Tyrion Lannister holds on courageously to win the Newlands Stakes (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Sarah Whitelaw

Despite having a relatively few number of runners to his name, Klawervlei Stud’s resident sire Royal Mo has been enjoying a good spell of success this year.

Not only did his son Royal Aussie win the recent Listed Pongracz Jet Master Stakes on SplashOut Cape Derby day, another son, Tyrion Lannister claimed another Hollywoodbets Kenilworth feature race when he won the recent Newlands Stakes in courageous fashion.

The Klawervlei bred Royal Aussie has proved a wonderful money spinner for his connections. Also victorious in the 2023 World Sports Betting Gold Rush, and third in the 2024 G1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate, Royal Aussie has already banked more than R5.813 million in prize money and he looks sure to add to this impressive total in the year ahead.

Four-year-old Royal Aussie is one of just 12 runners in his sire Royal’s Mo first crop. Of those 12, seven have won and just two of Royal Mo’s first crop runners have failed to finish in the placings.

Royal Mo’s second crop, which includes the aforementioned Tyrion Lannister, has produced 24 runners of which nine have won and a further six have finished in the money. The stallion’s third small crop has produced just four runners this far, but this crop includes the useful two-year-old Sweetie Darling, a winner on debut who ran third, behind subsequent Listed World Sports Betting Summer Juvenile Stakes winner Roman Agent, in The Trippi Stakes second time out. (On that occasion, Sweetie Darling had brilliant G3 City Of Cape Town Cape Of Good Nursery victor One Stripe behind her in fifth spot).

The talented Royal Mo won twice from just six starts, and he scored his biggest win when landing the G3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes of 2017. In landing the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Royal Mo had subsequent G2 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner Irap three and a half lengths adrift back in second.

His jockey on that occasion, Victor Espinoza, said of the Uncle Mo colt, ““He’s improving a lot.From the last few races to this race, he’s really coming along. He’s going in the right direction. Hopefully, we keep going all the way.”

Following his Robert B. Lewis victory, Royal Mo went on to finish a close up third, beaten just a length, in the G1 Santa Anita Derby, one of the principal trials for the G1 Kentucky Derby. Unfortunately, a career ending injury forced his retirement while Royal Mo was being aimed at the G1 Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the US Triple Crown.

Royal Mo, his sire’s only son at stud in South Africa, is a son of champion racehorse and outstanding sire Uncle Mo. The latter went unbeaten in three starts at two, winning the G1 Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by four and a quarter lengths, and the historic G1 Champagne Stakes by a four and three quarter lengths.
North America’s Champion 2YO Colt of 2010, Uncle Mo won all three starts at two by an aggregate of 23 lengths, with the colt having scorched to a 14 length win at the first time of asking.

Despite suffering from various physical maladies, Uncle Mo still managed to win both the G2 Kelso Handicap and Timely Writer Stakes at three, when he was also runner up in the G1 Foxwoods King’s Bishop and third in the G1 Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial Stakes. He retired having won five of eight starts and earned more than $1.6 million in prize money.

Retired to stud at Ashford Stud in Kentucky, Uncle Mo had instant success at stud and was North America’s Leading First-Season Sire of 2015, and also topped North America’s Leading Sires of 2YOs premiership in 2015.

His stellar first crop produced a staggering 25 black type winners, headed by Kentucky Derby/Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Nyquist and fellow G1 winners Unbridled Mo, Outwork, and Gomo.

The versatile Uncle Mo, whose tally of black type winners is now more than 90, has since come up with a flood of G1 winners headed by Belmont Stakes winner Mo Donegal, dual Breeders’ Cup winner Golden Pal, and FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic Stakes hero Arabian Knight.

The Ashford Stud resident has already become a highly successful sire of sires, and Uncle Mo sire sons look poised for more success this year. His champion son Nyquist is already the sire of G1 winners Vequist, Gretzky The Great, Slow Down Andy, and Randomized, with Nyquist among the Leading Sires in North America in 2023.

Nyquist is also the sire of hugely exciting US three-year-old Nysos, an impressive winner of his first three starts and a seven and a half length winner of the 2024 G3 Robert B Lewis Stakes.
Other sons of Uncle Mo to have sired G1 winners already include Laoban and Outwork, while his G1 Hollywood Derby winning son Mo Town, whose oldest Northern Hemisphere runners are four, is already the sire of eight black type horses and he is also the sire of this year’s exciting three-year-old Doncho, a smart winner of his first two starts.

Uncle Mo’s G1 Forego Stakes winning son Yaupon had first crop weanlings make up to $450 000 at the 2023 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, while Uncle Mo horse Golden Pal covered more mares (293) than any other stallion in North America in 2023.

Uncle Mo is a son of the once beaten G1 Santa Anita Derby winner Indian Charlie. The latter sired more than 80 stakes winners, headed by Breeders’ Cup winning champions Uncle Mo and Indian Blessing, including G3 Edgewood Stakes winner Feathered. The latter is dam of the brilliant, unbeaten US Horse Of The Year Flightline.

Solskjaer gelding Found A Fifty winning a Gr 1 novices chase at Leopardstown on Boxing Day ( (Image: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy)

In the Gr 1 My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase yesterday, it went unnoticed that sandwiched between the winner Gaelic Warrior and the South African connected third-placed Il Etait Temps was a horse called Found A Fifty, who is by the late former Summerhill Stud-based stallion Solskjaer.

The Gordon Elliott-trained seven-year-old won a Gr 1 novice chase at Leopardstown on Boxing Day and yesterday was his third Gr 1 runner up finish in novice chases.

He started his career by winning a Point To Point by 15 lengths in 2021 as a four-year-old.

As a five-year-old he also had only one start and finished second in a National Hunt flat race.

Then as a six-year-old he won his first start over hurdles before finishing second in a Gr 2 and two runs later he finished fourth in a Gr 1.

He has had five chase starts for two wins, including that Gr 1, and three Gr 1 seconds.

Haversham Park’s Nigel Riley owned Solskjaer at one stage and they recently told his story on their website:

Solksjaer  was imported to South Africa for stud duties at Summerhill Stud in 2007 and his first few crops impressed most experts with their beautiful, flowing strides. There were many bread-and-butter runners among the early crops, but he didn’t quite make the grade and Mick Goss decided to retire him in 2013.

Soon after he was retired in 2015 he was placed on an auction where he received no bids, but Advocate Nigel Riley of Heversham Park Stud came to hear of him and secured him for only R5,000 after negotiating with Greg Muir, the former Stud Manager at Summerhill.

Riley tells: “Solskjaer was a half-brother to Yeats (Sadler’s Wells), who won seven Gr1 races and at the time was picking up momentum as a sire of excellent jump horses.

We made some enquiries and sent Solskjaer back to Ireland to stand as a jump stallion at Coolagown Stud in County Cork.

“Being so closely related to Yeats, Solskjaer drew immediate attention and we were amazed at the support from breeders. He covered 80 mares a season in his first three seasons but then he scaled down after his busy time.”

Crimson King wins the Listed Aquanaut Handicap (JC Photos)

By The Pedigree Obsessor

A quality cut of rump steak is vastly improved with a little patience and allowed to “hang”. And so it is with some bloodlines, who sadly are retired too early denying what is to come.

Not so in the case of CRIMSON KING (Dynasty x Cup Of Rubies) who came out and won a good race under a masterful ride this past week from another example of a “matured rump” (forgive me Striker, no offence intended whatsoever, only compliments).

With a race record of 33 runs – 4 wins (3 graded) – 11 places (5 graded) and earnings of R609k this horse is no slouch.

CRIMSON KING, now a 7 year old, is a classic example of patience rewarded that is unlikely to be spent just yet thanks to his ownership being under the very sharp eyes for deep-down quality in Messrs De Beyer and Louw.

That his merit rating hit 108 in only his fifth run early in his career, signalled his quality but perhaps stifled his performances thereafter and prematurely for a bloodline that is known to improve over time. However, he recovered reasonably quickly from that merit rating and produced a string of reasonably good performances under the watchful eye of Glen Kotzen.

The obvious question is where his goodness comes from, which can be found in both his sire, no explanation required and with whom the Crawford Yard are almost synonymous, and a very decent but generally unheralded female line of relatively high performance.

The first dam CUP OF RUBIES (Mogok x Stirrup Cup) was a modest race performer with a 15 runs – 3 win – 5 place record for earnings of R180k. Her bloodline quality however is confirmed by her being bred on the same Mogok sire over Royal Chalice mare cross as the exceptionally well performed and multiple stakes winner GYPSYS WARNING as well as being a half-brother to July winner HUNTING TOWER.

As a broodmare, CUP OF RUBIES, was bred just 5 times at Highlands, producing 3 colts by resident sire Dynasty. The first colt DO OR DARE was not successful and retired after 8 runs. CRIMSON KING next and a third full brother KING REGENT a very good performer with 13 runs – 4 wins – 6 places – (1 graded) for earnings of R949k. The reason for persisting with Dynasty is that the nick to Fort Wood was well proven with a number of very decent race performers on record, HUNTING TOWER being the principal indicator. The nick extended back into the 3rd Dam MICHABO, who had also produced rather nicely with Fort Wood.

So that CRIMSON KING has ended up being a very decent race performer is evidenced by the solid line of performance pulling forward 2 generations from the confirmed FORT WOOD influence.

The best steaks are indeed those that are matured slowly and CRIMSON KING is a “prime” example.

Willie Mullins (right) with wife Jackie, son Patrick Mullins and his 100th festival winner Jasmin De VauxCredit: Michael Steele

Willie Mullins brings up 100th Festival winner with Champion Bumper success

Jasmin De Vaux appropriately ridden by master trainer’s son, Patrick.

Circus Lights has been selected to win the fifth race (JC Photos)

R1 6 PEACE OF MIND looks promising and has a good opportunity here 5 MOTHER CITY has been close to some fair sorts and should be in the shake up albeit over shorter 1 IT’S HER WAY won well last time and the form has worked out well 2 VISIONOFPEACE is not far off It’s Her Way on formlines (6-5-1-2)

R2 1 DANTONFROMSANDTON won a good race last time and the form looks good enough for him to folllow up here. 3 GREATERIX was 5,50 lengths behind Pistol Pete last time and can be involved here 2 FINAL TRY is right up with Greaterix on formlines (1-5-3-2)

R3 1 GALLADORN is on the up and can be involved 11 CITY LIGHTS has shown enough to be involved here. 12 LIKE A BUTTERFLY can earn if reproducing her best (2-1-11-12)

R4 3 SUPERSKITT has a form chance and has pole position 4 ZENOBIA’S GOLD is capable of improvement but does have a tough draw 1 GLAWARI has a fair draw but has to prove he gets this trip 5 GREEN FAME should enjoy the step up in trip and has a chance but does have a tricky draw (3-4-1-5)

R5 7 CIRCUS LIGHTS last win was over this course and distance and he is just three points higher and has a plum draw. 6 VAN MEIJEL was not striding out last time and can do better 3 FAST DUTY’s last start over this trip was not bad and it was franked by the winner 1 JOHN WICK has a good draw and should do better than his last two starts where things were against him (7-6-3-1)

R6 10 HOLOCENE has dropped down to a competitive mark and has the ability to be be involved if able to overcome a wide draw 4 ROSY LEMON has a good chance here over a suitable trip under Fourie although she also has a tricky draw 7 PRETTY IN PEARLS has a fair draw and is off a competitive mark over a suitable trip 3 KAMBULU is better than his last start and can earn if bouncing back from a good draw (10-4-7-3)

R7 1 BONETE enjoys this trip and is drawn well against a weaker field than she faced last time 8 ELEMBEE ran well against a promising sort last time and should be right there 6 ESCAPE ARTIST is drawn well and if repeating her penultimate start can go close 3 SAY YES has the ability to be involved (1-8-6-3)

R8 5 LIBECCIO is 1,5kg better off with Run For Cover for a 1,25 length beating and has a better draw 2 RUN FOR COVER has improved with blinkers and won well last time but he does have a much tougher draw now over a step up in trip which should suit 11 WRITTEN IN STONE is capable of better than his last two and tries a step up in trip 7 CARNELO is always thereabouts and has a fair draw (5-2-11-7)

The Lucinda Russell-trained Corach Rambler wins the 2023 Grand National under Derek Fox (Picture: Daily Express)

Significant changes have been made to the Grand National for 2024. The alterations have been made after animal rights protesters ambushed the 2023 event, causing a delay of 15 minutes. However, the Jockey Club insists that the changes did not come as a direct response to those protests.

The most significant changes are as follows:

• The field has been reduced from 40 horses to a maximum of 34. Evidence shows a correlation between the size of a field and the risk of horses falling.
• The first fence has been brought forward, towards the start line, by 60 yards in order to reduce the speed at which the horses reach it.
• The start will now be a standing start at the tape, rather than the traditional rolling start. This change is also designed to reduce the speed that horses arrive at the first obstacle.
• Each horse must have an official rating of at least 130 (rather than 125) and will be scrutinised for jumping errors before being permitted to enter.
• Fence 11 has been reduced in height by two inches and will be have the drop on the landing side reduced.
• Horses will no longer be led onto the course by a handler before the race, instead being released to canter in front of the grandstands.
• The start time has been moved from 5.15pm to 4pm.

Wyzeact (Act Of War) gives Corne Spies a treble and Marco van Rensburg a double (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Corne Spies took a team of five horses down to today’s  Hollywoodbets Greyville poly meeting to contest four races and he emerged with three winners, two of them ridden by Marco van Rensburg.

Rachel Venniker and Richard Fourie also rode doubles.

Fourie is now on 212 wins at a strike rate of 21.81% and his projected number of wins for the season is now 243.

Venniker is on 40 wins at 9.59%.

Van Rensburg is on 13 wins at 8.39%.

Spies is on eleven wins at 6.59%.

Wendy Whitehead still leads the KZN Trainers Championship with 32 wins to the 30 apiece of Gareth van Zyl and Garth Puller, with Mike Miller on 28 and Alyson Wright on 27.

Picture: Greyville in the early days.

Why was the July 100 years ago in 1924 a particularly celebrated occasion?

in 1924 Durban celebrated its centenary, it being 100 years cince Lt. Francis George and Harry Fynn arrived at the little port aboard the Julia and Antelope with about 25 companions and were given a grant of land by Shaka which they proclaimed as a British posession.

The E Ryan-trained British-bred five-year-old Oriel (Alberoni) won the race ridden by J Lieveaux.