Turf Talk Newsletter – 06 November, 2024

Quid Pro Quo does her victory canter past after winning the Gr 1 Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes and thereby becoming the first in history to win all three of KZN’s biggest two-year-old fillies races. (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

The Barend Botes-trained champion filly Quid Pro Quo’s next race if all goes to plan might be the Gr 2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans over 1600m on Betway Summer Cup day on November 30 at Turffontein Standside.

The Gerald Kalil-homebred Lance filly became the first in history to do the unofficial two-year-old Champions Season Triple Tiara, winning the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m, the Gr 2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m and the Gr 1 Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes over 1600m.

She was subsequently named Equus Champion two-year-old and KZN Horse Of The Year.

She had a deserved rest straight after the Thekwini on a farm near Summerveld run by former jockey and former South African Jockey Academy riding instructor Laurence O’Donoghue.

She was there for a month before being taken back to Summerveld.

Botes then relocated with his horses to Turffontein.

He said, “She is doing well but is definitely short of a gallop. She will be having a gallop next week Thursday. She then might go for the Dingaans. There is no lead up race for it so she will go straight into it. In the other races she will get Gr 1 penalties, so the Dingaans would be the most suitable race for her.”

The Dingaans is a level weights race and Quid Pro Quo will receive a 2,5kg gender allowance.

Quid Pro Quo has built up a following and is currently the darling of the South African turf, so her return to action is eagerly antipated.

Gladatorian, who ran a cracking second in the Gr 2 Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile at Turffontein Standside on Saturday, has enjoyed stepping up in trip and is pictured winning with ease over 1500m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in September (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Trainer Stuart Ferrie said based on Saturday’s scintillating performance by the five-year-old Vercingetorix gelding Gladiatorian in the Gr 2 Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile he would get 1800m, which would make his route for the Champions Season straight forward.

However, the connections are in two minds about going for the prestigioius Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate in early January.

Ferrie said, “From the wide draw we dropped him out and then Muzi falling off (he was dislodged from Back In Business) probably cost us another length too. But that is what Gladatorian does to us. He likes to run at them, this time he just never got there.”

Gladatorian had at least 15 lengths to make up in the straight and maybe more.

Ferrie said, “Tristan (Godden) thought he had a lot to do but halfway down the straight he thought he might even get there. The Turffontein mile is tough and he wasn’t stopping, so his route for the Champions Season is quite easy, (IOS) Drill Hall (1400m), (Hollywoodbets) Gold Challenge (1600m) and (World Pool) Champions Cup (1800m).”

Ferrie was asked whether the L’Ormarins King’s Plate would be an option and he replied, “There’s nothing left here for him here in KZN until the Champions Season, but traveling to Cape Town for one race is different to traveling to Jo’Burg. It’s a long way to go. It is not completely off the radar, but we have not decided yet where next to run.”

Gladatorian was chiefly kept to sprints in his first three seasons and his biggest success to date has been winning the Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m.

However, his sire won the Daily News 2000 and his dam Harvest Crimson was by Durban July winner Dynasty. Crimson Harvest herself won from 1200m to 2000m and was out of a dam by stamina influence Badger Land.

So that would suggest Gladatorian should enjoy further.

Recently Gladatorian’s full-sister Ladyofdistinction duly enjoyed the step up to 1400m in her third start, although his half-brother by Gimmethergreenlight called Monumental has only had one win in 17 starts and that was over 1400m.

Gladatorian is owned by Messrs Late Agasthamuni Gujadhur, E G Hart de Keating, M L Jean Hardy and Gold Circle’s CEO Michel Nairac.

He was purchased for R400,000 at the BSA National Yearling Sale of 2021 by his first trainer Dennis Drier and has to date had 7 wins and 8 places in 21 starts for earnings of R1,219,937.

Cousin Casey winning the Gr 2 Punters Cup on November 19, 2022. (Picture: Wayne Marks) 

Cousin Casey has been scratched from the Gr 1 R6million Betway Summer Cup after being found to have a ligament injury, but trainer Sean Tarry said the prognosis was better than initially thought and added he was positive about a full Autumn Highveld and KZN Champions Season campaign and had also not completely ruled out a Summer campaign in Cape Town.

He said, “The second scan is very encouraging. It looks way better than we thought. We’re just going to keep monitoring it and make plans according to what we’re seeing on the scans. I would hope it will not jeopardise Autumn and Durban and we haven’t put Cape to bed yet, but Cape is a longshot. We’re not panicking and whatever we do will always be with his wellbeing at the forefront of our minds.”

The five-year-old Vercingetorix entire was an  Equus Champion Two-year-old and although he has not won a race for two years he still had a magnificent four-year-old campaign with no fewer than five runner up finishes, three of them in Gr 1s and two of them in Gr 2s.

Winchester Mansion’s Betway Summer Cup chances took a serious blow when he was raised five points for his win in the Gr 2 Allied Steelrode Onamission Mile. One horse he will have a problem beating on form is Royal Victory, who defeated Winchester Mansion in the weight for age Premier’s Champions Challenge and also in the Hollywoodbets Durban July despite giving the latter 0,5kg … Royal Victory will now be getting 2kg from Winchester Mansion. (JC Photos)

HANDICAPPING RATINGS UPDATES

NHA Press Release

Allied Steelrode – Onamission Charity Mile (Handicap) (Grade 2)

WINCHESTER MANSION has seen his merit rating increase from 124 to 129 after winning the Grade 2 Allied Steelrode – Onamission Charity Mile (handicap) over 1600m on the standside track at Turffontein on Saturday, 2 November. The Handicappers were of the opinion that BARBARESCO made for the ideal line horse here, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 122.

The only other increase was for runner-up GLADATORIAN, who was adjusted from 120 to 123.

Four horses received a drop of 1 point each, LITIGATION dropped to 114 from 115, SAFE PASSAGE dropped to 108 from 109, ZINOVI dropped from 113 to 112 and GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE dropped from 116 to 115.

Betway Graham Beck Stakes (Grade 3)

MOONLIGHT TRADER had to be capped on a rating of 101 after winning the Grade 3 Betway Graham Beck Stakes for three-year-olds over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday. Here, it was 4th placed WAHEED who was deemed to make for the best line horse, leaving him unchanged on a rating of 107.

In rating the race this way, the winner MOONLIGHT TRADER, runs to a considerably higher mark than his current adjusted figure of 101 but had to be capped due to the arbitrary restrictions imposed on the Merit Rating system in this Grade 3 event. The specific conditions, referred to above, state that the winner will not incur an adjustment of more than 8 points and placed horses will not incur an adjustment of more than 4 points.

MOONLIGHT TRADER (101) will actually now receive 3kg from WAHEED (107) and receive 5kg from LEGEND OF ARTHUR (111) in future handicaps after beating them at level weights in this Grade 3 race. This restriction inhibits the Handicappers from equalizing their chances in Handicaps in the immediate future. Furthermore, the winner of the Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes will now be rated 9 points lower than FATAL FLAW despite winning a race of equal status, while producing a faster time – 84.88 vs 85 on the same day. This restriction also means that the Cape Classic winner GREAT PLAINS is rated a full 9 points superior to MOONLIGHT TRADER despite winning races of similar status and quality.

Only two horses received drops in this event, OMBUDSMAN dropped to 88 from 89 and ZIP CODE dropped from 96 to 94.

HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes (Grade 3)

FATAL FLAW has had her rating picked up from 107 to 110 following her easy win in the Grade 3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes for three-year-old fillies over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday. Here it was runner-up WORLD OF ALICE who was considered to make for the best line horse, she remained unchanged on a rating of 101.

The specific conditions of this race do not allow for an increase of more than 4 pounds for placed runners. STARS AND BRA’S was only adjusted to a rating of 90 from 86 despite actually achieving a higher rating, while POBLANO was only adjusted from 87 to 90 despite achieving a higher mark. The Handicappers opted to only adjust POBLANO by 3 points to 90 so that she would not be rated higher than the 90 rated STARS AND BRA’S who beat her here at level weight terms.

The only finisher in this race to receive a drop was VALIEVA, who was dropped to 90 from 94.

Allied Steelrode Yellowwood Handicap (Grade 3)

OLIVIA’S WAY had her rating increased to 110 from 97 after landing the Allied Steelrode Yellowwood Handicap (Grade 3) over 1800m at Turffontein on Saturday. The runner-up SUKHUMVIT was used to her pre-rating of 91 to rate this race and accordingly she remained on that figure of 91. The only other increase in this event went to FORGIVENESS who went up to 88 from 87.

The following received drops to their ratings, LADY FALLON was dropped to 95 from 97, UNITED COUNCIL was dropped to 93 from 94 and JULIET TANGO was dropped to 88 from 90

Allied Steelrode Golden Loom Handicap (Listed)

CHYAVANA has had his rating raised from 100 to 104 after impressively winning the Listed Allied Steelrode Golden Loom Handicap over the straight 1000m course at Turffontein on Saturday. It was 3rd placed SHELDON who was used as the line horse here, leaving him unaltered on a rating of 110.

The only other increase in this race went to the runner-up TAXI TO THE MOON, who was increased by 1 point from 106 to 107.

Three horses received drops. RICHARD THE FIRST dropped to 95 from 96, COSMIC STAR dropped to 104 from 105 and MAGIC TATTOO dropped to 99 from 101.

Allied Steelrode Java Stakes (Listed)

POETS WARRIOR has had his rating raised from 96 to 104 following his success in the Allied Steelrode Java Stakes over 2400m at Turffontein on Saturday. It was the runner-up EXPLOSIVE BOND who was used as the line horse, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 97.

The only other increase went to 4th placed BATTLEGROUND, who was raised to 96 from 94. He finished 0.75 lengths behind the line horse while conceding 2kg in weight, hence his increased rating.

The only runner to receive a drop was ARAGOSTA, who was dropped from 113 to 112.

Cape Classic (Grade 3)

GREAT PLAINS has had his rating raised from 109 to 110 following his win in the Cape Classic over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. It was 3rd placed ALL OUT FOR SIX who was used as the line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 107.

Runner-up BOUNDLESS ENERGY was raised to 109 from 90 after beating the 107 rated ALL OUT FOR SIX at level weights by 0.75 lengths.

MAURITIUS KESTREL and CAPTAIN WEST were increased to 105 and 103 respectively so that they meet on correct Handicap terms with GREAT PLAINS and BOUNDLESS ENERGY in future handicaps, furthermore their ratings will now also place them in the correct order for elimination purposes.

There were no other changes to this race.

Southeaster Sprint (Listed)

DANCE VARIETY has seen his rating adjusted to 112 from 108 after impressively winning the Listed Southeaster Sprint over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. The Handicappers were unanimous in opting to use MEU CAPITANO as the line horse here and he remained unchanged on a rating of 104. The only other increase went to the runner-up GIMMELIGHTNING who went up to 96 from 94.

The following horses received drops, ZIYASHA dropped to 113 from 116, FUTURE VARIETY also dropped to 113 from 116 and ICY BLAST dropped to 94 from 98.

Enquiries:

The Handicapping Team

Willy Meet Again is promising and is tipped to win Race 7 (JC Photos)

R1     7 DWIGHT EISENHOWER should be cherry ripe to strike from a good draw with a 2,5kg claimer up. 8 KWAGGA BLITZ is drawn in pole and might appreciate the step up in trip but does have two lengths to find on Dwight Eisenhower on 1000m form. 1 LETS PLAY POKER beat Kwagga Blitz last time and will appreciate the step up in trip but does have a wide draw to overcome. 9 DUCHESS OF SEVILLE enjoyed the step down to this trip last time but has a tricky draw. (7-8-1-9)

R2     5 YOJIMBO went close when stepped up to 2000m and is well drawn with in form Gavin Lerena up over this suitable trip. 6 SNOW MOON disappointed last time but over this trip could earn on best form. 4 ICHACHA should go close if able to produce his best. 1 STORM AHEAD has a chance on best form. (5-6-4-1)

R3     5 QUELLO CHE will enjoy the step down in trip but does have a tricky draw. 7 RISING RUSSIAN beat Quello Che over 2000m but before that lost to akk6 ANCIENT WISDOM disappointed last time but is capable of better. 8 LUNAR RAINBOW is not far off the top two selections on form. (5-7-6-8)

R4     4 ODE TO THE OCEAN is unreliable but has the ability to win a race like this and has a good ipportunity here from a good draw. 9 SMELTING has run well in her last two and from a fair draw could see it out. 8 TWICE AS WILD is in good form but has a wide draw to overcome. 2 BREGARDT is not out of it although a wide draw makes it tough. (4-9-8-2)

R5     5 WRITTEN IN STONE has been in fine form under Louis Nhlapo and can win this from a good draw. 10 CAN’T CATCH ME ran a cracker last time and a repeat from a good draw will see her go close. 1 ONE PARTY should appreciate the step up in trip and will have come on from her last start but has a tough draw. 3 VAVA VEGAS has the form to be a contender here. (5-10-1-3)

R6     2 DOITWITHDIAMONDS is in good form and won going away last time so can overcome a three point raise from a better draw. 9 HAIR TRIGGER has some good form and Lerena is up although he is 1kg overweight and the horse has a tricky draw. 7 HAMMIES HERO has useful form in Cape Town but has not raced for over seven months. 1 AMPERSAND has the ability to be involved in the finish from a plum draw with a 2,5kg claimer up. (2-9-7-1)

R7     8 WILLY MEET AGAIN looks promising and can progress again from a good draw over a suitable trip especially as she sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight. 1 MISS HANNIGAN enjoys this trip and has Strydom uo but does have a tricky draw. 2 BLUE HORIZON has ability and with a 2,5kg claimer up should go close albeit from a tricky draw. 7 SPIRITED GIRL could earn here from a good draw. (8-1-2-7)

R8     8 DESTINY OF FIRE is pormising and has a good opportunity to win for a second time in her third start. 3 RATTLE BAG ran a cracker last time and a repeat will see her right there. 4 STREISAND has shown some ability and could still improve. 2 PRINCESS ILARIA should be involved if able to overcome a wide draw. (8-3-4-2)

Serino Moodley clinched a double when winning aboard the Andre Nel-trained Pleasedtoseeyou (Master Of My Fate) on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly today (Wednesday) (Picture: Gold Circle).

Sean Veale, Serino Moodley and Kumaran Naidoo had doubles on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly today (Wednesday).

Veale goes to 43 wins for the season and has achieved it at a strike rate of 14.05%.

Moodley is on 21 wins at 12.35%.

Naidoo is on five wins at 8.47%.

Andrew Harrison wrote the below report on the meeting.

Andrew Harrison (Gold Circle)

Kom Naidoo made a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure in the card opener at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday as Thesupernovastar made all the running to win the first by the proverbial street. With the race moved to the poly, the field cut up to just five runners with Dean Kannemeyer’s filly Meritorious mostly in the red after an eye-catching debut victory. But Thesupernovastar, down from a rating high of 82 to yesterday’s 54 and apprentice Nirvan Nastili giving a further 2.5kg relief in the handicap, made all the running and was not for the catching as she accelerated away to win as she liked.

Meritorious on the other hand, never looked comfortable and Craig Zackey was at her a long way out. Zackey was critical of the surface in a later interview claiming that the favourite was never comfortable with the kick-back which he said was mostly responsible for her disappointing effort. “Ten furlongs on the grass,” he said would bring out the best in the filly.

Imperial Power got a hefty shunt up the ratings after his last win but the handicappers got this one right as he powered to a comfortable victory in the second. Stepped up to a mile by Garth Puller, Rachel Venniker was hard at work a long way from home as Fish Eagle and One Irish Rover led the procession at a brisk pace. But once in the straight, Imperial Power picked them off as the early pace found the pacemakers treading water and Imperial Power quickened past to win as he liked.

“I was probably the only trainer that was happy when I got the call,” quipped Stuart Ferrie post-race with the third race intended for the turf before the rain intervened. Stable stalwart Preemptive Strike had recorded four of his five previous wins on the poly and it was a sixth yesterday. The first two races were won by big margins but it was a case if heads-up-and-down as Sean Veale got Preemptive Strike’s nose in front of a hard battling Rhythm. The official margin was 0.05 but it looked a little closer than that in spite of commentator Sheldon Peters getting it right and making a confident call.

Mc Dazzler was one of the first victims of the dreaded CTO2 testing which almost caused a riot as he was a short-priced favourite for the race. That was five races back and he only just made it past a second test yesterday before finally shedding is maiden ticket.

Dean Kannemeyer prefers his runners to be given a chance and run on at the finish but MC Dazzler has given the impression that he lacks intestinal fortitude given those tactics as he has been run down late in his last two starts. Zackey took no prisoners as he bounced Mc Dazzler out of the widest gate, took up the lead and was not for the catching. Assistant Nicolette Roscoe confirmed that the gelding had been a frustrating horse as he shows good work at home, but a change of tactics may be the answer.

It is always nice to have a little ‘insider’ information – which I may add can be very misleading – but Gallop TV presenter Paul Lafferty gave notice of his conversation with Paul Gadsby on the morning gallops where Gadsby explained that he had been disappointed with the showing of Princess Hannah at her previous start as she was not ridden to instructions. But Gadsby kept faith in Sean Veale and the title-chasing rider made amends as the filly left the favourite and pacemaker Ladybug for dead.

Kom Naidoo was back in the winner’s box as Hoodwinked held on gamely to edge out Rainwater as the pair battled it out in a tight finish to the sixth. Rollo The Viking ran out of steam after threatening halfway up the straight to finish a well-beaten third.

There is a school of the uninitiated that think trainers and jockeys just run them and ride them whatever, but plenty of thought goes into each race by both. Pleasedtoseeyou was a lightly raced gelding sent up from Cape Town by Andre Nel to his KZN yard to have a try on the poly and it has worked out well. Third behind the promising Mr Hotstepper in his local debut and winning well yesterday beating favourite Go Grayson Go.

Working out that Go Grayson Go may still be short of experience, having only his third start, Serino Moodley piled on the pressure early and it paid dividends with his younger rival still green and not getting to grips.

Gary Rich was hoping to claim the prize for the Hollywood Syndicates 600^th winner but was pipped on the post for the second time running, also missing out by a couple on their half-century but he has kept Benni In The Area fit and firing as Calvin Habib kept him rolling from his inside draw to hold off Irish Luck who had no luck from his outside draw, wide for most of the way and not able to finish off.

The picture gives a clue to the answer

Who was the shortest priced Melbourne Cup winner in history?

Picture credit: wikipedia

The legendary Phar Lap won the 1930 Melbourne Cup at odds of 11/8, the shortest price for a winner in the history of “the race that stops a nation”.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT PHAR LAP