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Cover Image BSA National 2yo Sale teamwork – image courtesy of Equus winner, Candiese Lenferna v
4 Impressive Futura debut winner Xavion - could be anything
Chase Liebenberg
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SOPHOMORE SPRINT TOPS WEEKEND 5
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Improved field sizes herald the opening feature of the new season at Kenilworth on Saturday, where Cape Racing hosts 109 runners over the ten race programme. That’s a substantial step-up from the 60 runners carded over the 8 races at the same venue this afternoon, and the improvement in field size will hopefully be maintained. The unsponsored R85 000 #womaninracing Listed Sophomore Sprint, as the name suggests, a feature for 3yo’s at weight-for-age plus penalties, is contested over the straight 1200m.
The exciting Futura debut winner Xavion heads Candice Bass-Robinson’s duo, and Ian Longmore’s Ridgemont Highlands-bred colt could not have been more impressive when storming home by many lengths on debut at the end of last term.
Riding arrangements suggest that the Snaith elect may well be the What A Winter gelding, You Know Who. Grant van Niekerk takes the reins on the most experienced runner in the field, and with fitness on his side, he looks a massive runner.
It is a fact that he started at any price, but horses make fools of experts every day, and Aldo Domeyer now takes over from Anthony Andrews – the lot of the second string stable jockey!
Keep It Secret travelled to PE to follow his maiden win with a fair victory. The son of Pathfork was an impressive course-and-distance winner previously and could be anything.
Snaith’s trio is headed by the Alado gelding Captain’s Knot, who has his first run of the term after being well beaten in a Fairview feature last time.
6 Candiese Lenferna
One of only two dual winners in the line-up, Brett Crawford’s Klawervlei Farm Sale Race winner Masked
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Vigilante is undefeated, but comes in off a five month break. His stablemate Zapatillas was an impressive debut winner over the track-and-trip in June, and if not in need of it, could be anything. Glen Kotzen fields two runners, with the goodlooking grey Silver Salmon
having his first run since an unsuccessful tilt on the Gr1 Gold Medallion at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in early June. The son of Soft Falling Rain has shown lively early promise and warrants consideration. Varistocracy has his first Cape run and is a winner on the Hollywoodbets polytrack.
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It's an interesting race on a quality card that includes the season debut of former Equus Champion Sprinter, Kasimir. We can't wait for the summer! Please follow all the daily racing action on www.sportingpost.co.za
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PE ANGER AT
VISITING JOCKS An Eastern Cape jockey has reacted with frustration to the National Horseracing Authority’s move on Monday to lock down the province. The jockey says that, contrary to the information conveyed in the communication, the reality is that PE racing has been affected by jockeys
being allowed to travel into that centre. The NHA said in their media statement that it was aware of an outbreak of Covid-19 cases in persons, including a number of Riders, that work in the industry at Fairview Racecourse in the Eastern Cape.
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Due to the significant number of confirmed cases as well as the range of licensees that are affected, they said that urgent intervention was necessary to curtail the spread of the virus into other Horseracing centres, which could have devastating consequences on a national basis. They then closed the
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Eastern Cape for jockey travel. For travel into other centres, a Negative SARS-coV-2 (COVID-19) PCR test is required from Wednesday. This directive also applies to all NHA Officials that are travelling to other districts. The Fairview race meeting carded for 27 August 2021 has been abandoned and replaced by a KZN meeting. We believe that only 4 local jockeys would have been available to ride at the 27 August meeting. The Sporting Post has been
provided with names of the outside jockeys that allegedly triggered the Fairview outbreak. These cannot be published as there is no verification facility in place. A jockey writing on the Sporting Post Facebook page reacted: Curtail the spread into other provinces? I hope everyone is aware that covid was already present in all the other provinces except the Port Elizabeth local jockeys. They should of (sic) written that covid was already present in other provinces with other jockeys and it was allowed to be
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transmitted into Port Elizabeth via traveling jockeys. As a result a number of jockeys in Port Elizabeth now have it and they are only now doing something about it. Stop making Port Elizabeth locals look bad thank you.
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14 Majestic Vercingetorix (Silvano (Ger) x National Vixen)
‘The most prized name amongst this season’s cover list is that of three-time Broodmare of the Year Halfway To Heaven, the dam of his paternal half-brother Hawwaam and of course, the newly-crowned Horse of the Year Rainbow Bridge’
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RISE OF THE WARRIOR 15
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At the end of a stellar 2020-21 racing season, the Maine Chance resident found himself in fourth place on the General Sires List, a fine feat considering he had just three crops on the track! Moreover, a punchy 53,9 percent of his runners found the winner's enclosure, a figure which placed him at the very top of the stallion ranks. He also finished the season as the third-leading juvenile sire with 19 juvenile winners headed by Gr1 Gold Medallion winner Ambiorix. Remarkably, Vercingetorix stamped his authority on that Hollywoodbets Scottsville dash as the sire of both the winner and third-placed Gallic Chief. Other prominent juvenile winners included Gr3 Langerman winner Pomp And Power and Honokalani, who ran second in the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes. Vercingetorix counted seven individual stakes winners amongst a total of 17 black type performers and to illustrate his versatility as a stallion, his progeny excelled at both ends of the racing spectrum.
While Ambiorix became his sire's latest Gr1 winner at the iconic Hollywoodbets Scottsville meeting, daughters Vernichey and Gallic Princess finished second and third in the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint. Globetrotting 4yo son Celtic Voyager displayed a fine turn of foot when he blazed to a first stakes success in the Listed Umngeni Handicap over the minimum trip. On the opposite side of the stamina scale, Al Adiyaat's Nebraas ended the season with a fine Gr3 double in the Gold Vase and Gold Cup, a feat which earned him the Equus Award of Champion Stayer. However, he is probably the exception to the rule, as the majority of Vercingetorix's progeny show their best form up to a mile, a prime example being three-year-old Seeking The Stars. A frontrunner of note, he proved lethal in both the Gr3 Byerley Turk and Cape Classic over 1400m, yet despite being out of a Winter Oaks winner, he ran out of puff in the Gr2 World Sports Betting Guineas. Stable companion Rascallion also proved a fine advert for his young sire. Successful up to a mile, he has yet to join the ranks of stakes winners but was runner-up in both the Gr1 Cape Derby and Daily News 2000, and as he is out of a Jet
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Master mare, will no doubt reach his full powers as a four-year-old. For the pedigree pundits, those bred on the Vercingetorix x Jet Master cross also include the earlier Gr2/3 winner African Warrior, as well as Gr1 Daily News 2000 runner-up Padre Pio. Furthermore, Silvano's champion son Hawwaam and the Gr1 winners Silvano's Pride and Kilindini are also out of Jet Master mares. Vercingetorix sired Gr2 winner Ikigai from a mare by Al Mufti and that cross was also responsible for the stakes winners Mount Anderson and Seehaam. The former claimed the Listed Christmas Handicap, while Seehaam, a three-part sister in blood to Silvano's Gr1 SA Derby winner Al Sahem, displayed her ability with a powerful win in the Jacaranda Handicap where she put all of five lengths between herself and her field. Denied victory in the final stride of the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes, juvenile Party Time likewise is out of a daughter of the former Ascot champion. Interestingly, Al Mufti's champion stallion son Captain Al is the damsire of Vercingetorix's Gr1 winning daughter Vernichey, while Astrix was runner-up in the Gr3 race named for his short-lived damsire Victory
Candiese Lenferna
Following his spectacular breakthrough into the elite stallion ranks, one can safely say that Vercingetorix is fast filling the void left by his recentlydeceased sire Silvano.
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Moon, also a son of Al Mufti. Vercingetorix has been immensely popular since his retirement and has enjoyed continued support from breeders, to the extent that the demand for his services has far outstripped the number available. Success has also brought with it a steady increase in his
service fee and while he was still available at R35 000 in 2019, that increased to R50 000 in 2020 and this season, he will stand for R80 000. Even at that price, he is guaranteed to cover another high-class book of mares and whilst those already include the Gr1 winners Bilateral, Imperious Star, Pine Princess,
Sommerlied and Viva Maria, the most prized name amongst the list is that of three-time Broodmare of the Year Halfway To Heaven, the dam of his paternal half-brother Hawwaam and of course, the newly-crowned Horse of the Year Rainbow Bridge.
Vercingetorix at the BSA August 2yo Sale
Vecingetorix’ five lots at last week’s sale went for an aggregate R1 420 000, an average of R284 000. His
three colts outstripped the two fillies in terms of price. Topseller was #299, the Millstream Farm colt out of the
Thunder Gulch mare, Delta Lioness, who was purchased by Warne Rippon for R725 000.
Candiese Lenferna
17 Vercingetorix’ son Ambiorix wins the Gr1 Gold Medallion
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Candiese Lenferna
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Sale-topper! Wilgerbosdrift's Herero Secret sold to Form Bloodstock for R1,2-Million
NOVEMBER 2YO SALE IS NEXT
The focus now switches to the BSA November 2yo Sale at the TBA Sales Complex on 20 November.
And what a thrill on Thursday and Friday last week! With record numbers the order of the two days, Bloodstock South Africa and a host of happy vendors closed off the 2021 renewal of the BSA August Sale at the TBA Sales
Complex in Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon in a positive spirit. The all-time high aggregate achieved in 2020 was within touching distance, with 25% less 2yo’s catalogued in the 2021 renewal and the 275 youngsters selling for a gross of R39 640 000.
The average of R141 750 was
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up 15,3% year-on-year, with the median soaring 28,5% to a new record high of R90 000 at the close on Saturday. The record top price of R1,2 million achieved in November 2020 was matched when the hammer fell to Form Bloodstock’s bid on a Wilgerbosdrift-bred Dynasty colt, # 224.
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Second top price, and the leading filly on the sale, was Mauritzfontein’s What A Winter daughter Maggie Smith, #291. Purchased for R850 000 by KZN trainer Sandy Arundel for KZN trainer Wendy Whitehead, she is out of a three-time winning daughter of New Approach. While champion Dynasty topped the sire averages with his trio averaging R573 333, and the late Silvano on his heels on R365 000 for his quartet, there are a host of new generation stars, including Champion Freshman Rafeef, whose 11 lots averaged R336 818.
Top vendor was Wilgerbosdrift, who sold 19 of their 20 2yo’s for an aggregate of R6 175 000 at an average of R325 000, with Mauritzfontein & Millstream Farm completing the top three vendors. On the diverse and extremely active buying bench, Form Bloodstock topped the aggregate, with their 14 lots totalling R4 630 000, with Vermaak Equine & Hollywood Syndicate rounding off the leading three buyers. “The two days of the 2021 BSA National August 2yo Sale will go down as a vote of confidence in the future of SA racing by a broad spectrum of buyers. For many, the bidding proved more competitive than
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may have been anticipated, with a diverse range of quality 2yo’s from a wide range of stallions in great demand. The proof of the pudding is in the numbers, and we are appreciative of a great team effort that incorporated the vendors, buyers, underbidders and all the support teams. The mood augurs well for the BSA November 2yo Sale whose entries close on the 10th September 2021” said BSA CEO Michael Holmes. An entry form for the sale is attached – please click here Please note the deadline for entries of 10 September 2021.
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Chase Liebenberg
FUTURE STARS v
COMING SOON IN THESE PAGES!
Please send your foal pics to editor@sportingpost.co.za Tell us: • Date of birth • Sex • Breeding • Any additional info 23
Candiese Lenferna
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Corne Spies – positive that things are looking up
CORNE –‘ONWARDS AND UPWARDS’
The vibe is up and breeders overall should be feeling happier. The fact that owners are prepared to spend is a clear vote of confidence in the future of our racing. Those were the words of Corne Spies, a vastly experienced trainer and one of the most astute buyers around as the shadows lengthened over the TBA
Sales Complex at the end of the final of two sessions that brought the curtain down on the BSA National 2yo Sale on Saturday.
Corne, who has enjoyed terrific success in the BSA Sales races with his 2020 graduates William Robertson and Supreme Quest, said that he was happy with his 2021 2yo Sale quintet and it was always their philosophy to buy ‘above 24
average horses at below average prices’.
“It was a tiring but satisfying exercise and I’m excited by what we managed to get over the past two days. Also the timing last year in November wasn’t ideal and the traditional August slot works far better in allowing us time to go for the maiden race incentive. So all said, we are restocking and hopefully it’s
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onwards and upwards from here for racing,” he told the Sporting Post while loading his new intake and pointing out that shares are available. The Spies positivity is underscored by the yearon-year numbers, with the aggregate of R39 425 000 (275 lots sold) falling just under R300 000 short of November 2020, with 25% less horses catalogued and 17% less horses sold this time round. The average went to R143 364, up from R122 957 (November 2020) and R103 028 in August 2019. The median at the close on Saturday was R90 000, up from R70 000 (2020) and R60 000 in August 2019. The top price of R1,2 million in November 2020 was matched on Saturday when the hammer fell to Form Bloodstock’s bid on a Dynasty colt, # 224. Named Herero Secret, he is a full-brother to Mike de Kock’s impressive Gr2 Golden Slipper winner Desert Miracle
and half-brother to Summer Cup third Tree Tumbo. The handsome colt is out of top racemare Welwitschia, a Gr2 winning daughter of leading sire and broodmare sire Oasis Dream. Second top price, and the leading filly on the sale, was Mauritzfontein’s What A Winter daughter Maggie Smith, #291.
20 2yo’s for an aggregate of R6 175 000 for an average of R325 000. See all the vendors – please click here The buyers turned out in numbers, with Form Bloodstock topping the aggregate, with their 14 lots costing R4 630 000.
Purchased for R850 000 by KZN trainer Wendy Whitehead, she is out of a three-time winning daughter of New Approach, and from a top family.
Vermaak Bloodstock and the Hollywood Syndicate followed.
While the evergreen champion Dynasty topped the sire averages with his trio averaging R573 333, and Silvano, who only passed away days before the sale, right on his heels on R365 000 for his quartet, it was Champion Freshman Rafeef who got the pulses going with his 11 lots averaging R336 818.
The next major event on the national calendar is the CTS Ready To Run and Unbroken Two-Year-Old Sale scheduled for Sunday 31 October at Kenilworth Racecourse.
See all the sire numbers – please click here Wilgerbosdrift sold 19 of their
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See all the buyer stats – please click here
The BSA November 2yo Sale is carded for 20 November at the TBA Sales Complex in Johannesburg. See all the sale prices – please click here
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WIN, LOSE OR DRAW – WE LOVE IT! v
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Relatively new to racing, Sandy and Eugene Arundel left the TBA Sales Complex on Saturday evening with three more horses to complement their fast-growing string. The blunt reality is that people like the Arundels are a godsend for an industry under a punishing ride. They love their horses and are intrigued and captivated by the game. It’s a well-known principle in all walks of life that unbridled enthusiasm, unfamiliarity with the terrain, and starry eyed ambition can be an eclectic passport to disappointment. But the 53 year old Sandy and her 60 year old husband Eugene are seasoned highly
successful business folk in their own right and are not entering SA racing’s starting stalls wearing blinkers. The proud grandparents are semi-retired and are really just out to enjoy the fruits of their labour through their horses and the sport of kings. Sandy, who boasts no horsey or pony club pedigree, tells how she left the rigours of a top position in an IT multinational and the corporate world behind her some years back. Today she and her husband run a multifaced IT hardware and heating, cooling and ventilation business. And their racehorses – no matter the price ticket - are
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simply the family’s pride and joy. They now have around 18. “We have really and truly met some wonderful folk in this industry in the eighteen months that we have been involved. With the pandemic dominating the landscape for much of that time , we also realise that things can only get better and are excited with our plans to race across KZN, Gauteng and the Cape. We are not high-profile party animals but want to stay involved – to go racing, watch them run, watch them at work and have fun,” she tells the Sporting Post in a catch up earlier this week.
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While racing is perceived as a hard knocks cut-and-thrust game, where nobody really gives a damn, or an inch for that matter, the Arundels are a true breath of fresh air and clearly determined to be in it for the marathon haul. The couple, who are very actively involved in their IT business which has its Head Office in Bedfordview, commute between their homes in Johannesburg and the Simbithi Eco Estate near Ballito on the KZN North Coast. In our chat with Sandy, she gives the impression that the North Coast has become their preferred home from home. She told how their plans had
unfolded in a positive direction after being introduced to trainer Wendy Whitehead by family friend and informal adviser, Gold Circle’s near pension Executive Graeme Hawkins – after last week, surely South Africa’s only Equus champion racing administrator?
as us. Straight-talking only hurts if you are sensitive. If my horse is slow, tell me. I won’t love them any less,” laughs Sandy as she tells about the thrilling two days of last week’s National 2yo Sale at the TBA Sales Complex in Johannesburg.
The straight-as-a-dye Wendy Whitehead was the perfect foil and just the kind of no-nonsense horse and people-loving personality that Sandy and Eugene were looking for.
They were involved – much to Sandy’s discomfort - in the bidding war highlight of the sale. The subject of the duel between Warne Ripon, Arun Chadha and the Arundels was the well-bred #291, Maggie Smith, who ended up the second top lot on the sale – and the leading filly.
“We just clicked with Wendy from day one. We didn’t want an arms-length kind of trainer who picked and chose when they took our calls. Like most owners, we’re looking for honesty, interest and somebody on the same page
The Mauritzfontein-bred What A Winter daughter out of a Candiese Lenferna three-time winning New Approach mare, was Candiese Lenferna
32 The Arundel’s top selling filly purchase - #291
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HIRING! JOIN OUR TEAM
Bookkeeper / Administrator Cape Thoroughbred Sales is looking to employ a bookkeeper and administration assistant. The successful candidate will be expected to carry out the accounting function to trial balance. Experience in dealing with debtors and engaging with clients is required. You will be based at our offices in Durbanville, and will be expected to travel to and from meetings from time to time. If you are a team player, looking for an exciting challenge, and have a keen interest in horseracing and breeding, we would like to hear from you. Please forward your CV to Jacques at jchowles@cthbs.com
eventually signed for at R850 000 by Wendy Whitehead. “It’s an awkward situation bidding against people who want the horse as much as you do. They have done their homework and shortlisted her. Maybe I’m too much of a softie and I didn’t want there to be a loser out of it. But I’m really pleased that we got her!” The Arundels also picked up the Wilgerbosdrift-bred Morgan La Fey, a R450 000 daughter of champion freshman, Rafeef. The beauty is closely inbred to National Assembly, and a half-sister to five winners out of Gr1
winning champion Laverna. Their ‘cheapie’ was #193, a Piemonte Stud-bred Crusade colt called Grande Lupo, who was secured for R90 000. The diverse basket of purchases are explained by the Arundels’ selection strategy. “Myself and Eugene do our shortlisting based on the page and conformation. We have learnt that compromising on conformation can be a ticket to serious vet bills! Once we have the list it’s over to Wendy Whitehead and Robbie Dawson, who are very kindly our expert-eye second checkers. Once they have confirmed what we believe we
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have seen, then we have the confidence to try and buy. Grande Lupo has everything in the right place. He is an athletic and beautiful specimen. I love his colouring too!” All three of the Arundel’s BSA National 2yo Sale purchases are going to Wendy Whitehead. In an unusual move by an owner, which illustrates the unique approach by the Arundels, the new trio will replace their three March 2021 Cape Premier Yearling Sale horses who will leave Wendy soon to join the Eric Sands yard at Milnerton as a precursor to being targetted at the CTS Gold Rush.
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Sandy bought one of the two ‘Prospector’s’ certificates that were available after the Cape Premier Yearling Sale. In January 2023, 16 Prospectors will have an opportunity to participate in the CTS Gold Rush, a 1600m race in which a capacity field of 16 runners will participate. The Prospectors will be able to negotiate outright purchases or partnership deals in the lead-up to the race. The R7,5-million on offer will make this the richest race in South Africa. The winning owner, or owners, will receive a lucrative R5-million.
“We live in hope and one has to dream big in racing! Hopefully at least one of them will be able to run for the big prize,” says Sandy, as she tells that they came into racing in the climate of modest stakes – so are not too concerned about that favourite hobbyhorse of inevitably angry debate. “If I could wade in with a suggestion, maybe the breakdown of stakes could be reviewed. Spread the love – take some away from the winner and spread it wider. The other day we ran fourth and got a return that didn’t cover much. I’m not sure that’s the answer, but the winner costs as much
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as the fifth horse to feed and keep. Just a thought.”
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Chase Liebenberg
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There’s no question that this lifetime equestrian has giant boots to fill. Late Granddad Terrance was a legend. Dad Geoff was five times SA Champion. But that’s not pressure for a woman who knows what she is doing, and where she is going.
Lucinda with her charge – Worlds Your Oyster – ready for the Cape Summer Season
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As the sun sets on Women’s Month we chat to 27-year-old Lucinda Woodruff. A South African horseracing blue-blood in every sense, ‘Lulu’, as she is affectionately known to those closest to her, is our newest lady trainer. There’s no question that this lifetime equestrian has giant boots to fill. Late Granddad Terrance was a legend. Dad Geoff was five times SA Champion. But that’s not pressure for a woman who knows what she is doing, and where she is going. “I’m very excited that more
and more women are breaking into the training scene. I am personally so thankful for the opportunity to become a trainer myself, and It feels really good to have my licence - although it has probably come a bit sooner than I anticipated.” In typically modest fashion, Lucinda concedes that she is blessed to have been backed by some incredible owners and rather lucky to have started her training career so young.
grandfather having been successful trainers, I had the benefit of being brought up in the racing industry from the get-go. I’m very privileged to take over the yard from my father and it really is a dream come true,” she says with a smile. Lucinda has worked at her Dad’s satellite yard at Milnerton for some time.
“We have some lovely horses coming through at the moment. My string for the “Training has always been my Cape summer season biggest ambition in life. From a young girl all I wanted was to be- includes Worlds Your Oyster, who will run in some of the come a racehorse trainer. With minor sprints. He is a six-time both my father and
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Candiese Lenferna
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39 Lucinda enjoyed a successful August Two Year Old Sale
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winner already! I also have a lovely 4yo stakes-placed filly, Maledimo, who could potentially be a Gr1 performer. She has recently recovered from a second throat operation. All is going well, and I am looking forward to the sprint/mile races for her in the coming season.” She proudly tells that her old faithful Retro Effect will be aiming at the stayer’s races again this year. “He really is an amazing little horse. He’s missed a decent amount of racing of late due to a ligament injury which he suffered again on L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate day. We successfully nursed him back
from that and he has had two very good comeback runs,” explains Lucinda.
Dream.
Her top bid of the second day was Lot 213, a striking colt by What A Winter out of Upon A
“I always try and go above and beyond, giving each horse my individual and
“I had a really great sale! I’m so thankful to my two new owners who have backed me She also is excited about a number of her 3yo’s that are in such a big way. It has been such a great help, especially making their way through the ranks. She expects that a few of since I’ve just taken out my them will start putting their hands licence. All eight horses will be returning with me to Cape up towards the middle of the season, as they are more of the Town. How exciting is that!” she reflects after a busy sale classic type horse. weekend. Lucinda returned home to the Mother City from the BSA August Being a third-generation trainer, Lucinda has been Two Year Old Sale with eight around racehorses long youngsters, including three lots enough to have learnt a trick from the Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud, or two. and a pair from Ascot Stud.
40 Lu recharging with her showjumper, Baldor
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undivided attention. We are a relatively small yard, which allows me to give each individual the time and attention they need. I also sometimes enjoy a tricky horse. I love the challenge, taking different approaches in bringing out the best in every horse.” Lucinda has also come to realise that taking time away from racing is important, too. Spending ‘me time’ with her
three dogs and her showjumper, Rivendell Baldor, is her way of unwinding. “Baldor is my great escape from all the pressures of racing - I am very lucky to have him. At the moment we are competing at an open level. My goal for this year is to compete in the Western Cape Showjumping Championships, which comes up in November. We are training hard and I am looking forward to
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our future successes together.” Lucinda has a message to all the women who are working their way through the ranks of the racing industry: “Be strong, committed and always believe in yourself. No matter what. You can do it!”
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A&A Akal
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46 Kitten’s Adventure streaks to victory
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JOY FOR THE
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Southford Stud’s Gr1 winning sire Admiral Kitten made a pleasing start with his first South African two-year-olds last season, and the son of Kitten’s Joy had a quick double at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday.
Kitten’s Adventure having finished fifth, to the top-class Maryah, on her only previous start.
Admiral Kitten’s first success came when his three-year-old daughter Kitten’s Adventure stayed on strongly to claim the second race, the Open A tabgold Account-0313141874 Maiden Plate (F&M) (1200m), by nearly two lengths.
Admiral Kitten followed up in the very next race when his three-year-old daughter Family Favourite caused a 40-1 upset when she claimed the Call Telebet Track And Ball Fixed Odds on 031 314 1155 Maiden Plate (F&M) (1200m).
The Gary Rich trained filly, who was ridden to victory by Jarred Samuel, was making just her second start with
Bred by Moutonshoek, the Dennis Bosch trained filly had finished sixth at her previous start.
Bred by Schalk van der Walt, Kitten’s Adventure is out of the Miesque’s Approval mare Ocean Adventure.
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Winner of the Gr1 Secretariat Stakes at three, Admiral Kitten is the only son of multiple champion sire Kitten’s Joy at stud in South Africa. The latter came up with his 15th Gr1 winner when Kitten’s Joy’s son Tripoli captured Saturday’s Gr1 TVG Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar. Another son of Kitten’s Joy, Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint hero Bobby’s Kitten, is the sire of this season’s top-class British two-year-old Sandrine, while Kitten’s Joy himself is the sire of over 100 stakes winners and his progeny have earned in excess of $152 million in stakes.
Candiese Lenferna
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Glen Kotzen’s Bush Tracker is at 3 on the latest big race log
ARE YOU READY TO RUN? The CTS Ready To Run Sale will be held at Kenilworth Racecourse on Sunday 31 October. It will be preceded by the R2R Gallops on Friday, 29 October, with the R900 000 De Grendel Ready To Run Stakes to be run over 1400m, sandwiched in between in. The well-endowed race is restricted to eligible graduates of the 2020 CTS Ready To Run Sales and entries will open at 11h00 on Monday, 18 October. The log remains unchanged and is headed by PE-based What A Winter stakes winner Whatever Next, a R100 000 buy from the 2020 CTS Ready To Run Sale. The Final Field will be determined based on Merit Ratings at the time of Declarations. Should there be a need to favour one over the other with the same rating then number of wins prevail, failing that a draw will take place by ballot. Please note, horses with less than 3 runs and are still maidens do not qualify for an official merit rating as yet. The updated race log has been published. Please click here to see the log standings 49
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MAJMU – STILL MAKING MAGIC The William Haggas-trained Mujtaba made the perfect start to his career by winning the mile novice stakes at Chepstow on Monday in authoritative fashion, coming home four and a quarter lengths clear. His long-awaited debut was impressive as he pulled away from Rani Of Jhansi with jockey Jim Crowley struggling to pull up the three-year-old once they hit the line. Unraced at two, the Dubawi gelding is out of the dual Gr1-winning mare Majmu and he had little trouble winning despite unsurprisingly showing signs of greenness. Given his size and breeding, connections will be hoping he goes on to much better things in the coming months. “I liked him in the Spring, but he had a training accident and had to go to Shadwell for the summer,” said Haggas of the 10-11 favourite. Once described by Mike de Kock as the best filly he had trained, the beautiful grey Majmu, who raced in the blue and white strip of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum, was bred in Australia by Arrowfield Stud and sold by them at the 2013 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for A$300,000 to Shadwell Stud. The Equus Champion is by Redoute’s Choice and is the second foal of South American Gr1 winner Spontaneous. Majmu was a dual Gr1 winner here and was retired and exported to the UK after an unplaced run in the 2015 Vodacom Durban July.
52 Majmu wins the Avontuur Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas in 2014
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KZN BIDS FAREWELL TO VETERAN The Sporting Post is sad to relay the passing of one of KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa’s longest standing breeders, Willy Messenger of Bellwood Stud.
The last horse bred by Willy Messenger retired in 2020. He was a 6-time winner named Bold Viking.
Our thoughts go out to the Messenger family in this very sad time.
Candiese Lenferna
KZN Breeders report that, based in Nottingham Road and breeding horses since 1970 with his wife Jeanine, from a small stable of mares, Bellwood Stud won the 2002 KZN Breeding Achievement of the Year. The farm produced many winners including Key of Destiny, the Equus Champion 3 year old and KZN Horse of the Year. In 2004 Key of Destiny won the Equus Champion Sprinter of the Year. He was later exported and won in Dubai with trainer Mike De Kock.
Willy Messenger – a life breeding racehorses
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SIX ON THE TROT 58 Santa Therese storms home for her sixth straight victory. Grant van Niekerk is in the saddle
Pauline Herman
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Alan Greeff’s fast ascending Flower Alley filly Santa Therese made it six wins on the trot when she stormed to victory in Friday’s R100 000 Listed Jockey Club Stakes at a sunny Fairview. After days of torrential rain, the meeting was switched from the turf to the allweather, with plenty of scratchings marginally reducing the appeal of the popular Friday slot. There was no stopping the flashy chestnut Santa Therese though. A past winner on the polytrack, she showed her class and versatility in impressive fashion in the Eastern Cape’s first stakes feature of the new term. Going the 2000m for the first time, she was allowed to lope along just forward of
Santa Therese remains unchanged on a mark of 104 after she won the Listed Jockey Club Stakes for fillies and mares over 2000m at Fairview on Friday. The race, originally scheduled for the turf course, was switched to the Polytrack for weatherrelated reasons. The Handicappers were of the view that 3rd placed
midfield in fifth position by Grant van Niekerk. With the whips cracking, Santa Therese (5-8) accelerated past the stampede late in the home straight to beat Woodhill Racing raider Musical Glitch (12-1) by a quarter length in a time of 120,73 secs. The runner-up’s stablemate Catchafallingstar (12-1) also ran a cracker a length back in third. Victory here means that Santa Therese was registering her third stakes victory, in the process eclipsing the second and third legs of the East Cape Fillies & Mares Challenge. She surely looks destined for better things in bigger centres! Winning jock Grant van Niekerk indicated afterwards that he feels that Santa Therese still has some improvement to come.
Merits
CATCHAFALLINGSTAR and 4th finisher FIRST STREET both made for ideal line horses, which leaves them unchanged on ratings of 97 and 96, respectively. In rating the race this way, SANTA THERESE only runs to a mark of 102, hence her unchanged rating. Runner-up MUSICAL GLITCH was raised from 94 to 99, while the only other increase was for 6th placed BOLD 60
Santa Therese has won 7 of her 9 starts with 2 places for stakes of R301 250. Racing in the familiar white and orange silks of KZN breeders Celso and Lee Scribante, in partnership with Steven and Jessica Jell, Santa Therese was a bargain basement R160 000 National Yearling Sale buy. Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Santa Therese is by Flower Alley (Distorted Humor) out of the two-time winning Tiger Ridge mare, Santa Clarita.
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DIVA. She achieved a 94 at these weight terms but only goes up from 84 to 87, in order to have her one pound higher than 7th finisher FLAME TREE (unchanged on 86) and 7th placed SECRET DEPTHS (unchanged on 85.) There were drops for two horses. KATIE TO is down from 100 to 99, while HEAVEN’S EMBRACE drops to 86 from 88.
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Pauline Herman
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Stranger Danger storms home under Warren Kennedy to win the Speedsters Stakes
SAFE, MY MATE! Gimmethegreenlight’s super-quick son Stranger Danger won the R90 000 Speedsters Stakes at Fairview on Friday to give Warren Kennedy an armchair experience for his 28th winner this season so far. Kennedy has commenced the 20 day old new term like a man possessed and his 24% strike-rate could be a flag waver of his intentions to go for a second SA
Championship title.
third.
The winner was saddled by Hollywoodbets-sponsored trainer Gavin Smith, who currently leads the SA national trainer championship Stranger Danger was never under any threat of being caught as he powered home to score by 3,50 lengths in a time of 55,75 seconds.
The winner is a R120 000 KZN Yearling Sale graduate. Gavin Smith signed the chit.
Alan Greeff’s Delicasea finished with a rattle late for second, with What A Winner in
Stranger Danger has won 5 races with 7 places from 12 starts for stakes of R245 000.
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Bred by Nadeson Park, he is a son of newly-crowned SA Champion sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the Fort Wood mare Vishna.
RIGHT UP THERE
A quick-return, big-value stallion!
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WITH THE BIG GUNS!
FROM ONLY 16 RUNNERS IN THE 2020/2I SEASON, DYNASTY’S SON JACKSON MADE THE TOP 6 OF AVERAGE EARNINGS PER RUNNER (AEPR) AMONG 2-y-olds *(15 runners or more)
Jackson (SAF) Bh 2008 Dynasty—Moonlight Prairie (x Cozzene)
UNBEATABLE VALUE R3,000 LIVE FOAL (1ST GAUTENG SEASON)
The Best Classic Horse in SA 2011/12 Multiple G1 winner
STANDING AT HEVERSHAM PARK IN THE STUNNING COUNTRYSIDE OF SOUTH GAUTENG, READY TO SERVE MARES AT AN INCREDIBLE VALUE R3,000 (LF). CONTACT TERRY ON 083 406 3281, OR MAIL info@hevershampartk.co.za . VISIT www.hevershampark.co.za
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66 Flashback to 2020 – Bohica (Smanga Khumalo) wins the Spring Spree Stakes
JC Photos
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SNAITH AMONGST HIGHVELD FEATURE ENTRIES CAPE-BASED SA CHAMPION LOOKS 67 FURTHER AFIELD
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The R100 000 Listed Spring Spree Stakes launches the Highveld feature season on Saturday 4 September at Turffontein. The handicap is run with a benchmark at 52kg = 94. A total of 22 first entries have been received, including a quartet from the Mike and Adam Azzie yard, who won it last year with Bohica. It is interesting to see that newly crowned SA
Champion trainer Justin Snaith has a single entry.
Weights will be published on the same day.
The Cape-based operation has expanded with a permanent satellite yard at Summerveld and they recently declared that they would be looking to compete further afield. The stakes situation in the Cape is a matter of concern, despite a press release issued recently.
Supplementary entries close at 09h00 on Monday 30 August 2021
Entries for the Spring Spree Stakes close at 11h00 on Monday 23 August 2021
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Declarations are due by 11h00 on Tuesday 31 August 2021 Event-1 R100 000 1200m (Turf)
R100 000 Listed Spring Spree Stakes 1200m v
Draw
13 20 9 14 19 22 1 8 12 15 11 7 2 3 18 17 21 6 5 16 10 4
Horse
Trainer
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Captain And Master Captain Tatters Chief Of State Chijmes Copper Mountain Epic Dream Gimme A Wave Greens Kings Road Leopold Mind Reader Phinda Mzala Puerto Manzano (ARG) Rapid Fire Riverstown Sheela Sweet Future Thumbs Up True To Life Vaseem Visiway Willow Express
Sean Tarry Justin Snaith Paul Peter J A Janse van Vuuren J A Janse van Vuuren Candice Dawson Alec Laird Paul Peter Clinton Binda J A Janse van Vuuren Roy Magner Clinton Binda J A Janse van Vuuren M G Azzie/A A Azzie Paul Peter M G Azzie/A A Azzie M G Azzie/A A Azzie J A Janse van Vuuren J A Janse van Vuuren Roy Magner M G Azzie/A A Azzie Sean Tarry
100 109 93 110 121 92 94 93 83 101 105 84 113 102 106 107 110 104 118 100 100 103
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72 Frankie Dettori salutes after Stradivarius’ big win
York Racecourse
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OH HAPPY DAY! 73
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Congratulations Frankie Dettori and Stradivarius the first partnership to win the Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup three times. That York Ebor Festival highlight on Friday came 24 hours after the Gr1 Yorkshire Oaks demolition by Snowfall (Deep Impact-Best in the World, by Galileo) that has seen her move into 5-2 favouritism for the Gr1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
at Leopardstown or Longchamp.”
“She’s very relaxed and quickens very well, and it doesn’t matter with ground with her,” said trainer Aidan O’Brien.
Ryan Moore kept Snowfall at the back, ridden quietly throughout the race. Stable companion La Joconde ensuring there was a good gallop throughout the race under Hollie Doyle. Turning the corner the runners came back to stands, and push came to shove on La Joconde, with Wonderful Tonight beginning to make her move.
“I was a little bit taken aback by her in the parade ring, how well she had done. She looked like a filly that was going to come on for the run, physically, so that’s a good sign when that starts happening at this time of the year. She’s obviously changing from a being a baby 3YO into a mature 3YO. It’s a lovely way to have her. If she’s going to the Arc, she’d run around the time of [Irish] Champions Weekend either
O’Brien really looks to have racing’s next superstar in his ranks – as we saw when Snowfall made light work of the Darley Yorkshire Oaks. Having demolished her rivals in both the Cazoo Oaks and the Irish Oaks, O’Brien’s filly was sent out a heavy favourite for Thursday’s feature . And she certainly did not disappoint.
Gasps from the York crowd rang out, as Snowfall, with consumate ease breezed her way through the field. In a matter of moments she was upside and past Wonderful Tonight – seemingly in third gear.
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Ryan Moore then nudged her to press on and put the race to bed before easing her way to the line with all the dangers long behind her. It was a special performance from a filly who looks set to go on to big things. Japanese-born Snowfall has now won five of her 11 starts, including three Gr1’s in succession. Her dam, Best in the World, is a Gr3-winning full-sister to Champion 2YO and 3YO Filly Found (Galileo-Red Evie, by Intikhab) who won the Gr1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Turf, and the Gr1 Prix Marcel Boussac. The €5 000 000 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe will be run at Longchamp on Sunday 3 October.
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76 Stradivarius shows heart and courage to win last Friday
British Champion Series
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LIGHT TO DARK – WHAT A FAMILY 77
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A winner at York last Friday, the courageous Gr2 Weatherbys Hamilton Lonsdale Cup Stakes star Stradivarius has a very attractive pedigree. Not only is the 16 time group winner (he has won 18 times in total) a son of a world-class racehorse and stallion, but Stradivarius hails from a female line which continues to go from strength to strength. Stradivarius, whose once beaten sire Sea The Stars has more than 80 stakes winners to his credit including successful young sire Sea The Moon,Epsom classic winners Harzand and Taghrooda, and the very exciting two-year-old Reach For The Moon, is out of the stakes placed Private Life (Bering), whose progeny also include Gr3 winner Persian Storm (Monsun), as well as the useful South African racemare Magical Eve (Oratorio), a winner over 1600m who ran third in the Listed The Scarlet Lady of 2012. Bering also features as the broodmare sire of nearly 70 additional black type winners headed by brilliant King George winner Harbinger (Dansili) -sire of five Gr1 winners, including Nassau Stakes heroine Deirdre and Hong Kong Cup winner Normcore.
Stradivarius' granddam Poughkeepsie (Sadler's Wells) also ranks as the third dam of Gr1 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist (Monsun) Australia's Champion Stayer of 2014-2015. Protectionist, who is closely inbred to his fifth dam Plencia,has made a promising start to his stud career, with his first crop headed by the group winners Amazing Grace and Lambo. Protectionist is out of Patineuse -whose Arc winning sire Peintre Celebre (Nureyev) sported Plencia (Stradivarius' own fourth dam) as his fourth dam. Peintre Celebre, whose daughter Aquatint produced South African Gr1 winners Afrikaburn and champion Kasimir, left behind more than 60 stakes winners, including the likes of Pride, Castledale, Vallee Enchantee and Byword, as well as South African Gr1 winner and sire Jam Alley, has become a consistently successful broodmare sire with his daughters having produced 70 black type winners including Oaks winner and the triple Melbourne Cup runner-up, Red Cadeaux. Stradivarius' fourth dam Plencia, the dam of Oaks/King George winner Pawneese (Carvin), also ranks as the ancetress of Gr1 winners such
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as Persian King (Kingman), and Planteur (Danehill Dancer). Ironically, Planteur is the sire of Trueshan -this year's Gr1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup winner, who vanquished Stradivarius when the pair met in last year's Gr2 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup. This female line has also done well in South Africa. Plencia ranks as the fourth dam of Pleine Nuit (Machiavellian), the dam of local stakes winners Brown Penny and Night Trip. Pleine Nuit is also the granddam of Gr1 L'Ormarins Queen's Plate/Gr1 HKJC World Pool Champions Cup hero Jet Dark (Trippi) - last season's Equus Champion 3YO Colt and Champion Miler.
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80 Her Majesty The Queen - eye on the 2022 Epsom Derby
Epsom Racecourse
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DREAMING OF THE DERBY 81
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There are high hopes The Queen could lead in her first Derby winner at Epsom next year. Co-incidentally, the race will take place during celebrations for her Platinum Jubilee. Way back in 1953, the week of her coronation, The Queen came closest to winning the blue riband event when Aureole bred by her late father King George VI finished second to Pinza. The horse of the moment is Reach for The Moon, a product of the Queen’s breeding operation, who ran out an easy winner of the Gr3 Betway Solario Stakes at Sandown last Saturday. He subsequently earned quotes of around 14/1 for the Derby next June. The only colt in front of the Gosden trained runner in the ante-post Derby betting is Aidan O’Brien’s Point Lonsdale, who finished half a length in front of Reach for The Moon in the sevenfurlong Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. "You've got to look towards the autumn now and we'd like to wind up in one of those nice Group 1’s," said Gosden. "We'll see how he is over the
next few days and make our decisions. He's very progressive and showed a bit of class I thought." The Queen's bloodstock and racing adviser John Warren pinpointed the Gr2 Champagne Stake and the Gr1 Vertem Futurity Trophy over a mile, as potential targets this year for the royal winner. Warren said: "On face value he should be staying a mile and a half but his dam [Golden Stream] was very fast and this horse is built in such a strong way that it's not surprising he has the toe he has. It's an interesting debate and we'll watch things unfold. Her Majesty is clearly delighted to have a horse like this." Dettori took no chances on the son of Derby winner Sea The Stars, taking the lead inside the last two furlongs before sauntering clear. "He's got a wonderful stride and he's got gears," said the winning rider. "He's a very exciting prospect. He's learning the whole time and I suspect you'll probably see him out another couple of times before the end of the season. He's a good size and you'd expect him to train on."
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“He was quite babyish at the beginning of his career,” Dettori said, “[but] with racing he is getting better and better. Today, he stopped his antics a little bit and he was focusing better.” “I was a bit concerned about the slow pace at the beginning, so I sent him for home a long way out. Normally I wouldn’t do that, but I didn’t want to sit and sprint as he is such a big horse. He went through the gears and put daylight between them and felt good on top.” Point Lonsdale confirmed the strength of the Royal Ascot form-line with Reach for The Moon when recording a comfortable success in the Gr2 Futurity Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday evening. He made most of the running under Ryan Moore to win easily and maintain his unbeaten record.
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WHAT A DAY! v
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Del Mar established a new single-day betting mark Saturday when $36,024,030 was wagered on its 11-race TVG Pacific Classic Day card smashing the old mark of $25,870,431 set on TVG Pacific Classic Day in 2018. Besides a terrific race card that included five Graded stakes topped by the $1 million TVG Pacific Classic, the track also had the benefit of a massive 20¢ Pick Six Single Ticket Jackpot pool that finally topped out at $10,751,767. The pool consisted of a $1,874,996 carryover and
“new” money of $8,876,771. Each winning ticket – and there were 822 of them – paid $10,521.50 TVG Pacific Classic Day had been designated as a “mandatory payout” day, meaning all monies would be paid out to those with the most winners. The track will have another such “mandatory” day on its closing day, Labor Day Monday, September 6. Hronis Racing’s Tripoli captured the TVG Pacific Classic and earned a first prize of $600,000. The 4-year-old colt also earned an all-entry-fees-paid admission into the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic, which will be held
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on Saturday, November 6.
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results up to: 2021-08-24
TRAINERS Name
Runs
Wins Win%
99 65 80 38 46
Mr G D Smith Mr P A Peter Mr A C Greeff Mr S G Tarry Mr S J Snaith
19 11 10 8 9
19.2 16.9 12.5 21.1 19.6
2nd
3rd
12 10 10 4 4
10 8 11 3 6
2nd
3rd
22 7 16 6 6
16 14 11 4 11
Other Places Place %
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
42.4 40.0 46.3 28.9 32.6
731,250 429,000 400,000 358,500 315,500
978,750 704,875 624,500 463,250 422,000
Other Places Place %
Win Stake (R)
Total Stakes (R)
1,418,750 667,500 584,00 715,500 449,100
1,945,750 965,975 1,070,500 943,500 707,375
20 8 16 4 5
42 26 37 11 15
JOCKEYS Name
Runs Wins Win%
Mr W B Kennedy Mr S Khumalo Mr M A Yeni Mr L Hewitson Mr C Zackey
139 91 108 42 71
30 15 13 13 12
21.6 16.5 12.0 31.0 16.9
21 18 22 4 14
59 39 49 14 31
42.4 42.9 45.4 33.3 43.7
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 Varsfontein Stud Ridgemont Highlands
106 82 55 41 31
122 99 69 46 35
8,518 10,495 9,509 10,130 11,825
14 12 6 7 7
14 12 7 7 7
13.2 14.6 10.9 17.1 22.6
40 43 25 15 14
0 1 0 0 0
0 1 0 0 0
902,900 860,575 523,000 415,350 366,575
SIRES Name Master Of My Fate Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) Duke Of Marmalade (IRE) Twice Over (GB) Elusive Fort
Runrs Runs AEPR 61 44 39 50 46
69 48 51 55 59
10,559 11,875 12,965 9,491 10,113
B.T. Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Rnrs % 10 7 8 8 7
11 7 8 8 7
16.4 15.9 20.5 16.0 15.2
27 19 23 18 25
See all the detailed standings - Click here 87
0 0 0 0 0
B.T. Wins 0 0 0 0 0
Total Stakes (R) 644,075 522,500 505,625 474,550 465,200
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KLOPP KLOPP – WHO’S THERE?
The stars have truly aligned for this one! Liverpool will play host to a very confident Chelsea side on Saturday evening, and I tell you what, you don’t want to miss this one.
A side who feeds off their home fans will have all 53 394 seats filled, their first-choice centre back Virgil van Dyk is fit and ready and the effervescent Jurgen Klopp will lend his thunderous voice the chorus of Anfield roars . To Win (90 mins) • Liverpool 29/20
• Draw 47/20 • Chelsea 37/20 Liverpool
You would be a seriously brave punter to take on Liverpool here. They’ve come through the worst of their injury woes and will have their faithful followers clamoring back into Anfield for every home game. It would be remiss of me not to mention that on Saturday afternoon, colours and pride aside, as a football fan surely you enjoyed listening to ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ being sung with all the passion and love we
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have come to know.
Anfield will be rocking on Saturday evening and I’m almost harping on about it because it truly is that big of a factor – let alone in games such as these. I wouldn’t say that Liverpool are back to their best, but Jurgen Klopp has certainly put his side on the path to glory once again. They have a full complement of players available, littered with talent and depth in every area, but I think Liverpool might still have problems…however, they are all the right ones to
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have. Andy Robertson was named on the bench against Burnley and I’m very intrigued to see whether Klopp gives him the nod over Konstantinos Tsimikas. The Greek defender has taken to Liverpool effortlessly and naturally already begun offering important value. We know how important attacking defenders are to the Liverpool model, so how that selection headache plays out will be fascinating. Another exciting avenue is of course how van Dijk deals with Romelu Lukaku. Of course, when you have a big target striker upfront you are inclined to forgive sides who knock the ball around until they look for a direct option isolating the striker and defender into a 1v1 duel. That will happen often and given how intelligent and confident the Dutch defender is I don’t think it’s as easy as you might expect to bully him. Liverpool is among the best at catching teams offside and van Dijk’s movement and leadership often sees him in the last ranks dictating the movement of the Reds’ line. The difference, however, is I don’t suspect Lukaku will want to let the ball run, he’ll likely welcome and relish the
physical challenge. I’m not sure where van Dijk’s mentality is after his injury but if he’s hesitant don’t be surprised to see him come off second best all game. Chelsea This Chelsea side is seriously dangerous. I know its early to start talking about Champions, but there is surely no doubt they will contest that top spot come May next year. They are a side full of understanding, physicality, skill, and pace. They have a clear identity and obviously trust their manager. The brilliance of Thomas Tuchel lies in his ability to put this Chelsea side together to ensure defensive resilience without compromising on his attacking potency. The numbers don’t lie. Since the German took office, Chelsea are top in the log for clean sheets (13) and shots on target (123). How can anyone argue that the foundation and potential for this team not to challenge anyone in the League, anywhere…doesn’t exist? You add to this equation, the addition of Lukaku, a proven goal scorer and quality striker, someone who, importantly, has played in the league before and will understand the level and pace at which the game in England is played. He’ll also play
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with a chip on his shoulder and from experience you would suggest that is when you get the best out of him. His first game against Arsenal had him bullying defenders and just assaulting them really. Aggressively wanting to drive Chelsea forward, holding up the ball and bringing others into an attacking space, and then of course shushing the home crowd after putting their bitter rivals in front. This will be a pulsating game, but I’m not as convinced by Liverpool at the moment as I am Chelsea. While Liverpool seems to have found the path again and are now finding their feet, Chelsea is tearing up the path and imposing their will and confidence on everything in sight. Prediction: Chelsea (37/20) I’m not necessarily one for blindly chasing odds, but at 37/20 I am all over Chelsea. I think they win this game – and I don’t doubt it will be an absolute cracker. I feel the Blues are better suited to control it and take their chances in difficult moments. I guess this makes me a brave punter. Get on!
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