***NB: There Will Be No TT Newsletter from 22/12/2023 to 02/01/2024 Inclusive*** 

Turf Talk

Richard Fourie has fallen slightly behind in his goal of reaching 300 wins for the season.

However, he believes his “purple patches” have not yet happened and he is aiming to ride “50 winners” in a month before the end of the season.

If he does achieve that it will break the South African record, which Fourie believes to be 47, held by twice SA Champion Jockey Gavin Lerena.

If Fourie keeps up his current rides per day rate and his current 19.60% wins to rides strike rate he will end the season on 299 wins.

However, he said, “I haven’t had my purple patches yet. I had 38 wins last month and I’m hoping to have 25 this month, but I’m going to get that 50. I want 50 winners in a month.”

He said getting the 50 in a month would have the effect of putting him way ahead of the projected goal and would thus give him some breathing space.

However, it should be remembered that at this stage last season Keagan de Melo was on the exact same number of wins, 117, that Richard is on now and he ended the season on 277.

On the other hand Richard was on 77 wins at this time last season, 40 behind Keagan, and ended up only 19 behind him on 258 without doing any serious title chasing.

Fourie reckoned his best month, where he would have a chance of getting that 50, would be in March.

He said, “March is normally a very powerful month. There is a lot of racing then, the weather is normally good and there are normally no cancellations.”

“We will get there”, he concluded about the 300 win chase.

Breaking Anthony Delpech’s record of 334 must also be a small thought in the back of his mind, even if he did say at the beginning of the season that it was an unrealistic target.

There is a R1 million bonus from Hollywoodbets to anybody who breaks that record.

A dream scenario would be if he is close to 334 at the end of the season and has the ride on the Mike de Kock-trained Trois Trois Quatre in the Gold Cup, because the latter is owned by Hollywoodbets and is named after the record, the words meaning 334 in French.

Fourie said he was managing the demands of a title chase okay.

He said, “After day six in a row you feel it and your body just needs a day’s break.”

“But, then you get a day’s break and you can do another six days!” he chuckled.

He continued, “It is the waiting for your flight when there is a delay that is probably the most tiring thing, but if everything falls into place it is beautiful.”

The last time Princess Calla ran in a Gr 1 over 1800m she beat the boys in the HKJC World Pool Champions Cup over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Greyville (Candiese Lenferna Photography) 

Turf Talk

Querari’s nephew Jeff Koons was given a fine driving ride to get up in today’s (Thursday’s) Gr 1 Qatar Derby in Doha (Naheez Racing Via X)

Gr 1 Jonsson Wokwear Cape Derby-winner Linebacker had an elastic-like action and thrived in KZN as a three-year-old. He beat Kommetdieding in both the Gr 2 WSB Guineas (pictured) and Gr 1 Daily News 2000 before losing to the latter by half-a-length in the 2021 Durban July (Picture: Chase Liebenberg)

Mark van Deventer (Cape Racing)

2021 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby and Daily News hero, Linebacker has been retired from racing. Part owner Ken Truter announced that the six-year-old gelding will live out his years at the equestrian paradise of Val de Vie, near Paarl.

Linebacker, bred at Klawervlei Stud, by Captain of All ex Thin Red Line, was a paragon of consistency as a two, three, and four-year-old in races at the highest level. An unexpected 55/1 longshot winner on debut in a soft ground sprint in July 2020, he subsequently competed with distinction exclusively in Graded races for the next couple of years.

Trained by astute Milnerton- based horseman, Vaughan Marshall, he placed in the Langerman (when pipped by Jet Dark), Cape Classic, Concorde Cup and Cape Guineas (suffered a tough beat behind Russian Rock).

Linebacker really peaked during 2021 – reeling off a succession of top-quality performances. Within six months, he took out the G1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby, G2 World Sports Betting Guineas, G1 Daily News (beating stable companion, Rascallion, as was the case in the Derby) before narrowly succumbing by half a length to rival three-year-old, Kommetdieding in the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Linebacker was by no means done and would run other laudable races at G1 level as a four-year old. Third in a cracking G1 World Sports Betting Cape Town  Met of January ’22 under a length off Kommetdieding and Jet Dark, then being just edged out in a rough tussle by Al Muthana in the G1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge in June make the highlights reel.

Unfortunately, he suffered a brutally turbulent passage in the ’22 Hollywoodbets Durban July won by Sparkling Water, and was arguably not the same horse since. In that rodeo show, he was knocked badly at the start, cut into during the race, and hit by clods of soil in the eyes, which led to ulcers.

Prior to that debacle, Linebacker was a no-problem horse – strong, durable, and feisty.

He did somehow manage fourth spot behind his nemesis, Jet Dark in the HKJC World Pool Champions Cup at his follow-up, but that was practically the last worthwhile race Linebacker could muster despite the best efforts of his expert conditioner, and patience of Truter, his wife Jane and fellow owners, Reiner and Cheryl Gabler.

Linebacker stayed in training at six, running in eight subsequent races before connections called time after the last run of his career in December ’23. At the peak of his powers, he sported an OMR of 126, whilst the respected, Raceform organisation awarded him a rating of 114.

Said Gabler, a truly devoted owner who loves her horses and, for whom Linebacker provided a lifelong dream, first-ever G1 success,” I’ve grown attached to him and planned my whole life around Linebacker’s schedule the last few years. He’s very special so I’ve felt bereft for the past month. But I’m relieved that he is going to an amazing home, which makes this farewell easier.”

When all parts were in working order, the four-time winning bay, (he also placed second on six occasions) could launch a dashing late surge, which combined with his inherent gameness made Linebacker a formidable foe in contests between 1600m – 2200m.

Turf Talk-sponsored jockey Craig Bantam has won on the Justin Snaith-trained miracle horse Rule Of Thumb three times. Owner Andrew Brand is pictured proudly leading in the Royal Mo gelding (Picture: Wayne Marks) 

Gary Lemke

It’s a Friday morning and we’ve arranged to meet at Sonwabe Beach, near Muizenberg, at 9am. I want to chat to Andrew Brand, a passionate racehorse owner and successful businessman.

Travelling from Cape Town’s northern suburbs to the beach some 40km away, at that time of day, I factor in an hour through traffic. I arrive at 8.30am.

The beach is deserted, except for a playful seal frolicking in the shallow white water of the surf.

There are two other people sitting in a car, taking in the scenery.

Maybe I’m at the wrong place? At 8.34am I go on to my WhatsApp. “Hi Andrew, I’m at the beach. There doesn’t seem to be much activity?”

No blue ticks.

At 8.46am, a man climbs out of the only other car, a camera in hand. He walks a few metres closer to where the seal is and photographs it. I recognise him, it’s John Warner, husband of Jill, the other half of a double act of popular, regular winning owners.

They are “swallows”, frequently arriving on these shores from their home base in Winchester, England. Their most recognisable winners include Carry On Alice, Rio Querari and Royal Aussie.

At 8.50am a New Turf Carriers truck pulls into the beach area. Suddenly, cars emerge at the same time. I send Andrew a message. “OK, I see the truck has arrived.” He immediately responds, “Hi. Yes – bang on time!”

How could I have ever doubted?

It would be an exaggeration to say that all hell breaks loose. But, there’s a flurry of activity. This is one of Snaith Racing’s regular Friday morning visits to the beach.

Champion trainer Justin Snaith barks out instructions as the prized thoroughbreds are offloaded one by one down the carrier’s ramp and head for the soft sand.

A professional photographer has arrived and starts shooting. Jill Warner puts on her riding cap and gets ready to mount up. Chris Snaith is holding the hand of his grandson. King Ice, a striking all-white and a visitor’s favourite, stands quietly.

Grooms are keeping tight holds on their horses as they wait for more riders to mount and take a stroll in the direction of mountains guarding over Muizenberg. Jono Snaith arrives carrying a cardboard tray, balancing four hot takeaway coffees.

This is the life.

Standing alone on the beach, surrounded by racehorses, is Andrew Brand. He is, by his own admission, “an introvert”, but he’s right at home in these surroundings.

We are actually meeting in this environment because the miracle horse of 2023 has come with the Snaith string to stretch his legs and enjoy the sun, sand and sea.

By all conventional thinking, Rule Of Thumb shouldn’t be near Sonwabe Beach on this day. At best he should be a former racehorse grazing grass in a paddock somewhere.

Or, even worse … we won’t go there.

This son from the first crop of Royal Mo was bought at the 2021 Cape Yearling Sale for R125 000 and he has repaid that purchase price by winning four times and accumulating over R300 000 in stakes. If only it was that straightforward.

Brand takes up the story.

“I was with Jono at the sale. We didn’t know much about the stallion, but we liked this yearling on looks – big and strapping. He wasn’t all that expensive so we thought we’d take him in and see how he develops. We then prepared him for the Ready To Run Sale and put an optimistic, but realistic price on him. No one came close to buying him, so we bought him back. He returned to the Snaith yard and what was so noticeable was his easy character. So much so that they stabled him amongst their July and Group winners and it was quite surreal as an unraced juvenile.”

In May 2022 Rule Of Thumb made his debut as a 33-1 shot in a maiden juvenile race over the Kenilworth 1200m.

“He finished third, beaten four lengths by Le Mans and we said, ‘we might have a decent sort here’,” Brand says.

Six weeks later he was back over the course and distance. “He finished second, three lengths behind Itsrainingwilliam and the Snaiths rated that winner quite a bit. We said, ‘we might have something here’.”

A month after that he ran for a third time, around the turn over the Kenilworth 1400m. Starting at 18-10 he beat Royal Port Louis by two lengths.

“We were starting to get excited,” says Brand as he points to his pride and joy emerging out of the water. “We then entered him for a Listed Juvenile feature at Fairview and we fancied our chances. He went for a gallop at Kenilworth and Richard (Fourie) worked him and was pleased with him. Then, it happened.”

“It” was an injury suffered in the float back to the Snaith’s stables in Philippi. “I got the call from Jono. Rule Of Thumb had basically kicked half his leg off. It was a serious injury. They bandaged him and immobilised him. It was serious.

“Jono asked me what my position was, in terms of insurance, sentiment, and what to do. Justin decided to contact Dr Andrew Gray of Vetscape to give us a diagnosis and prognosis.

“I insure all my horses. I wouldn’t drive my car without insurance, nor run a household without it. The peace of mind is enormous. I had a yearling that died unexpectedly of colic and it was covered. But even the burial is expensive. At 10 o’clock that night Dr Gray gave us his verdict. There was a serious fracture that needed operating on.

“The risk was high. We all had a conversation and decided to give Dr Gray a chance to work on Rule Of Thumb. Justin and Jono didn’t hesitate in agreeing to take the chance to save him and pay their share of the costs. There was no guarantee it would be a successful procedure. First priority was to fix the leg because if he lay down that wouldn’t be good …”

Brand looks up at the clear blue sky and clears his throat, the noise being muffled by the wind that has started to blow across the sand.

“We never knew if Rule Of Thumb would survive, let alone walk again. He had four pins inserted into his lower leg but behaved like a superstar, calm and chilled, showing the same characteristics that had caught our eye when buying him. This was the second serious injury a horse of mine had incurred and financially you know what you’re in for. Which is why I insure them all, from day one.”

Rule Of Thumb not only survived the operation but he started walking again. And he grew stronger, and stronger. So much so that he found himself back in training.

Five months later, on 22nd December 2022, he was at Kenilworth, in a 1200m race. “Richard didn’t touch him with the whip and he finished like a steam train, just over two lengths behind the winner (Let It Burn). We all agreed it was an amazing effort.”

On 3rd January 2023 Rule Of Thumb was put over the Kenilworth mile. He finished last, 14 lengths behind Without Question.

“Piere Strydom rode him but he must have felt something wrong and he eased him out of the race. Justin was perplexed. The horse looked fine and had been working well.”

They decided to run Rule Of Thumb again, this time in late February. He tailed off by a distance. “JP van der Merwe also felt something was wrong and he didn’t persevere with him.”

Extensive inspection showed the gelding to have an abscess above his hoof and he’d been catching it in those races, causing him severe pain.

“The vet came in and treated it. We gave him time to recover,” says Brand.

He returned after a three-month break and finished eighth over 1400m and then fifth over the mile. Racing then switched to Hollywoodbets Durbanville and Rule Of Thumb was put over the mile in August. He won at 25-1.

“He had turned into a machine, had furnished into a big strapping boy, yet was still so well behaved. We knew he also had a huge fighting spirit. Plus, he seemed to have forged a relationship with (jockey) Craig Bantam.”

In September he raced again, same course, same distance, same result. In October, again, the Durbanville mile, beaten a head by Bardolino.

They say that people don’t find horses, but that horses find people and Rule Of Thumb has clearly found his zest for life with the Snaiths and Brand.

In November, he ran again, this time winning for a fourth time and a third from his last four starts, with Bantam wearing the owner’s silks of a red ‘V’ on a white background with a red cap.

Why those red and white colours, as a matter of interest?

“They’re the colours of the English football team I support – Southampton,” Brand says.

Um, ok, and why that club?

“The 1976 FA Cup final was shown in black and white on TV in those days. The finalists were Manchester United and Southampton. Southampton sounded a bit like ‘South Africa’ to me as a four-year-old so I supported them. They won 1-0. It could have been so much worse, I could have started supporting Man United!”

So, the football bug bit at age four, but what about racing’s inevitable pull?

“My father was involved in racing before I was born, and he sometimes used to do running for the bookies to earn money. There was no phone betting, or internet back then, so every Saturday morning my dad would drive down to the Tote at Kenilworth – I think it is where McDonald’s now is –  and I’d sit in the car while he was inside filling out his betting slips. Later we’d listen to the results on the radio.”

From there the sport took hold.

“I asked my dad, ‘can I spend R5 of my pocket money, I’d like to have a bet’. I earned the money working hard doing work in the garden and cleaning the pool!”

Brand isn’t much of a punter these days and he says it’s too time-consuming to study form.

However, he did put a few rands on a winner he had with Bass Racing at the end of October. “I backed Sun Dazed in the lucky last that day. He won at 25-1, getting up by a short head!”

Apart from ownership he’s also involved in breeding. “I have shares in a few mares with Anton Shepherd at Beaumont Stud. The farm bred champions like Prince Florimund and Variety Club. We have a strong relationship.

“If I buy a yearling I send it to Anton who keeps it until it’s ready to go into training. And I’m hopeful that one day I’ll be involved with a Grade One champion. I’m an optimist by nature, perhaps too much so for my own good.

“I’ve owned horses that the trainer has said that we should move on. Then I hang on. It runs again and finishes 12 lengths back. Then next run it’s six lengths back. That’s improvement, right? I get emotionally attached, so I don’t want to sell it.

“Most of the trainers who train for me keep telling me to rather leave the selecting and buying to them but I love the process and am also a bit of a control freak, but learning to get better in that regard.”

We’ve hardly noticed that the horses have been loaded back onto the carrier and are about to head back to Philippi.

“Join us for breakfast,” Justin shouts. “Thanks, but I’ve got too much work to do. Next time!” Brand replies.

And so, phase two of the day begins. Within minutes the car park is empty and there’s no sign of activity.

Except for the seal, who is back, frolicking in the white frothy water again.

Blue Sky Thoughbreds-bred three-year-old Act Of War filly Lady Fallon showed her talent at the Vaal today, winning by three lengths off an 86 merit rating, and it gave Craig Zackey and Lucky Houdalakis a double together (Picture: 4Racing).   

Craig Zackey rode a double for Lucky Houdalakis at The Vaal today.

Calvin Habib rode an individual double at the straight course meeting.

Zackey goes to 56 wins for the season achieved at a strike rate of 9.91%.

Habib is on 57 wins at 11.80%.

Houdalakis is now on 23 wins at 16.67%.

The anwser to the question is Buckpasser.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE GREAT BUCKPASSER

Buckpasser was broodmare sire of the SA Champion Sire Al Mufti, whose legacy lives on through the late great Champion Sire Captain Al. The latter’s legacy lives on not only though his many fine broodmare daughters but also through his sons, who include the exciting freshman stallion One World.