A group of Highveld Grooms pictured last year on a visit to the Soweto Equestrian Centre (4Racing).

Landmark 4Racing Transformation Initiative Set In Motion

26% Of company transferred to a Grooms and Employees’ Trust, along with a wide range of historic Grooms’ benefits

Horseracing operator 4Racing has started the historic roll-out of a major Transformation Initiative to improve the working conditions and welfare of Grooms, including the upgrading of Grooms accommodation, provision of funeral cover and medical benefits, and a ground- breaking Grooms Trust that will give Grooms and Stable Hands a considerable stake in the 4Racing business.

When the Competition Commission approved the transaction between Phumelela and 4Racing on 31 March 2021, 4Racing made a commitment to contribute to the transformation of not only the organisation, but the horse racing industry as a whole.

In December 2022, the Competition Commission approved the implementation of the 4Racing Transformation Initiative, which will see a 26% shareholding of the company apportioned between a Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Trust (BBOS), the beneficiaries of which will be Grooms and Stable Hands, and an Employee Share Ownership Programme (ESOP) being established for 4Racing employees.

4Racing has appointed an independent Trust Administrator to handle the establishment and administration of the Grooms and Employees’ Trust. A total of 16% of the company’s shares will be issued to the Grooms and Stable Hands’ Trust (BBOS) and 10% to 4Racing Employees (ESOP).

“Grooms are one of the most crucial parts of the horse racing industry,” said 4Racing Chief Executive Officer, Fundi Sithebe.

“They are also traditionally, the most marginalised stakeholders.

“This landmark approval by the 4Racing Board of the funding for the Grooms Trust initiative is a massive moment in the history of South African horseracing. The Grooms Trust will genuinely empower Grooms and Stable Hands and we are extremely proud of the progressive steps being made to improve the holistic living standards of these very important stakeholders, as well as by the formation of the Employees’ Trust.”

Medical and Funeral benefits

An experienced medical services and insurance provider has been selected to provide cost- effective and accessible funeral cover and medical insurance that meets the needs of Grooms, and has already started conducting a benefits registration campaign for Grooms and Stable Hands, starting at Fairview Racecourse.

This will be followed by similar registration drives this month at the Randjesfontein training facility as well as the Vaal and Turffontein Racecourses.

The Grooms and Stable Hands’ benefits have been driven by a collaboration between 4Racing, trainers and owners, and the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA), which has committed considerable funding in support of the Grooms initiatives.

ROA Chief Executive Officer, Natalie Turner, said partnering with 4Racing on the Grooms’ welfare initiatives was absolutely critical.

“We are mindful that we need to strike a balance between stakes maximisation for owners, and playing a meaningful role in bringing about change and transformation in the industry,” said Turner.

“In this particular case, improving the welfare of Grooms and Stable Hands is a key and critical element. This partnership is a powerful message of change and collaboration within the horseracing industry.

“We look forward to participating in this initiative, jointly supporting Grooms and transforming lives,” said Turner.

Upgrading of Grooms Accommodation

The 4Racing Board commissioned a property solution company to conduct a thorough assessment and investigation into the state of the Grooms accommodation at all 4Racing’s racing and training facilities.

The findings were that the Turffontein Grooms’ lodging was in need of renovations and that the accommodations at Randjesfontein and Vaal were well-maintained and that no immediate action was required there.

The company will renovate the existing Grooms’ accommodation at Turffontein and work on the eight-month project has already begun, with a number of Grooms currently moved to temporary accommodation while their living quarters are being renovated.

The Eric Sands-trained Gallic Dream makes it a quick double for Vercingetorix (Cape Racing).

Vercingetorix’s Impressive Double, Master Of My Fate Treble

Vercingetorix was responsible for the winners of the two juvenile maidens at Hollywoodbets Durbanville today.

In the first race the Justin Snaith-trained Varsfontein-bred filly Double Grand Slam was a R1 million purchase at the BSA National Yearling Sale last year.

Vercingetorix had 42 lots at that sale and averaged R617,976.

Double Grand Slam’s dam Princess Peach is by the late champion stallion Captain Al and was a winner of the Grade 3 Debutante as well as being a full-sister to a Listed winner and half-sister to three other stakes winners, including Grade 1 winner Sentbydestiny.

It was not surprising she went for a seven figure amount.

Double Grand Slam caught the eye staying on for a 2,90 length fourth over 1000m on debut.

She was always going to relish the step up in trip and vied for favouritism with the Adam Marcus-trained Potala Palace filly Nile The Boss, who had beaten her narrowly on debut.

However, Double Grand Slam now had the advantage of a good draw of three, as opposed to the nine draw of Nile The Boss, and she never looked in danger of defeat.

She was taken to the front by Richard Fourie and drew clear in the straight to win in impressive fashion by 4,50 lengths from the Snaith-trained What A Winter first-timer Jet To The Sun and the Brett Crawford-trained Trippi first-timer Quick Trip, who is a half-sister to Grade 1 runner up Rock The Fox (Canford Cliffs).

Nile The Boss finished next best.

In the second race the Eric Sands-trained Gallic Dream, a Yataghan Syndicate homebred colt out of Dynasty dual Listed winner A Time To Dream, came in under the radar having had a quiet debut in which he stayed on for a 6,75 length fifth over 1000m behind the subsequent Grade 3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery fourth-placed Icy Blast.

Finishing just over three lengths in front of him on that debut was the Snaith-trained Lancaster Bomber colt Snow Pilot.

However, Snow Pilot now had a wide draw while Gallic Dream was drawn in pole.

Snow Pilot, a big rangy type out of the Captain Al dual Grade 1 winner Snowdance, was taken to the front and made a bold bid to keep going.

However, Gallic Dream edged closer under Sean Veale and eventually got the better of him before going on to win by 0,30 lengths, despite odds of 20/1.

The hard-knocking Vaughan Marshall-trained 6/1 shot Mojo Man (Rafeef) also got the better of Snow Pilot and finished second.

The hot favourite, the Brett Crawford-trained Zoomie, who had beaten Mojo Man last time out, was a disappointing 4,55 length fourth.

Sands went on to win the next race over 1400m narrowly with the Master Of My Fate gelding Numzaan, who had not placed in four previous starts and went off at 16/1 under Grant van Niekerk.

Master Of My Fate then made it a quick double when the hard-knocking and scopey Brett Crawford-trained maiden filly Supreme Dream ran on well to beat winners by 0,30 lengths in the 2000m contest.

Master Of My Fate later made it a treble when the Glen Puller-trained filly Senhora Victoria followed up on her maiden win with a 0,5 length victory over 1400m off a 68 merit rating under Oswald Noach.

Marine Nationale gives both trainer Barry Connell and jockey Michael O’Sullivan a first Cheltenham Festival winner. The Hollywood colours can be seen behind the winner (Liverpool Echo).

Il Etait Temps Fifth in Supreme Novices

The Hollywood Syndicate colours were seen for the first time at the Cheltenham Festival in the first event on today’s opening day, the Grade 1 Supreme Novices Hurdle, carried by the Paddy Mullins-trained Il Etait Temps, who is owned also by the Kieswetter family’s Barnane Stud.

He finished fifth beaten nine lengths, a disappointment considering he started second favourite.

However, it might have gone a bit better if jockey Danny Mullins had not made a possible mistake at the top of the hill, which he might have rued later.

Sitting towards the back for most of the two mile journey Il Etait Temps was behind the favourite Facile Vega and the eventual winner Marine Nationale approaching the top of the hill.

Mullins could have followed Marine Nationale down the hill but opted instead to switch outward and move forward.

Il Etait Temps initially moved up well on the outside.

However, by the time they had reached the final turn with the fearsome Cheltenham climb to the finish ahead of them, it was clear that, further inward, Facile Vega and Marine Nationale, were moving way better than Il Etait Temps was in his isolated position out wide.

Facile Vega hit the front before the last but Marine Nationale was still looking dangerous.

Facile Vega then made a mess of the last jump and handed the initiative to Marine Nationale, who powered home to win by 3,25 lengths.

Marine Nationale remains unbeaten after five starts.

It was a first Cheltenham Festival winner for Irish trainer Barry Connell, who had quoted the racing adage in the build up, “You don’t find good horses, good horses find you.”

It was also a first festival win for 23-year-old rising star jockey Michael O’Sullivan.

Il Etait Temps struggled on gamely up the hill, but was beaten a long way out and would not have been a match for the front pair even if he had followed them down the hill.

Honeysuckle (nearest) and Love Envoi battle it out in the Mares’ Hurdle (SkySports.com).

Honeysuckle Bows Out Victorious, Kieswetter’s Echoes In Rain Fourth

The darling of the national hunt turf bounces back after two shock defeats and the Kieswetter’s Echoes In Rain finishes fourth

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Honeysuckle made it a fourth Grade 1 Cheltenham Festival win in four successive years when winning today’s David Nicholson Mare’s Hurdle under regular pilot Rachel Blackmore.

It was the great mare’s swansong.

She won this race in 2020 and won the Champion Hurdle in both 2021 and 2022.

She wisely avoided the Champion Hurdle this year, having suffered the only two defeats of her career in the build up and with the exceptional Constitutional Hill looking uinbeatable.

She started at odds of 9/4 and from a handy position ended having a dual with 11/1 shot Love Envoi up the final hill.

However, Blackmore extracted more from her after Love Envoi had leapt into the lead over the last.

She fought back and then drew ahead in the closing stages to win by 1,50 lengths.

The Kieswetter’s Barnane Stud own Echoes In Rain and starting at 9/1 she stayed on up the hill from a midfield position to finish a gallant, but well beaten fourth.

Honeysuckle had 19 races under rules for 17 wins and she won the only point to point she ran in too.

The unbeaten Constitutional Hill is out on his own in the Champion Hurdle. (skysports.com)

Constitution Hill Hailed As An All Time Great

Constitution Hill lights up Cheltenham Festival with easy Champion Hurdle win

The unbeaten Constitution Hill won the Champion Hurdle on day one of the Cheltenham Festival in scintillating fashion by nine lengths.

The Nicky Henderson-trained runner, who was retuned the 4-11 favourite, had been hailed as one of the potential greats of jump racing and delivered, beating his six rivals with consummate ease.

Cheltenham Festival 2023 day one: stunning wins for Constitution Hill and Honeysuckle – as it happened

Before this race Constitution Hill was being talked of in the same breath as the outstanding hurdling champions back to the 1970s and he didn’t disappoint, taking up the running before the home turn and quickening away to beat State Man easily.

The 2023 champion hurdler is now unbeaten in six starts and after successes this season at Newcastle and Kempton and came into this race being hailed as “extraordinary” by Henderson.

Nico de Boinville, who steered him to success, said: “What a horse – I’m just absolutely delighted. He jumped out of my hands at the last – he had a lot left. He winged every single hurdle and it’s just a case of when to press the button.”

The British triumphed in the marquee event on day one of the meeting and will be hoping for more success before Gold Cup day brings the event to a close on Friday but the Irish are likely to dominate proceedings at the Festival and won the first two races in style and had the first eight home in the opening race, the Supreme Novice Hurdle, won by Marine Nationale.

Jockey Michael O’Sullivan, who was still in college when Constitution Hill was winning the Festival opener 12 months ago, produced an ice-cool ride aboard 9-2 shot Marine Nationale to register a famous victory for trainer Barry Connell.

The winning rider told ITV Racing: “[It feels] unbelievable, a massive relief. I’m just so, so lucky to get on this horse and that Barry Connell put his faith in me. All his team at home, they work so hard and really welcomed me in there.

“We’re having an amazing season, I don’t think it can be topped. The horse is just incredible. I turned in and I wasn’t sure what I was holding onto, but by God he actually won easy.

“Days like this is what I was dreaming of since I was riding ponies when I was three, four years of age. My father, my grandmother and my mother, all my family, they have been so supportive of me.”

In the following contest, El Fabiolo got the better of the Henderson-trained Jonbon in the Arkle Trophy, to get Willie Mullins and Paul Townend off the mark at the Festival. Winning trainer Mullins said: “He travelled as well as I was hoping the whole way. Paul said he hit a flat spot down the back but then when he picked him up, he came alive under him.”

“I’m not looking to up him in trip yet, I always think if a horse is comfortable at two miles they are easier to train and keep sound, so I’m hoping he’s a Champion Chase horse for next year,” added Mullins.

Yataghan (Picture: southafricanracehorse.wordpress)

Garth Puller Recalls His Narrow Miss In The July 50 Years Ago

This year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July will mark the 50^th anniversary of one of its great winners, the Syd Laird-trained Yataghan.

However, it was a close call as an outsider called Storm Signal flew up on the outside and failed by a nostril to get there.

Storm Signal was ridden by none other than KZN’s current champion trainer elect Garth Puller.

Storm Signal was trained by Transvaal’s Henry Eatwell.

He was a full-brother to the legendary Eatwell-trained Home Guard, who still holds the South African record of winning his first eleven starts, before suffering his first defeat in the 1969 July.

Puller recalled Eatwell being a good friend of Cape trainer Jackie Bell, whom Puller regularly rode for.

Bell recommended Puller for the ride on Storm Signal in the Cape Derby of 1970.

Puller was at the time the leading apprentice.

His inexperience cost himself and Storm Signal the Derby, but it turned out to be one of his greatest learning curve races as a jockey.

At the time he was unable to use his weaker left hand and recalled, with the stick in his right hand, Storm Signal continually lugging on to the other contender in the finish, Chichester.

Garth recalls Storm Signal continuously lugging across under the whip and each time he had to stop riding and straighten him before the process was repeated.

He recalls also being continuously sworn at by the senior jockey aboard Chichester.

He lost the race by a quarter-of-a-length and afterwards Eatwell reinforced what he had already told himself by advising him to stop using his right hand for the whip.

Garth recalled, “From that day onward I did everything to strengthen my left hand, and I even used to carry my whip around with me and hit flowers off etc. I eventually actually became much stronger with my left hand.”

Storm Signal won the Grade 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m at Greyville as a four-year-old and a Listed race on the Highveld over 2000m as a five-year-old.

The 1973 July, when he was a six-year-old, was his second attempt at the big race.

He finished a decent 5,75 length seventh to the great In Full Flight in 1972 carrying 50kg.

He was set to carry only 50.5kg in 1973 and Puller was reunited with him.

He went off at 40/1 odds in a fine field in which Sword Dancer was favourite at 3/1 and Yataghan and Elevation were 4/1 and 7/1 respectively.

Garth, known throughout his career as “the head waiter” due to his tendency to come from way off the pace, planned to drop Storm Signal out from his draw of eleven.

He said, “I used to like to relax them and then get them on to the rail. The horses that pushed forward often ended up behind you, because they couldn’t get in and then had to drop back to find cover.”

Storm Signal, from near last, flew in the straight on the outside and needed just one more stride to get up.

Garth still thought he might have won.

However, he saw Bertie Hayden celebrating, so asked him if he thought he had won.

Hayden screamed back at him a well known racing term that describes a horse which has won easily, although it is a bit rude to publish here.

Garth replied, “I dunno Mr Hayden I think I might have won it.”

The excited Hayden screamed back, “Go away, Lighty!”, although not quite in those words!

Hayden proved correct, although the official distance was indeed a short-head.

It was the second of Hayden’s three July wins, all for Syd Laird, while it was the sixth of Laird’s record seven July’s.

It was one of the most thrilling July finishes in history.

Another current Summerveld trainer Michael Roberts was beaten just 0,3 lengths into fourth on Wave Crest.

There was just half-a-length between the winner and the sixth placed horse.

Yataghan is one of only seven horses in history to have won the July and the Met.

Puller went on to win two Julys on the Peter Kannemeyer-trained Over The Air in 1979 and the Bert Abercrombie-trained Bush Telegraph in 1987.

The Glen Puller-trained Senhora Victoria, ridden by Oswald Noach, makes it a treble for sire Master Of My Fate at Hollywoodbets Durbanville today (Picture: Cape Racing).

De Melo, Crawford, Sands and Snaith Doubles

Keagan de Melo rode a double at Hollywoodbets Durbanville today and all of Brett Crawford, Eric Sands and Justin Snaith saddled double.

De Melo is on 192 wins at a strike rate of 20.85% and he is 58 wins clear of the second-placed jockey on the national log, Richard Fourie.

Crawford is on 67 wins for the season at 13.56%.

Sands is on 11 wins at 7.28%.

Snaith is on 91 wins at 12.71%.

See It Again (Image: Wayne Marks).

Today’s Question

Michael Roberts has a lively chance of winning the Hollywoodbets Durban July as a trainer this year with See It Again, having won it as a jockey in 1997 with the David Ferraris-trained Super Quality.

Who was the last person to do the July double as both a jockey and a trainer?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.

Hollywoodbets Scottsville Fields, Wednesday, CLICK HERE

Bush Telegraph.

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION:

Bert Abercrombie was the last person to win the July as both jockey and trainer, riding Jamaican Music to victory in 1976 and training Bush Telegraph to win it in 1987.

Turf Talk Newsletter – 14 March 2023