Many Intriguing Questions To Be Answered In The Coming Months

With four months of the year behind us, the next eight are going to be fascinating for racing fans before they sit down for their Christmas dinners. There are intriguing questions to be answered in the sport concerning horses, trainers and jockeys.

Let’s look at the horses first.

 

1. EQUINOX

 

Just how good is the Japanese star, Equinox? The son of Kitasan Black made a mockery of his starting price of even money in the Sheema Classic at Meydan in March. Most pundits are expecting trainer Tetsuya Kimura to aim the colt at the Arc De Triomphe in Paris in October – a race Japan has never won.

 

There has been talk in the UK that Equinox might head for Paris via the Juddmonte International at York in August. That would be marvellous and mean this writer will have seen three champions – Frankel and Baaeed the other two – at the Knavesmire in the last 11 years.

 

2. CHARLES DICKENS

 

Just how good is Charles Dickens? The three year-old’s defeat in the King’s Plate at Kenilworth in January wasn’t on the L’Ormarins menu that day, but just proved that you can’t write the script in the sport of horseracing.

 

With Candice Bass-Robinson training the son of Trippi, he is in safe hands. By the time this column is on the streets, the lady who is in third place in the national trainers log will have decided on the Drill Hall Stakes or Guineas for her charge’s first KZN run. At the weekend, Sporting Post stated it was likely to be the latter.

 

3. COUSIN CASEY

 

The Glen Kotzen inmate is the ruling favourite for the Hollywoodbets Durban July and will attempt to give his trainer a second triumph in SA’s most famous race following the win of ill-fated Big City Life in 2009.

 

When the 60 entries for the July were announced by Gold Circle, there was no Al Muthana which means Cousin Casey will have to give weight to his fellow three year-olds.

 

Prior to this announcement, Turf Talk editor, David Thiselton, produced a superb piece explaining the weights structure to confused punters.

 

While (not for the first time!) I’m on Rascallion each-way at 20-1, this doesn’t mean Cousin Casey won’t be my July selection as surely this R375 000 buy from Riyo Stud can’t have the same bad luck which befell him during the Cape season.

 

Despite being critical of his riding on a couple of occasions, Glen seems likely to keep faith with Grant van Niekerk who will be hungry for his first July win.

 

4. PUERTO MANZANO

 

One had to agree with Mike De Kock’s assessment that this year’s WSB Premier’s Champion Challenge was “not a vintage renewal”, yet what Puerto Manzano has achieved is remarkable and his career earnings are nearly R4 million. Ironic that this was the horse involved in an incident at the start of his career which saw Laurence Wernars telling the media he was throwing in the towel.

 

It was Keagan De Melo’s never-say-die attitude that got the Argentinian import home by the width of cigarette paper on Saturday and – while nobody mentioned it – it would have been a bit embarrassing if former stablemate, Second Base, had won.

 

Johan van Vuuren’s five year-old is now a 16-1 chance for the Hollywoodbets Durban July, but has no chance in my book as the course doesn’t suit him. The proof is his 16th finish (beaten 17 lengths) by Sparkling Water last year.

 

If De Melo is going to crown a memorable season with a July win, he’s going to have to shop around for another ride.

 

There are a number of trainers in the spotlight in the coming months.

 

MIKE DE KOCK:

 

With a number of trips to Aussie this year, speculation is mounting that SA’s best-known trainer will be relocating “Down Under.” There are two big pluses for the move – a safer country and prize money which is on a different planet to what his horses can earn here.

 

The announcement that his longtime assistant, Alson Ndzilana, is taking out his own licence adds fuel to the flames.

 

JUSTIN SNAITH

 

The powerful Snaith operation has ensured Justin will be crowned champion trainer again in three months time, but a sixth Durban July triumph looks unlikely. After his good Met run, Pomp And Power is an 8-1 chance in the ante post betting but – rather like an unpredictable mother-in-law – one never knows if he will throw a tantrum.

 

I’m sure Kabelo Matsunyane (his Met partner) will be keen to ride him again, but Richard Fourie will probably give the gelding a miss.

 

WILLIAM HAGGAS

 

Can the popular UK trainer, who trains for a number of SA owners, mount a challenge to Charlie Appleby for the British championship? One has to admire William’s “we’ll go anywhere” approach which has resulted in his charges landing big prizes in Australia.

 

On Sunday, he ran Dubai Honour in the QE Cup in Hong Kong with his globetrotter finishing third.

 

We are blessed with a handful of seriously good jockeys and they’ll also be very much in the spotlight.

 

RICHARD FOURIE

 

The keen fisherman netted three feature races at Turffontein last Saturday but had to settle for a minor placing on a heavily-backed runner, Rain In Holland. With two Gavin Lerena mounts, Princess Calla and Billy Bowlegs (6-1 to 28-10) failing to win, it probably wasn’t a memorable meeting for many punters.

 

Fourie has no chance of catching Keagan De Melo in this year’s title race, but many will be keen to back him for the 2023/24 season.

 

KEAGAN DE MELO

 

The Alberton-born rider has pretty much been walking on water this term and one simply has to applaud the dedication to his profession. In post-race interviews, he likes to divert the attention to the trainer and owners when – as was the case with Puerto Manzano on Saturday – it is his expertise that wins the day.

 

We will know at the end of May whether Keagan has a chance of beating Anthony Delpech’s record of 334 wins in a season.

 

It proved a bridge too far for Warren Kennedy last year, but Keagan has two big factors in his favour – top trainers will be keen to secure his services in KZN over the next three months and he’s rarely in trouble with the authorities.

 

FRANKIE DETTORI

 

Frankie is simply the best-known jockey on the planet, a media darling with his big race record a testimony to his talent.

 

He is due to hang up his saddle after the Breeders Cup meeting at Santa Anita in November, but could bow out in the Melbourne Cup if finding a mount with a winning chance.

 

His fans will always remember Frankie riding the card at Ascot – bookies were crying for weeks – and my trip to Mala Mala with the champagne-loving Italian in 2008 remains a highlight for this writer.

 

PIERE STRYDOM

 

“Striker” is expected to retire before Frankie Dettori but don’t bet on it. Pundits are predicting he could sign off by winning the July on Michael Roberts’ three year-old, See It Again. His Cape Derby victory – at odds of 50-1 – put his hat in the ring but I’d be inclined to hold fire on a bet to see how Nic Jonnsson’s colt fares in his build-up races.

 

Admiralty Arch’s win at the Vaal last November provided Piere with his 5 500th winner – a remarkable total. According to the Guiness World Records, Brazilian Jorge Antonio Ricardo has amassed the biggest total with 13044 wins.

 

After reaching the milestone, Piere said in an interview “Gary Player is one of my heroes. I have always liked the way he was able to succeed in everything he set out to do. It would be an honour to be compared to him.”

 

No worries Piere – you will always be a hero to South African racing fans.