SP Sprint – Wednesday 22 July 2026

IT’S TIME!

WORLD POOLS! SA STARS,

On the cover Sea Master (Athandiwe Mgudlwa) leads the stampede at the first time past the Hollywoodbets Greyville grandstand in the 2023 World Pool Gr3 Gold Cup. The race was won by Future Pearl, who returns on Sunday.

Image courtesy of Candiese Lenferna.

Now Out!

DIRECTORY OF SIRES 2026 - SOUTH AFRICA

SA RACING IS SET FOR ANOTHER TAKE-OFF! TAKE-OFF!

The announcement late last week by the SA Equine Health & Protocols NPC (SAEHP) that the British Government has confirmed a decision permitting direct import of live horses from South Africa to Great Britain has been met by positive reaction across all sectors of the South African racing industry.

Race Coast Sales Consultant and veteran breeder Pippa Mickleburgh labelled it ‘fabulous news’ and the cherry on the top of a wonderful July month for our broader racing and breeding industry.

“Our sales market has shown tremendous growth and strength in recent years and this news can only be a filip for all players. It gives us at Race Coast Sales and all of our vendors another string in the marketing bow as it makes purchasing a racehorse even more exciting than it was. And think about it. One could buy a yearling now in March, and be in the UK in no time. One day soon we could be shuttling stallions – who knows! And with the improvements in the movement of horses from Dubai, Australia and New Zealand, all the great news of horses coming and going, can only bring us closer to being recognised in the global game of racing and breeding around the world,”added an enthusiastic Pippa.

SAEHP said that following a positive assessment of South Africa’s disease control measures, imports will be permitted from the approved vector-protected quarantine station in Cape Town, for registered equines complying with UK import conditions.

This milestone reflects sustained collaboration between SAEHP, the South African Department of Agriculture, and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture — a powerful demonstration of this public-private partnership’s success in maintaining South Africa’s equine disease control measures to the highest international standard and translating that credibility into real market access.

The announcement follows closely on South Africa’s opening of imports from Dubai, New Zealand, and Australia earlier this yearmaking genuine two-way trade a reality for the South African equine industry.

Adrian Todd, Managing Director of SAEHP, thanked the Hong Kong Jockey Club for its funding, technical support, and vision in opening South Africa to the world, noting that the growing number of trade partners now opens a world of opportunity for South Africa across all equestrian disciplines.

SA Equine Health & Protocols NPC is a South African public-private partnership

established to ensure the sustainability and security of the African Horse Sickness control zones through risk mitigation measures and controls, operating under the authority of the South African National Director of Animal Health in partnership with the National Department of Agriculture and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture.

Race Coast Sales Consultant Pippa Mickleburgh – ‘exciting times!’ | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

SANDOWN’S HOT AUGUST KNIGHT!

For the past few years, the BSA August Two Year Old Sale has been an auction on the up. Since 2021, both the median and average price has steadily risen, with the average rising from R141 571 in 2021 to an impressive R314 473.

With sustained interest in the market, this trend looks set to continue this year.

Sandown Stud will be offering Iwanttobreakfree (Lot 236), a full-brother to the classy Outlaw King at this year’s August Two Year Old Sale.

By one of South Africa’s top sires Rafeef, this colt is out of the four time winning mare Way Of Escape, a half-sister to two black type horses, led by dual Gr3 winner My Choice.

High-class sprinter Outlaw King is a wonderful advertisement for the quality of thoroughbred bred by Sandown Stud. A R300 000 buy from the 2022 BSA National Yearling Sale, Outlaw King has earned more than R1,68 million during a career which has seen the son of Rafeef win all of the 2023 Tabgold Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes, the 2024 De Grendel Gr2 Cape Merchants, and doubling in the 2025 SplashOut Gr2 Cape Merchants.

Sandown Stud will be offering

(Lot 236), who is a full-brother to

Resident sire, and proven source of Gr1 winners, Pathfork has three well-bred lots on offer.

Powerful Passage (Lot 13), a half-brother to a multiple winner, is a colt out of a six-time winning three-parts sister to Gr3 Politician Stakes winner Blaze Of Noon. Pathfork filly Written In Red (Lot 156) is a half-sister to three winners including Listed East Cape Nursery winner Vision Of Wonder.

Sandown will also be offering, as agent for La Berg Stud, a Pathfork colt (Lot 41) whose dam the won the Gr3 Final Fling Stakes, and this colt’s granddam is a half-sister to Listed Spook Express Handicap winner Miss Galilei.

The red-hot Legislate, whose flagbearers this season include the likes of Wish List and Legal Counsel, is the sire of Lay Down The Law (Lot 327), a colt whose four time winning dam is a half-sister to the Gr3 placed Chosen Goddess. This colt hails from an outstanding family whose members include this season’s World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Town Met winner See It Again.

The Sandown draft can be viewed from Block F at the TBA Complex in Germiston.

This year’s sale, which takes place at the TBA Complex in Germiston, will be held on 20 and 21 August, with each day of trading set to commence at 10h00.

MERCURY’S MANY QUESTIONS

Elite level speed takes centre stage for the final time this season, with the running of the R1 million Gr1 Mercury Sprint which will be contested at 15h55 over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

Gr1 winner Asiye Phambili

Chase Liebenberg

Defending champion Buffalo Storm Cody returns after an encouraging runner-up finish in the Post Merchants, where he was narrowly beaten by Jet Force.

The pair meet again at level weights which could well see a reversal of that result.

Meanwhile, Vaughan Marshall’s ‘Mr Consistency’ Questioning continues to build a compelling Horse of the Year campaign. Although a wide draw presents a challenge on Sunday, victory would further strengthen an outstanding season that has already included victories in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge, the Khaya Stables Gr2 Diadem Stakes, the Independent on Saturday Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes and a courageous placing in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate.

Questioning is a winner of his last four starts, the latest of which was in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge.

The son of Querari is versatile and is in great form. He does have a wide draw to overcome, but Richard Fourie knows him well and should give him all the necessary assistance from the saddle. Fourie will also be aware of the chinks – if any – in the armour of Buffalo Storm Cody who finished just a half length behind Jet Force last time.

Candice Bass’ Tenango was a trifle unlucky not to have won the Gr3 Post Merchants last time. He is also 2kgs better off at the weights with Jet Force on that run and with luck in running, he should be competitive.

A stablemate to the defending champion, Taxi To The Moon is a winner of his last three starts. He was given a peach of a ride when winning the Gr2 Golden Horse Sprint in his penultimate outing. The son of Vercingetorix is likely to race on the speed from his 8 draw and merits respect.

The fairer sex is represented by the accomplished Gr1 winner Asiye Phambili and Sean Tarry’s slightly out of form, Mia Moo.

Both are likely to be off to stud soon and what a swansong opportunity that represents for the connections!

This looks close to a field race for nervous Pick 6 players.

HARRY HOTSPUR LAUNCHED THE

MERCURY MAGIC MERCURY MAGIC

Many Sporting Post readers will recall the heydays of the Mercury Sprint when it was contested at the now defunct Clairwood racecourse and no sprinter worth his salt would forego a crack at the final Gr1 sprint race of the racing season.

Karl Neisius guides

Appropriately, the inaugural winner was none other than that wonderful sprinter Harry Hotspur, who captured the race exactly 50 years ago, while his equally smart half-brother Rotterdam claimed the honours in 1980.

It comes as no surprise that many exceptional sprinters grace the roll of honour, none more so than Sir Robert Bellinger’s grand speedball Flobayou, who has the honour of being the only three-time winner.

At the ripe old age of eight, this class act narrowly failed to make it four in a row when third, finishing no more than a length behind the winner Royal Jest.

Quite a number of Mercury Sprint winners have gone on to race with distinction on the international stage.

Trained by Eric Sands, he made the 1200m dash his own with three consecutive wins, the first of which by defeating defending champion Taban in 1995.

Twelve months later, he had the beating of Shoe Express and Taban, before completed the hattrick in 1997 as a seven-year-old.

Ill-fated National Currency, a runaway winner of the 2003 race, scored a scintillating victory in his only Dubai start, the (now) Gr1 Al Shindagha Sprint, prior to which he had finished a game second in the Gr1 Hong Kong Sprint.

Paternal half-sister National Colour, who captured the Mercury in 2006, almost pulled off a stunning British Gr1 success when beaten a half-length in the 2008 Nunthorpe Stakes at Newmarket.

By the way, Tiza, who chased National Colour home, became a triple Gr3 winner in France, as did 2007 Mercury winner War Artist.

In addition to winning at Gr3 level in both Germany and France, the Australian-bred raced with distinction in Gr1 company, reaching the frame in all of the Prix de l’Abbaye, Golden Jubilee Stakes and Darley July Cup.

And let’s not forget Jet Master’s champion son J J The Jet Plane.

Eight years after his sire’s Mercury victory in 2000, he smashed the course record with a dominant effort, humbling subsequent champion sprinter Rebel King by four lengths.

Two years later, it was more of the same as he destroyed a quality field by 5,50 lengths to wrap up a second sprinting championship.

Remarkably, that came on the back of a stunning second Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint win, in what was his first start since returning from an overseas campaign, the highlight of which an epic success in the Gr1 Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint under Piere Strydom, which also brought to an end the dominance of Australian-breds since its inauguration.

National Colour (Brett Smith) wins the 2006 renewal – she is one of 6 fillies to have won it | Credit: Supplied

The latest Mercury winner who has ventured overseas is of course Isivunguvungu, a son of 2012 Mercury winner What A Winter. He followed in his sire’s footsteps to win the 2023 race and is currently flying the South African flag in the States, where he has continued on his winning ways.

Fillies and mares have more than held their own and have claimed the Mercury Sprint on six occasions, the most recent of which, Captain’s Ransom, cementing Horse of the Year honours with her half-length score in 2022.

This year’s race will be a poignant one, as it probably marks the final time the Gr1 winning mares Asiye Phambili and Mia Moo will be in action before they exchange the hustle and bustle of the racetrack for the relative tranquility of the broodmare paddocks.

These days the Mercury Sprint is part of the Gold Cup card, which for any purist has probably robbed the race of its cachet of being the main event at a stand-alone meeting, more’s the pity.

Nevertheless, if Sunday’s field is anything to go by, this year’s renewal promises to be one for the ages.

Back to defend his crown is last year’s winner Buffalo Storm Cody, who will square off against the likes of Golden Horse Sprint hero Taxi To The Moon and Post Merchants winner Jet Force, while the ultra-versatile Questioning reverts to a sprint off a four-win streak bookended by the Gr2 Diadem Stakes and the Gr1 Gold Challenge over a mile. Lipsmacking stuff!

SUPERSUNDAY,SUNDAY!

The card for the World Pool Gold Cup twilight racemeeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday 26 July boasts 137 runners carded over a ten race programme, that includes three Grade 1 contests and our premier stamina test.

On what will be a gamechanging afternoon on the Equus championship landscape, the final feature day of the 2025/26 season will also be a bumper one for punters with a R1 million carryover likely to see a Pick 6 pool of R8 million, while the Jackpot 3 will be boosted by a R500 000 injection, and could reach R2 million.

Beyond the racing, World Pool Gold Cup Day on Sunday offers the perfect winter day out for families, racing enthusiasts and those simply looking for a relaxed Sunday afternoon with great entertainment.

Visitors can enjoy:

• Free entry to Hollywoodbets Greyville

• Exciting giveaways throughout the afternoon

• The chance to win a share of fantastic prizes in the Best Dressed competition –dress to theme: White with a touch of gold

Elevate your race day experience in Champions Room

For those looking to elevate their race day experience, the Champions Room offers a premium hospitality experience overlooking the action. Guests can enjoy a delicious three-course lunch, a full cash bar, direct views of the racetrack from both the venue and its private balcony, and live background entertainment throughout the afternoon. Whether entertaining clients, celebrating with friends or enjoying a family gathering, the Champions Room provides one of the finest ways to experience the final feature meeting of the KZN Champions Season.

Champions Room bookings:

• Adults: R750pp

• Kids U-12: Half price

Reservations are essential: nplease email omzamon@racecoast.co.za / innocentiak@racecoast.co.za or call 031 314 1973 / 1960.

With racing from lunchtime into the evening, World Pool Gold Cup Day provides the perfect opportunity to round off the weekend while enjoying elite thoroughbred racing, outstanding hospitality and a vibrant social atmosphere.

A selection of food trucks and delicious dining options

A dedicated kids’ entertainment area to keep younger racegoers entertained throughout the day

The first of ten races is off at 12h15.

See you at the races!

The vibrant Trackside Vibe Bar

WHO WILL STAY WHO WILL STAY

ALL DAY? ALL DAY?

Thirteen longhaulers will line up at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday to contest the 106th renewal of the R1 million World Pool Gr3 Gold Cup. The field includes three former winners in 2025 champion King Pelles, 2024 hero Master Redoute and 2023 first Future Pearl.

Lyle Hewitson – back from Hong Kong and set for ride on defending champion King Pelles

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Interestingly Future Pearl is the final ride of a highly successful first stint on African soil for accomplished French jockey Mickaelle Michel, who has ridden 45 winners, including a spectacular Grade 1 victory in the Daily News 2000. Mickaelle loves South Africa and hopes to return in October.

King Pelles ran a cracker when third behind stablemates Note To Self and Wish List in the Hollywoodbets Durban July Tast time. The booking of Lyle Hewitson from Hong Kong is interesting. The Hong Kong-based multiple SA Champion jockey won the Gold Cup on Nebraas in 2019. King Pelles has an electric turn of foot, and he could be too classy for them, bar possibly Justin Snaith’s Ahead Of The Facts who has enjoyed the perfect preparation into this race.

He won a game race in the Gr3 Durban Gold Vase over 3000m last time. The manner in which he finishes off his races suggests that he should not have any issues with the rise to 3200m. Richard Fourie, who won his first Gold Cup back in 2009 on Mokara, retains the ride and the combination can follow up with another victory.

His stablemate Native Ruler won the Winter Stakes in impressive style and ran a good sixth in the Hollywoodbets Durban July. That was exactly the same position he finished in the big race last year, but he ran off a two point higher merit rating this year and, furthermore, had the conditions of the race been the same as last year he would have finished fourth.

Serino Moodley rides Master Redoute who won this race two years ago. He finished a

half length behind Ahead Of The Facts last time and is 1,5kgs better off at the weights here, which is enough to turn the form around.

SA champion jockey elect Craig Zackey partners Shoot The Rapids who has shown he is capable of some fine performances as he proved when runner up two years ago despite going too fast near the front.

This season he won the RA Stakes on the Turffontein standside by 9,50 lengths and has been right there in his last few starts, inlcuding a 1,30 length third in the Lucky Fish Gr3 Winter Stakes and a 1,30 length third in the Gold Vase. He will carry 59kg which puts him in with a chance although he has landed a wide draw.

Last year’s runner-up Holding Thumbs will be a kilo better off with Ahead Of The Facts for a 3,40 length beating last time. Glen Kotzen’s gelding is a gallant sort who is capable of a strong finish, but he has unfortunately drawn very wide.

Future Pearl has a lot of class and although he has not run a place since winning the Tabgold Gr3 Derby over 2400m two years ago, he loves Holywoodbets Greyville and showed signs he could still have what it takes when finishing 4,50 lengths back in the equivalent of that race this year, the Gr3 Lucky Fish Winter Stakes. He will be 2,5kg better off with Native Ruler for that 4,50 length beating and he should have come on from the run.

The World Pool Gr3 Gold Cup is carded as race 7 and scheduled for a 16h35 start.

THE GOLDEN YEARS!

The World Pool Gr3 Gold Cup lost its Grade 1 status in 2016, yet the 3200m marathon race is still regarded as the most popular event on ‘Gold Cup’ day, notwithstanding the fact that it has to compete with three other Gr1 races on the programme.

This year marks the 106th renewal of South Africa’s premier long distance race and 2025 winner King Pelles bids to become the first horse to achieve the double since Highland Night back in 2003.

In days gone by, the marathon invariably went the way of the light weights. To think that 1971 winner Rainstorm was partnered by Michael Roberts under 45 kg, a featherweight unheard of in this day and age.

The highest-weighted winner this century was Dean Kannemeyer’s It’s My Turn, who defied a 59,5 kg impost to claim the 2018 race.

Remarkably, there has only been one Gold Cup deadheat in the modern era, when Pacer and Don The Stripe shared the honours in 1977.

From a breeding perspective, very few stallions have won the marathon event, for the simple reason that stayers are shunned by breeders, and very few entires contest the race.

The last entire to win the race was Tropicante in 1989, the season he was named the country’s Champion Stayer. Trained by Ralph Rixon, this Argentinian-bred had been beaten a neck by Right Prerogative in the rainsoftened Durban July. As a stallion, he proved an abject failure.

Two winners who did enjoy a degree of success at stud were Speciality (1962) and Jerez (1963). The former, a Birch-bred owned and trained by Basil Cooper, was a moderate two-year-old but showed potential when he ran second in the SA Derby.

Maturity brought out the best in the horse at age five when he ran second to Colorado King in the Durban July, with Jerez in third, before winning the Gold Cup in a new record time. Runner-up in the Metropolitan at six, he went one better to win the Cape showpiece race at age seven.

As a stallion, Speciality had the distinction of siring the popular galloper The Malster, who emulated his sire when victorious in the 1979 Gold Cup at the similarly advanced age of seven.

Like his sire, he was owned and trained by Cooper and will forever be remembered as the horse the legendary Lester Piggott piloted to an unheard-of victory at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

For all his skill and strength, Piggott was unable to get The Maltster to jump on terms

with his rivals and when he eventually left the starting stalls, he was some 20 lengths adrift.

From that hopeless position, Piggott went to work on the horse and the packed Scottsville crowd watched in disbelief as the black, gold and white silks caught up, knifed through the field and won going away.

In a book written a few years later, top jockeys were asked to recall their finest rides and Piggott singled out that day in Maritzburg.

For the record, Speciality also made his mark as the broodmare sire, notably of the fine siblings Macheath and Witchita.

The former, a son of Royal Affair, won the Gr2 Merchants Cup, whilst his Mexico II half-sister Witchita put together a juvenile campaign worthy of championship honours by defeating colts in the Gr2 Cape of Good Hope Nursery, won the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes and finished second in the Gr1 Allan Robertson.

Jerez, bred by the Kosters, proved himself wonderfully durable, winning 14 races in a career spanning five seasons. Successful in the Cape Guineas and runner-up in the Cape Derby, he won the Metropolitan at four, the Champion Stakes at five and capped his career with a fluent length victory in the Gold Cup as a newly-turned six-year-old.

He returned to his birthplace Klavervlei Stud for stallion duties and counts amongst his best progeny the Gr1 winning sprinter Pyrmont, the multiple Gr1-placed stakes winner Aegean and the fine stayer Samothrace.

Unlike Speciality, he never sired a Gold Cup winner, but features as the broodmare sire of 1980 Gold Cup hero Furious. Owned by Cyril Hurvitz, he was trained by the late Annie Upton, who to this day, remains the only lady trainer of a Gold Cup winner!

Incidentally, just one broodmare has ever produced more than one Gold Cup winner. This unique achievement belongs to Fauvette, an unraced mare whose liaisons with the stoutly-bred St Cuthbert became the stuff of dreams.

She produced four stakes winners to the son of Herbager, two of which would win the country’s premier staying event.

In 1978, the Tony Furness-trained Fauvist defied his 33-1 odds to cause the upset and six years later in 1983, his Terrance Millard-trained full brother Hawkins ran out a comfortable winner under Mark Sutherland.

He had been beaten a neck when second the previous year, a feat he repeated in 1984 when he chased home stable companion Devon Air.

More history will be written at 16h35 on Sunday!

Biggest weight – Anton Marcus unsaddles 2018 winner It’s My Turn | Credit: Supplied

GOLD JAZZ - AND ALL THAT

When Jazz Cafe lines up as Robbie Hill’s sole runner of the day in Sunday’s World Pool Gr3 Gold Cup, she will be out to join an eyecatching list of females to have won South Africa’s most famous staying race.

Since 2000, the only fairer sex gallopers to have won the Gold Cup are Colonial Girl (2000) and Dynasty’s Blossom (2019).

However, further back in time, fillies and mares have enjoyed notable success in the Gold Cup.

The list of previous female Gold Cup winners include Bella Bianca, Festive Forever, and the mighty Devon Air.

Gold Cup winning racemares have also gone on to enjoy success at stud, with Colonial Girl’s offspring including Gr3 Jacaranda Handicap winner Peggy Jay, and Bella Bianca’s runners headed by the Gr2 winning dam of Gr1 Woolavington 2000 winner Silver Darling.

Devon Air and Festive Forever also enjoyed success in the paddocks, with champion Devon Air the dam of Gr2 winner Cream Of

The Crop and Listed Settlers Trophy winner Plymouth Rock, and an ancestress of Gr1 winners August Rush, October Morn and champion Tempting Fate.

Fellow Gold Cup winner Festive Forever produced Equus Champion, and Gr1 Golden Horseshoe winner Fearless, with the latter going on to finish third in Hong Kong’s Classic Mile.

Jazz Cafe (outside, Rachel Venniker) finishes well - the favourite and runner-up Curious Girl is out of the frame. Sean Veale (hooped cap) can be seen steering Hodgepodge into fourth, while Gerbera (Craig Zackey) ran fifth Credit: Julia Marnewick

Jazz Cafe, a last out winner of the Lucky Fish Gr3 Winter Fillies Stakes, is one of three stakes winners for her five time Gr1 winning sire Canford Cliffs.

The latter’s other black-type winners in South Africa this season are Miami Mountain (TAB Gr3 National Currency Sprint), and Tag And Release (Gr3 Winter Nursery). Canford Cliffs’ Gr2 Golden Horse Sprint winning son Tenango showed his wellbeing when he ran third in the Gr2 Post Merchants this season, and he lines up in Sunday’s Gr1 Mercury Sprint.

Canford Cliffs is also the sire of Sunday’s Gr2 Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes runner Hoc Est Vita.

Jazz Cafe, who has won from 1200-2400m, well and truly underlines the versatility of Ridgemont stallion, Canford Cliffs.

The latter is also the sire of speedy 2025 Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship winner Direct Hit -who is being aimed at the Gr1 Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes -over five furlongs! In contrast to Direct Hit, the Canford Cliffs sired Bournemouth, who contested last

year’s World Pool Gr3 Gold Cup, has won up to 2800m, while the stallion’s multiple stakes winning son Cliff Top captured the 2022 Listed City Of Cape Town Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1000m.

To date, Canford Cliffs has sired 32 stakes winners and a further 38 stakes placed runners, with his offspring having already earned in excess of $42 million in stakes.

Canford Cliffs’ progeny also include Australian four-time group winner Cliff’s Edge, the sire of recent Gr3 Sportsbet Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield.

The Ridgemont resident is also showing signs of becoming a highly successful broodmare sire.

Canford Cliffs broodmares have already produced the likes of Gr1 Kingston Town Classic winner Amelia’s Jewel, Gr3 Prix Greffuhle winner Greenland, and Gr3 Gold Coast Guineas winner, Bosustow.

Hopes must be high that Direct Hit can eventually become the next high-class broodmare sired by Canford Cliffs!

ONE NIGHT. SEVEN ARTISTS. ONE UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE.

Make it a night to remember with your whole crew from the comfort of a VIP table. Enjoy the best of The Circuit together and secure your table before they're all snapped up. HERE’S EXACTLY WHAT A VIP TABLE GETS YOU.

R4500 per table of 10: A bottle of Casamigos Tequila | Entry for 10 guests | Dedicated VIP area | Free secure parking

THE RACE

OF THE DAY?

The final furlong of the 2026 SA Champions Season is here! As the last South African feature race meeting of the season, World Pool Gold Cup Day brings together an exceptional card from start to finish, while the ever-expanding World Pool brand once again takes South African racing to audiences around the globe through the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s commingled betting platform.

Gladatorian beats The Real Prince in this race last year – Snaith could spoil the party in a competitive race Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Kindly note that the R1 million Pick 6 carryover commences in the fourth race at 14h35. A pool of R8 million is projected.

The R1,5 million HKJC Gr1 Champions Cup is run is over 1800m and has become one of our most influential middle-distance contests and regularly shapes the Equus Awards picture.

Trainer Justin Snaith sends some of South Africa’s biggest names to post, with champions See It Again and Eight On Eighteen set to lock horns after bypassing the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

The only Horse Of The Year contender in the field, See It Again is better than his last start in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge as he was reported to be not striding out. He finished third in this race last year. He is a classy individual and on previous form, he should be competitive.

Defending champion Gladatorian returns to his favourite course and distance, while L’Ormarins King’s Plate winner The Real Prince has had this race firmly in his sights throughout the season. All the ingredients are there for a memorable championship contest.

Our suggestion is Kannemeyer’s The Real Prince who stayed on at the finish when fourth in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge last time. He was unlucky not to have won this race last year. The Dean Kannemeyer stable will have him at his peak for this outing.

He is drawn in pole position runs well fresh, and with luck in running, he could be the one to beat.

But it’s going to be a humdinger!

The R1,5 million HKJC Gr1 Champions Cup is run as race 8, and is off at 17h15.

CHECKTHEVIBE

The second leg of Sunday’s carryover Pick 6 is a tricky poser. The future stars of South African racing will be on display in the R1 750 000 World Pool Moment of the Day Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes which is run over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday. This is the richest stakes race of the season climax feature day.

A winner of his last three starts, Vaughan Marshall’s Omoda Gr2 Golden Horseshoe winner Vibe Check heads the field after an impressive juvenile campaign, although his stepping up 200m in trip could provide opportunities for several exciting challengers. Sean Veale knows the son of Querari well and while the 14 draw is a challenge, he remains the one to beat.

Sean Tarry’s Rafeef filly Secretary Bird ran a cracker when 0,65 lengths behind Vibe Check in the Golden Horseshoe last time. She was hampered at the start but the manner in which she finished off her race was impressive. She is a kilo better off at the weights today. JP van der Merwe does duty from a good draw.

Adam Azzie’s Green Energy lost a length leaving the start last time, but finished off his

race strongly. He ran 0,40 lengths behind Vibe Check and if getting away on terms, he can turn the form around.

Viking Leader was 40-1 upset winner of the Ridgemont Listed Gatecrasher Stakes on Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge day beating Kazenoyoni, who subsequently disappointed in the Golden Horseshoe.

The unexposed Bachata, a stablemate of Vibe Check, was doing his best work late when third in the same race and the extra 200m may suit him. One imagines that the son of Rafeef will be at home over the mile, and could be the lurker.

The World Pool Moment Of The Day Gr1 Champion Stakes is run as race 5, and off at 15h15.

Seen after his big win on Hollywoodbets Durban July day, Sean Veale will be hoping to point the way again on Vibe Check

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

READY TO TAKE ON GOLIATH!

Turffontein-based Grade 1 winning conditioner David Nieuwenhuizen has been there, got the t-shirt and seen the movie. Equus awards, elite level performers and some big name gallopers have passed through his hands in his two decades of training winners. And to prove his resilience, he has also completed five Comrades Marathons!

Flashback to a memorable day in 2023! David Nieuwenhuizen receives his World Pool Moment Of The Day Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes trophy after Sandringham Summit’s victory from Dr Manfred Rohwer Credit: Candiese Lenferna

David had John Fourie and Lee Harvey’s classy Lancaster Bomber gelding Pressonregardless entered in Sunday’s R1,5 million HKJC Gr1 Champions Cup, but took him out at declarations last Thursday.

“What a superb field and it’s a going to be terrific race to end the season on a high. We decided to stay at home with Pressonregardless and aim him at the Charity Mile,” says David as he modestly laughs at our reference to his Comrades achievements.

“That was a while ago. Training racehorses is a full time profession,” adds the 61 year old Grandfather.

The Hollywoodbets-sponsored trainer once had over 50 horses and currently has 15 horses, including former stable flagbearer Sandringham Summit’s 8yo 17hh ‘pony’ and seven-time winner Stormy Winter, in his Turffontein yard.

“While I am privileged to enjoy the support of Mary Slack and a number of loyal stalwarts, one ideally needs owners who buy a few horses, to get a decent spread of horses. It’s tough competing against the big players, but we have done well with quality and cheaper horses, and have empty boxes available!”

The quietly spoken David is not an aggressive salesman, who would pick up the phone in Oliver Twist style to ask for more.

“I live and work by the maxim that one learns something from every horse. I believe they all have something to teach us, although we often don’t necessarily realize what that

lesson is until years later!” he smiles as he points to his office walls and the photographs of winners past on memorable days.

“This was our 2013 Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery winner Virgo’s Babe beating the boys in the Ethekwini Sprint on Durban July day back in 2014. Smanga Khumalo didn’t take up the engagement and I was thrilled to get champion jockey Anthony Delpech as a replacement. Anthony rode a typically magnificently judged race and narrowly got the better of Dennis Drier’s Darkness, who was very fancied to win again for Sean Cormack.”

David tells that the 2014 Durban July day feature victory in the only race run on the big day on the then newly installed polytrack, was significant on other fronts.

“A few hours earlier, our owner Michael Leaf had to endure an emotional rollercoaster in the Durban July when his horse Wylie Hall lost the big race on an objection to Legislate in the boardroom. So there was pressure on Virgo’s Babe in a way! Anthony (Delpech) duly delivered the goods on our lovely daughter of Malhub and she was a lifesaver for Mr Leaf – and our whole team – on the day!” enthused David, who brought only two horses down for Africa’s greatest raceday and was accommodated on-course at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

David also notes that Anthony Delpech had a rare blank day, and Virgo’s Babe was his unexpected winner.

A few years later, David was back at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Durban July day with another smart winner – a horse he labels ‘a colt of a lifetime’.

“I was so privileged to train a horse like Sandringham Summit. Just watching him as a regal presence at Turffontein in the mornings was breathtaking,” he reflected. Sandringham Summit’s late-dash victory in the R500 000 Durban Gr2 Golden Horseshoe on Hollywoodbets Durban July day 2023 was a special victory. The son of Gimmethegreenlight showed an electrifying turn of foot to weave through his field and won a thriller under Calvin Habib.

“We were just coming out of the dark covid years. That was a truly memorable day!” recalls David as he points out that he has also been proud to have done well with relatively ‘cheap’ horses of the ilk of Virgo’s Babe and Green Crest.

“Sandringham Summit was a R1,7 million purchase selected by Rakesh Singh and Zeyn Kirsten off the 2022 National Yearling Sale and he went on to win the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes at the end of that season, He ended up a winner of 5 races from his 12 starts and was only out of the first two on two occasions. Interestingly, another magnificent Varsfontein bred son of Gimmethegreenlight named Rudolf The Founder and sold off the very same sale beat us on debut – his name was Lucky Lad and he is now also at stud, not too far away in Wellington at Hopes ‘N Dreams.”

David adds that it was tough to bid Sandringham Summit farewell after running fourth in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge of 2024.

“I felt we would have had a massive chance coming in with 54kgs in the Durban July that year, but I naturally respected the syndicate’s wishes and will be proud to train this fantastic horse’s offspring one day, if that chance should arise!”

David started with just four horses at the Vaal and has certainly come a long way since his first winner Nombulelo, a second hand R5 000 purchase won on 7 September 2005. And producing an Equus champion from a relatively small string is no mean achievement!

“I am fortunate as I have a great team around me. This is not a one-man show! My assistant is my stepdaughter Nikki Radford and we currently employ a great team of grooms. I am proudly sponsored by Hollywoodbets, an inspirational team who go out of their way to assist us.

The Pretoria-born David Nieuwenhuizen, a Jeppe High graduate, is married to Heather and has 2 daughters, Nikki and Tarryn. The latter works for PWC in the UK and a second grandchild for ‘Oupa David’ is on the way.

Feel free to contact David via email – it’s an easy address to remember: davidthehorsetrainer@gmail.com

FAIRYTALE MOMENT

FOR THE FORTUNES

Grade 1-winning trainer Ashley Fortune completed the first chapter of her return to the South African training ranks at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Mandela Day on Saturday when she saddled her first winner at her fourth runner this term.

Her husband Andrew did the riding honours as he piloted the Var filly Peace Of Mind to victory in the R90 000 Lucky Fish Fire Strike D Stakes.

Having her first run for Fortune Racing on transfer from the Michelle Rix yard, the well-

supported Peace Of Mind (6’s into 5-2) was hardly off the bit as she cruised to her fourth victory at her 28th start to register 57,87 secs for the 100m and beat the evergreen Barney Mcgrew by 2,25 lengths, with the Candyman having time to acknowledge his family in the crowd.

Andrew Fortune pilots Peace Of Mind to victory | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

It is now well-documented that after five years and 250 winners, including Grade 1, 2 & 3 successes, and over R26 million in stakes earnings, the Fortune family wound up their highly successful Vaal operation in 2023 to pursue new challenges in Australia.

With her now 59-year-old former SA champion jockey husband Andrew breaking new comeback records on home turf after getting his licence back in February 2025, the Zimbabwe-born Ashley returned home late last year and decided to open a yard at the Milnerton Training Centre.

She thus boosts the Cape’s fairer sex training ranks to four, as she follows in the footsteps of Candice Bass, Lucinda Woodruff and Michelle Rix.

Now sponsored, like her colleague Lucinda Woodruff, by Lucky Fish , Ashley starts the

new season with an exciting string, including over thirty 2yo’s and with some of the big names in the owner ranks.

Part of Andrew Fortune’s decision to stay on next season was to ride a winner for his wife – something that he couldn’t do when she trained out of the Vaal, as he had retired and did not hold a licence.

History has a way of fashioning fairytales though, and looking back seven years, it was Andrew’s son Aldo Domeyer who rode Ashley’s first winner when Let It Rain won the Gr3 Gold Bowl in the late Hassen Adams silks in May 2018 at Turffontein.

“What a moment. What a day. My son rides my wife’s first winner! And it’s a Gr3! This is a memory we will cherish forever, and nobody can take it away from us,” Andrew told the Sporting Post on that day.

Candyman fans! Ashley enjoys a special moment, flanked by Kylie and Sean | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

MICKAËLLE IS ON THE MONEY!

Mickaёlle Michel breaks ice at Hollywoodbets Durbanville | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Visiting French rider Mickaëlle Michel broke the ice with her first career winner at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday, when she got the better of Andrew Fortune on the well-supported Elusive Gift to register a Pick 6 knockout on the 50-1 Money Extractor in what was the grandstand finish of the day in the R80 000 Race Coast Incentives Powered by Hollywoodbets Class 5 (F&M) run over a mile.

While we must pass commiserations on to owner Dee Zurnamer and the Paul Reeves Racing Team who saw the chances of their 33-20 favourite Mon Papillon (Richard Fourie) dashed halfway down the straight in a scrappy race, the talented Mickaëlle Michel, whose coach-husband Fred Spanu rated in the world top three this week , kept the Louis The King 4yo out of the traffic issues.

Leading from the jump, the Des McLachlantrained Money Extractor was always going comfortably out front, until swallowed by the chasing pack at the 150m marker. At this stage, Andrew Fortune appeared to have it in the bag on the always stalking Elusive Gift up the inside.

But the French lady rider was not letting South Africa’s most senior male jockey get the better of her, and she mustered Money Extractor to rally in a thriller.

The judge declared Money Extractor (50-1) the winner by a short head in a time of 91,67 secs.

The value of Race Coast’s Perfectly Placed previews was underscored after Greg Ennion had indicated in his interview that Fortune had admitted that he had erred last run on Elusive Gift, and asked for the ride again, undertaking

to win it. He certainly came as close as dammit!

As we suggested, put a line through the run of tote favourite Mon Papillon (33-20) who was all dressed up with nowhere to go, when it counted.

Bred by Reinels Hass, the winner is a daughter of SA Triple Crown winner Louis The King (Black Minnaloushe) out of the one-time winning Fort Wood mare, Money Spider.

Now a winner of 3 races with 3 places from 21 starts for stakes of R205 376, Money Extractor is raced by Mauritius-based Denis Le Breton.

Candice Bass saddled the first two winners of the day, starting with the overdue and progressive 7-10 Juliet Of Verona (Aldo Domeyer) and capped by birthday boy Josh Solomons on the 66-1 first-timer Crown Chaser.

The latter was bred by the Armitage family and is a daughter of the red-hot Legislate. She races in a partnership of the stable’s Centenary Syndicate, Mark Bass, R J Munien, Wehann Smith, Dr Adrian Schmidt and the Stokes family.

ADAM’S ALL ABOUT AL

ABSOLUTELY ADMIRABLE!

Race Coast saved the afternoon’s topliner, the Hollywoodbets Bright Future Middle Stakes over 1000m, for the last at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday.

The soon to be 9yo All About Al, the only son of champion Captain Al still racing, registered his eighth career victory.

Ten went to post and in a time just 0,44 seconds faster than the only other race over the distance, the Lucky Fish Fire Strike D Stakes , in which trainer Ashley Fortune (PEACE OF MIND) saddled her first winner since returning to South Africa, regular partner Craig Zackey got the gallant galloper home.

Adam Marcus’ charge got away well when the gates opened and was always within two lengths of the pace.

He was ridden to lead as they approached the 100m marker and ran on strongly late to fend off Flying Finley by three quarters.

Racing off a mark eight points lower than that of his earlier best here, this son of Captain Al has won three of his last six starts, and has now amassed stake earnings of over R880,000.

The fastest 400m to finish time in the race, and indeed the fastest for that segment of the afternoon, was recorded by the favourite Trois Sept Huit who finished third.

Just 1/100th of a second slower over the final 400m was Magical Place who finished sixth. Drawn widest of the ten, Magical Place was forced wide all around the bend and early in the straight.

Michelle Knot and Adam Marcus lead All About Al (Craig Zackey) in after a good win | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

He was then baulked for a run at a crucial time when beginning to make headway. He had previously won two from three over this course and distance. Both Trois Sept Huit and Magical Place had raced at the back.

Track Condition: Going: Good

Penetrometer: 21

Rain: Last 7 days Nil

Irrigation: Last 7 days Nil

False Rail: Original Position with 2m spur at 530m

Wind: 10-15km/h North Westerly tail wind Course Variant: 1,97s fast

Marginally the quicker of the two 1500m events on the eight-race program was the very competitive Reeves Racing Syndicate Class 4 (f&m) in which the 3yo Legislate filly LADY VERITAS gained her second win from nine starts.

Swiftly guided over from a wide draw by Keagan De Melo, Greg Ennion’s charge struck the front going into the turn. She was always travelling well and only asked for her effort 200m out, she quickened well to score without any anxious moments from the running on Boozy Suzie (restless in pens & slow into stride) by a length and a quarter. Lady Veritas is now unbeaten in two starts over this course and distance.

The LF Sahara Riches Cash Collect Maiden Plate (f) was the quicker of the two 1250m maiden events that had gotten proceedings

underway and here a major upset was to be had when birthday boy Joshwin Solomons found the winner’s enclosure with his only ride for the day CROWN CHASER (jumped slow and lost a length at start).

Sent off as the rank outsider of the ten-horse party at 66/1, Candice Bass’ newcomer wasn’t the quickest into stride and raced eighth some six and a half lengths off the pace.

She took a while to realise what was expected of her in the straight, but when the penny dropped 120m from home she fairly flew to get up late. A daughter of Legislate, Crown Chaser showed a nice turn of foot below the distance and can only improve.

There were three races run over 1250m in total and by far the fastest of these was the Follow Gallop TV On Social Media Class 4 in which the ultra-consistent 3yo LYRICAL GANGSTER gained a well-deserved second career win.

Soon nicely positioned in the box seat just a length off the pace set by SOOTY (bilateral epistaxis – suspended 60 days), Justin Snaith’s charge put his head in front going through the 400m.

The favourite Cork Bay and the easy to back Behave Harris both chased hard from there onwards but try as they might neither could get closer than three quarters of a length at the wire.

Fastest Times:

1000m (2) Al About Al 57,43 1250m (3) Lyrical Gangster 74,29 1500m (2) Lady Veritas 91,48 400-finish Trois Sept Huit 21,93

UNNAMED HORIZON x

Sparkled by

MALMOOS MAKES HIS PRESENCE FELT!

Ridgemont-based SA Triple Crown winner Malmoos continued his bid for a First Season Championship title, with a third Highveld winner for last week arriving in the shape of the Mano Pandaram-owned and trained Kovil, who shed his maiden at Turffontein on Thursday at his fifth outing, and his first at a mile.

Bred by Big Sky Ranch, Kovil is out of the Aussie-bred Giant’s Causeway mare Mansoor and was given a good ride by recent Malaysia returnee, Kaidan Brewer.

Malmoos’ progress has pleased the Ridgemont team and Stud Manager Craig Carey had a broad smile on his face when he told the Sporting Post that they were ‘unbelievably happy’ with the start that their Triple Crown winner Malmoos has enjoyed and as the season has progressed and as they have matured.

“They are showing more and more. He has had three winners in Johannesburg this week as they are starting to go over more ground. He will only go from strength to strength from this point. He has been covering fantastic big strong books of mares, and we look forward to the future with him. Thank you to all the breeders who support him year after year,” enthused Carey.

Malmoos, who already has a stakes winner to his credit in the filly Marchland, is leading the first season sires title chase. Marchland is

undefeated in three starts and won both the Listed East Cape Fillies Nursery and Listed Lady’s Slipper Stakes.

Right behind Malmoos on the log is his barn-mate, the Snitzel horse Real Gone Kid. Boasting a superior strike rate of 34,8% winners to runners, his eight juvenile winners include the runner-up in both the Listed East Cape Nursery and Listed Dahlia Plate, the dual winner Master Mtoto.

Incidentally, both Malmoos and Real Gone Kid retired to Ridgemont in 2022.

One of the most exciting racers of the 21st century, and only the fourth horse in history to win the South African Triple Crown, Malmoos galloped his way into South African turf history on 3 April 2021 as he registered his seventh victory from his first eight career starts

Malmoos is one of 105 stakes winners for the late champion sire Captain Al. One of the best thoroughbred stallions ever bred in South Africa, Captain Al’s 25 Gr1 winners include

such champions as Captain’s Ransom, Captain Of All, Celtic Sea, Always In Charge, Carry On Alice, Kasimir and Captain’s Lover. Captain Al is also the sire of Met winning champion One World, currently one of South Africa’s top stallions.

Malmoos’ female line is equally impressive. A full-brother to dual Gr3 winner Captain Splendid, the Triple Crown hero is a halfbrother to classy Off To Stud Stakes Listed winner Mascherina.

Bred on the same Captain Al/Fort Wood cross as fellow Gr1 winners Captain America and William Longsword, Malmoos is out of Fort Wood’s Spook Express Handicap Listed winning daughter Justthewayyouare.

A daughter of the Elliodor sired champion Promisefrommyheart, Justthewayyouare is a half-sister to Gr2 Peninsula Handicap / Gr2 Premier Trophy winner Master Of My Fate, one of South Africa’s best stallions.

Malmoos stands at Ridgemont for a fee of R25 000 + VAT / Live Foal.

SA Triple Crown winner Malmoos Credit: Bay Media

BRITISH RECORD PRIZE FOR KING GEORGE

In the week of Ascot’s first £2 million King George, set to be contested by horses from Britain, Japan, France and Ireland on Saturday, the racecourse announced that next year’s renewal will be worth a British record £2,5 million.

This announcement, which will be followed by further prize money increases in December, comes on the back of positive financial results for the 12 months ended 31st December 2025, also announced today.

ASCOT AUTHORITY (HOLDINGS) LIMITED (AAHL) REPORTED A

PRE-TAX PROFIT OF £10,550,000.

2025 was another successful year for Ascot, with record revenues and finishing the year with a positive net cash position.

Turnover increased by 4,8% to a record £118,6 million, driven by strong performances across hospitality, retail catering, admissions and sponsorship.

Gross profit also rose in line with the increase in turnover, driven by a strong financial return from Royal Ascot. Profit before tax increased by £2,1 million, while EBITDA (Earnings

Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation) rose by £2,3 million (14,2%), including a £1,2 million business rates refund following a successful appeal against a rateable valuation.

The mandatory £3 million loan repayment was made in 2025. This follows repayments of £5 million in 2024, which included a voluntary early repayment of £2 million. As a result, as of 31 December 2025 net cash stood at £10,4 million, compared with net debt of £4,6 million at the end of 2024.

Racecourse attendance also grew strongly, with 532,956 racegoers attending Ascot’s fixtures in 2025, a 3,7% increase on the 513,869 recorded in 2024.

Capital investment totalled £4,8 million during the year, supporting the first phase of the new weighing room project, technology upgrades, improvements to the stabling area and enhancements to the customer experience as part of Ascot’s long-term strategy.

Ascot’s international appeal remained evident in 2025.

Eight of the horses ranked among the world’s top 21 in the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings competed at the racecourse, headed by the world’s highestrated horse, Calandagan. The racecourse also welcomed runners trained in Ireland, France, Germany, Norway, Japan, Qatar, Australia and the United States.

The strong financial performance has enabled Ascot to programme a record £19,4 million in prize money for 2026, excluding the industry-owned QIPCO British Champions Day.

Later this week, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes will be run for a record £2 million, making it Britain’s joint-most valuable race in 2025.

Prize-money increases have also been made across the fixture list, with 52% of races scheduled to be worth more than they were in 2025.

Felicity Barnard, Chief Executive Officer at Ascot Racecourse, said:

“Sustainable growth, both domestically and through our international relationships and

partnerships, is fundamental to our longterm success. It allows us to invest in our site, enhance the customer experience and continue to strengthen our racing product. We were delighted to welcome over 286,000 guests to Royal Ascot in 2025 and saw attendances increasing again this summer for the third consecutive year. This continued growth reflects our focus on strengthening the Ascot brand and listening closely to what our guests value most.”

Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Public Affairs, added:

“In a week where the significant prize money boost to this year’s King George has resulted in two of the best horses in Japan and France being set to run as well as Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini, and eight Group One winners in total, we are delighted to confirm further significant momentum for Britain’s premier all-aged race with £2,5 million on offer next year.

“In a fiercely competitive international market, it is crucial that Britain’s flagship midsummer races are appealing to connections of the world’s best horses. The Elite Races Scheme, backed by the Levy Board and BHA in 2026, has played an important part in this venture as we continue to work with our racecourse colleagues at the Jockey Club, Goodwood and York to promote the midsummer highlights of British racing, namely the July Cup, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the Sussex Stakes and the International Stakes.

“Our whole programme is important to us, of course, as demonstrated by 52% of our races this year being run for more than 2025, and a full prize money announcement for 2027 will be made in December.”

QINISO GRABS HIS FIRST FULL MARKS TO GOOSE AS

Many would agree that Hollywoodbets-sponsored veteran trainer Louis Goosen could come into the reckoning for a special Equus Award for his career management of the ultra-consistent Vercingetorix mare Arverni Princess. The Oldlands Stud-bred mare took her win tally to ten, with earnings of over R720 000 – and won off a career high rating of 79 at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.

Proud parents! Bo and Wendy Ngcobo enjoy the moment with Qiniso | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

The closing event on the card, the Hollywoodbets Bright Future Class 4 (F&M), was not surprisingly much the quicker of the afternoon’s two 1000m races and here Arverni Princess, who hung out from the 150m, took her tally of wins into double figures.

Racing off her highest ever merit rating of 79 here, Arverni Princess, has won seven of her eleven starts this season. That’s good going!

Ridden by Qiniso Ngcobo who gained his first career win, the Goosen charge sat second just a neck off the pace set by Caribbean Gold. She put her head in front approaching the 100m marker and just held on from the faster finishing Ruby Rising by a neck. It was a nice touch when Louis Goosen kept his post-race response short and gave the moment to the young apprentice’s Dad Bo Ngcobo, himself a Summerveld-based Hollywoodbets-sponsored colleague of the winning conditioner.

Although never more than three and a quarter lengths off the pace, the runner up came from the back and would have provided jockey Serino Moodley with his 100th winner of the season had he have gotten up.

In terms of highest average merit ratings, the Race Coast Bright Future SA Racing Middle Stakes (f&m) over 1400m topped the bill and in what proved to be the fastest of the three races over the distance (despite being the slowest over the first 400m), the very troublesome Vercingetorix filly WARRIOR

ROYALE registered her fifth career victory from thirteen starts.

One of two runners to be loaded without their jockeys on board, the 25/1 shot was rearing badly for a while, and looked very likely to be scratched at any moment.

Once in though she soon settled, and when the gates opened, she was quickly guided over from the widest draw to lead by a length and a quarter. She kept on strongly in the straight and although the other runner to be loaded without her jockey, Tulip Fields ran on stoutly in the closing stages of the race, she went on to score very comfortably by two.

The Gallop TV Juvenile Plate over 1100m boasted the highest purse on the card and here the stable of Glen Kotzen was on the mark when OMKHULU BOSS opened his account. Allowed to drift right out to 8/1 from an opening call of 3/1 2nd fav, the Malmoos gelding raced up with the speed throughout.

He began to assert his authority approaching the 200m marker and won fair and square from the well-supported Kid From The South (4/1 into 9/4 2nd fav) by a length and a quarter. One to look out for next time from this race is Bullet Catch (raced green, hung in from 150m) who finished fifth.

Detached at the rear at least eight lengths off the pace at the halfway mark, this What A Winter colt did well to get within 2,75 lengths of the winner and in doing so he recorded the fastest 400m to finish time of the afternoon. Bullet Catch was ridden by our champion jockey elect Craig Zackey here and was sent off at 66/1.

Track Condition:

Going: Good (both tracks)

Penetrometer: 23 (both tracks)

Rain: Last 7 days Nil

Irrigation: Last 24 hours Nil – Last 7 days 4mm

False Rail: 9m

Wind: 10-15km/h North Westerly cross wind

Course Variant: 0,08s fast (straight) –0,27s slow (bend)

There were three co-favourites at 7/2 when the betting opened for the In The Box Seat Podcast-Gallop TV over 1600m and

amazingly, just a short head separated the trio at the wire. The Gavin Van Zyl trained I Am Invictus (7/2 into 33/20) made the running and racing a length and a half clear going through the 200m, he was looking like the winner.

Running on from some nine lengths off the pace though, his stable companion WICCAN WARRIOR (7/2 out to 9/2) steadily began to reel him in and in what proved to be a real thriller, he got up on the nod in the very last stride. Jockey Callan Murray was fined R1000 for striking I Am Invictus more than the permitted ten times (11).

Fastest Times:

1000m (2) Arverni Princess 57,12 1400m (3) Warrior Royale 83,93 400-finish Bullet Catch 22,43

CANFORD CLIFFS FILLY TO FLASH HER SPEED IN UK

Johnny Murtagh is in a race against time to get the “very, very fast” South African superstar Direct Hit ready for the speed test of the Coolmore City Of Troy Nunthorpe Stakes next month.

Direct Hit (Richard Fourie) – winner of the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

The Racing Post reports that the three-yearold filly has been settling in at Murtagh’s County Kildare yard for the last three weeks as connections eye a tilt at the York Group 1 on August 21, for which she is priced between 40-1 and 66-1.

Direct Hit showed her class for trainer Alan Greeff as a juvenile, winning the Grade 3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, showing blistering early speed in the latter.

Murtagh said: “She’s owned by Barnane Stud and Hollywoodbets and they told me I would be getting her in May. She’s been in Ireland for a while, but I’ve had her for about three weeks. The dream is to try and run her in the Nunthorpe, so it’s going to be a little bit of a tight squeeze getting her there.”

The flying filly could make her British debut in the King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood on July 31 en route to York, while she also holds an entry in the Gr1 Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh on September 13.

“She looks like the ideal type for either Goodwood or the Nunthorpe,” Murtagh said. “They think that’s the preferred race because the style of the track would suit her really well. She’s settled in well, she’s still got a little bit of a hairy coat, so she’s maybe still on South African time, but watching her two-year-old win she looked very, very fast.

“We’re finding out about her. I’m not sure if she’ll go straight to York or go to Goodwood yet, but we’ll see how she is over the next couple of weeks. We don’t have too many top-level winners in the yard, so it’s very

exciting and it’s sporting for her owners to bring her over and see how she matches up here.”

Murtagh has not had the chance to get a proper handle on Direct Hit, but his first impressions have been pleasing.

“It’s all about getting her settled in and she’s done that well,” he said. “She seems to be taking her work well. She’s going to have to step up at the end of the week. You wouldn’t be looking at her thinking she’s a rocket, but everyone that rides her says she’s a nice size, has a good temperament and moves well.

The trainer will be able to draw on his experience of South African racing to prepare the filly, having ridden for top trainer Mike de Kock during his time in the saddle.

“I’ve been to South Africa, and the racing is very, very competitive,” he said. “They’re nice horses and they’re very capable, so I’m excited about it and I’m looking forward to seeing how she fits in. I’d imagine the plan is to get her covered over here.”

A foundation stallion for the Kieswetter’s fledgeling breeding operation eight years ago, Direct Hit’s five-time Gr1 winning sire Canford Cliffs (Tagula), was a dominant miler in Europe in his 3 and 4-year-old term.

A proud product of Ridgemont, Direct Hit is out of the six-time winning Great Britain speedball Wrecking Ball, who won the 2017 Gr3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap.

Direct Hit’s broodmare sire Great Britain is a former resident of the magnificent Ridgemont Robertson stallion barn. He raced off a peak

TFR of 118 and won the Al Quoz Sprint, subsequently a Gr1 contest which has been won by stars like J J The Jet Plane, Ortensia and Shea Shea. As a son of July Cup winner Green Desert (by Danzig), Great Britain was one of the best bred stallions in SA in his time.

Raced in South Africa by the Kieswetter family’s Ridgemont and Devin Heffer, and trained by East Cape champion Alan Greeff, Direct Hit won over R1,4 million in stakes and scored in 5 of her 6 starts from 1000m to 1200m, including a Gr1 success.

Transporting horses from South Africa to Britain has proved challenging in recent years but is set to become more straightforward.

South African Equine Health & Protocols (SAEHP), a not-for-profit organisation that has been collaborating with the respective South African departments for agriculture, said in a statement on Wednesday that horses can now be exported directly from an approved quarantine station in Cape Town to Britain and not via the EU, which had previously been the case.

The news follows South Africa’s opening of imports from Dubai, New Zealand and Australia earlier this year.

www.racingpost.com – additional reporting by Sporting Post editorial staff.

Direct Hit’s

Richard Hughes and Canford Cliffs celebrate at Royal Ascot Credit:

FROM RACING GODOLPHIN’S REBEL RETIRES

Rebel’s Romance, Godolphin’s most successful horse ever, has been retired from racing, as reported last week.

During an outstanding career that spanned seven seasons, the son of Dubawi recorded 22 wins, nine of which came at Gr1 level, including the Dubai Sheema Classic, the Champions & Chater Cup and two editions of the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Injury ruled Rebel’s Romance out of the 2021 Belmont Stakes – won by Essential Quality – and he went on to post a sensational sequence on turf, winning his first five starts on the surface culminating with a courserecord performance in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Turf. William

Crowned North America’s Champion Male Turf Horse at the 2024 Eclipse Awards, Rebel’s Romance also registered top-level wins in Germany and the United States, in addition to major Group-race victories in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

Having easily defeated subsequent Champion Stakes winners Anmaat and Bay Bridge on his final juvenile start, Rebel’s Romance appeared set for a stellar career on dirt following a dominant display in the UAE Derby at three.

Rebel’s Romance bounced back from an interrupted 2023 to emerge better than ever at the age of six in 2024 as he won five of his six appearances, annexing Qatar’s H H The Amir Trophy, the Dubai Sheema Classic, the Champions & Chater Cup in Hong Kong and Germany’s Pries von Europa.

He ended the season back in the United States at Del Mar, creating history as the first horse to win non-consecutive renewals of the Breeders’ Cup Turf and the oldest horse to win the race.

Rebel’s Romance’s seven-year-old season proved almost as prolific, with five victories including more top-level success in the Grosser Preis von Berlin and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, in addition to stirring victories in the Yorkshire Cup and the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Sent back to Del Mar for another crack at the Breeders’ Cup Turf, Rebel’s Romance produced a heroic display as he attempted to join Goldikova as a three-time winner at the meeting, ultimately going down by a length and a quarter in second behind Ethical Diamond.

Rebel’s Romance won both his starts as an eight-year-old. Having been greeted with rapturous applause after taking the Dubai City Of Gold Sponsored By emirates.com on Super Saturday at Meydan, he displayed all of his usual exuberance to capture the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket’s July Festival.

He retires with a race record of 22 wins from 32 starts for Charlie Appleby and earnings of more than £12.2m. In addition to his Eclipse Award, he is the leading Breeders’ Cup starter by prize money and the only horse to have amassed more than US$5m at the meeting.

Plans for the next chapter of his career with the Godolphin Lifetime Care programme will be announced in due course.

Charlie Appleby said: “We always knew this day would come, but it’s nevertheless a very sad day for everyone at Moulton Paddocks and Godolphin as a whole. Rebel’s Romance has proved an outstanding horse for so many years and has taken us on a journey that we will never forget.

“After yet another brilliant win at Newmarket last week, collectively we all discussed it and felt that now is the right time to call it a day.

“It has been an absolute honour to train such an amazing horse, who has been a dream to look after from the moment he arrived. My thanks must go to the whole team at Moulton Paddocks, who have done such a brilliant job of caring for him throughout his career.

“We have had some great days together and, wherever I am in the world, he is the one horse people ask me about. He built up a great following, and I was always touched by the reception he received across the globe. You dream of having a horse like Rebel’s Romance and I am incredibly thankful to have been part of his story.”

William Buick said: “Rebel’s Romance has taken me on some great adventures, and I feel immensely privileged to have been able to ride a horse of his stature. He proved time and time again to be an outstanding horse, and I cherish the moments that we have had together.

“He was a wonderful horse to ride, with such a presence and a will to win, and an immense credit to everyone at Godolphin associated with him. His record across the world was phenomenal and I owe him a great deal.”

www.godolphin.com

THIRD IRISH OAKS WINNER

FOR SEA THE STARS

Sea The Stars sired his seventh Classic winner as the Joseph O’Brientrained Johanna Walsh put up a dominant performance to win the Juddmonte Gr1 Irish Oaks by 4 lengths at the Curragh on Saturday.

She became the second Group 1 winner in less than a week for her outstanding sire, and his third Irish Oaks winner after Sea Of Class and Star Catcher.

Bred by Sea The Stars’ owner, Sunderland Holding, she carries the colours of Wells Watson and was sold for 460,000 Euro’s to Cary Bloodstock at the Goffs 1866 Orby Sale.

The Racing Post suggested that if one needed further evidence of the extraordinary depth of quality Joseph O’Brien is building down in south Kilkenny, Johanna Walsh’s remarkable super-sub display leaves you with little room for doubt.

The super-sub label seems a bit disingenuous after such an authoritative display, but it is hard not to make do with playing second fiddle in the build-up to the Curragh Classic when your stablemate is going for an Oaks double, having laughed at the opposition at Epsom.

Thundering On’s quest to become a dual winner was scuppered when she was made a non-runner early in the morning, but plenty would wager that there is no three-year-old filly in Europe who could have prevented the Johanna Walsh show at the Curragh.

“It was a huge performance,” said O’Brien. “I thought Dylan [Browne McMonagle] gave her a fantastic ride because he controlled the whole race and he felt like he’d be able to do that from a mid-pack position and he really did. It was fantastic and she’s a super filly.

“It was a super run from [fourth home] Rebel Moon as well – she came into the race really good. They’re both exciting for the future. Nothing could lay a glove on Johanna Walsh, and the 7-2 shot was easily the most emphatic winner of the race since Snowfall five years ago. She came on the bridle between the three and the two and we knew she’d love the fast ground,” O’Brien said.

“It’s really special to win a Classic here in Ireland – it’s what we’re in the game for really. It’s why we do what we do. Andrew Cary bought her for Wells Watson in Goffs. She was a real beauty of a physical and I’m delighted to get an opportunity to train a filly like her.”

Johanna Walsh was given a great ride by jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle | Credit: HRI

Ascot’s

This prestigious race sees the three-year-olds meet their elders for the first time at Group 1 level over a mile and a half. The honour roll includes three-year-olds: Nijinski, Mill Reef, Shergar and Dancing Brave; whilst Brigadier Gerard, Dahlia, Mtoto, and more recently Enable represent the four and five-year-old legends.

Aidan O’Brien has declared his Irish Derby winner Benvenuto Cellini who represents the cream of the crop of this season’s three-yearolds.

He will be taking on a field of International older superstars, the likes of French ace Calandagan and the Japan Cup runner-up Masquerade Ball, quoted at 7/2, amongst others.

The Francis Graffard-trained five-year-old Calandagan heads the market at 7/4 and makes the trip across the English Channel to defend his crown.

This son of Gleneagles finished outside the first two for only the second time in the mud at Epsom in the Coronation Cup but since returned to winning ways in the Group 1 Prix de Saint-Cloud.

Graffard also runs 2024 winner Goliath as he attempts to become the first trainer this century to complete a King George hat-trick.

Benevenuto Cellini was a 5/1 shot for the £2 million highlight last week, but on Monday was shortened again to 3/1 second favourite (from 100-30) after ten horses were confirmed at the five-day declaration stage.

O’Brien believes Benvenuto Cellini, who was controversially deemed a non-runner by the stewards after a stalls incident in the Derby, has stepped forward again since beating his stablemate and Epsom winner Christmas Day by a length and three-quarters at the Curragh last month.

O’Brien said: “We’re happy with Benvenuto Cellini. Everything has gone well since the Irish Derby, and we think he’s come forward since then.”

“We’ve always thought this race would suit him. He likes fast ground and he got the trip well at the Curragh. We think he’s a very classy colt.”

O’Brien could also run his four-year-old filly, Minnie Hauk. She finished second in last year’s Arc and filled the same position behind Ombudsman in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at the royal meeting last month. The daughter of Frankel is currently priced at 8/1.

O’Brien said: “It’s a very prestigious race but you need to have the right horse for it. Especially if it’s a three-year-old.”

“We were delighted with Minnie Hauk at Royal Ascot. We thought it was one of her best runs and she’s in good form. We know a mile and a half suits her well.”

Japan’s challenge is headed by Masquerade Ball who was beaten a length by Romantic Warrior on his latest start in Hong Kong. That was his first race of the year, and he would have come on for it.

Andrew Balding’s five-year-old mare Kalpana looks to be the main British hope. The Juddmonte-owned mare, who was beaten a length by Calandagan in last year’s race, went down by just a short head in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot last time.

She is joined in the line-up by 10-length Coronation Cup winner Bay City Roller for trainer George Scott. The four-year-old New Bay colt is very progressive, but his connections will be hoping for some rain by the weekend.

HONG KONG RACING SHINES

IN THE YEAR OF THE HORSE

Crowned by a string of record-breaking highs and global accolades, a spectacular 2025/26 Hong Kong racing season drew to a close at Happy Valley last Wednesday (15 July).

The towering achievements of Hong Kong’s equine superstars – Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior – showcased the city’s worldclass racing to a global audience with flawless, unbeaten seasons, timed to perfection to celebrate the Year of the Horse.

With a combined 10 Group 1 victories between them, the pair spent much of the season at the top of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, with Ka Ying Rising (131) at joint No. 1 in the standings and Romantic Warrior (126) equal third.

Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer of The Hong Kong Jockey Club, said: “This has been an outstanding season, and we really could not have wished for anything more in terms of equine excellence, especially in the Year of the Horse. Hong Kong’s titans, Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior, have elevated Hong Kong racing to an unprecedented level. It is an extraordinary achievement to have two Hong Kong horses ranked at the top of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for much of the season – Ka Ying Rising at Number One and Romantic Warrior, who was at Number Two for much of this year.”

“They have given the Year of the Horse celebrations even more significance as we pay tribute to Hong Kong’s unique passion for the horse and horse racing.”

“Led by Ka Ying Rising, Romantic Warrior, Voyage Bubble and My Wish, Hong Kong horses won 12 of the world’s top Group 1 races in 2025/26, while 11 of the city’s 12 elite races were included in the 2025 LONGINES World’s Top 100 Group 1 races. In addition, 10 Hong Kong-trained horses received an international rating of 115 or higher in the year-ending 2025 LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings. This is an amazing accomplishment given that Hong Kong has a pool of about 1,300 horses in training – or less than 1% of the world’s racehorse population.”

The exceptional quality of Hong Kong horses was illustrated at Hong Kong’s two international flagship events, the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and FWD Champions Day. Competing against 29 overseas runners from four different nations and jurisdictions, Hong Kong’s finest triumphed in six of seven Group 1 races.

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Chief Executive Officer, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, celebrates with jockeys at the 2025/26 Season Finale | Credit: HKJC

“Hong Kong racing is truly world-class and I am immensely proud of the performances of our champion horses, jockeys and trainers. The achievements of once-in-a-lifetime horses such as Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior reflect tremendously on the expertise, dedication and

KA

passion of our trainers and jockeys as well as the strong commitment of our owners, who continue to make significant investments to secure the best available equine talent,” Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges said.

YING RISING’S ASCENT TO BECOME THE WORLD’S TOP RACEHORSE FOLLOWED

A

STRING OF STELLAR VICTORIES.

He became the first overseas-trained horse to win the world’s richest race on turf, The Everest (1200m) in Sydney, Australia. During the season, he not only broke Silent Witness’s record of 17 consecutive Hong Kong wins set nearly 21 years ago but extended his winning streak to 20 by the end of the season.

Along the way, he posted a new Sha Tin 1400m track record and twice lowered his own 1200m track record.

Hong Kong’s other equine colossus, Romantic Warrior, confirmed his standing as one of the world’s elite middle-distance gallopers with a fourth consecutive victory in the Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup and a fourth triumph in the FWD QEII Cup. He was also only the third horse in Hong Kong racing history to claim the Triple Crown by landing the Gr1 Stewards’ Cup, the Gr1 Citi Hong Kong Gold Cup and the Gr1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup

in the same season. These victories boosted his world-record prizemoney earnings to more than HK$ 288 million.

Fittingly, in a historic first, Ka Ying Rising and Romantic Warrior were declared joint winners of the coveted Hong Kong Champion Horse Award.

Meanwhile, new and rising stars made their mark. Among them Invincible Ibis, winner of the 2026 BMW Hong Kong Derby, Little Paradise, Stormy Grove and talented sprinter Hot Delight.

After a hard-fought title race, Caspar Fownes claimed the Hong Kong trainers’ championship for the fifth time, while Zac Purton was crowned Hong Kong’s champion jockey for a ninth time with 143 victories, and Jerry Chau won the Tony Cruz Award as leading homegrown jockey. Purton also become the first jockey to ride 2,000 winners in Hong Kong.

CLUB’S LEADERSHIP IN DRIVING GLOBAL RACING AND COLLABORATION

Beyond staging world-class racing, the Club continued to demonstrate its leadership in global racing during LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) week. Hong Kong hosted a series of significant international meetings and conferences, bringing together industry leaders, regulators, researchers and medical professionals from across the world to address issues critical to the future development of the sport.

Highlights included meetings of the Asian and international racing community, the International Conference for the Health, Safety and Welfare of Jockeys organised by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, and the inaugural international conference of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Equine Welfare Research Foundation.

These events showcased Hong Kong’s unique ability to convene global expertise and drive progress in areas ranging from racing

governance and international collaboration to jockey well-being, safety and equine welfare.

SUCCESS OF INITIATIVES TO PROMOTE HORSE OWNERSHIP

Since the current bonus framework was introduced in the 2023/24 racing season, with further enhancement in the bonus entitlement at the start of this season, to incentivise horse ownership, 150 horses have earned Class 3 PP Bonuses totalling HK$225 million. Including the PPG Bonus, ISG (International Sale Griffin) Bonus, Class 2 PP Bonus and Top-Up Bonus, HK$80.5 million has been paid out to owners of 59 winning horses.

Notably the six PPs that contested the 2026 BMW Hong Kong Derby each received a HK$1.5 million bonus for winning a Class 3 race. Together with the enhanced bonus framework, the Club delivered a total of HK$1.78 billion in prize money and bonuses in the 2025/26 racing season, providing significant

incentives for owners and encouraging investment in quality racehorses.

To promote syndicate horse ownership, the Club has – since the 2024/25 season – relaxed the cap on the number of syndicates any one Member may join from four to seven, while increasing the number of horses any one Owner may own at any one time from five to seven.

Two of Hong Kong’s top horses – Ka Ying Rising and Voyage Bubble – along with 2026 BMW Hong Kong Derby winner Invincible Ibis, are raced by syndicates. BMW Hong Kong Derby runner-up and Group 3 winner Numbers, is also raced by a syndicate.

Jockeys hand out mini horse plushies to thank racing fans for their support Credit: HKJC

In addition, increases in prize money have incentivised Hong Kong owners to import quality horses and overseas owners to race their horses here. With a record HK$1.78 billion this season, the Club’s 12 Group 1 races, especially on its two flagship racedays – the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races and FWD Champions Day – attracted world-class equine talent.

For the 2026/27 season, the Club will continue to focus on encouraging high-quality horse imports. A new Premier Series for Class 1 to Class 3 races staged before and after the Hong Kong Derby is designed to showcase Derbyquality contenders and to incentivise the import of highrated horses (70+).

Eligible horses that win or place in designated races will receive a new Premier Series Top-Up Bonus, with a total of approximately HK$20 million available across designated races. When combined with the existing PP Bonus Scheme, eligible Privately Purchased horses (PPs) can earn up to HK$4 million in total bonuses upon reaching all milestones.

In tandem, prize money for The Hong Kong Classic Mile and Hong Kong Classic Cup will

each increase by HK$1 million to HK$14 million, while the Hong Kong Derby will rise by HK$2 million to HK$28 million for its 150th edition, representing an overall increase of 8% for the three races. In addition, the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup over 1200m on the 26/27 Season Opener on 6 September will be promoted to Gr3 with increased prizemoney of HK$4.2 million.

Conghua Racecourse’s (CRC) state-of-the-art training and rehabilitation facilities have been instrumental to the success of Hong Kong’s world-class racing. On average, 486 horses were trained at Conghua this season, with 281 horses from 20 stables notching up 356 wins, an increase of 28.3% (219 last season) and 17.9% (302 last season) respectively on last season. This translates to a significant increase in the strike rate to almost 41.2% (35.7% last season).

Conghua is already home to the world’s best sprinter Ka Ying Rising, who was recently joined by his fellow Horse of the Year Romantic Warrior. CRC has enabled the Club to advance the Stable Master Plan, facilitating the renovation and upgrading of training facilities at Sha Tin Racecourse.

Racing fans enjoy a performance from international singer Rechelle Mansour and the live band in the Beer Garden | Credit: HKJC

TURNOVER / COMMINGLING / WORLD POOL

In total, racing fans enjoyed 88 race meetings this season, including seven summer series fixtures, comprising 865 Hong Kong races and 492 overseas simulcast races.

Total racing wagering turnover for the season was HK$143.31 billion, representing a 3.2% increase on the 2024/25 season. This marks an encouraging return to growth, reflecting the success of strategies introduced last year amid a range of challenges.

Turnover growth was driven primarily by improved field sizes and the continued success of the Club’s globalisation strategy through commingling, simulcasting and the World Pool.

Notably, Hong Kong races attracted record commingling turnover of HK$34.4 billion, an 8.3% increase on the 2024/25 season. This strong performance reflects the high international profile of Hong Kong racing, with 26 countries and more than 60 partners now participating in commingling.

A notable highlight was the Chinese New Year Raceday in February, when commingling turnover surged to HK$523.56 million, setting a new record for a single race meeting and surpassing HK$500 million for a second consecutive year.

Hong Kong fans were able to enjoy more of the world’s finest races this season thanks to the Hong Kong SAR Government’s approval in June 2025 to progressively add additional simulcasts as a means to combat illegal gambling on overseas racing.

This season, the Club offered 492 simulcast races, which focused on showcasing the world’s Top 100 Group/Grade 1 races. In total, 99 overseas races that had been included in the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities’ (IFHA) Top 100 Group 1 at least once in the previous three years were simulcast, up from 71 in the previous season. Overall, turnover on simulcasting (including World Pool commingling) increased by 23.5% to HK$16.20 billion.

Many racing fans and visiting tourists attend the Season Finale | Credit: HKJC

Through the World Pool, the Club aims to offer global pari-mutuel wagering with deep liquidity on the very best international races. This season, the number of World Pool races increased from 296 to 397. These included all 12 of the Club’s Group 1 races, as well as some leading races or meetings for the first time such as the Australian Guineas, All Aged Stakes and Golden Slipper from Australia.

Commingling turnover into the World Pool (excluding Club races) recorded a 27.7% increase over the 2024/25 season.

Next season, the progressive expansion of simulcasts will see 70 simulcast days and 55 simulcast races. This expansion enables the Club to cover most of the IFHA World’s Top 100 Group/Grade 1 races and enhances its ability to combat illegal betting while reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as a global leader in horse racing wagering.

YEAR OF THE HORSE

To celebrate the Year of the Horse, the Club launched a year-long campaign under the theme “Riding High Together in the Year of the Horse” to highlight the contribution of horses and horse racing to the success of Hong Kong. Throughout the year the campaign is honouring Hong Kong’s passion for the horse through thrilling races, international equestrian spectacles and a special series of cultural, sporting and family events.

An outstanding highlight was at Chinese New Year, when the Club sponsored the “Prosperity Gallops Across Hong Kong” Year of the Horse Fireworks Display over Victoria Harbour, enjoyed by over 360,000 people in person. The Club’s spectacular float also took part in the International Chinese New Year Night Parade, while over 98,000 people enjoyed the Year of the Horse Raceday at Sha Tin.

In June, Pony World opened in Penfold Park, providing a unique opportunity for visitors to learn more about horses and equestrian sport. Activities include stable tours, photo-taking with mini ponies and interactive workshops, while children aged 3 to 14 can also enjoy pony rides.

This follows the reopening of the upgraded and refurbished Pokfulam Public Riding School in October.

The upgraded riding school, with expanded stables and new facilities including an allweather indoor sand arena, will provide a high-quality environment to further promote equestrian sport as well as provide equine therapy for people with disabilities.

HORSE RACING TOURISM CONTINUES TO SURGE

The Year of the Horse was the best-ever for horse racing tourism, with the Club’s two Hong Kong racecourses welcoming a record 401,259 visits from Chinese Mainland and overseas tourists, reinforcing the city’s position as an international tourism hub.

This was double the 195,786 tourist visits in the 2024/25 season and quadruple the 93,000 visits in the 2023/24 season – before horse racing tourism was first promoted in the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address.

Major racedays, in particular, set new records. Five racedays each attracted over 10,000 tourists, with the Year of the Horse Raceday on 19 February setting an all-time record of 20,395 tourists.

This demonstrates the immense appeal of horse racing tourism and also the success of the Club’s strategy to position Hong Kong’s world-class racing as a premier tourism destination on the global stage.

To further promote the racecourse as a must-go experience for tourists and locals, particularly the younger generation, at the beginning of the season the Club unveiled Champions Connection and Genso at Sha Tin Racecourse.

Champions Connection connects arriving visitors with an immersive digital environment inspired by horses and nature, while the fourstorey digital horse racing hub Genso provides a cutting-edge digital entertainment and dining experience.

Cross-sport initiatives have created new experiences at our racecourses to local racing

fans and international visitors – Racing with Golf, Racing with Rugby and Racing with Football showcased the city’s world-class sport and entertainment, reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s events capital.

“It has been a real pleasure to welcome so many tourists from overseas and the Chinese Mainland to our racecourses and to see how much they enjoy the unique quality of our racecourse experience, which is truly like no other. Racing tourism is already a top driver of sports tourism and an important pillar of Hong Kong’s tourism development, and in collaboration with our partners in Hong Kong, overseas and the Chinese Mainland we look forward to welcoming many more tourists to our racecourses,” Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges said.

With the addition of Conghua Racecourse (CRC) to the Club’s world-class racing next season, “Two Cities, Three Racecourses” is poised to extend the concept of racecourses as a hub of world-class sports and entertainment beyond Hong Kong to the Greater Bay Area, thereby strengthening Hong Kong’s position as Asia’s events capital.

NHA CALENDAR ALL THE ADMIN UNDER ONE UMBRELLA

The Sporting Post presents the National Horseracing Authority calendar per 17 July 2026.

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

Please click on the image below:

RACING TO LAUNCH AT CONGHUA RACECOURSE In October!

The Hong Kong Jockey Club is well-advanced in its preparations for the launch of our world class thoroughbred racing at its Conghua Racecourse in Guangzhou in October 2026.

Together, Sha Tin, Happy Valley and Conghua will form a triangle of racecourses that will showcase the quality of the Club’s horse racing sport and entertainment.

Most importantly, they will also advance the Club’s support for the National Equine Industry Development Plan, which seeks to develop a high-quality equine industry in the Chinese Mainland.

Following the completion of the iconic grandstand at Conghua, internal fitting-

out work is currently in progress. A series of trials and simulations including racing and grandstand operations and hospitality services are underway to ensure operational readiness across every aspect of the raceday experience.

The aim is to ensure that the races will be conducted according to the same worldclass standards as in Hong Kong, ensuring consistency in integrity, safety and operational excellence.

For visitors, Conghua Racecourse will be a vibrant sports, culture and events destination, featuring a newly developed, immersive and high-quality visitor experience focusing on the sport of horse racing enhanced by digital technology. There will be no wagering on Conghua races.

“The milestone race meeting in Conghua Racecourse on 31 October will make a powerful statement to the world, underlining that Conghua is not only a state-of-the-art training centre but a racecourse capable of staging world-class racing in the Chinese Mainland. The highlight of our Year of the Horse celebrations, it will mark the launch of thoroughbred speed racing at Conghua on a regular basis, delivering the same world-class quality as in Hong Kong,” said HKJC’s Chief Executive Officer, Winfried EngelbrechtBresges.

Moving beyond traditional formats, Conghua will also host competitive “Team

Racing” in the future, providing a new and spectator-friendly dimension to the Conghua entertainment experience. The overall vision is for Conghua Racecourse to become a yearround, multi-faceted destination for learning, entertainment, and social connection.

“Through world-class racing, innovative team racing, and special events and carnivals we aim to attract high-end tourism from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, and overseas. Equine sports will become a key driver in establishing Conghua as a tourist destination, which will stimulate the economy, boost multisector consumption across culture, sports, and tourism, advance the development of the equine industry value chain, inject new momentum into regional economic growth, and contribute significantly to economic growth in the Greater Bay Area,”

Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges added.

More details will be announced closer to the start of racing at Conghua Racecourse.

CONSTITUTION HILL TARGETS WINDS R

All eyes will be on Windsor in late August after Nicky Henderson nominated the Weatherbys Digital Solutions August Stakes as his preferred option for Constitution Hill’s eagerly-awaited next outing.

After lighting up the all-weather scene in his opening two runs on the Flat earlier this year, Henderson had been eyeing a possible tilt at York’s Sky Bet Ebor on 22 August, but following a mid-season break ran out of time to squeeze in the third run that would qualify his 2023 Champion Hurdle hero for the Knavesmire handicap.

Having returned to the programme book, the Seven Barrows handler has now identified Windsor’s one-mile-three-furlong Listed event on 29 August as the ideal spot to get Constitution Hill’s Flat odyssey back on the road.

Henderson told the Press Association: “There are other options, but I think the Windsor race is the right one. The timing is good and it’s a race that looks good for him.

“It’s just down the road and we don’t have to travel too far and the Windsor ground hopefully tends to be quite kind. A figure of eight shouldn’t worry him and it’s one-milethree which should be all right, but most importantly it’s a Listed race and that is ideal for him.

“We don’t need to be running in Group races yet that is for sure and he’s coming back from a break, so it’ll be the run that is getting him ready for whatever we are aiming at – and I don’t have any idea what we are aiming at yet!”

While the short trip across Berkshire to Windsor remains the preferred plan, Henderson will also hand Constitution Hill an entry for Deauville’s Group Two Prix Kergorlay on 23 August, a race nominated by Ryan Moore as a possible option after he partnered the once hurdling great at Kempton in March.

“Ryan always thought the Prix Kergorlay would be a good race for him, but he can’t go

to both Deauville and Windsor,” the trainer continued. “We’ll put him in the Kergorlay this morning, but I think Windsor would be my premier option, and I just like the idea of running in a Listed race, which I think is the right level for him.

“After that he can run in a handicap, and it opens up plenty of doors. Once you are rated over 100 you need those three runs before we can think of these heritage handicaps.”

Constitution Hill’s next outing will help signpost Henderson’s subsequent moves with the popular nine-year-old, with even the Melbourne Cup re-entering the equation following a visit to Seven Barrows by Racing Victoria officials on Monday.

The Prix Kergorlay carries ‘win and you’re in’ status for the ‘race that stops the nation’, while another way Constitution Hill could book his ticket to Australia’s flagship race is by winning a Listed event or placing in a Grouprace event over 2,300m – something victory at Windsor would achieve.

Constitution Hill’s only current entry is for the Irish St Leger in mid-September and while considering future plans, Henderson added: “The people from Australia came to see us on Monday and one minute we think the Melbourne Cup will be fun and then the next a stupid idea, but there you go.

“Of course it will be fun, but it has to be sensible fun, and there also lots of other options in England, Ireland and France. You do have to bear in mind though he is nine and he’s enjoying himself and we’re going to enjoy it as well.”

www.attheraces.com

WISHING TOP HORSEMAN

TONY MILLARD A SPEEDY RECOVERY

Retired former multiple SA champion and successful Hong Kong trainer Tony Millard is recovering in a Stellenbosch hospital, after being airlifted following injuries sustained in a cycling accident in his hometown of Knysna this weekend.

His daughter Dominique told the Sporting Post on Sunday evening that her Dad was in good hands and would go into surgery today (Wednesday, 22 July).

At the time of publishing, no further details were available.

A son of the late legend Terrance Millard, Tony obtained his training licence here in South Africa in 1991 and was crowned champion trainer twice.

He trained a host of champions, including the likes of the superstar Empress Club, before relocating to Hong Kong in 1999. He made an immediate impact by winning the prestigious Hong Kong Derby with Keen Winner in his debut season of 2000.

Over the next two decades, Tony amassed over 700 victories, establishing himself as one of the territory’s leading figures through the achievements of standout horses of the ilk of Ambitious Dragon, the SA-breds Sweet Sanette and Singapore Sling, as well as Super Jockey and Panfield, amongst others.

Tony Millard retired at age 61 in July 2023.

We wish him a speedy recovery.

Tony Millard seen with his daughter Dominique at a recent sale | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

TRAINERS

JOCKEYS

BREEDERS

SIRES