SP – Sprint 18 September 2024

SNOW @ BLUE SKY!

COUNTRY COURSE QUEEN!

South Africa’s only professional female jockey Rachel Venniker made a massive impact at her first Hollywoodbets Durbanville engagement on the Braai, Bak & Brew raceday on Saturday. Her 9 rides produced 2 winners, including the listed feature, and three places. Rachel was captured here by Chase Liebenberg returning after a masterfully patient ride on the Paul Reeves-trained Oratorio gelding, Ozark. Read more on page 24.

On the cover

While it caused plenty of havoc, unprecedented snow blanketed Blue Sky Thoroughbreds in Mooi River this past weekend. Sporting Post photographer Candiese Lenferna was there to capture Trippi’s Grade 1 winning stallion Chimichuri Run enjoying the winter wonderland. See more of Candiese’ photographs on page 78 of this issue.

CAPE IN SHAPE AS SUMMER LOOMS

The top-class Gimme A Prince chases Charles Dickens home in the 2023 Matchem Stakes. He returns after almost a year off on Saturday | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Cape Racing achieved great success with some rave on-course reviews of their Braai, Bak & Brew raceday at Hollywoodbets Durbanville last Saturday and the running of the Listed Settlers Trophy, their first stakes feature of the new season, which saw Rachel Venniker and Justin Snaith come out on top, courtesy of Call To Unite.

The track action ups the ante this coming Saturday with the traditional summer season double-feature starter of the Kuda Gr3 Matchem Stakes (15h15) and Baker McVeigh Gr3 Diana Stakes (14h10) headlining a bumper ten race card on the Bubbles & Blossoms raceday.

Dean Kannemeyer last won the Matchem Stakes with the top-class Capetown Noir a decade ago and saddles a three-way coupling headed by the high-class MR 130 rated Gimme A Prince – who, like Capetown Noir, races in the Khaya black and yellow flag - in Saturday’s renewal.

Probably the lightest raced 6yo in the country, Gimme A Prince returns from nearly a year off the track, after his narrow defeat by champion Charles Dickens in the Matchem Stakes of 2023. The plan then was to target the L’Ormarins King’s Plate, but knee issues have kept the dual Grade 1 winner of the Cape Flying Championship (1000m) and the Golden Horse Sprint (1200m), as horse as classy and as talented as he is good-looking, off the track.

Gimme A Prince’s is the first foal of the Klawervlei Stud-bred Real Princess (Trippi), who was the highest priced filly at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale of 2013, fetching R2,7 million.

She was out of Pagan Princess, who was one of Klawervlei’s best broodmares. Pagan Princess was only a one-time winner, but she was by champion stallion Fort Wood and was a half-sister to the Al Mufti superstar Victory Moon. Pagan Princess lived up to her superb

pedigree by producing the goods at stud.

Real Princess was the first foal of Pagan Princess and won the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint for Dean Kannemeyer and Lady Christine Laidlaw. Pagan Princess also produced Gr 1 Cape Guineas winner William Longsword (Captain Al), who is a successful sire at Klawervlei today, as well as two other stakes winners, Silver God and Really Royal.

“Lady Laidlaw has been so patient with Gimme A Prince and he has been given the necessary time and care to bring him back to his best. He was up in KZN with us last season and I have no doubt that he will be in need of the run on Saturday. I see there is some rain forecast, and that would be in his favour! We’d like to see him come through it well and then we can start looking at planning a few Grade 1 targets. His race record shows his outstanding ability and we have always held him in the highest regard,” added Dean Kannemeyer.

The Milnerton veteran also saddles Gimmie’s Countess for Khaya Stables in the Baker McVeigh Gr3 Diana Stakes.

“I would have preferred to have started Gimmie’s Countess up the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth straight, but we regard her as a classic prospect and we need to get going with her. She has already shown Grade 1 potential and ran a top race in the Allan Robertson Championship, when hemmed in on the rail and flying up late. She was a bit lost on the

Hollywoodbets Greyville turn in the Golden Slipper and then we rested her after that. I know it’s difficult for a young horse first time at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, but we need to see where we are at with her. Serino Moodley has done well for us previously and travels from Durban as Craig (Zackey) can’t do the weight. I think we can look forward to a great day of racing,” concluded Kannemeyer.

The first race at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday is off at 11h20.

Craig Zackey and Dean Kannemeyer – getting the summer artillery out on Saturday | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

10 fillies and mares will slug it out in the Baker McVeigh Gr3 Diana Stakes.

Betting for this racemeeting is now available: click on the field to submit your selections.

Grooms!

RACE 1 - LEGAL COUNSEL - OTTO

RACE 4 - COMMANDER GREEN - MKHULULI FENI

RACE 7 - CALL TO UNITE - SETHU

RACE 2 - MY ONLY WEAKNESS - SOSO

RACE 5 - OLIVER - JOSEPH

RACE 8 - OZARK - ZIXOLISILA MBANGA

RACE 3 - LITTLE SUZIE - MLULEKI

RACE 6 - FATAL GEM - S NGOZI

RACE 9 - ISCHYRO - MAWANDA NDLEBE RACE 10 - NORDIC QUEST - BONGILE MKHALA

Our Mate Art (Aldo Domeyer) wins the 2017 Matchem Stakes, beating Table Bay under Anton Marcus) | Credit: Hamish Niven Photography

Five future sires have added the Kuda Matchem Stakes silverware to their impressive cv’s over the past twelve renewals of the 1400m season launch contest and Saturday’s class of 2024 looks set to continue the proud tradition, even though we are not likely to launch future stallion material as Dean Kannemeyer’s Teflon Man is the only colt in the eleven horse field.

The Matchem Stakes has been won by some big names over the years. Charles Dickens made it a double for Candice Bass-Robinson and Aldo Domeyer last year after Trip Of Fortune’s victory in 2022. The combination, who also won it in 2017 with the Aussie-bred Our Mate Art, are represented by Sugar Mountain on Saturday.

Met winners in One World and Rainbow Bridge won the Matchem in 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Champion miler Capetown Noir won it in 2013, while Joey Ramsden’s dual SA Horse Of The Year Variety Club took the honours in 2011.

Another interesting name on the honour roll of relatively recent times is that of present day champion sire Captain Al, who was trained by Vaughan Marshall and won it in the hands of Jeff Lloyd in 1999. The race was run for a stake of R100 000 that year.Twenty five years later, we are racing for R300 000. Horseracing has been outpaced by inflation!

The Matchem was traditionally run at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth but was switched to Hollywoodbets Durbanville in 2010, the year it was again won by Vaughan Marshall with Tales Of Bravery, who was ridden by MJ Byleveld.

Marshall has three runners in Look For Hounds, Coastal Commander and the improving Questioning carrying his flag on Saturday.

Capetown Noir wins 2013 Kuda Matchem Stakes in hands of regular pilot, Karl Neisius| Credit: Supplied

The most successful Matchem trainers of the 21st century include pacesetter Vaughan Marshall and the now retired Glen Puller, who won it in 2002 and 2003 with Sevilliano, when ridden by Gerrit Schlechter and Karl Neisius, respectively. Glen Puller also trained the 2005 winner Great Rhythm, who was piloted by Greg Cheyne, and the 2014 winner Reim, who was ridden by his late son, Chris.

The earliest traceable record of the Matchem Stakes dates back to 1958. It was open to 2 and 3yo horses and run on 19 April over 1400m at Kenilworth for a stake of £1,250. The idea of running juveniles against three-year-olds over 7 furlongs in April, at what was more or less weight for age terms came in for a lot of criticism, with many feeling it was too much to ask of the youngsters.

However, on the day a total of 6 runners faced the starter, including two 2yo’s (Kowloon and Avon) and four 3yo’s. The 1958 running of the Matchem proved the quality and strength of the juvenile crop. Although the game filly Kowloon cantered to post as the favourite, she failed to show and it was left to Mr A Kruyer’s colt Avon. Ridden by M Strydom and carrying 7st 8lb, Avon brought the field into the straight and never looked like being headed, scoring by half a length from the fast-finishing Southern Drawl (8st 13lb) who had been hampered when making his run.Burweed (8st. 13lb) finished a neck back third and Squeegee (9st 2lb) was fourth.

The 2yo Avon was a bay colt by Naval Prince out of Avonet and was bred by J.R.A. Bailey. He was owned and trained by Mr A Kruyer.

The Matchem Stakes is named after the famous Thoroughbred foundation stallion, Matchem (1748 – 21 February 1781).

Matchem (also spelled Match’em, possibly after the jockey Match’em Timms), is a direct male tail line descendent of the Godolphin Arabian (or Godolphin Barb as he is also known) and along with Eclipse and Herod is considered one of the three 18th century stallions that produced the Thoroughbred sire-lines of modern times.

Matchem was bred by John Holme of Carlisle in Cumberland. He was sired by Cade (a son of the Godolphin Arabian), out of a bay mare by Partner. Like his grandsire, he was a small horse, but with good bone and an athletic build. He was dark bay in colour, but exhibited 2-3 bars of white hair at the base of his tail and is thought to have carried the rabicano gene as he went on to produce a number of roan offspring.

Matchem was sold to William Fenwick and as was the custom at the time, lived at his Bywell stud in Northumberland until he was fully mature and commenced his racing career at the age of 5. On the track, he proved himself good, if not outstanding. He contested a total

of 12 races, winning 10 and gaining a reputation for being a thoroughly genuine competitor, durable and honest, who always gave of his best.

Matchem covered a few mares at Bywell during the 1758 season, but wasn’t retired from racing until the following year. Matchem was Champion Sire from 1772 to 1774 and in total, he would go on to sire 354 winners of ₤151,097. His hallmark was excellent temperament and durability, the ‘truth and daylight’ so desirable in breeding.

Matchem lived to the ripe old age of 33 and died at Bywell on 21 February, 1781

Saturday’s feature is named after the famous thoroughbred foundation stallion, Matchem (1748 – 1781)| Credit: Supplied

BUBBLES, BLOSSOMS AND BREATHTAKING RACING

The Spring Country Series presents Bubbles & Blossoms, featuring the Kuda Gr3 Matchem Stakes and the Baker McVeigh Gr3 Diana Stakes on Saturday, 28 September.

In a celebration of new beginnings and the enchantment of Spring, it is a day of fashion, family, and friendship against the backdrop of heart-stopping horseracing.

With an exciting selection of activities on the cards, we can’t think of a better way to spend a Saturday.

Riveting Racing!

This race day features not one, but two Grade 3 races: The Kuda Matchem Stakes and the Baker McVeigh Diana Stakes!

Watch in awe as some of our top equine athletes showcase their speed, agility, and tactical prowess on the track.

Braai for Lunch?

Our chefs will be firing up the braai so come hungry!

• R120: Lemon and herb chicken sosatie, BBQ beef chop, Boerewors, Coleslaw, Potato salad and Garlic bread

• R100: Lemon and herb chicken sosatie, Boerewors, Coleslaw, Potato salad and Garlic bread

• R80: Lemon and herb chicken sosatie, Coleslaw, Potato salad and Garlic bread

• Fancy a glass?

Get your wine tasting tokens upon entry and sample some of the Cape Winelands’ finest wines and bubbles while enjoying an afternoon of elegance at the racetrack.

Food For Thought!

Not in the mood for a braai plate? We’ve got you covered with our featured food trucks.

• Shackadelic Delights

• SOHO

• The NOB

• Shop for Treasures

Join our Family Market and shop ’til you drop; who knows what hidden gems you will find as you stroll among the stands.

There’s something for everyone!

Let Them Play!

Bring the kids and let them spend the afternoon in our safe, secure and supervised Kids’ Zone, jam-packed with activities, games, and prizes to be won. From as soft area of the younger ones to a safe space for the tweens – parents can rest assured it’s all been covered.

There’s always time for a pamper session

Need a pick-me-up? Make your way to the Express Pamper Bar for a free 15-20 minute treatment.

You’re sure to leave feeling like a million bucks.

But wait… there’s more!

Popular songstress Candice Thornton will get your feet tapping and the Bubble Gymnast will leave you amazed.

Free entry! Free parking!

RACHEL SETTLES IN AT COUNTRY COURSE

Course debutante Rachel Venniker wins the Listed Settlers Trophy on Call To Unite | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

While a large part of the rest of South Africa laboured under the brunt of a fierce cold front, it was the Cape’s turn to shine and celebrate the arrival of Spring and South Africa’s lone female professional jockey, who celebrated her first day at the scenic country course with a third, two seconds and then a feature first.

Tracking Sean Veale on recent World pool Gold Cup third-placer Ponte Pietra all the way around, Miss Venniker could have been forgiven for believing that feature winners come easy in the Cape winelands as she took over on Call To Unite after the Kannemeyer galloper hit a brick-wall. Extending smartly, the lukewarm 6-1 tote favourite went on really well to beat stablemate and fellow Nic Jonsson galloper Rapidash (11-2), who found the 7,5kg premium tough, and was beaten 2 lengths in a very decent time of 119,75 secs for the 2000m.

Brett Crawford’s Allez Morris (9-2) was a neck away in third.

The pacemaker Ponte Pietra, who Dean Kannemeyer warned was not 100%, fell right away to a 23 length last.

Trainer Justin Snaith, in uncharacteristically subdued fashion, cautioned about getting ‘over excited’ over Call To Unite’s second consecutive win.

“He has a few issues and he is not an easy horse to train. He is a beautiful looker who comes well at this time of year and then trains off. Rachel handled him beautifully. She really is a huge asset at the weights. We found the right race at the right time, with the right jockey. It will be hard to replicate what happened today, but we will do our best and concentrate on the staying features,” added the champion when also thanking his Futura Park team for their hard work.

Bred by Drakenstein Stud, Call To Unite is a 4yo gelded son of Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the five-time winning Elusive Fort mare and Peter de Beyer home-bred, Siren’s Call.

The former Sean Tarry-trained galloper came within a heartbeat of winning the 2015 Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara – shaded in the final leg by the talented Pine Princess.

A R900 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Call To Unite is unbeaten in two jumps as a 4yo and took his overall tally to R350 888 with 3 wins and 4 places from 9 starts.

In champion style, Rachel Venikker followed up her feature victory with a well-judged ride to win the very next race on Ozark for the Paul Reeves Team.

THE SPRINT IS

Welcome bubbly, complimentary drinks & a 3-course feast. Indulge in culinary mastery as you witness the action! THE ULTIMATE VIP RACE DAY EXPERIENCE SCAN HERE

THE ENCHANTING CURRENCY OF FATE

Call To Unite (Rachel Venniker) is led in by Jonathan Snaith and Phumzile Petsenge | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

‘It is eerie to think that there would have been no Siren’s Call, Sound Of Warning, or for that matter Call To Unite, had fate not decreed that Enchanted Cove follow her dam to South Africa, and that Peter de Beyer had the foresight to return Elusive Fort back home from the States as well!’

Champion sprinter Via Africa’s daughter Autumn Glow continues to go from strength the strength in Australia. This past weekend, the Chris Waller-trained filly made it three from three when she added Randwick’s Gr2 Tea Rose Stakes to her previous success in the Gr3 Up And Coming Stakes.

In a recent article, we posed the question whether Via Africa would have been as effective a broodmare had she remained in South Africa. We will never know, as there is no chance of her ever returning to her birth country. She is far too valuable!

One exceptional filly who did return to her birth country was Jungle Cove’s daughter Enchanting, a dual Gr1 winner for the late Graham Beck, who just happens to be the ancestress of last weekend’s Settler’s Trophy winner Call To Unite.

The son of Vercingetorix is out of her greatgrandaughter Siren’s Call, a member of Elusive Fort’s first crop. Successful in both the Gr1 SA Classic and Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas, she narrowly missed out on the Triple Tiara when beaten narrowly in the (then) Gr1 SA Oaks.

But back to Enchanting. She commenced her broodmare career at her owner’s Kentucky farm and returned to South Africa with her fourth foal, a Spend A Buck filly, at her side. At the time, she left behind a yearling filly by Wolf Power named Enchanted Cove who won four races stateside and eventually followed her dam back to South Africa at age nine while in foal to Salt Lake. Unfortunately, the foal, a colt, died after birth.

Put back in foal to then Highlands stallion West Man, Enchanted Cove duly gave birth to a filly the following spring. Named Siren’s Cove, she was sold to Peter de Beyer and won him two sprint races. Retained as a broodmare, she produced five foals, leaving the best for last

SA Triple Tiara 2015 action as Pine Princess (Anthony Delpech) beats the gallant Siren’s Call (Piere Strydom) in a thrilling finish to the SA Oaks | Credit: JC Photos

when he sent her to Elusive Fort in his first season at stud. The result of that mating was Siren’s Call.

At the end of her racing career, De Beyer sold a half-share in Siren’s Call to Drakenstein Stud, where she has done sterling service as a broodmare, given that Call To Unite is her second stakes winner from her first three foals.

Her first stakes winner, the Trippi filly Sound Of Warning was trained by Sean Tarry and carried the Drakenstein silks with distinction, winning the Gr3 Strelitzia Stake as a juvenile and running second in the Gr1 Allan Robertson. At three she claimed the Gr3 Magnolia Handicap and earned additional Gr1 black type when third in the SA Fillies Sprint at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. She joined her dam in the Drakenstein paddocks last spring and was covered by What A Winter.

Call To Unite’s stakes victory is tinged with sadness, as it was in the same week that Siren’s Call lost her battle against laminitis. For now, it will be up to Sound Of Warning to keep the flame alive, so to speak. Siren’s Call has three more progeny set to race, a three-yearold filly by Lancaster Bomber, a juvenile colt by Gimmethegreenlight and a yearling filly by What A Winter.

It is eerie to think that there would have been no Siren’s Call, Sound Of Warning, or for that matter Call To Unite, had fate not decreed that Enchanted Cove follow her dam to South Africa and that Peter de Beyer had the foresight to return Elusive Fort back home from the States as well!

By the way, Enchanting went on to carve out a fine broodmare record at Highlands. Her first South African foal was none other than the all-conquering Harry’s Charm, the Champion two and three-year-old filly of her generation and Champion Older Female Sprinter at four. A dual Gr1 winner of the SA Nursery and Allan Robertson Fillies Futurity at two, she went on to

add the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint and two renewals of the Gr1 Mondi Sprint.

Beck sent her to Kentucky. However, she proved a disappointing failure as a broodmare. To a certain extent, she was redeemed when unraced daughter Granny Leah was sent to South Africa in foal to Tapit, the resultant foal being the grey Rodney, who became a Gr3placed stakes winner in the Beck silks.

Mated to National Assembly, Enchanting produced a second Gr1 winning filly in Enchantress, who emulated her half-sister’s success in the SA Fillies Sprint and likewise was named the country’s Champion Older Female Sprinter.

She was owned by Lammerskraal and in due course became a Gr1 producer, courtesy of Parade Leader daughter Laverna, the Equus Champion Juvenile filly of 2008 and winner of the Thekwini Stakes. Also dam of the Gr3 winners Nevvay and Wylie Wench, Enchantress features as the grandam of the stakes winners Fabian and Future Variety.

As for the Spend A Buck filly imported alongside Enchanting, she raced twice for the Becks as Enchanted Dollar, and when returned to Highlands, she too, clicked with National Assembly, producing one of the finest sprinters of the modern era in National Currency.

A champion at two and three, he won all of the Gr1 Gold Medallion, Computaform Sprint and Mercury Sprint. Sent overseas, he was game in defeat when second in the Gr1 Hong Kong Sprint Cup to the local hero Silent Witness and dazzled in Dubai’s Al Shindagha Sprint, where he cruised home by six and a half lengths.

Tragically, he died a few weeks later from what was believed to be a scorpion or snake bite, thus robbing Highlands and South Africa of a potential international star, not to mention a future stallion.

National Currency’s own sister Dollar Bright likewise proved her prowess as a sprinter, winning the Gr2 Camellia Stakes and Listed Swallow Stakes. In yet another cruel twist of fate, she too died before she could start her broodmare career.

Fortunately, the Enchanted Cove branch lives on through stakes-placed Var daughter Enchanting Cathy, the dam of recent Spring Spree Stakes hero Back In Business.

Enchanting’s Golden Thatch daughter Goldie’s Song, a modest winner at three, also returned to Highlands where she bred the dual stakes winning sprinter Trance to the Danzig horse Joshua Dancer. Incidentally, prior to

Enchanting’s return, Beck had sent her first Spend A Buck daughter Magic Spender to race in South Africa. Although she failed to earn black type, she had won eight races by the time she joined the Highlands broodmare band and bred nine winners from ten foals, one of which, the National Assembly filly Monopoly, added to the family fortunes as the dam of Darley Arabian winner Maximizer.

There is no doubt that Enchanting proved her prowess both on the racetrack and in the breeding paddocks. We salute the late Graham Beck for having the foresight to return her to South Africa, where, together with her daughters, she has created her own little dynasty. May it continue to prosper.

Graham and Rhona Beck – raced Jungle Cove’s dual Gr1 winning daughter Enchanting –ancestress of Call To Unite | Credit: JC Photos

VALE SIREN’S CALL

In the same week that her good son Call To Unite won the 2024 renewal of the Listed Settler’s Trophy, South African horseracing bid a sad farewell to the outstanding Siren’s Call, the standout filly from the first crop of Fort Wood stallion, Elusive Fort.

Bred by Peter de Beyer, she was bought back at the CTS yearling sale for just R70 000.

Sent to Sean Tarry, she hacked up a facile winner of her debut over 1200m under Piere Strydom, who rode her regularly thereafter. She then won a Novice Plate for F&M over 1400m, beating Smart Call.

At just her third start, she ran in the Gr3 Starling Stakes over 1400m, and was second behind the brilliant Majmu. She then ran fourth when taking on the boys in the Gr2 Dingaans over

1600m. A big payday came in February 2015 in the CTS incentive race for graduates of their book 2 yearling sale of 2013, where she beat stablemate Trophy Wife to bank the first prize of R1,25m.

She was bred to get at least 2000m, so her brilliance as an early 3yo over 1200m and 1400m was a pleasant surprise, and her astute trainer then aimed her at the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara. She beat very strong fields to land both the Gr2 Gauteng Fillies’ Guineas and the Gr1 Gauteng Fillies’ Classic.

Breeder-owner Peter de Beyer enjoyed a thrilling ride with his star, Siren’s Call | Credit: CRS

She thus was Elusive Fort’s first graded stakes winner and first Gr1 winner, and set the scene for his subsequent long and successful career at stud.

Having landed the first two legs of the Triple Tiara, and expected to cope with the testing Oaks distance, Siren’s Call was sent out a warm favourite with Pine Princess (whom she had beaten comfortably in the first two legs, but was expected to relish the step up in trip) a clear second choice, and these two appeared to be a class above the balance of the field.

The Gauteng Oaks was run in very heavy going after a drenching thunderstorm on the Friday.

It proved to be a drama filled race, as Siren’s Call pulled a shoe going down to the start, and then gave the course farrier a torrid time. When eventually re-shod she had expended

considerable nervous energy, and had delayed the start by more than 10 minutes.

The out and out stayer Pine Princess led most of the way, with Siren’s Call some 8 lengths back from a wide draw coming into the long, testing Turffontein straight.

She rapidly made up ground on the leader and hit the front 50m from home, and was being called a winner by the commentator.

Anthony Delpech, in an inspired ride, managed to get Pine Princess to come back on the line to deny Siren’s Call the Triple Tiara by a short head.

Her next race was the Gr1 Daily News 2000m against the boys at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

The logic of running there instead of in the

Woolavington for the fillies, was to see whether she should take her place in the Durban July for which she was 7th on the log at that point. Sadly, however, she was injured in that race. A chip was removed from her fetlock, and she missed the rest of the 3yo season.

The form of the Triple Tiara was franked in the Woolavington, where Smart Call narrowly beat Pine Princess with Trophy Wife third.

When Siren’s Call had recovered, she was aimed at the 2015/16 Cape summer season, under a new partnership, as Drakenstein Stud (nom Gaynor Rupert) had acquired a half share in her.

She had a very promising comeback run in December over 1400m, a distance short of her best. Sadly, that was to be her last race as she damaged a tendon in training a couple of weeks later.

Despite her successes, we probably never saw the best of her, as she would in all likelihood have improved with maturity at 4. She was one of the best of undoubtedly one of the strongest crops of fillies seen in SA.

Siren’s Call’s co-owners retired her to stud at Drakenstein.

Her first foal, a filly by Duke of Marmalade, was a moderate one-time winner. Her next foal, a filly by Trippi, named Sound of Warning, was raced by Drakenstein with significant success.

She won two Gr3 races over 1400m, and was runner up in the Gr1 Allan Robertson for 2yo Fillies, and third in the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint, both over 1200m.

She thus gave Elusive Fort his first graded stakes winner as a broodmare sire.

The third foal was an attractive colt by Vercingetorix, named Call to Unite, and was bought by leading owner Nic Jonsson.

He showed good promise as an early 3yo, but ran below expectations in the Politician Stakes and was then rested. As an early 4yo, he recently won the 2024 renewal of the Settler’s Trophy, a listed race over 2000m.

Sadly, this was the same week that the partners had to make the difficult but necessary decision to euthanise Siren’s Call who was suffering from severe laminitis.

A very sad loss to both partners, as having thrown 2 feature race winners from her first 3 foals, and at just 13 years old, a very promising stud career has been cut short. She will be missed.

Siren’s Call’s story is however, not yet over, as in addition to the promising Call to Unite still in training with 3 wins from just 9 starts, Sound of Warning has commenced her own broodmare journey at Drakenstein, and there are 3 unraced progeny. These are a Lancaster Bomber 3yo filly, a 2yo Gimmethegreenlight colt, and a yearling What a Winter filly.

Gone but not forgotten

Siren’s Call (2011) –f (by Elusive Fort ex Siren’s Cove)

IT’S EARLY DAYS BUT SHE TICKS ALL THE BOXES!

A SNAITH’S SENTIMENTAL SUZIE

fter the inaugural breakfast gallops at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Thursday, trainer Justin Snaith was quick to latch on to the superior middle to outer track going on Saturday.

Despite the tactical nous, one gets the feeling that Drakenstein’s third race winner Little Suzie would have beaten her twelve opponents on any side of the home run.

Running over the mile after a good debut and then a below- par effort over shorter, the wellrelated Little Suzie started at a generous (in hindsight) 5-2, and after jumping from her

11 gate and being stuck out wide, she came for home and was angled to the outside rail by Grant van Niekerk.

The further they went, the more Little Suzie overcame the odds and she went away to beat improved stablemate Lotus Island (33-1) by 3,25 lengths in a time of 97,82 secs.

“She has so much scope and gave me a bomb feel. Hollywoodbets Kenilworth with a bit more give in the ground and a longer run in will be even better for her. She has the action and a turn of foot, so it didn’t matter that we ran wide. I am going to ask Mrs Rupert to retain me again seen as I’m riding all these winners,” chirped the delighted Van Niekerk, who rode the

v

earlier winner for My Only Weakness for Adam Marcus.

Justin Snaith was all smiles after saddling three of the first four winners on the sun-drenched ‘Braai, Bak & Brew’ day, and observed that Little Suzie could take her place in any establishment on earth with her breeding.

A daughter of retired champion Trippi (End Sweep) she is out of a milestone mare for the Snaiths. Street Cry daughter Oh Susanna, who was foaled in Australia, was the family operation’s first Met winner in 2018 – when ridden by Grant van Niekerk – and was the first 3yo filly in 100 years to win the Cape flagship.

She went on to SA Horse Of The Year honours. Oh Susanna’s dam Sharp Susan was a A$1 million sales topper at a broodmare sale in Australia, and was bought in foal to champion stallion Street Cry, the sire of the two brilliant mares Winks and Zenyata. Sharp Susan lost the foal but Sheik Mohammed, owner of Darley Australia, kindly gave a free return service to Street Cry – the resulting foal was Oh Susanna.

Oh Susanna’s half-brother Sharp Frank, a magnificent looker with an equally brilliant pedigree became the first Frankel to retire to stud in South Africa. He stands at Drakenstein and his first mares were recently tested in foal.

v Jono Snaith and the Snaith Racing Team proudly lead Little Suzie in after her runaway win | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

IT’S CALLED STREET CRED!

When promising filly Little Suzie (Trippi) broke her maiden by three and a quarter lengths at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, she became the first winner for her dam Oh Susanna.

The latter, South Africa’s Horse Of The Year, Champion Middle Distance Horse, and Champion 3YO Filly of 2017-2018 and Equus Champion Older Filly/Mare the following season, became the first three-year-old filly in over 100 years to win the Met when she triumphed in the Gr1 Sun Met of 2018.

Oh Susanna, a half-sister to Drakenstein Stud’s new stallion Sharp Frank (Frankel) won six of

15 starts including two runnings of the Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes.

Oh Susanna was sired by Street Cry, an outstanding sire who continues to make his presence felt in major races around the world.

The son of Machiavellian and Irish Oaks winner Helen Street sired 135 stakes winners despite dying at the relatively young age of 16.

Oh Susanna holds on well on to beat Last Winter in the 2018 Sun Met | Credit: Hamish Niven Photography

Winner of five of 12 starts, Street Cry scored his biggest win when romping home to a four and a quarter length win in the 2002 Gr1 Dubai World Cup and also won the same year’s Gr1 Stephen Foster Handicap by six and a half lengths.

Champion Sire in Australia in 2015-2015, Street Cry sired a lengthy list of champions headed by legendary racemares Winx and Zenyatta (who won 56 races between them!), Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, and Melbourne Cup/ Australian Cup victor, Shocking.

His sire sons and broodmare daughters are ensuring that Street Cry remains a notable presence in top class races around the world. Street Cry’s top sire son Street Sense, broodmare sire of the much missed Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy) has sired 100 stakes

winners, of which 12 are Gr1 winners.

Street Sense’s four-time Gr1 winning son Mckinzie has made a cracking start with his first two-year-olds this year headed by Gr1 Hopeful Stakes winner Chancer McPatrick as well as Gr1 Del Mar Futurity runner-up Mckinzie Street.

Another top-class son of Street Sense, Maxfield, made a big impression at the recent Keeneland September Yearling Sale where members of his first crop made up to $1 000 000.

Another son, Street Boss, has also enjoyed plenty of success at stud, with his star performers including 2016 Gr1 Kentucky Oaks winner Cathryn Sophia, 2024 Gr1 Stow Storage Memsie Stakes winner Pinstriped and Anamoe. The latter was Australia’s Horse Of The Year

in 2022-2023, winning no fewer than nine Gr1 races and earning AUS $11 127 025 in prize money.

Other sons of Street Cry to sire at least one Gr1 winner include New Year’s Day, Per Incanto, Street Hero, Shocking and Pride Of Dubai. The latter, a half-brother to South African champion Enaad (High Chaparral), is responsible for 23 stakes winners notably 2024 Gr1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud winner Dubai Honour, top sprinter Bella Nipotina and triple Gr1 winner Pride Of Jenni. Pride Of Jenni, who has earned more than AUS $8.8 million in stakes, romped to a six and a half length win in this year’s Gr1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.

Street Cry was Leading Broodmare Sire in Hong Kong in 2023-2024, where his maternal grandson Romantic Warrior (out of the Street Cry mare Folk Melody) dominated proceedings. To date, Romantic Warrior has won eight Gr1 winners including the 2023 Ladbrokes Cox Plate and 2024 Yasuda Kinen.

One of Street Cry’s best broodmare daughters is Minidress - whose son Rebel’s Romance (Dubawi) won Sunday’s Gr1 Preis Von Europa

by a neck. Victorious in the same race in 2022, Rebel’s Romance was winning for a 13th time, with the gelding’s five previous Gr1 scores including the 2022 Gr1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Minidress is also dam of Measured Time (Frankel), winner of both the Gr1 Jebel Hatta and Gr1 Resorts World Casino Manhattan Stakes this year.

Street Cry, who also ranks as the broodmare sire of Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm’s wellbred stallion Talk Of The Town (Var), made his presence felt in South Africa with just a handful of runners.

While Oh Susanna was undoubtedly her sire’s standout performer here, Street Cry also sired local stakes winners Eight Street (Gr2 Victory Moon Stakes, Gr3 Cup Trial), Hollywoodboulevard (Gr3 Fillies Mile, Gr3 Three Troikas Stakes), and Macduff (Darley Arabian).

Street Cry also sired the classy Alshibaa, who won his first two starts in South Africa before finishing third in the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes.

The magnificent Street Cry – a son of Machiavellian and Irish Oaks winner Helen Street | Credit: Supplied

ISIVUNGUVUNGU – BREEDERS’ CUP DREAM IS ON TRACK

Everything is going well and is on track for former SA Champion Sprinter Isivunguvungu’s dream bid for glory in the $1 million Prevagen Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar in San Diego, California, on 2 November.

His veteran trainer Graham Motion, who saddled Animal Kingdom to win the 2011 Kentucky Derby and 2013 Dubai World Cup, is based at the Fair Hill Training Centre in Maryland. He told the Sporting Post on Wednesday that the What A Winter gelding had taken his breathtaking winning effort in the $150 000 Da Hoss Stakes run over 1100m at Colonial Downs in Virginia three weeks ago, ‘really well’.

“We are very much on schedule with him and have been focussed on keeping him ticking over and making sure he is a happy horse. He got what he needed out of the Da Hoss Stakes and he will have his first work since his race outing this coming Friday, which is our standard out here,” Motion told the Sporting Post, adding that the Hollywood Syndicate’s international flagbearer would not have another run before his clash with the stars in California.

Regular rider Fernando Juarez takes Isivunguvungu through his paces at Fair Hill | Credit: Maggie Kimmitt Photography

Every owner wants a runner in one of the world’s most prestigious horseracing championships. So will Isivunguvungu get a run ‘where the surf meets the turf’, in the face of stiff international interest?

“I am told with confidence that he should make the cut and I feel that his winning the Da Hoss was important, as it underscores recency of form and fitness. And then there is his excellent Group 1 back form collateral in South Africa to support his case,” added the trainer who already has Breeders’ Cup successes to his credit via Shared Account in the Filly & Mare Turf in 2010, and Main Sequence in the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Turf.

When questioned on the 2024 BC race-entry time frames, Motion said that pre-entries were due on Monday 21 October, and fields published on 23 October.

“So all going according to plan, Isi will ship to

California on 27 October. The Del Mar turf track will be fast and firm, and that will suit him.” Looking back at the Da Hoss Stakes, Motion labelled it a ‘really good effort’ at the time.

After travels of 14000km from his native South Africa, and two months interred in quarantine, Isivinguvungu was having his first race in eight months. No mean performance in anyboyd’s book and his time for the 1100m on firm turf was a commendable 1:02.58.

“He is a very special horse. Manny Franco gave him a great ride,” Motion said afterwards.

Isivunguvungu was bred by Narrow Creek Stud and is a son of former SA Champion Sprinter, What A Winter, a Champion Freshman Sire of 2017 and Champion 2yo Sire in 2021, who has had winners up to 2400m.

The South African dream of 2024 Breeders’ Cup glory continues!

CAPE RACING BREAKFAST GALLOPS

LOOKING FORWARD TO MUCH MORE ON 17 OCTOBER!

The Kotzen feature pair of Royals and King Regent go through their paces | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

CCape Racing’s inaugural breakfast gallops at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Thursday proved an unqualified success and there are bigger things planned for the second event on 17 October.

“The first of our gallops series was a great success, after the winter rains ruined our plans to host them earlier in the year. We had around 150 punters, owners and stakeholders on course enjoying a light breakfast and future feature runners on the track. We will be hosting these events monthly moving forward, with the next morning planned for Thursday 17 October. People will be in for a real treat then as there

will be sales horses and horses in training on the track,” Cape Racing Executive Justin Vermaak told the Sporting Post.

Vermaak said that they have a couple of practice ready to run gallop slots, and 17 October will be utilised as one of those.

The CRS Breeze Up & Unbroken 2YO Sale will be held on 27 October at Hollywoodbets Durbanville.

Over 40 horses stepped out on ground described as ‘perfect’ after the previous evening’s showers by veteran trainer Vaughan Marshall.

Vaughan Marshall’s Sahara Cat and Lion Rampart looked in good shape | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Those on show included the likes of Brett Crawford’s Kuda Matchem Stakes entries At My Command, Zapatillas, and Glen Kotzen’s King Regent, while Vaughan Marshall had his big guns One Stripe (Cape Classic and Cape Guineas contender), who galloped with established stable star Seeking The Stars, while promising newly turned 3yo’s Lion Rampart and Sahara Cat also went through their paces.

Vaughan Marshall confirmed to the Sporting

Post that his quartet pulled up sound after their work and ‘all plans were on track’.

“I was very happy with what was really just pace work. King Regent worked with a top filly coming back from a long back. The going is firm, but it’s firm for everybody. He’s a nice sound horse, touch wood,” Glen Kotzen told the Sporting Post.

11 runners will contend for the R300 000 Kuda Gr3 Matchem Stakes, to be run at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday 28 September.

A traditional summer starting point, the 1400m contest has been won by some serious racehorses over the years.

The now retired Charles Dickens is the title holder.

Local champion One Stripe and the seasoned hard-knocker Seeking The Stars were more Marshall magic movers on the morning | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

A good crowd turned out for the inaugural morning gallops| Credit:

Chase Liebenberg

Vaughan Marshall briefs Ossie Noach and Richard Fourie | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Retired trainer Dolfie Maeder enjoyed the initiative

Chase Liebenberg

WITH

RESPECT, YOU CAN’T KEEP A GOOD ‘OLD’ MAN DOWN!

A THE GOLDEN LION ROARS FOR WERNARS

fter his hat-trick in the famous white, red and black Wernars silks at Turffontein on Saturday, multiple champion Piere Strydom showed again that age is just a number, and that even in testing weather and track conditions that pushed the fear factor envelope, he can match it on any day with the new generation.

Fact is, he has few equals at an age where many of us lose a few lengths just when getting out of bed in the morning.

Compared to the sun-drenched spring flower scenery of Hollywoodbets Durbanville,

Turffontein, or Golden Lions country as it’s now known, was relative doom and gloom on Saturday.

But full marks to the jockeys, young and old, who persevered after they had raised some valid concerns about horses pecking in some patches following the running of the third race.

A panel was duly constituted, and it was decided that the inside running rail would be altered to zero, which would allow the riders to avoid the areas of concern at the 1200m and 800m. The track condition was changed from ‘good’, to ‘good to soft’ and racing went ahead.

The class act Barbaresco capped the Piere Strydom-Wernars hat-trick | Credit: JC Photos

Unfortunately for Smanga Khumalo, his day was over early on after being dislodged from Inspector James as the start of the third race was affected. The Wernars’ What A Winter gelding took an awkward stride and stumbled leaving the stalls.

‘Bling’ was attended to by course paramedics and transported to the medical centre for further observation, and thereafter to hospital.

His agent Monty Mariemuthoo told the Sporting Post on Sunday morning that Smanga was admitted to hospital, and he undertook to provide us with an update in the course of the day.

But it will be of some compensation to the hospitalized rider that the gloomy day belonged to his team of Laurence Wernars, Johan Janse van Vuuren and the irrepressible Striker Strydom.

In the sixth, Striker had been booked to ride the Rafeef filly Chasing Happiness and delivered the goods on the lightly raced 4yo.

In the seventh, the veteran substituted for Khumalo on the What A Winter mare Nettleton, and got his instructions from Andrew Fortune, who does most of the work at the Janse van Vuuren yard.

Again, it was an unflustered professional ride to bag the Wernars home-bred’s fifth career victory. The third leg of the hat-trick came aboard the classy grey Barbaresco. Known as an extremely strong horse, Barbaresco came racing fresh and above himself after a near two-month break.

After some magical parade-ring advice from Andrew Fortune, Striker got the job done and booted Barbaresco home with a minimum of fuss.

Mike Destombes, Andrew Fortune, Laurence Wernars and Anthony Joannides lead Piere Strydom and Nettleton in | Credit: JC Photos

Contacted by the Sporting Post early on Saturday morning, a delighted Laurence Wernars said that Strydom’s performance ‘just shows that he is in a different league’.

“Striker is international level and he showed the experience again. He gets on three different horses that he has never sat on ever, and goes and wins on all three, including two pick-up rides. And he won without using his crop. That’s unbelievable to say the least,” added the leading owner who is enjoying a great start to the season with some big horses in the wings.

Piere Strydom has 11 winners to his name this season so far at a win strike-rate of 28,12%. His place strike-rate is 38,46%.

It was certainly an eventful day and it didn’t start particularly happily for the Janse van Vuuren team when the super-quick Querari grey Master Casper was scratched due to elevated TCO2 levels.

At the start of the second race, Mike de Kock’s well fancied Irish-bred Kingman debutante Wearingofthegreen was injured during the loading process and withdrawn.

Given her 18-10 odds, the runners were taken out of the stalls and the public given time to restructure their bets.

It turned out to be tough result with promising apprentice Trent Mayhew riding a well-judged race to get Robbie Sage’s Stroopsoet (14-1) home for the Hollywood Syndicate.

THE SPRINT IS INTERACTIVE

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE RACE REPLAYS!

The panel inspect the track after the third race at Turffontein on Saturday | Credit: JC Photos

SA WORK RIDERS LOVING JAPAN!

Alifetime equestrian and part owner of the ill-fated champion filly Basadi Faith, Juanita van der Merwe’s passion has revolved around the horse and she has, like many of us, endured the twists and turns in the road of life.

Today she is living her dream.

As CEO of recruitment agency Basadi Ke Bokamoso, she has placed over 75 Work Riders in the vibrant Japan Skills Development programme, and is changing lives!

South Africa’s leading international sportsbook operator, Hollywoodbets sponsor jackets and

beanies for the South African Work Riders that undertake an incredible lifechanging journey to the ‘Land Of The Rising Sun’ where a population of over 125 million people enjoy horseracing which has been popular in its current form for some 150 years, and is the most popular betting sport today in the East Asian island country.

Interestingly, horseracing has a much older tradition in Japan and its origins date back as a religious ceremony performed for the Imperial Court – that was back in the eighth century, when races between the samurai of the age were held annually in May, at the Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto.

Juanita van der Merwe bids Tatenda Musekiwa and Walter Shumba safe travels en route to Japan | Credit: Supplied

Love of the horse! Juanita is a lifetime equestrian, but started competition late | Credit: Supplied

“I am the luckiest most fulfilled businesswoman in South Africa. I get to uplift so many families, deal with the most amazing horsemen in Africa, and have true professionals on the other side of the world, who value the capabilities and equine skills of our placements,” the enthusiastic Kyalami-based Juanita van der Merwe tells the Sporting Post as she explains her role in placing Work Riders from South Africa and Zimbabwe in the racing passionate Japan.

“Absolute professionalism from pillar to post is the only way to describe the process. The agent in Japan is a lovely gentleman we know as Mr Sam, and our biggest clients over there are the Yoshizawa Stable, Okada Stud and Grand Stud. It’s an adventure of lifechanging proportions for many of the men who take the leap of faith. A large proportion of the Zimbabweans and South Africans have never left their homeland. In fact, 98% of the Work Riders have never been to an airport, and the long flight is their first experience on an aeroplane. It’s now also become a joke amongst the guys on our whatsapp groups that the newbies must bring some pap along, as the diet in Japan is quite different to ours!” laughs Juanita as her passion and love for what she does shines brightly.

The contracts are for a year and the majority are being renewed.

“We started in 2022 and some guys are already at the end of their second year in Japan. The opportunity to earn and uplift their families is almost unlimited. They are building houses, buying cars and starting businesses back here. It’s good for all, and for our economy, with the influx of money back into SA and Zimbabawe. I can show you some of the whatsapps I get being thanked for helping them change their lives. It is unbelievable, it truly is. And it’s ultimately thanks to the foundation coaching

they receive here, the willingness of the Japanese government and their racing and breeding folk to utilize the talent and potential. And to great corporates like Hollywoodbets who contribute to the success of this amazing initiative,” adds Juanita as she tells us that she believes in fate and how the universe unfolds.

A tragic ending to a lifetime dream of racing a champion brought her to the point where she established the Work Riders initiative.

“I have always been a horsey girl and am the only equestrian in my family. Growing up in a small town, the opportunities weren’t there and bareback riding on the farm was all I knew. I actually only started competitive riding and showjumping at the age of 35. I am 46 now. They used to refer to me as the diamond in the rough! Although it’s only recreational I have two amazing warmbloods and we just love the sport. It’s definitely not a hobby but a lifestyle,” she explains as she tells that she was once blessed to be a part owner of the Master Of My Fate filly, Basadi Faith, who was trained by Paul Matchett.

The Favour Stud-bred Basadi Faith won her first four on the trot under Devin Habib, culminating in the Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery. She then travelled to Hollywoodbets Scottsville for the 2019 Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship where she started at 26-10. She sadly bled in the race.

Rested seven months, she won her second start on her return in facile fashion.But then tragedy struck.

Basadi Faith suffered a massive heart attack in the Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes at Turffontein on 14 March 2020.

“She was my first racehorse and needless to say no one else could ever fill those hooves. She was an immaculate freak of nature and

won every race by at least 2 – 3 lengths. She was nominated in 2020 as SA’s fastest filly. I was at Turffontein that day. I dashed down to the track. The curtains were around her. I was so confused. I just cried forever. After her very sad passing, someone said in the Sporting Post comments – ‘the last unicorn gone’. She also played a key role in giving jockey Devin Habib a lift-up at a time in his life that he really needed it. She was so special to so many people. Then there was Naledi Faith, who ran in the same colours as Basadi Faith. But we quickly realised that a career in Polocrosse

was much better for her. Champions only cross most of our paths once in a lifetime!”

Juanita says she has moved away from racing horses. She points out that it actually costs more to keep a showjumper, as there is no potential stakes income, and the costs are ‘quite prohibitive’.

“I’m not sure that all racehorse owners really understand the patience and nurturing that goes into getting a horse to be loved, developed and to achieve their optimum. If

Juanita says goodbye to another group of Work Riders en route to Japan | Credit: Supplied

your horse needs a break, give it a break. My warmblood is 19 and he will be with me until the day he goes to horsey heaven. So while I don’t race horses anymore, my absolute love for these wonderful creatures and passion to improve lives has synergised so beautifully with this Work Riders project. And like they say, if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life!”

Asked about her younger years, Juanita laughs again as she tells us how she was an ‘influencer’ ahead of herw time.

“Long before social media, I used to observe how movie stars and famous people were followed – how their lifestyles became aspirational. So I studied Drama at Pretoria Technikon. I loved the stage. But I am probably only now achieving my dreams on the stage of life.”

What was her biggest role?

“Now you are going back in history. I played a part in ‘Sewende Laan’. I enjoyed it. Don’t advertise that!” she laughs.

She then moves on to explain that the name of her company means ‘women are future’.

“The name is not so much that we are only focusing on the empowerment of women, but more so in the nature of a woman within the workplace. That is kind, gentle and caring in nature with more attention to detail – and hence the slogan – ‘Simply managing human nature by nature’. I started this company in 2017 at a stage where I was rebuilding my own life, and was looking for a purpose to make a difference in the world. My biggest passion and ambition is to alleviate poverty and suffering. The question that I asked myself was – what it is that I can do on a daily basis to achieve this? That led to helping people to get jobs

and create opportunities. And so our mission statement first saw the light of day. Ultimately our aim is to alleviate global poverty and unhappiness within individuals -and to change the world one placement at a time. We have to reach for the stars and dream big to make the small differences!”

And her next challenge?

“Taking Work Riders out of our racing ecosystem, means that they need to be replaced. I am keen to facilitate their coaching – at a training centre that needs them and can utilize them. I am looking at a few possibilities. The career prospects of a Work Rider have already been enhanced by the opportunities created within South Africa. Japan offers a lifechanger. We live in exciting times. Thank you again to Hollywoodbets and all the horseracing stakeholders who have assisted and encouraged these wonderful hardworking horsemen to improve their lives,” concludes Juanita.

CHARLES THE FUTURE UNFOLDS!

DICKENS

The champion Charles Dickens has commenced the next phase of his illustrious career | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Drakenstein Stud has announced that champion Charles Dickens has had his first two mares scanned in foal.

The first with a confirmed pregnancy to the son of Trippi is the Captain Al mare Captain Gambler, who won the Irridescence Stakes and finished third in the Gr1 Investec Cape Derby.

Out of the stakes-placed import Skip Poker, she is a half-sister to stakes winners Liquid Mercury and Gold Poker Game.

Outside mare Miss Daisy is also in foal. Winner of the Gr3 Princess Charlene Starling Stakes, the five-year-old daughter of Crusade is a halfsister to last season’s Gr1 SA Classic/SA Derby hero Purple Pitcher.

Voted both the champion 3YO Male and Champion Miler in 2022-23, homebred Charles Dickens was retired to stud following his brilliant win in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate. The chestnut also counted the Gr1 Cape Guineas and Gr1 Gold Challenge amongst ten career wins.

At the time of his retirement, he topped the Merit Ratings at 132, the same as fellow Drakenstein-bred See It Again.

His popularity as a racehorse was always going to spill over to his stallion career and it comes as no surprise that he will cover a full book of mares, with Drakenstein giving him access to some of its most prominent mares.

Worthy of mention are former Horse of the Year Oh Susanna, Captain’s Ransom, Singforafa, Louvre, Lady Of Power. as well as champions Rain In Holland, Silver Darling and Clouds Unfold. The multiple Gr1 winner Snowdance, who struck gold with her first foal, the Gr1 Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot, is also on the list.

Other proven producers amongst Charles Dickens’s harem is Gr2 winner My Sanctuary, the dam of Gr1 winning Silvano siblings Safe Passage and Silver Sanctuary, as well as See It Again’s dam Supreme Vision and Snowdance’s three-part sister Sempre Libre, the dam of last season’s Gr3 Langerman winner Eight On Eighteen.

Charles Dickens stands his first season at a fee of R50,000 live foal.

Donovan Dillon gets Captain Gambler up to beat Whose That Girl in the 2016 Irridescence Stakes | Credit: Supplied

C 42ND STAKES WINNER FOR MAINE CHANCE STAR

hampion Vercingetorix enjoyed a feature double this weekend. One of his sons, Mount Anderson, won Friday’s Friendly City Stakes at Fairview, and the following day, Vercingetorix gelding Call To Unite ran out a ready winner of the Listed Settlers Trophy (2000m) run at Hollywoodbets Durbanville.

In the process, the blue-blooded Call To Unite became his inform sire’s 42nd stakes winner.

Trained by Justin Snaith, four-year-old Call To Unite stamped his big-race hopes on Saturday with a convincing performance. Under a great ride from Rachel Venniker, the Vercingetorix gelding made the most of a light weight when storming home to beat stablemate Rapidash by two lengths.

Bred by Drakenstein Stud, Call To Unite, unbeaten in two starts at four, is out of the topclass Elusive Fort mare Siren’s Call.

The lightly raced gelding, a R900 000 buy from the 2022 National Yearling Sale, has now won three of nine starts.

Call To Unite was one of two local winners for Vercingetorix on Saturday, with the Maine Chance Farms resident also responsible for the progressive three-year-old Taxi To The Moon.

The latter made it three wins from just five starts when he made all to win the Betway Welcomes You Graduation Plate (1000m) at Turffontein.

Under a positive ride from Gavin Lerena, the Tony Peter trained colt stormed home to beat his G3 Tabgold Godolphin Barb Stakes-winning paternal half-brother Cymric by over two lengths.

Bred by Oldlands Stud, the classy Taxi To The Moon is out of the Indigo Magic mare Earn A Moon and is thus bred on the same Vercingetorix/Indigo Magic cross as the Oldlands bred 2021 Gr1 Gold Medallion winner Ambiorix.

Vercingetorix has 20 lots on offer at the 2024 Cape Racing Sales Breeze Up & Unbroken 2YO Sale.

Witness Stand (GB) wins the Listed Dubai Duty Free Cup Stakes

20 Sep ‘24 - 3yo WITNESS STAND (Expert Eye) wins the Dubai Duty Free Cup S. (Listed) (above) at Newbury (GB) by 3 lenghts over 1400m, on soft ground.

19 Sep ‘24 - 2yo EVE’S BOY (Expert Eye) won the British Stallion Studs EBF Novice S. at Ayr (GB) by 2 lengths over 1400m, on good ground.

17 Sep ‘24 - 2yo NAINA (Expert Eye) won the Download The Raceday Ready App Nursery H. at Yarmouth (GB) by 1,25 lengths over 1400m, on good ground. NAINA has won 3 of her last 4 starts.

17 Sep ‘24 - 4yo SNIPER’S EYE (Expert Eye) won the SPP - That Get You Noticed H. at Yarmouth (GB) by a head over 2000m, on good ground.

12 Sep ‘24 - 2yo NESTHORN (Expert Eye), 2nd Prix des Chenes (Group 3) at Longchamp (FR) over 1600m, on soft ground.

6 Sep ‘24 - 2yo EXPOSURE (Expert Eye) won the Prix Kendor (ON DEBUT) at SaintCloud (FR) by 1,25 lengths over 1600m, on soft ground.

Witness Stand (GB)

ANOTHER STAKES WINNER FOR EXPERT EYE

Paardeberg stallion Expert Eye celebrated a new stakes winner on Friday 20 September when three-year-old son Witness Stand put up a dominant display to win the Listed Dubai Duty Free Stakes over 1400m at Newbury.

Always prominently placed, the gelding moved into the lead over three furlongs out and kicked into gear to cruise home by three lengths.

A six-length debut winner over 1400m at Chester as a juvenile, Witness Stand was gelded after finishing sixth in the Gr2 Vintage Stakes on his second outing.

He returned in the autumn to finish second in the Gr3 Horris Hill Stakes at Newmarket.

This year at three, he landed a valuable contest at Glorious Goodwood and was fully deserving of a breakthrough at stakes level. His next target is likely to be the Gr2 Challenge Stakes at Newmarket on 11th October.

Witness Stand is the clear pick of four winners produced by the Oasis Dream mare Respondez, who is a full sister to the Gr1winning sprinter Prohibit. The gelding joins the fillies Snellen and Juniper Berries as the third stakes winner from his sire’s first crop, whilst

Witness Stand – looks a bright prospect! | Credit: Steve Cargill/Supplied

the second has already yielded two smart juveniles in recent Gr3 Prix des Chenes runnerup Nesthorn and the filly Naina, who completed a hat-trick of wins this week when she strode to a fluent victory at Yarmouth.

Meanwhile, the stud’s Sally Bruss reports that

the first two mares covered by Expert Eye have been tested in foal.

They are Pathfork’s multiple stakes winning daughter And We Danced, and the Gr2-placed Oratorio mare Mrs O, whose first foal is the stakes-placed Var filly Priscilla Maisey.

A LAST CAR – FIRST HORSE HOME!

scot Stud’s Gr1 winning stallion Heavenly Blue had a smart debut winner at the Vaal on Heritage Day.

His three-year-old daughter Last Car To Pass made the perfect start to her career when winning first time out.

Under Tshepsio Matsoele, the Fabian Habib trained filly outclassed her rivals in the Betway Welcomes You Work Riders Maiden Plate (F and M) (1400m) to score by two and a half lengths.

Bred by Narrow Creek Stud, Last Car To Pass is out of the Spectrum mare Switch Hit.

Tuesday’s winner was originally bought for R20 000 from the 2023 Cape Yearling Sale.

Her sire Heavenly Blue enjoyed some good results last season, with the son of Snitzel responsible for the 2024 Listed Lady’s Pendant winner Three Rocks, as well as such promising sorts as Happy Holly, Play Act and Truth.

His sire Snitzel has been Champion Sire of Australia four times, and also headed Australia’s Leading Sires of 2YOs premiership on four occasions. A son of Redoute’s Choice, Snitzel has sired 12 champions and 19 Gr1 winners, with the Arrowfield Stud resident having produced no fewer than 60 yearlings to fetch AUS $1 000 000 or more.

SNAITH FEATURE WINNER TO 99

The Vercingetorix gelding Call To Unite, who was 2 points under sufferance at the weights, has had his rating adjusted to 99 from 92 after easily landing the Listed Settlers Trophy over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday 21 September 2024.

The Handicappers were of the view that his second placed stablemate Rapidash made for the most suitable line horse and as such his rating remains unchanged on 109. Third placed Allez Morris, who was 4 points under sufferance, and finished 01 lengths behind

the line horse, was also adjusted accordingly from 88 to 92.

A total of three horses received some drops in their ratings following this contest. Navy Strength was adjusted to 94 from 96 while Love Is A Rose received a 1-point drop from 103 to 102. Lastly, Sachdev was reduced to 101 from 103.

The Stipes reported: Ponte Pietra suffered post-race distress. Allez Morris raced with his tongue over the bit.

BLUE SKY’S WONDERLAND OF WHITE

Blue Sky Thoroughbreds, a partnership between veteran breeders Bruce Le Roux and Tinus Gericke, is based at the former Spring Valley and Yellow Star Studs in Mooi River. While the unprecedented snowfalls of the past weekend sadly created havoc and trauma in the lives of many locals and on the roads, award-winning photographer Candiese Lenferna made the trip from Durban on Sunday morning to capture the rare beauty of the paradoxical backdrop of the Blue Sky paddocks. Trippi’s resident Grade 1-winning son Chimichuri Run warrants a special mention. Isn’t he just a stunner!

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

EXPERIENCE SUMMER 2024

The Artistry in Sandton last Wednesday evening provided the perfect backdrop for the exciting announcement of the Betway Summer Cup 2024 – a premier event hosted by 4Racing and Betway.

Scheduled for November 30, 2024, at the Turffontein Racecourse, this year’s event promises to be a dazzling celebration of racing, fashion, and entertainment.

The Betway Summer Cup, known affectionately as ‘The People’s Race,’ is now also ‘Africa’s Richest Race’ with an extraordinary R6 million prize fund up for grabs. Turffontein Racecourse is anticipated to draw interest from owners and

trainers from around the country, as well as punters and curious visitors eager to try their luck.

Following the momentum of an initiative introduced in 2023, a cash award of R20 000 will be given to each groom for the main race in the Betway Summer Cup 2024.

Jonathan Blumberg, Betway Africa, commented: “We at Betway are committed to delivering an exceptional racing experience in partnership with 4Racing. Horseracing continues to be a key area of growth for us, and we are incredibly proud to be part of the Betway Summer Cup, Gauteng’s most anticipated horseracing event and now the richest group race in Africa.”

4Racing Senior Manager Marketing & Sponsorship, Gareth Flusk, enjoys a bit of banter with 94.7’s Zweli Mbhele, who will be hosting the Summer Cup after party | Credit: Pauline Herman

This year’s theme ‘Silks in the City,’ brings a sophisticated fashion and racing twist to the event, playing on the lively and colourful jockey silks to inspire chic fashion and dynamic experiences throughout the day. The 2024 theme design cleverly uses the colours of the last five Summer Cup winners to spell out the word ‘SILKS’ – whilst also paying homage to the iconic Brixton Tower.

Fashion aficionados are set to showcase their finest interpretations of this dynamic theme on the Betway Summer Cup Black Carpet, adding an extra layer of glamour to the event.

Elevating the fashion stakes, is Glamour South Africa, a key partnership for this year’s event. “When we heard the theme ‘Silks in the City,’ we immediately saw the fashion potential for Glamour. After a few discussions, we’re thrilled to partner with 4Racing and Betway. We’ll be shooting a campaign in the iconic Johannesburg CBD, bringing ‘Silks in the City’ to life with a blend of racing tradition and urban sophistication,” said the Editor-in-Chief, Nontando Mposo. The shoot will be featured in the November issue as the lead-up to Betway Summer Cup. And in December 2024, and January 2025 we’ll feature the fashion, racing and celebrity highlights.

Lifestyle and broadcast heavyweights, BET Africa (DStv channel 129) added their name to the impressive list of event partners for this year’s event. “The Betway Summer Cup is not only an event with great history, but also one that is trending in the right direction. The BET audience is youthful and geared towards sophisticated lifestyle and entertainment events, and the Betway Summer Cup fits the bill perfectly for a partnership,” said Monde Twala, Senior Vice President, General Manager and Lead, BET International.

The SABC radio and television platforms were

welcomed back as a partner for 2024 Betway Summer Cup.

The public broadcaster provided comprehensive lead-up and on-the-day coverage of the racing, fashion and lifestyle at the 2022 and 2023 Betway Summer Cup – and will look to do so again as ‘Silks In The City’ takes centre stage.

One of the most exciting announcements of the evening was the reveal of the official song of the Betway Summer Cup ‘City Lights’.

“We’re delighted to have collaborated with Universal Records artist Ricky Tyler and upcoming artist Gigi, who created a summer anthem perfect for the Betway Summer Cup. The track perfectly brings together what the Betway Summer Cup is all about – a celebration of summer, racing, fashion, and entertainment.” said 4Racing CEO, Fundi Sithebe.

Mi Casa will be headlining the halftime show while the Summer Garden area at Turffontein will host an after-party featuring broadcaster Zweli Mbhele, Ms Cosmo, and the FunkItUp DJs, including Chrizz Beatz and Vin Deysel.

Tickets for the Summer Garden are priced at R350, including access to Turffontein, an exclusive garden-style marquee, food vendors, bars, and the after-party. To celebrate Heritage Month, tickets are available at a 50% discount with the code ‘4Heritage’ until September 30 at Ticketpro.

General Access tickets are R100, while full hospitality packages start at R2000 per person.

For those seeking an immersive experience, Circa’s inner-track marquee offers an “on-therail” Summer Cup experience for R4850 per

person, complete with a curated menu and premium bar service.

The Summer Cup is perfect for corporate yearend parties and businesses are encouraged to book their packages soon, before hospitality areas reach capacity.

All tickets are available at Ticketpro, visit www.ticketpro.co.za.

More exciting partner announcements will be taking place in the lead-up to The Summer

Cup 2024. Take part in the excitement on social media using the hashtags #BetwaySummerCup and #SilksInTheCity and follow @summercupracing on Instgram and X and Summer Cup Racing on Facebook.

For more event information and to purchase tickets, please visit:

• https://betwaysummercup.co.za/

Media release by 4Racing on Wednesday 18 September 2024.

4Racing CEO Fundi Sithebe at the launch | Credit: Pauline Herman

“Lance was a completely different class. He was as good a 3yo as anything else that I’ve trained at a similar stage in his career.” Sean Tarry, Multiple Champion Trainer

Stakes winning son of multiple champion Jet Master

Damline has produced multiple group winners

Powerful family of champions - Big Swinger, Duc Du Orleans, Rebel King

50% winners to runners

Covered 25 mares last season - limited opportunity prior to that

Excellent fertility

r 5.000 live foal

G NOTHING FRIENDLY ABOUT THIS KNOCKOUT BLOW

The 100-1 shot Mount Anderson got the better of the 150-1 outsider Official Secret to win a dramatic finish to the R200 000 Friendly City Stakes at Fairview on Friday.

The 8yo Vercingetorix gelding won the same Non-Black Type feature two years ago and found the winner’s enclosure after a 500 day drought. The exacta paid R1808!

Clearly enjoying the give in the ground, Mount Anderson was given a peach of a ride by Eldin Webber and went stride for stride over the final 200m with Charles Ndlovu and the gutsy mare Official Secret.

In a drive to the wire, Webber found some inspiration and got Mount Anderson’s head down to pip Official Secret in a time of 111,50 secs for the 1800m.

Former Cape-based Firealley (25-1), now with Jacques Strydom, was a further 2 lengths back in third.

Recently crowned East Cape Horse Of The Year Joy And Peace was the first fancied runner home in fourth, for a R94 337 quartet dividend.

The red-hot 8-10 favourite Pacaya looked hard to beat but fought Muzi Yeni and didn’t have much spark in the dash for home, finishing a 2,25 length fifth. Richard Fourie did caution some time ago that Pacaya takes a high maintenance kind of ride.

Eldin Webber drives Mount Anderson ahead of Official Secret (Charles Ndlovu) in a thriller | Credit: Pauline Herman

Formerly raced by the late Mike Rattray for Dean Kannemeyer, Mount Anderson is clearly a favourite in the Kelly Mitchley yard and the young conditioner told of how the old boy almost didn’t make it to races.

“He was almost not a runner – he has a way of faking sickness. He had a mild colic in the week, then he was footsore on Thursday. Our farrier Tom Reynolds deserves a shout-out for his work!” said a delighted Kelly Mitchley, who dedicated the win to her Mom who celebrated her birthday on Sunday.

With Anuschka’s World (Muzi Yeni) winning the previous race, and Passchendaele the following, Mount Anderson’s knockout was the middle leg of a genuine hat-trick for the Mitchley yard. In more telephone number dividends, the Pick 3 paid a handsome R3248!

Mount Anderson holds a special place in the family’s heart as he was Kelly’s first feature winner.

Bred by Millstream Farm, he is by Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the top-class Al Mufti five-time winner Gilded Minaret, who raced for Mike de Kock.

Mount Anderson was originally purchased by the late Mike Rattray for R650 000 on the BSA National Yearling Sale of his year. A winner of 8 races with 13 places from 40 starts, Mount Anderson has earned stakes of R841 800.

The next Fairview racemeeting has been carded for Friday, with the Nelson Mandela Bay Racing Poly Challenge featuring as the main event.

All smiles – (L-R) Kyle Paddock, Montana Turner, Eldin Webber and Kelly Mitchley | Credit: Pauline Herman

IT WAS THE PUNTERS’ WEEK!

It was a thrilling few days for Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge players last week!

On Wednesday, player36 became the 114th jackpot winner when he scooped the all-ornothing jackpot bonus of R780 000 at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

At the Vaal on Thursday, 5 winners in Selvin117, Kasturii23, mbreezah, Angel nr 2 and Than shared the R760 000 jackpot, becoming winners 115,116,117,118 and 119, respectively.

On Wednesday a 45-year-old unemployed IT Specialist from Durban found all eight winners on the Hollywoodbets Greyville card and banked the R780 000 jackpot.

With close on 12 000 players bidding for glory in the free-to-play competition, player36 found the magic 8 winners on the card in what will be something of a life changer for the single man who lives with his parents.

The jackpot payout is calculated by the number of starters on the card – there were 78 –multiplied by R10 000.

There is an option to double this potential payout sum by wagering a minimum of R50 on the programmatically generated betslip on selection.

Interestingly, had he ticked the bet box, player36 would not only have doubled his payout to R1 560 000, had he included a R1 allon in his selection portfolio, he could have won an additional over R870 000.

So, a total payout of R2 430 000 was effectively missed, for just a tick and a minimum R50 spend on the betslip!

“I am disappointed that I did not take a chance on the R50 betslip wager, but I am nevertheless very grateful for the massive prize,” added the man who only discovered the fun and thrills of horseracing under a year ago when introduced by a friend.

“When making my selections on Wednesday, I looked at the fields. I spent next to no time on it and my selections were mostly random. I have played the Quickpick in the past too. I suppose it was my lucky day!” he added.

Asked what he intended to do with the cash, he said he would be able to afford a decent computer system and that would be his first purchase.

“I am unemployed, so have to be careful how I spend money. But I need a computer and I am going to spoil myself with that.”

The 5 big winners at the Vaal on Thursday also

did not take up the minimum R50 bet option which would have doubled their payouts.

But the R152 000 windfall is being hailed as a godsend by player mbreezah, a 39-year-old single mother from Worcester, who has been playing the challenge for a few years.

“I have a 16-year-old daughter and suffer from a lung problem which is bad in winter. I will be able to buy a car now to get to work. I am so happy. Thank you Hollywoodbets,” she said emotionally.

Player Angel nr 2 lives with her parents in Vredendal and must rank as our youngest ever jackpot winner at just 23 years old.

She admitted she knows little about horseracing and was playing the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge for just the third time! She intends to invest the winnings.

Click here to find out more!

NEW DOORS OPEN FOR TOP MAN VENGI

Mike de Kock Racing is bidding a fond farewell to their long-time assistant trainer Vengi Masawi, who performed his last duties for the yard at Turffontein on Saturday when Jaham won Race 4 over 1600m.

This week Vengi (45) will be joining the Hollywoodbets Group as an assistant trainer based at their recently established and beautifully revamped pre-training and recovery facility at the Ashburton complex outside of Pietermaritzburg.

He will be working with Trevor and Jo Brown in the two-year-old barns.

Born and raised in Zimbawe, Vengi was educated at the highly-ranked Rusununguka Secondary School outside of Harare. He spent

much of his teenage years on the Woodleigh Stud Farm in East Mashonaland, where his father worked as a mechanic.

The farm was owned by Dubbles Draper, who was married to Graham Carey, the grandfather of Ridgemont Stud’s Craig Carey. The great Ipi Tombe, bred by Peter Moor, was born in the same region.

The early seeds of horsemanship were planted at Woodleigh where Vengi soaked everything up like a sponge and assisted with mare

Vengi Masawi and Gavin Lerena with Turffontein winner, Jaham | Credit: JC Photos

coverings on the farm. There were times, he said, when he ran away from school to be with horses.

Vengi met businessman Brian Makwabarara, well known in Zimbabwe and South Africa as an auctioneer and racehorse owner.

Brian helped Vengi to get a job at Borrowdale Park, where he joined then champion trainer Lisa Harris at the height of her success. He credits Lisa with much of his foundation knowledge of stable management and treatment of injuries.

He rode work and handled her top horses Double Bluff, Divine Wisdom and Zimbabwean champion Earl Of Surrey, with whom he got to travel to Johannesburg for a raiding feature victory in 2004.

Vengi told: “I enjoyed my South African trip so much that I rushed back when an opportunity came. I worked for Gary Alexander for a few weeks at Turffontein before joining another former Zimbabwean, Sharon Patterson, at her spelling facility near Randjesfontein. After a while Mrs Patterson felt that I would do well in a big racing stable and she spoke to Diane de Kock. In 2007 she got me the job as a stable employee working alongside Mrs. De Kock and every season’s string of incoming two-yearolds, which has always been separate from the main yard.”

Vengi said that he moved to the main stable after veterinarian, Dr Terry Casey, was impressed with the way he bandaged and treated an injured runner. “Dr Casey asked, ‘who did this, it is very well done’ and he mentioned it to Mr. De Kock. I applied my knowledge and experience from Zimbabwe and that day it paid off.”

With Mike’s travels around the world, the

extent of Vengi’s duties grew as he worked closely with erstwhile assistant trainer John Buckler and became a stalwart in the stable. Diane enrolled him at the Summerhill School Of Excellence in 2012, where he studied under Heather Morkel with the guidance of Mick Goss’s renowned multiple championshipwinning team.

Vengi recalled: “We worked in teams, there was obviously a lot of academic work aside from the physical work with stallions, mares and foals and it was a priceless experience. We were each assigned a group of mares, my team leader was the exceptional Denali Mtshali and I was lucky to get the grey mare Jordie. She was the first to foal down with a colt they named Rabada. He became a champion and a stallion, and I am proud to this day of being the only graduate at the time to deliver what would later be a stallion!”

Mathew de Kock suggested that Vengi applied for an assistant trainers licence and helped him with the various test questions ahead of his written examination.

“Mathew was a teacher to me. He’d draw up a list of questions and then mark my answers and discuss them afterwards until I was ready. I still get tears in my eyes when he phones from Australia to ask how things are going here.”

He also enjoyed working with jockeys Anthony Delpech, Callan Murray and Randall Simons and said they were like brothers to him in the stable. “Callan bought my wedding ring when I got married in Zimbabwe.”

Due to his knack with problematic horses, Vengi was asked to assist with the temperamental star Igugu, who needed two handlers to lead her in the parade ring and elsewhere. He also worked closely with horse behaviour therapist Malan du Toit. Malan’s help

was called in after another tricky customer Hawwaam’s controversial scratching at the start of the 2018 Durban July.

“I learnt a great deal from Malan, he is very good. We discovered that Hawwaam preferred being led into the stalls from his front side, so I’d take him by the reins and walk backwards into the stalls and then I’d crawl out and away from underneath the pens. I was going to join the horse when he was moved to the UK, but he was injured and returned here to stud. We’re all looking forward to see his progeny on the tracks. He was a top horse.”

While Hawwaam was the best he’d worked with, Vengi also has fond memories of Majmu, Soqrat and Triple Crown winner Malmoos. He is sad to leave the stable, but looks forward to his new challenge and re-uniting with former

associates Anthony Delpech and Trevor Brown.

Mike de Kock commented: “Vengi is an excellent, intelligent horseman with people skills and these attributes give him a bright future in racing. He’s been a big asset to our yard, having progressed through the ranks to assistant trainer. We support his further growth and he’ll be joining a dynamic group of people who are going places. He has all the skills to be a trainer in his own right.”

Delpech said: “Vengi and I worked closely together for 10 years when I was stable jockey to the De Kock yard, so I know how talented he is as a horseman. He’ll start off in our two-yearold barn, but we have future plans for him in the pipeline.”

www.mikedekockracing.com

Hawwaam – one of the best | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Data Is The World’s Top Assistant Trainer!

Leading Australian trainer Ciaron Maher suggests that every sport on earth has improved with sport science and horse racing should be no different. Data is something that doesn’t lie. Racing has always been a sport of opinions: that’s what it’s based on. I’ve always been wanting to push the boundaries of ‘why’ that opinion is the right decision or the wrong decision. EQUIMETRE

“ Our unique know-how comes from the alliance between data and equine physiology”

Absolute Equestrian Services & The Arioneo Offering

After a lengthy and dedicated career, Eric Fordred retired from race-riding in 2004 due to his commitment to his insurance business.

It so happened that at the same time, he was given the opportunity of establishing Absolute Equestrian Solutions, which focused on the building of training tracks, dressage and show-jumping arenas.

Eric writes that after a lengthy and dedicated career, I retired from race-riding in 2004 due to my commitment to my specialty insurance business. In a nutshell, it was designed by me as speciality cover for all disciplines of horse-riding, but more so for professional jockeys and other sports disciplines, such as rugby and soccer and is still available in the marketplace today.

During that period of time, I was given the opportunity of establishing Absolute Equestrian Solutions, which focused on the building of training tracks, dressage and jumping arenas. Some of the bigger arena’s we built were Val de Vie and Europa warm up.

I have since added Arioneo to my portfolio as part of Absolute Equestrian Services and am committed to lending my extensive experience to establish a presence for Arioneo as a technology within the racing industry.

Most notably, during the 2022/23 Cape Town Summer season, I worked with trainer Peter Muscutt, utilizing Arioneo to track and analyze horses’ performance. This collaboration has resulted in significant improvements in training outcomes, demonstrating the efficiency of his approach. In the last 3 weeks I have been training Peter's staff on how to use the Arioneo in the most effective and efficient way possible. During this time, through the Arioneo platform analysis we dedicated horses that would potentially win - we also deduced from Arioneo Data which horses might need another gallop or race, but most of all we learnt to trust the data!

Having completed my EquiScience Certification as an Equine Performance Analyst, alongside some very well-known racing personalities, such as, South African Racehorse owner Rosemary Waterman- Wentzel, (Equine Physiotherapist), Laura Fritz Harris (the veterinarian, specializing in ECG) and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Veterinarian Steve O Conner, who assists top Hong Kong Trainer Dougie Whyte.

I am now certified in the deployment and support of Arioneo systems, and my services include on-going support to ensure that users can fully leverage the technology. My commitment to simplifying complex analyses ensures that the data provided by Arioneo is easily interpreted and applied, empowering trainers to make data-driven decisions without the need for extensive technical exper tise.

As a result of the focus on the welfare and overall health of Racehorses, I decided to venture into technology that would not only assist trainers in adopting a science-based training methodology using the Arioneo Monitoring solution, but also to use the analytics to identify the underlying risks to the racehorses during their training and racing.

The Arioneo Offering

Arioneo technology represents the forefront of innovation in equine performance monitoring and analysis. This system is specifically designed to meet the rigorous demands of the racing industry, offering comprehensive data collection and analy tics that provide trainers with actionable insights.

Arioneo’s capabilities include:

Heart Rate

Evaluate your horses’ fitness and closely monitor the training workload.

 Identify the optimal fitness to race.

 Evaluate the recovery quality.

 Analyse the heart rate zones and the energy production processes.

 Watch for any heart rate abnormalities.

GPS: Speed, Distance, Acceleration

Quantify your horses’ speed abilities.

 Monitor your horses’ top speed and ability to hold it.

 Analyze split times and find the most suitable race accordingly.

 Keep track of the speed evolution during workouts until the finish line

Locomotion and Stride data

 Determine the stride profile and the preferred distance.

 Quantify stride frequency and length to choose which distance to race.

 Analyze the acceleration strategy.

 Monitor symmetry and regularity to watch for any signs of lameness.

Evaluate the data evolution over the season.

 `Identify areas for improvement and measure changes in physical ap titudes over time.

 Has recovery improved from one period to the next? Is the V200 faster?

Easily compare multiple horses’ aptitudes

 Identify which horses have the best physical abilities.

 Individualize training according to the needs of each horse.

Collect and build a training history for the entire stable

 With historical data collected and stored, you can easily detect an abnormal value and act quickly.

 Watch for the warning signs.

 Identify a bad recovery, an abnormal heart rate or a change in locomotion to act accordingly..

 Closely monitor your horse’s workload to ensure a successful return to work and Racing after a break or injury.

 Easily communicate data to your veterinary team to facilitate your horses’ care.

 Remotely share data with your veterinarian to ensure a regular and complete follow-up. ECGs are automatically collected at each training session allowing trainers to investigate an anomaly retroactively and remotely.

 By staying informed of the latest trends and technological advancements, Arioneo can offer solutions that are not only current but also future proof, providing long-term value to our clients.

RESOURCES OF INTEREST

Arioneo Case Studies :https://training.arioneo.com/en/arioneo-resources-case-studies/

The Role Of Data In Racehorse Pre-Training : https://Training.Arioneo.Com/En/The-Role-Of-Data-In-Racehorse-PreTraining/

How to make sure that my horse is ready to race? https://training.arioneo.com/en/blog-make-sure-horse-readyto-race/

SOME TESTIMONIALS

 How Ciaron Maher Racing has improved his striking rate with its equine sports science unit?

���� Australia | +500 horses

«Every sport in the world has improved with sport science and I always thought horse racing should be no different. The data is something that doesn’t lie. Racing has always been a sport of opinions: that’s what it’s based on. I’ve always been wanting to push the boundaries of “why” that opinion is the right decision or the wrong decision. By curating a sports science division, we’ve made a commitment to this, and see the results on the track.»

 How David Menuisier adapts his racehorses’ routine according to their data?

�������� United Kingdom | 50 horses

«It can explain sometimes a poor performance. We got a new rider who started in March, April, maybe. Because of that system, I could tell you that he used to go far too fast to gather momentum and so his horses would kind of not do their best here, where it matters. At least you can actually put data and put science into what was wrong and correct it very quickly. This is a short run benefit of Arioneo.»

 How did Douglas Whyte use the data to support his feelings?

���� Hong Kong | +60 horses

« It never lies to you. I can pick up on a problem way before it becomes a problem. People ask me why I still ride, and that’s one of the reasons I still ride because the beauty of it is if I can feel something out and I can go back and pick it up on a computer it’s just so satisfying, you know, two minds are better than one.»

 Mikel Delzangles

Racehorse Trainer And Equimetre User Since 2018

«Thanks to EQUIMETRE we have additional parameters on the analysis of the performance and work of thehorses. As much as the trainer can be subjective from time to time, the machine remains objective. I think that with the analysis of both we can take correct decisions.

CONTACT

Meet with one of our consultants to learn more about EQUIMETRE

CRUZ CELEBRATES FOR THIRD TIME

Brenton Avdulla steers Golden Scenery to victory | Credit: HKJC

Tony Cruz claimed the HK$4.2 million Gr3 Celebration Cup Handicap for the third time in four seasons when The Golden Scenery produced a career-best performance under Brenton Avdulla at Sha Tin on Sunday to win the first Group race of the 2024/25 Hong Kong season.

Settling near the tail of the field before the seven runners bunched approaching the home turn, The Golden Scenery (121lb) stayed on the rail deep into the straight before cutting between Taj Dragon (135lb) and last season’s winner Healthy Happy (129lb) to continue Cruz and Avdulla’s partnership.

Atwo-time winner in Australia as Dominant King, The Golden Scenery had twice been placed at Group 3 level in Hong Kong – running third in the Celebration Cup last year – and revelled in the rain-affected conditions to win by half a length in 1m 22.74s to post his sixth Hong Kong victory.

“The Golden Scenery has always been a very honest horse and he’s always good at the start of the season and wins a race. I planned this race for a while and today the give in the ground helped,” Cruz said.

Cruz and Avdulla struck twice last season at Group 1 level with California Spangle and Cruz uses the Australian lightweight whenever possible. Cruz previously won the Celebration Cup with Buddies (2021) and California Spangle (2022).

John Size-trained Wunderbar made a successful return after knee surgery in May, winning the Class 3 Tailorbird Handicap (1200m) under Zac Purton.

“He looked good, didn’t he? It was a good effort after eight months off. He looked like he had a class on them so that’s all we can expect. I think that his record says that he’s going to improve,” Size said. “We’ll have a look and see what’s on for him next. Zac seemed happy as well.”

Turin Starspangled earned a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million with success in the Class 3 Sunbird Handicap (1600m) under Purton as trainer Pierre Ng indicated a tilt at the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 23 March was a possibility.

“He’s still got a lot to learn, but he needs more racing to get him settled and I hope I can do that. The owner bought him for the Derby, so hopefully I can achieve that,” Ng said.

Formerly trained by Donnacha O’Brien when he raced as Devious, the gelding was placed at Group 2 level over 1429m in Ireland before export to Hong Kong.

Master Mastermind, winner of the Class 4 Swallow Handicap (1400m) for David Hayes and Hugh Bowman, might also head to the Four-Year-Old Classic Series.

“I want to see him go through the grades but I haven’t given up on him for the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m),” said Hayes, who also won the Class 2 Woodpecker Handicap (1200m) with veteran Harmony N Blessed under Keagan De Melo.

Manfred Man’s progressive three-year-old Patch Of Cosmo extended Luke Ferraris’ fine start to the season with victory in the Class 4 Shrike Handicap (1200m) as Matthew Poon continued a brilliant start to the season, notching his fifth win of the campaign, when Floof broke through at his seventh Hong Kong start for Ricky Yiu, landing the Class 4 Hwamei Handicap (1650, dirt).

Hong Kong International Sale graduate Reliable Profit scored his first win at his 14th start for Danny Shum, landing the Class 5 Magpie Handicap (1650m, dirt) under Hugh Bowman before Sugar Ball became another first-time winner with success for Cody Mo under Derek Leung in the Class 4 Parrot Handicap (1200m).

Douglas Whyte and Britney Wong are all smiles after the milestone victory | Credit: HKJC

WONG’S FIRST FOR WHYTE

On a Sunday afternoon when Hong Kong racing celebrated Golden Sixty’s glittering career at Sha Tin, apprentice Britney Wong snared her first Hong Kong win with Douglas Whyte-trained Cheval Valiant’s all-the-way victory in the race named after one of the city’s greatest champions – the Class 4 Golden Sixty Handicap over 1000m.

Wong, 25, is the first Hong Kong-born female jockey to ride a winner in the city since Kei Chiong in July, 2017, and is apprenticed to David Hall after spending two years in Australia where she rode 50 winners.

“It panned out perfect for me, actually. To be fair, this horse has natural gate speed and he loves to lead and be left alone. Definitely, the 10-pound (allowance) helped a lot today and also the rain. Mr Whyte gave me very clear instructions before the race – just make sure he jumped clean and if he can get into his own rhythm, he will be happy,” Wong said. “We did everything right and the result came right.

“It means a lot to me and, at the same time, it’s a bit unreal because I’ve only ridden two years in Australia and a little bit of time in New Zealand and it’s such a big step up for me to ride in Hong Kong and also getting my first (Hong Kong) winner in just my third meeting here is really unreal.”

Whyte said Wong’s tactical awareness on Cheval Valiant was a key factor.

“He’s a good beginner, but he can go too hard sometimes and then he’s vulnerable at the end. Britney did a very good job allowing him not to run away too early. She held him back and from the 600m she started to let him go, which I asked her to do, and she put a gap on them. I think that was the winning move – they had to then chase her as opposed to her being run down,” Whyte said.

“All in all, she held herself together very well under pressure, riding a favourite, beginning as best as she could and riding a very heady race.

She was composed and she did a good job.

“I’ve been impressed with that so it was just a matter of time for her to find the right opportunity and ride with confidence, which she did, and she deserved that.”

The free-to-play Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge is available for Hong Kong racemeetings so remember to get your selections in at least five minutes before the first!

Lord North has retired | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Globetrotting star Lord North has been retired from racing at the age of eight after a lucrative career which yielded more than £6.4 million in prize-money and ten wins, including four at Group 1 level.

John Gosden hailed Lord North as a horse who had ‘a lot of character’, as the son of Dubawi ends his racing career best known for three consecutive victories in the Dubai Turf on World Cup night at Meydan.

The Racing Post reports that Lord North was last seen at Royal Ascot in June when eighth behind Auguste Rodin in the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes, a race in which he made his Group 1 breakthrough in 2020.

Gosden, who trained Lord North with son Thady since the start of 2022, said: “Lord North has been retired to join Godolphin Rehoming after an illustrious career. He retires a sound horse, but the years have caught up with him.

“His record speaks for itself having won the Cambridgeshire as a three-year-old in 2019 before winning the first of his four Group 1s in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot the following year.

“He then landed the first of his remarkable three consecutive wins in the Group 1 Dubai Turf at Meydan in 2021 through to 2023, and managed to win over £6.4m in win and place prize-money in a career that spanned seven seasons.”

Owned by Sheikh Zayed bin Mohammed Racing, Lord North won ten of his 24 starts in a career that began with victory under Robert Havlin in a mile novice at Redcar in October 2018.

In 2020, Lord North achieved a career-high rating of 124 when winning at Royal Ascot from Addeybb, subsequently a multiple winner at the highest level. Later that year he made his

sole appearance at the Breeders’ Cup, finishing fourth in the Turf.

The following March, Lord North registered the first of his three wins under Frankie Dettori in the $5m Dubai Turf when overcoming Vin De Garde before returning 12 months later to dead-heat with Panthalassa.

The hat-trick was completed when the pair overcame Danon Beluga last year and he was far from disgraced when finishing eighth in a bid to win it for a fourth time in March.

Lord North was a popular attraction at the Henry Cecil Open Weekend on Sunday when the Gosden yard was one of 24 stables to open their doors.

Gosden added: “He’s been a pleasure to train over the years and he’s a horse who has always had a lot of character. He’s provided his groom and rider Aldir Centuriao as well as head man PJ O’Gorman with a lot of pleasure over the years and they will be sad to see him go, as will all of us at Clarehaven Stables.

“He retires to a great location at Godolphin Rehoming at Wood Ditton, which he knows well having spent two holidays there already.”

• www.racingpost.com

MAKIN A GUTSY GLORY LOOK SO EASY

It may not have been a traditional prep run for the Gr1 Grand Singapore Gold Cup in two weeks’ time, but Makin will likely line up in the iconic handicap feature race after a gutsy victory in the SG$100,000 Class 1 race at Kranji on Saturday.

Punters were spot on the money with the Steven Burridge-trained five-year-old by Written Tycoon jumping as the favourite in the small but elite six-horse field.

Despite having only six runners, the race was both a tactical and thrilling affair with just half a length separating the first four horses across the line.

Upon jumping, second favourite Pacific Vampire (Bruno Queiroz) took the early lead as expected but under a decent hold as the

1400m trip was a query for the sprinter.

Reigning champion jockey Manoel Nunes made a tactical move at the 1000m to shadow Pacific Vampire into the bend, with the pair putting about seven lengths on the rest of the field at the 650m.

Into the straight, Nunes put pressure on the leader but Pacific Vampire kicked and put two lengths on Makin at the 350m. But with 150m to go, Pacific Vampire got the wobbles late while Makin upped the ante towards the post.

Makin (Manoel Nunes, white cap) beats off a strong challenge from Big Union (Bernardo Pinheiro, red and white striped cap) and Big Hearted (Carlos Henrique) to take out the Class 1 race | Credit: STC

The Al-Arabiya Stable-owned gelding got the better of the battle with 50m to go but in another twist, Big Union (Bernardo Pinheiro) and Big Hearted (Carlos Henrique), who were five lengths back at the furlong post, flew late to make it a blanket finish on the line.

Makin held on by a short head over Big Union in the end, while Big Hearted ran another neck away in third. Pacific Vampire finished another neck away in fourth.

The winning time was 1 min 22.06 secs for the 1400m on the Long Course.

With the first four runners over the line all nominated for the Grand Singapore Gold Cup on 5 October, the results meant a lot to Burridge.

“It was a relief,” said Burridge, who scored a hat-trick of wins after Empowering and Galaxy Bar also won the SG$30,000 Class 5 race and the SG$50,000 Class 4 race respectively.

“He’s big-hearted. He usually gets beat by a head but he won by a short head!

“I thought the stablemate Ghalib would be a lot closer. He usually races a lot handier.

“And I didn’t think Makin would be quite as close but he had to so as to put himself there for a winning chance.

“But the main thing was that he won. I hope he pulls up all right. It was a hard run.

“Just disappointed about the handicaps, after the win, in the Gold Cup. We’re probably only

going to get about six kilos off a 10-time Gr1 winner (Lim’s Kosciuszko).

“But at this stage, Makin is a runner in the Grand Singapore Gold Cup, provided he pulls up okay.”

Nunes, who also rode a treble after Elliot Ness claimed the SG$50,000 Class 4 Division 2 race and Fearless Warrior scored in the SG$30,000 Class 5 Division 2 race, reckoned that fighting spirit of Makin made the difference in getting the win but noted he was still an unknown quantity over 10 furlongs.

“Pacific Vampire is a tough horse,” said Nunes, who now has 54 wins but sits second to Queiroz on a lesser countback for seconds.

“The 1400m on the Long Course is a question mark for Pacific Vampire and that helped me.

“But because no one else went, so I had to go and chase him earlier. I worked my horse a little earlier but he’s a tough fighter and we just got there.

“For now, it’s still a question mark if he can get the 2000m though.

“Still, it’s a good win for owner Mansoor Gandhi of the Al-Arabiya Stable.”

Makin’s fifth win from 19 starts in Singapore took his prizemoney to over SG$380,000 for connections.

UK QUARTETS –TABGOLD EXPLAIN

The announcement by TabGold that local Quartet pools with fractional betting on selected UK race meetings returned to the TabGold betting menu from Thursday (12 September) following a mixed reception from customers to the introduction of commingled Quartet pools on all UK and Irish race meetings last month, has been further elaborated on by Gold Circle management.

As things stand at present, local Quartet pools (with fractional betting) are offered on two UK meetings most days, with commingled Quartet pools available on all other UK and Irish meetings.

Given the vast differences in the rate of exchange between the regions it is technically not possible to offer fractional betting on pools commingled internationally. The minimum unit for commingled bets is R1 and this in itself already translates into a fractional bet in international pools.

The unit of betting on the Quartet on the UK tote is 1 Pound – so a customer playing locally in SA at a R1 unit of investment, is only effectively getting approximately 1/24th (or 4%) of the bet depending on the daily rate of exchange.

By way of example, a 4-horse boxed quartet taken here in SA and costing R24 (24 combinations at R1 each) will translate to a 1/24th fractional bet on the UK tote.

In instances where a local ticket is the only winner, the customer will be paid 1/24th (or around 4%) of the net pool with the balance of the pool being carried over.

In such cases, dividends in SA are shown with both the full unit payout (based on our R1 unit) as well as the carry forward amount.

So, in broad terms, and assuming a net pool of R10 000 and only a percentage winner, the local dividends would show a payout of R400 and then a carry-over of R9600 (with the R400 being equivalent to 1/24th of the net pool).

To get the full UK Tote payout on a commingled Quartet requires playing the bet to a R24 unit.

For good order, the media release stated that commingled Quartet pools have been welcomed in some quarters, but many TabGold customers complained that this has resulted in them being unable to play fractional Quartet bets on UK races.

TabGold have taken note of the complaints and customers can enjoy the best of both worlds. As before local Quartet pools with fractional betting will be offered on two UK meetings most days with commingled Quartet pools on all other UK and Irish meetings.

Whether an Irish or UK meeting has local or commingled pools will be displayed clearly on

Tab sheet race cards in store and online.

Unfortunately for several reasons, including vast differences in exchange rates, it is not technically possible to offer fractional bets on pools commingled internationally.

The minimum unit for commingled bets is R1 (more in the case of countries like the USA) and this is itself a fractional bet in international tote pools.

As an example, the unit of a UK Tote Quartet is one Pound and a customer playing a R1-unit Quartet with TabGold on a UK race is buying about 1/24th of the bet, depending on the exchange rate on the day.

And if that bet is the only winning ticket, the customer will get 1/24th of the pool and the remainder will be carried over. To get the full UK Tote payout on a commingled Quartet requires playing the bet to a R24 unit.

That aside, the introduction of commingled Quartet bets has given TabGold customers many more opportunities to play Quartets on UK and Irish races, and access to bigger pools and payouts.

TRAINERS

JOCKEYS

BREEDERS

SIRES