BEGINNINGS
NEW LIFE! NEW SEASON.
08
Snaith Does It Again Champion stuff!
13
Fort Wood
Oscar Foulkes on a dynasty
24
Vercingetorix Power
Only the start
66 Shergar Cup Karis rides at Ascot
82
Oasis Dreams On An influence!
On the cover
For many fans of this great game, it’s the very best time of the year. The arrival of the next generation and simply brand-new beginnings. Please send us your beautiful baby pics! We’d be honoured to publish them. See more on page 06. Candiese Lenferna took the photograph.
Issue: 31/2025
Mr
T R A I NER S
J O CK E YS results up to: 31 July 2025
Mr
20,256,781 12,056,444 9,508,563 7,362,281 9,261,875 31,013,601 16,202,596 15,481,538 12,447,513 12,314,856
25,602,031 28,413,156 23,930,569 11,232,031 10,012,344 36,724,998 37,812,723 33,903,366 19,045,234 15,776,419
34,055,620 28,332,868 16,970,946 14,476,120 BREEDERS
S I RE S
38,562,706 27,183,531 21,770,121 18,074,336 17,933,190
5 GRADE 1’S AND SNAITH’S
THIRD TITLE ON TROT
Mike de Kock and Justin Snaith do some studying ahead of the Hollywoodbets Durban July panel discussion
Credit: Candiese Lenferna
The maxim that a dedicated stable jockey is integral to the success of any aspirational championship stable has been turned on its head by Futura Park-based Justin Snaith winning his sixth national champion trainer title – his third on the trot – and almost doubling the gross stakes earnings of his nearest rival, Alan Greeff.
Coincidentally, the top duo both trained 170 winners.
“Justin will be approaching the new season much the same as he did last year - without a retained stable jockey. While Richard Fourie would have been our first choice, he is already committed to another yard through an existing sponsorship arrangement,” explained Justin’s right-hand man, brother Jonathan.
“As always, Justin believes in selecting the right jockey for each individual horse - and in some cases, taking into account owner preferences. It’s very much a case of ‘horses
Richard Fourie – will get some of the Snaith action again | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
for courses’. We will continue to make use of top riders such as Richard Fourie, Muzi Yeni, Gavin Lerena, Craig Zackey, Aldo Domeyer and others who show dedication, and are willing to put in the work in the mornings,” he told the Sporting Post on Tuesday.
If one has a glance at the top 5 on the national trainer log, second-placed Alan Greeff has Richard Fourie, fourth-placed Candice BassRobinson calls on Aldo Domeyer, while Dean Kannemeyer in fifth spot is, much like his late Dad Peekay, a firm believer in dedicated jockey loyalty, and has made good use of the services of Craig Zackey.
With his half century birthday just four months away, Justin Snaith’s first national title was as a 39-year-old in the 2013/14 season when
he grossed R19 344 725 and saddled 194 winners.
His next came in 2017/18 when he grossed R26 794 988 and then again in the covid-19 ravaged 2020/21 term when Snaith banked R15 848 725 in stakes.
Paul Peter broke the Snaith run in 2021/22 when the Turffontein trainer set a new SA season winner benchmark of 221 and grossed R23 431 563, to beat the Capetonian by nearly R2,3 million.
Peter, who leaned heavily on jockey Warren Kennedy, caused a stir and created a wave of speculation in the industry when he handed in his licence a few months later.
Snaith bounced right back in 2022/23 when grossing R20 003 731 to lift the trophy again, reaching R 20 981 288 in 2023/24, and then capping the national hat-trick last month.
Interestingly, while we initially regarded Justin’s latest haul of R31 013 601 as an alltime record, the stats book shows that another multiple national champion in Randjesfonteinbased Sean Tarry achieved the current record stakes haul of R32 293 050 all the way back in 2016/17. No mean feat!
Snaith lifted 20 black-type race trophies during last season, including 5 elite level races. The Snaith Grade 1 quintet was achieved by two of their stars in Double Grand Slam (Paddock Stakes and Garden Province Stakes)
and Eight On Eighteen (Cape Town Met, Cape Derby and Daily News 2000).
Snaith told the Sporting Post that Double Grand Slam has some ‘unfinished business’ after a few unlucky Gr1’s, while, with challenges on the export protocol logistics front, Eight On Eighteen is likely to continue his career in SA with the 2026 L’Ormarins King’s Plate and WSB Cape Town Met as his targets.
Exciting times!
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
No pressure, but it is difficult to imagine that the Equus panel can ignore Alan Greeff’s incredible last season!
With interprovincial raids last term from the ‘minor’ centre of Gqeberha, Greeff has plundered with aplomb at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, Hollywoodbets Scottsville, Turffontein and Hollywoodbets Greyville.
The second generation conditioner trained three of the best juvenile fillies in South Africa in Anotherdanceforme (110), Golden Palm (110) and Direct Hit (109), and he and Richard Fourie made history by winning all three legs of the unofficial KZN two-year-old fillies Triple Tiara. In unprecedented fashion the duo achieved the feat with three different fillies!
In a milestone season, Greeff also saddled the East Cape’s first Hollywoodbets Durban July runner in over two decades in My Best Shot.
In his home province, Alan Greeff notched 165 wins - 11 short of his East Cape record mark of 176.
Another honourable mention is due to father-and-son duo Mike and Mathew de Kock who ended the first season of their new training partnership with 42 winners, 123 places, R8 723 950 in gross stakes. and a top 10 position on the national log. It was effectively half a season, as the partnership officially launched on 1 February, which makes the top 10 finish in only six months a remarkable achievement.
AND CREDENTIALS THAT SELDOM FAIL BUILDING FORTS
Our examination of the stallions of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s comes to an end with Volume 6 of Form Stallion Register (published in 1995). The line-up of 79 stallions was augmented with the usual wealth of information relating to the industry as a whole.
Once again, I must express my gratitude to the Form team for publishing these volumes and to the stallion owners for paying to have their stallions represented.
Oscar Foulkes writes that researching and writing this series of articles has been enormously rewarding for him.
Apart from the reminders of past highlights, it’s left me with some yardsticks by which I evaluate new stallions. I hesitate to call them rules, because of the degree of uncertainty around these things. More on that in a bit.
The star in this firmament – by some distance – was Fort Wood, a Grade 1-winning son of
The iconic Fort Wood | Credit: Supplied
Sadler’s Wells. He is as good an example as one can find of the credentials that seldom fail:
• By a world leading stallion who is also a sire of sires
• Top-class racehorse over 1600-2000m
• Judged off pictures (I never saw him), he looked the part
Fort Wood sired 15 Grade I winners. His winners came at a rate of 65% (of foals) and he ended up with 8.2% stakes-winners.
The only confounding thing about him was the way that his stud career tailed off towards the end. Having sired 49 stakes-winners in his
first eight crops, his final eight crops yielded just 10. Three of his final five crops drew a complete blank on the stakes-winner front.
Fort Wood’s daughters have been sensational at stud, but it’s perhaps as the sire of Dynasty (63% winners and 11.3% stakes-winners) that his genetic legacy is most keenly expressed.
Dynasty himself is a sire of successful stallions. Another son of Fort Wood, Elusive Fort, has never received the commercial recognition for what has been a good record at stud.
The other major success to have started his career at this time was Jallad, by top sire-of-
(Robbie Fradd) beats Yard-Arm (Piere Strydom)
sires Blushing Groom. Jallad was out of the Champion filly, Petrava, imported from New Zealand by the Jaffees.
She was exported to the US after the conclusion of her racing career, which is where Jallad was bred. He won a race in the UK, but troubled by breathing issues, was then purchased by the Jaffees to continue his career in South Africa. He won a further seven races when trained by David Payne, including the Durban Merchants. I remember him as a well-topped colt, somewhat plain-headed and not the most correct in front.
He sired 16 Grade I winners, with his winners coming at a strike rate of 59% (of foals) and stakes-winners at 6.8%.
In compiling a check list of credentials, it’s interesting to look at two other sons of Sadlers Wells who retired in this period. Braashee recorded strike rates that only slightly exceeded breed averages. He was a
Group I winner, but that came in the 3100m Prix Royal-Oak. While he broke his maiden over 2020m, he was an out-and-out stayer. Perhaps that was a key factor (like failed stallions of previous eras that were top-class stayers).
Ernani was the top-rated juvenile by Sadlers Wells in 1989. Raced until the age of six in the US, he won just three races (no stakes races), with a few stakes places to his name. Uncharacteristically for Sadlers Wells, his form was all in the sprinter-miler category. At stud he was found to be infertile, siring just 39 foals, of which 18 won, and none were stakeswinners.
More might have been expected of a son of Sadlers Wells, but perhaps what counted against Ernani was uncharacteristic aptitude (i.e. sprinter-miler, rather than middle-distance or classic) and being slightly below top-class as a racehorse.
Sadler’s Wells | Credit: Supplied
By contrast, there were five good enough racehorses that retired – Philippi, Pole Position, Rami, Stage Colony and Val des Bois.
All of them were either by stallions that either weren’t themselves top-class or were unsuccessful as sires of sires. None of them recorded strike rates that would put them in the category of “successful”.
Guidelines
This brings me to the ‘learnings’:
• The sweet spot is occupied by top-class racehorses over 1600-2000m, who are by world leading stallions (ideally proven as sires of sires) that look the part
• Based upon the large number of pure sprinters with speed-only pedigrees that went to stud, I’d have to regard this as a comparatively higher risk category.
• Also regarded as specialists would be the stayers (i.e. needing 2800m or more to be effective and little to no form over 2000m or less). Some of these had a good percentage of stakes-winners, but as a category these would have to be regarded as having a similar risk profile to the pure sprinters.
• Of the stallions in the six volumes of Stallion Register, the South African bred horses had such a low strike rate that one would have to approach with caution.
• Moderate or poor racehorses – regardless of pedigree – did not make it.
• Borrowing from the world of venture capital, we could benefit from some kind of incubator system which would give
opportunities (even if only on a limited trial basis) to well-bred, good looking horses with legitimate reasons for not fulfilling their potential on the racecourse (e.g. Elliodor and to a lesser extent, I’m Exclusive).
• Good stallions will make it pretty much regardless of the opportunity they get (either in quantity or quality of mares).
• In this excellent article , Allan Robertson cites several successful stallions who had breathing issues when racing. Perhaps this is a compromise that can be made.
Outliers
Foveros was the most obvious exception. He ticked the boxes of looks and top-class racehorse, but by no means could one expect a son of Averof to be the success that he was.
National Assembly and Rollins were the only unraced horses that made it. The former was believed to show promise at home, while the later (from pictures, at least) looked the part. As broodmare sires they gave us Vercingetorix, Rafeef and Jet Master.
South African bred stallions
In time, I need to spend more hours on this one, because the records of the stallions in the six volumes of Form Stallion Register flag this as a higher risk category.
Vercingetorix is shooting the lights out, with extraordinary strike rates of 69% winners and over 11% stakes-winners (from foals). He is riding a wave that started with Captain Al, Jet Master and Dynasty a little over 20 years ago. While not at these levels, we currently have a line-up of other highly regarded locally bred stallions, such as One World, Master of My Fate, Legislate, What A Winter and others.
It’s not as if we have never had good locally bred stallions, but these post-2000 stallions have delivered something of a golden age for our Stud Book. It’s the greatest concurrent representation of SA-bred stallions at the top of sires’ lists. Is this enough to overturn the conclusions one might draw from looking at nearly 100 years’ worth of data prior to that?
The likes of Charles Dickens, Jet Dark, Sandringham Summit and Kommetdieding –all locally bred and with SA-bred broodmare sires – are standing by to answer that question.
Ed – many thanks to Oscar Foulkes for a terrifically interesting and informative series. His passion for the game, knowledge, and a natural gift for the written word, shines through.
DECISIONS, DECISIONS OFF TO STUD OR TO RACE ON?
Milnerton trainer Candice Bass-Robinson closed the 2024/25 season with the final feature winner of the term, and she made it a winning start to the 2025/26 season, again at Hollywoodbets Greyville, when winning the first feature on the new programme on Sunday.
The yard’s Future Variety closed World Pool Gold Cup day a week earlier with an eyecatching victory in the HKIR In December Listed Umngeni Handicap.
On Sunday it was more of the same, as Mario Ferreira’s 5yo Vercingetorix mare Callmegetrix timed her overdue first blacktype victory sweetly, on the eve of the breeding season.
Former Tony Rivalland assistant Terry Fripp looks after the small Bass-Robinson string at Summerveld. The senior horseman had the supremely consistent Callmegetrix in fine order.
Allowed to dictate the fractions out front by Sporting Post-sponsored jockey Sean Veale, Callmegetrix (9-4, tote favourite) stayed true to her task and kept on gamely for a 1,80 length in a time of 97,96 secs for the mile.
Glistian’s Tomyris (11-2) made it a Vercingetorix exacta by challenging late, with Fatal Gem (25-2) a further length back in third.
Sean Veale salutes as Callmegetrix is led in by the Bass team, as well as Des & Jason Gonsalves, and Terry Fripp Credit: Candiese Lenferna
A R450 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Callmegetrix has now won 5 races with 14 places from her 21 starts and stakes of R844 939.
Bred by Rathmor Stud and racing for Mario Ferreira, Callmegetrix is a daughter of Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the twice winning Kabool mare Clarion Call.
She looks to be enjoying her racing, but she could also be an exciting addition to the
Ferreira breeding operation. The connections will meet with the trainer this week to discuss the plans.
Please read more on page 24.
JUST THE BEGINNING! VERCINGETORIX
Newly crowned champion sire Vercingetorix picked up right where he left off last season, with a brand spanking new stakes winner, courtesy of daughter Callmegetrix, who broke through at stakes level with a convincing victory in the Listed Off To Stud Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.
The Candice Bass-Robinson-trained mare took no prisoners, setting every fraction en route to a well-deserved first stakes win.
The newly turned five-year-old had been the bridesmaid in no less than four of her five previous starts, three of which were at stakes level.
In April, she chased Be Merry home in the Sweet Chestnut Stakes, was defeated half a length by Time For Love in the Ladies Mile, and went down by a similar margin to Green Sapphire in the Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes in June.
On to the bottom of Callmegetrix’s pedigree: she is one of six winners, along with stakesplaced What A Winter sprinter Spydas Corner, out of the Kabool mare Clarion Call, who finished third in the Gr3 Champagne Stakes.
Grandam French Sun also produced Gr2 Camellia Sprint winner Chant De Nuit, whose
Callmegetrix makes it Vercingetorix stakes winner number 59 at Hollywoodbets Greyville last Sunday
Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Trippi son African Ruler ran second in the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Sprint.
Plans are fluid for Callmegetrix, and no decision has yet been made as to whether she remains in training.
Owner Mario Ferreira’s representative Des Gonsalves was philosophical when asked that question. “Let’s face it, she will come up against far stronger competition during the Cape Town summer season. There is also the matter of weighing up the value of a foal versus possible stakes earnings, which right now, may not cover training costs,” he observed.
Callmegetrix is the 59th stakes winner for her sire, who looks set to defend his crown this
season with a formidable arsenal of stakes performers at his disposal.
Notwithstanding the fact that Gr1 winning sons Oriental Charm and Cousin Casey have retired to the stallion ranks, the Maine Chance-based champion can still rely on a host of other top-notch gallopers, with such notables as Gladatorian, Double Grand Slam, Spumante Dolce, Greaterix, Garrix, Zeitz, Sail The Seas, O’Tenikwa, Immediate Edge, Holding Thumbs and Magic Verse representing the ‘older’ generation.
Vercingetorix also boasts a fine array of threeyear-olds, and while Gr2 winner Chronicle King will fly the flag for the males, he holds a strong hand with his fillies. Quickstepgal, Elegantrix and Princess Of Gaul all scored
Unbeaten Ukuduma wins the Irridescence Stakes – exciting prospect | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
at Graded stakes level, not to mention undefeated Ukuduma, who won the Listed Irridescence Stakes on just her second start.
Lurking in the wings are the classically bred slow-burners, those who only started their careers towards the end of their juvenile season.
Summer Pudding’s three-part sister Ms Sakura finished a promising second in her only start; Caesar’s Ransom, a half-brother to Captain’s Ransom, was all at sea in heavy going first time out and will surely appreciate better underfoot conditions, as will debut winner October Storm, a half-brother to champion Tempting Fate and Gr1 winner October Morn.
Then there are those who are yet to make their bow, amongst which regally bred colts
out of dual Broodmare of the Year Halfway To Heaven and champion Alboran Sea, both of which commanded R2,8-million as yearlings.
If that’s not enough ammunition to go to war with, Vercingetorix will be represented later in the new season by an enviable crop of new juveniles.
There are siblings to Horse of the Year recipients Captain’s Ransom and Princess Calla, Gr1 winners Battle Force, Vardy, Snow Pilot, Silver Darling and Ambiorix, as well as the offspring of Gr1 winners River Jetez, Redberry Lane, She’s A Keeper, Sommerlied, Viva Maria, The Secret Is Out, Return Flight, Clouds Unfold and Mighty High.
SKATER LOOKS PROGRESSIVE KANNEMEYER’S
We have enjoyed another weekend of some standout performances and horses worth watching at their next few starts.
In Time Is Money we utilise sectional timing data, which we believe can enhance both the form study and horseracing viewing experience on both KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape race meetings.
Hollywoodbets Greyville (turf) 3 August
Track Condition
Going: Good Penetrometer: 22
Rain: Last 7 days Nil
Irrigation: Last 24 hours Nil –Last 7 days 20mm
False Rail: 4m
Wind: 15-25km\h North Easterly head wind
Course Variant: 0,93s slow
Off To Stud Stakes (L) 1600m
A runner up in three features prior to finding the company a bit too hot in the Gr1 Garden Province last time out, it was nice to see the Vercingetorix mare CALLMEGETRIX gain just reward for her consistency.
Craig Zackey steers Kanaal Skater to an easy win | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Swiftly guided over from the second widest draw by Sean Veale, Candice Bass-Robinson’s charge was soon at the head of affairs. After that initial burst the pace then slowed though and between the 1000m and 600m markers they recorded the slowest time of all of the eight races.
The nibbled at Tomyris ran on strongly in the straight and when moving up to challenge 150m out, she looked a real threat. Callmegetrix found another gear when asked for extra though and went on to score with authority by a length and three quarters.
At the back some ten lengths off the pace early on, the unmistakable grey Perilla (finished 5th beaten 3,25 lengths) recorded the fastest 400m to finish time in the race.
1200m Maiden Plates
The two 1200m races were both maiden plates and interestingly, the two winners came out of the same form line.
A one length runner up to Cardinal Chief last time out, KANAAL SKATER (hung in from 150m) won the faster of these. Backed into 46/10 from even money at the track, Dean Kannemeyer’s 3yo was soon positioned in second just a length and a half behind the confirmed front runner Higher Love.
He was always travelling well and after taking up the running 200m out, he went on to score comfortably from the running on newcomer Coccolina. The runner up raced green and shifted between 250m – 100m. She bumped a good sort here and can only improve.
Two 1800m Races
The winners of the two 1800m races were both saddled by Lucinda Woodruff, with not
surprisingly the quicker being the Tote For The Win Class 4 for fillies & mares event in which the progressive ANOTHER DREAM completed a hattrick.
Allowed to flirt with odds on for a while before eventually being sent off at 11/10, the heavily supported favourite broke well and was allowed to dictate throughout.
Always a length and a half clear off what was a fair but not fast pace, the daughter of Futura found extra when given rein, and won well from the running on Faizah (hung in from 350m).
Another Dream has now won three from four since going beyond sprint distances.
Two 1000m Races
Run in a time just 0,19 seconds slower than the C Stakes won by Catavar, the aptly named favourite BLAZING BEAUTY (brush wound left hind) showed good pace when winning the opening maiden plate.
Out of the pens in a flash, this daughter of Erupt soon had the field very strung out. She ran on strongly in the straight and went on to score without any anxious moments by three.
Quickies
The 7yo Var gelding INTREPID recorded the fastest 400m to finish time on the card when running on from towards the rear to finish runner up in the C Stakes over 1000m.
Hollywoodbets Greyville (poly) 1 August
Track Condition
Going: Standard
Rain: Last 7 days Nil
Wind: 20-45km/h South Westerly tail wind
Course Variant: 0,07s fast
Four 1600m Races
Four of the eight races on Friday evening’s poly track card were run over 1600m. The Follow Race Coast On Facebook Progress Plate was comfortably the fastest of these and here we saw a gutsy performance from the friendless TWO MILES WEST (ridden by replacement jockey Calvin Habib).
Allowed to drift as if a win was out of the question (15/4 out to 14/1), the Fire Away gelding led throughout. He was always a length and a half clear and although the pack headed by the nibbled at outsider Warhawk Bomber chased hard, he didn’t relinquish an inch of his advantage.
Four 1200m Races
They also ran four races over 1200m and in the fastest of these, the Gallop Tv Progress Plate, the 5yo KING OF SPIN (25/2 into 13/2) registered his fourth career victory.
The second of four winners on the card for trainer Stuart Ferrie, the son of Canford Cliffs raced fifth for most of the journey some three lengths off the pace set by the well supported favourite Bourbon Warrior.
The market leader ran on strongly in the straight and 150m out looked to have the race won. King Of Spin (cut into right hind) answered every call under a determined ride
from Sean Veale though, and in what proved to be a real thriller, he got the verdict on the nod. King Of Spin recorded a 400m to finish time of 22,62 which was the fastest for this segment of the meeting.
Race nine on the card was a Tote For The Win D Stakes over 1200m and here the Stuart Ferrie trained BANK STREET (28/10 into 9/10) was backed as if unbeatable.
Racing off a mark fourteen points lower than what he was rated just seven runs back, the Global View gelding was soon up handy.
He struck the front approaching the 200m marker under a confident ride from Serino Moodley, and it was only at that point when the fancied Teerex moved into contention that he was seriously asked to race.
He ran on strongly from there onwards and went on to score with authority by two and a quarter. The veterinary surgeon reported that Bank Street was coughing after the race.
Tote - Speed. Power. Glory Class 4 2000m
With a bit of throat cutting in the early part of the race the pace was a good one and the field was quite strung out.
Not surprisingly though, the effort took its toll on the three leaders going through the 500m and as they approached the 300m pole barely three lengths covered the vast majority.
The 5yo STAR OF THE FUTURE marginally recorded the fastest 400m to finish time in the race, and he got the verdict by a head.
REMAINS ON 108 OFF TO STUD STAKES WINNER
Callmegetrix has retained her merit rating of 108 following her victory in the Listed Off To Stud Stakes for fillies and mares over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.
The Handicappers were of the view that Callmegetrix had reproduced the same level of performance as in the HKJC World Pool Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes back in June, where she earned her rating of 108.
As a result, her current rating of 108 was used to assess this race.
In line with the specific conditions of the race, which preclude increases in ratings for placed runners, no upward adjustments were made, even though several of them ran above their current marks.
There was, however, a downward adjustment for Sovereign Grant , whose rating was reduced from 103 to 101.
Media release by the NHA on Tuesday, 05 August 2025.
Callmegetorix (Sean Veale) retains her merit rating | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
TO UTILISE COLOSSUS TOTE TECHNOLOGY RACE COAST
Race Coast and Colossus announced a partnership on Tuesday 5 August that will see the racing operator incorporate the Colossus tote platform adding the Cash Out and ‘Crowdbetting’ features to its multi-leg horse racing products, as well as immediately offering the Colossus Bets globally comingled sports pools to Race Coast online customers.
The application of Cash Out to horse racing pools will be a first for the country of South Africa.
Dean Sawarjith, Race Coast KZN, Acting Chief Operating Officer, commented: “The deal with Colossus will give our online customers access to the biggest comingled sporting jackpot pools, as well as enable us to apply the Colossus IP to horse racing pools in the future. We need to innovate to keep our horse racing proposition relevant for today’s younger audiences. We look forward to giving our customers access to the most flexible tote product in the world, where they can decide leg-by-leg how much of their bet to Cash Out. I’m particularly excited to enable our customers to create and join tickets via the Colossus ‘Crowdbetting’ feature, driving customer engagement forward.”
Paula Cara Farcas, Colossus Bets CEO said: “We are delighted that Race Coast now has access to our sports pools and our Cash Out and ‘Crowdbetting’ functionality via our tote platform. When we devised ‘Crowdbetting’ especially, we were confident it would be a game changer for the pari-mutuel industry and Race Coast’s endorsement
gives us further confidence that appetite for this feature will only grow. Cash Out is a standard feature in multi-leg bets and parlays worldwide. All Tote operators must innovate if they wish to compete with a rapidly evolving market. Race Coast will become the first racing tote to utilise our technology in order to modernise their racing product, making it fit for 2025. We are really excited to work with Race Coast to ensure that their customers have access to the biggest and most engaging wagering products in racing.”
Media release by Race Coast on Tuesday, 5 August 2025.
HERE’S THE BUZZ! ‘25 BREEDING SEASON
There is a buzz in the air for the 2025 thoroughbred breeding season. Across South Africa, breeders are getting their best mares ready to meet some new and established stallions.
There are also some exciting new prospects fresh off the racetrack, ready to make their mark in the broodmare barns. The blend of experience and fresh promise keeps this industry ticking, and this season looks full of potential.
We’ve been catching up with some of the leading breeders to find out which stallions will be popular picks, and which mares are ones to watch in the season ahead.
Unsurprisingly, Maine Chance Farm’s Vercingetorix — newly crowned Champion Stallion of South Africa after a phenomenal haul of 23 stakes winners and over R38 million in earnings — is in overwhelming demand.
The mighty son of Silvano stands for R300,000, already booked to a full roster of 120 mares. His jam-packed schedule for 2025 includes several service rights and auctioned nominations.
Ross Fuller, stud manager of Maine Chance, commented: “In the last three seasons, breeders have been lining up for Vercingetorix, sending him their top-end mares. The demand has been unbelievable, but 120 is our limit. Our aim is to get all his mares in foal.”
Vercingetorix - In high demand after a stellar season | Credit: Jeremy Nelson / Maine Chance Farm
Fuller said that Maine Chance will be using its own full allocation to Vercingetorix this year, which includes the established mare Bella Spumante (dam of Bevie’s Delight and Boundless Energy) and well-performed race mares off the track in the last few seasons –Kwinta’s Light, Baltic Secret, Trickster, Beating Wings and others.
Across the river from Maine Chance, Ridgemont is looking forward to keeping their current crop of race fillies in training for another year. Their in-demand resident Rafeef will be covering the prolific stakes-winner producer Miss October (Var), the dam of Gr1 winners Tempting Fate and October Morn. Rafeef’s other guests will include Galileo’s daughter Exotic, the dam of dual Gr2 winner, Mon Petit Cherie.
Ridgemont’s Icy Winter Air (Western Winter), hit the headlines when her daughter Make It Snappy (Dynasty) captured the 2022 Gr1 Fillies Guineas and the Gr1 Paddock Stakes. She will be sent to Vercingetorix, who will also be of service to Wrecking Ball (Great Britain), the dam of unbeaten Gr1 winner, Direct Hit (Canford Cliffs). “We still need to discuss and finalise the rest of our matings,” said the farm’s Craig Kieswetter.
Just down the road from the two Robertson farms lies Bonnievale’s renowned former champion breeders, Klawervlei Stud, where John Koster has been carefully mapping out his matings of choice in recent weeks. His neighbours can expect some traffic. Cinna’s Ransom (by Red Ransom), dam of the
Bela-Bela in the paddock at Varsfontein | Credit: Varsfontein Stud
exceptional Captain’s Ransom, is line up for Vercingetorix, as is Thunder Dance (by Jet Master), who returns to the Maine Chance champion after the success of their previous pairing — Vaughan Marshall’s currently unbeaten filly, Ukuduma, being a testament to its promise.
Gr1 winner, The Secret Is Out, will be on the same float to Vercingetorix and Koster said: “The potent Vercingetorix cross over Captain Al has produced 26% stakes winners.” Also joining the Vercingetorix fan club will be Gr1 winner Return Flight, by Pomodoro.
Thunder Dance’s 2019 daughter, She’s A Rainbow, will be going to Drakenstein’s One World (Captain Al) and Koster said: “This mating will make the resultant foal inbred to former Broodmare Of The Year, Off To War.”
High-flying Varsfontein Stud, through astute planning from breeder Carl de Vos and his team, have several generations of top-class
mares still active in their barn. Among them is Princess Peach (Captain Al), who will be making her second trip to Maine Chance to meet Vercingetorix. Her first visit produced Double Grand Slam, who became Vercingetorix’s first dual Gr1 winner last season.
Princess Peach’s Gr1 winning half-sister Sentbydestiny (Master Of My Fate), will lift her tail to champion freshman Erik The Red, who sired Zalatoris, the winner of last Sunday’s Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
Also in the queue to Erik The Red is the 18-yearold dame, Justthewayyouare (Fort Wood), the dam of Triple Crown winner Malmoos and current leading filly, Mascherina.
Varsfontein’s multiple Gr1 winner, Bela-Bela, will visit Vercingetorix for the first time this season. She has already produced a Gr2 winner from three previous matings with the farm’s own champion sire, Gimmethegreenlight.
Marina - To be covered by Gimmethegreenlight | Credit: Race Coast
Following the success of HWB Durban July hero, The Real Prince, his dam, Real Princess, will be returning to Gimmethegreenlight.
‘Gimme’ will also be of service to My Soul Mate, who won last season’s Gr3 Caradoc Gold Cup and was retired after a good run at HWB Greyville last Sunday.
My Soul Mate’s dam is Secret Obsession, by Captain Al, and she is still alive and well with Salvator Mundi and Bunker Hunt being others on her list of stakes winners. Secret Obsession will be paying a visit to another Varsfontein resident, Master Of My Fate, third on the National log last season for his fifth successive Top 5 finish.
Also booked for Master Of My Fate is Victorian Secret (Captain Al), a well-performed member of the illustrious Spring Lilac family. Her best so
far is Tony Peter’s Listed-winning filly, Golden Sickle (Vercingetorix), a close second to William Robertson in the Gr1 Computaform Sprint. Varsfontein’s other stallions, second-crop sire Sandringham Summit (Gimmethegreenlight) and freshman Green With Envy (Gimmethegreenlight), will enjoy good support. Sandringham Summit’s mares include Star Express (Silvano), the dam of exported Gr2 winner, Bless My Stars.
Interestingly Townsend (Captain Al), who produced both Sandringham Summit and another sire, Eden Roc, will be sent to Green With Envy, the 2024 Gr1 Cape Derby and Daily News winner. He’ll also be covering broodmare royalty in Congestion Charge, the dam of Yulong Prince (Surcharge). “We’re giving Green With Envy the best chances we can, to kickstart
Sparkling Water - to Fire Away | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
his career,” said De Vos. In Kimberley, Nigel Page is in charge at Mauritzfontein Stud. He reported some lively interest in the farm’s latest resident, Cousin Casey, the former Equus Champion and son of Vercingetorix.
Digital Age and Danon Platina have a number of quality mares booked, and the stalwart Ideal World is still active and covering. “He’s been a very good bread-and-butter stallion and still presents good value,” said Page.
Among the confirmed matings are five mares booked to Gimmethegreenlight – former topclass galloper Marina (Silvano), the recently retired Sharapova (Querari), Call To Glory (Kingman), a daughter of Cape Met winner Smart Call, Graded winner Maybe Yes (Tiger Ridge) and Laurel Cherry (Ideal World), who enjoyed a good last season with runners Otto Luyken and Radio Star.
Wilgerbosdrift has a contingent of mares who’ll be joining the Mauritzfontein group going to Gimmethegreenlight. They include champion racer Desert Miracle (Dynasty), star mare Espumanti (Dansili), and her daughter, newcomer Champagne Cocktail (Silvano). Another daughter of Espumanti is 2022 HWB Durban July winner Sparkling Water, who will be foaling down to Rafeef before visiting the farm’s resident, Fire Away. The son of War Front will also reveal his charms to Welwitschia (Oasis Dream), the dam of Desert Miracle.
Wilgerbosdrift’s Champion broodmare Halfway To Heaven (Jet Master), will be covered for the second time by Vercingetorix, accompanied by dual Oaks winner None Other (Flower Alley), recently retired.
Halfway to Heaven, the dam of Rainbow Bridge, Hawwaam, Golden Ducat and Celestial City, has had one previous foal by Vercingetorix.
“Halfway To Heaven’s Vercingetorix colt has just turned three and is in training with Andre Nel,” said stud manager, Shane van Zyl.
At Hemel ‘N’ Aarde, David Hepburn Brown has multiple mares going to One World, Master Of My Fate, Green With Envy, Charles Dickens, What A Winter, Real Gone Kid, Jet Dark, Malmoos and Buffalo Bill Cody.
Hemel ‘N’ Aarde, too, have a select band of mares on the list for Vercingetorix, including Gr1 Garden Province Stakes winners She’s A Keeper (Gimmethegreenlight), and Zarina (Master Of My Fate).
Champion Breeders, Drakenstein Stud, are still in the process of finalising matings and bookings for their eight prized stallions on the Franschoek Farm.
Kevin Sommerville of Drakenstein noted that their broodmare band will be boosted this season by several new arrivals including Gr1 winner Silver Sanctuary, Gold Poker Game, Fatal Gem, Trip To Maputo and Summer Lily.
In Gauteng, Nigel and Kat Riley have secured a few decent mares for their recent imported stallions Gustav Klimt (Galileo) and Morpheus (Oasis Dream).
Gustav Klimt’s first book include Gr2 winner Bold Fortune, Durban July runner-up Zirconeum and the well-performed Tulip Tree.
Morpheus (a half-brother to Frankel) will entertain the likes of Kinematic Countess and Count To Ten, both by Count Du Bois.
TO SHINE GELYKFONTEIN’S SEXTET
Long-time Bloodstock South Africa supporter, Gelykfontein Stud, will once again be bringing a smart string to this year’s August Two Year Old Sale.
Gelykfontein, which has been in the Van der Walt family since 1884, will be offering twoyear-olds by a pair of Gr1 winning and Gr1 siring stallions in the form of Elusive Fort and Visionaire respectively.
The Gr1 King’s Bishop Stakes winning Visionaire, Leading First and Second Season Sire of his year, has five two-year-olds on offer.
Zadanaire (Lot 1) is a half-sister to 2 winners and out of a half-sister to three graded stakes winners led by champion Almah. Rebel’s Vision (Lot 19) is a speedily bred colt, whose dam is a Rebel King half-sister to Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes runner up My Jelly Bean.
Other appealing Visionaire sired two-yearolds on offer include Magical Dreamer (Lot 71), a half-brother to Gr2 Debutante Stakes winner Ecstatic Green from the great Soho Secret family, and Maggies Vision (Lot 153), a filly whose granddam is dual Gr1 winning champion Lady Windermere.
Champion Elusive Fort, the sire of such stars as Kommetdieding and Siren’s Call, is the sire of Elusive Dragon (Lot 102), a filly out of a four- time winning daughter of Gimmethegreenlight.
The well-bred Elusive Dragon hails from the same family as the Elusive Fort sired Gr1 Vodacom Durban July/Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met winner Kommetdieding, making this filly a three-parts sister to that star performer.
This draft can be found in Block E at the TBA Complex in Germiston.
LOOKS A STANDOUT VERCINGETORIX COLT
Drakenstein Stud
enjoyed another wonderful season in 2024-2025. The increasingly successful farm was responsible for breeding 21 individual stakes winners in 2024-2025, with Drakenstein bred horses winning no fewer than 30 black type races in South Africa.
Among the stars to fly the flag for Drakenstein in 2024-2025 were multiple Gr1 winner Eight On Eighteen, as well as the likes of Sail The Seas, Little Suzie, One Fine Winter and star stayer King Pelles.
Drakenstein will be offering some exceptionally well bred two-year-olds at this year’s August Two Year Old Sale.
One lot which is bound to attract attention is Le Soleil (Lot 47), an exceptionally well-bred son of champion sire Vercingetorix. Le Soleil, a colt with a stallion’s pedigree, is out of dual Gr1 Majorca Stakes winner Clouds Unfold, herself a full-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Winter Cloud.
Another champion sire represented here is Gimmethegreenlight. The latter is the sire of Gimmeagamble (Lot 39), a colt out of Listed Irridescence Stakes winner Captain Gambler, and this colt is bred on the same cross as champions Proceed and Sandringham Summit among others.
Turn To The Law (Lot 193) is a Legislate full-sister to Gr3 Flamboyant Stakes winner Zimbaba, while Torrent Of Gold (Lot 117) is a Gold Standard three-parts brother to Mauritian champion, and Gr1 Cape Guineas runner up, White River.
Drakenstein’s successful resident sire Futura has some well-bred two-year-olds on offer. They include Future Call (Lot 113), a halfbrother to the very smart All Out For Six, and Snap Your Fingers (Lot 238). The latter, offered by Drakenstein as Agent, is a filly out of dual graded stakes winner Snapscan and is from the same family as the recently retired champion Cousin Casey.
This draft can be found in Blocks A, B and D at the TBA Complex in Germiston.
CLIFTON’S HIGH-CLASS
AUGUST DRAFT
Clifton Stud, breeders of such stars as Classic Flag and Mrs Geriatrix, continue to come up with top-class racehorses.
Among the current flagbearers for Clifton are recent Gr3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial hero Madison Valley, Gr1 Gold Medallion runner up Charming Cheetah, and Gr3 Dennis Drier Poinsettia Stakes queen Mai Sensation.
Peter Blyth will be offering another quality draft at this year’s August Two Year Old Sale, with Clifton Stud set to offer the progeny
of such sires as Act Of War, Canford Cliffs, Chimichuri Run, Declarationofpeace, Erik The Red, Fire Away and What A Winter, among others.
One lot bound to attract attention is Sand Banks Beach (Lot 111), a Canford Cliffs halfbrother to the promising Victory In Orleans, and a son of Gr3 Acacia Handicap winner High Seas Beauty.
Declarationofpeace has made a promising start to his stud career, and the son of War Front has three lots in this string.
Clifton Boss – Peter Blyth brings a quality draft to sale | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Declarationofpeace’s trio includes Gutsy Girl (Lot 50), a daughter of Captain Al’s smart daughter Copiapo, and Better Never Ends (Lot 77). The latter is a half-brother to four winners including the smart Phaka Imali.
The wonderful producer Valdovino, dam of ten winners including the aforementioned Madison Valley as well as Hong Kong Gr3
winner Chefano, is represented here by the Last Winter filly Muscadel (Lot 268), while Duchess Of Windsor, whose numerous high-class relatives include the Clifton bred champion Mrs Geriatrix, is the dam of the What A Winter colt Winston’s Guard (Lot 68).
This draft can be found in Block E at the TBA Complex in Germiston.
DURBAN CONFERENCE A SUCCESS ARF HANDICAPPERS
The annual Asian Racing Federation Handicappers Conference was held in Durban this year and took place from 22 July to 25 July.
South Africa’s chief handicapper Lennon Maharaj said, “We met all the requirements and did what we were scheduled to do, despite some members including Hong Kongbased chairman Nigel Gray, having to join via Zoom due to a typhoon preventing them from flying in.”
Nigel was thus unfortunately unable to address the media as was intended.
The handicappers attended the World Pool Gold Cup meeting.
Lennon said, “They were absolutely thrilled with our racing. We gave them a tour of how everything worked, from the stipes boardroom, parading, the saddling areas etc.”
The international chief handicappers witnessed what is commonly regarded as the best day of racing in South Africa for the purist.
The racing was of a high quality and the local handicappers should take a bow as the
The handicappers attended the World Pool Gold Cup meeting | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
form worked out exceptionally well and some of their decisions during the season were vindicated.
For example, the Candice Bass-Robinsontrained Rainbow Lorikeet proved she was worthy of a Hollywoodbets Durban July final field berth by winning the Bet With The World Gr2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m.
The handicappers were also proved right in not ever rating last year’s Equus Horse Of The Year Dave The King above 128 as he looked vulnerable to a field of classy closers in the WFA HKJC Gr1 Champions Cup over 1800m.
The big long-strider was always going to be made to run all the way to the line and so it proved. In one of the races of the season Gladatorian surged late to beat the Hollywoodbets Durban July winner The Real Prince while the other two classy closers, See It Again and Fire Attack, also overtook Dave The King before the line.
The conference brings together the Chief Handicappers from ARF member countries— Australia, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates—to assess and agree on ratings for the top-performing thoroughbred racehorses across the southern hemisphere racing season.
The ARF Handicappers Conference was established in August 2009 following changes to the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, which have served as the official global assessment of elite racehorses since 2004.
Originally published twice a year, the Rankings shifted to a single annual edition in January 2009, prompting the ARF
to create its own conference to ensure southern hemisphere horses were fairly and consistently evaluated.
The ARF Handicappers Committee convenes to:
1. Agree on ratings for all horses trained or raced in ARF member countries that achieved an international rating of 112 or higher.
2. Evaluate horses that placed in the top four of Group/Grade 1 races, even if they did not meet the 112-rating threshold.
3. Provide data used by the Asian Pattern Committee and National Pattern Committees to assess race quality, determine grading adjustments, and consider new race inclusions.
At the 2024 Conference in Sydney, the committee reviewed and rated 373 horses and it would have been a similar figure last week, underscoring the scale and importance of this annual event.
The ARF Handicappers were present to a final rating assessment for South African horses that ran in the World Pool Gold Cup meeting. These evaluations completed the peer review process of South Africa’s final submissions, ensuring that all ratings are agreed upon for the Southern Hemisphere.
As part of the 2025 ARF Handicappers Conference, the South African Handicapper submitted a total of 37 performances by South African-trained horses that, in their view, achieved an international rating of 112 or higher during the 2024–25 South African racing season.
In addition, 62 performances by Grade 1 placed finishers that fell below the 112-rating
threshold were submitted for consideration. These submissions were reviewed and discussed by the ARF Handicappers
Committee to ensure consensus on the final international ratings.
3
It should be noted that the status of the above Pattern is dependent on the international ratings and not the domestic ratings.
The NHA were honoured to welcome the ARF Handicappers to South Africa and were pleased it was another productive conference and fulfilled the aim of elevating the standards of thoroughbred racing.
www.turftalk.co.za
Below is the Current SA Pattern Summary Table: Click on the logo for more news from the National
NO RACHEL
BUT IT SHOULD STILL BE A BIG ONE!
While our very own Rachel Venniker made such a big impact on the event last year but is not making the trip for Saturday’s clash, the 2025 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup will feature jockeys from 10 different countries as leading riders Katie Davis, Delphine Santiago and Joanna Mason complete the line up for the unique jockey competition which takes place at Ascot Racecourse.
For the first time this year, female riders will be integrated across the four teams with Katie Davis from the USA joining the Rest
of the World team, Delphine Santiago from France completing the Europe team and Joanna Mason taking the final spot in the Great Britain and Ireland team.
Davis, who starred in the hit Netflix series Race for the Crown, will be competing in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup for the first time alongside Hugh Bowman (Australia) and Karis Teetan (Mauritius) in the Rest of the World team. She was born in Idaho and grew up in Saratoga while she has ridden around the world, including in the International Jockeys Challenge in Saudi Arabia.
A proud Rachel Venniker on Holkham Bay in 2024 | Credit: Megan Coggin
Davis said, “I’m so excited to be riding in the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup this year. It was amazing to be invited and it should be a great buzz to ride on such a big day at Ascot, one of the most famous racecourses in the world.
“I think it’s great what they have done with the teams this year and I can’t wait to compete with Hugh and Karis in the Rest of the World team along with all the other jockeys from across the globe.”
Santiago will join Per-Anders Gråberg (Sweden) and Dario Di Tocco (Italy) in the Europe team while Mason will ride alongside Hollie Doyle and Robbie Dolan in the Great Britain & Ireland team.
With Suraj Narredu from India and Ryusei Sakai and Mirai Iwata from Japan making up the newly-formed Asia team, there will be jockeys from five continents on show.
Confirmed teams for the 2025 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup:
Asia
Suraj Narredu (C) (m) (IND)
Ryusei Sakai (m) (JPN)
Mirai Iwata (m) (JPN)
Rest of the world
Karis Teetan (C) (m) (MTN)
Hugh Bowman (m) (AUS)
Katie Davis (f) (USA)
Europe
Per-Anders Gråberg (C) (m) (SWE)
Dario Di Tocco (m) (ITA)
Delphine Santiago (f) (FRA)
Great Britain & Ireland
Hollie Doyle (C) (f) (GB)
Robbie Dolan (m) (IRE)
Joanna Mason (f) (GB)
27 LEAD MURPHY CLEAR WITH
The 2025 British Flat racing season has reached its half-way mark. As at the beginning of August, here is an update as to who are the leading contenders to be crowned champion jockey, trainer, and owner at the end of the season.
The Jockey’s Flat championship runs from the 2000 Guineas meeting at Newmarket in early May to British Champions Day on 18th October at Ascot.
Defending champ Oisin Murphy holds a clear lead of 27 over his closest rival Billy
Defending champ Oisin Murphy holds a clear lead | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Loughnane for the prestigious title. He is the fifth Irishman to have won the British title following in the footsteps of the legendary Pat Eddery, Kieron Fallon, Jamie Spencer, and Richard Hughes.
The Irishman seems to have more problems on road with a drunk driving offence in late April than on the racetrack. That ‘blip’ hasn’t deterred him with 79 wins coming at an above average 23% strike rate.
Teenager Billy Loughnane with 52 victories this season has been hard at work as preseason he landed the All Weather Jockey title. Not bad for a 19-year-old who has the ambition to go with his riding skills.
He seems to have been around for a while but it’s only two years since he won the Champion Apprentice Title as a fresh-faced 16-year-old.
Godolphin’s retained rider and champion jockey of 2022 and 2023 is close on his heels having just reached his half-century at a healthy 22% strike rate. The Norwegian is tied on third with the 25-year-old Irishman Rossa Ryan.
Buick landed the 2000 Guineas on Ruling Court before returning to Newmarket the following day to guide Desert Flower to victory in the 1000 Guineas.
Rossa Ryan is making his mark in Britain riding out for top Newmarket trainer Ralph Beckett.
The Trainers championship is based on Flat prizemoney totals that run from January to December of each year.
Irish champion Aidan O’Brien leads the trainers title with nearly £5,1m in stakes as
he attempts to defend his crown. That’s nearly £850K ahead of his nearest challenger Andrew Balding.
Considering he has 21 wins from only 81 runners in Britain is incredible. With victories in the Derby, Oaks, Eclipse, and numerous other features including at Royal Ascot his lead in the championship is understandable.
The Hampshire based Andrew Balding has had a great season in 2025 with 127 victories so far. He is a mere £55,000 ahead of third placed John and Thady Gosden who lead the Newmarket based trainers.
Charlie Appleby is in fourth position with just over £3.2m thanks in large part to Ombudsman’s facile success in Prince Of Wales Stakes at the royal meeting, and the Guineas double at Newmarket.
The Owners Championship is awarded to the owner who has won the most prizemoney on Britain’s turf and all-weather tracks throughout the season. The Flat Owners Championship begins at the QIPCO Guineas Festival in May and finishes on 16th October at Ascot.
Godolphin’s 60 wins from 195 runs have grossed £4,522,619 in stakes this season and they lead fellow stud farm powerhouse Juddmonte in second with £2,202,573 in stakes from 19 victories.
‘WORLD-CLASS RACING’ GLORIOUS GOODWOOD
Goodwood Racecourse has announced that attendance at the 2025 Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar is up 10 per cent across public enclosures compared to last year.
Final attendance figures will be available in due course.
James Crespi, Racecourse Director at Goodwood Racecourse, said: “The 2025 Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar has had it all – brilliant sunshine, torrential rain and, of course, world-class racing against the beautiful backdrop of the Sussex Downs.
“This year we have been delighted to welcome Visit Qatar as the new headline sponsor of the event. Racegoers were able to experience the very best of Qatari hospitality, courtesy of the Visit Qatar activation in the Richmond Enclosure which offered complimentary, bespoke mementos and traditional refreshments. We look forward to our continued partnership with Visit Qatar and working together to elevate the festival as a highlight of the British horseracing season.
“We saw an historic result in the Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes on Wednesday with Qirat’s 150-1 victory, when he became the biggestpriced winner of a British Group One.
Goodwood Racecourse – the curtain falls on another glorious festival | Credit: Goodwood Racecourse on FB
“Ladies’ Day on Thursday got off to a great start with the Markel Magnolia Cup which was won by Sophie Forsyth, an insurance underwriter for race sponsor Markel International. Crowds cheered the dedication and hard work of all 12 riders who have not only been training hard but also raising funds for The King’s Trust International’s Project Lehar.
“Come rain or shine, the fabulous fashion of our racegoers was wonderful to see, and we were delighted to welcome RIXO as the winners of the 2025 Goodwood Talent
in Fashion Award in association with the British Fashion Council. On the opening day of the festival, they showcased three designs, inspired by a visit to Goodwood House earlier in the year, which will now enter the Goodwood Collection. Our thanks to RIXO Co-founders Henrietta Rix and Orlagh McCloskey as in a Qatar Goodwood Festival first, the vintage-inspired design duo not only received the Talent in Fashion Award, but also created the colourful racing silks for the Markel Magnolia Cup.”
& COOLMORE DOMINATE! BALDING, MURPHY
Victory for Gladius in the final race of the Qatar Goodwood Festival presented by Visit Qatar in Saturday, the Coral Rewards Shaker Handicap, ensured that Andrew Balding claimed the top trainer title at the meeting for a second time.
The Kingsclere handler, who took the award in 2021, edged out Ralph Beckett on the number of placed horses after both sent out four winners throughout the week.
Oisin Murphy with Goodwood Racecourse’s Director James Crespi | Credit: Goodwood Racecourse
Balding’s victories included Stellar Sunrise in the British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden on Tuesday, Sir Albert in the Phase Eight Nursery on Thursday and Fox Legacy, who was one of the most impressive winners of the week when dominating Friday’s Regent Seven Seas Cruises Bentinck Conditions Stakes.
A remarkable meeting for Beckett included victory with 150/1 chance Qirat in Wednesday’s highlight, the Gr1 Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes, and both his contenders in the Gr3 HKJC World Pool Oak Tree Stakes, Saqqara Sands and Tabiti, dead-heating for first place. Push The Limit also scored for the trainer in the Coral Pipped At The Post Winners Handicap.
Balding said: “I can’t complain. If you come to Glorious Goodwood and have four winners, it is a good week. See the Fire was a disappointment in the Nassau Stakes but, if the race had been 24 hours earlier before the rain came, she might have had more of a chance. Apart from that, it has all been positive.’’
Oisin Murphy claimed the top jockey award for a second successive year thanks to a superb week that yielded six winners, including the Balding-trained Stellar Sunrise, Sir Albert and Fox Legacy, and Dubai Treasure in Tuesday’s World Pool Bet With The Tote EBF Fillies’ Handicap.
In addition to Fox Legacy, Murphy rode the first two winners on Friday – Kyle Of Lochalsh in the Coral Goodwood Handicap and Seagulls Eleven in the Gr3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes.
Murphy said: “It has been a great week. I have had winners for a few different trainers, so thanks to them and all the lads behind
the scenes. Andrew Balding has won the top trainer award again, so fair play to him.
‘‘Unfortunately, I was suspended today so couldn’t ride Gladius. It is always competitive here. Ryan Moore, William Buick, Tom Marquand and Rossa Ryan all had a strong book of rides, so it was nice to get it done.”
Coolmore partnerships comprising Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier and Westerberg took the top owner award for a second successive year thanks to three victories during the meeting, all of whom were trained by Aidan O’Brien.
Highlights included a 1-2 in Tuesday’s Gr1 Al Shaqab Goodwood Cup as three-year-old Scandinavia came out on top over Illinois. Whirl powered home in attritional conditions to take the Gr1 Qatar Nassau Stakes on Wednesday by five lengths, while Isaac captured Saturday’s British Stallion Studs EBF Maiden.
MOUTONSHOEK SIRE GLORIOUS BOOST FOR
Top-class filly Whirl, whose dam is a fullsister to Moutonshoek’s resident sire The United States, made it back-to-back Gr1 wins when she won the Gr1 Qatar Nassau Stakes at Goodwood last Thursday.
A three-year-old daughter of Wootton Bassett, Whirl powered through gruelling conditions at Glorious Goodwood to land the Group 1 Nassau Stakes for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore.
The race was subject to a ten-minute delay and began under a flag start rather than from the stalls due to safety concerns as torrential rain lashed Goodwood and turned the ground heavy.
Despite the unconventional start, Whirl made all and stormed to a brilliant five-length victory in the mud leaving Cercene behind, while See The Fire, runner-up last year, came up short again.
The Oaks runner-up, Whirl was recording backto-back Group 1 wins following her success in the Pretty Polly Stakes on her most recent start.
Whirl, whose dam Salsa is a full-sister to a trio of Gr1 winners including The United States, has won five of nine starts, with four of her victories coming in group races.
Her close relative, Moutonshoek stallion The United States, whose progeny include recent Gr1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Premiers Champion Stakes runner up Tin Pan Alley as well as Gr1 Gold Medallion third Intensity, has eight lots on offer at the August Two Year Old Sale.
His draft includes a filly (Lot 76) out of Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap winner Enchanted Kingdom, and a full-brother (Lot 164) to the classy Khaya’s Hope.
Whirl storms home in the rain | Credit: Goodwood Racecourse
THE EQUATOR BREAKS ICE OASIS ROLLS WITH IT
The now twenty-five-year-old Oasis Dream has once again come to the fore in recent weeks.
The champion son of Green Desert made his mark at the recent Glorious Goodwood meeting, and also continues to make his presence felt in South Africa.
Oasis Dream filly Saqqara Sands became her sire’s second winner of the race when she dead-heated for first place in last Wednesday’s Gr3 HKJC World Pool Oak Tree Stakes.
The evergreen Oasis Dream also ranks as the broodmare sire of last Tuesday’s Gr2 HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes winner Witness Stand (Expert Eye). The latter was produced by the Oasis Dream mare Respondez.
Oasis Dream is also the sire of Gr2 Gimcrack Stakes winner Showcasing, whose son Qirat caused a 150-1 upset to win last Wednesday’s Gr1 Visit Qatar Sussex Stakes.
Showcasing, who has sired 74 stakes winners in total, also ranks as the dam of The Equator (Galileo), an eye catching winner at Turffontein on Saturday.
The Equator with SA champion jockey Gavin Lerena at Turffontein on Saturday | Credit: JC Photos
The import is out of Showcasing’s top-class daughter Quiet Reflection, winner of both the 2016 Gr1 Commonwealth Cup and 2016 Gr1 Haydock Sprint Cup.
Quiet Reflection is also the dam of The Equator’s brilliant three-parts sister Lake Victoria (Frankel), winner of four Gr1 races including this year’s Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas.
Another Showcasing mare Showdanse is the dam of last week’s Gr3 HKJC World Pool Molecomb Stakes runner up Argentine Tango (Mattmu).
Oasis Dream, whose third dam Sorbus is the fourth dam of South African champion stayer elect King Pelles (Duke Of Marmalade), also continues to make his presence felt locally through his son Querari.
The latter, already the sire of 45 stakes winners, had a good season in 2024-2025, where Querari’s flagbearers included graded stakes winners as Cosmic Speed (Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes), I Am Giant (Gr3 Post Merchants), and Rainbow Lorikeet. The latter picked up three graded races last season, headed by the Gr2 Bet With The World Gold Bracelet.
Morpheus – a true blue athlete | Credit: Racing Post - Kevin Simmonet - Heversham Park
Querari is also the sire of classy gelding Choisaanada, who made history when he pulled off a clean sweep of the Highveld Winter Series.
Choisaanada is the first horse to win all three legs of the series, following up wins in the Betway Secretariat Stakes and 4Racing Egoli Mile with a triumph in the Gr3 4Racing Sea Cottage Stakes.
Out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Musaanada, Choisaanada is bred on the same cross as 2024 Gr3 World Pool Gold Cup winner Master Redoute.
Querari, whose 2023 Listed Betway Spring Spree Stakes winning son Quantum Theory
won at Turffontein on Saturday, will be joined this year in South Africa by another son of Oasis Dream in the form of Morpheus.
The latter, whose full-sister Joyeuse produced the Gr2 winning two-year-old Array (No Nay Never), and is granddam of 2025 Gr1 Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas) runner up Jonquil, is a half-brother to legendary racehorse, and outstanding sire, Frankel (Galileo).
While Oasis Dream has sired 140 stakes winners, and is broodmare sire of a further 117 black type winners, he looks set to continue to make his presence felt in topclass races.
STARS WILL ALIGN AT
QIPCO BRITISH CHAMPIONS DAY
The stars look set to align once again on QIPCO British Champions Day as five of the world’s top-ten rated horses are entered across the five Group 1 races in the shape of Calandagan, Field Of Gold, Delacroix, Ombudsman and Jan Brueghel.
QIPCO British Champions Day takes place this year at Ascot on Saturday 18th October where a record £4.35m will be on offer in prize money across the seven-race card which includes five top-level races for the first time.
The feature £1.3m QIPCO Champion Stakes routinely attracts many of the world’s best ten-furlong horses and that looks set to be the case again this year with Calandagan, Delacroix, Ombudsman, Los Angeles and last year’s winner Anmaat among the 38 entries.
Recent King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Calandagan was second in the race last year and could bid to go one better while his trainer Francis-Henri Graffard has also entered the 2024 King George winner Goliath and the unbeaten Daryz who looks a fascinating possible contender.
The 2,000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes winner Field Of Gold is among 38 entries for the £1.1m Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (sponsored by QIPCO) alongside Ascot specialist and Queen Anne Stakes winner Docklands, Lockinge winner Lead Artist, Sussex Stakes winner Qirat and Sunday’s Prix Rothschild winner Fallen Angel. French challenger Facteur Cheval has been second in the race for the last two years running and is entered again for Jerome Reynier.
Run at Group 1 level for the first time, the QIPCO British Champions Long Distance Cup has increased prize money of £500,000 this year and attracted 29 entries including Gold Cup hero Trawlerman who won this race in 2023 for John & Thady Gosden. The Clarehaven team also have former Gold Cup hero Courage Mon Ami among the initial entries as well as Sweet William and French Master. Recent Goodwood Cup onetwo Scandinavia and Illinois as well as Jan Brueghel are all possibles for Aidan O’Brien who won the race last year with Kyprios.
QIPCO British Champions Sprint Stakes entries total 53, the highest number for the race for 11 years. They are headed by French star Lazzat who won the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes
at Royal Ascot this summer. There are five entries from France in total with Beauvatier, Daylight, Topgear and Woodshauna engaged.
The three other Group 1 sprint winners from Britain so far this summer, American Affair, Time For Sandals and No Half Measures, are also entered as well as impressive recent Lennox Stakes winner Witness Stand for Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole.
Last year’s winner Kind Of Blue is also entered for James Fanshawe who has won the race three times including with half-brothers Deacon Blues and The Tin Man in 2011 and 2016.
Defending champion Kalpana heads 41 entries in the QIPCO British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes although her main autumn target looks set to be the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Aidan O’Brien, who won the race with Hydrangea and Magical in 2017 and 2018, has entered the dual Oaks winner Minnie Hauk as well as recent Nassau Stakes winner Whirl. Fellow three-year-old Aeolian is a fascinating entry for William Haggas, owned by Their Majesties The King & Queen. She won a Newmarket novice at the start of August and is a half-sister to Royal Ascot winner Desert Hero.
Burke, Eustace And Insole Look Ahead To QIPCO British Champions Day
Jamie Insole, joint-trainer of Witness Stand, said: “He’ll probably head over to Longchamp for the Foret and then this race would give him two weeks after so there’s the potential he could turn up to both of them. We might go to the Hungerford next weekend and then set him up for these two races at the end of the year. I think he’ll enjoy the slower ground and the stiff six at Ascot on slower ground could work out really well for him.
“It would be a massive achievement from everyone at the yard who all work really hard to have a runner on Champions Day. Hopefully it’s the first of many. This is where we want to be and the aim is to find horses to get us there every year.”
Harry Eustace, trainer of Docklands and Time For Sandals, said: “His Ascot record is there
prize money. It’s a fantastic way to finish the season and it is a privilege to be part of it.
“Fallen Angel has come out of her latest race in perfect condition. There’s a good chance we head to Champions Day for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. She’ll have a trip to the Matron first, then to Newmarket for the Sun Chariot and then we could take on the big
“Champions Day has become a fantastic way to finish off the season. Docklands ran in the Balmoral a couple of years ago, and that’s been our only runner we’ve had there, so to go back with one or two chances is exciting.
for all to see, so the obvious plan was always to work back from Champions Day. He ran at Goodwood the other day and then we’ll probably go to France, before giving him a freshen up and going back to Ascot.
“Time For Sandals won over six at Ascot, so it makes sense to give her an entry. How she runs next time out will determine if she goes, she’s had quite a long season, because we prepped her up like she might be a Guineas filly, so she’s not a definite just yet. However, if she wins her next start, it will be really hard not to go there. Having one horse going there is a proud moment but having two would be extremely exciting.”
Karl Burke, trainer of Fallen Angel, Al Qareem and Royal Champion said: “We’ve been very lucky at Champions Day the last few years. We’ve had a few runners and most of them have ran really well and picked up some huge
guns if she continues in good form. We’d fancy our chances if the ground came up on the slow side.
“Al Qareem likes the cut in the ground, and he likes Ascot. We are hoping that will be his finale for the end of the season in the Long Distance Cup.
“Royal Champion was really impressive the last day and he is now rated 120 which is the highest rated horse I’ve ever trained. Hopefully he can live up to that, he wouldn’t want the ground too slow but if he remains in good form, we’ll head to Ascot for the Champion Stakes.”
www.racenews.co.uk
END OF AN ERA THURLES RACECOURSE
Thurles Racecourse, Ireland’s only privately-owned racecourse, has closed with immediate effect.
On Friday 1 August, Riona Molony officially announced the family’s decision to retire from racing at the Tipperary track.
An iconic venue steeped in history and tradition, Thurles Racecourse has long been a cornerstone of National Hunt Racing in Ireland.
The first ever recorded race-meeting at Thurles took place in 1732 and it has been in the hands of the Molony family since the early 1900’s.
Riona’s late husband Pierce took over from his father Doctor Paddy Molony in 1974, and together with their family they have worked hard at the business for the last 50 years.
As the Molony family prepare to embark on their next chapter, Riona expressed sincere gratitude for the support of their “extended racecourse family”; the staff, sponsors, racing community, local businesses, and the many racegoers who have contributed to the rich legacy of Thurles Racecourse.
Riona commented: “It has been an honour and a privilege for our family to have run Thurles Racecourse, and I am officially announcing our retirement today. We are
Flashback – Christmas 2024 at Thurles Racecourse | Credit: Thurles Racecourse
very proud of the immense contribution our family has made to racing and we are most grateful to our extended racecourse family, our dedicated staff, generous sponsors, loyal patrons and the wider racing community for all your support. Horse-racing is part of the fabric of our family, and we have been very fortunate to have made so many great friends within the industry over the years. My family and I look forward to going racing with you again, as spectators.”
She continued: “Since my beloved husband Pierce passed away in 2015, with the help of our four daughters Patricia, Helen, Ann Marie and Kate and our wonderful staff, we’ve managed to keep the show on the road, and
I know he would be very proud of us for that. The girls all have their own families, careers and lives to live. Ever increasing industry demands and the cost of doing business has also been a major factor.”
Although, Thurles Racecourse is fully licenced to race until December 31st and has 11 prominent fixtures in the 2025/26 racing calendar, the Molony Family will not race again.
Riona commented, “We’re going to enjoy this time together and relax now the decision is made and the news is out before we consider our options.”
COKE POSITIVE VOGT SLAPPED WITH 6 MONTH BAN
Groundbreaking rider Sibylle Vogt has been banned for six months by France Galop stewards after testing positive for metabolites of cocaine at Compiegne in March, although she mounted a similar defence to that which gained partial success in other high-profile cases.
The Racing Post reports that the Swiss-born Vogt is based in Germany with Peter Schiergen and became the first woman to win a major European Classic on Novemba in the 2021 German 1,000 Guineas.
Vogt already had an international profile thanks to her victory in the Saudi Cup jockeys challenge the previous February and has won ten Group races in Germany.
Vogt accepted the adverse sample findings but pleaded for a more lenient sentence than the standard six months for a first offence, arguing that she had not taken or knowingly come into contact with cocaine, but believed she had suffered contamination through a sexual partner.
Having voluntarily stood herself down from riding since the end of May, Vogt told a hearing
Sibylle Vogt | Credit: Ippodromo Capannelle
in Paris that she had returned negative samples in both February and April, and that she had no need of using prohibited substances for her weight, though she admitted she had used the drug ten years ago.
She pointed to past cases involving sportspeople who had been shown leniency when presenting evidence that a partner had been the one to consume the drug and said that her then-boyfriend recalled having done so prior to the positive test, something she had been unaware of at the time.
Cross-examined as to why she had not commissioned testing on her own hair samples – as Oisin Murphy did after testing positive in France in July 2020 – Vogt said that she had failed to realise that had been an option because she had been “in shock” at the adverse finding.
She added that the relationship was now over and that she would be “extremely careful” not to expose herself to prohibited substances in the future.
Murphy accepted a ban of three months after a partner provided evidence that they had been the source of the contamination, but the stewards in this case chose to impose the regular sanction of six months on Vogt, backdated to her last ride on May 25, meaning she will be eligible to return to the saddle on November 25 this year.
In their summary the three-person panel pointed to Vogt’s admission that she had taken the drug ten years ago – at which stage she had already begun her riding career, that she had admitted to a lack of judgement in her private life and that she had therefore been at fault in risking contamination.
www.racingpost.com
OF NEW SEASON FIRST NHA CALENDAR
The Sporting Post presents this week’s National Horseracing Authority Calendar.
Please click the banner below to read more:
The calendar is a summary of the past week’s penalties and registrations and is an easyread snapshot of information.
Sun sets on World Pool Gold Cup day 2025 |
HONG KONG’S NEW SEASON STARTS 07 SEPTEMBER
The Hong Kong Jockey Club have released their fixtures list for the new season, which commences at Sha Tin on Sunday 7 September 2025.
The dazzling Longines Hong Kong International Races fixture will be held on 14 December.
South African trainer Brett Crawford commences his stint this season and we wish him well.
Please click here to see the fixtures.
Hong Kong’s new season kicks off on 7 September | Credit: HKJC
At the National Two-year-old Sale the average is up on the previous year, when 247 lots are sold for R2,9 million (average R11 000). Top price is the R160 000 paid for the Northern Guest colt, Northern Moonlight.
Jockeys take matters in their own hands when refusing to ride at Bloemfontein. Earlier, a local ‘board’ had by majority decision decided that the meeting be held despite heavy rainfall and a waterlogged track.
Two jockeys and the Chief Stipe, all three represented on the ‘board’, express the minority opinion that the course is unsafe for
racing, but are overruled. This galvanises the other jockeys into action and they collectively state that they should not be asked to expose themselves to ‘extreme physical danger’.
As a result, a special Jockey Club Board of Inquiry is convened to decide whether or not to charge the jockeys who refused to ride.
This Board comes to the conclusion not to charge the jockeys as ‘their action was reasonable under the circumstances’, and instead decides to investigate the general condition of the track at Bloemfontein which appears to be less than satisfactory!
