Daniel Tarry’s gesture sums up what most viewers felt after the running of the Gr 1 Golden Horse Sprint won by a low-flying Lucky Lad i.e. “How did he do that?!” (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Sean Tarry had a simple explanation for Lucky Lad’s disappointing unplaced run in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge on Saturday and he took time to talk about all of his other horses too.

“I don’t think he got the mile,” said Tarry.

He said Lucky Lad, who ran in the race a week after his breathtaking win in the Gr 1 Golden Horse Sprint, had come out of the race well and was still on track for the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Cousin Casey made it a second runner up finish in succession in KZN when beaten just 2,20 lengths in the Gr 1 wfa Gold Challenge on Saturday.

It was a fine comeback after his Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Challenge run, where he was eased out of the race.

Tarry said the evidence pointed to him being capable of staying the 2200m trip of the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

He said, “He got beat 2,30 lengths in the Daily News last year (when he was unlucky too) and he got beat 1,80 lengths in the Met before that. So, I don’t know why I shouldn’t believe he stays, it is in black and white for everybody to see.”

Cousin Casey has taken a bit of a hold early on in some of his races recently, but Sean said, “I think he’s settling way better than he was, I’m not unhappy at the moment.”

S’Manga Khumalo has ridden him in his last two starts in KZN, with the Gold Challenge second being preceded by a 0,25 length second to Royal Aussie in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes.

Sean confirmed S’Manga will be aboard for the July. Both Sean and S’Manga will be going for their third respective wins in the big race and they have done it together once, with Heavy Metal (Silvano) in 2013.

Sean said about possible overseas campaigns for the Gimmethegreenlight colt Lucky Lad, “That is jumping the gun a little bit, we can’t get ahead of ourselves on what he beat. There were a few horses out at the weights, but he seems to get it done anyway. It’s exciting to watch, but the horses in the firing line are not superstars.”

Lucky Lad clinched Tarry his 20th Gr 1 win at Hollywoodbets Scottsville when winning the Gr 1 Golden Horse Sprint, where he carried 54,5kg and was one of only four horses who were in the handicap i.e. not running under sufferance.

However, an inkling of why he is so successsful as a trainer came in his reply to the question, “How did you feel about getting your 20th Gr 1 win there?”

He replied, “I would feel a lot better if it was 22!”

Tarry has twice gone within an ace of landing the grandslam at the Festival Of Speed meeting i.e. winning all four Gr 1s on the day, as he has twice had three Gr 1 wins coupled with a narrow miss in the other Gr 1.

So this year’s return of six Gr 1 runners on the day for two wins, three seconds and a third was not actually his best ever performance at the meeting, amazingly enough.

It did at least amaze his son Daniel, who later spoke of how his father had bought Lucky Lad back from a wind operation to be looking, and running, as well as he ever had.

The yard’s other Gr 1 winner on the day was the two-year-old Gimmethegreenlight colt Proceed, who won the Gold Medallion.

Sean said he was likely to now be targeted at the Gr 1 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m on Hollywoodbets Durban July day.

He said, “He came out of that last race very well. He’s done nothing wrong over sprints and it’s hard to say he’s going to improve over 1400m, but I do think he’ll be able to step up.”

Cosmic Speed (Querari) came from a wide draw in the Gold Medallion and was a 0,75 length second, so Tarry was also thinking of the Golden Horseshoe for him.

In the Gr 1 Allan Robertson his The United States filly Rodeo Drive came from a wide draw and was snared late in the day by Quid Pro Quo and beaten just 0,30 lengths. She will also be nominated for July day. The Gr 2 Golden Slipper over 1400m is the fillies race on the day, but trainers often nominate their fillies for the colts and geldings event too, in case they draw wide in the fillies race.

Mrs Browning (Rafeef) was caught late in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint and beaten a long-head by October Morn and the big What A Winter feeling Winter Greeting was a 3,45 length third.

Tarry said he was considering nominating both horses for the Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m on July day, although he added he might even nominate Winter Greeting for the Gr 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes.

Winter Greeting tends to race a bit too hard early, but she should otherwise get a mile, and the Garden Province does not look likely to be a vintage renewal this year.

Tarry also has two other July entries still standing, besides Cousin Casey, in Future Pearl and Hotarubi.

Future Pearl runs in the Gr 3 Track And Ball Derby over 2400m on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Future Pearl did the “Stayers Triple Crown” last season, but has been unplaced in four starts between 1400m and 2000m this season.

Tarry said, “He had a few niggles and we just went slowly with him at the start of the season and we have built him up. Unfortunately, he ended up in front last time, which is not the way he runs, so we can ignore his last run, but he’s making good progress.  I’m quite happy with him.”

Saturday’s race will be a last gasp atttempt for Future Pearl to get into the July final field.

Hotarubi has done little wrong all season. He finished a three length fifth and a 2,5 length fourth in the Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m and Gr 1 SA Derby over 2450m respectively and followed that with a narrow second in the Gr 2 Colorado King Stakes over 2000m. He was also earlier third in a Gr 3 over 1400m and second in the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas.

However, in his last start he finished a 6,95 length seventh in the Daily News 2000, when suffering a nightmare wide trip, and he was consequently dropped out of the top 20 on the Hollywoodbets Durban July log.

Two top 20 in the log incumbents have been scratched though and Sean said, “I’m very happy with the horse, he’s doing well. I don’t believe the Daily News was a true run run race, but if he gets in, he gets in, if he doesn’t, we’ll have to put a plan B.”

Mid Winter Wind ran fifth in the Daily News 2000 but Sean said he had been sold. He was a Drakenstein Stud homebred.

Picture: Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup winner Regional was bought for 3,500 guineas at the Tattersalls July Sale

The Tattersalls July Sale might attract interest in South Africa with the  recent opening up of direct flights to Europe, which will put the SA industry more in touch with the international scene. What makes it even more attractive is Tattersalls have a package in place for SA buyers which potentially subsidises their flights and subsidises their accommodation (see advertisement below)

The catalogue is now available online (see below for all the details).

917 Lots Catalogued for Europe’s Premier Midsummer Sale

The catalogue for the 2024 Tattersalls July Sale can be viewed online at www.tattersalls.com, with a physical copy published on Thursday 13th June. Numbering 917 lots, the sale comprises 819 horses and fillies in/out of training and 89 broodmares, six of which have foals at foot. Taking place Tuesday 9th – Thursday 11th July, the three-day sale features high class consignments from many of the world’s leading owner-breeders including Godolphin, Juddmonte and Shadwell Estates.

Long established as Europe’s premier midsummer sale, the Tattersalls July Sale has been a consistent source of top-level success through both its graduates on the racecourse and their progeny, including Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup winner REGIONAL who was bought for 3,500 guineas as well as star Australian Group 1 winning filly AMELIA’S JEWEL whose dam BUMBASINA was purchased for 75,000 guineas.

Godolphin, Juddmonte Farms and Shadwell Estates have 81 lots catalogued between them, while the 89 broodmares in the catalogue include mares in foal to proven Group 1 sires BLUE POINT, CAMELOT, GALIWAY, HAVANA GREY, KINGMAN, MAKE BELIEVE, MEHMAS, NO NAY NEVER, SHOWCASING, STARSPANGLEDBANNER, TEOFILO and TERRITORIES.

Young sires are equally well represented with mares in foal to BAAEED, BAYSIDE BOY, BLACKBEARD, DRAGON SYMBOL, LUCKY VEGA, MOSTAHDAF, MUTASAABEQ, NATIVE TRAIL, PALACE PIER, SHAQUILLE, STATE OF REST, STRADIVARIUS and SUPREMACY. Several stallions impressing with their first crop of runners are also represented, with mares in foal to PINATUBO, SANDS OF MALI, SERGEI PROKOFIEV and WITHOUT PAROLE all likely to attract attention.

The Godolphin draft at the July Sale is always highly sought after and this year looks set to be no exception with plenty of outstanding pedigrees amongst the Godolphin consigned broodmares. ART OF MAGIC, a multiple Listed-placed daughter of INVINCIBLE SPIRIT from the family of MAGNA GRECIA and TERRITORIES, will be offered in foal to BLUE POINT, whilst KAZZIANA, by SHAMARDAL out of the 1000 Guineas and Oaks winner KAZZIA, is in foal to BAAEED. Well-bred fillies amongst the Godolphin consignment include JOYFUL ACT, a FRANKEL filly out of the 1000 Guineas and Irish Oaks winner BLUE BUNTING, CRYSTAL OF TIME, a DARK ANGEL half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner NATIONS PRIDE, and BRIDESTONES, a Listed-placed TEOFILO filly out of Group 1 Fillies’ Mile winner WHITE MOONSTONE.

Other mares sure to attract attention include Baroda Stud’s HOPE DIAMOND, a GALILEO half-sister to Champion filly DANEDREAM, offered in foal to NO NAY NEVER with a NO NAY NEVER filly foal at foot, and Domini Wright’s COUGAR ANNIE, a TORONADO half-sister to the exciting Group 2 Dante Stakes winner ECONOMICS out of the multiple Group 2 winner LA POMME D’AMOUR. New England Stud will offer QUICK MARCH, dam of impressive debut winner and leading Royal Ascot hope MAKE HASTE, in foal to NATIVE TRAIL, and NEW ROMANCE, a DUBAWI daughter of the multiple Group 2 winner BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE whose half-brother ROMIEU ran out a smart winner on debut at Compiegne.

The André Fabre-trained LOPE DE VEGA three-year-old colt ROMIEU will also be offered at the Tattersalls July Sale and is one of a host of promising colts and geldings set to be offered by Godolphin alongside Group 2 Gimcrack winner NOBLE STYLE who is catalogued as lot 863.

The Juddmonte draft contains many eye-catching lots and the draft of fillies and mares includes ARIZONA JEWEL, dam of Listed winners JEWEL HOUSE and DESERT DIAMOND, covered by PALACE PIER and from the family of FRANKEL, NOBLE MISSION and POWERSCOURT, EMBODY, a three-year-old ACCLAMATION own sister to Breeders’ Cup Mile winner EXPERT EYE, as well as ANACAPA, a three-year-old FRANKEL filly out of the multiple Grade 1 winner VENTURA, and CALABRIA, a three-year-old daughter of KINGMAN out of Group 1 winner ROMANTICA from the family of BANKS HILL and HASILI. Winning three-year-old Juddmonte colts and geldings in training include FIRE DEMON, rated 99 by Timeform, and TREMAINE, rated 86 by Timeform.

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The dam of Australian Group 1 winner Amelia’s Jewel was purchased for 75,000 guineas by Astute Bloodstock at the Tattersalls July Sale

Buyers focused on horses in training are well catered for, with an abundance of winning proven and unexposed performers amongst the 819 horses in/out of training catalogued. The 105 Timeform rated DAVIDEO will be offered by Imperium Sales, with the GALILEO four-year-old half-brother to Group 1 winners TIME WARP and GLORIOUS FOREVER last seen winning over 1m 4f on his only start this season. Another four-year-old who will prove popular is the Listed placed Glebe House Stables consigned SERIOUS CHALLENGE who boasts a Timeform rating of 106+.

Three-year-olds sure to catch the eye include PORTSMOUTH, the Andrew Balding-trained son of GLENEAGLES who is rated 91p by Timeform, and SEA THE POLARIS, a colt by SEA THE STARS out of the Listed winner SEQUILLA consigned by Avenue Sales who is rated 95 by Timeform having shed his maiden tag on his latest start.

Jamie Railton is set to offer exciting three-year-olds EVADE, a WOOTTON BASSETT colt rated 111p by Timeform following his winning seasonal debut in the Listed Surrey Stakes at Epsom on Oaks Day, BRITISH CAMP, a LOPE DE VEGA colt who won on debut and earned a Timeform rating of 89P, and the STUDY OF MAN colt JUBILEE WALK, rated 106 by Timeform having won his last three starts. The draft also includes recent two-year-old debutante winner DEL RAY, a daughter of exciting first-season sire KAMEKO out of the Listed winning and Group 3 placed AN GHALANTA, making her a half-sister to the Listed winners TIME SCALE and MIAHARRIS.

The 152 strong draft from The Castlebridge Consignment includes BREMEN, the GALILEO own brother to Group 1 winner WARM HEART rated 103 by Timeform, and ADELAISE, an unexposed daughter of LAWMAN last seen winning the Listed Snowdrop Stakes and rated 105 by Timeform.

Commenting on the 2024 Tattersalls July Sale, Tattersalls Chairman Edmond Mahony said:

“REGIONAL, a 3,500 guineas purchase who has gone on to win the Group 1 Haydock Sprint Cup, as well as BUMBASINA, dam of star Australian filly AMELIA’S JEWEL, are prime examples of the outstanding quality to be found at all levels of the market at the Tattersalls July Sale. Quality and diversity are the hallmarks of Europe’s premier midsummer sale and this year’s catalogue as ever looks set to appeal to buyers from throughout the world.”

The season’s goal and an accompanying bonus is reached! (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Ken Nicol uses his handicapping skills to find winning rides for the record breaker

Mike Moon (The Citizen)

Last weekend, Richard Fourie broke the record for most winners in a season, a mark that had stood for more than a quarter of a century and carried a R1-million bonus prize if topped. It was a phenomenal achievement, but he couldn’t have done it on his own.

Behind every sporting hero is a team who facilitate the glory. To his credit, as plaudits rain upon him, Fourie mentions “so many people to thank”.

Jockeys’ agents are among the racing game’s unsung heroes, spending most of their time at desks, staring at screens and racecards, dissecting form lines and weight scales to pick the best rides they can for their clients. From the sidelines, they watch the acclaim, shouts of victory in the winner’s circle and glowing words in the media.

In Fourie’s case, the man in question is Ken Nicol, who has done a tremendous job in providing the raw material for the ace rider to fashion into history.

It was said that retired former champion jockey Anthony Delpech’s record of 334 wins in the 1998/99 season would never be eclipsed. That was because there is nowadays less racing each week in South Africa and the amount of travelling and disruption to personal life needed to rack up such a number was barely humanly possible.

Dave & Richard – A Tale of Two Kings at Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge Day
Nicol – definitely not one to seek attention for himself – attributes the phenomenal achievement mainly to Fourie’s special qualities as a person.

“Richard is a supremely talented athlete,” he comments. “But to do what he has done this season a lot more is needed.

“And his greatest asset is his positivity. Which is completely essential when you come away empty handed (rare these days) on a freezing winter afternoon and then have to sit at the airport for hours waiting for your flight to the next town. He always looks on the bright side.”

Nicol continues: “He is a genuinely nice guy. We get on very well, which is one of the reasons our working relationship has endured. And the success also helps of course!”

That working relationship has lasted for four years. Nicol has done bookings for other jockeys in the past, but the Fourie record chase means he now devotes all his time to one man.

“Richard has ridden five or six days a week this season, so it keeps me busy. I may take on someone else in the future.”

Nicol’s superpower as an agent is his experience as an official handicapper for the National Horseracing Authority – and, just maybe, his work as a racing journalist of note.

“I was at the NHA from the middle of 2010 to, I think, February 2015. I was retrenched along with a number of other people due to ‘restructuring’ carried out by the long-forgotten CEO Lyndon Barends, who left not long afterwards under an extremely dark cloud.

“Turns out I do know a bit about ratings after all (lol).”

He says handicapping skills are a big aid.

“You can identify horses that are theoretically ‘well in’. Particularly with all the artificial restrictions placed upon the official handicappers these days.

“Despite all that, I have learned to trust my own gut feel on occasion, which is sometimes contrary to the pure numbers.”

A good example of gut feel is the horse Future Swing, which Fourie was booked to ride in the 2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July soon after he’d cracked the record.

“Future Swing is a full 4.5kg out on official merit ratings, but both Richard and I feel he will be extremely competitive with 54kg. But let’s see what happens.”

Nicol maintains his own database of horses and he starts sifting through race entries “the second they come out”.

He explains that the best rides will be in demand and time is of the essence. “Sometimes you make a commitment even before the weights come out, but that is less common.

“In handicaps, you try and find an edge. Maybe the horse was baulked last time. Or has dropped 25 MR points over the past year and is now looking competitive again.

“And at some tracks the draw is paramount, with Greyville probably the best example.”

Asked about difficulties encountered, Nicol laughs and says, “some trainers”.

Unlike a previous client, Bernard Fayd’Herbe, who is restricted to heavily weighted horses, Fourie’s minimum weight limit is 54kg – and 53kg for a Grade 1 race “with plenty of notice”.

Nicol does all the phoning to make bookings. “But obviously sometimes things are offered to Richard directly when he rides work etcetera. But we liaise on a regular basis, particularly when it comes to the big races.”

Fourie has never before targeted the title “in a serious manner”.

“But we got 258 wins last season, only 19 behind eventual champion Keagan de Melo’s 277. And that was without ever consciously ‘chasing’.

“So, we knew it was extremely achievable. And when Hollywoodbets put up the R1-million bonus, we became a lot more focused!”

With seven weeks of the season still to run, the team don’t have a specific goal in terms of setting the new record number and will be “gearing back a little” with the primary objective achieved.

The duo have discussed next season’s plans but decline to go into detail at the moment.

Picture: The winning team (including Julie) with Pretty Reliable

It’s fair to say that the Alexander family was a part of the fabric of South African racing for almost eight decades

They are now making it in Australian racing and Charl Pretorius caught up with them and penned an article in his Off The Record column.

CLICK HERE TO READ CHARL’S ARTICLE ABOUT THE ALEXANDERS

Kieran Shoemark Credit: PA:Press Association

Top jockey Kieran Shoemark: I’ve got it what it takes to replace Frankie Dettori in the biggest job in racing, he tells me how to ride certain horses – I can’t wait to discuss Royal Ascot with him

Following superstar jockey Frankie Dettori’s relocation to the USA last year, jockey Kieran Shoemark took over the mantle from the legendary Italian as number one jockey for trainers John & Thady Gosden.

Speaking to BoyleSports, who offer the latest Royal Ascot odds, Shoemark said:

• Replacing Dettori as John & Thady Gosden’s number one jockey wasn’t daunting

• I always ring him for advice and he is always willing to pick up the phone if I need him

• I’ll definitely be speaking to him for advice ahead of Royal Ascot

• Dettori was a larger-than-life person and I do wonder who can replace him as the face of our sport

It wasn’t daunting replacing Frankie Dettori as number one jockey

Frankie was on his farewell tour and I was asked to come in and ride out and it propelled from there. I started riding a few and Frankie decided in his last year he didn’t want to ride any two year olds, so I did some maidens and novice races in his place and it went from there.

It wasn’t daunting really because it was a gradual transition. Frankie was very much still around – I was just going in and riding when I was needed. I was still riding for (trainer) Charlie Hills but there was no real pressure.

We were in talks and there was a bit of uncertainty as to what Frankie was going to do. At the beginning of this year there was speculation and rumours, and it came to a point where John and Thady and I were all on the same page.

I am there to do a job for John and Thady Gosden – I don’t look at it as replacing Frankie Dettori

I don’t look at it like that. I am there to do a job for John and Thady (Gosden, trainers). I don’t look at it as if I am replacing Frankie Dettori because I can’t. I know he was associated with Clarehaven for many years and if I did look at it like that, then it could have been very daunting.

It is one of the biggest jobs in racing. John and Thady were champion trainers last year. It is a huge opportunity and one I am going to grab with both hands.

I look forward to what is to come. It is fair to say it has been a little bit of a steady start, but we are still early into the season and hopefully we have some nice horses to appear very soon.

Frankie has been so helpful since going to America – I can’t wait to catch up with him at Royal Ascot

He has been so helpful. I speak to him often in America, I give him a call if I am riding a horse I don’t know much about such as Arrest or Emily Upjohn or Inspiral. I gave him a call because I was riding these horses for the first time and I know these horses a bit better now. Frankie is very willing to offer his advice.

He is over here next week and I will definitely be speaking to him on Monday before Royal Ascot. I’ll look forward to seeing him there – he won’t be far from the action!

He’s been fantastic. He’s been the face of our sport for many, many years and he is a household name. Ask any of the general public and they will know who Frankie Dettori is.

Although he was such an imposing and important figure in our industry, I always appreciated the generosity of his time. He always had so much time to offer.

I wasn’t surprised he left for the States and he is smashing it over there

No, I wasn’t surprised. He always said there was nothing left for him in Europe and I would have been surprised if he’d stayed riding here and done a complete U-turn. He did the right thing.

He seems very fresh and he sounds like he has a great way of life in America. It is not too taxing on the body, so fair play to him. He is obviously smashing it over there.

Not many people share Frankie’s personality and I do wonder who could replace him as the face of our sport

People underestimate how special Frankie was and is. Not many people share his personality traits as such a larger-than-life character but I do wonder who the next person could be.

Oisin Murphy has shown he is a great character but I think he is not quite so out there as he was two or three years ago – he has reigned it in a bit.

I initially felt a little bit of extra pressure – but I can only ride the horse that is under me

In January and February, I would probably have said yes to feeling extra pressure. I have had to quickly adapt and realise that I can only ride the horse that is under me and the race that is presented to me.

I go out every day and do the best job for my trainer and the owners. I try not to let the pressure get to me as there is no benefit allowing pressures like that to creep in.

This year will be the busiest Royal Ascot for me with between 15 and 20- rides on the cards

The biggest and the busiest for me, that is fair to say. Over the five days I will be looking at between 15 and 20 rides and some high profile ones among them.

Inspiral in the Queen Anne is one. She had a fantastic year last year, capping it off at the Breeders’ Cup. She returned in the Lockinge and needed the run, maybe more so than we anticipated. She has been in great order since.

Theory of Tides – I think he’ll run in the King Edward. Emily Upjohn has a couple of entries in the Prince of Wales and in the Hardwicke. Eben Shaddad had some nice juvenile form and ran well in the French Guineas I thought, and he will run in the Jersey Stakes. Jack Darcy could run in the Wolverton.

It is fair to say that Clarehaven might be a little light on quality this year – there is no big superstar like Enable.

I will take it day by day – I don’t have a target in mind. At the moment all I am thinking about is winning the Queen Anne as that would be a great way to kick off. I have only ever had one winner at Royal Ascot so I can’t be going there thinking about targets.

Every year I’ve ridden there I have been extremely well prepared. I walk the track the normal things. I won’t approach it any differently but naturally there will be more pressure.

Outside of racing – I love my rugby and cricket

Rugby, cricket, all sports really. I support Gloucester Rugby and used to go to Kingsholm a lot. My favourite player was James Simpson-Daniel. Myself, I used to play for Stow On The Wold – I was a scrumhalf surprisingly!

In the winter I go skiing every year. I love doing that, every January we go off for a week. I am a bit of a phase man too. I go through little phases. Fishing was a hobby for a while and I exhausted it for about six months and haven’t taken the rods out of the shed since!

I love a bit of Bruce Springsteen and Oasis to listen to on the long drive to race meetings

I listen to a lot of podcasts. Tailenders with Greg James, the Radio1 DJ, Felix White from the Maccabees and Jimmy Anderson. It is really worth listening to and it is very amusing.

And music wise I love bands like Oasis, a bit of Springsteen – he is the man. And also Sam Fender, he is brilliant.

https://www.boylesports.com/sports/horse-racing/future-horses

The below chart shows the annual Royal Ascot program, which includes eight Group 1 races: