SP SPRINT - 19 APRIL 2023

THE CLASS OF ‘23

Smanga

Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Sparkling Water enjoy the victory canter-past after their big victory almost ten months ago. Another chapter will be written this year. Kind thanks to Candiese Lenferna for the image.

HOLLYWOODBETS DURBAN JULY

CLASS OF 2023

The 2022 stampede – we can’t wait for 1 July!

A first entry of 60 of the cream of South Africa’s thoroughbred crop has been received for the R5 million Hollywoodbets Durban July, which will be run at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday 1 July 2023.

A final field of 20, including two reserve runners, will be announced on Tuesday 20 June, and despite the local horse population under pressure, the 2023 entry of 60 is in line with the past five years which saw 69 entries in 2018, 49 in 2019, 52 in 2020, 53 in 2021 and 58 last year.

South Africa’s leading betting operator Hollywoodbets will sponsor the historic race for the second successive year, and after a dazzling show in 2022, an iconic

renewal is on the cards.

With the past two year’s winners in Sparkling Water (2022) and Kommetdieding (2021) having retired, Justin Snaith’s dual July winning hero Do It Again is the ‘senior’ of the class of 2023 at the age of 8. The son of Twice Over is one of nine entries from the powerful Justin Snaith yard.

Lady trainers have a good record in recent times with Michelle Rix (2021) and Candice Bass-Robinson (2017) having been gamechangers in what has traditionally been a male dominated podium. Two new ladies have their first entrants this year with Summerveld conditioner Wendy Whitehead (Boundless Bash) and Turffontein trainer

Robyn Klaasen (Second Base) hoping to maintain the trend.

In the Hollywoodbets antepost betting market, the top class 3yo Cousin Casey tops the betting boards at 5/1, and two-time winner Do It Again available at 40/1. Early money suggests that Rascallion (8/1) and recent SA Classic winner Anfield’s Rocket (14/1) will be popular choices.

The competition for places will be tight and the winners of the undermentioned Grade 1 races in the current season will qualify automatically, save that, where appropriate, Gold Circle reserves the right to request a public gallop to determine the well-being / fitness in the event that any of these winners have not raced within three

months of the date of final declaration.

Given the timing of these races, this would practically speaking only apply to winners of events 1, 2 & 3:

• The L’Ormarins King's Plate –won by Al Muthana

• World Sports Betting Cape Town Met - won by Jet Dark

• SplashOut Cape Derby –won by See It Again

• World Sports Betting SA Classic - won by Anfields Rocket

• Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic – won by Bless My Stars

• World Sports Betting SA Derby - won by Son Of Raj

• Premier’s Champions Challenge

• Daily News 2000

• Woolavington 2000

• Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge

Winners of the following races in the current season will enjoy preferential consideration for inclusion in the final Hollywoodbets Durban July field:

• Betway Gr1 Summer Cup -won by Puerto Manzano

• World Sports Betting Gr2 1900

• Gr3 Cup Trial

The Hollywoodbets Durban July timeline:

• First declarations close at 11h00 on Monday, 8 May

• First supplementary entries close at 11h00 on Tuesday, 9 May

• Second declarations close at 11h00 on Monday, 29 May

• Final supplementary entries close at 11h00 on Tuesday, 13 June

• Weights will be published on Tuesday, 13 June

• Final Declaration close at 11h00 on Monday 19 June

• Final Field and Draw announcement will take place on Tuesday, 20 June

• Public gallops (compulsory) will be held on Thursday, 22 June

Candiese Lenferna

Smanga Khumalo in the preliminaries before celebrating his second July win last year

QUALITY ROCKETS IN CAPE FEATURES

Brave and bold decisions to stand up and make change not just for the sake of it appear to be paying dividends for Cape Racing. Forthcoming Sunday’s ‘revamped’ Hollywoodbets Kenilworth features show a dramatic lift in quality.

Piet Steyn steps Gem King out in the R300 000 WSB Gr3 Variety Club Mile where he defends his crown against a quality field that is headed by WSB Cape Town Met thirdplacer Pomp And Power.

The decision to change the Cape Winter Series from a three-year-old ‘Triple Crown’ and ‘Triple Tiara’ to an event

open to all ages was proposed by Cape Racing’s Head of Racing Operations, Justin Vermaak.

Talking to the Sporting Post earlier this week, a delighted Vermaak said that the table below shows a terrific jump in quality after the average merit ratings for the age restricted Grade 3’s had come precariously close to falling off the cliff into non black-type territory.

The Variety Club Mile as an example has gone from an average rating of 88 in 2020 to 110 this year.

As reported in Turf Talk, the

third leg of the colts and gelding series was changed from a 2400m race to a 2000m race, whilst the first two legs over 1600m and 1800m respectively remained the same.

The corresponding series for fillies and mares was changed from 1600m, 1800m and 2400m races respectively to 1400m, 1600m and 1800m races.

The proposals were discussed at a Pattern Committee meeting last August and were subsequently ratified by the Pattern Commitee.

The Winter Triple Crown had

Gem King wins the WSB Variety Club Mile in 2022 - can he repeat in the open event on Sunday?

gained a reputation for putting good backward horses on the map i.e. good horses who were not forward enough to take part in the Cape Summer three-year-old features and who also avoided travelling to KZN for the SA Champions Season.

The most notable example was the great Pocket Power, who was the first horse to land the Winter Series Triple Crown before going on to win the Met three times, the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate four times and the Durban July once, among other races.

Power King, who like Pocket

Power also went on to win the Durban July, narrowly failed to land the Triple Crown when beaten 1,25 lengths by Dynastic Power in the Winter Derby of 2014.

However, subsequent to him, both African Night Sky (2017) and Katak (2020) landed the Winter Triple Crown. Last year the series put Gem King on the map as a serious racehorse as he won the first two legs and went in to the Derby as hot favourite, but ran below par.

In the fillies series last year Young Love won the first leg and it was unfortunate that she was sidelined for the second leg, because she came back to win the last leg.

The Gr3 Champagne Stakes has been opened from a race restricted to the fairer sex, and Sunday’s field hosts 9 runners - 7 of which are males.

While some will be of the opinion that the changes have signalled the end of a valued tradition, the decisions appear to have had the desired results.

SWANSONG FOR DYNASTY FILLY?

Craig Zackey has Desert Miracle in front and powering home

Stuart Pettigrew’s perennial bridesmaid Feather Boa bumped a rampant Desert Miracle at Turffontein on Saturday, and had to again be content for a runner-up cheque as the De Kock flyer found her best form to win the R1 250 000 HSH Princess Charlene Gr1 Empress Club Stakes.

History shows that it was De Kock’s eighth 21st century score in the prestigious mile, with the honour roll dating back to Fair Maiden in 2006. Then followed Little Miss Magic (2007), Mother Russia (2010), Europa Point (2012), Majmu (2015) and Nother Russia, who captured the trophy in 2017 and 2018.

Winning rider Craig Zackey, who recently returned from a successful but brief New Zealand stint, has done all the work on Desert Miracle and picked up his third success here after piloting Nother Russia in the famous Oppenheimer black and yellow in consecutive years.

But the day belonged to Desert Miracle who posted a captivating win, putting to bed any doubts that she was from the very top drawer, following her Gr1 Majorca Stakes win in January.

As the De Kock website reports, there were some experts who felt that Desert Miracle was lucky to find

champion mare Captain’s Ransom on an ‘off’ day in the Majorca and that star jockey Christophe Soumillon’s exceptional handling made a critical difference in the race.

But Saturday’s commanding performance gave credence to Mike de Kock’s long-time assessment that Desert Miracle was “as good as anything in the country when she gets to the track with no breathing problems”.

It’s invariably hit-and-miss when it comes to respiratory issues, but Desert Miracle arrived at Turffontein in the pink of health – a credit to Alson Ndlizana and Mike’s Randjesfontein team – and,

as Mike predicted, she’d slay them at best.

Craig Zackey rode the perfect race – Desert Miracle was last of seven in the early part but well in touch. Once balanced in the home run, she sliced through the pack and came to outside for a storming finish.

Across the track, Feather Boa ran her heart out in second, but Desert Miracle raced on by and won by 1,25-lengths in a time of 96,92 secs.

With Marigold Hotel completing the trifecta, it meant a 1-2-3 for Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein bred gallopers!

Zackey, who’d ridden Desert Miracle almost every day in the run-up to the race and expressed his confidence about her well-being, was emotional after the race. He said: “The more I worked her the more confident I got. I won the race twice in Jessica (Jell)’s silks and to now

win it for Mrs (Mary) Slack is special. The filly did 90% of the work today.”

De Kock praised Zackey for his ride and quipped: “Craig ‘Soumilllon’ rode a top race. He had her too far back last time. I was saying to Stuart (Pettigrew, trainer of Feather Boa) that this shows how good Desert Miracle actually is.”

He added: “We bought Desert Miracle’s dam, Welwitschia, at Goffs, so Mary bred the sire of the winner, imported her daughter and now bred the Empress Club winner from her. Add this to Nother Russia’s two wins and it’s a true family affair. Well done to both farms.”

Mary Slack commented: “Desert Miracle is so beautiful and it’s wonderful to have won two Group 1 races with her this season.”

The happy trainer said that Desert Miracle’s immediate future will be discussed when the whole team meets at the National Sale this week.

“We’ll debate this at length. We’ve won two Gr1’s with her, that’s enough for her pedigree so we have to ask ourselves if we go out on a high or go for another big race or a trophy. Fortunately, Mary always puts her horses first so the right decision will be made.”

Bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein, Desert Miracle is a daughter of late champion Dynasty (Fort Wood) out of the seven time winning Oasis Dream mare, Welwitschia.

Now a winner of 6 races with 10 places from 19 starts, Desert Miracle took her stakes earnings to R2 250 750.

The beautiful Empress Club Stakes trophy

HIGHVELD WINTER STAKES BOOST

Last week 4Racing announced a 14% increase of total stakes equal to R33 360 000 for this year’s Highveld Winter Program, 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

Mike de Kock, Mary Slack and Craig Zackey show off the Empress Club Stakes trophy

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.

For Juveniles races, stakes have gone for Maidens only

from R70 000 to R80 000 and from R80 000 to R90 000 for Winners and Maidens.

“We are happy to be able to provide this stakes increase and going forward will look to bolster the quality of racing during the Highveld Winter season. We owe it to the stakeholders who have been patient and passionate as we at 4Racing continue to work with the industry to revive and sustain the sport of horseracing. We continue to engage potential sponsors to provide competitive stakes to ensure the sport of horseracing remains viable for all stakeholders and attractive to punters,” said 4Racing CEO, Fundi Sithebe.

The brochure pages for May, June and July will be released shortly, while those for August and September have been held back while the fixtures committee reworks the fixtures from 1 August 2023 to 31 December 2023.

IT’S MORE FUN FISHING WHERE THE FISH ARE!

With just days to go to the start of the National Yearling Sale, the tension is mounting as breeders prepare to showcase the cream of the 2021 foal crop at a time of great economic uncertainty and a national electricity crisis.

On a more positive note, the quality for which the champion-making sale is renowned is best illustrated by the success of its graduates which have been setting the

tracks alight in the last twelve months.

No less than 24 succeeded at Graded stakes level and include a fine haul of six Gr1 winners.

Owner Willem Ackerman picked up arguably the biggest bargain of the 2020 sale when he outlaid R50,000 on the Flower Alley filly Gilded Butterfly.

Even more impressive, 16 of those cost R300,000 or less, a heartening fact in these difficult times and one which should boost buyers confidence.

Let's take a look at some notable names on the list.

Take for example the 2019 sale, where Nick Jonsson snapped up multiple Champion Jet Dark for R200,000.

R50 000 bargain buy Gilded Butterfly wins the Yellowwood Handicap

The son of Trippi ended a decorated career on a high in the Gr1 Cape Town Met, his fifth success at the highest level. A five-time Equus champion and twice a winner of the L'Ormarins Queen's Plate and Champions Cup, he has returned to birthplace Drakenstein Stud to embark on his second career as a stallion.

Suzette Viljoen's fleet-footed amazon Captain's Ransom, who pipped Jet Dark to Horse of the Year honours in 2022, cost just one bid more at R225,000 and added both the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint and Gr1

Mercury Sprint to her already impressive haul over the past twelve months. She too, has run her last race and retires to the paddocks with six Gr1 wins to her name. Wouldn't it be fitting if her first suitor is Jet Dark?

Jet Dark's paternal half-brother Trip To Fortune came with a heftier price tag, R750,000 to be exact. He has fully vindicated that on the track and recently ventured outside homebase Cape Town to break through with a first Gr1 success in Turffontein's H F Oppenheimer

Horse Chestnut Stakes.

Vercingetorix colt Cousin Casey was snapped up by trainer Glen Kotzen for R375,000 at the 2021 sale and made that look cheap when he walked away with Champion juvenile honours. The colt capped a four-win streak with smashing victories in the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes and Gr2 Durban Golden Horseshoe and has since added classic Gr1 black type with a second in the Gr1 Cape Guineas.

Gimmethegreenlight's daughter Bless My Stars

likewise did not break the bank with her R250,000 price tag. Third in the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes as a juvenile, she sent her future broodmare value soaring with her victory in the Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic.

Owner Willem Ackerman picked up arguably the biggest bargain of the 2020 sale when he outlaid R50,000 on the Flower Alley filly Gilded Butterfly. She has since returned that nine-fold and is now a Gr3 winner of the Yellowwood Handicap. Such is the stuff that dreams are made of!

Finishing a shorthead behind her must be the What A Winter filly Miss Cool. She has made a mockery of her R60,000

price tag with victories in both the Gr2 SA Nursery (against males) and the Gr3 Three Troikas Stakes whilst her career earnings of over R550,000 far outstrip her purchase price.

Three-year-old Royal Victory showed what R90,000 can buy when winning the Gr3 Tony Ruffel Stakes, to go along with seconds in all of the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes, Gr2 Golden Horseshoe and Gr2 Gauteng Guineas.

Another relative bargain is Gr2 Camellia Stakes winner Winter Smoke, who cost just R150,000, while Gr3 Langerman winner Light Speed was a R175,000 purchase.

Other graduates to have

bolstered the sale's profile in the past twelve months include former Horse of the Year and 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July entry Do It Again, a winner of the Gr2 World Sports Betting 1900 at the ripe old age of seven who has earned close on R10-million; fellow seven-year-old Nexus (Gr2 Peninsula Handicap); Zapatillas (Gr2 World Sports Betting Guineas); Eye Of The Prophet (Gr2 Gauteng Guineas) and Billy Bowlegs (Gr3 Sea Cottage Stakes, 2nd Gr1 SA Derby).

Their achievements will ensure that any owner or trainer worth his salt will be searching for future champions at what is widely accepted as the holy grail of the South African sales programme.

R60 000 buy and dual graded stakes winner Miss Cool

JC Photos

MOUTONSHOEK CAN TRUMP THEM!

There can be no denying that the Moutonshoek based sire The United States is one of the most exciting stallions currently at stud in South Africa.

The Gr1 winning own brother to dual classic winner Hermosa has made a stunning start with his first two crops

containing a number of topclass performers including Gr2 4Racing SA Nursery winner Sheela (who recently thrashed Gr1 winner Sweet Pepper by four and a quarter lengths), Gr3 Sea Cottage Stakes winner, and Gr1 WSB SA Derby runner up Billy Bowlegs, Gr1 Splashout Cape Derby third Without Question, East

Cape champion Khaya's Hope, and the likes of East Coast, Sun Blushed, and Texas Red.

His progeny's ongoing success has also been reflected in the demand for The United States in the sales ring, with the son of Galileo sire of the 2023 Cape Yearling Sales topper, and R850 000 buy, Palancar.

Understandably, Moutonshoek's Bennie Van Der Merwe is delighted with his sire's ongoing success, saying, "He must be the most exciting stallion in the country by far. His only reasonable size crop are now three and statistics don`t lie!

Not only does The United States patently upgrades his mares, he is obviously is able to pass on his incredible genes, being arguably the best bred active stallion in this country. He is also capable of getting progeny to compete at the highest level from 1000 - 2450m, while his overall statistics are also very impressive. He has around 50% winners to runners (this goes to 75% when they go 1600m and more!) and 10% stakes performers."

Moutonshoek's entire draft at this year's National Sale were

sired by The United States, and Bennie feels there are a few real gems here.

Lot 75: Banff c The United States - She's So Cold Well balanced individual who is an own brother to the talented Rockets Red Glare and a half to several well performed runners. For this lot both the stallion and the mare are proven performers.

Lot 109: f The United States - Tagine

Beautiful individual from a very well performed family. Scopy. Good mover.

Lot 199: Diablo c The United States - Bize

Strong individual from a well performed, top family. Excellent specimen for a first foal.

Medium sized and balanced.

Lot 275: c The United States - Fire Stone

Outstanding individual bred on the classic Galileo x Danehill cross with the added bonus of the cross that produced the mighty Enable! This mare WILL produce a big one!

Lot 372: Lee Valley c The United States - Miss Khaya

Very scopy own brother to the multiple stakes winner Khaya's Hope. Has the look of a classic horse. The Galileo/Danehill Dancer cross has been proven over and over!

Moutonshoek's draft for the 2023 National Yearling Sale can be found in Block E at the TBA Complex in Germiston.

MAINE CHANCE - TIME PROVEN QUALITY

Perennially among the leading breeders in South Africa, Maine Chance Farms will once again be bringing a top-notch draft later this week to this year's National Yearling Sale.

Their draft not only includes yearlings by sire standouts Vercingetorix, Trippi, Gimmethegreenlight, Var, Rafeef and Querari, but also progeny out of such high-class stakes winning mares as Silver Mountain, Dynasty's Blossom, Wind Chill, Pine Princess and Princess Royal.

Maine Chance's Danni Kuttel says of her string, "Maine Chance Farms are bringing a strong draft to the National Yearling Sale this year, with quite a few standouts."

She mentions the following as lots to keep an eye on:

Lot 8: a filly by What A Winter from the family of Princess Royal and Princess Victoria

Lot 11: a colt by Vercingetorix out of the

G1 winning mare Pine Princess

Lot 19: a smashing colt by Vercingetorix and a halfbrother to Princess Calla

Lot 20: a colt by Trippi from the same family as Princess Calla and Princess Victoria

Lot 80: a classy filly by Gimmethegreenlight out of the G1 winning mare Silver Mountain

Lot 84: a colt by Vercingetorix from the same family as multiple G1 winners Hawwaam and Rainbow Bridge

Lot 119: a quality colt by Querari out of a Silvano own sister to Tellina

Lot 195: a colt by Vercingetorix out of an own sister to All Is Secret, The Secret Is Out and Canukeepitsecret

Lot 227: a colt by Querari and a full-brother to Cosmic Light and half-brother to Cosmic Highway

Lot 228: a quality filly by Var and a half-sister to Chyavana and Cosmic Star

Lot 250: a filly by Vercingetorix out of the G3 Gold Cup and G3 Gold Vase winner Dynasty's Blossom

Lot 280: a filly by Vercingetorix out of a halfsister to Durban July winner Bold Silvano

Lot 283: a racy filly by Vercingetorix from the family of Front And Centre and Potala Palace

Lot 293: a filly by Erupt out of the Silvano mare Gallica Rose and a half-sister to Gilded Butterfly

Lot 336: a filly by Erupt from the family of Durban July winner Marinaresco and his full-sister Marina

This string can be viewed from Blocks B, C and D at the TBA Complex in Germiston.

UP THE CREEK – SOME NATIONAL GEMS!

Narrow Creek Stud's John Everett has had plenty of success in recent years, with Narrow Creek's alumni in recent seasons including the likes of Gr1 WSB SA Classic winner Red Saxon, as well as such stakes winners as Who Do You Love, Sprinkles, Homely Girl, and the highclass siblings Big Burn and Catch Twentytwo.

The farm look to have bred another classy performer in the form of promising filly Avoontoast, who romped home to a facile maiden win when scoring at just the second time of asking.

John is very bullish on the string he is bringing to

this year's National Yearling Sale, with Narrow Creek Stud's National Sale draft including lots by such standout stallions as Vercingetorix, Rafeef, Querari and What A Winter.

Queen Of Love (Lot 329), a Rafeef half-sister to G3 Three Troikas Stakes heroine Sprinkles, is held in very high regard by her breeder, with John saying of this filly, "She is the product of a 20/20 mating. A beautiful filly with good size and plenty quality. One of the nicest yearlings I've had the privilege of taking to a sale." This filly's full-brother made R700 000 at last year's National Sale.

Sire sensation Vercingetorix also has a smashing yearling in this draft. His son Bad Medicine (Lot 32), a half-brother to four winners including G3 Prix Du Cap winner Elusive Heart, is described by John as "a strong, well grown colt with great bone. He demands attention!", while Cold Shine (Lot 115), is a "big, strong son of Lancaster Bomber out of a full sister to G1 SA Fillies Classic winner Takingthepeace."

Narrow Creek's draft for the 2023 National Yearling Sale, which commences on Friday, can be found in Block C at the TBA Complex in Germiston.

1-2 FOR CHEYNE

South African jockey Greg Cheyne celebrated a landmark first win in Britain when guiding Eastern Charm to a surprise success in the opening mile handicap at Yarmouth on Saturday.

He then won again at Southwell on Tuesday on Silver Sword. Both winners were saddled by fellow expat Dylan Cunha.

Cheyne, a multiple top-level winning rider in his native country including in the 2009 Durban July, won on just his second ride in Britain, having previously ridden once at Newmarket for South African trainer Brett Crawford in 2017.

"It's what they call a dream start, I couldn't have asked for more," Cheyne told Sky Sports Racing.

"I'm thoroughly enjoying my time here and winter was as brutal as they told me! It's been a privilege with these animals and riding for William Haggas. I'm very appreciative of the opportunity and this makes it all worthwhile in the mornings."

KOBUS WILL BE AT NATIONALS

Vaal resident Kobus Roux holds the distinction of being the first trainer to saddle a winner by Wilgerbosdrift’s well-bred young War Front stallion Fire Away.

The consistent Ascot Studbred Fire ‘N Flames is now a stakes-placed winner of two of his seven starts and ran a perfect prep on Saturday for the Gr2 SA Nursery at Turffontein on Champions Day.

Fire ‘N Flames, who races in the interests of Willie de Koker and Isabella Lombard, was amongst 15 entries on Monday for the 2yo feature on Saturday 29 April.

A quietly spoken 53 year old, Kobus Roux was chatting to the Sporting Post on the eve of this week’s BSA National Yearling Sale. He recalled the events at Nationals just a year ago, when his loyal supporter Willie de Koker handed him the pink slip after the hammer had fallen on a handsome chestnut that he rather fancied.

“What a terrific surprise that was and it has worked out well. He is a lovely horse and we are all very excited about his prospects,” adds the man from Nylstroom who became a teacher just to keep his teacher mother happy.

“You know, when you are 19 years old and, particularly in those days, you did what you were told. So I studied, got my qualification and handed it to my mom. Then I went off into

Kobus Roux – runs a simple operation at the Vaal

JC Photos

racing. It’s been a long road. Good times and tough times. But that applies to all walks of life. It’s what I love, and even today with just eleven horses here at the Vaal, I’m happy and simply looking to train good winners for good owners,” he adds.

There are no frills about Kobus Roux and that emerges as he explains what he means by ‘good owners’.

“I am here to train horses and make the experience of racing them a rewarding one. I am not going to talk nonsense to owners, and I’d like owners that will treat me the same. That way, we enjoy an honest and open relationship, and stay focussed on making the most of this great game.”

The father of two has some interesting thoughts on marketing and social media, and says that he’d rather do business with somebody who can shake his hand and look him in the eye.

“I don’t have a website. I don’t do Facebook or any other modern day platforms. I answer my phone when I hear it. I am here to train horses

and my door is always open to my existing and prospective new owners.”

While many of his old owners have moved on, Kobus points out that the new generation are all associates and referrals of former patrons.

He plans a raid or two on KZN during the season, eyeing the speed raceday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in early June, and then possibly a feature on Hollywoodbets Durban July day. He tells us that he prefers the old style of leaving his base at 2am.

“We travel down and get there a few hours ahead of the race. The horses don’t even have time to feel the effects of the travel. And then we are back on the road straight after. I can recall right back to Geoff Woodruff’s time of El Picha and the like, that the raids worked well.

The former assistant to Johan van Eck and Cliffie Otto has built himself up slowly after the onslaught of the covid pandemic and loves the Vaal as a training HQ.

“The Vaal has it all. Good

tracks, great facilities and it’s a happy place for horses. The only people bad-mouthing the Vaal are the guys moving elsewhere!” he smiles.

Kobus Roux heads to the sale this week hopeful of picking up another Fire ‘N Flames ‘or three’, as he puts it.

Bred by Ascot Stud, Fire ‘N Flames is out of the Silvano mare Silvan Jazz. The two-time winner was runner-up in the Listed Storm Bird Stakes in February behind Sean Tarry’s fairer sex first up winner, American Graffiti.

He ran a decent 1,75 length third in a Juvenile Stakes over 1200m at Turffontein last Saturday, giving weight to winner Pure Predator and Johan Janse van Vuuren’s Barbaresco – the latter whispered to be a very decent colt.

Fire Away is a half-brother to Gr1 winner and Gr1 sire Mr Speaker and has 11 lots on offer at the sale later this week.

For an uncomplicated racing experience, Kobus Roux can be contacted on mobile at 073 404 8120.

THE CANFORD FACTOR!

The extraordinary run of success of the progeny of Ridgemont Highlands internationally proven stallion Canford Cliffs comes as no surprise to widely respected international bloodstock man Ross Doyle, who together with his Dad Peter and trainer Richard Hannon senior, were proudly responsible for the selection of the handsome athlete at the Goffs UK St Leger Yearling Sale in 2008.

Canford Cliffs has 11 lots up for grabs on the BSA National Yearling Sale which commences in Johannesburg on Friday, and is bound to be in demand after a purple patch of winners.

“Hindsight is always an exact

science in most disciplines. But reflecting back on the day we first laid eyes on this wonderful athlete, we were all in agreement that we had to have him,” recalls the experienced Ross Doyle

“We were fortunate to get him for £50 000. Noted pinhooker Jimmy Murphy of Redpender Stud had bought him off the Rathbarry Stud draft as a weanling at the 2007 Goffs Ireland November Foal Sale for € 46 000. For us, he ticked all the boxes. He was an easy mover, with a deep girth. A real athlete with a professional attitude. When he went into work, there was great excitement. Talk to Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes today still – he was a star and the real deal and his record

on the racetrack, coupled with his having produced stakes winners in both hemispheres has shown we found a real gem,” added Ross Doyle.

Canford Cliffs was sire of three winners at Fairview on Friday and now boast 26 winners of 39 races this season so far, over distances from 1000m to 2400m.

Already sire of more than 20 stakes winners with his progeny having earned more than $36 million in prize money, only champions Jet Master and Captain Al have produced more first season winners in the history of South African racing.

One of the best turf milers of the century, Canford Cliffs is

The champion miler is loving life at Ridgemont Highlands

Chase Liebenberg

also broodmare sire of topclass Australian filly Amelia’s Jewel who finished a bang up second in Saturday’s AUS$4 million TABtouch Quokka. A three-year-old daughter of Siyouni, Amelia’s Jewel is out of the Canford Cliffs mare Bumbasina.

Europe’s dominant miler at three and four, he won no less than five consecutive Gr1 races over the trip. His splendid Gr1 treble of the Irish 2000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes (over multiple Gr1 winner Dick Turpin) and Sussex Stakes (over champion Rip Van

Winkle), saw him rated the top three-year-old miler in England and Ireland.

As good, if not better, at four, the bay confirmed his class by winning the Gr1 Lockinge Stakes before defeating the brilliant mare Goldikova in the Gr1 Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot. He signed off with a second to the mighty Frankel in the Gr1 Sussex Stakes and was voted the champion older miler in Europe in 2011, receiving a Timeform rating of 133.

Ridgemont’s Craig Carey confirms that Canford Cliffs is a lovely horse to work with.

“He has it all. He is very fertile, has a great temperament and is the best mover I have seen. He is doing it on the track with lots of winners at 2 and 3, and was leading Freshman Sire last year. His 3yo’s have maintained the momentum. What a privilege!”

Friday’s sale starts at 10h00.

British Champion Series

Richard Hughes and Canford Cliffs celebrate Gr1 success at Royal Ascot

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

The happy Greeff connections

Pauline Herman

An 8yo former East Cape Derby winner marked his 61st run just a week after he was headed for retirement as a riding hack, when winning the R175 000 Listed Glenlair Trophy at Fairview on Friday. Racing in the Delma Sherrel silks, American Landing won the 2018 WSB East Cape Derby under Richard Fourie when trained out of Cape Town by Brett Crawford.

Now a longstanding resident of the Alan Greeff yard, and still campaigning for the Sherrell family, American Landing relished the decent pace in the 2800m Friday feature to draw clear at 10-1 under Kendall Minnie to beat the topweighted favourite

Jaeger Moon (7-2) by 4,25 lengths in a time of 178,55 secs.

The forward galloping Wildest Dreams, a stablemate to the winner and also sired by the evergreen Dynasty, stayed on in third.

American Dream was purchased off the De Broglio dispersal on the 2017 BSA August Kenilworth Sale where he was the toppriced lot at R1,6 million.

A son of Dynasty (Fort Wood), the winner was bred by Mike de Broglio and is out of the versatile five-time winner Sabina Park (Sportsworld), who won the SA Oaks in 2004. That makes him a full-brother to the Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes winner Sabina’s Dynasty and a half brother to dual Summer Cup winner Master Sabina (Jet Master).

A winner of 2 of his last 4 starts after an extended dry spell, American Landing has won 6 of his 61 starts for 27 places and stakes of R786 857.

Alan Greeff enjoyed a red-letter day, with 6 winners, 4 of which were ridden by Richard Fourie.

The happy Greeff connections

Pauline Herman

CANFORD CLIFFS IS FLYING

Ridgemont Highlands proven international sire Canford Cliffs has thirteen lots going through the ring at the BSA National Yearling Sale in Johannesburg on 21 and 22 April and with winners over 1000m right up to 2400m over the past few weeks, South Africa’s Outstanding New Sire of last term will have plenty of supporters.

With only champions Jet Master and Captain Al having produced more first season winners in the history of South African racing, the champion miler certainly stamps his offspring with an indelible mix of ability – and we saw the speed in our faces at Fairview on Friday, with his dual stakes winning son Cliff Top flashing the fractions to beat some high-octane

opposition to win the R175 000 Fairview Flying Five.

After a quiet effort last time on the all-weather, the 3yo Cliff Top (2-1) led for most of the way and under a hands ride from Richard Fourie, he proved too strong, clocking 57,10 secs to beat stablemates Whatever Next (25-1) and Inherit The Rain (25-1).

Cliff Top shows the speed under Richard Fourie!

Pauline Herman

With earnings of R593 788 from his 5 wins and 6 places from 14 starts, the smashing Cliff Top, who runs under the Hollywood Syndicate flag, was bred by Ridgemont Highlands out of the Western Winter one-time winner Bacqueira.

Canford Cliffs enjoyed three top winners on the afternoon. Besides Cliff Top, his son Heathcliff won the 4Racing.TV Derby Plate while Bournemouth, broke his maiden when landing the third race.

Cliff Top’s victory was the first leg of a feature double, and one of 6 winners on the day for Alan Greeff. Winning Formsponsored Richard Fourie rode four of the Greeff sextet.

SILVANO DAUGHTER DELIVERS THE GOODS

The Sean Tarry machine continued with another feature success at Turffontein on Saturday when the talented Philasande Mxoli rode a copybook race to get the lightly tried Red Maple home to win the R150 000 WSB Listed Spook Express Stakes.

Following a smart third in the Oaks Trial behind subsequent SA Oaks placer Ipso Facto, Red Maple looked competitive off the 50kg and duly delivered another feature success for Mary Slack’s

Wilgerbosdrift Stud. Covered up early as the year older topweight Light Of The Moon made the pace, Mxoli delivered Red Maple with a sustained run and she stayed on best at 5-1 to beat the fast finishing Kind Judy (10-1) by a quarter length in a time of 154,13 secs.

Apache Fighter (5-2) was 1,15 lengths further back in third, with Light Of The Moon fading to fourth.

Mary Slack said that it was an emotional and special moment

as she had previously owned the daughter of Silvano in partnership with passionate racing man Michael Javett, who passed away at the age of 86 in November 2022.

Bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein, Red Maple is by deceased multiple champion Silvano (Lomitas) out of the Fastnet Rock mare, Cherry Tree Lane.

She is a winner of 2 races with 3 places from 13 starts for stakes of R184 250.

Red Maple (Mxoli) gets the better of Kind Judy (Munger) in a good finish to the Spook Express

Presenting our draft for the Bloodstock South Africa

ARRIES CUTS THE PROPHET

Candiese Lenferna

Ashton Arries got Lord William home – but it wasn’t an impressive ride

Trainer Corne Spies travelled down from Randjesfontein for Sunday’s R150 000 Listed The Sledgehammer at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, only to see the hopes of his 3yo Prophet knocked for a six late in the race.

While Glen Kotzen’s progressive 3yo Lord William was full value for his half length victory, his rider Ashton Arries was given a seven day holiday after failing to ensure that he did not cause interference to the luckless Prophet, who had to ease off the heels of the winner at the 200m.

Prophet may have had place prospects at best, but it was not a nice incident to watch and could have ended badly for Craig Zackey.

Arries put his head down and rode for his life with the crop in the right hand. But while his mount was shifting away from the stick, he made no visible effort to straighten until the

very final stages – maybe he was lucky to only get 7 days!

Klawervlei Stud’s homebred Cape Guineas winner William Longsword has enjoyed a cracking run of success of late and he produced another feature race winner when Lord William, third in the Listed Kings Cup last time out, claimed his maiden stakes score with a game display on Sunday.

Lord William (5-2) was the eventual tote favourite and beat stablemate Flying Bull (16-1) by a half length in a time of 106,14 secs.

Prophet was beaten into fifth and 2,95 lengths off the winner.

Third in both the Gr3 World Sports Betting Langerman and Listed TAB Somerset 1200 at two, the Maine Chance Farms bred Lord William has now won three times from 12 starts for stakes of R296 800 and he looks unlikely to stop here.

His in-form sire William Longsword also enjoyed feature race success when his blue-blooded daughter Virginia Sweet captured the recent Listed East Cape Oaks.

A half-brother to the Gr1 winning dam of this season’s Gr1 Pongracz Cape Flying Championship winner Gimme A Prince, William Longsword has four lots on offer at this week’s National Yearling Sale, including a filly (Lot 46) out of Oaks Trial winner Salutation and a full-brother (Lot 89) to Listed Secretariat Stakes victress Bon Vivant.

BLOOMIN’ GOOD!

Wilgerbosdrift’s consistently successful resident sire Flower Alley enjoyed success in Hong Kong on Saturday when his son Apex Top won the first race at Sha Tin.

Trained by Douglas Whyte, the gelding was given a fine ride by Luke Ferraris in the Racing For Charity 1400m Handicap.

It was a second Hong Kong

win for Apex Top, who was bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein.

Out of the Rich Man’s Gold mare Cosima Liszt, Apex Top was a R550 000 buy from the 2018 National Yearling Sale.

His Gr1 Travers Stakes winning sire Flower Alley also struck at Turffontein on Saturday with his two-year-old daughter Red Hot Rose claiming the second race on the card.

From the same female line as multiple champion sire Lyphard as well as current US sire sensation Gun Runner, Flower Alley has five lots on offer at this week’s National Yearling Sale.

Dawnofanewday (Keagan de Melo) gets the better of long-time pacesetter Southern Cape (Ashton Arries) in a rousing finish

On a memorable Sunday afternoon at Hollywoodbets Scottsville for the Dean Kannemeyer and Drakenstein teams, Keagan de Melo booted home a homebred feature double rounded up by a maiden stakes

success for the Futura 4yo Dawnofanewday who won the R150 000 World Sports Betting Listed Scarlet Lady.

Drakenstein’s four-time Gr1 winning Dynasty stallion, and a former Horse Of The

Year, Futura has shown that his progeny just need some time and Dean Kannemeyer confirmed that Dawnofanewday has strengthened and matured markedly in the past six months.

Candiese Lenferna

And she deservedly found her first stakes winning credit when staying on strongly up the outside at a generous 7-1 to get the better of the gallant long-time pacemaker Southern Cape (20-1) by 1,05 lengths in a time of 106,51 secs.

Gauteng visitor Supreme Quest (6-1) stayed on for third.

Dawnofanewday is out of the one-time winning Trippi mare, Dawn Rising. She has won 4 races with 12 places from 18 starts for stakes of R384 650.

Futura has 15 yearlings on the BSA National Yearling Sale this week.

DEAN AND DRAKENSTEIN - A WINNING UNION

Dean Kannemeyer and Winning Form-sponsored Keagan de Melo maintained their good feature race form on the East Coast, when Drakenstein homebred Rex Union outstayed his six rivals to win the R135 000 World Sports Betting Highland Night Cup at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.

Still surprisingly without a career stakes win, the 5yo, who was placed third behind Shangani in the Marshalls World Of Sport Gold Cup last year, showed good resolve to win the non black-type 2400m contest.

Given a chance by De Melo as Juan Carlos led the way, Rex

Union (7-2) weaved his way through up the straight and hit the front at the right moment to beat Riccardo (17-2) by 0,60 lengths in a time of 149,61 secs.

Garth Puller’s Twice Golden (92) took off late to be beaten a head into third.

Labelling his charge a ‘solid, sound horse’, Dean Kannemeyer said the Drakenstein galloper was seemingly better on a righthand turn.

He recounted that two years ago, Rex Union suffered two slight heart attacks and was not expected to race again.

But 6 months paddock rest at the beautiful farm of his ownerbreeders did the trick.

Rex Union has now won 3 races with 7 places from 21 starts and took his stakes bank to R330 475.

A son of deceased Drakenstein Danehill sire Duke Of Marmalade, the winner is out of the seventeen-time winning champion racemare Beach Beauty.

Keagan de Melo has Rex Union in front at the right time

FEATHER BOA BUMPED TO A 114

Desert Miracle remains unchanged on a merit rating of 124 after winning the Gr1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes for fillies and mares on WFA terms over 1600m on the standside track at Turffontein on Saturday 15 April.

The Handicappers were unanimous in their opinion that 3rd placed MARIGOLD HOTEL made for the ideal line horse, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 107.

In assessing the race this way DESERT MIRACLE only runs to a mark of 117, hence her unchanged rating. The only ratings increase was for 2nd placed FEATHER BOA, who goes up from 108 to 114.

The solitary drop was for MISS DAISY, who is down from 108 to 106.

Listed WSB Spook Express Stakes

RED MAPLE has had her rating increased from 80 to 85 after winning the Listed Spook Express Stakes for fillies and mares over 2400m at Turffontein on Saturday. In assessing this race, the Handicappers took the view that RED MAPLE would not have run below the 85

she actually achieved when finishing 2nd in the Listed Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial five weeks earlier. However, as the specific conditions of that event did not allow for a rating’s increase for any horse beyond the winner and the Handicappers were obliged to leave RED MAPLE on a mark of 80.

The specific conditions of this event also do not permit for a rating’s increase to any horse other than the winner, and accordingly 2nd placed KIND JUDY and third finisher APACHE FIGHTER both remain on marks of 81 although both of them actually ran to a rating of 83.

There were drops for five horses. 4th placed LIGHT OF THE MOON is down from 109 to 107, FLYING FIRST CLASS is down slightly from 89 to 88, ELECTRIC SURGE drops to 78 from 80, PERFECT WITNESS drops from 99 to 97, and lastly OPERA GLASS was trimmed from 85 to 84.

WSB Listed The Scarlet Lady DAWNOFANEWDAY has had her rating raised from 99 to 101 after winning the Listed WSB Scarlet Lady for fillies and mares over 1750m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on

Sunday. The Handicappers were of the view that 3rd placed SUPREME QUEST made for the best line horse, leaving her unaltered on a mark of 95. In rating the race this way 5th placed MACARA and 6th finisher SISTER LIGHT both run to their marks, effectively making them line horses as well and leaving them unchanged on marks of 97 and 90, respectively.

There were increases also for runner-up SOUTHERN CAPE, who was raised from 87 to 93, and for her 4th placed stable companion BELLA SICCOME, who is up slightly from 93 to 94.

No horses from this race were given a ratings drop.

Listed WSB Sledgehammer

LORD WILLIAM has had his rating raised from 104 to 107 after he landed the Listed Sledgehammer (handicap) over 1750m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday. Here it was 3rd placed INDLAMU who was deemed to make for the best line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 99.

Aside from the winner the only other ratings increase was for 2nd placed FLYING BULL, who goes up from 101 to 103.

The only drop was for SILVANO’S TIMER, who is down slightly from 109 to 108.

Listed Glenlair Trophy

AMERICAN LANDING has had his rating raised from 74 to 80 after he won the Listed Glenlair Trophy over 2800m on the turf track at Fairview on Friday. The Handicappers were of the view that runnerup JAEGER MOON made for the best line horse here, which leaves him

unchanged on a rating of 102.

In assessing the race this way AMERICAN LANDING actually runs to a mark of 91, but the specific conditions of the event do not permit for a more than six pounds increase in the rating of the winner, and accordingly the Handicappers were obliged to cap AMERICAN LANDING on a mark of 80.

The race conditions also do not permit for a rating’s

increase for any horse beyond the winner, and accordingly 3rd placed WILDEST DREAMS and 4th finisher LIGHT WITHOUT remain on marks of 75 and 67, respectively, despite actually achieving ratings of 76 and 81, respectively.

No horses from this race were given a rating’s drop.

Media release by NHA on 18 April 2023.

R125 000 FINE AND A CAUTIONARY FROM NHA

The National Horseracing Authority confirms that a specimen which was collected from the horse Mover And Shaker on 22 February 2023, after it had won Race 10 at Turffontein Racecourse, has disclosed upon analysis the presence of a Novel Prohibited Substance, Mephentermine.

The Trainer has signed an Admission of Guilt for the offence and the penalty is a fine of R125 000.

Mephentermine, is an alpha adrenergic receptor agonist with sympathomimetic effects used commonly in the treatment of hypotension (low blood pressure). It causes an increased cardiac output and at higher doses, may stimulate the central nervous system. It is therefore classified as a Prohibited Substance as per Rule 73.

Mephentermine is not contained in any local pharmaceutical product registered for use in human or veterinary medicine.

It is therefore considered to be an illegal substance when imported into the Southern African market without the required permit, and therefore the NHA strongly condemns its use in Horseracing. It is

however available within overseas markets as both human and veterinary preparations and Trainers are warned against importing unregistered products for use locally.

The National Horseracing Authority Laboratory is a certified international racing laboratory which participates in all the prohibited substance proficiency testing programmes related to the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.

Annual proficiency testing confirms the screening capabilities of substances of concern to racing internationally, with the proven abilities to also detect these at the required sensitivities, although they may NOT be included on the NHA local prohibited substance list on our website (which is NOT exhaustive). The NHA Laboratory has consistently achieved a pass rate of 100% over the last decade.

Routine screening at our laboratory is therefore very comprehensive, which includes this non-local drug Mephentermine. This substance has routinely been screened for in all NHA collected urine and blood specimens, for several

decades, to date. Whilst this drug is of a significant concern to racing internationally, the international requirement is that of highly sensitively screening. Such screening, and the subsequent confirmation of such positive findings, is conducted with ease at our Laboratory.

This matter has raised certain integrity-related concerns and thus, changes to the pre-race saddling procedures will be communicated by the Racing Control Executive after consultation with the necessary parties has taken place.

All Trainers and material Stakeholders are advised to treat this warning as a SERIOUS ISSUE and to refrain from this type of practice, as the consequences could be substantial.

Media release by National Horseracing Authority on Monday 17 April 2023

GALLANT EFFORT BY RAMBLER

Corach Rambler returns under an elated Derek Fox

Racing TV

Corach Rambler was a superb winner of the £1 million Randox Grand National at Aintree on Saturday for trainer Lucinda Russell and jockey Derek Fox.

Successful at last month’s Cheltenham Festival, the nineyear-old moved powerfully throughout after starting as the 8-1 favourite, in a race that was delayed by around 15 minutes after protestors gained access to the track.

He jumped into the lead over the last and pulled away when passing the elbow, holding off a closing Vanillier with Gaillard Du Mesnil third and last year’s winner Noble Yeats running a gallant race under his big weight in fourth.

It was a second victory in the world’s greatest steeplechase for Russell and Fox, after One For Arthur in 2017.

Russell said: “Those guys that went out to protest on the course, they think it’s about horse welfare but that horse loves the sport. He loves everything that he does. He’s kept in the best condition and I’m just so delighted that he can run in a race like that and perform like that.

“He has got greatness and it’s what he deserves. Corach Rambler, in our hearts, is just the best horse. Now in the public hearts he is as well. To win the National, I know how important it is, I know how it changed my life with (One For) Arthur – for Corach to

achieve that too is just fantastic.

Derek Fox celebrates his second victory in the testing conest (Pic – Racing TV)

“It’s all about the horse, for me it’s not about the betting – though I did back him and quite a lot actually!

“I hope those guys who were protesting will look at our website and our Facebook posts and see how they are looked after. It is so important they understand how we care for them every inch of the way.

“It is about Corach, he is just amazing. He took to those fences brilliantly, he understood them, he worked them out – he loved it.”

Fox had sat out the first two days of the meeting in order to recover from injury in time to ride Corach Rambler.

He said: “He is just the most wonderful thing ever, he deserved to win this. I got a fall last week and banged my shoulder, it was far from ideal. I was worried all week, I thank God I was back in time because it was the thrill of my life to ride him.

“It’s thanks to the support of Lucinda and Scu (Peter Scudamore, assistant trainer and Russell’s partner) for having the faith in me to put me up after not riding all week. I feel very lucky to be working for these great people.

“I think he’d the profile and he’s loads of class – I just can’t believe it.”

Cameron Sword, a 21-year-old student who forms part of the winning ownership syndicate, The Ramblers, said: “Derek rode a blinder!

“He was leading, he was at the front for most of that race, and we were thinking he should be a bit further back, but Derek Fox rode a blinder. And Corach Rambler – what a horse. I’m lost for words.

“How can people be protesting against horse racing when your protests are making these horses wait out in the sun for even longer? It makes no sense. They can do one –this is our sport and I love it.

“I’ll be out in Liverpool tonight!”

The start of the race was delayed after a number of protestors made their way on to the track at Aintree, breaching security fences around the

Liverpool venue and running on to the course.

Some of the horses went back to the pre-parade ring, with the race delayed as police dealt with the intruders. The race, which was due off at 5.15pm, eventually got underway at 5.29pm.

Out of 39 runners, 17 horses finished the race with the Sandy Thomson-trained Hill Sixteen suffering a fatal fall at the first fence.

CLASSIC FEVER IS IN THE AIR

Spring has sprung and the classics are upon us

The first of the English Classics are a little over a fortnight away, with Coronation Saturday, the 6th of May the date for the 2000 Guineas. 62 colts are currently declared for the Newmarket Group 1 run on the Rowley Mile course.

Group 1 winning Irish juveniles

Augustin Rodin and Little Big Bear head the ante-post market, both stabled with Aiden O’Brien. The Ballydoyle trainer was happy with their work at the Curragh a fortnight ago and declared that if both colts run, they will head straight to the

Guineas without a prep.

This week, British opposition gears up for the Guineas with two trials – the Craven Stakes at Newmarket on Thursday and Saturday’s Greenham Stakes at Newbury.

A traditional trial, the Craven Stakes sees eight colts contest the Group 3 contest over the same course and distance as they are all declared to run in next month.

The Godolphin-owned Mysterious Night brings redhot form to the table, having landed the Gr3 Prix Francois

Boutin in Deauville before running out an impressive winner of the Gr1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine in September. The Dark Angel colt is a narrow favourite (7/4) with James Doyle taking the ride. William Buick interestingly has opted to ride the stablemate Naval Power, currently second favourite at around 3/1.

Biggest threat to the ‘boys in blue’ looks to be Mostabshir, an impressive four-length debut winner at Kempton in November. He runs for Roger Varian in the Shadwell silks, while Andrew Balding

has a strong contender as Gr2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes hero The Foxes is entered.

On Saturday, Streets Of Gold will be out to maintain his unbeaten record in the Gr3 Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes.

Eve Johnson Houghton’s unbeaten son of Havana Gold is bidding for a sixth consecutive victory and is one of 12 entered in Newbury’s feature race who also hold entries in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas.

Johnson Houghton commented: “He is really well; he has wintered well so I’m very happy with him. He's not the biggest horse and he hasn't grown, but he's filled out and muscled up. He seems in great form.”

"The Greenham is a great starting point for him, I love

Newbury as a racecourse, it is just down the road from us.”

After handling sticky ground conditions at The Curragh, connections have no real concerns regarding ground for Streets of Gold who will once again be partnered by Charlie Bishop.

Entries for the Newbury Group 3 are headed by another locally trained contender in Chaldean.

By Frankel, the Juddmonte owned colt is trained by the inform Andrew Balding. He won the Gr1 Dewhurst at Newmarket on his final start last October and looks a leading contender on Saturday and if victorious, again next month.

CORAL SCOTTISH GRAND NATIONAL ON SATURDAY

A week on from the Randox Grand National, the Coral Scottish Grand National takes centre stage at Ayr on Saturday.

There has been a mix of winning ages in recent renewals of the Scottish National. In the last seven years, we have had winners in every age group from seven up to 11, albeit the two winners aged in double figures were both relatively

unconsidered in the betting at 25-1 apiece.

There has not been a successful six-year-old since the subsequent Grand National winner Earth Summit in 1994, which would suggest Gavin Cromwell’s Malina Girl is vulnerable.

Vicente carried 11st 10lb when claiming his second Scottish National in 2017, but this was something

of an outlier and a lighter weight has been considered essential in recent renewals. Vicente aside, you must go back to Grey Abbey (11st 12lb in 2004) for the last horse to carry more than 11st 3lb to victory.

Dusart, Threeunderthrufive, Monbeg Genius and Empire Steel are all assigned weights above 11st 3lb for Saturday's race.

Auguste Rodin and Ryan Moore winning The Vertem Futurity Trophy Stakes

Dan Abraham-focusonracing.com

TRAINERS

JOCKEYS

BREEDERS

SIRES