SP 19 July 2023

ROCKS!

WET, WET, WET!

On a wet Tuesday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, only one race was run. Photographer Chase Liebenberg captured Louis Mxothwa alighting from thirdplacer Charlene.

ANOTHER CHANCE TO FIND YOUR CHAMP

BSA August 2yo Sale graduate Jimmy Don |

Credit: JC Photos

The BSA August Two Year Old Sale has strong claims to being the best value for money thoroughbred auction in South Africa. Boasting a long list of outstanding alumni, the August Sale turns up a host of top-class prospects every year.

In 2021, graduates of the August Two Year Old Sale to make their mark in black type races included the likes of Ekoria, Galla Vanting, Ipso Facto, Jimmy Don, Machete Man, Taikonaut, and the luckless Feather Boa, to name but a few.

Last year has already produced a number of exciting gallopers headed by such promising performers as Guy Gibson, Rani Of Kittur, and White Pearl, with, no doubt, a host of other potential stars yet to be unveiled.

This year, the sale is set to take place at the TBA Complex in Germiston on Saturday August 26 and Sunday 27 August, and the catalogue for the 2023 August Two Year Old Sale.

Saturday’s session will get underway at midday, while the second and final day of the August Sale has been set to commence at 11h00 sharp. Many of South Africa’s top farms have strong drafts on offer, and hopes are high that the positive trends seen at recent thoroughbred auctions will continue at the Two Year Old Sale.

Prominent stallions represented at the 2023 August Two Year Old Sale include

Gimmethegreenlight, Master Of My Fate, Querari, Rafeef, Trippi, Var, Vercingetorix and What A Winter, while top British sprinter Twilight Son, who stands at Cheveley Park Stud in Newmarket, has a well bred filly on the sale.

Sires to be represented by their first two-yearolds at this sale include Buffalo Bill Cody, Last Winter, One World, Soqrat and Talk Of The Town.

Potential standout lots on offer at the 2023 August Two Year Old Sale include:

• Lot 15 -a Var colt out of the multiple graded stakes winner Queen’s Bay

• Lot 21 -a Soqrat half-sister to 2023 Listed

East Cape Nursery winner Vision Of Wonder

• Lot 29 -a Master Of My Fate half-brother to millionaire Matador Man

• Lot 33 -a filly by The United States out of stakes winner Sapphire Ring

• Lot 34 -a Futura half-brother to 2 Gr1 winners including 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Winchester Mansion

• Lot 37 -a What A Winter half-brother to G2

Umkhomazi Stakes winner Hack Green

• Lot 45-an Act Of War half-sister to G2 winner

Gimme A Shot

• Lot 52 -a Vercingetorix own-sister to G2

Anthonij Rupert Wyne Premier Trophy winner

Rascallion

• Lot 53 -a Gimmethegreenlight colt out of Gr1 winner Soft Landing

• Lot 54 -a Querari colt out of a Gr3 winning daughter of Trippi

• Lot 57 -a Danon Platina half-brother to G2

Jonsson Workwear Dingaans winner Union Square

• Lot 67 -a Gimmethegreenlight half-sister to Quasiforsure

• Lot 84 -a Vercingetorix 3/4 brother to dual G3 winner Sunshine Silk

• Lot 88 -a Vercingetorix half-sister to Gr2

Joburg Spring F&M Challenge winner Vistula

• Lot 98 -a Vercingetorix 3/4 sister to Gr1

Gauteng Chris Gerber Summer Cup winner

Zillzaal

• Lot 109 -a Gimmethegreenlight filly out of a stakes winning granddaughter of outstanding producer Mystic Spring

• Lot 113 -a Rafeef colt out of a Gr1 winning daughter of Fort Wood

• Lot 123 -a Master Of My Fate colt out of Gr1

Golden Slipper winner Bilateral

• Lot 164 -a Gimmethegreenlight colt out of Gr3 Yellowwood Handicap winner Enchanted Kingdom

• Lot 172 -a Rafeef half-sister to Gr3 Three

Troikas Stakes winner Mount Laurel

• Lot 176 -a Rafeef colt out of Gr3 winner Folk

Dance

• Lot 177 -a Master Of My Fate colt out of Gr1

Golden Slipper winner For The Lads

• Lot 180 -a filly by The United States out of a stakes winning daughter of Silvano

• Lot 196 -a Lancaster Bomber half-brother to Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship winner

Sweet Pepper

• Lot 201-a Vercingetorix 3/4 sister to Gr1 winning filly Happy Valentine

• Lot 211 -a Buffalo Bill Cody half-brother to graded stakes winners Big Burn and Catch

Twentytwo

• Lot 219 -a Rafeef half-brother to Gr2 Senor Santa Handicap winner Dollar Dazzler

• Lot 229 -a What A Winter colt out of Gr1 winner Juxtapose

• Lot 240 -a Vercingetorix half-sister to Gr2

4Racing Camellia Stakes winner Celestial Love

• Lot 241 -an Erupt half-brother to Gr1 SA

Derby winner Out Of Your League

• Lot 246 -a Fire Away half-sister to Gr2 winner

Hoedspruit

• Lot 257 -a Fire Away colt out of Gr3 Acacia

Handicap winner Milk And Honey

• Lot 273 -a Flower Alley own-brother to dual Oaks winner None Other

• Lot 277 -a Gimmethegreenlight own-sister to Gr2 Fillies Championship winner Third Runway

THE SPRINT IS INTERACTIVE

SEE THE BSA AUGUST 2YO SALE CATALOGUE BY CLICKING HERE.

HONG KONG WINNER FOR FLOWER ALLEY

Bloodstock South Africa graduates have enjoyed plenty of success in Hong Kong over the years, and the BSA sold Parterre provided Bloodstock South Africa with yet more glory when he won a good race at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Trained by Tony Millard, the Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein bred Parterre claimed his first win on Hong Kong soil when he won Sunday’s Big Profit Handicap at Sha Tin.

Under Karis Teetan, the six-year-old Parterre hit the front two furlongs from home in Sunday’s seven furlong contest before holding on well to win by a neck.

Fourth last time out when beaten just two lengths in the Continuous Development 1400

Handicap, Parterre had won twice in South Africa, prior to being exported, and was also third in the 2020 G3 City Of Cape Town Politician Stakes and fourth in the same year’s Gr1 ARF Commemorative Cape Derby.

The gelding, a son of Flower Alley and the Oasis Dream mare Square Dance, was a R650 000 purchase from the 2018 National Yearling Sale.

Parterre’s sire Flower Alley has four lots on offer at this year’s August Two Year Old Sale (headed by a full-brother to dual Oaks winner None Other), while Square Dance, the dam of both Parterre and Gr2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans victor Union Square, has a Danon Platina colt on sale at the 2023 August Two Year Old Sale.

DANON’S MIA

WINS IN THE WET

Mia’s Harper is a fluent winner under Keagan de Melo in the wet | Credit: Chase Liebenberg

Scientists say that the heavy rains that have been hammering the Western Cape in recent months are ‘at least as rare as one-in-20 to one-in-100 years’ and Cape Racing found themselves under Mother Nature’s cosh again on Tuesday.

The Hollywoodbets Kenilworth racemeeting was postponed after the running of the first race after a period of heavy rain.

After the odds-on favourite Mia’s Harper won the first, the jockeys returned with concerns about the visibility and underfoot conditions.

Cape Racing Executive Justin Vermaaak confirmed that two horses had galloped under experienced jockeys JP van der Merwe and Grant Van Niekerk on Tuesday morning at

10h00. Based on what the riders reported, and the weather forecast, a decision was made to proceed with the racemeeting.

Regrettably, heavy rain fell prior to and during the first race.

“I personally walked the course and can only support the jockeys in their concerns about the surface and visibility. The conditions were bad and we do not wish to risk injury to life and limb of horse or rider. It is regrettable that the weather forecast went against us,” added Vermaak.

The balance of the meeting will be run at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Wednesday, 26 July.

Mia’s Harper was Mauritzfontein’s exciting young sire Danon Platina, who is currently involved in a titantic struggle for the title of

South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire of 2022-2023, 17th first crop winner.

An eye catching second at her only previous start, Mia’s Harper was sent off a well backed favourite for the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Welcomes You Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) run in the near dark over 1200m.

Under a positive ride from Keagan De Melo, the Dean Kannemeyer trained filly hit the front a long way from home, and kept finding gamely to go on and score by a comfortable two lengths.

Bred and owned by Khaya Stables, Mia’s Harper is out of the Captain

Al mare Captain’s Corner.

She joins an ever-growing list of winners for her sire Danon Platina, Japan’s Champion 2YO Colt of 2014. Others include impressive Highveld Winter Juvenile Fillies Stakes

winner White Pearl, Bloodstock SA Sales Cup (Fillies) queen Betula, and the likes of Oriental Bouquet, Kyomai, Romance In Rome, and Platina Princess.

Danon Platina was the sire of the first three home in the Highveld Winter Juvenile Fillies Stakes and the first two home in the Bloodstock SA Sales Cup (Fillies) this season.

At the time of writing, Danon Platina had been responsible for more two-year-old winners this season than such star sires as What A Winter, Vercingetorix, Querari, Rafeef and Trippi.

A son of Deep Impact, also sire of the 2023 Gr1 Betfred Derby winner Auguste Rodin, Danon Platina has 14 lots on offer at the 2023 August Two Year Old Sale.

STALLIONS 2023

CANFORD CLIFFS R20,000 (LIVE FOAL)

MALMOOS R25,000 (LIVE FOAL)

NEW PREDATOR R12,500 (LIVE FOAL)

PATHFORK R5,000 (LIVE FOAL)

POTALA PALACE R5,000 (LIVE FOAL)

RAFEEF R70,000 (R20,000 UP FRONT + R50,000 LIVE FOAL)

REAL GONE KID

FEE ON APPLICATION

TRADITION OF CHAMPIONS

Five days after the unfortunate incident in the final race at Friday’s Fairview racemeeting ,where jockey Gabriell Pieterse was injured, there has not been an official word from Nelson Mandela Bay racing operator, 4Racing.

Young rider Gabriell Pieterse was dislodged when he became severely unbalanced after having to check his mount Maiden’s Cove away from the heels of another runner, shortly after the field had passed the winning post for the first time.

While we do not agree with his stance in standing by his personnel and the lack of detail in the official Stipes report, full marks to NHA CEO Vee Moodley for being prepared to speak to the media. He has taken a lot of stick for suggesting that the correct decision was made in the circumstances that prevailed.

An informal poll conducted by the Sporting Post had 89% of respondents suggesting that the race should have been stopped, while 8% agreed with the Stipes to let it run.

The Sporting Post has since learnt that there were shockingly apparently no contingencies in place at Fairview to call a halt to the race. The matter was discussed at a recent Trainers meeting according to reports, but clearly nothing was done about it. That throws some light as to why the Stipes continued on Friday, and is a sad indictment on the apparent lack of care by the racing regulator and the racing operator.

Some have argued that the jockeys are responsible for their own safety – that makes sense to a degree, but given the fact that the racing is conducted under the auspices of 4Racing and policed by the NHA, the jockeys rely on salaried officials doing their jobs properly and not putting lives at risk. We have also learnt that there were no medical

emergency contact lists in place, and that a trainer had to phone the inured rider’s next-ofkin.

In the bizarre absence of an official inquiry, the best our racing can do is learn from the shambles, even though we understand that nobody is ever likely to be held accountable. A jockey called the Sporting Post offices on Saturday and said there was a literal world of difference between the professionalism and approach at Fairview versus that at the Cape tracks.

“At every start, Fred Bosman directs our attention to the flag-man and reinforces procedures. Nothing was done at Fairview before the last race on Friday,” he confirmed. A spokesman for Cape Racing confirmed that, unlike Fairview, they have less races that are run around the track twice at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. There are more such races at Hollywoodbets Durbanville.

“We have five officials in various positions around the track.They are in radio contact and talking all the time. It’s a loose-horse protocol in essence, but also serves as a means of monitoring unforeseen occurrences on the track – like a jockey fall, for example. We had a meeting this week following the Fairview incident and are looking at the possible installation of red lights and speakers to further enhance our capacity in order to be ready for any eventuality. As we have a conservancy on our property, we have to be aware of the logistical issues of running power, for instance,” he added.

WORK RIDER OPPORTUNITY

Ridgemont seeks a competent work rider to join their team. Work will vary from riding breakers, pre-trainers, ready to run sale horses as well as older racehorses.

The opportunity is based in Wellington, where a full-time position is available to the right applicant.

Please email us your CV including two contactable references. For more info during business hours only:

+27 (0) 63 667 5383

ZACKEY’S SMART STAYING PROSPECT

Mike de Kock’s World Pool Gold Cup entry Mambo Come Tesio may probably not have done quite enough to warrant a trip down to Durban for the season finale on 30 July, when finishing a 2,55 length fifth behind Tyrone Zackey’s impressive post-maiden winner American Grayson at Turffontein on Saturday.

On a fairly tough day at the office for punters, American Grayson (16-1) followed up on his recent 2600m maiden victory when staying on strongly under Kaidan Brewer, who has proven something of a lucky charm for his owner, to win the R90 000 Middle Stakes run over the inside track 3000m.

The 3yo son of Pomodoro (Jet Master) beat the Azzie’s bridesmaid Breeze Over (5-2) by 0,30 lengths in a time of 193,76 secs.

A delighted trainer Tyrone Zackey, who took his chances, was pleased with American Grayson’s

performance, but confirmed that there would be no Gold Cup supplementary entry forthcoming when the door shuts for SA’s premier staying race at 11h00 on Tuesday 18 July.

“Owner-breeder Clive Barnard is a real sport and said he was willing to give the big race a shot. But I advised him against it. American Grayson is only a 3yo and needs to develop. And he is not the greatest conformed horse – in fact many thought he wouldn’t make the racecourse. I’m pleased with his progress –he has won two of his five starts and he was placed over 1450m. There are plenty of races

Kaidan Brewer gets American Grayson home to beat Breeze Over (MK Katjedi) in a tight finish at Turffontein on Saturday | Credit: JC Photos

on the Highveld, and he will be infinitely more suited to the Turffontein outside track as he is a galloper. I think we may go for gold in 2024!”mused the veteran in a chat with the Sporting Post after the race.

Racing in the colours of the USA flag, Clive Barnard names his horses in line with his fascination for America, and this one was bred at his Roospruit Stud in Middleburg, Eastern Cape, which is managed by Michael Roberts’ brother Dickie.

The winner, who is named after Clive Barnard’s Grandson, is out of Black Minnaloushe daughter Mini Wave, who was moderate, but

also produced the eight-time winner American Indian (Traffic Guard) who like his half-brother, possessed the longhaul blood and won up to 2600m.

Mike de Kock’s Mambo Come Tesio stayed on without getting there off a modest pace, to run 2,55 lengths off the winner at level weights. He looks like a promising stayer and has won 3 of his 7 starts. De Kock also has Aragosta and Black Thorn in the 22 strong entry for the 3200m race on 30 July.

Supplementary entries for the World Pool Gold Cup closed at 11h00 on Tuesday 18 July with declarations due tomorrow by 11h00.

SON OF VAR SCALING THE NEXT SUMMIT!

That the former Tarry-trained six-year-old is a welcome addition to the depleted KZN stallion ranks goes without saying, and he is sure to provide broodmare owners with the opportunity to tap into a horse who ticked all the boxes…

Eden Roc enjoys his paddock on hIs show day last week | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

When Sandringham Summit crossed the line first in the Gr2 Golden Horseshoe on Hollywoodbets Durban July day, the youngster’s first stakes success immediately boosted the fortunes of his older half-brother Eden Roc, who just happens to be the newest stallion recruit at Peter and Jenny Blyth’s Clifton Stud near Rosetta in the KZN Midlands.

Peter confirmed that Eden Roc arrived at his new home about four weeks ago and when shown to fellow breeders at a special stallion day last week, impressed all and sundry with his demeanour.

“There must have been about 70 people,” Peter explained. “Amid all the razzmatazz, he took it all in his stride and was as calm as anything. He has a lovely nature.”

That the former Tarry-trained sixyear-old is a welcome addition to the depleted KZN stallion ranks goes without saying, and he is sure to provide broodmare owners with the opportunity to tap into a horse who ticked all the boxes.

Let’s consider the following:

He is a Gr1-winning two-year-old.

A debut winner over 1400m, he became a rare Gr1 winner on just his second start when landing the Gold Medallion over the stiff Hollywoodbets Scottsville six furlongs, before stretching his record

Clifton boss Peter Blyth – aka Mr Geriatrix! | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

to three from three with a fine win in the Gr2 Golden Horseshoe at Hollywoodbets Greyville. To that he later added the Gr2 Post Merchants and was beaten just a neck when second in the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint.

His pedigree screams speed.

He is bred on a potent cross combining Var and Captain Al. A champion sprinter, the former’s progeny generally inherited his fine turn of foot, while the latter had no peer as a sire of precocious two-year-olds, having led the juvenile sires list for eight straight years.

Eden Roc’s pedigree matches his track accomplishments.

His dam is the well-performed Captain Al mare Townsend. A dual Graded stakes winner of the Gr2 Odessa Stud Fillies Championship and Gr3 Diana Stakes, she is a half-sister to Regal Ransom who scored a career high in the Gr1 Champions Challenge. The pair are out of

multiple Gr3-placed eight-time winner Palace Gossip, who is a daughter of another speed merchant in Dominion Royale.

He has the physique to match his pedigree and performance.

Added Peter: “We measured him and he stands 16hh. He’s physically correct and remarkably sound for a horse who raced from two to six. Overall, he’s a grand specimen, well balanced and athletic.”

Glowing words indeed.

Eden Roc is in the process of being syndicated at R30 000 a share, which includes infertility insurance and will entitle the shareholder to two covers per season for the first four years.

“I’m really excited about Eden Roc,” Peter said, before adding, “Now let’s hope Sandringham Summit can win a Gr1 race as well, that would be really something!”

The majestic new stallion enjoys the attention | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

FORT GETS KEY TO THE DOOR

The charismatic Kommetdieding will commence stallion duties at Klawervlei Stud this year.

The handsome Elusive Fort turns 21 soon | Credit: Jeremy Nelson

One of the most popular horses to grace the South African turf in recent years, Kommetdieding began his career on a high note, when winning his first four starts including the Gr3 Politician Stakes before going on to capture the 2021 Gr1 Vodacom Durban July.

Kommetdieding would go on to join an elite band of horses to win both the July and Met when he downed champion Jet Dark when victorious in the 2022 Gr1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met.

He would run second in the Met the following year and retired to stud having earned more than R4 million in prize money, while finishing unplaced just twice in 18 starts.

It is hard to believe that Kommetdieding’s sire Elusive Fort will shortly turn 21 years old. The son of Fort Wood and a former Equus Champion looks the picture of health

and vitality at Black Swan Stud where the handsome sire continues to churn out winners at a rate of knots.

Elusive Fort settled in quickly when relocated to Black Swan Stud, where he takes centre stage and benefits from excellent management and care.

The triple Gr1 winner has a superb temperament with his sole weakness being a love of carrots. He also benefits from being walked around the farm in the weeks leading up to the breeding season, with the exercise keeping the star in good mental and physical shape.

Any trailer which arrives at Black Swan is met with huge enthusiasm by Elusive Fort, who remains convinced the visitors are bringing him new mates. He is a stallion whose fertility - he got more than 80% of his mares in foal last

season - and libido remain excellent, and he is clearly a wonderful stallion to deal with. The Black Swan sire, who stamps his stock but benefits from covering mares with substance, has proved to be a very versatile stallion, with Elusive Fort’s progeny ranging from dual Southeaster Sprint winner Elusive Trader to G1 SA Derby winner Out Of Your League, and he has long since proved capable of siring both high-class colts and fillies.

Other notable progeny of Elusive Fort include Gr1 winning fillies Lauderdale and Siren’s Call, Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks winner Secret Potion, Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes winner Swing Upon A Star, Gr2 Dingaans winner Catch Twentytwo and Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas runner up Safe Harbour.

Elusive Fort is set to cover another good book of mares this year, with his prospective mates including Ignition Lady, dam of the Elusive

Fort sired graded stakes winners Big Burn and Catch Twentytwo.

Kommetdieding’s own dam Adorable (Captain Al) is, in the meantime, back in foal to Elusive Fort, and hopes are high for this mating. Having produced the likes of Kommetdieding and the stakes-winning siblings Ernie and Freedom Charter, when sent Captain Al mares, it is not surprising that Elusive Fort will, once again, be covering his share of Captain Al mares this season.

Elusive Fort also looks poised to make his mark as a broodmare sire in years to come, with his daughter Siren’s Call having already produced a high-class performer in the form of Sound Of Warning (Trippi). The latter was victorious in both the 2021 Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes and 2021 Gr3 Magnolia Handicap, having amassed more than R500 000 in prize money.

DECLARATIONOFPEACE (USA)

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

Magicallee storms home under Keagan de Melo |

Credit: Candiese Lenferna

A MAN AND A HORSE – DREAMS ARE GOOD FRIENDS

A lifetime punter who won a ‘lifechanging’ R1,5 million jackpot bonus in the popular free-to-enter Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge in January this year, realised another lifelong dream when he led in his first winner at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Monday.

“This is a great game and the people are wonderful. For me the greatest thing is to be able to buy drinks for the punter mates who included me when I didn’t have the money. Life is full of cycles – we all have our turn and the wheel spins quickly. I even had a call from my old buddy Duncan McKenzie in Gqeberha,” he enthused as he told the Sporting Post about the journey that started 45 years ago and reached a high when he won the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge.

The 61 year old Pietermaritzburg retiree Alan Barkhuizen had his whole family on course to enjoy the Willow Magic mare Magicallee register her sixth career victory in the sixth race under Winning Form rider Keagan de Melo at the Monday polytrack meeting.

Alan, who tipped all eight winners on the Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack card on 8 January, bought into the mare, who was purchased for R22 500 by Gary Rich out of the Kom Naidoo stable on the BSA April Online Sale.

It was the Rich stable’s second winner since their relocation from Ashburton to Summerveld and it was an occasion to remember for the delighted Alan, whose son Travis designed the natty blue and white silks, with the black anchor emblem.

“The anchor comes from my merchant navy days. I have always thought of myself as a sailor,” he smiles.

Alan, who still plays the daily Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge, was quick to acknowledge his wife Samantha – as he did on that happy January day when we called to advise him of his lifechanging win.

“From the age of 15 I have wanted to get involved in racing. I just never had the money. Thank you to Hollywoodbets for giving me the chance,” he told Warren Lenferna in the emotional post-race interview.

While the cash prize has been a lifechanger, Alan has been careful.

”We are in the process of purchasing our home in which we are currently tenants. I have set my son Travis up in my transport business as he was unemployed. We went on a cruise holiday – the same one we went on before I won the great prize!” he laughed.

Alan used to be a runner and worked at Hollywoodbets Scottsville many, many years back. He has known Gary Rich, whom he called a Magician, since 1980.

Alan chats to Gold Circle’s Warren Lenferna, as his son Troy and wife Samantha look on | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

Alan also told the Sporting Post in January that he had been married ‘forever’ to his wife Samantha, but had told her at their wedding that horseracing was always going to be a part of his life and that if she didn’t like that fact, there could be an issue with the ‘I do’ part of the ceremony.

South Africa’s most popular horseracing competition, the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge is available to play on all local race meetings, as well as Hong Kong and Singapore.

The free-to-enter challenge has created a multitude of winners over the past 3-years, with the top 20 players on the leaderboard sharing the designated must-be-won daily prize.

While Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge players pit their wits, skill, and racing knowledge against fellow competitors, the ultimate aim for that dream payday, is to select all of the winners on a card.

The value of the all-or-nothing jackpot prize is determined by the number of runners at the race meeting multiplied by R10 000, for all venues.

For example, if there are 88 carded runners and 5 scratchings, then the all-or-nothing prize will be based on 83 runners at R10 000 each, giving a value of R830 000 as the prize!

Over and above the premier aim of finding all the winners, daily prize money of R5 000 for each of the scheduled race meetings will be shared by the top 20 players on the points leaderboard at the end of the day.

As an added incentive to players, to top this, the all-or-nothing prize and the daily must-bewon prize will be doubled for those players who have had a bet on the Punters’ Challenge Bet Slip, to the value of R50 or more, prior to the running of the first race.

The Bet Slip is programmatically generated and all you have to do is indicate an amount of R50 or more that you wish to wager.

The Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge is really easy to understand and to play.

All you need is a Hollywoodbets account and the choice is yours to either select one horse in each of the races at the designated race meeting or opt to make use of the ‘quick-pick’ option and take a chance!

Players receive points depending on where their selection finishes in a race, and how many actual runners there are in that race.

Points are awarded in accordance with the horses’ finishing positions i.e. in a 10-horse field, the winner will be awarded ten (10) points, 2nd place is nine (9) points and so on, with the last horse being awarded one (1) point. Points are also awarded according to the price of the winner only. The winning selection receives a bonus of the Hollywoodbets starting price.

Entries must be in at least five minutes prior to the off of the first race. If you intend using the Bet Slip to enhance your payout potential, we would suggest you allow yourself some galloping room in terms of time!

Visit www.punters.hollywoodbets.net to get your entry in!

A man and his horse! Alan Barkhuizen connects with Magicallee | Credit: Candiese Lenferna

DERYL’S ICEBREAKER

South African horseracing’s ultimate comeback kid, jockey Deryl Daniels had to travel North of the Limpopo to Borrowdale Park on Saturday for his first winner since returning to the saddle recently after a five year absence.

Riding first-timer Buster Barnes for trainer Debbie Swanson, Deryl guided the Millstream Stud-bred son of Erupt to a convincing tenlength victory for the Centuar Syndicate in the opener at Borrowdale Park on Saturday.

Deryl told the Sporting Post that he was thrilled to have broken the ice and very happy to get the feel of being in the number 1 box again.

The former SA Champion Apprentice returned to race-riding in May this year after being out of

action for some years due to substance abuse issues.

Deryl wrote on social media over the weekend:

So I had to go cross border to catch my first winner back. No matter , the journey here has been so so damn sweet. Hard most of the time , but also so satisfying . God is always good . Thank you to boss Pete ( Muscutt racing) for almost 3 years of friendship , encouragement – my journey started with you. Mike and Laura

de Haast, my adopted family, your input in my journey continues and is valued. Mark Human doctor extraordinaire and his team at Olivedale, you gave from your hearts and it humbles me.

Also on the way friendships build , Mark ( DONT SAY ME NO ) Naidoo shot boi . Mtash mtintini . Tracy Woolard , Phillip (loadmaster) Fourie. Robbie Dawson. Special thanks Mike Shaw for getting my recovery journey going through Project Exodus.Wise counsel, Louise Els,Nick Eaves, Bernice Marjorie Nicholson , and every

person in our recovery community. IT IS HARD BUT IT CAN BE DONE AND WORTH IT. To Kamal (mayor of Newcastle) Prithwirage, Vina and all my Newcastle family, much love . My parents and sisters, Don Dillon and family.

Hey wena Krispen Godden. If I’ve left anyone out forgive me but you know I love and appreciate you. Visions and goals have been set and mercifully achieved – the journey continues and looking forward to what’s ahead.

HONG KONG’S SENSATIONAL SEASON

Golden Sixty with Vincent Ho aboard wins the Champions Mile at Sha Tin, Hong Kong on April 30th, 2023 | Credit: HKJC / Alex Evers

An extraordinary 2022/23 Hong Kong horse racing season ended in remarkable fashion on Sunday, 16 July at Sha Tin Racecourse and reinforced Hong Kong’s world-class racing with history-making performances of outstanding horses, trainers and jockeys.

With only 1250 horses in training – or around 0.7 percent of the world’s horse population – Hong Kong’s racing once again displayed its worldclass quality.

Golden Sixty, the first horse in the history of Hong Kong racing to have secured three consecutive Horse of the Year crowns, and fellow Gr1 winners, Lucky Sweynesse and Romantic Warrior, are entrenched in the top seven of the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings.

They delivered astounding performances against international rivals in the international spotlight on FWD Champions Day on 30 April

2023 and led a clean sweep of the three Group 1 features of the day — G1 FWD Champions Mile (1600m), G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) and G1 FWD QEII Cup (2000m).

World-class trainer John Size became the first trainer to win 12 Hong Kong trainers’ championships.

He has trained 1493 winners in Hong Kong and continues to excel with an uncanny ability to patiently develop young talent into elite top-level performers.

Zac Purton clinched his sixth Hong Kong jockeys’ championship with a single-season

record of 179 wins. Home-grown jockey Vincent Ho was crowned the Tony Cruz Award for a fourth time with the most wins in a season. They are all shining examples of the rich pool of racing talents in Hong Kong, which serves as a key driver for the continuous development of Hong Kong racing.

“Hong Kong’s world-class racing is not only built on our state-of-art racing facilities, but more importantly a rich and growing pool of racing talents across all levels from trainers, jockeys, veterinarians to stable assistants and farriers etc. The Hong Kong Jockey Club is committed to attracting world-class talents from overseas and nurturing high-potential home-grown talents. I am delighted to see our racing talents and the horses they train and take care of, deliver remarkable performances this season to local and global fans. They are the future of Hong Kong’s racing,” said the Club’s Chief Executive Officer, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.

The season also marks a full return of Hong Kong’s racing to normalcy after three years of the COVID pandemic.

THE SPRINT IS INTERACTIVE

Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges and Executive Director of Racing Andrew Harding toast the successful conclusion of the 2022/23 Hong Kong racing season | Credit: HKJC

LADY TRAINER RAISES THE BAR

Shaquille shot to the sprinting summit at Newmarket as Julie Camacho’s speedster doubled his big-race tally in the Gr1 Pertemps Network July Cup Stakes on Saturday.

The three-year-old was competing in handicap company on the weekend of the opening Classics of the season – but he has since announced himself as a star of the division and having taken the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, he took the sting out of his elders here on Newmarket’s July course.

In scenes reminiscent of Ascot, Shaquille bunny-hopped as the gates opened, giving away plenty of ground.

However, while at Ascot Oisin Murphy had time to creep his way into contention, Shaquille was

not hanging around on the wide expansive track at HQ on this occasion and pulled his way to the front to eyeball the front-running Art Power.

With two furlongs to run Rossa Ryan let the 5-2 joint-favourite have his head and the duo soon set about putting the race to bed.

Although Henry Candy’s Run To Freedom and Ralph Beckett’s Kinross were breathing down his neck in the final furlong, Shaquille was never slowing down and kept on strongly in the closing stages to come home a length-and-ahalf clear of the runner-up.

Shaquille had given his Yorkshire-based team of Camacho and her husband Steve Brown their first Group One victory at Ascot and after quickly doubling their tally, he provided his jockey with his finest hour, too, with Ryan, who

Shaquille storms to victory under Rossa Ryan | Credit: Supplied

only picked up the ride on Thursday, tasting top-level success for the first time.

It could be the Betfair Sprint Cup at Haydock next and both Betfair and Paddy Power make the winner their 7-4 favourite.

“Why does he keep doing everything wrong,” said Camacho immediately after the race. “I just wish he’d do things right. He was keen, wasn’t he. I’m at a loss for words!” Having become the first female trainer to break the £1million mark in prize-money in a season, Camacho composed herself thereafter and added: “It is brilliant. It is not as if it is an overnight success.

“We have been at it a long time. It is just nice that people in the north can have a bit of success, because there are some really good trainers in the north and if we can get the ammunition, we can do well with them.

“We will probably go to Haydock, although we will put him in at Deauville (Prix Maurice de Gheest).

“Steve will discuss it with Martin (Hughes, jointowner). I’m only a very small part. Steve plays a bigger part than I do.”

She added: “I was wondering what he was doing after the stalls opened. He came on pretty keen and he did at Ascot, which isn’t ideal.

“I keep saying I wish he’d do everything right. He drives us mad.

“I think since we are beating the older horses, this was better than Ascot. We were confident the horse was fit and well and he was in good form, but then we are taking on the older horses, aren’t we?”

• Racing TV

IRON HORSE READY FOR GR1 CHALLENGE

Aidan O’Brien sent debut winning juvenile City Of Troy over on the float with his top-class sprinter Little Big Bear to contest the bet365 Superlative Stakes at the Newmarket July festival.

The Group 2 contest run over 7-furlongs attracted a field of nine including the unbeaten Godolphin runner Great Truth from the stable of Charlie Appleby, successful in this contest in 2020 and 2021 with Master Of The Seas nd Native Trail.

However, on Saturday afternoon all the money was for the O’Brien trained son of Justify, a well-supported 4/6 favourite.

Ryan Moore had him in the vanguard from the start, and at halfway they had gone a length clear. Hitting top gear as the horses ran into the dip, City Of Troy quickened away impressively to win by six and a half lengths.

“He’s a very unusual horse; he’s unbelievable mentally. Whatever speed you want to go he can keep pushing and he can

go up and sit with anything we have.”

“Ryan couldn’t pull him up at the Curragh last time and I knew he was going to go on earlier here today as there’s not as much of a pull up after the line here!”

“We knew Little Big Bear was coming over [for the July Cup] and the experience of coming over travelling with him was going to stand him in good stead, as it’s something we like to do with the two-year-olds.”

O’Brien was far from alone in his assessment of City Of Troy, with bookmakers frantically readjusting the horse’s price for next year’s Classics.

City Of Troy was cut to 7-2 favourite (from 10) for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas and

City Of Troy storms clear of his field | Credit: Racing TV

to 4-1 favourite (from 12) for the Betfred Derby.

Races such as the Darley Dewhurst Stakes and the Futurity Trophy at Doncaster are likely to be considered for City Of Troy, and O’Brien added: “He looks an incredibly special horse – he looks exciting to me.”

Another to keep an eye out for later in the season is the Juddmonte owned three-yearold Nostrum. The Kingman colt created a big impression when making all the running to win the Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket last Thursday.

Trained by Sir Michael Stoute, he finished third in the Dewhurst behind subsequent 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean after two facile victories at Sandown and Newmarket.

Forced to miss the Guineas due to a minor setback, Nostrum was making his seasonal reappearance at Listed level but was sent off a well-backed 11-10 favourite against some promising rivals.

Ryan Moore was happy to make the running, settling beautifully, and going into the dip, he produced a smart turn of foot, extending his lead to win easily by three.

Stoute said: “It was everything I hoped to see. He had been off for nine months, but he was working very well. Ryan liked him.”

“He will tell us if he could go into Group One company next time, but on today’s evidence, I think he’s ready.”

TRAINERS

JOCKEYS

BREEDERS

SIRES

See all the detailed standings - Click here