Vee Moodley, CEO of the National Horseracing Authority (NHA)

Vee Moodley Clarifies “Barring Of Stakeholders” Press Release

Vee Moodley clarified the meaning of the recent press release about operators’ capacity to bar industry stakeholders from participating in their jurisdiction.

He said operators had the right to make their own rules about who could or who couldn’t race in their jurisdiction, but they were not allowed to use NHA rules to make these rules and neither could they make rules that were in conflict with NHA rules.

He said, “For argument’s sake they won’t be allowed to bar a jockey who has struck his horse more than 12 times in a race from riding in their jurisidction, because that jockey has already been punished under NHA rules, so the barring would be double punishment. Neither would they be allowed to bar a jockey who has struck his horse more than ten times in a recent race from riding in their jurisdiction, because that would be in conflict with NHA rules (which allows a jockey to strike his mount a maximum of 12 times).”

He said if operators made up their own rules barring stakeholders from participating and those rules were outside of NHA rules or not in conflict with them, the victims would then have the avenue of approaching the courts of the country to challenge the rulings.

He provided a recent example in which Gold Circle restricted satellite yards, in terms of its stabling policy, to a maximum of 20 stables and no maidens nor horses with a merit rating of less than 76 were allowed in the yards.

Those rules do not relate to any NHA rule, so the NHA were powerless to oppose the ruling.

However, the merit rating restriction might possibly have been in conflict with free and fair competition, so the victims might have been able to take the case to court.

State veterinarians are also able to bar horses from competing in certain jurisdictions in the case of an African Horse Sickness outbreak. The NHA are powerless to oppose their rulings.

The reason the clarification was required is because some stakeholders were not a hundred percent clear about the meaning of the recent press release, which stated:

To all racing stakeholders

NHA Assurance

In response to the speech delivered by Mr. Greg Bortz, the Executive Chairman of Cape Racing, on September 1, 2023, at Kenilworth Racecourse, during which he mentioned the potential barring of certain stakeholders from participating in races at Kenilworth and Durbanville racecourses:

Executive management, senior leadership and stakeholders of 4Racing have received numerous enquiries regarding the veracity of Mr. Bortz’s statement.

In light of the above, a meeting was convened between Mr. Charles Savage, Chairman of 4Racing, Mr. Patrick Duff, Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Gabriel Soma, Head of Racing Operations and Mr. Vee Moodley, the CEO of The National Horseracing Authority. This meeting followed a telephonic discussion between Mr. Moodley and 4Racing’s CEO, Fundi Sithebe, to gain clarity on Mr. Bortz’s comments.

Mr. Moodley affirmed that his stance on the matter had been conveyed to the 4Racing Executive team prior to the speech and remains unchanged: “Any horses barred from entering any racing jurisdiction in the country cannot be excluded based on NHA rules, unless such action originates from the NHA itself.”

King Of The Gauls, who runs in the colours of Robert Bloomberg, cruises in under Richard Fourie to give himself, trainer Tony Rivalland and part-owner Mary Liley a double together. Fourie went on to score a treble. (Picture: Candiese Lenferna).

King Of The Gauls Proves Himself A Fine Prospect

One of the hottest maiden races this season so far has been the one at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on August 13 over 1000m won by Sovereign State, who was making his debut.

The favourite for that race was the Tony Rivalland-trained Vercingetorix cold King Of The Gauls.

He arrived with a a lot of talk about him and had obviously had the dogs barking at home.

He only managed a 1,35 length fourth that day, but it became apparent both before and after the race that the two first-timers who beat him, the winner Sovereign State and third-placed Beamonesque, had also been held in high regard.

Sovereign State, who was given a 92 merit rating after that debut win, then followed up with an eyecatching win over 1600m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack when carrying topweight in a conditional novice.

Yesterday (Sunday) it was King Of The Gauls turn to frank the form.

He drifted out to odds of 83/100, in the face of support for the Stuart Ferrie-trained Var colt Teatime Tipple, but he showed pace throughout under Richard Fourie and won by a comfortable 2,30 lengths after being given just a couple of backhanders in the final 200 metres.

The colt is owned by Robert Bloomberg and Mary Liley.

Rivalland said in the post race interview, “Beautiful little horse, not a big horse but a strong horse. He is built like a sprinter, but he is by Vercingetorix out of a High Chaparral mare, so strictly speaking there is no reason he shouldn’t go ten furlongs. He’s a little bit of a soft horse strangely enough. His shins have worried him a little bit and it’s been quite difficult to manage him, because he is quite a boisterous horse. He is not a mad horse, but has got this most wonderful personaility, naughty and mischievous. Hopefully he will mature a bit. I am obviously delighted for Robert Bloomberg. He is one of my oldest mates and he’s raced with me many times. He stopped racing for a while and then he said let’s buy a few horses and of course Mary is my stalwart client. So it’s wonderful and to give yourself a chance in this game it helps to buy pedigree. The Vercingetorix’s, the Gimmethegreenlights, the Rafeefs, the Danon Platina’s, those stallions of that ilk you give yourself a chance of getting good horses, not to say that other stallions don’t fly under the radar and produce good horses. But it’s not easy to buy these well-bred horses, so I’m delighted for Mary and Robert that it’s coming together. I think we have a future with him.”

The Main Chance Farms-bred colt was bought for R700,000 at the Cape Premier Yearling Sale of 2022. He is out of the Australian-bred High Chaparral mare Grande Roche, who won easily on debut for Geoff Woodruff over 1200m, before running a close up place over 1600m and then being retired after just one further unplaced run over 1200m.

The purchase of King Of The Gauls in January 2022 was boosted just a couple of months later when his Querari half-sister won on debut over 1000m and followed up by winning the Gr 3 Pretty Polly Stakes over 1100m at Turffontein Standside.

On the downside, Galla Vanting, has been unplaced in six further starts after being purchased in training and moved to a new yard. In her latest effort she was beaten 5,40 lengths off a 74 merit rating, having been rated 101 after her Gr 3 win.

However, King Of The Gauls is a completely different type to the small Galla Vanting, so should continue to progress.

Rivalland, Liley and Richard Fourie had a double at yesterday’s Hollywoodbets Scottsville meeting, because earlier the first-timer Strathclyde, who is also a three-year colt by Vercingetorix, won on debut over 1200m after being backed in from 10/1 to 28/10.

Oscar Foulkes of Normany Stud (pictured with his mother Veronica) has synicated runners under the Normany banner for a number of years and is now being joined by other syndicate managers who have been inspired by Cape Racing’s syndicate incentives (Picture: Hamish Niven Photography)

Syndicates Springing Up In The Cape

Turrf Talk recently reported Greg Ennion’s revelation that he managed to syndicate a horse in just two days, news which followed close on the heels of incentives for syndicate owners announced by Cape Racing, and that bodes well for the future of syndication in South Africa.

Cape Racing wrote the below report late last week, which creates further reason for optimism.

Cape Racing’s recently announced syndication initiative programme has sparked plenty of interest among trainers and aspiring new racehorse owners.

Based on promoting ownership within the region and expanding and transforming the owners’ ranks, the programme has already inspired the registration of several bright, new syndicates carrying participation from individuals at the entry-level of the sport.

The programme has been structured for inclusion, enjoyment of the experience and race day benefits; the programme offers financial bonuses and other rewards at varying levels, incorporating all tiers of the training ranks and weighted to support the growth of the smaller yards.

Veteran trainer Greg Ennion, whose barn at Milnerton is chock-a-block following good recent results, has ten new owners involved in his ‘Genuine Ennion’ Syndicate. They are spread over two Captain Of All fillies, Rocking Peonie and All Is Green.

Rocking Peonie made an excellent debut at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Tuesday, finishing just four lengths off the highly regarded La Divina.

Ennion commented: “Rocking Peonie had only a half-pace gallop around the Hollywoodbets Durbanville racecourse bend a few weeks ago; she will come on for the run, and jockey Craig Zackey liked her. All Is Green is very precocious; she’s doing fast work already and could be out to race in one of the first juvenile dashes in November.”

Ennion said that the Syndicate title “Genuine Ennion” was born from his patrons Marsh Shirtliff and (the late) Anton van Molendorff, who paid regular midweek visits to his yard and branded his weekend doubles at the racetrack as “Genuine Ennion” doubles. “I also had a few trebles and once four winners on a day at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. Marsh and Anton said they were all “Genuine Ennion” winners, though some came unexpectedly!”. The Genuine Ennion Syndicate silks are black with white chevrons, bright green sleeves, and a black and bright green quartered cap.

Up-and-coming Lucinda Woodruff, set for the best season of her career, has registered the Woodruff Racing Syndicate and will use pink as her primary colour. “I want as much pink as possible with a kind of Barbie Doll feel. This suits my aim to get many young people to come racing. I can get 50 people or more involved in the Woodruff syndicate, just from among my friends and acquaintances.

“There is plenty of interest. From my experience, younger people do enjoy racing. We know that Bass Racing has over 100 individuals involved in their syndicates. They’re out there; we must bring them in!”

Woodruff will buy her first syndicate horse at the Cape Racing Ready To Run and 2-y-o Unbroken Sale at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on 22 October. “It’s a convenient sale for this purpose, and I will be looking for something in the R250,000 range, which equates to 50 syndicate members investing R5,000 each, but this could change as we approach the sale.”

Oscar Foulkes of Normandy Stud has syndicated runners under the Normandy Banner for several years and has registered for the new incentives. He raced primarily with Justin Snaith and said: “I’ve had a few dozen clients over the years, including several who went on to more regular ownership, a few who dropped off and some non-payers. But in the end, what matters is that we get new blood into the sport, and we attract, on average, ten unique individuals with every offer.

“I’ve learnt that the thrill of owning even a small fractional share of a horse brings as much joy to new owners as owning major shares. And winning a Maiden Plate carries the same joy as winning a stakes race. We make shares of as low as 1% available and have experimented with different customised options, such as paying all costs upfront for a year or two. We look at the horses we have available for syndication, who our clients are and how we can offer them the best and most enjoyable experiences at affordable costs. Cape Racing’s incentives are a big help.”

The Normandy Syndicates have had many winners over the years, a few inevitable disappointments which are a part of ownership, and a few sales to Mauritius from which shareholders have benefited financially.

“We have a current runner in Fallo Ancora, by Twice Over, a bit of a late bloomer, but she’s won two races this year, and we’ve covered the costs and had lots of fun.” The Normandy silks are fuchsia with a white sash and sleeves, a striped cap, and a fuchsia peak.

Auguste Rodin and Ryan Moore win the Irish Champion Stakes (Sky Sports)

Derby Hero Auguste Rodin Comes Of Age In Irish Champion Stakes

Aidan O’Brien proved his doubters wrong as jockey Ryan Moore praises ‘satisfying victory’

The horse had previously won at both the Epsom and Irish Derbies in June

By Dominic King for The Mail On Sunday

This was what they always believed he would be: on the biggest stage, with the stakes at their highest, Auguste Rodin came of age with a performance for the ages.

The bare statistic will tell you that Auguste Rodin, trained by Aidan O’Brien, only had half-a-length to spare at the line over Luxembourg, his stablemate and the 2022 winner of this race, but that does not even begin to give you a sense of what a bumper Leopardstown crowed were privileged to see.

Auguste Rodin had won the Epsom and Irish Derbies in June before a scarcely believable run in the King George and Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot in July, his performance so lamentable he was beaten the length of football pitch and more: the form book logged it at 127 lengths.

How could he possibly win the Irish Champion Stakes, one of the most significant flat races around the world, on the back of that? Plenty of judges were ready to write him off but, crucially, his genius trainer Aidan O’Brien was not among them.

He filled Michael Tabor and the rest of the Coolmore partners who own Auguste Rodin with such confidence that there was a belief in the paddock before the colt trotted out at 310pm that it wasn’t a case of “if” he would win but how he would do it.

Auguste Rodin came of age with a performance for the ages in the Irish Champion Stakes

Auguste Rodin had won the Epsom and Irish Derbies before his victory in the Irish Champion Stakes

Plenty were ready to write him off but his genius trainer Aidan O’Brien was not among them

‘It’s very satisfying for him to come back and prove how good he is,’ his jockey Ryan Moore purred. ‘He was excellent at Epsom and maybe wasn’t quite as good in the Irish Derby. I think he might have just been feeling it the last day (he ran at Ascot) but Aidan has got him back.

It was noticeable throughout how comfortably and Moore was travelling on the handsome brown colt, his arms being tugged at as Auguste Rodin wanted to scoot by his eight rivals. When he pressed the button 400 yards out, the response was instant and compelling.

His rivals could have gone around this famous track once more – British raiders Nashwa, King Of Steel and Alflaila finished third, fourth and fifth – and they still wouldn’t have got past Auguste Rodin, who is named after a French sculptor but is now destined to finish his career at the Breeders Cup in Los Angeles rather than the Prix de L’arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Tabor’s orange-and-blue silks – in which Auguste Rodin runs – are synonymous with success the world over. There is little he hasn’t seen or done but he is 81 now and it was clear, on a beautiful day, how much of a kick he got out of this. His praise for Moore’s part in the victory was fulsome.

‘Top jockeys like Ryan make their minds up in an instant and there is no question what he did in the King George helped us here,’ Tabor told Mail Sport. ‘You can say it is common sense but common sense isn’t always that common!

Jockey Ryan Moore (right) revealed how satisfying the victory was

‘Horses are like people – they can off days – but Auguste has come back and shown us exactly what he can do. I’m not getting any younger and I want to see this horse on the track, enjoying him like everyone else. The world is his oyster.’

It most certainly is. O’Brien knew he would be Ballydoyle’s main horse for Epsom in June 2023 when he galloped him for the first time in February 2022, his outstanding genes prompting a man who is now closing in on 4000 career wins to label him “the most important horse we have ever had.”

‘We’re delighted with him, he’s a beautiful mover and easy-cruising horse,’ said O’Brien, who had another important success on the cards with £2.4million youngster Diego Velazquez winning the race Auguste Rodin won 12 months ago.

‘I couldn’t be happier with him His action is so slick and so much went wrong for him at Ascot; he’s obviously not a soft-ground horse. You would say you wouldn’t go to the Arc on soft ground, but if it came up nice ground you’d be delighted.

‘The lads love the Breeders’ Cup though and you know you’re going to get fast ground at Santa Anita, so that’s a strong possibility.’

So good was Auguste Rodin, he had to take the headline but it was impossible not to leave the course without thinking about Tahiyra’s turbo-charged run down the outside to win the Group One Matron Stakes for jockey Chris Hayes and trainer Dermot Weld, justifying odds-on favouritism.

‘I just love her,’ said Hayes, of a filly who had won the Irish 1000 Guineas then the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot. ‘She’s something else.’

His joy was infectious. It was one of those fabulous days.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained Lumiere Rock (Ire) by Japanese-bred Deep Impact sire Saxon Warrior easily wins the Gr 2 Moyglare-sponsored Blandford Stakes under a razor-sharp Dylan Browne McMonagle (Picture: TDN).

Deep Impact Sire Sons Continue To Upheld His Legacy

South Africa are fortunate to have a son of Deep Impact in Danon Platina standing here at stud and this was outlined again on the weekend when Deep Impact’s Japanese-bred stallion son Saxon Warrior made headlines again.

Saxon Warrior first hit the headlines when his win in the Gr 1 Racing Post Trophy in 2017 secured a record-breaking 26th Gr 1 win in the season for superstar trainer Aidan O’Brien (he extended that record to 28 by the end of the year).

Saxon Warrior is out of the unbeaten European Champion two-year-old filly Maybe and went on to be a brilliant winner of the Gr 1 2000 Guineas.

He has had only two crops to race to date and has already produced a Gr 1 Breeders Cup winner, a Gr 2 winner, two Gr 3 winners and three Listed winners.

Yesterday, his filly Lumiere Rock made the headlines with a dominant Group 2 win at The Curragh.

TDN’s Brian Sheerin described the victory.

By Brian Sheerin

It was always going to take something special to luminate the Curragh against the backdrop of that dark grey sky, but the Joseph O’Brien-trained Lumiere Rock (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) had just the answer in the G2 Moyglare-sponsored Blandford S. under a razor-sharp Dylan Browne McMonagle.

Lumiere Rock has danced every dance this season. Her big moment at the Irish Champions Festival was richly deserved but it was achieved in far more tenacious fashion than the three-length winning margin would suggest.

Having gone out on her sword behind the fantastically-talented French filly Jannah Rose (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in her own backyard at Deauville last month, Lumiere Rock’s ability was clear for everyone to see, and she confirmed herself a smart sort in her own right in grabbing the Blandford by the scruff of the neck in first-time cheekpieces.

The race-winning move came over two furlongs out when Browne McMonagle, rightly considered one of the hottest riding prospects in Europe, sent the 6-1 shot to the front. From there, Lumiere Rock was not for catching, with Aidan O’Brien’s Jackie Oh (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) coming through to finish a never-nearer second while the sponsor’s Trevaunance (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}) finished a credible third.

“She has been keeping really good company all season,” O’Brien said afterwards. “She was just beaten at Ascot and narrowly beaten again in France the last day. She really did deserve her win at Group 2 level today and won in the style of a filly who will hold her own in Group 1 company as she gets older.”

Lumiere Rock carried the colours of Michael O’Flynn, the property developer who is synonymous for owning top-class jumpers with Mouse Morris, including Grade 1-winning chaser China Rock and one-time exciting novice hurdler Venalmar.

However, the striking red and yellow silks have been spotted more frequently on the Flat in recent years, through O’Flynn’s association with the stables of O’Brien and Johnny Murtagh, and the owner explained how he enjoys the balance between the two codes.

“I am enjoying it,” the owner said. “I am having more of an involvement on the Flat, which I am really enjoying, but I love the National Hunt. I must say, with Joseph and Johnny Murtagh on the Flat, I have had some really interesting runners and winners. I am favouring a little bit more towards the Flat but I still love the National Hunt.”

O’Brien confirmed that Lumiere Rock could take in a Group 1 contest on her next start.

He said, “I suppose the obvious targets could be Arc day at Longchamp or Ascot for Champions Day. We’ll see how she comes out of this and she’ll tell us.”

Phedra – retired a nine-time winner and was the dominant name at the 2022/23 East Cape Awards (Pic – Pauline Herman)

Phedra Named East Cape Horse Of The Year

Sporting Post

The Maine Chance-bred Vercingetorix mare Phedra topped the honours list at the ROA Eastern Cape Regional Awards held in the Bold Silvano Room at Fairview on Saturday 9 September 2023.

Scooping all of the Champion Sprinter, Champion Older/Filly Mare, Champion Polytrack Filly/Mare and Horse Of The Year award, the Sharon Kotzen-trained mare was retired to stud after her ninth career victory on 4 August.

A remarkable success story, the R50 000 Cape Yearling Sale buy arrived as a rather ordinary looking maiden from the Cape in January 2022 after 11 starts.

But under the guidance of Sharon Kotzen, she went on to nine wins, including a stakes score in the 2023 Milkwood Stakes.

Phedra power! Arne Botha (centre) and Sharon Kotzen (with trophy) celebrate a big evening (Pic-Pauline Herman)

Leading breeder Arne Botha of Benmarne Stud, who attended the function with his family, raced the equine ATM in partnership with Messrs K B Larsen, I D Berg, Robin Strydom and G M Kotzen, and told the Sporting Post that even though she had been leased, she had provided them with enormous thrills and fun.

“Leasing is definitely an option to encourage and grow ownership. The lovely mare gave us great joy and what an honour this evening to be acknowledged with multiple awards. She is off to stud, and I wish her every success in the next phase of her career. And well done especially to Sharon and Greg Kotzen. They did a terrific job!” added Arne Botha.

And it was another superb accolade for Maine Chance Farms, who celebrated their third Horse Of The Year honours for last term, after Princess Calla’s crowning at Equus and at the KZN regional awards.

Maine Chance also bred Champion 3yo filly, Ekoria, a daughter of Futura (Dynasty) who is trained by Champion conditioner, Gavin Smith.

All the winners:

Champion 2 year old filly: Luna Halo (Fire Away)

Owners: Messrs M Greene, GL Blank, G Piha, D Yutar, HN Yutar, S M Davis, Nick & Val McFall, Mr & Mrs AC Greeff

Trainer: Alan Greeff

Breeder: Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein

Champion 2 year old colt/gelding: Questor (Querari)

Owner: Smith Super Syndicate (Nom: Dean Smith)

Trainer: Gavin Smith

Breeder: Varsfontein Stud

Champion 3 year old filly: Ekoria (Futura)

Owners: Messrs B C Ralph & M Greene

Trainer: Gavin Smith

Breeder: Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd

Champion 3 year old colt/gelding: Khaya’s Hope (The United States)

Owner: Khaya Stables (Pty) Ltd

Trainer: Gavin Smith

Breeder: Khaya Stables (Pty) Ltd

Champion Older Colt/Gelding/Horse: Grazinginthegrass (Philanthropist)

Owners: ASSM Racing Syndicate (Nom: Mr A Chadha) & Mr M F de Kock & Mrs N P Malherbe

Trainer: Alan Greeff

Breeder: Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert)

Champion Older Filly/Mare: Phedra (Vercingetorix)

Owners: Ben Botha (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mr Arne Botha), Messrs K B Larsen, I D Berg, Robin Strydom & G M Kotzen

Trainer: Sharon B Kotzen

Breeder: Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd

Champion Sprinter: Phedra (Vercingetorix)

Owners: Ben Botha (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mr Arne Botha), Messrs K B Larsen, I D Berg, Robin Strydom & G M Kotzen

Trainer: Sharon B Kotzen

Breeder: Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd

Champion Stayer: American Landing (Dynasty)

Owner: Mrs D J Sherrell

Trainer: Alan Greeff

Breeder: Mr M de Broglio

Champion Polytrack Filly/Mare: Phedra (Vercingetorix)

Owners: Ben Botha (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mr Arne Botha), Messrs K B Larsen, I D Berg, Robin Strydom & G M Kotzen

Trainer: Sharon B Kotzen

Breeder: Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd

Champion Polytrack Colt/Gelding: Naval Secret (Captain Al)

Owner: Mrs S Viljoen

Trainer: Cliffie Miller

Breeder: BBP Syndicate (Nom: Mr B G Nelson)

Work Rider of the Season

Mr S Liyaba

Champion Groom

Mr S Sigaba

Champion Jockey

Mr R Fourie

Champion Trainer

Mr G Smith

Champion Local Jockey

Mr S Khathi

Champion Owner

Mrs S Viljoen

Horse of the Year

Phedra (Vercingetorix)

Keagan de Melo rode a fine front-running race on the rank outsider Speedstar in just his second ride in Hong Kong and made the frame despite odds of 23/1 (HKJC)

Keagan de Melo Earns Three Cheques On Hong Kong Debut

Keagan de Melo had his first three rides in Hong Kong at the opening meeting of the season at Sha Tin yesterday (Sunday) and he immediatley learned how competitive it is going to be.

He rode a faultless race on the Caspar Fownes-trained six-year-old gelding Valhalla in the fifth race, a class 5 event over 1200m. He rousted his mount out the gates from stall 3 in a fashion typical of Hong Kong racing and secured the rail. He then switched in for a run in the straight and could not have got more out of his mount than he did. A 3,50 length fifth for the 12/1 shot was a good effort.

De Melo had said to the press in the build up about his two Hong Kong jockey compatriots Lyle Hewitson and Luke Ferraris, “They’re good mates of mine. Obviously, they’ve pointed me in the right direction. There’s only so much they can do for me. I’ve got to go out there and make a name for myself, but they’ve given me some good pointers. You can be friends out of racing, but in racing, you’ve got a job to do at the end of the day. Riding in South Africa is very competitive, but you want to make it on the world stage. Hong Kong was the next step for me. I thought it was the right time.”

De Melo’s next ride was in the seventh and once again he rode a faultless race on the David Hall-trained five-year-old Sweynesse gelding Speedstar, who was the biggest outsider in the field in the class 4 1400m event. From draw three he got to the front and set a steady pace. He set sail for home and with challengers coming from all around he managed to hold on for fourth place.

In the last race of the day, a class 2 event over 1400m, De Melo was on another rank outsider, the Ricky Yiu-trained eight-year-old gelding Prime Minister, and he was drawn a tricky six out of ten. He came from last with a strong run and only just fai[led to make the frame, finishing fifth.

It was a good start on the racing mad island, because he earned a cheque in all three of the races.

His astute riding hopefully caught the eye of trainers and owners and will stand him in good stead as he builds his reputation.

Hewitson had no fewer than nine rides in the ten race meeting.

He is in demand having reached the 50-winner mark last season.

However, he went home winnerless, although he did have two seconds, a third and a fifth.

Luke Ferraris surprisingly only had three rides, considering he had 35 wins last season, and he scored a third and a fifth.

Another South African ex-patriot, 13-times Hong Kong Champion jockey and now trainer Douglas Whyte, had a winner at the meeting.

The perennial Hong Kong champion jockey Zac Purton wasted no time in taking the lead this season with a treble. Hugh Bowman scored a double so is his nearest challenger so far.

The higthlight of the meeting was the reappearance of Lucky Sweynesse, the Hong Kong Champion Sprinter who was ranked joint fifth best horse in the world in the latest Longines World’s best racehorse rankings together with Hong Kong Horse Of The Year Golden Sixty.

However, he could only manage second in the 1200m class 1 event as the lightweight Victor The Winner, to whom he gave 20 pounds, stayed on strongly under South African Jockeys Academy graduate Karis Teetan.

The latter will be one of the main challengers to Purton this season, but that was the Mauritian’s only winner at the opening meeting.

Hollywoodbets Durbanville’s Tuesday Meeting Postponed To Wednesday

Please note that following 32mm of rain at Hollywoodbets Durbanville in the last 48 hours, a decision has been taken to postpone the race meeting scheduled for Tuesday 12 September 2023 to Wednesday 13 September 2023.

Further changes will be communicated in due course.

The horse in question wins the 1995 Iroquois Steeplechase under regular pilot Blythe Miller (Picture: thisishorseracing.com).

Today’s Question

The Gr 1 Lonsome Glory Steeplechase take place on Thursday at Belmont Park in New York. Who is the race named after?

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION

Owned by Kay Jeffords, 1988-born Lonesome Glory is the only American steeplechase horse to have won five Eclipse Awards (1992, 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1999), and also the only American jumper to earn more than $1 million.

A Kentucky-bred son of Transworld and the Green Dancer mare Stronghold, Lonesome Glory was sent to Bruce Miller as a raw, unraced 2-year-old and developed into the most-accomplished American steeplechaser in history before being retired after the 1999 racing season.

He won his only hurdle start as a 3-year-old, and captured four of six starts as a 4-year-old (clinching his first Eclipse with a historic victory over hurdles at Cheltenham in England) while still learning the game. The long-legged chestnut with a wide blaze won another championship with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Steeplechase (NSA-I) at age 5 in 1993.

In 1994, he won the first of his three Colonial Cups (NSA-I) but lost the championship vote to Warm Spell. A year later, Lonesome Glory played Michael Jordan — dominating the game with a campaign that included three grade I victories and a grade II in five starts. He closed the season in England, winning a handicap chase at Sandown by 11 lengths.

“To me, the greatest thing he did was win the two races in England — one over hurdles and one over steeplechase fences,” said Miller, “but I think his best race here was that 1993 Breeders’ Cup. There were two four-horse entries in the race, and we were the ninth horse. He beat Highland Bud, who was going for his third Breeders’ Cup win.”

Lonesome Glory faltered in 1996, losing his only two American starts after beginning the year in England. The champion returned again in 1997, however, joining Flatterer as a four-time champion after becoming the only horse to sweep the grade I Carolina and Colonial Cups over the Springdale Race Course in Camden, S.C. The spring/fall double earned Lonesome Glory a $250,000 bonus.

Pointed for England again in 1998, Lonesome Glory missed a try at the Cheltenham Gold Cup with a pulled muscle but returned to action in time to showcase his talent at Churchill Downs. At age 10, he overwhelmed seven foes to win the $100,000 Hard Scuffle Stakes. The fifth Eclipse Award would have to wait a year, however, as Lonesome Glory lost his remaining two starts of 1998.

His 11-year-old season began with a second Carolina Cup score in March and reached a peak with a powerful win in the $188,000 Royal Chase at Keeneland in April. That would be the horse’s final career start as he was retired while in training for the fall season, but was enough to convince the Eclipse voters that five was his number.

“He proved he was the best by what he did over time,” said Miller, whose daughter Blythe was Lonesome Glory’s regular jockey. “The horses he beat were pretty special — not many horses last like he did at that level. He was a great horse who did a lot for our whole family.”

Lonesome Glory won 19 jump races (17 in the U.S. and two in England) from 35 starts and retired with earnings of $1,352,868. Major victories came in North America’s most storied races, and included three Colonial Cups, two Carolina Cups, the Temple Gwathmey, the Hard Scuffle, the Royal Chase, the Iroquois, the New York Turf Writers Cup, the A.P. Smithwick Memorial and the

Breeders’ Cup Steeplechase. Lonesome Glory topped the National Steeplechase Association’s theoretical handicap three times in the 1990s, including a record 170-pound honor after the 1995 season.

Inherited by Jeffords when her husband Walter Jeffords Jr. died in 1990, Lonesome Glory nearly became a show horse but proved too rambunctious for that sport.

His five championships surpass only Flatterer among steeplechasers, and put him on par with Kelso’s run of five Horse of the Year titles or Forego’s string of four consecutive older male championships. Since the Eclipse Awards were created in 1971, only four other horses have won five or more (of any type). The others were Forego, John Henry, Affirmed and Secretariat.

Lonesome Glory was buried at the National Steeplechase Museum on the Springdale Race Course property in Camden, S.C.

He sadly had to be euthanased after a paddock accident in 2002 while living a life of luxury on trainer Bruce Miller’s farm.

Turf Talk Newsletter – 11 September, 2023

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Deep Impact Sire Sons Continue To Upheld His Legacy

Phedra Named East Cape Horse Of The Year

The Maine Chance-bred Vercingetorix mare Phedra topped the honours list at the ROA Eastern Cape Regional Awards held in the Bold Silvano Room at Fairview on Saturday 9 September 2023.

All the winners:

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Hollywoodbets Durbanville’s Tuesday Meeting Postponed To Wednesday

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