SP Sprint - 05 July 2023 v2

WE DID IT!

EASY AS GR1,GR2,GR3 FOR RAMPANT RICHIE!

Alistair Cohen chats to Richard Fourie after the Winning Formsponsored rider steered Princess Calla to victory in the Gr1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes on Hollywoodbets Durban July day. Fourie registered a glorious feature treble of a Gr1, Gr2 and Gr3 success. Thanks to Chase Liebenberg who took the photo.

POWER TEAM IN THE PENTHOUSE SUITE!

The 127th renewal of Africa’s Greatest Race at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday produced a memorable occasion of firsts, with the Drakenstein bred and raced Winchester Mansion capping a courageous recovery from serious injury as a yearling to write his, and the names of his connections, into the SA turf history books.

ASponsored for the second year by South Africa’s leading bookmakers, the R5 million Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July produced a thrilling finish that had the estimated near 50 000 crowd on their feet as favourite See It Again and his senior Winchester Mansion went head-to-head in a nail-biting dash to the line.

With Piere Strydom, like Frankie Dettori, a veteran champion in his last season, looking to have timed his run to perfection on Michael Roberts’ See It Again, greenhorn Kabelo Matsunyane had other ideas as he coaxed every ounce of effort out of Winchester Mansion.

Just when the cucumber-cool Strydom looked to be gaining the edge as the 3yo colt See It Again changed legs, the 3,5kg discount carried by the 4yo gelding Winchester Mansion counted as the Crawford runner asserted and went on to gain the advantage in a time of 133,85 secs.

At the line, a quarter length separated the top two, with Winchester Mansion giving Kabelo Matsunyane a first Gr1 success in his maiden season as a fully-fledged rider, and the highriding Drakenstein outfit, together with their kingpin Trippi, and trainer Brett Crawford, collectively celebrating their first Durban July victories.

A delighted Kabelo Matsunyane waves to the crowd | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

A race review was called as the first two were perilously close together and there was a bump or two, but no further action was taken.

See It Again was checked at the subway off the heels of Without Question, and whether this cost him valuable energy and ground at a vital juncture will be debated.

A further 2,50 lengths back in third was Sean Tarry’s gutsy 3yo filly Bless My Stars under Sporting Post rider Athandiwe Mgudlwa, while the legendary dual winner Do It Again stayed on into fourth as the best of the Snaith attack.

The 8yo has extraordinarily won twice and run a place at all of his six July bids. He was acknowledged with a special saddle-cloth to mark his status as one of the greats of the iconic contest.

Gelded three runs back, Winchester Mansion is another winning product of the highly successful Crawford Racing Highveld office run by the senior trainer’s son, James.

A Drakenstein bred winner, he is by champion Trippi (End Sweep) out of the Spectrum mare Sea Point.

Now a winner of 5 races with 7 places from 15 starts, Winchester Mansion took his stakes earnings to R3 504 100.

What a race – and a finish that will be replayed for years to come!

THE SPRINT IS INTERACTIVE WATCH THE REPLAY HERE

The Winchester Winners! | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Happy owner and breeder Gaynor Rupert – what a season it’s been! | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

SOWETO’S RISING SON

Tagged ‘The Magician’ because of his preference of wearing wear white gloves, Kabelo muses that life is probably a combination of a lot of luck, timing and opportunity...

Kabelo Matsunyane gets Winchester Mansion home ahead of champion veteran Striker Strydom and See It Again |

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

In 1993 at the tender age of 23, Anton Marcus steered Dancing Duel to the first of the champion jockey’s five Durban July victories. Thirty years later, the champion was the mentor behind 24 year old Sowetoborn Kabelo Matsunyane, who was celebrating a defining moment in his own fledgeling career, as he rode Winchester Mansion to victory in the Hollywoodbets Durban July on Saturday.

The Durban July has a mystique all of its own. And a knack of scripting fairytales and, after Saturday, certainly it’s own share of drama. And none less so than the story of the talented Winning Form-sponsored rider who has emerged from a tough upbringing on the streets of a township that grew from the shantytowns and slums that sprung up in the dark days of the migration of labour into the urban zones of our beautiful country.

The middle child in a family of five, the extremely polite Kabelo moved to the Vaal at the age of 13

with his parents, and older sister and younger brother. His parents kept the wolf from the door and traded in clothing, having never enjoyed the comfort blanket of formal employment.

Kabelo proudly tells that he supports his family today as a nominal token of appreciation to model rock-solid parents, who never had much, but gave him and his siblings the very best that they could.

“I could never repay my debt to my family. They and my girlfriend are my biggest supporters. They have embraced me during my lows,

and cheered for me at my best,” he adds emotionally.

Fobbing off our plaudits, the modest Kabelo, extraordinarily in just his second season as a fully-fledged jockey, tells the Sporting Post that Saturday was only the beginning and this week it’s back to the bread-and-butter racing that keeps the wheels turning.

Tagged ‘The Magician’ because of his preference of wearing white gloves, Kabelo muses that life is probably a combination of a lot of luck, timing and opportunity.

“Mr Brett Crawford’s son James liked what he saw in me, and the turning point, in hindsight, was him giving me the opportunities at their Gauteng satellite yard. That’s a year ago. Today I am on cloud nine with my maiden Gr1 success and my first Hollywoodbets Durban July trophy in my hand. That at an age where so many across South Africa haven’t even been given the opportunity to secure a basic job! I need to digest it all still. God is good and he has been

very kind to me,” he adds.

Asked to tell us about the build-up to his lifechanging strike on Saturday, Kabelo says it started to gain intensity in the week when he took some valuable wise counsel from five-times winning Durban July champion Anton Marcus, one of the great South African riders of the modern era.

“Anton Marcus is one of the world’s greatest riders and I am very privileged to have been able to draw on all of his wisdom and experience. He told me that the first thing is to treat the July like any ordinary race. He said that I mustn’t let the occasion get to me. Also that before I get a leg up on my mount, that I had to breathe deep and become one with my horse. I also meditated for a short time in the parade ring. I shut the noise out and followed his instructions to the letter! I could go into great detail about his valuable tutorial and psychological briefing and would like to thank Anton Marcus basically rode my mental race with me in the days prior to the race.”

Kabelo’s smile says it all as he returns to the champion’s horseshoe | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Asked to talk us through the actual final stages, Kabelo says that he kept feeling that the lionhearted Winchester Mansion had plenty in reserve.

“I was quite surprised when Mr Strydom flew past us on See It Again. I thought the great jockey, who we all look up to with enormous admiration, either had plenty in hand, or may even have gone a bit early. But with the Marcus magic in my head, I didn’t panic. I knew my mount has the guts and courage, and he still had something in reserve. His one ear tweaked back too – he was really not into getting beaten by a younger champ!”

Kabelo says that Winchester Mansion also has a tendency to lug in.

“So when we drew alongside See It Again I knew that Mr Roberts’ horse was my mount’s

guide, and that my horse would thus not be looking to drift for the rail. I also placed my crop in my left hand. When See It Again bumped us, I then sort of knew he was in trouble. A million thoughts – ‘Out Of This World’ thoughts you might say – passed through my mind as we hit the line. This wasn’t real. Right now as I speak to you three days later, it’s still feels fuzzy and surreal!” he laughs.

Kabelo, who is resident in Oakdene in the South of Joburg, goes on to say that the victory was made more special as it was a first Durban July trophy moment for Brett Crawford and his terrific team, as well as for owner and breeder Gaynor Rupert and her Drakenstein big-hitters.

“I have so many people to thank in my journey to Saturday 1 July 2023. The Crawford team. Mrs Rupert and her professional team. My sponsors Winning Form. Hollywoodbets for

Kabelo was snapped in the pre-race canter past - he looks pretty relaxed! |

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

putting on such a great show. Then my parents, my girlfriend, and further back to the people that gave me the chances when the press didn’t call me, as you have done today – Mr Clinton Binda, Mr Paul Matchett, Mr Stuart Pettigrew, Mr Mike de Kock, Mr Sean Tarry, Mr Garth Puller, Mr James Maree and all the owners who buy the horses and pay the bills. And the SA Jockey Academy, who gave me the technical grounding to live my dream and earn a living from a dream profession. This is sounding like an Oscar acceptance speech. But what about the horse and the grooms? Behind the bright lights, it’s a tough thankless job by so many people who never get their pictures or stories in the newspapers, or the attention that I am getting right now,” he added with a lilt in his voice.

Earlier in the afternoon, Kabelo booted Crimson King home for trainer Brett Crawford in the

‘consolation July’, the Gr3 SplashOut 2200. This was his 100th winner of the season!

Winchester Mansion’s sensational victory comes five years after the then greenhorn Kabelo’s first winning ride on the 18-1 Craig Mayhew-trained Heywot at the Vaal in June 2018. It was only his sixth ride under rules, but it was a watershed in the young man’s career.

Asked where to now, Kabelo says that when the legend Garth Puller shook his hand after the race on Saturday, he gave him some sage advice.

“Mr Puller said that I must keep my head down and keep up the hard work. I intend to do exactly that and step up my game further. Wasting this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is not what I am going to do.”

CONSOLATION KING KABELO!

There was an early upset on Hollywoodbets Durban July day when Brett Crawford and Kabelo Matsunyane set the stage for their big win later in the day as longshot Crimson King stormed home to win the R250 000 Gr3 SplashOut 2200 in dazzling style.

OThe ‘consolation’ July attracted a quality field and opened the Place Accumulator on the big day.

With the field fanning out, late Kabelo Matsunyane had things under control as Crimson King (40-1) shot clear and stormed up the outside to beat the headline feature reject Aragosta (4-1) by 1,70 lengths in a time of 136,36 secs.

Lord William (8-1) ran down the inside and was a further 1,50 lengths back in third.

Bred by Ridgemont, the winner is out of the three-time winning Mogok mare, Cup Of

Rubies, a half-sister to 2007 Durban July winner Hunting Tower.

It was Crimson King’s first victory in two years.

A R200 000 graduate of the 2019 BSA KZN Yearling Sale, Crimson King has won 3 races with 9 places from his 27 starts for stakes of R427 750.

Crimson King gives Kabelo Matsunyane the first leg of his feature double | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

SECONDS OUT - THE POWER OF TIMES!

Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Durban July produced another fascinating spectacle for racing fans. Run on good to soft ground, the race produced some standout performances.

Hidden in the numbers is a remarkable performance by supplementary entry Trip Of Fortune, who, after galloping 1200m put in a 60 second flat 1000m. Who knows what might have happened if he had sat a few lengths closer early on?

Sectional timing data, which has been produced by the internationally acclaimed French company McLloyd, who also provide

the service to French and Hong Kong horseracing, is currently available on the Winning Form website (www.winningform.co.za) for Hollywoodbets Greyville, Hollywoodbets Scottsville and Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

The schedule shows a variety of splits and the finishing position and time achieved by your fancy.

Let’s look at a few standouts.

Runner-up See It Again blistered the fastest 800m, 600m and 400m, which explains why after12.60, 11.60 and 11.24 he could only

manage a third fastest 12.11 to the line.

Evergreen 8yo Do It Again did it again with the fastest dash home in a sizzling 12.02, putting all his younger rivals to the sword. How is it that he has never tried further when the numbers show he is only starting when others are finishing? Maybe a Gold Cup swansong could be the tonic for this hero?

After a hard 12 sec/furlong for the initial 1200m, Dave The King slowed down below average for a 600m breather only to run the last 400m in the top half.

To get a podium finish in this Hollywoodbets

Durban July, one had to run the entire race above average (or in the top half of the field).

In hindsight, runners probably too far back were Do It Again, Second Base, Trip Of Fortune, Puerto Manzano, Safe Passage and Rascallion. They were all too far out for their sustained above average last 1000m finishes to get them there - or it was even just too far?

In a game that is subject to multi-faceted variables from weather to human judgement, sectional timing information is a scientific beacon of light that will not only enhance the Gallop TV race-viewing experience, but easyto-interpret data can also highlight exceptions,

The stampede into the Hollywoodbets Durban July history books | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

like an individual standout performance that suggests the horse may be one to follow.

Each race is after all, an individual event, with sectional timing data allowing the form student to ascertain how efficiently the particular heat was run – something that is often subject to perception and is not always evident to the naked eye.

Easy-to-read data also provides one with the opportunity to highlight the pace of the race, when a horse is going faster or slower than the rest of the field, and when some riders may have made race-winning or losing moves, by possibly going too fast,

or being forced to give ground away.

Face value form assessment can be misleading in instances, and this is another area where sectional timing can be a valuable filter.

The sectional timing project is intended as a customer friendly value-add to boost the enjoyment, understanding and ultimately the rewards that punters and fans gain from watching the world’s most exciting ‘brain game’.

Please click here using your Hollywoodbets account number and login password.

Gavin Lerena readies Do It Again for his farewell canter-past |

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

FAREWELL TO A HORSE IN A MILLION

‘Do It Again was a once in a lifetime horse and our team was privileged to work with him. He proved that age is mind over matter. We shall miss him dearly’ – Justin Snaith

Not since the days of Pocket Power has a gelding endeared himself to the racing public as has Do It Again.

That much was evident on Saturday when the handsome bay contested his sixth consecutive Durban July. Wearing a special, star-spangled saddlecloth, the eight-year-old showed age has not diminished his ability one bit when he finished a gallant fourth, despite being cut into.

Afterwards he was allowed a canter past, unprecedented for a horse that ran fourth and a privilege only afforded the July winner. Let’s just say he almost stole the show, such was the adulation from the crowd, who showed their appreciation with a massive roar!

With his unsurpassed record, Do It Again can lay claims to being the best Durban July horse of all time, for no horse has contested the Hollywoodbets showpiece race six times, let alone win it twice and earn a cheque at every attempt.

To be honest, those are the benefits of racing a gelding, as very few entire horses are campaigned up to the age of eight, definitely not those considered to be valuable stallion prospects.

That was never going to apply to Do It Again, for he was already a gelding when he made a winning debut at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth for Nic Jonsson, Bernard Kantor and the late Jack Mitchell just days before he turned three.

The large crowd greets their hero for the last time |

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

We spoke to Jono Snaith, who explained: “He was gelded as he was very fresh and got quite heavy.”

The rest, as they say, is history. By the time Do It Again lined up for his sixth Durban July on Saturday, he had put together a fabulous resume.

In addition to his July double, he has captured the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and Gr1 Gold Challenge, was named Champion Threeyear-old, Champion Older Male, Champion Miler and Champion Middle Distance Horse, and of course, scooped a coveted Horse of the Year title.

All that, to go along with a bankroll of R9,7

million in career earnings, which makes even his sizeable R1,1-million purchase price pale in comparison!

Do It Again was bred by well-known horseman Robin Bruss from the Casey Tibbs mare Sweet Virginia. A smallish, slight-framed individual, she was no oil painting, but handsome is as handsome does, and her defeat of colts in both the Gr3 Winter Classic and Gr3 Winter Derby is testament to her toughness and talent, traits which she clearly passed on to her son.

“Do It Again is undoubtedly the best I have bred!,” Robin remarked.

He went on to elaborate: “I bought Tecla Bluff for Sydney Press to win the July in 1983 -

forty years ago - and that sparked in me the ambition to use the July as my aiming point as a breeder. Every mating is built on that premise, aiming for stamina and class. It took a while, but finally Do It Again fulfilled that ambition twice. He has become the most successful horse in July history, and that’s something to be proud of.

“I hope he will be honoured with a race named after him, so that his achievements remain forever etched in the South African turf. He deserves that.”

Do It Again has taken the Snaiths and his owners on a heady ride over a period of seven seasons, proof of his remarkable soundness, both in body and mind. As Jono Snaith said: “He never gave Justin a niggle and he was not only a superstar on the track, but a gentleman at home as well. He loves attention and is amazing with kids.”

Not surprisingly, someone raised the question whether there is a possibility of Do It Again contesting the Gold Cup.

“Funny that you should mention it, on pedigree, he could probably go round the track three times,” Jono remarked. “However, our Gr1 races are all around a mile up to 2200m, so he probably never went over his optimum trip.” Be that as it may, the team has called time on Do It Again, a decision which has been six months in the making. He will be given a loving home by one of his owners and will live out his life in the style and love he enjoyed in Justin’s care.

That he will be missed in the Snaith stable is a foregone conclusion.

“Every year when Justin decided who would go to Durban, the first name on the list was always Do It Again, followed by the polo pony and the lead pony,” Jono quipped.

Added Justin: “Do It Again was a once in a lifetime horse and our team was privileged to work with him. He proved that age is mind over matter. We shall miss him dearly.”

In the Hollywoodbets Durban July parade ring for his swansong appearance – Do It Again looks a picture | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

TRIPPI JOINS ELITE CLUB

Winchester Mansion (outside) makes it a big win for his sire, Trippi |

Credit: Chase Liebenberg

When Winchester Mansion won Saturday’s Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, he placed his sire Trippi among an elite group of stallions to have been responsible for both the Met and July winner in the same season.

Trippi, whose now retired son Jet Dark won the 2023 G1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met, is responsible for 90 stakes winners and was South Africa’s Champion Sire in 2015-2016.

In years gone by, the only other stallions to have captured the July/Met double with different horses in the same season were Royal Prerogative with Mark Anthony (Met) and Royal Chalice (July) in 1988, and Silvano sired Martial Eagle (Met) and Heavy Metal (July) in 2013.

Winchester Mansion is the 13th Gr1 winner for Trippi, with Drakenstein Stud’s veteran sire having had a truly fantastic season in 2022-2023 thus far.

Trippi has been responsible for the following Gr1 winners in South Africa this season

-Charles Dickens, Jet Dark, Trip Of Fortune and the aforementioned Winchester Mansion.

Between them, they have captured five of South Africa’s top contests- the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, Gr1 WSB Cape Town Met, Gr1 H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes and the G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Winchester Mansion is one of nine stakes winners for Trippi this season, and he was one of three runners (Pacaya and Trip Of Fortune being the others) in the 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July for his Vosburgh Stakes winning sire. While the current season surely ranks as one of the very best in South Africa for Trippi in terms of sheer quality, the Drakenstein resident has been a consistent source of black-type

Trippi at Drakenstein - a Met and July winner in same season |

Credit: Hamish Niven Photography

winners since landing in South Africa, with Trippi responsible for nine stakes winners last season, seven in 2020-2021 and 11 black type winners in 2015-2016.

One of the more striking features of Trippi’s success this season is the versatility of his progeny.

From his two-year-old daughter October Morn romping home to a six-length win in the Perfect Promise Sprint over 1200m this season to his son Crome Yellow claiming the Gr3 Merchants On Long Chairman’s Cup over 2500m, Trippi has been responsible for black type winners over a range of different distances this season.

His remarkable success can also be seen in his Average Earnings Per Runner index, with his AEPR for 2022-2023 standing

at R165 729 at the current time -far above that of any stallion currently active at stud in South Africa.

The bay has also made his mark in South Africa as a broodmare sire this season, and Trippi is currently third on the Leading Broodmare Sires premiership for 2022-2023.

His daughters have been responsible for eight black-type winners of 11 black-type races in South Africa this season, with this list headed by Gr1 Pongracz Cape Flying Championship/ Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint winner Gimme A Prince (Gimmethegreenlight).

With a lengthy list of daughters yet to be represented on the racetrack, Trippi’s legacy as a broodmare sire looks set to be felt for years to come.

Princess Calla and Richard Fourie charge clear of Desert Miracle (Christophe Soumillon) | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

FOURIE AND TARRY DOMINATE FEATURE UNDERCARD

Richard Fourie and trainer Sean Tarry built further on their successful partnership this term, grabbing a Gr1, Gr2 and Gr3 success at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.

The cherry on top saw Wilgerbosdrift stallion Flower Alley enjoy yet more feature race success when his outstanding daughter Princess Calla won the R1 250 000 Gr1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes.

In the process, the five-year-old claimed the third G1 victory of her career, having previously triumphed in the 2022 Gr1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes and this year’s Gr1 South African Fillies Sprint.

Under Richard Fourie, Princess Calla (14-10) powered into the lead someway out and kept going strongly to win by just over a length and three-quarters.

She beat her arch-rival Desert Miracle (18-10) in a time of 96,74 secs.

The gallant pacesetting Humdinger (20-1) ran her usual big-hearted race to finish third,

Another daughter of Flower Alley, the winner’s paternal half-sister and consistent three-year-old Feather Boa (17-2), finished fourth. Princess Calla is likely to stay in training as a six-year-old next season.

She was bred by Maine Chance Farms, and has now won ten of 22 starts for earnings of R3 803 475.

Out of the Captain Al mare Princess Royal, Princess Calla’s tally of wins includes nine graded stakes, with the five-year-old now having won all of the Gr1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes, G1 South African Fillies Sprint, Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes, Gr2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes and Gr2 wsb. co.za Southern Cross Stakes this season.

She is one of six stakes winners representing Flower Alley in South Africa this season, with others including Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer Oaks/Gr2 Track And Ball Oaks queen None Other, Gr2 WSB Gerald Rosenberg Stakes heroine Gilded Butterfly, and Gr3 Acacia Stakes victress Clafoutis.

Flower Alley runners have earned over R10,4 million in South Africa this season.

Richard Fourie and trainer Sean Tarry built further on their successful partnership this term, grabbing a Gr1, Gr2 and Gr3 success at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.

STALLIONS 2023

CANFORD CLIFFS R20,000 (LIVE FOAL)

MALMOOS R25,000 (LIVE FOAL)

NEW PREDATOR R12,500 (LIVE FOAL)

PATHFORK R5,000 (LIVE FOAL)

POTALA PALACE R5,000 (LIVE FOAL)

RAFEEF R70,000 (R20,000 UP FRONT + R50,000 LIVE FOAL)

REAL GONE KID

FEE ON APPLICATION

TRADITION OF CHAMPIONS

KIESWETTER THRILLED WITH RIDGEMONT GARDEN PROVINCE STAKES

The anticipated showdown between multiple Gr1 winners Princess Calla and Desert Miracle was a highlight of the R1 250 000 Ridgemont Gr1 Garden Province Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Africa’s greatest raceday on a memorable Saturday.

The newly sponsored Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes reaffirmed its status as a top level key weight for age contest for Fillies and Mares on our national programme, and produced a scintillating performance by leading racemare Princess Calla, who registered the third Gr1 victory of her illustrious career. Bred by Maine Chance Farms, Princess Calla has won nine stakes races in 22 starts, with earnings approaching R4 million.

Ridgemont’s Craig Kieswetter said that the Garden Province Stakes’ proud history and innate quality was a perfect fit for their philosophy of a striving for class and champions.

He added that the 2023 Ridgemont Gr1 Garden Province Stakes, run on one of the great days

on the South African racing calendar, was a perfect launch-pad for Ridgemont’s return to the big race sponsorship arena.

“The winner Princess Calla is a champion racemare who epitomises the true spirit and versatility of a high-class thoroughbred.

Our congratulations to the connections, the breeder, and to Hollywoodbets and Gold Circle who hosted the day. The atmosphere at the racecourse was amazing and we are proud to have bred the SplashOut Gr3 2200 winner Crimson King. It was a superb victory from a wide gate and a terrific scene set for the Hollywoodbets Durban July winning duo of Brett Crawford and Kabelo Matsunyane,” concluded Kieswetter.

Craig Kieswetter watches the Ridgemont-sponsored Gr1 feature alongside Mayesh Chetty, Alistair Cohen and Tyson Heffer | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

WORK RIDER OPPORTUNITY

Ridgemont seeks a competent work rider to join their team. Work will vary from riding breakers, pre-trainers, ready to run sale horses as well as older racehorses.

The opportunity is based in Wellington, where a full-time position is available to the right applicant.

Please email us your CV including two contactable references. For more info during business hours only:

+27 (0) 63 667 5383

Maine Chance Farms’ star stallion Vercingetorix enjoyed a superb weekend with the champion son of Silvano not only responsible for a trio of feature race winners, but also proving dominant in the sales ring.

Sean Veale salutes in pure delight as Gladatorian causes the upset in the Post Merchants | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Vercingetorix was the Leading Sire by Aggregate at the 2023 KZN Yearling Sale on Thursday, with his eight lots on sale grossing a total of R3,457 million and averaging R434 375. Vercingetorix was responsible for the top lot sold on Thursday with his Boland Stud consigned own-brother (Lot 62) to Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes winner and equine millionaire African Warrior knocked down to Brett Crawford for R750 000.

His great form continued on Friday when his daughter Phedra captured the Listed East Cape Breeders Stakes at Fairview. The fouryear-old made it back-to-back Listed wins when storming home, under Louis Mxowtha, to claim the 2023 East Cape Breeders Stakes by five and a half lengths.

Trained by Sharon Kotzen, the Maine Chance Farms-bred Phedra has now won eight of 25 starts. Vercingetorix struck yet again at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday when the sire sensation provided a pair of graded stakes winners.

His star two-year-old daughter Mrs Geriatrix made it five wins from five starts, and three graded wins in a row when she romped home to an easy win in Saturday’s G2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper and looks a certainty

for Equus Award honours later in the year. Under Richard Fourie, the Sean Tarry-trained filly pulled well clear of her chasing rivals and drew away to win convincingly by nearly three and three-quarter lengths.

Bred by Clifton Stud, Mrs Geriatrix had followed up a debut win by landing the Listed Ruffian Stakes, G2 WSB SA Fillies Nursery and G1 Allan Robertson Championship in succession.

Vercingetorix’s second graded success on Saturday came when his three-year-old son Gladatorian stormed home to cause a 50-1 upset when victorious in the Gr2 Post Merchants. Under a well-timed ride from Sean Veale, the gelding flew up late to win by a neck. The Post Merchants was a triumph for Vercingetorix, with another son of the sire, Surjay, finishing a close-up third. It was a second consecutive Post Merchants win for Vercingetorix, whose son Val D’Orcia won the race back in 2022.

Trained by Stuart Ferrie, the Erasmus Thoroughbreds CC-bred Gladatorian had won the Listed In Full Flight Stakes two starts back before finishing unplaced in the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint last time out. Out of the Dynasty mare Harvard Crimson, Gladatorian has now won four of just ten starts.

Louis Mxothwa steers Phedra home in the Listed East Cape Breeders Stakes at Fairview on Friday |

Credit: Pauline Herman

Turffontein trainer David Niewenhuizen produced the goods in fine style on Hollywoodbets Durban July day when he had the promising Sandringham Summit tuned to the minute to register an eyecatching late-dash victory in the R500 000 Durban Gr2 Golden Horseshoe.

Perfectly ridden by recent Singapore returnee Calvin Habib, Sandringham Summit (6-1) showed terrific acceleration after turning for home near last, to catch and beat the favourite Gimmeanotherchance (9-4) by 0,40 lengths in a time of 86,16 secs.

Roy Magner’s Guy Gibson (33-10) was not disgraced in third, with the Kobus Roux-trained Fire ‘N Flames (25-1) in fourth.

The winner was bred by Varsfontein Stud and is by Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the Captain Al mare Townsend.

The winner is a half-brother to 2018 Golden

Horseshoe winner Eden Roc (VAR) who now stands at Clifton Stud.

A R1,7 million National Yearling Sale purchase, Sandringham Summit has now won 2 of his 4 starts with 2 places for stakes of R404 750.

GREEN LIGHT TO THE SUMMIT

GIMME A 1-2!

Varsfontein Stud’s leading sire Gimmethegreenlight, set to be crowned South Africa’s Champion Sire at the end of the season, has enjoyed a superb season with his two-year-olds and the outstanding son of More Than Ready produced the exacta in the G2 Durban Golden Horseshoe run at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.

Trained by David Nieuwenhuizen, Sandringham Summit was given a superb ride by Calvin Habib, who bought his mount with a flying finish which saw him get up in the shadow of the post to beat runner up, and tote favourite, Gimmeanotherchance by nearly half a length.

Both are sons of the Varsfontein stallion.

Bred by Varsfontein Stud, Sandringham Summit is bred on the same Gimmethegreenlight/ Captain Al cross as Gr1 winner Gunner.

He became the 56th stakes winner for Gimmethegreenlight, who is also responsible for fellow Golden Horseshoe winner Barahin.

Champion Sire in South Africa in 2020-2021, Gimmethegreenlight is currently top of the South African General Sires List, Leading Sires of 2YOs premiership and the Leading Sire of 3YOs list.

Calvin Habib’s body language says it all as Sandringham Summit wins like a horse with a bright future |

Credit: Chase Liebenberg

KZN’S NEW SIRE ON SHOW

The KZN Breeders Club’s newest stallion addition’s half-brother Sandringham Summit added to Eden Roc’s already impressive pedigree to win the same race his VAR brother clinched in 2019.

Back then the Durban Golden Horseshoe was a Gr1 contest.

Sandringham Summit defeated feature winner Gimmeanotherchance in the process, as well as Guy Gibson who has placed twice behind the talented Lucky Lad.

A R1,7-million yearling by Gimmethegreenlight, Sandringham Summit has now won twice and placed second twice from four starts for trainer David Niewenhuizen and owner Mr Rakesh Singh and doesn’t look to be stopping anytime soon based on his form and good looks. Clifton Stud, who stand Eden Roc on behalf of the KZN Breeders Club, will be hosting a stallion

day on 12 July to introduce him publicly to breeders.

Eden Roc was purchased through the incentive of the Stallion Premiums from the KZN Breeders Premium Scheme, the first of its kind in South Africa.

The son of VAR has an enviable race record and pedigree; out of Captain Al mare Townsend, a Gr2 winner who has produced 5 winners to date, this is also the family of Zapatillas.

Eden Roc is a coup for the KZN Breeding ranks, and the very handsome athlete raced consistently and soundly until age 6.

MRS – THE DREAM

The Mrs G Team enjoy the post-race celebrations

MRS G

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Sean Tarry’s Gr1-winning fairytale filly Mrs Geriatrix made it a magical five from five when she overcame what was probably her biggest test to date to win the R400 000 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Gr2 Golden Slipper under Richard Fourie on Hollywoodbets Durban July day.

The diminutive Clifton Stud-bred daughter of Vercingetorix – she measures little more than 15 hands- races in the purple and pink of the Magical Lady Syndicate, and turned on the jets in the testing going about 250m out and stormed home at even money to register a popular victory on the big day.

Mrs Geriatrix beat Rascova (14-1) by 3,70 lengths in a time of 85,56 secs.

Gauteng raider Egyptian Mau (14-1) was 0,20 lengths away in third.

A R200 000 2022 National Yearling Sale graduate, the Clifton-bred Mrs Geriatrix is out

of the Kahal mare Velvet Glove, whose breeder Peter Blythe described as ‘not too good’.

The winner 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.

A winner of 5 from 5, Mrs Geriatrix took her stakes earnings to R1 025 000.

Richard Fourie is convinced she will stay a mile but Sean Tarry indicated that this could well be a curtain call on her 2yo season.

Richard Fourie and Mrs Geriatrix are well clear as the crowd roars their approval |

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

GOLD CUP NEXT FOR TARRY STAYER?

An original early entry for the 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July, the Sean Tarry-trained Futura gelding Future Pearl stamped himself as a smart staying prospect for the future when he outran his opposition to win the R250 000 DStv Gr3 Gold Vase.

In a 3000m contest run in snatches, Future Pearl (4-1) was given a peach of a ride by highriding Winning Form jockey Richard Fourie, who guided him to a facile 2,80 length win in a time of 193,29 secs.

In a strung-out quartet, Fight Song (20-1) flattered at the 200m and ran a good race for second with Rex Union running on well for third, a further 2 lengths further back.

The Drakenstein Stud-bred Future Pearl was a R525 000 National Yearling Sale purchase and took his stakes earnings to R411 375 with his fourth win and 6 places from 13 starts.

The three-year-old is by Drakenstein Stud’s four time Gr1 winning stallion, and former Horse Of The Year, Futura. He is out of the twice-winning Al Mufti mare Arabian Pearl, who won up to 2400m.

Future Pearl wins in facile style under Richard Fourie | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

DEFENDER TO TAKE ON TARRY’S LAD?

A showdown with Sean Tarry’s unbeaten Gr1 Gold Medallion winner Lucky Lad in the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes on the season climax Champions Day on 30 July is on the cards, after Tony Peter’s Main Defender disposed of his opposition in impressive style to win the R400 000 BSA Sales Cup (colts & geldings) at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.

A great day for Main Defender’s connections! | Credit:

Candiese Lenferna

Racing in the silks of Joburg-based John Habib, Main Defender (9-4), formerly with Tienie Prinsloo, made it three eyecatching wins from three starts and took his stakes bank to R281 875 with an emphatic 2,10 length victory over Jerusalema Rain (4-1) in the 1300m contest restricted to BSA 2022 sale graduates,

There was plenty of talk in the build-up about the promising Pathfork (Distorted Humor) gelding and he duly obliged under Craig Zackey to beat the more experienced dual winner Jerusalema Rain.

While David Niewenhuizen’s Golden Horseshoe winner Sandringham Summit also produced an eyecatching turn of foot to cut down Mike de Kock’s Gimmeanotherchance on Saturday, there are indications that he may not return for the season-end spectacular.

Main Defender fans have told the Sporting

Post that their star will return to Hollywoodbets Greyville for the ‘race of the season’ to take on Lucky Lad.

That will be the first time both will go the mile, but it could be an interesting clash – even though it could be argued that it doesn’t end there.

The Jagessar Limited-bred gelding is out of the two-timing winning Judpot mare Alessia, who won twice up to a mile.

Main Defender looks very well bought at just R140 000 off the 2022 BSA Cape Yearling Sale.

M ASTER O F M Y F ATE

Bred by Varsfontein

Stud, Master Of My Fate was a magnificent yearling selling for R3-million at the 2011 National Yearling Sale. The mating of the Champion 3yo Classic Filly Promisefrommyheart, to the Champion Sire Jet Master proved to be a major attraction, and ultimately was the highest priced colt on the sale. Purchased by the relatively unknown Mr Andrew Papageorgiou, who had come from the depths of Africa to buy this horse, with the pedigree page covered with yellow highlights - and nothing noted on any other pedigree. He spent hours just looking at him over the stable door. After the sale, he went into training with master-conditioner Dennis Drier.

Injured early, Master Of My Fate only started racing as a late 3yo and finished 2nd first time out at Clairwood over 1200m. Subsequently he won his following 6 starts by a cumulative margin of

12 lengths which included the G2 Premier Trophy and the G2 Peninsula Handicap. At his final and 8th start, he ran 5th in the G1 J&B Met where he was hampered and cut into 3 times during the race. Thereafter, a tendon injury early in May 2014 brought a premature end to a promising career.

Varsfontein Stud negotiated the purchase of Master Of My Fate with Mrs Papageorgiou, who’s husband Andrew had unfortunately passed away in 2013. There was a high demand for the son of Champion Sire Jet Master, and he was syndicated within 24 hours.

SIRE - JET MASTER

The strapping 17 hand Jet Master is one of the most influential locally bred stallions to have stood at stud in SA. Bred in Kwa-Zulu Natal by Hugh Jonsson, he was born in 1994 and was selected by Patricia Divine at the 1995 Natal Mare & Weanling Sale in Pietermartizburg. Even though Henry didn’t

MASTER

MY FATE - by Jeremy Nelson

Photo: Jeremy Nelson

agree with the purchase of the weanling, Patricia insisted, and it turned out to be the most fortuitous purchase they ever made, for just R15 000.

Jet Master initially went into training with Tony Millard, but after Tony left for Hong Kong Geoff Woodruff took over. Jet Master had an astounding racing career despite being plagued by breathing problems for which he was operated on. He won 17 of his 24 starts including the G1 Cape Guineas, G1 Queen’s Plate (twice), G1 Golden Spur (twice), G1 Nissan Challenge, G1 Cape Flying Championship and the G1 Mercury Sprint. Twice Horse-Of-TheYear in SA, he became 7 times Champion Sire and has produced numerous sire sons as well as a multitude of successful and Champion broodmares.

78% of his runners were winners which include 22 G1 winners and 73 stakes winners including the incredible Pocket Power (Prince Florimund) who won the G1 Met 3 times and the G1 Queen’s Plate 4 times. He was also the winner of the G1 Durban July. His full-sister River Jetez (Prince Florimund) also won the G1 Met and was placed in a multitude

of G1 races including the G1 Dubai Duty Free, the G2 Darley Cape Verdi Stakes in Dubai, the G1 Singapore Airlines International Cup, and the G1 Beverly D Stakes at Arlington in the USA.

JJ The Jet Plane (Northern Guest) won the G1 Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin, as well as the G2 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai. He was also placed in one of the UK’s most prestigious sprint races, the G1 July Cup at Newmarket.

MASTER OF MY FATE - by Jeremy Nelson

Jet Master’s other G1 winners include:

Floatyourboat (Foveros)

Soft Landing (Golden Thatch)

Stratos (Golden Thatch)

Little Miss Magic (Al Mufti)

Mythical Flight (Harry Hotspur)

Ravishing (Royal Prerogative)

Love Is In The Air (Jungle Cove)

All Afire (Coastal)

Gluwein (Our Casey’s Boy)

Past Master (Western Winter)

Ebony Flyer (Badger Land)

Master Plan (Royal Chalice)

Jet Master’s daughters have produced the G1 winners:

Ronnie’s Candy (King Of Kings)

Vardy (Var)

Hawwaam (Silvano)

Rainbow Bridge (Ideal World)

Golden Ducat (Philanthropist)

Silvano’s Pride (Silvano)

Jet Dark (Trippi)

Rivarine (Var)

Lady In Black (Dynasty)

Edict Of Nantes (Count Dubois)

Kilindini (Silvano)

DAM - PROMISEFROMMYHEART

Born late in the year 2000, Promisefrommyheart missed the 2002 National Yearling Sale, was subsequently withdrawn from the National 2yo Sale and was wisely retained to race by Varsfontein.

Trained by Geoff Woodruff, she won the G2 Thekwini Fillies Stakes by 2,25 lengths at her 3rd start at 2, beating top fillies Emerald Beauty (ARG) and Ilha Da Vitoria (BRZ). She went on to win the G2 Ipi Tombe Challenge, G1 Triple Tiara 1600, G2 KZN Fillies Guineas and G2 Woolavington Stakes at 3 years. She became the Equus Champion 3yo Classic Filly of 2003-04.

It was during preparations for the 2005 G1 Met when Promisefrommyheart suddenly collapsed in her stable. She was immediately retired from racing and it was found that she was suffering from endocarditis and a blood clot had lodged on one of her heart valves. After the clot got infected, she went backwards very quickly and months of aggressive medical treatment and loving attention followed.

in a relatively short career in the breeding paddock. Promisefrommyheart was by Champion Broodmare Sire Elliodor (FR) out of Secret Pact (Bush Telegraph), an own-sister to International G1 winner and Horse-Of-The-Year London News.

The multiple G1 placed Secret Pact was purchased at a dispersal sale in 1998 by Carl de Vos (with John Kalmanson on the phone) for a then record price of R750,000 - John was determined to purchase her - an educated decision indeed.

ELLIODOR (FR)

PROMISEFROMMYHEART

Photo: JC Photos

Winter), Promisefrommyheart (Elliodor) and Secret Heart (Fort Wood) - all of them are top producers.

• G1 winner Covenant has produced:

Erik The Red (Captain Al)

Varallo (Var) - exported to Hong Kong

Scandola (Fort Wood), dam of Gimme’s Lassie.

• G1 winner Promisefrommyheart has produced:

Master Of My Fate (Jet Master)

Justthewayyouare (Fort Wood) - dam of Malmoos (Captain Al)

Captain Splendid (Captain Al)

Fidelity (Captain Al) - dam of Due Diligence (Silvano)

Ghaala (Var)

My Guiding Star (Jallad) - dam of Hashtagyolo (Dynasty)

La Revere (Var) - dam of Karangetang (Erupt)

Allez Moris (Dynasty)

Vermentino (Var) - dam of Favorita (Gimmethegreenlight)

• G1 placed Secret Heart has produced (in the USA):

Pluck (More Than Ready)

Three Hearts (Hat Trick)

• Secret Mission (Fort Wood) - dam of Hack Green (Gimmethegreenlight)

Promisefrommyheart’s sire Elliodor (FR) is by Northern Dancer’s multiple Champion Sire son Lyphard, out of Ellida, an own-sister to Busted (Crepello) - Timeform 134, Horse-Of-The-Year in

England, and the sire of Bustino, Mtoto and Erins Isle.

Lyphard was a 15,2 hand bay horse who was very like his sire in stature, but lighter in colour. He gained a reputation as a first-rate miler with a Timeform rating of 132. He won the G1 Prix de la Foret (1400m, Longchamp), the G1 Prix Jacques le Marois (1600m, Deauville), the G2 Prix Daru (2100m, Longchamp), and was 2nd in the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp (1600m, Longchamp).

Lyphard had much of the cocky attitude of his sire but loved human attention. He was muscular, athletic and well-balanced, with strong hindquarters and exceptional finishing speed.

Following his racing career, Lyphard became an excellent sire in France and the United States. Lyphard sired 115 stakes winners (13.6% to named foals) and 25 G1 winners. He has 84% starters and 60% winners from his foals. He was Champion FirstSeason Sire in France & England (1976), Champion Sire in France (1978 & 1979), Champion Broodmare Sire in France (1985 & 1986) and Champion Sire in North America (1986). He ranks as one of the halfdozen great sons of Northern Dancer, alongside Nijinsky II, Danzig, Sadler’s Wells, Nureyev and El Gran Senor. Lyphard’s great-grandson Linamix was the leading stallion in France in 1998 and 2004, and is Lyphard’s most prominent male-line influence today.

His best progeny include:

Alzao (Sir Ivor)

Bellypha (Le Fabuleux)

MASTER OF MY FATE - by Jeremy Nelson

Dahar (Vaguely Noble)

Dancing Brave (Drone)

Dancing Maid (Val de Loir)

Durtal (Sunny Boy III)

Ghadeer (Habitat)

Jolypha (Drone)

Lichine (Bagdad)

Lyphard’s Wish (Sensitivo)

Lypheor (Sing Sing)

Manila (Le Fabuleux)

Monteverdi (Match III)

Pharly (Boran)

Queens Court Queen (Stop The Music)

Rainbows For Life (Halo)

Sabin (Vaguely Noble)

Ski Paradise (Royal Ski)

Three Troikas (Dual)

Elliodor’s dam’s own-brother Busted was trained at first in Ireland, but was moved to England, where he was undefeated in four races, winning the G1 Eclipse Stakes and the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and was voted Horse-Of-TheYear. After his racing career was ended by injury, he was retired to stud, where he proved to be a highly successful sire.

Busted’s best son Bustino ran nine times for five wins. He was the leading British 3-y-o of 1974, winning the G1 St Leger, the Sandown Classic Trial, Lingfield Derby Trial and Great Voltigeur Stakes. As

a 4-y-o he won the G1 Coronation Cup in record time and finished second to Grundy in the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes in what is often described as the ‘Race of the Century’.

STUD CAREER

Master Of My Fate is a tall, leggy, athletic horse with a noble, handsome head. He is a ‘classic’ individual and his offspring often have his white blaze and speckled white hair in their coats. Generally his progeny show their best form from 3 years of age, and are sound, tough horses that train-on.

‘Master’ is a very intelligent horse and has a cheeky and playful nature and is very easy to handle. He enjoys teasing his handler without being nasty, and he loves entertaining an audience and tends to shows off. He is confident and has a very professional manner in the covering barn, while being kind and gentle to his mares.

‘Master’ retired to stud in 2014 and has been highly consistent siring the stakes winners:

AFRICAN ADVENTURE (Fort Wood)

AMERICAN PRINCESS (Badger Land)

BARAK (Captain Al)

BASADI FAITH (Captain Al)

GEM KING (Damascus Gate)

GIFT FOR THE GAP (Fort Wood)

HAN SOLO (Model Man)

INDI ANNA (Argonaut)

LADY OF POWER (Fort Wood)

MASTER SUPREME (Kahal)

NATIVE TONGUE (Silvano)

PRETTY BETTY (Captain Al)

SEA MASTER (Spectrum)

SENTBYDESTINY (Badger Land)

TEMPTING FATE (Var)

TWIST OF FATE (Counter Action)

ULTRA EDGE (Jallad)

ZAPATILLAS (Mogok)

ZARINA (Kitalpha)

He has a very high percentage of winners to runners (67%) with 14,6% stakes performers to

MASTER OF MY FATE - by Jeremy Nelson

SUCCESSFUL MALE LINE CROSSES

NORTHERN DANCER

Nureyev

Polar Falcon

Pivotal

Noordhoek Flyer

STRIKE A MATCH - F (G2p)

Sadler’s Wells

In The Wings

Singspiel

Lateral

SCENTED MISTRESS - F (G1p; Lp)

Fort Wood

AFRICAN ADVENTURE - G (G3w; Lw; G3p; Lp)

GIFT FOR THE GAP - G (Lw)

LADY OF POWER - F (G2w; G2p)

Dynasty

BROADWAY GIRL - F (Lp)

Storm Bird

Storm Cat

Mogok

ZAPATILLAS - C (G2w; Lw; G1p; G3p)

Forest Wildcat

Var

TEMPTING FATE - G (G1w; G3w; Lp)

MY MASTER - G (Lp)

STREET OUTLAW - C (Lp)

Tiger Ridge

MASTER KEYS - F (G2p; G3p)

DRIVING MISS DAISY - F (G1p; G3p; Lp)

Lyphard

Elliodor

Model Man

HAN SOLO - G (Lw; G2p; Lp)

Nijinsky II

Niniski

Lomitas

Silvano

SILVA MAGIC - F (G2p)

NATIVE TONGUE - C (Lw; Lp)

Rambo Dancer

MISS ELEGANCE - F (G2p; G3p)

ROYAL CHARGER

Turn To Hail To Reason

Sir Gaylord Habitat

Hard Fighter

Hard Up

TARANTINO - (Lp)

Roberto

Red Ransom: DESTINYS GAME - F (G3p)

Al Mufti

HOLY WARRIOR - C (G2p; G3p; Lp)

TOP SAIL - C (Lp)

Captain Al

BARAK - C (Lw; Lp)

BASADI FAITH - F (G2w; Lw)

MASTER OF ILLUSION - C (G3p)

PRETTY BETTY - F (G3w; Lw)

PEUT ETRE MOI - F (Lp)

MISS MARGUERITE - F (Lp)

NASRULLAH

Red God

Blushing Groom

Jallad

ULTRA EDGE - F (Lw)

HOLLYWOODBOUND - F (G2p; G3p)

Rainbow Quest

Spectrum

DREAM DESTINY - C (G3p)

SEA MASTER - C (G3w; Lw)

JOY AND PEACE - F (Lp)

Grey Sovereign

Zeddaan

Kalamoun

Kenmare

Highest Honour

Medaaly

AFTER THE RAIN - C (G2p)

Bold Ruler

Dewan

Complete Warrior

Counter Action

TWIST OF FATE - C (G2w; G3w; Lw; G1p; G2p)

MASTER OF MY FATE - by Jeremy Nelson

MR PROSPECTOR

Kingmambo

Ideal World

KINKY BOOTS - F (G3p)

Seeking The Gold

Windrush

ECHO OF LIFE - F (Lp)

Kitalpha

ZARINA - F (G1w; G3w; G2p)

Gone West

Western Winter

MALEDIMO - F (G3p)

TOP ME UP HOLLY - F (G3p)

Argonaut

INDI ANNA - F (G3w)

CALLMEWHENUNEEDME - F (Lp)

Forty Niner

End Sweep

Trippi

TRIPLE FATE LINE - C (G3p)

MEDLERS TART - F (Lp)

Machiavellian

Kahal

MASTER SUPREME - C (Lw)

Strike Smartly

FIND ME UNAFRAID - C (Lp)

RIBOT

Arts And Letters Codex

Badger Land

AMERICAN PRINCESS - F (Lw)

SENTBYDESTINY - F (G1w; G2p)

DAMASCUS

Damascus Gate

runners. He has consistently featured on the sires lists:

2023 Current 2nd Leading Sire of 3yo’s (to 26/6/23)

2022 3rd Leading Active Sire

2021 2nd Leading Sire

2020 3rd Leading Active Sire of 3yo’s

2019 Leading Active Sire of 3yo’s

Master Of My Fate has 3 G1 horses from mares descending in male line from Storm Cat. One each from mares descending in male line from Sadler’s Wells, Mr Prospector and Ribot. Looking closer at his G1 winners we find the following:

ZARINA won the G1 Garden Province Stakes and is out of Mamalushka - by Kingmambo’s own-brother Kitalpha (Mr Prospector - Miesque).

Mamalushka brings the predominant male lines of:

Mr Prospector (through Kitalpha)

Northern Dancer (through Nureyev)

Nasrullah (4 - through Nashua, Thong, Thyra Lee, Prince Tor)

Fair Trial (2 - through Drum Beat and Forli)

Fairway (6 - through Honeyway, Thyra Lee, Fair Trial (2), Prince Tor (2))

Teddy (8 - through Case Ace, Segula, Thong, Miss Dogwood, Who Can Tell (2), Respite, Urban Lass)

Native Dancer (3 - through Raise A Native, Natalma, Gala Performance)

Swynford (19 - through Nasrullah, Nearctic, Natalma, Thong (2), Graustark, Equal Venture, Sanctus II, Sybil’s Niece, Babucon, Hethersett, Who Can Tell (2), Thyra Lee, Respite, Prince Tor

Photo: Jeremy Nelson

(2), Aureole, Nenagh)

Fair Play (9 - through Geisha, Lady Glory, Segula, Northern Dancer, Equal Venture, Neriad, Gala Performance (2))

Nearco (9 - through Northern Dancer, Thong, Sybil’s Niece, Derring-Do (2), Hethersett, Thyra Lee, Prince Tor, Sundry)

Gainsborough (15 - through Nearctic, Natalma Forli, Graustark, Sanctus II, Sybil’s Niece, Derring-Do (3), Who Can Tell, Prince Tor, Urban Lass (2), Aureole, Sundry).

I refer you to the article on Gimmethegreenlight for reference to the ‘Blue Hen’ mares listed below.

Female clusters in Zarina’s pedigree show the following within 10 generations:

Lady Josephine - 32

Gondolette - 22

Plucky Liege - 10

Canterbury Pilgrim - 10

Marchetta - 7

Pretty Polly - 7

TEMPTING FATE won the G1 Golden Horse Medallion and is out of the Var mare Miss October, a winner of 5 races over 1000m including the G3 Tommy Hotspur Hcp. She is an own-sister to August

Rush (Var), winner of the G1 Mercury Sprint, and half-sister to the very smart 2yo filly October Morn (Trippi) - winner of the 2023 Perfect Promise Sprint (L) by 6 lengths. The third dam is ARCSA Champion Stayer Devon Air (GB), a winner of 6 races including the G1 July H.

Miss October brings these predominant male lines to Master Of My Fate:

Northern Dancer (2 - through Storm Bird and Nureyev)

Bold Ruler (3 - through Secretariat, Bold Example, Key To The Kingdom)

Royal Charger (2 - through Seaneen and Sir Gaylord)

Native Dancer (2 - through Northern Dancer, Raise A Native)

Gainsborough (20 - through Northern Dancer (2), Special, Seaneen (3), Promised Land, Crafty Princess, Sir Gaylord, Crocket, Honeymoon House, Derring Do (3), Ergina (2), Acropolis,

Cowes, Preciptic, Diamond Princess)

Swynford (18 - through Northern Dancer (2), Secretariat, Seaneen, Special, Le Fabuleux, Bold Example, Bold Ruler, Promised Land, Little Hut, Crocket (2), Acropolis (2), Mor’a Bai, Diamond Princess, Tanerko (2))

Teddy (14 - through South Ocean (3), Crimson Saint, Raise A Native, Spring Beauty, Promised Land, Crafty Princess (2), Little Hut, Crocket, Mor’a Bai, Ardan, Tanerko)

Nearco (11 - through Northern Dancer (2), Secretariat, Seaneen, Special, Bold Example, Key To The Kingdom, Habitat, Derring Do (2), Mor’a Bai)

Fairway (9 - through South Ocean, Special, Crafty Princess, Crocket, Honeymoon House, Ergina (2), Cowes, Tanerko)

Miss October also brings 2 lines of the great mare Somethingroyal (through Secretariat and Sir Gaylord). There are some interesting female clusters

to consider in Tempting Fate’s pedigree within 10 generations:

Lady Josephine - 39

Gondolette - 22

Plucky Liege - 13

Marchetta - 10

Canterbury Pilgrim - 9

Pretty Polly - 8

La Troienne - 2

SENTBYDESTINY was bred at Varsfontein and won the G1 Premier Champion Stakes at her 4th start at 2 years. She is out of Princess Tobin, a daughter of twice Champion Sire and Champion Broodmare Sire Badger Land (USA). Badger Land is the sire of Badger’s Drift the broodmare sire of Futura. Princess Tobin is out of the imported mare Alice B Tobin (USA), a daughter of JO Tobin (Never Bend).

Princess Tobin was stakes placed and is the dam of 5 stakes winners:

BADGER’S COVE (Joshua Dancer)

PRINCESS ALBERTA (Captain Al)

PRINCESS PEACH (Captain Al)

AMERICAN PRINCESS (Master Of My Fate)

SENTBYDESTINY (Master Of My Fate).

Sentbydestiny was sold for R80,000 at the 2019 2yo Sale and was recently bought back by Varsfontein.

Princess Tobin brings these predominant male lines to Master Of My Fate within 10 generations:

Ribot (through Arts And Letters)

Nasrullah (3 - through Mister Gus, Never Bend, Bold Ruler)

Pharos (4 - through Romanella, Cow Girl II, Mister Gus, Nearco)

Gainsborough (13 - through Parlo, Cow Girl II, Heliolight, Mister Gus, Imitation (2), Khaled (2), Moonrise, Alibhai, Boudoir II, Court Martial, Zingarella)

Teddy (14 - through Rough N Tumble, Chieftain, Heliolight, Lump Sugar, Pin Oak, Endeavour II, Bastogne II, Djeddah (2), Be Faithful, Snow Bunny (2), Imperium, Quatre Bras II)

Swynford (9 - through Parlo, Heliolight, Windy City II, Lump Sugar, Mister Gus, Bastogne II, Mumtaz Begum, Snow Bunny, Boudoir II)

Fair Play (3 - through Battlefield (2), Heliolight)

Fairway (3 - through Pin Oak, Imperium, Court Martial)

These are the predominant female clusters in Sentbydestiny’s pedigree within 10 generations:

Lady Josephine - 28

Gondolette - 25

Plucky Liege - 15

Canterbury Pilgrim - 15

Marchetta - 6

Pretty Polly - 3

La Troienne - 2

CONCLUSION

Master Of My Fate has 3 G1 horses from mares descending in male line from Storm Cat - Zapatillas, Tempting Fate, and Driving Miss Daisy.

Zapatillas has an interesting pedigree that doubles up on a pattern with his sire and dam, as well as showing inbreeding to great mares.

Zapatillas is out of a mare by the very well related Mogok. Mogok’s pedigree has the same male line cross as Jet Master’s sire Rakeen (Northern Dancer x Halo). Mogok is inbred to Northern Dancer’s dam

Natalma (4x3) and Natalma’s dam Almahmoud (7x6x6). Jet Master’s dam is by Rollins (Damascus) while Zapatillas’ grandam is by Damascus Gate

MASTER OF MY FATE - by Jeremy Nelson

(Damascus). Damascus Gate’s grandam is Natalma which means that Zapatillas’ pedigree reveals the following - Northern Dancer (4x5x5), Damascus (5x4), Halo (5x4), Hail To Reason (6x6x5), Bold Ruler (6x6x6), Natalma (5x6x6x5x5) and Almahmoud (6x7x7x7x6x6x6).

Driving Miss Daisy is out of a mare by Tiger Ridge (Storm Cat), whose dam Weekend Surprise is by Secretariat (Bold Ruler x Princequillo). Storm Cat is out of a mare by Secretariat which makes Tiger Ridge inbred to Secretariat (3x2). Secretariat brings 2 lines of his dam Somethingroyal to the alliance, as in Tempting Fate’s pedigree. There are a further 2 lines of Somethingroyal through Sir Gaylord, the sire of Gay Missile, who appears twice in Driving Miss Daisy’s dam - through Tiger Ridge and Sportsworld, which totals 4 lines of Somethingroyal.

Driving Miss Daisy’s grandam is by Sportsworld, a descendant of Ribot. Ribot lines have combined well with Jet Master, producing G1 winners Ebony Flyer (Badger Land), Viva Maria (Badger land) and Master Sabina (Sportsworld). Master of My Fate himself has produced Sentbydestiny (Badger Land).

Driving Miss Daisy’s pedigree shows the following: Northern Dancer (4x5x5x6), Nearctic (5x6x6x7x6), Hail To Reason (6x6), Crepello (5x6), Secretariat (5x4), Bold Ruler (6x6x5) and Gay Missile (4x4).

Looking at Jet Master’s stakes winners, one gets

an impression of what might work with Master Of My Fate. La Troienne has shown an affinity with Jet Master through mares carrying the following in their pedigrees: Al Mufti, Northern Guest, Coastal, Argosy and Complete Warrior.

Lady Josephine has also shown an affinity through her descendants, especially through Nasrullah, Tudor Minstrel, Fair Trial and Royal Charger.

Pocket Power, River Jetez, Viva Maria and Jet Past show line-breeding to Tourbillon, Marchetta, Herbager and Pretty Polly.

When looking at Champion Sire Deep Impact, there is a pattern of Halo x Lyphard x Busted:

Halo Hail To Reason

Sunday Silence

Cosmah Wishing Well Understanding Mountain Flower

Wind In Her Hair

Alzao Lyphard Lady Rebecca Burghclere Busted Highclere

The Same pattern appears in Master Of My Fate’s pedigree - through Rakeen (ex Halo mare) and Elliodor (by Lyphard ex own-sister to Busted). It might prove beneficial to duplicate this pattern by sending Master Of My Fate mares to Danon Platina (Deep Impact).

MASTER OF MY FATE - by Jeremy Nelson

Photo: Jeremy Nelson

DRAMA OPENS BIG DAY

There was high-drama to open the Hollywoodbets Durban July feature programme on Saturday when Gauteng raider Betula survived an objection to retain the major spoils of the first cheque in the R400 000 BSA Sales Cup for fillies.

Diego de Gouveia produced the Danon Platina filly late in the race to catch the leader Oriental Bouquet (16-1) and register a head win in a time of 79,58 secs.

The favourite Secret Identity (33-10) came on late for a half length third.

Betula survived an objection by the runner-up’s trainer Duncan Howells, but the interference appeared to happen just after the winning post. It was overruled.

A R160 000 National Yearling Sale graduate,

the winner has now won 2 races with a place from 4 starts for stakes of R355 000.

Bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein, the winner is out of Danon Platina (Deep Impact) out of the Fastnet Rock mare, Boxwood Bower, an Irish-bred half-sister to Irish Oaks and Yorkkshire Oaks runner-up Venus de Milo (Duke Of Marmalade).

Stakes were paid down to sixth place with American Graffitti banking the R12 000.

The race was restricted to graduates of the 2022 BSA sales.

Betula (Diego de Gouveia in red cap) gets up to beat Oriental Bouquet (Sean Veale) in a thriller | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

BLAME GAMES AFTER LIGHTS GO OUT

It’s not how you play the game, it’s how you place the blame!

Days after the lights went out on what was a sizzlingly successful Hollywoodbets Durban July day of high-powered horseracing, fingers are, not unexpectedly, being pointed at the eThekwini Municipality and a variety of stakeholders, from the racing operator to the regulator, and inevitably, the jockeys.

The fallout from what amounted to a dreadfully sad and embarrassing ending to South Africa’s greatest raceday of the year has resulted in shots across the bows from various quarters.

A widely circulated note on various whatsapp platforms suggested that the racing operator

had been ‘thrown under the bus’ by the National Horseracing Authority, who had requested ‘guarantees’ that the lights would not go out.

National Horseracing Authority CEO Vee Moodley has rejected this suggestion and told the Sporting Post that his officials did everything in their power to keep the terrific show on the road.

The official Stipes report sums up what happened after the outage just after 18h00, and prior to the running of the tenth of twelve carded races:

The lights were still on as Gladatorian was led in after his Gr2 Post Merchants win | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

As the riders proceeded to the start of this race, the racecourse was cast into darkness due to load shedding which commenced at 18h00 in the vicinity of the Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse.

Upon enquiry from the Stewards, Gold Circle management advised that load shedding was not planned for the period from 18h00 to 20h00 in the vicinity due to a pre-arrangement with the Metro. It was added subsequently that the electricity was switched off at 18h00, and would then be restored, but that it would take at least thirty minutes for the floodlights to be powered up to facilitate racing. The Stewards called for a meeting with the riders and it was established that they had serious concerns that they had been left in darkness en-route to the start, which in their opinion would potentially put their lives and that of their horses at risk.

The Stewards enquired from Gold Circle if any guarantees could be given that the electricity would be constant and uninterrupted

once the floodlights were powered up. The response was that no guarantees could be given. During the meeting there was a further dip in the electricity which raised further concerns from all parties present.

The jockeys were then asked if they would consider waiting until 20h00 until the planned original load shedding schedule had ended, to which they replied in the negative as no guarantees of constant, uninterrupted electricity at this projected time, could be given by any party.

The Stewards, after carefully considering the opinions from the riders, the Veterinary Surgeons and the Gold Circle representatives formed the opinion that the lives of the jockeys and the horses could not be placed at risk in these circumstances and decided that the race meeting should be abandoned in the interest of rider safety, horse welfare and the integrity of racing.

‘NOT LOADSHEDDING’ – CITY OF DURBAN

The plot thickens. The eThekwini Municipality says the unexpected power outage experienced during the Hollywoodbets Durban July this past weekend was not load shedding.

In a statement, the city said it would assist in investigating the cause of the power dip, which led to a premature end to the racing on our biggest raceday of the year.

Gold Circle also said it would be probing the unanticipated blackouts despite securing load shedding exemption from the city.

In a statement, Gold Circle said that the unanticipated implementation of power outages was made contrary to arrangements with the City Of Durban. They said it was out of their control and apologised to

the 45 000 people who attended the big day.

Events and Marketing Executive at Gold Circle Steve Marshall said that they received an exemption from the City of Durban for load shedding.

“On our grid, we were supposed to loadshed from 6 to 8 pm. In our planning process, that was on our radar, and we cleared it with them, and they gave us an exemption, but what happened at 6pm was our power dropped then came back up, but because our flood lights are halogen, they take up to 20 minutes to cool down before we can turn them back on again.bout 15 minutes after they came back on, the power dropped again. So the first time is kind of explainable. The second one we need to get a comment from the city to find out what happened there.”

HOLLYWOODBETS DURBAN JULY WINNER RAISED TO 121

Winchester Mansion has had his merit rating raised from 112 to 121 following his triumph in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July over 2200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday 1 July.

When deciding on a line horse, the Handicappers considered that 2nd placed SEE IT AGAIN is unexposed, having previously been unbeaten in 2 Grade 1 races over 2000m.

It was also noted that he beat the rest of his rivals by at least 3.5 lengths. BLESS MY STARS is also unexposed, especially in open company and was also six pounds under sufferance at the weights. The Handicappers were of the opinion that both SEE IT AGAIN and BLESS MY STARS did not make for suitable line horses given the observations stated above.

The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that, despite being momentarily held up for a clear run at the top of the straight, the remarkable 4th placed DO IT AGAIN made for the most suitable line horse.

This leaves DO IT AGAIN unchanged on a mark of 121. In rating the race this way 5th placed SECOND BASE also runs to his rating, effectively making him a line horse as well and leaving him unchanged on a mark of 120.

There were also ratings increases for runner-up SEE IT AGAIN, who is up from 124 to 131, and for 3rd finisher BLESS MY STARS, who was six pounds or three kgs under sufferance at the weights and beat the line horses by 2 pounds, consequently she goes up from 109 to 117.

There were no other ratings increases, but three horses received a drop. SAFE PASSAGE is down slightly from 123 to 122, RASCALLION was trimmed from 122 to 121, and lastly POMP AND POWER was dropped from 123 to 120.

Gr1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes

PRINCESS CALLA, who was rated to win on official Merit Ratings, remains unchanged on a rating of 127 after she captured the Grade 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes for fillies and mares on WFA terms over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.

The Handicappers unanimously agree that PRINCESS CALLA herself made for the ideal line horse, hence her unchanged rating. Furthermore, in assessing the race this way 2nd placed DESERT MIRACLE, who was rated to run 2nd on official ratings, also runs to her mark. This effectively makes her a line horse as well and leaving her unaltered on a rating of 124.

There were also ratings raises for 3rd placed HUMDINGER, who is up from 110 to 119, for GOING UP, who was raised from 107 to 110, and for MACARA, who goes to 101 from 98.

The only drop was for GOLDEN HOSTESS, who is down from 119 to 117.

Gr2 Post Merchants

GLADATORIAN has had his rating raised from 110 to 114 following his win in the Grade 2

Post Merchants over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. Here it was runner-up THUNDERSTRUCK and 3rd placed SURJAY who were used as the line horses, leaving them unchanged on ratings of 117 and 119 respectively. It is worth noting that this pair exactly confirmed their form relative to each other shown in the Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint (handicap) at Hollywoodbets Scottsville four weeks earlier, making them the ideal line horses in the Post Merchants.

Aside from the winner no horse received a rating’s increase out of this race, but no fewer than eight runners were given a drop. Joint 4th finisher SILVER OPERATOR is down from 116 to 114, GOBSMACKED is down from 113 to 111, COSMIC HIGHWAY drops to 110 from 113, STIPTELIK drops from 107 to 104, IPHIKO is down to 107 from 109, SWEET PEPPER goes from 107 to 105, and lastly PEARL OF ASIA drops from 112 to 109.

Gr3 SplashOut 2200

CRIMSON KING has had his merit rating raised from 93 to 101 after winning the Grade 3 SplashOut 2200 (handicap) over 2200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. Runnerup ARAGOSTA who was line horse when 3rd in the Summer Cup Grade 1 (Handicap), 3rd in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup Grade 3 (Handicap) and 2nd in the Grade 3 Track and Ball Derby (WFA plus penalties) was again deemed to make for the ideal line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a rating of 114.

There were no ratings increase for any horse other than the winner, but no fewer than eight horses were given a drop. STREET ART is down from 103 to 101, ONE WAY TRAFFIC was trimmed from 109 to 108, SHANGO is down to 105 from 107, RIVER ROMEO goes from 107 to 102, JIMMY DON drops from 116 to 114, UNION SQUARE is down to 111 from 114, FLYING BULL drops from 103 to 101, and lastly WILLOW’S WISH is down slightly from 99 to 98.

Gr3 DStv Gold Vase

FUTURE PEARL has seen his merit rating climb from 106 to 112 after he ran out a very easy winner of the Grade 3 DStv Gold Vase over 3000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. Here it was 3rd placed REX UNION who was used as the line horse, leaving him unchanged on a rating of 97.

There were also increases for 2nd placed FIGHT SONG, who is up from 87 to 94, and for 6th finisher FLYING FIRST CLASS, who carried 3.5 kgs overweight and who is up from 85 to 91. The specific race conditions do not allow for any increase in the rating of any horse other than the winner, unless requested by the trainer. The trainers of both FIGHT SONG and FLYING FIRST CLASS both opted to exercise this option, hence the ratings hikes for their respective horses.

The only ratings drop was for 4th placed SENSO UNICO, who is down from 110 to 108.

Listed East Cape Breeders Stakes

PHEDRA remains unchanged on a rating of 103 after winning the Listed East Cape Breeders Stakes for fillies and mares over 1200m on the polytrack at Fairview on Friday 30 June. The race, originally scheduled for the turf track, was moved to the polytrack because of inclement weather.

It was 3rd placed CHERE FOR ME who was used as the line horse here, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 87. In assessing the race this way PHEDRA only achieves a mark of 100, hence her unaltered rating.

No horse from this race was given a rating’s increase, but there were drops for four horses. Runner-up EKORIA, who failed to run above a rating of 101 in her last 5 starts was dropped from 105 to 101, RED BERRY is down slightly from 96 to 95, FRANCA drops to 90 from 93, and lastly WISHFUL GIRL LINN drops from 88 to 85.

Media release by NHRA on Tuesday 4 July 2023.

WINNERS NEVER BREAK PROMISES!

They say that promises and pie crust are made to be broken. But a passionate horseracing man visiting his former homeland from Australia at Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Durban July told a story of how he won a big jackpot and ended up keeping his word, with the winning numbers tattooed on his rear end.

At the age of 67, the ebullient Kevin ‘Henry’ Kroeger has walked a long road from his Alexandra High School days in Pietermaritzburg. A student at the University of Pietermaritzburg, his first job was as a penciller for a bookmaker in an age before computers. He was also a ‘passionate and dedicated’ barman in the owners and trainers area at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

With that illustrious grounding, Kevin was probably ready for a career in horseracing but sense prevailed and he ended up with a, let’s call it a textbook career –that is, the far more stable pursuit of educational publishing. Kevin told the Sporting Post that he emigrated Down Under some 22 years ago and is now resident in Perth. He owns shares in a few racehorses, but the origin of his cheeky tattoo goes back three years to the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Race Round, described independently as Australia’s biggest party.

The blurb for one of ‘the biggest, most colourful and successful racing carnivals to be staged

anywhere in Australia’ tells that it is steeped in history, been the scene of some of the most incredible events both on and off the track, and for many it has etched memories which have lasted a lifetime. Kevin ‘Henry’ Kroeger took that literally and that’s where the trouble started.

He and four mates were running into the last leg of the Jackpot – they call it a ‘Quaddie’. He takes up the story.

“We were a bit inked up and enjoying the day, as one tends to do at Kalgoorlie. We had five horses in the last leg and the 6 horse was a 33 -1 shot called Stop The Friar. He was clearly our best result but to all intents and purposes, something of a no-hoper. I said if that wins, I will have the winning Jackpot numbers tattooed on my behind. The guys, excited about a big but unlikely win, all agreed to join the pledge.

Guess what? Stop The Friar stormed up the outside and got up to grab the honours on the line. We won A$30 000! The guys were ecstatic and we partied until fairly late.”

Kevin promptly went off to get his first tattoo at the age of 64, and the puzzled artist, probably used to spending days sketching intricate images of spiders, flowers, and Marilyn Manson and Guns ‘n Roses regalia for dedicated fans, seemed bemused when he was briefed to imprint the winning Kalgoorlie Jackpot ‘9-1-2-6’ on the old man’s left cheek.

“The other guys were all younger than me and I felt I had to show them the old school values that we were taught and live up to my promise. Sadly, the rest of the winning syndicate are yet to have their tattoos done. I didn’t tell my wife about my new stamp of honour, and when she saw it three weeks later, she rolled her eyes and muttered worlds like ‘childish, unbelievable etc’. We have been married a long time, and she has since seen the funny side of it!”

Asked where the alias ‘Henry’ comes from, he says it was a silly name that was given to him years ago when friends introduced him to people at a racecourse.

“I have always been comfortable with my baptised name Kevin – but my mates thought ‘Henry’ was very funny. It has become my racecourse name. It will probably be inscribed on my gravestone one day!”

Kevin says that they thoroughly enjoyed the Hollywoodbets Durban July day and shaking hands with the big race winning rider Kabelo Matsunyane was a moment that he’d cherish forever.

“Thanks to Owen Heffer and his team. They know how to deliver world-class hospitality and we were royally hosted. We are spending a few weeks here and doing the touristy things like game reserves and the like. South Africa is still a beautiful country and your racing vibe in KZN is unbelievable!” he added.

And the strength of the Aussie dollar must make it a cheap holiday.

“The food and drink is cheap, cheap, cheap for us. Can you imagine what we are going to look like when we get back home?”

We had to ask Kevin, or Henry, as a parting shot what would happen if he won a big Pick 6 in the future?

“I’m getting older you know. I’d have to really think about where I’d want those six numbers tattooed!”

The happy numbers tattoo | Credit: Supplied

STRIKER

‘NO EXCUSES’

Veteran

looks likely to finally call it a day in the Gr1 Hong Kong World Pool Champions Cup as the curtain comes down on the current season on Sunday 30 July.

Strydom was gracious in defeat after being beaten into second on See It Again in Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Durban July. As reported this week on Gold Circle, Strydom said that he had enjoyed the run of the race, a was in a beautiful position.

“At the top of the straight there was quite a bit of scrimmaging and they were doing one another and gaps opened on the inside. I slipped through and obviously got there very quickly and very easily. I had to then nurse him and nurse him. But when I asked him he gave me and I thought maybe we would win, but the other horse was just coming back.”

He continued that he thought that there are two things that could maybe have been better for See It Again.

“Firstly, if the pace was faster. Then I would have run at him and not tried to get there quickly. Secondly, the weight. How does a young three-year-old give an older horse weight. That is something the handicappers need to look at. I know you can only give a handicapping horse weight according to performance, but how does a young three-yearold give a lightly raced four-year-old weight? It should have been the other way around.”

In the defence of the handicappers, See It Again in a ten race career went into the race as the winner of both of the most prestigious three-year-old middle distance Gr1’s in the country, whilst Winchester Mansion, in a

15 race career, went in as a twice Gr 3 winner.

Furthermore, the margin of defeat was only a quarter-of-a-length, so had the weight had been the other way around it would have seen See It Again romping home unopposed.

Nevertheless, it provided another example of the best horse in the race not winning the race everybody in the country most wants to win, and that can be a bitter pill to swallow.

That is not a suggestion the conditions should be changed, because making it weight for age would probably rob the race of the enormous intrigue surrounding it every season. Strydom continued that he could otherwise not complain.

Asked whether he felt he was still in with a chance in the closing stages, the veteran was very forthright in his reply.

“I could feel him coming, so I thought I would try and intimidate him a bit. It didn’t work, the horse was too good for us.”

He added philosophically that if he could have chosen how he would want the race to be run, he would have opted for the way it did. Striker was full of praise for trainer Michael “Muis” Roberts.

multiple champion jockey Piere Strydom

Piere Strydom greets the crowd as the jockeys are introduced prior to the big race

| Credit: Candiese Lenferna

“I must say Muis turned the horse out beautifully. He was actually better this time than he was last time (for the Daily News 2000). He was more relaxed and less sweaty. He did a great job and the form shows it too. We beat Dave The King and Without Question out of sight, whereas with the weight turnaround they should have finished on top of one another.”

It would have been a fairytale story had Strydom managed to win the race, because the now 57 year-old rider had only come out of retirement for an eye issue in order to reach the 5500 career winners mark.

Some good big race rides were then offered to him, including See It Again. Having openly said

The Hollywoodbets Durban July jockey class of 2023 | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

last year’s July was his last ride in the big race, he was now back again to have another crack at joining Anton Marcus as a five-time winner.

“Yes it would have been a fairytale and at the 300m I actually thought, ‘can you believe it, I’m going to maybe crack that fifth one’, but to my horror something came on my outside.

Then I knew it was a race and I was just hoping my horse would be better or hold on, but it was not to be.”

Piere said he believed See It Again would come back for Gold Cup day to run in the Gr 1 Hong Kong World Pool Champions Cup.

BOLAND STUD’S VERCINGETORIX SALES-TOPPER

The 2023 BSA KZN Yearling Sale, held at Durban’s Suncoast Casino on the eve of the Hollywoodbets Durban July last Thursday, proved a great success, and is clearly a sale going from strength to strength.

Well attended by an enthusiastic crowd, despite some weather challenges earlier in the week, the sale was held in perfect conditions, with plenty of interest from all over South Africa.

The sale’s aggregate rose by a staggering 50%, with the Thursday total of R27.1 million way up on the aggregate of R18.1 million achieved at the previous year’s auction. A strong and resilient middle market ensured

that both the average and median prices rose, with the average reaching R184 354, up from R123 129, and the median soaring from R75 000 to R145 000.

Sensible reserves set by vendors and an enthusiastic buying bench meant that just 12 yearlings failed to reach their reserve at the KZN Yearling Sale in 2023.

For a second year in a row, Boland Stud consigned the sales-topping lot at the KZN Yearling Sale, with Boland’s Vercingetorix full-brother to Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes/Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes winner, and former KZN Sale graduate, African Warrior, knocked down to Brett Crawford for R750 000.

Boland’s lot 62 - handsome Vercingetorix colt | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Out of the winning Jet Master mare Allez Afrique, a half-sister to Gr1 Cape Flying Championship hero O Caesour, the imposing colt hails from the family of champions Enchantress, Laverna and the ill-fated National Currency, to name but a few.

Kestorm Investments spent R580 000 to acquire the top priced filly. She was the Klawervlei Stud consigned lot 13, a daughter of champion sire Gimmethegreenlight and the Pomodoro sired Equus Champion, and dual Gr1 winner Return Flight.

Mauritzfontein, whose exciting young sire Danon Platina impresses as a potential star sire of the future, headed the Leading Vendors list for the sale, selling all twelve of their yearlings

offered for an aggregate of R3,64 million.

After spending R3,27 million to purchase 16 yearlings, Sterling Miller’s Pound Bloodstock led the Leading Buyers list, with their top priced buy coming in the form of the Mauritzfontein consigned Danon Platina filly Grey Fantacy (Lot 146), who made R550 000.

Having dominated proceedings at this year’s National Yearling Sale, Vercingetorix once again headed the Leading Sires by Aggregate list, with Silvano’s champion son having eight yearlings gross R3,475 million and average R434 375.

Further prices and statistics can be viewed at www.bsa.co.za.

ROUVAUN EXTENDS HIS GRATITUDE

It will be four months on 9 July since life changed inexorably for popular Cape racecaller Rouvaun Smit and his family. Since his injury and subsequent operation, Rouvaun has fought back and is currently undergoing intensive therapy to teach him to walk again.

The racing industry has come out in support via various initiatives, the latest being a golf day at Atlantic Beach.

Rouvaun has requested that we publish the note alongside.

Rouvaun Smit undergoes therapy | Credit: Supplied

Dear fellow racing enthusiasts

I want to reach out and personally thank everyone for their love, care, and support by way of get-well messages, in person visits, and for their unselfish assistance in raising funds for me.

Life throws one curved balls that we don’t always expect or see coming, and it is heartwarming to see kindness from all spheres of the racing industry.

My family and I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who was involved in the recent Golf Day fundraiser. From the organizers to the sponsors, to those who played on the day. A very big thank you to each and every one of you!

Not forgetting the stallion services that were auctioned at the end of last Thursday’s KZN Yearling Sale. A special word of thanks to the stallion syndicates, BSA, and those who purchased the services. I wish you all champions.

These past four months have not been easy, but I’m working hard towards getting back into the commentary box sooner rather than later.

Every ounce of every contribution has played a part in aiding my recovery. Thank you all for standing by me and contributing - I am humbled and extremely grateful, and I say a sincere thanks to you all. You have all made a difference in my and my family’s life at this time.

I feel truly blessed by your kindness and generosity.

Every gesture is much appreciated.

May God richly bless you.

Rouvaun Smit

EMILY AIMS AT CORAL ECLIPSE

It’s the Coral Eclipse on Saturday at Sandown Park. The ten-furlong Group 1 provides the first major opportunity for three-year-olds, who have previously raced at the top level, to meet their older rivals.

The ground at Sandown on Monday was described as good, good to firm in places, although there is potential for rain on Tuesday. After that, the outlook is largely fine.

This year a maximum of six target the £600,000 prize, but the field is packed with quality.

Emily Upjohn, a four-year-old filly who runs in the colours of the Lloyd Webbers is a general 6/5 favourite. Trained by John and Thady Gosden, she narrowly missed out in last year’s Oaks but was a top-level winner at Ascot on Champions Day. She then produced a careerbest when bolting up in the Coronation Cup at Epsom on her seasonal return five weeks ago.

The Sea The Stars filly is set to step back from a mile and a half to a mile and a quarter, with champion jockey William Buick taking over in the saddle from the suspended Frankie Dettori.

Emily Upjohn’s closest market rival is Irish 2,000 Guineas hero Paddington (shortened from 3/1 to 5/4), who followed up at Royal Ascot in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

Aidan O’Brien said last week that a step up in distance was under consideration for his brilliant St James’s Palace Stakes hero and he was left in at Monday’s confirmation stage alongside his stablemate Luxembourg.

The latter notched his third Group One win in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh in May, before finishing second to Mostahdaf in the Gr1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Paddington looks positively made for a mile and a quarter. By Siyouni out of a Montjeu mare, it’s fair to expect improvement from him

Emily Upjohn steps out at Sandown Park on Saturday | Credit: Racing TV

over 10 furlongs. He looks straightforward enough to handle the step up in trip without any problem judging by the way in which he settled before bounding to glory at the royal meeting.

The Shadwell operation are represented by Anmaat, successful in the Gr1 Prix d’Ispahan at the end of May. The Owen Burrows trained

gelding is a lightly raced five-year-old and together with Emily Upjohn will ask more from Paddington in terms of quality of opposition, but the weight-for-age allowance swings things massively in the three-year-olds favour.

All eyes will be on Paddington come Saturday afternoon as he bids to become Aidan O’Brien’s seventh winner of this famous race.

FIRST GR3 WIN FOR JADEN LLOYD

Knight’s Choice won the Gr3 Winx Guineas at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday, giving his jockey Jaden Lloyd the first Group 3 winner of his career.

The son of Extreme Choice recorded his fourth straight victory at his first attempt in Group company.

Lloyd settled the three-year-old gelding on the fence in the second half of the field and as the field hit the 600m mark, it appeared as though they were in a sticky position.

However, Lloyd found a gap and got off the fence to make his way to the outside, before letting down with an explosive turn of foot to run over the top of Fashion Legend and was able to hold off the fast-finishing Grebeni , with those two filling the placings.

John Symons & Sheila Laxon recorded their 15th Group victory as a training partnership, and Symons spoke of their victory post-race.

“To think he’s done all this in his first prep, it’s unbelievable,” Symons said of Knight’s Choice.

“From getting beaten in a Kilcoy maiden to winning a Group 3 race today, it’s just sensational.

“He’s a very good horse, we’ll send him for a spell then think about where we go next with him.

“We might look at the Melbourne spring or there’s

the Magic Millions here in January. Who knows?

“We’ll just let the dust settle on this win first.”

Jaden Lloyd was very emotional after his first Group 3 victory, and he spoke post-race.

“He’s just a really lovely animal, and I can’t thank John and Sheila enough for giving me the opportunity with him,” Lloyd said.

“I galloped him on Tuesday, and he just filled me with confidence. He’s only going to get better with time because he’s got such an electric turn of foot.

“I was trapped away early, but I decided to drop my hands and let him relax into stride.

“Once I got to the outside, I just let him rip. I haven’t ridden a horse with a turn of foot like that before, he’s a lovely animal.”

Jaden, who along with brother Zac, grew up in Hong Kong watching their father ride against some of the world’s best is one of Queensland’s leading apprentices.

Their Dad, retired champion jockey Jeff Lloyd now plays the role of manager and mentor for his sons.

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