SP Sprint - 30 November 2022

FAIRER SEX SET TO DOMINATE THE SHOW

Cover Image

The Sporting Post-sponsored jockeys have been in great form! At Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday, Tristan Godden steers White Cedar to victory ahead of Athandiwe Mgudlwa and High Velocity! Well done Tristan, Athandiwe, and Calvin Ngcobo, who are all carrying the SP flag with pride! Thanks to Candiese Lenferna for another top image.

Summer Bowl winner Make It Snappy bids to break into the big time on Saturday

Chase Liebenberg

The Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Summer

Festival Of Racing kicks into overdrive at the historic Southern Suburbs venue on Saturday.

Four bumper feature races headed by the R1 million World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas heads a terrific card, which also sees another showdown between big guns Jet Dark and local hero Kommetdieding in the R500 000 World Sports Betting Gr2 Green Point Stakes.

The Cape Fillies Guineas is the first Gr1 race of the revamped and exciting new-

look summer season and while there are surprisingly no Gauteng or KZN raiders, Sharon Kotzen does travel from Gqeberha with the unbeaten Vercingetorix filly, Peach Daiquiri, who steps up to a mile after three smart wins on the turf and all-weather at home.

The highest rated galloper is Snaith’s Gimmethegreenlight filly Ciao Bella, who has drawn smartly at 3 after her good recent Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship win.

The fairer sex classic is rich in history, and has been won by some exceptional fillies in the past

A trip down memory lane takes one back to the seventies, a

decade in which a heady cocktail of winners included the likes of Kendal Green, Party Time, Rose Bay, Festive Season and Wild Ash, all of which became fine broodmares.

Kendal Green, who claimed the scalp of the future Paddock Stakes winner Ovarownde in 1974, bred the Gr1 winning juvenile This England and also features as the grandam of Michael de Broglio’s SA Oaks winner Sabina Park, who in turn produced the dual Summer Cup hero Master Sabina.

Party Time not only

proved her superiority on the racetrack, she also established her own dynasty for the Cohen’s Odessa Stud. Ancestress of a host of fine gallopers, her descendants include such exalted names as champions Trademark, Let’s Rock’N Roll, In The Fast Lane and the Gr1 winner Morisco, to name a few.

Australian import Rose Bay captured both the Cape and KZN Fillies Guineas and she made her mark at stud as the dam of champion Mark Anthony, one of an elite group of winners of both the Met and the Queen’s Plate.

How can we ever forget the wonderful racemare Festive Season! Her Fillies Guineas victory aside, she will

probably always be remembered for her gallant neck second behind the mighty Politician in the 1979 Met.

The daughter of Persian Wonder became a broodmare of note, her treble of stakes winners featuring her outstanding daughter Festive Forever, the first of two Gold Cup winners trained by Tony Millard. She in turn became the dam of Champion juvenile Fearless.

The Zandvliet-bred Wild Ash likewise completed the Cape/ Natal Fillies Guineas double. She produced Champion three-yearold and Met winner Wild West and also features as the grandam of another classic winner in Gr1 Cape Derby hero Ultrasound.

The eighties winners include In Camera, Flying Snowdrop, Jallad’s half-sister Petrava, Kiss Of Peace and the Argentinian grey Fanciful.

Kiss Of Peace, who took the classic in 1988, became a matron of note for Varsfontein Stud, her progeny including the graded stakes winners Kiss Me Quick and Mason Dixon. She is also grandam of Gr1 Cape Guineas winner Kilindini and the Gr1performed stakes winner Kiss Again.

A good number of descendants of 1983 winner In Camera have graced the tracks in recent years. Grandaughter Tatler was the country’s Champion female sprinter of 2001, whilst another grandaughter, the Gr1 winner and champion juvenile Consensual produced Just Sensual, who emulated her dam by winning the classic in 2017. The Jaffee-owned Petrava

Olympic Duel wins the 1990 Cape Fillies Guineas

achieved similar success when her champion daughter Hoeberg followed in her dam’s footsteps in 2000.

Imported Fillies Guineas winners Petrava, Flying Snowdrop and Fanciful have gone on to prove worthy additions to the local gene pool. Sparkling Gem emulated her grandam Flying Snowdrop in the 2008 Cape Fillies Guineas, while Argentinian-bred Fanciful produced SA Fillies Classic victress Cover Look, who in turn bred the English Gr2 winning stayer Shipmaster.

Fanciful’s grandsons Orange Alert and Winter Fever also

flew the South African flag in Hong Kong and Britain respectively.

The mighty Olympic Duel rang in the nineties with her Cape Guineas success, a forerunner to no less than six subsequent Gr1 wins, amongst which the J&B Met and two renewals of the Paddock Stakes. Equally as successful in the paddocks, she produced Gr1 Daily News 2000 hero Flying Duel, whilst her stakes winning daughter Lightning Duel bred Gr1 Gold Cup winner and Champion stayer Thundering Star. Olympic Duel also features as the grandam of young Drakenstein stallion, the Gr2 winner Gold Standard.

KwaZulu-Natal bred and trained Dance Every Dance, who won the classic in 1995 , did broodmare duty for Lammerskraal Stud and

although she died all too early at age 11, her legacy is assured through her stakesplaced daughter Akinfeet. Broodmare of the Year in 2013, she produced the Champion miler and sire Capetown Noir and is also grandam of 2019 Champion Juvenile filly Anything Goes, who had the distinction of defeating Triple Tiara War Of Athena as a juvenile.

In the 21st century, Fillies Guineas winners to have made their mark in the paddocks include Shadow Dancing, Perfect Promise, Field Flower and Sport’s Chestnut.

A Fort Wood half-sister to champion sire Captain

Renounce and Stanly Amos with owner Mr. P.Dolt after winning the 1965 Cape Fillies Guineas

Al, 2004 winner Shadow Dancing bred the dual Gr1 winner Thunder Dance, while Perfect Promise became a stakes producer in Australia and also features as the dam of Bush Hill-based stallion Redoute’s Promise. Also resident at Bush Hill is the handsome Last Winter, a son of 2009 victress Field Flower. A R3.7 million yearling by Western Winter, he capped a six-start local campaign with a flying second in the Gr1 Sun Met and placed at stakes level in the UK before returning to his birth country. Sport’s Chestnut, by

Sportsworld out of a half-sister to Horse Chestnut, lived up to her fine pedigree by producing the Gr3 winner Off The Mark and Gr1-placed Sports Coach, both by Jet Master. She is also grandam of Gr3-placed Le Clos.

It is probably a bit premature to judge the Fillies Guineas winners of the last decade, many of which have virtually just embarked on their careers. Those which are already represented on the track include the 2013 winner In The Fast Lane. The champion daughter of Jet Master’s first two foals, both born in Australia, are the exciting sprint prospects Real Gone Kid and Stiptelik.

Snowdance, who landed the 2017 running, produced her first foal, a colt by ill-fated Lancaster Bomber in 2020, while 2018 winner Front And Centre’s first foal by Canford Cliffs was born this spring.

Sadly, the 2019 winner Missisippi Burning, has joined Just Sensual as the latest Cape Fillies Guineas winner to join the Australian broodmare ranks.

Kendal Green wins the 1974 Cape Fillies Guineas

LADIES IN THEIR NUMBERS!

Don’t miss the nine-race programme on Saturday. Start time of the first is 12h40 and entry is free.

A release from Cape Racing speaks of the girls are taking over the track in honour of the phenomenal fillies competing in the illustrious World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas.

The second official Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Summer Festival of Racing event is the ladies’ choice of the season where sports lovers, racing enthusiasts and everyday patrons pay tribute to the fearless female spirit of the best three-year old fillies of their generation.

Embrace your feminine wiles and join us for an all-day pamper party hosted at the Kenilworth Turf Club.

Enjoy the soothing musical stylings of SAMA nominated folk/pop singer, Louise Day, while relaxing the day away to complimentary massages, gourmet food, impeccable hospitality, g and t’s and of course, champagne for days.

COVER TO COVER - NOVEL STUFF!

While the Cape Guineas is often a North versus South classic acid test, the 2022 renewal of the R2 million Hollywoodbets-sponsored contest is probably not going to be the traditional ‘tale of two cities’ after local star Charles Dickens blew us all away in a highly-paid public grass gallop at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday.

Taking on five accomplished older campaigners and giving 9 kgs to a promising,

albeit less experienced peer, the handsome chestnut never came off the bit as he cruised home to win the R130 000 Allowance Plate over 1400m with contemptuous ease under regular pilot Aldo Domeyer. He is now undefeated in five starts and has been described by his experienced rider as ‘a league above’, with respect to the opposition.

Renowned racing expert Charles Faull labelled the win ‘Sea Cottage stuff’!

With the Hollywoodbets Cape

Guineas just three weeks away, the Drakenstein bred and owned son of Trippi looks to have enjoyed a flawless prep as he gears up to take on local hotshot Cousin Casey, the sponsors own Graham Beck Stakes winner Anfields Rocket, and whatever Mike de Kock decides to travel with.

The Gr1-winning Cousin Casey won the Gr2 Cape Punters Cup in impressive fashion a week ago, and his prep has been a lot more

Aldo Domeyer and Charles Dickens hit the front at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday

low-key than the media friendly hype around the rise of Charles Dickens.

Anfields Rocket beat Saturday’s Jonsson Workwear Dingaans runnerup Shoemaker in the Graham Beck Stakes at his last start and then skipped the Dingaans as he drew badly. Trainer Grant Maroun will travel him for the big race on 17 December.

The SPRINT is interactive! Watch Charles Dickens replay here.

Mike de Kock’s Union Square won the Dingaans on Saturday in fine style,

with things going his way and stablemate Shoemaker again having a few legitimate excuses.

Sean Tarry has 2yo Gr1 winner Thunderstruck, who improved on his Graham Beck Stakes downfield run by finishing fifth behind Union Square after things didn’t really go his way on Saturday.

Nathan Kotzen’s Pathfork gelding Royal Victory was runner-up behind Cousin Casey in the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes last season and has been on the fringes in both the Graham Beck Stakes and Saturday’s Dingaans, where he stayed on for fourth behind the De Kock trio.

With homeground advantage and

Candice Bass-Robinson and Aldo Domeyer looking for their respective personal first Cape Guineas success, it’s difficult not to give Charles Dickens the thumbs-up.

• Entries for the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas close at 11h00 on Monday 5 December.

• Declarations are due by 11h00 on Monday 12 December.

STERLING STUFF FROM KZN!

On a weekend when two smart 3yo’s sent the adrenaline levels soaring, Bloodstock South Africa maintained the extraordinary momentum in the sales ring after some testing years, with another positive outcome to the single session November 2yo Sale at the TBA Sales Complex in Johannesburg.

Everybody wants to own a Charles Dickens or Union Square, and it’s that dream that keeps the fires of passion burning in anybody who has been

anywhere near a thoroughbred.

And we saw it in the results of the BSA November 2yo Sale on Sunday, after what has been a long but positive turnaround year for racing in South Africa.

The great news for racing in KwaZulu-Natal is that the toppriced lot off Sunday’s sale will be trained out of Summerveld.

Sterling Miller of Pound Bloodstock signed the R1,2 million ticket for lot 172, a magnificent Gimmethegreenlight filly consigned by Sandown Stud as agent for Shadwell SA. Miller will

race her with veteran owner, Tony Jelinski.

The bay is out of VAR’s daughter Ghaalla, who was the top-priced yearling sold in the very same ring at the 2017 National Yearling Sale, when purchased for R5 million. She was trained by Mike de Kock and went on to win the 2018 Gr3 Fillies Mile. She was bred by Varsfontein and hails from the family of Master Of My Fate, Malmoos, Erik The Red and the well-performed current 3yo, Karangetang

Topseller - Gimmethegreenlight filly – lot 172

In a chat with the Sporting Post, Sterling Miller confirmed that it was a very ‘fair’ sale in his opinion and that he was thrilled with his six purchases, one of which will be trained by Mike and Adam Azzie, and the balance by his Dad, Mike.

“The top-seller ticked all the boxes for us. Beautiful conformation, blood and track performance-we are very excited and are happy with our basket,” added Miller.

The sale compares favourably year on year, with 40 more lots catalogued this time. The top seller last year was R800 000.

A total of 158 of the 196 lots were sold on Sunday for an aggregate R25 200 000 (2021 – R18 825 000), at an

average of R159 494(2021 – R139 444) and a median of R105 000 (2021- R100 000).

Top priced colt was the R650 000 paid by Lynton Ryan for lot 160, Riverton’s Vercingetorix colt out of a winning half-sister to Gr1 Empress Club Stakes winner Fair Maiden. This is a black-type loaded family with a host of winners.

Duncan Barry was understandably thrilled to enjoy the honour and was always upbeat that he held an ace in terms of a 2yo that would attract interest.

Vercingetorix was once again the hot-in-demand sire, with his 12 lots selling for a gross R4 095 000 at an average of R341 250.

Newcomer Danon Platina, a son of Deep Impact, attracted plenty of interest with the one-time Japanese champion juvenile’s 6

lots selling for an aggregate of R2 415 000 at an average of R402 500

Top vendor was Mauritzfontein, whose 11 lots sold for R3 280 000 at an average of R298 182.

Leading buyer was JASM Solutions, whose 11 lots grossed R2 635 000 at an average of R329 375.

Please see the full sale results here.

Candiese Lenferna

A RIVERTON WINNER OF A WEEKEND!

Duncan and Natasha Barry of Riverton Stud had good reason to celebrate this past weekend. Not only did they breed Saturday's eye-catching winner Melech, they also sold the top colt on Sunday's November Two Year Old Sale.

Runner-up on debut, the Roy Magner trained Melech duly went one better when running out a convincing winner of the second race run at Turffontein on Betway

Summer Cup day. A three-year-old son of William Longsword, Melech (a three-parts brother to useful galloper Captain Oupie) powered home to win the TAB4Racing Maiden Plate by a length and a quarter, and he looks a potentially smart sort in the making.

A R220 000 buy from the 2021 November Two Year Old Sale, Melech is out of the three time winning mare Pippi.

Unfortunately, Riverton no longer has Pippi, the dam of Melech, having sold the Greys Inn mare

earlier. Pippi's colt by The United States was knocked down to Paddy Kruyer for R130 000 at Sunday's November Sale.

Riverton went close to having a double on Betway Summer Cup day, with the Riverton-bred Indlamu going down by just a long neck when second in the Pinnacle Stakes over 1400 metres. A one-eyed halfbrother to the Riverton bred Gr1 TAB Premier's Champion Stakes winner

Riverton supremo Duncan Barry chats to Bruce Le Roux after a weekend to remember!

Astrix, Indlamu has earned nearly R500 000 in prize money himself.

On Sunday the Riverton consigned colt (Lot 160) by Vercingetorix fetched R650 000 at the November Two Year Old Sale. The colt, who was knocked down to Lynton Ryan, was the second top lot sold at Sunday's sale, and the top priced colt.

He is out of the winning

Parade Leader mare Fiesta Queen, who has been a superb producer for Riverton. To date, Fiesta Queen has been responsible for seven winners, with her four black type horses headed by Gimme One Night (Gr3 Cape Summer Stayers, Gr3 Chairman's Cup) and Cousin Liz (Gr3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery). The latter made headlines at the 2018 National Yearling Sale when knocked down for no less than R2 900 000.

Fiesta Queen, a winning half-sister to three stakes winners including

Gr1 Empress Club Stakes victress Fair Maiden, is currently in foal to former Equus Champion, and Gr1 Sun Met winner One World, with One World's sire Captain Al having sired Cousin Liz.

WERNARS FAMILY SAIL INTO SUMMER!

While the legendary El Picha won the race in 1999, Puerto Manzano carried the flag as the second Argentinian-bred horse this century, after Eventuail in 2002, to win the R2,5 million Betway Gr1 Summer Cup at Turffontein on Saturday.

Bouncing back from a below par effort in the 2022 Hollywoodbets Durban July, the 5yo Puerto Manzano capped a fine training performance after two promising prep runs, to give trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren and the well

invested Wernars family a first winner in the Highveld flagship.

The high-riding national logleading Keagan de Melo put the cherry on top of a month that saw him reach his century of winners in double quick time, when registering a career first Gr1 success.

The Winning Form rider knows Puerto Manzano well and gave the gelding a confident ride, despite bumping heads late in the race with a determined Muzi Yeni on Safe Passage.

After Light Of The Moon had led Litigation with Safe Passage

in touch for much of the 2000m trip, De Melo sent Puerto Manzano (11-2) for home and the mostly unfashionably-bred son of Seek Again rallied well in the final 100m.

At the line Puerto Manzano clocked 122,23 secs and was a half length ahead of the gallant Safe Passage (5-1), with the runner-up’s stablemate Aragosta (8-1) running a cracker for third.

The winner’s 8yo stablemate Divine Odyssey (125-1) kicked the quartet out of the park in his return from the

Proud owner Laurence Wernars celebrates with his eldest daughter Tenille, his wife Tessa and son Jarryd

Eastern Cape, to produce a herculean effort and run fourth, only 1,50 lengths off the winner.

The fancied Sparkling Water (3-1) appeared to have every chance but ran out of the money and just under 6 lengths off the winner.

Registering his maiden Gr1 success, Puerto Manzano has now won 6 races with 8 places from 19 starts

for stakes of R2 499 350. He was bred by Dr Ignacio Pavlovsky at Haras Carampangue and is a son of Speightstown’s Gr1 Hollywood Derby winning son Seek Again out of the two time winning Orpen mare, Poser.

Cape Racing boss Justin Vermaak was on course and was full of smiles, for good reason! He was the man who made a return trip to Argentina some years ago to buy the black-type Kay Tee Perry’s sister and needed two colts for

the flight – one of which happened to be Puerto Manzano.

Owner Laurence Wernars is on record with the Sporting Post that Puerto Manzano was well priced and by a first season sire, but as a specimen he was the best yearling that Justin Vermaak felt he had seen all year. It all smacks of shades of the El Picha fairytale!

Lyle Cooper looks on as a thrilled trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren enjoys the trophy moment

Candiese Lenferna

THE ALLURE OF ORPEN

Few stallions standing outside of South Africa have had better strike rates in this country than the late Orpen, and the son of Lure made his presence felt again this weekend at Turffontein.

Orpen mare Posera is the dam of Saturday’s Gr1 Betway Summer Cup winner Puerto Manzano (Seek Again), who picked up the biggest win of his career when victorious in the R2,5 million Highveld flagship.

Puerto Manzano is the

second Gr1 winner for Posera, who also produced Argentine champion Puerto Real (Pure Prize).

Posera’s sire Orpen was a top-class two-year-old, winning both of his starts including the Gr1 Prix Morny.

The son of dual Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Lure failed to win again after his two-year-old career. However, he went on to make a considerable mark as a stallion, in a career which saw Orpen, who, unlike his sire, proved very fertile, stand in South America, Australia, Ireland and France. His more than 20 Gr1 winners included French 1000 Guineas heroine Torrestrella,

Gr1

Cheveley Park Stakes

queen Vorda, Argentine Horse Of The Year Lingote De Oro, French 2000 Guineas runner up Prestige Vendome and Craven Stakes winner Killybegs.

At the time of his death, Orpen had been responsible for more than 100 stakes winners, and had been represented by 12 champions.

Orpen, who came from the same female line as Danehill, Machiavellian and Northern Dancer as

The top-class Orpen

well as highly successful South African broodmare Daphne Donnelly, was only represented by a handful of runners here , but enjoyed tremendous success nonetheless.

Orpen’s first son to hit it big in South Africa was Australian bred gelding War Artist. The latter, who was produced by the Brocco mare Royal Solitaire, raced just six times here, with his four local wins headed by the 2007 Gr1 Mercury Sprint, where he beat champion sprinters Rebel King and Mythical Flight into second and third place, respectively.

War Artist went on to enjoy notable success when exported, with the son of Orpen winning group/ graded races in all of

Dubai, France and Germany.

He also ran third in the 2007 Gr1 Darley July Cup in Britain, when finishing in front of such notable gallopers as Astronomer Royal (French 2000 Guineas), Kingsgate Native (Nunthorpe Stakes) and Benbaun (Prix de l’Abbaye).

Orpen again made his mark in South Africa in 2008 when his son Rocks Off won two of his three starts, including the Gr1 Premier’s Champion Stakes, before being named Equus Champion 2YO Colt/Gelding of 2008.

The Argentinian-bred Rocks Off hailed from the same crop which produced Orpen’s top-class son Private Jet. The latter made just ten starts but peaked when downing a star studded field to win the 2009 Gr1 Computaform Sprint, where he accounted for all of Rebel King, Warm White Night and Ethereal Lady.

Yet another smart South African performer sired by Orpen was Norquinco, who won six of 20 starts including the 2010 Gr3 Jubilee Handicap, while the Orpen sired Kay Tee Perry finished second in the 2021 Listed Spook Express Handicap. Another Orpen daughter, She’s So Cold, is dam of Listed Wolf Power 1600 runner up Stone Cold and eye catching debut winner Rockets Red Glare among others.

Puerto Manzano is by no means the only toplevel winner whose dam was sired by Orpen, with others including Robert Bruce (Arlington Million), Giofra (Falmouth Stakes), and Doctor Doom (Spring Champion Stakes).

‘In racing, horses never fail to make fools of us. A stark reminder of that adage came in last weekend's Gr1 Betway Summer Cup at Turffontein won by Puerto Manzano…’

Keagan de Melo gets Puerto Manzano up for Betway Summer Cup glory

In racing, horses never fail to make fools of us. A stark reminder of that adage came in last weekend's Gr1 Betway Summer Cup at Turffontein won by Puerto Manzano.

There were plenty who doubted the five-year-old's ability to stay the 2000m trip, after all, he could only finish six in last year's race and had never won beyond 1800m. Add to that his disappointing run in the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July, where he finished with just two behind him.

Well, he certainly silenced his critics on Saturday.

As for being referred to as 'mostly unfashionably-bred', that unkind remark prompted a closer look at this pedigree, which, in fact, proved to be more than illuminating.

First things first. Puerto Manzano is a half-brother to Argentinian Champion juvenile, the Gr1 winner and multiple Gr1-placed Puerto Real.

Secondly, Puerto Manzano may be an Argentine-bred, yet his pedigree is essentially American and combines bloodlines nurtured at some of world's greatest thoroughbred farms.

His sire Seek Again, by successful American stallion Speightstown,

is a product of the worldrenowned Juddmonte Farms. Having proved himself a useful handicapper in Britain, the chestnut really came into his own when sent to America, where he broke through at Gr1 level in the Hollywood Derby on turf, defeating none other than local stallion and Gr1 winner Admiral Kitten.

Seek Again also reached the frame in such toplevel turf events as the Gr1 Turf Classic, Manhattan Handicap and Shoemaker Mile.

As for Seek Again's dam, the Danehill mare Light

Jig, she was stakes-placed in France and found her best form in the States, winning the Gr1 Yellow Ribbon Stakes. Remarkably, she went one better than her own dam Nashmeel, who likewise had crossed the Atlantic after claiming the Gr2 Prix d'Astarte and finishing second in the Gr1 Prix Jacques Le Marois.

Puerto Manzano is the second Gr1 winner produced by Posera, a halfsister to Argentinian Gr3 winner Patagonia Vieja and to the Gr3-placed stakes winner Posadas.

Interestingly, Puerto Manzano's own brother Paraguayito raced in South Africa. Owned by Knut Haug, he scored five times and came within a shorthead of winning the Gr3 King's Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Posera is a daughter of the hugely successful stallion Orpen, a son of Lure who is best known in this country as the sire of that wonderful sprinter War Artist. Bred in Australia, he defeated Rebel King and champion Mythical Flight in Clairwood's Gr1 Mercury Sprint before embarking on a successful international campaign, winning at Gr3 level in Dubai, France and Germany. However, his most

notable efforts came in defeat, for he placed in all of the Gr1 Golden Jubilee, Darley July Cup and Prix de l'Abbaye de Longchamp.

Two other sons, Private Jet and Rock Off, also scored at Gr1 level in South Africa, the former winning the Computaform Sprint (also at the expense of Rebel King), while the latter captured the Premier's Champion Stakes and was named the Equus Champion Juvenile of 2008.

Significantly, Orpen also features as the broodmare sire of Irwin, last season's

Trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren loves his Gr1 winner!

Candiese Lenferna

champion juvenile in Argentina and like Puerto Manzano, a son of Seek Again.

Portugal, the grandam of Puerto Manzano, raced just once, but what she lacked in racing ability, she certainly made up for in pedigree. Bred in Kentucky at the historical Claiborne farm, she was by Topsider,

a speedy son of Northern Dancer and the formidable grass mare Drumtop, a daughter of Round Table from the influential Rough Shod family.

In turn, Portugal's dam was the fine American racemare Sintra, who counted the Gr2 Test Stakes and Gr3 Bewitch Stakes amongst nine victories, in addition to which she finished second in the Gr1 Gazelle Handicap.

So, is Puerto Manzano unfashionably bred? In view of the above, definitely not!

Puerto Manzano’s sire Seek Again

DAZZLING

Union Square gives Randall Simons a feature double – stablemates Shoemaker and East Coast stay on for third

The champion Horse Chestnut started the Dingaans-De Kock roll in 1998 and the master trainer made it win number 8 in the grade 2 event when the Rafeef colt Union Square led home a stable trifecta in the R400 000 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans at Turffontein on Saturday.

In a glorious race for the Randjesfontein team, the De Kock trio of Union Square, Shoemaker and East Coast filled the top three places, but there could be some questions to be answered by some of the jockeys.

“It was a terrible pace for the first 400m to 500m and in fact it was quite dangerous,” lamented De Kock after Randall Simons took advantage of matters to ride a clever race

from the 1 gate on Union Square.

With the luckless Shoemaker (5-4) battling to find his stride off the jumbled gallop, Simons unleashed Union Square early in the straight and it was a move that counted!

At the line he had a length to spare over Shoemaker (5-4), clocking a time of 97,99 secs, to give Simons a lovely feature double.

East Coast (5-1) is going to be more effective over further and stayed on for third, a further three quarters of a length back.

Nathan Kotzen’s KZN visitor Royal Victory (17-2) was the first non De Kock runner home and maintained his consistent form, after Union Square turned the tables following the Graham Beck Stakes at end October.

A R700 000 National Yearling Sale purchase and raced by Al

Adiyaat South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Union Square was bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein from Ridgemont’s Highlands’ Redoute’s Choice stallion Rafeef (AUS), who was trained by Mike de Kock, out of the twice winning Oasis Dream mare Square Dance (GB).

Union Square has won 2 races with 4 places from 6 starts for stakes of R431 750.

It will be interesting to see which of the De Kock charges travel to the Cape to take on the likes of Cousin Casey and Charles Dickens in the R2 million Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas next month.

WSB CAPE TOWN MET ENTRIES

The first entries for the 2023 R2 million WSB Cape Town Met were received on Wednesday morning.

The Cape flagship is run on Saturday 28 January 2023 at the peak of the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Summer Festival Of Racing. Heading the entries is the Crawford-Rix trained Kommetdieding, who runs at Hollywoodbets

Kenilworth on Saturday in the World Sports Betting Gr2 Green Point Stakes.

First supplementary entries are due by 11h00 on Monday 19 December.

Final supplementary entries are due by Monday 9 January 2023, on which date the weights will be published.

Declarations must be made by 11h00 on Wednesday 18 January.

Final field and barrier draws will be announced at an event on Wednesday 18 January 2023.

See the first entries – please click here.

Dingaans jockeys Richard Fourie and Keagan de Melo are still mates!

Candiese Lenferna

RAFEEF HITS THE HEADLINES

Ridgemont Highlands’ Redoute’s Choice son Rafeef has been a national sire table-topper since commencing his career in the stallion barn in Robertson two seasons ago and celebrated his ninth stakes winner with the eyecatching victory by the Al Adiyaat SAraced Union Square in a powerhouse renewal of the Jonsson Workwear Gr2 Dingaans at Turffontein on Saturday.

An eighth Gr2 Dingaans winner for master conditioner Mike de Kock, Rafeef’s handsome son Union Square spearheaded a stable 1-2-3 in a 3yo race that is of Gr1 quality year in and year out.

Having scored against winners over 1160m on debut, last season’s SA Nursery runner-up Union Square was having only his sixth start and turned the tables after his Graham Beck Stakes fourth last time, as he relished the step up to the mile and won like a horse with a very bright future.

Union Square was bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein from the outstanding versatile Rafeef (AUS) out of the twice winning Oasis Dream mare, Square Dance (GB).

Union Square’s Dingaans win was the cherry on top of a memorable day after his Gr1 SA Derby winning paternal half-brother Aragosta ran a creditable third in Saturday’s Gr1 Betway Summer Cup.

Rafeef: Redoute’s Choice ex National Colour

Coincidentally, Aragosta ran third in the 2021 Gr2 Dingaans.

Our leading First Season Sire of 2020-2021, and Leading Second Season Sire the following season, the Rafeef offspring have won at Gr1 level from 1000m to 2450m and display a classically eclectic mix of speed and stamina.

But it’s hardly a surprise as on the track, Rafeef, who like Union Square was also trained by Mike de Kock, took after his dam, the champion sprinter National Colour, a daughter of speed influence National Assembly, while his own brother Mustaaqeem was the SA’s champion juvenile.

Rafeef’s sire Redoute’s Choice sired seven Oaks winners and five Derby winners during his illustrious

innings at Arrowfield Stud.

As they say, blood rules the land!

STAR STUFF FROM PHILASANDE

Philasande Mxoli steers Alula’s Star to a surprise victory

Just weeks after registering his maiden graded stakes success in the Tab4racing Gr3 Victory Moon Stakes, Philasande Mxoli was mixing it in the big league again on Betway Summer Cup day, as he rode a confident race to win the R200 000 Joburg Tourism Gr3 Magnolia Handicap on Stuart Pettigrew’s Alula’s Star.

A man with a cool-ascucumber demeanour, Mxoli had been competing in thoroughbred rural races since the age of thirteen and ridden in excess of 90 winners in the Eastern Cape before he joined the SA

Jockey Academy in 2019. On Saturday he had the 4yo daughter of Red Ray settled some lengths off down the inside and unleashed her between runners at the 250m marker.

Just as the unbeaten 3yo Gobsmacked (5-2) looked to be going on to win, Alula’s Star (141) was in full stride and she got up late to win by 0,20 lengths in a time of 66,91 secs.

Brett Webber’s Lucy In The Sky (161) completed the trifecta a further 1,80 lengths back.

Hollywoodbets sponsored trainer Stuart Pettigrew said that it was onwer Ian van Schalkwyk’s call to keep the young jockey aboard for the big day feature.

A R60 000 CTS Ready To Run purchase, the winner was bred by Winterbach Stud and is a daughter of Red Ray (Western Winter) out of the six-time winning Captain Al mare Solar Voyager.

A winner of 5 races with 6 places from 15 starts, Alula’s Star has now won stakes of R486 312.

The Pick 6 pool reached R9 668 977 and was paying over R18 minimum after this bump!

RISING THE

RISING FROM THE ASHES…!

Philasande Mxoli steers Alula’s Star up to win

It is not uncommon for excellence in a pedigree to lie dormant. It may skip a generation, yet has an uncanny knack of resurfacing.

That would certainly apply to Alula's Star, the winner of last weekend's Gr3 Magnolia Handicap. She joins Gr1 SA Classic hero Red Saxon as the second Graded stakes winner to emerge from the initial crop of Western Winter's Gr1 winning son Red Ray.

It can be argued that Red Ray ignited the spark of excellence in Alula's Star and rightly so, considering one has to delve deep to find the first stakes winner in the filly's female family. Given this lack of black type up front, it's no surprise that owner Ian van Schalkwyk outlayed just R80 000 for his latest stakes winner, which, by the way, she has already repaid sixfold, and with interest.

Records show that the filly's dam Solar Voyager was no slouch on the track. A winner of six sprints for the Lucky Houdalakis stable, this daughter of Captain Al was the epitome of toughness and durability and was still winning at the ripe old age of seven, when most of her contemporaries already had at least one foal at foot.

In contrast to her daughter, grandam Solar Express stayed well and clearly took after her sire Sportsworld, a fine source of classic stamina. She scored up to 2000m and earned small black type with a second in the 2400m Sun Chariot Handicap contested at the now defunct Newmarket racetrack.

From a pedigree perspective, it is interesting to note the duplication in Solar Voyager of important taproot mare Gay Missile, through her daughters Lassie Dear (dam of Al Mufti, the sire of Captain Al) and Gallanta (the dam of Sportsworld)

Solar Express was by far the best foal out of the next dam Solarium, who scored three times and was an own sister to the stakes winner Sea Horse, the first black type winner in the immediate family.

Sired by the successful KZN-based sire Caerdeon, the pair are out of New Zealand import Sun Pearl, who showed plenty of ability by

winning four times and finishing third in the Sceptre Stakes.

This is where things get interesting, for Sun Pearl was an own sister to a smashing sort in Sun Monarch, a champion of the seventies.

Raced by John and Mary Liley, and trained by Herman Brown Snr, this powerful chestnut proved himself the country's Champion Two-year-old by inflicting the sole juvenile defeat of Sledgehammer in the Gr1 Champion Nursery Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville. That was no mean feat, considering his mighty compatriot subsequently carried virtually all before him and was named Horse of the Year at four.

Whether it was a matter of the stars aligning, a confluence of genetic characteristics or a combination thereof, one thing is clear, Alula's Star has single-handedly revived what has essentially become a dormant female line.

‘Whether it was a matter of the stars aligning, a confluence of genetic characteristics or a combination thereof, one thing is clear, Alula's Star has singlehandedly revived what has essentially become a dormant female line…’

JUVENILES ERUPT INTO ACTION

Maine Chance’ Dubawi stallion Erupt enjoyed the distinction of siring the first juvenile winner of the new season when Ashley Fortune saddled Ripple Effect to an impressive victory in the opener on a sunny Betway Summer Cup day at Turffontein on Saturday.

Going off a well-supported 5 to 2 second favourite, Ripple Effect showed plenty of speed to clock 45,11 secs for the R90 000 Maiden Juvenile Plate 800m. It was

Ashley Fortune’s first victory over the minimum trip.

Ripple Effect held off an eyecatching late charge from the Oratorio filly Heirloom (16-1), who shaded the pacy favourite and Heavenly Blue first runner Zinovi (2-1) into third.

The winner was bred jointly by Avontuur and Zinzele Stud, while Avontuur also bred the runner-up. Interestingly, the same farm bred Erupt’s maiden first crop winner last term.

The winning ownership of Messrs F

Mickleburgh &Waste Glass Recovery (Pty) Ltd were all on course and also enjoyed the additional incentive of the BSA R100 000 Maiden Juvenile bonus.

A R200 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, the Ripple Effect is out of the twice-winning Quiet American mare, Sea Of Calm, a prolific

Ripple Effect and Lois Mxothwa storm clear to set the season standard

Vahab,D Chinsammy,Kenny Govender,M Gwalangwa,G C Kalil, A Reynolds,Mesdames R Magqaza, Pippa

producer of winners.

Ripple Effect hails from the second crop of 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. 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, 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.

CANFORD CLIFFS – FIRST CAPE 2YO WINNER OF TERM

Less than a month after purchasing a Ridgemont Highlands-bred Canford Cliffs filly at the 2022 Cape Racing Ready To Run & 2yo Unbroken Sale, owner Dylan Chinsammy banked the winner’s cheque in the opening juvenile event of the Cape season at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday.

The Cape Racing juvenile season has undergone a revamp of some proportions, and the first two baby races down South boasted fifteen 2yo’s in

each of the girls’ and boys’ 900m dashes.

And the smart-looking Miss Hannigan will go down as the icebreaker as she stormed home at 4-1 under Betway Summer Cup winning rider Keagan de Melo to register a smart first win.

A daughter of the top Robertson nursery’s multiple international Gr1 winning sire Canford Cliffs, Miss Hannigan produced one of the gallops of the sale held at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 29 October, and looks the veritable good buy at just R110 000 as she cruised home on debut.

She is out of the eight time winning multiple stakes performed Brave Tin Soldier mare Easy Street. Sunday’s winner’s full brother Ridgerunner also won as a 2yo last term.

An elated Gareth van Zyl stable assistant Spencer Cooke heaped the praise on the Ridgemont Highlands team for their grounding efforts in advance of the sale.

“She came to the sale as a genuine ready to run prospect. They did

Miss Hannigan (Keagan de Melo) storms home ahead of De Janeiro (Louis Mxothwa) in the juvenile season opener in the Cape

Chase Liebenberg

the prep and all the hard work so I am not taking any of the credit. She’s a lovely sort with a beautiful temperament,” added the seasoned horseman.

A five-time Gr1 winner, Canford Cliffs has produced stakes winners across the globe, and just a week ago was in the Australian racing news as a broodmare sire when his own daughter Bumbasina celebrated her star Gr2-winning offspring Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni) running out an impressive winner of the Gr2 Sky Racing WA Guineas at Ascot

in Australia. The winner is highly regarded and is a winner of 5 of her 6 starts. She is being aimed at the Gr1 Northerly Stakes over 1800m at Ascot on December 3.

Canford Cliffs has set the turf alight in a bright start to his stud career here, where his first locally bred and born two-year-olds included dual stakes winner Cliff Top and Gr1 Thekwini Stakes runner -up Rock The Fox, ranked a SA Triple Tiara prospect by top conditioner Sean Tarry.

Sunday’s opening 2yo races will lead up to two newly created juvenile events on Hollywoodbets Guineas Day on 17 December.

The Commonwealth Cup will be run at juvenile plate conditions for colts and geldings while the Summer Coronation will be run for the fillies. These two races will carry a prize of R200 000 each.

The most exciting news is the formation of a 3 leg Summer Juvenile Series.

In total, the Summer Juvenile Series has R1 600 000 on offer, a vast increase from the R525 000 for the three races last season!

ANOTHER GIMME TO THE FORE

Adam Azzie celebrates with Answer Midiyana and Isaac Tsotetsi

Candiese Lenferna

Varsfontein Stud’s champion resident sire

Gimmethegreenlight looks to have a top-class filly to his name in the form of Gimme A Shot. The latter showed her class when running out an impressive winner of the Gr2 Betway Ipi Tombe Challenge at Turffontein on Saturday. Trained by Michael and Adam Azzie, three-yearold Gimme A Shot had finished runner up in the Gr2 Prosport International Debutante at two, before finishing third in both the Gr2 Topbet Joburg Spring

F and M Challenge and Gr3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes this season.

Gimme A Shot, however, bounced back from these defeats when she romped home under JP Van Der Merwe, to claim the 2022 Ipi Tombe Challenge by three and a half lengths.

Among the Kevin Soal bred and owned filly’s beaten rivals on Saturday were graded stakes winners Under Your Spell, Homely Girl, Miss Daisy, and Gilded Butterfly.

Out of the Rakeen mare Shot In The Dark, Gimme A Shot has now

won twice from five starts and has already earned R321 250 in prize money.

Gimme A Shot is the 47th stakes winner for Gimmethegreenlight, whose son Shoemaker finished a close second in Saturday’s Gr2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans, when beaten just a length by the victorious Union Square.

Another son of Gimmethegreenlight, Great Affair, ran third in Saturday’s Listed Racehorse Owners Association Stayers.

VICKY'S BACK TO BEST

Hollywoodbets-sponsored trainer Stuart Pettigrew grabbed a quick feature double on Betway Summer Cup day when the 2021 Senor Santa Stakes winner Vars Vicky found his best form to win the R250 000 Gr3 Merchants for Mauritius-based owner Vicky Veeramootoo.

With Mike de Kock’s top notch Dynasty filly Desert Miracle outpaced early and failing to produce her customary kick, it was

Randall Simons who pinged the gates on Vars Vicky and had the speedy son of VAR galloping strongly to stay on well ahead of KZN visitor Tread Swiftly in something of a Bipot blowout.

The 33-1 Vars Vicky clocked 66,61 secs for the 1160m and held the 66-1 Tread Swiftly to a length, with Desert Miracle (2-1) hanging on for third to save many Place Accumulator players.

There were only just under 31000 Pick 6 combinations left after this second leg.

The Gary Player Stud-bred Vars Vicky cost R150 000 at the 2019 Cape Premier Yearling Sale.

A son of the late speed sire VAR (Forest Wildcat), he is out of the twice winning Captain Al daughter, Seminole.

A winner of 7 races with 8 places from 21 starts for stakes of R650 625, Vars Vicky can be followed now that he is back to best.

Vars Vicky storms home under Randall Simons

Randall Simons enjoyed a feature double on the day

Candiese Lenferna

CHETTY STAYER DOES IT AGAIN

Former KZN-based galloper Arumugam continued his new lease on life as a stayer of some rising repute when he stormed home to win the R175 000 Listed Racehorse Owners Stayers at Turffontein on Saturday to close off a tough big day Pick 6.

A decision to seek more turf racing opportunities and move from the East Coast to Gauteng has certainly paid dividends for

owner-breeder Steve Chetty, who was on course to lead his Duke Of Marmalade gelding in for his second consecutive feature win on the Highveld within a space of less than a month.

At the end of October on Charity Mile Day the talented 19yea old Kaidan Brewer steered Arumugam home in the R175 000 Gauteng Summer Cup 26 November Listed Java Stakes. And on Saturday the combination upped the journey from 2400m to 3200m and came home convincingly at 4-1 to beat the changed tactics

Marchingontogether (5-1) by 2 lengths in a time of 209,66 secs.

Bred by Steven Chetty, the winner is a son of the late Danehill stallion Duke Of Marmalade out of the thrice winning Black Minnaloushe mare, Freudiana. A winner of 4 races with 13 places from his 19 starts, Arumugam has earned R450 750.

Kaidan Brewer and Arumugam stay on best of all to close the Betway Summer Cup day feature programme

SOLID GOLD STRIKER RIDES ON MET DAY

The early engagement of record-breaking multiple champion jockey Piere Strydom to ride the Futura filly Typeset in the R7,5 million WSB Gold Rush on Cape Met day in January 2023 could be a masterstroke by Randjesfontein trainer Fanie Bronkhorst and his team.

Bronkhorst told the Sporting Post that his owners were still negotiating

for a slot in the starting line-up.

Strydom, who registered a milestone 5500th winner last Thursday at the Vaal on Admiralty Arch, has given himself the green light to call it a day after a long and distinguished career.

At the age of 56, the international Gr1 champion has nothing to prove, but he has indicated that he is likely to add to the glamour of Cape Racing’s flagship day by turning out to ride Futura’s daughter Typeset in the richly

endowed WSB Gold Rush.

The mile contest on the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth summer course is based on the same principle as The Everest in Australia and offers 16 ticketholders (prospectors) the opportunity to race for the massive stake. The race is open to graduates of the 2021 Cape Premier Yearling Sale.

The Gold Rush is not limited

Piere Strydom - one of the greatest is set to ride in the WSB Gold Rush

Chase Liebenberg

THE MERITS – WHAT THE DICKENS DOES IT ALL MEAN?

The Dickens dream team on their way to the unsaddling enclosure

While Cape talking horse Charles Dickens has gone to a 121 after a facile registration of his fifth straight victory at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday, the handicappers have been busy with some other feature performers.

First of those is PUERTO MANZANO has had his merit rating raised from 120 to 123 following victory in the Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup over 2000m on the standside track at Turffontein on Saturday 26 November. The Handicappers were of the unanimous view that

3rd placed ARAGOSTA made for the ideal line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 116.

2nd placed SAFE PASSAGE goes up from 122 to 124, while 4th finisher DIVINE ODYSSEY - who was 1 pound or half-a-kilo under sufferance at the weights – goes up from 111 to 112. 5th finisher LITIGATION, who was six pounds or 3 kgs under sufferance, was raised from 107 to 110.

There were no other ratings increases, but no fewer than six horses were given a drop.

ZILLZAAL is down from 114 to 112, SHANGO goes from 108 to 106, SECOND BASE is down to 112 from 115, RED SAXON drops from

116 to 114, ASTRIX is down from 124 to 122, and lastly PYROMANIAC drops from 108 to 105.

Gr2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans

UNION SQUARE has had his rating raised from 100 to 116 after winning the Grade 2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans for three-yearolds over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday. The Handicappers took the view that 6th placed PROPHET would not have run worse here than when achieving a mark of 106 on several occasions during his career, including at Grade

1 and Grade 2 level when finishing behind ROYAL VICTORY (as he did yet again here), and opted to use that mark as the key to rating the Dingaans. Nevertheless, PROPHET remains unchanged on 110.

2nd placed SHOEMAKER goes up from 96 to 114, 3rd finisher EAST COAST was raised from 106 to 112, and 4th placed ROYAL VICTORY goes up from 109 to 111. There were increases also for 7th placed ELECTRIC GOLD, who is up from 92 to 98 to make him higher than the 96 -rated 8th finisher BILLY BOWLEGS, and for OTTO LUYKEN, who goes from 76 to 83.

All of UNION SQUARE,

SHOEMAKER and EAST COAST had in fact achieved higher performance ratings than their actual carded Merit Ratings in the Dingaans. The specific conditions in their previous starts prohibited the Handicappers from adjusting their ratings upwards despite these progressive types showing marked improvement when venturing into Graded company. Accordingly, none of the top 3 finishers were rated to finish in the top 3 positions in the best weighted column for the Dingaans.

There were drops for two horses. ARGO ALLEY is down from 103 to 100, while UNZEN drops from 108 to 106.

Gr2 Betway Ipi Tombe Challenge

GIMME A SHOT has been raised from 102 to 112 after her win in

the Grade 2 Ipi Tombe Challenge for fillies and mares over 1600m at Turffontein on Saturday.

GIMME A SHOT’s pre-rating of 102 was subject to ratings restrictions in the Joburg F&M Spring Challenge (Grade 2) and Starling Stakes (Grade 3) where she had in fact achieved a rating of 108 in both events. The Handicappers were of the view that 5th placed HOMELY GIRL had run a very similar race here as when finishing 5th in a Grade 2 event in October and used her achieved rating of 105 from that race to rate this event. As such, her rating drops from 108 to 105.

There were no increases for any horse beyond the

winner, but in addition to HOMELY GIRL there were drops for three other horses. UNDER YOUR SPELL is down from 119 to 117, MARIGOLD HOTEL is down to 107 from 110, and PERFECT WITNESS drops from 106 to 104.

Gr3 Joburg Tourism Magnolia Handicap

ALULA’S STAR has had her rating upped from 97 to 102 following her win in the Grade 3 Joburg Tourism Magnolia Handicap over 1160m at Turffontein on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the opinion that 3rd placed LUCY IN THE SKY made for the ideal line horse, which leaves her unchanged on a mark of 95.

The winner aside, the only other ratings increase was for 2nd placed GOBSMACKED, who goes up from 109 to 113

There were drops for three horses. 4th finisher MISS COOL is down from 104 to 103, while SUPREME QUEST drops from 106 to 104 and KISSING POINT drops from 105 to 102.

Gr3 Betway Merchants (Handicap)

VARS VICKY has seen his rating increased from 111 to 116 following his success in the Grade 3 Betway Merchants (handicap) over

1160m at Turffontein on Saturday. Here it was 3rd placed DESERT MIRACLE and 4th finisher FULL VELOCITY who were deemed to make for the best line horses, leaving them unaltered on a mark of 113 apiece. In rating the race this way, 5th placed WINTER FLIGHT runs to his mark of 100 and effectively becomes a line horse as well.

Aside from the winner, the only other increase was for 2nd placed TREAD SWIFTLY, who was 7 pounds or 3.5 kgs under sufferance at the weights and who goes up from 95 to 105 as a consequence.

There were ratings drops for two horses. SOUND OF WARNING is down to 112 from 114, while BIG BURN drops 118 to 115.

Listed Racehorse Owners Association Stayers

ARUMUGAM has had his rating raised from 88 to 94 after winning the Listed Racehorse Owners Stayers over 3200m at Turffontein on Saturday. Here it was runner-up MARCHINGONTOGETHER who was used as the line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 102.

In assessing the race this way, ARUMUGAM actually runs to a mark of 96, but the specific race conditions do not allow for more than a six-pound increase to the rating of the winner and so the Handicappers were obliged to cap his rating at 94. ARUMUGAM had also run to an actual rating of 96 when winning another Listed event four weeks earlier, but there too the Handicappers were obliged

to raise his rating by no more than six pounds. This allowed him to contest this more recent race under discussion carrying 2 kgs less than would have been the case without such wholly unnecessary restrictions, which gave ARUMUGAM a distinct – and unfairadvantage over his rival - an advantage he would again enjoy should they meet again soon.

The race conditions do not allow for a raise in the rating of any runner except the winner, but one horse was given a drop, with OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE going from 97 to 96.

• Media release by National Horseracing Authority on Tuesday 29 November 2022

LYLE – POSITIVE AHEAD OF 2023!

With the popularity and growth of the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge on Hong Kong racemeetings, multiple SA Champion jockey Lyle Hewitson will be a sentimental hometown play for many participants trying to win a share of the generous cash prizes in the free-to-enter competition.

Now 25, and happily married and settled in Hong Kong, Hewitson is

the personification of persistence and courage in his third stint in the world-class racing jurisdiction.

Hong Kong has always been a mountain South Africa’s favourite son has been determined to scale, and even though he only has 12 winners on the board at a relatively humble strike rate of 6,59% this term, 30% of his victories have come in the last ten days, so things are slowly looking up. His mounts have earned HK$16 636 000.

Lyle spoke to the Sporting Post on

the weekend and said that he was very much at home and feeling very relaxed, while really enjoying his racing.

“I have taken a slightly different approach in my attitude in terms of rides. I’m looking to build outside support and relationships, and that entails being slightly less choosy or selective when accepting rides. So the aim is to do my best and hopefully create

SA champion Lyle Hewitson – settled in well

breakthroughs and forge new ties on that front,” he said.

Asked about the strict lifestyle logistics of covid in Hong Kong, Lyle happily reports that things have ‘eased slightly’.

“We are holding on to the mast for a while, but things are getting better!”

He tells us that he will be spending a relaxed Christmas at ‘home’ in Hong Kong with his wife Hannah and friends.

“We are racing on Boxing Day so we have to be here, and we will make the most of it!”

Asked about his goals for 2023, he says enthusiastically that more winners, and particularly feature winners, are on the resolution list as the clocks turn into a new year.

Lyle has clearly recovered emotionally and physically after a shocking accident in December 2021 in which he was one of a quartet of jockeys that came down in an horrific fall just before the field entered the home straight in the HK$24 million Gr1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint. He suffered a fractured pelvis and only returned to race riding ten months ago.

While Lyle has his goals, and the retirement of Joao Moreira recently would have opened some doors, one man who is flying is Australian ace Zac Purton who set a record for the quickest halfcentury of winners by a jockey in Hong Kong racing history with a five-timer at Sha Tin on Sunday 27 November.

Purton sped to 50 winners at only his 184th ride for the campaign, eclipsing his previous best of 50 victories from 219 mounts in 2021/22 – and Joao Moreira’s record of 50 wins from 189 rides in 2015/16.

Striding towards a sixth Hong Kong title with 51 wins at a strike rate of 27.5% after riding in 21 of 22 meetings so far, Purton said: “Things are going nicely, obviously we had a hiccup with a week out with COVID and it’s been a good start to the season. I have a nice pool of support at the moment and some nice young horses coming through.

“When you get all that coming together, it makes it all the more enjoyable and let’s just hope things can carry on the way they are. It’s nice to have a good day and hopefully I can bang a few more in.”

Purton, 39, clinched the record aboard Sweet Encounter in the Class 3 Chevalier Enterprise Digital Solutions Handicap after earlier wins on Youthful Ideal, Accelerando and Super Red Dragon.

The man who broke Douglas Whyte’s record at last Wednesday night’s racemeeting for the most wins at Happy Valley with his 574th success at the city circuit, closed Sunday’s meeting with success on Francis Lui’s impressive Packing Treadmill, who earned a HK$1 million PPG bonus by winning the Class 2 Chevalier Healthcare Investment Handicap.

The Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge continues at all Hong Kong racemeetings. You can win your share of a massive bonus jackpot of over R350 000 with a mustbe-won R5000 shared if you place in the top 20 on the leaderboard. Visit www. punters.hollywoodbets.net for more – and it’s free!

O’BRIEN’S BROOME TO SWEEP CLEAN

Aidan O’Brien is no stranger to world recordbreaking achievements at the very highest level so when he targets a 2022 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races event with three super horses, rival claimants will inevitably beware.

More so perhaps because O’Brien has captured the Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) three times in the past seven years, plus the Irishman’s extraordinary international Gr1 tally was enhanced three times further at Keeneland’s

Breeders’ Cup meeting earlier this month.

No doubt tactical strategies for the 2400m Sha Tin encounter on 11 December are already being hatched for Stone Age, Broome and Bolshoi Ballet, all of whom history suggest have versatile styles of racing.

Two of O’Brien’s previous Vase winners were three-year-olds –Highland Reel (2015) and Mogul (2020) – with both involved in some tough global encounters before they arrived in Sha Tin for the end-of-year spectacular.

Like them, Stone Age competes as

a three-year-old colt sired by Galileo. Like them also, he gives the impression he thrives late in the year following probably a careerbest run when second in the Gr1 LONGINES Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland on 5 November.

O’Brien clearly applauds Stone Age’s strong constitution describing him as: “A lovely big hardy horse, and certainly not a wimp!”

Advocates of Broome will hope he can repeat what was one of the most

Aidan O’Brien (right) at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races

memorable races of Royal Ascot’s June extravaganza. That day Ryan Moore not only got him out of the gates quicker than the six-year-old sometimes agrees to, he then rapidly steered him out very wide of his rivals. Up Ascot’s demanding straight Broome then responded with admirable tenacity to win the Gr2 Hardwicke Stakes (2392m).

On paper Bolshoi Ballet looks the most vulnerable of the O’Brien Vase team, so far not having replicated – including when leading before fading in the 2021 Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) – the stylish acceleration he had displayed on occasions last year including when swooping fast and late to land a major US prize, the

Gr1 Belmont Derby (2000m).

A setback earlier this year kept this 2021 Epsom Derby hot favourite off the track for 335 days but the fact that this four times winning colt has had this target on his agenda for some months is noteworthy, given the remarkable record of the Ballydoyle stable.

The two French-trained candidates also come from stables that know what it takes to win the Vase. Andre Fabre has won it twice and this year the 31-times French champion trainer sends Botanik in the direction of Sha Tin while Chantilly neighbour Mikel Delzangles – whose Dunaden surged past rivals late on to win in 2011 – runs dual Gr2 winner Bubble Gift, who has joint second top international rating of 116 behind Broome on 118.

Botanik has won seven of his 13 starts, the career highlight coming

when he triumphed in the Gr2 Grand Prix de Deauville (2500m) in August. Regular rider Mickael Barzalona says: “He’s got plenty of class, and he has lots of courage also. He looks the right type of horse for a big overseas prize like the Hong Kong Vase.”

The other European raider is the German-trained Mendocino – winner of the Gr1 Grosser Preis von Baden (2400m) in September. He comes from the upwardly mobile Munich stable of Sarah Steinberg and will be ridden by her partner Rene Piechulek, who won the 2021 Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe aboard Torquator Tasso.

HKJC

Constitution Hill was certainly worth the wait in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle on Saturday

CONSTITUTION HILL RAISES THE BAR!

Constitution Hill started 1-4 favourite for the Fighting Fifth on Saturday, having smashed the track record in the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham last spring. A dominant winning display at Newcastle ensured he displaced dual winner Honeysuckle as favourite for the Unibet Champion Hurdle at next year’s Cheltenham Festival.

Withdrawal on ground trainer Nicky Henderson deemed unsuitably quick at Ascot last weekend, the 5-year-old joined stablemate Epatante on the trip up north to contest the first Grade 1 hurdle of the season.

Constitution Hill was always travelling strongly under Nico de Boinville, who sent him to the front from the off, allowing him to make full use of his mount's brilliantly slick jumping. He also showed plenty of pace between the flights and simply ran away from his rivals when asked to quicken from the third-last flight. He passed the post 12

lengths clear of dual previous winner Epatante, with another two and a quarter back to Not So Sleepy, who dead-heated for first last year.

Jockey Nico De Boinville looked relaxed before and during Constitution Hill's awesome comeback and said: “It was very straightforward. My main instruction from the governor was to keep it as simple as I can. I could hear them behind me and once I turned in, I just gradually quickened it up and went through the gears. He's a joy to ride.”

Constitution Hill produced everything you would want to see in a potential Champion Hurdle winner according to 20-time champion jump jockey Sir Anthony McCoy.

“Everything was brilliant about him and he jumped like a proper Champion Hurdle horse.” McCoy said.

“He’s certainly going to give Honeysuckle plenty to think about. He was visually impressive and jumped like a champion hurdler.”

“I heard Matt Chapman say he’s the best horse he’s ever seen, I think that’s a bit much when you

look at the Kauto Stars, the Istabraqs, the Hurricane Flys – he’s got a bit to go to get to that,” McCoy said.”

Trainer Nicky Henderson stated post-race that a trip to Kempton for the Christmas Hurdle is his next intended target, before a crack at the Champion Hurdle, for which Constitution Hill is now a best-priced 8-11 favourite.

After witnessing the great mare Honeysuckle record an unbeaten run of 16 starts over hurdles from 2018 to 2022, including two Champion Hurdles, it’s incredible to see her quoted at around 4/1 to defend her Cheltenham crown. That’s because the Seven Barrows yard have unearthed the most exciting jumper trained in Britain for years.

Timeform rated him 177p after his comprehensive display at Newcastle, with only five two-mile hurdlers rated higher in Timeform's history.

GREEN LIGHT –ALWAYS GOOD TO GO!

Varsfontein Stud was started by Anthony Kalmanson in 1974 and enjoys a proud history of producing champions. Just days after their champion sire Gimmethegreelight celebrated the salestopper at the November 2yo Sale, we are proud to showcase a quartet of smashing foals by the son of More Than Ready.

Fresh off siring Saturday’s impressive Gr2 Betway Ipi Tombe Challenge winner Gimme A Shot, Varsfontein inform sire was at it again on Sunday.

Gimmethegreenlight colt Gimmelightning made the perfect start to his racing career when he ran out an impressive winner of Sunday’s Bet With Tab Maiden Juvenile Plate over 900m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

Trained, like his sire, by

Justin Snaith, Gimmelightning, was described by his jockey as ‘a smashing horse, and a horse for the future, for sure. He is a horse I would really like to stick with.’

Gimmethegreenlight also made headlines at Sunday’s November Two Year Old Sale when his unnamed daughter (Lot 172) made R1 200 000 to top the 2022 November Sale.

Consigned by Sandown Stud, Agent for Shadwell SA, the Gimmethegreenlight filly was sold to Pound Bloodstock.

Closely related to the Gimmethegreenlight sired stakes winners Hack Green and Favorita, the sales topping filly is out of Gr3 Fillies Mile winner Ghaalla.

Looking at this week’s Future Stars quartet, the first of the eyecatching colts is out of Babe Paley (Fort Wood), a full sister to Athina.

Then we have a beautifully wellmade filly out of Listed winner and Gr 3 placed Maleficent (Judpot),

who is a half-sister to Blackball and Rocketball.

Third up is a very handsome colt out of the Jallad mare, My Guiding Star. He is a half-brother to the former Dean Kannemeyer smasher Hashtagyolo, from the fabulous family of Malmoos, Master Of My Fate and Erik The Red, amongst others.

Then the classy half-sister to Bunker Hunt and Salvator Mundi is out of the Captain Al mare, Secret Obsession.

A reminder that this is your free chance to brag about your future stars!

Just drop us a line with a good quality snapshot to editor@sportingpost.co.za and tell us the pedigree/ sex/date of birth/ family connections and a back story, if there is one.

Varsfontein’s Gimmethegreenlight colt out of Babe Paley (Fort Wood)

Varsfontein’s Gimmethegreenlight filly out of Maleficent (Judpot)

Varsfontein’s Gimmethegreenlight colt out of My Guiding Star (Jallad)

Varsfontein’s Gimmethegreenlight filly out of Secret Obsession (Captain Al)

‘It doesn’t matter your race, gender, limbs, no limbs, small or heavy. The horse just accepts you for you and wants to be a part of the healing process

and that is why I use horses.’

HORSES CHANGING LIVES

“At Amado we work for free and love the people that we work with. After 14 years of changing lives through the power of animal assisted therapy, I will never look back.”

A quietly spoken lifetime horsewoman, M’Lani Basson is a labourer of love. A special person of enormous empathy, kindness and patience, she teaches disabled children to ride horses as part of the therapeutic programme at the Amado Animal Assisted Therapy Riding Centre in which she started on her parents Paarl farm in 2008.

She tells the Sporting Post that it was always her dream to give children with severe disabilities the opportunity to grow – physically, mentally and emotionally – through their interaction with horses.

She quickly cites a sad but encouraging example. At the beginning of this term, two sisters aged 6 and 9 joined the Amado equine programme.

“They both missed out on an entire year of school last

year due to horrendous domestic violence in the home. Their mother fled the house, leaving them with their abusive father. He forced them to drink and refused to allow them out of the house.They were petrified,” explains M’Lani.

Thankfully, they were removed from his ‘care’, and they became a part of Amado’s horse therapy program.

“When they first saw the horses, it scared them. They even referred to them as their father. They tried to hit the horses and hid behind the trees. With much love, understanding and patience from the staff, they could sense these gentle giants meant them no harm.After a few sessions of quietly observing our fourlegged therapists, they came closer. Without judgement and prejudice, the horses allowed them to stroke them. The little girls are really trying to work through their trauma.”

She smiles as she tells that recently the eldest sister called out to her from atop her horse and said:

“Look M’lani, I’m bigger than My Dad!”

M’Lani has been amongst horses her entire life.

“After studying Art and Psychology

at Stellenbosch University, in my final year I still had no idea what I wanted to do,” she explains.

Thinking about the idea of art therapy, she quickly realised that it would be too expensive to set up in South Africa and decided to take a break and travel to Germany as an exchange student. Yet while in the queue to make the arrangements, she overheard two German girls in front of her discussing animal assisted therapy.

The idea resonated so deeply that M’Lani stepped out of the line, bought a one way ticket to England. She went on to spend almost two years in Scotland living on a Palace Estate looking after 200 horses and working at a Riding for the Disabled free charity on the adjoining property every chance she got.

With this experience behind her she moved home, and began to physically lay the bricks and foundation to her new home next to her parents place on the scenic slopes of Paarl Mountain. Everything that exists there today has been created with her ‘own

two calloused hands’.

Amado means ‘beloved’ in Spanish and was also the name of the first foal her grandmother, who’s now 93 years, gifted her. The facility is named Amado as an ode to her and to the philosophy of love shared with everybody who walks through the doors.

And why horses? “Horses are the ideal match for this work for two primary reasons – the physical element, and the emotional side. On the physical and practical side, horses have the closest threedimensional gait to a human walk, so the core gets activated, as can be

attested to by anybody who has ridden a horse for more than an hour.”

M’Lani goes on to explain that horse riding enables children with cerebral palsy or in a wheel chair to move parts of their body that they haven’t moved before in a non-strenuous workout, as the horse carries the load. She shares with us the story of a blind boy who rode for the first time and said he had never felt freer. He never had to worry about bumping into anything, but rather could simply enjoy the movement and the wind in his hair. “He rode for an hour and when he got off had the biggest smile on his face. He was 15 years old the first time he rode and now returns each week, always leaving mesmerised by the time he spends on the horses.”

The passionate M’Lani continues and says that on the emotional side, one has this 450 kg animal who just doesn’t judge, but simply accepts, like a big teddy bear. “It doesn’t matter your race, gender, limbs, no limbs, small or heavy. The horse just accepts you for you and wants to be a part of the healing process – and that is why I use horses.”

There are many success stories at Amado. In M’Lani’s words, ‘ every day is a miracle day’. ‘

“There is nothing more important than treating these children like any other child. If you treat a child like you would a bird with a

M'Lani Basson enjoys a moment with one of her children

broken wing, he will never be able to fly’ and that is what Amado is all about. Don’t put children in glass cases, or wrap them in cotton wool. I say – sit by yourself – and they do and it’s amazing. It’s this belief that I bestow in the children, the time and unconditional love that allows for their personal miracle to occur.”

While our time is running out, M’Lani enthuses and tells how she had seven children in wheelchairs when she started. “Only one still uses their wheelchair as a result of muscular dystrophy. Our success with cerebral palsy, relaxation of the muscles and the little bodies becoming more subtle with stretching has also meant an

increase in self-confidence,” she adds with a tear in her eye.

Horseback-riding offers a new visual perspective of the world, it encourages independence and control.

“Most of the beneficiaries in the Amado programme do not have the opportunity or are not able to participate in traditional recreational and sports activities. Riding and being around horses offers a chance to be successful at a unique activity that others in their community can only dream of. This ‘I can’ approach soon governs all aspects of their daily lives.”

All of M’Lani’s horses are voice activated. That means that if she whistles or makes a subtle movement they will stop. This is part of the process that teaches

the child that they are in charge, even when M’Lani may still be, and empowers them on their road to healing. The significance of saying stop – and the horse stops – especially for victims of abuse, is powerful.

Amado sees about 40 children that come from different organisations within the district. They do not work with individuals but rather with referring organisations who provide the background, profile, indemnities and funding to properly treat the child. This helps M’Lani understand the needs of the child and why they are in therapy.

“The most difficult thing about running Amado is

that it is so beautiful. As a non-profit that manages to maintain itself, what we really need is feed for these horses and we are always looking for financial support to keep the facility going. We never want to stop the work that we do, or the impact that we are making in the lives of the children that we work with.”

M’Lani is on the lookout for corporate sponsors who can effectively each adopt a month of 2023 at a donation of R10 000.

A visit to M’Lani and Amado can be arranged.

Are you able to help in any small way?

Please contact:

M’Lani Basson

Email: info@amado.co.za

Mobile: 083 604 4037

WREAKING HAVOC THIS FRIDAY!

South Korea vs Portugal | Friday 2 December |

Education City Stadium | 17:00

Portugal went to Qatar as hot favorites to win Group H due to the depth in their squad, which carries both experience and exciting young players. They've lived up to the billing so far after qualifying for the round of 16 with a game to spare. They face a South Korean side that will need nothing less than three points to have any chance of qualifying as runners-up.

To Win

South Korea 44/10 Draw 31/10

Portugal 6/10

South Korea

It hasn't been a great World Cup for South Korea, with just one point to show in Qatar after two games. Their opening match against Uruguay was a dull goalless encounter where they failed to register a single shot on target despite creating seven chances to score.

Against Ghana, they played much better despite losing 3-2 in the end. They showed grit and fight, especially in the second half when they came from a goal down to lead 2-1. It's their defence that will concern coach Paulo Bento. His

team seemed to crumble in four minutes, conceding two goals scored by Ghana's rising star, Mohammed Kudus.

Despite losing, the South Koreans managed to create 22 scoring chances, seven of those were on target, with Cho Gue-sung stepping up to claim an impressive brace. To get their first win in Qatar, the Taegeuk Warriors need to get Son Heung-min firing. The Tottenham forward went to

Qatar with an injury that could disturb him, but after playing two games with a face mask, he could be ready to step up against a slow Portuguese backline.

Portugal

I never thought I'd consider Portugal one of the teams that could make it to the final in Qatar, but their opening two matches in Group H have shown there'll be no pushovers and can be counted amongst the tournament's dark horses.

What will scare rivals about Portugal is their squad depth despite injuries to Nuno Mendes and Danilo Pereira, who will most definitely miss Friday's encounter since they have already wrapped up qualification for the next round.

While Cristiano Ronaldo has hogged all the headlines for on and off-field matters, the Portuguese star has been a great focal point upfront for Fernando Santos' team, ensuring players around him get the space to run in behind. Bruno Fernandes had

a deserved player-of-thematch performance against Uruguay and will look to build up steam ahead of their crucial last 16 game.

I think both players will be rested and maybe given a run later in the match to keep them fresh. Goncalo Ramos, who's been in fine form for Benfica this season, and Rafael Leao could start this game. If they do, they'll create a lot of problems for South Korea's defense which looked very shaky against Ghana.

Prediction: Portugal to be leading at half-time (11/10)

I expect to see Portugal come out firing from the first whistle and wreak havoc on the South Korean backline who let in two goals in the first 34 minutes against Ghana.