Master Redoute Bucked A Trend

Master Redoute powers through a gap to win the Gr 3 World Pool Gold Cup (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

The Andre Nel-trained Master Redoute became only the third horse this millennium to win the Gr 3 World Pool Gold Cup after running in the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

The first to do it this millennium was also a Sabine Plattner-owned horse, Reveille Boy, who was trained by Brett Crawford when winning in 2005, and the second to do it was the Basil Marcus-trained Desert Links in 2008.

In 2010 the Mike de Kock-trained Ancestral Fore ran in the July and won the Gold Cup, but in that football world cup year the Gold Cup was run before the July.

Master Redoute thus bucked a 16-year-old trend.

He has wrapped up the Equus Champion Stayer award as this was his second Gr 3 staying race win of the season.

What made his achievement even more special on Sunday was he had only three weeks to recover from the July, in which he was the chief victim of an incident at about the halfway mark which caused him to be carried way wide for a few strides. He ultimately finished tenth in the July.

Reveille Boy had five weeks to recover from his fourth place finish in the July, while Desert Links had four weeks to recover from his July fifth place finish.

So it was a fine training feat by Andre Nel on Sunday.

However, Nel magnanimously deflected the praise on to his Summerveld assistant Byron Forster and to Callum Dixon, who rides Master Redoute in his workouts, and he also thanked Corne Orffer for a fine ride.

Nel said, “Byron and Callum have done all the work, I’ve just come to watch and support. I was playing with fate before the July, when I said he likes a dirty race, but I wasn’t expecting that kind of race. So be careful what you wish for! Today worked out for us. Coming into the last 100m, I knew Corne still had horse under him, with a lot to do still. He managed to go through that gap and put his head down where it mattered”.”

Orffer said, ““He’s a gutsy horse. He really deserved to win this race today, as he was messed around in the July, not that he could have won it, but he probably would have been in the first 5 or 6. He was very well today. He was in tip-top shape. He went down well and came out good. He travelled very smooth throughout. There was a tight gap I chose to go through, but he likes to do that. I just hoped that the gap stayed open long enough for him to find his feet and fight on. He won a very good race. Once he got his shoulders in-between, I could feel he was just getting going. I could see they weren’t getting away from him and he was gaining on them. I knew then and made sure I rode him right past the post. He did a phenomenal job as the 3.2 is not an easy task”.

Byron Forster said, “He looked really well and even better than going into the July. This race was his goal and nice that it all worked out.”

Callum Dixon said, “It’s unbelievable. He came out the July so well and just progressed at home. You could see how he went down to the start today … he wanted to be here and ran his heart out”.

Indeed, Master Redoute looked well in the parade ring and stood out in the canter down to the 400m mark, where the race starts. It was hard to believe that as the winner of the Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m, which is Cape Town’s premier staying race, he was now paying R19.10 on the World Pool Tote for a win.

Orffer, jumping from draw three, secured the rail ahead of the two horses inside of him and then settled Master Redoute well as a number of wider drawn horses went in front of him.

Grant van Niekerk sent Zeus, who played up before the start, into a big lead and he was chased by Future Swing and Shoot The Rapids. There was a gap to the rest of the field and Master Redoute was handy on the rail in that pack.

The field became much more compact as they came up the hill towards the straight, although it certainly did not concertina and the backmarkers were still out of their ground, whilst the hot favourite Future Pearl still had six lengths to make up turning for home.

Future Swing and Shoot The Rapids kept on rolling as Zeus faded and Ponte Pietra was running on well from a handy position and Baratheon was staying on quite well on the inside rail.

Master Redoute was also unwinding a strong run but had the wall, from inside to out, of Baratheon, Shoot The Rapids, Future Swing and Ponte Pietra in front of him.

Orffer was aiming at the gap between Future Swing and Ponte Pietra.

Fortunately it opened wide enough for him to get Master Redoute’s shoulders in.

At the same time Future Swing carried Shoot The Rapids inward, which might have been costly to the latter, but it momentarily opened the gap wider.

Ponte Pietra then also hung in so the gap then became tighter, but Master Redoute was already through and he maintained a long stride, changing legs on the line, to beat Shoot The Rapids by a neck, with Ponte Pietra a further half-a-length back in third. Future Swing was beaten 0,90 lengths into fourth and a running on Madison Valley was a 2,30 length fifth. Baratheon was next best and Future Pearl, who started 18-10 favourite, could only manage a 4.05 length seventh.

Master Redoute, carrying 58.5kg off his 115 merit rating, gave Shoot The Rapids 4,5kg, Ponte Pietra 3kg and Future Swing 2kg.

Master Redoute was the best performed horse in the race, if the weights are taken into account, so fully deserves to have his name on the trophy.

Nevertheless, Shoot The Rapids ran an amazing race considering he was drawn widest of all in the 15 horse field and was used up quite a lot to go very wide around them on the first turn.

The first five home showed they had good stamina capacity in a race run at a decent pace.

Master Redoute is by Querari out of a mare called Lady Redoute, who is by the three times Australian champion stallion Redoute’s Choice out of a mare called Macedon Lady, who won the Gr 1 Melbourne Racing Club 1000 Guineas.

Lady Redoute was bought for Aus$250,000 at the 2011 Australia Easter Yearling Sale.

She won two races in South Africa from 1400m to 2000m and her worth as a broodmare was soon evident as Master Redoute is her first foal.

Querari gelding Master Redoute, now a five-year-old gelding, won two of his first four starts, both over 1600m, and has generally been highly tried since.

He has come into his own this season and showed his versatility as he has won three Gr 3s during the season, the Ridgemont Peninsula Handicap over 1800m, the New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m and the World Pool Gold Cup over 3200m.

Dave The King Puts Hand Up For Horse Of The Year Award

Dave The King is a comfortable winner of his second open Gr 1 weight for age contest in succession. (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Dave The King put his hand up for Equus Horse Of The Year by winning the HKJC Champions Cup over 1800m by a comfortable 1,40 length margin at the World Pool Gold Cup meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.

The gigantic Global View gelding, trained by Mike de Kock and bred by Gary Player Stud, became the only horse in the country this season to land two open Gr 1 weight for age races, having won the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m by 2,20 lengths on June 8 at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

On the other hand he did lose by 4,25 lengths to Royal Victory when fourth in the Gr 1 wfa Premier’s Champions Challenge and Royal Victory also won Jo’Burg’s biggest race, the Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup, albeit with bottom weight. Royal Victory also finished third in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July.

However, Dave The King also finished second in the Gr 1 wfa Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes.

The other big contender for Horse Of The Year is the unbeaten De Kock-trained Gimme A Nother, whose seven wins include two Gr 1s, two Gr 2s and a Gr 3. She has only raced against her own gender, but has unbeaten them with ease and the lack of a stand out among the rest of the population makes her a strong contender.

Richard Fourie rode a clever tactical race in Saturday’s HKJC Champions Cup, having replaced Muzi Yeni, who remained loyal to the Nathan Kotzen-trained Royal Victory.

Fourie did not go as fast as expected in the early stages from draw eight out of nine and this likely took Piere Strydom on the widest-drawn See It Again by surprise.

See It Again, whom Fourie would have viewed as his chief rival, battled to find cover throughout after initially being caught on the outside of Dave The King.

Fourie let the big Dave The King go at the 1100m mark and his huge stride took him to the front and stretched them out.

He was going to be hard to catch and so it proved with Cousin Casey running on from a nice rail position for his fourth Graded second in the Champions Season, three of them Gr 1s.

See It Again’s exertions without cover took their toll but he stayed on to share third with the early pacemaker Purple Pitcher.

Flag Man ran on for fifth ahead of Royal Victory.

Flag Man’s saddled slipped back in the running.

Purple Pitcher objected against See It Again for outright third on the grounds of interference as he was tightened up by the latter on the inside rail in the latter stages.

However, the objection was overruled and the deposit was forfeited.

The stipendiary report said, PURPLE PITCHER (C Habib) and SEE IT AGAIN (P Strydom), which was hanging in from the 350m, raced in close proximity in the concluding stages. An Objection was lodged by Jockey C Habib on behalf of the joint third placed horse PURPLE PITCHER, against the other joint third placed horse SEE IT AGAIN (P Strydom) on the grounds of interference in the concluding stages. In view of the above report, the Objection was overruled and the Judges’ result was allowed to stand. In the opinion of the Stewards, the Objection had no prospect of success and therefore Jockey Habib’s deposit was declared forfeited.

Dave The King is owned by Larry Nestadt, Gary Player and Ralphs Racing (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Miss K Ralphs).

Richard Fourie said afterwards, “The 1800m was a bit of a stretch for him. Last time Muzi rode an absolute perla on the horse. Today he came out sluggish and managed to hustle for a bit of cover, but his action is so great, that it was very difficult to keep it there. I spoke to Craig Zackey who has ridden the horse before, who said that if he’s not pulling by the 1000m, he’ll win the race. His action is tremendously huge. Through the 1100m, I was already sitting in a position where he hadn’t taken the bit yet. I was 100m shy of the target I wanted him to take over (1000m), but allowed him to. He’s got a big stride … he’s got a big stride and started stretching them. He came into the straight and took the inside rail. The way he uses his action, is that he’s not going to kick hard off it, but he can sustain it. It was a great win”.

Mike de Kock said, “Things have been going almost too well. You’ve got to pinch yourself when things go well as a trainer. We took the gamble of missing the July and coming in here. This horse came here today, like one of those boxers that when you sound the bell, he’s going to come out punching. I was a little worried in the early stages … the start was a bit of a mess, but at the 1000m, is when he only starts getting going. He pulls himself to the front and it takes a good one to beat him. He could win anywhere in the world. We don’t have a lot of horses these days … every now and again we do get a good one”.

Quid Pro Quo Steals The Show

Quid Pro Quo is the new darling of the South African turf (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

The two-year-old Barend Botes-trained Quid Pro Quo stole the show at the World Pool Gold Cup meeting as she became the first in history to win all of the Gr 1 Allan Robertson, Gr 2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m and the Gr 1 Douglas Whyte Stakes over 1600m.

The fairytale filly is a Gerald Kalil-bred homebred by little known sire Lance.

Gerald said after the race he had not felt much pressure, unlike the pressure he had felt before the Slipper, and he explained, “We thought the 1600m would be up her alley and she proved it.”

He continued, “We were worried just before when they said the shoe was giving a problem. Then we took off the shoes and that was the only time I really worried.”

The on course farrier relayed a message via the stipendiary stewards to Barend Botes and as the one shoe was proving difficult to put on they advised taking both front shoes off. Botes granted them his permission.”

The filly thus ran unshod on both front feet, but that did not stop her from running into the hearts of the the racing community with another outstanding performance.

From a wide draw she went handy, which was not usual for her, but it didn’t stop her producing her usual kick under S’Manga Khumalo to win by a cosy 1,40 lengths from Slipper runner up Fatal Flaw. The rest of the field, led by 100-1 shot Frozen Fantasy, well beaten.

Gerald said, “She’s made history and that was all we wanted, you can’t take it away!”

He said he had never expected her to go handy and having previously said only a good horse could have done what she did in the Allan Robertson i.e. come from an impossible finish with just 200m to go and mow then down, he agreed that it was only a “very good horse” who could win with authority from anywhere in the running.

S’Manga Khumalo said. “ I was calm … I was relaxed (when she lost a shoe at the start). I stayed away from her and let the guys do their job. Mr Botes said he was happy to run her without shoes … I was a bit shocked, but I said no problem. A little bit better out the gates this time. She was composed and relaxed, so I didn’t want to rush her. Coming into the straight, I wanted to aim her out but thought, let me wait. I saw Piere starting to move, so I asked her a little bit and she took off. It was a very memorable race for me. This win (of all her three group wins) was a picture and one to single out … the main one that I will always cherish. To Bling fans, whoop whoop!”

Barend Botes said, “It doesn’t normally happen for me to get young horses. I normally buy horses in training. I never thought in my wildest dreams, a horse like this would come my way. She’s a special animal … God made her a little better than the rest. She normally jumps slow, but S’Manga got her in a position from that draw … it’s untold. How that happened, I don’t know. I’m fortunate. The stable … the grooms … the whole team …. I can stress … and they pay for it. There’s a lot to be grateful for”.

Asked about the unshod front feet, Barend quipped, “Zola Budd also ran without shoes!”

Gerald Kalil said, “It’s like a dream come true”.

Gerald’s wife Karen said, “I’m from Yorkshore, so I never have nothing to say, but today I am just dumbstruck!”

Gerald liked what he saw of Quid Pro Quo’s sire Lance on the race track, so kept the son of Jet Master in mind when he was retired to stud.

He raced Quid Quo Pro’s mother Delightful Diva (The Sheik) with Barend Botes to win five races and run 14 places. He has done well with her at stud as she has had eight runners and seven winners, including Listed winner Daring Diva (King Of Kings).

Gerald conferred with Barend about sending the mare to Lance, because Barend has developed a software program which apparently returns accurate results for suitable matchings.

Barend agreed Lance, who stands at Leon Lotz’s Heuningfontein Stud in Middelburg in the Karoo, would be a fine match.

Gerald actually has one share in Lance.

However, the story does not end there and Gerald said after her win in the Golden Slipper, “I’m really glad I bought her back, really really glad, and now we’ve got a good formula for breeding!”

Gerald bought her back for R60,000 at last year’s KZN Yearling Sale.

She has now earned R1,769,000 and is worth a lot more than than that with a season or two of racing and a stud career ahead of her.

Surjay Gives Vercingetorix A Tenth Gr 1 Winner

Surjay wins the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint from a possibly unlucky Lucky Lad, who was never able to get balanced in the straight after being bumped by fourth-placed Sun Blushed, and thus might not have quite been able to get his renowned finish into top gear. (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Cape Breeders

Champion Vercingetorix came up with his tenth Grade One winner on Sunday, when his son Surjay won the G1 Mercury Sprint (1200m) at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

The gutsy Surjay also became Vercingetorix’s 41st stakes winner with his triumph on Sunday.

Trained by Brett Crawford, the five-year-old had finished second in the 2023 Mercury Sprint and duly went one better this weekend.

Under Luyolo Mxothwa, Surjay hit the front 200m from home from a handy position and stayed on gamely to hold off a wall of challenges and win by nearly three parts of a length.

Bred by the late Jim Antrobus, Surjay has now won five of 26 starts and he has earned R1 403 475 in prize money.

he is owned by Suzette and Basie Viljoen.

Surjay, who is out of the Badger Land mare Something Of Value, provided Vercingetorix with a second feature race win on Sunday, with Vercingetorix gelding Get Impressed winning the Listed World Pool with Tabgold Darley in smart style.

Vercingetorix has 15 lots on offer at the August Two Year Old Sale, including a half-sister (Lot 109) to G1 Cape Racing Presents the Cape Guineas winner Russian Rock, and a half-brother (Lot 180) to Triple Crown winning sire Malmoos.

Mxothwa said, “He’s been the bridesmaid to the likes of Lucky Lad and Thunderstruck. He seems to have always just got beat on the line. James and Brett gave me the thumbs up on Friday, to say the horse was flying. This is my first group 1 for the season and it’s the last group 1 meeting for the season, so I’m really glad. I know this horse like the back of my hand and I had the draw, so I knew he could do whatever I asked him. The plan was to be one off and have one in front of me, and just bide my time. If he was going to quicken, it was going to be up to him. I gave him the best chance I could give him in the race. The rest was history”.

James Crawford said, “I think we over-prepared him for the Gold Horse Sprint and it was a flat run. We opted to miss the Post Merchants and just freshen him up, get him well and get him ready for this race. It was a great plan, it worked out perfectly and the bridesmaid has become the bride. I was watching all three of our runners, but Surjay turned it on again at the 300m mark and that’s when I thought it was game-on and we’re in. It’s been a great season as we’ve reached some goals and long may it continue”.

Brett Crawford said, “I think the key today was missing the Post Merchants. He had a shocking draw, so the decision was made for us. He likes to race fresh and may have gone into the Golden Horse slightly overdone. When I saw him, he looked amazing and really thought he would run a big race. He’s been beaten in a few, so I’m pleased he’s got his day in the sun”.

Suzette Viljoen said, “Surjay so deserves this win. Surjay grew up 5 kilometers from our farm at Hopes and Dreams … so he came from our valley. I won this race with Captain’s Ransom and decided this morning to wear a bracelet with Captain’s Ransom’s tail. I believe it’s God’s grace. Basie didn’t want to come here, but am so glad he came, so that he can’t tell me I told you so!”

VJ's Angel Is Gimme's 12th Gr 1 Winner

Calvin Habib is ecstatic as he gives his guv’nor Tony Peter another Gr 1 winner (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Cape Breeders

South Africa’s reigning champion sire Gimmethegreenlight enjoyed a big day at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

Not only did the Varsfontein Stud resident supply the winner of Sunday’s G2 World Pool With Gold Circle Debutante winner in the form of Just Reckless, but another two-year-old daughter of Gimmethegreenlight, Vj’s Angel, downed some top-class male rivals to claim Sunday’s G1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes over 1600 metres.

VJ’s Angel is the 12th G1 winner for Gimmethegreenlight, and Gimmethegreenlight’s fourth winner, along with Got The Greenlight, Gunner and Sandringham Summit, of the race.

Trained by Tony Peter, two-year-old Vj’s Angel had finished third, behind star filly Quid Pro Quo, in the G2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper last time out and she made the most of a good draw and sex allowance in Sunday’s R1 000 000 contest for two-year-olds.

Under Calvin Habib, Vj’s Angel stormed home down the centre of the track to get up close home and win, going away by nearly three-parts of a length.

Bred by Varsfontein Stud, Vj’s Angel, who is out of the Oratorio mare Tally-Ho, has won four of seven starts.

VJ’s Angel is the 66th stakes winner for Gimmethegreenlight, who will be crowned South Africa’s Champion Sire for a third time at the end of the 2023-2024 season.

CALVIN HABIB : “God is great. HE works in mysterious ways and you’ve got to believe in HIM. She (VJ’s Angel) is the rose amongst the thorns. What a filly. I always knew she would run well here. She ran on July day where she was scared of the crowd and ran away, but still ran 3rd behind a really classy filly. I’m over the moon … I’m speechless. They’re group 1’s and you’ve got to enjoy them”.

TONY PETER : “She’s a lovely filly. She’s very well put together. She’s a strong girl. She’s difficult to train, but I don’t mind training her when she’s this good. She’s getting better with every run. A big thanks to Calvin, who has put in the hard miles at home … he’s been criticized a lot, but he keeps his head down and brings home the winners. It’s appreciated. Thank you to everyone. Our main thank you goes to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. HE sticks with me … HE helps me, no matter how people try to break me. Noone is stronger than HIM and thankful for everything the does for me and my family … for protecting us”.

MR PALMER ON BEHALF OF MR and MRS PALMER : “I’ve been racing for many moons and this is the greatest day of my life in racing. This is a proper racehorse. She has shown her true colours … we are very proud of her”.

Asithandile Mgadeni Scoops World Pool Moment Of The Day R100,000 Prize

Barend Botes is all smiles as Asithandile Mgadeni puts his cap on Quid Pro Quo (Sporting Post, Pic- Chase Liebenberg)

The Hong Kong Jockey Club introduced the World Pool Moment of the Day in South Africa last year and the initiative rewards the Groom of the horse selected with a R100 000 prize.

Congratulations go to all the connections of this year’s World Pool Moment Of The Day Winner Quid Pro Quo, especially her Groom, Asithandile Mgadeni.

“Nobody deserves or needs the R100 000 more than Asithandile. He went home due to ill health but returned to help us with Quid Pro Quo. I’m thrilled for him,” added trainer Barend Botes.

Asathandile spoke in the winner’s enclosure after the race before he knew he had landed the big prize.

He said that even though the filly finished second in her first two starts, she had never run a bad race.

He went on to say he was very happy for his boss, trainer Barend Botes, for the supporters, and for her jockey, S’manga Khumalo, and he was no doubt very happy for her owners and breeders Gerald and Wendy Kalil too.

Snaith, Wilgerbosdift And Mauritzfontein, Drakenstein Are Champs

Justin Snaith won a Listed race early on in the World Pool Gold Cup meeting and by the end of the meeting he had officially retained his South African Champion Trainer title. (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Justin Snaith secured the national trainers championship on Saturday as his charges put in solid performances, getting a Listed win, a Gr 1 third, a Gr 1 fourth and a fourth place finish in the lucrative Gr 3 World Pool Gold Cup.

The expected strong challenge from Sean Tarry failed to materialise and he had to settle for two Gr 1 seconds, two Gr 2 seconds, a Gr 1 fourth and a Gr 1 fifth.

Snaith is currently on earnings of R20,981,288, an unassailable lead of R1,569,525 over Tarry.

It is Snaith’s fifth title.

His first title win was as a 39 year-old in the 2013/2014 season.

Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein have landed their third National Breeders Championship.

Their progeny have earned stakes of R32,476,781, which gives them an unassailable lead of R1,760,000 over holders Drakenstein Stud.

Drakenstein did break the SA record for number of stakes winners in the season though, their 21 individual stakes winners beating their own mark of 20 set last season which beat their own mark of 18 the previous season.

Drakenstein have retained their National Owners Championship with stakes earnings of R13,976,956, which gives them an unassailable R932, 281 lead over the Hollywood Syndicate.

It is Drakenstein’s third owners title in succession.

Richard Fourie’s record-breaking season has possibly ended on 377 wins, unless the meeting at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Wednesday goes ahead.

It is Fourie’s first win of the national jockeys championhip.

Kobeli Lihaba is the champion apprentice.

Gimmethegreenlight is the champion stallion and champion freshman sire is One World.

It is the third time Varsfontein Stud-based Gimmethegreenlight had been champion sire.

Alan Greeff Wraps Up East Cape Championship

Alan Greeff in the winner’s enclosure after Sean Veale had ridden him his 139th and final victory of the season aboard Lady Crusade (Crusade). (Pauline Herman Photography)

Alan Greeff is officially the East Cape Champion trainer again, a title he last won in the 2020/2021 season.

He only had one winner today, but Gavin Smith’s double was not enough to bridge the six win gap that had existed before the meeting started.

Greeff ends the season on 139 wins which he has achieved at a strike rate of 15.38%.

Smith’s double saw him end the season on 134 wins at 11.42%.

Sharon Kotzen scored a double too today to end the season on 41 wins at 9.45%.

Chase Maujean and Marco van Rensburg also scored doubles.

Maujean goes to 67 wins at 6.01%.

Van Rensburg is on 36 wins at 8.63%.