Main Defender is down on his off fetlock after the nasty collision (JC Photos) 

The Roy Magner-trained Melech lowered the colours of the crack Paul Peter-trained gelding Main Defender over 1200m at Turffontein Inside today, but not before the latter had crashed in to him when shifting away from the whip in the last few strides.

It was only the second defeat of Main Defender’s career and there was a horrible moment when he appeared to stumble badly just before the line.

The instant thought that goes through experienced racegoers’ minds when they see that is that the horse has broken down, so viewers would have been relieved to see him right himself and finish on all four legs.

The incident did cost him second place though.

The head on replay then told the story of what had happened.

Main Defender had hit the front early but was not traveling as supremely as he has been seen to in the past when winning over 1400m.

He looked vulnerable to a closer and the classy Melech, who was carrying the same 58kg weight as his year younger rival, then began to run on strongly.

Melech was traveling the better and looked likely to overtake Main Defender.

They were a few horse widths apart.

However, as Melech began rangimg up on the inside Calvin Habib changed whip hands. He gave Main Defender a crack and then began showing him the whip while driving him rhythmically.

Main Defender consequently shifted and began running at an angle away from the whip. He was clearly on a collision course with Melech, who was on a straight path.

However, Main Defender continued to be ridden.

Gavin Lerena held his line on Melech and was cracking him with the right hand.

He was about to give another crack when Main Defender crashed in to the side of Melech so hard that Melech’s front legs were knocked from underneath him.

Melech is a real athelete and planted his front legs at the right angle to right himself.

Main Defender felt the full force of the collision, because Melech was travelling stronger than him.

He was knocked sideways and became mometarily airborne. His knees and fetlocks buckled as he landed. A photograph later shows he is right down on his off fetlock.

Lerena appeared to have some harsh words for Habib the split second after the incident and also in the pull up.

He had said after the Gr 3 Got The Greenlight Stakes that Main Defender had almost stuck him and Barbaresco over the rail just before and after the line.

Main Defender had hung right on that occasion despite Habib’s whip being in the right hand.

Pundits will be wondering whether this is now becoming a habit and, if it is, whether it indicates a problem with the horse.

However, Gavin did not see it like that.

He said in the winning interview when asked by Cecil Mthembu about the incident, “Just unnecessary. My horse is making up good ground. I thought I was going to go away and win it comfortably … Calvin changed his stick and rode for me. My horse took a horrible stride. I don’t know about his horse, but my horse stopped very quickly after the line. I just hope he has pulled up well.”

CLICK HERE TO WATH THE RACE REPLAY

It was actaully the first time Gavin had ridden the classy four-year-old William Lonsword gelding, despite his long association with the Magner yard.

He grinned sheepishly and admitted, “Yes this horse and I have got a lot of history! I was meant to ride him first time out and I had to ride a horse for Johan (Janse van Vuuren) that actually won the race and Mr Magner ran second and he was very upset! We actually parted ways for a bit, so it is great to get on this horse and win on him.”

He said he had been worried about the distance being too sharp, but added, “But he’s a good horse and good horses, you can bring them back in trip and they will give their best, it was a great win from him.”

The Riverton Stud-bred four-year-old has now won six out of ten for deserving owner John Finlayson.

Meanwhile, it is not clear why Main Defender missed the Gr 2 TAB Gauteng Guineas or why he ran over this sprint trip under two weeks later.

His many fans around the country will be hoping he pulls up well after that nasty incident.

Golden Empire runs on strongly to win cosily despite long odds and thus clinches a treble for trainer Francis Lui and a quick double for Lyle Hewitson (HKJC)

Lyle Hewitson went through a 72-ride drought between his 99th and 100th Hong Kong wins, but getting that milestone out of the way at the Chinese New Year meeting on Monday obviously buoyed him, because he rode a double today at Happy Valley.

Keagan de Melo was also on the board.

Hewitson’s winner on Monday paid 21,00 on the Tote and his first winner today, the Francis Lui-trained Joy Coming (Sooboog) paid R20 in the class 4 handicap over 1200m.

He seems to enjoy riding horses of that sort of price because he then rode the Francis Lui-trained Golden Empire to victory in a class 3 handicap over 1200m paying 18.00 on the Tote.

The wins took him to 22 wins for the season and puts him in 7th place on the log on his own.

De Melo’s win in the first race on General Ace (Telperion) was also for Francis Lui. This winner, in a class 5 handicap over 1200m, was also a longshot and paid 22.00 on the Tote.

De Melo is now on 15 wins and is in joint 10th place on the log.

WATCH DE MELO’S WIN HERE

WATCH HEWITSON’S FIRST WINNER HERE

WATCH HEWITSON’S SECOND WINNER HERE

Pistol Pete cruises home in impressive style (JC Photos) 

The Tony Peter-trained Pistol Pete is the first ever runner of Buffalo Bill Cody, whose progeny are the subject of whispers around the training tracks and sales grounds, and he looks to be on track to become a top two-year-old.

The unbeaten Pistol Pete has been the subject of some rave reviews after his second start last Saturday.

Karel Miedema awarded him a 91 ability rating (AR) for that run, where he waltzed in by 6,25 lengths in a Juvenile Plate over 1000m at Turffontein Standside.

This can be compared to the same AR of 91 he gave to Lucky Lad and Sandringham Summit when they met each other on debut over 1160m in early March of their two-year-old season.

However, Lucky Lad put that mark well behind him in his next three starts, recording AR’s from Miedema of 111 for all of his Gr 3 Protea Stakes, Gr 2 WSB SA Nursery and Gr 1 Gold Medallion runs.

So Pistol Pete has a bit to do to be regarded in the same light.

The best AR awarded by Miedema for a two-year-old this season goes to the Justin Snaith-trained Vercingetorix colt Roman Agent, whom he gave a 96 AR for his win in the Listed WSB Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1100m on WSB Cape Town Met day.

The runner up in that race, Mike and Adam Azzie-trained What A Winter colt Winds Of Change scored an excellent 95 on his debut. He is a half-brother to Safe Passage and looks tio have a bright future.

Picture: Willie Mullins Credit: Inpho

Record-breaking trainer could have biggest festival team to date with up to 80 runners

Brian O’Connor (Irish Times)

That Willie Mullins can come across smoother than a pint of Guinness was underlined on Monday when he momentarily had a media pack almost feeling sorry for him and his unparalleled dominance of jump racing.

“I didn’t want this amount of horses. I didn’t envisage this amount of horses. But the opposition kept putting up the amount of horses and I said [to myself] to stay relevant I have to go and get as big as the opposition,” Mullins said at one point.

“I was very happy where I was with 100-plus horses, but it’s grown way bigger than I ever envisaged. It’s a lot of work. What can we do? My theory in life is if you’re not going up, you’re going down,” he added.

Working out the logic as to why it might be Gordon Elliott, Henry de Bromhead, or Nicky Henderson’s fault the Co Carlow-based maestro is so all-powerful he might have Euclid tearing his hair out. But there’s no denying Mullins’s ability to sell an unconvincing argument with aplomb.

No one, especially somebody steeped in racing all his life, somehow stumbles accidentally into transforming the very face of the old game. But no one disputes that transform it he has.

Persuasive qualities have been no hindrance in assembling a string so powerful that his already singular Cheltenham record looks set for a substantial rewrite when the most important festival of all kicks off in four weeks.

He is on a record festival tally of 94 winners and odds about Mullins getting the half dozen more required to reach a once scarcely imaginable century are so cramped as to interest not even the most desperate punter.

He saddled six last year to be crowned the festival’s leading trainer for a 10th time, a haul greeted in mostly ho-hum fashion. That was no surprise considering the previous year the Irish man visited the winner’s enclosure on 10 occasions, half of them came on a single day.

They included Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs who is a hot favourite to defend his crown next month and will be backed up by a team of up to 80 stable companions. A dozen of them top ante-post betting lists for the 28 festival races.

It constitutes overwhelming strength in depth from a single figure whose grip on the game appears, if anything, to be tightening even further.

That point was also underlined during an annual media incursion to this side of the Irish Sea by the Jockey Club who own Cheltenham.

A full schedule began with a visit to Shark Hanlon’s Gold Cup hope Hewick and ended with some of Irish racing’s great and good shepherded into a nearby hotel for the dubious privilege of getting quizzed by the fourth estate. No one doubted, however, that the meat of the matter was in between.

For Mullins, pretending a couple of platoons of media pitching up on his doorstep isn’t a pain in the behind is a well-oiled routine although some of the horses reacted with appropriate suspicion.

Galopin and State Man, Constitution Hill’s only threat in the Champion Hurdle, were singled out for attention while champion jockey Paul Townend was also pressed into service.

Amid the bonhomie though, eventually, the inevitable question about whether a single person exerting such a stranglehold is good for the overall sport was lobbed.

Mullins would have expected it and before taking his “blame game” flyer noted how his opposition, in Britain and Ireland, hardly compete with one hand tied behind their back when it comes to purchasing all-important raw material.

“We’re very lucky to have the team we have. But we buy horses from a selection of areas, France, English point to points, we buy some Irish point to pointers, we buy the odd bumper horse, buy some stores. [But] those horses are available to everyone,” he argued.

“It’s not as if we go in and plunder all the good horses out of France or out of England, or the point to points. Clearly, we very seldom partake in those sales. I don’t know what to say, we just do what we do,” Mullins added.

What he does has almost every big owner in the game prepared to spend big to get into an operation proven to be the best in delivering success where it counts the most, at Cheltenham.

If there is an element of self-fulfilling prophecy about it, then Michael O’Leary’s effective admission in 2022 that he needed Mullins more than the other way around is a reminder of the unique situation he has carved out.

The amount of outstanding young talent being pointed at Cheltenham this time, including the outstanding Ballyburn, also emphasises the view that Mullins is only going to get stronger.

His rivals can’t even wish for a Jürgen Klopp-like resignation — “Of course I’m going to say no!” — or any sign of presumption.

Pointing to his dozen ante-post favourites, he said: “At least six of those will be beaten. I don’t know which ones, but I’ll be delighted if six of them won. It doesn’t always work out like that. Last year we had six winners, at least we got the right one [Galopin Des Champs] which maybe papered over the cracks.”

That cracks can be mentioned about six Cheltenham winners is the unique scenario in which Mullins finds himself as he closes in on a historic festival century of winners. Reaching it in the 100th Cheltenham Gold Cup is a piece of synchronicity that can’t be ruled out.

Khaya’s Hope (The United States) runs over 1400m (Pauline Herman Photography)

by Devonne Govender (Gold Circle)

Race 1

(1) Splicethemainbrace (8) Magical River (9) Million Reasons (7) Magdala

(1) Splicethemainbrace could remain unbeaten here, her debut win was very gutsy and she would have come well from that. (8) Magical River was narrowly beaten in the last start and  could make this interesting with 3 kilograms less. (9) Million Reasons gets the claimer up and will be right there. (7) Magdala has run well in both starts and is another that cannot be ignored. Watch the betting on first times. ( Devonne Govender 1-8-9-7)

Race 2

(3) Master Of Defense (4) William’s Legacy (1) Jet Bund (6) Anatolian Silver

(3) Master Of Defense is holding solid form and looks hard to beat here. (4) William’s Legacy has run some good races and will give the top choice something to think about so deserves respect. (1) Jet Bund is always there and another honest run can be expected. (6) Anatolian Silver has the improvement factor to come so must be factored into the play. (Devonne Govender 3-4-1-6)

Race 3

(3) Mo Flow (4) Wolfram (6) Joe Harman (10) Dumisani

(3) Mo Flow has been running extremely well and should be able to get it right here. (4) Wolfram has been well tried and his last run can be ignored. The form prior to that has been consistent so is very capable of bouncing back. (6) Joe Harman is a very honest type and can place. (10) Dumisani is never far back and fill in the back of the placings. ( Devonne Govender 3-4-6-10)

Race 4

(7) On The Guest List (4) Lady Writer (3) Get It Done (11) Izhiestia

(7) On The Guest List ran a cracker in her last start and if repeating that performance will have a big say here. (4) Lady Writer is holding form and will be right there. (3) Get It Done is very capable on her day and should make her presence felt. (11) Izhiestia has a powerful turn of speed and must be respected. ( Devonne Govender 7-4-3-11)

Race 5

(1) Storm Commander (2) Africa’s Rock (4) Pedro (9) Launch Code

(1) Storm Commander has been holding form well, he runs exceptionally well on this track so will be a strong contender for the win. (2) Africa’s Rock is never back and should make the frame. (4) Pedro ran a cracker in his last start and that form is holding up well. (9) Launch Code is very capable and is much better than his current form. (Devonne Govender 1-2-4-9)

Race 6

(1) Khaya’s Hope (2) Prince Of Fire (3) Bush Tracker (5) Inherit The Rain

(1) Khaya’s Hope is classy and could be hard to beat however this is a tricky race. He comes of a slight break but has a touch of class so warrants huge respect.  (2) Prince Of Fire gets the claimer up and that makes him a massive contender here. (3) Bush Tracker has the best draw and is a very tough horse in the sense that he can do work and still quicken, from this draw he should be able to slot in and pounce at the right time. (5) Inherit The Rain ran a cracker in his last start and must be respected with a top rider up. ( Devonne Govender 1-2-3-5)

Race 7

(6) Dawn Of Gold (7) Beau Kala (10) Maiden’s Cove (2) State Of Mind

(6) Dawn Of Gold is holding solid form and will have a massive chance of winning this contest. (7) Beau Kala is knocking on the door for another career win and must be included.

(10) Maiden’s Cove is in great form and can sneak into the money, she is capable of challenging strongly from a reasonable draw.  (2) State Of Mind is much better than her recent form so throw into larger perms. ( Devonne Govender 6-7-10-2)

Race 8

(7)Global Goddess (1) Ferrando (11) We All Chomies (12) Persistance

(7)Global Goddess has been very consistent and will make a bold bid for victory. (1) Ferrando ran well in his last start and has scope to go well. (11) We All Chomies is very capable on his day so throw him into your bets. (12) Persistance ran a cracker in his last start, tends to run well here so include. ( Devonne Govender 7-1-11-12)

Zac Lloyd is already one of the top riders in New South Wales despite only having made his debut in November 2020.

The son of the legendary Jeff Lloyd finished 6th on the NSW premiership last season with 106 wins at a strike rate of 19.2%.

He also ended a 12 year grip that Top trainer Chris Waller had had on the prestigious Bart Cummings Medal.

This season he is 8th on the NSW premiership with 55 wins at a strike rate of 14.4%.

In the whole of Australia premiership last season he was placed 14th.

This season he is in 21st place.

He was champion apprentice last season.

The below article about his Bart Cummings Medal award illustrates just what an exciting future Zac Lloyd has:

September 1, 2023 (Australia Turf Club)

Outstanding apprentice jockey Zac Lloyd has stormed home to claim this year’s prestigious Bart Cummings Medal, announced during tonight’s Racing’s Night of Champions Awards at Royal Randwick.

Lloyd polled a high number of votes over the final month of the season to finish with 81 points, breaking a 12-year grip on the award held by Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller who finished third with 62 points.

The training partnership of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott were runners-up on 64 points.

“Zac Lloyd is an exceptionally talented jockey and is just one of a number of a new generation of remarkable young riders currently competing in New South Wales,” said Mr Peter V’landys AM, Racing NSW’s Chief Executive.

“Zac has enjoyed a highly successful season where he also won the Sydney apprentices’ premiership but to beat the 12-time Bart Cummings Medal winner Chris Waller highlights the enormous magnitude of the win. Congratulations are extended to Zac and his racing family.”

Zac Lloyd steered home 76 city winners in his first Sydney racing season, and it’s been four decades since an apprentice has ridden more winners dating back to champion rider Wayne Harris when he landed 86 wins during the 1980/81 season.

The Bart Cummings Medal point score – honouring the legendary trainer who passed away eight years ago – is comprised of votes from seven leading Sydney racing journalists.

Other award winners were:

Chris Waller claimed his 13th successive T.J. Smith Award for winning the Sydney Trainers’ Premiership with 139 wins for the season finishing in advance of co-trainers Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott on 71 winners and James Cummings (70 wins).

James McDonald won his seventh George Moore Award for winning the Sydney Jockeys’ Premiership with 96 wins for the season finishing well clear of apprentice Zac Lloyd (76 wins). McDonald had previously won the 2013/14 (72 wins), 2015/16 (89½), 2018/19 (104), 2019/20 (103.5), 2020/21 (131) and 2021/22 (105) titles.

Zac Lloyd took out his first Theo Green Award for leading Sydney apprentice with 76 wins for the season defeating runner-up Dylan Gibbons (72 winners) in a closely fought tussle over the last few months of the season.

The remaining Racing NSW award winners were: –

Dylan Gibbons (Caryl Williamson NSW Racing Writers’ Personality of the Year): Fairfax’s Chris Roots said: “Dylan carried the expectation of being one of the best young prospects in the saddle into last season and lived up to nearly every expectation, except his cherished goal of the apprentice title. His battle with Zac Lloyd was enthralling as the title chase lead changed many times. Dylan rode like a senior on the track and was an outstanding performer off it in interviews. His win on Explosive Jack in the Sydney Cup was the highlight of his season and he thought of everyone except himself post-race: ‘Just the pure joy of knowing that not only is it a great moment for me, but for everyone who has helped me get to this point. I’m sure they’re enjoying it as much as I am’, he said. This sums up an outstanding young man – modest, humble and a winner.”

Phylisha Doyle (Sydney Strapper of the Year – Chris Waller stable): The stable commented: “Phylisha looks after a 20-horse barn at our Rosehill stable and oversees our top 40 colts and geldings during trackwork. She is a very capable horsewomen and is regularly seen at the races looking after some of our colts and younger horses. Phylisha has a great work ethic and is always putting her hand up to help; having recently gone over to run the Warwick Farm stable in the absence of our regular foreperson. She has a very bubbly personality and always puts a smile on everyone’s face. Our stable is very lucky and pleased to have her with us.”

Insurrection (BOBS Horses of the Year): The gelding by Russian Revolution accumulated $78,750 in BOBS bonuses courtesy of three successive wins at Royal Randwick during June and July. The Michael Freedman-trained Insurrection snatched the title from Bjorn Baker’s Iowna Merc ($73,125) just a couple of days out from the end of the season.

NSW Racehorse Owners award winners were: –

Shinzo (City Tattersalls Club NSW Champion Two-Year-Old)
Giga Kick / In Secret (Inglis NSW Champion Three-Year-Old(s))
Giga Kick (Australian Turf Club NSW Champion Sprinter)
Anamoe (Wild Oaks NSW Champion Miler)
Anamoe (Woppitt Bloodstock NSW Champion Middle Distance Horse)
Durston (GB) (Highclere & Sire Custodians NSW Champion Stayer)
Atishu (NZ) / Sunshine in Paris (Carrazzo Consulting NSW Queen(s) of the Autumn)
Opal Ridge (Sky Thoroughbred Central NSW Country Champion Horse)
Icebath (NZ) (Sky Thoroughbred Central NSW Provincial Champion Horse)
Anamoe (TAB NSW Champion Horse of the Year)

Dubai Hills (Flower Alley), ridden to vitory by Chase Maujean, clinches a treble for Mike de Kock (JC Photos) 

Mike de Kock scored a treble at Turffontein Inside today.

Three different riders brought home the winners, two of whom were owned by the ASSM Syndicate.

Gavin Lerena scored a double on the day.

De Kock goes to  42 wins for the season at a strike rate of 13.12%.

Lerena is on 84 wins at 17.68%.