20201103 - Sporting Post Sprint Ver 1.2

Wednesday 04 November 2020

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A Magic Day! 1

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HAPPY DAY IN

CRAZY TIMES!

New owner MK ‘Koos’ Nkale struck gold with the first horse he has ever owned when MK’s Pride got his nose in front in a thriller of a finish to the Bloodstock South Africa R900 000 Peermont Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup at Turffontein on Saturday.

The 1400m contest, offering the biggest single stake of the 2020/21 season so far, was restricted to eligible graduates of the 2019 Emperor’s Palace Summer

Ready To Run Sales.

And while the late withdrawal of champion filly Anything Goes looked to have thrown the race wide open, the support still came for another crack fairer sex galloper in the shape of Paul Matchett’s Gr1 performer, War Of Athena.

The three way tussle over the final 100m, between eventual winner MK’s Pride (5-2), narrowly beaten favourite War Of

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Athena (15-10) and the Sean Tarry-trained longshot maiden Flying Carpet (40-1), produced the finish of the day – and a shining advert for the thrills of racehorse ownership for the BSA team ahead of their big sale in November.

Winning Form’s SA Champion jockey Warren Kennedy produced a perfectly timed ride to get MK’s Pride up by a short head in 84,37 secs – a time faster

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War Of Athena (S’manga Khumalo) sneaks up on the inside of MK’s Pride (Warren Kennedy)

than that recorded under the same weight by the impressive Malmoos in the Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes and Due Dilgence (a filly carrying 58kgs) in the Gr3 Starling Stakes.

A visibly relieved Kennedy was full of praise for the winner, saying that when his mount had put his head in front, the young colt thought he had done enough.

“When the filly rallied, I thought MK’s Pride had been beaten when not putting it all in. He is a really smart horse!”

Trainer Paul Peter said he was thrilled that the fairytale had unfolded for the Nkale family.

“When I spoke to Koos before the race, he said what will be will be. So no pressure – even from a brand new owner.

He has been in racing for thirty years so understands the game. He has a beautiful laid-back horse. We will go next for the Dingaans. MK’s Pride will enjoy the mile.

In a further chapter of a genuine fairytale of a story, MK’s Pride races in the black and gold of soccer side, Kaizer Chiefs.

We will only see the best from this chap later on,” an elated Peter told the Sporting Post.

Mr Nkale is one of the most passionate of the top team’s 16 million supporters.

In an emotional – and lengthy – post race interview, Mr Nkale, who selected and bought the winner himself for R100 000, indicated that he was a spiritual man, who was thrilled for his family, the Peter team, and even for South Africa.

Cheques were paid all the way down to R10 800 for tenth finish to Somasonic.

Bred by Summerhill, the winner is a son of Willow Magic (Dubawi) out of the modest one-time winning Admire Main mare, Ikimasu.

“When I saw Summer Pudding win, I decided Mr Paul Peter was my trainer.

MK’s Pride has earned R531 600 and has won 3 of his 4 starts.

This is a wonderful day for racing and for South Africa – we prayed and I thank the Almighty,” he said.

What a great moment for racing in these crazy times!

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The Ratings The NHRA Handicapping team published their feature race analysis after the busy weekend in a media release on Tuesday.

• Gr2 Emperors Palace Charity Mile (Handicap) HUDOO MAGIC has had his rating raised from 106 to 110 following his success in the Gr2 Emperors Palace Charity Mile (Handicap) over 1600m on

Latest the Turffontein standside track on Saturday 31 October.

In selecting a line horse, the Handicappers were of the view that 6th placed ASTRIX would not have run below his best in finishing two lengths off the winner in a race of this calibre and his mark remains unchanged on 110.

Runner-up CHARLES goes from 108 to 110, while 3rd placed

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YOUCANTHURRYLOVE is up from 110 to 112. 4th placed TREE TUMBO, who was 7 pounds or 3.5 kgs under sufferance at the weights and carried 0.5 kg overweight, was raised from 100 to 109 and is the only other horse to receive a ratings’ increase.

There were drops for several runners.

TIERRA DEL FUEGO is down from 122 to 120, VICTORIA PAIGE was cut from 110 to 108, HERO’S HONOUR is down

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Due Diligence (Callan Murray) storms to victory in the Gr3 Starling Stakes…

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from 112 to 110, and lastly GREEN HAZE was dropped from 116 to 114.

• Gr3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes DUE DILIGENCE has seen her rating increased from 93 to 106 after she landed the HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes for three-year-old fillies over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday. It was 3rd placed CARALLUMA who was used as the line horse when assessing this race, her rating remains unchanged on 103.

Runner-up GEE FOR GO was raised from 88 to 104, TANZANITE QUEEN is up from 91 to 95, and LOUIS GEM was raised from 81 to 88. This way, the latter two would meet most of those who finished behind them on fairer terms all round in a handicap race.

The only drop was for TOTO, who is down from 88 to 86.

• Gr3 Palacebet.co.za Live Games Graham Beck Stakes Undefeated MALMOOS has had his rating raised from 100 to 110 after he recorded a third win from as many starts in the Grade 3 Palacebet.co.za Live Games Graham Beck Stakes for three-year-olds over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday.

The Handicappers felt that previously unbeaten runner-up FOREVER MINE would not have run worse than the actual 107 he achieved when winning a Graduation Plate a fortnight earlier.

At the time, FOREVER MINE could not be given more than a six pound increase for winning that race in terms of the restrictions in place regarding plate races, hence his 101 rating going into Saturday’s race.

Third placed WINTER STORIES was raised from 99 to 105, while 4th finisher CATCH TWENTY TWO goes from 99 to 104 to keep him one pound below the 3rd placed horse. In other increases, BINGWA is up from 82 to 96, and BOWIE goes to 91 from 89.

The only drop was for GOLD SEASON, who is down from 93 to 90.

• Gr3 Palacebet.co.za Sports Book Yellowwood Handicap SARAGON has had her rating increased from 105 to 107 after she defied top weight to land the Grade 3 Palacebet,co.za. Sports Book Yellowwood Handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday.

In assessing this race, the Handicappers felt that runner-up HEART STWINGS would at least have equalled her season’s best mark of 93 in a race of this calibre.

Accordingly, she was used to that level as line horse and her rating goes up to 93 from 92.

There were no other increases, but a number of horses were given a ratings’ drop. SHIVERS is down from 105 to 103, MASTER KEYS goes from 101 to 99 and KEEP SMILING drops from 102 to 99.

LEAGUE OF HER OWN, who raced off a mark of 80, had already been dropped to

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78 following the publication of weights for this race and remains on 78.

• Listed Palacebet Home Of Winners Golden Loom Handicap BOLD RANSOM has had his rating raised from 99 to 104 following his win in the Listed Palacebet Home Of Winners Golden Loom Handicap over the Turffontein 1000m straight course on Saturday. It was 4th placed SINGFORAFA who was deemed to make for the most suitable line horse, which leaves her unchanged on a mark of 119.

Runner-up ORAVAR, who was three pounds or 1.5 kgs under sufferance at the weights, goes up from 96 to 102, while 3rd placed GREAT SHAKA has had his rating raised from 99 to 101.

There were no other increases from this race, but three horses were given a ratings’ drop. CALVARY is down from 95 to 92, GIMME A WAVE drops from 101 to 99 and WINTER STORM was cut from 106 to 103.

• Listed Citizen Java Handicap ODD ROB has had his rating raised from 89 to 92 following victory in the Listed Citizen Java Handicap over 2400m at Turffontein on Saturday.

The Handicappers were of the view that 3rd placed IMPERIAL RUBY and 4th placed FACTOR FIFTY made for the most suitable line horses here, their ratings remain unaltered on 107 each.

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Runner-up AFRICAN ADVENTURE, who was 8 pounds or 4 kgs under sufferance at the weights and carried 0.5 kg overweight, was picked up from 81 to 92 and was the only other horse to receive a ratings’ increase, but there were drops for a number of runners.

BEFORE NOON drops from 88 to 86, SHENANIGANS is down from 92 to 90, DAWN ASSAULT goes from 110 to 108, SUNSHINE SILK is down to 100 from 102 and lastly, FACT drops from 89 to 87.

• Peermont Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup MK’S PRIDE has had his rating increased from 96 to 109 after he won the Peermont Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday. In assessing this race, the Handicappers took the view that 5th placed MISS ELEGANCE would not have run below her previous career lowest mark of 86 when runner-up in a juvenile plate at her penultimate start and used that performance as the line for this race. MISS ELEGANCE was given a partial drop and is down from 95 to 91.

Third placed FLYING CARPET (who had no published rating going into the race having only run twice previously and being still a maiden) was given a mark of 108, to keep him in line with the winner at these weight terms.

drops for two horses, with TREAD SWIFTLY going from 93 to 90 and BOLD HORIZON being trimmed from 83 to 82.

There were no other increases, but in addition to MISS ELEGANCE there were drops for two other horses. 4th placed AFTERNOON TEA is down from 97 to 95, while LADY OF THE FLAME was trimmed from 76 to 75.

Did you know?

• Listed Model Man Mile FIGHT SONG has had his rating raised from 91 to 97 after he won the Listed Model Man Mile for three-year-olds over 1600m on the Greyville Polytrack on Sunday 1 November.

Fourth placed NATIVE TONGUE was considered to make for the best line horse here, which leaves his mark unchanged on 92.

Runner-up SHAVOUT was raised from 85 to 96, while in the only other increase HEY BILL goes from 78 to 85. There were

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The Sporting Post Mailbag is your chance to have your say.

This week regular reader Steve Reid expressed his opinion about the handicappers and their ratings. His note was written before the NHRA report was published.

READ HIS THOUGHTS

HERE

Letters welcome – please provide a name, address and contact telephone number – mail to editor@sportingpost.co.za.

A Bomber Blitz! v

Drakenstein Stud is home to one of the top-rated sons of sire of sires War Front. Ireland’s Champion Older Horse of 2018, Lancaster Bomber, is an exciting sire prospect in every respect.

Trained by Aidan O'Brien on behalf of the Coolmore partners, Lancaster Bomber opened his account at 2 at second asking, before finishing runner-up

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in the Gr1 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes and the Gr1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.

Lancaster Bomber embarked on a globe-trotting 3-year-old campaign, finishing a close fourth to Churchill in the Gr1 QIPCO Two Thousand Guineas, second to Barney Roy in the Gr1 St James's Palace Stakes, and runner-up in both the Gr1 Ricoh Woodbine Mile and Gr1 Breeders' Cup Mile. v

He returned at 4 to make his top-level breakthrough, claiming the Gr1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh.

The Sprint is proud to showcase a selection of the Gr1 winning £ millionaire’s foals!

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Hudoo Magic (Muzi Yeni) keeps at it to win his first feature

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CHARITY MILE TO CAPE

MAGIC MAN MUZI!

Brett Crawford became the first Cape-based trainer since Joey Ramsden in 2001 to saddle the Gr2 Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile winner – coincidentally also with an Australian bred – when Hudoo Magic swept forward late to grab top honours in Saturday’s Turffontein headliner.

The enthusiastic Yeni repeated his success of 2018 on Coral Fever and rode a beautifully judged race on the handily weighted son of Choisir, with the winner’s cheque in the balance until the final 100m of the race.

After the Azzie’s Orpheus kept the pace honest, leading Crown Towers and the blinkered Zillzaal, the race turned into

a stampede late in the running as former Brett Crawford galloper Charles looked a likely winner.

But under a driving ride down the middle from Muzi Yeni, Hudoo Magic (6-1) picked up his feet and finished best to register his maiden stakes success to beat former stablemate and Summer Cup hopeful Charles (10-1) by three quarters of a length in a time of 98,88 secs.

In another few smart Summer Cup preps, Youcanthurrylove (20-1) was a neck back in third, with late reserve runner Tree Tumbo (20-1) finishing best of the Tarry quintet, ahead of stablemate Zillzaal, ho is defending his Gr1 crown at the end of November.

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The top six finished within two lengths of the winner.

Hudoo Magic has been based with former Crawford assistant Peter Muscutt at Summerveld for much of this year. Muscutt recently went on his own.

An A$60,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the Stonehouse Thoroughbreds draft for Form Bloodstock, Hudoo Magic was bred by Richard Pegum and is one of three winners from Hudoo (GB), a daughter of Halling and a three-quarter sister to international Caulfield Cup winner All The Good.

He has won 4 races with 8 places from 18 starts for stakes of R395 275.

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Precentor Place’s Secret

Good People & Great Horses! v

Jodi and Sue Pieters’ Precentor Place boasts 35 years of proud service as one of KZN’s leading Spelling and Pre-Training establishments. It’s the chosen destination of many of our top trainers and owners – and works because a love of the horse, dedication to duty and professional attention to detail, are all in perfect synergy.

“We couldn’t do it without our staff,” says Jodi modestly as she chats to the Sporting Post from the scenic establishment in the heart of Drummond – emphasising that their top three team members have been with them for over twenty years.

“Our Head Groom Mthandeni ‘Alter’ Mdukulwane has been with us since he was 16 and couldn’t speak a word of English when he arrived. He is now our multi-skilled horseman, handyman and tractor driver, amongst a host of duties which he performs with dedication come rain or shine!”

The Bizana born Alter tells us that he has two sons and wants to get his eldest into the SA Jockey Academy.

16 Alter and his future champion jockey son, Lwazi

He explains proudly that Bizana is the birthplace of the late Winnie Mandela.

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Jodi Pieters and her stalwart staffmember, Mthandeni ‘Alter’ Mdukulwane

We asked him to tell us about his life.

“I enjoyed playing soccer as a young boy but gave up when I injured my ankle.

I lived with my Grandmother and only saw my Mom at weekends,” he reflects.

When asked about his formal education, he says that he dropped school in Grade 4.

“We needed the income and I started growing vegetables as a business. I would sell them to the local community.

My brother worked at Precentor Place and I joined the team. I was only 16 at the time.”

Jodi interjects, explaining that their then Head Groom, Dimkos, lived in the same area and when he came back from leave, Alter was with him.

“It was announced that he now worked for us! He did not speak English and didn’t know anything about horses.

When Dimkos passed away we needed someone to take over his responsibilities. Alter was always the person that wanted to learn. When we asked him why he was always the one wanting to learn new jobs, he would say he always wanted to learn more – in fact, learn everything. He never wanted to be asked to do something and to say ‘I can’t’,” she explains proudly.

Alter adds that he works as the Head Groom and helps to manage the other staff.

“I am part of the backing team. I back between 70 to 80 horses a season and am also the Head Rider. I also oversees the maintenance of the property by driving the tractor and I do the maintenance work.”

He says the hardest part of the job for him is backing the babies, but that he still enjoys it. He then switches to telling us about his youngest son Lwazi Ndaba.

“I am hoping to send him to the jockey academy at Summerveld. He is only 10 years old and lives with his mother and father at their home in Cliffdale. He goes to the local school called Mthombohle Primary.”

When pressed as to why he is keen to try and set his son up as a professional jockey, Alter says he is keen to give him a better life than he has had. He wants to do this for him while he’s still alive and able to.

“Most children go to school, finish and then sadly do nothing. Maybe if I had realised earlier that horses could give you a better life, I might be a jockey today!” he smiles broadly.

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Jodi says that they have contacted the Jockey Academy and have been told that Lwazi first needs to reach the qualification age of 15 and have passed grade 10.

“This is now something for us all to work towards in the meantime. Precentor Place will welcome Lwazi to come to the farm during school holidays to learn more about the horses and to learn how to ride.

This should put him in good standing when the time comes for him to start at the academy,” she concludes.

In the meantime, life goes on – they are busy and expecting more horses after next week’s National 2yo Sale in Johannesburg.

“We have really tried to sacrifice on margins as our way of reinvesting back into building this great industry and all stakeholders. We have all had a rough 2020. We now need to pull together and rebuild. We are offering wonderful discounts and a sliding scale tariff if the owner or trainer has more than one horse with us,” she says.

Jodi invited interested parties to call or email her.

• 071 171 7502 • jnpieters@gmail.com

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First

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Former SA Champion Sire Trippi (End Sweep) stamps his offspring and this beautifully strong-boned colt out of a What A Winter mare looks to be another beaut!

Born on 1 October, he is the first foal for Mar Del Sur, who is out of Pacific Dynasty (Dynasty) who is a Gr2-placed seven time winner. Mar Del Sur is a half-sister to the stakes performed Frank Lloyd Wright (Captain Al).

Another foal proudly produced by Drakenstein Stud in a vintage season.

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Top class Malmoos

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Charity Mile Day Highlight

Varsfontein’s Family Values 24

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The splendid Gr3 double by Due Diligence and Malmoos at Turffontein on Saturday was not just a feather in the cap of breeders Varsfontein Stud, it was very much a family affair, as the pair are closely related.

Both share homebred champion Promisefrommyheart as their grandam.

Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes winner Malmoos is out of her stakes winning Fort Wood daughter Justthewayyouare, while her Captain Al half-sister Fidelity is the dam of Gr3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes victress Due Diligence, a daughter of

Silvano.

To say that Varsfontein has taken this female line to new heights would be an understatement.

It all started in 1998 when the farm outlayed R750 000 on the Bush Telegraph mare Secret Pact, a South African record price for a broodmare at the time. That came as no surprise, for she was the complete package. A multiple Gr1-placed Stakes winning own sister to Horse of the Year London News, her dam was the remarkable Broodmare of the Year Soho Secret, a dual stakes winner of ten races and twice

Gr1-placed. In addition to her superb pedigree, Secret Pact was a looker to boot and was carrying a colt by leading sire Elliodor.

Secret Pact next foaled the Fort Wood filly Secret Heart, who raced with distinction in the colours of the late Laurie Jaffee, for whom she won the Listed Prix du Cap. Classically-placed when third in both the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas and SA Fillies Guineas, she was sold to Team Valor, who sent her to the States.

Retired to the paddocks, she came up trumps with her first foal, the Breeders

Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf winner Pluck

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pedigree improved every year and her first foal was sensational.”

Secret Pact’s next foal, a striking Elliodor filly was Promisefrommyheart.

Born in November, she was slow to mature and was destined for the 2YO Sale. However, that fell through when she suffered what can now be regarded as a fortuitous setback and instead joined the stable of Geoff Woodruff under whose guidance she became a champion on the track, winning the SA Fillies Guineas, Triple Tiara, the Woolavington, Thekweni Stakes and Ipi Tombe Challenge in the Varsfontein silks. Fate again intervened when heart strain brought her racing career to a premature end.

Justthewayyouare with her 2018 Gimmethegreenlight colt Cup Juvenile Turf winner Pluck, a near black colt by More than Ready, who now does stallion duties in Australia.

Also dam of Gr3 Red Carpet Handicap

victress Three Hearts, Secret Heart sadly died at age 15, a loss Team Valor principal Barry Irwin described as “a hard one to swallow. She was an ideal mare, she had speed, she had size, her

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Immediately retired to stud, she would produce seven foals before her death at age 14. Of the six that raced, all won, the most successful of which the magnificent Jet Master colt Master Of My Fate.

A multiple Gr2 winner who returned to his birthplace, he is making a huge impression as a top five stallion and

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is currently leading the General sires log!

His half-sister Justthewayyouare won the Listed Spook Express Handicap and prior to Malmoos, produced his Captain Al own brother Captain Splendid, a winner of both the Gr3 East Cape Derby and Lonsdale Stirrup Cup. Fidelity, the dam of Due Diligence, returned to Varsfontein as a modest one-time winner but quickly made headlines with her first foal, the Var filly Ghaalla. Sold to Shadwell for a then record R5-million at the National Yearling Sale, she subsequently captured the Gr3 Fillies Mile in the same silks as Malmoos, who at R4.4-million, was the second highest-priced lot sold in 2019.

Promisefrommyheart’s first foal, the winning Jallad filly My Guiding Star, also returned to the Varsfontein paddocks and is now the dam of Gr3 Flamboyant Stakes victress

Fidelity with her 2018 Silvano colt

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Due Diligence streaks home to win the Gr3 Starling Stakes

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Hashtagyolo (Dynasty) and Gr2 Debutante third La Revere (Var).

Promisefrommyheart’s last foal, the Var filly Vermentino, never raced due to a cleft palate but was retained for breeding and visited resident standout Gimmethegreenlight first time round. The result? A stakes winner in the shape of last season’s East Cape Fillies Nursery winner Favorita.

As for Secret Pact, she went on to throw a second top level winner in the Western Winter filly Covenant, who carried the Varsfontein silks to victory in the Gr1 Majorca stakes.

Now a valued member of the farm’s broodmare band, she is the dam of last season’s Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes and Gr3 Cape of Good Hope nursery hero Erik The Red (Captain Al) and of Gr1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion runner-up Varallo (Var).

That four of Promisefrommyheart’s descendants have joined the stakes winning ranks this year is no mean feat and as Varsfontein continues to nurture this prized family, her influence on the racing industry is guaranteed to grow.

The Sporting Post Sprint is interactive.

Click on the live links throughout and enjoy the read!

SUGGESTIONS? Please email editor@sportingpost.co.za

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Chase Liebenberg

Flashback to 2019 - Defending champ Zillzaal (Denis Schwarz) is led in by Team Tarry

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SUMMER RUNS ON

SATURDAY

Unbeaten Summer Pudding, who has not raced since winning the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 at Greyville in June, will be seen in action at Turffontein on Saturday when she will make her comeback in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m.

The withdrawal of Joey Soma’s Got The Greenlight from the R1-million World Sports Betting Gr1 Gauteng Summer Cup over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday 28 November has seen Summer Pudding move to the top of the latest log.

Summer Pudding is trained by Paul Peter who is also responsible for the two supplementary entries, Riverstown and Astrix. Both have made an

immediate entry on to the log with Riverstown at No 15 and Astrix at No 20.

Last year’s Summer Cup winner Zillzaal is at 3 on the log.

The Hollywoodbets ante-post betting is available - please click here The following horses have been scratched: • Got The Greenlight • Ronnie’s Candy • Keep Smiling • Sworder Street • Category Four • Shenanigans • Nebraas

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Final entries close at 11h00 on Monday 16 November with declarations due by 11h00 on Tuesday 17 November.

Weights may change up to the time of declarations, but there will be NO change to the weights after the final field has been issued. The maximum field size is 20 runners.

See the latest detailed log - please click here

PETER

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Power, Pride & Pudding

SA Horse Of Year Aims At Met

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Trainer Paul Peter’s reigning South African Horse Of The Year Summer Pudding is to be aimed at the Gr1 Paddock Stakes and the Gr1 Cape Met down South, after taking on the males for the first time in the R1 million World Sports Betting Gr1 Gauteng Summer Cup at Turffontein on 28 November.

Summer Pudding steps out at Turffontein on Saturday in a quality Fillies & Mares Pinnacle Stakes over a mile.

Speaking to the Sporting Post on Tuesday, trainer Paul Peter said that this would be his star’s final prep prior to the Summer Cup three weeks thereafter.

She is in good shape but naturally not 100% fit and the mile will be on the sharp side for her on Saturday. I’m expecting her to go well though,” added Paul Peter.

The superstar daughter of Silvano, undefeated in her seven starts to date, was sent for a rest at her birthplace Mauritzfontein after winning the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 in sensational fashion last term.

She thus last saw race action on 28 June Her trainer confirmed that, all going well and dependant on the movement protocols, Summer Pudding will be heading to Milnerton and trainer Eric Sands for the Cape Summer Season.

“It won’t be a raid. She will be based there for the season. Eric (Sands) is one of the best trainers around, and he is a good friend and trusted colleague with an

exemplary Gr1 record. Summer Pudding will be in good hands,” assured Peter, who said that they had tried raiding the Cape Summer last season with the highly-rated Sarah, and it had not really worked out as planned.

The Gr1 Paddock Stakes and the Gr1 Cape Met will be run on 9 January and 30 January, respectively.

It’s quite a busy four months for the champion.

But Paul feels that the races are well enough spaced and she is a ‘tough and laid-back lady’.

Her trainer is enjoying a terrific season. He currently tops the SA national log ahead of former champion, Justin Snaith.

His 37 winners at a strike rate of 14% for over R2,2 million in stakes are a

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“She has been off for four months and has enjoyed a lovely break. She has been back with us going on eight weeks and on Friday 22 October we put her on the grass for the first time

this season. She completed a pleasing gallop over the 1400m here at Turffontein.

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MK’s Pride wins the RTR Cup

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pleasing state of affairs, given that he has a few gems in the wings.

Paul has over 150 horses and says that he is excited by the level of fire power amongst his unraced horses.

In an interesting heads-up for followers of the yard, he says that he has a ‘few Triple Crown and Triple Tiara candidates’ amongst his unraced stock.

“We have recently had some nice rain and the ground is kinder. We will be bringing out the big guns soon,” he added with a smile.

Referring to his Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile day success – he won the Ready To Run Cup and the Listed Golden Loom – he said that both of his winners would be worth

following.

He is particularly excited about the Willow Magic colt, MK’s Pride, who banked the R450 000 first cheque in a thrilling finish to the BSA sales race to beat the Gr1 star filly, War Of Athena.

“He ticks all the boxes. He is laid-back, athletic, talented, and is very progressive.

I am thrilled for my new owner Koos Nkale and his family. He bought a wellpriced horse loaded with ability – at his first try! It doesn’t get too much better than that. MK’s Pride pulled up well and emptied the manger on Sunday morning.

He will go for the Gr2 Dingaans next on Summer Cup Day and will love the mile,” says Paul.

Winning Form jockey Warren Kennedy

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rode both the Paul Peter Charity Mile day feature winners, the second of which was the Bold Silvano gelding Bold Ransom.

“The Listed Golden Loom was his first stakes success and he won well. Look, he carried only 52kgs and I am going to keep him to the handicap route for now and let him mature and build his confidence. I am not looking at the Computaform Sprint, for example. We may go for the Merchants on Summer Cup day.”

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KEENELAND TWO BIG DAYS!

The 37th running of the Gr1 $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic brings together a field which must be described as top notch, with the sum of their earnings totalling nearly the entire total of $31 million dollars in purse money to be shared over the two days of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships on Friday and Saturday at Keeneland Race Course.

The Gr1 Travers Stakes and Gr1 Belmont Stakes hero Tiz the Law drew post 2 and was made the 3/1 second choice as he seeks to avenge his lone 2020 defeat in Saturday’s $6 million Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Longines Classic at Keeneland on Saturday.

Tiz the Law enjoyed a dream season throughout much of 2020, compiling impressive wins in 4 graded stakes (including the Belmont and the Travers) before heading into the Kentucky Derby as one of the shortest-priced favourites

of the modern era.

Winning the Run for the Roses was not to be, however, as he suffered his second career defeat over the same dirt course that gave him his first - the 2019 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, where he finished third. The Kentucky Derby was the only time that he has ever raced on less than 30 days’ rest, so with that September 5 loss well in the past, trainer Barclay Tagg should have this New York-bred Constitution colt fresh and ready to fire.

Horse of the Year honours will be on the line in the Classic; as many as 6 of the 10 total entries would have a legitimate claim to that title with a victory in this race.

Chief among them is the lightly-raced but supremely-talented Tom’s d’Etat, who drew post 4 and was given 6/1 odds. The 7-year-old intact son of Smart Strike won a pair of stakes earlier this year, including the Stephen Foster to earn his place in

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this starting gate, but stumbled badly at the start of the Whitney Stakes last time out and could only finish third.

Trainer Al Stall Jr. knows a little bit about pulling off a mild upset in the Classic: he saddled Blame to win this in 2010 and hand the superstar mare Zenyatta her only defeat in 20 starts.

In almost any other year, By My Standards would be a much shorter price than the 10/1 odds he received after being assigned post 3.

The Bret Calhoun trainee has 4 wins and 2 seconds in 6 starts this year and has earned 4 straight triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures heading into this event, though both defeats came against rivals whom he has to face again here.

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

Eclipse Sportswire - Courtesy of Curtis Kalleward of the Racing Dudes

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Cup celebrations

Flemington Racecourse and VRC FB

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CUP

Twilight Payment gave Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien a second triumph in the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday but victory was overshadowed by the death of 2019 Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck.

The 25-1 winner, ridden by Jye McNeil, led from start to finish and held on from Tiger Moth – trained by O’Brien’s father Aidan – and Prince Of Arran.

Tiger Moth’s stablemate Anthony Van Dyck, winner of the Derby at Epsom in 2019, broke down in the home straight.

The horse broke a leg in the incident.

“It is with sadness that we confirm that Anthony Van Dyck had to be humanely euthanised after sustaining a fractured fetlock during the running of the Melbourne Cup at Flemington,” said Racing Victoria spokesman Jamie Stier.

The race, which usually attracts a crowd of about 100,000, was held behind closed doors because of the coronavirus pandemic.

HIGHS ‘N LOWS

It was a winning debut Melbourne Cup ride for McNeil and a seventh triumph for owner Lloyd Williams in the two-mile handicap that has a first prize of more than £2.3m.

O’Brien, 27, also landed the race at Flemington with Rekindling four years ago.

“The horse has got incredible heart. Jye gave him a fantastic ride and he has a huge will to win and he just kept on fighting all the way to the line,” said the trainer.

Kerrin McEvoy, the rider of runner-up Tiger Moth, was fined A$50,000 (£27,000) and suspended for 13 meetings for excessive whip use in the closing stages.

McNeil had his mount prominent throughout with Tiger Moth also to the fore in the early stages before settling back into third.

With five furlongs to run, the 23-strong field was well strung out and Twilight Payment had lengths to spare entering the closing stages.

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Tiger Moth charged home late, but Joseph O’Brien again denied his father, as he did three years ago when Rekindling beat Johannes Vermeer.

“We both realise how hard it is to win on the world stage in these big, big races, but I am very lucky that I have been able to win a couple of big races,” said Joseph.

“Dad has been very lucky, he has won a lot of big races, I’d be delighted for him if he had won, and I’m sure he is for me having won. We do our best on the track and whatever happens out there happens.”

British challenger Prince Of Arran, trained in Newmarket by Charlie Fellowes, flew at the finish to be placed for the third year running after coming second last year and third in 2018.

Watch the Melbourne Cup replay here

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MEYDAN RETURNS ON THURSDAY The Meydan Racecourse is to host the first of a total of 19 race meetings for the 2020-21season, including 11 Racing at Meydan fixtures where the primary focus is on local horses and trainers.

The aim is to welcome racing back to the iconic venue, with a firm focus on the UAE Government’s health and safety regulations. Thorough sanitization, thermal screening of attendees and social distancing will be a part of measures undertaken by the Dubai Racing Club.

The first Racing at Meydan meeting

will be held this Thursday and includes a six racecard sponsored by Emirates, featuring a 1400m conditions race, the Emirates Airline, for 3-year-olds.

Guineas Trial over the same course and distance. Then, over 1600m, she was fourth in the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas itself.

Thursday’s aforementioned feature has attracted a select field of seven and appears wide open with a case to be made for each of the septet.

Watson said: “She is in great shape at home and working very well. She had some wind surgery after her last season and that seems to have helped her.

Doug Watson saddled a Jebel Ali treble last Friday and relies on Rio Angie, the only filly in the race and the mount of Pat Dobbs. A daughter of Honor Code, she made a winning debut in a 1400m fillies’ maiden almost exactly a year ago, before finishing third in the UAE 1000

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On the competition Watson added: “Obviously she is taking on the colts for the first time, but we think she will go well from a nice draw in an open race.”

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updated 2020-11-03

TRAINERS Name

Runs

Mr P A Peter Mr S J Snaith Mr P F Matche� Mr St John D Gray Mr M F de Kock

262 351 247 193 120

Wins Win% 36 46 25 25 25

13.7 13.1 10.1 13 20.8

2nd

3rd

26 44 24 23 17

23 37 18 26 13

Other Places Place % 32 34 22 16 15

81 115 64 65 45

30.9 32.8 25.9 33.7 37.5

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

1,462,450 1,323,275 1,093,950 1,042,500 1,169,100

2,204,550 2,158,125 1,750,050 1,689,975 1,651,050

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

2,258,400 1,173,600 1,786,000 1,988,475 1,256,225

3,501,375 1,611,950 2,636,550 2,935,875 1,634,175

JOCKEYS Name

Runs Wins Win%

2nd

3rd

Mr L Hewitson Mr G M Cheyne Mr S Khumalo Mr W B Kennedy Mr A Marcus

383 223 187 279 150

50 22 23 31 17

41 32 20 29 13

54 47 37 35 32

14.1 21.1 19.8 12.5 21.3

Other Places Place % 63 26 21 56 21

154 80 64 116 51

40.2 35.9 34.2 41.6 34

BREEDERS Name

B.T. B.T. Total Runrs Runs AEPR Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Wins Stakes (R) Rnrs %

Wilgerbosdri� & Mauritzfontein Klawervlei Stud Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) Varsfontein Stud

181 269 161 104

434 651 398 244

18,391 11,809 13,769 20,594

42 50 36 32

55 54 40 43

23.2 18.6 22.4 30.8

146 201 90 98

1 2 2 1

1 2 2 1

3,328,825 3,176,700 2,216,850 2,141,750

80

192

23,81

21

25

26.3

64

5

6

1,904,825

SIRES Name

Runrs Runs AEPR

Master Of My Fate 130 Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) 125 83 Var (USA) 135 Querari (GER) 87 Oratorio (IRE)

320 291 203 331 213

16,993 15,605 22,863 12,371 18,685

B.T. Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Rnrs % 29 27 27 26 18

33 31 34 27 21

22.3 21.6 32.5 19.3 20.7

119 97 72 114 79

See all the detailed standings - Click here

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1 1 1 0 1

B.T. Wins

Total Stakes (R)

1 1 2 0 1

2,209,075 1,950,600 1,897,625 1,670,100 1,625,600

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A SUPER SOCCER

SUNDAY

Two of the Premier League’s toughest challengers go head-to-head in the biggest blockbuster of the campaign when Manchester City host Liverpool this weekend.

The pair have won the last three league titles between them and know that this fixture will hold major ramifications on where the title could be heading in

May. Leagues are certainly not won in November, but they can be lost in this period. With this tie coming before the international break, let’s hope both sides can give the perfect send-off as the most important fixture of the season kicks off this Sunday at 18h30.

English Premier League | Sunday 8 November | Etihad Stadium | 18h30

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To win Manchester City 19/20 Draw 3/1 Liverpool 49/20 Manchester City Jesse Nagel writes that Manchester City will be looking to make a marker on the league this campaign and stamp their authority when they gear up to

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host the champions, Liverpool. After a slow start, Manchester City look to be finding their rhythm slowly.

about finding the perfect balance and cooking up the right formula to outsmart Jurgen Klopp once again.

Pep Guardiola’s side are currently unbeaten in four matches in the league, with plenty of key players starting to return from injury. The big news will be whether Gabriel Jesus makes it in time to be fit for this clash with Sergio Aguero likely to return after the international break.

Liverpool

With a focal point, Guardiola will be afforded to stretch the game in wider areas, getting the best out of the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling, who will yet again fancy scoring against his former employers.

In Manchester City’s last outing against Liverpool, Guardiola’s side won 4-0 during Project Restart, which came after the Reds had already won the league. Sterling famously said after the game that this season started that day and that Man City will look to reclaim their title this term.

Kevin De Bruyne also got on the scoresheet that day and will be looking to pick up where he left off before his injury and fire City one step closer to bridging the gap on Liverpool.

As fierce as the Sky Blues have looked in attack, defensively, there’s been major improvement. The 23-year-old Portuguese defender has been a revelation to the City team and alongside Aymeric Laporte, Guardiola boasts arguably the best centre-back pairing in England.

There’s no doubt that Guardiola has the options to hurt Liverpool, its just

All eyes will be on Liverpool as they look to silence their doubters who believe that the club will struggle during the absence of Virgil van Dijk.

For sure, that’s a huge blow considering van Dijk is the league’s best defender, while many regard him as the best centre-back in the world as well. This will be Liverpool’s first big match in the league without him.

You can get away without him at home against Sheffield United and West Ham, but away to Manchester City will be the big test. His ideal replacement, Fabinho, who filled in that position against Chelsea and Ajax, where the Reds kept clean sheets, is also sidelined due to injury.

Now, Klopp will be forced to rush back Joel Matip, who looks set to partner Joe Gomez in the heart of defence. With Fabinho out, Liverpool are also short in numbers centrally in midfield, although star-signing, Thiago Alcantara, and Naby Keita could make their comeback.

The Reds are currently winless in their last two away games in the Premier League, drawing at Everton, which came after they were famously hammered 7-2

by Aston Villa.

As shaky and leaky as their spine may look at the moment, Klopp still has his favoured front three to choose from with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane already on 11 goals between them, while

Roberto Firmino holds the key to put the jigsaw pieces together up front.

As favoured as they may be by Klopp, pressure will be on them to perform, especially with Diogo Jota knocking on the door for a crack in the starting line-up. The Portuguese forward already has three goals and has proven to be vital off the bench.

Personally, I’d go as far as saying he’s one of the signings of the season.

Probable line-ups: Manchester City: 4-3-3 Ederson; Walker, Dias, Laporte, Cancelo; Rodri, De Bruyne, Bernardo; Mahrez, Gabriel Jesus, Sterling.

Liverpool: 4-3-3 Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Matip, Robertson; Henderson, Thiago, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane.

Prediction: Manchester City (19/20) This will probably be one of the weakest Liverpool teams that Manchester City get to face since Pep Guardiola’s arrival at the club. The Reds are without arguably their most important player, they haven’t looked good, and are simply there for the taking. Manchester City’s weakness has always been their defence whenever they’ve come up against Liverpool, and with that now rectified, City should come out on top.

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