LIGHTS ON!
THE BIG SEASON
04
Marvels Of Mzansi
The first 61…
12
Champions Season ‘25
Let the games begin
23 Rising Star
Lucinda is going places!
81 SA Connections Sandown Celebration
Jonbon beaten by an iron horse
106
FWD Champions Day Feast of racing at its best!
On the cover
The new Hollywoodbets Greyville lights enjoyed a spectacular, albeit low-key, launch on Monday. Initial comments ranged from sensational to wow, to plain dazzling! Candiese Lenferna was the photographer.
Issue: 17/2025
YOU CAN TAKE A WHITE HORSE ANYWHERE…
Hollywood Racing’s Ridgemont-bred Rafeef gelding El Capitan goes to post under Tristan Godden in the company of Mullins the snow white pony at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the Freedom Day public holiday on Monday. The consistent galloper was beaten into third by White Seahorse and Gripen but looks overdue to shed his maiden ticket. We learn that Mullins was Jamie Kennedy’s pony before Warren and Barbara and the family emigrated to New Zealand. Candiese Lenferna took the photograph.
Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Sixty-one entries from 28 stables were received on Friday 25 April at the initial nomination stage for the 2025 R5-million Gr1 Hollywoodbets Durban July over 2200m on Saturday 5 July.
In pursuit of his sixth July victory, Champion trainer Justin Snaith leads the way with ten entries, including the multiple Grade1-winning 3-year-old Eight On Eighteen and the very progressive Okavango.
Eight On Eighteen is likely to follow the traditional WSB Guineas (Gr2)/Daily News (Gr1) pathway into the Hollywoodbets Durban July, while Okavango could be seen next in the World Sports Betting 1900 on 10 May.
Alec Laird has gone empty-handed since winning the 100th “July” with London News in 1996, but he has nominated the exciting Fire Attack, a 3-year-old son of Fire Away who landed his first Grade 1 success when taking out the Champions Challenge over 2000m at Turffontein last month.
Laird has also entered this season’s Betway Summer Cup (Gr1) winner Atticus Finch and Gauteng Guineas (Gr2) winner Parisian Walkway. With “July” success very much a Laird legacy – Alec’s father Syd won the race seven times between 1961 and 1978, while cousin Charles saddled the 2007 victor Hunting Tower
– Alec will be keen to land the honours in the 129th renewal of Africa’s greatest horse racing and social event.
Brett and James Crawford are on a hat-trick, having won in 2023 with Winchester Mansion and last year with Oriental Charm, and the latter has been nominated to defend his crown. By the time race day comes around, James will be flying solo as father Brett will have left to take up his new challenge in Hong Kong.
Mike de Kock, now training in partnership with son Matthew, is also seeking his sixth “July” winner and the team holds five entries at this early stage, with the promising Immediate Edge possibly their leading contender.
It’s been more than a decade since Sean Tarry won back-to-back “July’s” with Pomodoro and Heavy Metal. He has entered the SA Derby (Gr1) winner Legend Of Arthur alongside last year’s runner-up Cousin Casey, who has been out of action for ten months. Let’s Go Now, Litigation and Hotarubi complete Tarry’s five entries and he will be hoping to make a serious bid for top honours come 5 July.
Tony Peter has entered The Equator (Ire), an imported son of Galileo who was formerly trained by the legendary Aiden O’Brien. The Equator won his maiden over 2000m and was runner-up in his last two starts before being exported to South Africa.
The number of entries, which includes 13 fairer sex gallopers, compares favourably in quantum with recent years, with 58 entries received in 2024, 60 in 2023, 68 in 2022, 53 in 2021, 52 in 2020, 49 in 2019, and 69 in 2018.
Ravi Naidoo – his Cousin Casey returns in Drill Hall and another Durban July tilt on cards? | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Highveld trainer Tony Peter – interesting entry in Irish import, The Equator | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
The Hollywoodbets Durban July timeline:
• First declarations close at 11h00 on Monday, 12 May.
• First supplementary entries close at 11h00 on Tuesday, 13 May
• Second declarations close at 11h00 on Monday, 9 June
• Final supplementary entries close at 11h00 on Tuesday, 17 June, on which date the weights will be published.
• Final field and draw announcement will take place on Tuesday, 24 June.
• A final field of 20 horses will be carded (18 + 2 Reserves)
• The Reserves to be scratched by 08h15 on Friday 4 July. Elimination will be at the sole and unfettered discretion of Gold Circle.
CHAMPIONS SEASON 2025! WE WELCOME
The R750 000 Independent On Saturday Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday 3 May, the traditional curtain raiser to Champions Season in KwaZulu-Natal, has attracted a quality field of twelve horses, including last year’s winner Royal Aussie. Trained by Justin Snaith, Royal Aussie will be partnered by charismatic Andrew Fortune and from a decent draw, the 5yo son of Royal Mo will have every chance of defending his crown.
Cousin Casey, runner-up in last season’s Hollywoodbets Durban July and HKJC Champions Cup, makes his first appearance since then but faces a tough challenge from the worst of the draw. He did also run second behind Royal Aussie in the 2024 IOS
The 2024 Drill Hall thriller – Royal Aussie and Cousin Casey return on Saturday! | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Drill Hall Stakes and is very much at home at the City track. Raymond Danielson has been announced as See It Again’s jockey for Champions Season and the pair will jump from a handy draw. Gladatorian also flies the flag for the local contingent and the classy Stuart Ferrie inmate should make a bold bid for top honours.
Lucinda Woodruff has made a flying start to her Champions Season campaign and Café Culture, winner of the 2024 Post Merchants, will be looking to take full advantage of pole position.
The Real Prince, a fluent winner of the Jet Master Stakes, is highly regarded by Dean Kannemeyer and will be doing his best work late while the Vaughan Marshall-trained 4yo Questioning, who is very game and super consistent, is not without a chance of troubling his rivals here. It all adds up to a very competitive and exciting renewal of the IOS Drill Hall Stakes.
The R750 000 World Sports Betting Guineas over 1600m has attracted a small but brilliant line-up with dual Grade 1 winner Eight On Eighteen going head to head with Fire Attack and Cosmic Speed.
Both Eight On Eighteen and Fire Attack may now prefer a tougher test of stamina which could open the door for Cosmic Speed to add to his excellent victory in the Grade 1 Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m in March.
Eight On Eighteen is rated marginally ahead of Fire Attack and Cosmic Speed by the handicappers but Justin Snaith’s exciting 3yo son of Lancaster Bomber has bigger fish to fry in the coming months. Sail The Seas and Cats Pyjamas are progressive 3yo’s and can get into the mix.
A full field lines up for the R500 000 WSB Fillies Guineas over 1600m and the race has a wide open appearance. Green Sapphire brings solid form into the race but has a tricky draw to overcome whereas the highly-rated VJ’s Angel will jump from pole position. VJ’s Angel will need to put an inexplicably bad run in the Empress Club Stakes behind her but, judged on her best form, she is certainly one of the leading lights and is very much course suited. Oxalis Gold has done no wrong recently and will appreciate stepping up in trip while sparingly-raced stable companion, Spumante Dolce, has the class and quality to be a major player here.
Racing gets under way at 11h40 on Saturday with the running of the annual World Sports Betting ‘Dash’ over 400m which always proves a hit amongst on-course fans. Ten runners will face the starter and another thrilling display of pure speed is anticipated.
Hollywoodbets Durban July entries in action on Saturday:
• Race 4 MOCHA BLEND
• Race 5 BARBARESCO
• Race 5 COUSIN CASEY
• Race 5 GLADATORIAN
• Race 5 SEE IT AGAIN
• Race 5 THE REAL PRINCE
• Race 6 REGENERATION
• Race 6 SPUMANTE DOLCE
• Race 7 EIGHT ON EIGHTEEN
• Race 7 FIRE ATTACK
• Race 7 ON MY HONOUR
• Race 7 SAIL THE SEAS
• Race 7 ZEITZ
The progressive and exciting Give Me Everything steps up to Gr2 competition on Saturday | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
MARSH
NOT A HALF BAD OWNER… NOW A TOP BREEDER!
Better known as having raced iconic legend of the turf Pocket Power, the affable Marsh Shirtliff is fast making a name for himself in the breeding fraternity.
That much was evident this past weekend when a trio of fillies he bred in partnership with Hemel ‘N Aarde stud master David HepburnBrown nearly pulled off a unique stakes treble at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.
Juvenile filly Quickstepgal, an impressive sixlength maiden winner at the Pietermaritzburg track in early March, followed up with a gutsy victory in the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes. The Tienie Prinsloo-trained miss is the first stakes winner out of Jet Master’s daughter Victoriana, who
Top racing man Marsh Shirtliff leads in another winner with Candice Bass-Robinson on right and Sean Veale in the saddle Credit: Chase Liebenberg
raced in Marsh’s silks and earned black type when runner-up in the Gr3 Champagne Stakes on just her third start.
Marsh confirmed that Victoriana’s latest yearling, an own sister to Quickstepgal, is bound for the KZN Yearling Sale, the same venue where Quickstepgal fetched R450,000 in 2024.
Thirty-five minutes later, fellow juvenile Elegantrix showed true grit to down her male rivals in the Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes. Trained by Corné Spies, the sole filly in the lineup opened her stakes account in a hard-fought finish.
“She’s the most expensive horse I’ve bought at auction,” Spies quipped of his latest stakes winner, whose R850 000 price tag rated her amongst the highest-priced lots at last year’s August 2YO Sale.
That price comes as no surprise, given that she is a half-sister to the very smart What A Winter four-year-old sprinter Elegant Ice, who earned Gr1 black type as a juvenile when third in the Allan Robertson Championship, a race Spies has also earmarked for Elegantrix.
Accomplished sprinter Asiye Phambili looked primed to complete the breeding partnership’s treble in the Gr3 Dennis Drier Poinsettia Stakes, a race she had won twelve months ago. Under top weight of 62 kg, the daughter of What A Winter almost pulled off the double, but as the racing adage goes, weight stops trains, and in receipt of 8, 5kg, challenger Mai Sensation had her measure at the line. To rub further salt into the wound, jockey Sean Veale dropped his left reign shortly before the finish.
A R500 000 yearling purchase, Asiye Phambili has been a wonderful servant to Hollywood Racing, having added both the Gr2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes and Gr3 Southern Cross Stakes to last season’s Poinsettia.
Now five, she is set to return to the Pietermaritzburg track for another crack at the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint and trainer Duncan Howells is quietly confident it will be second time lucky for the mare, who had the misfortune of losing jockey Rachel Venniker at the start of last year’s race.
“She’s just getting better and seems to have overcome some physical niggles,” he remarked, “all Kudos to the Hollywood team, they have managed her with great skill.”
A Gr1 success by either of the trio wouldn’t be the first of the season for the breeding partnership, that honour belongs to another filly, the smashing three-year-old Fiery Pegasus, who annexed both the Wilgerbosdrift Gr1 SA Fillies Classic and Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Bridget Oppenheimer SA Oaks.
Needless to say, success on the racetrack has also spilled over into the sales ring for the Shirtliff-Hepburn-Brown partnership.
They offered a Vercingetorix filly at last month’s National Yearling Sales and despite the dreaded coffin draw of being the first lot through the ring, the youngster opened the sale with a bang when knocked down to Form Bloodstock at a cool R3,25 million, the secondhighest overall price. She is the first foal of Gr1 Garden Province Stakes winner Zarina, which Marsh had campaigned in partnership with long-time pal Bryn Ressell and Ian Longmore.
It would be remiss not to mention that the weekend’s stakes results marked a coup for Vercingetorix, not only did he sire both Quickstepgal and Elegantrix, three-year-old son O’Tenikwa justified favouritism in the Listed In
Another Marsh masterpiece! Asiye Phambili races in the Hollywood Racing silks – she looks a serious contender for the SA Fillies Sprint next month | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
Full Flight Handicap, whilst the Clifton-bred Mai Sensation is out of his daughter Mai Tai.
In addition, the Maine Chance-based powerhouse had enjoyed a good day at the previous day’s Turffontein meeting, where he sired a one-three in the Gr2 Camellia Stakes won by daughter Mia Moo, sons Marauding Horse and Hotarubi ran second and third in the Gr2 Colorado King Stakes, and juvenile
daughter Vanakkam was runner-up in the Gr3 Protea Stakes.
Having hogged the top of the General Sires log virtually all season, Vercingetorix is poised to lift the coveted championship, an historical first, given that he will be emulating his own sire Silvano, a feat not achieved before in modern times.
Nelson
WOWS ‘EM! CAPE FILLY
Milnerton-based third generation trainer Lucinda Woodruff maintained her impeccable KZN record of two feature winners from her only two runners in the province, when the consistent Mai Sensation overcame traffic issues to snare a courageous maiden stakes success in the R250 000 Dennis Drier Gr3 Poinsettia Stakes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.
JP van der Merwe has Mai Sensation in control and up front | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
There can’t be a bigger platform than the Hollywoodbets Durban July day for any up-and-coming young trainer to celebrate the milestone of a first feature success and former multiple champion Geoff Woodruff’s daughter, and a granddaughter of the late legend Terrance Millard, Lucinda stepped on to the major stage on 6 July 2024 to win the Gr2 Merchants with Café Culture.
Some nine months later on a sunny Hollywoodbets Scottsville Sunday, Lucinda saddled only her second ever runner in the Holiday province and kept her 100% record intact as Rafeef’s talented daughter Mai Sensation (10-1) burst out of the scrum some lengths off the gallop under a superb ride by JP ‘Winx’ van der Merwe to go on and beat the gallant defending champion Asiye Phambili (6-1) by 0,40 lengths in a time of 69,43 secs for the 1200m straight.
While Candice Bass-Robinson’s more fancied Roccapina (7-2, tote favourite) failed to find a quartet place, their second-stringer Symphony In White (8-1) showed the benefit of her course experience and came with a late rattle for third, a further 0,30 lengths back.
was another feature strike for Ridgemont’s Redoute’s Choice kingpin, Rafeef.
After three earlier feature winners, Vercingetorix was the successful broodmare sire, with his twice-winning daughter Mai Tai the winning dam.
Raced by Greg Bortz and Gina Goldsmith, Mai Sensation cost R500 000 off the National Yearling Sale and has now won 4 races with 2 places from 9 starts for stakes of R427 526.
Asked where to next for Mai Sensation, Lucinda Woodruff told the Sporting Post: “While there will be quite a swing at the weights, we will probably aim her at the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint next. She’s an improving 3yo and this was a courageous effort given the traffic issues that she encountered. Well done to Greg (Bortz) and Gina (Goldsmith) and I appreciate the support!”
Bred by Terry Young at Clifton Stud, the winner
Lucinda Woodruff – a professional approach and a love of the horse
Credit: Candiese Lenferna
At the age of 30, Milnerton resident Lucinda Woodruff is rapidly confirming her status as South Africa’s fastest rising star in the female trainer ranks. A horsewoman with a pedigree to match her energy and enthusiasm, Terrance Millard’s granddaughter is going places and maintained her impeccable KZN feature record this past weekend.
There can’t be a bigger platform than Hollywoodbets Durban July day for any up-and-coming young trainer to celebrate the milestone of a first feature success and Lucinda stepped on to the major stage on 6 July 2024 to win the Gr2 Merchants with Café Culture. Some nine months later on a sunny Hollywoodbets Scottsville Sunday, Lucinda saddled only her second ever runner in the Holiday province and kept her 100% feature record intact as Rafeef’s talented daughter Mai Sensation (10-1) burst out of the scrum some lengths off the gallop under a superb ride by JP ‘Winx’ van der Merwe to go on and beat the gallant defending champion Asiye Phambili (6-1) by 0,40 lengths in a time of 69,43 secs in the Dennis Drier Gr3 Poinsettia Stakes.
Asked where to next for Mai Sensation, Lucinda told the Sporting Post: “While there will be quite a swing at the weights, we will probably aim her at the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint next. She’s an improving 3yo and this was a courageous effort given the traffic issues that
she encountered. Well done to Greg (Bortz) and Gina (Goldsmith) and I appreciate the support!”
On Monday, Lucinda was again amongst the winners with an Ossie Noach double at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, with the 50-1 Dive Bomber arriving on debut, and Ischyro, racing in the Woodruff Racing Syndicate silks, registering his second career success at 14-1. Up on the East Coast on the same afternoon, the Woodruff charge Gripen ran a good second at Hollywoodbets Greyville, to suggest that his maiden victory is just around the corner.
The youngest of the three Woodruff children, Lucinda was born on Carol and five-times SA National Champion Geoff’s old Montana Farm training centre outside of Milnerton and it was only when Uncle Tony Millard moved to Hong Kong, that the Woodruffs moved to Johannesburg.
With the late Terrance Millard as a grandfather, a top flight riding and training team as parents
and her uncle at the top of his game in Hong Kong, horses have always been in her blood and Lucinda told the Sporting Post some years back that she’s been riding since before she could walk. “Mom was always very good with us and taught us all about horses and riding from day one. She is pedantic about stable management – she expects the best and everything must be done to a T. She has been a huge influence in my career and has been a big support ever since I was a little girl.”
Lucinda was a competitive rider and showjumped all through her school years at Treverton College, making the KZN showjumping team and winning Pony Rider and Rider of the Year in 2009.
“After matric I applied to UCT and I actually got in. That was my attempt at trying to be normal! But I didn’t end up going. I considered going abroad straight after school, but opted to stay home and work for Dad for a year instead. After that, our bloodstock agent Paul Guy came out for a visit and as I had some experience under my belt, I felt I was ready to go abroad. Paul helped organise a working visit to Australia. I spent three months at Bluegum Farm (who bred Killua Castle) and
then two months with David Hayes at Lindsay Park. On my return I joined my dad again in 2013.”
Lucinda took out her licence in August 2021 and saddled the aptly named Worlds Your Oyster, who coincidentally raced in the same famous ‘Badge Boys’ silks as her maiden Café Culture, for her thrilling first winner when the handsome grey won at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in the dark covid days September 2021.
Since then it’s been a process of hard work and organic growth. Exciting times lie ahead!
Visit www.lucindawoodruffracing.com.
Chasing Happiness (Smanga Khumalo) does her sire proud with a second stakes success | Credit: JC Photos
RAFEEF’S SUPER SANTA 1-2
The R500 000 TAB Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday produced a fairer sex 1-2 for Ridgemont’s outstanding Redoute’s Choice stallion Rafeef, with both the top two racing in the famous Wernars silks.
Once popularly labelled ‘the thunder from Down Under’, the stature of Ridgemont’s super sire Rafeef, a champion, by a champion, out of a champion, continues to grow with every passing big raceday.
His legendary sire Redoute’s Choice is no stranger to producing top-class stallion sons, having also produced the likes of four times Australian Champion Sire Snitzel, the hugely successful Not A Single Doubt, and Golden Slipper winning and producing sire, Stratum.
The Rafeef fairytale received more endorsement on the Championships Finale when the 4yo Chasing Happiness, a filly with a ‘high cruising speed’ in the words of a delighted Smanga Khumalo, ran her eight opponents off their feet to register her second stakes success.
Starting at 10-1, Chasing Happiness looked value at the price and delivered a 1,70-length victory over the year older Mrs Browning (50-1) in a time of 67,43 secs for the 1160m.
The Rafeef exacta paid R303,40.
The first fancied runner home, the grey Truth (13-10) maintained his consistent formline, and stayed on for third, with Pistol Pete (9-2) capping the quartet.
Raced by the Wernars family, the Ridgemontbred winner was a R200 000 National Yearling Sale buy and took her stakes total to R789 875 with her sixth win and 5 places from 14 starts
The winner is out of the high-class three-time winner Kalami (Daylami), whose sire also ranks as the damsire of prominent Australian sire and champion Pierro and St Leger winning sire
Logician, among others.
In a Ripley’s believe it or not moment, we hear that Chasing Happiness was apparently named after her trainer, Johan Janse van Vuuren.
MR UPDATE – HAPPINESS AT 112
CHASING HAPPINESS’ merit rating increased from 109 to 112 after her victory in the TAB Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m at Turffontein Standside on Saturday.
The Handicappers selected PISTOL PETE, who finished fourth, as the line horse, keeping his rating at 115.
TRUTH, the third-place finisher, saw his rating rise from 115 to 116 for
outperforming the 115-rated PISTOL PETE at level weights. MOUNT PILATUS also received a slight increase, moving from 112 to 113.
MAGIC TATTOO was the only participant to receive a rating decrease, dropping from 104 to 102.
Media release by the NHA on Wednesday, 30 April 2025
RAFEEF THE THUNDER ROLLS ON!
The Rafeef purple patch continued this past weekend and into the early part of this week when Ridgemont’s Redoute’s Choice kingpin and Gr1 Computaform Sprint winning star produced a flurry of feature and other performances.
On Saturday at Turffontein on the Championship Finale, Rafeef’s smart daughter Chasing Happiness and her paternal half-sister, the multiple group-winning Mrs Browning, dominated the R500 000 Gr2 TAB Senor Santa Stakes, filling the exacta in the 1160m contest.
The Johan Janse Van Vuuren-trained Chasing Happiness was registering a second graded success this term. She was bred by Ridgemont and is out of the Daylami mare Kalami and is now a winner of 6 of her 14 jumps.
At Hollywoodbets Scottsville 24 hours later, Rafeef registered his 24th stakes winner when the Lucinda Woodruff-trained 3yo Mai Sensation won the Gr3 Dennis Drier Poinsettia Stakes over the testing 1200m straight.
The very progressive Mai Sensation will now be aimed at the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint and has won 4 of her 9 starts for stakes in excess of R425 000.
On Monday at Hollywoodbets Greyville, Rafeef claimed 4 winners on the 9 race programme, courtesy of Crafty Croft, Rani Tarabai, National Dream and Drive By.
On Tuesday at the Vaal, Rafeef’s Ridgemont bred 3yo Dylan’s Champ, a full-brother to champion Gr1 winner William Robertson shed his maiden in style!
As reported previously this season, once popularly labelled ‘the thunder from Down Under’, the stature of Rafeef, a champion, by
a champion, out of a champion, continues to grow with every passing raceday.
His legendary sire Redoute’s Choice is no stranger to producing top-class stallion sons, having also produced the likes of four times Australian Champion Sire Snitzel, the hugely successful Not A Single Doubt, and Golden Slipper winning and producing sire, Stratum.
With the SA Champions Season launching this coming Saturday, Rafeef is set to produce
more crackerjack performances! Feature races already won by the progeny of Rafeef this season include the TAB Gr1 Computaform Sprint, Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship, Gr2 De Grendel Cape Merchants, Gr3 TAB J J The Jet Plane Stakes, and Listed Wilgerbosdrift Ruffian Stakes.
Rafeef stands at Ridgemont in Robertson.
SET, GO! TARRY’S READY,
The only filly in the six-horse R500 000 TAB Gr2 Colorado King Stakes lineup, the 4yo Let’s Go Now proved a touch too smart under Richard Fourie, to register her first victory after a fifteen-month drought and give the Sean Tarry team a fourth feature success on the day.
It really didn’t strike us as the strongest renewal of the Grade 2 feature, but Let’s Go Now was full merit for her win in a race that looked perfectly tailored for her.
Relaxed early by Richard Fourie, Let’s Go
Now (11-10) cut through her field and under a firm hand ride by the reigning SA Champion jockey, she resisted the persistent challenge by Marauding Horde (33-10) to win by 0,30 lengths in a time of 129,20 secs.
Let’s Go Now (Richard Fourie, yellow cap) overcomes Marauding Horde’s (Kabelo Matsunyane) persistent challenge | Credit: JC Photos
The winner’s stablemate Hotarubi (11-2) was 3 lengths away in third, with Navajo Nation (16-1) a further 2,40 lengths back to cap the quartet. The top four finishers are all Hollywoodbets Durban July entries.
Tyrone Zackey’s La Moohal was a late withdrawal for excessive TCO2 levels.
A full-sister to her accomplished Gr1 winning exported stablemate, Bless My Stars, Let’s Go Now is out of the top-class stakes
winning Silvano mare Star Express, who won 6 races from 1200m to 2200m.
A winner of 4 races with 10 places from 20 starts and stakes of R1 043 750, Let’s Go Now is a R540 000 National 2yo Sale graduate.
STRIKER VINTAGE
Having jockeys like Piere Strydom and Andrew Fortune entertaining us has brightened our day-to-day racing and it was pure poetry in motion watching the man they call ‘Striker’ guide Mia Moo home to a second feature success on the trot when winning the R350 000 TAB Gr2 Camellia Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday.
Sitting dead still, Piere Strydom brought a beautifully balanced Mia Moo (28-10) forward late in the 1160m race and the 4yo daughter of Vercingetorix went on powerfully to beat Gimme A Shot (16-1) by 2,10 lengths in a time of 67,60 secs for the 1160m.
Mia Moo gets home powerfully under Piere ‘Striker’ Strydom | Credit: JC Photos
This was the rampant Sean Tarry’s third winner of the afternoon.
A R300 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, Mia Moo, who races in the interests of the Arundels Itssa IT & Business Solutions and World Sports Betting, took her win tally to 5 with 8 places from her 15 starts. She has earned R707 075.
Bred by Klawervlei, Mia Moo is a daughter of Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the four-time winning Captain Al mare, Leeward.
The R500 000 carryover into the Pick 6 surpassed the projected target of R1,5 million,
reaching a net R1 721 914. We just wish the powers-that-be would would learn to market this aspect with more enthusiasm – particularly in an environment of blank days on the local roster.
Finding out about the carryover late on a Friday afternoon did not assist the media in spreading the word.
VERCINGETORIX SUPREME
Maine Chance Farms’ star stallion Vercingetorix, set to be crowned South Africa’s Champion Sire for 2024-2025, enjoyed another big payday when his daughter Mia Moo won the Gr2 TAB Camellia Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday.
From the red-hot Sean Tarry stable, fouryear-old Mia Moo came into Saturday’s R350 000 contest off a courageous win in the Gr3 4Racing Sycamore Sprint and she duly made it a graded stakes double with a fluent win.
Bred by Klawervlei Stud, as were her sire and dam, Mia Moo is out of the Captain Al mare Leeward.
She is bred on the same Vercingetorix/ Captain Al cross as Gr1 winners Double Grand Slam and Vernichey.
Her sire Vercingetorix, whose two-yearold daughter Vanakkam ran second in Saturday’s Gr3 TAB Protea Stakes and whose sons Marauding Horde and Hotarubi finished 2-3 in the Gr2 TAB Colorado King Stakes, has had a fantastic season in 2024-2025 where his representatives included graded stakes winners as Double Grand Slam, Oriental Charm, Rascallion, Spumante Dolce, Garrix and Greaterix to name but a few.
WAY TO GO!
Roy Magner’s Hollywoodbets Durban July entry Olivia’s Way produced the goods in fine style when reeling in the free-striding pacesetter Indian Ocean in the final strides to win the R350 000 TAB Gr2 Igugu Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday.
Charismatic owner-breeder Gerald Sadlier was over the moon in the post-race interview, explaining that the smart filly, who has given the family so much joy, had been named after his daughter-in-law, Olivia.
Inside the final 250m Piere Strydom was glancing behind on long-time pacemaker Indian Ocean as Olivia’s Way and Gavin Lerena were seen to be cutting back the lead with every stride.
No way for Indian Ocean (Piere Strydom) as Olivia’s Way (Gavin Lerena, black cap) produces the goods Credit: JC Photos
Inside the final 50m, the wasting and getting down to the 55,5kgs paid dividends for Lerena as Olivia’s Way (5-4) found more to beat the gallant mare Indian Ocean (6-1) by 0,60 lengths in a time of 128,26 secs for the 2000m.
The top weight Beating Wings (17-2) was well beaten, a further 3,40 lengths back in third.
The None Other supporters and connections may as well have stayed home – the mare refusing to jump.
Raced by Gerald Sadleir, the winner was bred by the Sadleir’s The Flying Stud and is a 3yo daughter of Pathfork (Distorted Humor) out of the one-time winning War Pass mare, My Lovely.
Her tally stands at 5 wins with 4 places from 11 starts. Olivia’s Way has won R839 500 in stakes.
TARRY DIAMOND SPARKLES
Sean Tarry and the Drakenstein Stud look to have some serious juvenile fairer sex firepower ahead of the SA Champions Season and registered a quick feature double at Turffontein on Saturday when recent SA Nursery winner Green Diamond registered her second consecutive feature strike in the R300 000 TAB Gr3 Protea Stakes.
Green Diamond (Craig Zackey) registers her second consecutive feature strike | Credit: JC Photos
The astute former multiple champion trainer kept his two top fillies apart, and after One Fine Winter won the Pretty Polly a half hour earlier, it was stablemate Green Diamond (8-10) who spread-eagled her five mixed-sex opponents to win the Protea Stakes in fine style.
Green Diamond drew away from the 400m marker and they never saw her again, the winning margin of 6,50 lengths over maiden Vanakkam (20-1) bearing testimony to her superiority.
Hollywood Racing’s Kaalvoet (33-1) found this tougher after his eyecatching Vaal debut victory and was a neck back in third.
The disappointment of the race was King Harald (9-4) who ran stone last and 12,75 lengths off the winner. He has to be better than that.
Raced and bred by Drakenstein Stud, the winner is a daughter of Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of the three-time winner Trippi mare Lesedi La Rona.
Now a winner of 2 races with a place from her 3 starts (all features), Green Diamond took her stakes earnings to R550 000 and looks another Allan Robertson Championship candidate on this showing.
THE WINTER LOOMS
The Highveld season finale at Turffontein on Saturday got off to a good start for favourite players when Sean Tarry produced the What A Winter filly One Fine Winter in fabulous fettle to win the R250 000 TAB Gr3 Pretty Polly Stakes.
After Glastonbury and Red Caramel had led the charge, Fourie pressed the button on One Fine Winter (11-10) and she drew away
effortlessly to debut winner Jingleberry (15-2) by 4,50 lengths in a time of 64,92 secs for the 1100m straight.
One Fine Winter (Richard Fourie) turns it on as Jingleberry (Gavin Lerena, yellow cap), Malibu (Craig Zackey, red cap) and Glastonbury (Muzi Yeni) try hard | Credit: JC Photos
The winner’s stablemate Tina Lovelace (25-1) was a neck back in third, with Malibu (4-1) in fourth.
Ridgemont rider Richard Fourie said that the fast pace suited his mount and that she won very well. He confirmed the ground as ‘soft’.
Trainer Sean Tarry added that he was disappointed to get beaten last time as easily as she had, and that One Fine Winter could be headed for the Alan Robertson Championship at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on 31 May.
Raced and bred by Drakenstein Stud, One Fine Winter is by former champion sprinter What A Winter (Western Winter) out of the three-time winning Trippi mare, One Fine Day.
She registered her first stakes success here, taking her stats to 2 wins with 2 places from her 4 starts for stakes of R347 500.
One Fine Winter looks like one to follow.
BLINKERS OVERSIGHT CHIEF STIPE SAYS NO EXCUSES
Never too old or experienced to learn. That’s how veteran Stipendiary Steward Ernie Rodrigues explained the omission by officials to pick up the absence of blinkers on the Candice Bass-Robinson trained Babelicious who ran third in the ninth race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Monday.
Ernie, who started as a trainee Stipe in Durban, takes mandatory age 65 retirement next month after 39 years of distinguished service with the National Horseracing Authority and explained that Monday’s equipment oversight was probably the second incident of its kind under his fifteen-year watch at the leafy Rosmead Avenue branch of the racing regulator.
The blinkered Trip To Maputo (Louis Mxothwa) flies up late to beat Miss World (Corne Orffer). Andrew Fortune is in third on the unblinkered stablemate to the winner, Babelicious | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
The official report states that an investigation has been opened into the circumstances which led to Babelicious (A Fortune), which paraded and proceeded to the start in red earmuffs, racing without blinkers, as carded.
Ernie explained that both of the Bass-Robinson runners, ultimate winner Trip To Maputo and third-placed Babelicious, were declared to run in blinkers in the ninth race.
“Trip To Maputo arrived in the parade ring without blinkers. Babelicious was wearing the temporary red hood, which is removed at the start. We sent Trip To Maputo back for the blinkers, but in the rush of the pre-race and that distraction of the stable companion,
Babelicious, who had the hood on, was not detected without the blinkers,” explained Ernie.
He went on to add that it was inexcusable that the equipment fault had not been detected by his team, but that the temporary hood had covered that up.
“We are never too old or experienced to learn! It’s the trainer’s responsibility to send runners out correctly equipped as declared, but it’s our function to police that aspect. We are busy in that time, but that is not an excuse and we will learn from it,” he added. The Sporting Post tried unsuccessfully on Tuesday afternoon to contact the trainer for a comment.
WELL WEIGHTED FOR MERIT RATINGS
In the media release by the NHA on Wednesday, 30 April, a clear explanation of the process for weights used in the calculation of the Merit Ratings for the TAB Gr2 Senor Santa Stakes was provided.
“Weights in this event were calculated using Merit Ratings, ensuring fair competition. Fillies and mares also benefited from a 2.5kg allowance, adding an advantage since their median ratings are typically 5 points lower than males.
This advantage contributed to the dominance of the only two female competitors—CHASING HAPPINESS and MRS BROWNING—who claimed first and second spots respectively, yielding an exacta payout of R303.40.
Similarly, in the 4Racing Caradoc Gold Cup, fillies under comparable weight terms also secured the top two positions, delivering an exacta payout of R136.20.”
A NEW
TAX
The first knockout blow to punters on the Championships Finale at Turffontein on Saturday arrived in the R400 000 TAB Listed Gold Bowl when the low-key 100-1 shot Taxhaven stayed on best to beat the veteran former champion stayer Nebraas.
Fresh off a hat-trick at Fairview on Friday, Winning Form-sponsored Malesela ‘Keratile’ Katjedi rode a well-judged race on Paul
Matchett’s 4yo son of Erupt, who registered his second career success as the rank outsider in the ten-horse field.
Taxhaven (Malesela Katjedi) takes the lead as Nebraas (Craig Zackey, orange/white cap) holds on for second
Credit: JC Photos
Taxhaven is best remembered as the maiden who took his chances in the 2024 SA Derby, where he ran out of his skin and ended up a 3 length fifth behind Purple Pitcher, earning himself a 96 rating – and actually running to much higher.
Just months later, Taxhaven won his maiden by 17 lengths at the Vaal. He didn’t set the world alight thereafter but showed a flicker of something when fourth (4,15 lengths) behind Dark Silver in an MR84 Handicap last time out.
On Saturday, Taxhaven, running off a 75 rating, had the last laugh and suggested his highaiming connections could be eyeing a Gold Cup berth at the sunset of Champions Season when he stamped his presence at 100-1 to beat the 8yo warrior Nebraas (10-1) by a quarter length in a time of 214,87 secs for the 3200m. The favourite My Soul Mate (33-20) was given every chance but was well beaten a further 5 lengths back in third.
Raced by an enthusiastic Graham Reid of Mind Gym CC, the Oldlands Stud bred gelding is by Erupt (Dubawi) out of the one-time winning Medicean mare, Road Tax.
Taxhaven is a winner of 2 races with 10 places from 24 starts for stakes of R472 000. Let’s see if he maintains this form.
TICKETS AND TAX!
The National Horseracing Authority handicappers enjoyed a busy weekend on the feature front, with big race action at Turffontein on Saturday and at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday. They reported on Wednesday 30 April that TAXHAVEN’S merit rating was capped at 83 following his triumph in the TAB Gold Bowl over 3200m. Fifth-place TWENTY DRACHMA’S served as the line horse, keeping his rating at 93. Under the specific race conditions, winners could receive a maximum
increase of eight points, and placed runners were limited to four points. Therefore, TAXHAVEN’S increase was restricted to eight points despite exceeding this mark. Runner-up NEBRAAS was similarly limited, increasing from 99 to 103 despite a stronger performance.
ARUMUGAM’S rating dropped from 94 to 91.
Taxhaven is a son of Erupt and was an 2022 August Two Year Old Sale graduate.
PLATTNER THE POWER OF
The Sabine Plattner Racing Team got their SA Champions Season campaign off to a flying start when their well-backed home-bred O’Tenikwa held on by a fast shrinking hair-breadth to win the R225 000 Listed In Full Flight Handicap at a sunny Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.
With the money pouring on from 10’s into 33-10, the 3yo son of Vercingetorix registered his maiden stakes success with a hard-fought victory as tote favourite as he staved off a gutsy late dash from the lightly raced Irish-bred mare Fastnet Filly (11-2) in a thrilling finish.
Corne Orffer times it finely as O’Tenikwa hangs on to beat the obscured Fastnet Filly | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
The photo showed that the Andre Neil-trained gelding had secured the verdict by a shot head in a time of 63,03 secs for the 1100m.
Luhamba Phambili (20-1) ran on stoutly for third a half-length back, with the lesser fancied of the Kannemeyer duo, Outlaw King (8-1) capping the quartet and running a cracking prep for the Golden Horse Sprint. His stablemate Teflon Man did not enjoy the give in the ground and produced no finish.
Now a winner of 4 races with 4 places from 10 starts, O’Tenikwa took his stakes bank to R497 357.
Bred by La Plaissance Stud, O’Tenikwa is a gelded son of Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the four-time winning Captain Al mare, Kwitzina, who also raced under the Plattner flag.
Corne Orffer and Byron Foster smile for the camera after the hard-fought victory | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
TERRIFIC! TIENIE’S GR3 FIRST
The Cape fairer sex juvenile form received a sobering reminder that there is plenty of talent in the smaller yards in other regions when the fancied Wild Wild Green, possibly in need of the run, ran out of the top three in the R250 000 Tote Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.
Having not run in 9 weeks since well beaten by the undefeated Direct Hit in the Gr3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery, the Snaith’s Wild Wild Green firmed to 11-10 before the off, but was firmly put in her place by three locals.
Kabelo Matsunyane has Quickstepgal in front as Captains Envy (Tristan Godden) tries hard Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Showing courage and resolve, it was Tienie Prinsloo’s recent runaway maiden winner
Quickstepgal (17-2) who squeezed through a gap under Kabelo Matsunyane, before staying on best to beat the 10-1 Captains Envy by a quarter length, with Polar Light (20-1) a further three lengths back in third.
The winner, who is raced by Rakesh Singh, clocked 64,01 secs for the 1100m and marked a maiden Gr3 success for the former Kimberley conditioner.
The favourite Wild Wild Green was well beaten 4,15 lengths back in fourth.
A R450 000 KZN Yearling Sale graduate, the winner was bred by the Greenacres Trust and was the second consecutive feature winner by Vercingetorix (Silvano). She is out of the threetime winning Jet Master mare, Victoriana.
Now a winner of 2 races from 3 starts, Quickstepgal took her stakes earned to R225 626.
This was the first Gr3 winner for former Kimberley trainer, Tienie Prinsloo | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
SPIES FILLY SHOWS HER METTLE
Maine Chance Farms’ Silvano stallion Vercingetorix, set to be crowned South Africa’s Champion Sire this term, was responsible for three of the four Hollywoodbets Scottsville Sunday feature winners – that after his daughter Mia Moo won a Gr2 feature at Turffontein 24 hours earlier.
Gavin Lerena drives Elegantrix to victory | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
After Vercingetorix’ smart son O’Tenikwa squeaked home to win the Listed In Full Flight Handicap, his 2yo daughters, Quicktepgal and Elegantrix, both bred by seasoned Cape owner Marsh Shirtliff, won the Gr3 double of the Strelitzia Stakes and the Godolphin Barb.
The only filly in the seven horse Tote Gr3 Godolphin Barb line-up, Corne Spies’
Elegantrix (25-2) benefitted from a top-notch ride by Gavin Lerena to get the better of recent Hollywoodbets Durbanville maiden winner Good For You (20-1) by 0,15 lengths in a time of 64,09s for the 1100m.
On a relatively quiet day for the Snaith-Fourie combination, Malmesbury Missile (8-1) ran a further 2,40 lengths back in third.
Gold Circle Director Lance Whiteford congratulates Gavin Lerena | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
The tote favourite and CRS Cape Slipper winner Military Command (14-10) was never in it and finished a well-beaten 3,55 lengths into fourth.
Bred by the Greenacres Trust and Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud, Elegantrix is an R850 000 National 2yo Sale graduate. She is out of the once winning Danehill Dancer mare, Elegantes.
Now a winner of 2 races with a place from her 4 starts, she took her stakes earnings to R288 125.
The 2025 Gr1 Alan Robertson Championship on 31 May has the makings of a renewal for the ages.
HOWELLS’ FIRST-TIMER
ONE FOR NOTEBOOK
If we are watching and enjoying the racing it’s fun – especially with a winning ticket. But it’s a science to some degree and perceptions shouldn’t outweigh reality! That’s exactly why sectional timing data can enhance both the form study and horseracing viewing experience on both KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape race meetings.
This is what we observed against the clock, this past weekend.
Hollywoodbets Scottsville 27 April
Track Condition
Going: Good to Soft (straight) –Soft (inside track)
Penetrometer: 26 (straight) –27 (inside track)
Rain: Last 24 hours Nil –Last 7 days 17mm
Irrigation: Last 7 days Nil
False Rail: 9m
Wind: 10-15km/h North Easterly head wind
Course Variant: 0,84s slow (straight) –0,10s slow (inside track)
In Full Flight Handicap (L) 1100m
The first of the afternoon’s four feature events
to get underway, the In Full Flight Handicap proved to be the fastest of the three 1100m races. Interestingly though, these 1100m races (2 x Gr3 and a listed) were not comparatively fast run. King Of The Gauls and Chocolate Soldier set the pace here whilst the eventual winner O’TENIKWA raced in the box seat in third. He struck the front going through the 300m and just had enough in hand to hold off the faster finishing FASTNET FILLY.
Gr3 Tote Strelitzia Stakes 1100m
The quicker of the two 2yo features over 1100m was the Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes and in a time almost a second slower than that of O’tenikwa, QUICKSTEP GAL gained her second career victory from just three starts. The field was very tightly bunched going through the 500m. Indeed, barely two and a half lengths covered all. Third and fourth positioned respectfully
early on, the winner and the runner up Captains Envy struck the front 250m out and steadily drew clear from the remainder. It was a thrilling finish with the winner only getting the upper hand very late.
Gr3 Tote Godolphin Barb Stakes
Another tight finish was to be had in the Godolphin Barb where in a time marginally slower than that of the Strelitzia the only filly in the race ELEGANTRIX (troublesome loading) made the running. The field was again very tightly grouped passing the halfway mark, and the easy to back 25/2 shot quickened well when the race began in earnest. The always handy Good For You also finished strongly and on putting his head marginally in front 250m out battle commenced. Both gave their all as they drew clear from the remainder and in another classic finish Elegantrix only got back up 20m from home.
Gr3 Dennis Drier Poinsettia Stakes
Comparatively the fastest of the six sprint races on the card, just a few lengths covered all for most of the journey. Indeed, going through the 400m the field resembled a cavalry charge. The winner MAI SENSATION didn’t find the clearest of passages until 150m out and quickening nicely at that stage she did well to get up in the
dying strides.
Quickies
Very interestingly, the fastest 400m to finish time on the afternoon was recorded by the Duncan Howells first timer HIERARCHY (raced green) when running on strongly from off the pace to finish third in the maiden juvenile plate over 1000m.
Fastest Times:
1000m (2) Vision To Achieve
1100m (3) O’Tenikwa 63,03 1400m (2) Icy Blast
Hierarchy 23,29
Notebook:
Hierarchy (D Howells, KZN)
Hollywoodbets Greyville 28 April
Track Condition
Going: Soft
Penetrometer: 27
Rain: Last 24 hours Nil –Last 7 days 96mm
Irrigation: Last 7 days Nil
False Rail: 9m
Wind: 13-32 km/h North Easterly head wind
Course Variant: 2,01s Slow
www.tabgold.co.za D Stakes 1000m
Run in a time over a second faster than the maiden plate, the D Stakes was the faster of the two 1000m races on the card. Purple Powahouse was sent off a strong favourite, and running on stoutly from the back, the 8yo What A Winter gelding recorded the fastest 400m to finish time at this meeting. Racing much closer to the pace though, the 4yo ARVERNI PRINCESS got first run and still had a length to spare over the veteran at the wire.
Three 1600m Races
The maiden plate was surprisingly the fastest of the three 1600m events and here the 3yo Pomodoro gelding WHITE SEAHORSE showed good improvement. The pace was a fair one and in touch throughout, Glen Kotzen’s charge took up the running shortly after passing the 200m marker. He ran on strongly in the closing stages of the race and beat the favourite Gripen fair and square by two.
Two 1800m Races
Although by far the faster of the two 1800m races, the Live Streaming www.galloptv.co.za Class 5 event was nonetheless a very false paced affair. The pacemaker Blazing Light set off at a fair clip, but after running out of gas in the latter part of the bend he faded right
out to finish a well beaten last. The remainder meanwhile became very tightly grouped and barely three lengths covered all entering the straight. The easy to back NATIONAL DREAM made the first move and struck the front 400m out. Future Saint ran on strongly from the back and when he in turn put his head in front passing the 100m marker he was looking like a winner. National Dream rallied gamely once headed though and won going away after getting back up 50m from home.
Quickies
The Mike & Matt De Kock trained SPARKLING JUBILEE had to switch and was then baulked for a run twice in the straight before getting up very late to win the Class 4 event for fillies & mares over 1600m. Interestingly, despite that, this Oratorio mare still recorded the third fastest 400m to finish time of the afternoon.
Fastest Times:
1000m (2) Arverni Princess 60,78
1600m (3) White Seahorse 101,10
1800m (2) National Dream 115,68
400-finish Purple Powahouse 22,88
Globetrotter Facteur Cheval (white blaze, TVI silks) in the entries | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
FOR ROYAL ASCOT 2025 GR1 ENTRIES UNVEILED
International stars Asfoora and Satono Reve headline entries from six countries for the eight Group 1 races at Royal Ascot.
Royal Ascot offers £10m in prize money in 2025, with all eight Group 1 prizes worth a minimum of £650,000 and no race run for less than £110,000.
Asfoora continued the superb record of Australian sprinters at Royal Ascot in 2024 as she stormed to victory in the King Charles III Stakes, a race she is targeting again this year.
The six-year-old has made two appearances at Morphettville recently, taking out the Gr3 R N Irwin Stakes before finishing seventh in the Gr1 Robert Sangster Stakes last weekend.
Asfoora could become the first horse from outside Europe to win the same Royal Ascot race twice.
Graham Motion – Laurelin a possibility | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
Trainer Henry Dwyer said: “Asfoora is pointing towards Royal Ascot again. We are trying to work out the logistics at the moment. We had her over there at the start of May last year, whereas she will travel over later this time. Worst-case scenario, she will arrive on 4th June, but we would like to travel over earlier if possible to give her more time to settle in.
“She won first time up at Morphettville, although we had not done a lot with her beforehand and maybe had her slightly underdone, which I think took its toll 14 days later in the Robert Sangster. She ran OK and was only beaten just under three lengths, but I was disappointed not to finish a bit closer. However, she has come out of it well and we are happy to roll the dice again in Europe, with a similar programme to last year.
“Winning at Royal Ascot was a blur at the time. It took a while to sink in, if it ever did, to be honest. It was a fairytale for us. I suppose the novelty of it is not going to be there this year, but I am sure it will be loads of fun and I am excited to get back over there.”
Japan has six entries as the country seeks a first Royal Ascot success, including leading
sprinter Satono Reve in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes for Noriyuki Hori.
Winner of the Gr1 Takamatsunomiya Kinen in March, Satono Reve chased home Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising in the Gr1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin last Sunday.
Trainer Hideyuki Mori accounts for Japan’s other entries, with his contenders including Gr3 Saudi Derby runner-up Shin Forever in the St James’s Palace Stakes and Daishin Pisces in the Gold Cup.
Interest from the USA includes unbeaten turf performer Laurelin in the Coronation Stakes, a race in which her trainer Graham Motion has finished second twice with Sharing (2020) and Spendarella (2022).
A dual winner at Aqueduct last year, Laurelin kicked off her 2025 campaign with a Listed success at the same New York course last weekend.
Speaking afterwards, Motion said: “That was very cool. She is just a stone-cold runner this filly. I really wasn’t sure if she was fit enough today, but I wanted to get her started in this
race because she does so well at Aqueduct.
“I think everything is on the table at this point. I will nominate her to the Coronation at Ascot in June. But there are so many nice races for 3-year-old fillies over here as well, so we have a lot of options. The one thing I’ll say is I won’t be in a hurry to run her back, I thought she ran a big race today.”
Queen Anne Stakes entry Grand Mo The First could be a first Royal Ascot runner for Florida trainer Victor Barboza Jr.
The potential French contingent includes Jerome Reynier’s globetrotter Facteur Cheval and Francis-Henri Graffard’s Gr1 runner-up Map Of Stars, who could clash in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes. Graffard is also responsible for exciting fillies Zarigana and Vertical Blue in the Coronation Stakes.
Kyprios heads the Irish-trained entries as he eyes a third Gold Cup victory, with his trainer Aidan O’Brien including unbeaten G1 winners Lake Victoria and Twain among a formidable three-year-old squad.
The home team includes Notable Speech (Charlie Appleby) and last season’s St James’s
Palace Stakes scorer Rosallion (Richard Hannon) in the Queen Anne Stakes, while Gr1 QIPCO Champion Stakes victor Anmaat (Owen Burrows) and Economics (William Haggas) feature in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes. Star hurdler Constitution Hill is a surprise entry in the Gold Cup for Nicky Henderson.
Speaking on the Nick Luck Daily podcast, Constitution Hill’s owner Michael Buckley said: “We talked about it a little bit ago. It has been something that has popped up now and again. This is the first time it was something to at least ponder, and the only way you could do that is to enter. It will be something amusing to think about on any dull days over the next six weeks!”
In a change from previous years, the earlyclosing Group 2 races at Royal Ascot – the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes, Ribblesdale Stakes, King Edward VII Stakes and Hardwicke Stakes – will now close at the five-day stage.
Royal Ascot runs from Tuesday 17 to Saturday 21 June 2025.
• To access the Group 1 entries, click here.
TRAINING AND HARSH TRUTHS
LOWAN DENYSSCHEN
On the latest episode of In The Box Seat horseman Lowan Denysschen talks about the journey of following in his father Paul Denysschen’s legendary footsteps.
It’s a captivating look into the highs of racing and the truths behind the scenes. From his dream of being a trainer to walking away from the racing to be a farrier in Zimbabwe – Lowan Denysschen reveals all.
Enjoy the interview… Click here to watch the interview
CONTINUE FOR SA CONNECTIONS UK CELEBRATIONS
Just 48 hours after Cheeky Wink’s smart win at Tipperary, the Kieswetter and Heffer families enjoyed another champagne moment when their lionhearted grey Il Etait Temps bounced back from almost a year off the track to register his fifth Gr1 success when beating the highly vaunted Jonbon in the bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown on Saturday.
The seven-year-old, who races in a partnership of Hollywood Racing and Barnane Stud, breezed to victory under Danny Mullins after pinging every fence, and appearing to be on the bridle at the Pond Fence.
Danny Mullins keeps Il Etait Temps beautifully balanced | Credit: Supplied
The form was in the book! When he was last seen he beat Gaelic Warrior at the Punchestown Festival having also won at Aintree, but the fact he had missed the whole of the season saw him go off a 9-2 chance on Saturday.
The 9yo Jonbon, a horse labelled a ‘superstar’, had shifted marginally right at some of his fences but in the main jumped well, and really had no excuses as Il Etait Temps breezed by on his way to a five-and-a-half-length win to hand Jonbon his first defeat away from the Cheltenham Festival. The winner’s stablemate Energumene was third.
Willie Mullins told RacingTV: “I
didn’t expect that, and I was hoping both him and
Energumene would finish, pick up some place money and both be sound. But to do what he did, I couldn’t believe it there in the stands and that has to be one of the moments of the whole year I think, for him to come out and do what he did.He looks top class and that’s his fifth Grade One I think. He’s not a big, chasing type and to put him against Jonbon it looked like father and son, but he can jump and he’s athletic and stays and he does everything.”
GODOLPHIN GO!
Trainer Saeed bin Suroor believes he has seen enough encouragement in the mornings to justify both Tornado Alert and Elwateen taking their chances in the opening two Classics at Newmarket this weekend.
Both will be making their reappearance following minor successes on the allweather at two.
While Charlie Appleby will be garnering the lion’s share of the attention from Godolphin watchers – courtesy of Ruling
Court and Shadow Of Light in the Betfred 2,000 Guineas and red-hot 1,000 Guineas favourite Desert Flower – Bin Suroor has been impressed by the pair’s work and has enlisted the help of Silvestre de Sousa aboard Tornado Alert as the trainer eyes a third success in the colts’ Classic.
De Sousa and Bin Suroor teamed up to great effect at the start of the month when Dubai Future won Gold Cup on Dubai World Cup night.
On the near season-long absence, Mullins added: “He had a little knee problem and was supposed to be back at Christmas and then Easter and every time we got close it went wrong. We said we’d put him by for Punchestown but then we needed him for today and thank god we did, but he has been working very well at home.”
Labelled a ‘horse made of iron’ by his trainer, Il Etait Temps has been a model of consistency
“He’s a fine horse, he’s not your big, 16.3 (hands) chaser, but he turns up for every fight and is made of iron. He turns up and there’s never an issue with him,” Mullins said earlier.
A gelded son of Jukebox Jury, Il Etait Temps is out of Une Des Source and was bred in France by Emmanuel Clayeux.
Lionheart! Il Etait Temps takes it in his stride | Credit: Supplied
2000 GUINEAS WINNERS AT STUD HIT OR MISS?
Saturday sees the running of the 2000 Guineas, the first British classic of 2025. Leading contenders for the Newmarket classic appear to be impressive Gr3 bet365 Craven Stakes winner Field Of Gold (Kingman), Gr1 Criterium International winner Twain (Wootton Bassett), Gr1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes runner-up Expanded (Wootton Bassett), dual Gr1 winner Shadow Of Light (Lope De Vega), and Gr1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes victor Scorthy Champ (Mehmas).
Superstar Frankel – won the 2000 Guineas in 2011 | Credit: Candiese Lenferna
First run in 1809, the 2000 Guineas has been won by a number of colts who went on to prove themselves outstanding stallions, including Stockwell, Tetratema, Gainsborough, Djebel, Court Martial, Sir Ivor, and Nijinsky II.
Subsequent top stallions to have been beaten in their respective Guineas include Mill Reef, Roberto, and Rainbow Quest, to name but three.
Since the turn of the century, the 2000 Guineas has served up a mix bag in terms of producing high-class stallions.
In 2000, King’s Best, who went on to become Champion Sire in France in 2010, thrashed the subsequent breed-shaping sire Giant’s Causeway to win the 2000 Guineas by three and a half lengths.
The 2001 Guineas winner Golan proved a disappointing stallion, but the following year, the Newmarket classic went the way of Rock Of Gibraltar.
Betting Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas/Gr1 TAB
Empress Club Stakes winner Fatal Flaw (New Predator).
After a few years when the race was captured by some subsequently moderate stallions, the 2000 Guineas once again unleashed a top-class stallion when it was won by Sea
The Stars. A half-brother to outstanding sire
Galileo, Sea The Stars, if not as good a sire as his half-brother, has proved consistently topclass at stud, with his 130 plus stakes winners headed by champions Stradivarius, Taghrooda, Baaeed, Star Catcher and Hukum, among others.
The merit of Sea The Stars as a stallion was highlighted on Sunday where his sons Sosie and Map Of Stars finished 1-2 in the Gr1 Prix Ganay and daughter Aventure won the Gr3 Prix Allez France.
The latter, whom many believed lucky to beat Hawk Wing in the 2000 Guineas, went on to sire more than 140 stakes winners and is broodmare sire of this season’s World Sports
The 2011 2000 Guineas unleashed a truly outstanding stallion. The classic was won in scintillating fashion by unbeaten superstar Frankel (Galileo), who has proved as successful a sire as he was a racehorse.
To date, Frankel, his sire’s best son, has sired more than 150 stakes winners, with his progeny
already numbering more than 30 Gr1 winners. Frankel’s growing list of stars include fellow 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean.
Among the also rans in the 2011 Guineas were the Sandown Stud based Pathfork, whose highclass offspring include champion Royal Victory, and this season’s graded stakes winners Main Defender and Olivia’s Way.
The following year, Camelot (Montjeu) won the 2000 Guineas. A direct descendant of the mighty Kincscem, Camelot has proved a high-class sire, with his 60 plus stakes winners headed by last year’s Gr1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Bluestocking as well as Friday’s Gr2 bet365Mile hero Dancing Gemini. Camelot was Champion Sire in France in 2024. Just three years on, the 2014 2000 Guineas
again proved to be a potent source of stallion talent.The first three home in that race, Night Of Thunder (Dubawi), Kingman (Invincible Spirit) and Australia (Galileo) have all enjoyed success at stud, with Kingman himself the sire of 2025 Guineas fancy Field Of Gold among many others.
Frankel’s sire Galileo is also the sire of 2000 Guineas winner Gleneagles and Churchill, both of whom, albeit at a lesser level than Frankel, have enjoyed success at stud.
One can but speculate on the fortunes that this year’s 2000 Guineas winner may enjoy at stud!
SET FOR EVEREST HAYES’ SUPERSTAR SPRINTER
Superstar Hong Kong sprinter Ka Ying Rising completed a record-equalling season with scintillating victory in the HK$22 million Gr1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Taking his unbeaten record to 12 consecutive races in defeating a world-class field of 12 rivals in a winning time of 1m 07.88s for the 1200m, Ka Ying Rising completed a clean sweep of the Hong Kong Speed Series and collected a HK$5
million bonus, emulating the feats of Mr Vitality (1995/96), Grand Delight (2002/03), Silent Witness (2003/04 and 2004/05) and Lucky Sweynesse (2022/23).
Zac Purton steers Ka Ying Rising to victory | Credit: HKJC
Living up to his title of the world’s highestrated sprinter, the four-year-old Shamexpress gelding was untouched with the whip by Zac Purton and was eased down to win by two and a quarter lengths from Japanese visitor Satono Reve and Helios Express.
Drawn barrier four, Ka Ying Rising stalked the speed, sitting fifth behind Lucky With You, Lucky Sweynesse, last year’s winner Invincible Sage, who finished fourth, and Magic Control.
Settling perfectly behind the speed, Ka Ying Rising had the race at his mercy once Purton
eased him and accelerated at the 250m to cruise away to an effortless victory to snare his fourth successive Group 1 win, clocking 21.78s for the final 400m.
The sprinting sensation picked up HK$12 million for the win and scored a HK$5 million
Speed Series bonus after sweeping the threerace challenge this season with previous victories in the Gr1 Centenary Sprint Cup and Gr1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup.
Trained by David Hayes, Ka Ying Rising also matched another record, equalling the most
wins in a season – eight – set by Beauty Generation (2018/19) and Lucky Sweynesse (2022/23).
He will now be sent for a spell to prepare for potentially his biggest pay day and first international assignment in the world’s richest turf race, the (approx. HK$100 million) Gr1 The Everest at Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse on 18 October.
Purton said: “What more can you say? Every time you come out here, he produces something special and he did that again today
and he didn’t even change his leg. He puts them away very quickly.
“He’s getting better and better. He can have a break now and the next one is the big one.
“The race panned out really well. He began well and I was able to just pop him into a lovely spot with the way the race was unfolding. I just kept it uncomplicated and let him do his thing.
“Once again, he was brilliant. He’s had a long season, he’s been exceptional all the way through and it’s a good way to finish it.
Chairman of the Club Michael Lee presents the trophy to winning trainer David Hayes | Credit: HKJC
“He did what he had to do. The track has got a little bit of give in it today, so he’s not going to run any faster if people are looking at the clock, but he’s run a lot quicker than the other horses today.” Hayes also congratulated Purton on his ride.
“It was a great ride by Zac. He took the sit and didn’t want to get pocketed and went a bit early, but when you’re on a HK$1.05 chance, I think you take the luck out of it,” Hayes said.
“I can’t wait to watch the replay. It’s all a bit of a blur now. He had a perfect prep and a perfect season. It’s just nice nothing went wrong.
“Zac said if they were going slow, he would lead and if they go too fast, he’ll follow. They broke 1:08, I think that’s about the fifth time he’s done that.”
Hayes said Ka Ying Rising had probably got to the front a bit early and stargazed but he got the job done and he won by a decent margin.
“It’s a good effort to do the Triple Crown and he’s only four, so I think we’ve got a lot to look forward to in the coming seasons,” he said.
dimensional. He can take it up or take a sit. He did pull slightly mid-race but I love the fact that he can take a sit.
“The second horse is probably the second-best sprinter in the world at the moment, so the form came out. And Helios (Express), what a great horse he’s been this year. He just keeps putting his run up. I think he would be a multiple Group 1 winner if he was back home in Australia.
Hayes said Ka Ying Rising would now go straight to Conghua.
“He loves it up there, and he’ll have a month to himself going out in the beautiful day paddocks. Then we’ll start targeting to hopefully have him ready to race at the start of next season with The Everest in mind,” Hayes said.
Going into today’s race local horse Helios Express, trained by John Size and ridden by Hugh Bowman, had raced in Group features in his past six races against Ka Ying Rising, finishing second to the champion five times and third once.
“What he’s starting to show is that he’s not one-
Purton again produced the perfect winning ride before posting his 100th win of the season in the following race – the Class 3 FWD
Insurance CCB (Asia) Handicap on Size-trained Masterofmyuniverse.
“It’s a very good number to get to – most years it wins you a premiership. This year, we’re
about to go well beyond that but it means I’ve had a lot of support and a lot of luck,” he said.
RED LION ROARS TO BURST BUBBLE!
Second in this race last year, Red Lion scored an upset victory in the HK$24 million Gr1 FWD Champions Mile at Sha Tin on Sunday by a gripping short head over Voyage Bubble, for jockey Hugh Bowman and trainer John Size.
Breaking from gate 12 as an 89/1 outsider, Red Lion became the longest-priced winner in the race’s history as the six-year-old Belardo
gelding tenaciously made all in 1m 33.21s, eventually holding success after an inquiry and several nervous moments as Stewards
The John Size-trained Red Lion (inside) lands the Group 1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) with Hugh Bowman in the saddle | Credit: HKJC
deliberated following a brush of contact between Red Lion and Voyage Bubble in the closing stages.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s former Chairman Ronald Arculli and his wife Johanna own Red Lion. A long-term passionate owner, Arculli also raced globetrotter Red Cadeaux and legend River Verdon – the only winner of Hong Kong’s Triple Crown in 1993/94.
Red Lion lifts his earnings to HK$34.81 million with his sixth career win at his 29th start, giving Size a fifth race victory following
Electronic Unicorn (2003), Sight Winner (2009), Contentment (2017) and Beauty Eternal (2024).
“He ran second in the race last year.
Congratulations to John and the ownership group because he’s such a consistent horse and he’s a worthy Group 1 winner, but I’m a bit lost for words to be honest,” Bowman said.
Red Lion crossed early for the lead with Bowman to overcome his draw as Voyage Bubble sat to his outside. The pair broke clear of rivals in the straight and were an evenly
matched neck-and-neck as Sunlight Power grabbed third with My Wish a battling fourth.
“It’s fantastic. He’s a very consistent, courageous horse. Having had the opportunity to ride him a few times, I had the confidence in him,” Bowman said.
“I didn’t really expect to lead but full credit to John and his team because they’ve turned him out in fantastic order and with a little bit of moisture in the ground, it certainly assisted his chances and I’m just so proud of him.”
Size said: “He’s been so consistent over the period he’s been racing. He always does his best and always puts himself in a position to win. Today, like all winners, you need plenty in your favour to win a race. Maybe a bit of moisture around helped him and the fact he could lead by himself. All those things contributed to him winning.”
Before this afternoon, Red Lion had proven consistent at the top-level placing three times in Group 1 races – including twice over a mile.
Professor Frederick Ma Si Hang GBS JP, Chairman of the board, FWD Group presents souvenirs to Red Lion’s owner representative and winning trainer John Size | Credit: HKJC
“I think the horse’s mind for racing and what is going on inside his brain is so important.
Today he showed the determination of a real racehorse – he looked like he thought he could win the race and he decided he would.
“He just kept going and kept fighting – under the circumstances, it’s very hard to beat a horse in that frame of mind,” Size said.
“The owners are one of the groups of people in Hong Kong who buy and race lots of horses in this jurisdiction. Anyone who does that deserves some success and they’ve had a lot of good luck on the racetrack.”
Of the Ricky Yiu-trained Voyage Bubble, jockey James McDonald, said: “He was super. I was really proud of his effort.”
Christophe Soumillon was pleased with Sunlight Power’s third-placed effort: “He ran a great race. Unfortunately, it was a little too far for him to win it, but he put in a great effort and I think he’s going to be a good horse.”
Galaxy Patch (fifth), Happy Together (sixth), Beauty Joy (seventh), Chancheng Glory (eighth), Gaia Force (ninth), Beauty Eternal (10th), Goemon (11th), Royal Patronage (12th) and Mr Brightside (13th) rounded out the finishing order.
The FWD Champions Mile trophy presentation ceremony | Credit: HKJC
JAPANESE STAR IS BIG IN HONG KONG
Tastiera was triumphant on his return to Sha Tin as Japan’s 2023 Gr1 Tokyo Yushun hero dominated a thrilling renewal of the HK$28 million Gr1 FWD QEII Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday.
The five-year-old showed his aptitude for top-class racing in Hong Kong when third to Romantic Warrior in the Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup in December.
The local champion had won this contest for the last three years but sat it out this time, leaving Tastiera to stamp his class on a
glittering international field for rider Damian Lane for trainer Noriyuki Hori.
“Noriyuki Hori is an amazing conditioner of horses and this horse is just a star,” Lane said.
“It’s a great success for Carrot Farm. It’s just a privilege. It’s what it’s all about. I just
Damian Lane has Tastiera in command | Credit: HKJC
feel privileged and lucky to be here on these days, let alone having great chances on these horses.
“It is what being a jockey is all about, competing in these big international carnivals. It’s very rewarding.”
While it was Lane’s first victory in the HK$28 million race, it was Hori’s second after Neorealism’s success in 2017. It was Japan’s seventh win in the contest since 2002.
“I’m very, very grateful for all the support from the Jockey Club to travel to Hong Kong and give us a great opportunity to come over here,” Hori said.
“It’s been a while since my last runner in Hong Kong, but I’m very grateful to win today. In my stable, only Maurice won on his first trip to Hong Kong.
“Since Tastiera’s third in the Hong Kong Cup, we targeted this race considering he was suitable to the track conditions and change in environment.”
Hori confirmed Tastiera would likely return to avenge his Hong Kong Cup defeat in December, while adding of Lane: “Damian’s one of the greatest team members in our stable. We’ve had a relationship for a long time and he always gives us good feedback.”
Already a winner of the 2022 Gr1 LONGINES
Hong Kong Vase aboard Win Marilyn, Lane’s latest major Sha Tin strike was achieved in remarkably smooth circumstances.
Tastiera broke swiftly from gate ten and settled into fourth position in the back straight as New Zealand star El Vencedor carved out the early
tractions under Zac Purton.
While Lane maintained a prominent position, fancied runners Goliath, Liberty Island and Prognosis were forced to settle further towards the rear in a steadily run race.
Tastiera travelled up strongly to the quarters
A thumbs up from Damian Lane as this win marks the return of Tastiera to the winning podium of FWD QEII Cup since 2021 | Credit: HKJC
of El Vencedor and Cap Ferrat at the head of the home straight and soon skated into a clear lead. He never looked like being caught and scored comfortably by a length and three-quarters, with Lane punching the air in delight after the line.
Prognosis, runner-up for the last two years for fellow Japanese trainer Mitsumasa Nakauchida, filled the same position again, while Bahrain’s Calif produced an excellent effort to clinch third. Tastiera’s win prevented a clean sweep
for the locals in three Group 1 races on FWD Champions Day, with Ka Ying Rising scorching home in the HK$22 million Gr1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize and Red Lion nailing Voyage Bubble in the HK$24 million Gr1 FWD Champions Mile.
Connections of Tastiera celebrate their success after the Group 1 feature | Credit: HKJC
46186 AT SHA TIN ON SUNDAY
Hong Kong Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Mr Winfried EngelbrechtBresges has hailed 2025 FWD Champions Day as one of the best editions of the flagship meeting in a “very long period of time” after Ka Ying Rising, Red Lion and Japan’s Tastiera took Group 1 honours at Sha Tin on Sunday.
With an overall attendance of 46,186, Sunday’s gathering included a FWD Champions Day record of 8244 guests from the Mainland, as well as 1083 international attendees.
Lauding the performances of the world’s highest-rated sprinter Ka Ying Rising in the
HK$22 million Gr1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m), Red Lion in the HK$24 million Gr1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m) and Tastiera in the HK$28 million Gr1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m), Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges said the Club’s strategy of staging world-class racing and entertainment events was working.
Andrew Harding and Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges address the media | Credit: HKJC
“We want to provide more world-class racing and entertainment and from the feedback we have so far, we have definitely achieved this. We will always improve and never stand still because permanent improvement is one of the values we have,” he said.
“It was one of the biggest FWD Champions Day for a very long period of time and which we see as a success.
“I would like to thank our team for a terrific effort for putting on marvellous events throughout the week – from the barrier draw,
the welcome party and today’s race meeting, which had a tremendous atmosphere with tremendous performances on the track.
“Looking at the performances of horses, there’s one performance which was completely dominant, and we are very glad to see the world’s best sprinter in Ka Ying Rising. He showed how good he is and how he can dominate the field. That created a wonderful atmosphere.
“Then in the FWD Champions Mile, we had a tremendous fight to the line between Red Lion
K-pop sensation Minnie of (G)I-DLE graced the event as one of the opening performers | Credit: HKJC
and Voyage Bubble and then another fight in the inquiry room. These two horses gave their very best and showed that Hong Kong milers are extremely strong.
“In the last race, the Japanese Derby winner Tastiera showed his true class in winning the race, while Prognosis seemingly can never win a Group 1 but can always run second. We were very glad to see a new visitor from Bahrain with Calif coming third.”
Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges paid tribute to champion Japanese mare Liberty Island who could not be saved after suffering a leg injury in the FWD QEII Cup.
“Unfortunately, Liberty Island could not be saved and that is something which spoilt a fabulous meeting. I want to really honour Liberty Island, who was a great racing filly and it is really sad.”
Turnover was HK$1.52 billion, which was slightly down on 2024.
Racegoers enjoy the excitement of live racing | Credit: HKJC
“The overseas market is up by nearly 10 percent which shows again that World Pool and commingling is definitely something I think we can build on and I think this shows that Hong Kong racing, despite geo-political and economic challenges, is going from strength to strength.”
Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges thanked FWD Hong Kong for its ongoing support and praised the spectacular performances of K-Pop idol MINNIE of (G) I-DLE and pop diva Joey Yung in the Parade Ring before the meeting.
Mr Andrew Harding, Hong Kong Jockey Club Executive Director, Racing, said: “This has been one of the best editions of FWD Champions Day in quite some time. I really want to single out the efforts in terms of recruitment with the breadth and quality of the horses recruited this year, which was simply outstanding and it was marvellous to see new jurisdictions participating in this fabulous day.
“I would like to acknowledge and thank our sponsor, FWD, for what has been a fantastic day of racing.”
Tastiera with Damien Lane wins the FWD QEII Cup at Sha Tin | Credit: Alex Evers/ HKJC
CHARM STONE SOARS TO SANGSTER SUCCESS
Blue blooded mare Charm Stone sent her broodmare value soaring when she stormed home for a brilliant win in Saturday’s A$1 million Group One Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville.
At just her eleventh start, the daughter of I Am Invincible notched her fifth win, but her most important to date, when she came from well back in the field to win emphatically.
The four-year-old was first up and coming off a Cranbourne trial win. She was last seen in a race when a gallant second to West of Africa in the A$2 million Magic Millions Cup (RL) at the
Gold Coast in January.
“It has been a great race for the stable,” Mick Price who co-trains the filly with Michael Kent Jnr said. “The very pleasing thing is she’s a beautiful mare.”
“We’ve had her since she was a baby. She’s one of Sheamus’ (Mills) yearling buys and look,
Charm Stone (Mark Zahra) storms home for a brilliant win | Credit: Magic Millions
he’s one of the main players in the stable with Heath Newton and Anthony and it’s just very, very satisfying to get a Group One for those guys, the mare has deserved it.”
“Zahra is Zahra, he just lives in the Group One world, doesn’t he? But really, really pleased for the mare and the ownership group.”
“She ran in the Golden Rose, ran super, couldn’t get a run, got beat a length and a half, chipped a knee. So, we gave her all the time she needed.”
“She was a sizeable sort of a filly at the time, and she just needed time. To Sheamus’ credit, when we discuss things, he listens. He’s always been patient and they’ve reaped the benefit of all those decisions.”
“We’ve got a good horse, a good rider, and a good team at home. All the staff work very hard. It’s a very good barn there at Cranbourne, so I’ve got to thank all the staff at home.”
“She’s always been a good mare. Seamus said, what about the Group One? He’s always chasing the best that he can do for those broodmares and all his fillies that he buys.”
“So, I said, mate, we got the right horse to do it. It was a long-range plan, she’s been at Cranbourne for a long time, and we just gradually brought her up. So, very pleasing.”
Price said the mare would definitely be back to Adelaide in a fortnight to chase the Group One sprint double and take on all-comers in The Goodwood.
“Definitely,” Price confirmed. “She’ll come back to Cranbourne and then she’ll come back across.”
In winning aboard Charm Stone, superstar Melbourne jockey Mark Zahra was able to clinch a running Group One double after capturing the Australasian Oaks on homebred Benagil.
“It’s special. A bit of luck this time last year, a bit more luck this year, but nice to get a couple of good rides for people I ride for, and the races have just worked out, everything went in my favour today.”
Zahra praised the stable for their preparation of the Sangster winner leading into today’s big race.
“To have that time off, she looked like she’d be really good early days.”
“She had setbacks, to get her back and get her a Group One. Now it’s all right when you’re three. When you get older, you take the older horses on, and she’s done that today and won at the highest level.”
“I drew wide. I just said I’m going to leave her alone, get her a nice rhythm, and I managed to get the back of Commemorative. I didn’t travel that well, actually.”
“I sort of had to give her a little click up to tack up, and she did. She got to the back of them, the further the race went, the more with confidence she grew. I was able to save the best for the finish.”
“It was a busy enough finish,” Zahra summed up. “But I thought I won pretty convincingly in the end.”
Charm Stone was bred and sold by Emirates Park for A$1.55 million at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. It was a great result for Emirates – breeding the runner-up as well.
The winner is from the incredibly talented and untapped Northern Meteor mare Najoom – who was short priced favourite for the Stradbroke Handicap after brilliantly winning the Fred Best Classic at Group Three level at her final start.
A start earlier she had won the Group Three Hawkesbury Guineas.
Unfortunately, when injury curtailed her race
RADIO SILENCE?
Sky Racing has parted ways with some of its most established race callers and senior media personalities as part of sweeping changes announced at the organisation on Wednesday.
In a move aimed to deliver further efficiencies at the Tabcorp-owned media arm, long-serving Queensland caller Josh Fleming, senior NSW greyhound caller Matt Jackson and much travelled SA broadcaster Brett Davis will all leave the business.
In a further shake-up, respected Tasmanian race caller Colin McNiff, who in February called his 35th consecutive Hobart Cup, will also depart following a long and decorated career.
As well as the major changes to the race-calling ranks, leading media identity Gerard Daffy will also call time on his long association with Tabcorp, as will Nichole Thomas who in recent years has been integral to the brand’s media division.
career, she had notched five wins and two seconds from just seven starts.
While Najoom sadly didn’t get to show her ceiling on the track, her efforts as a broodmare have catapulted her to the elite level.
Her daughter Najmaty is a Melbourne and Brisbane stakes winner – one of four winners from four to race for Najoom.
Aside from Charm Stone she is also the dam of Najmah, a Sydney winner by Snitzel who is the dam of this season’s 2YO Cinderella Stakes placegetter Naifah.
Importantly Emirates Park will offer a pair of two-year-olds at the upcoming National Broodmare Sale on Day One – the racefillies section.
One is the aforementioned stakes performer Niafah, while the other is Charm Stone’s half-sister by Capitalist and she won a trial in Sydney during the week.
Winner: Charm Stone
• Breeding: I Am Invincible-Najoom (Northern Meteor)
• Race: SAJC Robert Sangster Stakes Gr1 (1200m)
• Sold for: A$1,550,000
• Sale: 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
• Earnings: A$1,341,775
• Breeder: Emirates Park Pty Ltd
• Vendor: Emirates Park
• Buyer: Sheamus Mills Bloodstock
• Owners: Sheamus Mills Bloodstock Ladies (Mgr: Mrs M Mills), Newton Ladies (Mgr: Mrs AC Newton), Chesapeake Ladies (Mgr: Mrs C Roberts) & Mrs S Cummings
• Trainers: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr (Cranbourne)
NATIE SNR WILL BE SADLY MISSED A HORSEMAN OF NOTE
South African horseracing bid farewell on Saturday 26 April to one of our most accomplished, yet low-profile horseman. Nathan Kotzen Snr passed away peacefully at home at the age of 85 with his loved ones around him.
Born to a Polish-Jewish father and Catholic mother in 1939, just months before the outbreak of the second World War, Mr Kotzen, as most of us knew him, would have turned 86 on 28 May.
A jockey in the early 1950’s, he rode in a number of Durban July’s but weight got the better of him and he ended up in Zambia on the Copper Belt, where he was an accomplished owner-trainer-jockey.
He would pull off betting coups, as many of the yards took 6 months off in the rainy season on the Equator. In that time, the astute equestrian would keep his horses fit while the other yards were in down-time and when racing returned, he would literally ‘clean up’, winning 8 races on an afternoon!
Nathan Kotzen – a horseman and gentleman | Credit: Supplied
The family moved to Bulawayo in the then Rhodesia and he was forced to give up his jockey’s licence. Mr Kotzen trained for the late Avontuur supremo Tony Taberer, and won 18 races with a top horse by the name of Joker, who raced in the famous Taberer silks. The family moved to Newmarket in Johannesburg, where son Glen was born. The Durban July winning trainer, was coincidentally and unsurprisingly, named after a horse called Russian Glen, who his Dad rode. To put the years into perspective, Glen turns 60 this year. Those were the days of the foundation stone that set the Kotzen sons on the path to follow careers in racing and chatting to the Sporting Post this week, Glen fondly recalled his Dad as a quiet man with an indordinate amount of horse knowledge and experience.
“There are so many anectdotes I could talk to you for a week. But one I recall was when my Dad bought 6 yearlings from Garth Puller down at Pine Ranch Stud I think it was, in the Cape. Dad only had a budget I think of R30 000. So the six arrived, except one was unusual. He was a 4yo gelding! My Dad queried it and called Garth, who said he had sent him the older horse to give him a kickstart and a horse to race. My Dad got the refund
of the R5000 but wasn’t over the moon. The horse, a Great Brother gelding called Stay Away was a one-time winner from probably 28 starts or something. He had bad feet but what a revelation he turned out to be- going on to win about ten races, including two features. Every time we were short of cash or needed money for wages or feed, my Dad would say to my Mom – ‘don’t worry Dawn, Stay Away is running this week!’ So big ups to Garth! We could write a book and that’s why we love this game like we do. My Dad had a good innings and passed peacefully. May he rest in peace and thank you sincerely to all the kind folk who have sent condolences and notes of sympathy. Horseracing really is one big family,” added Glen.
Mr Kotzen is survived by his wife Dawn, daughter Chantal, sons Darren (a farrier) and trainer sons Glen and Nathan Jnr, and a number of grandchildren. His son Grant, who was a top jockey and won the 1985 Met on Charles Fortune, passed away some years ago. The Sporting Post wishes the entire Kotzen family strength and love at this sad time.
MHDSRIP.
REFLECTIONS ON THE WEEK PAST
THE NHA CALENDAR
The Sporting Post keeps you in the loop with last week’s National Horseracing Authority Calendar as per 24 April.
The calendar is a summary of the week’s penalties and registrations and is an easy -read snapshot of information.
Just another day at the office for Show Off (Illustration purposes only) | Credit: Chase Liebenberg
Mr
J O CK E YS results up to: 2025-04-30
7,392,188 8,286,131 5,701,563 6,953,125 21,398,325 11,345,531 11,314,156 8,895,350 8,879,344
17,633,319 20,814,844 18,642,813 8,530,719 6,220,656 25,277,438 26,699,844 25,804,688 14,260,875 10,505,425
26,905,538 24,658,619 20,854,794 12,632,100 10,232,806 BREEDERS
25,317,481 18,908,250 15,492,881 13,527,450 13,160,994 S I RE S T R A I NER S
