SP SPRINT - 8 MARCH 2023

WHAT A GOAL!

CONTENTS

Rockets And Stars – Classic Stuff!

10 Hollywood Syndicate’s Purple Patch Anfields Rocket comes good over 1800m!

19 Gimme’s 6th Gr1 Winner Bless My Stars pips luckless Feather Boa

42 Young Jock Breaks Ice Stakes milestone for lad from Lusaka

56 Super Saturday For Soldier! Dubai World Cup is next on the roster

66 Cheltenham Is Around The Corner Jump for joy!

On the cover

A smiling Raymond Danielson returns on Anfields Rocket after winning the WSB Gr1 SA Classic. Image by JC Photographics.

Issue: 10/2023

CAPE GROOM ACKNOWLEDGED IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

Long-serving Dean Kannemeyer Groom Morris Mg Cube is the first winner in 2023 of the HK$1 Million World Pool Moment Of The Day incentive and the delighted horseman receives a cash award of the equivalent of close on R95 000.

Milnerton-based Morris looks after the top-class Gimme A Prince who won the R1 250 000 Pongracz Gr1 Cape Flying Championship on WSB Cape Town Met Day in January. The gelding is raced by international owner Lady Christine Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables.

Following the successful introduction of World Pool Moment of the Year in 2022 in Great Britain and Ireland, this has now been extended to all global World Pool meetings and will reward stable staff with a total of over HK$1 million (approx. £103,000) in prizes, as well as a VIP trip to Hong Kong, thanks to additional funding from the HKJC, UK Tote Group, Racecourse Media Group (RMG) and Ascot Racecourse.

The initiative commenced on Met Day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. This was the first

2023 racemeeting where racing fans from over 20 countries were able to bet into the enormous World Pools.

The concept is that one World Pool Moment of the Day will be selected at each World Pool meeting to win a generous cash prize and each winning Groom from the season’s 25 World Pool days will also enter the chance to be named World Pool Moment of the Year and win a VIP trip for four to Hong Kong for either the 2024 Hong Kong Derby or 2024 FWD Champions Day.

The 25 individual World Pool Moment of the Day winners will be narrowed down to a final four by a panel of global racing experts, before being voted on by the public for World Pool Moment of the Year, which will be revealed at the Hong Kong International Races at Sha Tin in December.

Speaking to the Sporting Post on Wednesday, the 65 year old Morris Mg Cube, who joined the Kannemeyer team under Dean’s late Dad Peter in 1997, and has tended to some top gallopers, including the likes of stable champion Free My Heart, said that he was thrilled and proud to have been acknowledged.

Chase Liebenberg

A proud Morris Mg Cube leads Gimme A Prince (Keagan de Melo) in after his Pongracz Gr1 Cape Flying Championship win

“I am so happy, thank you to Mr Kannemeyer and Lady Laidlaw and the World Pools organisation. Gimme A Prince is a champion and I could not have done it without them”, added Morris.

Born in the small village of Tsolo in the Eastern Cape, Morris started working for the legendary horseman Johnny Cawcutt in 1977, and also did stints with David Coleman and Paddy Kruyer, before he signed up with the Kannemeyers in 1997.

The father of three lives with his wife and three adult

children in the sprawling Dunoon township near the Milnerton Training Complex. Two of his three children work, while his wife has a three daya-week job as a domestic.

“This cash reward is a lifechanger for us. I am becoming a Grandfather again soon, and our house is very small. But I can now buy a fridge and a nice television set to watch the horseracing. And some baby clothes for my new Grandchild. My family are all very happy. Thank you World Pools,” he added.

Last year’s World Pool Moment

of the Year winner was Alpinista and winning groom Annabel Willis, who lit up the Knavesmire at York Racecourse when landing the Gr1 Yorkshire Oaks before going on to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Raymond Danielson returns to the winner's enclosure on Anfields Rocket

The Anfields Rocket magic rollercoaster ride continued at Turffontein on Saturday for the Hollywood Syndicate and trainer Grant Maroun when the handsome chestnut son of speedy Tapit stallion Coup De Grace, who sired under 50 runners, produced a career best showing to win the R1 500 000 World Sports Betting Gr1 SA Classic.

A winner of the Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes late last year before being shipped South for a tilt at the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, Anfields Rocket finally showed that he is looking for a trip with a scintillating finish down the inside to register his first Gr1 success over 1800m.

He certainly has been something of a puzzle, keeping the experts guessing, but Winning Form jockey Raymond Danielson, who rode a beautifully judged race for his third SA Classic trophy on Saturday, after Forest Path in 2009 and French Navy in 2015, had the last laugh.

On Anfields Rocket’s return from the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas sortie, the smart 3yo produced a dazzling Turffontein 1000m victory, flying up from a hopeless position 200m out, to get up and win.

Despite some shouting Gr1 Computaform Sprint and the like, Danielson stuck to his

theory that the gelding wanted a trip. On Saturday the plan came together, and with it a whole new world of opportunities.

Allowed to lope along just back of midfield for much of the race as Captainofthegreen and Laguna Verde brought the cavalry for home, Danielson worked his mount along slowly with the hands and despite Gavin Lerena unleashing what looked a winning run on Jimmy Don up the outside, Danielson didn’t panic.

It was only in the final 200m that he got animated and then it was race on.

In an exciting finish, the 17-2

Anfields Rocket held off the Verdonese charge Jimmy Don (33-1) by a length in a time of 110,71 secs.

Billy Bowlegs (7-1) came out of the pack for third, three quarters back.

The winning owners, the Hollywood Syndicate, who just this past week celebrated their 400th winner, have enjoyed their best season to date, by a country mile.

After winning the World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas and Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes in the Cape summer, and the Tattersalls Ireland Gr1 Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown with Il Etait Temps last month, the literal purple patch continued with a special moment in a history dating back to

Splendid Night in 2002.

Hollywood Syndicate Racing Manager Anthony Delpech, who won the SA Classic as a jockey in 1998 on Classic Flag and in 2003 on Surveyor, both for the Ferraris family, was on hand to lead Anfields Rocket in.

Trainer Grant Maroun, who strikes one as a generally laidback kind of person, admitted that he had not slept the night before. But he needn’t have stressed!

Now a winner of 6 races with a place from 9 starts for stakes of R1 351 875, the winner, who now has earned an automatic berth in the 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July courtesy of this victory, was bred by Klawervlei from their retired stallion Coup De Grace (Tapit).

Anfields Rocket probably gets his stamina from his Mom Milla’s Rocket, a daughter of Galileo who won twice up to 1800m in the UK.

Anfields Rocket was bought by his original owner Grant Maroun for just R11 000 off the 2020 BSA July Online Auction, before being sold on to the Hollywood Syndicate after winning the Graham Beck Stakes.

The sky’s the limit now for the purple rocket.

The winning team – Anthony Delpech, Ray Danielson and Grant Maroun

TAPIT’S GLOBAL WEEKEND

Multiple champion sire Tapit continues to make his mark, and the son of Pulpit was at it again this weekend.

Not only is Tapit’s Gr2

Amsterdam/Gr3 Bay Shore

Stakes winning son Coup

De Grace sire of Saturday’s Gr1 World Sports Betting SA Classic winner Anfields Rocket, another son of Tapit, Tapiture, is the sire of Saturday’s Listed Al Bastakiya Sponsored by Arabian Adventures

winner Go Soldier Go.

In landing the SA Classic, Anfields Rocket was claiming his second graded win, with the gelding also victorious in this season’s Gr3 Allied Steelrode Graham Beck Stakes.

Tapit is also the sire of Gr1 Gazelle Handicap winner Dance Card- whose sevenyear-old son Endorsed (Medaglia D’Oro) won

Saturday’s Gr2 WinStar Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes.

Tapit is the sire of the highly rated Gulfstream Park Mile runner up Charge It, while another son of Tapit, Proxy, finished second in Saturday’s Gr1 Santa Anita Handicap.

Champion sire in the USA in 2014, 2015 and 2016, Tapit enjoyed another outstanding year in 2022 thanks in part to the deeds of his unbeaten

Anfields Rocket enjoys the 1800m as he charges clear under Winning Form-sponsored Raymond Danielson

son Flightline. The latter, who recently had his first mare confirmed in foal, ended his unbeaten career on a high note when he stormed home to an eight and a quarter length win in the 2022 Gr1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic.

While Flightline has retired, his sire still appears to be potentially on course for another good year in 2023.

Tapit’s sophomores this year include the promising Tapit Trice, winner of two of his first three starts and a potential Derby contender, while his older runners include the likes of Charge It and Proxy. He was also responsible for a pair of graded stakes winning

daughters in January with his daughters Pauline’s Pearl and Personal Best winning the Gr3 Houston Ladies Classic Stakes and Gr3 La Prevoyante Stakes respectively.

To date, Tapit’s best sire son has been Florida Derby/Donn Handicap victor Constitution. The latter is currently the sire of more than 40 stakes winners headed by four time Gr1 winner, and Ashford sire, Tiz The Law, and Gr1 Cigar Mile victor Americanrevolution. Constitution has also enjoyed great success in Chile where he was Champion Sire in 2020-2021.

Tapit’s Belmont Stakes winning son Tonalist is the sire of recent Saudi Cup runner up

Country Grammer, who was victorious in last year’s Gr1 Dubai World Cup.

Another son of Tapit, Tapwrit (like Tonalist a winner of the Belmont Stakes), is the sire of 2023 Smarty Jones Stakes winner Victory Formation, while Tapit’s multiple Gr1 winning son Frosted is responsible for this year’s Gr3 Santa Ynez Stakes queen Ice Dancing.

With Tapit’s two Breeders’ Cup winning sons Essential Quality and Flightlne yet to be represented by runners, the Tapit legacy looks set for further growth in the years to come!

Tapit son Coup De Grace - sire of Anfields Rocket

SIXTH GR1 WINNER FOR GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT

Sean Tarry made it four Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Classic victories in the past nine renewals of the SA Triple Tiara second leg, when the Varsfontein-bred Bless My Stars rallied powerfully late to win the R1 250 000 2023 renewal at Turffontein on Saturday.

The former multiple national champion conditioner registered a feature double on the day after his Hawaii

Stakes success and a double after Rain In Holland (Duke Of Marmalade) won the race last year. Previous Tarry winners of the SA Classic are Siren’s Call (Elusive Fort) in 2015 and Return Flight (Pomodoro) in 2019.

Former SA champion jockey Smanga Khumalo hadn’t seen the winner’s enclosure in his hometown in a month but rode an enthusiastic finish on the 10-1 Bless My Stars

to stave off a determined challenged by Richard Fourie on the luckless Feather Boa (18-10), who was denied on the bob, to go down a head in a time of 111,68 secs.

None Other (6-1) was 2,20 lengths away in third, with the winner’s stablemate Silver Hills (7-1) well beaten in fourth, but announcing her Oaks aspirations.

Smanga Khumalo (stars on cap) drives Bless My Stars down the inside as Feather Boa (Richard Fourie) fights on

Piere Strydom did nothing wrong on first leg winner Lady Of Power, who changed stables from Joey Soma to the Azzie’s shortly after her victory. She was always in the vanguard but was the first horse beaten at the 300m marker.

A former Paul Peter charge, the winner was easy to back,

despite encountering traffic in her last start.

Bred by Varsfontein Stud, Bless My Stars is a daughter of their resident sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the sixtime winning Silvano mare, Star Express.

Raced by Kestorm

Investments, Bless My Stars was a R250 000 National Yearling Sale graduate and took her stakes tally to R963 750, with her third victory and 2 places from 8 starts.

The final leg of the 2023 Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara is the R750 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 SA Oaks which will be run at the same venue on 1 April.

Smanga Khumalo shows his joy after the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic - hours later he was hit with a R25 000 fine

Candiese Lenferna

BLING AND THE WHIP THING - AGAIN

While Bless My Stars’ narrow victory in Saturday’s R1,25 million Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic at Turffontein was his first hometown winner in a month, former national champion jockey Smanga ‘Bling’ Khumalo found himself on the wrong side of our much debated crop-use laws again.

Just two days after his return from a ten day suspension for failing to ride one of his mounts out in the Eastern Cape, and prejudicing his

chances in the process, Khumalo was charged on Saturday with a contravention of Rule 58.10.2 (read with Guideline M on the use of the crop) in that he misused his crop by striking SA Fillies Classic winner Bless My Stars more than twelve times.

He signed an Admission of Guilt and a fine of R25 000 was imposed.

When assessing this penalty, the Board took into consideration the number of times the crop was used (13), Khumalo’s recent record with regards to this Rule and Guideline, his finishing position and the status of the race.

Backers of the fancied Feather Boa, who got to within a head of Bless My Stars, may well feel aggrieved as jockey Richard Fourie rode within the rules.

CHELTENHAM –WHIP RULE FEARS

While the crop rules are creating debate in South Africa, with repeat offenders seemingly happy to take the financial rap, UK trainer Gordon Elliott fears the sport could lose owners because of the new whip rules in Britain. He told the Racing Post that he is both scared and saddened by the prospect of winners being disqualified at next week’s Cheltenham Festival.

In the very first week of the new whip rules Lunar Discovery was disqualified after finishing second in an Ayr bumper because jockey Charlotte Jones hit the favourite 11 times, four over the new limit in jumps races and enough to throw the horse out. There were 20 riding suspensions in the first week too with Lorcan Williams receiving the longest, an 18day ban which has ruled him out of the Cheltenham Festival.

Elliott is on edge on the eve of the Festival due to both the threat of disqualification and potential bans for his jockeys with April's Grand National in mind.

When asked about the new whip rules, the trainer said: "It's scary and something that really worries me. It's

something that I actually lie in bed thinking about at night, that you could win a Gold Cup and then lose it the following week. That's scary."

Elliott, who has celebrated 34 festival winners and been leading trainer at the meeting on two occasions, said both the timing and the logic behind the BHA’s new whip rules baffles him.

He said: "If a ten-year-old child came up and said it to you, you'd say to them 'Are you sure?’ It's actually hard to believe it's come to this. It's like Brexit coming in. Nobody realised what was going to happen until it happened and something similar is after happening here. For the Irish lads riding at Cheltenham, it's going to be very tricky."

Elliott's main fear is for the owner, though, who could spend days celebrating a big win at Cheltenham only to have their party spoiled a week later by a panel who deem their horse has been hit too many times.

The trainer said: "My biggest worry is for the owner. If they buy a horse, pay all the training fees and fund all the other costs that go along with owning a horse and then they win a race at Cheltenham,

which is our Olympics, only to have that race taken off them for doing absolutely nothing wrong. Nothing. It's just not right. We could lose owners from the game out of this."

He continued about his concerns: "I'd hate to be going back and watching a replay of a race I've won at Cheltenham and counting the strikes and wondering how many strikes there have been. Like a slap down the shoulder is considered a strike now.

"Someone very, very shrewd said to me the other day that they will be shocked if there is not a horse disqualified at Cheltenham. I didn't think Charlotte Jones did anything wrong the other day, it didn't look bad to me."

SILVANO LEGACY OF STARS

'Although, by his own lofty standards Silvano has yet to dominate in that sphere, he has become a regular top ten damsire since 2017, finishing as high as fifth place in the past two seasons'

Smanga Khumalo returns on Bless My Stars after the Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic

This past weekend the late great Silvano added to his stature as a broodmare sire when he registered a notable stakes double in the space of just 24 hours.

Friday's Listed Breeders Guineas at Fairview went the way of the talented Futura filly Ekoria, who is out of Silvano's stakes winning daughter Equina.

Twice a winner in South Africa, her career took off in a big way when she relocated to Zimbabwe where she proved a revelation, accounting for the Zimbabwe Oaks, Castle Tankard, OK Grand Challenge and Republic Cup. Ekoria is her first foal.

Incidentally, pedigree pundits will surely have noted that both her sire and dam trace to the Koster-bred mare Bold Vixen. A Gr1-placed, stakeswinning daughter of Plum Bold, she is also ancestress of such notables as Gr1 Paddock Stakes and SA Fillies Classic winner Angelina, and Gr2 winner Epaulette.

During his impressive reign, Silvano was no stranger to siring the first two, even the first three across the line in stakes races (who will ever forget his historical 'trifecta' in the 2015 Durban July?)

On Saturday, the late Maine Chance linchpin took a leaf out of his own book in the Gr1 SA Fillies Classic at Turffontein, where he dominated as the

broodmare sire of both the winner and runner-up. In a rousing finish to the second leg of the Triple Tiara, Bless The Stars outduelled hot favourite Feather Boa by a whisker.

Bless My Stars is out of Silvano's accomplished daughter Star Express, a winner of the Gr3 Victress Stakes, whilst finishing second not once, but twice, in the Gr1 Majorca Stakes. Bred by Varsfontein Stud, Bless My Stars is by resident stallion Gimmethegreenlight, who previously sired the Gr1placed, dual Gr2 winner Barahin from a Silvano mare.

Spare a thought for runner-up Feather Boa. She has drawn the short end of the stick on more than one occasion and is way overdue a first stakes success. Her day will surely come. Yet another feather in the cap of noted 'filly' sire Flower Alley, she lacks nothing in pedigree either, her dam Osprey being a Silvano full sister to Gr1 Met winner Martial Eagle and to Nebula, twice winner of the Algoa Cup.

Given his dominance as a stallion, many expected Silvano to make an immediate impact as a broodmare sire, which sadly, has not transpired. Bless The Stars is only the second Gr1 winner out of a Silvano mare, the first was last season's Gr1 Thekwini Stakes victress Canadian Summer, a daughter of now-retired Oratorio.

Some would no doubt disagree, but as one noted bloodstock consultant remarked: "Maybe one of the reasons is that he's a classic sire and they don't come to hand that quickly and need a bit more time."

Be that as it may, while the Gr1 winners have been slow in coming, his daughters have nevertheless produced 16 black type winners to date, which is a more than respectable total.

Although, by his own lofty standards Silvano has yet to dominate in that sphere, he has become a regular top ten damsire since 2017, according to NHRA statistics, finishing as high as fifth place in the past two seasons. Casting an eye over the latest table, he once again finds himself in fifth in a tightly bunched group, just behind Fort Wood and ahead of Trippi and Dynasty.

Interesting to note too, that his seasonal tally of four stakes winners to date is purely made up of fillies: Bless My Stars, Ekoria, Canadian Summer, who added the Gr3 Flamboyant Stakes, and Gilded Butterfly, winner of the Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap.

That comes as no surprise, since his tally of 16 stakes winners includes just three males; aforementioned Barahin, Wonderwall and Native Tongue.

Time to take the blinkers off

If horse racing’s diminishing fan base constituted a political party, we’d probably be in Parliament right now, cosying up in meaningless conversations to the best of them.

Perhaps we’d be trying to form coalitions to survive. We won’t make much progress, however. We’ll become insignificant and gradually fade from the scene.

We, the die-hards of the Noble Sport, are astute at identifying problems and announcing a dire need for change and innovation.

Superb, too, at cheerleading from the rooftops of luxury conference centres about the necessity for driving rapid and purposeful changes.

And then, nothing happens.

Lip service comes into play. We nod in agreement, discuss the future of racing with other worried fanatics, write letters to the media and wholeheartedly call for something drastic to be done.

More meetings are convened, followed by the doing of, well, not much at all. We are too spellbound by the next major horse race and the fanfare around it and comforted by reassuring accounts of racing’s traditional resilience. There is always a lifeline, right? We’ll be okay, don’t worry!

But all is not well. Here’s a quote worth reading a few times. Please do so.

It comes from business philosopher Peter Drucker, who stated: “The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence; it is to act with yesterday’s logic.”

Spare just a moment to think about that.

Overall, innovation in horse racing is essential, now more than ever before, for ensuring not only the safety and integrity of the sport, but for attracting new fans and customers, enhancing the viewing experience, and driving progress and improvement.

As with any industry, innovation is necessary for growth and continued relevance in an ever-changing world.

When Global Team Horseracing (GTH) introduced its Live Series concept to South Africa and the world last year, a good proportion of those who have been advocating change and innovation, resisted the thought of team-based racing within short intervals, whip-less contests between colourful teams, and a move away from marketing models with gambling for profits as central themes.

With its first series completed, and triumphantly celebrated with a major Sports Award for its effort, GTH proved that South African racing is indeed receptive to new ideas.

There remains, however, a measure of resistance among the racing purists who believe that their daily dose of racing and armchair punting on local races are all but guaranteed because the vested interests from multi-billionaires will keep the ship afloat forever. Why change anything?

The answer is simple.

If racing is to remain relevant and competitive in a modern, fast-changing world, no amounts of money spent on traditional thinking will reverse the sport’s declining supporter numbers.

We, all of us who adore the sport of thoroughbred racing, can no longer afford to pay lip service to the concept of radical change. We must embrace it with action!

Press release by Global Team Horseracing on Monday 6 March 2023

TARRY MAGIC IN HAWAII

Sean Tarry’s Under Your Spell became the first filly since the American-bred Overarching in 2006 to win the R400 000 WSB Gr2 Hawaii Stakes when she finished powerfully to beat a decent mixed-sex field in Saturday’s 2023 renewal of the 1400m contest.

A Gr1 winner at 2, the 4yo Under Your Spell (25-2) was given a patient ride by Louis Mxothwa, and despite running three wide, she finished with plenty in reserve to beat Joey Soma’s free-striding 2022 SA Classic winner Red Saxon by 1,50 lengths lengths in a time of 88,11 secs.

The pacesetting Humdinger (25-2) tired late but was not disgraced a further 0,75 lengths back in third, with her forward galloping stablemate Forever Mine (25-1) back in fourth.

After having seen a planned European and Australian export fall through, her happy owners, including Aussie-based OTI Management, will be positive about her prospects.

Sean Tarry originally bought Under Your Spell as part of a parcel of horses online and unseen.

A Summerhill bred daughter of Capetown Noir (Western Winter) out of the unraced Irish-bred Deceptive Charm (Kingmambo), Under Your Spell is from the same family as the accomplished Witchcraft who Tarry trained to win over a trip.

Under Your Spell made it eight wins with seven places from nineteen starts and took her stakes earnings to R1 482 000.

The Pick 6 pool on the big day fell marginally short of projections and reached a net R5 979 873.

Under Your Spell

under Louis Mxothwa

JC Photos

Owner Mano Pandaram kisses the impressive trophy

JC Photos

WYLIE HALL GELDING WINS DRUM STAR

Cheveley Stud are enjoying a wonderful season in 20222023 and their product Infinite Wonder added to the tally when he downed some big names to win Saturday’s Europa Point Listed Drum Star Handicap (1800m) for Gabriel Pieterse, Paul Matchett and Mano Panadram.

Newly qualified jockey Gabriell Pieterse rode a confident race to register a career first stakes score on the 5yo gelding, who came forward strongly at 17-2 inside the final 300m to beat the accomplished Litigation

(5-2) by 1,50 lengths in a time of 111,14 secs.

Flashy Apache (17-2) was back in third.

A five-year-old gelded son of Cheveley’s former sire Wylie Hall and out of a mare sired by the Cheveley bred champion Argonaut, Infinite Wonder was a R200 000 buy from the 2019 National 2YO Sale.

Infinite Wonder took his earnings to R256 625 as he registered his third win with 3 places from his 10 starts.

Read

INFINITE TALENT!

Gabriell Pieterse steers Infinite Wonder to a milestone win

JC Photos

The roars of support at Turffontein on Saturday for 20 year old Gabriell Pieterse as he drove Infinite Wonder to win the Europa Point Listed Drum Star Handicap could be heard 1500km away in his family hometown of Lusaka, Zambia.

The young former motocrosse champion, who came out of his time just two months earlier and was steering his first stakes winner to victory, was clearly overjoyed and thrilled by the vital ‘breakthrough’, when he chatted to the Sporting Post on Monday.

It’s tough for any young rider to get the breaks and create sustainable career opportunities, and Gabriell is very happy that he took the brave decision to try and make it on the competitive stage that is Gauteng racing.

“I decided on focussing on and staying in Gauteng as there are more racemeetings on average than other centres, and bigger yards with a wider spread of horses. It’s a big decision to make as some can get lost in the system. But so far I have done well, thanks to the support of Robyn Klaasen, whose stable I ride for, and Mr Paul Matchett and owner Mano Pandaram, who have gotten behind me.”

Mr Pandaram owns Infinite Wonder, and Gabriell started catching his eye when he booted Global Impact home by over 4 lengths to shed his maiden last month. Infinite

Wonder proved a milestone of note for the young rider.

“The only worry was that he was coming in soon after his last run. But we anticipated a little bit of a pace and it worked out. He settled well and was always going smoothly. I had my eye on Litigation up the straight, and I knew we had it sealed at the 300m. What a thrill. I’m still on cloud 9!” enthused Gabriell as he once again expressed appreciation for the support from owners and trainers.

“It’s a cliché, but it’s true. We can’t do it without owner and trainer support, and the rides. The great thing is that they contacted me to ride Infinite Wonder in the Drum Star.

He was allotted 52kgs. I’m comfortable at 53kgs. So it took a nominal effort – and I was only too happy to accept the engagement. The rest is history, as they say. I’m really chuffed,” added the rising star, who lives on his own in a flat in Bedfordview.

So did he hear from his family afterwards – particularly his number 1 fan, Mom Candice?

“Of course – they are in another country, but follow my progress passionately. The only thing was they didn’t click initially that it was a feature race – so when they heard that, well they were over the moon!”

And did he celebrate on

Saturday evening?

“I didn’t do anything crazy. I had been invited out to a birthday party and I attended that. It’s still work the next day, so partying is not high on the agenda,” he laughs.

Gabriell doesn’t risk cabin fever in his flat either though, and would rather be outdoors.

“I keep busy and you won’t find me ‘vegging’ on the couch. Thursday evening is always fun as the jockeys play action cricket at Meyersdal. So that’s good, clean fun, and great exercise.”

He also spends plenty of time with his closest mate, and fellow jockey, Denis Schwarz.

Gabriell is a motor sports fanatic, who has competed at the highest levels, winning 3 Zambian Motocrosse Championships and a Southern African Motocrosse Championship in the 65 and 85cc classes.

“I am looking out for a bike at the moment and I’m keen to resume motocrosse as a hobby. As you are aware, my family are up in Zambia. Dad was down in Gauteng a few weeks ago, but I haven’t seen Mom for some time – actually since February 2022. And my sister Jade and I are very close. It is my intention to go home in the first week of August and visit them all. It’s a good target to work hard towards.”

Gabriell and his family previously lived in Midrand, Johannesburg where he

attended Briandale Primary School. He was in boarding schools for much of his schooling career, so is well adjusted to a life of living on his own and only seeing his folks and sister periodically.

As for travelling for rides, Gabriell says he would rather build himself up properly before incurring costs for a ride or two elsewhere.

“My plan is to save and accumulate funds, so that I can afford to travel. It’s expensive and while it is part of building a brand and reputation, I need to be able to afford it. I will probably start by travelling to KZN from April. I’d love to do the Eastern and Western Cape, but need to build opportunities there. Rome wasn’t built in a day!”

Gabriell splits his riding work commitments roughly 60:40 between Randjesfontein and Turffontein.

“Hard work and running around in the morning is still the best way to show commitment. And naturally riding a few winners, too! But that’s why travelling is not a high priority right now. I have been around for five minutes, and need to establish credibility,” he adds maturely.

It was his Grandfather that suggested a career as a jockey.

“It’s been really great so far. I’m very lucky to have a profession that keeps me close to the horses and the outdoors.”

A thrilled Gabriell raises his fist in triumph

FUTURA LIFTS THE CUP

Drakenstein Stud’s four-time Gr1 winning stallion, and former SA Horse Of The Year, Futura has a smartly progressive staying prospect in the shape of the aptly named 4yo Thefutureisbright, who became his sire’s 12th stakes winner when capturing the R175 000 Listed Hollywoodbets Durbanville Cup on Tuesday.

The first meeting back at the country course in just under

4 months produced some cracking finishes, with Justin Snaith (treble) and Glen Kotzen (double) dominating the trainer stats, and national log-leader Keagan de Melo grabbing a double, including another winner for the Hollywood Syndicate, with the consistent Rafeef filly Shantastic winning the last for Dean Kannemeyer.

A horse with a beautiful action, Thefutureisbright was always

in touch and JP van der Merwe said afterwards that he didn’t want to be caught flat-footed off a fair pace.

Into the straight, Thefutureisbright (11-2) was pulled through by Senso Unico and was given a beautifully balanced ride by JP van der Merwe, and fought on well to hold Master Redoute (6-1) to 0,40 lengths. No time was published.

Thefutureisbright (JP van der Merwe) powers home ahead of Master Redoute (Ryan Munger) and the game Flower Of Saigon (Joshwin Solomons) in third

Chase Liebenberg

The game mare Flower Of Saigon made the pace and came right back to hang on for third, a further 1,25 lengths back.

Raced by longstanding Snaith patron John Rycroft, the winner was the second consecutive son of Dynasty

stallion Futura to win on the afternoon and was bred by Ndoro Stud from the one-time winning Western Winter mare, Andermatt.

A winner of 4 races with 8 places from 18 starts, The Futureisbright was a R100 000 National 2yo Sale graduate and took his earnings to R389 200.

The next Western Cape racemeeting is on Tuesday 14 March at Hollywoodbets Durbanville.

MILE WITH A SMILE FOR EKORIA

The Maine Chance-bred Ekoria quelled any concerns about her ability to cope with a step up to the mile when the daughter of Futura skated home a popular winner of the R200 000 Listed Breeders Guineas at Fairview on Friday.

Ridden by regular pilot JP van der Merwe, Ekoria took off late down the inside to register her second stakes success in the fashion of a filly with plenty in the tank.

Hollywoodbets-sponsored reigning East Cape champion trainer Gavin Smith expressed his relief that his charge had settled over the mile, and it was certainly a plan come together for the high-

riding family operation, with equipment and training initiatives coming into play.

Raced by Brad Ralph and Mark Greene, Ekoria gave reigning regional champion Gavin Smith his third winner of the afternoon and started at 13-10.

Ekoria beat the improved again Rimaah (25-2) by 1,25 lengths in a time of 99,56 secs.

The runner-up’s stablemate Hazy Crazy Night (50-1) was a head away in third, in the process giving the trifecta a minor kick.

A daughter of past SA Horse Of The Year Futura (Dynasty), Ekoria was bred by Maine

Chance Farms and is out of former Zimbabwe star and Silvano mare Equina –who, like Futura, is directly descended in female line from the Plum Bold mare Bold Vixen.

This is also the family of impressive Gr2 Heineken SA Nursery & Gr3 Three Troikas Stakes winner Miss Cool –whose dam French Rose is a half-sister to Futura.

A model of consistency, Ekoria was a R260 000 buy from the 2021 August Two Year Old Sale has earned at all of her 9 starts – including a major centre Gr1 place – and took her earnings on Friday to R422 750, with her fourth win and 5 places from 9 starts.

Ekoria storms home under JP van der Merwe

HOW THE HANDICAPPERS RATED THE FEATURES

Anfields Rocket has had his merit rating elevated from 107 to 118 following his success in the Grade 1 WSB SA Classic for three-year-olds over 1800m on the Turffontein standside track on Saturday 4 March.

The Handicappers were of the unanimous view that 4th placed EYE OF THE PROPHET made for the best line horse here, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 113. In rating the race this way. 5th finisher ROYAL VICTORY runs to his mark of 112, which therefore remains unchanged and which effectively makes him a line horse as well.

Runner-up JIMMY DON was raised from 105 to 116, while 3rd finisher BILLY BOWLEGS goes up from 106 to 114. There were also increases for STAR COIN, who is up from 98 to 109, and for RULE BY FORCE, who is up to 108 from 102.

The only ratings drop was for MONEY HEIST, who is down from 108 to 106.

Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic

BLESS MY STARS has had her rating raised from 103 to 109 after capturing the Grade

1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic for three-year-old fillies over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday. Here it was the consistent runner-up FEATHER BOA who was deemed to make for the best line horse, which leaves her unchanged on a rating of 108.

3rd placed NONE OTHER has been raised from 101 to 104. Significantly, NONE OTHER had achieved a rating of 104 when finishing 2nd in the Grade 3 Sea Cottage Stakes at her most recent start, but the specific conditions of that race did not allow for any ratings increases beyond the winner and as such NONE OTHER remained on a mark of 101. As no such restrictions apply in the Fillies Classic, she has now been raised to the 104 she effectively should have already been going into the race.

There were also increases for 4th finisher SILVER HILLS, who is up from 93 to 100, and for GIMMEALIGHT, who goes from 87 to 93.

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

WSB Gr2 Hawaii Stakes

UNDER YOUR SPELL remains unchanged on a rating of

114 after she landed the Grade 2 WSB Hawaii Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday. Here it was runnerup RED SAXON who was used as the line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 116. In assessing the race this way UNDER YOUR SPELL only runs to a mark of 112, hence her unaltered rating.

3rd placed HUMDINGER goes up from 103 to 107, 4th finisher FOREVER MINE is up from 107 to 109, while the only other increase was for 6th finisher TEAM GOLD, who goes up from 102 to 106 to ensure that he would face the 102-rated 8th placed IRISH TRACTOR on the correct terms were they to meet in a handicap race.

Two horses were given a rating’s drop. MK’S PRIDE is down from 122 to 120, while CAPTAIN PEG drops to 104 from 106.

Europa Point Listed Drum Star Handicap

INFINITE WONDER has had his rating raised from 95 to 103 after winning the Europa Point Drum Star Handicap over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday. It was runner-up LITIGATION who was used as

the line horse here, leaving him unchanged on a rating of 113. The winner was 5 pounds or 2.5 kgs under sufferance at the weights, which is largely the reason behind his substantial rating increase.

Similarly, 3rd placed FLASHY APACHE was 6 pounds or 3 kgs under sufferance at the weights, and accordingly has had his rating adjusted from 94 to 98.

There were no other rating increases, but four horses were given a drop. PLATINUM SKY is down from 100 to 99,

SECOND BASE is down to 106 from 109, CRIMSON KING drops to 99 from 102, and lastly DUKE OF SUSSEX was dropped from 100 to 99.

Listed Breeders Guineas

EKORIA remains unchanged on a mark of 108 after winning the Listed Breeders Guineas for three-year-old fillies over 1600m on the turf course at Fairview on Friday 3 March. The Handicappers took the view that 5th placed DOUBLE DESTINY made for the best line horse here, which leaves her unchanged on a rating of

87. In rating the race this way EKORIA only runs to a mark of 94, hence her unchanged rating.

2nd placed RIMAAH was raised from 85 to 91, while 3rd placed HAZY CRAZY NIGHT goes up from 76 to 91. There were also ratings increases for 4th finisher EASY LIVING, who is up from 78 to 87, and for STRAWBERRY LIGHT, who goes from 77 to 81.

The only drop was for CHERE FOR ME, who is down from 87 to 85.

AT R300 000 - A ROYAL MAIDEN!

There will be 18 maidens lining up for the R300 000 Monaco Sport of Kings Charity Maiden Sprint over 1160m at Turffontein on Saturday 15 April.

The event takes place on The Royal Raceday and will be run alongside the Gr1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes.

At the request of the sponsors, this Maiden Sprint has unique entry conditions and aims to give as many owners of maidens as possible, a chance at winning.

The race is open to all maidens which have run at least three times and allows for one horse per trainer at ballot stage, until a maximum field of 18 is drawn – the same rule

applying to the three reserve runners.

In that way, it gives smaller stables the chance to get a runner into this race.

The Monaco Sport of Kings is a group of businessmen from Monaco who have always shown support for this prestigious raceday and especially to the various charities this event has been able to support in the past.

The Maiden Sprint is another example of their generous sponsorship towards not only the race prize money, but also to the various charities who will receive contributions on the day.

The Royal Race Day is Day four of 4Racing’s “The

Championships” season. It is a Ladies Day and more exciting information on the theme, including prizes for the “Best Dressed”, as well as other initiatives at the event will follow in due course.

As this raceday is a premier feature day on the Highveld calendar, the Monaco Sport of Kings Charity Maiden Sprint qualifies as a Racehorse Owners Association “Super Bonus Race”, where the winning owner can walk away with a R40 000 bonus, if they are an ROA member in good standing.

• Entries are due by 09h00 Thursday 6 April.

• Declarations due by 11h00 on 11 April.

SOLDIER ON TRACK FOR DUBAI WORLD CUP

Salute The Soldier makes history with a super effort on Saturday

Salute The Soldier became the first horse to win two editions of the Gr1 Maktoum Challenge R3 (sponsored by Emirates Airline), rolling back the years in Super Saturday’s $450 000 Meydan feature.

Ridden by Adrie de Vries for Fawzi Nass, the eight-yearold was drawn wide in 10 and couldn’t take up his customary front-running role, as First Constitution took the field along over the 2000metre dirt course. Off the home turn it was favourite Bendoog who set sail for home, but Salute The Soldier soon loomed large on his outside and wasn’t stopping, powering to a twolength success, the tenth of his long career.

“We went fast and I was happy with my draw on the outside,” said de Vries. “I followed James [Doyle, on Bendoog] as he had, in my opinion, the horse to beat. I gave him a nice breather on the turn and he took him a while to pick up, but he seems to have a lot more stamina now and he made it look easy at the end.

“He wasn’t the same last season, for whatever reason, but the team have done an amazing job to get him back to his old form.”

Rated 111 ahead of this race, Salute The Soldier’s connections will be hoping for another invitation to the $12million Dubai World Cup,

in which he finished fifth in 2021.

It was a night to remember for owners Victorious, Nass and de Vries who 35 minutes earlier took the Listed Al Bastakiya when Go Soldier Go came from last to first for a breathtakingly narrow success.

Turning for home in the 1900metre dirt event, prep for the G2 UAE Derby, it was Southern Artist and Ami Please who were locked in battle. When they began to tire, Mr Raj and Go Soldier Go swooped close home and the latter stole the win by a head.

It was a second win in the race for trainer Nass, who also

Happy connections lead Salute The Soldier in

Dubai Racing Club

took it in 2014 with Asmar, while his jockey was winning it for the first time.

“He takes time to get going, although he travelled OK,” said de Vries. “I was stuck behind beaten horses on the backside so then I had to rush him a bit, but he has plenty of stamina.

“Once he got out of the kickback he quickened up really well. I’ll just have to ride him the same way [in the Gr2 UAE Derby]

and see if they go fast enough.”

Go Soldier Go, a son of Tapiture, is a graduate of the inaugural Dubai Breeze-up sale, having previously been through the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

The Dubai World Cup meeting is on Saturday 25 March. Lots to look forward to!

The SPRINT is interactive - Watch the Gr1 Maktoum Challenge R3 replay here.

A TROUBLED ISLAND

The troubles bedevilling Mauritius racing will see the 211 year old Mauritius Turf Club not be a part of organising races this year for the first time in their existence.

With the new season set to commence on Saturday 18 March, it was reported recently that the MTCSL had by late February not received the cost sharing agreement announced by the People’s Turf Plc Ltd (PTP) for the 2023 season.

A subsequent request by the PTP for the MTCSL to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), which would effectively prevent the MTCSL from communicating on, amongst other items, the cost sharing agreement, was rejected.

The Board of the MTCSL resolved not to respond favourably to the NDA in what was termed a ‘muzzling imposed by the PTP’.

Local media platform Turf

News reported last week that the 2023 Mauritius racing season season will now go ahead without the MTC Sports and Leisure Limited (MTCSL).

It is reported that the members of the Mauritius Turf Club (MTC) chose unanimously, through their Extraordinary General Assembly held on Friday 3 March to step back and not to organize horseracing this season.

“When I woke up this morning, I was aware of the distress that will be upon all Mauritian turfists today and I am not forgetting all the stakeholders who have been to the Turf Club in recent years. I am before you because the decision that we had to make today is dramatic. The consequences will obviously be important for everyone, but I finished my speech today by saying that 2023 is

a nightmare and that when we wake up in 2024, we hope it will be a better year. That means what it means. The MTC is not dead. The MTC will survive and hope for better days. This won’t happen in 2023, but let’s wait and see. We have employees that will suffer the consequences of what will happen. We will support the employees during these difficult times and we will not let them down. The aim of the MTC is not only to organize race days, but also to ensure that equestrian sport progresses in Mauritius. I didn’t become the President of the Turf Club to close the MTCSL. We were here to run and to keep running, but we can’t run under the current conditions. The Club will be open to members on race day. The MTC Annual General Meeting will be held in midApril with audited accounts to 31 December 2022. This Assembly will have to decide on the direction of the MTC in view of the figures audited as of December 31, 2022.”

STALLION DISAPPEARS

The 16-year-old stallion Zazou, winner of the Group 1 Premio Roma and second in the Deutsches Derby, was stolen from his stable at Darhorse Stud on Friday night. The case is being investigated by the Czech police.

Zazou, who has been standing in the Czech Republic since 2016, is one of the most

sought-after sires in the country. In addition to mares from domestic owners, he has covered a number from abroad, including Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Hungary and Scandinavia.

The son of Shamardal, who had been based near Roudnice nad Labem, 50km (31 miles) north of Prague, had a distinctive irregular white

star on his forehead. Zazou is part of Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov’s estate, which has been frozen under international sanctions.

Zazou

MTC President Gavin Glover said:

was bred by Stiftung Gestüt Fährhof and is the fourth foal out of the Listedwinning Lomitas mare Zaza Top.

WAITING FOR THE ROAR ON TUESDAY

The Cheltenham Festival starts on Tuesday week and with less than seven days to go here is an overview of the Graded races on Day 1.

The traditional Cheltenham ‘roar’ means the start of the Gr1 Supreme Novice’s Hurdle at 15h30. Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins saddles three of the top four in the betting in an attempt to win an eighth Supreme. Quevega’s son, Facile Vega has been the strongly supported in the market and looks to go off favourite, whilst stable companions Impaire Et Passe and Il Etait Temps arrive in

good form having won their respective last starts in graded company.

Fellow Irish

trainer Barry Connell saddles the second favourite Marine Nationale who was successful in an Irish Group 1 earlier in the season. He will be hoping for a first Festival success as a trainer.

Nicky Henderson provides an English challenge to the Irish dominance in the Gr1 Sporting Life Arkle at 16h10. He trains the McManus owned Jonbon, the joint-highest rated Novice chaser this season.

He is marginal favourite for the Arkle at 6/4 with the Mullins trained El Fabiolo, who was so impressive when victorious in the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown last month, at 13/8.

Favourites have a fantastic record in this race, with six of the last eight market leaders obliging, so it will be interesting to see who will go off at the top of the betting.

The day’s feature race is the Unibet Champion Hurdle (17h30), and hurdling superstar Constitution Hill will be in action. Trainer Nicky Henderson’s six-year-old is

Cheltenham Racecourse

back at Cheltenham for the first time since his 22-length Supreme demolition last season. He hasn't had to come off the bridle to win the Fighting Fifth and Christmas Hurdle this season.

The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (18h10) is very likely to be the final time we see the great mare Honeysuckle in action. The dual Champion Hurdle heroine has been rerouted from a Champion Hurdle clash with Constitution Hill to instead take in the Mares' Hurdle, a race she won in 2020.

Willie Mullins landed six consecutive runnings of the race with Quevega (2009 to 2014), and he won two of the subsequent runnings. Brandy Love, Shewearsitwell and Echoes In Rain are all potential

runners for Mullins this year.

No horse has yet managed to win both the Mares' Novice Hurdle as well as the Mares' Hurdle, but that could well change this year as the Harry Fry trained Love Envoi will attempt to complete the feat. She is a general 6-1 chance to supplement last year's Festival win.

After four Group 1’s, the juveniles take centre stage at 18h50 with the running of the Gr3 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.

Tekao is fancied for this year's race, having chased home the Triumph Hurdle favourite and third favourite at the Dublin Racing Festival. He's attempting to provide Willie Mullins with his first Boodles winner.

The final event on the card is the Gr2 National Hunt Novices’ Chase at 19h30. This graded feature is run over 3 miles 6 furlongs and is restricted to amateur riders.

Patrick Mullins and Jamie Codd have dominated in recent years, landing the race six times between them since 2012.

Both jockeys hold strong chances in this year's race with the market headed at present by Gaillard Du Mesnil, who is expected to be ridden by Patrick Mullins for his father Willie Mullins.

Jamie Codd should be aboard the Gordon Elliott trained Chemical Energy. He bolted up at Cheltenham in October and looks the biggest threat to the Mullins runner.

WEAK RAND SEES COMMINGLING UNIT INCREASED

TAB customers have been requested to please note that with effect from Tuesday 7 March the minimum bet on commingled pools on USA racing increased to R19 because of the US DollarRand exchange rate.

Four TAB bet types are currently commingled with USA totes – Win, Place (the American Show pool),

The unit cost of these bet types remains R1, but in all cases the total value of any commingled bet must be at least R19 and thereafter increase in R1 increments.

So, you can bet R20, R21 or R25 on individual Win and Place bets, although in the case of eachway bets the

incremental increase must be R2 (R1 for each of the Win and Place portions of the bet).

Example R19 eachway (R19 Win and R19 Place) for R38 or R20 eachway (R20 Win and R20 Place) for R40.

A single Exacta must be played for R19, but you can bet a 3-horse Exacta Box (six combinations) for R24. In basic terms the total bet cost must be R19 or more and the unit cost R1 or increments thereof.

BRAIN FADE COSTS JOCKEY

A self-confessed ‘brain fade’ has cost James McDonald the ride on four Gr1 favourites on Golden Slipper day including the coveted steer of Australian racing's superstar Anamoe.

Racenet reports that the champion jockey was handed a crucial six-meeting suspension for careless riding after pleading guilty to causing interference after the post in the Chase The Dream Handicap at Randwick today.

McDonald allowed his mount

Cholante to shift out into the running of Look Only which "struck heels" and "blundered badly".

"It was a nasty piece of interference," acting chief steward Chris Albrecht told McDonald.

"She (Amy McLucas) was lucky not to come down."

A remorseful McDonald was banking on his exemplary record to save his outstanding book of Golden Slipper rides which includes Group

1 favourites – Cylinder in the Golden Slipper, Anamoe in the George Ryder Stakes, Pericles in the Rosehill Guineas and Lost And Running in The Galaxy.

McDonald had only found out earlier in the day that Godolphin weapon Anamoe would be lining up in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) after trainer James Cummings informed stewards the Cox Plate hero would target the A$1m test instead of the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes on the same day.

Exacta and the Pick 3.

SAD FAREWELL TO GAVIN BROWN

Gavin Brown, former General Manager of the Pietermaritzburg Turf Club, passed away on Monday morning. He was 81.

Brown was GM in the PMB Turf Club’s heyday until the merger into Gold Circle. Along with his former boss Sandy Christie, Gavin was at the forefront and the industry leaders in many innovative ways to promote the sport.

Andrew Harrison writes that the PMB Turf Club hosted the first Bull Brand Jockeys International and Gavin had was at the helm when the National Government refused to grant the Japanese jockey a visa, but he was able to defuse the situation at the last minute.

They were also responsible for the first sponsored race, The Gilbeys Stakes, now the Golden Horse Sprint.

Brown and Christie introduced the Jackpot and Place Accumulator. The first jackpot resulted in a four-meeting carryover and a huge pool which kick-started the bet.

Gavin, along with David Furness, GM of the Durban Turf Club and Basil Thomas, GM of the Clairwood Turf Club, were key players in the merger of the three turf clubs into Gold Circle.

Bill Lambert, whose father Frank was responsible for employing Gavin in the first instance, said that Gavin was a workaholic. He was passionate about his job and horse racing and devoted his life to the sport.

The directors and staff of Gold Circle, and indeed the entire racing industry, send condolences to his daughters, Lyndsay, Fiona and Nina. By request there will be no memorial service.

Gavin Brown with long-time assistant John Wingfield at an early 1980’s pre Invitation Stakes banquet

TRAINERS

JOCKEYS

BREEDERS

SIRES

See all the detailed standings - Click here

IMPRESSIVE WORK AHEAD OF TITLE DEFENCE

Wellington’s bid for a fifth Group 1 success is firmly on course after his effortless barrier trial at Sha Tin on Tuesday morning under Alexis Badel for trainer Richard Gibson.

Gearing up to retain his title in the Gr1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) on Sunday, 19 March, Wellington coasted through the hit-out as he readies to face California Spangle, Lucky Sweynesse, Beauty Joy, Waikuku and

Courier Wonder – in what is shaping as a fiercely competitive renewal of the race in two weeks’ time.

Badel, 33, returned pleased following the 2021/22 Hong Kong Champion Sprinter’s effort to clock 57.97s over 1000m on turf, while California Spangle stretched out in the same barrier trial this morning to post 57.92s, one placing ahead of him in first position.

“He ran well, I was happy to

He’s doing very well. He was only beaten by a great, young horse in Hong Kong last time.

let him stretch out a little bit and obviously he had a long time between his last two runs. It was good to see him in good condition today,” Badel said.

Wellington has banked HK$59.2 million with 12 wins from 20 starts in Hong Kong and remains the benchmark

Wellington limbers up under Alexis Badel on Tuesday morning

performer of the city’s sprint division.

“He’s doing very well. He was only beaten by a great, young horse in Hong Kong last time. Hopefully we can turn the tables, he seemed to be in good condition today, so let’s see what happens,” Badel said.

Wellington finished second behind Lucky Sweynesse in last month’s G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) at Sha Tin.

“It’s going to be an interesting race with three (recent) Group 1 winners competing together. California Spangle has proven

his quality and he can lead the race, Lucky Sweynesse is very versatile – he’ll probably be handy,” Badel said.

Beauty Generation successfully defended his crown in the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup twice to rack up a trio of wins in the race (2018, 2019 & 2020) – each time under Zac Purton, who rode California Spangle to finish third in the G1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) last start behind Golden Sixty and Romantic Warrior.

Fresh following a Group 1 double at Randwick in Australia on Saturday afternoon (4 March), Purton was in the plate for California Spangle’s slick tune-up this morning.

The Australian rider’s Group 1 double Down Under came aboard Artorius in the G1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) and Communist in the G1 Randwick Guineas (1600m).

California Spangle boasts three wins this season, twice over a mile and also in the G3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) at his first run back this term as he builds towards Sunday week’s Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup.