SP Sprint - 31 July 2024

MAGIC MOMENTS

On the cover

South African racing’s power coupling! Gr1 Douglas Whyte Stakes heroine Quid Pro Quo and her Groom Asithandile Mgadeni show their affection. Mr Mgadeni won the R100 000 World Pool Moment Of The Day prize for his terrific work in having the filly primed to fire. Candiese Lenferna took the photograph.

SA CHAMPION!

Justin Snaith was crowned South Africa’s champion trainer for the fifth time and presented with a gift by Gold Circle CEO Michel Nairac (left) during Sunday’s World Pool Gold Cup day racemeeting.

While Snaith had one winner on a quiet day by his standards, it was the second consecutive year that the Cape-based champion edged out Randjesfontein master Sean Tarry in a tussle that went down to the line. Candiese Lenferna took the photograph.

WHYTE LIGHTNING!

BAREND BOTES’ BULLET BLOWS ‘EM AWAY

SA Champion Quid Pro Quo and Smanga Khumalo at the victory canter past

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

The Barend Botes-trained Lance filly Quid Pro Quo overcame enormous odds to make it five in a row and galloped her way into the history books with a breath-taking victory in the R1 million Gr1 Douglas Whyte Stakes on World Pool Gold Cup day.

Formerly raced as The Thekwini Stakes, the mile contest produced what surely must be the World Pool Moment Of The Day, or even of the 2023/24 racing season, as the Gerald Kalil-homebred by unheralded Jet Master sire Lance, made history by becoming the first filly to win all of the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m, the Gr2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m and Sunday’s Gr1 over a mile.

And she did it from the widest draw, with a variation of her standard racing tactics, after spreading a shoe en route to the start, and having both her front shoes removed prior to the race! Positioned a few lengths off the pace set by Frozen Fantasy and Sorceress Supreme, the brilliant Quid Pro Quo sliced down the inside centre in the run for home. But the evergreen Piere Strydom looked to spoil the party as Fatal Flaw stayed with her.

Smanga Khumalo wasn’t panicking though and he got Quid Pro Quo (11-10) to lift as she galloped on to put 1,40 lengths between herself and the 7-1 Fatal Flaw in a time of 96,14 secs. The 100-1 pacemaker Frozen Fantasy stayed on for third 2,90 lengths back, with World Of Alice (8-1) making up the quartet. The removal of the shoes at the start was a racing nightmare story in the making – imagine the outcry had she got beaten!

Trainer Barend Botes, who made the extraordinary brave call to remove the shoes (he thought all 4 were coming off!), has mostly had to buy horses in training for thirty years. And now he has shown what he can do with a really outstanding 2yo. “Zola Budd also ran without shoes. God made Quid Pro

Quo a little better than the rest. Smanga got her into position from the draw. I don’t know how. What a team I have. What an owner in Gerald Kalil,” quipped Botes. A daughter of the Heuningsfontein-based Jet Master stallion Lance, Quid Pro Quo is raced and was bred by Gerald Kalil out of the five-time winning daughter of The Sheik, Delightful Diva.

She was offered at the 2023 KZN Yearling Sale by Summerhill Equestrian and was bought back for just R60 000 by her breeder.

Now a winner of 5 races, including two Grade 1’s, with 2 places from 7 starts, Quid Pro Quo took her earnings to R1 769 000 and looks a certainty to be crowned Equus Champion 2yo Filly next month in Cape Town.

As pointed out by a veteran racing man, this was a unique Grade 1 race in present times, with 13 different stallions represented – but no Gimmethegreenlight or Vercingetorix. The R2 million carryover Pick 6 pool on the day reached R12 208 989.

Racing needs more great stories like Quid Pro Quo!

Dean Sawarjith (Commercial Executive Gold Circle), Sam Nati (Commingling Head HKJC) and Gerald and Karin Kalil enjoy the trophy time | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

“Lance was a completely different class. He was as good a 3yo as anything else that I’ve trained at a similar stage in his career.” Sean Tarry, Multiple Champion Trainer

Stakes winning son of multiple champion Jet Master

Damline has produced multiple group winners

Powerful family of champions - Big Swinger, Duc Du Orleans, Rebel King

50% winners to runners

Covered 25 mares last season - limited opportunity prior to that

Excellent fertility

MR MGADENI’S MAGIC MOMENT

Barend Botes is all smiles as Asithandile Mgadeni places his cap on Quid Pro Quo | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Quid Pro Quo, a home-bred by Gerald Kalil, the daughter of Lance cemented her claims of being the best two-yearold filly in the country with a stunning victory in the Gr1 Douglas Whyte Stakes and in so doing was elected the World Pool Moment of the Day!

This was her fifth win in succession coming off victories in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship and the Gr2 Golden Slipper, to become the first filly to ever win the unofficial 2-year-old triple crown.

Quid Pro Quo’s groom, Asithandile Mgadeni, said that even though the filly finished second in her first two starts, she never ran a bad race.

He went on to say he was very happy for his boss, trainer Barend Botes, for the supporters

and her jockey, S’manga Khumalo.

Quid Pro Quo’s task was made more difficult as she pulled a shoe going to the start and after consultation Botes decided that the course farrier should take off both front shoes.

S’manga Khumalo switched her in as the field entered the straight to join Fatal Flaw. The pair raced head-and-head for a few strides, but Quid Pro Quo finally got the upper hand to win well. Hong Kong Jockey Club introduced the World Pool Moment of the Day in South Africa last year and the initiative rewards the Groom of the horse selected with a staggering R100 000!

Congratulations go to all the connections of the star filly, Quid Pro Quo, especially her Groom, Asithandile.

CATALOGUE PAGES - NOT ALWAYS BALANCE SHEETS!

‘Who knows, perhaps Lance and Potala Palace provided just the right confluence of genetic characteristics that provided the spark which ignites a fire…’

Lance’s daughter Quid Pro Quo makes history on Sunday as she flies home ahead of Fatal Flaw (Piere Strydom) | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Just like beauty is not skin deep, a catalogue page does not always reflect the true worth of a pedigree. Hence when champion elect Quid Pro Quo toured the KZN sales ring as a yearling, there were no takers, not surprising, given that her catalogue page reflected a female line showing a distinct lack of black-type up front.

History shows that owner/breeder Gerald Kalil bought back his filly for just R60,000. Horses do not know what they cost and Quid Pro Quo has certainly made a mockery of looking at quality through the lens of black type.

Now a dual Gr1 winner, the Barend Botestrained miss has stepped into the history books as the only juvenile filly to win the coveted Gr1 Douglas Whyte Stakes, Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship and Gr2 Golden Slipper, a feat worthy of championship honours.

Given her less than blue-blooded background, pedigree pundits will be quick to call her

a ‘freak’, so let’s analyse her pedigree.

Quid Pro Quo is a daughter of the sadly neglected Lance, a stakes winning son of the mighty Jet Master, arguably the best locallybred stallion of modern times.

A horse who showed infinite promise before injury put paid to his racing career, Lance was trained by Sean Tarry and made the transition to stakes winner in just his third start with an emphatic three-length drubbing of unbeaten favourite and subsequent Triple Crown winner Louis The King in the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes at Turffontein.

Quid Pro Quo’s sire Lance in action under Anthony Delpech during his short racing career | Credit: Supplied

Sadly, injury limited Lance’s career to just six starts, which prompted Tarry to reflect: “Such a tragedy, he was amazingly talented, at least as good as his Gr1 winning brother Liege, and perhaps even more naturally so.”

From the family of champion sprinter Rebel King, Lance is one of a trio of stakes winners out of Gr1 winner Lyrical Linda, who defeated champions Jamaica and Overarching in the prestigious Garden Province Stakes. The daughter of Jallad also produced Gr1 Summer Cup hero Liege to Dynasty, while Lance’s own brother Lockheed Jetstar won the Listed Thukela Handicap.

As for the bottom half of Quid Pro Quo’s pedigree, she is out of the five-time winner Delightfull Diva, whose previous best foal was Daring Diva, a daughter of the English 2000 Guineas winner but hugely disappointing

stallion King Of Kings. She too was trained by Botes and proved she had a touch of class by carrying the Kalil silks to victory in the Listed Ruffian Stakes and running third in the Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery.

Delightfull Diva is by The Sheik, whom Dennis Drier trained to complete the Gr1 Cape Derby/ SA Guineas double. An Al Mufti own brother to the champion sprinter Al Nitak, the pair were out of Oaks Trial winner Jessamine, a half-sister to the Gr1 Mercury Sprint hero Shoe Express.

The Sheik’s female line traces its origins to the American import Ofa, an unraced half-sister to Irish Derby and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes hero Ragusa. She of course went on to lasting fame as the dam of one of the greats of the South African turf, the three time Horse of the Year Politician.

Red Palace is led in by Terry Fripp, Candice Bass-Robinson, Jo Campher and Siyabonga Mtobisa | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Notwithstanding his fine bloodlines and racetrack achievements, The Sheik failed to spark the interest of breeders at a time when locally-bred stallions were regarded as inferior to imported ones, hence he managed to sire just a handful of stakes performers.

Quid Pro Quo’s grandam Delightful Miss, by the Gr1 Mainstay winner and French 2000 Guineas third Sapieha, won once as a juvenile and in addition to Delightfull Diva, also counted the six-time winner Special Club amongst her four winning foals.

The next dam Delectable Miss, a one-time winner by the failed Riverman horse Jabal Tarik, was no great shakes either. She proved a prolific mare as the dam of no less than 14 foals, seven of which became winners, the best of which was Delegator, who scored five times.

Clearly, apart from Daring Diva, there was little to enthuse about in the first three generations of Quid Pro Quo’s female family and one has to delve down to fourth dam Malang-Lou to find worthwhile black type. This Irish-bred daughter of Auction Ring was a juvenile winner for Jim Bolger and finished third in the Gr3 Nishapour Curragh Stakes prior to her arrival in South Africa.

She blossomed in the African sun, adding another five wins to her tally, including the Gr3 Majorca Stakes, whilst gaining valuable Gr1 black type with a third in the Cape of Good Hope Paddock Stakes. Sadly, she too, proved a disappointment as a broodmare, notwithstanding the fact that she visited elite stallions such as Foveros, Elliodor and Dancing Champ.

It would not be unreasonable to state that Quid Pro Quo has risen above her humble pedigree, and to a certain degree, that could also apply to three-year-old filly Red Palace.

Trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, she almost stole the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas earlier this season, won the Listed Stormsvlei Stakes, and on Sunday capped her sophomore campaign with a heart-stopping victory in the Gr2 Riding High Together Gold Bracelet.

Unlike Quid Pro Quo, she never saw the inside of a sales ring, but she too, is by an underrated stallion in Potala Palace and sports a page light on immediate black-type.

That her sire Potala Palace is neglected by breeders remains a bit of a mystery. A quality individual, he first hit the limelight when knocked down to trainer Mike Azzie for R3,6million at the 2010 National Yearling Sale, which was also the second-highest price of the sale.

Conceived in the UK, he is by the bona fide champion racehorse Singspiel, who, like his half-brothers Rahy and Rakeen, became an eminent stallion. Considering that Singspiel’s progeny generally showed a tendency to thrive over ground and took some time to come to hand, Potala Palace proved an exception, excelling at two, rare for a horse inbred 4 x 3 to English Derby winner Shirley Heights.

As a juvenile, Potala Palace stamped himself a potential superstar with a sublime frontrunning performance in the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Remarkably, that was just his third start and came on the back of a six-length maiden romp at Turffontein.

Given his credentials, Potala Palace received only scant support from breeders when he retired to stud, to the extent that his first two crops numbered less than 40 foals apiece, yet produced the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint victress Singforafa, undefeated Winter Series winner Katak, Gr3 Pretty Polly Stakes winner Palace Of Dreams, Gr1 Mercury Sprint third Palace Chapel, and Gr1 Thekwini Stakes third Snow Palace.

That he capitalised on the success of Singforafa and Katak in particular brought him better patronage and guaranteed him a threefigure book of mares in 2019, the resultant crop, his biggest to date, yielding Red Palace and 27 other three-year-old winners.

Breeders forget about stallions very quickly if they don’t get big race winners all the time and

sad to say, support for Potala Palace dwindled to single figures last spring.

Not unlike Quid Pro Quo, Red Palace is from a family light on black-type under the first three dams.

Bred by Terry Andrews at his Sorrento Stud, she is the second foal and winner out of stakesplaced In Limine, a four-time winner trained by Greg Ennion. Third in the Listed Sun Classique Handicap, she is a daughter of yet another neglected stallion in Jay Peg.

A dual classic winner of the Gr1 Cape Guineas/ Derby, the champion went on to become a formidable international performer with victories in the Gr1 Dubai Duty Free and Gr1 Singapore International Cup, before returning to South Africa.

Red Palace’ sire Potala Palace (Singspiel - Alignment by Alzao) in the paddock | Credit: Ridgemont

By the short-lived A P Indy stallion Camden Park out of a mare by Al Mufti, the salient point of his pedigree was the duplication of renowned ‘sire making’ broodmare Lassie Dear, who is the dam of Al Mufti and grandam of A P Indy. Potent stuff.

A top-class racehorse, Jay Peg never reached the same lofty heights as a stallion, siring just nine stakes winners, the best of which would be Gr2 Cape Merchants winner Silicone Valley.

Larking Around, the dam of In Limine, was imported in utero when the Jaffees acquired her dam, the Australian bred Making Whoopee. By the outstanding racehorse and top sire Montjeu, Larking Around scored once at three and produced seven winners from as many runners. In additon to In Limine, she is also the dam of Romi’s Boy, a Gr2/3 placed sprint son of Querari.

Making Whoopee, by champion sprinter Anabaa, won once in Australia but as a full/half-sister to no less than three Gr1 winners, her appeal as a broodmare prospect was there for all to see.

And yet, despite liaisons with top stallions Western Winter, Silvano, Trippi and Captain Al, she made little impact as a broodmare and for now, it would seem that the revival of the family fortunes rests solely with In Limine.

Clearly, the excellence in the pedigrees of both Quid Pro Quo and Red Palace has been lying dormant and while it has skipped a number of generations, it has an uncanny knack of resurfacing. Who knows, perhaps Lance and Potala Palace provided just the right confluence of genetic characteristics that provided the spark which ignites a fire.

A PALACE OF DREAMS!

Replacement rider Grant van Niekerk did everything perfectly for 1975m of the 2000m of the R500 000 Riding High Together Gr2 Gold Bracelet on Cape raider Red Palace at Hollywoodbets Greyville on World Pool Gold Cup day.

Thankfully things out panned out well for the talented rider.

After replacing his carded colleague Aldo Domeyer, Van Niekerk had the well backed Candice Bass-Robinson trained Red Palace stalking the leader Lady Of Power two lengths off the gallop.

Into the home run, Rascova moved past the leader and made a dash for glory, with Van Niekerk making his run down the middle. With her beautiful stride, Red Palace sailed past Rascova and was going away – that’s until Van Niekerk erred, dropping his hands just metres from the line.

Despite the mistake, Red Palace (5-2) hung on by a diminishing neck to beat the courageous Saartjie (7-1), who had made up a load of lengths from way back off a bad draw, in a time of 122,74 secs.

Rascova (8-1) ran a really gutsy race after being in the mix for much of the trip, and hung on for third, ahead of None Other (25-1). An Andrews family home-bred, the good-looking winner is a daughter of Potala Palace (Singspiel) out of the four-time winning Jay Peg mare, In Limine.

Red Palace is a winner of 4 races with 2 places from 13 starts for stakes of R1 020 138. She now looks a nice broodmare prospect after this maiden Gr2 success.

Terry Fripp looked after the Bass-Robinson horses in KZN. The Milnerton yard celebrated fair time of it, with a Gr1 victory, and this Gr2, from limited SA Champions Season firepower.

v Grant van Niekerk keeps Red Palace at her task as Saartjie (Corne Orffer) pops up out of the blue | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

GOLD CIRCLE MERGER

– COMMISSION GIVES THUMBS UP

In what will be positive news for horseracing stakeholders in KwaZulu-Natal, the proposed acquisition of Gold Circle by the Hollywood Sportsbook Holdings group (Hollywoodbets) took a step closer to reality on Friday 26 July 2024 with the news of the approval of the underlying transactions by the Competition Tribunal.

Subject to the fulfillment of other outstanding conditions precedent, the deal will unlock a R500 million rescue injection from Hollywoodbets, and a takeover of racing in the holiday province.

Now that Competition Tribunal approval has been received, the most significant outstanding step is the required approval of the KZN Economic Regulatory Authority (KZNERA), which process could take some time.

Hollywoodbets spokesman Basil Thomas told the Sporting Post that news of the approval by the Competition Tribunal was very pleasing,

and that the process would continue its course. He added that whilst the outstanding approval of the KZNERA is critical to the transaction and will be the final step in transferring ownership, the Competition Tribunal approval now allows Hollywoodbets and its appointed Chairman Designate of Gold Circle, Greg Bortz to be involved in management and strategic decisions during the interim period.

Most importantly, Hollywoodbets will appropriately invest funds at its own risk to ensure the continuity of horse racing in KZN and the survival of Gold Circle.

“We remain determined to secure the future of the horseracing industry in KwaZulu-Natal and our original plans and intentions remain on track. Naturally, we are hopeful that the KZNERA will recognise the importance of this transaction and will give the acquisition its approval on acceptable terms and conditions. But for now, today’s news is a huge step forward,” concluded Thomas.

DAVE –

KING OF ALL!

After a World Pool Gold Cup day that had drawn a blank up to then, Richard Fourie crowned a superb season with an armchair ride to register a 141st Grade 1 winner for Mike de Kock, courtesy of the relentless galloping Dave The King who scored in the R1,5 million The HKJC Gr1 Champions Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

Dave The King coasts home under Richard Fourie to win his second consecutive Grade 1 | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

A winner of the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge just over two months earlier, the decision to skip the Hollywoodbets Durban July paid handsome dividends, with a fresh Dave The King facing eight rivals who had all walked the big race route on 6 July.

The victory gave Mike de Kock his third victory of the 21st century in the Champions Cup after Equal Image (2006) and Ingleside (2001).

After Purple Pitcher had led the charge earlier, Richard Fourie let Dave The King (9-4) flex his authority and the long-striding son of Ascot’s Galileo stallion Global View, took up the cudgel at the 1000m.

Despite Piere Strydom keeping in touch with the leader on See It Again, the 4yo gelding was gone and he drew clear to beat the luckless Cousin Casey (8-1), who ran his fourth consecutive second, 1,40 lengths back.

Dave The King clocked 109,49 secs for the 1800m.

Purple Pitcher (Clavin Habib, 33-1) and the game See It Again (Piere Strydom, 7-2) deadheated for third, with drama in the shape of

an objection by Calvin Habib on the grounds of interference and intimidation following. The Stipes weren’t impressed and overruled the objection, with Habib forfeiting his deposit. Richard Fourie, registering his 377th winner of a record season, said that Dave The King’s big stride got him their easily.

Mike de Kock said that things had gone almost too well.

“One worries as a trainer when things just go so smoothly. I was a bit concerned in the early stages but when he got going, it takes a good one to beat him. He could win anywhere in the world,” he added.

A R175 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale purchase, Dave The King, a son of Global View (Galileo) out of the once winning Jet Master mare Touche, started his career with Vaughan Marshall in the Cape, before transferring to Mike de Kock early in 2023.

Bred by Gary Player, who races him in partnership with Larry Nestadt and Ralphs Racing, he is a winner of 6 races with 8 places from 21 starts for stakes of R4 485 000.

Mike de Kock saddled his 141st Grade winner Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Newly crowned SA Champion Richard Fourie – his personal 51st career Grade 1 victory | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

PLANNING YOUR MATINGS?

The only Directory of Sires at stud in South Africa is now available! The 29th edition of the Sires 2024 Handbook is a 152 page glossy magazing printed in full colour and packed with information, including extended pedigrees, pedigree evaluatio ns, conformation photographs and statistics.

It features 56 stallions, including nine new firstseason sires for 2024.

They all have their individual website page with a wealth of data, which gets updated daily at www.raceform.co.za

Price is unchanged from previous years, R290. With the current unreliable postal service, it can be sent via courier or Postnet at an additional R100.

Global View – a son of Galileo out of Egyptian Queen by Storm Cat | Credit: Pauline Herman

STORM CAT -BROODMARE SIRE OF SIRES?

Twice Champion Sire in the USA, where he topped the Leading Sires of 2YOs premiership on seven occasions, Storm Cat continues to be a major factor in modern pedigrees.

His numerous active high-class male line descendants include top stallions Into Mischief, Lope De Vega, Justify, and No Nay Never, as well as Goldencents, sire of the 2024 Gr1 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan.

However, Storm Cat, whose son Giant’s Causeway is broodmare sire of the likes of Gun Runner (Candy Ride) and One World (Captain Al), has also made a huge mark on the breed as a broodmare sire.

Storm Cat mares have produced more than 300 stakes winners, and they have also produced a number of successful stallions.

One of the current hottest sires around is Gleneagles (Galileo), who is out of the Storm Cat mare You’resothrilling, and thus bred on the same cross as Global View.

In 2024, Gleneagles has been responsible for all of Mill Stream (Gr1 My Pension Expert July Cup Stakes, Gr2 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes), Palladium (Gr1 Idee 155th Deutsches Derby) and Ambiente Friendly (William

Hill Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes, 2nd Gr1 Betfred Derby), with Gleneagles having sired 37 stakes winners in total.

Another son of Gleneagles, Calandagan, has won three group races this year, romping to a sixlength win in the Gr2 King Edward VII Stakes last time out, while Gleneagles’ son Royal Scotsman won the 2024 G3 Betfred Diomed Stakes at Epsom.

Gleneagles and Global View are both sons of Galileo out of a Storm Cat mare, as is another successful sire Churchill. The latter, whose progeny include French classic winners Blue Rose Cen and Vadeni, is the sire of 2024 Gr1 Prix de Diane Longines runner-up and G2 Prix de Malleret winner Survie.

The late Speightstown (Gone West), out of the Storm Cat sired champion Silken Cat, was an outstanding stallion, who left behind more than 140 stakes winners, more than 20 of which won Gr1 races, including successful sire Munnings. Speightstown’s Gr1 Hollywood Derby-winning son Seek Again is the sire of 2022 Gr1 Betway Summer Cup/2023 Gr1 World Sports Betting Champions Challenge winner Puerto Manzano.

Storm Cat mare Lord Blossom, directly descended in female

line from Secretariat’s full-sister Syrian Sea, produced a top-class stallion in the form of Lord Kanaloa (King Kamehameha). Twice champion sprinter, and dual Gr1 Hong Kong Sprint winner, in Japan, Lord Kanaloa has been responsible for more than 50 stakes winners, with his progeny including dual Japanese Horse Of The Year Almond Eye, Gr1 Saudi Cup/Gr1 Dubai Duty Free winner Panthalassa, Gr1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes hero Tagaloa and Japanese champion Saturnalia.

Study Of Man and Kizuna are both Derby winning sons of Deep Impact and both are

out of Storm Cat mares. Study Of Man, winner of the Gr1 Prix du Jockey Club, has made a cracking start to his stud career with his first crop, now three, including five stakes winners notably group winners Deepone (Gr2 Beresford Stakes) and Birthe (Gr2 Prix Saint-Alary).

Kizuna, Leading First Season Sire in Japan in 2019 and Leading Second Season Sire the following year, has sired more than 30 stakes winners including this year’s Gr1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) winner Justin Milano.

The great Storm Cat | Credit: Pauline Herman

PLATTNER’S MASTER OF GOLD

Corne Orffer steers Master Redoute to victory ahead of Shoot The Rapids (Muzi Yeni, white cap), Ponte Pietra (Sean Veale, outside) and Future Swing (Smanga Khumalo) | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Longstanding owner Sabine Plattner celebrated victory in the R1 million World Pool Gr3 Gold Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday, when the Querari 5yo Master Redoute followed in the footsteps of Reveille Boy, who carried the same silks to win the marathon nineteen years earlier.

Ridden by Piere Strydom, Reveille Boy won the then Gr1 Canon Gold Cup in 2005 when trained by Brett Crawford and it’s been a long wait for a repeat success, which arrived courtesy of the Andre Nel trained Master Redoute, who burst through a tight gap late in the race, to snatch a smart victory by 0,20 lengths in a time of 209,18 secs.

Shoot The Rapids (10-1) looked set to round off a memorable day for Frank Robinson and his owner Sid Moodley when Muzi Yeni had him in the final mix. But the son of Erupt had to be content with second – a herculean effort from the widest gate.

Dean Kannemeyer’s Ponte Pietra (33-1) was beaten 0,70 lengths into third, after going round his field into the first turn, to gain a better position from his wide draw. Future Swing (20-1) was always in the action and rounded off the R67 504 quartet – also under a length off.

The favourite Future Pearl (18-10) made fair progress from back of midfield into the home run, bat failed to kick when it counted. Corne Orffer labelled the winner a ‘gutsy horse’ and said that they had been ‘messed around’ in the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Trainer Andre Nel paid tribute to his Summerveld team and said he had just arrived from the Cape to enjoy the race.

Master Redoute is by Querari (Oasis Dream) and was bred by Mrs Plattner’s La Plaisance

from the twice winning Redoute’s Choice mare, Lady Redoute.

The World Pool Gold Cup is always a spectacle, with the lead changing hands multiple times – including a move by Grant van Niekerk around the 2000m to steal a march on Highveld challenger Zeus.

Winning combination Andre Nel and Corne Orffer celebrate a great win | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

ELATION – THEN FRUSTRATION…

The World Pool Gold Cup is always a spectacle of drama and thrilling action and Sunday’s 104th renewal of the great marathon has seen further post-race fallout with the winning jockey incurring a substantial crop use contravention fine, and another rider having an official complaint laid against him by the connections of a Highveld raider.

Master Redoute did not have the best of luck in the Hollywoodbets Durban July after being one

of the chief victims in a rough race. “He likes it rough but not quite that rough,” confessed trainer Andre Nel, “but I guess you get what you wish for,” he quipped after Master Redoute had eased through a tight gap to win the World Pool Gr3 Gold Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

Jockey Corne Orffer concurred: “I went for a tight gap and hoped that it would not close on me. But that’s what he likes” he said of his mount post-race.

Corne Orffer won the World Pool Gold Cup – then got walloped with a fine and an enforced holiday | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Quirky Highveld raider Zeus was taken to the front by Grant van Niekerk down the back stretch and opened up a big lead, chased by Future Swing and Shoot The Rapids, with the balance playing catch-up.

The field concertinaed approaching the final turn, Zeus fading early, leaving Shoot The Rapids and Future Swing fighting for the lead with a wall of horses challenging leaders Master Redoute and Ponte Pietra. Future Swing drifted off a straight course close to home, hampering Shoot The Rapids and giving the advantage to Master Redoute, who kept on gamely.

The Stipes reported that following the race, they received an official written complaint from the connections of Zeus and will enquire into the circumstances of the race and if there has been a possible contravention of Rule 62.2.9, pertaining to a rider taking all reasonable measures to ensure that he rides to the

instructions given to him by the authorised persons.

In his defence, Grant van Niekerk found Zeus a handful, the gelding having to be led to the start. He also over-raced in the early and middle stages.

Our much-debated crop use rules were in the spotlight again when winning jockey Corne Orffer signed an admission of guilt for a contravention of Rule 58.10.2.

Orffer misused his crop by striking eventual winner Master Redoute more than twelve times (14), which was deemed not warranted when considering the circumstances of the race.

Accordingly, a penalty of a fine of R35 250 and a suspension of not riding in races for a period of 14 days was imposed.

COMMINGLED QUINELLA AND QUARTET BETS ON AUSTRALIAN RACES

TAB and TABgold customers will have more opportunities to win on Australian flat and harness racing from Thursday 1 August, when Quinella and Quartet bets will be added to the range of bets currently commingled with Australian tote betting giant Tabcorp.

4Racing advises that currently TAB and TABgold customers can take Win, Place, Exacta, Trifecta, Rolling Double and Jackpot bets directly into Tabcorp pools through

TAB and this list will be expanded to include Quinella (first two finishers, any order) and Quartet bets from Thursday.

The unit of betting and minimum bet amount will be R1 and R6 respectively with no fractional betting, as is the case with existing Tabcorp commingled bets on Australian races.

• Media release by 4Racing on Tuesday, 30 July 2024

OLD MAN GETS MERCURY RISING

It has been a long time between drinks for the Brett Crawford-trained 5yo Surjay, but the son of Vercingetorix rewarded his patient owner Suzette Viljoen with the R1 million Gr1 Mercury Sprint trophy to round off the season on World Pool Gold Cup day at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Racing in the familiar blue and shocking pink silks, Surjay had not won in 624 days since beating Kommetdieding in the non black-type Banty Bay Stakes back in November 2022. But he came through in style to register his maiden Grade 1 and give Sporting Postsponsored jockey Louis Mxothwa his first Gr1 of what has been a long season.

A decision to skip the Post Merchants paid dividends for the hard-knocking gelding, who clearly enjoys to run fresh and enjoyed a

trouble-free passage from his 2 gate. The same cannot be said for the 33-10 favourite and Equus Champion candidate Lucky Lad, who was last turning for home and got to within 0,70 lengths of the winner, who clocked 69,86 secs for the 1200m.

Lucky Lad lost no credit in defeat, after slogging away up the home straight.

Drill Hall Stakes star Royal Aussie (6-1), who also runs in the Viljoen silks, stayed on smartly

The pic is deceptive but Surjay gets there under Louis Mxothwa – third placed Royal Aussie (Keagan De Melo) and fifth placed At My Command (Craig Zackey) are in the frame | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

for third, with Sun Blushed (33-1), who was snapping at Lucky Lad’s heels all the way home, boosting the quartet in fourth.

This was a second Mercury win for the Viljoens, who raced 2022 winner Captain’s Ransom, while Brett Crawford was celebrating his first trophy in the weight-for-age sprint. Bred by the late Dr Jim Antrobus, the winner was a first Mercury Sprint for Vercingetorix (Silvano) and

is out of the twice-winning Badger Land mare, Something Of Value.

Surjay took his stakes earnings to R1 505 475, with his fifth win from 26 starts, with 13 places on the board.

The Equus Champion Sprinter title looks to be tight, with retired star Thunderstruck holding the ascendancy on the points table.

Sporting Post jockey Louis Mxothwa enjoys his sole Grade 1 trophy of the season | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

PETER ANGEL HUMBLES THE BOYS

The Varsfontein-bred VJ’s Angel joined fairer sex counterparts Sentbydestiny (2020), Arabian Lass (1996) and Roland’s Song (1988) to have beaten the boys over the past half century in the R1 million World Pool Moment Of The Day Gr1 Champion Stakes run at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

Raced as the Premiers Champion Stakes in years past, the 2024 renewal was the final Grade 1 contest for 2yo’s of the 2023/24 season and produced a thrilling finish for the Turffontein-based Tony Peter team and jockey Calvin Habib, who took on thirteen males with a clearly decent filly.

Allowed to relax by Calvin Habib as Family Law and The Specialist showed the way early, VJ’s Angel made steady ground in the home run as The Specialist and Grand Crescendo went head to head down the rail.

With the two top males scrumming away and watching each other on the rail, Habib unleashed VJ’s Angel (10-1) down the centre and she went on strongly to grab a

0,70-length victory in a time of 96,26 secs.

The Specialist (9-2) shaded the good-looking Grand Crescendo (16-1) by a quarter length, with Great Plains staying on from some way back at 6-1.

The 5-2 favourite Cosmic Speed failed to repeat his Durban Gr2 Golden Horseshoe victory form and faded out to seventh and over 5 lengths off the winner.

Picked by Gavin Zyl as a R200 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate, VJ’s Angel is raced by the Palmer family and was bred by the Varsfontein Stud, who also bred the 2020 fairer sex winner of this race, Sentbydestiny.

By multiple champion sire

Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready), the impressive winner is out of the Oratorio one-time winner Tally-Ho and made it 4 wins with 2 places from 7 starts and stakes of R900 000, on a day her seasoned owners labelled the biggest of their racing lives!

A delighted Calvin Habib salutes as VJ’s Angel wins a cracker from The Specialist (Smanga Khumalo) and Grand Crescendo (Muzi Yeni) | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

IMPRESSED!

Reigning SA Champion jockey Keagan de Melo celebrated his return to his homeland from Hong Kong with a beautifully judged front-running ride on the Justin Snaith trained Get Impressed to win the R200 000 World Pool With Tabgold Listed Darley at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

Formerly raced as The Darley Arabian, the 1600m feature opened the World Pool Gold Cup day action under partly cloudy skies, with a decent tailwind in play.

Jumping from a favourable 2 draw, De Melo

had the consistent son of Vercingetorix leading from the gun and brought the field for home, just ahead of stablemate Itsrainingwilliam and the favourite Joker Man.

Inside the 200m, Get Impressed (28-10) never looked like being caught and he galloped on powerfully to hold off longshot Sundance Kid (16-1) by a half-length, with the Tony Peter charge Money Heist (10-1) a further 0,30 lengths away in third.

Joker Man failed to make the frame. The winner clocked 93,60 secs.

Keagan de Melo makes it a winning return as he keeps Get Impressed going to beat Sundance Kid (Rachel Venniker) | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

“It wasn’t the intention to lead, but my stablemate didn’t have the speed and my horse stayed on all the way,” added Keagan de Melo at his first ride on African soil this season.

Winning trainer Justin Snaith got one up on Sean Tarry early and said that he needed to go back home and get working on Get Impressed, who could be worth pencilling in for next term.

Raced by Greg Bortz, Gary Player and Gina Goldsmith, the Millstream Farm bred gelding is a son of Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the threetime winning Al Mufti mare, So Impressed.

A R1 million Cape Yearling Sale purchase, Get Impressed made it 4 wins with 7 places from 14 starts for stakes of R501 826.

Greg Bortz and Justin Snaith-pleased with a big day winner | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

ONE WORLD RECORD

Equus Champion and sensational young sire One World registered his 29th and 30th first crop winners at the Vaal on Tuesday. That means that the son of Captain Al has equalled his champion Dad’s record of 30 individual 2yo winners in a term as well as his record of 40 2yo wins in a season.

As we go to print today, One World has two chances of making inroads into a terrific season, with Jet Lavish and Ladies World carrying his flag at Hollywoodbets Greyville in the final meeting of the season.

Back to yesterday, One World filly Willowild won the Take A Bet Wina Numba Numba Juvenile Plate (Fillies), and another One World daughter, Kings Again, made a winning debut when she won the Play Soccer 6,10 and 13 Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies). Third and second in two of her three previous starts, the Lucky Houdalakis trained Willowild got off the mark with a game performance.

Under Chase Maujean, the One World filly raced towards the back of the field early on.When asked the question, Willowild unleashed a fine turn of foot which propelled with a strong run between runners and she flew up to score by a short-head.

Bred by Alec Foster, Willowild is out of the Trippi mare Trip The Willow.

One World had a quickfire double when his daughter Kings Again won the very next race at the Vaal. The Corne Spies trained two-yearold was given a well timed ride from Marco Van Rensburg, and she stayed on gamely to score by a neck on debut.Bred and owned by Braam Van Huyssteen, Kings Again is out of the Dynasty mare Fortune Flies.

South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire for 2023-2024, One World’s impressive first crop is headed by dual Gr3 winner One Stripe, Gr3 Langerman runner up All Out For Six, and Lion Rampart and Miss World.

The latter finished first and second in the Listed Somerset 1200, with Lion Rampart also finishing second to One Stripe, in the Gr3 Winter Nursery.

Another One World son, Grand Crescendo, caught the eye when he finished a close up third in Sunday’s Gr1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes and he looks a classic prospect in the making.

One World has 12 lots on offer at the August Two Year Old Sale, including a full-brother (Lot 131) to the aforementioned Kings Again.

NATIONAL STATS ARE CONFIRMED BY NHRA

The National Horseracing Authority (NHA) has completed an audit of its statistics.

During this audit, it was noted that the racing data for 23 December 2023 from Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse had not been updated in the NHA database.

This discrepancy was due to a timing difference in the automated scheduling of racing result

updates that occurred during the holiday period in December. Our racing results update script runs on a four-day cycle.

The 23rd was the day of the race, and the first day of the cycle was on Saturday, the second day was on Sunday, the third day was on Monday, which was a public holiday, and the fourth day was the 26th, also a public holiday.

As a result, the update script concluded its four-day cycle without updating the results for the 23rd.

The racing results were then updated on the 28th, a workday, but by this time, the script had stopped updating results for the 23rd, resulting in the database not being updated.

The script has since been extended to prevent similar issues in the future.

For the Turffontein race meeting on 23 December 2023, stakes were allocated for payment on 26 December 2023 within the

automation window period, resulting in our database being updated.

Additionally, the NHA identified three disqualified horses whose stakes were subsequently redistributed to the promoted horses. This adjustment ensures that all records are accurate as of the present date.

The NHA remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and transparency in all our operations.

We will continue our supervision of our information systems service provider to ensure the accuracy of our data.

• Media release by NHRA on Sunday 28 July 2024

MILLER TIME FOR GIMME DAUGHTER

Tristan Godden punches Just Reckless out to a smart win | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

KZN trainer Mike Miller got one back for the hometown at World Pool Gold Cup day on Sunday when Gimmethegreenlight daughter Just Reckless upstaged Sean Tarry’s Highveld raider Rodeo Drive to win the R500 000 World Pool With Gold Circle Gr2 Debutante.

Previously contested as The Debutante, the 1200m race for 2yo fillies saw Rodeo Drive priced up as a well-supported favourite under Richard Fourie.

But the daughter of The United States, despite being given every chance, as she moved up and was being hailed a winner at the 250m, was emphatically cut down to size by the Mike Miller charge.

Defying the expectations that everybody would be winning from the front, the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes winner Just Reckless (15-2) powered home from seven lengths off the gallop to beat the 6-10 Rodeo Drive by 1,90 lengths in a time of 70,47 secs for the 1200m.

Gqeberha visitor Gavin Smith would have been delighted by the performance of Happy Holly

Previously contested as The Debutante, the 1200m race for 2yo fillies saw Rodeo Drive priced up as a well-supported favourite under Richard Fourie.

(10-1), who stayed on for third a further 1,90 lengths back.

Sorting Post-sponsored jockey Tristan Godden said that the 1200m contest looked weaker than the mile alternative on the day, and that things had panned out well after Just Reckless had switched off early.

Raced by The Racing Boys (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mr Omer Iqbal) and the trainer’s son Sterling M Miller, the winner was bred by Boland Stud and is another very smart daughter of champion Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the Silvano mare, Sommersonne, who won once.

A R500 000 KZN Yearling Sale purchase, Just Reckless has now won 4 races with 4 places from 9 starts for stakes of R802 750.

RAFEEF’S 20TH STAKES WINNER!

Ridgemont’s Gr1 Computaform Sprint winning sire Rafeef has had a wonderful season in 2023-2024, and his great form continued when his son Cats Pajamas won the Gr2 @Worldpool Twitter Stakes (1200m) at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

But the daughter of The United States, despite being given every chance, as she moved up and was being hailed a winner at the 250m, was emphatically cut down to size by the Mike Miller charge.

In the process, Cats Pajamas became Rafeef’s 20th black type winner.

Defying the expectations that everybody would be winning from the front, the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes winner Just Reckless (15-2) powered home from seven lengths off the gallop to beat the 6-10 Rodeo Drive by 1,90 lengths in a time of 70,47 secs for the 1200m.

Runner up in the Gr3 Tabgold Godolphin Barb Stakes and third in the Gr2 Durban Golden Horseshoe, the Frank Robinson trained Cats Pajamas showed the benefits of blinkers with a convincing performance in Sunday’s race.

Under a well judged ride from Sean Veale, the two-year-old powered home down the inside

Gqeberha visitor Gavin Smith would have been delighted by the performance of Happy Holly

(10-1), who stayed on for third a further 1,90 lengths back.

of the track to get up and win by just over a length.

Sorting Post-sponsored jockey Tristan Godden said that the 1200m contest looked weaker than the mile alternative on the day, and that things had panned out well after Just Reckless had switched off early.

Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, he was a R600 000 purchase from the 2023 National Yearling Sale. Cats Pajamas, whose paternal half-brother Outlaw King won the same race back in 2023, is out of the Var mare Sea Cat and is thus bred on the same Rafeef/ Var cross as Gr1 Computaform Sprint winners Master Archie and Thunderstruck.

Rafeef, South Africa’s Leading First Season

Raced by The Racing Boys (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mr Omer Iqbal) and the trainer’s son Sterling M Miller, the winner was bred by Boland Stud and is another very smart daughter of champion Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the Silvano mare, Sommersonne, who won once.

Sire of 2020-2021, continues to make his presence felt, with his flagbearers this season including the graded stakes winners Beating Wings, Cats Pajamas, Frances Ethel, Mover And Shaker, Mrs Browning and Thunderstruck.

A R500 000 KZN Yearling Sale purchase, Just Reckless has now won 4 races with 4 places from 9 starts for stakes of R802 750.

WHO WILL BE TOPSELLERS AT BSA AUGUST SALE?

Nestled in the scenic Daleside Valley, the tranquil Heversham Park overlooks the majestic Paardekop. Affectionately known as ‘the farm’, their ethos is founded on raising animals slowly and naturally.

Heversham will be presenting an impressive draft of eight attractive lots at the BSA August Two Year Old Sale 2024.

“We aim to stimulate interest among buyers and the general public, and of course in our own eight lots on the sale. This is our best ever draft and includes Lot 198, a beautiful colt by star freshman One World out of Little Fastnet. He is a half-brother to this season’s Gr2 SA Nursery winner, Little Ballerina,” said Kat Riley of Heversham.

In addition to the exciting buyer opportunities,

the farm will be staging a predictor competition for the sale, scheduled for 22 and 23 August at the TBA Complex, Gosforth Park.

The BSA August 2YO Sale

catalogue comprises of 327 choice lots from a good variety of top stud farms and with many excellent pedigrees represented, so selecting the highest-priced lots will take some homework and perhaps require a visit to the sales grounds for conformation buffs.

Tranquil and majestic Heversham | Credit: Heversham Park

The free-to-enter competition is open to all and two cash prizes of R5,000 each can be won.

The first prize will go to the individual who can correctly predict the top-selling colt at the sale. The second prize will be given to the individual who can correctly predict the top-selling filly at the sale.

Heversham extends an invitation to individuals interested in racing or breeding to enter the competition.

To enter:

• Entrants must email their names, contact details and the lot numbers of their predictions

of one top-selling colt and one top-selling filly to info@hevershampark.co.za.

• Entries must be submitted before 09h00 on Thursday, 22 August.

• If there is more than one winner in one or both of the categories, a single winner for each category will be drawn from the correct entries by a Heversham Park representative.

The winners will be announced on Monday, 26 August. Results will be final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

View the sales catalogue online to make your selections and enter now!

Little Ballerina (Gavin Lerena) gets the better of KZN raider Just Reckless (Kabelo Matsunyane) in the Gr2 SA Nursery on Champions Day | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

VEALE WIDE AWAKE ON CATS PAJAMAS

Frank Robinson became the second KZN trainer to strike from the first three races on World Pool Gold Cup day when the Rafeef colt Cats Pajamas triumphed in an untidy finish to the R500 000 @WorldPool Gr2 Twitter Stakes on Sunday.

Previously raced as The Umkhomazi Stakes, the 1200m feature proved a triumph for well invested local owner Sid Moodley and his trainer, as Sporting Post-sponsored jockey Sean Veale produced the Tabgold

Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes and Durban Gr2 Golden Horseshoe placer Cats Pajamas down the inside with a sustained effort.

Racing back in blinkers, Cats

Pajamas lugged out after hitting the front, slightly bumping the 9-2 shot Dantonfromsandton, who in turn bumped 18-10 favourite Bjorn Ironside.

Sean Veale has Cats Pajamas in full stride down the inside as Dantonfromsandton (Richard Fourie) chases with Bjorn Ironside (Gavin Lerena) making up the trifecta | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

A race review was called, but despite the minor interference, it’s difficult envisaging any material impact on the outcome, which saw Cats Pajamas go away to win by 1,05 lengths in a time of 70,94 secs.

Dantonfromsandton shaded Bjorn Ironside by 0,10 lengths into third.

Bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein, the winner is a son of Rafeef (Redoute’s Choice) out of the well-performed six-time winning Var mare, Sea Cat.

Picked as his horse of the 2023 BSA National Yearling Sale by Frank Robinson, he cost R600 000 and took his career earnings to R496 375, with his second victory from 6 races and 3 places.

Trainer and jockey suggested that gelding may be an option for Cats Pajamas, who is likely to be aimed at the Highveld in November.

There was no further action on the race review.

SPEED RULES IN FINAL STAKES FEATURE OF SEASON

Gavin Lerena guides King Of Gauls to a second stakes success | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

The Tony Rivalland trained King Of The Gauls, a promising young sprinting prospect, was allowed to run free at 14-1 to win the R200 000 LHKIR In December Listed Umngeni Handicap in good style.

“He was a certainty with a better draw,” quipped Mary Liley, who races the winner in partnership with Atlantic Seaboard based Robert Bloomberg, whom we believe had a tickle and had touted the handsome bay as a serious speed prospect for next term some months ago.

The 1000m feature closed a successful World Pool Gold Cup day at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

After winning the Listed In Full Flight Stakes in April, King Of The Gauls found Teflon Man and Craig Zackey in devastating form at his penultimate start, and then didn’t enjoy the crowds on Hollywoodbets Durban July day, where he gave Grant van Niekerk a tough time

and ran just under five lengths off Café Culture in the Gr2 Post Merchants.

From a 14 draw on Sunday, the 3yo benefitted from a superb ride by the cucumber cool Gavin Lerena who used the gelding’s gate speed to beat the draw.

In the home run, King Of The Gauls (14-1) stormed clear in a rather clinical victory to beat the pacy Lunarcam (50-1) by 1,90 lengths in a time of 58 secs flat for the 1000m.

Donquerari (66-1) and Pray For Rain (50-1) rounded off the quartet.

A R700 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale purchase, King Of The Gauls has now won 5 races with 4 places from 12 starts for stakes of R525 938.

He was bred by Maine Chance Farms and is a son of Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the High Chaparral mare, Grande Roche.

Trainer Tony Rivalland and jockey Gavin Lerena ended the day on a high | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

GOLD CUP DAY – THE RATINGS ARE IN

Master Redoute has had his merit rating raised from 115 to 117 following his victory in the World Pool Gr3 Gold Cup over 3200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

The Handicappers were of the view that 4th placed Future Swing made for the best line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 110.

2nd placed Shoot The Rapids, 3rd placed Ponte Pietra and 5th placed Madison Valley produced performance figures of 112, 108 and 108 respectively, due to their weights carried and proximity to the 110 rated line horse Future Swing. They have all been adjusted accordingly.

Only one horse received a drop to its rating in this event, Aragosta dropped from 114 to 113.

The

HKJC Champions Cup (WFA) (Grade 1)

Dave The King had his rating adjusted from 127 to 128 after landing the Gr1 HKJC Champions Cup over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

It was the ultra-consistent Cousin Casey who was deemed to make for the most suitable line horse in this event and his rating remained unchanged on a mark of 125.

Purple Pitcher had his rating increased from 120 to 123 having finished 1 length or 2 points behind the 125 rated line horse at weight for age terms.

The Handicappers ruled out the 131 rated See It Again as a line horse as it was felt that this horse was again unlucky in the running and using him would inflate the ratings of the other runners in this event. See It Again remained unchanged on a mark of 131.

The only other runner to receive an increase was Hluhluwe who was adjusted from 116 to 118.

The only finisher to receive a rating drop was Barbaresco who dropped from 122 to 120.

Mercury Sprint (WFA) (Grade 1)

Surjay received a 5-point increase from 119 to 124 after winning the Gr1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Here, it was the 118 rated I Am Giant that was selected to be the line horse, leaving him on a rating of 118.

The Handicappers opted not to use the runner-up, Lucky Lad, to rate this event as he struggled to overcome a wide barrier draw and raced wide throughout and into the straight. He runs below his 125 rating but was left unchanged and his below peak performance was attributed to the disadvantages he suffered in this race.

The only other runner to receive an increase was Sun Blushed who went up to 120 from 116 after beating the 119 rated At My Command and the 118 I Am Giant at level weight terms.

Two horses were given a drop - Cruise Control was dropped from 118 to 117 and Quasiforsure dropped from 115 to 114.

Riding High Together Gold Bracelet (Grade 2)

Red Palace has had her rating raised from 111 to 119 after winning the Riding High Together Gold Bracelet for fillies and mares over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

The Handicappers were of the opinion that 6th placed Gilded Butterfly made for the most suitable line horse, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 108.

The runner-up Saartjie, who beat the 108 rated line horse by 5.4 lengths, or 10 points was adjusted from 110 to 118.

The only other runner to receive a rating increase was None Other, who was adjusted to 111 from 108 but three horses received a drop in ratings.

Bellevarde was dropped to 107 from 110, Hold My Hand dropped from 114 to 112 and Lady Of Power was given a 1-point drop from 101 to 100.

World Pool With Tabgold Darley Arabian (Listed)

Get Impressed has had his rating raised from 103 to 106 after winning the Listed World Pool With Tabgold Darley Arabian over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

Here it was the 3rd and 4th placed Money Heist and Mary’s Greenlight who were

deemed to make for suitable line horses, accordingly their ratings remained unchanged on marks of 104 and 103, respectively.

The only other increase in this event went to the runner up Sundance Kid who was adjusted from 97 to 98.

Two horses were given a dropImilenzeyokududuma was trimmed from 105 to 104 and Grinkov dropped 4 points from 100 to 96.

LHKIR In December Umngeni Handicap (Listed)

King Of The Gauls has had his rating raised from 103 to 109 after he emphatically won the Listed LHKIR In December Umngeni Handicap over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

Here it was both the 3rd and 4th placed Donquerari and Pray For Rain who were selected as line horses, leaving them on ratings of 103 and 112, respectively.

The only other horse to receive and increase in this event was Lunarcam who was increased from 100 to 102.

Six horses received a drop - Magic Tattoo was down from 103 to 101, Coin Spinner dropped from 102 to 100, Baltic Secret dropped from 100 to 98, Underworld dropped to 102 from 104, Hithemhardsunshine dropped slightly from 108 to 107 and lastly Ripple Effect dropped from 104 to 102.

• Media release by the NHA on Tuesday, 30 July 2024.

RICHARD ENDS ON 377!

Richard Fourie – what a season! | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Winning Form rider

Richard Fourie ended his glorious champion season of records and more records, on a new national season -high of 377 winners, including yet another Grade 1 strike on World Pool Gold Cup Day. He will not ride again this term.

Fourie surpassed Anthony Delpech’s 25 year long record of 334 winners last month, and his new benchmark of 377 (22,9% win strike rate) looks to stand for a long time.

He rode in 1639 races and amassed stakes of over R44 million. He has now ridden 51 Gr1 winners.

NHRA Inquiry Review Boards confirmed last week that Fourie has been suspended from 29 July to 11 August. He is taking a deserved break in August.

He may still ride on Thursday at Hollywoodbets Durbanville as the racemeeting was originally carded for Saturday 27 July. That will mean

the suspension will be extended by a day.

This follows a guilty finding of a contravention of Rule 58.10.2 (Appendix E, read with Guideline M on the use of the crop) as the rider of Celtic Beauty, when she won the WSB Listed Scarlet Lady on 14 April, he misused his crop by striking the filly more than twelve times (13) which was not warranted when considering the circumstances of the race.

Fourie was suspended for a period of fourteen (14) days from 29.07.2024 to 11.08.2024, both days inclusive and fined R8250.

His colleague Craig Zackey ended the season in fourth position on the national log with 169 winners with at an 11,9% win strike-rate.

Zackey unfortunately had a blank day on Sunday, and was suspended under the same regulation for his ride on At My Command in the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint on 1 June.

He misused his crop there by striking the gelding more than twelve times (13) which was not warranted when considering the circumstances of the race.

He was suspended for a period of fourteen (14) days from 29.07.2024 to 11.08.2024, and fined R13 000.

JACEY’S FIRST WINNER JOY

It’s been a red-letter few days for the Botes family. Nephew Jacey booted home the first winner of his short career at the Vaal on Thursday, while Uncle Barend is rewriting the history books down in KZN and racking up the Grade 1 winners with a champion filly.

After a couple of second places down in Durban, 17 year old apprentice Jacey Botes struck gold at his 22nd ride when he rode a confident race to get Fabian Habib’s Gimmethegreenlight filly Bushveld home by under a length in a modest FM 64 Handicap at the Vaal on 25 July.

Going to scale at 46kgs, Jacey almost looks like the horse is just a tad too big for him, but he handled Bushveld with aplomb and confidence, as the gaps opened down the inside, and he maintained his head and balance to ride a well-judged race.

Hip, hip, Habib! Happy Groom Best raises Jacey’s hand as trainer Fabian Habib hoists the happy apprentice | Credit: JC Photos

“He’s a promising youngster with a nice seat,” said trainer Fabian Habib, while winning Groom Best was over the moon himself, as Bushveld was also his first winner for the Habib team.

With dental braces flashing a broad smile, Jacey told the Sporting Post that the feeling when Bushveld hit the line was ‘indescribable’.

“I’d say it’s a lifechanging and exciting moment. It was an extraordinary feeling. I’m not sure I slept on Thursday night at all!” he laughed.

A member of Gen Z, also known as Zoomers, Jacey was born in Amazimtoti on 25 January 2007 and is a member of the demographic cohort succeeding Millennials and preceding Generation Alpha.

“He took a chance to move from the Vaal to Durban. Getting a really good horse is rich reward for his dedication to, and passion for, these animals. And he never stops working. Believe me!”

The sports crazy youngster attended Kuswag School in Amanzimtoti, where his passions included rugby, cross-country, cricket and athletics. Jacey tells of a devastating challenge for the family when his twin brother Chris was diagnosed in Primary School with a brain tumour.

“It’s a shock for a young person to have to deal with serious health issues, but Chris’ suffering brought our family closer together. My Dad Jacey, Mom Cristelle, my sister Chantelle and I kept our faith and today, 6 years later, Chris is cancer free,” he adds emotionally.

At the age of 16, Jacey packed up the home comforts of Kuswag and Amanzimtoti and joined the SA Jockey Academy at Summerveld.

“You asked me what instigated the decision to try a career as a jockey. I used to visit my Uncle Barend’s stables at the Vaal.

The horses intrigued me. I am slightly built. It made sense for me to try and follow in his footsteps, as he was also a very good jockey in his time.”

He continues that his next target is to ride a winner for Uncle Barend.

“I had a close second for him at Hollywoodbets Greyville. I hope I get the chance soon to ride a winner for him.”

On Quid Pro Quo’s stunning victory on Sunday, Jacey says that he is very proud of his Uncle and Smanga Khumalo, for their achievement in making history with Quid Pro Quo.

“He took a chance to move from the Vaal to Durban. Getting a really good horse is rich reward for his dedication to, and passion for, these animals. And he never stops working. Believe me!”

On his time at the SA Jockey Academy, Jacey tells that he has settled in well and has some good friends, including promising apprentice Trent Mayhew. There’s not much time for partying, he says, but he enjoys a good braai.

“I have so many people to thank for this wonderful career opportunity that I have been given. Starting with my parents for their enduring love and support, the Teachers and Coaching Staff at the academy and all the trainers that have thrown me a bone. If I could give special mention to Mr Fabian Habib and the owners of Bushveld, who had the faith to put me up. We can’t ride winners without horses. And Bushveld was a quality ride,” he adds maturely.

Jacey’s Uncle, Summerveld-based trainer Barend Botes, said that he wished his nephew well, but urged him to focus and work hard.

“I suppose we were all young and 17 once, so we can’t be too hard on these ‘laaities’. But three points of advice for Jaycee. Work hard. Stay away from play-station. Don’t run wide. We call the latter going to buy bread and milk and nothing drives a trainer more mad,” smiled Barend.

When asked about his own enormous day on Sunday with Quid Pro Quo making history, Barend said that he woke up in the morning and everything felt good.

“I knew she was well. There was a buzz in the team. Giving the Grooms a lift from Summerveld we were amped and hyped. They wanted the song Jerusalema playing loud. We were all singing along as we arrived at Hollywoodbets Greyville. The mood was good, as they say!”

Barend says that his champion is quite a handful and the news that she had spread a shoe en route to the start was not exactly what he wanted to hear.

“When the Chief Stipe phoned me and said they were battling to get the shoe on and the filly wasn’t happy, I said ‘take them off then’. Gerald and Karin Kalil were standing outside. I thought for a moment of discussing it with them. Then decided they were so happy and excited, let’s just be positive. Then when Smanga changed the tactics and took her up there, I thought, oh hell, the day started like a dream, but it’s going more pear-shaped by the minute. Then she just lifted her game and won it! I saw afterwards that only the two front shoes had been removed. I thought all four had been taken off. Look, we know Zola Budd was a champion. This filly is on her way there!”

A CALL FOR BREEDING INNOVATION - NEW STALLIONS ENTER MARKET

The 2024 thoroughbred breeding season in South Africa heralds the arrival of eleven new stallions, the highest number in the last 15 years. There seems to be renewed optimism in the market.

However, this positive development comes amid a decline in the mare population, now at an all-time low. This imbalance could significantly impact second-crop sires and stallions outside the Top 10 on the national log, posing challenges for the industry’s growth and stability.

Leading bloodstock expert John Freeman of Freeman Stallions noted that nine new stallions entered the market every year from 2013 to 2016, followed by three (2017 and 2018) eight in 2019, five in 2020, two in 2021, six in 2022 and five last year. There are presently 53 stallions registered the with National Horseracing Authority.

Freeman said: “Our broodmare population has dwindled from 3649 registered mares in 2018/19 to just 2,606 in 2022/3. As a result, the number of microchipped foals dropped from 2607 in 2018/19 to 1906 in 2022/3.”

The latest number of mares reflected on the NHA’s website is a worryingly low 1,914, which may increase slightly after final registrations in August, potentially reaching around 2,000. However, there will likely be further attrition in the number of microchipped foals.

Freeman’s own projected breakdown of support for new and existing stallions from this low number of mares, based on the known booked services for stallions under his management and the traditional trends of the market, paints a curious picture.

He said: “The first-crop sires always get their

share of support. On our estimated number of 2000 mares in the entire broodmare band, I’d say that about 650 mares will be spread between the 11 new sires. The top 7 –Gimmethegreenlight, Vercingetorix, Querari, Master Of My Fate, What A Winter, Rafeef and the new boom sire One World will get about 725 bookings between them. The secondcrop sires will have in the region of 350, which leaves 275 mares for the roughly 35 other registered stallions.”

Freeman said that he has been advising his racing clients to breed with their mares coming off the track, instead of rehoming them. “In the Covid era we also saw the fall of Phumelela and the news came that racing was in big trouble. Many breeders culled their stock, stopped breeding with certain mares or sold some of their mares anticipating a smaller market. Now, we have a problem to address.

John Freeman of Freeman Stallions | Credit: 4Racing

I am advising as many breeders as I can not to let what are considered lesser lights go. There are many highly desirable families that started with little or no black-type on the page.”

“We have to reverse the trend, so we have more mares available to the stallion population. Breeders should be more adventurous. When Captain Al started his career at stud, he had a diverse but enthusiastic group of shareholders. He didn’t get the best mares, not by any stretch of the imagination. Some even brought ponies back into their mating plans for him just so he could get numbers and have a chance to prove himself. He had 40 winners from 53 runners in his first crop. He sired 10% stakes winners to runners in that crop. That’s an international benchmark”.

“The thing is, one never knows. Mares with weak pedigrees or moderate track performances can deliver track stars. It happens all the time. That is why I go back to

nine generations in my pedigree research when doing matings. You can find the reasons why certain nicks produce freak talents.

“Strong black type all over the first four dams gives you a better chance commercially, but I’ve seen mares with almost nothing on their sales catalogue pages, breed surprisingly good horses. Breeders should persist with their fillies and mares now, give them opportunities.”

Freeman quoted early 20th century horseman Colonel Mel Goldsmith, who said:

“The Thoroughbred is man’s finest genetic achievement because: the second hand of a clock separates the best from the worst. The winner gets his advantage from all that is given to him in creation”. Hence the possibility that “the best can come from the worst”.

Compiled below, some information on the 11 new stallions, in alphabetical order:

A Case Of You (IRE) (Hot Streak ex Karjera by Key Of Luck), Drakenstein Stud

Dual Group 1 winner A Case Of You had a Timeform rating of 121. Just like Champion Two-Year-Old sire Var, A Case Of You won the prestigious Group 1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp.

Kevin Sommerville of Drakenstein Stud

commented: “A Case Of You has just arrived. He looks well, he is an exciting addition to our stallion barn. He was an out-and-out speed ball. He posted wins in multiple jurisdictions, including a Group 1 sprint as a two-year-old. He has a nice outcross pedigree and I think breeders should take advantage of a fast champion coming to South Africa. He is a nice package, a robust horse with a lovely temperament and lots to like about him.”

Covering fee: R20,000.

A Case Of You (IRE) (Hot Streak ex Karjera by Key Of Luck), Drakenstein Stud | Credit: 4Racing

Celestial City (Silvano ex Halfway To Heaven by Jet Master), Summerhill

Equestrian

Summerhill Equestrian’s Henning Pretorius has decided to stand Celestial City, a full-brother to five-time Grade1 winner Hawwaam, alongside the farm’s established sire, Act Of War. Celestial City won five races and was Listed-placed. While he doesn’t have his brother’s exceptional race record, his pedigree remains exceptional

and Pretorius said: “We only have a few breeders left in KwaZulu-Natal and we need more quality stallions.

I know it’s a challenge, but Celestial City has the genetics. I will use him for my own mares, and he is available to other breeders. I have set his fee high because I want people who are serious about his pedigree to bring him good mares. I’d rather have a few good offspring that a lot of moderate ones.”

Covering fee: R30,000.

Celestial City (Silvano ex Halfway To Heaven by Jet Master), Summerhill Equestrian | Credit: 4Racing

Charles Dickens (Trippi ex Demanding Lady by Dynasty), Drakenstein Stud

The brilliant chestnut, Charles Dickens, was unbeaten as a two-year-old. As a three-yearold, he won the stallion-making Grade 1 Cape Guineas and the highest rated race of the year, the Grade 1 Gold Challenge, both over a mile.

As a four-year-old, he won the Grade 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate in the style reminiscent

of the greats of the South African turf. He retired as the highest rated horse in South Africa and was ranked 7th in the world (Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings).

Kevin Sommerville said: “Charles Dickens has settled in beautifully and shares sold quickly. We are excited to see which mares’ breeders will be sending him. He is one of the best we’ve seen in South Africa, a wonderful racehorse. We’ll be sending him our best and we’re hoping other breeders will do the same.”

Covering fee: R50,000.

Charles Dickens (Trippi ex Demanding Lady by Dynasty), Drakenstein Stud | Credit: 4Racing

Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation ex Exemplify by Dansili), Paardeberg Stud

Expert Eye, the 2015 Gr1 Breeders Cup Champion Turf Mile winner, was imported as the foundation stallion for Paardeberg Stud, with accomplished breeder Sally Bruss at the helm.

The Juddmonte bred Expert Eye won five of 10 races and his crowning achievement was a victory in the 2018 Group 1 Breeders Cup Mile on turf at Churchill Downs. He was a high class two-year-old, winning Goodwood’s Group 2 Vintage Stakes by five lengths. At three he won the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot by the biggest margin this century and went on to win the Group 2 City of York Stakes. He also finished

second in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes and third in the Group 1 Prix du Moulin.

Expert Eye’s first crop raced in England and yielded 22 individual two-year-old winners to put him 4th in the Rankings of 1st Crop Sires. In his second season, he pushed his tally to 41 winners and established himself as a successful sire of precocious two-year-olds that continue to excel as they mature.

Bruss said: “We’ve made remarkable progress on the farm and Expert Eye has settled down well, he is a good-bodied, beautiful horse. Over the last six months we’ve bought the best fillies we could get for him, including Canadian Summer and Perfect Witness. He should have a book of up to 50 mares.”

Covering fee: R25,000.

Expert Eye (GB) (Acclamation ex Exemplify by Dansili), Paardeberg Stud | Credit: 4Racing

Frantastic (GB) (Frankel ex Rhadegunda by Pivotal), Hopes and Dreams Stud

Frantastic is the first stallion acquisition for Basie and Suzette Viljoen’s Hopes And Dreams Stud in Paarl. He and Drakenstein’s Sharp Frank (see below) are the first sons of Frankel imported to South Africa for stallion duties.

Frantastic is a full-brother to joint 2018 World Champion, four time Group 1 winner and now red-hot sire, Cracksman, who has already produced the Arc-winning, six-fromsix, record-breaking French Derby hero, Ace Impact, G2-winning juvenile Aloa; Weracruz, Stakes-winning filly and third to males in the G1 German Derby; the Aga Khan’s Shembala, third to colts in the G2 Prix Chaudenay on Arc weekend.

Frantastic, like Cracksman, was trained by John and Thady Gosden. He won at 2 and 3 years of age and twice from seven runs, over 1600m and 2000m respectively, before incurring a career-ending injury. He won on the all-weather and on turf, proving his versatility. He could have been anything had he stayed in training. He’s a beautifully conformed, imposing horse who descends from the greatest female line of the modern era.

“He will be with us soon, we are preparing a new barn and paddock for him and we are very excited,” said Suzette Viljoen. “We will be sending 33 of our own mares to Frantastic and we welcome support from other breeders. He has the blood and the looks.”

Covering fee: R25,000.

Frantastic (GB) (Frankel ex Rhadegunda by Pivotal), Hopes and Dreams Stud | Credit: 4Racing

Hit The Road (USA) (More Than Ready ex Highway Mary by US Ranger), Ridgemont Stud

Ridgemont will stand US Grade 1 winner Hit The Road (USA), a son of internationally acclaimed sire More Than Ready. The international Gr1 star, a multiple stakes winner, retired from racing in 2023 and counts the Gr1 Frank E Kilroe at Santa Anita amongst his six victories. He is durable and tough, demonstrated by the fact that he was a stakes winner at two at three, and a multiple stakes winner at four.

The beautifully bred colt, with a dazzling turn of foot, was purchased in partnership with Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein. Hit The Road

is by the same sire as South African Champion Sire, Gimmethegreenlight. He is out of the US Ranger mare Highway Mary, a three-parts sister to Gr1 winner and sire War Command, he is bred along a very powerful sire line.

“He’s everything I look for in a thoroughbred. Beautiful head and bold eye. Strong, correct, good walker. Stands over 16 hands, deep with a very powerful rear end. Fantastic temperament,” said bloodstock expert, Shawn Dugan.

Craig Carey of Ridgemont said: “Hit The Road has settled down very well. We’ll be sending him 25 of our own mares and to that you can add several more from the breeders who have taken shares, and

Covering fee: R20,000.

Hit The Road (USA) (More Than Ready ex Highway Mary by US Ranger), Ridgemont Stud| Credit: 4Racing

MK’s Pride (Willow Magic ex Ikimasu by Admire Main),

Heversham Park Stud

MK’s Pride is a speedy grandson of the mighty Dubawi, and he relished our local racing conditions. He is a well-balanced, tough individual with great legs. Unlike many stallions, he raced over 30 times and his wins included the Grade 1 Horse Chestnut stakes and the Grade 2 Hawaii Stakes as a three-year-old. Mk’s Pride is considered a great, versatile cross, particularly for Mr Prospector, Danzig, Blushing Groom and Storm Cat line mares.

Kat Riley of Heversham Park commented: “Most importantly, he represents a significant step in South African racing and breeding

history in that he is the first entirely black owned stallion to stand at stud in this country. It is a well-established fact that SA racing needs to diversify, and MK presents a wonderful opportunity for breeders to take active action and not just pay lip service to achieving diversity. We’ll be giving him some of our own mares and we’re hoping to get a few more from outside breeders.”

Part-owner Stinky Poee said: “MK’s Pride gives me a chance to start the breeding adventure. I will be supporting him with my mares coming off the racetrack.”

Covering fee: R5,000.

MK’s Pride (Willow Magic ex Ikimasu by Admire Main), Heversham Park Stud | Credit: 4Racing

Sandringham Summit (Gimmethegreenlight ex

Townsend by Captain Al), Varsfontein Stud

Retired from the track in June 2024, this magnificent son of Gimmethegreenlight will stand alongside his Champion sire at Varsfontein in Paarl. An Equus Champion Two-Year-old, Sandringham Summit showed exceptional talent on the racetrack and now promises to make an equally significant impact in his new role.

Sandringham Summit’s impressive race record shows five wins between 1160-1600m, at 2 and 3. His key successes include the Grade 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day

Premiers Champion Stakes and the Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe, as well as the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas and Gr2 Hawaii Stakes. His performance in these high-stakes races cemented his status as a top-tier racehorse in South Africa. He also placed second in the Grade 1 SA Classic, the Grade 1 SA Guineas and the Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes, and third in the Grade 2 Dingaans.

Originally purchased for R1,7 million off the National Yearling Sale, Sandringham Summit was syndicated for stud in December last year. The shares were booked up within 24 hours. “We had support from all the leading breeders, and he’ll have a full book of 120 mares,” said syndicate manager, John Freeman.

Covering fee: R15,000.

Sandringham Summit (Gimmethegreenlight ex Townsend by Captain Al), Varsfontein Stud | Credit: 4Racing

Sharp Frank (GB) (Frankel ex Sharp Susan by Touch Gold), Drakenstein Stud

A magnificent looking son of Frankel, Sharp Frank has an equally brilliant pedigree being the half-brother of SA Horse of The Year, Oh Susanna. Sharp Frank is an unusual step away from Drakenstein’s policy to stand only top class runners, but they felt it a necessary one as this handsome athlete was so highly thought of by his trainer Andrew Balding while racing in the UK.

Sharp Frank had only one start before he was retired, but Balding said: “Sharp Frank

was a highly promising three-year-old. He worked to a very high level at home after his sole racecourse appearance and it is a great sadness that he was denied the opportunity to prove his class to a wider audience. He had a fantastic action and like many of the Frankel offspring, I would imagine he has every chance of making it as a stallion if his offspring are anything like him.”

Kevin Sommerville said: “We’ve come up with a deal for breeders who support Sharp Frank. There are breeders who are behind him and he should cover a nice book of mares. We’ll also give him a full go with our own mares.”

Covering fee: R5,000.

Sharp Frank (GB) (Frankel ex Sharp Susan by Touch Gold), Drakenstein Stud | Credit: 4Racing

Thunderstruck (Rafeef ex Varikate by Var), Ridgemont Stud

Thunderstruck is another to have joined the formidable stallion barn at Ridgemont. The champion sprinter of his generation, he won the Grade 1 Gold Medallion at two and the Grade 1 Computaform Sprint at four years before an unfortunate injury ended his racing career. He left the track with eight wins and seven places from just 18 starts and was renowned for his good looks, soundness (before injury) and fighting spirit.

Thunderstruck was named Highveld Feature Season Champion Sprinter and is the favourite to land the 2023/4 award for Equus Champion Sprinter.

Craig Carey said: “Like Hit The Road, Thunderstruck will be getting 25 Ridgemont mares and several others from shareholders. He has been well supported and he is in excellent shape on the farm, enjoying his surroundings.”

Covering fee: R20,000.

Thunderstruck (Rafeef ex Varikate by Var), Ridgemont Stud | Credit: 4Racing

Wild Coast (Trippi ex Beach Beauty by Dynasty), Gelykfontein Stud

Following an arrangement with Drakenstein, Schalkie Van der Walt’s Gelykfontein Stud in the Karoo, near Colesberg, will stand Wild Coast. By Trippi out of the equally mighty Beach Beauty, Wild Coast offers a powerful genetic that cannot be ignored. By a son of two of South Africa’s finest male bloodlines, out of a champion SA racemare and broodmare, his high-class siblings include Rex Union, Amanzimtoti, Narina Trogon and the exported Gr1 winner Beach Bomb.

In addition to his significant immediate family, he is 3/4 bred to Charles Dickens and also closely bred to Santa Maria and the formidable race and broodmare Real Princess, a half-sister

to William Longsword – and both out of the topclass broodmare Pagan Princess.

Wild Coast won four races from 1250-1600m and registered 5 places from 20 starts, his victories headlined by a win in the 2020 Grade 2 World Sports Betting Guineas and a 4th place in the 2019 Grade 1 Cape Guineas.

Van der Walt commented: “We are over the moon to have Wild Coast with us, he is a horse I’ve had my eye on for some time. He is a fine specimen with powerful hindquarters. There are only a handful of breeders left in the Karoo, they will all be supporting him with mares and he’ll be covering seven of my own. We’re all excited about him. He stands alongside Visionaire, who came from Pieter Graaf and had a good book of mares with us last year.”

Covering fee: R5,000.

Wild Coast (Trippi ex Beach Beauty by Dynasty), Gelykfontein Stud | Credit: 4Racing

QUADRUPLE PLAY FROM THE YENI-SNAITH COMBINATION

Muzi Yeni put some meat on the bone of Justin Snaith’s lead over Sean Tarry in the SA Champion Trainer title race, when he booted home four winners for the Philippi based team at Fairview on Friday.

Riding like a demon on the day, Yeni booted home Dafne’s Daughter, Distinction and then capped a great day for the Snaiths when he got the Trippi colt Makazole up to win the R200 000 Listed Champion Juvenile Cup, before Gimme More Time hacked up in the last.

While the Yeni win stakes only totalled a modest R300 000 in total, it certainly gives Justin Snaith a bit of breathing space over the chasing Sean Tarry, ahead of the World Pool season ‘finale’ at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

The headliner on the eight-race programme, the Champion Juvenile Cup is the final feature of the 2023/24 racing season and went the way of the progressive Makazole, who bounced back from his unplaced effort on Hollywoodbets Durban July day in the Durban Gr2 Golden Horseshoe. Set alight inside the

final 250m, Makazole (33-20) won a nice race in a time of 85,30 secs. Mauritius Kestrel (6-1) was always in the mix and held on well for second, with My Best Shot (3-1) in third.

The tote favourite Kingdundee threatened late but appeared to encounter traffic issues and ran out of the money.

Raced by Nic Jonsson, Makazole was an R800 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale purchase and was bred by Westward Bloodstock Ltd (Nom: Mrs F Carmichael), Mrs E Yates & Klawervlei.

He is a son of retired champion Trippi (End Sweep), out of the three-time winning Captain Al mare, Shamrock Wind, and has won 2 races with 2 places from 6 starts for stakes of R268 063.

Muzi Yeni drives Makazole through the middle as the obscured Mauritius Kestrel (Louis Mxothwa) and My Best Shot (Richard Fourie) keep up the pressure | Credit: Pauline Herman

BUYER:

UNZEN HAS THE EDGE OVER PETER’S DEFENDER

After drifting in the betting, South Africa’s joint top-rated galloper Main Defender (131) was beaten by the Robbie Sage trained Unzen, who gave the rampant Gavin Lerena his fourth winner of the afternoon at the final Turffontein racemeeting of the season on Saturday.

Having his final start as a 3yo after a below par run in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge last time out, Main Defender, who drifted from 5-10 to 18-10, was partnered for the first time by Muzi Yeni, who had the son of Pathfork tracking Swing Upon A Star and the seemingly over-racing Unzen (2-1) for much of the 1400m in the R120 000 Pinnacle Stakes.

Into the run for home, Unzen (rated 109 and in receipt of 8 kgs) moved into the lead under

Lerena and always had the edge over Main Defender, who was given every chance by Muzi Yeni.

At the line Unzen held a 1,40-length advantage in a time of 84,33 secs. Main Defender looked a picture but failed to produce a kick and grabbed second 3,10 lengths ahead of The Africa House (11-2), who momentarily ranged up dangerously, but failed to reach the leaders.

Gavin Lerena has it under control on Unzen, as Muzi Yeni and Main Defender chase | Credit: JC Photos

Bred by the Tawny Syndicate, Unzen is a son of Erupt (Dubawi) out of the once winning Toreador mare, Adelia.

He went through the November 2yo Sale ring for R230 000 and took his earnings to R886 625 with his fifth win and six places from 18 starts.

Candice Dawson and Johan Janse van Vuuren shared the training honours with a double apiece.

The Turffontein card provided some competitive racing, and it was good to see Lyall Cooper back behind the on-course mic, together with Cecil Mthembu.

But with less than 70 runners in 9 races, it wasn’t exactly overall exciting stuff.

ANOTHER POSTPONEMENT IN CAPE

Brett Crawford’s face probably says it all in what has been a long cold lonely winter down South | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

It has been a very long July month for stakeholders of racing in the fairest Cape!

After a further track inspection at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Tuesday afternoon, Cape Racing decided to postpone today’s Hollywoodbets Durbanville racemeeting until Thursday 1 August.

The Hollywoodbets Durbanville surface has made a good recovery following the inclement

weather over the weekend, and Cape Racing are expecting perfect conditions for racing on Thursday.

Despite the change in season, horses will run as carded.

Cape Racing are looking forward to returning to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday 3 August.

FORMER SA CHAMPION FOR AUSTRALIA

This time next week a new name will appear in Victorian form guides with Lyle Hewitson preparing to take up an Australian stint.

The South African, who is among the elite riders in Hong Kong, will fly into Melbourne on Saturday with his first rides to come at next Monday’s Pakenham synthetic meeting.

Hewitson will remain in Melbourne until August 21, with Nick Pinkerton looking after his rides, in a stint that is both a warm-up for the commencement of the Hong Kong season and a relationship-builder for Spring.

“It’s a tough time of year, and I’ve opened Lyle’s eyes to it. It’s very competitive here and he’s not going to be able to just pick up rides left, right and centre,” Pinkerton said. “But

we’ll look to use these two-and-a-half weeks to showcase his wares, build a few relationships, meet a few people and just let people know that he’s around.

“If you’re looking for a rider for anything later in the spring in a Group 1 race and you can’t get who you want, he’s got freedom and licence to do so from the Hong Kong Jockey Club.”

Hewitson has cemented himself in Hong Kong where he has ridden 120 winners, including 40 in the season just gone, which placed him eighth in the jockeys’ premiership.

Hewitson is now very well established in the riding ranks in Hong Kong | Credit: HKJC

Moreover, he rode almost 1000 winners in South Africa before taking up residence in Hong Kong and is a seven-time Group 1 winner in his homeland.

Hewitson has also ridden in Japan and Singapore with this to be his first taste of racing in Australia, where Pinkerton said the 26-year-old had expressed an interest in riding on a permanent basis in the future.

He has been booked to ride two horses for Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock at Pakenham and Pinkerton said interest had been expressed from other stables, including Lindsay Park Racing with Hewitson a regular rider for David Hayes in Hong Kong.

“He’s here for just over two weeks and is happy to ride jump-outs, trials and races. He can ride at 53 kilograms,” Pinkerton said.

“He’s got that real polished style that in Australia will come to the fore and I think he’s made for our racing here.”

Brad Bishop — RAS NewsWire

RECORD SHATTERED AS CLASSY KYPRIOS GRABS GOLD

Kyprios set a course record and confirmed his place as Europe’s top stayer with an emphatic victory in the Gr1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, the highlight on day one of the Qatar Goodwood Festival on Tuesday.

Ridden by Ryan Moore for trainer Aidan O’Brien, Kyprios (8/13F) followed up last month’s Gr1 Gold Cup success with a sixlength verdict in a time of 3m 21.53s, eclipsing the previous record of 3m 24.86s.

John & Thady Gosden runners filled the places, with Sweet William second and Gregory a head further back in third.

Six-year-old Kyprios, a son of the late Galileo, was landing his sixth victory at the top level and his second Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup, having initially won the two-mile feature during an unbeaten 2022 campaign. Early the following year, Kyprios was struck down with infection in

a joint that seemed likely to end his career but, with skillful handling and patience by O’Brien’s team, he has returned seemingly at the top of his game.

O’Brien said: “Kyprios an incredible horse. All the people around him, credit to them. It is the team that makes it happen. I am so delighted for them. He’s a very special horse. He has so much class, really he’s going along in second gear all the time. It wasn’t easy for Ryan because he nearly slipped on the top bend and Ryan was always trying to gather him and help him. Incredible ride. Incredible horse – we know he stays well but he has a lot of class.

Ryan Moore steers Kyprios to an easy victory | Credit: Goodwood Racecourse

“The Gold Cup is a very important race for him every year and we will mind him for that. We thought if he was ok today, we might bring him back to an Irish St Leger again. If we got him through that, we’d have him for next year. We have to be respectful of him and to him, because if you saw where he came from, it’s hard to believe that he is here today. He did find the undulations of the track a little more challenging than he did before, but I couldn’t say enough great things about him.

“People go through very tough times in life and this horse is a perfect example of the animal side of that – we thought he couldn’t come back but he did come back. So genuine, he wears his heart on his sleeve every day. He sweated a lot today and didn’t stop sweating, probably because it is so warm, so we were a bit worried about that. He was a little different to how he normally is, so we were so relieved when it was over. Anyone who follows a thoroughbred will see the genuineness – and he always keeps a little bit.

“He’s like an athlete with an awful lot of miles on him, so all his needs have to be tended to on a daily basis, all the time. We are very lucky that we have the facilities and the people to be able to do that. And obviously you need the character, with the will to be able to take it and to want to do it. We have to be very respectful of him all the time and appreciate him.

“He does have an eye for a filly now, which is what you would expect at his age. Between the heat and the fillies, everyone did well to get him here today and for him to do what he did.”

Moore said: “I thought there would be pace with Al Qareem; he’s usually a free-going horse. It took a while to get there, but my horse obviously stays well. It was very smooth and we’ve obviously done the track record.

“The only thing that happened was that he slipped on the top turn, then he was just on the back foot and dropped away from the horse who was going to take me into the race. He still got there with two to run going very easy, and he was a bit idle in front there, but it was a tremendous performance.

“That slip did put him on the back foot down the hill a little bit, you know, and I wasn’t able to control the race the way I would have liked. But when you ask him and he picks up the bridle, he’s got pace. He does save a little bit for himself, really, but when you get it out of him, he’s got that speed there.

“He’s been a great horse for a long time now and his record is incredible, really. Since we stepped him up in trip there’s only been two defeats last year, neither of which was completely his fault.

“He is just very high class. This fella is very, very good. He wouldn’t show you how good he is, but he’s very good. He is not an Arc horse –he stays well but he wouldn’t be disgraced.

“I remember Aidan ringing and telling me what happened to him at the end of his good year. I never thought we would see him run again, so all credit to everyone at Ballydoyle for a massive effort.

“It is fun to ride him because you know he’s that much better than the rest.”

Kyprios’ co-owner Michael Tabor said: “When you see a turn of foot like he has against these, it’s over in the blink of an eye. Kyprios just seems to perform in every race. Ryan gave me confidence before the race – you had to be confident – and the only way he would get beaten, I suppose, was if he didn’t run his race as normal. He cruised in.

“It’s down to Aidan and he’s obviously done a great job in to get him back to where he is now. We have been fortunate enough to have so many good horses, it’s probably not fair to put them in any order. He certainly ranks very high.

“I think it’s open to discussion [his trip] and nothing is cast in stone. I think two miles is possibly ideal for him, but he could go back a bit or go longer, as he has proven.”

John Gosden said of the placed horses: “They were two solid runs behind a very good horse. We are delighted. Races like the Lonsdale Cup at York and Doncaster Cup will be the direction we will go. I am pleased with Gregory. He scoped perfectly going into Royal Ascot but not perfectly coming out of it. That can happen when you have everything spot on.

Something can just come along. I don’t know where Kyprios will go next. Irish St Leger? But we won’t be afraid to take him on again. They all have off days, you know.”

Philippa Cooper, owner-breeder of Sweet William, said: “I am so proud of him, I can’t tell you. He was on the bridle, off the bridle, which I love because that’s why I love these races –it gives them a chance to come back on that bridle. I think he’s maturing as well. He put his head down at the end. I know he got a couple of smacks but he’s mature enough to take it.”

James Doyle said of Gregory: “It is well documented that he wasn’t right after Royal Ascot, so he has proved he is back to his best today. It was a good run.”

THURSDAY IS LADIES DAY!

Clerk of the course Edward Arkell believes good to firm could appear in the going description by Thursday with no rain forecast and conditions likely to quicken over the first two days of the meeting.

Ante-post favourite Opera Singer faces nine rivals in the Qatar Nassau Stakes (16h35). A Group 1 contest for fillies and mares where the three-year-olds meet the older generation for the first time over ten-furlongs.

Aidan O’Brien saddles the three-year-old who was last seen finishing a length second behind

Porta Fortuna in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. The winner boosted that form with subsequent Group 1 success in the Falmouth at Newmarket in mid-July.

Opera Singer has yet to get off the mark in two starts this season, but she won three times during her juvenile campaign, including an impressive Group 1 success in the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp in October. Ryan Moore rides.

Emily Upjohn, the highest rated runner in the field represents the Gosden yard.

Thursday is Ladies Day at Glorious Goodwood. The West Sussex track hosts its annual horseracing festival from Tuesday to Friday with the Nassau Stakes the highlight on the day.

Opera Singer chases Porta Fortuna home in the Coronation Stakes | Credit: Megan Coggin

Supplemented at a cost of £40,000, the fiveyear-old mare suffered a half-length defeat to Bluestocking in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh last month. She must concede 8lbs to the three-year-olds, but her last run was also given a boost with Bluestocking running an admirable second behind Goliath in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot over the weekend.

French raider Sparkling Plenty attempts to emulate Goliath with victory here. She landed a hat-trick for her connections after victories in the Gr2 Prix de Sandringham and Gr1 Prix de Diane on her last two starts.

Coral-Eclipse fourth Sea The Fire and 1,000 Guineas heroine Elmalka add depth to this high-class renewal.

He takes on four rivals that include Derby fifth Sayedaty Sadaty and the Balding trained Bellum Justum who ran a good third behind Jayarebe and King’s Gambit in the Hampton Court Stakes at the Royal meeting.

Earlier on the card, The Strikin Viking could land the Markel Richmond Stakes (15h25). A Group 2 contest run over six-furlongs for juveniles, James Doyle rides the Inns Of Court colt for his retained employers Wathnan Racing. His half-length defeat by the unbeaten Ballydoyle colt Henry Matisse at the Curragh in the Gr2 Railway Stakes looks the strongest piece of form on offer.

Aidan O’Brien steps out Jan Brueghel in the Group 3 John Pearce Racing Gordon Stakes (16h00), run over a mile and a half. Unbeaten in two starts at the Curragh over ten-furlongs, the Galileo colt is amongst the Ballydoyle contingent aimed at the St Leger later this year and should relish this step up in trip.

HONG KONG – NEW SEASON FIXTURES

After a glorious season finale with 30 000 people on course on 14 July, the new Hong Kong racing season will kick off at Sha Tin on 8 September.

Total racing wagering turnover for last season was HK$134.7 billion, representing a 4.5% decrease on the 2022/23 season.

Here, although the Hong Kong market was impacted significantly by the economic downturn, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s strategy to expand its customer base globally has partially offset the loss, with Hong Kong races attracting record commingling turnover of HK28.8 billion, a 13.7% increase on the 2022/23 season.

From a pool of only 1200 horses in training – or about 0.7% of the world’s racehorse population – Hong Kong achieved unprecedented success on the international stage with victories in 13 of the world’s top Group 1 races.

For the first time last season, all 12 of Hong Kong’s top-level races featured in the

LONGINES World’s Top 100 Group/Grade 1 Races for 2023, with four in the top 20.

Also, for the first time, four of Hong Kong’s elite racing stars – Golden Sixty, Lucky Sweynesse, Romantic Warrior and California Spangle –featured in the top 15 in the 2023 LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings (WBRR).

The world-class quality of Hong Kong horses was showcased at Hong Kong’s two international flagship events, the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and FWD Champions Day.

Competing against 32 overseas runners from five countries, Hong Kong’s equine stars swept to victory in six out of seven Group 1 features.

Plenty of action again in the forthcoming season | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

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