Rain In Holland is the ruling favourite for Saturday’s Grade 1 WSB Premier’s Champions Challenge (JC Photos).

Sean Tarry Speaks About His Champions Day Chances

Sean Tarry has a lot of runners on Champions Day at Turffontein on Saturday and he seldom goes home empty-handed on these big Highveld race days.

In the big one, the Grade 1 WSB Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m, he has the favourite Rain In Holland as well as Nebraas and Litigation.

He said, “It is interesting Rain In Holland ran really well in the Met and they dropped her to 114. I then questioned whom she beat in the Colorado King Stakes and they used Nebraas as the line horse, despite him being deemed not good enough over 2000m, and raised her to 120, the highest mark of her career. So the handicapper is confident she is back to her best and hopefully she is. The yielding going might have helped last time, but she has in fact been well beaten twice in soft going. Her form in the winter going leading into the Durban season as a two-year-old was good, so she is effective whatever the ground. The lead fell into her lap last time. She won’t be looking for the lead this time and can come from off them.”

Rain In Holland, who has a nice draw of six, was ridden by S’Manga Khumalo in the Colorado King Stakes and Richard Fourie was aboard the more fancied Nebraas. Fourie is now aboard Rain In Holland and will be out to win a second Grade 1 on her, while Khumalo rides the Joe Soma-trained Red Saxon.

Nebraas will be ridden by Piere Strydom from draw two.

Tarry said, “He is a model of consistency and is in a good space and has a good draw. Piere has got a good tune out of him in the past and I expect him to run well.”

Litigation will be ridden by Philasande Mxoli from a tough draw of ten.

Tarry said, “He has a wide draw, but will give a good account of himself and if he runs on well I will be happy because the July is his target.”

Tarry also has two contestants in the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint, both fillies, Princess Calla and Big Burn.

He is not concerned about the trip being too sharp for Princess Calla, although he does think she is probably best from 1200m to 1400m. He felt in the Grade 1 Pongracz Cape Flying Championship it was likely the draw rather than the 1000m trip that beat her, because the winner and placed horses all finished on the other side. She is now drawn on the right side by trends in barrier 11. However, he is concerned about her having had a temperature at the beginning of the month which caused her to be scratched from the HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes. She also had to miss a bit of work. However, he said she was in good shape and would come in nice and fresh. He concluded that on ability she had a “massive” chance. She receives a 2,5kg gender allowance and is officially the best weighted horse in the race off her 127 merit rating. She is the 33/10 second favourite with the sponsor. She had Fourie aboard when winning the Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes by 5,25 lengths, but Gavin Lerena, who won twice on her in Cape Town, is back aboard and Fourie rides KZN raider Isivunguvungu.

Tarry felt Big Burn, who has a good draw of 12, had a bit of work to do with a few of her opponents at the weights, but felt she could get a place from her good draw.

Tarry has a fine chance with Bless My Stars in the Grade 2 WSB Gerald Rosenberg Stakes over 2000m. He mentioned her fine win in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic and that she beat a top filly in Feather Boa in that race. She then finished a staying on 5,75 length fourth in the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks and he is not sure whether she was too far back or did not quite see it out. He reminded of his good record in the Gerald Rosenberg with fillies who had come out of the SA Fillies Classic and the Oaks. Two examples are Rain In Holland and Return Flight, both of whom won the SA Fillies Classic, the Oaks and the Gerald Rosenberg in successive races. He said Bless My Stars had had a good preparation and felt Gilded Butterfly and Terra Time were the dangers before concluding, “On best form she has to have a very good chance.”

In the Grade 2 WSB SA Nursery over 1160m he runs the unbeaten Gimmethegreenlight colt Lucky Lad with Richard Fourie up and said, “He just seems to get the job done and doesn’t do more than he needs too. His work has been good and he never gets phased or fussed. This will be a nice test for him, because he is up against some impressive winners. Amber Rock’s connections have elected to go against the colts and there must be some merit in that and although we are better off at the weights with her now (after narrowly beating her last time) I have healthy respect for her.”

In the Grade 2 SA Fillies Nursery he runs Mrs Geriatrix from draw 3 with Fourie up and American Graffiti from draw 7 with Khumalo up.

They are both unbeaten in two starts and Tarry said, “I am obviously very happy with how they won but elected to give both a little break because I hope to compete with both of them in KZN. I am happy with both of them, although this is stronger than they have met before. American Graffiti beat the boys last time but on the same day Mrs Geriatrix ran a quicker time. However, Mrs G now has a low draw of 3 whereas American Graffiti has a better draw of seven. Richard Fourie is sticking with Mrs G and had she not got draw 3 I might have preferred her.”

In the Grade 2 Camelia Stakes Tarry runs Full Velocity and Sweet Pepper and said, “Full Velocity has come right at the right time, I am pretty pleased with her. She needed her last two starts and is well weighted. She does have draw two but it is not a massive field. Sweet Pepper needed her last run and has come on since then. There have been no bright starts coming out of her two-year-old Grade 1 win, so she did get too high a rating but has come down now. She has an each-way chance.”

He runs Future Pearl in the Grade 3 Gold Bowl over 3200m and said, “I thought we would take our chance carrying 50kg. Shangani will be a tough nut to crack but I have always had a good regard for Future Pearl and he is on the up. It’s an open race but if he sees it out he has a chance.”

He has two other runners on the day.

He said Kambulu running in the third over 1600m might need it after gelding but from a good draw he hopes he runs a good race.

He said Tail Of The Comet was a nice colt. However, it is his debut and he might need the experience.

Red Saxon being led in after winning last season’s Grade 1 WSB SA Classic (JC Photos).

Joe Soma Bullish About Champions Challenge Runners

Joe Soma has a fine Grade 1 record and most of his big wins have come from under the radar.

His two WSB Premier’s Champions Challenge runners Red Saxon (Red Ray) and Rule By Force (Pomodoro) are 12/1 and 15/1 respectively with the sponsor, which fits the bill, and he was quite bullish about both.

He said, “Both horses are very well. Red Saxon is more mature now and has strengthened up big time, I’m expecting a big run. Rule By Force is slightly immature still, but in that field I’m hoping he runs in the first four, which I think he can do.”

Red Saxon will be ridden by S’Manga Khumalo from a tough draw of 12.

Rule By Force has Luyolo Mxothwa up from a middle draw of seven in the 13 horse field.

Those are the yard’s only runners on the day, but tomorrow (Thursday) he has the exciting prospect Avoontoast running on the Inside track and said that although he had thrown her in the deep end her work had improved greatly and he likes her chances.

Wecangoallnight win in effortless style. (Wayne Marks).

Wecangoallnight Proves Form Is King

Form is usually the best guide and this was proven in the last race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Wednesday, but not before some astute punters had helped themselves to the early 20/1 odds about the winner Wecangoallnight.

The Eric Sands-trained three-year-old Gimmethegreenlight gelding was returning from gelding and a layoff of more than three-and-a-half months, but was dropping back to a distance over which his early form was eyecatching.

On debut he was beaten 3,65 lengths by Trompie, next time out he got within two lengths of We’re Jamming and he then won his maiden at Hollywoodbets Durbanville over 1250m by 2,50 lengths, easily beating Pas de Nom and Lord William.

Next up he was beaten just 3,75 lengths by Charles Dickens at level weights in the Listed Tab Somerset 1200.

He was given a 98 merit rating, but after one below par run with blinkers on at Hollywoodbets Durbanville he was stepped up in trip.

He went close over 1600m first up, but then ran two below par races and the handicapper dropped him nine points after his last start to 87.

Off that merit rating back at the trip of his best runs he looked the one to beat, but the bookmakers initially had him out at 20/1, presumably because of those last two runs over 1600m and it being his first run after gelding.

He was running fresh and the blinkers had been taken off, but he looked well in the parade ring and Sean Veale then took him down gently.

In the race Veale tucked him in behind the pack from his wide draw and he was last going through the halfway mark.

However, the tall horse then picked them off effortlessly with his big stride and won going away by 2,75 lengths, having shortened into 7/1.

Eric Sands revealed Belinda Haytread had also played a part in the good run because Eric sent the horse to her for six weeks and she schooled him and changed bits.

As Sands said, Hopefully he can go on from this impressive run.

Baltic Secret is out on her own (Wayne Marks).

Secret Of Victoria’s Star Brightens

Matriarch extraordinaire Secret Of Victoria has another promising descendant in the form of the Justin Snaith-trained Baltic Secret, who is by Querari out of Best Kept Secret.

Best Kept Secret was an apt phrase to describe Baltic Secret’s win today because, making her debut, she drifted out alarmingly from 6/1 to 25/2 in the Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m but never looked like losing.

She came out of the pens fast and went straight into the lead and when Richard Fourie picked her up at the halfway mark she drew further clear. She won by 3,75 lengths from stablemate Flying V (Vercingetorix).

Fourie admitted he had never sat on her at home before, but revealed Justin had told him she had never lost a gallop before.

Snaith and Fourie had also won the first race with two-year-old Oratorio filly Musical Arts, but Baltic Secret’s time in the soft conditions was 0.94 seconds quicker than the latter’s.

Best Kept Secret is by Captain Al out of Secret Of Victoria, which makes her a full-sister to Grade 1 winners All Is Secret and The Secret Is Out and to Listed winner Canukeepitsecret.

Best Kept Secret was a twice winner and has had one previous runner, Boisterous, a three-year-old Silvano gelding who has only won once to date but reached a merit rating of 90 and has run close to the like of Mercantour, Typeset, Pyromaniac and Prophet.

Baltic Secret is small but strong and is one to follow.

Secret Of Victoria is out of the recently late matriarch Mystic Spring.

This is one of the best families in the stud book and shows no signs of waning.

They are certainly not limited to speed because in today’s fourth race the Snaith-trained Navy Strength, who is by Dynasty out of Mystic Spring’s Joshua Dancer daughter Spring Lilac, won the Cape Turf Club Cape A Stakes over 2000m, beating a small but strong field which ranged from two merit rated 99s to a merit rated 120.

Secret Of Victoria has a promising two-year-old colt running at present too, the Vaughan Marshall-trained Dumbledore. He went close in a hot Juvenile Plate over 1100m last week. Marshall trained Secret Of Victoria and has trained many of her descendants, including All Is Secret and The Secret Is Out.

The triumphant connections of Gold Medal, with Dylan Cunha on the left. (Twitter)

Dylan Cunha’s Purple Patch Continues

Former Summerveld Grade 1-winning trainer Dylan Cunha made it five wins from just twelve runs in the UK this year when four-year-old gelding Gold Medal (Olympic Glory) produced an electrifying burst from the back under Harry Burns to win going away by 0,75 lengths in a six furlong class 5 handicap at Lingfield on Wednesday evening.

The Quest Syndicate bought Gold Medal for Cunha and he has now won both of his starts since moving from the yard of former top jockey and now trainer Richard Hughes.

Cunha only has a small string, but it is slowly expanding through some astute purchases, some of them made by Dylan’s father Luis.

Gold Medal started at odds of 9/4 today and looks capable of progressing further.

Expressionless, who produced an incredible finish to win under Kyle Strydom at Epsom on Tuesday, is due to run again at Haydock on Saturday where he will be attempting a third win in three starts under Strydom.

Cunha’s statistics must surely have been noticed and hopefully he will win some more support.

He certainly deserves it because through a tough opening six months in the U.K. his optimism never waned and he still, for example, produces a newsy, weekly blog which reached no. 59 this Monday.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE DYLAN CUNHA RACING WEBSITE

Devon Pretorius – big win for the youngest competitor (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)

Racing Stars: Young Gun Beats Senior In Pretorius Exacta

www.sportingpost.com

In a Pretorius exacta on Day 26 of the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge Racing Stars at the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Wednesday, 21 year old Cape racecaller Devon beat his senior namesake Charl in a close finish in the duel for the R500 cash prize.

Charl Pretorius topped the boards on Tuesday at the Vaal and was leading for much of the midweek meeting before a late charge by Devon, a big winner in March of the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge bonus jackpot, scuttled the veteran’s march towards a rare double.

Devon is the youngest player on the 40 strong log!

Despite the victory, Charl leads Devon and Darryl Maree in the Week 4 log, which reaches a climax at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.

The new fun competition, hosted within the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge platform for South Africa’s racing presenters, personalities, commentators and journalists, pits the faces and voices of racing against each other, competing on every South African race meeting, covering KZN, Western Cape, Gauteng, and Eastern Cape.

Click here to view the top 10 positions on the daily and weekly log.

The action moves to Turffontein on Freedom Day – off time of the first is 12h40.

Forever Mine has been selected by the At The Races tipster to win the 7th race (JC Photos).

Turffontein Inside Thursday April 27 Formguides And Selections

www.attheraces.com

1 12H40 AM – 4Racing Welcomes You Juvenile Plate (Fillies)

SOLDIER’S EYE beat SPRING IN HEAVEN by 1.3 lengths but is 3kg worse off, however, she appeared to have something in hand. LEONESSA shouldn’t be far behind on collateral form. It could go to the judges. KEY ELEMENT, REGAL DAUGHTER and COURAGEOUS are looking to improve over the longer distance.

Top Tip: SOLDIER’S EYE (1)

Watch out for: LEONESSA (6)

2 13H15 PM – Book A Table Call 0116811796 Maiden Plate (F & M)

MISS CHRISTMAS is threatening and should make a bold bid. The serious danger could be UNYIELDING who won’t go down without a fight. DAME COLLEEN and IDABELLE should fight out Trifecta money.

Top Tip: UNYIELDING (4)

Watch out for: MISS CHRISTMAS (3)

3 13H50 PM – betontab.co.za Maiden Plate (F & M)

SOUTHERN STYLE has her blinkers back on. She finished a neck in front of DAMNED IF I DO recently but the latter needed the outing and could turn it around. AZUCAR sports blinkers now and should get into the action over the shorter distance. GHOST SHIP was blowing last time and his blinkers were removed. Expect a better showing. CHILLI MARMALADE and RIO SUPREMO are looking for minor money.

Top Tip: DAMNED IF I DO (2)

Watch out for: SOUTHERN STYLE (3)

4 14H25 PM – 4Racing.tv Mr 96 Handicap

Good race. On the Chyavana form line there should be nothing much to choose between GOLIATH HERON, FOSTINOVO and VEGAS HI RISE and luck in running could separate them. CIAN THE CONQUEROR has pole draw but it could be against him he he starts slowly. Nevertheless, he appears to be maturing and must be respected.

Top Tip: FOSTINOVO (7)

Watch out for: CIAN THE CONQUEROR (6)

5 15H05 PM – Play Soccer 6, 10 And 13 Mr 74 Handicap

COSMIC STAR drifted in the betting on debut when a good second. He put the record straight, winning unchallenged. He can only improve. Stable companions COVERT OPERATOR and NETTLETON could prove serious threats if they behave at the start. Top weight STORMY SEAS and DARK TIDE are looking for Quartet money.

Top Tip: COSMIC STAR (3)

Watch out for: COVERT OPERATOR (5)

6 15H35 PM – WSB Premier’s Champions Challenge 29 April FM 90 Handicap (F & M)

WOKONDA is holding form and should give a run for money. However, she gives AVOONTOAST 5.5kg which could be tough. The latter never beat much when winning at the second time of asking but has plenty more to come. PRAIRIE FALCON showed vast improvement sporting blinkers last time and could go in again. Stablemate PRINCESS PHILIPPA appears held by WOKONDA on recent form but can improve. NATIONAL STAR is a slow starter but will be finishing off strongly. LOLLAPALOOZA can place.

Top Tip: WOKONDA (1)

Watch out for: AVOONTOAST (4)

7 16H05 PM – Tab Telebet 0861 000 822 Pinnacle Stakes

Tricky. Three year-old CAPTAIN PEG is back on track and could go in again, however, on a line through Under Your Spell form line could battle to turn it around with FOREVER MINE. GODSWOOD could now be looking for this trip and must be respected. WILLOW EXPRESS, VANDERBILT, TEAM GOLD as well as stablemates OUTOFTHEDARKNESS and HOMELY GIRL could run into money.

Top Tip: FOREVER MINE (1)

Watch out for: CAPTAIN PEG (11)

8 16H35 PM – Next Turffontein Racemeeting Saturday 29 April Classified Stakes

Competitive last. NAPOLEON and MCEBISI finished on top of each other last time and either could take it. KWAZZI’S LADY raced wide last time but before that beat TINDER DRY – both have claims. Stablemates LIBECCIO and VESUVIO must be included in all bets. FISH EAGLE comes off a deserved maiden win and could enjoy the extra.

Top Tip: MCEBISI (3)

Watch out for: NAPOLEON (4)

Hunting Trip ridden by JP van der Merwe clinches a four-timer for Justin Snaith (Wayne Marks).

Snaith Four-timer, Fourie and Van Niekerk Doubles

Justin Snaith scored a four-imer at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today, two of them ridden by Richard Fourie.

Grant van Niekerk also scored a double

Snaith is now on 105 wins for the season at a strike rate of 12.84%.

Fourie is on 172 wins at 21.58%.

Van Niekerk is on 31 wins at 12.35%.

The picture gives a clue to the answer.

Today’s Question

Who won the Kentucky Derby 100 years ago in 1923?

Turffontein Inside Fields, Thursday

Photograph by C. C. Cook, showing Papyrus (left) and Zev (right) parading to the post for their 1923 match race. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission by Americanclassicpedigrees.com.

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION:

Hall Of Fame horse Zev won the Kentucky Derby on May 19, 1923.

americanclassicpedigrees.com wrote the below about Zev.

A good juvenile and older horse and an outstanding 3-year-old, Zev was best known for his match race with Papyrus—the first-ever meeting of winners of the Kentucky Derby and Derby Stakes—and his rivalry with the brilliant In Memoriam. Unfortunately, he was a dismal failure as a sire.

Race record

43 starts, 23 wins, 8 seconds, 5 thirds, US$318,048

1922:

Won Grand Union Hotel Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
Won Albany Handicap (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
2nd Futurity Stakes (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
3rd Hopeful Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)

1923:

Won Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
Won Belmont Stakes (USA, 11FD, Belmont)
Won Paumonok Handicap (USA, 6FD, Jamaica)
Won Rainbow Handicap (USA, 6FD, Jamaica)
Won Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
Won Queens County Handicap (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
Won Lawrence Realization (USA, 13FD, Belmont)
Won Autumn Championship Stakes (USA, 8FD, Empire City)
Won Fall Serial #3 (USA, 9FD, Pimlico)
Won match race with Papyrus (USA, 12FD, Belmont)
Won match race with In Memoriam (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
2nd Latonia Championship (USA, 14FD, Latonia)

1924:

Won Kings County Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
Won Fall Serial #1 (USA, 6FD, Pimlico)
2nd Paumonok Handicap (USA, 6FD, Jamaica)
2nd Arverne Handicap (USA, 6FD, Aqueduct)
2nd Interborough Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
3rd Excelsior Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
3rd Continental Handicap (USA, 9FD, Jamaica)
3rd Fall Serial #2 (USA, 8FD, Pimlico)

Honors

National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1983)
American Horse of the Year (1923)
American champion 2-year-old male (1922)
American champion 3-year-old male (1923)

Assessments

Zev was rated #56 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).

Ranked third among American older males of 1924 by The Blood-Horse.

As an individual

A brown horse, Zev was a plain, burly animal. He had excellent natural speed and was particularly comfortable on sloppy or muddy tracks. He had an excitable disposition which turned nastier as he aged.

As a stallion

According to Jockey Club records, Zev sired 47 winners (49.5%) and 2 stakes winners (2.1%) from 95 named foals.

Connections

Zev was bred by John E. Madden. He was owned by Harry Sinclair’s Rancocas Stable, which purchased Zev privately as a yearling. Zev was trained by Sam Hildreth.

Pedigree notes

Zev is inbred 5×4 to seven-time leading English sire Hermit, winner of the 1867 Derby Stakes. He is a half brother to the minor stakes winners Neddam (by Ormondale) and Triple Crown (by Star Shoot). He is also a half brother to Honey Girl (by Friar Rock), dam of stakes winner Wacoche (by High Cloud). Zev’s dam Miss Kearney is a stakes-winning half sister to 1913 Grand National Steeplechase winner Penobscot (by Yankee) and stakes winner Sticker (also by Yankee). She is also a half sister to The Nurse (by Yankee), dam of 1925 American co-champion 3-year-old filly Florence Nightingale and 1926 American co-champion 3-year-old filly Edith Cavell (both by Man o’ War).

Fun facts

Zev’s match race with Papyrus, with a total purse of US$100,000, was the richest in history up to that time. The match itself was a farce as Papyrus was not properly shod for the sloppy going and could never get any traction. The Zev-Papyrus match race was ranked #81 in Horse Racing’s Top 100 Moments, a review of racing in the 20th century compiled by The Blood-Horse and released in 2006.
In an unusual series for a stakes horse, Zev raced six times within three weeks during the month of October 1924. After running second in the Interborough Handicap on October 1 and third in the Continental Handicap on October 4, both at Jamaica, he was then shipped to Latonia, where he won four consecutive races during the period of October 10 to October 18 in spite of being “very unsound” according to C. J. Savage of the Louisville Courier-Journal. While none of the races he won at Latonia were stakes events, his victims during this streak included the champion 3-year-old filly Princess Doreen and the tough old campaigner Best Pal.
At the time of his retirement, Zev held both the world’s record for earnings by a Thoroughbred and the record for earnings in a single season (US$276,408 as a 3-year-old).
Zev was the fourth of five Kentucky Derby winners bred or co-bred by John Madden at his farm, Hamburg Place, and the fourth of six Kentucky Derby winners who were foaled there. (The sixth, Alysheba, was born when Madden’s grandson Preston Madden owned Hamburg Place.) Zev was also the last of five Belmont Stakes winners bred or co-bred by Madden; the others were Joe Madden (1909), The Finn (1915), Sir Barton (1919) and Grey Lag (1921).
Zev was named for Harry Sinclair’s legal counsel, Colonel William Zeverley.

Turf Talk Newsletter – 26 April 2023