20211020 - Sporting Post Sprint Ver 1.3 Single Pages

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RACING’S NEW APARTHEID? 3

‘Someone please tell me how splitting the racing product from the two operators to the public, is smart in any way? Someone planned this.

I’m shocked to be honest. It’s a new apartheid for racing … not quite equal, and separate? Beyond sad.’

- Sporting Post reader

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Just when horseracing looked to have grabbed a rare moment of positive press in the mainstream media, an editorial carried in The Citizen on Tuesday again cast a cloud over the Sport Of Kings. And frankly, our leaders only have themselves to blame.

While last Friday evening’s IOL story, which suggested that ‘after tough times, the last two feature events at Kenilworth, the Cape Guineas and the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, have shown that there is a remarkable upturn in the Mother City’s horse racing industry’, was a little heady and dreamy, it was welcome positivity.

But Tuesday’s The Citizen headline ‘Disunity throws SA horse racing TV into turmoil’ was a setback, and this time racing’s new leadership can really only hang their heads in shame.

Mike Moon writes that legal disputes over rights and shareholdings between racing operators could see KZN racing left out in the cold in terms of live coverage on DStv from March 2022.

Horse racing in South Africa is in a state of turmoil with news that the game’s television broadcasting deals have been upended.

The long-running Tellytrack

service on DStv’s channel 249 is due to cease operating at the end of February, when current contracts run out.

New racing operator 4Racing – which effectively replaced collapsed Phumelela – stunned the racing world on Tuesday by announcing it had struck a deal with DStv for a new 24hour service, Racing 240, to be broadcast on channel 240.

Racing 240 would be launched on Wednesday 19 January, it said.

The main shock was that no agreement has been reached with fellow operator Gold Circle over carrying live images of racing from KwaZulu-Natal’s Hollywoodbets Greyville and Hollywoodbets Scottsville racecourses.

A 4Racing press release said simply: “Discussions are ongoing with regards to including KwaZulu-Natal’s racing.”

The live television picture is considered critical to racing’s survival, particularly with the current government ban on racegoers at tracks.

A dispute arose between Gold Circle and the Phumelela business rescue practitioner John Evans over the former’s shares in Phumelela Gold, the joint company that owned Tellytrack. This has still not been fully resolved.

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Gold Circle said in 2021 that initial discussions on a new television entity had not been successful and emphasised that it was not prepared to relinquish rights to its racing picture to a wholly owned separate entity.

A source in 4Racing confirmed rights and ownership were, indeed, the subjects of the ongoing discussions mentioned in its press release.

An earlier 4Racing announcement concerned the advent of two new digital video streaming channels, Global Racing 1 and Global Racing 2, from Wednesday 19 January.

These will be accessed via the 4Racing TV website and will carry programming from live TV as well as tipping shows, interviews and discussions – also for 24 hours and incorporating international racing.

The new channel will go live on DStv Channel 240 at 17h30 tomorrow and will then cross live at 18h00 to Kenilworth Racecourse for the barrier draw for the Cape Town Met 2022, presented by World Sports Betting.

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BRINGING THE HORSE INTO OUR HOMES 7 Michele Wing – horses in her blood

Michele Wing’s top-class feature race productions in advance of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Festival have set a new benchmark in these trying times. The shows elicited some rave reviews and were well received by racing fans on a lean diet of quality direct communication with trainers.

“I had already developed an interested in bloodlines, having successfully competed thoroughbreds in dressage and show jumping, and started writing for Charles’ publications. One thing led to another and from there it was into broadcast and now social media work as well!” she waxes enthusiastically.

And it all started thanks to a chance meeting in her final year at varsity with industry expert Charles Faull, who was commissioned to photograph her sister in speedo apparel.

Resident on Briar Ghyll, one of the original farms in Pietermaritzburg, Michele currently works under the banner of Racing News and she explained how it works.

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“Both Racing News and all my previous work has been industry-owned. However, with Phumelela going into business rescue early in 2020, contracts came to an end. Thankfully, Gold Circle stepped in and filled the gap.

Despite Racing News being owned by Gold Circle, they have graciously made the material we produce available to all in the industry,” the UCT Industrial Psychology graduate explained to the Sporting Post.

That makes sense why the

KZN crew ventured into the Cape to showcase the prestigious festival. It should have Cape Racing thinking and looking to find their own ways to promote their own product in the easy-to-watch format.

Michele proudly outlines that the primary focus of Racing News is to bring high quality, value-added information to punters and followers of racing.

“We are driven by what punters and followers both need and ask for. To this end, we are dynamic and constantly reassess what we do. This insures a top class

product for the best results. For many reasons but largely due to budgets, the time is gone for ‘nice-to-have’ work. It is more a case of ‘need -to-have’ and to make sure it meets the brief.”

We put it to her that we have been spoilt through Racing News’ focus to preview the bigger race days, not just in KZN but around the country.

“This has proved extremely successful, with the likes of Hong Kong also taking our material. However, the 2022 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate was the first time we have been able to cover an entire field in one comprehensive preview package for punters

and followers alike. We were able to include not only interviews with trainers and jockeys, but show footage of previous races and current well-being in the stables or on the tracks, along with statistics and information on each runners’ race record and race details. Like a ‘onestop-shop’ preview. This is the kind of information that I think racing is in dire need of and it’s something I really enjoy doing,” she adds with tangible passion.

So it’s clear that Michele believes that the previews and hype are important for the industry and for creating interest.

Candiese Lenferna

MJ puts another subject on the spot!

9 Happiness is…a Gr1 winning moment. Michele says ‘it’s a life we love!’

“Previews that add value to what is already set out in the race cards, are vital for players in the game. Hype is paramount not just for players, but also to throw the net wider and attract additional followers into the game. Hype involves more thorough use of additional platforms than what are currently being used,” she cautions.

Michele’s professional qualifications assist her in tackling different personalities for interviews. We asked – and we know the answer – whether some people are more difficult than others?

“As with any news team involved in sport, we make sure we are prepared, professional and above all knowledgeable on the subject of the interview. That’s from our side. From the other side and those we interview, some people share their knowledge freely, whilst others are sceptical of the media, and still others need to have it drawn out of them. This is where my psychology helps in understanding different personality types and how pressure can effect different people, especially ahead of big race days.”

Michele has a professional support team – and it sure shows in her work!

“Lerato Kgasi works with me in KZN, Carl Coetzee in Gauteng and Vince Gibbons in Cape Town. Lerato is a natural director, Carl goes to great lengths to get the ‘right shot’ and Vince, who recently directed the South African Olympic Coverage on SABC, graces us with his presence, to shoot for me. I share the editing with Sanette Holmes, who brings a wealth of experience from many years as a news editor at a major news network,” she explains.

So who is the individual behind the voice and face?

Michele was born and grew up in a family of 6 children, in the Natal Midlands.

Her father was an attorney by profession, and her mother an archivist and political activist.

“We were quite an interesting family in that all of us went to university, graduating with 2 degrees, but no two were the same. With 4 Springbok colour holders amongst us, there was always and still is, sporting activity at the highest level,” says the eloquent journalist who completed an honours in Industrial Psychology from UCT and now, many years later ‘and in her 50’s’, has ambitiously accepted an offer from Brunel University in London, to study an online Masters in Psychology.

“With Brunel’s research into horseracing and jockeys, it was a ‘good fit’ for me,” she laughs.

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Michele is married to attorney Craig Wing. The couple have two children.

“Kirsten is currently studying a PhD at the University of Gloucester in the UK and Jonathan is an aero-nautical engineer with Sling Aircraft at Teddersfield in Johannesburg.

Kirsten holds her National Equestrian Colours for Dressage and competes in the UK and Europe, on her German warmblood, Ravel 322. Jonathan has his Springbok Colours for flat-water canoeing and won the World Handikart Championships in Essay, France in 2014. He no longer has time to compete in either canoeing or karting, but spends his free time flying, as he is also a pilot,” says the proud Mum. As somebody who works in the industry, we asked Michele to tell us about her feelings on the prospects of racing into 2022?

“With 4Racing officially taking over from Phumelela, I believe 2022 will be a decisive year for horseracing in South Africa. It will set not just the direction for what is to follow, but the future of our sport. It’s all come down to this.”

So does she feel that the industry can do more to arrest the slide?

“In the interest of the sport, 4Racing and Gold Circle need to find a way forward together, if we are to both stabilise and grow horseracing in this country.

If we, as an industry, do not pull together for the common cause, I fear it will only hasten horseracing’s demise.

The sport has suffered so much already, with an ailing economy, poor management, changes in customer needs, the exit of big role players, competition for the gambling rand, diminishing course attendance, the reduction in stakes, and of course covid, that there is not much more the industry can withstand.

Now, more than ever, racing

needs to stand united and pool our resources in the face of the threats to our industry.”

She suggests that much can be learned from international coverage and how various networks and platforms cover racing.

“They face many of the same challenges we do, yet always seem to put on a good spectacle for a wider audience to enjoy. Only by doing so, and by giving punters and followers value-added information, will we be able to rejuvenate our industry,” she urges.

And a personal message for admirers of her and the topnotch production?

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“We never take for granted the work we do, if you can call it that. Whilst the hours can be very long, we love it.

It’s a privilege to speak with the people we do and for us to get up close to some of the best thoroughbreds in our country. Horseracing is all about the thoroughbred and without them, we wouldn’t have a sport. And, lastly, in media, you are only as good as your last piece of work.

It keeps you humble and constantly striving for better and more effective ways of doing things. It’s a life we love!”

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Candiese Lenferna

MJ puts another subject on the spot!

Lance Whiteford, Michael Roberts and Peter Muscutt enjoy the feature presentation

Muis’ Ace Of A Day Living legend Michael Roberts enjoyed a memorable day at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday on the occasion of Gold Circle’s annual tribute raceday to the greatest jockey produced in this country.

Besides saddling the winners of the first two races on the card, the second of which is raced by his daughters, his protégé Rachel Venniker rode a second career treble.

No disrespect to Peter Muscutt and the owners of the Listed Michael Roberts

Stakes winner Gentleman’s Wager, but the real emotion happened earlier on in the day when the super-talented Rachel Venniker bounced back from a blank scorecard the previous weekend at her first taste of the heady L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Festival, to show her skills, partnering the first three winners on the card.

Michael Roberts saddled an opening double, including Snow Tune who races in a partnership of his daughters, Carolyn and Melanie – the latter watched the race from the UK.

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The daughter of Noble Tune clearly enjoyed the step up in trip and came home powerfully to win in the famous Queen Mum silks.

Carolyn Roberts was on course to support Dad and recalled how as a young child in 1986 she stood only metres from the Queen Mum at Sandown Racecourse. So a sentimental twist to a great day.

Rachel Venniker added the cherry to the cake when bringing home her second winner for the Sugar Hill master Doug Campbell

in a week when Siege Of Orleans won the third. It was the 20 year old rising star’s second treble in her short but impressive career.

Gentleman’s Wager caused the upset in the Listed Michael Roberts Stakes when Tristan Godden kept the son of Oratorio galloping to hold off a strong late challenge

from Dean Kannemeyer’s Sir Michael.

The win margin was 0,70 lengths and the time for the 1750m was 108,61 secs.

The 7yo gelding has been a real soldier, having won 9 races with 12 places from his 33 starts for stakes of close on R540 000.

Bred by the Wernars and Devachanders, the gelding has a real ‘Avontuur’ pedigree – being a son of the top Cape farm’s Danehill stallion Oratorio out of the terrific six-time winning VAR mare Princess Of Light.

Interestingly, both mother and son have won at 2600m!

The Merits GENTLEMAN’S WAGER has had his rating raised from 103 to 105 after his victory in the Listed Michael Roberts Stakes over 1750m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday 16 January. The Handicappers were of the view that 3rd placed FIGHT SONG made for the most suitable line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 90.

The specific conditions of the race do not allow for an increase in the rating of any horse aside from the winner. Accordingly, runnerup SIR MICHAEL and 4th placed DECORATED remain on ratings of 90 and 81, respectively, despite actually achieving marks of 93 and 91, respectively.

There were however drops for no fewer than six horses. CAPOEIRA is down from 109 to 106, G G’S DYNASTY is down to 100 from 103, TREAD SWIFTLY is down slightly from 95 to 94, NEWS STREAM goes from 93 to 90, WEALTHY was trimmed from 91 to 90, and lastly SEA MASTER is down from 88 to 86.

View To A Thrill!

Ascot Stud’s well bred Galileo horse Global View has been enjoying a good run of form of late, and the sire came up with two more eyecatching winners at the Vaal on Tuesday afternoon.

Global View’s first success came when his talented daughter Tanzanite Queen romped home to a clearcut win in the second race, the www.highveld.co.za Graduation Plate (1200m).

Under the inform Smanga Khumalo, the Alec Laird trained four-year-old drew

off in the closing stages to win impressively by three lengths.

Bred by Klawervlei Stud, Tanzanite Queen has now won three of just nine starts and was runner up, to eventual Gr1 Vodacom Durban July winner Kommetdieding, in the 2020 Klawervlei Farm Sale Graduate Race.

The daughter of Global View is out of the Redoute’s Choice Blue Swift.

Her dual graded stakes 14 winning sire struck again in the very next race, when

two-year-old Vantage Point ran on strongly to claim the TAB Telebet 0861 000 822 Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) (1000m).

Trained by Corne Spies, Vantage Point, who is out of the Western Winter mare Cresta, was bred by the Rous Bros.

South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire of 2019-2020, Global View has two lots on the Cape Premier Yearling Sale, and five lots on the Cape Yearling Sale.

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JC Photos

Gavin Lerena steers Freed From Desire to victory

A SWEET STAR NAMED DESIRE

While marginally in the Snaith shadow on the national log on stakes earned, trainer Paul Peter capped a hat-trick at Turffontein on Saturday to top the national charts with 94 winners this season so far.

Peter’s big winner on the afternoon was the clearly progressive Jackson filly Freed From Desire who made it four wins on the trot, and five victories in her last six starts, when she stormed home under Gavin Lerena to beat a

fellow Narrow Creek product in the accomplished Big Burn to win the R150 000 Listed Swallow Stakes.

Breeder John Everett was thrilled with his farm’s stakes exacta and said that it was pleasing when his tinkering with Tesio and his personal formula worked out well.

“I have never been one to breed for to commercial influences and sending the Trippi mare Musical Romance to the top-class Jackson was the right mating by my

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calculations to produce a smart racehorse. She is clearly a very nice sprinter and her dam has a lovely Buffalo Bill Cody at foot.

Interestingly, the second filly Big Burn’s dam Ignition Lady (Argonaut) also has a Buffalo Bill Cody at foot. I’m very happy!” he said.

Freed From Desire (6-1) was a few lengths off the speed early in the 1160m feature, but accelerated past her more fancied stablemate Big Burn (16-10) to win by 0,30 lengths in a time of 66,74 secs.

Freed From Desire was sold privately off Narrow Creek and has won 6 races with 4 places from 12 starts for

stakes of R424 749.

She is a daughter of Ridgemont’s Heversham Park-

based triple Gr1 winner Jackson (Dynasty).

The Merits FREED FROM DESIRE has had her rating raised from 104 to 110 following her success in the Listed Swallow Stakes for threeyear-old fillies over the straight 1160m course at Turffontein on Saturday 15 January. Here it was the ever-consistent 3rd finisher SUPREME QUEST who was used as the line horse, which leaves her rating unchanged on 102.

Runner-up BIG BURN has

had her rating raised from 113 to 115, while the only other increase was for 4th placed REMEMBER WHEN, who goes up from 94 to 97.

REMEMBER WHEN in fact ran to a rating of 100, but the Handicappers chose to exercise caution as she only beat two horses in a six-runner field and gave her half the achieved adjustment, 97 being halfway between her old mark of 94 and her achieved 100.

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The only drop was for UNDER YOUR SPELL, who is down from 121 to 115 to make her not higher than BIG BURN, who has beaten UNDER YOUR SPELL twice from as many encounters this season.

Hamish Niven Photography

Narrow Creek’s John Everett – challenging the big guns

THE WHEEL TURNS! That the number of smaller breeders has dwindled alarmingly in recent years cannot be disputed. Hence it is encouraging to witness the success enjoyed this season by Narrow Creek Stud.

Founded in May 2011 by John Everett and situated between Tulbagh and Ceres, this relatively young stud currently finds itself amongst

the country's top ten breeders, with just 42 runners! Even more impressively, it leads the way by average earnings per runner and already has four individual stakes winners to its credit, a remarkable feat and one bettered only by powerhouse establishments Drakenstein (10) and log leaders Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein (7).

Narrow Creek certainly

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stamped its dominance on last weekend's Listed Swallow Stakes as the breeders of both the winner and runner-up, the Paul Peter-trained duo of Freed From Desire and Big Burn.

The latter was all the rage to add to her earlier success in the Gr2 Joburg Spring Fillies & Mares Challenge, but had no answer to the powerful finish of stable companion

Freed From Desire, for whom this was a first stakes score.

She is now one of a trio of Narrow Creek-bred stakes winners trained by Peters, with three-year-old filly Sprinkles landing the Gr3 Three Troikas Stakes on New Year's day.

Rounding out the stud's black type quartet is Stuart Pettigrew's fine galloper Bold Fortune.

A daughter of Flower Alley, she first caught the eye with a smart victory in the Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap

and followed up in the Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge. At yesterday's Vaal meeting , this talented filly made it four wins in a row when turning on the afterburners to get up on the line over 1800m.

Everett had snapped up her dam Plata Parana at auction with Bold Fortune in utero.

As for Freed From Desire, her Swallow Stakes victory also boosted the fortunes of her sire Jackson, who started his stud career at birthplace Highlands, before moving to Heversham Park Stud in Gauteng last season.

She joins Pretty Young Thing and Eva Eileen as the third stakes winner for the triple Gr1 winning son of Dynasty.

It is worth noting that all three are fillies, as are Jackson's Gr1-placed daughters Can You Feel It and Kailene.

"Paul Peter also trained Freed From Desire's dam Musical Romance," remarked John.

"A big, scopey mare, she has a striking Buffalo Bill Cody colt at foot and is once again in foal to him. In fact, I sent nine mares to him this past season, which tells you how impressed I am with his foals!"

Musical Romance is a winning

JC Photos

MJ puts another subject on the spot!

21 Narrow Creek-bred Sprinkles wins the Gr3 Three Troikas Stakes on 1 January

daughter of Trippi, whose stature as a broodmare sire continues to grow unabated.

Whilst the second successive L'Ormarins Queen's Plate victory by his son Jet Dark was an undoubted high, the Drakenstein stalwart also featured as the broodmare sire of the stakes winning duo of Hoedspruit and Pink Tourmaline at the two-day festival.

Significantly, they were sired by Legislate and Futura respectively, who like Jackson, are high-class sons of Dynasty. An emerging cross definitely worth exploiting!

Freed From Desire's grandam Ribbons For Thee is a stakesplaced daughter of Captain Al, who incidentally, also features as the broodmare sire of Jackson's daughter

Eva Eileen, winner of the Stormsvlei Stakes.

That Narrow Creek has risen to prominence just over a decade later, is testament to John's skill and expertise.

"The wheel turns for everyone I suppose," he added.

Long may it continue.

Kommet Confidence!

Trainer Michelle Rix is bullish about the chances of Kommetdieding in the Cape Town Met presented

by WSB and asked who the ones to beat were she replied, “None actually; I’m pretty confident.”

David Thiselton writes on www.goldcircle.co.za that owner Ashwin Reynolds said he was looking forward to racing against Jet Dark, who beat Kommetdieding by 2,25 lengths last time out in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, and added, “It is a pity War Of Athena is not coming and I hope there are no more scratchings because then it will just be me against the Snaith’s.”

Rix said the Elusive Fort colt was simple to train as he was laid back, sound and

ate well and added the Met had always been his aim.

Big race jockey Gavin Lerena will be in Cape Town on the final field day to give him a ‘breeze up’ gallop at Kenilworth ten days before the big race.

Reynolds goes to Milnerton to see his beloved horse at least twice a week accompanied by his older son Brandon and they will be at the gallop as Kenilworth racecourse is just a two- or three-minute drive from their home.

Rix said about her runner, “He will be spot on by next Saturday.”

Jet Dark pulled away from Kommetdieding in the Grade 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate after they had tussled from

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the 500m to the 200m but Rix was not concerned and said, “Jet Dark was the champion miler for a reason.”

Reynolds was not worried either and said about Kommetdieding, “It will be his third run after a rest, he will be cherry-ripe, but if Jet Dark does beat us, I will take it on the chin and say good luck, he is better than us.”

Ashwin added, “I love Justin Snaith because he is so competitive and loves a challenge.”

MET FIELD TODAY! The announcement of the final field and draw ceremony for the R2 million Gr1 Cape Town Met sponsored by World Sports Betting will be the first live event covered

on the brand new 24 hour Racing 240 on DStv Channel 240.

The channel is expected to launch at 17h30 today and the Met draw will take place

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between 18h00 and 19h00, The Cape Town MET 2022 presented by World Sports Betting springs into full bloom on Saturday 29 January with a foliage of fabulosity.

Presenting the Glam Garden, the official theme to one of the Mother City’s most celebrated and prestigious social events. After a 2021 event with no access to the public, the 2022 Cape Town MET returns to its roots and promises something for all.

Set against the backdrop of Kenilworth Racecourse’s rolling lawns, The Cape Town MET 2022 welcomes one and all to a celebration of sophisticated hospitality and elegance, a nirvana of high-end fashion, affluent personalities and influencers.

The all-day main event features 10 races ridden by our nation’s finest jockeys on

our country’s top horses, as well as live performances from top local artists.

Raise your glass to the victors and embrace the opulent energy as the sun sets over the summer sky, before being whisked away into an unforgettable rapture of after parties and incredible music sets from world class DJ’s.

The fabulous Zakes Bantwini, who dropped his new album Ghetto King last month, will be headlining the entertainment, while Good Luck will get the party going. DJs Dean Fuel and Desiree will keep the dance floor pumping.

The Cape Town MET 2022 will adhere to strict COVID

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protocols for your own safety.

Supporters without an ID and valid vaccination card will not be granted access to the grounds.

Tickets are available for purchase on webtickets or in any Pick n Pay store nationwide.

Admission options start at R 40 per person, with general admission including grandstand access costing R 100 per person. Access to exclusive areas with hospitality starts at R 1000 for two people.

View the full range of ticket options at www.webtickets. co.za.

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LIKE IT OR NOT The ‘like-for-like’ policy that applies to jockey replacements has nothing to do with calibre of the individual riders, but rather applies to the status of the individuals.

In other words, there are no value judgements involved in assessing the relative merits of suitability of the replacement – and that replacement is in anyway at the discretion of the trainer, within the rules, and then at the ultimate overriding discretion of the Stipendiary Board.

Selwyn Elk wrote to the Sporting Post Mailbag after the Hollywoodbets Greyville racemeeting of 10 January.

He noted that Smanga Khumalo was stood down after his mount Khuluma Nathi broke down in the opener.

Mr Elk writes that in his opinion Rachel Venniker is one of the most promising young apprentices that he has seen for many years and she gave her pick-up ride Maria’s World every chance in the Hollywoodbets Greyville third after replacing Khumalo.

But he asks - what has happened to the Jockey Club Rule that states that jockey replacements must be ‘like for like’ i.e. jockeys of the same calibre must be replaced by jockeys of the same calibre. and Apprentices by Apprentices?

In this instance a Senior jockey (Khumalo) was replaced by a Claiming Apprentice (Venniker).

Has this Rule now become obsolete because if that is the case then unfortunately it leaves the door wide open for manipulation?

We did some research and any perception that a Piere Strydom could only be replaced by an Anton Marcus or Warren Kennedy is wrong.

It is jockey for jockey – or apprentice for apprentice, as a starting point. Then the practicalities of trainer choice – some jockeys are not suited to some horses and some trainers prefer not to use some jockeys – and also availability is considered.

Simply put, the availability of jockeys is key – in the Venniker case the other possible available jockeys had media commitments and the Stipendiary Board deemed the in-form apprentice a suitable replacement for the accomplished Khumalo.

The replacement had also to be done at relatively short notice and Rachel was allowed to claim her 2,5kgs as that was part of the ‘package’.

We are assured that, at all times, the Stipes act in the best interests of the punting public.

This debate will continue on www.sportingpost.co.za later today!

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Pauline Herman Photography

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Aldo Domeyer guides Chat Ching to victory

CHING’S THE THING!

The Cape raiders dominated the R150 000 Listed Lady’s Bracelet at Fairview on Friday with the very useful Chat Ching giving Candice Bass-Robinson and Aldo Domeyer a hundred percent strike double on a profitable afternoon.

Domeyer, who rode the first of the Bass-Robinson

duo to victory when Masters Queen won the third, made it three winners from just four rides as he also steered Catch The Cat home in the fifth for Hollywoodbets trainer, Gavin Smith.

The son of past SA Champion, Andrew Fortune, Domeyer is on 12th spot on the national log with an impressive near 24% win strike-rate achieved with

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his 44 winners.

Storming up the outside from some lengths off, Chat Ching (2-1) lengthened impressively to beat fellow Capetonian Veronica Mars (2-1) by 1,75 lengths in a time of 99,16 secs.

The first local home was Sharon Kotzen’s Encryption (20-1) who looked dangerous

late and stayed on well for a half length off the runner-up.

Domeyer said that he felt that they hadn’t gotten to the bottom of Chat Ching yet and she could well have more to come.

Bred and raced by Drakenstein Stud, the well-related Chat Ching is a daughter of the top farm’s deceased resident Duke Of Marmalade (Danehill) out of the multiple winner producing Casey Tibbs mare, Cash Register.

The multiple Gr1 placed Chat Ching achieved a deserved stakes success and took her tally to 3 wins with 6 places from 13 starts for stakes of R299 200.

The Merits CHAT CHING remains unchanged on a rating of 107 following her win in the Listed Lady’s Bracelet for fillies and mares over 1600m on the turf course at Fairview on Friday 14 January. The Handicappers were of the view that runner-up VERONICA MARS made for the best line horse when assessing this event, leaving her unaltered on a rating of 99.

In assessing the race this

way, CHAT CHING only runs to a mark of 99, hence her unchanged rating.

3rd placed ENCRYPTION is up from 89 to 92, while the only other increase was for 4th finisher BLUE DUCHESS, who is up from 88 to 91. 5th placed PRINCESS KALISI was dropped from 95 to 91 to make her not higher than BLUE DUCHESS, and in fact ENCRYPTION, BLUE DUCHESS and PRINCESS KALISI would meet one

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another on the correct weight terms should they cross paths in a handicap race.

PRINCESS KALISI aside, there were drops for two other runners. COLORADO SPRINGS is down from 100 to 99, while BLOOM is down from 97 to 95.

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Bullish and upbeat! Anton Shepherd Of Beaumont Stud

FISH WHERE THE FISH ARE! A reminder that the CTS Cape Premier Yearling Sale will be held at De Grendel Wine Estate from 13h30 on Sunday 6 February.

Beaumont Stud, nestled at the foot of Du Toit’s Kloof, near Paarl, has consigned a colt and two fillies to the sale.

Anton Shepherd is clearly upbeat about his three entries from his Beaumont Stud.

He tells us: Lot 8: Colt by Pathfork (USA) – Bois De Boulogne “This is a lovely, classy, and well grown colt, one of the best of my current crop. He is out of a Trippi mare that I firmly believe will throw a champion.”

Lot 120: Filly by Global View (USA) – Reine Tonnerre “She is a scopey, well put

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together filly. Her dam won four races, and I am hoping she will make the mare proud. She is from one of the best families in the stud book.”

Lot 160: Filly by William Longsword – Tina’s Trip “She is a scopey, high quality filly. Out of a black typeproducing Trippi mare, the blood is there to match the specimen”

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Twice Over (Observatory(USA) – Double Crossed (GB)) – proven producer of winners

TWICE OVER – PREMIER QUALIY! Klawervlei Stud's European Champion racehorse Twice Over (Observatory) has been enjoying a red letter season.

Unico and Gr2 4Racing SA Nursery runner up Smorgasbord to his name, Twice Over looks on course for a big year in 2022.

Not only is the former 4 x Gr1 winner responsible for impressive recent Gr1 Cape Guineas winner and Met candidate Double Superlative, another son of Twice Over, Doublemint, captured the Gr3 Chairman's Cup on L'Ormarins Queen's Plate day.

Already a proven sire, Twice Over fared very well in various sales rings around South Africa in 2011.

With a number of other promising three-year-olds, such as Blizzard, Senso

His yearlings made up to R700 000 at the 2021 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, while a colt by Twice Over made R1 400 000 at last year's National Yearling Sale.

Twice Over has eight lots on offer at the 2022 Cape Premier

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Yearling Sale including Lot 29 c Twice Over-District Six This well bred colt is a halfbrother to four winners including Gr2 Fillies Guineas winner GIMME SIX (Gimmethegreenlight).

Out of a winning own sister to Gr2 Mill Reef Stakes runner up IRONY (Mujadil), this colt's granddam is a half-sister to Broodmare Of The Year MYSTIC SPRING (Royal Academy), dam of Equus Champions BELABELA (Dynasty) and RABIYA (Jallad).

Lot 66 c Twice Over -Jet Set Model

Lot 93 c Twice Over -Mohave Princess

Lot 125 c Twice Over -Rubybay

This colt is out of a three time winning half-sister to the Gr1 placed Laisserfaire Stakes winner JOSHUA'S MISTRESS (Joshua Dancer). The latter also rates as the dam of this season's high-class threeyear-old PRINCE OF FIRE (Gimmethegreenlight).This colt is bred on the same Twice Over / Jet Master cross as Gr1 Guineas winner DOUBLE SUPERLATIVE ! This is the family of July winning champion HEAVY METAL (Silvano).

A half-brother to a winner, this colt is out of Listed Devon Air Stakes winner, and Gr1 SA Oaks runner up, MOHAVE PRINCESS (Mount Nelson).

His granddam, OUR MOHAVE (Fusaichi Pegasus), is a halfsister to Australian Gr2 winner and millionaire NATURAL BLITZ (Dehere). Mohave Princess is herself directly descended from US Broodmare Of The Year KERALA (My Babu) -dam of champion and top-class sire DAMASCUS (Sword Dancer) -and fifth dam of Twice Over himself!

This colt is out of a winning MEDAGLIA D'ORO (El Prado) half-sister to Gr1 Gold Medallion winner SEVENTH ROCK (Rock Of Gibraltar) -himself the sire of two Gold Medallion winners. Granddam is multiple champion, and Gr1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship winner RUBY CLIPPER (Rubiton).

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RAISE A GLASS!

For the uniniated observer, our sales catalogues are numbered according to dam alpha order. The Cape Premier Yearling Sale catalogue for 6 February starts with a ‘b’. It means that three of Normandy’s quartet of future stars are carded to go through the ring as lots 100,101 and 102.

Oscar Foulkes seems to be taking it all in his stride as he clearly has the stock to carry

the day!

He writes that the annual tour by the BSA inspection team is accompanied by an element of anxiety on the part of many breeders, mainly to do with whether the yearlings get accepted for Nationals, or not.

related to Alistair and Jane’s visit.

An element of apprehension is certainly appropriate, but I think it’s misplaced.

Firstly, they are knowledgeable, fair judges.

Secondly, and this is most important, we breeders know in our own heart of hearts whether yearlings belong on a sale, or not. And, in my experience, the 50-50 calls have a higher risk of not selling.

Before I get to that, I should add that I’ve had no stress

The only judgement that counts, to borrow from Tesio,

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is the piece of wood that decides the winners of the most important races.

No, the biggest apprehension should relate to the position on the sale. When I see our important yearlings in the first 10 lots, my heart generally sinks. The same if we’re in the final part of the sale.

Auctions need a buzz of excitement, and the beginning of the sale can be bit of a wait-and-see period. The end of the sale, especially if it’s been long, or noisy, or hot, can be a death zone.

Having entered yearlings out of Nordic Breeze, Nordic Light and Nordic Wind on the CPYS, I had a moment of panic, which was quickly settled by checking with Grant Knowles what the starting letter would be. It would have been a bit disastrous to be lots 3, 4 and 5, which it would have been if the sale had started with N, rather than B. I think there’s a nice symmetry to the three yearlings selling one after the other, starting with lot 100.

It will be a high intensity few minutes for us. Please excuse me if I look a little serious during the sale.

This near miss has highlighted the importance of a good spread of dam names. I can assure you that no filly from this family will be ‘nordic’ anything, ever, unless it’s named by someone else. This possibility is extremely unlikely, as the Nordic Breeze yearling is the last filly from the Nordic family we’ll be selling until at least 2024 (or later).

It might be interesting to have three yearlings from the same family through the ring one after the other, but it’s not good for stress levels. I may need to get a prescription for Urbanol to see me through the sale.

Nordic Vine’s family had many wine references in their names. Her dam, Montrachet, was named after the greatest chardonnay vineyard in the world. She was a daughter of Sauterne, referencing the part of Bordeaux where Yquem and other of the world’s greatest sweet wines are made. These mares and their progeny were

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bred by Jan de Clercq, and being the gourmet he was, he could draw on his finest wine experiences when naming the products of this family.

Whoever named Nordic Vine simply concocted a reference to Northern Guest (her sire) and Montrachet (her dam).

Nordic Vine visited Windrush five times, so the family ended up with wind, rather than wine, references.

Given this history, it’s appropriate that the auction is being held at a top wine estate. If anyone buying any of these three yearlings wants to use a wine-related name, I’d be happy to throw some ideas around while sipping an appropriate beverage.

Whatever happens, though, I look forward to a glass of De Grendel’s finest once the three Nordics have gone through the ring. I hope (and trust) that their racing careers will give many reasons to raise a glass in the future.

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JC Photos

Super Dobbin aka Twilight Moon in his SA racing days

BSA R20K GRADUATE FIRES IN HONG KONG One of the best value for money auctions in the country, the BSA Cape Yearling Sale has a rich history of unveiling future stars of the track.

Notable recent graduates of this sale include graded stakes winners of the likes

of Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes winner Zarina and Tuesday four-on-the-trot winner Bold Fortune, Hoedspruit, Mr Flood, Netta, Springs Of Carmel, and impressive recent Gr3 Three Troikas Stakes queen Sprinkles, while subsequent Australian Gr1 winner and sire,

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Yulong Prince, was offered for sale at the 2016 Cape Sale.

This year’s sale will take place at Kenilworth racecourse on Sunday 27 February at 12h30. More than 170 yearlings have been catalogued for the sale, with many of the Cape’s top stud

farms well represented at the Cape Sale.

the front again close home and going on to score by a neck.

And it was good news for the hosts when BSA buy Super Dobbin won in smart fashion at Happy Valley a week ago.

Trained by former South African champion trainer Tony Millard, Super Dobbin (who raced in South Africa under the name of Twilight Moon) was given a fine ride by Antoine Hamelin to capture the Kowloon Tsai Handicap.

Bred by Daytona Stud, Super Dobbin, who races for Lau Yi Fai, was a R20 000 buy from the 2018 KZN Yearling Sale.

A son of dual Gr1 winner Wylie Hall, Super Dobbin showed high-class form in South Africa at two -where he dead-heated for first place in the Listed Storm Bird Stakes before going on to win the G3 Protea Stakes and finish second in the Gr2 SA Nursery.

The five-year-old led early before being headed early on, with Super Dobbin hitting

Never out of the first two in four South African starts, Super Dobbin is out of the Qui Danzig

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mare Vanilla Twilight - a three time winning own sister to Gr1 Golden Slipper/Gr1 Thekwini Stakes third place getter Six Blue Notes.

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JC Photos

Mark Khan has Erupt’s first winner Set To Go in control

ERUPT BREAKS THE ICE

Maine Chance Farms’ exciting young Dubawi stallion Erupt celebrated his first winner when his two-year-old son Set To Go broke his maiden at the Vaal on Tuesday afternoon.

Go fought out a thrilling finish with the well backed Emirate Gina, and stayed on to well to account for the enthusiastic filly by a neck, with Twin Strike another three-parts of a length away in third spot.

Trained by Paul Peter, the Avontuur-bred colt had finished second on debut and made amends with a courageous win in the #ThisIsRacing Maiden Juvenile Plate (1000 metres).

Trained by Paul Peter, Set To Go is raced by Dewalt Visagie who bought him privately off Avontuur. Mr Visagie was associated with the top-class Chesalon from the same farm.

Under Mark Khan, Set To

The well named Set To Go is out of the top- performed Jet

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Master mare Jet Set Go, whose three wins included a score in the Gr3 Champion Juvenile Cup. Set To Go should go a mile plus and hails from the first crop of his talented, globetrotting sire Erupt -whose five wins included triumphs in both the Gr1 Juddmonte Grand Prix de Paris (a race won previously by subsequent champion South African sire Fort Wood) and Gr1 Pattinson Canadian International, with Erupt also

placed second in the 2016 Gr1 Grand Prix de SaintCloud.

One of 48 Gr1 winners sired by outstanding stallion Dubawi – also responsible for successful and promising sires Night Of Thunder, New Bay, Makfi, Time Test and Zarak – Erupt hails from a

truly exceptional female line.

Erupt is out of the Gr3 Prix Vanteaux winner Mare Nostrum (herself a daughter of champion sire Caerleon), a half-sister to Gr1 Yellow Ribbon Stakes queen Aube Indienne.

This is also the family of leading sires Encosta De Lago,

Flying Spur, Holy Roman Emperor and Night Shift, as well as current boom Australian galloper Home Affairs.

The well bred bay has five lots on the Cape Premier Yearling Sale, and a further 15 lots on the Cape Yearling Sale.

Explosive!

Erupt created a stir on his arrival at Maine Chance in 2018.

sire Caerleon, a group winner at age two over 1200m, showing plenty of speed.

Bred and raced by one of the most successful ownerbreeders in the world, the Niarchos family, Erupt won two Gr1 races in Europe and North America at ages three and four, with a timeform rating of 121.

He was also an Irish Derby winner at age three.

He won his races on good ground, showing excellent speed – making him very attractive for the South African market. He was tough, as he travelled the world and raced in France, the UK, the US, Canada and Japan.

Caerleon’s second broodmare sire, Spectacular Bid, won seven races at age two, including two Group 1 races, and ten races at age three, including six Group 1 races.

Erupt’s main attraction is his pedigree.

He stems from the world’s leading and most versatile stallion Dubawi, out of a top class Group winning, and multiple Gr1 performing, race mare Mare Nostrum.

Mare Nostrum is a daughter of the deceased, former world-leading broodmare

Caerleon was Champion Sire and Champion Broodmare Sire by Nijinsky, the sire line of our multiple Champion Sire, Silvano.

Erupt hails from one of the world’s great Champion Sire producing families.

His mother and grandmother fill more than a page of top horses!

Pedigree experts suggest that a prospective top stallion tick four boxes: • Group 1 winning stallions that showed toughness and 48 brilliance

• The dam-line must boast solid black-type horses and good stats on winners to runners • Group 1 winners under the first four generations • A family of proven sires Erupt comes from the family of Flying Spur (Australia), Encosta De Lago(Australia), Holy Roman Emperor (Europe) and Lode (Argentina).

This family is from the great foundation mare Fanfreluche.

Asked about the mating of Dubawi and Mare Nostrum, Alan Cooper, Manager of the Niarchos horse empire remembers: “We sent Mare Nostrum to Dubawi to combine Mr. Prospector blood with Nijinsky. Erupt’s older sister, Marie de Medici, was by the Mr. Prospector sire line stallion, Medicean.

So we went strong on this by choosing the best in Dubawi.“

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DROHSKY'S AUSSIE LEGACY 50

Warning Zone’s daughter Pittsburgh Flyer

Racing & Sports

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The curtain came down on a record-breaking 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale on Monday with another successful day's selling at Australia's holiday playground. A filly

by Merchant Navy (Fastnet Rock) that fetched A$700 000 had us looking at a family with roots in South Africa.

One of the most prolific broodmares in South African history has left behind a descendent who is more than making her mark in Australia.

Legendary South Africa producer, Drohsky, is the sixth dam of South African champion, Warning Zone (Elliodor).

The latter, Champion 2YO Filly in 2002-2003, captured both the Gr2 Golden Slipper and Gr3 Debutante Stakes in South Africa before going on to land the Marie G Krantz Memorial Handicap in the USA. Sent to stud in Australia, Warning Zone, despite dying young, made her mark through her very smart daughter, Pittsburgh Flyer (Street Cry).

The latter, a very quick daughter of her Dubai World Cup winning sire, won 3 times over 1109, with her biggest victory coming in the 2015 Gr3 VRC GH Mumm Stakes. She was also beaten less than a length when fourth in the 2016 MRC Gr1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield.

Pittsburgh Flyer has been even more impressive at stud -to date, both her foals to race have won, with her best filly being September Run (Exceed And Excel).

September Run has won five races, headed by the 2020 Gr1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, where she accounted for, among others, Gr1 Longines Golden Slipper winner, Farnan (Not A Single Doubt).

is not the only descendant of Drohsky to have left her mark on Australia, with Drohsky also featuring as the ancestress of GR3 MRC Quezette Stakes winner, Crown Witness (Star Witness).

Descendants of Drohsky also continue to fire in South Africa through her numerous highclass broodmare daughters and their descendants.

Promising three-year-olds Senso Unico (Twice Over) and Resonate (Twice Over) are direct descendants of the mighty Drohsky, as is this season's Need For Speed Sprint winner, Barzalona (Pomodoro).

Keep Up With The

Pittsburgh Flyer is also the dam of the useful three-year-old filly, My Yankee Girl, (American Pharoah) a winner of two of her four starts to date.

PACE!

Understandably, Pittsburgh Flyer has become a much sought after mare, and her filly

by Merchant Navy (Fastnet Rock) fetched A$700 000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

The Sporting Post Sprint offers winning advertising options

Interestingly, Warning Zone

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email advertising@winningmedia.co.za

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A GOOD SALES HORSE IS MORE THAN JUST GOOD GENES

YOU CAN’T WORM OUT OF IT! Selecting good genetics or a winning conformation is not my strong suite, but even with all the odds stacked in your favour, it's never easy to breed a champion. Adding to the challenge is the fact that producing horses free of high worm burdens and ascarids is becoming increasingly difficult, writes Dr Karl van Laeren, WormEx Lab, Kyalami.

Ascarids are large pencil sized round worms whose egg numbers peak in foals at around 5 months of age. This

coincides with the timeframe most foals are weaned, so high egg counts act as a large and hidden stressor that should be addressed prior to weaning. Some individuals are unfortunately disposed to developing second and even subsequent "waves" of mature ascarids that can continue well into their teenage years.

The term "BROAD SPECTRUM" dewormer has been rendered obsolete as resistance to all currently available dewormers is either well established or emerging.

Frustratingly, NONE of the three classes of dewormers

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(Benzimidazoles like Panacur; Pyrantel pamoates like Pegasol and the seven proprietary equine dewormers containing either Ivermectin, abamectin or moxidectin) are effective in the control of ascarids or strongyles anymore. Ascarids stopped responding to the mectin class of dewormers in 1999; strongyles started to show resistance in 2016.

There can be nothing worse than walking a horse up for a prospective buyer and having the horse decide to manure, expelling large spaghetti like

ascarids at the same time.

Or a purchaser running a worm egg count when their acquisition arrives at its new home and discovering ascarid and small strongyle eggs in large numbers. Both scenarios reflect poorly on one's stud, but the good news is that it's easy to avoid. With multi drug resistant parasites now being the norm rather than the exception, it is best to have your vet evaluate parasite levels before an individual is entered for a sale in case remedial action is required. A single egg count test three to four weeks before shipment date can screen one’s draft pre-sale to establish their cleanliness.

The next important step is to quarantine a horse on arrival at its new home. Many yard managers will routinely deworm with their favourite dewormer before introducing the horse to other horses in the stable / paddock. Best practice is to combine the quarantine period with sending off a manure sample at the time of worming and if worms were present the dewormed selected needs to be 95% effective at getting rid of the parasites. In the past, 100% efficacies were often the norm, but unfortunately with increasing resistance, this is now seldom the case. If a yard inadvertently imports resistant worms by not implementing this simple diagnostic step,

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the consequences could create a life-long problem.

Resistance is forever once introduced onto one's stud.

So better to prevent it or at least nip it in the bud as it reveals itself.

This is by no means a case of crying wolf. Dr Emma Jane Alsop succinctly described the situation in 2014 (7 years ago) as "the increasing levels of anthelmintic resistance are only going to challenge horse owners and veterinarians more and more.....breeders need to, have to, become more proactive and unite to decelerate a freight train that at the moment has no brakes."

PaddyPower

The clash of the titans!

ENGLAND VS IRELAND! One of the most highly anticipated National Hunt contests in recent years takes place on Saturday between star two-mile chasers Shishkin and Energumene after both were declared for the Gr1 SBK Clarence House Chase (17h35) at Ascot.

The pair have swept all before them over fences with Shishkin unbeaten in six starts in England and Energumene five from five in Ireland.

The Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham was regarded by most pundits as their first head to head contest. However, Energumene's trainer Willie Mullins targeted Saturday’s race after his victory in the Gr2 Hilly Way Chase last month.

Nicky Henderson meanwhile gave Shishkin the go-ahead after an impressive piece of home work over the weekend.

Only thee rivals have stood their ground - First Flow,

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Hitman and Amoola Gold take on the unbeaten duo.

Exciting Irish raider Energumene looks the most likely leader, having front-run in four of his five victories.

He appears a relentless galloper at two miles, and this was evident in his last start, the Gr2 at Cork. He had dual Gr1 winning chaser Notebook 42 lengths behind him at the line after the latter attempted to make a race of it upfront from the start.

That suggests it will prove very difficult to get Energumene out of his comfort zone if his rider wishes to dictate.

great turn of foot for a chaser.

Nicky Henderson’s mighty Shishkin races from off the pace and he possesses a high cruising speed with a

Factor in his slick and accurate jumping and it would be a surprise if he doesn’t arrive at the second-last still to be asked any questions.

He’s reported to have improved for his impressive Kempton reappearance and is

considered to be potentially as good as former stablemate Sprinter Sacre.

Energumene, who is being talked up as a proper horse in Ireland, should be in front turning for home on Saturday.

Will Shishkin have the gears to pass him?

Good For Racing!

Kim Bailey is refusing to blink at the prospect of his stable star First Flow facing two-mile heavyweights Shishkin and Energumene in Saturday's SBK Clarence House Chase at Ascot and the trainer insists clashes such as this weekend's can only be beneficial to the long-term health of the sport.

The Racing Post reports that Bailey, who has had a licence for more than 40 years and has a Grand National, Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle on his CV, enjoyed one of the sweetest moments of that long career when First Flow, under a bold ride by David Bass, landed the Clarence House 12 months ago.

He was a 14-1 shot that afternoon and can be backed at a general 6-1 this time round, although his task might be complicated

by the presence of fearsome chasers Shishkin and Energumene, who are set to dominate headlines this week.

Creek the day before. He was trained for that weekend and, at the age of nine rising ten, we found out a bit more about him.

ITV Racing's Ed Chamberlin likened the showdown to a clash between Manchester United and Liverpool, although Tottenham Hotspur fan Bass joked it would be unfair to compare the Peterborough Chase winner to his team given First Flow has "actually won something recently".

"He needs to go righthanded and loves the track, so he can go for this and then back there for the Betfair Ascot Chase next month. If we missed this, the weather could then play havoc and he's got to run; he's not a young horse.

Bailey hosted the media at his Gloucestershire yard on Tuesday morning when the Tony Solomons-owned ten-year-old performed two routine canters under Bass.

"I think it was probably a career-best in the Peterborough last time," Bailey said. "I'd been saying for ages he'd stay further and that was an opportunity as we had him in the Tingle

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"I've always worked on the theory you shouldn't be frightened of one, but I should probably say I shouldn't be frightened of two!

"They're very good and their record speaks for itself. One [Shishkin] is rated 172 and the other [Energumene] 171 and we're 162, so on the ratings we've got no chance, but you've got to go for it.

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results up to: 2022-01-18

TRAINERS Name

Runs

Wins Win%

656 503 368 570 239

Mr S J Snaith Mr P A Peter Mr S G Tarry Mr G D Smith Mr M F de Kock

90 94 42 65 48

13.7.

18.7 11.4 11.4 20.1

Other Places Place %

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

141 100 60 104 48

46.3 45.5 35.3 39.3 45.6

6,389,025 5,420,813 3,302,625 2,721,563 2,946,188

9,076,288 7,905,563 4,641,563 4,211,038 4,147,250

3rd

Other Places Place %

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

105 72 82 62 64

153 119 151 91 109

7,334,125 10,862,163 6,236,575 8,607,713 4,397,750 7,281,525 4,590,300 6,599,025 3,152,700 5,445,275

2nd

3rd

82 76 34 65 36

81 53 36 55 25

2nd 125 74 88 74 67

304 229 130 224 109

JOCKEYS Name

Rides Wins Win%

Mr W B Kennedy Mr S Khumalo Mr M A Yeni Mr R D Fourie Mr K de Melo

804 608 720 431 484

139 103 85 84 62

17.3 16.9 11.8 19.5 12.8

383 265 321 227 240

47.6 43.6 44.6 52.7 49.6

BREEDERS Name

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

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

237 862 281 1062

41,658 30,220

93 122 80 97

39.2 355 28.5 414

7 3

8 4

9,872,888 8,491,688

128 117 93

49,570 42,377 41,983

49 42 38

38.3 192 35.9 181 40.9 177

10 2 2

10 2 2

6,344,900 4,958,063 3,904,425

B.T. Wins

Total Stakes (R)

9 5 1 5 1

6,161,363 5,490,625 5,331,238 5,166,238 5,041,650

465 435 369

70 59 49

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

Runrs Runs AEPR 125 148 147 129 144

447 500 582 457 517

49,291 37,099 36,267 40,048 35,011

B.T. Wnrs Wins Winrs/ Places Winrs Rnrs % 54 50 52 51 51

70 66 65 64 68

43.2 33.8 35.4 39.5 35.4

185 191 270 197 219

See all the detailed standings - Click here 60

7 5 1 5 1

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THE LONDON CLASH! 63

Not likely to be a game Tottenham are looking forward to. But I think it can be another league spectacle without a flurry of goals. These two proud London sides renew their rivalry yet again on Sunday evening, and I personally cannot wait for it!

Ryan Liberty writes that the real sense of excitement is found in the fact that many will write this off as a simple Chelsea win, but this is the Premier League!

It’s certainly not going to be that straightforward – read on to see how I unpack it.

Chelsea vs Tottenham | Sunday 23 January | Stamford Bridge | 18h30 To Win (90 mins) Chelsea 7/10 Draw 28/10 Tottenham 37/10 Chelsea I think Chelsea got their tactics absolutely spot on at the Etihad. Granted, Thomas Tuchel would have preferred to not have to play Brighton before entertaining Spurs… but I guess that is how the proverbial cookie crumbles.

Chelsea needed to humble themselves and pack in against the league leaders, something you would not have seen against the

Seagulls, nor on Sunday evening. What is impressive is when a side can show such a degree of resilience in defence, (yes, against a very good team) something which requires character and belief, where elsewhere they look to take the game to their opponents and often dictate the flow and pace of the ball.

The Blues have recovered well from their December wobble and are still fighting at the summit of the table. Their German manager has returned them to playing and looking like a well-oiled machine and, if you are a Chelsea fan, you are singing their praises again. Ok, ok you never stopped – look at you being a true supporter!

The hosts will want to get rid of the rust on their attacking process and look to ensure their strikers are actually asking questions in Tottenham box.

I don’t doubt their defensive work, but they must be careful not to show their visitors too much respect, lest they class themselves amongst the likes of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club…

I think this will be a cagey game, both managers enjoy being defensively sound and will want to ensure they shutup shop early. For the neutral viewer, we can only hope something fires things up early on.

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Tottenham Antonio Conte has had an impressive start to life at Spurs, but by his own admission, this will be a real test for his side. They were well-beaten by Chelsea in the EFL Cup, and should they wish to stand any chance of coming away with something from this game, they will need every ounce of physicality, strength and aggressiveness so often associated with a Conte team.

I think Spurs is still well within the Champions League conversation for this year.

They are just four points off fourth spot with four fixtures in hand. Of course, games like this one become important in their quest for European representation… but I don’t think it’s the beall and end-all. Their real battle is against West Ham, Arsenal, Manchester United and Wolves.

I don’t think enough has been mentioned of the attacking options available at Spurs. I would put that forward attack amongst the best in the league! However, much like Manchester United, the ability to get the ball into those players is failing.

Harry Kane is an exceptional footballer, his movement in the opposing box is brilliant.

His unassuming turn of foot in tight areas, maintaining

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control of the ball is also often forgotten. But for me, it is his ability to hold the ball up and bring other options into the Spurs attacking surge – and yet he is never among the candidates when we speak of the likes of Romelu Lukaku.

I think this could be a brilliant game to watch, Antonio Conte might have something to prove, and these Spurs players will not want to

be embarrassed by their neighbours again.

Prediction: Chelsea/Draw & Under 2.5 @ 12/10 I maintain that this will be a low-scoring affair, in fact I think Antonio Conte will adopt the Thomas Tuchel approach seen against City – yet another indication of where each team is at.

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I’m certainly excited for this encounter, and whilst my prediction might suggest something of a bore – I assure you the niceties usually associated with these teams will be on full display for all to see.

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