Sean Tarry won seven Gr 1s last season and did it with five individuals (Picture: Gold Circle).
Tarry Led The Gr 1 Stats Last Season
Sean Tarry was the leading Gr 1 winner in the season just past with seven in all, which represents 24% of the 29 national Gr 1s on offer, and he achieved it with five individuals.
Candice Bass-Robinson and Brett Crawford each won three Gr 1s and they both did it with two individuals.
Peter Muscutt, Michael Roberts, Mike de Kock, Johan Janse van Vuuren and Michael Roberts all won two Grade 1s and all of them did it with one individual.
Single Gr 2s were won by Justin Snaith, David Nieuwenhuizen, Ricky Maingard, Grant Maroun, Weiho Marwing and Tony Peter.
The season yielded first Gr 1 successes for all of Michael Roberts, Peter Muscutt, David Niewenhuizen, Tony Peter and Grant Maroun.
Justin Snaith, who was crowned champion trainer, once commented that he would have swapped his multitude of wins on Met day for winning the Met itself if he could.
He did win the WSB Met this season, but he would probably have swapped that for the nine Gr 1s he won the previous season if he could.
His season was not helped by the retirement of his superstar Jet Dark (Trippi) after his Met win and by the retirement of the previous season’s Equus Horse Of The Year Captain’s Ransom (Captain Al) after she had suffered three consecutive defeats. His horses also went flat on him in KZN. However, he did have a good stakes earning year thanks to first, third and fifth places in the R7.5 million Gold Rush. So, although he officially only just scraped home in the national championship, he was well clear of the rest if restricted race stakes earnings are included.
However, Tarry got within R338,468 of winning the official championship, an incredible feat considering he had a dispersal sale in late September. The championship seemed as remote as Mars by the end of the Cape Summer, with Snaith well clear.
All of Tarry’s five championships were done with the support of the prolific, big-spending owner Chris van Niekerk, so for Tarry to now be in a championship-winning position again shows how dynamic an operation he runs.
Tarry’s Princess Calla (Flower Alley) won three Gr 1s last season, the SA Fillies Sprint over 1200m, the Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes over 1600m and the HKJC World Pool Champions Cup over 1800m. The five-year-old mare’s wins were all at weight for age level, although the first two were races restricted to females. She also won three Gr 2’s, all over sprint distances. which makes her open wfa Gr 1 win over 1800m all the more remarkable. She will win Equus Champion Older Female and might be named Equus Horse Of The Year.
Tarry’s dominance of the Festival Of Speed meeting at Hollywoodbets Scottsville might well have been the most dominant Gr 1 training performance in one day in SA history. He said he had not suffered the usual stress associated with watching Gr 1 races that day, because the wins were apparent from a long way out. All Of Mrs Geriatrix (Vercingetorix), Lucky Lad (Gimmethegreenlight) and Princess Calla won Gr 1s easing up by margins of 2,30 lengths, 5,30 lengths and 3,20 lengths respectively. Tarry failed by 0,90 lengths to do the HWB Scottsville Gr 1 grandslam when the previous season’s Gr 1 Gold Medallion winner Thunderstruck (Rafeef) finished second in the Gr 1 Golden Horse Sprint.
Tarry also won the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic with Bless My Stars (Gimmethegreenlight) and the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 with Rain In Holland (Duke Of Marmalade). The latter win was particularly noteworthy because it means he has won a Gr 1 with Rain In Holland as a two-year-old, as a three-year-old and as a four-year-old.
Tarry’s chances of winning even more Gr 1s than seven this season and his chances of landing a sixth national championship have been boosted by the arrival of Gr 1-winning champion Cousin Casey (Vercingetorix) in his yard.
Brett Crawford also showed his dynamism last season. He had at least one Gr 1 win and usually multiple Gr 1 wins every season from the 2010/2011 season until the 2020/2021 season, so the Gr 1 blank 2021/2022 season represented a fall because it broke a sequence of eleven consecutive seasons with at least one Gr 1 win. He bounced back in no uncertain terms by winning the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes with Dynasty filly Make It Snappy. He thus provided the Hollywood Syndicate with their first ever Gr 1 winner. Crawford later lost his tag as a top contender for SA’s best trainer to have never won the July by winning the big Hollywoodbets sponsored event with Winchester Mansion (Trippi). It has been a memorable season for Brett, especially as his son James, who looks after his Highveld satellite yard, played a big part in the July victory.
The most burgeoning yard in the country at present, besides Sean Tarry’s, is the Candice Bass-Robinson yard, whose success this season should have a snowball effect. Charles Dickens (Trippi) needs no introduction and in the Bass’s opinion has usurped Pocket Power as the greatest horse they have had in fifty years of training. He won two prestigious Grade 1s for them, the sire-producing Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and the wfa Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, both over 1600m. Candice’s other Gr 1 winner was also by Trippi, Trip Of Fortune, who won the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes. Trip Of Fortune also won two Gr 2s and a Gr 3 and is the favourite to win the Equus Older Male award. Charles Dickens should be named Equus Champion Miler, Equus Champion Three-year-old male and he could be named Equus Horse Of The Year.
Michael Roberts has been quiet as a trainer compared to his halcyon days as a jockey, but he showed what he could do if given a top horse. Twice Over colt See It Again won both the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby and the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and should be named Equus Middle Distance champion. His narrow second in the Hollywoodbets Durban July plus second placed finishes in the Champions Cup and Gr 2 WSB Guineas make him a contender for Equus Three-year-old Male Champion and for Horse Of The Year.
Another contender for Equus Champion Older Male is the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Argentinian-bred gelding Puerto Manzano, who won both of Jo’burg’s biggest races for prolific owner Laurence Wernars, the Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup and the Gr 1 WSB Premier’s Champions Challenge.
The Dean Kannemeyer-trained Gimme A Prince (Gimmethegreelight) and the the Peter Muscutt-trained Isivunguvungu (What A Winter) will fight out the Equus Champion Sprinter award. Gimme A Prince won the Gr 1 Pongracz Cape Flying Championship and carried topweight to win the Gr 1 Golden Horse Sprint. Isivunguvungu won the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint and the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint. He finished third in the Cape Flying, compared to Gimme A Prince’s fourth in the Mercury, but Gimme A Prince also won a Gr 2 sprint. That pair also have a chance in the Champion Older Male award.
Mike de Kock won the Gr 1 Schweppes Majorca and the Gr 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes with Desert Miracle (Dynasty), a fine feat considering she has had issues.
Passionate Durban-based racing man Steven Chetty was pinching himself for weeks when his homebred Weiho Marwing-trained Duke Of Marmalade gelding Son Of Raj won the Gr 1 WSB SA Derby, thus earning himself a berth in the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
Durban-based racing man Zeyn Kirsten was behind the purchase of Gimmethegreenlight colt Sandringham Summit for R1.7 million, who became his business partner Rakesh Singh’s first ever horse. The classy colt then provided David Nieuwenhuizen with his first ever Gr 1 winner when storming home in the World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes. He also won a Gr 2 and is the favourite to be named Equus Champion Two-year-old Male.
Tony Peter also had his first Gr 1 win at the World Pool Gold Cup meeting when Bavarian Beauty (Querari) won the Douglas Whye Thekwini Stakes.
Ricky Maingard’s single Gr 1 winner was with the Australian-bred Al Muthana (Deep Field), but his win in the Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate was up with the best performances of the season as he downed Charles Dickens.
Grant Maroun’s Coup De Grace gelding Anfields Rocket was bought in training by the Hollywood Syndicate and the latter were rewarded for magnanimously keeping him with Maroun, because he went on to win the Gr 1 WSB SA Classic.
Bourgeoise (extreme right) only just fails last time out at Newbury (Picture: Newbury Racecourse).
Hollywood And Barnane Stud’s Bourgeoisie Can Go One Better At Newmarket
The Hollywood Syndicate and Barnane Stud-owned two-year-old filly Bourgeoisie runs at Newmarket at 16H50 SA Time on Saturday and must have a big chance.
She is by the same sire as the great Paddington i.e. Siyouni.
In her second start over six furlongs at Newbury the strongly built filly only just failed.
The Racing Post awarded her a rating of 91.
She is consequently the 9/4 favourite for Saturday’s seven furlong event on the Newmarket July course.
Jamie Spencer, known for his hold up style, replaces Sean Levey and should suit the filly considering she ran on strongly last time out.
Bourgeoisie is registered under the name Owen Heffer & Barnane Stud and runs in the familiar Hollywood yellow colours with purple stars.
Keagan de Melo Receives R200g Reward Cheque From Winning Form
Newly crowned SA Champion Jockey Keagan de Melo is sponsored by Winning Form and one of the incentives for the latter’s sponsored jockeys is a R200,000 prize for winning the national championship.
There were other incentives on the way to the championship for milestone number of winners i.e reaching 50, 100 and 200 winners.
Keagan was presented with the R200,000 cheque last week in a typically vibrant ceremony at the Hollywoodbets offices, where the Winning Form offices are.
A lot of people turned up to witness the presentation.
The occasion also provided Winning Form, Hollywoodbets and all those who were there to wish Keagan all the best for his next venture in Hong Kong.
Atticus Finch has been tipped to win the fourth race (JC Photos).
Turffontein Standside Saturday August 5 Formguides And Selections
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1 12:25 PM – 4Racing Welcomes You Maiden Plate
CHOCOLATE BOMB was unfancied on debut but nearly surprised. The one to beat of those that have raced. He is coupled with two newcomers – respect money. Only real threat appears to be DARING ACT and is one for the Exacta. Others looking for minor money.
Top Tip: CHOCOLATE BOMB (3)
Watch out for: DARING ACT (1)
2 12:55 AM – 4Racing Thanks And Appreciates Mike De Kock Racing Maiden Plate
Good race. FUSHIMI INARI and MANZ KNIGHT were runners-up in their last two runs and should be right there. BROTHERHOODOFMAGIC should enjoy the extra over a longer straight and cannot be ignored for honours. MVELELO improved over the longer trip and could get into mix. LADY DYNAMO is on the up and must be considered for exotics.
Top Tip: FUSHIMI INARI (5)
Watch out for: MANZ KNIGHT (1)
3 1:30 PM – www.soccer6.co.za Maiden Plate (F & M)
Watch the form of Chocolate Bomb in the first – EMPRESS GAME, who was backed in all three of her starts, was well behind but she never travelled well then and should make amends. CONTRA FISCUM is improving all the while and could challenge. WILKIES was runner-up in her last two runs and could go one better. SI VELOCE disappointed on the poly last time but could get back on track on home ground. VATHOMVLAFFIE is looking for further but on her last sprint effort cannot be ignored.
Top Tip: WILKIES (2)
Watch out for: EMPRESS GAME (1)
4 2:05 PM – Play Soccer 6, 10 And 13 Mr 96 Handicap
No runner can be ruled out. TIZONA has played second fiddle in his last three starts and deserves a win. He is coupled with STRATOSPHERIC who won his only try at this course – respect. ATTICUS FINCH won well after a rest and is 1kg worse off with TIZONA for a 1.25-length beating. He finished 2.65 lengths behind recent Gold Cup winner Future Pearl but it could get close. KOTINOS needed his last outing and could get involved.
Top Tip: ATTICUS FINCH (2)
Watch out for: TIZONA (3)
5 2:40 PM – www.tab4racing.com Fm 81 Divided Handicap (F & M)
This is not a strong field and the 2.5kg allowance will enhance the chances of KWAZZI’S LADY and bring her into the picture. LAST CHEER comes off a five-month break but could challenge. She is coupled with DEVILISH DANCER who can only improve. THREE STRANDS is having her peak run and shouldn’t be ignored. QUEEN BOMI ran below form and should do better. PRETTY IN PEARLS was not striding out in her last 2 starts.
Top Tip: QUEEN BOMI (7)
Watch out for: KWAZZI’S LADY (1)
6 3:15 PM – 4Racing Thanks And Appreciates Stuart Pettigrew Pinnacle Stakes
MERCANTOUR is honest and should give another good showing, however, he gives 7.5kg to useful FLOWERBOMB who could make a race of it. CAPTAIN HINDSIGHT has won both his starts in his new yard and could complete a hat-trick off bottom weight. ROLLWITHTHEPUNCHES, SHELDON and MOVER AND SHAKER are looking for Quartet money.
Top Tip: FLOWERBOMB (7)
Watch out for: MERCANTOUR (1)
7 3:50 PM – Book A Table Call 0116811796 Mr 82 Handicap
Very wide open and all with claims on collateral form. MUNCHKIN is having his peak run after a rest and gelding. Stablemates POWER BROKER and SIBERIAN STEEL as well as BLACK EGRET, COVERT OPERATOR, IRON SKY, STORMY SEAS and SUCCESSFUL SECRET should finish on top of one another. The remaining three runners, BRONCO BLITZ, AXEL COLLINS and AMPERSAND, could pop up.
Top Tip: BLACK EGRET (1)
Watch out for: MUNCHKIN (3)
8 4:25 PM – Next Turffontein Racemeeting Saturday 12 August Mr 72 Handicap
FISH EAGLE is better than recent form and could find it. FULLY LOADED was unlucky not to have won last time but could get his just reward. FORT LAUDERDALE shouldn’t be far off on their last meeting, the form of which brings AFTER HOURS into the reckoning. TUSCAN GOLD makes his debut for the Tony Peter’s stable who has a unbelievable record with newcomers. WRITTEN IN STONE could place.
The Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Gimmethewaltz got the ball rolling for Gimmethegeenlight on Wednesday 26 July, a day in which he had five winners around the country (Picture: Wayne Marks).
Gimmethegreenlight’s Five Winners In One Day
It escaped the notice of most that Champion Sire Gimmegreenlight had five winners in one day last week, including a Listed winner.
There was a double head on Wednesday last week and progeny of the top stallion had two winners at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and three winners at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
Gimmethegreenlight’s winners at Hollywoodbets Scottsville were the ultra promising Alec Laird-trained four-year-old colt Royal Guide and the Sean Tarry-trained four-year-old filly Emerald Princess, who won the Listed Off To Stud Stakes.
His winners at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth were the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained two-year-old filly Gimmethewaltz, the Dean Kannemeyr-trained three-year-old gelding Director’s Cut and the Vaughan Marshall-trained five-year-old gelding Gainsford.
The Varfontein Stud-based Champion Stallion will be hard to beat in the Sires Championship this season such is the plethora of top performers he has in training.
Gregory Romero stopped riding some way from the line and watched a horse on his outside overtake him. (Picture: The Sun)
Jockey Romero Asked To Explain Actions In Controversial Belterra Finish
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE RACE
Updated: August 4, 2023 at 7:08 am
By T. D. Thornton (TDN)
The stewards at Belterra Park have asked jockey Gregory Romero to explain why he appeared to not persevere with his mount while on the lead in the final few jumps before the finish of Wednesday’s fourth race there, which led to that 9-1 horse getting beaten by a neck by the hard-charging 6-5 favorite.
Reached by phone just prior to the start of Thursday’s races, the three Belterra stewards–Ron Herbstreit, Vincent Clark, and Raina Paucar–told TDN in a speaker phone call that they would not discuss what was said at that hearing or if a penalty was in the pipeline.
“We have investigated and there was a hearing for the jockey. But as of right now, we have no comment,” said Herbstreit. “If you want to call the jockey, he might tell you something. But right now, we’re not, okay?”
TDN could not find a working phone number for Romero to get his side of the story, nor would the Belterra stewards disclose the jockey’s contact information. The stewards said Romero is not represented by an agent.
Asked if a ruling had been issued against Romero, Herbstreit said, “Not yet. That’s why there’s no comment right now.”
NB – subsequent to this article being written the following Twitter post appeared:
Horse racing authorities not typically known for speed have moved quickly. Ohio racing commission have suspended rider Gregory Romero for 30 days fined $1,000 and Belterra has banned him indefinitely.
Romero has been riding since 2016, winning on 32 of his 297 rides. In 2023, he’s ridden three winners from 29.
Hollie Doyle Previews Her Weekend Rides
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SWEET ON MEMORIES IN LISTED FEATURE
It’s great to be riding for John and Thady Gosden in a Listed race and SWEET MEMORIES looks to have a good chance of at least achieving valuable black type in the British EBF 40th Anniversary Chalice Stakes (2.40) at Newmarket on Saturday.
Lordship Stud’s beautifully bred daughter of Seas The Stars lacks experience compared to some of her rivals but the Gosdens clearly feel she can acquit herself well at this level.
A half-sister to Group 1 winner Cursory Glance, Sweet Memories re-appeared at Newbury two weeks ago to win a 10f fillies’ novice for Frankie Dettori, giving the distinct impression she will really enjoy this step up in trip.
I team up with the Gosdens again in the Turners Handicap (3.15) on my boss Imad Alsagar’s INTINSO , who also steps up to 1m4f following a qualifying run on the All-Weather at Chelmsford City.
A slightly raced son of Sussex Stakes hero Paddington’s sire Siyouni, he’s a colt we’ve always liked and will hopefully begin to come into his own over this kind of trip.
EXPRESS LOOKS OPEN TO IMPROVEMENT
MAHARAJAS EXPRESS is shaping as though he’s ready to go well after looking in need of his first turf run of the year at York last week.
I put Richard Spencer’s gelding through his paces on the Watered Gallop on the Rowley Mile recently and he gave me a good feel ahead of the Ian Angry Anderson 50th Birthday Celebration Handicap (4.25).
Gelded in the spring, it’s still early days for him from a handicapping perspective so getting weight from all his rivals makes him an interesting contender.
Robert Cowell’s veteran HAN SOLO BERGER also gave a strong indication he’s ready to win again when he was denied right on the line over course and distance last time.
A winner for me at Yarmouth last summer off a higher rating, he returns to the July Course in the Turners Of Soham Handicap (5.00) and can defy a 2lb higher mark.
IDEAL STARTING POINT FOR STOUTE FILLY
It’s always nice to ride for Sir Michael Stoute who has booked me for Cheveley Park Stud’s newcomer WORD PLAY in the Turners British EBF Fillies’ Novice Stakes (3.50).
I don’t know much about this daughter of Saxon Warrior, other than she’s out of a 7f two-year-old winner, but this looks an ideal starting point for her so close to home.
Earlier, Archie Watson’s Middleham Park Racing filly DEFYING ORDERS steps up in class to contest the British EBF Fillies’ Nursery Handicap (2.05). She got off the mark in good style on fast ground at Lingfield Park last month and can hopefully hold her own in this better company.
ARCHIE OUT TO GO ONE BETTER IN STEWARDS CUP
I’ll be cheering on Archie Watson’s Albasheer in the big sprint of the day on Saturday, the Qatar Stewards’ Cup (3.35) at Goodwood.
The pace will be fast and furious in this 6f dash, which will really suit him, and he’s looking like a very well handicapped horse off his reduced mark of 97.
Archie had a near miss in this last year when I finished second on Tabdeed, so I’d love to see him go one better with a horse who appears to tick all the right boxes.
DEAD GROUND BLUNTED NASHWA’S QUEST
Nashwa ran a good race in defeat in her attempt to win the Group 1 Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on Thursday for the second year in a row. I’m obviously disappointed with the result, finishing third, but on reflection she did well under the circumstances.
She settled into the race beautifully and travelled well, looking like the winner between the three and the two, but just wasn’t able to show her class and turn of foot on that dead, holding ground. I think the 10f in those conditions just stretched her stamina, too, but we’ll be back to go again once my boss Imad Alsagar and the team have formed another plan.
The horse in question is pictured above.
Today’s Question
Which English Triple Crown winner’s stakes earnings remained a record for almost 60 years, despite inflation?
Question answer at the bottom of the newsletter
His stakes record was not surpassed until 1952 by the Aga Khan’s 1949-born homebred Tulyar, who ended his career with earnings of 76,577 pounds.
