SOLID GOLD!
STILL OPEN… JULY DOOR
12
Solid Gold Dave
What a double!
26
Big Race Log
The standings per 10 June
44
Some Things Just Work
Drakenstein’s two feature winners
56
Seconds Out
Sectional timing on the big day
136
Big Apple Bomb
SA star runs her heart out
On the cover Race Coast’s Graeme Hawkins and Hollywoodbets Dolphins Gr3 Cup Trial winning jockey Muzi Yeni enjoy some horsing around and banter in the parade ring. The moment symbolizes the spirit of what was a memorable Saturday on and off the track. Candiese Lenferna took the photograph.
Issue: 23/2025
The Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge raceday was the first flagship event hosted under the Race Coast banner at the historic Hollywoodbets Greyville, which has undergone a multi-million rand makeover in recent months, including the installation of international standard lighting, which was showcased to the crowd by means of a breathtaking light show on Saturday evening.
The long and the short of it? A happy racegoer smiles for our photographer, dwarfed by two giants Credit: Candiese Lenferna
The new lights are a winner! | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Race Coast’s Dean Sawarjath hands the trophy to Sean Tarry | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
New Stipe Stuart Randolph keeps an eye on proceedings Credit: Candiese Lenferna
A delighted Callan Murray is greeted by Mat de Kock as Dave The King returns | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Shiny happy people! | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Leading owners Eugene and Sandy Arundel love their horses! | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Hollywoodbets’ Devin Heffer and Kabelo Matsunyane | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Winning Form-sponsored Raymond ‘Stingray’ Danielson is all smiles in the winner’s box | Credit: Candiese Lenferna Curry in a hurry! Mouthwatering bites | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Excited racegoers shout their winners home | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Reigning SA Horse Of The Year Dave The King became the third back-toback winner this century of the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge when he dug deep to win the 54th renewal of South Africa’s highest-rated Grade 1 contest at a festive Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
Run for the first time under the lights, and sponsored for the fifth year by Hollywoodbets, the 2025 running of the prestige weightfor-age mile produced a grandstand finish with Dave The King (9-4) slipping through
down the inside to get the better of long-time pacemaker Oriental Charm (14-1), who ran a cracker after a long break, by 0,20 lengths in a time of 96,44 secs for the 1600m.
After the 2024 defending champion Oriental Charm, the second of the quartet of Hollywoodbets Durban July entries to finish, Drill Hall Stakes winner Gladatorian (14-1) powered up the middle to get the better of the courageous 3yo Cosmic Speed (7-2) for third.
Only 0,85 lengths covered the first four home.
Hollywoodbets Durban July entry See It Again was hampered early in the stretch and ran a good race in the circumstances, when finishing fifth and 4,45 lengths back.
Callan Murray glances across as Dave The King beats Oriental Charm (JP van der Merwe) and Gladatorian (Sean Veale) Credit: Candiese Lenferna
The fourth of the July entries, Purple Pitcher finished downfield and some 7,60 lengths back.
Winning rider Callan Murray, who grabbed a Gr1 winner at Hollywoodbets Scottsville a week earlier for Sean Tarry, said that it was ‘very special’ to get a Gr1 – his eighth for the Mat and Mike de Kock team.
“It’s been hard for the past few years,” added the SAJA graduate who recently returned from a stint in Australia.
Mathew de Kock, who trains the winner in partnership with his Dad, said he was privileged to take out his licence and enjoy
his first Grade 1 winner with a horse and owners like the Dave The King team.
Dave The King joins two former SA Horses Of The Year in Rainbow Bridge (2020/2021) and Variety Club (2012/2013) as back-to-back winners of a race that started out at the now defunct Clairwood on 1972 when run as the Clairwood Champion Stakes.
Coincidentally, the first two runnings were won by champion sprinter of the time, Sentinel, who was ridden by the evergreen Michael Roberts, who also saddled Saturday’s fifth-placed, See It Again.
Generations! Mike, Mat and Di de Kock await their champion | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
A R175 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale purchase, Dave The King, a son of Global View (Galileo) out of the once winning Jet Master mare Touche, started his career with Vaughan Marshall in the Cape, before transferring to Mike de Kock early in 2023.
Bred by Gary Player, who races him in partnership with Larry Nestadt and Ralphs Racing, he is now a winner of 8 races with 8 places from 25 starts for stakes of R5 782 394.
What a grand story of a comeback from nowhere for a horse who loves the KZN coast almost as much as Mike Kock.
Now for the Gr1 Champions Cup double at the end of the season!
Callan Murray – another week, another Gr1 winner! | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Callan Murray’s explosive return to the land of his birth from a characterbuilding stint in Australia has seen the 27-year-old ride ten winners in three weeks, including two Grade 1 victories in the space of a week.
Our 2015/16 SA Champion Apprentice, it may well take Callan Rossiter Murray a lifetime to repeat the feat of his career highlight of an extraordinary three Grade 1 trophies at Turffontein on Champions Day in 2017 when he steered Mustaqueem (SA Nursery), Rafeef (Computaform Sprint) and Deo Juvente (Premiers Champions Challenge) to victory.
But he has certainly hit the ground running since his homecoming in May on the back of a powerful yard that was fortuitously looking for a rider to consistently fill the key role of stable jockey.
And after his superbly judged performance on SA Horse Of The Year Dave The King in defence of the Global View gelding’s Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge title on Saturday, Callan now boasts a career tally of 11 elite level successes, 8 of which are for the De Kock team.
Callan’s maiden Grade 1 arrived in the form of the Mike de Kock trained Heavenly Blue, now an Ascot Stud-based stallion, in the SA Classic in 2017.
Saturday’s highlight marked a milestone in the fledgeling Father-Son partnership of Mike and Mathew de Kock as their historic first Grade 1 victory as a training partnership, and a career icebreaker for Mathew, in his capacity as a fully licenced trainer.
Mike de Kock once said Callan Murray had ‘the X-factor’ and there is plenty of poetic irony in the combination’s form after a punctuated association going back some 12 years.
Callan said after the Gold Challenge win that Dave The King ‘normally puts them to bed at the 600m-mark’.
“On Saturday I had to wait for the straight. It got a bit close, but if he got out and rolling he may have put a margin on them that would have been difficult to peg back. This was a really good win from him. This is very special. To get another one for Mat and Mr De Kock is wonderful. The last couple of years have been hard, I am extremely grateful for the opportunities.”
Tall for a jockey, Callan has to watch his diet closely but is fairly comfortable around 56kgs and
his polished and likeable demeanour in front of the cameras speaks of a young man who has matured after stints in Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia.
Callan’s first ride under rules came on 3 November 2013 when the Mike de Kock trained Captain Lars finished fifth at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. His second opportunity came the same day, a third place on Two Tone Rocka for Wendy Whitehead.
That all important first win came at his second meeting, when he steered Tennessee Strategy home to a three quarter length win at Clairwood for the Charles Laird stable. Callan closed his first riding season 16th on the apprentice log with 13 wins, a 4% win and 34% place strike rate.
The following season, he leap-frogged to third on the apprentice log with 41 wins, but things really got going in 2015/16. On 11 November 2015, he partnered Deo Juvente to victory in the Gr2 Victory Moon Stakes for the Geoff Woodruff yard. As an added bonus, it was one of three wins on the day making it a full house from his 3 carded rides.
Apprentice for the 2015/16 season and as an added bonus, won the Zimbabwean Apprenticeship too.
It was shortly thereafter that Callan was off to Australia for a 6-week stint with David Hayes’ Lindsay Park Stables. He made sure to leave an impression on departure, posting the final South African win of his apprentice career aboard Sheikh Hamdan’s Al Hawraa for the Mike de Kock yard. Callan hit the ground running in Australia, bringing home 4 wins and a fistful of places.
Back in Johannesburg in January 2017, his first ride back was Malih Albasti’s Talbec for the Mike de Kock yard which he got home in a tight finish to score his first win as a fully-fledged jockey.
Today, sporting a tousled hair-style and exuding confidence, Callan is a polished rider, courtesy of his international experience and having, by his own admission, ‘grown up’.
Domestic stability is key in a testing profession and the dog-lover recently got engaged to Australian horsewoman, Danielle Kerr.
Callan notched 78 wins with a 7% win and 42% place strike rate to be named SA Champion
The support of the De Kock partnership could well see him go to the next level if he decides to stay in SA.
Dave The King and Callan Murray return, led by Lwandiso Jevu | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
FRANKIE GOES TO
HOLLYWOODBETS DURBAN JULY
Frank Robinson and his staunch patron Sid Moodley looked to have booked themselves a Hollywoodbets Durban July berth after the Clifton Stud-bred Madison Valley ground away relentlessly after a brief duel with the Snaith’s Underworld, to win the R300 000 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Gr3 Cup Trial at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
Starting at 40-1, Madison Valley was one of ten big race hopefuls in the twelve strong field, and was given a superb ride by the StoneStamcor-sponsored Muzi Yeni, who found an
unwelcome foe in colleague Richard Fourie breathing down his neck in the final stages of the 1800m contest.
Muzi Yeni drives Madison Valley down the middle as Underworld (Richard Fourie on outside) and On My Honour (Chad Little) put the pressure on | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
But with no winning cheques in his envelope on a long day at the office, and with only one race left, Yeni made the most of the pick-up ride opportunity and forced Madison Valley home just 0,30 lengths ahead of Underworld (3-1) in a time of 111,57 secs.
While the runner-up is not a Hollywoodbets
Durban July entry, Glen Kotzen’s On My Honour (14-1) was another to put his hand up, a head away in third, after having some work to do late off a slow gallop which didn’t suit many.
Running fresh off his WSB Cape Town Met appearance 19 weeks ago, Sean Tarry’s Litigation (20-1) was always thereabouts and finished fourth and 1,40 lengths back.
Muzi Yeni admitted he couldn’t believe he was sitting in second early on.
“Madison Valley struggled to quicken off the slow pace. But Frank Robinson was bullish and he had him in fine order,” added the jockey.
A thumbs up from Muzi Yeni as Chevay Moodley leads in Madison Valley | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Trainer Frank Robinson conceded that it was a ‘bit of pressure’ because of the Hollywoodbets Durban July on the horizon.
“Last time Madison Valley was flat as he had an infection and was on anti-biotics. Well done to Sid (Moodley),” added the Summerveld conditioner.
A R220 000 BSA November 2yo Sale graduate, Madison Valley was bred by Clifton Stud and is a 4yo son of deceased Kingmambo stallion Mambo
In Seattle out of the five-time winning Al Mufti mare Valdovino, who raced for Verna Roberts.
More of a solid staying type, Madison Valley has now won 5 races with 5 places from 19 starts for stakes of R942 125.
WHERE DOES YOUR FANCY RANK? JULY
The outcome of the Hollywoodbets Dolphins Gr3 Cup Trial run over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday and the 4Racing Gr3 Jubilee Stakes contested over 1800m at Turffontein on Sunday resulted in their respective winners, Madison Valley and Immediate Edge, being promoted into the top twenty on the second Hollywoodbets Durban July Log as issued by Race Coast earlier today.
Immediate Edge gallops into the Hollywoodbets Durban July picture as he wins the Jubilee under Kabelo Matsunyane on Sunday | Credit: JC Photos
On My Honour, who was an eye-catching third in the Cup Trial, is another new introduction at 16, while the East Cape star My Best Shot, who reeled off his sixth consecutive victory at Fairview on Friday, finds himself at 17.
Sail The Seas, Cousin Casey, Fiery Pegasus, Spumante Dolce, Wild Intent and Pacaya all featured when the first log was published on 14 May, but were subsequently scratched, paving the way for others to make the cut.
From the first to the second log there has been very little movement in the top half of the field, with Eight On Eighteen, Oriental Charm, See It Again and Royal Victory occupying the top four positions.
At the time of Monday’s second declarations, 29 horses remained in contention for a berth in the final field for the Hollywoodbets Durban
July on Saturday 5 July.
Final supplementary entries close on Tuesday 17 June after which the weights will be published by the National Horseracing Authority.
Justin Snaith’s Querari 4yo Underworld was supplemented on Tuesday 10 June, bringing the current entries up to 30.
Final declarations fall due on Monday 23 June and the field of eighteen runners, with two reserves, will be revealed on Tuesday 24 June when the draw for barrier positions will also take place.
The traditional ‘July’ public gallops will take place at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Thursday 26 June, commencing at 07h00 and all are welcome to attend.
MARVEL AT MZANSI’S TOP TEN
Mzansi’s finest and fearless student fashion creatives put on a dazzling display on Saturday as the Hollywoodbets Durban July Young Designer Award presented by Durban Fashion Fair competition was whittled down to the finalists.
The final ten were selected after 25 semifinalists from accredited colleges across KZN displayed their interpretations of the “Marvels of Mzansi” theme, depicting what it means to be South African – from the landscapes, entertainment and food, to traditional coming of age ceremonies.
Saturday’s judging took place against the running of the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge at Durban’s Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse, a fitting backdrop for the last round of judging before “Africa’s Greatest Horse Racing and Fashion Event” on 5 July, when the top three Young Designers will be announced.
The 10 student designers whose designs were chosen to be in the final of the Hollywoodbets Durban July Young Designers Award presented by Durban Fashion Fair | Credit: Graham Daniel / Gameplan Media
The fashion will explode one more time before then, when all three pillars of the Hollywoodbets Durban July Fashion Experience come together at the Gateway Theatre of Shopping gala evening on June 27.
There, the 10 student finalists will join the six selected for the Invited Designer Showcase presented by Dove, and the nine chosen to be part of the DFF Rising Stars Collection.
“The colleges were wonderful in reflecting this year’s extremely high standard of work,” said Vuyisile Ngobese, judge and Hollywood Foundation Public Relations Officer. “It is a testament to the effort the lecturers and students have put in. It was tough for all of us, as we had to balance the theme against those whose work showcased technique and finish. There just had to be sacrifices.”
“These young designers captured the best essence of the theme ‘Marvels of Mzansi’. They went all out, manufacturing and producing fabric, taking it to the edge and they delivered,” added Ngobese.
Invited Designer and judge Sandile ‘Duke’ Mngadi, said: “The huge number of callbacks
before we even got to the top 25 finalists, emphasizes the level of talent that showed up. I highly recommend that those who made the ‘call-back’ list, come to the main event (on 5 July) and take advantage of other showcase opportunities that are available on the day.”
“The experience speaks volumes, not just for me as a designer, but for the growth of our industry, our fashion community. I was once a young designer myself. What Hollywoodbets Durban July is doing for young designers has never been seen before. This development stage is the most vital stage for any successful designer. So, it’s a big shout out to all relevant stakeholders,” said Mngadi.
“Being a part of shaping the future of tomorrow’s young designers is an absolute honour as it gives me the chance to influence pockets of culture – culture that will in turn positively impact our society at large,” said guest judge Phupho Gumede K, an award-winning, pan-African celebrity stylist and creative director.
Those young designers who did not make the final 10, can follow Mngadi’s advice and join the Hollywoodbets Durban July Raceday Fashion Experience presented by Durban Fashion Fair
on race day, and enter the Most Striking Couple; Classic Racewear – Female; Classic Racewear –Male; and Exceptional Raceday Hat competitions.
The ten finalists in the Hollywoodbets Durban July Young Designer Award presented by Durban Fashion Fair competition are:
• Sinekamva Xali (Umgungundlovu TVET College)
• Mpilo Sithole (Durban University of Technology)
• Nothile Mkhungo (Esayidi Fashion School)
• Andile Cele (Umgungundlovu TVET College)
• Neliswa Gcwabaza (Umgungundlovu TVET College)
• Manqoba Mnguni (Igoda Incubator)
• Buhle Sicwebue (Lindiwe Khuzwayo Academy of Fashion)
• Irene Price (Esayidi Fashion School)
• Queenton Mjweni (Durban University of Techonology)
• Khethokuhle Thango (Igoda Incubator)
Media release by Gameplan Media on Sunday, 08 June 2025.
TARRY, BLING & A SHIMMERING SAPPHIRE
The old feature firm of Sean Tarry and Smanga ‘Bling’ Khumalo teamed up to win the R500 000 HKJC World Pool Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes with the Drakenstein-bred and raced 3yo Green Sapphire at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
A winner of the Gr3 Umzhimkulu Stakes at end March, and then a no show on soft ground in the WSB Fillies Guineas at her last start, Green Sapphire ran a top-class race under the dazzling new lights after being caught wide out for much of the 1400m.
Into the final stages, Cape raider Callmegetrix (8-1) continued to roll out front and it took some intensely determined riding from the former SA Champion Khumalo to get the Drakenstein galloper to go and grab the leader.
Green Sapphire (Smanga Khumalo) ran a top-class race under the dazzling new lights at Hollywoodbets Greyville
Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Inside the final 100m, Green Sapphire (25-2) lifted her game and grabbed the gallant Callmegetrix to win by 0,40 lengths in a time of 85,71 secs.
Sprouting wings, Minogue (6-1) came from the clouds to grab third a further head back, with Oxalis Gold (8-1) rounding off the quartet in another closely contested feature finish.
Bred and owned by Drakenstein Stud, Green Sapphire has won 5 of 10 starts for 4 places and stakes of R764 938.
Green Sapphire is out of the Trippi mare Sapphire Gem, and is thus bred on the same Gimmethegreenlight-Trippi cross as the Gr1 winners Gimme A Prince and She’s A Keeper, as well as the graded stakes winning fillies, Green Diamond and Gimmie’s Countess.
Team Tarry lead in the winner | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
GATECRASHES FIRST STAKES GLORY
Malmesbury Missile (Richard Fourie) sweeps past the opponents to register his first stakes success Credit: Chase Liebenberg
Named after Springbok rugby star Pieter-Steph du Toit, the Drakenstein Stud-bred Gimmethegreenlight colt Malmesbury Missile registered his first stakes success when he charged through from near last into the home stretch to win the R300 000 Hollywoodbets Sharks Listed Gatecrasher Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
In a race where the recent debut winner Vikings Revenge ensured a solid gallop, SA Champion trainer Justin Snaith produced the goods with Malmesbury Missile, who races in a partnership of the Arundel family and World Sports Betting, and who clearly enjoyed his first dip at 1400m.
Confidently ridden by Ridgemont-sponsored Richard Fourie, Malmesbury Missile (28-10 tote favourite) was steered wide out and swept past his nine opponents in good style to beat Dean Kannemeyer’s recent maiden winner Aversator (17-2) by a length in a time of 85,78 secs –a second faster than the girls a half hour earlier.
Peter Muscutt’s polytrack debut winner Count
Of Rouen (6-1) was a nose back in third, in an encouraging effort.
The only two-time winner in the starting line-up, Alec Laird’s Tenjiku (33-10) was 0,40 lengths back in fourth.
“Malmesbury Missile was quite burly when he ran in the sprint last time and had tightened up.
He ran a bit green and he will be a better horse in a mile,” added Fourie.
A clearly progressive 2yo son of champion sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready), the good-looking colt was bred by Drakenstein Stud and is out of the 2018/19 Equus Champion 2yo filly Gabor, a daughter of the late Kingsbarns.
Now a winner of 2 races with 4 places from 6 starts and stakes of R488 438, Malmesbury Missile originally fetched R900 000 at the 2024 CRS Cape Premier Yearling Sale.
He was subsequently purchased for R2,2 million by Jonathan Snaith at a shortnotice partnership dissolution sale out of the Glen Kotzen yard in February this year. He then transferred to the Snaiths with World Sports Betting partnering with original co-owners, Itssa It & Business Solutions (Pty) Ltd.
Richard Fourie is currently at the top of the log | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
SIPPING FROM A
Smanga Khumalo drives Green Sapphire to victory in the HKJC World Pool Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Whether it is the stars aligning, a confluence of genetic characteristics, or a combination thereof, sometimes certain bloodlines just seem to click.
Take for instance last weekend’s stakes winning duo Green Sapphire and Malmesbury Missile. Both sired by champion sire Gimmethegreenlight, these Drakenstein-breds share more than one common ancestor on the female side of their pedigrees.
Already a winner of the Gr3 Umzimkhulu Stakes, homebred Green Sapphire overcame a rough trip to claim the HKJC World Pool Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes. She is out of Trippi’s daughter Sapphire Gem, while her grandam is the Gr1 winner Sparkling Gem, who in turn is out of Crystal Chalice, a daughter of Royal Chalice.
The latter failed to win, managing just a couple of places at three and four, but in Sparkling Gem, she bred a proper horse. A stakes winner at two, this daughter of Joshua Dancer became a classic winner when she claimed the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas at the expense of champion Mother Russia and like her granddaughter, also won the Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes when it was run at Clairwood.
Excellence in a pedigree may skip a generation and, whereas Sparkling Gem has yet to emulate herself as a broodmare, her one-time
winning daughter Sapphire Gem is proving to be a jewel for Drakenstein, as Green Sapphire is her third stakes winner.
By Trippi, who is becoming increasingly conspicuous as a broodmare sire, Sapphire Gem has also produced Gr2 Concorde Cup winner King Of Gems to ill-fated Kingsbarns, a Gr1 winning son of Galileo who died at the age of eight, leaving just three small crops. Sapphire Gem’s liaison with Futura yielded the fine staying filly Pink Tourmaline, a winner of both the Gr2 Track And Ball Oaks and Listed Ardmore Jamaica Handicap.
Green Sapphire’s third dam Crystal Chalice is out of the grand import Flying Snowdrop, whose seven wins in the famous Beck silks included the Stuttafords Gr1 Fillies Guineas.
By the way, this female line has done well in
‘Whether one regards it as logical, a huge stroke
of luck,
or a
work of genius, the matings which produced Green Sapphire and Malmesbury Missile have paid off handsomely…’
South Africa, for it is also that of the multiple Graded stakes winner Asiye Phambile, who was recently pipped on the post in the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint. She traces to Flying Snowdrop’s stakes winning Danzig half-sister Magic Gleam, a leading three-year-old filly in England in 1989 and dam of imported Flying Magic, who in turn bred Listed Breeders Guineas victress Cast A Spell, the dam of Asiye Phambile.
Malmesbury Missile, named in honour of famed Springbok rugby player Pieter-Steph du Toit, made an emphatic statement when he turned on the afterburners in the straight from near last to register a sparkling victory in the Hollywoodbets Sharks Listed Gatecrasher Stakes. He is the
20th individual stakes winner of the season bred at Drakenstein, and it would come as no surprise to see him in the line-up for the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes on Hollywoodbets Durban July day.
Let’s look at his female line. He is out of Gabor, the country’s Champion Juvenile filly of 2019, who earned Gr1 honours when she justified favouritism in the Thekwini Stakes. This is where it starts to get interesting, for like Green Sapphire’s half-brother King Of Gems, she is by Kingsbarns and is out of Trippi’s stakes-placed daughter Se Agabor, whilst the next dam, Roxy Cafe, is by, yes, you guessed it, Royal Chalice.
Malmesbury Missile (Richard Fourie) made up many lengths from near last to win the Hollywoodbets Sharks Listed Gatecrasher Stakes | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
Green Sapphire’s third dam Crystal Chalice is out of the grand import Flying Snowdrop – seen here led in by Graham and Rhona Beck after the 1984 Stuttafords Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas | Credit: Supplied
Horse of the Year and Champion of his generation as a three-year-old with victories in the Gr1 SA Guineas, Schweppes Challenge and Rothmans July Handicap, he proved to be by far the best stallion son of champion Royal Prerogative and counts Gr1 winner Morisco and the SA Oaks winning sisters Royal Prophecy and Noble Destiny amongst his stakes winners. He also tasted success as a broodmare sire, his daughters producing notables such as Durban July winner Hunting Tower as well as the Gr1 scorers Gypsy’s Warning (out of an own sister to Royal Prophecy and Noble Fortune), Master Plan, abovementioned Sparkling Gem and Roxanne (a half-sister to Se Agabor).
He also appears in the female lines of black type winners Queen Forever (also by Gimmethegreenlight) and top Gqeberha galloper and Durban July entry My Best Shot.
Whether one regards it as logical, a huge stroke of luck, or a work of genius, the matings which produced Green Sapphire and Malmesbury Missile have paid off handsomely for Drakenstein.
TIENIE’S QUICKSTEPGAL MAKES IT THREE ON THE TROT
Tienie Prinsloo’s recent Tote Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes winner Quickstepgal made it three wins on the trot as she opened the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge day feature programme with a smart victory in the R200 000 Ridgemont Listed Devon Air Stakes on Saturday.
In the face of plenty of support for Dean Kannemeyer’s impressive recent debut winner Educator who went off at 7-10, Vercingetorix’s daughter Quickstepgal was easy to back at 11-2 and didn’t put a hoof wrong as she soared past pacesetter Vanakkam and drew away to register an eye-catching win, clocking 86,78 secs for the 1400m.
The Prinsloo powerhouse under regular pilot Kabelo Matsunyane beat Sean Tarry’s Tina Lovelace (25-1) by 2,60 lengths, with Captains Envy (11-2) shading the favourite Educator out of the Place Accumulator.
A R450 000 KZN Yearling Sale graduate, the winner is raced by KZN owner Rakesh Singh
Quickstepgal (Kabelo Maysunyane) leaves them in the dust | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
and was bred by the Greenacres Trust. She is by SA Champion sire elect Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the three-time winning Jet Master mare, Victoriana.
Now a winner of her last 3 races from 4 starts, Quickstepgal took her stakes earnings to R344 376.
Serino Moodley steers Tony Peter’s Gimmethegoodlife to a smooth victory in the Pick 6 opener | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
The day opened in thrilling fashion when the two Highveld raiding betting-board toppers Blizzard Quest (Craig Zackey) and Matcha Mint (Richard Fourie) went head to head in the 1600m SABC Maiden Juvenile Plate opener. The Sean Tarrytrained Blizzard Quest, a Lammerskraal Stud-bred son of Querari (Oasis Dream) got the neck verdict from the gallant Gimmethegreenlight filly.
In the second race and Bipot opener, the SplashOut Class 3 over a mile, the two biggest outsiders in the eleven-horse field fought it out with Nicholas Patel getting the Boland Studbred 7yo Wylie Hall gelding El Dante up at R28 the win for MJ Odendaal.
Go Grayson Go was second, with the consistent Rich Folks Hoax a head away in third. Due to an issue with the commingling partners, the TabGold Bipot failed to show the minimum dividend and tickets situation.
The third race was the Place Accumulator opener, the JC Le Roux Class 4 over 1900m and in steep contrast to the Bipot first leg, this was a favourable result with Raymond Danielson lifting Michael Roberts-trained Chill In The Air into top stride late to beat Villa Vicosa and the long-time pacemaker Bombers In The Sky.
The fourth race opened what looked set to be a tricky Pick 6 – sadly with no carryover boost but the pool nevertheless reached in excess of R1,7 million. The East Coast Radio Class 4 1200m delivered a victory for the visiting Tony Peter team when Winning Form-sponsored Serino Moodley got Gimmethegoodlife home at 8-1 ahead of recent debut winner Position Of Power. Dennis Bosch saddled the winner on behalf of the Highveld yard.
FROM KZN! GOLD CLASS RACING
The Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge day last Saturday produced some top-drawer racing and inspiring performances on the track.
In
our weekly Time Is Money column, we look at some of the standouts of the day
Hollywoodbets Greyville (turf) 7 June
Track Conditions
Going: Good
Penetrometer: 23
Rain: Last 24 hours Nil –
Last 7 days 1mm
Irrigation: Last 24 hours Nil –
Last 7 days 17mm
False Rail: 6m
Wind: 5-15km/h North Easterly
head wind
Course Variant: 1,2s slow
Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge 1600m
The winner of last season’s Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge, and indeed, South
Africa’s horse of the year, DAVE THE KING was sent off a warm 9/4 favourite in his bid to complete a double and he didn’t let his supporters down. The pace was on from the start and credit must go to jockey Callan Murray for not going head to head and cutting throats. Instead, he sat third and cleverly took the shortest way home coming off the bend.
Dave answered every call after hitting the front early in the straight and held off a wall of horses to score by a head. Running on best of all to take third position was Gladatorian, and he is clearly one to follow. Running on stoutly from 6 lengths off the pace, this son of Vercingetorix was fairly flying at the finish and was only beaten by a long neck. Gladatorian’s 400m to finish time was the second fastest of the afternoon.
Run in a time just 7/100th of a second faster than the listed Gatecrasher Stakes, this was the fastest of the three 1400m races on the card. Callmegetorix somewhat predictably made the running and beaten less than half a length kept on strongly all the way to the wire. The well supported winner GREEN SAPPHIRE (clipped heels & stumbled 1200m) meanwhile sat seventh early on some five and a half lengths off the pace. She ran on well in the straight and under a well-judged ride from former champion jockey S’manga Khumalo, she got up 30m from home. Interestingly, it was the third placed horse Minogue who recorded the fastest 400m to finish time in this race. Four lengths behind the winner turning for home, Candice Dawson’s charge was gaining quickly below the distance, and she too was beaten less than half a length. Hollywoodbets
Sharks Listed Gatecrasher Stakes 1400m
The pace was a good one here and they recorded the fastest time of the afternoon rounding the turn. It was not surprising then that the leaders soon began to fade in the straight
and as the field began to concertina it resembled a cavalry charge going through the 300m.
The aptly named winner MALMESBURY MISSILE raced some eight lengths off the pace in ninth early on and still had plenty to do coming off the bend. This son of Gimmethegreenlight ran on best of all in the straight though, and won well by a length from Aversator. The runner up also finished very well and was only 6/100th of a second slower than the winner over the final 400m.
Ridgemont Listed Devon Air Stakes 1400m
The easiest victory amongst the afternoon’s five feature events was undoubtedly that of QUICKSTEPGAL in the listed Devon Air Stakes. Sent off as a joint second favourite at 11/2, Tienie Prinsloo’s charge raced third for most of the journey just two and a half lengths off the steady pace set by Vanakkam. She only had to be ridden with hands and heels in the straight and after taking up the running 300m out, she went on to score with authority by 2,6 lengths. Quickstepgal has now won three from four and clearly won’t be stopping here.
Hollywoodbets Dolphins Gr3 Cup Trial
1800m
There was no pace on in the early stages of the Cup Trial and although they did quicken a little on the bend, it still proved comparatively to be the slowest of the five feature races.
This false paced affair did produce a thrilling finish though. Both the second favourite Underworld and the unfancied winner MADISON VALLEY (40/1) were always handy and as they approached the 300m marker the battle commenced. Both gave their all in the run to the line with the son of Mambo In Seattle marginally getting the upper hand late.
Third placed On My Honour finished best of all, and given the pace did very well to get within a neck at the wire.
Fastest Times:
1400m (3) Green Sapphire
1600m (3) Dave The King
400-finish Tara Star
Hollywoodbets Greyville (poly) 4 June
Track Conditions
Going: Standard
Rain: Last 7 days Nil
Wind: 30-35km/h South Westerly tail wind
Course Variant: 0,51s fast
Impressive Debut
A maiden juvenile plate over 1200m opened up proceedings on the poly track on Wednesday afternoon and here we saw an impressive debut performance from the Dean Kannemeyer trained newcomer ARISTOCRATIC.
Sent off favourite at 18/10, the son of Danon Platina was caught for early toe off a sharp pace and very quickly found himself with six lengths to find. Once in the straight though, he quickened in good style and won going away by three and quarter after striking the front 100m from home. One to follow.
Three 1000m Races
Three of the afternoon’s nine races were staged over 1000m. The bill topping Gallop Tv Youtube Channel Middle Stakes was the fastest of these and here victory went to the progressive filly PRINCESS HANNAH.
The pace was on from the start and squeezed out shortly after leaving the stalls, the daughter of Pomodoro was initially positioned at the back. Now a winner of six from 14, Paul Gadsby’s charge ran on well in straight and after hitting the front 100m from home, won well by a length. Both the second and third placed runners in this race finished strongly and neither found a clear passage.
Three 1400m Races
The Follow In The Box Seat Podcast Class 4 for fillies & mares was the fastest of the three 1400m races on the card and here the deposed favourite AMONG THE CLOUDS (28/10 to 4/1) scored a facile victory.
Although not the quickest around the turn, the pace in general was good and the daughter of Lancaster Bomber sat close up in second. She was asked to take up the running coming off the bend and quickly drew three lengths clear. She clearly had plenty in hand under one of those typically cool Andrew Fortune rides and could, had he had the notion, have won more easily than the official 2,1 lengths would suggest. Fastest Times:
A BIG DERBY RUN
Two Hollywoodbets Durban July entries have their final throw of the big race dice this weekend at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, where the Tote Gr3 Derby and Tote Gr3 Oaks, headline an eight-race card in the KZN Capital City.
The first fixture under the Race Coast banner at Hollywoodbets Scottsville sees Future Swing and Holding Thumbs lining up in the all-ages Derby, which is run over 2400m on the inside track.
Justin Snaith’s Future Swing is at 18 on the Hollywoodbets Durban July log and has produced consistent form, most recently running second behind Field Marshal in the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup. The 2024 World Sports Betting 1900 winner will be ridden by Richard Fourie on Saturday.
Glen Kotzen’s Holding Thumbs is in the ‘next 10’ on the big race log, and has not quite recaptured his solid Cape form in two KZN starts. That said, his Lonsdale Stirrup Cup fourth
place at his last start was encouraging and Chad Little takes over from Sean Veale on Saturday. Final supplementary entries close on Tuesday 17 June after which the weights will be published by the National Horseracing Authority.
Final declarations fall due on Monday 23 June and the field of eighteen runners, with two reserves, will be revealed on Tuesday 24 June when the draw for barrier positions will also take place.
The traditional public gallops will take place at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Thursday 26 June, commencing at 07h00 and all are welcome to attend.
SON OF VERCINGETORIX SHOWS HE IS READY
Kabelo Matsunyane steers Immediate Edge to a smart victory as the competition tries hard | Credit: JC Photos
Described early on in his career as a ‘proper horse’ by trainer Mike de Kock, the 3yo Immediate Edge leap-frogged his way into the 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July picture with an emphatic victory in the R250 000 4Racing Gr3 Jubilee Stakes at Turffontein on Sunday, to give Kabelo Matsunyane his third winner of the afternoon.
A winner of his first three starts, which culminated in the Listed Hawwaam Stakes in March, Immediate Edge shoved his flag in the faces of the big race panel with a smooth victory when slamming his ten opponents under his galloping 52kgs.
“He didn’t make the log it’s unbelievable. I don’t know how you leave horses like this out of the Hollywoodbets Durban July,” quipped Mike de Kock after the son of Vercingetorix had drawn clear at 9-10 to beat fellow Hollywoodbets Durban July entry, the low-flying Olivia’s Way (6-1), by 2,50 lengths in a time of 110,83 secs for the 1800m.
Carrying joint top weight, Summer Cup winner
Atticus Finch (25-1) stayed on smartly for third, a further 0,30 lengths back.
The top trio are all entries for Africa’s greatest race on 5 July.
Of the balance of the big race entries, Navajo Nation set the pace and faded late to 3,15 lengths off the winner. Musical Score looked dangerous late but had nothing to come and was a further 0,20 lengths back. Son Of Raj was 3,75 lengths off the
winner, while Infinite Wonder (8,95 lengths) and Let’s Go Now (12,95 lengths) are probably out of the picture.
The late scratching of import The Equator on grounds of raised TCO2 levels has also dashed the son of Galileo’s prospects of lining up for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
A son of Vercingetorix, Immediate Edge was bred by Shadwell Stud from the Commands mare Anhaar, who is a sister to multiple Gr1 winner and sire, Soqrat, who was also trained by Mike de Kock.
The winner races for Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa
Al Maktoum’s Al Adiyaat South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Wilgerbosdrift (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mrs Mary Slack), Chris Haynes and Mike de Kock.
A R1 million National Yearling Sale purchase, Immediate Edge has won 4 of his 6 starts with 1 place for stakes of R474 063.
DETHRONES HABIB’S JULY HOPEFUL VERDONESE GELDING
A second consecutive feature winner bred by Shadwell Stud, the Erico Verdonese trained Choisaanada dethroned the Hollywoodbets Durban July hopeful Confederate to win the R200 000 Egoli Mile at Turffontein on Sunday.
Callan Murray drives Choisaanada to victory as Confederate (obscured) gives it his all | Credit: JC Photos
The victory by the Querari gelding kept his 2025 Highveld Winter Series hopes alive as he now aims at the Gr3 Sea Cottage Stakes on Sunday 6 July to bank the bonus of R500 000 after winning the non black-type Betway Secretariat Stakes at Turffontein last month.
After the 18-10 favourite Confederate led for much of the trip, Callan Murray produced Choisaanada (20-1) inside the final 200m and the son of Querari powered home to beat the Gr1 winner by 0,40 lengths in a time of 98,07 secs.
Kamensky (28-10) stayed on well for third, a half length back, with Pumpkin Pie (3-1) a further half length further back in fourth.
While Confederate ran a fair Hollywoodbets Durban July trial, the same cannot be said about Legend Of Arthur who ran a 19 length last.
A R180 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, the winner took his stakes earned to R380 500 win and a place from 9 starts.
Bred by Shadwell Stud, the winner is a son of Querari (Oasis Dream) out of the unraced Aussiebred daughter of Redoute’s Choice Musaanada.
TARRY’S TIN PAN CATCHES THE EYE
Randjesfontein trainer Sean Tarry registered a quick non black-type 2yo feature double when the Moutonshoek-bred Tin Pan Alley relished the step up in trip to the 1400m and scored in the R175 000 Highveld Winter Juvenile Stakes at Turffontein on Sunday.
Tarry had saddled a 1-2 in the fairer sex equivalent earlier and made it a 243-1 tote double when Tin Pan Alley, a son of The United States, stretched clear in the run for home and put 5,25 lengths between himself and King
Harald (9-2) to clock 85,31 secs for the 1400m.
Third-placed Read All About It (6-1) was hampered halfway down the straight, but finished well a further 1,50 lengths back, with
Tin Pan Alley strides clear under Smanga Khumalo | Credit: JC Photos
the handsome Chronicle King (7-1) well beaten in fourth.
The tote favourite Soho Heartthrob (6-1) never threatened and ran out of the money, some 10,25 lengths back.
A R500 000 National 2yo Sale purchase, Tin Pan Alley was bred by Moutonshoek and is by the farm’s resident Galileo stallion The United States out of the Querari mare, The Entertainer.
Now a winner of 2 races with 2 places from 4 starts, Tin Pan Alley took his stakes earnings to R205 158 for his owners Jarryd and Laurence Wernars, and Dayalan Chinsammy.
TARRY’S 1-2 KNOCKOUT
Randjesfontein trainer Sean Tarry continued his feature winning form from Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday when he saddled 1-2 in the R150 000 Highveld Winter Fillies Juvenile Stakes at Turffontein on Sunday.
In a field of only six starters, it was Kabelo Matsunyane who produced the goods when he unleashed the 66-1 shot Princess Keira late in the race to beat stablemate Alta Capitana (9-2) by 0,30 lengths in a time of 87,07 secs for the 1400m.
Impressive debut winner Rachel Wall (11-10), who races in the same silks as the winner out of the Peter stable, was prominent for a long way, but had no answers and was beaten a further length back in third.
Kabelo Matsunyane flies up wide on Princess Keira to nab stablemate Alta Capitana (Richard Fourie, striped cap) in a Tarry 1-2. Rachel Wall (Gavin Lerena, white stars) completes the trifecta | Credit: JC Photos
Princess Keira paid R38-40 a win, and R9-70 a place.
A R600 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Princess Keira was bred by Big Sky Ranch and is a daughter of SA champion freshman
sire One World (Captain Al) out of the one-time winning Kahal mare, Princess Stephanie.
Now a one-time winner from her 5 starts with a place included, she took her stakes to R105 313, and also banked a R100 000 BSA Juvenile winner bonus for her owners.
VARSFONTEIN CELEBRATES TGIF TREBLE
Malesela Katjedi has Greenlitealltheway in full flight | Credit: Pauline Herman
Varsfontein Stud capped a treble at Fairview on Friday when the 3yo Greenlitealltheway finally registered an overdue second career victory with a smart win in the non black-type R150 000 Wedgewood Handicap.
Clearly relishing the step up in trip and carrying a galloping weight of 52kgs, Greenlitealltheway (5-1) drew clear under Winning Formsponsored Malesela Katjedi to beat the 5-4 favourite First Wish by 3,50 lengths in a time of 151,46 secs for the 2400m.
The Riverton-bred Chere For Me (10-1) stayed on best for the Jacques Strydom yard for third, a further 1,75 lengths back.
With their Gr1 Gold Medallion success the highlight last Saturday, Glen Kotzen’s yard has been in fine form recently and the feature victory – Juan Nel did the honours of saddling – crowned a double after Sweetie Darling won earlier.
The beautifully-bred winner is out of champion Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the four-time winning Jet Master mare, Touch The Sky. This is the Mystic Spring family and there will be serious efforts to get her some black-type credit in the next few months!
Greenlitealltheway has now won 2 races with 6 places from 13 starts for stakes of R197 513. Training honours were shared at a double apiece by Glen Kotzen, Gavin Smith and Alan Greeff.
Earlier in the day, Alan Greeff’s Hollywoodbets Durban July entrants My Best Shot and Joy And Peace wound up their big-race preps. My Best Shot registered his tenth career victory and his sixth in a row in impressive fashion. Joy And Peace appeared to tire late.
Richard Fourie rode three winners, while Craig Zackey kept the national log chase pressure up with a double. It will be a big weekend for both, as well as Gavin Lerena.
The next Fairview racemeeting is on Friday 13 June (lucky for some?) on the Fairview polytrack.
THE KING RETAINS HIS RATING
Dave The King retained his official merit rating of 128 following his victory in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
The Handicappers determined that he had performed to his mark and used him as the benchmark for assessing the race, given that he won this event last year.
Three runners received merit rating increases:
Oriental Charm (2nd): Up from 125 to 127
Gladatorian (3rd): Raised from 123 to 127
Cosmic Speed (4th): Adjusted from 125 to 126
Meanwhile, four horses had their ratings reduced:
Royal Aussie: Dropped from 124 to 122
Café Culture: Lowered from 128 to 126
Purple Pitcher: Trimmed from 123 to 122
Montien: Reduced from 129 to 126—while he raced wide and tired in the straight, the Handicappers noted that he had not subsequently confirmed the 129 performance
he produced in the Grade 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate, where he finished second to the 132-rated One Stripe while conceding 5kg under Weight for Age terms.
The re-assessment of this horse was not based on his disappointing run in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge but on his two previous performances.
HKJC World Pool Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes
Green Sapphire’s official merit rating has been raised from 104 to 109 after her victory in the HKJC World Pool Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes for fillies and mares over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
The Handicappers agreed to use fourth-place finisher Oxalis Gold as the line horse, keeping her rating unchanged at 107.
Five other runners earned rating increases:
Callmegetrix (2nd place): Up from 99 to 108 for outperforming the 107-rated line horse under Weight for Age conditions.
Minogue (3rd place): Adjusted from 107 to 108.
Sovereign Grant (5th place): Increased from 99 to 103.
Sonic Jet (6th place): Raised from 95 to 102.
Sohot Sowhat (8th place): Up from 94 to 101.
These changes were made to align with Handicap rules and maintain correct rankings for future eliminations. However, unplaced runners were not fully rated for their performances due to the compact finish, which may have flattered them.
No merit rating reductions were issued for any runners.
Hollywoodbets
Dolphins Gr3 Cup Trial
Madison Valley’s official merit rating was increased from 113 to 115 following his victory in the Hollywoodbets Dolphins Gr3 Cup Trial over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
Underworld as the appropriate line horse, keeping his rating at 109. Third-place finisher On My Honour also performed to his mark, effectively making him another a line horse as well.
Four horses had their ratings reduced:
Thunee Playa: Lowered from 105 to 104.
Hotarubi: Dropped from 112 to 109.
Ponte Pietra: Reduced from 108 to 106.
Pacaya: Adjusted downward from 118 to 115.
4Racing Gr3 Jubilee Stakes
Immediate Edge saw his official merit rating rise from 102 to 108 after a dominant win in the 4Racing Gr3 Jubilee Stakes over 1800m at Turffontein Racecourse on Sunday. The Handicappers chose Olivia’s Way (second place) and Atticus Finch (third place) as benchmarks, keeping their ratings at 112 and 121, respectively.
Despite delivering a performance beyond the 108 level, Immediate Edge’s rating was capped at 108 due to race conditions limiting increases for winners to six points and prohibiting adjustments for placed runners.
The Handicappers identified runner-up
Notably, Immediate Edge had his rating increased from 94 to 101 for an unplaced finish in the Grade 1 SA Derby - a figure that was swiftly validated by his subsequent performances. However, his official rating does not fully reflect his rapid improvement or current ability due to the applied ratings protection, making it somewhat misleading.
Furthermore, the rating protection received here is negated in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, as
Immediate Edge will carry 53kg under the race conditions, effectively competing off a gross rating of 117 if the weights were to be finalised today.
Two horses had their ratings reduced:
La Moohal: Dropped from 95 to 93.
Infinite Wonder: Adjusted from 100 to 96.
Media release by the NHA on Tuesday, 10 June 2025.
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LEGACY… BUILDING A
South African horseracing industry boasts a proud and colourful history stretching back to the 1880s.
But, as with many long-standing traditions, pieces of that past have slowly slipped through the cracks. Without proper preservation, we risk losing much of what’s left of it, to the natural passage of time. As a new generation of racing fans emerges, memories fade, stories are forgotten, and valuable records are left to gather dust.
In the earliest years, it’s understandable — record-keeping was informal, and there were few, if any, custodians to protect the details. But even through the 1900s and into the modern era, efforts to document and preserve the sport’s milestones have been patchy at best.
There’ve been some good attempts, no doubt, but a lack of funding, changes in management, staff turnover, and perhaps a bit of apathy, have left us with a fragmented archive. Photos, records, and stories are sitting in scattered boxes, forgotten folders, and old servers that don’t talk to each other.
Compared to some other racing nations, South Africa is still catching up when it comes to properly recording and celebrating its rich history.
And that’s not even touching on the National Horseracing Authority’s stud book, an area that’s come under criticism, and where the situation remains unclear at best.
Veteran trainer Paul Lafferty recently suggested a proper South African Racing Hall of Fame. The idea has been met with quiet enthusiasm. It wouldn’t just be about honouring legends of the sport.
If supported by the right sponsor and backed by a single, centralised historical database, it could finally pull all those scattered pieces into one accessible, well-managed home.
Lafferty said: “It’s sad to think how many of our legendary racing personalities — and horses, for that matter — have gone unrecognised. Just think back to names like Syd Garrett, Tiger Wright, Johnny McCreedy, even Terrance Millard.”
In the United States, they established their National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame back in 1950. It honours the achievements of horses, jockeys, and trainers, and includes a museum with a vast collection of art and memorabilia dating back two centuries.
Australia followed with its Racing Hall of Fame in 2001, and the UK established its own version in 2021. Australia has a magnificent racing museum in the heart of Melbourne, while the UK’s is based at Newmarket. Their Halls of Fame are virtual, represented by official websites and recognised through annual inductions and awards.
“We should just start, get the project off the ground and establish a South African Hall Of Fame website, like they have in Australia and the UK. The rest will follow. It’s our duty to preserve racing’s history and honour the many who built it,” Lafferty added. “In my view, we should start as
far back as possible and work our way forward. And I believe it’s equally important to recognise the administrators and the many men and women who gave most of their lives in service to this industry.”
A proposed National Racing Hall of Fame would operate far more effectively if the many fragmented pieces of our racing history could be drawn together into one cohesive whole. Centralising these resources isn’t just a matter of convenience, it’s the key to creating a lasting tribute that honours the past.
John Freeman, Peter Kannemeyer and Lester Piggott | Credit: 4Racing
While a number of racing-related websites have come and gone, several valuable sources of news and historical racing information remain online, including The Sporting Post, sa-horseracing.com, and more recently, Turf Talk. Form-based databases like Formgrids and Racebook have also played an important role in capturing racing history in real time.
On the pedigree and breeding side, Raceform has provided excellent coverage of stallions,
while Jehan Malherbe and Charles Faull of the Form Organisation created aro.co.za in the late 1980s —the most comprehensive database of historical South African racing and breeding information.
This remarkable resource remains online and was followed in 2013 by the privately-supported Thoroughpedia project, also spearheaded by Malherbe and Faull.
Memorabilia at the TBA Museum | Credit: Supplied
Thoroughpedia was conceived as a central reference hub, built to channel decades of historical material assembled by Malherbe and Faull, including Faull’s exceptional archive of race photographs. The project has developed in fits and starts over the years, but according to Malherbe: “The nuts and bolts of Thoroughpedia were laid many years ago, and the back end is well developed with historic information at hand. It is ready to launch.”
Negotiations are currently underway with 4Racing, who recently relocated Form’s vast physical archive from Cape Town to Discover
Digital Studios in Kyalami, Johannesburg, the home to 4Racing’s broadcast operations. The process of sifting through and arranging this trove of material in its new home has already begun.
The archive is now being carefully stacked and shelved in a dedicated area, laying the physical foundation for what could become one of the central physical archives of South African racing history.
Click on the image below to read the full story…
THE BOND STRENGTHENS EVERY DAY!
FOREVER FRIENDS
Established in 2020 by two friends with a shared passion, Forever Friends OTTB Second Careers has flourished under the steadfast leadership of Katelyn Whittington, following her partner’s progression within the racing industry.
Forever Friends OTTB Second Careers serves as a crucial bridge, professionally transitioning these equine athletes from their racing careers to fulfilling second chapters.
The presence of 20 stables allows for the comfortable transition from various training facilities, providing a necessary period of rest and assessment.
An on-site arena offers a safe and controlled space for evaluating each horse’s temperament, soundness, and potential for different disciplines, enabling the team to understand their capabilities beyond the racetrack.
The inclusion of a solarium speaks to a commitment to the physical well-being of these athletes, aiding in muscle recovery and overall comfort.
The dedication of skilled work rider Nicole is invaluable in assessing each horse’s current fitness level and retraining potential, while their outstanding photographer Sasha, captures compelling visuals that showcase the horses’ beauty and suitability to prospective homes, ultimately playing a vital role in matching each thoroughbred with the most appropriate and loving new family.
Nearing the remarkable milestone of 500 thoroughbreds successfully rehomed, the organization’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. From the celebrated ranks of Gr1 winners and Hollywoodbets Durban July contenders, to the everyday back-of-the-pack triers, each horse passing through their barn has embarked on incredible second careers.
Central to their success is the strong trust with their network of trainers, whom they diligently
keep informed about the ongoing journeys of the horses they once knew.
To follow the success stories of these versatile athletes, please visit Forever Friends on Facebook – click on the link below:
STALLION SERVICES AUCTION CAPE BREEDERS CLUB
The Cape Breeders Club have confirmed the dates for their very popular annual stallion services auction this year.
The auction will be held this year on the BSA Online Sales platform on 8 and 9 July.
With services to some outstanding stallions on sale, this auction is always popular and breeders looking to acquire a service to the right horse.
Below is the list of stallions, plus farms that have so generously donated services, who will have services available on the live auction:
Please click to download the silent bid information
Please address all enquiries to Wendy Probert at secretary@capebreeders.co.za
STALLIONS:
A CASE OF YOU
BUFFALO BILL CODY
CHARLES DICKENS
DANON PLATINA
DIGITAL AGE
ERIK THE RED
FIRE AWAY
GREEN WITH ENVY
HAWWAAM
JET DARK
LEGISLATE
MALMOOS
MASTER OF MY FATE
ONE WORLD
ORIENTAL CHARM
POINT LONSDALE
QUERARI
RAFEEF
SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT
VERCINGETORIX
WHAT A WINTER
STANDING AT:
DRAKENSTEIN STUD
WILGERBOSDRIFT STUD
DRAKENSTEIN STUD
MAURITZFONTEIN STUD
MAURITZFONTEIN STUD
VARSFONTEIN STUD
WILGERBOSDRIFT STUD
VARSFONTEIN STUD
WILGERBOSDRIFT STUD
DRAKENSTEIN STUD
CHEVELEY STUD
RIDGEMONT
VARSFONTEIN STUD
DRAKENSTEIN STUD
DRAKENSTEIN STUD
MAINE CHANCE FARMS
MAINE CHANCE FARMS
RIDGEMONT
VARSFONTEIN STUD
MAINE CHANCE FARMS
DRAKENSTEIN STUD
THE
Lambourn streaks clear to give Aidan O’Brien his eleventh Epsom Derby victory | Credit: Coolmore
When Lambourn won Saturday’s Betfred Gr1 Derby, he emulated both his sire Australia, whose dam Ouija Board won The Oaks in 2004, and Galileo, as winners of the Epsom classic.
Lambourn stormed away from his rivals to win and give Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien a record-extending 11th win in the Classic.
The 13-2 chance, ridden by Wayne Lordan, set a relentless gallop and could not be caught.
Outsider Lazy Griff (50-1) was three and threequarter lengths back in second, with Tennessee Stud (28-1) third.
Lambourn is the sixth Gr1 winner for Australia, whose other top-level winners include Pertemps St Leger winner Galileo Chrome and FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile presented by PDJF hero, Order Of Australia.
To date, Australia has registered nearly 50 stakes winners and a further 27 black type performers.
The chestnut has some very smart three-yearolds this year.
Lambourn (victorious in the Gr3 Boodles
Chester Vase prior to his Derby win) aside, Australia’s sophomores in 2025 include Gr3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes winner Wemightakedlongway and Gr1 Tattersalls Irish
1000 Guineas third place getter, Cercene.
Australia is also the sire of the exciting new Cape stallion Point Lonsdale. From the same female line as multiple champion sire Silvano, the versatile Point Lonsdale won group races at two, four and five, and won black type races over trips ranging in distance from 1400 to 2700 metres.
Point Lonsdale’s victories included a win in the 2021 Gr2 Futurity Stakes, with the Futurity Stakes’ past honour roll including notable stallions Giant’s Causeway, Teofilo and Woodman, among others.
Australia’s late, great sire Galileo continues to make his mark felt at Epsom. He is the paternal grandsire of Lambourn, and also of 2025 Gr1 Betfred Oaks winner Minnie Hauk. The latter is the third Oaks winner for Galileo’s remarkable son Frankel. The latter is also responsible for the Oaks winners Anapurna (2019) and Soul Sister (2023).
Galileo also occurs in the pedigrees of Oaks runner-up Whirl (whose dam Salsa is a Galileo full-sister to local stallion The United States) and third place finisher Desert Flower – the latter’s sire Night Of Thunder is out of the Galileo mare Forest Storm.
Galileo got on the board at Epsom last week, with his classic winning son Jan Brueghel winning the Gr1 Betfred Coronation Cup. The Coronation Cup runner-up Calandagan was sired by a son of Galileo, while third place finisher Giavellotto was produced by a daughter of Galileo.
Jan Brueghel joins the likes of Soldier Of Fortune and Highland Reel as Galileo sired Coronation Cup winners.
Remarkably, Galileo, the sire of five English Derby winners, is paternal or maternal grandsire of the last eight English Derby winners. The dual Derby winner’s name can also be found in the pedigrees of the last ten The Oaks winners!
However, the Galileo impact was not felt solely in Britain this weekend.
Galileo’s multiple graded stakes winning son Global View is the sire of Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Gr1` Gold Challenge winner Dave The King.
Another son, the ill-fated Kingsbarns, is the broodmare sire of Saturday’s Listed Hollywoodbets Gatecrasher Stakes winner Malmesbury Missile (Gimmethegreenlight).
SOVEREIGNTY HOLDS JOURNALISM TO WIN BELMONT STAKES
Sovereignty outran Journalism on Saturday in a Kentucky Derby rematch in the 157th Gr1 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.
Like last year, it featured the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winners. However, unlike last year, and for the first time since 2018, one of those two won to secure two of the three legs of the Triple Crown.
“I think they are three really good horses,” Sovereignty trainer Bill Mott said. “I’m glad [Sovereignty] was able to come back and have a race like he did in the Derby.”
Junior Alvarado celebrates after the Belmont | Credit: Belmont Stakes
It was the second Belmont win for Mott. He spends most of his summer tending to his horses at Saratoga, so winning the Belmont at Saratoga was extra special.
“This is home,” Mott said. “It’s the race we were pointing for after the Derby, and fortunately it worked out very well.
“The horse was good. Junior rode him well.”
It was the second Belmont at Saratoga, with renovations being made to its usual home at Belmont Park on Long Island.
Rodriguez, who made his Triple Crown debut, burst out and led the field of eight in the 1¼mile race until the top of the stretch when Journalism made a surge. Followed closely behind was Sovereignty, with jockey Junior Alvarado aboard. He caught Journalism almost instantly and ran away with it.
The 5-2 second favorite finished in 2:00.69, beating Preakness winner Journalism by three lengths.
“He broke very well again today like he’s been doing,” Alvarado said. “He put himself in a good spot. I was a little shocked how close,
but at the same time, I’m happy with how easily he was doing everything. As a jockey, I was very happy where he was.”
Journalism ended up in second again, and Baeza was third --- the same 1-2-3 as the Kentucky Derby. Journalism, the only horse to run in all three legs, entered the gate at the Belmont as the 2-1 favorite, with Baeza the third favorite at 7-2.
Sovereignty led off the first leg of the Triple Crown by winning the Derby in early May. The colt also edged Journalism in that race.
After the Derby win, the Godolphin-owned 3-year-old opted out of the Preakness to focus on the Belmont, forfeiting a shot at history to win the Triple Crown. The Triple Crown hasn’t been won since 2018, when Bob Baffert’s Justify won the 150th Belmont Stakes to secure the third jewel.
Despite winning both legs of the Triple Crown that Sovereignty entered, Mott and Godolphin’s Michael Banahan didn’t regret not running him in the Preakness Stakes.
“I think if you leave the races out of it, it’s what was the right thing to do for the horse,” Banahan said. “That’s what we talked about -- what was the right thing for the horse to do going forward?”
The Travers, at the end of the Saratoga meet, could be another loaded field and potentially another rematch between Journalism and Sovereignty.
“I’d love to come back and take a crack at the Travers in August,” Mott said. “It’s a race I’ve never won, but I think it’s a very important race for a three-year-old like Sovereignty. I think if he’s healthy, everybody would probably be in agreement that’s the race we would point to.”
One of the reasons Mott and Godolphin skipped the Preakness was that they didn’t want to exhaust the horse and wanted a long future for the three-year-old. There are a couple of stakes races later in the summer for threeyear-olds, but the main one is at the end of the year, the Travers Stakes.
FOR TOKYO GR1 WINNER BC ‘WIN AND YOU’RE IN’
Surging to the front nearing the final 100 meters, Shadai Racehorse Co. Ltd.’s Jantar Mantar (JPN) won Sunday’s $2.6 million Gr1 Yasuda Kinen by 1 1/2 lengths over Gaia Force (JPN) at Tokyo Racecourse.
With this victory Jantar Mantar earned a free berth into the $2 million FanDuel Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Mile through the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.
The Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is an international series of 93 stakes races in 15 countries whose winners receive automatic starting positions and fees paid into a corresponding race of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at Del Mar
Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, California.
Trained by Tomokazu Takano and ridden by Yuga Kawada, Jantar Mantar completed the 1 mile in 1:32.7 over a course rated as good to firm, earning his third Gr1 triumph. He returned to top form following a 13th-place finish in the Longines Gr1 Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin last December.
Before a crowd of 51,642 for the 75th running of the Yasuda Kinen, Jantar Mantar,
Yuga Kawada steers Jantar Mantar to victory on Sunday | Credit: JRA
the 4-1 second choice in his 2025 debut, broke alertly against 17 rivals and settled into third position behind Mad Cool (JPN). Keeping the keen colt in control while choosing the better part of the course off the rail and asking his mount to stay patient entering the stretch, Kawada gave Jantar Mantar the green light after the 400-meter pole, and the 4-year-old responded to take command just before the 100-meter marker and pulled away to win by a comfortable margin.
“The colt broke well and was in a good position in third to start, but then got a little over-excited as horses came from behind so I got a little worried,” said Kawada. “The colt just barely managed to contain himself as much as he could after that and I was still in doubt as to how he would respond at the stretch but, considering the circumstances, he really put in a good performance in the end and really exceeded my expectations as to how strong he is. He was unable race to his standard at all last time out but I’m glad that he was able to show his true form today.”
Runner-up Gaia Force raced in mid-division between rivals after a smooth break, then edged forward approaching the final turn as the 3-1 favored Soul Rush (JPN) passed him on the outside. After a brief struggle to find space to angle out early in the stretch, the 6-year-old son of Kitasan Black (JPN) unleased an impressive turn of foot soon after the furlong pole to overtake several rivals including Soul Rush by a neck for second.
Jantar Mantar won all three starts in his 2-yearold season including the Gr2 Daily Hai Nisai Stakes and the Gr1 Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes to become Japan’s Best 2-Year-Old Colt. He finished third in the Gr1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) and scored a victory in the Gr1 NHK Mile Cup in his spring campaign as a 3-year-old.
As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for Jantar Mantar to start in the FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Mile, which will be run at 1 mile on turf. Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.
BEACH BOMB
DRAKENSTEIN’S GALLANT IN DEFEAT
Beach Bomb in work at Del Mar last November | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Drakenstein’s former Cape-based dual Gr1 winner Beach Bomb ran a gallant race on Friday at Saratoga when she chased home Lael Stables’ star and North America’s leading grass filly She Feels Pretty in the $750 000 Gr1 New York Stakes.
She Feels Pretty was registering her fourth career Gr1 victory race for trainer Cherie DeVaux and gave e Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez his fourth triumph on day three of the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival.
In testing conditions after heavy rain soaked the Saratoga turf course throughout Friday afternoon and the deep, testing ground made the 1900m contest a test of stamina. She’s Feel Pretty clocked 2:00.76 – more than nine seconds slower than the course record.
She Feels Pretty cruised up to Beach Bomb without being asked for much, took the lead at the 400m and seemed poised for an easy victory.
But Lancaster Bomber’s SA-bred daughter was having none of that. Beach Bomb belatedly switched leads and battled back, refusing to give ground but in the end gaining none after She Feels Pretty passed her.
Trainer Graham Motion praised Beach Bomb’s gameness and former Capetonian finished
four lengths ahead of third-place Belleza, with Forever After All fourth, Miwa was fifth, Edict sixth, and Gimme A Nother – a second SA-bred Motion-trained horse, struggled badly with the going and finished last of seven.
Beach Bomb only had her first start stateside in August last year and has already won two Gr3 races.
Bred by Drakenstein, Beach Bomb is by deceased War Front stallion Lancaster Bomber out of Dynasty’s champion daughter, Beach Beauty.
Aidan O’Brien completed a remarkable Group 1 clean sweep at Epsom over the weekend with wins in the Coronation Cup, Oaks, and the Derby.
With these victories the Ballydoyle maestro is now odds-on to secure this season’s UK trainers’ title.
The blue riband race on the Flat, the Betfred Derby was won emphatically by Lambourn, a Coolmore homebred.
Described by his trainer as an uncomplicated horse, this son of 2014 Epsom hero Australia teamed up with Ballydoyle number two Wayne Lordan to eclipse his 17 rivals in sensational fashion and secure the 246th Epsom Derby.
Making all the running, Lambourn was doing it easily downhill and into the home straight and, while the likes of eventual runner-up Lazy Griff and the strong-travelling Midak at one stage looked poised to challenge, they never managed to get within striking distance of the winner.
As his stride lengthened, Lambourn’s lead extended and he finished three and threequarter lengths clear of the runner-up, Lazy Griff.
“He’s a lovely genuine horse, but when I jumped out, I was anxious to get him out and
into his stride because I know he stays well,” said Lordan.
“I just wanted to see the three-furlong pole so I could get going on him because I knew whatever was going to go by me would have to deserve to get by me and stay. When I got a flick into him passing the two, he went forward, and I knew that if I gave him another one, he’d go forward again. He was still galloping strong in that last furlong.”
Aidan O’Brien revealed that Lordan had been champing at the bit to ride both Friday’s narrow Oaks runner-up Whirl and Lambourn heading into the Derby meeting.
“Wayne rides him in all his work, and, after his last piece, he told me he’s absolutely there,” said O’Brien, who was winning the Derby for a record-extending 11th time.
O’Brien noted: “Lambourn is a brave horse who stays well, and Wayne [Lordan] gave him a great ride, he kept going really well. We’ll see how he is but at the moment, you’d be thinking of going to the Irish Derby next.”
When asked whether he could be a St Leger contender, O’Brien said: “He definitely could stay further. The way his mind is and how relaxed he is, there’s a good chance he could.”
On Friday, Jan Brueghel kicked off the Ballydoyle Group 1 haul in the Coronation Cup, showing all the resolution that was a hallmark of his unbeaten three-year-old campaign. The St Leger winner pulled out all the stops to repel the challenge of odds-on favourite Calandagan and prevail by half a length.
The King George could now be on the agenda, depending on how Tattersalls Gold Cup winner Los Angeles’s season progresses.
“We were delighted with him at Epsom,” said O’Brien.
“The King George could be an option, but it depends really on Los Angeles. He’s going to the Prince of Wales’s first and if he goes to the King George then Jan Brueghel won’t go there, but it’s a possibility. Los Angeles is the boss at the moment, and they will have to follow where he’s not going.”
got the better of a protracted duel with Whirl, eventually getting up by a neck at the line under Ryan Moore.
Unbeaten in her last three starts, the Frankel filly gave O’Brien his 11th Oaks and, like Lambourn, could attempt the Epsom-Curragh double this month when she would become the 17th filly to follow up in the Irish equivalent.
“We felt Minnie Hauk improved a lot since Chester, while Whirl was a very good winner of a Musidora which is a very good trial, and she got the mile and a half well. When Minnie Hauk got there, she was very green. When Ryan went to go past Wayne, she just felt it difficult on the track and she changed her legs and rolled, but that’s always very possible at Epsom.”
“The Irish Oaks is definitely a possibility for her, and we’ll see with Whirl.”
Later that afternoon, O’Brien saddled the first two home in the Oaks, in which Minnie Hauk
SCORES TOUGHEST OF WINS YOU WAHNG
Talented staying filly You Wahng sent her future broodmare soaring when she scored the toughest of wins in Saturday’s Gr1 A$700,000 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm.
Placed in the Australian Oaks at Randwick behind staying sensation Treasurethe Moment three runs back in mid-April, You Wahng went two spots better in Saturday’s Queensland fillies classic.
The Kris Lees-prepared daughter of So You Think ran a close up fifth in her Oaks lead up run in the recent Group Two The Roses. It was that run that gave rider Tommy Berry a great guide on how to best ride her this time around. “Yeah, look, lovely ride from Tommy,” Lees said.
You Wahng (Tommy Berry) wins the Gr1 Queensland Oaks | Credit: Magic Millions
“He was able to get us straight across from the gate and got into a lovely position in running.”
“He had a lot of horse coming to the corner, but I was always just a little guarded for that last furlong when she presented, but she was able to find under pressure.”
“She ran really well in an ATC Oaks, I think she was very plain at Gosford when we just gave her a fresh run. We applied a tongue tie, and it’s really worked out well. She’s reacted well in it.”
“She probably got to him a bit early in the Roses, so Tommy was adamant we just needed to hold her up for a furlong sprint and he produced her at the right time today,” Lees added.
Lees purchased You Wahng in partnership with leading international bloodstock agent Justin Bahen for A$150,000 from the Riversdale draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The filly was reared at Nick Hodges’ Riversdale property on behalf of his good friend, breeder Jeremy Kessell.
For Berry the Oaks win, not surprisingly, gave him great satisfaction.
“Great to do it for Kris,” a delighted Berry said. “We always had a great relationship and I have ridden for him on and off for a long time.”
“I remember he said, ‘I want you to ride this filly in the Kembla Grange Classic over a mile, I think she’s got something, I think she’ll be my Oaks filly’.”
“She was a little bit underdone last start with the let up between the Sydney Carnival and here.”
“She just felt so much more relaxed. She was just ready to go today. So, it was a brilliant training performance.”
“I learned my lesson last start. I got there too early on her. I really timed my run today and lucky she’s only half a horse wide because she could take them sticky little tight runs but it’s just unbelievable, it’s awesome to do it.”
“I wish I had my family here but they’re all in Canberra for Sharnee’s Dad’s birthday and Izzy, so happy birthday Izzy, I love you guys, can’t wait to see you all,” Berry added.
A daughter of globetrotting two-time Cox Plate winner So You Think (High Chaparral), You Wahng is the second stakes winner produced by her dam Wahng Wah.
A five-time winning daughter of Casino Prince – including three at metro level in Sydney –Wahng Wah has produced five runners to the track. Aside from You Wahng she is the dam of the Listed Princess Stakes winner Street Gossip.
Wahng Wah in turn is from a lightly raced Encosta de Lago mare who produced multiple stakes winner Warranty who is a three-quarter sister to Niagara and half-sister to Gathering, Florentina and California Turbo.
Florentina, a winner of the Gold Coast Guineas at Group Three level, is the dam of four-time United Stakes Group One winner In Italian.
• Winner: You Wahng
• Breeding: So You Think-Wahng Wah (Casino Prince)
• Race: BRC Queensland Oaks Gr1 (2200m)
• Sold for: A$150,000
• Sale: 2023 Magic Millions
Gold Coast Yearling Sale
• Earnings: A$596,900
• Breeder: Wall Street Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd
• Vendor: Riversdale (As Agent)
• Buyer: Lees Racing / Bahen Bloodstock
• Owners: R Power, JDG Van Doorn, Six Racing, M Cossettini, GM Harris, Mrs LA Harris, Ms DG McLoughlin, GT Lawler, RD Moore, Morley Racing, Mrs EM Morley, DW Morley, Gibbs Family Racing, Lees Racing Pty Ltd & Esky Black Racing
• Trainer: Kris Lees (Gold Coast)
ZOUSTAR’S JOLIESTAR SECURES KINGSFORD
Outstanding mare Joliestar (Zoustar) secured a third career Gr1 win with a staggering come-from-behind victory in Saturday’s Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm.
On a day when making up ground from back in the field proved exceptionally difficult, Joliestar looked destined to finish in the minor placings at best with jockey James McDonald in a seemingly impossible position halfway up the home straight.
But the 4YO mare – already a winner of the Gr1 Thousand Guineas and Gr1 Newmarket Hcp prior to today – produced a stunning final sectional to run down race leader and Inglis Digital graduate Zarastro in the final stride, setting up an Inglis graduates Gr1 quinella.
Joliestar (James McDonald) secured a third career Gr1 on Saturday | Credit: Inglis
The win also gave trainer Chris Waller a record 19th Gr1 for the Australian season.
Cambridge Stud’s Sir Brendan Lindsay, who just this week received a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the King’s Birthday Honours for his services to business and philanthropy, bought Joliestar for A$950,000 at the Easter Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Segenhoe Stud on behalf of her breeders Chris and Jane Barham.
Lindsay was trackside and couldn’t believe what he witnessed.
“What a performance! That really was something special today,’’ Lindsay said. “I didn’t know we’d won, I actually thought we’d got beat to be honest, but she just dug in late and got there.
“James McDonald said to us after the race that we were no chance turning for home, you just couldn’t come from back there today, but she just wanted it and when she sets her mind to a task, she gets the job done.
“She’s just such a quality mare, she doesn’t know how to run a bad race.’’
Joliestar has now won six of her 15 career starts for A$4.5m in prizemoney.
Winning trainer Waller added: “It’s been hard to run the leaders down today, but we discussed pre-race that we can’t change our racing pattern and James did a great job to get her home.
“She was off the bridle at the 500m but to her credit she just kept coming.
“She’s a pleasure to be training. The Gold Coast staff at the stables call her the queen and she was the queen of Queensland today. She’s a lovely horse with a great record, she did it at three, she’s won a Newmarket and had a lot of bad luck along the way.’’
Saturday’s Kingsford Smith Cup will be Joliestar’s sole run this preparation. She will now spell and return for a spring campaign which is likely to include the Gr1 $20m The Everest at Randwick on October 18.
Earlier on the Eagle Farm program the 4YO Transatlantic (Snitzel) scored a sixth career win at just start No.16 with victory in the Listed Spear Chief Handicap.
Trainer Tony Gollan – who teamed up with John Foote and Harbour Equine to buy Transatlantic for A$360,000 from Segenhoe’s draft at the 2022 Easter Yearling Sale – hopes the win will lead to a weight penalty sufficient to get the horse into next week’s Gr1 Stradbroke Hcp.
Should he make the field, Transatlantic will be joined by another Inglis graduate in the shape of 3YO filly Spicy Martini (Justify), who, on Wednesday (04 June), won the rescheduled
Gr3 Fred Best Classic over 1350m at Doomben.
The Toby Edmonds and Stephen McLean trainee was winning her third Stakes race and first at Group level having been bought for just A$8000 when offered as a yearling by Coolmore through the Inglis Digital March (Early) Online Sale in 2023.
Click here for more from Inglis.
A PERFECT DAY FOR DE MELO
The Chris So-trained Perfectday pounced late to snare the Class 4 Kwong Tin Handicap at Sha Tin on Sunday to give Keagan De Melo a winner, after the SA Jockey Academy graduate broke a long losing streak last Wednesday.
De Melo made perfect use of barrier one to sit third behind Wonderstar and Lunar Dash before striking on the post for a short-head win. But the day belonged to David Eustace who added further lustre to a burgeoning Hong Kong
debut season when emerging talent Light Years
Charm swept to victory in the HK$2.84 million
Class 2 Lee On Handicap, presenting the young trainer with his 30th winner of the campaign.
Keagan De Melo now has 11 wins for the season | Credit: HKJC
By Rubick, Light Years Charm (121lb) gave Eustace his first Class 2 triumph and collected a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million – plus prizemoney of HK$1.59 million – after Zac Purton patiently piloted the four-year-old to his third win from eight starts.
Sold in Australia at the 2022 HTBA May Yearling Sale for A$3,750 (approx. HK$19,106), Light Years Charm took his Hong Kong earnings to HK$7.6 million after transferring from Brett Dodson’s stables as the winner of a maiden over 1410m in June, 2024 at Lismore, New South Wales.
Slowly away, Light Years Charm was allowed to settle and build momentum at the tail of the field before Purton angled the gelding to the outside of the eight-horse field, clocking 44.58s for the final 800m and 22.37s for the last 400m.
“It was a perfect ride. The horse actually did jump better than he normally does but he got squeezed at the start. Zac took his time and assessed the pace up front and the horse lengthened really well,” Eustace said.
“He’ll definitely appreciate a break and I hope he’ll get better next season. He’s doing nothing wrong at the moment. He’s obviously going to have to continue to improve, but hopefully he can.
“It’s hard to know what the ceiling is. He’s only
four and he’s a big, raw horse. It would be wrong for me to put targets on his back. We’ll see how far he gets.”
With 30 wins from 303 starters, Eustace has impacted strongly in his first season.
“Happy with how it’s gone so far. They’ve raced well and consistently and the team at home are doing a great job. We’ll try and round the season out well,” he said.
Purton stretched his lead in the jockeys’ championship to 52 with a double with 118 wins for the term, well clear of Hugh Bowman (66), and praised Light Years Charm.
“It was a really good effort. He actually didn’t begin that bad but the runner on the inside and the runner on the outside both shifted ground so that put him on the back foot, but I just left him alone,” Purton said.
John Size edged closer to a record-extending 13th trainers’ championship with a double, stretching his lead over David Hayes to eight with 62 wins to 54 with 10 meetings left in the season.
Size’s Ping Hai Comet surged away with the Class 4 Lam Tin Handicap (1600m) under Purton before
Brenton Avdulla scored on Majestic Express in the Class 3 On Yam Handicap (1000m), earning a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million.
Antoine Hamelin notched his eighth winner of the season, striking on Caspar Fownes-trained Sky Prophet in the Class 5 Chung On Handicap (1400m).
“It’s nice to get a winner today – it’s hot, but it’s less hot when you win,” the Frenchman smiled.
“I think the horse was in good form and didn’t to deserve to so be so long (18/1) on the odds. I believed in him, I thought he was a chance, the only concern was the draw (barrier 13). But he
had a good start, he led, he controlled the race and he held that to the line.”
Britney Wong’s reunion with Cheval Valiant led to victory in the Class 4 Lai On Handicap (1000m) for Douglas Whyte and gave the 10lb-claiming apprentice a double.
“He was my first win (in Hong Kong on 22 September, 2024) and I know him very well. Thank you to Mr Whyte for putting me back on because I have to chase this ride, actually, and I’m happy that everything has gone well today and I have had another win,” Wong said. “I’m very happy.”
Light Years Charm wins under Zac Purton | Credit: HKJC
Ruby Sailing landed the Class 5 Chak On Handicap (1200m) under Wong to give Manfred Man a winner across each of the past seven meetings. Wong, 26, has ridden nine of her 18 winners this season for Man.
Star Satyr profited from an economical run from barrier two for Angus Chung in winning the Class 4 Mei Tin Handicap (1400m) for Tony Cruz before Francis Lui’s Superb Kid swept to victory under
Luke Ferraris in the Class 3 Ping Tin Handicap (1400m).
Benno Yung’s Aeris Nova posted a tough win in the Class 3 Tin Wan Handicap (1200m) under Derek Leung, claiming his second Hong Kong victory despite sitting wide. By Justify, the colt won two races in Australia as Scentify when trained by Ciaron Maher.
Cheval Valiant wins under Britney Wong | Credit: HKJC
Mr
J O CK E YS results up to: 2025-06-11
10,219,381 9,128,563 6,070,281 6,303,438 26,206,469 13,918,084 13,854,188 10,419,588 9,676,050
25,641,531 21,053,906 18,806,163 9,719,156 7,853,469 32,658,048 30,039,931 27,635,035 16,590,219 13,068,531
29,022,405 23,663,729 14,714,358 11,810,594 BREEDERS
31,748,695 21,289,238 17,493,754 16,244,115 15,275,154 S I RE S T R A I NER S
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