Turf Talk Newsletter – 11 December, 2024

Ardabil and Bombers In The Sky go to the line on the outside rail. (Picture: Cape Racing). 

There was controversy in the last race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth this afternoon (Wednesday) when the Justin Snaith-trained Ardabil, ridden by Grant van Niekerk, and the Glen Kotzen-trained Bombers In The Sky, ridden by Denis Schwarz, raced in close quarters all the way up the straight, initially on an outward path, and then two or three bumps took place after they had reached the outside rail.

Ardabil got up by a neck and an objection by Denis Schwarz was overruled.

One racing aficionado believed the correct decision was made and explained, “You can not possibly say definitively that but for the interference the second horse would have won. The winner was headed and came back to win.”

However, can it definitively be said that Bombers In The Sky wanted to go to the outside?

He was travelling well at the top of the straight and taking the shortest way home would have been a good option.

However, he had no choice but to go to the outside because he was sitting on the quarters, or even alongside,  the eventual winner at the top of the straight and the winner made a beeline for the outside.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE RACE REPLAY

It is a grey area in South African racing and used to happen regularly on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly in the days of the infamous “golden highway” on the outside.

If a fancied horse turned for home one off the rail and decided to head for the golden highway, all the horses making runs behind it were forced outwards themselves and it was seldom, if ever, brought to book.

One of the detractors to good racing in Cape Town is the tendency for horses to head for the outside in the straight, which causes a lot of hard luck stories, and it seems to happen especially in big races.

One way to stop this practise would surely be to enforce the rule about being two lengths clear before being able to go across other horses?

In fact, an exasperated Glen Kotzen wondered today what his jockey would have had to do to shake off the horse who gave him no chance of having a trouble free run in the straight.

Kotzen did not go into the objection inquiry because he thought an upheld decision in favour of Bombers In The Sky would be a foregone conclusion.

He said, “I think we were just going past Ardabil as we came into the straight and Grant wasn’t clear of us to allow him to go across. He takes us right from the inside right to the outside and then bumps us three times.  On the one occasion he bumps the hindquarter, so our horse’s head clearly comes in (i.e. he was knocked sideways). We go down 0,2 lengths and they don’t think we would have won the race? To me that is preposterous.”

Bombers In The Sky appeared to be coming back at Ardabil at the line too.

Kotzen added, “What should my jockey have done? Should he have clipped heels at the beginning of the lateral movement, or should he have reined to the left to try and get the other horse off him halfway up the straight so that he would stop bumping him and he could then try and ride his horse out … or should he just take the punishment and then wait for the objection, because basically that is what he had to do … he couldn’t get the other horse off him all the way up the straight.”

He concluded, “If Ardabil had been two lengths clear when going to the outside my jockey could have gone straight down the inside, but he did not have that option.”

The stipendiary stewards have to abide by the rule which says the interfered with horse would definitely have had to have beaten the horse who interfered with it for the objection to be upheld.

However, they are able to dish out punishment for interference, even if the objection goes in favour of the offender.

It will be interesting to see whether there is a suspension given here or whether this incident falls under the aforementioned grey area about going outward in the straight.

It is a grey area that should be looked into.

A horse should need to be two lengths clear before coming across another horse whether it happens down the back straight, in the case where a horse is trying to slot in to get cover, or whether it happens at a slighter angle at the top of the home straight when they are all accelerating for home.

Furthermore, serial interference offenders should surely be given more than just the standard seven days here and ten days there after a certain number of suspensions in a season.

If there is continual repetition of the transgression then it points to the punishment not being effective and a bigger punishment should be given.

A proper detractor is needed in the case where suspensions are being dished out over and over again to the same rider.

Red Palace wins the Prestige Plate in October. (Picture: Wayne Marks)

In a hastily convened short-notice auction hosted by Cape Racing Sales at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth after racing on Wednesday, the top-class Gr2 winner Red Palace was purchased for R3,8 million and will be transferring to the Dean Kannemeyer yard to continue her 4yo campaign in the interests of stalwart Cape racing folk, Terry and Annabel Andrews, Writes The Sporting Post.

After some spirited bidding by some major local players after the last race, the hammer fell to existing partner Terry Andrews’ bid of R3,8 million.

Red Palace holds an entry in the 2025 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met and is likely to line up in the Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes on L’Ormarins King’s Plate day on 4 January 2025.

While she was sold with her engagement in Saturday’s SplashOut Gr3 Victress Stakes, the Sporting Post was unable to confirm whether she will actually take her place in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas undercard feature.

Veteran Cape breeder Terry Andrews bred the daughter of Singspiel stallion Potala Palace out of the four-time winning stakes placed Jay Peg mare, In Limine.

Rated 119, Red Palace has won 5 races from 1400m to 2000m in her 15 starts to date, including the Riding High Together Gr2 Gold Bracelet last season for the Candice Bass-Robinson yard.

She performed with great credibility when runner-up behind Snow Pilot in the 2023 Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas.

Terry and Annabel Andrews originally owned 50% of Red Palace in partnership with longstanding racing man Carlos Goncalves (30%), the Breydenbach family (10%), and brother-and-sister team Mark and Candice Bass, who owned 5% each.

Former part owner Carlos Goncalves received a decent return on his original investment and told the Sporting Post after the sale that he wished Terry and Annabel Andrews the very best. He added that he felt that Red Palace was a lively prospect in both the Paddock Stakes and Met.

“I don’t recall ever having had to pay in on keep costs for her. She was a massively talented and exciting filly to be a part of and we’d all love to own ten of her. We will follow her progress with keen interest,” he added.

The Sorrento Stud home-bred was withdrawn from the 2022 Cape Yearling Sale after injuring herself in the float. With the Andrews’ retaining 50%, a partnership was put together for a gross R160 000 by Mark Bass.

Next to Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint winner Singforafa, Red Palace ranks amongst the best fairer sex progeny of her sire.

While Wednesday’s flash sale of Red Palace came about in the ebb and flow of life as a decision to dissolve a partnership, it’s clear that there is always money for a decent horse as reflected in the interest of some serious racing folk.

And we ideally need more of this type of public sale platform of quality black-type fillies in training, which can give owners good returns, while at the same time providing a collateral barometer of market value – much like the Tattersalls December mare Sale does for the UK market.

Hawwaam pictured at Wilgerbosdrift Stud.

Cape Breeders

A son of the late great six-times champion sire Silvano, i.e. Vercingetorix, tops the national sires log at present and another son of Silvano, the champion Hawwaam, will have his first runner on Saturday.

Hawwaam’s two-year-old daughter Take It As Red lines up in the Flash Summer Coronation Plate (1000m) at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth this weekend.

Trained by Piet Steyn, Take It As Red will be ridden by Grant Van Niekerk.

Bred by Hemel ‘N Aarde Stud, the filly is out of the High Chaparral mare Santiburi.

A son of six time South African Champion Sire Silvano (also the sire of star stallion Vercingetorix), Hawwaam was a top-class racehorse who won ten of 13 starts.

Equus Champion 3YO Colt of 2018-2019, Hawwaam earned R6,769,775 in prize money. He reeled off six wins, from seven starts, at three, including the G1 Daily News 2000, G1 SA Classic and G1 The Premier’s Champions Challenge.

At four, Hawwaam won four of six outings, with his three graded triumphs that season including the G1 World Sports Betting Champions Challenge, G1 H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes and G2 Premier Trophy.

In total, the brilliant Hawwaam won eight graded races, of which five were grade one.

Hawwaam, a R1 000 000 buy from the 2017 National Yearling Sale, is out of the outstanding producer Halfway To Heaven. A daughter of seven time South African Champion Sire Jet Master, the G3 Prix du Cap/Listed Off To Stud Handicap winning Halfway To Heaven was Broodmare Of The Year in 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.

She has produced five winners headed by Rainbow Bridge, Horse Of The Year, Equus Champion Older Male and Equus Champion Middle Distance Horse of 2020-2021 and dual G1 winner Golden Ducat.

Between them, Golden Ducat, Hawwaam, and Rainbow Bridge won 12 G1 races.

Another son of Halfway To Heaven, Celestial City (a full brother to Hawwaam), won five and finished second in the Listed Kings Cup.

Ombudsman has been tipped to win the sixth race (JC Photos).

The Vaal Classic track meeting could be kicked off by the tried and tested combination of Mike de Kock and Chamu Mabaya with the Danon Platina filly Great Notion.

This filly showed improvement last time and faces an unispiring field over a step up in trip she should manage, although a wide draw makes it tougher. Lacewing has shown glimpses of ability and could earn. Lady Sabrina ran a fair third when stepped up to this trip last time and is well drawn.

In the second race over 1600m Dylan’s Champ has been backed and gone close in his last two starts and now has another good draw over the same trip category so should go close again. Flight Engineer wasn’t disgraced against a top class prospect last time and from a good draw over a step up trip he could handle he has a chance. Pioneer Square went close when stepped up to this trip last time and Lerena stays aboard, but he does have a wide draw to overcome. Beynac has been going close over 1400m and with Strydom staying aboard tries a step up in trip and as this Querari gelding’s Var dam won over 1600m he could get it. Asiah’s Tiara is the only filly in the race, but has the form to earn.

In race 3 over 2000m Towers Of Gold faced a top sort in Heather’s Boy last time and back in this company from pole position over a suitable trip he could go close. Guy Alexander has come into his own, but has to overcome a four point raise for his latest win and has a tricky draw, although it is an ideal trip. Whispers Of War is always thereabouts and should enjoy the further step up in trip. Romeo’s Magic disappointed last time over this trip, but is off a competitive mark and can do better over a suitable trip. Japanese Maple has been dropped five points and if bouncing back could be in the shake up.

In Race 4 over 2000m Fetching Flyer has relished the step up to this trip and goes for a hattrick, albeit off a merit rating increased by seven points. Mount Etna won well last time and could do well over a further step up in trip from draw two being by Erupt out of a Dynasty mare. Kadizora is hard knocking and distance suited and has a chance being 1,5kg better off with Mount Etna for a 0,75 length beating, but has a tough draw. Hat’s Queen is drawn in pole and is in good form so should be thereabouts over a suitable trip with Lerena up. A Place In The Sun is capable of better than recent.

In race 5 over 2000m Flamboyant Flyer has bounced back with cheekpieces on and has a good draw off just a three point higher mark after a win over 1800m last time. He should get the extra trip being by Erupt out of a Silvano mare. Play With Fire is in consistent form and from a good draw over a suitable trip should be staying on as usual. Cartagena has looked to be one with ability and proved it last time, so can continue to improve and will likely not be as big a price as last time. Stormy Sunday has shown ability and should enjoy the course and distance but has a tough draw. Have A Party should be right there over a suitable trip if able to overcome a wide draw.

In race 6 over 1500m Ombudsman ran well against a most promising sort in Confederate last time, but does have a tough draw, although Calvin Habib is back aboard. Twelve OClock High won well in the maidens over 1450m, so will enjoy this trip and can do well with Lerena up albeit off quite a tough 86 merit rating. Princess Iliara is well drawn and a repeat of her last start could see her go close.

In race 7 over 1450m the Lucky Houdalakis-trained What A Winter filly will enjoy the step up to this trip as her dam by Var won over it. Francilien’s last start has been well franked and she represents one of the most in form yards in the country, albeit from a tricky draw. Honorable Member has a form chance here over an ideal trip. However, she has a wide draw to overcome. Cocomelon looks to be a talented three-year-old and faces her easiest task since her first win and it is from a good draw over a suitable trip. It’s Her Way has a wide draw but has shown good ability before and could surprise. Accept Cookies is well drawn and drops back to her winning trip.

In race 8 over 1200m Sail The Sky ran well last time and is at home over this trip and well drawn. Written In Stone is likely to be given another fine ride by Louis Nhlapo and can earn again despite a tricky draw. Midnight Fusion has the ability to go close from a good draw. Call Me Master has a wide draw, but has the form to go close and has Lerena up. Pendragon is capable of producing a strong finish and has the advantage of a plum draw of two.

The Mike Stewart-trained Hang Out The Stars (Querari) clinches a treble for Craig Zackey (Picture: Cape Racing) 

Craig Zackey rode a treble at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Wednesday, while Justin Snaith sent out a treble and there was a double for Grant van Niekerk.

Zackey is now on 80 wins for the season and has achieved it at a strike rate of 16.56%.

He is just five beind the national log leader Gavin Lerena, while Richard Fourie is in third place on 78 wins.

Van Niekerk is on 31 wins at 18.79%.

Snaith is on 70 wins at 15.66%.

The picture gives a clue to the answer (wikipedia).

Who was the first jockey to have 500 wins in a year, breaking the record of Bill Shoemaker in the process?

Canadian Hall Of Fame jockey Sandy Hawley became the first jockey to ever win 500 races in one year, breaking Bill Shoemaker’s record.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT SANDY HAWLEY