Turf Talk Newsletter – 09 November, 2023

Winter Cloud wins easing up after showing a fine turn of foot over the likely too sharp 1250m last time out (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Turf Talk

Justin Snaith runs the R1 million Vercingetorix filly Double Grand Slam in the Gr 2 Western Cape Fillies Champoonship at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday, where she will face the unbeaten champion Mrs Geriatrix as well as the exciting classic prospect Winter Cloud.

Jonathan Snaith said, “Double Grand Slam keeps improving and I know Justin rates her highly. She takes a huge jump in class and is unexposed. This race could tell us if she could win the Cape Fillies Guineas or not.”

He continued, “I think the Fillies Guineas winner could well come from this race – it is a hugely competitive field. Personally I think Winter Cloud is the horse to beat if she can overcome the wide draw – she is a very progressive type.”

Double Grand Slam has had three starts and after a fourth place on debut over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in February this year she won by 4,50 lengths over 1250m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in March. She was then laid off for seven months and in her comeback was very impressive over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. She led from start to finish and looked to have plenty in hand when crossing the line 2,25 lengths clear. That was despite running off a 91 merit rating and having to carry 60kg. There were five races over that trip at that meeting and hers was the fastest. Karel Miedema awarded her a 96 ability rating on his raceform.co.za site.

The Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Winter Cloud won her seasonal reapperance in fine style over 1250m after finding the rail from draw five out of ten and then showing a fine turn of foot from midfield. She was awarded a 98 AR by Miedema. However, she looked like one who would appreciate further and indeed she is a full sister to Clouds Unfold, a What A Winter filly who won the Gr 1 Majorca over 1600m twice. Winter Cloud has a tough draw of nine out of ten to overcome.

The 98 was the same ability rating Miedema gave for her Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship runner up finish.

The Sean Tarry-trained Mrs Geriatrix won the Allan Robertson and Miedema gave her a 104 AR.

In her two subsequent runs in the Gr 2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m and the BSA Sales Cup over 1450m, Miedema gave her a 96 AR on both occasions.

Interestingly, the Candice Dawson-trained Just Be Lekker finished a fine third to older horses in the Gr 2 Jo’Burg Spring Fillies And Mares Challenge over 1450 on the same day Mrs Geriatrix won the BSA Sales Cup, but she was only awarded an 87 AR.

Furthermore, the Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Francine ran in the BSA Sales Cup and was only awarded a 74 AR, although she is the sort who will prefer a galloping track.

So, Just be Lekker and Francine are unlikely to threaten Mrs Geriatrix on Saturday.

Nevertheless, her unbeaten record might be under threat considering both Winter Cloud and Double Grand Slam have achieved ARs  eight points and six points lower than hers respectively and will both be receiving 2kg from her.

Furthermore, Double Grand Slam is unexposed, while Winter Cloud looks to be ultra progressive.

There are ten runners in Saturday’s race and Double Grand Slam jumps from a plum draw of two, which is always a big advantage at the tight Hollywoodbets Durbanville track, while Mrs Geriatrix, who is known for her tremendous turn of foot, jumps from draw five and Winter Cloud has draw nine.

It is going to be an intriguing contest.

The ever-improving Eric Sands-trained four-year-old Gimmethegreenlight gelding Wecangoallnight downed two top horses in Cosmic Highway and Trip Of Fortune in a Cape A Stakes event over 1400m last time out (Picture: Wayne Marks)   

Mark van Deventer (Cape Racing)

Given her remarkable career accomplishments, few will be betting against Equus Horse of the Year, Princess Calla when she makes her seasonal bow in the Turf Talk Syndicate Cape A Stakes, a 1250m scuttle around one turn at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday.

Bookies go 8/1 bar one and have marked Sean Tarry’s Flower Alley six-year-old mare up at 6/10 odds on favourite.

Despite her undoubted brilliance and versatility, sceptical contrarians may try pick holes in her credentials. She has not raced at Hollywoodbets Durbanville before, though she’s won going left-handed at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth without any dramas. She comes in off a 104-day layoff, yet has a record of three wins and a second in her first run after a break. Draw 8 is tricky given the quick run in to the first corner, but she has an excellent jock in Richard Fourie who knows her, and the nuances of the track, intimately.

Whether you want to take odds on about any eventuality in horse racing, it is very much a personal gambling decision. However, you slice and dice this Princess Calla has a high probability of adding a 12th victory from just 24 starts to her already glittering resume and will be a popular banker in the Picks, she is Equus Horse Of the Year after all.

She rates nine points clear of next best weighted, Rio Querari a former champion sprinter in his prime (he won the Computaform Spring in 2021) who still sporadically throws in top-class performances. He gave Gimme a Prince a scare in the 2022 G1 Cape Flying Champs and goes well at this track.

Perhaps a livelier threat could come from bang-in form and progressive Wecangoallnight who should get a great trip from the inside alley. Eric Sands has done a sterling job handling this headstrong Gimmethegreenlight gelding who went all the way to stave off Cosmic Highway over 1400m three weeks ago. If something comes around to lead (most likely, After the Rain) and he settles properly in a stalking role on the rail, then an each-way tickle at 10/1 or better may prove a worthwhile value bet.

Countdown is another presently in sharp nick. Astute horseman, Glen Kotzen selected this Gimmethegreenlight youngster for his cheetah-like walk and that potential is being realised. Countdown has travelled up and down the coast, winning in Cape Town, Gqeberha and Durban. At the ratings, he is up against it but based on his sharp closing burst in the South Easter Sprint behind Kiss Me Captain, he could dash through for a share of the purse.

Tempting Fate was given every chance only to cave in late in that same race; Look for Hounds made respiratory noises when Wecangoallnight cleared off last time and King Regent (though talented) simply cannot afford to blow the start again and expect to contend in a sprint on a fast track against quality opposition.

Captain Fontane has a terribly stiff task carrying 60kg’s in a class where, given the weights set, must concede 1.5kg’s to the champ, Princess Calla. Yet he cannot be faulted for consistency, either winning or placing at thirteen of 17 starts. He’ll probably be outgunned here, but it makes sense to use him underneath in single race exotics.

Silver Operator is very smart on a going day. He actually beat Trip of Fortune here in the ’22 Matchem only to be demoted after an interference dispute. However, the seven-year-old will need to wake up after a dull KZN winter campaign and really prefers a tiny bit further.

That leaves After the Rain who jumps from the widest gate of all – 10. He uses extreme forcing tactics and his thoughtful trainer Gareth van Zyl wishes he could somehow ration his charges’ energy better and has engaged powerful reinsman, S’manga Khumalo to judge the fractions. The grey tends to go so hard early that he runs out of gas when challenged in deep stretch and a similar fate may again be the case.

Tutuzela helped apprentices, young horses, difficult horses and starting stall learners and he gave many kids a thrill to remember by allowing them to sit on a racehorse. (Picture: Supplied)

Gold Circle

The kindest of the kind, the 20-year-old Albarahin gelding Tutuzela, has passed away.

Garth Puller tearfully broke the sad news over the weekend that a KZN racing legend had gone to “gallop up with the angels”.

Garth did not want to see his old friend suffer so had him humanely euthanased when he went in to shock after suffering a severe bout of colic.

Tutuzela introduced just about every apprentice in the country to workriding over the last 17 years.

He also not only introduced young horses to the track and to the pens, but also accompanied difficult horses to the start at the races, including in such big races as the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Many children have sat on Tutuzela and were later excitedly able to tell their friends they had ridden a racehorse.
Garth inherited Tutuzela as a young horse from Greg and Karen Anthony’s Highveld yard.

His sire was a failure but he himself was quite well related being out of a Northern Guest winner and a half-brother to the twice Gr 2-winning stayer and Gold Cup runner up Ampitheatre (Braashee) and from the family of the like of dual Gr 1 winner Make It Snappy as well as champions Icy Air, Russet Air and Ice Axe.

He slowly improved under Puller’s care and eventually won a race as a late four-year-old over 2400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

However, he was always worth his weight in gold.

Garth said, “From about 2006, every apprentice who came to the old Clairwood training track, there first ride was Tutuzela. He’s just got one of those natures. He never puts his ears back. He never ever looks to kick. He takes everything in his stride. I can put three apprentices on him at the same time. He takes a lot of horses to the start. He has even taken horses down to the start of the July. All the naughty horses he takes down like the lead pony does. He helps the apprentices, he takes all my babies to the track in the afternoon when they’ve just come in to introduce them to the track, and when they pass through the pens he passes with them. He is old but big and he beats any baby out the pens, in fact he beats any horse out the pens.”

Tutuzela never once in his life showed any resentment to his work load, which included being hired out by other yards, and enjoyed doing everything ever asked of him.

Trainers, jockeys and owners first became familiar with the big horse at the old Clairwood training centre.

Puller used to bring him to the little coffee hut near the training centre’s gap to quench the horse’s thirst.

Garth would ride him on to the concrete platform among the early morning training track attendees who were having a cuppa.
Newcomers were always astonished to see this.

However, they quickly relaxed when they saw the regulars showering the horse with greetings.

What followed was even more astonishing.

Instead of dismounting the horse in the conventional way, Garth would slide theatrically off his back with his arms by his side, landing behind him.

He would then leave him unattended while fetching a bucket of water.

Tutuzela might as well have been one of the cofffee drinkers.

He stood there as calmly as anything, gently chomping on his bit and not showing the slightest sign of flinching.

On the cold winter mornings steam would be coming out of his nostrils.

It was always a heartwarming sight and added to the richness of being among the horses and being privy to the excited chatter of pending races.

Garth said, “He was a non-sweater and he used to give me a special type of neigh to tell me he was hot and thirsty. Clairwood was hot and humid. That same neigh was the one he gave me everytime he heard my voice on the night he had colic. He was telling me he was in trouble. He had a different neigh for when he was in trouble and a different call for when he wanted a treat. He always enjoyed his treats and everything we ate he ate, from paw-paws, to grapefruit to oranges to bananas to sugar cane, to rusks to sandwhiches, he ate anything we ate.”

Garth generally used the present tense during the interview for this article because one senses he still feels Tutuzela’s presence.

He told the story of the late great lightweight jockey Joe Byrnes who at the age of 87 when blind was taken for a ride by Tutuzela around the paddock.

Garth concluded, “Uncle Joe will ride him up in heaven now.”

“Rest in peace” need not be said for the most peaceful and kindest of beings but he is going to be sorely missed by many in the racing fraternity for both his lovable nature and his work ethic.

Najem Suhail (nearest camera), gets up to win (Picture: mikedekockracing.com)

MikedeKockracing.com

Six year-old Starspangledbanner gelding Najem Suhail has had an interesting life, born and bred in Victoria before starting his racing life in South Africa where he won on debut as a juvenile in 2020 and then subsequently found his way back to Australia into the care of Robbie Griffiths and Matthew de Kock, reports BREEDNET.

A close third in the Group III VRC Rising Fast Stakes over 1200m at Flemington on Saturday to Spacewalk, the speedy bay was able to turn the tables over the shorter 1000m trip of the Listed VRC GH Mumm Century Stakes.

Ridden patiently this time by Damian Lane, Najeem Suhail hit the line hard with a well timed sprint to score a head win over Spacewalk taking his overall record to six wins and four placings from 15 starts with prizemoney topping $400,000.

“It’s an awesome thrill to have a winner in Cup week and even more special to have my dad in the ownership as he was the one that had a lot of faith in this horse from day one and made sure he came over here and made it possible,. We are still celebrating,” said Mathew de Kock.

“Coming back to the 1000m, he was always going to be strong through the line today and Damian rode him absolutely perfect.”

Mike de Kock commented: “This was a super exciting win for me, a Listed race in my silks in Australia and we are so proud of Mat. I’ve always rated Najem Suhail, I had the G1 Al Quoz Sprint in Dubai in mind for him but things went wrong and eventually we syndicated him and sent him to Australia. Well done to my partners Mohammed Mardood and the Blue Stables Syndicate for their trust, a nice success for them too!”

Connections of Najem Suhail celebrate after winning the G.H. Mumm Century Stakes at Flemington Racecourse on November 09, 2023 in Flemington, Australia. (Photo by Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

A $100,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the Gilgai Farm branch for Form Bloodstock, Najem Suhail was sent to South Africa and had two starts there when trained by Mike de Kock for a debut win at Vaal and a second in the Group II South African Nursery Stakes at Turffontein.

He was bred by Gilgai Farm and is the first winner for Group III winning Invincible Spirit (IRE) winner Sophie’s Spirit, who was on-sold by Gilgai Farm at the 2019 Inglis Great Southern Sale where she was picked up for just $45,000 by Jilly Henderson’s Noogee Park Thoroughbreds.

Sophie’s Spirit has a yearling colt by Star Turn and has foaled this spring producing a colt by Ole Kirk.

Gimme A Nother wins comfortably in the end (JC Photos)

Turf Talk

The Mike de Kock-trained Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Stud-homebred Gimme A Nother made it two from two at Turffontein Standside today and she did it easily too.

She is by champion stallion Gimmethegreenlight out of the Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein twice Gr 1-winning champion homebred Nother Russia (Tiger Ridge), who in turn was the only foal produced by the four-times Gr 1-winning champion Mother Russia (Windrush).

The Normandy Stud-bred Mother Russia was originally acquired for R160 000 at the 2007 Grandwest Yearling Sale and was trained by Joey Ramsden for Klawervlei Stud until she was sold to Wilgerbosdrift in a private deal and moved to De Kock in the latter part of her three-year-old season, by which stage she already had one Gr 1 under the belt (Majorca Stakes). She went on to win the Gr 1 Paddock Stakes, the Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes and the Gr 1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.

She passed away after giving birth to just one foal, Nother Russia, who won the Gr 1 Enpress Club Stakes twice.

Gimme A Nother is Nother Russia’s second foal.

Her first foal is Querari filly Sharapova, who has one win, five seconds and two thirds in all of her eight starts.

Mother Russia raced in the Mary Slack colours, but Nother Russia raced in her daughter and son-in-law Jessica and Stephen Jell’s Mauritzfontein colours and so does Gimme A Nother.

Nother Russia was ridden in every single one of her starts by Craig Zackey, but Gimme A Nother is the ride of JP van der Merwe.

JP had Gimme A Nother handy from draw five out of nine in today’s 1600m fillies and mares handicap event and after a bit of early scrimmaging she was caught one out and one back without cover, which was not ideal.

However, she relaxed quite well and clearly has a big engine.

She made steady progress until the 2000m when changing legs and quickening superbly to burst clear.

She won easing up by two lengths from a running on Summer Fling.

Time will tell whether that engine is as big as her grandmother’s.

She only ran off an 84 merit rating today, but Van der Merwe called her “a quality filly who won’t stop here.”

De Kock, Van der Merwe, the Oppenheimer family and Gimmethegreenlight also won the first race with the Wilgerbosdrift Stud-owned Ascot Stud-bred Mary’s Greenlight.

Americasbestracing.net

Mike Curry

White Abarrio, pictured above winning the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park, is the top-rated dirt horse in the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2023.

White Abarrio improved his rating from a 122 to a 123 in the ninth edition of the Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 2023, and the 4-year-old Race Day colt is currently rated as the top dirt horse in the rankings after a win in the $6 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park.

White Abarrio seized command in the stretch of the Classic and held off UAE Derby Sponsored by Atlantis The Royal winner Derma Sotogake by a length for his second straight Grade 1 win. He entered the Longines Classic off a 6 ¼-length romp in the $1 million Whitney Stakes Aug. 5 at Saratoga.

Next on the list of top-rated dirt racehorses is Cody’s Wish at 122 after a repeat win in the Big Ass Fans Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, also Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park. Cody’s Wish is tied at 122 with Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline winner Ushba Tesoro, who rallied for fifth in the Longines Classic after a poor start.

Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets and Travers Stakes winner Arcangelo, the aforementioned Derma Sotogake, and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes winner Art Collector, who was euthanized in August due to laminitis, rank in the next group of dirt horses with a 121 rating. Qatar Racing Breeders’ Cup Sprint repeat winner Elite Power checked in among a group of three dirt runners next with a 120 rating.

The Breeders’ Cup World Championships did not vastly alter the landscape of the overall Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings.

Equinox is still top of the list, one point ahead of Arc winner Ace Impact and Juddmonte International winner Mostahdaf.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE WORLD RANKINGS 

Turf Talk

On the way to the starting post in the first winter meeting at Greyville in June 1929, jockeys S Joseph, B Joseph and J Bruce  chatted to punters who handed them cigarettes. All of them were fined for “unauthorised communication.”