The Piet Steyn-trained Gem King (Master Of My Fate) will be out to retain his crown in the Grade 3 WSB Variety Club Mile (Picture: Wayne Marks).

Winter Series Changes Look To Be Positive

The decision to change the Cape Winter Series from a three-year-old “Triple Crown” and “Triple Tiara” event into an event open to all ages was proposed by Cape Racing’s Head of Racing Operations, Justin Vermaak.

It was also proposed that the third leg of the male series be changed from a 2400m race to a 2000m race, whilst the first two legs over 1600m and 1800m respectively remained the same.

Furthermore, it was proposed the series for fillies and mares be changed from 1600m, 1800m and 2400m races respectively to 1400m, 1600m and 1800m races respectively.

The proposals were discussed at a Pattern Committee meeting last August.

They were subsequently ratified by the Pattern Commitee.

The Winter Triple Crown had gained a reputation for putting good backward horses on the map i.e. good horses who were not forward enough to take part in the Cape Summer three-year-old features and who also avoided travelling to KZN for the SA Champions Season.

The most notable example was the great Pocket Power, who was the first horse to land the Winter Series Triple Crown before going on to win the Met three times, the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate four times and the Durban July once, among other races.

Power King, who like Pocket Power also went on to win the Durban July, narrowly failed to land the Triple Crown when beaten 1,25 lengths by Dynastic Power in the Winter Derby of 2014.

However, subsequent to him, both African Night Sky (2017) and Katak (2020) landed the Winter Triple Crown.

Last year the series put Gem King on the map as a serious racehorse as he won the first two legs and went in to the Derby as hot favourite, but ran below par.

In the fillies series last year Young Love won the first leg and it was unfortunate she was sidelined for the second leg, because she came back to win the last leg.

So, some will be of the opinion the new changes have spelled the end of a valued tradition.

However, a look at the number of entries for the respective first legs of this year’s Winter Series points to it being a positive change.

The male Winter Series last season had seven runners, eight runners and seven runners in the three legs respectively, for a total of 22 runners in three races.

The female Winter Series had seven runners, six runners and seven runners respectively for a total of only 20 runners.

The first leg of the male Winter Series this year, the Grade 3 WSB Variety Club Mile, has attracted a first entry of 26 and they are good quality entries too.

Johannesburg have traditionally had autumn and winter events like the Grade 2 Colorado King Stakes, the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Challenge and the Grade 3 Jubilee Stakes that can be used by older horses as qualifier events for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

The Cape lacked such races, but the new winter series gives Cape horses of all ages a couple of qualifying opportunities at home.

Entries in the Variety Club Mile whose names also appear in the Hollywoodbets Durban July ante-post betting with the sponsor include Gem King, Light Speed, Marina, Pacaya, Pomp And Power, Royal Aussie, Warrior and Without Question.

Entries for the Grade 3 WSB Variety Club Mile to be run at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 23 April are listed below:

6	Baratheon	Piet Botha	98
16	Blackberry Malt	Glen Kotzen	94
25	Cat Daddy	Glen Kotzen	101
15	Chollima	Glen Kotzen	89
23	Double Charge	Andre Nel	88
26	Gem King	Piet Steyn	106
14	Grinkov	Glen Kotzen	105
9	Hoedspruit	Justin Snaith	112
2	Itsrainingwilliam	Justin Snaith	106
13	King Regent	Glen Kotzen	105
10	Light Speed	Justin Snaith	108
19	Marina	Candice Bass-Robinson	117
17	Master Redoute	Andre Nel	99
22	Montien	Piet Botha	87
20	Narina Trogon	Candice Bass-Robinson	93
4	Native Tongue	Justin Snaith	106
8	Pacaya	Justin Snaith	104
11	Pas De Nom	Dean Kannemeyer	97
1	Pomp And Power	Justin Snaith	124
18	Port Louis	Brett Crawford	110
3	Royal Aussie	Justin Snaith	112
7	Somerset Maugham	Justin Snaith	101
12	Sugar Mountain	Candice Bass-Robinson	95
24	Tout A Fait	Justin Snaith	104
21	Warrior	Justin Snaith	115
5	Without Question	Justin Snaith	119
(26)

Gimme A Shot (JC Photos)

Gimme A Shot Deserves A Change Of Fortune

The Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Gimmethegreenlight filly Gimme A Shot must be one of the unluckiest horses of the season to date and deserves a change of fortune in Saturday’s Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes.

The hot ante-post favourite for the Empress Club, Princess Calla, is skipping the race as a precaution after suffering an elevated temperature a couple of weeks ago, which also caused her to miss some work.

Gimme A Shot was regarded as difficult to beat in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas after an easy victory in the Grade 2 Betway Ipi Tombe Challenge over 1600m, beating the crack older filly Under Your Spell by 3,50 lengths, and then following that with an equally easy win in a Graduation Plate against the boys at odds of 1/3.

However, she drew wide in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas and was always on the back foot because while she was caught wide and trying to slot in the big-striding Lady Of Power was relaxed out in front and dictating.

Instead of cruising up under the hands on the back of a strong pace and then using her turn of foot, Gimme A Shot instead spent the entire length of the straight chasing Lady of Power and had had enough by the end, finishing a 2,05 length fifth.

The Azzies stuck to the mile and took the bold step of taking on older males in the Grade 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes, although that followed a defeat in a Pinnacle event over 1600m where nothing went right for her.

In the Horse Chestnut she found a good spot with cover in midfield and was creeping up dangerously in the straight.

The eventual winner Trip Of Fortune ranged up on her outside, but the small filly responded and went with him.

She was in with every chance of winning when the front-runner suddenly veered left and she was completely squeezed out between that horse, MK’s Pride and Trip Of Fortune.

She lost all momentum and instead of finishing what looked likely to be in the first two at least, she could only be gathered to stay on for a 3,60 length sixth, a result that did her no justice.

She faces Under Your Spell again on Saturday and this time does not have a 2kg advantage like she had in the Ipi Tombe (Under Your Spell had to carry a 2kg penalty in the Ipi Tombe for a Grade 2 win).

Under Your Spell might also have needed the Ipi Tombe outing, it being her second run after a layoff.

Gimme A Shot is in fact only the third favourite.

The favourite is the enigmatic Desert Miracle.

Desert Miracle proved how good she is when winning the Grade 1 Schweppes Majorca Stakes, beating Captain’s Ransom, but she was subsequently beaten 5,50 lengths by stablemate Humdinger in a Pinnacle event over 1400m, although she did give the latter 4kg and it was likely just a preparation outing.

Humdinger has come on in leaps and bounds and can’t be ignored on Saturday in the Empress Club.

Three-year-old Feather Boa, who beat Gimme A Shot by 1,80 lengths in the Gauteng Fillies Guineas, will also be dangerous, especially taking into account the strong finish from off the pace she is capable of.

Marigold Hotel has class but has always been just a bit behind the best at this level.

Miss Daisy is the other runner and is capable on her day, but has not built on her good Grade 3 HSH Princess Charlene Stakes victory over 1400m, beating Feather Boa narrowly, and her form has instead deteriorated.

It is a small seven horse field, but is one of the best renewals of this race in recent times and to borrow the name of one of the contenders it is going to be a humdinger.

Stuart Ferrie leads in his first winner, Blazing Light (Rafeef). (Picture: Candiese Lenferna)

Stuart Ferrie Off The Mark With A Double

Stuart Ferrie’s career as a trainer started officially at the beginning of this month, following the retirement of his long-time guv’nor Dennis Drier, and in just his third meeting with runners he got off the mark with a double at today’s Hollywoodbets Greyville poly meeting.

Stuart’s first winner as a trainer came with just his fourth runner when the big Rafeef gelding Blazing Light stayed on gamely under Sean Veale to win a 1900m handicap by 0,40 lengths from the poly specialist Caesura.

“It was a very special moment,” said Sean Veale who was thrilled to have ridden Stuart’s first winner. “I Saluted like I had just won the July because the feeling was unbelievable, it was like I had just had my first winner.”

Veale has been working with Stuart for some seven years as he has been the long-time stable jockey for Dennis Drier.

Quietly spoken Stuart is never one to be over emotional but said he was particularly happy his first winner ran in the colours of Eric Buhr, a long time supporter of the Drier yard. Gill Drier was also fittingly one of the part-owners.

Stuart is a big fan of Master Of My Fate as a sire, as he was one of the best Dennis Drier trained, so it was fitting that the Master Of My Fate gelding Proud Master clinched him his first double.

It came in the last race of the day over 1200m under a superb ride by Veale.

He dropped the big horse back after some early scrimmaging, which allowed him to find the rail. From midfield he steered him inside of horses turning for home. Proud Master cruised in to the lead with the minimum of encouragement from Veale and won easing up by 0,80 lengths from the Cape Town horse Voldemort.

Eric Buhr was also a part-owner in this winner, who ran in the colours of Mr and Mrs Doug Steyn.

Nico de Boinville winning The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy on Constitution Hill, who is set to face five rivals when he puts his unbeaten record and huge reputation on the line in the William Hill Aintree Hurdle tomorrow (Thursday). Photo credit: David Davies for the Jockey Club/PA Wire.

Constitution Hill Tops Bill On Day One Of Aintree Grand National Festival

Independent.ie

Constitution Hill tops the bill on day one of the Grand National meeting as the sport’s pre-eminent star bids to put the seal on a magnificent campaign with victory in the William Hill Aintree Hurdle.

There is very little to say about Nicky Henderson’s six-year-old that has not already been said, with six racecourse outings to date yielding six sensational victories.

His 22-length romp in last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle suggested Constitution Hill was something out of the ordinary and he has only enhanced his reputation this term by winning the Fighting Fifth, Christmas Hurdle and Champion Hurdle, all with remarkable ease.

He faces an extra half-mile on Merseyside, but his big-race rider Nico de Boinville is unconcerned.

“He’s in really good order, he worked nicely on Saturday and schooled as well, so we’re looking forward to running him again,” he told Sky Sports Racing.

“We had the Lambourn Open Day on Friday, lots of people came to see him and he didn’t turn a hair, which was amazing. He’s got a very good disposition and seems to take it all in his stride.

“I don’t think that (two and a half miles) will be a problem.”

Henderson has already raised the possibility of Thursday being the last time we will see Constitution Hill run over hurdles, with a pre-summer schooling session over fences set to take place before connections make a decision on which path he will take next term.

De Boinville added: “We’ll see what comes on Thursday and we’ll go from there, but I think it’s in the back of our minds to at least give it a go.”

Epatante won last year’s Aintree Hurdle for Henderson and while she was blown away by Constitution Hill at Newcastle and Kempton earlier in the season, she takes him on again in defence of her crown.

Speaking in his Unibet blog, Henderson said: “Everything has gone very well since Constitution Hill’s effortless victory in the Champion Hurdle. I’ve got no worries whatsoever about the step up to two and a half miles and let’s hope he can add to his already impressive CV.

“Epatante is unfortunately bumping into Constitution Hill again which obviously makes it a very tough ask, but she’s recovered well from Cheltenham and has been in good form at home.

“We gave her a nice easy time after the Mares’ Hurdle, so she comes here fresh and happy and won this race last year in fine style.”

Gordon Elliott’s Zanahiyr and the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained I Like To Move It also renew rivalry with the red-hot favourite after finishing third and sixth in the Champion Hurdle four weeks ago.

The field is completed by Willie Mullins’ Sharjah and Alan King’s veteran Sceau Royal, who is fitted with cheek pieces for the first time.

“There’s the one standout horse in the race and the rest are pretty much evenly rated,” said King.

“He’s in good form the old boy and I hope he can pick up a bit of prize-money.”

Great training feat as Trip Of Fortune lives up to his name (Chase Liebenberg).

Candice Bass-Robinson Explains Her Highveld Raiding Strategy

Mike Moon (The Citizen)

Trainer Candice Bass-Robinson has a very clear battle plan for raiding the Highveld with runners from her Milnerton base in Cape Town.

The strategy has worked remarkably well for the stable over the years – and it did once more when appropriately named Trip Of Fortune grabbed the honours in the recent Grade 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein.

Cape Town trainers are leery of bringing horses up the N1 to Joburg, understandably so, given the long journey and a precipitous climb in altitude.

‘Quality is essential’

But it can be successfully done, as Candice’s father, Mike Bass, proved in winning the Empress Club Stakes with Inara, the SA Classic with English Garden and the Computaform Sprint with What A Winter.

“Firstly, the horse has to be good enough to beat the Joburg runners; quality is essential,” explains Bass-Robinson.

“Secondly, you have to prepare them a little differently. You have to get them a bit fitter than when they race in Cape Town – to handle the new environment and high altitude.

“But, most importantly, they must travel well.” By which she means a relaxed, incident-free trip in a large horse float.

“If a horse gets stressed out on the trip, you’re dead and buried in terms of the race.”

Tested formula

The Bass tried and tested formula is to leave home on a Wednesday, make a stop of a few hours for a leg stretch and nourishment, before continuing on and arriving in Joburg on Thursday ahead of the Saturday engagement.

Two days at altitude is the golden mean before a race, the Bass team has calculated – enough time for the horse to recover from the journey, but not too long to allow thin air to start affecting breathing.

“It’s a very fine line,” says the personable conditioner.

Two travelling companions – assistant trainer and regular groom – were right beside Trip Of Fortune in his box for the 1,400km upcountry trek, catering to his every need.

“He travelled up so well, and he looked so well. He arrived at the course in perfect condition. Everything suited him; they didn’t go hard, but it didn’t bother him because he can sprint pretty well and quickened up nicely.”

Trip Of Fortune

Trip Of Fortune certainly did that, after jumping away slowly from the 1600m gates and losing two lengths to nine highly rated rivals.

Jockey Aldo Domeyer knows his charge well and didn’t panic, tucking in at the rear and letting the four-year-old stride along.

“He really enjoyed this race here and was well behaved, well within himself,” said Domeyer in his post-race interview. “He spat out the bit throughout and was just cantering.”

In the Turffontein straight, Trip Of Fortune cruised up to the leading bunch of MK’s Pride, Thunderstruck, Gimme A Shot and Under Your Spell, then surged clear to win by 1.25 lengths.

“From Day 1, this horse has shown us ability. It was just a matter of putting it all together,” said Domeyer.

“We suggested this would be a good race to pencil in because he’s got the ability and deserves a Grade 1; he’s put some good horses to bed.”

Bass-Robinson concurs: “I’ve always rated Trip Of Fortune very highly and believed he had a Grade 1 in him. I thought it would be the Cape Guineas when he was younger, but he had bad luck in that race.

“We gave him a long break and had him gelded. He came back and has now won a Grade 3, a Grade 2 and a Grade 1. He had a virus prior to his run in the King’s Plate and you can put a line through that. He had a good sprint in the Diadem Stakes and we discussed how the Horse Chestnut might be a good race for him, coming up here on the way to Durban for the KZN season.”

Trip Of Fortune’s next outing is likely to be in the Drill Hall Stakes at Greyville in early May. The Gold Challenge is next on the agenda, “and we’ll see after that”, says Bass-Robinson.

Trip Of Fortune might bump heads with his much-lauded young stable mate Charles Dickens in the Gold Challenge.

Bass-Robinson has ruled out a Durban July bid for Charles Dickens and is also not inclined to pitch Trip Of Fortune into the country’s top race. “I don’t know if he’ll get the trip.”

Princess Calla won the Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes last year and this year’s renewal looks to be a top class contest.

Royal Raceday At Turffontein – A Magnificent Meeting To Attend

Royal Raceday, in honour of Princess Charlene of Monaco, set to thrill and entertain with quality racing, Best Dressed prizes and support for charity at the heart of this fantastic event

4Racing

It will be a Royal Raceday in every sense on and off the track this Saturday 15 April as Turffontein Racecourse hosts a special raceday sponsored by Her Serene Highness, Princess Charlene of Monaco.

It will be a raceday when the grandeur of the famous sovereign Principality on the French Riviera meets the warmth and hospitality of the Johannesburg South, with plenty to entertain punters and racegoers keen to dress up and have a good time.

With its ‘Roaring 1920’s Great Gatsby’ theme racegoers are encouraged to dress up at Turffontein this weekend, with R15 000 on offer in the Best Dressed competition. The winner of the Best Dressed prize will walk away with R7 000, the runner up will get R5 000 and third place will win R3 000, so there is good reason to dress to impress at Turffontein on Saturday.

Dress in your Great Gatsby best and be on course between 14h30 and 14h45 in the front parade ring for the selection of the Best Dressed competition winners on the day.

While Princess Charlene’s Monaco touch undoubtedly brings plenty of glitz and pizzazz to the event, the raceday will as always focus on giving back to charities and supporting the Turffontein community and its surrounds where the popular day is held annually.

The Royal Raceday is staged by the Racehorse Owners Association (ROA), supported by 4Racing, and is passionately driven by Princess Charlene’s father, Mike Wittstock.

The major beneficiary charity from the Royal Raceday this year will be The Earth Centre in Ruimsig, which provides equine therapy with its horses in supporting the disabled, vulnerable and the disadvantaged and which partners with 11 special needs schools in Gauteng.

Other charities that will benefit from the proceeds of the Royal Raceday are the Hamlet School for intellectually disabled children and their families and the United Cerebral Palsy Association of South Africa – which are both in close proximity to the Turffontein Racecourse.

So, it’s a meaningful fun day at the track and a serious raceday for punters too, headlined by the Grade 1 R1.25 million HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes. It will be a compact, but high-quality competitive field for the main race, with the likes of Majorca Stakes winner Desert Miracle, Gimme A Shot, Feather Boa, Miss Daisy and Under Your Spell all in contention for the day’s major honours.

There will be a bumper 18-horse field of maidens lining up in the R300 000 Monaco Sport of Kings Charity Maiden Sprint over 1160m, which is a popular addition to Royal Raceday.

The Maiden Sprint had unique entry conditions aimed at giving as many owners of maidens as possible a chance at winning. The race is open to all maidens which have run at least three times and allowed for one horse per trainer at ballot stage until a maximum field of 18 was drawn – giving smaller stables a chance to get a runner into the race.

While Princess Charlene herself will unfortunately not be at Turffontein this year, the Monaco Sport of Kings group of businessmen from the Principality will be in attendance to support the Royal Raceday.

“This day is not an ordinary horseracing event on the Highveld, this event has a special purpose which is particularly close to the hearts of HSH Princess Charlene, as well as the Monaco Sport of Kings group. While the Royal Raceday has traditionally been one where the thrill of the race and the glamour of the occasion has been showcased, the event is also about giving back to the community. It is about bringing people together, creating a sense of community and using the excitement of the races to make a positive impact on the area surrounding Turffontein Racecourse,” said Racehorse Owners Association CEO, Natalie Turner.

Entry to the Royal Raceday is absolutely free and hospitality packages are available by calling 011 681 1796 or emailing khanyal@4racing.com.

ENDS

Great Day For The Legend Gary Player

Gary Player tees off at The Masters for the 65th time last Thursday (via twitter) and on the same day the Stuart Pettigrew-trained Danon Platina filly Betula (pictured below), whom Gary part-owns, won at the Vaal Classic track.

On This Day In 1962 …

On this day in 1962: Eddie Arcaro, the only jockey to have ridden two Triple Crown winners, Whirlaway & Citation, announced his retirement. He retired with 4,779 victories and is rightly perceived as one of the greatest jockeys in US horse racing history. Image: Saratogian

Sean Veale is overjoyed at riding trainer Stuart Ferrie’s first winner, Blazing Light (Rafeef), at Hollywoodbets Greyville today and the partnership went on to record a double (Candiese Lenferna).

Veale/Ferrie, Khathi/Nel Doubles

Sean Veale rode a double for Stuart Ferrie today and Robert Khathi rode a double for Andre Nel.

Veale goes to 52 wins for the season at a strike rate of 12.04%.

Ferrie has only had six runners since starting on his own at the beginning of the month, so his two wins means he has an early strike rate of 33.33%.

Khathi has had 23 wins at 10.18%.

Nel has had 29 wins at 9.09%.

This picture gives a clue to the answer (Kentuckyderby.com)

Today’s Question

Which great rivalry reached its zenith in the US Triple Crown races in 1978?

Vaal Straight Fields, Thursday

Affirmed (right) wins an extremely close Belmont Stakes over Alydar. (Blood-Horse/Bob Coglianese)

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION:

tbgreats.com

1978 US Triple Crown winner Affirmed had a famous rivalry with Alydar

Affirmed vs Alydar – The 2yo Season!

Affirmed and Alydar met six times in 1977 as two year olds. Four times at Belmont Park, once at Laurel Park and once at Saratoga.

In their first meeting in June 1977 in the Youthful Stakes at Belmont, Affirmed crushed Alydar and beat him by 5 lengths, Alydar came in 5th. Less than a month later in July, Affirmed vs Alydar struck again in the Great American Stakes at Belmont. Alydar got his revenge on Affirmed and beat him by 3 1/2 lengths.

The third and fourth meetings, the Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga and the Belmont Futurity at Belmont Park both went to the mighty Affirmed by a combined 3/4 length for both races.

Race 5 in the Affirmed vs Alydar rivalry was the Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park, which Alydar defeated Affirmed by 1 1/4 lengths. The 6th meeting, the Laurel Futurity at laurel Park was won by Affirmed by a neck.

Though Alydar fought hard during the 1977 two year old campaign, Affirmed beat him 4 out of 6 races, and also went on to get the 1977 Champion Male Juvenile honors.

Affirmed vs Alydar – The 3yo Season!

The three year old season in the Affirmed vs Alydar rivalry was one for the ages. It consisted of four races, three of which are the most important races in any three year old campaign! The Triple Crown!

1978 Kentucky Derby – Affirmed vs Alydar

Fresh off his American Champion Juvenile honors and ready to roll, Affirmed won the 1978 Kentucky Derby over Alydar by 1 1/2 lengths! It was the race of the ages, but there was more to come. Can Affirmed keep it up to win the Preakness, and beat his nemesis? Onward we go..

1978 Preakness Stakes Affirmed vs. Alydar

Aggghhh! If you are an Alydar lover you are heartbroken again!!! Affirmed grabs the 1978 Preakness Stakes by a neck! The margins are getting smaller … can Alydar stretch it out to finally beat Affirmed in a Triple Crown Race in the Belmont Stakes, and ruin Affirmed’s quest for the Triple Crown?!!

1978 Belmont Stakes – Affirmed vs Alydar

What a race! Literally DOWN TO THE WIRE! Affirmed vs Alydar neck and neck down the stretch in the Belmont Stakes, Affirmed trying to make history and Alydar trying to ruin it! They courageously battle back and forth, and it looks like a photo finish! Results are in … Affirmed by a HEAD! Just heartbreaking for Alydar! But what a game horse!

The Final Race: Affirmed vs Alydar

Later that summer after the Triple Crown, Affirmed and Alydar met in the Travers Stakes at Belmont in which the physical order was Affirmed in 1st place and Alydar in 2nd, however an enquiry to the stewards saw that Affirmed had bumped Alydar, and the stewards gave the win to Alydar.

Most people choose not to count this race in the Affirmed vs Alydar rivalry, as it came down to a man made decision, but a win is a win for any horse!

The final tally:

Affirmed: 7 wins

Alydar: 3 wins.

Whoever your favorite, you can be rest assured these two horses always brought their A-Game when they battled each other. Most will say Affirmed is the best, he won all the honors, Horse of the Year twice and such, but you have to give it to Alydar. Race in and race out, he just continued to fight. He kept getting closer in those Triple Crown races and almost had the upset!

Turf Talk Newsletter – 12 April 2023