Fourie Barometer 389 (updated after racing on 20/06/2024)

The Van Zyls Are Bullish About Flag Man

Flag Man makes it a third successive win and a second win for the Van Zyl yard on may 11 at Hollywodbets Greyville (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

The Gareth van Zyl-trained Flag Man has burst in to the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July picture seemingly from nowhere and this has once again proved what a great eye for a horse Gareth’s father Gavin van Zyl has.

Gareth said, “Flag Man caught my Dad’s eye when he won his maiden plate. That is why we bought him from Garth Puller.”

Gavin famously bought a filly called Along Came Polly in training just over ten years ago after she had caught his eye in one of her early starts and she went on to become a twice Gr 1 winner.

There have likely been more purchases in between her and Flag Man and the latter did not take long to justify the decision to buy him.

Now owned by Larry Nestadt, Reon Barnard, Dave MacLean and Gary Player, he won his first two starts for the Van Zyl yard over 1600m and 1900m respectively and he then finished second in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000, which is traditionally the biggest three-year-old pointer to the July.

Gareth gives him a definite chance of giving the Van Zyls a first win of the country’s most famous race, the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Flag Man’s head second in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 surprised many pundits, because he was merit rated only 92 and in his previous start had beaten another Daily News runner The Grey King by just 1,40 lengths and had to face the latter on 5kg worse terms.

However, the money which came for Flag Man told a story, because he started at odds of 10/1 whilst The Grey King started 33/1.

Flag Man stayed on strongly from a handy position and was only just caught by the hot 67/100 favourite Green With Envy.

This finish also saw some history repeating itself for the Van Zyls, because eleven years earlier in 2013 the unconsidered Gavin van Zyl-trained 90/1 shot No Worries flew late from the back of a vintage field in the Daily News 2000 and failed by a short-head to catch Vercingetorix, with Capetown Noir next best and Wylie Hall and Rock Cocktail in fourth and fifth respectively.

Of course the name Vercingetorix has added value to that memory as he is currently the country’s most sought after stallion – it is just a matter of time before he becomes Champion.

Flag Man vindicated the yard’s belief in him with that magnificent Daily News performance.

Green With Envy, unlike his effortless win in the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby, had to pull out all the stops to beat Flag Man and as a consequence the pair left some good horses strung out like the washing behind them.

The handicappers thus gave Green With Envy a four point raise to 127 and Flag Man was given a 126, which means the pair have been set weights of 56kg and 55,5kg respectovely to carry in the big race.

Nevertheless, on collateral formlines they still have a fine chance and the bookmakers believe so too with the sponsor making them 3/1 and 25/2 shots respectively.

Another reason for the purchase of Flag Man could have been that he is a half-brother to a filly Gavin used to train called Admire Me (Capetown Noir), a capable sort who won four times and reached a merit rating of 99.

Gareth said about Flag Man, “He’s obviously progressed and I think you could say he’s exceeding our expectations.”

Gareth said Flag Man had been doing very well in his preparation for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

He has not decided yet what the plan for the July gallops will be.

Garth Puller is a fine horseman in his own right, but the sire of Flag Man, Flying The Flag, with just two stakes winners from 136 runners, has hardly set the world alight, so he can be forgiven for letting Flag Man go.

The gentlemanly Puller does not harbour any ill feeling anyway and Gareth said, “He’s taken it well, he probably didn’t expect him to do as well as he has done, but he has been a gentleman about it and is a fan of the horse.”

Another fine horseman in the country is advocate Altus Joubert, who took in the former KZN-based Flying The Flag for his Riethuiskraal boutique bloodstock operation near the coastal town of Stilbaai a couple of years ago.

He would have noticed how deep Flying The Flag’s pedigree runs.

Flying The Flag’s sire Galileo needs no introduction and his dam by Pivotal was a three-times Group 1 winner who produced the five-times Group 1-winning full-sister to Flying The Flag, Magical, as well as the three-times Group 1-winning full-sister to Flying The Flag, Rhododendron.

Rhododendron is the dam of none other than the sensational Auguste Rodin, who yesterday (Wednesday) added the Gr 1 Prince Of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot to his wins of the Epsom Derby, Irish Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Turf and he also won a Gr 1 as a two-year-old.

The richness in the pedigree is now coming out in Flag Man.

Altus said there had been no outside support for Flying The Flag whatsoever, but he added, “I used him quite a lot last year, more than I thought I would, because he produced some nice horses the year before, really, that’s why I gave him more mares this time around. And he’s an easy horse because he doesn’t have leg issues and he throws good size, so he’s a nice horse to use.”

Flying The Flag was not the same class as his two celebrated sisters but he did win a Gr 3 over ten furlongs at the Curragh.

It willl be interesting to see whether Flag Man’s success, not to mention the most recent exploits of Auguste Rodin, brings about any outside interest in the stallion.

Clifton, Hoping For Second July Flagbearer, Also Have Ties To The Favourite

Classic Flag wins the Durban July in 1998. (Picture: Gold Circle)

Peter and Jenny Blyth of Clifton Stud will be hoping Flag Man becomes the farm’s second Hollywoodbets Durban July winner and the name of the horse could be an omen for the superstitious, because their first July winner was called Classic Flag.

Flying The Flag gelding Flag Man burst in to the July picture when second to Green With Envy in the Daily News 2000 and by an amazing quirk of fate the dams of both horses used to be paddock companions, for at least three years, at Clifton Stud.

Peter explained that Lady Christine Laidlaw, who owns and bred Green With Envy, had about five broodmares she boarded in KZN, whom she was putting to her own stallion Capetown Noir, who was standing in KZN.

These mares included the dam of Green With Envy, Miss Coco, who is an Irish-bred by Galileo, and the dam of Flag Man, Irresistable Chris, who is a Brazilian-bred by Mark Of Esteem.

Both mares boarded at Clifton Stud.

When Lady Laidlaw later withdrew her operation from KZN she decided to sell all of the aformentioned mares except for one, Miss Coco. Ske kept her because she was so well bred and it turned out to be an intuitive decision because she has gone on to produce the now twice Gr 1 winner and current Hollywoodbets Durban July favourite, Green With Envy.

Peter was interested in one of the mares and bought Irresistable Chris from Lady Laidlaw.

He thus also inherited two of Irresistable Chris’s Capetown Noir foals, Admire Me and Capetown Beauty. She had the former at foot and was in foal with the latter.

Admire Me and Capetown Beauty are now not only both four-time winners but they also both won three-in-a-row. The former Gavin van Zyl-trained Admire Me reached a merit rating off 99, while Capetown Beauty reached a merit rating of 101 when trained by Wayne Badenhorst. Capetown Beauty is presently trained by Garth Puller and will have a couple more runs before returning to Clifton Stud as a broodmare.

Flag Man has followed in his half-sisters footsteps by also winning three-in-a-row, although he has since outstripped them with his superb Daily News 2000 performance, which saw his merit rating soaring to 126.

Peter explained the reason for sending Irresistable Chris to Flying Flag, “At that stage we in KZN thought we had a bomb of a stallion – here is a horse who is by Galileo and is a full-brother to Rhododendron, who is now the dam of Auguste Rodin, and Flying The Flag was also a full-brother to Magical! He didn’t fire, but wouldn’t it be a joke if Flag Man wins the July and everybody will be saying ‘why aren’t we using this Flying The Flag?!'”

So, Green With Envy and Flag Man not only have a common link to Clifton Stud, but both also have Galileo close up in their pedigrees.

Tragically, Irresistable Chris had a birth complication with her last foal and this ultimately led to both her and the foal passing away despite all efforts to save them.

However, the benefit of Flag Man’s success will still be reaped by Clifton Stud to some extent, not only through Admire Me and Capetown Beauty, but also through a Canford Cliffs colt who will be at the BSA KZN Yearling Sale on July 4. Canford Cliffs is on a phenomenal run at present and that should also help.

Peter has been in the thoroughbred breeding game his whole life and the farm he was originally on in Mpumalanga, near Lothair close to the border of Swaziland, had been in his family for nearly 100 years when he was forced to move due to it looking likely to be absorbed by a government concern.

He and Jenny then moved to the KZN Midlands in 2008.

Peter’s father Tim started breeding thoroughbreds in 1945 and was not a commercial breeder. He leased most of the horses he bred and was closely associated with Felix Coetzee’s family, including the latter’s father Hennie, who later became a Summerveld trainer. However, Tim’s chief trainer was Hennie’s brother Loekie, who trained in Johannesburg.

Tim and Loekie had many winners together and the former’s black and white quartered silks with red sleeves and a cap are still used by Clifton Stud today.

Tim also had his professional training license for a bit, but he chiefly trained horses himself for bush racing. In 1950 he won the Mbabane Gymkhana Club trophy over eight furlongs for the third time, on that occasion with a horse called Black Banjo. He was thus awarded the floating trophy permanently and it is proudly displayed in the Blyth household today.

Peter began breeding commercially in about 1984, which was the first year he sent horses to the sales.

Classic Flag was a 1994-born son of Clifton’s resident stallion Allied Flag, who was by Danzig and came from one of the best families of the major Kentucky USA breeding farm, Lanes End.

Classic Flag gave trainer David Ferraris a second successive July victory in 1998 and Anthony Delpech a first. He was also named Horse Of The Year.

Peter misses his old farm near Lothair a lot and spoke of the magnificent stable blocks his father built out of sandstone.

However, right now the Blyths are dreaming of more July glory. Can Flag Man join Classic Flag as a kingpin in the farm’s long and illustrious history?

Sandringham Summit Retired To Stud

John Freeman Stallions Press Release:

You surely don’ t need any introduction to Equus Champ Sandringham Summit.

The purpose of this press release is to inform you that the syndicate that own him have decided to retire him from racing to stand at Varsfontein this season.

He will travel to the Cape as soon as movement can be arranged.

We commissioned a short video as a reminder of his superb racing career.

Here it is:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YSIAlHNxKE3oNW7rPuXOvvwPqtrS7b_3/view?usp=sharing ]

Enjoy!

Sandringham Summit is very syndicated and already has over 100 mares booked. There are a few nominations still available but I am confident that his book will be full soon.

Gaynor Rupert Homebred Out Of Trippi Mare 2nd In Brittania

Skukuza, in the familiar Drakenstein Stud colours, is just three-quarters of a length shy of the winner Mickley at the line (Picture: Sky Sports)

Royal Ascot straight mile handicap The Brittania Stakes is nearing its 100th renewal and today South Africans cheered as the Ed Dunlop-trained Skukuza ran on strongly from off the pace to claim a clear second place in the 29 horse field at odds of 16/1.

Skukuza is a Cayton Park Stud homebred and the latter is the UK breeding operation of Gaynor Rupert, owner out here of South Africa’s current champion breeders and champion owners, Drakenstein Stud.

Skukuza runs in the familiar Drakenstein colours, cornflower blue with a white square and cornflower blue sleeves and cap.

Skukuza is a three-year-old colt by Blue Point out of Trippi mare Shingwedzi, who was out of a Sadler’s Wells mare.

Shingwedzi won three races from 1600m to 1800m in SA, including the Oaks Plate on the Fairview poly, and she did well in stakes races inluding three Gr 2 thirds, a Gr 3 third and fourth, and two Listed runner up finishes.

Shingwedzi was effective from a mile up to 3200m.

Skukuza was patiently ridden by Callum Shepherd today and sat at the back of the group that ran down the middle.

When asked the question he ran on powerfully and for a brief moment it looked like he could even catch the eventual winner Mickley, who had been more handy in the same centre group.

Skukuza, who carried the same weight of 8 stone 11 pounds as the winner, was only 0,75 lengths shy at the line.

Mickley, who is by Soldier’s Call, gave Yorkshire trainer Ed Bethell and jockey Callum Rodriguez their respective first Royal Ascot winners.

He converted odds of 15/2.

Just before the race Jonathan Snaith was interviewed on the live Royal Ascot television feed, which would have been beamed to millions around the world.

He did an excellent job of promoting South African racing.

He spoke of the current wave of optimism among the South African racing fraternity, especially the breeders, due to the opening of direct flights to Europe again after a wait of well over a decade.

He said South African horses could well be seen at the Royal Ascot meeting next year.

Asked whether they would be good enough he said it would only be known once they took part, but he was confident they would be.

Skukuza then came out a few minutes later and proved the point.

Anthony Andrews/Janet Carolin Emperors Palace Ride Of Month Winners

Anthony Andrews did his homework before using outstanding pace judgement to win easily on the Brett Crawford-trained The Futurist

Anthony Andrews was a landslide winner of the Emperor’s Palace Ride Of The Month competition for May for his ride on The Futurist in the Gr 3 Pocket Power Stakes over 1950m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, which the Futura gelding won by 9,25 lengths.

The first correct voter to be drawn out of the hat in the draw for the prize was Janet Carolin

She wins:

1 x Night stay at Graceland for 2 including breakfast
1 x round of golf for 2
1 x Dinner Voucher

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE ABOUT GRACELAND’S STAY AND PLAY GOLF PACKAGES

Here is the Turf Talk description of Anthony’s ride and the replay can be clicked on at the bottom:

5. Anthony Andrews The Futurist Gr 3 Pocket Power Stakes over 1950m 26 May

Andrews had never ridden The Futurist before but knew from watching him and speaking to other jockeys that this horse liked to stretch out in front and did not like to be reined in as that just caused him to increase his speed. “You just have to trust his speed,” said Andrews after the race. The other riders were severely criticised in this race for allowing The Futurist to get away, but Andrews rode the horse to perfection and the fractions he went at were spot on. He romped in by 9,25 lengths at 33/1 odds.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH ANTHONY’S RIDE

Find Some Passion At Fairview

Outer Dimension is tipped to win the 6th race (Pauline Herman Photography)

Tab4Racing

It is another difficult card for Fairview on Friday, but we have found a few bets that could offer some value.

Hopefully the rain stays away and they race on the turf because in the opening event, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m, Tara Laing-trained Federicos Passion should be the right one.

This Hat Puntano colt produced a cracking debut when a one-length runner-up behind speedy Cool Cat.

The two-year-old grey colt showed signs of inexperience but was making good ground on the winner in the closing stages and should be a lot smarter for that run.

Jockey Raymond Danielson was aboard him that day, but it will be stable jockey Chase Maujean aboard this time.

Trainer Kelly Mitchley has her runners in fine shape and has done well so far with Harold The Duke and he could win Race 5, a MR 76 Handicap over 2400m.

This Duke Of Marmalade gelding has done well in his four starts under her care and he did break his maiden over this distance.

Jockey S’manga Khumalo knows the horse well and has won on him. A good draw should help Khumalo give the five-year-old gelding the run of the race.

Forest Spy was a good juvenile so it was tough watching him struggle in his three-year-old season. But he has come back of late, with two wins in his last three starts, and could run well at a decent price in Race 8, a MR 78 Handicap over 1000m.

Forest Spy quickened well when winning last time out and although he carries a six-point penalty for that win it is worth noting that the runner-up that day, Jewel Cat, won earlier this month.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 2 Fredericos Passion, 9 First Wish, 5 Nikes Ray Of Light, 7 Union Rose

Race 2: 6 Ginger Palace, 4 Fantasy Girl, 3 Extraction, 7 Global Scene

Race 3: 9 September Flower, 10 Tartan Queen, 2 String Of Lights, 4 Bella Attrice

Race 4: 9 Statesman, 1 King Of Queen, 3 Specmagic, 12 Mister Speaker

Race 5: 8 Harold The Duke, 6 Exhale, 3 Juan Carlos, 5 Nothingelsematters

Race 6: 7 Outer Dimension, 1 Scampton, 2 Launch Code, 4 Sand Bank

Race 7: 2 For All We Know, 3 Treasure Hunt, 7 Twice To Heaven, 1 As Fate Has It

Race 8: 5 Forest Spy, 3 Siberian Steel, 1 Tuscan Gold, 6 Son Of Zeus

BEST BET

Race 1 No 2 Fredericos Passion

VALUE BET

Race 8 No 5 Forest Spy

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 2×6

BIPOT

R72

Leg 1: 2

Leg 2: 4, 6

Leg 3: 9, 10

Leg 4: 1, 9

Leg 5: 3, 6, 8

Leg 6: 1, 2, 7

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R96

Leg 1: 4, 6

Leg 2: 9

Leg 3: 1, 9

Leg 4: 6, 8

Leg 5: 1, 2, 7

Leg 6: 2

Leg 7: 1, 3, 5, 6

PICK 6

R768

Leg 1: 9, 10

Leg 2: 1, 9

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 7

Leg 5: 2

Leg 6: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13, 17

JACKPOT 1

R48

Leg 1: 1, 9

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 7

Leg 4: 2

JACKPOT 2

R192

Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 7

Leg 3: 2

Leg 4: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 13, 17

Royal Ascot Day 4 Formguides And Selections

Opera Singer has been tipped to win the Gr 1 Coronation Stakes (Picture: Sporting Life)

At The Races

1 3:30 PM SA Time – Albany Stakes (Fillies’ Group 3)

Aidan O’Brien plays a strong hand as he bids for a third success in this race. While Heavens Gate is notable after breezing through a Curragh maiden last month, it is hard to look beyond FAIRY GODMOTHER as the stable’s best hope. Despite finding one too good when running green on debut at Naas, the daughter of Night Of Thunder reversed the form with the winner of that race, producing a power-packed finish in a Group 3 at the same venue last month. It has been all systems go at Ballydoyle for this since. The unbeaten Mountain Breeze can give the selection most to think about after a brace of novice wins at Newmarket. Hot Darling, a Listed scorer in France, and maiden winners Liberalised and Twafeeg appeal as each-way hopes.

Top Tip: FAIRY GODMOTHER (5)

Watch out for: MOUNTAIN BREEZE (11)

2 4:05 PM SA Time – Commonwealth Cup (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

After a ready success in the Group 3 Commonwealth Cup Trial Stakes on his previous outing, JASOUR can continue his upward trajectory and land a first Group 1. Clive Cox saddled Golden Horde to land this prize in 2020 and this son of Havana Grey can give him a second success in the race. Inisherin rates as the obvious danger after a comfortable win in the Sandy Lane at Haydock, but that form isn’t yet convincing after the well-fancied Vandeek under-performed. Elite Status should also be on the scene after an impressive success in Listed company at Newbury, while Starlust actually boasts the highest rating in this field and he isn’t easily discounted.

Top Tip: JASOUR (5)

Watch out for: INISHERIN (4)

3 4:45 PM SA Time – Coronation Stakes (Fillies’ Group 1) (British Champions Stakes) (Rnd)

The first three from the 1000 Guineas reoppose, but it can pay to side with OPERA SINGER. A brilliant winner of the Prix Marcel Boussac last October, connections were clear to point out that she would come on for her highly creditable third in the Irish 1,000 Guineas and now could be the time she is seen at her optimum. Elmalka narrowly saw off Porta Fortuna and Ramatuelle in the Newmarket Guineas, but it may be Donnacha O’Brien’s runner-up who fares best of that trio this time, having proven herself around a bend when touched off at the Breeders’ Cup.

Top Tip: OPERA SINGER (5)

Watch out for: PORTA FORTUNA (6)

4 5:25 PM SA Time – Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (Handicap)

Four of the last six renewals of this contest have gone the way of a four-year-old, so with that in mind, the vote goes to ETHICAL DIAMOND. The son of Awtaad was denied by the smallest of margins over 1m2f at Leopardstown in his preparation for this, shaping as if he would relish this extra distance. The booking of Ryan Moore catches the eye and he looks the one to be on, with his main threat possibly being Tony Montana, who seems to just do enough in his races, which possibly allows him to keep ahead of the handicapper. Michael Bell’s gelding is only 2lb higher for his Windsor success last month and he isn’t taken lightly, while Crystal Black and Deakin are just two others to consider in a wide-open heat.

Top Tip: ETHICAL DIAMOND (16)

Watch out for: TONY MONTANA (21)

5 6:05 PM SA Time – Sandringham Stakes (Fillies’ Handicap) (Str)

A typically-open renewal sees a whole host of of runners in with a chance, but it’s ASIAN DAZE who gets the tentative nod to give the 2021 winning combination of Johnny Murtagh and Ben Coen a second success in the race. This daughter of Frontiersman was only narrowly beaten by the reopposing Everlasting off level weights when second in Listed company over 1m at Navan earlier this month and she could reverse that form off a 5lb lower mark than Aiden O’Brien’s charge. The hat-trick seeking Indelible looks a leading player off a very tempting opening mark of 91 on his handicap bow, while Zaynab (first) and Flight Of Fancy (third) finished in front of the selection two starts ago and they are also worthy of consideration.

Top Tip: ASIAN DAZE (5)

Watch out for: INDELIBLE (17)

6 6:40 PM SA Time – King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2)

Agenda was no match for the ill-fated Hidden Law in the Chester Vase but that is a strong piece of form and he can mount another stern challenge, for a trainer that has landed two of the previous five renewals of this race. Stablemate Diego Velazquez finished a creditable fourth in the French Guineas before posting another solid performance in the Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly earlier this month. Upped further in trip and back on a sounder surface, he must be feared, but THEORY OF TIDES might be worth chancing. This is much tougher than the two novice events he has been successful in but the son of Galileo looks potentially a high-class performer and he could be up to the task. Space Legend was an unfortunate loser at Goodwood last time but he won’t be far away granted a clear passage, while French raider Calandagan should not be underestimated but he might prefer slower ground.

Top Tip: THEORY OF TIDES (12)

Watch out for: AGENDA (1)

7 7:15 PM SA Time – Palace Of Holyroodhouse Stakes (Handicap)

Although this is just the fifth renewal of this 5f contest for three-year-olds, it is interesting to note that the top six in the weights have yet to make the frame in the past four years. This is a stat that the well-fancied Jubilee Walk must overcome, but James Ferguson’s gelding still warrants respect having completed a hat-trick at York last month. However, it may pay to side with a less-exposed rival in DORNEY LAKE. The Ardad colt has impressed on both victories to date this season and an opening handicap mark of 90 may underestimate his ability. The unbeaten Dyrholaey is also open to more improvement than most and arrives here on the back of a gutsy victory at Newcastle. The Archie Watson-trained colt is feared most, while Epsom Dash scorer Blue Storm and Vantheman are just two others to consider in a wide-open finale.

Top Tip: DORNEY LAKE (21)

Watch out for: JUBILEE WALK (6)

Canford Cliffs Is On Fire

Three-year-old filly Jasiri is the first leg of a double for Canford Cliffs and is the second leg of a double for Gavin Lerena and Johan Janse van Vuuren (JC Photos)

Canford Cliffs is in the middle of an unbelievable run and has had no fewer than 14 individual winners this month at a phenomenal strike rate of 31.82%.

Today the Ridgemont-based stallion scored a double at the Vaal Classic track.

Other double scorers at the meeting were the Gavin Lerena/Johan Janse van Vuuren combination and also Stuart Pettigrew.

Lerena is now on 151 wins for the season and has achieved it at a strike rate of at 19.87%.

Janse van Vuuren is on 60 wins at 16.30%.

Pettigrew is on 29 wins at 11.84%.

Today’s Question

One of the achievers is pictured above (Picture: Sky Sports)

How many fillies have won all of the English 1000 Guineas, the Irish 1000 Guineas and the Coronation Stakes?

Midweek FIELDS

Fairview Turf, Friday

Today’s Question Answer

Attraction was the first to actually win both the English 1000 Guineas and Irish 1000 Guineas (in 2004) and this Mark Johnston-bred Efisio filly folllowed up by winning the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot too.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Winter (Galileo) (pictured above) became the second to do this treble in 2017.