Rascallion is ahead of work partner Look For Hounds at the HDJ Gallops at Hollywoodbets Greyville this morning (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Rascallion Could Upset The Fancied Runners

The form book is not dictating the prices in this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July and the Vaughan Marshall-trained five-year-old Vercingetorix gelding Rascallion provides the best example.

He is 3,5kg better off with Pacaya for a one length beating in the Gr 2 WSB 1900 and 4,5kg better off with Winchester Mansion for a 0,70 length beating.

He probably needed that run too.

Yet Winchester Mansion is a 6/1 shot with the sponsor, Pacaya is a 10/1 shot and Rascallion is a 17/1 shot.

There are some who believe Rascallion does not stay the July 2200m trip.

However, Marshall responded to that question by saying, “He ran fifth two years ago and had a few traffic problems too, so that is hogwash – he will stay, don’t you worry about that.”

Rascallion galloped this morning with Look For Hounds and strode out well.

Marshall said, “I’m very, very happy with his gallop, he did everything I asked him to do and I thought he worked very, very well.”

He added, “He is better now than he was two years ago when running fifth, he’s been there and done it, so we just need a bit of luck from that draw and I think he is a big runner.”

Corne Orffer will be aboard from draw 15.

Rascallion was drawn six as a three-year-old when beaten just 2,25 lengths by Kommetdieding under Sean Veale.

He carried 53 kg there off a 123 merit rating and was half-a-kilogram under sufferance and he now carries 57.5 kg off a 122 merit rating.

He is quietly fancied by more than a few.

Mr Pooe at the HDJ Final Field Announcement and draw ceremony (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Dream Come True For Mr Pooe

Owner Mr S S “Stincky” Pooe has his first runner in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, the Robyn Klaasen-trained Second Base.

Mr Pooe’s love of horseracing began in the townships of Nigel as a Kid where he and his friends used to attend rural horse racing meetings every Saturday.

“It was fun for us and that is where the whole thing started,” he said.

He owned horses some years back, but gave up because he was not getting results.

However, he has made a strong comeback recently.

He owns the useful Billy Ruiters-trained Miss Daisy, a Bush Hill Stud-bred Crusade filly who beat the like of Feather Boa, Gimme A Shot and None Other when winning the Gr 3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes over 1400m last October.

That was one of four wins for the speedy filly.

He recently took a share in Second Base after Klaasen purchased him for R150,000 on a BSA Online auction.

It soon paid dividends.

The five-year-old Gimmethegreenlight gelding bounced back to his best when a hair’s breadth second to Puerto Manzano in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes in his first start for Klaasen.

That got him into the July.

Asked how it felt to have a July runner, Mr Pooe replied, “At last!”

He went on to say he had been “dreaming of it” but had not expected it to come so soon after his comeback.

Mr Pooe will be bringing his family with him to the big race on July 1.

Rachel Venniker’s July horse Jimmy Don is only second reserve but she is in the meantime supporting See It Again, whom she rode this morning for her guv’nor Michael Roberts (Picture: Candiese Lenferna)

Venniker’s First July Ride Proving Elusive

Rachel Venniker was all set to become the first woman jockey to ride in the Hollywoodbets Durban July last year before an unfortunate incident at the start of a race a few days before the big one saw her sidelined.

She was excited to land a ride this year on the Erico Verdonese-trained Jimmy Don only to see him made second reserve.

She said, “He’s a lovely horse, I went and sat on him on Saturday when I was riding on the Highveld, although I unfortunately couldn’t make it there for his July gallop today. I haven’t ridden him in a race before, but have been following him since he was a youngster because he’s just one of those horses who caught my eye. He’s a beautiful horse with a stunning temperament.”

She will likely be riding the three-year-old Pathfork colt in the Gr 3 Splashout 2200 on July day, which is the July consolation race, and he will be out to prove a point.

She said, ” I haven’t gone through the field in detail, but I’m hoping he will run a big race.”

Jimmy Don was 18th on the final July log, ahead of both Nebraas and Pacaya, thanks to a runner up finish in the Gr 1 WSB SA Classic, where he finished one position ahead of July runner Billy Bowlegs.

However, trainer Erico Verdonese took a risk by running him in the Gr 3 Jubilee Stakes and although it was only intended as a preparation outing his fifth place finish saw Pacaya leapfrogging him into the top 18 and Nebraas also leapfrogged him to get the first reserve spot.

Venniker has nine rides on July day and mentioned Hot Pearl (BSA Cup for fillies), Ermelo (Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe) and Sun Blushed (Gr 2 Post Merchants) as three she was looking forward to but added all of her engagements looked to be nice rides, so she is hoping for a good day.

Frankie Dettori celebrates on Courage Mon Ami (Sporting Life)

Frankie Dettori Wins Gold Cup At His Last Royal Ascot

Italian wins flagship race of meeting in his final year

Dettori at his brilliant best to catch favourite in closing stages

Greg Wood at Royal Ascot (The Guardian)

The greatest racing showman of the past 30 years ensured a suitably dramatic conclusion to his final Gold Cup here on Thursday. Frankie Dettori arrived with a perfectly timed run on Courage Mon Ami to overhaul Coltrane, the favourite, having started the long turn towards home with one horse behind him.

Dettori punched the air as he crossed the line, in what was perhaps a cathartic moment after his failure to add a fourth Gold Cup win to Stradivarius’s career record in the past two runnings of the race. He received some criticism for his efforts after both defeats, but his arrival centre-stage on Thursday was timed to the second.

In the early stages, there were obvious parallels with the 2021 Gold Cup, as Subjectivist and Joe Fanning, the winners two years ago, raced into a clear lead.

Stradivarius found trouble in running as he tried to make ground in that race, but Dettori was happy to sit well off the pace on Courage Mon Ami, making the fourth start of his career and his first in any Group race, never mind a Group One.

Subjectivist had been nursed back to race-fitness after suffering a career-threatening injury a few weeks after his Gold Cup victory, and he ran a fine race to still hold a narrow lead at the top of the straight. Coltrane, though, was not far behind, and he took over two out as Subjectivist started to tread water, only for Dettori to deliver Courage Mon Ami with a decisive run on the way to a three-quarter length success.

It was a ninth win in the race for Dettori, which means he will retire two short of Lester Piggott’s all-time record, and a 79th win at the meeting.

“I didn’t expect it,” he said. “The last five years I’ve had Stradivarius, so the pressure was on. This one I thought was a bit of a chancer coming from handicaps, but John [Gosden, the winner’s trainer] was confident.

“I rode him cold [off the pace] and it just happened. I got the splits when I wanted to and he showed a turn of foot.

“The last half a furlong, I couldn’t give in to Oisin [Murphy, on Coltrane]. I thought: ‘no, we’ve got this far, please keep going’.

“It’s unbelievable, my last year, winning the Gold Cup. Myself, the king and Queen Camilla had a talk beforehand about his win [with Desert Hero earlier on the card] and my relationship with his mother, Queen Elizabeth. Then the next race I go on and win the Gold Cup and he presents the trophy. It’s amazing, really amazing.

“I wanted to ride Courage Mon Ami to run well because I really don’t know the horse and I didn’t know his capability or if he was able to stay. I knew there would be pace, I wanted to swing out wide but Stéphane [Pasquier, on Big Call] kept me in and actually won me the race, because I thought: ‘I’ll cut the corner and see what happens’. Then it happened.”

Courage Mon Ami is the third consecutive four-year-old to win the Gold Cup, after Subjectivist and Kyprios, and it is conceivable all three will be in the lineup next year, when Courage Mon Ami will be in need of a new jockey.

Gosden will not be short of applications when the time comes, but he took a moment to reflect on his long association with Dettori, as well as their brief falling-out over some of his rides at this meeting 12 months ago.

“He’s had a phenomenal career,” Gosden said. “Thirty years we’ve been working together, on and off. We’ve had one argument in 30 years. How many marriages can say that?

“We patched that up after five days and were winning Group Ones in Deauville straight after that. We had a disagreement, that’s fine, that’s professional, and we kicked on after that. Look at the result today.”

Courage Mon Ami set off as a well-backed 15-2 chance thanks to his jockey, but there was a huge result for the bookmakers when Valiant Force won the opening Norfolk Stakes at 150-1, equalling the record winning starting price for the meeting set by Nando Parrado in the Coventry Stakes three years ago.

It was a first winner at the meeting for the Amo Racing operation founded by the leading football agent Kia Joorabchian.

“We knew Valiant Force was a nice horse and I couldn’t believe the price,” Adrian Murray, the winner’s trainer, said. “It didn’t make sense, I knew he was much better than that. It’s the stuff of dreams.”

Dave The King was in “flying” form at the HDJ Gallops (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Craig Zackey Happy With Dave The King’s Eyecatching Gallop

Dave The King drew the most “wows” from the crowd at the Hollywoodbets Durban July gallops at Hollywoodbets Greyville this morning as he appeared to be toying with his stable companion Safe Passage.

However, it must be borne in mind Mike de Kock has said Safe Passage gives away nothing in his workouts.

Craig Zackey was very happy with Dave The King’s gallop and said the massive horse with the massive stride had started maturing and learning to settle which he hoped would put to bed the concern he would not see out the 2200m trip.

With that in mind he was not sure whether he would lead this time because, having learnt to settle, he believed he could now be a versatile horse.

He spoke of the tremendous turn of foot the Global View gelding had displayed when coming from last over 1200m to win in his first start for the De Kock yard.

With all those variables now in play, Zackey was now looking forward to the discussions about tactics with De Kock.

Craig has ridden in “five or six” Julys and his best finish was fifth on the Duncan Howells-trained Saratoga Dancer.

See It Again put up a superb gallop at Hollywoodbets Greyville this morning under Rachel Venniker. He will be ridden by Piere Strydom in the big race (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Some Fine Work Outs At HDJ Gallops

Without Question got the ball rolling at 7:00 a.m at this morning’s Hollywoodbets Durban July gallops, at which time there were still queues for free coffee and sticky buns.

He put in a superb gallop, striding out beautifully under big race rider Richard Fourie.

However, See It Again stole the show later.

He looked every inch the big race favourite as he powered effortlessly down the straight.

Rachel Venniker was aboard and said, “He is fit after his last run and today was just a pipe opener but he is feeling incredible.”

Equine hero Do It Again put in his usual fine July gallop, gliding down the Hollywoodbets Greyville straight in athletic fashion, belying his age (eight years old).

Rascallion also strode out nicely.

Dave The King, as mentioned in another article in this newsletter, showed off his massive stride in no uncertain terms.

Pomp And Power was his usual naughty self, dropping rider Shorty Feni as he was about to set off and the latter did very well to hold on to the rein ensuring the horse did not bolt. Pomp And Power strode out very well in the straight.

Son Of Raj galloped without the blinkers and was looking around. He will be better on race day with the blinkers on.

Pacaya was a touch lazy in his workout but looked in fine fettle.

Silver Darling and Trip Of Fortune did not give much away but did nothing wrong.

The July horses on the Highveld did nothing wrong either.

Grant van Niekerk completes his treble on the Justin Snaith-trained Zippy Over (Picture: Wayne Marks).

Van Niekerk Treble, Crawford Treble, Steyn/Arries Double, Orffer Double, Snaith Double, Nel Double

Both Grant van Niekerk and Brett Crawford had trebles at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today (Thursday).

Ashton Arries rode a double for Piet Steyn and there were also doubles for Corne Orffer, Justin Snaith and Andre Nel.

Van Niekerk is now on 40 wins for the season at a strike rate of 12.94%.

Brett Crawford is on 97 wins at 13.80%.

Snaith is on 127 wins at 12.78%.

Orffer is on 24 wins at 8.22%.

Arries is on 36 wins at 8.45%.

Piet Steyn is on 9 wins at 11.11%.

Nel is on 35 wins at 9.11%.

Gavin Lerena scores his second win of the day on Big Eyed Girl. (JC Photos)

Schwarz, Lerena Doubles

Both Dennis Schwarz and Gavin Lerena rode doubles at Turffontein Inside today (Thursday).

Schwarz goes to 47 wins for the season at 12.24%.

Lerena is on 89 wins at 16.33%.

Fairview Poly Fields, Friday

King Charles and Queen Camilla enjoyed themselves at the races today and Charles had his first Royal Ascot winner. (Hellomagazine.com)

Today’s Question

Desert Hero delivered King Charles his first winner at Royal Ascot today with victory in the King George V Stakes. How many Royal Ascot winners did Queen Elizabeth II have?

Question answer at the bottom of the newsletter

Queen Elizabeth receives the trophy after Estimate had won the Gold Cup (Alastair Grant AP).

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION

Queen Elizabeth II had 24 wins at the Royal Ascot meeting.

Turf Talk Newsletter – 22 June, 2023