20210922 - Sporting Post Sprint Ver 1.2 Single Pages

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Cover Image A special moment for journeyman jockey Devin Ashby as 8yo Power Grid rounded off his memorable treble at Durbanville on Saturday. Image courtesy of Chase Liebenberg v

SETTLE ON A DYNASTY! 4 Lightly raced Salvator Mundi won well last time

Chase Liebenberg

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Vaughan Marshall defends his Listed Settlers Trophy title at Durbanville on Saturday when the 5yo gelding Black Knap bids to win the 2000m contest for the second year running and make it a third straight victory in the race for Alec and the Honourable Gillian Foster as owner-breeders, and for the outstanding Dynasty.

After the Snaith’s Magnificent Seven had won the race in 2018, Vaughan Marshall broke the stranglehold last year when Black Knap beat Bayberry – whom he meets again on Saturday.

And after a successful SA

Champions Season on the East Coast, where he won the Gr3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, and then moved up like a winner in the Hollywoodbets 2200 (the Durban July consolation) last time, before caught in the shadow of the post by Shango, he looks the one to beat again.

If not in need of it after a 12 week break, he should go well in the hands of Anton Marcus.

The scratching of Crome Yellow has reduced the field to just seven runners and Justin Snaith holds the

Chase Liebenberg

The deceased Ridgemont Highlands champion sire has 4 sons running in the seven-horse field on Saturday.

In line with a request to give the race a better fit in the summer season foundation programme, the distance was dropped from the traditional 2400m to 2000m from 2019, the year that Belgarion won it and launched his march to Vodacom Durban July glory.

6 Black Knap defends his title Candiese Lenferna

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tactical trumpcard with a three way coupling headed by the handily weighted One Way Traffic, who will be ridden by Richard Fourie.

The lightly exposed gelding caught the eye when winning his last start over 2400m at Kenilworth.

Another smart son of Dynasty, the 4yo takes a jump in class and could be equal to it.

Grant van Niekerk has formed a power partnership with the Aussie-bred Anse Lazio, who has won his last two starts well and will strip fit.

Runner-up in this race last year, Bayberry ran a cracking pipe-opener over a too short 1500m and will strip fitter with that run under his belt.

The Gr3 Pocket Power Stakes winner Crimson King lumps topweight of 61kgs, but has shown touches of class and could be coming into his own as a 4yo.

Yet another smart son of Dynasty, Salvatore Mundi tries the 2000m for the first time after an impressive strike last time in lower-rated handicap company. He has tremendous scope and is a model of consistency.

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Lucinda Woodruff saddles the consistent Retro Effect, who returns after a ten week break. The son of Twice Over gets the services of Greg Cheyne and must be included in what looks like a field race for the Pick 6 and Jackpot players.

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October – Some Momentum!

August and September are testing months for racing fans, with mostly bread and butter fare on the menu. While the Listed Settlers Trophy will be run on Saturday at Durbanville, things do pick up dramatically in October as the programme below shows.

Cape 02 Oct - Gr3 Matchem Stakes: Durbanville 02 Oct - Gr3 Diana Stakes: Durbanville 23 Oct - Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship: Kenilworth 23 Oct - Gr3 Cape Classic: Kenilworth 30 Oct - CTS Ready to Run Stakes: Kenilworth

Eastern Cape 29 Oct - Listed Algoa Cup: Fairview 29 Oct - Listed Racing Association Stakes: Fairview 29 Oct - Cradock Place Stakes: Fairview 29 Oct - Wedgewood Handicap: Fairview

30 Oct - Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap: Turffontein 30 Oct - Listed Golden Loom Handicap: Turffontein 30 Oct - Listed Java Stakes: Turffontein KZN 10 Oct - Beach Beauty Mile (KZN Fillies Guineas Trial): Hollywoodbets Greyville

Gauteng 02 Oct- Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge: Turffontein 02 Oct - Gr2 Joburg Spring F&M Challenge: Turffontein 30 Oct - Gr2 Charity Mile: Turffontein

17 Oct - Listed Michaelmas Handicap: Hollywoodbets Greyville 31 Oct - Listed Model Man Mile: Hollywoodbets Greyville

30 Oct - Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes: Turffontein 30 Oct - Gr3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes: Turffontein

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10 Devin shows it’s three up on a memorable afternoon at Durbanville

Chase Liebenberg

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DEVIN’S GOT THE POWER 11

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Cape jockey Devin Ashby displayed some deft touches from the saddle to boot home a 160-1 treble at Durbanville on Saturday.

His confidence-boosting accolade as top jock on the sunny Cape afternoon is a welcome ray of hope for the often marginalised smaller stakeholders in a region dominated by the power players.

Devin was a familiar face, together with Travis Bloch and Luke Coleman, around Cape racecourses in his late teens.

He was work riding and keen to become a jockey. He only got into the SA Jockey Academy at the age of 21 and qualified in December 2009.

He rode his first winner on 23 December 2009. Current Line was also his future fatherin-law Paul Reeves’ first winner as a trainer. What a start that was!

The hardworking jockey’s boyish demeanour belies the reality that he has been riding for nearly two decades and that he is a 38 year old happily married Dad to a beautiful 5yo daughter, Skyler. His wife Stacey – daughter of trainer Paul Reeves – is an accomplished horsewoman in her own right.

“Time sure flies! It feels like yesterday when Aunty Gwen Heyns ‘adopted’ us as starryeyed teenagers,” he laughs in

reference to one of Cape racing’s much-loved owners who used to look after the young jocks at her Melkbosstrand residence in the days before the Cape branch of the Academy opened. Even that has now closed, but that’s a debate for another forum.

As it has been some time since the Sporting Post last caught up with him, we asked Devin how his career had progressed through the pandemic.

“It is well documented that it hasn’t been easy for many folk. But I have soldiered on and tried to maintain a positive outlook and a hard work ethic.

I am very thankful to my fatherin-law Paul Reeves and former top jockey Glen Hatt, who have counselled me and tried to guide me.”

Devin opened up and tells us that he is not shy to admit that he has suffered for years from depression, which had its roots in his tough childhood.

“As former jockeys, Glen Hatt and my father-in-law understand the ups and downs and frustrations. I was having a bad day and getting home and closing the curtains and simply shutting out the world.

It’s clearly wrong to hold on to everything that went wrong as it tends to stay with one. And I have now accepted that it’s important to be able to take constructive criticism and well intended advice. Something I

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may have had an issue with previously.”

Devin enjoys the stability of domestic life and after 6 years of marriage – he and Stacey have been together for 12 years – and the responsibility that goes with being a Dad to a 5 year old daughter, he says that he has matured and an improved state of mind can only augur well for his riding.

Stacey joins the conversation with a giggle, adding that ‘jockeys never really grow up.’ She should know!

Two of Devin’s winners on Saturday – in fact, the first double on the card- were for his father-in-law and staunch owner Andy Elton, while Andries Steyn’s old man river Power Grid, is leased by owners Andrew Brand (his first ever racehorse), Surina de Villiers and the trainer’s wife, Jenny Steyn.

The 8yo Power Grid, now a winner of 7 races from his 54 starts, registered his second win under Devin in less than two weeks.

“He is an amazing horse – bandages, skew legs and all. I had to take my chances down the inside and hope that the gaps materialised. It panned out well and he gave his all,” adds Devin modestly.

The story of Power Grid is one for a movie script.

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Bred by the now closed Daytona Stud, the Steyns were offered the little horse with everything in all the wrong places. If they didn’t take him, the breeders were going to put him down as his prospects of racing looked bleak.

“When we saw him work for the first time, I said this is not pretty and was expecting Power Grid to fall over. He has the least attractive action you have ever seen and yet 54 runs later, with 7 wins and 21 places to his credit, and

earnings close on R750 000, he is better than ever,” added Jenny Steyn, who said that their flagbearer would tell them when he had had his fill of racing.

“When an 8yo wins his second race in in under two weeks with his ears pricked, he is loving it,” she adds proudly. Visit Andries Steyn Racing on Facebook to find out more.

Devin rode the first double on Saturday for owner Andy Elton.

Both Bonanza, who won at third time of asking, and

Arctic Ice – having her eleventh outing after some near misses in her eight places - have been ridden by Devin exclusively.

“It was a really great moment to ride Mr Elton’s double – unbelievably his first ever as an owner after racing horse for 36 years in the UK and South Africa. It was particularly special as the loyalty he has shown me has been extraordinary. Arctic Ice has been knocking at the door to win for some time.

Chase Liebenberg

13 Joshwin Solomons throws the kitchen sink at Wordsworth as Devin slips through the inside on Power Grid

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Many owners would have opted for a higher profile jockey. There is nothing better to boost a rider’s confidence by knowing you are not going to be jocked off!”

Devin adds that one of the great honours and privileges that he has enjoyed in recent years was riding the work on newly crowned SA Horse Of

The Year Rainbow Bridge.

“I am indebted to Mr Eric Sands and the owners for allowing me to partner this wonderful athlete in advance of his two Met victories. I can honestly say that Rainbow Bridge has taught me so much about trusting in and having faith in one’s horse.”

Devin has ridden 4 winners this season at a strike-rate of 19%.

“My confidence levels are up and I am in a good space physically and emotionally.

So it’s up to me now to create the opportunities. Watch this space!”

Chase Liebenberg

A thrilled Andrew Brand, Jenny Steyn and Surina de Villiers lead Power Grid (Devin Ashby) in after his breathtaking win

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16 Querari (Oasis Dream – Quetena) has had a great start to the season

Maine Chance Farms

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THE KING QUERARI 17

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Having been a Top 10 breeder for over twenty years, Maine Chance Farms has a proud heritage of standing Champion Sires in South Africa.

The stallion barn honour roll includes the likes of New South Wales (GB), Jungle Cove (USA), National Assembly (CAN), and more recently, the late Silvano (GER).

Today's focus will be on the well-bred stallion Querari.

"He is looking absolutely fantastic and has had a great start to the season, having covered thirty-three mares already," enthuses stud manager Tim Bootsma.

"Our stallions routine is to be lunged every morning. This allows their fitness to be maintained all year round," he continues.

stop winning at three years old.

Gr1 winners Querari Falcon, Rio Querari (Equus Champion Sprinter 2020/2021), and 2021 KZN Champion 2YO Filly Maryah top his impressive strike rate of 64% winners to runners.

Rio Querari won the Gr1 Computaform Sprint as a four-year-old. His sire now has more stakes wins amongst his four-year-olds and higher average earnings per race in this age group. A statistic stallion manager John Freeman feels is a good sign.

"The analysis of his winners and stakes winners over various distances shows that his progeny are versatile with more stakes winners in the 1400m to 1600m range and higher average earnings per race over 1600m," informs John.

As a son of UK leading sire Oasis Dream (Champion Sprinter in Europe of his year), he should produce speed in his offspring. But true to the construct of his pedigree profile, he also gets them to stay the trip. Querari won from 1400m to 2000m and won his Gr1 race over

Querari was the Champion Older Horse in Germany in 2010, winning multiple Group races throughout his career.

He then came to stud in South Africa in 2011.

While he was Cape Champion Freshman Sire in 2015 and SA Champion Sire of 2YO's in 2018/2019, it's his three-year-olds that are the focus of most of his winners.

That said, his Equus Champion son Rio Querari is proof that his progeny don't

Querari filly out of Silver Dream (Tiger Hill) at Maine Chance Farms

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2000m as a four-year-old, showcasing his versatility.

Querari has made headlines in the sales ring recently.

His top-priced yearling was Mauritzfontein's R4,2 million colt Ficksburg, bought by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Then a mare in foal to the classy stallion sold for R3,25 million at the BBP Syndicate dispersal sale in May this year.

His other notable sale prices range from R1,6 million, R1,3 million, R1,1 million, R1 million, R800 000 to R675 000. Ten more of his yearlings have made more than R500 000.

With the sales ring being a happy hunting ground for the leading sire, it's easy to see

why he is so well supported in the stallion barn each season. Covering an incredible 118 mares last season, and already having covered 33 mares in just the past three weeks, Querari enjoys the backing of many breeders looking to aim at the elite level.

His 2020 book included Atlantic Beach, a full sibling to Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes winner Caya Coco, and Lovely Jubbly, sibling to Gr2 Golden Slipper winner Cockney Pride.

"We have foaled down some very nice mares this year so far, including Silver Dream, a Tiger Hill daughter of Shiva (Silvano's sister), and Cosmic Dream, the dam of Gr3 winner Cosmic Highway.

"We are very much looking forward to the arrival of the rest of

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Querari's crop and are once again sending some exceptional mares to him this year. They include the likes of Dynasty's Blossom, Don't Stop Dancing, and Flying Fable, to name a few," says Tim Bootsma.

"I am also looking forward to his crop of two-year-old runners this season. There are some exciting prospects to keep an eye out for!" he enthuses.

With a high-quality pedigree, proven versatility and good looks to boot, it's easy to see why this Maine Chance Farms stallion is so wellsupported by the racing community.

Contact FreemanStallions for more information: stallions@ freemanstallions.co.za

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OLDLANDS STUD NAMED OUTSTANDING BREEDER v

24 Oldlands Stud’s Barbara Sanne seen with Netta at the Paul Peter Stable and with her son, Professor Ian Sanne

Candiese Lenferna

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The Cape Breeders Awards announcement for the 2020/21 season was broadcast on the Breeding To Win Show on Tellytrack on Sunday evening.

2YO Filly:

Broodmare Of The Year:

• Desert Miracle (Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein)

• Halfway To Heaven (Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein)

The awards selection panel comprising Jehan Malherbe, Karel Miedema and Mark van Deventer had a tough task with many categories closely matched.

• Jet Dark (Drakenstein)

Veteran Barbara Sanne of Oldlands Stud walked away with the Outstanding Breeder award. From 51 runners Oldlands bred Ambiorix (Gr1 winner), Zarina (Gr1 winner) and Netta (Gr2 winner, Gr1 placed.)

Older Male:

Other nominees in the Outstanding Breeder category were Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein who bred the most stakes winners and won most stakes races, and Alec Foster, who, of the breeders who had 20 runners or more, bred the highest % stakes winners and had highest earnings per runner.

All the winners are listed below:

3YO Colt:

3YO Filly: • Captain’s Ransom (Moutonshoek)

• Rainbow Bridge (Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein) Older Female: • Summer Pudding (Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein) Sprinter: • Rio Querari (Normandy) Middle Distance Horse: • Rainbow Bridge (Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein) Stayer:

Freshman Sire Of The Year: • Rafeef (Ridgemont) Breeder Of The Year: • Klawervlei (John Koster) Horse Of The Year: • Rainbow Bridge (Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein) Outstanding Breeder: • Oldlands (Barbara Sanne) International Horse Of The Year: • *Yulong Prince (Varsfontein) formerly raced as Surcharge – won the Gr1 Cantala Stakes

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2YO Colt:

• Malmoos (Varsfontein)

• Good Traveller (Lammerskraal)

Stallion Of The Year:

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THE CIRCLES OF LIFE v

‘The saga of Birch-bred Josey Wood has come full circle. Fate decreed that the Scotts would send her abroad, that Eleonora would return to South Africa and that she would eventually join the Birch fold’ 28 Ingleside – a top class son of Dolpour

John Lewis

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As friends and family bade farewell to former KwaZulu-Natal breeder Robin Scott at a memorial service held in Hollywoodbets Greyville's sun-drenched parade ring on Saturday, it brought home the loss of yet another doyen of the racing and breeding industry.

Together with brother Des, Robin's name became synonymous with an enviable array of top horses bred at their Highdown Stud over almost five decades, many of which descended from the quality fillies they imported from the Northern Hemisphere, Robin's favourite Devon Air being a prime example.

It is therefore quite remarkable that one of their mares would make the reverse trip, this being Josey Wood, a daughter of nine-time champion Foveros.

A member of the fabulous Drohsky clan and descended from her fine grandaughter, the Durban July winner Diza, Josey Wood was a product of the famed Birch breeding operation and was bred by the late Chris Birch. She could run a bit too and retired to his Bradgate farm a five-time winner. After dropping her first foal, the National Assembly filly Miss Espin (who would become the dam of Gr3 winner Maggie Kay), Chris

sent Josey Wood to Highdown to visit then resident Sadler's Wells horse Dolpour.

Bred by His Highness the Aga Khan, he was a Gr1-placed, Gr3 winner out of French 1000 Guineas victress Dumka. A wonderful broodmare, her six stakes winning foals included the English 2000 Guineas hero Doyoun and future star stallion Dalsaan.

The result of that mating was Ingleside, who would stamp himself as one of the leading lights of the new millennium.

Owned by Bernard Kantor, he won both the 2001 Gr1 Champions Cup and Gr1 Summer Cup, the latter in record time.

He was trained at the time

by Mike de Kock, whose first stakes winner was none other than Ingleside's 'aunt', the champion Evening Mist, a half-sister to Josey Wood's dam Ocean Haze.

Josey Wood, who had left Bradgate after Ingleside was foaled, was by then roaming the Highdown paddocks with an Among Men colt at foot. In 2002, she was sent to France, where in 2005, she foaled a filly to the Nureyev horse Fasliyev.

Named Eleonora, she crossed the channel to join the stable of young William Haggas and after scoring in the Scott silks, she was sent to South Africa.

Fate once again intervened. In

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2015, Eleonora was offered as part of a dispersal of Scott mares and was in foal to Mogok. Young Colin Birch, who had just ventured into horse breeding at the family's Vogel Vlei Stud, noticed that she was from one of their old families and together with breeding partner Jurgen van Heerden, purchased Eleonora.

Colin sent her to Duke Of Marmalade in the spring, and for a good reason. At the time, the Drakenstein based stallion had a very good four-year-old racing in England in the fine stayer Big Orange, who had captured both the Gr2 Princess of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot and the Gr1 Goodwood Cup. Colin noticed that he was out of a Fasliyev mare, so Eleonora made the trip to Drakenstein for a liaison with the son of Danehill. In 2016, the mare gave birth to a filly aptly named Miss Orange.

As Colin recalled: "She was a lovely, scopey foal but needed a little bit of time and not be rushed through sale preparation. We really liked her and she flourished here on the farm, given the time necessary to mature into her frame. We made the partners an offer and bought them out.

We eventually sent her on lease to Alan Greeff and as back-end two-year-old."

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History repeated itself, for many of the Birch's fine broodmares were trained by Alan late father Stanley!

As for Big Orange, he went on to repeat the Princess Of Wales/Goodwood Cup double as a five-y ear-old and at age six, enjoyed his finest moment when victorious in the Gr1 Ascot Gold Cup.

Miss Orange, too, has shown plenty of stamina and captured the Listed Glenlair Trophy over 2800m earlier this year. Now a seven time winner, she stays in training this season.

the Birch fold.

May her daughter continue to flourish, both on the racetrack and eventually in the Vogel Vlei paddocks!

So the saga of Birch-bred Josey Wood has come full circle. Fate decreed that the Scotts would send her abroad, that Eleonora would return to South Africa and that she would eventually join Pauline Herman

Talented Duke Of Marmalade stayer Miss Orange

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Robin Scott & broodmare Markanawa (NZ) in the paddock at Scott Bros

A TRUE GENTLEMAN Robin Scott would surely have been among the favourites if a survey was conducted to establish the most well-liked industryman in South African racing and tributes poured in after his passing last week.

David Thiselton writes on www.goldcircle.co.za that trainer Doug Campbell was a close friend of the great owner-breeder and summed it up, “He was a real gentleman, there was never a person who had a

bad word to say about him, he was straight down the middle.”

Robin and Doug spent many an evening chin-wagging around the fireside on Campbell’s Richmond-based farm over Robin’s favourite triple, whisky and soda, and the dominant topic of conversation was always racing such was Robin’s passion for the sport and deep knowledge of breeding.

Lockdown was frustrating for Robin as his panoramic views on the Scott Brothers’

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Highdown Stud Farm in the KZN Midlands had by then been substituted by Durban rooftops.

Doug said, “Our fireside conversations were replaced by long phone-calls and he always started by asking, ‘Is Jock Scott having a whisky with you?’ (Jock is the name of Doug’s Scottish terrier).”

Doug trained a few horses for Scott Brothers over the years but none more memorable than the Only A Pound filly Sea Mint.

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Doug recalled, “Michaelhouse had been raising funds for their pending centenary in 1996 and Robin (typically generously) said he would donate a racehorse to a Michaelhouse Old Boys (MHSOB) syndicate which would be trained for free by a MHSOB and all of the stakes would go into the centenary fund. (Robin’s sons Russell and Stuart went to MHS).”

Doug was the trainer Robin had in mind.

Doug recalled being disappointed when he discovered the horse was by Only A Pound and not Jungle Cove (Scott Brothers’ five-time SA champion sire) and his first impressions of her were just as disappointing.

He said, “But Robin was such a good judge and he said to me ‘Don’t worry she will be alright.’”

MHSOB and Pietermartzburg Turf Club steward Bill Lambert hired a box for her debut and among the attendees was MHS board member Bill Dixon-Smith, brother of Robin’s beloved wife Joyce and a celebrated old boy due to his sporting and singing prowess, so there was a lot of pressure on Doug.

However, the little filly scooted in by 4.5 lengths with jockey Peter Dillon clad

in Lambert’s red-and-white hooped silks, the same colours as the Michaelhouse first team rugby jersey.

She went on to win three more races and finished a head second in a lucrative Listed event at Gosforth Park in Johannesburg, ironically behind the red-and-white silks-runner Fragrant Lady, who was owned by Michaelhouse Old Boy Mike Rattray.

Lambert was one of Robin’s longest standing close friends and said, “If you mentioned the name Scott it was immediately associated with everything that was good about racing.

The three Scott brothers Robin, Des and Neville were icons and bred and owned some great racehorses like the July winners Politician (bred by Scotts Brothers), Devon Air (owned by Scott Brothers and ran in Robin’s brother Des’s colours) and Illustrador (part-owned by Des). Robin was a steward at Clairwood for many years. His opinions were always highly regarded. His passing was untimely and very sad.”

The Lambert and Scott family association goes back to the 1950s when the former had a holiday cottage at Isipingo where the Scotts lived. Two other great KZN racing families, the Rowles’ and the Jonssons, were part of the regular Isipingo holiday

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gatherings.

Hall Of Fame jockey and now trainer Michael Roberts rode for Herman Brown Snr as an apprentice and the latter-trained a lot of Scott Brothers fillies.

Roberts thus paid many visits to Highdown and recalled admiring Jungle Cove and another good sire, Ambiopoise, and also recalled Robin and Joyce’s famous hospitality. Des Scott landed Roberts his first job in the UK by introducing him to trainer Gavin Hunter, so it was somewhat ironic that Highdown Stud’s greatest stallion, Foveros, was later bought out of the Newmarket UK yard of Clive Brittain, to whom Roberts was stable jockey.

Roberts recalled Robin and Joyce hosting himself and Clive Brittain when the latter came out to visit the eight-times SA Champion Sire and the couple had done the same when Lester Piggott and others came over to ride out here.

Roberts said, “Robin was one of the old school of much respected industrymen and is going to be sadly missed.

Scott Brothers hospitality was always great at the Sales and I also used to bump into Robin at the Newmarket Sales. He was always great fun and I always had a good

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Robin & Joyce Scott lead Bold West in laugh when seeing him.”

Robin kept a breeding interest after his recent retirement with a couple of mares at Bruce Le Roux’s Spring Valley Stud.

Le Roux said, “On his visits here when looking out from the verandah he would say, ‘This is what I miss, just watching the horses.’ He was as solid a rock, a true man of his word and he believed in KZN Breeders supporting each other. He always took an interest in the smaller farms.”

Tragically Robin passed away

a day or two short of the announcement of his niecein-law Belinda Scott to position of Chairperson of Gold Circle.

Belinda said, “The loss of Robin has left a huge void in the Scott family. He was our mentor, with his sage voice of reason and deep integrity.

He guided the family through difficult periods and provided comfort and support whenever it was needed. He was an incredible man whose vision and commitment to the thoroughbred horse racing industry in South Africa can not be measured. Personally I am deeply saddened that I was unable to share the news of my

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appointment as Chairman of the Gold Circle Board. I can only strive to carry out this important task with the decorum and dedication that would have been expected from Robin. It is a honour for me to continue the Scott legacy in his wake.”

A memorial was held for Robin in the Hollywoodbets Greyville parade ring on Saturday and it was clear during the moving tributes by his sons Russell and Stuart, with his daughters Genevieve and Nolwazi present, he was indeed a genuine gentleman and a great family man.

Brave Tin Soldier v

S to r m C at – B l e S S b y m r P r o S P e C to r

(USA)

Sold for US$3-million as a foal Stakes winning miler in UK & USa - timeform 115 at 2

Classic

Gr1

by Champion Sire & Sires-of-Sires

sire of

producing sire-of-sires

to the core

Rabada

StoRM Cat

won Gr1 Daily News 2000, Gr1 Premier’s Champion S.; sire - first crop will be yearlings

out of full sister to Kentucky Derby winner & G1 sire

bRave MaRy

FuSaiChi PeGaSuS

won Gr1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship

and grandam full sister to Preakness Stakes winner & Gr1 sire

RunninG bRave

won Gr2 Gold Bracelet (2x); 2nd Gr1 Empress Club S. (2x), 2nd Gr1 Summer Cup

Pine bluFF (by Danzig) R5.000 live foal Contact: Jill Fox

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072 289 8471 • nfo@thefortstud.co.za Property of The Fort Stud

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39 Design by Winning Media

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40 Duke Of Marmalade (Danehill – Love Me True) is showing promise as a broodmare sire

Chase Liebenberg

THE DUKE OF DRAKENSTEIN v

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Cartier Champion, and five time Gr1 winner, Duke Of Marmalade is well established as a prolific source of high-class fillies and mares.

The son of Danehill’s current tally of 46 stakes winners includes five Gr1 winning fillies, including reigning Equus Champion Rain In Holland, French Oaks winner Star Of Seville, and champion, and English classic winner, Simple Verse.

Not surprisingly, Duke Of Marmalade is now also showing considerable

promising as a broodmare sire.

Currently in the top 20 on the Leading Broodmare Sires in Ireland for 2021 (he ranks above the likes of such proven sires and broodmare sires Rahy, Indian Ridge, Fastnet Rock, and Montjeu), Duke Of Marmalade features as the damsire of two top-class three-year-olds this year.

Talented colt Lone Eagle, who is out of Duke Of Marmalade’s stakes winning daughter Modernstone, won four of eight starts before injury.

He captured the 2020 Gr3

Godolphin Flying Start Zetland Stakes and this year’s Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Cocked Hat Stakes and also ran second, to brilliant subsequent Gr1 Grand Prix de Paris/Gr1 St Leger winner Hurricane Lane, in the Gr1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby.

Duke Of Marmalade’s stakes winning daughter Alive Alive Oh ranks as the dam as the very talented filly Free Wind.

The latter has won four of six starts (she has lost just once thus far in 2021) including the Gr2 Hippo Pro3 Park Hill Godolphin

42 Lone Eagle & Hurricane Lane battle it out for the Irish Derby win

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Fillies’ Stakes and Gr3 Prix Minerve.

Both Lone Eagle and Free Wind were sired by Galileo – who also ranks as the sire of Duke Of Marmalade’s Gr1 Investec Derby winning half-brother Ruler Of The World and of Duke Of Marmalade’s very smart half-brothers Norway and Giovanni Canaletto.

Galileo also ranks as the broodmare sire of Duke Of Marmalade’s high-class daughters Seville Orange (Gr3 Track And Ball Oaks) and Venus De Milo (Gr3 Munster Oaks).

Other notable performers produced by daughters of Duke Of Marmalade thus far include Keep On Fly (Gr2 Derby Italiano), Chilean (Gr3 Prix La Force) and Lady Wannabe (Gr3 Darley Stakes). Italian classic winner Keep On Fly, who is out of Duke Of Marmalade’s Gr3 winning daughter So Many Shots, was sired by a triple Gr1 winning son of Galileo.

Duke Of Marmalade’s Gr1 Investec Derby winning half-brother Ruler Of The World has also been in the news of late -with his daughter La Petite Coco capturing both the G2

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Moyglare “Jewels” Blandford Stakes and G3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Give Thanks Stakes in 2021.

Given that Duke Of Marmalade’s sire Danehill is the broodmare sire of an astonishing 400 plus stakes winners, and his maternal grandsire Kingmambo is damsire of more than 150 black type winners, it is not surprising that Duke Of Marmalade promises to take high ranking as a broodmare sire in the years ahead.

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WHAT A WINTER FLYER TOPS VAAL SALE 46

Faeezah’s Princess sold for R160 000

JC Photos

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Guaquistador storms to victory under Craig Zackey 47

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Cape Thoroughbred Sales hosted a short-notice partnership dissolution sale of four horses in training after the final race at the Vaal on Thursday.

A total of R1 100 000 was grossed, with the very smart stakes winner Winter Smoke purchased by Fortune Racing for R600 000.

The results: Lot 1 Winter Smoke, a stakes winning 4yo daughter

of What A Winter – sold for R600 000 to Fortune Racing.

Lot 2 Faeezahs Princess, a 4yo recent debut winning daughter of Var – sold for R160 000 to Manie Pillay.

Lot 3 Maboneng, a 3yo one-time winning (from 3 starts) daughter of What A Winter – sold for R260 000 to World Sports Betting.

Lot 4 Pink Diamond, a lightly raced beautifully bred daughter of Flower Alley – sold for

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R80 000 to M Pandaram.

The next big sale is the CTS Ready To Run and Unbroken Two-Year-Old Sale on Sunday 31 October at Kenilworth.

Design by Winning Media

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Pauline Herman

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Greg Cheyne drives Whatever Next up the outside to win a thriller The Alan Greeff-trained Whatever Next proved why he is at the top of the 2021 De Grendel Ready To Run Stakes log, with a superb win in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1100m on the Polytrack at Fairview on Monday.

Greeff and jockey Greg Cheyne indicated that this was an essential preparation run for the big race, and Greeff said: “We were happy to find this race for him. He will only improve having been gelded recently, so we are very excited about him.”

Whatever Next, in his first run as a gelding and as a three-year-old, flew up from the back of a quality field to win his fourth race from only six starts, and will be high up on bookmakers’ boards when they open the betting for the R900 000 Ready To Run race to be staged over 1400m at Kenilworth on Saturday, 30 October.

Added Cheyne: “I was worried about the conditions today, the howling wind and that he was facing a field of this calibre in his first run as a three-year-old. But Whatever Next is good, the best young horse in the yard, and this was a win with a lot of merit!”

Whatever Next is owned by Greeff and wife Glennifer

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alongside Anthony Williams, who said: “I am blessed to be involved in a horse like this.”

Whatever Next, by What A Winter from Petala, by Captain Al, was a R100 000 purchase for the partnership at the 2020 CTS Ready To Run and Unbroken-Two-YearOld Sale, and he has already doubled his price in stake earnings.

The 2021 renewal of the sale takes place on Sunday, 31 October, at Kenilworth, and will follow the R2R Gallops on Friday, 29 October, and the race on Saturday.

Click here to view the log.

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52 The picturesque Hadlow Stud in Mooi River, KZN

Candiese Lenferna

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Situated in the prime horse territory of Mooi River in KwaZulu-Natal, Cathy and Jonathan Martin’s Hadlow Stud has been a quality nursery over many years.

“He has the most incredible temperament. That, along with his outstanding pedigree made it a no brainer for his owners to send him to stud,” says lifetime horsewoman Cathy Martin.

Joining The Apache - owned

by Winston Chow and the late Robin Scott - is the beautifully-bred Summa Cum Laude. The handsome horse is the first son of Vercingetorix (Silvano) to stand at stud. Out of broodmare First Arrival – the dam of two Equus Award winners – he has let down very well since his days in training and is taking his new job in his stride.

“He spends all day in his paddock, living his best life and just being a horse. He is also lunged a few times a week to maintain his fitness for the season,” she says.

says with pride.

He is a three-part brother to Wendy Whitehead’s star filly Keep On Dancing, a seven-time winner including the Gr2 Track And Ball Oaks and Listed Off To Stud Stakes.

As a young stallion, Cathy says she expects him to mature into an even more imposing horse as time goes on.

To add to his siblings is the Gr1 winning daughter of Jet Master, who was exported, In The Fast Lane. Another export, Light The Lights is a Gr2 winner in South Africa who went on to win multiple times in Dubai.

“His female line is probably one of the best in South Africa,” she

The family includes siblings like Gr1 placed Pack Leader Cathy Martin

54 Summa Cum Laude (Vercingetorix) is ready for the season ahead

Cathy Martin

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Summa Cum Laude (Vercingetorix) playing in the paddock & living his best life (Philanthropist), Lets Rock ‘N Roll and Beat Patrol, both by Muhtafal.

First Arrival, by Northern Guest, deserves a Broodmare Of The Year accolade. She is the dam of twelve foals, two Equus Award winners and seven are Black Type with multiple Group wins between them.

She was no slouch herself at the track. Born in 1996, she was Spey Bridge Champion 3YO Filly in 1999 with six wins in Zimbabwe.

“We are delighted with the quality of mares that he is getting in what can only be described as trying times in the breeding paddocks with

the diminishing herd numbers.

“One of the mares he will be covering is the full sister to African Night Sky, which we are very excited about,” enthuses Cathy.

“Our goal will be to send his progeny through the sales ring.

If they look anything like him, we have no doubt they will be very well received.

“We certainly hope his progeny perform to the standard that we’re expecting. He would be a huge asset to KZN as a stallion in the future and reward those who are supporting him now,” she concludes.

Unraced stallions to make their mark in South Africa include his

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own broodmare sire, Champion Sire and Champion Broodmare Sire Northern Guest, as well as Mogok – the latter who produced two international Gr winners in America and Gr2 winners in Dubai, and Stakes winners in just about every crop he produced.

Don’t hesitate to contact Cathy Martin to enquire about a booking – cathym@futurenet.co.za

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JUST DESSERTS! Clafoutis is a fruity dessert made in France, and Mary Slack would have had this is mind when giving the name to a nice bay filly by Flower Alley and Berry Blaze, raised at her Wilgerbosfdrift Farm. Clafoutis was impressive winning her Maiden over 1450m at Turffontein on Saturday. Mike de Kock commented: “She’s a well-bred filly, a full-sister to Justin Snaith’s Listed winning stayer Bayberry. Her dam is a daughter of Danehill Dancer who was talented, though a bit disappointing on the racetrack but her progeny is doing her proud. This was a minimum trip for Clafoutis. I expect her to come into her own over the classic trips and she’s progressive in her work so she’s definitely one for the notebook. There is a lot of scope in her pedigree.”

SIZE ‘EM UP The first group race of the new Hong Kong Season will be run at Sha Tin on Sunday. The Gr3 Celebration Cup Handicap will be run over 1400m and Champion’s Way could be the one to follow. “He’s been a good work horse, he does his job, he doesn’t win many races nowadays but if he’s in a good mood he runs well and gets some prize money,” trainer John Size said. A seven-time winner in Hong Kong, Champion’s Way boasts the 2021 Gr3 Chinese Club Challenge Cup Handicap on his cv.

FEE JOINS KUDA Kuda announced earlier this week that they have welcomed popular Tellytrack on-course presenter Fiona Ramsden to the Kuda Brand Ambassador team. Fiona, affectionately known as Fee, is based on the West Coast and will be focussing her efforts on the promotion of Sport Horse, Bloodstock & Household & Vehicle Insurance.

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CALLAN BREAKS ICE South Australia’s Oakbank racecourse is a significant place for many, and that list will now include South African-born rider Callan Murray who rode his first winner since relocating to Adelaide at the venue today. Murray, 24, had endured three second placings in recent weeks but it was the Ryan Balfour-trained Kungka Man who delivered his elusive victory. “I must just say a huge thanks to Ryan and his team for keeping me on this filly, he’s given me a lot of support and I am very grateful for it,” Murray said post-race.

US EYES BRITISH BOOKIES

Shares in Entain, the owner of Ladbrokes and Coral, surged on Tuesday following reports that major US gambling operator DraftKings was set to make a $20 billion (approx £14.65bn) bid for the company. Entain subsequently confirmed it had received contact from DraftKings, although no sum was mentioned.

SHARE THE CAKE The imbalances and domination of the busy top jockeys has been addressed by the British Horseracing Authority.

Following their successful introduction in Ireland, the 2022 British fixture list also includes a small number of ‘rider restricted fixtures’ to facilitate the slight extension of breaks for the busiest jockeys in March & November (Flat), and August (Jump). On the Flat, this will involve these fixtures being confined to riders who rode 30 winners or fewer in the previous calendar year, plus all Apprentices and Claiming professionals. Over Jumps, the fixtures will be confined to riders who rode 20 winners or fewer in the previous calendar year, plus all Conditionals and Claiming professionals.

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Design by Winning Media

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Candiese Lenferna

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GOLD ENSIGN RIDE EXPLAINED

The KZN Stipendiary Board called jockey Anton Marcus in after the multiple champion jockey was beaten into second on the favourite Gold Ensign in the first race at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.

A 4yo making his debut, Gold Ensign was backed from 5-1 to 28-10 and was beaten 0,60 lengths by Michael Roberts’ first-timer One Too Many (13-2).

The official report states that Marcus appeared before the Board and was questioned regarding his ride on Gold Ensign.

Prior to the questioning, the Board explained to Jockey A Marcus that it accepted that Gold Ensign was hanging in from the 800m, this gelding showed a significant tendency to hang in between the 350m and 200m and that these factors had affected Jockey A Marcus’ ride.

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Click here to watch the race.

The Board rather drew Mr Marcus’ attention to the fact that after he drew his crop at the 150m and changed his hold, this appeared to assist Gold Ensign , to straighten, balance and guide this gelding to the finish.

Accordingly, the question was put to Mr Marcus whether it would not have been more appropriate to have changed his hold and used his crop as

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a guide from an earlier stage of the concluding stages.

In this regard, Jockey A Marcus explained to the Board that, Gold Ensign was outpaced and had shown a tendency to hang in from an early stage.

Consequently, he had attempted to strike the balance between keeping his mount on a straight course and not causing interference and giving this gelding every opportunity to finish its race off strongly.

However, entering the concluding stages, due to this gelding’s racing manners, he elected not to change his hold and draw his crop but rather keep the horse balanced with the hands into the final stages of the race, as he was of the view that Gold Ensign could hang in at any point, which was evidenced by the fact that as soon as there was a minor release of pressure on this gelding’s reins at the 300m when he attempted to change his hold and draw his crop, this gelding lugged in and became severely unbalanced.

This unbalancing resulted in him having to first re-balance and straighten Gold Ensign prior to him again attempting, on that occasion successfully, to change his hold and draw his crop in order to use it to guide this gelding to the finish. The Board noted the

explanation of Jockey A Marcus and will monitor the racing manners of Gold Ensign.

After the running of the seventh race, Apprentice Thabiso Gumede, rider of Winter Flight, appeared before the Board, was shown the patrol films of the race and was questioned regarding in particular, his decision to allow his horse to drift out between the 400m and 200m.

In this regard, the only explanation Apprentice Gumede could offer was that this gelding had drifted faster and further than he had anticipated.

The Board noted the explanation of Apprentice Gumede, however reminded him of his obligation to keep his mounts on a straight course and not to unnecessarily concede ground in the running.

This matter was referred to the

Jockeys Academy and the Board has requested feedback from the Riding Master prior to the commencement of the next race meeting.

After winning the final race of the day, Jockey Ashton Arries signed an admission of guilt for a contravention of Rule 58.10.2, read in conjunction with Guideline M, in that he misused his crop by striking the horse Banzai Pipeline more than 12 times in the entire race.

In assessing penalty, the Board considered the number of times (17) Jockey A Arries struck the horse Banzai Pipeline, the distance over which and manner in which he used his crop, the fact that he won the race and his record (2) in relation to this Rule.

Accordingly, a penalty of a fine of R2500 was imposed.

Candiese Lenferna

Thabiso Gumede – no explanation

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The Sporting Post is proud to partner with BUSH to bring you the cream of this season’s foal crop – our future stars.

FUTURE STARS – THE LAUNCHING PAD

Outstanding prizes will be offered every month to readers, who will be asked to select the foal of the month.

Breeders are invited to email their foal images to editor@ sportingpost.co.za and provide the date of birth, sec, breeding and any family or background information.

Our first foal comes from Blue Sky Thoroughbreds in Mooi River. The powerful Willow Magic filly out of Captain Al mare Cinnamon Spice was born on 3 August 2021.

Next up are three foals that hail from Avontuur Estate on the Stellenbosch Wine Route. First, an Oratorio colt out of Var mare Kitco, this impressive foal was born on 4 September 2021 and is a half-brother to Pray For Rain.

Avontuur Estate (c) Oratorio x Kitco – born 4 September

The next flashy colt is also by Oratorio out of the Captain Al mare Esteemal born on 5 September 2021. This is the mare's first foal, and she has not disappointed.

Lastly, we have the full sister to Tempting Fate, who was born on 3 September 2021.

This Master Of My Fate filly out of Gr3 winning mare Miss October is all class, an exciting one to follow in the future!

Avontuur Estate (c) Oratorio x Esteemal – born 5 September

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Candiese Lenferna

Blue Sky Thoroughbreds (f) Willow Magic x Cinnamon Spice – born 3 August

Avontuur Estate (f) Master Of My Fate x Miss October – born 3 September

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CBD FOR YOUR HORSE? v

YAY OR NEIGH?

It’s no secret that the Cannabidiol (CBD) Industry has taken leaps and bounds in recent years – It’s in the pharmacies, in your grocery stores and it’s suddenly considered way more than just another alternative means of healing.

Dacha’s Shannon Smith writes that many people have turned to CBD to cure their anxiety, depression, pain, insomnia and much more.

With the understanding of what CBD is and can do, people have turned the science into an art to change not only their lives, but also those nearest and dearest to them. Usually, these dearest are their pets.

First, let’s give you an idea of why CBD is so effective. Did you know that all mammals have a system inside their bodies that act as natural receptors to CBD? This is called an endocannabinoid system.

This acts as our body’s

regulatory system to maintain a state of homeostasis – IE, balance, within the body. We have this system, dogs have it, horses have it… Do you see where I’m getting at here?

I know what you’re thinking: “You can’t give your horse CBD, because it will show up on their tests.”

It’s important to take note here that CBD is quite different from THC. Although derived from the same plant, the process is different. If you are using a CBD isolate, you will only find CBD in here, whereas a full‐ spectrum CBD will have other elements of the cannabinoid plant as well, including trace elements of THC. Your solutions, simply put, could be using the CBD isolate for your horse, weaning prior a race.

But why? You may not have thought of using CBD for anything relating to you or your horse, and that’s completely okay. Although there are more case studies and testimonials from humans, there have also been many success stories

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around people using CBD for their horses to relieve anxiety, major skin irritations, and in some cases – even slowing the growth of fatal tumors, adding years onto the horses life.

With zero negative side affects recorded so far, it’s no wonder there have been so many queries coming our way to investigate the production of CBD products within the equine field.

For us, we understand that there is still some research to be done on this, but this does not negate the numerous benefits that have been shown and that can still continue to benefit the equestrian community, and we’re feeling positive of what impact this can have.

We’d like to get your feedback – connect with us at info@dachacorp.com to tell us if you’ve used CBD, and how it’s helped you and your four-legged friends.

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Muis Roberts and Sentinel

THE IRON HORSE Dubbed ‘The Iron Horse’ because of his tough and enduring character, Sentinel’s statistics tell the story of resilience, bravery and versatility.

Racing from two to seven years of age between 1971 and 1975, he travelled throughout South Africa and won at eight different racecourses from 1000m to 1600m.

A son of the US-bred No Reprieve (Court Martial), Sentinel was born in 1968.

Bred and raced by the Ellis family of Hartford Stud and trained by Joe Joseph, he was out of Winters Eve (Wilwyn). Sentinel raced from 2 to 6 years of age (1971-1975) and won 29 races and placed in 18 of his 56 starts and earned R207 990.

He won 26 stakes races and

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placed in another 17. This is a record which still stands today.

Ed – if you have an old black and white or colour image with a short story attached to it, please email it to us on editor@sportingpost.co.za for consideration for publication.

- Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden

n Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies -

Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies

Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golden Oldies - Golde

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European Champion GHAIYYATH has a half-brother by KINGMAN in this year's catalogue

EUROPE’S PREMIER YEARLING SALE

The catalogue for Book 1 of the 2021 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, which takes place Tuesday 5 to Thursday 7 October, is online and can be viewed at www.tattersalls.com.

Europe’s premier yearling sale numbers 502 lots, all of which are eligible for the lucrative £20,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus scheme which has

paid out more than £6,000,000 in bonus prize money to 243 individual winners since its inception in 2016.

The flagship Tattersalls yea zrling sale has attracted a truly outstanding collection of the finest yearlings to be found anywhere in the world, including 20 yearlings by DUBAWI, 24 by FRANKEL, 43

by KINGMAN, 44 by LOPE DE VEGA, 34 by SEA THE STARS

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and 14 by the late twelve-time European Champion sire GALILEO. In addition, the catalogue features own or half-brothers and sisters to a remarkable 47 Classic and Group 1 winners and 248 Group/ Listed winners.

TAT T E R S A L L S O C T O B E R Y E A R L I N G S A L E , B O O K 1

U N R I VA L L E D S U C C E S S v

Highest Rated Horse in the World 2021 ST MARK’S BASILICA

purchased at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale

TAT T E R S A L L S O C T O B E R YEARLING SALE Book 1 October 5 – 7 featuring the £20,000 Tattersalls October Book 1 Bonus CATALOGUE ONLINE

Jeremy Nelson T: +2783 2617953

73jeremy.nelson@tattersalls.com www.tattersalls.com

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FOR GROOMS! v

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE – MONDAY, 13TH SEPTEMBER 2021

Race 1 - Lindelani Sigenu - TALES OF US

Race 2 - Lwandile Mbola - BEND THE RULES

Race 3 - Thulasizwe Jack - HATTA

Race 4 - Sanele Cwele - TUPELO HONEY

Race 5 - Alungile Matiwana - MAGICAL MIDLANDS

Race 6 - Thandile Thungela - PATRONAGE

Race 7 - Luvuyo Gwija - NOT NOW PUSSYCAT

Race 8 - Tinashe Nasho - FREEDOM DANCER

HOLLYWOODBETS GREYVILLE – WEDNESDAY, 15TH SEPTEMBER 2021

Race 1 - Boy Zimande - KINGSMEADS KRYSTL

Race 2 - Aseza Dolo - NOBLE NOVA

Race 3 - Lindokwhle Mkhize - MAGIC IN MOTION

Race 4 - Amanda Mlindi - MIDNIGHT CALLER

Race 5 - Siphiwe Feni - KEEP THE LIGHTS ON

Race 6 - Wiseman Sigwebela - MARIA COROLINA

Race 7 - Thato Makaba - GENTLEMAN'S WAGER

Race 8 - Simphiwe Ngwendu - RISE

HOLLYWOODBETS SCOTTSVILLE – SUNDAY, 19TH SEPTEMBER 2021

Race 1 - Sinazo Langa - ONE TOO MANY

Race 2 - Thabani Mfokeng - DEPUTY MARSHALL

Race 3 - Mandla Sdumo - SIKHULU

Race 4 - Mzimase Ndlanzi - CAPE EAGLE

Race 5 - Fumanekile Mfenqe - NATIONAL UNITY

Race 6 - Nicholas Jali - CAPTAIN ARIANO

Race 7 - Bongani Mfingo - PRINCEKRESH

Race 8 - Patrick Mawosana - BANZAI PIPELINE

&

GROOMS’ INITIATIVE 75

As an added investment into the amazing sport of horse racing Hollywoodbets & Gold Circle award R1 000 to each winning groom Photo Credit: Candiese Lenferna

HOLLYWOOD SPORTSBOOK IS A LICENSED BETTING OPERATOR. HOLLYWOODBETS SUPPORTS RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING. NO PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 YEARS ARE PERMITTED TO GAMBLE. WINNERS KNOW WHEN TO STOP. SOUTH AFRICAN RESPONSIBLE GAMBLING FOUNDATION TOLLFREE COUNSELLING

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Tomas Mejia has been banned for ten years & fined $5000 for using an electrical shocking device

SHOCKING! TEN YEARS FOR JOCK A jockey has been banned for ten years and fined $5000 for using an electrical shocking device punters spotted in a quickly deleted photo.

Panamanian Tomas Mejia had a winner at Monmouth Park New Jersey rescinded after stewards were alerted to an image that appeared to

show two prongs sticking out of the rider’s left hand.

returning from injury in July.

The prongs, spotted by eagle-eyed punters, looked like they were part of a battery or electrical shocking device.

Having already racked up 110 wins to his name in the US, he beat 4-5 favourite Mumbai by a neck in the seventh race on the card.

The photo had been posted on Monmouth Park’s official Facebook page to mark Mejia riding his first winner since

The 23-year-old was promptly stood down from all his remaining rides and an investigation was opened the

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following day.

On September 15, the probe concluded: “Upon entering the winners’ circle and prior to dismounting from the horse Strongerthanuknow on September 10, 2021, Tomas Mejia was in possession of a prohibited electrical device.”

Stewards also recommended that Mejia’s jockey licence be permanently revoked.

“In addition to the penalty issued herein, the Board of Stewards refers this matter to the New Jersey Racing Commission and recommends the permanent revocation of Mr Mejia’s New Jersey Racing Commission licence.”

The ruling however, did not address whether Strongerthanuknow had been disqualified from his narrow win in the race, that took place over five furlongs on turf.

Mejia, who has been racing in the US since 2018, is now banned until September 2031 and he is barred from all grounds under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Racing Commission.

A ten-year ban is one of the biggest to be ever dished out in horse racing, although it matches that of top Australian rider Jason Waddell. The 35-year-old was also banned for a decade after he made a threatening phone call to a

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racing official, and posted an insulting message on social media.

Batteries or shocking devices, often known as ‘jiggers’, deliver jolts to horses to make them run faster.

Their use has been the subject of much controversy in the past, especially in the Australian racing industry, where they were eventually curbed during race meets once stewards vision of races improved with the introduction of video surveillance.

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LIM’S LIGHTNING STRIKES v

Trainer Daniel Meagher was a highly emotional man after stable star and hot favourite Lim’s Lightning handed him a second Gr1 hurrah in his father John’s favourite Singapore race, the SG$300,000 Gr1 Raffles Cup run over 1600m at Kranji on Saturday.

Meagher was then the Australian Racing Hall of Fame trainer’s senior track rider when Mayo’s Music (2004), Lim’s Classic (2006) and Lim’s Objective (2007)

claimed the then 1800m Kranji feature.

As a trainer in his own right when he returned to Kranji in 2016 (the Meagher clan upped sticks in 2011 after a successful 13-year-old Singapore stint to return to Australia), Meagher enjoyed his first Group 1 success with the same Lim’s Lightning earlier in the year in the Lion City Cup (1200m), but to join his father on the Raffles Cup honour roll had this extra sentimental value.

“It means a lot to win this race. It’s my Dad’s favourite race on the calendar, and yesterday was also his 73rd birthday,” said Meagher who himself was unwrapping a late birthday present after turning 38 on Tuesday.

“He just called me to congratulate me. On returning to scale, Danny (Beasley) told me ‘this is for Johnny!’.

“A big shout-out to Danny, my best mate, my staff, Fahmy who rides him every day and STC

79 Lim’s Lightning (Danny Beasley) runs his rivals ragged in the Gr1 Raffles Cup on Saturday

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all my boys.

Meagher.

“I also want to thank (owner) Mr Lim (Siah Mong), who has been the best supporter of mine and the family in the last 20 years or so.

“Today, there could be a lot of speed or none. We don’t give Danny any instructions, he knows the horse and just lets him find the best position.

“He didn’t hesitate to re-establish the partnership when I came back. Mind you, he didn’t serve it on a silver platter; I had to prove myself.

“I thought there’d be a few leaders in the race to be honest, but he landed in front and I could see Mr Malek parked on his outside at the 900m was struggling to keep up.

“We don’t have just an owner-trainer relationship.

He’s more like a father figure, he’s a gentleman in the normal world and a gentleman of racing.

“The Singapore Turf Club is lucky to have an owner who has invested so much in our racing like Mr Lim, and I’m also lucky to train for him.”

Without a doubt, the most heartfelt gratitude is directed to the horse himself, the Lope De Vega six-year-old the knockers doubted could return from a half-baked midcareer switch in Australia (only one win at Werribee in eight starts) to an even higher level than the juvenile heights he reached three seasons back.

“He just keeps stepping up and gets better and better. He came with a lot of problems, but we’ve kept him happy with a routine and we’ve sorted him out,” said

“He made his own luck in front and in the straight, he just kept rolling. There’s no limit to what he can do, it seems.

“We’ll go to the QEII Cup now.

We just never know for the Gold Cup, we’ll see.”

The 1800m of the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup to be held on October 16 will be the furthest Lim’s Lightning will ever tackle, therefore the 2000m of the Group 1 Singapore Gold Cup on November 14 is at this juncture a bridge they will only cross when they reach it, but confidence is still flying high in the camp after that 3 ¾-length rout where a blinkered and reinvigorated Top Knight (Louis-Philippe Beuzelin) showed vast improvement to head a Michael Clements trio in the battle for the minors.

Better was expected from Big Hearted (Simon Kok Wei

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Hoong) but the 2020 Singapore Gold Cup winner was incapable of taking any ground off Lim’s Lightning in third place another two lengths away, 1 ¾ lengths clear of stablemate Prosperous Return (Hakim Kamaruddin). The winning time was 1min 34.18secs for the 1600m on the Short Course.

Beasley for one couldn’t wait for the QEII Cup, a race he won by default in 2009 on Cheyenne Dancer (second past the post) after the sashed winner, Big Maverick, was stripped of the title following a positive swab weeks later.

“He was full of running when he won today and was the last to pull up. He’s a very willing animal, and I’m confident he’ll run the QEII Cup trip at his next race,” said the Australian jockey who was capturing his second Raffles Cup after War Affair for trainer Alwin Tan in 2014.

“I was also always confident going into today’s race, especially after his barrier trial last Thursday. I thought to myself it didn’t matter how I ride him, he’d still do the right thing.

“The key to this horse is to ride him wherever he is comfortable, but because he’s such a big boy who doesn’t like to be pulled or pushed

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around, I just held on to him to keep him balanced.

“He has such a massive stride that today I was mindful to use that to my advantage, and try and rate him the best I could.

“I could see Oscar (Chavez, Elite Incredible), (Mohd) Zaki (Ocean Crossing) on my inside and CC (Wong Chin Chuen, Mr Malek) on the outside looking to go forward, but my horse was going so easy that I could take the lead anytime.

“I thought if I wanted to lead, today was my best opportunity to do so, and take the race by the scruff of the

neck, so to speak. At the 600m, I had such a supreme confidence that I thought for those back in the field, they’d have to run flying sectionals to catch me.

“It was a fantastic win, and looking back, it’s been quite an amazing journey. Every race from the start has been work in progress, but he’s become easier to ride with every run.

“Credit to the whole team, both Fahmy and CS Chin (Chee Seng) who ride him in his work.

I’m only the pilot at the trials and on raceday.

“The horse has really come a long way. Today was the first time he just relaxed perfectly,

he was such a terror and a nightmare when he first arrived, but he has settled down as he’s gone through his racing.”

A parallel of sorts can be drawn with Beasley’s own riding career that was halted off his own bat to reskill himself as assistanttrainer to Meagher in 2017, but which was resurrected earlier this year given the exceptional conditions whereby the world lives under the yoke of a pandemic these days. Just like Lim’s Lightning, it’s been a fairytale comeback right from the day he donned his breeches back.

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81 Trainer Daniel Meagher, jockey Danny Beasley and staff celebrate Lim’s Lightning’s second Gr1 hurrah

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Not only Beasley won a Group 1 race in the Lion City Cup barely a couple of months into his return from oblivion, but he also tops the senior jockeys’ log, albeit second overall to Hakim who has pushed a little further ahead again with three winners (Brutus, Sacred Judgement and Reignite) versus Beasley’s double (he won aboard Everest earlier).

The gap has now stretched to 10 winners – the boom apprentice jockey sitting atop on 49 winners with Beasley on 39 winners.

“A friend of mine just called

me to congratulate me. We spoke how at the start of the year, I had no expectations, but today, I’ve got two feature races on the board,” said the Golden Slipper-winning jockey (Polar Success in 2003).

“It feels surreal, but at the same time humbling. I have to thank Dan and the owners, especially Mr Lim, for their support, and the Singapore Turf Club for giving me a new licence, I really appreciate what they’ve done to me.

“And of course, this win is special for one man, Johnny.

We wanted to win that race for

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him and it’s also a birthday present for him and Dan.” With that ninth win from 16 local starts along with four placings, Lim’s Lightning has now amassed close to SG$1.1 million in stakes earnings for the Lim’s Stable.

South African star Katak was expected to improve at his second start at Kranji, but again failed to fire and finished 11,60 lengths off the winner.

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HKJC

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MILLARD’S PATIENCE PAYS OFF 84

Tony Millard – worth following C P Brave

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Progressive four-year-old C P Brave rewarded Tony Millard’s patience at Sha Tin on Sunday, surging home after a moment of uncertainty in the straight to take out the Class Two Woodpecker Handicap in convincing fashion.

Tony Millard, who was marking his third winner of the new season, told the Sporting Post that CP Brave arrived in Hong Kong quite late last season and typically took a bit of time to acclimatise.

“However he showed us from the beginning that he was above average. He looks a

progressive type and an exciting prospect when we step him up in trip. He could be anything but going to take it just one step at a time,” said the South African conditioner.

The South China Morning Post reports that after meeting nothing but backsides late aboard another hot favourite Leap Of Faith earlier in the card, jockey Joao Moreira must have thought history was repeating as he searched for a run 400m from home aboard C P Brave.

But the gap appeared up the inside of leader Highland Fortune for the day’s bestbacked runner and he powered

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home to ring up his first Hong Kong victory at start four.

“Good horses, they win – I couldn’t be happier,” Millard said. “He’s a nice horse, we could have run him at the end of last season but he just wasn’t doing well enough and the heat had got to him.

“So we just backed off, sometimes you’ve got to do the right thing and that was the right thing to do at the time. It was very nice and Joao is very happy with this horse.”

After beginning his Hong Kong career off a mark of 76 following two wins from four

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starts in Britain, C P Brave worked his way into Class Two on the back of two close placings and carried just 116 pounds from the inside gate.

“He’s certainly come along well and I think he can improve – he’s going to need to improve because in Class Two there’s some pretty good

horses and he got all the advantages because he had the draw and the weight. But a win is a win and we’ve got to enjoy it and move forward,” Millard said, suggesting he will endeavour to step his charge up in trip in time.

Moreira, who positioned C P Brave in the box seat from

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barrier one in his first run of the season, was impressed with the feeling he got in his first ride aboard the galloper.

Hong Kong racing continued at Happy Valley today.

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New Market Racecourse

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TO NEWMARKET ON SATURDAY! v

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Saturday at Newmarket sees the running of the bet365 Cambridgeshire Heritage Handicap. Run on the Rowley mile course, the race always attracts a huge field for the £61 848 first prize.

This year is no exception with 70 still in contention at the five-day acceptance stage. A maximum field of 35 can compete in this famous nine-furlong event down the long straight.

When trying to find the winner of Newmarket’s Autumn handicap it is always a good idea to consider an improving three-year-old from the Gosden stable and in Uncle Bryn all the signs are there of a horse laid out for Saturday’s contest. The champion trainer has claimed this contest twice in the last three years with representatives from the Classic generation, Wissahickon (2018) and Lord North (2019).

The current ante-post favourite is a lightly raced son of Sea The Stars. He was fancied in some quarters for the Derby when sent off a single figure price for the Gr2 Dante at York but wasn’t seen on a racecourse again until early this month when winning with a bit in hand at Ascot over a mile. That was his first run after a gelding

operation and Frankie Dettori was in the saddle. The Gosden’s have nominated a further three potential stablemates, all with realistic chances – the four-year-olds Al Rufaa and Magical Morning as well as another unexposed three-year-old, Poet Of Life.

Poet Of Life, by Frankel, was

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a very easy winner of two of his first three starts on soft ground over 2000m at Newbury and Doncaster respectively, before disappointing slightly last time out on firm ground. If he runs off the allotted eight and a half stone and gets soft ground, he could be the “dark horse” –

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Anmaat is currently the second favourite after winning his last two starts for Owen Burrows – while Astro King for Sir Michael Stoute with Ryan Moore aboard and Irish Admiral for top Newmarket yard William Haggas will have their supporters.

quickened readily to get the better of the previously unbeaten Faisal at Doncaster was impressive, and that change of gear will stand him in good stead on Saturday.

A four-pound penalty is acceptable, he handles any ground and crucially has more to offer. A realistic chance in this large field.

Anmaat, by Awtaad for the Shadwell operation, is another unexposed threeyear-old. He raced once as a juvenile late last year for a placing, but after opening his account at the second attempt at Lingfield in May the gelding has been on an upward curve. He’s won his last two, at Bath and Doncaster, off marks of 86 and 94. The way he

The Keith Dalgleish-trained handicapper Chichester has been all the rage since trotting up by six and a half lengths at Ayr last Thursday. That victory earned the four-year-old a 12lb rise in the ratings, yet he will carry just a 4lb penalty on Saturday. He opened 66/1 in places, but after his easy win, has been shortened to 10/1!

The 4-year-old by Dansili raids Newmarket from up north in

currently at odds of 16/1.

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Lanarkshire near Glasgow.

Paddy Power reported a significant move for Chichester and the firm's spokesman Paul Binfield said: “We’ve seen support for Chichester at a massive 66-1 and then at 33-1 after he got the penalty for hacking up at Ayr, which definitely gets him into the field now.

"It’s easy to see why punters are getting stuck into him as he’s a 'handicap good thing' being 9lb well in and he’s likely to be challenging for second favouritism very soon.”

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results up to: 2021-09-21

TRAINERS Name Mr S J Snaith Mr P A Peter Mr G D Smith Mr A C Greeff Mr S G Tarry

Runs 182 131 185 143 88

Wins Win% 25 24 28 20 20

13.7 18.3 15.1 14.0 22.7

2nd

3rd

21 18 21 15 8

27 21 18 18 7

2nd

3rd

36 29 32 11 13

40 31 28 11 20

Other Places Place %

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

42.9 44.3 40.5 42.0 27.3

1,010,900 1,033,500 1,096,875 821,875 889,500

1,595,325 1,580,000 1,557,250 1,185,313 1,122,875

Other Places Place %

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

2,645,500 1,735,200 1,455,000 1,428,000 1,000,425

3,630,750 2,609,075 2,416,750 1,826,625 1,475,838

30 19 36 27 9

78 58 75 60 24

JOCKEYS Name Mr W B Kennedy Mr S Khumalo Mr M A Yeni Mr L Hewitson Mr C Zackey

Rides Wins Win% 279 202 237 90 146

57 38 31 29 25

20.4 18.8 13.1 32.2 17.1

46 122 37 97 46 106 10 32 25 58

43.7 48.0 44.7 35.6 39.7

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

Name

Klawervlei Stud 192 Wilgerbosdri� & Mauritzfontein 140 66 Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd 57 Ridgemont Highlands 68 Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)

303 230 109 93 116

12,169 16,169 17,326 18,269 15,086

31 30 15 15 14

34 31 18 18 16

16.1 21.4 22.7 26.3 20.6

112 102 49 38 47

1 1 0 0 0

1 1 0 0 0

2,336,425 2,263,600 1,143,525 1,041,338 1,025,875

B.T. Wins

Total Stakes (R)

1 1 1 0 0

1,517,375 1,339,775 1,178,375 1,168,375 1,165,150

SIRES Name

Runrs Runs AEPR

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

Master Of My Fate Vercingetorix * Silvano (GER) Twice Over (GB) Querari (GER)

99 71 83 87 91

18 20 18 15 16

164 110 124 131 147

15,327 18,870 14,197 13,430 12,804

20 22 18 18 17

18.2 28.2 21.7 17.2 17.6

79 45 53 51 53

See all the detailed standings - Click here 93

1 1 1 0 0

LONDON BRIDGE IS FALLING DOWN… v

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Chelsea title's challenge is beginning to look incredibly difficult to stop, but there won't be too many more significant tests than entertaining Manchester City at the Bridge.

London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down… ok well not really!

Although I suppose still relevant given the author was said to have written the song referring to a medieval mode of punishment known as immurement.

Ryan Liberty writes that immurement effectively was the act of encasing people into areas with no openings or exits and left to die… enter Thomas Tuchel's defence.

Chelsea vs Manchester City | Saturday 25 September | Stamford Bridge | 13:30 To Win (90 mins) Chelsea 33/20 Draw 31/10 Manchester City 17/10 Chelsea At the risk of sounding like a bit of a stuck record or unimaginative describer of the brilliance that is Thomas Tuchel, all I'll say is "wow"! The German mas-

ter has come into the Premier League and completely stamped his authority. To suggest that the control and quality Chelsea exude is isolated to playing away from home is ignorant and horribly shortsighted.

Their defensive solidity and lethal and bold attack - all coupled with exciting and experienced depth on the bench - could be the recipe to them once again mounting a Premier League challenge.

Chelsea made five wholesale changes to their starting eleven against Tottenham, and yet the system and shape were everything we have come to expect from this Tuchel Chelsea. The luxury of bringing on a player like N'Golo Kante – a player best known for his defensive attributes and hardworking ethic – to change the poignancy with which the side was attacking is just absolute poetry.

Chelsea didn't look like they could be outdone even when they're not playing well or things go wrong – as it did when Reece James was shown a red card at Anfield. However, for the first 30 odd minutes at Tottenham on Sunday, Chelsea was put under severe pressure, and yet again, the Spurs weren't given a clear cut opportunity to score.

Only five games into the season, but Chelsea have

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travelled to the Emirates, Anfield and the Tottenham Stadium, coming away with seven points. They did, however, drop points against Liverpool, but that doesn't tell the whole story. Playing the entire second half with ten men against one of the best attacks in Europe in one of the most hostile venues in the world is just a nod to their championship mentality.

Manchester City Of the leading title contenders this season, Manchester City have dropped the most points.

Saturday's draw with Southampton was a poor result for them, particularly against the backdrop of the Chelsea performance.

However, we cannot start to forget that this is still an incredibly talented Manchester City side. Oh, and by the way, they also happen to have this Pep Guardiola guy in charge.

The real and only difference between Chelsea and City is in the striking position. Well, at least in my opinion. City seemed to have prioritized a centre-forward in the transfer window, but the interest in many of Europe's elite never amounted to a deal. As a result, Gabriel Jesus looks better suited out wide, and neither Ferran Torres nor

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Raheem Sterling is a traditional out-and-out number nine. I don't doubt the quality, I'm merely suggesting the absence of a true and comfortable player to lead their line.

The Premier League champions are also struggling with a series of players out injured. Still, more than that, City against Southampton seemed to lack a clear and genuine intention, as is usually the case with a Pep Guardiola side. Of course, losing John Stones, Laporte and Gundogan to injury is a massive blow, but the depth that City have and usually celebrate has all of a sudden lost its impotence – and I reckon it's just too convenient.

After a frustrating weekend,

you can expect a massive reaction from this City side, and there isn't a better time to conjure up a response and remind the rest who the champions are than to make a statement against this Chelsea side.

Prediction: Chelsea (33/20) This will be an incredible game of football. I know when the hype machine starts to chime, the football fails to live up on most occasions. But when you have two sides who are so strong-minded about how they believe football should be played, indeed the only outcome is the desired one!

Chelsea is the team to beat, they have been exceptional so far this season, and I can't see them losing – yes, I said it. 33/20 is having a laugh, and

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when you get such generous odds, I suggest you back yourself and have a crack.

And for those suggesting Chelsea's defensive approach is primarily associated with an 'away team'. I don't think anyone associated with the Blues from London will have too many complaints if it's another three points and a clean sheet at the end of the game. And with the number of City fans likely to be in the away end – it might as well be a home game for them anyway.

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