SP SPRINT - 26 APRIL 2023

Wednesday 26 April 2023

SPEED MASTER

Gavin Lerena returns after Master Archie’s Gr1 Computaform Sprint victory in 2022 – image courtesy of dual Equus Award-winner Candiese Lenferna

A happy Ridgemont Highlands team member gives Candiese Lenferna the thumbs-up at the BSA National Yearling Sale last week

CHAMPIONS ON SHOW ON SATURDAY

Joy for Master Archie fans after the 2022 Gr1 Computaform Sprint – will we see a repeat on Saturday?

The stage is set for a spectacular day of racing on Saturday as Johannesburg’s showstopper World Sports Betting (WSB) Championships Finale takes place at Turffontein with no less than seven red-hot Graded races.

The R4 895 000 Champions Day is the climax of what has been a thrilling 5-part The WSB Championships season, which now culminates with the best of the best doing battle at Turffontein on one of the biggest days on the South African horseracing calendar.

The WSB Championships Finale will be headlined by the R2 000 000 WSB Premier’s Champions Challenge, with big guns Puerto Manzano, Nebraas, Aragosta, Red Saxon, Second Base, Rain in Holland, Billy Bowlegs, Litigation, MK’s Pride and Zeus all among those lining up in a massive showpiece race of the Johannesburg season.

Another major Grade 1 race on the day will be the R1 000 000 Jonsson Workwear ComputaForm Sprint over 1 000 meters, which is packed with the country’s best speedsters including Master Archie, William Robertson, Isivunguvungu, Taikonaut, Sheela, Big Burn, RollingWithThePunches, Princess Calla and Gobsmacked all lined up to contest for honours.

“There have been so many great storylines during the World Sports Betting Championships Season. Piere Strydom rolling back the years with Lady of Power in the Gauteng Fillies

Candiese Lenferna

Winning Form’s Keagan de Melo – has eight nice rides on Saturday

Guineas and Rachel Venniker showing us the future of the sport is in good hands with her sensational win in the WSB Gauteng Guineas on Eye of the Prophet. Anfield’s Rocket, Bless My Stars, Son of Raj, Trip of Fortune and Desert Miracle are all fantastic runners who have had big wins during this WSB Championships season and now we’ve saved the best for last. We are excited for Champions Day, looking at the quality fields we have lined up from start to finish, there is no doubt this will be a memorable showcase of top-class horse racing and we urge punters to come to Turffontein in their numbers,” said Fundi Sithebe, CEO of 4Racing “We would like to thank our

partner, 4Racing, as well as our valued clients and racegoers for their support and enthusiasm throughout a spectacular series of racing.

Our vision is to welcome a new life into the sport of racing, creating awareness, an element of fun and lifestyle too. We look forward to a long and prosperous partnership with 4Racing and what lies ahead. It is befitting that the season concludes with the much-anticipated the World Sports Betting Championships’ Finale – Champion’s Day, a major highlight of what’s been a great addition to the country’s horse racing calendar,” said Warren Tannous, CEO of World Sports

Betting.

Racegoers can expect a vibrant line up of music acts including popular singersongwriter and producer Lee Cole, 5FM’s Austin Cassim, bass brothers EBB & MAYO and popular Hip Hop and R&B DJ Marco Da Costa.

Entrance to Turffontein

Racecourse is absolutely free for Champions Day and gates will open from 10h00.

All the action from Champions Day will be broadcast live on Racing 240, DStv Channel 240. SABC 3 will also show the exhilaration of the main race at 15h00.

WORKER’S DAY AT

HOLLYWOODBETS KENILWORTH

The Hollywoodbets Kenilworth racemeeting scheduled for Sunday 23 April, and then postponed to Monday 24 April before being abandoned, will be run on Worker’s Day, Monday 1 May.

The decision to hold the racemeeting on Monday 1 May was taken so as not to clash head-on with the KZN racemeeting on 30 April, where a number of local riders have already accepted engagements.

There is a Hollywoodbets

Greyville polytrack racemeeting on Monday.

The abandoned Kenilworth programme, headed by the WSB Gr3 Variety Club Mile, includes three important feature races and will be an important prep platform for Cape Winter Season and KZN Champions Season features.

Following approximately 40mm of rain in a 24-hour period, horses were brought to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth to gallop on Sunday morning.

As areas of the track were

waterlogged and further rain was forecast, a decision was made to postpone the race meeting scheduled for Sunday to Monday, pending a further track inspection.

Following a further 40mm of rain overnight on Sunday, the total rainfall in the last 7 days was 105mm.

In the interests of safety of horse and rider, a decision was made to cancel the race meeting and re-open entries for the card at the same venue on Monday 1 May.

CAPE RACING

– ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR HOLLYWOOD

A brand new chapter was written in the history of Cape horseracing on Monday with the approval by the Competition Commission of Hollywood Sportsbook Holdings (Pty) Ltd acquisition of Kenilworth Racing (Pty) Ltd.

The approval is a sequel to agreements concluded in a R330 million deal in July 2022

at a time when Kenilworth Racing was experiencing severe liquidity and cash flow constraints, and effectively facing the prospect of ceasing operations at an enormous cost to jobs, and with collateral reputational damage to South African racing.

Hollywoodbets is now the proud owners of Cape horseracing and in addition

to initial loan funding of R64 million, will now, immediately be injecting R200 million into a number of capital projects in order to uplift and improve facilities. In a show of good faith for all stakeholders, and a vote of confidence in the future of the sport, Cape Racing’s crown jewel, Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse, has been ringfenced.

Candiese Lenferna

South Africa’s leading betting operator has declared both the passion and financial capacity to ensure the longterm viability and health of racing in the Western Cape for the years and decades ahead.

Hollywoodbets' ownership will ensure that thousands of jobs in and around the horseracing industry are maintained and secured. Hollywoodbets holds a Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment Level 3 status.

Hollywood Chief Executive, Suren Rampersadh said that this was a significant shift in

Hollywood’s commitment to the horse racing industry. “The transition from our safe space of sponsorship to the responsibility and accountability of ownership is somewhat daunting, and we are fully committed to playing this role.

“But we are not in this alone. We have an incredible relationship with Greg Bortz, who has admirably and selflessly steered the Cape Racing ship during the preimplementation phase of this transaction. We are delighted that Greg will continue to chair

the Board and also become our equity partner. Perhaps, the most rewarding aspect of all will be the restoration of confidence in the future of an industry that has been living in the doldrums for some time. We will be taking our responsibilities very seriously.”

Greg Bortz of GMB Investments (Pty) Ltd has been a key player in the transaction and provided R130 million of liquidity to Kenilworth Racing in the form of a R50 million working capital facility and attended to the repayment of the approximately R80 million

of Kenilworth Racing debt at the time of the signing of the agreements.

Bortz, who has acted as Executive Chairman of Kenilworth Racing, has proven to be a livewire and a gamechanger of some stellar proportions and his energy and presence in the hallways of power looks assured.

GMB are likely to convert their loans to equity, in terms of an option written into the original transaction.

“I am delighted with the Competition Tribunal’s final approval of the Hollywoodbets / Kenilworth transaction.

This is a massive boost not only for the future of horseracing in the Cape, but for the industry nationwide. Now that I know the Tribunal has approved this transaction, I fully intend to exercise my option and convert my loan to equity. I look forward to partnering with Hollywoodbets and will continue working tirelessly with our respective teams to accelerate the exceptional momentum we have built at Cape Racing over recent months. Onward and upward!” added a thrilled Bortz.

The impact in just nine months on Cape Racing of innovation, restructuring and adjustments to the racing programme, has delivered the most successful Summer Season in years, with field sizes and betting turnovers showing encouraging upturns.

Hollywoodbets and Bortz are looking forward to an even brighter future.

Watch this space!

Media release by Hollywood Sportsbook (Pty) Ltd on Tuesday 25 April 2023.

Chase Liebenberg

FUN ‘N GAMES AT BUOYANT NATIONALS

Candiese Lenferna

A vintage catalogue and some really lovely yearlings on show

The hammer came down on two days of enthusiastic bidding at the 2023 BSA National Yearling Sale at Gosforth Park on Saturday evening, with a twelve year high aggregate of R153 750 000, and a record average and median suggesting that, despite the challenges facing the industry and our broader economy, things are headed in the right direction.

It was Cape trainer Justin Snaith who confirmed the general sentiment that the 2023 catalogue of our major sale reflected a depth of quality across the board, and a strong middle market ensured that new highs were reached. And as auctioneer Graeme Hawkins pointed out, it was the buyers raving about the quality of the yearlings on

show – not sales talk from the breeders or the sales company!

A total of 363 lots delivered an aggregate R153 750 000, with a record average of R444 364 and a median of R300 000. New Klawervlei stallion Kommetdieding’s full-sister Kommetjie Storm was sold by Oldlands to Kestorm Investments on Day 1 and remained the sale topseller at 3,2 million.

A filly described as the ‘perfect racehorse’ and a full sister to Durban July and Met winning people’s champion Kommetdieding topped the charts on Day 1 of the BSA National Yearling Sale on Friday when she was secured by Kestorm Investments for R3,2 million.

The only first day lot of the five-strong Oldlands Stud Nationals 2023 draft, Kommetjie Storm, a full-sister to one of our most exciting new stallions and a direct descendant of the great mare Queen Of Light, was the subject of spirited bidding before selling for R3,2 million. She is the highest priced Elusive Fort to sell at Nationals.

A delighted Prof Ian Sanne told the Sporting Post that the family’s Hermanusbased Oldlands Stud was marking their highest price at Nationals with the magnificent specimen. Their previous peak was R4 million for a VAR colt at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale in 2015. He said that there had been a massive amount of interest in Kommetjie

Candiese Lenferna

Top lot was Kommetjie Storm – from Oldlands Stud

Storm, and that conformationwise, she was the ‘perfect racehorse’.

It certainly is a fairytale circle of life story for the Germanborn Barbara Sanne who established Oldlands Stud with a handful of mares as a hobby in 1968.

Ian continues with the story of the topseller:

“Oldlands bred her dam Adorable and we always wanted her after she raced. But could not afford her – that is until she came up on an online sale during COVID. Mom immediately decided to have her covered by Elusive Fort, after she saw Kommetdieding win his first race. By the time he had won the Durban July she was in foal, and when he won the Met the foal was at foot with her mother!

He said that they could not decide whether to keep Kommetjie Storm or offer her for sale.

“We wish the Kestorm folks all the best with their purchase, and will offer her a home at

Oldlands after racing!” said the delighted Prof Sanne, who added that the granddam Dacha (Russian Fox) was one of his Mom Barbara’s foundation mares.

“We thank Varsfontein for breeding Dacha. We are very proud and pleased. The sale certainly keeps Oldlands in business!” he added with a smile.

Overall, the top sire on aggregate was the massively popular Silvano son Vercingetorix, who 35 lots reached an aggregate of R29 900 000, with an average of 854 286.

Drakenstein was the leading vendor, selling 18 lots for an aggregate of R16 225 000 and an average of R901 389. Wilgerbosdrift was next with 21 lots fetching an aggregate of R15 825 000 for an average of R753 571.

Next up was Maine Chance Farms, whose 26 lots fetched R13 430 00 for an average of R516 538.

The top four buyers took home 76 lots between them, with Form Bloodstock leading the spree. Their 24 lots set them back R21 840 000 or an average of R910 000.

Veteran John Freeman signed for 23 lots at an aggregate of R18 900 000 for an average of R821 739.

Justin Vermaak, bought one smashing colt for the Hong Kong Jockey for R2,4 million, and the Vercingetorix son was included in his total trolley of 18 lots which cost R10 925 000 at an average of R606 944.

Cape Racing boss Greg Bortz showed his belief in an industry with a bright future, buying 11 lots for R7 575 000 at an average of R688 636.

A strong and resilient middle market also saw 347 horses of the 363 offered (38 lots being withdrawn) find new homes, with just 16 lots failing to reach their reserve prices. The outstanding clearance rate was a marked factor in both days and confirms the strength of the market.

Sean Tarry stocking the arsenal for the future Candiese Lenferna

HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB BUY AT NATIONALS

The Vercingetorix colt purchased by the Hong Kong Jockey Club on Friday for R2,4 million is led through the ring by Zolile Mfino

Friday’s R2,4 million BSA National Yearling Sale Day 1 topselling Vercingetorix colt will join the 2023 Cape Premier Yearling Sale chart-topping R3,8 million Gimmethegreenlight colt as Hong Kong International Sale prospects.

The highest priced colt of Friday was the R2,4 million paid by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for the unnamed Vercingetorix smasher offered as agent by the Boland Stud.

Justin Vermaak and the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s HKIS Manager Danny Rolston were at the TBA Sales Complex and secured the magnificent specimen after some spirited counter bidding.

At the Cape Town Convention Centre in January, Vermaak, bidding in tandem with Danny Rolston on the telephone, paid R3,8 million for Maine Chance Farm’s Gimmethegreenlight colt, Valley Of the Kings.

Both cracking specimens will showcase the quality of the South African thoroughbred at the 2025 Hong Kong International Sale, which is hosted by The Hong Kong Jockey Club. The catalogue comprises yearlings sourced from many of the world’s premier yearling sales and pretrained in Australia and Great Britain before transferring to Hong Kong.

HKIS graduates include major winners Good Ba Ba, Pakistan

Star, The Duke and most recently, 2022 BMW Hong Kong Derby winner Romantic Warrior, who was purchased at the 2021 HKIS.

Justin Vermaak told the Sporting Post on Saturday that three colts he purchased at the 2021 BSA National Yearling Sale would go through the ring at the Hong Kong International Sale on 30 June. He said the 2023 South African purchases would be sent to England and prepped there.

Earlier this month the Hong Kong Jockey Club bought three well-related colts off the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney for a total outlay of AU$2,13 million.

A SENSE OF REVIVAL

Visionaire stands at the Van der Walt family’s Gelykfontein – the Gariep Dam is in the background

'I'm glad to say that all the Karoo breeders supported Visionaire' - Schalkie van der Walt

As is so often the case when a horse either dies or is sold, his progeny suddenly come up trumps, one such example being Visionaire.

Last weekend, he sired a new stakes winner when Gavin Smith-trained juvenile Vision And Wonder followed up on a 7.25-length maiden romp to score an impressive victory in the Listed East Cape Nursery at Fairview.

The Sandown-bred colt joins Gr3 Fillies Mile winner Emirate Gina and the stakes-placed runners Famous And Rich and Idita as his sire's fourth black type performer of the current season.

An imposing chestnut

grandson of Gone West, Visionaire arrived at Summerhill Stud in 2011 boasting a fine race record, the highlight of which a breath-taking last to first victory in the Gr1 King's Bishop Stakes at Saratoga.

Described by stud owner Mick Goss as "the stallion with rock star looks", the powerful chestnut quickly made an impact with his first local crop, so much so that he led all freshman sires at the end of the 2014 season.

By the time he left six years later for Lammerskraal Stud, Visionaire had already sired a bundle of stakes winners headed by the Gr1 SA Fillies

Classic winner Takingthepeace and the Graded stakes winners Africa Rising, Heaps Of Fun, The Thinker and Royal Pleasure.

Notwithstanding those credentials, the imposing chestnut hardly received the support he deserved from Cape breeders.

The stallion market being notoriously fickle, that lack of support was always going to tell and it hardly came as a surprise when last year, Visionaire moved again, this time to the Karoo where he now stands at Schalkie van der Walt's Gelykfontein Stud.

The handsome Visionaire runs free

To say that Visionaire was welcomed with open arms in a centre woefully short of stallion power would be an understatement. After all, here was a good-looking Gr1 winner and sire, who had added a second Gr1 winner to his resume in the shape of Lammerskraal-bred champion juvenile Good Traveller, winner of the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

"I'm glad to say that all the Karoo breeders supported Visionaire," remarked Schalkie. "He was so popular, he ended up covering 43 mares. I sent him 15 of my own mares including Gr2 winner Ecstatic Green."

Schalkie bred the daughter of Gimmethegreenlight and sold her for R500 000 at the 2019 National Sale. She carried

Chris van Niekerk's silks to victory in the Gr2 Debutante Stakes, and narrowly missed out on Gr1 glory when pipped on the post in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship. As fate would have it, Schalkie was able to buy her back at the end of her racing career when she was offered for sale online.

He makes no secret of his belief in Visionaire and remarked: "Trainers like his foals, they are sound, scopey horses."

Be that as it may, the lack of interest from breeders was glaringly obvious at last week's National Sale, where the stallion was represented by just one filly, the sister to Takingthepeace. As an own sister to a Gr1 winner, she was always going to attract a fair share of interest and it was

trainer

who won the battle with a final bid of R475 000.

Now 18 years old, Visionaire may be approaching the twilight of his stallion career, yet he boasts another feather in his cap, that as the broodmare sire of See It Again, who gave Michael Roberts a maiden Gr1 win as a trainer when successful in the SplashOut Cape Derby.

Schalkie remains optimistic about the way forward. "Covid saw many people sell up, but now that it's over, there is a sense of revival around. I'm lucky to stand a horse like Visionaire. "

Roy Magner

Visionaire: Grand Slam - Scarlet Tango (French Deputy)

Jeremy Nelson

IMPRESSIVE VISION OF WONDER!

JP van der Merwe guides Vision Of Wonder to an eyecatching victory

Pauline Herman

While Hollywoodbetssponsored trainer Gavin Smith’s Vision Of Wonder caught the eye with an emphatic victory in Friday’s R175 000 Listed East Cape Nursery, it wasn’t a memorable day behind the starting stalls for the Gqeberha team.

Inexperienced and uptight 2yo’s are a challenge for any team of handlers, and with a fractious Bridgerton digging his heels in, then kicking a handler and bolting, the East Cape Nursery field was reduced to just six with Summer Odyssey also withdrawn after playing up and

injuring herself in the pens. JP van der Merwe guides Vision Of Wonder to an eyecatching victory (Pic- Pauline Herman)

A runaway maiden victor at his previous start, Vision Of Wonder (33-20) showed a remarkable turn of foot under JP van der Merwe and was too strong as he drew away to win by 3,25 lengths in a time of 69,01 secs.

Global View’s son Fairy Night (33-20) loomed dangerously but had no answers and was well beaten in second.

The winner’s first timer stablemate Aadehya (20-1) was a further 5,25 lengths back in third.

Vision Of Wonder, a R160 000 National 2yo Sale purchase, was the second winner on the day bred by Sandown Stud’s James Armitage and is a son of Visionaire (Grand Slam) out of the twice-winning Silvano mare, Red Ridge.

A winner of 2 races with 2 places from 4 starts, the winner took his earnings to R169 500.

STOPS AND

And away they go!

AND STARTS

Pauline Herman

The Fairview starting team had a rough time with some troublesome sorts on Friday.

A professional observer told us that the Gqeberha handlers hadn’t done too much wrong.

But callers to our offices suggested that horseracing should be making an effort to improve the overall visual show – and the start is a pressure cooker focal point for seasoned and novice viewers.

The Sporting Post was contacted by a handful of observers, who weren’t

completely impressed by a variety of issues watching the eight-race turf programme on Friday.

We know that it is easy for armchair critics to point fingers – but the industry needs to listen, and maybe there are some valid minor observations.

The start of the Listed East Cape Nursery was unsurprisingly delayed.

The official reports says 12 minutes. It felt longer.

Bridgerton was clearly above

himself and eventually got away from Muzi Yeni, apparently kicked a handler and bolted, proving quite a slippery customer.

The only filly in the field, Summer Odyssey kicked her gate and was withdrawn. So eight runners became six. Nobody wins.

The visual show didn’t make for good viewing.

The handlers looked stressed and all over the place. And when last did a jockey, whose horse had just been

withdrawn, help get one of the runners into the gates?

Surely that didn’t create the impression we are looking to project for an international audience? It is not mentioned in the Stipes report either, so we assume it’s okay that jockeys of horses that are withdrawn can help out at the start.

And is it really necessary to have a microphone in the stalls? The real time screaming and shouting from the jockeys and handlers does little to enhance the show and creates a sense of chaos. We acknowledge that handlers

and jockeys have dangerous jobs, and are entitled to be on edge.

Apparently there is no formal training for handlers in South Africa. Comparisons to what we see on UK racing broadcasts is also probably unfair.

While we have learnt reliably that vastly experienced senior starter Dean Kempthorne wasn’t on duty on Friday, it was clear that the starting team on duty looked under pressure.

We notice that they forgot to take Uncle George’s Monty

Roberts blanket to the start for the final race. That caused a delay. But it’s not mentioned in the Stipes report either.

And maybe the television production needs some coordination.

It is clear that the producer doesn’t want cameras directed on a horse who is being pigheaded at the gates – but then we are forced to look at a different unrelated picture angle to what is being spoken about by the commentator. It’s protecting voluntary adult viewers from themselves.

UNLOCKING THE POWER OF FUN

Embracing the fun and social aspects of a day at the races, with fans watching every race from start to finish, is a game-changer!

Global Team Horse Racing (GTH) presents a thrilling and exhilarating experience that takes away complicated race form assessments and the pressure of choosing winners with the focus rather on supporting a team.

It puts excitement and energy at the forefront of the

spectacle of horse racing and brings a potentially huge new audience within reach for a unique and playful experience!

Super-charged team-based racing, supported by increased stakes for the best stable participation, and brief, entertainment-filled intervals are at the centre of this innovation. Add to this DJs, music, food and dancers and the stage is set for a young, new crowd and, importantly, corporate sponsors

backed by wide media coverage.

With original thinking in the social media sphere, GTH gave life to ‘Speedbreaker’, the horse that broke the speed limit on a Johannesburg Road and ran away from the traffic cops in a stunt video that captured attention, and imagination, on various platforms. Angus Campbell, Marketing Director of GTH, explained: “We can call Speedbreaker a ‘horsefluencer’. He is the

face of this innovative and inclusionary event, designed for racing to thrive in a world of tech and online attractions for adults and children.”

Speedbreaker caught the attention of some high-profile racing personalities, too, including multiple champion trainer Sean Tarry, who commented: “I like out-of-the box thinking. GTH is a work in progress, I liked what I saw from them in their launch series last year. There is no doubt they will find the right formula and I am happy to support them.”

The legendary Michael Roberts, champion jockeyturned trainer, said he appreciated the frank and open approach followed by the GTH leadership. “I enjoyed the first series, I think it’s a good concept and when they came to see us recently I was able to put forward some suggestions I believe will make the next one even better. They engaged with us, I like that, and I was impressed by their forward thinking and innovation. I think they have a good concept here.”

Mike de Kock, a Groupwinning winning trainer in seven countries, said he found the GTH Series most refreshing. He said: “What we know is that racing urgently needs a new generation of fans. What we don’t know is how many fans there would be who’d enjoy the game as a sport without the focus on the betting aspects. This is where

GTH is on the right target. There is a potentially huge global market and this concept warrants industry support. Historically, in countless businesses and sporting disciplines, innovations refreshed and changed their core foundations for great progress. We have nothing to lose, much to gain!”

Colin Gordon, COO of 4Racing, said that he, as a ‘traditionalist’, watched the first series with some guarded scepticism, but that he was most impressed with what the GTH team managed to achieve. “Any initiatives aimed at attracting a new fan base and interest in our fantastic sport should be applauded. I think what is good is that they are taking elements that work for other sports and incorporating it in their racing product.”

Top jockey Gavin Lerena, who rode two winners for the Gauteng Gijimaz last year, said he enjoyed the team-based competition and that the short intervals resulted in “action, all round!”

Champion apprentice Rachel Venniker, herself among the winners last August, said that the difference in atmosphere was refreshing. “Things are normally very quiet, but with the GTH series we could hear the crowd cheering us on as we entered the straight. There was a noticeable difference, definitely a great vibe and I loved it. When is the next one, do we have a date yet?”

Muzi Yeni, who captained the winning KZN Royals last year, said that he was impressed by the marketing around the event. “We saw the promotions everywhere and the fans came out in support. It was awesome and actually tested our riding skills because riding without whips brings the ‘mind’ element into it.”

Fans who attended meetings during the first series last year have been actively commenting on social media since.

Nicole April commented on Twitter: “I attended one of the live events and had the time of my life. My favourite moment is how excited everyone gets when the horses come in and how they all cheer them on until they cross the finish line. It’s been a while since we’ve seen people out, so happy and cheerful. We really had a blast!”

Jaco de Beer noted on Facebook: “Can't wait for this year’s series. Loved it last year!”

Janita Edwards wrote: “What an epic championship. It certainly changes the face of horse racing. I am a forever fan!”

CLOCK THIS – SECTIONAL TIMING HITS CAPE AND KZN

An important scientific complimentary tool of the trade for punters and racing enthusiasts, sectional timing data can enhance both the form study and horseracing viewing experience and is currently being phased in on both KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape race meetings.

Sectional timing data, which has been produced by the internationally acclaimed French company McLloyd, who also provide the service to French and Hong Kong horseracing, is currently available on the Winning Form website (www.winningform.

co.za) for Hollywoodbets Greyville and Hollywoodbets Scottsville race meetings.

The tracking of races from Hollywoodbets Kenilworth has commenced and once the data has been reviewed, it will also be made available. Data from Hollywoodbets Durbanville will be added once racing resumes there.

In a game that is subject to multi-faceted variables from weather to human judgement, timing information is a scientific beacon of light that will not only enhance the Gallop TV race-

viewing experience, but easy-to-interpret data can also highlight exceptions, like an individual standout performance that suggests the horse may be one to follow.

Each race is after all, an individual event, with sectional timing data allowing the form student to ascertain how efficiently the particular heat was run – something that is often subject to perception and is not always evident to the naked eye.

Easy-to-read data also provides one with the opportunity to highlight the

pace of the race, when a horse is going faster or slower than the rest of the field, and when some riders may have made race-winning or losing moves, by possibly going too fast, or being forced to give ground away.

Face value form assessment can be misleading in instances, and this is another area where sectional timing can be a valuable filter. Just as the time taken by a horse which ran an efficient race by not going too fast and maintaining a good finish to the line, could be an accurate depiction of that horse’s ability, another on the same day might have run in inefficiently cantering early on and sprinting for home, and thus the actual time recorded might be an unfair reflection of that horse’s true ability and worth putting a line through.

For the astute form student, an accurate assessment of the pace from the data provided could also produce a valuable ‘black-book’ of horses to follow, which can increase the chances of winning the exotics, or even the

Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge!

The ‘raw data’ on Winning Form is currently available to download by exporting all races, or race-by-race, to Excel or CSV files. Thereafter, the data may be utilised and tailored by individual users to generate their own reports.

The Winning Form website will also house standard ‘Sectional Reports’, which may also be downloaded to Excel and CSV.

These reports include:

·Time Per Sector – this gives the time per horse per sector as adjusted to the official winning time. This also shows the data for the 800m-400m and 400m-Finish splits.

·Position & Lengths Behind –this gives each horses’ position per sector and the lengths behind the lead horse and will be followed by:

·Position Per Sector – this gives each horse’s position per sector

– this gives the average speed of each horse per sector

Data from the Winning Form database will be supplemented into these reports, to provide details of the trainer, jockey and weight carried as part of the ongoing development.

This sectional timing project is intended as a customer friendly value-add to boost the enjoyment, understanding and ultimately the rewards that punters and fans gain from watching the world’s most exciting ‘brain game’.

The project is a work-inprogress and the public are invited to comment and make suggestions, including providing personal recommendations of other standard reports that we could create and implement and that may prove beneficial.

Please click here using your Hollywoodbets account to have your say – Tracking@ winningform.co.za – all ideas are welcome!

4RACING – SOMA HEADS OPERATIONS

4Racing has completed the reorganisation of the company into four operational business divisions – ‘Head Office’, ‘Racing Operations’, ‘Betting’ and ‘Content’ – all with its own unit heads geared for growth with a unique customer product offering, resources and skills.

Gabriel Soma has been appointed as 4Racing’s Head of Racing Operations, with

the task of maintaining and growing 4Racing’s worldclass horseracing product and smooth running of its annual fixtures.

Soma will also be responsible for the oversight of events/ hospitality, event marketing and sponsorships that go hand in hand with the racing calendar and will report directly to 4Racing Chief Executive Officer Fundi Sithebe.

The Betting Operations division will be headed by Neil Walters, with the responsibility of the management of the tote, retail outlets and other online betting opportunities.

The Content division will be headed by Stephen Watson, who will spearhead 4Racing branching out locally and internationally into new areas to augment strong existing revenue streams. The Content division will include

Gabriel Soma - racing oroduct and fixtures his responsibility

the company’s broadcast, publishing, brand and communications functions.

The Betting and Content divisions will report into 4Racing Chief Operating Officer, Colin Gordon, who will focus on the company’s core revenue generating operations.

In addition to oversight of the company’s horseracing operations, 4Racing CEO Sithebe will focus on the company’s strategic stakeholder and industry relations and

drive its transformation program.

The company’s Administration division will be led by 4Racing’s Chief Financial Officer Potlako Mophiring, and will provide support in financial control, procurement, human resources, company secretariat and payroll.

“The reorganisation of 4Racing is geared at creating a leaner, more performance-driven and accountable business. We are all well aware of the challenges of the horseracing industry and also the difficult economic conditions prevalent in the country, which makes this reorganisation process even more important and critical. By separating the business into these distinct divisions, we believe that each unit will have greater autonomy to grow faster, deliver better results and provide a better working environment for staff and better opportunities for growth for our many industry partners,” said Sithebe.

Media release by 4Racing on Friday 21 April 2023.

BANG-BANG! CHEYNE IS OFF THE MARK

The South African jockey ranks lost one of its most experienced riders when Gr1 winning multiple regional champion Greg Cheyne and his wife Claire emigrated to the UK almost a year ago.

Cheyne capped an emotional farewell at his home track Hollywoodbets Kenilworth by producing a superb ride to get Walk Of Fame home for his longtime sponsors Ridgemont Highlands in the

Western Province Nomads Gr3 Champagne Stakes, the final Cape feature of that season – and which was to be his penultimate hometown ride.

The ten-times East Cape Champion jockey has continued, despite having to kick his heels while obtaining a different visa, from where he left off with two British winners from his first two winning rides in the past fortnight – a terrific start by all accounts!

Greg and his wife Claire are both employed at William Haggas’s Somerville Lodge Stables in the heart of Newmarket. Claire has several courses under her belt, including a Diploma in Equine Physiotherapy and most recently The Diploma in Stud Practice & Management at The National Stud in Newmarket, UK.

The couple are excited at their new life and have just

Claire and Greg Cheyne – snapped on a visit to Avontuur in February 2023

purchased a new home.

Speaking to the Sporting Post earlier this week, Greg explained that he could not obtain a riding licence as he needed to apply for a new visa.

“It took some time as these processes do. Then I had to jump through a few hoops with the British Horseracing Authority. There were tests and applications – quite a rigmarole, it was, but it worked out well. And I made a dream start when winning on Eastern Charm at Yarmouth. Then just days later, Kyle Strydom went down with flu and I picked up a ride on Silver Sword for Dylan Cunha and won again. I know Dylan well from back home. I rode winners for him as a trainer, and right back to the days in Gqeberha when he was an assistant to Justin

Snaith. So it’s all quite emotional and sentimental,” said the 46 year old, who is clearly enjoying life in his new homeland.

“The icy cold winters take some getting used to – believe me! It can get quite boring as only a handful of horses of the stable of 200 are in work. The rest are just trotting for two to three months. But I am really enjoying the experience of working for a top trainer and have learnt so much – particularly stable management. The facilities can’t be compared to SA but it’s an eye opener and amazingly professional!”

Greg says that it’s also great to be able to ride on different tracks, but he says getting the rides is very competitive!

“Believe me, it’s pretty tough to get rides and amazingly competitive. I have signed up an agent and for now we will see how things go. I could not have hoped for a better start, though!”

The Pretoria-born 46 year old, who has ridden over 2300 winners, joined the world renowned SA Jockey Academy in 1991 alongside the now late Alec Forbes, Marcus Samuel and Paul Devlin.

Outside of South Africa, he has ridden in Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Germany, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Macau, winning the Gr1 Malaysia Sprint and the Malaysian International Jockeys Challenge.

HORIZON – FIRST WINNER!

Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud’s blue-blooded young sire Horizon got off the mark in eye catching style when his two-year-old daughter Far Horizon made a winning debut in open company at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.

Trained by Alyson Wright, Far Horizon was allowed to start an 8-1 shot for the Track & Ball

Gaming Maiden Plate (F&M) (1000m) but made a mockery of her starting price with a fluent win.

Under Keagan De Melo, the two-year-old powered into the lead close home and bounded away to score on debut by just over two and a half lengths.

Bred by Oldlands Stud, Far Horizon is out of

the Alado mare Space Girl.

Far Horizon hails from the first crop of her sire Horizon, a R5.2 million yearling purchase.

Winner of the Gr3 Politician Stakes and third in the Gr1 Daily News 2000, Horizon packs a spectacular pedigree.

Horizon: (Dynasty - Shina)

A son of Horse Of The Year and prominent sire Dynasty, whose sire sons include successful stallions Act Of War, Futura and Legislate, Horizon is a half-brother to Gr2 KZN Fillies Guineas winner Santa Clara.

The latter made news at the 2023 National Yearling Sale, where her Gimmethegreenlight colt was

knocked down for R1 100 000 to the bid of Greg Bortz.

Horizon’s dam Shina is a full-sister to German Horse Of The Year and multiple champion sire Silvano -whose numerous high-class offspring include sensational sire Vercingetorix, while Shina also numbers Gr1 Charles Whittingham Memorial hero and sire Sabiango.

MAJMU DAUGHTER STRIKES AT NEWBURY

Trainer William Haggas took the wraps off a promising Shadwell homebred at Newbury last Friday in the Kingman filly Fakhama. She made her debut in a 1400m race for unraced three-yearold fillies and after travelling strongly, was ridden clear in the closing stages to score by just over two lengths.

However, what added a touch of intrigue to her sparkling victory is the fact that her dam is a former Mike de Kock-

Owned by the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, this grey daughter of Redoute's Choice went undefeated in three starts at two. She first showed the cut of her jib in stakes company by claiming the Listed Ruffian Stakes on debut, followed up in the Gr3 Pretty Polly Stakes and made it three out of three when destroying her rivals by almost nine lengths

in the Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery.

Notwithstanding the lack of a Gr1 success, that flawless hattrick was good enough to earn her an Equus award as the country's Champion Juvenile Filly.

Majmu duly filled in that blank when she travelled to Cape Town for the Avontuur Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas, which she won in majestic fashion, coming home two and a half length clear of none

Majmu prior to winning the 2014 Avontuur Cape Fillies Guineas

trained Gr1 winner, the star filly Majmu.

other than future multiple Gr1 winner Inara.

Four months later, she added a second Gr1 success when she outclassed her field in the Empress Club Stakes and found only the colt Wylie Hall superior in the Gr1 President's Champions Challenge.

It was always a given that

Majmu would be exported, and she left our shores a dual Gr1 winner of six races, all at stakes level, whilst finishing off the board just once, that when unplaced in her final race, the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July.

But back to Fakhama. The filly is her illustrious dam's second winner from four runners, the first being the Dubawi gelding

Mujtaba, who has won five of eight starts.

One swallow does not make a summer and only time will tell if Fakhama has what it takes, but the manner in which she despatched her rivals, gives the impression that she will not stop here. As for Majmu, she is due to foal an own sibling to Fakhama this spring.

THE PROGNOSIS LOOKS GOOD

Zac Purton believes Prognosis’ hopes of extending Japan’s stunning recent run of success in the HK$25 million Gr1 FWD QEII Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday rests on the raider’s capacity to relax and settle.

Renowned for an occasionally fiery temperament, Prognosis possesses a lethal finishing kick with that powerhouse acceleration propelling the Deep Impact five-year-old to five victories from eight starts.

Trained by Mitsumasa Nakauchida, Prognosis will chase a maiden Group 1 victory at the weekend under Purton, who has thoroughly researched the bay’s racing

habits and is aware of what can potentially go awry.

“He’s been plagued with a lot of injuries throughout his career and he’s had a bit of a stop-start career but he’s trained by a very good trainer and his last-start win (in the Gr2 Kinko Sho, 2000m at Chukyo) looked impressive,” Purton said.

“From what I can gather, he can be quite a strong and eager-going horse so we need to hope – in a small field – that the speed is going to suit us and try and get him to relax.

“It looks like he hasn’t reached his full potential yet. He’s on the way up. He’s not the

highest-rated (113) horse from Japan to come here so he’s got a little bit to find on ratings but he looks like he’s in good form and he could be a chance.”

Near the tail of the field until straightening for home in the Kinko Sho, Prognosis was able conserve sufficient energy under Yuga Kawada to win comfortably but Sunday’s seven-horse contest might present tactical issues for the visitor.

“He looks like he’s a bit of bolter, he wants to take off in everything that I’ve seen and they’ve made a concerted effort to try to get him to relax out of the gate and at times

he’s been three or four lengths behind the second-last horse just trying to get him switch off and even in those races he’s still tried to grab the bit and wanting to go,” Purton said.

“So, his Achilles heel is his eagerness and I’ve got to try to get him to relax otherwise he’s not going to perform.”

Romantic Warrior will attempt to defend his FWD QEII Cup crown for Hong Kong, while

Danon The Kid, Geraldina and Prognosis will push for Japan’s fourth victory in the race in seven seasons after the triumphs of Neorealism (2017), Win Bright (2019) and Loves Only You (2021).

Great Britain’s Dubai Honour is also a leading chance while Tourbillon Diamond and Money Catcher complete Hong Kong’s entry.

Purton, who has four Champions Day Group 1 spoils

to his credit, says the QEII Cup boasts impressive depth.

“It’s not a one, two or threehorse race. It mightn’t be a big field but there’s a lot of quality in it. The other Japanese horse Geraldina looks like it’s a solid chance as well,” he said.

Purton’s other Group 1 hopes at the weekend are California Spangle in the HK$20 million FWD Champions Mile (1600m) and Lucky Sweynesse in the HK$20 million Chairman’s

HKJC

Zac Purton has four Champions Day Group 1 wins.

Sprint Prize (1200m). The five-time Hong Kong champion jockey says Lucky Sweynesse is tracking strongly for a third Group 1 triumph and seventh win overall this season from nine starts.

“He’s had a really good season and he’s been in great form recently and we know him well. He’s continued to work well. He seems very

happy in the mornings, so I’m just hoping for a nice draw, hoping that he can jump well and get himself into the right spot and take care of the rest,” Purton said.

“I wouldn’t say he’s improved. He’s in his best form – he’s been in his best form for a few runs now, it’s just a matter of holding him together at the moment.”

HONG KONG STAKES INCREASE HANDSOMELY

Hong Kong’s domestic racing prize money will rise by 8% for the 2023/24 season, featuring increases across every class of competition –from Griffins to Class 1 and the Four-Year-Old Classic Series – with an additional HK$94 million on offer.

Including bonuses, Hong Kong’s domestic prize money will grow next season to HK$1.38 billion – a figure which does not include prize money for Hong Kong’s Group 1 races, including the seven elite contests featured at LONGINES Hong Kong

International Races and FWD Champions Day, and Group 2 and Group 3 races.

Details of the final 2023/24 prize money structure, including Group racing, will be announced by the Club in coming days.

Adding to the Club’s decision to boost PP (Privately Purchased) Bonuses for both Class 2 and Class 3 horses from HK$1 million to HK$1.5 million for next season, prize money for Griffins rises 8% to HK$950,000 a race, while Class 1 races at 1600m or

further will be worth HK$4.075 million, a gain of 7.2%.

The BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) will be worth HK$26 million, an increase of HK$2 million, while the two other legs of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series – the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) –will each carry HK$13 million, an extra HK$1 million per race.

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “The BMW Hong Kong Derby is revered in Hong Kong as

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club

the race every Owner wants to win and considerable financial resources are often outlaid to secure high-quality horses to try and run in and win the Classic.

“The BMW Hong Kong Derby and Four-Year-Old Classic Series prize money increases are part of our continuing commitment to providing an attractive prize money and bonus structure to Owners who invest in top quality Derby contenders, many of which go

on to develop as Hong Kong’s best performers.

“More broadly, with the enhanced prize money at every level of Hong Kong racing – from Griffins to Class 1 – next season, we are continuing to deliver on our commitment to support our Owners who are the bedrock of Hong Kong’s world-class racing.

“We recognise that our Owners face strong

competition in traditional markets for the supply of horses to Hong Kong and believe that these enhancements for next season will provide our Owners substantial support proportionate with their investments.”

The prize money schedule for next season means Hong Kong’s prize money pool has grown by nearly 100% over the past 10 years.

HKJC

HK Derby - stakes boosted by HK$2 million

THIS LOOKS

READY TO CHARGE

Impressive recent debut winner Ready To Charge looks to be an interesting prospect judging by his eye catching first up run.

This is not perhaps surprising given his stellar pedigree. Not only is Ready To Charge a son of champion sire Gimmethegreenlight, the latter on course to be crowned South African Champion Sire for a second time this season, and Gr3 Sycamore Sprint winner San Fermin (Charge

Forward), the two-year-old hails from one of the very best families in the Australian stud book.

Also runner up in the G3 Three Troikas Stakes and third in the Listed Swallow Stakes, the classy San Fermin's good form continued at the National Sale, where her Lancaster Bomber colt Lead The Charge made R425 000.

Ready To Charge is bred on very similar lines to this

season’s Gr2 World Sports Betting Gauteng Guineas winner Eye Of The Prophet (the latter’s dam is an own sister to Gr2 Premier Trophy winner Cask (Fort Wood)).

Not only do the pair share the same sire, but Eye Of The Prophet’s third dam Christmas Spirit is also the fourth dam of Ready To Charge. A similar mating produced South African Gr3 Winter Classic/ Gr3 Winter Guineas winner Readytogorightnow. Another

Ready To Charge’s dam San Fermin winning for the Azzies at Turffontein

sired by Gimmethegreenlight, Readytogorightnow’s third dam Denises Joy was the granddam of Christmas Spirit.

Christmas Spirit, by multiple champion Australian sire Bletchingly, was a granddaughter of superb racemare and producer Denises Joy (Seventh Hussar). As versatile as she was talented, Denises Joy had the speed to win the Widden Stakes over 1000m and the stamina to land the 1976 VRC Oaks over 2500m. In total, Denises Joy, also runner in the Golden Slipper, won 13 times including the WATC Australian Derby and QTC Queensland Oaks.

She became even more influential at stud, with Denises Joy ancestress of numerous Gr1 winners including champion New Zealand sire Thorn Park (Spinning World)

and Australian Gr1 winners Miss Danehill, Sunday Joy, Tuesday Joy, Fenway, Bentley Biscuit, and More Joyous.

The latter, a winner of 21 races including eight at Gr1 level, is bred on similar lines to the aforementioned trio of Eye Of The Prophet, Ready To Charge and Readytogorightnow, with More Joyous’ outstanding sire More Than Ready also sire of Gimmethegreenlight.

Denises Joy certainly has had a considerable impact on the South African turf with the blue-hen mare also ranking as granddam of dual South African champion Joie De Grise (Kenmare), whose ten career wins included back to back wins in the G1 SA Fillies Sprint.

While she failed to throw a horse as good as she was, the speedy Joie De Grise

has made her mark through various broodmare daughters.

Her daughter Joie’s Winter (Western Winter) is the dam of the progressive gelding Cape Winter (Vercingetorix), winner of both the Listed Kings Cup and Listed Michael Roberts Stakes this season, while another daughter Plaisir De Fete, a Fort Wood fullsister to Gr3 Cape Classic runner up Madiba, produced Listed Sophomore Sprint/ Listed East Cape Sprint Cup winner Pleasedtomeetyou (Querari). A granddaughter of Joie De Grise, the stakes placed Approach Me (Right Approach), was responsible for the fifth top priced lot sold at the 2022 Cape Yearling Sale.

No doubt, descendants of Denise’s Joy will continue to prove their worth on the South African turf in seasons to come.

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