Turf Talk Newsletter – 30 December, 2024

The top moment of 2024 was undoubtedly when Richard Fourie passed the 334 wins record for a season held by Anthony Delpech and he fittingly did it in a Gr 2 feature on Double Grand Slam (Candiese Lenferna Photography)   

David Mollett

In New Zealand – currently the home of former champion jockey Warren Kennedy – another top rider, James McDonald, has hit the headlines after being nominated for that country’s “Sportsman-Of-The-Year” award.

No question, McDonald has had a big year. Nine Gr 1 wins including successful associations with top hoses Via Sistina and recent Hong Kong victor, Romantic Warrior, are proof of that.

It is fair to say that New Zealand is as rugby mad as South Africa so McDonald’s nomination is noteworthy as racing there isn’t nearly as important to sports fans.

Racing in SA has made great strides in the last 18 months yet – outside of the racing websites – there has been little recognition of our record-breaking jockey, Richard Fourie.

Fourie has simply outclassed his rivals as Manchester City used to do in previous seasons in the Premier League before their recent slump. Dont expect any similar loss of form by 38 year-old, Fourie.

At the end of the 2023/24 season, Fourie’s total of wins stood at the astonishing figure of 378. When he won on Double Grand Slam on 10 June at Hollywoodbets Greyville, he had bettered Anthony Delpech’s record of 334 wins – a record which had stood for 25 years.

It got me thinking that Fourie had to have a shout of at least getting a nomination for “Sportsman-Of-The-Year” – one fancies it is a record likely to stand for years.

Now 30 years ago – when I was racing editor of The Sunday Times (in those days they had two pages of racing now none) – top writers such as Syd Lerman (football), Colin Bryden (cricket) and Dan Retief (rugby) would be asked by sports editor Edward Griffiths if they had someone in their respective sports to put forward as a possible candidate for “Sportsman-Of-The-Year” – it was deemed an important event in the sporting calendar.

Upon googling “SA Sportsman-Of-The-Year”, I confess to being a little confused. It states that in May 2024, Eben Etzebeth was named “Sportsman-Of-The-Year” at the 2024 SA Sports awards. But there’s still seven months of the year remaining.

Then it states that – in October 2024 – Tatjane Smith and Donald Ramphadi were named Bestmed Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year. Again two months of the year still remaining.

Anyway, while I’m sure these ladies and gents were worthy winners, it’s clear racing still can’t get its foot in the door against rugby and football.

Now the intrguing question is this: who is going to win the 2024/25 jockeys championship?

My 6-1 voucher on Muzi Yeni looks like going the same way as my bet on Kamala Harris for the US Presidency. At the time of writing, Muzi was still sidelined.

So has World Sports Betting got it right in making Fourie the 7-10 favourite? Possibly, he’s still travelling to the Eastern Cape (very important), but only seems to be heading for KZN and Gauteng for their feature races.

This may open the door for either Gavin Lerena or Craig Zackey and – my first antepost punt in 2025 – is going to go on the former.

Amazingly – at the age of 39 – Gavin is riding as well as at any time in an already notable career, but to win the championship at the end of July he needs to find more mounts both in the Eastern Cape and the Cape.

Despite his Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas win, Gavin had only four mounts at last Sunday’s Merchants meeting.

He got on the board with the Lucinda Woodruff-trained My Archangel, but it always looked a tough ask for his Merchants mount, Seeking The Gold, who has enjoyed an excellent career but is now seven years old.

Craig Zackey boosted his title prospects with a four-timer at the Vaal on Christmas Eve and WSB quote him at 33-10 for his first championship win. He’s got the powerful Dean Kannemeyer stable behind him and interestngly – with Grant van Niekerk suspended – got four mounts for Justin Snaith on Merchants day.

On the awards front, it was a memorable year for breeder and golf legend, Gary Player, who bred “Horse-of-the-Year”, Dave The King. The Mike De Kock inmate provided some thrilling wins for Gary, Lindsay Ralphs and Larry Nestadt.

No question about “Filly-Of-The-Year” with Barend Botes doing an outstanding job saddling Quid Pro Quo, a daughter of Lance (by Jet Master), to six wins out of eight racecourse appearances.

Currently-sidelined, S’manga Khumalo, partnered Quid Pro Quo to four of those six wins and – for my money – the highlight was the filly’s victory in the Golden Slipper on Hollywoodbets Durban July day.

Quid Pro Quo, the first to win all three of the Gr 1 Allan Robertson, the Gr 2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper and the Gr 1 Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes and she showed those were not just down to precocity when putting in a stunning performance in her reapperance to obilterate the boys in the Gr 2 Betway Dingaans. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).  

Barry Irwin’s first ultimately lucrative foray into South African-bred bloodstock was with the obscurely pedigreed Zimbawean-bred Ipi Tombe (Manshood), so it is little surprise his Team Valor International syndicate organisation was the buyer when it was announced the obscurely-bred superstar filly Quid Pro Quo had been sold.

The sale of the Barend Botes-trained Gerald Kalil-homebred Lance filly is subject to her passing various tests.

The Sporting Post compiled the following report after speaking to Irwin:

Barry Irwin of Team Valor International has confirmed that plans are in place to export Equus champion Quid Pro Quo to Europe and ready her for Dubai in 2026.

The leading international owner was talking to the Sporting Post on Saturday morning after news broke that Gerald and Karen Kalil’s all-conquering Lance filly would be winging her way to an international career.

“Depending on how soon she can be readied for a direct flight, she may run a time or two in Joburg with her current trainer, Barend Botes,” added Irwin who confirmed that as of Friday’s vetting by Dr Terry Casey of Fourways Equine practice, Team Valor International has managed to acquire Quid Oro Quo, pending blood tests to determine her eligibility to be exported.

The veteran racing man said that ‘it was not an easy transaction’ as Quid Pro Quo’s owner-breeder Gerald Kalill was quite understandably reluctant to let go of a Champion filly of her quality and remaining international potential.

“She is quite a tall filly and she is still growing. Her trainer has done an absolutely brilliant job in managing her to this point. We greatly look forward to allowing the filly to showcase herself on the worldwide stage over the coming years in Dubai, Europe and the United States,” he concluded.

On beating the boys in the Betway Gr2 Dingaans at her first start as a 3yo, Quid Pro Quo had some experts comparing her to the ‘Galloping Goldmine’ Empress Club! She is a daughter of Heuningsfontein-based sire Lance (Jet Master) out of the five-time winning daughter of The Sheik, Delightful Diva.

Already a dual Gr1 and Gr2 heroine, the multiple award-winning filly has won 6 races with 2 places from 8 starts for earnings of R2 175 250.

Snow Pilot has blossomed this season binto a serious contender for the L’Ormarins King’s Plate (Picture: Wayne Marks)

LKP Final Field was announced today and there are two three-year-olds in the line up and Oisin Murphy is riding in the big race too   

The L’Ormarins King’s Plate is the race Gaynor Rupert of Drakenstein Stud has made famous and the latter have been connected to the winner three times this decade already.

Drakenstein bred the dual winner Jet Dark, who was by their iconic stallion Trippi, and last season’s winner Charles Dickens, who was also by Trippi, was a homebred of theirs.

This season they are breeders of the ruling favourite One Stripe, the third and fourth favourites Snow Pilot and See It Again respectively, and also of the 16/1 shot Great Plains.

Snow Pilot is a Drakenstein homebred so will attempt to repeat the feat of Charles Dickens last year by crossing the line first in their familiar cornflower blue silks with a white square.

It was especially appropriate for those colours to carried by the winner as they are the colours now associated with the L’Ormarins King’s Plate, with Rupert having made it the tradition for patrons to wear blue to the prestigious race meeting.

Snow Pilot, the winner of the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas last season, has blossomed this season to the extent he has been given the highest ability rating of the season by renowned racing analyst Karel Miedema (the 121 AR was given for his last race, an effortless wide margin win of a Progress Plate over 1400m).

The Lancaster Bomber colt has drawn widest of all, but Richard Fourie is up.

One Stripe is one of two three-year-olds in the race, the other being Great Plains.

One Stripe is by Drakenstein’s record-breaking boom sire One World and confirmed his class last time out when comfortably winning the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and converting hot favouritism.

Great Plains, by Danon Platina, finished a 2,75 length third in the Cape Guineas.

However, Miedema has not given the three-year-olds good ability ratings this season and One Stripe’s best AR of the season is 103, a full 18 points below Snow Pilot’s 121.

One Stripe and Great Plains will have to prove the doyen analyst wrong.

There are three out of province horses in the line up, the Betway Summer Cup winner Atticus Finch, the dual Gr 1 winner over 2000m See It Again and Gr 1 winner over 1200m Lucky Lad.

See It Again was the LKP runner up last season and should make a bold bid from draw eight.

Lucky Lad is drawn 11 and is a surprise entry considering he has failed twice over 1600m before. However, he had excuses the first time and last time he tried this trip ity was in a wfa Gr 1 race that took place just seven days after he had won a Gr 1 sprint.

Dual Gr 1-winner over sprints Gimme A Prince is more interesting as he proved he stays a mile last time in the Cape Mile when staying on well.

Royal Aussie was third last year and is drawn well.

King Regent is an interesting runner and if he breaks well could be the dark horse.

Oriental Charm won the Gr 2 WSB Green Point in fine style and will be dangerous from the front.

At My Command is a perennial bridesmaid in big races.

Al Muthana one this race two years ago, but has lot his form.

Montien was a 4,60 length fifth last year and has a tough draw to deal with.

The final field is shown below and the final field for the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes is also shown:

The Tony Peter-trained Pistol Pete is Buffalo Bill Cody’s only stakes winner to date and on Saturday, having won a Listed race as  a two-year-old, he became a Graded winner when scraping home in the Gr 3 Betway Lebelo Sprint over 1000m at Turffontein under Kabelo Matsunyane (picture above taken by JC Photos).

The Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein-bred 113-rated colt beat the 99-rated mare Nettleton by a short-head. The lattter was 0,5kg under sufferance in the handicap event and Pistol Pete gave her 2,5kg.

It is interesting that he was given a high-ish 109 Ability Rating for the run by racing analyst doyen Karel Miedema, although that was below the 112 Miedema gave him for his seccond place finish to Greaterix in a handicap over 1100m in October.

That 112 is the highest he has given any three-year-old this season and no three-year-old other than him has achieved above the 107 he gave to to Chocolate Soldier for his win over the same course and distance on Saturday in an earlier race.

Pistol Peter did not have the best break, but was just off the leading line before quickening impressively at about the 400m mark to strike the front.

The strongly built colt was out of reserves late in the soft going, but despite fading just held on by a short-head from a surging Nettleton.

Magic Tattoo, Time Fo Orchids and Taxi To The Moon were next best, beaten 0,35, 0,60 and 1,85 lengths respectively.

It was the second year in succession Tony Peter had won this race as he did it with Rulership last year.

Pistol Pete is owned by Suzette Viljoen.

Dear Breeders, Owners and Racing Enthusiasts,

Maine Chance and the Jacobs family are proud to announce the acquisition of a well-bred stallion prospect: Point Lonsdale by blue blooded Australia, out of a super-fast and early Acclamation mare.

Point Lonsdale is in line with our selection criteria for stallions since we brought Silvano to South Africa: tough and consistent over several years. Point Lonsdale is an extremely good looking and correct horse who raced from 7 furlongs with plenty of speed to 12 furlongs with enough stamina to stay on.

He is out of the Acclamation mare Sweepstake, who was precocious and early: qualities that have replicated in her progeny. She has produced a full brother to Point Lonsdale – Broome – who was a Champion Older Male in 2021-22.

We, the Jacobs family, want to show our commitment to South Africa by bringing in top fresh and different blood that suits all mares in this country.

Our intention is to syndicate at an attractive level for all SA breeders, as we previously did with Silvano and Querari. We would like you to reflect, discuss and consider getting engaged.

We will approach you with syndication offers as from January 13th 2025, after the festive season.

You will find more details and information about Point Lonsdale in the attached brochure.

We also would like to thank everyone that has supported our stallions over the years and the buyers that have supported us purchasing our progeny.

We wish you all a happy holiday season, Merry Christmas and all the best for a prosperous 2025.

Best Regards,

Andreas and Natalie Jacobs

Ross Fuller

Lady Fallon gets home on Saturday after a resolute finishing effort. (JC Photos). 

The Summerhill Equestrian-based Dynasty stallion Act Of War made a magnificent start to his stud career with two Gr 1 winners in his first crop, including the Triple Tiara-winning champion War Of Athena.

Stallions are usually well supported in their first crop, but if unexpectedly successful with that first crop the dividends might take three or so years to be reaped, because the increased mare support will only start bearing fruit on the racetrack three or four years later.

This is what appears to have happened to Act Of War as he has gone off the radar.

Since the first crop he has only had won further Graded winner and two Listed winners.

The Lucky Houdalakis-trained four-year-old filly Lady Fallon is a smart horse who could help put her father Act Of War back on the radar.

She has won two Listed races this Summer, the Summer Pudding Handicap over 1600m at Turffontein Standside and, fittingly, the War Of Athena handicap over 1800m at Turffontein Standside on Saturday at Turffontein Standside.

Trent mayhew replaced Craig Zackey on Lady Fallon as the latter rode at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the double header day.

From draw three Mayhew had the filly beautifully placed on the rail in fourth place.

Sukhumvit had been a bit keen in second place behind the pace set by Wonderful and was sent for home  at the top of the straight.

Sukhumvit opened up a lead of about three lengths, but Lady Fallon wore her down with a resolute finish and in the handicap conditions won off a 98 merit rating by 0,30 lengths carrying 55kg.

Sukhumvit was second and third-placed My Soul Mate was only beaten 0,60 lengths, a fine effort carrying top weight of 60kg.

Elembee and Soldier’s Eye were beaten 3,60 and 5,30 lengths respectively in fourth and fifth places.

Lady Fallon is owned by Dave Shawe and was bred by Blue Sky Thoroughbreds.

Lady Fallon’s three-parts sister by Dynasty, Tipsy Tarragon, was also a Listed winner.

Their dam is the unraceed Gimmethegreenlight mare Chartreuse, who is a full-sister to Gr 1 SA Classic and Gr 2 Charity Mile third-placed Youcanthurrylove.

Houdalakis is having a fine season and has had 28 wins at a strike rate of 22.95%, the highest strike rate by a trainer in the country this season.

Lady Fallon’s success on Saturday was the yard’s second feature success of the week as they won the Non-Black Type Grand Heritage Consolation race last Tuesday with the promising Stone Hill Stud-bred Count Invicto (Royal Mo) , who has won three times from just four starts.

The picture is of the subject (Thoroughbtred Heritage)

Which French maiden racehorse was sold cheaply for stud and later produced two Hall Of Fame inductees among her five stakes winners and is considered one of the most influential broodmares of all time.

La Troienne (1926–1954) was one of the most famous and influential Thoroughbred broodmares in twentieth century America. She produced 10 winners including two Hall of Fame inductees while at stud, while her daughters in turn produced many notable offspring.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT LA TROIENNE