Turf Talk Newsletter – 16 October, 2023

Royal Victory Proves Himself Special

Royal Victory (far side) wins the Michaelmas under Calvin Habib (Picture: Candiese Lenferna)

It takes a special horse to come from the back on the tight Hollywoodbets Greyville straight in a feature race with topweight to win and that is what the Nathan Kotzen-trained Royal Victory achieved in Sunday’s PinkDrive Non-Black Type Michaelmas Handicap over 1900m, in which he carried a welter burden of 61,5kg under Calvin Habib.

It was an emotional moment for part owner PJ Victor because the Pink Drive meeting dedicated to cancer awareness fell on the eighth anniversary of him losing his daughter to the dreaded disease.

PJ part-owns Royal Victory together with PJ Victor and Natasha Sturdy.

PJ was partly behind the decision to send Royal Victory over further.

He said after the race he was looking forward to a run in the R5 million Betway Summer Cup over 2000m on November 25 at Turffontein Standside, now that the horse has matured and proved he enjoys middle distances.

Royal Victory was not among the first entries in the Summer Cup, so watch for his name being added before second entries close on October 31.

Kotzen had his doubts about the trip on Sunday and therefore removed the blinkers.

Nathan also felt Royal Victory had been a bit too handy in his last couple of starts.

The Pathfork gelding came from the back when running on strongly for a short-head second in the Gr 2 WSB Gauteng Guineas last season.

Royal Victory, bred by Dr Marianne Thompson’s Ambiance Stud, was duly left alone from draw two on Sunday and was in joint last place rounding the Drill Hall.

He was on the rail with just one behind him when they turned for home in the nine horse field.

He then ran on steadily in the straight on the inside rail and Habib managed to extract a late surge for him to get up by a head from fellow four-year-old Pirate Prince, to whom he gave 9,5kg.

Decent sorts Cape Eagle, Queue Wing and Addabar, whom he gave lumps of weight to, were next best in that order and beaten a neck, 1,50 and 2,25 lengths respectively.

Royal Victory ran off a merit rating of 108 and has been raised two points to 110.

23 of the 40 first entries in the Betway Summer Cup are merit rated either equal to that mark or higher, so he will have a good chance of making the final field of 20 runners.

However, with bottom weight set to be 54kg and the highest rated entry being fellow four-year-old Dave The King on 126, Royal Victory will go in 2kg under sufferance as things stand.

Dettori Criticised For “Fake Retirement”

The above artwork in Newmarket is one of a number commissioned by The Jockey Club and painted at key racing towns to mark Frankie Dettori’s 38-year racing career. (Picture: Edward Whittaker (Racing Post)).

The AidanOBrienFansite, which is unaffiliated and whose views are their own, is one entity who believe Frankie Dettori has cashed in on a retirement that has turned out to not be an overall retirement but rather just a retirement from British racing.

It should be reiterated that the great trainer Aidan O’Brien is not responsible for the views held and likely does not endorse anything said on the site, although it does provide information on anything to do with his yard.

The site tweeted last Thursday:”Retirement Dinner in London at £1200 per person you could not write it. He has more front than Blackpool Beach. He’s been great for racing and I have enjoyed the Frankie show over the years. This feels a bit scandalous and attention seeking. But, hey ho, only my opinion folks, no axe to grind here, just thinking out loud.”

Following some tweeters who disagreed with him, the person who runs the site replied,

“Guarantee he will ride in Europe next season.”

He tweeted on the subject again the following day, saying:

“I have received somewhat of a Backlash for my comments on Frankie yesterday. To be clear I have no axe to grind over the Frankie retirement tour and U Turn. I Like Frankie but the fact a lot of his fans think that he has done absolutely nothing wrong completely flummoxes me, but I was bought up by parents who valued ethics, taught me right from wrong and taught me that integrity is everything. If you can’t see anything wrong with cashing in on a fake retirement then good luck to you. All I know the whole thing does not sit easy with me at all. My last word on the episode.”

He did have one more telling comments though. He later tweeted:

“I read his kids moved to America ages ago, knowing he was going to ride there.”

He then turned it up into a harsher tone when repying to the following two tweets:

George: “I have to agree and I’m a big Frankie fan myself. The money he’s made from this stunt, some of his interviews make more sense now we know he’s off to America, as in many of them I was thinking he really didn’t look upset about retiring.”

Gleneagles, “Paul, I agree with you mate. It doesn’t look good on Frankie’s behalf. He doesn’t need the extra money, the blokes a millionaire already! He has ripped off a few Irish racecourses this year (Listowel)…”

The site then tweeted, “Ya agree mate, whole thing just make him look a very shady character.”

Frankie’s supporters in the matter pointed at his unexpectedly successful season … it is hard for somebody to quit when he still has so much to offer.

His biggest supporter during his illustrious career, John Gosden, said, “”He just cannot stop stone cold. That would not suit him in any way.”

Dettori explained his decision to do the U turn on retirement in the below article by the Sporting Life:

CLICK HERE TO READ FRANKIE’S REASONS FOR HIS RETIREMENT U TURN

He has also said he won’t ride in the UK again, contrary to his critics who believe he will be back to ride in numerous big races.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE GUARDIAN ARTICLE ON THE SUBJECT

Beamonesque Puts In A Beamonesque Display

Beamonesque powers home on Saturday (JC Photos)

The three-year-old picture perenially builds at this time of the season and there is always the chance that some of the perceived best performances turn out to be false alarms.

However, there seems nothing false about the performances of the three-year-old male who has been receiving the highest praise to date, the unbeaten Frank Robinson-trained Sid Moodley-owned Visionaire gelding Sovereign State, and his form was further franked on Saturday at Turffontein Inside by the Mike de Kock-trained Beamonesque.

The Shadwell Stud-bred Rafeef colt had his second career start and slammed a maiden field over 1200m by seven lengths under Gavin Lerena.

Beamonsesque had finished a 1,10 length third to Sovereign State on debut over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, with King Of The Gauls 0,25 lengths further back in fourth.

Sovereign State has gone on to win two more races impressively, while King Of The Gauls won his next start over the same Hollywoodbets Scottsville 1000m course and distance with ease.

In the race on Saturday Gavin Lerena took Beamonesque straight to the front from draw five in the nine horse field.

He started at cramped odds of 5/10 with Ethanator, who had not been disgraced in his previous start in the BSA Sales Cup when finishing 9,55 lengths behind the smart Main Defender, next in tihe betting at 28/10.

Beamonesque is not a big horse but has plenty of substance and looked to be enjoying himself as he set fair fractions.

He pulled further and further clear in the straight under a hands and heels ride.

Mike de Kock said: “Beamonesque has a lot of pace, so much so that I won’t mind putting him in a 1000m race. I think we’ll keep him to sprinting for now. It’s too soon to make a call on him, we’ll need to see more, but he does give us the vibes of a horse that has a future. He reminds me a bit of (our international G1 winning sprinter) Shea Shea.”

Jockey Gavin Lerena said that Beamonesque had given him a nice feel: “He jumped well and switched off, did it like a gentleman. He’s a nice horse and this was a lovely win.”

Beamonesque races for Warne Rippon and Arun Chadha’s ASSM Syndicate, with Mathew de Kock, Corey Smith, Clint and James Prebble from Australia also involved, and Mike owning a share himself.

Said Corey, the communications manager for Mathew and training partner Robbie Griffiths at Cranbourne: “We watched the race live and were ecstatic. Clint is a lifelong racing supporter and a big fan of Mike and his crew. James works in racing, also, for Mathew Cumani who has another South African Jason May (formerly from Drakenstein) working for him. So we all shared a smile!”

The word Beamoneque entered the English lexicon after what was undoubtedly the greatest single feat in the history of sporting endeavour, the “leap of the century” done by Bob Beamon at the 1968 Mexico Olympics.

Beamon lived in an era when the equivalent of the four minute mile for long jump was 28 foot and the record at the time was still more than seven inches short of that seemingly unattainable mark. Yet in one incredible leap Beamon not only cleared 28 foot, he cleared 29 foot, improving a record that had increased 0,22m in 33 years by 0,55m, which is 21,65 inches i,e nearly two feet!

Wednesday this week will be the 55th’s anniversary of that jump and yet it is has only been bettered once since then, by Mike Powell when he set a new mark of 8.95m on August 31, 1991, improving Beamon’s record by 5cm.

A superior perfomance can now be said to be “Beamonesque” and part-owner Warne Rippon confirmed that was how the horse got his name.

Beamonesque was bought for R170,000 as an unnamed colt at the 2022 National yearling Sale.

He is out of a placed Exceed ‘N Excel mare.

Nick Jonsson-owned Zoustar Colt Impresses On Debut At Windsor

Mahato winning easily on debut (Picture: Royal Windsor racecourse)

The William Haggas-trained Zoustar colt Mahato made his debut over six furlongs at Windsor today (Monday) in a Novice Stakes event and carrying 9 stone 4 pounds, 7 pounds less than the only winner in the field, ran out a comfortable 2,25 length winner under Tom Marquand.

The big colt started 7/1 and travelled strongly in touch with the leaders before making headway at the half way mark. He was green and shifted outward, but hit the front at the one furlong mark and won going away.

A Racing Post report on the meeting sub-headlined the horse as “Magic Mahato” and said, ”

William Haggas may have another classy runner to look forward to next year after Mahato created a fine impression when taking the 6f novice on his debut. Despite obvious greenness and a high head carriage, the colt travelled superbly before kicking clear under Tom Marquand, with two and a quarter lengths back to Ghaihaban, who made eyecatching late headway to nab second.”

Zoustar is a twice Group 1-winning Australian-bred by Redoute’s Choice and his wins at the highest level come as a three-year-old over seven furlongs and six furlong respectively.

Trainer Chris Waller said about him, “He was that good, I could have prepared him for the Golden Slipper however given I thought he was bred to be at his best at Three we were happy to wait. What he did achieve at Two was just a glimpse of his natural ability. An equine machine.”

Zoustar has become a sensational stallion, so Jonsson will be excited about having such a promising son by him.

Jonsson said on Tuesday morning, “He’s a nice colt with exciting prospects.”

Zoustar was a champion 1st season, 2nd season and 3rd season sire and, standing at Widden Stud, now commands a fee of Aus$220,000.

He shuttles and stands for £30,000 at Tweenhills Stud in Gloucester.He is the sire of 68 Stakes Performers, including Gr 1 winners Sunlight, Mizzy, Zougotcha and Lezoo.He is Now a Gr 1 winning producer in both hemispheres.He is the sire of 30 Stakes performing 2yo’s. His yearlings average over Aus$447k and he is the sire of 19 millions Aus dollar plus lots in his career.

Mahato was bred by Ian Brabury’s Byerley Stud and is out of a placed mare by Harbour Watch.

He was purchased at a Tattersalls Sale for 32,000 gns.

He looks to have a bright future, so it is more exciting times for Jonsson, who has had heady success in South Africa in recent times and an increasing interest in U.K racing.

Mahato holds an entry in a Novice Stakes race over six furlongs at Redcar on Friday.

Title-chasing Yeni On A Mission For Charity Mile Win

Melech (JC Photos)

Jockey has partnered Roy Magner’s four-year-old, Melech, to three victories

David Mollett (Business Day)

Muzi Yeni has his first SA championship as his main objective this term but the popular rider will now be eyeing a big race win in the Onamission Charity Mile at Turffontein on October 28.

Trainer Roy Magner’s four-year-old, Melech, threw his hat in the ring for the grade 2 race over 1,600m with a fourth-place finish in last Saturday’s 1,600m Pinnacle Stakes.

Owner John Finlayson will also be excited about a possible big payday — he’s accustomed to winning minor events on the highveld but doesn’t have many runners in group races. His gelding cost R220,000 when purchased from Riverton Stud.

Melech is lightly raced — he has contested seven races — and Yeni has partnered the son of William Longsword to three of those victories.

A total of 38 entries have been received for the Charity Mile and they include Puerto Manzano, Cousin Casey and defending champion Bingwa.

While trainer Mike de Kock was golfing in Sun City, two of his top performers, Union Square and Safe Passage, turned in encouraging efforts in Saturday’s race at Turffontein.

Union Square, a R700,000 son of Rafeef who won the Dingaans in November last year, signalled he’s coming back to his best taking second place (beaten two lengths) behind Alec Laird’s winner Atticus Finch.

The Betway Summer Cup looks certain to be on the agenda for Union Square. He is a 22-1 chance for a win and 4-1 a place with bookmaker Lance Michael and the latter price looks appealing.

Safe Passage — 6-1 second favourite for the Cup — disappointed in the Durban July when finishing seven lengths behind Winchester Mansion. However, De Kock is sure to be pleased with his effort on Saturday when Diego De Gouveia piloted the six-time winner into sixth place about four lengths behind the winner.

It has to be said it has been a long time between drinks for Safe Passage — owned and bred by Drakenstein Stud — with the Silvano gelding without a win since taking the Daily News 2000 in May 2022.

Nevertheless, it’s worth remembering Safe Passage ran second to Puerto Manzano in last season’s Summer Cup so perhaps the five-year-old is peaking at just the right time.

Entries below:

Race-7 (Turf) R1 000 000 1600m
ALLIED STEELRODE – ONAMISSION CHARITY MILE (Grade 2)
Open
WFA: 3yrs-8kgs 4yrs-0.5kgs
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance

0	Dave The King		(4C)	0	126	A	Mike de Kock
0	Puerto Manzano (ARG)	Accepted	(6G)	0	123	BA	J A Janse van Vuuren
0	Cousin Casey		(4C)	0	122	BA	Sean Tarry
0	Main Defender		(3G)	0	121	A	Tony Peter
0	Winchester Mansion		(5G)	0	121	CA	Brett Crawford
0	Safe Passage		(5G)	0	120	BAT	Mike de Kock
0	Second Base		(6G)	0	120	XA	Robyn Klaasen
0	Bingwa	Accepted	(6G)	0	119	BA e	J A Janse van Vuuren
0	Bless My Stars		(4F)	0	119	A	Sean Tarry
0	Eye Of The Prophet		(4G)	0	119	BA	Paul Matchett
0	Humdinger		(5M)	0	119	A	Mike de Kock
0	William Robertson		(5G)	0	119	JA	Corne Spies
0	Billy Bowlegs		(4C)	0	118	A	Brett Crawford
0	Mk’s Pride		(6H)	0	118	BA	Tony Peter
0	Sandringham Summit		(3C)	0	117	AT	David Nieuwenhuizen
0	Future Pearl		(4G)	0	116	AT	Sean Tarry
0	Son Of Raj		(4G)	0	115	BA	Weiho Marwing
0	Shoemaker		(4G)	0	114	BA	Mike de Kock
0	East Coast		(4C)	0	111	A	Mike de Kock
0	Litigation		(5G)	0	110	CAT	Sean Tarry
0	Melech		(4G)	0	110	A	Roy Magner
0	Meridius		(4G)	0	110	A	Tony Peter
0	Forever Mine		(6G)	0	109	A	Mike de Kock
0	Lady Of Power		(4F)	0	109	AT	M G Azzie/A A Azzie
0	Star Coin		(4G)	0	109	BA	Alec Laird
0	Tipsy Tarragon		(4F)	0	108	PA	Tony Peter
0	Marigold Hotel		(5M)	0	107	HA	Sean Tarry
0	Whafeef		(5G)	0	107	A	Stuart Pettigrew
0	Sun Blushed		(4G)	0	106	A	Michael Roberts
0	Infinite Wonder		(6G)	0	103	A	Paul Matchett
0	Electric Gold		(4G)	0	102	BA	Tony Peter
0	Atticus Finch		(4G)	0	101	A	Alec Laird
0	River Romeo		(4G)	0	101	A	Paul Matchett
0	Another Level		(5G)	0	98	A	Candice Dawson
0	Running Rifles		(5G)	0	95	A e	Tony Peter
0	Silent War		(5G)	0	93	A	Tony Peter
0	Juliet Tango		(5M)	0	91	A	Paul Matchett
(37)

Today’s Question

City Of Troy running away with The Dewhurst (Picture: focusonracing.com))

Greg Wood (The Guardian)

It was inevitable that someone would drop the F-word after City Of Troy’s devastating success in the Dewhurst Stakes on Saturday, but quite the surprise that it was Michael Tabor, City Of Troy’s co-owner in the Coolmore syndicate, who got there first. “He really is our Frankel,” Tabor said after the colt’s three-and-a-half length win, effectively ensuring that similar comparisons will be drawn whenever City Of Troy sees a racecourse or, at the very least, for as long as he remains unbeaten.

It is a significant weight of expectation to hang around the neck of a colt with just three runs in the book, and the chance that City Of Troy will even approach the level of Frankel’s best form, never mind the ease and consistency with which he turned out one monstrous performance after another, remains slim.

But it is an unfair comparison too, because Aidan O’Brien’s juvenile is, and will remain, the one and only City Of Troy, and at this stage of his career, the possibilities are still endless. When a horse’s talent, attitude and action clearly sets it at a different level to even the very best of its peers, the question of whether or not it might one day be “as good” as a different horse that raced a decade or more ago should really be the least interesting thing about it.

City Of Troy’s horizons, in fact, are even broader than Frankel’s at the same stage of his career, not least thanks to his unusual breeding, with a US Triple Crown winner, Justify, as his sire and a Group One-winning mare by Galileo as his dam.

As a result, he is bred to win both the Kentucky Derby on dirt in early May and the original Classic at Epsom a few weeks later, and since City Of Troy’s earnings as a stallion of the future must be a major consideration, it is arguable which race would be most appealing to “the lads” at Coolmore.

At the very least, the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar in November 2024 will surely be in the conversation when plans are laid for City Of Troy’s three-year-old career. Then again, there were also 10-1 quotes for the English Triple Crown flying around after the Dewhurst, so the chance to finally scratch that longstanding itch could also feature strongly in the discussions.

The possibilities, in other words, are almost endless, and all manner of routes through 2024 could eventually see City Of Troy bow out with a unique career record, regardless of the number that is eventually attached to his name by the international handicapping panel. That alone should be more than enough to satisfy Flat racing’s fans as winter draws on.

Burroughs and Team GC Presenters Win HWB Racing Stars Spring Punters Challenge

Daryn Burroughs – possibly the country’s best tipster (Picture: Sporting Post).

A Hollywoodbets Racing Stars Punters Challenge was held over the Cape Racing Spring season and Daryn Burroughs of the Betway Weighted To Win team emerged the winner of the individual competition, while the Team GC Presenters comprising Deez Dyanand, Paul Lafferty and Graeme Hawkins won the team competition.

On the last day of the Challenge on Saturday Fairview’s popular presenter Nadine Low Ah Kee won the day’s individual competition and the Betway Weighted To Win team, comprising Burroughs, Darryl Maree and Clyde Basel, won the day’s team competition.

Burroughs won the overall individual competition by about five points from Equus award-winning photographer Chase Liebenberg and Lyall Cooper, Graeme Hawkins and James Rich were next best.

Team GC Presenters won the overall team competition narrowly, by just inder two points, from Team Computaform consisting of Germaine Maharaj, Brendan Gaillard and Etienne Louw.

They were followed by team Winning Form (James Rich, Nishay Hiralal and Peter Barker), Low Expectations (Chase Liebenberg, Devon Pretorius and Troy Finch) and The Uptown Eyes (Alistair Cohen, Brandon Bailey and Nico Kritsiotis).

Lyall Cooper walked away with the R500 prize for the most winners in the Challenge.

Daryn Burroughs won R6,250 for his overall individual win.

The Team GC Presenters won R2,500 each for their win in the overall team event.

Nadine Low Ah Kee won R500 for her win on Saturday and the Betway Weighted To Win team each pcoketed R250.

Today’s Question

Frankie Dettori after winning the Juddmonte on Mostahdaf (Picture: PA)

How many Gr 1 races has Frankie Dettori won?

Fourie Treble, Botha Double, Van Niekerk/Snaith Double, Domeyer/Bass-Robinson Double

Richard Fourie extracts a strong run on the outside from Avignon (Master Of My Fate) to clinch his treble and a double for trainer Piet Botha (Picture: Wayne Marks).

Richard Fourie is closing in on national log leader Muzi Yeni and his treble today at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, following a treble yesterday at Hollywoodbets Greyville, has left him just six wins behind Yeni.

Two of Fourie’s wins today were for Piet Botha.

Grant van Niekerk rode a double for Justin Snaith and Aldo Domeyer rode a double for Candice Bass-Robinson.

Fourie is on 54 wins achieved at a strike rate of 20,30%.

Van Niekerk is on 19 wins at 18.81%.

Domeyer is on 18 wins at 24%.

Botha is on five wins at 10.87%.

Snaith is on 22 wins at 10.58%.

Bass-Robinson is on 21 wins at 14.69%.

Snaith and Bass-Robinson are one-two respectively on the national trainers log.