Turf Talk Newsletter – 01 November, 2024

Odwa Ndungane with the horse he named Isivunguvungu at Del Mar racecourse ahead of Saturday’s Gr 1 US$1 million Breeders Cup Turf Sprint. (Candiese Lenferna Photography) 

David Mollett

“Hollywoodbets are offering their clients odds of 36-10 a place about Isivungungu – just over 7-2” – that was the message from brand and communications manager, Devin Heffer, after the 30-strong party touched down in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Del Mar – where the 2-day Breeders Cup meeting takes place – became famous in 1937 thanks to the efforts of legendary actor and singer, Bing Crosby. He and other prominent entertainers of that era built the Del Mar racecourse.

SA’s Equus champion sprinter has a tough task in Saturday’s Turf Sprint against the likes of Cogburn, Bradsell and Believing, but punters with faith in the horse can get 20-1 for a win.

Heffer will be receiving a feedback on the welfare of “Isi” from Peter Muscutt – the sprinter’s former trainer – who travelled to the States 24 hours before the main party.

Picture below: Odwa Ndungane, Isivunguvungu’s groom Jose Sanchez Torres (wearing Odwa’s Zulu head band) and Isivunguvungu’s former Summerveld-based trained Peter Muscutt.

Picture below: Kgomotso Ndungane and Isivunguvungu’s trainer Graham Motion.

Picture below: Peter Muscutt offering an apple to Isivunguvungu 

Pictures below: Isivunguvungu working out

Latest UK betting on the race has Cogburn at 11-8 followed by Bradsell at 4-1, Believing (whom I believe can run a big race) at 17-2, Big Evs also at 17-2 and Star Of Mystery and Motorious both at 12-1.

Star Of Mystery, representing the Appleby-Buick partnership, is worth including in trifecta bets. She showed good form earlier in the year in Meydan and finished second in the Al Quoz Sprint. Taking on Cogburn in Saratoga, she finished a creditable third after encountering traffic problems.

Apart from their main objective in supporting Isivunguvungu in the Sprint, the party will be able to see Aidan O’Brien’s star performer, City Of Troy, run in the Breeders Cup Classic. It is a race the Irish trainer has never won.

UK bookmakers report unprecedented interest in City Of Troy and they face big payouts if the son of Justify gets home at his current odds of 7-4.

Corals spokesman, David Stevens, said: “City Of Troy’s Classic bid has really captured punters’ imagination and he’s been extremely popular in the context of antepost betting.”

“I don’t think another horse can compare in terms of interntional antepost interest and he really is breaking new ground. He always provokes plenty of debate, but one thing that has never wavered is Aidan O’Brien’s belief in him, and that’s another big factor behind the money we’ve taken.”

“We’ll take most of the money on him on Saturday, and if he does win he’ll be a significant loser for us. That will be offset by what a great story it will be and even more so for us as we love to see a Coral Eclipse winner achieve great things.”

Pat Cooney, spokesman for bet365, commented: “Such is the respect for Aidan O’Brien in America, I feel City Of Troy will continue to be popular on the day and return nearer 6-4 than 2-1 especially after the draw.”

Interviewed by The Racing Post, top UK trainer, John Gosden, who won the 2008 Classic with Raven’s Pass, gave his view on City Of Troy’s prospects.

He said: “I actually talked to Aidan about the race at York. If you get a good run up the straight before the first bend, he can win. I won a mile and a quarter race here that used to be called the Del Mar Handicap and – if you are drawn on the inside – you’ve got to break alertly because if they come across and you get kickback, that’s a problem.”

“With a horse like him, if you get a clear run to the first bend and he’s travelling well after it, then I doubt they would catch him. I think he would outclass them.”

So – with both TAB and bookmakers – betting on this important turf event, one has to have a strategy.
My bet in the Sprint is to box four runners in the exacta – Cogburn, Believing, Isivunguvngu and Star Of Mystery.

I also fancy a treble of Believing to place, City Of Troy to win and Kamala Harris to win the US Presidential election!

Great Plains is a leading contender for the Gr 3 Cape Classic over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

By Mark van Deventer (Cape Racing)

The Gr 3 Cape Classic gets Cape Racing’s Summer Festival of Racing underway at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, 2 November. Seven aspirational three-year-olds line up in this 1400m contest that serves as an appetiser for the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas on 14 December 2024.

It remains to be seen if any of them will develop into major candidates for that Gr 1 in mid-December. GREAT PLAINS (109), ALL OUT FOR SIX (107), MAKAZOLE (106) TALK TO THE MASTER (103) and MAURITIUS KESTREL (102) have already breached the century mark according to the official handicapper.

As this is a level weights event those ratings should pinpoint the contenders, but 3YO’s are apt to make rapid strides from one start to the next. The visually impressive BOUNDLESS ENERGY, though lagging with an OMR of just 90, may seem to have a stiff task, but is not a forlorn hope. The way he quickened up to glide past steady older rival, Das Gute, suggests that he is a smart horse and likely way better than rated.

GREAT PLAINS proved much the best over MAKAZOLE in the Gatecrasher Stakes in early June, but fluffed his lines subsequently when striding somewhat awkwardly from a wide draw around the Hollywoodbets Greyville bend. He’d flashed a wonderful finish at his previous romps and did so again when too far back early to trouble VJ’s Angel in the Gr1 Premier Champion Stakes, so the grey son of Danon Platina is a quality performer when all parts are in working order.

MAKAZOLE in turn narrowly pipped MAURITIUS KESTREL at levels in the Eastern Cape feature suggesting there is little between those two.

TALK TO THE MASTER lacked early speed but stayed on purposefully behind Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot and only a couple of lengths off One Stripe, who is right at the top of the three-year old crop. That gives him a legit shake here.

Vaughan Marshall trained stable mate ALL OUT FOR SIX was only caught late in the Langerman, a sterling try given that he cast a shoe in running. He returns 133 days since that bold front running bid on soft going and will be a clear pace factor in this short field.

CAPTAIN WEST caved in from a wide draw 49 days ago behind Radicchio in a disappointing fail. That was way below what he showed when spitting out On My Honour who has gone on to impress at subsequent starts. And the booking of senior rider Luyolo Mxothwa on this Brett Crawford entry, rather than MAURITIUS KESTREL, could be significant.

There are many imponderables in this year’s Cape Classic and hazarding a selection is guesswork. Wide cover in the exotics may help the indecisive. Depending on market prices close to the jump, GREAT PLAINS, TALK TO THE MASTER and BOUNDLESS ENERGY qualify for the spec bet short list.

LION RAMPART sports a sky-high OMR of 111 going into the five-furlong, Need for Speed Sprint (Race 2), on the back of a standout juvenile campaign that saw him win three times from seven starts. Vaughan Marshall’s runner chased home high-class stable mate, One Stripe in the Winter Nursery and thumped the reopposing Miss World in the Somerset.

The speedy LION RAMPART now drops down to the minimum trip where he holds a victory from a single try over 1000m. HANDSOME PRINCE poses a danger as he ran well against older horse, Dean Street, three weeks ago and, like LION RAMPART is also 1/1 over this C &D.

ROMAN AGENT ran close to LION RAMPART at the start of his career, then won twice thereafter before losing his way. He can improve after gelding so is another to be considered.

LUHAMBA PHAMBILI who also acquitted himself admirably when pitched against older speedball, Lunarcam, must be respected. If he can transfer that extremely promising Hollywoodbets Scottsville form to his Cape campaign, then he is in for a productive Summer.

Eleven go into the gates for the Southeaster Sprint, a Listed dash over five panels. This brain-teasing handicap is carded as Race 6 – off time 15h20. In theory, all horses have an equal chance of winning at the weights – that’s if the handicapper has got his sums right and the entries are sufficiently tuned up to run to form.

Pressed to weed out contenders from the pretenders, the somewhat smudged crystal ball reveals THE ABDICATOR, DEAN STREET, FUTURE VARIETY, MEU CAPITANAO, DANCE VARIETY, NORDIC CHIEF and GIMMELIGHTNING as possibilities.

THE ABDICATOR blew the start last time, but prior to that ran the highly regarded Captain Arrow (2nd in this race last year) close at level weights. With a cleaner break he can use effective stalk and pounce tactics to optimise the light weight of 53.5kg he is set to carry.

DEAN STREET is a credit to the calm competence of Lucinda Woodruff who has managed this difficult thoroughbred with aplomb. Now a six-time winner from 26 starts he is a hard horse to run down when in a galloping frame of mind and he too comes in here with just 53kg to carry. If DEAN STREET is a live candidate then NORDIC CHIEF (only half a length back on the same weight terms three weeks ago) also comes into the equation.

Candice Bass Robinson’s FUTURE VARIETY won the Southeaster in 2023 and may now have plausible Gr 1 aspirations. After all, he nearly toppled ace sprinter, Thunderstruck in the Gr 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes as a 3YO and will be physically more robust this season.

The steadier of 62.5kg could be an issue, however. To illustrate, Adam Marcus’ Dance Variety is 5.5kg better off than FUTURE VARIETY compared to a meeting at the start of the year when beating the Bass Racing’s representative by half a length.

GIMMELIGHTNING is a hold up sprinter so is often left with too much ground to make up. On a line through clashes with Meu Capitano (who has won half his eight starts) he must have a squeak. He would prefer a strong headwind and needs the front runners to stagger to make his late rally count.

All in all, a hard race to decipher. But it will be a great spectacle over in 58 seconds-and-change flurry. The outcome should reveal which of these horses are worthy of a tilt at the De Grendel Cape Merchants on the 22 December or other upcoming sprint features.

Back In Business is out to remain unbeaten for the season by winning the Allied Steelrode Onamission Mile (JC Photos)

The Gr 2 Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile headlines a classy meeting at Turffontein Standside on Saturday, which also has three Gr 3s and two Listed races.

Muzi Yeni could have a good day as he has number of good rides, including in the Charity Mike where he is aboard the well handicapped Back In Business.

Back In Business ran to a 122 when winning the Gr 2 Betway Jo’Burg Spring Challenge over 1450m but due to a condition of the race could only be raised eight points to 114. He is thus 4kg well in, but the two concerns are his stamnina capacity and wide draw. He is by Cape Guineas winner Willam Longsword out of a Var sprinter Enchanting Cathy who is a half-sister to the legendary sprinter National Currency. William Longsword is one of only five siblings who has won over further than 1200m. His runner up in the Spring Challenge Barbaresco was gaining on him but Back In Business was not visibly tiring and as Joe Soma has said another 150m is about 12 to 14 strides. He is drawn 14 of 16 but Yeni up is an expert in finding cover from wide draws, so Back In Business is made the tentative selection. Frances Ethel caught the eye in her last start in a strong field over 1600m and is said to have strengthened up a lot this season. She would prefer further and the trainers would likely want something left in hand for the Betway Summer Cup but she should make her presence felt from draw two. Dave The King is still among the Summer Cup entries but Mike de Kock said he would be heading for the L’Ormarins King’s Plate via a Pinnacle event in December. He will need it to some extent, but is much improved since gelding and with his massive stride and long run in should make a bold bid. Barbaresco should relish the tough mile trip and with in form Gavin Lerena up from a draw eleven out of 16 he should make a bold bid. Gladatorian should be cherry ripe and will enjoy the trip, but has a wide draw. Celtic Rumours should some into her own this season and from draw ten carrying just 52.5kg should make her presence felt, although she is not certain to enjoy the step up in trip.

Yeni is aboard Raiseahallelujah in the Listed Allied Steelrode Java Stakes over 2400m. This seven-year-old Querari Raiseahallelujah has become a solid and reliable stayer who should make a bold bid, although he is 4,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted None Other. Former SA Oaks winner None Other should be staying on well in her second run of the season. Marauding Horde made a fine seasonal reappearance and should fullfil his potential this season and he could be a big runner too for the in form Mike de Kock yard.

In the Listed Allied Steelrode Golden Loom Handicap Yeni is aboard Cosmic Star who ran a fine 1,15 length third to Dyce over 1000m on the Inside track in his seasonal reappearance, although he did have the advantage of draw one. He should have come on from that run but now has draw 5 out of ten on a course where high draws tend to be favourable. Dreamland has a nice high draw and if at his best after a three month layoff is the one to beat as he has good pace and a fine kick which makes him effective over this quick 1000m trip. Sheldon is an honest sprinter and from a high draw he should be right there. Taxi To The Moon is a promising winner of three out of five starts and carrying 53kg from draw eight is a big runner. Red Bomber should also have a chance from a good draw of eleven.

In the second leg of the Pick 6, the Gr 3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes, Yeni is aboard Poblano is a promising Rafeef filly who won by two lengths on debut and was just caught second time out by Nettleton over 1000m, losing by a short-head. On pedigree she will enjoy the step up to 1400m here but she has a wide draw and officially has a hard task at the weights. Fatal Flaw has run second in a Gr 1 over 1600m and in a Gr 2 over 1400m and will have benefited from her last run, so is the one to beat from draw four under Piere Strydom. Vulcanite has impressed in her last two and could still be anything. Oxalis Gold showed herself to be a scopey sort when winning well last time. Queen Of Love won well after a layoff and Lerena replaces Strydom and she jumps from draw two. World Of Alice should have a good season, but this is on the sharp side.

In the Gr 3 Betway Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m The Specialist has a Gr 1 second over 1600m to his name and with Lerena up from draw five is the one to beat. His stablemate Legend Of Arthur has plenty of class but he has 2,85 lengths to find on The Specialist from that 1600m race, although he does have a good draw. Fire Attack is classy and will enjoy the step up in trip but has to give the others 2kg and has not raced since winning the SA Nursery seven months ago. Don’t Cry For Me has shown signs of class and could surprise in his first run after a layoff and gelding. Musical Score is promising but has a wide draw.

In the Gr 3 Allied Steelrode Yellowwood Handicap over 1800m Yeni is aboard the talented and up and coming three-year-old Olivia’s Way. However, she is officially 5,5kg under sufferance carrying 52kg off a 97 merit rating, so it is going to be a tough ask, although she could surprise from a good draw. Indian Ocean is a classy, progressive sort whom Piere Strydom has brought the best out of with two wins from two rides and she is ideally distance suited and versatile so will have different options from a tricky draw of seven. United Council can be involved if repeating her last start over 2000m. Forgiveness is 3kg under sufferance but is also on the way up. Donna Mo is a hard knocker who is distance suited, although she has a tricky draw.

In the first leg of the Bipot over 1160m Amanatto has quite a nice high draw and this well regarded sort can beat an uninspiring field on her seasonal reappearance, although the dogs have apparently been barking about one or two first-timers so the bettting should be watched.

The first leg of the PA over 1800m could be fought out by progressive sorts Total Surrender, Birthright and Mount Darwin.

In the first race of the meeting over 1000m Fastnet Filly has good Cape Town form and a favourable high draw. However, she has not run for nearly eight months. Desert Cloud was just four lengths off the classy Rodeo Drive on debut but she has not raced for over six months. Gerbera, My One And Only and Roaming Spirit could also be in the shake up.

Yeni has a goood chance in the last race with Towers Of Gold, who comes from some strong formlines, although he has a tough draw.

Article – Hello Lifestyle

Food Jams has come to Johannesburg, and it’s starting to sizzle.
Located at the Feastivity Cooking Studio at Emperors Palace, Food Jams is an exciting new cooking experience for foodies and the cooking-impaired alike.

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Food Jams has a series of signature events happening in November and December that is ideal for companies and corporates looking for something different, fun and interactive for a year-end function event. Here’s the calendar:

06 Nov – Mexican Fiesta Cooking Class
07 Nov – Boujee Boozie Barista Fun
09 Nov – Journey to Japan Cooking Class
13 Nov – Hibachi Griller Cooking Class
20 Nov – Mediterranean Escape Cooking Class
23 Nov – Indian Spice Adventure Cooking Class
27 Nov – Italian Feast Cooking Class
30 Nov – Mexican Fiesta Cooking Class
04 Dec – Journey to Japan Cooking Class
07 Dec – Hibachi Griller Cooking Class

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City Of Troy’s jockey Ryan Moore (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

City Of Troy two minutes away from legendary status at Breeders’ Cup

All-conquering trainer calls the colt the ‘best I’ve trained’ but he needs to prove it against all the odds

Greg Wood (The Guardian) at Del Mar

Fri 1 Nov 2024 15.20 GMT

Before there were international football teams, racehorses were proxies for national pride and aspirations. Gladiateur, the first French-bred winner of the Derby at Epsom in 1865, was dubbed “the avenger of Waterloo”, and even now, there can be times when old habits die hard. At 14.41 Pacific Time on Saturday, 21.41GMT in London and Dublin and 05.41 Japan Standard Time tomorrow on Sunday morning in Tokyo, the attention of tens of millions of racing fans across the globe will focus on Del Mar in southern California for a two-minute horse race, as City Of Troy, this year’s Derby winner, and 13 opponents go into the gates before the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

It is a race of champions from three continents, and for City Of Troy, as tough an away fixture as they come. He is attempting to complete an unprecedented double: no winner of the Derby, on turf, has ever added the Classic, on dirt, to his CV. And he is the only runner in the field with no previous experience on the surface. The fierce pace, the kickback and the gate speed of his rivals will be a unique, unrelenting test from the off. There will be no chance to ease himself into the contest, no mid-race lull to fill up his lungs.

Gamblers study the racing form prior to the Breeders’ Cup juvenile turf sprint race at Del Mar Race Track in 2021. The prestigious meeting returns to the California track again this year.

All of City Of Troy’s opponents are tried and tested on dirt, including Forever Young, the big hope from Japan, who was two noses away from becoming the country’s first Kentucky Derby winner back in May. Fierceness, the leading US-trained contender, is a multiple Grade One winner and came home six lengths in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, the championship race for dirt-bred two-year-olds.

There is no real parallel elsewhere in sport for the challenge facing City Of Troy on Saturday. The tennis circuit moves from hard courts to clay or grass, but players know what to expect from each and never face a win-or-bust contest on a completely alien surface. They can also read the calendar, see when a change is coming and can prepare accordingly, both physically and mentally. In City Of Troy’s case, Aidan O’Brien, his trainer, needs to do the thinking for him.

“It’s a totally foreign game, a different continent, different surface, different pace of the race, different stalls,” O’Brien said at the track on Thursday. “It has to be a big disadvantage to a horse but all we can do is hope that he’s good enough to overcome all these things.

“We’ve done as much as we can do in our own part of the world. We didn’t want to go from grass straight to dirt, we wanted to try on an in-between surface so that he would get a chance to acclimatise rather than have it so dramatic that he’d be shocked. That’s why [his racecourse gallop at] Southwell [in September] was perfect. Everyone was saying that it wasn’t like dirt, which it wasn’t, but it was different to grass.”

When assessed on ratings, City Of Troy is, almost certainly, a better horse on grass than any of Saturday’s rivals are on dirt, and yet O’Brien knows better than anyone that it could well count for nothing.

The greatest European trainer of the last 30 years has sent 15 previous runners into the Classic on dirt, including another imperious Derby winner in Galileo, the sire of City Of Troy’s dam, Together Forever. All 15 have been beaten, including the “Iron Horse”, Giant’s Causeway, edged into second by the even grittier Tiznow in 2000, but the trainer calls City Of Troy the “best I’ve trained”.

“We’ve tried a lot and we’ve failed 100% of the time, so all we can do is learn from our weaknesses before and then hope that the horse is good enough to overcome the rest,” O’Brien says. “We’re trying it because it is possible, but he is a three-year-old and a baby and has to cope with all the adjustments.”

In one sense, perhaps, it is possibly for the best that City Of Troy is oblivious to how much is riding on his final run before retiring to stud. The $3.6m (£2.82m) prize for the Classic winner’s connections is small beer compared to the likely effect on the stallion value of both City Of Troy and his own sire, Justify, the most recent winner of the US Triple Crown – on dirt – in 2018. That could run to eight figures a year for as long as they are both at stud, which should be another dozen years at least.

O’Brien has done all he can to prepare his horse for his first and last race on dirt this weekend but even then, he cannot be sure that City Of Troy will not recoil from the Classic challenge as Galileo himself did back in 2004.

“He [City Of Troy] was always an aggressive horse from the gate and a high cruiser,” the trainer said. “There’s a lot of Justify in him, and there’s a lot of Galileo in him. I suppose the Galileo helps him to be as good on the grass as he is, and hopefully the Justify will help him to cope with the change.”

Forever Young can foil Troy glory bid

No one can know for sure whether City Of Troy will respond to the take to the dirt at Del Mar on Saturday in the style of Arcangues, the only previous European-trained Breeders’ Cup Classic winner on dirt, or Galileo, the 2001 Derby winner, who finished down the field.

What is certain, though, is that City Of Troy will be about 131 points shorter in the betting, with British bookies at least, than Arcangues, whose 133-1 victory in 1993 remains the biggest shock in Classic history.

Several firms claim to have seen significant backing for City Of Troy ante-post, but 15-8 still feels like a ridiculously defensive offer, which fails to account for the scale of the challenge facing Aidan O’Brien’s colt this weekend. Chelsea are only slightly shorter to win at Old Trafford on Sunday – a result that would surprise no one at all.

Any hesitancy at the gate or reluctance to face the kickback could be fatal for City Of Troy’s chance against seasoned rivals that know what to expect. So, while the heart would love to see City Of Troy head into retirement with an unprecedented Derby/Classic double to his name, the head says that he should not be such a clear favourite, and arguably not favourite, full stop.

Fierceness, the Travers Stakes winner, is an obvious alternative but his failure to run to form in the intensity of the Kentucky Derby earlier in the year is a nagging concern. Sierra Leone, beaten a nose in the Kentucky Derby, is also a live runner, but the most convincing alternative is Japan’s Forever Young (9.15pm).

He was another nose behind Sierra Leone in a three-way photo at Louisville, but that does not tell the whole story as the runner-up was leaning on Forever Young for most of the stretch.

Had he had a clear run, Yoshito Yahagi’s colt could well be going into the Classic unbeaten in seven starts, and his preparation since May has been structured entirely around Saturday’s race. With his Kentucky Derby experience to build on, Forever Young looks poised to give Japan its first success in the Breeders’ Cup’s showpiece event.

Wetherby 1.15 A 5lb rise for Tedley after a cosy win last time is offset by Jamie Brace’s 7lb claim.

Ascot 1.30 Paul Nicholls’s Samarrive has an absence to overcome but goes well fresh and has started to ease in the weights.

Wetherby 1.50 Anything close to Luccia’s Grade One form last year will make her very hard to beat.

Ascot 2.05 Master Chewy was touched off in a Grade One on his final start last year and sets out on his second season over fences on a handy mark.

Wetherby 2.22 An interesting switch back to hurdles for Twig, a winner first time up last season.

Down Royal 2.40 The Gold Cup runner-up, Gerri Colombe, looks set for a winning return to action in this race for the second year running.

Quick Guide
Greg Wood’s Saturday tips

Wetherby 2.58 With likely favourite Grey Dawning a non-runner, Bravemansgame can repeat his win in 2022.

Ascot 3.15 Secret Squirrel has scope for further progress in handicaps this season and was a winner first time up last term.

Ascot 3.45 Victory in the Ultima at the Festival capped a fine first season over fences for Chianti Classico and he remains on a workable mark.

Del Mar 8.21 The tough and reliable Thorpedo Anna looks poised for her sixth win of the campaign.

Del Mar 9.01 Being reunited with Frankie Dettori could be the final piece of the puzzle for Emily Upjohn.

Equus Award-winning photographer Candiese Lenferna has been at Del Mar for most of this week and took some great pictures of South Africa’s Gr 1 Breeders Cup Filly And Mare Turf Contender Beach Bomb, a Drakenstein Stud-homebred filly by the late Lancaster Bomber, and her connections.

Beach Bomb has been done no favours by a wide draw on a tight course with a short straight and will have to produce an electrifying turn of foot to run into the money or otherwise she must somehow try and be handy.

The pictures below are of Milnerton-based trainer Candice Bass-Robinson being reunited with her former inmate Beach Bomb (and picture above), Drakenstein Racing Manager Kevin Somerville catching up with the work rider of Herringswell Stables and the now Graham Motion-trained Beach Bomb working out.

HK Derby winner Massive Sovereign returns at Sha Tin on Sunday (Picture: HKJC)

Tim Carrol (At The Races)

HK Derby winner Massive Sovereign returns at Sha Tin on Sunday where Tim has three best bets.

This Sunday sees an exciting 10 race card from Sha Tin getting underway at 5:00am – live on Sky Sports Racing. The feature of the meeting is race 7, the Group 3 SA SA Ladies Purse (Handicap), over one nine-furlongs, offering more than £420,000 in prize-money.

Now onto this week’s selections:

Race 1: Class 5 L’Oreal Paris Handicap (500am) (9 furlongs)
1 CASA LEGEND has been in good form of late, winning two of his last five starts and running better than the margin would suggest when runner-up over the mile last time when given plenty to do, and with a few that reoppose in behind. Both his wins have come over the mile and he step up to nine furlongs for just the second time, but the way he finished off his races would such he should enjoy going over this trip.

Dangers:
2 Pakistan Friend is a veteran that’s won off higher marks in the past and he looked sharp on his seasonal return when one spot behind the selection and will strip fitter.
5 Invincible Missile hasn’t won since April 2023, but he’s run a few solid races under senior riders recently and with a claimer taking over, he is effectively running from a mark 32lb below his last success.
10 Sunny Baby was unplaced on the dirt last time and he is a bit hard to catch, but he was runner-up on his return at the start of the campaign, he slips into the 20s for the very first time having won off a 10lb higher mark earlier in the year.

Race 2: Class 4 Kate Tokyo Handicap (530am) (7 furlongs)
1 GENEVA, who had been placed his first five starts, broke his duck over course & trip last time and a 6lb penalty sees him at the top of the handicap. However, the win was more impressive than the nose margin would suggest. He drew the outside and was snagged back to last before threading the needle in the straight to win a tad cosy. The runner-up has subsequently franked the form by winning. Pace makes the race, and the selection overcame a tough set-up last time with the next five home having sat 1-2-3-4-5 throughout the entire contest. Whilst he must concede weight, he should have a more favourable commute this time from the low draw.

Dangers:
12 Spicy Spangle is a low mileage maiden that has run two career bests at his last two, placed in both, and with the potential of more improvement forthcoming, he looks a threat from the foot of the handicap.
3 Beauty Missile is yet to break his local duck in twenty-one starts but he continues to slide down the handicap having hit the fame from a 13lb higher mark in the past and should be included after a solid effort in defeat on his seasonal retrun.
4 Colonel, who has been rejuvenated since joining Mark Newham, arrives under a 6lb penalty and on a three-timer and whilst he’s considered more of a Happy Valley specialist, he has won here and the past, but he does have a tricky draw given he likes to punch forward.

Race 3: Class 4 Grace One Handicap (600am) (1 mile)
9 CHATER GOLD is a ten-start maiden, but he’s shown signs of improvement recently and may have been a tad unlucky when runner-up last time having had a wide run from a high draw & meeting a bit of trouble mid-race. Whilst you could argue he starting to look a tad exposed, he does give the impression that he’s just beginning to put it all together, and it’s worth noting that he’s been runner-up he’s only two starts over course & trip. He has a middle draw this time, and its likely they will ride home from the second half of the field again, thus is helpful that he should get a solid gallop to aim at here.

Dangers:
12 Special Hedge, who went down by a nose to a rival that then came out and won again on his seasonal return, was a beaten favourite last time, but he scoped poorly post-race and could bounce back with Purton sticking solid.
1 Californianationality, who was twice winner over course & trip last season, ran well in defeat on his return when one spot behind the selection having endured a tough trip from a high draw, and he’ll be sharper for the spin, but he once again has a high draw to contend with.
5 Dragon Four Seas is a five-start maiden that has been placed both spins during the current campaign & may enjoy stepping up to the mile for the first time having run through the line strongly two back before trying to make all when last seen.

Race 4: Class 4 Canmake Tokyo Handicap (630am) (6 furlongs)
CHEERFUL WORLD is a 5yo that’s only ever run twice after a few setbacks, but he ran far better than the bare result on his return and should be able to build on that. The selection was beaten less than a length on debut down the straight course in March and wasn’t seen again until earlier this month when beaten just over two-lengths in fourth over course & trip. However, he was travelling strongly in the straight that day but was disappointed for a run between the 400m-200m mark, getting out when the race had left him behind. It would be a stretch to say he should have won, but it would have been interesting if he had a clear round. He should take plenty of improvement out of his first run in seven-months, and from the 4 gate the race maps favourably.

Dangers:
1 Lifeline Express recorded just one win in eight starts during his first campaign, but plenty of form has come out of that race, thus a market watch is strongly advised given he represents a leading combination and has been tuned up for his seasonal return with three trials.
6 Gallant Epoch is a debutant that moved nicely when winning a recent trial over five-furlongs here recently, and connection apply blinkers and a tongue strap for his racecourse introduction.
12 Commanding Missile has won just two of his twenty-eight local starts, but he hacked up on his return and although he moves up in grade, he now goes from the very foot of the handicap.

Race 5: Class 4 Eleanor Handicap (700am) (7 furlongs)
4 MARKWIN defied market expectations on debut over course & trip earlier last month, flying late to grab the silver, but in all fairness, he was a good thing beaten. The Cody Mo 4yo encountered plenty of traffic problems in the straight, only getting out with a furlong to go, and with a clear round its safe to say he wins. Making the performance even more noteworthy was that he was the only closer in the finish. The selection is by a sire that has had plenty of local winners and he’s entitled to improve for the debut run, and if they elect to ride him with similar tactics, there at the very least, an honest gallop on offer.

Dangers:
11 Master Of All, who has won two and picked up the silver on three occasions in his last five starts, will strip fitter having been runner-up on his return last month, he’ll enjoy stepping back up to seven-furlongs, & is well drawn as he likes to punch forward.
1 Thriving Brothers, who won a Dundalk maiden (known as McVay) for Jack Davison, ran his best local race top date when picking up the bronze over six furlongs at his first try at this level last time, and should enjoy stepping back-up to this trip.
5 Classic Century, who is from a yard that have had a fabulous start too the season, ran well enough in defeat on debut when kept safe in the betting and although he’ll need to improve further, it’s likely he will.

Race 6: Class 4 La Estephe Handicap (735am) (7 furlongs)
5 VIEW OF THE WORLD, who incidentally has drawn stall 11 all four career starts, was unplaced his only two starts last season but met with support when winning over course & trip on his return last month with a first-time tongue strap applied. He has been handed a 6lb penalty for a half-a-length win, but he tanked throughout that day, but didn’t win by as far as what looked likely when he joined in, which is a probable sign that he will take plenty out of the run. He will need a bit of luck from the high draw, but with Purton sticking solid, we should get plenty of assistance from the saddle.

Dangers:
2 Yuen Long Elite won at his second and final start last season and whilst turned over both spins during the current campaign, he didn’t enjoy the rub of the green when placed at his first try over this trip last time, and Hugh Bowman now takes over.
8 Solid Win is a four-start maiden that may want a bit further given the way he’s been finishing off his races, but he has scope for further improvement and should be shortlisted from what looks a favourable draw.
6 Mr Energia, who has had just the five starts, won on the dirt two back but backed that up when placed here last time at his first go over this trip when doing his best work late, and he should have a softer commute now that he finally draws a low gate.

Race 7: Group 3 SA SA Ladies Purse (Handicap) (805am) (9 furlongs)
3 MASSIVE SOVEREIGN, who was a twice winner (known as Broadhurst) for Aidan O’Brien, made a big impact on the local scene winning his first two starts, the second of which being the Hong Kong Derby. He was a bit below par at his final two starts of the campaign, albeit they were at the very top level. He hasn’t been seen since an unplaced effort behind Charlie Appleby’s, Rebel Romance, in May, with the rider reporting concerns with his action. However, he makes his return off the back of two very impressive trials and if you include his debut when he was runner-up in a Navan Maiden, his first up record reads 2-1-1.

Dangers:
13 Karma moves into Pattern company for the first time under a 7lb penalty having won over the mile last time, and he does run from 10lb out of the handicap, but he’s a progressive type with a big finish that should relish stepping up to this trip for the first time.
4 Chancheng Glory, who was placed behind the brilliant Galaxy Patch on his seasonal return, doesn’t know how to run a bad race and although he’s yet to win over this trip in two goes, he was runner-up in the Hong Kong Classic Cup with Ensued nearly three-lengths back in second.
14 Ensued runs from 13lb out of the handicap, but John Size is a master of placement, he’ll strip fitter for his run back and he did place in the Hong Kong Classic Cup under Ryan Moore when last seen over this trip.

Race 8: Class 3 Suisse Programme Handicap (840am) (6 furlongs)
1 GLORY ELITE goes from the top of the handicap having been bumped up 2lbs for his latest effort when runner-up over course & trip, but the weights are reasonably compressed, and he brings the best form to the contest.  The Jimmy Ting 4yo won back-to-back races over course & trip last season and has been runner-up both spins during the current campaign, the latest of which was in a Class 3 with plenty of form, finishing second best to an opponent that is undefeated in three and one spot in front of a last time out winner. He likes to punch forward; thus, the low draw looks helpful & he should go close to defying top-weight.

Dangers:
9 Majestic Express moves up in grade under a 6lb penalty having broken his local duck at the seventh time of asking when belting home from near last in a pace dominated race & although he has more on his plate at this level, there’s a solid gallop on offer.
5 Awesome Treasure goes up 8lb having been a comfortable course & trip winner under the same 10lb claimer last time & although he doesn’t do a lot of winning, he’s an honest type that’s usually in the mix.
10 Packing Turbine, who won a maiden at his second and final start in Australia, makes his local debut having won two of his five trials and he is the choice of Purton, but he does draw outside.

Race 9: Class 3 Santa Monica Handicap (915am) (7 furlongs)
9 SKY TRUST is a low mileage 4yo that has won two and been running up at his last three goes over course & trip. He was last seen when picking up the silver behind a smart rival and although in my humble opinion he doesn’t beat what was an impressive winner that day, he was strung up on the fence in the straight and would have got a lot closer if not for that.  That was his first spin in this grade, and he showed that day he’s more than capable of mixing it up in this grade and looks worth a play in what is an open contest.

Dangers:
2 Prestige Always was one spot behind the selection last time, who he meets on 2lb better terms and whist the selection had traffic issues, this fellow had to do the donkey work outside the leader having been forced to cross from a wide gate, and all things being equal, there probably won’t be much between them here.
8 Stellar Swift has returned in fine fettle this season, picking up the silver on his return before breaking his local duck last time and although up in grade under a 6lb penalty, he does carry 11lb less at this level
11 My Wish is a lightly race 4yo that scooted-up over six-furlongs two back before running with plenty of merit in defeat last time when not enjoying the rub of the green and looks shortlist material on his first try over this trip, but he does draw the outside.

Race 10: Class 3 Dr. G. Handicap (950am) (7 furlongs)
10 STEPS AHEAD, who is a scopey type with plenty of upside, makes his seasonal reappearance having broken his duck over course & trip at just his fourth start when last seen in July. To be fair, I would like to see some market support on his return, but he has looked sharp at the trials, placing behind a rival that’s three from three, before winning his most recent trial in eye catching style. He does move up to this level for the first time, but even with a 7lb penalty he carries 12lb less in this grade.

Dangers:
11 Aeroinvincible moves up in grade under a 5lb having made all over course & trip last time and although he has more on his plate at this level, he carries 14lb less at this level and is likely to get an uncontested lead from the low draw.
1 Mighty Stride has plenty of ability but has had more than his fair share of setbacks, however, he ran a blinder on his return from his latest layoff when runner-up over six-furlongs, he will enjoy stepping up to this trip, and he should come on for the run.
4 Lo Pan Spirit has won two of his six starts and should be winning at this level soon enough, but he once again has a double figure draw, and Harry Bently will need to have his wits about him as he normal sits handy, and there’s pace underneath.

SUNDAY’S PLACEPOT
Today’s Place Pot will be races 5 through to 10. All up we will be playing 81 combinations (1x3x3x1x3x3), which will cost £8.10 for a 10p stake and so on. Good luck.

LEG 1- 4 MARKWIN
LEG 2- 2 YUEN LONG ELITE 5 VIEW OF THE WORLD 8 SOLID WIN
LEG 3- 3 MASSIVE SOVEREIGN 4 CHANCHENG GLORY 13 KARMA
LEG 4- 1 GLORY ELITE
LEG 5- 2 PRESTIGE ALWASY 8 STELLAR SWIFT 9 SKY TRUST
LEG 6- 1 MIGHTY STRIDE 10 STEPS AHEAD 11 AREOINVINCIBLE

TIM’S BEST BETS
7.00am SHA TIN
MARKWIN (NAP)

8.40am SHA TIN
GLORY ELITE (NB)

9.50am SHA TIN
STEPS AHEAD (EW)

Equus Middle Distance Champion Royal Victory makes his seasonal reappearance in race 3 at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Gold Circle

R1     Summary: LADY OF VIX (2) was ante-post favourite before being withdrawn from her previous intended start. She made a promising debut and should build on that effort for Tony Rivalland. GETOFFOFMYCLOUD (3) showed up well on debut for Dean Kannemeyer and has had the benefit over a run over course and distance. BOA LA (4) is lightly raced but showed up well first run back from a lengthy break and was well supported in the betting. MISS MAYFLY (5) was due to run on Friday night but was much improved last time out. (Andrew Harrison: 2-3-4-5).

R2     Summary: Tricky maiden. WORLD OF OUR OWN (1) found one too good for him when starting favourite last time out. He has shown up well in both starts for Alyson Wright and from the best of the draw can go one better. ROOSTER BRADSHAW (8) made marked improvement at second time of asking. He can build on that effort and must have a big chance. HODGEPODGE (3) takes on males but ran a smart race over course and distance last time out and was well supported in the market. IRISH ANTHEM (10) was well beaten on debut in spite of being relatively short in the market but gets first time blinkers and any market support must be respected. FREDDY SLATER (5) cam up empty when favourite last run while the filly OUR LADY FATE (2) has been a beaten favourite at her last two. (Andrew Harrison: 1-8-3-10).

R3     Summary: SEE IT AGAIN (1) and ROYAL VICTORY (2) are both warming up for the Gr1 Betway Summer Cup and racing over a distance short of their best. They have not been out since the end of late season but the pair are rated way above the opposition so it is a case over class versus fitter runners. FORMAGEAR (3) goes well over course and distance and won well in a comeback sprint last timeout. He will prefer this trip although way out at the weights with the above mention pair. Stable companion MASCHERINA (5) has won three of her last four and off a light weight could give them the run-around. (Andrew Harrison: 1-3-2-5).

R4     Summary: GLOBAL MOVEMENT (11) has a deep draw to overcome but boasts good form for Tienie Prinsloo and takes a big drop in class. DUKE OF AFRICA (2) has been knocking on the door since his maiden win and was not far behind stable companion Field Marshal last time out starting at long odds. He too is down in class. KING BAVARIAN (10) has not been out of the money in his last three and the stable appears to have turned the corner. Also dropping in class is BURNING MAN (9). He has been a touch disappointing since his comfortable maiden victory but a switch to the turf could help his cause. (Andrew Harrison: 11-2-10-9).

R5     Summary: ONE SMART COOKIE (7) has been holding form and goes well this trip. She can improve on her last run going the turn again and could be the one to beat. QUERARI ROSE (3) has only her third start and was a comfortable maiden winner last time out. She looks progressive. QONDANEKUKHANYENI (6) has been racing over much further but has done well over this trip. Garth Puller is never shy in running his horses over various distances. MISS PAGET (2) is back on the turf. She was a beaten favourite at her last two and can make amends from a good draw. (Andrew Harrison: 7-3-6-2).

R6     Summary: Competitive race. SUN BLUSHED (13) is the best weighted but has not been out since July and has a wide draw to contend with so indications are that he may need this outing. PRAY FOR RAIN (3) was disappointing last time out but had solid form prior to that. He is well in at these weights and must have a decent chance. CAPTAIN BOMBSHELL (8) is way better than his last run and is also favourably weighted. MISTER MASTER STARTER (10) has drawn wide but was running hard at Formagear last time out and is never too far back. (Andrew Harrison: 8-3-10-13).

R7     Summary: Wide open handicap. STORMY CHOICE (3) has good form on this course and is holding form well. She was touched off last run and can go one better. SHANTA’S PRIDE (2) was labelled a ‘good thing’ at her last start and that assessment was on the money with the return of blinkers seemingly bring out the best. She won well enough to suggest that she can follow up. PATANTS HEIR (10) obviously has problems given her record but she does have ability and if she can overcome a wide draw she will be competitive. EMERALD GREEN (1) has the best of the draw and is over her best trip. She only has 49kg to shoulder and could go all the way. (Andrew Harrison: 3-2-10-1).

R8     Summary: CABINET SHUFFLE (9) has run well to stronger at his last two over course and distance. He is down in class her but Louis Gooden has penciled in a 4kg claimer so the inference is obvious. Nathan Kotzen has dispensed with the blinkers after NOW I GOT YOU (5) did not respond. The gelding ran a much improved race at his penultimate start and looks well weighted. TERIYAKI (4) is relatively lightly raced but is seldom far behind. He was a game winner at long odds last time out and can come on from that effort. LAZY GUY (10) was narrowly beaten by Teriyaki when last they met and was outclassed last run. He has a wide draw but a light weight. (Andrew Harrison: 9-5-4-10).

The picture gives a clue to the answer

Which famous singer and actor was joint founder of the Del Mar racecourse and manned the turnstiles at the first meeting in 1937 ?

Picture: Actors Pat O’Brien and Bing Crosby, above at Del Mar, were inaugural board members of the Del Mar Turf Club and hugely influential in the creation of the seaside racetrack. (Courtesy of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club)

Bing Crosby was joint founder of Del Mar racecourse and manned the turnstiles at the first meeting in 1937.

Read about the history of Del Mar below: