Turf Talk Newsletter – 04 December, 2024

The highly anticipated Sip & Shop Raceday, featuring the World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas, returns on Saturday, 7 December 2024, at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

As one of the highlights on the Cape Racing Summer Festival of Racing calendar, it perfectly blends the thrill of world-class horseracing with an exclusive, curated shopping and lifestyle experience.

The day promises a vibrant mix of entertainment, fashion, and family-friendly activities, making it an unmissable occasion for racing fans, style enthusiasts, and leisure seekers alike.

At the heart of the event is the prestigious World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas, featuring South Africa’s finest three-year-old fillies.

This premier race showcases the nation’s elite racing talent, delivering a gripping competition as these exceptional thoroughbreds vie for one of South Africa’s most coveted titles.

Many horses that win this event go on to enjoy a superb racing career. Beach Bomb, the 2023 World Sports Betting Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas champion, has since gone on to race in the USA.

A Curated Shopping Experience

The Trackside Market offers a truly unique shopping experience, featuring contemporary ready-to-wear collections, quirky gifting options, fun and nostalgic accessories, sweet treats, and even items for your furry friends.

It’s the perfect place to shop for your World Sports Betting Cape Town MET 2025 look. With everything from stylish wardrobe essentials and unique homeware to plants, thoughtful holiday gifts, and something for everyone in the family, the market has it all!

Live Performances and Entertainment

Renowned South African vocalist and The Voice SA winner Craig Lucas will elevate the atmosphere with a captivating live performance. His soulful tones and dynamic presence provide the perfect backdrop to a day of vibrant energy and celebration.

And the party doesn’t stop there—enjoy high-energy sets throughout the day by DJ Viktoria, Liam Culbert, DJ Tyrone Paulsen, DJ Dani, and Maxine Caeser, keeping the vibes flowing nonstop!

Family-Friendly Activities and Great Food

This event is family-friendly, with a secure Kids’ Zone offering pony rides, inflatables, a petting zoo, and children’s races to keep the little ones entertained while adults enjoy the races and market.

In the Outdoor Food Zone, there’s something for everyone, with a range of popular food trucks serving delicious favourites for the whole family, from convenient on-the-go bites to hearty meals and freshly brewed coffee.

Raising Funds for a Good Cause

The World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas also serves as a fundraising platform for the Western Cape Equine Trust. The Trust welcomes, re-trains and re-homes many retired racehorses to ensure they continue to thrive with caring new owners.

Sip & Shop promises to be a day of complete fun, offering the perfect blend of sport, style, and leisure. From the thrilling World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas race, to well stocked and vibrant Trackside Market, it’s a day at the races that you won’t want to miss.

Best of all, tickets are free and can be claimed via Quicket.

For additional details and ticket reservations, visit Cape Racing.

• Media release by Cape Racing on Wednesday, 04 December 2024.

Elusive Winter storms home under Gareth Wright (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)

Elusive Winter, sporting blinkers for the first time, blazed a trail in yesterday’s headliner at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, the Cape B Stakes over 1000m, and then showed great tenacity to hold off the attentions of the strongly supported favourite Tenango. Ridden by Gareth Wright for the training partnership of Michelle Rix and Harold Crawford, Elusive Winter (20/1)took the bull by the horns from the jump and was never headed. The leading pair finished well clear of All About Al, who ran his usual game race, with the 5yo mare Porque Te Vas rounding out the Quartet.

Louis Burke won Leg 1 of the Hollywoodbets Work Riders’ Series on Rafa Bay a few weeks ago and he maintained a firm grip at the top of the Log when taking out Leg 2 yesterday, a Maiden Plate over 1000m. Oozing confidence, Burke allowed the favourite Elsinore (13/10) to find his feet in the early stages and the Justin Snaith-trained favourite finished off the race well to beat the shrewdly supported Peanut Pops by a neck.

The second race, a Cape D Stakes over 1100m, produced a thrilling finish with Rougarouin (5/1) just getting the better of the ultra-consistent Electric Feels  (33/10). The early leader, Explicit Content stayed on to finish third ahead of the tote favourite, Tambourine Man, who rounded out a popular quartet.

Only eight runners lined up for the third race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1400m, but it turned out to be a rough affair. Alex Miller and Meursault were the chief sufferers inside the final 100m as Tap Shoes (8/1), an own sister to Zapatillas, rallied strongly under Grant Van Niekerk to narrowly deny White Waters by a head, with Supreme Fate running on strongly to fill the Trifecta position.

Snaith struck for a third time in the fourth race, a Maiden Plate over 1600m, saddling the first two past the post. Native Ruler looked one of the better bets on the card but drifted alarmingly in the face of support for his stable companion Gran Canaria, who was eventually sent out as the tote favourite. Native Ruler and Gran Canaria joined issue with 200m to race but the former was always travelling the better and forged ahead to score readily.

Tothemoonandback (11/10) was all the rage to win the fifth race, a Class 5 Handicap over 1800m, and the Des McLachlan-trained 5yo son of Twice Over was the subject of a terrific ride by Grant Van Niekerk to gun down Summer Night City inside the final 50m. Summer Night City made an early dash for home but had no more to offer when challenged late by Tothemoonandback who got up to score by a neck.

Craig Bantam and Adam Marcus teamed up to win the sixth race, a Cape D Stakes over 1400m, with the well-fancied Dream Searcher. Bantam had Dream Searcher (7/2) in fifth spot as the field turned for home but the 4yo daughter of Erupt quickened up smartly and drew clear to score comfortably. Ischyro (12/1) plugged on for second with Black Path(12/1) and Gold Index (40/1) making up the frame.

Van Niekerk, sporting the famous black and white silks of Gary Player, posted his third victory of the afternoon when steering the Greg Ennion-trained Family Power to a comfortable win over Swiatek (9/4) in the seventh race, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1400m. Family Power was trading at 7/1 in the ante-post market but solid race day support saw the 4yo daughter of Louis The King’s odds trimmed to 9/2 and the confidence proved spot on. Miraculous (9/4) was never comfortable in the early running and trailed in a distant fourth.

Mickael Barzalona celebrates victory at Happy Valley (HKJC)

By Scott Burton (HKJC)

Mickael Barzalona bookended a dominant performance in the LONGINES International Jockeys Championship (IJC) with victories in the first and last legs of the four-race challenge to become the third French rider to lift the trophy following Christophe Lemaire (2009) and Olivier Peslier (1998 & 2006).

Barzalona got off the the perfect start when dropping top weight Sergeant Pepper’s head on the line to land the 1st Leg, depriving William Buick in the final stride to kick off with a maximum 12 points, run over 1000m.

Thirty minutes later the 33-year-old might have made almost certain of claiming the lion’s share of the HK$1 million prize fund when charging to the front aboard Forever Glorious in the 2nd Leg over 1650m.

But James McDonald showed all the quality expected from a rider who will be crowned the LONGINES World’s Best Jockey for a second time here on Friday night (6 December), driving Douglas Whyte-trained Prince Alex  score by a head, with Colin Keane closing fastest of all to claim third on Sure Joyful in the 3rd Leg over 1650m.

Neither Barzalona nor McDonald was able to add to their tally in leg three where it was Hollie Doyle’s turn to shine as Soleil Fighter held off the cavalry in yet another tight finish.

Going to post for the final leg, four other jockeys were in with a chance of at least matching Barzalona’s score of 18 points, with Karis Teetan and Buick both hoping for a maximum haul and for none of other race winners to add to their tallies.

But Barzalona put the matter beyond doubt as Pierre Ng-trained Aurora Lady drew steadily clear of his rivals and the Happy Valley faithful were able to cheer their new LONGINES IJC champion before he hit the line in the 4th Leg over 1200m.

Reflecting on how he had been able to gain priceless early momentum with Sergeant Pepper and Forever Glorious, Barzalona said: “It was very important to get points on the board quickly and I also felt I’d scored well with horses that were perhaps not among my better chances of the evening. It just all unfolded perfectly.”

While Aurora Lady had plenty of support at odds of 6/1 heading into the last, Barzalona was left with the task of negotiating a path from out in stall 12.

“Pierre was quite confident in Aurora Lady’s chances after he disappointed at Sha Tin last time when things didn’t work out,” said Barzalona. “He’s been unlucky a couple of times recently and given we were drawn wide he told me to try and get forward as long as they didn’t go mad early on.  I trusted my horse and he didn’t let me down.”

Barzalona is yet to taste victory in any of the four LONGINES Hong Kong International Races but he will arrive at Sha Tin on Sunday (8 December) with the wind in his sails ahead of his ride aboard Marquisat in the HK$24 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Vase (2400m), and hopeful he can improve on a second placed effort in the 2020 G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) on outsider Jolly Banner.

When told that he had joined his illustrious compatriots Peslier and Lemaire on the LONGINES IJC honours board, Barzalona said: “It’s a hyper-competitive jockeys challenge and when you see the major names up there on the roll of honour, I’m delighted to have mine alongside.”

McDonald and Doyle shared second place overall, with neither able to add to their 12-point wins, while Keane and Vincent Ho were the only other jockeys to register two scoring efforts across the four legs.

Reflecting on his narrow success aboard Prince Alex for Douglas Whyte after the 2nd leg, McDonald said: “It was nice to get one home and do it for Dougie as well. It was a tough effort from the horse who is in career-best form, and it was nice to capitalise.”

McDonald’s mount in the final leg, Chateauneuf went off the 3/1 favourite but after getting a nice draft into the race was unable to go with Aurora Lady.

Doyle also knew her fate early in the decider as Goko Win required rousting from an early stage and beat only one rival home.

But it was clear from the moment the jockeys were introduced during the opening ceremony that she has become a major fan favourite at the Valley among the visiting stars, and her hard-fought victory on Soleil Fighter for David Hayes was a popular one.

“I think David gave me my first winner in the LONGINES IJC so it’s nice to get him another one,” said Doyle. “The horse was very tough; he does need things to fall right but they did.”

Pierre Ng took home the HK$300,000 bonus for leading trainer, a third placing with Aestheticism in leg three making the difference over the other heat winners, Me Tsui, Whyte and Hayes.

Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (8 December) with the HK$126 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races.

Lot 1975: Bridestones (IRE)

The top lot on the third day of the Tattersalls December Mares Sale was Godolphin’s four-year-old TEOFILO filly BRIDESTONES who realised 280,000 guineas to the bid of Alex Elliott, buying on behalf of Anthony Ramsden of Valmont.

“She is by Teofilo out of the Dynaformer mare, which I like,” outlined Elliott. “I like that she is a two-year-old winner and has black type too. We will try to breed her to Lope De Vega, who works very well with Teofilo mares, I might have to buy Jock a cup of tea!

“I think she will suit him well, but Teofilo is a good broodmare sire with numerous crosses so there are lots of options. We were all out to buy her, but we are spending back some of the money collected last night and Anthony is taking a long-term view. It is great when you have got people who want to play at all aspects of the game, this mare is going to Whatton Manor Stud.”

Until last night’s extraordinary Sceptre Session Valmont was the part-owner of Irish Oaks winner YOU GOT TO ME who sold for 4,800,000 guineas to fellow Elliott client Amo Racing, the highest price for a filly or mare in the world in 2024.

Elliott added: “I am in a very amazing position with two emerging powers, with Anthony doing what he does, and he plays in a different way to Kia. I am just very lucky to be caught up in the middle.”

BRIDESTONES was trained by John & Thady Gosden and finished third in the Listed Coral Distaff Stakes at Sandown as a three-year-old. She is a daughter of Godolphin’s Group 1 Fillies Mile winner WHITE MOONSTONE.

Blaze A Way has eyecathcing formlines and can make it a second career win at The Vaal. (JC Photos)

The outside rail is at zero at the Vaal Thursday meeting which by trends means the high draws will be favourable in the races down the straight (1600m and shorter).

The draw has an effect on selections and a good example is in race 5, where Peace Treaty was most eyecatching over 1160m last time and should enjoy the step up in trip. However, he is drawn one which might make it tricky for him to find cover and run on. Therefore the selection is the filly Sonic Jet, who had some fine maiden form with close up finishes behind the like of Fatal Flaw, World Of Alice and Parisian Walkway before dominating from the front over this course and distance to win her maiden. She had a favourable draw that day and is drawn on the right side again. Peace Treaty could overcome the draw in a field that is not too big and will be a big runner if able to find cover and get over towards the outside. Those two should be enough to get through the exotics. For wider Guerilla Warfare was well beaten over 1400m last time against the promising sort Confederate but should appreciate the step up in trip and is drawn on the right side. Mutarazi ran an improved race last time and could earn again over the course and distance of his maiden win. Key News has not been disgraced against some fair sorts and is drawn towards the right side over a step up in trip which should suit.

The first leg of the Pick 6 could be won by Gloria Mundi. She is an improving sort and went close over 2000m last time and now has a fair draw over 1800m. City Lights has been placed often in her long maiden career and has an opportunity to win here over a suitable trip. However, she has a tricky draw. Quello Che has become disappointing but could do better here from a plum draw. Rising Russian has shown glimpses of ability and could earn.After Shock might enjoy the step up in trip. Empress Wu could earn in the line up too.

In the second leg of the Pick 6 Futurewolff is off a mark one point lower than his last win and gets a good opportunity here over a suitable 1700m course and distance from pole position with 1,5kg claimer Trent Mayhew up. Vava Vegas beat Futurewolff by 4,30 lengths when they met over course and distance in October but if apprentice claims are included he is 8kg worse off. He has a fair draw and could be involved. Callaburn is always thereabouts and should be again, but he does have a tough draw. Crepuscolo is drawn well and can earn if bouncing back. American Biscuit could bounce back to form with Lerena aboard and can’t be ignored.

In the sixth race over 1475m Argo Alley will enjoy the step down in trip and is drawn on the right side. The Africa House went close over 1450m last time and is drawn on the right side here too. Wyzeact ran a cracker over 1400m last time and if repeating under the same 1,5kg claimer he will go close from a plum high draw.

In the seventh over 1000m Chocolate Soldier is very quick and is capable of blitzing the field from a nice high draw with a 1,5kg claimer up. Nkandla Gold is a reliable sort and has run crackers over this trip in his last two starts. Jason Gates stays aboard and he is drawn on the right side. Raven Black returns from a layoff but could get away with it over this trip. He comes off a hattrick but has not raced for over a year.

In the eighth over 1000m Blaze A Way looks to be a promising sort. He has not raced for just over two months but the form of his last start, when narrowly beaten by Karate Kid, looks good now as the latter went on to win a Graduation Plate when way under sufferance at the weights. Duke Of Rock is better than his recent form suggests and if it goes his way he could earn. Johnny Appleseed is quick and if going out a bit more conservatively could be in the shake up. Kinshin Sha is drawn on the right side and for  an in form yard could bounce back to form over his optimum trip. Smith And Wesson is capable of being involved from a middle draw with a 2,5kg claimer up.

In the first leg of the Bipot Spumante Dolce is by Vercingetorix and is a half-sister to July winner Sparkling Water. She does not have a lot to beat. Kalikaa makes most appeal of those to have run.

In the first leg of the PA Highveld Storm should have come on from his last start and is drawn on the right side over a suitable trip. Green Cherry made a good debut and should appreciate the step up in trip. Satyagraha made a good debut and should go close from a high draw.

After seeing how well Grey Dawning has come out of his defeat to Roy Pagaille, Dan Skelton is going full steam ahead for the King George.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT GREY DAWNING’S KING GEORGE BID 

The picture gives a clue to the answer

When was South Africa’s first Sunday racemeeting and what prompted it?

Sunday meetings were considered as early as the mid 1980 but the first one to take place was on May 28, 1995, at Greyville. It was prompted because the meeting included the feature race, the Greyville 1900, and the original date for it on Saturday May 27 clashed with the England/Italy rugby world cup match at Kings Park.