SP SPRINT - 7 JUNE 2023

# FOURIEFANS

DREAMS OF THE DERBY

Leading SA breeder Craig Carey of Ridgemont was snapped by Sporting Post photographer Candiese Lenferna at Epsom

Richard Fourie rode three Gr1 winners at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday. He is seen with some of his avid fans. The image was taken by Chase Liebenberg.

CHARLES UP FOR THE CHALLENGE?

Oscar Nkunzi takes Charles Dickens for an early morning walk at Summerveld last week

Credit: Chase Liebenberg

The field is headed by defending champion and 2023 L’Ormarins King’s Plate winner Al Muthana, who ran a cracking prep in the recent IOS Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes, and will be ridden again by Grant van Niekerk.

Smanga Khumalo takes the reins on the Kotzen flagbearer Cousin Casey, with Van Niekerk having accepted the ride on the Ricky Maingard gelding in anticipation of Cousin Casey not running.

“There’s nothing sinister in the jockey arrangements. I was not expecting Cousin Casey to run here and confirmed the Al Muthana booking. If there is any horse that is going to beat me, then I hope that turns out to be Cousin Casey.

I have enjoyed great support from owner Ravi Naidoo and wish him and the Kotzen team well,” Van Niekerk told the Sporting Post on Monday evening.

Glen Kotzen last won the Gold Challenge when

Big City Life was steered to victory by Piere Strydom in 2010.

Candice Bass-Robinson, who is looking for her first success in the prestigious weight-for-age mile, has a powerful Drakenstein coupling of star 3yo Charles Dickens and the high-riding Trip Of Fortune. First pick stable rider Aldo Domeyer sides with the younger horse.

Brett Crawford saddled consecutive Gold Challenge winners with Undercover Agent (2017) and Captain America (2018), and brings the smart Zapatillas down from his Gauteng satellite base in the care of his son, James.

In a rare return to a title defence, the 2019 winning comination of Richard Fourie and Do It Again are back as the senior leg of the Justin Snaith coupling.

The Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge is the final golden ticket event for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Al Muthana wins the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge in 2022 – he defends his title on Saturday | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

WEIGHT FOR IT!

Saturday’s Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge has not only attracted a strong field but the race also has a fair chance of causing an upheaval in the Hollywoodbets Durban July weights.

The two highest rated horses in the country, Charles Dickens and Al Muthana, are in the field and so are five Hollywoodbets Durban July horses, Do It Again, Safe Passage, Zapatillas, Rascallion and Cousin Casey.

Charles Dickens and Al Muthana on a gross and net of 132, are merit rated eight points higher than the highest rated July horses, the 124 gross and net merit-rated pair Safe Passage and Do It Again.

So, as it stands, the July weights are quite compact.

The top three-year-olds in the July, See It Again, Cousin Casey and Dave The King will all carry 57kg as things stand, although See It Again off his 124 merit rating (120 net) will be 1kg well in. As things stand any older male rated 110 or above will be in the handicap and an older female rated 108 and above will be in the handicap.

However, Charles Dickens and Al Muthana stand out as obvious choices as line horses for the Gold Challenge. It is a Gr 1 weight for age (WFA) mile and you can hardly get a better yardstick i.e., Al Muthana, who has won two Gr 1 WFA miles. However, Charles Dickens is widely regarded as the best miler in the country, despite his defeat to Al Muthana in the Gr 1 WFA L’Ormarins King’s Plate.

You can hardly get a more consistent horse than Charles Dickens, who has had nine starts for seven wins and two seconds.

So, one of these horses could well be the line horse when the handicapping assessment is done after the race.

If any of the older July horses, Do It Again, Safe Passage, Zapatillas and Rascallion finish within three lengths of one of that pair, presuming one of the latter is chosen as the line horse, then there is likely to be a change to the July weights.

A two-length margin or a one-length margin will mean a significant change.

If Safe Passage, for example, finishes one length behind Charles Dickens or Al Muthana and the latter is chosen as one of the line horses, then Safe Passage might be raised to 130.

That means See It Again will then carry 55kg in the July, Cousin Casey will carry 54kg, Dave The King 54kg and Without Question 53kg, while a few horses at the bottom of the weights will come under sufferance.

Piere Strydom will not be able to ride See It Again if that scenario does pan out, having stated his minimum riding weight for the July will be 57kg.

If Cousin Casey finishes close up to one of those line horses and the older horses are out of the picture then it will be good news for Strydom.

Cousin Casey, in that scenario, will only have an effect on the July weights if he goes above a 128 merit rating.

If he goes to 130, for example, he will become the highest net merit rated horse in the July at 126 and the weights would have to be set on him.

It gets complicated, but after they have been

set on him carrying 60kg he will go down to 57kg to fulfil the clause about three-year-olds not carrying more than 57kg.

That would then leave Do It Again and Safe Passage as topweights on 59kg.

The latter pair would then have to be dragged up to 60kg and the rest of the field will have to be dragged up 1kg with them.

It would leave Cousin Casey and See It Again carrying 58kg, Dave The King 57kg and Without Question 56kg, whilst the bottom weighted male would be 54kg and bottom weighted female 53kg.

Piere Strydom will be hoping to see Charles Dickens and Al Muthana fighting it out on Saturday with the rest of the field in a different parish.

Or he will hope to see, for example, a wide margin win for Charles Dickens with Al Muthana running a below par race to prevent him from being used as the line horse. Who else in the field could be used as a line horse?

The 127-rated Trip Of Fortune has been consistent this season.

The 122 rated trio Cousin Casey, Zapatillas

and Rascallion have all been pretty consistent too.

Perhaps the handicappers will be lenient and choose one of the latter as the line horse.

After all they are well aware that Hollywoodbets Greyville finishes in top class events tend to be closer than they would be on a galloping track, because of the tendency in SA racing go relatively slowly and then sprint for home coupled with the shortness of the Hollywoodbets Greyville straight. Lesser horses often get quite close to superior horses on this course.

The handicappers are well aware of that tendency and may use that knowledge to prevent unrealistic handicapping changes.

However, the Gr1 WFA Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge does definitely pose a risk to the current July weight structure.

• The Hollywoodbets Durban July Weights will be published on Tuesday 13 June

• Final Declaration close at 11h00 on Monday

19 June

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

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

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GIMME SOME SPEED!

Trainer Dean Kannemeyer celebrated his maiden Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint victory and his second elite level success of the season when the Khaya Stables bred and raced Gimme A Prince put his hand up for Equus Champion Sprinter honours with a courageous win under topweight at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday.

On a day that was kind to the majority of punters, the Gr1 jackpot carryover pool reached close on R4,3 million and the dividend a modest R73,90 – an indication of the fact that the popular picks arrived. And Gimme A Prince, only beaten by a wide gate in the IOS Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes when needing the run at his opening run of the 2023 Champions Season, was one of them.

Allowed to relax from his wide gate early on, the son of Gimmethegreenlight showed his class when he cut through his field late to win

going away in the fastest time of the 1200m Gr1 quartet on the day.

Clocking 68,09 secs, Gimme A Prince (1810) charged clear to beat the well-backed Thunderstruck (17-2) by 0,90 lengths, with Surjay (25-2) a head back in third. The latter two got tight late and there was a race review.

Winning Form-sponsored jockey Keagan de Melo said afterwards that he still had goosebumps.

Gimme A Prince and Keagan de Melo are easy winners of the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

“What a phenomenal and special horse to me. And a great team effort. I played my cards as they were dealt with the wide draw. Mr Kannemeyer has always felt he is better from off them. When he settled I knew he had the turn of foot to run them down. Carrying the 60kgs was a true testament to his courage,” added the national log-leader.

A delighted trainer Dean Kannemeyer said it was a super win and Gimme A Prince had earned his stripes.

“I’m so pleased for Lady Christine Laidlaw and for Varsfontein who raised this magnificent horse. It’s a team effort and I should mention Jehan Malherbe and all my team at Summerveld and Milnerton. It’s been a great day of racing and we saw some cracking performances today,” added Kannemeyer.

The Khaya Stables bred winner is a 4yo gelded son of champion sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint winner Real Princess.

Like Gimme A Prince, the Klawervlei daughter of Trippi was raced by Khaya Stables for Dean Kannemeyer, who also mentioned her in his post-race interview.

Real Princess was the most expensive filly sold at the 2013 Cape Premier Yearling Sale (Book 1) when knocked down to Form Bloodstock for R2,7 million. Gimme A Prince is her first foal, with the unraced The Real Prince currently in training with the powerful yard.

This was Gimme A Prince’s second Gr1 success and took his tally to 6 wins and 3 places from 10 starts for stakes of R1 963 188.

Dean Kannemeyer greets his super sprinter | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

PRINCE DEAN GETS THE GREEN LIGHT

Dean Kannemeyer - trainer of the 2023 Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint winner | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

‘I prefer to let the horse do the talking. But Keagan didn’t want to know about getting beaten on Saturday. Full marks to him!’

Close on a quarter of a century since taking the reins from his legendary Dad Peter, Saturday’s Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint winning trainer Dean Kannemeyer is going strong at 63. He says great people and good horses, coupled with a deep love of the sport of kings, are what gets him out of bed in the dark mornings.

The Hollywood Syndicate’s Shantastic and Khaya Stables’ Silvano’s Timer are the Dean Kannemeyer Racing feature flagbearers on the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge raceday at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.

The winner of the Gr3 Umzikhulu Stakes at her penultimate start, Dean says that Rafeef’s daughter Shantastic will be fit and ready for her run in Saturday’s East Coast Radio Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes.

“We can put a line through her WSB Gr2 Fillies Guineas effort last time. She was knocked out of the race. She will show us how good she is on Saturday. Don’t underestimate her,” he cautions.

On Saturday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, Dean saddled Khaya Stables’ smashing 4yo Gimme A Prince to register his second Grade 1 win of the season.

“My late Dad loved quoting the old-fashioned pearls of wisdom. And they mostly still hold true today. He always said show me a good owner, and I will show you a good horse. Patience and trust are the key to getting the best out of good horses. Even if time is often money!” he smiles as he chatted to the Sporting Post from his Summerveld satellite base on Monday.

Talking about pearls of wisdom, he recalls the late Peter Kannemeyer also preaching that a trainer should ‘not overfeed a new man in the game as he might not be hungry next time’.

“What my Dad was trying to say was that a new owner at his first sale shouldn’t be thrown dead with stock. Give people time to find their feet and learn about the game slowly. Leave

scope for him to come back to the sale next year. Mind you, I have adopted that approach and have woken up the next day to find everybody else feeding the new guy. But that’s in the nature of the very competitive world we find ourselves in!” he laughs.

The man who has trained three Durban July winners and a host of classic horses, including his first Gr1 winner Colonial Girl, who won the Gold Cup less than 12 months after he took over the family operation in 1999, suggests that the 2023 SA Champion sprinter elect is probably the best speed horse he has trained.

“While he had some issues early on, he was put away after the Gr1 Gold Medallion in 2021 and given enough time by his breeder and owner. Gimme A Prince has certainly rewarded Lady Chistine Laidlaw for her patience. I had the likes of top-class sorts like Honour The Guest and National Title earlier on, but I would say he is my best sprinter to date – and I believe he is not a one-dimensional sort and will go further. He settles and has a good turn of foot.”

Dean saddled Gimme A Prince’s dam Real Princess to win the SA Fillies Sprint at the same venue in 2016 under present day Hollywood Syndicate Racing Manager Anthony Delpech.

We asked how Saturday’s winner compares to his beautifully-bred dam.

“His Mom was a trojan and high-class. But he is better and he still has more to come,” he adds.

Dean explains that he had to start Gimme A Prince’s Champions Season campaign ‘somewhere’, and thus ran him from a wide

draw in the IOS Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m.

“He was in need of the run, took a few knocks in running and ran a smart second behind Trip Of Fortune. I thought his effort on Saturday, when giving a Hollywoodbets Scottsville Gr1 winner 6kgs and a solid beating, was really pleasing. We will probably aim him at the Mercury Sprint now. And given what he has shown, who knows – maybe even a shot at the 2024 L’Ormarins King’s Plate in the Cape Summer! But we will meet with Lady Chistine Laidlaw and Racing Manager Jehan Malherbe of Form Bloodstock to plot and plan the future.”

He prefers a conservative approach and concedes he was a bit rattled when he heard Winning Form-sponsored Keagan de Melo’s confidence in an earlier post-race interview.

“I prefer to let the horse do the talking. But Keagan didn’t want to know about getting beaten on Saturday. Full marks to him!”

A man of enormous patience, Dean says that he won’t have a Hollywoodbets Durban July runner this year.

“I have never believed in entering horses for the sake of running them. We haven’t got anything that fits the profile or meets the standard, even though the stake of R5 million and the prestige of what is an iconic race has every owner, trainer, breederand jockey wanting to be a part of it.”

He adds that he has some lovely young horses in his string but, no surprise, he won’t be rushing them.

Winning team! Dean Kannemeyer, Keagan de Melo and Assistant Nicolette Roscoe | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

“We have enjoyed some very successful buying trips to the various sales, but my 2yo’s are generally quite backward. So we won’t be hasty – they will always tell us when they are ready.”

As to his numbers balance between his KZN and Cape yards, he says that he has never regretted opening a satellite base at Summerveld in 2015.

“The polytrack may have its detractors, but the fact is that some horses are very effective on the all-weather. And as a trainer one wants to give every owner the optimal opportunity to get the best results. That’s what our KZN base has provided – a wider spectrum of options. We

will maintain a string here in KZN, but will head back to the Cape at the end of the season and do the housekeeping of vaccinations in August, before looking ahead to the Cape summer.”

And what about 63 year old

Dean Kannemeyer and the future?

“You mentioning my age makes me sound like a veteran. As long as I am enjoying the support of high-quality loyal owners, the I am happy to continue training winners, including Gr1 winners. Jehan Malherbe says that I am not showing any signs of losing it, so I clearly still have my faculties intact. And who can actually afford to retire these days?”he laughs.

Dean and his late Dad Peter | Credit: Gold Circle

GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson

Photo: Jeremy Nelson

GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson

GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson

Photo: Jeremy Nelson

GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson

GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson

GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson

GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson

GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson

GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson

GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson

Photo: Jeremy Nelson

GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT by Jeremy Nelson

Photo: Jeremy Nelson

IN THE

THE PINK!

Magical! The happy winning connections are from left to right: Peter Blyth, Bernadette Breton, Natalie Turner, Jackie Sparke, Kate Pattison, Sean Tarry, Richard Fourie, Shandre Hoffman, Joanne Gardner and Garth Towell | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

With the carryover jackpot reaching a pool of nearly R4,3 million, Sean Tarry celebrated his sixteenth Hollywoodbets Scottsville Gr1 winner as the Magical Lady Syndicate’s unbeaten Mrs Geriatrix stormed to victory in the R700 000 Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship.

History shows that the 1200m sprint is a marker of future achievement and it was Tarry’s third consecutive success in the 2yo feature.

Relaxed in midfield as Global Thunder led the way with the favourite Winter Cloud bringing up the rear, Richard Fourie brought the WSB Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery princess Mrs Geriatrix (7-2) down the centre and she kicked clear at the 250m with the Cape-based Winter Cloud (11-10) chasing.

But it was no race as the daughter of Vercingetorix powered home to beat the Cape

raider by 2,30 lengths in a time of 69,02 secs. Lucky Houdalakis’ Elegant Ice (20-1) was well back in third, with Golden Tatjana (17-2) rounding off the quartet.

Richard Fourie, whose third winner it was on the big day, said that there was never a moment of doubt as Mrs Geriatrix turned it on in the final stages, despite looking around at her first run away from home.

Trainer Sean Tarry said the winner was a small but athletic and well-balanced individual with a classy head and great eye.

“When we bought her, the idea was for these new owners to have an early runner. I couldn’t have imagined she’d be winning a Gr1 today but that’s ultimately what we are all aiming for! Based on her last run, she had zero right to win and that made her the horse to beat today,” added the multiple champion trainer.

A 2022 National Yearling Sale graduate Mrs Geriatrix was a second Gr1 winner for Peter Blyth’s Clifton Stud. She is by Maine Chance kingpin Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of

the Kahal mare Velvet Glove. As noted previously, Mrs Geriatrix 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 4 from 4, Mrs Geriatrix took her stakes earnings to R775 000.

PATIENCE WHEN BREEDING – IT’S ALWAYS IN VOGUE!

‘To think we’ve had to wait this long for a second Gr1 winner, that’s how hard this game is. Days like this is what keeps us going’- Peter Blyth

Mrs Geriatrix (Richard Fourie) storms to victory in the Gr1 Allan Robertson on Saturday | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Good things come to those who wait. Clifton Stud’s Peter and Jenny Blyth, the breeders of Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship victress Mrs Geriatrix will wholeheartedly agree with that.

The diminutive daughter of Vercingetorix added her name to an impressive roll of honour with her sparkling victory in the revered 1200m dash, her third at stakes level. Still unbeaten, the filly’s Gr1 success came on the back of wins in the Listed Ruffian Stakes and Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery.

“She is our second Gr1 winner,” Peter remarked. “We’ve waited a long time for this.”

That’s 25 years, to be exact, the first being Clifton-bred Classic Flag, who all the way back in 1998 won the (then) Gr1 Rothmans July in course record time.

Mrs Geriatrix initiated an unprecedented Gr1 hattrick on the day for the Sean Tarry stable, and as Peter recalls: “I sold her to Sean out of the ring. I had a reserve of R200,000 on her, but she was led out unsold. As he had shown interest in her, I approached him afterwards and he eventually bought her. When you think that Vercingetorix averaged over R600,000, she was one of his cheapest lots on the sale!”

And what a shrewd buy she has turned out to be for her team of lady owners, Natalie Turner’s the Magical Lady Syndicate. The Hollywoodbets Scottsville paddock was awash in pink as they led in their filly, with a proud Peter in tow.

“It’s wonderful to see such enthusiasm,” he remarked, “This is what racing needs.”

Mrs Geriatrix is out of homebred Kahal mare Velvet Glove, who according to Peter, was no great shakes on the track. As he explains: “I decided to breed from her purely because she is an own sister to Prince Of Kahal, a dual Gr2 winner of nine races. She was too slow to get out of her own way, amazing, considering how good her brother was!”

Nationals this year. Velvet Glove didn’t have a foal last year, but she is due to Master Of My Fate in September.”

Peter bred both Velvet Glove and Prince Of Kahal from the Model Man mare Vogue, a daughter of Jubilee Handicap winner Thousand Nights, by Foveros.

Remarkably, Vogue too, had her moment in the sun at this Hollywoodbets Scottsville meeting. Back in 2000, she earned coveted Gr1 black type when second in the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint for David Ferraris.

“Mrs Geriatrix looks like her dam, who is also quite small. She is her second foal, the first one, the three-year-old Iron Fist, placed in his only two starts to date for the Peter stable. I sold her Act Of War yearling to Jane Thomas at the

At the time, her half-brother Highland Night was a dual winner of the Gr1 Gold Cup. An already fine pedigree would be further embellished as Thousand Nights subsequently produced a second Gr1 winner, the Western Winter colt Warm White Night, who went one better than his half-sister by claiming the Gr1 Gold Medallion at this meeting in 2008.

He was in fact his dam’s fourth stakes winner and had been preceded by the dual stakes winner Night Watch, a full brother to Highland

“She was a liver chestnut who wasn’t overly big, but was strong and stood over ground.”

Prince Of Kahal – dual Gr2 winner who influenced the decision to breed the Gr1 winner | Credit: JC Photos

Night who also ran third in the Gr1 Gold Challenge, and Prince Asad, a dual Gr2 winner by Al Mufti.

Peter elaborated: “After running second in the Fillies Sprint, Vogue suffered a foot injury in her next start and that was the end of her racing career. She came to me when I was still at Lothair and her owner had sent her to his Queen’s Plate winner Divine Force, which I stood at the time.”

“When Vogue’s owner Mr Maciel decided to get out of the game, she already had three foals by Divine Force. I really wanted her and after a lot of deliberation, I made him an offer for all his stock, a parcel of 26 horses made up of mares, weanlings and yearlings. She was the plum and I agreed to the deal, basically to get her, although there were two or three other mares worth having. She was a liver chestnut who wasn’t overly big, but was strong and stood over ground.”

That purchase set Peter back financially. But his decision to send Vogue to Fort Wood proved a touch of genius. He probably recouped his investment when the resultant colt went under the hammer at the National Yearling Sale and fetched a hefty R2,2 million.

Named Fort Vogue and trained by Mike Bass, he won the Gr2 Peninsula Handicap and Gr3 Schweppes 2200.

“He was sent to Dubai but sadly, dropped dead before he could race,” Peter added ruefully.

Interestingly, Vogue ran second in the SA Fillies Sprint on the same day Jet Master won the Gr1 Golden Spur for the second year running. Little did they know that they would meet up in the breeding shed some years later, the result of that mating a filly named Whatalady.

Peter sold her to the Wernars for R600 000 at the Nationals just as Fort Vogue was strutting his stuff on the track and she too, proved she could run. Trained by the late Stanley Ferreira, she became Vogue’s second stakes winners with a

cosy victory in the Gr3 Acacia Handicap.

“Unfortunately, she went wrong after winning the Acacia. Lawrence Wernars told me she had so much talent, she could have gone right to the top.”

Prince Of Kahal, who rounded out Vogue’s stakes winning trio, proved to be Vogue’s last foal.

“She died of colic and despite the best efforts by more than one vet, they couldn’t pull her through.”

Thankfully, Peter still has two daughters amongst his broodmare band in Velvet Glove and her half-sister Fashion Talk, who in contrast to her sister, was talented enough to win three races, but has yet to emulate her sibling as a broodmare. Such is breeding!

“To think we’ve had to wait this long for a second Gr1 winner, that’s how hard this game is,” Peter added. “Days like this is what keeps us going,” concluded Peter.

Peter Blyth, Linda Norval, Jenny Blyth and Christine Quinn at the 2015 KZN Breeders Awards |

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

YOU MAKE YOUR OWN LUCK!

Former multiple SA champion trainer Sean Tarry and the red-hot Winning Form-sponsored jockey Richard Fourie made it a Gr1 double on a glorious Saturday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville when the undefeated Lucky Lad, already a dual graded stakes winner, made it a perfect four-from-four to win the R700 000 Gr1 Gold Medallion.

Just a week after winning the Gr1 Woolavington 2000, the Sean Tarry machine powered on

relentlessly at a racemeeting that they have enjoyed plenty of success at this century.

This was Tarry’s 17th Gr1 victory in the KZN capital city and he thanked Antony and Angela Beck for the support at the sales. “They support me – not many do,” he chirped.

After The Arbitrator and Outlaw King had shown the way, Fourie woke Lucky Lad (11-10) up at around the 500m marker, and after shifting in the son of Gimmethegreenlight was just too good as he drew away to beat main rival Outlaw King (7-2) by

5,30 lengths in a time of 68,79 secs.

Joburg raiders Guy Gibson (16-1) and the gallant filly Eqyptian Mau (16-1) completed the quartet, without really threatening the top two.

Richard Fourie said that Lucky Lad was green and ran in quite badly about the 400m when he saw the buildings.

“I was in front quite early and he pricked his ears. But he had done enough and kept the momentum going to show his quality and class,” added Fourie.

“We often start off slow but it seems to have clicked in at this time of the season over the years. It’s all about the owners, the horses and my team,” added a delighted but always modest Sean Tarry.

An R850 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Lucky Lad is unbeaten in four starts for stakes of R900 000.

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

Richard Fourie and Lucky Lad are on their own at the head of affairs | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

THREE GLORIOUS GR1’S!

Richard Fourie is all smiles as Princess Calla wins with ears pricked |

Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Sean Tarry registered an extraordinary eighth success in the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint brought to you by the Witness, when Princess Calla bounded home at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday to give the former champion trainer and his red-hot jockey Richard Fourie their third Gr1 success of a memorable afternoon.

In what was the fastest of the three Gr1 1200m contests up to that point, Princess Calla (7-10) followed up on her cracking Gr1 Computaform Sprint third at the end of April, when she soared to victory, clocking 68,33 secs.

In a race that was never in doubt, Richard Fourie rode Princess Calla with confidence and she accounted for the top-class Desert Miracle by 3,20 lengths.

Golden Hostess (25-2) was a further 1,20 lengths back in third.

If she draws decently, Princess Calla is likely to turn up for the Ridgemont Gr1 Garden Province Stakes on Hollywoodbets Durban July day.

Richard Fourie was over the moon.

“Her demeanour was professional and beautiful. I put her in a gap quite early at the

600m. I squeezed her at the 400m and she showed that flat spot, typical of a filly wanting a mile. But she skipped at the 200m and won well,” said the top jockey.

Trainer Sean Tarry confirmed that he felt that only luck in running could beat her.

“With the 2yo’s they have to beat the opposition and Hollywoodbets Scottsville. The older horses are less stressful,” he smiled.

Bred by Maine Chance Farms, Princess Calla is by Flower Alley (Distorted Humor)out of the Captain Al mare Princess Royal.

A R600 000 purchase from the 2019 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, Princess Calla has now won 9 races with 10 places from 21 starts for stakes of R3 022 226.

FOURIE AND TARRY UNLIMITED!

Former SA champion trainer Sean Tarry and Winning Form-sponsored jockey Richard Fourie enjoyed a dream day with three Grade 1 winners at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday.

The Festival Of Speed meeting is the only racemeeting that features four Gr 1 events on our racing calendar.

Richard Fourie was aboard all three winners on what was his best Gr1 day of an illustrious career.

He has ridden 1979 winners to date and

told the Sporting Post on Monday that he has shifted his original season target of 200 winners, to a magical 250.

While it wasn’t Sean Tarry’s first Gr1 treble on an afternoon, it was a confidence booster of note ahead of the Hollywoodbets Durban July and took his Hollywoodbets Scottsville Gr1 haul to 18.

Richard Fourie, Beck family representative Abe Mahlangu and Sean Tarry | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

The Randjesfontein conditioner’s charges Mrs Geriatrix, Lucky Lad and Princess Calla all won easing up by wide margins and he was within spitting distance of landing a historic Gr1 Grandslam as his Gold Medallion winner of last season, Thunderstruck, was caught late in the Golden Horse Sprint while fighting it out with Surjay. He just got the better of the latter to finish a 0,90 length second, so it was the nearest possible set of results to a Grandslam.

Turf Talk report earlier this week that Tarry has won 50% of the 16 Gr1’s contested at Hollywoodbets Scottsville this decade and it goes up to 55% over the last five years.

Starting in 2019 he won the Gold Medallion with Eden Roc, the SA Fillies Sprint with Celtic Sea and the Tsogo Sun (Golden Horse) Sprint with Chimichuri Run. In 2020 he won the SA Fillies Sprint with Celtic Sea and the Golden Horse with Warrior’s Rest. In 2021 he won the Allan Robertson Championship with Under Your Spell. In 2022 he won the Allan Robertson with Sweet Pepper and the Gold Medallion with Thunderstruck.

He added three more on Saturday.

So that is 8 out of 16 this decade and 11 out of 20 in the last five years!

HALO SHINES BRIGHT

Wilgerbosdrift’s well-performed young stallion Fire Away, currently one of the leading First Season Sires in South Africa, looks to have come up with a very smart filly in the form of Luna Halo.

The latter made it three Listed wins in a row when she romped away with the R150 000 Listed Lady’s Slipper Stakes, run at Fairview on Friday.

And it was unfortunately yet another turfscheduled feature to have been switched to the all-weather. According to reports, it has been Gqeberha’s wettest May since 1944 but the grass surface is clearly not draining as well as it used to in the pre-poly days.

But at least we could race and it was the

versatile Luna Halo, who was sent off a well backed tote favourite who duly obliged in facile fashion.

Under a red hot Richard Fourie, the daughter of Fire Away was in command a long way from home, and powered clear at 8-10 to win decisively by two and a quarter lengths in a time of 82,79 secs.

Idita (25-2) was a game second and 1,50 lengths ahead of the winner’s stablemate Joy And Peace (6-1) in third.

Richard Fourie steers Luna Halo to a smart win |

Credit: Pauline Herman

Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Luna Halo has now four of just five starts, with the filly having captured the Listed East Cape Fillies Nursery and Listed Dahlia Plate in her two previous starts.

A R160 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Luna Halo took her stakes total to R357 500.

Out of the Captain Al mare Sun Sentinel, she looks likely to be crowned theEast Cape’s

champion two-year-old filly come the end of the current season.

She is one of eight winners to have emerged from the first crop of Fire Away, whose other early winners include Listed Storm Bird Stakes runner up Fire ‘N Flames and Gr1 Gold Medallion entrant Egyptian Mau.

It was a great for Alan Greeff who saddled five winners. Richard Fourie rode four winners.

QUICK PRINCE GOES TO A 130

Dean Kannemeyer’s Gimme A Prince has had his merit rating raised from 125 to 130 after he captured the Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint (handicap) over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday 3 June.

The Handicappers were of the unanimous view that 4th finisher Batholdi made for the most suitable line horse here, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 119.

There were also raised ratings for runner-up Thunderstruck, who was lifted from 115 to 117, and for 3rd finisher Surjay, who is up from 117 to 119.

The only other increase was for 5th placed Pearl Of Asia, who was 8 pounds or 4 kgs under sufferance at the weights and who accordingly goes up from 105 to 112.

No fewer than six horses were given a rating’s drop.

Seeking The Stars is down slightly from 124 to 123, Under Your Spell is down from 114 to 113, Full Velocity drops to 108 from 110, Taikonaut is down from 117 to 115, Good Traveller drops to 110 from 113, and lastly After The Rain was trimmed from 105 to 104.

Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint

Princess Calla, who was highest rated on her 127 rating, remains unchanged on that mark following her success in the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint for fillies and mares over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday. It was in fact Princess Calla herself who was deemed to make for the ideal line horse when assessing

this event, which is the reason for her unaltered rating.

The only ratings increases were for 4th placed Cold Fact, who is up from 112 to 115, and for 6th placed Iphiko, who goes up from 107 to 109 to at least make her one pound higher than the 108-rated 8th finisher Whoa Whoa Whoa.

There were ratings drops for three horses.

Ameena is down slightly from 112 to 111, Stiptelik drops from 108 to 107, and lastly Aunty Lizzy is down to 100 from 102.

• Media release by NHA on Tuesday 6 June 2023.

STEP

Fashion design students on Tuesday gave starry-eyed fashion followers an ‘Out of this World’ preview of the glitz and glamour that will be on show at the Hollywoodbets Durban July on 1 July.

Tuesday’s opening round of judging in the Hollywoodbets Durban July Young Designer Award presented by Durban Fashion Fair was the first time fashionistas officially saw interpretations of the Hollywoodbets Durban July theme – and the class of 2023 did not

DESIGNERS

disappoint with some stunning creations based on the ‘Out of this World’ concept.

The five judges were clearly impressed with the standard on show at Hollywoodbets Greyville and fashion programme director Tiffany Prior

was not shy with her praise of the young designers.

“This year was extraordinary, students did an amazing job of researching the theme and executing their ideas with attention to detail and

The twenty five semi-finalists in the 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July Young Designer Award presented by Durban Fashion Fair | Credit: Rogan Ward/Gameplan Media

quality,” said Prior, soon after the judging was completed. “We saw such a range of work and I honestly feel it was the most diverse group of students I have seen. Colleges and their students should be so proud of the work they presented today.”

Judge Vuyi Ngobese from the Hollywood Foundation was excited to see the quality workmanship from the young designers.

“Today’s judging session was ‘Out of this World’ as anticipated,” said Ngobese with a laugh. “All the designers showcased wonderful pieces. It was hard for us to pick, but obviously we had to scale down to 25 designers and their designs. They showed off great workmanship, they paid attention to detail, and all those selected had great finishes.

“The ones we have selected had spectacular outfits made for the Hollywoodbets Durban July, so it was really exciting to be part of the judging session today.

“I think the public will be proud of the semifinalists we selected today. It was tough ... really tough getting from over 100 entrants down to just 25. But it was really rewarding at the end of the day to see how excited the designers were when they were selected. “Big ups to the fashion schools who have imparted so much knowledge to the designers we saw today.”

In this initial round, the five judges were tasked with selecting 25 semi-finalists from an entry list of almost 100 fashion design students from various design colleges across KwaZulu-Natal. The young designers were required to present a race-day ensemble that encompasses the spirit of the 2023 theme.

The 25 semi-finalists will show their work once again at Gateway on 14 June where 10 finalists will be announced. These top ten will show off their interpretations at the Hollywoodbets Durban July Fashion Experience Preview Gala on June 23 and on stage at the Hollywoodbets Durban July, where the top three student

designers will be revealed.

The top three students will receive prizes to the total value of R70 000 from Gold Circle, Schweppes and Gateway Theatre of shopping; and the Hollywood Foundation will also be awarding a total of R100 000 worth of bursaries to the winner, second and third-placed students. The college attended by the winning student will receive a R30 000 grant from Gold Circle to develop their design students.

THE 25 SEMI-FINALISTS ARE:

Nontuthuzelo Ndongeni (Lindiwe Khuzwayo), Zama Mambi (Esiole Fashion School), Andile Nsele (DUT), Nolwazi

Mthimkhulu (Lindiwe Khuzwayo), Julia Whitby (DUT), Simbarashe Kucherera (Fezile Fashion School), Philiswa Ntozalche (Esayidi Fashion School), Thabiso Ncanana (DUT), Minenhle Luvuno (Esayidi Fashion School), Mhlengi Nhlela (Fezile Fashion School), Cebo Xaba (Lindiwe Khuzwayo), Mhloliseni Ndlovu (Umgungundlovu TVET), Luyanda Khumalo (Umgungundlovu TVET), Bongumusa Bhengu (Umgungundlovu

TVET), Linda Ngwana (Umgungundlovu

TVET), Siphesihle Mkhize (Umgungundlovu

TVET), Sanele Mkhize (Umgungundlovu

TVET), Lwandle Zwezwe-Lubisi (PMB School of Fashion), Nosibusiso Mbali (PMB School of Fashion), Smangele

Mbanjwa (PMB School of Fashion), Smethemba Shibase (PMB School of Fashion), Hlonela Danisa (Umgungundlovu

TVET), Okuhle Mzimba (Umgungundlovu

TVET), Nokwanda Mdlovu (PMB School of Fashion) and Simngaye Zuma (Umgungundlovu TVET).

O’BRIEN’S NINTH EPSOM DERBY!

Aidan O’Brien once again showed his masterful training when Auguste Rodin took the spoils in the Betfred Epsom Derby on Saturday, giving the trainer a record ninth win in the race.

Many wrote off Rodin’s Derby chances when finishing 12th of 14 in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas last month, but he was back at his best in the Epsom sunshine winning the Betfred Derby by half-a-length.

The race soon settled with the O’Brien’s two other runners, Adelaide River and San Antonio, taking a share of the lead. Auguste Rodin’s rider, Ryan Moore, held his mount towards the back of the pack, tracking market rival Military Order.

Moore asked his mount to move forward before approaching Tattenham Corner and emerged with daylight heading into the home straight.

Amo’s Racing, King Of Steel, ridden by Kevin Stott in his first Derby ride, also found daylight and hit the front lengthening his lead, however Moore’s patience paid off as he and Auguste Rodin chased down the leader to go on and impressively write themselves into the history books.

Roger Varian’s King Of Steel showed guts all the way to the line to outrun odds of 66/1. The first two were four-and-a-half lengths ahead of third placed White Birch.

Auguste Rodin, son of Deep Impact, is the ninth Aidan O’Brien-trained winner of the Derby, following; Galileo (2001), High Chaparral

Ryan Moore has Auguste Rodin in control as King Of Steel runs his heart out |

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

(2002), Pour Moi (2011), Camelot (2012), Ruler Of The World (2013), Australia (2014), Wings Of Eagles (2017), Anthony Van Dyck (2019) and Serpentine (2020).

The victory also secured a milestone for his jockey, Ryan Moore, who now has a hattrick of Derby winners against his name after Workforce (2010) and Ruler Of The World (2013).

Speaking to ITV Racing, Moore, said: “We had a smooth run, landed in a nice spot, I had William and Frankie ahead of me and I was always confident I had them covered. We didn’t go that quick, turned into a bit of a dash but we had a nice smooth run.

“(Aidan O’Brien) is the only man that could do it. I’ve seen him get horses back after they’ve run badly in the Guineas and

then win big races. This horse has a great pedigree and he’s always shown he’s a good horse. As Aidan always says, everyone does such a great job at home. Everything went smooth today.

O’Brien said: “We’ve always said he is the most special horse we’ve had in Ballydoyle, that’s what we always felt.

“He came with a massive reputation as a beautiful horse but he kept stepping up to all the markers the whole way, which is very unusual. He’s totally unique, he’s out of one of the greatest Galileo mares and by the greatest stallion ever in Japan, he’s totally unique.

With Triple Crown hopes crushed in May, Auguste Rodin certainly proved his worth here and will have his sights well and truly on further Gr1 success this season.

Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore proudly show off the trophy | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

GR1 DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR DETTORI

Frankie Dettori’s Derby weekend got off to a flyer as he rode Emily Upjohn to a fantastic victory in the Dhalbury Coronation Cup in the Epsom sunshine. The filly produced a flawless display on the Downs to give the Italian a sixth victory in the race.

Soul Sister charges home to give Frankie a terrific Gr1 double Credit: Candiese Lenferna

HHurricane Lane and Point Lonsdale made the running with Dettori and Emily Upjohn held up last of five runners, before Dettori pressed go to make a move around the outside of her rivals to finish one-and-three-quarter-lengths ahead of Westover. The filly was unlucky last year when falling out the stalls only to finish second by a short head in the Oaks, but strolled her way to the Winners Enclosure in style.

The jockey was seemingly impressed with her performance, when remarking; “I had her in a nice rhythm and I know she stays well, while she’s a big girl, so I had to get her prepared from a long way out but, God, she took off.

She’s got what she deserved; she’s a top-class filly and things didn’t go right last year, but we got it right today.”

Frankie’s flying dismount from Emily Upjohn after the Coronation Cup Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Her victory gave her joint-trainer John Gosden, who now shares a licence with son Thady, a second win in the race following the dominant display in 2018 with Cracksman. Emily Upjohn had previously won the QIPCO British Champions Fillies and Mares Stakes at Ascot in October, and John Gosden was full of praise back-to-back victories; “She’s always had that (speed) and actually she hasn’t shown it this spring and that’s probably why Frankie moved

quite so early and in the end he said ‘I get there too soon’ and in the end she’s looking around.”

A few hours later, Soul Sister came from last to first in the Betfred Oaks field to win give Frankie Dettori a Gr1 double at Epsom on Friday.

Now a seven-time winner of the Fillies’ Classic, Dettori kept it simple on the Musidora winner, cruising around the outside of the field and

kicking clear with a quarter of a mile to run. The winning distance was one and threequarter lengths back to pre-race favourite Savethelastdance.

The race went completely to plan for Dettori and Soul Sister; but the same couldn’t be said for Gosden’s other runner, Running Lion. The daughter of Roaring Lion kicked out the back of her stall and temporarily got loose, meaning she had to be withdrawn.

In winning the race Soul Sister provided her owner-breeder Lady Bamford with a second win in the Classic, 14 years after Sariska gave her the first in 2009.

Speaking to the press after the race trainer John Gosden commented: “She had a funny old draw and Frankie saw early on he was going to be stacked three, four wide so he dropped her back virtually to last so she had to have the class to come down the outside and pass the whole field, which she did.

“In the straight my only feeling was she was coming there nicely but I had no idea if she would stay, the family have not got a mile and a half, so I was naturally concerned she wouldn’t stay - she showed a lot of speed in the Musidora - but she’s come and done it extremely well and showed a great attitude.”

Retirement seems years away yet as Frankie delights in the double | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

A NATIONAL TREASURE!

The stud has been an integral part of the British thoroughbred industry for over 100 years and was acquired by The Jockey Club in 2008.

Their broad goals are to provide a first-class range of comprehensive breeding services, train the next generation of industry leaders through stud staff training, and raise interest and knowledge in the thoroughbred industry with public tours.

Candiese was captivated by the beauty of the environment and enjoyed meeting Sea The Stars’ champion staying son Stradivarius, who was raced by South African owner Bjorn Nielsen.

Enjoy the photographs.

Next week in SPRINT - Candiese tells the story of a dream trip.

Sporting Post photographer Candiese Lenferna visited the National Stud in Newmarket on her Epsom Derby Magical Mystery Tour last week.

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

GALILEO’S

INFLUENCE GROWS

When Auguste Rodin (Deep Impact) won Saturday’s Gr1 Betfred Derby, he became the first Epsom Derby winner for his sire, and also the first English Derby winner produced by a daughter of 2001 Derby winner Galileo (Sadler’s Wells).

The iconic Galileo| Credit: Supplied

One of the greatest stallions in history, Galileo has sired more English Derby winners (five) than any other stallion in history, and his sons Frankel (Adayar), New Approach (Masar) and Nathaniel (Desert Crown) have all sired at least one winner of the Epsom classic.

Galileo’s total of 364 stakes winners is by some way the highest number of stakes winners sired by an individual sire, with his tally of stars not only including unbeaten legend and outstanding Frankel, but the likes of Found, Highland Reel, Churchill, Gleneagles, Minding, Love, Waldgeist, Teofilo, and last year’s Cartier Champion Stayer Kyprios as well as the English Derby winners New Approach, Ruler Of The World, Australia, Anthony Van Dyck and Serpentine.

The dominance of Galileo on the Epsom Derby can be seen by the fact that the late Coolmore colossus is either sire of, grandsire of or

broodmare sire of the last six winners of the race! His grandson Masar (by New Approach) won in 2018, Galileo sons Anthony Van Dyck and Serpentine won the next two renewals, and two more paternal grandsons, Adayar and Desert Crown, won the Derby, prior to Galileo’s maternal grandson Auguste Rodin’s triumph on Saturday.

Remarkably, nine of the 14 runners in the 2023 Betfred Derby were sired either by Galileo or one of his sons, with the eventual winner Auguste Rodin out of a daughter of Galileo, and yet another runner, Dear My Friend, produced by a daughter of Galileo’s unbeaten son and top-class sire Teofilo.

Galileo’s impact has been just as profound on the Oaks, with Friday’s Gr1 Betfred-sponsored classic being won by Soul Sister, a daughter of Galileo’s greatest son Frankel.

Auguste Rodin - Derby winner out of a daughter of Galileo | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Ironically, Soul Sister defeated Galileo filly, and favourite, Savethelastdance, into second place in the Betfred Oaks. Should Savethelastdance have prevailed in the 2023 Oaks, she would have joined the likes of Was, Minding, Forever Together, Love and Tuesday as an Epsom Oaks-winning daughter of Galileo.

Galileo, whose outstanding half-brother Sea The Stars is the sire of Friday’s Gr1 Dahlbury Coronation Cup winning filly Emily Upjohn as well as Epsom classic winners Harzand and Taghrooda, looks sure to feature as a broodmare sire and grandsire of plenty more classic winners in the years to come.

Auguste Rodin, who shares his sire with promising South African sire Danon Platina, is out of one of Galileo’s very best daughters in the form of Rhododendron.

A full-sister to an even better race mare in the form of seven-time Gr1 winner Magical and Riethuiskraal Stud-based Gr3 winner Flying

The Flag, Rhododendron won Gr1 races at two, three and four.

Winner of the Gr1 Fillies’ Mile at two, Rhododendron won the G1 Prix de l’Opera at three and added to that tally when victorious in the Gr1 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes at four.

Also runner-up in all of the Gr1 Qipco 1000 Guineas, Gr1 Investec Oaks and Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, Rhododendron hails from the immediate family of Coventry Stakes winner Verglas -the broodmare sire of Saturday’s Gr1 Betfred Derby runner up King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett).

Galileo son Frankel produced Friday’s Oaks winner | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

IMPORTANT DATE CHANGES

Cape Racing Sales (CRS) have advised a change of dates for the Cape Racing Ready to Run & 2yo Unbroken Sales Race and the 2023 sale.

The race has been brought forward from 4 November and will now be staged at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, 21 October. The Sale will take place at the same venue on Sunday, 22 October 2023.

Buyers are reminded that horses bought at the Bloodstock SA Sales and then resold at the RTR Sale in October will be eligible for two bonuses, the BSA R100 000 Bonus and the CRS R100 000 – therefore qualifying for R200 000 when they win their first Juvenile Races.

“We’ve decided to bring the sale forward as part of our Juvenile Programme, and so our

first Juvenile race over 800m will be brought forward from the end of November to 18 November, two weeks sooner. With the sale also being held earlier, this give graduates enough time to qualify and get ready for the first juvenile race,” said Justin Vermaak, Racing Operations and Bloodstock Executive for Cape Racing.

For sale related queries, please contact: Justin Vermaak (justin@caperacing.co.za) or Robyn Collyer (robyn@caperacing.co.za).

Media release by Cape Racing Sales on Monday 5 June 2023.

SINGAPORE RACING CLOSURE SHOCK

Racing in Singapore will continue with the 100th Grand Singapore Gold Cup as the last race in October 2024

The Singapore Turf Club has confirmed that the Government has announced that about 120 hectares of land in Kranji on which the Singapore Racecourse is situated, will be handed back to the Singapore Government in 2027 for redevelopment.

The Singapore Turf Club will close its facility by

March 2027 and will hold its final race meeting on 5 October 2024, featuring the 100th Grand Singapore Gold Cup.

Singapore Turf Club Chairman Mr Niam Chiang Meng said, “We are saddened by the decision of the Government to close the Club. At the same time, we understand the

land needs of Singapore, including housing and other potential uses such as leisure and recreation. We will do our best to ensure business as usual for the Club until our final race meeting. Concurrently, we will work with our stakeholders to ensure a smooth exit for local horse racing and make the necessary preparations for the estate to be handed over to the Government by March 2027.”

The Government continually reviews its land use plans to best meet the needs of Singaporeans. The site at Kranji represents a valuable resource in land-scarce Singapore.

Mr Niam added, “Singapore Turf Club recognises that the Kranji site is a valuable resource that can help meet the evolving needs and aspirations of Singaporeans, and this transition will serve to optimise land use for the greater good of the local community and future generations. We are aligned with the

Government on the need to invest in the future of Singapore.”

The Club has seen significant success through its efforts to elevate the sport of horse racing in Singapore, including the doubling of feature races. However, in-person attendance at the racecourse has been declining over the past decade.

Horse racing has a long and distinguished history in Singapore and Singapore Turf Club intends to uphold the stellar reputation of the sport and the racing community. With races continuing until the 100th Grand Singapore Gold Cup on 5 October 2024, the Club will continue to ensure the sportsmanship, safety and integrity of every race.

The Club will work with the Government to ensure a well-managed exit for local horse racing and make the necessary preparations

for the estate to be handed over to the Government in 2027. Racehorse owners and trainers will be offered support for horse maintenance and exportation.

Over the next three years, Singapore Turf Club will engage with stakeholders and address their respective needs.

A phased approach based on business needs will be deployed to ensure the continuation of successful operations and a smooth handover. The Club will provide support and assistance during this process.

Singapore Turf Club President and Chief Executive Ms Irene MK Lim said, “During this time, affected employees and those working within the horse racing community will have ample time to consider their career options and manage their personal commitments.”

Employees will be offboarded in phases, and in accordance with the Ministry of Manpower’s regulatory requirements and guidelines.

Employees will receive support during the transition with a retrenchment package, personal career guidance, skills-training courses and counselling as they transition to the next chapter of their careers.

For over 180 years, the Singapore Turf Club has been the custodian of Singapore’s heritage of horse racing excellence. It has seen Singapore through modernisation into a developed country, all the while serving the public need for sports and entertainment. Singapore Turf Club has operated across three venues throughout its history including Farrer Park, Bukit Timah and Kranji, drawing in royalty, celebrities, racing fans and the curious from around the world.

Ms Lim said, “Singapore Turf Club is extremely proud to have been the home of horse racing for nearly two centuries. We are committed to seeing this phase of the nation’s history come to an end in a dignified manner, befitting all our stakeholders including employees, jockeys, racehorse owners, racehorse trainers, the equestrian community and horses that have graced our grounds. We hope to leave a lasting impression of the Club that will be fondly and proudly remembered by Singapore and the world”.

“In addition, we are proud to be a part of the Tote Board’s mission of investing in the future of Singapore through community grants,” she added.

• Media release by Singapore Turf Club on Monday 5 June 2023

ARCHIE STANDS AT WINTERBACH

South Africa’s highest-rated sprinter at his peak, the 2022 Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner Master Archie becomes the first son of Ridgemont’s boom Redoute’s Choice stallion Rafeef at stud as he takes up duties for the new season at the magnificent Winterbach Stud in Stellenbosch.

He will stand for an opening fee to outside shareholders of R5 000 nomination plus R10 000 live foal, and certainly adds

a new dimension to the Cape stallion ranks.

The handsome grey Master Archie will be syndicated, with 55 shares being issued at R60 000 plus vat per share.

Please direct any inquiries about Master Archie to Hendrik Winterbach jnr.

He can be contacted at +27 824 65 44 33 or winterbach.stud@gmail.com.

WORLD’S BEST SPEEDSTER MATCHES RECORD

Lucky Sweynesse might be given the chance to extend a phenomenal season in search of a ninth victory after matching Beauty Generation’s record for the most wins in a single Hong Kong campaign with a dominant performance in the Gr3 Sha Tin Vase Handicap at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Posting his eighth win from 10 starts this season, and his sixth in a row, Lucky Sweynesse (135lb) powered to a comfortable one-and-a-quarter length victory over Victor The Winner despite conceding the runner-up 20lb, while clocking 1m 08.00s under Zac Purton.

Improving a stunning career record to 13 wins, two seconds and a third from 17 starts for Manfred Man, the prodigious four-year-old took his prize money earnings to HK$51,108,200 –and still might be given one more opportunity to snap the record for the most wins in a season the gelding now shares with Beauty

Lucky Sweynesse storms home under Zac Purton | Credit: HKJC

Generation, who won all of his eight starts in 2018/19.

Man suggested Lucky Sweynesse – the world’s highest-rated sprinter – might attempt to add the Gr3 Premier Cup Handicap (1400m) at Sha Tin on 25 June to a bulging list of 2022/23 credits, which already include Gr1 triumphs in the Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m), Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) and Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m).

“I need to discuss with the owner first, it’s too early to give an answer. I will look at the horse after the race. We will do the morning gallop to see how he feels. Now the weather is very hot, so I don’t want the horse to feel hot,” Man said of possible Premier Cup plans. “He is in really good form and I think maybe next season he can still improve a little bit.”

Purton said the solid tempo set by Victor The Winner and Sight Success played into Lucky Sweynesse’s hands as the favourite tracked the speed in third place until the home straight before angling out to settle the matter with a terminal charge inside the last 200m.

“Once he jumped as well he did, it made it

easier and then with the extra pace in the race and with the weight on his back, it just allowed him to get into a nice rhythm and to come into the race when he was ready,” the Australian said.

“I looked after him for as long as I could and he did the rest. He’s turning into some horse. It was a pretty soft win. He’s something else, he’s starting to turn into a very, very good horse.”

Five-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey Purton said he is surprised by Lucky Sweynesse’s continued progress which has seen the strongly-built speedster advance from a rating of 98 to 130 before today’s race.

“The last three or four months, he’s improved so much it’s scary to think that with a break he might build up even more – I’m hoping that’s the case,” Purton said.

Lucky Sweynesse’s win sealed a black type double for Purton, who earlier won in the G3 Lion Rock Trophy Handicap (1600m) on Beauty Eternal for John Size as Lyle Hewitson continued a stellar season with a treble, striking with Colourful Prince, Sweet Briar and Golden Empire to take his season’s tally to 43 wins.

FORTUNE SALE SUCCESS

Australia-bound trainer Ashley Fortune declared herself happy with the prices achieved at the BSA Fortune Racing June Sale held in the winner’s enclosure at the Vaal this morning.

The Gr1 winning conditioner and her former SA champion jockey husband Andrew are emigrating to Australia and the sale presented opportunities to acquire some of their well-performed and unraced stock.

22 of the 23 lots offered were sold for a gross

R3 650 000 at an average of R165 909 and a median of R105 000.

Highest price paid was the R850 000 paid by Target Acquired for the three-time winning stakes placed Erupt filly, Ripple Effect.

The next BSA sale is the KZN Yearling Sale which will be held at the Suncoast Casino on Thursday 29 June.

The Sprint is interactive - see all the Fortune Sale prices here.

BLUE SKY AT SUNCOAST

There are just over three weeks to go to the BSA KZN Yearling Sale, which will be held at the Suncoast Casino on Thursday 29 June.

Tinus Gericke and Bruce Le Roux’s Blue Sky Thoroughbreds continue to rake in their success, with Blue Sky Thoroughbreds recently enjoying feature race success when the Blue Sky Thoroughbreds Tipsy Tarragon captured the Listed Syringa Handicap at Turffontein.

Herself a R750 000 yearling purchase, Tipsy Tarragon has won or placed in seven of 12 outings with the promise of more to come.

Blue Sky Thoroughbreds, also breeders of smart performers Coin Spinner and Get In The Q, will be offering yearlings by a host of exciting stallions at the 2023 KZN Yearling Sale, with sires represented in their draft including Act Of War, Futura, Ideal World, Last Winter, New Predator, Querari, Rabada and Talk Of The Town.

Ever reliable sire Querari is the sire of Osmium (Lot 14), a colt out of a half-sister to G1 winners Stellite and Zirconeum, while former Horse Of The Year Futura, who is having a fantastic season in 2022-2023, is the sire of a colt (Lot 7) who hails from the same female line as G1 Vosburgh Stakes winner Mining and exceptional milers Polish Precedent and Zilzal, among many others.

Dual Gr1 winner Rabada, a sire who has been

getting his share of winners this season, has four lots on sale including a choicely bred colt (Lot 75) out of G2 SA Oaks winner Bedloe’s Island, while Bedloe’s Island’s Trippi sired daughter Island Girl has a filly (Lot 137) by Cape Guineas winner Act Of War on the KZN Sale this year.

Act Of War, whose progeny include recent Listed World Sports Betting East Cape Derby winner Machete Man as well as Equus Champion War Of Athena, is also responsible for a colt (Lot 141) whose dam is a three-parts sister to Michaelmas Handicap winner King Neptune.

Met runner up Last Winter has four members of his first crop on offer here including a colt (Lot 24) out of a half-sister to Gr3 Final Fling Stakes winner Cat And The Moon, and a colt (Lot 65) whose five time winning dam is a half-sister to G1 SA Fillies Classic third place-getter She’s A Dragon.

Other appealing yearlings on sale include the Ideal World colt (Lot 5) whose granddam is a G2 winning half-sister to Consensual, the Hat Puntano colt (Lot 63) whose three time winning dam is a 3/4 sister to Gr1 WSB Fillies Guineas winner Front And Centre, and New Predator filly (Lot 102) whose dam is a half-sister to G1 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper winner Chestnuts N Pearls.

The Blue Sky Thoroughbreds draft can be viewed from Blocks B and C at the Suncoast Casino in Durban.

SPRINT IS INTERACTIVE SEE THE CATALOGUE HERE.

TRAINERS

JOCKEYS

BREEDERS

SIRES

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