SUMMER LOVIN’..!
EXCELLENCE A TRADITION OF
The proudly Sporting Postsponsored Betway Summer Cup winning rider Tristan Godden celebrates with his wife Bianca on the winner’s podium at Turffontein on Saturday. Candiese Lenferna took the photograph.
OF FAIRER SEX STARS CHAMPAGNE CLASH
The final field for the 2025 renewal of the R1 250 000 World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas to be run at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday was unveiled on Tuesday afternoon.
A field of 12 is headed by Alan Greeff’s Gqeberha champion Golden Palm, a winner of 5 of her 6 starts, including a Gr1 and Gr2, in which she accumulated a gross winning margin of 27,35 lengths.
Besides a number of hard-hitting locals, of great interest will be the return from Hong Kong of former SA Champion Jockey Keagan de Melo, who will partner the daughter of Master Of My Fate in his first Grade 1 engagement since his return to his homeland.
Melo takes over from Richard Fourie, who is contractually bound to partner the undefeated Reet Petite for Ridgemont. The daughter of Rafeef has won over the mile and steps into deeper waters for the first time.
No Eastern Cape-based filly has won the prestigious classic in the 21st century, and the last ‘away’ winner was Mike de Kock’s Australian-bred Majmu, who scored under Anthony Delpech in 2014.
Dean Kannemeyer saddles four runners in the classic, headed by dual Gr2 winner Princess Of Gaul who steps up to the mile for the first time.
Saturday’s ten-race card starts at 12h45.
De
Rafeef daughter Reet Petite – can she step up and make it 4 on trot | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
On Saturday Lucinda Woodruff saddles the Gimmethegreenlight filly Call Me Secret in the World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas and it’s a good time to recall that her Grandfather Terrance Millard saddled no less than 9 Cape Fillies Guineas winners, including the very first running of the race – the 1969 Benson & Hedges Cape Fillies Guineas – with a filly called Cilaneum.
Great progress was made in the Cape at the time by the shift of sponsorship by the United Tobacco Company from a handicap to a new classic, the richest one confined to fillies in the country.
Despite the attractive stake, no visiting fillies arrived for the first running and it was left to the cream of the Cape crop to decide whose would be the first name on the Roll of Honour. Cilaneum was sent out favourite to reverse the Sceptre Stakes decision over New Edition, with Eastern Dish the next most favoured.
Sarotti set out to make the pace from Amphora, Francaise, Madeira, New Edition, Act of Grace, Eastern Dish and By Night, with Cilaneum tracking her field. This order was more or less maintained and, two out, Sarotti was being sent for home just clear of a closely packed field with New Edition,
1969 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Cilaneum | Credit: Supplied
Amphora and Francaise in line, closely followed by Eastern Dish, with Cilaneum improving alongside Act of Grace.
New Edition then drew clear, with Cilaneum putting in a strong finish to head the Prince Tor filly near the line and win by half a length. Eastern Dish was some four lengths off third and Sarotti fourth. Then came Francaise fifth, Act of Grace sixth, and By Night seventh. Parasol and Madeira were trailed off. Cilaneum was a chestnut filly bred by the Birch Bros.
She carried Millard’s grey and black silks and was piloted to victory by Bert Abercrombie.
Mr Millard recalled in an interview some years ago:
“It was exciting to win the first running of the race and even nicer that I had her on lease. She was a typical Birch filly – sound as iron and beautiful to train. And she took a lot of racing. I was doing okay at the time, but to have a filly like her that could earn regularly was wonderful. She won me a lot of races, I was very lucky to have her. She had a very short burst and then she’d stop, so she had to be held up and only asked at the very last minute. She was perfect for Bert to ride and he got it exactly right and they won the first Fillies Guineas. Two weeks later was the Paddock Stakes which was going to be very difficult for her as she was more of a sprint/ miler. Because of the weights I got Duncan Alexander to ride – he was a lightweight that rode the same as Bert. He rode a wonderful race and put her head on the post at precisely the right time.”
THE MIRACLE MARE MINOGUE
The victory by the Candice Dawson -trained Vercingetorix mare Minogue in a quality mixed-sex R300 000 Betway Pinnacle Stakes at Turffontein last Saturday endorsed the time-tested values of quality veterinary care, loving rehabilitation and raw patience.
Raced by Sandy and Eugene Arundel’s Itssa It & Business Solutions (Pty) Ltd, and formerly trained by Wendy Whitehead who won 3 races with her, Minogue, a galloper whom many professionals felt would probably not race again, made it two wins on the trot under
Muzi Yeni as she rattled through late to shade Texas Red and in the process underscore Aristotle’s suggestion that ‘patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet’.
“It’s a heartwarming story about good people who refused to give up on a talented mare with true fighting spirit,” said Baker McVeigh’s Dr Manfred Rohwer as he explained to the Sporting Post that Minogue, much like her single-minded ‘Princess Of Pop’ namesake, fell and injured herself while unloading off a float at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
Muzi Yeni gets Minogue up in a tight finish – Choisaanada (Callan Murray in black cap) is in fourth Credit: Candiese Lenferna
“She was admitted to the Baker & McVeigh Equine Hospital at Summerveld with a wound over the hock and it just wouldn’t heal. Then she picked up an infection in the bone at the point of the hock, into the tendon sheaths. Dr Andrea Sumaraj was working with her and we were all very concerned about her. But thankfully Minogue eventually recovered sufficiently and was sent to Rocky Ridge, where my partner Debbie Dick set about on the path of rehabilitation,” added Dr Rohwer, who pointed out that the environment at the farm near Summerveld formerly owned by Dennis and Gill Drier, facilitated the recovery process.
“She had been in hospital for some time and arrived here underweight, in pain, and an angry filly. That can happen when horses are injured. She was also quite highly strung. But I set about gaining her trust emotionally and getting her to eat and relax. It took time but she eventually became sound and I was lunging and walking her daily. She has a mind
of her own and, as I suggested to Candice Dawson, she will do anything, as long as she is asked and not told to do so! She is one of my true favourites and her owner Sandy Arundel and I have become good friends, with more of her and Eugene’s horses spelling here with us,” added accomplished horsewoman, Debbie Dick.
Once ready, Minogue was transferred to Candice Dawson in Johannesburg and returned to action in February this year after a break of ten months, running a promising second behind Mercantour
The Blue Sky Thoroughbreds-bred daughter of Vercingetorix (Silvano) is out of the fourtime winning Go Deputy mare, Kileigh, and is now a multiple graded-stakes placed winner of 5 races with 7 places from 18 starts and stakes of R636 159.
And she won’t be stopping here!
RAID SUMMER CUP RICHES KZN DUO
A smiling Mrs Mary Slack is flanked by the happy Mocha Blend team | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
A first Grade 1 winner for Summerveld trainer Frank Robinson, and a maiden Grade 1 and Turffontein victory for Sporting Post-sponsored Tristan Godden, the 2025 renewal of the R6 million Betway Gr1 Summer Cup on Saturday produced a dramatic climax when the Ideal World filly Mocha Blend ran out of her skin in the famous black and yellow silks worn by champion Summer Pudding who was victorious in the Highveld showpiece five years earlier.
Popularly tagged the ‘People’s Race’, the Betway Summer Cup boasts a long history and tradition dating back to the late 1800’s, and an honour roll littered with top racers over the years.
While the fairer sex have held their own in the modern era, with names like ilha Da Vitoria (2005), Flirtation (2010), Dancewiththedevil (2011) and the top rank Summer Pudding (2020) engraved on the splendid trophy in the 21st century, few of us could have foreseen two 4yo fillies – one a 105 rated and the other a 112 – dominating Saturday’s contest as they did.
Navajo Nation led Solar Sail and Madison Valley early on in a capacity field that included past winners Atticus Finch and Royal Victory.
In the run for home, Tristan Godden took the shortest route down the inside rail but had to switch at a crucial moment around The Equator, as Andrew Fortune stepped on the pedal down the middle on the 40-1 Olivia’s Way.
With Fortune looking to have timed things perfectly, Tristan Godden wasn’t letting the dream slip out of his reach and drove Mocha Blend (100-1) out to beat the Magner runner by a half length in a time of 127,32 secs for the 2000m.
Recent Betway Gr3 Victory Moon Stakes
winner The Ultimate King (8-1) was on his best behaviour and plugged on for third, a further 1,50 lengths back, with 100-1 outsider Busstopinhounslow capping a R355 000 quartet!
Tristan Godden gets Micha Blend in front at the right moment to beat Olivia’s Way (Andrew Fortune) who was gallant in defeat | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
The tote favourite The Equator (7-2) looked a million dollars in the preliminaries but had no answers and plodded into fifth.
Serino Moodley and On My Honour, as well as Jarryd Penny and Solar Sail, came down in the final stages. Both horses thankfully were walked off the track, with Moodley and Penny conscious but taken to hospital for further observation. More news to follow once known.
Raced by Mauritzfontein, the winner was bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Mocha Blend is a daughter of Ideal World (Kingmambo) out of the one-time winning Silvano mare, Mocha Special.
Now a winner of 3 races with 6 places from her 9 starts and stakes of R3 739 213, Mocha Blend had only ever previously won a maiden and a Class 4 heat on the Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack.
The Pick 6 paid R1 179 299, while the Place Accumulator served up a dividend of R43 999.
A SUMMER CUP WINNER THE CIRCLES OF LIFE AND
Fate seems to work in mysterious ways. Victory by Mauritzfontein homebred Mocha Blend in the Betway Gr1 Summer Cup last Saturday brought to full circle a tale which started many years ago when the late Harry and Bridget Oppenheimer acquired the American import Michabo.
A two-time winner in her birth country, the daughter of Super Concorde boasted a fine pedigree nurtured at the famous Tartan Farms in Florida, the home of champion miler Dr Fager, who in fact is Michabo’s broodmare sire.
Like so many Mauritzfontein broodmares, Michabo traced to an influential taproot mare, this being the Princequillo mare Cequillo, ancestress of the successful Fappiano and Quiet American, as well as Gr1 winners Honour And Glory and Ogygian.
2007 July winner Hunting Tower – it all started with Michabo | Credit: Supplied
For Mauritzfontein, Michabo bred five winners from seven foals, the most notable of which Patache, won the Gr3 Breeders Challenge Stakes and was runner-up in the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes.
Her first foal, the Royal Chalice filly Stirrup Cup, put the family on the map so to speak with her Fort Wood son Hunting Tower. Successful in the Gr1 SA Classic, he became the fifth Oppenheimer homebred to win the Gr1 Durban July with victory in the 2007 renewal.
Hunting Tower’s full sister Mabola Plum managed just two places on the track, yet despite her pedigree credentials, was deemed superfluous to the stud’s needs and after being covered by Goldkeeper, was sold
privately to then Maine Chance stud manager John Slade.
For him, Mabola Plum became the gift that keeps on giving, as all but two of her 14 foals toured the sales ring and sold for an aggregate of R8,385,000, the most expensive of which stakes winner Macchiato for R2.9million. As John quipped: “Mabola put my kids through private school!”
By the time her Silvano filly Mocha Special came up for sale at the 2007 National Sale, Mabola Plum had produced her first stakes winner, the National Assembly filly Mocha Java. Successful in the Gr3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap, she also had the distinction of chasing home champion sprinters Mythical Flight and National Colours
in the Gr1 Graham Beck Wines Cape Flying Championship and Mercury Sprint respectively.
In addition, Mochachino, a then juvenile full sister to Mocha Special, was also showing promise and would go on to win the Gr2 Camellia Stakes.
At the time, there was no longer a family member amongst the Mauritzfontein broodmare band, hence it came as no surprise that it was Mrs Bridget Oppenheimer who bid R1.2-million to acquire Mocha Special.
By the time Mocha Special retired to the Mauritzfontein paddocks a one-time winner, Mabola Plum had produced her third stakes winner, the Jet Master colt Macchiato, as well as Gr3-placed Americano.
Mocha Special too, became a stakes producer. Her Gimmethegreenlight colt Barahin, who was sold to Shadwell as a yearling for R2.6-million, came into his own as a late two-year-old by claiming the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes before outdueling stable companion Soqrat in the Gr2 Durban Golden Horseshoe. Trained by Mike de Kock, he added the Gr3 Jubilee Handicap at three, having chased Hawwaam home in the Gr1 SA Classic .
As the dam of a Gr1 winner in Mocha Blend, Mocha Special went one better than Mabola Plum. In hindsight, the decision to retain the filly was a wise move, as she followed in the footsteps of another illustrious Mauritzfontein homebred, who landed the Cup in 2020.
Like so many of Ideal World’s progeny, Mocha Blend has come into her own as a four-yearold and joins Met queen Smart Call as his second Gr1 winning filly.
A proud-as-punch John Slade added: “I am so pleased how the family has rewarded Mauritzfontein. Mrs O bought Mocha Special and now Jessica has bred Mocha Blend.”
Although Mabola Plum is no more, he kept her Count Dubois daughter Mochalette, who was born prematurely.
Be that as it may, as a broodmare Mochalette contributed to the family fortunes as the dam of Zimbabwe Derby and Oaks winner Coffeeberry and stakes-placed six-time winner Kazaar. The former, a daughter of Master Of My Fate, has returned to join John’s small but select broodmare band and is carrying her first foal to Querari, the sire of Kazaar.
And while the Oppenheimers’ grandaughter Jessica continues to keep the Mauritzfontein flame alive, the next Slade generation has also joined the breeding fraternity. John’s daughter Catherine, together with husband Brett, are the proud owners of Mocha Blend’s own sister Expresso Martini, one of three foundation mares for their fledgling breeding operation, Hole River Farm. A seven-time winner, she has a Got The Greenlight yearling and a Thunderstruck foal at foot.
FULL RECOVERIES ANTICIPATED SUMMER CUP ACCIDENT
The Stipendiary Stewards have adjourned to investigate an incident at the 300m marker during the running of Saturday’s Betway Summer Cup, which resulted in On My Honour (Serino Moodley) and Solar Sail (Jarryd Penny) falling.
The site of an accident on any racecourse is shocking, but the impact is magnified on the big days with many casual visitors on course.
The good news is that both horses involved in the incident were walked back to their stables, while the medical support services quickly attended to the two fallen riders who were both conscious and subsequently taken to hospital.
Currently third on the national log with 61 winners, the Winning Form-sponsored Serino Moodley reportedly has one fractured
vertebrae in his neck. Thankfully the injury doesn’t require surgery and will be treated with a brace.
He saw a Specialist and his wife has flown up from Durban to be at his side. In an illustration of a jockey’s rollercoaster of fortunes, Serino had won the Jackpot City Gr2 Dingaans a half hour earlier on Trust.
Jarryd Penny was discharged on Tuesday after being diagnosed with a fractured rib and a small puncture on his liver.
The good news is that the prognosis is better than was initially thought on Saturday night.
We wish both jockeys well.
The highs – Serino Moodley after winning the Dingaans on Trust, a half hour before the Summer Cup incident Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Tristan Godden holds the cup as a fan snaps a photo
Credit: Candiese Lenferna
TRISTAN’S
TURFFONTEIN TRIUMPH!
The stars aligned at Turffontein on Saturday for 29-year-old Tristan Godden when the KZNbased jockey achieved a milestone first Grade 1 winner, courtesy of the Frank Robinsontrained Mocha Blend, a 100-1 victress in the 2025 renewal of the Betway Summer Cup.
“I am still on cloud nine! What a day. What a filly. What a training feat. What a privilege,” enthused the Richard’s Bay native in a chat with the Sporting Post on Sunday as he reflected on his magical first ever winner at the Johannesburg South 4Racing HQ, Turffontein, coming as it did just over 12 years after his first ride under rules at Clairwood Park in his home province.
“I had to watch my weight in the build-up, but the sacrifice was worth every ounce! I have come close a few times at Turffontein. I recall I ran second on Gladatorian behind Winchester Mansion in the 2024 Charity Mile and then three weeks later I was a fairly close-up third on Rule By Force in the Betway Summer Cup. So I have been knocking, and on Saturday the door opened. I am ecstatic and so privileged to have ridden my maiden Grade 1 winner in South Africa’s most historic and time-honoured racing silks,” explained an emotional Tristan.
Ironically, the allure of riding in an historic race in the famed black and yellow silks of the Oppenheimer family, now graced by runners representing Jessica Jell’s Mauritzfontein Stud - who celebrated a fairer sex victory in the 2020 Summer Cup with another homebred in champion Summer Pudding - was a sentimental factor in the decision by Tristan to take the ride.
“I was originally pencilled in to ride Son Of Raj, and at declaration time I saw that Mr Robinson had me down for Mocha Blend. So, in one of those twist-of-fate moments, I had to make a call. I rang Muzi (Yeni), who is an astute judge. He suggested that, while Son Of Raj is a Gr1 winner and no slouch, I should probably best side with the fresh-legged filly rather. I thought to myself – imagine winning this famous race in the black and yellow silks? The rest is history!”
Asked when he thought the race was in the bag, Tristan says that they didn’t have things all their own way in the home straight.
“I’d say at the 150m, I thought, boy this is it! Mr Robinson didn’t tie me down with instructions and we were in a good position for most of the journey. At the 900m I felt her move into the bit and I went down the inside rail.
At one stage Muzi and The Ultimate King marginally tightened Gavin (Lerena) and The Equator, and I was forced to switch Mocha Blend out. That seemed to gear her up, and she went on strongly. I noticed Andrew Fortune had Olivia’s Way in full flight in the clear down the outside, but I think I was just fortunate to be on the better horse.”
Tristan was overcome afterwards.
“It doesn’t feel real, it still doesn’t feel real. I know a lot of people didn’t like her, but I did. People asked me what I was backing in the Summer Cup and I said I’m backing myself. You’ve got to come into races like this thinking you’ve got a chance. Realistically I thought she would run in the first four, but at the back end of the quartet,” he said.
His sentiments were echoed by Frank Robinson, also celebrating his first ever Gr1 victory. “I was quietly confident she would run into a place because I rate her. I knew 2000m is what she wanted and I think the conditions were ideal for her.”
Called on to describe the feeling when they hit the line first, Tristan admits he burst into tears.
“I was overcome by emotion. Grade 1 races are the pinnacle for owners, breeders, trainers and their teams, and for all of us who earn our
A memorable moment as Tristan gets
living, riding. A Grade 1 winner has been my goal for the past two seasons, and having my wife Bianca on course to share the moment with me was the cherry on the top. I will never forget 29 November 2025, and at the same time I thank God that my colleagues Serino Moodley and Jarryd Penny and their mounts, were not badly injured in the incident at the 300m. It’s a dangerous profession, but most of us really wouldn’t be doing anything else, even if we had the choice.”
The boy who joined the SA Jockey Academy alongside Callan Murray, Mathew Thackeray, Brandon May and Shadlee Fortune, has become a man.
Tristan’s first ride – which felt a lifetime away on Saturday - came aboard the Yogas Govendertrained Moon Frost for Plattner Racing at Clairwood Park on 15 September 2013.
His first win was on 11 May 2014, courtesy of the Kom Naidoo-trained Secret Traveller, also at Clairwood. “It was an amazing feeling. It was 1000m and I just remember we jumped
out of those gates and just went. I was in front the whole way and I just remember seeing the winning post, right there, 10m away and I didn’t know what to do. I was so excited. It’s emotional, you know! I was almost in tears in the interview. It was a very good experience. Something, like Saturday, I’ll never forget.”
Tristan married Bianca on 10 September in Cape Town, and since the tying of the proverbial knot, he has gone from strength to strength, including a four-timer at Hollywoodbets Greyville a fortnight after the wedding.
“It’s been an up-and-down year, with the loss of loved ones and my own injuries, but I have never felt better and intend to build on this milestone. My thanks again to so many people - to Mr Robinson and his team, to Jessica and Steven Jell for entrusting me with the ride on their beautiful filly, to 4Racing and the big day sponsors Betway, to my own sponsors Sporting Post for the interest and moral support, to my wife and my family, for their love and support. Life is always a team effort!”
a photo to treasure with Mrs Mary Slack | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
EQUATOR
‘CLEARLY NEEDED ANOTHER RUN’
The Equator (IRE) failed to make the first four in Saturday’s R6-million Betway Gr1 Summer Cup at Turffontein, but on a positive note he earned a share of the big stake in fifth place, beaten only 4,90-lengths, and finished well ahead of most other runners who were fancied in the betting market.
The Equator picked up a host of followers in the run-up to the race and, having informed them of his progress every step of the way his owners, Willem Ackerman and Advocate Nigel Riley, issued a post-race statement in the interest of honesty and transparency.
“We made an error in not giving The Equator another run before the Summer Cup. This became evident when he moved up strongly going through the 600m-mark, travelling like a winner, but then hit a flat spot at about the 200m mark. We made this error due to the amazing ability that he shows in his work, the reason why we incorrectly assessed his
fitness levels. We failed to factor in that he only came out of quarantine in February and left Heversham Farm to go into training in April. He needed another race before the Cup!
“We’d like to make a sincere apology to his many fans and supporters. That he kept giving his best despite running on ‘an empty tank’, dispels this week’s allegations of him being a ‘hyped’ horse. He is a top-level performer, as a Northern Hemisphere import really only a four-year-old, and we have decided to keep him in training next year for another crack at the Summer Cup. He will have much more time to properly acclimatise and prepare.
“We thank everyone for their messages of support in the last several weeks. The Equator will be back!” concluded the owners.
www.hevershampark.co.za
The Equator (Gavin Lerena, white & black on rail) chases Mocha Blend (Tristan Godden) and third-placed The Ultimate King (Muzi Yeni) in Saturday’s Betway Summer Cup Credit: Candiese Lenferna
THE TRUTH OF IT!
Two Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas entries filled the top two positions in the R800 000 Jackpot City Gr2 Dingaans at Turffontein on Saturday as the Candice Dawson-trained Trust got the better of a tussle with Gr1-winner Jan Van Goyen to score an impressive victory at just his third start.
“He’s a top horse in the making and he’s still just a puppy,” said a delighted Winning Formsponsored Serino Moodley, who has formed a winning partnership in double quick time with the handsome colt.
In a tactical race where Jan Van Goyen was having his first start in 17 weeks and there were concerns about Tin Pan Alley, the CK Racing Team grabbed the opportunity to seal a Grade 2 trophy with legend Gary Player on course to enjoy the celebrations.
In his peak season, Serino Moodley continues to catch the eye and the KZN-based jockey rode a perfect tactical race to get Trust (2-1) home to beat the 28-10 Jan Van Goyen by 0,70 lengths in a time of 99,9 secs for the mile.
Candice Dawson enjoyed a double on Saturday and has part owner Gary Player awaiting the return to the 1 box of the exciting Truth | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Gqeberha trainer Dean Smith and his patrons will be thrilled by the showing of the 50-1 All Systems Go, who came out best of the balance in a strung-out field to run third, beaten 4,40 lengths by the runner-up.
Racing in a partnership of Larry Nestadt, Gary Player Stud Farm (Pty) Ltd & Ralphs Racing (Pty) Ltd, Trust was bred by the Tawny Syndicate and is a son of the Ascot Stud Snitzel-based stallion Heavenly Blue out of the one-time winning Frankel mare, Frankly
A winner of 2 of his 3 starts with a place for stakes of R613 344, Trust is a full-brother to the year older Gr3 winner-Truth, who races for the same partnership and is a five-time winner at time of writing.
Supplementary entries for the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas to be run at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 13 December are due by 11h00 on Friday 5 December, with declarations due by 11h00 on Tuesday 9 December.
The Turffontein carryover Pick 6 live tickets dropped to 1374,30 and a minimum dividend of R3 575,80 with two legs to run.
BOOM!
Richard Fourie made it a quick feature double on Betway Summer Cup day at Turffontein when the Tony Peter-trained Pistol Pete regained his earlier form with a dashing late run to grab top honours in the R550 000 New Turf Carriers Gr3 Merchants.
Something of a boom youngster of his year, the 4yo Pistol Pete hadn’t seen the winner’s enclosure since the Betway Gr3 Lebelo Sprint late last year but has clearly thrived after gelding and under a patient ride from Richard Fourie, he showed his true colours.
Having won the opening event on the day, the first 2yo contest on the Highveld this season, with the speedy Heath House, it was a terrific double for the Turffontein-based Tony Peter team and their staunch owners Suzette and Basie Viljoen, who were on course to lead their speedball in.
In a rousing finish, Pistol Pete (10-1) stormed clear in a time of 69,29 secs for the 1160m to
beat the gallant Cosmic Star (20-1) by 0,70 lengths, with Robyn Klaasen’s 3yo Charming Cheetah (10-1) a further 2,20 lengths away in third.
The tote favourite Quantum Theory (3-1) capped the quartet. There were a few traffic issues behind the placed runners, and the Stipes report is awaited.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Pistol Pete was selected by Suzette Viljoen who paid R380 000 for him at the 2023 Cape Yearling Sale.
The colt is out of the five-time winning Tiger Ridge mare Oklahoma Sky and has now won 6 races with 4 places from 16 starts for stakes of R1 034 063.
The Pick 6 had 54 979,61 live tickets after the second leg, and was paying a minimum of R89,40.
Suzette and Basie Viljoen proudly lead Pistol Pete (Richard Fourie) in after his cracking return to form Credit: Candiese Lenferna
DREAM 50TH! TRENT’S
Apprentice Trent Mayhew celebrated the 50th winner of his career in the best way possible when he steered the Act Of War filly Hazy Dazy to an eye-catching victory in the R500 000 Ducat Africa Gr3 Fillies Mile at Turffontein on Saturday.
Saddled by veteran Corne Spies who has shown plenty of loyalty to the young rider, Hazy Dazy showed that the form of her last run when lightning delayed the start, was all wrong, as she bounced back to her best to make it 4 wins from 6 starts.
Mayhew produced the Breedon Stud Close Corporation-bred daughter of Act Of War
(Dynasty) with a sustained effort at 17-2 to resist a late challenge from 100-1 outsider Charge It by a length in a time of 101,73 secs.
The 66-1 Merryweather capped a healthy trifecta, a further 1,50 lengths back in third.
Out of the once winning Eightfold Path mare Rabbedoe, the winner looks a decent sort in the making.
Only 5411,41 tickets survived the third leg of the Pick 6, with the minimum dividend soaring to R908,10.
Hopes And Dreams-sponsored Trent Mayhew celebrates his 50th winner as he returns on Hazy Dazy with the Spies Racing team | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
TARRY CARRY ON
A course-and-distance specialist, Vercingetorix’s top-class daughter Mia Moo opened the Betway Summer Cup day feature programme for Sean Tarry at Turffontein on Saturday when she drew clear to win the R400 000 Blu Voucher Listed Carry On Alice Stakes.
Daniel Tarry and the team welcome Mia Moo (Richard Fourie) back after a terrific win | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Formerly run as the Magnolia Handicap, the race was appropriately renamed in honour of Tarry’s champion Carry On Alice and the Ridgemont-sponsored Fourie did the honours on the 6-1 shot in his inimitable cucumbercool fashion, weaving his way through from last at the halfway marker, and easing the 5yo down at the line to beat Almond Sea (8-1) by 0,70 lengths in a time of 68,93 secs for the 1160m.
Mia Moo put the theory that it’s tough to win from the inside draw to bed, in scintillating fashion.
Whistle The Tune (11-2) ran on steadily for third, with the winner’s more fancied stablemate Rodeo Drive (7-2) back in fourth.
“Take your medicine from the 1 draw,” was Tarry’s simple instructions and Fourie carried them out to perfection.
“Drawn 1 and carrying 61kgs in this going. A performance out of the top drawer!” said
the former multiple champion trainer, who somehow always finds the feature gold on the big racedays.
Recently acquired by Drakenstein Stud, Mia Moo is a R300 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, and took her win tally to 7 with 8 places from her 18 starts. She has earned R1 546 325 and there is more to come on this showing.
Bred by Klawervlei, Mia Moo is a daughter of Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the four-time winning Captain Al mare, Leeward.
Mia Moo is now headed for the Cape where she will line up in the Gr2 Cape Flying Championship or the Cartier Gr2 Sceptre Stakes on L’Ormarins King’s Plate day, 10 January.
The carryover Pick 6 reached a total of R4 914 210-15.
IN THE LOOP WITH THE
LATEST
NHA CALENDAR
The Sporting Post presents this week’s National Horseracing Authority Calendar. The calendar is a summary of the past week’s penalties and registrations and is an easy-read snapshot of information.
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A RED-LETTER SUMMER DAY! FRANKLY,
One of only three tote favourites to win on a testing Turffontein afternoon for punters, Shoot The Rapids rounded off a red-letter Betway Summer Cup day for Summerveld trainer Frank Robinson when he sauntered to a 9,50 length victory in the R350 000 Non Black-Type Racehorse Owners Association Stayers.
“We have been doing this for long enough, we should know how by now,” quipped the veteran almost nonchalantly in the post-race interview, adding that Shoot The Rapids had a touch of class and had put his best foot
forward. It was the biggest day in Robinson’s career with a maiden Gr1 winner for the onetime Herman Brown junior assistant.
A son of Erupt, Shoot The Rapids clearly has a stakes win in the tank, and was confidently ridden from midfield by Zackey, who had endured a frustrating and rare blank day to that point.
After hitting the front early in the straight, the gelding went further clear the further they went, and Shoot The Rapids (9-4)clocked 213,10 secs for the 3200m, beating the
Shoot The Rapids and Craig Zackey close the Summer Cup Day features | Credit: JC Photos
evergreen 9yo Nebraas (8-1) by 9,50 lengths, with the third-placed Corrupt (7-1) a further 7 lengths back in third.
In a couple of different races within a race, the fourth-placed Breeze Over (10-1) was lagging behind the field for most of the trip, and eventually earned the fourth cheque, some 20,50 lengths behind the winner!
It was a big victory for staunch KZN owner Sid Moodley, who didn’t enjoy any luck in the Summer Cup when Madison Valley ran a disappointing race.
Shoot The Rapids was a bargain R80 000 November 2yo Sale purchase. The Wynnholme Stud-bred son of Erupt (Dubawi) is out of the six-time winning Modern Day mare, Rapid Flow.
Shoot The Rapids has won 4 races with 8 places from 20 starts and stakes of R829 407.
As the sun set on the big day, Craig Zackey’s 94 winners maintained his lead on the national log, with Richard Fourie in second on 80. There is still a long way to go.
ALADDIN’S LAMP! MAGIC FROM
The Murugasa family silks are seen on racecourses countrywide and they enjoyed a big-day double at Turffontein on Saturday when Splittheeights won the richly endowed R300 000 Maiden Plate for the De Kock partnership, and then hours later the nuggety stayer Aladdin’s Lamp earned top honours in the R300 000 Non Black-Type Betway Summer Cup Consolation for the Crawford Racing team.
Something of a revelation since moving North from the Cape six months ago, Aladdin’s
Lamp has thrived at Randjesfontein in the care of Crawford Racing satellite boss Timothy Woodruff and looks to have some upward potential in the staying ranks after winning a gutsy race under JP van der Merwe, who declared a half kilo overweight.
Always in the vanguard in the Betway Summer Cup Consolation, Aladdin’s Lamp (4-1) kicked again when looking likely to be swallowed up by Field Marshal (5-2) late in the final leg of the bumper Pick 6.
James Crawford and Assistant Tim Woodruff after a smooth win by Aladdin’s Lamp | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
At the line, Aladdin’s Lamp clocked 126,31 secs – a second faster than the Grade 1 a half hour earlier – and put 2,50 lengths between himself and the Frank Robinson raider.
This was his fourth victory with two second cheques in seven runs on the Highveld.
Bred by Varsfontein Stud, the winner is a son of Master Of My Fate (Jet Master) out of the five -time winning Judpot mare, Little Genie.
A R625 000 National Yearling Sale purchase and originally based with Kumaran Naidoo in KZN, the winner took his tally to 6 wins with 5 places from 19 starts and stakes of R603 276.
Aladdin’s Lamp comes home powerfully under JP van der Merwe | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
WINS WELL TONY PETER’S ERUPT COLT
The Narrow Creek Stud-bred Erupt colt Heath House made a big impression when he won the R300 000 4Racing Welcomes You To The Betway Summer Cup Maiden Juvenile Plate - the first juvenile race of the 2025/ 26 season to be run in Gautengon Saturday. Trained by Tony Peter, Heath House, named after English trainer Sir Mark Prescott’s stables in Newmarket, simply proved far too speedy for his rivals and drew off under Gavin Lerena to win convincingly by three and a half lengths.
“Gavin Lerena said the drone overhead unsettled him at the stalls, but he overcame that to win well,” remarked Tony Peter, who said he battled to find an owner for the clearly smart 2yo.
The colt, a R240 000 BSA Cape Yearling Sale purchase, races for owners Faizal Vahab and the Swiss Guard Racing Syndicate, and highlighted the versatility of his sire, Erupt.
Peter power! Paul, Marc and Tony Peter after Heath House’s impressive debut win on Saturday | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
While Heath House won over 800m on Saturday, Erupt sons Shoot The Rapids and Corrupt ran first and third respectively in the Racehorse Owners Association Stayers over 3200m on the same vibrant Turffontein afternoon.
In what was a good day for the dual Gr1 winning Erupt, another son of the stallion, Cosmic Star, finished second in the New Turf Carriers Gr3 Merchants.
Erupt is no stranger to siring high-class two-year-olds, with his progeny including Gr3 Protea Stakes/Listed Storm Bird Stakes winner Karangetang and TAB Gr2 SA Nursery runner-up Mount Pinatubo, among others.
Erupt, who won up to 2400m , is a son of Dubawi, one of the greatest stallions of the modern era.
Now 23, Dubawi, who reached the milestone of having sired 300 stakes winners this year, has had another remarkable year in 2025.
The son of Dubai Millennium has been responsible for more than 30 stakes winners in 2025 - this tally includes six Gr1 winners, while Dubawi’s other sire sons have enjoyed huge success this year.
Dubawi’s dual Gr1 winning son Night Of Thunder is set to be crowned Champion Sire in UK/Ireland for 2025, with Ghaiyyath, New Bay, Space Blues and Too Darn Hot having all been responsible for at least one Gr1 winner this year.
Dubawi’s grandson Make Believe enjoyed a good year in 2025, with his flagbearers including such Gr1 winners as Sajir (ARC Prix Maurice de Gheest) and Royal Supremacy (Asahi Super Dry Metropolitan).
Dubawi’s grandson Heath House is a halfbrother to two winners, including the useful filly Khethiwe’s Destiny (Buffalo Bill Cody).
His dam Gimmethemoney, a daughter of multiple champion sire Gimmethegreenlight, won twice over 1000m and she is a half-sister to the four-time winner Pelican Point (Jet Master). The latter, in turn, produced Listed Dahlia Plate runner-up Turbo Point (Pathfork).
Gimmethemoney’s dam Miss Moneybags is a winning daughter of high-class sprinter West Man, and a half-sister to a trio of black-type performers in the form of Hot Spice, Pride ‘n Joy and The In Scene.
A daughter of the Harry Hotspur sired stakes winner Miss Hot Spot, Miss Moneybags is directly descended in female line from the tap root mare Vicissitude (Pipator).
Among the numerous outstanding performers likewise descended from Vicissitude are important stallions of the ilk of Danzig, Invincible Spirit and Kodiac, as well as the likes of star performers Gladness, Rafha, Kris Kin, Steady Aim, and Pride Of Dubai.
South African raced stars Noah From Goa and Enaad are two other high-class gallopers from this female line.
WINNER UP TO 117 BETWAY SUMMER CUP
The lightly raced fouryear-old filly Mocha Blend produced a career-best performance to capture the Betway Gr1 Summer Cup over 2000m on a yielding track at Turffontein Racecourse.
Following her triumph, Mocha Blend’s official merit rating was raised from 105 to 117. This increase reflects the minimum uplift permissible for a handicap winner for a benchmark handicap, where 127 equates to 60kg and 115 equates to 54kg.
The smallest adjustment allowed in any handicap is two points, equivalent to one kilogram, and this was applied to Mocha Blend. Having carried 54kg (equivalent to115 at these weights) into the race, she was raised by the minimum increment to 117, which translates to 55kg for a handicap at the same benchmark.
The Handicappers used Busstopinhounslow as the line horse, leaving his rating unchanged at 112. Olivia’s Way , who finished runner up, was increased from 112 to 116, while The Ultimate King , who finished third, was upped from 111 to 113.
Other Rating Changes:
• Legend Of Arthur: 117 to 112
• Spumante Dolce: 116 to 115
• Royal Victory: 125 to 124
Jackpot
City Gr2 Dingaans
Trust has earned a revised rating of 119, up from 92, following his victory in the Jackpot City Gr2 Dingaans for three-year-olds over 1600m.
The Handicappers unanimously agreed to use the runner-up, Jan Van Goyen , as the line horse in assessing the race, leaving his rating unchanged at 118.
Notably, Trust had produced a performance figure of 108 in his previous start, but the handicappers were restricted by race conditions that capped rating adjustments at a maximum of four points. As a result, his official rating could not be raised to reflect the full merit of that effort.
In addition to the winner, the following horses also received increments in their ratings:
• All Systems Go - 96 to106
• Shadowfax - 104 to105
• Copper Eagle - 91 to 103
• Singleton Sam - 91 to 98
Tenjiku and Whispering Death were the two horses to receive ratings drops, both going down to 101 from 104 respectively.
Ducat Africa Gr3 Fillies Mile
Hazy Dazy has had her rating upped from 94 to 101 after capturing the Ducat Africa Gr3 Fillies Mile over 1600m.
The Handicappers identified the fourthplace finisher, Pretty Persuasive , as the most suitable line horse, leaving her rating unchanged on 93.
Due to the specific conditions of the race, which limit the increase of placed runners to a maximum of four points, the following adjustments were made:
• Charge It (2nd place): capped at 93, up from 89
• Merryweather (3rd place): capped at 86, up from 82
The following horses received ratings reductions:
• Mamlambo: eased slightly from 92 to 91
• Alta Capitana: reduced from 87 to 84
New Turf Carriers Gr3 Merchants
Pistol Pete has had his rating adjusted from 113 to 119 following his comfortable win in the New Turf Carriers Gr3 Merchants over 1160m. Quantum Theory, who finished
fourth, was considered the most suitable line horse to assess the race, leaving his rating unchanged on 113.
The following horses also went up in their ratings following the running of this race:
Cosmic Star - 100 to 106
Charming Cheetah - 107 to 110
Dantonfromsandton received a slight drop in the ratings, going down to 105 from 106.
Blu Voucher Listed Carry On Alice Stakes
Mia Moo’s official merit rating has been adjusted from 117 to 119 following her victory in the Blu Voucher Listed Carry On Alice Stakes for fillies and mares over 1160m.
Rodeo Drive , who finished fourth, was identified as the line horse to assess the race, and her rating remains unchanged on 107.
The specific conditions of this race limit the increase for placed runners to a maximum of three points. As a result, the runner-up, Almond Sea, could only be raised from 112 to 115 despite having achieved a performance that merited a slightly higher mark.
A total of three horses received ratings reductions following the running of this race:
• Chasing Happiness - 115 to 114
• Chrome Tourmaline - 106 to 104
• Elegantrix - 106 to 104
Media release by the NHA on Tuesday, 02 December 2025.
NEW NATIONAL BOARD MEMBER NHA WELCOMES
In terms of Chapter 5 of the Constitution of The National Horseracing Authority the Nominations Committee, consisting of Messrs Gregory Bortz (Chairman), Mark Currie, Gayasuddin Ahmed, Bradley Ralph and Anthony Rivalland, has appointed Ms Matshediso Marota, as an independent person in terms of Clause 16.1.2 of the Constitution, to fill the vacant position on the National Board.
In a media release published on Monday 1 December, the NHA reports that Ms Marota holds a Master of Business Administration in
Executive Management degree, a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Management Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering.
Ms Marota has over 20 years of experience in the petroleum industry and 5 years in Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG).
The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa welcomes Ms Marota to the National Board.
This appointment is effective immediately.
Ms Matshediso Marota | Credit: Supplied
IBUTHO SETS BENCHMARK
The KZN Sunday racemeeting was originally scheduled to take place at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, but switched to the Hollywoodbets Greyville all-weather in view of the heavy rainfall in the region.
Ibutho (Sean Veale) powers home at 10-1 to beat the 15-10 Navajo Dancer (Nicholas Patel) and register his ninth victory
Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Three races were run over 1200m and comfortably the fastest of these was the closing Hollywoodbets Bright Future Class 5 event.
Drawn in pole position the nibbled at outsider McDazzler set a brisk pace and was soon three lengths clear. Indeed, at the halfway mark he was over a second faster than the other two races over the same distance.
On hitting the straight though that early effort quickly took its toll and he faded right out to finish second last. The easy to back winner IBUTHO meanwhile raced seventh of the ten some eight lengths adrift and soon began to make headway when the field began to concertina.
The 8yo veteran ran on stoutly over the final 400m and under a well-judged ride from Sean Veale he put his head in front 60m from home and set a new benchmark for Hollywood Racing as their winningest galloper with 9 wins to his credit. The previous Hollywood Racing individual winner was shared by Ibutho and Asiye Phambili, while Eventidor joined the club on Friday evening.
Three of the afternoon’s eight races were staged over 1000m and in by far the fastest of these, the Bet With Colossus www. tote.co.za Conditions Plate , KING OF THE GAULS registered his sixth career victory. Taken straight to the front by replacement rider Rachel Venniker, this son of Vercingetorix was always travelling well, and under a tight hold he led by a length early on. He only had to be shaken up in order to extend his advantage going through the 200m and went on to score with authority by two and a half. Aided by a strong tailwind this fast run race was only 0,7 seconds outside the course record.
Going: Standard
Rain: Last 24 hours Nil – Last 7 days 44mm
Wind: 20-50km/h Southerly tail wind
Course Variant: 0,91s fast
The only race to be run beyond sprint distances on the eight race program was the Join www.racecoast.co.za Open Maiden (F) over 1400m and here victory went to the heavily supported Erik The Red filly OVERNIGHT (troublesome loading).
Making only her second racecourse appearance here, Wendy Whitehead’s charge was backed throughout the day into 28/10 favourite from 6/1.
She broke well when the gates opened and raced fourth just two and a half lengths off a fair pace set by Dream Decision. She hit the front at the same time as the deposed favourite Strutting 250m out, and after a thrilling tussle she only got the verdict by a neck.
There was an even tighter finish in the Gallop Tv Class (F&M) over 1100m where the progressive The United States filly MYSTIC DANCER gained her second win from just five starts. Easy to back at 6/1 on the off, Robbie Hill’s charge ran on stoutly below the distance and got up on the nod to deny the heavily supported favourite Dawn Surprise (9/2 into 18/10).
Fastest Times:
1000m (3) King Of The Gauls 56,17 1200m (3) Ibutho 69,96
SET FOR SA STINT FRENCH LADY JOCKEY
Leading French jockey Mickaëlle Michel and her husband, Frederic, touched down in Johannesburg last week for their first visit to South Africa. Although the trip doubles as a short break from her busy international riding schedule, it’s also a look-see at the local industry.
Mickaëlle (pronounced ‘Mi-Cayl’) is hoping to pick up rides from local trainers, with the possibility of extending her stay into a sixweek professional stint.
Mickaëlle’s dream as a young apprentice was to become an ‘international’ jockey, travelling the world for riding opportunities and, now 30, she is living that dream with an already impressive CV to support her exploits.
Mickaëlle broke the record for a female jockey in France with 72 winners in 2018 and was the leading rider at the winter meeting held at Cagnes sur Mer. Overall, she has already ridden in 14 countries and has chalked up just under 300 winners in eight of those, including stakes wins in France, Japan and the United States.
Among her big successes are the Gr2 Gran Premio in Italy – until recently a Gr1 and regarded as ‘Italy’s Arc’ – on Walderbe (Maxios), a horse she rates as the best she’s ridden. She also rode Walderbe into second behind Subjectivist in the 2021 $1-million Dubai Gold Cup.
Mickaëlle Michel (centre) flanked by Hayley Turner and Nicola Currie | Credit: Supplied
“I am very excited to be here and looking forward to gaining some experience on South African tracks,” said Mickaëlle, who believes her adaptability to racecourses on different surfaces and in different regions is her strongest attribute. “I have improved by travelling and using every opportunity I’ve been given against the world’s top jockeys. When you compete against the best, and for trainers you haven’t ridden for before, you become better yourself.”
Mickaëlle finished second in a race on Shergar Cup Day at Ascot in 2021, and helped the International Ladies Team comprising herself, Haley Turner and Nicola Currie, to win the coveted trophy that year. More recently she’s enjoyed extended stints in the US (working for the late Hall Of Famer D Wayne Lukas), Australia and Japan. “I had a memorable winner at Churchill Downs and it was truly thrilling. I was thinking, ‘this is
where they stage the Kentucky Derby, a real privilege!’ In Australia my best moment was winning a race at Flemington in front of a good, supportive crowd.”
She’s enjoyed her riding most in Australia and Japan and said, “Both countries are respectful of female jockeys.”
Mickaëlle has ridden the most winners by a foreign jockey on a visiting licence in Japan (30), and said that this would be her base of choice if the chance presents itself. “Of all the racing countries, Japan is the place where I will have the best chances of riding Group winners. I have done very well there and have good support from trainers. It’s much harder in Europe where the world’s best riders are booked for the best quality mounts and top rides are hard to come by.”
Mickaëlle Michel gives the thumbs up | Credit: Supplied
She said that the racing atmosphere in Australia is also wonderful and that she had the pleasure of riding against star jockey Jamie Melham (Kah), one of only two females to have won the Melbourne Cup.
She also rode winners for Mathew de Kock, at a time when he partnered with Robbie Griffiths in Australia. “I’ve already ridden a few horses in work for Mat at Randjesfontein, and enjoyed seeing how they do the work in Johannesburg. He has put me in touch with an agent who will be assisting me with rides. I am just waiting for official clearance from the National Horseracing Authority. My husband Fred is also my agent and normally takes care of my rides, but he hasn’t had a chance to meet the trainers here as yet, so it’s best left to someone else. Having Fred around as a constant travelling companion is a blessing, and his support is invaluable.
They’ve had to learn some basic Japanese to make things easier in Japan, but mostly work with a translator. “The Japanese are racing crazy. The fans are amazing.”
She hopes to ride against local female jockeys Rachel Venniker and Savanna Valjalo soon and said: “I’ve heard about them and saw Savanna at the track the other day, but we haven’t had a chance to chat yet.”
Mickaëlle’s favourite jockey is her famous French colleague Christophe Soumillon, and she said, “When Christophe was chasing the European record just before Covid and I was chasing winners for the apprentice championship, we travelled together quite often and became friends. He is a remarkable jockey. He is as good as ever at 44 years of age, with the ability to ride at his best anywhere, and against anyone in the world. The rivalry among jockeys is always there, but he is a gentleman who has helped me to improve my skills.”
Mickaëlle and Fred have no fixed plans while they are testing the water, but in due course she also hope to compete on the Western Cape and KZN tracks.
www.dekockracing.co.za
JAPAN CUP CALANDAGAN BREAKS
20-YEAR LOCAL STRANGLEHOLD ON
Newly crowned Cartier Horse of the Year Calandagan (4g Gleneagles – Calayana, by Sinndar) picked up the fourth top-flight race of his career when landing a recordbreaking victory in the Gr1 Japan Cup at Tokyo on Sunday.
The 45th renewal of the 2400m race was contested for an equivalent of R105 million.
In capturing the showpiece contest, Calandagan became the first overseas-trained winner of the Japan Cup since the Luca Cumani-trained Alkaased struck under Frankie Dettori in 2005, while the wait for the last French-trained winner stretched back to Le Glorieux in 1987.
Ridden by Mickael Barzalona, the Aga Khan Studs homebred was settled towards the rear of the field but made sustained headway from two furlongs out. The son of Gleneagles took up a narrow lead a furlong out and rallied bravely to score by a head in track record time.
Trainer Francis Graffard said: “It’s one thing bringing the best horse in the world to this race, but he faced a really high-quality field. Everything seemed to go well but I was looking for Christophe Lemaire and he seemed to get a dream run through.He went a head up and I thought we were beaten but he’s tough and he battled back. He’s an exceptional horse to have put his head in front on the line.”
Calandagan had landed a hat-trick of Group 1 victories earlier this year in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Champion Stakes.
Those victories saw him crowned Horse of the Year and outstanding Older Horse at the Cartier Awards earlier this month.
Calandagan gets there under Mickael Barzalona | Credit: JRA
FOR CRAWFORD-TEETAN COMBINATION ANOTHER WINNER
Just weeks after Brett Crawford celebrated the most significant triumph of a burgeoning Hong Kong career when the South African combined with familiar ally Karis Teetan to land the HK$4.2 million Gr3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap with Encountered, the combination found their way back to the winner’s enclosure with Young Horizon – owned by the HKJC Racing Club – who finished powerfully to land the Class 5 Handicap at Sha Tin on Sunday.
On the same day, Hong Lok Golf continued Harry Bentley’s bountiful string of lucrative wins this season with success in the HK$3,12 million Class 2 Handicap.
Hong Lok Golf enhanced an imposing record to seven wins from 10 starts – all under Bentley – as Chris So’s consistent galloper took his earnings over HK$10 million by defeating Soleil Fighter and Steps Ahead in 1m 34.02s.
Hong Lok Golf provided Bentley with his 10th victory this season – including five in Class 2 and the HK$5.35 million Gr2 Premier Bowl Handicap on Tomodachi Kokoroe.
By Grunt, the five-year-old was rated 96 before today’s triumph and will edge higher in the handicap after justifying Bentley’s prerace confidence.
Hong Lok Golf (No. 2) sweeps past Soleil Fighter and Steps Ahead for a good win | Credit: HKJC
“His trial was really good the other day, so he was coming into this race with quite a bit of confidence. The race panned out from me from barrier one. The pace was good with a bit of an injection of speed around the bend, he travelled into it really well and he’s a game horse,” Bentley said. “Once the gap came, he picked up really well for me. Credit to the horse and the team as well.
“It’s been a good start to the season with some nice races and I hope to keep the ball rolling, but this horse has been a very good advocate for me. Hopefully we can get some more winners together.”
Eight-time Hong Kong champion jockey Zac Purton took riding honours aboard three talented gallopers – Majestic Valour, who posted a clinical win in the Class 4 Handicap for Pierre Ng, Ricky-Yiu trained Packing Glory in the Class 4 Handicap and David Eustace’s Colourful King in the Class 2 Handicap.
“It was a really good effort by Colourful King, it’s really hard to win from that side of the track,” Purton, said referring to barrier two up the straight course. “I thought there was no choice but to take him back and go across.
“The speed was always going to be there, and it was just a matter of whether the race came, and we had enough time to reel them in and he’s done it in really good fashion.”
Eustace notched a double with Dazzling Fit in the Class 3 Handicap under James McDonald. The Ribchester gelding dug deep as he tracked towards the HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series to deny Beauty Bolt by a short head with the same margin to Withallmyfaith.
Yiu, who sealed a brace in combination with Hollie Doyle and Victory Sky in the Class 3 Handicap, is confident Packing Glory can
develop into a quality galloper: “The horse, Packing Glory, has got talent. He’s a nice upand-coming horse. He doesn’t know what he’s doing.
“Zac came back in and said it’s not easy to win first up with that draw (2) and it obviously shows that he has some talent. If you want him to be one of the top horses over the spring, you’ve got to get 1200m.”
Ng was similarly effusive about Toronado gelding Majestic Valour, who breezed to victory under a hold from Purton.
“He trialled really well. He trialled well in New Zealand, that’s why we got him, and we gave him four trials here and he did it easily,” Ng said. “He’s got the ability and good size, so hopefully he can improve.
“I told Zac just to be aware and to make sure that if he goes out, to go back in. He did it nicely today and hopefully he can do a lot more. We’re ticking along. We started off pretty slowly but it’s still early and we just have to time it right for the big races.”
Hong Kong International Sale graduate Day Day Victory made it two wins in a row for Michael Chang after surging late to clinch the Class 4 Handicap under Alexis Badel.
Audacious Pursuit broke through for his first victory in the Class 4 Handicap for Caspar Fownes and Hugh Bowman in the equal closest finish of the day.
Smart Fat Cat was second, beaten a short head – with the same margin to Amazing Duck – before standby declared starter Matters Most gave Danny Shum and Ellis Wong a surprise win in the Class 3 Handicap.
FOR ASCOT STAKES PURSE BOOST
Ascot Racecourse announced on Monday that prize money in 2026 will be a record £19.4 million, an increase on 2025 of £1.65 million. Figures exclude the industry-owned QIPCO British Champions Day.
88 of Ascot’s 169 races (52%), across 25 racedays, will have a higher total prize fund than in 2025, with all races on the Flat worth £25,000 or more. Royal Ascot will be worth £10.65 million, from £10.05 million.
Ascot’s executive contribution to prize money will go up from £9.97 million in 2025 to a budgeted £10.7 million in 2026.
Increases to Royal Ascot have been made across the programme with all eight Group 1 races now worth a minimum of £700,000 (two at £1 million), while all races at the Royal Meeting will be run for £120,000 or more, up from £110,000. In all, 26 of the 35 races across the week will be run for more than they were in 2025.
In July, it was announced that the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes will become Britain’s first £2 million race next year, up from £1.5 million. This year’s running of the race saw the world’s current top-rated
Top-class action on menu for 2026 | Credit: Supplied
horse, Calandagan, triumph in another topclass renewal of Europe’s midsummer allaged highlight. Total prize money on the day will now be in excess of £2.5 million.
Amongst other uplifts on the Flat, the Group 2 Summer Mile will be worth £165,000 (up from £140,000), while all Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup races will be run for at least £85,000 (up from £80,000), taking the total on the day to £525,000.
Investment in Class 3 and 4 races on the Flat takes all races to a minimum of £25,000 with total prize money increasing by £287,000 at those levels.
Over Jumps, the Ladbrokes 1965 Chase will be increased to £100,000, having been £80,000 this year, which delivers three £100,000 races on the Saturday of the Ladbrokes November Racing Weekend.
All WFA Novice/Maiden Hurdles will also be run for a minimum of £25,000 as part of investment into the developmental programme.
Felicity Barnard, Chief Executive Officer at Ascot Racecourse, said:
“We are delighted to be making these increases in prize money for 2026, demonstrating our commitment to the sport and focus on rewarding participants.
“We are of course conscious of the macroeconomic factors currently at play which make taking a long-term view on prize money investment even more important. We hope that these uplifts will play a part in encouraging investment in British racing.
“In announcing this record figure, an increase of £1.65 million, whilst making an international statement with the King George, we have
also focused on improvements across the programme.
“Over half of our races across both codes have seen increases and through £25,000 minimum Flat values and a focus on the novice hurdle programme, we are aligning many of our increases with an agreed industry focus on developmental races.”
Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs at Ascot Racecourse, added:
“Prize money is the most important investment tool that we have in attracting horses to run from home and abroad, at all levels of racing that we stage.
“We’ve seen some world-class racing at Ascot in 2025, with runners travelling here from four continents. It is vital in an increasingly competitive international market that we keep Ascot at the forefront and the flagship £2 million King George is key to this alongside the Royal Meeting.
“We will be promoting the King George alongside our Large Independent Racecourses and Jockey Club colleagues, under the Midsummer Elite Races banner. The July Cup, Sussex Stakes, International and King George are Britain’s historical, defining, all-aged summer races over their respective trips and we hope that promoting them together, with increased prize money all round, will gain traction.”
T R A I NER S Name
3,853,031 3,040,000 3,396,844 3,797,938 2,559,063 6,111,088 4,803,444 4,609,543 4,135,163 4,083,725
6,515,813 5,766,638 4,450,444 3,697,881 3,880,750 10,262,473 7,619,444 6,883,138 6,938,637 5,829,480
11,937,753 7,823,824 5,500,235 4,191,591 3,927,071
10,484,502 7,245,777 4,999,721 4,985,239 4,968,491 S I RE S