SP SPRINT - 13 DECEMBER 2023

Wednesday 13 December 2023

v

WHAT A HORSE! 13 DECEMBER 2023 | 1

CONTENTS

v

FROM EAST TO WEST! 12 The Champions Gear Up

Set for the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas

18 Summit Of Legends Heading home for stud duties

62 Top Of The Tier

The LONGINES in totality

66 More For Moore Best of the best

76 Bring In The Stallions An Oscar Foulkes view

2 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

On the cover

The Medaglia d’Oro gelding Golden Sixty won a record-equalling third HK$32 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin on Sunday.

This was his 10th Gr1 success and 26th win from 30 starts. He has now earned HK$165.85 million – for what it’s worth, that’s over R400 million at current rates of exchange. Candiese Lenferna took the photo.

Issue: 55/2023

v

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 3

v

4 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 5

v

THEN AND NOW: HOLLYWOODBETS CAPE GUINEAS! First run in 1955 as the Cape of Good Hope Guineas, the famous race now known as the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas highlights Saturday’s card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

2022 - The Charles Dickens team lead their champion in after a sensational showing | Credit: Candiese Lenferna 6 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 7

v

The newly refurbished Hollywoodbets Kenilworth all set to come alive on Saturday! | Credit: Chase Liebenberg 8 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

A stallion making race when you look back at the honour roll, the best of South African horse racing over decades and the 2023 renewal promises no less.

Ten colts and the progressive filly Red Palace from last season’s winning stable Candice Bass-Robinson, make up the final field.

The R500 000 Gr2 Cape Punters Cup run at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth over 1600m last month looks the best guide to finding the winner of the R2 million Grade 1 contest.

Run over the course and distance of Saturday’s classic, the Justin Snaith trained Hluhluwe was an impressive winner, coming from last at the top of the straight to win narrowly. Stable companion, the Drakenstein owned Snow Pilot, stayed on resolutely in the finish, beaten less than a half a length in second.

The Khaya Stables owned Green With Envy made his run on the stands rail and finished

strongly for third a short head behind Snow Pilot and less than half a length behind Hluhluwe.

Easy Gr3 Cape Classic winner Questioning was not far behind in fourth place, with the Gauteng raider and favourite, Sean Tarry’s Tail Of The Comet two and three-quarters back in fifth. Zoomie from the Brett Crawford yard finished in sixth position not too far away to be discounted.

All six of these runners re-oppose on Saturday in the first ‘Classic’ of the season and with these top-class sorts all running so close to one another, this year’s event looks to be a thriller.

The first three past the post in the Punters Cup all gave the impression that they would excel over further, and it would be no surprise to see them run in races like the SplashOut Cape Derby and possibly the Hollywoodbets Durban July later in the season.

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 9

v

10 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 11

v

A LAUNCH PAD OF STALLIONS

From a truly classic female line - Green With Envy | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

12 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 13

v

History shows that the Cape Guineas has a deserved reputation as a ‘sire making’ race, its honour roll boasting a number of past winners who went on to enjoy success at stud, none more so than Jet Master and Captain Al. On current betting, Drakenstein homebred Hluhluwe is expected to build on his smart victory in the Gr2 Selangor Cup when he steps up to the plate this weekend.

Winner of the 1998 Guineas, the former is arguably the best South African-bred stallion of all time and whilst he never sired a winner of this revered classic, his Gr1 winning son Pomodoro features as the sire of 2020 winner Russian Rock.

In contrast, Captain Al, who claimed the honours in the millennium year, has contributed to Guineas history as the only modern-time winner whose progeny have emulated their sire, William Longsword claiming victory in 2016 and Tap O’Noth making it a double twelve months later. The former is now a successful stallion standing at Klawervlei Stud.

Only four colts will be in the line-up for this weekend’s renewal, and a perusal of their pedigrees suggests they could all be stallion material.

Nic Jonson’s colt is by the venerable Trippi out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Lebombo Breeze. He boasts a pedigree out of the very top drawer, his third dam, the Sadler’s Wells mare Dance Of Leaves being an own sister to Mauritzfontein’s formidable Fort Wood.

Their dam, the blue hen mare Fall Aspen, established a stallion dynasty of her own. In addition to Fort Wood, she is also the dam of Bianconi and grandam of Elnadim and ill-fated Dubai Millennium, the sire of champion British stallion and sire of sires Dubawi.

Hluhluwe - a serious classic contender | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

14 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

Captain Al wins the 2000 Gr1 Cape Argus Guineas | Credit: Supplied

Remarkably, just like Jet Master, Fort Wood never sired a Cape Guineas winner, however, his champion son Dynasty gave us Act Of War, who was successful in 2014 and is now a Gr1 stallion in his own right.

The premature demise of Lancaster Bomber was recently underlined when he sired two of the first three home in the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas, victory going the way of Drakenstein homebred Beach Bomb and third place to Rascova.

He is represented in this year’s Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas by talented first-crop son Snow Pilot, who will bid to reverse his runner-up spot in the Selangor. Victory would complete a bittersweet Guineas double for his late lamented sire, not to mention his breeders Drakenstein Stud.

On sheer pedigree alone, Snow Pilot has potential stallion written all over him. He is the first foal of Captain Al’s outstanding daughter Snowdance, who accounted for both the

Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas and Gr1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes. More to the point, she is a grandaughter of broodmare extraordinaire Mystic Spring.

We have long since run out of superlatives for this daughter of Royal Academy, suffice to say that her accomplishments have made her one of the most celebrated mares in the South African studbook. She is the dam of champions Rabiya and Bela-Bela, while her five other stakes winners include the Gr2 winner Secret Of Victoria, who in turn produced champion sprint queen All Is Secret and Gr1 winner The Secret Is Out, both sired by Captain Al. Mystic Spring’s Joshua Dancer daughter Spring Lilac won the Gr3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery and she too, became a regular consort to Captain Al, producing Snow Pilot’s dam Snowdance, as well as stakes winner Victorian Secret and Juniper Spring.

Victory in the Guineas will no doubt guarantee Snow Pilot a future berth at stud.

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 15

v

Fresh from siring a scintillating one-two in the Gr2 Cape Merchants, dual champion stallion Gimmethegreenlight will rely on two colts to provide him with a first Cape Guineas success.

Khaya Stables homebred Green With Envy was only a shorthead behind Snow Pilot in the Cape Punters Cup and knowing Dean Kannemeyer, the colt will be fine-tuned come Saturday.

Green With Envy has a truly classic female line; his dam, the Galileo mare, Miss Coco, is an own sister to the fine stayer Eye Of The Storm, the next two dams are by Shirley Heights and Dancing Brave respectively, while his fourth dam Unsuspected has the distinction of producing two winners of the Gr1 Yorkshire Oaks in Untold and Sally Brown, as well as of European joint champion juvenile filly Shoot Clear.

Rounding out the quartet is Gimmethegreenlight’s son Tail Of The Comet,

16 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

who is very much on a retrieval mission following his lukewarm fifth in the Selangor.

That disappointing effort came off a sparkling four-length victory in the Cape Racing Sales Ready To Run Stakes at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, where he clearly had his rivals on the ropes.

A full brother to stakes-placed filly Chasing Green, Tail Of The Comet is out of the fleetfooted Laisserfaire Stakes winner Comet Chaser, whose half-sister Fairyinthewoods won the Gr2 Southern Cross. All that speed may throw doubts of him seeing out the mile trip, however, the female line is also that of Gr3 Track and Ball Derby winner Mr Winsome and Woolavington Handicap winner Taipan.

Besides, trainer Sean Tarry is sure to have put a line through the Cape Punters Cup run and will have his charge razor sharp on Saturday.

v

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 17

v

EXCITING POSPECT SYNDICATED 18 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

Champion Sandringham Summit will return to his birthplace Varsfontein Stud for stallion duties at the conclusion of his racing career.

The Champion in action | Credit: Candiese Lenferna 13 DECEMBER 2023 | 19

v

Sandringham Summit at the BSA 2022 National Yearling Sale | Credit: BSA catalogue

Leading consultant John Freeman has been mandated to syndicate the son of resident champion Gimmethegreenlight for stallion duties, and he confirmed that “shares literally flew off the shelf” which speaks volumes for the colt’s popularity with local breeders.

“Varsfontein will retain 20 of the 46 shares on offer,” he added. “Thanks to all of the star breeders that are participating.”

Although the colt remains in training - he is after all still just three - Sandringham Summit already boasts impeccable stallion credentials as a juvenile Gr1 winner who has the looks and 20 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

pedigree as befits his R1.7-million price tag as a yearling.

Trained by David Nieuwenhuizen, the colt made heads turn when he came from an impossible position to win the Gr2 Golden Horseshoe at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Durban July day and earned his Gr1 spurs in the Premiers Champion Stakes, at the expense of by downing the hitherto unbeaten Main Defender, who was over two lengths adrift at the line.

Named last season’s Champion Juvenile, Rakesh Singh’s star colt was perhaps an unlucky loser in this seasonal debut when

v

narrowly beaten by his old nemesis in the Gr3 Betway Graham Beck before finishing third in the Gr2 Dingaans.

Remarkably, he is Gimmethegreenlight’s second Premiers Champion Stakes winner and was preceded by first-crop son Gunner, who likewise, is out of a Captain Al mare.

Significantly, Sandringham Summit offers breeders a wonderful outcross pedigree, free of the all-pervading Northern Dancer and Mr Prospector blood in the first four generations.

His dam Townsend won both the Gr2 Odessa Stud Fillies Championship and Gr3 Diana Stakes, and in addition to Sandringham Summit, she is also dam of Gr1 Gold Medallion winner Eden Roc, who has just finished covering his first book of mares at Clifton Stud.

Townsend is a half-sister to Gr1 Champions Challenge hero Regal Ransom. This is also the female line of Gr2 Guineas winner Zapatillas and Gr2 Dingaans second Shoemaker, both of which were bred at Varsfontein.

WORLDBEATER! Drakenstein Stud’s Gr1 Sun Met winning stallion One World came up with his first winner when One World’s two-year-old son Address The Nation made a winning debut at Turffontein on Tuesday.

Trained by Candice Dawson, Address The Nation was always going strongly in Tuesday’s In Loving Memory Of Jermaine Craig Maiden Juvenile Plate (800m).

Despite being green in running, the One World colt, partnered on Tuesday by the inform Craig Zackey, kept going gamely to score by a neck on debut.

Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Address The Nation was a R225 000 buy from the 2023 National Yearling Sale.

been responsible for six runners, of which four have either won or finished in the money.

One World is set to be represented by his daughter Sahara Cat in Saturday’s Kaapse Klopse Summer Coronation Plate and by his sons Lion Rampart and Galactus in the same day’s HeartFM Commonwealth Plate.

A son of multiple champion sire Captain Al, One World was South Africa’s Equus Champion Older Male of 2019-2020, and downed champions Rainbow Bridge, Hawwaam, Vardy and Do It Again when victorious in the 2020 G1 Sun Met. A stakes winner at two, three and four, One World has seven lots on offer at the 2024 Cape Racing Premier Yearling Sale Powered By Tattersalls.

The colt is out of the Pathfork mare Madame Speaker.

His sire One World has made a very encouraging start with his first two-yearolds this season. To date, One World has

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 21

v

22 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 23

v

A MERCHANTS HIGHWAY FOR KANNEMEYER Hollywoodbets Kenilworth racecourse was the place to be on Sunday, with racegoers treated to some top-class finishes on a glorious afternoon.

One of the most exciting races of the day was the feature, the R500 000 Gr2 Cape Merchants, run over the straight 1200m.

The Gr2 contest saw a large field of 16 runners run into a strong headwind. The early leader was the flashy grey After The Rain.

He was closely followed by Surjay and King Regent with Countdown just off the speed.

Quasiforsure was in midfield on the far rail.

Going through the 400m mark, the lightly weighted Countdown shot clear into what 24 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

looked an unassailable lead over his closest challenger Surjay.

With the ‘race’ looking all but over, Cosmic Highway in the black and yellow silks of Khaya Stables could be seen finishing full of running, but it still looked unlikely that he would catch Countdown 100m out.

He literally ‘flew’ home over the final 50m to snare Countdown on the line.

Cosmic Highway (10/1) had finished so fast

v

Cosmic Highway (Craig Zackey) could be seen finishing full of running | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

that the official margin was posted as 0.2 length from a gallant Countdown (25/2) in second.

Favourite Surjay (2/1) was a further half length behind in third, with another eye-catcher, the KZN raider Quasiforsure (5/1) only a neck away in fourth.

The winning time recorded was 71.37 seconds.

By Gimmethegreenlight, Cosmic Highway is a five-year-old gelding out of the Silvano mare Cosmic Dream.

A R400 000 purchase from Maine Chance, he is now a 5-time winner from 19 starts with

earnings of R1 111 850.

Winning trainer Dean Kannemeyer was full of praise for owner Lady Laidlaw and his entire team at the post-race interview.

He stated that he was confident of a good run here after Cosmic Highway’s run behind Charles Dickens and stablemate Gimme A Prince in the Matchem Stakes in October.

A double on the day for the Kannemeyer yard and a fantastic four-timer for jockey Craig Zackey.

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 25

v

26 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 27

v

LITTLE HORSE, ALL HEART 28 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

UNZEN

v

Unzen (Denis Schwarz) claims a grand win | Credit: JC Photos

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 29

v

Racegoers were treated to some competitive racing at the Vaal racecourse on a sunny Saturday afternoon, none more so than the R500,000 WSB Non-Black Type Grand Heritage.

A large field of 22 runners jumped away from the 1475m start – a South African version of the famous Cambridgeshire Handicap in the UK. The runners used the whole width of the track, mostly to the middle, outside, but a group of seven kept to their station near the far rail.

Winning jockey Denis Schwarz had little cover and was up with the pace throughout the contest tracking leader Funky Music (Jarryd Penny) and Brave Viking (Chase Maujean) who were always both drawn against the far rail.

Black Egret lead a few in the middle of the course, whilst most of the field favoured the nearside headed by bottom-weight Now I Got You. Over the final 200m Unzen (10/1) had managed to gain a couple of lengths over the field and the gelded son of Erupt stayed on well to win a good race.

30 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

The four-year-old was one and a quarter length to the good over Funky Music (40/1).

Chyavana (8/1) finished best of all down the stands rail, a neck behind the runner-up.

Brave Viking (25/1) was narrowly denied third, finishing a short head behind in fourth.

Those who selected low runners in their quartet’s were rewarded, as the dividend returned R33,110.

Unzen won in a time of 86.12 and claimed R312,500 for winning connections – Lieveaux, Nestadt, Thomas, van der Linden and Mrs Thomas.

Bred by the Tawny Syndicate, he fetched R230,000. By Erupt out of the Toreador mare Adella, Unzen takes his career earnings to over R606,000.

Now a three-time winner from twelve starts, he was very tenacious at the finish.

Veteran winning trainer Robbie Sage noted that: “This little horse is all heart. First run over this distance, a lovely ride by Denis Schwarz.”

v

Argo Alley (Muzi Yeni) swoops ahead of Tsar Bomba (Craig Zackey) | Credit: JC Photos

ARGO ALLEY’S GOT GAME! The World Sports Betting-sponsored Non-Black Type Heritage Consolation worth R175,000 was won by a very game Argo Alley under a determined Muzi Yeni.

were produced towards Argo Alley’s inside with Tsar Bomba moving best of all. However, Argo Alley and Yeni were not to be denied and the front-runner found more in the closing stages to draw away for a convincing victory.

Argo Alley (4/1) won by a length from Tsar Bomba (20/1) with bottom weight Angel Of War Allowed on set his own fractions down the 1475m Vaal straight, Yeni lead throughout down (7/1) staying on nicely in third place, a further length and a half behind. The winning time the middle of the track in those familiar green recorded was 87.07. and white colours from Angel Of War towards the outside of the course.

Owned by Mr St John Gray, Argo Alley is by Argonaut out of the Jam Alley mare Dance Favourite, The Africa House was content to sit Alley. He was bred by Mr HR Truter. off the pace towards the inside of the field.

A four-year-old gelding, he has had 20 starts for 4 wins and 2 seconds, with earnings Approaching the final 200m, The Africa House of over R368,000. and Tsar Bomba, both in the Wernars silks, 13 DECEMBER 2023 | 31

v

32 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 33

NOW THIS IS PERFECTION! v

Perfection (JP van der Merwe) nabs a perfect victory | Credit: Pauline Herman

34 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 35

v

On a windy sunny Friday afternoon at Fairview, eight runners contested the NonBlack Type Founders Trophy over 1600m on the polytrack, You Know Who being the late withdrawal.

The R175,000 contest went the way of the Gavin Smith trained Perfection (7/2), well ridden by JP van der Merwe for owners Denver Moodley and VC Veeramootoo.

A gelded son of Ideal World out of the Not For Sale mare Quintessential, he was bred by Wilgerbosdrift/Mauritzfontein.

The four-year-old provided the in-form trainer Gavin Smith with a treble on the afternoon after earlier success with easy maiden winner Fire Glow and Global Goddess.

From the start, bottom weight Prince Vihaan set the early fractions under Jabu Jacobs going an even pace from Medlers Tart in second with the winner Perfection well settled in fourth, one off the rails.

Top weight and tote favourite Port Louis was

given a chance settled towards the back of a tightly knit field.

Turning into the short straight and headwind, Prince Vihaan gave a kick from the front end and looked to have poached a good two-length lead around the 200m marker, but the bunch were closing.

Bush Tracker and Gallic Tribe stayed on well, but Perfection finished best of all down the middle of the track to win going away under a hands ride.

Earlier in the day, Gavin Smith had stated that Perfection was in with a realistic chance having a nice galloping weight and being unlucky on his last start when squeezed out at the start.

Perfection won by a length and a quarter from Bush Tracker with a neck back to Gallic Tribe in third. Prince Vihaan was a head away in fourth.

The winning time recorded was 96.04 seconds.

Now a five-time winner from thirteen starts, with stakes earned totalling R468,938, he looks one to follow over a mile.

TALKING THE TALK! Avontuur’s well-bred young stallion Talk Of The Town got off the mark when his two-year-old daughter Famous Lady won the second race at Turffontein on Tuesday.

A first runner for her sire, the Alson Ndzilana trained Famous Lady was always up with the pace in Tuesday’s Book A Table Call 011 681 1796 Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) (800m), and pulled out more in the closing stages, under S’Manga Khumalo, to score on debut by three parts of a length.

Bred by Kilimanjaro Bloodstock, Famous Lady is out of the High Chaparral mare Lady Val. She hails from the first crop of Talk Of The Town, who won three of just five starts in a brief racing career.

36 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

A son of Avontuur’s former top sire Var, Talk Of The Town shares his sire with a host of highclass performers including champions Variety Club, Val De Ra, Via Africa (dam of Australian G1 winner In The Congo), Vardy and Anything Goes.

The chestnut hails from an outstanding female line, with his relatives including not only such successful South African sires such as Northern Guest and Pathfork, but legendary Australian stallion Redoute’s Choice as well.

This is also the family of Desert Lightning, who won the Gr1 TAB Classic at Trentham last Saturday. Desert Lightning, a grandson of Street Cry, is bred on similar lines to Talk Of The Town’s dam Street Wise, with the latter herself a daughter of Street Cry.

v

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 37

v

38 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 39

WHAT A WARRIOR! v

Romantic Warriors all! The happy connections celebrate a super horse after a massive victory at Sha Tin on Sunday | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

40 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 41

v

Romantic Warrior put himself in the pantheon of Hong Kong greats, producing a huge effort to hold off Luxembourg and Hishi Iguazu in a heart-stopping climax to the Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Just 43 days after a historic win in Australia’s premier weight-for-age race, the W.S. Cox Plate, Romantic Warrior looked to have burned off his rivals with a burst of acceleration at the 400-metre mark, before answering jockey James McDonald’s every call as the race came to the boil deep inside the final 200m.

A jubilant McDonald said: “I think he’s the toughest racehorse I’ve ever sat on and his courage, his will to win, is just something that I’ve never felt before.

“I’ve ridden some fantastic racehorses unbelievable ones - and he’s right up there.

42 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

“To come back from a Cox Plate, I thought was going to be a ginormous task.

“Even though it was a small margin, I think he’s come through it with flying colours.”

Romantic Warrior got the perfect draft into the race just off the pace set by Money Catcher, though McDonald admitted that Ryan Moore kicking Luxembourg into the race with 600 metres to run had meant he needed to draw on his superstar partner’s deep reserves of class and courage much earlier than was ideal.

And McDonald was candid in his assessment of the mood in the Romantic Warrior camp ahead of the race.

“It was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been riding the horse,” said McDonald.

“Everything’s been pretty straightforward but there’s always that unknown, coming back

v

from Australia after a really tough run in the Cox Plate (and a) tough run in the Turnbull.

“I’m incredibly proud of him and humbled to be associated with a horse like that.

For him to come here and do what he did in the Hong Kong Cup for a second time after all those hurdles he’s overcome, it’s one of my proudest moments on him.

Owner Peter Lau has been rewarded for his courage in travelling the horse to Australia and now winning the most important all-age race in Hong Kong for a second time, while trainer Danny Shum emerges from the victory with his reputation further enhanced.

“No matter how he was in trackwork, it’s not easy at all, “said Shum. “We’re lucky that Romantic Warrior is a real warrior.”

“He had a hard race and then two days off and a long flight.

“If you’re a human being, when you go overseas you get jet lag, whereas a horse just stays on the box. He’s a tough, tough horse and I love him.”

Shum and Lau will now have to decide on future challenges for the five-year-old

Acclamation gelding, who took his earnings HK$119.7 million dollars, becoming the third horse in Hong Kong racing history to pass the HK$100 million mark.

Asked whether further foreign campaigns could be part of Romantic Warrior’s future, Shum said he would defer to his owner.

“I never told Peter (what to do), he gave me the decision and I followed his plan,” said Shum.

“I don’t think it was his best performance this time; he can do better, we know that.

“But just think about the long flight and a tough race before quarantine. You can imagine it’s really, really hard for a horse. But he can take it, he’s too good.”

Luxembourg, Hishi Iguazu and Straight Arron played their full part in pushing Romantic Warrior to the limit, with Aidan O’Brien particularly proud of the runner-up.

O’Brien said of Luxembourg: “He ran a great race. He was coming and coming and just on the wrong nod he [Romantic Warrior] came back up on him.

“But he ran a stormer, Ryan gave him a great ride. He’s brave and he tries very hard. He’s not been over-raced and he is very consistent.”

James Mcdonald glances to his outside as Romantic Warrior staves off challenges from Luxembourg (Ryan Moore) and Hishi Iguazu (Joao Moreira) in a thrilling climax to the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 43

v

44 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 45

v

46 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

LUCKY EXACTA IN RICH SPEED CLASH Zac Purton has Lucky Sweynesse in charge as Andrea Atzeni challenges late on outsider Lucky With You | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 47

v

Any questions about Lucky Sweynesse loosening his grip on the world’s best sprinter mantle were swept aside when Manfred Man’s speedster surged to victory in the HK$26 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin on Sunday.

It was a redemptive triumph for Lucky Sweynesse, who had no luck in last year’s sprint when he was trapped with nowhere before finishing sixth behind Wellington after a tiring Lim’s Kosciuszko went back through the field.

Momentarily it looked like Lucky Sweynesse was again in need of a big slice of luck at the top of the straight when Zac Purton had to get off heels and hook him around runners to get a clear passage up the straight, but he quickly accelerated to score from the fast-finishing outsider Lucky With You. 2022 winner Wellington finished third.

Hong Kong horses filled the first five positions with Victor The Winner fourth and Duke Wai fifth. And what a difference a year makes.

“That’s horse racing,” Purton said after the win.

“I had the run inside Victor The Winner but when James (McDonald) went for him, he shifted in and hampered me a little bit but he (Lucky Sweynesse) accelerated so quickly, I was able to come out across his heels and he had his chance from there – he did what he had to do. I love him.”

Purton said Lucky Sweynesse deserved the win.

“He’s been our best sprinter for the last year, and he was able to atone for last year,” said Purton, who predicted pre-race Lucky Sweynesse was back to his best after a relatively modest start to the season.

“That’s horse racing,” Purton said after the win | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

48 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

“I could feel in the morning his trackwork had improved, and his action was getting a little bit better. His all-around demeanour in the morning was getting back to where it was last season. I could see he was blossoming at the right time.”

It was Purton’s 11th overall Group One win at the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races.

It was his third victory in the Hong Kong Sprint after a pair off wins by Aerovelocity in 2014 and 2016.

After resuming with two seconds, the gelding scored a narrow victory in the Gr2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin last month.

But the doubters still questioned whether the five-year-old gelding would return to his absolute best, who visibly eased up over the final 50 metres.

Wellington, now under the care of Jamie Richards, hasn’t won a race in seven attempts since winning last December’s big sprint. It was the gelding’s second run back after finishing 10 of 16 in the Gr1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Ascot in June.

favorite last year and it was repeated again this time around. Victor The Winner and Jasper Krone were both in the traditional roles in the front early, with Lucky Sweynesse positioned not far off them.

When Lucky Sweynesse got clear running, he surged past Victor The Winner, to score by three quarters of a length from the fast finishing Lucky With You, while Wellington was a length and three quarter away in third. Victor The Winner was a further two lengths from the winner in fourth. The winning time was 1m 09.25s. Lucky With You’s jockey Andrea Atzeni said the gelding ran a blinder.

“He finished off quite nicely and he was beaten by a champion,” he said.

FOLLOW US on Instagram! sportingpost_za

Europe’s best sprinter Highfield Princess, a four-time Gr1 winner in three different countries, was aiming to be the first raider to win the sprint since Japanese champion Danon Smash’s 2020 success.

Coming off a last start win in the Gr1 Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp (1000m), the John Quinn-trained British star was faced with the obstacles of both a European and a mare never previously winning the race.

The British sprinting queen bypassed last month’s Breeders Cup at Santa Anita in favour of the Hong Kong assignment for trainer John Quinn as she aimed to add the Asian conqueror title to her list of credits, but she finished sixth.

Lucky Sweynesse was sent off as the raging 13 DECEMBER 2023 | 49

v

50 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 51

v

52 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

‘HE’S A MONSTER’ v

– THRILLED JOCK

Vincent Ho greets the enthusiastic local crowd as Golden Sixty returns | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

The Pride of Hong Kong – Golden Sixty – landed a record-tying third HK$32 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile victory on Sunday as a crowd of 65,252 people packed Sha Tin to cheer for their hometown hero.

Returning first-up after a 224-day break between runs, Golden Sixty – an eight-year-old – showed no signs of slowing down with age as jockey Vincent Ho masterfully overcame the widest of 14 barriers to prevail as 2.3 favourite in 1m 34.10s – a length and a half ahead of Voyage Bubble – while Japan’s Namur was third.

“He’s a monster. When I asked him for an effort, he lengthened like I can’t believe – he’s still got that turn of foot. It’s crazy,” Ho said.

Trained by Francis Lui, Golden Sixty joins Good Ba Ba as the race’s second three-time winner, following his victories in 2020 and 2021.

“It’s amazing. I got the three-wide with cover, where I wanted to be and he knows his racing now. He’s never travelled keen with me, he was relaxed all of the way and then when I asked him for an effort, he just gave me 100 percent.

“It’s a great team effort, so thanks to all of the team. It’s not easy to come here at a high level without any preparation.” Ho said.

Slotting in from his draw to travel wide throughout, Ho asked Golden Sixty for an effort at the 400m mark and his answer was immediate – dashing clear by nearly four lengths.

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 53

v

“He’s not eight – he feels like he’s four. I can’t believe it. I was confident, even from gate 14 as long as I could get into the right position.

Everything just went pretty ideal – I visualised this and it happened,” Ho said.

Victory is the Medaglia d’Oro gelding’s 26th at his 30th start, his 10th Group 1 – a Hong Kong record – and enhances his all-time earnings to HK$165.85 million, while Romantic Warrior (HK$119.79 million) and Beauty Generation (HK$106 million) are the only other horses to earn over HK$100 million.

“The whole team did a massive job. For me, of course the next race is the Stewards’ Cup (Gr1, 1600m) and then the Champions Mile (Gr1, 1600m). They are talking about retiring the horse. Of course, it looks like the right thing to do – he has achieved so much – but if he is still performing like this and he loves his racing so much, is it the right thing to take away what he loves?

54 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

“We will of course have to think about that as well. He’s a horse who loves racing – he enjoys it, he enjoys the crowd and as long as he is healthy and competitive, we are happy.

“A lot of people were saying the age of eight is a concern, but to be honest I never doubted him. We’ve looked after him, we’re not running him with top weight in handicaps, and this year he’s only going to race in three races. He’s so amazing when he runs fresh. He’s just an amazing horse,” Ho said.

The 131-rater is slated to retire following his next two runs in 2024, firstly in the Stewards’ Cup on 21 January and FWD Champions Mile on 28 April.

“He is my champion. I think he enjoyed the race – he knew what to do. I was happy with how he improved in every barrier trial. He showed good fighting heart,” Lui said.

v

“Our team did a good job, they looked after the horse very well. I have to say thank you to my team.”

Jockey James McDonald was pleased with 2023 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) winner Voyage Bubble’s effort to finish second.

“That was unbelievable. It was a super performance. I’m so proud of him and Ricky Yiu

has done an amazing job, he’s in for a great season,” McDonald said.

Speaking of Namur’s third placing, jockey William Buick said: “She ran great. She was drawn 12 which wasn’t ideal but I did the thing I had to do and she’s got a good turn of foot which she showed today. We covered a bit of ground but I think everyone will be happy with that. She bumped into a superstar.”

Golden Sixty won his tenth Gr1 on Sunday | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 55

v

56 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 57

v

NINE LONG YEARS LATER…FABRE STRIKES! Maxime Guyon guides Junko to a smooth victory | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

58 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

Andre Fabre’s reputation as an international target trainer is unsurpassed and, nine years after his last victory at Sha Tin, the Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase was the Frenchman’s for a third time on Sunday at Sha Tin. A trailblazer at the Breeders’ Cup, winner of virtually every European Classic and an eternal champion of his homeland, Fabre had flown slightly under the radar with his runner Junko in what had looked hot competition from around the world in the 2400m showdown.

Fabre, though, insisted afterwards that he had felt confident that there was plenty to come from the strapping four-year-old and the positivity was shared by his rider Maxime Guyon, who had also been in the saddle back in 2014 when the globetrotting Flintshire had struck for the same combination.

It was only a month ago that Junko had made his top-level breakthrough in the Grosser Preis von Bayern in very different conditions on soft ground against three rivals but the gelding produced by the famed breeding operation of Alain and Gerard Wertheimer eventually scored with similar conviction.

Settled at the rear of a modest pace set by La City Blanche, Guyon had conceded first run to Ryan Moore and Warm Heart as the gallop picked up turning for home.

Junko came wide of rivals on the bend and tore past Warm Heart and Japanese runner Zeffiro with 200m remaining. Guyon punched the air in celebration as he crossed the line, a length in hand over Zeffiro with Moore’s mount fading to third, two and a quarter lengths in arrears.

“I’m really happy because it’s time to win this race (again). Nine years ago, it was Flintshire,” said Guyon.

“We didn’t know before the race if he would like this ground or not because normally he prefers the soft ground but today in Hong Kong the ground was good.

“We had a good race, we have not a lot of runners so I’m not too far back and just after the last turn, he has a good turn of foot.

“He’s very relaxed and of course the pace is not way fast but the most important thing with the horse is if he’s breathing really good and everything is okay. That’s why I relaxed with him because he he’s very relaxed.”

Guyon quickly offered praise to the trainer who has given him so many fine moments.

“Everybody knows Andre Fabre. He’s the best trainer,” he said.

“He has done a really good job with this horse because he has just won a second Group 1 with this horse - he’s just won a Group 1 in Germany - and he comes to Hong Kong for a win and it’s not easy to do that. I’m really happy for the team.

“It’s a really important place, all the jockeys want to come to Hong Kong to finish the year and it’s a really good weekend.”

Fabre himself had been on the end of three seconds in the Vase since 2014, with Flintshire again a year later, Talismanic in 2017 and Botanik 12 months ago. His first had been with Borgia (1999), who was another of the sort of accomplished frequent flyers that he feels Junko could become.

“I’m really delighted,” he said. “It was expected because he’s improving race after race. He’s not had a lot of races, he’s only four. He had a setback in Deauville so he couldn’t run in the Grand Prix and he had the race in Germany.

He didn’t run that much. He will be back in Dubai, we kept him for that and for the international races.”

FOLLOW US on Instagram! sportingpost_za 13 DECEMBER 2023 | 59

v

60 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 61

v

The official photo of the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup shows James Mcdonald keeping Romantic Warrior going to hold off Ryan Moore on Luxembourg | Credit: HKJC

HE’S THE WORLD’S BEST! While the Aidan O’Brien-trained Luxembourg came within a heartbeat of a Grade 1 victory at a jam-packed Sha Tin on Sunday, which would have put the cherry on top of a terrific week, Ryan Moore still jets out of the racing-crazy bustling city this week as the proudly newly crowned four-time winner of the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey Award.

Moore and the top-class Luxembourg found James Mcdonald and recent Cox Plate winner Romantic Warrior in fighting trim, and failed narrowly to collar the Danny Shum giant as he took his earnings over the HK$ 100 million threshold with a glorious second consecutive victory in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup. “He ran a very big race. I was delighted with him,” said Ryan Moore of the gutsy runner-up in the Turf World Championship where he has won all four Gr1 events previously.

At a well-attended function last Friday evening at the plush Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Ryan was awarded the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey crown for 2023, tying with Frankie Dettori for the most victories in the prestigious award.

The European-based rider was the inaugural 62 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

winner of the award in 2014, and won it again in 2016 and 2021.

Moore claimed the title with victories in eight of the ‘World’s Top 100 Gr1 Races’, including successes in the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (Wellington), Tattersalls Gold Cup (Luxembourg), Epsom Derby (Auguste Rodin), St James’s Palace Stakes (Paddington), Coral-Eclipse (Paddington), Qatar Sussex Stakes (Paddington), Irish Champion Stakes (Auguste Rodin) and the Breeders’ Cup Turf (Auguste Rodin).

Ryan won this year’s award comfortably, totalling 156 points, 36 more than Dettori (120), while James McDonald, who won the title last year, was third with 116 points. The scoring process rewards jockeys for finishing in the top three of races.

v

The 100 highest-rated Group 1 races are as established for the year by the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings Committee.

The scoring incorporates races from 1 December of the previous year until 30 November of the current year. Jockeys accrue 12 points for a win, 6 points for placing second, and 4 points for placing third.

When called upon in the capacity packed auditorium, the camera focussed on the champion, who clearly prefers riding winners to delivering speeches!

In accepting the award, he said he always wanted to ride the best horses, ‘and the best horses win the best races’.

Ryan was presented with a magnificent LONGINES Spirit Zulu Time watch from LONGINES Vice President Marketing Bernardo Tribolet, and a crystal vase by The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, in his role as Chair of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).

Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges thanked the self-effacing rider for everything he did to promote the sport of horseracing.

victory in last year’s Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint, had rides in all four Group 1 races at Sha Tin on what was a steaming hot Sunday.

He only returned to riding at Happy Valley’s Wednesday 6 December LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship following a fall in Japan last month. He won the second leg of the fourrace championship, which was won by Vincent Ho on M Unicorn.

Ryan was born in Brighton and despite his family being steeped in horse racing, as a youngster, he wanted to be a footballer. He even had trials with local club, Brighton and Hove Albion.

But he took up racing at the age of 16, skipping his A-levels to concentrate on his new career.

Despite all his success and being in the spotlight on the racecourses of the world, Ryan has kept his personal life close to his chest.

What is known is that he is married to Michelle Saunders, with the couple having four children.

He holds the distinction of being the only rider in Britain to break the £8 million barrier for domestic winnings in a single season, which he achieved in 2016.

Ryan said getting to ride all around the world and competing against everyone else means more.

“I am very fortunate,” he added, thanking ‘the best team’ and saying he was grateful for the support he received from Coolmore and Ballydoyle.

“I get to ride some really good horses for great owners and trainers. When I started, the aim was to ride in the best races on the best horses. That’s what it really is always about.”

Moore, who rode Wellington to

Ryan Moore shows off his beautiful trophy and new-age watch received from the sponsors in Hong Kong last Friday evening | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 63

v

64 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 65

v

SIMPLY, DIFFERENT CLASS!

66 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

Turnover on the meeting was HK$1.697 billion, which included a commingling turnover record for a 10-race Hong Kong meeting of HK$429.6 millioN Hong Kong Jockey Club celebrate a magic end to a day of fireworks and thrills on and off the track | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 67

v

The curtain came down on a great day of horseracing at Sha Tin on Sunday as over 65 000 fans converged on the world-class arena to celebrate the Turf World Championships.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges has praised the 2023 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) as “one of the best days of racing” Hong Kong has hosted.

“In my humble opinion, I’ve been here now for 25 years and this was one of the best - if not the best - days of racing we have had in Hong Kong,” Engelbrecht-Bresges said.

“If I look at the situation after Covid, after we had last year already a good meeting, but today Hong Kong racing has established (itself) again on the global stage and has shown what sporting entertainment means.

68 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

A crowd of 65,252 – the largest LONGINES HKIR attendance since 2019 – flocked to Sha Tin. On a day when Hong Kong racing shone on the international stage as local champions – Lucky Sweynesse (LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint), Golden Sixty (LONGINES Hong Kong Mile) and Romantic Warrior (LONGINES Hong Kong Cup) – won three of the four elite Group 1 contests, France also extended its successful association with the “Turf World Championships” with Junko (LONGINES Hong Kong Vase).

“When you look at the sporting performances, it was a fantastic win by Junko and Andre Fabre, who is one of the greatest supporters of Hong Kong racing,” Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges said.

Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges thanked international and local owners, trainers and jockeys, as well as Club staff for the staging of an unforgettable meeting.

v

“I would like especially to thank the connections, because this would not be possible without the tremendous support from horsemen around the world,” Mr EngelbrechtBresges said.

Addressing Hong Kong’s effort to win three of the four LONGINES HKIR Group 1s for the second year in a row, Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges said: “We had a sprint race where we had the best sprinter in the world (Lucky Sweynesse) establish himself after there was doubt. And I have witnessed this year two absolutely amazing performances, if you look at Equinox in Dubai and I had the pleasure to see Equinox in Japan.

“I’m not saying the performance of Golden Sixty is the same as Equinox, but in the Mile I have very seldom seen the performance of a horse, an eight-year-old first time up drawn gate 14, and it was an absolutely brilliant ride

by Vincent (Ho).

“There was a lot of doubt how it would play out and it was a tactical masterpiece how the horse was positioned. When the horse accelerated, when you could hear the crowd cheering for the local champion, this was something which, in my view, was unforgettable.

“Then probably the most exciting 2000m race (Hong Kong Cup) I have seen this year. Similar to the Cox Plate, where you had really top horses fighting it out at the top of the straight.

That a Hong Kong horse (Romantic Warrior) won is good, but when you look at the form of Luxembourg, again sporting wise it was a fantastic performance.”

Hong Kong Jockey Club Executive Director, Racing Mr Andrew Harding described Sunday’s race meeting as “truly remarkable” with Ho’s LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship as one of several highlights of the week.

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 69

v

“The week indeed has had so many remarkable threads. I take Vincent’s victory on Wednesday night (6 December) in a field of literally superstars and it speaks to the depth of the Club’s commitment to developing local talent,” he said.

and we were able to give our visitors a fantastic week.”

“We were proud of what we were able to achieve during the dark days of the pandemic.

Today showed that in December Hong Kong is the place to be and that the eyes of the racing world turn to us.

“We have a team dedicated to excellence and that makes the Jockey Club proud. It has shown today and the whole week that Hong Kong is back on the global stage and that Hong Kong racing is one of the global racing products which I feel as a city we should be proud of.”

“I’m just so proud that we were able to show the world that Hong Kong is Asia’s world city

Mr Engelbrecht-Bresges thanked Club staff in staging the flagship meeting and for allowing Hong Kong to shine.

Proud leader! Hong Kong Jockey Club Chief Executive Officer Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges| Credit: HKJC

70 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

s g n i t a M r u o Y g Plannin for this Yd ineSaourth?Africa? v

Interested in sires at stu

DIRECTORY OF SIRES

2023 - SOUTH AFRIC

anding in South Africa

Sires st The ONLY Directory of

n incl. packed with informatio es re - extended pedig s - pedigree evaluation raphs - conformation photog - statistics

A

In Print & Online To order your book contact email: kiki.miedema@gmail.com or visit the website

www.raceform.co.za 13 DECEMBER 2023 | 71

v

Russian Rock silences the crowd as he beats Linebacker in the 2020 Gr1 Cape Guineas | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

ARQANA STAR’S SA CONNECTIONS

Talented Group One winner Place Du Carrousel (Lope De Vega), who was sold for a record breaking €4,025,000 at Arqana on Saturday, has strong South African connections.

A winner of five of ten starts, notably the 2022 Gr1 Prix de L’Opera Longines, 2023 Gr2 Qatar Prix Foy, 2023 Gr3 Prix GontautBiron Hong Kong Jockey Club, and 2022 Gr3 Prix Cleopatre, Place Du Carrousel earned £446,455 during a career which saw her also finish runner up in the 2022 Gr1 Prix Saint-Alary.

She is out of the high-class racemare Traffic Jam, a daughter of the former Drakenstein 72 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

Stud based stallion Duke Of Marmalade. Traffic Jam, one of 51 stakes winners for Duke Of Marmalade, won three times, including the 2017 Gr2 Prix du Conseil de Paris.

Place Du Carrousel is not the only stakes winner sired by dual French classic winner Lope De Vega out of a mare sired by Duke Of Marmalade, with dual G3 winner Antonia De Vega another bred on this cross.

v

The well bred Traffic Jam, a daughter of the Sadler’s Wells daughter Place De L’Etoile, hails from a family responsible for numerous high-class performers in South Africa.

to the Gr1 winning fillies Tuesday (Cazoo Oaks, Maker’s Mark Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf) and Empress Josephine (Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas).

Traffic Jam’s third dam Hiwaayti (Shadeed) also ranks as the granddam of 2020 Gr1 Cape Racing Presents The Cape Guineas winner Russian Rock (Pomodoro), whose dam Elisium (Proclamation) is out of Hiwaayti.

In turn, Place Du Carrousel is descended directly in female line from Belle Sauvage (Big Game), the third dam of outstanding South African broodmare Lorehana (Lord Henham).

Inded, Hiwaayti’s influence continues to grow -her champion, and seven time Gr1 winning, great granddaughter Minding (Galileo) ranks as the dam of 2023 Gr1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes/G2 Coolmore Stud Wootton Bassett Irish EBF Futurity Stakes winner Henry Longfellow (Dubawi).

Minding, out of the dual Gr1 winner Lille Langtry (Danehill Dancer), is a full-sister

The latter produced dual South African champion Arabian Lass (Al Mufti), as well as Arabian Lass’ graded stakes winning ownbrothers Prairie Breeze and Princely Affair.

What’s more, Lorehana is also granddam of Gr1 winners Arabian Beat (Black Minnaloushe) and Smart Banker (Strike Smartly), as well as Fort Wood’s graded stakes winners, Banker’s Gold and National Banker.

Arqana November 2023 salestopper - Zarak (Dubawi X Zarkava) | Credit: arqanaonline

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 73

v

74 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

Visit facebook.com/Hollywoodbets to see the full bet taken!

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 75

v

Twice Over (Observatory(USA) – Double Crossed (GB)) | Credit: Supplied

76 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

We absolutely have to be importing more – and better – stallions. Until that happens, we could be making better use of the stallions we have, especially the ones of known ability

STALLIONS:

LOVE THE ONES YOU HAVE Over the past six months, stallions have occupied a great deal of my attention, for obvious reasons.

Oscar Foulkes writes that if he doesn’t get his choices right this breeding season, our broodmares are going to be producing foals that will either be hard or easy to sell in 2026. Of course, the most important part of the project is to breed good horses, but without cash flow there is no business.

My decision tree is simplified – or complicated – by my lack of access to Gimme and Vercingetorix. This has necessitated a deep dive into strike rates, and stats in general, which has yielded a small group of proven stallions that I’m comfortable with using this year.

My view is that we’re in a stallion crisis that has grown over the past year.

When one considers that there has been just one retirement of a northern hemisphere Grade/Group One winner this season (Digital Age), and he is the first since

Lancaster Bomber and Danon Platina, who were preceded by Erupt, there are too few prospects in the wings.

And it’s not as if there has been an abundance of other stallion imports.

When it comes to stats, my preference is to look at stallions from the perspective of their numbers of winners, stakeswinners and Grade I winners, expressed as a percentage of their foal numbers (not runners).

For a quick snapshot of the extent of the problem we face, have a look at the list of sires of threeyear-olds (https://www.nhra.co.za/ index.php/statistics/breeding).

The ages of the stallions aren’t indicated, but you would be correct in observing that the list is made up of older stallions.

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 77

v

Returning to the strike rates, these are benchmarks to bear in mind:

In essence, a rate of 50% winners from foals is average, as is 3.5% stakes-winners. Very few stallions in South Africa are improving on these percentages by a meaningful degree.

I would usually remove just the current crop of

two-year-olds, but seeing as we’re still early in the season, I’ve also removed the three-yearolds.

This is what the lifetime stats of the top six looks like (active stallions only):

Leading Sires of Three-Year-Olds (2023/24 season)

Winner% SW%

Vercingetorix Gimmethegreenlight Querari Master of My Fate Potala Palace What A Winter With the exception of Potala Palace, for which this crop of three-year-olds is his first proper size, this group of stallions is what one would call ‘commercial’.

78 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

63% 59% 62% 59% 41% 58%

9.7% 8.5% 6.1% 4.7% 3.1% 4.3%

In no particular order, here’s a group of stallions that are comparatively less successful in the sales ring, and are consequently not supported to the same extent:

Winner%

Futura Ideal World Pathfork Elusive Fort Flower Alley What A Winter

53% 63% 61% 61% 54% 58%

SW%

9.2% 6.9% 6.5% 4.2% 5.9% 4.3%

v

I have removed Futura’s two Zimbabwean stakes-winners to give a fairer reflection of quality. I could have included The United States on this list, but with just 76 foals aged four and older it’s not a representative sample.

Another with an unrepresentative sample is Legislate, with just 35 foals aged four and older.

He’s the poster child for superlative strike rate, with 83% winners and 22.8% stakes-winners.

However, seeing as he is book is limited to just 50 shareholders’ mares, his inclusion is academic.

If we were making a list of stallions by strike rate of producing Grade I winners, Twice Over would have to be on it.

Sticking with the use of that operative word, IF you take just his colts, and only in the crops in which he fired (because for some reason he drew blanks for three consecutive crops), he has 10% stakes-winning colts (crops 2014, 2018 and 2019). The percentage grows when you’re selective about the physical individual that you buy. It’s easy to understand why Nick Jonsson is a fan.

the annual crop size, and therefore the racing population, ensuring that these stallions get full books would be an excellent place to start. Of course, it would help if the buyers who usually load up on high-priced yearlings by the obvious stallions also added a few by the ‘value’ stallions.

This doesn’t change what in the longer term is potentially an existential problem.

We absolutely have to be importing more – and better – stallions. Until that happens, we could be making better use of the stallions we have, especially the ones of known ability.

FOLLOW US on Instagram! sportingpost_za

While the exploits of Royal Victory have caused Pathfork to have a sudden end-of-season rush, I do not believe that any of these five ‘value’ stallions is getting a full book this year, and yet their strike rates indicate that the possibility of getting a good horse is every bit as good as from the group of ‘commercial’ stallions.

The picture becomes more interesting when you adjust for the quality of mares covered by these stallions, because the top commercial stallions are covering ‘the best’ mares.

Looking at this from the perspective of growing 13 DECEMBER 2023 | 79

v

FOLLOW US on Instagram! sportingpost_za

80 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

THE HIGHWAY TO 111 Cosmic Highway has had his rating increased from 108 to 111 after producing an impressive finish to win the Gr2 Cape Merchants at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday, 10 December 2023.

increase was 2nd placed Countdown, who goes up to 108 from 107.

It was the ever-consistent Surjay, who was used as the line horse to rate this race, which leaves his rating unchanged on a mark of 119.

Look For Hounds was dropped slightly from 114 to 113 and Mufasa received a two-pound drop to 100 from 102.

The only other horse to receive a rating’s

•Media release by NHA on 11 December 2023

Double Superlative (overall profile assessment) and After The Rain were each given two pounds drops, from 120 to 118, and from 104 to 102, respectively.

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 81

DECLARATIONOFPEACE (USA) v

War Front - Serena’s Cat (Storm Cat)

Stands at MacRath Stud in Nottingham Road • The son of brilliant American sire War Front has enjoyed two full books of mares in his first two years at stud, His mare book includes Gr1 producing mares such as Mystery Dame (Lady In Black and Nexus) and Bloomhill mare, Wysiwyg – the dam of Bohica and Bartholdi.

• A $2,6-million weanling who is a half-brother to Gr1 winner Honor Code and Gr2 winner Noble Tune, Declarationofpeace has also enjoyed significant support from breeders outside of the KZN province, with Cape mares travelling for cover.

• Declarationofpeace is throwing quality and size into his foals and his first yearlings will be on offer in the sales rings in 2024.

Service Fee: R 20 000 Live foal Enquiries and Booking: Mike McHardy (083 447 5315) advertorial

82 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 83

v

COLOUR UP DREAMS OF DUBAI WORLD CUP It’s never too early to start dreaming of Dubai World Cup day success and the connections of Colour Up can do just that after their five-year-old painted a pretty picture in the Listed Al Garhoud Sprint (Presented by Azizi) at Meydan on Friday evening.

Fourth in the Gr3 Mahab Al Shimaal when last seen in March, the Mehmas gelding did it the

84 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

hard way after being bumped at the start and then forced wide.

Ridden by Sam Hitchcott who kept a cool head, he flew into the lead at the top of the straight and although tiring close home, had enough left to beat Leading Spirit by a quarter of a length. Saleymm was a good third on local debut.

v

“He’s a real nice horse,” said trainer Doug Watson of Sayed Hashish’s gelding. “A lot of our horses have been coming up a little bit short and he was getting tired at the end but hopefully he’ll move up from here.”

“It was a bit messy early, I wanted to be third or fourth, but everyone wanted the same position,” said Hitchcott, deputising for the injured Pat Dobbs. “He’s done it really well in the end and has really filled out this season.

“These are the races we all come for.

Commiserations to Pat, but it’s nice to get the opportunity and when you get it, it’s nice to produce.”

THE SPRINT IS INTERACTIVE PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE STORY

Sam Hitchcott drives Colour Up to victory | Credit: ERA

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 85

v

October Morn (Gareth Wright in blue cap) finishes a close-up fourth in the Gr2 feature | Credit: Chase Liebenberg 86 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

v

‘UPGRADE COMMON SENSE’- RACING FAN 13 DECEMBER 2023 | 87

v

The substitution of leading rider Aldo Domeyer just sixteen minutes before the official carded off-time of the wsb. co.za Gr2 Southern Cross Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday has been slammed by a number of punters.

Domeyer, a talented rider at the top end of the scale, was engaged to ride the smart sprinter and was subsequently hit with a R3 000 fine after he signed an admission of guilt for a contravention of rule 55.4. He failed to weigh out at the carded weight. Murphy’s Law threw a curved ball into the equation, with a rough race that saw October Morn run a dirty fourth for exotic backers.

Reader Fred Cochrane wrote to the Sporting Post Mailbag on Monday and said that he noted that everybody was raving about the upgrade in facilities at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, ‘but what about an upgrade in common sense, transparency and accountability?’

Mr Cochrane asks:

• The race card was out on Tuesday – when last did Domeyer ride 56kgs?

• Did he work hard enough to get down to the carded weight?

• Why was the public only informed about the jockey change just before the canter down?

• Do the rules allow for the Bass yard and Domeyer to be punished for this?

• We have no doubt that Domeyer wanted the potential Gr2 winning ride and he has been penalised.

Mr Cochrane points out that in the 2015 Vodacom Durban July Tellina was fancied to win by many shrewdies – he finished 3rd at big odds. The stipes report indicated that jockey Johnny Geroudis rode 1.5kgs overweight – there was no correspondence about this beforehand, he says.

88 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

He asks when punters will be protected from ‘all these basic and unnecessary negative occurrences’ and adds that after the jump of the stayers race on Saturday there was a lady still working on the track around the bend. Can you imagine if she had poor hearing and sight, he adds.

We copied the Fred Cochrane letter to both Cape Racing and the NHA for comment, as well as to a representative of the Bass yard.

“Unfortunately, there is nothing to add from a Cape Racing perspective as we have no jurisdiction over this matter. We found out about the jockey change when everybody else did. I imagine Mr Domeyer was attempting to make the weight, just failing. 56kg is not miles off his comfort zone, so I am not sure that the figure would raise too many “red flags”, but that is for the NHRA to decide on,” said Justin Vermaak.

NHA Racing Control Executive Arnold Hyde responded, saying that Vermaak had summarised the situation ‘perfectly’ and he confirmed that action was taken, as per the Stipendiary Stewards report.

“We will continue to monitor this matter,” he concluded.

v

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 89

v

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES Invitation By The Nha For Submission Of Comments The National Horseracing Authority invites all stakeholders and members of the public for comments on proposed amendments to the Rules.

The associated proposed amendments to the Rules have been published on the NHA website and open for comment until midnight South African Standard Time (SAST) on 7 January 2024.

As a reminder, to access the proposed amendments to the Rules and to comment thereon, kindly go on to the NHA website (www.nhra.co.za) 90 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

On the website landing page: Step 1: Register or if already registered go to Step 2: Confirm email (click link sent on email) Step 3: Log On Step 4: Complete Comments (to submit comments click SAVE NOW) – You may edit your submission at any time before 7 January 2024.

• No comments can be made after 7 January 2024.

• All comments entered on the site will be considered as final on the submission date.

• The NHA may not necessarily respond to any submission directly, but all comments will be considered by the National Board of the NHA before the finalisation of any amendments.

• Media release by NHA on 08 December 2023

v

13 DECEMBER 2023 | 91

v

El Fabiolo jumps with precision | Credit: Racing Post

THE ANGLO-IRISH SHOWDOWN The scene is set for a classic AngloIrish Cheltenham showdown after Jonbon’s success at Sandown and El Fabiolo maintaining his unbeaten run over timber at Cork on Sunday.

Trainer Willie Mullins noted post-race: “Paul was trying to not let his head go as he didn’t want him running too free. He relaxed at the second fence down the back straight and was able to do things properly. If he needed a race, Fil Dor was there to test him, and he did.”

The Nicky Henderson trained Jonbon has now won 12 of his 14 National Hunt starts with only the mighty Constitution Hill too good in the 2022 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and El Fabiolo in last season’s Arkle.

Only beaten a neck by Jonbon in the 2022 Aintree Hurdle, the six-year-old is 7 from 8 with Mullins, including five unbeaten chases. One of those chases was the Arkle at Cheltenham where he powered home five and a half lengths clear of Jonbon.

This season, the John McManus owned sevenyear-old has won the Gr2 Shloer Chase and Saturday’s Gr1 Tingle Creek, beating multiple Group 1 winner Edwardstone on both occasions.

Henderson cited the Clarence House and the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase at Newbury as possible targets for Jonbon after his uncomplicated success in the Tingle Creek.

El Fabiolo was far too good in the Gr2 Hilly Way Chase at Cork, travelling enthusiastically and jumping with precision in the hands of Paul Townend on his way to a straightforward fourand-three-quarter-length victory.

92 | 13 DECEMBER 2023

Mullins is keen to travel across the Irish Sea with El Fabiolo before Cheltenham as he did with Energumene last season, so the Group 1 Clarence House Chase at Ascot on January 20 could well be their next meeting.

“Jonbon did his job nicely, we got the job done today and we all have to get to Cheltenham,” said Mullins. “I don’t know where we’ll go now – we’ll look at Christmas, but he’ll probably go to Ascot.”

El Fabiolo remains a top-priced evens for the Champion Chase with Jonbon next on offer at 9-4.

v

results up to: 2023-12-13

TRAINERS Name

Runs

Wins Win%

2nd

3rd

Other Places

Place %

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

Mr S J Snaith

391

45

11.5

51

43

67

161

41.2

3,760,819

5,985,750

Mrs C L Bass-Robinson

252

34

13.5

28

26

56

110

43.7

3,250,000

4,558,775

Mr M F de Kock

200

27

13.5

31

27

35

93

46.5

1,921,250

4,536,438

Mr B J Crawford

295

36

12.2

28

34

49

111

37.6

2,660,694

4,184,006

Mr A P Peter

174

40

23.0

28

19

30

77

44.3

3,095,313

4,043,938

Name

Runs

Wins Win%

2nd

3rd

Other Places

Place %

Win Stake (R)

Total Stakes (R)

Mr R D Fourie

552

109

19.7

94

62

124

280

50.7

6,694,250

10,615,950

Mr M A Yeni

576

83

14.4

81

65

138

284

49.3

8,045,938

10,791,275

Mr G J Lerena

352

61

17.3

54

62

64

180

51.1

4,504,875

6,737,400

Mr C J Habib

443

51

11.5

38

50

83

171

38.6

3,501,250

5,221,088

Mr C Zackey

527

50

9.5

69

54

116

239

45.4

3,840,625

6,713,769

JOCKEYS

BREEDERS Name

Runrs Runs

AEPR

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

Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein

250

789

40,079

81

99

32.4

335

5

5

10,019,713

Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)

141

405

68,765

50

71

35.5

178

9

9

9,695,931

Klawervlei Stud

194

614

29,123

50

57

25.8

244

0

0

5,649,938

Varsfontein Stud

118

389

45,993

30

37

25.4

156

2

2

5,427,231

Ridgemont Highlands

115

343

35,438

31

41

27.0

142

0

0

4,075,344

Name

Runrs Runs

AEPR

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

Gimmethegreenlight (AUS)

174

489

41,287

39

49

22.4

215

3

3

7,184,013

Pathfork (USA)

52

178

110,523

23

29

44.2

69

3

4

5,747,175

Vercingetorix

152

430

37,304

46

55

30.3

161

1

1

5,670,250

Master Of My Fate

154

491

35,918

45

55

29.2

208

1

1

5,531,313

Querari (GER)

149

465

36,340

44

49

29.5

201

4

4

5,414,725

SIRES

See all the detailed standings - Click here 13 DECEMBER 2023 | 93

v

94 | 13 DECEMBER 2023