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Cover Image Lyle Hewitson was acknowledged by Gold Circle at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday on being crowned SA Champion Jockey – the image is courtesy of Candice Lenferna

4 Leading owner Suzette Viljoen celebrates with Richard Fourie

Candiese Lenferna

WHAT NEXT? EQUUS A HOT POTATO… 5

The debate over whether restricted races should be included in categories for championship honours has thrown the cat amongst the pigeons, with a thrilling three way tussle in the Champion Owner category highlighting something of a potentially divisive anomaly in the process. A relative greenhorn in a hard-knocking category of longstanding players, the Schweizer-Reneke-based Suzette Viljoen has risen from maiden status obscurity in just over three years to deservedly clinch the Equus Champion owner title following a dazzling season that included two Gr1 scores. Based on the standard exclusion of restricted race stakes, Mrs Viljoen will be crowned champion owner for the first time at the Equus awards on 17 August. Horses racing in her pink and blue won stakes of R5 390 550 last season, narrowly eclipsing Gaynor Rupert’s Drakenstein Stud on R5 343 375. A multiple champion player for almost two decades, Chris van Niekerk was third on R5 199 900. If we include restricted stakes races in calculations then Chris van Niekerk is leading

the pack on R5 572 900, marginally ahead of Suzette Viljoen on R5 444 800, with Gaynor Rupert in third on R5 413 875. While the Equus Awards panel have always applied the exclusion of restricted stakes features to determine the champion owner award, an audit of our own published results shows that in the 2018/19 season they appear to have actually used the restricted inclusive stakes tally to award Chris van Niekerk the champion owner title. Van Niekerk’s horses won R15 322 763 and beat Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum on R12 355 538. If the Equus organisers had not deviated from their norm, the now late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum was actually the champion owner on R12 355 538 beating multiple champion Chris van Niekerk on R11 215 763. While Sheikh Hamdan was over R1,1 million ahead of Mr van Niekerk, we are researching our own records to determine whether adjustments could have been made post the final season stats from disqualifications, that may have had an impact. The difference is quite substantial, though, and that seems unlikely. Approximately eight years ago, the board of the National

6 Candiese Lenferna

Horseracing Authority resolved that restricted stakes would be excluded for sire and breeder championships, but incorporated into owners, jockeys and trainers totals. Some years later, the racing regulator’s board then excluded trainers from the restricted race benefit pool. We are unclear as to the argument or rationale behind that decision. The days of individual ego’s and whims are gone and Equus will hopefully fall in line with the NHA and standardise their assessments. While we understand the impact on the stud-book standards, In an age where stakes is a sore issue, restricted races play such a vital role in incentivising owners to get involved the game. The National Horseracing Authority said on Tuesday in a statement that they are receiving various queries regarding the Championship at the end of the 2020/21 season. They have drawn stakeholder attention to their Press Release issued on 9 July 2019 as this criteria still applies. At the current time the Equus organisers have Suzette Viljoen as champion, while

the NHA’s directive suggests that Chris van Niekerk is the champion, as restricted races appear to be included in owner stats.

As a result, this ruling applies when determining the CHAMPION BREEDER, CHAMPION STALLION and CHAMPION TRAINER.

Either way, it’s a bad situation after over a century of horseracing in SA.

The decision to exclude the stakes of restricted races from the national statistics was motivated by the view that such races may potentially influence the log positions based on its “closed” nature.

The NHA press release is quoted below: The National Horseracing Authority (NHA) is the custodian of the results for thoroughbred races in South Africa and Zimbabwe. It was ratified by the National Board of the NHA in May 2015 that stakes earned by horses competing in restricted races are excluded from the national statistics.

The same rule applies to bonuses linked to all sales. Restricted races are defined as those in which participants are confined: • to horses born or raised in a particular area or are the progeny of stallions of a

particular area; or • to graduates of specific sales; or • to horses selected on the basis of some arbitrary criteria. The above does not apply to owners and jockeys, as all owners have the right to buy and compete where they want to and that jockeys are at liberty to accept engagements as and where they wish (open). As a result, restricted race stakes are included for owners and jockeys.

1-2 For Varsfontein In Sire Championship More Than Ready horse Gimmethegreenlight is officially South Africa’s Champion Sire for 2020-2021. The 2012 G1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner ended the season with his progeny having amassed R12 161 525 in prize money and finished more than R2 million of runner up, and fellow Varsfontein resident, Master Of My Fate. In total, the progeny of Gimmethegreenlight won 169 races, and his flagbearers included 12 black type winners who captured 16 black type

races between them. Gimmethegreenlight, whose daughter She’s A Keeper captured the very last graded race run in 2020-2021, also ended the 2020-2021 season as South Africa’s Leading Sire of 3YOs and was also runner up on the Leading Sires of 2YOs list. The sire’s stars of the past season include Gr1 H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes/Gr1 4 Racing Premier’s Champions Challenge winner Got The Greenlight, dual Gr2 winner She’s A Keeper, graded stakes winning7two-year-olds Cosmic Highway and Gimme

Dat, and Gr3 Jubilee Handicap winner Johnny Hero. At the time of writing, Gimmethegreenlight (South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire of 2015-2016) has been responsible for 72 black type horses, and his Australian Gr1 winning son Yulong Prince is set to stand his first season in Victoria this year. The newly crowned champion sire has three lots on offer at the upcoming August Two Year Old Sale.

JC Photos

Rafeef: Redoute’s Choice x National Colour (National Assembly) out front again!

FIRST CROP CHAMPION SIRE

There is no more closely watched contest among the stallion ranks than the annual race for first-crop sire. This year, that honour went to Ridgemont Highlands-based Rafeef.

As a Gr1 winning sprinter, the son of Australian stallion extraordinaire Redoute's Choice and our own champion National Colour, proved extremely popular when he retired to stud in and his first crop made quite a splash at the sales, to the extent that he

was by far the leading freshman sire in the sales ring. Rafeef was soon out of the blocks when daughter Bella Chica became the first of 14 juvenile winners. Although he failed to come up with a stakes winner, he has to his credit a Gr1-placed runner in William Robertson, who ran third in the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes on Gold Cup day. In addition, Bella Chica won three times, while both Franca and Master Archie have scored twice.

Three days into the new season, Rafeef already has two winners to his credit, one of which being Bella Chica, who completed a hat-trick of wins in her first outing as a three-year-old. While the majority of Rafeef's first-crop winners display the same penchant for speed as their sire, it is encouraging to note that a handful have shown scope and have won over 1400m and even 1600m. Runner-up William

Longsword entered stud at Klawervlei with much fanfare, notwithstanding the fact that he did not race again after winning the Gr1 Cape Guineas on just his eighth start. Bred on the proven Captain Al x Fort Wood cross, he is out of Victory Moon's half-sister Pagan Princess, who is also the dam of Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint victress Real Princess. A good-looking individual, he too attracted strong support in his first season and duly sired his first winner in February when Safe Return hacked up at Kenilworth.

That tally grew as the season progressed and ended with a first stakes winner at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Gold Cup day, where ultrasmart colt Dyce cruised to victory in the Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes. Adding to the occasion, daughter Remember Me ran second in the Gr2 Debutante. Klawervlei stud master John Koster is understandably proud of his young stallion and told Sporting Post: "We are extremely excited with the performances of his twoyear-olds. Seven have won and a further four run second. We always knew that the Fort Wood influence in his pedi-

gree would make for better three and four-year-olds and many trainers have indicated as such. The future is very exciting!" For third-placed The United States, it proved a case of quality over quantity. A Gr1 winner in Australia and the most recent son of Galileo to take up stud duties in South Africa, the chestnut had covered no more than a dozen mares at Moutonshoek when a foot injury sent him to the sidelines, hence his first crop numbered no more than 11 foals. Albeit that he is a son of

classic supremo Galileo, The United States hails from the family of champion sprinter/ miler Last Tycoon and with plenty of precocity close up, it came as no surprise to see him score with his very first runner. That was the Drakensteinbred filly Sheela, who got her sire off to a sensational start. Trained by the Azzies, she made her debut in the Listed Storm Bird Stakes and blitzed her male rivals, a repeat of which also saw her claim the

Gr2 SA Nursery second time out. By the time the season ended, two of the young stallion's six first crop runners had won. Sheela was joined by Lucky Houdalakis-trained Alabama Ana, who hacked up second time out over 1200m, while Namibsroos placed first time out. The United States looks sure to build on that start, considering he has sizeable second and third crops on the ground.

Not so Lance, the 'forgotten horse' amongst the freshman class of 2020-21. Campaigned by Chris van Niekerk, the son of Jet Master made the transition to stakes winner in just his third outing

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Chase Liebenberg

10 Anton Marcus steers William Longsword’s first winner Safe Return to an impressive victory at Kenilworth in February

Richard Fourie (blue silks on Silver Host) glances across as Lyle Hewitson gets Nebraas home safely

TARRY TAKES GOLD

Sean Tarry’s Vercingetorix gelding Nebraas played himself into serious contention for Equus Champion Stayer honours with a courageous victory in Saturday’s R600 000 Marshalls World Of Sport Gr3 Gold Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Tarry last won the staying race a decade ago when it a R1 million Gr1 contest with Aslan, who was ridden by Gavin Lerena to beat stablemate Kolkata. On Saturday, Tarry would have enjoyed watching Hewitson at his best as the team celebrated a feature double to mark the end of a tough season.

Bred and raced by Al Adiyaat South Africa, Nebraas came into the 3200m flagship staying contest on a hat-trick of victories and looked to have enjoyed a perfect prep with a smooth last victory in the Gr3 DSTV Gold Vase on Vodacom Durban July day. Starting a 5-2 favourite, Nebraas was never far off the paces and enjoyed lumping a handy 52,5kgs around the city track.

Under a superbly judged ride, Nebraas came forward at the 250m and kept at his task as Silver Host unleashed his effort down the outside. But Nebraas was always going

smoothly and he beat Silver Host by a neck in a time of 208,28 secs. Fabian Habib’s SA Derby winner Out Of Your League (12-1) was another length away in third, with the winner’s stablemate Before Noon (20-1) giving the quartet a boost in fourth The relatively lightly tried Nebraas, who is by the Gr1 Jebel Hatta winning sire Vercingerix (Silvano), is out of the Archipenko mare Noor Dubai. Nebraas has won 4 of his 14 starts for earnings of R654 125.

Candiese Lenferna

NEBRAAS has had his rating increased from 95 to 103 after he fought on gamely to land the Grade 3 Marshalls World Of Sport Gold Cup over 3200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. 2nd placed SILVER HOST and 3rd finisher OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE were both used as line horses here, which leaves them unchanged on ratings of 112 and 108, respectively. 4th placed BEFORE NOON goes up from 82 to 91 to make him one pound higher than 5th finisher WEALTHY, who carried half-a-kilo over-

Merits

weight and who accordingly goes up from 89 to 90. The Handicappers however chose to take a very conservative view with both of these horses, because BEFORE NOON in fact achieves a mark of 98 and WEALTHY actually runs to 97 given the way the race was rated. It was considered that due to the unique weight structure of the Gold Cup which is a compressed handicap (3 MR points is treated as a 1kg differential as opposed to the standard 2 MR points to 1kg differential in weight) and given their overall profiles both WEALTHY and BEFORE NOON be treated with

caution, however their relativity should be maintained especially as BEFORE NOON has beaten WEALTHY in his last two starts. There were no other increases, but four horses were given a rating’s drop. SUNSHINE SILK was trimmed from 97 to 96, DREAM FANTASY was dropped from 98 to 93, DOUBLEMINT drops from 116 to 114, and lastly the 2020 Gold Cup winner PATHS OF VICTORY was cut from 100 to 98.

Mauritzfontein Stud

16 Lyle Hewitson proudly holds the Gold Cup aloft

Candiese Lenferna

MIESQUE’S MAGIC MOMENTS 17

While Saturday’s Marshalls World Of Sport Gr3 Gold Cup winner Nebraas is undoubtedly another feather in the cap of his impressive sire Vercingetorix, it is interesting to note the dual presence of one of history’s greatest mares up close in his pedigree. Not only is Miesque the fourth dam of Nebraas, but the dual Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner is also found in the presence of Nebraas’s broodmare sire Archipenko. The latter is a son of Miesque’s most important son Kingmambo -making Nebraas’ dam Noor Dubai closely inbred to the legendary racemare and producer. Kingmambo’s half-brother Judpot (A.P. Indy) is the sire of Saturday’s Gold Cup sixth place finisher Don’t Look Back (winner of the 2021 4Racing Gr3 Gold Bowl), while Kingmambo horse Parade Leader is broodmare sire of Gold Cup fourth Before Noon (Await The Dawn). Nebraas is not the only winner from Hollywoodbets

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Greyville on Saturday to carry Miesque in his pedigree.

won four of just five starts thus far.

Cat Daddy, winner of Saturday’s Listed Marshalls World Of Sport Darley Arabian is a son of Kingmambo horse Ideal World, while Duke Of Marmalade, sire of Saturday’s uber game Gr1 Thekwini Stakes winner Rain In Holland is out of a mare by Kingmambo.

Another son of Miesque, Kitalpha (a full-brother to Kingmambo), is the broodmare sire of recent Jonsson Workwear Gr1 Garden Province Stakes heroine Zarina, while Kingmambo’s grandson Proclamation is broodmare sire of 2020 Gr1 Cape Racing Presents The Cape Guineas winner Russian Rock (Pomodoro).

Honokalani, runner up in Saturday’s G1 Premiers Champion Stakes, is out of a mare by Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Miesque’s Approval – whose sire, Miesques Son, was, as his name suggests, a son of Miesque. Crown Towers, a runner in Saturday’s Gr1 HKJC World Pool Champions Cup is a son of Camelot -whose dam is the Kingmambo sired Tarfah. Kingmambo mare Peace Bell (already dam of G3 Umzimkhulu Stakes winner One Fine Day -whose son Pinkerton ran third in Saturday’s Listed Marshalls World Of Sport Darley Arabian ) is dam of the very progressive Sound Of Summer (Silvano) -who has

Pace! 18

One of the finest racemares in history, Miesque, whose sire Nureyev is the sire of Pine Chip -the third dam of Champions Cup winner Jet Dark (Trippi)), won 12 of 16 starts – her wins included ten at Gr1 level – before going on to produce a pair of French classic winners in the form of Kingmambo and East Of The Moon, respectively. Miesque is also ancestress of a host of Gr1 winners including Alpha Centauri, Alpine Star, Amanee, Karakontie, Loves Only You, Real Steel, Rumplestiltskin, Study Of Man, and Tapestry.

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Candiese Lenferna

S’manga Khumalo salutes as Jet Dark storms to victory

LIGHTING THE DARK!

South Africa’s highestrated 3yo of last season, Jet Dark’s scintillating victory in the weight-forage R600 000 HKJC World Pools Gr1 Champions Cup plastered over a frustrating Marshalls World Of Sport Festival Of Racing for the Justin Snaith team, who regained their SA Champion title, but didn’t have things go their own way.

“It was a frustrating and competitive day with some sore losers and rough racing. I will just be glad to get my horses back to the Cape in one piece,” said Snaith who

earlier received a clock from Gold Circle as an acknowledgement of his new champion status.

“I have been coming here for four months of every year for 29 years,” he said proudly after a SA Champions Season of mixed fortunes, that still had a happy ending with his only Gr1 success. Only the second 3yo – after newly crowned SA Champion sire Gimmethegreenlight – to win the prestigious Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate this century, the Drakenstein bred Jet Dark was easy to back on Saturday after his solitary

ring-rusty unplaced performance in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge in June – and with the attention on Vodacom Durban July hardknockers, Got The Greenlight and the winner’s stablemate, Do It Again. The handsome Jet Dark is a horse that might have generated some mixed messages about his plans, with the Cape Summer Season originally announced as his real goal. But there was no doubt about his superiority on the season’s final day as he

soared to an eyecatching victory under S’manga Khumalo to beat fellow 3yo Catch Twentytwo by just under a half length in a time of 110,18 secs. The pace was set by Snaith’s traditional pacesetter Crown Towers, who stretched his field. Into the final 300m, Jet Dark powered through down the inside as fellow 3yo Catch Twentytwo looked the danger. Do It Again and favourite Got The Greenlight appeared to be labouring down the outside and it wasn’t to be their day.

Do It Again tried hard, but was beaten a further 0,40 lengths into third with Got The Greenlight 1,10 lengths back in fourth. “One doesn’t fluke the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate. He needed his first run back. I galloped him at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and he jarred himself. I am so glad that he could come back and showcase his talents here today,” added Snaith as he thanked and congratulated his polo mates Nic Jonsson and Tommy Crowe –‘no better people to win for here in KZN.’ A R200 000 buy from the 2019 Emperors Palace National

Yearling Sale – apparently Jono Snaith talked Nic Jonsson into buying him – Jet Dark is by Drakenstein Stud’s longstanding champion producer Trippi (End Sweep). He is out of the one-time winning Jet Master mare Night Jet, a half-sister to Thukela Handicap winner Brown Penny and Gr1 Mercury Sprint runner-up Night Trip (Trippi). The lightly raced dual Gr1 winning Jet Dark took his earnings to R1 134 100 and has won 5 races with 2 places from his 9 starts.

Impressive! The Justin Snaith-trained Jet Dark became the first South African-based thoroughbred for at least 50 years to win two open weight for age Gr1 events over classic distances as a three-year-old when winning the HKJC World Pools Champions Cup.

win was in the country’s most prestigious mile event, the WFA L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate. He has thus outdone the great Variety Club, who finished a narrow second in the Queen’s Plate as a three-year-old before winning the WFA Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge later that season.

David Thiselton writes on www.goldcircle.co.za that Jet Dark’s other open Gr1

In Full Flight in 1972 and Yataghan in 1973 both won the Queen’s Plate and

Durban July as threeyear-olds but the latter is a handicap. J J The Jet Plane won three open Gr1 events as a three-year-old, two of them at WFA, and the filly Alboran Sea won two open WFA Gr1’s as a three-yearold, but both of those horses were sprinters.

Merits JET DARK remains unchanged after confirming his Queens Plate assessment of 130 following his success in the Grade 1 HKJC World Pool Champions Cup on WFA terms over 1800m at Greyville on Saturday. This victory by JET DARK dispels the view held by most that horses should be rated in terms of their overall body of work rather than their performances. A

horse that produces a similar performance when repeatedly winning Grade 1 races, for instance, may not necessarily have more ability than a horse that has won one Grade 1 race in fewer attempts. Multiple Grade 1 winners are generally rated higher but this is not the de facto guiding principle of MR handicapping and it seems to be missed by some that the MR system is a measure of performance and

not an accumulation of wins system. The Handicappers were of the view that both JET DARK and 4th placed GOT THE GREENLIGHT made for the best line horses, which means that the latter also remains unaltered on a mark of 126.

Candiese Lenferna

Serino Moodley is all smiles as Pearl Of Asia blows them away

RIVERTON PEARL’S MERCURY MAGIC

The Riverton-bred Pearl Of Asia produced the Marshalls World Of Sport Festival Of Racing knockout blow as he defied the odds to produce a career peak performance and win the R500 000 Gr1 Mercury Sprint at

Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.

Looking an unlikely winner at the weights and on form – his last win was six month ago at Hollywoodbets Scottsville – Pearl Of Asia raised his game and came from last turning for

home.

Taking different paths to the line, he and fellow backmarker Al Sakeet took off together, but it frankly looked like the pace birds had already flown.

Finding reserves of strength and fire, Pearl Of Asia scythed through late to give Winning Form jockey Serino Moodley a maiden Gr1 success, at the same time knocking multiple tickets out of the exotics.

21.25 lengths at the same track in October 2017.

Dennis Drier-trained Cape Merchants winner, Triptique.

The Robbie and Shannon Hill-trained gelding had breeder Duncan Barry of Riverton Stud shouting the roof down.

This family hails back to Arcsa Champion Broodmare, First Lisa.

He stormed away for owner Gerald Kalil to hold off Al Sakeet by 0,30 lengths in a time of 71,06 secs.

It’s been an indifferent and trying season for many, and Duncan, who bred champion Captain Of All to win the same race – that year by 4,50 lengths – was thrilled to finally bag a Gr1, even if it had to wait until the last day of the term!

There was some consternation at Pearl Of Asia’s undervalue tote dividend of R18,10. He was trading at around 66-1 on the books. Jockey Moodley is on record as stating that his biggest memory in racing – prior to Saturday – was winning aboard the Kumaran Naidoo trained Run Rhino Run by

Pearl Of Asia is a second Gr1 winner for Ridgemont’s Sandown-based Distorted Humor stallion Pathfork, out of the one-time winning (and placed 16 times) Tiger Ridge mare, Asiatic Pearl.

Pearl Of Asia was bought for R35 000 by Hill Racing off the 2018 BSA KZN Yearling Sale. The 4yo gelding took his earnings to R597 125 with his sixth win and 2 places from 18 starts. Pathfork has two colts (#38 / #155) on offer at the upcoming August Two Year Old Sale.

The mare is a half-sister to the

Merits PEARL OF ASIA has had his merit rating raised from 107 to 121 after he put up the performance of his life to win the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint on WFA terms over 1200m on the Greyville turf course on Saturday 31 July. The Handicappers were of the unanimous view that 3rd finisher MK’S PRIDE made

for the best line horse here, which leaves him unchanged on a rating of 120. 2nd placed AL SAKEET has had his rating raised from 106 to 120, while 4th finisher ULTRA MAGNUS confirmed his previous best of 120 and has been adjusted accordingly. The only other

increase was for BATTLE FORCE, who goes up from 113 to 114. There were ratings drops for two horses. TRUE TO LIFE is down from 119 to 118, while CHIMICHURI RUN drops from 125 to 123.

Candiese Lenferna

WINNING FORM MAGIC 28

Serino Moodley – thrilling first Gr1

While he turned owner Gerald Kalil’s, Riverton Stud and the Hill Racing Team’s season around in just over 71 seconds, Winning Form-sponsored jockey Serino Moodley was also the villain of the peace at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. The final day of the South African racing season dawned bright and clear and with ten feature races carded, the prospects of a spectacular ending to a great season, with the possibility of a slice of the R15 million Pick 6 action, made for a terrific afternoon. But one’s man meat is another man’s poison, and the scintillating late run from last to first by Pathfork gelding Pearl Of Asia in the Gr1 Mercury Sprint under a cucumber-cool ride by 25 year old Serino Moodley saw exotic tickets in the bin and the talented jockey enjoying a career changing moment. Serino Moodley grasps the concept of weight-for-age and the hurdles facing Pearl Of Asia as he was taking on some serious star speedsters at level weights. “Despite the fact that it looked very tough on paper, I actually felt a little confident about his chances on Saturday as I had ridden him in the Golden Horse Sprint,

and he was bumped and we just never got the gaps. He was carried out at the 300m in the Hollywoodbets Scottsville Gr1. He was under four lengths off the winner. He gave me a terrific feel. As I was riding Solid Gold, Muzi Yeni then rode him in the Post Merchants, where he again had no luck and only ran 1,70 lengths off the champion Kasimir.” Serino says that his experience in the Golden Horse, and watching Pearl Of Asia’s excellent, albeit unlucky effort in the Post Merchants, gave him confidence. The Riverton product had also been producing great work. “I worked out that he just wants to be left alone and not bustled. Mr Hill has been off ill and I have been working with Rocky Agrella. We looked at Pearl Of Asia on Saturday morning and he looked a million dollars. I just felt then that it could be our day – with a bit of luck in running!” And so it turned out, with Pearl Of Asia coming from stone last for home at the beginning of the home straight, to win going away at any price – although the tote win dividend of R18-10 suggested some loyalty and support. “I thought at about the 300m that if the gaps open now, I have just about got them. The

moment I gave him a touch with the crop he responded and accelerated. Al Sakeet took a different route so he was not in my vision. But in the final few yards I heard him bearing down on me – but then we were safely home!” Serino concedes that racing behind closed doors lacks atmosphere, but he was in an ecstatic bubble all of his own as he returned to the winner’s enclosure. “It felt surreal. I was over the moon. I must thank my family, Mr Hill’s team and Rocky Agrella for the confidence and support. I hope it’s a turning point for the season ahead.” Up until Saturday, Serino’s career highpoint was the bizarre 21,25 length runaway by Run Rhino Run at Hollywoodbets Greyville in October 2017. “That was an unbelievable race. We intended to give him a chance but he was so determined and I decided not to fight him. We were in two different races – the jockey leading the second pack assumed I was out of the race as we were all over the place. That horse was a character – but had rocks in his head.” The Meyersdal-raised Serino tells how he joined the

SA Jockey Academy in 2012 alongside Diego de Gouveia, Callan Murray and Tristan Godden. “I wasn’t much of a student or sportsman at school – I suppose that’s why I became a jockey,” he laughs as he tells of a tough initial experience. “I was just too young and immature in my first year and battled to adapt. I left the Academy at the end of that same year and went back home.” But a job riding work at the James Maree school saw him recognised by none other than legendary trainer Ormond Ferraris. “Mr Ferraris asked me why I am not race riding. I explained what happened. What an amazing man he is. He wrote to Martin Ball at the Joburg Academy. In a matter of months, Diego (de Gouveia) and I were race riding as apprentices in Zimbabwe.” While in Zimbabwe, a more mature Serino says his confidence grew. He rode his first winner – Princess Kate – for Gokhan Terzi and also bagged another three. He returned to South Africa in 2016 but it wasn’t easy. “In five months I only had four

rides I think. But Byron Foster and Andre Nel gave me a chance and then one can grow as winners engender confidence and you get noticed.” Serino came out of his time in 2019 and with his Winning Form backing he now has the world at his feet. “I must thank Winning Form for the great support and the privilege of having me in their stable. What a lovely and generous gesture by them to hand me a cheque of R20 000 as an incentive for having ridden a Gr1 winner. I cannot thank them enough. It’s an honour to be associated with an industry leading brand.” Serino is also keen to look further afield to up his game. He finished 20th on the national log with 42 winners. That’s riding only in KZN. “Up until now I have never really travelled as covid has really turned things upside down. I have no weight problems at 52kgs. So I am very fortunate and intend to try and spread my wings and create more opportunities in other centres this season.” Serino thanked all those that had sent him messages of support after his memorable day. “My family have always been there for me, but I have had so

many other congratulatory messages. Thank you to everybody. I am still on cloud nine!” He said that the passing of his mentor Stephen Jupp on the same day had cast a dark cloud. “If I may, I’d like to send my condolences to the family of Mr Stephen Jupp. I was shocked to hear of his passing. He was my mentor when I really needed somebody to look up to. He inspired and encouraged me in dark days. He was a wonderful man who understood this profession and racing. I will ride every winner this season in his honour.”

Jeremy Nelson

Pathfork: Distorted Humor – Visions Of Clarity (Sadler’s Wells)

PATHFORK’S GR1 SPEED MACHINE

Ridgemont Highlands Sandown Stud based Gr1 winning resident stallion Pathfork came up with a second G1 winner when his son Pearl Of Asia downed a top-class field to land the Gr1 Mercury Sprint at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. The gelding, who is out of the Tiger Ridge mare Asiatic Pearl, was a R35 000 buy

from the 2018 KZN Yearling Sale.

Pearl Of Asia joins the likes of Gr1 winning two-year-old Mighty High and fellow graded stakes winners Jet Start, Marchingontogether, Mr Flood, My Friend Lee and Red Chesnut Road as flagbearers for former Irish champion Pathfork. The latter, who is from the 34

same female line as top sires El Gran Senor, Northern Guest, Redoute’s Choice and Try My Best, has two colts on offer at the upcoming August Two Year Old Sale. Pathfork stands for a 2021 fee of R5 000 plus VAT. Read more about him – please click here

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36 Grant van Niekerk has Good Traveller in control as longshot Honokalani (Serino Moodley) runs out of his skin for second

Candiese Lenferna

TRAVELLING FIRST CLASS! 37

Trainer Glen Kotzen received some consolation after agonisingly being on the receiving end of the Lyle Hewitson genius a half hour earlier in the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes, when Good Traveller relished the step up to a mile to win the R400 000 Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes.

Traveller, who produced a cracking effort from a wide draw.

After grabbing the honours in the opener, Kotzen’s Kailene was pipped by Rain In Holland in the fairer sex equivalent.

Van Niekerk balanced Good Traveller (7-1) and after sent him on his way to beat the fast-finishing longshot Honokalani (33-1) by 1,30 lengths in a time of 98,97 secs.

But this time Grant van Niekerk made no mistakes on the highly regarded Good

Settled five lengths off the leader after overcoming his wide draw, Good Traveller received a typically polished ride by Van Niekerk and he came for home with a trouble free passage up the outside.

William Robertson (7-1) maintained the cheque

earning streak of the Corne Spies runners in third, with fancied Waterberry Lane a head back in fourth. Bred by Lammerskraal from their Gr1 winning sire Visionaire (Grand Slam), the winner is out of one-time winning Western Winter mare, Skylar Lane Raced by the staunch Schwegmann family, Good Traveller was a R200 000 buy from the 2020 National Sale and has won 4 races with 1 place from his 6 starts for stakes of R467 500.

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42 Lyle Hewitson gets Rain In Holland up on the outside to beat Kailene (Muzi Yeni) and Richard Fourie on Supreme Quest

Candiese Lenferna

RIDE OF THE SEASON! 43

SA Champion jockey for the third time in his fledgeling career, Lyle Hewitson left it until the final day of the term to find a Gr1 victory, in the process producing one of the rides of the season. Bound for his second stint in Japan in just over a week, Hewitson told the Sporting Post a matter of days earlier that Rain In Holland could be the horse to give him a Gr1 victory in the Thekwini Stakes at the Marshalls World Of Sport Festival Of Racing. But the 23 year old could not have imagined it would call on every ounce of his enormous talent and determination to pull it off – and then by the proverbial nose.

Holland up and rode for all he was worth – lunging forward and throwing the rains at the Sean Tarry filly to gain a dramatic last stride victory. Rain In Holland (16-10) earned a heartstopping but genuinely deserved victory by a nose in a time of 99,57 secs to beat Kailene (5-1) and with Supreme Quest (4-1) a neck away in third. Raced and bred by Drakenstein Stud, Rain In Holland has won five on the trot – having run second on debut. A seventh Gr1 winner for Duke

Shrewdly hemmed in by some astute race riding on the part of rival Muzi Yeni, Lyle didn’t panic on a clearly talented filly. Yeni and Kailene stalked Rain In Holland all the way round the turn and then went past the pair down the outside. Just as Hewitson was looking to switch around the leadenlegged Aisling, Yeni kept him tight and ended up drifting inwards. Hewitson wasn’t letting his arch-rival escape with a Gr1 and he picked Rain In

Of Marmalade, she is out of the Aqlaam mare Imvula, who won once from two starts in the UK. The Drakenstein Duke has eight lots on the August Two Year Old Sale. Watch Hewitson’s superb ride – please click here

Candiese Lenferna

Kuda’s Jo-an Campher presents winning rider Smanga Khumalo with his trophy

KEEPER

IS TOO CLASSY Varsfontein Stud’s Gimmethegreenlight is South Africa’s Champion Sire of 2020/21, and the outstanding son of More Than Ready ended the past season on the perfect note when his daughter She’s A Keeper romped home to record a brilliant win in Saturday’s Gr2 Kuda Gold Bracelet at Hollywoodbets

Greyville -the final graded race of the 2020-2021 racing season. The talented four-year-old, bred and owned by the Missing U Syndicate, showed her class when destroying a top-class field to win the Hollywoodbets Greyville feature as she liked.

Under S’Manga Khumalo, the Gareth Van Zyl trained She’s A Keeper raced midfield for much of the race before hitting the front 200m from home. From there, victory was never in danger, and She’s A Keeper went on to record a facile four length win.

She’s A Keeper, who is out of the Trippi mare Gold Trip, has now won six of just eight starts, with her earlier triumphs including both the 2021 Gr2 World Sports Betting 1900 and 2021 Listed World Sports Betting The Scarlet Lady. The 2021 Kuda Gold

Bracelet was another triumph for Gimmethegreenlight, with the G1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate not only responsible for the winner but also for third place finisher, Catchafallingstar. South Africa’s champion sire had a superb season in 20202021, with Gimmethegreenlight having supplied 12 black type

winners, and his progeny earning more than R12.161 million. Also Leading Sire of 3YO’s in 2020-2021, Gimmethegreenlight has three lots on the August Two Year Old Sale.

Merits SHE’S A KEEPER has had her rating raised from 104 to 116 after she ran out a very easy winner of the Grade 2 Kuda Gold Bracelet for fillies and mares. It was runner-up VICTORIA PAIGE who was deemed to make for the best line horse here, which leaves her

unchanged on a mark of 104. Aside from the winner, the only other raise was for 3rd placed CATCHAFALLINGSTAR, who actually achieved a figure of 101 is up from 90 to previous best of 97. There were ratings drops for four horses. RUNNING BRAVE is down

from 119 to 115, SENTBYDESTINY drops to 109 from 111, HEART STWINGS drops from 101 to 99, and lastly JASMINE is down from 98 to 91.

GARTH – CHAMPION AGAIN Summerveld-based Garth Puller has been crowned KZN Champion Trainer for the second consecutive season. Puller has been training for close on a decade after an illustrious career as a multiple champion jockey. The KZN trainer championship is based on winners – not stakes like the national title – and Puller’s 54 winners gave him a comfortable victory over second-placed Gareth van Zyl (47), who actually beat his conqueror by R340 000 in stakes. The Hollywoodbets-sponsored conditioner said it was an honour to receive the acknowledgement and that he would be aiming to improve on the winner count this season.

HONG KONG IMPORTS UPDATE The Racing Committee of The Hong Kong Jockey Club has approved reductions to the minimum Hong Kong ratings for all categories of Private Purchase (PP) permits with immediate effect. Normal PP and Normal Replacement: Minimum Hong Kong rating is reduced from 68 to 63 Standard Special Replacement: Minimum Hong Kong rating is reduced from 85 to 80 Owner using a Special Replacement Permit for the first time: Minimum Hong Kong rating is reduced from 80 to 75 Special Replacement – 3-Year-Old Horse which has not raced more than 5 times: Minimum Hong Kong rating is reduced from 80 to 75

STOPPING A NATION…

Ninety one days out, the 2021 Lexus Melbourne Cup dream is alive for connections of 174 horses after nominations closed on Wednesday for the A$8 million Gr1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m). A quality mix of Australasian-trained horses and 15 internationally-trained horses among the nominations for the 161st running of the world-famous race, including last year’s winner, Irish-trained Twilight Payment. The Lexus Melbourne Cup will be run on Tuesday 2 November as part of the iconic Melbourne Cup Carnival which begins with Penfolds Victoria Derby Day on Saturday 30 October and also features Kennedy Oaks Day on Thursday 4 November and Mackinnon Stakes Day on Saturday 6 November. The full list of nominations for the 2021 Lexus Melbourne Cup can be found here.

GOLD CIRCLE – GOOD NEWS Gold Circle has announced that, with immediate effect, all races in the Province will be run for a minimum stake of R80 000. “While the Monday race meetings will continue to provide opportunities for the lower grade of horse, we are happy that the level of prize money for which they are competing has been equalised,” said Racing Executive Raf Sheik. 51

BATTAASH RETIRES

Tears flowed at Glorious Goodwood on Saturday following the running of the King George Qatar Stakes with the announcement that the Charlie Hills-trained superstar Battaash (Dark Angel-Anna Law, by Lawman) is officially retiring. Racing.com reports that despite saddling four-time Gr1 winning sprinter Muhaarar (Oasis Dream-Tahrir, by Linamix), Hills’ special bond with Battaash made the decision by his owner Sheikha Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum even more emotional. With 13 wins from 25 starts, including four Gr1’s across the UK and France, and with a lofty bank balance of £1,774,180, Battaash peaked with a Timeform KPI of 129.

SEA GOES TO 110 With potential claims for the East Cape Horse Of The Year title, Marmara Sea remains unchanged on a mark of 110 after he won the Listed Memorial Mile over 1600m on the turf course at Fairview on Friday. Here it was 2nd placed Majestic Mozart who was used as the line horse to his current rating of 104, having had his rating dropped from 105 subsequent to the publication of weights for this event. As such, his rating remains as the amended 104.

54 A pleased Muzi Yeni in the unsaddling enclosure

Candiese Lenferna

DADDY’S ON THE HOP 55

Glen Kotzen and Muzi Yeni opened the Marshalls World Of Sport Festival Of Racing at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday in beautiful weather conditions with the versatile Gary Player Stud-bred past Algoa Cup winner Cat Daddy staying on best to win the Listed Darley Arabian. The mile feature was sponsored by Marshalls World Of Sport saw an open field line up in the opener of the final day of the SA Champions Season. While Muzi Yeni ended up riding a cracker on the handily weighted 8-1 shot,

he may not have inspired too much confidence to the connections after entering the parade ring believing the race was to be run on the turf. “He’s a much better horse on the polytrack, and I don’t know why I thought we were on the turf,” he laughed. Yeni has enjoyed a great season and tracked the leader Wonderwall before surging forward to hold off a spirited challenge from Richard Fourie on Native Tongue (7-2) by a neck in a time of 93,67 secs.

through late down the outside for third. The weak tote favourite Indlamu was a head back in fourth. Cat Daddy is by Mauritzfontein’s Kingmambo stallion Ideal World out of the Black Minnaloushe mare, Eyona – the latter a one time winner. Now a winner of 6 races with 11c places from 28 starts, Cat Daddy has boosted his stakes bank to R685 475.

The runner-up’s stablemate Pinkerton (12-1) stormed

Merits CAT DADDY has had his rating raised from 97 to 99 after he won the Listed Darley Arabian (handicap) over 1600m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville Polytrack on Saturday. Runner-up NATIVE TONGUE and 3rd placed PINKERTON were both used as line horses here,

leaving them unaltered on marks of 106 and 104, respectively. 4th placed INDLAMU was raised slightly from 98 to 99 as although he was one kg or two pounds under sufferance at the weights he did finish one pound behind the line horses. No other

horses received a rating’s increase, but there were drops for four runners. WILD COAST was cut from 108 to 106, G G’S DYNASTY was trimmed from 106 to 105, WONDERWALL drops to 100 from 102, and lastly LEGITIMATE drops from 101 to 97.

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Candiese Lenferna

Craig Zackey poses as Dyce cruises home

MAIDEN STAKES STRIKE FOR WILLIAM

Klawervlei’s exciting Cape Guineas winning stallion William Longsword delivered his first stakes winner when the promising Gauteng raider Dyce disposed of his opponents in dashing style to win the Epol Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.

A half hour earlier in the fairer sex equivalent, William Longsword’s daughter Remember When was a gutsy runner-up in the Gr2

Debutante.

Despite drifting right to the inside rail, Dyce (6-1) strode out under Craig Zackey to win unextended for Lucky Houdalakis by 4,30 lengths in a time of 71,53 secs. The lesser fancied of the Tarry duo, Kuuma (16-1) finished well for second, marginally ahead of Snaith’s grey It’s About Time (8-1). Bred by Titanium Racing, Dyce races for Dave Shawe is a son

of William Longsword (Captain Al) out of the one-time winning Galileo mare, Beshaayir.

Dyce has won twice from 5 starts for 3 places for stakes of R189 875. William Longsword has produced seven first crop winners and has eight lots on the upcoming August Two Year Old Sale.

Candiese Lenferna

Sean Veale salutes as Maryah causes the upset

CTS GRADUATE CAUSES THE UPSET

Owner Suzette Viljoen edged ever closer to her SA Champion Owner title when her Querari filly Maryah produced the first real bump of the Marshalls World Of Sport Festival Of Racing as she cruised to victory in the Prosport International Gr2 Debutante, presented by Gagasi FM. Picked in the pre-race parade by on-course presenter Kevin Shea as the standout, Maryah paid R26 a tote win as she showed her run in the Zulu Kingdom Explorer Gr2 Golden Slipper to

be all wrong as she came from some lengths off under the energetic Sean Veale to beat Gauteng raider Remember When (4-1) by 2,40 lengths in a time of 72,08 secs. Gavin van Zyl’s Crimson Causeway (8-1) challenged strongly late to be shaded into third. Trained by Lezeanne Forbes, the Connemara Stud-bred winner is a second daughter of Querari (Oasis Dream) to win the Debutante after Cosmic Light. Querari’s 26th stakes winner is out of the stamina endowed four-time winner Mary Hinge 62

(Second Empire).

A R300 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate, the winner is a sister to the well-performed Mary O (Oratorio), who races in the same silks in the Forbes yard. A winner of 2 of her 3 starts, Maryah took her stakes to R159 375. She was one of 14 twoyear-old winners for Querari last season, with the son of Oasis Dream’s tally including the stakes winning fillies Homely Girl and Maria Querol.

Gr 2 WINNER THE DEBUTANTE

MARYAH

QUERARI x MARY HINGE (GER)

Trained by: Owner: Breeder: Jockey: Photograph:

Lezeanne Forbes Mrs S Viljoen Connemara Stud S Ve a l e Candiese Lenferna

Tim Bootsma | C: +27 (0)72 446 6269 | T: +27 (0)23 626 2342 Email: tim@mainechance.co.za | www.mainechance.co.za

PO Box 26, Sea Point, 8060 | T: +27 (0)21 418 0566 63 Email: john@johnfreeman.co.za | www.freemanstallions.co.za

64 Tristan Godden drives Pray For Rain to a smooth victory

Candiese Lenferna

A WING AND A PRAYER! 65

The Avontuur-bred Soft Falling Rain gelding Pray For Rain registered a satisfying and overdue first stakes success when he proved too strong for his rivals to win the R100 000 Marshalls World Of Sport Listed Umngeni Handicap at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. “I have had bad runs before but not like this!” quipped trainer Dennis Drier as he paid tribute to the patience of his Mauritius owners after the second and final polytrack contest on the big day. Tristan Godden drives Pray For Rain to a smooth victory (Pic – Candiese Lenferna) A Gr1 runner-up as a 2yo

to top stablemate Tempting Fate, Pray For Rain has been dogged by bad luck and a virus in Cape Town. and then in KZN set him back badly.

Spydas Corner (5-2).

Mr Drier has endured a drought that dates ‘back to the rinderpest’ – in his words – and he thanked his team as well as horse behaviouralist Mike Shaw and winning jock, Tristan Godden, who rode a beautifully confident race.

Pray For Rain was a R425 000 buy from the Cape Premier Yearling Sale. He has won 2 races with 4 places from 8 starts for stakes of R213 125.

Well drawn in the 1000m contest, Pray For Rain (5-1) was always travelling beautifully and went past the pacesetting Traces (10-1) in the final stages to win going away to register 56,37 secs and a 1,90 length victory over the consistent favourite

Love Bomb (12-1) and Keep The Lights On (10-1) dead heated for third.

He was a second feature winner in two days for deceased sire Soft Falling Rain (National Assembly). He is out of the two-time winning Var mare Kitco. The fastrising broodmare sire retired from his illustrious stud career just this past week.

Merits PRAY FOR RAIN has had his rating raised from 106 to 112 after he ran out an easy winner of the Listed Marshalls World Of Sport Umngeni Handicap over 1000m at Greyville (Polytrack) on Saturday. Here it was the 3rd placed dead-heaters LOVE BOMB

and KEEP THE LIGHTS ON who were considered to make for the best line horses, leaving them unchanged on 108 and 99, respectively. The only other ratings increase was for runner-up SPYDAS CORNER, who was raised from 98 to 100. There

were however ratings drops for four horses. CAPTAIN OUPIE is down from 100 to 99, GOOD RHYTHM was cut from 101 to 100, TRACES is down to 103 from 105, and lastly FILIPPO was dropped from 101 to 100.

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Candiese Lenferna

Bard Of Avon – set for another payday

BIG BSA WINNERS CAN BANK AGAIN

The Ashley Fortune trained Bard Of Avon and Corne Spies’ Supreme Quest look set for another big payday when the duo contest the R400 000 Bloodstock SA Cup (Colts & Geldings) and the fillies equivalent, respectively, at Turffontein on Saturday. A Ridgemont Highlands bred son of recently retired

champion Var, Bard Of Avon won the KZN equivalent race over 1300m restricted to eligible graduates of the 2020 BSA National 2yo Sale on Vodacom Durban July day at Hollywoodbets Greyville when he stayed on strongest of all under Muzi Yeni. Bard Of Avon is out of the unraced Dynasty mare, Shakespeare’s Ros and looks

like a terrific buy at R260 000 off the National 2yo Sale.

He has earned R302 000 for two wins and a Gr1 runner-up placing and steps up to the 1400m on Saturday. The fillies race will be run on the same afternoon for the same prize-money. A R90 000 National 2yo Sale

Candiese Lenferna

Supreme Quest ran third in the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes last Saturday graduate, Supreme Quest, who won the fillies race on July day, ran a cracking third in the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes last Saturday. She was bred by Gold Star

Stud and has now earned R304 000 for 2 wins and 4 places from 6 starts. A daughter of Maine Chance stallion Querari, she is out of the once winning Lecture

mare, Supreme Lecture. The BSA 2yo Sale will be held on 20 and 21 August – see the catalogue here

CHEYNE’S 9TH EAST CAPE CHAMPIONSHIP v

72 Ridgemont Highlands’ Craig & Belinda Kieswetter lead in the undefeated Kitty Cat Chat with Greg in the saddle

Chase Liebenberg

Ridgemont Highlands rider Greg Cheyne celebrated a remarkable ninth East Cape Champion jockey title and marked the fall of the 2020/21 season curtain with a beautifully judged ride to win the Listed Memorial Mile on the hyper consistent Marmara Sea at Fairview last Friday. The Cheyne-Greeff team has set the bar in terms of longevity of jockey-trainer associations over the past sixteen odd years and one would have to dig deep into the archives to find a coupling that has withstood racing’s arduous test of time with such winning resolve.

“I have been very fortunate that Alan (Greeff) has stood by me and kept in touch through my absences overseas and during times of injury,” the 45 year old Cape West Coaster tells the Sporting Post as he reflects back on a ‘bit of a stop start’ last season that actually ended very nicely. A multiple Gr1 winning July and Met rider, Greg rode a cracker to win last Friday’s feature on Marmara Sea to finish on 91 PE winners at a win strike-rate of 21,7%, and 24 winners ahead of Gauteng-based Marco van Rensburg. His previous season was a

humdinger, with 99 winners at an impressive strike-rate of close on 30%. He had targetted 120 winners, but the onslaught of the covid pandemic on racing put paid to that. After ending runner-up to Warren Kennedy on the SA national log in the previous season, Greg finished on 142 winners in fifth place last season behind Lyle Hewitson. Having ridden in such diverse jurisdictions as Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Germany and Korea, the Pretoria Boys High graduate is living the ‘perfectly

balanced professional life’ as it were, commuting to the Eastern Cape once or twice weekly as racing requires, from his home at Atlantic Beach.

valued association as a retained jockey to Ridgemont Highlands and am able to fulfil my obligations to them, while riding for a spread of local stables.”

work on securing the chance rides, while in the Eastern Cape he rides mostly for Alan Greeff, and fortunately gets a lot of quality rides.

“While the generally smaller fields countrywide have made things very competitive, I’d be happy to travel further afield if the opportunity arose. But I am able to achieve a good balance between riding work and racing in the two provinces. Here at home I have my

Greg won the 2017 Met on Whisky Baron for the Kieswetter family and his association with the Ridgemont Highlands brand is also a very well established and successful one.

“I have a great understanding and relationship with Alan Greeff. We discuss horses and he is always happy to get feedback and ideas. It’s a real team effort and it works well. It costs money to travel, but I’m fortunate to have a powerful yard behind me providing good opportunities.”

He points out that in his hometown he does tend to have to

Chase Liebenberg

Craig Bantam is all smiles as he returns Master Of Power to the unsaddling enclosure. This was the fifth winner at Kenilworth on Saturday for Candice Bass-Robinson

EMOTIONAL DAY – AND A MILESTONE Candice Bass-Robinson ironically set an emotional new professional benchmark on Saturday, the very day that saw the sad passing of the family operation’s multiple champion SA Horse Of The Year, Pocket Power. Pocket Power died of a suspected heart attack on Saturday morning at Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud. But rather than mourning the day, Saturday 31 July became a tribute to the magical memories of the golden moments on the racetrack as the team provided the fireworks to celebrate a record unparalleled by any race-

horse here in the 21st century. Candice took over the reins from her legendary Dad Mike in 2017, the same season that she became the first female trainer to saddle a Vodacom Durban July winner. Bernard Fayd’herbe rode topweight Marinaresco to win the 2200m flagship race in the same pink, white and blue finery worn by Pocket Power. Ironically, but not surprisingly, it was the very same Shirtliff pink, white and blue that was worn by Candice’ 100th winner Mr Cobbs, who won the second race at Kenilworth on Saturday. The day also marked Candice’ maiden five-timer too, with 77

Master Of Power rounding off the dazzling day – you guessed it, in the same Shirtliff silks! Now 46 years old, the Mom of one told the Sporting Post that special thanks should go to Melissa Arnold and her team at Milnerton, and to Trevor Brown and the Bass Racing team in KZN, who saddled their only Gr1 winner when Zarina flashed up to win the Garden Province Stakes on July day. Candice ended up 6th on the national log (5th if we include restricted races), second on the Cape log and ninth on the East Cape log.

GOODWOOD – SIMPLY GLORIOUS v

After five glorious days of racing last week, Jon Barnett, Goodwood Racecourse's Director, said that they were delighted to have been the first major racing festival to welcome back full capacity crowds. “The atmosphere on course has been fabulous throughout with a real buzz, particularly on Friday and Saturday where crowd levels were as good as we can remember with a sell-out capacity reached in a number of enclosures,” he said, adding that it was unfortunate Stradivarius didn't line-up to re-write his own piece of history on Tuesday. “But seeing leading female jockey Hollie Doyle record her second-ever Gr1 success on the Alan King-trained Trueshan was the highlight on day one in the feature £500,000 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup. “On Wednesday, French challenger Lady Princess dominated in the Qatar International Stakes, run exclusively for purebred Arabians. The theme of female winners continued

when Alcohol Free became one of only a handful of fillies to win the £1 million Qatar Sussex Stakes under Oisin Murphy. “Thursday, August 29, began with the Magnolia Cup presented by Markel run in support of UK Charity Smart Works, which assists unemployed women to harness their confidence ahead of a job interview. In its 10th year, the race has raised over £1.6 million with the riders of this year's race having raised over £50,000 already. This year provided a thrilling dead-heat between Thea Gosden-Hood and Candida Crawford, but all ten riders taking part have put in a phenomenal amount of work, and a special mention must go to Rachel Stringer, who has learned to ride for the race. “Friday saw the legendary sprinter Battaash run his last race before retirement. Glory in four consecutive King George Qatar Stakes make him one of the best horses we have seen in British racing in recent times and his achievements also mark him out as one of the fastest horses we have seen on the South Downs. In 2020, he broke the Goodwood course

record over five furlongs, a time unlikely to be beaten for many years to come. “The weather largely remained unsettled, but the racing stories and true 'Glorious Goodwood' experience shone through. Attendance for the week has reached 2019 levels, which was a fantastic year for us, with sales on food and beverage far higher than we would normally have anticipated as racegoers celebrated a return to the Festival. “Finally, we must extend our sincere thanks to the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club, who have been the headline sponsor for the seventh year. Without their support alongside our other official partners, including Unibet, this would not be possible. “We now look forward to our August Bank Holiday racing fixture (Friday 27 - Sunday 29 August), which features a Friday Night Takeover from Ibiza legend Carl Cox and fun for all the family across the weekend.”

BRITISH TITLES GO DOWN TO WIRE William Buick – no time for a honeymoon!

The British Flat Jockeys Championship is decided by the highest number of winners of both flat and all-weather races from 1 May 2021 to Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday 16 October 2021. The reigning champion flat jockey is Oisin Murphy and he leads this season with 78 winners as at Monday 2 August – at around the half way mark. His strike rate is an impressive 21%.

Tom Marquand on 67 winners. He gets a lot of outside rides when not partnering a runner for the powerful Newmarket yard of William Haggas. With these three quality riders contending for the title and the way things are shaping up, an exciting jockey’s title should go right down to the wire. Jockey Oisin Murphy William Buick Tom Marquand Daniel Tudhope

Wins 78 69 67 56

to Alcohol Free winning the Gr1 Qatar Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, leads Aidan O’Brien and the leading Newmarket yards half way through the British horse racing season.

This would be Andrew Balding’s first trainers title if he were to still be on top at Christmas. He is over Strike Rate £210,000 ahead of the Godolphin operation of 21% Charlie Appleby in 20% second place and Aidan 17% O’Brien who raids 17% England’s plum races is over half a million Strike Earned pounds in arrears.

William Buick the retained rider for the Trainer Wins powerful Godolphin Andrew Balding 93 £2,875,712 operation is certainly Andrew is based at Charlie Appleby 58 £2,665,179 not letting Oisin have Park House Stables, Aidan O'Brien 8 £2,337,457 an easy time of it in Kingsclere, near Mark Johnston 139 £2,159,090 defending his title. Newbury in Berkshire. Buick celebrated his He succeeded his wedding on Sunday but was The trainer title on the flat is father Ian Balding, famous for back on the race track the determined by total stakes training the mighty Mill Reef following day. No honeymoon earned at all British tracks from and winning the title as plans have been made in the 1 January 2021 to 31 champion flat trainer of Britain Buick home until the end of December 2021. back in 1971. the season. He sits in second position on the log with 69 The Flat Trainers wins – nine behind. Championship sees a possible changing of the guard as In a close third position is Andrew Balding, thanks in part

SAJA

STEPHEN JUPP WILL BE MISSED Stephen Jupp – top jockey and a great coach

A former top jockey, SAJA Riding Master and assistant trainer Stephen Jupp has passed away after an illness. The Sporting Post was informed on Saturday evening of the passing of the well-known racing personality. In 1972 the then 14 year-old Jupp, who had never sat on a horse, was riding work after three months and nine months later he had his first ride at Clairwood on the Jackie Gorton-trained Saving Grace, which finished unplaced. His first winner was in his fourth ride on the Eileen Bestel-trained French Doll at Scottsville. Looking back he regards the track known today as Hollywoodbets Scottsville as his favourite Jupp was indentured to small-string Clairwood trainer Joe Goss, but was in demand and had 1500 odd rides as an apprentice for 156 winners, seven of them for Goss. Among those was the Brian Cunningham-trained Amazing Grace, who in 1975 became the first filly to win the Gr1 Smirnoff Plate. As an apprentice he also won the Kings Cup and the In Full Flight Stakes and finished second in the Gold Cup aboard the Jackie Bell-trained

Compass Star. When licensed he joined the Newmarket-based Oppenheimer stable, whose trainer was John Gorton. He won the SA Oaks twice for the Oppenheimers though with Grease Paint and Torpedo Boat and also won the Jubilee Handicap for them. He went on to win the latter race three times in succession. He enjoyed plenty of support and his big career wins were the Gr 1 SA Guineas on Crimson Waves, the Racing Digest 1900 on the one-eyed Bluffing. He twice won the Gr1 Ok Gold Bowl on The Monk and Honey Chunk respectively, the SA Derby on Kadarko, the Keith Hepburn twice, on First City, owned by Bles Bridges, and on Susan’s Dream, and he also won the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint. He also won the Gr1 Natal Derby twice. Stephen Jupp is on record that his best memory in racing was his victory on the Roy Magner-trained Leopard Strike in the first million rand race in SA, the Bloodline Million. “Leopard Strike was the most expensive horse in the race, costing R250,000, and I was so confident I told Roy Magner to put his wages on.” Jupp also rode in Mauritius for 86

five months for Sir Guyton Duval and had a number of winners. Jupp’s career was cut short when he injured his back in a fall at Randjesfotein at the age of just 38. Top trainer Charles Laird offered Jupp a job a year after his retirement from the saddle. He was assistant to Laird for eleven years, including in his SA Championship-winning year, and ran his KZN satellite yard at Clairwood before Laird moved down from Johannesburg. On the closure of Clairwood, Stephen Jupp applied for a position as riding master at the Academy and spent six seasons there. “I loved teaching the youngsters,” he said. Our condolences to Stephen’s wife Lesley, and sons Kelvin and Darren. Background information obtained courtesy of David Thiselton / www.goldcircle.co.za

results up to: 2021-07-31

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 A C Greeﬀ

1336 1032 1062 586 1073

208 155 140 89 143

175 134 122 79 148

139 99 125 64 147

2nd

3rd

227 146 94 128 116

199 138 107 125 141

15.6 15.0 13.2 15.2 13.3

Other Places Place % 177 109 122 72 147

491 342 369 215 442

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

36.8 10,531,625 15,848,725 33.1 8,232,700 12,802,425 34.7 7,313,300 12,004,075 36.7 5,446,350 7,986,300 41.2 4,379,000 7,326,500

JOCKEYS Name

Runs Wins Win%

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

1699 263 1130 173 874 155 1180 151 879 142

15.5 15.3 17.7 12.8 16.2

Other Places Place % 250 168 108 160 130

676 452 309 413 387

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

39.8 11,939,975 18,407,350 40.0 9,959,725 14,766,975 35.4 7,742,750 11,375,488 35.0 8,789,150 13,368,825 44.0 4,428,700 7,301,975

BREEDERS Name

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

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

445 315

2656 45,455 171 1827 59,572 150

250 238

38.4 47.6

876 625

10 12

14 20,227,613 21 18,765,038

171 230 138

987 70,626 1386 50,714 809 60,972

169 145 102

53.8 35.7 44.9

371 388 275

11 7 8

15 12,077,100 16 11,664,238 14 8,414,150

92 82 62

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

Runrs Runs AEPR 201 196 186 141 167

1166 1315 1125 770 1011

B.T. Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Rnrs %

60,505 101 51,375 89 52,817 89 67,333 76 55,280 76

169 138 150 129 119

50.2 45.4 47.8 53.9 45.5

378 479 400 316 321

See all the detailed standings - Click here 88

12 7 4 7 7

B.T. Wins

Total Stakes (R)

16 10 6 10 12

12,161,525 10,069,525 9,823,875 9,493,975 9,231,825

A TALE OF TWO CITY’S!

The Premier League is just a week away! The traditional curtain raiser to English football’s elite will be contested at Wembley Stadium when FA Cup winners Leicester meets the champions. Neither side will want to concede here, while both of them would appreciate the confidence and feel-good factor winning the Shield gives you just seven days prior to kickstarting the domestic campaign.

Leicester City vs Manchester City | Saturday 7 August | Wembley Stadium | 18h15 • To Win (90 mins) Leicester 26/10 Draw 11/4 Manchester City 9/10

• To Lift the Cup

Leicester 27/20 Manchester City 53/100 Leicester The last time Leicester was involved in competitive action they saw a Champions League place preverbally slip through their grasp. During that game, Leicester looked to be dominating in key areas albeit only managing to register just 47% ball possession. The Foxes defensive attributes left a lot to be desired and that seemingly continued into their pre-season. In their last six games, Leicester have been punished for their errors but I suppose the silver lining is that they have managed to get onto the scoresheet themselves in all six.

Nevertheless, count out Brendan Rodgers at your peril. And as such, don’t read too much into their early preparation as a serious indicator for the upcoming season. They still have a very classy squad with the ability to upset the odds at the turn of the wheel. The speed Leicester possesses with the ability to link up with their midfield will always ask questions of any opposition. The addition of Patson Daka has only furthered the quality upfront for Rodgers’ side and the rotation between Daka, Kelechi Iheanacho and Jamie Vardy will be incredibly interesting. However, the fact of the matter remains…playing City in any competition requires you to be at your best to

stand a chance. You know they will dominate the game and you simply must be comfortable with it, knowing that your chance will come and when it does, you have to take it. But if you don’t have a confident defensive base from which you can launch an attempt at goal, you don’t have a chance. Manchester City Something rather compulsive about this game is while you have a Leicester side comfortable to not have the ball – failing to convert last time out – in City you have an outfit who thrives off possession and yet also failed to convert last time out (enter Thomas Tuchel and Chelsea). City are cerebral assassins and serial winners, they want to win everything in front of them and they have the squad depth and manager to do just that. Their unsatisfiable appetite is evident in the way they unapologetically impose themselves on every game they play. They never allow

the opposition to get comfortable for large parts of the game and always look like they could score every time they’re in possession of the football. The one point I think might play a decadent role in the City camp however is their ongoing transfer saga – in particular: Harry Kane. Reports suggest that financially City wouldn’t be able to conclude both Kane and Jack Grealish, but the intention to keep building a star-studded side is why City is arguably the greatest in the world. Yes, the naysayers will point to financial bullying, but to suggest money isn’t part the game is rather ignorant and unnecessarily pure in my opinion. Anyway, back to this game… City will also be without Joao Cancelo and Zack Steffen, but with all the respect in the world – the squad depth prevalent at City is good enough to justify simply sparing a thought for those who will miss out and move on. Pep Guardiola mentioned to the

media that given the fitness levels of his first-team players being a problem, he might be forced to call upon so-called ‘second team’ players for the Community Shield. I wouldn’t blame you for relegating such comments to tongue-in-cheek from the manager but expect the City side to be a mix of both first team players as well as the odd support player. • Prediction: Manchester City + BTTS: Yes (51/20) I think the ability Leicester have going forward can allow them to get on the scoresheet, but I can’t see them causing this City side any real issues. Guardiola will want to dominate the game and with the consistent pressure that is likely to be applied to a rather mailable Leicester defence, I think 51/20 about a City win and both teams to score is incredible value.