SP SPRINT - 14 FEB 2024 by Sporting Post

Wednesday 14 February 2024

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LOUIS, THE KING!

Sporting Post’s newest sponsored jockey Louis Mxothwa has made a flying start to carrying the famous blue and red flag and has ridden 8 winners in under two weeks. Keep it up, Louis! Chase Liebenberg captured the champion en route to the weighing room after winning on Wugug at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

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CONTENTS

Issue: 07/2024

On the cover

Candiese Lenferna captured this moment of affection – appropriate for our Valentine’s Day issue. Life’s short – please spread the love!

CLASSIC CURTAIN ON A SUPER SUMMER!

Splash Out On A Classic Entries for the Cape Derby are in

Bruss On Breeding Here’s a fascinating story about a star

Shooting Star Buffalo Bill Cody takes off

A Knock At The Door… Siya’s fairytale takes shape

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THIRD DERBY ON CARDS FOR KHAYA & KANNEMEYER 8 | 14 FEBRUARY 2024

Green With Envy (Craig Zackey) wins the Schweppes Gr3 Politician Stakes in a perfect Derby prep | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

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Dean Kannemeyer will fancy his chances of winning his third Cape Derby after just eleven entries were received for the R1,5 million SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby to be run at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday 24 February. The classic brings the curtain down on the Cape Summer Of Champions season and Kannemeyer, who won this race with Dynasty and Capetown Noir, has a dual entry, headed by the Schweppes Gr3 Politician Stakes, winner Green With Envy who ran cracking races into the places in both the Cape Punters Cup and the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas.

This race has been tough on the girls and Candice Bass-Robinson’s Beach Bomb is the only filly in the entry line-up. After winning the WSB Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas and Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes, she ran a below-par race in the Majorca Stakes. There are plans on the table for export, so Beach Bomb cannot be considered a definite starter.

Antepost favourite Green With Envy carries the Khaya Stables black and yellow flag - the same silks as those worn by the top class Capetown Noir.

Justin Snaith’s trio is headed by Cape Punters Cup and Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas thirdplacer Hluhluwe.

Capetown Noir (Karl Neisius) is led in by Dean Kannemeyer and Lady Christine Laidlaw after winning the 2013 Investec Cape Derby | Credit: Supplied

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A PROUD HISTORY The Cape Derby has a long and glorious history in South African racing.

It was the richest race ever staged in South Africa during its formative years.

First run as the Western Province Derby in 1925 over 1 ½ miles for a stake of £600 including £200 donated by the Jockey Club of SA, it was won by the filly Desert Born.

Only twice in history has the Derby not been run due to occurrence of Equine flu outbreaks and in 1987 the race date was postponed to later in the season when it was won by future champion Mark Anthony and in 2004 the race was abandoned entirely.

Since then it has been run over different distances and at two racetracks. It was renamed the Cape of Good Hope Derby in 1946 and run at the present day Hollywoodbets Kenilworth over a mile and a half. The race returned to the Southern Suburbs venue in 1949 and has stayed there ever since.

Despite the inaugural running being won by a filly, the Derby has not been kind to the fairer sex since then. Just three fillies have won the race in the last 63 years – Green Lass, Taima Bluff and Dog Wood – the latter being the last of the trio when winning in 1999.

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Flashback to 2022 – Second Base (Muzi Yeni) beats Johnny Hero (Denis Schwarz) to win the London News | Credit: JC Photos

CELEBRATING A SUPERSTAR

The R400 000 Betway Gr3 London News Stakes celebrates a South African racing hero and heads a ten-race programme on the Turffontein standside track on Saturday with 2022 winner Second Base back for another bite at the cherry in a bid to win his first race for trainer Robyn Klaasen. Trained at the time by Johan Janse van Vuuren and racing in a partnership of the Wernars and Devachander families, Second Base beat Zillzaal and subsequent Hollywoodbets Durban July heroine Sparkling Water to win under Keagan de Melo in the 2022 renewal of the London News, which was run on New Year’s Day. While Second Base would go on two months later to win the Gr2 Colorado King Stakes, his career hasn’t exactly taken off from there and, bar a flying second behind then stablemate Puerto Manzano in the World Sports Betting 16 | 14 FEBRUARY 2024

Premiers’ Champions Challenge last year, he has not seen the winner’s box in close on 24 months. Puerto Manzano gave Van Vuuren a second consecutive London News victory last year, but Bingwa is his sole representative on Saturday and he looks to have an outside shout at best on current form. Sean Tarry’s coupling of Bless My Stars and last start course and distance winner Litigation could be the right pair.

Overseas bound Bless My Stars returns from a 12-week break and will have her first run for new owners Team Valor and the Singhs. The daughter of Gimmethegreenlight ran a good race when third in the Gr1 Betway Summer Cup last time and won her only attempt over Saturday’s track and trip. Mike de Kock’s Gr1 winner Safe Passage always warrants inclusion. The son of Silvano was in need of his comeback run over 1400m last time. He finished second in his only attempt over Saturday’s course and distance and will strip a much fitter horse. Fanie Bronkhorst saddles Pure Predator, and was the last trainer to saddle a fairer sex winner when the then 6yo Running Brave scored in 2021. The race is named in honour of SA star London News who won Hong Kong’s Gr1 Queen

Elizabeth II Stakes in 1997, on a watershed day for us. As a five-time Gr1 winner, he gave weight and draw to the whole field, and while it would be overdoing things to say he beat ‘the world’ on that historic day, that he broke the Sha Tin track record and had some serious performers in his wake, is no exaggeration. The Classic at Turffontein, the Daily News 2000 and the Durban July at Hollywoodbets Greyville, and an astonishing performance in the J&B Met, are all part of the London News story. Follow the news closer to race-time on www.sportingpost.co.za.

THE SPRINT IS INTERACTIVE CLICK HERE TO WATCH LONDON NEWS’ STORY BY ANDREW BON – IT’S WORTH A WATCH!

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KING’S PACT (1950) AND THE SEARCH FOR GREATNESS

‘Great horses guide us, their stories give us hope, they offer lessons for the future, as much as they honour the past and they should be remembered and commemorated’ King’s Pact wins the Champion Stakes (10f) by 10.5 lengths in record time as a 2 year old.Shorty de la Ray up | Credit: supplied

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The Queen Of The Turf from 1952 to 1954 was a phenomenon, the like of which had never been seen here before: King’s Pact lays solid claim to be the greatest filly ever bred in South Africa, writes Robin Bruss. Born in 1950, the well named King’s Pact (by His Excellency (GB) – Magna Carta (GB) won 16 races in her three season career, including 13 of her first 16 races, amongst them 7 wins as a two year old. At one time she was the South African record holder for consecutive wins with nine in a row, and all the more astonishing is that she had no distance limits – she won in top class company from 1000m to 2900m and everything in between. She won the Clairwood Winter Handicap (now the Champions Cup Gr.1) over 9f as a 2 year

old defeating the Met winner Snipe. And her Champion Stakes win at Greyville over 10f in course record time beating the best older horses when she had not even turned 3 years old is an achievement never matched by colt or filly, and probably never will be. She would have won the Durban July as a 3 year old, but the handicapper had her conceding an impossible 22 lbs (10,5 kg) to the best 3yo colt in the race, the winner C’est Ci Bon, and 11 lbs to the great horse Spey Bridge, who was to win the July with top weight the following year. Kings Pact finished only 2 lengths off the winner.

King’s Pact after her Champion Stakes win at Greyville, 1953 with an adoring crowd | Credit: Supplied

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Her story is inspiring but once again demonstrates the roller coaster nature of breeding thoroughbreds, and the hope that we all have to achieve greatness in some way. King’s Pact was bred by Mr V Russ at his Saulsport Stud in Bethlehem, in the Free State, about 90 km from Harrismith, midway on the N3 between Johannesburg and Durban. In the heady days of the 1950’s the South African pound was at parity with the British pound (the Rand was introduced in 1961, and today it costs R24 to buy £1) and post war Britain was economically struggling. South African breeders imported over 500 broodmares and dozens of stallions to lay the modern foundation of the quality of our stud book. Mr Russ imported HIS EXCELLENCY (GB) (1941) a high class sprinter by the world’s leading sire, the unbeaten Nearco (14 wins in 14 starts). His Excellency, according to Timeform’s Racehorses of 1943 assessment

of 2 year olds “was unlikely to shine except in tests of SPEED. He is a tall colt of the greyhound build and he runs up very light in his back ribs – and he has an excitable temperament”, they wrote. Rated 124 in the Free Handicap at 2 years, he did extend his speed to win at Ascot at 3 years over 8f, also ran 4th in the English 2000 Guineas and did attempt the English Derby but failed to stay 12f. At the same time, Russ imported a mare MAGNA CARTA (GB) (1941) a daughter of the English Derby winner Windsor Slipper. In her first three seasons, Russ mated his two imports together. The first two were fillies and were minor winners, but the third foal was KING’S PACT, a star of the first magnitude. By the time Russ realised how good she was, King’s Pact was already being raced on lease terms to Mrs Agnes Murphy, wife of the trainer Willie Murphy.

Agnes Murphy leads in King’s Pact after winning the Greyville Champion Stakes 1953 | Credit: Supplied

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In those days, the breeder had to nominate his foals and pay a sweepstake fee to the major two year old races such as the South African Nursery (est. 1906) and the Classic races on the Rand. Russ did not enter King’s Pact in any, and therefore she was not able to run in the Classics of her own age group, a decided disadvantage, because it meant she was forced to run mostly in handicaps and against older horses. Not that it mattered as she beat them anyway! However, she most certainly would have won the SA Nursery and the SA Oaks and the SA Derby had she run. Trainer Murphy was apt to say that the filly was so good that she trained herself, with only light work in between a barrage of races. Murphy did not spare her – even in handicaps, but the filly was astonishing in her resilience, toughness and consistency, as well as versatility. Debut After an “educational run” on her debut as early as November 26 of her 2 year old career in which she started 20/1 and finished 5th, King’s Pact started her winning streak. On New Year’s day 1953, she was heavily backed in a field of 26 juveniles and won by 6 lengths. She then won the Newmarket Nursery over 1200m by 4 lengths and in going for her 3rd win in a row, the handicapper had her carrying 136 lbs (62kg) conceding 23 lbs to the second horse. She won by 3 lengths. Stepped up to a mile for the Stewards Nursery Plate at Turffontein in April, King’s Pact was allotted 141 lbs (64 kg) and the George Azzie trained Preto’s Crown had 104 lbs (47 kg). A 37 lbs difference in weight is equivalent to 15 lengths. It rained and the ground was soft and the filly ran second by a length. The merit of the run was realised when Preto’s Crown, a 14 lengths inferior horse, went on to win the Durban July H. of 1955 – and King’s 26 | 14 FEBRUARY 2024

Pact over the next 8 months proceeded to win her next 9 races in a row. There were no big races programmed for juvenile fillies in Durban in the 1950’s. King’s Pact went straight into the top division. So on 6 May 1953, she appeared in the Newbury Chairmans Plate (WFA) at Greyville over 1200m, ready to meet the #1 champ of the older generation, the SA Record holder, the great 5 year old Mowgli, who had won the Durban Merchants, The Durban July, The Clairwood Winter and The Champion Stakes in 1952 and was the best horse in training. To take him on with a 2 year old seemed folly let alone a 2 year old FILLY. But King’s Pact was no ordinary filly. The public made her 5/4 favourite and she beat Mowgli by 5 lengths. A week later, King’s Pact demolished a field of 2 year old colts over 1000m in the Stewards Handicap carrying 62 kg and starting 1/4 on, she won easily. Two weeks later it was the JG Hollis Memorial over a mile at Clairwood against colts and she came home 4 lengths in front. Emboldened by her fabulous success, Willie Murphy decided to do something no else had ever done, he would run his 2 year old filly in the famous Clairwood Winter Handicap on 18 July over 9 furlongs against the Met and the July winner 1953. Nine of the runners had just competed in the Durban July and she met them all on very unfavourable weight terms. Even today, we would consider such a move to be madness. For King’s Pact it set the seal on her greatness. She won by a length from Snipe on 14 lbs worse terms than WFA. (equivalent of 5 l.). He went on to win the Cape Met 1954.

King’s Pact wins the famous Clairwood Winter H. 9f as a 2 year old in 1953 | Credit: Supplied

In winning, Kings Pact established new record earnings for a 2 year old, and endeared herself to the racing public. But Murphy was not done yet. He wanted to run the filly in the Champion Stakes at Greyville over the untried distance of 10f and run on 8 August, well before her 3rd birthday. With three weeks in between the races, Murphy wasn’t about to sit back and wait, he would run her again to keep sharp. So on 1 August, she appeared in the Chairmans Plate at Greyville, dropping back in

distance to 1400m. Kings’s Pact won by 5 lengths. Queen of the Turf She only walked for the next 6 days and reappeared in Greyville’s Champion Stakes on the 7th day. She was supremely fit, and at her peak. Everyone expected her to win – she was 1/4 on favourite and completely dominated to win by 10 lengths in record time – an astonishing performance and still only 2 years old defeating older horses.

King’s Pact’s amazing feat to win the 1953 Champion Stakes 10f by 10 lengths | Credit: Supplied

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Conformation King’s Pact stood 16.1 hands and inherited the “greyhound” look of her sire. She had a long back, lacked rib behind, and her hocks stood back from her.

You would have to wonder if you would have been brave enough to pick her out as a yearling. Her breeder didn’t sell her, he leased her to the trainer, who also didn’t see her potential until she began racing.

Kings Pact as a 2 year old at the Newmarket stables of trainer W Murphy | Credit: Supplied

If it was time to have a well-earned rest back home in Johannesburg, well there was not much of that. Within two months, King’s Pact

was back on the road to Durban for the Natal Derby at 2400m against the colts, and at 1/10 on favourite, she won by 3,5 lengths in a canter.

Kings Pact as a 2 year old at the Newmarket stables of trainer W Murphy | Credit: Supplied

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League of Her Own By now it was crystal clear that King’s Pact was in a league of her own.

the rest of the field. All horses are flesh and blood and in the end “weight stops trains” – it rained, the ground was heavy, she was hampered and finished unplaced.

But could she take racing so frequently carry such big weights without ultimately burning out?

Murphy wasn’t daunted. He popped the filly down to Durban a week later and won the Goodwood S. (WFA) at Greyville 1600m.

Back on the Rand and the rich Summer season beckoned. The Benoni Handicap at a mile with a huge weight was win no. 11 and a week later, the Transvaal Sprint H. at Turffontein over 6 furlongs was a dazzling win no. 12 and ninth in succession. She beat a 6 years old sprinter conceding him 33 lbs, clocking a record 1 min 9,6 secs with champion jockey Tiger Wright in the irons.

Although the Natal St Leger was 14,5f (2900m), it was evident she would outclass the opposition and it was win no 14. Her prep run for the 1953 July was the Durban Centenary Cup 9f at Greyville (today the Greyville 1900) and she won again, win no 15.

Appalling Weight for the Summer Cup As a prep for the Summer Cup, it made her super hot favourite, but the handicapper put all but the grandstand on her back – appalling in its severity. The filly conceded between 7kg and 21 kg to

She ran the best and most gallant race in the 1953 Durban July over 2100m to be 5th two lengths off the 3yo winner Cest Ci Bon, conceding him 22 lbs. She would have won by 9 lengths if it was at level weights! King’s Pact’s final win was a reprise of the Champion Stakes win at Greyville over 10f. with champion jockey Charlie Barends having the honour to record her 16th victory starting at 1/4 on and cheered home by an adoring crowd.

King’s Pact wins the Greyville Champion S. 10f for the second time under a tight hold | Credit: Supplied

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Stud Career King’s Pact returned to Saulspoort Stud in Bethlehem. Her first two colts were both Stakes Winners for Mr Russ: Royal Charter (1956) Pachademis-Kings Pact, won 9 races including the Woolavington Stayers and Autumn Goldfields S. Royal Monarch (1960) Black Cap-Kings Pact, won 8 races including the Lonsdale Stirrup. In 1961, Saulspoort Stud went up for dispersal auction and King’s Pact was sold to DBF Geldenhuys and produced three foals for him before dying. One of the three was only placed and didn’t produce a live foal. The other two were big success stories. Kings Agree (1962) colt by Abadan – King’s Pact, was the only progeny of the great mare to go to the National Yearling Sales, making R4,200 which was the 5th top price. He was a high class sprinter, won 13 of his 57 starts, including the Cape Merchants S. and ended up at stud siring the Majorca S winner Another Child. Queens Pact (1963) filly by Abadan – Kings Pact, was raced by HE Amos and won 5 races including the Majorca S. (now Gr.1)

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and was 2nd by a head in the Paddock S. (Gr.1). The only chance to carry on the bloodline of the great mare, Queens Pact produced only one foal before being dying, a filly, but she produced only one foal, a colt, and then she died. Kings Pact, dam of 5 foals, FOUR of them Stakes Winners, of 35 wins, was a successful broodmare, but the dynasty had been stopped and the bloodline lost to SA breeding. There is no doubt that KING’S PACT was a great Champion whose exploits are greater than any South African bred filly in the last century. There was a period when Gold Circle commemorated her name in a non black-type race for a few years, but it seems obvious if we are to value and honour the tradition of our Turf and the 200 year history that guides every one of us and record our names and those of our horses for posterity, that KING’S PACT deserves a Great Gr1 Championship race to be named after her. Great horses guide us, their stories give us hope, they offer lessons for the future, as much as they honour the past and they should be remembered and commemorated.

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Buffalo Bill Cody (Redoute’s Choice ex Buffalo Berry by Sri Pekan)| Credit: Raceform

THE GUNS ARE BLAZING!

Those present at last weekend’s Turffontein meeting witnessed a potential star in the making when the Tony Peter-trained juvenile Pistol Pete followed up on his facile debut success by winning the 1000m opener in scintillating fashion. Suzette Viljoen’s colt clearly has tons of ability and had provided Wilgerbosdrift freshman Buffalo Bill Cody with a winner from his very first runner, so vital, since the young sire is a non-stakes winner, and we all know that a lack of black type on a stallion’s CV poses an almost insurmountable handicap in this fickle industry. Buffalo Bill Cody, an Irish-bred son of Australian 34 | 14 FEBRUARY 2024

supersire Redoute’s Choice, raced for Mary Slack and made a winning debut for the Mike de Kock stable. The margin was only a head, but the runner-up was subsequent Gr1 SA Classic winner Lobo’s Legend. That he was six months younger than his three-year-old rivals - he is bred to Northern Hemisphere time added further cachet to the effort.

Fourth next time out, Buffalo Bill Cody would not taste defeat again in five subsequent starts, the last and most notable of which a 3.25 length drubbing of tough Gr1 performer Cirillo in a 1600m Pinnacle Stakes. It was a bold move when De Kock next selected the Gr1 World Sports Betting Champions Cup as his charge’s stakes debut but alas, that proved a bridge too far, and Buffalo Bill Cody finished fifth, just under three lengths behind Horse of the Year Rainbow Bridge, champion Soqrat and Cirillo. Following two unplaced efforts at Gr2 level, Buffalo Bill Cody did not race again. Whilst the quest for black type proved unsuccessful, his stallion credentials nevertheless warranted him a place at his owner’s stud. His sire Redoute’s Choice led the Australian sires list three times, whilst his legacy as a sire of sires has been underlined by sons Snitzel, Not A Single Doubt and Stratum, not to mention Ridgemont-based Rafeef. On the dam side, he is out of Buffalo Berry who won at Gr3 level and produced the Gr1-placed, Gr3 winner Chattahoochee War. Third dam Prayers ‘N Promises, a winner of both the Gr1 Matron and Gr1 Spinaway Stakes, was a half-sister to champion Little Current, whilst the next dam Luiana counted amongst her siblings Kentucky Derby winner and successful sire Chateaugay and his Gr1 winning sister Primonetta. In short, a pedigree built on a solid foundation. Pistol Pete was bred at Wilgerbosdrift from the stakes-placed five-time winner Oklahoma Sky, whose grandam Revival is a Sadler’s Wells halfsister to the Gr1 Nunthorpe winner and hugely successful Juddmonte sire, Pivotal. Interestingly, the female line, which traces to Italian 1000 Guineas winner Stufida, also boasts a South African Gr1 winner in Always In

Buffalo Bill Cody’s son Pistol Pete – looks an exciting prospect | Credit: JC Photos

Charge. The Vaughan Marshall-trained colt was the country’s Champion Juvenile male some seasons ago when he scored a decisive threelength victory in the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Medallion under Anton Marcus. His dam, Italian Oaks runner-up Polar Charge, is a grandaughter of Stufida and like Pivotal, is by Polar Falcon. The Viljoens snapped up Pistol Pete at the Cape Yearling Sale and as Suzette recalls: “I love Buffalo Bill Cody and sent him a dozen mares last year. I couldn’t wait for his first foals to sell and when Pistol Pete caught my eye at last year’s Cape Yearling Sale, he just took my breath away and I said to Basie, I must have him.” No doubt she will make a point of inspecting Cowboy Country, his yearling half-brother by The United States at this year’s sale. Looking at the future, she remarked: “We will now plan Pistol Pete’s next races very carefully, but I leave that up to the trainer.”

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Who knows, she may well have a future Gold Medallion winner on her hands. As for Buffalo Bill Cody’s ten lots catalogued for the Cape Yearling Sale, these include siblings

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to Listed Swallow Stakes winner Freed From Desire, Gr3-placed Total Protection, stakesplaced Oni San, and a filly, whose dam is a High Chaparral half-sister to Horse of the Year Igugu.

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Pivotal in his racing career | Credit: Cheveley Park Stud

A PIVOTAL POWER! Saturday’s impressive Turffontein winner Pistol Pete (Buffalo Bill Cody) is a direct descendant of a mare whose family have enjoyed considerable success in South Africa Pistol Pete’s fourth dam is Fearless Revival (Cozzene), who gained lasting fame as the dam of Gr1 Nunthorpe Stakes/Gr2 King’s Stand Stakes winner Pivotal (Polar Falcon). The latter sired more than 160 stakes winners including outstanding sire Siyouni, and champions Golden Apples, Somnus, Sariska, African Story and Farhh. Pivotal’s offspring earned more than $156 million the world over, and he was responsible for

Gr1 winners in all of Australia, Britain, France, Germany, Ireland, North America and South Africa. An outstanding broodmare sire whose daughters have already produced more than 20 Gr1 winners, Pivotal also made his mark in South Africa. The chestnut was responsible for South African Gr1 winners Noordhoek Flyer (Bloodstock SA Cape Guineas) and Amanee (Thekwini Stakes), and also sired classy local galloper Headstrong. The latter won the 2011 Gr3 Poinsettia Stakes and finished runner-up in the Gr1 South African Fillies Sprint in the same year.

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A granddaughter of the mighty Miesque (Nureyev), Amanee had a Deep Impact colt make $1 100 000 at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale Pivotal’s local influence is not restricted to his own runners, and he is also the broodmare sire of South African based sires Flying The Flag and The United States. The former has sired 2023 Gr3 Byerley Turk winner Strawberry Bear and the smart Electric Gold among others, while The United States has been responsible for a slew of stakes winners headed by the likes of Sheela, Billy Bowlegs, and Khaya’s Hope. The United States is also the sire of classy graded stakes winner Without Question, who ran third in the 2024 World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Town Met. Pivotal’s Gr2 Dante Stakes winning son Wings Of Desire was another representative in South Africa. Third in the 1989 G3 Rockfel Stakes, Fearless Revival was produced by GR1 Premio Federico

Tesio winner Stufida (Bustino). The latter’s granddaughter Polar Charge, a three-parts sister to Pivotal and the 2000 Gr1 Oaks d’Italia runner up produced ill-fated South African champion Always In Charge (Captain Al), winner of the 2016 Gr1 Gold Medallion. Polar Charge also produced the venerable Captain Lars (Captain Al), who won 24 races while scoring in both Britain and South Africa, and the useful Alascan Maiden (Captain Al). The latter, whose son Axl (What A Winter) has now won three times, ran second or third in six black type races and was third, to subsequent Equus Champion In The Fast Lane (Jet Master), in the 2013 Gr2 Choice Carriers Fillies Championship. Fifty Fiver (Vercingetorix), winner of the 2021 CTS De Grendel Ready To Run Stakes , is out of another daughter of Polar Charge in the form of Polar Trip (Trippi). Could Pistol Pete be the latest ‘revival’ for this family?

Always In Charge (Anton Marcus) wins the 2016 Tsogo Sun Gr1 Gold Medallion | Credit: Gold Circle

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GULF RACING CLUB’S BREAKTHROUGH SEASON IN UAE In October, we reported on a three-horse offering to race in the UAE under the care of trainer Fawzi Nass. The three Argentinian-bred colts had been purchased to run in South Africa, but after the government imposed an import ban on itself, it was decided to reroute the horses to the UAE. The three colts have since racked up a combined fourteen starts. Twelve of those runs were placed (86%), while the team has led in two winners (14%). The highlight was the win of CONDOR PASA at Meydan. The performances have racked up AED 367,000 / ZAR 1.8mil in prize money. ATHAN has been a particular success story. Despite not winning in the Emirate yet, the Orpen colt has put up some massive performances in some feature events. At his last start in the Jumeirah Guineas, he was a promising second behind the Godolphin star LEGEND OF TIME. He renews rivalry with him in the Listed Jumeirah Classic on Super Saturday, March 2. The Classic is run for AED 800,000 / ZAR 4mil.

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CONDOR PASA has not missed the money in five starts, including a thrilling win at Meydan. EL INTROVERTIDO also managed four places, highlighted by a facile win at Jebel Ali. The horses have benefited most from the shrewd placing by trainer Fawzi Nass, who has shown exemplary skill in keeping the horses running regularly and consistently. EL INTROVERTIDO ran in four consecutive weeks at the start of the season, culminating with his sixlength win at Jebel Ali. What has also been impressive is the level of expertise and exceptional race-riding ability shown by stable jockey Adrie De Vries. His judgment of pace and explicit expert knowledge of the UAE tracks are priceless assets. The team plans on expanding on this breakthrough season by multiplying the string substantially to attack the next season with further strength and more significant numbers. You can register your interest with the team directly.

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Bella Siccome stays on strongly under Spare Hlengwa to beat Cape Eagle and Serino Moodley in a thriller | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

SILVANO MARE WINS AGAIN Starting at a generous 11-2, Paul Lafferty’s gutsy Silvano mare Bella Siccome made it two KZN Capital City features on the trot when she stayed on well to win the R90 000 non black-type Umthombothi Stakes under the Heversham Parksponsored Siphesihle ‘Spare’ Hlengwa at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday. Bella Siccome capped a double and a lucky thirteenth career winner for young Hlengwa when she stayed on best to again withstand a strong challenge from the 15-10 Cape Eagle, who was relegated to second fiddle behind the mare. After Sugar Blast had led the gallop from Addabar, Bella Siccome found a trouble-free passage to hit the front at the 350m. Under a confident and balanced ride, Bella Siccome (11-2) to hold off Cape Eagle (15-10) by a nose in a time of 119,10 secs, The consistent Queue Wing (7-1) stayed on for 48 | 14 FEBRUARY 2024

third, a further 1,40 lengths back. A R120 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Bella Siccome was bred by Maine Chance and is a daughter of their late multiple champion Silvano (Lomitas) out of the well-performed Dynasty mate, Bella Spumante. A winner of 8 races with 10 places from 28 starts, Bella Siccome has banked R539 900 in gross stakes. Hlengwa celebrated a double alongside Kobeli Lihaba, while Summerveld trainer Yogas Govender also celebrated a welcome two winners.

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JIKKIE’S PROSPER SALE NOTES Prosper Stud’s draft for the 2024 Cape Yearling Sale includes lots sired by in- form and popular stallions like One World, The United States and Willliam Longsword, and, understandably, Jikkie De Wet is well pleased with his Cape Sale string. The passionate breeder summed up his Cape Sale draft as follows: Lot 31: Hopscotch f by William Longsword ex Crackpot A smart looking filly very athletic. Dam is a halfsister to Inca’s Spirit, a stakes-placed winner of eight. Lot 122: Air Born Lady f by Potala Palace ex Rippit Whippet She is a classy filly. Stands over a lot of ground and moves well, very correct.

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Dam is a full sister to Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes winner Woljayrine. Lot 127: Play World c by One World ex Ruby Sunset He is a good looking One World colt, who is correct and moves well. Lot 128: Lydia’s Girl f by The United States ex Sadler’s Lass Smart filly with a very solid build. Very athletic and moves very well - she will be an early type. The Prosper draft can be found in Blocks C and D at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

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THE WINE IS GOOD… BUT THE HORSES ARE EVEN BETTER! Oldlands Stud in the beautiful Hemel ‘N Aarde Valley | Credit: Supplied

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English Garden. Canadian Summer. Zarina. These are just a few of the topclass thoroughbreds bred by Oldlands Stud over the years. Conditions in the Hemel ‘n Aarde Valley support some of South Africa’s finest wine farms, but it is the environment impact on the nurturing of young horses that makes Oldlands Stud such an effective cradle for equine growth and development. The Hemel ‘N Aarde valley based farm will be offering buyers a chance to find their own Grade One winners when Oldlands bring a five, two offered as agent, strong draft to the Cape Yearling Sale in 2024.

winner Son Of Raj, and Opera Fan (Lot 144). The latter is a filly out of a daughter of US champion and outstanding broodmare sire Bernardini, and this filly’s granddam was sired by the mighty Nureyev.

Three of Oldlands’ Cape Sale string were sired by Dynasty’s Gr3 winning son Horizon, with the remainder of the draft made up of yearlings sired by Erik The Red and Ideal World respectively.

Multiple graded stakes winner Erik The Red has his first yearlings on sale in 2024, and the son of Captain Al is represented here by Red Penny (110), a three-parts brother to this season’s smart two-year-old Whistle The Tune. Red Penny’s dam Penny Whistle is a beautifully bred daughter of Vercingetorix and multiple stakes winner Pay The Piper.

Sail The Horizon (Lot 7), is a Horizon colt out of the prolific producer Windspiel. To date, Windspiel has been responsible for seven winners with her tally headed by Zimbabwe Guineas winner Jacky Sparrow (also sired by a son of Dynasty) and the stakes placed Tiger Play. Horizon, whose dam is a full-sister to Silvano, is also represented here by Come To My Party (Lot 109), a filly from the immediate family of 2023 Gr1 World Sports Betting SA Derby

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Yet another appealing sort to be found in Oldlands’ Cape Sale string is Precocious (Lot 132), a filly by Ideal World out of a winning Vercingetorix half-sister to the Oldlands bred Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Go Indigo. The Oldlands draft can be found in Block E at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

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Normandy bred superstar Winter Solstice | Credit: Supplied

NORMANDY – THE GR1 FACTOR! FEW ACTIVE SOUTH AFRICAN STUD FARMS HAVE BRED A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF GR1 WINNERS TO FOALS THAN NORMANDY STUD. Despite breeding between just 20 and 30 foals a year, Normandy Stud has produced a plethora of stars over the years including champions Aquanaut, Mother Russia, Rio Querari and Winter Solstice. The farm has developed a few key families which to this day continue to make their mark on the South African turf. With his draft including yearlings by the likes of Elusive Fort, Hawwaam, Legislate, Rafeef and The United States (to name a few), Oscar 60 | 14 FEBRUARY 2024

Foulkes is understandably upbeat about Normandy Stud’s draft for this year’s Cape Yearling Sale. However, as Oscar points out, perhaps the most telling influence to be found in this consignment is the impact of some of Normandy’s most important female lines. Oscar sums up the power of Normandy’s female lines, and their impact on the 2024 Cape Sale, as follows:

• Nordic Vine Two of our star yearlings from 2022, Nordic Quest and Nordic Chief, went through the ring months before Rio Querari (out of their dams’ full-sister) won the Computaform Sprint in breathtaking fashion. Having first been treated at Guineas potentials, this pair bolted up over the Kenilworth 1200m on consecutive Saturdays. ‘ There is absolutely no doubt that the two yearlings we have on the 2024 CYS are sprinters. Lot 103 is the Rafeef half-brother to the uber-consistent Beerenberg. He’s a neat colt with a laid back attitude and a cat-like walk. One lot later is the half-sister (by The United States) to Nordic Chief. She looks like a speedball. • Terpsichore This is the only family in the stud book to have produced multiple Queen’s Plate winners, in Winter Solstice and Mother Russia. From this family we have a pair of well-grown, scopey Erupt colts out of young mares (lots 86 & 111). Both are good-moving sons of Philanthropist mares, which seems to be a ’nick’ for Erupt. Out of a half-sister to Sachdev and the promising Sukhumvit, is a Gold Standard filly (lot 23). She’s neat and high-quality, as one would expect from a granddaughter of Trippi. Lot 86 is an Elusive Fort colt with star quality.

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He is a striking example of size, scope, presence and athleticism. • In Camera In Camera was our first Guineas winner, and for other breeders she was the foundation mare for numerous other Grade One winners. Legislate really stamps his fillies - mostly, they are the darkest of bays with hardly any white, and they are built for the classics. This filly (lot 47) is as good a mover as you’ll find on any sale, and she’s smart to boot. • Hard Lady We have used various sons of Captain Al for our half-sisters to Sergeant Hardy, and we couldn’t be happier with this son of One World (lot 80). His sire may have won the Met, but this colt looks as if 1200m could be his maximum. • ‘Other’ Notwithstanding the Elusive Fort colt mentioned above, we have a neat, well-made colt (lot 13) with a walk that’s hard to beat. He is a half-brother to the smart sprinter, Wind Water. Closing out our draft is a line-up of athletic fillies by Hawaam, Futura, Master of My Fate and The United States. This draft can be viewed from Block A at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

How’s this for some refreshingly proactive transparency from trainer Zietsman Oosthuizen at Fairview on Tuesday. Prior to the running of the fifth race the former Kimberley conditioner advised the Stipes that he had instructed Jockey Chase Maujean to hold Tipsy Tina up for as long as possible, and to only use the crop as a last resort. This information was disseminated to the betting public via the oncourse presenter. Tipsy Tina (14-1) ran fourth behind easy 6-10 winner Cruise Control. 14 FEBRUARY 2024 | 61

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SOETENDAL DUO SET TO DAZZLE Soetendal Estate has been associated with numerous top-class horses in recent years, with the boutique thoroughbred estate’s recent success stories including the likes of Rapidash, October Morn, Future Variety and Senso Unico, to name but a few. The estate will be doubly represented, as Agent, at this year’s Cape Yearling Sale on Sunday 25 February, where Soetendal will be offering colts by Declarationofpeace and One World, respectively. Julia Pilbeam is upbeat about the two yearlings she will be bringing to this year’s Cape Sale and had the following comments to make: Lot 54: Colt by Declarationofpeace (USA) ex Furnace (What a Winter) From the first crop of speedy War Front stallion, Declarationofpeace (USA), this colt is out of a half-sister to seven winners, including multiple graded stakes winners Shango and Captain And Master. He is a neat, well-conformed colt, very athletic, with a strong resemblance to his sire. Declarationofpeace (USA) was an outstanding winner of the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint, and with War Front stallions, Fire Away

and Lancaster Bomber, already having such success in South Africa, this will be an exciting stallion to follow. Lot 113 Colt by One World ex Preferential (Master of my Fate) By boom sire One World, here is a scopey, correct colt who will continue to improve as he matures. This colt is the first foal of a 6-time winning mare, she herself a half-sister to 11 other winners of multiple races, including black type performers Kilcoy Castle and Berlinetta. This is a prolific winner-producing female line. The Soetendal pair can be viewed from Block D at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

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Soetendal graduate Rapidash (pink cap) wins the R7,5 million Cape Racing Gold Rush on WSB Met day Credit: Chase Liebenberg

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FLOWER ALLEY GELDING WINS AT SHA TIN A magnificent file pic of Flower Alley at Wilgerbosdrift Credit: Hamish Niven Photography

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Wilgerbosdrift’s high-class sire Flower Alley struck in Hong Kong on Monday when his son Parterre won at Sha Tin on the Chinese New Year celebration raceday.

Square Dance, won twice, from nine starts, and finished third in the 2020 Gr3 City Of Cape Town Politician Stakes and fourth in the 2020 G1 ARF Commemorative Cape Derby.

Under Lyle Hewitson, seven-year-old Parterre made much of the running and fought back gamely to win Monday’s Good Fortune Handicap (Div 1) by a length.

The gelding was a R650 000 buy from the 2018 National Yearling Sale.

In the process, Parterre provided former multiple SA champion Lyle with his 100th win of the season. Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Parterre has now earned more than HK$2.5 million in prize money. Parterre, who is out of the Oasis Dream mare

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His Gr1 Travers Stakes winning sire Flower Alley is having another good season in 20232024, with his flagbearers this season including G1 City Of Cape Town Majorca Stakes winner Princess Calla and G2 Betway Joburg Spring F and M Challenge queen Feather Boa. To date, Flower Alley runners have earned more than $47 000 000 with his progeny also including Kentucky Derby winning champion I’ll Have Another.

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WHEN YOU SIYA CHANCE, TAKE IT! Cape Racing’s Siya Nhlapo – man of many talents! | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

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Never start something you can’t complete. In life everything is a trade-off between risk and reward. Those ‘Bortzisms’ are the lenses through which 21 year old Siya Nhlapo navigates his own life these days since a random knock on a door in the upmarket Atlantic Seaboard suburb of Fresnaye saw ‘Opportunity’ open with a broad smile and a lifechanger. Siya has become a regular feature on Cape Racing television screens and we know him as the man who interviews the winning Grooms with such extraordinary unparalleled vigour and enthusiasm. You know the guy – first the imaginary drum roll, and then the smile, followed by…“Ladies and gentlemen…”

in high regard. He admits that he leans towards his Sotho background in a Zulu-Sotho home.

As an icebreaker, and astonished by his courage in knocking on doors rather than the traditional social media route, we had to ask the obvious - ‘how many doors does one have to knock on before Opportunity answers?’

A UCT honours engineering student with a passionate focus on A.I and mechatronics, he is, thanks to his bold unsolicited knock on the door of the Bortz residence, also Cape Racing’s Grooms’ interviewer and a fast growing friendly, familiar face in the horseracing community.

“16 to be exact,” adds Siya matter-of-factly, before breaking into a broad smile. Born to academic parents in the Free State city of Bethlehem, Siya relocated to the Cape with his family approximately 10 years ago. While he has chosen to walk an individualistic path in life, he holds culture and family bonds

He observes that he and his older sister were raised in a cultural but modern home, where education and goal orientation were important to their individual choices.

“The backstory is a life-changing one” he says. “So, it’s not just the horseracing. Trust me, I love horses and I’ve been in the industry for almost two years now, and I believe everyone’s story is unique. But because this is my personal story, it’s close to my heart. And it all starts with Mr. Greg Bortz.”

Siya with another thrilled recipient | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

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A bundle of mental energy, Siya tells us that in 9th grade when he was introduced to financial math, the power of compounding hit him square between the eyes. “I knew then that I wanted to accumulate wealth and let compounding work for me and not against me. I started to think of capitalism and the financial industry as analogous to human nature. This is because financial markets are as unique and unpredictable as we are.” So the 9th grader was fascinated by ‘the power of compounding’, and he comfortably chats about this as though inspiration of this nature is the norm.

“Why am I here - that’s a very important question. Because I’m doing things in University that deal with artificial intelligence, so why here with horseracing? It’s because I am here for a reason. I want to be here.” We pause, and absorb the simple and authentic response. Choice is, after all, that which directs life. It’s the dedication towards the choice that establishes the end result, no? Having already set his goals on the accumulation of wealth, when faced with the choice of which future qualification and field he would pursue, Siya tells that he chose not to opt for a financial field of studies simply

All roads lead to…16 doors! | Credit: Supplied

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because of the high levels of finance industry saturation.

substantial knowledge that would get him any closer to his goals.

He opted for a path less travelled and, taking into consideration the broad scope within engineering, it was a no-brainer option.

It was time to change his approach! Having understood the discipline behind the industry, and knowing that he would most likely get more interaction on one-on-one meetings, he set off on foot on a chilly winter’s day through the affluent Cape residential areas, in the hope of meeting prospective mentors.

He would focus on the rather young field of mechatronics. With his first year beginning in a world in the grip of Covid, he understood that improving his finance knowledge would have to come from an aggressive self-driven standpoint. So he began reaching out to CFO’s, CEO’s and financial specialists on LinkedIn. Despite many of these attempts falling on deaf ears, Siya continued on the path by next visiting finance companies and asking for assistance. Sadly, he was only met with guidance on how to pursue a career in the industry, but no

On 25 June 2022 – a lifechanging one, in hindsight – the brave idealist set off for Fresnaye. Not surprisingly, most of the doors he knocked at were not exactly welcoming and, where he was not ignored, he was dismissed as someone seeking out hand-outs and cash. On the fringe of calling it a day, and with sensitive knuckles, he was passing Clifton when he met a few security personnel walking

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dogs. A short chat later and he was helping them get the dogs back home. He arrived at a high-security residence where he was met by a voice on the intercom asking how he could be helped. While explaining his goals to the individual, the intercom disconnected after 2 minutes. Feeling a tad deflated, and admitting that he needed to clearly work on his sales skills, he did not expect the door to open. One can almost hear the admiration in his voice as Siya says, “This individual appears and just happens to be Gregory Bortz.” He was invited in and the two went back and forth sharing their stories. “A sense of authenticity,” Siya adds as the term best he could use to identify his admiration and description of a man who would become a mentor. He had finally found someone to listen, and who could resonate with his path and provide the guidance needed.

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The notebook he was using to mark off his route is something he still treasures as a keepsake today. Siya has played his own support role in the fairytale that is the renaissance of Cape Racing. We asked how he keeps his cool and maintains that confident ability to think on his feet, more so that his interaction is with a generally more introverted sector of the racing ecosystem. He explains that it has become important to provide the grooms with the recognition they well deserve. Siya explains how he simply believes that once there is a connection with the person being interviewed, it becomes easier to help them relax and it gives them the confidence to be heard. Siya speaks of this area of his job as more of a learning experience of great value to him, than a job itself. The power of compound may have kick-started Siya’s journey, but he ends our conversation suggesting that “the reward isn’t always monetary.”

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RACHEL HEADS FOR SAUDI

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Former dual SA champion apprentice Rachel Venniker, now a fully-fledged jockey, will miss the chance of a ride in the SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 24 February, but won’t be too concerned as she gets her first international opportunity to showcase her skills later this month.

competitive action and will go up against 13 of the planet’s best in the four-race competition on February 23. The Hall of Famer will be looking to add to the 3,168 winners he rode during his 34-year career and emulates fellow countryman Glen Boss, who had also hung up his saddle before heading back to the weighing room for the competition in 2022.

Rachel comes up against three-time Melbourne Cup-winner Damien Oliver and will lock horns with the world’s leading riders, including Ryan Moore, Ryusei Sakai and Maryline Eon in the International Jockey Challenge held on the Friday of The Saudi Cup weekend.

The Australian, whose three Melbourne Cup wins came aboard Doriemus (1996), Media Puzzle (2002) and Fiorente (2013) faces competition from jockeys out of the UK, France, USA, South Africa, New Zealand and Japan – in what promises to be a high-class international showdown.

Fifty-one-year-old Oliver ended a glittering career in the saddle with victory in a race named in his honour in Perth on December 16, but has now been enticed back into

HRH Prince Bandar Bin Khaled Alfaisal, Chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia extended a warm welcome to all jockeys

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competing in the International Jockeys Challenge. “The jockeys challenge on the Friday of Saudi Cup weekend is always one of the event highlights for me,” he said. “We are justifiably proud of the variety of racing showcased across the two days. To be in a position to offer a global stage to 14 of the world’s best jockeys, seven men and seven women, is highly gratifying.

“We wish the best of luck to all the jockeys competing and hope that their feats on the racecourse serve to inspire new generations of riders both in Saudi Arabia and beyond.” Joining Oliver in the starting gates is the threetimes UK champion Moore, who was once again voted the Longines World Best Jockey at a ceremony in Hong Kong at the end of 2023. Moore competes in the IJC for the first time, having won races at the highest level in the UK, France, America, Japan, Hong Kong, UAE, Ireland, Germany, Canada and Australia. He is one of five international men recruited to the competition, alongside two domestic stars in the form of eight-times Saudi Champion, Camilo Ospina, and current title holder Adel Alfouraidi. The female jockeys include France’s Eon, who was in 2017 the first female to participate in the French Oaks, a year after being voted the country’s top female rider. She is joined by New Zealand’s returning Lisa Allpress who starred in 2020 when she became the first woman to win a flat race in Saudi Arabia.

who boasts more than 700 wins to her name. The USA is represented by Katie Davies, a rider hailing from a legendary family of jockeys. She had a breakout year in 2023 upon returning from becoming a mother. The US challenge is boosted by Luis Saez – winner of more than 3000 races and more than $165million who returns to defend his 2023 IJC crown. Current French champion jockey Maxime Guyon and Japan’s Ryusei Sakai, a jockey no stranger to success in Saudi Arabia having steered Bathrat Leon to victory in last year’s 1351 Turf Sprint will also take part in King ABdulaziz Racecourse’s fifth IJC. Rachel Venniker rode 70 winners in 2021/22 to become South Africa’s champion apprentice and is currently the only woman riding here. The KwaZulu-Natal native will line-up alongside Brazil’s Victoria Mota. Mota, the 24-year-old daughter of top Brazilian jockey, Alex Mota and won on her very first ride she was champion apprentice in 2016/17 and has now ridden over 250 winners. Bred along similar lines to Mota, Britain’s Saffie Osborne is the final name to be announced and the daughter of UK trainer and former jockey, Jamie. She has more than 160 wins to her name and was part of the female team which triumphed at last year’s Shergar Cup competition at Ascot.

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Richard Fourie at Fairview on Tuesday with owner Warne Rippon and trainer Alan Greeff | Credit: Pauline Herman

RAMPANT RICHIE NOW 57 AHEAD OF MUZI Winning Form-sponsored jockey Richard Fourie continued his march to his first national championship title with a three at Fairview on Tuesday for trainer Alan Greeff. Fourie has formed a powerful combination with the Halo Stables team in Gqeberha, capped 7 winners in two days at Fairview after his four-timer on Friday. Fourie is in the form of his life and at close on Tuesday 13 February his 171 winners – that’s 57 ahead of nearest rival Muzi Yeni – have come at a win strike rate of 20,50%. The only other rider with a better strike-rate this season is Aldo Domeyer on 22,20% – but he is languishing well down the table with 39 winners. Fourie’s work-rate is up this term, from an 86 | 14 FEBRUARY 2024

average of 120 rides a month last season, to his current 134. Hollywoodbets offered a R1 million cash incentive at the start of this season for the first jockey to surpass the 334 record winner mark which was established by former multiple national champion Anthony Delpech when he shattered Piere Strydom’s record in the 1998/1999 season. Last term it was another Winning Formsponsored rider in Keagan de Melo who reached the 275 winner mark and was crowned SA Champion Jockey. Fourie fell 17 winners short of the now Hong Kong-based De Melo in second when achieving his personal best ever season tally of 258 winners, and he may still harbour long shot hopes of breaking the 25 year old Delpech record!

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GODFREY GOES FOR GOLD Godfrey Sigenu gives the thumbs up after a big win | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

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Experienced horseman Godfrey Sigenu placed himself in contention for a rewarding finale to the Hollywoodbets Work Riders Series on Saturday when he steered Rougarouin to a fluent maiden victory in the third leg of the series at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Monday. The four-legged series reaches a climax on Saturday when R25 000 is up for grabs and the charismatic Sigenu, who works for winning trainer Candice Bass-Robinson, made good ground on the log on the first two leg winners and log-leaders, William Bambiso and Mzolisi Njengele, who did not ride on Monday. Rougarouin went off at 4-1 and got the better of a determined Louis Burke and the 15-01 favourite Noon Day Gun by 1,45 lengths in a time of 72,49 secs. The talented James Maree graduate Siphiwo Feni, who was the winner of the inaugural series, rode Three Coins who ran into the money but was disqualified after weighing in under scale. Bred by Riverton Stud, the winner is a son of Horizon (Dynasty) out of the Irish winning Holy Roman Emperor mare, Jambalaya.

The grand prize of R25 000 in the Hollywoodbets Work Riders’ Series, will be shared amongst the top five riders on the final log. On top of this, they will also get the standard riding commissions. Points are earned by individual work riders in each of the four races. The R25 000 prize pool will be allocated as follows: • Winner earns R12 000 • Runner-up earns R6 000 • Third place earns R4 000 • Fourth place earns R2 000 • Fifth place earns R1 000

Rougarouin charges home under Godfrey Sigenu | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

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EVERYBODY’S A WINNER – WELL, ALMOST!

Just 48 hours after two players won the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge allor-nothing jackpot prize at Turffontein on Thursday 8 February, the popular competition produced a record number of winners at the same venue on a Saturday afternoon marked by favourite results.

Two lucky players, Sketts and EnQ, became the first jackpot winners of 2024 in the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge when they shared the R720 000 jackpot prize by selecting all eight winners on the Turffontein card two days earlier. On Saturday a record 74 winners shared a payout of R650 000 in the free-to-play competition. Each winner received over R8700 each. With fancied horses coming home with regularity – 7 of 9 tote favourites won on the day – the Turffontein Pick 6 paid just R131,10. The Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge has created a multitude of winners over nearly 4 years, with the top 20 players on the leaderboard

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sharing the designated must-be-won daily prize. For local racemeetings, the value of the all-ornothing prize is determined by the number of runners at the race meeting multiplied by R10 000, for all venues. For example, if there are 88 carded runners and 5 scratchings, then the all-or-nothing prize will be based on 83 runners at R10 000 each, giving a value of R830 000 as the prize! On Hong Kong and Singapore racemeetings, the jackpot prize is R500 000. As an added incentive to players, to top this, the all-or-nothing prize and the daily must-be-won prize will be doubled on local SA racemeetings for those players who have had a bet on the Punters’ Challenge Bet Slip, to the value of R50 or more, prior to the running of the first race. The Bet Slip is programmatically generated and all you have to do is indicate an amount of R50 or more that you wish to wager.

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KZN WELCOMES BAREND The Sporting Post salutes former Gauteng trainer Barend Botes, who has taken the plunge and transferred his operation to Summerveld, The In The Box Seat team spoke to Barend about his thrilling journey from the South African Jockey Academy to his career change into the high-stakes of horse training in Joburg, culminating in his recent move to back to KZN. Learn more on the relationships he has held with owners and some of the horses that he has had the privilege of training.

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

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THE SPRINT IS INTERACTIVE PLEASE CLICK HERE AND WATCH THE INTERVIEW – IT’S WORTH A WATCH!

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JOCKEY v

WARNS PUBLIC

The public have been cautioned against a person purporting to be requesting financial assistance and offering betting and tipping information on behalf of a professional jockey. Jockey Jason Gates contacted the Sporting Post last Friday and requested that the racing public be warned against falling victim to paying monies in exchange for betting information, offered on various social media platforms. Jason’s mobile phone was stolen recently, and individuals are also apparently attempting to elicit loans from third parties. “I am distancing myself from the individual, or individuals, who are impersonating me in exchange for cash payments. 98 | 14 FEBRUARY 2024

As jockeys, we are not allowed to bet and certainly not entitled to sell any information. I am not selling ‘tips’ on any social media platforms, and, like my colleagues before me, I find the fact that anybody has been defrauding unwitting members of the public with false undertakings, totally disgusting,” he added. If you feel that you may have been a victim of this scam, please private message the Sporting Post facebook page, or email editor@ sportingpost.co.za with your details, which will then be passed on to the relevant authority.

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HOMETOWN HOPES FOR CHELTENHAM Betfair Hurdle day at Newbury on Saturday provided some hope for English trainers securing victory at Cheltenham next month with the big-name pair, Shishkin and Edwardstone, enjoying comfortable successes.

Shishkin in action – now for Cheltenham next month! Credit: Newbury Racecourse

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After missing the whole of January with a broken collarbone, Nico de Boinville returned with a bang riding a double for his boss Nicky Henderson. Riding the enigmatic Shishkin must be one of the hardest aspects of his job, but also one of the most rewarding. The ten-year-old’s jumping often flirts with disaster and he needed to be rousted along at various points, but De Boinville understands him like nobody else and knows exactly when to push the necessary buttons. Protektorat was the only other horse in the field for whom a serious form case could be made, and he had a fun time with an uncontested lead for much of the way. But he completely failed to settle and there was always going to be a reckoning for that, even if the ground was not actually as bad as suggested. In the end, Shishkin won going away by over fourlengths and is the highest-rated English trained challenger to Galopin Des Champs in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Alan King’s Edwardstone was on a retrieval mission heading into the Game Spirit after three average runs this season. Jockey Tom Cannon changed tactics on the favourite, sending him into a clear lead from the start which galvanised him. The 2022 Arkle winner produced a storming finish to win by forty lengths, winning in easy fashion. It is clear that Funambule Sivola, winner of the race for the previous two years, was nowhere near his best, while something was amiss with Amarillo Sky and Boothill was well held when falling two out. The ten-year-old will have it all to do in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham against the Mullins trained El Fabiolo but takes his chance and looks a good each-way play. Saturday was also important to the two men who lead the UK National Hunt Jockeys title. Over the last couple of months the race to see who will become champion has changed from looking a one-horserace to an exciting contest

that should play out to the finish now that Sean Bowen is back in the saddle. Harry Cobden has been busy riding plenty winners while rival Sean Bowen was injured after a fall on Boxing Day. Cobden drew level with victory in the final race of the day at Exeter on Saturday, a result which leaves both riders on 121 winners for the season. Cobden is now a best-priced 1-3 to land his first jockeys’ title, having been thirty winners adrift over Christmas. Bowen is now a general 9-4 chance to clinch his first championship. The season concludes on April 27.

Colleagues hold a minute of silence at Newbury on Saturday for deceased jockey Keagan Kirkby who was killed at Charing Racecourse on 4 February Credit: Newbury Racecourse

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Lyle Hewitson has 100 Hong Kong wins | Credit: HKJC

CENTURY FOR LYLE IN FRONT OF 81049 FANS AT SHA TIN Building vital mid-season momentum, John Size took training honours with a double at Sha Tin on Monday when Red Lion clinched the HK$3.72 million Class 1 Chinese New Year Cup Handicap in front of a crowd of 81,049. Boosting his tally to 29 wins, Size has moved steadily into fourth place in the Hong Kong trainers’ championship behind Pierre Ng (47), Francis Lui (32) and Ricky Yiu (30) after Howdeepisyourlove followed Red Lion’s gritty success in the afternoon’s feature. Enhancing his record to five wins and four minor placings from 18 starts with prize money of more than HK$12 million, Red Lion earned 104 | 14 FEBRUARY 2024

the praise of 12-time champion trainer Size after Zac Purton tracked leaders Duke Wai and Super Wealthy into the straight before angling into the clear before taking the lead. Challenged fiercely by Mugen at the 150m, Red Lion rallied bravely to win by a neck with a fading Duke Wai eight and a quarter length further back third with an overall winning time of 1m 21.42s.

“Red Lion has been a good horse. He won four races last season and he’s done a fantastic job to come back on a reasonably high mark (102) and win another race,” Size said of the Belardo five-year-old, who won twice in Ireland when known as Fiach McHugh when trained by Andrew Slattery. “He fought like a lion. We’ll see what happens to his rating and try place him in another one he can go close in.” Purton, who leads the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship with 65 wins from Karis Teetan (44), said: “Red Lion just had the right run. There were some horses that were well out of form and not well placed in that race. It was really a race in two. I had to carry the weight compared to the up and coming, nice young progressive horse.

master trainer, Size rarely gets it wrong, and the horse presented at the right time, bullied his way through and won like a good horse.” Cruz is hopeful California Voce can progress to the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby on 24 March after the Irish import earned a PP bonus of HK$1.5 million after a driving victory from the tail of the field. “Hopefully he can get his rating up and get into the Derby,” Cruz said. “He’s needs longer distance, but this horse is going places. He won well today.” Giddy Up, trained by Jamie Richards, also claimed a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million by winning the Class 3 Kut Cheong Handicap under Antoine Hamelin.

Lyle Hewitson notched his 100th “It was a good battle win in Hong Kong when Chris – they both had their So-trained Parterre landed the chance to win. I second section of the Class 4 thought at the 150m, Good Fortune Handicap, ending he had me when a run of 72 losing rides for the I’ve just tried to ride my he was breathing South African. down on me like that races, stay confident – I but, to my horse’s “It’s another winner, most feel like I’m riding well. credit, maybe being importantly, and I think it’s a a little older, more nice box to tick but hopefully in seasoned, a bit the long run, it’s just a small box tougher, that was probably the telling factor to tick,” Hewitson said. “Look, it didn’t perturb in the end.” me too much, but I had a few dry meetings and it was very frustrating because I didn’t Backing up from his eighth place in the think I did too much wrong and hopefully the Hong Kong Classic Mile eight days ago, floodgates can open again now.” Howdeepisyourlove posted his first win at Sha Tin as Avdulla revelled in a memorable Making a delayed debut after being scratched day following his win on Tony Cruz-trained pre-race when he was unable to be bridled on California Voce in the Class 3 Red Packet 7 January, Windcheater atoned with perfect Handicap. manners and charged between runners under Luke Ferraris to win the first section of the Class “I’ve just tried to ride my races, stay confident – 4 Good Fortune Handicap. I feel like I’m riding well,” Avdulla said. “We had a little bit of a false start a couple of “It’s nice to get a result. California Voce is a weeks ago, but the horse has certainly got progressive horse and Howdeepisyourlove, plenty of talent,” Newnham said. “I was a little you had to forgive him in the Hong Kong bit nervous at about the 200m marker when he Classic Mile and today, off a good gallop, the had nowhere to go, but the class horse that he 14 FEBRUARY 2024 | 105

is, as soon as the gap appeared, he was able to take advantage of it. “He’s a big raw horse. Prior to coming here he’d only had one trial, so he’s open to a fair bit of improvement.” Frankie Lor’s Voyage Samurai also made a successful debut appearance when Derek Leung drove the Dissident gelding to victory in the Class 4 Lucky Star Handicap, while David Hayes-trained Ka Ying Rising was rewarded with success in the Class 3 Prosperity Handicap under Zac Purton. Beaten narrowly at his previous starts by Size’s talented Wunderbar, the Shamexpress threeyear-old notched his second win at his fourth start. “I think he’s got a good future over a bit longer

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because he’s just losing his pace a bit now,” Hayes said. “We’ll see how pulls up because I’d like to get his rating up a little bit more. That means we can train him for the bigger races next season, and we can cruise. “I might give him a bit of a break. He’s had three hard runs in a row, so we are in no rush.” Me Tsui and Angus Chung claimed the honour of winning the first race in the Year of the Dragon when Happy Tango swept to victory in the Class 5 Kung Hei Handicap before Manfred Man’s Tsuen Wan Glory landed the Class 5 Fat Choi Handicap for Matthew Chadwick, while Teetan struck aboard Ricky Yiu-trained Winning Data in the Class 4 Great Profits Handicap. Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Thursday.

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Great Truth stays on under William Buick to beat Frost At Dawn | Credit: DRC

APPLEBY STRIKES AT MEYDAN Charlie Appleby had only three runners on the tenth evening of the Dubai Racing Carnival, at Meydan on Friday, but that didn’t stop the training maestro from grabbing the featured Dubai Trophy (presented by DP World) with Great Truth. There was a good battle for the 1200m threeyear-old turf contest, but William Buick timed it just right, straightening up his mount in time to deny the filly Frost At Dawn by a head. “He probably needed that run slightly,” said Buick of Great Truth’s fourth on his previous start. “This was a similar sort of race but he’s probably more of a seven-furlong horse than a six-furlong horse. “He goes through the early part of the race fine, but you can see others have a bit more toe than him. Nevertheless, he has a great attitude.” Buick and Appleby doubled up in the main supporting race, the 2410 m Vazirabad Handicap (Presented by DP World). Ruling Dynasty was found to be lame after a disappointing run in the DRC Classic last time but bounced back here, 108 | 14 FEBRUARY 2024

reeling in stablemate Al Nafir inside the final 100m and winning, going away, by two and threequarter lengths. “Charlie put blinkers on him just to help him focus and it worked,” said Buick. “When Al Nafir went clear down the back, I didn’t think he would stop but we picked him up well in the end. “Ruling Dynasty is a decent handicapper. Let’s see if he can take any of this form back to the UK.” While Buick winners at Meydan are as common as camels in the desert, jockey Callum Shepherd celebrated his first at the track when Intricacy won the National Industries Park Handicap, over 2000m on turf.

The British-based rider had to do it the hard way on Simon and Ed Crisford’s gelding, threading a passage through from the back of the field. Once in the clear, his mount showed a good turn of foot and beat Eye On The Prize by two and threequarter lengths. “It’s very gratifying to do it,” he said. “I thought I’d do it last time on this horse, but we were assassinated in the final furlong. He was down in trip, which isn’t really his bag, but this will have done his confidence a lot of good and he deserved that. “As a visiting rider to come here and get rides isn’t easy, so to have a winner is amazing. It’s a place where you grew up watching the greats.” There was an eye-catching winner of the We One three-year-old race when Falcon Of Arabia kept it simple on debut. Trained by Bhupat Seemar and ridden by Tadhg O’Shea, the son of Speightstown, a $150,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale purchase, was another to dominate on the dirt. He grabbed the rail in the 1400m contest and always looking likely to hold off favourite Auto Bahn, beating him by a length and a quarter. “He has to be nice to do that first time,” said O’Shea of the Falcon Racing Team-owned colt. “He has a nice temperament; a good pedigree and he was very professional. “He was getting a weight pull from the top horse (Auto Bahn) but he’d had a run and we hadn’t.” Seemar added: “the (Listed) Al Bastikiya is only two weeks away but they’re only three-year-olds once so we might have to talk to connections and look that way.” The navy and gold silks of Gulf Racing Club are increasingly prominent in Dubai and their owners had cause to celebrate when Condor Pasa took the Dubai Auto Zone Maiden, race two, over 1600m on turf. The Fawzi Nass-trained three-year-old, who began his career in Argentina, was receiving

weight from the whole field and made it count, coming with a sustained run from mid-division to beat the Musabbeh Al Mheiri-trained pair of Daahes and Algernon by a length and a length and a quarter. “Last time he ran on over six (1200m), so he needed time to quicken today but then did it nicely,” said jockey Adrie de Vries, for whom it was a 16th winner of the season. “He’s a very honest horse, he’s been knocking at the door and he deserves this win.” Out of luck in the three-year-old race, Al Mheiri gained compensation later on when he sent out Mountbatten to land the Dubai Trade Handicap in the hands of Mickael Barzalona. The five-year-old was making just his second start in Dubai and had to work hard for the win, outbattling the favourite Wild Tiger in the run to the line.

“My horse has a big stride and even though I had to go outside he was making up lengths which he was able to maintain to the line,” said Barzalona. “Last time out he just got tired, so he’s improved today.” Seemar and O’Shea kept the momentum going in their respective Championship challenges with a double, completed when Nevershow Weakness won his third race in a row. Fitri Hay’s Lord Nelson gelding has really taken to the Meydan dirt and was ridden slightly differently here, settling just behind the early pace in the 2000m JAFZA Handicap. It was easy enough as they turned for home, however, and he soon went clear, beating the running on Go Soldier Go by five and a quarter lengths. “I just kept my nose in there so the door wouldn’t close,” said O’Shea. “The horse making the running stayed off the rail and my horse is very straightforward and doesn’t have to lead.

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“He’s quietly surprised us as he just goes through the motions at home, but he loves the dirt and is still on the up.” Another horse trying to make it three in a row was likeable grey Mr Kafoo, but he failed by a neck to catch Meshakel, who bounced back to form in the DP World Logistics Handicap, over 1200m on dirt. Salem Bin Ghadayer’s six-year-old was without a win since March 2021 but put it all together here under Royston Ffrench, swooping past stablemate Desert Safari on the home turn and just having enough left to hold off Mr Kafoo. “He’s probably lost his way a little bit, but we ride him like he used to be ridden so that if he did come back, he’d have a chance,” said Ffrench. “His homework has always been good.” The opening Purebred Arabian contest, the P&O

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Marinas Handicap, was turned into a procession by Unleashed who gave trainer Dr Jaber Bittar his second win in two weeks at the UAE’s flagship course. Ridden by Richie Mullen, he led from gate to wire in the 1600m contest and went further clear getting into the straight, eventually winning by a staggering 19 lengths. “We had a good draw (2),” said Mullen. “He actually ran better than the results suggest in the Gr1 Maktoum Challenge and he has a nice action for dirt. “He doesn’t have a lot of tactical speed, so I was keen to get him out there. He is a progressive horse, but I didn’t expect a performance like that.” The Dubai Racing Carnival returns Friday 16 February when the feature race is the Lord Glitters Handicap, worth AED210,000.

results up to: 2024-02-14

TRAINERS Name

Runs

Wins Win%

2nd

3rd

Other Places

Place %

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

Mr S J Snaith

617

10.7

107

248

40.2

8,194,256

12,499,375

Mrs C L Bass-Robinson

392

14.0

173

44.1

6,613,438

9,226,913

Mr S G Tarry

344

12.5

168

48.8

3,826,563

7,384,138

Mr B J Crawford

494

12.3

188

38.1

4,441,631

7,098,781

Mr M F de Kock

313

12.5

141

45.0

3,468,125

6,911,438

Name

Runs

Wins Win%

2nd

3rd

Other Places

Place %

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

Mr R D Fourie

815

168

20.6

143

175

400

49.1

10,981,750

17,538,888

Mr M A Yeni

850

114

13.4

119

198

415

48.8

9,890,313

14,126,300

Mr G J Lerena

465

17.4

244

52.5

6,542,375

9,672,463

Mr C J Habib

660

12.1

137

266

40.3

5,630,938

8,289,900

Mr S Khumalo

451

16.4

203

45.0

4,587,813

6,985,138

JOCKEYS

BREEDERS Name

Runrs Runs

AEPR

B.T. B.T. Total Wnrs/ Wnrs Wins Rnrs% Places Winrs Wins Stakes (R)

Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)

167

641

101,684

38.9

287

16,981,206

Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein

276 1173

55,458

106

143

38.4

494

15,306,488

Varsfontein Stud

138

599

66,177

30.4

256

9,132,444

Klawervlei Stud

220

935

40,837

32.7

367

8,984,138

Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd

133

517

52,317

37.6

190

6,958,100

Name

Runrs Runs

AEPR

B.T. B.T. Total Wnrs/ Wnrs Wins Rnrs% Places Winrs Wins Stakes (R)

Gimmethegreenlight (AUS)

199

761

61,295

29.6

331

12,197,788

Vercingetorix

173

671

61,940

41.6

278

10,715,650

Querari (GER)

165

682

53,799

38.8

296

8,876,850

Master Of My Fate

167

698

46,893

31.7

299

7,831,175

William Longsword

136

581

52,072

35.3

235

7,081,813

SIRES

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