SP Sprint – Wednesday 25 February 2026

SEASON CLIMAX CAPE SUMMER

08

Wow! 18 Big Ones For Champion

Ka Ying Rising dazzles 34 Lucky Fish Cape Derby

Hook, line & sinker for the fairer sex 41 A Vintage Classic Day

Entries in for 7 March 57 Cape Yearling Sale 2026

You guide to a good buy!

152

SA Connections Strike Gold At Thurles

Jump for joy

On the cover Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes winner Wish List (Andrew Fortune in saddle) bids to become the first member of the fairer sex this century to win the Cape Derby.

Pic courtesy of Chase Liebenberg.

Issue: 08/2026

NEW COURSE RECORD AS STAR GALLOPS INTO HISTORY

18 BIG ONES!

David Hayes believes Ka Ying Rising’s extraordinary dominance can continue indefinitely after the world’s premier sprinter demolished quality opposition to post a Hong Kong record 18th successive victory in course record time in the HK$13 million Gr1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup run over 1400m at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Ka Ying Rising and Zac Purton

Stretching his unbeaten sequence beyond Silent Witness’ longstanding mark of 17 wins, slotted between 2002 and 2005, Ka Ying Rising imperiously steamrolled his opposition in 1m 19,36s to smash the previous course record of 1m 19.92s, jointly held by Encouraging and Packing Hermod.

Jockey Zac Purton confirmed Hayes had told him pre-race ‘to break the track record’ after he had ridden Ka Ying Rising handsand-heels to the finish, three-and-halflengths clear of Helios Express with Lucky Sweynesse one-and-a-quarter lengths further astern.

Improving his overall record to 19 wins from 21 starts – after two narrow seconds as

a three-year-old – Ka Ying Rising jumped quickly from barrier three to sit second behind Copartner Prance and clocked 21.93s from the 1200m to the 800m before putting his rivals to the sword over the final 800m in a blistering 43.96s, with respective 200m splits of 11.26s, 11.07s, 10.52s and 11.11s to create history.

Unbeaten since February 2024, Ka Ying Rising’s unbeaten streak includes eight Group 1s – two LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint victories (2024 & 2025), two Centenary Sprint Cup titles (2025 & 2026), The Everest (2025), the Chairman’s Sprint Prize (2025) and now a pair of Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup trophies (2025 & 2026).

Zac Purton waves

Silent Witness reigned from December 2002 to April 2005, snaring seven top-level features – the Hong Kong Sprint in 2003 & 2004, two Centenary Sprint Cups (2004 & 2005), two Chairman’s Sprint Prize triumphs (2004 & 2005) and the 2005 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup.

The stunning nature of Ka Ying Rising’s latest victory prompted Hayes to declare that the five-year-old could sustain his current level of excellence for the next 18 months, fitness permitting.

“If we can place him conservatively, we hope to have him for another couple of seasons, that’s really exciting,” Hayes said.

“He loves a month between runs, so we’ll probably go for the (G2) Sprint Cup (1200m) next (on 6 April) and then we don’t have to train him too hard and babysit him into the Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m on 26 April).

“Hopefully we can get another clean sweep of the season again with The Everest in the middle.

“He’s more composed than ever, he’s changing legs and you can’t ask for much more than he’s doing. He’s breaking track records and his last three runs, he’d have broken the track record if Zac had let him go.

“He jumped so well (today) and cruised through the bend beautifully – at the 300m, I could really enjoy it. I could tell he had the race in command. Zac went for him a bit more than he normally does and rode to instructions, which was good.

“I’ve trained a lot of horses that have gone 742 days without winning, so to continuously win for 742 days is mind-numbing. It’s two and a half years and the thing people don’t realise is that he was the (equal) youngest horse in the race today. They always think he’s the big boy bashing them up, but he’s actually the baby.

“It’s a huge relief. I didn’t think the team could have had him better for today and I was confident that if the track was riding fast, he could break the (track) record. I didn’t want Zac sitting up in the last 100m, I said to him ‘let him run through the post and we’ll see how strong he is at 1400m’. He’s just a star.

“I just thought for his worldwide ratings, I wanted Zac to let him go today and hopefully he can keep climbing up that incredible ladder that he’s going up. When you’ve got a horse as good as him, he’s the one everyone will be comparing the next big horse too.”

Purton notched his fifth victory in the race following wins on Ambitious Dragon (2013) and Beauty Generation (2018, 2019 & 2020) and believes Ka Ying Rising has reached his peak.

“I think he’s reached his level and it’s just a matter of managing him now and try to

preserve that for as long as we can,” Purton said. “He’s the horse of a lifetime. I just shake my head every time with the performances he puts up and the ease with which he does.

“I’ve just got to pinch myself, I’m so lucky. He’s just different – he’s in a league of his own. They’re very good horses that he’s racing against, and he just does it like he’s having a barrier trial and let’s hope he can stay in this form for another 12 or 18 months.

“It was pretty straightforward. He jumped well, he was in a lovely rhythm behind Copartner Prance. Patch Of Theta went to move around me about the 1200m and I just made sure I was going to give my horse plenty of room. And then he just did his job – he did what he does.

“To be etched in history now forever is part of my legacy, part of David’s and a part of Ka Ying Rising and hopefully he can continue on doing what he’s doing. We’re all enjoying being associated with him and I think everyone is enjoying watching him being successful as well.

“The horse deserves all the credit. He’s the one with the ability and he continues to step out, race after race, and blow good quality horses away and it’s very unique to see that.”

Currently the second-highest rated horse in the world, Ka Ying Rising also holds the 1200m turf course record (1m 07,20s).

THE YEAR OF THE HORSE

The horse is intrinsically entwined in Hong Kong’s heritage and today stands as a contemporary symbol of excellence through the city’s world-class racing, embodying Hong Kong’s ‘can-do spirit’ and prosperity.

Last week the Hong Kong Jockey Club launched the Year Of The Horse celebrations.

NOTE TO SELF: WIN THE CARRYOVER PICK 6 ON SATURDAY!

A Pick 6 carryover of R500 000 with a projected pool of R3 million will be one of the attractions as the 2025/26 Summer Festival of Racing concludes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday with the Lucky Fish Cape Derby Seafood & Jazz Festival.

The R1,5 million Lucky Fish Gr1 Cape Derby headlines the ten-race card, with the first due off at 11h55, and the first leg of the bumper exotic bet off in the fourth race at 13h40.

Run as the eighth race at 16h00, the 2026 renewal of the Lucky Fish Cape Derby attracted a field of eight, three of which are trained by SA Champion, Justin Snaith.

Snaith bids for his sixth success in the classic and his trio includes the Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes winner Wish List, who bids to follow in the golden hoofprints of Decoration (1929), Windlass (1930), Anthea (1935) Fringilla (1936), Green Lass (1951), Taima Bluff (1980) and Dog Wood (1999) as fairer sex gallopers to win the timeless classic. Read more on page 39.

Snaith’s has five Derby trophies include 2025 winner Eight On Eighteen and date all the way

back to Russian Sage in 2008, and both Happy Verse and Note To Self – nice to see Grant van Niekerk back in the fray - are serious contenders.

Vaughan Marshall won the Cape Derby in the 21st century with Linebacker in 2021 and Top Seller in 2011 and has recent HKJC World Gr3 Politician Stakes placer Better Man carrying his flag. Jockey Keagan de Melo partners the son of One World, and is in search of his first success in the prestigious contest. Craig Zackey takes the ride for Candice

Bass on Viva’s Liberte for Khaya Stables who won the Cape Derby with Dean Kannemeyer in 2024 (Green With Envy) and Capetown Noir (2013). While her Dad Mike saddled Floatyourboat win the 2006 renewal, Candice is still aiming for her first success in the race.

Her Milnerton neighbour Paddy Kruyer is enjoying a revival season of some proportions, and saddles Ignite The Fire, a two-time winning son of Fire Away, who makes his maiden foray into feature

company under JP ‘Winx’ van der Merwe. Piet and Elbert Steyn will be looking for a bigger effort from their HKJC World Pool Gr3 Politician Stakes fourthplacer Pay The Palace.

James Crawford has the HKJC World Pool Gr3 Politician Stakes winner Star Major jumping from the pole position gate. James’ Dad Brett won the Derby with Edict Of Nantes (2017) and Jackson (2012).

Note To Self is the mount of Grant van Niekerk on Saturday Credit: Chase Liebenberg

HIS OWN RAINBOWS ROBERT’S NOW CHASING

The 27-year-old Manchester-born Robert Barrett will become South Africa’s newest licenced trainer when he starts out at Futura Park with a handful of horses. The numbers will hopefully be boosted at the forthcoming Sales in Cape Town, where he says that he will be available to be approached by prospective buyers.

Robert wrote his trainers licence exam last week having gained a lot of experience in his years since leaving school.

He spent six months with John Koster at Klawervlei Stud, five years with Mike Stewart at his Noordhoek Beach-based training operation, and two years at Futura Park, which consisted of just over a year with Brett Crawford and nearly a year now with James Crawford.

Robert’s deep passion for racing began when watching Britain’s iconic racing programme, the Channel 4 Morning Line, every Saturday morning with his father. The show featured such racing legends as John Francome, John McCirick, Derek ‘Thommo’ Thompson, John Oaksey, Jim McGrath, Lesley Graham etc and for the rest of the day, if they were not at the races, they would watch all of the live racing on Channel 4, whose signature tune you might find Robert humming to himself, even today.

Robert Barrett in background behind his Granddad Paul after Chasingtherainbow’s terrific win last Sunday

Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Robert grew up idolising Frankie Dettori, as well as Manchester City long before their successful era, and wanted to be a jockey himself. But that was never to be as he has grown up into a 6 foot, 90kg adult.

He recalled Frankie’s first Derby win on Authorized and continued to follow British racing with passion when moving to South Africa at the age of eleven.

He completed high school in South Africa but that didn’t stop him following the likes of the great Frankel’s career from afar.

Robert’s passion for racing grew to new heights in Cape Town as he was able to see it from an inside angle as his Grandfather Paul owned horses.

His best horses were the like of Fabiani, a Glen Kotzen-trained Gr 2 Green Point Stakes winner (giving Karis Teetan his first Graded winner). The gelding also ran in the July and finished third in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate behind the mighty Pocket Power; Sea Cat, a Listed-winning five-time winner trained by Paul Reeves; and recently he has owned two good Mike Stewart-trained horses, Helen’s Ideal (Listed-winning six-time winner) and Pretty Betty (Gr 3-winning five-time winner).

As a fifteen-year-old Robert used to stay with Paul Reeves and family for a week or two during the school holidays and go to work with him every morning.

He met John Koster through the annual Klawervlei Farm Sale, which his Grandfather always used to attend, and at one of the first he attended John said to him: “When you’ve done school come to the farm and I’ll make you into a horseman.”

Every year John would say, “Have you done school yet?”

Robert said, “So as soon as I had finished school I waited until after Christmas and went straight to Klawervlei.”

“I spent just short of six months there going to all of the big Sales and learning a helluva lot in a short space of time. I always had the idea of going to a racing yard from there and as I lived Noordhoekside, the opportunity arose to spend time with Mike Stewart. I almost started out by just helping out but he then gave me a job and I was with him for five years. I did my qualifications like stable employee and assistant’s etc, while with Mike.”

He continued,”I only weighed 70kg when leaving school and Mike said to me one day, ‘If you’re going to be a trainer you will have to learn to ride a horse as well. So he taught me how to ride which was a big plus. I rode plenty of horses in work along the beach.”

Mike Stewart is also used by many a big yard to rehabilitate injured horses because of the sea water at his facility. Among those who recuperated with him while Robert was there was Double Superlative. The big horse spent about six months at The Dunes and went on to win the WSB Met.

Robert said, “You never really get a perfect horse at Mike Stewart’s. You’re either inheriting horses from other trainers with issues or you are fixing a horse for someone else before sending it back to them. So this was a fantastic learning curve for me. Working with such horses taught me a lot. Mike is a very underrated horseman too. In fact he is a phenomenal horseman.”

He continued, “The time came when I needed to move to a bigger yard, before I went on my own, in order to work with top-class horses and see how the big yards operate with big strings etc. Brett wanted me when I told him I wanted to move on and it was all done very quickly.”

Brett’s string had grown to about 150 when Robert joined him in the March after the team’s first Hollywoodbets Durban July win with Winchester Mansion.

“ I was with Brett when Oriental Charm won the Hollywoodbets Durban July and so it was a fantastic time and I learnt a huge amount from him. I have been with James since Brett moved to Hong Kong. The Futura Park training facilities and tracks are phenomenal - as the record of the Snaiths and the Crawfords proves.”

Chasingtherainbow is Robert’s Grandfather’s horse who has followed him from Mike Stewart’s to the Crawfords, and will now join his own yard. This Potala Palace gelding won a fine race on Sunday to make it five wins from just 12 starts and Robert reckons he has the potential to be even better if he learns better racing manners.

There are 60 boxes in Robert’s new yard.

He is full of nervous excitement and concluded, “It has always been my dream and now it is reality.”

A HAS WISH LIST! EVERY GIRL

Strange as it may seem, very few members of the fairer sex have worn the Cape Derby crown. Ironic really, given that the very first winner of what was then the Western Province Derby proved to be the filly Desert Born.

Wish List (Andrew Fortune) wins the Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

In modern times, only two females have managed that feat and as yet, none in the new millennium.

The Terrance Millard-trained champion Taima Bluff ripped through the 1980 season by defeating high-class colts Highborn Harry and Quarrytown in the classic, having already won the Gr1 Paddock Stakes.

An own sister to Horse of the Year Tecla Bluff, she subsequently landed both the Natal Derby and Oaks, achievements duly rewarded with championship honours.

Almost 20 years would go by before another filly added the Cape Derby to her resume.

In 1999, Gauteng-trained Dog Wood did just that when she lowered the colours of future Gr1 winner Young Rake. An Oppenheimer homebred, this daughter of Fort Wood was the first Cape Derby winner trained by Mike de Kock who, like the legendary Millard before him, has never been averse to letting a talented filly tackle male rivals.

There has been no female winner since.

The last filly to contest this classic was two years ago when Drakenstein’s Beach Bomb took on the boys as a dual Gr1 winner, having captured both the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas and Gr1 Paddock Stakes.

Alas, she found just one colt too good on the day and had to settle for second behind subsequent champion three-year-old Green With Envy. That was her last start on local soil, for she continued her career Stateside where she raced with marked success, winning at Gr3 level whilst placing at Gr1 level.

Looking back, other fine racemares who managed to reach the Cape Derby frame include Majorca, who bowed to only the great Colorado King in 1963 and Vesta, runnerup to Eli’s Truth in 1993. Argentinean-bred champion Sandunguera had to settle for third in 1978, as did Gr1 Paddock Stakes winner Luticia in 1984 and Drakenstein’s Captain Gambler in 2017.

Most recent fairer sex contender was Beach Bomb (blue Drakenstein flag) who was well beaten by Green With Envy in 2024 | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Terrance Millard – trained 1980 winner, Taima Bluff

Credit: Supplied

This year’s Derby line-up features the talented filly Wish List. From the all-powerful Justin Snaith stable and a cosy winner of the Gr1 Cape Paddock Stakes in her most recent start, she certainly has ‘Derby’ written all over her, given that she is by Legislate, who captured the classic in 2014. In addition, her dam Wind Chill won the Gr2 SA Oaks and is a daughter of Silvano, the sire of 2010 Derby winner Bravura.

Wish List will aim to provide the powerful Snaith stable with back-to-back Derby wins and sixth overall.

Snaith saddled his first Derby winner all the way back in 2008, when Fieldspring Racing’s duo Russian Sage and Tan Can fought out a driving finish, the former winning the war of attrition by a hard-fought neck.

Six years later in 2014, Snaith again worked his magic as he saddled a famous Derby

trifecta, with Wish List’s sire Legislate leading home stable companions Captain America and Arion. In 2016 It’s My Turn scored a bloodless two-length victory over Brazuca and subsequent champion Marinaresco.

The cupboard remained bare until 2022 when the stable’s second-string Pomp And Power scored a slick length-and-a-half win.

Eight On Eighteen outclassed his rivals in last year’s Derby straight off a defeat of Durban July winner Oriental Charm in the Gr1 Cape Met. He was ridden to victory by Richard Fourie, who will also partner Wish List in this year’s renewal.

It’s been a long time between drinks, so fingers crossed we finally get to raise our glasses to the first female Derby winner of the 21st century.

CAPE DERBY A PROUD HISTORY

The Lucky Fish Gr1 Cape Derby brings down the curtain on Race Coast Western Cape’s Summer Festival Of Racing season.

Gavin Lerena, who rides Happy Verse in Saturday’s Lucky Fish Gr1 Cape Derby, guides Ertijaal to win the 2015 renewal for Mike de Kock | Credit: Supplied

Rich in history and boasting a storied past, the 2000m race has been won by many legends of the South African turf.

Names like Colorado King, Sea Cottage, Mazarin, Politician and Bold Tropic will resonate with the older generation, whilst champions Dynasty, Jay Peg, Rabiya, Capetown Noir and Legislate represent a more modern era.

Last year’s winner, Eight On Eighteen, went on to garner Equus Horse of the Year honours, as did Legislate, Dynasty and Politician before him.

The Lucky Fish Cape Derby serves as a springboard to further Gr1 success, with many of its winners subsequently enhancing their reputations in the country’s premier events. Cape Derby winners who went on to land the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met Gr 1 include See It Again, Eight On Eighteen, Pas De Quoi, Jungle Warrior, Mark Anthony and Arctic Cove, whereas Legislate, Big City Life, Mazarin and Jamaican Music subsequently captured the iconic Hollywoodbets Durban July Gr 1.

In the modern era, only the mighty Politician has managed to complete the Cape Derby/Cape Town Met/Durban July treble. He utterly dominated the 1977 Cape Derby, trouncing his rivals by almost six lengths.

In 1996, Gauteng challenger, Super Quality, claimed the Cape Derby before returning to his home base where he duly added the SA Derby Gr 1 before winning the Durban July Gr 1 at four, a rare feat achieved by no other horse in modern history.

Cape Derby winners have also excelled on the world stage, notably Colorado King, Top Gallant, Bold Tropic and most recently, Jay Peg.

A number of Cape Derby winners have gone on to enjoy successful stallion careers, none more so than 2003 winner Dynasty, who went on to stamp his authority on the classic in a big way as the sire of four Derby winners in the space of six years: Jackson (2012), Legislate (2014), It’s My Turn (2016) and Eyes Wide Open (2018).

Eyes Wide Open wins in 2018 under Richard Fourie | Credit: Hamish Niven Photography

31 YEARS AGO…

Michael Roberts, who saddled 2023 winner See It Again, was at his best in the 1994 Gr1 Cape Derby at Kenilworth, when he got 3/1 favourite Comareen home by a length in a fast run race over 2000m.

Crystal’s Garter finished second, ahead of Rhode Island and Storm Champ.

Other fancied runners, Jewel of Asia and Millard-trained Gilgamesh, ran fifth and sixth.

The winner was from the first South African crop of French Gr2 winner Liloy, who had several top-class winners here while standing in Argentina. Those include Potomac, Prontisimo and Ecurie.

Comareen, a R170 000 National Sales yearling, was out of Irish mare Stracomer Queen, who ran third in the Irish Oaks during her racing career.

Michael Roberts guides Comareen home in the 1994 Cape Derby | Credit: Supplied

SET FOR A VINTAGE RENEWAL CLASSIC DAY

Feature entries are in for Classic Day which will be hosted at Turffontein on Saturday 7 March.

The meeting is headed up by three Grade 1 races – the TAB SA Classic and Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over 1800m,

as well as the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m.

First entries for the meeting closed on Monday and they include some of the best horses in training all over the country.

Main Defender bids for a second Horse Chestnut Stakes victory | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

H F OPPENHEIMER GR1 HORSE CHESTNUT STAKES

The R1,5-million Horse Chestnut Stakes is one of three Grade 1 races open to all horses over 1600m in the country and is run on weight-for-age terms

Justin Snaith has entered World Sports Betting Cape Met winner See It Again as well as last year’s KZN Guineas champion Sail The Seas.

In addition, Dean Kannemeyer has entered Hollywood Durban July and L’Ormarins King’s Plate victor The Real Prince.

Also included are Alec Laird-trained Fire Attack, who came back his best with a win the Grade 3 London News Stakes, last year’s winner Cosmic Speed, trained by Sean Tarry, and Tony Peter’s charge Main Defender, who returned from almost a year off the track at Turffontein last Saturday.

The SA Classic is Leg 2 of the TAB SA Triple Crown and Splittheeights, winner of the

However, trainers Mike and Mathew de Kock have three other entries, headed up by Grade 1 Cape Guineas winner Jan Van Goyen. They are joined by One Eye On Vegas and Yippee Kiyay.

Dingaans winner and Gauteng Guineas thirdplaced Trust, trained by Candice and Tammy Dawson, as well as Guineas second-placed Grand Empire and Tin Pan Alley, both trained by Sean Tarry, have been nominated for both the SA Classic and the Horse Chestnut Stakes.

Another interesting entry for the SA Classic is highly regarded Errol Flynn, trained by Joe

Soma, who knows what it takes to win this race.

Dean Smith has entered All Systems Go while Mike Azzie has Radio Star.

The SA Fillies Classic, Leg 2 of the Wilgerbosdrift Tiple Tiara, is heading to be a genuine classic.

Not only is first leg winner, Corne Spiestrained Hazy Days, among the entries but so are Gauteng Fillies Guineas second, third,

and

– Charge

WILGERBOSDRIFT GR1 SA FILLIES CLASSIC

R1

000 | 1800m

The first three mentioned are trained by raiders – Alyson Wright, Alan Greeff and Snaith respectively – while Tyrone Zackey is the man in charge of Littlemissmillion.

Supplementary entries close at 09h00 on Friday 27 February, while declarations close at 11h00 on Tuesday 3 March.

WILGERBOSDRIFT 2026

TRIPLE TIARA

Wilgerbosdrift congratulates the connections of

HAZY DAZY

on winning THE WILGERBOSDRIFT

GAUTENG FILLIES GUINEAS (Gr 2) 1 600m the first leg of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara.

Owners: Mr D Dasrath & Mrs C Dasrath, Messrs RP Macnab, S Poriazis, V Sobaren, X Spies & D Vayapuri

Trainer: Corne Spies

Jockey: Trent Mayhew

Breeder: Breedon Stud Close Corporation

‘I LEARNT FROM THE BEST’

Vengi Masawi humbly concedes that team support, and having learnt from the best around – while applying those fundamentals consistently in everything he does every day - has given his training career a flying start.

The man in charge of the Hollywood Racing string at Ashburton just outside of

Pietermaritzburg was talking to the Sporting Post after his double at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday that took his win strikerate to over 27% - the leader, nationally.

The 46-year-old horseman explained that his foundation with former multiple champion trainer Mike de Kock, amongst others, had provided him with the skills to do his best.

Vengi Masawi after Tladi Mothwana’s victory on Monday Credit: Julia Marnewick

“Mr de Kock always said – ‘use the programme- plan properly’. While horses are flesh and blood, things can go wrong, but one must have a plan and a short-term goal for every horse. That rationale has helped me a lot,” he adds, explaining that his high strikerate was indicative of him sending horses out in the right races, always fit and ready to do their best.

“Sometimes it’s unavoidable that we use races to get a horse to fitness. But I’m blessed to enjoy great training facilities, superb tracks and a great team, with support that encourages me to do my best without the pressure fear of bad sportsmanship and sour losers.”

Vengi tells that Hollywood Racing Manager Anthony Delpech is a great source of inspiration and guidance.

“Mr Delpech has won the greatest races on the toughest stages on earth. I often pick up the phone and bounce thoughts and ideas off him. A good Assistant trainer is a vital cog, and Megan Trott fills the support role admirably. She loves her horses and is a firstclass horsewoman. We really are blessed with a great team – Nicole Wille does our rehab and regeneration, while Hayley Dixon breaks the youngsters in before they come into training. And let me please mention Paige van Rensburg, our equine physiotherapist, who is a miracle worker with horses with aches and pains. All of these aspects are vitally important to the make-up of the horse that the public eventually see on the racetrack.”

Born and raised in Zimbawe, Vengi was educated at the Rusununguko Secondary School outside of Harare. He spent much of his teenage years on the Woodleigh Stud Farm in East Mashonaland, where his father worked as a mechanic.

The farm was owned by Dubbles Draper, who was married to Graham Carey, the grandfather of Ridgemont Stud’s Craig Carey. The great Ipi Tombe, bred by Peter Moor, was born in the same region. The early seeds of horsemanship were planted at Woodleigh where Vengi soaked everything up like a sponge and assisted with mare coverings on the farm. There were times, he concedes, when he ran away from school to be with horses.

Vengi met businessman Brian Makwabarara, who is well known in Zimbabwe and South Africa as an auctioneer and racehorse owner. Brian assisted him in securing a job at Borrowdale Park, where he joined then champion trainer Lisa Harris at the height of her success.

It’s been an amazing and rewarding 22 years since Vengi Masawi arrived in South Africa from Zimbabwe in 2004 on a successful feature raid as the Groom of Lisa Harris’ Triple Crown winner Earl Of Surrey, a versatile equine athlete, who also won Grade 1 sprints in an illustrious career.

He worked for Gary Alexander for a few weeks at Turffontein, before joining another former Zimbabwean, Sharon Patterson, at her spelling facility near Randjesfontein.

In 2007 he was employed by Mrs Diane De Kock, assisting with the prep of their 2yo’s before full training. He eventually joined the main yard.

In June last year he came on board as Hollywood Racing trainer at Ashburton. Eight months down the line, Vengi’s current stats of 13 winners from 47 runners, at a power win strike-rate of 27,66%, and a place strikerate of 34,04%, tell the story of a man going places in South African racing.

GET BALL ROLLING ARCHIE’S DAUGHTERS

Descendants of the mighty Redoute’s Choice have well and truly made their mark in South Africa and there is plenty of anticipation ahead of Master Archie’s yearling filly pair who will go through the BSA Cape Yearling Sale ring on Sunday

Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner Master Archie (Rafeef ex La Volta) has his first yearlings going through the ring on Sunday Credit: Supplied

Redoute’s Choice’s numerous high-class runners here include the hugely successful Rafeef, with Redoute’s Choice’s four-times Australian Champion Sire son Snitzel also now making his presence felt as a sire of sires.

Rafeef, who looks set to make his mark as a sire of sires, has enjoyed another good season in 2025-2026 with his flagbearers including World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas/Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes runner-up Reet Petite, Listed TAB Dr Richard Maponya Handicap winner Aristotle, and repeat Gr2 Cape Merchants victor Outlaw King.

Snitzel’s Gr1 SA Classic winning son Heavenly Blue is the sire of this season’s Jackpot City Gr2 Dingaans winner Trust with another Snitzel son, Real Gone Kid, having made a pleasing start with his first two-year-olds this season.

Redoute’s Choice and his descendants made their presence felt at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday.

Rafeef had four winners on the Sunday card, while Real Gone Kid’s daughter Lady Jean won the second race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

Redoute’s Choice’s Gr1 SA Nursery runner up Shaama, already the dam of 2023 SplashOut Gr3 Victress Stakes winner Saartjie, is the dam of Sunday’s fifth race winner, Greenchoice.

The latest Redoute’s Choice descendant poised to make his mark at stud is Rafeef’s striking looking son, Master Archie.

The latter emulated Rafeef, who won the 2017 renewal, when he scored in the 2022 Gr1 Computaform Sprint. In the process, the grey accounted for notable graded stakes winners such as Big Burn, True To Life, Alesian Chief, Bohica, and Val D’Orcia, as well as promising young sire Real Gone Kid.

Rafeef has certainly made his mark on the Computaform Sprint, as he is also responsible for Computaform Sprint winners Thunderstruck (2024) and William Robertson (2025).

Bred on the same Rafeef/Var cross as champion Thunderstruck, and on a similar cross to Australian Gr1 winners Autumn Glow and In The Congo, Master Archie is out of the smart La Volta.

A Var full-sister to the Gr1 placed dam of Gr3 Starling Stakes winner She’s A Giver, La Volta, who also ranks as the dam of the stakes placed

pair of Churchillian and Purple Cloud, won eight times including the Listed Bauhinia Handicap.

The regally bred La Volta, who also numbers the graded stakes winners Chesalon (Fort Wood) and Mardi Gras (Oratorio) as half-brothers, was produced by Fancourt Gr1 Majorca Stakes winner Sarabande (Goldmark).

Her son Master Archie has two well-bred fillies from his first crop on offer at the BSA Cape Yearling Sale on Sunday:

Lot 88 is offered by Posper Stud as agent, and is a filly out of Trimontium - a seven time winning daughter of Var, making this filly intensely inbred to the uber quick Var. Trimontium is out of the high-class racemare Queen Of Kiwi, whose six wins included a triumph in the Listed Garden Course Handicap. This is the family of Australian star Mo’Unga, now standing at Newhaven Park Stud.

Lot 140 is in the Volmoed Stud draft and is a filly out of a three-time winning granddaughter of Dubawi.

This filly’s third and fourth dams are both stakes winners, with her third dam having won the Steinhoff Gr3 Magnolia Handicap.

Master Archie’s daughter, #88 is offered by Prosper Stud Credit: Supplied

PROUDLY PRESENTING THE BSA CAPE YEARLING SALE

1 MARCH 2026

KIND THANKS TO OUR ADVERTISERS

Blue Karoo Stud

BSA

Drakenstein Stud

Heuningsfontein Stud

Kuda

Mauritzfontein

Narrow Creek Stud

Ndoro Stud

Precentor Place

Prosper Stud

Riverton Stud

Soetendal Estate

Wilgerbosdrift

Winterbach Stud

On the cover

BSA Cape Yearling Sale # 63 – His name is As Good Once, a Narrow Creek Stud-bred son of Buffalo Bill Cody (IRE) out of the Parade Leader mare, Rydethecreek. He is a halfbrother to 7 winners, notably KRA Gr2 Fillies Guineas/Gr2 Tibouchina Stakes winner, Alexis. Romi Bettison took the photograph.

Times may have changed, but champion Pocket Power was one of the illustrious graduates of the Cape Yearling Sale | Credit: Supplied

22 YEARS ONTHE POWER’S STILL IN YOUR POCKET!

The BSA Cape Yearling Sale remains one of the best value-for-money thoroughbred auctions in South Africa.

Looking back a year ago, the BSA Cape Yearling Sale reaffirmed its wide spectrum market position with value-for-money consistency from top to tail, and a horse to suit most every pocket.

The 2025 stats showed that 99 of the 109 catalogued lots (versus 132 of 156 catalogued in ’24) sold for an aggregate of R22 505 000 (up 21% from R27 265 000 in ’24) at an average of R227 323 (up 10% from R206 553 in ’24). The median remained consistent at R180 000.

The 2026 renewal of the sale is set to take place again at the SARDA Centre in Constantia on Sunday 1 March, with the action getting underway at 12h00.

This time-honoured platform has a proud and impressive roll of honour, with past graduates ranging from the likes of champions Pocket Power and Mother Russia, to recent graded stakes

winners Buffalo Storm Cody, Main Defender, One Fell Swoop, Pistol Pete, and Rascova.

For interest’s sake, Pocket Power was a R190 000 buy at the 2004 Cape Yearling Sale, and during his career he earned over R9 million in prize money.

Many of the Cape’s top stud farms will be represented at the 2026 Cape Yearling Sale, and leading stallions Gimmethegreenlight, Master Of My Fate, One World, Querari, Rafeef, Vercingetorix and What A Winter all have at least one yearling on offer.

The sale will also offer yearlings from the first crops of such exciting prospects as Digital Age, Jet Dark, Kommetdieding and Master Archie.

The Sprint Cape Yearling Sale supplement is interactive – please click here to read our snapshot of each lot.

UNDER THE HAMMER!

PROGENY OF QUALITY QUARTET OF YOUNG SIRES

A number of blue-blooded and well performed stallions will be represented by yearlings from their first crop at the upcoming BSA Cape Yearling Sale. From Digital Age and Kommetdieding, to Jet Dark and Master Archie, there will, no doubt, be plenty of interest in the yearlings of these high-class Gr1 winners.

Digital Age, who earned more than $1,263 million in his career, won five of 13 starts, including the 2020 Gr1 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic Stakes at Churchill Downs. He is one of more than 20 Gr1 winners sired by Invincible Spirit, whose more than 150 stakes winners include such outstanding sires as Kingman and I Am Invincible.

Digital Age has five members of his first crop on offer at the Cape Yearling Sale, including a colt (Lot 55) out of Listed Syringa Handicap winner Persian Rug and a half-sister (Lot 105) to the smart Demanding Dave whose dam is a winning half-sister to the Gr2 winning dam of Charles Dickens.

Digital Age (Invincible Spirit - Willow View) | Credit: Supplied

JET DARK (TRIPPI - NIGHT JET)

A five-time Gr1 winner and Equus Award winning champion, Jet Dark won nine of 19 starts, with his five Gr1 victories including back to back wins in both the L’Ormarins Gr1 Queen’s Plate and HKJC World Pool Gr1 Champions Cup.

Jet Dark, who also triumphed in the 2023 World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Town Met, is a son of Trippi, Champion Sire in South Africa in 2015-2016. A three-parts brother to Gt1 Mercury Sprint runner-up Night Trip, Jet Dark is from the same female line as

such standouts as Peintre Celebre, Stradivarius and Protectionist.

Understandably, Jet Dark has proven very popular and he has some well-bred yearlings on offer at the Cape Yearling Sale. This draft includes a three-parts brother (Lot 4) to Gr3 Summer Fling Stakes winner Hold My Hand, a close relation (Lot 81) of the Trippi sired Listed Golden Loom Handicap hero Graduation Day, and a colt (Lot 128) out of a winning daughter of champion Lady Windermere.

Jet Dark (Trippi - Night Jet) | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Kommetdieding (Elusive Fort - Adorable) |

KOMMETDIEDING (ELUSIVE FORT - ADORABLE)

One of the most charismatic horses of his generation, Kommetdieding won his only start at two, before going on to win his first three starts at three, culminating in a victory in the 2021 Gr3 Politician Stakes.

He went on to win both the 2021 Vodacom Durban July and 2022 World Sports Betting grCape Town Met, and ended his career having earned over R4,255 million.

A son of Fort Wood’s champion son Elusive Fort, Kommetdieding, a direct descendant of

the influential mare Queen Of Light, is out of a stakes placed three-parts sister to triple Gr1 winner Captain America.

His first crop members on offer at the Cape Sale include a colt (Lot 3) whose granddam is a Gr2 winning daughter of Captain Al (the broodmare sire of Kommetdieding), a filly (Lot69) from the family of G1r winning fillies VJ’s Angel, Bilateral, Tara’s Touch and Little Miss Magic, and a colt (Lot 71), inbred to Captain Al, whose granddam is a four time winning daughter of champion Consensual.

Credit: Freeman Stallions

MASTER ARCHIE (RAFEEF - LA VOLTA)

A grandson of legendary Australian sire Redoute’s Choice, the speedy Master Archie won seven of 14 starts, including both the 2022 Gr1 Computaform Sprint and 2022 Gr3 Man O’War Sprint.

Master Archie is a son of prominent sire Rafeef, whose progeny also includes champion Thunderstruck and the remarkable William Robertson. Master Archie, bred on the same Rafeef/Var cross as Thunderstruck,

is out of Listed Bauhinia Handicap winner La Volta, a full-sister to the Gr1 placed Valeta and half-sister to graded stakes winners Chesalon and Mardi Gras.

Master Archie has two lots on the Cape Yearling Sale - a filly (Lot88) whose 7 time winning dam was sired by Var, the broodmare sire of Master Archie, and a filly (Lot 140) whose third dam is Steinhoff Gr3 Magnolia Handicap winner Lee Danzig.

Master Archie (Rafeef - La Volta) | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

The magnificent Soetendal Estate – starting place of many a champion | Credit: Supplied

SOETENDAL DUO WILL TURN HEADS

Soetendal Estate’s growing list of star alumni continues to impress all over South Africa. Among the current top performers associated with Soetendal are the likes of The Real Prince, Gimme What I Want, Dave The King, Regulation and Splittheeights.

Equus Champion One Stripe, a runner-up in the Gr1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes, is yet another outstanding performer to have begun his career under the tutelage of Soetendal’s staff.

Julia Pilbeam will be offering two choicely- bred yearlings at the upcoming Cape Yearling Sale. Sired by the exciting Kommetdieding and the proven Pathfork respectively, both yearlings look to be attractive prospects.

Lot 71: c Kommetdieding - Second Voice

This colt hails from the first crop of the charismatic Vodacom Gr1 Durban July/ World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Town Met winner Kommedieding.

Closely inbred to legendary sire Captain Al, this colt’s granddam is a four time winning half-sister to champion Consensual.

Lot 138: f Pathfork - Deputy Ryder

By the same sire as high-class fillies of the ilk of Mighty High, My Friend Lee and Olivia’s Way, this filly is out of the smart racemare Deputy Ryder. The latter, a half-sister to two other stakes winners as well as to the dam of G2 KRA Fillies Guineas winner Alexis, won five races, including both the Listed Queen Palm Handicap and Listed East Coast Cup. “She has plenty of scope,” adds Julia excitedly.

These two yearlings can be found in Block B at the SARDA Centre in Constantia.

BARRY’S BEAUTY!

THE LONG ESTABLISHED RIVERTON STUD IN ROBERTSON REMAINS ONE OF THE TOP STUD FARMS IN SOUTH AFRICA. AMONG THE NUMEROUS STARS BRED BY THE FARM ARE CHAMPION AND SUCCESSFUL SIRE CAPTAIN OF ALL, AS WELL AS THE LIKES OF DOMINO MAN, ASTRIX, CIRILLO AND POTENT POWER.

The latest flagbearer for Riverton is the classy sprinter The US Of A, winner of this season’s Listed Southeaster Sprint.

Duncan Barry will be offering two well related fillies at this year’s Cape Yearling Sale, and he had the following comments to make about his pair.

Lot 49: f Soqrat - Nutcracker Sweet

By a prolific source of winners, this filly is a half-sister to two winners including Listed Spook Express Handicap winner She’s A Cracker, and this is also the family of recent Cartier Gr2 Sceptre Stakes winner Gimme

What I Want. This is a big,strong and correct filly.

Lot 99: f Captain Of All - Yata

By the Riverton bred sire of Gr1 winners Fiery Pegasus and Linebacker, this filly’s granddam is a stakes placed full-sister to Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner Noble Heir, the dam of Australian Gr3 winner Crown Witness. She is an attractive, well balanced, good walking filly.

These two fillies can be found in Block E at the SARDA Centre in Constantia.

Horsey heaven! | Credit: Supplied

DON’T BE LATE – NARROW CREEK EARLY TYPES STAND OUT!

Narrow Creek Stud’s Cape Yearling Sale graduates have been in fine form of late.

This tally includes star sprinter Buffalo Storm Cody, the promising Cognac, and Heath House. The latter, a R240 000 buy from last year’s auction, is unbeaten in two starts and looks to be a two-year-old of real promise.

Narrow Creek will be offering ten quality yearlings at the 2026 Cape Sale, with their draft including lots sired by the likes of Buffalo Bill Cody, Digital Age, Erik The Red, Jet Dark and Rafeef.

John Everett had the following to say about his draft for this year’s Cape Yearling Sale: “We have a nice bunch across the board and they are a few nice, early types in the draft.”

One filly bound to attract attention is Right On Time (Lot 96), a daughter of top sire Rafeef and

the Jet Master sired Gr3 Acacia Handicap winner Whatalady. Narrow Creek have enjoyed plenty of success with the progeny of Rafeef, with the farm having not only bred the stallion’s smart son Cognac, but also Rafeef’s Listed TAB Perfect Promise Sprint winner Who Do You Love.

The ever popular Rafeef is also represented here by a filly (Lot 80), whose granddam is the stakes placed La Poppet, with this filly hailing from the same family as champion Mark Anthony, among others. Other appealing sorts on sale include As Good Once (Lot 63), a Buffalo Bill Cody halfbrother to KRA Gr2 Fillies Guineas winner Alexis, Moonlit Dark (Lot 75), a daughter of champion Jet Dark and the smart racemare Shivers, and the Digital Age colt (Lot 79), whose dam is a stakes placed daughter of Flower Alley.

This draft can be viewed from Block D at the SARDA Centre.

TRUE BLUE KAROO!

The Blue Karoo Stud is a relatively young farm, whose early history has was focused around Bloodstock South Africa’s online auctions.

Blue Karoo’s Dr Marni Strauss is a vet with plenty of experience with thoroughbreds. Marni has worked extensively at farms in the Karoo, and this will be the fourth year that Blue Karoo Stud will be offering horses for sale.

The farm will be bringing forward four classy yearlings at the upcoming Cape Yearling Sale in Constantia.

Blue Karoo Stud’s draft consists of fillies sired by Danon Platina, Digital Age, and Elusive Fort, as well as a colt by Erupt.

Marni had the following to say about her Cape Sale draft: Musou (Lot 10) is an athletic, black Elusive Fort filly

out of Furnace, who is a half sister to the Gr1 winner Fiery Pegasus and Gr2 winner Shango.

Second up is Ka Ching (Lot 47), a strong sprinting filly by the exciting new stallion Digital Age, out of the Captain Al mare New Money.

Kimikoyama (Lot 94) is an exceptional Danon Platina filly, out of the imported New Approach mare Vul Indlela. Her full brother Okayama was very well liked on last years auction and expected to make his debut soon under the watchful eye of Des McLachlan. This filly will make you look twice!

Last is Volcatraz (Lot 121), an early maturing impressive Erupt colt out of the Captain Al mare Catraz who is half sister to Equus champion Aslan. A stunning colt not be missed.

This draft can be found in Block A at the SARDA Centre in Constantia.

Dr Marni Strauss turns the Blue Karoo yearlings out beautifully | Credit: BSA

DRAKENSTEIN – SET TO DAZZLE AGAIN

Drakenstein Stud made headlines at the recent World Sports Betting Cape Town Met race day.

The champion farm’s See It Again took his earnings to more than R8,675 million when he won the 2026 Met, becoming the second consecutive Met winner for his breeders. The Drakenstein Stud bred champion Eight On Eighteen won the World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Town Met in 2025.

Drakenstein Stud will be offering two quality yearlings at the upcoming BSA Cape Yearling Sale, and both horses look to be exciting prospects. Kevin Somerville had the following comments to make about the Drakenstein pair:

Lot 4: Fill My Heart c Jet Dark - Fly To The Moon

He’ll be the second Jet Dark to go through the ring

and he’s a lovely medium sized colt with plenty of strength, muscle tone and a good athletic walk. He is a 3 parts-brother to the Grade 3 winner and multiple Grade 1 placed, Glen Kotzen trained, Hold My Hand (Gold Standard).

Lot 37: Looking At Winter c What A WinterLooking At Stars

By outstanding sire What A Winter, Looking at Winter is a big strapping individual with plenty of substance and size, as you would expect from a What A Winter and from the family of the outstanding Equus champion Lady Windermere.

The duo can be viewed in Block F at the SARDA Centre in Constantia.

Drakenstein - place of champions | Credit: Drakenstein Stud

PROBABLY… WITHODDSRACEHORSES, ARE EVERYTHING!

So you bought a Gimmethegreenlight. Will it win? Probably. Stats show 75% do. Will it be a top horse? Probably not. Stats show less than 15% will be. Still, that’s odds of 8/1 or more. Nice bet for a racing man. Stats are a great thing to have when you want to buy a horse.

But you have to do the homework. That’s surprising fun to do.

Now for the BSA Cape Yearling Sale on 1 March.

First there’s the sale catalogue with pedigree pages. The more black type, the better the family.

How good? Black type ought to put a number to it, but it can’t.

Mothers, aunts, brothers, sisters, cousins – who knows how good they really are. What’s more, how many of them there are.

The pedigree page is a selling tool, so it doesn’t talk about the evil twin in the attic.

Which one? Do your homework! | Credit: Romi Bettison

“I bought a racehorse.” “Wow, that’s amazing! Is it good?”

“I don’t know.”

“How do you mean, you don’t know?” “It hasn’t raced yet.” “Why not?”

“It’s only one.”

“So when will it race?”

“When it’s two. Probably.”

Luckily the Buyer’s Guide goes a long way in putting numbers on it. All of a dam’s progeny with race record, aptitude and sale prices. Delving deeper with a click.

Now look at the sire. Lots to choose from.

Highest rated runners, with sire, dam and damsire you’ll find on the Sires’ page under ‘affinity’.

In the Sale Toolkit go to the Nick-finder to see sire x damsire stats. There are a few stand-outs for this sale, with over 80% winners to runners. Nick-finder It also shows the distance aptitude, giving an idea of what to expect.

Then there’s Sire and Broodmare Sire Aptitude.

See who the leaders are by distance. And what a sire and broodmare tends to produce ability-wise.

It all adds up.

Then for the known-unknown – new sire progeny.

This sale is the first for the Class of 2024.

Digital Age. Jet Dark. Kommetdieding. Master Archie.

The Sire Book summarises their racing career, pedigree, aptitude and makes predictions of what female lines might suit their pedigrees.

How they’ll do, who knows. Probability suggests long odds.

Second season sires, the ones whose runners are current 2yo’s are different.

Trainers know what they have in their yards, so there will be focus at this sale on progeny of Malmoos and Real Gone Kid.

You can go to last year’s prices to check what their popularity was then, and compare to what happens in the ring here. You’ll probably have to be on your toes!

For homework, on the Raceform website check SIRES and in STATS find the Sales Toolkit, Sire Sale Prices – and more.

You’ll probably love it!

www.raceform.co.za

NDORO – THE DUKES OF WELLINGTON!

Ndoro Stud continues to produce high-class winners around South Africa. From 2025 HKJC World Pool Gr1 Premier’s Champions Challenge winner Fire Attack to promising filly Fiery Rose, the Wellington-based farm has consistently made its presence felt on South African racetracks. The farm also recently made news when the Ndoro Stud bred Master Mtoto became the first winner for exciting young stallion Real Gone Kid.

Ndoro will be bringing four smart yearlings to this year’s Cape Yearling Sale, set to take place at SARDA Centre on March 1st. Ndoro’s draft consists of thoroughbreds sired by Kommetdieding, Malmoos, One World and Real Gone Kid.

Captain Al’s Triple Crown winning son Malmoos is the sire of a filly (Lot 8) out of a stakes-placed granddaughter of the Gr1 winning champion Kimberley Mine. Further back, this is the family

of top-class Japanese racehorse and sire Heart’s Cry.

One World, another top-class son of Captain Al, is also a high-class stallion represented here. The Drakenstein Stud based star is the sire of a wellbred colt (Lot 50), whose speedy dam Ostinato won four times and ran second in the Gr3 Champagne Stakes. Former July/Met winner Kommetdieding is represented by his first yearlings this season, and he is the sire of a filly (Lot 69) from the family of such Gr1 winning fillies as Bilateral, VJ’s Angel and Tara’s Touch, to name a few.

Last, but by no means least, in this draft is the Real Gone Kid colt (Lot 108) out of the Pathfork mare Beautiful Rosa. The latter is a half-sister to the Gr3 winning dam of classy Gr2 World Sports Betting Camellia Stakes winner Schippers.

This draft can be found in Block E at SARDA.

Ndoro – beauty in the heart of the Boland | Credit: Supplied

A wonderful part of the world! | | Credit: Romi Bettison

WINTERBACH RUN SET TO CONTINUE

Winterbach Stud enjoyed some tremendous results at last year’s August Two Year Old Sale.

Winterbach ended the August Sale having sold three two-year-olds for R2,38 million while the farm, acting as agent, sold a further four lots for R2.325 million. The top lots sold by the farm at the 2025 August Two Year Old Sale was the Rafeef colt Disco Jet, who was knocked down for R1,15 million.

With sires represented in their Cape Sale draft including the likes of Erik The Red, Hawwaam, Jet Dark and Querari, Winterbach, offering eight yearlings as agent, look set to enjoy more sales ring success at the 2026 Cape Yearling Sale.

One lot bound to attract attention is Appaloosa (Lot 91), a filly by consistently top-class sire Querari and out of the high-class racemare Tzigane. The latter won six races, including the

Gr3 Sycamore Sprint, and has already produced three winners. War Front’s blue-blooded son Declarationofpeace has three lots in this draft, and they include a three-parts sister (Lot 12) to the useful Golden Operator as well as a colt (Lot 131) out of G3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery winner Cousin Liz.

Other attractive prospects include Hannah Go (Lot 16), a Fire Away colt whose first two dams won 18 races between them, Red Web (Lot 23), an Erik The Red colt closely related to top sprinter Dyce, and the Jet Dark colt (Lot 81) whose relatives include such US Gr1 winners as Discreet Cat, Discreetly Mine and Pretty Discreet.

This draft can be viewed from Block F at the SARDA Centre in Constantia.

VARSFONTEIN – MORE BIG WINNERS

Varsfontein Stud enjoyed a big day at the recent L’Ormarins Gr1 King’s Plate race meeting.

Not only did Varsfontein foal and raise both L’Ormarins King’s Plate winner The Real Prince and the same day’s Anthonij Rupert Gr2 Premier Trophy winner Okavango, but the farm’s homebred filly Gimme What I Want won the Cartier Gr2 Sceptre Stakes on the same day.

The farm, whose stallion band include such star sires as Gimmethegreenlight and Master Of My Fate, will be offering a high-class draft at the upcoming Cape Yearling Sale.

Varsfontein’s champion resident sire Gimmethegreenlight, whose progeny include the aforementioned pair of The Real Prince and Gimme What I Want, is the sire of To Camelot (Lot 127), a colt whose dam is a Camelot half-sister to Turkish champion Tenerife Song.

The Varsfontein Stud bred trio, and close relatives, Erik The Red, Malmoos and Master Of My Fate, are strongly represented here. Master Of My Fate, whose growing list of stakes winners include the aforementioned Okavango as well as this season’s Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas winner Jan Van Goyen, has some very well bred yearlings on offer. This group includes a filly (Lot 13), whose six-time winning dam is a half-sister to this season’s L’Ormarins Gr1 King’s Plate runner up Questioning, and Mansa Musa (Lot 106), a half-brother to this season’s high-class three-year-old Randolph

Hearst. Leading First Season Sire of 20242025, Erik The Red’s draft includes Red Kite In Flight (Lot 28), a full-sister to recent debut winner Scarlet Starlet, Eric The Memorable (Lot 38), a half-brother to the Gr3 winning dam of champion Bless My Stars, and Sherifflawfulmoses (Lot 59). The latter is a colt out of a winning full-sister to Australian Gr1 winner Yulong Prince, as well as to recent Listed War Of Athena Handicap winner, Charge It.

Other appealing prospects on offer include Hopkinson (Lot 18), a The United States half-brother to impressive debut winner North Star, Katabatic Wind (Lot 92), a Kommetdieding colt from the family of champion Dave The King, and Pure Jade (Lot 58), a Jet Dark filly whose Gr3-placed dam is a full-sister to Durban July winner Belgarion and 3/4 sister to this season’s Ownpay Gr3 Peninsula Handicap winner Regulation.

This draft can be found in Block A at the SARDA Centre in Constantia.

THE POWER OF PROSPER!

Prosper Stud will be bringing another highquality draft to this year’s Cape Yearling Sale. Jikkie De Wet will be offering buyers the opportunity to acquire stock by a range of different sires, with stallions represented in this draft including Captain Of All, Elusive Fort, Fire Away, Futura, Kommetdieding, Master Archie and Pathfork.

With yearlings hailing from some classy female lines, this consignment looks sure to find favour with buyers!

Jikkie had the following to say about his draft for the 2026 Cape Sale:

Lot 2: All A Lady f Captain Of All - Fantastic Lady

A well-built, athletic filly with a strong frame and good depth. She has a powerful hindquarter.

Lot 24: f Fire Away - Kantara Queen

She is a sharp, athletic filly with a real speedy look, well built, balanced and forward moving. She has a strong hindquarter.

Lot 30: c Futura - La Callisto

He is a powerful and athletic colt, with a strong frame and hindquarter. Correct and balanced.

Lot 40: c Kommetdieding - Manousckas Beaut

This is a strong, well built colt with powerful muscles. He has correct conformation and real presence.

Lot 44:c Kommetdieding - Morethanthat

This is an athletic colt with presence, excellent conformation and natural speed. He is a great racing prospect!

Lot 64: Lydia’s Lady f William LongswordSadler’s Lass

She is a powerful, athletic filly with excellent balance and a strong, well-defined hindquarter. A quality racing prospect.

Lot 67: Adeje c Pathfork - Sakura Trick

He is an athletic, well balanced colt with a strong frame and fluent movement.

Lot 72: c Futura - September Bloom

An athletic colt with good, strong conformation. He has a powerful hindquarter, with a solid, wellbalanced frame.

Lot 88: f Master Archie - Trimontium

She is a well balanced, strongly-built filly, with excellent conformation and a powerful engine. She has natural presence, athleticism and correct structure throughout.

Lot 111: f Elusive Fort - Bianca

An athletic, correct filly, with excellent overall conformation. She has good length, a well-set shoulder, and powerful hindquarter.

This draft can be found in Block F at the SARDA Centre in Constantia.

The grass is green on the Prosper side! | Credit: Suppled

HEUNINGSFONTEIN’S EXCELLENT EIGHT

South African champion and BSA graduate Quid Pro Quo made a big impression when she ran second in the 2026 Gr2 Cape Verdi at Meydan recently.

The dual Gr1 winner made an eye catching Dubai debut when lunging late to grab second place, and while sadly picking up an injury recently, won’t race at the Dubai World Cup again this term.

Heuningsfontein Stud will be offering a number of well-bred yearlings sired by Quid Pro Quo’s blue-blooded sire Lance at this year’s BSA Cape Yearling Sale. The farm will also be offering yearlings by the likes of Canford Cliffs and Rebel King.

Heuningsfontein’s Leon Lotz had the following comments to make about his draft:

Lot 54: Dragon Burst c Lance - Peronzada

Very good looking, well balanced colt. The Computerform Sprint is waiting for him!

Lot 15: Clifton Fan Club c Canford CliffsHammie’s Fan

Typical of the stallion. He stands over ground and has a good length of rein.

Lot 21: Rock This Country c Rebel KingInspiring Rebel King’s stakes winning half-siblings, Uncle Tommy and Rebel Queen, were both

Team Heuningsfontein is ready to welcome you on 1 March | Credit: Supplied

by Kahal. We tried the Kahal cross. The end product is a magnificent colt. He will grow into a good size and is a well-muscled colt with a super temperament.

Lot 25: Rebellious c Rebel King - Karoo Mist

We trained the mother. I thought she would win first time out. However, monkeys got into the stables at Fairview and she injured herself badly one day before racing. This colt is very strong and big. Difficult to fault him!

Lot 33: The Key c Lance - Legal Appeal

He is a late foal, a miler staying type. In time he will grow into himself. Toureiro won us four races and was speedy.

Lot 41: Lord Lancelot c Lance - Mifid Two

He was selected for the National Sale but it is difficult for us to go with one yearling.

This is a classic racy type. The closest one can get to Quid Pro Quo. Come and have a look!

Lot 45: Bottle Of Dreams c Rebel KingMy Dream Chaser

We hear lot of good things about his half sister in training. This is a short-coupled, strong colt, I think he is an out and out sprinter, who is made for the 400m dash in KwaZulu-Natal. The Song of Songs damline shows in his making.

Lot 51: Galeas c Lance - Pam’s Princess

His female line is full of group winners. A very well muscled colt. Looks a speedy type but there is nothing stopping him from training on.

This draft can be found in Block A at the SARDA Centre in Constantia.

VALE REBEL KING

Equus Champion Sprinter of 2009 and an eight-time Grade 1 winner, Rebel King was humanely euthanized last Tuesday.

“He was 24 years old and his health was going backwards quickly. We did the kind and best thing with heavy hearts,” Heuningsfontein’s Leon Lotz told the Sporting Post.

“The three colts on the BSA Cape Yearling Sale are his penultimate that will be for sale. He had 6 foals at foot and only one mare in foal for coming season,” added the veteran.

A son of ARCSA Champion and Champion sire of 2yo’s in 2003/4, National Emblem,

Rebel King won or placed in 17 graded races when trained by the now retired Charles Laird.

An unbeaten winner of The Gr2 Nursery in new race-record time at 2, he was a tough, genuine and fast racehorse who raced from 2-5 years and his eight Grade 1 strikes included the Cape Flying Championship.

Rebel King got nominal support at stud and produced 5 stakes winners. He stood at Gelykfontein after leaving Klawervlei Stud, and then five years ago he moved to Heuningsfontein, his final resting place.

Oldlands – the wow factor! | Credit: Supplied

OLDLANDS STUD’S DRAFT LOOKS GOOD FOR YOU!

Zarina. Ambiorix. Rocket Countdown. English Garden. These are just a few of the top-class horses bred by Oldlands Stud over the years.

The latest high-class graduate of Oldlands is this season’s top-class three-year-old Good For You. Winner of last season’s Gr1 Gold Medallion, and a R300 000 buy from the 2024 National Sale, Good For You showed his class when defying 60kgs to win the recent Race Coast Gr2 Cape Punters Cup.

Oldlands Stud will be offering a trio of wellbred colts at the 2026 Cape Yearling Sale. The three colts were sired by proven stallions Elusive Fort, Pathfork and Royal Mo, making them a must-see at this sale.

Fortress (Lot 97) shares his sire Elusive Fort with such stars as Kommetdieding, Siren’s

Call and Out Of Your League. This well-bred colt, bred on the same cross as July/Met winning sire Kommetdieding, is a half-brother to Listed Zimbabwe Guineas winner Jacky Sparrow, and the stakes-placed Tiger Play.

Irish champion Pathfork is another top-class sire represented in this draft. His son Event King (Lot 133), a half-brother to the useful Arverni Princess, is out of a Gr3 placed halfsister to Listed Olympic Duel Stakes winner Hanabi, the dam of the smart Hotarubi.

Mystic Mo (Lot 102), as his name suggests, is a colt by the hugely underrated stallion Royal Mo. This colt is out of a six-time winning fullsister to Swallow Stakes runner-up Margot On Stage, and this is a high-class German family.

Oldlands’ Cape Sale string can be found in Block F at the SARDA Centre in Constantia.

WILGERBOSDRIFT

SEEK A WARM RECEPTION ON 1 MARCH

Among the farm’s recent stakes winning graduates is Listed Betway Mother Russia Stakes winner Warm Reception. A smart winner on debut, Warm Reception has won three of just four starts to date and she looks to be another high-class galloper bred and raised by Wilgerbosdrift.

Excitingly, Warm Reception has a highly regarded half-sister, in the form of Pendet Flower (Lot 5), one the sale. Wilgerbosdrift will also be offering yearlings sired by the likes of Buffalo Bill Cody, Fire Away, Hawwaam, Rafeef and The United States.

The farm’s Shane Van Zyl is delighted by the draft that he is bringing to the BSA Cape Yearling Sale, and mentioned the following lots as particularly exciting:

Lot 36: Pepin Island - Fire Away x Long White Cloud

This colt is a first foal, but he is nicely grown with a strong hindquarter. He stands over ground, is correct in front and has a good walk on him.

Lot 46: Triton Moon - Hawwaam x Neptune’s Rain

Attractive looking colt with lots of presence. Has a lovely way of moving and uses himself well when he walks. Very good front legs and ample hindquarter.

Lot 5: Pendet - Flower Alley x Folk Dance

This is an athletic filly with lots of flash and a big blaze. She has a good shoulder on her and has a lovely topline. She is a filly with a lot of quality.

Lot 82: Creature Comforts - Rafeef x Sybaris

She is a big, strong and well-grown filly with good depth of girth. Very relaxed when she walks and covers a lot of ground.

Lot 110: Yoga Asana - Hawwaam x Bend Not Break

A good looking, racey filly. Very correct in front with a strong hindquarter.

Lot 123: Pocket Change - Fire Away x Centimes

She is a good-sized filly with substance. She has an attractive head and moves well.

This draft can be viewed in Block E at the SARDA Centre in Constantia.

Wilgerbosdrift – land of legends | Credit: Sal Wilson

MAURITZFONTEIN - MORE MAGIC

Mauritzfontein, one of South Africa’s top producers of high-class thoroughbreds, has enjoyed a wonderful few months, even by their own high standards.

Mauritzfontein bred the champion Gimme A Nother to win the Gr2 John C. Mabee Stakes in North America last year, and the top farm also bred the 2025 Betway Gr1 Summer Cup winner, Mocha Blend.

The latter is a daughter of Mauritzfontein’s highly successful sire Ideal World, who is represented in Mauritzfontein’s Cape Yearling Sale draft by Galway Bay (Lot 122). A full-brother to Listed Wolf Power 1600 winner Irish Pride, this colt is also bred on similar lines to stakes-winner, Persian Rug.

Mauritzfontein’s exciting young Invincible Spirit sire Digital Age is doubly represented in this draft. Current State (Lot 55) is a colt out of the aforementioned, Listed Syringa Handicap winning

Persian Rug, while Digital Age filly Mistletoe Magic (Lot 125) granddam is a half-sister to international Gr1 winners Lily Of The Valley and Mubtaahij.

Top-class racemare Fort Ember, who won the Gr2 Prosport International Gold Bracelet and ran second in the Gauteng Sansui Gr1 Summer Cup, has a Malmoos filly (Lot 6) called Ember Isle on sale, while perennially leading sires Rafeef and What A Winter are also represented here.

Rafeef is the sire of Simon Templar (Lot 65), a colt out of a winning Master Of My Fate half-sister to the smart Ponte Pietra, while What A Winter is responsible for Button Up (Lot 109). The latter, a filly bred on the same cross as the What A Winter sired Gr1 winner Humdinger, hails from the immediate family of recent L’Ormarins Gr1 King’s Plate runnerup Questioning, among many others.

Mauritzfontein’s Cape Sale draft can be viewed in Block C at the SARDA Centre.

Always delivering the quality! | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

VOLMOED’S FLYERS SET FOR TAKE-OFF

Volmoed Stud’s consignment for the Cape Yearling Sale contains yearlings by a host of different stallions.

From such proven Gr1 producers as Fire Away, Flower Alley and Rafeef, to exciting young sprinters Master Archie and Real Gone Kid, this draft looks to have something to appeal to every buyer.

Understandably, Inel Bekker is very upbeat about her draft, and has the following comments to make about Volmoed’s Cape Yearling Sale stars:

Lot 60: Sundown Raider c Erik The Red - Red Centre

A strong first foal, looks to be a speedy early type. By last season’s Leading First Season Sire Erik The Red, HE is bred on similar lines to Betway Gr3 Fillies Mile winner World Of Alice.

Lot 70: Jophiel f Rafeef - Santa Vittoria

A well-grown very imposing filly with a good walk. A daughter of one of South Africa’s top stallions, Jophiel is from the family of Australian champion Samantha Miss -who, like Rafeef, was sired by Redoute’s Choice.

Lot 77: c Fire Away - Silver Winter

A very correct and well balanced first foal. The son of Fire Away has a lot to like about him. By the same sire as Gr1 winners Confederate and Fire Attack, he is out of a three-time winning daughter

Lot 98: Lady Liya f Rafeef - Work Ethic

Lovely filly, well grown and athletic. Lady Liya, who shares her sire with such top-class fillies as Reet Petite, Mon Petit Cherie and Frances Ethel, is out of a three-time winning half-sister to Listed Derby Trial winner, Gift Of The Gap.

Lot 116: Floral Princess f Flower Alley - Burgundy Rose

Well balanced filly, very correct. Beautifully topped. By the same sire as the likes of Princess Calla and I’ll Have Another, Floral Princess is out of a mare who won ten races.

Lot 137: Tony The Pony c Real Gone Kid - Dark Journey

This colt moves like a panther and has a lot going for him. By an exciting young sire already off the mark, he is a half-brother to three winners, including the Gr3-placed Desolate Road and the useful Clever Trevor.

Lot 140: Golden Majesty f Master Archie - Dubawi Princess

Lovely filly, very strong moves well and should show a lot of early speed. From the first crop of Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner Master Archie, she is out of a speedy three-time winner.

This draft can be found in Block B at the SARDA Centre in Constantia.

of What A Winter from the same female line as champion Imperious Sue and recent L’Ormarins Gr1 King’s Plate winner, The Real Prince.

Volmoed – living up to the name | Credit: Supplied

Lammereskraal serenity | Credit: Supplied

LAMMERSKRAAL’S QUALITY QUARTET

Lammerskraal Stud’s Lindi Garlicki is delighted with the four yearlings that the top farm will be bringing to this year’s BSA Cape Yearling Sale.

With the four lots hailing from outstanding families, and sired by four Equus Champions, it is easy to see why Lindi is confident of a bold showing by Lammerskraal’s draft at the Constantia auction.

Here is what he veteran Stud Manager had to say about these four yearlings:

Lot 85: Wise Days f Soqrat - The Good Old Days

This is a strong, medium-sized, filly from the superb Mystic Spring family. Her dam is an own sister to multiple stakes winner Gimme Six.

Lot 103: Freeway c Futura -Amber Orchid

He is a very nice Futura colt out of the stakes winning Dubawi mare Amber Orchid. He is the half brother to multiple graded stakes-placed Time Fo Orchids.

Lot 113: One Belle f One World - Blizzard Belle

She is a classy One World daughter of the very speedy nine-time winner Blizzard Belle. She is a half sister to multiple winners, including stakes placed Slalom Queen and The Mauritian.

Lot 128: Dark Lord c Jet Dark - Comedy Of Manners

This is a very smart, scopey colt out of the winning Var daughter of Champion, Lady Windermere. One for the notebook.

The Lammerskraal draft can be viewed from Block F at the SARDA Centre in Constantia.

R20 MILLION! BSA’S 2026 SALES INCENTIVES

FOLLOWING A YEAR OF INCREDIBLE SALES RESULTS AND RENEWED BUYER CONFIDENCE IN 2025, BLOODSTOCK SOUTH AFRICA UNVEILED A SERIES OF NEW BENEFITS DESIGNED TO GIVE BACK TO THE BREEDERS, VENDORS, AND BUYERS WHO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ITS AUCTION SALES.

These initiatives include a new Vendor Loyalty Incentive Programme, as well as enhancements to the Maiden Juvenile Programme. BSA’s new incentives give breeders and vendors innovative rewards while reducing direct costs of entry and making participation easier than ever.

The total benefits in the ever-popular Maiden Juvenile Programme covering the BSA Cape Yearling Sale, National Yearling Sale, KZN Yearling Sale & August 2YO Sale now amount to a staggering R16,8-million, (up from R12-million in 2025). This bears testimony of BSA’s ongoing commitment to creating accessible, rewarding sales platforms for all participants of all ambitions.

The new and innovative Vendor Loyalty Incentive programme will see a direct cash benefit in excess

of R3-Million back to the vendors/ breeders, of which the details are as follows:

Cape Yearling Sale, SARDA, Constantia on 1 March 2026

1. Entry and Acceptance Fee of R3 000, was unchanged for the past 5 years

2. Introduction of a new and exciting Vendor Loyalty Incentive Programme whereby vendors receive an amount of R1 750 per horse presented for sale

3. All Entry and Acceptance fees in addition to other sales related costs are now deductible from sales proceeds – no upfront payments are required, creating a welcome cash flow benefit for the vendor

4. Vendor buy-in for the Maiden Juvenile programme remains unchanged from 2025, at R1 750 (ex. VAT)

National Yearling Sale, TBA Sales Complex on 16 & 17 April 2026

1. Entry Fee of R3 000 and Acceptance Fee of R3 000, remains unchanged for the past 5 years

2. Introduction of a new and exciting Vendor Loyalty Incentive Programme whereby vendors will receive an amount of R2 500 per horse presented for sale

3. All Entry and Acceptance fees in addition to other sales related costs are now deductible from sales proceeds – no upfront payments are required, creating a welcome cash flow benefit for the vendor

4. Vendor buy-in for the Maiden Juvenile programme remains unchanged from 2025 at R2 000 (ex. VAT)

KZN

Yearling Sale, Suncoast on 2 July 2026

1. Entry and Acceptance Fee of R5 000 remains unchanged for the past 5 years

2. Introduction of a new and exciting Vendor Loyalty Incentive Programme whereby vendors will receive an amount of R1 750 per horse presented for sale

3. All Entry and Acceptance fees in addition to other sales related costs are now deductible from sales proceeds – no upfront payments are required, creating a welcome cash flow benefit for the vendor

4. Vendor buy-in for the Maiden Juvenile programme remains unchanged from 2025, at R1 750 (ex. VAT)

August 2 Year-Old Sale, TBA Sales Complex on 20 & 21 August 2026

1. Entry and Acceptance Fee of R3 000, remains unchanged for the past 5 years

2. Introduction of a new and exciting Vendor Loyalty Incentive Programme whereby vendors will receive an amount of R2 500 per horse presented for sale

3. All Entry and Acceptance fees in addition to other sales related costs are now deductible from sales proceeds – no upfront payments are required, creating a welcome cash flow benefit for the vendor 4. Vendor buy-in for the Maiden Juvenile programme remains unchanged from 2025, at R1 750 (ex. VAT)

BSA’s newly revamped Maiden Juvenile Programme receives an injection of R4.8-Million bringing the total benefits to R16,8Million and will offer the following:

1. 120 Races are on offer for a Juvenile to attain their maiden win whether in 2 year old or open company (existing terms and conditions apply)

2. Owner Benefit: now R120 000 (R90 000 Cash and R30 000 BSA SALES VOUCHER (incl. VAT))

3. Trainer Benefit: now R20 000 (R10 000 Cash and R10 000 BSA SALES VOUCHER (incl. VAT))

NB: Vouchers are valid until 31 August 2027 and redeemable at all 2027 BSA yearling and/ or twoyear-old physical sales only.

BSA CEO Michael Holmes commented: “We’re excited and looking forward to being of service to all our customers in 2026 and are grateful for the continued support of our breeders, vendors and buyers. BSA remains committed to providing national sales platforms that serve the entire industry, with all proceeds reinvested in it, to strengthen South African breeding and racing.”

Entry forms can be downloaded from the Bloodstock SA website on www.bsa.co.za and for all queries, please contact Ashley de Klerk at Bloodstock SA.

WINNER OFF THE MARK RIDGEMONT’S TRIPLE CROWN

The 2021 SA Triple Crown winner Malmoos, now a sought-after sire prospect at Ridgemont in Robertson, celebrated his first winner at Fairview on Friday when his daughter Marchland made an eye-catching winning debut for the Kelly Mitchley team.

A two-year-old from her sire’s first crop, the Lammerskraal Stud-bred Marchland made a big impression when she won the Welcome To Nelson Mandela Bay Juvenile Plate (Fillies), clocking 68,83 secs for the 1200m on a sticky track.

Ridden by Muzi Yeni, Marchland went off at 8-1 and pulled well clear of her rivals to run out an impressive 5,50 length winner over Hawwaam daughter, Obsidian Star (14-1).

Raced by Mervin Govender, Marchland is out of the winner-producing Western Winter mare Marcheline and was a R450 000 buy from the 2025 Premier Yearling Sale.

Malmoos is a son of champion sire Captain Al (Al Mufti) and was a R4,4 million buy from the 2019 BSA National Yearling Sale.

A horse labelled ‘the real deal’ early on by veteran champion trainer Mike

de Kock, Malmoos was a winner of 7 of 12 starts, with his victories including the clean sweep of the 2021 SA Triple Crown.

The handsome athlete’s 5 graded stakes wins were achieved in all of the World Sports Betting Gr1 SA Derby, World Sports Betting Gr1 SA Classic, World Sports Betting Gr2 Gauteng Guineas, Avontuur Estate Gr2 Concorde Cup and the Palacebet.co.za Live Games Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes.

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

A half-sister to top-class South African sire Master Of My Fate, Justthewayyouare has produced seven winners, including Malmoos’ dual Gr3 winning fullbrother Captain Splendid.

Marchland has a Querari half-brother (#30) on offer in session 1 at the upcoming Race Coast Sale Premier Yearling Sale.

Malmoos has 3 lots on offer at the BSA Cape Yearling Sale on Sunday 1 March, and a further 7 lots on offer at the Premier Yearling Sale, which will be held on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th March.

Kelly Mitchley and her team lead

(Muzi Yeni ) in

Credit: Pauline Herman

SALES SEASON IS UPON US

TIME TO RECALL

CAUTIONARY TALE OF SAN LOUIS

Sales season is upon us. By the end of July, the best part of a thousand yearlings will have been made to stand, walk, and occasionally trot, as buyers go in search of their first (or next) Guineas winner.

Oscar Foulkes writes that splays of various degrees will be pointed out and recorded in catalogues.

An off-set knee could set off some tut-tutting and shaking of heads. The big yearlings will get a thumbs-up and the littler ones will be marked down.

Of course, not all Guineas winners have first had to be tested in the auction ring. In the case of recent home-bred Guineas winners,

Charles Dickens and Snow Pilot, their route to stardom was relatively obvious (as these things go).

From the 1977 crop, a similar route could have been expected of Gallantry, who was by a Champion Sire, out of a Champion Broodmare.

He was the top-priced yearling in 1979, at R100 000, and was destined to go into training with Terrance Millard.

While all this excitement was happening at the TBA Sales complex, a sickly Folmar colt was scratching around the paddocks at Excelsior Stud.

He was perpetually in poor condition, generally listless, and apparently beyond any veterinary intervention.

Months went by without any improvement. Eventually Stephen de Wet (my uncle) decided that the kindest thing to do with this wretched little bay was to put him out of his misery.

They took a walk down to the river, where the sandy soil would make the digging of a grave easier. Stephen followed with his rifle, already resigned to the loss.

Milnerton – home of legends | Credit: Supplied

Of course, with breeding, it’s never just the financial loss.

In the case of this colt, my grandmother had imported his grandam, Eatonia, from Britain. The mating of her daughter, Xaymaca, to Folmar had been planned so as to inbreed to Nasrullah’s dam, Mumtaz Begum, with further lines of that female line. So, the loss was also the cancellation of hopes and dreams.

As they walked past some thick reeds, a guinea fowl flew out, which startled the colt. It was the first signs of life he had shown in months. Stephen called to the groom to turn around. The colt started picking up condition and was soon on the road to recovery.

The yearling sales had been missed, but having survived this illness, he couldn’t with any conscience be sold to anyone.

In view of his health history, this colt, now named San Louis, was sent to be trained by James Lightheart.

As my grandmother remonstrated later, when accosted by her regular trainer, Peter Kannemeyer, “But Peter, how could I possibly send a horse like this to you?”

At the time, my grandmother also had horses with Chris Snaith. That San Louis didn’t go to Chris must have been further evidence of just how much of a Hail Mary they thought this project would turn out to be.

San Louis was beaten a distance on debut, taking four starts to break his maiden. Reaching this point was astonishing, considering his ill-health as a yearling. Further aspirations could have seemed ambitious, even if he contested the end-of-season Boland Breeders Stakes.

Peter Kannemeyer | Credit: Supplied

Foveros

The picture changed dramatically soon after, with him winning three of his first four starts at three, beating home older horses at worse terms than WFA.

In those days, the Guineas was run on the first Saturday in February, around the near bend at Milnerton. It made for a challenging race, in which tactics and luck in running could have a say in the outcome.

Despite top-class early three-year-old form, including a win over second favourite Gallantry, San Louis started at any price from a draw of 11. Under a masterful ride from Kenny Michel, San Louis was the Guineas victor, beating home Gallantry, Windjammer and Secret Service.

As an aside, Gallantry was the half-brother to Yataghan, and Secret Service was the half-

brother to Over the Air. Guineas credentials, indeed.

San Louis followed up with an unplaced run in the Cape Derby (probably too far for him), before being sent to Durban. Not himself throughout that period, he was unplaced in the SA Guineas behind fellow Excelsiorbred Heracles (out of San Louis’ grandam, Eatonia).

Back in Cape Town, he won a B Division handicap, followed by a three-length third to Foveros in the Queen’s Plate.

Further unplaced runs followed before he eventually succumbed to intestinal issues. Perhaps he never really recovered from what had ailed him as a young horse.

It is one of the joys of this sport that the biggest of prizes can be won by the unlikeliest of prospects. That is the cautionary tale of San Louis.

NHA CALENDAR

ALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION IN ONE READ

The Sporting Post presents this week’s National Horseracing Authority Calendar.

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

Please click on the image below:

COLT HAS A BRIGHT FUTURE CANFORD CLIFFS

Suggested on the De Kock Racing blog as one of the best outsiders in a competitive race, the Canford Cliffs colt Miami Mountain flew up from stone last to win the R275 000 TAB Gr3 National Currency Stakes for Hollywood Racing at a weatherimpacted Turffontein on Saturday.

Giving Jeff Syster his first graded stakes success, Miami Mountain took to the fitment of the blinkers and relished the test provided by the give in the ground as he stormed through down the inside rail at 12-1 to beat the KZN raider and favourite Wild Justice by 0,80 lengths in a time of 64,09 secs for the 1100m.

Dean Smith’s Gqeberha visitor Pop Chart showed maturity and ability at just his fourth start to grab the third cheque, a further 0,60 lengths away.

Bred by Ridgemont, the winner is a son of five-time Gr1 winning stallion Canford Cliffs (Tagula) out of the 2018 Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship winner Miss Florida, a daughter of Captain Al who raced for Nic Jonsson and was trained by Justin Snaith.

Now a winner of 4 races with a place from his 7 starts, Miami Mountain took his stakes earned to R394 013. He certainly has lots of potential and could stay on over further, given his relaxed racing style and his turn of foot.

The feature was named in honour of National Currency, ‘the horse with the movie star looks’, who was bred by Highlands Farms Stud, by resident sire National Assembly out of Enchanted Dollar.

Trained by Michael Azzie and raced in the interests of breeder Graham Beck in partnership with A Christoforou, Mr C J W & Mrs N Hilt & Mrs J E H Clarke, National Currency was a sprint champion, setting the tracks alight both locally and on the world stage.

Equus Champion 2YO Colt in 2001 and Champion Male Sprinter in 2002, he had 15 career starts for 10 wins and 5 places, including victories in the Computaform Sprint, Mercury Sprint, and Gold Medallion, but was perhaps most noble in defeat, going down 1 length to the mighty Silent Witness in the 2003 Hong Kong Sprint.

Jeff Syster and Miami Mountain fly home

TARRY’S DIAM ND

SHINES BRIGHT

Winner of the TAB Gr2 SA Nursery and TAB Gr3 Protea Stakes last season, the Sean Tarry trained three-year-old Green Diamond found her best form and made it three wins from seven starts with a polished performance at Turffontein on Saturday to win the R150 000 Betway Non Black-Type Bauhinia Stakes.

Under a well-judged ride from Craig Zackey, the Drakenstein Stud bred and owned Green Diamond – running in a tongue tie – dropped out early on but the national log-leading rider asked his mount for a response, and Green Diamond (61) bounded forward from the back of the field.

The daughter of Gimmethegreenlight stayed on strongly in the closing stages and went away to win by 1,80 lengths in a time of 56,88 secs for the 1000m.

The 4yo Poblano (5-1) was not disgraced in second, with Chasing Happiness 2,70 lengths further back in third.

The previously consistent Rifle Queen went off a 9-10 favourite but ran last. She was found to be not striding out on the right hind and was also

reported coughing post-race. The run is best ignored.

Her stablemate Glastonbury (20-1) had no luck in running and was reported to have pulled up fatigued and cut into on the left front.

Green Diamond has accumulated stakes of R652 813 and took her tally to 3 wins with 2 places from 7 starts.

Out of the Trippi mare Lesedi La Rona, Green Diamond is bred on the same Gimmethegreenlight/Trippi cross as Gr1 winners Gimme A Prince, She’s A Keeper and The Real Prince.

Her L’Ormarins Gr1 Queen’s Plate winning sire Gimmethegreenlight is enjoying another fine season in 2025-2026, with his black type winners led by G1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate winner The Real Prince.

The son of More than Ready has two yearlings on offer at the BSA Cape Yearling Sale , and nine lots on sale at the RCS Premier Yearling Sale.

Craig Zackey has Green Diamond in command | Credit: JC Photos

What A Winter FILLY’S STAKES BREAKTHROUGH

A half-sister to recently syndicated Drakenstein Stud Lancaster Bomber stallion

Snow Pilot, the 4yo What A Winter filly Symphony In White scored an overdue maiden stakes success when she stormed home late to win the R150 000 Listed Lady’s Pendant at Fairview on Friday.

The Drakenstein Stud raced and bred galloper looked the class in the eleven-horse field, with the collateral of her cracking second behind the accomplished Asiye Phambili in the WSB Gr3 Southern Cross Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Cape Fillies Guineas Day at the beginning of last December.

Confidently ridden by JP van der Merwe, the Candice Bass-Robinson trained flyer rallied late to hold off the threat of the 66-1 outsider Priscilla Maisey by a half-length, clocking 68,29 secs for a ‘sticky’ Fairview 1200m.

Dean Smith endured a rare blank day but he will be pleased with the effort of the uber consistent Song Of Myself (11-2) who ghosted through down the inside rail but came up a length short when they hit the line.

Symphony In White has now won 4 of her 18 starts with 3 places and stakes of R657 008.

Bred by Drakenstein Stud, she is a daughter of speed champion What A Winter (Western Winter) out of the top-notch Captain Al mare, Snowdance.

Bred at Cheveley Stud, Snowdance commanded a R2-million price tag at the National Yearling Sale, an investment she would return with interest and more.

Raced by Drakenstein in partnership with the late Jack Mitchell, Snowdance opened her stakes account in dominant style when claiming the Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship. She again impressed in the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas, taking the classic in sizzling style.

Sent off a short-prized favourite on the strength of her front-running tour de force in

the Fillies Championship, different tactics saw her covered up, but she quickened into the lead at the quarter mark and cruised home to win geared down, the winning margin of just over three lengths flattering stable companion and future Horse of the Year Oh Susannah.

On to the Gr1 Majorca Stakes and in yet another flawless performance, she defeated a stellar field of mainly older fillies and mares.

Although Snowdance failed to hit the same dizzying heights at four, she nevertheless added seconds in both the Gr1 Gold Challenge and Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint and a third in the Gr1 Garden Province Stakes, before signing off on her career when fourth behind champion Kasimir in the Gr1 Mercury Sprint.

Plenty to come yet from this family!

TRIGGOL’S 3YO LOOKS VERY PROGRESSIVE!

Govett Triggol has held his SA national colours for showjumping and has been breeding sport horses from his Nottingham Road farm for some years.

A decision to buy a few thoroughbred mares to play the role of surrogate Mum to his own foals has paid dividends he couldn’t have dreamt of, when he enjoyed his first stakes feature success at Fairview on Friday.

Despite a change in the race conditions, the R175 000 Listed Ibhayi Stakes could muster only four starters for the 2026 renewal of the opening leg of the East Cape Sophomore Challenge at Fairview on Friday.

Last year the Ibhayi Stakes attracted a field of seven, and the handicappers then responded to a request from the locals to provide MR protection in the form of a penalty capped at 6 rating points to the winner and no penalties for the placed horses.

This was suggested as a means of encouraging more support from owners and trainers.

With a Snaith raider in the line-up, and a coupling from the powerful Greeff yard, it was good to see veteran Tara Laing come up trumps with the very promising Buffalo Bill (710) who proved too strong under the rampant Wayne Agrella for Royal Kingdom (5-1) whom he beat by 2,25 lengths in a time of 84,08 secs for the 1400m.

Buffalo Bill (Wayne Agrella) cruises to victory | Credit: Pauline Herman

Cape raider Pomp It Up (28-10) was beaten a neck into third.

“We are thrilled – over the moon. He’s our champion,” enthused Aisling Triggol, who told the Sporting Post that her and her Mum, Celeste Lochoff had chosen Buffalo Bill as the top of the pops from the day he was born.

Celeste sadly lost her jockey husband Mike McMurtry in the Hennenman air disaster in April 1988, and years later remarried Mike O’Connor, who owns Topbet – Tara Laing’s sponsor, represented on the day by their manager Sam van Zyl.

The Triggols started out their racing with Alec Laird on the Highveld but will be keen to give

Tara Laing more support after the veteran lady trainer celebrated a four-timer for the third time in her career on the day.

The winner was officially bred by 334 Stud and is a son of Irish-bred Redoute’s Choice stallion Buffalo Bill Cody out of the twicewinning Western Winter mare, Nesspresso.

“I think Wilgerbosdrift deserve the credit for breeding this little champion as we purchased the mare in utero. And sadly, she has passed on. So, we are very emotional about it all,” added Aisling Triggol.

Now a winner of 5 races with 4 places from 9 starts, Buffalo Bill took his stakes tally to R376 766.

Team Buffalo Bill! Assistant Gavin Venter, Topbet’s Sam van Zyl, Wayne Agrella and Tara Laing on the winner’s podium Credit: Pauline Herman

CHASING THE CLOCK FORTUNE

“I could ride Double Grand Slam with one hand and win the Gr1 Empress Club Stakes. That’s seven weeks away and who knows what a strong mind and modern medical science can achieve!”

Andrew Fortune (black and white cap) steers Double Grand Slam to victory in the Maine Chance Farms Gr1 Majorca Stakes, beating his son Aldo Domeyer on Rainbow Lorikeet (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)

A typically jocular Andrew Fortune, despite being in excruciating pain, was chatting to the Sporting Post from the Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport in Gqeberha on Tuesday afternoon en route to Cape Town after

being discharged from hospital following his accident during the running of the fourth race at Fairview last Friday.

Fortune listed six broken ribs, punctured lungs, a fractured clavicle and a shoulder blade ‘severed in half’, as part of the battle wounds inflicted on his 58 year old frame at a racemeeting that he ironically wasn’t originally even supposed to be riding at.

Andrew Beats son Aldo Do Domeyer (Rainbow Lorikeet) to win the Maine Chance Farms Gr1 Majorca Stakes on Met day Credit: Chase Liebenberg

“Half my body is broken. I am no baby, but I am in agony. I can’t sit. I can’t lie down on my back. I can’t lie on my side. It’s painful when I breathe. But otherwise I am all good, and bloody happy to be alive,” he laughed as he termed it ‘suddenly the shortest comeback ever’.

The Candyman’s glorious comeback season came to a grinding halt when riding Witching Hour for Zietsman Oosthuizen.

He was negotiating some tight galloping room down the inside rail when his mount appeared to clip heels and stumble. His colleague Eldin Webber picked up a 14 day holiday for his role in the incident.

Pushed for a response to some quarters of public opinion that suggested Webber deserved a stiffer sanction, Fortune laughed

and asked ‘how many races have all the experts ridden in?’

“Anything can happen in a race. Three strides before it happened, I knew I was in trouble. I went down and thought, ‘do I still get to ride Double Grand Slam on 4 April’? Seriously, she was my first thought next to trying to put on a brave demeanour for my family, who were watching. I still cannot believe the list of injuries I incurred from that fall. It didn’t feel that bad when it was happening and it now feels a bit surreal. But, hey, it’s all part of the journey and was meant to be! Maybe it’s a sign that I should be slowing down, rather than gathering momentum?”

He added that he was taken aback by the level of support and well wishes that he had received since his fall.

“It’s an amazing turnaround – from being not wanted and having folk look the other way, to having some of the game’s major players sending me messages of goodwill. All the messages on social media and whatsapp etc are much appreciated, believe me!”

Fortune said, rather optimistically, that he was still aiming to be back in seven weeks to ride Snaith champion Double Grand Slam in the Grade 1 at Turffontein on 4 April.

“I hear there were five jockeys who pitched for work in the Snaith ring this morning. Good to see my colleagues are on their toes!” he laughs.

“One has to stay positive and aim high. I will take it week by week and give the hyperbaric chamber a shot. It’s either that, or a comeback bid to win the Hollywoodbets

Durban July and a possible goodbye at season end. But it’s all in God’s hands and I am not accepting that it’s all over, just yet!” he added.

In a fairytale moment at the end of January, Fortune rode his first WSB Gr1 Cape Town Met winner on See It Again, and also won the Gr1 Majorca Stakes on Double Grand Slam on the day – with 4 winners in total on a memorable afternoon.

Andrew Fortune has ridden 38 winners this season at a win strike-rate of 16,6% and place strike-rate of 46,7%, his rides having earned gross stakes of R9 586 585.

Ed – Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases delivery of oxygen to the body by providing pure oxygen in an enclosed space with higher than normal air pressure.

Andrew Fortune in hospital over the weekend | Credit: Supplied

CLIMBS TO 103 MIAMI MOUNTAIN

Miami Mountain has received a revised rating of 103, up from 98, following his victory in the TAB Gr3 National Currency Sprint for three-year-olds over 1100m at the Turffontein Standside track on Saturday.

The Handicappers unanimously agreed to use the runner-up, Wild Justice , as the key horse in assessing this race, leaving his rating unchanged at 104.

Pop Chart , who finished third, was raised to 95 from 93, while Blazing Fury , the fourthplace finisher, moved up to 90 from 87.

Two horses had their merit ratings reduced. Charming Cheetah dropped to 107 from 110, and Zalatoris was lowered to 102 from 105.

Listed

Lady’s Pendant

Symphony In White remained unchanged on her rating of 103 after capturing the Listed Lady’s Pendant over 1200m at Fairview Racecourse on Friday.

In fact, both the winner and the fourth-place finisher, Sweetie Darling , were used as the line horses to assess this race.

The specific conditions of the race did not permit any increases for the placed runners, and therefore no rating changes were made.

Listed Ibhayi Stakes

Buffalo Bill had his rating increased from 107 to 109 following his victory in the Listed Ibhayi Stakes over 1400m on Friday.

The Handicappers considered the runner-up, Royal Kingdom , to be the most suitable line horse for assessing this race, leaving his rating unchanged at 103.

Due to the race conditions, no increases were permitted for the placed runners. As a result, Pomp It Up remained unchanged on 95 despite achieving a performance that merited a higher mark.

• Media release by the NHA on Tuesday, 24 February 2026.

APPEALS. THEATRE. SILENCE. HOWZAT!

Just days after an appeal lodged against the merit rating increases relating to Splittheeights, Grand Empire, One Eye On Vegas and Yippee Kiyay, following their performances in the TAB Gr2 Gauteng Guineas on 7 February 2026, at Turffontein Racecourse, was upheld, another independent panel constituted in terms of Clauses 20.3 and 21.3 of the NHA Constitution found for the apellant.

The board consisting of Messrs R Bloomberg, C Gordon and D Thistleton was convened on 20 February 2026 to consider a Merit Rating Appeal lodged by trainer Ms Candice Dawson against the retained 119 merit rating of Trust, following his performance in the TAB Gr2 Gauteng Guineas on 07 February 2026, at Turffontein racecourse.

On 17 February 2026, an independent Appeal Board, in a separate Appeal brought by trainer Matthew de Kock (and which included trainer Sean Tarry), adjusted the merit ratings of the following horses which had participated in the Gauteng Guineas:

1st Splittheeights: 121 – 109

2nd Grand Empire: 120 – 108

3rd Trust: 119

4th One Eye On Vegas: 118 – 106

5th Yippee Kiyay: 117 – 105

Based on the findings of the previous Appeal Board, and which this Appeal Panel concurred with and found no valid reason to depart from, the Panel were unanimously of the opinion that Trust’s rating should be adjusted to that of a MR 107 and which therefore dovetailed with the decision reached by the previous Appeal Board.

In arriving at their decision, the Appeal Panel were of the view that the handicappers had over-reacted to Trust’s win over Jan Van Goyen in the Dingaans (Grade 2) and should have erred on the side of caution by rather imposing half the 27lb penalty which they implemented and letting the horse prove the inflated rating they believe he achieved, at his next start.

It was also recorded that with hindsight that the form of that race has not worked out with none of the

runners finishing 3rd – 8th having registered a single win from a collective 11 starts, including 7 unplaced runs.

The Panel highlighted that at his next start, Trust had been beaten by 2.5L by Splittheeights, in the Got The Greenlight Stakes (Grade 3), giving the winner 4lbs. They then met again, in the Gauteng Guineas (Grade 2), the race which was the subject of this Appeal, this time at level weights, and was beaten by 1.4L.

Whilst the Panel recognized that Trust had suffered a degree of interference, they concluded it was clear that Trust could not be rated higher than Splittheeights on established form.

In concluding, the Appeal Panel stated that in all probability, and based on the performance of in particular Jan Van Goyen, in the upcoming SA Classic (Grade 1), where a number of these horses would be meeting again at level weights, that the handicappers would obviously be reassessing and readjusting merit ratings.

The Appeal Panel added that whilst it is perfectly conceivable that these horses will ultimately attain the higher ratings allocated by the handicappers, that they are bound to rate horses purely on merit attained and not based on perception, or in fear of losing graded status.

The Appeal Panel further made the recommendation that following the running of the SA Classic, that the handicappers re-evaluate the entire 3yo crop.

The Appeal was accordingly upheld, and the deposit fee is to be refunded to Trainer Ms Candice Dawson.

DE KOCK BLOG REPORT

Mike de Kock wrote on his blog on Friday evening that the editor of Turf Talk, David Thiselton, published an article on Friday morning entitled, ‘Handicapper Bashing – SA Racing Fraternity’s Favourite Hobby’.

In it, he addressed — among other matters — the successful objection lodged by ourselves and Sean Tarry against the handicapper’s ratings of Splittheeights, Grand Empire, One Eye On Vegas and Yippee Kiyay.

Thiselton wrote: “There was the usual flurry of criticism of the handicappers for their rating of the Gauteng Guineas, but the handicappers’ view was not incorrect…” and elsewhere, “In fact, (the handicapper’s assessment) was not a mistake at all, it was just a difference of opinion of the line horse.”

Everyone is entitled to express a view on matters of importance — editors especially so. That is not in question. However, we do not share Thiselton’s view. In our opinion, material facts were overlooked and what we regard as an error was characterised as merely a ‘difference of opinion’.

It gets more interesting: Thiselton published this pro-handicapper article on Friday morning, yet later on the same day sat on an Appeal Board convened

by the National Horseracing Authority to adjudicate an objection by the connections of Trust, pertaining to his third place in the same race – and upheld the objection!

Given Thiselton’s publicly stated position on the matter, a legitimate question of perceived conflict of interest arises. It is generally accepted that an Appeal Board should comprise individuals free, not only of actual bias, but also of any reasonable perception of bias. Further, Thiselton is in a long-standing personal relationship with the sister of the NHA’s Chief Handicapper, Lennon Maharaj.

We understand that the NHA’s CEO, Vee Moodley, convened this Board. In the interests of transparency and procedural integrity, we respectfully request clarification as to the reasoning behind Thiselton’s appointment.

Should he have recused himself? Or should Moodley have considered the potential optics more carefully?

It is essential that the NHA provides clear and transparent reasoning for this appointment as it goes to the heart of confidence in the governance and adjudicative processes of the sport. The matter should be investigated as a matter of urgency.

THISEL BLOWS WHISTLE

In a response furnished to the Sporting Post on Saturday afternoon, David Thiselton confirmed that he had been contacted by NHA Legal Executive Michael Shackleton, who is tasked with convening the MR appeal boards, on Thursday afternoon. Thiselton adds that Shackleton apologized for the short notice but asked whether he would be prepared to be on the Trust appeal board.

“ I didn’t give it much thought before saying yes to be honest and in retrospect should have recused myself having already started writing the article about the handicapper being bashed – and I am also related to Lennon Maharaj, so will in the future not make myself available for such appeals.

Thiselton says that the MDK blog article talks about bias ‘but conveniently omits the following paragraph which adequately shows there was no bias’: “The handicappers decided to take the higher road

because it was a Gr 2 event, but the appeal board decided to take the lower road having seen that there were a couple of horses who had failed to beat exposed older horses recently and had now finished close up in this Gr 2 race and there was also mounting evidence that the current 3YO male crop is not looking to be a vintage one.”

Thiselton tells us that these were his own words and were a guess at why the appeal board made their decision, so believes that adequately shows there is no bias on this particular matter.

Furthermore, when publishing the editorial about the successful appeal for Splittheeights etc he confirmed that he introduced it with the following words:” The one-two in the Gr 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas, Splittheeights and Grand Empire, did look a bit overrated after the race at 121 and 120 if taking into account the form of both Grand Empire and Yippee

Kay Yay against exposed older horses in handicaps and an independent panel has upheld Mathew de Kock’s appeal against the new merit ratings of a number of horses in the race.”

“Again proves no bias on the matter,” adds Thiselton.

“Obviously we can’t publish every single detail of the panel discussion that led to Trust’s appeal being upheld but I had pointed out in the meeting the vast disparity in assessment from the handicapper to the appeal board was due to no other reason than the necessity to have a line horse and I pointed out the lower rating was also problematic because it meant neither Spiltttheeights nor One Eye On Vegas had improved

from their previous runs which were likely preparation runs to a degree and furthermore lowering Trust would just lead to a whole lot of other horses appealing. That is ultimately why I agreed to a reassessment of the whole crop because my suggestion that Trust’s Graham Beck performance should be used as his rating (about 112) as he had failed to live up to his Dingaans 119 rating twice had the problem of him being higher than Splittheeights who had beaten him twice,” concluded Thiselton.

Didn’t Mark Twain say that it is not best that we should all think alike; it is a difference of opinion that makes horse races? Now to sort out our choice of line horses!

SHACKLETON FLIES IN

National Horseracing Authority Legal Executive Michael Shackleton issued a media statement on Saturday afternoon stating that the blog published on racehorse trainers Mike and Mathew De Kock’s website, contains material factual inaccuracies regarding the convening, composition, and mandate of the Appeal Board that adjudicated the merit rating appeal relating to TRUST arising from the TAB Gauteng Guineas.

For the sake of accuracy and transparency, it is necessary to place the correct facts on record.

In terms of clauses 20.3 and 21.3 of the Constitution of The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa, (effective 19 November 2025) the Legal Executive is expressly empowered to act as Convenor of Appeal Boards and to constitute such panels when a valid appeal is lodged. In this matter, a merit rating appeal was formally lodged by the connections of TRUST. Acting strictly within this constitutional mandate, the Legal Executive constituted the Appeal Board, appointed its members, and scheduled the hearing. The documentary record confirms that the Appeal Board was duly constituted by the Legal Executive and not by the Chief Executive, either directly or indirectly.

The Appeal Board comprised Messrs R Bloomberg, C Gordon and D Thistleton, and was convened to adjudicate the specific merit rating appeal relating to TRUST.

The hearing was conducted in accordance with the applicable rules, and the panel was duly authorised to determine the appeal and, where appropriate, adjust the ratings. The outcome of the appeal – including the adjustment of the merit ratings of SPLITTHEEIGHTS,

GRAND EMPIRE, ONE EYE ON VEGAS, and YIPPEE KIYAY — was determined by the Appeal Boards acting collectively and within its mandate.

It is therefore factually incorrect to suggest that the Chief Executive convened, selected, or otherwise implemented the appointment of the Appeal Board. The Chief Executive played no role in the constitution of the panel, which was effected strictly through the Legal Executive’s constitutional authority as Convenor.

It is further important to distinguish between editorial commentary published in the media and the formal adjudicative process undertaken by an Appeal Board.

While individuals may hold or express views in a personal or editorial capacity, Appeal Board members are appointed institutionally, sit collectively, and determine matters based on the submissions before them, the applicable rules, and the evidence presented at the hearing. Decisions are those of the panel as a whole and not of any single member acting unilaterally.

The NHA remains committed to transparency, procedural fairness, and institutional integrity. However, that commitment must be grounded in accurate representations of governance processes and constitutional mandates.

Where public commentary attributes decisions or appointments to office-bearers who were not responsible for them, it is necessary to correct the record in order to preserve confidence in the Authority’s adjudicative systems.

DE KOCK RESPONDS

Unresolved issues around the convention and composition of the second TAB Gr2 Gauteng Guineas MR Appeal Board last Friday have led to trainer Mike de Kock addressing a follow up open letter to the National Horseracing Authority, via the Sporting Post.

Mr De Kock writes that he read with interest the NHA press release of Saturday 21 February 2026 and the comments from Mr Michael Shackleton, particularly his opening assertion that he (De Kock’s) previous statement “contains material factual inaccuracies regarding the convening, composition, and mandate of the Appeal Board that adjudicated the merit rating appeal relating to TRUST arising from the TAB Gauteng Guineas (Gr 2).”

Before I address this, I’d like to return to what remains our central and unresolved concern: Why was Mr David Thiselton appointed to an NHA Appeal Board dealing with a handicapping issue, given that he is the-brotherin-law of the Chief Handicapper?

At the very least, this presents a situation that may reasonably be perceived as conflicted.

The issue is not personal character, but institutional integrity. An Appeal Board must be not only independent, but free from any reasonable perception of conflicted interest. Mr Shackleton’s statement does not address this at all.

With regard to Mr Shackleton’s comments on the convening of the Appeal Board, and in light of information available to us concerning communications that preceded the Board’s composition, we respectfully request that the NHA confirm whether any executive instruction, recommendation or directive was given in relation to Mr Thiselton’s appointment.

If the NHA maintains that no such involvement occurred and that Mr Thistleton’s appointment was free of executive intervention, we invite them to state so clearly and unequivocally.

RACEFORM’S LAST WORD

The vilification of the official handicappers must stop. And must stop now. The action of a Merit Rating Appeal Panel last Friday is the final insult.

At the end of a long-worded statement the Panel recommended that the ‘handicappers should reevaluate the entire 3yo crop’.

The Appeal Panel exceeded its mandate. Panels are convened to consider appeals, not to pronounce on matters way above their station. Re-evaluate the entire 3yo crop, un-tie the Gordian Knot? Kidding, right?

Read more by clicking here.

HOLLYWOOD EAGLE FLIES HIGH!

Five of the eleven races on the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth summer course on Sunday were staged over 1200m.

The sectional take-out of the afternoon could be the Candice Bass first-timer Margate in the opener. Starting at 66-1 under Josh Solomons, she ran the fastest 400 to finish time of the eleven races, and was beaten 3,15 lengths in sixth. Don’t let her run free next time!

The Ready Steady Go Syndicate Middle Stakes was marginally the fastest of the 1299m contests and in what proved to be a real thriller, the Vaughan Marshall trained BLACK EAGLE registered his third career victory.

Having only his second start since being gelded, the son of Rafeef raced a close up second for most of the journey.

He put his head in front at the same time as Raven Black (4/1 into 33/20 fav) 250m out. Both jocks gave their all in the tussle to the wire, and in a classic finish, Black Eagle only got the verdict by the narrowest of margins.

The winner was Hollywood Racing’s lifetime 800th first.

Comfortably the quicker of the two maiden events over 1200m was the Lucky Fish New Fortune Maiden Plate and here the wellsupported favourite FAST TRAIN (28/10 into 18/10) did the business.

Nicely positioned in fifth in what was always a very tightly bunched field, the son of Rafeef was ridden to lead approaching the 200m marker. The easy to back Zagreb (7/2 out to 6/1) challenged strongly in the closing stages of the race, but he did have that one held by three quarters at the wire.

Two lengths further back in fourth was Madra Rua (kicked gates in pens). Easy to back at 8/1 after proving very costly to follow in each of his four previous starts, the son of Frankel was badly baulked for a run 250m out and quickened well over the final 200m.

In terms of stake money the Lucky Fish Magic Mile Middle Stakes over 1600m jointly topped the bill and in what was the longest race of the afternoon trainer James Crawford completed a hat-trick of winners on the card when the heavily supported CHASINGTHERAINBOW (10/1 into 7/2) registered his fifth win from just twelve outings.

On leaving the stalls Mente Et Manu made the running and although the field soon became strung out, they travelled the slowest of the three races around the turn between the 1000m & 600m marks.

The son of Potala Palace raced seventh and had at least eight lengths to find turning for home. Having raced second for most of the journey it was Touched By Angels who made the first move and he looked to have done everything right on striking the front 130m out.

In what proved to be another thriller though, the 4yo gelding ran on strongly under a determined ride from Luyolo Mxothwa and got up against the outside rail in the dying strides. Chasingtherainbow hung out from the 400m and shifted out continually until the finish.

As well as saddling three winners on the afternoon, trainer James Crawford also saddled three second placings.

Going: Good

Penetrometer: 22 (Straight) – 23 (bend)

Rain: Last 7 days Nil

Irrigation: Last 24 hours 10mm –Last 7 days 50mm

False Rail: Original position with 1,5m spur at 600m

Wind: 11-17km/h North Westerly tail wind

Course Variant: 1,12s fast (straight) –0,76s fast (bend)

The Follow Race Coast On Social Media Class 5 event proved to be the fastest of the afternoon’s two 1400m races and here a major gamble was landed when the recent maiden winner DISTRICT MASTER completed a quick double over the course and distance.

Heavily supported throughout the day into 28/10 favourite from 10/1, the son of Captain Of All was soon up handy and was ridden to lead as they approached the 400m marker.

He kept on strongly at the business end of the race and despite shifting towards the middle of the track over the final 200m he won well from the running on duo of Man Of Consequence (hit gate leaving pens) and Noon Day Gun (troublesome in pens).

Easily nine lengths and eleven lengths behind the leaders respectively turning for home, the second and third placed finishes both ran on very well.

The two 1000m races were both maiden events and in the quicker of these, the Genuine Ennion Syndicate Maiden Plate (3yo fillies) , the uneasy joint favourite STARTING POINT (15/10 out to 5/2) opened her account.

Soon up handy, the daughter of Gimmethegreenlight moved up to dispute matters with the front running Swift Serenity (hung out final 200m) 400m from home. Both quickened well at the business end of the race and it was only over the final 50m that James Crawfords’ charge got the upper hand.

Fastest Times:

1000m (2) Starting Point 59,24

1200m (5) Black Eagle 71,53 1400m (2) District Master 87,00

400m to finish - Margate 22,58

DURBAN CATERER SCOOPS HOLLYWOODBETS

PUNTERS’ CHALLENGE JACKPOT

A 33 year old Durban-based Caterer cooked up a storm at the Vaal on Tuesday when she selected all eight winners on the card to become the winner of the 153rd jackpot in the ever-popular Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge.

Turffontein trainer Tony Peter saddled four winners on a largely punter-friendly afternoon that saw six tote favourites score.

It was Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge regular Melissavandermerwe who accumulated 83,92 points for selecting all the winners, and beat a host of players on 7 winners, the closest of which were Deco and Schwarka, who registered 78,42 points each, finding 7 of the 8 winners.

Labelling her pseudonym as ‘completely random’, the unmarried winner, who lives with her partner, said she had enjoyed horseracing since being introduced to the sport by her Dad at the age of 15.

“I tend to follow jockeys and form, and am thrilled that I got it right today! I am a regular player and I know you are going to tell me I should have wagered the R50 minimum on the programmatically generated betslip and won the R1 million! Yes, I definitely should have!” she added.

She said that the winnings would come in handy and had a host of things she planned to do.

All you need to enter is a Hollywoodbets account and to get your selections in at least five minutes before the first race on a card.

This puts you in contention to win either a share of the Must-Be-Won prize or the whole/share of the All-Or-Nothing prize.

The idea is to find as many winners on any local, Hong Kong or selected international fixtures as possible.

Points are awarded based on finishing positions and the total number of runners in a race and the starting price of your selection if it wins.

The Must-Be-Won prize of R5 000 is shared among the top 20 players on the leaderboard at the end of each eight-race (minimum) meeting.

If you place a R50+ bet using the Bet Slip Feature, the Jackpot amount rockets to R1 million, irrespective of the number of horses carded to run, so long as at least eight races are run on the day.

On days when seven or fewer races are carded, the All Or Nothing prize will be capped at R100 000, provided you’ve taken a R50+ bet using the bet slip feature.

For Hong Kong meetings, you must have taken a R50+ bet slip wager to qualify for the All Or Nothing Jackpot. The Jackpot prize will be R250 000 for meetings with eight or nine completed races, doubling to R500 000 if 10+ races are completed.

Your selections must be in at least 5 minutes before the carded off-time of the first races, respectively.

30TH DUBAI WORLD CUP AFTER-SHOW DERULO HEADLINES

Multi-platinum global superstar Jason Derulo will headline the official after-show entertainment at the 30th Dubai World Cup, taking place at Meydan Racecourse on Saturday, 28 March 2026.

One of the most recognisable names in pop music, Derulo has sold more than 250 million singles worldwide and earned 14 platinum certifications in the US.

Renowned for his high-energy performances and chart-topping hits including Whatcha Say, In My Head, Ridin’ Solo and UK No.1 Don’t Wanna Go Home, he will bring his signature sound to an unforgettable night at Meydan.

The announcement follows the release of Derulo’s latest album, The Last Dance (Part 1), with Part 2 coming later this year.

Featuring a new music video for “Sexy For Me” and a fresh take on Avril Lavigne’s iconic track, “Complicated,” the album represents the final expression of the Jason Derulo the world has come to know as he prepares for his next creative chapter.

World-class entertainment has long been a defining pillar of the Dubai World Cup

experience, and the 30th edition of this iconic event promises to be bigger and more spectacular than ever.

Following a closing ceremony that broke multiple Guinness World Records last year, Jason Derulo’s performance is set to ensure this landmark celebration is remembered long after the final race has been run.

The performance aligns with Derulo’s European tour, The Last Dance World Tour, kicking off January 29th with more than 25 arena dates announced across the UK and Europe.

The Dubai World Cup is widely regarded as the world’s most spectacular race day, seamlessly blending elite sport, international glamour and record-breaking entertainment.

Tickets for the Dubai World Cup are available via dubairacingclub.com, with concert access included for all hospitality guests, including Apron Views. Royal Enclosure ticket holders benefit from Golden Circle access, which is also available as an optional add-on for guests purchasing hospitality packages or Apron Views tickets.

SA CONNECTIONS CELEBRATE THURLES LISTED WIN

The Kieswetter family’s County Tipperarybased Barnane Stud and SA champion owners Hollywood Racing celebrated a listed feature winner at Thurles on Thursday afternoon.

The 6yo Karia Des Blaises outgunned her opposition for a runaway victory in the Carey Glass Irish EBF Colreevy Mares Novice Chase run over two and three-quarter miles.

A winner in her native France, the Willie Mullinstrained trojan headed market-leader The Great Nudie before halfway and made the rest of the running to easily account for 40/1 outsider Shellrunforbriggs by 16 lengths.

Ridden here by Paul Townend, the daughter of Jeu St Eloi (FR)had come down at the last at Limerick over Christmas when looking likely to be placed in a valuable handicap chase. She was placed at Grade 2 level on her chase debut in December 2024 and was returning off a 304-day layoff at Limerick – and certainly upped her game here!

“Her Limerick fall might have just crowned her, which it often can do, as she has been very brave in the past,” said Townend.

“It definitely opened her eyes when she realised, she had to have more respect for them. I was happy to take a lead, but she probably jumped too well, and I didn’t then want to give away her advantage on that ground. I wasn’t looking behind too much but was confident I was conserving energy and felt it would take a good one to get past me.It has taken her a while to put it all together but has done so now and I thought it was a nice performance.”

Barnane Stud’s Craig Kieswetter said that the victory today would be a confidence booster for the very capable mare and that the black-type credit was always welcome.

Karia Des Blaises (Paul Townend) wins the Carey Glass Irish EBF Colreevy Mares Novice Chase

ONE STRIPE TARGETS KEENELAND GR1

SA star One Stripe has the Gr1 Maker’s Mark Mile at Keeneland as his likely next target after his recent swashbuckling second behind stablemate Test Score in the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational run over 1800m at Gulfstream Park on 25 January.

It is tentatively planned that the son of One World will be nominated for the Gr2 Muniz Memorial Classic run in New Orleans over 1700m on 21 March, and for the Gr1 Maker’s Mark Mile for 4-yearolds and up, on Friday 10 April.

The top colt will thus not run on Dubai World Cup Day at Meydan.

Trainer Graham Motion confirmed to the Sporting Post on Thursday that it is likely that One Stripe will again be ridden by regular pilot, Gavin Lerena.

The internationally experienced trainer knows what it takes to win the Keeneland Grade 1 contest as he saddled Miss Temple City who became the first filly to win the then Maker’s 46 Mile in 2016.

One Stripe’s work on Sunday 15 February over 800m saw him clock 50,80 secs.

Several class horses who have won the Maker’s Mark Mile and have subsequently gone on to prove their dominance.

The 1991 winner, Opening Verse continued on to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile that year. Several others including Artie Schiller in 2005, 2006 US Champion Male Turf Horse Miesque’s Approval and Kip Deville in 2007 have also performed this feat.

Twice American Horse of the Year (2012, 2013) Wise Dan also won the Breeders’ Cup Mile in 2013 and also captured this event the following year for the second time.

In 2025 Carl Spackler won or trainer Chad Brown and jockey Flavien Prat.

In 1997 the Maker’s Mark distillery located not far from Lexington, began their sponsorship of the event and Keeneland’s administration renamed the event to the Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes.

In 2010 the event was once again renamed to a bourbon distilled by Maker’s Mark – Maker’s 46 Mile Stakes.

This year Keeneland will host the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, which will mark the fourth running of the event there after 2015, 2020 and 2022.

One Stripe and Gavin Lerena in the recent Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational | Credit: Adam Coglianese

CONQUERS THE FLAT! CONSTITUTION HILL

Constitution Hill, the Champion Hurdle hero of 2023, stormed clear of his rivals to record a wide-margin victory on his Flat debut at Southwell last Friday. On a comeback mission after some disastrous jumping last season, the nine-year-old showed that he still retains plenty of class and talent which made him a superstar over hurdles.

The Michael Buckley-owned star had fallen in three of his last four starts over hurdles, including when crashing out on his seasonal return in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November.

On Friday evening, champion Flat jockey Oisin Murphy settled Constitution Hill on the heels of the leaders in SBK Road to Cheltenham Novice Stakes, before making his move in the straight and the pair thundered away from a decent field.

An impressive crowd of 3,520 roared him home and were lined up several deep around the winner’s enclosure to cheer him back in.

Trainer Nicky Henderson and owner Michael Buckley now face one of the biggest decisions of their racing lives: whether to run Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle on March 10, the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Henderson said: “I think he’s enjoyed himself. To go racing and do that for him is lovely because it probably hasn’t been as much fun for him as it should have been. He’s enjoyed it, I think Oisin has, and we [looking at Michael Buckley, owner] have in the end.”

“It’s nice to be back with positive vibes and we’ve lots to look forward to and lots of decisions to make. I thought this would tell us what to do and it opens up a lot of doors; we could do a lot of things so we’ll have to think long and hard. It’d be lovely to say ‘we’ll do this’ but I don’t think we can at this moment. Of course [our thinking] includes the Champion Hurdle.”

Oisin Murphy noted: “He felt like a machine at home. There wasn’t a lot of strength in depth

in that race and if he continues on the Flat, he’ll have tougher assignments. But the feel was the exact same today. For a big horse who’s been jumping he has a lot of speed and is a joy to ride. It’s great he’s getting such a reception.”

“It’d have been easy to blast off in front, but I wanted to get in amongst them and give him an idea of what a Flat race is like. His next assignment if he ran on the Flat would probably be in a black-type race.”

He is challenging for favouritism for the first day highlight at the Cheltenham Festival a fortnight on Tuesday at around 5-2, with Buckley and trainer Nicky Henderson set to decide in the next week whether he will attempt to regain the crown.

Irrespective of that decision, Buckley is keen to explore more prestigious targets on the Flat with his pride and joy later this year. A crack at York’s Ebor Handicap could be on the cards, and the owner also raised the possibility of his popular performer heading to Australia for the Melbourne Cup.

Owner Michael Buckley said on Sunday: “We need to make a plan, which we can always change along the way, but I think that the horse should be running at the end of August or beginning of September, in either the Ebor, a race at Goodwood or in the Irish St Leger, with the view of going to Melbourne.”

HAS HIS EYE ON KENTUCKY STREETWISE OSBORNE

British trainer Jamie Osborne loves an overseas jaunt, and he could be set for the biggest race in America after Brotherly Love won the Listed Dubai Road to the Kentucky Derby [formerly Al Bastakiya] at Meydan Racecourse on Friday.

There was drama before the 1900m contest, which carried 20 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the winner for the first time, when favourite Salloom burst through the gates and was scratched.

The remaining 11 runners went a good pace early on which played to the strengths of Brotherly Love, who was cajoled throughout by Saffie Osborne.

She got there with plenty in hand, however, her mount finding a lot close home and beating Duke Of Immatin by two lengths. In doing so he went one better than his halfbrother, Heart Of Honor, who was second in this race a year ago.

“He’s becoming like his brother in ability and demeanor,” said Saffie Osborne. “They both

like making life difficult for me, but when I came out into the straight and he switched leads I always felt like I was going to pick them up. He stays all day, this horse, and has a lot of class.

“It was gutting to get pipped in this race last year with Heart of Honor so it’s great to avenge that for Jim and Claire [Bryce, owners], it’s very special for them. That’s Dad’s sixth winner of the Carnival and I’m not sure people realise how hard that is to do.”

“Sweet revenge!” added Osborne Senior. “Last year we were very frustrated so to avenge that with Heart Of Honor’s little brother is pretty incredible really.

“Everything about this horse last summer screamed dirt and when they went hard early on that suited us.”

The Dubai Racing Carnival continues on 28 February, when Emirates Super Saturday features an all-Pattern race card, including the Gr2 Al Maktoum Classic, Gr2 Singspiel Stakes and Gr2 Dubai City Of Gold.

Saffie Osborne gets Brotherly Love home Credit: DRC

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