20210607 Sporting Post Sprint Ver 1.3 Single Pages

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4 Flashback to 2020 – Rainbow Bridge wins the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge under Warren Kennedy

Candiese Lenferna

BACK THE BRIDGE! 5

Eric Sands’ 6yo Rainbow Bridge looks a generous bet with the sponsors at 8-10 to successfully defend his title in Saturday’s 50th renewal of the R1 million Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

At first glance there doesn’t seem much more to say other than ‘back the bridge!’ in the prestigious weight-for-age mile and the joint second richest graded race on the African continent.

After running third behind subsequent Vodacom Durban July winner Do It Again, this will be the third consecutive year that the son of Ideal World will line up in the final July ‘golden ticket’ event and all the indicators suggest that

8/10 is generous.

And it’s not that the handsome gelding has no competition.

Quite the opposite in fact!

Saturday’s field is loaded with horses who have plundered graded races, including the current L’Ormarins Queen's Plate champion, Dark Jet and defending Vodacom Durban July winner, Belgarion.

One might reasonably ask – ‘how then is Rainbow Bridge 8/10?’ The answer lies in a combination of what Rainbow Bridge has done, and what the others have not.

Jet Dark indeed won the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate. But that was five months ago and he hasn’t run since. There he beat Rainbow Bridge, and at the time it looked like the mile

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appeared not to aid the Rainbow Bridge cause. But the Sands’ champion’s sizzling win five weeks ago in the 1400m IOS Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes has firmly swung the pendulum.

Belgarion beat Rainbow Bridge in the July, but he had a 5 kg advantage for the 2,75 lengths victory. Since then they have met 3 times at level weights, with that score going 2-1 in favour of Rainbow Bridge. In similar vein to his stablemate Jet Dark, Belgarion also hasn't run since the Met at the end of January.

The racing rule of thumb is that the big races are hard to win unless everything has gone right, and therein lies the rub. On the flipside, things

have gone very well for Rainbow Bridge.

with no explanation from any races, before or since.

Let’s not forget the rest – but they all raise some questions.

Chimichurri Run has only won up to 1200m. Cirillo has never won a mile and is held

by Rainbow Bridge, Belgarion and Jet Dark. Trip To Africa seems outclassed here and hasn’t shown Gr1 clout yet.

Sovereign Spirit, a Dynasty out of a Jet Master mare, flashed up for third in the Met finishing four lengths behind Rainbow Bridge. But at a 100-1 it was a freak showing,

The 3yo’s Seeking The Stars and Catch Twentytwo racing for the first time in his new colours, look to be in the 1600m contest more as a result of being doubtful stayers, than anything else. But with only nine and ten outings under the belt, respectively, it would probably be foolish to disregard them.

Catch Twentytwo’s last 4 runs include beating Sunday’s Golden Horse third-placer MK’s Pride, 0,25 lengths and 2,25 lengths behind the rampant Malmoos, and 1,90 length behind Rainbow Bridge in the same IOS Drill Hall Stakes that makes Rainbow Bridge an 8-10 shot on Saturday.

Candiese Lenferna

The Marshall yard is in dashing form and Seeking The Stars was two lengths off in

the Cape Guineas and 0,60 lengths behind Daily News winning stablemate Linebacker in the KZN Guineas.

The champion is safely wrapped in his blanket after his 2020 victory

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A race ranked by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities earlier this year as South Africa’s leading Gr1 contest and alongside Australia’s richest weight-for-age contest, the prestigious W.S. Cox Plate, the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge is run for an increased stake of R1 million on Saturday.

In yet another significant show of support for the South African horse racing industry – and KwaZuluNatal racing in particular, Hollywoodbets has committed to a 3-year sponsorship of the premier SA Champions Season weight-for-age mile.

“If one looks back to July 2019 when Hollywoodbets secured the landmark naming rights to Hollywoodbets Greyville and Hollywoodbets Scottsville, who could have predicted that we were about to embark on one of the most

Pure Gold!

economically challenging periods that South African Horseracing has ever had to endure? Hollywoodbets increased its support of the industry during a time when it has been needed most and to now have our partner as a long-term title sponsor of one of our most prestigious Gr1 races during Champions Season, is the perfect fit,” said Steve Marshall, Gold Circle’s Marketing and Events Executive, recently.

Hollywoodbets Brand & Communications Executive, Devin Heffer explained that this sponsorship is about much more than just the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge.

“This is about being associated with equine excellence and ensuring that the value and prestige of our champions is not diluted by economic stress.

Hollywoodbets views itself as an integral part of the horse racing industry and the KwaZulu-Natal economy. The

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SA Champions Season is the magnet that attracts nationwide interest in the sport, and we are delighted to have the opportunity to meaningfully demonstrate our commitment to racing’s wellbeing. We will also use the day to enthusiastically build a bridge between horse racing and our other valued partners in sport and in the media.”

As can be seen from Saturday’s racecard, Hollywoodbets have extended the major raceday experience and exposure to a variety of title partners and this illustrious list includes the likes of local sporting heroes, the Hollywoodbets Dolphins and the Cell C Sharks, LaLiga, The Lighthouse Foundation (Nomzamo Mbatha), AmaZulu Community Trust, Rising Sun, East Coast Radio and SuperSport.

Hollywoodbets-sponsored racing fundi and tipster, Dom Zaki will be at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.

The former Gr1 winning trainer recalled that he saddled National Spirit to win the Gold Challenge in 2006, when his enigmatically talented champion beat Stan Elley star, Kapil. The race was still hosted at Clairwood in those days.

Dom says that National Spirit was an exceptional racehorse, who had his quirks.

Zak’s Back

“He only just got the mile, which makes his Gold Challenge win all the more meritorious. But he often didn’t corner, so he wasn’t a horse for the faint of heart!

But history shows that it takes a special and very decent horse to win the Gold Challenge. A combination of speed and stamina – the hallmarks of class, I’d say in a nutshell.”

When taxed on what he felt about Saturday’s line-up, he said it was as good as any he had seen – and better.

“The Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and the Daily

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News remain the key lead-up races to the Vodacom Durban July and with the 3yo crop a genuinely vintage generation this year, it gives Saturday’s feature an added dimension and edge! Justin Snaith brings L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate winner Jet Dark out off a five month break. Rainbow Bridge’s IOS Drill Hall victory was unbelievable. This is going to be a humdinger, as it doesn’t end there,” he added.

Catch Dom daily on his local racing podcast on www.sportingpost.co.za

Bonji’s Been There Too Anthony won the Gold Challenge on two top horses in Secretary General and Set Afire, and confirmed that the race is a prestigious and important stepping stone into the Vodacom Durban July for many contenders.

“It’s always a great race to win and the honour roll down

the years underscores the importance of the contest on the racing calendar.

Saturday is a great day for KZN and SA racing in these times, and I’m so proud to be a part of the team that makes it happen,” he concluded.

Candiese Lenferna

Former international champion jockey and now Hollywood Syndicate Racing Manager, Anthony Delpech coincidentally rode Dom Zaki’s first Gr1 winner in 2005, when Talahatchie won the Premier’s Champion Stakes at Clairwood.

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R500 000 Must Be Won!

The popular free-to-enter Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge offers a R500 000 must be won prize to the player/s selecting the most winners at

Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.

There is also the R10 000 to be shared amongst the Top 20 on the leaderboard,

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with the 100% winner clean sheet prize a staggering R1 625 000.

EUROPE’S PREMIER MIDSUMMER SALE

Tattersalls July Sale JULY 7 – 9 Horses/Fillies in Training, Broodmares, etc. including major consignments from Godolphin, Juddmonte Farms, Shadwell Estates, etc.

CINNAS RANSOM dam of CAPTAIN’S RANSOM winner of Majorca Stakes, Gr. 1, Cape Fillies Guineas, Gr. 1, etc. purchased at Tattersalls December Mare Sale for 25,000 gns

HARLECH dam of HUNGRY HEART winner of Australian Oaks, Gr. 1, Vinery Stud Stakes, Gr. 1, etc. purchased at Tattersalls July Sale for 60,000 gns

Jeremy Nelson T: +2783 2617953 jeremy.nelson@tattersalls.com www.tattersalls.com 12

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Craig Zackey gets the best out of Battle Force late

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THE WAR RAGES ON! 15

Candiese Lenferna

Just eight days after SA Triple Tiara champion War Of Athena’s Gr1 Woolavington 2000 victory, Gauteng trainer Paul Matchett and his highriding owners Roy Wentzel and Dr Rose WatermanWentzel clinched another top level success as Battle Force won a dramatic and hotly contested Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.

There were nailbiting moments for the connections as Battle Force first cast a front shoe on the way to the start and while being re-shod, cast a hind shoe.

He also raced with one nail in one of his front shoes.

It was finally decided to remove both hind shoes.

“He was a handful and we thought he may be scratched”

conceded Roy Wentzel. “But Paul, to his credit, knows the horse well and suggested he run without the shoes.”

Craig Zackey had to waste all the way down to 52kgs and said that he ridden at that level for at least four years.

“I had to lose 5kg in a week,” chirped the elated rider, who rode a powerful and beautifully balanced race to get the 16-1 shot up to nab Eden Roc (14-1) late. The winning margin was 0,25 lengths with a time recorded of 68,61 secs, In an accolade to the much maligned handicappers, under two lengths covered the first seven runners home. The 4-1 favourite MK’s Pride was 0,30 lengths back in third, with Captain Tatters (25-1) A model of consistency, Battle Force was 2,5kgs under sufferance in the official ratings despite carrying joint bottom

weight but the gelding was still under the radar as far as the handicap was concerned.

He had received the maximum of eight points for each of his last two wins, but it could have been more.

Bred by Summerhill, Battle Force was registering his first graded race victory and provided his freshman sire Act Of War with his second Gr1 win in a week.

A 2019 BSA KZN Yearling Sale graduate, Battle Force was offered by Rathmor as agent and Roy Wentzel paid R130 000 for the gallant gelding who has now won 6 races with 5 places from 12 starts for stakes of R617 750.

Battle Force is out of the unraced Elusive City mare Mataalb.

The Merits BATTLE FORCE has had his merit rating raised from 106 to 113 following his success in the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint. Part of the seven-pound raise which the winner incurred is because of the fact that he was five pounds or 2.5 kgs under sufferance at the weights. Both 5th placed CHIMICHURI RUN and 6th finisher VARS VICKY were used as line horses, which leaves them unchanged on marks of 115 and 115,

respectively. There were increases for all of the placed horses. 2nd finisher EDEN ROC goes up from 118 to 119, 3rd placed MK’S PRIDE was raised from 119 to 120, and 4th placed CAPTAIN TATTERS (who was four pounds or 2 kgs under sufferance at the weights) is up from 105 to 109. The remaining increase was for NO LAYING UP, who was four pounds or 2 kg under sufferance at the weights 16overweight, and carried 1kg

he was only adjusted from 107 to 109 despite actually achieving a performance figure of 111. Five horses were given a rating’s drop.

KASIMIR was trimmed from 125 to 124, PEARL OF ASIA is down from 108 to 107, BOHICA drops to 123 from 125, IKIGAI is down from 111 to 108, and lastly SPEEDPOINT was dropped from 114 to 110.

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HABIB’S HIGH FIVE

20 Calvin Habib salutes on his first Gr1 success as Under Your Spell soars to victory

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Riding his first Gr1 winner, Calvin Habib said, “This is a dream come true! I want to thank Sean Tarry for trusting me. This is the best 2yo filly I have ever ridden.”

Habib said at the 500m he was cruising and that at the 400 there was no doubt!

“She won in a common canter!” he enthused.

In going that was ‘good to soft’ and with the outside slightly better than the inside, Under Your Spell came from the back to win by nearly 4 lengths in a time of 69.01 seconds.

Although only the second race over 1200m on the day, the time was 1.92 seconds faster than the Maiden run earlier.

Under Your Spell, a daughter of Capetown Noir out of Summerhill’s untraced Kingmambo mare, Deceptive Charm, (who is out of a full sister to sire Casey Tibbs (Ire)), was purchased in an unseen package online, definitely a sign of the times!

She is a half sister to the useful Witchcraft and In Cahoots, also trained by Tarry.

“You had to ignore the last run”, Tarry was quick to point out.

He said that people were quick to discount earlier achievements on one run.

Tarry was full of praise for Calvin Habib who he said never complains and is very committed.

“I think he is the most underrated jockey in the

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country,” added the champion.

Sean Tarry won the Gr1 Allan Robertson with Goldkeeper’s daughter, Give Me Five, in 2009.

Now a top Klawervlei mare, Give Me Five’s daughter by Captain Al also ran a gallant 4th in the 2016 Gr1 Allan Robertson , also trained by Tarry – showing that none of this is a fluke.

Gaynor Rupert and Drakenstein Stud owned and bred runner up Sound Of Warning (by Trippi out of Siren’s Call), as well as the narrowly pipped for third, Sheela (by The United States out of Trip To India) from The Azzie yard.

Under Your Spell has now earned close on R440 000 and has been a model of consistency with 4 wins and a place from her 5 starts.

Candiese Lenferna

The Allan Robertson Championship, traditionally the first Gr1 race for 2yo’s in the South African season was owned by trainer Sean Tarry as the stable coupling of Under Your Spell and Sound Of Warning beat the odds-on favourite Sheela at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.

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SUMMERHILL GR1 DOUBLE

A CHAMPION BOOST FOR KZN BREEDERS

‘We can only hope that KZN will continue to see a rise in its fortunes and that the local breeders now have a decent pool of horses to depend on’- Mick Goss

24 Mick Goss –‘it’s a nice way to go out’

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As the sun sets on an era of Summerhill Stud champions, the last homebreds of the internationally famous Mooi River nursery are making their mark on South African racing. A glorious Gr1 double at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday maintained the magic momentum of a fabulous season.

Capetown Noir’s first Gr1 runner Under Your Spell was a sensational winner of the Allan Robertson Championship, while Act Of War’s son Battle Force beat the odds to win the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint.

Mick Goss could not be more thrilled with the success of the Summerhill Stud horses, not only for his family but for everyone who was associated with the stud over the years.

“We cannot go without acknowledging the role of the bloodstock in all of this. If you don’t have the fundamentals you can’t get on with the job in producing good horses.

We were very fortunate in the number of people who patronized Summerhill over the many years with their mares and those who supported us as partners in developing our bloodstock as well.

“The game changer is always the location of the better

stallions, and in that respect, we were very lucky at Summerhill. We lived a charmed life with the likes of Northern Guest and Home Guard in the early years and subsequently with National Emblem, Kahal and Mutafal.

“But the one thing that did come home to me from a breeding perspective was the use of homegrown, highly performed stallions. The dependency on the imports is always temporary really,” Mick tells the Sporting Post.

A move to concentrate his resources on locally highly performed horses, including Capetown Noir, Act Of War, Willow Magic and Rabada, has paid dividends.

But Mick is sure he simply got luckier then he ordinarily would have. But the results on track and in the sales ring suggest that it does seem to have been the right move for Summerhill.

Act Of War now boasts two Gr1 winners from his first crop - War Of Athena, SA Triple Tiara and Gr1 Woolavington 2000 winner, and Sunday’s Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint hero, Battle Force.

Capetown Noir’s first Gr1 runner Under Your Spell smashed a quality field to win the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship. The handsome son of Western Winter also has a serious 3yo in the Eastern Cape in Jaeger Moon,

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who has won 7 of his last 8 starts, including the Listed East Cape Guineas and the Listed World Sports Betting East Cape Derby.

“And of course, there is Capetown Noir’s Bohica, who ran a serious race over the weekend. The penalty he got for running second in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint a month ago showed at the end and he stopped late in the going.

“To have three horses of that level of class, all performing at the same time and of a similar generation, speaks volumes for the horse,” adds Mick.

Another worthy of mention is Willow Magic’s MK’s Pride, who ran a smashing third behind Battle Force in the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint on Sunday. He was the first 3yo in over 50 years to win the Gr2 Ilha Bela Hawaii Stakes and was also victorious in the BSA Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup last year.

“All three of the Gr1 stallions we have acquired over recent years that have runners on the track are sparkling in their performances as sires, and we have serious expectations from the first crop of Rabada.

“We can only hope that the province of KZN will see a rise in its fortunes and that the local breeders now have a decent pool of horses to depend on. It’ll save a lot of

them having to move their mares out of the province every year at considerable cost to themselves and to be able to support the local stallions.”

Mick has been overwhelmed with the encouragement and interest from all over the country and across the world, as these results go

out in publications like the European Bloodstock News and The Thoroughbred Daily News, to mention a few.

“It is just such a thrill at this point in our lives to sit back on a Saturday afternoon and watch the sports. Of course, it will pass as we are coming to the end of our time in terms of the stock we have

bred and their appearances on the racecourse.

“But it is a nice way to go out and it is an encouraging sign for Natal breeders going forward, because if we can do it then anybody can do it. As long as we all go along similar paths and look after our horses the way they deserve to be looked after.”

Passing a Baton Of Excellence Summerhill Stud changed hands in 2019.

Mick Goss wrote at the time: I’ve often said in the past that if Summerhill is ever to be sold, I would prefer it to be in my lifetime. The reason is these are heritage properties in the true sense of the word, and they are populated by some of the best people in the world. It has been paramount in our thinking that if ever we were to part with this legacy, it would be to someone who appreciates its value and who might polish it for all it’s worth. Besides, all these businesses need is a dash of new energy and a modicum of fresh investment.

Remarkably, just as we were making our plans for the year ahead, that very person appeared across our bows. Henning Pretorius is a devoted South African, a self-made, highly successful

farmer and a horseman of considerable renown. In the equine sense, his Capital Stud is arguably the premier source of excellence in the production of sport horses on the African continent. We can think of no better combination of investor and driver of the future of the businesses and the brands which Summerhill and Hartford represent, than Henning Pretorius.

Thankfully, the sale of Summerhill and Hartford foresees the continuation of their former activities in conjunction with Capital Stud going forward, in what has the potential of becoming a significant attraction for horse lovers and visitors from across the globe.

For our part, the Goss family is going nowhere. Henning has generously accommodated our mutual wish to remain involved in the 27

day-to-day activities of the business and to maintain our ties with our great friends and patrons of the farm and the hotel, as well as the one institution capable of preparing young South Africans for their futures in the horse industry, the Al Maktoum School of Management Excellence.

Having devoted a good deal of our working lives towards the reopening of the country’s export lanes, we look forward to participating in the largesse that will generate for the game’s players. Best wishes to all the great friends and acquaintances we have made in our 41 years at Summerhill and Hartford."

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Candiese Lenferna

SPIES – IN FROM THE GR1 COLD! 30

Family affair! Trainer Corne Spies and his owner son, Xander

Vaal trainer Corne Spies rekindled memories of his Golden Horse Sprint day glory years of earlier this century at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday, when the fiery fast Potala Palace filly Singforafa blazed a path to glory in the R500 000 Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint, brought to you by The Witness.

her Hollywoodbets-sponsored trainer Corne Spies confirmed that his charge enjoys the Hollywoodbets Scottsville track - a fact that is patently clear!

Former Singapore-based Ryan Munger was in the saddle and followed his colleague Calvin Habib’s lead of earlier by breaking his career Gr1 ice with a composed ride.

The daughter of Ridgemont Highlands Singspiel stallion Potala Palace made amends for a narrow third in the same event last year behind champions Celtic Sea and Run Fox Run, when she carved her path from the 1200m jump to win in great style.

Munger modestly paid all the credit to the 4yo flyer, who ran her highly vaunted opposition off their feet and stayed on powerfully at 33-1 in a time of 68,57 secs – the fastest of the three Gr1’s up to then - to beat the year younger Gr1 winner Vernichey by just over 2 lengths.

Singforafa also ran third in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship in 2019 and

Candice Dawson will be thrilled by the showing of Gallic Princess (25-1), who came

through late and was only shaded a nose into third.

The favourite True To Life arrived too late for Place Accumulator players and ran fourth.

Singforafa was a deserved first Gr1 winner for Singspiel stallion Potala Palace, who has proven himself a versatile producer of quality from relatively limited opportunity.

Bred by the late Nico Swart from the thrice winning Whistling Wood mare First Whistle, the winner races in the silks of the trainer’s legal eagle son, Xander Spies.

Singforafa has won 6 races with 8 places from 26 starts for stakes of R890 375.

The Merits SINGFORAFA has had her rating increased from 113 to 119 after she led virtually throughout to comfortably win the South African Fillies Sprint at Weight-For-Age terms. Runner-up VER-

NICHEY and 3rd placed GALLIC PRINCESS were used as line horses here, leaving them unchanged on a mark of 114 apiece. Very few changes were made as a consequence of this race. The winner

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aside, the only other change was for VIHAAN’S PIE, who is up from 102 to 105. No horses were given a rating’s drop from this race.

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Candiese Lenferna

WITNESS THE SPEED! 34

Ryan Munger proudly holds the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint silverware

Internationally experienced Vodacom Durban July jockey available. On a Gr1 roll. Former Zimbabwe Champion. Fit as a fiddle and can ride at any weight mark.

beyond her optimum trip. But Mr Spies had her really well and fit and all credit must go to him and to this gutsy filly who beat a super high quality field,” mused Ryan as he explained how the race unfolded.

That’s the advertising brief we suggested to Ryan Munger after the 25 year old rider had put the cherry on the top of the first phase of his burgeoning career with a blockbuster ride to win the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint, brought to you by The Witness, at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.

“Straightforward is the only way I can explain the race in simple terms. I just went through the paces and kept her balanced.

To her credit, she showed a big heart and just kept finding,” he enthused.

Former Durban July winning rider Stuart Randolph’s nephew announced his arrival on the new generation top-jockey scene with the quickest 1200m on the four-pronged Gr1 speed raceday.

In his typically modest demeanour, Ryan heaped all the praise and credit on Singforafa and her top conditioner, Corne Spies.

“She is really quick and the 1200m is probably slightly

We asked why there was no victory salute for our hardworking photographer, Candiese Lenferna?

“You asked when exactly I thought I had the race in the bag. Let’s say at the 20m mark!

She is so quick, but has a short range from top gear to neutral.

She can stop quite quickly. So while I felt that this could be my big day, I decided not to try and showboat and end up red-faced and in trouble. Rather keep my head down and enjoy the moment in the winner’s enclosure,” he laughs as he says she ran all the way to the wire.

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Interestingly, Singforafa had run third in the 2020 renewal of the SA Fillies Sprint and third the previous year in the Allan Robertson. This underscored Ryan’s thinking that she may be a few metres short of her blitzing best at 1200m.

He thanked the Corne Spies Racing Team and said that loyalty was the cement in the relationship.

“A great part of riding successfully is the confidence of knowing that the trainer is behind you. Mr Spies could have taken me off Singforafa for the Gr1 as I had two unplaced runs on her prior to Sunday. So I am glad I could play my small part in seeing the champagne moment all work out for him and his son Xander, who is the owner.”

Ryan was engaged to ride Durban July entry Johnny Hero for Tyrone Zackey in the Jubilee Handicap on Sunday – but after the rescheduling of the Hollywoodbets Scottsville meeting had to surrender the ride to Kabelo Matsunyane.

“He is a nice little horse and Kabelo rode a really good race to win the Jubilee,” he adds sportingly.

He adds that he feels that he has really benefitted from his time and experience in Singapore.

As to a possible Vodacom Durban July ride, Ryan says he can ride at any weight and that he is available ‘today’.

“My last Durban July ride was on Return Flight for Mr Sean Tarry in 2019. That was the last July that had crowds on course. It’s an amazing race and everybody’s ambition to win.”

“But I must admit at the same time that there is a lot of depth in the South African jockey pool, and many of the jobs I may have had before I left have been filled. So it’s been a hard slog trying to break in again.

But nothing worthwhile in life comes easy,” he adds maturely.

While based in Gauteng, he has been focussing on KZN as a second province.

Asked about his previous closest calls at Gr1 level prior to Sunday’s sizzler, Ryan points out that during his Singapore stint in 2020, he was runner-up in the three legs of the local triple crown, His first Gr3 wins came in the Caradoc Gold Cup with Ilitshe at Turffontein in 2017, while other notable feature wins – all at Turffontein - include the Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes with National Park and the Gr3 Pretty Polly Stakes on Palace Of Dreams.

He is particularly pleased with having cracked a Gr1 victory just six months after returning from Singapore and says that the first phase of his short career now feels complete.

“A Gr1 was always missing from my CV. One doesn’t get many quality chances, so I will remember Sunday 6 May 2021 forever!”

“I enjoy the Cape and Eastern Cape, but in the latter as an example, most of the stables have existing good stable riders. So I was flying down for light rides or second and third stringers. It’s an expensive exercise, too!”

We asked if he’d ever consider going back to Singapore?

“My plan is to try and get into the SA top ten next season and build myself up further. I really enjoyed the professionalism in Singapore. In South Africa, as a jockey you feel more like a worker – it’s a job. Whereas in Singapore you are seen more as a sportsman. They are so organised and professional in all respects. I think the future is exciting and I’d like to believe that I will be riding overseas again, yes!”

We put the South African lifestyle versus Singapore to

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Ryan and asked him to tell us what the differences are.

“Covid has changed the world. Singapore is a gateway to Asia and the world. It’s beautiful and clean and ordered. But South Africa is our home and we love it – despite the loadshedding and other challenges.”

He explains how he and wife Kelsey lived to an ordered routine in Singapore.

“One gets into a schedule or a timetable – it’s very comfortable. If racing had to return to twice a week there I would definitely try and get back. The cost of living is quite high. Here in South Africa, it’s still affordable to be able to eat out and live quite nicely.”

The Durban-born Munger, who was inspired to follow in the footsteps of his jockeyuncle Stuart Randolph, enrolled at the South African Jockey Academy in 2011.

He was crowned Zimbabwe champion jockey in the 2017/18 season.

Ryan is talented, educated, enthusiastic and ambitious.

Weight is not an issue for him.

Enquiries regarding his availability in any region – please contact Wade Viljoen 064 685 6946.

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BURN BABY, BURN!

38 Singforafa streaks to victory under Ryan Munger

Candiese Lenferna

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POTALA PALACE – MORE THAN SKIN DEEP! In an era where elite races are more or less dominated by powerful breeders and blue-chip families, this year's Gr1 South African Fillies Sprint, brought to you

by The Witness, proved a refreshing triumph for the 'underdogs'.

The Gr1 dash was dominated

by Corné Spies-trained Singforafa, who burned off her rivals with a scintillating display of front-running speed.

Sired by an underrated stallion, she was bred by a small breeder from a mare who decidedly lacks black type credentials.

The fleet-footed filly is a landmark first Gr1 winner for Ridgemont Highlands-based stallion Potala Palace.

Conceived in the UK, he is by Rakeen's champion halfbrother Singspiel. Winner of the Dubai World Cup, Coronation Cup and Juddmonte International, Singspiel carved out a successful stallion career siring high-class horses of the ilk of Confidential Lady (French Oaks) and Yorkshire Oaks winner Dar Re Mi (the dam of champion English juvenile Too Darn Hot).

Considering that Singspiel’s

progeny generally showed a tendency to thrive over ground, and took some time to come to hand, Potala Palace proved an exception.

Trained by Mike Azzie, this R3,6-million yearling purchase ran second on debut and barely a week later, cracked his maiden by six lengths under front-running tactics over 1450m. Third time out, he recorded another sublime front-running victory in the Gr1 Premier's Champion Stakes, where he had favourite Gimmethegreenlight back in third.

That the precocious colt defied his pedigree would be an understatement. Inbred 4 x 3 to English Derby winner Shirley Heights, his female line is packed with stamina and features plenty of classic performers, notably English Derby hero North Light (out of the Gr1 winning stayer Sought Out), the Gr1 winning middle distance performers Golan and Gamut, and Derby runner-up Tartan Bearer.

Potala Palace returned to his birthplace of Highlands in 2014 to embark on a stud career. A Gr1 winner as a juvenile and blessed with a fine pedigree and good looks, he ticked all the boxes, yet has only

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received scant support.

His first crop of 35 foals was his biggest, but according to available NHRA statistics, he covered just nine mares each in the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

To his credit, he has made the most of his limited opportunity, for in addition to Singforafa, he has also sired undefeated triple Gr3 winner Katak, Gr3 Pretty Polly Stakes victress Palace Of Dreams, Gr1 Mercury Sprint third Palace Chapel, Gr1 Thekwini Stakes third Snow Palace.

Significantly, the majority of his stakes performers have inherited their sire's fine turn of foot.

Singforafa is no exception.

Winner of the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes and third in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship as a juvenile, she added the Listed Bauhinia Stakes at three and finished third in the famous three-way finish to the 2020 Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint won by champion Celtic Sea. Last weekend, she set the record straight in no uncertain terms, leading all the way and landing her first Gr1 success in flamboyant style.

Ridgemont Highlands

Potala Palace: Singspiel - Alighment (Alzao) Bred by the late Nico Swart, she is out of his homebred First Whistle, a three-time winning sprinter whose sire, the unfashionable Whistling Wood, scored once as a juvenile over the minimum distance. A passionate small breeder, Swart also owned and bred grandam First Honeymoon, a non-winner by the dual Gr3 winning sprinter Pole Position out of the Royal

Prerogative mare Honeymoon Special, an own sister to the stakes winning juvenile Coconut Queen.

It is not uncommon for excellence in a pedigree to lie dormant. It may skip a generation, but whether it's a matter of the stars aligning, a confluence of genetic characteristics or a combination thereof, excellence has an

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uncanny knack of resurfacing.

In this instance, it has taken three generations, as Singforafa is the family's first black type winner since Coconut Queen strutted her stuff all of 40 years ago!

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Ambiorix (Luke Ferraris) storms to victory on the far right

Milnerton veteran Vaughan Marshall continued with one of his most memorable SA Champions Seasons in recent times, when he clinched his third Gr1 Gold Medallion success at Hollywoodbets Scottsville this century, courtesy of the Oldlands Stud-bred Vercingetorix colt, Ambiorix.

Marshall won the Gold

Medallion in 2016 with Always In Charge and in 2009 with Villandry.

He recently stamped his Vodacom Durban July aspirations when running 1-2 in the Gr1 Daily News 2000.

In an acid test on Sunday for the majority of the illustrious field of thirteen 2yo males that lined up in the weather

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delayed Gr1, the Avontuursponsored Luke Ferraris rode a cracker on the 2021 Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes winner.

Showing oodles of pace as Gallic Chief (25-1) and Bard Of Avon (10-1) kept it hot up front, Ambiorix (6-1) showed no ill effects after a 14 week break, and kicked again at the 200m as he went on

Candiese Lenferna Cover Image: Candiese Lenferna caught Gr1 trainer Vaughan Marshall in a Santa Claus pose leaving Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday

powerfully to beat Ashley Fortune’s clearly talented debut winner Bard Avon by 2,10 lengths in a time of 69,23 secs. This was a marginally slower time than the fillies a half hour earlier.

In a race where nothing really kicked on behind the pace trio, Gallic Chief held on for third just over a length back.

The fancied Pyromaniac, Gimme A Prince and Good Traveller were never in the hunt.

A Cape Premier Yearling Sale R250 000 buy, Ambiorix took his stakes to R353 500 with his second win from two starts.

A first SA Gr1 strike for David Allan’s UK-based Burns Racing, the winner was bred

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by Oldlands Stud.

He is a first male Gr1 winner for Maine Chance Equus Champion Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the twice winning Indigo Magic mare, Our Darling.

Luke Off To Hong Kong Former dual SA Champion apprentice Luke Ferraris, who won the Gold Medallion on Ambiorix on Sunday, will join the Hong Kong riding ranks after being granted a six-month contract by the HKJC.

fifth Gr1 winner victory on Sunday for Vaughan Marshall.

The 19 year old, who grew up in Hong Kong, rode his

The Hong Kong season starts in September and runs

Ferraris is the only new addition to the Hong Kong roster, replacing Neil Callan, who will depart at the end of this season.

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through to July every year.

The contract is unlikely to impact on Ferraris completing his SA term. He is riding Rainbow Bridge in Saturday’s Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July. So his Gr1 tally could well yet increase.

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58 Kabelo Matsunyane drives Johnny Hero to victory – third placed Bingwa (Chase Maujean) shows up in the background

JC Photos

ZACKEY’S JULY HERO? 59

Johnny Hero may well have forced his way into the 2021 Vodacom Durban July picture with a well taken victory in the R150 000 Gr3 Jubilee Handicap at Turffontein on Sunday.

the winner here.

The Tyrone Zackey-trained Varsfontein Stud bred son of Gimmethegreenlight carried just 52 kgs under Kabelo Matsunyane, and after being carried out late in running, he stayed on strongly to dispose of the talented Shango in a time of 109,20 secs.

She was reported to have hung in and jockey Cheyne reported that his mount did not stride out freely in running. The Veterinary Surgeon was requested to examine her. This does not bode well for her, given the fact that the race is under four weeks away.

Of the Vodacom Durban July entries contesting the preferential ticket race, there were mixed fortunes to report.

With the senior in-demand jockeys riding down in KZN, there were big opportunities for the less vaunted riders to show their skills.

Shango conceded 4kgs to the winner and was beaten 0,75 lengths. He also endured a tardy start and was bumped in running.

Pack Leader was involved in the Shango bump and finished an uninspiring four length fourth.

Expressfromtheus was 12th on the second July log.

Under topweight of 61,5kgs, he finished 6,35 lengths off

JOHNNY HERO has had his rating raised from 103 to 106 after he won the Gr3 Jubilee Handicap over 1800m on the Turffontein standside course. Both runner-up SHANGO and 3rd

Fanie Bronkhorst’s gallant mare Running Brave (10th on the second July log) finished down the field, some 26 lengths off the winner.

Kabelo Matsunyane was one of them. His win on Johnny Hero was the second leg of a double on the day.

Matsunyane made his professional debut on 22 May 2018, finishing 4th on the Coenie de Beer-trained Trip To Paradise at the Vaal.

Interestingly, his first career winner was posted three years ago – almost to the day. It was

The Merits

placed BINGWA were used as line horses, leaving them unaltered on a rating of 111 apiece. There were no ratings increases for any horse other than the winner, but three horses were given a drop.

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Thursday 7 June 2018 when he celebrated the first win of his career at the Vaal on the Craig Mayhew-trained Heywot.

With Tyrone Zackey ill, his daughter and part-owner Nadine Backos did the postrace honours.

She was unable to confirm whether the 4yo gelding would make the trip to KZN for the big race. Her Dad came within a heartbeat of winning the July in 2012 when Smanjemanje was pipped by Pomodoro. That year Smanjemanje had only run third in the Jubilee behind Eton Square. Maybe Johnny Hero’s victory is an omen for a big day on 3 July!

Johnny Hero is by red-hot sire Gimmethegreenlight out of the Caesour mare, Koboshi.

He cost R130 000 on the National Yearling Sale and took his earnings to R438 325 with 6 wins and 8 places from his 21 starts.

4th placed PACK LEADER is down from 107 to 105, CHIJMES was trimmed from 111 to 110, and lastly GREEN HAZE is down from 108 to 106.

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THE JULY

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– ALWAYS IN FASHION!

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Anthony Grote/ Gameplan Media

The countdown to the 2021 Gr1 Vodacom Durban July continues in earnest at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, with the running of two ‘qualifier’ races.

The R1 million Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge and the R150 000 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Gr3 Cup Trial are ‘golden ticket’ and ‘preferential consideration’ events respectively for the big race on 3 July.

Final supplementary entries for the July close at 11h00 on Tuesday 15 June. Weights will be published on the same day. Final declarations close at 11h00 on Monday 21 June.

The announcement of the final field of 18 plus 2 reserve runners, and their barrier draws, will take place on Tuesday 22 June.

And as fashion plays an important role – even behind

closed doors - twenty students from four design colleges across KwaZulu-Natal recently celebrated being named in the semi-finals of the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award, presented by Durban Fashion Fair, with a marked shift in the colleges enjoying a share of the limelight.

With DUT students noticeably absent, second year fashion design students from the Lindiwe Khuzwayo Academy of Fashion Design, the Pietermaritzburg School of Fashion, Vega and the Fezile Fashion Skills Academy accounted for the twenty semi-finalist berths.

The students designed a raceday outfit based on the theme "Birds of a Feather" and provided the trademark cutting-edge creativity and technical innovation that the competition has become famous for.

The twenty semi-finalists in the Vodacom Durban July Young Designer Award, presented by Durban Fashion Fair, are: Mlungisi Mpanza, S'busiswe Dube, Nomathemba Zikhali, Portia Mkhize, Bernadine Singh, Zandile Mahlasela (all Lindiwe Khuzwayo Academy of Fashion Design) Qhubekani Nzimande, Silindile Mzobe, Sduduzo Ntanzi, Gcina Ngcoya, Simangele Ngcobo (all Fezile Fashion Skills Academy), Phumlani Buthulezi, Nomfundo Meyiwa, Acsah Pietersen, Vincent Orishedere, Nombulelo Ngcobo, Lindeka Duma, Thando Nguse (all Pietermaritzburg School of Fashion), Tashriq Chanderlal, Aliyah Hassim (both Vega).

Big Numbers!

The recent Daily News 2000 race meeting marked the first time South African horseplayers were able to bet into Hong Kong’s mega tote pools on a race meeting in this country and the turnover generated in just a few hours was astonishing.

This was reported in a joint press release published on Tuesday 8 June 2021 by Gold Circle. the host operator of the raceday, and Phumelela.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club classified the 29 May Daily News 2000 meeting as a World Pool event, resulting in punters in Hong Kong being able to take the normal range of Hong Kong tote bets on races two to nine.

Total gross turnover on the eight races was R486 million, comprising R405 million bet by Hong Kong punters with South Africa and other international sources contributing R81 million.

Four South African tote pools on the same races were commingled into Hong Kong pools – Win, Place, Swinger and Quinella – with local TAB pools on all other bet types.

Read more – please click here

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HOMELY GIRL WINS AWAY

70 Richard Fourie sends Homely Girl to a smart win

71 Pauline Herman

Maine Chance Farms’ Gr1 winning sire Querari, South Africa’s Leading Sire of 2yo’s in 2018/19, produced his third consecutive Listed Lady’s Slipper Stakes winner when his progressive daughter Homely Girl captured the 2021 renewal at Fairview on Friday.

Homely Girl’s victory was preceded by Querari daughters Luna Wish and Herrin –winners of the 2019 and 2020 Lady’s Slipper Stakes respectively.

Trained by Justin Snaith,

Homely Girl raced just off the pace, before jockey Richard Fourie bought the filly with a powerful late finish, which saw Homely Girl mow down front running favourite Sound Check and go on to win by two and a half lengths.

4Racing Computaform Sprint winner Rio Querari.

Bred by the Narrow Creek Stud, Homely Girl was a R40 000 buy from the 2020 Cape Yearling Sale.

Querari fillies also dominated the finish to the Lady’s Slipper Stakes, with the sire responsible not only for the winner but also for third place finisher Quick Breeze.

Out of the Silvano mare Sherry, Homely Girl is bred on the same Querari/Silvano cross as stakes winners Cosmic Light, Wonderwall, Dagmar, Joking and Luna Wish.

Now a winner of two of just four starts, Homely Girl is the 24th stakes winner for Querari, also sire of this season’s G1

Querari has three lots on the upcoming CTS Farm Yearling Sale, and six lots on the KZN Yearling Sale.

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Chase Liebenberg

Farm Sale graduate Kommetdieding – a Vodacom Durban July fancy

HERE’S A CHALLENGE WITH VALUE! The 2021 CTS Farm Yearling Sale, formerly the Klawervlei Farm Sale, will be held at the De Grendel Wine Estate on Sunday 20 June.

The catalogue boasts 136 entries, including lots from leading stud farms Klawervlei, Ridgemont/Highlands, Wilgerbosdrift, Maine Chance, Nadeson Park and Normandy.

There is an excellent variety of sires in the mix, including the in-demand Captain Of All (10 lots), Pomodoro (19), Canford Cliffs (7), Master Of My Mate (3), William Longsword (11), Rafeef (3) and The United States (5).

The catalogue presents an interesting challenge for pedigree experts – especially those who have a knack of identifying the right nicks, and who can spot potentially prolific mares, with several first foals as well as unsold lots from the 2021 Premier Sale in the mix.

Add to this the late-bloomers among the yearlings, invariably with a few decent runners among them, and the art of spotting good sorts underneath their winter coats becomes a factor.

There are any number of pedigree elements to highlight when taking a closer look at the various lots, but a few jump from the page.

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These include a halfsister to the listed Secretariat Stakes winner Paisley Park; a half-brother to the listed Darley Arabian winner Guru’s Pride; a half-brother to the multiple graded winner Sargeant Hardy, and a half-sister to the Equus Champion Sprinter, Seventh Plain.

Among the first foals are a colt from Gr3 winner Girl On The Run; a colt from Gr2 winner Intergalactic; a colt from Gr2 winner Jo’s Bond, and a half-brother to recent runaway winner Eternity Ring.

Read our lot-by-lot sale preview – please click here

JC Photos

Good News – Stake Doubles!

Cape Thoroughbred Sales have announced a substantial increase in prize money for the 2022 CTS Farm Sale Stakes Race.

The race, scheduled for June 2022, will now be worth R400 000, doubling its current R200 000.

This is a sale with high quality at value prices and, given its nature, also with opportunities for speculators. This has been proved time and again by its graduates, from the likes of present leading stallion Captain Of All and Gr1

Cape Derby winner Edict Of Nantes in the early days of the original Klawervlei Sale, to the first three winners of the Farm Sale race in Rock The Globe, Kommetdieding and Masked Vigilante.

In fact the second Farm Race winner was Kommetdieding (Elusive Fort), who is currently a serious contender for top honours in the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July.

Described as a ‘fuzzy, attractive little horse’ by buyers Michelle Rix and Harold Crawford, who paid

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just R55 000 for the colt, whose earnings already exceed R500 000.

Brett Crawford secured the third Farm Sale winner, Masked Vigilante (Vercingetorix), for just R90 000 at the 2020 sale. He is unbeaten in two starts for owners Delma and Lance Sherrell.

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SUSPENDED The Administrator of the Gauteng Gambling Board (GGB), Advocate Fana Nalane has placed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Steven Ngubeni, on precautionary suspension.

Adv. Nalane informed the CEO on Wednesday last week that the precautionary suspension, with full pay, takes effect immediately. “This is a precautionary suspension in terms of the Disciplinary Code and Procedures of the GGB.” said Adv. Nalane. Mr. Thiran Marimuthu, the GGB’s Senior Manager for Gaming Control who has been the organization’s acting COO, has been appointed acting CEO in the interim.

FRANKIE BREAKS OUT Horse racing is the UK’s & Ireland’s second largest attended spectator sport after football attracting nearly 7 million attendees in 2019.

However, in a world where the consumer expects to book everything they want with the tap of a button, racing has not kept up. Frankie Dettori has invested and is the face of the brand of Racingbreaks.com, a leading digital racing and experiential platform enabling users to plan and book every aspect of their racing experience, whether that’s a ticket to your local racecourse or a round the World Trip to the Melbourne Cup. The team aim with investment to take the business global. They believe the racing industry will see significant benefits from the platform being able to promote more events to more potential customers, as well as introducing ancillary products such as accommodation and transfers that we believe solve historic problems within the racing industry. Click here to read more

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TWICE’S TREBLE Klawervlei Stud’s four time Gr1 winning sire Twice Over has been in tremendous form of late, and the former European champion enjoyed a treble on Saturday. This included a smart performance by his 2yo daughter Call The Wind who made a winning debut at Borrowdale Park for trainer Gokhan Terzi.

The dual Gr1 Emirates Airline Champion Stakes winning sire also sired a double at Kenilworth on the same day when Veni Vidi Vicci (Brett Crawford) and Twicethequality (Justin Snaith) won. Twice Over has 12 lots on the CTS Farm Yearling Sale, and a further eight on the KZN Yearling Sale.

STILL WELCOME President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address on Sunday 30 May advised the country that we were reverting to level 2 lockdown with effect from Monday 31 May. Cape Racing advises that owners, trainers and their guests are still welcome to attend the races, but with the restricted numbers allowed, to please be sure to book.

Suite holders are reminded to please let Cape Racing know when they will be utilizing their suites, and to share the names of their guests attending. Maximum attendance for suites remains at 50% of capacity.

All bookings to be made with Rehana Saal on bookings@caperacing.co.za or via Whatsapp on 063 929 8630.

Any questions or queries may be addressed to kirsti@caperacing.co.za or 083 450 6665.

All Covid protocols still apply with masks being mandatory. Please also be vigilant with maintaining social distance and sanitizing.

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RAFEEF THE ROCKET Ridgemont Highlands’ fast ascending star Rafeef produced a double at the Vaal on Tuesday, with Master Archie and William Robertson becoming his 12th and 13th first crop winners, respectively.

Rafeef has had more 2yo winners this season than the likes of Vercingetorix, Querari, Var, and Trippi and is currently the third leading sire of 2yo winners in South Africa for 2020-2021.

FOURTH TITLE? Buoyed by a timely show of strength, Caspar Fownes is taking nothing for granted despite edging to a three-win lead over John Size in the battle for the Hong Kong trainers’ championship after scoring a double at Sha Tin on Sunday. Fownes’ hopes of annexing a fourth trainers’ crown were boosted with The Rock and Seven Heavens’ victories, leaving the 2006/07, 2008/09 and 2013/14 champion shading Size 68-65 with 10 meetings left in the season.

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REALITY!

Down Royal will be the first racetrack in Ireland to host a crowd of paying spectators since the start of the pandemic. And the County Down venue was the subject of some backlash on social media on Tuesday after sharing details of its code of conduct for the June 18 and 19 fixtures, which will see 500 people attend on both days. Among the protocols are the requirement for face coverings to be worn except when eating or drinking, no shouting, singing or chanting, as well as requesting racegoers turn their backs when moving past other spectators, thus avoiding face-to-face contact.

“We're working hard on something that covers us legally, governmentally and in terms of our governing body. Yes, some elements aren't ideal in terms of having a day out at a racecourse, but this is where we need to be in the short-term to get to where we want to be in the long-term. I'm not creating this, it's just the reality," said Down Royal chief executive Emma Meehan.

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FIND A FAB FAMILY AT CHEVELEY

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One of the Cape’s leading thoroughbred nurseries, the Cheveley Stud, will be holding a farm sale on site and via Zoom, on Wednesday 16 June at 13h00.

The Ceres based farm has bred a number of standout performers over the years, with Cheveley’s most recent flagbearers including champion Bela-Bela, dual Gr1 winner Snowdance, and Horse Of The Year, and successful resident stallion Legislate, to name but three.

The farm sale catalogue is made up of broodmares, yearlings and weanlings, with a number of the lots on offer hailing from exceptional families.

Covering sires represented at Cheveley Stud’s Farm Sale include Fire Away, Futura, Gimmethegreenlight, Lancaster Bomber, Legislate, Master Of My Fate, One World, Querari, Soqrat, The United States, Var and Vercingetorix.

The sale will also be offering yearlings sired by Erupt and

Wylie Hall, as well as weanlings sired by the likes of Danon Platina, Legislate, Master Of My Fate, Potala Palace, Querari, The United States, Vercingetorix and Visionaire.

Lot 12 Secret Risk-the Winter Oaks winning dam of G1 winner Undercover Agent (by Captain Al) sells in foal to the Captain Al sired Met winner One World

A few of the potential standout lots at Cheveley’s sale includes:

Lot 13 Virgo Babe -the Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery winner sells in foal to champion and exciting young sire Futura

Lot 2 Theas Dance – the dam of Dynasty’s Gr3 Flamboyant Stakes winner Olga sells in foal to Dynasty’s champion son Legislate Lot 4 Crystal Cavern -winner of five races including the Listed Stormsvlei Mile, she sells in foal to the very exciting young Galileo horse The United States Lot 6 Tuscan Treasure-a full-sister to the dam of champion Anything Goes, this half-sister to champion Capetown Noir and half-sister to the smart In The Dance sells in foal to In The Dance’s top-class sire Gimmethegreenlight Lot 10 Earth’s Orbit -a Gr2 placed daughter of Captain Al, this dam of the stakes placed Veronica Mars sells in foal to Veronica Mars’ sire Legislate

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Lot 14 Mary Lou -the stakes winning dam of Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship winner Brave Mary sells in foal to Vercingetorix Lot 18 Queen’s Command -the Gr3 winning daughter of top-class Australian sire Commands is in foal to champion and top-class young sire Vercingetorix The catalogue for this sale can be viewed online at www.bsa.co.za If you wish to register on Zoom – please contact Ashley on ashley@bsa.co. za or mobile call / whatsapp on 084 514 1723.

Here’s a location finder – click - getting to Cheveley

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Chase Liebenberg

Champion Hawwaam – back for stud

LOOK WHO’S COMING HOME! Champion Hawwaam, one of the very best sons of five times champion South African sire Silvano, is set to retire to Wilgerbosdrift for the 2021 breeding season.

Shadwell, who raced Hawwaam with so much success, are planning to support him at stud, and the entire industry would like to

South Africa’s Champion 3YO of 2018-2019, Hawwaam won ten of 13 starts, with his victories including five at Gr1 level.

triumphs in the Gr1 Premier’s Champions Challenge, as well as the G1 H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, Gr1 Daily News 2000 – a race won previously by outstanding sire Dynasty as well as the increasingly successful Vercingetorix – and Gr1 SA Classic.

His victories included a pair of

Hawwaam, who won a total

thank H.H. Sheikha Hissa and the family for their ongoing support and look forward to seeing Hawwaam return to South Africa.

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of eight graded races during his career, accounted for some outstanding performers during his career, including champions Do It Again, Legal Eagle, Soqrat, Talktothestars and Vardy, and fellow Gr1 winners Atyaab, Chimichuri Run, Eyes Wide Open, Queen Supreme, Tilbury Fort, Undercover Agent and Zillzaal.

Described as an outstanding physical specimen, Hawwaam was a R1 million buy from the 2017 National Yearling Sale.

Hawwaam, whose full-brother

Celestial City cost R7 million as a yearling, is one of more than 100 stakes winners for his outstanding sire Silvano, whose son Vercingetorix ranks as one of the best young stallions currently standing in South Africa.

He is one of three G1 winners produced by Jet Master’s Gr3 Prix Du Cap winning daughter Halfway To Heaven, South Africa’s Broodmare Of The Year in both 2018-2019 and 2019-2020.

Halfway To Heaven, dam of four winners from as many runners, is also dam of four

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time Gr1 winner, and dual Met winner Rainbow Bridge, and Gr1 ARF Commemorative Cape Derby/World Sports Betting Champions Cup hero Golden Ducat.

Remarkably, between them, Halfway To Heaven sons have won 11 Gr1 races and earned more than R15 million in stakes.

A champion in his own right, Hawwaam is by a champion sire out of a champion broodmare – he has everything to recommend him as a stallion of the future!

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Candiese Lenferna

Anton Marcus steers Pretty Young Thing to a runaway success in the Poinsettia Stakes

BRETT CRAWFORD ‘SHE HAD A WILL TO WIN’

The Ridgemont Highlands broodmare band has received a boost with the news that the Brett Crawford-trained dual graded stakes winner Pretty Young Thing has been retired from racing and is set to pursue a maternal career in the power paddocks of the champion Robertson nursery.

her seventeen starts.

The athletic daughter of Dynasty’s multiple Gr1 winner Jackson closes her impressive track resume with five wins, including two graded stakes successes, and six places – including one at Gr1 level – from

On a memorable summer’s day in the shadow of the mountain, she overcame a wide draw and produced a relentless galloping performance to beat her Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas champion and Ridgemont

A filly of genuine heart and class with an electric turn of foot that impressed top judges in champion jockeys Anton Marcus and Greg Cheyne, Pretty Young Thing reached a career high on Cape Derby day in 2020.

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stablemate Front And Centre by 3,50 lengths in the Gr3 Prix Du Cap.

Coming out four months later, and clearly in need of match practice over a trip short of her 1400m best, Pretty Young Thing showed pace and courage to win the Post Bollywood Gr3 Poinsettia Stakes over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

Ridgemont’s Craig Kieswetter said that Pretty Young Thing was Jackson’s best performing daughter to date and ‘ticked all the boxes’.

“She brings racing quality as a dual graded stakes winner and Gr1 placed filly. She also possesses a terrific pedigree, and is a half sister to recent Gr3 Cape Winter Guineas winner, Warrior.

Her temperament and character is also exemplary – she is a hardy and tough lady who travelled well and took the demands of racing in her stride. All round, she displayed that competitive spirit and never-say-die temperament that ensures a great fit with the Ridgemont mantra of continually upgrading our broodmare band in order to send the best to the best, to produce the best. We believe Pretty Young Thing holds promise of an exciting future in the paddock,” he concluded.

Pretty Young Thing’s leading Gr1 trainer Brett Crawford, who has trained top fillies of the calibre of exported champion Run Fox Run for the Ridgemont Team, told the Sporting Post that the daughter of Jackson was a filly ‘with a big heart, a will to win, and a great temperament’.

“She will indeed be a massive asset to Ridgemont’s broodmare band. I will follow her progress with great interest,” concluded Crawford.

A nominee in the 2019/20 Cape Breeders Champion 3yo Filly category that included SA Horse Of The Year, Summer Pudding, Jackson’s secondcrop flyer is out of Nona In Command, a daughter of the deceased breed-

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shaping sire, Commands.

Also trained by Brett Crawford, Dynasty’s most handsome son Jackson won the Gr1 Investec Cape Derby, Gr1 Daily News 2000 and Gr1 Champions Cup and has the proven track ability and blood to conquer the world, hailing as he does, from the same family as multiple champion sire Smart Strike, and the ill-fated South African champion Soft Falling Rain.

York Racecourse

DESTINATION: YORK

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After the action at Epsom, racing is relatively low-key this Saturday in the UK. The highlight is the listed Sky Bet Race to the Ebor Grand Cup Stakes at York.

Last weekend saw the running of the Cazoo Oaks and Derby, won by the Coolmore and Godolphin operations respectively. The winners of both these classics over 2400m, Snowfall and Adayar won by wide margins and promise much for the rest of the season.

The course conditions changed dramatically at Epsom with a deluge of rain early Friday morning. The

clerk of the course changed the going from good, good to firm in places (after watering all week) to soft. Several nonrunners were noted, including the fancied William Haggas trained Mohaafeth from the Derby due to the underfoot conditions.

Snowfall, the front-running winner of the Gr3 Musidora at York on her last start, was ridden from off the pace in the Cazoo Oaks by super sub Frankie Dettori.

With a good pace from the start most of the field were already being ridden rounding Tattenham corner except for the daughter of Deep Impact

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who was traveling on the bridle. On moving to the outside rail, she drew away to win unextended by a record sixteen lengths. Dettori suggested post-race that the Arc at Longchamp should be her ultimate target. The sophomore filly will receive age and sex allowances in Europe’s premier race and would relish the likely soft conditions.

The Cazoo Derby was won by one of the largest colts in the race, Adayar a son of Frankel, who was slow away from the hoodoo draw of one and ridden for position up the hill throughout the first half a mile of the contest. That he

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then quickened readily on the inside rail and ran on powerfully to win the great race by four and a half lengths was majestic.

Post-race his trainer Charlie Appleby stated that the King George at Ascot would be the latest stable stars’ next assignment before considering either the Ledger or the Arc. He added “the one thing that surprised us all is that acceleration that he showed. It’s been well documented about Adam’s (Kirby) ride and the gap that he had to take – it was very much a brave man’s route, but he had a brave horse underneath him.”

This Saturday’s highlight

is the listed Sky Bet Race to the Ebor Grand Cup Stakes at York.

The race has attracted only seven nominations, but some promising four-year-olds are declared, including two from the inform William Haggas yard. His Ilraab, a son of Wootton Bassett has run seven times and won his last six starts. He has progressed through the handicap ranks going steadily up in distance and grade. His last start was at the course over 2400m and he won going away eased up at the line. At the six-day acceptances no jockey was declared for this 111 rated colt.

The stable has also nominated the four-year-old Roberto

Adayaar wins the Cazoo Derby

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Escobarr. A winner of only one race from four starts which was at this course, the colt by Galileo has raced against stronger in group two company. Stable jock Tom Marquand retains the ride.

Other nominations include Louganini, a son of Zoffany, trained by Rodger Charlton.

He easily won his last start at Ascot in a handicap over 2400m last month. That race was run on soft ground, in fact all three of his wins have been recorded on the soft.

Ranch Hand, a five-year-old

by Dunedan is a seven-time winner and the ride of champion jockey Oisin Murphy for Andrew Balding.

Ed Dunlop fields Red Vernon the veteran eight-year-old

course and distance winner to be ridden by Frankie Dettori.

Royal Ascot – In Sight!

Royal Ascot is now a major talking point in racing circles and the nominations for the Gr1 events have been published. Day one of the meeting is next week Tuesday and there are three Group 1’s on the card.

The Queen Anne Stakes runs over the straight mile for four-year-old’s and older where the Gosden trained champion miler Palace Pier

is entered. The King’s Stand Stakes, a 1000m dash, sees the return of defending champ Battash and winner of Gr1 Prix de l’Abbaye Glass Slippers.

The Gr1 St James’s Palace Stakes is run on the round mile for three-year-olds.

Classic winners Poetic Flare and St Mark’s Basilica are entered as well as the unbeaten Mostahdef from

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the Gosden stable and Godolphin entry Hurricane Avenue.

On Wednesday, champion three-year-old filly of last season Love could make her seasonal return for the Aidan O’Brien camp, while on ladies’ day (Thursday), Stradivarius attempts to equal the mighty Yeats by winning a fourth Gold Cup.

Coolmore

Sadler's Wells - Urban Sea

THE GALILEO EFFECT

While he enjoyed no luck in last week’s Epsom classics, the world’s premier stallion Galileo once again exerted his dominance in Friday’s Gr1 Cazoo Oaks and Saturday’s Gr1 Cazoo Derby.

Not only did Galileo’s Gr3 Give Thanks Stakes winning daughter Best In The World

(a full-sister to Arc winner Found) supply the brilliant, 16 length Oaks winning Snowfall (Deep Impact) another daughter of Galileo, Divinely (a full-sister to the dam of Snowfall) ran third in the Oaks, with Galileo mare Bark responsible for the fourth placed filly Save A Forest.

Bred on the same Deep

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Impact/Galileo cross as Gr1 Qipco 2000 Guineas/G1 Racing Post Trophy winning sire Saxon Warrior, Snowfall is the second English Oaks winner produced by a Galileo mare following Qualify (Fastnet Rock) in 2015.

Remarkably, all of the past seven Oaks winners have Galileo in their pedigrees,

while nine of the last ten Oaks winners carry the Coolmore legend in her pedigreee – the one exception being Taghrooda -who was sired by Galileo’s half-brother Sea The Stars.

Galileo, whose half-brother Sea The Stars is also the sire of the Cazoo Derby runner-up Mojo Star, also made his presence felt in Saturday’s Derby.

The winner Adayar was sired

by Galileo’s unbeaten son Frankel, whose three-yearolds continue to impress this season.

Frankel was also responsible for the third home Hurricane Lane, while Derby fourth place finisher Mac Swiney was sired by a Derby winning son of Galileo in the form of New Approach, with Mac Swiney’s dam Halla Na Saoire a daughter of Galileo’s unbeaten son Teofilo.

Between them, Galileo, sire of beaten Derby favourite Bolshoi Ballet, and his sons were responsible for six of the 11 Derby runners.

Sire of more English Derby

winners (five) than any other stallion in history, Galileo has now been responsible for two sons to have sired English Derby winners – his Derby winning son New Approach is the sire of 2018 Derby winner Masar.

Remarkably, Galileo also made his presence felt in Sunday’s Gr1 Qatar Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby), with his Gr3 winning daughter Cabaret (also dam of the classic winning sire Magna Grecia) the dam of the impressive French Derby winner St Mark’s Basilica (Siyouni). The latter was making it a classic double with the top-class colt having captured the Gr1 Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) last time out.

This season’s English and Irish classics have been dominated

by Galileo descendants – not for a first time and not, in all likelihood, for a last time.

New Approach’s 2000 Guineas winning son Dawn Approach is the sire of 2021 2000 Guineas winner Poetic Flare, while New Approach is the sire of Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas victor Mac Swiney, and

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Galileo is sire of Empress Josephine and Joan Of Arc-the first two home in this year’s Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas.

Galileo sons have been enjoying a steady stream of success this year, with the sire’s dual Guineas winning son Gleneagles the sire of this year’s German 1000 Guineas winner Novemba, Galileo’s Gr1 Ranvet Stakes hero The United States coming up with a very smart filly, Sheela, from his first crop, and dual Derby winner Australia supplying a string of stakes winners, including Gr1 Prix Ganay hero Mare Australis.

Three of Galileo’s top sons on the racecourse, Churchill, Decorated Knight and Highland Reel, all recently got off the mark as stallions, suggesting the final page in the Galileo story is a long way from being penned.

Churchill, Decorated Knight, Gleneagles and last season’s South African Leading First Season Sire Global View, were all sired by Galileo out of daughters of Storm Cat.

BLUE ARMY CAPTURE BELMONT Adding to a brilliant weekend for Godolphin after the blue army had captured the Gr1 Cazoo Derby at Epsom with the Charlie Appleby-trained Adayar (Frankel), across the Atlantic, trainer Brad Cox broke new ground when claiming his first ever Triple Crown race.

The feat, after years of waiting, occurred in the final leg of the US Triple Crown for 3YOs, the Belmont Stakes in New York, to the north of JFK Airport.

Cox saddled up Godolphin’s roan colt Essential Quality

(Tapit-Delightful Quality, by Elusive Quality) and watched him out-muscle rival Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow-Indian Miss,

by Indian Charlie) to take the 2400m contest by 1.5-lengths.

Adding to Cox’s heart-onsleeve excitement, was that the first two home established another first: the duo had also finished in identical order in the Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, a first replica result from a Breeders’ Cup juvenile event for a Triple Crown event.

Now the winner of 6 of his 7 starts, Essential Quality is at the pointy end of the US 3YO brigade. Whether he’s the outstanding performer of his 101

generation could be brought into sharper relief by August where he’s a chance to run in the Gr1 Travers Stakes.

Meanwhile, bloodhorse.com reports that Hot Rod Charlie could reappear in the Gr1 Haskell Invitational Stakes.

Standing in his way could be Kentucky Derby second – likely to be declared the winner – Mandaloun (Into Mischief-Brooch, by Empire Maker) and Preakness runner-up Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow-Catch The Moon, by Malibu Moon).

Watch the Belmont Stakes replay – click here

updated 2021-06-07

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�

1098 857 905 514 691

174 132 113 80 67

142 108 104 68 69

112 83 100 56 51

15.8 15.4 12.5 15.6 9.7

Other Places Place % 142 84 105 59 66

396 275 309 183 186

36.1 32.1 34.1 35.6 26.9

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

8,643,925 12,852,100 7,208,200 10,777,425 5,533,800 9,520,700 4,940,600 7,081,425 4,239,388 6,334,738

JOCKEYS Name

Runs Wins Win%

2nd

3rd

Mr L Hewitson Mr W B Kennedy Mr M A Yeni Mr S Khumalo Mr R D Fourie

1508 981 1016 733 682

197 128 110 74 103

172 115 103 87 78

227 156 119 137 111

15.1 15.9 11.7 18.7 16.3

Other Places Place % 226 143 132 87 101

595 386 345 248 282

39.5 39.3 34.0 33.8 41.3

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

9,605,975 15,028,850 9,036,225 13,144,350 7,212,900 10,806,700 6,511,000 9,441,113 5,185,500 8,059,275

BREEDERS Name

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

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

426 290 215

2274 37,381 1557 54,641 1201 48,068

149 139 70

209 208 124

35.0 47.9 32.6

754 529 326

10 10 7

13 15,924,488 15 15,846,013 16 10,334,613

160 125

813 59,118 697 60,614

83 55

142 91

51.9 44.0

308 229

9 7

10 13

9,458,950 7,576,800

B.T. Wins

Total Stakes (R)

13 6 5 9 4

10,268,700 8,222,450 8,126,925 7,857,475 7,422,700

SIRES Name Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) What A Winter Master Of My Fate Silvano (GER) Querari (GER)

Runrs Runs AEPR 186 167 177 158 201

1017 946 1122 874 1089

55,208 49,236 45,915 49,731 36,929

B.T. Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Rnrs % 89 77 79 69 70

143 124 116 104 106

47.8 46.1 44.6 43.7 34.8

325 331 406 264 378

See all the detailed standings - Click here 102

11 4 4 7 3

FRENCH INVADE MUNICH In what looks to be the tie of the opening round, France hope to stamp their authority as tournament favourites when they square off with Germany in their own backyard.

This will be a huge clash for both nations, who have to get points off each other in Group F, with a three-way tussle expected for top spot between themselves and Portugal.

gathered the hype it needs prior to kick-off, so let’s hope the last two World Cup winners don’t disappoint when they meet on Tuesday.

Group F – France vs Germany | Tuesday 15 June | Allianz Arena | 21:00 To Win France 31/20 Draw 9/4 Germany 7/4

France

World champions, France, hope to go one better than they did in the last Euro tournament, where they lost out on the final to Portugal.

In that time, Les Bleus went on to conquer the world and have rightfully earned their status as the tournament’s hot favourites.

Jesse Nagel writes that France also seem to have learnt from their wrongs and

This fixture has certainly

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have opted to recall Karim Benzema back to the fold.

The Real Madrid frontman will now form arguably the greatest attacking trio in international football, alongside Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann.

Behind them, the midfield pairing of Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante have enough quality to boss any opposing teams’ central area.

Defensively, France also have the most resolute unit on the planet, making them extremely difficult to impose.

Without any significant weaknesses, Didier Deschamps’ men will be fancying their chances against the Germans.

Germany Joachim Low will take charge of Germany for one last time this Euros, with Die Mannschaft’s boss calling it

quits. Yes, five years too late, and as crazy it may sound, German football needs to let go of Low in order to move forward – despite all that he has achieved.

Low has opted to play a back three formation with Germany, a system only Antonio Rudiger and Robin Gosens are used to at club level, who, to be fair, are two defenders you wouldn’t really want to build your defence around.

Germany’s back three formation also takes out one less attacking player from the fold, an area where the 2014 world champions are flourishing.

Kai Havertz will be on a high after scoring the winning goal in the UEFA Champions League for Chelsea, while Bayern Munich duo Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane will also be looking to impose the French defence with their

blistering pace and trickery.

Timo Werner has a point to prove after a disastrous individual campaign with Chelsea and will have his targets set on setting the European stage alight, that is, of course, if he can find that target.

Prediction: France (31/20) It may seem fairly unpopular, but I doubt you would get the world champions at a better price throughout this tournament. France are excellent value at 31/20 and have a better squad, are better coached, and will produce the better outcome.

The fact that this tie will be played in Munich doesn’t throw me off at all as well. I’ll be including Les Bleus in all my multiples, as should you.

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