SP Sprint - 3 August 2022

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GOOD NEWS FOR CAPE RACING STAKEHOLDERS 4

Candiese Lenferna

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Cape Racing together with Hollywoodbets, has announced a new incentive structure to be known as RaceCape.

RaceCape is an innovative programme designed to boost and incentivise increased racehorse ownership in the Western Cape.

The obvious benefits include enhanced field sizes, boosted betting turnovers, further opportunities for the Cape’s outstanding community of racehorse trainers, increased employment prospects for grooms and work riders, as well as all related and ancillary horse racing services.

Cape Racing is delighted and privileged that Hollywoodbets has come on board as the headline sponsor of the RaceCape initiative.

Devin Heffer, Hollywoodbets Brand and Communications Manager, said of Hollywood’s backing of RaceCape, “We are proud to be associated with such a progressive initiative, that will not only go a long way to reinvigorating racing in the Cape but will also result in enhanced job security and job opportunities for those in the region. Furthermore, the “outof-the-box” thinking deployed

by Cape Racing in developing this programme is consistent with the innovation that we at Hollywoodbets regard as a core part of our DNA.” RaceCape will launch with effect from 1 September 2022.

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The core aspects of the RaceCape incentive scheme include, amongst others: · Providing owners and trainers with a set appearance fee of R2 500 per runner in the Western Cape. · Rewarding visiting “Raiding” trainers and owners with subsidised transport and attractive bonuses for competing in the Western Cape season.

The key highlights of the RaceCape incentive scheme are laid out in the table below:

Justin Vermaak is ringing the changes Head of Racing Operations for Cape Racing, Justin Vermaak explained: “This has been top of the agenda since day one of taking on the role and it is a testament to the team at Cape Racing that we have managed to confirm the roll out of this programme in just two weeks. The RaceCape incentive scheme should have an immediate effect on field sizes and will encourage more regular running of horses. More importantly, however, is the longer-term effect on the general horse population.

This, combined with planned increased stakes levels, will positively impact the economics of ownership

in the Western Cape. Furthermore, this programme will provide meaningful cash flow benefits to our trainers.

“It is top of our priority list to stop the loss of lower rated horses from the province, and we believe that these two mechanisms will be a major positive in that battle. Focus on growth of our smaller stables is paramount to our plans going forward and I believe that this will be a major lift for them. The owners’ part of the appearance fee will be paid directly to the trainer, who will in turn credit the owners’ account in the form of a rebate. This will materially improve cash flow for the smaller yards.

The industry, particularly in the Cape has seen the departure of too many smaller trainers. This trend needs to be arrested. The

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generous bonuses and subsidies on offer for raiding trainers are designed to entice more visitors to the Western Cape, which will have a resultant impact on field sizes.

“I would like to thank Hollywoodbets for their sponsorship of this programme. They are securing the future of the sport with their backing of the industry on so many levels and it is a privilege to have their name associated with this initiative.”

Watch an interview with Justin Vermaak - please click here.

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Candiese Lenferna

HORSE OF THE YEAR – A TIE WOULD BE FAIR! 10

‘It would be remiss not to make mention of Drakenstein's phenomenal achievement as breeders of a record 18 individual stakes winners this past season, a tally which obliterated the previous benchmark of 12 jointly held by Wilgerbosdrift/Mauritzfontein and Summerhill Stud’ 11

Jet Dark and Kommetdieding slug it out in the HKJC World Pools Gr1 Champions Cup

The time-honoured Marshalls World Of Sport Gold Cup meeting proved a fitting finale to the racing season and is guaranteed to have an impact on the Equus Awards. In fact, this year it could be the deciding factor as to who will be named Horse of the Year, the current favourites being the Justin Snaithtrained duo of Captain's Ransom and Jet Dark.

Many will undoubtedly opt for Suzette Viljoen's exceptional filly, who is virtually assured of the Champion Sprinter title following a scintillating win in Saturday's Gr1 Mercury Sprint, which was her first clash against males.

That was also a fourth individual Gr1 victory of the season for the svelte daughter of Captain Al, whose claim is further strengthened by her versatility, considering her quartet of Gr1 wins came from distances of 1200 to 1800m.

Granted, that should be sufficient to tilt the scales in her favour, yet let's not forget that she won the Paddock Stakes, Majorca Stakes and SA Fillies Sprint against her own gender.

Furthermore, for the second year running, she failed in the Gr1 Garden Province Stakes, a race she looked to have at her mercy. On form,

she towered head and shoulders above her rivals, and whether the delayed start to the race played a part in her disappointing effort, the fact is that this could have affected her rivals as well.

Last season's Champion threeyear-old and Champion miler, stable companion Jet Dark ended his four-year-old campaign with a successful defence of his Gr1 Champions Cup crown. That came at the expense of old nemesis Kommetdieding, whom he had beaten in the Gr1 L'Ormarins Queen's Plate, before the Rix runner turned the tables in the Gr1 Cape Met. The second Champions Cup win was just reward for Jet Dark, considering he was coming off two troubled, yet highly creditable efforts at the Durban track, a close up third in the Gr1 Gold Challenge and a flying second in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July under top weight, where he had Kommetdieding behind him.

On both occasions, he virtually had to sprout wings from the rear and not surprisingly ran out of real estate over the short Hollywoodbets Greyville straight.

His accomplishments could see him walk away with the award for Champion Middle Distance Horse at least.

It's been 17 years since two horses were named Joint Horse of the Year. Both females and both grey, National Colour, the dam of Rafeef, shared the honours with Ilha da Vitoria. Who knows, we may yet see history repeat itself!

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Whilst Captain's Ransom looks set to be named Champion Older Female as well, one could also make a case for Sparkling Water, who, in contrast to Captain's Ransom, was campaigned almost exclusively in open company during her four-year-old season.

The daughter of Silvano's biggest triumph came in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, where she trounced the boys in emphatic manner. In addition, she defeated male rivals in the Victory Moon Stakes and Western Cape Stayers, whilst losing the Gr1 Premier's Champions Challenge by a head. Food for thought perhaps?

Triple Tiara winner Rain In Holland was sent to the sidelines following her SA Oaks victory, but such was her dominance of the division that she looks a shoe- in to be named the Champion Three-year-old Filly.

The colt's division was a bit more muddled. Cape Guineas winner and Derby second Double Superlative was not seen out again after finishing fourth in the Met, courtesy of a tendon injury. Cape Derby winner Pomp And Power could only finish third in the Gr2 KZN Guineas before chasing home Safe Passage in the Gr1 Daily News 2000. Third in that race was SA Derby winner Aragosta, who

Candiese Lenferna

The magnificent Gold Cup trophy subsequently failed to shine in both the July and Gold Cup. Safe to say that Safe Passage probably clinched the title with his fine third behind Sparkling Water and Jet Dark in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July. Lest we forget, the son of Silvano started his sophomore season with five straight victories, amongst which the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas and Gr2 Dingaans, whilst going down by a neck in the Gr1 SA Classic.

Vercingetorix colt Cousin Casey proved his superiority in the juvenile ranks with a rampant score in the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes. It was a fourth win on the trot for the Glen Kotzen-trained bay and came on the heels of his victories in the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes and Gr2 Golden Horseshoe.

A superstar in the making and fully deserving of the Champion Juvenile Colts title!

Canadian Summer probably clinched a championship when she fell over the line in the Gr1 Thekwini Stakes. There was drama

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aplenty after the race, as many thought that runnerup Rock The Fox got up on the line, even her jockey paraded in front of the grandstand and mistakenly accepted the winning sash!

Although this was Canadian Summer's first Gr1 success, she already had the Listed Devon Air Stakes to her name.

Nebraas looked a virtual certainty to repeat as Champion Stayer, having annexed both the Gr3 Gold Bowl and Caradoc Gold

Cup. Alas, he faltered in the Gold Cup, where he finished less than four lengths behind the winner Shangani, who also defeated him when they met for the first time on July day. What odds the new champion will be Shangani, one of

14 individual stakes winners bred

by Wilgerbosdrift/Mauritzfontein, who will be crowned champion breeders for the second time.

Finally, it would be remiss not to make mention of Drakenstein's phenomenal achievement as breeders of a record 18 individual

stakes winners this past season, a tally which obliterated the previous benchmark of 12 jointly held by Wilgerbosdrift/ Mauritzfontein and Summerhill Stud.

NEWSFLASH – EQUUS UPDATE The Equus Awards Committee issued a media release on Tuesday that showed that Jet Dark edged past Captain’s Ransom in the season final weekend to top the Horse of The

Year Table for 2021/22.

Jet Dark and Captain’s Ransom both won their final Grade 1 starts for the season, but it is the former who is now on top in the final points table for the season on 152 points.

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A reminder that the public vote opens on 8 August and closes on 12 August.

See all the tables and more information – please click here.

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Cover Image Gavin Lerena and Richard Fourie with the HKJC World Pools Champions Cup behind them - image courtesy of Candiese Lenferna

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Candiese Lenferna

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Justin Snaith holds two of the aces in the SA Horse Of The Year title chase.

After Captain’s Ransom downed the fast set to win the Gr1 Mercury Sprint, it was stablemate Jet Dark who threw his hat in with a big performance to win the R1 million Gr1 HKJC World Pool Champions Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.

In a race that was marred with heavy ( we are talking

R45 000 plus time) whip rule contravention fines for both the first and second finishing jockeys, Drakenstein Stud’s evergreen champion sire Trippi ended the 2021-2022 South African racing season on a high, thanks to his champion son Jet Dark’s successful defence of his title.

Jet Dark downed the subsequently exported Catch Twenty Two when victorious in the 2021 renewal.

Under an informed Richard Fourie, four-year-old Jet Dark raced

midfield for much of the running in as his stablemate Crown Towers made the running.

Fourie brought Jet Dark with a sustained run down the inside of the track, and the pair settled down to fight out a thrilling finish with Kommetdieding, which saw Jet Dark prevail by a neck.

It was another two and a quarter lengths back to 2022 Gr1 TAB The Premier’s Candiese Lenferna

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Champions Cup 1-2 trainers Duis Justinautem Snaith Rixinshare nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. veland eumMichelle iriure dolor hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie a good moment consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero eros et accumsan et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent

Champions Challenge winner Astrix who finished third.

the Justin Snaith trained Jet Dark has now won seven of 16 starts for earnings of R4 171 600.

It was a fourth Gr1 win for Jet Dark, who also captured the Gr1 LÓrmarins Queen’s Plate in both 2021 and 2022. The classy colt, Equus Champion 3YO Colt and Champion Miler of 20202021, had also finished runner up in both the 2022 Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met and Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Jet Dark, who is out of the Jet Master mare Night Jet, was a R200 000 buy from the 2019 National Yearling Sale.

Bred by Drakenstein Stud,

His champion sire Trippi has had another fine season in 2021-2022 being responsible for nine stakes winners in South Africa - more than the likes of Master Of My Fate, Querari and Rafeef.

When Jet Dark was runner-up in the Hollywoodbets Durban

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July earlier this month, Bernard Fayd’Herbe signed an admission of guilt for a contravention of Rule 58.10.2 in that he mis-used his crop by striking the colt 17 times and was fined R10 000.

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Candiese Lenferna

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WHAT A RACEHORSE!

Having her first start against the males after a week of will-she-won’t-she, Snaith champion Captain’s Ransom inched a stride closer to the SA Horse Of The Year title with a breathtaking last gasp victory in Saturday’s R1 million Gr1 Mercury Sprint to lay her much debated Hollywoodbets Greyville ghost to rest.

It’s now well documented what happened to Captain’s Ransom on Hollywoodbets Durban July day and her subsequent below-par effort in the Brentford FC Gr1 Garden Province Stakes. But all’s well that ends well as Justin Snaith and his team produced the goods with the magic filly.

With William Robertson and Big Burn looking to fill the exacta, Captain’s Ransom (2-1) exploded down the centre under a lefthanded Richard Fourie to register her sixth Gr1 victory.

Richard Fourie, who was registering his 8th Gr1 success of the term, got the flying filly home by just under a half length in a time of 69,53 secs.

William Robertson (7-1) ran another honest race to grab second ahead of the top class 3yo filly Big Burn (14-1).

With 12 wins and 2 places from 15 starts for stakes of R3 031 000, the Moutonshoek-bred Captain’s Ransom cost R225 000 at the 2019 National Yearling Sale.

A daughter of deceased champion

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sire Captain Al (Al Mufti), she is out of the unraced Red Ransom mare Cinna’s Ransom. The latter, dam of multiple winners in Britain, is a half-sister to Gr3 Prix de Saint-Georges winner Black Rock Desert and multiple Japanese stakes winner Toyo Seattle.

Cinna’s Ransom’s own dam, the Plankton Stakes winner, City Dance is a full-sister to multiple Gr1 winner, and successful sire, Slew City Slew.

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26 A delighted Richard Fourie is welcomed back by Isaac Mwelasa and leading apprentice Rachel Venniker

Candiese Lenferna

CAPTAIN’S CLASS PUSHES MERCURY SKY HIGH 27

The brilliant Captain’s Ransom (Captain Al) once again showed her class when running out a smart winner of the Gr1 Mercury Sprint on Saturday.

In the process, Captain’s Ransom claimed her sixth Gr1 win and her 12th win from 15 starts. Captain’s Ransom is the fourth runner

by Captain Al to win the Mercury Sprint, following the likes of All Is Secret (2013), Captain Of All(2015) and Kasimir (2019).

While Captain’s Ransom is undoubtedly a feather in the cap of her much missed multiple champion sire Captain Al, she is also a credit to her broodmare sire Red Ransom -who from limited representatives more than made his mark in South Africa.

A winner of two of just three starts, Red Ransom (one of a number of non black type winning sires to excel at stud) left his mark in South Africa as a sire, broodmare sire and sire of sires.

Red Ransom filly Rumya never lost in South Africa, winning both the 2012 Gr1 Golden Slipper and the following season’s Gr1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas. Captain’s Ransom furthered her sire’s influence in the Fillies Guineas when she won the 2020 Cape Fillies Guineas.

Red Ransom’s influence on the Cape Fillies Guineas, however, was not limited to Rumya and Captain’s Ransom. His star son Intikhab is broodmare sire of former South African Horse Of The Year Igugu (Galileo) -who finished second, to multiple Gr1 winner Ebony Flyer (Jet Master), in the 2010 Cape Fillies Guineas.

Winner of both the 2011 Gr1 Vodacom Durban July and 2012 Gr1 J&B Met, Igugu died early in her stud career but did leave behind the useful galloper El Misk (Dansili).

Igugu’s dam Zarinia is also dam of the classy Ngaga (Fastnet Rock), whose four career wins included a triumph in the Listed East Coast Cup of 2018.

Another son of Red Ransom, Sri Pekan, is broodmare sire of the talented Buffalo Bill Cody (Redoute’s Choice). Now standing at Wilgerbosdrift, the blueblooded Buffalo Bill Cody won six of just ten starts and beat subsequent Gr1 SA Classic winner Lobo’s Legend (Trippi) when making a winning debut over 1160 metres.

Red Ransom is also broodmare sire of Canadian champion Marchfield -whose son Paybackthemoney finished second in the 2020 Gr3 World Sports Betting Gold Cup, while Red Ransom's Gr1 winning son Charge Forward was represented in South Africa by Gr3 Sycamore Sprint winner San Fermin. Another son, former KZN stallion Slew The Red, was the sire of Gr2 28

Emerald Cup hero Phunyuka.

The 2020 Listed Golden Loom Handicap winner Bold Ransom was produced by Red Ransom mare Wiqaaya, while Red Ransom's daughter Sogha, in turn, produced champion, and Gr1 Golden Slipper winner Mahbooba -like Igugu, sired

by Galileo.

Captain’s Ransom is closely inbred to Epsom Derby winner Roberto -grandsire of Captain Al and sire of Red Ransom.

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Head Groom Luthando Ntshangase and Head Travelling Groom Lindile Sitshevu lead Cousin Casey (Grant van Niekerk) in

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KOTZEN’S COUSIN!

Glen Kotzen’s Cousin Casey enhanced his Equus Championship aspirations as he made it four straight wins with a dazzling display to win the R500 000 Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.

Cousin Casey (7-2) made it a hat-trick of feature victories

when he turned on the jets from some way off the pace under Grant van Niekerk and stormed home to pulverize his opposition.

Beating Royal Victory (6-1) by 2,10 lengths in a time of 95,97 secs, Cousin Casey looks to have enhanced his champion 2yo colt title chances Raced by Ravi Naidoo, Cousin

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Casey was bred by Riyo Stud and is a son Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the Casey Tibbs mare Bretton Woods.

Cousin Casey is a R375 000 National Yearling Sale buy and has won 4 races with 2 places from 6 starts for stakes of R737 500.

Cousin Casey is one of 21 stakes winners for Vercingetorix thus far, with Vercingetorix also responsible for this season’s

fellow G1 winners Alesian Chief, Astrix, Chansonette and Pomp And Power.

Vercingetorix, whose progeny

made up to R3 000 000 at this year’s National Yearling Sale, has 19 lots on offer at the 2022 August Two Year Old Sale.

Candiese Lenferna

Cousin Casey supporters at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday

CUP ENTRIES ARE IN With 91 days to go until the A$8 million Gr1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) the Victoria Racing Club has received 186 nominations for the ‘the race that stops a nation’.

A strong group of 143 stayers from Australia and New Zealand and 43 international runners are in

the mix for the 162nd running of the world-famous race, which will be held at Flemington Racecourse on the first Tuesday in November.

Headlining the Australasiantrained nominations are 2019 hero Vow And Declare, 2021 Lexus Melbourne Cup placegetter Spanish Mission and 2022 TAB Australian Cup winner Duais.

Australian Group 1 winners such

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as Montefilia, Profondo, Mr Brightside and I’m Thunderstruck also feature in the nominations.

Champion trainer Chris Waller is represented by top-flight winners Hinged and Kukeracha among his 15 entrants.

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Candiese Lenferna

Canadian Summer (Jason Gates) gets it by a nose from Rock The Fox (Calvin Habib). Fourth-placed Hold My Hand (Grant van Niekerk) is just behind the duo

GR1 GLORY FOR MOORE, GATES & SOMASUNDRUM In another desperately close finish, the R500 000 Gr1 Thekwini Stakes went to the judge for an extended decision after Canadian Summer and Rock The Fox went to the line as one horse.

With Paul Peter and Warren Kennedy threatening to produce another feature success in the shape of the forward galloping Bless My Stars, who looked a

winner late, the pincer attack of Canadian Summer and Rock The Fox swooped from both sides to produce a thriller.

With Canadian Summer getting the decision, despite the flying Rock The Fox being called by Eagle Eye Craig Peters, the race evolved into an emotional moment for Gr1 maidens Preggie Somasundram, Jason Gates and 33 year old trainer Darryl Moore.

Now a dual stakes winner, 33

Canadian Summer (10-1) won in a time of 96,79 secs.

Runner-up Rock The Fox continued the terrific ‘freshman’ season of her sire Canford Cliffs.

Raced by Preggie Somasundram, the winner, an R80 000 2021 BSA August 2yo Sale graduate, was bred by Oldlands Stud and is a ninth Gr1 winner for Oratorio (Danehill) out

of the two time winning Silvano mare Autumn Splendour.

Canadian Summer has now won 3 races with 2 places from 5 starts for

stakes of R585 750.

He joins Hong Kong Horse Of The Year Military Attack and the likes of Banchee, Beethoven, Biz The Nurse, Manawanui, Mourinho,Temida and top sprinter

Van Halen as Gr1 winners sired by Oratorio.

Twice a Leading Sire in Italy, Oratorio has a single lot on offer at the 2022 August Two Year Old Sale.

The photo finish - it was close!

JASON ON HIS GR1 Winning jockey Jason Gates told Gold Circle’s David Thiselton:“When I got to the winning post I thought I had won by about a head and all the other jocks were saying ‘well done’. But when I

turned around I saw the camera on Calvin Habib’s horse and then I saw them putting the sash on! But the vet was calling me and saying ‘No they got it wrong, you come here!’

So I said but they are putting the sash on her already and he said,

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‘No, I don’t care, you come here.’ A lot of people were also screaming ‘No you got it Jason!’ It was a very tense moment.”

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36 gets the gold! Imperial Ruby An elated Warren Kennedy punches the air as Shangani (Craig Zackey, obscured) was second ahead of Kannemeyer longshot Rex Union (Sean Veale)

A PETER PLAN COME TOGETHER 37

Paul Peter celebrated his crowning moment as the new SA Champion trainer with his maiden Marshalls World Of Sport Gr3 Gold Cup victory at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.

As the rain came down the field for South Africa’s premier staying contest past the post for the first time and the race was to develop into a thrilling contest.

Going off at 7-1 Shangani got up close home to beat 40-1 shot Imperial Ruby by 0.60 lengths with Rex Union (20-1) a neck back in third and Black Thorn 9-2 in fourth.

New Zealand-bound

Kennedy rode the perfect race on Shangani, timing his run to perfection to catch long-time leader Imperial Ruby with Rex Union staying on well for third ahead of Black Thorn.

The two at the top of the boards, Nebraas and Aragosta, were a no-show, bringing up the rear of the field for much of the race and although making some late headway in the straight, they were well beaten.

Kennedy punched Shangani through a gap between Imperial Ruby and Rex Union to add another winner to the record tallies of both champion trainer Paul Peter and Kennedy.

It was a plan come together for the stable who had earmarked the Marshalls World of Sport Gold Cup

some months back. “Two runs back I did not ride a very good race but I said to Mister Wernars not to worry, I’d win the Marshalls World Of Gold Cup. It was a plan come together,” said Kennedy.

A half-brother to dual Aquanaut Handicap winner Chitengo, Shangani was bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein and is by illfated champion Soft Falling Rain (National Assembly) out of the Montjeu sired Gold Bowl victress Gorongosa.

Shangani cost R250 000 at the National Yearling Sale.

He has won 7 of 12 starts with 2 places for stakes of R950 187.

EQUUS CHAMPION STAYER With none of the prior tabletopping stayers adding to their points tallies in the Marshalls World of Sport Gold Cup, the fourth-placed

Black Thorn stayed on top of the Equus Champion Stayer log with 21 points. He ended the season marginally ahead of Sparkling Water and Nebraas (both on 20

points), while Shangani (18 points) re-enters the log after his victory and finishes in fourth position.

FRANKEL’S 100 UP Unbeaten racehorse and Champion Sire Frankel (Galileo-Kind, by Danehill) has sired his hundredth stakes winner, achieving the feat in record-breaking time over the weekend.

The world’s highest-ever rated racehorse, Frankel is still only a 14YO and has

seven crops of racing age.

The fastest sire in history to sire 50 group winners – a benchmark ticked in 2021, he now has 25 Group 1 winners and 67 group winners.

His century of stakes winners was set 3YO filly Emotion (FrankelMolly Malone, by Lomitas) who won the Listed Chalice Stakes at 38

Newmarket in the UK. Her record is now two wins from five starts. Frankel’s 100 stakes winners have come from 612 global runners (423 winners of over 1,000 races).

EST.1985

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Marina (Aldo Domeyer) is led in by trainer Candice Bass-Robinson, Marsh Shirtliff and Dr Karen Norman

CLASSY MARINA FINDS HER TRUE FORM While it wasn’t a vintage SA Champions Season by any means for lady trainer Candice BassRobinson, the top-class Marina injected some sense of respectability into proceedings for the Milnerton team with an emphatic victory in Saturday’s Gr2 Gold Bracelet at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

It’s a funny old game this

and newly crowned SA champion condition Paul Peter summed things up well in an interview with the Sporting Post last week, pointing to the fact that racing is just one never ending wheel and sometimes we are anywhere from the top, to the middle, to rock bottom.

For Candice Bass-Robinson, who struck early after taking the reins from her legendary Dad Mike with a history making Durban July winner in Marinaresco in 2017, it’s 40

been a typically mixed bag of highs and lows, with the Cape results keeping the home fires burning strongly.

On Saturday it was ironically Marinaresco’s full-sister Marina, a recent runnerup in the much discussed Brentford FC Gr1 Garden Province Stakes, who gave the Bass-Robinson team their 2022 SA Champions Season feature

icebreaker with a storming performance in the Gr2 Gold Bracelet.

The Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein-bred Marina didn’t make the final cut for the Hollywoodbets Durban July, but demonstrated her talent with a superb career peak victory on Saturday as she bounced clear at 1410 to beat the late rattling Follow The Star (12-1) by a facile 2,20 lengths

in a time of 126,01 secs.

Sprinkles (12-1) ranged up looking dangerous, but was well beaten a further 1,80 lengths away in third.

A classy chestnut winner of 9 races with 5 places from 19 starts for stakes of R814 650, Marina is by retired multiple SA Champion sire Silvano (Lomitas) out of the twicewinning Fort Wood mare, Gay Fortuna.

The good news is that along

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with other smart winners, including Jet Dark and Captain’s Ransom, Marina is set to stay in training for another season and maybe her Hollywoodbets Durban July chance may yet come.

She is, after all, a daughter of Silvano, and they age like a fine red wine.

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Chase Liebenberg

Silvano daughter Marina (Aldo Domeyer) dazzles with a big win in the Gr2 Gold Bracelet on Saturday

SIMPLY SPARKLING SILVANO - MAINE CHANCE STALLION CLEAN SWEEP! Maine Chance Farms pulled off a notable achievement when their past and present resident stallions Silvano, Vercingetorix, Querari and Erupt all claimed sires titles for the 20212022 South African racing season.

Silvano holds the SA modern day record of 29 Gr1 winners – 28 were bred here, while Lucky Speed was the German-bred Derby winner. By comparison, Captain Al is next on 25, with Jet Master and Western

Winter on 22 each. Foveros sired 14 Gr1 winners.

Season Sire for the season just ended.

And once again, Silvano was crowned Champion Sire of South Africa, while his outstanding sire Vercingetorix, who finished runner up to his sire on the General Sires List last season, was South Africa's Leading Sire of 3YOs for the 20212022 season.

The late, legendary Silvano claimed a remarkable sixth South African General Sires List, with the son of Lomitas ending the 2021-2022 season more than R1.262 million clear of runner up, and current star sire, Vercingetorix.

Already a Leading Sire of 2YOs (he topped that premiership in 21082019), the ever reliable Querari was named South Africa's Leading Sire of 2YOs for 2021-2022, while Dubawi's blue blooded son Erupt was officially crowned Leading First

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Silvano runners earned R17 688 263 million in the past season, with Silvano's 10 black type winners of 20212022 winning 16 stakes races in that season. Pride

of place goes to Silvano's star daughter Sparkling Water, who became Silvano's fifth July winner when she won the 2022 Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Saturday's Gr1 Thekwini Stakes.

Silvano runners dominated the finish to this year's July, with his daughter Sparkling Water winning South Africa's most famous horse-race and his son Safe Passage finishing third.

However, Silvano has left behind a worthy heir to his throne in the form of his outstanding son Vercingetorix- South Africa's Leading Sire of 3YOs for 20212022.

Other stars representing Silvano last season included top three-year-olds Safe Passage and Silver Darling, who provided their sire with a Gr1 double when landing the Gr1 Daily News 2000 and Gr1 Woolavington 2000 respectively on the same day, and Marina, winner of Saturday's Gr2 Gold Bracelet and runner up in the Gr1 Brentford FC Garden Province Stakes.

Silvano's progeny excelled at Hollywoodbets Greyville last Saturday -not only did his daughters Marina and Follow The Star finish first and second in the Gold Bracelet, his son Silvano's Timer captured the Listed Marshalls World Of Sport Darley Arabian, and another son, Imperial Ruby, finished second in the Gr3 Marshalls World Of Sport Gold Cup. Silvano is also broodmare sire of both Canadian Summer and Bless My Stars, who ran 1-3 in

It was an emotional, posthumous triumph for Silvano, who died almost 12 months before recording his latest title.

It was an exceptional season for Vercingetorix, whose progeny shone both on the track and in the sales ring. Vercingetorix's three-year-olds, headed by the G1 winners Alesian Chief, Chansonette and Pomp And Power, earned more than R7.835 million last season, and captured such notable races as the Gr1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas, G1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby, Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint, Gr2 Concorde Cup, Gr2 Post Merchants and Gr3 WSB Merchants.

His stablemate Querari had an exceptional season with his twoyear-olds, with Querari sired juveniles earning more thanR2.855 million in 2021-2022.

Querari was responsible for 23 two-year-old winners last season, including graded stakes winners Galla Vanting, Gobsmacked, and Prophet.

His two-year-olds were seen to great advantage on Saturday when Godsmacked won the Gr2 Prosport International Debutante, and Querari sons Quantum Theory and Prophet ran third and fourth 44

respectively in the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes.

Erupt looks like joining the likes of Night Of Thunder and New Bay as a top-class son of Dubawi. The close relative of Encosta De Lago and Holy Roman Emperor is officially South Africa's Leading First Season Sire for 2021-2022, with Erupt's nine early winners headed

by Gr3 Protea Stakes/Listed Storm Bird Stakes winner Karangetang.

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STAR STUFF FROM PETER & KENNEDY 46

47 Swing Upon A Star (Warren Kennedy in red cap) stays on powerfully to hold off Rachel Venniker (black silks) and Sun Blushed in an early thriller on the big day

In a heart-stopping finish that went to the judge, the national championship winning combination of Paul Peter and Warren Kennedy came out tops in the R200 000 Epol Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, 30 july.

After doing the donkey work up front and looking a winner inside the final 250m, Swing Upon A Star

(14-1) enjoyed the drop in trip from a mile and held on doggedly by a hair breadth to hold off a flying Sun Blushed (20-1) and Rachel Venniker in a time of 70,92 secs.

Stuart Pettigrew’s 15-10 fancy Mercantour saved a few Place Accumulator players by rattling late to run third, a further 0,30 lengths adrift.

Raced by Messrs G, K & M M Nassif and Ian Levitan, the winner was bred by Narrow Creek Stud

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and is a son of Elusive Fort (Fort Wood) out of the onetime winning Eliza Doolittle (Judpot).

Swing Upon A Star is a winner of 2 races with 2 places from 5 starts for stakes of R219 250.

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Gobsmacked (Keagan de Melo in Wernars' white, black and red) charges clear

NO SURPRISES BUT GOBSMACKED! Winning Form-sponsored Keagan de Melo registered an early double on the season feature finale day at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday when the Gauteng raider Gobsmacked proved a popular winner of the R200 000 Prosport International Gr2 The Debutante.

Trained by Johan Janse van Vuuren, the daughter of Querari led for much of the 1200m trip and proved too strong as she fended off challengers to win by 0,40

lengths in a time of 71,14 secs.

The 18-10 showed a touch of class to hold off the fast-finishing Gimme A Shot (14-1) with Antigua Night (7-1) a further 0,80 lengths back in third.

Jockey Keagan de Melo expressed the opinion that Gobsmacked would prefer in time and she certainly looks worth following.

Raced in a partnership of Messrs J F & L M F Wernars & Mrs T J Wernars, the winner was bred by Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd and is a daughter of Oasis Dream

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sire Querari (GER) out of the Shamardal mare Bold Nimph (AUS), an unraced half sister to 2yo stakes winner Sky Link and to the stakes placed Bluroute Unbeaten in three starts, the winner has now earned a gross R225 000.

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Candiese Lenferna

Silvano's Timer (Keagan de Melo) stays on powerfully to beat Donald Mcdonald (Grant van Niekerk)

KANNEMEYER'S ON TIME!

Dean Kannemeyer and his longstanding patron Khaya Stables opened the Gold Cup day proceedings in the best way possible when the fancied Silvano’s Timer showed his liking for the polytrack and scored his first stakes success with an eye catching victory in the R150 000 Marshalls World Of Sport Listed Darley Arabian at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.

Given an accomplished

ride by soon-to-be-crowned KZN champion jockey and brand new Winning Form-sponsored rider Keagan de Melo, the lightly raced Silvano’s Timer (11-2) kept on with impressive resolve to hold Donald Mcdonald (14-1) to 0,40 lengths in a time of 92,69 secs.

The Drakenstein-bred winner is 4yo a son of deceased champion Silvano (Lomitos) out of the fivetime winning Captain Al mare Tick Tock.

Silvano’s Timer was purchased at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale

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for R1 million. He is now a winner of 4 races with 4 places from 11 starts for stakes of R255 200.

Silvano's Timer was the high-riding Drakenstein Stud's 18th feature winner of the season.

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Candiese Lenferna

The happy Hollywood team celebrate with some supporters

HOLLYWOOD SYNDICATE HIT THEIR SEASON CENTURY The storm clouds that moved in across Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday just prior to the running of the Marshalls World Of Sport Gr3 Gold Cup were an omen that proved on the mark.

Just hours later Isivunguvungu, meaning ‘storm’ in isiXhosa, romped home in the final event of the superb season finale to bring up a century of

winners for the 2021/22 season for the Hollywood Syndicate.

The Hollywood Syndicate is the racehorse ownership platform of South Africa’s leading sportsbook operator, Hollywoodbets. The goal of the unique initiative is to support the SA horseracing and breeding industry by not only investing back into horseracing, but also by taking an active role in thoroughbred racehorse ownership.

Getting bogged down in the

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‘nervous nineties’ is an affliction most top batsmen will relate to - and it even happens in racing.

After the smart looking Kitchakal won the opener at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday 24 July to bring up the 99 winner mark for the term, a long six days ensued for the Hollywood Syndicate.

But the bang in-form Winning Form-sponsored Richard Fourie, fresh off a

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Gr1 double on Captain’s Ransom and Jet Dark on the afternoon, which brought up his personal best of 9 Gr1 winners for the season, hit the winning ‘run’ in smashing style in the Marshalls World Of Sport Listed Umngeni Handicap as Peter Muscutt’s Isivunguvungu came home in fine style to register his maiden stakes strike.

team effort behind the milestone and said that he valued and appreciated having had the faith and trust placed in him to do a job he ‘loved’.

The winning trainer, jockey and groom all received cash awards for the milestone.

A 3yo What A Winter colt out of the Tiger Ridge mare Miss Tweedy, the handsome gelding was bred by Narrow Creek Stud and was registering his third success from just 8 starts.

The enormity of achieving the milestone of 100 winners in their greatest season in 18 years is illustrated by the fact that the top team only celebrated their 200th overall winner milestone on 2 February 2021. Previous to that, the Hollywood Syndicate hit a purple patch in 2020, with 42 winners in one of the toughest years for horseracing in history.

An emotional Hollywood Syndicate Racing Manager Anthony Delpech expressed his appreciation for the

The Hollywood Syndicate celebrated their first winner on 3 March 2002, when Splendid Night won a Maiden Plate at what is now

Hollywoodbets Greyville.

The Hollywood Syndicate’s final runner of the season made it winner 101 when La Vida stormed home for trainer Brett Crawford at Kenilworth on Sunday at the final local meeting of the term.

101 Winners for the Season: 65 different horses 21 different trainers 31 different jockeys (incl.

8 Apprentices & 1 Work Rider)

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55 Isivunguvungu charges clear under Richard Fourie

Pauline Herman Photography

Louis Mxothwa and Port Louis return to the winner's enclosure

PORT LOUIS ISLAND STYLE!

Varsfontein Stud’s champion resident sire Gimmethegreenlight’s fantastic season with his two-year-olds continued on Friday when Cape raider Port Louis won the R200 000 Listed Champion Juvenile Cup in a thrilling duel with Khaya’s Hope.

Runner up in the Gr3 World Sports Betting Langerman last time out, the Brett Crawford trained gelding showed plenty of heart under Louis Mxothwa.

Raced by Mr T Gujadhur, Port Louis fought out a

thrilling duel with eventual runner up Khaya’s Hope before edging out his rival to win by a short head.

It was another four and threequarter lengths back to third place finisher Forest Spy. Bred by Klawervlei Stud, Port Louis has now won twice from just six starts.

Out of the Qui Danzig mare Winning Eyes, Port Louis was a R260 000 buy from the 2021 Cape Yearling Sale.

He is the 44th stakes winner for Gimmethegreenlight, South Africa’s Champion 56

Sire of 2020-2021.

Gimmethegreenlight has had a fine season with his two-year-olds this season including Gr3 Langerman winner Light Speed, Gr3 Cape Racing Cape Of Good Hope Nursery runner-up Wecangoallnight and the promising Countdown.

A son of outstanding sire More Than Ready, Gimmethegreenlight has 11 lots on offer at the upcoming August Two Year Old Sale.

FAREWELL TO THE ‘FIXER’ Ten-times East Cape Champion jockey Greg Cheyne was not the only man to bid a fond farewell to Fairview on Friday. Longtime Maintenance Manager John Loftie-Eaton, a familiar, albeit unheralded, character on the Eastern Cape’s only racecourse, rode off into the proverbial sunset on a wellearned retirement.

John, who started out on the old SARS (that’s rails not taxes), joined the then Phumelela in 2007 after 11 years at the St Georges Hospital.

from the impact of the pandemic, while the riots were traumatic and a dark shadow on Fairview’s proud history.”

“I have had a great time with some wonderful people the daily highlights. On the negative side, the covid-19 pandemic and the Fairview riots of 2020 were terrible.

I think many have not recovered

John’s passion is Formula 1 racing, and he admits to not being a punter and is not too interested in horseracing.

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Pauline Herman Photography

Gavin Smith and his wife Marilyn

SMITH CROWNED EAST CAPE CHAMPION

Hollywoodbets-sponsored Gavin Smith was crowned East Cape Champion trainer for the 13th time at his home base of Fairview on Friday. His last title came in 2018. The 56 year old puts his success down this season to a terrific team effort and the fact that the yard didn’t experience any quiet spells.

“We are dealing with flesh and blood, and there are so many variables in the equation. You asked me to name one thread of gold that made the difference for us, and I would have to say

that we were consistently fortunate to regularly turn out the winners,” adds the man who was born into racing in Gqeberha.

As the sun set on Sunday, the Gavin Smith Racing team finished the season in a highly commendable fifth spot on the national log, with their 134 winners and gross stakes of R9 381 313 putting them well clear of arch-rival Alan Greeff on 111 winners and his stakes of R8070 213.

While he has saddled more winners and earned more stakes, Gavin points out that the impact of the events of the past few years, including the Phumelela collapse and covid, on stakes is being felt

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to this day and will take time to overcome.

“I’m very happy with our stakes total achieved for last season. We are all competing in the same pool. But there is no question that we need stakes to improve. The stakes benchmark is the foundation and what influences the majority of owners’ actions – they scale down, they don’t buy as much. I do feel that we seem to be heading in the right direction though, and are in good hands. So we remain hopeful, and there is no lack of love and passion

when it comes to this game,” he smiles.

Gavin says that it takes a collective of things going right and the proper structures in place to keep a yard within a stone’s throw of the silverware.

“I think we were fortunate to buy well. Horses like Global Drummer, Safari Blue and Jaeger Moon have progressed and won their races and been consistent. Then we have had competitive runners at all levels and we have a very loyal core of passionate owners. Our team is rock solid and have been in place over many years.”

He adds that the attention to detail is vital and his team are seasoned professionals.

“My Grooms Victor, Jarred

and Bondas are solid soldiers – reliable and experienced. They are our backbone, together with assistants Fransie Jacobs and my son Dean. And then my wife Marilyn provides a pillar of strength. It’s not all a bed of roses and when one is down, it’s good to have somebody close that understands the industry,” he adds.

Jockeys who know the individual horses are also vital, and looking ahead to the new season, Gavin says he is very happy to be able to call on the services of JP van der Merwe and Aldo Domeyer.

“It helps making use of topclass riders who get to know the individual horses. Believe me, it takes time to get a horse to track and when the jockey is part of process, it removes unnecessary risks,” he adds.

Hollywoodbets has been a Gavin Smith supporter since he started.

Pauline Herman Photography

61 The Smith Racing Team

“I cannot thank the Hollywoodbets team enough. Never mind for all the help, input, assistance and beautiful kit that they have given our team – but just look at the amazing things they are doing all over South Africa for this game. It’s a privilege to race under the purple and gold flag and I’m glad I could win the championship again to give them a tangible show of appreciation.”

With things happening down South, would Gavin Smith be looking at taking a string down to the Mother City?

“Never say never! It’s all about having the right horses and being competitive. I see there are exciting things planned so who knows,” he laughs.

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STAY IN STYLE!

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Known for his decidedly unfashionable hair-style and unique sweaters, South African comedian Schalk Bezuidenhout has a naughty demeanour that only his Mom could love.

But he brought the house down at the magnificent Avontuur Estate on Friday evening for a one-off show before jetting off to Edinburgh.

The Sporting Post was privileged to attend the uniquely funny show by the English-speaking Afrikaans stand-up comedian who

tears strips off everything from his education and upbringing in Kempton Park (‘the New York of the East Rand!’), to Elon Musk and Eskom, and a whole lot of other subjects very relevant to our everyday lives.

Like us, Schalk was accommodated at the luxurious Manor house on the farm.

The accommodation provides guests with the most comfortable and stylish relaxing ambiance and the most enjoyable farm lifestyle experience possible.

The Manor House can be exclusively booked out for

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weddings and private events. Functions of up to 60 guests can be hosted on the beautiful Manor House lawns or within the intimate courtyard space.

If you are visiting the Cape, or even looking for a relaxing night or two away, the Manor House has everything you could want.

Please read more here

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THE GTH TEAM CONCEPT IS UNDERWAY! Thirty local jockeys and three winning SA trainers have signed up for the Global Team Horse Racing series (GTH), running in front of a new family-friendly crowd at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on consecutive Friday nights from August 5 until September 2.

GTH is a team-based event. Meetings have been condensed into two and a half hours of exhilarating thoroughbred racing under floodlights. There will also be plenty of track-side entertainment for families.

GTH jockeys represent three teams, the Cape Stingers,

the KwaZulu Royals and the Gauteng Gijimaz, competing for around R3.5-million in stakes and the Championship trophy.

Meet the Jockeys Riding for the Cape Stingers are: Mark Khan (captain); Craig Zackey; Sean Veale; Rachel Venniker; Robert Khati; Gareth Wright; Gabriell Pieterse; Khanya Sakayi; and Donald Gheerthsen.

The KwaZulu Royals are: Muzi Yeni (captain); Kabelo Matsunyane; Raymond Danielson; Jeffrey Syster; Ashton Arries; Thabiso Gumede; Athandiwe Mgudlwa; Jabu Jacobs; and Nicholas Patel.

Gauteng Gijimaz teammates include: Gavin Lerena (captain);

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Diego De Gouveia; Calvin Habib; Francois Herholdt; Tristan Godden; Cole Dicken; Jason Gates; Hennie Greyling; and Brian Nyawo.

Three reserve jockeys are on stand-by: Mpumi Mjoka; Sphe Hlengwa; and Mfanelo Zuma.

Click here to view the line up on the website.

GTH Team Managers Experienced SA trainers will serve as team managers.

Michelle Rix will lead the Cape Stingers, while Candice Dawson and Wendy Whitehead

have control of the reins belonging to the Gauteng Gijimaz and KwaZulu Royals respectively.

One-third of the GTH all-female management team, Dawson started CK Racing with her sister, Tammi, and business partner Kathryn Ralphs.

During her career, she has been linked to champion horses, including Jet Master, El Picha, Eventuail and Promisefrommyheart (source: SAHRacing).

Another passionate horsewoman, Wendy

Whitehead is a horse owner and trainer at Summerveld where she has worked for more than 32 years.

Whitehead was instrumental in providing GTH with support during the many trials implemented during 2021.

Rix works alongside her father, Harold Crawford, out of the family’s yard in Milnerton, Cape Town. The duo's top stars include 2021's Vodacom Durban July winner, Kommetdieding.

Rix said she hoped to squeeze one more victory out of the current racing season and was looking forward to a different type of excitement on GTH race evenings.

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Rix said: “Where GTH is going to benefit racing is by bringing in a younger type of crowd, a more social crowd and one that normally wouldn’t come to racing on a Friday night in Durban. Instead of indoor cricket, they’ll say: ‘Let’s go to the racecourse!’”

The Line-Up Spectators can choose a team to support throughout the series and follow the action either at the live races, or by tuning in to the live broadcasts by SuperSport on DSTV’s

Action channel (210) from 18h00.

The KwaZulu Royals and the Gauteng Gijimaz teams will race first at a meeting on Friday August 5. The following week, on Friday August 12, the KwaZulu Royals will meet the Cape Stingers. On the 19th, it will be the Cape against Gauteng. Teams will accumulate points for each race over the three weeks.

Then, the teams with the most points will ride in the finals on Friday, September 2, 2022.

Teams can apply their own strategy to their spot in the final, see how the scoring works here.

A Winning Format Rix said that three provinces competing against each other added to the excitement. “Horse racing is usually a singular sport, but this is a team sport. It will relate to so many more people outside of racing. That’s what racing really needs now.”

The trainer was confident that interest from the racing community would continue to grow. “Once this (GTH) is off the ground and everybody sees what a drawcard it is, they’ll be having a bit of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out),” Rix said.

She wagered: “If this runs well, we can look at attracting bigger sponsors and getting more people involved. There is no reason why this shouldn’t work.”

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While still deciding which horses the Cape Stinger jockeys would ride, Rix concluded: “There has to be some fun! Racing is not anybody’s job, it is a way of life. Things don’t always go to plan. But, as tough an industry as it is, you’ve got to have fun.”

Meanwhile, GTH Marketing Director, Angus Campbell, was thrilled about the level of talent the series had managed to attract.

GTH has also partnered with the Riverside Hotel to add an accommodation special for visitors. “They are giving us reduced room rates, and we will be running GTH VIP giveaways together with East Coast Radio - another

of our official event media partners - so stay tuned,” Campbell said.

challenged to come up with fun ways to show their support for their chosen team on race days.

GTH has invited South African social media influencers to apply to serve as event ambassadors through a GTH Social Pioneer programme, adding to the event build-up.

GTH Social Pioneer/Influencer Manager, Avela Khuluse, said: “GTH is a new format of racing that requires an audience build.

It’s a new concept that needs to be brought to the masses. We will work with Social Pioneers to help spread awareness about the event. We will also give away some awesome prizes, including cash prizes for Best Dressed and R5 000 for the best event theme designed

20 chosen Social Pioneers will be incentivised for every follower they bring to the races and have been

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around their chosen team.”

Tickets for the GTH series are already on sale at TIXSA. Prices start at R100 for general access. Children under 14 years old go free. Gates open at 17h00 each Friday and the action starts at 18h00, finishing by 20h30.

For more information, visit https://www.gthracing.co.za.

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Shadwell

The brilliant Baaeed

‘NEW FRANKEL’ IS 9/9 Goodwood staged 13 Group races across the five-day festival with the highlight being the Gr1 Qatar Sussex Stakes, and the latest appearance of Baaeed or the ‘new Frankel’ as some are calling him.

The Sea The Stars colt is now nine from nine including five Group 1 contests. With Guineas winner Coroebus a nonrunner, he was sent off at

1/6. Always cruising just off the pace, he showed a smart turn of foot to quicken to the front inside the final furlong and asserted to win easily from the three-year-old Modern Games.

Post-race, his connections hinted that a step up to a mile-and-aquarter at York in the Juddmonte International could be where the racing public see him next before a final start in the Champion Stakes at season-end.

His regular jockey Jim Crowley

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is in no doubt about his merit as he described him in a post-race interview as the best he’s ever sat on.

High compliment indeed considering the successful partnership he enjoyed with the ‘speedball’ Battaash from 2017 to 2020.

The two other Group 1 races over the week were the Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup and the Qatar Nassau Stakes.

Kyprios confirmed his Ascot Gold Cup success in the Goodwood Cup when narrowly denying the great Stradivarius under a masterful ride by Ryan Moore. Always in the vanguard, Moore had first run in a slowly run race with both Stradivarius and Trueshan a few lengths behind turning in. Hollie Doyle on Trueshan made up the ground quickly on the outside to challenge Kyprios, at the same time closing the door on rival Stradivarius who was forced to switch towards the inside rail to find daylight.

With the underfoot conditions not in his favour, Trueshan could only stay on for third, but Stradivarius once in the clear under his replacement rider Andrea Atzeni finished best to be beaten a neck at the line.

The Gosden trained Nashwa took her form up a level when winning the Nassau Stakes in decisive fashion by nearly two-lengths.

Following up on her Prix de Diane victory at Chantilly in June when raced prominently, Hollie Doyle dropped the daughter of Frankel out to last of eight

runners on day 3 of the festival.

Once in the straight, Nashwa quickened up well and won readily.

On that performance, she looks difficult to oppose against her own sex over ten furlongs and could even give the colts something to think about.

Earlier on the card, the Godolphin colt New London was well-backed to land the Gordon Stakes over a mile and a half. William Buick had the good-looking son of Dubawi well off the pace for most of the contest but made good progress once in the straight to lead a furlong out and keep on strongly. He won convincingly by a length and three-quarters from an improving Deauville Legend who conceded a 3lb penalty.

The Cazoo St Leger is now the likely target for the Charlie Appleby trained winner given he is out of a half-sister to the St Leger winner Masked Marvel.

The two-year-old Royal Scotsman looks one of the best around after a convincing win in the Gr2 Richmond Stakes. Heavily supported beforehand, the Coventry Stakes third broke the two-year-old course record, and gave the impression there’s more to come, though the third Chateau (fastest last furlong) is another to note for the remainder of the season.

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The Richard Hannon trained two-year-old filly Trillium showed her class when comprehensively routing the boys in the Molecomb Stakes. By No Nay Never, she produced an eyecatching turn of foot over the last furlong and a half to win easily by a length and a quarter. The victory earned her quotes for next year’s 1,000 Guineas.

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The champions of England face a potentially tricky trip to London on the opening weekend. Pep Guardiola will know that his side cannot afford to take West Ham for granted and any degree of complacency can be lethal this early on.

West Ham vs Manchester City | Sunday 7 August | London Stadium | 17:30 For the Hammers, it’s a free-hit sort of weekend – a chance to get off to the ultimate start!

To Win (90 mins) West Ham 7/1 Draw 42/10 Manchester City 7/20

West Ham A subsequent source of pride for London? I think West Ham had a rather interesting season last time out and some at the club might have been left a little disappointed at the end of it to be honest. They truly embodied the direct and intentional approach and were given decent currency for their efforts.

They have done some decent business in the summer and managed to hold onto the likes of Michail Antonio. I must be honest, I am relatively intrigued with how West Ham approach this game though – playing in front of their home fans, opening weekend, defending champions are in town…if adrenaline gets to their head, they might catch City on the backfoot or subsequently leave

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themselves vulnerable and be hit for a couple!

I’m surprised David Moyes didn’t go in a little harder for Jesse Lingard – considering what an impact the former United player had the last time he spent some time in London – but with Gianluca Scamacca and Flynn Downes joining, you haven’t exactly recruited slouches.

I’d like to see the Hammers have a real go at City and make a game of it.

Acknowledge the fact that they are a seriously talented side, but don’t respect them to the point of self-inflicted detriment.

Manchester City Ryan Liberty writes that Manchester City begin their title defence with a trip to London, facing a West Ham side who still manage to maintain a certain degree of mystery and intrigue and shouldn’t necessarily be taken for granted.

Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling and Oleksandr Zinchenko no longer make up the City squad, but management in Manchester have managed to bring in headline signings! Erling Haaland and Kalvin Phillips are two players who have enough quality to certainly have an impact on whichever team they play for – but how long before

they can have an impact at City?

Phillips for me is the underrated signing here though – City miss that gritty midfield player who is happy to do all the dirty work amongst a group of players who certainly endow themselves with all things shiny in world football.

Aymeric Laporte is likely to remain sidelined due to injury and his presence might certainly be missed. I thought City were a little flat at times against Liverpool in the Community Shield last week and didn’t show their usual suffocating approach to football defence.

Against a West Ham side who will be up for a signature game in front of their home fans on the opening weekend of the season – you wouldn’t want to see them get a sniff…

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Prediction: Manchester City + BTTS (39/20) City have better players in important positions and I’ll go out on a limb and say: I can’t see the boys from Manchester getting back to their coach without all three points. However, at the same time, I struggle to find the confidence to suggest that City can keep a clean sheet and completely shut out West Ham…I mean the predictions make itself, doesn’t it? At 39/20 get on!

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