Picture: Calvin Habib on the Sean Tarry-trained Avontuur Stud-bred Rafeef colt Thunderstruck after winning the Grade 1 Gold Medallion for owners Wilgerbosdrift (Pty) Ltd (nom. Mary Slack).

Calvin Habib Has The Championship In Mind

Calvin Habib’s initial goal for the season was to finish in the top five on the national log.

However, after a good start he is now planning to continue traveling for as long as possible to see if he can put himself in a championship-winning position.

He had a nasty fall on the Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack yesterday and was thankful to God he emerged without serious injury.

He had a few aches and pains this morning and the doctor booked him off 48 hours.

However, he is looking forward to race-riding again at Turffontein on Thursday.

Calvin is currently in joint-second place on the national log with 12 winners, four off the pace being set by Kabelo Matsunyane.

He will be riding on the Highveld, KZN and the Eastern Cape and is hoping to land rides in Cape Town during their Cape Summer Season.

He said, “It is going really well at the moment and I am enjoying travelling and riding in the different centres. As long as I am enjoying it and don’t get too tired I will continue to do so.”

He has landed the important position of first call rider to Gavin Smith in Gqeberha, although he will be sharing this with JP van der Merwe.

Smith has agreed to give the pair a share of the best rides and will adjudge which of them is better suited to each horse.

Calvin will have the equally important support of five-times national champion trainer Sean Tarry in Johannesburg.

Furthermore, he said Tarry wanted to see him doing well, so had agreed to allow him to look for better rides in the races where the yard were running a horse who was not a strong contender.

Calvin is enjoying support from many other trainers on the Highveld, including the reigning national champion trainer Paul Peter.

He enjoys widespread support in KZN too, where he is lying second in the current premiership on seven winners, level with Keagan de Melo and one behind Matsunyane.

Calvin rode three Grade 1 winners last season (Flying Carpet in the WSB Summer Cup, Sweet Pepper in the Allan Robertson and Thunderstruck in the Gold Medallion) and missed a fourth by a hair’s breadth when Rock The Fox was touched off by Canadian Summer in the Thekwini.

He clearly has a soft spot for Sweet Pepper, who lives up to her name as she is a “cuddly” little horse with a beautiful temperament, very placid, and loves to be petted for hours.

She is in fact the highest rated two-year-old in the country on 115, based on her Allan Robertson win where she had the field strung out like the washing.

She lost her unbeaten record in the Grade 2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m, when finishing unplaced.

She is a Drakenstein Stud homebred by Trippi out of the Gimmethegreenlight speedster Green Pepper and she did finish lame in the latter race, so time will tell whether she goes further than sprints.

Calvin said Thunderstruck had also been doing very well.

He said he only appeared to run to his best with blinkers on.

However, he added he had won the Grade 1 over 1200m so well it was difficult to tell whether he would see out a mile.

However, the feeling is he will be even better as a three-year-old and he himself believes he will stay further.

He said Rock The Fox had taken a bit of time to show what they always believed she had.

He believed she would get better and better and would be a Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara horse.

There are many other horses he was looking forward to riding during the season.

He is an ever improving rider and concluded by saying, “I hope to keep the momentum going for as long as I can and can maybe throw my hat into the ring (for the championship).”

Picture: Kommetdieding gets plenty of attention in his box at home. Here he does his folded tongue party trick at a braai earlier this year to celebrate his WSB Met win.

Kommet Gruntled To Be Home – Trainer Rix Loving GTH Series

Kommetdieding was originally due to go to the farm for a rest after returning to Cape Town.

However, trainer Michelle Rix said he had been so happy to be at home in his box at Milnerton that “we will let him down here and allow him to relax.”

Kommet’s box is next door to the stable office, so he gets plenty of attention and is made to feel important.

Michelle will try and find a Pinnacle Plate pipe-opener for him before he goes the normal route of a top older horse i.e. the Grade 2 WSB Green Point Stakes over 1600m, the Grade 1 wfa L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate over 1600m and the Grade 1 WSB Met over 2000m.

She said the yard was nice and busy at present as the “new babies” were coming in and they are up to about 40 in number.

Their chief supporters are Ashwin Reynolds and Braam van Huysteen.

Meanwhile, Michelle is enjoying her role as manager to the Cape Stingers in the Global Team Horse Racing series.

She said, “I am loving it, it has been so much fun.”

She said the many cheering, flag-waving fans of the teams had added a lot of atmosphere and as most of them were new to the sport the series had provided a good introduction for them and they might become permanent supporters of racing.

She said initially punters had not appeared to like the format, in which the races had just 18 minutes between them, except the 22 minute gap before the first leg of the Pick 6.

It had been too fast for them and it was then difficult to find one’s horse with the team colours.

However, she said there were more and more who had begun to enjoy it and the crowds within the buildings had been getting bigger and bigger.

The Cape Stingers meet the Kwazulu Royals in the final on Friday night.

She said the difference between the two teams when they met last Friday night was the Royals had used their “double points” race to better effect.

Michelle and the captain of the Cape Stingers, Mark Khan, will be studying the form for Friday night meticulously to try and identify their best double points event.

Picture: Mister Monocle being led in after being given a fine ride by Andile Ndlebe. The man to thank for him being back in training, Chris Snaith, is in the background (Wayne Marks).

Wonderful Story Behind One-Eyed Winner Mister Monocle

The Justin Snaith-trained Twice Over gelding Mister Monocle won the opening race at Kenilworth on Saturday, a Workrider’s Maiden Plate over 1100m.

A monocle is of course a single eye glass, so this Henry and Pat Devine-owned horse is well named as he only has one eye.

It was Mister Monocle’s fourth career start, but he had actually come out of retirement to win.

In three races from 1200m to 1600m as a three-year-old he failed to make the frame.

“He was just too immature,” said Justin.

The Snaiths and the Devines jointly decided to retire him.

He was sent to the paddock on the Snaith farm where they keep the retired horses before finding them a good home.

However, six months later Mister Monocle was still there.

Justin said, “It is very difficult to re-home a one-eyed horse and also you have to be very careful where they might end up.”

He continued, “So we kept him and eight months later there was still no home, so my father said ‘Put him back in training’. So we had to hide him from Jonathan, because of the accounts! The Devines have been fantastic and in his first run back he wins, so he has paid for everything for the last year. A very nice story and very glad we can do something for a horse with one eye. He is a bit difficult, but my father rides him as a lead horse every morning. My father once saw a horse going past our farm in a cart, it was about 40 years ago, and (after obviously buying the horse and putting him in training) he won ten races with him! So when he says put a horse back in training we listen!”

Snaith described Andile Ndlebe, who was aboard Mister Monocle, as “a phenomenal rider.”

He continued, “He has been in Natal with me for the whole season and ridden all of the top Group 1 horses. And today it was lucky we had a work riders race because I was waiting for a few jockeys who did not arrive. So I was able to pull my guys out of the change room and they rode some of my Guineas horses for the season (in racecourse gallops before the meeting), which went well but it was just very soft out there.”

Andile showed excellent judgement of pace on Mister Monocle.

He allowed the big horse to do his own thing for the first half of the 1100m race and he was loping along right near the back.

His big, rangy stride made up the ground steadily as many of the others began to wilt in the testing conditions.

He responded well to Andile’s urgings in the latter stages and went on to win by five lengths.

Snaith said the big horse would definitely be given more chances.

Picture: Echo Again (horseracingnation.com)

Potential Star To Follow – Echo Again

The grey was enormously impressive on channel 240 on Saturday night at Saratoga and the below article tells more about a star in the making.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE REPLAY

Echo Again Dazzles In Debut Romp

Melissa Simser (drf.com)

Echo Again, a son of Gun Runner, left his rivals far behind in the stretch while covering 6 1/2 furlongs in a rapid 1:15.89.

Trainer Steve Asmussen may have unleashed the most impressive juvenile colt of the Saratoga meeting Saturday when Echo Again cruised to a 6 3/4-length debut victory in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race.

With Ricardo Santana Jr. filling in for an ill Joel Rosario, Echo Again broke sharp, made a 1 1/2-length lead after an opening quarter in 22.39 seconds which he maintained after a half-mile in 45.66. He began to widen around the far turn and continued to draw off while covering 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.89 and getting a 94 Beyer Speed Figure.

Summonyourcourage, making his fourth start, finished second by 6 3/4 lengths over Expected Value.

“He’s trained like that,” Asmussen said. “We’re very fortunate to have some unbelievable horses but he’s been separate, or better, or different – however you want to put it – the whole time. He’s from a great pedigree of [owner Ron] Winchell’s, another outstanding Gun Runner.”

Echo Again is out of the Tapit mare Teardrop, herself a sister to the Asmussen-trained Grade 1 winner Pyro.

Asmussen said Echo Again was the pick of his father’s who breaks many of his son’s horses at a training center in Laredo, Texas.

Steve Asmussen said his son Keith exercises Echo Again regularly.

“He said ‘It’s the best horse I’ve ever been on’ and I believe him,” Steve Asmussen said.

Asmussen said he was a little concerned with how Echo Again would handle the large crowd on Alabama Day, but the horse was well-behaved in the paddock and on the track.

“I love how he acted,” Asmussen said. “He’s very confident in his ability. For him to come over on Alabama Day – a lot of people – he kept his head about him in the post parade, was away cleanly, and ran like he worked.”

Asmussen said Santana told him Echo Again is faster than Gunner Runner was at 2.

“Ricardo broke Gun Runner’s maiden and said I think he’s faster than his dad,” Asmussen said.

Asmussen said he wasn’t sure where Echo Again would make his next start. Asmussen has frequently used the Grade 1 Champagne – this year to be run Oct. 1 at Aqueduct – for horses who win their maidens late at Saratoga.

An Insight Into Why Dr. Brian Baker Was Such A Legend

Brian’s son Patrick penned a tribute to his father which appeared in the most recent edition of the Crest magazine (Hillcrest) and it is published at the bottom of this article.

Such was the humility of Dr. Brian Baker, who passed away a couple of months ago, that it came as a shock to him to learn a few years ago on a trip to Royal Ascot that he was world famous in the equine world.

The tribute in the frame above the headline to this article was penned by Dr. John McVeigh, who became Dr. Brian Baker’s partner in the world renowned veterinarian practice.

Baker McVeigh started at Summerveld and now also has practices in the Cape, Newmarket, Yorkshire and Lambourn in the UK and Chantilly in France.

The tribute above the headline combined with the one below gives an insight to the uninformed exactly why Dr. Brian Baker was such a legend.

Dr. Brian Baker

Tribute below written By Patrick Baker

Dad moved to Natal from Johannesburg in the early 1960s – he had qualified from Onderstepoort and realised there was an opportunity to specialise in equine veterinary work in Newmarket, Durban.

One of his first major breaks was when The Saunders family from Tongaat Sugar in those days offered him the opportunity to take care of the 800 mules that pulled sugar cane in the cane fields. Dad treated all animals – from donkeys to ducks, giraffes, zebras, yellow billed kites, owls, and all breeds of dogs and cats… but horses were his passion.

Dad moved to Summerveld with my mom Janet in 1965, where he built Littlefields Farm and the first veterinary hospital of its kind in South Africa – the same practice is the international Baker and McVeigh Hospital of today. He also started a taxi service in Summerveld so that all the local school kids could get to the farm schools in the valley, all at his own cost.

Dad worked with some of the best in the world, including Sea Cottage, Politician, Horse Chestnut, London News and Flaming Rock. He spent his time travelling and learning from the best, and was always so happy to share his knowledge with all those around him. He was never about the money, it was the welfare of an animal that was paramount to him. He was well known in the community for his exceptional kindness.

In his later life Dad spent time with American horse whisperer Monty Roberts, and was the pioneer of Equine Acupuncture in South Africa. He even went to Egypt to sort out a few pack camels, and ended up helping with some top Arab horses.

Dad loved the bush and animals of the wild, loved his home and feeding the birds, loved his friends and a good braai. He was an incredible father to James, David and myself (Pucky), and extra special to his nine grandchildren.

Rest in peace, Bakes.

Picture: Rachel with her guv’nor and mentor, Michael Roberts (Candiese Lenferna).

Rachel Venniker Tells Her Story To A Mainstream Journalist

The below article also appeared in The Crest magazine.

Courageous Summerveld jockey Rachel Venniker always aims high.

Story: Shirley le Guern

At the beginning of July, Rachel Venniker was set to make Durban July history as the first-ever female jockey to take part in this iconic event at Greyville. But, just a week before the big race, she was injured.

“On the Monday prior to the July, my filly in the last race fly jumped coming out the gate and I hit my head on the top of the gate. They booked me off for concussion, which is the standard 10-day procedure. I was mortified. But there is always next year. You’ve just got to carry on,” says Rachel.

This courageous 21-year-old is anything but daunted. Easy going by nature, she says she is totally at peace as soon as she on the back of a horse – and that is somewhere she has been since the age of just four.

While there are many female jockeys overseas, this is seen as a male career in South Africa. Much of that has to do with the danger factor – something to which Rachel is no stranger.

About a month ago, the horse she was riding went through the rails. But, despite a few aches and pains, she was back in the saddle and won the next race.

She admits she already has two false teeth, has broken her cheekbone, and that her nose is not quite as straight as she would like it to be. But, that is a small price to pay for doing something that is her passion.

Born in KZN and raised at Summerveld where she still lives, she says she has grown up with horses. Both of her parents were show jumpers and she followed in their footsteps.

One of the trainers she approached looking for a horse for show jumping suggested she try some track work. She was just 14, and has been working at the track from 4am ever since.

Her first win as a work rider came in 2020 at Scottsville and, since then, she has added a few more. She is currently the stable jockey for well-known trainer Michael Roberts, and has 72 wins to her name.

Now a second year apprentice at the South African Jockey Academy, which is the only local institution offering an academic and practical apprentice programme, Rachel admits that her journey hasn’t been easy. She applied to join the academy three times but was turned away not only because she is a girl, but also because she’s taller and slightly heavier than most of her male counterparts. She was told to finish her schooling and think again.

After completing her matric at the Roseway Waldorf school Rachel was as enthusiastic as ever, and trainer Michael Roberts together with Garth Puller and Kevin Wright approached the academy.

“So… they said they’d take a chance, and they haven’t looked back!” laughs Rachel.

That was in 2021, and she remains the only girl at the academy. “At the start, they were all a bit cagey with me and wouldn’t give me a very easy time. But now I’m one of them. No one really cares, I’m just one of the boys,” she says of her fellow jockeys.

She is still at the track before dawn and rides at least 25 different horses every morning. She moves from trainer to trainer, something that she admits to finding stressful.

“I also work out as often as I can. We do gym twice a week at the academy and I do my own stuff as well, because my weight is quite a challenge. I can ride 53,5kg and I’m 170cm tall. I road run and I’m always watching what I eat. That is the added pressure – because, often, you feel like you are running on empty,” she admits.

But Rachel wouldn’t change anything. She is waiting for her next ride at a major South African event. After winning a few majors here, she’d like to ride overseas.

Her advice to other girls who’d like to ride like her is to keep believing in themselves.

“If you really want to, just keep trying. There are going to be hard times. This is not an easy career. People have seen my success but it comes with a lot of work. I’ve pretty much given up everything to do this job. It’s tough – physically, mentally, emotionally – but it’s also really worth it and I love it,” she says.

Treble For Munger, Double For Fortune

Ryan Munger rode a treble at the Vaal straight track meeting today and two of them were for Ashley Fortune.

Munger goes to nine winners for the season at a strike rate of 10.59% and he is seven behind the national log leader Kabelo Matsunyane, who rode one winner today.

Fortune goes to five winners for the season at a strike rate of 15.62%.

Picture: Ryan Munger being led in on the Ashley Fortune-trained Laetitia’s Angel (Potala Palace), his third winning ride of the day. (JC Photos).

Today’s Question

The legendary Phil Bull’s best advice was “On the racecourse keep your eyes open and your ears closed.”

It is advice that not many punters adhere to.

But which all time great jockey fell foul of this wisdom when lying injured in hospital in 1941 at the same time as one of the greatest fillies he ever rode, Sun Chariot, was making her debut?

Picture: Sun Chariot (Painting by Alfred James Munnings).

Hollywoodbets Greyville Poly Wednesday Fields

Today’s Question Answer

Sir Gordon Richards was languishing in hospital with a smashed ankle and sent his friend Tom Reece, the billiards professional, to back Sun Chariot for her debut at Newbury.

Soon after the latter had left for the races Sir Gordon had a visit from actors Bud Flanagan and Chesney Allan.

They told him jockey Dick Perryman had been to their “Crazy Gang Show” the previous evening and had told them he was riding the best two-year-old he had ever ridden at Newbury the next day.

Richards looked at the fields in the paper and saw Perryman was riding in the same two-year-old race as Sun Chariot and his “flyer” was called Perfect Peace.

In a panic, Sir Gordon arranged for a telegram to be sent to the course telling Reece to back Perfect Peace, not Sun Chariot.

The Evening Standard newspaper arrived later that evening and Richard’s face fell.

Sun Chariot had won with Perfect Peace only third.

Reece scolded him later saying, “You’ve been riding horses for twenty years and you take notice of what a couple of bum actors tell you!”

Richards went on to win the 1000 Guineas on Sun Chariot, beating Perfect Peace by four lengths, as well as the Oaks and the St. Leger.

In The Oaks the temperamental filly lost at least ten lengths when veering left from the start and she was way out of her ground after a furlong.

However, she went on to win by two lengths in what Richards described as “one of the most amazing performances I have known.”

Picture: Sun Chariot with her Fred Darling-trained 2000 Guineas-winning stablemate, Big Game. The pair won four of the five English classics for The King in 1942.

Turf Talk Newsletter – 23 August 2022