Lunga Gila, Randjies’ Newest Trainer, Will Not Let You Down
Henk Steenkamp
IT has been a long journey but Lunga Gila finally received the greenlight to start his training career.
“It got my licence and will start with 25 horses based at Randjesfontein.
The tracks and the stables are very nice here,” an excited Gila, eager to get on with the job, said.
The 39-year-old man from the Transkei has been working with racehorses since his teenage days. It was always a dream of his to become a trainer and today he is a respected horseman with a wealth of knowledge.
Gila had a long stint as the right hand man of former trainer Mitch Wiese (now an Australian resident) at the Fairview stables.
He then worked for the Glen Kotzen-stable, running the satellite yard in Gqeberha. When Kotzen closed the satellite yard in 2015, Gila joined him in Cape Town and later ran the Kotzen satellite yard in Durban.
Since last year he was in charge of the satellite yard of KwaZulu-Natal trainer Kom Naidoo at Fairview.
It wasn’t easy for Lunga to leave his beloved Eastern Cape and make the move to Gauteng.
He is not worried about adjusting to Gauteng life because it is all about the horses and his job for him.
“It was an opportunity I had to grab with both hands. I am just concentrating on my work now.
“All I want to know is the way from my house to work and to the races. I am not here for anything else.
“I like to put my head down and do the work. I am a hard worker.
“Those trainers, Glen Kotzen and Mitch Wiese, believe I will succeed because they trust me, they know me.
“Naidoo was very happy with me. They believe in me and I will not let them down.”
Wiese, speaking from Brisbane, was delighted to hear that Gila got his licence.
“I am so proud of him. He deserves every bit of accolade he gets and deserves to be a trainer. I thought it would have happened years ago.
“I know he will succeed and hope he gets the support he needs.
“He is a true horseman and has the personality to communicate with clients, that’s the balance.
“Lunga grew up in my stable. He was a young kid when he walked in, starting as a groom.
“He showed potential to be my assistant-trainer and I promoted him. He picked up
everything, absorbed everything and was never late for work.
“Luna showed signs of a real horseman but also showed he was a good communicator with people.
“People enjoyed his personality which made me realize this is the material to be a good racehorse trainer.
“You need to train but you also need to mix with clients,” Wiese explained.
Over the years Gila built up a good reputation with horses in his care always looking the part and running competitive races.
Known in the industry as a hard worker, Gila will expect the same from anyone working with him.
He also works closely with the jockeys who are involved with his horses.
“I Like it when a jockey does what I tell him to do. It also helps a lot when a jockey gives you feedback after a race.
“Then you know which things you have to work on to get the best out of the horse.
“Jockeys make mistakes sometimes but when they take responsibility for that everyone can work as a team to get things right the next time the horse runs,” Gila explained.
And he is not afraid to get on a horse himself when he feels it is necessary.
For anything thinking of getting involved with Gila’s stable the message is clear that you will be getting a run for your money – this man won’t let you down.
Handicappers Issue Warning – Out Of Kilter Ratings Not In Their Hands
NHA Press Release
The NHA Handicapping Panel is cautioning all stakeholders, especially the Betting Public, to be extremely careful when using the Carded Merit Ratings in their assessments. Due to the vast number of ‘conditions’ type races, together with a host of conditions attached to the Graded races (mainly on the Highveld), many of the ratings that are published do not reflect the Handicapper’s final assessment of those horses affected by these conditions. This issue is especially affecting the current 3yo crop as they are unexposed and open to improvement. As per the previous press release, the best weighted column on form guides may not always be an accurate guide and extreme caution must be exercised. On that basis, the Handicappers shall not be responsible or participate in the selecting of final fields and eliminations in oversubscribed Pattern (Graded and Listed) races on the Highveld.
To rate a race, a line or key horse/s are identified by the Handicappers. Every runner in a race produces a performance figure or RMR (Race Merit Rating) relative to the line horse that is selected. The weights carried, WFA scale, margins between the runners and to the line horse are used to calculate the RMR number which the Handicappers use as a tool in making assessments. Factors such as the horse’s overall profile, pace, weather and underfoot conditions as well as interference in running etc., are considered before a final rating by the Panel is applied and becomes official. In conditions races, where runners cannot be adjusted upwards, the latter exercise is consequently not done. Accordingly, the Handicappers reserve the right in using a line horse’s previous RMR or performance figure and not always the Carded Merit Rating as a guide to rate a race as in many cases, as explained above, the Carded Merit Rating may be constrained by the arbitrary ratings restriction mentioned above. The NHA receive numerous calls from astute stakeholders as to what rating the team would apply if there were no restrictions. This practice could be deemed to be “insider trading” and the Handicappers will cease to divulge any information pertaining to requests of this nature and similar.
Handicapping Ratings Update
Note: The Tab4Racing Victory Moon Stakes (Grade 3) and Gardenia Stakes (Listed) are subject to the ratings restrictions as mentioned in the previous article.
- Tab4Racing Victory Moon Stakes (Grade 3)
LITIGATION has had his merit rating raised from 101 to 107 following his success in the Grade 3 Tab4Racing Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m on the Turffontein standside course on Sunday 6 November. The Handicappers were of the view that 3rd placed SPARKLING WATER made for the most suitable line horse, which leaves her unchanged on a mark of 122. PLATINUM SKY also runs to his rating of 98, effectively making him a line horse as well. In assessing the race this way, LITIGATION actually achieves a mark of 108, but the specific race conditions do not permit an increase of more than six pounds for the winner, which means that LITIGATION had to be capped at 107. The race conditions also do not permit any increase in the rating of a horse other than the winner and so runner-up EAST COAST remains on a mark of 106, although in fact running to a considerably higher mark, this completely under-values what is clearly a very progressive and useful three-year-old and his current Carded Rating of 106 is not truly representative of his actual ability. There were ratings drops for no fewer than eight horses. DIVINE ODYSSEY is down from 113 to 111, SECOND BASE drops from 117 to 115, MAJESTIC MOZART is down to 112 from 115, ARAGOSTA is down from 118 to 116, PERFECT WITNESS goes from 109 to 106 and PAMUSHANA’S PRIDE was cut from 113 to 103 after failing to confirm his 2021 Derby performance in his subsequent five runs. ZILLZAAL is down to 114 from 116, and lastly, ZEUS was dropped from 108 to 105.
- Gardenia Stakes (Listed)
BELLA CHICA has had her rating raised from 100 to 105 following her win in the Listed Gardenia Stakes for fillies and mares over the straight 1000m at Turffontein on Sunday. Here it was 4th placed ALULA’S STAR who was used as the line horse, which leaves her unchanged on a mark of 97. Here again the specific race conditions do not permit any ratings increase for any horse beyond the winner, and so 3rd placed FLOWERBOMB remains on 93 despite actually running to a mark of 102. Six horses did, however, receive a rating’s drop. BIG BURN was cut from 120 to 118, KISSING POINT is down from 109 to 105, MAY QUEEN drops to 89 from 91, REMEMBER WHEN drops from 98 to 93, ROZARA drops from 87 to 86, and lastly SHOW TIME drops from 89 to 86.
- Cape Mile (Grade 3)
JET DARK remains unchanged on a mark of 130 after he made a winning seasonal debut in the Grade 3 Cape Mile over 1600m on the winter course at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday 5 November. It was the ultra-consistent 2nd placed SILVER OPERATOR who was considered to make for the best line horse here, leaving him unchanged on a rating of 119. In assessing the race this way, JET DARK only runs to a mark of 125, hence his unchanged rating. Aside from the winner, the only other increase was for 5th placed SILVANO’S TIMER, who despite running to a performance figure or RMR of 114, only goes up from 104 to 109 to at least make him the equal of the 109 rated ROCKIN’ RINGO who he beat here at level weights. The only ratings drop was for SENSO UNICO, who is down from 110 to 108.
- Laisserfaire Stakes (Handicap) (Listed)
KWINTA’S LIGHT has been raised from 102 to 105 after winning the Listed Laisserfaire Stakes (handicap) for fillies and mares over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. It was 3rd finisher SANTA MARIA who was considered to make for the best line horse here, which leaves her unaltered on a mark of 106. Aside from the winner, the only other ratings increase was for 2nd placed STIPTELIK, who carried one pound or half-a-kilo overweight and beat the line horse by 0.5 lengths goes up from 90 to 92. The solitary drop was for DANCETILDAYLIGHT, who is down from 100 to 98.
- Woolavington Stakes (Listed)
BARATHEON has seen his merit rating rise from 90 to 96 after he captured the Listed Woolavington Stakes over 2400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that runner-up SALVATOR MUNDI made for the best line horse here, which leaves him unchanged on a rating of 99. In assessing the race this way, 3rd placed REX UNION also runs to his mark of 105, effectively making him a line horse as well. Two horses were given a rating’s drop. BELGARION is down from 124 to 121, while CHEWBACA drops from 100 to 95.
- Model Man Mile (Listed)
SEE IT AGAIN has had his rating raised from 88 to 104 following his emphatic win in the Listed Model Man Mile for three-year-olds over 1600m on the turf track at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday. Here it was 2nd placed CANADIAN SUMMER who was deemed to make for the best line horse, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 104 – bearing in mind that she carried 1,5 kgs more than the winner. The winner aside, the only other rating’s increase was for 4th placed BOUNDLESS BASH, who is up from 91 to 94. This gelding actually ran to a mark of 96, but the Handicappers were reluctant to take this literally as he was the last of the main group of horses to finish and in turn the remaining three contestants finished many lengths behind him. This type of situation can flatter a horse, so some caution was considered to be in order. The only decrease was for FUTURE OF ENERGY, who drops from 80 to 77.
Time Fo Orchids To Make Cape Debut In WC Fillies Champs
Time Fo Orchids (Time Thief), purchased by WSB R7.5 million Gold Rush ticket holder Rikesh Sewgoolam for R850,000 at the recent BSA Sean Tarry Fast Track Sale, will make his debut in the Cape for new trainer Vaughan Marshall in Saturday’s Grade 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship over 1400m.
Time Fo Orchids is the highest merit rated runner in the field on 104 and will be ridden by Corne Orffer.
The distance of 1400m should be ideal for the filly, who ran on from way back in the Grade 2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over this trip for a one length third.
However, she has drawn wide in 12 out of 13.
Her chief mission for Cape Racing’s Cape Summer festival Of Racing will be the R7.5 million WSB Gold Rush over 1600m on WSB Met day.
She us currently in second place on the Gold Rush log.
There are only two others runners in the Western Cape Fillies Championship who are rated above 100, the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Golden Hostess (Gold Standard) (103), the Glen Kotzen-trained Hold My Hand (Gold Standard) (102) and the Bass-Robinson-trained Who Do You Love (Rafeef) (100).
The full field in draw order is below:
Bantry Bay Stakes Attracts The Season’s Most Intriguing Field
Kommetdieding (Elusive Fort) makes his seasonal reappearance in Saturday’s R150,000 Non-Black Type Bantry Bay Stakes over 1200m.
The race has attracted an intriguing mix of runners.
Among them is the enigmatic Pomp And Power, who was scratched at the start of the Grade 3 Matchem Stakes last up for refusing to load.
The Matchem Stakes winner, Trip Of Fortune, who crossed the line second but was later awarded the race in the boardroom, is also in the line up.
Another interesting runner is the former Equus Champion Sprinter Rio Querari (Querari), who has not been seen since running third to Cosmic Highway and Trip Of Fortune in the Grade 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes back in February.
Also on the comeback trail is Universal, the highly regarded Grade 3 Cape Racing Politician Stakes winner, who finished runner up to Pomp And Power in the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby in his last appearance in February.
Also in the line up are Grade 1-winning sprinters Ambiorix and Tempting Fate as well as Grade 2 Post Merchants runner up Good Traveller and also up and coming sprinters like Mr Master Starter and Surjay.
It should be a thrilling race and an excellent betting heat for punters to get involved in.
Greg Bortz And Gary Grant Among Nominees For GC Board
Bortz and Grant are the most well known racing people among the four nominees for the Gold Circle Board
The Sporting Post wrote about the news:
In what will be welcome news of potential steps towards further progress and unity in South African horseracing, dynamic Kenilworth Racing Chairman Greg Bortz is one of four nominees announced as candidates for two seats as a Director on the Gold Circle Racing Club board, ahead of their Annual General Meeting on 6 December.
Bortz, along with forensic specialist Donovan Pillay, well-known Chartered Accountant and equine administrator Gary Grant, and financial services industry CEO Keegan Thambiran, are the quartet up for election via an independent electronic system which opened on Friday 4 November and closes on Thursday 1 December at 12h00.
Keegan Thambiran
While all four nominees appear to be in a position to add value, it is the Durban-born Bortz, surely a front-runner for all the right reasons as SA horseracing’s newsmaker of the year, whose nomination catches the eye.
A former investment banker turned entrepreneur, the charismatic Chartered Accountant has been hailed as something of a renaissance man, and has breathed new energy and life into Cape horseracing since the announcement in early July that his private equity company GMB Investments, and leading SA sportsbook operator Hollywoodbets, had joined forces in a R330 million rand deal which effectively saved Kenilworth Racing from financial collapse.
In a matter of months, a wave of positivity has engulfed the region, with new initiatives introduced for all stakeholders.
In October Bortz was appointed Chairman of Kenilworth Racing and just last week his GMB Liquidity Corporation made the front page of leading publication Business Day when it was announced that they had acquired a 27, 8% stake in the empowerment investment counter, Grand Parade Investments, which holds mainly gaming assets.
Vercingetorix Edging Gimmethegreenlight in Sires Champs
Vercingetorix was ousted by his father Silvano in last season’s race for the National Sires title and that was chiefly due to the result of the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
He will be out to make amends but is currently roundabout a mere R12,000 ahead of 2020/2021 champion Gimmethegreenlight.
The top five on the log are:
Vercingetorix: R3,650,388
Gimmethegreenlight R3,637,625
What A Winter: R3,588,475
Master Of My Fate: R3,573,513
Querari: R3,021,625
Today’s Question
Which filly was bought for what at the time was a staggering 5,500 Guineas in 1890 in England?
Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.
Hollywoodbets Greyville Turf Fields
Today’s Question Answer
La Fleche (French for The Arrow), a brown mare standing just under 16 hands high was bred by the Royal Studs at Hampton Court and was foaled on 10 March 1889. She was an exceptionally well-bred and “beautiful” filly and attracted much attention when she was sent to be auctioned as a yearling on 28 June 1890 at the Bushey Paddocks. She was bought by Lord Marcus Beresford on behalf of the financier Baron Maurice de Hirsch for a sum of 5,500 guineas, outbidding the Duke of Portland and John Porter and breaking the record for a yearling sold at auction, which had stood since 1876.
Her sire, St Simon was an unbeaten racehorse who was beginning to prove himself as an outstanding sire. By the time La Fleche was sold in 1890 he was on the way to the first of his nine sires’ championships, having sired the first two of his ten Classic winners. Her dam, Quiver produced La Fleche’s full-sister Memoir, who won the Epsom Oaks and the St Leger as well as the influential broodmares Maid Marian and Satchel.
La Fleche was trained for her first two seasons by John Porter at Kingsclere. At the end of her three-year-old season she was moved to the Egerton House stable of Richard Marsh at Newmarket, Suffolk.
She was undefeated as a two-year-old in 1891, winning races against her own sex and defeating some of the year’s leading colts.
She went on to become the dominant British three-year-old of 1892, claiming the Fillies’ Triple Crown by winning the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, the Oaks at Epsom and the St Leger at Doncaster.
Her only defeat of the year came when she finished second when starting favourite for The Derby.
La Fleche remained in training for a further two seasons, winning important races such as the 1893 Liverpool Autumn Cup, the 1894 Ascot Gold Cup, and the Champion Stakes on her final appearance.
In all, she won sixteen times in twenty-four racecourse appearances.
After her retirement from racing she became a successful and influential broodmare.
