Run for the roses? The beautiful World Pool Gr3 Gold Cup trophy takes pride of place on the winner’s podium for Africa’s premier marathon. First run in 1920, the Gold Cup will be run on Sunday as a Gr3 contest. Formerly a Gr1, it was downgraded to a Gr 2 in 2016, and then Gr 3 in 2017. Candiese Lenferna took this photograph of the rose-filled trophy in 2023.
SA Champion Jockey elect Richard Fourie and Sean Tarry’s 3yo Future Pearl won the World Pool Gold Cup in 2023. On Sunday the combination return in a bid to become the first consecutive winners of the marathon since Highland Night won it in 2002 and 2003. Candiese Lenferna took the photograph.
The R1,5 million HKJC Champions Cup is the final Grade 1 event of the 2023/24 season and after the withdrawal today of Winchester Mansion has attracted a field of nine, including eight Hollywoodbets Durban July runners, for a vintage clash on Sunday.
The season finale at Hollywoodbets Greyville will be run as the eighth race (16h50) on a bumper ten-race card that gets underway at 12h05.
The race was won in 2023 by Richard Fourie piloting SA Horse Of The Year Princess Calla, who has since been exported to the USA. There is no fairer sex representative this time round.
While the Hollywoodbets Durban July runnerup Cousin Casey looks overdue to get back to winning ways from a pole-position gate and give Sean Tarry a double and his third victory in the race since Buy And Sell opened his account ion 2008, the son of Vercingetorix faces stiff opposition from Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge winner Dave The King, who runs fresh under the rampant Richard Fourie – the latter aiming at a third consecutive score after Jet Dark triumphed in 2022.
Piere Strydom and See It Again had no luck in the July, and will jump from the widest gate as the pair bid to break a four-run losing streak since victory in the Green Point Stakes in early December 2023.
Legends Michael Roberts and Piere Strydom didn’t exactly have things go their way in a dramatic Hollywoodbets Gr1 Durban July.
2023 runner-up and topweight See It Again had to be eased off the heels of eventual winner Oriental Charm, in the
closing stages of the 2200m contest.
But there are hopes that the dapper chestnut son of Twice Over will bounce back here.
See It Again is one of eight of the Hollywoodbets Durban July class of 2024 in the field of nine.
Piere Strydom told the Sporting Post that both he and JP van der Merwe were aiming for the same spot in the latter stages of the big race on 6 July, and that the objection rule was structured in a manner where he believed he had no reasonable chance of success.
“JP was riding his race, in much the same way many of us would have. While he cost us, I don’t believe we could have ultimately, ‘but for the interference’, as the rule says, have finished ahead of him. So we take it on the nose,” added Strydom, who said that See It Again would be a big runner on Sunday.
“Dave The King will probably be the horse to beat after his Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge win, and then Cousin Casey has a pole position draw – a big asset. But See It Again will be even fitter there, so we can hopefully end the season on a high,” concluded Striker.
Other KZN hometown hopes Flag Man and Royal Victory add to the mix, with reigning SA Champion Jockey Keagan de Melo back to partner Double Superlative.
SA Champion jockey elect Richard Fourie boasts a full book of ten rides on the season finale World Pool Gold Cup day at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.
Five of Fourie’s rides on the big day are for the championship chasing Sean Tarry yard, including a defence of the World Pool Gr3 Gold Cup title with Hollywoodbets Durban July
eyecatching fast-finisher Future Pearl.
Sean Tarry is a master at prepping horses for the big days and sends out a coupling of past winners in Nebraas (2021) and Future Pearl (2023) in the premier marathon
Gavin Lerena will partner the 7yo Nebraas, who won this as a 4yo. Lerena was aboard Tarry’s first Gold Cup winner Aslan in 2011.
Richard Fourie defected to Future Swing for the Hollywoodbets Durban July, but has been aboard at all of Future Pearl’s three most recent wins, including a smart victory in the Tabgold Gr3 Derby at his penultimate start.
Record betting pools are expected at the 2024 World Pool Gold Cup racemeeting.
A Pick 6 carryover of R2 million is set to take the exotic (starts in Race 4 off @ 13h50) pool to R15 million, while the World Pool Gr3 Gold Cup (Race 7 off @ 16h10) sees a Quartet carryover of R1 million and a likely pool of R5 million. All races at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the day will be World Pool events.
Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella, and Swinger bets will be commingled with international pools and average World Pool totals expected to be massive.
Expect Exacta pools of around R5 million, Win and Place pools of around R10 million, and pools of over R17 million or more for Swingers and Quinellas.
These international pools are commingled by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Place bets on all races on the day will pay out on the first three horses past the post only.
In view of its timing and status, the weight-forage 1200m Mercury Sprint is often a defining 72 odd seconds in the chase for Equus speed championship honours and was won by subsequent SA Sprint champion Isivunguvungu in 2023, when the Narrow Creek son of What A Winter gave the Hollywood Syndicate their inaugural Equus trophy. v
Sean Tarry’s Lucky Lad makes a bid for Equus Champion Sprinter honours when he jumps from draw 13 in the R1 million Gr1 Mercury Sprint on World Pool Gold Cup day, Sunday.
A son of Gimmethegreenlight, Lucky Lad was bred by Varsfontein Stud, who celebrate their Golden Jubilee this year.
The field has been reduced to 12 with the scratching of Just Be Lekker.
In 2022, the Mercury Sprint was won by Suzette Viljoen’s Captain Al daughter Captain’s Ransom, who also went on to premier national speed honours.
The now retired to Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Computaform and Gr 2 Khaya Stables Diadem winner Thunderstruck, who is set to stand his first season at Ridgemont, currently leads the Champion Sprinter category.
The son of Rafeef has accumulated 80 points, while Lucky Lad and the filly October Morn (not in action on the day) are in joint second with 52 points each. They won a Grade 1 each on the Hollywoodbets Scottsville sprint day in June. While he doesn’t run on the Sunday finale, the Gr1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship winner Dyce is in fourth spot with 48 points.
After failing to stay the mile in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge, Lucky Lad caught the eye with a prep victory in a Pinnacle Stakes at Turffontein a fortnight ago.
His wide gate won’t be an asset here, but Fourie is a master at beating the odds and the colt’s late dash style of racing could give the SA champion elect options out of the gates.
Lucky Lad is currently quoted at 11-10 with Hollywoodbets to win the Mercury Sprint. He could be a banker option in the projected R15 million Pick 6.
Just two months short of two years after becoming South Africa’s youngest racecaller, Devon Pretorius will bid Cape Racing and his family farewell as he jets out of Cape Town on Sunday 28 July en route to an exciting career opportunity as a Race Commentator with the Selangor Turf Club in Malaysia.
The 23 year old Devon, a Wynberg Boys High graduate, got the red-tape green light with all of his visa and other approvals this week, and will start work in Southeast Asia as soon as Thursday 1 August.
Bristling with anticipation and excitement in what is a dream opportunity for a promising young professional, Devon told the Sporting Post that his boss Alistair Cohen had called him into his office about two months ago.
“It was a bolt from the blue, really. Alistair asked if I would be interested in commentating in
Malaysia. Truth be told, I never hesitated and said yes straight away!” he smiles broadly, as he reflects on a day that may prove a career gamechanger in a competitive industry.
“I have been in communication with the Selangor Turf Club and had an interview just over a month ago which was thankfully successful, and I accepted their offer for the Racing Commentator position.”
Devon glances briefly out of the window, as we note that he is still pinching himself at the surreality of it all.
“As part of my function I’ll also be assisting with the barrier trials and workouts in the week and working in the racing department on declarations day, which is a Wednesday. I’ll also be involved in presenting on racedays,” he adds proudly, as we get the impression that the enthusiastic young talent would happily help out with the office filing too, if so required, on his off days!
Devon confirms that his initial contract is for a year and that he is grateful for, and will be looking forward to, the international experience and exposure that will come with it.
He tells us that he will most likely be staying in the city centre of Kuala Lumpur, but his digs haven’t been confirmed yet.
“I’m still in talks with the property agent there to find a place in my first week. I am just so
excited to be getting the chance!” adds the man who has travelled overseas previously to Poland and Mauritius.
As to his South African lifestyle of braavleis, rugby, not so sunny skies, and Cape Racing days, the lifetime racing fan says that he will be keeping a close eye on South African horseracing, and in touch with his family and friends.
He visited his Racing Broadcaster Dad Neil in Gqeberha to celebrate his 23rd birthday recently, and with modern technology, he will be in communication with his Mum, Carolyn in Cape Town, and his circle of friends.
“The universal golden thread that has run through all my supportive family and friends is that they are all a whatsapp away and this is an opportunity I’d be really crazy to pass by.
I would love to just say thanks at this point to Mr Greg Bortz and the champion Cape Racing team. It’s been an honour and privilege to play a very small role in the renaissance of the great game down here, and I will be fondly following the wonderful things happening in the Cape,” he concluded.
Cape Racing Chairman Greg Bortz told the Sporting Post that it has been a pleasure and privilege to watch Devon’s growth over the past months.
“His skill level and confidence have increased
dramatically, and it is clear he is a natural talent with an exciting career ahead of him. We are excited that Devon will bring the Cape flair to Malaysia, and we believe this will also lend itself to closer ties between our two regions. While we are very sad to be saying goodbye to Devon, we know we will remain in close contact, and we look forward to our continued involvement and friendship going forward. Just like Alistair Cohen and others before him, we are sure that the international experience will be invaluable to Devon’s continued growth. We look forward to welcoming him home to our shores in the future. Good luck Devon!”
The only Directory of Sires at stud in South Africa is now available! The 29th edition of the Sires 2024 Handbook is a 152 page glossy magazing printed in full colour and packed with information, including extended pedigrees, pedigree evaluatio ns, conformation photographs and statistics.
It features 56 stallions, including nine new firstseason sires for 2024.
They all have their individual website page with a wealth of data, which gets updated daily at www.raceform.co.za
Price is unchanged from previous years, R290. With the current unreliable postal service, it can be sent via courier or Postnet at an additional R100.
The World Pool Gr3 Gold Cup may have lost its Gr1 status in 2016, yet the 3200m marathon race is still regarded as the most popular event on ‘Gold Cup’ day, notwithstanding the fact that it has to compete with four Gr1 races on the programme.
This year marks the 104th renewal of South Africa’s premier long distance race and the question on many lips is, can last year’s winner Future Pearl go back to back?
Sean Tarry’s charge takes up his title defence off a fine run in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July where he ran on to finish just two lengths behind the winner. Before that, he stormed to a fluent victory in the Gr3 Tabgold Derby, so prep wise, he should be razor sharp come Sunday.
For those not in the know, the last horse to complete the double was Highland Night back in 2003.
In days gone by, the marathon race invariably went the way of the light weights. To think that 1971 winner Rainstorm was partnered by Michael Roberts under 45 kg, a featherweight unheard of in this day and age. The highestweighted winner is It’s My Turn, who defied a 59,5 kg impost to claim the 2018 race. Future
Pearl is one of three contenders who has been assigned that same mass, half a kilo less than top weight Zeus.
Remarkably, there has only been one Gold Cup deadheat in the modern era, when Pacer and Don The Stripe shared the honours in 1977.
From a breeding perspective, very few stallions have won the marathon event, for the simple reason that stayers are shunned by breeders, and very few entires contest the race. The last entire to win the race was Tropicante in 1989, the season he was named the country’s Champion Stayer. Trained by Ralph Rixon, this Argentinian-bred had been beaten a neck by Right Prerogative in the rain-softened Durban July. As a stallion, he proved an abject failure.
Two winners who did enjoy a degree of success at stud were Speciality (1962) and Jerez (1963). The former, a Birch-bred owned and trained by Basil Cooper, was a moderate
two-year-old but showed potential when he ran second in the SA Derby. Maturity brought out the best in the horse at age five when he ran second to Colorado King in the Durban July, with Jerez in third, before winning the Gold Cup in a new record time. Runner-up in the Metropolitan at six, he went one better to win the Cape showpiece race at age seven.
As a stallion, Speciality had the distinction of siring the popular galloper The Malster, who emulated his sire when victorious in the 1979 Gold Cup at the similarly advanced age of seven. Like his sire, he was owned and trained by Cooper and will forever be remembered as the horse the legendary Lester Piggott piloted to an unheard-of victory at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
For all his skill and strength, Piggott was unable to get The Maltster to jump on terms with his rivals and when he eventually left the starting
stalls, he was some 20 lengths adrift. From that hopeless position, Piggott went to work on the horse and the packed Scottsville crowd watched in disbelief as the black, gold and white silks caught up, knifed through the field and won going away.
In a book written a few years later, top jockeys were asked to recall their finest rides and Piggott singled out that day in Maritzburg.
For the record, Speciality also made his mark as the broodmare sire, notably of the fine siblings Macheath and Witchita.
The former, a son of Royal Affair, won the Gr2 Merchants Cup, whilst his Mexico II half-sister Witchita put together a juvenile campaign worthy of championship honours by defeating colts in the Gr2 Cape of Good Hope Nursery, won the Gr.3 Strelitzia Stakes and finished second in the Gr1 Allan Robertson.
Jerez, bred by the Kosters, proved himself wonderfully durable, winning 14 races in a career spanning five seasons. Successful in the Cape Guineas and runner-up in the Cape Derby, he won the Metropolitan at four, the Champion Stakes at five and capped his career with a fluent length victory in the Gold Cup as a newly-turned six-year-old. He returned to his birthplace Klavervlei Stud for stallion duties and counts amongst his best progeny the Gr1 winning sprinter Pyrmont, the multiple Gr1-placed stakes winner Aegean and the fine stayer Samothrace.
Unlike Speciality, he never sired a Gold Cup winner, but features as the broodmare sire of 1980 Gold Cup hero Furious. Owned by Cyril Hurvitz, he was trained by the late Annie Upton, who to this day, remains the only lady trainer of a Gold Cup winner!
Incidentally, just one broodmare has ever produced more than one Gold Cup winner. This unique achievement belongs to Fauvette, an unraced mare whose liaisons with the stoutlybred St Cuthbert became the stuff of dreams. She produced four stakes winners to the son of Herbager, two of which would win the country’s premier staying event.
In 1978, the Tony Furness-trained Fauvist defied his 33-1 odds to cause the upset and six years later in 1983, his Terrance Millard-trained full brother Hawkins ran out a comfortable winner under Mark Sutherland. He had been beaten a neck when second the previous year, a feat he repeated in 1984 when he chased home stable companion Devon Air. Full brother Rouge Gorge also proved a fine stayer and emulated Fauvist by winning the 3000m Diogenes Handicap, now the Gr2 Gold Vase. For the record, Hawkins twice won the Gr2 Gold Vase when it was contested at Clairwood.
Incidentally, in recent years the Windrush mare Lil’Bacio has come close, her sons Paybackthemoney and Out Of Your League finishing second and third respectively in 2020 and 2021. This year, she will be represented by aforementioned Zeus.
We live in uncertain times and who knows, with the continual decline in the popularity of stayers, the Gold Cup may yet face another downgrade.
Whatever its fate, as a visual spectacle it remains a firm crowd favourite and a highlight of what is a fitting finale to the racing season.
Ridgemont’s late, great Dynasty has already more than made his presence felt in the Gold Cup, and the former Horse Of The Year could extend his legacy still further in Sunday’s World Pool Gr3 Gold Cup.
Dynasty is the sire of Gold Cup hopeful One Way Traffic, while his sons Futura and Jackson are both represented in Sunday’s R1 000 000 feature.
Futura, Horse Of The Year in 2014-2015, is the sire of 2023 World Pool Gr3 Gold Cup winner and 2024 Gold Cup contender Future Pearl, and is also represented in Sunday’s race by his son Future Swing. The latter defeated
subsequent Hollywoodbets Gr1 Durban July winner Oriental Charm (Vercingetorix) two starts back when victorious in the World Sports Betting Gr2 1900, and tries the 3200m trip for the first time on Sunday.
Another son of Dynasty with a Gold Cup runner this year is Jackson. His Listed Woolavington Stakes winning son Baratheon is set to start on Sunday.
Dynasty, whose sire Fort Wood sired 2007 Gold Cup winner Thundering Star as well as the dam of 2009 Gold Cup winner Mokaro, has had considerable success in the 3200m spectacle in years gone by.
Dynasty’s daughter Dynasty’s Blossom beat Dynasty gelding Made To Conquer when victorious in the 2019 Gr3 eLan Gold Cup, while Dynasty sons It’s My Turn and Ancestral Fore won the Gold Cup in 2018 and 2010 respectively.
Ancestral Fore, who was from his sire’s first crop, was out of Forefront, a daughter of smart sprinter Pole Position and a winner over 1000 metres!
Dynasty is also sire of 2012 Gold Cup third place finisher Blake, while another son, Let It
Rain, finished third in the Gold Cup of 2017.
However, Dynasty could make his presence felt in more than just the Gold Cup on Sunday.
He has two daughters, last out Ridgemont Gr1 Garden Province Stakes runner-up Happy Chance and 2024 Tabgold Gr2 Oaks second place finisher Saartjie, running in Sunday’s Riding High Together Gr2 Gold Bracelet, a race where Dynasty also features as the broodmare sire of fellow contender None Other (out of the Dynasty mare One Of A Kind).
Futura is also sire of a Gold Bracelet runner in the form of 2023 Listed World Sports Betting Stormsvlei Stakes winner Future Girl.
Dynasty is broodmare sire of Gr1 Mercury Sprint hopeful Gladatorian (Vercingetorix) and
@worldpool Gr2 Twitter Stakes entrant Impact Investor (Gimmethegreenlight), while his son Imilenzeyokududuma contests the Listed World Pool With Tabgold Darley.
The late champion has had another good posthumous season in 2023-2024.
Dynasty is sire of this season’s high-class performers Happy Chance and Saartjie, and is also fifth on South Africa’s Leading Broodmare Sires premiership for 2023-2024.
Among others, Dynasty is broodmare sire of 2024 Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate winner Charles Dickens (Trippi), and Beach Bomb (Lancaster Bomber), victorious in both the 2023 Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas and Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes.
At the time of writing, Dynasty mares had produced 65 winners of 101 races, and their progeny had amassed earnings of more than R13, 439 million for the 2023-2024 season.
The integrity and dependability of South African horseracing’s official statistics have been brought sharply into the spotlight after punters highlighted what appeared to be an unexplained spike in earnings reflected in the national trainer championship table on the weekend of Saturday 13 July.
For the sake of rounding off numbers, Justin Snaith was approximately R1,2 million in front
of his nearest challenger Sean Tarry ahead of the weekend. But on Monday 15 July, with Snaith having not fielded runners since Wednesday 10 July, the lead had somehow increased to approximately R1,5 million.
Betting is offered by various bookmakers on the championships, and the statistics published on the National Horseracing Authority website are the official numbers utilized to determine outcomes by all stakeholders, including for a variety of industry championship honours.
The Sporting Post spoke to NHA CEO Vee Moodley in a short call last Wednesday afternoon.
Mr Moodley, who was in a conference at the time, explained that the statistics and results carried by the National Horseracing Authority were uploaded by the National Racing Bureau, and managed under the auspices of Gold Circle’s Information Technology division. He undertook to launch an immediate investigation and said that he would call on the relevant management to provide a full and thorough explanation of the processes and audit controls in place.
He said that initial inquiries had revealed that a Hollywoodbets Kenilworth racemeeting on 23 December 2023, had not been uploaded into the NHA statistics data-base. This had been picked up and summararily uploaded without any apparent notification to any stakeholders.
Moodley said that the uploads were performed in three day cycles, and that it is possible that the holidays may have played a role in the error.
“It is too early to say whether other racemeetings have fallen into the net. This raises serious integrity issues and question marks against the reliability of the data. Despite the error seemingly having originated at the source, I take full responsibility as the data is published as official on our website. An official statement will be published in due course,” added Moodley.
“I’M GOING
A Cape jockey has told of the enormous relief and the burden lifted from his shoulders on Friday after two well-known racing men, Attorney Bruce Armstrong and Advocate Clayton Vetter, took the cudgels up on his behalf some months ago to defend the father of four against an NHRA charge that could have seen him lose his home, and the ability to support his young family.
Friday 19 July 2024 is officially the first day of the rest of 39-year-old Robert Khathi’s life.
He told the Sporting Post how the sun broke through after nine gruelling months of a foreboding dark cloud hanging over his career.
“The NHA Appeal Board have upheld your Appeal and hence the decision of the Inquiry Board has been reversed. No 120-day suspension! You can move on with your life now and put this nightmare behind you. Best of luck,” a thrilled Bruce Armstrong told the speechless jockey on Friday.
Both racehorse owners, Bruce Armstrong and his friend Clayton Vetter took on the Robert Khathi-Cape Eagle case pro bono, as they could not stand by and see justice skewed.
Let’s take a step back at this point.
Simukeliswa ‘Robert’ Khathi, who was plucked from the obscurity of Umlazi High School in KZN at the tender age of 16 to join the SA Jockey Academy alongside his brother Sandile, has enjoyed a career of many highs, and the inevitable lows.
The always smiling jock with the friendly disposition will be remembered by established racing folk as the man who was denied an opportunity to fulfil a lifetime ambition after 20 years in the saddle to ride in the 2021 Durban July after a failure by National Horseracing Authority management to exercise a measure of flexibility and discretion.
The timing of the implementation of a suspension just weeks before the big race put paid to his chances to ride for the powerful Snaith Racing Team in Africa’s Greatest race.
At the time local legal eagle Robert Bloomberg had slated NHA management for collectively denying a previously disadvantaged black jockey the possible opportunity of riding in the country’s greatest showpiece.
Fast forward to Tuesday 7 November 2023 and Robert Khathi was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.1.
This arose pursuant to his ride at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Cape Eagle on
15 October 2023, where it was suggested that he failed to take all reasonable measures throughout the race to ensure that this gelding was given a full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible placing Khathi pleaded not guilty but was found guilty of the charge.
The Inquiry Board, after considering the mitigating and aggravating factors, found that Khathi had failed to ride Cape Eagle out with sufficient vigour and determination which, in the opinion of the Stewards, had a bearing on the result of the race, and they ruled that he be suspended from riding in races for a period of 120 days.
He was given the Right of Appeal against both the finding and the penalty imposed.
Attorney Bruce Armstrong takes up the story and says that the Inquiry Board consisted of Mr N Shearer (Chairman), Mr D Moodley and Mrs J Naidoo.
“The Presenter was Mr Derk Anderson who presented the NHRA’s case. At the Inquiry, where Robert was unrepresented, he was found guilty by the board for failing to ride Cape Eagle with sufficient vigour between the 200m and the finish, and that in the concluding stages his riding action changed without adequate reason which hindered his mount from being able to fully use its action in the finish. This was contended to have had a bearing on the result of the race.”
Mr Armstrong says that on 20 November 2023, through Shepstone & Wylie’s offices, they filed Robert’s Notice of Intention to Appeal in terms of Rule 85.6 wherein they tendered to pay the prescribed fee for the Appeal, once advised thereof.
“The NHRA advised us that the prescribed appeal fee was R8 950. We subsequently wrote to the regulator requesting an extension of 2 days in order for Robert to obtain a loan from the Coastal Jockey’s Association in order to pay the prescribed fee, which was due on 20 November 2023. On 23 November 2023
the prescribed fee was paid. But that’s where things went wrong.”
Mr Armstrong points out that the NHRA refused to grant Robert the requested extension to pay the prescribed fee and advised that in their opinion the Appeal had lapsed, and the matter was over.
“Despite writing to them on 23 November 2023 and requesting the Chief Executive (Vee Moodley) to use his discretionary powers in terms of the rules to condone the late payment, Robert was forced to bring a High Court Application, setting aside Moodley’s decision in refusing to hear the appeal. It was only once the application papers were served on the NHRA and Moodley, did they then consent –wisely, in my opinion – to the late payment of the prescribed fee and allow the appeal to proceed”
After having received the Inquiry record, on 26 February 2024 they duly filed Robert’s Notice of Appeal.
The veteran Attorney goes on to explain that the Appeal was heard on 5 April (day 1) and concluded on 19 July 2024 (day 2), before Dan Mpanza (Chairman), Andre Vlok and A Sewpersad.
After hearing the evidence, or lack thereof from the NHRA), the board –
1. Refused the NHRA’s application for an adjournment, in order to file its written heads of argument (which Robert’s legal team had already prepared and done);
2. Upheld the Appeal and hence the decision of the Inquiry Board was reversed.
3. The NHRA were directed to return the prescribed fee to Robert.
The Sporting Post understands that the NHRA have requested the Appeal Board to furnish its written reasons for its ruling which it will do in due course.
Armstrong pointed out that during the Appeal, the Board expressed its concerns that the NHRA had no evidence to substantiate the charge put to Robert Khathi.t
“At the Inquiry, Derk Anderson who presented the NHRA’s case did not call one witness, instead he relied on his interpretation of the ride and that of the Chairman’s (Nic Shearer – ex Jockey). No witnesses were led, and hence Robert Khathi had been denied the opportunity to cross examine any witness. Likewise, at the Appeal, Mr Wafer, the NHRA’s legal representative, did not call any witnesses and relied on the parole tape of the race, and his interpretation thereof, and the Inquiry record.” concludes Armstrong.
After the Cape Eagle incident, Robert Khathi’s rides dried up in KZN, and he moved to Cape Town, where things are certainly looking up, despite the atrocious weather!
“I’m riding for Glen Kotzen now. He has a lovely string. I have also ridden winners for Paul
Reeves and Candice Bass-Robinson. I hope to get an opportunity to ride in the Plattner silks again and to prove that I am always trying my hardest to win. I have a family and no winners, means no food, no roof over the head, no electricity,” adds the jockey emotionally.
“I have many people to thank during this trying time. From Mr Bruce Armstrong and Advocate Clayton Vetter, who gave of their world-class professional services free of charge, to my friends, who brought us groceries, and put some units into the electricity box. We didn’t have petrol to take the kids to school or go to work some days. But we are here today through faith and kindness. I am working on my weight and my fitness. I’m going to have my biggest season next term!” concludes a happy Robert Khathi.
The NHRA have not yet issued a media release in regard to the Khathi matter.
– BLING’S HEAVY PENALTY
The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa confirms that at an Inquiry held in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday 21 July 2024, Jockey Smanga Khumalo was charged with a contravention of Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline M in Appendix E on the use of the crop).
The particulars being that Khumalo misused his crop by striking Cousin Casey more than twelve times (15), which was not warranted when considering the circumstances of the race, during Race 7, the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on 6 July 2024.
Jockey Khumalo pleaded guilty and was found guilty of the charge.
The Inquiry Board, after considering the mitigating factors presented, Mr Khumalo’s recent record pertaining to this type of contravention and the status of the race, ruled that he be suspended from riding in races for a
period of fourteen (14) days, and a fine of R54 500 (fifty-four thousand and five hundred rand) was imposed.
Jockey Khumalo was given the Right of Appeal against the penalty imposed.
A ground-breaking initiative, and one of the most constructive moves to materially recognise and reward the vital role played by Grooms in horseracing, Hollywoodbets and Gold Circle celebrated the R5 million milestone in their Grooms Incentive scheme in the KZN Capital City on Sunday.
With the running of the sixth race at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, the Grooms initiative between Hollywoodbets and Gold Circle reached a milestone R5 million that has been injected into the pockets of the unheralded heroes and stable backroom men since its launch in October 2019.
The initiative has been mirrored in racing centres across South Africa.
Michael Roberts saddled Northern Warrior to win the sixth race and his Groom Elliot Ncongo enjoyed the moment after an informal guard of
honour and gathering in the parade ring at the historic track.
“This is a wonderful initiative and it is most valued by these hardworking men. They will be talking about the win and the rewards all week! It’s a great morale booster and everybody deserves acknowledgement for hard work and success,” added a delighted Michael Roberts.
Grooming racehorses is a vital aspect of the preparation and training process – the hours are long and the weather can make it a challenging and tough occupation.
Gold Circle’s Events and Marketing Executive Stephen Marshall told the Sporting Post that the Grooms Initiative was one of the first incentives introduced by Hollywoodbets and Gold Circle.
“It’s significance was recognised by the other racing operators who introduced similar schemes to provide additional financial support to Grooms across the country, which has further amplified this incentive scheme. We operate in a delicate ecosystem where Operators provide the platform, Owners support Trainers, who in turn support Grooms, and finally Punters who bet on the sport. Hollywoodbets have made substantial contributions to the Operators (sponsorships), the Owners (stakes boosts), the Punters (Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge) and today we get to recognise their joint contribution to our Grooms,” said Marshall, who added that having grown up in a stable yard himself, he had experienced first-hand the sacrifice, care and love that Grooms have for the horses.
“It is important to recognise milestones and at the same time acknowledge and appreciate all our stakeholders’ contributions to our industry. So today we thank Hollywoodbets for their
unwavering support and we laud and recognise all our Grooms for their invaluable contribution to our industry,” he concluded.
Hollywoodbets Brand and Communications Manager Devin Heffer endorsed the view that the multipurpose focus of the partnership between Hollywoodbets and Gold Circle has always been to both acknowledge and reward the Grooms.
“The Grooms play a vital role in the racing chain and acknowledgement and incentivisation are important. It really and truly has been incredible following the journey of the initiative and witnessing its impact on the horseracing industry across South Africa. We look forward to celebrating further milestones in our quest to uplift every sector of the industry,” added Heffer.
In a scoop for Owloon Horses, the 2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July winning broodmare Souk has been acquired by South Africa’s youngest Stud Manager Alex de Wet in a move to boost his burgeoning band of Mums at the beautiful farm, hidden in a valley on the outskirts of the boulder-strewn Paarl Mountain.
At the age of 26, Alex is fast making inroads in a competitive industry dominated by long established and vastly experienced Stud Managers, many, with respect, twice his age.
“I am very excited to have purchased this well-performed beautiful broodmare in foal to Fire Away, from Anton Shepherd. We intend sending her to Vercingetorix, the mating that produced the July winner Oriental Charm, again. Lightning doesn’t always strike twice, but returning to the well makes every sense!” he adds confidently.
Owned by German investor Christian Elleke, the entirely off-the-grid Owloon is a little piece of heaven on earth in the Paarl Valley, and boasts sprawling magnificent green paddocks, while the hillsides are covered in thriving lemon, lime and clementine orchards, a grove of pomegranates, and Cabernet Franc vines.
The picturesque storybook masterpiece of a working fruit farm, thoroughbred stud and a boutique hotel, Owloon is now home to Souk and Alex de Wet is determined to produce another champion.
Alex, who grew up around horses under the guidance of his vastly experienced Dad Jikkie, today of Prosper Stud, trained at the renowned Lane’s End Farm in Central Kentucky and returned to South Africa when the opportunity presented itself.
He presented his personal maiden Owloon draft at Nationals earlier this year, and is determined to follow the time-tested age old principle of sending quality to quality.
“An opportunity to acquire the likes of Souk doesn’t present itself every day, and Vercingetorix has proven himself a more than adequate successor to his multiple champion Dad, Silvano,” he observes.
The stakes-placed Souk, a daughter of the Oppenheimer-owned and bred Greys Inn, who won the historic 2004 Durban July, is a product of the Mauritzfontein paddocks, and hails from a female line that has served SA racing’s most famous racing family well, originating from the purchase of the stakes winner, Daphne Donnelly.
The latter was a sprinter and took after her sire Golden Thatch, as did her full sister, the Gr2 Sceptre Stakes winner Lady Broadhurst.
Daphne Donnelly’s dam was the American import You’re My Lady, a Roberto half-sister to Danehill’s dam Razyana, whilst their dam, the Buckpasser mare Spring Adieu, counted the mighty Northern Dancer amongst her siblings. In short, a female line to die for.
Daphne Donnelly was not the most prolific of broodmares and produced just five foals, all by Fort Wood. Four of those were fillies and all have become black-type producers.
Souk is a grandaughter of Daphne Donnelly’s first foal Bay Tree, who returned to her birthplace as a two-time winner and when mated to Strike Smartly produced Gr1 SA Derby hero Bouquet-Garni as her second foal. Her first, a filly by the same sire named Tagine, never raced but became the dam of Souk.
Souk won three races and also earned small black type when second in the Listed Sweet Chestnut Stakes.
At the end of her racing career, she was sent to Cheveley Stud, where she produced the three-time winning fillies Athalia and Touch Of Grace as her first two foals. Oriental Charm is her fourth foal.
“She imparts absolute heart to her foals,” Vaughan Koster told the Sporting Post recently.
The family has really come to light this season. While Oriental Charm’s July victory is the cherry on the cake, it was preceded by stable companion Frances Ethel’s success in the Gr2 SA Oaks.
The Mauritzfontein-bred daughter of Rafeef, who races in the Team Valor silks, is out of Daphne Garland, an unraced full sister to Bay Tree.
We wish Alex and the Owloon team well!
Drakenstein Stud have enjoyed another record-breaking season. At the time of writing, the farm was responsible for breeding 21 individual stakes winners of 31 black-type races in South Africa this season alone - a truly magnificent achievement!
From the lower slopes of the L’Ormarins Wine Estate, Drakenstein Stud will present seven attractive lots at the BSA August Two Year Old Sale – 2024, to be held on 22-23 August at TBA Complex in Johannesburg.
Their draft is made up of two-year-olds sired by Futura, Soqrat, What A Winter and One World (offered as agent).
Drakenstein’s Kevin Sommerville shared his insights on this attractive draft:
Lot 79 - Winter Chestnut (f) by What A Winter ex Chestnuts N Pearls
She could be the headline act, fairly early and precocious, she has the lovely temperament typical of What A Winter progeny.
Lot 83 - Future Citizen (c) by Futura ex Citizen Rose
This colt is out of a precocious, fast dam - the type of mare that Futura has done well with.
Lot 146 - Shamal Breeze (c) by Futura ex Gulf Breeze
Typical of his sire, he is the most attractive in the draft. An athletic, tall, rangy individual – he is a nice type. This is the Fall Aspen family.
Lot 302 - Star Fall (c) by Futura ex Star Jet
A half-brother to the smart Silver Sky, this colt is out of a stakes winning daughter of Jet Master.
Lot 331 - April Fools’ Day (f) by Futura ex Trick
This filly is from a wonderful family, which we have quite a lot of.
Lot 248 - Fouette (f) by Soqrat ex Pin Turn
Pin Turn, dam of Gr3 Flamboyant Stakes winner Zimbaba, is a daugher of the great Ipi Tombe. A nice, compact filly who should be fairly early.
Acting as an agent, Drakenstein will also be offering, a One World colt.
Lot 223 - World Over (c ) by One World ex Mocha Blitz
This colt is bred on the same cross as One World’s star son One Stripe.
Drakenstein’s draft can be viewed at Block D.
Clifton Stud enjoyed a wonderful few weeks earlier this year when the Vercingetorix filly, Mrs Geriatrix romped home to win the R600 000 KwaZulu-
Having grabbed the attention of many at the Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallops, the Clifton-bred Flag Man showed his class by finishing second in the Gr1 Daily News 2000 and fourth in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July.
Adding to the farms streak of successful champions at Africa’s Greatest Racing Event, 3yo Madison Valley picked up his biggest win when landing the 2024 Gr3 DStv Gold Vase.
The farm also sold a half-brother to Flag Man for R900 000 at the recent BSA KZN Yearling Sale 2024, where the farm ended that sale as second Top Vendor by Aggregate.
Peter and Jenny Blythe are all set to present yet another quality draft at the upcoming BSA August Two Year Old Sale 2024.
They will be offering buyers an attractive opportunity to acquire two-year-olds sired by the likes of Act Of War, Danon Platina, Fire Away, New Predator, One World and Rafeef, to name but a few.
Sensational young sire One World is represented here by a colt out of Ikati, a stakesplaced winner of seven and granddaughter of Gr1 Garden Province Stakes winner Sleek Wine.
One World’s stakes placed half-sister Count To Ten has a filly on offer by Erik The Red - sired, like One World, by Captain Al.
The ever-popular Rafeef is represented by the filly out of Romantic Moon, Cosmic Orbit. A half-sister to BSA KZN Yearling Sale Million winner Lunar Rush.
Abbey Sniper, a colt by the much-missed New Predator, is out of a winning daughter of Fastnet Rock and Gr1 Irish Oaks heroine Vintage Tipple.
Fear Of Fire is a Fire Away colt out of a fourtime winning daughter of Hussonet.
• Clifton Stud’s draft can be viewed from Block E at the TBA Complex in Germiston on 22-23 August.
Cheveley Stud have bred numerous topclass horses over the years. The latest equine star to have graduated from the farm is none other than 2024 Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner, and Bloodstock South Africa graduate, Oriental Charm.
Vaughan Koster will present three very classy two-year-olds to the upcoming BSA August Two Year Old Sale 2024.
Cheveley’s trio, two of which are offered as agent, include fillies by Hawwaam and Rafeef, and a colt by Danon Platina.
Lot 231 – Unnamed (f) by Hawwaam ex Netsuke
Arguably the standout lot in this classy string is this Hawwaam half-sister to Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship/Gr2 World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas winner Rascova.
Also runner up in the Gr1 City Of Cape Town Majorca Stakes, the talented Rascova has already earned more than R1,525 million in prize money.
84 – Sistership (f) by Rafeef ex
This filly is a Rafeef half-sister to two winners, notably 2023 Gr3 Betway Lebelo Sprint winner Rulership, out of multiple stakes winner Clear Sailing (the latter being sired by Cheveley bred champion Argonaut).
Lot 45 – Malongane (c) by Danon Platina ex Beataboutthebush
A a colt by Japanese champion Danon Platina, he is out of a stakes winning Gimmethegreenlight half-sister to Gr3 East Cape Derby winner True Master.
This draft can be viewed from Blocks B and C.
Keivan Stud is another longstanding farm represented at the BSA August Two Year Old Sale 2024.
Breeders of such smart performers as Jerusalema Rain and Machete Man, they will be offering a single lot at this year’s August auction.
Lot 221 – Unnamed (c) by Gold Standard ex Missibaba
The Trippi sired Gr2 Selangor Cup winner Gold Standard made a great start with his small first crop, and he is represented in this string by a well related colt.
This colt is out of the four-time winning Captain Al mare Missibaba, a half-sister to
Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes winner Royal Pleasure and the stakes placed Ermelo. Missibaba hails from an excellent female line with her relatives including such stellar Gr1 winners as Redberry Lane, Silvano’s Pride, Solo Traveller and Good Traveller - Equus Champion 2YO Colt of 2020-2021.
This colt can be viewed from Block A at the Complex.
Camargue Stud will be offering a very appealing consignment at the BSA August Two Year Old Sale 2024, scheduled for 22 – 23 August at TBA Complex in Germiston, Johannesburg.
The farm will be bringing forward six attractive two-year-olds, sired by Act Of War, Capetown Noir, Lance and the ever-popular Querari.
Lot 162 – Unnamed (f) by Querari ex Hurrucan Katrina
Querari’s progeny include such Gr1 winners as Bavarian Beauty, Querari Falcon and champion Rio Querari, he is represented here by a filly bred on the same cross as Rio Querari, whose dam won ten including two runnings of the
Listed East Cape Breeders Stakes.
Another proven Gr1 sire represented in this draft is Act Of War. That Cape Guineas winning son of Dynasty has three colts on offer:
• Lot 303 - a half-brother to promising young sire Talk Of The Town. This colt is out of Street Wise (Street Cry).
• Lot 304 - a son of the stakes placed Twice Over daughter Studio Blues.
• Lot 322 - out of Thru’ The Trees (Querari), this colt is from the family of such standout Gr1 winners as Gimme A Prince, Real Princess, and William Longsword.
Lot 118 – Unnamed (f) by Capetown Noir ex Euphoria
Out of a classy racemare who won seven times and ran second in the Listed Scarlet Lady, and the daughter of Kahal, this filly’s numerous high-class relatives include Met winner Angus and the high-class fillies Dignify, Star Fighter and Winter Smoke.
Lot 277 – Beach Walker (c) by Lance ex Scarlet Rivera
Quid Pro Quo, impressive winner of both the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship and Gr2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper, is a daughter of Lance, and that son of Jet Master has a colt out of a three-time winning ownsister to Listed Aquanaut Handicap winner Tambalang on sale.
Interested parties can view this draft from Block E.
Blood will out! Dean Kannemeyer trained Real Princess to win the 2016 Gr1 SA Fillies, with her son Gimme A Prince storming to victory in the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint in 2023.
On Sunday the family tradition continued over the course and distance with Real Princess’ 3yo son The Real Prince proving the handicapper’s early assessment of his ability to be spot on.
Bred and raced by Khaya Stables, The Real Prince won impressively on his Hollywoodbets Kenilworth debut in early December, before an injury set him back. His return to action at the end of June on the polytrack was nothing special – he was slow out and didn’t enjoy the kickback.
But on Sunday in the KZN Capital City, he showed that he could be a low mileage 4yo to keep an eye on next season, when he burst through late to give his more experienced and very capable contemporary Strathclyde 2,5kgs and a hiding.
Easy to back at 6-1, The Real Prince beat tote favourite Strathclyde (3-1) by 2,70 lengths in a time of 68,32 seconds.
“I am going back to Milnerton at the tail end of the winter, so we may give him another run here. But I am pleased that he showed his ability today and I hope Lady (Christine) Laidlaw was watching. She has enjoyed plenty of success with this good family,” added Kannemeyer.
Kannemeyer and Craig Zackey got the day off to a flyer when Fred Crabbia’s R1 million National 2YO Sale graduate Lucrative, a Maine Chance bred daughter of Vercingetorix (Silvano) stormed through from off the gallop in a race of three parts, to catch the free-striding Panthera Uncia in the shadow of the post to win the 1200m fairer sex Maiden Plate.
Dean Kannemeyer had recently moved the 2yo up from a wet and gloomy Milnerton, and she certainly showed her appreciation of the sun on her back.
It was good to see Far End Farm’s Jane Thomas on track to enjoy seeing a filly she selected at sale, win so well.
While the second race, a 1750m Maiden Plate, looked a straight tussle between Dapper, Burning Man and Kinnikinnik, it was Duncan Howells and the Hollywood Syndicate who pulled the ace out of the bag in the shape of the Missing U Syndicate bred Futura colt Mike’s Mazarin.
The athletic sort is bred for ground and improved dramatically on his ordinary 1200m debut under Sean Veale to pip Burning Man. The fancied Dapper was very coltish and his modest third suggests his mind is not in the right place.
The Sporting Post-sponsored Sean Veale chirped that he had noticed trainer Duncan Howells was ‘box walking’ so he was happy that he could give the trainer a good ride and a winner. Originally called Meta Star, Mike’s Mazarin was named by David Thiselton after his late brother Mike, and Mazarin, the first Durban July winner that David backed.
Richard Fourie and Glen Kotzen teamed up to deliver the first favourite to score on the day when Maine Chance and their kingpin Vercingetorix celebrated a double after Lucrative had won the opener, when Facile came home first time in the blinkers under quite a hard ride to shed her maiden in the third, a F&M Maiden Plate over 1950m.
After two fair fourths over shorter, Facile looks set to improve as a 3yo over a bit of ground.
Mike de Kock’s Flower Alley filly Woodland Glade has proven something a friend of the bookies, but she finally put her second win together at her sixteenth start when benefitting from a typically determined Muzi Yeni ride to beat the equally consistent Escape Artist in the Jackpot opener, an MR 82 Handicap over 1950m.
The race provided some decent entertainment, with the 3yo getting the better of the older girls. The tote favourite Faizah just tired late, to hold on for third.
The Barrington Stables duo of Rachel Venniker and Michael Roberts grabbed the limelight in the sixth race, a competitive mixed sex MR 68 Handicap over the 1000m straight.
With the tote favourite Spririted Flight ruining her chances by fly-jumping at the break, it was left to the 6yo Crusade gelding Northern Warrior to register his sixth win from 48 starts, as he collared the the free-striding 5yo Cotton Ron late in the race.
Peter Muscutt and Tristan Godden teamed up
with the Varsfontein raced and bred Mascherina in the penultimate race of the day.
The Gimmethegreenlight half-sister to Malmoos has now won 3 from 7 and is a 4yo to watch, according to her trainer.
The bomb arrived in the final race of the day and provided Tony Rivalland and his staunch owner Mary Liley with some compensation after Strathclyde’s walloping by The Real Prince earlier on.
Matthew Thackeray produced the biggest outsider in the MR 88 Handicap in the shape of the well-bred Harley Street, who paid R71 a tote win and R21-20 a place.
The son of Var, a full-brother to Cape sire Talk Of The Town, beat Down By The River and the widely gated Kitchakal, who ran a cracker under Kobeli Lihaba to round off the trifecta.
The Pick 6 ended up paying R225 905.
There is no local racing on Monday, after the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth racemeeting was moved to Wednesday 24 July, where it shares billing where with the next KZN racemeeting –also at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
Rosallion is currently the world’s highest-rated miler, having produced exhilarating come-frombehind performances to take the Gr1 Irish 2,000 Guineas and Gr1 St James’s Palace Stakes.
The son of Blue Point had to settle for second on his comeback behind Notable Speech in the 2,000 Guineas but turned the tables on the Godolphin colt in no uncertain fashion at Royal Ascot.
Notable Speech is due to be among the opposition once again, as is the St James’s Palace Stakes runner-up Henry Longfellow and Gr1 Dubai Turf victor Facteur Cheval.
Speaking at a stable visit organised by Goodwood Racecourse, Hannon said:
Richard Hannon has hailed Rosallion as “everything you could ever dream of” as he builds up to next week’s Gr1 Qatar Sussex Stakes, the £1 million highlight of the Qatar Goodwood Festival.
“You always dream and hope that they are something that they are probably not, but this fella is probably everything you could ever dream of. My dad might disagree but I think Rosallion is the best miler we have had and certainly the best since Canford Cliffs. Time will tell whether he is better.
“Rosallion has won three Group Ones, including one as a two-year-old, and has got better with every run. He can sometimes be a little bit keen, but he has always been professional. He is in such good nick and has never been moving better. I think he is peaking. He has been a different horse since the 2,000 Guineas and he has turned from a boy to a man as the season has progressed.
“The Irish 2,000 Guineas was not run to suit him and that’s maybe why he didn’t have loads to spare, but he made up loads of ground and clocked 42mph at one stage. We might ride him a little closer to the pace at Goodwood.
“To run down Aidan’s horse [Henry Longfellow] at Ascot was impressive – he picked up a horse which got first run on him – but his late challenges have not been by design. He needed to get out a few strides before he did but, if you have enough horse, you can pretty much get out of anywhere.
“There were three Guineas winners in the St James’s Palace Stakes. For me it was a championship race. This time we are taking on older horses for the first time, so it is a new challenge. I am hoping the track at Goodwood won’t be a problem. It is an unknown. The tracks he has run at – Ascot, Newbury, Doncaster, Longchamp, the Curragh – are flat. I am not sure he came down the hill that well at Newmarket, so it is a little bit of a worry.
“He has more experience now and is taking on horses he has beaten before. His style of running means he sails a bit close to the wind. It’s not good for my heart but racing fans also like it. It is exciting.
“A good horse brings something money can’t buy, no matter who you are. Everybody feels the difference and excitement with a horse like this. It is what we do it for, being able to take your best horse to the best meetings. It is good for business and shows we are as good as anyone.
“He has always been a bit special. You can sometimes be guilty of describing horses how you hope they are rather than what they actually are. I feel this fella has now proved it. He has been massively important to us and the horse of my career so far. I have won Classics and Group Ones but this horse seems a little bit more.
“Maybe I didn’t appreciate things early in my career as much as I should have. Then when you have a few years when you don’t have
really good horses, you really miss them. So when you get one again, you are not going to allow the moment to pass you by.
“When you go to sleep at night, he is the one you are thinking about. He has a massive following and a lot of people ask about him. Really good horses reach far and wide, which is great. He has changed my professional life being part of these big races all the time.
“After this race, we might take in a Prix du Moulin and then put him away. Whether he stays in training next year is a decision for Sheik Mohammed Obaid but I very much hope so.”
Hannon confirmed that Haatem would miss the Qatar Goodwood Festival in favour of a trip to France: “Haatem will go for the Prix Jacques Le Marois. He is reliable, sound and talented, and a Group One win will surely come his way soon. He has exceeded expectations and wears his heart on his sleeve.”
On the rest of his Goodwood team, Hannon added: “We should have around 20 runners over the meeting. We have a nice horse going in Great Bedwyn. Principality could go for the Vintage Stakes. He wants seven furlongs. He ran better at Newbury but hit a flat spot before getting going again.
“Xanthe, who was sixth in the Queen Mary Stakes, will go for the Alice Keppel, and Hawaiian and The Actor might run in the Molecomb.
“Our Terms plus Tawash and Wheels Of Fire, who are both owned by Al Shaqab, will be aimed at maidens. They all ran promisingly on their debuts. We have been waiting for these races for the Al Shaqab horses.
“Voyage didn’t scope well after running poorly at Royal Ascot. There are a couple of options for him, and I think Classic will run well in the Golden Mile.”
The Qatar Sussex Stakes is part of the QIPCO British Champions Series.
The prestigious Dubai World Cup meeting, recognised worldwide as one of horseracing’s premier sporting and social occasions, will take place on Saturday, 5 April 2025 and symbolizes the grand finale of an extended 16-meeting Carnival.
Hosted at the iconic Meydan Racecourse, the 29th renewal of racing’s most spectacular fixture will be staged a week later than has previously been the case, forming the culmination of a week of Eid Al Fitr celebrations across the UAE.
The eagerly awaited new season gets underway on Friday, 8 November while the first of four feature race days takes place on ‘Festive Friday’, 20 December when the AED1million Gr2 Maktoum Mile headlines a superb card. The Carnival’s second marquee race day is the popular ‘Fashion Friday’ fixture on 24 January, featuring a stellar all-Pattern race card including the AED3.68million Gr1 Al Maktoum Challenge which offers ‘Bonus Scheme’ entry to the Dubai World Cup.
Meydan Racecourse will host the Emirates Super Saturday on the 1 March 2025, with the Gr2 Al Maktoum Classic, another ‘win and you’re in’ race, as the feature.
Commenting on the announcement, Sheikh Rashed bin Dalmook Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Racing Club, said: “The Dubai World Cup is one of the best-established sporting and social events of the year in Dubai. This incredible race meeting has grown year on year, since its 1996 inception, and we look forward to welcoming the best horses, jockeys, trainers and owners from around the world to Meydan Racecourse on Saturday, 5 April 2025.
“We are also delighted to offer two additional days of racing this season, providing more opportunities for horses based locally and
those joining us from overseas. The Dubai Racing Carnival has been instrumental in transforming the horseracing landscape globally. It is a celebration of the sport, combining top-tier racing action with worldclass entertainment, fashion, and hospitality. With the introduction of new race days and an enhanced prize pool, the Carnival continues to attract elite participants and audiences from around the world.
“Under the visionary leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Dubai Racing Carnival has reached new heights. His passion and commitment to the sport has not only elevated the status of the Dubai World Cup but has also placed Dubai firmly on the global horseracing map. His Highness’s efforts have fostered international cooperation, bringing together the best in the industry and promoting the sport’s growth and development.”
Sheikh Mohammed’s dedication to the equine industry is evident through the establishment of state-of-the-art facilities, the introduction of innovative racing formats, and his support of breeding and training programmes that have produced world-class competitors.
His influence extends beyond the racetrack, impacting the broader cultural and economic landscape of Dubai, making it a premier destination for horseracing enthusiasts and professionals alike.
Another new innovation for the forthcoming Carnival is an exciting rebrand of the Dubai Racing Carnival logo which has been redesigned to keep pace with the organisation’s commitment to modernisation, aligned with a fresh and relevant vision.
For more information, please visit dubairacingclub.com
Dubai Racing Club 2024-2025 calendar:
ALL THE QUEEN’S MEN AND ALL THE KING’S HORSES…
The prestigious King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes runs at Ascot on Saturday afternoon.
First run in 1951, Ascot’s premier midsummer showpiece attracts the best middle-distance horses around, competing for the massive £708,875 first prize.
Eleven runners remained in contention at Monday’s five-day forfeit stage. Bluestocking hardened as the general 5-1 third favourite, with last year’s Derby winner Auguste Rodin the
5-4 favourite and Breeders’ Cup Turf and Sheema Classic hero Rebel’s Romance next at 4-1.
Auguste Rodin has six top-level victories to his name, the most recent coming in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot last month.
The 2023 Derby winner looked back to his best under Ryan Moore as he bravely held off fastfinishing French raiders Zarakem and Horizon Dore over the ten-furlong trip.
He was very disappointing in last year’s King George finishing tenth after being eased out of the race by Moore but has improved since winning three of his last five Group 1 starts.
The market makes the Godolphin owned Rebel’s Romance his biggest danger. A globetrotting superstar, the Dubawi gelding has won five Group 1 races around the world –although he is yet to race at the top level in the UK.
His trainer, Charlie Appleby said Rebel’s Romance had “never been better” on his return from Hong Kong, and he is set to be reunited with regular rider William Buick.
Despite being a sixyear-old, Rebel’s Romance has only run on turf in Britain twice in his career, most recently at Goodwood nearly two years ago. He was sent off the even-money favourite for his most recent win at Sha Tin in May, meaning some of his King George rivals might bring stronger form to the contest.
Fresh from securing a first win in the Irish Oaks last weekend, trainer Ralph Beckett has committed to run his Camelot filly Bluestocking here instead of in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood, providing the ground is not “rattling” fast.
Beckett is confident Ascot is the right destination for last month’s tenacious Pretty Polly Stakes winner to attempt a second success at the highest level.
She deserved her Curragh Group 1 last month, finishing best over Saturday’s trip to chase down Emily Upjohn and arrives here right at the top of her game. She’s gone well over courseand-distance before and looks sure to run her race with a valuable 3lbs sex allowance in her favour.
The sole three-year-old in this year’s renewal is the Irish Derby runner-up Sunway. Trained by David Menuisier, the French bred Galiway colt won on very soft ground last year in France, so the rain forecast at Ascot later in the week could play to his strengths.
He was the surprise package in the Irish Derby, finishing like a train as he narrowly failed to catch the victorious Los Angeles.
That effort saw him finish ahead of Epsom Derby second Ambiente Friendly, and his 11lbs age allowance on Saturday makes this progressive three-year-old a worthwhile contender if getting his favoured soft ground.
You Got To Me justified significant market support to surge to Juddmonte Gr1 Irish Oaks success at the Curragh on Saturday.
The winner of Lingfield’s Oaks Trial earlier in the season, Ralph Beckett’s daughter of Nathaniel had been backed into 15-2 from double-figure overnight odds and had previously finished fourth to Ezeliya at Epsom before filling the same spot in the Ribblesdale Stakes when racing keenly on the front end.
With a tongue-tie applied and ridden with more restraint, You Got To Me travelled comfortably in mid-division in the hands of regular pilot Hector Crouch, who was enjoying the biggest success of his career.
Moving smoothly into contention, You Got To Me showed both her stamina and class when asked to win her race by Crouch, hitting the front with a furlong to run and showing plenty of resolve as the Aidan O’Brien-trained 3-1 favourite Content came chasing in the closing stages.
You Got To Me held a three-quarter length advantage at the line though, with Content in second and Paddy Twomey’s Purple Lily third.
Beckett admitted the race had not gone entirely as planned but praised Crouch for swiftly adapting his tactics.
He said: “She was training well in the spring when perhaps we weren’t clicking, and she did it the hard way at Lingfield.
“It didn’t really work out in the Oaks and she went a bit hard in the Ribblesdale, downhill start there over 12 furlongs at Ascot – it can happen there. A tongue strap on today probably helped, it just gave her something else to think about. Hector said he had to barge through everywhere to get a position and to keep his position. She’s a very brave filly.”
“The plan was to be forward and kick on from the top of the hill, but you always have to have a plan B. Hector is not a man that panics and he knew what was going to happen after five strides and rode a race to fit her.”
Crouch was securing the biggest victory of his career and said: “It’s hard to put what that means into words.
“It’s a very, very special day and I’m extremely thankful to Ralph and to Valmont and to Newsells Park Stud for keeping the faith in me and this filly.
“I’m a bit emotional to be honest, it means an awful lot. I’ve always had a tremendous amount of faith in her and when she’s good, she’s very good.
“I can’t believe it, it’s unbelievable.
“I was a touch slow away and I had to take it as it came. She was very tough and very brave when I needed her.”
The new star of Singapore racing, Lim’s Saltoro, did not disappoint his connections and supporters after he fought hard to win the SG$400 000 Gr1 Singapore Derby on Sunday.
History was made for the mighty Lim’s Stable, whose famous blue and yellow star silks dominated the Group races in Singapore over the last few years, trainer Daniel Meagher and jockey Marc Lerner.
That win also meant the son of Shamexpress had made a complete sweep of the three Group races for four-year-olds at Kranji after he also won the Gr3 Silver Bowl (1400m) on 9 June and the Gr2 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) on 30 June.
On the back of those Group wins, Lim’s Saltoro was sent out the favourite in the feature race and any thought of the wide barrier 11 being an issue were quickly put to bed after Lerner crossed to lead with little fuss in the backstraight.
Galaxy Bar (Tyler Schiller) and Aniki (Ruan
Maia) followed in second and third behind the leader while Hole In One (Bernardo Pinheiro) joined the on-pace party at the 900m after being caught wide early from barrier nine.
Meanwhile, Bestseller (Vlad Duric) sat in the perfect position handy with cover while jockey Manoel Nunes used gate one to Makin’s advantage to settle in midfield with cover. Second favourite Lightning Strike (Hugh Bowman) was eased off at the rear of the field.
When things got serious upon turning for home, Lim’s Saltoro easily saw off the early challengers after he put two lengths on Hole In One, Bestseller and Aniki, but it was Makin who loomed the danger with a big run on the rails at the 300m.
In fact, it looked like the momentum was on Makin’s side at the 200m, but the ‘bulldog’
Lim’s Saltoro refused to lie down. Under hard riding by Lerner, Lim’s Saltoro held off Makin strongly before the latter went down by a head at the finish.
The pair’s heroics befitted the occasion and was also amplified by the big three-and-aquarter length margin from a gallant Hole In One who ran third, while Bestseller finished a neck back in fourth.
The winning time was 1 min 47.36secs for the 1800m on the Long Course. Lim’s Saltoro’s first Group 1 win and eight other wins in 10 starts took his earnings to a tick under SG$570 000 for his connections.
But the prizemoney was insignificant compared to the enormity of winning the final running of the Singapore Derby for Meagher.
“I don’t think this (Singapore Derby) win has sunk in yet,” said Meagher, who scored a fourtimer on Sunday and his three other wins were with Sweet and Sour in the Golden Monkey 2023 Stakes, a Class 5 Division 1 race over 1200m, Always Together in the Hard Too Think 2021 Stakes, a Class 3 race over 1400m and Pacific Beauty in the Jupiter Gold 2018
Stakes, a Class 5 race over 1800m.
“It was always going to be special to win the last (Singapore) Derby and be part of Singapore history, but it’s probably something I will reflect on when it (racing in Singapore) ends (on 5 October).
“But to win it for (owner) Mr Lim (Siah Mong) is an honour. He’s won it three times before I think (Lim’s Prestige in 2007, Top Spin in 2008 and Lim’s Kosciuszko in 2022), but I could tell it meant a lot to him today. That meant a lot to me.
“I thought Marc took the initiative from the wide gate and it was a winning move early. When he found the fence, I knew we would be hard to beat.
“But in saying that, I thought Makin was impressive. (Trainer) Steven (Burridge) has done an amazing job with him and he fought hard to the end.
“But our boy is a fighter and I can’t thank my staff enough for the job they do. A real team effort today.”
Lerner was quick to praise both Lim’s Saltoro and Meagher after a memorable Singapore Derby win.
“A good horse and a good trainer too,” said Lerner, who previously won the Singapore Derby on Hard Too Think three years ago.
“Seriously, Lim’s Saltoro means a lot to me as I’ve ridden him from the beginning and he’s not the easiest horse to deal with.
“I rode the race today to suit our horse and didn’t worry so much as what went on around me.
“I wanted to find the rail as I thought that would be very beneficial because I knew that Vlad and Manoel would take me on at some stage.
He only won his (Open) Maiden (race) in September last year, so to come this far in less than 12 months, the credit goes to Daniel and his team.
“So I controlled the race from the front and while Manoel came very fast at me and hit the lead at some stage, I didn’t panic.
“I hadn’t gone for my horse yet and I knew he’s a fighter, so I was still very confident in the final 200m.
“Makin probably hit the wall late and my horse lifted. He just knows how to win.”
