SP SPRINT - 1 MARCH 2023

Wednesday 01 March 2023

CHEERS UNCLE DEN!

After over a half century of training champions, Dennis Drier has called it a day. The veteran saddled Live My Life to win the SplashOut Gr3 Prix du Cap at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. Candiese Lenferna took the photograph.

It Again As Action

On the cover Equus winner Candiese

86 Saudi World Cup Magic

Lenferna caught the SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby winning legends Michael Roberts and Piere Strydom in a joyous post-race embrace

Issue: 09/2023

SEEING IS BELIEVING!

Piere Strydom drives See It Again up the outside to beat Charles Dickens (Aldo Domeyer) in a thriller

In a fairytale finish to the R1,5 million SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby, veteran champion jockey Piere Strydom produced the magic for another wizard of the saddle in former champion jockey Michael Roberts, to give the now Summerveld trainer his maiden Gr1 success.

Michael Roberts became the first KZN trainer since Dennis Drier who saddled The Sheik in 2000 to win the historic classic.

On the day, local star Charles Dickens was beaten fair and square and he may just be at his best over a mile at this stage.

Who would have thought that Michael Roberts and Piere Strydom would team up to deliver a 50-1 Gr1 winner?

A multiple SA and British Champion of his time, Muis Roberts rode Comareen to win the Cape Derby in 1994, but labelled his joy at cracking the Gr1 ice from the other side of the rails on

Saturday, as índescribable’.

With retirement looming, 56 year old Piere Strydom could also not have dreamt of a better Cape summer swansong and rode a beautifully judged race on the Drakenstein-bred winner, who was given a chance after the Justin Snaith army turned the classic into a genuine test of stamina.

Into the 350m marker Charles Dickens, who had been cruising in midfield, moved up with his long stride signalling fireworks. But at the 200m, he appeared to come under pressure and Strydom was picking them off as See It Again began unwinding.

“He was racing in a beautiful rhythm around the turn and Piere Strydom timed it to the moment,”added Michael Roberts.

At the line, See It Again (50-1) had built up a going away lead of 1,25 lengths over Charles Dickens (3-10) with the top finishing Snaith challenger Without Question (50-1) in

third, a further 1,25 lengths back.

The winner clocked 123,55 secs for the 2000m.

In what is probably his last ride in the classic, it was Piere Strydom’s first Cape Derby winner since It’s My Turn in 2016.

Michael Roberts paid tribute to Milnerton trainer Paddy Kruyer who looked after See It Again for the summer after being recommended years ago by legend Terrance Millard.

Raced by KZN-based Nic Jonsson, who had a record six horses in the Gr1 contest, See It Again is a three-parts brother to dual Durban July winner Do It Again. He is a son of Twice Over (Observatory) out of the twice winning Visionaire mare, Supreme Vision.

Bred by Drakenstein Stud See It Again is a R120 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale and has now won 3 of his 6 starts with 2 places for stakes of R1 028 125.

Big bucks! Michael Roberts receives his RaceCape bonus from Cape Racing's Dev Pretorius

Chase Liebenberg

HANDICAPPERS STEP IN

See It Again has had his merit rating raised from 104 to 124 following his triumph in the Gr1 SplashOut Cape Derby over 2000m on the summer course at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

The Handicappers took the view that fourth placed At My Command made for the most suitable line horse here, which leaves him

unchanged on a mark of 114.

Third placed Without Question goes up from 99 to 119, while there were also increases for Rockpool, who is up from 101 to 109 and for Grinkov, who was raised from 102 to 105.

There were no ratings drops for any runner in this race.

RETIREMENT’S FOR OLD PEOPLE!

'I

Two legends! A delighted Piere Strydom reaches out to trainer Michael Roberts

have never lost the will to compete and win

that’s in standard feature' - Piere Strydom

RETIREMENT’S PEOPLE! that’s a built

Like a Gerald Bosch, De Wet Ras or Naas Botha of yesteryear, multiple SA champion Piere Strydom has become a master at converting the long-range penalties from seemingly impossible positions in the sunset years of an illustrious career.

Take Nexus (50-1) in the Ridgemont Highlands Gr2 Peninsula Handicap in December.

Then Lady Of Power (25-1) in the Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas in early February.

On Saturday he slotted See

It Again (50-1) in to win the SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby.

What’s next and is it genius, luck, or simply great timing?

We posed the questions to the evergreen rider at his Constantia home on Monday morning as he prepared for a trip to Johannesburg to write some more history on Classic Day. The legend had just returned from a holiday in Dubai 24 hours prior to throwing his leg over See It Again.

“Interesting question about what the root cause is of my late resugence! I’d like to take all the credit, but it really all

comes back to good horses and top trainers. Looking back over the last few years I haven’t had the pick of the rides. First it was covid, then my eye injury. Then when I returned, it felt as if everybody had moved on. Some said I was old and practically retired. But nothing quite like a few naysayers having a dig to get the adrenaline pumping and the old bones moving. I have never lost the will to compete and win – that’s a built in standard feature,” laughs the champion as he sips on his tea.

There was plenty of emotion attached to Saturday’s Gr1 victory as now trainer Muis Roberts is a jockey Striker

looked up to as a young man.

“Michael Roberts is the benchmark of excellence in the saddle and in my younger days I used to think, if only I could be half as good as him. And here we are partnering in a Gr1 success. Just shows that one never knows where life takes us.”

Piere explains that when he got the call-up to partner See It Again, he felt that they were probably running for second at best.

“Charles Dickens was obviously always the horse to beat. Look at his form. He is clearly very special. But I had the feeling that if there was one chink in his armour, it was the 2000m. And then when the Snaiths turned it into a genuine test of stamina, it was game on.”

The top jockey explains that Michael Roberts’ instructions were brief, but spot on.

“Muis said that See It Again may be slightly sluggish out of the stalls, and that’s what happened. I had him in a nice rhythm and settled and when I saw Aldo Domeyer and Charles Dickens in midfield ahead of us, I knew I had the right target to use as my barometer for where I was at.”

Piere smiles when he tells how See It Again accelerated.

“When we came up the home straight See It Again started unwinding – I was on Charles Dickens tail. I kept angling to switch my mount out and made my move just as Charles Dickens appeared to lug in and lose his momentum. I pounced and knew I had the chance. Then I thought,

hang on, we may have this in the bag. But it was only at the 100m that I was seriously thinking about my acceptance speech!” he laughs.

Our records show only one previous Strydom ride for Michael Roberts. That was Sid Cassel’s Dauntless Delance in an international jockeys race at Clairwood on 18 November 2012. While Striker was unplaced, the race was one by Joao ‘Magic Man’ Moreira riding a horse called Guantanamera.

But back to the present, has Saturday’s Gr1 boost delayed the Striker retirement party again?

“You know, people are going to start thinking that I am never going and will still be floating around when South Africa hosts our next rugby

Piere enjoys the Gr1 podium moment as Vicky Minott finds out how he did it

world cup! But, seriously, how does one turn one’s back on golden opportunities and great horses like these? Lady Of Power runs in the second leg of the SA Triple Tiara on Saturday, and if Mr Jonsson wants me, I’d be very honoured to ride See It Again in the SA Champions Season. It may sound presumptuous looking ahead to the Hollywoodbets Durban July, but I probably won’t be able to do the weight there. The great thing is, he is a smashing horse – and there are ample races for him!”

Piere leaves Cape Town on Wednesday and partners Lady Of Power in the Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic at Turffontein on Saturday. He says her gate speed and

natural pace probably make her an even more exciting prospect over the 1800m.

“She’s a lovely filly and I’m very positive for Saturday. I think she could enjoy the 1800m fractions and, while winning a Gr1 is never easy and there are some decent fillies in the race, I am confident of a big run.”

Of his other rides, Piere says that Gareth van Zyl’s Money Heist is worth considering in the WSB Gr1 SA Classic.

“He is a smart horse but has had no luck with the draws in his last three starts, all in features. His form is better than it looks. Now we have finally cracked a

single digit gate on Saturday!”

And one final question – does Charles Dickens stay?

“I don’t like passing opinion on horses that I have not ridden. But judging on what we saw on Saturday, Charles Dickens was pretty strong until very late in the race, and that late movement inwards cost him ground, and vital momentum. On what I saw there, he could surely get away with it over the 2000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville, where they spin for home and he can be unleashed off the false rail and possibly have too much pace for them in the run to the line. Don’t write him off, is my suggestion!”

MILLY FAMILY STILL DOING IT

See It Again (Twice Over – Supreme Vision) proudly surveys the crowd after his Gr1 knockout

‘A dual winner by Oligarchy, Modern Millie far exceeded her racetrack form in the paddocks, with all but one of her twelve foals finding the winner's enclosure, amongst which the Gr1 winning fillies Smart As Paint and Mill Hill’

Chase Liebenberg

There was a time when the ambition of every respectable breeder was to get his hands on a broodmare from the 'Milly' family.

We do of course refer to Modern Millie, ancestress of a host of fine gallopers, the latest of which last weekend's Gr1 SplashOut Cape Derby winner See It Again.

A dual winner by Oligarchy, Modern Millie far exceeded her racetrack form in the paddocks, with all but one of her twelve foals finding the winner's enclosure, amongst

which the Gr1 winning fillies Smart As Paint and Mill Hill.

The former, a daughter of short-lived stallion Jan Ekels, won the (then) Gr1 Natal Fillies Guineas whilst finishing third in both the Paddock and Majorca Stakes. At stud she produced the fine stayers Sand and Soldier.

Royal Prerogative half-sister Mill Hill, did even better, scoring twice at Gr1 level by claiming the Lancome and defeating her male rivals in the Germiston November Handicap. She became the dam of dual Gr3 winner

Bushra, who in turn bred East Cape Derby winner True Master and multiple stakes winner Beataboutthebush.

Modern Millie's lesserperformed daughters also added to the family fortunes. Mighty Millie bred Gr3 winner Mighty Doll, while Millie The Model counts amongst her descendants St John Gray's outstanding champion Dancewiththedevil and the Gr1-performed sprinter War Lord.

Millie Bovana, an own sister to Mill Hill, features as the third dam of See It Again.

Champion Dancewiththedevil hails from the same family

In contrast to her Gr1 winning own sister, she was just a modest one-time winner, but nevertheless produced seven winners, the best of which the Casey Tibbs filly Sweet Virginia. A smallish, slightframed individual, she was no oil painting but handsome is as handsome does, and her defeat of colts in both the Gr3 Winter Classic and Winter Derby is testament to her toughness and talent.

Put up for auction at the end of her racing career, Sweet Virginia was acquired by wellknown horseman Robin Bruss and duly became a jewel in his small but select broodmare portfolio.

He recalls: "I bought her for R200 000, actually it was Drakenstein's Kevin Sommerville, who was working for me at that point, and he attended the sale. He called me up and said, 'I've bought you a broodmare', which turned up to be a great buy. Kevin played a leading part in this mare and developing the entire family, all credit to him."

It wasn't long before Robin's new acquisition weighed in with a first stakes winner. Her second foal, the Stronghold colt Strongman landed the Listed Sophomore Sprint before his export to Hong Kong where as Horse Of Fortune, he became a dual Gr3 winner and eventually earned the equivalent of more than R33,6 million, not bad going for a R150 000 yearling!

However, it was Do It Again who put Sweet Virginia in the exalted realm of Gr1 producers. Bred on a mating suggested by Kevin Sommerville, this big, strong son of Twice Over is trained by Justin Snaith and proved to be nigh invincible at three and four with Gr1 victories in the L'Ormarins Queen's Plate, Gold Challenge and back-to-back renewals of the Durban July. Voted the country's Champion three-year-old, he went on to collect a coveted array of silverware at four, comprising the Champion Older Male, Champion Miler and Champion Middle Distance Horse, not to mention the ultimate prize, that of Horse of the Year.

By the way, Do It Again was preceded by a Visionaire filly named Supreme Vision, a good looking, balanced and athletic chestnut, who scored twice for owner Vanessa Harrison. After dropping her first foal, a Querari filly, the decision to send Supreme Vision to Twice Over was a no-brainer, given the fact that Do It Again had just been named Champion three-year-old.

At the time, Vanessa decided to reduce her bloodstock portfolio and approached well-known agent Alistair Brown to find a buyer for Supreme Vision, who after all, was still an unproven entity as a broodmare.

Drakenstein Stud had no qualms about purchasing a young mare carrying a three-part sibling to a potential champion and the following spring, Supreme Vision foaled See It Again. The rest as they say is history and she is now a valuable Gr1 producer amongst the stud's star-studded broodmare band.

Do It Again – tree parts brother to the Cape Derby winner

Candiese Lenferna

FIVE FOR FOURIE…

But Lunga Grabs Limelight On First Day!

Just when Richard Fourie and former multiple East Cape champion trainer Alan Greeff looked to grab the accolades when sensationally winning the first five races on the Fairview Tuesday card, new trainer Lunga Gila eventually stole the show with his maiden winner at his first day at the races.

After a blank day at home on Saturday, Fourie stabilised the ship and sealed a small feature at Turffontein on Sunday. But the fanatical hobby fisherman definitely wasn’t messing around at Fairview on Tuesday

when he won the first five races for Alan Greeff, on what always looked a good card for the top combination.

But it was Lunga Gila’s day. The Transkei-born horseman has had a rollercoaster four months, that started with an abortive sortie North to set up base at Randjesfontein.

Granted his licence there to finally realise his ambition, he found himself in no man’s land when his only owner reportedly starting playing trainer-trainer. With confusion over his licence, his dreams shattered, and seemingly on the road to nowhere, Lunga

packed up, put Joburg behind him and headed back to Gqeberha.

On Tuesday he saddled his first two runners, both for the Bhana family. With a runnerup cheque in the first race with the formless former Capebased Settle The Dust, Lunga put the cherry on the top of the best first day he could have imagined when Vihzoe’s Magic won the final race of the day under Ryan Munger.

“I am very proud. I’m very happy,” he told the Sporting Post as he celebrated with a supper amongst friends on Tuesday evening.

Pauline Herman

Ryan Munger drives Vizhoe’s Magic out to hold off

Richard Fourie and Open Secret

“Today I did what I have done many times previously – I saddled a winner. Just this time it was for my own team. I am thrilled!”

When asked if Vizhoe’s Magic, backed from 25-2 to 5-1, had enjoyed stable support, the thrilled Lunga said that so many of his friends and supporters across the country had put their money down.

“R100 there. R50 here. I had so many calls. There were a lot of people behind us today. A lot of sentimental bets too, I suppose. I’m happy when people win. It’s good for racing,” he added.

Asked when he would saddle his next runners, Lunga confirmed ‘next week’.

“I haven’t got a big string. I

like to place my horses – not put them under too much pressure and stress. So we will take things one day at a time.”

Asked whether he had enjoyed some celebrations after racing, Lunga added: “I went straight back to my yard after the race. I checked the horses, made sure everybody was happy and tomorrow we start again.”

Richard Fourie – 5 nice winners on day

Pauline Herman

400 UP!

The Hollywood Syndicate celebrated their 400th winner at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today as the Ridgemont Highlands bred Inside Story shed his maiden under Louis Mxothwa. Brett Crawford trains the winner.

‘We expect Classic Day to live up to its name and to be one for the books!’ – 4Racing CEO, Fundi Sithebe

Lady Of Power wins the Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas under Piere Strydom

TIME TO WRITE A CLASSIC!

It’s Classic Day at Turffontein on Saturday and all eyes will be on a veteran seven-time South African champion jockey who is rolling back the years and a young apprentice making her own mark on the sport of horseracing, on what is set to be an exciting second round of ‘The Championships’ season.

Classic Day marks the second leg of the World Sports Betting Triple Crown and Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara series for three-year-olds, and there will be a whopping R1 500 000 stake on offer for the Grade 1 World Sports Betting SA Classic and R1 250 000 stake for the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic, both to be run over 1800 metres at Turffontein this weekend.

Champion apprentice Rachel Venniker was sensational in brilliantly winning the Grade 2 World Sports Betting Gauteng Guineas on Eye of the Prophet in the first leg of the World Sports Betting Triple Crown, holding off S’manga Khumalo in a thriller, and she will now

be looking for her first Grade 1 win as she again gets the ride from trainer Paul Matchett this weekend.

The Triple Series is regarded as racing’s ‘ultimate test’ and should Venniker again lead Eye of the Prophet home, the connections will stay in the hunt for the R2 million bonus for the winners of all three legs of the WSB Triple Crown.

Other exciting runners announced on Tuesday to compete in the WSB SA Classic include Shoemaker, East Coast, Billy Bowlegs, Royal Victory and Anfield’s Rocket.

Legendary 56-year-year old jockey Piere ‘Striker’ Strydom was equally imperious in winning the SA Fillies Guineas with Lady of Power in the first leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara and he will be seeing if he can repeat his heroics on the flying filly this weekend in the second leg.

Strydom comes into Classic Day in fine form, having won the Grade 1 Splashout Cape

Candiese Lenferna

Derby at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth this weekend on See It Again, so he will be buzzing as he looks to win the second leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara with Lady of Power to stay in contention for the R1 million bonus for the winners of all three legs of the Triple Tiara. Other strong fillies who were announced in the SA Fillies Classic final fields to take on Lady of Power include Emirate Gina, Feather Boa, Bonete and None Other.

Entrance is absolutely free for punters and those looking to enjoy a day at the races

at Turffontein on Classic Day, which has much to offer all those involved in horse racing, with good stakes for owners and trainers and plenty of incentives for the talented jockeys and hardworking grooms who will be responsible for the racing spectacle.

Hospitality packages are also available and if you can’t make it to the course you can follow the action live on Racing 240 on DStv Channel 240 or you can take a bet in-store or online with TAB at www. tab4racing.com

“We expect Classic Day to

live up to its name and to be one for the books! The World Sports Betting Triple Crown and Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara Series adds a unique and exciting dimension to the season and we are looking forward to some exhilarating racing as we see if Eye of the Prophet and Lady of Power can try and stay in the hunt for the Triple Series bonuses. I encourage racegoers, punters, and fun-lovers to head to Turffontein Racecourse this weekend to experience this fantastic Classic Day live,” said Fundi Sithebe, Chief Executive Officer of 4Racing.

Rachel Venniker and Eye Of The Prophet with a happy team member after the WSB Gauteng Guineas

ADAM’S HAPPY ABOUT BEREAVE!

Gavin Lerena and Bereave storm home in the final feature of a heady and terrific summer to beat Gimme A Prince and Trip Of Fortune

Chase Liebenberg

Milnerton trainer Adam Marcus left it late but turned his Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Summer Festival of Racing around in just over 72 seconds at the Southern Suburbs track on Saturday, courtesy of a well-deserved winning performance by the consistent Vercingetorix gelding, Bereave.

All racing fortunes are cyclical, and it was Dean Kannemeyer who once waxed philosophically that racing is a big wheel and that everybody gets his turn.

For the young Adam Marcus, there have been probably hotter summers than that just past, but he will take the redeeming, and highly deserved, Gr2 trophy with both hands!

Easy to back at 12-1, Bereave made it a plan come together

and put the perfect cap on a progressive form graph that has stepped up through a fourth, third and second at his last start, with a career peak victory in the R600 000 Khaya Stables Gr2 Diadem Stakes.

Well ridden by Gavin Lerena, Bereave was given early cover and looked to have plenty to find as they went through the 400m.

But switched out for a run, he accelerated up the centre to thwart a determined bid by the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship winner Gimme A Prince (5-4), who was racing in the sponsors silks.

At the line Bereave had a length to spare and clocked 72,10 secs for the 1200m. Gimme A Prince is clearly looking for a little further, but ran another game race to run second, 0,40 lengths ahead of

Trip Of Fortune (7-1).

A happy Marcus said that Bereave was deserving of the smart win.

“I didn’t do anything differently in his prep, but he’d just come so well physically going into this race that not even a slight bruise to his foot on Monday could stop him.” Originally raced by his breeder, Bereave is enjoyed in partnership by Dr B C Arrison, Messrs M A Govender, L H Paletz, G D Tooch & D Yutar, Nick & Val McFall, Mr C Dorrington & Ms A M de Manielle.

He was bred by Collins Stud Farm and is a son of Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the Cataloochee mare Jeanre . A winner of 5 races with 9 places from 16 starts, Bereave has banked R715 575.

Happy connections lead Bereave (Gavin Lerena) in after his career peak achievement on Saturday

After an emotional and dramatic climax to the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Summer Festival Of Racing 24 hours earlier, horseracing and breeding folk congregated at the scenic Southern Suburbs track for the BSA Cape Yearling Sale under sunny skies to find a future champion, and maybe more importantly, to share in the camaraderie of this great game.

In a lovely touch, Auctioneer Graeme Hawkins opened proceedings and paid tribute to soon to retire lifetime

trainer Dennis Drier, who went out in style with Live My Life downing SA Horse Of The Year Captain’s Ransom to win the Schweppes Gr3 Prix Du Cap. Hawkins, something of a legend himself, also congratulated KZN hero Michael Roberts on his maiden Gr1 success and wished Gavin van Zyl well in his new role as assistant to his talented son, Gareth.

But it was young jockey Joshwin Solomons’ awful blunder in the Gordon’s Gin Listed Jet Master Stakes on the big day, that garnered

enormous support. Solomons made the cardinal error of dropping his hands when looking home and hosed, at his only ride on the big day. While it’s clear and correct that he will be sanctioned, the unprecedented support and empathy for the lad from Manenberg was undivided, with Kenilworth Racing Chairman Greg Bortz amongst those that publically extended a hand of support.

And the sale itself crowned a memorable summer with increases posted in all of the aggregate, average and

Topselling filly was Gimmesmoreicecream (Lot 32) which sold to Greg Bortz for R800 000

Candiese Lenferna

median prices, and a number of new stallions making their mark in the sales ring.

The sale's aggregate rose from R22.57 million to R25.965 million, with the average and median prices increased from R155 655 and R110 000 respectively to R171 954 and R130 000, reflecting the strength and resilience of the Cape Sale this year.

Moutonshoek's sensational sire The United States, whose progeny include Saturday's Bloodstock SA Sales Cup (Fillies) winner The Charleston,

provided the top lot sold on Sunday.

Palancar, catalogued as Lot 97, was knocked down to Gary Player for R850 000 to stand as the sales topping lot.

Consigned to the auction by Wilgerbosdrift, Palancar, a half-brother to five time winner Belle Of Belize, was produced by the winning Fastnet Rock mare Carrie Bow Cat. The latter's Listed Upavon Stakes winning half-sister Alsace Lorraine also features as the granddam of Saturday's Gr2 Carlton Draught Peter Young

Stakes heroine Steinem.

Champion sire

Gimmethegreenlight, whose daughter Live My Life won Saturday's Gr3 Prix Du Cap, was responsible for the top priced filly sold on Sunday, with the sire's Gimmesmoreicecream (Lot 32) sold to Greg Bortz for R800 000.

Consigned to the sale by Varsfontein Stud, Gimmesmoreicecream had received a timeous boost when her Greg Bortz partowned half-brother Salvator

Decisions, decisions! Gina Goldsmith and Greg Bortz mull over another champion

Candiese Lenferna

Mundi won the Gr2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers run on WSB Cape Town Met day.

Wilgerbosdrift headed the Leading Vendors list, with the Piketberg based farm selling all 15 of its yearlings for a gross total of R4.2 million.

Wilgerbosdrift's beautifully bred young stallion Buffalo Bill Cody made a big impression with his first yearlings, and the son of Redoute's Choice ended the 2023 Cape Yearling Sale as Leading Sire by Aggregate.

Buffalo Bill Cody had all eight of his lots sell for R2.18 million, with his top priced lot, a Narrow Creek Stud consigned colt out of Musical Romance, knocked down to Kestorm Investments for R410 000.

Avontuur General Manager Pippa Mickleburgh was thrilled with the interest in the first-time-at-sale Talk Of The Town yearlings, with her trio averaging just under R184 000.

“I cannot complain. A stallion needs numbers, and because of his curtailed racing career Talk Of The Town didn’t get a big book of mares. But they are good-looking, their Dad could run and he boasts a stallion’s pedigree. So we are bullish and they are athletic and lookers,” she said, adding that there was a lovely vibe at the sale.

“We are all in competition but racing and breeding folk stick together and the emotion, kindness and general support for the likes of Dennis Drier and Michael Roberts, and others, was tangible. It’s heartening,” she concluded.

Central Route Trading were the Leading Buyers at the sale, and bought nine yearlings for an aggregate of R1.59 million.

A full list of prices and statistics for the Cape Yearling Sale can be found here.

Next up is the BSA National Yearling Sale on 21 and 22 April.

80 IS THE NEW 50

Sunday’s BSA Cape Yearling Sale showed handy increases in both average and median prices over the 2022 sale.

Normandy’s Oscar Foulkes writes that the jump in those measures from 2021 to 2022 was dramatic, effectively getting the sale onto a new plane from where it was before. Have a look at the full table of aggregated

results - please click here

I always prefer looking at medians rather than averages, because a few top-end prices can distort the averages. This year’s median (of R130k) is below production cost, but it’s double where we were in 2021, and more than treble 2020.

On this measure alone, the

industry is heading into healthier territory.

After the sale, I jokingly said to someone that 80 is the new 50, because of an observation that the band of horses that may have gone for R50k in the past, was now going for R80k. So, I took a look under the hood to see what that translated into for vendors.

Team Normandy are looking sharp and natty at Sunday's sale

Candiese Lenferna

How many horses sold for R200k and above:

2019 - 7

2020 - 10

2021 - 12

2022 - 33

2023 - 48

How many horses sold for R100k and above:

2019 - 29

2020 - 28

2021 - 42

2022 - 85

2023 - 102

Anyone looking back on the numbers could be tempted to wonder why BSA even bothered to offer a sale that was producing a median of R40k, with hardly any of them selling at a profitable level. Thankfully they persevered –and continued to receive support – and now we have a sale that is starting to look like a viable option for better quality horses.

Clearly, these numbers have big relevance for the horse population. If we breeders have confidence that we can at least be sure of recovering costs when we sell our yearlings, we’ll increase our broodmare numbers.

The numbers above indicate that the market is moving in the right direction.

Our Normandy Stud draft averaged R185k for the ten yearlings we sold, which is still some way off being sustainable. Given the very polarised nature of sales prices, not everyone will be in this position, and until more breeders can confidently fund their foal crops from

How many horses sold for R50k and below:

2019 - 74

2020 - 73

2021 - 56

2022 - 32

2023 - 23

yearling sales, horse population will remain at risk.

The knock-on effect is that few breeders have surpluses to invest in the stallions we so desperately need, which suggests that both quality and quantity may suffer in due course.

As I watched some of our fillies struggle to make reserves of R80k (that had been revised downwards from R120k), there was very much a sense of being in the trenches. However, that is not a viewpoint that enables a proper perspective. While we are not yet where we want (or need) to be, the numbers above indicate that we are unquestionably in a better place than we were last year, and in the years before that.

I’m enormously grateful for the input – both time and money – of all the people that have made it possible for this to happen.

Onwards and upwards!

DOUG WHYTE’S SUPER SATURDAY GR1 HOPES

He won the H.H. The Amir Trophy aboard Russian Emperor in Qatar on February 18 and now Italian jockey Alberto Sanna will get the chance to chase success on two Hong Kong-trained horses at Dubai’s Super Saturday meeting this weekend.

As well as reuniting with

Douglas Whyte’s Russian Emperor for the Gr1 Jebel Hatta Caspar Fownes has confirmed the one-time Hong Kong-based Sanna will partner Senor Toba in the Gr2 Dubai City Of Gold on Saturday night.

Both Russian Emperor and Senor Toba have settled in

well in Dubai after making the trip across from Qatar, with the latter – who finished seventh behind the former in the H.H The Amir Trophy – travelling as well as he has been since departing Hong Kong.

Follow all the Super Saturday news on

www.sportingpost.co.za

ARE YOU UP FOR A FRESH NEW CHALLENGE?

South Africa’s most popular horseracing competition, the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge, has had an exciting revamp and will be available to play on all local race meetings, as well as Hong Kong and Singapore, from today!

The free-to-enter challenge has created a multitude of winners over the past 3-years, with the top 20 players on the leaderboard sharing the designated must-be-won daily prize.

While Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge players pit their wits, skill, and racing knowledge against fellow competitors, the ultimate aim for that dream payday, is to select all of the winners on a card.

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In an important change from the previous jackpot payout formula, the value of the allor-nothing prize will now be determined by the number of runners at the race meeting multiplied by R10 000, for all venues.

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Over and above the premier aim of finding all the winners, daily prize money of R5 000 for each of the scheduled race meetings will be shared by the top 20 players on the points leaderboard at the end of the day. The winner will be awarded R2 000, with the runner-up R1 000, and the balance apportioned in terms

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As an added incentive to players, to top this, the all-ornothing prize and the daily must-be-won prize will be doubled for those players who have had a bet on the Punters’ Challenge Bet Slip, to the value of R50 or more, prior to the running of the first race.

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Grant van Niekerk and Winter Cloud are led in by Candice Bass-Robinson, Gaynor Rupert & Lulamile Eighteen

Chase Liebenberg

CLOUDS CLEAR FOR GRANT

There is no average on any raceday for Grant van Niekerk and when he’s hot, and at the races, he sure is hot!

The Drakenstein-sponsored rider made it three wins from the first six races on the SplashOut Cape Derby day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth when steering the well-related Winter Cloud home to make it a fairer sex 1-2-3 in the R750 000 City Of Cape Town Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery.

Mike Bass saddled Empress Crown to win the Cape Of Good Hope Nursery back in 2008, and it was ten years later before a girl would beat the boys. That was to be Winter Cloud’s full sister Clouds Unfold who was saddled by Candice Bass-Robinson to win

the Nursery in 2018. Clouds Unfold would go on to win dual Majorca Stakes – and the young jockey suggested that Winter Cloud reminded him of Clouds Unfold and would go on to the tops.

With the favourite Gimmelightning (33-10) outpaced late and failing to threaten, the Drakenstein pair made it a second feature exacta on the big day for the Bass Racing Team. Both were ridden by Van Niekerk with Aldo Domeyer playing second fiddle.

Winter Cloud (6-1) won untroubled to beat another Drakenstein-bred daughter of What A Winter in Distant Winter (10-1) by 1,25 lengths in a time of 73,39 secs.

Golden Tatjana (8-1) maintained her consistent form to grab third, a further three quarter lengths back.

A winner of 2 races with a place from 3 starts, Winter Cloud took her stakes earnings to R516 563.

A daughter of Equus Champion What A Winter (Western Winter) she is out of Montelissima, a Montjeu half-sister to Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes winner Arria and Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes third Pivotal Pursuit.

Her second dam Issa is a fullsister to unbeaten Yorkshire Oaks winner Catchascatchcan, dam of Breeders’ Cup Mile winner and former Highlands Stud sire Antonius Pius

LIFE IS LIFE!

Sean Veale and Live My Life are too strong for Captain’s Ransom (Richard Fourie) in an exciting finish

Veteran trainer Dennis Drier produced an ace on his final day at the office at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth when the red hot Sean Veale steered Live My Life to a surprise win over reigning SA Horse Of The Year Captain’s Ransom in the SplashOut Gr3 Prix du Cap.

In a victory that was less popular with the punters than the sentimentalists, the revitalised Veale took the fight to his opposition off a modest gallop and rode a cracker as Captain’s Ransom could just not haul the year younger Live My Life in.

At the 200m it looked like Captain’s Ransom would go out the back door, but it was testimony to her courage and ability that she fought on for second.

Easy to back at 16-1, Live My

Life ran on too strongly to beat the 1-4 Captain’s Ransom by 1,50 lengths in a time of 87,18 secs.

The filly has come back strongly after a 14 month break witha fractured pelvis!

Sean Veale called it an emotional moment after Dennis Drier had shown faith in him seven years ago.

“I won a race on Live My Life the week my father-in-law passed. He must be watching down to give me this special moment for Mr Drier today. It’s a very emotional time this and I can only say we will miss the master,” he added after telling new trainer Stuart Ferrie that the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint was the target for Live My Life.

Ever the polite gentleman, Dennis Drier thanked the Bifov family who had travelled from

afar and Cape Racing for their hospitality.

Avontuur GM Pippa

Mickleburgh has enjoyed a staunch association with the Driers over the years and said that to have the Driers’ last feature winner an Avontuurbred galloper was something special.

Beaten jockey Richard Fourie said that he was always chasing on Captain’s Ransom and that his champion would be retired to stud.

A R1 million Cape Yearling Sale purchase, Live My Life is a daughter of Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the fivetime winning Argentinian-bred Pure Prize mare, Muamba.

A winner of 4 races with 4 places from 11 starts, Live My Life has now earned R379 076.

CHAMP SAYS FAREWELL

Owner Suzette Viljoen announced on Saturday that her star filly Captain’s Ransom is to retire from racing with immediate effect.

Writing in his eNewsletter this week, leading bloodstock man John Freeman said that he is really pleased about the decision because this gallant mare needs do nothing more to prove herself.

The winner of six Gr1 races she had amassed an impressive CV as 2022 Equus Horse Of the Year, Equus Champion Sprinter and Equus Champion Older Filly/Mare.

Her 13 wins and 5 places came from just 19 starts which earned R3.5m in stakes. A nice return by a filly that cost R250 000 at the yearling sales.

Candiese Lenferna

Captain’s Ransom leaves Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday after her swansong performance

SAARTJIE…SCHHH, YOU KNOW WHO!

The iconic Dynasty has been a major player on Cape Derby day for years and the late champion son of Fort Wood opened his feature account in style when his progressive daughter Saartjie powered home to win the R250 000 Schweppes Listed Cape Oaks at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

It was a courageous victory given the tardy early fractions, with the Shadwell Stud bred galloper always in the firing line first time in her blinkers, the move to fit the equipment

proving a masterstrike by Plattner Racing trainer Andre Nel.

Pushed through down the inside by Grant van Niekerk, Saartjie (25-2) quickly mastered the dangerous looking Gold Poker Game, and went away to beat the fast finishing Hold My Hand (28-10) by a length in a time of 125,84 secs.

Dennis Drier saddled Broadway Girl (16-1) for third.

Jockey van Niekerk said that he felt that Saartjie would have

won on the bridle, had the pace been on.

A R700 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Saartjie is out of the twice-winning Redoute’s Choice mare Shaama, who raced under the Mike de Kock flag.

Saartjie, who showed enough speed to go close over 1200m, has won 3 races with 3 places from 6 starts for stakes of R325 663.

She looks set to travel to KZN for the SA Champions Season.

Grant van Niekerk has Saartjie in control as Keagan de Melo and Hold My Hand chase hard

Chase Liebenberg

PACAYA – GIN STRIKE & DRAMA!

JP van der Merwe flies on up on Pacaya to nab Quasiforsure (Josh Solomons) in the final stride

It was turning into a rare blank day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday for Cape champion trainer Justin Snaith – that is until JP van der Merwe produced the well supported Pacaya with an electrifying turn of foot to win the R225 000 Gordon’s Gin Listed Jet Master Stakes in a dramatic finish.

Supported from an opening call of 16-1, the handily weighted, well drawn and relatively fresh Pacaya took off to finally register a first stakes success when nabbing longtime pacemaker Quasiforsure in the final stride to record a thrilling victory for the Duke Of Richmond Syndicate.

But despite the Snaith’s joy, it was went from a memorable to a forgettable race for lightweight Joshwin Solomons,

who led the pack on Quasiforsure.

The young Manenberg-born lightweight on his only ride of the big day, was a winner everywhere bar the line, but appeared to put his hands down a stride or two from the edge and this cost him and the Quasiforsure backers and connections.

A sporting JP van der Merwe commiserated with runner-up jockey Joshwin Solomons. The Stipes have opened an inquiry into the ride.

In the final summary, those that found Pacaya will be smiling and his short head win in a time of 97,86 secs perhaps makes him a serious Cape Winter Series contender.

KZN Guineas winner Zapatillas (16-1) looked dangerous late and ran an improved third, a length away, while LÓrmarins King’s Plate winner Al Muthana (11-2) was well beaten a further 1,75 lengths back in fourth.

Another Drakenstein-bred feature winner, Pacaya is raced by The Duke of Richmond Syndicate and is a son of Trippi (End Sweep) out of the top class staying mare Ash Cloud (Black Minnaloushe).

A winner of 4 races with 3 places from 11 starts , the winner has earned R301 400.

KANNEMEYER’S

The DK Racing Syndicate lead their new star in with Keagan de Melo up

KANNEMEYER’S RAFEEF

The DK Racing Syndicate look to have another very smart 2yo on their hands after the Rafeef colt Outlaw King slammed his field to win the R400 000 Bloodstock SA Sales Cup (C&G) at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

Classic trainer Dean Kannemeyer established the syndicate some years ago and struck gold early with the smart Vercingetorix galloper African Warrior.

Since then they have enjoyed a number of decent horses for relatively modest outlays and Outlaw King looks like he could be the best yet.

Sent to lead early, Outlaw King (5-2) stretched clear and went further ahead under the hands to win unextended by 3,75 lengths in a time of 73,67 secs.

Zoomie (6-1) stayed on next

best ahead of Kyomai (40-1), East Cape visitor War Launch (14-1) and 100-1 Tyrion Lannister, who banked the final stakes cheque of R10 000 in fifth.

Winning Form rider Keagan de Melo rides winners for the top yards all round the country and confirmed that Outlaw King ranks as the best he has sat on so far.

“I liked him when he won on debut. But he has improved!”added De Melo.

Dean Kannemeyer thanked Cape Racing, BSA and his owners who had travelled from near and far, including UK-based Martin Holland, who seldom misses a local meeting.

“He looks like an exciting horse and what a sire Rafeef is! We don’t know how strong the opposition is, but he could have done much less than he

did and won. So we are happy and we are always trying to find them. And well done to Jehan Malherbe and Jane Thomas, who was in the team that found him.”

Bred by James Armitage, the R300 000 National Yearling Sale graduate is a son of exciting Ridgemont Highlands Redoute’s Choice stallion Rafeef out of the four-time winning Greys Inn mare, Way Of Escape.

The dam won up to 2000m and Keagan de Melo seemed confident the colt will go further. So there is scope for plenty of fun in the SA Champions Season.

Outlaw King has won 2 from 2 and took his stakes bank to R321 250.

UK WHIP RULES – NO RELENT

Mavis Pike has become the second horse in as many weeks under the new BHA whip rules to be disqualified after her rider James Turner was found to have used his whip five times over the permitted level at Newcastle on Saturday.

Turner, an amateur rider, was

suspended for 20 days after the whip review committee determined on Tuesday he had used his whip 12 times on Mavis Pike, trained and owned by Nigel Twiston-Davies, when she finished second in the mares’ all-weather bumper.

Six of the nine jockeys found in breach of the whip rules, which

came into effect over jumps on February 13, were either conditional or amateur riders. Conor O’Farrell, who received a four-day ban last week for using his whip without giving his mount time to respond, was handed another four-day ban this week for using his whip once over the permitted level.

HIGH HAWAII FOR RAFEEF ON SATURDAY!

Keagan de Melo needs a rear-view mirror as Rafeef's son Outlaw King waltzes to victory

‘As evidenced by his elite winners over a wide spectrum of distances, Rafeef injects an interesting mix of natural speed and appears to throw back to the mare, whether it be stamina or speed. Outlaw King is out of a Greys Inn mare, so with his two decisive victories over 1200m under the belt, the DK Racing Syndicate could have some exciting times ahead’ – Dean Kannemeyer

One of the standout winners on SplashOut Cape Derby day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, the unbeaten Outlaw King crowned another terrific weekend for Ridgemont Highlands’ smashing resident sire Rafeef, whose top-class son William Robertson lines up in the Gr2 Hawaii Stakes at Turffontein on Classic day.

Outlaw King won the BSA Yearling Sale Cup (C&G) and followed in the footsteps of Rafeef’s daughter Mounia who won the 2021 BSA Cape Yearling Sale Cup.

A handsome and wellperformed son of Redoute’s Choice with the rare distinction of first crop Gr1 winners at 1000m and 2450m, Rafeef has produced a purple patch of winners to reinforce a scintillating start to what is

Trainer Dean Kannemeyer saddled Outlaw King for his second straight victory, and said in typically conservative fashion that ‘we always keep our feet on the ground, but he sure looks very smart.’

Kannemeyer confirmed that he had enjoyed previous success with the progeny of Rafeef, including Pas De Nom, who reeled off three on the trot, and the very well-bred Ready Or Not.

“Rafeef is extremely well-bred and had the track performance to match. He throws a beautiful specimen and my experience is only positive. As evidenced by his elite winners over a wide spectrum of distances, he injects an interesting mix of natural

speed and appears to throw back to the mare, whether it be stamina or speed. Outlaw King is out of a Greys Inn mare, so with his two decisive victories over 1200m under the belt, the DK Racing Syndicate could have some exciting times ahead.”

The veteran said that he had not expected Outlaw King to win on debut.

“He put his hand up that he was ready for a race. He duly won. I ran him on Saturday expecting a place and then he improves and steps up and slams the field. That’s exciting and I have four unraced Rafeefs in the wings!” said Kannemeyer.

Outlaw King is one of three 2yo winners to date for Rafeef this season, with the Ridgemont Highlands resident

developing into a top-class career at stud.

Rafeef’s son William Robertson is a big runner in the Hawaii Stakes on Saturday

also siring debut winner Midnight Fusion and facile recent winner Troppo Veloce. Just 24 hours after Outlaw King’s dazzler at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, Rafeef’s dual stakes winning son William Robertson stepped out from a break post the Gr1 Summer Cup.

In his prep for Saturday’s Gr2 Hawaii Stakes, he showed scintillating pace in a 1160m Pinnacle Stakes at Turffontein on Sunday.

The Ridgemont Highlandsbred gelding duly notched up his seventh career victory, in the process setting a new class record and running, despite ring-rusty and all of his 60kgs,

within 0,16 secs of Big Sky Country’s course record, set under 54kgs in 2020. Jockey Marco van Rensburg labelled William Robertson ‘the best sprinter in South Africa’.

“He wasn’t disgraced in the Summer Cup but he is at his optimum around 1200m to a mile. I believe he is a Gr1 horse and we will look towards the Computaform Sprint and, or, the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes. He is just such a lovely horse. His Dad Rafeef is a proper stallion.

I would love a stable full of them – I just can’t always afford them as the market loves the Rafeefs and we all

know they are versatile and can run like hell!” enthused trainer Corne Spies.

Earlier the same afternoon, Rafeef’s daughter Devils And Dust registered her second victory from 14 starts (she has been a consistent earner with 8 places), when beating a mixed sex field over a mile at Hollywoodbets Scottsville for Summerveld trainer Paul Lafferty.

A Highveld Champion, Rafeef made a flying start to his stud career when his first crop yielded the Gr1 WSB SA Derby winner Aragosta and Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner Master Archie. The future looks bright!

DANCE ON AIR

Moutonshoek’s Galileo stallion The United States is enjoying a purple patch and his Boland Stud-bred daughter The Charleston showed that she is on the up with an excellent postmaiden effort to take top honours in the Bloodstock SA Sales Cup (2yo Fillies) at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

Cleverly ridden by the mercurial Grant van Niekerk, who had earlier steered Saartjie to victory in the Schweppes Listed Cape Oaks, The Charleston came from some way off and burst clear

down the inside to go on strongly to win the 1200m contest at 17-2 and beat her stablemate and favourite Kyalami Girl (18-10) by over a length in a time of 73,2 secs. Golden Sickle (7-2) showed a lot of speed and stayed on for third, ahead of Gqeberha raider Luna Halo (7-2) and the 50-1 Ticket To Vegas, who ran fifth and banked the final stake cheque.

The race was restricted to eligible fairer sex graduates of the 2022 BSA Sales.

A R140 000 BSA Cape Yearling Sale purchase, The Charleston races for Barry Irwin’s Team Valor International and Brian Riley, and has won 2 races with 2 places from 4 starts for stakes of R351 213.

Bred by Boland Stud, the winner is a daughter of Galileo sire The United States out of the one-time winning Oratorio mare, Swift Dancer.

Grant van Niekerk steers The Charleston to an emphatic victory

Candiese Lenferna

DOUBLE FOR THE UNITED STATES

Moutonshoek’s red hot resident sire The United States enjoyed a quick feature race double over the weekend, with the sire’s son Khaya’s Hope claiming Friday’s Listed Ibhayi Stakes and daughter The Charleston taking out Saturday’s Bloodstock SA Sales Cup (Fillies) (1200m) the following day.

Bred by the Boland Stud, The Charleston has now won twice from just four starts and is yet

to finish out of the first four. The Charleston, who is out of the Oratorio mare Swift Dancer, was a R140 000 buy from the 2022 Cape Yearling Sale.

She is the first winner to have emerged from her G1 Ranvet Stakes winning sire’s third crop, with The United States’ first crop headed by speedy G2 4Racing SA Nursery winner Sheela

The United States has also

made a fine impression with his second crop including not only the aforementioned Khaya’s Hope, but also Gr3 Sea Cottage Stakes winner Billy Bowlegs, Gr3 Tab4Racing Victory Moon Stakes runner up East Coast and the classy Without Question.

The latter went close to providing his sire with yet more feature race success when he finished third in the Gr1 SplashOut Cape Derby on Saturday.

FLOWER ALLEY’S 35TH STAKES WINNER

Jarryd Penny leads the way on Clafoutis as Queen Of Shadows (Katjedi) chases hard

After booting home three winners at Borrowdale Park on Saturday, lightweight Jarryd Penny jetted back to Johannesburg and took full advantage of a rare Mike de Kock chance mount to get longshot Clafoutis home in the Turffontein topliner, the R200 000 Gr3 Acacia Stakes.

Once considered an Oaks prospect by her master trainer, Clafoutis peaked with a courageous second behind stablemate Aragosta in the 2022 renewal of the 1800m Gr3 Sea Cottage Stakes and deservedly notched a graded stakes score on Sunday, despite lugging out and causing one or two bumps and awkward steps in what was quite an untidy race.

But even if he doesn’t escape censure, Penny deserves every credit for keeping his head and riding a well-judged race, politely straightening the daughter of Flower Alley out late to win with some authority, albeit by only by half a length.

She clocked 97,48 secs and started at 25-1, holding off an always prominent Queen Of Shadows (7-1) and late finishing Hollywoodbound (7-1).

Sean Tarry’s Emerald Princess (5-1) was one of those who had to check late and finished just out of the money in sixth.

After American Graffitti’s smooth victory in the Storm Bird Stakes, Penny was thrilled to round off a nice feature

double for Wilgerbosdrift and had clearly done his homework.

“I saw that she had the fastest 400m to finish when looking at the form of her last run, so was happy to ride to instructions to give her a chance. She really ran on smartly,” he added.

A Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein-bred daughter of Wilgerbosdrift’s Distorted Humor stallion Flower Alley out of the twice winning Danehill Dancer mare Berry Blaze, Clafoutis has 4 races with 3 places from 16 starts and stakes of R401 000.

In the process, Clafoutis became the 35th stakes winner for Flower Alley. Her Gr1 Travers Stakes winning sire is having another fantastic season, having now been represented by six black type winners in 2022-2023 thus far.

A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS

The Stipes have opened an Inquiry into the closing stages of the Gr3 Acacia Stakes which was won by Mike de Kock longshot Clafoutis at Turffontein on Saturday.

Jarryd Penny deputised for the indisposed JP van der Merwe and rode a determined race to get the Flower Alley filly up, in what turned out to be a scrappy affair, with a number of runners appearing to be impeded.

The Stipes reported that at approximately the 100m, Gilded Butterfly (Kabelo Matsunyane) and Emerald Princess (Keagan de Melo) came together and bumped

when awkwardly placed between Hollywoodbound and Clafoutis, which shifted out away from the crop.

Thereafter, Terra Time (Denis Schwarz), was brushed out by Hollywoodbound (Gavin Lerena), which was carried out by Clafoutis (Jarryd Penny), which continued to shift out away from the crop.

A race review was called by a member of the Stipendiary Board into these incidents. He was satisfied that the result of the race had not been affected and therefore took no further action. However, an inquiry will be opened into the incidents which transpired in the concluding stages of this race,

The fancied Tarry star Rain In Holland also failed to produce her best under Richard Fourie.

The Stipes reported that leaving the 300m, the daughter of Duke Of Marmalade was brushed in by Bureau Des Legend (Gabriel Pieterse), which was steadied and directed inwards to avoid the heels of Ululate (Ryan Munger), which shifted in sharply away from the crop. There were a number of minor injuries reported afterwards, including Rain In Holland (cut into left hind), Emerald Princess (cut into left front and brush wound left hind), Clafoutis (cut into right hind) and Ululate (cut into left hind).

THE WRITING’S ON THE TARRY WALL!

Former multiple SA champion trainer Sean Tarry may well be looking ahead to the Hollywoodbets Scottsville Festival Of Speed on 3 June after two decent looking fillies maintained their respective clean sheets at Turffontein on Sunday.

Silvano’s daughter American Graffitti completed a 2yo feature double for the Randjesfontein team when

winning the R175 000 Listed Storm Bird Stakes under Winning Form jockey Keagan de Melo.

The field was reduced to only six runners after three withdrawals, but it produced an exciting outcome.

Following up on her wellsupported Vaal winning debut six weeks ago, American Graffitti did the job despite

running green and being slightly outpaced early on.

When the in-form De Melo produced American Graffitti (17-10), she picked it up and went on strongly to beat Fire ‘N Flames by half a length in a time of 56,47 secs. This was a marginally slower clock than that achieved by her stablemate Mrs Geriatrix, who carried 2,5kgs more to win the earlier Ruffian Stakes.

Keagan de Melo (scarlet cap) steers American Graffitti ahead of Fire ‘N Flames (Denis Schwarz) and Qhawe Lami (Kabelo Matsunyane) in an exciting finish

Clinton Binda’s maiden Qhawe Lami (16-1) was not disgraced, a half length further back in third.

A R525 000 BSA National Yearling Sale graduate, the Maine Chance-bred daughter of deceased multiple champion sire Silvano

(Lomitas) is out of the Al Mufti mare Arabian Empress.

She has now won two from two and has raised her stakes total to R175 000.

Sean Tarry thanked owner Mary Slack for giving him a chance with a filly who should

be better suited to further.

“She wasn’t big, but I liked the way she walked and she was very balanced,” observed Tarry, who enjoyed the distinction of selecting and training the 2yo feature double on the day.

MAGICAL LADIES ALL!

After a rare blank sheet on the SplashOut Cape Derby day 24 hours earlier, top jockey Richard Fourie quickly found the winner’s enclosure at Turffontein on Sunday when Sean Tarry’s clearly talented Vercingetorix filly Mrs Geriatrix maintained her impeccable record to win the R150 000 Listed Ruffian Stakes.

Raced by ten ‘magical ladies’, the plain but athletic chestnut built on her winning debut when getting the better of the dangerous looking Ripple Effect to register her maiden stakes win under the hands.

When Ripple Effect (13-2) moved up under a motionless Ryan Munger at the 250m,

in a time of 56,02 secs.

Ripple Effect will win her races and was not disgraced in second.

Sean Tarry labelled his charge precocious and professional.

“Being a Vercingetorix I expected her to go for a little bit. But she came up early at the sale and wasn’t sold – I asked what they wanted and got her for R200 000. It’s nice to be able to pick my own horses at nationals,” added Tarry.

An impressed Richard Fourie said that if the Magical Lady Syndicate’s sweetheart ‘grows a hand’, she could be a very

She is a ringer for her relatives with a strong likeness to her dam’s star siblings, Prince Of Kahal and Fort Vogue. This is the smart family of Clifton bred Whatalady, and hails back to champions Highland Night, sire Warm White Night, Tristful, Night Watch and Prince Asad.

A winner of 2 from 2, Mrs Geriatrix took her stakes earnings to R150 000.

It was another good weekend for Maine Chance Farms’ outstanding resident sire Vercingetorix after his son Bereave landed Saturday’s Gr2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes. The Gr1 Jebel Hatta winning

Richard Fourie steers Mrs Geriatrix to victory as Ryan Munger and Ripple Effect keep the winner honest

GAUTENG OWNER TO SPONSOR TOP JOCKS

Muzi Yeni – new sponsor

Stone-Stamcor (Pty) Ltd, via director and prominent racehorse owner Willem Ackerman, have announced that they will be taking up brand sponsorships for jockey Muzi Yeni and apprentice Philasande Mxoli. Both are natural light weights with consistent media exposure.

Yeni (36) is approaching 2,100 career winners. He is a hardworking regular in the Top 5 on the South African Jockeys Table and won the Northern Cape Title no fewer than 11 times.

He was also twice the leading jockey on the Eastern Cape log and once on the Gauteng log. Muzi finished a close second to Lyle Hewitson on the National table on two occasions, including 2018/19 when he booted home 216 winners. He has 61 stakes winners to his credit, with 13 Gr1’s and the 2021 Triple Tiara on War Of Athena among them.

He is associated with other big names like Happy Landing, Master Plan, Alboran Sea, Lauderdale, Lobo’s Legend, Coral Fever and Gotthegreenlight.

Mxoli (22) was accepted into the SA Jockey Academy in 2019 after riding successfully in rural races in the Eastern Cape, where he won 90 races.

He has impressed as an official apprentice since, chalking up

68 winners since September 2019, including a Gr3 success on Sean Tarry’s Litigation.

Philasande has ridden most of his career winners for Randjesfontein trainer Stuart Pettigrew who said in a recent interview:

“Phila is as good as any other apprentice in South Africa. He is a good future prospect.”

Ackerman commented: “We are very pleased at the opportunity to sponsor two outstanding individuals. In line with our business policy at Stone-Stamcor, we are supporting an established brand in Muzi, whilst also supporting a developing next generation brand in Phila. We are very proud to be associated with both riders and we and look forward to seeing them in the winner’s box.”

Stone-Stamcor, founded in 1945, are manufacturers of electrical and mechanical products. They represent a number of renowned international companies and quality brands in both industries. Visit www.stonesamcor.co.za

Philasande Mxoli- promising young talent gets a big boost

Panthalassa (far side) holds off the late challenge of Country Grammer to win the Saudi Cup

JAPAN BIG IN SAUDI!

The fourth running of the US$20 000 000 Gr1 Saudi Cup in Riyadh on Saturday went the way of Japan for the first time courtesy of the Yoshito Yahagi-trained Panthalassa (JPN) as he saw off all challengers for a historic wire-to-wire victory.

It was a Saturday evening for the powerful racing nation to rejoice, with Panthalassa’s all the way success under veteran jockey Yutaka Yoshida meaning that Bob Baffert’s American raider Country Grammer (USA) had to once again settle for the runner-up place in Riyadh.

In four renewals, victory in The Saudi Cup has gone to four different nations with the Japanese winner becoming the latest to win the world’s most valuable race, now proving his capability on both dirt and turf.

Yahagi was among the winning trainers last year when Japanese-trained runners claimed four races on the card and the strength of horse racing in the country was confirmed once again on Saturday with three more in front of an appreciative crowd at King Abdulaziz Racecourse.

For the globally popular trainer Yahagi, it was a second winner of the evening, following up from Bathrat Leon’s win in the 1351 Turf Sprint presented by stc. It was also an unforgettable night for owners Hiroo Race Co Ltd, who owned both Yahagi’s winners.

Momentarily in the latter stages it appeared that Japanese runners would fill the first three places, but Country Grammer finished with a flourish down the outside to claim second, half a length adrift, from Cafe Pharoah (JPN) in third with Geoglyph (JPN) and Crown Pride (JPN), both also trained in Japan, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

Last year’s winner Emblem Road (USA) was sixth and the best of the four locally-trained runners. The winning time was 1:50.80.

if he adapts to the track, it would be all right. Of course, they were coming for me in the straight, but Panthalassa always found another gear and so I kept riding. It is an unforgettable moment and I am very happy to have ridden the winner.”

Yoshito Yahagi, trainer of Panthalassa said: “Panthalassa had a perfect start today. I applaud Yutaka’s jump, it was a masterful job from the jockey. When I drew barrier one I thought this was a big advantage to him but it worked perfectly.

He sometimes doesn’t jump well so I concentrated on giving him a good start and he did it.

Winning rider Yutaka Yoshida said that when he drew barrier one his tactic was simply to take a lead.

“He sometimes doesn’t jump well so I concentrated on giving him a good start and he did it. When he took an early lead the others did not give too much pressure to him. The pace was not too strong for him, it was another factor for him to keep finding until the line,” he added before confirming that he did break well and then it was straightforward.

“Mr Yahagi said to me to ride my race and I would get a good result. So, I didn’t think about the surface. I just rode my race and thought

“I really can’t believe it. I don’t know if it is real at the moment. Thank you to my staff and to my horse. This horse only has one way to go.

He jumped really well when he needed to and got the job done. I think I was correct that my feeling was right that he could handle the dirt. You know this is not easy. Japanese racing tries everything to improve and develop.

Japanese horse racing has become more international. Of course, this is the best feeling as the prize-money is the best! “I will discuss with my owner after the conference and then we will decide if we go to Dubai for the World Cup, which is of course a possibility.

If my owners let me go to Europe, I would love the challenge. When I started training, no one knew me and when I wore a hat they

Delighted connections welcome back the big winner

knew who I was. Today, I wore the same hat I wore at the Breeders’ Cup. I have between 200 and 300 hats. I don’t count. It would be fun if they started a game where they bet on the colour of my hat.”

Naoki Yoneyama, president of Hiroo Race Co Ltd, owners of Panthalassa said it was the team’s win.

“I have been in 100 per cent trust for Team Yahagi so I was fully confident before the race. I would like to share the tremendous joy with the team.”

Frankie Dettori, who probably rode his last Saudi Cup, said that repeat runner-up Country Grammar ran a super race.

“At the top of the straight, I thought, ‘Oh god, I’m going to finish sixth’ but he just has too much heart. He wants a mile and a quarter [2000m]. Super result. They were coming back to me, but the winning post was there.”

Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia / Erika Rasmussen

CAPE TOWN TO RIYADH… MONTJEU LEGACY LIVES

The world lost a great racehorse and sire when Montjeu died in 2012 but his daughters are more than making a name for themselves at stud.

This was underlined on Saturday with Panthalassa (out of the Montjeu mare Miss Pemberley) capturing the $20 000 000 Gr1 Saudi Cup and Winter Cloud (out of the Montjeu daughter Montelissima) beating male rivals to land the Gr3 City Of Cape Town Cape Of Good Hope Nursery.

A six time Gr1 winner, Montjeu left behind more than 120

stakes winners, with this tally including the English Derby winners Motivator, Authorized, Pour Moi and Camelot.

Montjeu was also responsible for Arc/King George winner Hurricane Run, Melbourne Cup hero Green Moon, and a host of other top flight winners.

His successful sire sons include Camelot, Tavistock, Motivator and Authorized, with his legacy perhaps diminished by the premature death of his brilliant son St Nicholas Abbey.

The only knock against Montjeu’s fine record at stud was that his colts were by and

large by some way superior to his fillies. Of his 31 Gr1 winners, just six were female, with Montjeu colts dominating their female counterparts on the track.

His star daughters included a pair of Irish Oaks winners in Bracelet and Chiquita, as well as Prix Royal-Oak winner Montare and Canadian International queen Sarah Lynx.

On Saturday, Panthalassa (out of the Montjeu mare Miss Pemberley) captured the $20 000 000 Gr1 Saudi Cup and Winter Cloud (out of the Montjeu daughter

The great Montjeu - his legacy lives on

Montelissima) beat male rivals to land the Gr3 City Of Cape Town Cape Of Good Hope Nursery.

Delighted connections welcome back Saudi Cup winner Panthalassa (Pic –Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia)

A son of Lord Kanaloa, sixyear-old Panthalassa, who also dead-heated for first place in the 2022 Gr1 Dubai Turf, is from the same female line as former South African sires Anytime and Spanish Harlem as well as Gr1 Woolavington 2000 winner Lady Of The House (Dynasty) and the latter’s star dam Overarching (Arch), among many others.

His dam Miss Pemberley is out of the High Estate mare Stitching –a half-sister to Gr2 winner Great Dane.

Montjeu mare Montelissima has proven a top-class broodmare for Drakenstein Stud, with Winter Cloud the second Cape Nursery winner produced by her. The latters’ daughter Clouds Unfold -a What A Winter own sister to Winter Cloud – won the 2018 Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery before going on to claim four other graded stakes wins, including backto-back runnings of the Gr1 Majorca Stakes.

Interestingly, neither Miss Pemberley nor Montelissima ever won a race.

Montjeu is no stranger to enjoying posthumous success as a broodmare sire –to date, his broodmare daughters have produced more than 120 stakes winners including the English classic winners

Anapurna (Investec Oaks) and Legatissimo (Qipco 1000 Guineas), triple Gr1 winning miler Charm Spirit, and Gr1 Darley July Cup victor Starman.

His Gr1 winning daughter Montare has proved particularly successful and has already produced the group winners Journey (Gr1 British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes), Indigo Girl (Gr2 bet365 May Hill Stakes) and Mimikyu (Gr2 Coral Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes).

Montjeu mares have worked with a host of different stallions, with the likes of Frankel, Savabeel, Choisir, Invincible Spirit, Dutch Art, Le Havre, and Dubawi having all sired at least one Gr1 winner out of daughters of Montjeu.

STARS ARRIVE FOR WORLD CUP

Dubai Turf and Saudi Cup winner Panthalassa is among a top-class group of horses who have arrived in Dubai ahead of the Dubai World Cup meeting on 25 March.

The Yoshito Yahagi-trained Panthalassa became the thirdhighest earning Japanesetrained horse of all time after his victory in Riyadh, which was gained in front-running style from Country Grammer.

The reigning Dubai World

Cup winner also flew in from Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and he will attempt to become only the second dual winner of the $12 million race. Panthalassa has been nominated for the Dubai World Cup and the Dubai Turf, with trainer Yoshito Yahagi expected to announce a decision closer to race day.

Country Grammer was joined on the short flight by the Steve Asmussen-trained Gunite, who is nominated for the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. Winner of the G2 Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga last summer, the four-year-old finished second to Breeders’ Cup winner Elite Power in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint on Sunday.

Third in the Riyadh Sprint was four-year-old Remake who has also travelled on to the UAE where he will take his chance in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen.

WE CAN HEAR THE CHELTENHAM HOOVES, ALREADY!

March has arrived and some say it’s springtime in the UK. To racing fans that can only mean Cheltenham. The four-day Festival is just under two weeks away, and interestingly, there is now a South African connection to this iconic UK event.

Irish Champion trainer Willie Mullins, who has 59 potential runners over all four days, has included the grey gelding Il Etait Temps as one of the stable’s four nominations for the opening event, the Gr1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. This race is famous for the Cheltenham ‘Roar’ as the runners jump away on their 2-mile journey.

Il Etait Temps is leased by the Hollywood Syndicate, in partnership with Barnane Stud. Barnane Stud represents the Irish arm of the Kieswetter family’s breeding operation, well known in South Africa by the Ridgemont Highlands Stud Farms in the Western Cape.

Il Etait Temps had shown fair form last season when placing in all three of his juvenile races. The fact that they were all Group 1 contests only added value and Willie Mullins always stressed that the ability was there, the jumping just needed improvement.

This season he has not only strengthened but his jumping has improved with each of his three starts culminating with a Group 1 success. That was in the Tattersalls Irish Novices’ Hurdle at the Dublin Festival last month where he booked his ticket to this Festival.

According to his trainer: “He’s learning to race and jump properly at the top level. Danny Mullins is looking forward to riding him, and if he can put it all together at Cheltenham he’ll be there or thereabouts at the finish. He's a live one in the Supreme.”

His stable companions could be among his biggest dangers, namely – Diverge, Hunters Yarn and Facile Vega.

Diverge, a son of Frankel, raced on the Flat last season before joining the Mullins stable. Unplaced on his first start, he then won a maiden hurdle at Punchestown by 23-lengths. On that performance this progressive sort must be respected, but he now takes a huge jump in class.

Hunters Yarn, a 6-year-old by Fame And Glory, is another improving sort. Beaten only

once in five starts over 2 miles, he is rated by the yard and could also line up in the Supreme.

However, Il Etait Temps' biggest threat from within the yard should be Facile Vega. The beaten favourite at Leopardstown where Il Etait Temps was a ready winner, Mullins thinks they got the tactics wrong in the race for the son of Quevega. “He and High Definition just locked horns passing the winning post on the first circuit and went a mile-and-a-quarter speed going down by the reservoir

and the first hurdle down the back and he just took too much out of himself.”

Willie Mullins concluded: “Paul (Townend) pulled him up when things weren’t going well down the home straight. I’m happy just with a change of tactics in the Sky Bet Supreme.”

“I couldn’t see any problem with dropping in again – I think he has the ability and class for the race and has every chance. He’s been very good after Leopardstown.”

Exciting Il Etait Temps - likely runner on opening day

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GOLDEN TRIPLE CROWN DREAM IS ALIVE!

Golden Sixty overhauled Romantic Warrior in a gripping finish to the HK$12 million Gr1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday – the second leg of Hong Kong’s Triple Crown – under Vincent Ho for trainer Francis Lui.

Sporting the familiar white, blue and gold silks of owner Stanley Chan, Golden Sixty handed Romantic Warrior his first defeat over the course and distance to assert his dominance as he edged past his rival by a head in a winning time of 1m 59.98s.

Victorious in the 2021 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup as well, Golden Sixty broke cleanly under Ho before restraining to sit fifth.

Money Catcher took up his customary spot in the lead, while Ka Ying Star sat to his outside with Romantic Warrior in between the lead duo. Ho stalked the pace aboard Golden Sixty before stoking Hong Kong’s champion up at the turn for home – trailing Karis Teetan as he did the same atop Romantic Warrior. The pair tore clear in the straight with Golden Sixty reeling in his rival, much like he did in the first leg of the Triple Crown – the Gr1 Stewards’ Cup at the end of last month.

“He was very relaxed today, I even had to ask him a little to keep up today in the back straight and, of course, I had another great horse to follow through and ask for the full effort at the 200 (metre mark),” Ho said. “I just had to stay close with him (Romantic Warrior) and don’t let him get away too far.”

Ensuring a Triple Crown tilt remains an option,

Lui declared that it will be under consideration whether Golden Sixty will be chanced with joining the great River Verdon, who accomplished the three-race sweep in 1994 with victory in the third and final leg – the Gr1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup on 28 May.

“We’ll see. We have time to consider it because there is a long way to go – it is one of the options we have,” Lui said.

Golden Sixty is a possible to contest the Gr2 Chairman’s Trophy on 9 April before tackling either the Gr1 FWD Champions Mile or Gr1 FWD QEII Cup on FWD Champions Day . The Gr1 Yasuda Kinen (1600m) on 4 June in Tokyo, Japan shapes as the Medaglia d’Oro gelding’s overseas target – should he go.

“To be honest, I expected the other horse would have beaten us but, of course, I just do my best on Golden Sixty without hurting him too much for the Champions Mile or if we go to Japan, so it’s going to take time for him to recover, aged seven now. I just don’t want to over-do it, but doing my best to (help him) perform at that level.

“He’s got a great heart and he’s always trying his best – or sometimes over his own limit –so I don’t want to overdo it,” Ho said.

Sunday’s victory is Golden Sixty’s eighth at the top-level and enhances his all-time earnings to HK$136.53 million with an astonishing 24 wins overall from 28 starts.

“I’m very happy. In my lifetime, I think this is

the best horse and I don’t think I can have another one. You can’t expect another one,” Lui said.

“It’s a difficult consideration, I think (it will be Japan) if I plan to run overseas. I have to discuss it with Vincent, but of course he still thinks he’s a

miler.”

Continuing to amaze on track, the 131-rated Golden Sixty – now in his seven-year-old season – was bred in Australia and sold to Lui for AU$300 000 in 2017.

“Honestly if you go to visit him, he’s the same – you have

to be careful. He will bite you or he will even kick you. He’s always been like that, that’s his character,” Lui said.

Money Catcher finished third this afternoon, while Glorious Dragon grabbed fourth. Hong Kong racing continued today at Happy Valley.

Vincent Ho produces Golden Sixty in a thrilling finish