Issuu

NO QUESTION!

THE ROAD TO GLORY 24 DAYS…

Hollywoodbets Durban July

The plot unfolds

37 Pure Gold!

What a finish

46 Zeitz Zooms Into July Zone

Plattner grey catches the eye

50 Boardroom Blitz!

Tienie’s gal takes a quick step

91 Stripe’s A Star!

Son of One World runs a cracker

On the cover Questioning’s part owner Greg Bortz is caught in a moment of reflection after his son of Querari won a thrilling 2026 renewal of the R2 million Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge last Saturday.

Image courtesy of Candiese Lenferna.

Issue: 23/2026

Ormond and David Ferraris | Credit: Pauline Herman

The South African horseracing industry awoke to the sad news this morning of the passing at the age of 94, of Hall Of Fame trainer, Mr Ormond Ferraris.

He passed away peacefully at his retirement home in Plettenberg Bay after a short period of illness.He was surrounded by people he loved dearly – his sons David and Paul, grandson Luke, granddaughter Caroline and stepdaughters, Kim and Leigh.

In a media release published today, the family said that they are grateful for the outpouring of love, support and condolences during this difficult time and that though their hearts are heavy, they take comfort in the memories shared, the wonderful legacy he leaves behind and the many lives he touched.

The family kindly requested that, in lieu of flowers, cards or gifts, those wishing to honour his memory and his love and devotion to horses, consider making a donation to the Highveld Horse Care Unit on www.horsecare.org.za

On leaving school in 1949 Ormond Ferraris joined trainer George Weale as a work rider and was promoted to Assistant Trainer in 1950, interestingly becoming the first person in SA racing history to hold that title.

In 1954, he was granted his trainer’s licence and saddled his first winner, Shenandoah, at Gosforth Park on 14 August of that year.

Ormond Ferraris saddled no fewer than 10 Oaks winners, including Pretty Border, a filly he considered the best horse he’d ever trained, St Just and Lambarina.

He also prepared eight Derby winners, including the outstanding Distinctly, Newmarket Triple Crown winner Fine Regent, and The Monk, and won the 2013 Triple Tiara with Cherry On The Top.

Beyond his success on the track, his greatest legacy is his role as a mentor. He played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of champion trainers David Ferraris, Mike de Kock, and Michael Clements, as well as leading trainers Weiho Marwing, Weichong Marwing and Sharon Kotzen.

He held dear the Trainers Benevolent Fund, which he founded in 1970 and personally managed to 2022

Ormond with his late wife Maureen, Weichong Marwing and Michael Clements, 1989

Mr Ferraris trained approximately 2600 winners before retiring in May 2019, after an illustrious career spanning 69 years.

After a brief period of rest and reflection, and the launch of his autobiography, ‘Thoroughly: Seven decades in the sport of Kings and Crooks’, he returned to Turffontein in 2022 to assist his former stable jockey, Weichong Marwing, who had embarked on his own training career.

Their roles had reversed in an intriguing twist to a partnership that began in 1989. Working from the same barn where they once teamed

up to win hundreds of races, the mentor sat on the other side of the desk – while his former jockey was the trainer in charge.

Ormond Ferraris was a true gentleman in a tough industry and was widely respected as a no-nonsense man of undoubted integrity and enormous wisdom.

We extend our sincere condolences and sympathies at this sad time to the Ferraris.

The funeral will be private, and details regarding a memorial will be communicated in due course.

Ormond Ferraris’ autobiography

JULY - FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE!

Andrew Fortune is the last man standing from the Durban July jockey class of 1993. The Candyman rode the champion 3yo filly Vesta into fifth that year behind Tony Millard’s Dancing Duel.

On 4 July the former SA champion will bid to win the only iconic Grade 1 still outstanding on his professional bucket list when he partners another top sophomore in Legislate’s daughter Wish List, who would be the fifteenth fairer sex winner on the occasion of the 130th renewal of the R10 million Hollywoodbets Durban July.

It will also give the Capetonian – 60 next birthday, as he reminds us - the honour of being the oldest jockey to win Africa’s

greatest race in the modern era, a big one for Salusa 45 and Generation X!

Four trainers, a Stipendiary Steward, a 4Racing on-course presenter, two brand ambassadors, a racing manager, an internationally respected jockey coach, and an apprentice liaison officer, are amongst the second-phase occupations of an illustrious group of riders to have emerged from the 3 July 1993 renewal of the Durban July, won by Anton Marcus on the favourite Dancing Duel.

Andrew Fortune – thumbs up for the Hollywoodbets Durban July | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Andrew Fortune is the last, dare we respectfully say, relic, of that weighing-room in the year that Meat Loaf had the best-selling single with “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That)” and trainer Ricky Maingard, for whom Fortune rode a dazzling double last Saturday, saddled the 3-1 Space Walk under Jeff Lloyd to win the R600 000 Gr1 Gold Cup. Two lengths covered the first seven horses home as Space Walk beat 33/1 outsider Golden Peak by a nose, with Art de Vivre and 2/1 favourite White Tie Affair in third and fourth. Interestingly, Space Walk would win the July under Robbie Fradd in the boardroom the following season after Surfing Home was disqualified .

Andrew recalls that he rode the Reinels Hassowned Vesta, who won three Gr1’s, including the Cape Fillies Guineas, the SA Fillies Guineas and the Champion Stakes for the late Darryl Hodgson in the ’93 July.

“She was top-class, was Vesta. I recall I subsequently broke my leg and Glen Hatt stepped in to win the Champion Stakes on her five weeks later. I came back and won another race in the Cape before we were beaten into second in the Queen’s Plate by Piere (Strydom) on Take A Walk on New Year’s day 1994, in that iconic year for our beautiful country,” reflects Manne as he chats to the Sporting Post in a refreshing no-holds barred exchange about horses, racing, colleagues, life – and of course, the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

It was his social media post on Monday after the confirmation of his ride on the Snaith filly that grabbed the Sporting Post’s attention. ‘Wish List its u and me my baby - let’s show them the girl power - we done it all seasonlet’s go do it one more time’.

Former colleague and friend Kevin Shea, who won the Durban July on Ipi Tombe and Dancer’s Daughter, added: ‘Both my July winners were fillies China.....u got this one…’

Wish List, on whom the Candyman has won a Gr1 and two Gr2’s at her three most recent starts, is currently priced at 5-1 in the Hollywoodbets ante-post betting for the 2200m spectacular on 4 July.

Does she compare to Vesta, and can she win it?

“Definitely! She’s better than Vesta. She’s versatile – she can be placed anywhere. And she has a terrific turn of foot. Let’s be frank - it was not her fault that she appeared to make heavy weather of it when getting up to beat Minogue in the last stride in the Lucky Fish Woolavington. Her jockey – he’s one of the world’s best, a guy named Andrew Fortune- could probably have had her closer to the pedestrian pacemaker,” laughs the son of Elsies River, as he adds that it was never really a question that he was not going to take the ride.

“She’s a massive runner. Can you imagine, after all Wish List and I have been through together, that I was to ride another of the Snaith horses and some other jockey won the July on her. I don’t think I would live that down! This is the race that could absolutely crown my comeback after winning the WSB Cape Town Met on See It Again in January.”

While race conditions have evolved, it won’t be easy – in 2002 champion 3yo Ipi Tombe rewrote the record books as the first filly of her age to win since Migraine 45 years earlier in 1957.

“Ja, history and statistics are fine for both sides of any argument. Think about it. Justin Snaith has won the Durban July five times –his first winner was a filly eighteen years ago. He’s overdue – his last victory was six years ago. Wish List’s Dad Legislate won it in 2014. Our best, Andrew Fortune has never won it. Tick those boxes and make your choices,” he roars with a confident laugh.

Love him or hate him, Andrew Fortune has, since his highly publicized comeback in 2025, added a dimension of real life entertainment to horseracing that no amount of adspend could have achieved. His unfiltered charisma and raw confidence – which have landed him in hot water at times - have us on the edge of our seats for every panel discussion and postrace interview.

“I say it as I see it. Nothing is scripted and there has been great feedback on the weekly feature-day panel discussions. Everybody is relaxed and even Alistair Cohen is coming out of his shell. Joe Public is smart. I believe the

market wants information and entertainment. Horse and human stories, coupled with transparency is good for racing,” he muses as he adds that he is privileged to have been sponsored by leading owner Peter Moor’s Joita’s – a popular spot for racing’s rich and famous to enjoy Portuguese cuisine in Umhlanga Rocks.

“Things are happening. We will see you all at Joita’s on the evening of Wednesday 1 July! My family are happy and Ashley (Fortune) is in her element doing what she loves. She has opened for business in Barn 4 at Milnerton Training Centre. She has 12 horses and growing the yard. Lucky Fish have kindly stepped up to sponsor her and she tells me that she should have her first runners, weather and programme permitting, in about six weeks. I will be riding work up in Durban – it’s really a great time to be alive on the East Coast. Great weather, superb racing and entertainment galore. See you at the Hollywoodbets Durban July – it’s going to be a massive day!” concludes the top jock.

Wish List (Andrew Fortune) storms up the inside to nab Minogue (Muzi Yeni) in the Woolavington thriller | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

EXPERT EYE

ACCLAMATION

EXPERT EYE (GB) | 2015 | 16 hh

Try My Best

Waajib

Royal Applause

Flying Melody

Ahonoora

Princess Athena

Northern Dancer Sex Appeal

Coryana Sassafras Rosolini

Auction Ring Bold Bidder Hooplah

Whispering Star Sound Track

Peggy West

Lorenzaccio Klairon Phoenissa

Helen Nichols Martial Quaker Girl

Floribunda

Shopping Wise

Princely Gift Astrentia

Sea Melody Tudor Minstrel Cowes

Danzig

Danehill

Dansili

Hasili

EXEMPLIFY

Northern Dancer Pas De Nom

Razyana His Majesty Spring Adieu

Kahyasi Ile De Bourbon Kadissya

Kerali High Line Sookera

Mr Prospector Raise A Native Gold Digger

Quest To Peak

Distant View

Seven Springs Irish River La Trinite

Nureyev Northern Dancer Special

Viviana

ACCLAMATION’S GLOBAL CHAMPION ROMANTIC WARRIOR

ACCLAMATION

ACCLAMATION went on to prove himself a leading sprinter before becoming Champion First Season Sire. He subsequently achieved great success at stud and went on to sire G1 producing sons and daughters, which heaps enormous credit on this son of Royal Applause

Acclamation was bred to be precocious - his dam Princess Athena won the G3 Queen Mary Stakes (1000m), and his sire Royal Applause won the G1

Nijinsky Star Nijinsky II Chris Evert

Middle Park Stakes (1200m), G1 Haydock Sprint Cup (1200m), G2 Gimcrack Stakes (1200m) and G3 Coventry Stakes (1200m). Royal Applause is also the broodmare sire of multiple G1 winner Blue Point

Acclamation won the G2 Diadem Stakes and was placed in the G2 Temple Stakes, G2 King’s Stand Stakes (behind Choisir, beating Oasis Dream), and the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes (behind Oasis Dream)

Acclamation has sired some of the best sprinter/milers of recent timesRomantic Warrior (Triple Crown Champion - the World’s highest-earning racehorse - £28,028,453), Battaash, Harry Angel, Real World, Mecca’s Angel, Equiano, Marsha (sold for a record 6 million guineas as a filly in training), Harbour Watch, Aclaim, Dark Angel, Mehmas, etc. Acclamation has founded his own ‘sire-line’, and is the sire of current leading sires Mehmas, Harry Angel and Dark Angel (Champion Sire of GB & Ireland 2024).

DANSILI

DANSILI was Champion Sire in France in 2006 and has become a Champion Broodmare Sire producing group winners Minnie Hauk, Ombudsman, Bluestocking, Los Angeles, Cliffs Of Moher, Time Test, Snow Sky, Naval Crown, Expert Eye, Danon The Kid, Uni, etc. His successful sire sons include Bated Breath, Zoffany, Harbinger, etc. Dansili’s influence will be felt for many years to come through his sons and daughters.

FEMALE LINE

1st Dam

EXEMPLIFY (Dansili) - winner at 2. Dam of 7 winners incl: EXPERT EYE (Acclamation), won 5 races, £1,369,751 in GB and USA, Breeders’ Cup Mile G1, Vintage S G2, Jersey S G3, City of York S G3; 2nd Sussex S G1, Greenham S G3; 3rd Prix du Moulin G1, from 10 starts. TFR 124. Sire.

2nd Dam

QUEST TO PEAK (Distant View) - raced once. Dam of 7 winners: SPECIAL DUTY (Hennessy), Champion 2yo Filly in Europe Champion 2yo Filly in France & GB 4 wins 2 at 2 from 1100-1600m, £323,589, €434,240, Poule d’Essai des Pouliches G1, Cheveley Park S G1, The One Thousand Guineas G1, Prix Robert Papin G2; 2nd Prix Morny G1, Prix Yacowlef L; 3rd Prix Imprudence G3. Dam of: TASK FORCE (Frankel), 2 wins at 2 in 2023, Champion 2yo Trophy L ELEGANT VERSE (Galileo), 2 wins including Prix Dirickx L. Structure, dam of: Snow House (Twirling Candy), 2 wins; 3rd Dwyer S G3, Carle Place S L South Bank (Tapit), 2nd Prix Yacowlef L. Dam of: LAMBETH (Arrogate), 4 wins; Temperence Hill S L Blue Watch (Tapit), raced once. Dam of: Garamond (Uncle Mo) 2 wins; 3rd Gotham S G3. Presidency (Oasis Dream), Champion Male Sprinter in Spain 7 wins; 3rd Prix Servanne L; 4th Prix de Ris-Orangis G3. Sire. Ventoux (Galileo), winner at 2400m in France. Dam of: Colombier (Kingman), 4 wins 1400-2000m; 3rd Prix Daphnis G3 Distant (First Defence), winner. Dam of: Loughville (Mastercraftsman), 4 wins, 3rd Daisy Warwick S L; 4th Gillies S L, River Eden S L

Icespire (Frankel), 2 wins; Dam of: Arolla (Kingman) 2 wins, 2nd Queen of Scots Fllies’ S L

3rd Dam

VIVIANA (Nureyev) - 3 wins at 2000m, incl Prix des Tuileries L, Prix Mélisande L; 2nd Prix de Psyché G3. Sister to Willstar (dam of ETOILE MONTANTE, UNO DUO), three-quarter-sister to DANCE DREAMER, half-sister to REVASSER, HOMETOWN QUEEN (dam of BOWMAN’S BAND). Dam of 5 winners: SIGHTSEEK (Distant View), Joint second top filly on The 2003 International 4YO+ Classification 12 wins from 1200m to 1800m, $2,445,216, Beldame S G1 (twice), Ruffian H G1, Ogden Phipps H G1 (twice), Go For Wand H G1, Humana Distaff H G1, Rampart H G2, Top Flight H G2, Raven Run S G3; 2nd Santa Margarita H G1, Santa Monica H G1, Go for Wand H G1, La Canada S G2. Dam of:

Romanticism (War Front), unraced. Dam of:

IMAGINATIONTHELADY (Not This Time), 3 wins; Edgewood S G2, Jessamine S G2; 2nd Appalachian S G2, 4th Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf G1. TATES CREEK (Rahy), 11 wins from 1100m to 2000m, $1,471,674, Yellow Ribbon S G1, Gamely H G1, Diana H G2, Las Palmas H G2, San Gorgonio H G2, Noble Damsel H G3, Jenny Wiley S G3, Finlandia Cup H L; 2nd John C Mabee H G1, Just A Game H G3. Dam of: SPIRIT RIDGE (Nathaniel), 7 wins, Summer Cup G3, Premier’s Cup G3; 2nd Sky High S G3, Premier’s Cup G3, Tattersall’s Cup G3; 3rd Hobart Cup G3, Launceston Cup G3 Routine (Empire Maker), dam of: TIDE OF THE SEA (English Channel), 5 wins, $543,237, WL McKnight S G3, Japan Turf Cup L; 2nd Fort Marcy S G2, Mac Diarmida S G2, Grand Couturier S L; 3rd John’s Call S L Flourish (Distorted Humor), 2 wins at 1700m, 1900m. Dam of: FULSOME (Into Mischief), 8 wins, $1,244,553, Matt Winn S G3, Smarty Jones S G3, Governor’s S G3, Oaklawn Mile S G3; 2nd Fayette S G2; 3rd Clark S G1, Indiana Derby G3

CUP

TURF MILE WINNER WITH 2YO BRILLIANCE - TIMEFORM 124 -

EXPERT EYE

(GB) 2015 by Acclamation - Exemplify (Dansili)

Sire of International Stakes Horses:

• WITNESS STAND - Lennox S G2, Dubai Duty Free Cup L; 2nd Hungerford S G2, Horris Hill S G3, City Plate S L, etc.

• SNELLEN - Meld S G3, Royal Ascot Chesham S L; 2nd Royal Ascot Kensington Palace S; 3rd Mutamakina S G3; 4th REHRC His Royal Highness The Crown Prince’s Cup L, etc.

• ENTRANCEMENT - Prix Belle de Nuit G3, etc.

• JUNIPER BERRIES - Dick Poole S G3; 4th Royal Ascot Queen Mary S G2, Newbury St Hugh’s S L, etc.

• BESET - Champion Older Female in Ireland (Long) in 2025. Won Finale S L, Naas Devoy S L; 2nd Alleged S G3, Bluebell S L, etc.

• Nesthorn - 2nd Prix des Chenes G3, etc.

• Naina - 3rd Prix de Saint-Cyr L, etc.

• Lavender Hill Mob - 3rd Rose Bowl S L; 4th Cocked Hat S L, etc.

• Beautifulnavigator - 2nd Allen Black Cat LaCombe Memorial S L, etc.

• Violet Gibson - 3rd Honey Ryder S L, etc.

• Isabel Alexandra - 3rd Galway S L, etc.

• Rock Hunter - 2nd National S L, etc.

• Magic Basma - 2nd Cecil Frail S L, Flying Fillies’ S L; 3rd Wentworth S L, 4th Ellen Chaloner S L, Arran Scottish Sprint S L, etc.

“Expert Eye was naturally precocious, very well-balanced, well developed and mature. You would have to say that he was one of the best two-year-old that I have had. He was been pretty natural from the beginning. Before we ran him we knew that he was smart, as he had always shown speed and been very athletic”.

- Sir Michael Stoute

EXPERT EYE (GB) - RACE RECORD

AGE STARTS WINS PLACED EARNED 2yo: 3 2 - 117,463 3yo: 7 3 3 1,252,288 TOTAL 10 5 3 £1,369,751

TWO YEAR OLD

Joint 4th top rated 2yo colt in Europe in 2017.

Won Insurance Novice Stakes, Newbury, (1300m. beating Mutakatif and Barraquero).

Won Vintage Stakes G2, Goodwood, by 4,5 lengths (1400m. beating Zaman and Mildenberger).

THREE YEAR OLD

Won Breeders’ Cup Turf Mile G1, Churchill Downs (1600m beating Catapult and Analyze It).

Won Jersey Stakes G3, Royal Ascot, by 4,5 lengths (1400m beating Society Power and Could It Be Love).

Won Sky Bet City of York Stakes G3, York (1400m. beating Gordon Lord Byron and Arbalet).

2nd Qatar Sussex Stakes G1, Goodwood (1600m to Lightning Spear).

2nd Al Basti Equiworld Supporting Greatwood Greenham Stakes G3, Newbury (1400m to James Garfield).

3rd Prix du Moulin de Longchamp G1, Lonchamps (1600m to Recoletos).

Vintage Stakes G2, Goodwood.

Breeders’ Cup Turf Mile G1, Churchill Downs.

Jersey Stakes G3, Royal Ascot.

Sky Bet City of York Stakes G3, York.

EXPERT EYE (GB) - PROGENY

WITNESS STAND wins the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes (Group 2) over 1400m by 2,75 lengths.

The globe-trotting filly SNELLEN (left) - winning the BoyleSports Meld Stakes (Group 3) over 1800m.

Following a gamechanging few weeks of high-quality racing action, the highly anticipated second official big race log for the R10 million 2026 Hollywoodbets Gr1 Durban July has been published.

The Real Prince and Craig Zackey amid happy post-race celebrations after the Hollywoodbets Durban July 2025 – a new chapter will be written on 4 July | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

After an initial 63 entries were received for the 2200m contest on 20 April, the landscape has altered dramatically in the ensuing weeks, with some new names stepping into the big race picture.

The impact of nine scratchings, and with two supplementary entries in last weekend’s feature winners Zeitz and Aladdin’s Lamp, at the second declaration stage on Monday 8 June, sees a total of 29 thoroughbreds remain in the mix for the 4 July showdown of champions.

The Hollywoodbets Durban July log functions as the official ranking tool used to determine which horses are most likely to be selected for the prestigious race.

The log is compiled by a Race Coast hosted nationally representative dual-operator five-man panel, in consultation with the Handicappers, with the top 20 horses listed in order of preference, reflecting their likelihood of selection at the time of publication.

The balance of nine entries are shown below the top 20 in alpha order. Please note that a final field of 20 – including 2 reserve runners – will be announced on Tuesday 23 June.

It should be borne in mind that there are a number of key considerations for determining rankings, including official merit ratings, and in the spirit of transparency, the following should be noted:

• Where an entry has been selected by all panel members, that individual is on the log. In this instance, there were 16 entries which received 5/5 votes.

• Entries with a 4/5 vote are next.

• Where there are multiple 4/5 entries, but still in the top 18, then they are included.

• In this instance, there were 3 entries with 4/5 votes vying for the next 2 places in the 18-horse field.

Mocha Blend wins the 2025 Betway Summer Cup | Credit: JC Photos

• The next weighting is a Grade 1 win. Hazy Dazy qualifies and she receives the 17th slot.

• Then we have Grade 1 placed. Minogue filled the 18th slot.

• The next benchmark would be a Grade 2 win and Grade 2 placed.

• Then follows a Grade 3 victory – this brings Aladdin’s Lamp into 19 on the log.

• We then have entries that received 3/5 votes and, where necessary, the ranking is based on the individual’s best Graded performance.

• In this application of the criteria, where we had two entries with 3/5 votes, Regulation was placed in a Grade 2, which trumps Holding Thumbs victory in a Grade 3.

The top 4 are all Grade 1 winners, while Sophomores dominate the top two positions on the latest table, with James Crawford’s fast rising Star Major at pole position, after his recent victories in the World Sports Betting Gr2 Guineas, followed by a superb follow-up victory in the Gr1 Daily News 2000.

Justin Snaith has won the Durban July five times and last lifted the silverware in Africa’s greatest race with a member of the fairer sex

when Dancer’s Daughter dead-heated with superstar Pocket Power in the 2008 renewal.

The multiple SA champion conditioner finds his 2026 assault on the historic race spearheaded by the dual Grade 1 winner Wish List, who is at 2 on the log. It’s a proverbial fairytale in the making as Snaith trained her sire Legislate to win a dramatic 2014 Durban July, and her regular pilot Andrew Fortune is all set to become the oldest jockey to win the race in the modern era.

Summerveld trainer Frank Robinson’s 2025 Betway Gr1 Summer Cup queen Mocha Blend is in position 3, with Corne Spies star Hazy Dazy rounding off 75% of the top quartet for the ladies.

Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Greyville top-liner, the R400 000 Lucky Fish Gr3 Winter Stakes, formerly run as the Derby, takes on strategic importance on the road to the Hollywoodbets Durban July, with big-race entries Native Ruler, Shoot The Rapids, Holding Thumbs, Tenpenny and Enflame all out to reinforce their claims to a prized berth in Africa’s richest graded race in history.

Lucky Fish Gr3 Winter Stakes

The 2026 Hollywoodbets Durban July timeline :

• Final supplementary entries: 11h00 Monday 15 June

• Weights: Monday 15 June

• Final declarations: 11h00 Monday 22 June

• Final field & draws: Tuesday 23 June

• Public gallops: Thursday 25 June

General admission entrance tickets are on sale via Ticketpro: ( www.ticketpro.co.za ).

All the event and racing information is available on: www.hollywoodbetsdurbanjuly.co.za.

A POWER PACT

Varsfontein Stud’s Master Of My Fate certainly knows how to live up to his well-deserved nickname, ‘Mr Reliable’.

Master Of My Fate – ‘Mr Reliable’ | Credit: Jeremy Nelson

Ranking amongst the country’s most elite stallions, he keeps the winners coming and Varsfontein enjoyed yet another memorable weekend with the Jet Master son accounting for two of the farm’s trio of newly minted stakes winners.

Master Of My Fate-sired TAB Gr3 Jubilee Stakes winner Aladdin’s Lamp and Listed Devon Air Stakes victress Alice B Toklas, whilst his close relative Erik The Red was responsible for the juvenile Viking Leader, who caused a bit of a stir when he defied his 40-1 odds to capture the Ridgemont Listed Gatecrasher Stakes.

Adding to success of the weekend, Master Of My Fate’s three-year-old son Errol Flynn cruised to a facile victory in the Non BlackType Egoli Mile, with third place going to Erik The Red-sired King Harald.

Both stallions hail from a female line nurtured at Varsfontein over the past three decades, going back to the acquisition of the Bush Telegraph mare Secret Pact, a multiple Gr1placed Stakes winning own-sister to Horse of the Year London News.

Master Of My Fate is out of her Elliodor daughter Promisefrommyheart. A November foal, she was slow to mature and was destined for the 2yo Sale. Sadly, this remained a pipe-dream when she suffered what can now be regarded as a fortuitous setback.

Out of the Bush Telegraph mare Secret Pact, she joined the stable of Geoff Woodruff under whose guidance she became a champion on the track, winning the Gr1 SA Fillies Guineas, Gr1 Triple Tiara, the Gr2 Woolavington Stakes, Gr2 Thekwini Stakes and Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge in the Varsfontein silks. Sadly, fate again intervened when heart strain brought her racing career to a premature end.

A star of the tracks, she was immediately retired to stud and became a champion producer of seven foals before her death at age 14. All six of her runners were winners, the most successful of which Master Of My Fate. A multiple Gr2 winner whose career was cut short due to injury, the son of Jet Master returned to his birthplace where he has firmly established himself as a top five stallion.

This season, his haul of nine individual stakes winners includes Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas hero Jan van Goyen, Allied Steelrode-Onamission Gr2 Charity Mile winner Atticus Finch, the outstanding Alan Greeff-trained duo of Anotherdanceforme and Golden Palm, as well as the Listed King’s Cup winner Okavango.

A son of Captain Al, Erik The Red is out of Promisefrommyheart’s half-sister Covenant. The 3yo, formerly trained by Justin Snaith, carried the Varsfontein silks to victory in the Gr1 Majorca Stakes. He retired to stud a dual Gr2 winner and made a bright start to his second career as the leading freshman sire of 2024-25.

He continues to impress as a young upwardly mobile stallion, with Viking Leader being his fifth individual stakes winner from just two crops at the track. This season he has also sired Gr3 Cape Classic hero Vapour Trail and the filly Danish Dynamite, who recently landed the Listed Milkwood Stakes.

He continues to make an impact for the farm with his second crop of juveniles. In addition to Viking Leader, his sons Red Spice and Roskilde filled the first two places in the Gr2 Cape of Good Hope Nursery, while Griselda finished second in the Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery.

Viking Leader, a half-brother to Gr1 Cape Derby runner-up and Gr1 Daily News 2000 third Note To Self, has an intriguing pedigree. His sire and dam are closely related as he is out of Guiding Light, a grandaughter of Promisefrommyheart, which means he is inbred 3 x 4 to Secret Pact.

The cross of Erik The Red over a Master Of My Fate mare may yet provide a rich seam for breeders to mine in the future!

It would be remiss not to mention a third stallion from this exceptional female line amongst the stallion ranks - the Triple Crown winner Malmoos, who retired to Maine

Chance Farms in 2022. He too, a son of Captain Al, is out of Justthewayyouare, a stakes winning half-sister to Master Of My Fate.

The first crop of Malmoos hit the tracks this season and includes the unbeaten juvenile Marchland, who in her last two starts, racked up dominating victories in the East Cape Fillies Nursery and Lady’s Slipper Stakes.

It would seem that the Secret Pact clan is not just leaving a mushrooming legacy of talented performers, it is also an emerging stallionmaking family.

Erik The Red | Credit: Jeremy Nelson

THE RACE OF THE DECADE!

In a race for the ages, and one of the great Grade 1 contests of the last decade, the R2 million Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, a World Pool event run at the Theatre Of Champions on Saturday, produced a sensational finish with the lionhearted Querari gelding Questioning gaining the verdict by a hairbreadth to give Richard Fourie his fourth title in the prestige weight-for-age mile.

In something of a fairytale climax to the 55th renewal of a race won in its inaugural year by the champion Sentinel, there were only three non Grade 1 winners in the twelve strong lineup, and two of that trio made the race their own over the final 300m.

And it was former SA recordbreaking champion jockey Richard Fourie who got the verdict for veteran Vaughan Marshall over his younger colleague Tristan Godden, who did just about everything right on the gallant Snaith runner-up, Legal Counsel (10-1).

Questioning (18-10) clocked 97,04 secs for the mile and scored a well-deserved first Grade 1 victory, in a career where he has been a soldier, but has come into his own in 2026.

Ironically, Questioning was the one horse in the race that probably didn’t fully see out the mile – and in a further trivia twist in the tale, Fourie’s first Gold Challenge victory came in 2015 aboard the runner-up’s sire, Legislate.

Beyond Legal Counsel, who ran a cracking Hollywoodbets Durban July trial, there were five other big race entries in the race:

Gladatorian ran third and just over 2 lengths off the winner – he clearly is a different horse in his hometown.

The Real Prince finished 0,80 lengths off the third horse and ran on after being switched out – he seems more likely to go for the Champions Cup at the end of season.

See It Again put in a rare flat run, finishing 5,45 lengths back in a no-show following a nine week break after his Highveld Grade 1 victory.

Eight On Eighteen ran tenth and 10,55 lengths off and said to be in need of it. Like The Real Prince, the Champions Cup is his target according to the Snaith team.

Fire Attack was never in it and finished almost 16 lengths back. Not a great effort a month away from the big race.

A Foster family home-bred,

Questioning is a son of Maine Chance Farm’s Oasis Dream stallion Querari out of the twice winning Captain Al mare Wheredowego, who also raced for Vaughan Marshall.

The familiar Bortz family aquamarine and dark grey silks were worn to victory in this race by Undercover Agent, who was Lyle Hewitson’s career- first Grade 1 winner back in 2018.

Raced by a partnership of Greg and Gina Bortz, Mukund Gujadhur and the Wernars family, Questioning is a half-brother to the accomplished stakes-winning stayer Senso Unico, who also raced out of the top Milnerton yard.

The 5yo has won 11 of his 26 starts with 9 places for stakes of R3 863 089.

Trainer Vaughan Marshall hinted that the season was not over and that the R1 million Grade 1 Mercury Sprint could be next for Questioning. That is run over 1200m at the same course on 26 July.

Leading owner Laurence Wernars is enjoying a purple patch – here he welcomes Questioning and Richard Fourie | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

ON SHOW JULY ROYALTY

When Legal Counsel, a son of Legislate, put up a bold showing in last Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge, he stamped his claims in no uncertain terms for the forthcoming Hollywoodbets Durban July. Should the Snaith-trained gelding win the 4 July contest, he would emulate both his sire Legislate, and paternal grandsire Dynasty.

Legislate was awarded the 2014 July following original winner Wylie Hall’s disqualification from first place. Legislate’s paternal half-brother Futura finished third on that occasion, while Dynasty was a brilliant winner of the July in 2003.

Legislate is also likely to be represented in the Hollywoodbets Durban July by outstanding filly Wish List, while his son Regulation also holds an entry for the R10 000 000 showpiece. However, Legislate is not the only former July winner poised to be represented in the 2026 July. Pomodoro, who won the July in 2012 and whose son Selukwe ran third in last year’s big-race, is the sire of July hope La Pulga, who may need some luck to make the cut.

Legal Counsel, a half-brother to Listed Lady’s Slipper Stakes winner Luna Wish, is out of the twice winning Silvano mare Imperial Wish. The latter, a full-sister to Listed Oaks Trial winner Inaninstant and closely related to the Silvano-sired classy performers Arissa, Arabian Air and American Graffiti, is by arguably the sire who has had the most influence in the July this century.

Silvano is the sire of the July winners Bold Silvano, Heavy Metal, Power King, Marinaresco and Sparkling Water, while his son Vercingetorix sired Oriental Charm and Cousin Casey - the first two home in the 2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Silvano was also responsible for the first three finishers in the 2015 July where his sons Power King, Punta Arenas and Tellina ran 1-2-3.

Remarkably, Silvano is either paternal or maternal grandsire of 14 horses nominated for this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July!

The classy Legal Counsel, whose form prior to his Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge runner- up effort included a win in the Gr3 Cape Mile and a second place finish in the World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Town Met, hails from an outstanding female line.

His granddam Imperial Guest, a stakes placed full-sister to the dam of the outstanding Crimson Palace (Elliodor), produced ten winners, including Listed Storm Bird Stakes winner and Gr1 Gold Reef C F Medallion second, Sovereign Circle.

Legal Counsel is directly descended in female line from the legendary Woodbine, whose numerous high-class descendants include such classic winners as Ayrshire, Perth, and Mrs Butterwick, while top-class sires St Serf, Sweep, and Greatorex, are other famed descendants of Woodbine.

Legal Counsel, who is bred on the same Legislate/Silvano cross as star filly, and July hope, Wish List, is a scion of the remarkable Sadler’s Wells male line. This line dominated the Epsom classic races last week. Sadler’s Wells’ legendary grandson Frankel sired Friday’s impressive Betfred Gr1 Oaks winner Thundering On, who is inbred to Frankel’s sire Galileo, while Sadler’s Wells’ son Galileo is broodmare sire of both the Oaks runner-up and third place finishers. Saturday’s Betfred Gr1 Derby was dominated by another Sadler’s Wells grandson in the form of Camelot. The latter is sire of the Derby winner Christmas Day, and broodmare sire of Betfred Derby runner-up Maltese Cross (Sea The Stars).

Silvano sons Power King (Stuart Randolph), Punta Arenas and Tellina ran 1-2-3 in the 2015 Durban July Credit: Supplied

24 DAYS TO GO

After the second Hollywoodbets Durban July log was published on Tuesday, the class of ’26 is slowly taking shape as we enter day 24 in the big-race countdown.

Gavin Lerena rides Minogue | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

The latest jockey engagement is reigning SA Champion Gavin Lerena who will ride the Dawson sisters’ Minogue on 4 July. Gavin won the July in 2021 on Kommetdieding and will be one of only a handful of riders to have won the iconic race previously.

Other jockeys confirmed are Callan Murray (Legal Counsel), Tristan Godden (Mocha Blend), Keagan de Melo (Native Ruler), Richard Fourie (Note To Self), JP van der Merwe (Regulation), Kabelo Matsunyane (The Ultimate King), Andrew Fortune (Wish List) and Serino Moodley (Zeitz).

Lucky Fish ambassadors Mike and Mathew de Kock announced on Tuesday that they have booked leading jockey Calvin Habib to ride five-year-old gelding Aladdin’s Lamp in the R10-million Hollywoodbets Gr1 Durban July on Saturday, 4 July.

The Murugasa family’s Aladdin’s Lamp was supplemented for South Africa’s flagship race following his victory in Sunday’s Grade 3 TAB Jubilee Stakes over 1800m at Turffontein. He also won last November’s Betway Summer Cup Consolation over 2000m in faster time

than headline feature winner Mocha Blend, and has improved since being fitted with blinkers.

Mathew de Kock said on Tuesday: “Our stable jockey Callan Murray had committed to riding one of Justin Snaith’s runners before we supplemented Aladdin’s Lamp, but we are happy to have secured Calvin as a replacement. That Calvin lives in Johannesburg is beneficial, because he will be able to ride Aladdin’s Lamp in his preparation gallops at Randjesfontein.”

SplashOut-sponsored Habib, who is fifth on the 2025/6 National Jockeys Log with 115 winners, said he was excited about the opportunity. “Aladdin’s Lamp was very impressive in the Jubilee. He has also proven himself over further so we know that the 2200m of the July won’t be an issue.

“He’ll be coming in with a light weight which will make him competitive. I’m looking forward to sitting on him in work in the upcoming weeks as we prepare for the big day.

The 2026 Hollywoodbets Durban July timeline:

• Final supplementary entries: 11h00 Monday 15 June

• Weights: Monday 15 June

• Final declarations: 11h00 Monday 22 June

• Final field & draws: Tuesday 23 June

• Public gallops: Thursday 25 June

General admission entrance tickets are on sale via Ticketpro ( www.ticketpro.co.za ).

All the event and racing information is available on www.hollywoodbetsdurbanjuly.co.za

SON OF VERCINGETORIX

IN SMART FORM

Sabine Plattner’s Zeitz beat a quintet of Hollywoodbets Durban July entries to win the R300 000 Betgames Gr3 Cup Trial to wind up the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge feature programme at the Theatre Of Dreams on Saturday.

Serino Moodley has Zeitz in control as I Salute You (Craig Zackey, red/black) runs on well | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Starting at 3-1, the 2025 City Of Cape Town Gr3 Politician Stakes winner was always going well in midfield, before drifting to the outside of the centre of the track in the home run to go on strongly under Winning Formsponsored Serino Moodley.

The handsome grey has come into his own as a 4yo and was too strong for his field, clocking 110,73 secs for the 1800m, off a strong pace set by the tearaway Winter Games.

Craig Zackey produced I Salute You late and the son of Soqrat ran on best of the five Hollywoodbets Durban July entries for second, beaten 0,70 lengths.

Of the balance of the Hollywoodbets Durban July quintet:

• JP’s Palace ran on well for third, a neck behind the runner-up. He would probably have had to win this to make the cut for the big race.

• Field Marshal was only beaten 1,90 lengths into fifth but would need to have done more.

• La Pulga was beaten 3,10 lengths –another who may be better suited to the Consolation race on 4 July.

• Regulation battled to get in from his wide draw but entered the straight alongside Zeitz and failed to quicken. The Stipes report may tell us more.

A R625 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, the Maine Chance Farms-bred Zeitz was saddled by Byron Foster and is a son of Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the Aussie-bred Redoute’s Choice mare, Zappy Choice.

Now a winner of 5 races with 9 places from16 starts, Zeitz took his stakes bank to R912 076.

The carryover Pick 6 injection of R500 000 produced a nett pool of

R2 766 757. The exotic paid a dividend of R64 279 – that despite popular banker Quickstepgal winning. Michael Roberts’ Viking Leader was the only real upset.

IN THRILLING FINISH OBJECTION OVERRULED

Formerly run as the Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes, the R500 000 HKJC World Pool Stakes produced the second consecutive thrilling finish of the big afternoon at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday when the popular Quickstepgal had to survive an objection by the year older Mon Petite Cherie, who went down by a nose after a superb effort from a wide gate.

Quickstepgal (Keagan de Melo) and Mon Petit Cherie (Richard Fourie, white cap) in a nailbiting battle to the line | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Richard Fourie came out tops in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge but had to accept defeat in frustrating fashion after the 2025 WSB Gr2 Fillies Guineas winner Mon Petit Cherie, running fresh off an eighteenweek break, had come right around her field and threw out a serious challenge to the day’s exotic banker bet.

Inside the final 200m, Mon Petit Cherie (3-1) looked to have an edge, but Keagan de Melo – who earlier won the Amusnet Listed Devon Air Stakes – wasn’t giving up and the two went to the line as one, with some movement detected in the latter stages.

The Tienie Prinsloo-trained Quickstepgal (13-10) got the verdict by a nose in a time of 84,92 secs for the 1400m, with One Fine Winter (16-1) beaten 2,70 lengths back in third.

Richard Fourie lodged an objection on behalf of the runner-up on the grounds of interference in the latter stages. It was overruled and the result stood.

Raced by the Wernars Family and Harry Willson, Quickstepgal was bred by the Greenacres Trust and is out of the three-time winning Jet Master mare Victoriana. She is thus bred on the same Vercingetorix/Jet Master cross as top-class performers African Warrior, Padre Pio and Rascallion.

Originally a R450 000 KZN Yearling Sale graduate, Quickstepgal has won 6 races with 5 places from 12 starts and stakes of R1 751 544.

MASTER OF MY FATE FILLY STEPS UP IN STYLE

After Andrew Fortune had run riot with three winners in the first four races on the Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack on Gold Challenge day, Keagan de Melo produced the serious goods in the first feature of the day on the turf when the diminutive Varsfontein Stud-bred Master Of My Fate filly Alice B Toklas exploded through to claim victory in the R200 000 Amusnet Listed Devon Air Stakes.

“We will give the polytrack races to Andrew Fortune. He’s always saying he doesn’t ride enough winners there,” quipped De Melo after Randjesfontein-based trainer Sean Tarry showed his skills in the feature arena.

“I galloped Alice B Toklas last Thursday at Randjesfontein. Mr Tarry called me to ask which one I wanted to ride, and I chose her. There is not much of her, but she’s got a lot of heart,” added De Melo after he had produced the pocket rocket in the slipstream of pacesetting stablemate Perfect Sky.

Now a likely candidate for the Amusnet Gr2 Golden Slipper on Hollywoodbets Durban July day, Alice B Toklas (3-1) started tote favourite and got the verdict by 1,80 lengths in a time of 86,01 secs for the 1400m.

James Crawford’s recent maiden winner

Royal Tiara (8-1) showed nice progress to run on late for second, with the well-backed maiden Ferrari Flair (7-2) running a nice race, a further half-length back in third.

Raced by Dayalan Chinsammy, NHA Chairman Mark Currie, the Canada-based Gerald Frank & Vendel Civils (Pty) Ltd, the winner was bred by Varsfontein and is by Jet Master stallion Master Of My Fate of the Hussonet mare Alice Springs.

A winner of 2 races with 2 places from 4 starts for stakes of R309 400, Alice B Toklas is a R350 000 National Yearling Sale purchase.

Alice B Toklas (Keagan de Melo) leaves

ROBERTS SADDLES SHOCK WINNER!

Champion Cape nursery Varsfontein Stud produced a quick juvenile feature double on Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge Day when Erik The Red’s son Viking Leader caused a 40-1 upset when he ran on strongly under Rachel Venniker to win the R300 000 Ridgemont Listed Gatecrasher Stakes.

A half-brother to Hollywoodbets Durban July entry Note To Self, Viking Ruler was largely disrespected in feature company after his recent maiden victory but showed his ability when running on off a modest pace set by Erik Dubois, to win at 40-1.

Viking Leader ran on best of all from a forward position to clock 86,33 secs for the 1400m and beat the late-finishing Kazenoyoni (4-1) by 0,80 lengths, with debut winner Bachata (11-2) grabbing third ahead of his more fancied stablemate, World Series (9-4).

Showing the true merits of lady jockeys for the second week on the trot after Mickaelle

Michel’s big win on Star Major, the Jonsson Workwear-sponsored Rachel Venniker was over the moon.

“He’s a very tricky horse but he’s close to my heart and Mr Roberts and his team have done a great job!” enthused Rachel, who was also pleased for her German friends, who are part owners.

The winner is raced by Melanie Roberts –who was at the Epsom Derby on the day – James Te Riele and the Europe-based Schulzes.

A winner of 2 races with 2 places from his 4 starts, the winner is a Varsfontein Studbred son of Erik The Red (Captain Al) out of the Judpot mare Guiding Light and took his stakes earnings to R287 850.

The winner is a R275 000 National Yearling Sale graduate.

Rachel Venniker and Viking Leader take the lead | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

FORTUNE FIRES ON THE POLYTRACK

Although the going and penetrometer reading on the turf at Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Greyville racemeeting was the same as that of the Daily News fixture, it is worth noting that the false rail was out a further two metres, and, whereas we had a tailwind last week, we encountered a head-wind on Saturday.

Hence the considerable difference in course variant.

Five of the afternoon’s ten races were run on the polytrack. Three of those races were staged over 1400m and jockey Andrew Fortune found the winner’s enclosure in all of them.

The Pay@ Class 4 was the fastest of these and here the 3yo PRITTI UNITED (lost one length at start) won a tad more easily than the official three quarters of a length would suggest.

Sent off second favourite at 28/10, Ricky Maingard’s charge raced very unsettled in fourth early on.

He quickened well early in the straight and only having to be given one smack, he struck the front 100m out. The always handy Run Forest Run appeared to be running on strongly at the finish, but he was a little flattered as the United States colt was easing down below the distance.

Courtesy of Peter Muscutt, trainer Ricky Maingard took two runners to the meeting. Both were ridden by Andrew Fortune and both won.

Nine individual Gr1 winners went to post for Saturday’s top liner, the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge over 1600m , and after crossing the winning line that incredible statistic was increased to ten.

One for the purists, this weight-for-age event boasted winners of 86 races and the runners had an average merit rating of 126.

The Justin Snaith trained Legal Counsel made the running and taking everything into account the pace was a fair one.

The eventual winner QUESTIONING raced just three lengths away in fourth and getting a dream run in the straight, Vaughan Marshall’s charge took up the running 250m from home. Legal Counsel rallied gamely at that point, and with Justin Snaith and Greg Bortz watching together, the race developed into a real thriller.

Both gave their all in the closing stages of the race and by the shortest of short heads, the son of Querari got back up in the very last stride. Now a winner of five from seven this season, Questioning has won eleven races in total and has amassed stake earnings of over R3,86 million. Running on strongly from second last position in this race was Gladatorian who finished third.

This 6yo has a very powerful turn of foot and has shown on more than one occasion that he too has another big race in him. Could it be the Hollywoodbets Durban July?

The supporting act was the HKJC World Pool Gr2 Stakes (f&m) over 1400m and in what proved to be by far the quickest of the three 1400m races on turf, the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas winner QUICKSTEPGAL registered her sixth career victory from just twelve starts.

Run out of it after racing up with the pace in false-run races in recent outings, Tienie Prinsloo’s charge was ridden with a little more restraint here and was happy to sit third just two lengths off a fair pace, surprisingly set by Disting.

The well supported second favourite Mon Petite Cherie was the first to make a move and on striking the front 350m out she looked to have done everything right.

The daughter of Vercingetorix also quickened well at that point though and in another classic finish she got up by the shortest of short heads in the very last stride.

Quickstepgal was only beaten a neck by Wish List last time out and that one was completing a four-timer comprising of two Gr1’s and two Gr2’s.

Jockey Fourie the rider of Mon Petite Cherie objected on the grounds of interference in the straight, but this was overruled.

In different ways, the two listed events for juveniles over 1400m were false run races.

The Amusenet Devon Air Stakes was the faster of the pair and here we saw a smart performance from the more fancied of Sean Tarry’s two runners ALICE B TOKLAS.

On leaving the stalls it was her stable companion Perfect Sky who elected to set the pace and recording the fastest time of the five races on turf between the 1000m and 600m marks, she was easily five lengths clear. The well supported daughter of Master Of My Fate (5/1 into 3/1 favourite) meanwhile raced some six and a half lengths behind her in fifth.

Plenty held chances as the pack began to close in early in the straight and recording the fastest 400m to finish in the race, she won well by a length and three quarters after striking the front 150m from home. The runner-up Royal Tiara had raced at the back early on and ran on strongly late after having to be switched out around runners in the straight.

Track Conditions:

Going: Good (turf) – Standard (poly)

Penetrometer: 23 (turf)

Rain: Last 24 hours Nil – Last 7 days 2mm

Irrigation: Last 24 hours Nil – Last 7 days 15mm

False Rail: 8m

Wind: 5-15km/h North Easterly head wind

Course Variant: 1,05s slow (turf) – 0,33s fast (poly)

There was no real pace on in the early part of the Listed Ridgemont Gatecrasher Stakes over 1400m and as a result the race developed into a bit of a sprint.

The friendless winner VIKING LEADER (16/1 out to 40/1) raced just a length and a half off the pace in third and had to work hard halfway down the straight to see off the front-running Erik Dubois and the favourite World Series.

The always handy Kazenoyoni ran well to take second position in the latter stages, with the fastest finisher in the race, Bachata, running on best of all to fill third.

Fastest Times:

EXCITING SON OF GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT TO STAND IN CAPE

Dual Grade 1 winner Lucky Lad will retire to stud at Suzette and Basie Viljoen’s Hopes and Dreams Stud in Wellington in the Western Cape, where he will commence stallion duties at the start of the 2026 breeding season in September.

The 5yo Lucky Lad earned a Merit Rating of 125, and becomes the third son of three-time Champion Stallion Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) to join the stallion ranks, following Sandringham Summit and Green With Envy, both of whom were added to the roster at Varsfontein Stud in recent years.

US-based owner Anthony Beck of Gainesway Farm in Kentucky, will retain a share equal to that held by Suzette Viljoen’s Hopes and Dreams Stud.

Lucky Lad will be syndicated and managed by South Africa’s leading stallion manager, John Freeman.

“My old pal Antony Beck and our dear friend Suzette Viljoen asked us to syndicate and manage the Sean Tarry-trained dual Gr1 winner Lucky Lad’s stud career. I go back a very long way with the Beck family. We have had wonderful success over the years

including champion sires Jallad and Dynasty.I have also had wonderful experiences with Suzette and Basie. I only ever advised them to buy two yearlings: multiple Champion and Horse Of The Year Captain’s Ransom and multiple stakes winner Hoedspruit. So I am delighted to add Lucky Lad to our portfolio and to have him stand at Hopes And Dreams,” enthuses John.

He is in quarantine in Johannesburg now and will arrive in the Cape on the 16 June.

John adds that Lucky Lad is a well made 16.1hh horse.

“A big handsome fella with deep girth, great temperament and loads of quality. He is a typical Gimme, with superb hind leg, good short canons, good head and eye. He is deep and robust. A well-balanced good mover.”

You can test mares on G1 Goldmine – please click here .

• Enquiries regarding purchasing of a share or to book a mare - please give John a call: 082 777 8117.

Lucky Lad

RACE RECORD

7 wins, 1100-1200m, at 2 to 5, for earnings of R2.6m

Rated MR 125.

AR Affinity 111/107/-/-/-

At 2 WON Gr1 Gold Medallion (1200m)

At 3

WON Gr2 SA Nursery (1160m)

WON Gr3 Protea S. (1100m)

WON Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint (1200m)

WON Gr2 Senor Santa S. (1160m)

2nd Gr1 Mercury Sprint (1200m)

2nd Gr2 Hawaii S. (1400m)

At 4 3rd Gr1 Cape Flying Championship (1000m)

SIRE LINE

GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT – 6 wins, 1000-1600m, incl Gr1 Queen’s Plate (WFA, at 3), multiple Gr1 placed at 2 & 3 (1600-2000m); sire of Gr1 winners; sire of sires; multiple Champion Sire in SA.

Notable progeny incl Got The Greenlight (16c – Commands, Fusaichi Pegasus) – Gr1 at 2/3/4; sire; Surcharge (renamed Yulong Prince) (14c – Diktat, Shirley Heights) – Gr1 in SA/AUS; sire in Australia; Sandringham Summit (20c – Captain Al, Dominion Royale) – Gr1 at 2; sire; Gunner (13c – Captain Al, Elliodor) – Gr1 at 2; Lucky Lad (20c – Caesour, Free State) – Gr1 at 2/3; sire; Green With Envy (20c – Galileo, Shirley Heights) – Gr1; sire; The Real Prince (20c – Trippi, Fort Wood) – Gr1 at 3/4; Gimme A Prince (18c – Trippi, Fort Wood) - Gr1; Gimme A Nother (20f – Tiger Ridge, Windrush) – Gr1; Bless My Stars (10f – Silvano, Doowaley) – Gr1; She’s A Keeper (16f –Trippi, Fort Wood) Gr1; Proceed (21c – Captain Al, Fort Wood) – Gr1; sire; VJ’s Angel (21f – Oratorio, Jet Master) – Gr1; Barbaresco (20c – Fort Wood, Al Mufti); Barahin (15c – Silvano, Fort Wood); National Park (15c – Camden Park, Royal Prerogative); Second Base (17c –Fort Wood, Elliodor); Green Laser (16c –Parade Leader, Fort Wood); Hack Green (13c – Fort Wood, Bush Telegraph); Universal (18c – Jet Master, Badger Land); La Bella Mia (14f – Jet Master, National Assembly); Green Pepper (13f –Fort Wood, Model Man); Cosmic Highway (18c – Silvano, Elliodor); Rose In Bloom (14f – Goldkeeper, Jallad); Green Plains (14f – Jet Master, Sportsworld); Third Runway (16f – Black Minnaloushe, Nashwan); Youcanthurrylove (16c – Jallad, Elliodor); Gimme Six (13f – Mujadil, Persian Bold); Ecstatic Green (17f – Ashtontown, Mistral Dancer); Simona (13f – Western Winter, Elliodor); Cash Time (14c – Casey Tibbs, Tara’s Halls); Beataboutthebush (13f –Badger Land, Royal Prerogative); Outofthedarkness (18c – Fort Wood, Al Mufti); Eye Of The Prophet (19c – Fort Wood, Danehill); Shoemaker (19c – Mogok, Damascus Gate); Cala Muretta (20f – Fort Wood, Western Winter); Gimmeanotherchance (20c – Judpot, Proclaim); Kwinta’s Light (18f – Kahal, Northern Guest); Ciao Bella (19f – Dynasty, Royal Academy); Blue Holly (20f – Captain Al, Dynasty); Gimme A Shot (19f – Rakeen, All Fired Up); etc.

KIN-BREEDING: Gimmethegreenlight’s significant female line ancestors are Oriens (by Hyperion, and further back Part Worn, who has tight kin-links with Lalun & Dalmary, found in Fairy Bridge, dam of Sadler’s Wells) and closer up Victory Piper. The latter is kinbred 2x1 Red Briar x Sweet Victory, with Hyperion a significant line in both. Hyperion and Sadler’s Wells lead to Fort Wood, who is well represented in Gimmethegreenlight’s best runners. Red Briar is from the Red Ray branch of the Black Ray female line. Also from this female line is Blushing Groom, who provides links to Gimmethegreenlight, notably through Jallad who carries a host of other elements also present in Red Briar and Victory Piper. Rainbow Quest is another Blushing Groom son who kin-links to Gimmethegreenlight’s bottom female line.

Turn-To line sires in South Africa: Captain Of All, Erik The Red, Malmoos, One World, William Longsword (Captain Al); Danon Platina (Deep Impact); Gimmethegreenlight, Hit The Road (More Than Ready); Green With Envy, Lucky Lad, Sandringham Summit (Gimmethegreenlight); Canford Cliffs (Tagula)

Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) 2008

STUD CAREER

First season at stud in 2026

PEDIGREE

Lucky Lad’s immediate female line shows solid black type. A shortlist of the highest rated performers (see table) shows recurring influences, notably in combination with one another.

Al Mufti (Buckpasser x Lassie Dear) and sons Captain Al, Victory Moon, Cataloochee. Silvano and son Vercingetorix. Jet Master, whose damsire Rollins has strong links to Al Mufti’s pedigree. These lines provide opportunity to link back to Lucky Lad Affinities of Lucky Lad’s sire Gimmethegreenlight are the other half of the genetic equation.

Gimmethegreenlight’s significant female line ancestors are Oriens (by Hyperion, and further back Part Worn, who has tight kin-links with Lalun & Dalmary, found in Fairy Bridge, dam of Sadler’s Wells) and closer up Victory Piper. The latter is kinbred 2x1 Red Briar x Sweet Victory, with Hyperion a significant line in both. Hyperion and Sadler’s Wells lead to Fort Wood, who is well represented in Gimmethegreenlight’s best runners. Fort Wood shows in the table of Lucky Lad’s female line as grandsire of Jackson (Dynasty). Sadler’s Wells ancestress Dalmary is in Caesour (Nureyev) and Tara’s Halls (Fairy King).

SUITABLE LINES for Lucky Lad could include

-Al Mufti (Captain Al & sons, Victory Moon) and other descendants of Lassie Dear (widespread) and her influential sire Buckpasser (Danehill, National Assembly – widespread)

-Silvano (Vercingetorix)

-Jet Master (Master Of My Fate)

-Fort Wood (Dynasty & sons, Elusive Fort) and other descendants of Dalmary (widespread)

-and close combinations of the above (eg Silvano x Jet Master = Hawwaam; Captain Al x Fort Wood x female line of Victory Moon = William Longsword; etc),

Imperial

FEMALE LINE

Miss Lindeman - Marazion

1st dam

Imperial State (08f, Caesour): 2 wins, 1600-1800m; 2nd Gr3 Final Fling S., Ladies Mile (L); dam of:

LUCKY LAD (20c, Gimmethegreenlight): subject stallion FOLLOW ME (18f, Gimmethegreenlight): 4 wins, 10001600m, Gr3 Fillies Mile

King Harald (22c, Erik The Red): 3 wins, 1160-1600m Bellingham Bay (15c, Sail From Seattle): 3 wins, 1000m Empress Of Fate (19f, Master Of My Fate): 2 wins, 14502050m

Imperial Rage (16c, Judpot): won, 1950m

Imperial Duke (17c Duke Of Marmalade): won, 1600m

2nd dam

STATE TREASURE (87f, Free State): 4 wins, 1600-1900m, Gr1 Gosforth Fillies Guineas; 3rd Gr1 Paddock S.; dam of: STATE COACH (02f, Jet Master): 5 wins, 1000-2000m, Memorial Mile (L), Jockey Club S. (L); 2nd E-Cape Breeders S. (L); 3rd Lady’s Bracelet (L); dam of SILVANO’S JET (09c, Silvano): 3 wins, 1400-2400m, Gr2 KZN Derby; 2nd Gr1 Champion’s Cup, Winter Juvenile S. (l); 3rd Politician S. (L) Tally Ho (14f, Oratorio): won, 1400m; dam of VJ’S ANGEL (21f, Gimmethegreenlight): 5 wins, 1200-1600m, Gr1 Premier’s Champion S.; 2nd Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas; 2rd Gr2 Golden Slipper, Gr2 Gold Bracelet Jetano (12f, Silvano): 2 wins, 2000m; 3rd Winter Oaks (L) Diamond Rock (94f, Flaming Rock): won, 1400m; 3rd SA Oaks; dam of Kimberlite (02f, Kabool): 3 wins, 1200m; 2nd E_Cape Nursery; 3rd Gr1 Paddock S. Al Nibari (95f, Al Mufti): 3 wins, 1400-1600m; dam of LITTLE MISS MAGIC (03f, Jet Master): 2 wins, 12001600m, Gr1 Empress Club S.; dam of Miss Katalin (14f, Trippi): 3 wins, 1200-1400m; 2nd Gr3 Diana S.; 3rd Gr3 Prix du Cap, Gr3 Victress S., Irridescence S. (L) Without Malice (07f, Jet Master): 8 wins, 1450-1800m; 2nd Gr3 Fillies Mile, Gr3 Three Troika S., Gr3 Yellowwood Hcp Pure Class (02f, Jet Master): 4 wins, 1000-1400m; dam of BARATHEON (18c, Jackson): 4 wins, 1600-2400m, Woolavington S. (L); 2nd Woolavington S. (L) Harlan County (14c, Pathfork): 2 wins, 1400-1600m; 2nd Secretariat S. (L)

Tigress (06f, Jet Master): 3 wins, 1000-1800m; 2nd SA Oaks Trial (L)

Imperial State (08f, Caesour): 2 wins – see above Zeigler (00f, Elliodor): won, 1800m; dam of RED DISA (11f, Captain Al): 2 wins, 1200-1500m, Irridescence S. (L); 2nd Gr3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery

Tick Tock (06f, Captain Al): 5 wins, 1400-1800m; 2nd Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas; 3rd Ladies Mile (L); dam of SILVANO’S TIMER (17c, Silvano): 4 wins, 14001800m, Darley Arabian (L); 3rd Compendium Hcp (L)

WILLIAM THE SILENT (15c, Var): 3 wins, 10001160m, Gr2 SA Nursery; 2nd Golden Loom Hcp (L)

Winter Mosaic (18f, What A Winter): 2 wins, 10001200m; 2nd Gr3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery; 3rd Milkwood S. (L)

Buccellati (93f, Secret Prospector): won, 1600m; dam of Bandola (13f, Silvano): won, 1600m; dam of BAVARIAN BEAUTY (20f, Querari): 3 wins, 11601600m, Gr1 Douglas Whyte S.

MASTER OF MY FATE SON THROWS THE CURVE BALL

A traditional last chance saloon for Hollywoodbets Durban July hopefuls in bygone years, the R250 000 TAB Gr3 Jubilee Stakes at Turffontein on Sunday threw a curved ball into the mix for the 4 July spectacular when Aladdin’s Lamp scored a career peak success in impressive fashion to put his hand up.

The Lucky Fish-sponsored De Kock team confirmed that the son of Master Of My Fate would be supplemented for the Hollywoodbets Durban July, much to the delight of the passionate Muragasa family!

The winner of the Betway Summer Cup Consolation in faster time than headline feature winner Mocha Blend in November 2025, the 5yo Aladdin’s Lamp (28-10) was probably widely regarded as a stayer until Sunday.

But on Sunday, he benefitted from the firsttime blinkers and showed a lethal turn of foot under SplashOut jockey Callan Murray to put a half-length between himself and the fastfinishing Hollywoodbets Durban July entry Copper Eagle (5-1) to clock 111,04 secs for the standside 1800m.

Aladdin’s Lamp (Callan Murray, green cap) has been supplemented for the Hollywoodbets Durban July | Credit: JC Photos

Long-time pacemaker Pressonregardless (51) was a further 0,90 lengths back in third.

The winner could find a new lease on life over the shorter trips after he had clearly only placed in recent marathons by virtue of his class.

Beyond runner-up Copper Eagle, Aladdin’s Lamp beat five Hollywoodbets Durban July entries, including:

• Olivia’s Way caught the eye with a fastfinishing fifth, just 1,80 lengths off the winner.

• Aristotle ran seventh and 4 lengths off the winner.

• Atticus Finch , stablemate to Aristotle, ran a flat race, and finished 4,20 lengths off the winner.

• Wild Intent failed to show and was beaten 8,15 lengths.

• Buster Barnes was clearly still in need of it and finished 16,25 lengths off the winner.

Bred by Varsfontein Stud, who celebrated a feature double on Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge Day, 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, and then Brett Crawford, before transferring to the De Kocks, the winner took his tally to 7 wins with 9 places from 24 starts and stakes of R927 464.

Sean Tarry’s Hollywoodbets

Durban July entry Grand Empire contested a 1400m Pinnacle Stakes a half hour later. The son of Vercingetorix was never going like a winner and ran eighth and 5,10 lengths off surprise winner, Kisshoten.

JULY DOOR AJAR FOR

ALADDIN’S LAMP

There have been countless versions of the tale of Aladdin’s Lamp over the centuries, each centred on a magical lamp capable of granting its owner extraordinary fortune.

Whether the Murugasa family are in the process of writing their own version remains to be seen, but the genie certainly appears to be out of the bottle. Their remarkable run of success continued at Turffontein on Sunday when Aladdin’s Lamp produced a sparkling performance to win then TAB Gr3 Jubilee Stakes over 1800m.

Lucky Fish ambassadors Mike and Mathew de Kock will be supplementing Aladdin’s Lamp to the 2026 R10-million Hollywoodbets Gr1 Durban July in a somewhat unexpected opportunity to add another exciting chapter

to a story that is gathering momentum with every passing week.

Jayson and Preshalin Murugasa have had nine winners from their last 24 runners (10 from 25 if a partnership winner with Fierceness is added), and this hot streak of winners includes a Grade 1 victory with Haute Couture.

If Aladdin’s Lamp has indeed released a genie for the Murugasa family, they may need one more wish granted in the days ahead.

A solid performance from Aladdin’s Lamp under Callan Murray (green cap) | Credit: JC Photos

In previous years, victory in the Jubilee Handicap effectively served as a preferential ticket into the Hollywoodbets Durban July. That automatic pathway has since fallen away, however, leaving the final composition of the field in the hands of the selection panel, which will determine the 18 runners who ultimately earn their place in South Africa’s greatest horse race.

Judging by the weekend’s results, there are likely to be a number of changes to the current Top 18 before the final field is announced. Several contenders appear well below their best form and, on recent evidence, face an uphill battle to force their way into serious contention before the announcement of the line-up on 22 June.

As always, the build-up to the July promises plenty of debate, with strong opinions on

which horses deserve a coveted berth and which contenders should be left on the sidelines.

Meanwhile Cold Shine, a fluent winner at the Vaal recently, confirmed his progress on the Highveld with a follow-up win in a Handicap over 1160m at the Turffontein meeting, putting another Murugasa double on the board.

The gelding was backed up quickly to exploit a less competitive contest, and with the in-form Mickaelle Michel’s valuable 1.5kg allowance effectively neutralising his penalty, the move proved inspired.

It was a case of shrewd placement meeting opportunity, and the result was a plan come together!

THE LATEST REGULATOR’S ADMIN UNDER ONE ROOF

The Sporting Post presents the National Horseracing Authority calendar per 05 June 2026.

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

Please click on the image below:

SOMA’S SMART 3YO LOOKS PROGRESSIVE

Veteran Grade 1- winning trainer Joey Soma has enjoyed some very good horses over the years, dating all the way back to the likes of Special Preview, and when he says that 3yo Errol Flynn reminds him of many of them, it’s worth sitting up and taking notice!

That after the gelding cruised home to win the second leg of the 2026 TAB Highveld Winter Series, the R200 000 Egoli Mile, at Turffontein on Sunday.

Capping a great weekend for the Wernars family, who race the son of Master Of My Fate in partnership with Dayalan Chinsammy and Trevelen Pillay’s TKP Racing, the aptly named Errol Flynn showed swashbuckling quality and ability to match when he stormed home under Keagan de Melo at 33-20 to beat Got The Feeling (16-1) by 2,60 lengths

in a time of 96,43 secs for the 1600m on the standside track.

First leg winner King Harald (7-1) ran a gallant third a length back, with the 33-1 Gotta Go Eddie rounding off the quartet.

A son of Master Of My Fate (Jet Master), Errol Flynn was a R400 000 National Yearling Sale buy. He was bred by Sandra Michelle Ajax & Target Acquired of Paardeberg Stud and is out of the two-time winning What A Winter mare, What A Player.

A winner of 4 races and a place from six starts, the progressive Errol Flynn has earned R454 551.

The Highveld Winter Series concludes with the TAB Gr3 Sea Cottage Stakes to be run over 1800m on 5 July.

Errol Flynn cruises home under Keagan de Melo | Credit: JC Photos

UNNAMED HORIZON x

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THE STORIES BEHIND THE ROYAL RACES

Royal Ascot has long been home to some of the most prestigious races in the world.

Across five extraordinary days, the Royal Meeting showcases the very best equine talent on the global stage - but behind every Group 1 contest lies a story shaped by history, royalty and unforgettable performances.

Here is a closer look at the races that define Royal Ascot…

The Queen Anne Stakes:

Royal Ascot begins with a celebration of the monarch who established racing at Ascot in 1711. Founded in 1840, the Queen Anne Stakes has evolved into one of Europe’s leading tests for older milers.

Originally awarded a Group 3 status in 1971 before progressing to Group 2 in 1984, the race earned promotion to Group 1 level in 2003 following years of exceptional quality and elite performers.

Since becoming the opening race of the Royal Meeting in 2008, it has produced some unforgettable moments, including victories from Frankel and Baaeed.

The King Charles III Stakes:

Now recognised as one of the world’s premier sprint races, the King Charles III Stakes has undergone several transformations since its origins in 1837.

Originally run as the Stand Plate, the race evolved through various names and formats before becoming the King’s Stand Plate in 1901. In 2008 it was promoted to Group 1 status and has become synonymous with international success stories, including Lady Aurelia winning for America in 2017, and then Nature Strip in 2022 and Asfoora in 2024 for Australia.

The race was renamed the King Charles III Stakes in 2024.

The St James’s Palace Stakes:

Named after the Tudor royal residence, the St James’s Palace Stakes was first run in 1834, when Derby winner Plenipotentiary claimed victory in a walkover.

This race features the best male milers from the Classic generation, often attracting horses that have run in the British, French and Irish 2,000 Guineas. Elevated to Group 1 status in 1988, it has since crowned some of the sport’s most exceptional milers, including Frankel, Kingman and Palace Pier.

The Prince of Wales’s Stakes:

First staged in 1862 and named after the son of Queen Victoria (later to become King Edward VII), the Prince of Wales’s Stakes has become one of Royal Ascot’s headline middle-distance contests.

Originally run over a mile and five furlongs, the race was removed from the calendar between 1946 and 1968 before returning ahead of the Prince of Wales’s investiture in 1969.

Elevated to Group 1 status in 2000 and restricted to four-year-olds and upwards, the race is now worth £1 million in prize money and regularly attracts some of the world’s leading middle-distance performers, with recent winners including Auguste Rodin and Ombudsman.

The Gold Cup:

Few races in world racing carry the history and prestige of the Gold Cup. First run in 1807, it remains the oldest and one of the most celebrated contests at Royal Ascot.

Run over a demanding staying distance of two and a half miles, the race has become the ultimate test of stamina. Over the decades, legendary names have cemented their place in racing history through this race, from Sagaro and Stradivarius with three victories apiece, to the incomparable Yeats, whose four consecutive victories remain unmatched.

In 2013, Estimate delivered one of the most emotional moments in Royal Ascot history when becoming the first horse owned by a reigning monarch to win the race for Queen Elizabeth II.

The Commonwealth Cup:

One of Royal Ascot’s newest additions, the Commonwealth Cup was introduced in 2015 to strengthen opportunities for elite threeyear-old sprinters across Europe.

Despite its relatively short history, the race has quickly established itself as one of the highlights of the week, producing top-class winners such as Muhaarar, Advertise and Shaquille.

The Coronation Stakes:

First run in 1840 to commemorate the coronation of Queen Victoria, the Coronation Stakes has long been regarded as one of the premier races for three-year-old fillies.

Frequently attracting winners from the British, Irish and French 1,000 Guineas, as well as some of the top American fillies. It was promoted to Group 1 level in 1988 and has produced standout performances from horses such as Winter, Alpha Centauri and Tahiyra.

The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes

Royal Ascot’s final Group 1 race is also one of its most prestigious sprint contests. First run in 1868 as the Cork and Orrery Stakes, the race was renamed in 2002 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee and simultaneously elevated to Group 1 level.

In 2023 it was permanently renamed in memory of Queen Elizabeth II, as the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes.

Now worth £1 million in prize money, the race regularly attracts the world’s leading sprinters and has been won by stars including Black Caviar, Blue Point and Lazzat.

Together, these races form the beating heart of Royal Ascot. Some honour royalty, others celebrate sporting excellence, but all have helped shape the Royal Meeting into one of the most prestigious events in global racing.

We cannot wait to see who shapes Royal Ascot history this summer.

www.ascot.com

ASCOT HEADLINERS: CALANDAGAN & MASQUERADE BALL

The 76th running of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes looks set to be an international showpiece between the world’s best middle-distance horses with Calandagan and Masquerade Ball headlining entries as well as the Derby winner Christmas Day and the Oaks heroine Thundering On.

The race has long been the target for Japanese star Masquerade Ball who won the Group 1 Tenno Sho (Autumn) last year before finishing second by a head to Calandagan in the Japan Cup, which was the joint-best race in the world last year.

Masquerade Ball returned to action this year in Hong Kong, finishing second to Romantic Warrior in the QEII Cup, while Calandagan won the Dubai Sheema Classic before seemingly failing to perform on the ground at Epsom in the Coronation Cup.

The pair are now set to meet again at Ascot for a tantalising rematch on Saturday 25th July.

Takahisa Tezuka, trainer of Masquerade Ball, said: “We started discussing about an international campaign for Masquerade Ball after he won the Tenno Sho Autumn, when I got the impression that this horse could be competitive on the world stage. His owners, Shadai Race Horse, have been very keen to send him to the King George and we agreed it should be the target for Masquerade Ball.

“This race holds great significance for the owner, and we made our decision with that in mind. As a prestigious race for older horses in the UK, it provides an excellent opportunity and serves as a favourable alternative to competing in Japan during the hot season.

“This is the first time I will have a runner at Ascot, which is the Royal track, and I am very excited and am honored. The shipping, which takes 48 hours from door to door, will be a big challenge but I believe Masquerade Ball is a horse worthy of representing Japan. While we face a strong international field, we are looking forward to the challenge and hope we can deliver a performance that introduces Masquerade Ball to the racing fans here in the UK.”

Masquerade Ball looks set to be joined by fellow Japanese traveler Wurrtemberg, a fourtime winner in Japan. Oisin Murphy is booked to ride the six-year-old who produced a career best performance when going down by just a nose to Croix Du Nord in the Group 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) this May.

Hiroshi Miyamoto, trainer of Wurrtemberg, said: “I am very excited to have a runner in one of the most prestigious races in the country which is the origin of horse racing. After Wurrtemberg was narrowly beaten by Croix du Nord in the Tenno Sho Spring, we discussed the plan of sending Wurrtemberg to the UK.

“His owner, Mr Teruya Yoshida, has long admired this event, often describing it as a ‘dream race’. This inspired me to pursue the opportunity for our horse to compete in such an iconic race and European venue.

“Though we considered the Goodwood Cup, which is only a few days after the King George, two miles at a European track could

be too tough for a Japanese horse and so we have selected the King George as the race to run in. It is a prestigious and historic race and, ever since I sent Clincher to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in 2018, I have been looking forward to having another chance to have a runner in a major race in Europe.”

Entries from France include three for Francis-Henri Graffard who is bidding for a third-straight success in the race. The 2024 winner Goliath and 2025 winner Calandagan are joined at the initial entry stage by Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Daryz. Best Secret for Stephane Wattel and Caulificar for Andre Fabre complete the possible French contingent.

There are 37 early closing entries in total and the potential British and Irish challenge includes the first three home in the Derby in Christmas Day, Maltese Cross and James J Braddock. Aidan O’Brien, who has won the race four times, has entered 11 horses in total with Benvenuto Cellini, Constitution River, Jan Brueghel, Lambourn and Minnie Hauk among his possible runners.

The Oaks winner Thundering On is entered for Joseph O’Brien as well as the second, Legacy Link, for John & Thady Gosden who have also given their unbeaten colt Water To Wine the option. Last year’s second Kalpana, the Coronation Cup winner Bay City Roller and Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Almaqam look other obvious contenders at this stage.

The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes will be run for a record £2 million this year. In 2025, the race was won by the Longines World’s Best Racehorse, Calandagan, while the race itself was officially the fourth best race run anywhere in the world and the best mile and a half race in Europe.

LA MEXICANA GRABS SALES TOPPER

Exciting young mare La Mexicana – in foal to Too Darn Hot – on Wednesday became the most expensive horse sold on Inglis Digital this year, selling for an “incredible’’ A$920,000 in the June (Early) Online Sale.

Offered by Peter O’Brien Bloodstock on behalf of the Surace family, La Mexicana sold to a partnership between Blue Gum Farm and Suman Hedge Bloodstock.

It was an especially pleasing result for O’Brien, who used La Mexicana to launch his new venture Peter O’Brien Bloodstock, as he departs Segenhoe Stud later this month following its recent sale to Yulong.

“That is an outstanding result, incredible,’’ a delighted O’Brien said. “For me, the Surace family are very close friends and they wanted people to know I’m launching Peter O’Brien Bloodstock so they wanted to put La Mexicana through me as a springboard for my next chapter in life so I can’t thank them enough for the opportunity.

“The mare is a very special mare to me, her first three foals are all outstanding, with her current weanling the best she’s had, and being offered in foal to a champion stallion, it was a great package.

“This result once again shows how Inglis Digital has become a platform for every type of horse. For a top-level mare like her, a pregnant mare, to sell as well as she has, it really puts Inglis Digital up in lights that their platform can sell every type of bloodstock.’’

Hedge was equally thrilled to have secured the mare.

“As soon as we found out she was listed, we took a keen interest in her,’’ Hedge said from Oaklands, where he has been inspecting weanlings ahead of the Great Southern Weanling Sale which begins from 1pm tomorrow.

“We spoke to Peter O’Brien and he couldn’t have heaped more praise on the mare, he absolutely loved her and thought she had a great platform for the future.

“She’s obviously in foal to one of the more exciting young stallions coming through in Too Darn Hot so it all just made sense. It ticked a lot of commercial boxes for us.

“She was hard to value in the sense a lot of it is promise still coming with her, the exciting weanling filly and the pregnancy etc. We had to weigh that up versus being able to actually buy her and how aggressive we had to be but we were very keen to get her and are thrilled that we’ve been able to.’’

The day’s second-top lot was the broodmare Pacific Dragon from Tyreel Stud.

Offered in foal to Maurice, Pacific Dragon sold for A$255,000 to Guy Mulcaster Bloodstock, who confirmed the mare would visit Newgate Farm’s latest acquisition Wodeton this spring.

“She’s a nice, young Stakes-winning mare that I bought for a client to go to Wodeton,’’ Mulcaster said. “I had a lot to do with him and he was a

very, very talented horse that was unlucky not to win a Golden Slipper.

“I reckon he’s an absolute no brainer at his service fee.’’ Tyreel’s Linda Monds added: “It’s a great result. She’s a beautiful mare and while it’s a really good result for us, I think the purchaser has a great mare on their hands too so it really is a case of everyone’s a winner.

Another great result was the sale of the 3YO Defendant (Justify) who, offered on behalf of his owners, sold to Hong Kong-based entity Pure Bloodstock for A$200,000.

A Pure Bloodstock spokesperson said: “Defendant will travel up to Hong Kong in August and target the 4YO Series from early next year. I bought the horse for a client who is yet to decide on a trainer but he’s a horse we think profiles beautifully for Hong Kong.’’

Inglis Digital continues to prove a wonderful source for buyers to enjoy Hong Kong success.

There have been 25 individual winners this season in Hong Kong that could have been purchased off Inglis Digital including the likes of Salon S, Love Together, Pegas, Blue Illusion, Sing Dragon, Aurio etc.

Other significant results in today’s sale included Karavali (A$200,000), White Thyme (A$170,000), Coriolis (A$170,000), Junebug (A$115,000) etc, taking to 182 the number of A$100,000+ lots sold on Inglis Digital since 2025.

In total the June (Early) Sale grossed A$3,915,100.

OUR STRIPE’S A STAR!

South African star One Stripe made up lengths under Gavin Lerena in the home straight and was gallant in defeat, when beaten into third behind record-stetting back-to-back winner Deterministic, described as America’s best turf horse, in the $1 million Resorts World Casino Gr1 Manhattan Stakes run over 1900m at Saratoga Racecourse in New York early on Sunday morning.

Trained by Miguel Clement, Deterministic, under jockey Kendrick Carmouche, successfully defended his title in the Manhattan Stakes .

The five-year-old son of Liam’s Map extended his winning streak to five consecutive graded stakes victories with the performance, running the 1900m in 1:50.50, in the process shattering the course record of 1:51.40 set by Say the Word in 2020.

“He broke a touch slow, which I was very disappointed about,” Clement said. “So, we had to go to Plan B, which fortunately (jockey) Kendrick (Carmouche) rode him brilliantly, and Plan B still worked out anyway, because he’s top class.”

Clement was beaming with confidence heading into the race, and the 5-year-old Deterministic

backed him up by displaying true grit fashion every step of the way.

“He’s top class,” Clement said. “I’ve always thought he was the best turf horse in the country. He proved that today.”

Despite his slower-than-desired start, Deterministic sat just off the lead of Rhetorical through strong early fractions before coming around the far turn and showing he had plenty left in the tank to earn his ninth career victory.

In a whistle-stop visit from South Africa, Gavin Lerena had ridden a confident race, dropping the SAF-bred One Stripe off the rush early on and then produced the son of One World with a sustained run round the outside of his field on the final turn.

While not hesitating once in the dash to the wire, One Stripe made up lengths, and was beaten narrowly by Deterministic and his Herringswell Stables yard-mate, Test Score.

Lerena’s dream of winning a Grade 1 in the USA remains unfulfilled, a but nother encouraging aspect to come out of One Stripe’s effort is that he appeared to enjoy the 1900m, which gives trainer Graham Motion more options for the future.

HKJC LAUNCHES HOME OF FOOTBALL CAMPAIGN

Ken Wong, Executive Vice President of Lenovo and President of Lenovo’s Solutions & Services Group (right) presents the Club with a special-edition Lenovo football, joined by Lenovo’s AI-powered robot dog | Credit: HKJC

With

the

world’s largest football

festival set to kick off this week, The Hong Kong Jockey Club (the Club), on Tuesday, announced the launch of its Home of Football campaign.

Through this the Club aims to enhance sports entertainment and fan engagement across its flagship racing and entertainment touchpoints, including the hugely popular Happy Wednesday series at Happy Valley Racecourse – where sport, music, culture and social entertainment come together in a uniquely Hong Kong setting.

This is the latest initiative in the Club’s drive to broaden its reach as an international sports entertainment business, showcasing Hong Kong as a hub for global exchange, connectivity and tourism, with the ultimate aim of creating more value for the community.

The Club racecourses serve as platforms that showcase the vibrancy of Hong Kong –encouraging people to experience the magic when world-class sport meets top-class entertainment.

To further its vision, the Club has entered into a new strategic partnership with Lenovo,

Official Technology Partner of FIFA World Cup 2026™ – bringing together two globally recognised brands.

A key highlight of the collaboration is the “Racing with Football” series that included a special guest appearance by an iconic football legend at Happy Valley Racecourse on Wednsday.

Lenovo will also present the Lenovo Experience Booth, an immersive AI-powered football zone that showcases technologies associated with Lenovo’s role at FIFA World Cup 2026™. Hong Kong will be the only city outside the tournament’s host regions where fans can enjoy this experience.

Casper Stylsvig, the Club’s Executive Director, Sports Business, said horse racing has long been rooted in Hong Kong, and its success on the world stage has brought pride to the city and attracted fans and tourists from all over the globe. At the same time, Hong Kong shares the world’s passion for football, with major international tournaments igniting city-wide excitement.

By kicking off with “Racing with Football”, the partnership with Lenovo will bring fans of the two iconic sports together in a celebration of the city’s unique sporting culture. The partnership also reflects a growing global trend of leading sports organisations working closely with technology partners to enhance fan engagement and live entertainment experiences.

All initiatives are designed to contribute to Hong Kong’s tourist economy and reinforce its status as an international sports and entertainment hub.

Click here to get the full scoop…

Credit: Epsom Downs Racecourse

O’BRIEN JNR IS THUNDERING ON!

The Joseph O’Brien trained Thundering On came from last to land the Betfred Oaks in eye-catching fashion at Epsom last Friday.

Sent off at a well-backed 5/1 shot in the hands of Irish champion jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, the Frankel filly was positioned at the rear of the nine-horse field until halfway up the straight.

Aidan O’Brien saddled four runners and two of these, outsider Sugar Island and Lingfield Oaks Trial winner Cameo, ensured a good pace from the start.

On testing ground, officially described as good to soft, they led down the hill, around Tattenham corner and into the straight but both their efforts were short-lived as the chasing pack made up the leeway approaching the three-furlong mark.

Ballydoyle’s main hope, the Camelot filly Amelia Earhart came stand side and was ridden to make a race of it. She could not sustain her run and faded tamely but the Gosden trained, Musidora winner Legacy Link was switched out from behind Cameo and moved into an easy lead.

That was at the two-furlong pole and jockey Colin Keane would have felt he had the race at his mercy having travelled well from second last on entering the straight.

However, Thundering On who had tracked Legacy Link in was going even better.

Dylan Browne McMonagle sat motionless aboard the big chestnut filly as they moved effortlessly upsides Legacy Link with the balance floundering in behind.

Once McMonagle shook her up she stretched out impressively, winning easily by three and three-quarters from a gallant Legacy Link with pacemaker Sugar Island staying on, a further six lengths back in third.

It was the filly’s first attempt at a mile and a half and Joseph O’Brien admitted to having been unsure about whether she would stay the trip.

With those concerns now a thing of the past, the trainer has his eyes on the Irish Oaks at the Curragh on July 18, for which Thundering On is a best-priced 4/5 favourite.

O’Brien - who found the Oaks eluding him in his riding days - noted: “I suppose the main question mark was would she stay. We thought she was very talented, her dam (Thundering Nights) didn’t stay further than 10 furlongs but obviously she is a daughter of Frankel.”

“We were happy to ride her patiently and conserve as much energy on the climb as we could and then see what happened in the straight. She came alive in the straight and I mean she won very impressively.”

A delighted McMonagle, 23, said after his ice-cool ride gave him a first British Classic: “It was effortless from start to finish, she did everything we wanted. She sprinted away from them, she’s very, very talented.”

“When you are travelling that easy, I knew she’d burst away from them and she wasn’t stopping at the line, either - she’s all class. She’s improving every run and the sky’s the limit for her, she can go wherever she wants.”

With those words from her connections, she looks the one to follow throughout 2026.

UK PUNTERS OUTCRY

AFTER STIPES DECISION

Award-Winning Broadcaster, Nick Luck, who will be joining the Hollywoodbets Durban July Broadcasting Team at Hollywoodbets Greyville on 4 July, chatted to the BHA CEO Brant Dunshea after Epsom Derby favourite Benvenuto Cellini was controversially declared a post-race non-runner in their biggest betting race of the year.

The drama in the 247th Derby, a World Pool event, on Saturday was mainly in the aftermath.

Christmas Day, backed from 18-1 overnight to a starting price of 7-1, was settled in a close second after half a furlong, took over at the three-furlong pole and stayed on strongly to finish two-and-three-quarter lengths in front of Maltese Cross, with Benvenuto Cellini, the 3-1 favourite and a stablemate in the Aidan O’Brien

yard, one of the last in the 14-strong field to cross the line.

Ruling the favourite Benvenuto Cellini a non-runner in the Derby was labelled “an extraordinary act of self-sabotage” by one major bookmaker on Sunday, though the BHA has backed the decision taken by the stewards, including former NHA Chief Stipe, Shaun Parker.

Jockey Ronan Whelan

The Racing Post reports that the controversial judgement was made 20 minutes after the race as the Epsom stewards felt the favourite did not get a fair start.

That caused confusion in the betting market as post-declaration bets on the 3-1 market leader, who passed the post in tenth, were refunded and those on 7-1 winner Christmas Day were subject to a 25p in the pound Rule 4 deduction.

And it was a decision that prompted punters’ body the Horseracing Bettors Forum (HBF) to express concern about the precedent it now sets.

“This was a shocking decision, shockingly bad,” said Simon Clare, group director of consumer PR at Entain.

“The impact was huge. This is the biggest betting Flat race of the year, this was the best backed horse in the race, over a third of the stakes were placed on it. This was surprising, out of kilter with everything that’s gone before.”

Entain owns Coral and Ladbrokes, and Clare, speaking on Racing TV’s Luck On Sunday programme, said: “We decided to waive the Rule 4; that is costing Entain hundreds of thousands of pounds. Other bookmakers have decided to apply the Rule 4.

“You can see on social media the impact these sorts of decisions have on winning customers. They hate it, and the damage to the appeal of racing in a competitive sector is huge.

“We’re talking an impact of multi-million pounds reputationally and financially. And nobody expected it to happen; this is an extraordinary act of self-sabotage on one of the biggest days, and done in the name of the betting public, which is the most concerning thing. Actually, it was quite the opposite.”

Clare argued that punters would have seen the fact that Benvenuto Cellini got a slow start because a hindleg was caught on the gate as simple misfortune.

“We’re very lucky, we’ve got an incredibly established betting sector,” he said. “People know there’s a chance when there’s interference in the finish that there may be an overturned result. They understand the rules.

“But nobody who bets on racing would have looked at that incident in the stalls and thought anything other than that was bad luck, that’s horseracing.

“It needs to be reviewed immediately, and the future application needs to be reviewed as well. We’ll be looking to sit down with the BHA and we’d be expecting to be part of that discussion, given that we were the biggest victim along with racing’s customers.”

The HBF was “amazed” that Benvenuto Cellini was declared a non-runner, with chair Sean Trivass fearing it could open a can of worms.

Trivass said: “The majority view of the HBF is that we do not feel the horse was inconvenienced enough to be deemed a nonrunner, were amazed at the decision on the day by the on-course stewards and look forward to seeing if any further action is taken by the BHA shortly.

“We’re wary of where this may lead in the future, potentially opening a can of worms, with punters wondering if a horse who missed the break after rearing in the stalls will then be declared a non-runner.

“Will there be cameras on every starting stall in every race looking for the same issue? Will connections be asked for racing tactics in advance of every contest?

“Thankfully, some bookmakers have declined the Rule 4 deductions for those who backed the winner so they do not miss out, but perhaps the rules need tweaking to avoid any potential for abuse in the future.”

Trivass hopes the HBF will be involved in any potential changes and said: “We acknowledge the difficulty in framing rules to be fair and reasonable to all, and look forward to adding our input to any future changes that may now be deemed necessary by the BHA, although we need to add that the HBF did warn them of possible problems when last consulted.”

The change to the rules of racing was implemented from May 1, 2024, when the powers of the stewards were extended to include situations where a horse had been prevented from starting on equal terms and its chance in a race materially affected as a consequence.

Brant Dunshea, the BHA’s chief executive, said on Sunday “there’s no perfect situation” and that each case had to be handled on its merits.

Dunshea said: “The last thing anyone wants to see is the circumstances that unfolded yesterday, and there’s no perfect solution when you’re dealing with situations like this.

“This is not specifically about World Pool. This rule change came about as a consequence of the leading nations coming together and agreeing on the preferred method for dealing with horses whose chances are impeded at the start.”

Dunshea referenced that this was not the first example of the ruling being used in Britain, even if it was by far the most high-profile implementation.

On May 11, Cashbox was deemed a nonrunner in a mile handicap at Windsor. He was relatively unfancied at 18-1, with the stewards

ruling he had been prevented from starting on equal terms due to having his leg stuck on side boards as the gates opened. There was no Rule 4 on that occasion.

Dunshea added: “Each case has to be dealt with on its own circumstances. This case yesterday is not the first time the stewards have taken this action.

“What we have to do is protect the punter. We can’t protect everybody, but the principle that underlies having a bet on a race is that they must be entitled to a fair chance for their investment.”

In a post on X, the BHA said it accepted that “decisions taken by officials may prompt passionate debate and be subject to robust scrutiny”.

However, it was critical of “vile and unacceptable” abuse directed towards its officials, adding it was a growing problem on social media.

Ed – NHA rule

61.5.10.2 Subject to

RULE

61.5.10.3 states:

in the event of the actions of a handler preventing a HORSE from starting in a RACE and/or resulting in a HORSE being impeded and thereby losing a significant distance when the stalls are opened, and no false start is declared, such HORSE may be deemed by the SB not to have started and the SB may declare it to have been withdrawn, provided that a horse which is ultimately declared first, second, third or fourth in a race by the judge shall not be declared a non-runner.

61.5.10.3 Where a HORSE has been impeded and has lost distance as contemplated by RULE 61.5.10.2, such HORSE shall not be declared a non-runner if, in the sole discretion of the SB, such impediment and subsequent loss of distance was as a consequence of the HORSE’S own behaviour.

IN TITLE CHASE FOWNES FORGES AHEAD

Caspar Fownes’ push for the 2025/26 Hong Kong trainers’ title gained crucial momentum at Happy Valley on Wednesday when the four-time champion posted a double to forge to a three-win lead with 11 meetings left in the season.

Combining with Joao Moreira, Fownes struck with Family Fortune (133lb) in the Class 5 Mount Butler Handicap (1650m) and The Heir (135lb) in the third section of the Class 4 Wong Nai Chung Gap Handicap (1200m) to take his seasonal tally at the city circuit to 41, breaking his own record of 40 wins set in 2009/10.

Fownes’ brace propelled him to 60 wins overall for the campaign, three clear of Danny Shum (57) with Mark Newnham next on 56, Francis Lui (50), David Hayes (49) and John Size (47).

“A very exciting night and for me, I’m mostly proud that the horses have come out and

Caspar Fownes kicks off a double with Family Fortune | Credit: HKJC

done the job again,” Fownes said. “For me, it’s a personal-best to get 41 wins (in a season) here, that means a lot to me at my home track, so I’m gonna try and shatter that record this season – hoping for the best.

“It never gets boring (watching Moreira ride) –I’m very happy to have him riding for me and hopefully the fans are enjoying it.”

Champion trainer in 2006/07, 2008/09, 2013/14 and 2020/21, Fownes has accelerated his charge for a fifth crown with doubles across each of the past three meetings.

Shum maintained touch with Fownes after Without Compare (128lb) snared the Class 3 Violet Hill Handicap (1650m) for Jerry Chau, who now leads Vincent Ho by 11 wins – 42 to 31 – in the battle for the Tony Cruz Award for the leading homegrown jockey.

Newnham had briefly moved into second place overall in the trainers’ standings with Power Koepp’s (120lb) all-the-way victory in the Class 3 Shouson Hill Handicap (1200m) under Alexis Badel before Shum’s success in the evening’s finale.

Joao Moreira drives The Heir to his second win in two starts at Happy Valley | Credit: HKJC

Jumping from gate six, the tenacious sevenyear-old steamed to his fifth course and distance success to give Badel a double after the Frenchman earlier scored on Cody Mo’s Hong Kong International Sale graduate Forerunner (125lb) in the second section of the Class 4 Wong Nai Chung Gap Handicap (1200m).

Brenton Avdulla notched his 100th winner in the city when Size-trained Take Action (125lb) prevailed in the Class 4 Middle Gap Handicap (1650m). Substituting for Hugh Bowman, Avdulla brought the Sacred Falls gelding with a well-time run down the centre of the track to down Exceed The Limit (135lb).

“It’s a good result. If you asked me at the start of the season, I hoped it would have come a couple of months in. But to do it now, obviously on a pick-up ride for John Size, I think it’s pretty appropriate,” Avdulla said.

“I think John’s probably been one of the most loyal supporters I’ve had since I got here.

“He’s been a consistent horse all season, he deserved to win but to ride 100 winners in Hong Kong is a big thrill. It’s an achievement that I probably didn’t think would happen a few years ago when I came to Hong Kong. I thought that was just going to be an eight or nine-week season and then I’d go home, but to come back and ride here for three seasons and ride 100 winners, it’s a big thrill.”

Fresh from G3 Lion Rock Trophy Handicap (1600m) success last weekend with Light Years Charm, David Eustace slotted a double, triumphing with Majestic Delight (132lb) in the Class 5 Mount Nicholson Handicap (1200m) under James Orman and Silvery Breeze in the Class 2 Tai Tam Gap Handicap (1800m) for Zac Purton, who also scored on David Hall’s Brownneedsfurther (126lb) in the Class 4 Cricket Club Valley Stakes Handicap (1200m).

Brenton Avdulla brings up 100 wins with victory on Take Action | Credit: HKJC

OUTSTANDING YEARLING OPPORTUNITIES AWAIT

The final live Magic Millions auctions of the season, for yearlings and weanlings in Western Australia, will present buyers with great opportunities in less than a fortnight.

The Swan Valley Sales Complex comes alive on Sunday, 21 June with a wonderful line up of youngsters to go under the hammer comprising the Perth Winter Yearling and Weanling Sales.

Over the years the sales have a proud record of producing both future sale ring and racetrack stars, whether buyers are looking for a pin-hook success or racetrack glory.

The 2026 Perth Winter Yearling Sale features 59 lots all eligible to be paid up for the A$20M+ world leading Magic Millions Race Series – including two exclusive Pinjarra based races carrying prizemoney (incl. bonuses) of A$600,000.

The yearlings are first up on the day and includes young stock by sires including All American, A Lot, Awesome Rock, Ducimus, Gingerbread Man, I Am Immortal, Jonker, Long Leaf, Mahattan Rain, Maschino, Ole Kirk, Playing God, Rommel, Shooting to

Win, Splintex, Star Turn, Tiger of Malay and Universal Ruler.

The seven yearlings by star Western Australian sire Playing God includes a full sister to multiple stakes winner and Group One placed Platoon and a colt from Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic winner Western Fever.

First season sires represented with yearlings include exciting local based stallions Aysar, Lightsaber and Marine One.

The Perth Winter Weanling Sale features stock by 13 sires including A Lot, Awesome Rock, Ducimus, Lightsaber, Long Leaf, Manhattan Rain, My Admiration, North Pacific, Playing God, Pride of Dubai, Sessions and Splintex.

Good interest is sure to surround the two weanlings, a colt and filly, by locally based first season sire, four-time stakes winner and Golden Slipper and Blue Diamond Stakes placegetter Ingratiating.

The catalogue for the Perth Winter Yearling Sale is available online.

FIREBALL MISS EAGLE FARM LIGHTS UP

Trainer Ciaron Maher declared Fireball Miss (Bivouac) a filly of the future after the Easter Yearling Sale graduate proved her class beyond doubt with a dominant victory in Saturday’s Gr1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm.

Well ridden by Declan Bates, the Bennett Racing colour-bearer was posted three-wide for much of the race, after jumping from gate 13.

Bates later admitted he was concerned Fireball Miss didn’t settle as well as he would have liked for her first rise to 2200m, but that ultimately mattered little in the run home.

Presented some eight horses wide on the home turn, the 3YO strode home powerfully in the straight to score by 1.3 lengths.

Winning the race at just her seventh start, having made her debut on 4 February this year, Fireball Miss becomes the 122nd individual Gr1-winning Inglis graduate since 2018 and the third in the past week, following wins last Saturday for Providence and Headley Grange.

The victory completed a remarkable result for Fireball Miss’s Gold Coast based hobby breeder Simon Delzoppo and the filly’s dam Femme Fireball.

That 12YO mare has had only two runners to date – both bred by Delzoppo – and both are Gr1 winners, with Fireball Miss following big sister and fellow Inglis Easter graduate Femminile, winner of last year’s South Australian Derby.

Declan Bates shows his delight as Fireball Miss storms home | Credit: Inglis

Fireball Miss was offered in the draft of Vinery Stud, through which Delzoppo conducts most of his business, at the Easter sale of 2024, being bought by Bennett Racing for A$140,000.

“It’s amazing. Double amazing now,” said Delzoppo, an IT entrepreneur who has just five mares.

“It’s an incredible feeling to be in this position, to be speaking about two Gr1 winners I’ve bred. I never thought I’d be doing that, especially to have also retained 50 per cent of the first one, Femminile.

“Femme Fireball is a fantastic mare to be able to produce those two G1r winners. It’s a pretty rare thing, and just to be a small breeder who’s produced two Gr1 winners is amazing, and potentially there’s more to come with a few more of her foals coming through.

“It’s going to be an interesting few years ahead.

“She (Fireball Miss) probably didn’t stand out so much, since she had a bit of growing out to do, but she was quite an athletic horse who looked like she was going to be a good runner,” added Delzoppo, who breeds under his Aralet Pty Ltd, named for daughters Arabella and Scarlet.

“She looked like she would take a bit of time to mature and come through, which she seems to have done. She still achieved pretty good money. Inglis do a great job, with their facilities and presentation, and you’ve got a very good chance of getting good money for your horse there. And Vinery did a great job with her too. The success of horses off Vinery Stud speaks for itself. They’re producing a lot of winners.”

Fireball Miss’s victory came with perfect timing for Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, who bought Femme Fireball from Delzoppo last year, in-

foal to Anamoe, and will offer the resultant filly at the upcoming Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale.

The Anamoe filly will be offered as Lot 406 on Friday afternoon among Three Bridges’ 12 weanlings to go under the hammer, with Liston understandably holding high hopes for a strong result.

“Life’s about timing isn’t it?” said Three Bridges’ Toby Liston. “She’s athletic, big and strong – a typical Anamoe. The mare’s been to two different sires and produced two Gr1 winners, so let’s hope her Anamoe can be the third.

“Great Southern has always been a great place to sell horses. They’re good people at Inglis, and it’s great to do business there. There’s a great appetite for nice horses, and we take nice horses, raised in 100-acre paddocks, so it should be a fun week.”

Eagle Farm’s meeting also brought Stakes success for another Inglis Easter graduate in Monte Supreme (I Am Invincible), with the 5YO mare taking the Listed Lightning Handicap over 1000m by 0.6 lengths.

Bred by the Allam Racing Syndicate and bought for A$800,000 by Roughwood Park from Yarraman Park’s draft at Easter 2022, the Bjorn Baker trained Monte Supreme boosted her value appreciably with her first Stakes win and her sixth victory overall.

Also on Saturday, another Inglis Easter graduate Wanaruah became a Stakes winner in lifting Randwick’s Listed Bob Charley Stakes over 1100m, by 0.7 lengths.

Offered by breeders Fernrigg Farm at Inglis Easter 2023, the Brett and Georgie Cavanough trained 4YO entire has now won four of nine starts.

NOTE TO SELF RIDE: FORTUNE NOT GUILTY

The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa (NHA) notes the outcome of an Inquiry Board convened to consider Jockey Andrew Fortune’s ride of NOTE TO SELF in Race 4 at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on 09 May 2026.

The Inquiry was held in Durban on 01 June 2026 before an independent Inquiry Board chaired by Mr. A Vlok, with Mr. B A Reardon serving as a Board Member.

Mr. Fortune was legally represented throughout the proceedings.

Mr. Fortune was charged with contravening Rule 62.2.2 in that he allegedly failed to ride NOTE TO SELF in a competent and professional manner from the 400m to the 200m mark. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

After hearing the evidence and considering all submissions placed before it, the Inquiry

Board found Mr. Fortune not guilty of the charge.

The NHA reiterates that Inquiries of this nature form part of its responsibility to uphold the integrity, transparency and public confidence in South African horseracing.

The convening of an Inquiry should not be interpreted as a presumption of guilt, but rather as part of the Authority’s obligation to ensure that matters raising legitimate concerns are properly investigated and independently adjudicated.

• Media release by the NHA on Thursday, 04 June 2026.

GQEBERHA JOCK SUSPENDED:

TAMPERED WITH SAMPLE

The National Horseracing Authority confirms that at an Inquiry held in Gqeberha on 5 June 2026, Jockey Sandile Khathi was charged with contraventions of Rules 72.1.17 and 72.1.37 in that he added water to a urine sample, thereby misleading the Stewards and tampering with a urine sample taken from him on 24 April 2026 at Fairview Racecourse.

Mr Khathi pleaded guilty to both charges and was found guilty accordingly.

In determining an appropriate penalty, the Inquiry Board took into account the evidence presented, the mitigating factors advanced on behalf of Mr Khathi, and his disciplinary record. The Inquiry Board imposed a penalty of suspension from riding in races for a period of 365 days.

In addition, a suspended penalty of 300 days, previously imposed for contraventions of the same Rules arising from the tampering of a urine sample on 1 March 2024, was activated.

Prior to being permitted to accept rides in races upon completion of his suspension,

Mr Khathi will be required to submit three negative urine samples, one of which must be a random sample requested by a Stipendiary Steward in the area in which he is domiciled.

Mr Khathi was afforded the right to appeal against the severity of the penalties imposed. The National Horseracing Authority can confirm that Mr Khathi has elected to waive his right to appeal and has accepted the penalties imposed by the Inquiry Board.

Accordingly, Mr Khathi’s suspension will run from 6 June 2026 until 1 April 2028, both days inclusive.

• Media release by NHA on Friday 5 June 2026

RESERVE BANK

A PRIVATE STALLION PROSPECT

The Gr1 Goodwood Handicap winner Reserve Bank (Capitalist) will be offered as a stallion prospect through a private online sale to be conducted by Inglis next week.

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr-trained Reserve Bank was undefeated at two, winning by 5.5 lengths as a juvenile on debut – running the fastest last 400m and 200m sectionals of the day – before backing that up with a 2.8 length victory as a spring 3YO.

At just his third career start he finished 2nd –beaten a nose – in the Gr2 Danehill Stakes before coming into his own as an autumn 3YO, winning the Listed Redelva Stakes and Gr2 Tobin Bronze Stakes in the lead-up to his career highlight, victory in the Gr1 Goodwood Hcp.

Reserve Bank will be offered at a private online sale | Credit: Inglis

His Goodwood victory saw him defeat 12 individual Stakes winners including Gr1 winners Giga Kick, Climbing Star and Charm Stone as well as the likes of Generosity, Stretan Angel, Ameena etc, making him the only 3YO colt to win the prestigious sprint over the past two decades.

Reserve Bank is also one of only 10 colts to win an open age Gr1 in Australia over 1400m or less since 2018 alongside Alabama Express, Beiwacht, Bivouac, Cylinder, Home Affairs, Jacquinot, Private Harry, Tentyris and Trapeze Artist.

Of those, eight are either currently standing at stud or will be from this season. Four of them have had runners – Alabama Express, Bivouac, Home Affairs and Trapeze Artist –each having already produced at least one Gr1 winner.

Reserve Bank is a grandson of Champion Sires Written Tycoon and Fastnet Rock.

Written Tycoon was Champion Sire of Australia in 2020/21 and is the sire of 18 Gr1 winners and 82 Stakes winners, while Fastnet Rock, broodmare sire of Reserve Bank, is the sire of 44 Gr1 winners and 200 Stakes winners.

Co-trainer Michael Kent Jr has no doubt Reserve Bank has what it takes to make a successful stallion.

“He made a big impression early doors, winning his first two starts by big margins before being beaten a nostril in the stallionmaking Danehill Stakes at Group 2 level,’’ Kent Jr said.

“He really came into his own as a 3YO sprinter winning three on end in the autumn; the Listed Redelva, the Gr2 Tobin Bronze by a widening margin and then won a very strong edition of the Gr1 Goodwood Handicap, coming from last to win by 1.5 lengths.

“He was set to jump as third favourite in the Gr1 Galaxy before having a barrier incident and had to be scratched. We then set him for the Queensland Winter Carnival this year where he got a very heavy track first up and then drew extremely wide in the Doomben 10,000 and had to go back to last which also didn’t suit him.’’

Reserve Bank will be the inaugural offering through the Inglis ‘Bull Ring’, a private auction platform, participation in which is by invitation only.

Inglis Digital Business Manager Nick Melmeth added: “The opportunity to offer Reserve Bank through the Inglis Bull Ring is hugely exciting.

“He is a Gr1 winner, a very good-looking horse that is both well related and well bred. Reserve Bank is a commercial opportunity to be explored by a range of stud masters and investors – it certainly doesn’t take a lot of imagination to see how he could be a good investment for the right buyer.’’

The Reserve Bank Sale will open for bidding on Wednesday 17 June, with the final countdown of bidding on Thursday 18 June.

To register as a participant in the auction or for more information, please contact Inglis Digital Business Manager Nick Melmeth –nick.melmeth@inglisdigital.com

SP Sprint – Wednesday 10 June 2026

NO QUESTION!

THE ROAD TO GLORY 24 DAYS…

JULY - FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE!

EXPERT EYE

EXPERT EYE (GB) | 2015 | 16 hh

ACCLAMATION

DANSILI

CUP

TURF MILE WINNER WITH 2YO BRILLIANCE - TIMEFORM 124 -

EXPERT EYE

EXPERT EYE (GB) - RACE RECORD

TWO YEAR OLD

THREE YEAR OLD

EXPERT EYE (GB) - PROGENY

Lucky Fish Gr3 Winter Stakes

A POWER PACT

THE RACE OF THE DECADE!

ON SHOW JULY ROYALTY

24 DAYS TO GO

SON OF VERCINGETORIX

IN SMART FORM

IN THRILLING FINISH OBJECTION OVERRULED

MASTER OF MY FATE FILLY STEPS UP IN STYLE

ROBERTS SADDLES SHOCK WINNER!

FORTUNE FIRES ON THE POLYTRACK

Track Conditions:

EXCITING SON OF GIMMETHEGREENLIGHT TO STAND IN CAPE

Lucky Lad

RACE RECORD

SIRE LINE

STUD CAREER

PEDIGREE

FEMALE LINE

MASTER OF MY FATE SON THROWS THE CURVE BALL

Sean Tarry’s Hollywoodbets

JULY DOOR AJAR FOR

ALADDIN’S LAMP

THE LATEST REGULATOR’S ADMIN UNDER ONE ROOF

SOMA’S SMART 3YO LOOKS PROGRESSIVE

THE STORIES BEHIND THE ROYAL RACES

The Queen Anne Stakes:

The King Charles III Stakes:

The St James’s Palace Stakes:

The Prince of Wales’s Stakes:

The Gold Cup:

The Commonwealth Cup:

The Coronation Stakes:

The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes

ASCOT HEADLINERS: CALANDAGAN & MASQUERADE BALL

LA MEXICANA GRABS SALES TOPPER

OUR STRIPE’S A STAR!

HKJC LAUNCHES HOME OF FOOTBALL CAMPAIGN

With

world’s largest football

O’BRIEN JNR IS THUNDERING ON!

UK PUNTERS OUTCRY

AFTER STIPES DECISION

Ed – NHA rule

RULE

IN TITLE CHASE FOWNES FORGES AHEAD

OUTSTANDING YEARLING OPPORTUNITIES AWAIT

FIREBALL MISS EAGLE FARM LIGHTS UP

NOTE TO SELF RIDE: FORTUNE NOT GUILTY

GQEBERHA JOCK SUSPENDED:

TAMPERED WITH SAMPLE

RESERVE BANK

A PRIVATE STALLION PROSPECT

TRAINERS

JOCKEYS

BREEDERS

SIRES