SP Sprint - Wednesday 23 April 2025

FEEL THE FEVER?

08

Hollywoodbets Durban July Fever Hots Up

First entries on Friday

26

Greeff’s Direct Hit Nursery number 4 in ‘25!

52 De Kock Ready To Fly

Father-and-son training operation takes off

96

Hong Kong High

Sha Tin feature action on Sunday

On the cover Andrew Fortune and Justin Snaith combined to win the eighth race at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday with the exciting low-key Champions Season prospect, Okavango. The Candyman says he is just thankful and privileged to be ‘eating at the Snaith table’. Read more on page 12.

Issue: 16/2025

ON THE LOOKOUT

Milnerton trainer Piet Botha watches his charge Montien in a gallop at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday. Montien, probably the best son of SA Triple Crown hero Louis The King, ran second in the L’Ormarins Gr1 King’s Plate and third in the WSB Gr1 Cape Town Met at his last two outings. Candiese Lenferna took the photograph.

SUN RISES ON

SA CHAMPIONS SEASON

On 3 May, Hollywoodbets Greyville plays host to three Grade 2 contests in the IOS Drill Hall Stakes, the WSB Guineas and the WSB Fillies Guineas, as we celebrate the launch of the 2025 SA Champions Season and three glorious

months of feature race action on the East Coast. As we count the days down, Candiese Lenferna captured this early morning shot at Summerveld recently.

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

HOLLYWOODBETS

DURBAN JULY

FIRST ENTRIES DUE ON FRIDAY

First entries for the 2025 Hollywoodbets Gr1 Durban July are due on Friday 25 April and will be unveiled at the Hollywoodbets Greyville racemeeting later the same day.

The 129th renewal of Africa’s premier horseracing and social event will be held on Saturday 5 July at its historic home.

Prior to the KZN racemeeting on Sunday, a few SA Champions Season contenders

stepped out, including Justin Snaith’s Met and Derby winner Eight On Eighteen, and Cape Derby runner-up Sail The Seas, who has been labelled a ‘huge campaigner’ this season by the champion yard.

Eight On Eighteen (Muzi Yeni) and Sail The Seas (Andrew Fortune on standside) stretch out well | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

The Snaiths confirmed to the Sporting Post that Eight On Eighteen and Sail The Seas would be nominated in both the KZN Guineas and the Drill Hall Stakes on the Champions Season launch raceday, Saturday 3 May.

“There was little separating Sail the Seas and Eight on Eighteen during this grass gallop. Eight on Eighteen was positioned just off his companion, Sail the Seas, but he quickly moved up to work alongside him. Both horses

ran strongly to the finish, with jockeys Muzi Yeni and Andrew Fortune keeping a tight hold on them throughout. After the workout, Eight on Eighteen was breathing heavily and will benefit from this experience, which should help him improve significantly. Both colts will be nominated for the IOS Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes and WSB Gr2 KZN Guineas and the connections will make a decision after draws are announced,” added Justin Snaith.

Piet Botha’s Montien stretches out beautifully under Sean Veale | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Entries for the opening Champion Season racemeeting closed at 11h00 on Tuesday 22 April, with weights published the same day.

Supplementary entries are due by 11h00 on Friday 25 April, with declarations closing at 11h00 on Tuesday 29 April.

The 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July theme is ‘Marvels of Mzansi’, which celebrates South

Africa’s rich heritage, cultural diversity, and breath-taking landscapes, paying tribute to the nation’s extraordinary achievements.

The Sprint is interactive so watch Sunday’s gallops here – thanks to Gallop TV.

Tickets for the event are now on sale – the Sprint is interactive so please find out more here.

GET INTO THE ZONE!

The Sporting Post will once again bring you the latest Hollywoodbets Durban July news in the build-up and beyond the big race on Saturday 5 July.

Visit our Hollywoodbets Durban July zone at the top of the www.sportingpost.co.za home page for a snapshot of July fever at its best!

OKAVANGO A STAR EMERGES

“Okavango will probably sidestep stablemate Eight On Eighteen in the Daily News and go via the Greyville 1900 and Cup Trial.”

The Snaith-Fortune combination is a lethal and entertaining one in anybody’s language, and the duo were amongst the winners on an entertaining Easter Sunday at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

“I have brought my biggest string to KZN in the forty winters that Snaith Racing has been visiting here. And every year I have had an experienced jockey like Anthony Delpech or Anton Marcus, who knows the tracks, as it’s not easy. This season it’s Andrew Fortune –not that we are giving him all the Grade 1 rides either!” mused the SA Champion trainer after Nic Jonsson’s lightly raced Okavango strolled in to make it 3 wins from 7 starts and signal his claims as a low-key sophomore talent.

“I am just happy to be sitting at the Snaith table. I know I will get some of the caviar – even if not as much as Richard Fourie,” laughed Fortune after he paid tribute to the exciting Michael De Broglio bred son of Master Of My Fate.

“I rode him early on. Okavango is a top division horse – he just needs some time and 400m further,” suggested the Candyman of the R420 000 BSA 2yo November Sale buy out of the top-notch Sportsworld mare, Sabina Park.

While the weight of public money saw Okavango start at 5-10, he didn’t disappoint and is likely to follow the same route as last year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July winner, Oriental Charm. He will probably side-step stablemate Eight On Eighteen in the Daily News and go via the Greyville 1900 and Cup Trial.

Earlier in the day, Fortune had to play second fiddle to Muzi Yeni in a Snaith exacta finish to the seventh.

A stakes winner as a 2yo and a dual winner on the Fairview polytrack, Hong Kong-based JP Cuvelier’s Querari gelding Underworld upped

his game in good fashion with a well-earned victory in an A Stakes mile.

“I’m more Natalian than half the local trainers,” quipped Snaith as he played to the Hollywoodbets Greyville faithful, a crowd he labelled the best racing fans in South Africa, after saddling a popular exacta in the seventh race.

Provincialism is a tonic in racing, and with the arrival of the various Cape yards over the past few weeks, the local racing has brightened considerably.

Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Underworld was a R140 000 National 2yo Sale purchase and took his stakes earnings to R564 169 with his fifth win (7 places) from his 16 starts.

A galloper who loves KZN, Get Impressed was possibly carrying more condition than his stablemate in his trainer’s estimation, and should not be long in following up in similar company.

Earlier in the afternoon, trainer Kumaran Naidoo enjoyed a birthday celebration of note when Muzi Yeni got the Talk Of The Town filly

Street Talk home to beat the any-priced Echo, in a third race exacta that paid R1128,40. The quartet, despite being carried over in part, paid just shy of R100 000!

A pleased Muzi Yeni banged home Underworld for Snaith Racing on Sunday | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

LIGHT UP THE WORLD! CITY TRACK SET TO

The Hollywoodbets Greyville lighting is currently being upgraded by world experts ahead of the SA Champions Season which gets underway on 3 May. And

Musco Lighting are associated with international tracks such as Happy Valley, Sha Tin, Cheltenham, Wolverhampton and Meydan.

The Sprint is interactive – enjoy Michele Wing’s chat with the contractors.

FAIRVIEW START BLUNDER TO BE INVESTIGATED

An investigation has been opened by the National Horseracing Authority after an apparent breakdown in communication at the Fairview start of Tuesday’s sixth race led to the contest being declared null and void.

For those of us watching the race, it is quite apparent that the flag man behind the stalls raises his flag, thus giving the all -clear to the starter positioned on the rostrum to release the gates. It should be noted that from his position, the starter cannot see the back of the starting stalls.The flag man is the starter’s eyes.

The official Stipes report states that a race review was called with regards to Greenlight Legend (R Fourie) in stall gate 8 and established that this filly had not been in the stalls as the start was effected.

The Starter called a false start, which was hesitantly adhered to by a number of Riders who had attempted to pull up their mounts,

The race that wasn’t – Bosnay leads the charge | Credit: Pauline Herman

as the sounding of the siren was delayed. The Sporting Post has had confirmation that the siren may have been late, but it was audible right as far as the furthest yard.

However, the majority of the Riders continued riding their mounts to the finish line. In terms of Rule 61.5.13.1, the Stewards declared this race a ‘no race’ and subsequently abandoned it.

An investigation has been opened into this incident.

While Greenlight Legend was fancied and on a hat-trick, we have to commiserate with trainer Zietsman Oosthuizen and owner Kabous van Staden, who watched their longshot Bosnay go all the way under Eldin Webber. The filly was apparently very fancied by the connections.

To add some ironic insult to injury in a forgettable race, Bosnay was then selected for the taking of specimens for analysis. We have not been able to ascertain the qualifications credentials or experience of the errant flag man.

Richard Fourie takes it easy as Direct Hit makes it three from three |

READY, AIM, FIRE ANOTHER DIRECT HIT!

Ridgemont’s five-time Gr1 winning stallion Canford Cliffs maintained his top-class form when his daughter Direct Hit, one of this term’s most exciting 2yo prospects, kept her impeccable record intact with a facile victory in the R175 000 Listed East Cape Nursery at Fairview on Good Friday.

Running fresh off her victory in the R1 million SplashOut Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery at her second outing at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Cape Derby day in February, Direct Hit hardly worked up a sweat as she put her seven rivals to bed in the 66,66 secs that she took to complete the 1200m of the headliner on the public holiday.

Held tight by Ridgemont jockey Richard Fourie, Direct Hit (3-10) extended inside the final 200m to beat stablemate Silva City (50-1) by 4,75 lengths, with fellow Ridgemont-Canford Cliffs flagbearer Instaworthy (16-1) a further quarter length back in third.

Credit: Pauline Herman

One of four winners on the sunny afternoon for the Greeff-Fourie combination, Direct Hit achieved the fourth Nursery victory of the year for the champion yard.

SA Champion jockey Richard Fourie has ridden many 2yo winners and said that the exciting aspect is that Direct Hit is doing things easy and in no tearaway precocious juvenile.

Ridgemont representatives Craig Kieswetter and Craig Carey were on track to lead the winner in.

Carey noted that the Canford Cliffs cross with Danzig line mares had proved a winner and confirmed that all four Great Britain mares purchased by the leading breeders had produced winners when crossed with the

extraordinarily consistent sire.

Direct Hit is out of the six-time winning Great Britain speedball Wrecking Ball, who won the 2017 Gr3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap.

And Direct Hit is another remarkable example of precocious speed from Ridgemont resident Canford Cliffs (Tagula), who is enjoying a super season. He was Europe’s dominant miler at three and four, winning five consecutive Gr1 races over the trip.

His splendid Gr1 treble of the Irish 2000 Guineas, St James’s Palace Stakes (over multiple Gr1 winner Dick Turpin) and Sussex Stakes (over champion Rip Van Winkle), saw him rated the top three-year-old miler in England and Ireland in his year.

Richard Hughes and Canford Cliffs celebrate at Royal Ascot | Credit: British Champions Series

As indicated by Craig Carey, Direct Hit’s broodmare sire is a former resident of the magnificent Ridgemont Robertson stallion barn in Great Britain, who had a TFR of 118 and won the Al Quoz Sprint, subsequently a Gr1 contest which has been won by stars like J J The Jet Plane, Ortensia and Shea Shea).

As a son of July Cup winner Green Desert (by Danzig), was one of the best-bred stallions in SA in his time.

Direct Hit is now a winner of 3 from 3 for stakes of R642 500.

The Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on 31 May could well be on the radar!

Gavin Smith and Craig Zackey enjoyed a treble on the afternoon, while Kelly Mitchley saddled a double.

The next Fairview racemeeting takes place on Friday, 25 April.

ALAN! GOOD GREEFF,

Those who follow statistics will be interested to find that the latest National Trainer Championship log shows Gqeberha-based Alan Greeff in second spot behind only Justin Snaith.

More impressively, he currently leads the way on sheer number of winners. Take a bow Alan!

The Greeff family has carved out a proud record in East Cape racing stretching way back to the early sixties, when Alan’s late father

Stanley relocated from Cape Town.

A dedicated horseman, he would dominate Eastern Cape racing through the 1970s, ‘80s and into the ‘90s, winning every major race on the racing calendar.

Alan Greeff (right) greets colleague Zietsman Oosthuizen after the null and void race at Fairview on Tuesday – which was ‘won’ by Ziets’ charge, Bosnay | Credit: Pauline Herman

In addition, he was widely recognized as a masterful trainer of fillies, many of which became hugely successful broodmares, arguably the most notable being Paddock Stakes winner Sun Lass, who became dam of champion Yataghan and stakes winners Violetta, Tallulah, Runnymede and Gallantry.

Ironically, it was a colt which provided Alan with a first Gr1 success, this being Alec and Gillian Foster’s homebred Cereus, who landed the 2001 Gold Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville, his victory completing a momentous double on the day, with the Gr2 Golden Slipper having gone the way of juvenile filly Tatler, a greatgreat-great grandaughter of Sun Lass!

In fact, the Greeff stables are named after the accomplished Ascot Stud-bred filly Halo, a multiple stakes winner of 10 races and a fullsister to the Greeff-trained champion Mermaid.

In the mid 1990s, Stanley passed the baton to Alan, who seamlessly stepped into his father’s giant shoes and continued in similarly successful vein, leading the province’s champion trainer log on numerous occasions. Alan too, has been a dab hand at training top fillies, having tightened the girth on standouts such as Annie (dam of champion Ice Cube and Gr1 performer Jagged Ice), Tarn Fairy and more recently Santa Therese, Luna Halo and Splicethemainbrace.

Greeff Team Flashback! Stanley Greeff (seated) with his team, from left to right: Alan Greeff, Brian Elder, Yvette Bremner, Tania Salter, Anelle Wilmot | Credit: Supplied

Ironically, it was a colt which provided Alan with a first Gr1 success, this being Alec and Gillian Foster’s homebred Cereus, who landed the 2001 Gold Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville, his victory completing a momentous double on the day, with the Gr2 Golden Slipper having gone the way of juvenile filly Tatler, a great-greatgreat grandaughter of Sun Lass!

This season the Greeff stable is once again blessed with a powerful arsenal of female runners, for in addition to Luna Halo and Splicethemainbrace, Alan also trains a number of exciting juvenile fillies, headed by unbeaten Direct Hit. A Ridgemont homebred, this daughter of

Canford Cliffs travelled to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in January and promptly showed up the locals with a facile victory in the Gr3 Cape of Good Hope Nursery on Derby day.

This past Friday, she stretched her record to a perfect three for three with an equally impressive doddle in the Listed East Cape Nursery. She is not the first progeny of Canford Cliffs to excel for the stable, that honour belongs to fellow Ridgemont homebred Cliff Top, who captured the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes in 2022.

Incidentally, Canford Cliff’s purple patch continued on Easter Monday when four-yearold son Tenango carried Ian Longmore’s

Cereus (Stuart Randolph) is seen in red and gold, one back in centre, before going on to win the 2001 Gold Cup – Alan Greeff’s first Grade 1 winner | Credit: Supplied

silks to a fluent victory in the Gr3 Champagne Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

Ridgemont will be dreaming of a first Gr1 success for their veteran stallion as Direct Hit is being targeted at the all-important Allan Robertson Fillies Championship, a race Alan previously won in 2003 with Fred Crabbia’s Silver Arc, having run second in 1996 with Tarn Fairy, who went on to land the Gr2 JB McIntosh Fillies Classic two months later.

By the way, Alan’s success with Tarn Fairy’s family continued through the next two generations, for he also trained her daughter Blushing Fairy as well as the latter’s daughter Yoshie, both multiple stakes winners.

This season, Allan finds himself in the enviable position of having more than one talented juvenile filly to go to war with.

In addition to Direct Hit, there is also Master Of My Fate’s daughter Golden Palm, who flashed the Greeff firepower with an eyecatching win in Turffontein’s Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery, thereby providing the stable with an historic first stakes success on the Highveld.

She is likely to join Direct Hit on a float bound for Durban, as could another Canford Cliffs filly in Hot Sauce, who earned her first black type when third behind Direct Hit in the Nursery.

Auctioneer Steve Davis and Ascot Stud’s Dr Ashley Parker join in the celebration of a Greeff six-timer in 2023 at Fairview. Kendall Mienie is in the saddle | Credit: Pauline Herman

BRITAIN THE BATTLE OF

Park Appeal’s Al Quoz Sprint winning son Great Britain, a full-brother to Cape Cross, has gotten into the act this season, albeit as a broodmare sire.

Great Britain’s high-class daughter Wrecking Ball, a winner of six races, including the Gr3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap, is the dam of this season’s very exciting two-year-old Direct Hit (Canford Cliffs).

The latter, a two and three quarter length winner of the Gr3 SplashOut Cape Of Good Hope Nursery, made it three wins from three starts when she romped home to an impressive win in Friday’s Listed East Cape Nursery.

The impact of the wonderful mare Park Appeal (Ahonoora) continues to be felt across the world. The Champion 2yo Filly in both Britain and Ireland in 1984, Park Appeal was unbeaten in four starts at two when her wins included both the Gr1 Moyglare Stud Stakes and Gr1 Cheveley Park Stakes. The latter race saw Park Appeal scorch clear to win by four lengths. Park Appeal would go on to prove an influential broodmare, with her nine winners headed by Gr1 Lockinge Stakes winner Cape Cross, Champion Sire in France in 2009. A son of Green Desert, Cape Cross sired more than 120 stakes winners including outstanding English Derby winning champions Sea The

Stars and Golden Horn, as well as remarkable globetrotting mare Ouija Board.

The latter, whose seven Gr1 wins included scores in both the Gr1 The Oaks and Gr1 Irish Oaks, produced three stakes winners, notably dual Derby winner, and successful sire, Australia (Galileo).

Sea The Stars, an outstanding champion on the track and half-brother to legendary stallion Galileo, is one of the world’s top stallions, having sired more than 130 stakes winners, including champions of the ilk of Stradivarius, Baaeed, and Sea Of Class, as well as successful stallion Sea The Moon and Epsom classic winners Harzand and Taghrooda.

His Derby winning paternal half-brother Golden Horn, while not in the same class as a stallion as Sea The Stars, has come up with highclass performers on both the flat and over jumps. His stakes winners on the flat are led by the group winners Botanik, Divina Grace, Gregory, Trawlerman, Goldenas, Haskoy and Caius Chorister, while Golden Horn is also responsible for 2025 Gr1 Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy winner Golden Ace

and 2025 JCB Triumph Hurdle hero Poniros.

The somewhat underappreciated Cape Cross has become an outstanding broodmare sire.

To date, his daughters have produced the Derby winners Australia and Masar, as well as outstanding, multiple Gr1 winning half-sisters Tarnawa (Shamardal) and Tahiyra (Siyouni).

Cape Cross also ranks as the broodmare sire of six time Gr1 winner Laurens, and 2024 Gr1 Sportsbet Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa (Lope De Vega).

Cape Cross’ half-sister Pastorale (Nureyev) has also made her mark on the stud book. While Pastorale’s son Iffraaj (Zafonic) failed to win

at the highest level, he did win the Gr2 Park Stakes twice as well as one running of the Gr2 Lennox Stakes. Iffraaj proved a better stallion than racehorse, with his more than 100 stakes winners including multiple Gr1 winning miler Ribchester, champions Rizeena and Jungle Cat, and outstanding stallion Wootton Bassett.

The latter, who stood for 300,000 euros in 2025, enjoyed a magnificent year in 2024, when Wootton Bassett’s representatives included Gr1 winning two-year-olds Camille Pissaro, Henri Matisse, Twain and Tennessee Stud.

Wootton Bassett sons Expanded and Twain currently rank among the leading fancies for the upcoming Gr1 2000 Guineas.

Riding Master Position

A vacancy has arisen at the South African Jockey Academy, Cape Town branch. The Academy is seeking to appoint a Riding Master who will be responsible for fostering the development of young elite sportsmen and women.

The successful candidate will work within a team environment under the guidance of the National Riding Master and must understand the high demands of training young apprentice jockeys to become elite professionals. Applicants should have a strong sporting background and an ability to work effectively with adolescents.

Requirements:

• A solid understanding of the Thoroughbred Racing Industry.

• A Training and Assessing qualification is preferred. If not held, the candidate will be required to obtain this qualification.

• Strong ability to mentor adolescents through a demanding apprenticeship.

• Ability to work effectively within a team environment.

• High levels of integrity.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and public relations capabilities.

• Computer literacy and technological aptitude.

• Self-motivated, eager to learn, and driven to impart skills and knowledge in a training and learning environment.

• Willingness to live on the property and fulfill housemaster duties during the week and on weekends.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the holistic development of apprentice jockeys, guiding them to become qualified professional jockeys.

• Develop a tailored progression path for each apprentice.

• Conduct regular assessments of apprentices to monitor and guide their development.

• Take apprentices to track work daily and accompany them to race meetings.

• Handle necessary administrative tasks.

• Be an integral part of the Multidisciplinary Team.

Package: To be negotiated.

To apply, please send a brief CV (max 2 pages) along with a one-page motivation letter to headmaster@theacademy.co.za. The closing date for applications is Tuesday, 29th April 2025 at 4:00 pm. The Academy reserves the right not to make an appointment. Submission of an application does not automatically entitle the applicant to an interview.

CANFORD CLIFFS CHAMPAGNE MORE

Another feature winner in a season to remember for Ridgemont’s five-time Gr1 winning stallion Canford Cliffs, Candice Bass-Robinson’s 4yo Tenango breezed home under Andrew Fortune to win the R250 000 Gr3 Champagne Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the Family Day public holiday on Monday.

A third winner on the afternoon in a purple patch of a comeback for the high-riding Andrew Fortune, Tenango (28-10) was launched at the 300m and cut back the early leaders Seeking

The Stars and Lion Rampart, before turning the tables on the uber versatile Gem King (25-1) by a flattering 2 lengths in a time of 70,82 secs for the straight 1200m.

Tenango draws away effortlessly under Andrew Fortune | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Recent HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap winner

All Out For Six (18-10) went off tote favourite but was not up to the speed and was well beaten a further three quarters of a length back in third.

“Last time I didn’t know him. This time Aldo (Domeyer) said that I had to drop him out. I decided to switch him off and trust the horse. I pulled him out at the 500m marker and then at the 300m, we couldn’t wait anymore. He’s got a Grade 2 win in him I think,” said a clearly impressed Andrew Fortune.

Candice Bass-Robinson, who had saddled a double on the day after Fortune got English Mistress out of the maidens earlier on, thanked owner Ian Longmore for having the faith and patience to do the wind op.

“Tenango has earned a trip to Hollywoodbets

Scottsville for the Gr2 Golden Horse Sprint at end of May,” added the lady trainer, whose SA Champions Season draft only arrived at Summerveld recently.

Bred and raced by stalwart Ian Longmore, Tenango is a son of Ridgemont sire Canford Cliffs (Tagula) out of the one-time winning Trippi mare, Tripadvisor.Canford Cliffs has had a

sensational season all round, particularly with his 2yo’s, with his unbeaten daughter Direct Hit winning the Listed East Cape Nursery 48 hours earlier. The star miler’s versatility, was illustrated when his son Bournemouth won a 2800m feature in Gqeberha recently.

Now a winner of 5 races with 4 places from 13 starts, Tenango took his stakes earnings to R631 052.

Earlier on the day, Canford Cliffs’ 3yo son Show Off shed his maiden in style at his fourth start from a bad draw.

ONLY ONE RIDER ACCEPTS AOG PROTEST

JP van der Merwe is the only jockey that was party to the protest action that ultimately brought racing at Hollywoodbets Durbanville to a standstill on 26 March 2025, to have so far accepted an Acknowledgement of Guilt, and thus effectively aligned himself to a statement issued by the Coastal Jockeys Association on Monday 31 March 2025.

At the outset, we should state that JP van der Merwe is not the only guilty party in the matter. In simple terms, he is the only rider to have exercised the offer of an Acknowledgement Of Guilt and move on with his life.

JP van der Merwe – paid fine and moves on with his season | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

As the case against the jockeys was likely deemed cut and dried by the NHA, an AOG of a fine of R100 000, half of which is suspended for five years, was offered to the riders involved. As will be applied to his colleagues, Van der Merwe was charged with a contravention of Rule 72.1.27 in that he, as a Rider who was carded to participate in scheduled races, and without any lawful justification, was party to a protest action which resulted in the abandonment of the race meeting held at Hollywoodbets Durbanville Racecourse on Wednesday, 26 March 2025.

Van der Merwe signed an Admission of Guilt and a monetary fine of R100 000 (One Hundred Thousand Rand) was imposed, of which R50 000 (Fifty Thousand Rand) is suspended for a period of five (5) years on condition that he is not found guilty of contravening Rule 72.1.27, during the said five (5) year period.

The Sporting Post believes that the other jockeys involved in the protest have also been given the option to sign an Acknowledgement of Guilt.

Those choosing not to sign will face an Inquiry, which is said to be scheduled for the month of May.

The protest on 26 March arose after the jockeys protested against an interim suspension imposed on Grant van Niekerk after comments made in a post-race interview on the day.

Van Niekerk was subsequently given a 90-day suspension from race riding, of which 60 days were suspended for three years, subject to the following conditions:

1.1 Public Apology: Jockey van Niekerk must issue a public apology to the NHA via the media within ten days of this ruling.

1.2 Jockey van Niekerk must not be convicted of Rule 72.1.26 during the three-year suspension period.

1.3 The nine days suspension already served will be taken into account in determining the dates of the remainder of the 30 days’ suspension. Accordingly, the 30-day suspension could be served from 27 March 2025 to 26 April 2025, subject to his right of appeal.

Fine

2.1 A fine of R100,000, of which R75,000 is suspended for three years, on condition that Jockey van Niekerk is not convicted of another

Rule 72.1.26 violation during this period. Van Niekerk was given the Right of Appeal against both the finding and the penalty imposed. We understand that he may be appealing.

The Coastal Jockeys Association, on behalf of all jockeys that participated in the jockey work stoppage action at the mentioned Hollywoodbets Durbanville race meeting issued an unreserved apology to all stakeholders on Monday 31 March 2025, for what they termed their ‘inappropriate actions’. All stakeholders included owners, trainers, grooms and Cape Racing.

The statement read further:

We are especially sorry to all owners who were on-course on the day.

Our actions caused significant embarrassment and harm to a sport we love so much and a sport from which we are fortunate to earn a living.

We also understand and appreciate that our industry is dealing with significant financial challenges, and we cannot and must not take our opportunity for granted. While our emotions ran high on the day, this is

not an excuse. We know better. And commit to doing better going forward. We will learn from this.

We do have issues we wish to resolve, but we realise there are better, more constructive means of doing so. We intend to seek guidance from the support structure around us to ensure we tackle any problems constructively and positively.

We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to all those who have supported us and shown us kindness and understanding over the last week, despite our actions.In particular, we need to extend a special thank you to Greg Bortz, the Chairman of Cape Racing. He was understandably upset with our actions but has been understanding, available, helpful and supportive throughout.

It is because of this emotional support and understanding, together with the enormous financial support and generosity of Hollywoodbets, enabling us to continue to benefit from this industry, that we are confident in our future. And we, the jockeys, intend to play a positive, constructive role in helping take our sport to the next level going forward. Ends.

TENANGO

SET FOR BIGGER THINGS

Candice Bass-Robinson looks to have a serious up-and-coming sprinter on her hands in the shape of Ian Longmore’s 4yo Tenango, who won Monday’s Gr3 Champagne Stakes in the fastest 1200m of the afternoon at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

In this week’s Time Is Money insert, we look at various times over the two racemeetings under review and remind readers that sectional timing data is an important scientific complimentary tool of the trade for punters and racing enthusiasts, and can enhance both the form study and horseracing viewing

experience on both KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape race meetings.

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth – 21 April 2025

Track Condition

Going: Good to Soft (straight & bend)

Tenango returns under Andrew Fortune | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Penetrometer: 25 straight – 26 bend

Rain: Last 7 days Nil

Irrigation: Last 24 hours Nil –Last 7 days 5mm

False Rail: 3m out from 1200m with 2m spur at 600m mark

Wind: 32-39km/h South Easterly head wind

Course Variant: 0,93s fast straight –0,46s fast bend

Gr3 Champagne Stakes 1200m

In what proved to be by far the fastest of the three 1200m events on the card, we saw a very smart performance from the progressive Canford Cliffs gelding TENANGO.

Now A winner of five from thirteen, Candice Bass-Robinson’s charge raced eighth off a true pace. He worked his way through the field easily when given rein and struck the front 100m out. He drew clear easily from there onwards and recording by far the fastest 400m to finish time of the afternoon, he cruised in by two. Tenango has been going from strength to strength since undergoing a wind operation, and clearly won’t be stopping here.

Two 1400m Races

Run at a fair pace throughout, the maiden juvenile plate was the faster of the two 1400m events. On leaving the stalls it was Supposeyou’veheard who elected to make the running whilst the heavily supported winner

RANDOLPH HEARST (7/2 into 17/10) sat close up in fifth. The newly installed favourite quickened well at the business end of the race and after striking the front 100m from home, won well by a half.

Two 1700m Races

The easy to back Jet A One set strong sections in the quicker of the two maiden events over 1700m. Indeed, he rounded the turn in a minimum of 1,4 seconds faster than the other four races negotiating the bend. He kept on surprisingly well given that gallant effort and only went down by three quarters of a length. Caught for early toe in what soon became a strung out field then, the eventual winner SHOW OFF raced towards the rear some ten lengths off the pace early on. He ran on best of all in the home straight and under a well-judged ride from Richard Fourie, he put his head in front 70m from home.

Quickies

Tipped by her rider Andrew Fortune when interviewed at the races last week, HUNGA

TONGA won the slowly run maiden event over 1400m with plenty in hand. She was eased considerably late on and as a result, her twolength advantage quickly evaporated into just one length.

Fastest Times:

1200m (3) Tenango 70,82

1400m (2) Randolph Hearst 88,64

1700m (2) Show Off 106,07

400-finish Tenango 22,85

Hollywoodbets Greyville 20 April

Track Condition

Going: Soft

Penetrometer: 29

Rain: Last 24 hours Nil –Last 7 days 126mm

Irrigation: Last 7 days Nil

False Rail: 7m

Wind: 10-15km/h North Easterly head wind

Course Variant: 3,22s slow

Powerful Snaith Stable

The stable of Justin Snaith has been firing on

all cylinders since arriving for this Champions’ season and contesting just four races here, they produced two winners, two seconds, and a fourth placing.

OKAVANGO in what proved to be the fastest of the three 1800m races was the best bet on the card for many, and the 3yo son of Master Of My Fate didn’t let down his supporters.

Allowed to flirt with 4/10 at one stage, Okavango was always handy. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker by Andrew Fortune and with plenty in handy won a lot more easily than the official winning margin of a length and a half would suggest.

An A Stakes over 1600m topped the bill and in the faster of the two events over the distance the stable of Justin Snaith were again on the mark when UNDERWORLD registered his fifth career victory.

In a time over a second and a half faster than the only other race over the distance, a C Stakes, the Querari gelding was always handy. His stable companion Get Impressed got first run and struck the front passing the 200m marker. Underworld ran on strongly from there onwards though, and in what proved to be a

real thriller he got the verdict by a neck.

Three 1400m Races

Western Cape trainer Dean Kannemeyer has also announced his arrival in KZN in no uncertain terms and he was on the mark with one of his two runners here when AVERSATOR opened his account in the Maiden Juvenile Plate.

In what surprisingly proved to be the fastest of the three 1400m events, the Rafeef colt sat fifth in a tightly bunched field. He quickened well at the top of the straight and recording the fastest 400m to finish time in the race, he won with authority by three.

Quickies

Backed as if the result had already been posted, HARUN AL RASHID registered a very good 400m to finish time on the day when getting off the mark in the maiden plate over 1800m.

Fastest Times:

1400m (3) Aversator 88,36

1600m (2) Underworld 99,13

1800m (3) Okavango 113,66

CANFORD CLIFFS

SON MOVES UP TO 118

Tenango’s official merit rating has been increased from 104 to 118 following his impressive win in the Grade 3 Champagne Stakes over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Monday.

The Handicappers deemed the fourth-place finisher, Silver Falcon, the most suitable line horse to assess the race, leaving his rating unchanged at 109.

The runner-up, Gem King, was the only other horse besides the winner to receive a ratings increase, going up from 108 to 115.

Two horses received merit rating drops following the contest: Seeking The Stars went down from 123 to 121, while Lion Rampart was reduced from 111 to 110.

• Media release by the NHA on Tuesday, 22 April 2025.

THERE’S BEEN A CHANGE IN

TEAM DE KOCK’S FLIGHT PLAN

There was a time, not too long ago, when Mike de Kock parked the Boeing that was his globally renowned racing operation. The engines cooled, and it wasn’t expected to taxi back from the hangar onto the runway.

Mike had one foot out the door and a boarding pass to Australia in hand. But then, after consulting with his son Mathew, came a change in flight plan.

Now, the Boeing is named De Kock Racing and its back on the tarmac – fully fuelled, expertly crewed, and preparing for take-off.

Mathew de Kock is a more reserved version of his father at the same age Credit: Candiese Lenferna

With Mike and Mathew in the cockpit, it’s a powerful two-pilot team combining experience, vision, and a renewed hunger to achieve.

The cargo bay is filling fast – high-quality bloodstock from bold buying at recent auctions, packed with class and the potential for international travel.

The sky, once again, is the limit. For rival stables, this might be a looming headache –but for South African racing fans, it’s a thrill to see a yard with such clout and performance, back in the fray.

The broader plan is for a phased transition, with Mat eventually taking the reins of the operation. There’s no set timeline. Mike’s spirit has been rejuvenated, and as Mat puts it, “It’s really nice having my dad around and being able to draw from his great knowledge and experience. Our first objective is to rebuild our South African string to the level where we can compete for the championship again, like we used to. Then, if we have horses good enough, we’ll take them onto the international stage.”

Mathew has stepped comfortably back into the role of fellow front man and stable spokesman, and, in his regular appearances on social

Winners! Muzi Yeni, Mathew and Mike de Kock

media, he’s shown a slightly more serious demeanour than the Mat we knew before he left for Australia in 2020. He joked this week: “I am not more serious at all, I’ve just come back with two children!”

At 33, Mat is a more reserved version of his father at the same age – when Mike had just acquired the legendary Horse Chestnut and the patronage of Bridget Oppenheimer. Mike was seen as something of an upstart in those days, suffering several well-publicised run-ins with authorities and the press. The young De

Kock, however, comes across as polished and media-savvy, and he navigates the spotlight with quiet confidence.

He said: “I’m not sure it comes naturally, but it’s definitely something you get better at with practice, and I had plenty of that in Australia. I think when my dad was younger, he was seen in some quarters as unfriendly and unapproachable, which anyone who knows him will tell you is far from the truth. He achieved phenomenal things despite being somewhat of an outsider for a long time.

Mike and Mathew de Kock are ready to take on the world | Credit: Supplied

“Things have changed. We are very aware of the importance of our stable’s image and our communication strategy. One of the key things we discussed before I came back was taking a fresh approach to owner relations and social media. These are central to every professional stable we raced against in Australia, and we had excellent systems of our own at the Griffiths/De Kock partnership at Cranbourne.”

He added: “Technology is your friend, and you’ve got to use it to your advantage. Information moves at lightning speed, and since racing is driven by information, it’s our responsibility to get it to our clients as quickly as possible. All forms of media are instantly accessible, and everyone wants instant gratification, so we’ve been focusing on building platforms to meet that demand. We’ve added Facebook and Instagram profiles for De Kock Racing, wholly upgraded our website, and started providing stable updates straight from the work track.”

He said De Kock Racing’s 15 yearlings purchased at the National Yearling Sale represented the best overall quality he’d seen in years.

• Click on the image to read the full story online…

BIG BUMPS NO ACTION!

A concertino in-race incident in the Vaal third race on Thursday that appeared to have possibly directly impacted the finishing position of the favourite, elicited no race review or further action from the Stipes.

The Sporting Post fielded a few enquiries after the Racing Today Maiden Plate, where the tote favourite Ichacha had suffered interference at a critical time and ended up running a 1,70 length fourth, and out of the Place Accumulator.

Crescendo (Craig Zackey) beats Mystic Vision (Philasande Mxoli) and Two For The Boys (Andrew Fortune) to win the Vaal third | Credit: JC Photos

The race was was won by the 28-10

Crescendo, who beat the offending 50-1 shot

Mystic Vision by 0,40 lengths, with Two For The Boys (66-1) in third, and the favourite Ichacha a head back in fourth. Only 1,70 lengths covered the first four home.

The Stipes reported that at approximately the 300m, TWO FOR THE BOYS (A Fortune) was carried out by ICHACHA (K Matsunyane), which was bumped out by EXPLOSIVE GIFT (M van Rensburg), which in turn was bumped out by MYSTIC VISION (P Mxoli), which ducked out sharply away from the crop. As a consequence of this, ICHACHA (K Matsunyane) was eased and switched inwards.

It was further reported that the Board, after reviewing this incident, was satisfied that Jockey P Mxoli could not have predicted this type of reaction from MYSTIC VISION and therefore took no action against him.

The Chief Stipe on duty advised that there indeed was an incident.

“Ichacha (4th) was bumped out by second place horse. 1,30 lengths between them at the line. Neither Stipes or connections called a race review. Satisfied result is correct,”

was his response to the Sporting Post enquiry.

The fact remains that whether Philasande Mxoli could have foreseen his mount’s action, or not, the favourite was undoubtedly hindered, which may have cost him a closer finishing position and that a race review, at the very least, should have been called.

And it becomes a very subjective assessment of whether a horse’s specific actions are predictable, beyond the norms. And why not advise that, given the unpredictability, that Mystic Vision’s racing manners will be monitored in future?

We understand that the owner/s or trainer have every right to object. But they are not always on course, and the Stipes remain the custodians of ensuring a fair outcome.

They may have got this one right?

LERENA TO APPEAL GATES-CROP INCIDENT:

Jockey Gavin Lerena has given notice to the National Horseracing Authority that he will appeal both the findings and penalties meted out after an incident involving himself and colleague Jason Gates on 26 January 2025 at Turffontein.

Lerena was charged with contraventions of Rule 62.2.2 read with Rules 62.2.3 and 72.1.25 in that he rode Gimme A Storm in an unprofessional manner by changing his riding style by stopping riding, standing up in the stirrup irons and striking Jockey Jason Gates across his back with his crop on at least two occasions in the running.

Lerena entered a plea of guilty to contraventions of Rules 62.2.2 and 72.1.25 and not guilty to a contravention of Rule 62.2.3. He was also charged with a contravention of Rule 72.1.26 in that as the rider of Gimme A

Gavin Lerena – exercising his right of appeal | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Storm he behaved and conducted himself in a manner which has or might have the effect of discrediting horseracing, or which does or might bring into disrepute the good name of the NHA or relevant Racing Operator. He entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of Rule 72.1.26.

Lerena was suspended from riding in races for a period of ninety (90) days of which sixty (60)

days is wholly suspended on condition that he is not found guilty of a contravention of these Rules for a period of two years.

He was also fined the amount of R200 000 of which R100 000 was suspended on condition that he is not found guilty of a contravention of Rule 72.1.26 for a period of two years.

BLOOMBERG SUMMONS TO BE DEFENDED

In a media release published on Tuesday 22 April 2025, the National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa confirms that both it and its National Board of Directors were served with summons, instituted by Mr R J Bloomberg for, inter alia, claims of alleged defamation.

The summons has been defended by all cited parties and the matter will ventilate in the ordinary course for the relief claimed to be dismissed, accompanied by an appropriate punitive cost order.

With the legal proceedings now sub judice, the cited parties henceforth shall respect such Rule and will accordingly restrict public discussion, thereby preventing prejudice to the just and appropriate administration of justice.

On 8 April 2025, it was reported on the www.sahracing.com website that respected and well-known attorney, Robert Bloomberg, had issued summons against the NHA and each of its ten directors, jointly and severally, wherein he seeks payment of R88 million for damages. It was reported that Bloomberg’s claim had apparently arisen as a consequence of the NHA having filed an allegedly disingenuous, distorted, vindictive and highly defamatory complaint against him with the Legal Practioners Council.

HEVERSHAM’S

R80-MILLION INCENTIVES TO BREEDERS & OWNERS

Heversham Farm is offering stallion incentives for the next two breeding seasons that are incomparable and unparalleled in the South African racing industry.

The first incentive, totalling a staggering R40-million, has been launched around the first progeny of Heversham’s imported stallion, Gustav Klimt (Galileo x Massarra by Danehill).

The second R40-million incentive will apply to another regally-bred stallion currently in the process of being imported to South Africa, also for the 2025/6 season. An announcement will follow shortly.

The first R40-million incentive applies to the first foal by Gustav Klimt born in 2026 that wins a Grade 1 race in South Africa before 31 July, 2031. He or she will win a bonus of R10 million for its owner, and a further R10-million bonus for its registered breeder.

The same incentive will apply to the first Grade 1 winner until 31 July 2032, that comes from the 2027 foal crop.

This amounts to a staggering amount of R40million available for horses bred in Gustav Klimt’s first two years at stud. He will stand at a stud fee of R50 000 (R10 000 nomination and R40 000 live foal).

There are no entry fees or other qualifying requirements for eligibility, and Gustav Klimt’s

book is limited to100 mares per season, so it is strongly recommended that breeders book their slots early.

As an added motivation, Heversham has procured subsidised transport for mares from the Cape and Kwazulu-Natal. In addition, an all-inclusive fixed boarding rate of R7 500 (excluding veterinary charges) per mare, will apply.

There are also a limited number of lifetime service rights to Gustav Klimt available for purchase.

For more information, please contact Kat Riley on info@hevershampark.co.za or send a text message to (+27) (0) 71 133 8133.

BRUTAL COLT! AN EXTRAORDINARY LOW-FLYING EFFORT FROM

Outstanding colt Nepotism (Brutal) scored one of the most remarkable Gr1 wins by a 2YO on an Australian racetrack in recent memory, coming from last to secure a last-stride victory in Saturday’s Gr1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick.

Nepotism (Tyler Schiller, outside green jacket) wins the Champagne Stakes at Randwick on Saturday Credit: Inglis /Martin King/Sportpix

Trained by John, Michael and Wayne Hawkes, Nepotism drew barrier 11 in Saturday’s feature and jockey Tyler Schiller had little option but to go back to last.

But it mattered little as the colt showed an extraordinary turn of foot to run down fellow Inglis graduate Within The Law in the final stride to secure his future at stud as a Gr1-winning 2YO colt.

The win comes a fortnight after fellow Inglis graduate and hugely valuable colt Vinrock won the Gr1 Inglis Sires on Day 1 of The Championships.

International Thoroughbred Solutions’ Mark Player purchased Nepotism for A$160,000 – on behalf of Neil Werrett, Colin Madden and the Ole Kirk team – at the Premier Yearling Sale, where he was offered by his breeder Gilgai Farm.

Nepotism becomes the 106th individual GR1winning Inglis graduate since 2018 and the third individual Gr1-winning 2YO Inglis graduate in the past two seasons.

Nepotism is from a famous family and is now one of the most valuable colts in Australian racing – his dam Brigite is a half-sister to

champion undefeated sprinter Black Caviar and Gr1-winning stallion All Too Hard.

Player wasn’t at Randwick on Saturday but was ‘gobsmacked’ by what he saw in Nepotism’s performance.

“You just don’t see 2YOs do that,’’ an elated Player said.

“To do it the way he did, coming from last, it just doesn’t happen like that with 2YOs.He’s a pretty special sort of horse from a great family and what a great breeder Gilgai is, they just keep producing great animals. Neil Werrett and his team are such a great group of people and what a thrill this is, my first 2YO Group 1 winner.’’

Gilgai’s Rick Jamieson and Kelly Skillecorn watched the Champagne Stakes together on the Victorian property this afternoon and were blown away with the result.

“He’s some horse isn’t he. He keeps our record going that every Group 1 winner Gilgai has bred has been sold through Inglis, it’s a heck of a partnership,’’ Skillecorn said.

“This family just jeeps producing, it’s unreal.

The world’s his oyster this colt. He could go to a Cox Plate off what he did today, All Too Hard obviously ran 2nd in a Cox Plate, wouldn’t that be some story if Nepotism could go and run one better.’’

Winning co-trainer Michael Hawkes added: “He’s just a proper horse. When he was out the back, they were running along and I was just thinking ‘wow, are they going hard enough?’

But he’s just blistering with an exceptional turn of foot. Last to first, unbelievable. Neil Werrett and his partners, they’ve just been so patient. His win in the Baillieu was outstanding, we just love making colts, it’s just one thing we love doing.’’

Nepotism has now won A$750 000 in prizemoney and is worth many times more than that as a stallion prospect.

Also at Randwick on Saturday, Mazu (Maurice) took his career earnings past the A$9m barrier when winning the Gr3 Hall Mark Stakes.

The 6YO is a nine-time winner and has proved an incredible investment by his owners – Triple Crown bought him for A$180,000 at the Classic Yearling Sale, where he was offered by his

breeder Parsons Creek.

Trained by Joe Pride, Mazu will now likely head to Brisbane for the winter carnival.

Triple Crown’s Sam Manion said: “Fantastic. It’s a great thrill. Joe’s done a great job with him too. He’s in elite company now winning A$9m prizemoney. It’s unbelievable.’’

It capped off a big day for Triple Crown, whose Easter Yearling Sale 3YO Firm Agreement (Yes Yes Yes) finished 2nd in the Gr3 Frank Packer Plate on his way to the Gr1 Queensland Derby.

And in New Zealand untapped 2YO Little Black Dress (Snitzel) remained unbeaten with a strong victory in the Listed Star Way Stakes at Ellerslie.

The Stephen Marsh-trained filly is an A$240,000 Easter Yearling Sale buy for Go Racing and Blandford Bloodstock from the draft of her breeder Arrowfield.

Little Black Dress has now won both her career starts in impressive fashion.

DANNY MUSCUTT GRABS DOUBLE ON

AWC FINALS DAY

Wonder Legend (4/1) ensured a Finals Day double for owner Boniface Ho and Hollywoodbets-sponsored jockey Daniel Muscutt with a commanding victory in the BetUK All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap at Newcastle on Friday.

The five-year-old had already enjoyed a progressive all-weather campaign for James Ferguson and was aiming to defy a career-high mark of 100 following a comfortable win over Plage De Havre at Wolverhampton in March. Plage De Havre, sent off the 5/2 favourite to gain his revenge, led for much of the two-mile feature but stopped quickly after being headed

Danny Muscutt steers Wonder Legend to win the BetUK All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap

Credit: Grossick Racing Photography

entering the final quarter-mile, with top-weight Roaring Legend taking up the running.

Wonder Legend travelled sweetly into the race from mid-division and loomed up to head Roaring Legend over a furlong out before powering clear for an easy success over Tribal Star (20/1) and Heathen (25/1).

Muscutt had also guided the James Fanshawe-trained Glittering Legend to victory in the Ho silks in the opening Listed BetMGM Burradon Stakes.

Muscutt said: “Credit goes to Chloe who is here with the horse – she absolutely adores Wonder Legend and rides him out all the time.

“At one point he looked as though he was going the wrong way, but we have tinkered with his regime and it has transformed him. His confidence is up from running on the allweather through the winter.

ride. He is a horse who travels well and has a change of gear over two miles.

“I am delighted for the team. It has been great to top and tail the card here. Mr Ho has invested plenty and it’s good to take two big pots for him.”

Ado McGuinness said of the runner-up: “I am delighted with Tribal Star. He is still quite green, although he has never been out of the first four in his life. We bought him from Godolphin, and he is bred to stay, being by Sea The Stars out of a 14-furlong Listed winner.

“We had to run him over 10 furlongs the last day to get him qualified. Today was his first time over this trip and we have a lot to look forward to with him in staying races, over here and in Ireland. The guys are delighted to get a lovely pot of prize money today.”

“He is bred to be a good horse and, back to his form as a three-year-old, he looked really progressive. It has just taken time for him to come full-term physically.

“Now he is giving himself a chance to stay these extended trips, he is a really comfortable

Mark Winn, rider of Heathen, said: “I am really happy. He has had a few months off, so he is nice and fresh – he seems to run better fresh.

I think the two miles probably just caught him out, as he didn’t finish that last furlong as quick and strong as he usually would. Over a mile and three quarters, I think he would have run really well.”

FIRST ALL-WEATHER TITLES CARROLL, LOUGHNANE & DOUGHTY’

Tony Carroll, Billy Loughnane and Jack Doughty claimed the All-Weather Champion Trainer, All-Weather Champion Jockey and All-Weather Champion Apprentice titles for the first time following the conclusion of the season on Good Friday, 18 April.

Having missed out to Mick Appleby by a single winner 12 months ago, Carroll took the AllWeather Champion Trainer prize following a campaign that yielded 57 winners, 11 clear of his nearest rival James Owen.

Carroll said: “For me personally, it is a great achievement and I am very proud of it. A big thank you to the team at home – Titch, Mary, and everybody else involved. They are people that never go racing and are never seen,

Tony Carroll with ARC Chief Executive Martin Cruddace | Credit: Supplied

but they are the backbone behind it all. I just do as I am told, they tell me to go out of the gate, turn left and off I go. They do all the work really, and I’m just there making sure everything is as it should be.

“The horses have been fantastic all winter. They can get coughs or colds, but we have had such a lovely time of it. The horses have been really healthy, right the way through, and the owners have been fantastic. ARC have put a great thing on, and we have all really enjoyed it.

“It is so competitive, and everybody is trying to win these bonuses. You have to really

thank the horses because you are asking them to do things that are tough. You are trying to win three races in a month and then trying to do it again.

“When you win, it is fantastic. You feel you will go on forever if you keep winning and we have enjoyed it. Jack Doughty has been fantastic for the yard and it’s great for us both to win together. He is only 17 but has been with me for a while, so it’s marvellous.

“Jack is a very talented boy, who knows what he wants and where he is going. He listens, he learns, and he can ride, so we are very, very

pleased with him. He has been a pleasure to have in the yard, all the way through from day one, and you could always see that he was just a bit different from the rest.

“We have had 57 winners on the all-weather this season, but I think Init Together is the only one that has won four. The rest has been made up by individual horses, so it’s a great performance from them. We have had a really, really good time of it and all the thanks goes to the team for making it all work.”

Loughnane, All-Weather Champion Apprentice for the past two years, took the All-Weather Champion Jockey title despite spending a significant amount of the season in Australia. A final day victory on Vocal Legend saw the jockey end the campaign on 75 wins, four ahead of Hector Crouch.

Loughnane said: “I am chuffed. It has been a good winter and a long hard battle with Hector for the past few months, who’s obviously a great jockey, and it’s been a big last push to get it over the line.

Jack Doughty - All-Weather Champion Apprentice | Credit: Supplied

“It was good being able to get away for a little bit of time in Australia as well, but to come back and get a lot of support from numerous different trainers who’ve helped me and my agent Tony Hind, who is a super-agent and doing a great job.

“The all-weather has a close place to my heart. Obviously, dad runs the majority of his horses on the all-weather and I’ve grown up around it.

I started on the all-weather and was all-weather champion apprentice for two years, so to be able to win this now is great.

“A lot of trainers have supported me and I’m very lucky they’ve kept supporting me for my three years riding.

“Dad’s got a big team and George Boughey is my main boss now, but there are a lot of

Godolphin representative Dawn Laidlaw | Credit: Supplied

trainers, the Kublers and Ian Williams to name just two, who have given me a lot of support so it’s great.”

Doughty, who is attached to Carroll’s stables in Worcestershire, was crowned All-Weather Champion Apprentice following a season that yielded 32 wins, five ahead of nearest rival Sean D Bowen. The 17-year-old looked set to be crowned champion turf apprentice last year, only for a 20-day whip ban to scupper his chances.

Doughty said: “It has been a long winter, but it is great to finally get the job done. I messed up last year getting a whip ban, so I spoke to my agent and Mr Carroll to decide whether I go abroad or stay here, and I decided to stay here.

“I had quite a few winners early on in the season, which put me clear, and from then on we decided to go for it. In the last couple of weeks, I rode a few winners and that gave me a nice lead on Sean Bowen. Sean had a great winter as well and it was nice to go in to the final day five clear of him.

“The days are long during the winter, as you have early mornings and then you are getting back late. It is the same for the staff, who are

taking the horses to the races, and it is nice

Mr Carroll was able to win the trainers’ title for them.

“My mum and dad have helped me out so much this year, driving me everywhere. I could not have done it without them. They have put so much effort in throughout my career and it is great to have them here to share the moment with me.

“I think it was the right decision to stay here rather than going abroad. I have 14 winners left on my claim now and hopefully the momentum will take me through the summer.”

Godolphin took the All-Weather Champion

Owner accolade for an 11th consecutive time, with the royal blue silks recording 15 wins over the season, two more than Rabbah Racing.

GR1 VICTORY FOR MAGIC MAN FIFTH JAPANESE

Museum Mile drew away in the final furlong and set a stakes record on Sunday at Nakayama to win the Gr1 Satsuki Sho, Japan’s 2000 Guineas and the first leg of their Triple Crown.

Breaking smoothly from gate 11 in the field of 18, the 3-year-old Leontes colt travelled wide in mid-pack early in the roughly 2000m race.

Museum Mile (9-1) rallied briefly with oddson favourite Croix du Nord (1-2) nearing the sixteenth pole but soon pulled away with a

Joao Moreira stays low as Museum Mile storms home | Credit: JRA

powerful turn of speed to win by 1 1/2 lengths. The winning time on the good-to-firm course was 1:57.0 without a run-up for the 2000 meters, 13 yards short of 1 1/4 miles. That was one-tenth of a second faster than the Satsuki Sho record set last year by Justin Milano.

Owned by Sunday Racing, Museum Mile was ridden by Joao ‘Magic Man’ Moreira.

He became the sixth jockey since Christophe Lemaire in 2019 to claim both the Oka Sho (Gr1) and the Satsuki Sho in the same year. It was his fifth Japan Grade 1 victory.

“When we were turning for home, we were a bit unbalanced, maybe because the ground was not so smooth,” Moreira said. “But when I got him on the stretch, he just dashed home, and when he took the lead with 150 meters to go, he kept running away, showing me that he’s got so much ability.”

Museum Mile’s trainer Daisuke Takayanagi earned his first classic win and his third in a Group 1.

Croix du Nord, who was Japan’s champion juvenile colt last year, stalked in fourth before surging out of the second right turn and into

the lead at the eighth pole. Although he was overtaken by Museum Mile, the Kitasan Black colt ran persistently, holding off the strong charges from behind to secure second place. Masquerade Ball (12-1), who came in from a Grade 3 victory, was 11th before he tipped out for the stretch run with the second-fastest late drive. He finished third by a half-length over fourth-place Giovanni (22-1).

After a third-place debut in August, Museum Mile broke his maiden next out in Kyoto. Another win preceded his runner-up finish in the Futurity (G1) to end his 2-year-old season. He kicked off the current season with a fourth in the Deep Impact Kinen (G2) on March 9.

The 2400m Tokyo Yushun (Gr1), also known as the Japanese Derby, will be run on 1 June as the leg of the Triple Crown. The 3000m Kikuka Sho (Gr1), Japan’s St. Leger, will complete the series on 26 October at Kyoto.

COULD BE OUT FOR 6 MONTHS RACHEL

South Africa’s only female jockey, and a former dual national champion apprentice, Rachel Venniker could be out of action for six months after breaking her leg in an accident at Summerveld on Friday morning.

In what she termed a freak accident, Rachel was doing starting stalls work on a young filly from the Michael Roberts yard, when the incident occurred.

“She’s an ever so slightly nervous filly and she fly-jumped slightly as the gates opened. I lost my balance and came off, flopping clear. I didn’t realise it at the time but I broke my left

leg on the kerb. Sad thing is ten centimetres either way, and I would have been okay,” she explained to the Sporting Post.

Rachel, who sounded remarkably positive, said that she was rushed to Hillcrest Hospital and was fortunate to have been wearing her long showjumping boots as she always does in work.

Rachel Venniker – taking the injury blow in her stride | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

“The boot had the effect of keeping my damaged leg in place. My knee was badly swollen and the leg was skew. I fractured my tibia – apparently one of the hardest bones in the body. I was sedated as the pain was excruciating as the nurses tried to remove the boot. The medical staff at Hillcrest Hospital were truly amazing. I woke up a few hours later with a pin inserted from my knee to my ankle. stayed in the hospital a few days as the pain was quite substantial. I really cannot thank Hillcrest Hospital and their personnel enough!”

Rachel is recuperating at the Venniker family home and says that as long as she can see her

beloved horses in the paddock, she is content and will survive the down time.

“The Doctor said I will be off for five to six months and that I should try and stay mobile without extending myself. I am philosophical that everything happens for good reason, and I will be back before I know it. I watched Pongola win on Sunday from my hospital bed, which was a tonic! I just want the Michael Roberts yard to keep up the good form. Thanks to all the racing folk who have kindly enquired after my wellbeing. I appreciate the interest!”

THE LOR! LAYING DOWN

Hong Kong racing hosts another international all-star cast on Sunday as the equine elite from around the globe gather at Sha Tin to compete for FWD Champions Day glory in three Gr1 contests- the FWD QEII Cup, FWD Champions Mile and Chairman’s Sprint Prize.

One man who doesn’t fear the international onslaught is Frankie Lor who has flourished ever since he was granted a full licence to train in Hong Kong for the 2017/18 racing season. His big-race wins include all three legs of the

Four-Year-Old Classic Series and two at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races. Lor’s impressive career boasts nearly 500 Hong Kong wins and a trainers’ championship crown in 2021/22.

Lucky With You and Luke Ferraris team up on Sunday | Credit: HKJC

He grew up in Happy Valley as his father was a mafoo, or groom in our terminology, for the renowned Wong Tang Ping, trainer of legendary 1983 Hong Kong Derby winner Co-Tack – twice Hong Kong Horse of the Year (1982/83 & 1983/84) – who won a record 10 consecutive races before Silent Witness leapt that streak in 2004.

Like his father, Lor entered the local system, firstly as a jockey between 1981 and 1995, riding 27 winners, then as an assistant trainer schooled by John Moore and John Size, and now in his own right as one of the city’s most respected conditioners.

“My father was at the stable when Wong Tang Ping had Co-Tack. Dad moved to Sha Tin in around 1977 or 1978 (from Happy Valley). When I moved there, everything was very new and they only had one or two buildings for mafoos,” Lor said.

“I’m 59 now. It’s all good memories for me – my whole working life has been in the Jockey Club. My father, my brother and I have all worked for the Jockey Club. My brother retired, he was at Conghua and worked for me for a few years.”

Lor’s first win as a trainer came with his first runner, Yourthewonforme, in a Class 5 contest at the season opener on 3 September, 2017. He ended that campaign with 65 wins, a new best first-season total which was previously held by John Size (58 wins) in his championship-winning campaign of 2001/02.

Reflecting on previous FWD Champions Day glory, Lor recollects Mr Stunning’s 2020 G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize victory – a contest Lucky With You will attempt to win for the trainer against a towering Ka Ying Rising on Sunday, 27 April at Sha Tin.

One of Hong Kong’s finest sprinters, Mr Stunning’s success five years ago – the horse’s third Group 1 in his final start – capped a sparkling return following injury woes before landing the Chairman’s Sprint Prize.

“When he came to my stable, he always had really good form and he showed me he was a Group 1 horse. It was very good memories for me,” Lor said. “We gave him time off and he came back and eventually won the Chairman’s Sprint Prize. The owner (Maurice Koo) was great – he chose to retire him and let him enjoy his life after that.”

Frankie Lor – hoping to add to his Gr1 tally on Sunday | Credit: HKJC

Mr Stunning (2017 & 2018) is one of six horses to win the Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) twice after Falvelon (2000 & 2001), Silent Witness (2003 & 2004), Sacred Kingdom (2007 & 2009), Lord Kanaloa (2012 & 2013) and Aerovelocity (2014 & 2016).

Unlike Mr Stunning, Lucky With You is yet to scale horse racing’s Group 1 pinnacle, although he was second in both the 2023 HK$26 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint and 2024 HK$13 million Gr1 Centenary Sprint Cup.

Lucky With You – a seven-year-old son of Artie Schiller – is an eight-time winner, who sits on a career-high rating of 116 locally with earnings of HK$24,13 million.

“He’s still keeping really good form. Usually, Gr1 races might be a bit strong, but anyway, we’ll try to get the prize money for the owner,” Lor said. “He’s won twice in Class 1 this season and he’s still holding good form. Luke Ferraris rides him.”

Fourth in the 2024 HK$28 million Gr1 FWD QEII Cup behind Romantic Warrior, Happy Together instead contests the HK$24 million Gr1 FWD Champions Mile on Sunday against Gr1

winners Voyage Bubble and Mr Brightside.

“You can see he’s always close. Also, we’ll see if he can get prize money. It’s another very strong field. The 1600 and 1800 m might be better distances. 2000 m might be a little bit long for him, anyway, we’ve picked the mile–Alexis Badel is on,” Lor said.

Happy Together rates 110 locally and is a six-time winner in Hong Kong with HK$20,51 million in earnings. His biggest win to date came in the 2024 HK$4,2 million Gr3 January Cup Handicap. He was fourth behind Straight Arron in the HK$5,35 million Gr2 Chairman’s Trophy on 30 March at Sha Tin.

A reminder that the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge is available on all Hong Kong fixtures. The competition closes five minutes before the carded off-time of the first race.

WHAT IT TAKES NG’S GALAXY HAS

Pierre Ng believes Galaxy Patch has what it takes to win at Group 1 level and the trainer is remaining hopeful of celebrating elite level success at Sha Tin on Sunday, 27 April when his quality galloper lines up in the HK$24 million Gr1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m).

Initially in pole position to fill the void vacated by Golden Sixty as Hong Kong’s premier miler, Galaxy Patch lost that mantle to Voyage Bubble, who has since raised his game with

victories in both of Sha Tin’s Group 1 mile races this season to emerge as the division’s clear standout.

Galaxy Patch is rated 124 locally | Credit: HKJC

Across 18 starts in Hong Kong, Galaxy Patch has displayed brilliant potential, while also suffering agonising defeats at the top-level, however, his impressive record is headlined by seven wins and earnings of HK$29.60 million, and Ng isn’t expecting to diverge from the gelding’s customary late-closing tactics in a bid to capture an elusive first Group 1 when champion jockey Zac Purton retains the ride this weekend.

“He just didn’t finish off when we tried to race him forward like we did in the Gold Cup. He has to be left alone until the home straight, then find a way out and hopefully luck is going our way,” Ng said. “His racing pattern needs to be smooth and then he needs to be lucky enough. He always gives us very good sectionals at the end of races and he was unlucky last time.”

Galaxy Patch kicked off his 2024/25 campaign with a HK$5.35 million Gr2 Sha Tin Trophy Handicap (1600m) score last October before five successive defeats. The five-year-old is a dual Group 3 winner and was second in the 2024 HK$13 million Gr1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m), 2024 HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) and 2025 HK$13 million Gr1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m).

The bay finished a close second in the HK$5.35 million Gr2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) as favourite behind 33/1 winner Straight Arron last month. He was eighth in February’s HK$13 million Gr1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m) when racing more prominently in the early stages of the contest.

“He trialled well on Thursday (17 April). We put the cheek pieces and a tongue tie on him – he seemed to relax well. He was more focused with the gear on and we’re ready for the Group 1. I know it’s going to be tough, but I hope he can manage to win a Group 1 race,” Ng said.

The son of former trainer Peter Ng, Pierre entered The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s system in 2007, firstly as a work rider for his father’s stable, before climbing to the position of assistant trainer for Paul O’Sullivan, John Size and Francis Lui.

“I did it the tough way. I worked my way up, so it’s very hard when your father is a trainer and he retires and you have to pick everything up again – all of the connections, owners. In a way it was hard but it’s also been challenging and rewarding,” Ng said.

“It was good to learn. After my dad’s stable there was more to learn with different trainers. It’s good to keep learning and always find different methods. I am still trying to figure it out – that’s why I went to Ireland recently to get more inspiration.”

The winner of 146 races in Hong Kong, Ng – a rising star of world racing – travelled to Great

Britain to purchases horses and tour Aidan O’Brien’s stable in Ireland. His father Peter trained for over 30 years and handled former Hong Kong Horse of the Year recipients Mystic (1984/85) and Quicken Away (1988/89 & 1989/90).

Galaxy Patch trials at Sha Tin in cheek pieces with Zac Purton | Credit: HKJC

HONG KONG STARS TO FACE IMPOSING

INTERNATIONAL CONTINGENTS

Ka Ying Rising, Voyage Bubble and Cap Ferrat highlight Hong Kong’s selected runners for FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin on Sunday, 27 April, when the trio faces an imposing international contingent from Australia, France, New Zealand, Japan, Great Britain and Bahrain, spearheaded by Group 1 winners Mr Brightside, Goliath and El Vencedor.

Ka Ying Rising is the world’s best sprinter | Credit: HKJC

Competing for a record HK$74 million in prize money across the HK$28 million Gr1 FWD

QEII Cup (2000m), HK$24 million Gr1 FWD

Champions Mile (1600m) and HK$22 million

Gr1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m), FWD

Champions Day’s three Group 1 features include 20 individual Group 1 winners among 46 selected runners.

David Hayes’ sprinting sensation Ka Ying Rising – Sha Tin’s current 1200m track record holder (1m 07.20s) – chases a fourth Group 1 win in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize and with

that success a HK$5 million Speed Series bonus after victories in the first two legs of the three-race challenge this season: HK$13 million Gr1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) and HK$13 million Gr1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m).

Ranked the highest-rated sprinter in the world, four-year-old Ka Ying Rising’s 11 consecutive successes position him third behind two Hong Kong racing legends for the most wins in a row in the city: Silent Witness (17) and Golden Sixty (16).

Lucky Sweynesse will make his first start this season in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize, while Helios Express, California Spangle, Victor The Winner, Invincible Sage, Lucky With You, Beauty Waves, Magic Control and Copartner Prance bolster the home side’s defence against a Japanese quartet led by Group 1 winners Satono Reve and Lugal, as well as Danon McKinley and A Shin Fencer.

Voyage Bubble is Hong Kong’s dominant miler and Ricky Yiu’s star galloper will also seek a fourth Group 1 triumph this season after wins in the HK$36 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile (1600m), HK$13 million Gr1 Stewards’ Cup (1600m) and HK$13 million Gr1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup (2000m). He will vie with ninetime Australian Group 1 winner Mr Brightside, Japan’s Gaia Force, Great Britain’s Lake Forest and Bahrain’s Goemon.

Prognosis (left) has placed twice at Group 1 level in Hong Kong | Credit: HKJC

Royal Patronage also ships from Australia, where he won the Gr1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) last month before finishing a close second in the Grr1 Doncaster Mile Handicap (1600m) on 5 April for co-trainers Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott.

My Wish won the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and placed second in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) and HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m). Mark Newnham’s four-year-old talent posted an extraordinary final 400m (21.39s) in the BMW Hong Kong Derby in March – the fastest on record over 2000m – behind Cap Ferrat. Fellow Hong Kong gallopers Galaxy Patch, Beauty Joy, Chancheng Glory, Happy Together, Red Lion, Sunlight Power and 2024 FWD Champions Mile winner Beauty Eternal also feature.

The fourth highest-rated horse in the world in 2024, Goliath will add a fourth jurisdiction to his record as Resolute Racing’s global campaigner contests the FWD QEII Cup. The German-bred – trained by Francis-Henri Graffard – won the 2024 Gr1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2392m) ahead of Bluestocking, Rebel’s Romance, Sunway, Auguste Rodin, Luxembourg and Dubai Honour.

Japan is triple-handed in the FWD QEII Cup with three Group 1 placegetters at Sha Tin: Prognosis, Liberty Island and Tastiera.

Prognosis ran second to Romantic Warrior in the 2023 and 2024 runnings of the FWD QEII Cup and, with Hong Kong’s champion absent this year, will be hoping to snare a first top-level success as a reward for consistency.

2023 Japanese Triple Tiara champion Liberty Island and also Tastiera, second and third to Romantic Warrior in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup last December, both return in search of Sha Tin glory.

Four-time Group 1 winner El Vencedor is New Zealand racing’s standout star having won his last three starts in Group 1s: 2025 Gr1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m), 2025 Gr1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and 2025 Gr1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m). Stephen Marsh’s gun six-year-old is aiming to secure a first FWD QEII Cup win for New Zealand.

Four-time Group 1 victor Dubai Honour won the Gr1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) in Australia at the start of April and he ventures back to Hong Kong for a fifth time. William Haggas’

well-travelled racing hero was third in the 2023

FWD QEII Cup and second in December’s

HK$24 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m) to Giavellotto. Dubai Honour races in Saturday’s (12 April) G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick.

Seven of the 14 runners in the FWD QEII Cup are from overseas, including Bahrain’s Calif.

Hong Kong’s FWD QEII Cup contingent includes BMW Hong Kong Derby winner Cap Ferrat and Hong Kong Classic Cup hero Rubylot.

Cap Ferrat is aiming to join Vengeance Of Rain (2005), Ambitious Dragon (2011), Designs On Rome (2014), Werther (2016) and Romantic Warrior (2022) by completing the Derby-QEII Cup double in the same season.

Winner of the HK$5.35 million Gr2 Chairman’s Trophy (1600m) last month, Straight Arron is joined by fellow Hong Kong-trained runners

Ensued, Winning Dragon, Moments In Time and La City Blanche also feature in the FWD QEII Cup.

Champions Day is one of the most preeminent fixtures on world racing’s calendar. We are delighted to have world-class representation from overseas and Hong Kong at our spring flagship meeting. With 16 visitors from around the world, including Mr Brightside and Goliath, the might of Hong Kong’s team will be tested across the three Group 1 features.

“From Hong Kong’s perspective, we can’t wait to see Ka Ying Rising step out. David Hayes’ exceptional sprinter has won his last 11 races, and adds an increasing layer of excitement this year, while Voyage Bubble has emerged and officially stamped his claim as our premier miler and middle-distance galloper – especially in Romantic Warrior’s absence in 2025. As well, our exciting four-year-olds – My Wish, Rubylot and Cap Ferrat – take on established stars in the FWD Champions Mile and FWD QEII Cup. FWD Champions Day is firmly established as one of world’s premier racing events and this year promises to be no exception.”

Standby starters are as follows: Gorgeous Win (Chairman’s Sprint Prize), Mugen and The Golden Scenery (FWD Champions Mile) and Five G Patch (FWD QEII Cup).

Andrew Harding, Executive Director, Racing, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “FWD

& CENTRE ON CHAMPIONS DAY HAYES FAMILY FRONT

If Ka Ying Rising or Mr Brightside, or both, win their respective races on FWD Champions Day at Sha Tin on Sunday, celebrations will erupt worldwide.

The Hayes family is front and centre saddling these key contenders for the HK$22 million Gr1

Chairman’s Sprint Prize and HK$24 million Gr1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m), respectively, but their cheers are likely to be matched by those of breeders and consigners 9,500km away in New Zealand.

For a small country, New Zealand has consistently punched above its weight for well over 80 years, breeding and trading high-class racehorses. If you want to go back even further, the greatest of them all, Phar Lap, was foaled at Timaru on the South Island in 1926.

Ka Ying Rising exercises at Sha Tin | Credit: HKJC

Ka Ying Rising was foaled at Windsor Park Stud, near Cambridge, in the Waikato region of the North Island in 2020. He is a gelded son of Shamexpress, the winner of Flemington’s famous Gr1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m), and best of his progeny by some way.

The four-year-old’s record stands at 12 wins from 14 starts and he will be aiming for his 12th consecutive win on Sunday. His only defeats were both second placings. He hasn’t been beaten since 12 February last year.

His success has had a marked impact on New Zealand racing and breeding, and sparked the resurgence of Shamexpress as a stallion, reports Mike Moran, Marketing Manager at Windsor Park Stud.

“Ka Ying Rising is a special, special horse. David Hayes is in awe of him. It’s great for the stallion. And it’s great for the New Zealand industry in general, who are excited by him,” Moran said.

“Australia is renowned for its world-class sprinters, but New Zealand has produced Aerovelocity, Lucky Sweynesse and now Ka Ying Rising. It’s fantastic for us because it’s an amazing place to breed horses, and the Hong

Kong buyers know that.

“They keep coming and will continue to do so off the back of what this guy has done. Ka Ying Rising was the first horse bred by Fraser Auret, a trainer from Manawatu. Ka Ying Rising was conceived and foaled at Windsor Park.”

Shamexpress had lost traction with breeders, his number of mares diminishing significantly five years ago.

“Then he got Lim’s Saltoro, who won the Triple Crown in Singapore and is now with Dan Meagher in Melbourne, as well as Maracana and Grinzinger Belle, who have won good races for Danny O’Brien.

“All those horses came along together. Shamexpress is popular again now, he’s fashionable, particularly his colts. They are sought-after and have been bringing good money at the sales,” Moran said.

Mr Brightside is another New Zealand success story, though he had only one run there for an unlucky fifth in a Matamata maiden over 1400m. Bred by R I & Est late M A G Johnson, he had been bought at an on-line auction by his trainer Ralph Manning for NZ$7,750 before

later being sold on to the Hayes family’s racing operation Lindsay Park in Australia.

Mr Brightside is by Bullbars, a Group 3 winner at Flemington, out of the Darley mare Accessories, making him a half-brother to Helmet and Epaulette.

Mr Brightside is the only elite class horse sired by the unheralded Bullbars, who left Highview Stud, Hamilton, New Zealand, to join the stallion roster at Orange Court Stud,

South Australia, where he reportedly died before the start of the 2023 covering season. A win for either Ka Ying Rising or Mr Brightside would also mark another New Zealand-bred champion to triumph for the Hayes family.

The roll of honour is impressive – Dulcify (trained by Colin Hayes), Zabeel (Colin, then David Hayes), Mr Brightside (Ben, JD & Will Hayes) and Ka Ying Rising (David Hayes).

A SNAPSHOT OF THE PAST WEEK

THE NHA CALENDAR

The Sporting Post presents the National Horseracing Authority Calendar, as per 17 April 2025.

The calendar is a summary of the week’s penalties and registrations and is an easy-read snapshot of information.

Chase Liebenberg captured the racing action at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth last Wednesday | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Mr

8,223,631 6,517,188 6,953,125 5,501,563 21,249,056 11,173,456 10,167,281 8,865,844 8,631,350

17,315,506 20,283,594 18,009,219 8,435,719 6,173,156 24,533,888 25,938,069 25,072,894 13,958,150 10,370,050 J O CK E YS

26,303,894 23,895,269 20,044,444 12,036,181 9,893,294 BREEDERS

23,860,644 18,073,050 15,382,581 13,330,463 12,955,775 S I RE S T R A I NER S