Global Team Horse Racing recognises the need to attract Generation Z youngsters to horseracing (Picture GTH).

GTH – How To Get A YIB To Come Racing

Here is a real conversation with a South African man in his mid-20s. We’ll call him “Young Intelligent Bore” (YIB) – an individual from Generation Z – those whose participation in horseracing was noted at the 2023 Asian Racing Conference as essential to the growth and survival of the sport.

The chat is initiated, on request, by Old Racing Fella (ORF), a 50-something racing purist and lifetime supporter of thoroughbred racing. The young chap fired the first shot.

YIB: “I agree with the young and intelligent bit. But why ‘Bore’?

ORF: “That’s a description just for purposes of recording our talk, really. But you do play video games all day. And you make those awful Tik-Tok clips and write codes that nobody cares about. Or you read all day about Artificial Intelligence and philosophy. You never come out of your room and you don’t work!”

YIB: “Wow, I feel so inspired now. But I can tell you a million things you are not aware of? Did you know, for example, that the latest Tesla automotive models in the US can fart? It’s officially called Emissions Testing Mode, installed for pranksters, with sound settings for passengers and pedestrians. Do you know that Artificial Intelligence will replace most known jobs within the next 7-10 years? Do you care? I have an online

business. Have you ever seen me without money?”

ORF: “Money? To feed yourself or to buy data? I haven’t seen a Ferrari parked in your garage? Oh, and listen, AI won’t come to that. Humans will ensure a balance between humans and robots. I don’t like your hairstyle, by the way.”

YIB: “You are way out of touch with society and the world. Your problem is that you don’t understand me. Or my friends. Let me tell you, you say you do, but you don’t respect our generation. You think we are freaks. Admit it. Are you stuck in the 1960s?”

ORF: “Let’s leave it there. You and your buddies will come running to us when you’re out of cash and ideas. I want to talk to you about horseracing.”

YIB: “Oh, cool, that’s the sport I’ve seen you study with your feet up on the couch for my full 24 years on earth. Same thing, day in and day out. And by Race 6 you’ve lost the lot and you’re snoring away. Is that your Maserati I see in the garage?”

ORF: “Your sense of humour is astounding for a man with so little ambition. They need waiters in the Grandstand Room at the racetrack. Can I arrange an interview for you?”

YIB: “Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll be bored to death between serving drinks. I’d rather stay home and play Minecraft.”

ORF: “Seriously, I have rented a private suite for next Saturday. It’s all catered for, great food and drinks free. Bring your friends, there is room for 10!”

YIB: “Uhm. I’m not sure. It’s a really long day.”

ORF: “Oh please, there are nine races to play on. And you can have a nice, free party.”

YIB: “Sure, but you have to wait, like, 30 minutes between races. And listen to all those guys talking about form and tipping horses and wallowing in their own glory when they

fluke them right. It’s a bit much after a while.”

ORF: “But your mates will like to bet. I’ll help them. I’ll get good information!”

YIB: “Just don’t explain form to them. Please. It’s way too complicated. Takes too much time to figure out. And then those so-called form horses seldom win. Maybe the guys will bet on something, but they’ll want to go home after a few races. Too boring, racing.”

ORF: “But everybody likes horses, surely!”

YIB: “Yes, we do, but up close is better than seeing them out there.”

ORF: “We can stand next to the rail and watch them.”

YIB: “If there were more young people my age, more interesting characters down there maybe, maybe. You need more people from across the spectrum at racing. My female mates do love the horses. But they don’t want to be bored waiting between races.”

ORF: “Up in the suite we can have snacks and drinks while you wait?”

YIB: “You know what you should have? Onboard cameras, like they have in F1 motor racing. So we can hear what the jockeys say and shout in a race. And see the horses’ manes blow in the wind and hear how they gallop, close up. And to see and hear what happens behind the scenes. The other day two jockeys had a fist fight. We’d like to see action like that!”

ORF: “TV presentations have improved.”

YIB: “Yes, but racing needs to be more upbeat and exciting. And fast.”

ORF: “What about team racing. Teams, like they have in 20-20 cricket?”

YIB: “Yes, sounds interesting. I’d like that. With all getting points and racing against each other you mean? Two at a time?”

ORF: “Yes, two teams with four or five riders in a side per race. But now that you mention it, match races used to be popular way back when. That’s an idea to consider.”

YIB: “Oh, and the jockeys mustn’t abuse their horses, we don’t like to see that. Every young person I know gets cross and sad about that, actually.”

ORF: “What do you mean by abuse? Jockeys don’t do that?”

YIB: “They do. They hit them hard, in every race!”

ORF: “Oh good grief, those whips are safely padded. They don’t hurt!”

YIB: “Mate, tell that to the masses on social media! You’re never going to win that one.”

ORF: “Aargh! I knew this was coming. This ‘wokeness’!”

YIB: “Call me, call us, whatever you like but either way we are the future? Maybe time to adapt?”

ORF: “That’s not going to be easy my friend.”

Puerto Manzano after winning the Grade 1 WSB Premier’s Champions Challenge last Saturday (Picture: WSB).

Equus Awards – Puerto Manzano Leaps to Top of Table

Puerto Manzano goes top in search of 2023 Horse of The Year Honours

Puerto Manzano became the first horse in the current season to win two open Grade 1 events and in so doing leapt clear of his rivals in search of Horse of The Year honours for 2023.

His narrow win in Saturday’s Grade 1 World Sports Betting Premier’s Champions Challenge at Turffontein saw his points tally rise to 98 for the season which places him clear of the Drakenstein pair of Trip Of Fortune and Charles Dickens.

Desert Miracle added the Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes to her Grade 1 Schweppes Majorca Stakes to propel her into fourth position on the log.

On 1 May 2023, the Horse of The Year Table has Puerto Manzano leading with 98 points, followed by Trip Of Fortune (87), Charles Dickens (80), Desert Miracle (78), Jet Dark (70), Gimme A Prince (66), and Make It Snappy (64 points).Several key contests mark the final three months of the season, and much will be up for grabs in search of Equus honours in the KZN Winter season.

Champion Three-Year-Old Colt

Only Billy Bowlegs added to his points tally in April after his fourth place in the Grade 1 World Sports Betting Premier’s Champions Challenge, which moves him from sixth to third on the log. Despite not having raced since February, Charles Dickens remains firmly in command at the top of the table on 80 points followed by Anfields Rocket (52), Billy Bowlegs (38), Cousin Casey (36), and the two Derby winners See It Again and Son of Raj both on 32 points.

Champion Three-Year-Old Filly

Feather Boa completed her fourth second in a Points race for the season when finishing behind Desert Miracle in the Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes and this helped her into second position behind Make it Snappy.

Make It Snappy, despite not having raced since January, remains firmly in control of the table on 64 points, followed by Feather Boa (48), Bless My Stars (42), and Ciao Bella and None Other on 32 points.

Champion Older Male and Female

Puerto Manzano (98 points) moves from fourth on the Older Male table to first and this places him above Trip of Fortune (87), Jet Dark (70), Gimme A Prince (66), and Saturday’s Grade 1 Computaform Sprint winner Isivunguvungu (50 points).

Desert Miracle’s win in the Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes propels her to top of the table in the Older Female category on 78 points, displacing previous table-topper Princess Calla
on 62 points. These two are well clear of the rest with Under Your Spell (38), Captain’s Ransom (36) and Rain in Holland (32) making up the table.

Distance Categories

Saturday’s Grade 1 Computaform Sprint winner Isivunguvungu (50 points) moves onto the Champion Sprinter table and into third position, but the table is still dominated by Gimme A Prince on 66 points, while Princess Calla (62 points) retains her second spot.
Monday’s Grade 3 Champagne Stakes winner, Rio Querari (28), remains in fourth spot with Bereave (26) in fifth position.

Desert Miracle (72 points) climbs to second position on the Champion Milder table, but Trip Of Fortune (87) remains at the top of the table.

Al Muthana (48 points), Under Your Spell (38), and Charles Dickens and MK’s Pride, both 24 points, complete the Champion Miler table.

Puerto Manzano is now well clear of the Champion Middle Distance table on 90 points after Saturday’s winning effort, followed by Jet Dark (48), and Make It Snappy, Rain In Holland, and Nexus, all on 32 points.

With the postponement of Saturday’s Grade 3 World Sports Betting Gold Bowl there was no movement on the Champion Stayer table in April. Salvator Mundi leads the table with 23 points followed by Nebraas (20), Arumugam (15), and Chrome Yellow and Senso Unico, both on 10 points.

Champion Two-Year-Old Colt

Saturday’s Grade 2 World Sports Betting SA Nursery winner Lucky Lad has a firm grip on the initial Two-Year-Old colt log entering the first Grade 1 juvenile races of the season. He leads on 24 points from Cliff Hanger and Jerusalema Rain, both on 8 points, and Gimmeanotherchance and Outlaw King, both on 2 points.

Champion Two-Year-Old Filly

Unbeaten Grade 2 World Sports Betting SA Fillies Nursery winner Mrs Geriatrix shares the top of the Two-Year-Old filly table with dual Grade 3 winner Winter Cloud on 16 points. They lead from Leaving Las Vega and Red Hot Rose on 8 points, and Golden Tatjana on 6 point

Equus Awards 2023 – Points Tables to 1 May 2023

Horse of the Year	Age	Sex	Pts
PUERTO MANZANO (ARG)	5	G	98
TRIP OF FORTUNE (SAF)	4	G	87
CHARLES DICKENS (SAF)	3	C	80
DESERT MIRACLE (SAF)	4	F	78
JET DARK (SAF)	5	H	70
GIMME A PRINCE (SAF)	4	G	66
MAKE IT SNAPPY (SAF)	3	F	64

Champion Three-Year-Old Male	Age	Sex	Pts
CHARLES DICKENS (SAF)	3	C	80
ANFIELDS ROCKET (SAF)	3	G	52
BILLY BOWLEGS (SAF)	3	C	38
COUSIN CASEY (SAF)	3	C	36
SEE IT AGAIN (SAF)	3	C	32
SON OF RAJ (SAF)	3	G	32

Champion Three-Year-Old Female	Age	Sex	Pts
MAKE IT SNAPPY (SAF)	3	F	64
FEATHER BOA (SAF)	3	F	48
BLESS MY STARS (SAF)	3	F	42
CIAO BELLA (SAF)	3	F	32
NONE OTHER (SAF)	3	F	32

Champion Older Male	Age	Sex	Pts
PUERTO MANZANO (ARG)	5	G	98
TRIP OF FORTUNE (SAF)	4	G	87
JET DARK (SAF)	5	H	70
GIMME A PRINCE (SAF)	4	G	66
ISIVUNGUVUNGU (SAF)	4	G	50

Champion Older Female	Age	Sex	Pts
DESERT MIRACLE (SAF)	4	F	78
PRINCESS CALLA (SAF)	5	M	62
UNDER YOUR SPELL (SAF)	4	F	38
CAPTAIN’S RANSOM (SAF)	5	M	36
RAIN IN HOLLAND (SAF)	4	F	32

Champion Sprinter	Age	Sex	Pts
GIMME A PRINCE (SAF)	4	G	66
PRINCESS CALLA (SAF)	5	M	62
ISIVUNGUVUNGU (SAF)	4	G	50
RIO QUERARI (SAF)	6	G	28
BEREAVE (SAF)	5	G	26

Champion Miler	Age	Sex	Pts
TRIP OF FORTUNE (SAF)	4	G	82
DESERT MIRACLE (SAF)	4	F	72
AL MUTHANA (AUS)	5	G	48
UNDER YOUR SPELL (SAF)	4	F	38
CHARLES DICKENS (SAF)	3	C	24
MK’S PRIDE (SAF)	5	H	24

Champion Middle Distance	Age	Sex	Pts
PUERTO MANZANO (ARG)	5	G	90
JET DARK (SAF)	5	H	48
MAKE IT SNAPPY (SAF)	3	F	32
RAIN IN HOLLAND (SAF)	4	F	32
NEXUS (SAF)	7	G	32

Champion Stayer	Age	Sex	Pts
SALVATOR MUNDI (SAF)	5	G	23
NEBRAAS (SAF)	6	G	20
ARUMUGAM (SAF)	4	G	15
CROME YELLOW (SAF)	8	G	10
SENSO UNICO (SAF)	4	G	10

Champion Two-Year-Old Male	Age	Sex	Pts
LUCKY LAD (SAF)	2	C	24
CLIFF HANGER (SAF)	2	C	8
JERUSALEMA RAIN (SAF)	2	G	8
GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE (SAF)	2	C	2
OUTLAW KING (SAF)	2	C	2

Champion Two-Year-Old Female	Age	Sex	Pts
MRS GERIATRIX (SAF)	2	F	16
WINTER CLOUD (SAF)	2	F	16
LEAVING LAS VEGAS (SAF)	2	F	8
RED HOT ROSE (SAF)	2	F	8
GOLDEN TATJANA (SAF)	2	F	6

Angel of Empire won the Arkansas Derby and is one of the horses to beat in the Kentucky Derby. (Coady Photography)

Angel of Empire Gets Slight Edge as Top Pick in Kentucky Derby

May 3rd, 2023 By Ellis Starr (Americasbestracing.net)

The 149th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve drew a field of 20, plus three also-eligibles which may run if any of the first 20 withdraw by 9 a.m. ET on the morning of Friday, May 5. This is what happened in 2022, allowing eventual upset winner Rich Strike to run.

Leading the deep and talented field in terms of accomplishments is last year’s champion 2-year-old, Forte, who has won six of seven career starts including the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill’n’ Dale Farms at Xalapa in his most recent race. Tapit Trice has won four races in a row since losing in his first start last November, with his most recent victory coming in the Grade 1 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. Another recent major Kentucky Derby prep race winner is Angel of Empire, who captured the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby last month with a visually impressive burst of speed on the far turn. Winners of other major races this season include Confidence Game who won the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes in late February, but who has not run since. Skinner finished a close third, beaten just a half-length for the win, in the Santa Anita Derby, and might improve. Then there’s Lord Miles, coming off a 59.25-1 upset in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial Stakes presented by Resorts World Casino four weeks ago. Two Phil’s won the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks on an all-weather surface near the end of March following a third-place effort behind Angel of Empire in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes presented by Lamarque Lincoln and Lamaque Crescent City Ford on dirt. Kingsbarns brings a perfect 3-for-3 record into the Derby, having drawn off to win by 3 1/2 lengths in the Grade 2 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby in his most recent race. Derma Sotogake earned his way into the Derby starting gate with an impressive five length win in the Group 2 United Arab Emirates Derby Sponsored by Atlantis the Royal on March 25. After this group are a number of horses which have run well but not won in the major preps. This group includes Mage (second in the Florida Derby), Hit Show (second in the Wood Memorial) and Verifying (second in the Blue Grass Stakes). Others hoping to improve off recent efforts are Jace’s Road (third in the Louisiana Derby). Reincarnate (third in the Arkansas Derby) and Disarm (third in the Grade 3 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes and second in the Louisiana Derby). Rounding out the main body of the field are Continuar, who was third behind Derma Sotogake in the UAE Derby, Raise Cain (fifth in the Blue Grass), Rocket Can (fourth in the Arkansas Derby) and Sun Thunder (fourth in the Blue Grass). The also-eligibles are Cyclone Mischief (third in the Florida Derby), Mandarin Hero (second in the Santa Anita Derby) and King Russell (second in the Arkansas Derby).

Analysis and Top contenders:

Angel of Empire ticks all the boxes to be a win contender in this year’s Kentucky Derby. In the first race of his career back in August 2022, Angel of Empire showed a lot of talent by winning at the distance of one mile on dirt and around two-turns, which is no easy task as horses normally need to work up to a race of a mile or more with a shorter one-turn race first. After a totally irrelevant race where he tried running on grass, Angel of Empire returned to the dirt and dominated by 6 1/4 lengths over the runner-up. Next tried in a stakes race for the first time this past January, Angel of Empire finished second, once more at a mile. When asked to run a mile and one-eighth for the first time in February in the important Risen Star Stakes, Angel of Empire showed a big burst of speed when making up four lengths with a quarter mile to run, also going from seventh to third while racing wide on the far turn, then was drawing off at the end to win by a length. Bettering that once more in the Arkansas Derby on April 1, Angle of Empire once again showed a tremendous response when asked to quicken his stride as he went from sixth with a quarter mile to run, three lengths behind the leader, to first within an eighth of a mile, then drew off by 4 1/4 lengths. That fast acceleration on the turn occurred while the colt was racing four paths wide as well. Throughout his three year old campaign, Angel of Empire has run faster, as evidenced by Equibase Speed Figures (which normalize for things we can’t see) of 80, then 92, then 96, then a 106 figure which is the highest (fastest) last-race North American figure in the field. A quick burst of speed like the one this colt possesses is often the key to Kentucky Derby success as it allows a horse to move by many horses in a short time on the far turn, at the same time many are figuratively hitting the wall. Getting in front in the stretch in the Derby with that kind of acceleration can make it difficult for other horses to pass in the late stages and that could be the key to Angel of Empire succeeding in the 149^th Kentucky Derby. Angel of Empire is trained by Brad Cox, who also trains Hit Show, Jace’s Road and Verifying. Cox trained Mandaloun and Essential Quality, who finished second and fourth, respectively, in the 2021 Derby (Mandaloun was later awarded the win via disqualification).

Tapit Trice training at Churchill Downs. (Coady Photography)

Tapit Trice lost the very first race of his career back in November and is undefeated in four races since then. Like Angel of Empire, Tapit Trice has improved in his last few races, going from a 96 figure in February, to 98, then to 103 in his most recent race. That recent win came in the Blue Grass Stakes and in that race Tapit Trice showed a lot of mental toughness as he had to battle head-and-head with Verifying for the length of the stretch. At one point during that battle Verifying was in front by a head but Tapit Trice refused to yield and prevailed. Although that effort didn’t show the quick acceleration Angel of Empire displayed in the Arkansas Derby, Tapit Trice did demonstrate a big burst of speed one race before last in March when winning the Grade 3 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, in which he moved from eighth to first in the final eighth of a mile. Just like Angel of Empire, Tapit Trice is on a pattern of improvement which suggests he can peak in this race and that makes him a formidable contender. Tapit Trice is trained by Todd Pletcher, who won the 2010 Derby with Super Saver and the 2017 Derby with Always Dreaming. Pletcher also saddles two other contenders in Forte and Kingsbarns.

Forte will likely enter the gate for the 149^th Kentucky Derby as the betting favorite and for good reason as he has won six of seven career races including five in a row. He scored a 100 on every test starting with the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes last summer, then the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity and Fanduel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance last fall. Given three months off to grow up physically, Forte returned in March as if he had never been away from the races when easily winning the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes by four lengths. Next, Forte then won the Florida Derby in April. The 102 speed figure Forte earned last October in the Futurity, followed by a 105 figure in the Breeders’ Cup, were exceptional for a 2-year-old, so it was a bit of a happy surprise when he returned with a 106 figure effort in the Fountain of Youth. It was not a surprise, and of no real concern, when Forte earned a 104 figure in the Florida Derby because historically horses can run just a tad slower in their last prep before the Kentucky Derby and still win, as occurred with Derby winners I’ll Have Another, California Chrome and eventual Triple Crown winner Justify. Similar to the late kick Tapit Trice demonstrated in the Tampa Bay Derby, Forte put in a big kick in the stretch of the Florida Derby when going from fifth to win by a length in the final eighth of a mile. Although I am ranking Forte slightly below Angel of Empire and Tapit Trice on my list of win contenders, this is only due to the tremendous talent and strength among this year’s Derby field.

Japan’s Derma Sotogake at Churchill Downs. (Coady Photography)

Derma Sotogake is one of two likely Derby entrants who were born and raised in Japan. He is a grandson of 1989 Kentucky Derby winner Sunday Silence, who was sold to Japanese interests in 1991 and who has become one of the dominant sires in that country. Now Sunday Silence is a grandsire, and his genes continue to create great horses. Derma Sotogake won a very important race in Japan last November at the distance of one mile and one eighth, on the same week Forte won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at one mile and one sixteenth. Derma Sotogake ended his 2-year-old season by beating 13 other horses then took three months off to mature. Shipped to Saudi Arabia, Derma Sotogake finished third of 13 in the $1.5 million Saudi Derby then one month later when sent to Dubai the colt crushed a field of 13 in the United Arab Emirates Derby. In that race Derma Sotogake established the lead from the start and after taking on some challengers early drew off to win by five lengths while geared down in the final stages, earning a very strong 116 figure in the process. Although he led from the start in that race, Derma Sotogake put in a very strong late kick to win his final start of 2022 so it appears no matter the pace scenario in the Derby this colt could be a big threat to succeed.

Kingsbarns, yet another Todd Pletcher trainee, is one of the most lightly raced horses in the field, having run just three times. He’s undefeated to date and it must be noted that among 34 horses to enter the gate in the Kentucky Derby undefeated, nine exited the gate in the same fashion. That warrants tremendous respect, as does the fact Kingsbarns won the first two races of his career while sitting in third or fourth position early, while in his most recent victory in the Louisiana Derby, he led from start to finish and didn’t give any of the other 11 competitors a chance in the stretch while coasting to an easy win. Even though the time was slower than average, the fact is that Kingsbarns actually ran faster in the last eighth of a mile than many of the other entrants in this year’s Derby and that’s notable. Having improved from an 84 figure in his debut to 100 figures in his last two races, and being as lightly raced as he is, there is a lot of upside for Kingsbarns to take a big leap forward and to post a mild upset to win this year’s Derby.

Skinner rounds out the group of six that I feel have the best chance to win, but he appears less probable than any of the previous five mentioned. However, his high odds will make up for that, so don’t hesitate to bet him given the return potential for the risk. Unlike the previous five contenders I talked about, Skinner hasn’t won any of the fall or spring prep races for the Derby, and he was not scheduled to ship from trainer John Shirreffs home base in California unless one more of the main 20 horse likely to run withdrew from consideration, which happened earlier this week. Shirreffs saddled Giacomo to a $102 payoff winning the 2005 Derby. Giacomo had finished fourth in the Santa Anita Derby prior to the upset win and similarly Skinner finished third in the 2023 Santa Anita Derby in his most recent race. Although Skinner has just one win to his credit in six lifetime races, only the three this year are notable, and in those races, he’s run faster and faster, from a 94 speed figure in February (following four months off), to 103, then to 104. So, although the third-place finish isn’t as good as the wins the top five contenders all have coming into this race, the 104 figure compares favorably with the 100 to 106 figures as those other horses. Skinner is a son of Curlin, who finished third in the 2007 Derby, and whose son Good Magic finished second in the 2018 Derby. With the breeding to run the Derby distance of a mile and one-quarter and with a bit of a pattern similar to the trainer’s huge upset in the 2005 Derby, Skinner is an interesting longshot we may want to bet so we are not found kicking ourselves after the race has been run.

The rest of the Kentucky Derby field, with their best Equibase Speed Figures is Confidence Game (104), Continuar (102), Cyclone Mischief (101), Disarm (95), Hit Show (99), Jace’s Road (101), King Russell (99), Lord Miles (100), Mandarin Hero (105), Mage (102), Raise Cain (93), Reincarnate (103) Rocket Can (99), Sun Thunder (94), Two Phil’s (97), Verifying (102).

Win contenders in preference order:

Angel of Empire

You can get Ellis’ full card detailed analysis (about 10 pages in all), including more detailed comments on Kentucky Derby entrants, as well as and betting recommendations for all the races at Churchill Downs on Derby Day, Saturday May 6, at Equibase.com.

Auguste Rodin (Picture: Timeform).

Bet Big With TAB On 2000 Guineas Meeting At Newmarket

4Racing

The Qipco 2000 Guineas, the first Classic of the English Flat season and one of the most famous events for three-year-olds on the global racing calendar, will be run at Newmarket on Saturday and it’s another opportunity for TAB customers to bet big on the best international racing.

The 2000 Guineas, first run in 1809, headlines an eight-race card and TAB Win, Place, Swinger and Quinella (first two any order) bets on all races will be commingled into Hong Kong’s
massive World Pool.

World Pool turnover on the meeting is likely to be about R700 million and TAB customers can bet huge amounts without fear of significantly reducing payouts.

TAB will also operate local Exacta, Trifecta and Quartet pools on the Newmarket meeting, as well as a BiPot and Jackpot.

Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has won the 2000 Guineas a record 10 times and it’s no surprise that his charge Auguste Rodin is dominating the ante-post betting at around 13-8.

He finished second on his debut last year and then won his next three starts, wrapping up his career as a two-year-old with a 3.50-length victory in a 1600m Group 1 race at Doncaster. The
only potential chink in Auguste Rodin’s armour is whether this Derby candidate will have them speed to see off some high-quality 1600m specialists, but most expect his class to prove
decisive.

O’Brien holds a strong hand in the race and will also saddle likely second favourite Little Big Bear, who won four in a row last season after finishing runner-up in his debut. He has loads of speed and should pack sufficient stamina for this 1600m.

The Guineas will be run at 17:40 and there will be live coverage of the meeting on Racing240 on DStv.

The three-day Guineas Festival opens with an eight-race card on Friday with the Qipco 1000 Guineas for fillies headlining the final day on Sunday.

All in all it’s a grand weekend for TAB customers with a R500,000 TAB Pick 6 carryover adding excitement to the opening meeting of the KZN winter feature-race season at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. Three feature races will be run and the Pick 6 pool is expected to total R3
million.

Naval Secret (far side) and Greenlightoheaven clash in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1200m on the Fairview poly on Friday May 5. (Pauline Herman Photography).

Wait For The Greenlight

Henk Steenkamp (Nelson Mandela Bay Racing)

The 4Racing TV Pinnacle Stakes should be the highlight of Friday’s Polytrack meeting at Fairview.

It is race five on the card at 14:45 and is a competitive looking affair over 1200m. It is also the first leg of the second Jackpot.

Greenlighttoheaven (Cliffie Miller) and Captain Morisco (Gavin Smith Racing Stables) resume their rivalry.

Last time Greenlighttoheaven finished 1.75 lengths behind Captain Morisco but is 2.5kgs better off at the weights now. These two could well fight it out for the win but there are others to consider.

Inherit The Rain (Halo Stables – Alan Greeff Racing) is the best weighted horse in the race and is ready for a big run.

The Greeff stable is looking strong throughout the meeting, especially with favourites in Vandalise (race 1), Three Rocks (race 2), Principessa Mia (race 4) and Angelsea (race 8 )
.

The meeting of eight races starts at 12:30 with a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1400m for the fillies. This is the first leg of the Bipot and we can start with a banker in Vandalise.

Three Rocks can also be a banker in the second race which is the first leg of the Place Accumulator at 13:00.

A challenging Pick Six starts at 13:35 with the third race. Principessa Mia (race 4) and Angelsea (race 8) could be considered as bankers.

With less than three months to go till the end of the season, it is that time of the year where many role-players are closing in on milestones.

At last Friday’s meeting Smith very nearly reached 100 Fairview winners for the season.

He saddled a treble to take his tally to 99 and will have to wait till this Friday to get to 100. It is a very competitive meeting but the Smith stable is in red-hot form and it is very unlikely that the milestone won’t be reached on Friday.

With his two winners last Friday, Louie Mxothwa became only the second jockey to ride 50 or more winners for the season at Fairview. Richard Fourie is leading the race with 70 winners.

A picture of last year’s awards (JC Photos).

Highveld Feature Season Awards -Nominees Announced

The event is hosted by the Racehorse Owners Association to honour and celebrate the achievements of our champions during the Highveld Feature racing season.

Media release by Racehorse Owners Association on Thursday 4 May 2023.

The nominees for the 2023 Highveld Feature Season Awards are:

Champion two year old filly

Only one nominee – will be announced at the Awards function

Champion two year old colt/gelding

Only one nominee – will be announced at the Awards function

Picture: Lady Of Power wins the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas).

Champion three year old filly

Bless My Stars
Lady Of Power
None Other

Picture: Anfields Rocket wins the Grade 1 WSB SA Classic.

Champion three year old colt/gelding

Anfields Rocket
Billy Bowlegs
Eye Of The Prophet
Royal Victory
Union Square

Picture: Desert Miracle wins the Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes.

Champion older filly/mare

Desert Miracle
Princess Calla
Rain In Holland

Picture: Isivunguvungu wins the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint.

Champion older horse

Isivunguvungu
Puerto Manzano (ARG)
Trip Of Fortune

Champion sprinter

Isivunguvungu
Princess Calla

Picture: Puerto Manzano wins the Grade 3 London News Stakes.

Champion Middle distance horse

Anfields Rocket
Bless My Stars
Desert Miracle
Puerto Manzano (ARG)
Trip Of Fortune

Champion Stayer

The nominees for Champion Stayer will be announced after the running of the World Sports Betting Gold Bowl (Grade 3) on Sunday 7th May 2023.

The Chairman of the voting process is Nico Kritsiotis, and he is joined on the panel by Jack Milner and Lyall Cooper.

Some categories were fairly predictable, and others attracted lengthy discussion.

However, by the conclusion of the deliberations the judges were satisfied that a fair process had taken place and the correct decisions were taken.

Winners in the following categories are based on a points structure and will be announced at the Awards function:

Champion Work Rider
Champion Apprentice
Champion Breeder of the season
Champion Owner of the season
Champion Jockey of the season
Champion Trainer of the season

The following points structure was applied:

1st-2nd-3rd

Grade 1

12-9-7

Grade 2

9-6 -4

Grade 3

6-3-1

Listed

2 – –

All equine winners are then eligible for the prestigious Horse of the Season award.

We wish all nominees the best in their respective categories and look forward to hosting them on the evening.

Images by JC Photos and Candiese Lenferna.

The David Payne-trained Montefilia at the Chairman’s Sale (Image: Yulong via Twitter)

David Payne-trained Mare Sells For Aus$3.4 Million

Yulong’s thirst for top class mares shows no sign of stopping, with the breeding giant behind the multi-million dollar purchase of Group 1 winners Montefilia and Icebath at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale on Thursday night.

The Victorian-based stud paid $3.4 million for Montefilia, the four-time Group 1 winner by Kermadec shortly after securing Icebath, the Group 1-winning daughter of Sacred Falls, for $2.3 million.

Yulong also added Pierro mare Novarro, the sister to its recent stallion acquisition Pierata, to a star-studded broodmare band that includes Away Game, Tofane and Melody Belle.

Of Montefilia, Yulong’s Sam Fairgray hinted that the five-year-old, who has been trained by David Payne, could race on in the spring before commencing the next phase of her career.

“She’s got a lot of quality and is a lovely mover,” Fairgray told Inglis.

“We’re not sure what we’ll do with her just yet, although she may race on in the spring with races like the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup all possible.”

The highest-priced mare of the night was Nimalee, who set a sale-record when she was knocked down to Coolmore and Colm Santry Bloodstock for $3.6 million.

The daughter of So You Think won last year’s Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m) when trained by Matthew Smith.

Popular stayer Tralee Rose, a multiple Stakes-winning daughter of Tavistock that was offered as a racing and breeding prospect, was bought for $450,000 by Paul Lofitis’ Lofty Thoroughbreds, who also paid $625,000 for Dubawi mare Opulent in foal to Frankel.

A jump for joy after Keagan de Melo had ridden the Ashley Fortune-trained Poursomesugaronme to victory at Turffontein Inside today (JC Photos).

Tarry Treble, De Melo, Mxoli Doubles

Sean Tarry had a treble at Turffontein Inside today, despite the last race at the eight race meeting being abandoned, and Keagan de Melo and Philasande Mxoli rode doubles.

Tarry goes to 86 wins for the season and has achieved it at a strike rate of 16.73%.

De Melo has had 231 wins in the season at a strike rate of 20.74%.

He is 49 clear of second-placed Richard Fourie.

Mxoli goes to 31 wins at 8.64%.

Sir Gordon Richards (shutterstock.com)

Today’s Question

The great 26-time British flat racing champion jockey Sir Gordon Richards rode more than 200 winners in a season 12 times with a high of 269 in 1947. His last season riding more than 200 winners was in 1952. Who was the next jockey to break 200 in a season?

Answer at bottom of the newsletter.

Fairview Poly Fields, Friday

Pat Eddery (Twitter)

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION

In 1990 Pat Eddery rode 209 winners in the British flat season, becoming only the third jockey after Fred Archer (8X), Tommy Loates (1X) and Gordon Richards (12X) to break 200.

South Africa’s Michael Roberts became the fifth to do it, riding 206 winners in 1992.

Since then Frankie Dettori has done it twice, Kieren Fallon four times and Richard Hughes once.

Turf Talk Newsletter – 4 May 2023