because Cherry Ano was tiring, to which he responded that, in his opinion, the change of stride was due to greenness rather than the colt coming to the end of its run. Jockey JP van der Merwe’s explanation was noted.

We don’t think JP did anything wrong. To the contrary, he appears to have applied his mind.

Both runner-up Cherry Ano and the winner Bush Tracker were selected for the taking of specimens for analysis.

JUST ANOTHER MANIC MONDAY?

KZN Racing Operator Gold Circle have acknowledged that they will make an effort to ensure more attractive public holiday programmes in future after Monday’s Hollywoodbets Greyville fixture irked some regular players.

While we all realise that racing has shrunk and the dynamics are very different to 20 years ago, comparisons to the days of the Easter Bonnet at a packed Clairwood Park are somewhat unrealistic. But the seven race card on Monday really was ‘scraping the barrel’ in the words of a veteran KZN racing man.

Besides a variety of telephone calls and messages left at Sporting Post’s offices, Gary Rahme, who has been in the game for 49 years as an owner, bookmaker and punter, said that the Easter Monday meeting was ‘a disgrace’. He wrote that it’s a seven race impossible poly meeting and bemoaned the fact that this slot used to be a top racemeeting. He concluded by saying that they might as well have given us a Kimberly sand meeting.

Gold Circle Racing Executive Raf Sheik provided some background, saying that fixtures are agreed between

the Racing Operators and is well known, ironically following the closure of the Kimberley race track some years back that Mr Rahme refers to, that KZN agreed to fill the void on Mondays and increase its number of race meetings to 120 per annum.

“At that time the population of racehorses in KZN was approximately 2200, but unfortunately this number, for a variety of reasons, not least of which was the Covid pandemic, has now dwindled to less than 1000. Consequently, the field sizes in KZN are under pressure and a few race meetings have

already been cancelled due to a paucity of acceptances,” he said.

Sheik pointed out that the reduction in horse population is not just a concern in KZN but countrywide, which has resulted in every province reducing fixtures.

“We have therefore jointly made a recent decision when discussing fixtures for 2024 not to support Monday racing any longer and as a result the number of race meetings in KZN in 2024 will reduce to the previous more manageable number of approximately 104

race meetings per annum.”

With that being said, he acknowledged that a more attractive racing programme should have been considered for the recent Easter Monday race meeting.

“We agree that a public holiday race meeting should be viewed differently from an ‘ordinary’ midweek fixture and for that we apologise. However, it was never cast in stone that KZN races on Easter Monday (unlike our traditional race meeting on 26 December), and the Easter Bonnet has not

been run for many years now.”

Sheik said that Gold Circle appreciates the concern raised by Mr Rahme and others and will endeavour to ensure a better-quality programme on the weekends and public holidays going forward.

“But we must never lose sight of the fact we also have a responsibility to provide races for the many horses at the lower end of the merit rating scale, which constitute the majority of the horse population in every racing jurisdiction around the world,” he said in conclusion.

HOLLYWOODBETS’ DANNY IS CHAMPION!

Victory on Diderot at Lingfield Park’s All-Weather Vase Day helped confirm Danny Muscutt as AllWeather Champion Jockey for the first time, as the All-Weather champions were crowned following the conclusion of the season.

The 27-year-old, son of Summerveld trainer Peter Muscutt, and Hollywoodbets first Northern Hemisphere sponsored jockey, has been locked in a fierce tussle with Kevin Stott throughout the winter and only three winners

separated the pair heading into Good Friday.

Muscutt’s win at Lingfield Park moved him onto 73 wins for the season, while Stott was unable to add to his tally of 69, with three seconds at Newcastle.

Muscutt said: “It has been enjoyable – there have been lots of cold evenings, snow and all sorts, so it’s nice to come out the other end. My agent has done a very good job and I’ve had lots of support from a wide range

of trainers, so a big thanks to them. The first two-thirds of the season flew by but the last few weeks seemed to drag quite a bit, so it’s nice to get over the line.

“I like to stay busy on the allweather as it keeps my weight in check. I was pretty quiet until the turn of the year. Most of my main trainers were only running in the odd maiden here or there but I was ticking over nicely until those bigger yards clicked in nicely during January and February, when I was able to make up

Danny Muscutt proudly shows off his cheque

the deficit on Kevin [Stott].

“There are probably four or five new trainers that I’ve ridden winners for this winter so it’s nice to get those in the book and I’m just grateful for everyone’s support. The allweather can sometimes be certain horses’ only chance of winning a race, so you come into contact with a lot more people than you probably would in the summer and they always seem to get a brilliant buzz out of it.”

Dale Gibson, Executive Director of the Professional Jockeys Association, said: “The PJA congratulates the winners from each category. The All-Weather Champion Jockey race went down to the wire, with both Danny and Kevin riding to a high level throughout.

“Everyone who has participated over the winter period also deserves credit helping to keep the show on the road. We thank ARC for their continued support.”

Mick Appleby was crowned All-Weather Champion Trainer for the sixth consecutive season and a seventh time in total. The Rutland trainer,

who secured his first title in 2015/16, enjoyed his most successful campaign with 60 winners.

Appleby said: “It’s been a great winter. I take my hat off to all the team at home who have done a great job all winter, riding out in blizzards, pouring rain, and freezing cold, so hats off to them all.

“We’ve had 90 horses in all winter, so luckily we’ve got a good team behind us. At Christmas time, I thought we had no chance, but we kept going and had 20 winners through January.

“We’ve got quite a lot of new ones in that took a bit of time to get going, so we were a bit slower to get going than normal.”

Teenage sensation Billy Loughnane turned the All-Weather Champion Apprentice category into a one-horse race, amassing more than double the winners as his closest challenger.

The 17-year-old notched his first career success at Wolverhampton in November and has not looked back, with his final tally of 41 including a

remarkable 23 winners in January alone.

Loughnane said: “It’s great to be crowned All-Weather Champion Apprentice and a massive thank you to everyone that has helped and supported me through the whole thing. My dad, obviously, my jockey coach Rodi Greene and my agent Sash Righton, between us all we’ve started off a good bond and it’s been great.

“The couple of trebles were great, my first winner for Godolphin was class and today has been up there as well.

“The pony racing helped me massively. It’s the best way to start and you don’t even have to have a pony to start racing, there are people that lend you ponies and help with the practice – it’s class and the best way to start.”

Godolphin continues its domination of the All-Weather Champion Owner category, with 42 victories securing a ninth successive title.

A record 27 000 people went racing on Good Friday, with approximately 9 500 attendees at Bath, 9 100 at Lingfield Park and 8 500 at Newcastle.

CALVIN BREAKS SINGAPORE ICE

South African jockey Calvin Habib finally had his first taste of sweet success in Singapore after Wind Trail got up in an exciting finish in the SG$50,000 Super Easy 2012 Stakes, a Class 4 race on Saturday.

With two rides (Istataba and Petrograd) scratched and two others that yielded nothing on Saturday, the 26-year-old hoop looked to go home emptyhanded again at his eighth meeting in Singapore, but a win by a head on his 37th ride brought the big

But, his win atop the Hideyuki Takaoka-trained Wind Trail was no stroll in the park either.

After switching off in third behind lamplighter Lim’s Puncak Jaya (Marc Lerner) and Fort Mustang (Amirul Ismadi), the sequence in the nine-horse field remain largely unchanged until backmarker Prioritize (Manoel Nunes) moved up wide to join the two leaders upon cornering.

Habib then decided to leave the paint at the 400m in order to give the eight-year-old son

of Screen Hero every chance in the straight. Once Wind Trail balanced up in the final furlong, Habib brought out the whip to send him a few reminders.

Up front, Fort Mustang has dropped off, Prioritize looked to be dawdling and Lim’s Puncak Jaya was not making up much ground. Wind Trail ($49) quickly gained ascendancy under a strong urging from Habib in the final 100m, before fending off Tony’s Love (Shafrizal Saleh) on his outside to score.

Wind Trail (blinkered) gives jockey Calvin Habib his first winner in Singapore on Saturday

Singapore Turf Club

Prioritize hung on well to finish another neck in third in the busy three-way go. The winning time was 2 min 5.99secs for the 2000m on the Short Course.

With seven placings in 36 rides previously, Habib has taken close to two months to throw the monkey off his back since he made his riding debut in Singapore on February 12 this year, but the optimistic young lad always believed that he will “slowly but surely” get his first winner at Kranji.

“It’s been a bit of a tough one because I haven’t got one (winner) since coming here but we plugged on and there’s finally a winner,” said the 2018/2019 Zimbabwe

champion jockey who is contracted to ride in Singapore till December 31 this year.

“I want to thank the trainer, Mr Takaoka, for his support. I thought he (Wind Trail) had a good chance because his trackwork this week was good and we were pleased with him.

“Also, he got a good draw and the speed is on, so I just bided my time and switched off and had a good run.

“He was tracking so well into the race and I thought we’d win at the 400m. He was really gutsy to the line.”

Though Habib realised his dream of riding in Singapore

after a nudge from ex-Kranji jockey Johnny Geroudis to apply for a long-term licence here, there were times when he felt that the going got tough, and that was when he turned to his wife Shandré Hoffmann and his family as his pillars of support.

“I want to also thank my beautiful wife Shandré who arrived here a few weeks ago. We stay in a condominium at Hillview now,” said Habib, who had his wife by his side at the winner’s circle.

“She really pushed me and supported me through this journey. Together with my family and my in-laws, they are my greatest supporters.

“My dad (and ex-jockey) Donavan, my mum Amanda and my older brother Devon watched every meeting from Mauritius, and my mother and father in-law, Sheryl and André, did so from South Africa too.

“My parents are also flying to Singapore on April 17 to support me here. They will be here until April 28 and will be at the races on April 23!”

As thrilled as he was after landing his first win in Singapore, Habib clearly understood the importance of casting his net wide should he want to reach the personal goals he has set for himself in the year.

“I am riding trackwork for

pretty much anyone at the moment to get around and form relationships with as many trainers as I can to make the most of this opportunity,” said Habib, who first came to Singapore six years ago when his cousin and jockey Derreck David rode at Kranji.

“I said before when I first came here that 20 to 25 winners in a season would be good and right now, I would still try to reach this goal.

“We strive as high as we can, and whatever else comes, I’ll take it. If I get a Group 1 win here, it would be the cherry on top.”

Takaoka, on the other hand, was surprised to know that Wind Trail handed

Habib his first win in Singapore.

“Oh that’s his first winner here? I’m very happy for him,” said the Japanese handler.

“He’s very hardworking. He would come to our stables and work the horses every morning.

“We actually wanted Marc (Lerner) to ride this horse, but he picked another horse (Lim’s Puncak Jaya), so we got Calvin instead. He rode the horse very well.”

Wind Trail, who last scored in a Kranji Stakes C race (1800m) on March 27 last year, has now won five races and took his earnings to over $250,000 for the Galahad Racing Stable.

Fairyhouse Racecourse

Willie Mullins makes it five in a row with victory in the @willowwarm Gold Cup Chase. Sean O’Keefe and Flame Bearer combine to beat Sir Gerhard, with Appreciate It finishing third in a 1-2-3 for Mullins

Easter Sunday will be a day to remember for Willie Mullins as he trained 8 winners on the day, with five victories at Fairyhouse and three others at Cork.

With 20 days to go until the end of the 2022-23 campaign, Mullins broke his 2018 record haul of 212 winners in an Irish jumps season to end the day on 213.

The record was broken in style as front-runner Flame Bearer lead home the champion trainer’s six runners in the Gr1 WillowWarm Gold Cup to score under Seán O’Keeffe.

Flame Bearer added to Ashroe Diamond’s earlier Group One victory in the Irish Stallion

Farms Honeysuckle Hurdle and there were Group Two successes on the card with the unexposed Nick Rockett and Hercule Du Seuil. Dinoblue also scored under topweight in a novice handicap chase.

In Cork, the trio of Mister Policeman, Aione and Bachasson contributed to the single most successful day for the champion trainer whilst confirming his 17th trainer’s title.

The most impressive winner of the day though was Ashroe Diamond, who justified 2-1 favouritism in style.

“Paul [Townend] said she did everything right. She got a bit keen, but she travelled like a

dream and jumped brilliant. She did it very easy,” said Mullins’s assistant, David Casey.

JP McManus’s No 1 jockey Mark Walsh also had a hand in the Mullins dominance, riding two winners for him while completing his own hat-trick.

Having landed the opener on Golf Marin, Walsh controlled Hercule Du Seuil’s runaway instincts to such an extent he successfully made all in the Gr2 Café En Seine Novice Hurdle.

Walsh followed up with the JP McManus owned Dinoblue who took advantage of Whiskeywealth’s final fence fall in the novice handicap chase

to justify evens favouritism.

The Closutton based trainer followed up on Monday with a four-timer including the BoyleSports Irish Grand National with the seven-year-old I Am Maximus.

Easy Group 2 successes on both Asterion Forlonge and Easy Games led to possibly the ride of the season by Paul Townend on the JP McManus owned I Am Maximus.

Townend managed to cajole his mount from a seemingly hopeless position to swoop late and land his first Irish Grand National in a gruelling edition of the prestigious

Fairyhouse showpiece.

On the first circuit, I Am Maximus laboured in behind and jumped left several times on a miserable afternoon ruined by showers and a biting cold breeze. He got reminders after jumping a few fences and only had two behind him early on.

Townend, though, kept the novice in contention, and after passing the winning post for the first time, went to Plan B and manoeuvred to the outside. His mount responded in kind.

By the time they swung for home, I Am Maximus had latched on to the heels of the leading nine-strong group.

Gevrey led over two out and seemed to have the three-milefive-furlong feature at his mercy, only for Townend to switch back in.

He pinged the final fence but was still just fourth at that stage. I Am Maximus rattled home late to challenge between Gevrey and stablemate Dolcita, denying the former by a length, going away. A great ride earning Townend plaudits from former champs AP McCoy and Ruby Walsh.

I Am Maximus lands the BoyleSports Irish Grand National under a storming ride by Paul Townend

Fairyhouse

TRAINERS

JOCKEYS

BREEDERS

SIRES