The MJ Odendaal-trained El Dante is geared down close to home by Keagan de Melo when making it two wins from five starts at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Wednesday (Candiese Lenferna).

Wylie Hall Residing With Promising Son At MJ’s Place

Dual Grade 1-winning Australian-bred stallion Wylie Hall is residing at the Summerveld yard of former champion jockey and now trainer MJ Odendaal.

Perhaps his promising Odendaal-trained son El Dante can one day prompt somebody to bring the fertility-blighted son of Redoute’s Choice out of retirement.

Odendaal said, “Wyle Hall’s fertility dropped to very low levels and he now stays with me. He is out in the paddock all day and is enjoying himself.”

MJ is returning a favour because Wyle Hall, trained by Weiho Marwing, provided him with a Grade 1 win in the SA Derby.

MJ mentioned something about high temperatures effecting the sperm quality of Wylie Hall and added, “Personally, I think his fertility is back to normal, but I don’t have the means to stand him as a stallion. Perhaps one of his existing runners will become a top horse and then maybe somebody will become interested in putting him back to stud, but we will cross that bridge when we come to it.”

On Wednesday, Odendaal sent out Wylie Hall’s son El Dante and the manner in which he won the 1600m handicap event suggests that he could possibly be the one to prompt his father’s return to stud duties.

The five-year-old gelding was having only his fifth career start and was backed into 33/20 favourite despite coming off two unplaced runs.

Those two unplaced runs were comeback efforts after being off for nearly a year-and-a-half for a wind operation.

In the parade ring it was easy to see why El Dante was fancied as he is a magnificent looking horse and on memory looks to be a replica of his father.

Keagan de Melo was aboard and took El Dante straight to the front.

At first sight it looked like the rest of the field were allowing the big horse an easy lead.

He duly pulled away in the straight to win by 6,40 lengths.

However, the time of the race told a different story.

Despite it being just a MR 75 Handicap the time was an excellent 94,38 seconds, which can be compared to 95.72 seconds in the following MR 77 Handicap and to 96,90 seconds in the preceding Maiden Plate.

MJ confirmed, “He has a very high cruising speed and is able to kick off that pace … to be able to do that is always the sign of a good horse.”

El Dante was admittedly only running off a 65 merit rating,

However, he looks the part and won easing up without being put under any pressure.

That time he recorded was also eyecatching.

The win was particularly rewarding for the Odendaal yard, because two new owners Desiree De Andrade and Scott Gaskell took a share before the race.

MJ continued, “I have always had a high regard for El Dante and that is why I was prepared to wait for so long. I have always thought that as long as I got him to the right place at the right time he would be very good.”

El Dante made his debut on June 21, 2021 over 1200m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly and finished second before winning over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville at odds of 20/3.

However, it then became apparent he needed a wind operation.

Because of the high regard he held him in MJ was prepared to wait for treatment with a special laser machine owned by the veterinarians Dr Andrew Gray of Drakenstein Veterinary Centre in Franschoek and Summerveld’s Dr Ralph Katzwinkel.

He was advised after the procedure to give El Dante a break.

His comeback was on 28 December 2022 over 1400m and he surely needed both that run and another one over the too sharp 1200m on January 15.

MJ said about the race on Wednesday, “Keagan said his breathing was crystal clear.”

So it is exciting times for Desiree de Andrade and Scott Gaskell and indeed for MJ, who also owns a share.

MJ has always believed El Dante to be a ten furlong horse and asked whether he believed he could become a feature horse, he replied, “It is still early days but I have always believed him to be well above average. We will see how he goes in his next couple of starts and perhaps we will then be able to plan a program to step him up in class.”

El Dante is definitely one to keep an eye on.

Molly has selected the Adam Marcus-trained What A State (What A Winter) (far side) to win the last race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth tomorrow (Wayne Marks).

Expect Bombs To Drop In First Race On small Kenilworth Card

The Justin Snaith stable send out three runners in the 1,000m sprint

David Mollett (Business Day)

After the razzamatazz of the Met meeting, it is hard to believe there are only seven races at Kenilworth on Saturday. Even so, the first event is full of interest with several choicely bred juveniles making their debuts.

The Justin Snaith stable send out three runners in the 1,000m sprint and they include two colts by Drakenstein’s ill-fated stallion, Lancaster Bomber. He was the champion older horse in Ireland in 2018.

Lancaster Bomber looked an excellent addition to the Drakenstein stallion ranks, but sadly he died suddenly in July 2021.

Snow Pilot is the first foal of the outstanding mare Snowdance and Justin Snaith has indicated the colt — an early foal — is worth a punt. He is quoted in Winning Form as saying that the youngster “will go very close on debut”.

Snaith has backup in the form of Yamadori and Hluhluwe. The first-named — born just three days after Snow Pilot — was bought by Nic Jonsson and Douglas Ross for R500,000. Snaith says this Lancaster Bomber colt has “an each-way chance — a nice type if not green”.

Jonsson paid the same price for Hluhluwe at the 2022 National Yearling Sales. Snaith’s comment is that the son of Trippi is “a nice type also with an each-way chance if not green”.

There are several other interesting first-timers including Elusive Winter, a R325,000 son of Captain Of All trained by Harold Crawford and Michelle Rix.

Glen Kotzen has a trio of runners and is confident of a big first run from his well-named (the dam is Jo’s Bond) What A Winter colt, Connery. He said: “quick and should run well.”

Of those two-year-olds who have raced, the Vaughan Marshall duo of Silver Crown and Icy Blast have both shown ability.

Snaith’s R475,000 Dynasty filly, Mary Lamb, will be sent off favourite for the fourth race, but the three-year-old could be given a run for her money from Paddy Kruyer’s four-year-old, Red Kite.

The daughter of Captain Of All has more than recouped her R45,000 purchase price and — reunited with Louis Mxothwa — should make a bold bid to leave the maiden ranks.

The trickiest race for punters to unravel is the fifth with six of the eight runners in with a chance of taking top honours.

It’s interesting to note that Candice Bass-Robinson brings Fun Zone back to 1,200m and the daughter of Rafeef gets the nod to beat home Gimmeafirst and Brett Crawford’s filly, Miss Greenlight.

Trainer Adam Marcus holds a strong hand in the final leg of the Pick Six in which he saddles Jury Duty and What A State. Jockey JP van der Merwe rode both females last time out and — if he had the choice — it’s a pointer to the first-named.

Nevertheless — with Gavin Lerena riding the filly for the first time — What A State could run a big race at an attractive price. Others with chances include Bluff On Bluff and She’s My Captain.

Turffontein hosts a nine-race programme on Sunday and trainer Sean Tarry will be hoping Pyromaniac can notch the fourth win of his career by winning the sixth race. With Calvin Habib having relocated to Singapore, the ride on the four-year-old goes to promising apprentice Siyanda Sosibo.

Though he was badly drawn, Pyromaniac’s run in the Summer Cup was just too bad to be true and the gelding failed to justify favouritism on his next start. So supporting the Tarry inmate comes with risks so Humdinger, Bingwa and Homely Girl all warrant inclusion in exotic bets.

KENILWORTH SELECTIONS

1st Race: (12) Snow Pilot (13) Yamadori (9) Connery (7) Icy Blast

2nd Race: (9) Go Like Flo (4) Eleodoro (6) Jade’s Caberneigh (1) The Agents Muse

3rd Race: (8) Augusta Blue (1) Fallo Ancora (7) Contiguous (3) Donder Storm

4th Race: (4) Red Kite (5) Mary Lamb (9) Hang Out The Stars (6) Jazz Diva

5th Race: (1) Fun Zone (6) Gimmeafirst (3) Miss Greenlight (5) Bonika

6th Race: (3) Trivial Matter (1) Tchaikovsky (5) Elusive Trader (7) Sun Dazed

7th Race: (4) What A State (9) Jury Duty (1) Bluff On Bluff (6) She’s My Captain

LKP Special Moments Competition Winning Pictures

Congratulations to all the winners of #LKPMoments competition at the L’Ormarins King’s Plate.

At this year’s L’Ormarins King’s Plate, we held the popular #LKPMoments Competition inviting photographers to participate in submitting moments captured throughout the event that best encapsulate the spirit and essence of #LKP.

The competition judges have decided on the winners for full Overall Portfolio submissions (3 of the photographer’s best images), with this year’s winner being Ruvan Boshoff who won himself a R15,000 Orms Voucher

Our 2nd place winner, Yolanda Saayman and 3rd place winner, Chase Liebenberg, have won themselves a R10,000 and R5,000 ORMS Voucher respectfully.

Congratulations to all selected winners!

Seven of the winning images are shown here, one above the headline and the other six below.

This grey Frankel colt pictured as a yearling will be trained by Sir Mark Prescott (Twitter)

Sir Mark Prescott And A Frankel Grey … Will History Repeat Itself?

The veteran Newmarket stalwart trained last year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner, Alpinista, a grey daughter of Frankel.

He is now being sent the above grey colt by Frankel out of America Nova.

The Frankel colt is a half brother to Group winner Nyaleti who was trained by Mark Johnston.

Nyaleti, interestingly, is the dam of a Frankel two-year-old who will be also trained by Mark/Charlie Johnston. The Frankel x Nyaleti colt is also a grey.

America Nova also produced Weary (Astronomer Royal), a grey Chris Waller-trained gelding who won a Group 2 and a Group 3 in Australia.

She also produced a third stakes winner, the roan filly Stellar Path, who won a Listed and a Group 3 race for Xavier Thomas-Demeaulte in France and a Group 3 in the USA for Christophe Clement.

The 2004-born America Nova is by Verglas and she herself was a Listed winner, trained by Richard Gibson in France.

Pictured below are two pinnacle moments in Sir Mark Prescott’s long career.

Alpinista (Luke Morris) beats Vadeni in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. Credit: Edward Whitaker

Trainer Sir Mark Prescott points to the camera after Alpinista’s magnificent Arc triumph. Credit: Edward Whitaker

The Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Tchaikovsky (Pomodoro) has been selected to win the sixth race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth tomorrow (Wayne Marks).

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Saturday Formguides And Selections

www.attheraces.com

1 13H15 – Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Welcomes You Maiden Juvenile Plate

This looks a hot 2yo maiden and could well produce a formline worth following. A lot of attention will be drawn to SNOW PILOT who is the first foal of multiple Grade 1 winner Snowdance. Stablemates HLUHLUWE and YAMADORI are well-bred colts in their own right and could have bright futures of their own, so market support for either should be respected. SILVER CROWN, ICY BLAST and CAPTAIN ARROW have the benefit of experience and ought to be competitive if reproducing the promise of their debut outings. GALLIC DREAM, ELUSIVE WINTER, ZIL MORIS and CONNERY are others to consider – watch the betting!

Top Tip: YAMADORI (13)

Watch out for: ICY BLAST (7)

2 13H50 – www.caperacing.co.za Maiden Special Weights (F & M)

GO LIKE FLO has been getting closer with every start. She was only touched off over the course and distance last time and with further improvement, is likely to go one better. JADE’S CABERNEIGH ought to improve after a pleasing debut and with natural improvement should make her presence felt. ELEODORO may need the outing returning from a layoff but showed enough prior to her absence to warrant consideration. THE AGENTS MUSE, HUNDREDFIFTHAVENUE and WHAT NOW MY GAL complete the shortlist.

Top Tip: JADE’S CABERNEIGH (6)

Watch out for: GO LIKE FLO (9)

3 14H25 – Racecape Powered By Hollywoodbets Maiden Special Weights

DONDER STORM and CONTIGUOUS had been threatening to open their accounts before below-par efforts last time out. They’re both capable of better and should play leading roles on their earlier form. FALLO ANCORA and AUGUSTA BLUE ought to make their presence felt with a repeat of improved recent outings. LOCKHEEDLIGHTNING could get into the picture too.

Top Tip: FALLO ANCORA (1)

Watch out for: DONDER STORM (3)

4 15H05 – Play.tabonline.co.za Maiden Special Weights (F & M)

MARY LAMB was drawn wide when running on strongly from a long way back to finish 3rd over track and trip last time out, so from a better draw should make a bold winning bid. RED KITE wouldn’t be winning out of turn after several near misses and is likely to fight out the finish. JAZZ DIVA and HANG OUT THE STARS have shown enough over shorter distances to suggest they could make their presence felt over the extra. ESTIMATED has scope for improvement could get into the picture too.

Top Tip: MARY LAMB (5)

Watch out for: JAZZ DIVA (6)

5 15H40 – Bet With Tab Fm 90 Handicap (F & M)

Good race. Course-and-distance winners FUN ZONE and BONIKA have proven both versatile and consistent, and they could enjoy a return to this shorter trip so could play a role in the finish. The latter finished behind MISS GREENLIGHT over this track and trip last time and is worse off at the weights, so could struggle to turn the tables on these terms. GIMMEAFIRST returns from a break on 1.5kg better terms and with improvement should make her presence felt too.

Top Tip: GIMMEAFIRST (6)

Watch out for: FUN ZONE (1)

6 16H15 – Follow Cape Racing On Social Media Middle Stakes

Good race. TCHAIKOVSKY was in good form prior to a break, finishing a close-up 3rd in a similar contest over track and trip when last seen despite excuses, and he ought to play a role in the finish if returning in the same form. Riding arrangements, however, suggest stablemate SUN DAZED is the pick of the yard’s 4 runners. The latter is proven at this level and arrives in good form so should be competitive too. TRIVIAL MATTER has bounced back to best since returning to the Western Cape and is likely to play fight out the finish in his peak outing after 2 close-up finishes over track and trip.

Top Tip: TCHAIKOVSKY (1)

Watch out for: TRIVIAL MATTER (3)

7 16H50 – Hollywoodbets Bright Future Classified Stakes

Tricky. BLUFF ON BLUFF bounced back to form dropped in class last time and ought to acquit himself competitively off the same mark. WHAT A STATE and EVERLASTING have been holding their form and are closely matched on these terms after a recent meeting over track and trip, and should make their presence felt with a repeat of those efforts. Last-start winners JURY DUTY and SHE’S MY CAPTAIN are also closely matched on recent form. They’re favourably treated by the conditions of the race and should also have a say in the finish. ROCK ON TOMMY, WORDSWORTH and FINAL MOVE have earning potential too.

Top Tip: JURY DUTY (9)

Watch out for: WHAT A STATE (4)

Galopin Des Champs, favourite for the Gold Cup, pulls clear of Stattler at Leopardstown

Credit: Patrick McCann

Galopin for glory? Weighing up the key contenders for the 2023 Cheltenham Gold Cup

Racing Post

Five weeks to go. The Friday of the Cheltenham Festival is always slightly bittersweet – we know it’s almost over, but there’s still so much to enjoy. Including, of course, the biggest race of them all – the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.30). This year’s running looks particularly intriguing. The market is dominated by the potentially limitless Galopin Des Champs but he faces rivals who have the credentials to write their names into history. Here, we look at the leading contenders as the 2023 Gold Cup draws tantalisingly into view . . .

Galopin Des Champs

Form: 1F1-11

Strengths: If Constitution Hill is the new king of the 2m hurdlers then Galopin Des Champs is the equivalent in the staying chase division. Willie Mullins’ seven-year-old has looked destined for greatness since his comprehensive Martin Pipe win at the festival in 2021, and has progressed to the point he is now a short-priced favourite for the Gold Cup two years later. He has one major blot on his copybook – a final-fence fall in last year’s Turners Novices’ Chase, having given Bob Olinger a thrashing – but even that mistake hasn’t poured water on the fire of excitement which follows him from race to race. His final assignment before Cheltenham came in the Irish Gold Cup, where a measured performance ended with a blistering finish as he met the last and powered home. The one to beat.

Weaknesses: Galopin Des Champs is yet to run over further than three miles, but the way he finished at Leopardstown – with Paul Townend taking an age to pull him up after the line – suggests the extra two and a half furlongs won’t be an issue. His price is clearly prohibitive from a betting perspective and his exit in the Turners will be lingering on the minds of anyone who backs him – as well as his trainer and jockey. This is obviously his toughest assignment to date, against experienced rivals and previous Gold Cup winners. How good is he? This is the acid test.

Odds: 13-8

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer: “I was amazed that the press were doubting the fact that Gallopin Des Champs had never won over three miles over fences. He had won over three miles as a novice over hurdles which is way harder than doing it over fences. To me he can go four miles. What I love about him now is that he’s settling, he’s not keen and Paul is able to put him wherever he wants him in a race. That’s crucial for tactics going forward.”

Noble Yeats

Form: 1-111

Strengths: Last year’s Grand National winner as a seven-year-old, Noble Yeats is bidding to become just the third horse in history to complete a famous double by adding the Gold Cup to his CV next month. He bounced back from a disappointing reappearance at Auteuil in October with back-to-back wins at Wexford and in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree, before staying on well to take third in the Cotswold Chase last time out. Emmet Mullins is one of the best young trainers around and his stable star will be primed for the big day, and is likely to relish a stamina test up the hill.

Weaknesses: Winning the Grand National as a seven-year-old is obviously the mark of a brilliantly talented, prodigious horse but the Gold Cup is a step into unchartered waters for Noble Yeats. This will be the classiest company he has kept so far and there are question marks over whether he will be able to hold his own against proven Grade 1 performers. Either way, it will be fun to find out.

Odds: 15-2

What they say

Emmet Mullins, trainer (after the Cotswold Chase): “I’m very happy. Noble Yeats hit the line well and fingers crossed he comes out of the race well so we can take it from there. He didn’t disgrace himself there with the penalties he was giving away to the first and second-placed horses, so he’s still exciting going forward.”

A Plus Tard

Form: /121-P

Strengths: If A Plus Tard can produce a repeat of last year’s performance then it’s highly likely he will defend his Gold Cup crown. His 2022 win was a demolition job, winning by 15 lengths under Rachael Blackmore in a genuinely jaw-dropping display. He posted a Racing Post Rating of 184 for that victory – in the last decade only Don Cossack, who ran to 182 in 2015, has achieved a rating above 180. Still only a nine-year-old, the same again will make him very difficult to beat.

Weaknesses: A Plus Tard has only been seen once since his Gold Cup win, when he was pulled up in Betfair Chase at Haydock, won by Protektorat. That disappointing run was put down to a travel-related illness, with trainer Henry de Bromhead then pulling him from the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas due to a banged joint. De Bromhead is clearly confident his star can retain his crown without a further prep run – it would be a fine training performance if A Plus Tard can do it again.

Odds: 8-1

What they say

Henry de Bromhead, trainer: “He seems great at the moment and we are looking forward to the Gold Cup.”

Bravemansgame

Form: 114-11

Strengths: Bravemansgame’s King George victory, when putting L’Homme Presse to the sword, felt like a coming of age performance. It was no secret Kempton was the eight-year-old’s main target but his win threw him firmly into the Gold Cup mix, and trainer Paul Nicholls delighted racing fans by confirming afterwards all roads would lead to Cheltenham. Before the King George his only other run this season came when he landed the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby. Fresh and progressive, he will be a danger to all.

Weaknesses: Bravemansgame missed Cheltenham last year due to the soft ground before a disappointing performance at Aintree, and it’s clear Nicholls will take no chances with his star on the day. The Gold Cup will prove a bigger stamina test than Kempton and a career best will likely be needed, but he is a maturing horse. Nicholls seems quietly confident about his chances but while he has enjoyed a fine season, he is without a festival winner since Politologue won the Champion Chase in 2020.

Odds: 8-1

What they say

Paul Nicholls, trainer: “I think the Gold Cup is an open race. I’m dead happy. Bravemansgame was in his box watching on Saturday [Cotswold Chase, January 28]. I wouldn’t have wanted to run him on that testing ground and I didn’t feel like I needed to give him a run. We’ll hopefully have him at his best on some nice spring ground in March. I’ve been thrilled with what he’s done this season. He’s a Charlie Hall and King George winner and I think he’s in a great place. He looks really well and I’m going into it thinking he’s got a lovely chance.”

The best of the rest

Stattler (8-1): Finished a good second behind Galopin Des Champs in the Irish Gold Cup. Has plenty to find to reverse that form but he was an impressive winner of last year’s National Hunt Chase, so should relish a return to Prestbury Park.

Conflated (12-1): Missed the Dublin Racing Festival to head straight to Cheltenham after his win in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown. His stablemate Fury Road came third that day, before putting it up to Galopin Des Champs until the final fence in the Irish Gold Cup. Conflated could be well placed to challenge the favourite.

Ahoy Senor (12-1): It was a disappointing start to the season for Ahoy Senor, as three comprehensive defeats saw him drift out to 50-1 in the Gold Cup betting. However, he returned to form in the Cotswold Chase, securing an emotional success for trainer Lucinda Russell and entering calculations again.

Protektorat (16-1): Last year’s third announced himself as a major contender again with victory in the Betfair Chase at Haydock, before a disappointing run in the Cotswold Chase. Afterwards trainer Dan Skelton remained confident the Sir Alex Ferguson-owned eight-year-old would be in the mix again at Cheltenham.

Hewick (20-1): It would be the fairytale story of the festival if Hewick, an €850 purchase, could land the big one. The Shark Hanlon-trained eight-year-old won last year’s bet365 Gold Cup and was last seen landing the American Grand National over hurdles at Far Hill. Prepare for the party of a lifetime if he wins the Gold Cup.

Verdict

As mentioned, a return to last year’s form for A Plus Tard would make him very tough to beat, but is it a realistic prospect? Noble Yeats should thrive over the course and distance and is open to plenty of improvement, likewise Bravemansgame. But while GALOPIN DES CHAMPS‘ odds aren’t attractive from a betting perspective, he could be a once-in-a-generation talent, and his still untapped potential can see him cement his place as the star of the chasing division.

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (3.30 Cheltenham, Friday, March 17)

Betfair: 6-4 Galopin Des Champs, 7 Stattler, 15-2 Noble Yeats, 8 A Plus Tard, Bravemansgame, 11 Ahoy Senor, 12 Conflated, 16 Protektorat, Minella Indo, 20 Hewick, Sounds Russian, 33 bar

Burning Moon (Pomodoro) provides the middle leg of a treble for Gavin Smith and the first leg of a double for S’Manga Khumalo at Fairview today (Pauline Herman Photography).

Smith Treble, Domeyer/Greeff Double Khumalo Double

Gavin Smith sent out another treble on the Fairview turf today and two of them were ridden by S’Manga Khumalo.

Aldo Domeyer also rode a double for Alan Greeff.

Smith has now had 75 wins this season and has done it at a strike rate of 10.70%.

He is 17 clear of perennial East Cape rival Greeff, who is on 58 wins at 11.86%.

Khumalo is on 98 wins at 17.01%.

Domeyer is on 25 wins at 19.38%.

The picture gives a clue to the answer (Candiese Lenferna).

Today’s Question

This century how many Equus two-year-old male champions have also been Equus three-year-old male champions?

See answer at the bottom of the newsletter

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Fields, Saturday, CLICK HERE

Turffontein Inside Fields, Sunday, CLICK HERE

NB Please wait a few seconds for fields to appear.

Got The Greenlight (Bernard Fayd'Herbe), with Deez Dyanand (left) and Joe Soma. (Candiese Lenferna).

The Joe Soma-trained Gimmethegreenlight colt Got The Greenlight (Candiese Lenferna).

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION:

The Joe Soma-trained Got The Greenlight (Gimmethegreenlight) is the only horse this century to be both Equus two-year-old male champion and Equus three-year-old male champion.

Turf Talk Newsletter – 10 February 2023

Wylie Hall Residing With Promising Son At MJ’s Place

Expect Bombs To Drop In First Race On small Kenilworth Card

The Justin Snaith stable send out three runners in the 1,000m sprint

LKP Special Moments Competition Winning Pictures

Sir Mark Prescott And A Frankel Grey … Will History Repeat Itself?

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Saturday Formguides And Selections

Smith Treble, Domeyer/Greeff Double Khumalo Double

Today’s Question

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Fields, Saturday, CLICK HERE

Turffontein Inside Fields, Sunday, CLICK HERE

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION: