SP SPRINT - 22 FEBRUARY 2023

Wednesday 22 February 2023

Captured at the Miller stable in Summerveld last week - another Candiese Lenferna masterpiece mirrors everyday labours of love in the yard.

SET FOR SATURDAY!

‘The son of Trippi may venture into uncharted waters as far as the 2000m trip is concerned, yet on sheer class alone, he sets a rare standard and not even Snaith's six-pronged attack should come between him and a second Gr1 victory’

Charles Dickens heads the field as a popular favourite for the SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby, the headliner at this weekend's Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Saturday meeting and a fitting finale to the Cape summer season.

Candice Bass-Robinson's star colt is on a retrieval mission following his unexpected defeat in the Gr1 L'Ormarins King's Plate, the only blip on an otherwise perfect score sheet. Rightly or wrongly, regular pilot Aldo Domeyer came in for plenty of criticism following the colt's sole defeat and he will no doubt be all out to set the record straight.

In what must surely rate as one

of the most unusual renewals of this classic, the pair will face an armada of six runners from the powerful Justin Snaith stable, five of which are owned outright by Nic Jonsson.

Snaith will virtually throw the kitchen sink at the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner and his main hopes of a third Derby victory appear to lie with second favourite Rockpool, the mount of Richard Fourie.

Campaigned in partnership by Jonsson and Nancy Hossack, the colt comes off a fine hattrick of wins, the most recent of which a half-length score over stable companion and fellow Derby contender

A Gr3-placed juvenile, the gelding comes into the Derby off a fourth place in the Politician Stakes.

Without Question in the Gr3 Politician Stakes.

On pedigree, this big-striding son of Futura is sure to appreciate the 2000m trip. His sire won over the distance while his dam is by Jallad, who boasts an exemplary record in this classic. The sire of Cape Derby winners Grande Jete, Rabiya and Russian Sage, the former Highlands champ also features as the broodmare sire of 2016 winner It's My Turn and of Eyes Wide Open, conqueror of future Horse of

Chase Liebenberg

Charles Dickens looks set to regain his crown

the Year Do It Again two years later.

Speaking of Do It Again, the Snaith-trained champion raced in the Jonsson silks, as does close relative See It Again.

Also by Twice Over and out of a Visionaire half-sister to Do It Again, the colt is a rare Derby runner for KZN-based trainer Michael Roberts and claimed the Model Man Mile prior to his arrival in Cape Town. With two close-up efforts at Kenilworth over 1400 and a mile under his belt, he will have the services of ageless champion Piere Strydom in what could be the popular veteran's final Cape Derby.

By the way, Twice Over's four contenders also includes the Jonsson-owned Mucho Dinero. This two-time winner has close ties to the Derby, for his dam, the Gr3 Final

Fling and Ladies Mile victress Cash Register, is an own sister to 2013 winner Big City Life. Grant van Niekerk will do the honours and will bid to repeat his victory of two years ago aboard Linebacker.

Glen Kotzen trained Big City Life and on Saturday saddles Grinkov, yet another son of Twice Over. A Gr3-placed juvenile, the gelding comes into the Derby off a fourth place in the Politician Stakes.

Third in that race was At My Command, who had finished in that same position behind Charles Dickens in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas.

He is trained by Brett Crawford for Lady Laidlaw's Khaya Stables and will be partnered by red-hot Winning Form jockey Keagan de Melo. Derby success has been some

time coming for the owner/ trainer team, as it's been seven years since Crawford took the honours with Edict Of Nantes, while Capetown Noir carried Lady Laidlaw's familiar yellow silks to victory all of a decade ago for the Dean Kannemeyer yard.

Let's be frank, the presence of Charles Dickens has certainly lifted the cachet surrounding this year's SplashOut Cape Derby, so hats off to Gaynor Rupert for letting her homebred colt take his chances, rather than resting him until the start of the Durban season.

The son of Trippi may venture into uncharted waters as far as the 2000m trip is concerned, yet on sheer class alone, he sets a rare standard and not even Snaith's six-pronged attack should come between him and a second Gr1 victory.

KZN challenger See It Again – a rare Michael Roberts Cape Derby runner

Candiese Lenferna

98 YEARS ON - A SPLASH OF HISTORY!

Proudly sponsored for the first time by SplashOut Print Branding and Media, the Gr1 Cape Derby is a timeless classic and brings the curtain down on the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Summer Festival of Racing in grand style on Saturday.

Announcing the big-race sponsorship, Eugene Naidu, General Manager of SplashOut, said that the prestigious association with one of South Africa’s great

racing events was a defining moment in the evolution of publication company, Winning Media.

“Winning Media was established in 2015 and our existing involvement in horseracing has now been taken to the next level. The Cape Derby sponsorship is a proud moment for our team and dovetails seamlessly with our rebranding as SplashOut Print Branding and Media, as we shoot for the stars in

our bid to bolster our service offering to meet the dynamic demands of the ever-changing digital space. In creating a physical branding solution aimed at surpassing our clients’ needs, we aim to be champions in our own space, and adding our name to an iconic race like the SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby underscores our philosophy of always striving for excellence,” he added.

SplashOut offers a wide

Comareen and Michael Roberts storm home to win the 1994 Cape of Good Hope Derby Futurity Stakes – can Muis saddle See It Again to win the 2023 SplashOut Cape Derby on Saturday?

range of signage, branding and printing solutions, and has been successful in the provision of signage for racecourses across South Africa, notably Hollywoodbets Greyville, Scottsville, Kenilworth and Durbanville. The company also provided all the branding material for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

With a glittering honour roll that boasts future stallions, Equus Champions, and some giants of the SA turf, including household names of the ilk of Colorado King, Sea Cottage, Mazarin, Politician, and more recently champions like Dynasty, Jay Peg, Capetown Noir, Legislate and Golden Ducat, the SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby is set to continue a proud tradition dating back some 98 years, when the race was first run over 1800m as the Western Province Derby.

The richest race staged in South Africa during its formative years, the classic was renamed the Cape of Good Hope Derby in 1946 and run over 2400m.

The 1947 renewal was a royal occasion as the historic Southern Suburbs venue hosted King George who presented the King’s Cup to the winner Menlo, trained by Syd Garrett and ridden

to victory by Stanley Amos, who was a turf hero right up to his retirement from the saddle at the age of 65.

On Saturday the smashing Charles Dickens will bid to write his name into the history books with a performance that could well endorse his reputation as one of the best we have seen in this country since the great Horse Chestnut.

And former multiple champion jockey Michael Roberts, who won the Cape Derby on Comareen in 1994, bids to saddle See It Again to victory. This could also be Piere Strydom’s swansong Cape Derby ride.

“We are aiming to raise the bar again and make Saturday, 25 February, the memorable culmination of a sensational summer with the SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby headlining an enthralling day of top-notch horseracing action, at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. We hope racing fans will turn out to enjoy the breath-taking spectacle and the magic trackside moments as a new generation of champions strut their stuff,” concluded Eugene Naidu.

1937 Met winner Asbestos II (Asterus), whose sons, Feltos, Menlo, Mineral, Convalesce and Restore won the Derby from 1946 to 1950

DYNASTY DERBY DOMINANCE TO CONTINUE

The late Dynasty has already exerted a considerable influence on the Gr1 Cape Derby and the son of Fort Wood's Derby legacy looks set to continue in Saturday's SplashOut sponsored race.

Not only is Dynasty broodmare

sire of Cape Derby favourite Charles Dickens (Trippi), but his son Futura is sire of recent Gr3 Politician Stakes winner, Rockpool.

Charles Dickens will be looking to go one better than his fullbrother Charles, who finished

second in the 2019 Gr1 Gbets Cape Derby. The pair were produced by Dynasty's Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge winning daughter Demanding Lady.

Himself winner of the 2003 Gr1 Cape Derby, Dynasty sired four Cape Derby winners in

Owner Fred Crabbia (3rd left) and trainer Justin Snaith lead in Dynasty’s 2016 Cape Derby hero It’s My Turn (Piere Strydom)

Hamish Niven Photography

the form of Eyes Wide Open (2018), It's My Turn (2016), Jackson (2012), and Legislate (2014). Interestingly, both Eyes Wide Open and It's My Turn were produced by Jallad mares, and Jallad also ranks as the broodmare sire of Rockpool.

Sons of Dynasty to place in the Cape Derby have included Act Of War, Arniston, Bunker Hunt, Dynamic and Legislate's full-brother The Gatekeeper, while his son Horizon was a beaten favourite in the Cape Derby of 2017.

Dynasty is set to be well represented by runners in feature races at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth this weekend. The former Horse Of The Year is the sire of Listed Schweppes Cape Oaks hopeful Saartjie and broodmare sire of fellow Cape Oaks entrant Broadway Girl. Dynasty's daughter Happy Chance runs in Saturday's Gr3 Gordon's Gin Prix Du Cap, while Dynasty also ranks as broodmare sire of Gr3 City Of Cape Town Cape Of Good Hope Nursery runner Bohemian Grove. His son Horizon is represented in Saturday's Nursery by Evies Horizon.

Dynasty sons Nexus and Imilenzeyokududma both line up in the 2023 Listed Splashout Jet Master Stakes -a race in which Dynasty’s sons Futura (Warrior, Future Prince) and Legislate (Hoedspruit) are also represented.

Dynasty also features in the

Fort Wood's great son has had a fine posthumous season in 2022-2023, with Dynasty's flagbearers this season headed by the Gr1 winners Desert Miracle (Schweppes Majorca Stakes) and Make It Snappy (WSB Cape Fillies Guineas, Cartier Paddock Stakes) as well as repeat Gr2 Peninsula Handicap winner Nexus.

At the time of writing, Dynasty is eighth on the general sires list, and sixth on the leading sires of broodmares list for 2022-2023.

Gr2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes, as the broodmare sire of Diadem starter Gladiatorian (Vercingetorix), and his son Act Of War is sire of Diadem hopeful Battle Force.

Dynasty son Eyes Wide Open wins the 2018 Cape Derby under an elated Richard Fourie

Smashing Dynasty sired Legislate (Richard Fourie) wins the 2014 Cape Derby

SEAFOOD!&SEE HORSES

A repeat on Saturday? Gimme A

celebrate

While some will be interested in winning a slice of the projected R3 million Pick 6 on the day, others will be finding other winners at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. And that’s the delectable seafood delights as the SplashOut Cape Town Seafood & Jazz Racing Festival marks the sunset on a wonderful summer of exciting horseracing.

It's a terrific ten race card, including eight feature contests, that awaits racing fans on Saturday, and all the build-up will be carried on www.sportingpost.co.za.

Destination Cape Racing, in partnership with SplashOut, the City of Cape Town, Schweppes, BloodStock, Gordon’s, and Khaya Stables is also making Cape Derby day a family fun day to remember.

For starters - and mainsattendees will be treated to the freshest seafood the ocean has to offer. From mussels and oysters to sushi and prawns, no one will be going home hungry.

There will be jazz throughout the day and a feature performance by The Voice South Africa season 2 winner, Craig Lucas, following the final race.

Chase Liebenberg

Prince connections Dean Kannemeyer, Jehan Malherbe and Lady Christine Laidlaw (far right) after the Cape Flying Championship on Met day Top class. Can they

victory in the Khaya Stables Gr2 Diadem Stakes on Saturday?

He will be winding down the afternoon with hits like ‘AntiSociable’, ‘Better’ and ‘Happy’.

The dedicated kids’ zone will keep the little ones entertained all afternoon with jumping castles, clowns

twisting and turning colourful balloons into an array of shapes, and a chill-out area to escape from the summer sun. Dedicated minders will be in the zone at all times, keeping an eye on the kiddies.

Entry to this premiere event is free, with plenty of prizes up for grabs. Good times, great vibes, and magical memories await. And of course, Charles Dickens!

Gates open at 11h00.

www.caperacing.co.za

Craig Lucas will be winding down the afternoon

RANDJESFONTEIN FORGOTTEN –LUNGA KICKS OFF AT FAIRVIEW

After close on 25 years in horseracing, and following a few potholes in the long and winding road along the way, Transkei-born Lunga Gila will proudly celebrate the launch of his training career when he sends out his first runners at Fairview on Tuesday 28 February.

The 40 year old family man says with a broad smile that he has paid his ‘school fees’.

Lunga had a long stint as the right hand man of former trainer Mitch Wiese at the Fairview stables. He then worked for the Glen Kotzenstable, running the satellite yard in Gqeberha. When Kotzen closed the yard in 2015, Gila joined him at Woodhill in Paarl and later ran the Kotzen satellite yard in Durban.

Kotzen wished Lunga well,

describing him as a ‘very likeable person, diligent, with good stable management skills’.

Prior to his abortive trip to set up shop at Randjesfontein, Lunga was in charge of the satellite yard of KwaZulu-Natal trainer Kom Naidoo at Fairview.

When we spoke to him on Tuesday, he was excitedly

Lunga Gila - dressed for success!

prepping his new barn next door veteran Cliffie Miller at Fairview.

“For the past few weeks

Jacques Strydom has been assisting me with stabling, but I have the keys for my barn and I have ten horses arriving at lunch-time today (Tuesday), together with the four I already have,” he adds enthusiastically.

He has 28 boxes and is hoping to increase his string over the next few months.

“I have been very fortunate to get good support and also have a great team to back me. When I left Gqeberha I sent some of the guys up to KZN. My staff are key – we work well together and they know that I am there for them,” he adds.

Asked about which jockeys have been riding work and who he will be using, Lunga concedes that being a small yard means he uses the jockeys that want to ride for him.

“The big yards can offer the top jockeys so much more. At my first meeting I hope to give Wayne Agrella and Ryan Munger a ride or two.”

And will he be starting on a winning note?

“Now you are putting me under pressure! We are always trying our best, believe me!”

The charismatic horseman is a likeable straight-shooter

and has clearly put the bizarre events of Randjesfontein in November 2022 behind him.

After reporting the behaviour of his only owner Mano Pandaram to the National Horseracing Authority out of concern for possible contraventions of regulations, the welfare of his horses, and his own reputation, Lunga found himself without a licence and ironically on the receiving end of negative publicity that threatened to ruin his dream of running his own yard.

The National Horseracing Authority subsequently imposed an interim suspension on horses in the name of the owner, and that were under the care of Lunga until 30 November 2022.

The devastated trainer told the Sporting Post at the time that he was actually never allowed to be the trainer but was confident that an investigation would reveal the truth. As demonstrated by the fact that he now holds his trainer’s licence, he was exonerated and shown to have acted correctly.

It had been a huge setback and led to something of an industry outcry. And it wasn’t an easy decision for Lunga to leave his beloved Eastern Cape and relocate to Gauteng in the first place.

As veteran journalist Henk Steenkamp reported recently, Lunga handled the situation very professionally.

He subsequently thanked the people that supported him through that difficult time in a statement on Monday.

“To my fellow trainers, friends and supporters, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you that stood by me and gave of your unconditional support and advice during my time of turmoil in recent months. It was greatly appreciated and I honestly cannot thank you enough. Here’s to many successes and winning ways to us all,” said the now much happier looking trainer.

Lunga is keen to fill the boxes and start sending out winners. He can be contacted at gilanalunga@gmail.com

READY TO SPLASH OUT ON A CHAMPION?

Sales time on Sunday

Candiese Lenferna

It’s SplashOut Cape Derby week with the BSA Cape Yearling Sale on Sunday bringing the curtain down on a memorable summer down South.

The Cape Yearling Sale has long enjoyed a well-earned reputation as a great value for money sale which produces top-class horses year in and year out.

Recent star graduates of the Cape Yearling Sale include

graded stakes winners of the likes of Astrix, Gem King, Hoedspruit, and Zarina.

The sale hit new heights in 2022, when yearlings made up to R1 000 000, and expectations are high that those heights can be bettered on Sunday.

The Cape’s top farms will be bringing some superbly bred yearlings to the sale, and the catalogue looks an exciting one indeed.

Top stallions represented at the 2023 Cape Yearling Sale include Elusive Fort, Futura, Gimmethegreenlight, Ideal World, Master Of My Fate, Querari, Rafeef, Trippi, Var, Vercingetorix, and What A Winter.

Stallions with members of their first crop on offer include Buffalo Bill Cody, One World and Talk Of The Town.

• Lot 13 – a Querari half-brother to Gr1 Cape Derby runner up Sachdev

• Lot 32 – a Gimmethegreenlight half-sister to Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes winner Bunker Hunt

• Lot 35 – an Erupt half-sister to triple Gr1 runner up Driving Miss Daisy

• Lot 48 – a Vercingetorix ¾ sister to Gr2 winner Silver Operator

• Lot 76- a One World three-parts brother to Swallow Stakes winner All At Once

• Lot 81- a Vercingetorix own sister to Forever Mine

• Lot 88 – an Ideal World colt out of Gr3 Fillies Mile winner Banbury

• Lot 94 – a Futura half-sister to promising two-year-old Speeding Bullet

• Lot 95 – a William Longsword half-brother to champion Via Africa

• Lot 114 – a Heavenly Blue half-sister to Gr2 winner Swing Upon A Star

• Lot 123 – a Buffalo Bill Cody half-brother to Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes winner Whistle Stop

• Lot 148 – a Talk Of The Town three-parts sister to Gr1 winner Normanz

• Lot 159 – a Vercingetorix colt out of a Gr3 winning daughter of Captain Al

• Lot 165 – a William Longsword half-brother to Gr2 winner Gimme Dat

• Lot169 – a Buffalo Bill Cody half-brother to Swallow Stakes winner Freed From Desire

The 2023 Cape Yearling Sale will be held at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday 26 February and trading is set to get underway at 12h30.

Potential standout lots on offer include:

Old and the new! Graeme Hawkins and Fiso Hadebe will be on the rostrum on Sunday

Candiese Lenferna

HAMMERING HOME THE WINNERS

Sunday’s Cape Yearling Sale auctioneers Graeme Hawkins, Andrew Miller, Fiso Hadebe and Angus Williamson are a mix of speed and stamina, like many of the quality lots going through the ring, including the top-class draft of the long established and well respected, Normandy Stud.

One of the Cape's top thoroughbred nurseries, Normandy Stud, is no stranger to consigning top horses to this sale, with their past Cape Sale graduates headed by none other than four time Gr1 winner, and Equus Champion, Mother Russia.

The farm will be bringing another top-class string to this year's Cape Yearling Sale, with this consignment made up of the progeny of such stallions as Erupt, Legislate, One World, Oratorio Potala Palace, Twice Over and William Longsword.

Normandy's Oscar Foulkes is thrilled by the quality of his draft, and says, "With the exception of the weanlings that we sold in 2022, and the four fillies being retained for stud, this is our entire crop of 2021. We are not sending yearlings to any other sales. Through various branches,

all but one of our foundation families are represented, the exception being the In Camera-Tatler dam line that started with Entre Nous. "

Lot 7 c. Erupt (IRE) – Point Of Order

Long before we had any idea whether Erupt would get winners, we could see the extent to which he’s improving on his mares, and this colt is a cracking example. He’s a good size (especially for a first foal), he’s scopey, and there’s plenty of him.

He’s from the Cap Alright branch of the Terpsichore family.

Lot 13 c. Querari – Quetta

The half-brother to Sachdev, who came within an agonizingly close half-length of winning the Cape Derby. His dam is a half-sister to Bravura, who did win the Cape Derby, and it’s the family of multiple champions Mother Russia and Winter Solstice.

This colt oozes class – he moves like a dream, and as a 1 November foal he’s just going to get better and better as he matures.

Lot 23 f. Oratorio (IRE) –Sabrina Fair

The dam’s only runner is a

winner, and Oratorio produces an impressive close on 60% winners from foals, so percentages are on your side. The dam is a half-sister to the dam of the top sprinting filly, Sarah, and it’s the Terpsichore family. This filly moves extremely well. She is built a lot like her dam, whose racing career was just taking off when she did a tendon.

Lot 84 f. Potala Palace –Ashram

The dam has a 100% record, including Wind Water, who is looking like a handy sprinter. This is a good-sized, scopey filly, and she moves extremely well.

Lot 85 c. Potala Palace –Azarenka

The only runner of this stakesplaced mare is a winner. It’s a family that has been prolific in producing winners for us, tracing to a smart sprinting filly by Royal Affair that we obtained in the early 80s. This colt is bred on the same cross as the top-class Katak.

He’s a high quality chap, and the very epitome of athleticism.

Lot 92 f. Erupt (IRE) – Blue Wonder

We couldn’t be happier to have this as the first foal of a new mare. She’s a super athletic Erupt filly that should show pace up the straight even though she’s out of a Silvano mare.

Lot 119 f. Erupt (IRE) –Fleeced

We often speak about the extent to which Erupt upgrades on his mares. This filly is out of a very attractive stakes-placed mare that didn’t need any upgrading, and it’s hard to imagine a better first foal. She stands over plenty of ground, she is powerfully built, and she has a high quality, refined head.

It’s the immediate family of Star Empire, Fabiani and GG’s Dynasty.

Lot 126 c. Erupt (IRE) – Good Cause

This is a neat, good-moving Erupt colt, out of a half-sister to the graded stakes-winner Crowd Pleaser, from the family of the Champion US filly, Smart Angle.

Lot 139 c. Twice Over (GB) –Joshua's Princess

This colt has the Classics written all over him. He’s tall, scopey and high quality, with a good action. Of course, being by the Grade One sire Twice Over, out of the grand race filly Joshua’s Princess, that’s very much in his DNA. Apart from her own exploits on the racetrack, she’s a half-sister to the dam of the

Cape Derby winner Grande

Jete.

Lot 150 c. Potala Palace –Lady Of The Fleece

We’ve been big supporters of Potala Palace because of his proven ability to produce top horses out of the worst mares in the Stud Book (not that we’d put Lady of the Fleece into that category).

This is a high quality, scopey colt with a great action. He’s a half-brother to a couple of winners, including a black type filly, from the close up family of Fabiani, Star Empire and GG’s Dynasty.

Lot 151 c. One World – Lady Wylie

We like the look of this threeparts brother to our Cape Flying Championship winner Sergeant Hardy. He has a sprinter’s way about him, and moves well.

There are a couple of firsts here, in that he’s from the first crop of One World, and he’s the mare’s first foal.

Lot 153 f. Erupt (IRE) – Live Aid

This filly is built like a tank –yet another example of how Erupt improves on his mares. She’s a great opportunity to get into the family of Bravura, Winter Solstice and Mother Russia.

Lot 161 c. William Longsword – Marie Antoinette

For a first foal he’s a really good size, and for a big guy he’s exceptionally light on his

feet. Here’s another three-parts brother to Sergeant Hardy.

Lot 172 f. Potala Palace –Night On The Hill

This athletic, high quality filly is from the Cap Alright branch of the Terpsichore family.

Lot 174 c. Legislate – Nordic Light

Whenever we get asked about the perfect cat-like walk, we’ll pull out a video of this colt in action. He is just the most sensational mover.

Of course, he’s by the stallion with the best percentages in the country, and his dam’s only runner is the uber-competitive Beerenberg, who has three wins and seven places from 11 starts.

His dam is a half-sister to the dam of Rio Querari, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see this cracking colt follow in those hoofprints.

Normandy Stud's draft for Sunday’s Cape Sale can be viewed from Block A at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth racecourse.

NADESON - TAKE YOUR PICK

Nadeson Park Stud, breeders of multiple Equus Champion Got The Greenlight among many others, have a six strong draft at Sunday’s Cape Yearling Sale.

The farm will be offering something for everyone, with their Cape draft made up of yearlings sired by Captain Of All, Global View, Horizon, Master Of My Fate, Potala Palace and Time Thief.

The latter is represented here by a colt (Lot 64) closely inbred to legendary sire Danehill and hailing from the immediate family of multiple Gr1 winner Yorker as well as Gr3 Three Troikas Stakes winning Cape Sale graduate Sprinkles.

One lot sure to find favour with buyers is the Potala Palace colt (Lot 66) out of What A Gal, with this

colt a half-brother to seven winners notably game G2 Drill Hall Stakes winner Perovskia.

Sire of impressive recent Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Lady Of Power, Master Of My Fate is represented here by a filly (Lot 167) whose dam is a four time winning daughter of outstanding sire More Than Ready, while champion sprinter Captain Of

The stakes placed Count To Ten, a half-sister to Met winning champion One World, has a Global View filly (Lot 104) on the sale, while Cream Of Chrome, a daughter of One World's sire Captain Al and Starling Stakes winner Kiribati, has a Horizon filly (Lot 105) on offer.

The Nadeson draft can be found in Block E at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth

Nadeson's father-andson team of Hassen and Rayaan Adams are looking forward to Sunday

Gauteng Guineas victor Tellina.

Chase Liebenberg

IT COULD PAY TO BE A BIG TALKER ON SUNDAY

VAR Stallion Talk Of The Town’s yearlings are going to be the talk of the 2023 BSA Cape Yearling Sale, says Avontuur General Manager Pippa Mickelburgh.

The Sale takes place at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth racecourse on Sunday, 26 February,

Pippa told Turf Talk’s David Thiselton that it was not going to be easy for Talk Of

The Town due to him not having won a stakes race, but she added, “Racecourse performance is important and rightly so, but he was favourite for a big sales race and broke down the Thursday before. Capetonians know how good he was, but it isn’t on his record.”

Otherwise Talk Of The Town ‘ticks all the boxes’.

The magnificent looking

chestnut son of VAR is the only stallion in South Africa to have ten sires within his first three dams. These include the celebrated three-times Australian champion Redoute’s Choice, whose progeny have done notably well in South Africa and a number of them have also stood or are standing here as stallions.

Pippa said, “I truly believe if Talk Of The Town’s yearlings were by the like of

First time at sale for the handsome Talk Of The Town (VAR - Street Sense by Street Cry)

Vercingetorix or VAR we would be home and hosed. They are magnificent! His yearlings are top drawer. If he had a big win under his belt, we would be smiling. We have three on the Sale and will be at the Sale’s grounds by Thursday. Buyers must please come and visit us and see for themselves.”

Talk Of The Town raced five times. He finished second in his first two starts over 1200m and then rattled off a hattrick of wins, two over 1400m and one over 1600m. He won that last start in January 2018 over 1600m at Kenilworth in easy and impressive fashion and was installed as favourite

for the US$500 000 CTS 1600.

Unfortunately, he had to be scratched after injuring himself two days before.

Trainer Joey Ramsden explained at the time, “He put a hole in his tendon sheath just above his near-fore fetlock joint.”

He was destined to never race again.

Another sign of his prowess on the racecourse was that Avontuur, together with Ken Truter, purchased him in training before his last start. There are not many stud farms

who will be buying colts after just two ordinary wins.

Nevertheless, Pippa recognises it is not going to be easy for Talk Of The Town to make it.

She concluded, “A stallion needs numbers in the first crop and obviously because of his curtailed racing career he did not get many, but they are on the ground selling and I think his yearlings are going to be the talk of this Sale.”

Talk Of The Town has 10 yearlings on the sale - #16/ #19/ #30/ #34/ #58/ #71/ #137/ #148/ #166/ #176.

MORE MAGIC FROM MILLSTREAM

Millstream Farm enjoyed some tremendous results at the 2022 Cape Yearling Sale. Not only did they sell the R1 000 000 joint sales topping Vercingetorix colt, they ended the auction as third Leading Vendor by Aggregate, and also sold a Danon Platina colt for R550 000.

The farm will again be bringing a very smart string to this year's Cape Sale, which is due to take place at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday.

Millstream will be offering six

yearlings at the Cape Yearling Sale this year, and will also be offering a lot apiece on behalf of Gary Player and Al Adaayit (Pty) Ltd.

The latter (Lot 53) is a colt with a real stallion's pedigree. Not only is he a son of an outstanding sire in the form of Vercingetorix, but his Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes winning granddam is out of a half-sister to none other than champion Australian sire I Am Invincible. There should be plenty of interest in this colt.

Other attractive prospects on offer include the Querari

colt (Lot 67) who hails from the same family as champions Whistling Dixie and Ice Cube among many others, the Buffalo Bill Cody filly (Lot 109) bred on similar lines to Dingaans hero Union Square, and the Futura filly (Lot 116) whose dam is a five time winning daughter of G2 winner Winterinthewoods.

The Millstream draft can be viewed from today at Block D at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth racecourse.

Barnane Stud-bred Kingman son Turf King charges home at Gulfstream Park under Tyler Gaffalione

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

BARNANE STUD’S THREE DAY WORLD TRIP

When the Canford Cliffs filly Enemy Territory stormed home to win her second start at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Monday, she made it an extraordinary three winners in three days on three different continents for the Kieswetter family’s Country Tipperary based, Barnane Stud.

The international racing and breeding family has enjoyed a superb start to 2023 with

Gr1 victories in South Africa and Ireland, and celebrated further success with homebred gallopers from their beautiful Barnane Stud winning on three different continents.

The cherry on the cake of a unique international treble, Enemy Territory, who carries the Ridgemont silks, is trained by Brett Crawford and is a daughter of Ridgemont Highlands’ five-time Gr1 winning sire Canford Cliffs, out

of the very well-related dual stakes-winning High Chaparral mare, Chevauchee.

Returning from a four month break after her Galway debut in September, the Barnane bred and raced Frankel daughter Icykel stormed home for trainer Johnny Murtagh to win a 2400m maiden at Dundalk by 3 lengths. Ridden by Shane Kelly, she stayed on smartly and looks a filly with a bright future.

Cold As Ice (Western Winter) daughter Icykel wins smartly at her second jump

Icykel is out of the South African-bred Western Winter racer Cold As Ice, a top-class filly who is fondly remembered as a gallant and desperately unlucky loser of the 2015 Gr1 Majorca Stakes on Met Day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Cold As Ice won five of seven starts in her homeland, including two Gr2 victories, before being exported to race out of the William Haggas yard in the UK. She had four starts overseas, winning once and being placed twice, before injury ended a promising racing career.

“Many South African horseracing fans will remember the beautifully athletic Cold As Ice, a superbly-bred daughter of champion stallion Western Winter. We always had the inkling she would be something special in the paddock and to have her first foal winning at 2400m so early on, is really very exciting!” said Ridgemont Highlands’ Craig Carey.

Longstanding Barnane Stud Manager Patrick Wynn-Jones was equally thrilled with the very exciting broodmare prospect’s early success. “She has been a pleasure since the day she first arrived here at Barnane. A really strong and beautiful mare, she is every breeder’s dream.

Her pedigree page and race record are top drawer. We sent her to Frankel and here she produces a filly who wins over serious ground. I’m over the moon!” he added.

Hours earlier Barnane marked their maiden winner in the USA when 3yo Turf King, a son of Kingman out of the Acclamation mare Sweet Acclaim, won a Maiden Special Weights contest at Gulfstream Park.

Owned by Wise Racing LLC he was ridden by Tyler Gaffalione for trainer Chad Brown.

It’s been a terrific few months for the Kieswetters and their international thoroughbred performances!

They also celebrated a dual Gr1 success from their Robertson, Western Cape Ridgemont Highlands paddocks over the recent Cape summer with the smashing Dynasty filly Make It Snappy.

Then their fabulous French-bred grey Lil Etait Temps won the Tattersalls Ireland Gr1 Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival just weeks ago to post his Gr1 Sky Bet Supreme Novice Hurdle claims at Cheltenham and join Gr1 winner Echoes In Rain (Mares Hurdle) and Gust of Wind (Triumph Hurdle), with a threecornered assault on the fantastic four day festival at Prestwick Park.

Craig Kieswetter and the Crawford team lead Enemy Territory (Louis Mxothwa) in after her runaway win

SOETENDAL’S SUPER SUNDAY TRIO

Soetendal Estate, one of the leading pretraining and backing yards in the Cape, will be offering three very classy lots at the upcoming Cape Yearling Sale.

The trio were sired by Pomodoro, One World and William Longsword respectively, and all three yearlings hail from top-class families.

Soetendal's Julia Pilbeam had the following comments to make about her draft:

Lot 14 colt by Pomodoro-Radiant Splendour (Lope de Vega):

Scopey deep-girthed colt from an outstanding female line; he looks a real classic type and will mature into a superb horse.

Lot 91 filly by One World-Blakes Mistress (Dynasty):

A daughter of the exciting young sire, One World, this is a filly is correct and full of class. She's from a Dynasty mare, and he doing a superb job as a broodmare sire.

Lot 95 colt by William Longsword-Bump 'n Grind (Qui Danzig):

The definition of 'racy', this colt has a huge engine and looks an early sprinter, he's strong and walks well. He's the last produce of the prolific mare Bump 'n Grind, and is half brother to Via Africa and 10 other winners.

Soetendal's three lots can be viewed from Block A at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth racecourse.

LOOK LEFT!

Riverton Stud will be offering a very well related filly by Horizon at Sunday’s Cape Yearling Sale. A filly (Lot 12) who already has plenty of paddock value, she is out of the speedily bred Queen Of Thrones.

Former Horse Of The Year Dynasty is having a fantastic posthumous season this year. The late son of Fort Wood is making a big impression, as a sire, sire of sires and broodmare sire in 2022-2023.

Dynasty dominated both the

Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas and Gr1 Cape Guineas this season. The former race was won by Dynasty filly Make It Snappy, who subsequently went on to land the Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes, while the 2022 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas won in scintillating fashion by Charles Dickens.

The latter was produced by Dynasty mare Demanding Lady, herself winner of five races including the Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge.

Dynasty is also responsible for this season's graded stakes winners Navy Strength and Nexus, while his champion daughter Bela-Bela is dam of this season's G2 Western Cape Fillies Championship winner and Cape Fillies Guineas runner up Ciao Bella.

The sire of more than 30 G1 horses, Dynasty has already made his mark as a sire of sires, with his stallion sons

including Act Of War, Futura and Legislate.

Dynasty's high-class son Horizon, one of the best bred stallions currently standing in South Africa, looks set to add to his sire's fantastic record with Horizon, whose dam is a full-sister to multiple champion sire Silvano, represented by his first runners this season.

A R5,2 million yearling buy, and former record priced yearling sold in South Africa, Horizon showed his class at three when winning the Gr3 Politician Stakes and finishing third, to champion Edict Of Nantes, in the Gr1 Daily News 2000.

Riverton Stud will be offering a very well related filly by Horizon at this year's Cape Yearling Sale. A filly (Lot 12) who already has plenty of paddock value, she is out of the speedily bred Queen Of Thrones.

The latter, whose dam was sired by Gr1 Middle Park Stakes winner Fard, is not only a daughter of a champion sprinter (Rebel King) but is a half-sister to the Riverton Stud bred sprint champion Captain Of All.

A triple G1 winner, Captain Of All established himself as a world-class sprinter during a career which saw him win 7 of 12 starts with his wins including triumphs in the Gr1 Gold Medallion (at two) and Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint and Mercury Sprint (at four). His victory in the 2015 Mercury Sprint was particuarly impressive, with Captain Of All trouncing champion Carry On Alice by four and a half lengths, with Horse Of The Year Legislate back in third spot.

He has since gone on to

become a successful sire, with Captain Of All South Africa's Leading First Season Sire of 2018-2019. Among his notably progeny are dual Gr1 winner Linebacker (Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby, Daily News 2000), fellow graded stakes winners Shango and Springs Of Carmel, stakes winning fillies Captain Anne Bonny and What You Are and millionaire Cartel Captain.

Captain Of All, whose halfsister Intimateconnection finished second in the Listed Irridescence Stakes and third in the Gr3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery, is also the sire of a pair of smart three-year-olds this season in the form of Captain Casey and Trompie as well as impressive recent Listed Swallow Stakes winner Kiss Me Captain.

Multiple SA champion trainer Mike de Kock and his wife Diane became grandparents for a second time last week. Baby Owen Clancy Ludvigson was born to Kirsten and husband Clancy Ludvigson on 17 February in Dickinson, North Dakota. Kirsten poses with young Owen in the pic. The Sporting Post wishes Oupa Mike and the whole family, loads of happiness and joy.

ERUPT INTO ACTION!

Riverton Stud will be offering an Erupt filly (Lot 173) from a very high-class family at the 2023 Cape Yearling Sale.

The dual Gr1 winning Erupt is a young stallion who is showing signs of living up to his illustrious career.Winner of both the Gr1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (a race won previously by champion sire Fort Wood) and Gr1 Pattison Canadian International, Erupt is a son of Dubawi -Champion Sire in the UK for 2022.

Already a successful sire of sires thanks to Makfi, New Bay and Night Of Thunder, Dubawi had an astonishing year in 2022, when he was represented by seven individual Gr1 winners and more than 40 stakes winners during that period. This included both the French and English 2000 Guineas winners, a St Leger winner, and Breeders' Cup Turf hero Rebel's Romance.

His Cape based son Erupt, who hails from the same family as champion sires Encosta De Lago, Flying Spur and Holy Roman Emperor, has made a

very pleasing start to his stud career.

Erupt's first crop, which included two runners in the Gr2 Heineken SA Nursery, is headed by Gr3 Protea Stakes/ Listed Storm Bird Stakes winner Karangetang, who has won or placed in six of his first eight starts, and smart sorts Beerenberg, Flowerbomb, Set To Go and Unzen. The latter claimed a good pay day when he won the Bloodstock SA Sales Cup.

Erupt's second crop also looks promising, with Erupt's early two-year-old runners this season including impressive winners Ripple Effect and Golden Tatjana.

Riverton Stud will be offering an Erupt filly (Lot 173) from a very high-class family at the 2023 Cape Yearling Sale.

A half-sister to the classy Riverton bred Lady Catherine, the filly on sale is out of a winning own sister to Cattitude, who won on debut before going wrong next time out.

Her granddam The Cat Returns was sired by the highly

successful Tale Of The Cat, himself broodmare sire of more than 100 stakes winners. Tale Of The Cat's high-class broodmare daughters include South African mare Nepeta, dam of local graded stakes winners Doublemint and Petala.

The Cat Returns was herself a half-sister to Australian star, and five time Gr1 winner Boban (who earned more than AUS $2,8 million or more than R20 million!), with her dam, in turn, being Gr1 Australian Oaks/Gr2 Queen Of The Turf heroine Kenbelle.

The latter, also runner up in the Gr1 Ansett Australia Stakes, was a daughter of French Gr1 winner and hugely successful sire Kenmare, who made his mark in South Africa through such noted Gr1 winners as Fire Arch (Administrator's Cup) and champion Joie De Grise (SA Fillies Sprint -twice).

This is also the family of one of history's greatest stallions in the form of Blandford and star filly Sun Chariot.

ALL BAR 3 LOCALS STOP RACING

Despite an already bad weather week for SA racing which was compounded by the loss of our fifth meeting in eight days on Saturday, a major proportion of the jockeys riding at Fairview on Friday went against a decision comprising two of their peers, two trainers, a Veterinary Surgeon and the Track Manager, to continue racing.

After the running of the fifth

race in the Windy City, the Jockeys lodged a protest in terms of Rule 5.2.3 citing that the underfoot conditions were unsafe for racing.

A panel was formed in terms of the rules and evidence was taken from two Jockeys, two Trainers, the Veterinary Surgeon and the racecourse Track Manager.

The Panel was of the opinion that the track was not unsafe

for racing, and overruled the Jockeys’ protest.

The Jockeys however, disagreed with this decision and each rider was consulted individually.

All Jockeys, with the exception of Charles Ndlovu, Teague Gould and Sandile Khathi, were adamant that they were unwilling to continue riding in the remaining races.

The mud can be seen on Rachel Venniker as she steers Mount Anderson to victory over stablemate Ferrari Ice (Keagan de Melo) in the fifth at Fairview on Friday – racing was abandoned after this race

Pauline Herman

This left the Stewards with no option but to abandon the remaining three races on the card.

While this is an old debate and it’s ultimately the jockeys and the horses who risk life and limb and not the trainers or owners, one wonders what the point is of having

a rule that accommodates a properly constituted panel, if the jockeys can just hijack the show and veto it? Why not just give them the keys to the show?

The trio of riders who were happy to continue were coincidentally all locals.

The balance included a few locals but mostly visitors who have opportunities to ride at other venues on other days.

On the flipside of the coin, it’s not cheap to fly into Gqeberha, unless it’s the owners or trainers who are footing the bill for the airfares?

Apprentice Kobeli Lihaba

TOUGH CALL AT FIRST RIDE

An apprentice having his first career ride has received a 21 day suspension for costing himself second place by not riding his mount out.

Is it overkill, or are the Stipes correct in coming down so hard on a complete greenhorn?

The Sprint is interactive! Watch the replay here and tell us what you think – Kobeli Lihaba is riding Slim Jannie and is on the rail in the red and white.

The National Horseracing Authority confirms that at an Inquiry held in Durban on 14 February 2023, Apprentice Kobeli Lihaba was

charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.3.

The particulars being that whilst riding Slim Jannie, he failed to ride his mount out to the end of the race to the satisfaction of the Stipendiary Stewards and prejudiced his chances of obtaining 2nd place in Race 6 at Hollywoodbets Scottsville Racecourse on Wednesday, 1 February 2023.

Apprentice Lihaba pleaded guilty and was found guilty of the charge.

The Inquiry Board, after considering the evidence presented, ruled that

Apprentice Lihaba be suspended from riding in races for a period of 21 days, of which 11 days are wholly suspended for a period of 12 months provided that he is not found guilty of a contravention of this Rule during this period.

In assessing the penalty, the Stewards determined that Apprentice Lihaba’s inexperience in race riding was a major mitigating factor.

Apprentice Lihaba waived his Right of Appeal against the penalty imposed and was granted permission to take his suspension from 24/02/2023 to 5/03/2023, both dates inclusive

JOCKEY ROOM SQUABBLEMUZI HITS BACK

Former Northern Cape champion jockey Muzi Yeni has reportedly hit back via his attorneys following a suggested ‘knee jerk’ suspension issued under potentially unconstitutional circumstances by the National Horseracing Authority against himself and colleague Billy Jacobson after the duo were involved in two separate incidents at Hollywoodbets Greyville a week ago.

Just under 48 hours after the

racemeeting where Jacobson and Yeni ‘bumped heads’, the National Horseracing Authority placed both on an immediate interim suspension in terms of the provisions of Rule 91.2 as it was contended that their participation ‘could pose an unacceptable risk of prejudicing the reputation, interests, integrity, safety and welfare of racing and its participants’.

While Billy Jacobson said that he personally had nothing to hide and laid bare his

version to the Sporting Post of the events of the preValentine’s Day showdown between the two, which included registering a charge of intimidation with the SAPS after Yeni allegedly threatened to telephonically summons unknown persons to harm his family, Yeni, on the other hand, has maintained a silence on the advice of his counsel.

But the Sporting Post learns from impeccable sources that Yeni is yet to be informed officially of the reasons for his

Muzi Yeni – just wants to earn a living

suspension and had to read about it on this and other platforms. The underlying reasons for his temporary ban have been respectfully labelled ‘nonsensical, capricious and illogical’ by his legal advisers.

Yeni reportedly also intends laying charges of grievous bodily harm, and has appointed attorneys to argue that he should be allowed to ply his trade as he has no other means of earning an income, let alone staying fit, as he is not allowed to ride work. His attorneys have also suggested that a suspension without a hearing is fundamentally unjust and in

contravention of his rights in terms of the constitution.

Issue has also been taken with the absence in Australia of the NHA’s CEO and Racing Control Manager, who implemented the ban on the two riders, but then apparently failed to delegate the responsibility in their absence, thus potentially prejudicing a speedy resolution.

Yeni’s counsel contend that this reflects poorly on the racing regulator and amounts to ‘malicious behaviour’. Messrs Vee Moodley and Arnold Hyde are apparently due back in South Africa today after having attended the Asian Racing

Conference in Melbourne last week.

Yeni has offered that should his suspension be lifted, he will undertake not to accept rides in KZN. This was made without an admission of any wrongdoing in a simple attempt to mitigate his loss of income and to avoid any potential interaction with Jacobson, until such time as the process is completed.

Yeni has denied threatening Jacobson’s family and contends that he felt unsafe against a person ‘twice his size’ and who he says assaulted him some ten years ago.

DOUGIE WHYTE’S QATAR JOY

Alberto Sanna drives Russian Emperor to a famous win!

QREC Photo

Russian Emperor landed a famous victory for Hong Kong and SA-born trainer Doug Whyte in the QAT Gr1 H.H. The Amir Trophy run over 2400m on Saturday at Al Rayyan in Doha, Qatar.

Jockey Alberto Sanna settled Russian Emperor at the rear of the field throughout against runners from Ireland, France, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, and bided his time aboard last season’s Hong Kong Champion Stayer (2021/22) before peeling out on the turn for home to loom

large with 300m left to run.

Surging with an unanswerable late burst, Russian Emperor made history as the first winner for Hong Kong in Qatar by taking the US$2.5 million (approx. HK$19.6 million) contest as he defied Warren Point for Godolphin and the French-trained Bolthole in 2m 25.46s.

“It’s amazing – it’s the first time I have travelled a horse abroad and I’m only new to the training ranks but he’s a special horse to me,” Whyte said.

The win was Russian Emperor’s fifth of his career having prevailed in Ireland and Great Britain for Aidan O’Brien prior to transferring to Hong Kong. The Galileo gelding won the 2022 G1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) and 2022 G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m) last season in Hong Kong – his only wins in the city.

“I’ve won two Group 1 races with him in Hong Kong and I just thought he was the right horse to travel with

temperament-wise. I must say that he’s really blossomed since he’s landed in Qatar,” Whyte said.

Russian Emperor holds entries for both the Gr1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m) and Gr1 Dubai Turf (1800m) at Meydan on Dubai World Cup Night (25 March).

Sanna – who hails from Italy – is based in Qatar and was elated with victory this afternoon.

“All the credit to Douglas, who was my friend when I was there (in Hong Kong). He trusted me and he put me back on his top horse,” Sanna said.

Russian Emperor – a six-yearold – finished sixth last time out behind Golden Sixty in the Gr1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) at the start of this month before departing for the Middle East.

“It’s very good and a happy race for me,” Sanna said.

“Everything went to plan and dreams come true sometimes.”

Senor Toba – who also represented Hong Kong in the race – finished a gallant seventh after racing between runners early on under jockey Harry Bentley for trainer Caspar Fownes.

France’s Inverness finished fourth, while the O’Brientrained Broome crossed in fifth position.

Doug Whyte and thrilled connections!

QREC Photo

Nico de Boinville salutes as Shishkin cruises home

SHISHKIN IS FLYING RYANAIR!

Timeform’s highest-rated horse in training Shishkin went into the Betfair Ascot Chase with something to prove on Saturday. Pulled up in the Champion’s Chase at Cheltenham last season, Shishkin was then rested before a most disappointing third in the Tingle Creek on his reappearance in December.

Subsequent to his Festival flop it emerged that he had a rare bone condition and post Sandown he had a breathing operation to repair a ‘flipped palate.”

However, stable vibes were strong in the week leading up to Saturday with trainer Nicky Henderson happy with his final piece of work, and Shishkin shortened in the market to start favourite.

Fitted with a tongue tie and stepped up in trip by around

half a mile, he roared back to his best slamming the smart Pic D’Orhy by sixteen lengths with last year's winner Fakir D’oudairies a further seven lengths back in third.

Unbeaten in ten starts over shorter prior to his two unplaced efforts, the 9-yearold produced a performance on a par with his very best. From half-way, when moved into second just off the pace by jockey Nico de Boinville, he always looked in control and finished full of running. On that showing, it is likely that he will be aimed at all the top of the table contests over two and a half miles.

Henderson all but confirmed this post-race, being in favour of the Ryanair Chase for his rejuvenated superstar.

Though Shishkin was cut to as short as 8/1 for the Gold Cup, Henderson feels the extended

two-and-a-half-mile Ryanair Chase on March 16 at the Festival, for which he is 11/10 favourite, is the only option.

“The way I would see it, in the perfect world you’d go Ryanair,” said Henderson.

He added: “Going up in trip made an enormous difference. It was as simple as that. Maybe he would stay three and a quarter miles, but you have got the Ryanair available to you.”

“We’re delighted with him and he’s absolutely 100 per cent this morning.”

With the Willie Mullins trained Allaho now ruled out of defending his Ryanair crown, Shishkin will enjoy a clear edge on his rivals, officially rated 12lbs clear of his closest competitor Blue Lord.

results up to: 2023-02-22

TRAINERS

JOCKEYS

BREEDERS

SIRES

See all the detailed standings - Click here

ROMANCE & GOLD AT SHA TIN ON

Romantic Warrior is looking to level the score with Golden Sixty when the pair meets for the second time across their respective careers in Sunday’s HK$12 million Gr1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup over 2000m at Sha Tin.

Defeated by Golden Sixty in the Gr1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) last month, Romantic Warrior this weekend returns to his optimum distance which he boasts four victories over last year in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m), Gr1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m), Gr1

LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) and Gr2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m).

Golden Sixty is a two-time winner over the trip having triumphed in the 2020 BMW Hong Kong Derby and 2021 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup. Trainer Danny Shum is under no illusion of the task at hand as he attempts to unseat Hong Kong’s current champion.

“I think Golden Sixty will be hard to beat – we have to respect him. He’s a genius horse and it’s a hard race, for sure,” Shum said. “We’ll keep

it simple – fingers crossed.”

Karis Teetan hops aboard Romantic Warrior again this weekend, while six others are set to feature including Money Catcher, Tourbillon Diamond, Ka Ying Star, Glorious Dragon, Savvy Nine and Panfield.

“He’s (Romantic Warrior) good, he’s happy – there’s been no problems. It all depends on the draw, but he should be able to sit third, fourth or fifth (in the run),” Shum said.

Francis Lui has indicated Golden Sixty – a seven-

year-old now – has held his condition between runs as he chases a second Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup win and an enhancement to his all-time earnings record in Hong Kong (HK$129.69 million).

“He’s keeping his form, we’ll give him another grass gallop on Thursday morning (23 February).

“He’s still healthy, everything is fine and I hope he can handle the distance – before he has. I think so (to appreciating 2000m more now), I think he’s more relaxed and he seems much better,” Lui said.

Golden Sixty stamped his authority over Hong Kong racing’s hierarchy last start with victory over Romantic Warrior and California Spangle, however, facing Romantic Warrior over 10 furlongs looms

as the latest threat to his sustained supremacy.

“We only have two choices, the 1400 or 2000 – I prefer the 2000 metres. We’ll just jump out, relax him (Golden Sixty) –he’s stepping up in distance, so he needs to relax,” Lui said.

Tourbillon Diamond forms a two-pronged assault in the Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup for Shum, while also holding an entry for the Gr1 Dubai Turf (1800m) at Meydan on 25 March.

“He’s entered to run in the Dubai Turf. We’ll see how he runs in this race and whether we stick to that plan and go to Dubai or not,” Shum said.

As for California Spangle – Tony Cruz’s classy miler limbered up this morning under Zac Purton as he

prepares for his Gr1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) tilt on 19 March.

“He races in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup – we’ll have one more trial before the race, it’s seven weeks between runs, so there’s not many options for him.

“He’s a very healthy horse –Zac was very happy with him, he said he was much more relaxed this morning. He goes when he wants him to go, when Zac asks the question, he goes. He’s pulled up good, we’ll just have one more trial before the run,” Cruz said.

California Spangle clocked 58.15s down the turf straight at Sha Tin and is expected to face the likes of Lucky Sweynesse and Wellington in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup.