SP SPRINT - WEDNESDAY 3 MAY 2023

THE BOY'S BACK!

THE HIGHS ARE HIGH!

A thrilled Hollywood Syndicate manager Anthony Delpech makes a call to the boss after Isivunguvungu’s stunning victory in the Jonsson Workwear Gr1 Computaform Sprint at Turffontein on Saturday. A multiple champion jockey, Delpech was injured in a fall which ultimately ended an illustrious career at the same venue in 2019.

Charles Dickens and Aldo Domeyer – a first KZN appearance on Saturday

Candiese Lenferna

DICKENS THE DRAWCARD!

After a flying start to their KZN winter campaign courtesy of the very progressive Winter Cloud’s victory in Sunday’s Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, a powerful Cape team take their next step at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday as the stakes boosted Champions Season of 2023 gets underway.

It must be the first Champions Season opener in close on twenty years without a Justin Snaith runner to add some spice, but Milnerton resident Candice Bass-Robinson, with a mini string of eight at

Summerveld, could surely carry the Cape flag.

Three Drakenstein raced home-breds, trained by Candice Bass-Robinson and ridden by Aldo Domeyer, will be key players at the Theatre Of Champions on Saturday with the running of the Independent On Saturday Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes and the World Sports Betting Gr2 Guineas and Gr2 Fillies Guineas.

While recent HF Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes winner Trip Of Fortune, and the smart Golden Hostess,

who ran fourth at this track behind Gobsmacked in the Prosport Gr2 The Debutante at the end of last season, could make it a treble for the team, there is no question that Charles Dickens is the horse that everybody will be turning up to see.

The son of Trippi reeled off six straight wins, culminating in a thrashing of contemporary Cousin Casey in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas in December.

He subsequently had his colours lowered by our now

highest rated horse in the older Al Muthana in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate in early January and then by the rampant See It Again, who he meets again on Saturday, in the Splashout Gr1 Cape Derby at the end of February.

The son of Trippi makes his KZN debut and has his first outing on a right-handed track on Saturday.

He is drawn 8 and will clearly not be at his peak, like many of his opposition. But fellow Capetonian Cousin Casey has the ground experience advantage and the benefit of a prep run, when pipped by Strawberry Bear in the Gr3

Byerley Turk a month ago.

While well beaten in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas behind Charles Dickens and Cousin Casey, the Hollywood Syndicate racer Anfield’s Rocket redeemed his prospects as a leading 3yo with a smart victory in the Gr1 SA Classic, followed by a gallant third behind Trip Of Fortune in the HF Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes at his last start.

While the son of Coup de Grace won a stunning 1000m dash at Turffontein in under 56 secs on his return from the Cape in January, he runs like

a horse who could find the Hollywoodbets Greyville home straight a challenge. But he is clearly very classy and has a terrific turn of foot!

SATURDAY - IT'S ALL ABOUT CHARLES

Heir to the throne Charles III will officially become King in an extravagant and historic ceremony on Saturday – on the same day that our own Charles makes his KZN debut at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Thousands will gather at Westminster Abbey and the surrounding streets of central London to take in a display of

British pageantry. Preparations have been a long time coming, following the death of his mother at her rural Balmoral home in September.

With the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II Charles III instantly became King.

In the days that followed, he was formally proclaimed Britain's new monarch and now, after months of painstaking preparation, his coronation is almost upon us.

Which show will you be watching?

CHAMPIONS SEASON PROGRAMME

APRIL TO JULY 2023

Richard Fourie gets Marigold Hotel up in the final stride to nab Ameena (Serino Moodley)

Candiese Lenferna

PURE GOLD FOURIE

Maine Chance Farms’ consistently successful stallion Querari had another good result when his fouryear-old daughter Marigold Hotel won the Gr3 Dennis Drier Poinsettia Stakes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

In the process, Marigold Hotel became the 32nd stakes winner for her Gr1 winning sire.

Trained by Sean Tarry, Marigold Hotel was sent off 18-10 tote favourite for the R200 000 Poinsettia and duly lived up to her billing.

Under a finely judged ride from the rampant Richard Fourie, Marigold Hotel

appeared beaten close home but fought back valiantly under Fourie to land the feature by a long head.

In landing Sunday’s sprint for fillies and mares, Marigold Hotel accounted for multiple graded stakes winner Ameena, herself a daughter of Querari’s half-brother Quasillo.

Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Marigold Hotel has now won five of 21 starts for earnings of more than R500 000 with the talented filly having finished third in the Gr1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes prior to her Poinsettia Stakes triumph.

Out of the Tiger Ridge mare

Indira, Marigold Hotel was an R100 000 buy from the 2020 National Yearling Sale.

She is one of a growing number of graded stakeswinning daughters of Querari, with this list headed by Gr1 Thekwini Stakes winner Querari Falcon. Other highclass daughters of Querari include such graded stakes winners as Cockney Pride, Homely Girl, Mill Queen, Supreme Quest, and Gobsmacked.

Also broodmare sire of WSB Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Chansonette, Querari had yearlings make up to R900 000 at this year’s National Yearling Sale.

Richard Fourie receives the Poinsettia trophy from Gold Circle Director Lance Whiteford

Candiese Lenferna

THE Q FOR QUALITY

Quasillo may never reach the lofty heights that Querari has. Yet despite limited representation, he is doing his bit to maintain the family honour.

Quasillo in race action

The result of last weekend's Dennis Drier Gr3 Poinsettia Stakes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville was somewhat unique, in a sense that the winner Marigold Hotel is by Querari, whilst the runner up Ameena is a daughter of his half-brother Quasillo.

To state that the siblings have enjoyed mixed fortunes as stallions would be an understatement.

Let's take a closer look.

Currently fifth on the General

Sires list, Querari has enjoyed a fruitful and successful career since his arrival at Maine Chance Farm and has put together an enviable record, siring stakes winners in each of his first eight crops.

The Poinsettia victory of Marigold Hotel increased that tally to 32, headed by a pair of Gr1 winners in Querari Falcon and Rio Querari, the country's champion sprinter of 2020/21. Incidentally, the latter completed a quick double for his sire when he ran out a gusty winner of the next day's

Notwithstanding the fact that Querari's best racetrack efforts were over 2000m, his progeny tend to show the toe his sire line is renowned for. In fact, he led the juvenile sires list on two occasions (2019 and 2022), no surprise, since his sire Oasis Dream is a renowned speed influences, as is his grandsire Green Desert.

However, far from being a onedimensional speed sire, he is also a fine source of milers,

Gr3 Champagne Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

Querari – outstanding son of Oasis Dream

Jeremy Nelson

as proven by the likes of aforementioned Gr1 Thekwini winner Querari Falcon, Gr2 Premier Trophy winner Head Honcho, Gr2 Dingaans hero Monks Hood and Gr3 Cup Trial winner Kampala Campari. He has even managed to sire a rare stayer or two in East Cape Oaks victress Solana and Desert Wisdom, who captured the 3200m Glenlair Trophy!

While Querari is by a speedy son of Green Desert, Quasillo has as his sire the English Derby and Arc winner Sea The Stars, a grandson of Green Desert.

The chestnut arrived in South Africa, having scored twice in a career confined to just three starts. Successful in the Gr3 Bavaria Classic, he was injured when favourite for the Gr1 German Derby but returned at four to run second in the Gr3 Maxios Trophy.

Sadly, in contrast to his halfbrother, Quasillo's stallion career has been a chequered one, for in a cruel twist of fate, he has turned out to be semi-fertile. That he has three stakes performers to his name is quite an accomplishment, considering his first two crops number no more than 25 foals.

Ameena, who lost the Poinsettia by the bob of a head, won last season's Gr2 Golden Slipper and Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes.

Hollywoodbets Durban July entry Quasiforsure reached the frame in both the Listed Jet Master Stakes and Model

Man Mile and recently registered his fifth win with a fluent threelength victory at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Considering he had the likes of Gr1 winners Battle Force and Pearl Of Asia behind him, that was a mighty impressive effort.

Rounding out the trio is Miss Putin, who finished third in the Listed Devon Air Stakes. Amongst the handful of runners from Quasillo's second crop of just nine foals are the two-time winners Piroshka (a half-brother to Gr1 winner Zarina) and Quasimodo.

Maine Chance owner Dr Andreas Jacobs is philosophical about Quasillo's severely curtailed stud career.

"The horse still has fertility issues," he confirmed. "Not so with our mares, as we can manage them better to the point where he can cover a mare three times. Unfortunately, that makes him unattractive to any outside breeder. If not for his problems, he would be tops!"

Quasillo may never reach the lofty heights that Querari has. Yet despite limited representation, he is doing his bit to maintain the family honour.

Poinsettia winning jockey Richard Fourie enjoys a lighthearted moment with Sean Tarry Racing Travelling Lad John Nsosa

Candiese Lenferna

SON OF ARGENTINA IS THE CHAMP

It’s close but Puerto Manzano (Keagan de Melo, partially obscured down inside) gets the verdict over Second Base (Chase Maujean)

The third horse this century after Ilha da Vitoria and Yorker to register the Summer Cup- Premier’s Champions Challenge double, the Wernars family’s gutsy Argentinian-bred Puerto Manzano came back to his best with a thrilling victory in the R2 million Grade 1 season climax at Turffontein on Saturday.

The World Sports Betting Gr1 Premier’s Champions Challenge was the final elite event of 4Racing’s inaugural ‘The Championships’, five high-octane racedays from February and which reached a summit on Saturday.

With 12 of the 13 runners Hollywoodbets Durban July entries, the 2000m race was always going to be a

competitive affair, but the pace was sedate as Muzi Yeni dictated matters early on the front-running MK’s Pride.

Inside the final 250m, any one of ten horse could win it and the upset was on the cards as Chase Maujean bounced Second Base into a length lead.

Riding for his life, Keagan de Melo had Puerto Manzano (6-1) building to full volume down the inside and in an unlikely catch, the son of Seek Again got up to nab his former stablemate Second Base (33-1) on the line to win in a time of 127,13 secs.

Second Base, who raced previously in the Wernars silks, had recently been sold into

the Robyn Klaasen yard off a BSA Online Sale.

Rain In Holland (154) maintained her form resurgence in third and under a length off the winner, with the luckless favourite Billy Bowlegs (28-10) a short head away in fourth.

Registering his second Gr1 success, Puerto Manzano has now won 8 races with 8 places from 23 starts for stakes of R3 855 600.

Purchased by Justin Vermaak, the winner was bred by Dr Ignacio Pavlovsky at Haras Carampangue and is a son of Speightstown’s Gr1 Hollywood Derby winning son Seek Again out of the two time winning Orpen mare, Poser.

Owner Laurence Wernars and his Bloodstock man Justin Vermaak chat to Lyle Cooper after the big win

Candiese Lenferna

CLOSE FOR KLAASEN!

JC Photos

Chase Maujean’s face and body language says it all as Second Base goes oh so close

After coming within a heartbeat of causing a massive upset with Second Base in Saturday’s R2 million World Sports Betting Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes at Turffontein, jockey Chase Maujean and promising young trainer Robyn Klaasen were summoned to the Stipes boardroom.

In a race run 2 seconds slower than the fairer sex equivalent under the lights and on softer going won by Gilded Butterfly (carrying a kilo less) a few hours later, Summer Cup hero Puerto Manzano pipped former stablemate Second Base in a terrific finish.

For journeyman rider Chase Maujean and trainer Klaasen – what a groundbreaking win it would have been for her – it was a rollercoaster of racing’s typical highs and lows.

200m out their off-form son of Gimmethegreenlight looked to have done enough. But it was not to be.

The Stipes have reported that in the closing stages, pacemaker MK’S Pride (M Yeni), who had come to the

end of his run, was carried in and had to steady momentarily to avoid the heels of Maujean’s mount Second Base, which commenced to hang inwards and shifted inwards.

In this incident, MK’S Pride and Rain In Holland (R Fourie) brushed, and Rain In Holland and Puerto Manzano (De Melo) brushed, all of which raced in restricted galloping room on the inside of eventual runnerup Second Base.

Maujean was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.7 in that he, as the rider of Second Base, was deemed to have failed to ensure that he did not cause interference to Puerto Manzano, MK’S Pride and Rain In Holland when he shifted in in the concluding stages.

The Sprint is interactivewatch the end stages replay here:

Maujean signed an Admission of Guilt and is suspended from riding in races for a period of ten (10) days.

When assessing the penalty, the Stipendiary Stewards advise that they gave regard

to the status of this race, the number of horses affected and that possibly MK’S Pride had lost the fifth position as a result of this incident.

The vastly improved performance of Second Base also came under the spotlight.

When questioned regarding the apparent improved performance from her second placed charge, notwithstanding that it was its first race for her after a recent change of stables, Robyn Klaasen told the Stewards that this gelding has reacted positively to its change of environment and work pattern that she had introduced since its arrival in her yard.

She added that the removal of the ear muffs for Saturday’s race could also have contributed to the improvement and she intends to race the gelding without this equipment in the immediate future.

All of the runners, with the exception of MK’S Pride, are 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July entries.

Isivunguvungu storms clear under Richard Fourie

SPEED STORM SWEEPS TURFFONTEIN

Candiese Lenferna

Summerveld trainer Peter Muscutt pulled one back for the often maligned KwaZuluNatal racing community when the Narrow Creek Stud-bred Isivunguvungu stormed to victory under Richard Fourie for the highriding Hollywood Syndicate in the R1 million Jonsson Workwear Gr1 Computaform Sprint at Turffontein on Saturday.

The well-travelled Isivunguvungu (5-1) ran a cracker when third behind Gimme A Prince in the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship on Cape Town Met day.

But there were no doubts of who was boss on Saturday when the 4yo grabbed the limelight in style as he charged away to put 2 lengths between himself and the gallant William Robertson (7-1) to win in a time of 56,11 secs.

Both the top two finishers are by past Computaform Sprint winners in What A Winter and Rafeef – although the

latter has also sired an SA Derby winner. So as leading bloodstock man Robin Bruss would say, class horses can do it all!

The smart mare Princess Calla (9-4) was run off her feet early but grabbed third ahead of Sheela(4-1).

Jockey Richard Fourie was in rich form.

“It’s a plan well executed. I’m glad it went well today. He stumbled at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last time and got beaten. But today he was on song and it went like a dream,” said the Capetonian, who had won all three features of the day to that stage.

Veteran trainer Peter Muscutt celebrated his first Gr1 winner and said that his charge has grown up and was no longer a tearaway as he was when he was a 2yo.

“A huge thanks to Jonsson Workwear and most of all

thanks to Owen and Devin Heffer and Anthony Delpech and the whole Hollywoodbets team,” he added.

Hollywood Syndicate manager Anthony Delpech, who won the Computaform Sprint four times as a jockey, was over the moon as Isivunguvungu is the first Gr1 winner for the Hollywood Syndicate chosen by their selection team.

Isivunguvungu, meaning ‘storm’ in isiXhosa, is a son of 2013 Computaform Sprint winner What A Winter (Western Winter) out of the four-time winning Tiger Ridge mare Miss Tweedy, who won up to a mile.

Bred by Narrow Creek Stud, the winner was purchased privately by the Hollywood Syndicate in 2020, in the dark days of the covid pandemic.

Now a winner of 4 races with 5 places from 12 starts, Isivunguvungu has banked earnings of R1 085 050.

Happy team! Richard Fourie, Peter Muscutt and Ros Coetzee enjoy the podium moment

Hollywood Syndicate manager Anthony Delpech holds the trophy

Candiese Lenferna

THE COLD HARD FACTS

On a sizzling afternoon into evening at Turffontein on Saturday for Drakenstein’s Equus Award-winning champion sire What A Winter, Cold Fact went gun to tape to win the weatherdelayed R300 000 World Sports Betting Gr2 Camellia Stakes.

What A Winter, a 2013 Computaform Sprint Champion, sired the winner of the speed Gr1 a few hours earlier courtesy of

Isivunguvungu, and then followed up with a Gr2 success under the lights.

Bounced out by Denis Schwarz, the Rex Stud-bred Cold Fact (17-2)was too quick for her opposition and simply ran them off their feet to beat Kiss Me Captain (15-10) by 1,50 lengths in a time of 66, 83 secs.

The visiting duo of Whoa Whoa Whoa and Stiptelik completed the quartet.

The winner is a daughter of What A Winter (Western Winter) out of the thrice-winning Dynasty mare, Indaba.

A winner of 6 races with 5 places from 16 starts, Cold Fact took her stakes earnings to R548 625.

Denis Schwarz drives Cold Fact to a peak career win

SLOW TIMES INFLUENCE HANDICAPPERS

Puerto Manzano remains unchanged on a merit rating of 123 after his success in the Gr1 WSB Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m on the standside course at Turffontein on Saturday 29 April.

The Handicappers took a conservative view of this race due to the substandard time that this race produced and

used the consistent 5th placed NEBRAAS as the line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 117.

In assessing the race this way PUERTO MANZANO only runs to a rating of 121 which is two pounds below his official rating of 123.

There were also ratings increases for runner-up

SECOND BASE, who was raised from 104 to 120, and for 4th finisher BILLY BOWLEGS, who is up from 114 to 118.

Four horses were given a rating’s drop. ZEUS is down slightly from 104 to 103, LITIGATION was trimmed from 113 to 112, DIVINE ODYSSEY drops from 109 to 107, and lastly GOLDEN DUCAT drops to 116 from 120.

CAPITAL CITY UNDER CLOUDS

Just under a week prior to Charles Dickens’ likely Champions Season debut, Aldo Domeyer and the Drakenstein and BassRobinson teams made a clinical start to their 2023 KZN campaign courtesy of the Cape Nursery winner Winter Cloud’s facile victory in Sunday’s R200 000 Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

After taking a minor bump at the gate from Lady Lacewing, Winter Cloud was relaxed as

Hot Pearl cut out the fractions.

Aldo Domeyer gave her the shake up at the 200m and she changed legs.

It was race over as Winter Cloud (6-10) skated clear to win unextended by 2,80 lengths in a time of 63,07 secs and stamp her claims to being a big runner in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship in June.

A winner of 3 races with a place from 4 starts, Winter

Cloud took her stakes earnings to R641 563.

She is one of a string of eight Bass-Robinson big guns in the holiday province for the big season.

Aldo Domeyer said that he felt that the winner would be better suited to the 1200m of the Capital City track, after she changed legs relatively late in the race.

A daughter of Equus Champion What A Winter

Aldo Domeyer salutes on Winter Cloud

(Western Winter) who has enjoyed a terrific weekend, she is out of Montelissima, a Montjeu half-sister to Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes winner Arria and Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes third Pivotal Pursuit.

Her second dam Issa is a fullsister to unbeaten Yorkshire Oaks winner Catchascatchcan, dam of Breeders’ Cup Mile winner and former Highlands Stud sire Antonius Pius.

Drakenstein Stud’s four-time Gr1 winning sire What A

Winter enjoyed a big day at Turffontein on Saturday with the stallion’s son Isivunguvungu landing the Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint with his daughter Cold Fact winning the Gr2 World Sports Betting Camellia Stakes on the same day.

What A Winter has now been responsible for the last three winners of the Camellia Stakes with daughters Celestial Love and Winter Smoke victorious in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

A triple Equus Champion, What A Winter is enjoying an excellent and championship chasing season this year thus far, with his flagbearers including not only the mentioned trio Winter Cloud, Isivunguvungu and Cold Fact, but also fellow graded stakes winners Humdinger and Miss Cool.

The champion son of Western Winter is also currently South Africa’s Leading Sire of 2YOs for 2022-2023 by stakes, having already supplied eight juvenile winners thus far.

Candice Bass-Robinson and Aldo Domeyer made a great start to the season - now for Saturday!

Candiese Lenferna

NO LUCK NEEDED!

Sean Tarry and Richard Fourie made it a quick Nursery feature double when the undefeated Gr3 Protea Stakes winner Lucky Lad toyed with his opposition to win the R400 000 World Sports Betting Gr2 SA Nursery.

Just over a half hour after Mrs Geriatrix made it three from three in the fairer sex equivalent, the Varsfontein

bred Lucky Lad (13-10) produced a match winning showing to burst away inside the 200m and make it three from three when beating Jerusalema Rain (20-1) by 2,75 lengths in a time of 67,11 secs.

The filly Ripple Effect (14-1) was beaten a further three quarter lengths in third.

Trainer Sean Tarry said that Lucky Lad had a professional

demeanour and overcame a little hiccough during the week.

An R850 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Lucky Lad is unbeaten in three starts for stakes of R462 500.

Bred by Varsfontein, he is a son of Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the twice winning Caesour mare, Imperial State.

Lucky Lad charges clear under Richard Fourie

GIRL POWER

Sean Tarry with the Magical Lady Syndicate and their champion Mrs Geriatrix (Richard Fourie)

POWER RULES!

The big raceday combination of Richard Fourie and Sean Tarry got The Championships 2023 finale underway in style at Turffontein on Saturday when unbeaten Mrs Geriatrix turned on the jets from what looked like a hopeless position to win the R300 000 World Sports Betting Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery.

Jumping from her unfavourable 3 gate, the Listed Ruffian Stakes winner had to break down walls to get across to better ground and through the traffic.

But as usual Richard Fourie had the answers and the Winning Form-sponsored rider got the favourite up in the shadow of the post.

Mrs Geriatrix (3-1) made it 3 from 3 and took her earnings

to R337 500 as she got the verdict by a neck in a time of 67,56 secs.

Mike de Kock’s Red Hot Rose (16-1) was a winner everywhere bar the line, but cost herself, ducking out late.

Maiden So Seductive (20-1) was a further 3,70 lengths back in third, with pacesetter Cullinan Blue (11-2) in fourth.

Sean Tarry said his charge got the job done in ‘spectacular fashion’ from her position at the 200.

“That is a reflection of her ability and heart,” added the former champion trainer.

The Magical Lady Syndicate’s flyer cost R200 000 at the 2022 National Yearling Sale. The Clifton-bred Mrs Geriatrix is out of the Kahal mare Velvet Glove.

She is a ringer for her relatives with a strong likeness to her dam’s star siblings, Prince Of Kahal and Fort Vogue. This is the smart family of Clifton bred Whatalady, and hails back to champions Highland Night, sire Warm White Night, Tristful, Night Watch and Prince Asad.

The big day Pick 6 fell short of the projected R7 million, reaching a respectable R6 484 000.

MAINE CHANCE SIRE'S FEATURE DOUBLE

Maine Chance Farms’ outstanding stallion

Vercingetorix dominated proceedings in the running of the Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery run over 1160m at Turffontein on Saturday.

Not only did Vercingetorix’s unbeaten two-year-old daughter Mrs Geriatrix win the SA Fillies Nursery, the sire’s daughters So Seductive and Cullinan Blue finished third and fourth respectively in the same race.

Mrs Geriatrix is one of 26

stakes winners for Vercingetorix, with the latter also responsible for such Gr1 winning two-year-olds as Ambiorix and Vernichey and last season’s Equus Champion Two-Year-Old Cousin Casey.

Vercingetorix claimed his second feature race winner over the weekend when his lightly raced son Gladatorian won the Listed In Full Flight Handicap at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.

The former Equus Champion’s great run could well continue on Saturday when his champion son Cousin Casey is a starter in the Gr2 World Sports Betting Guineas.

Vercingetorix also enjoyed tremendous success at the recent National Yearling Sale, where he ended that auction as the Leading Sire by Aggregate. Silvano’s champion son had 35 yearlings sell for a gross total of R29 900 000 with Vercingetorix’s National Sale yearlings averaging an impressive R854 286

NOTHING LITTLE ABOUT STUART!

Trainer Stuart Ferrie saddled his first feature winner on Sunday

Candiese Lenferna

On a day that honoured his long-time boss Dennis Drier, Summerveld trainer Stuart Ferrie saddled his maiden stakes success when the Vercingetorix 3yo Gladatorian repelled the challenge of the year older African Skyline to win a grandstand finish to the R150 000 Listed In Full Flight Handicap at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.

In a wide opening first leg of the Pick 6, Sean Veale, despite injuring his toe at the jump, got the Ferrie-trained gelding up to win a cracker. He paid R36-30 for a tote win.

After the long time pacesetter Hooves Of Troy fell away, Gladatorian (25-1) and African Skyline (25-2) came together, with the former getting the verdict by the proverbial whisker in a time of 62,79 secs.

Having his first start for Dean Kannemeyer, the injury plagued Gr1 winner Tempting Fate (7-1) ran a cracker for third. The favourite Mercantour ran on for fifth.

The quartet paid a few thousand short of R100 000.

Bred by Erasmus Thoroughbreds, the winner

is a R400 000 National Yearling Sale graduate and is a 27th stakes winner for exciting Maine Chance sire Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the six-time winning Dynasty mare, Harvard Crimson.

Vercingetorix claimed his second feature race winner of the weekend here a day after his unbeaten daughter Mrs Geriatrix won the Gr2 World Sports Betting SA Fillies Nursery at Turffontein.

Now a winner of 3 races with 3 places from 8 starts, Gladatorian took his earnings to R312 938.

ALSON’S UP AND AWAY

Mike de Kock’s assistant trainer Alson Ndzilana, who was previously the long-time assistant of Joey Ramsden, has acquired his own trainer’s licence and opened his yard at Randjesfontein on 1 May.

Alson is now looking for owners to join his yard.

Alson, who hails from Umtata, has a life-time of experience

in horses and more than thirty years experience in the racing industry. He grew up riding horses and his father, Jackson, worked at Summerveld for Steve Benton.

Alson said a life in horseracing appealed to him from the beginning because as a young horseman he grew to love horses and still does today. He said his two chief

inspirations had been Ramsden and De Kock.

Veteran horseman James Goodman, who has assisted and mentored Alson for the last few years, said he had sought a sponsor about two years ago to set up a trainer from a previously disadvantaged background, knowing how enormous the expenses were to set up

Alson Ndzilana – newest trainer at Randjesfontein

oneself, not to mention the red tape involved and the difficulty of attracting owners.

The initial sponsor pulled out and Goodman said: “I’ve been traipsing up and down driveways” looking for a new sponsor and Betway had “really been my last port of call, I had exhausted all other avenues.”

Betway, who has Mike de Kock as an ambassador, saw the potential and threw their weight behind project Alson with financial support and administrative assistance.

De Kock said: “This is a tremendous gesture by Betway, because they are setting Alson up for success. He is not set up to fail. Let me tell you, Alson knows how to train horses, and that he can focus on that and not on paying the water and lights will make a major difference.

“There have been really good, previously disadvantaged horsemen who have tried to

start up but failed because they spend their time looking to pay bills. And then they don’t make it. Alson will have a proper platform to start from. His horsemanship and talent as a trainer is beyond doubt.”

Goodman added: “Betway saw the value. 4Racing then organised stables at Randjesfontein and they’ve done a fantastic job fixing up the stables. Then the CMH motor group have said they will provide Alson with a vehicle. All three of these sponsors were equally important.”

James added, “We have reached a point where the stable doors are open, but we now need to close a horse in that box behind them. So now we have to go out and canvas owners. We’ve had many really good owners who said they would support this initiative and hopefully we can get horses in the yard that have some potential, so Alson can show what he can do with them.”

He continued, “We will run his background business. Make sure all the vat is done, the groom’s wages are paid, the groom’s contracts, the admin, the signage.”

He added, “We are going to have functions at the stables and be able to look after owners the way they should be looked after.”

James added, “I think Alson is a better trainer than me, so I’m certainly not going to interfere with him as far as training goes!”

Owners, staff and equipment would be the order of business for Alson in the near future.

Alson said, “Each and every owner when they come to my yard, the door is open.”

Alson Ndzilana has tasted success at the top, but now he wants to achieve it under his own name and many who have seen him at work will be as confident as he is that he can do it.

NO FUN – NOT FAIR!

Windsor's decision to have a fairground-style ride near the stables during Monday's race meeting has been slammed by trainers.

It was estimated around 8 000 people were in attendance for the bank

holiday fixture, a funfair and seven races, including the handicap won by Indian Creak.

Trainer Stuart Williams said: "When we're talking about welfare for horses, staff and jockeys, it's madness to have a funfair right by the stables. All the horses in that sprint race were wired before they got to the start and Oisin was very lucky he didn't get hurt in the paddock. I'd definitely put a line through my horse's performance. We need as few distractions as

Ryan Munger – promising rider looks to build his career in Canada

CANADA CALLS FOR MR & MRS MUNGER!

South Africa has bid farewell to another accomplished jockey as Ryan Munger and his wife Kelsey, who is an assistant and work rider in the Ashley Fortune Vaal yard, jetted out of Johannesburg on Monday afternoon on a 20 hour journey en route to a new adventure and a very different life to what they are used to in Ontario, Canada.

In many respects, Ryan, whose Dad has Canadian roots, is a pioneer as not many of our

riders have tried their luck in Canada.

The world's second-largest country by total area, with the globe’slongest coastline, Canada enjoys a solid horseracing fan base and the excited couple said that they would miss their friends in South Africa and the support of the Ashley Fortune and Tara Laing yards, particularly.

“We thought long and hard about it. But I’d rather take a

chance today than look back in ten years time and say I should have!” said former Zimbabwe champion Ryan as he spoke about the exciting, yet daunting, prospects of the new challenge.

And of course their beloved dogs are going with. “They are part of the family,” adds the 27 year old who is sixth on the national log and enjoying a great season with 88 winners –that compares favourably with the 87 he rode last term.

Leading lady trainer Ashley Fortune employed Ryan as her stable jockey and Kelsey as an assistant trainer. She is clearly going to miss the talented couple.

“They were great to have in the stable - both unbelievably loyal and staunch to the yard - nothing was ever too much for them! If we needed them to work, even if Ryan wasn’t riding the horse, he would turn up! Kelsey is very efficient in everything she did - there was always laughing and jokes!” lamented Ashley, as she bid them farewell.

She reflected that having a stable jock is a great asset as they learn how the yard works and thinks and get to build relationships with the horses.

“But we are not looking to replace Ryan just yet - the perfect fit will happen,” added the top horsewoman.

The Canadian racing season already commenced on 22 April and Ryan will be represented by agent Mike Luider, best known for his longtime client Emma-Jayne Wilson, one of Canada’s alltime top jockeys.

Durban-born Ryan has never been to Canada, but has relatives in the eastern part of the country.

He gives credit to his Durban July winning jockey uncle Stuart Randolph for mentoring and guiding his career.

He was the champion rider

Owner Katelyn Whittington happily lifts winning work rider Kelsey Munger after Miss Soho won at the Vaal in October last year

JC Photos

in Zimbabwe in the 2017/18 season and in 2020 rode in Singapore where he also had a successful campaign.

Ryan leaves behind a top season in South Africa and rode three feature winners on 11 March at Turffontein.

The idea of moving to Canada came about during his stint in Singapore.

“My wife and I were there during the covid lockdown. We tossed around ideas about other places where we might go to ride. We knew about Woodbine, and how big it was, and at first, I thought it was in the USA. When I realized it was in Canada, I was even more interested.”

Ryan was pointed in the direction of respected Jockey Agent Luider, who has also handled the books of champions Eurico Rosa da Silva and Jim McAleney. “I knew of Emma-Jayne Wilson, in fact, everyone in South Africa knows Emma-Jayne Wilson,” said the talented rider with the clean-cut image.

he will represent me.”

Asked to name one of his assets as a rider, the modest Ryan scratches his neck before offering an answer.

“The one thing I would say about myself is that I feel like I am a very good judge of pace. You need a horse with a chance, but I am very calm and patient and feel like I can put my horses where they should be in a race.”

The new Woodbine opened on 12 June 1956 and was built at a cost of CA$13 million. It was initially known as the New Woodbine Racetrack but dropped the ‘New’ in 1963. The old track was converted to a combined thoroughbred and standardbred track known thereafter as Old Woodbine or, for most of the rest of its history, as Greenwood Raceway (during standardbred meets) and Greenwood Race Track (during thoroughbred meets).

The two thoroughbred and two standardbred meets conducted at Greenwood were transferred to the new Woodbine in 1994, which was until then exclusively devoted to thoroughbred racing. On June 30, 1959, Queen

Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh attended the 100th running of the Queen's Plate,and Queen Elizabeth II again on July 4, 2010, attended the 151st running of the Queen's Plate Stakes and presented trophies.

The track was the opening venue for the 1976 Summer Paralympics, and some of the sporting events were held here. The Arlington Million was held at Woodbine in 1988. The Breeders' Cup was held at Woodbine in 1996. The Woodbine facility is also home to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. In 2018, the track began using a GPSbased timing system.

Casino Woodbine opened in 1999, offering a slots parlour and later expanded to table games in 2018 and is open 24 hours a day.

Ryan has some high standards to emulate. The record for most wins by a jockey on a single raceday at Woodbine is seven, set by Richard Grubb in May 1967, and twice equalled by the legendary Canadian jockey Sandy Hawley in May 1972, and then again in October 1974.

We wish the Mungers well!

“What Mike has done with Emma-Jayne is a real feather in his cap and I am very privileged that

WITHOUT QUESTION -DAILY NEWS NEXT!

Chase Liebenberg Without

Moutonshoek Stud’s Dr Bennie van der Merwe has been preaching Galileo’s smart son The United States as a stallion to be reckoned with and the Gr1 Ranvet Stakes winner looks to have another smart emerging classic prospect 3yo on the horizon.

That much was clear when Justin Snaith saddled the top four to finish in Monday’s all ages R300 000 World Sports Betting Gr3 Variety Club, with the red-hot Richard Fourie producing the Cheveley Studbred Without Question for a decisive victory to down a top-class field.

Fourie is on fire! The Capebased jockey rode 6 feature winners over three provinces from Saturday to Monday, with his haul including a Gr1, three Gr2’s and two Gr3’s.

Without Question races in the Nic Jonsson silks, and received a hefty 20 pound hike after running third behind See It Again and Charles Dickens in the SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby at his last start.

With the mile on the short side, the gelding showed that he is above average and stamped himself as a classic prospect, with massive upside.

He stormed up the outside late at odds of 5-2 to beat fellow Hollywoodbets

Durban July entrant, the 5yo Hoedspruit (9-2), by 1,25 lengths in a time of 102,38 secs, and book his berth in

the Gr1 Daily News 2000 at Hollywoodbets Greyville on 27 May.

The forward galloping Itsrainingwilliam (8-1) was a further 0,30 lengths back in third, with Native Tongue (16-1) completing the Snaith quartet, which paid a not to snuffed at R569-70 on the tote.

Without Question’s beaten rivals included 2022 Variety Club Mile winner Gem King as well as last year’s Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby victor Pomp And Power, also a Hollywoodbets Durban July entrant, who found

the mile way too short.

The fourth of the 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July candidates, King Regent was beaten over 7 lengths.

Bred by Cheveley Stud, Without Question has now won three of 11 starts, with his previous efforts including a runner-up finish in the Gr3 Politician Stakes earlier this season.

Without Question, who is out of the Argonaut mare Siena’s Star, was a R300 000 purchase from the 2021 National Yearling Sale. He took his stakes earnings to R536 250 at his third win with 3 places from 11 starts.

Jono Snaith, who seems to have joined The United States fan club, said that when they returned the next year to buy the Futura yearling from the same mare, she was out of reach!

A Galileo own-brother to Gr1 winners Hermosa and Hydrangea, The United States is currently South Africa’s fifth Leading Sire of 3YO’s, by stakes.

Jono Snaith receives the trophy from WSB's Hilton Hasson

Chase Liebenberg

RIO’S BACK WITH A BANG

Just over two years after a career peak victory in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint, former Equus Champion Sprinter Rio Querari found his best finish under a cucumber-cool Richard Fourie to win the inaugural open sex renewal of the R250 000 Gr3 Champagne Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Monday.

With feature successes in three different provinces over three glorious days, Fourie is riding with an overload of confidence and the star jockey produced the 6yo gelding with an air of

near nonchalance to stave off the challenges of his younger enthusiastic stablemate We’re Jamming and the recent Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes winner, Bereave.

In a close finish, where only a quarter length separated the top three, Rio Querari (4-1) probably gave the Snaith team one of their more satisfying feature successes this term, holding the young gun We’re Jamming (10-1) by 0,20 lengths in a time of 73,02 secs.

The fabulous Querari’s top lot at the 2018 CTS Ready

To Run Sale, the Normandy Stud consigned Rio Querari was knocked down to John Freeman for R625 000 after a breathtaking gallop. On Monday he took his earnings to R2 163 613 at his 26th start. He has won 7 races with 15 places.

The story of Rio Querari dates back to Normandy matriarch Veronica Foulkes’ purchase of the unraced Northern Guest mare, Nordic Vine, a little over 22 years ago.

Rio Querari’s dam, the unraced Windrush mare Arctic Breeze

Richard Fourie drives Rio Querari through to win smoothly

is an own sister to the fine sprinters Rushing Wind and Nordic Breeze. The former, a winner of the Gr3 Matchem Stakes, was runner-up in both the Gr1 Golden Horse Casino Sprint and Cape Flying Championship while Nordic Breeze won the Gr3 Champagne Stakes.

Third dam Montrachet, a Foveros own sister to ill-fated Guineas victress Yquem, was a stakes-winning sprinter and also features as the grandam of Wynkelder, who twice reached the frame in the Gr2 Post Merchants.

The quality of the field and the finish of the 2023 Gr3 Champagne Stakes has surely vindicated the decision to bring it forward to the month of April and open the 1200m race to male and female contenders.

HAPPY, HAPPY, HOLLYWOOD!

Happy Chance (Louis Mxothwa) slips through on the rail to nab Kwinta's Light (Grant van Niekerk)

The Dynasty filly Happy Chance grabbed her maiden stakes success with a terrific victory in the weather-delayed R200 000 World Sports Betting Sweet Chestnut Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Monday.

Given every chance by Louis Mxothwa from her pole position draw, Happy Chance wore down the free-striding Kwinta’s Light to cap a terrific weekend for the Hollywood Syndicate and register the team’s 99th winner of the term. The yellow and purple

silks were carried to their fourth Gr1 victory of the season when Isivunguvungu won the Jonsson Workwear Gr1 Computaform Sprint on Saturday at Turffontein.

The first leg of the now opento-all-ages Winter Series for the fairer sex hosted a quality nine runner field on the public holiday, and it was the classy Brett Crawford-trained 3yo in the shape of the lightly raced Happy Chance (33-10) who showed her summer Gr1 collateral to be spot-on as she registered the victory by a neck in a time of 88,07 secs.

Kwinta’s Light (5-1) performed best of the Snaith duo for second, ahead of BassRobinson longshot Echo Of Life (25-1) in third.

The Ridgemont Highlands bred Happy Chance is a daughter of the iconic Dynasty (Fort Wood) out of the fourtime winning Captain Al mare, Three Blue Cranes.

Now a winner of 3 races with 3 places from 8 starts, Happy Chance took her stakes earnings to R295 400.

100 UP!

It was a memorable weekend for the Hollywood Syndicate!

After Peter Muscutt and Winning Form jockey Richard Fourie combined with Isivunguvungu, who stormed home to win the Jonsson Workwear Gr1 Computaform Sprint at Turffontein on Saturday and register the fourth Gr1 success of the term for the Hollywood Syndicate, there was more to come with an interprovincial treble on Monday that culminated in the

team’s century of winners for the season!

It all started at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday when Imperious Destiny went from gun to tape in the opener for Alyson Wright and Sporting Post-sponsored jockey, Tristan Godden.

Happy Chance than went on to record her maiden stakes score with a courageous finishing effort in the Listed WSB Sweet Chestnut Stakes

at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth for trainer Brett Crawford and jockey Louis Mxothwa.

The memorable day ended on a high with an exciting exacta at Hollywoodbets Greyville which saw Shipholia notch up the Hollywood Syndicate’s 100th win of the season.

Trainer Gareth van Zyl and Sporting Post rider Athandiwe Mgudlwa did the honours, and she was chased home by the gallant Shanta’s Pride.

The Shipholia fans after the milestone victory at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday

SALUTING DOUG ON HIS 1000TH!

Denis Schwarz gets Ermelo home for the Campbell milestone

Candiese Lenferna

Veteran KZN trainer Doug Campbell turns 80 in August 2024 but is still working hard and ever the master of his art.

He achieved a terrific 1000 winner milestone at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday when Ermelo, a Rabada half-brother to Royal Pleasure won for owner Tommy Crowe under Denis Schwarz.

A consummate gentleman and one of South Africa’s longest standing racehorse trainers, Doug started training at Sugarhill Stables, the family

farm near Richmond, KZN, in 1970, sending jumping ponies to Port Elizabeth, and was granted his racehorse trainers’ licence after some wrestling with the old Jockey Club, in 1978.

Winners flowed in quick succession, including the likes of Dawson Trail, Maisons Laffitte, Kirklevington, King’s Bay, Mystery Guest and National Navigator, to mention just a few.

A story often recounted when racing folk gather to reminisce involves the Doug Campbelltrained Northern Guest pure-

white grey, Mystery Guest who bolted the old Gosforth Park track moments before the 1989 Gr1 Fillies Guineas.

“The vet, Dr Macdonald, insisted that Mystery Guest was to be scratched. I was furious with jockey Kevin Shea. She ran around the entire track. But I said to the stipes, ‘I haven’t come all this way to have my horse scratched’, and they left her in. Kevin rode her to a big surprise record-setting win, and he was forgiven!” recounted Doug. We wish Doug and Di everything of the best.

Di and Doug pose proudly with Ermelo Candiese Lenferna

ON THE EDGE!

Billy Jacobson rides a powerhouse finish on Cliff Hanger

Candiese Lenferna

Ridgemont Highlands’ internationally proven five time Group 1 winner Canford Cliffs has maintained his superb momentum in his second SA season!

The top-notch stallion registered another stakes success at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday when his Clifton Stud-bred son Cliff Hanger maintained his impeccable record to win the R200 000 Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes.

Trained by Summerveld conditioner Yogas Govender, who achieves minor miracles with his small string, Cliff Hanger built on his track and trip debut to score a scintillating victory under Billy Jacobson.

With the favourite Outlaw King outpaced and never quite finding his best stride, the race turned into a three-way tussle with Cliff Hanger (14-1) showing courage as he got the better of Glen Kotzen’s

multiple stakes-placed feature winning filly Golden Tatjana (4-1) by a head in a time of 63,66 secs.

Outlaw King (7-10) will come on with this effort and was 0,40 lengths away in third.

A R90 000 National 2yo Sale graduate, the winner was bred by Clifton Stud from the VAR mare Luneberg.

He has now won 2 from 2 for stakes of R175 000.

Winning rider Billy Jacobson receives his trophy from Gold Circle Director Lance Whiteford

Candiese Lenferna

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

BUTTERFLY WINGS IT

Keagan de Melo and Gilded Butterfly are on their own!

Wilgerbosdrift stallion Flower Alley had another good day at Turffontein on Saturday.

Not only did daughters of the former Gr1 Travers Stakes winner finish first and fourth in the R300 000 World Sports Betting Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes, another daughter finished a close up second in the WSB the SA Fillies Nursery on the same day.

After a lengthy weather enforced delay, the Gerald Rosenberg Stakes was turned into a procession by Flower Alley 4yo Gilded Butterfly, the Stuart Pettigrew trained filly romping home under the lights to land the 2000m contest by four and a half lengths.

After the field had headed for the outside of the track into the home straight, Gilded

Butterfly was too strong and came away to thump Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic heroine Bless My Stars by a widening margin.

Another graded stakes winning daughter of Flower Alley, Bold Fortune, finished fourth.

It was a second graded win for Gilded Butterfly having also claimed the 4Racing Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap earlier this season.

Out of the Silvano mare Gallica Rose, Gilded Butterfly cost the Ackerman family R50 000 off the National Yearling Sale and has now won six of 17 starts with the classy filly having already earned R642 625 in prize money.

The meeting was abandoned after this race with plans to run the WSB Gr3 Gold Bowl this forthcoming weekend.

KZN RACING SET FOR CHANGE

A powerful new generation South African horseracing operator could become a reality after it emerged today that the Gold Circle Board has approved a financial proposal from leading betting operator Hollywoodbets and Greg Bortz.

Earlier this week the Sporting Post reported the Competition Commission’s approval of Hollywood Sportsbook Holdings (Pty) Ltd acquisition of Kenilworth Racing (Pty) Ltd.

This was a sequel to agreements concluded in a R330 million deal in July 2022 at a time when Kenilworth Racing was under

severe financial duress.

The deal has ensured the long-term viability and health of racing in the Western Cape for the years and decades ahead as well as ensuring that thousands of jobs in and around the horseracing industry are maintained and secured.

A successful entrepreneur and racehorse owner, Greg Bortz of GMB Investments (Pty) Ltd was a key player in the transaction and is set to partner Hollywoodbets into the future.

Now the same team looks set to come to the rescue of an ailing Gold Circle, which saw their six-month trading results for the period ended 31 January 2023 reflect a deficit of R25.7 million.

Projecting this to the financial year ending 31 July 2023, Gold Circle report that this deficit is now expected to increase to R45 million.

Continuing declining trading trends have thus forced the Gold Circle board to a point where decisions on the future sustainability of the company need to be taken.

The first British Classic of the season, the Qipco 2,000 Guineas, takes place on Saturday. Run over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket, fifteen colts have stood their ground after the first declarations, with the allimportant draw still to be decided.

There is an advantage to being drawn low in the 2,000 Guineas, with seven of the previous ten winners drawn in stall nine or lower.

Champion Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has taken four of the last eight runnings, all with horses making their seasonal reappearance, a good sign for his two leading fancies - antepost favourite Auguste Rodin, and the No Nay Never colt, Little Big Bear.

Auguste Rodin is highly regarded by his trainer, potentially capable of completing the Triple Crown and could prove hard to beat on his reappearance. The colt by Deep Impact, was most impressive in the Gr1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster in October. Run in unsuitable heavy ground, he was held up in rear early on by Ryan Moore, before quickening up effortlessly to run out a facile three-and-a-half-length winner.

On that occasion he had a stable companion to follow who set a good pace, and that could be the plan again on Saturday with the 100/1 shot Cairo still declared a runner. Second favourite is another stable companion Little Big

Bear. He is the highest rated runner in the field after putting up one of the most impressive juvenile performances of the last decade, running out a seven-length winner of the Gr1 Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh in August.

That was over six and a half furlongs, the furthest he has raced, so the mile trip is a question, whilst a nine-month layoff is another point to consider.

Retained rider Ryan Moore has yet to choose which of the Ballydoyle runners he will ride, although its highly likely he will pick Auguste Rodin. Chaldean, a son of Frankel, heads the local challenge. Trained by Andrew Balding, the Juddmonte owned runner confirmed his status as the best of the British juveniles with a game victory in the Gr1 Dewhurst at this track in October.

Frankie Dettori retains the ride on a horse that tends to race prominently, and his uncomplicated style looks an advantage at this track. He was favourite for the Greenham at Newbury last month on his seasonal return, but dislodged Dettori on leaving the stalls, not an ideal preparation for the Guineas. Currently, the chestnut is third in the betting at around 5/1.

The Roger Varian trained Sakheer is another British trained runner at single figure prices (6/1). A winner of his last two of three starts, the

Zoffany colt justified odds-on favouritism with a facile three and a half-length success in the Gr2 Mill Reef Stakes over 6-furlongs at Newbury in September.

He travelled throughout that contest looking like the winner and was eased down at the finish. The least exposed of the main protagonists, he retains plenty of scope for improvement.

It must be noted that his pedigree suggests that the mile trip is far from guaranteed, especially at Group 1 pace. His trainer acknowledged: “We're as confident as we can be that Sakheer will stay but nobody knows until the Guineas. If he doesn't get home, then we could drop him in trip.”

Others to consider are the Craven winner Indestructible, whose juvenile form leaves him with a bit to find with Chaldean, but he showed a taking attitude winning on his seasonal return over course and distance last month, and the Godolphin duo – Noble Style and Silver Knott, both trained by Charlie Appleby.

Noble Style, unbeaten in three starts is now the mount of last year’s winning rider James Doyle, whilst retained rider William Buick sides with Breeders Cup Juvenile runnerup Silver Knott.

COCAINE POSITIVE CAPE JOCKEY GETS A YEAR

The National Horseracing Authority confirms that at an Inquiry held in Cape Town on 20 April 2023, Jockey Sandile Mbhele was charged with a contravention of Rule 77.1.1 read with Rule 77.2.7.

The particulars being that a urine sample taken from him at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse on 30 October 2022, disclosed upon analysis the presence of Benzoylecgonine, a known metabolite of Cocaine, which is a banned substance in terms of the Rules.

Mr Mbhele pleaded guilty to

and was found guilty of the charge.

In determining a suitable penalty, the Board took into consideration the evidence led and the mitigating factors presented, including that Mr Mbhele had been blocked from riding as from 24 November 2022, due to the pending investigation as recorded in the Stipendiary Stewards race day report.

Mr Mbhele was suspended from riding in races for a period of one (1) year, of which six (6) months is wholly suspended for

two (2) years, providing that during this period, Mr Mbhele is not found guilty of a contravention of Rule 77, pertaining to recreational drugs, and complies with the conditions regarding his continued rehabilitation.

Jockey S Mbhele waived his Right of Appeal against the penalty imposed and was granted permission to take his suspension from 24/11/2022 to 23/05/2023, both dates inclusive.

• Media release by NHA on Tuesday 2 May 2023.

SUNDAY, SUPER SUNDAY!

Zac Purton celebrates as Lucky Sweynesse makes it 5 FWD Champions Day Gr1 successes for the Aussie

HKJC

Golden Sixty stands alone as Hong Kong’s most prolific Group 1 winner after his record-setting third Gr1 FWD Champions Mile triumph at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Equal with Beauty Generation’s mark of eight top-level wins before today, Golden Sixty –trained by Francis Lui – added this afternoon’s success to his wins in 2021 and 2022.

Making it an unmatched nine Group 1s for the seven-yearold by Medaglia d’Oro, jockey Vincent Ho also sealed a fourth FWD Champions Mile win in succession to become the HK$20 million contest’s leading rider after breaking his deadlock with Brett Prebble.

Adding to his brilliance in front of a packed 49,496 crowd at Sha Tin, Golden Sixty – based on current exchange rates – is ranked first for career earnings globally with HK$147,930,600, while Winx’s all-time AU$26,451,174 equates to HK$137,530,690.

“Thank you to all of the racing fans and, of course, I am really grateful to be on this horse again. He’s such a superstar and I’m just very grateful and very happy for Golden Sixty of course. Now he looks around and enjoys the crowds and his home turf,” Ho said.

“We got a sneak through the inside, one off and sort of in second position. I told myself before this race to try and enjoy every moment with Golden Sixty because he is

seven now and we don’t know when he is going to retire but it’s the best way to enjoy every single step with him.

“I’m nothing without him. All of the credit goes to Golden Sixty,” Ho said.

They came, they saw and they were well and truly conquered as Romantic Warrior confirmed himself among the world’s elite with a commanding second consecutive success in the Gr1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m).

Pandemic restrictions meant Danny Shum’s gelding beat a purely domestic field when landing the HK$25 million contest in 2022 and the fiveyear-old faced a sterner test against two Gr1 winners from Japan and globetrotting British raider Dubai Honour, fresh from capturing two of Australia’s elite 2000m contests.

However, the market spoke volumes about the confidence behind him and the 1.6 favourite delivered in spades, charging into the lead with 400m to run and eased down close to home as Kiwi rider James McDonald stood up in the stirrups to salute an adoring crowd.

“How good are the Hong Kong horses, they’re flying today,” said a beaming McDonald, who is now unbeaten in three rides on Romantic Warrior after partnering him to similarly emphatic victories in the Gr2

BOCHK

Jockey

Club

Cup and Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup last November and December.

“He’s a world-class horse and put in a performance just like he did in December. There wasn’t one part of the race where I thought he wasn’t right – he was always going to explode for me – and the race panned out beautifully. He’s a world-class horse. It took an absolute weapon (Golden Sixty) to run him down last time but he’s a great 2000m horse and I really enjoy riding him.”

Established as the world’s highest-rated sprinter of 2023, Lucky Sweynesse joined elite company with a runaway win in the HK$20 million G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize.

The four-year-old continued his rise to stardom and edged closer to embarking on an ambitious path of potentially tackling elite races either in Japan or Australia in the coming months with a devastating display of power and speed, gliding over the closing 400m in 22.26s.

Going into Sunday’s race already armed with a pair of G1 victories this season, the Manfred Man trained fouryear-old also collected a HK$5 million bonus for successfully completing the third leg of Hong Kong’s three-race Speed Series.

Only three other horses –Mr Vitality (1995/96), Grand

Delight (2002/03) and the legendary Silent Witness (2003/04 & 2004/05) – had previously annexed the Speed Series.

Forced to work hard early in the race when taken out a little wider than Zac Purton would have liked, Lucky Sweynesse left no doubt about his superiority over the seven

other runners when he surged away with the race by three and a quarter lengths to justify his red-hot starting price.

Lucky Sweynesse’s slice from the HK$20 million prize purse for finishing first was HK$11.4 million to give the gelding a total winning cheque of HK$16.4 million for the day and added a further accolade

to the sprint sensation.

It was Purton’s first win in the race since Ivictory in 2018 and his fifth overall FWD Champions Day Gr1 win, while Lucky Sweynesse delivered Man’s first FWD Champions Day Gr1 winner.

What a superb day of racing!

Vincent Ho salutes on Golden Sixty HKJC

54000 AT SHA

TIN ON SUNDAY

The Hong Kong Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer

Mr Winfried EngelbrechtBresges has lauded the success of FWD Champions Day after Hong Kong stars Golden Sixty, Romantic Warrior and Lucky Sweynesse led a clean sweep of the three Group 1 features at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Describing the performances of Hong Kong’s three equine titans as “very special”

after Lucky Sweynesse’s Gr1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) triumph, Golden Sixty’s record-breaking Gr1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) romp and Romantic Warrior’s Gr1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m) victory, Mr EngelbrechtBresges said the meeting marked the city’s full return to the world stage.

“It was a day that showed Hong Kong racing has fully come back to the world

stage with the atmosphere and the performances of these champion horses,” Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges said.

“This is really a global event and one which has improved the reputation of Hong Kong racing, especially after COVID.

“There were a lot of people who were a little bit sceptical over whether Hong Kong can rebound quickly but today has shown Hong Kong’s has the ‘Can Do’ spirit and the

HKJC CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges at the media briefing on Sunday

willingness to stretch. What we saw today was absolutely world-class racing and there were absolutely outstanding performances of really great champions of the turf.

“Humbly, I would submit, Lucky Sweynesse is the best sprinter in the world and one of the best sprinters ever in Hong Kong. Golden Sixty is something every racing jurisdiction dreams of because one has not to forget we have only 1,250 horses and

with a horse like Golden Sixty breaking all the records and history, he really is a hero in Hong Kong and globally.

“Romantic Warrior is one of the best horses in the world and especially over 2000m he is a dominant force, especially the way he accelerated.”

Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges said the atmosphere generated by many first-time racecourse attendees was outstanding and he thanked sponsor FWD.

“Today was a fantastic day of racing, the atmosphere was electrifying and the fans definitely supported us –54,000 (people) is a wonderful result,” Mr EngelbrechtBresges said.

Hong Kong Jockey Club Executive Director, Racing Mr Andrew Harding said: “This was a history-making day, it was something very, very special and those successes in my mind at least will be etched in for a very long time.”

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