SP Sprint - Wednesday 23 August 2023

IRISH NATIONAL STUD THOROUGHBRED BREEDING MANAGEMENT SCHOLARSHIP

The world-renowned Irish National Stud Thoroughbred Breeding Management Course is a six-month residential programme which is designed to provide learners with a hands-on approach to every feature of Thoroughbred Breeding. The programme which commences in January each year runs for the duration of the breeding season and equips learners with the knowledge, skills and competence required to perform effectively in responsible positions in the thoroughbred industry.

Application Requirements

·Scholarship is open to any person between 20 and 30 years of age

·Have obtained the National Senior Certificate

·Be a citizen of South Africa

·Be currently working in the thoroughbred industry

Scholarship provides the successful candidate with:

·Return economy airfare

·Course fees (€6,000)

·Accommodation & meals

·Uniform

·Travel insurance

·Training allowance

Applicants must apply to the Irish National Stud before October 1st, 2023

https://irishnationalstud.ie/thoroughbred-breeding-course-application-form/ For further information: https://irishnationalstud.ie/thoroughbred-breeding-management/

SALUTING THE STARS

22 Princess Perfect Calla Is Crowned!

52 August 2yo Sale

Buy your champion

161 Road To Recovery

Fairview jockey catches up

167 KZN Champions Honoured Holiday province power players

00 York Ebor Festival

Four fab days

On the cover

crowned

Princess

Issue: 36/2023

Newly

SA Horse Of The Year

Calla. Image courtesy of Chase Liebenberg

SA RACING’S STARS ON SHOW

Sean Tarry – capped a great season with a number of his charges being acknowledged

| Credit: Candiese Lenferna

The results of the 2023 Equus Awards held in the Senate Room at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg were revealed earlier this evening by Equus Masters of Ceremony, Alistair Cohen and Benni Langa.

Flower Alley mare Princess Calla gave trainer Sean Tarry his fourth SA Horse Of The Year title when a popular recipient of the premier title. She also scooped the Champion Older Female trophy. Tarry enjoyed a great evening and it was good to see Maine Chance boss Andreas Jacobs travel from Europe to attend the function.

Chairman of the Equus Committee Colin Gordon thanked the panel for their assistance with the deliberations, as well as members of the public for their enthusiastic participation in the voting element to help conclude the decisions.

He also extended a word of appreciation to the team behind the scenes for putting the event together.

EQUINE CATEGORIES

2023 Horse of the Year

Winner: Princess Calla

Princess Calla (Flower Alley – Princess Royal) travelled the length and breadth of the country in the 2022/23 season, achieving 6 wins from 8 starts. During the Cape Summer Season, she won the Gr2 wsb.co.za Southern Cross Stakes and Gr2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes; her Highveld campaign comprised wins in the Gr3 Senor Santa Stakes and Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint brought to you by The Witness; and in Durban, she was victorious in the Gr1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes and closed her 5yo campaign with victory at WFA in open company in the Gr1 HKJC Champions Cup. She now has a total 11 wins from 23 starts to date, has won from 1000- 1800m and has accumulated stakes earnings of R2,826,875.

She is the second Maine Chance Farms Horse Of The Year after Free My Heart in 2001/02.

Special Award to the Groom of the Horse of the year

Winner: Mzwandile Julias Siqila

Champion Two-year-old Male (Distance Immaterial)

• Lucky Lad

• Sandringham Summit

Winner: Sandringham Summit

Mr Rakesh Singh’s SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT

(Gimmethegreenlight – Townsend), bred by Varsfontein Stud, was a R1,7 million purchase from the 2022 BSA National Yearling Sale. Trained by David Nieuwenhuizen, he has had 5 starts during the season for 3 wins and 2 seconds and stakes of R842 250. His highlights included the Gr2 Durban Golden Horseshoe on Hollywoodbets Durban July day and the Gr1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Premiers Champion Stakes on World Pool Gold Cup day, delivering David Nieuwenhuizen’s first career Gr1 win in the process.

Champion Three-year-old Female (Distance Immaterial)

• Bless My Stars

• Make It Snappy

Winner: Bless My Stars

Kestorm Investments (Nom: Mr Kenneth Pillay)’s BLESS MY STARS

(Gimmethegreenlight – Star Express) was bred by Varsfontein Stud and was a R250,000 purchase from the 2021 BSA National Yearling Sale. Trained by Paul Peter at 2, she won convincingly on debut and underlined her class by finishing less than half a length 3rd in the 2022 Gr1 Thekwini Stakes. Campaigned by Sean Tarry for the 2022/23 season, she put up a courageous fight to win the Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift Fillies Classic and earned place cheques in the Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer Oaks, Gr2 WSB Gerald Rosenberg Stakes and Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, before claiming victory in the Gr2 Riding High Together Gold Bracelet. She closed her 3yo season with 5 wins from 13 starts and stakes earnings of R1,687,500.

Champion Three-year-old Male (Distance

• See It Again

The Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) bred and owned CHARLES DICKENS (Trippi – Demanding Lady) bypassed the sales ring thanks to the fact that he displaces his palate and was retained to race in the interests of his stud. Trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, he was one of the talking horses of the season, producing a sensational win in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas. Valiant in defeat in both the Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate and Gr1 SplashOut Cape Derby, he posted backto-back victories in the Gr2 WSB Guineas and Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge to close his season with 8 wins from 10 starts and stakes earnings of R3,544,063.

Winner: Charles Dickens

• Charles Dickens

Immaterial)

Bless My Stars – champion 3yo female | Credit: JC Photos

Champion Older Male (Distance Immaterial)

• Gimme A Prince

• Puerto Manzano (ARG)

• Trip Of Fortune

Winner: Trip Of Fortune

Bred by Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert), TRIP OF FORTUNE (Trippi – Louvre) was retained by his breeder after failing to meet his reserve at the 2020 BSA National Yearling Sales. Trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, he was almost foot perfect at 2 and 3, before a famously rough trip in the 2022 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas. Gelded and rested, he returned to the track for the 2022/23 season as a 4yo, winning the Gr3 Hollywoodbets Matchem Stakes and Gr2 WSB Green Point Stakes, before a somewhat unusual tactic of being tried on the Highveld en route to KZN for the Durban season. Fortune favours the brave and he put up a command performance to win the Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein. In Durban, he added the Gr2 Independent on Saturday Drill Hall Stakes and added creditable performances in all of the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July and Gr1 HKJC Champions Cup to close his season with 9 wins from 20 starts and stakes earnings of R1,698,800.

Sean Tarry – capped a great season with a number of his charges being acknowledged | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Future Pearl – champion stayer | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Champion Older Female (Distance Immaterial)

• Desert Miracle

• Princess Calla

Winner: Princess Calla

Mr M J A Ferreira’s PRINCESS CALLA

(Flower Alley – Princess Royal) was bred by Maine Chance Farms and was a R600,000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate. After two career starts in KZN under the care of Dennis Bosch, including a 3rd place finish in the 2020 Gr1 Thekwini Stakes behind then undefeated champion Anything Goes, Princess Calla transferred to Cape-based Adam Marcus in late 2020 and her 3yo campaign comprised wins in the Gr2 Cape Fillies Championship, Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes and being narrowly beaten by Zarina in the Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes. At 4, she won the Gr3 Prix du Cap, and then in her single career start for Ashley Fortune, won the Gr1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes at Turffontein in April 2022. For the season at hand, she continued her career in the hands of Sean Tarry, winning the Gr2 wsb.co.za

Southern Cross Stakes, Gr2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes, Gr3 Senor Santa Stakes, Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint brought to you by The Witness and Gr1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes, closing her 5yo campaign with victory in the Gr1 HKJC Champions Cup. She has a total 11 wins from 23 starts to date, has won from 1000- 1800m and has accumulated stakes earnings of R2,826,875.

Sharks rugby legend, Odwa Ndungane and the name means ‘storm’ in isiXhosa. Trained by Peter Muscutt, he won on debut at 2, made 5 starts at 3, winning the Listed In Full Flight Handicap and Listed Marshalls World Of Sport Umngeni Handicap. For 2022/23, he joined the Muscutt string in Cape Town for the Cape summer season as a 4yo, posting an eyecatching 3rd in the Gr1 Pongracz Cape Flying Championship. He raided the Highveld to deliver Peter’s first career Gr1 in the Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint, followed up with a Pinnacle Stakes win at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and closed his season with a second Gr1 win in the WFA Mercury Sprint. Isivunguvungu now has 6 wins from 14 starts and total earnings of R1,510,550.

Champion

• Al Muthana (AUS)

• Charles Dickens

• Desert Miracle

• Trip Of Fortune

Winner: Charles Dickens

Qualifying performances for this category from the Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) bred and owned CHARLES DICKENS (Trippi – Demanding Lady) include wins in the Gr3 Cape Classic, a sensational win in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and a valiant defeat in the Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate as well as victory in the Gr2 WSB Guineas and Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge.

• Gimme A Prince

• Isivunguvungu

• Princess Calla

Winner: Isivunguvungu

ISIVUNGUVUNGU (What A Winter

– Miss Tweedy) was bred by Narrow Creek Stud and privately purchased by the Hollywood Syndicate in 2020. He was named by Hollywoodbets brand ambassador and

Champion Sprinter (1000-1200 Metres, Age/gender Immaterial)

Miler (1400-1600 Metres, Age/gender Immaterial)

Champion Middle Distance Horse 1800-2200 Metres, Age/gender Immaterial)

• Jet Dark

• Princess Calla

• Puerto Manzano (ARG)

• Rain In Holland

• See It Again

• Winchester Mansion

Winner: Winchester Mansion

Bred by Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert), the cleverly named WINCHESTER MANSION (Trippi – Sea Point) was another to be retained by his breeder after breaking a vertebra his neck as a yearling. Placed with Philippi-based Brett Crawford, the colt saw the track for the first time at 3, having 8 starts at 3 for 2 wins (incl the Gr3 WSB Pocket Power Stakes) and a 2nd place finish to Gem King in the Gr3 WSB Legal Eagle Stakes. At 4, he took his place in the Gr3 Ridgemont Highlands Peninsula Handicap and Gr2 Antonij Rupert Wyne Premier Trophy, before being gelded and placed in the care of Brett’s son James at their satellite base in Randjesfontein. Prepped on the Highveld for his Durban campaign, Winchester Mansion was a narrow 2nd to Pacaya in the Gr2 WSB 1900, produced an authoritative win in the Gr3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial and then held off See It Again in the 2023

Champion Stayer (2400 Metres upwards, Age/gender Immaterial)

• Arumugam

• Future Pearl

• Nebraas

• Salvator Mundi

Winner: Future Pearl

Mr A R & Mrs A B L Beck’s FUTURE PEARL (Futura – Arabian Pearl) was a R525,000 purchase from Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)’s 2021 BSA National Yearling Sale draft. Trained by Sean Tarry, he had 2 useful juvenile starts. At 3, he had 12 starts for 5 wins, of which his place in the Gr1 WSB SA Derby and victories in the Gr3 WSB SA Gold Bowl, Gr3 DSTV Gold Vase and Gr3 World Pool Gold Cup secured his credentials for the Champion Stayer award.

See more Equus results on page 24 and 28

Princess Calla (Richard Fourie) rounds off a great season with victory in the HKJC Champions Cup | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

OUR PRINCESS OF POWER!

For the second consecutive year, a member of the fairer sex has walked away with the coveted SA Horse of the Year award.

Flower Alley’s daughter Princess Calla received the ultimate accolade at Emperor’s Palace on Wednesday evening, thereby emulating Captain’s Ransom success of a year ago.

She is also one of a remarkable quartet of females to lift the Horse of the Year trophy in the space of six years.

There is no denying that Mario Ferreira’s pride and joy has matured into an exceptional equine athlete at age five and full marks must go to trainer Sean Tarry, who mapped out her campaign with meticulous precision and clearly brought out the best in the mare.

The mark of a champion is the ability to win

over a variety of distance and Princess Calla proved that in no uncertain terms with an exemplary Gr1 treble in the SA Fillies Sprint, the mile Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes and HKJC Champions Cup over 1800m. Her stakes haul during the season also included the Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes, Gr2 Sceptre Stakes and Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes.

Bred by Maine Chance Farms, she joins 2002 winner Free My Heart as the stud’s second Horse of the Year and is the latest in a fine array of champions to emerge from a female line made famous by the likes of the Jaffee-owned Petrava (the dam of Jallad and Hoeberg) and more recently, Princess Victoria.

As mentioned, Princess Calla follows in the footsteps of Captain’s Ransom, who clinched 2022 Horse of the Year honours by defeating a classy field of sprinters in the Mercury Sprint, her fourth Gr1 success of the season and sixth overall.

Like Princess Calla, she displayed versatility at its finest, her Gr1 successes also ranging from 1200 to 1800m. After a narrow win in the Gr1 Paddock Stakes over 1800m, she successfully defended her Gr1 Majorca Stakes title, returned five months later to lift the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint before her crowning moment in the Mercury Sprint.

While Princess Calla is slated to stay in training, Captain’s Ransom has been retired and is scheduled for a date with fellow champion Jet Dark in the breeding shed.

Barely two years earlier in 2020, Silvano’s daughter Summer Pudding was crowned Horse of the Year at a once-off virtual Equus Awards ceremony during the dreaded Covid pandemic.

Although she had yet to race in open company, the Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein homebred was nevertheless given the nod ahead of a

number of exalted male candidates comprising fellow Equus award recipients Got The Greenlight (Champion 3yo and Middle Distance Male), Vardy (Champion Miler) and One World (Champion Older Male).

Also voted the Champion 3yo Filly, Summer Pudding’s credentials could not be faulted. She took her connections on a heady journey and had yet to taste defeat in seven starts (one as a juvenile), which included the Triple Tiara as well as a powerful victory in the Gr1 Woolavington 2000.

History will show that she would go unbeaten in her first nine starts, which also included a polished victory in the Gr1 Summer Cup. Subsequently victorious in the Gr1 Empress Club Stakes, Summer Pudding was named Champion Older Filly/Mare at four and retired the winner of 11 of her 13 starts.

It was Drakenstein homebred Oh Susanna

The happy Princess Calla connections celebrate another Gr1 success at Hollywoodbets Greyville| Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Richard Fourie and Princess Calla have formed a powerful combination |

Chase Liebenberg who initiated the quartet of female Horse of the Year winners in 2018. Bred in Australia, her finest effort came in the Gr1 Sun Met, where she downed an elite weight-for-age field and became the first three-year-old filly in over a century to win the Western Cape’s flagship race.

Drakenstein’s first Horse of the Year recipient, her victories in the Gr1 Paddock Stakes and Woolavington 2000 also guaranteed her of the Champion 3yo Filly and Champion Middle Distance Horse titles. She was trained throughout her career by Justin Snaith, who described the daughter of Street Cry as “a tough and aggressive horse, the type you want to take on the boys with, because she’s got the right attitude”.

Oh Susanna was preceded in 2011 by another Aussie-bred Horse of the Year, the brilliant filly Igugu, whose name is Zulu for ‘jewel’. Trained by Mike de Kock for the partnership of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and André and Joyce Macdonald, this daughter of Galileo certainly lived up to her name on the track.

A scintillating victory over the older male brigade in the Gr1 Durban July capped a remarkable sophomore campaign in which she also became the first winner of the Triple Tiara, which featured a ten-length rout of the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic and a powerful six-length romp in the Gr2 SA Oaks. Also successful in the Gr1 Woolavington 2000, she overcame an interrupted preparation to defeat Bravura and Gimmethegreenlight in the Gr1 J&B Met at four.

That was her seventh consecutive victory and pushed her earnings to R5,684,375, a new South African distaff record which stands to this day.

Clearly then, South African racing has been dominated by some exceptional female runners in recent years.

Princess Calla being the fourth female Horse of the Year in the past six years is solid proof that members of the fairer sex are more than capable of showing up their male rivals.

Credit:

EQUUS POWER IN THE PADDOCK

The Equus 2023 breeders awards category was dominated by two great sires in Varsfontein’s Gimmethegreenlight and the evergreen Drakenstein star, Trippi.

Champion Broodmare: Demanding Lady

Champion Stallion: Gimmethegreenlight

Champion Breeder: Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)

Outstanding Stallion: Trippi

Outstanding Breeder: Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)

DEMANDING LADY (Dynasty – Demanding Damsel) got the nod for Champion Broodmare on the strength of current season performers Charles Dickens (Gr1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, Gr2 WSB Guineas), Somerset Maugham (Listed Hollywoodbets Settlers Trophy) and Steinbeck.

GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT (More Than Ready – Yes

She Can Cancan) achieved 14 stakes winners of 21 stakes races and total earnings of R23,030,650. Additionally, he has achieved the exceptional feat of being named Champion sire of 2yo’s, Champion sire of 3yo’s as well as National Champion Sire for the 2022/23 season.

Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) has achieved phenomenal success in its 20-year history. The stud received an Outstanding Achievement Award for producing 18 individual stakes winners for the 2021/22 season and celebrates its first Champion Breeder title in 2022/23 with a phenomenal 20 individual stakes winners and total stakes of R33,113,288.

TRIPPI (End Sweep – Jealous Appeal), SA champion sire of 2015/16, produced 9 stakes winners – including Charles Dickens, Jet Dark, Trip Of Fortune and Winchester Mansion - of 18 stakes races and total earnings of R14,394,738 for the 2023/23 season.

2023 Breeder Awards

Champion sire Gimmethegreenlight |

Credit: Jeremy Nelson

MOUTONSHOEK A BIG WEEKEND AHEAD!

Moutonshoek, breeders of, among others, champion Captain’s Ransom, will be offering a stellar draft at the 2023 August Two Year Old Sale.

Credit: BSA

Moutonshoek, breeders of, among others, champion Captain’s Ransom, will be offering a stellar draft at the 2023 August Two Year Old Sale.

Not only does this string include two-year-olds sired by the farm’s very successful resident sire The United States, it also offers buyers the chance to acquire stock sired by the likes of Fire Away, Futura and One World.

While upbeat about his whole draft, Bennie Van Der Merwe is particularly taken with the two-year-olds by his resident sire and has the following to say about the aforementioned trio:

Lot 221 Bubba Gump c The United States –Jambalaya

Bubba Gump is a beautifully balanced individual. He is a half-brother to a stakes winner from a very good family.

Lot 33 (Still Together f by The United States – Sapphire Ring) and Lot 250 (Care Forgot f by The United States Love Unlimited) are the picks of the fillies.

Both are big scopey individuals with the latter being an own sister to Alabama Anna.

Bennie is also very pleased with Confederate (Lot 100) a colt by Fire Away out of Acquavella, and says: “He is a very smart scopey individual by Fire Away, and is a half-brother to a Gr1 placed filly in Dawn Calling.”

This draft can be viewed from Block E at the TBA Complex in Germiston.

EQUUS POWER OF THE PEOPLE

While Equus is chiefly about the horse, people also make horseracing happen. Here we pay tribute to five champions in their own right.

2023 Human Categories

Champion Apprentice: Rachel Venniker

Champion Jockey: Keagan de Melo

Champion Trainer: Justin Snaith

Champion Owner: Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs GA Rupert)

Rachel Venniker joined the SA Jockey Academy in 2021 and her natural talent as well as strong work ethic have earned her support across the board. She has justified all the faith and support by becoming the first female rider to become Champion Apprentice with 70 wins and a 14th place finish on the National log in 2021/22.

She repeats the achievement for the 2022/23 season with a total of 107 wins and 7th place finish on this year’s National log, the highlight being her hard-fought win in the Gr2 WSB Gauteng Guineas on Eye Of The Prophet.

Keagan de Melo joined the SA Jockey Academy in 2009. He rode his first winner, Western Gem, at his 4th attempt for trainer Bart Rice at Scottsville on 9 August 2010.

Since then, his career has gone from strength to strength with regular top ten finishes on the local log.

He finished the 2022/23 season on 277 wins,

nearly 20 wins clear of his nearest rival, and sufficient to secure his first SA Champion Jockey title. In June 2023 he received a call up to Hong Kong and has been licensed to ride there until February 2024.

Justin Snaith took out his license in August 2000 and has built the family’s Philippi base into a training powerhouse. Despite retiring two of his stable stars – Jet Dark and Captain’s Ransom – early in the season, he won the 2023 Gr1 WSB Met with Jet Dark and saddled 143 winners for the season for total earnings of R19,827,981.

This is his 4th SA National Trainer’s Title.

Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) wins the Champion Owner category with 78 winners and total earnings of R19,165,813.

This is the stud’s 3rd Champion Owner Title.

•Read more about the Equus Media award winners on page 37

Rachel Venniker – Champion Apprentice| Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Justin Snaith – Champion Trainer| Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Keagan de Melo – Champion Jockey| Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Gaynor Rupert – heads up Drakenstein, Champion Owner| Credit: Chase Liebenberg

EQUUS MEDIA MEN MAKE

MAGIC

We have certainly moved on light years from Larry Wainstein’s ‘Dear Journalists’ letter of 2017 that advised the discontinuation of the Equus print and electronic media awards because most of the entrants were employed by the racing operators.

The media is back in favour and recent recipients of the various categories show that there is a lot of talent in the ranks – even if nothing contentious is ever likely to pass muster.

Congratulations to our colleagues, published author and respected sports jouno Gary Lemke, SA’ leading racecaller Rouvaun Smit and young gun lensman Chase Liebenberg as the top performers in the three designated media categories for Equus 2023.

Equus Media Category Winners

Print

Gary Lemke

Expectations, Reality and Greatness

Broadcast Rouvaun Smit L’Ormarins King’s Plate Race Day

Still Photography Chase Liebenberg

Great Expectations

Gary Lemke – print winner |

Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Rouvaun Smit – broadcast winner | Credit: Supplied

Chase Liebenberg - still photography winner|

Credit: Supplied

The Blue Blooded Son Of Dubawi

ERUPT (IRE)

by Dubawi - Mare Nostrum by Caerleon

2021-22 Season:

Champion First season Sire

2nd Leading Sire of 2yo’s by %SWins/R (27 or more runners)

3rd Leading Sire of 2yo’s by %SWnrs/R (27 or more runners)

2022-23 Season:

Champion 2nd Season Sire

3rd Leading Active Sire of 2yo’s by Stakes (51 or more runners)

3rd Leading Active Sire of 2yo’s by %W/R (51 or more runners)

3rd Leading Active Sire of 2yo’s by AEPR (51 or more runners)

Yearlings have sold for up to R650,000

Best Progeny:

KARANGETANG - 3 wins, R399,375 incl Protea S G3, Storm Bird S L

RIPPLE EFFECT - 3 wins at 2 in 2022-23, R248,125, 2nd Ruffian Stakes L, 3rd SA Nursery G2.

HOT PEARL - 2nd Strelitzia Stakes G3.

GOLDEN TATJANA - winner at 2 in 2022-23, R420,563, 2nd Godolphin Barb S G3, 3rd Cape of Good Hope Nursery G3, Summer Juvenile S L, 4th Allan Robertson

Championship G1.

FLOWERBOMB - 4 wins-1 at 2-at 1000m to 2022-23, R374,250, 3rd Gardenia S L.

DOLCEZZA - winner at 2 in 2022-23, 2nd Devon Air S L

ICY BLAST - winner at 2 in 2022-23, R209,375, 4th Umkhomazi S G2, Cape of Good Hope Nursery G3

IT’S SALE TIME

Future champions on parade | Credit: Romi Bettiston

thoroughbred auction in South Africa. Boasting a long list of outstanding alumni, the August Sale turns up a host of top-class prospects every year.

In 2021, graduates of the August Two Year Old Sale to make their mark in black type races included the likes of Ekoria, Galla Vanting, Ipso Facto, Jimmy Don, Machete Man, Taikonaut, and the luckless Feather Boa, to name but a few.

Last year has already produced a number of exciting gallopers headed by such promising performers as Guy Gibson, Rani Of Kittur, and White Pearl, with, no doubt, a host of other potential stars yet to be unveiled.

The sale is set to take place at the TBA Complex in Germiston on Saturday August 26th and Sunday 27th of August, and the catalogue for the 2023 August Two Year Old Sale can now be viewed online at www.bsa.co.za.

Saturday’s session will get underway at midday, while the second and final day of the August Sale has been set to commence at 11:AM sharp. Many of South Africa’s top farms have strong drafts on offer, and hopes are high that the positive trends seen at recent thoroughbred auctions will continue at the Two Year Old Sale.

Prominent stallions represented at the 2023 August Two Year Old Sale include Gimmethegreenlight, Master Of My Fate, Querari, Rafeef, Trippi, Var, Vercingetorix and What A Winter, while top British sprinter Twilight Son, who stands at Cheveley Park Stud in Newmarket, has a well bred filly on the sale.

Sires to be represented by their first two-yearolds at this sale include Buffalo Bill Cody, Last Winter, One World, Soqrat and Talk Of The Town.

The August Two Year Old Sale has strong claims to being the best value for money

Potential standout lots on offer at the 2023 August Two Year Old Sale include:

Lot 15 -a Var colt out of the multiple graded stakes winner Queen’s Bay

Lot 21 -a Soqrat half-sister to 2023 Listed East Cape Nursery winner Vision Of Wonder

Lot 29 -a Master Of My Fate half-brother to millionaire Matador Man

Lot 33 -a filly by The United States out of stakes winner Sapphire Ring

Lot 34 -a Futura half-brother to 2 Gr1 winners including 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Winchester Mansion

Lot 37 -a What A Winter half-brother to Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes winner Hack Green

Lot 45 -an Act Of War half-sister to Gr2 winner Gimme A Shot

Lot 52 -a Vercingetorix own-sister to Gr2 Anthonij Rupert Wyne Premier Trophy winner Rascallion

Lot 53 -a Gimmethegreenlight colt out of Gr1 winner Soft Landing

Lot 54 -a Querari colt out of a Gr3 winning daughter of Trippi

Lot 57 -a Danon Platina half-brother to Gr2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans winner Union Square

Lot 67 -a Gimmethegreenlight half-sister to Quasiforsure

Lot 84 -a Vercingetorix 3/4 brother to dual Gr3 winner Sunshine Silk

Lot 88 -a Vercingetorix half-sister to Gr2 Joburg Spring F&M Challenge winner Vistula

Lot 98 -a Vercingetorix 3/4 sister to Gr1 Gauteng Chris Gerber Summer Cup winner Zillzaal

Lot 109 -a Gimmethegreenlight filly out of a stakes winning granddaughter of outstanding producer Mystic Spring

Lot 113 -a Rafeef colt out of a Gr1 winning daughter of Fort Wood

Lot 123 -a Master Of My Fate colt out of Gr1 Golden Slipper winner Bilateral

Lot 164 -a Gimmethegreenlight colt out of Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap winner Enchanted Kingdom

Lot 172 -a Rafeef half-sister to Gr3 Three Troikas Stakes winner Mount Laurel

Lot 176 -a Rafeef colt out of Gr3 winner Folk Dance

Lot 177 -a Master Of My Fate colt out of Gr1 Golden Slipper winner For The Lads

Lot 180 -a filly by The United States out of a stakes winning daughter of Silvano

Lot 196 -a Lancaster Bomber half-brother to Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship winner Sweet Pepper

Lot 201-a Vercingetorix 3/4 sister to Gr1 winning filly Happy Valentine

Lot 211 -a Buffalo Bill Cody half-brother to graded stakes winners Big Burn and Catch Twentytwo

Lot 219 -a Rafeef half-brother to Gr2 Senor Santa Handicap winner Dollar Dazzler

Lot 229 -a What A Winter colt out of Gr1 winner Juxtapose

Lot 240 -a Vercingetorix half-sister to Gr2 4Racing Camellia Stakes winner Celestial Love

Lot 241 -an Erupt half-brother to Gr1 SA Derby winner Out Of Your League

Lot 246 -a Fire Away half-sister to Gr2 winner Hoedspruit

Lot 257 -a Fire Away colt out of Gr3 Acacia Handicap winner Milk And Honey

Lot 273 -a Flower Alley own-brother to dual Oaks winner None Other

Lot 277 -a Gimmethegreenlight own-sister to Gr2 Fillies Championship winner Third Runway

Drakenstein Stud, South Africa’s Leading Breeders of 2022-2023, will be bringing an impressive string to the 2023 August Two Year Old this coming weekend.

Drakenstein’s resident sires Futura, Gold Standard, One World, What A Winter and the late Lancaster Bomber all represented here, with many of the two-year-olds on sale hailing from outstanding female lines.

One clear standout in this draft is the superbly bred colt Grand Pavilion (Lot 34), a son of Drakenstein’s increasingly successful stallion Futura.

Out of a mare by world leading broodmare sire Spectrum, Grand Pavilion is not only a half-brother to last season’s Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Winchester Mansion but also to former Gr1 Gold Medallion victor Sand And Sea.

Futura is also represented in this draft by three other two-year-olds, including Future Of Bahrain (Lot 2), a three-parts sister to the Futura sired Equus Champion Stayer elect of 2022-2023, Future Pearl.

Lancaster Bomber, South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire of 2022-2023, has four lots on offer here, notably Chili Bomb (Lot 196), a halfbrother to recently retired Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship victress Sweet Pepper, while Equus Champion and Met winner One World has five members of his first crop in this draft, including One Stripe (Lot 47), a colt out of a stakes winning daughter of Silvano.

This draft can be viewed in Blocks A and D.

SCHWARZ APPEAL SUCCEEDS IN PART

The National Horseracing Authority (NHA) confirms that an Appeal was heard at its offices in Johannesburg on Monday, 21 August 2023.

The background is that jockey Denis Schwarz was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.3. The particulars being that he failed to ride BURNING WINGS out to the end of the race to the satisfaction of the Stipendiary Stewards and prejudiced his chances of obtaining first place in Race 7 at Fairview Racecourse on 28 April 2023.

Schwarz pleaded not guilty but was found guilty of the charge.

The Inquiry Board, after considering the evidence presented and all mitigating and aggravating factors, rules that Jockey Schwarz be suspended from riding in races for a period of forty-five (45) days.

Jockey Schwarz was given the Right of Appeal against both the finding and penalty imposed.

Mr Schwarz and the NHA were legally represented.

The Appeal Board, after having heard the submissions put forward in this matter, both on behalf of the Appellant and on behalf of the Respondent, ruled that, given the seriousness of the offence, the original finding stands, however 24 days of the penalty of the suspension is suspended for a period of 12 months on condition that Mr Schwarz is not found guilty of a contravention of Rule 62.2.3 during this period, which ends on 21 August 2024.

The Appeal fee was declared forfeit.

Denis Schwarz | Credit: JC Photos

MAINE CHANCE – MORE HORSES OF THE HERE!

Former National Sale graduate Vercingetorix had an outstanding season in 2022-2023. Not only did the champion son of Silvano provide ten stakes winners, including unbeaten Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship winner Mrs Geriatrix, last season, his progeny also dominated sales rings across the country.

At the 2023 National Yearling Sale, Vercingetorix was responsible for no fewer than 11 yearlings to make R1 000 000 or more, with his yearlings fetching up to R2 400 000 at South Africa’s flagship sale.

Breeders of the newly crowned SA Horse Of The Year Princess Calla, Maine Chance Farms will be offering three blue blooded two-yearolds by their outstanding sire at the upcoming August Two Year Old Sale.

Gran Canadia (Lot 192) is a colt out of a fullsister to a stakes winner in Germany, with this colt hailing from the same female line as such star international performers as Fame And

Glory and Legatissimo to name but two.

The regally bred Heat Wave (Lot 201), closely related to the Vercingetorix sired G1 performer Honokalani, is a three-parts sister to the very classy Happy Valentine, who won the G1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship before going on to win in France.

Last but not least of the Vercingetorix offspring in this draft is Lucrative (Lot 235), a filly from the immediate family of German champion Lomitas –the grandsire of Vercingetorix himself.

This draft can be found in Blocks C and D at the TBA Complex in Germiston.

MANTEL’S MILLSTREAM MAGIC

Millstream Farm will be ten strong at this weekend’s August Two Year Old Sale, with Jan Mantel bringing up a draft packed with quality.

Millstream’s draft consists of two-year-olds sired by Act Of War, Danon Platina, Futura, Legislate, Master Of My Fate, Querari and the unstoppable Vercingetorix.

This draft includes a pair of two-year-olds offered on behalf of legendary golfer Gary Player, with this pair made of a Vercingetorix colt (Lot 227) out of a three-parts sister to graded stakes winners Cape Speed and Zen Arcade, and Act Of War filly My Girl Viv (Lot 261). The latter, a cleverly named filly indeed, is out of Mrs Player, herself a full-sister to G2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper winner Cockney Pride.

The latter’s sire Querari is represented in this draft by a half-sister (Lot 157) to recent winner Turbo Boost,

while the hugely exciting Danon Platina is the sire of Gone Platina (Lot 118), a filly whose dam is a full-sister to graded stakes winning twoyear-old Bold Eagle.

Vercingetorix, whose recent flagbearers include unbeaten sensation Mrs Geriatrix among others, is represented here by a three-parts sister (Lot 98) to Gr1 Summer Cup winner Zillzaal (like Vercingetorix, a son of Silvano), and a filly (Lot 236) whose granddam is a halfsister to star Australian globetrotters Elvstroem and Haradasun as well as the dam of seven time Gr1 winner Highland Reel. Safe to say this filly has plenty of paddock value!

Millstream Farm’s August Sale draft can be found in Block B at the TBA Complex in Germiston.

VARSFONTEIN LIGHT THE WAY

Varsfontein Stud’s outstanding sire Gimmethegreenlight had an excellent season in 2022-2023 when he was crowned, for a second time, Champion Sire of South Africa.

The son of More Than Ready was also South Africa’s Leading Sire of 2YOs and Leading Sire of 3YOs for 2022-2023, with Gimmethegreenlight having been responsible for 14 individual stakes winners last season when his progeny earned more than R23 million in prize money.

His flagbearers last season were headed by such superb Gr1 winners as Bless My Stars, Gimme A Prince, Lucky Lad and the very exciting Sandringham Summit, and Gimmethegreenlight could well defend his sires’ title in 2023-2024!

Varsfontein will be offering five lots by this wonderful stallion at the 2023 August Two Year Old Sale this weekend.

Desert Cloud (Lot 109), a filly closely related to the Gimmethegreenlight sired Gr2 winner Ciao Bella, is out of the stakes winning Captain Al mare Amy Johnson, with the latter’s granddam none other than the wonderful producer Mystic Spring.

Huehuetenango (Lot 207) is a colt

bred on similar lines to the likes of the Gimmethegreenlight sired stakes winners Hack Green and Favorita, while In The Green Zone (Lot 215) is a filly from the immediate family of last season’s Gr1 winning two-year-olds Lucky Lad (by Gimmethegreenlight) and Bavarian Beauty to name but two.

Gimmethegreenlight is also represented here by On My Honour (Lot 272), a colt whose dam is a three-parts sister to French Gr1 winner Fidelite, and Partygate (Lot 277), with that filly a full-sister to Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship winner Third Runway.

Other eye catching two-year-olds on offer include Kamensky (Lot 37), the What A Winter half-brother to Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes winner Hack Green, Summer Snow (Lot 299), the What A Winter colt out of Gr1 winner Juxtapose, and the unnamed colt (Lot 252) by Vercingetorix whose dam Makiwara is a half-sister to dual Gr1 winner and exciting young Cape sire Erupt.

This draft can be found in Blocks B and C at the TBA Complex in Germiston.

TWO FOR BLUE KAROO

The Blue Karoo Stud will be offering its first draft at the August Two Year Old Sale this weekend, and the farm’s Dr Marni Strauss is very pleased with the two-year-olds the farm will be offering.

Lot 8 Popocatepetl is a son of Erupt. He is a well conformed colt out of Polly’s Destiny. He is the second foal from the mare who has a tremendous pedigree behind her, including 2 Equus champions in the form of Young Rake and Along Came Polly. He shows plenty of action in the paddock and scope.

Lot 89 Way to Magic is a beautiful filly by Willow Magic out of Vul Indlela by New Approach. This filly is very well conformed with a great length of stride and free movement.

The aforementioned two lots can be found in Block B at the TBA complex in Germiston.

The Birch Bros, breeders of some of the greatest thoroughbreds in South African history, are another farm represented at this year’s August Sale.

The Vogel Vlei Stud will be offering a pair of colts sired by their resident sire, and former G1 Mercury Sprint winner, Red Ray.

The latter made a cracking start with his small first crop headed by G1 WSB SA Classic winner Red Saxon and multiple graded stakes winner Alula’s Star, and Red Ray looks an underappreciated stallion with plenty of upside to him.

Dance Over, the dam of the smart, five time winning Dancing Dora, hails from the same female line as multiple champion sire Captain Al (broodmare sire of Red Ray’s high-class daughter Alula’s Star), among others, has a Red Ray colt (Lot 150) on offer as does Innocent Gift (Lot 218).

The latter, a half-sister to five winners, sports the Birch Bros bred champion Evening Mist as her granddam and this is also the family of multiple Gr1 winner Ingleside among others.

These two colts can be found in Block B at the TBA Complex in Germiston.

CHAMPION KHAN CHANGES DIRECTION

Mark Khan, Philasande Mxoli and Feroze Juman after Rattle Bag’s smooth Turffontein win | Credit: JC Photos

KHAN DIRECTION

One of our greatest riders of the modern era, five-times SA champion jockey and a man who was awarded his national colours in 2008, Mark Khan has not renewed his jockey’s licence for the new season but will not be lost to the game he loves.

A powerful and impeccably balanced rider, the internationally experienced Mark Khan, who earned regional championship titles in three provinces, was also Mauritius champion jockey in 2000, and honed his skills abroad in Malaysia, Singapore, Germany, Australia, Macau, Dubai and Zimbabwe.

His name is inexorably associated in our history books with many champions and Gr1 winners, and one that comes to mind is Yard-Arm who won the 2004 J&B Met.

After an association with leading trainers like the Australia-based Gary Alexander, multiple champion Geoff Woodruff, and in his earlier days, Mark Watters at Milnerton, the 55 year old horseman is now learning the fine art of training racehorses as an NHA licenced assistant trainer to Grant Maroun at Randjesfontein.

We caught up with him when he led in an impressive winner at Turffontein recently.

Philasande Mxoli booted home the Jace Chetty and Grant Maroun owned Rattle Bag for a good win in the eighth race on Saturday 12 August.

For owner Jace Chetty, a good friend of Mark’s, it was a memorable day that was worth the trip up from Cape Town – his Fire Away filly Explosive Bond won the second race earlier under Wes Marwing for Paul Matchett, to give him a great double.

“I am so thrilled for Jace. He loves the game and is an investor in the Maroun yard. All credit must go to Grant Maroun. He found the perfect race for Rattle Bag and Philasande Mxoli is growing in stature. He put the cherry on top

with a polished ride. It’s really and truly an honour and privilege to be a part of a winning team!” the former champion jockey told the Sporting Post.

Pressed for the rationale behind his decision to switch to the training side of things, Mark says that after 39 years, racing is the only pursuit he knows.

“I don’t want to sound cliched, but it’s in my blood. The game actually gets under one’s skin. One high is all it takes to drown the many lows. For which we are always grateful.”

He is quick to add that he is fortunate to be in good health, but it’s a fact of life that race riding is exacting and physically demanding.

“I am so looking forward to the new challenge and this step is a natural progression in my professional life. And what more accomplished exponent of his art than Grant Maroun to learn from? When I spend time around a genuinely skilled and passionate horseman like Grant, I realise just how demanding running a racing yard is. In comparison to life as a jockey, there are so many variables and multi-faceted components to the training role. I have been around horses for close on four decades and

every day working alongside Grant has seen me learn more,” he muses.

Mark is also a racing manager for John Maroun, who is an owner in the yard and Grant’s brother.

“John Maroun, the CEO of Bulldog Abrasives, has invested further in the yard to support me and loves the game. He also has a string of horses with the Paul Matchett team. The Bulldog Abrasives philosophy that their customers always come first is also something that held true in in my own professional life. And it’s that all-encompassing quest for excellence and attention to detail that makes my learning experience all the more rewarding here at the Maroun yard.”

Mark explains that they have 20 horses at their Randjesfontein base, including a spread of nice youngsters and the Gr1 SA Classic hero, Anfield’s Rocket.

“There is definitely a turnaround in racing since the damage done by the covid pandemic and other events of the past ten years. And one feels the buzz at the sales. Cycles are a part of life in any industry, and I believe we are on an upward curve.”

At the Rattle Bag lead-in: Mark Khan, Soloman Chaque, Feroze Juman and Armando Domingo’s Sitoe enjoy the moment

Credit: JC Photos

ASCOT – MORE ROYALTY IN THE RING

Ascot Stud’s Dr Ashley Parker is very happy with the draft he is bringing up to the 2023 August Two Year Old Sale this weekend. This draft includes two-year-olds by the likes of Fire Away, Global View, Heavenly Blue, and the increasingly successful The United States.

Ashley has picked out a few gems from his August Sale draft to keep an eye on:

Lot 149: Blue Crystal c Heavenly Blue – Crystal Glitter

A big strong good moving Heavenly Blue colt with lots of scope, he is from the famous Bound family.

Lot 169: Global State c Global View –Fairy Queen

A strong, racy full brother to Fairy Knight, runner up in the recent Champion Juvenile Cup, the dam was second in the Gr1 Allan Robertson

Lot 202: c Heavenly Blue – Happy Girl

He is a scopey, racy Heavenly Blue colt from the Soho Secret family

Lot 237: Knight’s Fire c Fire Away –Lady Of Choice

He is a racy, good looking Fire Away colt out of a half sister to millionaire Silvan Star, and he is from the same family as the Ascot Stud bred July winning champion Bold Silvano. Ascot Stud will also be offering two lots as Agent, including:

Lot 117: Imokelly c The United States –

Ballymaloe

He is a powerful, strong half-brother to the five time winning Son Of Zeus, and is from the family of Noah From Goa.

Ascot’s string can be found in Block B at the TBA Complex in Germiston.

INJURED JOCKEY: TAKING THINGS ONE STEP AT A TIME

Three weeks of relaxation and time out with family and friends in Zambia have recharged Gabriell Pieterse’s batteries as he continues on the long road to recovery following a horror fall at Fairview on Friday 14 July.

While it was a black mark on what was a terrific last season, the incident where Gabriell was dislodged from Maiden’s Cove and broke his nose and fractured his jaw and cheek, has fallen into the forgotten files and no action was ever taken publically after the Stipes allowed the race to continue at what appeared to some sectors to be a risk to the injured rider and those in attendance.

But life goes on and the young jockey spoke to the Sporting Post on Tuesday just as he was about to board a flight at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport en route to his home in Johannesburg.

“I’m feeling good and in high spirits after a really relaxing three weeks with family and friends.

I’m taking things step by step and am due to see Doctors to do more tests,” he said.

“So while my bones and body are healing, the brain is important. One has to look after one’s head before anything else. And I have had some brain fog and done some cloudy things. Like I will take a coffee cup to the kitchen to put in the sink. But when I arrive at the sink, I don’t have the cup. That’s because I somehow went via the bedroom. It’s those moments that are funny. But I really need to sort my head out,” laughs Gabriell.

While he explains that he doesn’t see himself riding before midSeptember, the 20 year old will start ‘small exercises’ soon.

“My state of mind is good and having a goal and tasks keeps one occupied and focused. Thanks for showing the interest and catching up with me. To all those in the industry that have shown care and interest, I appreciate it,” he concluded.

Gabriell Pieterse – showing resolve and courage after horror fall | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

SOLID AS A ROCK!

Champion Rock Of Gibraltar | Credit: Coolmore

Deceased champion Rock Of Gibraltar, whose progeny have enjoyed so much success in South Africa, was a striking influence at Turffontein on Saturday.

‘The Rock’ was broodmare sire of a pair of winners at Turffontein, with Sea Anemone (out of the Rock Of Gibraltar mare Alboran Sea) victorious in the second race at Turffontein, and Captain Hindsight (out of the Rock Of Gibraltar mare Uber Rock) winning the sixth race.

Mike de Kock commented: “As noted in my preview, things didn’t go Sea Anemone’s way last time. She is progressive and actually ran above her rating when Stuart Pettigrew’s smart filly Callmewhenuneedme beat us into second last month. She is capable of winning a few more races.”

Jockey JP van der Merwe suggested that Sea Anemone won easier than the margin suggested. “She pricked her ears and did it very easy in front,” he said.

The blue-blooded Sea Anemone is a daughter of champions Dynasty and Alboran Sea, with the latter South Africa’s Champion 3YO Filly of 2014-2015. From the family of Breeders’ Cup winning champion Answer Lively, Alboran Sea won five of ten starts including the Gr1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship, Gr1 Cape Flying Championship and Gr1 Computaform Sprint.

While yet to produce anything approaching her own merit Alboran Sea does rank as the dam of dual Memorial Mile winner Marmara Sea.

Captain Hindsight’s dam Uber Rock was a smart racemare in her own right, winning the Goldfields Sprint and finishing second in the Gr3 Pretty Polly Stakes.

She has proved a very effective producer, and also ranks as dam of Banyana Handicap runner-up War Path (dam of smart Hong Kong performer Super Commander and Gardenia Stakes queen Bella Chica), and Devon Air Stakes winner Beloved Country. The latter’s daughter Paton’s Tears finished third to Sea Anemone on Saturday.

Rock Of Gibraltar, whose son Big Rock finished second in the Gr1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club earlier in the year, is no stranger to making his presence felt in South Africa.

The son of Danehill was not only represented by the aforementioned pair of Alboran Sea and Uber Rock, but was also responsible for a host of other high-class locally based runners.

Rock Of Gibraltar’s other notable local gallopers included Gr1 Gold Medallion winner Seventh Rock, who left behind a pair of Medallion winners in the form of Guiness and Equus Champion Seventh Plain, respectively.

The Rock also sired top-class racemare Europa Point, who won nine of 13 starts including both

the Gr1 L Jaffee Empress Club Stakes and Gr1 Champions Challenge in 2012. Despite hailing from an outstanding family, Europa Point has proved a rather disappointing broodmare thus far, having produced nothing close to her own merit.

Other stakes winners representing Rock Of Gibraltar in South Africa included Alinga (East Coast Handicap), Atyeb (Gr3 Caradoc Gold Cup), Arcetri Pink (Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas, Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge, dam of Milkwood Stakes winner Iris), Perana (Gr2 Victory Moon Stakes), Rich Girl (Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes), Sunshine Rock (Laisserfaire Stakes) and Gibraltar Blue.

The latter, winner of the Gr2 KRA Fillies Guineas, Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes and Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge, produced Sophomore Sprint third Pillar Of Hercules as well as Gr2 SA Nursery third Battleoftrafalgar, and also ranks as the dam of the smart filly Cullinan Blue. The latter won well on debut last season before finishing fourth, to subsequent Gr1 winner Mrs Geriatrix, in the Gr2 World Sports Betting SA Fillies Nursery.

Sea Anemone charges home at Turffontein for Mike de Kock | Credit: JC Photos

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

KZN STARS HONOURED

The 2023 KZN Racing Awards Dinner was held at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday 18 August. Subsequent SA Horse Of The Year, Princess Calla, who won three Grade 1 races between May and July, was voted Champion Horse of the Season.

Des Gonsalves, racing manager for Mario Ferreira, was on hand to receive the magnificent trophy.

Princess Calla began her Champions Season campaign with a fluent victory in the SA Fillies Sprint over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and followed that with an equally impressive performance when trouncing Desert Miracle in the Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes over 1600m on Hollywoodbets Durban July day.

But Princess Calla left the best for last, when taking on the boys in the Hong Kong Jockey

Club Champions Cup over 1800m on 30 July. Given a peach of a ride by Richard Fourie, the Sean Tarry-trained daughter of Flower Alley proved far too good for star three-year-old See It Again, with Princess Calla going on to score comfortably by more than a length.

See It Again, who won the Gr1 Daily News 2000, was voted Champion 3yo colt as well as Champion Middle Distance performer, while the Hollywood Syndicate’s Gr1 Mercury Sprint winner, Isivunguvungu, trained by Peter Muscutt, captured the title of Champion Sprinter.

All The Winners:

KZN Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Rascova

KZN Champion Two Year Male

Outlaw King

KZN Champion Three-Year-Old Filly Canadian Summer

KZN Champion Three-Year-Old Male See It Again

KZN Champion Sprinter Isivunguvungu

KZN Champion Middle Distance See It Again

KZN Champion Stayer Runaway Song

KZN Champion Apprentice Rachel Venniker

KZN Champion Jockey

Keagan de Melo

KZN Champion Trainer Garth Puller

KZN Champion Breeder

Drakenstein Stud

KZN Champion Owner

Drakenstein Stud

(Nominee: Gaynor

Rupert)

Champion Horse of the Season

Princess Calla

Groom of the Horse of the Season

Joe Lungile

Anita Akal Award

Michel Nairac

KZN Racing Personality Of The Year

Wendy Whitehead

World Pool Moment of the Day

Daniel Cuiane (Sandringham Summit)

Garth Puller and Wendy Heyns

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Wendy Whitehead had a fantastic season

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Kotzens and Arundels celebrate Rascova’s award Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Gold Circle CEO Michel Nairac is acknowledged by Anita Akal |

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

EAST CAPE AWARDS – NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

The Eastern Cape Regional Awards will take place on Saturday 9 September 2023 in the Bold Silvano Room at Fairview Racecourse to honour equine and human achievements during the Eastern Cape racing season.

The voting panel comprised Henk Steenkamp (Convenor); Dr Ashley Parker, Alistair Cohen; Trevor Reid and Greg Kotzen (non-voting panellist).

The following are the categories and nominees:

Champion two year old filly:

Idita

Joy And Peace

Luna Halo

Champion two year old colt/gelding:

Fairy Knight

Questor

Vision Of Wonder

Champion three year old filly:

Chere For Me

Ekoria

Tipsy Tina

Champion 3 year old colt/gelding:

Heathcliff

Khaya’s Hope

Perfection

Champion older filly/mare:

And We Danced

Phedra

Santa Theresa

Champion older colt/gelding:

American Landing

Grazinginthegrass

Jaeger Moon

Champion stayer:

American Landing

Jaeger Moon

Wildest Dreams

Champion sprinter:

Cliff Top

Cruise Control

Phedra

All nominees are in the running for the much sought-after Horse of the year Award.

Special Awards:

Polytrack track filly/mare

Polytrack track colt/gelding

Feature season trophies are also awarded to the human achievers.

These include Champion Jockey, Champion Local Jockey, Champion Groom, Champion Trainer, Champion Work Rider and Champion Owner.

Enquiries can be referred to Marilyn Smith, marilyn@racehorseowners.co.za or mobile 076 301 5449.

The Yorkshire Ebor Festival has been referred to as ‘the Royal Ascot of the North’, such is the quality on show and Day 2, known as Ladies’ Day, of the four day racing fan’s dream on Thursday sees the fillies and mares in the spotlight.

The feature race is the Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks over a mile and a half. Enable (2017, 2019) joined Only Royale (1993, 1994) and Islington (2002, 2003) as dual winners.

Other notable winners include Epsom Oaks winners Sun Princess (1983), Circus Plume (1984) and Alexandrova (2006). Love added her name to the roll of honour in 2020 but was forced to miss her intended target, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, due to soft ground.

The Group 2 Lowther Stakes for two-year-olds has been won by

subsequent 1000 Guineas winners Harayir (1994), Cape Verdi (1997) and Russian Rhythm (2002).

A top-quality card also includes the Clipper Logistics Handicap over a mile and the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Stakes over six furlongs.

Day 3 of the Yorkshire Ebor Festival

The sprinters take centre stage on Friday in the Gr1 Nunthorpe Stakes.

This race has been won by many of the greatest sprinters in history including Dayjur (1990), Sheikh Albadou (1991), Lochsong (1993) and Stravinsky (1999). It is rare for twoyear-olds to tackle this race but the exceptional Lyric Fantasy (1992) and Kingsgate Native (2007) did win as juveniles.

The Group 2 Lonsdale Cup over two miles is the top stayers’ race of the week and often

a target for Ascot Gold Cup and Goodwood Cup runners.

Stradivarius collected the £1 million bonus in 2018 and 2019 for any horse that could win the Yorkshire Cup, Ascot Gold Cup, Goodwood Cup and Lonsdale Stakes in the same season.

Day 3 also includes some top two-year-olds in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes and the valuable Convivial Maiden Stakes.

The York Ebor Festival concludes on Saturday when the big betting heat is the Ebor Handicap.

Royal Ascot winner Fujaira Prince was a

popular winner in 2020 and went on to finish runner-up in the Irish St Leger next time. Mediterranean was the last three-year-old to win the Ebor in 2001 and this age group were excluded from the race from 2019.

Promising three-year-old stayers now have an alternative target in the Melrose Handicap over the same distance.

The Gr2 City Of York Stakes over seven furlongs and the Group 3 Strensall Stakes over a mile add a further touch of class to the closing day of the meeting.

Watch all the action on Gallop TV.

A great place to be for the next few days! | Credit: York Racecourse

LIM CAN SALUTE IN SUNDAY’S KRANJI GR1

Both Super Salute and General Command face an uphill task in the SG$300 000 Gr1 Lion City Cup (1200m) on Sunday, but trainer Richard Lim has something up his sleeve for the pair that could help.

Last year’s defending champion Lim’s Kosciuszko looked all poised for a second victory first-up after he won a barrier trial last Thursday, but in no way is Lim playing for second place.

The Singaporean handler was quietly confident of a bold showing after the decision to add blinkers for the first time on Super Salute and General Command, albeit it was more of the

former that he had higher hopes on in the third Leg of the STC Super Sprint series. “We knew we had to find something extra, so blinkers go on both my horses,” explained Lim on Tuesday.

“Super Salute had a break after the (Group 1) (Singapore) Derby and is fresh.

“I thought his run (in the Derby) was good

Super Salute (Manoel Nunes) last seen here taking out the Group 3 Silver Bowl on June 11 |

Credit: STC

considering 1800m is probably out of his range, so dropping back in distance will be in his favour.

“I think 1400m is probably his best (distance), but he trialled well the other day (ran second in trial no 3 on August 17 to Lim’s Kosciuszko).

“Obviously, (trainer) Dan’s (Daniel Meagher) horse (Lim’s Kosciuszko) trialled better than anyone else, but blinkers will sharpen him (Super Salute) up even further.

he won four times over 1200m– albeit in easier company - and subsequently scored thrice over 1400m, including two at Group level, namely the Group 2 EW Barker Trophy on April 23 and the Group 3 Silver Bowl on June 11.

Jockey Manoel Nunes will be in the irons this Sunday and he agreed with Lim that blinkers may just do the trick.

“Look, he’s (Super Salute) well and I couldn’t be happier with him, but we have to find something extra to beat Lim’s Kosciuszko,” said the Brazilian ace.

“We trialled him with no blinkers the other day and we felt that he needed to travel a bit better, especially as he is dropping back from 1800m, which was a stretch for him.

The son of I Am Invincible was freshened up after he finished third to Golden Monkey in the Singapore Derby on July 23. Prior to that,

So, blinkers added should sharpen him up.

“He galloped with them (blinkers) this morning and while it was easy work, we were very happy.”

“In my opinion, his best trip is over the 1400m, but there looks to be a lot of speed on early in this race.

“If we get a nice gate – one to five would be good – and get a trail into the race behind Lim’s Kosciuszko, we will have a crack at it late.”

On the other hand, General Command has yet to win on turf in eight starts in Singapore. Yet, Lim thought his recent third in a Class 1 race (1200m) to Mr Malek on the grass on July 8 will hold him in good stead.

“I’m not sure if he’s (General Command) up to this level yet,” said Lim of the five-year-old

son of Shalaa, who will be partnered by jockey Bruno Queiroz for the first time on Sunday.

“He definitely handles the turf though as he placed behind Mr Malek, so the class was the only question and he will be tested at weight-for-age level.

“But he’s in winning form (won in a Class 2 race over 1100m on the Polytrack on August 13) and deserves a spot in this field.

“It’s an exciting time for the stable. Anything can happen in Group 1 races and we have two chances in the Lion City Cup.”

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

DUBAI’S NEW-LOOK PROGRAMME

The full programme for the 2023-24 Dubai racing season at Meydan Racecourse has been released.

Beginning on November 10th, 2023, and culminating on March 8th, 2024, the new-look season comprises 14 meetings and precedes the $30.5million Dubai World Cup meeting on March 30th. Dubai Racing Club has increased prize money by 27 per cent from the 2022-23 campaign, meaning that the minimum per race is AED165,000.

The action ramps up on Festive Friday, December 22nd, when Meydan stages six Pattern races, including the G2 Maktoum Mile, now worth AED1million.

One of the biggest meetings of the year in the Middle East is set to be Fashion Friday, on January 26th, which stages nine Pattern races. The featured G1 Maktoum Challenge, a notable prep race for the Dubai World Cup, carries an elevated purse of AED3.68million, while the G1 Jebel Hatta is worth AED1.85million.

A popular social occasion, Super Saturday retains its usual slot on March 2nd and includes the G2 Al Maktoum Classic, upgraded G3 Ras Al Khor, and the Listed Jumeirah Guineas –won in 2023 by subsequent G1 Qipco 1000 Guineas heroine Mawj.

Major General Dr Mohammed Essa Al Adhab, Executive Director of Dubai Racing Club, commented: “we are delighted to unveil the full programme for our exciting new-look season here in Dubai. The programme is diverse and caters for a wide range of horses, both Purebred Arabian and Thoroughbred.

We hope that our excellent prize money and world class facilities will continue to attract the best in the sport to race here in Dubai.”

The full programme can be accessed by clicking here:

Race Condition & Program Chart

(dubairacingclub.com)

The 2023-24 racing season at Meydan Racecourse gets underway on Friday, November 10th. More details on stabling for international runners will follow in due course

BRITISH AUTHORITY INVESTS IN OWNERS

Racehorse owners are the largest investors in British racing and the British Horseracing Authority is committed to continually improving the way they interact with all owners – from sole owners with multiple horses to syndicate members.

Central to this is investment in better digital technology, so that they can simplify processes like owner applications, sponsorship, colours, and VAT administration.

Much of this work is being led by Racing Digital – a joint venture between the BHA and Weatherbys. Racing Digital is in the process of replacing the current racing administration systems with more user-friendly services.

Owners will begin to see the benefits of this work before the end of this year, including the introduction of a new, simplified fee structure, which aims to provide greater clarity around what is charged, when and why.

Owners currently pay a range of registration, re-registration and handling fees, and based on feedback we have received, it is clear that there is a desire for an improved fee structure which:

– Provides increased clarity about what will be charged and when;

– Helps ensure that initial costs are not prohibitive and unwelcoming; and,

– Results in fewer fees being drip-fed across the course of a year.

The new fee structure, which aims to remain income neutral for the BHA, will be introduced before the end of this year and be based around the four simple charging categories described below.

They want to encourage more people into racehorse ownership – and take whatever reasonable steps they can to reduce any barriers to entry.

Under the new fee model, anyone registering a new ownership will be asked to pay a single upfront joining fee. This will be significantly reduced compared with the current registration charges, with anyone registering as an individual owner charged no fee at all.

By reducing up-front costs, they can better support owners to make decisions on the correct ownership for them, as opposed to selecting ownership structures based on registration costs alone.

By eliminating the registration fee for individuals, for example, it will better encourage and allow small ownership groups to register as Partnerships, simultaneously providing an opportunity to tighten the definition of Syndicates and Racing Clubs to enhance the regulation of commercial ownership entities.

THE SPRINT IS INTERACTIVE

BREEDERS

SIRES

See all the detailed standings - Click here