SP Sprint - Wednesday 8 May 2024

On the cover

Sporting Post sponsored jockey Tristan Godden rode a terrific finish to win the fourth race at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday on the Peter Muscutt-trained debutante Icy Eleanor. The race was a deeply emotional moment for the Heffer family who lost their beloved Mother and Grandmother, Eleanor, last week. Candiese Lenferna took the photograph.

In a sequel to the shocking protest which led to the abandonment of what was intended to be a milestone racemeeting on the KZN racing calendar at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, Gold Circle has condemned the behaviour of a group of racegoers following the scratching of Main Defender from the IOS Drill Hall Stakes, which led to the abandonment of the last five races on the card, including the three Gr2 Feature events.

The statement, published on Saturday evening, adds that Gold Circle firmly intends to sanction those responsible, which may include a banning order from it’s race tracks and facilities going forward, and would like to take this opportunity to apologise to all connections and racing fans who were compromised by the unseemly actions of a minority whose behaviour bordered on anarchy.

“Our regret extends particularly to our esteemed sponsors, World Sports Betting and the Independent On Saturday, whose unwavering support for the sport of horse racing we deeply value and respect,” said Michel Nairac, Gold Circle’s CEO.

“While we are pleased to be in a position to reschedule the Feature events at short notice for this afternppm, this is small compensation for the unacceptable actions of a few who ruined what was meant to be a celebratory opening to Champions Season 2024. We take the matter very seriously and will deal with the transgressors in the strongest possible terms,” he added.

This incident serves as a stark reminder that such behaviour will not be tolerated in any capacity within the racing community.

We want to reassure the public that we remain steadfast in our commitment to upholding the principles of sportsmanship, order, and integrity at all our events, and we will take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

The first race was off at 11h05 this morning.

Read all about it on the www.sportingpost.co.za later this afternoon.

TCO2 TESTING

– SOME COMPROMISE REACHED

Tony Rivalland , representing trainers as chairperson of SANTA (the SA National Trainers Association), confirmed that he had enjoyed a fruitful meeting with the NHA on Monday on the issue of TCO2 testing.

The testing led to three scratchings over the weekend, with one of them indirectly leading to the big racemeeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville being abandoned.

Turf Talk report that the outcome of an earlier meeting with the NHA about the issue was that there had been an agreed concession that despite an international norm of a 36.0 mmol/L threshold level for TCO2, in SA the threshold

would be raised one point to 37.0 mmol/L. Monday’s meeting was called due to a request from some trainers that it be upped to 38 mmol/L.

However, Rivalland emerged from the meeting happy to concede that 37 mmol/L was the right way to go.

He added, “At this point in time no trainers will be fined when their horses are scratched for being 37 or over. There is no penalty at the moment because obviously at this stage maybe some of these horses testing 37 or slightly over are not being intentionally ‘milkshaked’. There is something that is causing a higher than

normal alkalizing effect in the horse and there will be road shows taking place over the next month whereby the NHA will convene meetings with trainers to explain to them why there are no fines at present and discuss the possible reasons for inadvertently high levels of TCO2. He said sometimes they will inform the trainer if it is above 35, just so the trainer is aware that something that is inadvertently in the feed, or something that the horse may have been given, could have caused it. However, information that is not breaking rules is never published.”

He continued, “So at this stage I am happy to concede that 37 is the level at which they will scratch horses. All this data has been reviewed and it will be reviewed again in the future. I think it was a productive meeting and I think they are addressing the matter reasonably, because there are no penalties for being above the limit at this stage, although obviously the penalty is that the horse does not compete in the race.”

He added, “So I feel it is fairly positive. I think the trainers will accept it. I will be sending them a letter with a bit more detail about what took place in the discussions and about the road shows.”

He continued, “There have been a lot of horses tested and there are only a very few of them who have been over the limit. I think six horses have been scratched in total since they have been doing it and they have data right from last year.”

Rivalland said he did not believe any ‘milkshaking’ had occurred for the horses that were slightly above the threshold.

He added, “For the ones who were a bit more above it is possible there was an alkalizing agent given. Whether it was intentional or inadvertent based historically on what trainers were used to doing going in to a race, is why there is no penalty. So I think that is a reasonable approach. It gives the trainer an opportunity to review his or her feeding methods or any natural method or regimes that he or she has been using going in to a race and to make adjustments to it.”

He continued, “There will be penalties at some stage in the future otherwise it is pointless doing the test and that should act as a further deterrent to the trainer who is misguided in his or her approach into bringing a horse into a race.”

www.turftalk.co.za

THE ROCKETSHIP OF CHANCE

The gambling industry in South Africa will become a Trillion Rand business in 2024

The RISE and RISE of GAMBLING (Part 1)

Over the past 28 years (1995 to 2023), total gambling turnover in South Africa has grown from R8 billion to R815 billion, a rise of 10 087% (ten thousand percent) writes Robin Bruss.

The growth of betting has been a rocket ship since the Covid blip (2020/21), growing from R326 billion to R815 billion in the past two years.

The gambling industry in South Africa will become a Trillion Rand business in 2024.

In this article, the first of a three part series, I want to explain an overview. Afterwards we can drill down into more detail and try to analyse the age old questions of WHY and WHAT NEXT.

Opinions without contextual fact do not lead to wise decisions any more than backing horses without studying form. So let’s take an overview of context as it weaves its way through some racing’s recent tumultuous history and try to understand how we have arrived at where we are now.

Then we can explore causes and try to come to a rationality so that the Sport of horseracing can be guided into stability and profitability. The ultimate goal is that EVERYONE involved in this sport can share in a success story, derive a decent living, and not be unfairly disadvantaged.

The Gambling’s incredible growth in South Africa requires context so we start by relating it to another mature industry:

South Africa compared to Great Britain and Australia

Great Britain has a population of 68 million people. South Africa’s population is 60 million. According to the UK Gambling Commission, the total gambling market in Great Britain in 2023 was £15,1 billion (R384 billion).

South Africa’s total is R815 billion, which is more than DOUBLE that of Great Britain. And yet the GDP per capita (average income per person) of $45,000 in Great Britain is SIX times that of South Africa at $7,000.

Do we really have a propensity to gamble that is 12 times that of Great Britain?

Australia had a national gambling aggregate of A$25,49 billion (R312 billion) in 2021, the last recorded figure I could find, and their population is less than half of South Africa at 25 million people. Dividing the aggregate by the number of people would make the average spend of an Australian to be R12,450 and the average by a South African to be R13,583.

In terms of the continent of Africa, South Africans bet more than HALF of the aggregate of all the other 53 countries.

It seems to be true that we are a nation of gamblers.

The Context of the National Lottery and its purpose

When the National Lottery was established in 1997, it was believed by Government that it would become the dominant form of gambling in South Africa. It was even given its own act, The National Lotteries Act (1997) separate from The National Gambling Act 2004. The performance however has been far below what was expected.

It is said that a State Lottery is for people that don’t understand arithmetic! If R5,6 billion is bet at Daily Lotto price of R3 per ticket, then what are your odds of winning? Its 200m to one.

In a Casino bet, the Return to Punter in winnings is 94,8%. In Bingo, its 95%. In Slots, its 93%. In the Tote its 86,8%. (National Gambling Board statistics 2023)

It seems that South Africans do understand arithmetic!

The Tote in relation to other forms of gambling has the burden of having to provide for takeout for government tax, operator’s costs and prize money – hence the return to punter is lower by comparison to other forms of gambling, and this may also be a reason for its steady decline.

I can’t leave the matter of the National Lottery without making an observation.

In 2022, National Lottery ticket sales of R5,6 billion were equivalent to less than 0,6% of the total of all GAMBLING.

The National Lottery’s purpose, when created from a recommendation by the Wiehann Commission on Gambling Policy (1993), was to create a mechanism for gambling to contribute to CHARITY which includes formal registered charities, sporting bodies, arts and culture and other Non Profit Organisations.

In 2023, the amount paid to year to Sports bodies and other charities after deduction of prizes and costs, was R1,2 billion.

The figure of R1,2 billion sounds like a lot of money, but according to the Department of Social Welfare, in 2022 there were more than 186,000 registered charities in South Africa and a further 266,000 Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs).

The National Lottery Distribution Board Annual Report 2022 notes that R1,2 billion was granted to 3,692 beneficiaries, meaning an average payment of around R325,000.

In relation to the needs of the 186,000 registered Charities and 266,000 NPOs, it seems that grant funding to only 3,692 beneficiaries addresses only less than 1% of charitable need – and in relation to R815bn bet plus R5bn lottery, the grant of R1,2bn represents just 0,1%.

One can’t help but feel that the National lottery, as a vehicle for gambling to make a contribution to public benefit, is disappointingly small.

Phumelela’s purpose in its 1998 set up

Phumelela was set up as a public company – a modern, transparent, shareholder owned construct licensed in 7 of the 9 provinces, designed to use the leverage, gearing and resources of a publicly listed enterprise to grow the business, make a bucket load of money and enrich the shareholders, of which the Racing Association started out with 38% of the shares.

Its Vision was: “To be recognized as a global leader in the betting market.”

How ironical it is then that Phumelela Gaming and Leisure Limited, should go bankrupt in 2020, despite having inherited all of racing assets for virtually nothing in 1995, and had been given a first line advantage with the first licensed Sports betting (the Soccer Six) and the first global co-mingling of tote wagering on horseracing (a forerunner of today’s incredibly successful HKJC owned World Pools Bet).

They also had at their disposal the power of a JSE Listed company with favoured BEE credentials, and therefore had the muscle to invest in any or ALL of other gambling enterprises in their quest to fulfill their vision.

They could have applied their minds in what has become a 28 year bull market to grow their gambling business into a giant which could have included casinos, online betting, global pools, bookmaking and wagering, gaming and a local and global media business to support it. But they did not.

Phumelela took its share price from R4 to a peak of R23 before its collapse to zero. That’s 475% growth at its peak. How does that look now against the backdrop of its own industry that has grown more than 10 000% in a similar period.

Had Phumelela achieved the 10 000% growth by leading or even riding the wave of Gambling’s rise, as they were supposed to, its share price would be around R435 and with

more than 99,6 million shares in issue, it would be a R40 billion company today and the Racing Association would be holding some R12 billion in assets – and the Sport of Racing would have been the King of Sports in South Africa and one of the richest racing jurisdictions in the world. An opportunity lost.

As we look at it now, it is the privately owned Hollywoodbets and World Sports Betting that have risen from humble beginnings in the betting arena to challenge and surpass the big guns of the entire gambling industry.

In horseracing terms, it’s like the 33/1 shots becoming the super champions of the era, whilst the 1/5 favourite falls down just as the finish line is in site. And now, as a consequence in the sport of racing, we have multiple changes in the order of things, as racing administrators attempt to re-establish the sport and its mechanism of funding from gambling as a competitor in a field of other challengers for the gambling Rand. We in racing terms are back in the progress plates.

But here is the thing, whereas the gambling Rand was once thought to be limited, it’s turned out to be more robust and elastic than anyone could ever imagined.

If I had to state one reason why Phumelela did not succeed in its objectives, I would say it was the misunderstanding of the business of gambling by its board, and its failure to recognize the major TRENDS in gambling and gaming. Instead of building a gambling colossus, the Board was busying itself with the politics of wrestling control of all of racing’s internal organisations in what was termed a ‘Vertical Integration Policy’, which was the hallmark of the Late M Jooste’s style of business: own a controlling share in everything.

“You don’t have to own the whole of each business” said Marcus Jooste to me in an interview for Tellytrack some years ago, “just enough to have the control – and when you have control of the entire value chain, as we

have done in Steinhoff, then you can point the entire business in the direction that your board desires. This is what I mean by a policy of vertical integration”.

Phumelela and The Tote

The heart of Phumelela and of horseracing in the 1990s was the TOTE, as it owned 66% of ALL gambling back in 1995 at a figure around R8 billion.

When the new South Africa integrated the casinos back into South Africa from the ‘homelands’ in 1995, everything changed in the legislation and the Tote and Bookmakers would have to compete with casinos, slots and bingo.

The formation of Phumelela was supposed to be the solution proposed to take racing into a competitive environment.

By being granted the first license for Soccer Pools to be run on the Tote, they believed that they would open an untapped market in sports betting into the tens of millions of soccer supporters and it would become a bonanza and make Sports Betting an extravaganza.

And it’s true: Sports betting has become a Bonanza – Just not the Tote’s version of it.

Whether the problem lay in lack of proper rollout, lack of media or marketing, lack of strategic partnerships, or lack of planning, the Tote’s version has been puny.

Compare:

In 2009, BOOKMAKER’s turnover on Sports was just R854 million and on racing it was R2,87 billion. By 2023, bookmaker turnover had rocketed to R417 billion on Sports and R9,75 billion on horseracing.

In 2009, the TOTE’s Soccer Pools were just R191 million turnover and by 2023, had grown to only R1,2 billion. The Tote on its core product of horse racing has been abysmal with no growth at all. From R6 billion turnover at the outset of Phumelela in 1998, it declined to

R4,67 billion by 2009 and to R1,7 billion by 2023– a DECLINE of 71%

The graph below shows the precipitous

decline of the Tote. It was deeply affected by the collapse of Phumelela and Covid (20202021), moreso the core product of horse racing betting.

4 Racing and the Tote

In 2022, 4Racing Pty Ltd bought the racetracks and physical assets of Phumelela together with the Tote, but decided against acquiring the substantial bookmaking assets of Phumelela save for I think one license. The rest were sold to British corporate bookmakers Betfred.

4Racing indicated that their intention was to restore the Tote on horseracing to its former glory and this hope continues, although the 2022 and 2023 figures showed rather disappointingly that not much progress has been made.

The statistics to year end 31 March 2024 are not yet available and hopefully will provide some indication of turnaround.

We can examine some of the known reasons

why the Tote performance is so abysmal in Part 2. Part of it is structural, part of it is legislative, part revolves how it is taxed compared to other competing products and part is the effect of what is known as the Open Bet.

Having said all that, it is pretty obvious that the core business of the Tote in horse racing has been pretty much neglected over years, its loyal punters have been lost, its media distribution channeled through paid cable channel on DSTV (which according to Multichoice was one of the least viewed channels). In 2019, the Multi Choice survey showed that viewership was 10,000 people, and therefore it does not reach the penetration one would hope for in a country of 60 million people. Horseracing is no longer on radio and very rarely are even the festival meetings shown on widespread terrestrial television coverage.

It has lost its position in the media eye whereas the wealthy bookmaking chains are everywhere.

Whatever the detail of the reasons, the decline of the Tote has badly affected the Sport which it is meant to serve.

The Tote’s failure to grow is summed up in a single statistic:

From 66% share of alI national gambling in 1998, the once mighty Tote sits at a lowly 0,3% of all gambling in 2023 whereas Bookmaking accounts for 53% of all gambling.

Now you begin to understand why bookmaking products are everywhere and why they are visible every day and in every walk of life.

You also begin to understand why Bookmaking chains are now also the single biggest contributors to Sports Sponsorships and in many cases, to charitable funding as well.

We will re-examine this in Part 3.

Let’s now examine horseracing’s position against ALL types gambling in 2023.

(Source: National Gambling Board published statistics)

GRAPH OF ALL GAMBLING TURNOVER PER MODE (2022

Source: National Gambling Board

-2023)

Horseracing’s share of the whole Betting Market:

As the graph below shows, it was ten years into Phumelela’s existence that - in 2010 - the Bookmaker’s betting turnover went past the Tote for the first time at R4,6 bn. Then it became an unstoppable rocket ship and increased a hundredfold over the next dozen years.

Where does horseracing betting sit inside the Bookmaker’s upwardly mobile growth curve? It’s about 2,15%.

In 2023, Bookmaker’s turnover on horseracing was R9,75 billion. We in racing might think it looms large in the minds of the bookmakers, but in fact, it’s a very small part of their business, dwarfed by the R417bn turnover in “Sports” betting.

I used the term “Sports” betting because today it also includes sports such as lucky numbers, roulette, blackjack and poker. In fact, casino style betting, masquerading as Sports, probably accounts for a lot of the growth curve that we have seen.

Hollywoodbets, World Sports Betting, Mary Slack and Greg Bortz

Hollywoodbets involvement in racing is really interesting.

It has acquired both Western Cape Racing’s assets and Gold Circle’s in deals with

Greg Bortz, who has rearranged Cape Racing in a revolutionary and spectacular way with decisive leadership and a can do attitude which is admirable.

That Greg Bortz and Hollywoodbets are about to do the same in KZN is both exciting and enthralling – an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit we are not used to seeing in horseracing.

It is apparent that Owen Heffer’s Hollywoodbets are gigantic supporters of horseracing in spite of the betting statistics which indicate that horseracing betting must be a minor player in their gambling businesses, both in South Africa and internationally.

Their contribution comes from a love of the game and thankfully, as they are privately owned, they don’t have to account to outside shareholders for their magnanimity and support.

Bortz and Hollywoodbets will breathe new life into horseracing’s betting markets as much as they have done in relation to support for the Sport, in sponsorships and marketing, the Hollywood racing syndicate and the multiple donations and support for racing’s non-profit bodies.

Similarly, World Sports Betting (Pty) Ltd has become a large sponsor of Horseracing’s big events, especially in Gauteng where their betting presence on the course is also bigger than that of the Tote.

Established by Warren Tannous in 2002, World Sports Betting is licensed by Gauteng and National Gambling board and like Hollywoodbets, it has established itself in multiple betting mechanisms, and not only operates country wide, but is also a global operation.

The intervention of Mary Slack’s MOD Trust to set up 4Racing Pty Ltd, saved Gauteng racing from collapse, and it’s ongoing contribution month after month, enables Gauteng and the Eastern Cape racing a stability that they would not have had. In addition, their contribution to employees and BEE has been outstanding.

I don’t think words are adequate to express the admiration that racing’s participants feel about this, and their gratitude comes with respect and acknowledgement that is well deserved.

As we review the gambling trends, we can’t help but realise that the enormity of such interventions and the support of the bookmaking chains has saved the Sport of horseracing from collapse as it has emerged from the double whammy of Phumelela’s demise and the effects of Covid’s stoppage.

That said, as the Tote is the life blood of racing’s gambling income – it is the legislated source of funding of the operations and prize money – it’s future has to be addressed in earnest if racing is to survive into the future and grow and prosper

If it is not addressed, racing might well be reduced to a begging bowl from bookmakers, sponsors and philanthropists in order to continue.

And whilst such support from all three parties right now is gratefully received, it is not a solution for sustainability of an entire industry.

In Part 2, we will drill down further in what is an important and fascinating subject.

GUINEAS – STOP PRESS!

Varsfontein Stud’s champion resident stallion Gimmethegreenlight’s colts Green With Envy and Sandringham Summit ran 1-2 in Wednesday’s Gr2 World Sports Betting Guineas, with the pair earning R412 500 between them.

The Dean Kannemeyer trained Green With Envy confirmed his status as a leading contender for the 2024 Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July with a powerful performance.

Under a superbly judged ride from an inform Craig Zackey, the colt stormed home down the outside of the track to deny favourite, and paternal half-brother, Sandringham Summit victory by a long neck.

Bred and owned by Khaya Stables, Green With Envy has now won five of nine starts with the colt having earned R1 718 899 in prize money.

LOVE CONQUERS ALL!

“She’s going to go through the divisions!” The words of winning jockey Craig Zackey will be music to the ears of owner George Nagel after Time For Love made a decent quality field look ordinary with an emphatic victory in Sunday’s R200 000 Listed Ladies Mile at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

A lightly raced daughter of the Australian-bred Redoute’s Choice sprinter-miler Time Thief, Time For Love looked to have a tough ask off her modest 82 rating.

But she had the last laugh when she stormed home at 33-1 to beat My Flower Fate (10-1) by a length in a time of 100,59 secs and register her maiden stakes success in the process.

Rainbow Lorikeet (6-1) stayed on well for third, marginally ahead of the 33-10 tote favourite

Princess Izzy in fourth. Under two lengths covered the quartet.

The race was a poignant reminder of the passing in March of Hassen Adams, as the winner was bred by Nadeson Park Stud.

The Crawford-Rix trained winner is out of the twice winning Jet Master mare, Teresina and was a well-bought R70 000 CTS Ready To Run purchase.

She has now won 3 races with 5 places from 8 starts for stakes of R335 926.

Time For Love looks one to follow.

The next Cape racemeeting is at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday 11 May.

Time For Love connections loving every moment of the victory | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

IT’S ALWAYS A TIME FOR

Craig Zackey has Time For Love in charge as My Flower Fate (Corne Orffer) tries hard | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

When Time For Love streaked to victory in the Listed Ladies Mile at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday, the four-year-old added to the evergrowing impact of Australian super sire Redoute’s Choice in this country, given that she is the first South African-bred stakes winner sired by his son Time Thief.

Redoute’s Choice needs no introduction, his locally based stallion sons Rafeef, Wylie Hall, Redoute’s Promise and Buffalo Bill Cody have all sired black type winners.

Time For Love’s victory is a poignant one, considering it came barely a month after the sad passing of her breeder Hassen Adams, who imported Time Thief in 2015.

At the time of purchase, the horse had spent the first five years of his stud career under the Darley Australia banner, following a seven-start racing career which yielded two victories over 1000 and 1200m, including the Listed Zeditave Stakes. Twice Gr1-placed, he was runner-up in the Caulfield Guineas and also ran third in the Australia Stakes.

A robust individual, as befits one of the Danzig sire line, Time Thief’s female line is well known in this country. He is after all a three-parts brother in blood to Sabine Plattner’s dual champion sprinter Laisserfaire.

A winner of no less than five top level events, this daughter of Danehill twice won the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint and also showed up her male rivals in the Computaform Sprint and two renewals of the Cape Flying Championship.

The siblings are out of Gr3 winner Procrastinate, whose accomplished stud record consists of six black-type performers, whilst their once-raced half-sister Sybarite became the dam of Justin Snaith-trained Zodiac Ruler, a winner of the Gr2 Golden Horseshoe and runner-up in both the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes and Gr1 Investec Cape Derby.

The family has enjoyed its fair share of success in this country, given that Procrastinate’s halfsister Watercolours produced the Gr1-placed, Gr2 winning stayer Blake, whilst another halfsister Rainscene is the dam of Swallow Stakes victress Nona In Command, who counts the Gr3 winners Pretty Young Thing and Warrior as her first two foals.

Significantly, Dynasty sired Blake, whilst his sons Jackson and Futura feature as the sires of Pretty Young Thing and Warrior respectively.

Time For Love finds herself in good company since her sire’s most successful Australian offspring were also fillies.

Pride of place must go to the outstanding speedster In Her Time, who claimed both the Gr1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes and Gr1 The Galaxy in a stellar nine-win career which earned her the honour of Australia’s Joint Leading Older Sprint Female of 2018.

The multiple stakes winning sprinters Volkoff and In My Time likewise were members of the fairer sex and their pedigrees are quite illuminating, Volkoff’s grandam being by our exported champion Hawaii, whilst In My Time’s fourth dam Luskin Rain is a half-sister to Rainbeam, who of course features as Time Thief’s third dam.

Time For Love comes from a dyed-in-thewool South African dam line. She is out of the modest two-time winner Teresina, whose previous foals include Gr2 Cape Merchants runner-up Ready Steady Go and Time For Love’s year-older full sister Terra Time, who ran third in the Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap.

An own sister to Gr3-placed Eagle Squadron, Teresina is by champion Jet Master out of the Golden Thatch mare Goodgollymisspolly, a half-sister to that grand galloper Young Rake. A dual winner of the Gr1 Champion Stakes and runner-up in the Gr1 Durban July and Gr1 Cape Derby, he is by Rakeen, as is Jet Master. When mated to Goodgollymisspolly’s half-sister Princess Polly, Jet Master sired Master Plan, winner of the Gr1 Champions Cup. Intriguing stuff.

Sadly, for all his credentials, Time Thief has been under-utilised in this country. In seven seasons, he has sired an average of less than 30 foals per crop, a sad indictment and just another example of a stallion who has fallen through the cracks.

Whilst he sired Gr1 Cape Guineas third Macthief from his first crop, Time For Love is one of 57 live foals from his fourth crop, his biggest, which to date has also yielded last season’s Gr1 Gold Medallion third Oceans Time, Gr3 SA Fillies Nursery second Time For Glor,y and the multiple Gr2-placed speedster Time Fo Orchids, who most recently finished second behind Rafeef’s daughter Mrs Browning in the Gr2 Camellia Stakes.

Now a sprightly 18 years old, Time Thief is still enjoying life at Nadeson Park, as is Time For Love’s dam Teresina, who is currently in foal to Twice Over.

By the way, Time For Love’s victory continues a rich vein of form for Redoute’s Choice, whose champion son The Autumn Sun sired a remarkable trio of Gr1 Classic winners in the space of the last three weeks: Autumn Angel (Australian Oaks), Vibrant Sun (Australasian Oaks) and Coco Sun (South Australian Derby).

KEY WEST - A

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THE WORLD’S LEADER

One Stripe (Gavin Lerena) stamped himself a leader of his generation in the Cape

Vaughan Marshall’s One World colt One Stripe stamped himself a leader of his generation in the Cape when he stormed to victory in the R300 000 Gr3 Winter Nursery at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday.

Despite Cape Racing’s revitalized and attractive juvenile programme, it must be disappointing that only five 2yo’s pitched for the Sunday feature.

But what the race lacked for in numbers, the quality was there, and hopes will be high that Vaughan Marshall will travel One Stripe to Pietermaritzburg in June for the Gr1 Gold Medallion.

Allowed to relax by Gavin Lerena as Rama Forseca led the talented Lion Rampart, One Stripe (7-10) simply accelerated when asked by Gavin Lerena, as he took off to win a cracker.

One Stripe was too strong for Lion Rampart (5-2), as the pair made it a Marshall 1-2, with a length separating them in a time of 63,58 secs for the 1100m.

The R1,4 million sales-topper at the 2023 Cape Racing Ready To Run And Unbroken Two Year Old Sale, One Stripe (28-10) One Stripe races in the orange and blue flag of Rikesh Sewgoolam, who is enjoying a nice run.

Bred by Drakenstein Stud, One Stripe is a son of Met winner One World (Captain Al) and is out of the three-time winning Silvano mare Silver Stripe, who stayed well and won up to 2450m.

Now a winner of 3 races from his 4 starts, One Stripe took his stakes total to R870 438.

Interestingly, Drakenstein bred the winners of the first three races – two of them by One World!

on Sunday | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

VETERAN CAPE TRAINER SPEAKS OUT AGAINST ‘NHA VICTIMIZATION’

While no press release has been forthcoming from the National Horseracing Authority, a veteran Milnerton trainer has told a shocking story of what cannot be termed anything less than victimization by the National Horseracing Authority’s senior management.

Vaughan Marshall explains that an Inquiry was held on Monday 6 May 2024 at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse.

The man with a genuinely squeaky-clean record was charged with a transgression of Rule 10.5.14, in particular that a veterinary treatment has not been accurately recorded as a treatment record in a Veterinary Treatment Register (VTR).

Vaughan Marshall told us up front that he has never been one to run to the press, but he feels so aggrieved about what he has been subjected to that he is compelled to speak out

publicly in the hope that others don’t suffer the same fate, and that this type of behaviour ceases forthwith.

“I have been a trainer for 43 years and have never had a single prohibited substance transgression against my name. Two of my horses jarred up in a race and the next day when I was off, and after discussion with my assistant of 14 years, Adele Alsop, my vet Dr Alisdair Cameron, duly administered a dose of pyroflam to the horses in question which he recorded in his VTR. Cameron relocated and left SA and the employ of Baker & McVeigh the following day.”

Vaughan Marshall receives his Winter Nursery trophy from Cape Racing’s Tammy Gilmour at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Mr Marshall continues that a few days later, NHA vet Dr. Matthew Bawden arrived a this yard and requested to take 10 out-ofcompetition tests.

“It was only when chief stipe Ernie Rodrigues turned up with an AOG for R30k that I first became aware of the 2 treatments. I duly contacted my vets B&M, obtained their VTR and Ernie then scanned copies to the NHA on 5 November 2023 and duly handed Arnold Hyde a hard copy on 11 November. The Cape Chief Stipe was completely satisfied that I had not contravened any NHA Rules. I need to point out that pyroflam/flunixin/finadyne is one and the same, and the most commonly utilized nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory utilized on a daily basis by every training establishment. It is like you and me taking a panado,” he adds.

One would think that this should have been the end of the matter, but the veteran trainer says that literally months later, Ernie Rodrigues was instructed by Hyde to now offer him a discounted R15 000 AOG to sign.

“Again, I refused. Ernie kindly offered to testify at the Inquiry on my behalf. I decided to lawyer up to protect my good name and integrity. I duly appointed attorney Mike Marshall (no relation), Adv Nigel Riley, and of course Robert Bloomberg was always behind the scenes and also attended the Inquiry.”

Marshall tells the Sporting Post that the Inquiry itself was ‘an embarrassment for the NHA’.

“After their only witness Dr. Matthew Bawden had admitted under cross-examination that the vets VTR was accessible at all times, that the treatments were accurately and legibly recorded in a treatment register, and that I had not contravened Rule 10.5.14, we closed our case without calling any of our 3 witnesses. The chairman of the Inquiry Board, Mr Andre Vlok was fantastic and was visibly irritated from the get-go with the NHA prosecutor.

When Mr Wafer was asked by Mr Vlok why we were actually here and about the wasted costs

associated with this, he unbelievably replied that if I had signed the AOG that this wouldn’t have happened. I can’t tell you the stress that this unnecessary victimization by the NHA has caused me. My sincere thanks go out to my incredible legal team,” concluded the emotional multiple Gr1 winning conditioner.

When asked for comment on what had transpired, Attorney Robert Bloomberg responded that, whilst he took a decision months ago to focus his attentions on assisting Cape Racing in various matters, and not to represent stakeholders at Inquiries and Appeals, he was always willing to try and assist his friends, especially where he believe that there had been a travesty of justice.

“In regard to Vaughan’s matter, I furnished Vee Moodley and Arnold Hyde with an objective factually based Legal Opinion in an endeavour to save unnecessary costs wherein I stated unequivocally that Vaughan had no case to answer politely stating inter alia that this matter was “not justifiable in pursuing.” I also informed them that the chief witness for Vaughan Marshall was the chief stipendiary steward in the Western Cape, Ernie Rodrigues, who would be testifying against his own employer and that surely this set off alarm bells,” tells Bloomberg.

The well-known racing attorney adds that Mr Moodley ‘arrogantly responded’ stating that they had not asked for my opinion and further said that “there is absolutely no way we shall NOT proceed with the Inquiry based on the fact that our chief stipendiary steward is a witness and the cost implications that you mention” and further stated that “this matter is NOW closed.”

A puzzled and bemused Bloomberg says that he subsequently told Hyde when he called him in an unrelated matter that the NHA had ‘zero chance’ in succeeding, and that he was of the categorical opinion that it was foolhardy in the extreme to proceed.

“He undertook to speak with Mr Moodley. I never heard from him again and exactly one week later a letter of set down for the hearing

was sent to Vaughan Marshall by one Shane Wafer, bizarrely penned on an NHA letterhead and pronouncing that he was the new NHA Prosecuting Attorney.”

Bloomberg says that to the best of his knowledge, Wafer is not a full-time employee of the NHA.

“It was the disrespect shown to me by the NHA and the request from Adv Riley that I assist him at the Inquiry in the capacity of racing technical advisor, and of course my extreme

desire to give them a ‘snotklap’, that I agreed to same. When one’s opinion accords with that of the CEO and RCE then your opinion is appreciated, but when it deviates from their own myopic and severely tainted viewpoint, then bully-boy tactics prevail. The mission statement of the NHA is ‘maintaining the integrity of the sport of horseracing’ but where was the integrity in prosecuting a vindictive, vexatious, meritless and spurious case against an obviously totally innocent party?” asks Bloomberg.

Robert Bloomberg – ‘a travesty of justice’ | Credit: Supplied

“HE DOESN’T STAY!”

Drakenstein Stud bred five of the first six winners on the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Sunday card, including two of the three feature events.

Described as a ‘notable training feat’ by Drakenstein’s Racing Manager, Kevin Sommerville after Justin Snaith had Pacaya in fine order as the 5yo stormed home late to win the R350 000 Gr3 Legal Eagle Stakes, the son of Trippi clearly enjoys Richard Fourie and showed he is back to his best in his second start after the Met.

The winner of the 2023 WSB Gr2 1900 just under a year ago, Pacaya is a genuine quality sort on his day, and gave his all after Vaughan Marshall’s perpetual motion machine Rascallion had carted the field along, and still looked to be in with a shout inside the distance.

But Fourie had other ideas and it was left to the 6-1 Pacaya to draw clear and beat improved again 3yo stablemate Rapidash (8-1) by 1,50 lengths in a time of 112,47 secs.

Rascallion was all heart as he clung on, much to the joy of PA punters, to run third, and shade the eyecatching Greeting My Master.

Yet another Drakenstein-bred feature winner, Pacaya is raced by The Duke of Richmond Syndicate and is a son of Trippi (End Sweep) out of the top-class staying mare Ash Cloud (Black Minnaloushe).

A winner of 6 races with 5 places from 19 starts, the winner has earned R835 213, and will not be contesting the third leg of the Winter Series – if Richard Fourie has anything to do with it.

“He doesn’t stay!” said the winning jockey.

Pacaya (Richard Fourie) draws clear to beat stablemate Rapidash (Grant van Niekerk) | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

A THUMBS UP FOR FAIRVIEW

After gallops were held on the Fairview turf track on Friday 3 May, it appears to be all systems go for the TAB Listed East Cape Derby which is run on Friday 10 May.

Jockeys Richard Fourie, Yuzae Ramzan and Charles Ndlovu galloped horses on Friday morning and have given the turf track their thumbs up.

On 19 April, jockey Trent Mayhew’s fall in the pull-up area at Fairview racecourse raised several concerns regarding the condition of the turf track, with the focus on the pull-area.

A number of jockeys have fallen in the area in recent months.

Riders, representatives from 4Racing and Officials licensed by the NHA met to discuss

these concerns and a way forward.

A decision was taken at the meeting to facilitate a racing surface that would serve the best interests of human and equine athletes.

The gallops on Friday morning were held to test the area.

Fairview Racecourse | Credit: Pauline Herman

2024 HIGHVELD FEATURE SEASON

4Racing has announced the return of the 2024 Highveld Feature Season Awards, set to take place at The Galleria in Sandton on Saturday, 18 May 2024.

This prestigious horse racing industry event will serve as a platform to honour and celebrate the remarkable achievements of the stars of Highveld Feature racing throughout the season which ended this past Saturday with the Championships Finale.

The Highveld Feature Season Awards recognise excellence across a range of categories, highlighting the diverse talents and performances that have graced the Highveld racing scene over the past season.

The nominees for the 2024 Highveld Feature Season Awards are:

Champion Two-Year-Old Filly:

• Almond Sea

• Little Ballerina

• Simply Majestic

Champion Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding:

• Fire Attack

• Pistol Pete

• Proceed

Champion Three-Year-Old Filly:

• To be announced at the awards ceremony

Champion Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding:

• Main Defender

• Purple Pitcher

• Sandringham Summit

Champion Older Filly/Mare:

• Feather Boa

• Mrs Browning

• Silver Hills

Champion Older Horse:

• Royal Victory

• Thunderstruck

Champion Sprinter:

• Dyce

• Lucky Lad

• Main Defender

• Sandringham Summit

• Thunderstruck

Champion Middle Distance Horse:

• Gimme A Nother

• Main Defender

• Purple Pitcher

• Royal Victory

Champion Stayer:

• Crimson King

• Frances Ethel

• Purple Pitcher

• Rule Book

• Zeus

Nico Kritsiotis, Chairman of the voting process, leads a diverse panel of judges including, Jack Milner and Bradley Ralph.

The selection process was meticulous, with some categories attracting a lengthy discussion while others were more straightforward and predictable.

However, the judges are confident that the final decisions accurately reflect that a fair and correct process had taken place.

“Hosting the Highveld Feature Season Awards this year is a true honour for 4Racing, as it allows us to shine a spotlight on the exceptional talent and achievements within our racing community. This day is not just about celebrating the winners, but also about

recognising the dedication, passion, and hard work that all stakeholders contribute to our sport. We congratulate all the nominees and look forward to an unforgettable evening,” said Fundi Sithebe, 4Racing CEO.

The winners in the following categories are based on a points structure and will be announced at the Awards function:

• Champion Work Rider

• Champion Apprentice

• Champion Breeder of the season

• Champion Owner of the season

• Champion Jockey of the season

• Champion Trainer of the season

The following points structure was applied:

All equine winners will be eligible for the highly coveted Horse of the Season award, adding an extra layer of anticipation.

4Racing extends its best wishes to all nominees in their respective categories and look forward to hosting them on the evening.

• Media release by 4Racing on Friday 3 May 2024

“Why resort to litigation when a straightforward yes or no response is all we seek? It incurs expenses, both for my client and for a regulatory body supported by the racing industry.”

FORTUNE ATTORNEY SAYS NHA NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO INDUSTRY

Is the National Horseracing Authority of South Africa dragging its heels on the Andrew Fortune licence application? And should a process that effectively denies an individual the opportunity to earn a living in the only profession in which he is trained, take months of petulant power pondering and bureaucratic dilly-dallying?

When the 55 year old former SA Champion Jockey announced in February that he was shedding the kilo’s and working hard in a bid to recapture his glory years in a return to the saddle, the flamboyant son of the Cape Flats created a wave of excited anticipation amongst a racing public hungry for heroes, and with an edgy appetite to fire up their everyday entertainment with a real character.

The man born on the wrong side of the rails, who beat the mean streets of Elsies River and

the dreaded demons of a variety of addictions, told the Sporting Post in February that he was more excited and motivated than he had been in the eight years since an injury ended his hopes of chasing a second national title.

But despite offers of rides and pledges of sponsorship from a variety of stakeholders, today Andrew Fortune is starting to feel like an unwitting victim of a corporate power-play in the NHA’s corridors of power.

Andrew Fortune – wants to ride again | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

So says his new Attorney, Heidi Barter, who told the Sporting Post on Sunday that the NHA appears to be stonewalling her client.

“It is not acceptable that our correspondence is ignored. We are well experienced in dealing with regulatory bodies and understanding their associated red-tape processes. But the difference here is that the NHA is a private entity that seemingly believes that it is not accountable to the industry it serves, and is playing with a man’s life,” said the Attorney, who suggested that in this day and age, a meeting could be held on an online platform at short notice, with minimal inconvenience.

“We are absolutely not demanding any special treatment. But it should not be necessary to wait months for a committee to sit, and then to ask us for more information,

while kicking for touch. The NHA licencing committee convenes again in June, and what then? Do they play further games, just because they can with my client’s future? They have already been furnished with every conceivable piece of information that they could need. If there is anything else, then let’s meet and they can inform us. Alternatively, they should have the courage and common courtesy to furnish my client with a decision. They are, after all, servants of the industry,” she added.

When asked about the possibility of legal action, Mrs. Barter emphasized that pursuing legal recourse is always a final measure. She highlighted that this step can be readily avoided if the NHA simply cooperates with her office and client.

Heidi Barter – disappointed at NHA’s lack of urgency | Credit: Supplied

“Why resort to litigation when a straightforward yes or no response is all we seek? It incurs expenses, both for my client and for a regulatory body supported by the racing industry. If this becomes our client’s only recourse, it reflects a failure of leadership and suggests personal agendas overshadowing the greater good. At this juncture, it’s difficult to presume anything else!” she added.

‘The Candyman’, who handed in his licence in 2017, has left his young family behind in Australia as he looks to resurrect a career on African soil that captivated and entertained the SA racing public for close on 30 years.

Hazel Kayiya confirmed to the Sporting Post some months ago that the NHA had received an ‘informal enquiry’ on 17 February 2024 from Mr Fortune.

“Due to the short time available to consider this as the Board met on 18 February, it was decided to consider it at the next licensing meeting. All licence applications that are supported by the required documentation are considered at a licensing meeting which takes place every two months – next one is mid-April. If there is any outstanding documentation that is required, then the applicant will be notified of what is required so that the application can

WHAT A WORLD

Drakenstein Stud’s red-hot sire One World has made a sensational start to his stud career and his fine run continued when One World gelding United Nation won in open company on Wednesday.

Making just his second outing, two-year-old United Nation made his first start at Hollywoodbets Greyville a winning one when he landed Wednesday’s Download The Race Card Online www.goldcircle.co.za Maiden Plate in sparkling fashion.

Trained by Glen Kotzen, United Nation was bred by Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm.

be assessed at the next licensing meeting,” she added.

When the board met last month, Andrew Fortune was asked for more information, and we are informed that he duly provided this.

Mrs. Barter asserts to the Sporting Post that it is long overdue for the judicial debate surrounding the applicability of the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000 (Act No. 3 of 2000) to the actions of the NHA, to be resolved.

“The statutory test used to determine whether the NHA actions are administrative action, is whether they are exercising a public power or performing a public function. How can their role as the sole regulatory body for horse racing in South Africa, tasked with issuing licenses and thereby restricting the public’s ability to freely participate in this industry, be perceived as anything other than an administrative action? PAJA seeks to protect us from unlawful, unreasonable and procedurally unfair administrative actions and decisions. It safeguards individuals and the public at large from actions by law enforcement officials that may be deemed unlawful, ego-driven, or overly controlling. I hope we don’t have to go that far, but if we do, it will without a doubt benefit the entire racing industry.”

United Nation, who is out of the Western Winter mare Academia, was a R300 000 purchase from the 2023 National Yearling Sale.

He is the 16th winner for One World, whose sons One Stripe and Lion Rampart finished first and second in Sunday’s Gr3 Winter Nursery.

One World has already come up with a plethora of promising performers in his stellar first crop, including dual Gr3 winner One Stripe, the classy Lion Rampart, and eye-catching debut winner One More.

SON OF TRIPPI UP TO 115

Pacaya has seen his rating increased from 111 to 115 after winning the Gr3 Legal Eagle Stakes over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday.

The Handicappers were of the view that Sachdev made for the most suitable line horse and his rating remained unchanged on 104.

Rapidash was the only other runner to receive an increase in ratings and he went up to 106 from 103.

The only runner to receive a drop in ratings was Future Prince who went down one point from 101 to 100.

Ladies Mile (Listed)

Time For Love had her rating increased to 88 from 82 following her win in the Listed Ladies

Miles over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday.

The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that the runner-up My Flower Fate made for the most suitable line horse here and her rating remained unchanged on 87.

No less than 6 horses received drops to their ratings in this event. Gold Poker Game dropped to 107 from 108, Siddeley drop from 92 to 90, Montelena dropped to 91 from 93, Fatal Gem dropped to 90 from 92, Red Palace dropped to 108 from 111 and Lady Mistico dropped to 82 from 85.

Media release by the NHA on Tuesday 07 May 2024.

WAITER 3 DISHES UP A HOLLYWOODBETS PUNTERS’ CHALLENGE VICTORY!

On an afternoon where five tote favourites won on the Vaal card, regular player Waiter 3 struck gold in the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge with an R830 000 all-or-nothing jackpot win.

The popular free-to-play competition has created a host of winners over the past four years, and requires players to select the winner of each race on local racemeetings, as well as on Hong Kong and Singapore fixtures.

The all-or-nothing jackpot prize on local racemeetings is calculated by multiplying the number of starters by a factor of R10 000.

Players have an opportunity to double their potential payout by wagering a minimum of

R50 - on the programmatically generated betslip.

While Waiter 3 failed to take up the R50 minimum bet and thus double her payout to R1 660 000, the 58-year-old mother of three, a Nursing Sister, who lives with her family in Thembisa, was thrilled when the Sporting Post called her to give her the good news.

“My son usually gives me a call to say ‘Mama, you are number 2028, or 6076, or wherever’. Today he did the same – except I was number 1 at the end of the racemeeting after Munchkin won the last race!” enthused the happy Grandmother, who said she would be using the R830 000 to settle her debt and to spoil her six grandchildren.

Munchkin won the last to give Craig Zackey and Lucky Houdalakis a double on the day. Happy owner Dave Shawe enjoys the moment | Credit: JC Photos

“I have been so desperate to be debt-free! And now thanks to Hollywoodbets, I am going to be. I am so happy and we have played the competition regularly as a family game – so it’s been lots of great fun too!” she added.

It’s been a big year so far for winners in the exciting competition that is available on all local racemeetings, as well as Hong Kong and Singapore racemeetings.

In February, two lucky players, Sketts and EnQ, became the first jackpot winners of 2024 in the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge when they shared the R720 000 jackpot prize by selecting all eight winners on the Turffontein 8 February card.

Then on Saturday 10 February, a record 74 winners shared a payout of R650 000 in the free-to-play competition. Each winner received over R8 700 each.

On Friday 29 March, KZN-based player Dream 333 became the latest big winner in South Africa’s all-time most popular horseracing competition when he scooped the all-ornothing jackpot prize of R840 000 in the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge at Fairview.

On Sunday 28 April, Keano01 won R860 000 at the Hollywoodbets Scottsville racemeeting, and proceeded to buy himself a new set of wheels.

For local racemeetings, the value of the all-ornothing prize is determined by the number of runners at the race meeting multiplied by R10 000, for all venues.

For example, if there are 91 carded runners and 5 scratchings, then the all-or-nothing prize will be based on 86 runners at R10 000 each, giving a value of R860 000 as the prize!

For Hong Kong and Singapore racemeetings, the jackpot prize is R500 000.

Over and above the premier aim of finding all the winners, daily prize money of R5 000 for each of the scheduled race meetings will be shared by the top 20 players on the points leaderboard at the end of the day.

The winner will be awarded R2 000, with the runner-up R1 000 and the balance apportioned

in terms of the published rules down to the 20th finisher.

These payouts are also doubled if the minimum R50 wager on the bet slip is taken!

The Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge is really easy to understand and to play.

All you need is a Hollywoodbets account and the choice is yours to either select one horse in each of the races at the designated race meeting or opt to make use of the ‘quick-pick’ option and take a chance!

Don’t leave your entry late – the gate closes five minutes before the off of the first race in all centres.

Click here for more.

Master Archie by Rafeef ex La Volta by Var | Credit: Romi Bettison

Winterbach-based sire Master Archie, the first son of Rafeef to retire to stud, has seen two of his half-brothers win in just over a week of each other.

Winterbach-based sire Master Archie, the first son of Rafeef to retire to stud, has seen two of his half-brothers win in just over a week of each other.

Out of La Volta by Var, and the 8-time winning daughter of star racemare Sarabande, it is a family in form as all of Master Archie’s racing siblings have won, giving the mare six winners from six runners including Black Type, Purple Cloud.

Majestic Palace (Potala Palace) won for the second time for trainers Mike and Adam Azzie on 23 April, with half-brother Master Casper (Querari) winning third time out for trainer Johan Janse Van Vuuren and owner Laurence Wernars on 2 May, in partnership with his wife and son.

A winner of the Gr3 Man O’ War Sprint and going on to win the Gr1 Computaform Sprint for trainer Paul Peter. Master Archie was a pinnacle of speed, winning seven races over 1000m – 1100m from ages 2-4. Master Archie achieved a higher Merit Rating than his own leading sire, with an MR 128 reflecting on his record and won the same Gr1 his own sire –the Computaform Sprint.

The Rafeef / Var cross has proved fast indeed and it has yielded three Gr1 wins to date. 16 Hand high Master Archie, was enthusiastically supported by breeders in his first season at stud, and yielded a high fertility percentage

rate. Looking forward to his first foals for the season, Hendrik Winterbach commented that Master Archie has a great temperament, and an easy stallion to work with as a result.

Amongst the mares that supported Master Archie in 2023 was Hannah Gorgeous, a Fort Wood half-sister to sire Futura representing Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm, who stood Master Archie’s broodmare sire – Var.

Narrow Creek Stud, breeders of amongst others Red Saxon and American export Isivunguvungu, have sent Sherry to Master Archie; the dam of Gr2 Tibouchina winner Homely Girl.

Rafeef has enjoyed another exemplary season for Ridgemont and will be standing for an increased fee of R120 000 in 2024. He boasts R85,205 Average Earnings Per Runner and 11 Black Type wins for the season.

La Volta’s Rafeef yearling colt, a full brother to Master Archie, sold for R800 000 to Candice Bass-Robinson at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale earlier this year. La Volta is in foal to Hawwaam for the 2024 foaling season.

Master Archie’s fee has been announced for 2024, standing for an accessible R7000 excl vat, live foal.

For more information: www.TBA.co.za

AIDAN O’BRIEN EARNS TOP ACCOLADE

The world’s greatest trainer – Aidan O’Brien | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

While dreams of Triple Crown glory have gone up in smoke for City Of Troy after Saturday’s dismal showing, leading trainer Aidan O’Brien can take heart from the fact that Auguste Rodin failed to fire as a hot favourite for last year’s 2000 Guineas before bouncing back to claim Derby glory at Epsom and the Curragh! So all is not lost.

Tributes and accolades have been awash on media since Aidan O’Brien was inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame with a small ceremony at Newmarket on Saturday.

He is just the fourth trainer to be inducted and follows Sir Henry Cecil, Sir Michael Stoute and Vincent O’Brien. Aidan has enjoyed monumental success for more than 30 years, having secured his 4000th career victory last September.

O’Brien has enjoyed spectacular success for more than 30 years and there is no sign of his relish for smashing ceilings, pushing boundaries, or raising bars to unimaginable heights diminishing.

He chalked up his 4000th winner in September 2023 –Dermot Weld and Willie Mullins have been the only other Irish trainers to reach this figure – and has been Champion Trainer in Ireland every year since 1999, having become the youngest person to scoop the title a couple of years earlier at the age of just 26.

The previous record holder was Bobby Frankel, the legendary American trainer who gave his name to perhaps the greatest racehorse of them all. O’Brien didn’t train Frankel, but he played a pivotal part in his story by guiding the racing career of his sire, Galileo, the 2001 Derby winner, who would go on to change the face of the sport with his astonishing exploits at stud over the next two decades.

Galileo was O’Brien’s first Derby winner, and he has since scooped the most coveted race of them all on eight more occasions via High Chaparral, Camelot, Ruler Of The World, Australia, Wings Of Eagles, Anthony Van Dyck, Serpentine and Auguste Rodin. The premier Classic was first run in 1780 and O’Brien’s haul is simply unprecedented.

“That’s the reality of life for us all, really. Everyone has their own beliefs, and nobody knows who is right or wrong but it’s always a help if somebody has a belief. We do our best every day and then if there is extra help out there, we are always very grateful for it.”

The 54-year-old has also been Champion Trainer in Britain six times, including in 2017 when a jaw-dropping year ended with his horses winning a world record-breaking 28 Group 1 races. Thirteen of those triumphs came in races that fell under the QIPCO British Champion Series umbrella.

Multiples in the Classics are a recurring theme when it comes to the man whose drive off the track is matched by the determination of his horses on it.

The 2000 Guineas has been secured ten times, as has the Oaks, while the 1000 Guineas (seven wins) and St Leger (six) have also been plundered at regular intervals.

O’Brien’s dominance in Ireland is even more pronounced, with his 48 Classic winners on home soil including 14 Derby victories. He’s also had another eight in France, meaning he is just two short of achieving 100 Classic winners across the three countries.

In Britain, nobody has trained more winners than him in the following Group 1 races: 2000 Guineas (10 wins), The Derby (9), St James’s Palace Stakes (9), Coronation Cup (8), Dewhurt (8), Gold Cup (8), Eclipse Stakes (7), Middle Park (7), Fillies’ Mile (6), Juddmonte International (6), July Cup (5) and Cheveley Park (4). And in Ireland, the list reads: Phoenix Stakes (17), Irish Derby (14), Irish Champion Stakes (12), Irish 2000 Guineas (12), Tattersalls Gold Cup (10), Irish 1000 Guineas (9) and Irish Oaks (7).

As for Royal Ascot, O’Brien became the most successful trainer in the meeting’s rich history in 2023 when achieving his 83rd success via Paddington in the St James’s Palace Stakes. The subsequent victories of Warm Heart and Age Of Kings extended his lead over Sir Michael Stoute, the previous record holder, before the week was over.

For good measure, he has also won top-level

races in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates and, of course, the United States. His exploits at the Breeders’ Cup, America’s biggest meeting of the year, include a record seven victories in the Breeders’ Cup Turf and a record six successes in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf. Found, his winner of that race in 2015, would lead home a famous 1-2-3 for him in the Prix De l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp, the following year.

His successes around the globe have all been gained with good manners and grace. He is the first to offer a handshake to his conquerors and is unfailingly modest in victory. All praise is deflected to his horses, staff and jockeys. Several riders have had long and fruitful associations with him, none more so than Ryan Moore who became his No 1 in 2015.

O’Brien is closing in on 400 Group 1/Grade 1 winners on the Flat, and he has guided the careers of many of the sport’s most celebrated

champions. From George Washington to Churchill; Mozart to Stravinsky, Dylan Thomas to Yeats; Australia to Luxembourg; Caravaggio to Auguste Rodin; Minding to Magical; Dick Whittington to Camelot; St Nicholas Abbey to St Marks’ Basilica; Winter to Snowfall; Rhododendron to Hydrangea; Duke Of Marmalade to Paddington; Rock Of Gibraltar to Giant’s Causeway.

And before all of them – and many, many more – came the mighty Istabraq, the three-time Champion Hurdle winner. In what now seems another lifetime, O’Brien excelled at training Jump horses and was champion Irish National Hunt trainer five years in succession in the 1990s, rattling up huge annual tallies.

O’Brien has been private trainer to John Magnier, the bloodstock colossus, since 1996, and when invited to train at Ballydoyle nearly three decades ago the weight of expectation must have been daunting, bordering on overwhelming.

Vincent O’Brien, a genius of his craft, had excelled at Ballydoyle for 50 years and had seemingly set the bar impossibly high for any successor. The baby-faced O’Brien had been making a name for himself with a plethora of Jumps winners; but this job was on another level.

If that wasn’t enough, he kept the wheels of his original base in Owning Hill rolling, despite the yards being about 25 miles apart. Amid juggling two strings under both codes (and being a champion in each sphere for a time), he and his wife Annemarie soon had four young children on their hands, too, with Joseph swiftly being followed by Sarah, Ana and Donnacha.

O’Brien’s youngsters would each go on to ride at least one winner for their father, with Joseph and Donnacha enjoying numerous victories at the highest level for him. They have since gone on to carve their own successful training careers. Success breeding success. It is the O’Brien way.

Back to the early days at Ballydoyle. O’Brien rose to all the challenges with the big winners flowing almost from day one. In turn, Coolmore’s breeding operation soared to new heights. They worked in beautiful tandem, and, of course, still do to this day.

O’Brien is probably at his most comfortable when at home, keeping an eagle eye on his 200 equine athletes. Ballydoyle is a phenomenal place, providing a tranquil setting for horses and humans, complete with its replica of Tattenham Corner. The Derby is never far from his thoughts.

Typically, the teetotaller rises at 04h45 every day and his phone is never switched off. His most relaxing time, he has said, is early evening when he walks from yard to yard, box to box, monitoring the beautiful, bewitching animals in his care.

His life revolves around horses, horses and more horses, although he sometimes finds time to watch the odd movie in the evening (by his own admission he generally falls asleep before the finish of them) and he attends church regularly. He encourages everyone to stay in contact with their beliefs.“You can only control the things you can control, and you don’t worry about the things you can’t,” he said at a media morning not long after Saxon Warrior had given him his 300th Group 1 victory in 2018. “You just hope there is a far greater power there that might help control the things you can’t control for you.

“That’s the reality of life for us all, really. Everyone has their own beliefs, and nobody knows who is right or wrong but it’s always a help if somebody has a belief. We do our best every day and then if there is extra help out there, we are always very grateful for it.”

O’Brien doesn’t pray for his horses, but his faith in them is unshakeable. And with good reason. His entry into the Hall of Fame is recognition of his genius and incredible contribution to the sport. There will surely never be another quite like him.

GODOLPHIN COLT TALKS THE TALK

Unbeaten colt Notable Speech became the first horse in 86 years to win the Gr1 2000 Guineas having not raced as a juvenile with a sensational performance in the Newmarket Classic on Saturday, 4 May.

The Dubawi homebred had only started his career for Charlie Appleby at the end of January and was making his Group-race debut on his first turf appearance following three impressive all-weather wins at Kempton Park.

Having broken on terms, Notable Speech found plenty of cover at the rear of the 11 runners as Inisherin and last year’s Champion Two-Year-Old City Of Troy made the early running.

William Buick appeared full of confidence on Notable Speech and the duo started to make eye-catching headway towards the far rail with three furlongs to race.

Notable Speech cruised up to hold every chance a furlong and a half out and forged clear of Blue Point colt Rosallion inside the final furlong, seeing out the mile well to score by a length and a half.

Charlie Appleby and Oisin Murphy celebrate a big win| Credit: Newmarket Racecourse

Charlie Appleby said: “You don’t see too many horses come from just all-weather success to winning a Guineas. We have given Notable Speech all the time, which he needed to become a racehorse. A few lads sat on him around August time and said that he was a nice horse. He was still weak and I’m in the very privileged position to be able to give horses the time they need, without any pressure.

“He came out on the all-weather and we all saw what he did. On that last start, he put a little bit of a wow factor into what he achieved with his acceleration. William [Buick] felt afterwards that he might be a French Guineas horse, so we were toying whether to go there and decided to see how the Guineas picture here was starting to formulate.

experience. Paul sat on him last week and said that the favourite will have to be very good to beat him.

“I would imagine the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot will be next, but we will let the dust settle, let everyone enjoy themselves and speak to all connections before formulating a plan.

“To win this sort of race with a homebred son of Dubawi is immensely important. More importantly, it’s what His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, the royal family, and everyone at Godolphin deserve.”

William Buick added: “I’ve not known Notable Speech for that long, but I’ve not very often believed in a horse as much as this one. Sometimes you go home at night and wonder if you have lost the plot altogether because he finds things so easy. His change of gear is incredible.

think that was only

to give

“After the Craven, we made the decision to run here and brought him to Newmarket for a racecourse gallop. I

ourselves a bit more confidence

into running the horse, but he was exciting in what he did that morning.

“Full credit to Adrian McCarthy, who has ridden him throughout the winter. He’s gone to America for Nations Pride, so Paul Eddery has got on Notable Speech and he’s got plenty of

“The race couldn’t have worked out any better and fair play to the team as the horse was in great form today. He’s done nothing but improve. I’ve gone close in the 2,000 Guineas a couple of times and I’m delighted.

“He’s an out-and-out miler, he’s all about speed. He has a great mindset and I really t hink that he is a horse who is going to keep on improving.”

• www.godolphin.com

AN INVINCIBLE INFLUENCE

Outstanding sire Invincible Spirit enjoyed a remarkable weekend. Not only is he broodmare sire of Saturday’s Gr1 Qipco 2000 Guineas winner Notable Speech (Dubawi), but his star son Kingman is the sire of Sunday’s Gr1 Qipco 1000 Guineas queen, Elmalka.

The red hot Kingman is also sire of Sunday’s Listed William Hill Pretty Polly Stakes winner Friendly Soul, with the latter a potential starter in the Gr1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks).

Beaten just once in eight starts, Kingman, a close relative of top-class stallion Oasis Dream,

is the sire of nearly 80 stakes winners, including the promising young stallion Calyx. The latter, winner of three of four starts, including the Gr2 Coventry Stakes, has already come up with a trio of group winners from his first Northern Hemisphere as well as the very promising filly Purple Lily.

Invincible Spirit: Green Desert ex Rafha | Credit: Irish National Stud

Invincible Spirit is also sire of I Am Invincible, whose son Brazen Beau is the sire of Saturday’s Gr3 William Hill Palace House Stakes runner-up Vadream.

Champion Sire in Australia for the past two seasons, I Am Invincible is on course to be crowned Australia’s Champion Sire for a third time running, with the son of Invincible Spirit set to stand for a fee of A$275 000 in 2024. At the time of writing, I Am Invincible offspring had earned more than $29,3 million in Australia this season.

To date, I Am Invincible has sired more than 100 stakes winners, including ten time Gr1 winner Imperatriz and Gr1 William Reid hero Hellbent, sire of 2024 Gr1 Schweppes All Aged Stakes winner Magic Time.

Another Australian based son of Invincible Spirit, Royal Meeting, is currently fourth on

Australia’s Leading First Season Sires List, with Invincible Spirit’s great grandson Tassort runner up on that premiership.

Both Royal Meeting and Tassort have produced a Gr1 winner in their first crop, with Royal Meeting filly Hayasugi victorious in the 2024 Gr1 Sportsbet Blue Diamond Stakes, and Tassort filly Manaal successful in this season’s Gr1 Inglis’ Sires.

Unbeaten in four starts, Notable Speech is out of the Invincible Spirit daughter Swift Rose, who finished runner up in the Gr3 UAE Oaks.

A descendant of champion Mesopotamia, Notable Speech hails from the same female line as such luminaries as Mukhadram (Gr1 Coral-Eclipse), African Story (Gr1 Dubai World Cup), Mastery (St Leger) and high-class South African broodmare Serra Negra among many others.

Serra Negra (whose sire Kris is broodmare sire of Invincible Spirit) produced Gr1 Bloodstock SA Cape Guineas/Gr2 K R A Guineas winning sire Noordhoek Flyer (Pivotal) as well as the dam of Gr3 Three Troikas Stakes winner, Mount Laurel (Ideal World).

Mesopotamia is also ancestress of multiple champion sire Volksraad, who, like Invincible Spirit, was sired by Green Desert. Volksraad, eight times champion sire in New Zealand, was produced by the Secretariat mare Celtic Assembly, the fifth dam of the aforementioned Notable Speech.

Invincible Spirit’s half-brother Kodiac also enjoyed success this past weekend, with Kodiac son Seven Questions victorious in

Saturday’s Gr3 William Hill Palace House Stakes at Newmarket.

The sire of Saturday’s 2000 Guineas fourth place finisher Ghostwriter, Invincible Spirit has consistently proved a high-class stallion.

At the time of writing, the 2002 Gr1 Haydock Sprint Cup winner had been responsible for more than 140 stakes winners -a considerably higher total than that achieved by his own hugely influential sire Green Desert.

Invincible Spirit’s high-class son Digital Age, winner of the 2020 Gr1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes, stands at Mauritzfontein and he looks set to make his presence felt on the local turf.

Digital Age (Invincible Spirit ex Willow View) stands at Mauritzfontein | Credit: Mauritzfontein

CRUZ AND PURTON CELEBRATE AT SHA TIN

Tony Cruz will bid for a remarkable eighth Gr1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup as a trainer on 26 May after showcasing his stable’s staying might as La City Blanche and Five G Patch fought out the Gr3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap at Sha Tin on Sunday.

A Group 1 winner over 2000m in Argentina as a three-year-old in 2021 when he raced as Zodiacal, La City Blanche reprised his best form with a stout display to deny Five G Patch by a neck with Unbelievable third, one and a quarter lengths further back.

Reflecting after the frenetic tempo set by Moments In Time (4th), Money Catcher (8th) and Ka Ying Generation (10th), the overall time of 2m 25.46s was the fastest since 1995 as

the field strung out before the leading trio was gradually reeled in approaching the 600m.

With previous wins in this race aboard Super Pistachio in 2011 and Chefano in 2020, Chadwick was elated to triumph for his old boss, Cruz – who boosted his tally of Queen Mother Memorial Cup victories to four as a trainer.

La City Blanche gives Tony Cruz his fourth win as a trainer in the Queen Mother Memorial Cup | Credit: HKJC

“Any race to win is nice, so very happy,” Chadwick said. “We knew La City Blanche was a top stayer, we knew he was fit and healthy, had no weight on his back. When they had me a bit tight around the turn by the 700m, he just thought about it a bit, so I just had to help him through that, but he travelled back on the bit nicely and we came around them and got them on the line.

“I was really happy to ride the horse and get the win on him and I’ll stick with him for the Champions & Chater. I had a lovely run. It’s great to sit on Tony’s horse and hopefully more wins to come.”

Cruz said: “La City Blanche is nothing but a stayer. He has no early speed and he likes the good ground and today Matthew Chadwick rode a perfect race. I expected Five G Patch to win the race. I said to my owners ‘I think my two horses will be first and second today’.”

Looking to the Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup, Cruz said: “A mile and a half will be perfect for them and as long as the ground is going good.”

Six-time champion jockey Zac Purton reached the 100-win milestone for the eighth consecutive season, and ninth time overall, with a quartet on La Forza, Bottomuptogether, Aestheticism and Ka Ying Rising.

With 19 meetings left in the season, Purton leads Karis Teetan (68 wins) by 32 and was delighted to achieve a 2023/24 ambition.

“At the start of the season, 100 wins is always the benchmark – if you get to there, you have had a good season, so it’s nice to get there again and on a progressive horse, too,” Purton said after Ka Ying Rising surged to an impressive win in the Class 2 Brandy Snap Handicap to earn a PPG Bonus of HK$1 million.

“He’s done a really good job – he’s always been a little bit lightly-framed and giving him the break between runs has really helped him. He was a lot calmer today, which is good.

He’s still not the finished horse and he’s going to develop a bit more. We’re going to have some fun with him.”

With a Hong Kong career total of 1,710 wins, Purton is steadily bearing down on Douglas Whyte’s all-time record of 1,813 wins.

Toronado two-year-old La Forza claimed the Argonaut Plate for Griffins for Jamie Richards to provide Purton with the first of his four winners before Frankie Lor delivered Purton’s second score with Hong Kong first-starter Bottomuptogether, a three-year-old by Shamus Award, in the Class 4 Isle Of Man Handicap.

Francis Lui struck with Holy Lake under Vincent Ho to land the Class 3 Insular Handicap to move within four of Pierre Ng in the trainers’ championship before Ng responded with Aestheticism in the Class 4 Norman Conqueror Handicap under Purton to keep his buffer at five wins – 58-53.

David Hayes slotted his 600th Hong Kong winner and 40th for the season when Karis Teetan guided Regent Glory to victory in the Class 4 Manicou Handicap.

“I’m happy with the strike rate this season and it’s a good, consistent stable, I think, now. We’re trying to target 50 winners for the season with 50 horses.”

“I only found out today that I was close to the milestone, so it was good to get the 600 up because I haven’t been here as long as other trainers so it’s nice to get that number,” Hayes said.

“I’m happy with the strike rate this season and it’s a good, consistent stable, I think, now. We’re trying to target 50 winners for the season with 50 horses.”

Hong Kong champion trainer in 1997/98 and 1998/99, Hayes saddled 458 winners in 10 seasons during his first Hong Kong stint between 1996 and 2005, adding 143 since returning to the city in 2020/21.

Hayes sealed a double with Ka Ying Rising, pushing his tally this term out to 41 wins.

Golden Fairy notched his first victory at Sha Tin with his success for Chris So and Alexis Badel in the Class 5 Special Cargo Handicap before Beauty Glory triumphed in the Class 4 Monaveen Handicap for Tony Cruz and Brenton Avdulla.

David Hall and Teetan combined with Hong Kong Hall to clinch the Class 3 Game Spirit Handicap before Hugh Bowman denied Purton a fifth victory with a short-head success on Benno Yung’s Tourbillon Prince in the Class 3 Inch Arran Handicap.

Zac Purton rode a four-timer to reach 100 wins for the season | Credit: HKJC

THE BATTLE OF FORTY ONE AT EPSOM

Godolphin’s pair of Arabian Crown and Ancient Wisdom remain together with City Of Troy in next month’s Betfred Derby after just under half of the horses entered for the Classic were removed on Tuesday.

A total of 41 colts are in contention for the race at Epsom on the 1st of June, 13 of which are trained by Aidan O’Brien for Coolmore and three by Charlie Appleby for Godolphin.

Arabian Crown is the general 4-1 favourite for the Derby after his scintillating seasonal success in the Classic Trial at Sandown last month. He replaced City Of Troy at the top of the market after last year’s champion two-yearold was most disappointing, finishing unplaced when odds-on favourite in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last weekend.

However, UK bookmakers subsequently priced up City Of Troy join-favourite alongside Arabian Crown after Aidan O’Brien confirmed Epsom remained the plan for the son Justify.

O’Brien blames himself for treating City Of Troy like “too much of a god through the winter” and the champion trainer feels freshness had a huge part to play in the colt’s spectacularly underwhelming comeback in the Guineas on Saturday.

Auguste Rodin (Ryan Moore) gets the better of outsider King Of Steel (Kevin Stott) to win the big one at the 2023 Betfred Derby | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

After so much talk about City Of Troy potentially being Coolmore’s Frankel this year, suddenly it is Coolmore’s great rivals Godolphin who hold all the aces when it comes to the three-year-old colts’ division.

Arabian Crown showed he had no issues with the ten-furlong trip last year when winning the Group 3 Zetland Stakes in October, so William Buick had no concerns about making most of the running in the Sandown Derby Trial.

As the remainder of the field were looking to reel him in two and a half furlongs out, Buick quickened again on the market leader and galloped up the hill to slam Macduff by three and a quarter lengths.

Buick commented post-race: “Arabian Crown is a very uncomplicated horse and I think everyone will be pleased with that, I certainly was and it’s quite testing out there. It’s early in the season and they are entitled to improve.

I would be as confident as you can be that he’ll stay a mile and a half.”

He added: “Experience-wise, it would not worry me either way if he had another race before Epsom, but he’s ticking all the boxes prior to it. Epsom is Epsom and you never know how they are going to handle it until the day, but I couldn’t be happier with him.”

Ancient Wisdom is the other Godolphin representative who looks a major player for the blue riband event. Another son of Dubawi, he was an impressive winner of the Gr1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster last season and is entered in the Dante at York on the 16th of May.

HOLLYWOOD FOUNDATION SUPPORTING EXTRAORDINARY WORK

Tom Ro Haven rescues and rehabilitates abused, neglected and unwanted horses and ponies | Credit: Supplied

The multi-faceted benefits to the broader community of the extraordinary work being performed at the Tom Ro Haven for Equines and Children on the West Coast of the Cape Peninsula in the seaside jewel of Noordhoek has been recognized with a donation of R55 000 by the Hollywood Foundation and Cape Racing.

The Tom Ro Haven rescues abused, neglected and unwanted horses and ponies, and rehabilitates them at their premises in Noordhoek. The horses then fulfil an important role in equine-assisted healing programmes which focus on abused women and children from the local community.

The Hollywood Foundation was established in 2021 with the goal of bringing hope and to work with as many people as possible to make a sustainable impact in the communities in which they operate.

The donation of R55 000 to the Tom Ro Haven was emotionally acknowledged by the NPO’s Gillian McCulloch.

“We started this facility in 2010 after suffering our own personal trauma, and today we open

our hearts with gratitude as the generous gesture not only goes some way to assisting our work, but is also an acknowledgement that corporates care, and that we are doing the right thing. It means so much and there are so many silent voices and sad faces out there who are bowing their heads with thanks today,” said Gillian McCulloch.

The R55 000 grant will assist with purchasing supplements and medical supplies required to rehabilitate the equine residents at Tom Ro Haven.

Representatives of the Hollywood Foundation, together with the Cape Racing Team, visited the Tom Ro Haven to hand the grant over, and were humbled to witness the amazing and unheralded work being done.

“What a privilege it has been for us to play a small part in supporting this excellent cause. Seeing the dedication and love is an eyeopener to understanding some of the diverse challenges that our local communities face daily. It is good to know that heartfelt, but seemingly token gestures of compassion and kindness, fuel the fires of hope. Horses and people are the cornerstones of the Hollywood brand, and we are honoured to support the Tom Ro Haven. Our visit here today has resonated with all of our team members present,” added Cape Racing’s Kaamilah Finch

Find out more about the Hollywood Foundation here:

www.hollywoodfoundation.co.za

For more information on Tom Ro Haven, please find details below: www.tomrohaven.co.za

Gillian McCulloch

• gillian@tomrohaven.org.za

• 073 815 1752

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