At My Command will be all the rage at Kenilworth. (Wayne Marks).

Confident De Melo won’t be worried about wide berth for At My Command

While Keagan De Melo will be delighted with Make It Snappy’s barrier in the WSB Met, this season’s leading rider has a wide draw to overcome on At My Command in Saturday’s Politician Stakes at Kenilworth, writes DAVID MOLLETT.

Several fancied Met contenders landed favourable draws for the big race when positions were determined on Wednesday including Jet Dark, Kommetdieding and Sparking Water.

Not so lucky was three-year-old, Cousin Casey, along with the Vaughan Marshall duo of Rascallion and Linebacker.

Bookmakers clearly feel a wide draw won’t inconvenience At My Command in the Politician Stakes and have the son of Querari at 12-10 in early betting.

The form of Brett Crawford’s three-year-old is superior to any of his 10 rivals and he is looking a bargain buy at R260,000.

A runner with a superb pedigree is Narina Trogon, a son of Silvano out of the outstanding mare Beach Beauty. After a maiden win under De Melo the colt has managed only one placing in his next four outings.

However, that placing was a third behind Without Question and — now better off at the weights with that rival — Narina Trogon could be the one to chase the favourite home.

Rockpool is chasing a hat-trick and — with the well-drawn Scalini — look the pick of the remainder.

Richard Fourie is an eye-catching jockey booking for Safe Return in the fifth and the son of William Longsword should make a bold bid to notch his fourth win. Bereave — with inform JP van der Merwe in the saddle — looks the right horse for the swinger.

Saartjie — a R700,000 daughter of Dynasty — looks worth a punt in the fourth race with jockey Grant van Niekerk drawn in pole position. The filly hails from a strong Australian family and her grandam, Absolut Glam, was a grade 1 winner in her home country.

Turffontein has two feature races — the Sea Cottage Stakes and Swallow Stakes — on their eight-race card on Sunday.

The former race could provide an exciting finish between Bonete and None Other and it’s a tough task to choose between the two. None Other has done this column proud but Bonete, who looks every inch an Oaks prospect, could further enhance the reputation of her dam, Ilha Bela.

After an excellent first season, Sweet Pepper has the highest merit-rating in the Swallow Stakes and the daughter of Trippi is likely to be sent off favourite.

One can say Sweet Pepper has been somewhat disappointing in her three starts this term and she might battle to concede 4kg to Southern Skies.

Bred at Maine Chance Farms — the stud responsible for last week’s sales topper at the Premier Sale — Southern Skies cost R500,000 as a yearling and showed a clean pair of heels to her rivals on her debut in October. Expect a big run by the daughter of Vercingetorix. – Business Day.

NHA invites submissions on rules and penalties

The National Horseracing Authority confirms that as outlined in a previous Press Release of 9 November 2022, an invitation for comments on the proposed Rules and Penalty Guideline amendments is extended to all stake holders and members of the public.

The associated proposed Rules and Penalty Guidelines will be published on the NHA website and open for comment from 20 January 2023 until midnight South African Standard Time (SAST) on 10 February 2023.

o access the proposed Rules and Penalty Guidelines and to comment thereon, kindly go on to the NHA website landing page, under RULES & CONSTITUTION or under RACING INFORMATION tabs for “Rules & Penalty Guidelines Comments”.

Step 1: Register

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 10 February 2023.

No comments can be made after 10 February 2023.

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

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

Media release by National Horseracing Authority on Thursday.

Admission, hospitality packages: WSB Met

Jet Dark with Justin Snaith aboard, enjoying the beach. (Cape Racing).

Jet Dark ‘floating’ on the beach

Snaith Racing hosted owners and trainers at a picture-perfect morning at Muizenberg beach on Friday. The stable’s G1 winners Jet Dark, Captain’s Ransom, Pomp and Power, Silver Darling and Rio Querari alll looked outstanding.

Justin Snaith said that he was very happy with Jet Dark’s condition heading into the race and with his draw. Last year’s runner-up was reported “floating” – an indication of his well-being.

The five-year-old entire by Trippi has been firm in the pre-race betting at 4-1 since the field was announced on Wednesday.

No love lost: Lyall Meistre (left) and Tony Peter in happier days.

Tony Peter and Lyall Meistre still at loggerheads

In a sequel to an incident at Turffontein Racecourse on Saturday 3 September, 2022, a case between plaintiff Tony Peter and defendant Lyall Meistre was brought before the Booysens Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg this morning, but is said to have been postponed.

Meistre, a colour holder with the National Horseracing Authority, was charged with a contravention of Rule 72.1.25. following what was reported to have been a physical altercation between himself and Peter in the Stipendiary Stewards Boardroom at the Turffontein on the mentioned afternoon. A fine of R50 000 was imposed on Meistre.

Details of yesterday’s court case are not known, but it does not involve the NHA.

Peter was recently granted a trainer’s licence and has sent out two winners from his first seven runners.

Joao Moreira wants ‘Saudi stamp’ on his impressive CV.

Dettori, Moreira confirmed for Saudi Jockeys Challenge

Frankie Dettori is among the first group of superstar riders confirmed to compete in the Saudi Cup International Jockeys Challenge at King Abdulaziz Racecourse in Riyadh on Feb. 24, 2023.

The Italian will make his 11th seasonal appearance in Saudi Arabia, where he has ridden six winners from 72 rides, on what promises to be his final year in the saddle.

Asked what it meant to be invited to ride in the IJC, which is held on the Friday of Saudi Cup weekend, Dettori said: “In my final year as a jockey I want to go to as many places as possible and being able to compete in the IJC at The Saudi Cup is a huge event that I’m delighted to be a part of.

“This will be one of my final chances to share a weighing room with some of the world’s greatest jockeys, and I look forward to seeing who else I’m going to come up against. Joao Moreira has been confirmed, as has last year’s winner Caitlin Jones, so the competition already looks pretty fierce!”

“I know both the dirt and the turf tracks well having ridden in Riyadh quite a lot over the years, and it’s a place I enjoy riding at as it’s very fair and the surfaces are always in great condition. It’s also a great warm-up event for the big Group races on the Saturday, and of course The Saudi Cup itself, which I’d love to win.”

Australian rider Caitlin Jones won last year’s IJC and has been invited back to defend her title.

Speaking about her experience of riding in and winning the IJC in 2022, Jones said: “It’s hard to believe it’s nearly been a year since I rode in the International Jockeys Challenge. It was extra special to ride alongside Glen Boss during his last hurrah and have him standing on the podium with me. That’s a memory I will never forget.

“I hadn’t had much experience on a dirt track, but it was a great surface to race on. You could travel wherever you were and if you were good enough you could win from anywhere. There wasn’t a lot of kickback, it’s an elite surface on every level. They’ve done a wonderful job with it.

“I couldn’t be happier to have been asked to come back and try to retain my title – it would be pretty cheeky if I managed it, wouldn’t it?! I’ll be going out there with every intention of taking it out a second time, but you need a lot of luck with the horses you get drawn. I can’t wait to be back competing in Saudi Arabia again.”

Four-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey, Joao Moreira, is another of the high-profile names to be confirmed to ride in the four-race challenge.

The Brazilian is back in his native land after leaving Hong Kong last year but is planning to ride more internationally in the coming months.

Moreira said: “I’m excited and looking forward to riding in the International Jockeys Challenge. This is a great opportunity for me to ride in a place I’ve never been before, and I wouldn’t miss a chance to ride at a different racecourse and to get that stamp on my CV.

“I’ve heard the infrastructure is good over there and I’ve no doubt that the event they are going to put on will be top-class. Whoever is there, I’m sure they are going to see some great riders doing their best and putting on a very good show.

“Frankie’s just a brilliant rider, he’s the best. Getting the chance to ride with him once again is fantastic.”

The second of the seven female riders to be confirmed is Canadian Chantal Sutherland, who has ridden over 1,200 winners, including three Grade 1s to date, and is set to take her first rides in Saudi Arabia.

Sutherland said: “It’s a huge opportunity which I’m super excited about. I’ve never been to Saudi but it’s always been on the bucket list as I love these jockey challenges. I’ve had a really good year in Florida so far and I can’t wait to head over.

“To ride against the likes of Frankie [Dettori] and Caitlin Jones is a real honor. I know Frankie well and have ridden against him plenty of times – he’s a lot of fun and the crowds always love him. Any one of us could win it, but I’m going to give it my all – I’d love to come out on top. I was obviously very lucky to come second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic a few years ago, but if I could win the IJC it would top that.

“Racing in Saudi is getting bigger and bigger and everyone I’ve spoken to has been really positive about it. The prize money is absolutely amazing, and I’m really excited to be part of it all.”

The International Jockeys Challenge features four handicap races, each run for $400,000, with a further $100,000 prize fund for the challenge itself.

The jockeys are made up of seven international female riders, five international men and two local men with the jockeys receiving 15% of prize money won in each of the four races.

All races will consist of 14 runners and five reserves, with all 14 jockeys riding in each race.

Two races will be staged on dirt and two on turf, with the distances ranging from 1200m to 2100m.

World Pools for TAB on Met Day!

The Cape Town Met race meeting at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, 28 January, promises to provide South African punters with the biggest betting extravaganza of the year – provided they bet with TAB.

While TAB will boost the Pick 6 and Quartet on the main race with R1-million carryovers, the last nine races on Met Day will also offer South African bettors the opportunity to bet into the Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pools.

TAB Win, Place, Exacta, Swinger and Quinella (first two horses across the line in any order) pools on Races 4 to 12 at Kenilworth will be commingled into the Hong Kong Jockey Club tote, which operates the biggest tote pools in the world.

Last year, with punters from around the world betting into the Hong Kong World Pools, a whopping R650-million was wagered with the Hong Kong Jockey Club tote on eight of the 12 races at the Met race meeting. This will surely be surpassed this year as nine races form the World Pool event this time round.

The World Sports Betting Cape Town Met achieved the highest turnover of the eight races in 2022 with a total of R97.8-million wagered into the World Pools on the race.

The Quinella and Swinger (Quinella Place) were the most popular bet-types again. Quinella pools on Met Day last year averaged R20.5-million and Swingers R19.4-million.

Because of the size of these pools, TAB customers can rest assured that they can bet big amounts without significantly diminishing pay outs.

All other tote pools at the meeting will be hosted by TAB as usual and these include the Pick 6, which is set to total R10-million as a result of a R1-million carryover.

TAB is also offering two other carryover pools. The Quartet on the Met, in which players must select the first four to finish in the correct order, gets a R1-million boost that should generate a total pool of over R5-million.

The second Bipot (races 7-12) will be boosted by R200,000 and the pool is expected to top R1-million.

Three TAB Jackpot pools will also be offered after the success of last year’s inaugural three-Jackpot Met meeting. Jackpot 1 will be on Races 1 to 4 with Jackpot 2 on Races 5 to 8 and Jackpot 3 on the last four races.

TAB betting on the meeting will open on Friday 27 January because pools must open simultaneously with Hong Kong tote pools.

TAB customers must note that Hong Kong tote rules will apply in all World Pool bets. –Media release by TAB4Racing on Thursday 19 January 2023

Today’s Question

Who was the first filly to win the Met, and who was her rider?

See answer at the bottom of the newsletter

Click Here To See Kenilworth Fields, Saturday 21 January

Click Here To See Turffontein Fields, Sunday 22 January

NB Please wait a few seconds for fields to appear.

The late Duncan Alexander as a jockey.

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION:

Renounce, trained by ‘Cookie’ Amos, became the first filly to win the Met, in 1966, then the Metropolitan Handicap. She was ridden by Duncan Alexander.

Turf Talk Newsletter – 20 January 2023