SP Sprint - 28 February 2024

CONTENTS

On the cover

A delighted Craig Zackey after his storming victory on Green with Envy for Dean Kannemeyer and Khaya Stables in Saturday’s SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Thanks to Candiese Lenferna for the image.

Issue: 09/2024

CLASSIC DAY –STARS STEP OUT

06

Hooked On A Classic?

March magic

14

Rachel Rules

Saudi stunner

36

Kannemeyer & Khaya Celebrate!

Who is green with envy?

58

Seeking The Stars

Meet Rikesh Sewgoolam

86

Heavenly Blue Rocks

Son of Snitzel strikes

HAIR, THERE, EVERYWHERE

Sporting a new-look hairstyle in Suzette Viljoen’s Royal Aussie silks, a pensive looking Grant van Niekerk grabbed a nice feature double at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday and is currently at 7th on the national log with 53 winners at a strike rate of 18,5%. He is third overall on stakes earnings, with a gross R12 632 000. Chase Liebenberg took the photograph.

With the sun having set on the Cape Summer Of Champions, the national spotlight switches to Classic Day at Turffontein on Saturday where Day 2 of The Championships sees a bumper card of ten races, including three Gr1 contests.

Classic Day features three Grade 1 races, headed by the R1,5 million TAB SA Classic, and including the R1,25 million Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic, and a vintage renewal of the R1,5 million H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, named in honor of the legendary Horse Chestnut, South Africa’s Triple Crown winner in 1999 and his part-owner and breeder, Mr. H F Oppenheimer.

The SA Triple Crown and Triple Tiara kicked off at the same venue on 3 February and both first leg stars Sandringham Summit and Gimme A Nother return in a bid to make it two from two.

While the visitors have ducked the two 3yo contests, Cape trainers Brett Crawford, Dean Kannemeyer and Candice Bass-Robinson will hit the long road with runners engaged in the R1,5 million Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Stakes.

Mrs Bass-Robinson won the race last year with Trip Of Fortune and takes her chances with WSB Cape Town Met fifth placer Sugar Mountain, who looks to have a big task on his hands.

Gimme A Nother – SA Triple Tiara leg 2 in sight! | Credit: JC Photos

Dean Kannemeyer is fresh off his SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby victory and saddles Cosmic Highway, who had no luck in Saturday’s Khaya Stables Gr2 Diadem Stakes. The son of Gimmethegreenlight hass never won over a mile, but should relish running at them late off a pace on the long Turffontein home straight.

Kannemeyer told the Sporting Post that his charge departs Milnerton on Wednesday morning and he is looking to emulate the feat of Free My Heart, who won this race in 2002 under Karl Neisius.

Brett Crawford has a satellite base at Randjesfontein and saddles the super

consistent At My Command and 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner, Winchester Mansion.

Trainer Tony Peter has thrown a potential cat amongst the pigeons with the 3yo Main Defender, who is reported to be ‘flying back home’, but there are question marks against the mile.

The race will surely provide a guide for the connections as to where to go in the next five months with the son of Pathfork.

Follow all the news on www.sportingpost.co.za

Sandringham Summit – class act!

Credit: JC Photos

110SandringhamSummitGavinLerenaDavidNieuwenhuizen123

27HotarubiS'mangaKhumaloSeanTarry116

35WilliamIronArmCalvinHabibTonyPeter116

41PurplePitcherKabeloMatsunyaneRobynKlaasen114

56GimmeanotherchanceCraigZackeyMikedeKock111

69GuyGibsonPiereStrydomRoyMagner105

72PurePredatorDenisSchwarzFanieBronkhorst104

84StormBrascoRichardFourieSeanTarry104

98NavajoNationSerinoMoodleyRobbieHill103

1011BarbarescoRyanMungerJAJansevanVuuren102

113MondialMuziYeniMGAzzie/AAAzzie100

14AtMyCommandLuyoloMxothwaBrettCrawford126

21PuertoManzanoGavinLerenaJAJansevanVuuren125

314CousinCaseyGrantvanNiekerkSeanTarry123

410DaveTheKingPiereStrydomMikedeKock122

58WinchesterMansionKabeloMatsunyaneBrettCrawford121

611CosmicHighwayCraigZackeyDeanKannemeyer117

77MelechMuziYeniRoyMagner117

813Mk'sPrideChaseMaujeanTonyPeter116

93SafePassageJuanPaulv'dMerweMikedeKock116

106SonOfRajS'mangaKhumaloWeihoMarwing115

112SugarMountainAldoDomeyerCandiceBass-Robinson115

1212BackInBusinessPhilasandeMxoliJoeSoma90

135PrincessCallaRichardFourieSeanTarry127

149MainDefenderCalvinHabibTonyPeter121

17GimmeANotherJuanPaulv'dMerweMikedeKock121

28SilverSanctuaryRichardFourieMikedeKock116

31MySoulMatePiereStrydomCandiceDawson115

44BavarianBeautyCalvinHabibTonyPeter112

56Let'sGoNowS'mangaKhumaloSeanTarry111

65EgyptianMauCraigZackeyLuckyHoudalakis110

72ChampagneCocktailGavinLerenaMikedeKock104

83BeatingWingsDenisSchwarzStuartPettigrew91

99TamilTigressRyanMungerLorenzoKarriem87

S/CDRAWHORSE

JOCKEY TRAINER MR

S/CDRAWHORSE

JOCKEY TRAINER MR

S/CDRAWHORSE

JOCKEY TRAINER MR

TAB SA CLASSIC (GRADE 1)

WILGERBOSDRIFT SA FILLIES CLASSIC (GRADE 1)

WILGERBOSDRIFT HF OPPENHEIMER HORSE CHESTNUT STAKES (GRADE 1)

DRAKENSTEIN WELCOME IRISH CHAMPION

Drakenstein Stud announced earlier this week that Irish Champion Sprinter A Case Of You is in transit to South Africa and will join their highclass stallion arsenal of What A Winter, One World, Futura and Jet Dark for the 2024 breeding season.

A Case Of You was a champion sprinter at 3 and 4 and a winner of the Gr1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp, Europe’s premier sprint race on Europe’s biggest raceday, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. This was the race won by our late champion 2yo sire Var.

The winner of 7 of his 22 starts, A Case Of You was a global traveller who raced in 6 different countries.

He was precocious enough to win the Gr3 Anglesey Stakes at 2. Watch it here

He won the Abbaye at 3. Watch it here

He also won the Gr1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai at 4 Watch it here

The son of Hot Streak will be

and Kevin Sommerville may be contacted in that regard.

Tel: +27 (0)21 874 9036

Cell: +27 (0)72 167 9971

A

You

Streak ex Karjera)

RACHEL VENNIKER

When Rachel Venniker (22) flashed past the post to win Saudi Arabia’s US$400,000 (R7,63m) Invest Saudi International Jockeys Challenge Stakes last Friday, she created a number of historic firsts, writes Robin Bruss.

Rachel became the first South African female rider to win in the desert Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the first South African female to defeat male rivals of the calibre of the world’s no.1 jockey Ryan Moore (whose mount ran 3rd) and former Australian legend Damien Oliver (5th). It was her first trip out of South Africa to any country and her first big race win as a fully fledged jockey, having only completed her apprenticeship a month ago. And the value of the race was more than the purses of the WSB Met and the Hollywoodbets July combined.

Emerson’s famous quote “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” came to mind as I

watched the elated Rachel being led in aboard the British bred Cliffs of Fury with Saudi owner Refaei Sanat Alghuraban and trainer Nawaf Fawaz. It was Cliff’s of Fury’s first win in 10 starts in the current season, and the realisation dawned that the horse had run the race of his life in the hands of a young jockette who had equally ridden the race of her life 6,200 km from home, to defeat 6 other woman and 7 of the world’s best male jockeys in the final round of the 4 part challenge in the world’s richest racing weekend.

It makes me think: Why do some riders excel whilst others don’t ?

What is it that makes the difference in jockeyship between winning and losing? Is it strength to drive the horse home? Is it balance to maintain speed and momentum in the rush to the line? Is it sheer determination and extreme fitness to outstay, outmatch and outgun all of the others? Or is it more a planned strategy or even tactical enterprise to outfox the rest? Perhaps a combination of all of these.

“It’s in her hands” says 5 times former champion SA trainer, Geoff Woodruff, now training in Saudi Arabia for the Sheik Almousa stable and who gave Rachel her first ride at the races in Riyadh in Round 1 of the four part competition. “Horses instinctively run for her”, he says “she has the natural balance of a good horsewoman and I think they try harder for her”.

The winning ride on Cliffs of Fury posed some challenges for Rachel. The parade ring instructions were given in Arabic and were told to her by a translator, at the end of which he

I get knocked down, but I get up again, you never gonna keep me down…

asked, “do you undertstand?” And she said “no”. So far so good. Be confident, ride your own race.

Previously in Round 2, Rachel had drawn one of the fancied horses. A difficult horse in the stalls, he was fitted with a blindfold to load, but as the gates flashed open, the blindfold was caught up in the bridle and the horse jumped out almost a furlong behind the others.

A disappointment can be daunting, ask

Where the race was won, the tactical breakaway, a diminishing lead to hold on by a head | Credit: Liesl King

any professional athlete, one misfortune or circumstance can be dent confidence, so mental toughness and resilience are important.

“I get knocked down, but I get up again, you never gonna keep me down” Tubthumping’s famous sportsman’s song plays through the head!

“My mentor, Michael Roberts, always told me to put the knocks behind me, pick up my head, smile and carry on” says Rachel. And she always has.

“Geoff Woodruff had stressed to me the importance of breaking well from the gate on the turf track which is on the inside of the dirt course, quite narrow, and to get well positioned and overcome Cliffs of Fury wide gate 10 of 14 runners”

“I got out fast, steadily moved across to be 3rd, then 2nd as we swung for home, then went for the horse early to take the lead.”

The tactical break away gave her a 3 length advantage and then came to drive to the line and the determination of rider and horse to hold the lead. The challengers were coming.

“I could hear them behind me” says Rachel, “I

could hear the crowds shouting as we ran past the stands. I used my crop and got him home just in time”.

Jubilation in winning on the world’s stage had to be tempered after the prize giving when Rachel was called before the Chief Stewards of the Saudi Jockey Club.

In South Africa, the rule is that a jockey cannot use the crop more than 12 times, in Saudi it is eight. Together they counted the number of smacks in the replay. It was 12.

“We find you guilty of breaking the local rule, you will be stood down for 8 days and pay a fine of 60% of your earnings.”

“I get knocked down, but I get up again, you never gonna keep me down…”

Cest la Vie. It was an error, it was acknowledged and penalised. The rules of the game. But, the race that might have been lost –and it was won. The South Africans roar: We WON !

“I loved Saudi Arabia” says Rachel “My Mum Marion travelled with me as I had never been out of the country before.”

Rachel and her Mum Marian on the “movie set” of the world’s richest raceday

“When the invitation arranged by the International Racing Bureau arrived from the Saudi Jockey Club, it included two First Class Tickets, and complementary 5 star accommodation. Everything was extremely well organized and we were very grateful for the

warmth and hospitality we received”

Marian Venniker, always a huge supporter of Rachel’s career and who started her riding from the age of four, said that being in Riyadh for the Saudi Cup weekend and the

Rachel’s ride on this beast in the desert was a lot higher and a lot slower

International Jockeys day felt like being on a movie set. The jockeys were accorded celebrity status and commentators spoke warmly and enthusiastically about their careers and achievements so that racegoers would become acquainted and supportive as fans will do in any sport because it provides context and builds involvement and excitement.

“Getting to know other jockeys from around the world was also wonderful and to share hear their stories and enjoy some experiences in the desert and the city was a big thrill”. “It was an experience of a lifetime” said Marian, “and we were both proud and grateful that we could repay the kindness with a win which justified the invitation”

Such magnanimity is an important trait of the Venniker family. Marian and her husband Brett are both attorneys, but both horse mad. Brett’s Mom Wendy Venniker is honoured in memoriam by the Wendy Venniker show jumping arena at the Shongweni Club. Rachel’s determination and love of the horse mirror her grandma. The love of the game from one generation to the next, and so a horsewoman’s life it was destined to be.

The win in Riyadh last Friday could be a breakthrough which could lead to future international invitations.

The International Racing Bureau’s Adrian Beaumont has advised that the Saudi win means that Rachel’s name has been put forward for consideration to England’s Shergar Cup international jockey meeting at Ascot racecourse in August.

“Rachel finished in 4th place of the 14 riders in

THE THREE WISE MEN

In October 2020, a delegation of three trainers arrived at a Management meeting at the Academy at Summerveld. All three has been champion Jockeys and all three had been graduates of the Academy.

the overall points standings in Saudi” he added “and did South Africa proud. She has a good shot of a future invitations abroad.”

It was also interesting to hear from South Africa’s now famed international racing photographer Liesl King that there was talk in Riyadh all week about the strides being taken by female jockeys around the world.

“Damien Oliver told me that in Australia, the jockeys applications are now 80% female and 20% male” she says.

“And there is also an international jockeys event in Japan, mostly male in the past, but England’s Hollie Doyle rode last year.”Rachel’s own pathway to her achievement at the ripe old age of 22, has been by no means easy.

“I grew up as a horsewoman and started riding work at Summerveld as a teenager as we live only 8 minutes from Summerveld.

I am naturally light and can ride at 52 kg” said Rachel.

“I loved it and very soon it became an obsession and I realized that I wanted to become a jockey”

The first application was made to the SA Jockeys Academy in 2018 at age 16 and Rachel’s application was rejected. At a second application, she was failed on account of not meeting the threshold level for a fitness test and was told that it would be better to finish her Matric than become a jockey.

However, she continued to ride work as well as continue to complete her Matric at school as well as continually improved her strength and fitness.

Michael ‘Muis’ Roberts had been the Academy’s most successful graduate ever. Champion Jockey as an apprentice, he was 11 times Champion title holder before going to try overseas, became stable rider to Sheik

Mohammed of Dubai, and won the British Jockeys Championship, the only South Africa ever to do so. Garth Puller had become Champion Jockey of South Africa. Kevin Wright had been Champion Jockey of Zimbabwe.

The three arrived with one purpose: to propose that Rachel be permitted to enter the Academy.

“She has the talent, the drive and the ambition to make the grade” said Muis.

“She is hardest worker I know” said Garth, “and I have no doubt she can be successful”

“Rachel is the best female rider I’ve seen” said Kevin.

When three champions of their craft take the trouble to endorse character and capability of what they have seen, then the criteria of recommended values from a text book fly out of the window.

“There are precedents” they went on, “Lyle Hewitson did not come from a full apprenticeship in the normal way, he came from a work riders programme with special dispensation. Simlarly Aldo Domeyer joined late. Why not Rachel?”

There were some reservations expressed. Rachel would be the only girl, and therefore would have to stay alone in separate quarters

from the boys, there might be problems, she might be singled out, it would be harder…. But ultimately a decision had to be made. The three wise men prevailed. The decision was to APPROVE application, with a 6 months probation period and 5 year apprenticeship.

On 5th January 2021, Rachel arrived at the SA Jockeys Academy to start. And it was hard to be the only girl staying alone in a separate wing and to take derision from the boys and from others in racing. To be the only girl, naturally lighter and with less strength than boys meant working longer and harder in all aspects as well as in the gym and the need to constantly prove herself. But such adversity also made her tougher and her character stronger. In year two, Rachel was allowed to live at home, only a few In year two, Rachel was allowed to live at home, only a few minutes away and with family to support her goals, including three sisters, she has never looked back.

“Incoming Headmaster Marius Nel was very supportive of me” says Rachel, “and I began to love my time in the Academy, which has nurtured every champion jockey in South Africa since 1958.”

In her first 6 months, Rachel had 36 qualifying rides and won 4 races, placing her 15th of the 25 apprentices in the Academy. In season 2021/22, her first full year of riding, she won 70 races to rocket to the top as Champion

Apprentice and she has remained on top ever, with 107 winners in 2022/23.

She completed all the qualify landmarks in near record time and it was realised that her apprenticeship could be completed in 3 years instead of five. In January 2024, she graduated from the Academy to become a full time professional jockey. “I give thanks to my mentor, Mr Roberts” says Rachel who has a deep and admirable respect for the man who has guided and helped her.

“He has helped me with every aspect of jockeyship, from technique and style, race riding and tactics, character and behavior in my approach to be a professional athlete. He

reminds me to be respectful and grounded and not let anything go to my head. It is a job and a responsibility to carry the hopes and dreams of owners and trainers, fans and punters, and I understand it is a high risk sport with danger and risk of injury. I am so grateful to be living my dream and give thanks for the opportunity.”

“I also thank my sponsor, Nic Jonsson of Jonsson’s Workwear, who has always been a grand supporter and gave me my first opportunity to ride in races and my first winner.” It is Nic’s late father Benji Jonsson, who was the long time Chairman of the SA Jockeys Academy and its greatest benefactor and supporter.

Michael Roberts with the young apprentice Rachel in 2021 | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

THE SA JOCKEYS ACADEMY

The SA Jockeys Academy itself is a venerated institution with a proud and honourable history since it was inaugurated in 1958.

It is unique in its construct, multi-disciplinary holistic approach, and depth of training. It is not merely a race riding school, it is an Academy that also embraces education, personal selfrealisation and professionalism and aims to instill values so necessary in a jockey: courage, dedication, fitness, honesty and integrity.

The three Clubs, Durban, Clairwood and City Sporting Club put up the initial capital plus a £30,000 grant from the Province of Natal. Previously, apprentices were indentured to individual trainers and it was something of a world first when the Academy began at Marianhill in 1961.

Proud Record of the SA Jockeys Academy

The Academy has trained professional jockeys for 63 years producing no less than 29 Champion Jockeys in countries outside of South Africa, including Great Britain, Mauritius

(10), Hong Kong (4 jockeys, 24 champion titles) as well as ALL of the Champions inside SA and Zimbabwe.

For the past 27 years it has been open to all races, and in fact 80% of apprentices today are non-white, and it is the most transformed organization in horse racing.

For all its proud record, SAJA has its own challenges of funding and support, much of it caused by the now defunct Phumelela failing to honour its commitments. Like many institutions in our great sport, some reconstruction is required. But that’s another story for another day.

For now, they can bask in the limelight of Saudi success and the potential that Saudi, which has nothing like it for the training of their own apprentices, could do well to consider how they might work together in the future.

And Rachel’s desert adventure may open other doors to other women and not just her own.

CONGRATULATIONS ON 1,2,3,4!

THE HOLLYWOOD SYNDICATE ACHIEVED FOUR WINNERS ON A RACEDAY FOR THE FIRST TIME AT HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE ON TUESDAY 27 FEBRUARY 2024.

Griffin Park (Richard Fourie – MJ Odendaal)

Zinikele

Allaroundtheworld (Richard Fourie – Gary Rich)

Fish Eagle (Richard Fourie – Clint Binda)

THERE’S GOLD IN THIS MINESHAFT

When Senor Buscador won Saturday’s $20 000 000 Saudi Cup, he not only picked up the first Gr1 victory of his career, but he also shone the spotlight on his sire Mineshaft (A.P. Indy).

Senor Buscador and Junior Alvarado win the Gr1 Saudi Cup on Saturday| Credit: Mathea Kelley-Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia

The latter, who challenges Bernardini as his sire’s most talented son on the racetrack, has consistently enjoyed success at stud but Saturday’s Saudi Cup was his biggest win, in terms of prize money, as a sire to date. An outstanding racehorse, Mineshaft was named Horse Of The Year and Champion Older Male in the USA in 2003.

Having begun his career in Britain (where he won once in seven starts), Mineshaft came into his own when transferred to the States. He won seven of nine starts during his championship campaign at four, headed by wins in all of the Gr1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, Gr1 Pimlico Special, Gr1 Woodward Stakes, and Gr1 Suburban Handicap in 2003.

The impeccably bred Mineshaft retired to Lane’s End having won 10 of eighteen starts and a reputation as one of his champion sire’s very best sons.

While Mineshaft has had his fee steadily reduced from the $100 000 which he began his stud career, the champion has, nonetheless, enjoyed a steady stream of success at stud.

Senor Buscador is one of more than 60 stakes winners for his sire, with Mineshaft having been responsible for eight Gr1 winners thus far. He is also the sire of Hoist The Gold, who won the 2023 Cigar Mile Handicap a race which from 1990 until 2022 was given Gr1 status.

Hoist The Gold and his paternal half-brother Senor Buscador, runner-up to Hoist The Gold in the Cigar Mile, also finished fourth and second respectively in the recent Gr1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes.

Senor Buscador aside, Mineshaft’s other top-level winners are It’s Tricky, Effinex, Weep No More, Discreetly Mine, True Timber, Bond Holder, and Dialed In. Another son, Nehro, ran second in the 2011 Gr1 Kentucky Derby.

Saudi Cup winning sire, Mineshaft (A.P. Indy ex Prospectors Delite) | Credit: Lane’s End

Mineshaft has also come up with a successful sire son in the form of 2011 Gr1 Florida Derby winner Dialed In, with the latter’s more than 20 stakes winners headed by the Gr1 winners Defunded (Awesome Again Stakes, Hollywood Gold Cup), Super Stock (Arkansas Derby) and Get Her Number (American Pharoah Stakes).

Another son, 2012 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint Stakes winner Hightail, sired 2019 Gr1 Awesome Again Stakes winner Mongolian Groom.

The champion, almost inevitably given his pedigree and the quality of mares he has covered, has also become a successful broodmare sire. To date, broodmare daughters of Mineshaft have produced more than 50 stakes winners including Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winning champion Vequist (Nyquist) and Gr1 Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia (Street Boss), while promising young sire Enticed (Medaglia D’Oro) is out of

the Mineshaft sired triple Gr1 winner It’s Tricky. Incidentally, Mineshaft, who is directly descended in female line from the mighty La Troienne (Teddy), has a South African connection. His Gr1 Ashland Stakes/Gr1 Acorn Stakes winning dam Prospectors Delite was a half-sister to the former South African-based Allied Flag (Danzig) -sire of, among others, former Horse Of The Year and July winning sire Classic Flag.

Mineshaft is bred on the successful A.P. Indy/Mr Prospector cross, which has also produced top-class sire Pulpit and the likes of Gr1 winners Little Belle, Girolamo, Tomisue’s Delight, and Tempera.

The late, high-class stallion Malibu Moon, whose 130-plus stakes winners included 2013 Gr1 Kentucky Derby winner Orb, was a son of A.P. Indy and the Gr1-winning Mr Prospector mare Macoumba.

The Green Dream Team! Young One Skeyi, Tando Mdludlu, Lady Chistine Laidlaw & Jehan Malherbe brave the rain to lead Green With Envy (Craig Zackey) in | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

KANNEMEYER & KHAYA OWN THE DERBY

Patience has always been the Kannemeyer hallmark of excellence and a perfect plan came together in fabulous fashion at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday as Green With Envy stormed home to win the R1,5 million SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby to bring the curtain down on a special summer down South.

The Khaya Stables’ home-bred had run a perfect low-key prep to win the Schweppes

Gr3 Politician Stakes on Met day after forward showings in the Cape Punters Cup and the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas.

Relishing the step up in trip to the 2000m on Saturday, he ran a cracker to become the third Kannemeyer Cape Derby winner of the 21st century after Dynasty (2003) and Capetown Noir (2013). The latter also raced in the staunch Khaya silks.

Lady Christine and Jehan enjoying their second Derby win |

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

On a day where races were generally run at a dawdle, Oriental Charm led Willie John and Coastal Commander early, with Green With Envy loping along near the rear.

In the run for home, things picked up a bit as they fanned out. But there was only one horse in it as Green With Envy (14-10) stretched up the outside to draw clear and beat the dual Gr1 winning filly Beach Bomb (7-2) by 2,75 lengths.

It was Craig Zackey’s second victory in the classic after Golden Ducat won for Eric Sands in 2020.

Green With Envy’s time of 130,33 secs, achieved in windless but slightly sticky track conditions, compared modestly against Bunter Barlow’s longstanding course record of 122,10 secs, and the last three Cape Derby renewals, with See It Again (123,55 secs) heading Linebacker’s 124,34 secs and Pomp And Power’s 124,76 secs.

Runner-up Beach Bomb was ‘twice the horse she was in the Cape Fillies Guineas’ according to jockey Aldo Domeyer, and was not disgraced, while pacesetter Oriental Charm (100-1) rallied smartly to come right back and get third, a half-length adrift.

Bred and raced by Lady Christine Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables, Green With Envy, who was raised on Varsfontein Stud, is by SA champion sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the Irish-bred Miss Coco, a daughter of champion Galileo, who was unbeaten in one start over 2400m.

Now a winner of 4 races with 3 places from 8 starts for stakes of R515 775, Green With Envy will be a key member of the Kannemeyer Champions Season attack, and will shorten in the Hollywoodbets Durban July ante-post market after an accomplished performance.

WOW…THIS WAS THUNDER!

Richard Fourie drives Thunderstruck forward as Future Variety (Morne Winnaar) looms dangerously on his outside Credit: Candiese Lenferna

In one of the most courageous displays of resolute galloping seen in the Cape at feature level this summer, Sean Tarry’s Rafeef colt Thunderstruck rounded off a testing campaign for the Randjesfontein raiders when he dug deep in the soft falling rain to hold on for honours in the R600 000 Khaya Stables Gr2 Diadem Stakes.

Always in touch and ‘grinding’ in the words of his rider Richard Fourie, Thunderstruck cruised past pacesetter Countdown at the 350m and was then faced with a determined challenge from the year younger Future Variety going into the final 200m.

In what must have felt like an eternity for his connections and supporters, the 8-10 favourite kept his head in front as the composed Fourie kept him straight and striding.

At the line, just 0,30 lengths separated the two with Thunderstruck scoring a memorable success to hold off Morne Winnaar and the chestnut son of Var.

Defending champion Bereave (7-1) ran a cracker to pip the 2022 winner Cosmic Highway (8-1) out of third by a head.

It was a smart prep by Cosmic Highway for his expected Highveld raid on the HF Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes next month.

Thunderstruck has now won 6 races with 7 places from 16 starts for stakes of R1 841 918.

A BSA Online Auction recordbreaker at R1 241 000 as part of the Javett Dispersal, the Avontuur-bred Thunderstruck was originally acquired for R1 million BSA National Yearling Sale in 2021 by Form Bloodstock.

A son of Ridgemont’s former freshman champion Rafeef (Redoute’s Choice) the winner is out of Avontuur’s late super sire VAR (Forest Wildcat) five-time winning daughter Varikate, a winner of the Gr2 Post Merchants.

Breeder Pippa Mickleburgh of Avontuur Stud and owner Mary Slack lead Thunderstruck (Richard Fourie) in Credit: Candiese Lenferna

VERCINGETORIX FILLY SLAMS PRIX DU CAP FIELD

The power combination of Justin Snaith and Grant van Niekerk made it a snap feature double at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday when the Varsfontein-bred Double Grand Slam sauntered to victory in the R250 000 SplashOut Gr3 Prix Du Cap.

After a puzzling below-par effort in the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas, and a cracking third behind Princess Calla in the City Of Cape Town Gr1 Majorca Stakes, Double Grand Slam registered her maiden stakes victory in classy style on Saturday and now looks a serious contender for feature honours in Durban from May to July.

Ridden to perfection by Van Niekerk, who was sporting a mod new hairstyle for the big day, Double Grand Slam (5-1) was unleashed at the 300m and ran away from her field to beat the favourite October Morn (7-2) by 3 lengths in a time of 86,91 secs for the 1400m.

The gallant Rascova (5-1) never runs a poor race and made the pace, before tiring to run third a further 0,40 lengths back.

Double Grand Slam (Grant van Niekerk) registers her maiden stakes victory in classy style | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Highveld champion Mrs Geriatrix (9-2) was seen running on late down the outside, and was also a further 0,40 lengths back to round off the quartet.

A R1 million National Yearling Sale purchase, Double Grand Slam was bred by Varsfontein from Maine Chance kingpin Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the two-time winning Captain Al mare Princess Peach. She is thus bred on the same Vercingetorix/Captain Al cross as the exported Gr1 winner Vernichey.

Double Grand Slam has won 3 races with 3 places from 8 starts for stakes of R470 763. Gary Player and his son Wayne were on course with co-owner Suzette Viljoen, who enjoyed a feature double after Royal Aussie won the Jet Master Stakes a half hour earlier.

Hall of fame golfer Gary Player said that he had named the filly Double Grand Slam after his unique achievements. He is one of only five golfers to achieve a Career Grand Slam by winning all four majors, and is the only golfer on that list to have won a Grand Slam on the Senior Tour too.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

A racing expert pointed out to the Sporting Post that Double Grand Slam is raced in partnership by Dave Maclean, Gary Player and Suzette Viljoen. Take the three owner’s first name initials – D, G, S. Then the filly’s name – Double Grand Slam. Interesting? Maybe!

GARY PLAYER – ANOTHER DOUBLE GRAND SLAM

Don’t you just love Gary Player. It is such a boost for racing to have SA’s golf legend so involved in the sport.

Famous Fourball! Gary Player enjoys a team photo with Chris Snaith, Jonathan Snaith and Wayne Player | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

The 88-year-old looked as sprightly as ever at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth where he witnessed his Vercingetorix filly Double Grand Slam win the third race of her career, with victory in the SplashOut Gr 3 Prix Du Cap.

David Mollett writes that perhaps the biggest surprise was that Gary had a piece of paper with notes for his post-race interview.

Anyway, he didn’t forget anyone:

On co-owner Dave Maclean, he said that if he had to suggest they might buy a horse, he just says ‘go for it.’

He added that owner Suzette Viljoen ‘has so much passion for racing’.

It was another red-letter day for Suzette and her husband Basie, as they are also in the ownership of Jet Master Stakes victor, Royal Aussie.

The Viljoen’s successful racing journey continued at Turffontein on Sunday with another of Vercingetorix’s progeny, Golden Sickle, notching her sixth career win with an authoritative success in the TAB Bauhinia Handicap.

Gary didn’t forget Double Grand Slam’s breeders, Varsfontein Stud. “They simply breed very good horses.”

Varsfontein sold Double Grand Slam to the Player/Maclean/Viljoen partnership for R1 million and Gary said he had turned down a big offer for the three-year-old last week. Probably a good call as Saturday was only the filly’s fifth career start and one can imagine trainer Justin Snaith will be targeting some big

races during the forthcoming KZN season.

The Viljoens aren’t shy to splash out big money on their equine purchases, but Royal Aussie was a bargain buy at R75 000 from Klawervlei Stud. Victory on Saturday took the son of Royal Mo’s earnings to over R5 813 551. No doubt that Royal Aussie – third in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate behind Charles Dickens but never sighted in the WSB Met –appreciated reverting to 1600m.

One wouldn’t say the Jet Master was a strong field, but the four-year-old simply had to be kept up to his work to notch his fifth win. To his credit, Gary Player has a number of different trainers and his R230 000 buy Family Power is in the safe hands of Greg Ennion.

The daughter of Louis The King ran in Saturday’s Cape Fillies Classic but found the company too strong and trailed in at the rear behind Rainbow Lorikeet.

American Joe Biden, bidding for another term as President, and Gary Player have something in common – both were born in the month of November. Biden was born in 1942 which makes him 82 years old while Gary, born in 1935, is 88.

Looking at Gary’s demeanour on Saturday, he looks more sprightly than Biden does in recent TV interviews.

Now Gary – the only player to win the British Open in three different decades – will be eyeing a Gr 1 success with the aptlynamed, Double Grand Slam.

Winning partners! Gary Player and Suzette Viljoen at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday

Liebenberg

VAUGHAN RULES THE WORLD

A master at prepping classy 2yo’s, Vaughan Marshall’s SA Champions Season prospects brightened considerably at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday when the One World colt One Stripe dominated matters to win the R1 million City Of Cape Town Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery in the the fashion of a decent sort.

It was a particularly special race for the veteran trainer as his Captain Al champion One World celebrated a maiden graded stakes success in the process.

The R1,4 million sales topper at the 2023 Cape Racing Ready To Run And Unbroken Two Year Old Sale, One Stripe (28-10) made it two on the trot when he stormed clear off the false rail under Bernard Fayd’herbe to beat Winds Of Change (11-2) by 1,25 lengths to make it a Drakenstein-bred exacta.

The winner clocked 70,59 secs for the 1200m.

The shock Cape Racing Sales Cape Slipper winner Little Ballerina (20-1) confirmed her form, staying on a further 0,20 lengths back to be the first filly home.

The newly blinkered Lion Rampart (7-1) was best of the rest to round off the quartet.

The favourite Roman Agent showed good pace but faded late to run just over 5 lengths off in midfield.

One Stripe races for Rakesh Sewgoolam and took his stakes bank to R692 313 with his second win and a place from just three starts.

Bred by Drakenstein Stud, he is out of the three-time winning Silvano mare Silver Stripe, who stayed well and won up to 2450m.

So a momentous day for Drakenstein based first season sire One World who was Equus Champion Older Male of 2019-2020, registering ten wins from just 14 starts, capped by a sensational win in the 2020 Gr1 Sun Met.

An in-form Bernard Fayd’herbe gets One Stripe home in impressive style | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

ONE WORLD OF PASSION

Eighteen years after a relatively modest National Emblem gelding sealed his interest in horseracing, Pietermaritzburg-based attorney Rikesh Sewgoolam is enjoying a purple patch. He owns last Saturday’s Cape Of Good Hope Nursery winner One Stripe, bred Sunday’s joint sales-topper, and has some serious runners on Classic Day at Turffontein, and Super Saturday at Meydan.

It’s been a cracking start to 2024 after a very fruitful 2023 for the quietly spoken Rikesh, who was recently nominated for a second three year stint as a director on the National Horseracing Authority Board.

A practising attorney and qualified CA, the University Of Melbourne and University Of Pietermaritzburg graduate specializes in business rescue, turnarounds and liquidations.

While we are here to discuss his extraordinary

run of success on the racetrack and in the sales ring, we could not resist the chance of the icebreaker of asking him whether he had ever regretted getting involved in serving on a board tasked with steering our racing regulator through some turbulent seas, in what has been a testing time for the industry.

“I was originally nominated as the KZN representative on the NHA board by Rodney Trotter, who felt that my professional qualifications and experience, as well as

Leading owner and breeder, and an NHA board member, Rikesh Sewgoolam is enjoying a great run | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

my passion for the sport, would add value. I have honestly never regretted accepting the responsibility. It’s a labour of love and the reality is that the challenges we face in racing are not dissimilar to what I deal with in the course of my daily work. Running away from challenges is not the answer either, as there is always somebody else that would have to step into the breach, anyway,” he reflects.

Born in Pietermaritzburg some 49 years ago, Rikesh was a talented soccer and tennis player and the all-round sportsman was also far too interested in his academics to be distracted by his Dad Ranjith’s love of horseracing.

“Dad, who is a life member of the NHA and has emigrated to Australia, was mad about horseracing and owned some nice horses from 1988 onwards. I recall Melting, who was one of the few gallopers to lower champion

Empress Club’s colours when she won the Firstcorp Sprint under Jeff Lloyd at Turffontein in November 1991. I don’t think my Dad slept for a week! Strangely, despite the enthusiastic racing buzz at home, I had very little interest in the horses as a young man.”

But that all changed in 2006 when Rikesh was persuaded by a colleague to get involved in a National Emblem gelding called Silas Marner.

“Fate struck, as it were. Kom Naidoo trained him and he ran fourth, and then won for us next time out. I was hooked. The bug had bitten. Eighteen years later, I have got the t-shirt, seen the movie, paid the school fees! And reflecting back, there are some things I may have done differently. But I can’t complain. Things are going well.”

That’s frankly an understatement!

One Stripe charges clear under Bernard Fayd’herbe in the Sewgoolam silks to win the COCT Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

A low-key personality, and a man who prefers to spend his down-time over weekends at home with his wife and daughter, Rikesh hasn’t attended a feature race since his first ‘big’ horse Seeking The Stars won the Byerley Turk for Vaughan Marshall at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in 2021.

“I really love the horses, the people and the racing, but find that enjoying the racing at home with the family gives me so much more pleasure than going to the track. Maybe I’m a lazy guy, who needs the weekend to unwind? I’m not sure!” he laughs.

When One Stripe became his sire One World’s maiden stakes winner on clinching the City Of Cape Town Gr3 Cape Nursery under Bernard Fayd’herbe at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, Rikesh’s good friend and former NHA Chairman Ken Truter was on course to represent him.

“Ken has won many Gr1 races, and raced One World - so it was a very emotional moment for him. I was moved to hear him say that One

World’s exploits on the track, and now in the stallion barn, had rekindled his own passion and love of the game. I appreciate him representing me, and am thrilled that I could step back and give him that very special moment to enjoy.”

On Sunday, Rikesh had the honour of breeding one of the joint Cape Yearling Sale One World sales-toppers, Godric Gryffindor (#113), who was consigned by Julia Pilbeam’s Soetendal Estate and purchased by the Hollywood Syndicate for R900 000.

The athletic colt is a first foal for Rikesh’s Master Of My Fate daughter Preferential, a six time winning three-parts sister to the stakes placed Berlinetta. She is one of only two mares that he owns.

“He was a lovely colt and the intention was that we would buy him back if we didn’t get our valuation. But when he went higher, I decided it was time to let him go. I am not sure we should have let him go, but discipline and setting boundaries is important in everything we do in life. I wish the Hollywood Syndicate every

Flashback to Hollywoodbets Scottsville in 2021 – Rikesh and trainer Vaughan Marshall lead Seeking The Stars in after his Byerley Turk win | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

success and I sincerely hope he wins many Gr1’s for them.”

This coming Saturday, he has two runners in the TAB Gr1 SA Classic at Turffontein.

“I bought a share in Sandringham Summit, who will eventually stand at Varsfontein and Laurence Wernars and I are partners in the very progressive Barbaresco. So it’s an exciting race for me!”

Rikesh also has a runner on Super Saturday at Meydan. The Argentinian-bred Athan is trained by Fawzi Nass and is likely to line up in the AED800 000 Listed Jumeirah Classic over 1800m.

“Laurence and myself race Athan with trainer Fawzi Naas under the Gulf Racing Club banner. He has really smart form since winning his maiden back in June 2023. We have to beat Godolphin’s Legend Of Time, who has had our measure in the past. But it’s an honour to be competing in Dubai on such an auspicious raceday.”

We asked Rikesh to compare the financial dynamics of racing in South Africa versus Dubai.

“It’s very difficult to say that A is better than B. It’s all relative at the end of the day. What I can say, is that it’s great racing anywhere, when one’s horses are winning!”

So after so many years, what is his secret to racing horses successfully?

“Somebody said over the weekend that there are no experts in racing. That’s so true. I think I have been lucky in recent years, and have also found my own balance and a structure that works for me. I have one trainer in each province where I race. Vaughan Marshall is my Cape trainer, and a true friend. I don’t think I could find a more loyal man anywhere. Alyson and Kevin Wright train my KZN string, while Johan Janse van Vuuren is my trainer on the Highveld. I could not be happier with my aforementioned three trainers and look forward to a long and successful relationship with them.”

Grant van Niekerk drives Royal Aussie to a smart victory | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

THIS AUSSIE’S OKAY!

The classy Royal Aussie looked the right one in the R250 000 Pongracz Listed Jet Master Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday and duly delivered the goods after a minor knockout in the Pick 6 opening leg.

With the carryover of R500 000 producing a nett R3 215 219 Pick 6 pool on the final day of the Cape Summer Of Champions Season, Royal Aussie righted the ship for punters and was a popular 9-4 winner when Grant van Niekerk produced him with a confidenceboosting late rattle to win going away in a time of 102,09 secs.

The filly Gold Poker Game (16-1) finished with fire to pip Ponte Pietra (10-1) and Quasiforsure (3-1) in a blanket finish for the quartet money.

After Royal Aussie had earned a rating of 124 following his third behind Charles Dickens in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate back in January, trainer Justin Snaith found the right race for the inaugural Gold Rush winner before his string departs early for the East Coast and the ‘national championships’.

Royal Aussie races for Suzette and Basie Viljoen and Dr Jill Warner in partnership with Australian-based Dane Squance, and took his earnings on Saturday to R5 813 551 at his 5th win with 9 places from 17 starts.

The Klawervlei-bred gelding is a son of Royal Mo (USA) out of the unraced Aussie-bred Smart Missile mare Abelia.

The winner was originally pinhooked for R300 000 at the 2021 Cape Premier Sale by Grant Knowles and then sold at the Ready To Run Sale.

So it was a good afternoon for the astute Mr Knowles, who was also involved in the pinhook of the earlier Cape Nursery winner, One Stripe.

CAPE CRAWL KICKS IN

Candice Bass-Robinson and stable jockey Aldo Domeyer made a flying start to the SplashOut Cape Derby day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday when the Querari filly Rainbow Lorikeet registered her first stakes success in a dawdle and sprint for victory in the R250 000 Schweppes Listed Cape Fillies Classic.

In a typical example of the frustrating ‘Cape Crawl’, the 1800m race turned into a sprint for home with the tote favourite Rainbow Lorikeet (5-2) holding off a determined challenge from UK visitor Daniel Muscutt on Summer Lily (7-2) in a time of 115,44 secs.

The lesser fancied of the Brett Crawford duo, Princess Izzy (10-1) came on late for third.

The winner is out of the Silvano mare Nightingale, who gave trainer Candice Bass-Robinson her maiden Gr1 success in the 2017 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes, when ridden by present day Hollywood Syndicate manager Anthony Delpech.

Her daughter Rainbow Lorikeet is raced by the Yuppie Syndicate and was bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein from the Maine Chance star, Querari (Oasis Dream).

Rainbow Lorikeet has won 3 races with 5 places from her 9 starts for stakes of R347 219.

Rainbow Lorikeet (Aldo Domeyer) charges clear of Summer Lily (Daniel Muscutt) to win Credit: Chase Liebenberg

THE WORLD’S OUR OYSTER!

The launch platform of some outstanding horses over the years, the Bloodstock South Africa Cape Yearling Sale was held at a sunny Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday and maintained the positivity and upward curve of recent times with encouraging improved year-on-year stats.

BSA’s R12 million added stakes incentives for owners, and Cape Racing’s serious efforts to improve the playing fields, which include the restructure of their juvenile racing programme, which saw One World’s smart son One Stripe bank the R593 750 first cheque in Saturday’s stakes boosted R1 million City Of Cape Town Gr3 Cape Nursery, have contributed in no small measure to the all-round improved ball game.

And while many breeders may still be under pressure, things are improving gradually, even

if the turnaround is clearly a five day game!

With 21 less yearlings sold at the same sale last year, the aggregate on Sunday was up from R26 015 000 in 2023 to R27 085 000, with the average tag stepping up 20% to R206 756, and the median jumping 38% to R180 000.

Leading the buyer charts, the Hollywood Syndicate enjoyed one of their busiest sales and walked off with 20 lots, including the joint topseller at R900 000, for an aggregate

of R5 260 000 at an average of R263 000.

The Hollywood Syndicate purchased the Soetendal Estate consigned Godric Gryffindor (#113) for R900 000.

A son of One World, the athletic specimen is out of Master Of My Fate’s daughter Preferential, a six time winning three-parts sister to the stakes placed Berlinetta, and half-sister to Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes runner up Kilcoy Castle.

Owner Sandy Arundel was the buyer of the R800 000 top-selling filly, and recent eyecatching winner Prom Queen, at the Cape

Racing Ready To Run and Unbroken 2yo Sale in October last year, and she went to R900 000 on Sunday for the handsome grey Undivided (#37), a Wilgerbosdrift bred son of One World out of a winning Flower Alley half-sister to the smart performer Silvano’s Dasher.

Roy Magner went to R475 000 for the topselling filly on the sale. Named Witching Hour (#115), the Wilgerbosdrift bred daughter of Rafeef is out of a twice winning three-parts sister to former South African Horse Of The Year, and outstanding sire, Dynasty, and is a direct descendant of the hugely influential broodmare Lavendula.

Hollywood Syndicate’s joint top seller purchase – lot 113 a son of One World | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

On the sire’s charts, Varsfontein resident Erik The Red was in demand at his first appearance at this sale, with his 16 selling for R3 540 000 at an average of R221 250.

Drakenstein-based One World has made a flying start with his first crop on the track and his timeous impressive first stakes winner at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday no doubt awoke further interest.

Like Erik The Red, he is yet another outstanding son of champion Captain Al, and his 10 yearlings sold for R3 370 000 at an average of R337 000.

Wilgerbosdrift resident Buffalo Bill Cody has been something of a newsmaker after the

exploits of his first crop son Pistol Pete, and the Wilgerbosdrift flag bearer had 9 sell for R2 840 000, an average of R315 556.

Top vendor was Wilgerbosdrift with the champion farm’s 18 yearlings grossing R7 005 000 at an average of R389 167. The in-form Varsfontein also sold 18 for R4 080 000, at an average of R226 667.

THE SPRINT IS INTERACTIVE SEE WHO BOUGHT WHAT, BY CLICKING HERE

The BSA National Yearling Sale will be held at the TBA Sales Complex in Gosforth Park on 18 and 19 April.

Sandy Arundel’s joint topseller purchase – lot 37, another smashing son of One World

SCENE AT THE

THE SALES

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

HEAVENLY BLUE ROCKS!

Three Rocks connections – trainer Alan Greeff, Warne Rippon, Richard Fourie and breeder Dr Ashley Parker Credit: Pauline Herman Photography

Ascot Stud’s Gr1 winning sire Heavenly Blue marked his first stakes winner when his daughter Three Rocks, a member of his first crop, won the R150 000 Listed Lady’s Pendant run over 1200m at Fairview on Friday.

One of two Listed race winners on the day for her breeder Ascot Stud, trainer Alan Greeff, and jockey Richard Fourie, the three-year-old showed her class with a sparkling display.

Under a well-timed ride from Richard Fourie, Three Rocks (11-10) blasted home to pick up her first black-type win by a length in a time of 67,01 secs.

Her stablemate Esther (20-1) ran second, 1,25 lengths ahead of the 3-1 Golden Pacific.

Now a six-time winner from just nine starts, with stakes of R396 251, Three Rocks had finished third, beaten just over half a length, in the Gr2

wsb.co.za Southern Cross Stakes down at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth , two starts back.

Three Rocks, who is out of the Rock Of Gibraltar mare Rockie Bright, was a R100 000 buy from the 2022 August Two Year Old Sale.

The filly hails from the small first crop of her sire Heavenly Blue, which consists of just over 20 foals, and also including the useful performers Zinovi, No Apologies, and Spring In Heaven.

Winner of the Gr1 SA Classic, Heavenly Blue is one of 19 Gr1 winners for his sire Snitzel, four times Champion Sire in Australia.

ASCOT STUD’S ROYAL AFTERNOON

On a terrific afternoon for local stalwart Ascot Stud, both of the leading farm’s sires enjoyed a feature winner bred by them at Fairview on Friday.

The happy Halo Syndicate enjoy the Fairy Knight lead in | Credit: Pauline Herman

Racing in a partnership of Pine Lodge Stud and the multinational Halo Syndicate, Global View’s son Fairy Knight was a facile winner of the R175 000 Listed Ibhayi Stakes when cruising in to give Richard Fourie and Alan Greeff the first leg of a feature double.

Having his second run post his gelding, Fairy Knight (13-10) was never under pressure and ran right away from his opposition to beat Cape raider Trip To Maputo (15-10) by 4,25 lengths in a time of 84,10 seconds for the 1400m.

Jockey Richard Fourie said his mount would be more comfortable over 2000m. That must give the syndicate members much joy.

A R120 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Fairy Knight was registering his first stakes success with his sixth victory and two places from nine starts to date.

He took his earnings to R396 251.

Bred by Ascot Stud, Fairy Knight is by Galileo son Global View out of the two-time winning Lecture mare, Fairy Queen.

A half hour later, it was Fourie, Greeff and Ascot Stud again -this time with Heavenly Blue breaking the stakes ice courtesy of his daughter Three Rocks’ victory in the Listed Lady’s Pendant.

ASCOT’S TRUE BLUE

Three Rocks charges to victory under Richard Fourie in the Listed Ibhayi Stakes | Credit: Pauline Herman

In racing, it’s a given that a pedigree can improve overnight

In racing, it’s a given that a pedigree can improve overnight. Dr Ashley Parker of Ascot Stud, the owner of the English-bred Rockie Bright, can attest to that, for in the space of less than two months, the daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar became a stakes producer not once, but twice over!

On New Year’s day, Jackson daughter Rockie Reef boosted her own and her dam’s value with a smooth victory in the Gr3 Flamboyant Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

It was a deserved maiden stakes success for the Peter Muscutt-trained five-year-old, who was scoring for the sixth time in her career.

Last Friday at Fairview, three-year-old daughter Three Rocks further enhanced Rockie Bright’s produce record when she won the Listed Lady’s Pendant at Fairview.

Highly regarded by her connections, the Allan Greeff-trained filly was sent to Cape Town for the summer season and immediately caught the eye with a splendid third in the Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes.

She didn’t enjoy the rub of the green when unplaced in the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas, but on her first run back home, quickly made amends in the Lady’s Pendant, her sixth career victory.

To be fair, given Rockie Bright’s pedigree, it was only a matter of time before she would break through with a stakes winner.

Whilst it is only of academic interest that she traces to the legendary race and taproot mare Mumtaz Mahal, she hails from a revered female line which has been taken to new heights by renowned English breeder Kirsten Rausing of Lanwades Stud.

It all started when Miss Rausing and Sonia Rogers of the well-known Airlie Stud, purchased the Crystal Palace filly Alruccaba at the end of her two-year-old career.

The filly had raced four times for a win and two places, but more importantly, she had a fine Aga

Khan-developed female line to back her up. At Lanwades, she has founded a dynasty of her, one renowned for its superior female runners.

Alruccaba left four stakes winning daughters, all but one of which became stakes producers.

Last Second (Alzao), winner of the Gr2 Nassau and Gr2 Sun Chariot Stakes, and runner-up in the Gr1 Coronation Stakes, produced the Gr1 French 2000 Guineas winner Aussie Rules, while her stakes winning daughter Approach is the dam of the fine racemare Coronet, who claimed both the Gr1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and Gr1 Prix Jean Romanet.

Alruccaba’s Caerleon daughter Alleluia won the Gr3 Doncaster Cup and bred Allegretto, who, like her dam, excelled over ground, winning the Gr1 Prix Royal Oak, Gr2 Goodwood Cup and Gr3 Park Hill Stakes.

Gr1-placed daughter Alouette (Darshaan), left two champions fillies, the dual Gr1 Champion Stakes winner Alborada and Albanova. The latter, a triple Gr1 winner in Germany, features as the grandam of the mighty Alpinista.

A six-time Gr1 winner and a fourth generation Lanwades homebred, this daughter of Frankel marked her place in the history books when she carried Miss Rausing’s colours to victory in the 2022 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Albanova also features as the grandam of Gr1 St Leger hero Eldar Eldarov.

In short, this is a truly exceptional female line, one which every breeder would aspire to get into. “We bought Rockie Bright on the strength of the family “ Ashley freely admits.

Incidentally, he was a member of the partnership which raced English import Kingston Mines,

an Archipenko colt bred by Lanwades. Out of Alruccaba’s Nashwan daughter Alexandrine, he became a Gr2/3 winning stayer trained by Mike de Kock.

Ashley recalls: ‘’When we purchased Rockie Bright, she had produced one foal, a colt by Footstepsinthesand. She is very typical of Rock Of Gibraltar’s sire Danehill, short and squat.” Out of Alruccaba’s Green Desert daughter Albastrine, Rockie Bright’s first foal went on to win twice in Britain, and by the time Rockie Reef came along, she had produced the three-time winners Rock My Soul (Twice Over) and Kingston Rock (Bold Silvano). When we took Rockie Reef to the 2YO sale, she had a scar on her hind leg and we couldn’t get a bid for her,” Ashley recalls.

A blessing in hindsight, as she is leased to clients of the Muscutt stable and will eventually join the Ascot broodmare band. Muscutt also trained

her half-brother Kingston Rock.

Three Rocks was sold for R100 000 at the 2YO Sale, while her juvenile half-brother by Global View has joined Rockie Reef at the Muscutt stable. Rockie Bright’s last two foals, a yearling filly and a weanling colt, are both by Heavenly Blue and she is currently in foal to champion Jet Dark.

The Lady’s Pendant win was of vital importance, in the sense that Three Rocks is the first stakes winner sired by the stud’s resident stallion Heavenly Blue. A striking grey, the Australian-bred son of Snitzel retired to Ascot as a winner of the Gr1 SA Classic.

Considering that Warne Rippon and Arun Chadha were amongst the partnership which raced Heavenly Blue, it is entirely fitting that they also own and race his very first stakes winner!

The handsome grey Heavenly Blue (Snitzel – Simply Carina) | Credit: Pauline Herman

A first crop Gr1 winner is a significant landmark in the career of any stallion and this past weekend, young Australian-based stallion Royal Meeting was off the mark when his juvenile daughter Hayasugi won the prestigious Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield.

In fact, she made a clean sweep of the Blue Diamond Series, having won both the Gr2 Blue Diamond Prelude and Gr3 Blue Diamond Prelude (both for fillies) in the lead-up to the Gr1 race over 1200m.

Purchased as a weanling by ex pat James Bester, Hayasugi is also the first stakes winner for her young sire, who just happens to be a British-bred son of South Africa’s Champion Juvenile Filly Rock Opera, herself an unbeaten juvenile winner of the Gr1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship, where she inflicted a twolength defeat on Secret Of Victoria, the dam of champion All Is Secret.

By the increasingly successful sire of sires Invincible Spirit, Royal Meeting won the Gr1 Criterium International at Chantilly in just his second start, quickening with ease to defeat the Aidan O’Brien-trained Galileo filly Hermosa,

who would later go on to highlight her ability by winning both the English and Irish One Thousand Guineas. Rock Opera, who also produced the multiple Gr2 winner of 15 races Heavy Metal, hails from a family nurtured at Ascot Stud, that of homebred Mullineaux mare Swinging Girl.

She foaled the Al Mufti filly Drummer Girl, who sadly never raced due to chronic lameness caused by a puffadder bite suffered as a foal.

However, Drummer Girl was inbred to the mighty Roberto (the sire of Al Mufti) and his lesser-performed full brother Mullineaux, hence she was retained for stud.

Little did anyone know at the time that she would become the dam of a champion and the grandam of three Gr1 winners, with Rock Opera’s Gr1-placed own sister Rock Concert

Rock Opera’s son Royal Meeting in action – he has made a bright start to his stud career | Credit: Godolphin

producing the Gr1 Mercury Sprint and Gr1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion winner Van Halen, whilst half-sister Royal Drummer ‘s trio of stakes winners is headed by Gr1 Cape Flying Championship ace Gulf Storm.

In hindsight, Ascot Stud master Dr Ashley Parker agrees that Royal Meeting would have been a fine stallion acquisition for South Africa. He remarked rather ruefully: “I put out some feelers about the horse, but didn’t pursue it, as I never got a reply from the owners.”

More’s the pity, as Royal Meeting found his way Down Under and as a Gr1 winning juvenile, by the same sire as top Australian stallion I Am Invincible, he was quickly snapped up by Australian breeders.

Fortunately, the Drummer Girl dynasty is still going strong at Ascot Stud. Ashley is especially high on a yearling colt by Fire Away destined for this year’s National Sale. “He’s a

cracking colt and is out of Queen Of Pop, who is a winning own sister to Gulf Storm.”

By the way, Royal Meeting is one of a number of Australian-based stallions out of a South African-bred mare. Speed merchant In The Congo, who capped his career in the Gr1 The Golden Rose, is out of Var’s champion daughter Via Africa. The son of champion sire Snitzel retired to stud last season and stands at Newgate Stud Farm in New South Wales.

Fort Wood’s stakes winning daughter Secret Heart features as the dam of American-bred Pluck, who carried the Team Valor silks to victory in the Gr2 Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf.

From limited opportunity, the son of More Than Ready has nevertheless managed to sire Gr3 winners Life On The Wire, Aspect, Mongolian Wolf, as well as the Listed stakes winners Happy Go Lucky and Rhaegar.

QUERARI’S SAUDI SIZZLER

Spirit Dancer stays on strongly to land the Howden Neom Turf Cup under Oisin Orr Credit: Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia / Mathea Kelley

Maine Chance’s Oasis Dream stallion Querari gained another handsome boost to his pedigree page when his close nephew Spirit Dancer won the $2 million Gr2 Howden Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

Legendary former Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson hit the back of the net again when his homebred won in front of a very appreciative crowd.

A son of Frankel, Spirit Dancer has now won three group races in three different countries.

Seven-year-old Spirit Dancer, who has earned more than 1 700 000 pounds in stakes, is out of the Oasis Dream mare Queen’s Dream, a fullsister to Querari

Legendary former Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson hit the back of the net again when his homebred Spirit Dancer (GB) lifted

the US$2m Howden Neom Turf Cup in front of a very appreciative crowd.

British raiders Jack Darcy (IRE) and Luxembourg (IRE) had ensured that there was plenty of pace in this 2100m race, which allowed the Oisin Orr-partnered Spirit Dancer to relax in mid-division.

As soon as they left the final bend, the jockey pulled him out and made his way up the straight.

With 200m to go, Luxembourg had the advantage but the Richard Fahey-trained Spirit Dancer continued to accelerate and won the

race comfortably by a length from Japanese raider Killer Ability (JPN). Calif (GER) finished third, followed further back by Luxembourg.

Following a success in the Bahrain International Trophy in November, it took Spirit Dancer only 2:07.10 to bring the triumphant owners Sir Alex Ferguson, Ged Mason and Peter Done into another winner’s enclosure in the Middle East.

Sir Alex Ferguson, breeder and co-owner said: “It’s fantastic, after Bahrain you come here and look at the field, the performance from Oisin and the horse and Richard, it’s unbelievable. Richard made the point he hasn’t had a lot of

racing, and I think we see the evidence today. Oisin said this morning the horse is improving all the time. I took a gamble a few years ago with a stud in Hemel Hampstead and the results have been very good.

“That puts his win in Bahrain in perspective. Richard gave us confidence but it is one of these things, you are never too confident.”

A few hours earlier, Querari came up with his 42nd stakes winner when his progressive daughter Rainbow Lorikeet won the Listed Schweppes Cape Fillies Classic run over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

SUPER SATURDAY COUNTDOWN

Dubai Millennium Stakes winner Warren Point joins several returning heroes and a clutch of exciting threeyear-olds looking to impress on a revamped Super Saturday card at Meydan on Saturday 2 March.

All eight Godolphin contenders on the Emirates Airline-sponsored card are trained by Charlie Appleby, with Warren Point stepping back up to a mile and a half for the Gr2 Dubai City Of Gold following a lastgasp success in the 10-furlong Gr3 Dubai Millennium Stakes.

Listed scorer Castle Way makes his Dubai debut in the same contest having proved his stamina in the UK with victory in the Gr3 Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket and a second in York’s Gr2 Great Voltigeur Stakes.

Bold Act also has his first experience of Meydan in the Dubai City Of Gold. The son of New Approach ended a progressive 2023 with a swooping success in the Gr3 Sycamore Stakes at Keeneland’s Fall Meet.

Charlie Appleby said: “Warren Point has won over a mile and a half in the past, so

stepping back up in trip won’t be an issue. He should be bang there at the finish. “Castle Way is probably the horse out of my three with the most scope to progress throughout the season. He ended his three-year-old campaign with a couple of strong efforts and is ready to get going again.

“Bold Act enjoyed travelling last year and put up a good performance to win at Keeneland in the autumn. He heads into this in good nick and I’m looking forward to seeing both him and Castle Way back on the racecourse.”

Six-year-old Noble Dynasty steps up to Gr3 level for the Ras Al Khor on his first appearance in 15 months. The half-brother to Barney Roy won three of his four starts in 2022, rounding off his campaign with sevenfurlong victories at Newmarket and Lingfield.

Charlie Appleby said: “Noble Dynasty runs well fresh and looks in great shape. He has a nice draw in stall four and should be involved in the finish.”

Star Of Mystery hopes to continue an unbeaten start to her three-year-old season when she tackles the Gr3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint.

SPLASHOUT CAPE DERBY WINNER GOES TO 119

Green With Envy has had his rating increased from 110 to 119 after impressively winning the Gr1 SplashOut Cape Derby run over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

It was Hluhluwe who was deemed to make for the most suitable line horse here and his rating remains on a mark of 111.

The Handicappers opted to use HLUHLUWE to the net 99 performance which he achieved in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas rather than his gross rating of 111.

This has the effect of keeping the race to a level of 119 and not 121 as would be the case if HLUHLUWE’s gross rating was used.

The Handicappers noted that the race was slowly run in the early stages and felt that this lack of a true test may have resulted in a more compact finish which could have the effect of flattering some of the lower rated horses in the Derby. Accordingly, a slightly lower level seemed to be the prudent choice here. BEACH BOMB was not deemed to make a suitable line horse for this race as she was weighted to win comfortably off her rating of 117 and using her would mean an 8-point increase to the current level of 119. BEACH

BOMB remains unchanged on a rating of 117. The Handicappers also rejected the 87 rated ORIENTAL CHARM as a probable line horse as this will reduce the level of this Grade 1 race to nothing more than a Class 4 Handicap.

Third placed ORIENTAL CHARM who beat the 111 rated line horse HLUHLUWE at level weights by 2 lengths and 4th Placed COASTAL COMMANDER who beat the 111 rated line horse by 0.50 lengths at level weights were raised to 113 and 111 respectively. This ensures that they will meet at correct handicapterms in future and as such give effect to the rules of “Merit Handicapping”.

INFRARED and WILLIE JOHN were given partial increases from 94 to 99 and 88 to 98 respectively.

No horses received a drop in ratings for this event.

Khaya Stables Gr2 Diadem Stakes

Best weighted, THUNDERSTRUCK remained on a rating of 124 after narrowly winning the Grade 2 Diadem Stakes over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. The ever consistent BEREAVE was deemed to make for the most suitable line horse here and he remains on a rating of 122. In rating the race this way 5th place RIO QUERARI runs to his mark of 118 and also serves as a line horse.

2nd placed FUTURE VARIETY received an increase from 106 to 118. This 3-year-old was rated to run last so there is no disputing his improvement and considering the quality of the line horses for this race the Handicappers believed there is no reason to entirely doubt the improvement showed in this Grade 2 race.

COSMIC HIGHWAY confirmed the recent improvement he displayed in the Grade 1 LÓrmarins King’s Plate by running 0.05 lengths behind the line horse BEREAVE, rated 122, and he was adjusted accordingly to a rating of 121.

The only other horse to receive an increase

was WE’RE JAMMING who was raised from 110 to 113 to ensure he meets the 112 rated WATERBERRY LANE at correct weight terms in future handicaps.

No horses received a drop in ratings for this event.

SplashOut Gr3 Prix Du Cap

DOUBLE GRAND SLAM was adjusted from 115 to 117 after emphatically winning the Grade 3 SplashOut Prix Du Cap over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. RASCOVA was deemed to make for the most suitable line horse here and remains on a rating of 115.

Second place finisher, OCTOBER MORN was increased from 112 to 115 which makes her equal to RASCOVA who she beat here at level weights. Fourth placed MRS GERIATRIX was increased to 115 from 112 due to the fact that she actually carried more weight than the first three finishers.

No other horses received increases in the race. The following horses received drops of 3 points each to their ratings. HAPPY CHANCE was dropped from 116 to 113, ASIYE PHAMBILI from 111 to 108 and GOLDEN HOSTESS from 115 to 112.

Pongracz Listed Jet Master Stakes

Best weighted, ROYAL AUSSIE remained unchanged on a rating of 124 after winning the Listed Pongracz Jet Master Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

The Handicappers were of the opinion that QUASIFORSURE made for the most suitable line horse and his rating remains unchanged on 115. In rating the race this way both the winner, ROYAL AUSSIE and the runner-up GOLD POKER GAME, actually run below their ratings in this event. PONTE PIETRA was the only runner in the event to receive an increase and was adjusted to 103 from 100.

Two horses received drops to their ratings, BARATHEON was dropped from 99 to 98 and RUNAWAY SONG was dropped to 106 from 110.

Schweppes Listed Cape Fillies Classic

RAINBOW LORIKEET had her rating adjusted to 96 from 90 after winning the Listed Schweppes Cape Fillies Classic over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. SUMMER LILY was chosen as the line horse here and she remains on a rating of 92.

In rating the race this way CALLMEGETRIX also runs to her mark of 87 which makes her a line horse as well. 3rd placed PRINCESS IZZY was increased to 91 from 90 while the only other increase in this race went to EPIKLEROS who was raised to 89 from 83.

FATAL GEM was dropped from 94 to 92 and

FAMILY POWER also received a drop of 2 points from 78 to 76.

Betway Gr3 National Currency Sprint

ONE FELL SWOOP remains unchanged on a rating of 99 after winning the Gr3 Betway National Currency Sprint over 1100m at Turffontein on Sunday 25 February.

The Handicappers were of the opinion that 2nd placed ZIYASHA had reproduced his 114 performance which he achieved in his last start and used that mark of 114 to rate this race. Consequently, he goes up to 114 from 112. The only other runner to receive an increase was 3rd placed CLIFF HANGER, who goes up to 108 from 105.

It should be noted that ONE FELL SWOOP ran to a considerably higher rating in her previous run in the Betway Swallow Stakes, but her

increase had to be capped. See excerpt from the Betway Swallows Stakes press release:

ONE FELL SWOOP was only increased by 3 points from 96 to 99 despite running to a considerably higher level here due to the specific race conditions that state that placed horses may only receive a maximum adjustment of 3 points.

This means that ONE FELL SWOOP will benefit from a 4,5kg swing at the weights with TROPPO VELOCE for a 0.10 of a length beating, and a 3,5kg swing at the weights with CULLINAN BLUE who she beat here, should they meet on Handicap terms in the future.

ONE FELL SWOOP will continue to enjoy the above benefit.

WYZEACT was the only runner to receive a drop in ratings and goes down slightly to 96 from 97.

Listed Ibhayi Stakes

FAIRY KNIGHT has had his rating increased to 99 from 93 after easily accounting for his rivals in the Listed Ibhayi Stakes over 1400m at Fairview racecourse on Friday, 23 February. The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that 4th placed UBISIKA made for the most suitable line horse to rate this race and he remains unchanged on a rating of 86.

The winner aside, two horses received ratings increases. 3rd placed WAZ WOUTER goes up to 87 from 85, and LEGAL THRILLER, who finished 0.5 of a length or 1 pound at level weights behind the line horse goes up to 85 from 78.

EMPIRE BLUE was the only runner in this race to receive a rating’s drop and goes down slightly to 84 from 85.

Listed Lady’s Pendant Stakes

THREE ROCKS remains unchanged on a rating of 109 following her win in the Listed Lady’s

Pendant Stakes over 1200m at Fairview on Friday.

It was 3rd placed GOLDEN PACIFIC who was used to rate this race and she remains unchanged on a rating of 101. In fact, in rating the race this way, the winner runs 3 pounds below her official mark hence her unchanged rating.

Second placed ESTHER, who was rated to finish joint 9th with three other horses, goes up to 104 from 84. ESTHER did concede weight to both the 109 rated THREE ROCKS and the 101 rated GOLDEN PACIFIC so there is no disputing the fact that she has performed to a much higher level than her official pre-race merit rating. SUMMER ODYSSEY, who finished 0.25 of a length behind the 101 rated line horse at level weights, was adjusted to 100 from 87 while 6th place finisher, SISTER LIGHT received a 4-pound increase from 92 to 96 so that she is rated correctly with 7th placed CHERE FOR ME, who she beat at level weights by 5 points.

These adjustments are deemed necessary to give effect to the rules of “Merit Handicapping”.

No runner received a drop in ratings in this race.

Media release by NHA on Tuesday 27 February 2024.

TICKEY CARR – AN APPEAL FOR HELP

Ronald ‘Tickey’ Carr, a former professional jockey and one of South African Horseracing’s great characters, was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in October 2023.

Tickey rode more than 500 winners during his career, his two major victories coming aboard Goldwater in the Clairwood Winter Handicap and on Larne in the 1983 Revlon Charlies at Gosforth Park.

He never lost his love for racing and was often seen at the track and the various sales around the country, and as a keen golfer, he was for many years a loyal supporter of the annual Racing Masters.

Tickey’s condition deteriorated quite rapidly after the initial diagnosis and for the past couple of months he has been hospitalised at Linksfield, receiving treatment for both his cancer and other complications.

He is due to be discharged this week and will require the services of a nurse/caregiver.

However, funds are now at a premium, having exhausted his medical benefits and personal savings.

Your assistance in this regard would be very much appreciated.

Please use the following bank account for any donation – no matter how big or small, or click on the BackaBuddy logo to visit that facility.

Mrs C Freddi - Capitec

Savings Account:1952 266 139

Bank code: 470010

Or click here:

Tickey and daughter, Candice | Credit: Supplied

SUZETTE’S FEATURE FEST

Owner Suzette Viljoen completed a fantastic four-feature winning weekend for trainers Justin Snaith and Tony Peter with a double at Turffontein on Sunday that was preceeded by two successes on SplashOut Cape Derby day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

After her big earning Royal Aussie had won the Pongracz Listed Jet Master Stakes, and Double Grand Slam had taken the honours in the SplashOut Gr3 Priz Du Cap in facile fashion in a co-owned Snaith double on Saturday, it was another feature double at Turffontein with Golden Sickle winning the Bauhinia and One Fell Swoop showing the benefit of her light weight to win the Betway Gr3 National Currency Sprint.

The Sunday double was for trainer Tony Peter, who saddled three winners on the afternoon.

Formerly run as the Man O’War Sprint, the 1100m contest attracted a field of eight runners and it was the Clint Binda’s Ziyasha who led the charge, tracked by One Fell Swoop.

Into the final 250m, Kaidan Brewer threatened as One Fell Swoop (7-2) crept on the freestriding Ziyasha (10-1), with the 8-10 favourite Lucky Lad being switched in after a tardy start.

The light weight told as One Fell Swoop surged into the lead 100m out and went on to beat Ziyasha by 0,40 lengths in a time of 62,89 secs for the 1100m.

Kaidan Brewer guides One Fell Swoop to victory as fourth placed Lucky Lad (Richard Fourie) stays on late | Credit: JC Photos

Cliff Hanger (25-2) stayed on well enough for third, with Lucky Lad only getting going late and grabbing fourth in a very decent effort on his return to action and first start as a 3yo.

Bred by the sizzling hot Varsfontein, the tough as teak One Fell Swoop was registering her maiden stakes success and is a daughter of Drakenstein’s deceased War Front stallion Lancaster Bomber out of the one-time winning Philanthropist mare, Imperadora,

a half-sister to champion Legal Eagle.

In a moment of good timing, it is worth noting that One Fell Swoop was purchased for R480 000 at the 2022 BSA Cape Yearling Sale

The Viljoen family’s Hopes And Dreams Stud marked their first BSA Cape Yearling Sale on Sunday afternoon, with their 5 lots selling for R620 000 at an average of R124 000.

ERUPT DELIVERING THE GOODS

Maine Chance Farms’ well-performed stallion Erupt had a good weekend, with his three-year-old son Buster Barnes winning the Zimbabwe Guineas on Saturday, and two-year-old son Mount Pinatubo making a winning debut at Turffontein on Sunday.

Smart three-year-old Buster Barnes made it four wins from just six starts when he won the Zimbabwe Guineas (1600m) at Borrowdale Park.

Under Deryl Daniels, the Debra Swanson trained Buster Barnes powered away to land the Guineas as he liked by five lengths.

Bred by Millstream Farm, Buster Barnes came into Saturday’s race off a six-length romp in a pinnacle stakes over 1600 metres.

Buster Barnes, who is out of the Caesour mare Servilia, was a R200 000 buy from the 2022 August Two Year Old Sale.

Erupt also looks to have a classy two-year-old to his name in the form of Mount Pinatubo. The latter stormed home to get up and win Sunday’s 4Racing Welcomes You Maiden Juvenile Plate (1000m) in thrilling fashion.

Trained by Johan Janse Van Vuuren, Mount

Pinatubo was ridden by Hennie Greyling. The colt is the second two-year-old winner this season thus far for his sire, with Erupt’s smart daughter You Bring Me Joy entered for next Saturday’s Listed Ruffian Stakes.

Bred by his part-owner Laurence Wernars, Mount Pinatubo is out of the Philanthropist mare She’s A Giver.

Erupt is proving popular! At the recent Cape Premier Yearling Sale, Mano Pandaram gave an even million for a colt.

Consigned by Ridgemont and named Lava Runway, the chestnut is out of High Chaparral mare Being Fabulous, who carried the Wernars silks to victory in the Listed Syringa Handicap and was twice placed at Gr3 level.

Pandaram’s purchase looked a shrewd one, given that Erupt celebrated a new stakes winner barely 48 hours later when his daughter Ripple Effect opened her black type account in the Listed Pongracz Olympic Duel Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

This was not the first time that an Erupt youngster broke through the seven-figure barrier. At last year’s August 2YO Sale, Laurence Wernars went to R1.2-million to secure the Erupt colt out of Lil’ Bacio.

SHE’S VERY QUICK!

The Varsfontein Stud purple patch continued at Turffontein on Sunday with the Tony Peter trained Golden Sickle going from gun to tape to run her four rivals off their feet and win the R150 000 Non-black type TAB Bauhinia Handicap at Turffontein on Sunday.

Flashing her dazzling speed from the break, Golden Sickle (33-20) made it four on the trot as she powered home under regular pilot Calvin Habib to beat the accomplished Troppo Veloce (1-1) by 2,50 lengths in a time of 57,01 secs.

Corne Spies’ Flowerbomb (14-1) stayed on into third, with Mythical Dream (14-1) completing the quartet.

A R700 000 Cape Yearling Sale purchase, the winner is a Varsfontein Stud-bred daughter of champion Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the top-class six-time winner Victorian Secret (Captain Al).

Now a winner of 6 races with 5 places from 21 starts, Golden Sickle took her stakes earnings to R651 288.

The winner is raced by Suzette Viljoen who enjoyed a feature double at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday with Royal Aussie and Double Grand Slam.

Calvin Habib guides Golden Sickle to victory | Credit: JC Photos

BONJI HITS THE HIGHWAY!

A victorious Aron Xabendlini after winning on Prankster | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Last week’s Sporting Post Sprint cover-star, Aron ‘Bonji’ Xabendlini steered Prankster to victory in the final leg of the Hollywoodbets Workriders Series on 17 February. It was a typically gregarious interview by the man who famously asked Mike de Kock for the ride on Hawwaam in the Durban July.

A go-getter who fears no opportunity, the quirky and charming son of the rustic town of Tsolo was typically bullish ahead of a rare Kannemeyer raid on the Highveld.

He left Milnerton on Wednesday morning with Dean Kannemeyer charge Cosmic Highway for a tilt at the R1,5 million Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes.

The 5yo Cosmic Highway is yet to win at a mile,

but ran a cracking prep on Saturday.

“Cosmic Highway ran a top race on Saturday in the Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes. He had no luck and was right on top of Thunderstruck. We are going up to win it,” adds Aron boldly.

On the eve of his Highveld road trip, Aron chirped out of the blue:

“I love everything about horseracing! But now I want to go overseas.”

Well, if you are going to set goals, you might as well go big and it’s obvious that Aron is unafraid to take hold of the reins and lead the way.

From the view in the stands, Work riders and Grooms are viewed as rather timid and reserved, and then ‘boom’, here’s Aron and his infetcious determination with a zest for success.

He proudly shares a short bit of information about his birthplace and goes on to say he is ‘very single’ and feels it’s time for settling down now.

His drive towards the next challenge is evident and he explains that he wants to expand his career globally. Both as a groom and jockey, he hopes to build a financially stable future while doing what he loves.

He was born on 12 May 1989 in the Eastern Cape village of Tsolo.

The keen horseman once described his hometown as a scenic place without ‘too much economic opportunity’.

The scenic village is 40km north-west of the old Transkei ‘capital’ of Mthatha and reflected on his carefree days at home with his Mother and

two Brothers – where he dreamt of making a success of his life.

But school wasn’t a walk in the park – Aron managed to pass the old Standard 8 and economic realities dictated that he earn a living.

Heading for the bright lights of the Mother City, his first job in horseracing was with the now retired Mike Bass at Milnerton.

“I have been fortunate to have been mentored and encouraged by so many good people in my career. Mike Bass, Craig du Plooy, James Maree, Dennis Drier and my current boss, Dean Kannemeyer are just a few good men who come to mind. I try and do my bit. I listen and watch and learn. I run to keep fit and to maintain a good riding weight. I’d obviously love to ride more often and increase my earning potential.”

Saturday’s SplashOut Gr1 Cape Derby winner Dean Kannemeyer labelled him an enthusiastic team member and a hardworking individual.

“Good work riders are gold and key to any stable. Aron has a good seat and a natural balance. He has been with us for many years and is a dependable guy with a terrific personality,” said Kannemeyer.

Cosmic Highway has drawn at 11 for Saturday’s feature and will be ridden by regular pilot Craig Zackey.

ROMANTIC WARRIOR SHOWS HIS CLASS

Enhancing his status as one of the world’s premier middle-distance gallopers with a gripping victory in the HK$13 million Gr1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup after a stirring battle with Voyage Bubble at Sha Tin on Sunday, Romantic Warrior will be given the chance to create more history by chasing a record third Gr1 FWD QEII Cup win in April.

Enhancing his status as one of the world’s premier middle-distance gallopers with a gripping victory in the HK$13 million Gr1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup after a stirring battle with Voyage Bubble at Sha Tin on Sunday, Romantic Warrior will be given the chance to create more history by chasing a record third Gr1 FWD QEII Cup win in April.

The first Hong Kong International Sale graduate to win the BMW Hong Kong Derby, Romantic Warrior today became only the third horse

since the turn of the century after Vengeance Of Rain and Designs on Rome to snare all three of Hong Kong’s top-level 2000m contests – the Hong Kong Gold Cup, QEII Cup and Hong Kong Cup.

Danny Shum’s champion will now bid for a fourth major this season by pressing for an unprecedented third FWD QEII Cup win, having already snared the Gr1 W. S. Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in October and a second LONGINES Hong Kong Cup in December

James McDonald prevails on Romantic Warrior | Credit: HKJC

before adding a sixth Gr1 success today under James McDonald.

Having partnered Romantic Warrior to a fifth Group 1 win, McDonald was awe-struck by the gelding’s effort to fend off fellow Hong Kong Derby victor Voyage Bubble by a neck after the pair forged clear at the 300m in an electrifying tussle.

Having drawn the outside of 11 runners, McDonald crossed to the rails on Romantic Warrior after only 400m and then was stalked by Purton on Voyage Bubble until the field approached the turn.

While Purton fanned into the clear as Sword Point and Money Catcher faded before taking the lead, McDonald angled between runners to challenge.

After a fierce stoush in the straight, Romantic Warrior gradually edged out the Gr1 Stewards’ Cup winner in 2m 00.31s, with Nimble Nimbus

a brave third, three lengths away under Andrea Atzeni.

“Romantic Warrior is unreal, he just keeps surprising me – an unbelievable horse. He’s the undisputed champion. He deserves all the accolades he gets. I can’t stress how much of a privilege it is to ride him,” McDonald said, revealing his absolute faith in Romantic Warrior was critical to tactical decision-making.

“He’s the horse that does it all. He makes you look good all the time. His tenacity and will to win is phenomenal. I suppose instincts kicked in and I went with the flow. When you ride such good horses, you can do what you want to do and even if I made a little mistake during the race, he is probably good enough to overcome it and that was probably my mindset.

“Even though it worked out really, really well, I’ve got that much faith in the horse that you can do things on him that you would normally do.”

Danny Shum was elated post-race | Credit: HKJC

McDonald was unflustered when Purton drove Voyage Bubble to the lead.

“I was mindful obviously that Voyage Bubble was having his second time at the 2000m and Purton committed early – so it was a really good ride,” McDonald said. “My thinking was that I was going to be stronger late, so I just let Romantic Warrior build through his gears under his own steam and he got there really easily.”

Revealing he was worried pre-race, Shum was jubilant after Romantic Warrior posted his 13th win from 18 starts and boosted his prize money to more than HK$127 million after being purchased by owner Peter Lau at the 2022 Hong Kong International Sale for HK$4.8 million.

“I had a big concern about the wide draw because I didn’t think rival jockeys would let him in and push him three or four-deep,” Shum said. “I talked to James this morning. I said,

‘Give him his chance and if you jump good, you can push him and put him inside.’ James is very smart, he knows what to do.”

Shum indicated a tilt at the Gr1 Yasuda Kinen in Japan in June remains an option for Romantic Warrior.

Crowning a fabulous afternoon with a treble, McDonald also struck aboard Ricky Yiu’s Little Fairy in the Class 5 Citigold Private Client Handicap before closing the card successfully for John Size on Young Champion in the Class 3 Citi Investment Services Handicap.

Formerly trained by John Murtagh in Ireland where he was known as Sharlouk, the Zoustar gelding claimed a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million as he continued a potential path to the BMW Hong Kong Derby.

Super Sunny Sing, winner of last season’s Hong Kong Classic Cup, rebounded to form

Super Sunny Sing powers home | Credit: HKJC

with a searing finish in the Class 2 Citi Private Bank Handicap for Chris So. Given a patient ride by in-form Atzeni, Super Sunny Sing notched his seventh win from 17 starts.

“In the small field today, he relaxed in behind them and he’s got a good turn of foot like he had earlier in the season – I was very confident, to be fair,” Atzeni said.

Continuing an excellent season, Atzeni drove David Hall’s Champion Instinct to victory in the Class 4 Citigold Handicap to seal a double before Francis Lui’s Call Me Glorious debuted impressively with victory in the Class 4 Citi Ultima Handicap.

By No Nay Never, the three-year-old raced on the pace before spearing clear for Lyle

Hewitson before Lui completed a double when Universal Horizon prevailed in a blanket finish under Jerry Chau to land the Class 3 Citi Insurance Services Handicap.

Loyal Bo Bo scored emphatically for Frankie Lor and Derek Leung in the Class 4 Citi Wealth Advisory Services Handicap after Kimberley, a dual Group 1 winner in Brazil before being transferred to former Hong Kong trainer Tony Millard, broke through his first win in Hong Kong for Jamie Richards with success in the Class 4 Citi Global Wealth Handicap under Purton.

Purton sealed a brace atop Shum-trained Gorgeous Win in the Class 3 Citi Mortgage Services Handicap.

MULLINS AIMS FOR CHELTENHAM CENTURY

Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins is the king of the Cheltenham Festival. Galopin Des Champs provided the yard’s 94th winner there in the 2023 Gold Cup and Mullins is 1-7 to reach the incredible milestone of 100 winners next month.

His main rival in Ireland over the last decade is the 46-year-old Gordon Elliott who is closing in on a remarkable 40th Cheltenham Festival success in this his thirteenth visit to Prestbury Park as a trainer.

A hat-trick of winners last season ensured Elliott is now in fifth place on the all-time trainers list at the Festival with only Mullins, Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls, and Fulke Walwyn ahead of him.

With all eyes deservedly on the Mullins runners, Elliott is ‘flying under the radar’ as it were and

will arrive at the meeting with realistic chances of more success.

Heading his team this time will be the Gold Cup contender Gerri Colombe. Owner Brian Acheson’s colours will also be carried by Teahupoo and Irish Point who dominate betting for the Stayers Hurdle. Stalwart performers Delta Work and Galvin head for the Cross-Country.

Most intriguingly of all, there is the unbeaten Brighterdayshead to consider for the Mares Novice Hurdle. Elliott doesn’t bother to disguise his regard for the Gigginstown mare.

“Shane McCann rides her every day. He’s as good a judge as we have here, and he says she could be as good as any we’ve ever had here,” he said.

The pinnacle of National Hunt racing, the Cheltenham Festival, is only a fortnight away and England awaits another onslaught from across the Irish Sea.

Galopin Des Champs provided trainer Willie Mullins’s yard with their 94th winner | Credit: Racing TV

He pays her the compliment of being unflashy, something also attributed to Gerri Colombe who has the mammoth task of trying to bridge a 23-length gap with Galopin Des Champs from Christmas if he is to emulate Don Cossack’s 2016 Blue Riband victory.

“I think Galopin Des Champs has been awesome this year, I don’t how we’re going to beat him. We are better than we were in Leopardstown the last day; for me he didn’t run his race,” he said. “We had him categorised as a mud lover [but] I think the better the ground, the better chance he has.”

Elliott didn’t hesitate either in acclaiming his stable jockey, Jack Kennedy who has several picks to make, none more so than Teahupoo and Irish Point in the stayers’ or from a particularly strong bumper team. The trainer stressed those choices are for Kennedy who he described as “the best jockey in my mind riding either side of the Irish Sea, different class.”

The English really do look up against it in 2024, and it’s hard not to suspect Mullins’s wary eye is once more focused much closer to home in terms of major opposition.

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