Issuu

Wednesday 11 March 2026

RC S PREMIER YEARLING SALE ‘26

r ea

S Pr e mi e

17 UP! 11 MARCH 2026 | 1

g S ale ‘ 2 6

SUPPLEMENT INSIDE

r li n

li n g

S Pr e mi

S ale ‘ 2 6

IT’S PREMIER

TIME! v

Moutonshoek Magic 1st and 3rd in the Grade 1!

Dazy - 2 Down, 1 To Go! A story of a fabulous filly

RCS Premier Yearling Sale The supplement!

120

William The Jet Plane The 7yo is on fire!

134

100 Up For Arundels Winning owners celebrate

On the cover The Ridgemont-bred Rafeef gelding William Robertson lumbered top weight under Ryan Munger to register his 17th career victory in the TAB Gr3 JJ The Jet Plane Stakes at Turffontein last Saturday. His longevity is a tribute to the Corne Spies Racing Team, his breeders and his sire. Image is courtesy of JC Photographics. Read more on pages 38 and 131.

Issue: 10/2026

2 | 11 MARCH 2026

GUESS WHO’S ‘ALMOST’ BACK? It’s been close on two months since popular multiple Equus Award-winning photographer Candiese Lenferna was seriously injured in a car accident on her return from an assignment in the KZN Midlands. It was thus a pleasant surprise to receive a small batch of images in our inbox this week – her first in a while! Candiese apparently managed to snap the shots from her husband Warren’s vehicle – seriously at Summerveld last Friday! The industrious photographer, whose daughter Julia has stepped seamlessly into the breach on course, is making steady progress at home after many weeks in hospital and is chasing the clock to be back in time for SA Champions Season. If you are wondering, the two gents in the pic are Andrew Fortune, himself on the light-duty list, and Sporting Post’s Grade 1-winning stalwart, Tristan Godden. Get well soon, Candiese! 11 MARCH 2026 | 3

Tin Pan Alley powers away from the opposition under Keagan de Melo | Credit: JC Photos v

4 | 11 MARCH 2026

TARRY SEALS v

ANOTHER HORSE CHESTNUT Trainer Sean Tarry celebrated five winners in ten renewals of the R1,5 million Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday when Keagan de Melo steered Tin Pan Alley, the only 3yo in the line-up, to victory. On a memorable afternoon for Dr Bennie van der Merwe and his Moutonshoek team after Galileo stallion The United States’ daughter Care Forgot had earlier won the Listed Acacia, Tin Pan Alley (4-1) powered away from his opposition under Keagan de Melo to beat the strongfinishing Cape raider See It Again (3-1) by 3,75 lengths in a time of 98,86 secs for the mile. The 2025 runner-up Texas Red (50-1), who, like winner, is a son of Moutonhsoek’s Galileo sire The United States, stayed on a head back in third, with pacesetter Fire Attack (10-1) capping the quartet.

Prince (33-20) finished well downfield and did not appear to enjoy the underfoot conditions. Bred, as noted, by Moutonshoek, the very progressive Tin Pan Alley is now a Gr1, Gr2 and Gr3 winner and races for the Wernars family in partnership with Dayalan Chinsammy. A R500 000 National 2yo Sale purchase, Tin Pan Alley is by Galileo stallion The United States out of the Querari mare, The Entertainer. A winner of 6 races with 4 places from his 12 starts, Tin Pan Alley took his stakes earnings to R2 134 844.

L’Ormarins Ling’s Plate winner and tote favourite, The Real 11 MARCH 2026 | 5

6 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 7

‘NO EXCUSES’ v

KANNEMEYER PRINCE NOW AIMS AT HOLLYWOODBETS GOLD CHALLENGE

The Real Prince and Craig Zackey will be chasing gold in KZN | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Hollywoodbets Durban July and L’Ormarins King’s Plate champion The Real Prince emptied his manger and was happily back in his Summerveld box on Sunday evening after a trip to the Highveld that probably built more character than career credits. The Real Prince started a 33-20 favourite for the Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein on Classic day and ran the worst race of his illustrious career, when beaten 10,75 lengths by Tarry 3yo, Tin Pan Alley. “This was the right race. The conditions. The mile. The long straight. It fitted perfectly into his programme after we freshened him up post his third in the WSB Cape Town Met at end of January. We travelled from Durban on Friday and arrived just after 13h00. He travelled beautifully, was mildly uptight in his new surroundings, but nothing of consequence. He went for a nice long walk. He was 100% on track,” observed Dean 8 | 11 MARCH 2026

Kannemeyer in a chat with the Sporting Post on Monday. Dean said there was much talk about the underfoot conditions on Saturday. “The Turffontein track held up beautifully, so there are no excuses on that front. The Real Prince did cast a shoe in running and Craig (Zackey) reported a breathing noise. And when he asked the question, there was nothing to come. All I can tell you is that they are not ten lengths better than him. We have put a line through this run and will get up off the canvas and box on. I will aim him at the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge and see how we get treated at the weights for a possible title defence in the Hollywoodbets Durban July.” Kannemeyer said that his string of ‘predominantly young horses’ would be leaving Milnerton in the next week or two for Summerveld.

11 MARCH 2026 | 9

Grand Empire (Craig Zackey) gets the better of Trust (Serino Moodley) in a thriller | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

TARRY EMPIRE STRIKES BACK!

A race run in two parts, the R1,5 million HKJC World Pool Gr1 SA Classic run at Turffontein on Saturday produced a cliffhanger of a finish with Craig Zackey and Hein and Hester Koen’s Grand Empire holding the flying Trust by a nose. A man for the big days for as long as we can remember, Sean Tarry was celebrating his third feature strike of the day and the former multiple champion conditioner’s second Gr1 SA Classic winner, that after Raymond Danielson had steered French Navy to victory in 2015. 10 | 11 MARCH 2026

Calvin Habib took All Systems Go out to lead ahead of Yipee Kiyay and Radio Star, with a separate pack some lengths back, led by Trust. In the run for home, the efforts of the top trio, who had gone at an honest gallop, took their toll and the backmarkers made up ground. Chief amongst those was Grand Empire (112) and Trust (9-2), who were separated by a nose, with a time of 112,61 secs registered for the 1800m.

4Racing’s Colin Gordon hands trainer Sean Tarry the trophy | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Triple Crown first leg winner Splittheeighths (7-2) was 1,75 lengths back in third. “I knew momentum was in my favour at the finish. The other horse just arrived a stride too late,” enthused Craig Zackey, who won the Horse Chestnut last year on Cosmic Speed in the same silks. Sean Tarry lauded trainer Eric Sands who had been the original conditioner of Grand Empire, before the gelding was relocated to the Highveld.

A R400 000 National Yearling Sale buy, the winner was bred by Al Adiyaat and is a gelded son of Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the one-time winning Potala Palace mare, Palace Of Dreams. A winner from 1160m to 1800m, Sean Tarry said he wasn’t convinced that his charge would stay 1800m, but having done it on a ‘sticky’ Turffontein standside, he could well be a Daily News and Hollywoodbets Durban July candidate this season.

11 MARCH 2026 | 11

12 | 11 MARCH 2026

Hazy Dazy saunters in under Trent Mayhew | Credit: JC photos

DAZY & TRENT BLOOM BRIGHT!

A bargain BSA December 2023 Online sale R37 500 purchase, Hazy Dazy’s sensational victory at Turffontein on Saturday in the R1 250 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic epitomized all the good things about this often maligned game.

Mayhew, who courageously returned to the saddle last year after an injury, has only ridden just over 54 career winners at a win strike-rate of 6%, but did everything right in the pressure cooker of the Grade 1 arena on Saturday.

Loyalty is the lingering thought.

Without a pacemaker, he had the courage to go up and make the pace. And then fooled everybody when taking that nerve-wracking ‘breather’ in sight of the winning post!

Corne Spies and his owners’ decision to stay staunch in a Grade 1 race to apprentice Trent Mayhew, who has admittedly done nothing wrong on their star filly to date, paid handsome dividends.

11 MARCH 2026 | 13

All’s well that ends well though, and Hazy Dazy’s gallant showing when looking dead and buried at the 350m marker set her up for a bid to become the sixth SA Triple Tiara winner, and her sire Act Of War’s second, after the Waterman-Wentzel’s War Of Athena in 2021. In an extraordinary race, Hazy Dazy (1-1) kept at her task after being headed – we called it a ‘breather’ – to register 114,17 secs for the 1800m and beat the strong-finishing Gqbereha raider Golden Palm (9-2) by a length, with Scarlett Heart (66-1) running a cracker in third. Bred by Breedon Stud Close Corporation, the winner is a daughter of Act Of War (Dynasty) out of the Eightfold Path mare, Rabbedoe.

purchase, Hazy Dazy has now won 6 races with 1 place from her 8 starts for stakes of R1 671 738. The five Triple Tiara winners to date are Igugu (Galileo), Cherry On The Top (Tiger Ridge), Summer Pudding (Silvano), War Of Athena (Act Of War) and Rain In Holland (Duke Of Marmalade). We now set sights on 4 April and the Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 SA Oaks. Hazy Dazy’s owners Mr & Mrs D Dasrath, Messrs R P Macnab, S Poriazis, Vikash Sobaren, Xander Spies & D Vayapuri are now in line for the realization of a dream and the bonus of R1 million payable to the winner of all three legs of the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara.

A BSA December ’23 Online sale R37 500

The happy Hazy Dazy fans! | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

14 | 11 MARCH 2026

2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 15

THE

UNITED STATES

A WORLDBEATER

They say timing is everything, and not in Bennie’s wildest dreams could he have foreseen how the female line of The United States would explode after he arrived at Moutonshoek

The United States’ son Tin Pan Alley storms clear under Keagan de Melo to win Saturday’s Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes. Tin Pan Alley has a full-sister on the upcoming BSA National Yearling Sale Credit: Photos 2026 16 | 11JCMARCH

Two Gr1 winners in the space of two months best illustrates the rise to prominence of Moutonshoek stallion The United States. The son of Galileo struck with a landmark first Gr1 winner on 10 January when Kingdundee came, saw and conquered Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in the HKJC World Pool Gr1 Cape Flying Championship. It was an historical occasion, for not only was he the first Eastern Province-trained winner of the hallowed sprint, he also provided fledgling trainer Dean Smith with a maiden Gr1 success. Barely two months later, the stallion struck at Gr1 level at Turffontein, courtesy of threeyear-old son Tin Pan Alley, who showed his older rivals a clean pair of heels in the Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, with third place going to another of his sire’s offspring, Texas Red. Tin Pan Alley completed a stakes double for The United States as paternal half-sister and stable companion Care Forgot claimed the Listed Acacia Handicap earlier on the day. Both Tin Pan Alley and Care Forgot were bred by Moutonshoek and understandably, stud owner Dr Bennie van der Merwe was as proud as punch. “This was always on the cards,” he was quick to point out. “His current stats are phenomenal. Amongst the top ten stallions, only Vercingetorix is his superior when it comes to average earnings per runner and percentage of winners.” The United States arrived at Moutonshoek in 2017 from Australia of all places. The Irishbred chestnut won at Gr3 level in his birth

country, but blossomed into a Gr1 winner Down Under, when he won the Gr1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill. Bennie recalls how the horse came to his attention. “Australian bloodstock agent Paul Guy came to the farm one day and suggested I look at The United Stares, as Australian studs had shown no interest in standing a son of Galileo.” At that stage, The United States was still in training at age seven. What piqued Bennie’s interest was not just the Galileo factor, but also the female line, which is that of champion sprinter and successful sire, Last Tycoon. “He was out of a speedy mare, while his own sister Fire Lily, although not a Gr1 winner, was a champion sprinter. We started negotiations and with Jehan Malherbe of Form Bloodstock doing the heavy lifting, we managed to secure the horse.” They say timing is everything, and not in Bennie’s wildest dreams could he have foreseen how the female line of The United States would explode after he arrived at Moutonshoek, and now rates as one of the hottest families around. By the time his first foals hit the ground, he was a full brother to two Gr1 winning fillies trained by Aidan O’Brien. They were the Gr1 Matron Stakes and Champion Stakes winner Hydrangea and Hermosa, who claimed both the English and Irish 1000 Guineas. Both have since become stakes producers in their own right. 11 MARCH 2026 | 17

The United States - a son of Galileo out of Beauty Is Truth (Pivotal) | Credit: Supplied

“We would never have got him if they had been born before him,” Bennie admitted. The launch of the young stallion’s stud career was anything but a bed of roses, for the season had barely started when a foot injury sent him to the sidelines, resulting in a small first crop which numbered just 10 live foals. Nevertheless, The United States made a dream start to his stallion career with his very first runner, the filly Sheela. The Drakenstein homebred made a spectacular winning debut in the Listed Storm Bird Stakes, where she ran her male rivals off their feet to score by the best part of four lengths and immediately followed up with another splendid win in the Gr2 SA Nursery, before finishing third in the Gr1 Allan Robertson Fillies. 18 | 11 MARCH 2026

Racing is very much a numbers game, hence any interruption to a stallion’s career is not to be taken lightly and when it strikes early, can be catastrophic. It was therefore particularly satisfying that The United States made a full recovery and sired sizeable second and third crops. From his second crop came three Gr1 performers: abovementioned Texas Red, Without Question, who finished third in all of the Met, Daily News 2000 and Cape Derby, and Billy Bowlegs, who was runner-up in the SA Derby and third in the SA Classic. Third-crop daughter Rodeo Drive narrowly missed out on Gr1 honours when she went down by a neck to Quid Pro Quo in the Allan Robertson Championship, while The

11 MARCH 2026 | 19

Specialist chased home VJ’s Angel in the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes. Tin Pan Alley is one of two Gr1-performers amongst his sire’s current crop of three-yearolds, the other being Intensity, who finished third in the Gold Medallion at two last season. Bennie is understandably bullish about his prized stallion, especially as the quality of mares has improved since the early days. “His current crop of yearlings are out of proper mares,” he added. The upcoming Race Coast Premier Yearling Sale bears testament to that statement, given that the seven The United States lots catalogued include siblings to Gr2 winners Cockney Pride and Green Plains, as well as colts out of Gr1 winner Bilateral and Gr2 winner Maryah, respectively. While Moutonshoek will not be represented at the Premier Sale, Bennie is looking forward to next month’s National Yearling Sale, where

The United States has 18 catalogued. Prospective buyers take note. “We will be offering a full sister to Tin Pan Alley and a half-sister to Care Forgot,” Bennie pointed out. It was always going to be a question of when, not if, The United States would deliver and with two quickfire Gr1 winners to his name, breeders should be clamouring for his services. As to which mares suit him physically, Bennie quipped: “If you need to improve your mare, The United States is your go-to stallion. He is flippin close to being Mr Fixit!” As for temperament, Bennie paid the horse the highest compliment: “He’s the nicest stallion I have worked with. When he suffered that foot injury, he spent four and a half months in a Robert Jones bandage. That would test any stallion, yet it never soured him.”

The United States (white blaze) during his racing days | Credit: Supplied

20 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 21

Xander Spies enjoys the post-race euphoria at Turffontein on Saturday | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

XANDERSTRUCK!

A third-generation member of the renowned Spies Racing family, 29 year old Xander Spies enjoyed a pinnacle day in his and his famous family’s racing life at Turffontein on Saturday when Trent Mayhew guided Hazy Dazy to a sensational victory in the second leg of the SA Triple Tiara. The name Spies has been around SA racing for over a half century. Xander’s grandfather Tobie, a revered trainer who is still at the yard every day, laid the foundation, while his father, Corné Spies, continues as a celebrated trainer and a man who mastered 22 | 11 MARCH 2026

the art of travelling horses. Corne Spies also won the Northern Cape award for Champion Racehorse Owner in the 2009/2010 racing season and during the 2014 and 2015 racing seasons, he raced a string in Zimbabwe and won that country’s Trainers’ Title for the 2014/2015 racing season.

This season has already delivered 5 stakes victories for the Hollywood bets-sponsored yard, and an even more remarkable statistic is that all five have come from their crop of 3-year-olds and older -of which they only have 14 older horses in training!

Chatting to the Sporting Post after flying into Cape Town with his Dad on Tuesday morning for the Race Coast Sales Premier Yearling Sale on Friday and Saturday, the personable Xander was still smiling after a memorable Saturday where the team’s R37 500 purchase Hazy Dazy booked her bid for SA Triple Tiara glory on 4 April when she cruised home to win the R1 250 000 Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic. A Legal Eagle – he qualified with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) at North-West University in Potchefstroom back in 2019 - Xander admits that his heart was somewhere between his throat and his impeccably shiny shoes at the 300m, when Hazy Dazy appeared to be swallowed up by faster-finishers, after leading the stampede. “Wasn’t that just amazing. She looked dead and buried. Trent (Mayhew) played it down afterwards, suggesting she was simply gathering her stride and having a breather. It all looks so beautifully scripted afterwards. Full marks to the filly and to young Trent. It took nerves of steel and confidence in his mount to take up the pace cudgel early, especially with so many enthusiastic and expectant owners breathing down his neck and waiting for him at the number 1 box!” laughs Xander, who adds ‘no pressure!’ It was a beautiful case of loyalty rewarded as Corne Spies and his owners’ decision to stay staunch in the Gr1 race to apprentice Trent Mayhew, who has admittedly done nothing wrong on their star filly to date, paid handsome dividends. Mayhew, who courageously returned to the saddle last year after an injury, has only ridden just over 54 career winners at a win strike-rate of 6%, but did everything right in the big-race pressure cooker on Saturday.

Randjesfontein-resident Hazy Dazy now bids for her place in history as our sixth SA Triple Tiara winner, and her sire Act Of War’s second, after the Waterman-Wentzel’s War Of Athena in 2021. Owners Mr & Mrs D Dasrath, Rob Macnab, Steve Poriazis, Vikash Sobaren, D Vayapuri, and the irrepressible Xander Spies, have doubtless already booked their table for the early April afternoon! The day didn’t end for the Spies team with Hazy Dazy’s strike, and a few hours later it was their Ridgemont-bred Rafeef soldier William Robertson, who races in the same silks, who beat top-class opponents – and the doubters - with a massive effort from an insider draw under top weight to register an extraordinary 17th career victory, digging deep late to record his second win in the R300 000 TAB Gr2 JJ The Jet Plane Stakes. The Spies team has followed the same trajectory as their 2025 programme with William Robertson, who now looks very ready to defend his Gr1 Computaform Sprint crown on 4 April. Raced in a partnership by Rob Macnab (who celebrated his first Turffontein double in a lifetime of racing), Keegan Govender, Xander Spies, Corne Spies Racing (Pty) Ltd & Jannie de Lange’s Waste Glass Recovery (Pty) Ltd, William Robertson is by a former Computaform Sprint winner in the fabulous Rafeef (Redoute’s Choice), out of the thricewinning Trippi mare, Massachusetts. William Robertson was born at Ridgemont in the beautiful Robertson Valley and was seemingly named after Dr William Robertson, the Scottish minister after whom the delightful town, established in 1852, is named.

11 MARCH 2026 | 23

Spies sales brains trust – Dad Corne and Xander at the recent BSA Cape Yearling Sale | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Xander Spies is a young man of unquestionable talents and he has rolled his sleeves up, currently serving as the youngest ever Chairman of the Racehorse Owners Association, a representative body for owners, with strong representation in the Highveld and Eastern Cape. He also serves on the NHRA Rules Committee as the owner representative. These roles have required judgment, diplomacy, credibility, and the ability to engage constructively on matters affecting owners, governance, integrity, and the longterm sustainability of the sport. His input often means fresh perspectives and the introduction of innovative strategies aimed at rejuvenating the sport for future generations. An important factor, is that he adds plenty of value in his current office roles as his 24 | 11 MARCH 2026

foundational experience was grounded in the operational side of racing. While he always had his sights set on a legal qualification, Xander was involved with Spies Racing since the age of sixteen and over time has taken on substantial responsibility for ownership acquisition, owner engagement, and the broader commercial positioning of the stable. “I have been very fortunate. As an owner, I have also been associated with four Grade 1 victories, which has deepened my appreciation for the standards and execution required to compete at the highest level,” he adds. “My heart and soul is in this great game. I have dreams and ambitions to get more involved. Nothing beats horses and people. And that’s simply what it is all about.”

11 MARCH 2026 | 25

26 | 11 MARCH 2026

CLOCKING THE

CLASSIC DAY TIMES The first of the three Gr1 feature events to be run on The Championships Classic Day two at Turffontein on Saturday was the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m and in what proved to be a slowly run false-paced affair, Hazy Dazy scored a gutsy victory.

Sent off a well-supported favourite at even money, the winner of the Gr3 Fillies Championship and Gr2 Fillies Guineas in her last two starts was completing a very classy treble here. With nobody wanting to make the running on leaving the stalls, Corne Spies’ charge found herself at the front. The pace was a sedate one though, and it looked as if she might exit the back door when both Daisy Jones and Scarlett Heart moved in front of her going through the 400m. Indeed, no more than four lengths covered all at that stage. The daughter of Act Of War rallied gamely once headed though, and after regaining the lead approaching the 200m marker, she went on to win well by a length from the running on Eastern Cape raider Golden Palm (hung in, in the closing stages). The runner-up had raced unsettled four lengths off the pace early on, and only really getting going late, she finished very well. Hazy Dazy has now won six of her eight career starts to date and has already amassed stake earnings of over 2,17M.

Run in a time 1,56 seconds faster than the Fillies Classic, The HKJC World Pool Gr1 SA Classic over 1800m was next up, and in what proved to be another falsely run race, the Vercingetorix gelding GRAND EMPIRE (troublesome loading & jumped awkwardly) scored a narrow victory. Whereas the pace had been sedate in the Fillies event, three runners set off far more quickly here. Indeed, at one point on the bend the leader was over 3,5 seconds quicker. The false fast pace not surprisingly began to take its toll on the three front runners going through the 400m and all came under heavy pressure. Sean Tarry’s charge meanwhile had raced some eleven lengths off them in sixth, and running on strongly at the business end of the race, he struck the front 100m out. Trust had raced two lengths ahead of the winner and after fighting out a thrilling finish below the distance, Grand Empire only got the verdict over Trust on the nod. Grand Empire was reported by the vet to be coughing post-race. Trust’s rider Serino Moodley was fined for exceeding the crop-use limit. 11 MARCH 2026 | 27

Track Condition Going: Good to Soft Penetrometer: 25 Last 24 hours 7,5mm – Rain: Last 7 days 50,5mm Irrigation: Last 7 days Nil 5,5m on bend with a False Rail: 5,5m spur at 700m 11-30km/h Southerly Wind: cross wind 0,68s slow (straight) – Course Variant: 1,63s slow (bend) Named after one of South Africa’s greatest ever equine athletes, the Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m was won by the only 3yo in the race, TIN PAN ALLEY. Backed throughout the day into 4/1 from 25/2, the son of The United States raced fifth for most of the journey just three and a half lengths off the pace set by Fire Attack. It seemed a surprise to see Alec Laird’s charge at the front, but then he had raced second

28 | 11 MARCH 2026

when winning the Gr3 London News over 1800m last time out. Tin Pan Alley quickened well early in the straight and took up the running 350m from home. He quickly went clear and running on strongly all the way to the wire, he comfortably accounted for the running on Cape Town Met winner See It Again by three and three quarters. Racing just a length and a half behind the winner, Justin Snaith’s charge hung in badly down the long stand side track home straight and only really found top gear when the race was over. Fastest Times: 1000m (4) William Robertson 1160m (2) Dante’s Bond 1400m (2) Pretty Persuasive 1600m (2) Tin Pan Alley 1800m (2) Grand Empire

57,04 69,18 86,93 98,86 112,61

11 MARCH 2026 | 29

William Robertson (Ryan Munger) leaves the competition behind | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

RAFEEF GELDING OVERCOMES ODDS HITS THEM FOR 17!

On a red-letter Classic Day for the Hollywoodbets-sponsored Corne Spies Racing Team, their 7yo Rafeef gelding William Robertson overcame the odds and registered the 17th win of an illustrious career, when he dug deep late to record his second win in the R300 000 TAB Gr2 JJ The Jet Plane Stakes, which brought the feature curtain down on the major day at Turffontein on Saturday. After Hazy Dazy had kept her SA Triple Tiara dream alive for the same combination in the same silks earlier when winning the SA Fillies Classic, it was the high-riding Ryan Munger who marked his third winner of the afternoon – his seventh on the Ridgemont-bred gelding. Racing from an inside gate on sticky ground under top weight, the speed soldier gallantly made ground gradually down the inside and then got the measure of Taxi To The Moon (51) by 0,40 lengths to register 57,04 secs for the 1000m. Rafa Bay (33-1) was a further 0,40 lengths back in third. 30 | 11 MARCH 2026

The Spies team has followed the same trajectory as their 2025 programme with William Robertson, who now looks very ready to defend his Gr1 Computaform Sprint crown on 4 April. Raced in a partnership by Rob Macnab (who celebrated his first Turffontein double in a lifetime of racing), Keegan Govender, Xander Spies, Corne Spies Racing (Pty) Ltd & Jannie de Lange’s Waste Glass Recovery (Pty) Ltd, the Ridgemont-bred William Robertson is by a former Computaform Sprint winner in the fabulous Rafeef (Redoute’s Choice), out of the thrice-winning Trippi mare, Massachusetts. The outstanding gelding cost R500 000 on the BSA National 2yo Sale and is a winner of 17 of his 55 starts with 19 places – he has earned R3 432 563. William Robertson was born at Ridgemont in the beautiful Robertson Valley and was seemingly named after Dr William Robertson, the Scottish minister after whom the delightful town, established in 1852, is named.

11 MARCH 2026 | 31

RCIS PAYOUTS 2025 / 2026 SEASON RACE COAST KWAZULU-NATAL PAYOUTS 2025 / 2026 MONTH

MEETINGS APPEARANCE

SADDLING

JOCKEYS

TOTAL

AUG-JAN 26

R6 623 250

R1 946 300

R675 000

R9 244 550

FEBRUARY - 26

R1 004 900

R314 900

R90 500

R1 410 300

RACE COAST WESTERN CAPE PAYOUTS MONTH

MEETINGS

APPEARANCE

SADDLING

JOCKEYS

TOTAL

AUG-JAN 26

R6 130 600

R1 821 000

R586 500

R8 538 100

FEBRUARY - 26

R1 030 700

R310 100

R101 500

R1 442 300

TOTAL PAYOUTS 2025 / 2026 MONTH

APPEARANCE

SADDLING

JOCKEYS

TOTAL

AUGUST - 25

R1 603 250

R351 800

R146 250

R2 101 300

SEPTEMBER - 25

R2 059 000

R634 200

R187 000

R2 880 200

OCTOBER - 25

R2 271 500

R691 600

R279 250

R3 242 350

NOVEMBER - 25

R2 251 600

R689 800

R209 500

R3 150 900

DECEMBER - 25

R2 272 700

R699 200

R216 000

R3 187 900

JANUARY - 26

R2 295 800

R700 700

R223 500

R3 220 000

FEBRUARY - 26

R2 035 600

R625 000

R192 000

R2 852 600

GRAND TOTAL

R14 789 450

R4 392 300

R1 453 500

R20 635 250

NO BETTER TIME TO RACE IN THE CAPE AND KZN!

32 | 11 MARCH 2026

MILLSTREAM FARM

RACE COAST SALES premier yearling sale 13 & 14 MARCH 2026 hollywood bets KENILWORTH RACE COURSE

Contact: JAN MANTEL +27 (82) 801 2499

Jan@millstreamstud.co.za

11 MARCH 2026 | 33

34 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 35

36 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 37

38 | 11 MARCH 2026

SUPPLEMENT TO SPRINT 4 & 11 MARCH 2026

RCS PREMIER YEARLING SALE ‘26 THE SUPPLEMENT

11 MARCH 2026 | 39

40 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 41

THE 2026 RACE COAST SALES PREMIER YEARLING SALE v

13 & 14 MARCH – HOLLYWOODBETS KENILWORTH

KIND THANKS TO OUR ADVERTISERS Black Swan Stud Blue Sky Thoroughbreds Drakenstein Stud Hopes & Dreams Stud Klawervlei Stud Kommetdieding Syndicate Kuda Maine Chance Farms Master Archie Syndicate Millstream Farm Moutonshoek Stud Narrow Creek Stud Normandy Stud Paardeberg Stud Pendenra Stud Precentor Place Prosper Stud Race Coast Sales Sandown Stud Soetendal Estate Winterbach Stud 42 | 11 MARCH 2026

On the cover Winterbach Stud are selling #211 as agent. She’s a beautiful daughter of Declarationofpeace out of the stakes-winning Captain Al mare, Earth’s Orbit. Romi Bettison took the photograph.

11 MARCH 2026 | 43

Buy your equine dream | Credit: Race Coast Sales

THE POWER

OF PREMIER! The 2026 Race Coast Premier Yearling Sale has attracted support from some of South Africa’s top breeders, with leading stallions Gimmethegreenlight, Master Of My Fate, One World, Querari, Rafeef, What A Winter and reigning champion, Vercingetorix, all well represented in the catalogue. There is also an international flavour to this year’s sale with outstanding Gr 1 winners Cracksman and Kingman both represented, while exciting young stallions, and racecourse rivals, Jet Dark and Kommetdieding both have some exceptional members of their first crops on sale. Invincible Spirit’s Gr 1 winning son, Digital Age is another exciting young sire represented for the first time on the Premier Yearling Sale, as are the beautifully bred Gr1 winning pair of Eden Roc and Master Archie. This year’s Premier Yearling Sale is set to take place at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Friday 13 March and Saturday 14 March. 44 | 11 MARCH 2026

The first day’s trading commences at 16h00, with Saturday’s sale set to get underway at 12h00. Potential buyers are invited to view the yearlings on the Wednesday and Thursday prior to the sale. For any enquiries about the two-day sale, interested parties are asked to contact Vicky Minott at vicky@racecoast.co.za or Pippa Mickleburgh pippa@racecoast.co.za. Enjoy our lot-by-lot snapshot by clicking here.

11 MARCH 2026 | 45

46 | 11 MARCH 2026

Team Klawervlei ready for the sale! | Credit: RCS

VINTAGE KLAWERVLEI! Quality is the name of the game in Klawervlei Stud’s draft for the 2026 Premier Yearling Sale. Not only is the champion nursery offering, yearlings sired by such top-class stallions as Vercingetorix, Gimmethegreenlight, Rafeef, and One World, the farm will also be offering yearlings from some of the best families in the stud book. Another notable factor in this draft is the number of high-quality yearlings from Klawervlei’s exciting young sire Kommetdieding’s first crop.

Kommetdieding’s first yearlings include a half-sister (Lot 17) to the classy North Point, a filly (Lot 92) out of a stakes winning daughter of Silvano, and a colt (Lot 249) out of Gimmethegreenlight’s multiple graded stakes winning daughter Green Plains. A number of the July/Met winner’s first crop’s pedigrees have duplications of either, or both, Al Mufti and Fort Wood as well as duplications of the mighty Captain Al. Klawervlei will be offering a number of offspring out of top-class stakes winners, with the likes of Gibraltar Blue, Green Plains, Heaps Of Fun, Moon In June, Return Flight, Thunder Dance, 11 MARCH 2026 | 47

Trinity House and Witchcraft all represented. Potential standout lots in this draft are: Lot 123: Unnamed c Vercingetorix – Thunder Dance A full-brother to Listed Irridescence Stakes winner Ukuduma and three-parts brother to the stakes placed She’s A Rainbow, this colt’s first two dams are both multiple Gr1 winners. His dam Thunder Dance won both the Gr1 Empress Club Stakes and Gr1 Paddock Stakes, while his granddam, Shadow Dance, a half-sister to Gr1 Cape Guineas winner and outstanding sire Captain Al, won the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas and Gr1 Majorca Stakes. This colt is also bred on very similar lines to the Vercingetorix sired Gr1 TAB The Premier’s Champions Challenge winner Astrix. Lot 64: Unnamed c Gimmethegreenlight – Return Flight By multiple champion sire Gimmethegreenlight, whose progeny includes stars as Gimme A Nother, Yulong Prince, and The Real Prince, to name a few, this colt is out of a top-class racemare in the form of Return Flight. Equus Champion 2YO Filly of 2017-2018, Return Flight was an exceptional performer at two when she won three of five starts (by an aggregate of more than 20 lengths) including the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes. At three, Return Flight won two legs of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara namely the Gr1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic and Gr2 SA Oaks. Lot 241: Unnamed f Vercingetorix Gibraltar Blue By the Klawervlei Stud bred champion and champion sire, this filly is a full sister to the 48 | 11 MARCH 2026

stakes placed Cullinan Blue and to recent course record breaker I’m A Fireball. A halfsister to the smart pair of Battleoftrafalgar and Pillar Of Hercules, she is out of the outstanding racemare Gibraltar Blue, whose five black type wins include a triumph in the Gr2 KRA Fillies Guineas. Lot 60: Unnamed f Vercingetorix Quite Frankly By last season’s champion sire who is again heading the South African sires premiership, this filly is out of a Frankel half-sister to Gr2 Post Merchants third Teflon Man, who recently ran second to the highly rated All The Rage. Quite Frankly, also a half-sister to the smart Love In Winter, is out of a Dark Angel half-sister to two stakes winners, one of which produced Gr1 winning two-year-old Sudirman. This is the family of legendary Japanese champion Gentildonna among others. Lot 102: Vauxhall Cross c Vercingetorix Sovereign Secret By the sire of recent Gr1 winners Double Grand Slam and Quickstepgal, Vauxhall Cross hails from one of the best families in the South African stud book. His first three dams are all stakes winners, with his stakes winning dam Sovereign Secret a three-parts sister to champion Bela-Bela. His granddam, triple Gr1 winning Equus Champion All Is Secret, is a full-sister to Gr1 winner The Secret Is Out and a three-parts sister to dual Gr1 winner Snowdance (dam of Gr1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot) and to the dam of Horse Of The Year Eight On Eighteen. For more information on this draft, please speak to Tracey Nash on (066) 185 7197.

11 MARCH 2026 | 49

50 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 51

52 | 11 MARCH 2026

KOMMETDIEDING’S

FIRST PREMIER YEARLING SALE Raceform suggests that it’s a good opportunity to look back on what was written in the Sire book when the sires with first crops now went to stud in 2023. A sire’s best progeny often appears to have one of two origins, attributable to the affinities of either of his parents. To make a prediction about what will suit Kommetdieding the apparent affinities of his sire Elusive Fort (Fort Wood) and dam Adorable (Captain Al) need examination. The half-dozen or so best offspring of Elusive Fort include dams by Captain Al, Argonaut and West Man. Captain Al has Adorable (dam of Kommetdieding) and Betty Burke (dam of siblings Ernie and Freedom Charter). Argonaut has Ignition Lady (dam of siblings Catch Twenty Two and Big Burn). West Man has Siren’s Cove (dam of Siren’s Call). All have ratings between 105 to 115. Argonaut is a son of Western Winter, by Gone West, the latter also sire of West Man. Gone West is close kin to Elusive Fort’s damsire Secret Prospector. Their pedigrees have Mr Prospector and close kin-relatives Buckpasser and Tim Tam close up. It is noteworthy that among the top fifteen of Elusive Fort’s best, there are three dams by Parade Leader and Windrush (both with close kin connections to Secret Prospector) and one other by Western Winter. Kommetdieding hails from a strong sireproducing female line, tracing to Queen Of Light.

This mare is by Borealis out of Picture Play, making her very close kin to sires Alycidon and Acropolis. The notable lines here are grandsire Donatello and grandam Aurora. The bottom female line extends further to the mare Absurdity, full sister to Doxa. The latter is grandam of Helene de Troie, dam of famous mare La Troienne. The pedigree make-up of Helene de Troie makes her close kin to Amuse, grandam of Queen Of Light, which in turn leads to a close kinship between La Troienne and Queen Of Light. This gives an expectation that descendants of La Troienne and of Queen Of Light might combine well. Four of Queen Of Light’s daughters established sire-producing families: Chandelier, Crystal Palace, Picture Light and Lovely Light. Of these, Chandelier was the most prolific one. We follow the legacy of her daughter Crystal Light. Her two highest achieving descendants are Kommetdieding and Captain America., both multiple Gr1 winners. Kommetdieding is by Elusive Fort (Fort Wood) out of a mare by Captain Al, while Captain America is by Captain Al out of a daughter of Fort Wood. Captain Al’s influence appears to follow one of two routes: either his sire Al Mufti, or his bottom female line. Al Mufti is a son of influential mare Lassie Dear. She is by Buckpasser, possibly La Troienne’s most influential descendant. Captain Al carries a double of Buckpasser’s dam Busanda, and thus a double of La Troienne. This provides the link to Queen Of Light.

11 MARCH 2026 | 53

Kommetdieding’s sire Elusive Fort brings more of the same. His dam Ever Seeking is by Secret Prospector. The latter’s grandam Numbered Account is by Buckpasser out of Intriguing, herself a descendant of La Troienne, and so giving a double La T. Interestingly, Numbered Account is close kin to Lassie Dear. The half-dozen or so best offspring of Elusive Fort include dams by Captain Al, Argonaut and West Man. Captain Al has Adorable (dam of Kommetdieding) and Betty Burke (dam of siblings Ernie and Freedom Charter). Argonaut has Ignition Lady (dam of siblings Catch Twenty Two and Big Burn). West Man has Siren’s Cove (dam of Siren’s Call). All have ratings between 105 to 115. Argonaut is a son of Western Winter, by Gone West, the latter also sire of West Man. Gone West is close kin to Elusive Fort’s damsire Secret Prospector. Their pedigrees have Mr Prospector and close kin-relatives Buckpasser and Tim Tam close up. In addition, among the top fifteen of Elusive Fort’s best offspring, there are three with dams by Parade Leader and Windrush (both with close kin connections to Secret Prospector) and one by Western Winter. Secret Prospector is kinbred through the bottom female line of his sire Mr Prospector (Miss Dogwood) to La Troienne and daughter Baby League. Miss Dogwood is also close kin to Businesslike, dam of Busanda. Secret Prospector, in other words, looks to be a notable influence. In this context, note La Massine. She’s by Secret Prospector out of Northern Guest mare Karpakova, a pedigree loaded with La Troienne. La Massine is dam of champion Variety Club. Elusive Fort’s sire Fort Wood will be of interest, as his dam Fall Aspen is close kin to Elusive Fort’s bottom line ancestor Empress. Empress is also close kin to La Troienne and to Flower 54 | 11 MARCH 2026

Bowl (dam of His Majesty, and Graustark – in Secret Prospector) To summarise, suitable lines for Kommetdieding to consider: -mares with multiples of La Troienne, which are widespread, and include Secret Prospector, Lassie Dear (Al Mufti, Captain Al, Duke Of Marmalade, Tiger Ridge, Jay Peg, etc), Northern Guest (Capetown Noir, Pomodoro), National Assembly (National Emblem, Rafeef, Vercingetorix), Complete Warrior, etc., etc. -mares with Mr Prospector, which are widespread, notably including Secret Prospector, etc. (and generally hard to avoid); -mares with kin-links to Secret Prospector, notably Gone West (Western Winter (Argonaut, What A Winter, Capetown Noir), West Man, Visionaire), Parade Leader, Seeking The Gold (Windrush, Lecture, Dubawi (Erupt, Willow Magic)), Forty Niner (Trippi, Distorted Humor (Flower Alley, Pathfork), Rich Man’s Gold (Kildonan)); -mares with sires from Queen Of Light’s female line, including Crystal de Roche, Welsh Pageant (Canford Cliffs, Saumarez, Second Empire, Kildonan), etc; -mares with close kin-links to Queen Of Light, notably Alycidon (What A Winter (!), etc.), Acropolis (Kahal, Horse Chestnut, etc.); the dam of Queen Of Light is half sister to the dam of South African sire Royal Pardon (Goldmark, Vercingetorix); -mares with Fort Wood (Dynasty, Horse Chestnut, Capetown Noir, William Longsword, etc). Kommetdieding has 19 lots on the RCS Premier Yearling Sale. www.raceform.co.za

11 MARCH 2026 | 55

56 | 11 MARCH 2026

Maine Chance Farms – consistent quality | Credit: RCS

HERE’S A PROPER

WISH LIST! One of South Africa’s top stud farms, Maine Chance Farms, has bred and raised numerous top-class horses over the years. The latest star performer to have emerged from Maine Chance’s paddocks is this season’s classy dual Gr1 winner, Wish List.

The latter showed her class when downing Equus Champion Double Grand Slam to claim the recent Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes in tremendous style. Maine Chance Farms will be offering buyers a chance to acquire their own Wish List when they bring forward an outstanding draft to the upcoming Premier Yearling Sale. Excitingly, their consignment includes a Rafeef half-brother to the aforementioned Wish List. Their resident champion sire Vercingetorix has some very well-bred yearlings on offer, as do stallions Querari, Rafeef, The 11 MARCH 2026 | 57

United States, Digital Age, One World, and Kommetdieding. This draft also includes the offspring of numerous stakes winning mares including Bilateral, Dynasty’s Blossom, Girl On The Run, Maharanee, Mighty High and Wish List’s Oaks winning dam Wind Chill. Five likely standouts in this impressive draft are: Lot 25: Maryona f Vercingetorix – Maharanee By the sire of such fillies and mares as Double Grand Slam, Mrs Geriatrix and Quickstepgal, this filly is out of Gr 2 4Racing South African Fillies Nursery winner Maharanee. By proven broodmare sire Flower Alley, Maharanee is a half-sister to Gr 3 Poinsettia Stakes winner Marigold Hotel and Maharanee’s granddam is Equus Champion, and dual Gr1 winner, Rat Burana. Lot 144: Windmeetsfire c Rafeef – Wind Chill Bred on the same cross as Gr 3 winner Mover And Shaker, this colt is a half-brother to two winners, notably this season’s Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes winner Wish List. Bred on similar lines to the promising filly Rifle Queen, he is out of the Silvano sired Gr 2 South African Oaks winner Wind Chill. Lot 166: Be Beautiful f Vercingetorix – Being Fabulous This filly’s first three dams are all stakes winners, and she is a half-sister to Gr 3 Betway Mother Russia Stakes winner Gimmefabulous. Her High Chaparral sired 58 | 11 MARCH 2026

dam won five times including the Listed Syringa Handicap, and her Danehill sired granddam won both the Gr 1 AJC Flight Stakes and Gr1 VATC One Thousand Guineas in Australia. Lot 185: Champagne Glow f Vercingetorix – Champery Champagne Glow, who hails from one of the best families in the stud book, is a full sister to three winners notably Gr 1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas winner Chansonette. Out of a high-class daughter of Querari, this filly’s granddam is a halfsister to Gr 1 Las Virgenes Stakes winner Eden’s Moon. This is the family of numerous top-class international performers including Theatrical, Paradise Creek, David Junior, and Taiki Blizzard. Lot 210: Dreamin’ Wild c Vercingetorix – Dynasty’s Blossom Bred on the same cross as champion Gladatorian, Dreamin’ Wild, a full brother to a winner, is out of Gr 3 eLan Gold Cup/Gr 3 DStv Gold Vase winner Dynasty’s Blossom. The latter, a half-sister to East Cape Guineas winner Brilliant Crimson, is out of a Gr 3 winning daughter of the breed shaping stallion Danehill Dancer. Dynasty’s Blossom, who earned more than R1.2 million during her career, is a direct descendant of the highly influential mare Delsy, the dam of champion sire Darshaan and third dam of one of the world’s hottest young stallions -Too Darn Hot. For more information on this draft, please contact Ross Fuller on (082) 587 7045.

11 MARCH 2026 | 59

60 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 61

62 | 11 MARCH 2026

Team Narrow Creek – looking forward to two big days | Credit: RCS

NARROW CREEK - QUALITY Quality is the name of the game in Narrow Creek Stud’s Premier Yearling Sale draft. From siblings to current exciting prospects, offspring of top-class racemares, and relatives of the likes of Isivunguvungu and Buffalo Storm Cody, Narrow Creek will be offering something to suit every buyer. John Everett will also be offering yearlings by some of South Africa’s most sought after stallions, namely Buffalo Bill Cody, Hawwaam, Jet Dark, Malmoos, Rafeef and What A Winter.

to the What A Winter sired globetrotting champion Isivunguvungu. The Equus Champion Sprinter of 2022-2023, Isivunguvungu went on to enjoy success in North America, where he won the Da Hoss Stakes. Lot 237: Fleeting Fire c Rafeef – Freed From Desire

Four potential standout lots in this consignment are:

By one of South Africa’s top stallions, this colt is out of Swallow Stakes winning half-sister to Gr 1 Mercury Sprint winner Buffalo Storm Cody. The latter was sired by a son of Redoute’s Choice, also the sire of Rafeef.

Lot 94: Rafa’s Tune c Rafeef – Singforafa

Lot 267: Something Strong c Rafeef – Indaba

This colt is by a Gr 1 winning sprinter out of a Gr 1 winning sprinter. His dam Singforafa was a topclass performer, whose six career wins included four black-type victories. She scored the biggest win of her career when victorious in the 2021 Gr 1 South African Fillies Sprint.

By the sire of Gr 1 winners Aragosta, Master Archie, and champion Thunderstruck, Something Strong is a half-brother to Gr 2 World Sports Betting Camellia Stakes winner Cold Fact. His dam is a Gr 3 placed daughter of top sire and broodmare sire Dynasty.

Lot 163: Yes Or No f What A Winter – Bat Out Of Hell

For more information on this draft, please contact John on (082) 377 2912.

By the same sire as top-class fillies Clouds Unfold and Humdinger, Yes Or No is a three-parts sister 11 MARCH 2026 | 63

64 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 65

66 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 67

Black Swan – the brand reaches the end of an era | Credit: RCS

A LAST WINTER

FOR BLACK SWAN It will mark the end of an era when the Black Swan Dispersal Sale takes place at Robertson later this year. The farm bred and raised some top-class horses over the years including Last Winter, Siren’s Call, Freedom Charter, Celtic Rumours and Pretty Betty. 68 | 11 MARCH 2026

Black Swan Stud is also home to champion and successful sire Elusive Fort, whose star son Kommetdieding is set to have his first yearlings on sale this year. Both Elusive Fort and Kommetdieding are well represented in Black Swan’s Premier Yearling Sale draft, with this consignment also including yearlings sired by Canford Cliffs, Erupt and One World. The farm’s Walter Cowe had the following comments to make about this draft:

Lot 109: Unnamed c Elusive Fort – Step Out This is an imposing colt, who looks powerful, correct and speedy. He is a full brother to a promising winner, and the mare, whose racing career was cut short by injury, has 2 winners from 2 runners. From the family of Solid Speed, Talahtchie and Lady in Black Lot 142: Unnamed c Canford Cliffs – White Rose This is a big strong colt by Canford Cliffs out of a Dynasty mare that has produced three winners from three runners. He stands over ground and is a very athletic walker. Lot 212: Unnamed c One World – Elusive Heart The Elusive Fort /Captain Al cross has been incredibly successful, and this colt is bred on the reverse cross. By the sire of One Stripe, top miler in SA and runner up in the Gr 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf, out of Elusive Fort sired Gr 3 Prix du Cap winner Elusive Heart. The dam won or was placed in five graded stakes races and her first foal is a two-time winner. An outstandingly stunning looking colt, he has size and scope and walks well. A very exciting prospect. Lot 228: Unnamed c Elusive Fort – Field Flower By the proven sire of Gr 1 winners, including Met and July winner and sire, Kommetdieding. With nothing to prove, this Gr 1 Cape Fillies Guineas mare by Silvano, from the family of legendary racehorse and sire, Bold Ruler, has

again produced a stunning half-brother to the talented Last Winter. Beautifully put together, he walks well and looks classy. Lot 245: Unnamed f Erupt – Goldandsilver A full sister to the stakes placed Golden Tatjana, this filly has a good walk and is exceptionally pretty. Nothing not to like about her. She is clean limbed, correct and looks a speedy type. The mare has 100% winners from her five runners. Lot 115: Unnamed f Kommetdieding – Sylvie This filly has plenty of paddock value. From the family of champion fillies Mother Russia and Nother Russia, by the exciting new sire Kommetdieding. She is a half-sister to three stakes winning fillies, including Gr 2 winner Celtic Rumours, and the very fast Sarah and Almond Sea. She covers ground and she walks like a dream. She has size and scope and very clean limbs. Lot 151: Unnamed c Kommetdieding African Honey Another very handsome strong looking colt from the new kid on the block, Kommetdieding, who stands over ground and is a half-brother to consistent multiple winners. He really fills the eye and walks very well. I like him a lot. For more information on this draft, please contact Fran Cowe on (079) 444 4713 or Peter de Beyer on (082)4525572.

11 MARCH 2026 | 69

70 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 71

72 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 73

Drakenstein Stud – known for quality | Credit: RCS

SEE THE QUALITY AGAIN! One of South Africa’s top stud farms, Drakenstein Stud continues to produce top-class thoroughbreds. The farm bred this year’s World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Town Met winner See It Again, with other recent headliners for the Drakenstein including reigning South African Horse Of The Year Eight On Eighteen and globetrotting star One Stripe. Drakenstein will be bringing an exceptional draft to this year’s Premier Yearling Sale, with their consignment containing an international flavour. Among the sires represented in this consignment are international stars Cracksman and Kingman, as well as outstanding local 74 | 11 MARCH 2026

stallions Master Of My Fate, One World, Vercingetorix and What A Winter. highlights in Drakenstein Stud’s Premier Sale draft has a number of eye-catching lots who hail from the first crop of the farm’s home bred champion Jet Dark. Drakenstein’s Kevin Sommerville highlighted the following lots as being particularly eye catching: Lot 12: Dark Storm c Jet Dark – Lady In Black By exciting first season sire, Jet Dark, this strong, flashy colt has a lovely shoulder and great hind leg. He is out of Gr 1 winner Lady In Black and a half-brother to GSW Mid Winter

Wind. This cross of Trippi on a Dynasty mare has produced 35% SW to foals including Charles Dickens. Lot 16: Winter Sensation c What A Winter – Lilac Sensation An attractive, strongly made colt by outstanding sire What A Winter. He stands out in a crowd. Out of a half-sister to dual Gr 1 winner Snowdance (dam of Snow Pilot), this colt has a great temperament, deep girth and easy walk. He is bred on the same cross as GSW Mid Winter Wind. Lot 29: Masai Mara c Master Of My Fate – Mara A good-looking son of leading sire Master Of My Fate with a wonderful temperament and an athletic walk. He is a half-brother to GSW Great Plains and from the family of GSW Green Diamond. This colt is bred on the same cross as Gr 1 winners Tempting Fate and Golden Palm. Lot 120: Third Ruler c Vercingetorix – Third Runway By Champion sire Vercingetorix, he is a big, strong, well-balanced colt with lots of presence and a great walk. This flashy individual is out of the Gr 2 winner Third Runway and is similarly bred to Gr1 winners Vernichey, Pomp and Power, Chansonette and Alesian Chief. Lot 158: Uvongo c Vercingetorix – Amanzimtoti An attractive son of Champion sire Vercingetorix with a lovely racy shape, with excellent depth, he moves with purpose and uses himself well. He has an exceptional pedigree, being out of the Gr 2 winning Trippi mare, Amanzimtoti,

a daughter of Equus Champion Broodmare, Beach Beauty. Lot 161: Tolstoy c One World – Anna Karenina This strong colt is very much in the mould of record-breaking sire, One World. He has strong quarters and covers the ground well. His dam is a half-sister to Gr.1 winning sprinter, Chimichuri Run. Lot 189: Dark Pearl c Jet Dark – Chestnuts N Pearls Out of Gr 1 winner Chestnuts N Pearls, this big strong colt has a lovely shape, a great walk and is in the mould of his dam. He is by multiple Equus Champion and 5 x Gr 1 winner Jet Dark and is bred on the same Trippi/Fort Wood cross as Gr 1 winner Real Princess. Lot 191: Le Bourget c What A Winter – Cio Cio San A good-walking son of What A Winter, he has a great temperament with a nice shoulder and is well-balanced. He is a full brother to recent juvenile winner Marseilles and his dam is a half-sister to GSW One Fine Winter (What A Winter). He has cruised through this sales prep. Lot 195: Tsunami Cloud c Jet Dark – Clouds Unfold This elegant son of Jet Dark, very much in the mould of his dam, is out of dual Gr 1 winner Clouds Unfold. This racy colt has an athletic walk with good quarters and a nice sloping shoulder. For more information on this draft please contact Kevin Sommerville on 072 167 9971.

11 MARCH 2026 | 75

76 | 11 MARCH 2026

NO SHOT IN THE DARK! As they did with Kommetdieding earlier in these pages, Raceform now reflect on what was written about Jet Dark in the Sires 2023 book when the sires with first crops now, went to stud. A stallion’s best progeny often splits into two: continuing the affinities of either of the parents, going their separate ways. Here’s a summary of what could be suitable lines for Jet Dark in general, with a link to yearlings on offer at sale at the end.

Mogok, Black Minnaloushe). Storm Bird is sire of Trippi’s Storm. The female line of The Apple extends to champion 2yo filly Nellie Flag, who mated to Sun Again got Sunshine Nell, dam of Dewan. This also is female line of Trippi, whose third dam is close kin to Sweetest Chant (Distorted Humor).and Fairy Bridge (dam of Sadler’s Wells). Dewan sired Complete Warrior, dam by Damascus out of a half sister to Buckpasser (out of Busanda, the La Troienne female line). Complete Warrior is in Captain Al (with Al Mufti), Counter Action, and in local female lines.

It’s less complicated than it looks! In the crosshairs are Family 9 descendants, tracing (remotely) to close kin-relatives The Apple (Trippi’s bottom female line) and Avoca (Jet Dark’s bottom female line). One of The Apple’s daughters Thankful Blossom leads to Bull Lea, in this context especially through Alydar, Nijinsky and Roberto. Alydar notably in Byword, Oratorio (treble Bull Lea), Duke of Marmalade. Nijinsky in Dancing Champ, Peacetime, and linking to his close kin-relative Storm Bird. Roberto in Al Mufti (with Lassie Dear) and Roberto’s full sister as dam of Rollins (in Jet Master). Another of The Apple’s daughters One I Love, leads to the mare Escutcheon (Coastal) and especially Sun Again, male line of Damascus. There’s Storm Bird, whose dam is from Bull Lea male line, with second dam by Sun Again. Storm Bird lines are widespread (notably Storm Cat, Tiger Ridge, Var (double Sun Again),

Damascus sired Damascus Gate and Rollins (damsire of Jet Master). Damascus’ dam Kerala is close kin to Never Bend (Riverman (Rainbow Dream – adds Bull Lea), Rainbow Quest). Kerala is by My Babu, leading to Lassie Dear, and Joy (Dynasty, Jet Master). Damascus is second damsire of Rich Man’s Gold, who is by Trippi’s sire Forty Niner. Sleat, third dam of Trippi’s G2 winner Trippi’s Storm (by Storm Bird), is also third dam of Kahal. Sleat is 90% kin to Nalatale, grandam of Horse Chestnut (by Dynasty’s sire Fort Wood, son of Sadler’s Wells. You can find all about Jet Dark’s ancestors Trippi, Jet Master (and other stallions) on the Raceform Sires page. Jet Dark has 24 yearlings on the RCS Premier Yearling Sale. www.raceform.co.za 11 MARCH 2026 | 77

78 | 11 MARCH 2026

Soetendal – quality in the ring | Credit: Supplied

SPECIAL STUFF,

SOETENDAL! Graduates of Soetendal Estate enjoyed a big day at Turffontein recently when their alumni Splittheeights and Grand Empire finish first and second in the 2026 TAB Gr2 Gauteng Guineas with another graduate, Charge It, finishing second in the same day’s Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas. Soetendal will be offering an eight strong draft at this year’s Premier Yearling Sale. Their string is made up of yearlings sired by exciting and popular stallions Digital Age, Fire Away, Master Of My Fate, Querari, Royal Mo and What A Winter. While this string is quality from beginning to end, the following five lots could be the standouts! Lot 28: Motion Light c Digital Age -Making A Scene From the first crop of a Gr 1 winning son of Invincible Spirit, this colt is out of a twice winning daughter of Gimmethegreenlight. He hails from one of the best families in the Australian stud book, with Motion Light’s numerous high-class relatives including such top-class sires as Not A Single Doubt and Snippets as well as Gr 1 Investec Cape Derby winner Ertijaal. Lot 112: Mystic Flame c Fire Away – Sweet Ohanna This colt shares his sire Fire Away with the likes of Fire Attack, Confederate, My Best Shot and Warm Reception. He is out of a half-sister to Gr 1 Hollywood Gold Cup winner Rail Trip and this is the family of US classic winner Palace Malice among others.

Lot 116: Mozart’s Anthem c Querari – Symphony Querari is enjoying another fine season and is currently the Leading Sire of 2YOs in South Africa for 2025-2026. This colt is out of a twice winning halfsister to three black type horses including Kenilworth Cup, Listed, winner Gothic and Mauritian champion Tandragee. Lot 137: Master Of Shots c Master Of My Fate – Vodka Lime This colt shares his sire with champions Golden Palm, Tempting Fate and Jan Van Goyen, with the latter victorious in this season’s Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas. A half-brother to promising two-yearold Gimme A Vodka, an impressive winner at the second time of asking, and out of a three time winning daughter of Captain Al, this colt hails from the family of numerous graded stakes winners including this season’s Gr 3 Betway Lebelo Sprint winner Taxi To The Moon. Lot 173: Winter Kisses c What A Winter – Calandra By the same sire as champion sprinters Isivunguvungu and Russet Air, Winter Kisses is out of a stakes placed, five-time winning half-sister to Gr 3 Champion Juvenile Cup winner O Tamara (who, like Winter Kisses, was sired by a son of Western Winter). For more information on these yearlings, please speak to Julia Pilbeam on (082) 317 9474. 11 MARCH 2026 | 79

80 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 81

82 | 11 MARCH 2026

The Viljoen sales horses are always turned out to perfection Credit: Race Coast Sales

THE DREAM

MERCHANTS Hopes And Dreams Stud is home to one of the best-bred stallions in South Africa. Their resident sire Frantastic, who shares his legendary sire Frankel with 40 Gr1 winners, is a full brother to four-time Gr1 winner Cracksman, the sire of unbeaten Gr1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Ace Impact. Bred by the potent Frankel/ Pivotal cross, Frantastic hails from the same female line as such breed shaping stallions as Kalamoun, Nasrullah and Royal Charger. While Frantastic has yet to have yearlings, Hopes And Dreams will be offering a classy draft of yearlings at this year’s Premier Yearling Sale. From proven topclass sires Master Of My Fate, One World and The United States to exciting young stallions Eden Roc and Jet Dark, this draft looks to have something for everyone! Five lots bound to attract attention are: Lot 34: UNNAMED c The United States – Maryah By the sire of this season’s graded stakes winners Kingdundee, Rodeo Drive and Tin Pan Alley, this colt is out of Gr2 Prosport International Debutante winner Maryah. This colt is bred on the same The United States/Querari cross as this season’s Gr2 Betway Joburg Spring Challenge/Gr3 Betway Graham Beck Stakes winner Tin Pan Alley. Lot 61: Unammed f Buffalo Bill Cody – Rattle Mouse

This filly is out of a four-time winning, stakes placed half-sister to Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes winner Harry Lime. Bred to be speedy, her granddam is a winning half-sister to Champion Sprinter Will Pays. Lot 72: Unnamed c Jet Dark – Ruby And Roses This colt hails from the first crop of five-time Gr1 winner and multiple Equus Champion Jet Dark. His dam won four times and she hails from the same female line as such standout performers as Seize The Grey, Polish Precedent and Zilzal. Lot 130: Unnamed f One World –Underthemistletoe By one of South Africa’s most exciting stallions, this filly is out of a winning full sister to this season’s Listed Woolavington Stakes runner up Master Of Paris and this is the family of champions Kiss Of Peace and Proceed. Lot 209: Unnamed f Master Of My Fate -Duchess Of State By the sire of top-class fillies Golden Palm, Sentbydestiny and Zarina, this filly is out of a threetime winning full-sister to Zimbabwean champion Silver Coin and half-sister to graded stakes winners Halve The Deficit and Mombela. Her Fort Wood sired granddam is a Gr3 winning half-sister to multiple Gr1 winner Smart Banker. For more information on this draft, please contact Suzette Viljoen on (082) 733 3811. 11 MARCH 2026 | 83

84 | 11 MARCH 2026

Proper pre-sales reading matter for the informed set! | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

IT PAYS TO DO YOUR

HOMEWORK! The Raceform Buyers’ Guide is a detailed summary of the dam and siblings of the RCS Premier Yearling Sale yearlings. It gives insight as to what to expect of the youngsters in terms of class, stamina, sale price. It’s essential reading for the prospective buyer. Please click here to read more. 11 MARCH 2026 | 85

86 | 11 MARCH 2026

JUDY

– A TOP JUDGE! Judy Davies – a great eye | Credit: Supplied

Pendenra Stud’s Judy Davies is a woman with an impressive resume in the thoroughbred industry. After working for the Woodditton Stud, Judy became the assistant to Darley’s pedigree consultant, before going on to become the Pedigree Database Manager. Judy was associated with Darley for 29 years!

out of a winning daughter of Gr 3 SA Fillies Nursery winner Secret To Success.

During her time at Darley, Judy got to know many of the numerous star performers and stallions on their impressive lineup, with her favorites including In The Wings, Polish Precedent and the legendary Dubawi. Pendenra Stud will be offering five quality yearlings at this year’s Premier Yearling Sale, and Judy is sure they will go well!

By the sire of such high-class fillies as Clouds Unfold and Humdinger, this filly is out of a daughter of Fastnet Rock from the family of outstanding siblings Barathea and Gossamer.

Here are Judy’s comments on her draft for the 2026 Premier Sale: Lot 31: Black Amber c Jet Dark – Maria Theresa From the first crop of multiple Equus Champion Jet Dark, this colt is a half-brother to five winners notably Listed Taboline.co.za Irridescence Stakes/ Listed World Sports Betting Stormsvlei Stakes winner Maria Querol and to recent Gr 3 World Sports Betting Summer Fling Stakes third Queen Regent. Youngest of the draft. Very attractive, athletic colt with a great attitude. It should grow into a big, very handsome boy.

Tall, elegant filly and a very good advert for Master Archie. Classic type. Lot 36: Unnamed f What A Winter – Mile High

Attractive, tall and rangy filly with a wonderful walk. Lot 164: Unnamed c Malmoos – Beautiful Shay By Captain Al’s Triple Crown winning son, this colt is out of a four-time winning full-sister to Gr3 Cape Racing Victress Stakes runner up Heart Stwings. Imposing, solid colt. His 2yo half sister, Platinum Shay, ran a promising 3rd on debut at the Vaal. Lot 226: Spiced Ginger f Real Gone Kid – Felina

Lot 81: Mistress Mine f Master Archie – Secret Plan

By a promising son of Snitzel, this filly, who hails from the same family as the likes of Dubai Millennium and Fort Wood, is a half-sister to Romeo’s Magic, a nine time winner who has earned more than R730 000 in stakes. Filly who is powerful as well as pretty. Looks to come early and a sprinter type.

Mistress Mine hails from the first crop of Rafeef ’s Gr 1 Computaform Sprint winning son, with this filly

For more information on this draft, please contact Judy on (076) 814 7944. 11 MARCH 2026 | 87

88 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 89

90 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 91

92 | 11 MARCH 2026

TRUE BLUE!

Double Superlative – new stallion on the Blue Sky Thoroughbreds block Credit: Supplied

Blue Sky Thoroughbreds recently enjoyed a notable feature race double when two of their products in Legal Counsel and Disting won the Gr 3 Cape Mile and Listed Laisserfaire Stakes on the same card. The farm also bred Spirit Of Gabz, the first winner for promising young sire and Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Sprint winner, Chimichuri Run. The KZN outfit will be offering a six strong draft at the 2026 Premier Yearling Sale, with Blue Sky set to bring forward yearlings sired by all of Eden Roc, Erupt, Fire Away, One World and Twice Over. Lot 4: Unnamed f One World – Kileigh By the sire of globetrotting champion One Stripe and high-class fillies She’s My World and World Of Alice, this filly is a half-sister to three winners notably this season’s Gr 2 Mike De Kock Ipi Tombe Challenge runner up Minogue (the latter is now a five-time winner). Her dam is a four-time winning three-parts sister to Triple Crown winner Abashiri and this is also the family of champion Yard-Arm. Lot 55: Unnamed c Fire Away – Private Dancer Fire Away has sired a growing number of high-class performers including Confederate, Fire Attack, My Best Shot and Warm Reception. This colt is a halfbrother to Castle Tankard winner Action Zone, and his dam is out of Gr 2 Gold Bracelet winner Dance Along. Lot 140: Unnamed f Twice Over – We’re Watching You By a champion and four-time Gr 1 winner, whose progeny includes stars Do It Again and Double Superlative, this filly is bred on the same Twice

Over/Visionaire cross as multiple Gr 1 winner See It Again. Her dam won five times, and this filly hails from the immediate family of dual Gr 1 winner, and sire, Crimson Waves. Lot 230: Hot Rox c Eden Roc – Flame Cat From the first crop of Gr 1 Gold Medallion winner Eden Roc, Hot Rox is a three-parts brother to a winner and half-brother to Gr 2 Pospack SA Fillies Nursery third Rapid Fire. His Tale Of The Cat sired dam won five and finished second in the Gr 3 Pretty Polly Stakes. Lot 252: Unnamed c Erupt – Guide You Home By the sire of such stakes winners as Karangetang, Moonlight Trader and Buster Barnes, this colt is out of a Gimmethegreenlight three-parts sister to the Gr 2 Gold Bracelet third Catchafallingstar. His granddam, by Var, won six races including the Gr 2 Kuda Gold Circle Oaks and she is a half-sister to the Oaks winners Arcola and Ash Cloud. Lot 206: Unnamed f Twice Over – Diva’s Daughter This filly shares her sire with such top-class performers as Do It Again, Double Superlative and See It Again. She is a half-sister to four winners notably Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship winner Miss Florida and hails from the family of international Gr 1 winners Atlantic Jewel, Embassy and King’s Apostle. For more information on Blue Sky Thoroughbreds’ Premier Sale draft, please contact Bruce Le Roux or Tinus Gericke on info@blueskytb.co.za.

11 MARCH 2026 | 93

94 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 95

LEGISLATING FOR

EXCELLENCE Normandy’s Oscar Foulkes - expecting a great sale | Credit: Supplied

Champion Legislate is one of South Africa’s top stallions. In terms of percentages and statistics, the son of Dynasty is the country’s top sire, and is having another excellent season in 2025-2026. His black type winners this season are headed by Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes winner Wish List and also include graded stakes winners Good For You, Legal Counsel and Regulation.

He’s a neat, close-coupled horse (like the rest of the Nordic family). I’d expect him to be a sprintertype Legislate. Walks well. From the same female line as the sire’s Gr 1 winner Good For You, this colt is out of a half-sister to two graded stakes winners and to the dam of the Normandy bred champion Rio Querari.

Normandy Stud will be offering two of just three on sale, yearlings by this wonderful sire at the Premier Yearling Sale, and Oscar Foulkes is understandably very high on both horses.

Solidly built, athletic colt. He’s caught the eye since he was a foal. His dam La Mas Bella is a three-parts sister to the stakes winners Pinnacle Peak and Principessa and this is the family of champions Paita and Potemkin.

Oscar had the following comments to make about his Premier Sale draft: Lot 47: Unnamed f Legislate – Pelaya She’s a late foal, so there’s plenty of development still to come. I love her athleticism, great walk and presence. Bred on the same cross as Gr 1 winner Wish List, this half-sister to three winners is out of a half-sister to Ardmore Jamaica Handicap, Listed, winner Principessa. Lot 41: Unnamed c Legislate – Nordic Light 96 | 11 MARCH 2026

Lot 8: Unnamed c Erupt – La Mas Bella

Lot 84: Unnamed f The United States – Shalkot Lovely filly, well-grown and scopey with the most lovely shoulder and depth of girth. From the family of the Normandy Stud bred champions Mother Russia and Winter Solstice, this filly’s dam is a half-sister to this season’s Gr 3 1Voucher Victress Stakes winner Sukhumvit. For more information on this draft, please contact Oscar on (083) 297 3402.

11 MARCH 2026 | 97

Team Winterbach will he open for viewing from 08h00 on Tuesday 10 March | Credit: RCS

HOME OF THE MASTER Between them, Winterbach Stud’s Hendrik Winterbach Snr and Hendrik Winterbach Jr offer more than 50 years of expertise in the breeding industry. Winterbach is home to the exciting young sire, and Gr 1 Computaform Sprint winner, Master Archie, whose first crop are yearlings this year. 98 | 11 MARCH 2026

A son of the increasingly successful Rafeef, Master Archie has a number of well-bred yearlings on offer at this year’s Premier Sale, and they look sure to be well received. Winterbach Stud will be offering an exceptional draft at the 2026 Premier Yearling Sale, with their Premier consignment including lots sired by Fire Away, Gimmethegreenlight, Jet Dark, One

World, Querari, Rafeef and Vercingetorix. While it is difficult to single any particular lots, the following five yearlings look sure to prove popular when they enter the sales ring at March’s auction! Lot 10: Tempting Fortune c Hawwaam – La Volta By five-time Gr 1 winner and hugely promising young sire Hawwaam, Tempting Fortune is a half-brother to seven winners. His three black type half-brothers include Winterbach Stud’s Gr 1 winning sire Master Archie, with this colt’s stakes winning dam a full sister to Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship third placegetter Valeta. Lot 28: Unnamed f Declarationofpeace – Earth’s Orbit

She’s A Keeper and VJ’s Angel. Bred on the same potent cross as champions Proceed and Sandringham Summit, Abigail Fix is a half-sister to the classy East Cape Breeders Stakes winner Sweetie Darling from the family of champion fillies Cherry On The Top and Summer Pudding. Lot 197: Caesar’svastghost c Vercingetorix – Come Fly With Me By South Africa’s reigning champion sire, this regally bred colt is a half-brother to four winners including Gr 1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met/Gr 1 HWB Cape Guineas winning sire Double Superlative and the promising Vroom Vroom. His Gr 3 placed dam is a full-sister to Gr 1 Mercury Sprint winner Fly By Night. Lot 262: Unnamed f Rafeef – I Like It Hot

By a stakes winning son of the mighty War Front, this filly is a yearling with plenty of paddock value. A full sister to impressive debut winner Spacebound, she is a halfsister to six other winners notably Gr 3 Lebelo Sprint winner Taikonaut and World Sports Betting Perfect Promise Sprint Listed winner Mercury Rising. Another half-sister, Veronica Mars, finished second in both the Lady’s Bracelet Listed and WSB Sign Up Now Ladies Mile Listed. This is the family of champions Foveros and Hinterland. Lot 176: Abigail Fix f Gimmethegreenlight – Captain’s Darling

This filly is out of a twice-winning half-sister to Equus Champion, and triple Gr 1 winner, Via Africa. The latter has produced a pair of Gr 1 winners in Australia, namely Gr 1 ATC Golden Rose winning sire In The Congo and the unbeaten sensation Gr 1 ATC Epsom Handicap winner Autumn Glow. Both horses were sired by a son of Redoute’s Choice, whose son Rafeef is responsible for the filly on sale. For more information on this draft, interested parties are asked to contact Hendrik on (082) 465 4433.

This filly shares her sire with such star fillies as Gimme Another, Bless My Stars, 11 MARCH 2026 | 99

100 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 101

102 | 11 MARCH 2026

ARCHIE – A MASTER! Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner Master Archie (Rafeef ex La Volta) has his first Premier Yearling Sale progeny going through the ring on 13 and 14 March! The latest Redoute’s Choice descendant poised to make his mark at stud, Rafeef ’s striking looking son, Master Archie emulated Rafeef, who won the 2017 renewal, when he scored in the 2022 Gr1 Computaform Sprint. In the process, the grey accounted for notable graded stakes winners such as Big Burn, True To Life, Alesian Chief, Bohica, and Val D’Orcia, as well as promising young sire Real Gone Kid. Rafeef has certainly made his mark on the Computaform Sprint, as he is also responsible for Computaform Sprint winners Thunderstruck (2024) and William Robertson (2025). Bred on the same Rafeef/Var cross as champion Thunderstruck, and on a similar cross to Australian Gr1 winners Autumn Glow and In The Congo, Master Archie is out of the smart La Volta. A Var full-sister to the Gr1 placed dam of Gr3 Starling Stakes winner She’s A Giver, La Volta, who also ranks as the dam of the stakes placed pair of Churchillian and Purple Cloud, won eight times including the Listed Bauhinia Handicap. The regally bred La Volta, who also numbers the graded stakes winners Chesalon (Fort Wood) and Mardi Gras (Oratorio) as

half-brothers, was produced by Fancourt Gr1 Majorca Stakes winner Sarabande (Goldmark). Master Archie has a quintet on offer at the RCS Premier Yearling Sale: Lot 81-out of a winning half-sister to two stakes horses, this filly’s granddam is dual Gr3 winner Secret To Success, a half-sister to champion Special Key Lot 146-a half-sister to three smart winners including Gr3 Man O’ War Sprint runner up Laetitia’s Angel, this filly is out of Listed Queen Of The Sand Handicap winner Xilomante Lot 187-this filly’s granddam is a daughter of champion sprinters Orientate and Harry’s Charm from the family of champions Enchantress, Laverna and National Currency Lot 229-closely related to a three time winner, this colt is out of a So You Think half-sister to graded stakes winners Eight Street and Ottimo Lot 258-a 1/2 to 2 winners, this colt is out of a Jet Master half-sister to champion sprinter Al Nitak and dual Gr1 winning sire The Sheik

11 MARCH 2026 | 103

104 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 105

106 | 11 MARCH 2026

Gateway to champions | Credit: Supplied

PROSPER’S POWER PLAYERS She’s a star.” “Something special.” “She’s incredible”. These are just a few of tributes paid to unbeaten Australian star Autumn Glow. A winner of all ten of her starts, the top seller at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale sent her earnings soaring past A$7,5 million with her second Gr1 success this past weekend. Prosper Stud will be offering a relative to this current superstar at the 2026 Premier Yearling Sale. Lot 114: f The United States – Swift Dancer By one of the hottest stallions in South Africa at the moment, this full sister to the smart filly The Charleston is out of a winning half-sister to Via Africa. Equus Champion Sprinter of 2013 -2014, Via Africa was a lightning-fast filly whose ten career wins included a pair of wins in the South African Fillies Sprint Gr 1, as well as the 2014 Cape Flying Championship Gr 1. She has proved a sensation at stud, and is not only the dam of the aforementioned Autumn Glow, but also the latter’s ATC Golden Rose Gr 1 winning three-parts brother, and sire, In The Congo. Other attractive prospects to be found in this consignment include: Lot 71: Rosabelle f Rafeef – Rosenwind By the sire of such top-class fillies as Chasing Happiness, Mon Petit Cherie and Reet Petite, Rosabelle is out of a smart racemare who won three of just five starts. A half-sister to Gr 2 Debutante winner Rosier, the well related Rosenwind is bred on similar lines to dual Whitney Handicap Gr 1 winner Commentator.

Lot 150: Master Chime c Master Of My Fate – African Chime This colt shares his top-class sire with this season’s Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas Gr 1 winner Jan Van Goyen among many other high-class performers. His dam African Chime is a twice winning half-sister to Allan Robertson Championship Gr 1 heroine On Her Toes, and this is also the family of fellow Gr 1 winners Follow The Falcon, Querari Falcon and Savannah Queen. Lot 187: Lady Archie f Master Archie – Charmz Luck From the first crop of Computaform Sprint Gr 1 winner Master Archie, Lady Archie is out of a winning half-sister to the useful galloper Grey Light. This filly’s granddam Charmz is a daughter of sprint champions Orientate and Harry’s Charm, and fourth dam is the influential Stuttafords Cup Gr 1 winner Enchanting. Lot 207: Orbit’s Lad c Kommetdieding – Down To Earth This colt hails from the first crop of Vodacom Durban July Gr 1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met Gr 1 winner Kommetdieding. Closely inbred to champion sires Captain Al and Fort Wood, Orbit’s Lad is out of a twice winning half-sister to two stakes winners including Lebelo Sprint Gr 3 winner Taikonaut. A colt with a stallion’s pedigree, Orbit’s Lad hails from the same female line as champions Foveros and Hinterland, among others. For more information on this draft, please contact Jikkie De Wet on (083) 288 8112. 11 MARCH 2026 | 107

108 | 11 MARCH 2026

Millstream – on the move | Credit: RCS

MORE MAGIC FROM MILLSTREAM Millstream Farm has a number of promising alumni representing them this season. From the exciting Grand Empire and Betway Gr3 Victory Moon Stakes winner The Ultimate King (both raised by Millstream on behalf of Al Adiyaat) to exciting sprinter All The Rage, Millstream Farm looks on course to enjoy plenty of success in the months ahead. Jan Mantel will be bringing an exciting draft to this year’s Premier Yearling Sale. Not only does Millstream’s draft including yearlings sired by the likes of Eden Roc, Fire Away, Gimmethegreenlight, Jet Dark, Legislate and Vercingetorix, it also contains lots hailing from some of the best families in the South African stud book. Below are five potential standout lots: Lot 59: c Gimmethegreenlight – Quetta: By a multiple champion sire, whose progeny include recent Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate winner The Real Prince, this colt is a half-brother to this season’s Gr 3 1Voucher Victress Stakes winner Sukhumvit and Gr 1 ARF Commemorative Cape Derby runner up Sachdev. Tellingly, this is also the family of Gimmethegreenlight’s globetrotting champion Gimme A Nother. Lot 76: Windswept f The United States – Savannah Leigh: By the same sire as recent Gr 1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship winner Kingdundee as well as the top-class filly Rodeo Drive, Windswept is a halfsister to four winners notably multiple graded stakes winning filly Green Plains. This is the family of 2025 Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes winner Cosmic Speed.

Lot 110: c Legislate – Strawberry Light: This colt shares his inform sire Legislate with this season’s graded stakes winners Wish List, Legal Counsel and Regulation. His dam is a winning Gimmethegreenlight half-sister to Gr 2 Gold Bracelet winner Flying Ice, and this is the family of such Gr 1 winners as Good Traveller, Redberry Lane, Silvano’s Pride and Solo Traveller. Lot 139: Hello Darkness f Jet Dark – Warm Welcome: From the first crop of five-time Gr 1 winner Jet Dark, Hello Darkness is out of a twice winning Gimmethegreenlight half-sister to the stakes placed Silverlinks. Her granddam, Gr 3 Fillies Mile winner Close The Gap, is very closely related to champions Horse Chestnut and Monyela to name but two. Lot 242: c Vercingetorix – Gimme Dat: By South Africa’s reigning champion sire, this colt is out of the regally bred Gr 2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes/ Gr 3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery winner Gimme Dat. By multiple champion sire Gimmethegreenlight, Gimme Dat, whose dam is a three-parts sister to champion Yard-Arm, is a full-sister to Drum Star Handicap, Listed, winner Green Haze. This is also the family of Triple Crown winner Abashiri. For more information on this draft, interested parties are asked to speak to Jan on (082) 8012499.

11 MARCH 2026 | 109

110 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 111

112 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 113

A PARTNERSHIP IN FOCUS

INSURANCE TAILORED TO YOU , TAILORED FOR THEM , PROTECTING EVERY STRIDE FROM THE FALL OF HAMMER.

Chat with Jo about the various cover options available to you for horses that are up for sale at auction.

JO CAMPHER BLOODSTOCK PRODUCT MANAGER M 082 334 4940 E jo@kuda.co.za

Kuda Holdings is an authorised ﬁnancial service provider - FSP number 38382

114 | 11 MARCH 2026

WWW.KUDA.CO.ZA

Sandown – a long history of champions | Credit: Supplied

SANDOWN – SIMPLY SENSATIONAL Sandown Stud has been enjoying a fine run of success this season. Feature successes include the farm’s talented graduate Rodeo Drive capturing the Gr 2 Mike De Kock Ipi Tombe Challenge, while the Sandown Studbred Royal Invitation scored in the Racing240 Sun Chariot Handicap. Yet another classy individual bred by Sandown is Outlaw King, winner of this season’s Gr 2 SplashOut Cape Merchants. A son of Rafeef and the Greys Inn mare Way Of Escape, Outlaw King went on to finish a close third in the recent Gr 1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship and he has now earned more than R1.624 million in prize money. The farm’s great season can be clearly seen in the NHRA statistics. Sandown is seventh on the Leading Breeders’ premiership for 20252026, despite the farm being represented by fewer runners than any other farm in the top ten. Sandown’s AEPR (Average Earnings Per Runner) of R72 531 is the highest of any stud farm in the top ten list for the current season. Sandown’s James Armitage will be bringing three wellbred yearlings to the 2026 Premier Yearling Sale, and he had the following comments on the trio:

Lot 113: f Jet Dark – Sweet Repeat From the first crop of five-time Gr1 winning champion Jet Dark, this filly is out of a winning full-sister to 2018-2019 South African Horse Of The Year Do It Again and 3/4 sister to leading 2026 Gr 1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met contender See It Again. The latter ran a close third in the recent Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate. This is a scopey, quality filly who is athletic. Lot 181: c Twice Over – Cavivar By the sire of such stars as Do It Again, Double Superlative and See It Again, this colt is out of Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship runner up Cavivar, a daughter of boom broodmare sire Var. This is the family of champions Bless My Stars and Model Man among others. This is a good looking and well-balanced colt with depth, substance and quality. Lot 265: c Twice Over -In Your Time By a four-time Gr 1 winning champion, this colt hails from one of the best families in the stud book. His dam is a full-sister to Lady’s Bracelet Listed winner Sovereign Secret and also a three-parts sister to the Dynasty sired champion Bela-Bela. For more information on these three yearlings, please contact James on (072) 680 3549.

11 MARCH 2026 | 115

116 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 117

118 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 119

WILLIAM JOINS SOME SERIOUS

BIG-HITTERS! 120 | 11 MARCH 2026

In the modern era, it is only too common to hear purists bemoan the lack of durability and soundness in the modern thoroughbred. Hear The Drums – East Cape hero won 35 races | Credit: Supplied

11 MARCH 2026 | 121

The charismatic William Robertson, who picked up the 17th win of his 55 race career when victorious in Saturday’s TAB Gr3 J J The Jet Plane Stakes, is a refreshing variation on the theme!

broodmare, won 17 races from 31 starts, with her victories including five at Gr1 level. Beach Beauty’s record is another strike against the myth that top-class racemares don’t always succeed at stud.

In the modern era of South African horse racing, only a handful of horses have matched or surpassed William Robertson’s tally of wins.

Triple Horse Of The Year Pocket Power (Jet Master) was another top-class performer to notch an impressive number of wins, victorious in 20 of his 43 starts. Pocket Power’s outstanding sire Jet Master won 17 races, reaching that mark from just 24 starts. Golden Loom, another hugely charismatic performer, won 22 races in a 77 race career, with ‘Goofy’ famous for his weight carrying ability, while dual South African Horse Of The Year Variety Club won 17 races, with his tally including wins in three different countries.

The East Cape galloper Hear The Drums (Gold Press) won an astonishing 35 races, but at a lesser level than William Robertson. William Robertson’s record, however, includes quality as well as quantity. His 17 victories include five graded stakes races, notably the 2025 TAB Gr1 Computaform Sprint, which title he will bid to defend on 4 April. Champion racemare Beach Beauty (Dynasty), who has become such an outstanding

122 | 11 MARCH 2026

William Robertson’s class and quality is also a tribute to his increasingly successful sire Rafeef.

Champion racemare Beach Beauty won 17 of her 31 starts | Credit: Equine Edge

William Robertson racks up his 17th win | Credit: Equine JC Photos

The latter had a feature race double on Saturday with his two-year-old daughter Secretary Bird winning the Listed Wilgerbosdrift Ruffian Stakes. Secretary Bird’s win marked a second straight year that a Rafeef filly had won the Ruffian Stakes, with Glastonbury victorious in the 2025 renewal. While he has yet to sire a Gr1 winning daughter, Rafeef (Redoute’s Choice) has more than proved himself capable of coming up with high-class fillies and mares.Secretary Bird and Glastonbury aside, the list of Rafeef ’s graded stakes winning daughters include Frances Ethel, Mon Petit Cherie, Beating Wings, Chasing Happiness, Leaving Las Vegas, Mrs Browning, Mai Sensation and Shantastic. He is also the sire of Reet Petite, runner-up in both the World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas and Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes this season.

William Robertson is one of three G1 Computaform Sprint winners for Rafeef, with the latter having himself won the G1 Computaform Sprint back in 2017. Rafeef ’s previous Computaform Sprint winners are Master Archie and champion Thunderstruck, and he is also responsible for three of the past four winners of the Computaform Sprint. William Robertson’s dam Massachusetts (Trippi), a three time winning own sister to ill-fated CTS Million Dollar winner Illuminator, is having a fine season with her son Splittheeights (Vercingetorix) having won both the TAB Gr2 Gauteng Guineas and G3 Betway Got The Greenlight Stakes, and then producing a solid third in Saturday’s Gr1 SA Classic.

11 MARCH 2026 | 123

124 | 11 MARCH 2026

A well-deserved first stakes success for Care Forgot under Ryan Munger | Credit: JC Photos

ONE WORLD FILLY’S

UNFORGETTABLE

MAIDEN STAKES SUCCESS Sean Tarry and Ryan Munger pulled off an early Classic Day feature double at Turffontein on Saturday when the Moutonshoek-bred Care Forgot stormed through late in the Lance Michael silks to win the R250 000 Wilgerbosdrift Listed Acacia Stakes.

success for the 4yo chestnut daughter of The United States, who was formerly in the care of the late Barend Botes.

Tarry and Munger had earlier won the Ruffian Stakes with Secretary Bird, achieving an exacta there – and they repeated the feat in the Acacia Stakes, with Care Forgot (11-2) bulleting through from off the gallop to hold a flying stablemate Warning Sound (25-1) by a length in a time of 100,15 secs for the mile.

The daughter of One World finished tenth and 5,35 lengths off his exacta-dominating stablemates. Such is racing.

Glistian’s Kisshoten (16-1) returned to her better consistent form producing a good third, a further 0,40 lengths back.

A R300 000 BSA August 2yo Sale graduate, Care Forgot was bred by Moutonshoek and is a daughter of the Piketberg farm’s Galileo kingpin The United States out of the unraced Irish-bred Hawk Wing mare, Love Unlimited.

The favourite Warm Reception (4-1) stalked the pacemaker Famous Lady for much of the trip but fell away to finish downfield.

Sean Tarry is a master trainer but admitted that his tipping skills may need polishing – having suggested Gerbera of his trio.

Owner Lance Michael was not on course, apparently celebrating his son Adam’s 23rd birthday. So a good day all round!

Care Forgot has now won 6 of her 21 starts with 3 places and stakes of R617 894.

But it was Care Forgot’s moment and an overdue and well-deserved first stakes 11 MARCH 2026 | 125

126 | 11 MARCH 2026

ONE WORLD COLT v

HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE

The One World colt World Attraction stepped up smartly from his runaway victory on debut to confirm his promise with an emphatic victory in the R200 000 TAB Listed Storm Bird Stakes at Turffontein on Classic Day. Starting at prohibitive odds of 3-10 on the good-to-soft ground, the long-striding World Attraction stamped his class under SplashOut-sponsored Callan Murray over a trip at the bottom end of his range, when he drew clear to beat market rival Gimme A Vodka (5-1) by 1,70 lengths in a time of 58,39 secs for the 1000m straight. Fanie Bronkhorst’s maiden Ruby Whisper (66-1) was a further three quarters of a length back in third. A gutsy effort from the daughter of Captain Of All!

George Ragunan, Noelene Malherbe and the Wernars Family, the winner is a son of Drakenstein stallion One World (Captain Al) out of the five-time winning Vercingetorix mare, Major Attraction. Trained by Mike and Mat de Kock, World Attraction was bred by Etienne Braun, Neville Cooper and Wayne Mealing, and is now a winner of 2 races from 2 starts, with the R1 million Premier Yearling Sale graduate having earned R207 813. He was a second winner on the day for the De Kocks-Murray combination after the Gimmethegreenlight filly Detailed Forecast shed her maiden to win the first race. The colt with the good attitude looks to have a bright future.

Raced by Arun Chadha and Warne Rippon’s ASSM Racing Syndicate in partnership with Mike de Kock, Mukund Gujadhur,

World Attraction (Callan Murray) storms home solo on Classic Day Credit: Chase Liebenberg

11 MARCH 2026 | 127

128 | 11 MARCH 2026

RAFEEF FILLY SPREADS HER WINGS

Arun Chadha and Warne Rippon are staunch supporters of the sport via their ASSM Racing Syndicate and through big-race sponsorships. Their blue and grey silks enjoyed a Classic Day juvenile feature double when Secretary Bird arrived in style to win the R200 000 Wilgerbosdrift Listed Ruffian Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday. The victory for the Sean Tarry galloper came a half hour after the De Kock-trained World Attraction’s explosive strike in the TAB Storm Bird Stakes. Rafeef ’s daughter Secretary Bird (2-1) was produced late by Ryan Munger to beat stablemate Griselda (28-10) by 2,25 lengths in a time of 58,04 secs (that was faster that than the Storm Bird Stakes) for the 1000m.

Lanzarote (6-1) was a half-length back in third. The Bryanston Auctioneers-sponsored Ryan Munger, who returns to Canada after Champions Day, said that he had anticipated to be leading his more fancied stablemate Griselda, but that his mount was relaxed, and things worked out unexpectedly. Bred by Klawervlei Stud, the winner is a daughter of Ridgemont’s outstanding Redoute’s Choice stallion Rafeef, out of the five-time winning Captain Al mare, Secretariat’s Girl. Secretary Bird sold for R525 000 on Day 1 of the 2025 Race Coast Sales March Yearling Sale and has now won 2 races with a place from 3 starts, for stakes of R202 825.

Secretary Bird (Ryan Munger) arrives in style! | Credit: JC Photos

11 MARCH 2026 | 129

130 | 11 MARCH 2026

TIN PAN ALLEY MOVES TO 128

Three-year-old Tin Pan Alley has been awarded a revised merit rating of 128, up from 117, following his emphatic victory in the Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes run at weight-for-age over 1600m at Turffontein standside track on Saturday. In assessing the race, the Handicappers identified the consistent Texas Red (third place) as the line horse, leaving his rating unchanged at 119. Tin Pan Alley’s commanding win over 1600m on a yielding track dispelled any doubts about his aptitude for the trip. The Handicappers had already considered him suitable for the distance, having used him as the line horse in the original TAB Gauteng Guineas ratings. However, the TAB Gauteng Guineas was subsequently reduced to a level of 109 following an appeal. The outcome of the TAB Gauteng Guineas appeal has had significant knock-on effects. The threeyear-old cohort that dominated the Guineas was reduced from a level of 121 to 109. Tin Pan Alley, who finished sixth in that race, has now gone on to win a Grade 1 WFA event. Effectively, based on the reduced Guineas level, his performance rating has risen from 104 to 128 in just 28 days. While the Handicappers clearly believe Tin Pan Alley improved in this race, the improvement would reasonably be measured from 117 to 128 based on the Handicapper’s original assessment of the Gauteng Guineas.

considered the pecking order of the field, the quality of the race as a Grade 2 event, and fairness from a handicapping perspective to ensure horses would meet on proper handicap terms in future contests. The appeal outcome created distortions, including the subsequent reduction of Trust’s rating from 119 to 108 - a decision made two runs after his Grade 2 Jackpot City Dingaans victory, which the Handicappers regard as contrary to the principles of handicapping. Tin Pan Ally’s performance in this WFA race highlights the strength of this year’s three-year-old crop. No other horses received upward adjustments in this race. Cosmic Speed’s rating was reduced slightly, from 124 to 122. HKJC World Pool Gr1 SA Classic Grand Empire, winner of the Grade 1 HKJC World Pool SA Classic over 1800m, has had his official merit rating raised from 108 to 120. The Handicappers unanimously agreed that runner-up Trust reaffirmed the 119 performance he achieved in the Grade 2 Jackpot City Dingaans last November, where he defeated the 118-rated Jan Van Goyen. The Dingaans level remains the officially adopted benchmark for that race. In the assessment of this race, the Handicappers concluded that Trust once again performed to that same level of 119. TRUST was used to that mark and was accordingly adjusted to 119.

When rating the Guineas, the Handicappers 11 MARCH 2026 | 131

A collateral line of form with Tin Pan Ally’s win in the Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1) indicates that the Grade 1 HKJC World Pool SA Classic is undervalued, however, the Handicappers do not practise retrospective ratings. Furthermore, the Trust appeal panel concluded with the following recommendation: “Following the running of the SA Classic, the Handicappers should re-evaluate the entire three-year-old crop.” Three additional horses received merit rating increases in this race: • Splittheeights: 109 To 116 • One Eye On Vegas: 106 To 115 • Radio Star: 95 To 107 Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic Hazy Dazy’s official merit rating remained unchanged at 117 after she held off her rivals to win the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m. Hazy Dazy remains 3 points lower that her male counterpart Grand Empire, which is within the range of the filly’s allowance while keeping her equal to the Western Cape Leading filly WISH LIST, who is also rated 117. The Handicappers identified Littlemissmillion as the line horse, leaving her rating unchanged at 107. Two horses received rating increases based on their margins ahead of the line horse at level weights: • Scarlett Heart (third): 91 to 108 • Daisy Jones (fourth): 106 to 108 Wilgerbosdrift Listed Acacia Stakes Care Forgot’s official merit rating has been raised from 97 to 102 after winning the Listed Wilgerbosdrift Acacia Stakes over 1600m.

132 | 11 MARCH 2026

In this race, Kisshoten (third) was deemed the most suitable line horse, with her rating left unchanged at 107. Under race conditions, the maximum increase for placed runners is limited to three points. Accordingly, runner-up Warning Sound could only be raised from 87 to 90, despite achieving a higher performance level. Three horses received rating reductions: • Willy Meet Again: 104 to 102 • Lady Fallon: 102 to 100 • Doitwithdiamonds: 100 to 99 TAB Gr3 Jj The Jet Plane Stakes William Robertson’s official merit rating remains unchanged at 124 following his 17th career victory, achieved in the Grade 3 TAB J J The Jet Plane Stakes over 1000m. William Robertson, who was rated 105 as a one time winner at age 3, went up to a rating of 125 from 117 following his 2nd place run in the 2022 Grade 1 Mercury Sprint and has now accumulated 5 Graded race wins. He was deemed the most suitable line horse for this race, hence his unchanged rating. By rating the race in this manner, Mover And Shaker also ran to his mark of 109, effectively making him a line horse as well. Upward adjustments were made for the following horses: • Taxi To The Moon (runner-up): 117 to 119 • Rafa Bay: 94 to 97 • Constellation: 113 to 114 Two horses received rating reductions: • Cosmic Star: 106 to 105 • Mount Pinatubo: 110 to 109 Media release by the NHA on Tuesday, 10 March 2026.

11 MARCH 2026 | 133

100 up! Buttercup Baby (Rachel Venniker) is led in by Sandy and Eugene Arundel, and Wendy Whitehead and her team Credit: Julia Marnewick

CENTURY UP

FOR ARUNDELS A Summerveld trainer and Highveld-based jockey were questioned after the fourth race at Hollywoodbets Greyvville on Sunday.

In the very next race Jockey Calvin Habib appeared before the Board with regard to his riding of the 16-1 Sun In My Pocket.

The Stipes reported that they have adjourned to review Jockey Smanga Khumalo’s riding of the 18-10 favourite Convocation and to consider the statements of Khumalo and Trainer Tienie Prinsloo, including a detailed investigation into the betting trends both locally & internationally, including exchanges.

Habib explained that this filly has a short finishing effort when encouraged vigorously in races.

A daughter of Flying The Flag, Convocation appeared to fight the rider early and finished 1,95 lengths off the winner in fifth.

He further explained that after obtaining a mid-field position from a wide draw, he rode Sun In My Pocket quietly with the hands in the early part of the straight, and after asking her for a finishing effort at the 200m there was a limited response from this filly. The Board accepted Habib’s explanation.

The race was won from start to finish by the 5-2 Buttercup Baby in a milestone for longstanding owners Sandy and Eugene Arundel, whose Itssa It & Business Solutions (Pty) Ltd reached their century of winners. 134 | 11 MARCH 2026

However, he was advised that should he ride a horse in a manner that deviates from the norm in future, he should notify the Stewards prior to the running of the race in question.

In addition, the Veterinary Surgeon was requested to examine Sun In My Pocket. In the ninth race, an objection by jockey Muzi Yeni was upheld. The Stipes reported that approaching the 200m PEARL IN HER CROWN (M Yeni) was brushed out by BASIE RAAKVAT (N Patel) which rolled out. Thereafter, at the 150m PEARL IN HER CROWN (M Yeni) was carried out by BASIE RAAKVAT (N Patel) which shifted out. Leaving the 100m PEARL IN HER CROWN (M Yeni) and RUN TO RIO (K de Melo) bumped when racing in restricted room between the outside running rail and BASIE RAAKVAT (N Patel) which rolled out. Thereafter PEARL IN HER CROWN (M Yeni) and RUN TO RIO (K de Melo) were eased for a number of strides. During this incident Jockey K de Melo (RUN TO RIO) was accidentally struck on the arm on two occasions by Jockey M Yeni’s (PEARL IN HER CROWN) crop.

lodged by Jockey M Yeni, the rider of the third-placed horse PEARL IN HER CROWN, against the second-placed horse BASIE RAAKVAT (N Patel) on the grounds of interference and intimidation over the final 250m. After considering the evidence in this matter, the Board upheld the objection and amended the Judge’s result. In arriving at this decision, the Board considered the extent of the interference and that after having suffered interference PEARL IN HER CROWN (M Yeni) was making up ground rapidly on BASIE RAAKVAT (N Patel) at the finish. Jockey Yeni’s deposit was refunded. Jockey N Patel was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.7 in that as the rider of BASIE RAAKVAT, he failed to ensure that he did not cause interference to PEARL IN HER CROWN (M Yeni) and RUN TO RIO (K de Melo) at approximately the 70m. Jockey N Patel signed an Admission of Guilt and is suspended from riding in races for a period of seven days (Dates to be advised).

A race review was called into this incident, which was followed by an objection being

11 MARCH 2026 | 135

136 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 137

KOTZEN AND LITTLE

ON THE MARK

By far the faster of the two 1900m races on the Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack card on Sunday was the In The Box Seat Podcast-Gallop TV Class 5 (F&M) and here the combination of Glen Kotzen and Chad Little were again on the mark when Sesame gained her third career success. Sent off favourite at 5/2, the Legislate filly raced sixth, but she was never more than three and a half lengths off the pace. Ridden to lead going through the 300m, Sesame was challenged strongly by Sweeter Than Honey 100m later and after a thrilling tussle all the way to the wire, she only got the upper hand late. After the race Sesame was reported as coughing by the vet. In terms of stake money and average merit ratings, the Tote For The Win Middle Stakes over 1200m topped the bill and in what surprisingly proved to be marginally the slower of the two races over the distance, the 4yo What A Winter filly BUTTERCUP BABY registered her fifth career victory. Swiftly guided over from the widest draw by Rachel Venniker, Wendy Whitehead’s charge led throughout. Nicely positioned in second just a length and a half behind her for most of the journey, Sovereign Grant challenged strongly over the final 200m. The well-supported second favourite (7/2 into 5/2) kept finding below the distance though and with the rest comfortably beaten, she held on to score by a half. Run in a time 19/100th of a second quicker than the Middle Stakes was the Join Passion www. racecoast.co.za C Stakes and here THE MASK, another front runner, found the winner’s enclosure. Always top of the boards, Glen Kotzen’s charge was soon in command of a length and a half advantage. He quickly drew clear at the top of the straight and 138 | 11 MARCH 2026

went on to score with authority from Winter Waves (lost one length at start & hung out from 250m) by thee and a quarter.

Going: Standard Last 24 hours 22mm – Last Rain: 7 days 35mm 10-25km/h South Easterly Wind: tail wind 0,68s slow (straight) – Course Variant: 1,63s slow (bend) The Hollywoodbets Bright Future Class 5 over 1600m brought the afternoon’s proceedings to a close and in what comfortably proved to be the quickest of the three races over the distance, the 3yo PIED PIPER scored a comfortable victory. Nibbled at on course into 8/1 from 25/2, Wengesai Masawi’s charge was soon nicely positioned just three lengths off the pace. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and after quickly going clear he went on to score cosily by two. Both Pearl In Her Crown and the supported Basie Raakvat (10/1 into 5/1) ran on well to fill the places in the trifecta, but having raced a minimum of three lengths behind the winner, they were never a threat. Basie Raakvat actually finished second, but was demoted to third following a successful objection by Muzi Yeni the rider of Pearl In Her Crown. Fastest Times: 1200m (2) The Mask 1600m (3) Pied Piper 1900m (2) Sesame

69,74 95,19 115,23

11 MARCH 2026 | 139

140 | 11 MARCH 2026

Bad Medicine (Muzi Yeni) beats Anatolian Silver (Chad Little, on outside) and Juan Carlos (Wayne Agrella) in the final race at Fairview on Friday | Credit: Pauline Herman v

SIREN EITHER WORKED OR IT DIDN’T! The National Horseracing Authority have opened an investigation into the attempt to call a false start in the final race at Fairview last Friday. Did the siren work and was the Flagman in place? A measure of confusion reigned in the Fairview final event, with a race that the Starter intended to have a false start declared, eventually being treated as valid. The racing regulator and the racing operator have reported different versions of events with regards to equipment and personnel, which isn’t exactly comforting for the public. While 4Racing have confirmed that the siren was operational (yet nobody appears to have heard it), and that the Flagman was on duty and in place, the NHA exercised their oversight prerogative and made the call to validate the race, despite the Starter having intended to stop the cavalry at the jump.

So what happened in the Fairview eighth on Friday 6 March 2026? The Stipes reported that they reviewed the start with regard to Garden Sun (C Maujean) in stall 7 and established that this gelding had fractionally nudged the front gates open prior to the start being effected but he had gained no advantage. However, Apprentices G Dookhit (Spoil Yourself) and B Soodoo (Welsh Starlet) and Jockey Y Ramzan (Only A Poet), under the impression that a false start would be called, pulled up their mounts. The Board summoned the Jockeys and Apprentices who rode in this race to the Boardroom, where it was established that 11 MARCH 2026 | 141

they did not hear a siren being sounded nor did they notice the flag being waved by the Flagman to indicate a false start and, as a consequence, rode their mounts to the finish. The Starter, when interviewed, indicated that it was his intention to call a false start in terms of Rule 61.5.10.1. However, the siren, which he intended to activate in terms of Rule 65.5.12, malfunctioned due to a technical issue. Apprentices Dookhit (Spoil Yourself) and B Soodoo (Welsh Starlet) and Jockey Y Ramzan (Only A Poet) appeared before the Board and were questioned as to the reason they had pulled up their mounts. They explained that they anticipated a false start being called and were under the impression that the Flagman had waved his flag, contrary to established facts, and therefore pulled up their respective mounts. They were strongly advised that in similar circumstances in future, they are obligated to ride their mounts to the finish until such time as the siren is sounded or the Flagman waves them down to indicate a false start. The Board, after hearing all the evidence, declared Spoil Yourself (*G Dookhit), Welsh Starlet (*B Soodoo) and Only A Poet (Y Ramzan) runners and were satisfied that no runner had gained an advantage, and deemed this race to be fair. We understand the poser facing the Stipes, with the vast majority of the jockeys having – for whatever reason – been oblivious and ridden their mounts on merit. Going the route of overruling the Starter and validating the start was probably the best 142 | 11 MARCH 2026

well-balanced decision by Langa Douse and his team, in a situation where they had been forced into a corner. But there are always two sides to every coin. For those who backed eventual winner Bad Medicine (9-4), it was a good outcome. For those who included Spoil Yourself, Welsh Starlet and Only A Poet, you did your money in cold blood. Realistically, the events hardly engender confidence and we have been reminded of TAB Guineas Day at Turffontein last month, where the objection hooter failed to work and Joe Public and the De Kocks were blissfully unaware of an objection underway. Splittheeights won the race with One Eye On Vegas finishing third but shortly after they left the parade ring following all the interviews, they discovered that Serino Moodley, jockey of Trust who finished fourth, had lodged a successful objection against One Eye On Vegas – and they were left clueless. There was an announcement of a race review followed by news of the objection but those either involved in the presentations or witnessing it heard none of the announcement as the Turffontein sound system is not particularly coherent in the parade ring area which meant the only person representing the stable at the inquiry was jockey Sean Veale. Chief Stipendiary Steward Lyle Anderson explained that when they called for the inquiry, they requested the hooter to be blown on course. “But we were told the hooter wasn’t working so we asked the course commentator to make the announcement. By that stage, time was of the essence and as we had the jockey, we went ahead with the inquiry into the objection.”

11 MARCH 2026 | 143

Heversham Park beauties! | Credit: Heversham Park

HEVERSHAM PARKInvites You… Heversham Park invites all interested buyers to the farm to view their quartet of stunning, well-bred fillies to go on sale at the BSA National Yearling Sale. South Africa’s perennial auction of champions will take place on the 16th and 17th April, at the TBA Complex. The farm’s fillies are the best, thus far, ever entered for a sale. They are by excellent sires and all have black-type dams. Interested buyers are welcome to view these beauties from now until the week of the sale. 144 | 11 MARCH 2026

Viewing is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 13h00 to 17h00. Heversham Park staff will be in attendance and drinks and snacks will be served. The farm looks forward to welcoming you! For more information, please contact Heversham Park on info@hevershampark.co.za to confirm your visit.

11 MARCH 2026 | 145

146 | 11 MARCH 2026

Time Thief – a son of Redoute’s Choice | Credit: Supplied

REDOUTE’S CHOICE STALLION PASSES AWAY

Heversham have reported the passing of stallion Time Thief (AUS), following a heart attack on Saturday, 7 March. Heversham’s Advocate Nigel Riley commented: “We bought Time Thief at the Nadeson Park dispersal sale in November 2024 because nobody else wanted him and we felt sorry for this beautiful horse. He enjoyed a dignified retirement for a year-anda-half`, even covered one of Elektra’s jumpers last year.

“Time Thief was a real kind gentleman and a great favourite with everyone at Heversham. He went into his paddock as normal on Saturday, had some teff before lying down and dying shortly afterwards. He was 21 years old.” Farm Manager Nadia Duvenhage said: “Everyone on the farm had a soft spot for Time Thief. He was a special horse. We were all with him to his last breath at 8am on Saturday.” 11 MARCH 2026 | 147

As a racehorse, Time Thief finished second in the Gr1 Caulfield Guineas and the Gr1 Australia Stakes. A son of the prolific stud star Redoute’s Choice and Procrastinate (Jade Hunter), he was a ¾ brother to SA Champion Sprinter Laisserfaire. A top class racehorse, Time Thief won or placed in six of his seven outings. Winner of the Listed Zeditave Stakes, Time Thief ’s top performances included a second in the Gr1 Caulfield Guineas, where he was beaten by Whobegotyou, and a third in the Gr1 Australia Stakes, to champion Apache Cat.

He stood his first season at stud in Australia in 2010, where he sired Gr1 millionaire In Her Time and multiple stakes winner Volkoff and other stakes performers. He relocated to South Africa in 2015, when he Was imported by the late Hassen Adams for duties at Nadeson Park in Hermanus. In South Africa, he sired small crops with a number of Graded performers, including dual Listed Mile and Gr3 Summer Fling Stakes winner Time For Love, Gr1-placed Ocean Time and Gr2- placed Waheed and Time Fo Orchids.

NHA CALENDAR ALL THE INFO UNDER ONE UMBRELLA The Sporting Post presents this week’s National Horseracing Authority Calendar. The calendar is a summary of the past week’s penalties and registrations and is an easy-read snapshot of information. Please click on the image below:

148 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 149

It’s St Patrick’s Thursday! | Credit: Cheltenham Racecourse

THE LUCK OF THE IRISH ENFOLDS CHELTENHAM Thursday, Day 3 at the Cheltenham Festival, is highlighted by two Group 1 features – the Stayers’ Hurdle and the Ryanair Chase. A relatively dry spell saw Clerk of the Course Jon Pullin watering parts of the New Course, which is used for Thursday and Friday of the Festival, earlier in the week. Pullin noted: “At the moment we’re Good-toSoft, Good in places but by the end of the day the Good may have disappeared with the irrigating that we’re doing, we’ll see.” The ground will be the big question in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (17h20). Seven-time Group 1 winner Teahupoo is the ante-post 11/4 favourite after victories in both of his starts this season. A narrow success in the Gr1 Hatton’s Grace was followed by a 7-length romp over the re-opposing 150 | 11 MARCH 2026

Bob Olinger in the Gr1 Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown. Ideally, this Gordon Elliott trained star would enjoy a strongly run race and any rain would be very welcome. He should get the former with rivals Ma Shantou and Home By The Lee in the eleven strong field. Last season he finished runner-up to Bob Olinger in a slowly run affair. Teahupoo’s jockey Jack Kennedy took the blame for not being as assertive as he could have been in the race and this top rider will be seeking redemption on one of his favourite horses. His younger rivals Honesty Policy, Kabral du Mathan and Ma Shantou are all improving, with the latter a course and distance winner for the Emma Lavelle yard.

The Skeltons rely on Kabral Du Mathan who won the Relkeel Hurdle here on New Year’s Day. He quickened away at the end of a steadily run race over two and a half miles and would be the big danger to the favourite in a similarly run race. Later at 18h00, defending champ Fact To File looks set to confirm his superiority in the Ryanair Chase. Many expected connections to pay the supplementary fee for the Cheltenham Gold Cup but JP McManus has opted to keep his star nine-year-old to two and a half miles. The Willie Mullins trained Fact To File was an impressive nine-length victor last year and comes here on the back of an eye-catching five-length cruise over Gaelic Warrior in the Irish Gold Cup last month. Jonbon is carded to run, but with Fact To File now confirmed, this fellow JP McManus owned star is expected to head straight to Aintree.

Last year’s distant second Heart Wood and King George runner-up Banbridge make the trip over the Irish Sea. Both are officially rated over 160 and are high-class but seem likely to be fighting out the placings with the Paul Townend ridden stablemate to the favourite Impaire Et Passe. Earlier on the card, the Irish dominate the Group 1 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (16h40). This year’s two and a half mile contest sees five of the seven runners raiding from the Emerald Isle. The smart six-year-old Wodhooh won the Matin Pipe Handicap Hurdle here last season over the course and distance. Only beaten once in ten starts by Lossiemouth at Aintree last season, this Gordon Elliott trained runner should be too good for her six rivals. Don’t forget to take the special free-toenter Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge on the 2026 Cheltenham Festival, this promotion runs until Day 4 (Friday, 13 March) of the event.

11 MARCH 2026 | 151

152 | 11 MARCH 2026

Paul Townend has Lossiemouth in charge | Credit: Supplied v

QUEEN REIGNS AT CHELTENHAM ON DAY 1

Lossiemouth swept aside all rivals to claim a brilliant victory in the Unibet Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival opening day on Tuesday. 11 MARCH 2026 | 153

The 7-5 favourite after opting for this race over the Mares’ Hurdle, a contest she has won twice, she was one of three Willie Mullins-trained runners and the choice of stable jockey Paul Townend. The grey mare’s Cheltenham record was flawless going into Tuesday’s feature race and remained so afterwards, never looking in any sort of trouble ahead of a six-and-a-halflength defeat of Brighterdaysahead as The New Lion came home in third. Alexei ran a big race in fourth, just ahead of gallant defending champion Golden Ace. “She has that mare’s pedigree which gives her that bit of speed and the cheekpieces, I think, just made a huge difference,” said Mullins. “It made her concentrate that bit more and, you know, as horses get older they probably, like the rest of us, we start looking for ways out of doing hard work and this really invigorated her. “When I saw her working in them the other morning and when she pulled up, Paul pulled up and, you know, I spoke to him and we both had the same feeling that this was the way to go. And then the race looked so open we thought, well, why not, let’s go for it. “Well, you know, we were all anxious until the third-last and then I saw her hitting the third-last spot on and I looked back at JP’s (McManus) colours (The New Lion) and I thought, right, he’s starting to come under pressure and I thought when he was coming under pressure he was the one I was worried about. “To win the Champion Hurdle definitely outranks everything else she’s done. But to 154 | 11 MARCH 2026

come back here with four years in a row is an achievement in itself but then to win four years is, she’s gone Triumph, Mares’ twice and then this and it’s been superb. “Just 12 months ago State Man would have left her for dead. When State Man fell last year, he might have brought her down!” Townend said: “She was good today in everything she did. I was just able to put her where I wanted, to go forward when I wanted, come back when I wanted and when I gave her a squeeze she galloped for me. “That separates the really good ones from the good ones. It’s fun, you turn the top of the hill and you’re coming down and you’re able to hold them and you know the one inside you is going as fast as they can and you’re just able to dip them a little bit, it was exhilarating. “It’s a funny place, like it’s so straightforward when you’re on the best one and it’s so hard to ride around here when you’re not going as well as the ones around you. “The likes of her are a pleasure to ride in big races like that. For her to keep coming back and to land the Champion Hurdle on this attempt was brilliant. “It’s amazing when you stand next to Willie on the gallops and something goes past him. He’ll notice it. He only sees them for a second when they’re going by and he sees more than if people were studying the videos for hours. He’s a remarkable man.” Owner Rich Ricci said: “It’s unbelievable, magic, great, it’s 10 years since Annie Power won, it’s hard to win these races and she always tries and all credit goes to Willie.

The Ladies Day fun today | Credit: Supplied

“About 10 days ago Paul got off after a piece of work and said if I’m going to ride one winner at the Cheltenham Festival it’s that horse in the mares’ race and then he said ‘I just want to try with cheekpieces in a piece of work’ and he did it and he said that did the trick.

“I’ve always been welcomed by the sport, you know I’ve got a high profile in my business dealings, not all of it necessarily popular but I’ve always found racing has been incredibly nice to me and kind and took me as they found me and I love it and it’s been a great thing for myself and my family.

“She’s always just come alive at this track, when she gets down that hill she comes on the bridle. She loves this place. It was a long night last night, but it’s brilliant, it’s fantastic and it’s great, the reception we got was great. People are so kind, it’s wonderful and it’s great for the sport, I think.

“I’d love to win the Gold Cup now (has favourite Gaelic Warrior), hopefully we can do the double on Friday!” www.racingtv.com

11 MARCH 2026 | 155

156 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 157

158 | 11 MARCH 2026

Andrea Atzeni celebrates a four-timer Credit: HKJC

ATZENI GRABS SUNDAY QUARTET

Andrea Atzeni’s surge up the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship gained further impetus at Sha Tin on Sunday when the Italian produced a career-best quartet in Hong Kong, while Fast Network claimed the day’s feature to underline Ka Ying Rising’s supreme quality. Atzeni triumphed on He Was Me (119lb) for Tony Cruz in the Class 5 Somerset Handicap (1400m), Manfred Man’s Juicy Dragon (117lb) in the first section of the Class 4 Rutland Handicap (1200m, dirt), David Hall’s Good Chap (125lb) in the second section of the Class 4 Rutland Handicap (1200m, dirt) and John Size’s Endued (122lb) in the Class 3 Kowloon Tong Club Trophy Handicap (1600m) to move to 35 wins for the campaign.

Only eight-time champion jockey Zac Purton (84) and Hugh Bowman (39) have ridden more winners this season than Atzeni, who also recorded a second and two thirds from 11 rides this afternoon to underscore impressive consistency. “I had good rides but, as you know, it doesn’t always work out. I’ve had a good day. The two horses on the All Weather Track had great chances. Tony’s had a chance too and the only question with Endued was the draw (barrier 14). I’m picking nice rides and the support is coming. You know what it’s like here – you can never look back; you have to keep looking forward.”

11 MARCH 2026 | 159

Endued, who is nominated for the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 22 March, earned a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million with a brave performance after crossing the field from the outside barrier to take the lead and hang on by a head from Smart Avenue (122lb). Fast Network (135lb) was rewarded for a pair of minor placings behind superstar sprinter Ka Ying Rising with deserved success in the HK$3.72 million Class 1 Essex Handicap (1200m) for Dennis Yip and Zac Purton. Third behind Ka Ying Rising in both the Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) and Gr1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m), Fast Network settled fifth on the fence before Purton coolly weaved a winning passage to down Sky Trust (114lb) and Invincible Shield (121lb) in 1m 08.28s. “It was a really nice win, he’s been consistent all season and he was in a race today where he drew barrier one and there was a bit of speed, so there were some things to help him but it’s always really difficult to carry top weight in these races against some nice young horses,” Purton said. “He still had to turn up but he did it in pretty soft fashion.”

horse and I believe this horse can win a Group 3,” Cruz said. “Today, Angus rode a perfect race. There’s a handicap race coming up over 1800 metres again – 100-rating down – and I’m going to run in those kind of races. “The race I’m aiming at is at the end of the season, the Premier Plate. Let’s see what he does then.” Cruz later sealed a treble when Winning Ovation (131lb) – who returned this afternoon following 308 days between runs – sauntered to a comfortable win in the Class 3 Cumberland Handicap (1400m) under Alexis Badel. Frankie Lor’s blazing March form continued with Run Run Sunrise’s (127lb) success in the Class 4 Suffolk Handicap (1000m) under Derek Leung. Clocking 56.87s, the Capitalist gelding provided Lor with his ninth victory of the month. “We put the ear plugs and the tongue tie on him, and he’s looked much better – quieter and more relaxed,” Lor said. “In the morning, he is quite nervous and very strong in the cantering, the gear change has really helped with that.”

Yip said: “Everybody knows that Ka Ying Rising is too strong, everywhere in the world, but my horse is really consistent. I think this race, my horse was only 80 per cent,” Yip said.

Francis Lui’s The Golden Knight (130lb) claimed the Class 4 Norfolk Handicap (1600m) from Master Trillion (135lb) after jockey James Orman and trainer Francis Lui lodged an objection after losing momentum when going for a run near the 300m before failing by a head to catch Master Trillion.

Cruz will target the HK$4.2 million G3 Premier Plate Handicap (1800m) in June with Stunning Peach (125lb) after the Irish import continued an impressive form resurgence with success in the HK$3.12 million Class 2 Devon Handicap (1800m) under Angus Chung. “I believe this horse is potentially a Group

Orman sealed a brace in tandem with Hall when Magnifique (132lb) swept to victory in the Class 3 Cornwall Handicap (1200m, dirt) as the Charm Spirit gelding registered his fifth win from only seven starts.

160 | 11 MARCH 2026

Stunning Peach makes it two in a row Credit: HKJC

“He’s (Magnifique) a nice horse, any horse who can win five races in seven starts is pretty good and I’m pretty sure he should have won last start as well after a wide run,” Orman said. “With The Golden Knight (the successful objection), it’s not the way you want to win but I believe he should have won and you have to do the right things by connections.” Yee Cheong Glory (134lb) slotted his second course and distance win for Jamie Richards when Hugh Bowman delivered the grey with precision to clinch the Class 4 Kent Handicap (1200m).

“He’s (Yee Cheong Glory) been racing well. His last run, I thought, was really good and he had the sweet draw (barrier two) and the pace was good,” Bowman said. “He enjoyed being held up, actually. I was held up and disappointed for room at a vital stage, but we didn’t panic and the horse was full of running and it provided him with a good opportunity to show what he was capable of and he didn’t let us down.”

11 MARCH 2026 | 161

162 | 11 MARCH 2026

11 MARCH 2026 | 163

A powerful performance from Lara Antipova under Michael Dee | Credit: Magic Millions v

LARA ANTIPOVA UNLEASHES

JUVENILE DOMINATION! Lara Antipova left no doubt who New Zealand’s best juvenile was with a brilliant win in Saturday’s Gr1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie capping a massive day for Magic Millions sold two-year-olds. Sent out a raging odds on favourite in the Sistema, Lara Antipova unleashed her customary sprint when called upon in the straight for an easy win. The daughter of Russian Revolution is now unbeaten in four runs and she is now set to be sent across the Tasman to be tested with some of Australia’s most promising youngsters. “She’s exciting,” winning co-trainer Mark Walker said moments after the win. “It’s great for John Galvin and his team and well done to David Ellis it’s the seventh winner of the race he’s bought – that’s an incredible record.” 164 | 11 MARCH 2026

“We think she is up to Australian class. We will look forward to getting her to Melbourne and looking at some nice races at the back end of the two-year-old season.” “There’s a race down the straight at Flemington at the end of the month or there’s the Percy Sykes Stakes in Sydney.” “It will be good to give her a look at the Melbourne stable with a view to the Coolmore (Stud Stakes) in the Spring.” “Her form stacks up with Bellatrix Star who John and Jessica (Galvin) raced there and she’s every bit as good as she was,” Walker added. Winning rider Michael Dee was equally as impressed with the performance and he felt the young star would have found more if challenged.

“She made my job easy, she is certainly well educated,” Dee said. “She jumped clean and the speed was on. We were able to land in the one-one position and she did the rest.” “I had the eventual second horse try to come in underneath us on the turn and she just didn’t get around the corner 100 percent. She won the race once she quickened up.” “She had a good look around,” Dee added. “I feel there is plenty left in the tank.” Lara Antipova is the latest Gr1 winner sired by Snitzel’s Galaxy winning son Russian Revolution. She is one of four winners produced by the fivetime winning Myboycharlie mare Artistic Lass – a mare who holds metro class wins in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. A winner from 1800 to 2200m, Artistic Lass is a half-sister to four stakes performers led by Gr2 Edward Manifold Stakes winner Sistine Angel and Gr3 winner Sistine Demon. Lara Antipova was the cherry on top of what was an incredible day for youngsters sold by Magic Millions in feature races across Australasia. In Sydney the Golden Slipper Stakes ambitions for Chayan (I Am Invincible) and Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) were given tremendous boosts with brilliant Gr2 wins. Chayan, a A$250,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase from Longwood Thoroughbred Farm for owner Eric Koh, swept home to win the Reisling Stakes by a widening three lengths. Just over 30 minutes later it was the turn of A$400,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale buy Paradoxium, who bounced back from a recent

setback, for a sensational win in the Todman Stakes. A winner of December’s Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic, the Bjorn Baker trained Paradoxium missed the Gold Coast feature after being struck down with travel sickness. But after a recent dashing trial win, he was able to lead, kick and dominate the important feature and elevate himself to Golden Slipper favourite ahead of highly regarded stablemate Warwoven, another Magic Millions sold youngster. Further south at Flemington the feature twoyear-old race, the Group Two Sires’ Produce Stakes was captured by the rising talent Grinzinger Heart. The Toronado youngster was a A$110,000 Gold Coast Yearling buy for owner John Wheeler from the Lustre Lodge draft. The filly registered the biggest win so far for the talented horseman, Wangaratta trainer Ben Brisbourne, when winning at good odds. It was Magic Millions Day at Murray Bridge and the feature, the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic (1100m) was won in brilliant style by the Ben, Will and JD Hayes trained Rich on Bubbles (Capitalist). A last start winner in Victoria, Rich on Bubbles settled back in the field before storming home under Kayla Crowther for an impressive four length success. Last year’s SA 2YO Classic winner Ole Dancer graduated to a Gr1 winner later that year. The Lindsay Park stable, who parted with A$200,000 to buy Rich on Bubbles from Kingstar Farm, will be hoping he can graduate to similar heights.

11 MARCH 2026 | 165

Later in the card at Murray Bridge the Prime Thoroughbreds team celebrated their ninth Magic Millions feature success when Shadhavar (Pride of Dubai) cruised home to win the SA 3&4YO Classic (1200m). The Tom Dabernig trained mare is destined for stakes races after the win. She was purchased by Joe O’Neill for A$85,000 at the 2023 Adelaide Yearling Sale from the draft of The Chase. It was the fifth Magic Millions big race winner Prime have purchased and syndicated from the Morphettville based auction. Another Adelaide Yearling Sale purchase to delight its connections on the day was Scheelite who scored a dashing win in the Gr3 Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap at Flemington. The Ken Keys trained son of Real Steel was an A$80,000 buy from the Collingrove Stud offering. For good measure the juvenile race run on the metropolitan meeting at Bunbury in Western Australia was won by another Magic Millions sold performer. The Neville Parnham trained Here the Boom (Spirit of Boom) rattled home to win. The winner was a A$40,000 Perth Yearling Sale buy from the Ridgeport Holdings draft. Beadman, a proven Group winner, bounced back to his best for a classy win in the Listed

166 | 11 MARCH 2026

Fireball Quality for trainer Peter Snowden at Randwick. A A$900,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale buy for China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy, Beadman was an Arrowfield Stud graduate. Later on the same Randwick card for the former A$9,000 Gold Coast National Weanling Sale purchase Generosity won the Gr2 Challenge Stakes against a crack field of sprinters. Purchased by her former Perth based trainer Simon Miller from Glastonbury Farms, Generosity is now raced by B2B Thoroughbreds and is trained by Chris Waller. She is sure to be given another chance at Group One level over the coming weeks. May’s upcoming National Broodmare Sale received another first class boost when superstar New Zealand mare Legarto won the Group One New Zealand Stakes in brilliant style at Ellerslie. The now five-time Gr1 winner will be offered as an elite broodmare prospect at the Gold Coast when she is presented through the Attunga Stud draft. Connections will consider the upcoming Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington. She is already an elite level at the track, beating all comers in the Australian Guineas (1600m) at three.

11 MARCH 2026 | 167

Connections have confirmed that Stretan Angel will be on offer at May’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale Credit: Magic Millions

ANGEL ADDS

STAR POWER TO MAGIC NATIONALS

Group One performed sprinter Stretan Angel has added more star power to May’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale with connections confirming she will be offered at the Southern Hemisphere’s leading breeding stock auction. One of the finest sprinters of her generation with a trio of stakes wins and three Gr1 placings, Stretan Angel is also a half-brother to this season’s exciting juvenile Stretan Ruler. To be offered through the Yarraman Park Stud draft, Stretan Angel is sure to be among the most admired breeding prospects to be offered in 2026. A runaway stakes winner at two, a Gr2 Danehill Stakes winner at Flemington at three and a stakes winner in October at Caulfield, Stretan Angel has spent her career racing against the best horses in the country. 168 | 11 MARCH 2026

She was second, beaten a head, in the Group One Goodwood Handicap in 2024. In 2025 she was second in the Gr1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington and then at her following start finished third in the Group One Newmarket Handicap. Across her career Stretan Angel was trained by Phillip Stokes and the astute stable always held her in the highest of regard. “She’s always oozed class since the day when she came back from the breakers,” Assistant Trainer Tommy Stokes said. “We knew she had a good brain on her.” “As you can see from her time as a two-year-old, we contested great races from straight away with her. She showed right from the start she was a high-class racehorse.”

“Although she hasn’t won a Gr1 she’s always been in the mix with the top-level elite sprinters during her whole career – she’s a consistent mare with an outcross.” As well as her race record and pedigree, which are first class, connections feel Stretan Angel has the other attributes required to take her to the top as a broodmare. “She’s a lovely style of mare, she’s very athletic. She’s got a lovely temperament around the stables and conserves her energy well. All in all she’s a true athlete and true racehorse and her results speak to that,” Tommy Stokes said. During her career Stretan Angel has defeated a swag of Gr1 winners including Amelia’s Jewel, Benedetta, Giga Kick, Lady Laguna, Magic Time, Overpass and Switzerland. While Stretan Angel’s record at the highest level is first class, her pedigree continues to improve through the exploits of her half-brother, another Stokes trained star Stretan Ruler. One of the leading contenders for this year’s Golden Slipper, Stretan Ruler scored a brilliant three and a half length win in the Silver Slipper before his closing second in Saturday’s Todman Stakes to Paradoxium. “He’s obviously heading to the Slipper in a fortnight,” Stokes said of Stretan Ruler. “He’s done an amazing job already and we are really excited about his future.” “What is happening now with Stretan Ruler is fantastic, but he’s not just going to be a two-yearold, he will go on with it. He’s going to make a lovely three-year-old. He’s got scope and looks the real deal.” “Next prep he’s going to keep improving. It’s an exciting family to be a part of. The full-sister to Stretan Angel (by Harry Angel) sold for big money and we liked that colt but couldn’t afford her.”

“It’s a family that’s really producing and I’m sure will continue to into the future,” Stokes said. Another quality offering for the Yarraman Park Stud draft is the exceptionally well related stakes winner Gala Queen. The Morphettville Guineas winning daughter of Deep Field is a half-sister to the Triscay Stakes and Magic Millions Cup winner Semana. Their juvenile half-brother Knightsbridge is a highly regarded juvenile this season for the Waterhouse and Bott stable. Also a winner at Flemington in September, Gala Queen is a four-time winner and earner of over A$188,000 from just 13 starts. “Yarraman is proud to present an exciting group of race fillies and mares at this year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, highlighted by Stretan Angel,” said principal Arthur Mitchell. “Phillip and his sons Tommy and Kerrin, along with the Stokes Racing team, deserve enormous credit for the way her successful career has been managed. We’re grateful to them and Stretan Angel’s ownership group for the opportunity to present her.” “We’re assembling another strong lineup for this sale, including Gala Queen for the Stokes stable, So Glamorous for Grahame Begg, plus in-foal mares such as Seonee for Joe O’Neill’s Prime Thoroughbreds, Seonee being in foal to Hellbent.” “We appreciate the support of the ownership groups who entrust us with their bloodstock, Magic Millions does a great job bringing together domestic and international buyers to cover all levels of the market.” Entries for the 2026 Magic Millions National Sale are now open and other previously announced highlight lots for the race fillies and mares section include Saturday’s Gr1 winner, New Zealand champion Legarto, Oaks winner Vibrant Sun and multiple Magic Millions Classic winner O’ Ole. 11 MARCH 2026 | 169

results up to: 2026-03-11

TRAINERS Name

Runs

Wins Win%

2nd

3rd

Other Places

Place %

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

Mr S J Snaith

638

12.2

137

308

48.3

11,736,226

19,181,184

Mr S G Tarry

487

14.6

121

221

45.4

7,788,259

11,055,848

Mike/Mathew De Kock

336

17.9

154

45.8

6,319,935

8,838,535

Mr A P Peter

381

17.6

185

48.6

5,354,734

8,497,543

Mr A C Greeff

564

16.0

106

251

44.5

5,253,619

7,969,867

Name

Runs

Wins Win%

2nd

3rd

Other Places

Place %

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

Mr C Zackey

994

163

16.4

161

123

220

504

50.7

14,056,180

21,491,515

Mr R D Fourie

609

133

21.8

101

114

298

48.9

10,880,013

15,851,201

Mr M A Yeni

809

11.7

102

207

411

50.8

6,685,713

12,263,337

Mr C J Habib

757

11.4

100

183

360

47.6

7,321,828

11,169,365

Mr C Murray

603

12.9

135

267

44.3

6,988,200

10,767,793

JOCKEYS

BREEDERS Runrs Runs

AEPR

B.T. B.T. Total Wnrs/ Wnrs Wins Rnrs% Places Winrs Wins Stakes (R)

Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein

287 1345

71,986

116

156

40.4

600

20,660,114

Varsfontein Stud

202

831

75,462

106

40.6

398

15,243,334

Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)

157

663

75,054

33.1

296

11,783,457

Ridgemont Highlands

143

632

76,505

44.1

283

10,940,159

Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd

123

568

78,436

39.0

252

9,647,591

Name

Runrs Runs

AEPR

B.T. B.T. Total Wnrs/ Wnrs Wins Rnrs% Places Winrs Wins Stakes (R)

Vercingetorix

229

1001

100,299

150

43.2

441

22,968,559

Gimmethegreenlight (AUS)

214

923

72,389

114

40.2

414

15,491,226

Querari (GER)

175

760

68,712

35.4

356

12,024,633

Rafeef (AUS)

177

763

65,792

40.1

342

11,645,187

Master Of My Fate

179

705

62,084

30.7

327

11,113,025

Name

SIRES

See all the detailed standings - Click here 170 | 11 MARCH 2026