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MONEY, MONEY, MONEY SAUDI HOSTS THE STARS
King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh will enjoy the racing world’s focus this weekend as the venue hosts 77 overseas contenders on Friday and Saturday representing 13 different countries from around
the globe. The contestants between them have won 24 Group or Grade 1 contests.
broadcasting the meeting, with the highlight, the $20 million Saudi Cup run at 20h40 on Saturday evening.
The good news for South African racing fans is that Tellytrack (Dstv 249) will be
The event is designed to showcase the Kingdom's aggressive policy to
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modernize and open itself to foreign travel and sporting competition. Building on the success of year one, the 2021 renewal further extends the Saudi reach into other racing jurisdictions by adding a new event on Friday—the Al Rajhi Bank Saudi International Handicap at 2100 meters on the turf. The race is open only to Part II and Part III International Federation of Horseracing Authorities jurisdictions (major racing jurisdictions like the U.S., England, Ireland, France, Japan, Hong Kong, etc., are considered Part I countries). The expected field includes locals and runners from Bahrain, Spain, the Czech Republic, and Greece— despite ongoing travel issues due to the pandemic. The second staging of the world’s most valuable race looks set to feature another crop of star names. The field is headed by Brad Cox’s Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Pegasus World Cup winner Knicks Go (USA), who is part of a strong American contingent which includes Gr1 Malibu Stakes winner Charlatan (USA) and Tacitus (USA), returning for a second tilt at the
race and owned by Juddmonte Farms. Ryuji Okubo’s impressive Gr1 Champions Cup winner Chuwa Wizard (JPN) represents Japan, while John Gosden saddles Mishriff (IRE) who was second in the Al Rajhi Bank Saudi Derby at this meeting 12 months ago. Pegasus World Cup winner Knicks Go has been reported in great form ahead of his attempt to add the $20million Saudi Cup to his big-race haul. The five-year-old guaranteed his place when landing the Pegasus at Gulfstream Park in America last month. He had previously won the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile in November. His trainer Brad Cox was pleased with what he saw when Knicks Go completed his last breeze before travelling to Saudi Arabia. “The great horses like him are what you wake up for every morning. He’s a fantastic horse and hopefully an international horse after February 20.” Knicks Go, owned by the Korea Racing Authority, galloped his rivals into the dirt in the Pegasus. He made all the running
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having started in his usual lightning-fast manner before pulling clear under Joel Rosario, who will again be on board in The Saudi Cup. Cox admitted the impressive two-and-a-half length defeat of Jesus’ Team, who was also runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, was not unexpected. He said: “Going into the Pegasus he gave us a lot of confidence with the way he was training. We had the confidence he would perform well and he did – we were proud of the effort and he bounced out of it in good order. He proved in the Pegasus he can get 1800m at Grade 1 level against some very, very good horses so now we have to transfer that to a one-turn 1800m in Saudi. We’re looking forward to the challenge and the opportunity. He’s got a lot of speed and he can carry that speed over a mile or further. We’re not going to take away anything that comes easy to him. His weapon is his speed but once the gate opens that’s Joel’s decision of where to place him, but you’d have to think he’ll be in a very forward position in the race.” Knicks Go travelled more than 7000
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miles to Saudi Arabia but Cox has no worries about his star coping with the journey or the course at the King Abdulaziz Racetrack in Riyadh.
He said: “It’s the first time we’ve run a horse on the other side of the world so there’s always a little bit of a concern, but I don’t really feel it will be with him.”
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The International Jockeys Challenge highlights day 1 on Friday. Follow all the news on www.sportingpost.co.za.
FEED YOUR DESIRE TO WIN v
SOUTH AFRICAN SUCCESS FOR RED MILLS’ CUSTOMERS
RAINBOW BRIDGE
WINNER OF THE CAPE TOWN MET (Gr.1) for the second time in three years Trainer: E. SANDS Jockey: L. FERRARIS Owner: MR & MRS M L P RATTRAY
RUN FOX RUN
WINNER OF THE CAPE FLYING CHAMPIONSHIP (Gr.1) Trainer: B. CRAWFORD Jockey: A. MARCUS Owner: RIDGEMONT (NOM: MR. WAYNE KIESWETTER)
KOMMETDIEDING
WINNER OF THE POLITICIAN STAKES (Gr.3), undefeated in 4 races Trainer: HWJ CRAWFORD/M RIX Jockey: S. CELE Owner: MR. A. REYNOLDS By kind permission of trainers
Contact our distributor: Ridgemont Highlands 80 Haaskraal Road, Wellington, 7655 Tel: 0829206005 Email: ross@ridgemont.co.za Ireland: +353 599 775 6 800 Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland Email: info@redmills.com
www.redmills.com
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Cover Image: Anton Marcus & Dennis Drier converse after their Kenilworth winner Preemptive Strike on Saturday. Image courtesy of Chase Liebenberg.
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FOND FAREWELL
TO FLYING FOX
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Chase Liebenberg
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The Ridgemont champion relaxes at home base before her journey to Ireland The turf history books will record that Run Fox Run’s breathtaking victory when beating the best of the fast set of both sexes in the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship in January was to be the Ridgemont speed queen’s sensational swansong after an illustrious track career.
be transferring to the lush paddocks of the family’s Barnane Stud in County Tipperary, Ireland, where the daughter of Foxwedge is destined for a first covering with Frankel or Kingman.
Craig Kieswetter confirmed to the Sporting Post on Tuesday morning that the whispers in local breeding circles this week are true - their outstanding sprinter had run her last race on Cape Town Met day.
The undefeated Galileo champion Frankel requires little introduction.
The plans are that Run Fox Run will
The Ridgemont’s star sprinter’s proposed Juddmonte suitors are two of the world’s most exciting sires.
He reached 40 Northern Hemisphere Group winners faster than any other European stallion in the history of the Pattern Racing structure and boasts an impressive 11% Group winners to
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runners, and 14% black-type winners to runners. Frankel is the sire of 12 Gr1 winners to date. Invincible Spirit’s son Kingman sired two classic winners from his first two crops and boasts 16 stakes winners in 2020, including Gr1 winners Persian King, Palace Pier, Timeform’s top-rated 3YO, and Domestic Spending. “Run Fox Run is a beautifully bred athletic mare and has nothing more to prove on the track. She has given us so much pleasure and we could not have scripted her final Cape appearance better. Bowing out with a dazzling
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Grade 1 victory on Met day was the cherry on the top.
Chase Liebenberg
She will prove a valuable asset to our international broodmare band. We have exciting plans for her going forward, which will include sending her to the very best of blood in the UK,” added Craig Kieswetter. He said that Ridgemont were most appreciative of the role played by trainer Brett Crawford and his team, as well as jockeys Anton Marcus and Greg Cheyne in the flying machine’s turf career. With her trainer and champion jockey lauding her ability, Run Fox Run rounded off a smashing career record in the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship on that end January sunny Kenilworth Saturday that boasted eight wins from just eleven starts. Bred by Mill Park, Quality TB Joint Venture, SA, Run Fox Run was an A$420,000 buy from the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
She is the fourth Gr1 winner for Fastnet Rock’s Gr1 winning son Foxwedge, who boasts Gr1 winners in three different countries, and near 40 international stakes performers. Run Fox Run is out of General Nediym mare Victory Cry – dam also of Heritage Stakes winner Guard Of Honour, and a
full-sister to the stakes winning Victory Chant. The first chapter of an unfolding champion fairytale has been written. We await the next with bated breath.
Chase Liebenberg
11 Eye of the tigress!
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Boom team Kommetdieding - can they make it five in a row?
CAPE SUMMER CLIMAX The curtain comes down on the 2020/21 Cape Summer Season at Kenilworth on Saturday 27 February, with a bumper feature menu headlined by the R750 000 Jonsson Workwear Gr1 Cape Derby. Michelle Rix’s undefeated rising star Kommetdieding has been priced up as favourite by Hollywoodbets and is the highest rated entry amongst the fourteen 3yo’s that were nominated on Monday. The son of Elusive Fort’s presence as a burgeoning hometown hero adds plenty of interest as he bids for his fifth victory on the trot. The Sporting Post has learnt reliably that a substantial offer has been made for the Elusive Fort colt, that apparently includes the Derby engagement. Efforts to contact the owner for a comment have not elicited a response.
Past Derby winner Dean Kannemeyer has entered his surprise Cape Guineas winner Russian Rock, in an entry list that sadly, but not surprisingly, includes no visitors. The inaugural R550 000 Cape Yearling Sale Cup will be run over 1200m on the same afternoon. Out-of-province trainers Sean Tarry, Ashley Fortune, Sharon Kotzen and Gavin Smith all hold tickets amongst the 23 entries. Trainer Corne Spies told the Sporting Post that he has opted to bypass the richly endowed cup with his sensational record-breaker, Captain’s Run. The daughter of Captain Of All shattered the Vaal 800m course record that stood for 35 years – carrying 4kgs more than the previous holder – at her second outing on 17
December last year, and was expected to travel for the R550 000 race on 27 February.
“I nominated her for the Listed Storm Bird and the Ruffian Stakes today. That is at Turffontein on the same day as the rich Cape Yearling Sale Cup at Kenilworth. It’s a tough choice – the lure of the big money versus staying at home and going for the black-type. The reality is that we can’t have both now – but we rate her and we decided to stay home. It’s a twenty hour road trip. That can also be hard on a 2yo filly.” The features declare at 11h00 on Monday 22 February. Follow all the latest news on www.sportingpost.co.za
Gold Circle Stakes Increase
Gold Circle reported last week that at their AGM held on 28 January 2021, Members voted to approve a Member’s Resolution tabled by past Chairman, Robert Mauvis, for an extra allocation of R10 million from the Clairwood ring-fenced funds, towards stakes of minor races in
KZN. From 1 March 2021, where stakes were R50 000 they will be increased to R60 000 and those that were R70 000 will be increased to R80 000. “Gold Circle exists to sustain the Horseracing Industry in KZN”, said 13 Neil Butcher, Chairman of Gold Circle. “To do that, we need to assist our stakeholders which
include owners, trainers, grooms and breeders. This increase in stakes will benefit everyone directly, hopefully going some way to easing the economic impact which Covid-19 has had on our industry.”
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operation announced on Friday that they were undertaking a review of their Southern Hemisphere operations and would be departing Australia.
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But back to Malmoos He won his first four on the trot, including the Concorde Cup at Kenilworth. His subsequent Cape Guineas effort is still mostly unexplained, but it’s not the first time that the travel bogey has got to the Gauteng raiders. Freshened up and back from an eight week break on Saturday, we saw the Malmoos of old- the one Mike de Kock labelled ‘the real deal’. He powered home at 5-2 to hold off the consistent Catch Twentytwo by a quarter length in a time of 97,36 secs.
Luke Ferraris keeps Malmoos going as Gavin Lerena and Catch Twentytwo chase late
Copper Mountain (10-1) looked dangerous late, and was not disgraced 1,15 lengths further away in third.
MALMOOS BACK IN BUSINESS Cape Town Met winning jockey Luke Ferraris maintained his dream start to 2021 when the 19 year old recently qualified rider rode a cracker to keep Mike de Kock’s Malmoos at his task to win the R525 000 World Sports Betting Gr2 Gauteng Guineas at Turffontein on Saturday.
Bred on the same Captain Al/Fort Wood cross as Gr1 stars Captain America and William Longsword (a current Klawervlei sire), Malmoos is by Captain Al (Al Mufti) out of the Spook Express Handicap winner Justthewayyouare, a half-sister to Varsfontein’s boom sire Master Of My Fate.
The Avontuur-sponsored jockey has an innate quiet confidence about him with the ability in the saddle to match, and he rode a beautifully judged race on the son of Captain Al, to round off his fifth win from 6 starts on the Varsfontein-bred colt.
The second top lot at R4,4 million sold off the 2019 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale, Malmoos has earned R587 100 at his four wins from five starts.
De Kock went into the race with a two-pronged attack of Mount Pleasant and the winner, and while he may have been left to rue his decision to run Mount Pleasant – who finished a 19 length last – in the mile contest after some debate in the build-up, he would have been thrilled that Malmoos was able to lift a week where Shadwell dropped a clanger on international racing. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s
Ferraris, who piloted Rainbow Bridge to victory in the Gr1 Cape Town Met last month, displayed maturity beyond his years and fine judgement again as he attacked early up the home straight and kept the relentless Malmoos going to thwart a game late bid by the Dingaans/ Tony Ruffel victor Catch Twentytwo.
A full brother to the dual Group-winning stayer Captain Splendid, the next leg of the World Sports Betting Triple Crown should be well within his compass. That is the R750 000 WSB Gr1 SA Classic to be run over 1800m at the same venue on Saturday 6 March.
The Merits
MALMOOS has had his rating raised from 114 to 117 after his success in the Gr2 World Sports Betting Gauteng Guineas.The Handicappers were of the view that 4th placed SECOND BASE made for the best line horse, which leaves his rating
unchanged on 112. In assessing the race this way, MALMOOS achieves a mark of 116, but he was given a 117 rating to make him superior to runner-up CATCH TWENTY TWO, who is himself rated 116, but who has now been beaten by MALMOOS twice in as many
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encounters. In other increases, 3rd placed COPPER MOUNTAIN is up from 109 to 113, BINGWA goes from 106 to 109, and NAMIB DESERT is up from 85 to 89. The only drop was for MOUNT PLEASANT, who is down from 127 to 120.
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Luke Ferraris keeps Malmoos flying
A CLASSIC CATCH 22?
Malmoos (22-10) was too good for a competitive field of classic contenders in the WSB Gauteng Guineas at Turffontein on Saturday, giving Valentine’s Day baby Mike de Kock an early birthday present for Sunday.
Placed handy by Luke Ferraris in the early part of the race, he raced in second spot, grabbed the lead halfway down the stretch. He fought off Copper Mountain on his inside and then a fast-finishing Catch Twentytwo on his outside, to win by a neck. Mike de Kock said on his website, www.mikedekockracing.com:
“Malmoos doesn’t mind a scrap in a finish, he enjoys fighting and likes to do just enough to win. We’re pleased with the way he ran because we left something on him to work on. He will improve going into the Classic.”
lengths off the pace to run at his rivals. The way things have happened, he’s found himself leading or handy every time. We’ve always believed he’ll be better over further than a mile, and the Classic will show us.”
With that reference to the second leg of the Triple Crown, Mike confirmed that a rematch with Catchtwentytwo is likely to be on the cards and said:
The Stipes reported that Malmoos hung in from the 200m.
“I think it will be a good race. Catchtwentytwo was gaining late, but I was watching them just past the line and Malmoos kept him at bay.” He added: “I’d like to see Malmoos come from a few
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He said about Mount Pleasant, who faded right out over the last 200m: “He has failed twice over a mile now, we’ll revert to races down the straight for him.” The Stipes reported Mount Pleasant overraced.
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BIRTHDAY R&R AT GOD’S WINDOW
51 UP FOR v
20 Johnny Geroudis and Michael Nzilane enjoy their Gr1 moment in the sun
Chase Liebenberg
JOHNNY! v
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Popular former internationally travelled champion jockey Johnny Geroudis celebrates his 51st birthday with his wife Yanti at the scenic God’s Window on the Drakensberg escarpment in Mpumalanga today. The charismatic retired jockey, who hung his boots up almost five years ago after a detached retina injury to his left eye in 2015, was spotted looking debonair in a tailored suit and tie at Kenilworth Racecourse on the sunny January afternoon that Queen Supreme impressed with a second consecutive victory in the Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes. “It was a great experience travelling with this smart mare and our travelling Groom Michael Nzilane to Cape Town - I’m enjoying being a part of the uber professional Mike de Kock team,” he added.
It is fascinating to see the tough-guy former jockey Johnny G, or the ‘Little Greek’ as some know him, honing his stable management skills – including social media, believe it or not – with the powerful Mike de Kock operation. A down-to-earth realist, the man who won on Horse Chestnut on debut and rode London News to victory the one time he got on his back, admits that he also boasts the dubious distinction of getting beat on the great filly Spook Express. He rates Stephen Jupp and Robbie Hill as mentors and role models, and says that he learnt a lot from Gerald Turner as an apprentice. Johnny scored his first feature win in 1992 when Military Muse won the Gr2 Racing Digest 1900 at Greyville for Tony Millard. Thereafter followed a great career in the saddle. With over 2000 victories to his name when he called it a day, the ‘Johnny G’ brand was well established locally and in
Singapore, Mauritius and Dubai. The powerful rider completed his apprenticeship under Brian de Villiers and Robbie Sage in 1989, in the same stream as other future top riders in Weichong Marwing and the now Australia-based, Sean Cormack. Geroudis’ top-level successes in his near 30 years in the saddle include the 1995 Durban July and Daily News with the diminutive Patrick Shaw-trained Teal, the SA Classic with Shaw’s Kundalini, the Derby on Kale, and the 2015 Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship with his present day boss’ charge Entisaar. His association with Shaw extended to Singapore and the partnership produced wins in most of Singapore’s top races, including the Kranji Mile with Blizz Bless and Palace Line, and the Lion City Cup with Qui Expression. In that era he also won the Ballanchine
Chase Liebenberg
22 Team De Kock lead in Queen Supreme (Keagan de Melo) after her Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes win
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Geroudis aggravation factor on a scale of 1 to 10, but the energetic long-time Lonehill resident has become a half permanent fixture at Randjesfontein in the mornings, and spends more time observing and assessing the exercise and work than in the work-riding saddle these days. The versatile Johnny has also become an owner, with horses racing under the De Kock banner, as well as with Jacques Strydom and Duncan McKenzie in PE. He celebrated his first winner in that capacity in May 2018 at the Vaal when Poormanslady came home lonely under Muzi Yeni.
Johnny G greets the champion chestnut in Dubai for Mike de Kock on Moon Dazzle. He enjoyed a terrific association with Gilbert Rousset and was crowned Champion Jockey of Mauritius in 2012. Johnny won the racing-crazy Indian Ocean Island’s top race, the Maiden Cup, three times - including a victory on Disa Leader, which horse he later rode in Dubai for De Kock.
At the time of his retirement, Johnny went on record suggesting that one could never say goodbye to this game. But he jokingly declared then that his first ‘ambition’ was to ‘aggravate Mike de Kock as much as possible’ – that saga was apparently going to play out on the racecourse and the golf course. We couldn’t get De Kock to rate the
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“It’s definitely easier riding them than owning them. I was sweating like a pig and full of nerves before the race,” he said at the time – that was the same cool as a cucumber Johnny who won the Durban July and has ridden winners around the world, including Singapore and Mauritius. Happy birthday Johnny!
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A PIECE, ALRIGHT!
Paul Matchett’s War Of Athena confirmed her status as one of the top fillies of her year with an emphatic victory to beat arch rival Anything Goes in the R300 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas at Turffontein on Saturday. Down 2-1 in her previous clashes with the Pettigrew star Anything Goes, War Of Athena made it three feature victories on the trot, catapulting clear at the 300m after a well conceived tactical plan that saw her stablemate Only The
Brave setting the gallop. Muzi Yeni has formed a winning partnership with the daughter of Act Of War, and the pair made short work of the opposition, storming home as a popular 9-10 fancy to secure the first leg of the 2021 Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara. War Of Athena clocked 97,59 secs on the officially good ground and runner-up Anything Goes (16-10) was no match for her two lengths away in second.
The rest were in another race, with 10-1 Miss Elegance plodding into third a further 4,50 lengths away in third. The 1800m of the SA Fillies Classic should be well within War Of Athena’s range. Her Dynasty sire Act Of War, a son of 2014/15 SA Broodmare of the Year Si Senorita, won to a mile at Gr2 level in his eight victories from twelve starts. It is on War Of Athena’s dam side that
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27 Muzi Yeni and the champ are lonely at the line
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she could also rely on stamina. She is out of a Requiem / Coastal mare Qaphela, who has produced 4 other winners, and is a half-sister to two South African stakes winners - from the same family as Gold Cup winner Desert Links and French Oaks heroine Dunette. A R30 000 buy from the 2019 Ready To
WAR OF ATHENA has seen her rating raised from 120 to 122 after she landed the Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Fillies Guineas. In assessing the race, the Handicappers decided to use 2nd placed ANYTHING GOES to the net 110 she achieved when she finished second behind WAR OF ATHENA in her most recent start in the Grade 3 Three Troikas Stakes in early January. This approach was taken
Run Sale, War Of Athena has won 6 races with 5 places from 12 starts for stakes of R786 300. What a pity that we can't see alternate SA Triple Tiara first leg winner Captain's Ransom up in Gauteng to take on War Of Athena for the next leg - the R700 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic is run over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday 6
The Merits
in the belief that ANYTHING GOES might have finished a little closer had she not been forced to switch for a run in the Fillies Guineas, in light of which the Handicappers were reluctant to use her to her rating of 120 to rate the race. This achieves the desired result of having WAR OF ATHENA rated superior to ANYTHING GOES, without taking the margin between them on this occasion literally. As such, ANYTHING GOES
March, in case Justin Snaith is listening. The third leg is the R375 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 SA Oaks run over 2450m at Turffontein on Saturday 3 April. A bonus of R1 million will be paid to the connections of the filly that wins all three legs.
remains on 120, two pounds below WAR OF ATHENA. There were also increases for 4th placed CASTLE DURROW, who is up from 93 to 97, and for ONLY THE BRAVE, who goes from 84 to 88. The only drop was for CARALLUMA, who was cut from 103 to 101.
BLING RIDES BIG 6! Hamish Niven Photography
Former SA champion jockey S’Manga Khumalo was in scintillating form at the Vaal Classic track on Tuesday, riding six glorious winners. He rode the first four on the card, then finished third in both the fifth and sixth races. He then won the seventh and eighth races which gave him an opportunity to equal the South African record of seven winners in a day in the last race. He was on the favourite Pecan Pie in the last but the Alec Laird runner failed to kick on from a handy position and finished fourth. According to a report by David Thiselton on www.goldcircle.co.za the SA record of seven in a day is held by Jeff Lloyd (three times in SA, once in Australia), Piere Strydom (twice), Harold ‘Tiger’ Wright and Garth Puller.
S’manga Khumalo – great day on Tuesday 28
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The majestic Fort Wood (Sadler’s Wells – Fall Aspen)
THE LEGEND OF FALL ASPEN
The influence of legendary broodmare Fall Aspen was felt in various big races over the past weekend. Fort Wood's great granddaughter War Of Athena showed her class when accounting for champion Anything Goes, whose granddam is the Fort Wood sired Broodmare Of The Year Akinfeet, in Saturday's Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas.
Brilliant sprinter Nature Strip (whose sire Nicconi is a son of Fall Aspen's son Bianconi) made it Gr1 win number five when he lifted Saturday's Gr1 Black Caviar Lightning in Australia, while in South Africa, Fall Aspen's Gr1 Grand Prix De Paris winning son Fort Wood made his presence felt at Turffontein on the same day.
seven runners in the 2021 Gauteng Fillies Guineas.
dam of the likes of Bangkok (Australia) and Matterhorn (Raven's Pass).
Fort Wood, Champion Sire in South Africa in 1998-1999 and Champion Broodmare Sire four times to date, also made his presence felt in Saturday's Gr2 WSB Gauteng Guineas. He is broodmare sire of the 1-3-4 finishers in the Guineas (his stakes winning daughter Justthewayyouare is dam of Guineas hero Malmoos), while Fort Wood's champion son Elusive Fort is the sire of Guineas second Catch Twentytwo.
The former, whose granddam is Fall Aspen's Irish 1000 Guineas winning granddaughter Mehthaaf (Nureyev), recently won the Betway Winter Derby Trial Stakes for a second consecutive year, while Bangkok's older half-brother Matterhorn won last year's Gr1 Al Maktoum Challenge R3.
Nature Strip's sire Nicconi, one of two Gr1 winners sired by Gr2 Diadem Stakes winner Bianconi (Danzig), is the sire of 20 stakes winners to date, with Nature Strip his sire's standout performer.
Fort Wood's great granddaughter War Of Athena showed her class when accounting for champion Anything Goes, whose granddam is the Fort Wood sired Broodmare Of The Year Akinfeet, in Saturday's Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas.
Fall Aspen, North America's Broodmare Of The Year in 1994, rates as one of the finest of the modern era. She produced nine stakes winners, with her four Gr1 winners headed by US champion Timber Country, the aforementioned Fort Wood and both Northern Aspen and July Cup winning sire Hamas.
Interestingly enough, Fort Wood appears in the pedigrees of four of the
The daughter of Pretense, and Gr1 Matron Stakes winner, also ranks as the
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Fall Aspen's once beaten grandson Dubai Millennium ensured his lasting legacy through his outstanding sire son Dubawi, with the latter continuing to make his presence felt as one of the world's leading stallions. Her legacy could well be felt still further this year, with Fall Aspen's four time Gr1 winning descendant Ribchester (Iffraaj) set to have his first runners in 2021. Ribchester, a group winner in each of the three seasons he raced, is out of the Marju mare Mujarah -a half-sister to the aforementioned pair of Bangkok and Matterhorn.
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LIFE IS LIFE! v
Trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren and jockey Gavin Lerena provided the thrills to round off the feature billing at Turffontein on Saturday.
Handicap.
pleased after going so close to upstaging Malmoos forty minutes earlier in the Guineas.
It wasn’t a victory that mimicked the style of the great Tommy Hotspur, the unsound equine bullet, who burned the turf to win his first 8 starts on the trot, and 10 races in total, including the Gr1 Computaform Sprint.
Starting favourite, the Duke Of Marmalade filly True To Life showed her class in the Laurence Wernars silks as she flew late to win the R150 000 Wilgerbosdrift Tommy Hotspur
After a stampede down the 1000m track, where anything had a chance in the final 200m, True To Life (33-10) grew wings from a few lengths off the pace and stormed through to nab Winter Stories (7-1) on the line, recording a nippy 56,51 secs.
But Lerena particularly would have felt
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Bohica looked a winner inside the final 75m, and was just a quarter length back in third. With a fraction over 3 lengths separating the top eight, the NHRA team of handicappers would have been patting themselves on the shoulder. The Northfields-bred winner was offered by Lammerskraal Stud on the 2018 National Yearling Sale where Greenstreet Bloodstock signed the slip at R180 000. She is out of Zim and SA seven-time winner Mina Salaam, who won the Zimbabwe Guineas, Queen Of The Sand and Bloodstock SA 2000 and achieved her victories from 1200m to 2000m. She is a Medaglia D’oro daughter of ten-time winning Equus Champion, Circle Of Life. The 4yo True To Life has won 6 races with 6 places from 15 starts for stakes of R607 375.
Just meters before the line as Gavin Lerena puts his head down on True To Life with Bohica (Bling Khumalo) still there
The Merits TRUE TO LIFE has seen her rating raised from 117 to 121 after she captured the Gr3 Wilgerbosdrift Tommy Hotspur Handicap. It was 4th placed WINTER SMOKE who was used as the line horse, which leaves her rating
unchanged on 109. Runner-up WINTER STORIES has had his rating increased from 111 to 114, while 3rd placed BOHICA goes up from 109 to 112. There were no other ratings increases, but three horses were given a drop.
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ORAVAR is down from 102 to 100, OLD MAN TYME was cut from 104 to 102. MIRACLE FLIGHT, who failed to confirm her last improved run, drops from 109 to 104.
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SALLY’S SIMPLY v
TRUE TO LIFE!
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True To Life (Gavin Lerena) wins the Gr3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap on Saturday There's a new addition to the vendor list of this year's Mistico Yearling Sale in the shape of Wind River Farm. The first-time vendor is Sally Bruss, who of course is best known as the former stud manager at the famed Lammerskraal Stud. Sally ventured out on her own last year and has been putting her heart and soul, not to
mention a lot of hard work and capital, into refurbishing the derelict 50 hectare property situated in the Tulbagh area.
one when four-year-old filly True To Life defeated male rivals in the Gr3 Tommy Hotspur at Turffontein.
In less than a year, she has not only put in 900 new fence posts, the farm also boasts a splendid 900m oval sand track, complete with a 300m straight running through its centre.
Sally foaled down the daughter of Duke Of Marmalade when her dam Mina Salaam was a boarder at Lammerskraal.
Last weekend was a particularly satisfying
A stakes winning daughter of Medaglia d'Oro and the champion racemare Circle Of Life, Sally now owns Mina Salaam on a foal-share basis with brother-in-law Robin Bruss. He sent the mare to Duke Of Marmalade on three occasions, and each time she foaled a filly. The promising, if short-lived three-year-old winner Vida Es Bella was followed by True To Life, while the third foal is now a juvenile. Sally elaborated: "I sold the two-year-old full sister to True To Life's owner Laurence Wernars on the morning of the Tommy Hotspur before she won. She's a lovely filly, very athletic with a better head than her sister. I actually would expect her to go on to do good things as well. Mina Salaam's yearling colt by Erupt is similar to True To Life, a big, powerful bay. Mina has a cracking Erupt colt at foot and she is again in foal to him. Robin sent her to Duke three times which hasn't worked out
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too badly, so fingers crossed history repeats itself with Erupt!" But back to the Mistico Sale, where Wind River Farm will offer three yearlings by successful sire Visionaire. The powerful grandson of Gone West has sired a couple of decent winners lately, notably the promising Glen Kotzen-trained juvenile Good Traveller, a runaway debut winner at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. Sally's trio destined for the Mistico Sale descend from her powerhouse broodmare Nacarat, whose bounty of successful foals include Gr1 winners Nania and Red Ray, as well as the stakes winners Brutal Force, Bishop's Bounty, Adobe Pink and Valor Red.
as the dam of the Visionaire filly Mistress Merlot ‘a racy and athletic dark bay, very typical of her mother.’ By Go Deputy and successful four times on the track, Ventura has come up trumps with her first two foals, both having graced the number one box. Rounding out the Wind River trio is the filly Scarlet Red, who is out of Nacarat's daughter Chambre'. By former Lammerskraal sire Rakeen, this dual winner boasts a 100% strike rate as the dam of seven winners from as many runners, amongst which her Western Winter son Mr Roy (Western Winter), who ran third in both the Gr3 Godolphin
All were foaled and raised by Sally, as was their Gr3-placed Western Winter sibling Vermilion, who is the dam of Victor Rail, the only colt amongst the Wind River trio. Described by Sally as ‘a bay version of his sire, compact, muscular and well-topped’, the colt's six winning siblings include the Gimmethegreenlight gelding Vikram, an impressive 3.50-length winner for owner Sabine Plattner at Kenilworth over the weekend. Vermilion's daughter Ventura features
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Barb Stakes and the Darley Arabian. "She's a big-bodied filly, just like her sire," remarks Sally of the mare's ninth foal. "Kevin and Alyson Wright have her What A Winter juvenile half-brother and they think the world of him." Notwithstanding the fact that she has prepared and sold multi-million rand yearlings while at Lammerskraal, Sally is understandably nervous as the Mistico sale approaches: "I'm terrified I'm not going to get a bid for them!" she quips, a remark so typical from a first-time vendor!
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BSA CAPE YEARLING SALE
LOTS TO BID FOR One of South Africa’s best value for money thoroughbred auctions, the Bloodstock South Africa Cape Yearling Sale has produced a string of top prospects over the years, including multiple Gr1 winner Surcharge, who would go on to win at the highest level in Australia. The popular regional sale will be held at Mistico outside Paarl on Sunday 28 February from 12h30. If you can’t make it to the venue on Sunday, there is a Zoom facility available – contact Bloodstock SA for more. Past graduates of this sale include
Drakenstein Stud’s promising young sire Gold Standard, coincidentally represented by five lots on the catalogue, and fellow graded stakes winners Doosra, Elusive Heart, Final Judgement, Green Pepper, Hack Green, Princess Peach.
Vercingetorix, Visionaire and What A Winter.
In total, 181 horses are catalogued for this sale, with the majority of the Cape’s top farms represented.
Qualifying graduates of this sale could feature in the linked 2022 Cape Yearling Sale Cup, which has already been underwritten by Bloodstock South Africa for a minimum stake of R500 000, of which the winning breeder will bank R100 000.
Successful sires represented include Count Dubois, Duke Of Marmalade, Elusive Fort, Flower Alley, Gimmethegreenlight, Ideal World, Judpot, Master Of My Fate, Oratorio, Pathfork, Philanthropist, Pomodoro, Querari, Silvano, Trippi, Twice Over,
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There is also an exciting list of stallions with their first local yearlings on offer, including Canford Cliffs, Erupt, Gold Standard and Royal Mo.
Enjoy our lot-by-lot analysis: click here for more
Wayne Marks
SALE INCENTIVES
REALLY DO MAKE SENSE! v
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Economists are famous for their assumptions, perhaps the most valid of which is that humans respond to incentives. We may not always act ‘rationally’, but as behavioural economist Dan Ariely writes in his book Predictably Irrational, it all still makes sense. Incentives, of course, are a big factor at yearling and two-year-old auctions. In an environment of reduced prize money, the opportunity of earning extra money in restricted races, or other bonuses, becomes very important. In 2020, we dipped our toes into the waters of the Cape Yearling Sale, primarily because of the richly endowed juvenile race restricted to graduates. Plus, graduates also have a shot at the R60k BSA Juvenile Added Stakes. We’re back this year, with five colts and five fillies, all selected on the basis of the likelihood that they could line up for a half million rand two-year-old race in February. Having watched them go through their preparation, they’ve done even better than we imagined when we made the selection late last year. It’s just our opinion, of course, but we have high hopes for this group of ten. Below is the list of Normandy's top selections for this year’s Cape Yearling Sale: Fillies Lot 5 f. Twice Over – Fearbuster (IRE) This is a strong, robust type of filly out of a Fastnet Rock mare that has three lines of Danzig, so she has no shortage of speed in her pedigree. We think that Twice Over fillies are hugely underrated.
further than 1200m. She’s strong and close-coupled, out of a full-sister to the dam of Rio Querari. Grant van Niekerk thought that he was an unlucky 2nd in the Cape Flying Championship. This a family that throws a lot of speed! Lot 81 f. Quasillo (GER) – Rose Water We think that, in time, Quasillo’s infertility will be seen as a big loss to the industry. This is a gorgeous filly out of a well-related Silvano mare. Lot 148 f. The United States (IRE) – Banjo Buzz The United States is a Grade I winning son of Galileo, which must make him one of the best stallion prospects around at the moment. This daughter of a stakes-placed mare is bred on the hugely successful Galileo x Danehill cross. She moves really well. Colts Lot 165 c. Master Of My Fate – Carlas Wisdom Carlas Wisdom is a Jallad mare with an exceptional breeding record. Her five winners have won 26 races, and her only non-winner was 3rd at her only start. This magnificent Master of My Fate colt is definitely the best physical individual she’s produced. He has the looks of a strong juvenile prospect. Lot 38 c. Jackson – Lindleys Lane This is a big, scopey, easy-moving colt out of a winning half-sister to Hard Day’s Night. Jackson gets a lot of winners (including two big sales race winners in
Lot 34 f. Pomodoro – Lady Of The Fleece This is a gorgeous filly – tall and scopey with good depth. Pretty much everything out of the mare can run, and this one looks like she’ll continue the family tradition. Her half-brother, Greek Myth, went through this sales ring in 2020, and on the 27th will either run in the BSA Cape Yearling Sale Cup or in the Nursery. Lot 60 f. Twice Over (GB) – Nordic Wind This is the type of Twice Over filly that looks as if she might not get much
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the past season), and definitely falls into the ‘underrated’ category. On looks, he might be the only one in our draft that looks like he’ll need a bit of time, but he’s out of a Pathfork mare. Lot 59 c. Erupt (IRE) – Nordic Light Erupt is a Grade I winner by world-leading sire Dubawi, which makes him an exciting prospect. This colt is out of a half-sister to the dam of Rio Querari, and has the same kind of speed written all over him. Lot 135 c. Pomodoro – Yekaterina His dam is a young mare from the Mother Russia family that’s already produced a winner. Her two-year-old is the Quasillo filly Miss Putin, who was 4th first time out. He’s a very handsome chap, showing the influence of his dam’s sire Gimmethegreenlight. Lot 144 c. Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) – Ashram One of just three Gimmethegreenlights on the sale. This is a very well put-together colt, strong and high quality. His two-year-old half-brother was 2nd last time out. It’s the Horse Chestnut family, with plenty of winners in the immediate family. He looks tailormade for 1200m at Kenilworth as a two-year-old. The breeder of the horse that wins the sales race will also get R100k. That’s an incentive that aligns our interests with those of buyers. We think we’ve chosen well – the rest is over to you!
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MILLER TIME Former multiple Northern Cape Champion trainer Cliffie Miller has called it a day at Ashburton in KZN and arrived at his new home base of Fairview in the Eastern Cape last Thursday with a string of 25 – and plenty of open boxes! The Hollywoodbets-sponsored Miller had trained in Kimberley for 42 years and after the closure of the Northern Cape sand track last year, made the move, admittedly with some trepidation, to KwaZulu-Natal along with three of his colleagues. He welcomes inquiries from new and existing owners.
Candiese Lenferna
ANOTHER KIMBERLEY KID Another former Kimberley Kid in Jaap Visser is also training in Port Elizabeth now. A former track manager at Flamingo Park and the Northern Cape champion trainer of 2012/2013, Jaap trained the seventeen-time winner Eye Of The World and the star filly Pisces, who won 6 races in a row against colts and geldings. He also has open boxes and is ready to welcome new horses and owners.
UNIQUE CHALLENGE The top ranked Cape Work Riders will take on the cream of the local jockey crop in a stake boosted maiden plate at Kenilworth on Cape Derby day, 27 February. The R160 000 Khaya Stables Work Riders vs Jockeys Maiden Plate will be run down the straight 1200m. A highly motivated currently injured Met champion rider MJ Byleveld will manage the jockeys team, while longstanding Grooms School boss Craig du Plooy will manage the work riders team. The final chance for the Work Riders to boost their standings is in the first race at Kenilworth today.
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Studio-88 Rewards Gauteng Grooms v
The Highveld Autumn Feature Season got under way at Turffontein on Saturday with the Racing Association launching a new initiative – Gold Grooms - to reward the grooms for their contribution to horseracing. Trainers regard the grooms as an integral part of their operation and in keeping with the plans of the industry to empower and promote grooms, the Racing Association has secured a sponsorship from prominent owner and Chair of Studio-88, Laurence Wernars. Any seasoned participant in the horseracing industry will be aware that passion and hard work are integral features of any successful stable. It is a most rewarding profession to be a part of and getting out in the early morning with beautiful thoroughbreds, may just be the perfect way to start the day.
Image Credit
The hard-working grooms are the early risers who attend to all of the basic needs of their charges. This includes cleaning the stables and feeding, watering and grooming the horses. The next step is taking them to the training tracks to put them through their exercise regime. And on race days, the grooms accompany their horses to the racecourses and ensure their safe return. The cash prizes will be awarded to each groom for each feature race on the calendar as follows: • 1st place: R2500 & a winning trophy • 2nd place: R1000 • 3rd place: R 750 • 4th place: R 500 • 5th place: R 250
Malmoos’ proud Groom Xulani Mangaliso
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His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum
SHADWELL SHOCK Thirty six years after sending At Talaq from Europe to Australia on an ultimately successful mission to win the Melbourne Cup for His Highness, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the bombshell decision was announced last week that the thoroughbred holdings of, Shadwell Stud Australasia Ltd, the operation that he founded, would be disbanded. Shadwell’s Racing Manager Angus Gold said: “Sheikh Hamdan has had a long and successful involvement in Australia, initially thanks to his close friendship with Colin Hayes and
subsequently with his son David when he took over the licence. During that time, and from initially small numbers of horses in training, champions such as At Talaq, Almaarad, Zabeel and Jeune, together with Gr1 winners Azzaam, Fraar, Istidaad, Tawqeet, Rewaaya and Qafila have raced in his world famous colours.” As those who know him will attest, Sheikh Hamdan is very much a “hands on” man who likes to be closely involved with the Shadwell horses, and due to his commitments in UAE he has not been able to devote as much time as he would like to following their horses in Australia.
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As a result, and as part of a global review of the Shadwell operation, it has been decided to wind down it’s racing and breeding operations in the Southern Hemisphere over the next few months; the entire Australian yearling crop will be offered at public auction at the various upcoming sales, with the cream of them going to the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, and the breeding stock will all be sold at the Magic Millions Breeding Stock Sale at the end of May – the horses in training will gradually be dispersed in due course.
Candiese Lenferna
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Generations of genius – Tobie & Corne Spies
VAN HALEN WORLD CUP SPRINT ON CARDS One of the most celebrated travelling trainers on the South African racing landscape, Vaal-based Corne Spies’ international raiding pair of dual Gr1 winner Van Halen and 2020 Gr2 Golden Horseshoe victor Nourbese left their quarantine base of Mauritius on Monday evening en route to Belgium and the next leg of their incredible journey. The duo, a son of Avontuur’s Oratorio
and Drakenstein sire Futura respectively, cost R240 000 between them, and are mobile billboards for the great value of South African horses on the world stage. The pair flew to Liege in Belgium and then travelled on by road to Abington Place in Newmarket. The Covid-19 travel restrictions have made the hands-on supervision plans by trainer Spies, very difficult.
“Jane Chapple-Hyam will be looking after them at Newmarket. Plans are fluid at this stage – Nourbese won’t be ready but Van Halen did receive an invite for the $1 million Gr1 Al Quoz Sprint over 1200m at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night. So our hopes are alive there. But we will re-assess our position over the next few weeks,” added the former Zimbabwe champion.
Betting On Year Of The Ox Acknowledging record turnover on Sunday’s Sha Tin meeting of HK$1.843 billion, the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Winfried Englebrecht-Bresges
said that it was positive to have a good start into the New Year and the record turnover is something which was far beyond what they could expect.
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“ I’m optimistic for the Year of the Ox – we are strong, we are persistent and we standing for excellence and success.”
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updated 2021-02-17
TRAINERS Name
Runs
Wins Win%
2nd
3rd
Mr S J Snaith Mr P A Peter Mr S G Tarry Mr M F de Kock Mr P F Matche�
713 534 500 341 485
109 77 62 56 51
92 61 48 47 50
69 50 55 38 38
15.3 14.4 12.4 16.4 10.5
Other Places Place %
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
34.9 31.1 33.2 37.8 27.0
5,463,975 3,927,200 2,992,550 3,123,600 2,434,888
8,296,800 5,787,550 4,888,575 4,485,175 3,982,613
Other Places Place %
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
5,488,525 2,595,600 3,913,000 3,601,275 3,721,650
8,530,200 3,969,900 5,483,238 4,865,025 6,071,200
88 55 63 44 43
249 166 166 129 131
JOCKEYS Name
Runs Wins Win%
2nd
3rd
Mr L Hewitson Mr G M Cheyne Mr S Khumalo Mr A Marcus Mr M A Yeni
903 482 439 346 681
117 54 41 51 75
107 77 56 32 82
131 91 84 79 78
14.5 18.9 19.1 22.8 11.5
134 66 54 52 86
358 197 151 135 243
39.6 40.9 34.4 39.0 35.7
BREEDERS Name
B.T. B.T. Total Runrs Runs AEPR Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Wins Stakes (R) Rnrs %
Wilgerbosdri� & Mauritzfontein Klawervlei Stud Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd Varsfontein Stud
245 360
981 40,069 1458 26,151
95 109
131 136
38.8 30.3
329 488
5 6
7 6
9,816,838 9,414,463
128 196 103
527 48,272 804 28,800 424 41,342
59 58 40
95 87 54
46.1 29.6 38.8
199 204 141
5 3 5
5 6 9
6,178,825 5,644,763 4,258,200
SIRES Name Master Of My Fate Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) Silvano (GER) What A Winter * Captain Al
Runrs Runs AEPR 156 157 134 139 96
722 649 576 599 394
33,014 31,875 37,233 34,992 46,560
B.T. Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Rnrs % 59 61 54 53 39
76 80 71 72 58
37.8 38.9 40.3 38.1 40.6
268 207 171 211 140
See all the detailed standings - Click here 55
3 4 5 2 5
B.T. Wins
Total Stakes (R)
3 4 5 2 11
5,150,150 5,004,450 4,989,175 4,863,825 4,469,775
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The Premier League returns with a full complement of fixtures over the weekend, and there are two fixtures sure to catch your attention. The Merseyside derby will always split opinion but later on, the Wizard entertains the Grandmaster when Mikel Arteta hosts his former Boss at the Emirates. Ryan Liberty writes that you don’t want to miss this! Friday 19 February 31/20 Wolves | Draw 22/10 | Leeds United 18/10 (22:00) Wolves were impressive against Southampton even though they fell prey to a glorious goal from Danny Ings. You get the feeling that all this Wolves side needed was a bit of a confidence booster and, with their 2-1 victory over the weekend, I reckon they could get on to a bit of a run. Leeds will approach this game with the mindset they have approached every game this season – how many times have you heard that being said?! Wolves do not have the defensive stability to keep Leeds out and Leeds simply don’t have the quality to close down this Wolves side. At 7/10, Both Teams to Score looks too good not to get into our multiple. Saturday 20 February 7/2 Southampton | 26/10 | Chelsea 15/20 (14:30) Southampton have certainly fallen into a slump. Their form was red-hot early on, but they have plunged into the bottom half of the table and I’m struggling to find reasons to justify a positive result here for the Saints. In my opinion, Chelsea are arguably one of the better coached sides in the league. At the risk of sounding like a hypocrite, I have gone from relegating Thomas Tuchel as an average coach to one knocking on the door of genius. Chelsea to come away with all three is another for the multiple!
1/1 Burnley | 23/10 | West Brom 29/10 (17:00)
they could score. It’s almost as though they were playing champagne football.
I could not believe the narrative that was promulgated by the English commentary and media during the West Brom and United game. The opening goal for the Baggies was a foul every day of the week and twice on Sundays. Since when does one have a greater ‘desire’ or ‘hunger’ to score even when fouling the defending player? It’s ridiculous, laughable in fact.
If they replicate that performance, they could sweep away this Sheffield side, but, again, I just can’t tip against this Sheffield side. The Blades have found form and are becoming consistent, having won six of their last nine in all competitions (prior to their West Ham game).
Nevertheless, West Brom defended well and made life difficult when they needed to. Burnley will match that physicality and certainly have the quality to cause Big Sam some issues. I like the look of a draw at 23/10 though, which will consolidate the point picked up against United. 5/10 Liverpool | 7/2 | Everton 5/1 (19:30) Liverpool looked like a shadow of their former selves against Leicester, defensively they were at odds and evens. If you look at those two early Vardy-chances, it could have been five. Jurgen Klopp has come out and said that his side has relinquished the league, but I don’t buy that for a second and neither should you…well, maybe we should. Everton have been incredibly frustrating to have a punt on so far this season, but away from home they have been much better. Their inconsistency has cost them, but they certainly have the squad to have had a greater impact on those top four league places. If Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison return, they could ask questions of this shaky Liverpool defence though.
Sheffield on the Win/Draw Double Chance at 6/10 makes plenty of appeal for me. Sunday 21 February 15/10 West Ham | 44/10 | Tottenham 18/10 (14:00) The Premier League is the greatest league in the world, simply because of the glitz, glam and drama that is served up in great doses week in and week out. Predicting games in the league is near impossible but predicting West Ham games is an extreme sport. The Hammers can be incredible and yet simultaneously replicate an average mid-table side. I do not doubt for a second their ability, but their inconsistency could prove crippling. Spurs have had a tough month of love with their manager Jose Mourinho. There are times where the club and manager look hopelessly in love, and yet with just one win in their last six outings (in all competition) they look to be on the rocks.
Get on the ‘Both Teams to Score + Over 2.5’ market at 21/20.
I do, however, think Son Heung-Min and Harry Kane could have too much for this West Ham defence and at 18/10, I’m happy to get behind this wounded Spurs side – hopefully we get a reaction from them come Sunday.
11/10 Fulham | 9/4 | Sheffield United 49/20 (22:00)
37/20 Aston Villa | 5/2 | Leicester City 14/10 (16:00)
At the time of writing this, the Blades will meet West Ham in what should be an enthralling encounter. I’ve said it before – Sheffield look like the only side down in the dumps still putting a massive fight.
This has all the makings of an absolute peach of a football game, both sides have incredibly talented sides. The difference for me is in their defence ability. Aston Villa have a superior defensive statistic, with 12 clean sheets, as opposed to Leicester’s nine.
Fulham were excellent against Everton, every time they went forward you thought
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Surprisingly, they also lead the ‘Big Chances Created Column’ with 40 as opposed to only 28 by Leicester. Of course, we know football isn’t played on a piece of paper, but Aston Villa will not be an easy pass for the Foxes. And at 37/20, I’m more than happy to have a punt on the home side – who are enjoying an incredible season thus far. 48/10 Arsenal | 32/10 | Man City 11/20 (18:30) People are beginning to see City as the perpetual juggernaut that simply keeps rolling on. Now don’t get me wrong, they are an exceptionally talented side who have everything required to win the league: belief, quality and depth. My only concern is that I’m not sure that they are as untouchable as we have sometimes made them out to be. There was a fluidity to Arsenal’s game with Leeds that was incredible. David Luiz constantly found himself in the final third, and the relentless pressure Arsenal was able to pile onto Leeds was impressive. I am fully aware that Leeds and City are lightyears apart, but Arsenal were clinical and full of confidence. If they go into the game with City with that sort of approach, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them come away with a positive result. They have the midfield to compete with a City side without Kevin De Bruyne, the defensive stability to contain an attack with no Sergio Aguero or a lethal
Gabriel Jesus, and an attacking threat to ask decent enough questions of City’s last line. I’m on the Arsenal Win/Draw Double Chance 5/4 2/7 Man United | 48/10 | Newcastle 9/1 (21:00) I would not recommend going anywhere near United at 2/7. In fact, Newcastle priced up so generously at 9/1 has got the punter in me going against my better judgment. If Callum Wilson was available for Newcastle, the Magpies could have been ruthless and clinical enough to grind out a result at Old Trafford. United haven’t been great in their backyard, they would have been frustrated by that draw with West Brom though and hopefully that draws out a reaction.
some serious issues. Palace have blown hot and cold but hardly seemed to have even shown up in their game at home to Burnley. Brighton will want to impose themselves on the game early on and if they manage to, I can’t see why the Seagulls can’t run away with this one. Back South Africa’s newly adopted side to claim all three at 8/10. TREBLE @ 4/1 Brighton Win 8/10 Chelsea Win 15/20 Wolves vs Leeds BTTS 7/10
Newcastle has the players to put pressure on United, the speed of Allan Saint-Maximin will ask questions of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but the English right-back is arguably the best in the world when it comes to one-on-one defending. I think this could be rather cagey, and so Under 2.5 at 15/10 catches my eye. Monday 15 February 8/10 Brighton | 24/10 | Crystal Palace 38/10 (22:00) Brighton earned a well-deserved draw with Aston Villa; Graham Potter tweaked a couple things when his side met Aston Villa and they caused Dean Smith’s side
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