SP 02 August 2023

JOLLY GOOD FELLOWS!

THE CALM AFTER THE STORM!

Sharks Rugby legend and Hollywoodbets Brand Ambassador Odwa Ndungane proudly holds the Mercury Sprint trophy aloft after Isivunguvungu’s dramatic victory for the Hollywood Syndicate at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday. Odwa named the smashing What A Winter gelding, Isivunguvungu – which means ‘storm’ in isiXhosa. The photo was taken by Candiese Lenferna.

Princess Calla (Richard Fourie) heads the charge into the final stages of the Gr1 HKJC Champions Cup | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

MAINE CHANCE PRINCESS

COULD BE SA HORSE OF THE YEAR

That’s it folks! The 2022/23 season is a thing of the past and we are now looking at the champions. Justin Snaith managed to hold off a late rattle by Sean Tarry and was crowned champion trainer. But that’s a story for next week! For now, Equus is inviting the racing public to vote on the various categories.

Princess Calla (174 points) won the final Super Grade 1 of the season on Sunday, the Grade 1 HKJC Champions Cup, to finish on top of the 2022/23 Equus Horse of The Year table. Charles Dickens was not active in the review period but easily held on to second place on the table with 144 points.

Trip of Fortune made no headway from June on 117 points while See It Again climbed to 116 points after his second to Princess Calla in the HKJC Champions Cup. Gimme A Prince was unable to add the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint to his two other Grade 1 victories in the season but has done enough to secure fifth place on the

Champion Three-Year-Old Male

Charles Dickens (144) retains his lead in the Champion Three-Year-Old Male category despite See It Again (116) moving closer at season-end. These two were well clear of any other sophomore male.

Make It Snappy (64) surrendered her all-season lead in this category in the final race of the season for Fillies and Mares as Bless My Stars (68) added to her “July” third by winning the Grade 2 Riding High Together Gold Bracelet. Consistent place-getter Feather Boa (52) and dual Oak’s winner None Other (48) complete the table.

Champion! Justin Snaith thwarted a late challenge by arch-rival Sean Tarry| Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Champion Older Male and Female

Sunday’s Grade 1 Mercury Sprint winner Isivunguvungu entered the table and finishes fourth in the Champion Older Male category.

Trip Of Fortune (117 points), however, did enough in the early part of the season to stay on top of the table with Gimme A Prince (115) a close- second. Dual Highveld Grade 1 winner Puerto Manzano remained on 108 points.

Princess Calla (174) drew well clear of her closest rival Desert Miracle (110) in the final weekend and tops the final Table for Champion Older Female.

Distance Categories

Despite only finishing fourth in Sunday’s Grade 1 Mercury Sprint, Gimme A Prince (103) maintained his lead in the final Champion Sprinter table.

Despite not running in a sprint during the month, Princess Calla (94) managed to keep Sunday’s Grade 1 Mercury Sprint winner Isivunguvungu from second place.

With no qualifying miler events in the final month, the table remains as per the previous review in the Champion Miler category. Trip Of Fortune (112) finished on top from Desert Miracle (88), Al Muthana (78), and Charles Dickens (72).

The only mover onto the Champion Middle Distance table for the month is Princess Calla who recorded maximum points in her only middle-distance start of the season.

Puerto Manzano (100) finished on top with Rain In Holland (64) in second position and Winchester Mansion (58), in third. Retired Jet Dark (48) finishes in joint 4th with Princess Calla, while See It Again finishes fifth on 44 points.

Future Pearl (28) completed the season with three successive wins over distances of 3000m+, culminating in victory in Sunday’s Grade 3 World Pool Gold Cup, to finish on top of the Champion Stayer table. Gold Cup second Arumugum also finishes second on the final table while Salvator Mundi (23) and Nebraas (22) complete the standings.

Champion Two-Year-Old Male

Lucky Lad (56 points) lost his unbeaten tag on Sunday but still finishes on top of the TwoYear-Old Male table despite a late charge from Sandringham Summit (48).

Champion Two-Year-Old Female

Unbeaten Mrs Geriatrix (64) remains on top of the final table, while Sunday’s Grade 1 Douglas Whyte Stakes winner Bavarian Beauty finishes in joint second with Winter Cloud, both on 32 points.

Isivunguvungu (Richard Fourie) holds off Surjay (Louis Mxothwa) in a thrilling Gr1 Mercury Sprint finish

| Credit: Candiese Lenferna

SPEED THRILLS AND EQUUS DREAMS

A genius tactician in the saddle, Richard Fourie had indicated that there was no speed in the race and he took the fight to the opposition to seal the Hollywood Syndicate’s fifth Gr1 success in a season they started with zero on the board.

With the fancied Gimme A Prince (8-10) taking a bump out of the stalls and always chasing, Isivunguvungu (11-2) bowled along out front before thwarting off serious challenges from Surjay (15-2) and Thunderstruck (15-2) to register a deceptively comfortable 0,30 length win in a time of 69,99 secs.

Surjay was not disgraced in second, ahead of Thunderstruck, with Gimme A Prince charging through late, a further length back in fourth.

A rematch between him and Isivungvungu in the Cape Flying Championship might be something to look forward to!

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

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

Now a dual Gr1 winner of 6 races with 5 places from 14 starts, Isivunguvungu has banked earnings of R1 794 050. One of two runners in the 2023 Mercury Sprint sired by What A Winter, Isivunguvungu is one of six black type winners this season for What A Winter. The latter is also responsible for 2022-2023 graded stakes winners Cold Fact, Distant Winter, Humdinger and Winter Cloud.

South Africa’s Leading Sire of 2YOS in 20202021, What A Winter has four lots on offer at the 2023 August Two Year Old Sale.

Enjoying a superb top-drawer ride by Richard Fourie, the Peter Muscutt-trained Isivunguvungu probably sealed the Equus Champion Sprinter title when he fought on tenaciously to win the R1 million Gr1 Mercury Sprint at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

THE EYE OF THE STORM

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

‘John Everett is not one for the limelight. However he may just have to dust off his tuxedo before leaving for the upcoming 2YO Sale. Given that Isivunguvungu is a live candidate for Champion Sprinter honours…’

Breeding racehorses is not for the fainthearted. It’s a long game and fraught with incredible highs and the heartbreak that is the flipside, something Narrow Creek stud master John Everett can very much attest to.

THe has experienced the highs this season through the exploits of Isivunguvungu, who displayed grit and class in equal measures to win last weekend’s Gr1 Mercury Sprint at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

The four-year-old blossomed into championship material last season whilst clocking up the miles. From homebase Summerveld he traversed half the country to run third in the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship on Met day.

Rested for three months back home, he then made the journey to Turffontein for the Gr1 Computaform Sprint at the end of April and

fully lived up to his name, when charging to an impressive two-length victory, in the process providing trainer Peter Muscutt with his first top level winner.

Remarkably, the gelding has emulated his sire, the Champion Sprinter What A Winter, who also counted this double amongst his splendid array of 15 wins. The Drakenstein-based son of Western Winter had enjoyed arguably his best ever season by finishing second on both the General Sires List and is also the second leading sire of two-year-olds.

On the flipTheside, John has had a hard time getting another foal out of Isivunguvungu’s dam, Miss Tweedy.

The 2yo Isivunguvungu when he was in pre-training with Sally Bruss at Wind River Farm near Tulbagh | Credit: Supplied

He elaborates: “Miss Tweedy hasn’t had a foal since 2020 and is once again empty. She takes to the stallion but reabsorbs around 90 days. I can only put it down to the fact that she had biliary. Nevertheless, she’s worth persevering with and we will try again this year. I have her down to go to Hawwaam.”

A Narrow Creek homebred, the daughter of Tiger Ridge is out of Danehill’s Australian-bred granddaughter Dancing Penny. Trained by Justin Snaith, she scored a career-defining win in the Listed Breeders Guineas at Fairview.

“Vet Dr Ian Heyns and I bought Dancing Penny off one of the Equimark Sales,” John recalls.

“We bred Miss Tweedy together but when we couldn’t get a bid for her at the KZN yearling sale, I bought out Ian’s half-share and kept her for myself. I raced her with Dorrie Sham and she won us four races.”

Isivunguvungu is the mare’s third foal and was sold off the farm during the dreaded Covid pandemic.

“That was a good year to buy off the farm,” John reflects wryly. “In addition to

Isivunguvungu, I sold Big Eyed Girl and Moonshiningthrough, both of which are now five-time winners.”

It was Sally Bruss who purchased Isivunguvungu on behalf of the Hollywood Syndicate and it was she who pre-trained him.

“He was the first horse I bought for Hollywood,” she recalls. “He had that special way about him and always had a lovely action. Besides, he reminded me so much of his grandaddy, he looked just like a little Western Winter!”

While Miss Tweedy has given John a few headaches, the immediately family is securely represented at Narrow Creek by three young mares. Fortuitously, he has Miss Tweedy’s Rafeef half-sister Chicks For Free, as well as two half-sisters to Isivunguvungu, the winner Bat Out Of Hell (Querari) and placed Damned If I Do (Rafeef).

By his own admission, John is not one for the limelight. However he may just have to dust off his tuxedo before leaving for the upcoming 2YO Sale. Given that Isivunguvungu is a live candidate for Champion Sprinter honours, he may just need it for the Equus award ceremony.

COUSIN MOVES NORTH

Last season’s top 3yo Cousin Casey has been relocated to the Highveld and will join the Randjesfontein yard of trainer Sean Tarry.

The leading trainer said owner Ravi Naidoo had wanted to try the Vercingetorix colt from a Highveld base, which is not surprising considering the dominance of Highveld yards in KZN’s two biggest meetings last season, the Hollywoodbets Durban July meeting and the World Pool Gold Cup meeting.

Gold Circle report that Tarry is not sure of Cousin Casey’s route yet and will still be getting to know the horse as he has just joined him after a farm holiday.

The classy colt won all four races of his twoyear-old KZN campaign, including the Listed Cell C Sharks Gatecrasher Stakes, the Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe and the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes, and this saw him being named Equus Champion Two-year-old male.

He then made it five wins on the trot when coming off a layoff.

He had no luck when fifth in the WSB Met and was then seemingly not himself for his KZN campaign this year, which might have been the prompt for Ravi Naidoo to despatch him to the Highveld.

FLOWER OF POWER!

It takes a top-class racer to win Grade 1 races from 1200m to 1800m, and the gutsy Flower Alley mare Princess Calla proved her status as one of the best around when registering her third elite success on the trot as she smashed a high-class field of males to win the R1 250 000 Gr1 HKJC Champions Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

Leading combo Sean Tarry and Richard Fourie enjoy the Gr1 success | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

On another red-letter day at the races for trainer Sean Tarry and jockey Richard Fourie, Princess Calla (5-1) asserted her Equus aspirations as she ran out a fluent winner by 1,30 lengths from the outstanding 3yo See It Again (17-10), who got going too late and was not disgraced in second.

The tough front-running Dave The King (5-1) maintained his consistent formline, staying on for third.

Tarry, who together with Fourie, won a Gr1, Gr2 and Gr3 on the big day, and failed by a matter of R300 000 to reel in Justin Snaith in the national title chase, said that it was no stroke of genius to opt for the 1800m Grade 1 contest on the afternoon, as opposed to the Gr1 Mercury Sprint for the magic mare.

“Mario (Ferreira) and Des (Gonsalves) were behind the decision to not take on the top speedsters from a bad draw. It’s her first win over 1800m and she really is a versatile sort,” he added.

Ferreira Racing Manager Des Gonsalves confirmed that the 2024 Cartier Paddock Stakes was the target at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in the summer. Princess Calla has been placed the past two renewals.

“Winning that means an invite to the Breeders’ Cup. Who knows? We have to dream big,” he said.

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

A daughter of Flower Alley (Distorted Humor), Princess Calla is out of the Captain Al mare Princess Royal.

Her tally of wins includes ten graded stakes scores, with the five-year-old now having won all of Sunday’s headliner, as well as the Gr1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes, Gr1 South African Fillies Sprint, Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes,

Des Gonsalves leads Princess Calla (Richard Fourie) in after the Gr1 HKJC Champions Cup | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Gr2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes and Gr2 wsb. co.za Southern Cross Stakes this season.

Princess Calla is likely to stay in training as a six-year-old and in the absence of export facilities, her good health suggests that is the right route to follow.

In landing the 2023 Champions Cup, Princess Calla accounted for six G1 winners including See It Again, Trip Of Fortune and Al Muthana.

Princess Calla, also victorious in the 2022 G1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes, now looks on track for Equus Award honours, with Sunday’s win having also given the mare claims to the Horse Of The Year title. She is one of more than 30 stakes winners sired by Flower Alley, whose progeny claimed 12 black-type races in South Africa during the 2022-2023 racing season. His other flagbearers

this past season include dual Oaks winner None Other and G2 WSB Gerald Rosenberg Stakes victress Gilded Butterfly. The latter also finished third in Sunday’s G2 Riding High Together Gold Bracelet.

Flower Alley has four lots on offer at the 2023 August Two Year Old Sale, including a fullbrother (Lot 273) to the aforementioned None Other.

MAINE CHANCE’S SUPER SUNDAY GR1 DOUBLE!

Respected and established breeders of champions over the past 20 years, Maine Chance Farms celebrated a glorious Grade 1 double to end the season on a high at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

The Maine Chance bred Princess Calla

slammed a top-class field of males to register her fourth Gr1 success when winning the R1 250 000 HKJC Gr1 Champions Cup, while a half hour later Querari’s Maine Chance bred Bavarian Beauty won the R700 000 Gr1 Douglas Whyte Stakes.

Bavarian Beauty became Querari’s third G1 winner, following Querari Falcon and Rio

Querari, and his 34th stakes winner overall.

Maine Chance Farms’ resident sire enjoyed a fantastic end to the 2022-2023 season, with his two-year-old son Questor also capturing the Listed Champion Juvenile Cup at Fairview on Friday, and the son of Oasis Dream kicked off 2023-2024 where he finished when supplying a pair of winners at the Vaal on Tuesday!

Always striving for quality and excellence, Maine Chance finished 6th on the national breeders championship tables with their 17 stakes winners contributing to gross stakes of R14 438 000.

They also enjoyed the second highest Average Earnings Per Runner in the country.

The top team pictured in January 2023 | Credit: Supplied

TONY PETER’S SIZZLING SUNDAY

Craig Zackey rides a confident race to get Bavarian Beauty home | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Turffontein trainer Tony Peter has achieved a rare feat by saddling a Gr1 winner in his first seven months as a trainer.

The son of past SA champion Paul Peter produced a glorious feature double at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday, with the Querari filly Bavarian Beauty streaking home to win the R700 000 Gr1 Douglas Whyte Stakes.

After grabbing the lion’s share with Meridius in the Listed @worldpool Twitter Handicap earlier in the afternoon, the Peter-Zackey combination upset the rhythm of many Pick 6 punters when the 20-1 Bavarian Beauty showed her talent with a 1,50 length victory over the fancied Egyptian Mau (4-1) in the race run in past years.

Craig Zackey is riding with great confidence and wrapped up a season interrupted by a New

Zealand stint late last year. He will be looking forward to commencing duties for the Dean Kannemeyer yard next term.

A second Gr1 success on the afternoon for Maine Chance Farms, Bavarian Beauty runs in the silks of Playgate SA and took her stakes tally to R502 375 with her second win and a place from 4 starts.

She started her career in the Cape with Shane Humby and cost R250 000 off the Cape Premier Yearling Sale. She is by Oasis Dream star Querari out of the once winning Silvano mare, Bandola.

Tony Peter again thanked his loyal supporting owners, and mentioned the legend Ormond Ferraris, with whom he consults with regularly.

His Dad Paul was present on course and there were tears flowing.

Paul Peter told the Sporting Post late last year that Tony had been around the yard since his teens.

“I have every confidence that Tony will make us proud,” added the man who set a new South African record of 221 winners last season.

His son certainly has started like a house on fire and ends his first season with his 177 runners producing 46 winners at a 25.99% strike rate.

Tony saddled 71 places at a 40.11% strike-rate. While he is growing his yard, he must rank as a contender for national top 10 honours next term.

It was good to see Douglas Whyte out from Hong Kong to officiate in the presentation ceremony of a race named in his honour.

There aren’t too many of our past champions honoured with a Grade 1 contest!

Tony Peter and Doug Whyte | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

NEW HEIGHTS FOR OUR FAVOURITE CAPTAIN!

Twice Champion Sire

in South

Africa. Eight times Leading Sire of 2YO’s in South Africa. The first South African based stallion to sire 100 stakes winners.

The late Captain Al accomplished plenty during his time at stud, but this past weekend the former Cape Guineas winner achieved yet another notable feat.

Sunday’s racemeeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville has ensured that Captain Al will be

crowned the Leading Broodmare Sire in South Africa for the 2022-2023 racing season.

The champion son of Al Mufti ends the season with his broodmare daughters having produced more than 100 winners in the season.

Standout performer representing Captain Al as a broodmare sire in 2022-2023 was outstanding racemare Princess Calla.

Out of Captain Al’s Gr2 Sceptre Stakes winning daughter Princess Royal, Princess Calla claimed the fourth Gr1 win of her career when

The handsome Captain Al (Al Mufti – Off To War) | Credit: Supplied

she won Sunday’s Gr1 The HKJC Champions Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

A daughter of Flower Alley, Princess Calla was winning her third Gr1 race in a row, with the mare having captured the Gr1 South African Fillies Sprint and Gr1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes at her two previous starts.

Captain Al, whose daughters produced 11 black type winners in the 2022-2023 South African season, also ranks as broodmare sire of Sunday’s Gr1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes winner Sandringham Summit (Gimmethegreenlight).

Sandringham Summit is not the only son of Gimmethegreenlight out of a Captain Al mare to have won the race, with the similarily bred Gunner having prevailed in the 2016 race.

The latter, who had won the Gr2 Durban Golden Horseshoe last time out, is out of one of the very best broodmare daughters of Captain Al in the form of Gr2 Fillies Championship winner Townsend.

A half-sister to Gr1 Champions Challenge winner Regal Ransom (Caesour), Townsend

also ranks as the dam of Gr1 Gold Medallion winner, and Clifton Stud’s new stallion, Eden Roc (Var).

Other notable performers representing Captain Al (whose sire Al Mufti is damsire of Sunday’s Gr3 World Pool Gold Cup winner Future Pearl) as a broodmare sire in 2022-2023 include Gr1 WSB Cape Town Met runner up Kommetdieding (Elusive Fort), Gr2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers hero Salvator Mundi (Legislate), multiple stakes winner Luna Halo (Fire Away), and Gr3 Lebelo Sprint winner Taikonaut (Twice Over).

Captain Al is also broodmare sire of Gr1 Thekwini Stakes/Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes winner Same Jurisdiction (Mambo In Seattle).

The latter, who is out of the Captain Al mare Diana De Carlo, recently made waves in Britain when her three-year-old daughter Grand Providence (Nathaniel) made it back to backs when scoring at Doncaster.

Same Jurisdiction is also dam of promising two-year-old Clifton Bay (Teofilo), who made an impressive winning debut at Newbury recently.

Captain Al wins the 2000 Gr1 Cape Argus Guineas | Credit: Supplied

NIEUWENHUIZEN REACHES GR1 SUMMIT!

Halfway through World Pool Gold Cup Day, South Africa’s Champion Sire of 2020-2021, Gimmethegreenlight had three feature winners under his belt and well on his way to being crowned champion once again!

Calvin Habib is all smiles as Sandringham Summit is led in the winning team |

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

His son Sandringham Summit stamped his claims to an Equus title with a terrific victory in the R700 000 World Pool Moment Of The Day Gr1 Champion Stakes to give trainer David Nieuwenhuizen his first Grade 1 success.

With the anticipated duel between the two undefeated Gauteng raiders Lucky Lad and Main Defender expected to dominate the end of season Gr1 clash, it was recent Durban Gr2 Golden Horseshoe winner Sandringham Summit (7-1) who stepped up and produced a scintillating performance from the worst of the draw.

Enjoying an attacking ride by Craig Zackey, the ever prominent Main Defender (9-4) swept into the lead early in the run for home and the son of Pathfork looked to have plenty of juice in the tank at the 250m as Main Defender threatened wide out.

But when it counted there was only one horse in it as the Ravesh Singh-raced Sandringham Summit asserted his authority to win by 2,40 lengths in a time of 96,07 secs.

Main Defender wasn’t disgraced in second, with his stablemate We Are The Logans (100-1) boosting the trifecta in third. Nothing went right for the favourite Lucky Lad, who finished stone last.

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

Sandringham Summit is a half-brother to 2018 Golden Horseshoe winner Eden Roc (VAR) who now stands at Clifton Stud.

A R1,7 million National Yearling Sale purchase, Sandringham Summit has now won 3 of his 5 starts with 2 places for stakes of R842 250.

Gold Cicle Director Dr Manfred Rohwer and winning trainer David Nieuwenhuizen | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Future Pearl storms to victory under Richard Fourie| Credit: Candiese Lenferna

PURE GOLD FUTURA

Sean Tarry saddled his third SA premier marathon success when Richard Fourie guided the Futura 3yo Future Pearl to a resounding victory in the famous Beck silks in the 103rd renewal of the R1 million World Pool Gr3 Gold Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday, in the process landing the unofficial stayers triple crown of the Gr2 Gold Bowl and the G2 Gold Vase.

The Randjesfontein-based Tarry saddled his first Gold Cup winner in 2011 when Gavin Lerena booted Aslan home, and then followed through with Nebraas in 2021. Lyle Hewitson rode that winner and the now Hong Kong-based rider was aboard the same tough gelding on Sunday, when the son of Vercingetorix ran a gallant third.

For the massively talented Richard Fourie, Future Pearl was a second victory in the 3200m test of courage after he rode Mokara to victory in the Oppenheimer silks for Stephen Page in 2009.

Future Pearl is the first 3yo to win the Gold Cup since Mike de Kock’s Ancestral Fore scored under under Kevin Shea in 2010.

On Sunday, Future Pearl (15-10)

went through the motions, and showed that he is our brightest staying prospect in some time when he stormed away to beat the hardknocking 4yo Arumugam (10-1) by 2,40 lengths in a time of 208,78 secs.

Past winner Nebraas (25-2) surged through at the top of the home straight and looked dangerous, staying on for third a further quarter length back.

The defending champion Shangani was never in it and ran last.

The Drakenstein Stud-bred Future Pearl was a R525 000 National Yearling Sale purchase and took his stakes earnings to R1 192 624 with his fifth win and 6 places from 14 starts.

The three-year-old, who looks set to be crowned Equus Champion Stayer this season, is one of six stakes winners for the four time Gr1 winning Futura in 2022-2023, with others including Gr3 Politician Stakes winner Rockpool, and the likes of Dawnofanewday, Future Girl and Thefutureisbright.

Futura, whose progeny have earned more than R5,6 million in 20222023, has seven lots on offer at the upcoming August Two Year Old Sale including a half-brother (Lot 34) to 2023 Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Winchester Mansion.

Winners! Drakenstein’s Kevin Sommerville, Abe Mahlangu, Daniel Tarry and partner, and Sean Tarry

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Nelson’s Column brought to

Stud

you by Varsfontein

Erik The Red was an exceptional foal born on 15th September 2017 at Varsfontein Stud and captivated the attention of all who saw him. Recognising his potential, Carl de Vos contemplated keeping Erik The Red for racing and potentially a future stallion for Varsfontein. ‘Erik’ had a few problems growing up - a colic operation as a foal and some leg treatment - Susan kept thinking that the yearling did not want to be sold.

In preparation for the 2019 National Yearling Sale, two magnificent sons of Captain Al were groomed - Erik The Red and Malmoos, the first being a son and the second a grandson of the Grade 1 winning siblings Covenant and Promisefrommyheart respectively. These yearlings left an indelible impression on Susan and Carl, and after ‘Erik’s’ scope was questionable, a decision was reached - Erik The Red would be retained for racing,

while Malmoos went to the sale and was sold for an impressive R4.4 million to Form Bloodstock, representing the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum. Malmoos went on to achieve great success, ultimately winning the Triple Crown and becoming a sire - starting his stud career a year after Erik The Red.

RACE RECORD

Erik The Red, sired by the illustrious G1 winning miler Captain Al, out of the equally impressive G1

RED - by Jeremy Nelson

Photo: Jeremy Nelson

winning sprinter/miler Covenant, hails from the distinguished family of Secret Pact. Under the tutelage of Champion trainer Justin Snaith, Erik The Red embarked on his training journey.

‘Erik’ secured victories in 6 out of 9 starts, with 2 additional placings. His initial outing, where he finished 5th, marked his sole unplaced performance. ‘Erik’ was quick to put the record straight, showcasing his potential with a string of four consecutive victories at 2 years:

Won JUVENILE PLATE 1000m by 4,75 lengths.

Won Listed SUMMER JUVENILE STAKES

1000m at Kenilworth by 1,25 lengths - powering to victory and described as a ‘quality horse’ by Richard Fourie.

Won G3 CAPE OF GOOD HOPE NURSERY

1200m at Kenilworth - Richard Fourie summed it up perfectly in a few words – “lovely horse, bright future”.

Won Listed SOMERSET 1200 at Kenilworth by 4,25 lengths - he had a devastating turn of foot and was giving away more weight than a sumo wrestler, yet started almost unbackable at 3-7, and when Richard Fourie pressed the button, he accelerated

Photo: Wayne Marks

Photo: Wayne Marks

Photo: Wayne Marks

like a ‘Ferrari’ to storm home 4,25 lengths clear. Fourie said “he’s a racehorse and I wake up in the morning to ride horses like him. He is definitely capable of winning a G1”.

After this win it was decided to send Erik The Red to KZN for the Champions Season.

4th G1 GOLDEN HORSE MEDALLION 1200m at Scottsville, beaten by Equus Champion 2yo Tempting Fate.

3rd G2 GOLDEN HORSESHOE 1400m at Greyville, beaten 1,3 lengths by Nourbese.

Won G2 UMKHOMAZI STAKES 1200m at Greyville by 0,5 lengths - despite not having the easiest of passages and having to be re-shod at the start, ‘Erik’ showed his class when running out a courageous winner. He looked beaten, as the front runner kept finding more, but he rallied under a typically well-judged ride from Richard Fourie and won going away.

Erik the Red was voted Cape Champion 2yo Colt in 2020, and following a well-deserved rest at the farm, a decision was made to set his sights on the prestigious G2 Cape Merchants as a 3yo.

Won G2 CAPE MERCHANTS 1200m at Kenilworth by 0,75 lengths from the older Equus Champion Sprinter, Rio Querari - Erik The Red became the first 3yo to win the Merchants in 22 years. Starting 2-1 favourite, and under a half-kilo sufferance, ‘Erik’ came from off the pace under an ‘oozing with confidence’ Richard Fourie, with a dashing 3/4 length victory in a time of 71,35. This was a win full of merit and character after his 12 week break.

Subsequent to his Merchants win, Erik was syndicated as a stallion to start his career in the 2021 breeding season.

AT STUD

Trainer Justin Snaith - “Erik the Red is an absolute gentleman to work with. He is one of the toughest and soundest horses I’ve had the pleasure to train. He has tremendous heart and I cannot wait to see his produce at the sales and on the track - if they’re anything like their dad we have plenty to look forward to”.

Erik The Red commencing his new role as a stallion in the spring. During this period, he had the privilege of covering an impressive total of 102 mares. Varsfontein entrusted some of their finest mares to be mated with him including (G1 winners /producers in bold): Alexia, Alice Springs (AUS), All Mine, American Princess, Arc Lamp, Aunt Polly, Bela-Bela, Black Flame, Bushiri, Castle Pine, Circle

RED - by Jeremy Nelson

Photo: Candiese Lenferna

Photo: Jeremy Nelson

GALLERY - ERIK THE RED’S FIRST CROP

YEARLINGS FOR 2024 (photos: Carolyn Erasmus)

In The Sand, Coyote Girl, Different Light, Falconize (IRE), Gypsy Madonna, Imperial State, Imperious Girl, In The Stars, Kawakami, Kiss And Fly, Kissaway, Kite Runner, Maximum Jet, Miss Texas, Monroe Spring, Preluna (FR), Princess Thiana, Queen Of All, Rocamadour, San Trip, Secret Of Victoria, Secret Risk, Star Express, Summer Cruise, Taffety Tart, Tally-Ho, Timedtoperfection, Watercolormemories (IRE), etc.

In the spring of 2022, the much-anticipated first foals made their arrival, eliciting smiles all round. The foals were hailed by Carl de Vos as among the finest offspring ever witnessed from a stallion’s inaugural crop at Varsfontein. Fellow breeders, equally captivated by his foals, expressed their interest by seeking to acquire additional shares in Erik The Red.

In his second season in 2022, Erik The Red covered an impressive total of 114 mares. This served as a testament to the exceptional quality and promise demonstrated by his first crop. Among the mares from Varsfontein who were chosen for ‘Erik’ in 2022, were: Acey Deucey, Albizia, Bold Move, Circle In The Sand, Cloudsuponcamelot (GB), Congestion Charge (GB), Coyote Girl, Crackpot, Desert Pride, Dolomiti, Europeana, Flying High, Front Club (IRE), Guiding Light, Gypsy Madonna, High Dudgeon, In A Huff, Justthewayyouare, Just Fabulous, Kawakami, Kerdassa (IRE), Kiss And Fly, Kissimmee, Kumiko, Majestic Star, Maledimo, Miss Texas, Our Lady Peace, Peace Flower, Phil’s Dancer, Pollygoneshopping, Queen Of All, Rocamadour, Rotunda, San Trip, Secret Of Victoria, Secret Risk, Shine A Light, Silvery Dream, Siracusa (ITY), Social Spirit, Summer Cruise, Taffety Tart, Tenacity, Touch The Sky, Twice The Trip, Under My Hat, Vision On Ice, Whatsinadream, etc.

Anticipation runs high as we eagerly await the arrival of Erik The Red’s second crop over the forthcoming months.

SIRE - CAPTAIN AL

Captain Al holds a position of great significance

in SA’s breeding landscape and is often mentioned in the same breath as Jet Master as one of the most influential locally bred stallions to have stood at stud. The battle between Captain Al and Jet Master for the title of Champion First Season Sire in 2005 was truly remarkable. With both stallions producing an impressive tally of 21 2yo winners from their respective first crops, the competition

RED - by Jeremy Nelson

Photo: Jeremy Nelson

CAPTAIN AL - MALE LINE CROSSES

LIKE FATHER

was fierce and closely contested. In the end, Jet Master emerged victorious, claiming not only First Season honours but outright Champion 2yo Sire. Nevertheless, the epic duel between these two stallions serves as a testament to their exceptional progeny and enduring impact on the SA Racing and Breeding Industry.

Captain Al’s success as a sire is commendable. He achieved the prestigious title of Champion Sire of 2yo’s for an impressive 8 consecutive seasons, from 2009 to 2016. In addition, Captain Al was crowned Champion SA Sire in 2015. His contributions were further recognised through receipt of the Equus Award for Outstanding Sire in 2009 and 2011.

Captain Al’s statistics highlight his influence with 77% winners to runners and a 10.8% stakes winners to runners. Captain Al is the 2023 Leading Broodmare Sire in SA, R3 million ahead of his nearest rival, Jet Master.

Captain Al’s influence has reached beyond SA, with his runners making their mark in various international racing jurisdictions. His progeny have competed in Mauritius, Hong Kong, USA, United Arab Emirates, France, Great Britain, Singapore, Australia, and Zimbabwe. This global reach speaks to the versatility and adaptability of Captain Al’s offspring, as they showcased their talent and achieved success around the World.

Captain Al’s other sons at stud include Triple Crown winner Malmoos, G1 Cape Guineas winner William Longsword, Equus Champion Sprinter Captain Of All, and G1 Met winner One World (Equus Champion Older Male 2020).

Captain Al is free of Northern Dancer blood and his most prolific nick was with Northern Dancer line mares - producing 20 G1 performers of which 9 were G1 winners. Fort Wood mares produced 3 G1 winners, followed by Elliodor (1, by Lyphard), Joshua

RED - by Jeremy Nelson

Photo: Jeremy Nelson

LIKE SON

Dancer (1, by Danzig), Caesour (1, by Nureyev), Polar Falcon (1, by Nureyev) Peintre Celebre (1, by Nureyev) and Giant’s Causeway (1, by Storm Cat).

Native Dancer line mares produced 8 G1 winners from his descendants Western Winter (2, by Gone West), Goldkeeper (2, by Mr Prospector), Centenary

(1, by Alydar), Hussonet (1, by Mr Prospector), Trippi (1, by End Sweep) and Fusaichi Pegasus (1, by Mr Prospector).

The Ribot male line produced 3 G1 winners through Badger Land (2, by Codex) and Sportsworld (1, by Alleged). Other G1 winners are from mares by Hard Up (1, by Hard Fighter), Red Ransom (1, by Roberto), London News (1, by Bush Telegraph), Mark Of Esteem (1, by Darshaan) and Fard (1, by Reprimand).

DAM - COVENANT

As a sibling to Champion Promisefrommyheart, Covenant was retained by Varsfontein. She was a beautiful, medium sized, high-quality filly and went into training with master-conditioner Mike Bass, who rated her very highly. She won 7 races from 1000 - 1600m and R979,085 and was placed 7 times from 16 runs.

ERIK THE RED - by Jeremy Nelson

Photo: Jeremy Nelson

Photo: Carolyn Erasmus

Captain Al G1 WINNER CHAMPION SIRE

ERIK THE RED

Hail To Reason

Turn-To Royal Charger Source Sucree

Nothirdchance Blue Swords Galla Colors

Al Mufti (USA) CHAMPION SIRE

Roberto

Lassie Dear

Complete Warrior (USA)

Bramalea

Buckpasser

Gay Missile

Dewan

Nashua Nasrullah Segula

Rarelea Bull Lea

Bleebok

Tom Fool Menow Gaga

Busanda War Admiral Businesslike

Sir Gaylord Turn-To

Somethingroyal

Missy Baba My Babu Uvira

Bold Ruler Nasrullah

Miss Disco

Sunshine Nell Sun Again Nellie Flag

Splendid Spree

Covenant G1 WINNER

Off To War

Jamaico (FR)

Western Winter (USA)

CHAMPION SIRE

Infanta

Gone West

Chilly Hostess

Beylic

Mr Prospector

Secrettame

Vice Regent

Impressive Lady

Jungle Cove (USA)

Secret Pact

G1 PERFORMER

‘BLUE HEN’ MARE

Bush Telegraph

Maiden Over

Regent Street (ARG)

Soho Secret

Secret Landing (USA)

Damascus Sword Dancer Kerala Oak Cluster

Prince Taj

Nasrullah

Busanda

Prince Bio Malindi

Suze Wild Risk

Dodane

Field Master (GB) Fair Trial Huntress

Orientalist

Eastern Emperor (GB) Silverstream

Raise A Native Native Dancer Raise You

Gold Digger Nashua Sequence

Secretariat Bold Ruler

Somethingroyal

Tamerett Tim Tam

Mixed Marriage

Northern Dancer

Nearctic Natalma

Victoria Regina Menetrier Victoriana

Impressive Court Martial High Voltage

Chilly

Bold Ruler

Santorin

Persian Wonder (GB)

Nearctic Cut Flower

Nasrullah

Miss Disco

Greek Song

Secret Meeting

Persian Gulf Lilac Belle No Ball (GB) Hill Gail

No Appeal

Gulf Stream Hyperion Tide-Way

Fair Spoken Sayani

Tudor Fair

First Landing Turn-To Hildene

Smart Secret Dedicate Secret Recipe

ERIK

RED - by Jeremy Nelson

Covenant won the G1 Majorca Stakes, G2 Southern Cross Stakes, G2 Sceptre Stakes (twice), Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes, and was 3rd in the G1 SA Fillies Sprint, G2 Southern Cross Stakes, G2 Tibouchina Stakes, and 4th in the G1 Mercury Sprint.

Covenant had a stunning Cape 3yo season. After she won the G2 Southern Cross Stakes and the G2 Sceptre Stakes, Susan chatted with Mike Bass over the railing between their boxes at Kenilworth. Susan was sure Covenant would stay the mile and wanted her to run in the G1 Majorca Stakes rather than the G1 Cape Flying Championship. To her mind it was a better option to stay in female company, and this way she would be able to see how she stacked up against the older fillies. Mike thought it a good idea and added that he didn’t think she could beat What A Winter (also a 3yo by Western Winter) in the G1 Cape Flying Championship - who he was certain would win and become a top sprinter.

Karl Neisius rode Covenant in a mile gallop and

expressed confidence that she would get the distance under race conditions. Covenant was a well supported 4/1 third favourite, and went on to win the WFA event for fillies and mares on Met Day, beating top fillies Love Is In The Air, Gibraltar Blue and Emerald Cove.

Covenant was kept in training as a 4yo with the objective of giving Susan’s mother a stakes winner on her visit to the Cape in 2012, and the plan succeeded. She won the G2 Sceptre Stakes for the second time, and was led in by Mette Kalmanson and John Kalmanson.

Susan’s mother adored Covenant and hence, when this magnificent colt was born, Susan named him Erik The Red in tribute to her mother’s Danish nationality and Viking ancestry.

On retiring to stud, Covenant produced 6 foals, 5 runners - all winners. Her only progeny ever sold at auction was her 2nd foal - Varallo (Var) - a beautiful colt that was sold to Alesh Naidoo for R2 million at the 2016 National Yearling Sale. Varallo was a leading 2yo in SA, and was later exported to Hong Kong.

Covenant’s first foal was the stakes placed filly Scandola (Fort Wood) - the dam of Cala Muretta (Gimmethegreenlight) - won G2 Gold Circle Debutante on 30th July 2023; and Gimme’s Lassie (Gimmethegreenlight) - 3rd G2 Western Cape Fillies Championship, G3 Prix du Cap and Listed Olympic Duel Stakes (2022/23). Covenant’s 3rd foal Solemn Promise (Judpot) was stakes placed and is the dam of 2 magnificent fillies by Gimmethegreenlight - born

Photo: Jeremy Nelson

in 2021 and 2022 - who have yet to race. Covenant has produced:

Scandola ( f, 2013, by Fort Wood), dam of Gimme’s Lassie (by Gimmethegreenlight)

Cala Muretta (by Gimmethegreenlight)

Varallo (c, 2014, by Var)

Solemn Promise (f, 2015, by Judpot)

Erik The Red (c, 2017, by Captain Al)

La Folie Douce (f, 2018, by Silvano)

My Dear Friend (f, 2022, by Master Of My Fate)

Covenant’s foals were friendly and confident from a young age, always ready to greet one and be patted - compared to other foals that are normally shy. The sisters Covenant and Promisefrommyheart were very different with Covenant being the stronger of the two, producing foals with more substance, while Promisefrommyheart was a leggy classic looking filly, and her foals were of a similar type.

Covenant recently passed away after experiencing an unfortunate bout of colic.

BROODMARE SIRE: WESTERN WINTER

Western Winter retired to stud in 1997 and was a grand looking individual of good size (16.1) and scope, standing over a sizable amount of ground. He possessed very good bone and a strong frame with good girth and rein, short cannons and a good

ERIK THE RED - by Jeremy Nelson

Photo: Jeremy Nelson

Photo: Jeremy Nelson

hind leg. He had a tremendous action, a wonderful temperament and sired balanced individuals that were tough, sound and trained on.

Western Winter is one of the best performing stallions ever to stand at stud in SA - from 823 foals he had 757 runners, 621 (82%) winners and 92 stakes winners (12,15%) - of these 23 were G1 winners and 35 G1 placed. In fact he had 25%

stakes performers (190) to runners. These are superlative statistics and are not as yet matched by any other sire to stand in SA.

Western Winter was a G1 performer in the USA, being 2nd in the G1 Metropolitan Mile 1600m, beaten a neck by Langfuhr, and 3rd in the G1 Carter Handicap 1400m - again behind Langfuhr - while beating another Gone West colt, Elusive Quality.

Both Elusive Quality and Langfuhr, like Western Winter, had outstanding careers as stallions. Western Winter was 3 x Champion SA Sire, and runner-up twice. He was also 3 x Champion Sire of 2yo’s and Champion Broodmare Sire in 2018.

Western Winter was never syndicated and was solely owned by Lammerskraal Stud. It is a testament to Western Winter that he succeeded where so many non-syndicated stallions have failed.

His most successful male line cross was with Northern Dancer line mares - producing 19 G1 performers of which 9 were G1 winners. Dancing Champ (by Nijinsky II) mares produced 3 G1 winners, followed by Northfields (2, by Northern Dancer), Sadler’s Wells (1, by Northern Dancer), Fort Wood (1, by Sadler’s Wells), Caesour (1, by Nureyev) and Trigger Finger (1, by Lyphard).

The Hyperion line, through his speedy descendants Tudor Minstrel and Sing Sing, produced 4 G1 winners through Averof (1, by Sing Sing) and his sons, Foveros (2) and Priceless Asset (1).

The Nasrullah line produced 5 G1 winners through Jallad (2, by Blushing Groom), Melun (1, by Riverman), Bush Telegraph (1, by Jungle Cove) and Del Sarto (1, by Bold Ruler).

The other G1 winners came through mares by Pas de Quoi (2, by Roland Gardens), Royal Chalice (1, by Royal Prerogative), Badger Land (1, by Codex)) and Ahonoora (1, by Lorenzaccio).

CONCLUSION

Taking into account that Captain Al and Western Winter both had their most success with the Northern Dancer male line, it is advisable to send mares by the following sire lines to Erik The Red:

- by Jeremy Nelson

• Sadler’s Wells (Fort Wood, Dynasty, Elusive Fort, Futura, Legislate, Act Of War, Galileo, The United States, Admiral Kitten, Global View, New Predator, etc).

• Nijinsky II (Silvano, Vercingetorix, Hawwaam, Dancing Champ, Russian Fox, Peacetime, Summa Cum Laude, etc).

• Northfields (only available through sire’s dam lines - Declarationofpeace, Last Winter, Pathfork, Red Ray, etc).

• Lyphard (Elliodor, Model Man, Trigger Finger, Alzao, Bellypha, Dancing Brave, etc).

• Nureyev (Caesour, Polar Falcon, Peintre Celebre, Byword, Pivotal, etc).

• Danzig (National Assembly, Danehill, Redoute’s Choice, Rafeef, Snitzel, Heavenly Blue, Real Gone Kid, Commands, Epaulette, Soqrat, Green Desert, Oasis Dream, Querari, Invincible Spirit, Digital Age, War Front, Lancaster Bomber, Fire Away, Declarationofpeace,

Exchange Rate, etc).

• Rakeen (Jet Master, Master Of My Fate, Pomodoro, Skitt Skizzle, Lance, etc).

• Storm Cat (Black Minnaloushe, Var, Eden Roc, Talk Of The Town, Tiger Ridge, Mogok, Tale Of The Cat, Giant’s Causeway, Lion Hearted, etc). Other influences in Erik the Red’s pedigree must be considered, and these would lead to the following suggestions.

Erik The Red is line-bred to Bold Ruler (5x6x5) and has 6 lines of Nasrullah within 7 generations. Mares carrying the following lines would be beneficial:

• Prince Rose / Prince Bio / Prince Taj (out of a full sister to Nasrullah)

• Princequillo

• Round Table

Western Winter is the product of the Mr Prospector

x Northern Dancer male line cross and it may be prudent to send sex balanced mares carrying the inverted Northern Dancer x Mr Prospector cross -

examples would be the following:

• Galileo

• Elusive Fort

• Fire Away

• Global View

• Time Thief

• Admiral Kitten

Nasrullah lines have also been successful, specifically with mares by:

• Jallad

• Our Casey’s Boy

• Kabool

• Comic Blush

• Nashwan

• Bush Telegraph

• London News

• Del Sarto

• Kenmare

• Melun

• Mark Of Esteem

• Esplendor

Royal Charger (Captain Al’s male line) is 3 parts brother to Nasrullah, and has produced G1 performers to the following broodmare sires:

• Hard Up

• Best By Test

• Red Ransom

The Native Dancer line (same male line as Western Winter) has produced G1 performers via the following broodmare sires:

• Sharp Romance

• Argosy

• Dubai Destination

• Parade Leader

• Centenary

• Pennekamp

• Hussonet

• Trippi

• Fusaichi Pegasus

• Goldkeeper

Both Captain Al and Western Winter have produced G1 performers (3 each) to the Ribot line through:

• Badger Land

Captain Al has produced a 4th G1 performer to the Ribot line through:

• Sportsworld

Further recommendations are mares carrying Sing Sing (Tudor Minstrel - Owen Tudor) through:

• Averof

• Foveros

• Priceless Asset

• Reprimand

• Fard

‘Erik’ has an extremely high concentration of Lady Josephine in his pedigree, and I would recommend adding as many lines as possible, using stallions that carry large clusters.

Mares with Buckpasser, Busanda, Secret Prospector, Poker, Coastal, Bimelech, etc, would increase the concentration of the great matron La Troienne.

Additional lines of the great foundation mare Somethingroyal may be found in the following pedigrees:

• Sir Gaylord

• Secretariat

• Somethingfabulous

• Swansea

• Aviacion

• American Hero

• Syrian Sea

• Alada

ERIK

RED - by Jeremy Nelson

Visiting owner Michael Moroney, Lyle Hewitson and Carl Hewitson with the Irish flag | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Michael welcomes Lyle and Pray For Rain to the winner’s enclosure | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

IRISH MICHAEL’S JOY CENSORED – BUT WHAT A MOMENT!

On a day of family firsts and a grand curtain call on the 2022/23 season, multiple SA champion jockey Lyle Hewitson booted home his Dad Carl’s maiden feature winner and gave Ireland-based owner Michael Moroney his first, and infinitely most memorable, day on a South African racecourse.

Riding his second feature winner at only his second racemeeting on African soil during his current visit, Lyle Hewitson was at his brilliant best keeping Pray For Rain at his task to successfully defend his title in the R150 000 LHKIR In December Listed Umngeni Handicap.

The Soft Falling Rain gelding won the same feature in 2022, when under different ownership and in the care of Dennis Drier.

Raced by Michael Moroney’s The Poet’s Corner Syndicate, Pray For Rain (7-2) put speed into play and went all the way as a popular tote favourite to clock 58,2 seconds for the 1000m.

The superbly consistent African Skyline (5-1) came on powerfully late for second, a quarter length back.

Pray For Rain was a R425 000 buy from the Cape Premier Yearling Sale.

A Gr1 runner-up as a 2yo to top stablemate of the time in Tempting Fate, Pray For Rain has won 4 races with 9 places from 24 starts for stakes of R443 925.

Bred by Avontuur, the winner is by the deceased Soft Falling Rain (National Assembly). He is out of the two-time winning Var mare Kitco.

An emotional owner Michael Moroney endured an 18 hour flight from Ireland – and we hear from a reliable source that flying is not exactly his favourite pursuit. He arrived in South Africa late on Saturday and returns to the Emerald Isle on Tuesday.

Lyle draped the Irish flag on his shoulders in the lead in, and there was plenty of fun and games and some serious ‘Irish’ spoken in the post-race interview! The interview landed up being censored by the racing operator. They no doubt have their reasons.

We thought all in good fun on a 4-18 channel and handled with aplomb by interviewer, Sheldon Peters.

It’s always good to see really passionate people having fun and letting their hair down.

THE MERITS OF A GREAT DAY AT THE RACES

Future Pearl has had his merit rating raised from 112 to 116 following his victory in the Grade 3 World Pool Gold Cup over 3200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday 30 July. The Handicappers were of the view that 4th placed Raiseahallelujah made for the best line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 99.

FUTURE PEARL was the beneficiary of a double advantage going into the World Pool Gold Cup as both the Grade 3 Gold Bowl and the Grade 3 DSTV Gold Vase conditions obligated the Handicappers to cap his rating.

As a consequence of these race conditions, FUTURE PEARL had a distinct advantage over his rivals in the Grade 3 World Pool Gold Cup and unsurprisingly won this compressed handicap easily.

Second-placed ARUMUGAM, who was also a recipient of a double advantage due to the caps placed on the Handicappers for his wins in the Listed Java Stakes as well as the Listed Racing Association Stakes, was increased from 94 to 102.

Interestingly both 1st and 2nd in the World Pool Gold Cup came into this race with weight advantages due to rating caps being imposed onto the handicapping system.

Seven runners were given a rating’s drop. 3rd placed NEBRAAS was dropped from 117 to 115, ONE WAY TRAFFIC is down from 108 to 106, SENSO UNICO also drops to 106 from 108, BLACK THORN is down from 102 to 99, FLYING FIRST CLASS was cut from 91 to 87, SALVATOR MUNDI was dropped from 109 to 107, and lastly SHANGANI is down from 120 to 118.

• Gr1 HKJC Champions Cup (WFA)

Weighted to run 1st and 2nd, PRINCESS CALLA and SEE IT AGAIN remain unchanged on ratings of 127 and 131 respectively after finishing in that exact order (see best weighted column in Computaform) in the Grade 1 HKJC Champions Cup over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday. The Handicappers were of the view that 4th placed RASCALLION would not have run below the 122 which he achieved in the Grade 1 WSB Cape Met, the Grade 2 WSB Greyville 1900 and the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge. He was used to that mark to rate this race, and accordingly had his rating restored from 121 to 122. In assessing the race this way PRINCESS CALLA – who was the best weighted runner in the field on official merit ratings – only achieves a rating of 124, hence her unchanged mark.

The only ratings increase was for 3rd placed DAVE THE KING, who goes up from 122 to 126, but three runners were given a drop.

SAFE PASSAGE is down from 122 to 120, MK’S PRIDE also drops from 122 to 120, and lastly AL MUTHANA was trimmed from 130 to 129.

• Gr1 Mercury Sprint (WFA)

Joint top rated, ISIVUNGUVUNGU remains unchanged on a rating of 130 after he narrowly captured the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday. Here it was runner-up SURJAY who was deemed to make the best line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 119. In rating the race this way 6th placed GLADATORIAN also runs to his mark, leaving him unchanged

on a mark of 114. In fact, at the weights GLADATORIAN and SURJAY have exactly replicated their form in the Grade 2 Post Merchants over the same course and distance on 1st July.

In assessing the race this way ISIVUNGUVUNGU only runs to a mark of 120, hence his unaltered rating. 3rd placed THUNDERSTRUCK ran one pound above what he had shown in the Post Merchants and therefore goes up from 117 to 118. The only other raise was for 7th placed CABINET SHUFFLE, who goes up from 102 to 108 to at least make him the equal of the 108-rated 8th finisher DANILO DANILOVITCH.

Four horses were given a drop. WILLIAM ROBERTSON is down from 125 to 123, SEEKING THE STARS drops from 123 to 121, SILVER OPERATOR is down to 112 from 114, and lastly PEARL OF ASIA is down from 109 to 107.

• Gr2 Riding High Together Gold Bracelet

BLESS MY STARS has had her rating raised from 117 to 119 after winning the Riding High Together Gold Bracelet for fillies and mares over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday. The Handicappers were of the opinion that 5th placed DAWNOFANEWDAY made for the best line horse, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 107.

There were also ratings increases for runner-up SAARTJIE, who was raised from 105 to 109, and for 4th finisher CAPETOWN BEAUTY, who goes up from 82 to 101 to at least make the equal of the 101-rated 6th finisher MACARA.

Three horses received a rating’s drop. SILVER DARLING is down to 115 from 117, HOLD MY HAND drops from 115 to 112, and lastly MARINA was also dropped from 115 to 112.

• Listed @WorldPool Twitter Handicap

MERIDIUS has had his rating upped from 107 to 110 after winning the Listed @WorldPool Twitter Handicap over 1600m on the turf course at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday. Here it was 4th placed LORD WILLIAM who was used as the line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 107.

It is worth noting that MERIDIUS was effectively 1.5 kg well-in here as he had actually run to a mark of 110 when winning a Middle Stakes at Turffontein in his most recent start, but he could not be raised more than six pounds for that win and so his rating had to be capped at the 107 which he ran off on Sunday. As a consequence of this cap MERIDIUS enjoyed an advantage over his rivals in this Handicap.

There were also increases for 2nd finisher BATTLE FORCE, who goes up from 107 to 109, and for 3rd finisher CAPTAIN FONTANE, who was raised from 109 to 111.

Three horses were given a drop. ROYAL VICTORY was trimmed from 112 to 111, COSMIC HIGHWAY is down to 108 from 110, and lastly GOOD TRAVELLER was dropped from 110 to 106.

• Listed LHKIR In December Umgeni Handicap

PRAY FOR RAIN has had his rating raised from 106 to 110 after he won the Listed LHKIR In December Umgeni Handicap over 1000m on turf at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday. Here it was 4th placed MR MASTER STARTER who was deemed to make for the best line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 98.

There were also ratings increases for 2nd placed AFRICAN SKYLINE, who was equipped with blinkers for the first time, goes up from 99 to 101, and for 3rd finisher SMITH AND WESSON, who was 1 kg or 2 pounds under sufferance at the weights and who was raised from 91 from 93.

There were drops for no fewer than five horses. LOVE IN WINTER is down slightly from 91 to 90, IPHIKO drops from 107 to 105, WINTER FLIGHT is down from 97 to 94, HOOVES OF TROY drops to 87 from 89, and lastly AISLING is down from 90 to 88.

• Listed Port Elizabeth Gold Cup

TOP QUALITY has had his rating raised from 95 to 100 after his easy win in the Listed Port Elizabeth Gold Cup over 3200m on a heavy turf track at Fairview on Friday 28 July. The Handicappers were of the view that runner-up HEATHCLIFF made for the best line horse here, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 100.

No horses were given a rating’s increase aside from the winner, and in any case the specific race conditions do not allow for any raise to the rating of any horse aside from the winner.

The only drop was for JAEGER MOON, who is down from 102 to 100.

Media release by National Horseracing Authority on Tuesday 1 August 2023.

GRANT’S READY TO SPLASH OUT!

At the age of 32, and with 18 Grade 1 winners under the belt, Capebased jockey Grant van Niekerk is primed for his biggest season yet and his first under the SplashOut Print Branding and Media banner.

Announcing the new sponsorship on Tuesday, Eugene Naidu, General Manager of SplashOut, said that the signing of the talented Grant van Niekerk as their first sponsored jockey was an important step in the further involvement in the sport of racing by the signage and branding company, SplashOut .

“Winning Media was established in 1986 and our Cape Derby sponsorship six months ago was a key step in our rebranding as SplashOut

Print, Branding and Media. Adding our name to a historic race like the SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby underscored our philosophy of always striving for excellence. Now, we have great pleasure in welcoming another winning partner in top-level jockey Grant van Niekerk,” he added.

SplashOut offers a wide range of branding solutions, from static signage to digital LED screens and has provided the signage

Grant van Niekerk – stylish rider set to join SplashOut Team | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Grant van Niekerk – aiming to make it a big season |

Credit: Chase Liebenberg

for sports stadia across South Africa. This includes Hollywoodbets sponsored venues Hollywoodbets Greyville, Hollywoodbets Scottsville, Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, Hollywoodbets Durbanville, Hollywoodbets Kingsmead and Hollywoodbets King’s Park. The company also provided all the branding material for the past two renewals of the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

“I am very honoured and proud to be riding under the SplashOut flag from the start of the new season. I have set myself serious goals of making it my very best ever,” added an upbeat Grant van Niekerk, who is now also first call rider for the newly crowned SA Champion outfit, Snaith Racing.

A born and bred Capetonian, Grant van Niekerk joined the SA Jockey Academy in something of a vintage intake in 2007, that included Gareth Wright, JP Van Der Merwe, Tshwaro Appie, Athandiwe Mgudlwa and Aldo Domeyer.

Known affectionately as ‘Big John’ or ‘Mr Muscles’, Grant had his first ride at Clairwood on 11 June 2008 on Combat Leader, when

beaten 2 lengths by Anthony Delpech on Yarnmaster.

The defeat meant the young rider had sniffed the irresistible whiff of champagne and determinedly rode his first winner on Combat Leader at Clairwood on 25 June 2008. Three weeks later, he rode his second winner on the same horse – this time at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

He qualified as a fully-fledged rider in January 2012 and has ridden 18 Gr1 winners across South Africa, including the Gr1 Sun Met on Oh Susanna in 2018. He ended last season 19 winners short of his 1000 winner career milestone.

Grant’s perennial competitive streak was fuelled for life when he was agonisingly beaten a short head on the Tyrone Zackey longshot Smanjemanje by a determined Piere Strydom on Sean Tarry’s Pomodoro in the 2012 Durban July, when still a greenhorn. Unsurprisingly, the Hollywoodbets Durban July remains number 1 on Grant’s professional bucket list!

JOCKEY ATTACKED AT HOME

South Africa is often labelled one of the most violent societies on earth. But Australia have their problems too.

This weekend, a Darwin jockey was the victim of a terrifying attack outside her own home when she was set upon by a ‘group of ten to 15 men’ and bashed with a rock.

Sonja Wiseman, 31, was retrieving an item she left in her car at about 00h30 on Friday morning outside her Darwin house before her vehicle was circled by the gang.

“I looked up to my left and there was a

group of 10 to 15 men. I don’t know if they initially knew I was in the car but as soon as I looked up, they all started laughing,” she said.

The jockey said she was screaming as the ordeal was going on while her fiance, Darwin trainer Tommy Logan was asleep in the house.

“They smashed me in the face with a rock, broke my nose in three places, cut my lip and smashed my teeth. I tried to drive off the wrong way down the Highway, but a group of them blocked me,” she said.

AIMING FOR THE MAGICAL 334

In an unprecedented move to incentivise and inspire South African jockeys to strive for new heights of excellence, leading betting operator Hollywoodbets has offered a cash incentive of R1 million for the first rider to surpass the longstanding Anthony Delpech benchmark of 334 winners in the forthcoming local racing season, which commenced on Tuesday 1 August 2023.

The 334 winner mark was established by former multiple national champion Anthony Delpech, when he shattered Piere Strydom’s record in the 1998/1999 season.

The dazzling Delpech season record, achieved at the age of 30, still stands today.

A three-time SA champion, and an internationally respected Grade 1 winning jockey, Anthony retired at the age of 50 in 2019.

Now a popular Racing Manager of the Hollywood Syndicate, he welcomed the Hollywoodbets incentive as a tangible means of rewarding the enormous effort, and the gruelling personal and professional sacrifices, that would go into any bid to beat the record.

“What a great idea and a true personal honour for me, and the new record-holder, whoever that may be. I believe there will be many of our jockeys chasing this target. A goal is vitally

important for any sportsman. But it’s no walk in the park, believe me! Any rider with national title aspirations is required to spend seven days a week, for twelve solid months, travelling the length and breadth of South Africa, chasing winners. It takes enormous commitment without any guarantees of success, and demands that the individual maintains a level of fitness and mental application that could push any athlete to the edge. It’s also a dangerous and physically demanding sport, and the risk of a setback or injury is omnipresent. I’d really love nothing more than to see one of the new generation jockeys toppling my record this season,” added an enthusiastic Delpech.

Winning Form-sponsored rider, Keagan de Melo, reached the 275 winner mark after he was crowned SA Champion Jockey as the curtain came down on the 2022/23 racing season at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday 30 July 2023.

Keagan, who is set to pursue his career in Hong Kong, rode 1434 horses at seven

racecourses in four provinces, in an unrelenting quest to be the best of the best this last term.

National title runner-up Richard Fourie, who is a Winning Form stablemate of de Melo’s, fell 17 winners short, but was thrilled with his personal best ever season tally of 258 winners and wished his friend and colleague well on his new career challenge in the East.

“I was only 13 years old when Anthony Delpech set that magic bar with his 334 winners. But I am always up for a challenge and I will be doing my best, and more,” declared the enormously talented Fourie, who won 8 Grade 1 races last season.

In the 2021/22 season Warren Kennedy won the national title with 263 winners, the same mark achieved in the 2020/21 season by Hong Kong-based Lyle Hewitson.

The 334 Delpech Jockey Challenge powered by Hollywoodbets started on 1 August 2023 and culminates on 31 July 2024.

CANFORD CLIFFS MARKS 24TH STAKES WINNER

Meridius storms home under Craig Zackey | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

The visiting Tony Peter yard got onto the World Pool Gold Cup day feature boards early on Sunday when Craig Zackey rode a big finish to get Meridius up on the line to win the R150 000 Listed @worldpool Twitter Handicap.

Backed from 14-1, the Winterbach Stud-bred gelding made it three wins from his last four starts and registered two in a row for ex Ashley Fortune runners after Cala Muretta won the second, when he swept up the outside to nab the gallant Battle Force.

With under 2 lengths separating the top five home, Meridius (13-2) got the verdict by 0,20 lengths in a time of 95,75 secs.

The 50-1 Battle Force is clearly enjoying the mile after showing his paces as a speedster earlier in his career and stayed on like a soldier for second, ahead of Captain Fontane (17-2).

Trainer Tony Peter said that Meridius had put up great work and was a horse demeanour.

“Well done to Craig Zackey – he couldn’t get in but rode a patient race. And then I would like to dedicate the win to Joao Da Mata,

the Viljoens and the Playgate Racing Syndicate. All owners who have committed support to me,” he added.

A R150 000 National Yearling Sale graduate, Meridius is a 24th stakes winner for Ridgemont’s international five-time Gr1 winning stallion Canford Cliffs (Tagula) out of the five time winning Parade Leader mare, Zili.

Now a winner of 5 races with 8 places from 16 starts, Meridius took his stakes earnings to R450 625.

He hails from the first South African crop of Canford Cliffs, with this group having also produced dual stakes winner Cliff Top, Thekwini Stakes runner up Rock The Fox, recent Olympic Duel Stakes runner up Body Electric and the stakes placed Heathcliff.

Canford Cliffs, whose second South African crop includes Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes winner Cliff Hanger and Listed Hollywoodbets Super League Devon Air Stakes heroine Secret Identity, has four lots on offer at this year’s August Two Year Old Sale.

Craig Zackey – enjoyed a nice end to the season on Sunday |

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

DECLARATIONOFPEACE (USA)

War Front - Serena’s Cat (Storm Cat)

Stands at MacRath Stud in Nottingham Road

• The son of brilliant American sire War Front has enjoyed two full books of mares in his first two years at stud, His mare book includes Gr1 producing mares such as Mystery Dame (Lady In Black and Nexus) and Bloomhill mare, Wysiwyg – the dam of Bohica and Bartholdi.

• A $2,6-million weanling who is a half-brother to Gr1 winner Honor Code and Gr2 winner Noble Tune, Declarationofpeace has also enjoyed significant support from breeders outside of the KZN province, with Cape mares travelling for cover.

• Declarationofpeace is throwing quality and size into his foals and his first yearlings will be on offer in the sales rings in 2024.

Service Fee: R 20 000 Live foal Enquiries and Booking: Mike McHardy (083 447 5315)

advertorial

Celebrating with a bottle of Hollywoodbets water, Dave Scott is pleased as punch after Sunday’s win

Credit: Supplied

RACING STARS SEASON FINALE: EASY AS ABC FOR SCOTIA

The African Betting Clan’s Dave Scott came out tops in Sunday’s special end-of-season Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge Racing Stars showdown.

A new fun competition launched last season and hosted periodically within the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge platform for South Africa’s racing presenters, personalities, commentators and journalists pitted the faces and voices of racing against each other.

For regular players the Racing Stars were also in position on the daily leaderboard – so it was a chance for every punter countrywide to pit their individual skills against the professionals! Just 72 years young and a punter since the age of 13, Dave Scott used to be a runner for his Granny to the local bucket shop and showed his years of experience when beating a class field of his colleagues, to walk off with the first prize of R6250.

Awards were made down to fifth place with Weighted To Win’s Daryn Burroughs running a good second and banking R2000. Multiple Equus champion photographer Candiese Lenferna won R1000 in third, while Turf Talk’s David Thiselton banked R500 in fourth and Gqeberha stalwart Nadine Low Ah Kee, just outside the quartet in fifth, collected R250.

“I did feel good about Sunday’s World Pool Gold Cup day card and was upset I did not win

the Pick 6 as I under-played the combination.

I was very bullish about Princess Calla after Mario (Ferreira) had told me they were going for the 1800m. I was big on the Tarry/Fourie runners and had taken the bet options on the Hollywood competition entry to catch a few trebles and foursomes on the day,” a delighted Dave Scott told the Sporting Post.

He said that he noticed that very few big winners had included the programmatically generated betting slip option considering the extra bonus available. A minimum of a R50 wager affords the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge player an opportunity of doubling the payout on the day.

“It’s a pleasure having been invited to match my selections against South Africa’s best and enjoyed the banter on the whatsapp group. Friendships have been rekindled and it’s great for the industry to have us all talking. This new innovation from Hollywoodbets keeps them ahead of the game to help promote racing and keep the punters happy,” he concluded.

Recently extended to include all local racemeetings, as well as Hong Kong and Singapore, the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge has created a host of big winners. The game is simple and free to play.

All you need to do is login to the Hollywoodbets Punters Challenge website with your Hollywoodbets account.

BIPOT BUMPER!

In a true grandstand finish to the R250 000 World Pool With Gold Circle Gr2 Debutante at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday, Muzi Yeni produced 33-1 longshot Cala Muretta in the final stride to gain a narrow victory and beat Captain’s Christy in what was a Bipot knockout.

Having her first start for the Rix-Crawford stable, the former Ashley Fortune charge Cala Muretta produced some Gr2 sparkle straight out of a modest Vaal maiden victory to win well.

Tackling the dangerous looking Captain’s Christy (10-1) late, the Dylan Chinsammy raced

galloper showed courage to gain a head victory in a time of 72,13 secs.

The pacesetter Leaving Las Vegas (5-2) ran out of puff late, but stayed on well enough after doing the donkey work.

Bred by Varsfontein Stud, the winner, who should enjoy more ground in time to come, is a R300 000 National Yearling Sale graduate and a daughter of SA champion sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the thrice winning Fort Wood mare, Scandola.

A winner of 2 races and a place from 5 starts, Cala Muretta took her stakes to R224 250.

MuzI Yeni gains a narrow verdict on Cala Muretta over Captain’s Christy (Cole Dicken)| Credit: Candiese Lenferna

TARRY AND FOURIE ARE RIDING HIGH

Richard Fourie steers Bless My Stars to a smooth victory |

Credit: Chase Liebenberg

The powerhouse big day combination of Richard Fourie and Sean Tarry kept Pick 6 players in a happy frame of mind when popular choice Bless My Stars won the R300 000 Riding High Together Gr2 Gold Bracelet at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

Coming in fresh off her cracking third-placed finish behind Winchester Mansion in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, and with a bit to do at the weights, the 3yo Bless My Stars finished best of all to register a superb victory under Winning Form rider, Richard Fourie.

Relaxed back of midfield early on as Virginia Sweet led the charge, Bless My Stars (15-10 was produced up the centre of the track by Fourie and stamped her authority to beat Saartjie (16-1) by 1,40 lengths in a time of 123,15 secs for the 2000m.

Gilded Butterfly (17-2) stayed on 0,80 lengths further back.

Sean Tarry confirmed that Bless My Stars had stayed at Summerveld after her Hollywoodbets Durban July run.

Bred by Varsfontein Stud, Bless My Stars is a daughter of this season’s champion sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the six-time winning Silvano mare, Star Express.

Raced by Kestorm Investments, Bless My Stars was a R250 000 National Yearling Sale graduate and took her stakes tally to R1 781 250, with her fifth victory and 5 places from 13 starts.

KANNEMEYER SYNDICATE SUCCESS

Trainer Dean Kannemeyer, jockey Keagan de Melo and DK Syndicate members Wayne Thompson and Sam Osman

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Dean Kannemeyer and his SA champion jockey elect Keagan de Melo got the World Pool Gold Cup day feature programme under way in fine style at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday when the Rafeef colt Outlaw King ran on powerfully to win the R250 000 Tabgold Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes.

Tracking the pacy Icy Blast all the way round, De Melo called for an effort at the 250m marker and Outlaw King powered home to hold a quality field at bay. It was another big day victory for the successful DK Racing Syndicate.

Outlaw King (9-4) ran on well to beat Gauteng raider Ready To Charge (4-1) by 0,30 lengths in a time of 70,14 secs. Recent debut winner Tail Of The Comet (2-1) caught the eye in third.

Bred by James Armitage, the R300 000

National Yearling Sale graduate is a son of exciting Ridgemont Redoute’s Choice stallion Rafeef out of the four-time winning Greys Inn mare, Way Of Escape.

The dam won up to 2000m and Keagan de Melo seemed confident the colt will go further. So there is scope for plenty of fun in the SA Champions Season.

Outlaw King has won 3 races from 6 starts with 2 places and took his stakes bank to R654 500.

CAPE STAKES ARE UP, UP, UP!

Cape Racing Chairman Greg Bortz and top jockey Richard Fourie – leading players in the forthcoming season | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

When spring officially dawns with its abundant promise on 1 September 2023, Cape Racing will introduce seasonally fitting stakes increases for the benefit of its loyal stakeholders.

Prize money for races will be meaningfully increased at all levels of competition.

The Cape Racing Summer Season kicks off in November and is the benefactor of the most substantial increases.

These increases range from a rise of R20,000 for a Maiden Plate (from R100,000 to R120,000) to R25,000 for a Class 4 Handicap (from R110,000 to R135,000) to R35,000 for a Class A Stakes race (from R150,000 to R185,000).

Careful consideration was given to fairness and balance across the range of divisions – the principle being: that there is an economically viable place for all horses of all strengths in the Cape.

The traditional “off-season” period, run between September and October, also benefits from notable prize money increases.

The team at Cape Racing is looking forward to hosting the majority of this period at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, as the construction and rebuild of Hollywoodbets Kenilworth continues to take place.

Racing is scheduled to return to headquarters on October 21st, 2023.

Overall, in terms of percentage, prize monies in the Western Cape have increased across the full spectrum of races by between 50% and 125% since the takeover of Cape Racing in October 2022.

Owners and trainers have praised this latest boost in the line of significant advancements implemented by Cape Racing as crucial to progress.

Leading owner Marsh Shirtliff commented:

“Some of us race for fun, and not for the money, but that doesn’t mean we don’t feel the impact of costs increases. We’ve seen feed and transport, to name but two costs, skyrocket in the last year. Extra prize money is simply very good for racing in our region.”

Trainer Greg Ennion said the increases were “quite amazing” and added:

“I’ve had my best buying year in many years due to the first increases, and now I anticipate even better for myself and other small stables. These increases also fit in well with Cape Racing’s syndication initiatives.”

Ron Caris, who holds shares of different values in 14 horses spread across the country counts himself a member of the ‘smaller’ owners group. Caris believes the increased stakes for Maiden Plates (up between 50 and 70% since 2022) and the good prizes affixed to restricted Maiden Plates, will be of particular value.

He commented:

“It’s fair to say that smaller owners invariably race the cheaper and often lesser competitive horses, and hence have most of their interest in the Maiden Plates. The stakes increase at Maiden level is welcomed because it gives individuals who own horses bought in the R50,000 – R100,000 bracket a better chance of recovering at least a part or perhaps even all of their initial outlay. This will keep us coming back for more!”

“We have seen the direct impact on yearling prices over the past year. Once again, Cape Racing is raising stakes to attract the best horses, owners, trainers and jockeys to compete in Cape Town.”

Trainer Greg Ennion – thrilled and had his best season for a long time | Credit: Supplied

Trainer Justin Snaith was enthusiastic in his praise for the new stakes.

“For the first time in racing history, the stakes per race in the Western Cape are the highest in the Country, by quite a margin, following the new stakes increases. This is going to benefit not only owners, but grooms, trainers and jockeys alike. The ripple effect will be felt across the entire industry. We will witness increased investment as a result of these increases, which will also benefit breeders and, ultimately, the horse population. The energy at Cape Racing is infectious and can be felt by all stakeholders in the province. Thank you to Greg Bortz and Hollywoodbets for their considerable contribution to the sport.”

Justin Vermaak, Racing and Bloodstock Executive for Cape Racing, said that prize money is the lifeblood of racing, which serves as the catalyst for increased owner investment.

“We have seen the direct impact on yearling prices over the past year. Once again, Cape Racing is raising stakes to attract the best horses, owners, trainers and jockeys to compete in Cape Town.”

He added: “Along with the increases in these minor race stake levels, we will see big hikes on

feature races throughout the season. These will be finalised in August after our Graded Races Committee meeting. Stakeholders can expect similar significant increases to boost the features calendar.”

Greg Bortz, the Chairman of Cape Racing added:

“It is our goal to keep innovating and to keep trying new ways to stimulate our sport. This will improve the livelihood of all those who rely on horseracing, from the grooms to the trainers to the jockeys to our employees and to all other service providers and stakeholders. We recognise that the horse owner sits at the epicentre of our ecosystem. Without owners, we have no horses with which to race. It was Ralph Marston who said “what you do today can improve all your tomorrows”. We are certainly putting that theory to the test! Bottom line – we are looking forward to a fantastic summer. We look forward to welcoming owners and horses from around the country to our shores. Space is going to be limited, so we encourage those seeking to race here in the summer to start making plans!”

GAIL WILL BE MISSED

Gail Bulpitt, long and successfully associated with Mary Slack’s formidable Wilgerbosdrift Stud, has passed away after a short battle with cancer. She was 54.

Gail started in the office at the Piketberg farm in 2003 and worked her way up to Farm Manager. She was the popular go-to-person, the all-rounder for everything at the farm, but an unassuming individual who steered away from the limelight.

Gail’s career with thoroughbreds started in the mid-1980s, when she joined Allem Brothers Stud in Viljoenskroon, Northern Free State, where she and now Narrow Creek Stud’s John Everett learnt the ropes

under top-flight breeder Laurence Allem.

She later moved to the Western Cape, where she and Everett had a son, Dylan.

Gail’s mother, Sylvia, passed away just a few days before Gail was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, just two months ago.

“I went to see Gail in hospital. All she wanted to do was go home to her horses and dogs to die in peace. She was tired, and Mary ensured that she had the best treatment until she passed,” said her friend, Avontuur Stud’s Pippa Mickleburgh.

TOP QUALITY RIDGEMONT!

Leading Cape breeders Ridgemont celebrated a red-letter Listed Port Elizabeth Gold Cup at the final Eastern Cape racemeeting of the season at Fairview on Friday when they delivered a 1-2-3 in the historic local marathon.

Reduced from 3600m to 3200m some years ago, the race was also a triumph for the Justin Snaith team, who delivered

and delivered in the fashion of a stayer to be with next term.

Grant van Niekerk has Top Quality in complete control |

Credit: Pauline Herman

clear to hold Canford Cliffs 3yo, and chief local hope, Heathcliff (9-4) to 3,50 lengths in a time of 208,8 secs.

The Dynasty filly Wildest Dreams (75-1), a stablemate to the runner-up, was 2,75 lengths away in third.

The victory gave Grant van Niekerk and Justin Snaith a double on the day.

Regrettably both American Landing and Understated appeared to go wrong in running and failed to complete the race. No details are available at time of writing.

Bred by Ridgemont, as were all of the top trio, the good-looking Top Quality was purchased for R550 000 off the Cape Premier Yearling Sale and was registering his maiden stakes success.

The winner is a son of late icon Dynasty (Fort Wood) out of the two-time winning Elliodor

mare Red Kaschka. He has won 5 races with 7 places from 16 starts for stakes of R402 650.

Hollywoodbets trainer Gavin Smith and Smanga Khumalo picked up a treble on the day, as did Kelly Mitchley and Muzi Yeni.

Gavin Smith was crowned East Cape Champion trainer, five wins ahead of Alan Greeff.

Kelly Mitchley celebrated her maiden treble and also commendably cracked the 40 winner milestone.

Regrettably Richard Fourie had a blank day and thus failed in his quest to equal Greg Cheyne’s century mark.

QUERARI’S WOW WEEKEND

Smanga Khumalo gets Questor home ahead of Fairy Knight (Richard Fourie), third-placed Vision Of Grandeur (Louis Mxothwa), and Grant van Niekerk on Underworld | Credit: Pauline Herman

Newly-crowned East Cape champion trainer Gavin Smith has a host of exciting 3yo’s and syndicate patrons for next term! This was illustrated when the Querari colt Questor made it a hat-trick of wins for the Smith Super Syndicate when capturing the R200 000 Listed Champion Juvenile Cup at Fairview on Friday.

One could be forgiven for thinking that 4Racing had employed a few casual actors to appear on-course for an advertisement. Such were the expressions of joy and animated delight from a handful of the winning syndicate members as Smanga Khumalo moved up down the inside on the low-flying Questor, and then dropped his crop at around the 200m, as if to add a touch of drama.

At the 100m the race was still in the balance.

But with his gloved left hand exhorting every ounce of effort from his mount, Bling was the hero as Questor (11-2) showed he is no ‘one trick poly pony’, registering his impressive first turf success as he put half a length between himself and the smart Fairy Knight (14-10) to score in a time of 85,22 secs.

The winner’s stablemate Vision Of Wonder (5-1), probably in need of the unkindest cut of all, was a neck away in third.

Snaith challenger Underground looked a million dollars in the prelims, but despite being given every chance from a tough draw, came up for air late, and ran fourth.

A R150 000 BSA Cape Yearling Sale graduate, and described as a ‘burly boy and front-row forward type’ by his trainer, Questor was bred by Varsfontein from Querari (Oasis Dream) out of the two-time winning Fort Wood mare Gypsy Madonna, a half-sister to top performers Gypsy’s Warning, Surabi and Romany Prince.

He looks sure to go a trip in time and looks very astutely bought!

Questor has won 3 races with 2 places from 5 jumps for stakes of R243 500.

Hollywoodbets-sponsored Gavin Smith and jockey Smanga Khumalo celebrated a welltaken treble on the day.

Maine Chance Farms’ inform stallion Querari certainly enjoyed a weekend to remember!

Not only did Querari’s two-year-old son Questor capture the Listed Champion Juvenile Cup on Friday, the stallion’s two-year-old daughter Bavarian Beauty won the Gr1 Douglas Whyte Stakes on Sunday.

In claiming the Douglas Whyte Stakes, the Tony Peter trained Bavarian Beauty became Querari’s third Gr1 winner, following Querari Falcon and Rio Querari, and his 34th stakes winner overall.

Her Gr1 winning sire Querari, twice South Africa’s Leading Sire of 2YOs, has had a great season with his two-year-olds in 2022-2023 including the first three finshers, Underworld, Zoomie and Baltic Secret, in the Listed Somerset 1200.

The son of Oasis Dream, and close relative of British sensation Quinault, has ten lots on offer at the 2023 August Two Year Old Sale.

BETWAY SUMMER CUP STAKE TO R5 MILLION

Betway and 4Racing have announced that the 2023 Betway Summer Cup will have a record stake of R5 million rand this year.

The Highveld’s flagship Grade 1 2000 meter spectacular takes place on Saturday 25 November 2023 at the iconic Turffontein Racecourse – and Betway and 4Racing have upped the stakes in a big way by doubling the R2,5 million stakes pot on offer last year with a 100% stakes increase.

The Betway Summer Cup cemented its prime status on the South African horse racing calendar last year with a highly successful event in the first year of Betway’s Summer Cup sponsorship, as Laurence Wernars’ Puerto Manzano took the spoils with trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren and jockey Keagan De Melo.

And now one of Africa’s premier blue chip race days, which also includes the Grade 2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans, the Grade 2 Betway Ipi Tombe Challenge, the Grade 3 Fillies Mile, Grade 3 Merchants Stakes, Grade 3 Magnolia Handicap and Listed ROA Stayers, is set to be even bigger and better after the massive stakes cash injection announced for the main race today.

4Racing CEO Fundi Sithebe said the R5 million stakes incentive was a huge boost in the continued efforts to support the revival of South African horse racing.

“The R5 million stakes for the 2023 Betway Summer Cup is a record, landmark announcement, which is right up there with the highest prize purse in African horseracing. We would like to thank Betway for supporting our vision to reinvigorate one of South African racing’s biggest races and race days. We need to make horse racing exciting, fun and viable again for punters, owners, trainers, jockeys and all who have dedicated their lives to the sport and this massive stakes increase for the 2023 Betway Summer Cup is a huge boost for the sport. Betway’s integration with and support for the Tote is also hugely important for our industry,” said 4Racing CEO Fundi Sithebe.

Betway South Africa Head of Customer Experience, Jonathan Blumberg, said the considerable increase in stakes for the 2023 Betway Summer Cup is part of Betway’s steadfast commitment to supporting the South African horseracing industry.

“We are extremely committed to contributing to the growth and sustainability of South African horseracing and delighted that we are able to support 4Racing in increasing the stakes of the 2023 Betway Summer Cup to R5 million. We have no doubt this will make the event even more attractive for the country’s very best thoroughbreds, the world’s leading jockeys and trainers and elite owners. We can’t wait for the big day and the build-up to what will undoubtedly be a hugely exciting and high quality race day,” said Blumberg.

Sithebe said the stakes boost was further good news for South African horseracing, as it looks to continue its revival in all racing centres.

“We have to position South African horseracing as major global players and we have made no bones about our desire to attract more World Pool events to South African racing to support our industry in its post-Covid recovery, on the back of the strength and quality of our country’s strong horseracing product,” Sithebe concluded.

Media release by 4Racing & Betway

STALLIONS 2023

CANFORD CLIFFS R20,000 (LIVE FOAL)

MALMOOS R25,000 (LIVE FOAL)

NEW PREDATOR R12,500 (LIVE FOAL)

PATHFORK R5,000 (LIVE FOAL)

POTALA PALACE R5,000 (LIVE FOAL)

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

REAL GONE KID

FEE ON APPLICATION

TRADITION OF CHAMPIONS

LADIES’ DAY LOOMS LARGE

One of the most popular of the fabulous five days, Thursday stands tall as Ladies’ Day, where the prestigious Gr1 Qatar Nassau Stakes is the highlight on the eight-race card.

Aptly the feature race is the Qatar Nassau Stakes (16h35) for fillies and mares, run over 10-furlongs. With rain about, this Group 1 contest is forecast to be run on soft ground.

Six fillies contest the £340 260 first prize and the three-year-old French raider Blue Rose Cen gets the vote to deny defending champion Nashwa.

Christopher Head’s Churchill filly is unbeaten in three starts this season winning the Gr1 Emirates Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Fillies Guineas) before stepping up to an extended

10-furlongs to win the Gr1 Prix de Diane Longines easily by 4-lengths.

All her six victories have been on soft or heavy ground, and she receives an 8lb age allowance from the Gosden trained Nashwa.

Hollie Doyle and Nashwa were 5-lengths to good for Remarquee over a mile in the Falmouth at Newmarket in mid-July and this top-class filly has every chance but may struggle to concede weight and start to a very smart 3-year-old on uneasy ground.

Aurelien Lemaitre steers Blue Rose Cen to victory in the French Oaks | Credit: Racing TV

Thirty-five minutes earlier, six go to the one and a half mile start for the Gr3 Gordon Stakes (16h00). Aidan O’Brien raids with the unexposed Galileo colt Espionage with Ryan Moore retaining the ride. A comfortable winner in Ireland on soft ground last month, he looks the one to beat, officially rated 6lb higher than the next two in the field - the Godolphin owned Chesspiece and another Galileo colt Artistic Star.

The latter looks the biggest threat. Short of room two furlongs out when seventh in the Derby, he then ran a commendable third to King Of Steel in the King Edward VII Stakes at the royal meeting.

Friday, day 4 at Goodwood is headlined by the sprinters with the running of the Gr2 King George Qatar Stakes. A large field of fourteen

will hurtle down the straight five at 16h35 and John Quinn’s champion 6-year-old mare Highfield Princess heads the market. At least 10lb better off with the field, her short-head defeat to Bradsell in the King Stand (when impeded at the finish) looks the strongest form here.

The much-vaunted Kingman colt Nostrum returns to the track for his second start of the season in the Gr3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes (15h25).

Run over a mile, he takes on eleven rivals including Embesto (third in the betting) who finished 3-lengths behind him at Newmarket last month. Ryan Moore rides the Stoute trained favourite who should take this on his way to bigger things later in the season.

NOW FOR THE ARC!

Owen Burrows feels he has a lot to thank Hukum for as he prepares to send his King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes champion straight to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

The six-year-old has won 11 of his 17 career starts and it was somewhat fitting that having provided the Lambourn-based handler with both his first Royal Ascot and Group One winner, Hukum was front and centre once again as Burrows enjoyed his finest hour in the training ranks on Saturday.

Having downed last year’s Derby winner Desert Crown on his comeback from a careerthreatening injury sustained when winning the 2022 Coronation Cup, Baaeed’s brother was at the peak of his powers in the hands of Jim Crowley in Ascot’s midsummer showpiece to tee up a trip to Paris on the first Sunday in October.

As short as 6-1 for the Arc, Burrows is determined to enjoy Hukum while he can as he

begins to dream of victory in Europe’s richest middle-distance contest.

He said: “I owe him a lot. He’s been around for a while, he was my first Royal Ascot winner and my first Group One winner.

“We travelled him to Dubai after the sad passing of Sheikh Hamdan and that was a big thing for him to win over there on Super Saturday as well.

“He’s been a tremendous horse in my career and he’ll be very hard to replace, but we’ll enjoy him while we can.”

He went on: “He’s all well this morning. He ate up and he’s been out and had a lead out and

Jim Crowley and Sheikha Hissa with King George hero Hukum | Credit: Racing TV

a nice pick of grass and trotted up sound, so touch wood all good.

“The Arc is something like eight weeks today and that is the obvious plan now. The plan has always been King George in the summer and then trying to get him to France in the beginning of October and now we can start dreaming.”

All of Hukum’s victories have come on ground no quicker than good and having proven very effective with a little cut in the ground, there are plenty of positive signs ahead of Hukum’s autumn visit to the French capital for a race often run in testing conditions.

Burrows added: “He would go on faster ground and it was pretty quick in the Sheema Classic when he was only beaten a length and three-quarters.

“But he’s obviously had a hard enough race there yesterday and knowing we can get him cherry ripe following a layoff, I don’t think we need to be giving him a prep run.

“I would love to get him to the Arc and I think we would be talking about soft ground. Yesterday Jim (Crowley) felt it was a little bit dead ground, there wasn’t a lot of life in it. He handles most ground, but he

obviously handles soft ground very well and we can dream.”

Hukum’s victory came just 25 minutes after another of Burrows’ Farncombe Down string, Aflaila, landed the Group Two York Stakes to give the handler a fantastic cross-card Group-race double.

He has been inundated with congratulatory messages since and admits it did take some time for the achievement to sink in.

“It’s been quite busy and I’m literally sitting down trying to work through all the messages, but it is going to take me a while,” said Burrows.

“I’ll admit yesterday I was a bit shellshocked, but now it is finally sinking in and what a day, what a great day.

“I’ve not been at it too long (training), but it was well documented this horse (Hukum) was injured at Epsom last year and to get him back to this level is a huge team effort. From the guys at Shadwell who rehabbed him, to my guys here at Farncombe, it’s a big big team effort.”

Racing TV

JOCK- ‘RACING RULERS ARE HARSH!’

Jim Crowley told Racing TV viewers on Tuesday he believes racing’s rulers had been “very severe and ruled with an iron fist” after it was revealed had been given a 20-day ban and fined £10,000 for his winning ride aboard Hukum in Saturday’s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot.

One of the biggest races of the year was hailed as a classic after a pulsating finish, with Hukum prevailing by a head. But

Crowley and Rob Hornby, who finished second aboard Westover, were referred to the British Horseracing Authority’s Whip Review Committee after the midsummer highlight.

Flat riders are allowed to use their whip six times in a race, with a four-day ban for going one over the limit and seven days for going two over. Crowley used his whip nine times, which incurs a 10-day ban and is doubled for a class one race.

BRETT CRAWFORD GELDING WINS SERVANT OF TOTE AWARD

The close of the racing season brings a raft of new data to analyse and dissect, especially for breeders making stallion selections. In the context of these important numbers, it’s likely that the one that leapt out at me says more about my off-piste perspectives, but here goes anyway.

Oscar Foulkes writes that when Cape Racing announced the appearance fee being paid to all runners, with the exception of first and last place finishers, along with lump sum payments to horses that had 12, 15 or 20 starts in the season, his assumption was that a large amount of money would be paid out.

If I’d been the person doing the budgets, it’s possible that I would have allowed for something close to R2 million in end-of-season payments alone.

Before I reveal the actual number, a small caveat is necessary, in that an unexpectedly large number of race meetings was lost. We own a filly, Fallo Ancora, that ended the season one run short, having had two accepted engagements fall away due to the rain. There must be others.

I didn’t expect any horse to get to 20 starts, so no surprises that the R50k bonus wasn’t paid out. The final tally was just one horse on 15 starts, and 22 horses on 12 starts.

Donder Storm wins his maiden at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in April | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

As a breeder, the first question I have to ask is about the soundness of our horses. Do we really have just a couple of dozen horses in the Cape that are sound enough to race 12 times per year?

I wouldn’t expect the big race contenders to line up for this many races per year. Those careers need to be carefully managed. In any case, the opportunities for those horses are limited.

This applies to the run-of-the-mill horses only. Assuming they don’t run last, if one combines the appearance fee plus end of season bonus, in 12 starts they can earn close to half their

training fees for the year. And this is without earning a cent in stakes.

In this sprit, the horse that deserves the ‘Servant of the Tote’ award must be Donder Storm. He raced 15 times, for just one win, earning stakes in 11 of those starts, for a total of a shade under R115k. His average beaten distance was a little over three lengths, pointing to his consistency.

With his bonus and appearance fees, his income for the year isn’t far off R200k. We all want to win Grade I races, but this is a version of racehorse ownership that is rewarding on multiple levels.

BONUS QUALIFIERS - 2022/23

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT!

Who says the younger generation don’t have an appetite for racing? Richard Fourie signs a cap for a young fan at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

Chase Liebenberg captured the moment.

BREEDERS

SIRES

See all the detailed standings - Click here