Turf Talk Newsletter – 15 January, 2025

Picture: Justin Snaith draws barrier position ten for the only three-year-old in the Gr 1 R5million WSB Met, Eight On Eighteen. (Cape Racing). 

The final field and draw ceremony for the Gr 1 R5 million WSB Met was done on Wednesday evening at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and the field of 17 includes the three-year-old Eight On Eighteen.

Three-year-old winners in both the L’Ormarins King’s Plate and WSB Met are rare and it would probably be a first in history, and definitely a first in the last 80 years, for respective three-year-olds to win both the King’s Plate and the Met.

The Vaughan Marshall-trained three-year-old One World colt One Stripe won the King’s Plate on January 4 and the Justin Snaith-trained Lancaster Bomber colt Eight On Eighteen will attempt to make it a historic three-year-old double on January 25.

Eight On Eighteen drew ten and will be ridden by champion jockey Richard Fourie.

Eight On Eighteen is the 9/2 second favourite with the sponsor.

The 3/1 favourite is Oriental Charm, who drew well in three and his Hol.ywoodbets Durban July-winning jockey JP van der Merwe remains aboard.

The Brett and James Crawford-trained Oriental Charm will be out to become just the eighth horse in history to have won both the July and the Met.

Last year the odds-on favourite See It Again fluffed his lines and he fluffed his lines again in this year’s L’Ormarins King’s Plate, but the Michael Roberts-trained star nevertheless remains the joint second favourite with the sponsor at 9/2. Piere  Strydom is aboard and this legendary rider has an important engagement at the Vaal tomorrow (Thursday) as he has four rides, his first meeting since bruising and cutting himself in a bad fall on 31 December, a fall which caused him to miss the ride on See It Again in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate.

Green With Envy was predicted to be a strong Met favourite in the latter part of last season as he blossomed into a fine middle distance horse, winning both the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby and Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and also winning the Gr 2 WSB Guineas in between. It did not pan out well for him in the July and he then ran a shocker in his seasonal reappearance in the Gr 2 WSB Green Point Stakes, fading out to last and beaten 11,75 lengths by the impressive winner Oriental Charm. He has a cloud hanging over his head and will need to bounce back, but he is still a 5/1 chance. He drew nine, which is of little consequence, as his favoured style is to be dropped out before running on strongly in the latter stages under regular pilot Craig Zackey.

The only female in the line up, four-year-old Red Palace, has impressed a number of times and has won a Gr 2 over this trip before. She will be ridden by top jockey Gavin Lerena and is a 12/1 shot with the sponsor. She and Green With Envy give trainer Dean Kannemeyer a lively chance of winning the Met.

The tough Vaughan Marshall-trained Rascallion was runner up last year and comes off a good win in the Gr 2 Anthonij Rupert Wyne Premier Trophy over 1800m. He is fancied by many but has unfortunately, like last year, drawn wide. He was drawn 11 out of 13 last year and is drawn 16 out of 17 this year. The sponsor have him at 14/1 and he will be ridden by Sean Veale.

Of the others, one who makes some longshot appeal is the Brett and James Crawford-trained Zapatillas, who is out at 66/1 with the sponsor.

On Cape Mile and King’s Plate form he comes out better than Oriental Charm, at least over a mile, and he will stay this trip. However, he is drawn widest of all . Luyolo Mxothwa rides.

Montien ran a cracker in the King’s Plate to finish runner up and this Piet Botha-trained five-year-old gelding would be a big runner if it was over a touch shorter. However, the going is fast so perhaps it will be easier for him to see it out and he is another who is capable of causing an upset.

Those are the ones who make most appeal.

The final field is shown below and below that are the final fields for the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes and Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Cape Flying Championship:

Susan Rowett of the highflying Varsfontein Stud has been appointed chairperson of the NHA. (Picture: Wayne Marks).

NHA Press Release

The National Horseracing Authority is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs Susan Rowett as its new Chairperson.  Mrs Rowett previously served as a National Board Director from November 2012 until April 2016 and was again appointed to the National Board on 1 February 2019 when she served as Chairperson from 15 January 2020 until 12 January 2022.  Mrs Rowett has also served as Chairperson on various Boards within the Horseracing Industry.

Mrs Rowett holds a Master of Jurisprudence degree and a Master of Management degree and is a Director of a multinational packaging company.  Mrs Rowett is a Life Member of The National Horseracing Authority and, as a Thoroughbred Racehorse Breeder and Owner, Mrs Rowett has been actively involved in the Horseracing Industry in South Africa for over forty years.

The NHA and its National Board hereby wishes to thank the previous Chairman, Mr Nithia Nalliah, for leading the organisation through some challenging times over his three-year tenure as Chairman.  Mr Nalliah will continue to serve as a National Board Director.

Vee Moodley

Chief Executive

King Of The Gauls has been ridden by Richard Fourie in three of his five wins. (Picture: Wayne Marks).

It was understood on the racing grapevine that Richard Fourie had committed to ride the Tony Rivalland-trained King Of The Gauls in both the Gr 2 De Grendel Cape Merchants and the Gr 1 Cape Flying Championship and that he had agreed to stay aboard even after the Vercingetorix gelding had stumbled badly at the start and run downfield in the Merchants.

It was thus a surprise to see Rachel Venniker aboard King Of The Gauls and Fourie aboard the Gareth van Zyl-trained filly Asiye Phambili in the Cape Flying.

Fourie is contracted to ride for Ridgemont, who have close ties to Hollywood Racing, the owners of Asiye Phambili.

However, in this case there is no lease agreement or partnership between Ridgemont and Hollywood.

The latter are the sole owners, having bought the filly at the Sales, where she was consigned by breeders Hemel ‘N Aarde.

Robert Bloomberg, part-owner of King Of The Gauls, was contacted by Turf Talk in what was expected to be a routine call with a quick and logical explanation.

It was unfortunately anything but.

A furious Bloomberg was adamant Fourie had reneged on a written confirmation done on November 15.

Fourie had also confirmed his commitment to King Of The Gauls in a subsequent video clip.

Bloomberg said numerous horses had been discussed at the time of the agreement that could possibly cause riding arrangement clashes down the line and included among them was Ziyasha, a top sprinter who was bred by Ridgemont and is owned by Hollywood.

He said Richard had told him he was not obliged to ride Ziyasha, because this gelding was owned outright by Hollywood whereas his retainer was with Ridgemont.

After nearly coming down in the Merchants, Bloomberg asked Fourie if he wanted to “jump ship” and his apparent reply, according to Bloomberg, was, “I made that mistake once before and won’t be making that same mistake again.”

However, Bloomberg said Fourie had phoned him about an hour before the publishing of the Cape Flying weights on January 6 and told him Hollywood had decided to run Asiye Phambili and he was obliged to ride her.

When Bloomberg pointed out that there was no partnership in the horse between the two entities, which made her the same status as Ziyasha, the reply was that the filly’s dam was owned by Ridgemont.

However, there is no official ownership association with Ridgemont.

Bloomberg said he could have actually taken the matter to the stipendiary stewards as there was a written agreement between himself and Fourie and he reckoned they would have enforced the agreement, but he added that was “not my style.”

Attorney Bloomberg revealed that after the “disrespect and disloyalty” shown to him in this instance he has decided to to take the “irreversible decision” that he will no longer act directly for any jockey going forward and he will be withdrawing as Fourie’s “attorney of record” in the current matter he was acting in.

It goes without saying Richard will not be part of any future plans with King Of The Gauls.

Ironically the pair are drawn next to each other in the Cape Flying with Asiye Phamili in gate 13 and King Of The Gauls in gate 12.

Asiye Phambili is a 6/1 shot with Hollywoodbets, which makes her the joint third favourite, and King Of The Gauls is out at 20/1.

In Fourie’s defence, he had ridden Asiye Phambili to two successive Graded wins in Cape Town and it would have been difficult for him to climb off considering the close relationship Hollywood have with Ridgemont, not to mention the latter are a breeding concern. She is likely to one day stand at Ridgemont, being a filly, and she is third favourite for this important Gr 1 race too. Fourie was likely in a no win situation.

However, Robert Bloomberg’s anger is understandable too, having laid out a plan a long time before the filly stamped herself as a Cape Flying candidate.

The price of being in high demand!

DRAKENSTEIN STUD SUMMER SALE 2025

Drakenstein Stud are 4 x winners of the Equus Outstanding Breeder’s Award in South Africa. With a formidable stallion roster and top of the range broodmares, any draft they send to market demands scrutiny, such is the quality of the Stud’s bloodlines.

They kick off at the 23rd January Summer Sale with Lot 9 (Pictured above the article headline), From Winter, a son of former Champion Sprinter and established sire, What a Winter, out of the Trippi mare, Fromafar, who produced recent winner From A Distance.

From Winter is a full brother to recent US export, Distant Winter, who won the Kenilworth Nursery. The dam is a half to Armando, who also excelled as a juvenile, winning the Cape of Good Hope Nursery before being exported to Hong Kong.

Futura’s progeny are effective at the opposite end of the distance spectrum. Lot 12(pictured above) is bay colt ex High Hosanna family of HOTY Oh Susanna, the cross is hoping to emulate the accomplishments of Graded winners, Future Swing, Future Pearl, The Futurist, and Pink Tourmaline having produced 23% SW to runners.

One World is causing a sensation with his offspring – One Stripe has just added the Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate to his Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas romp. The sire is responsible for Lot 28 (pictured above), ex Magic School, who was placed up to Gr 2 level on the Highveld.

SW Princess Irene (by Duke of Marmalade), who won three times over middle distances, has a first foal called Tshwane by three-time Champion Sire in SA, Gimmethegreenlight (AUS) that will go into the ring as Lot 46 (pictured above).

Lot 55 (pictured above) Final Say (as agent) is a colt by now retired champion sire Trippi (USA) out of the Giant’s Causeway (USA) mare Song Of Happiness. He hails from the family of Ebony Flyer, Captain’s Lover and Vardy.

There is plenty of Black Type on Lot 63’s (pictured above) page. The female side features accomplished producer’s, Trip Poker (first dam) dam of US export Coldhardstare , Skip Poker (second dam) and Hard Knocker (third dam.) Winter Poker is a daughter of What a Winter, leading sire of 2YO’s in 2020 and consistently ranked within the Top 5 stallions in SA.

Lot 87 (pictured above) is by Vercingetorix ex Chestnut ‘n Pearls. The sire, who started at stud in 2015, is building a remarkable resume with 44 SWs from 419 runners, including 10 Gr 1 winners. Together with Gimmethegreenlight (AUS), his stock is the most sort- after in SA at present, as well as the stud’s very own One World – record-breaking champion freshman sire, leading sire of 3YO’s, etc.

The dam of this enticing chestnut colt won the Gr 1 Golden Slipper at two and has produced the SP Chestnut Bomber as well as x4 winner Gimmethatpearl. Chestnut Verse can be viewed in Stable C15.

Our draft is available for inspections on the Stud. Please contact our Client and Sales Manager, Tarryn Putz, for viewings on 083 787 1982.”

ENDS

For further information, contact

Vicky Minott vicky@caperacing.co.za

Janine van Blerk janine@caperacing.co.za

Phone: 021 700 1600

Social media

Facebook: @caperacingsales

Instagram: @caperacingsales

Twitter: @CapeRacingSales

Website: www.caperacingsales.co.za

Lammerskraal Stud sends three babies from their Ceres base into the sales ring. Two are by What a Winter and they also offer a colt by freshman sire, Malmoos.

Lot 17 (pictured above the article headline): In the Winter is a What A Winter filly ex In The Dance, who was placed at G2 level. Second dam, Akinfeet is a famous Lammerskraal mare – just think of Champion Miler, Capetown Noir and 11x winner, Across the Ice – she is closely related to both being by a son of Western Winter.

Lot 43 (pictured above): a What a Winter colt ex-Premier Dance, named Premier Winter. Here too Akinfeet crops up as the second dam. Premier Dance was adaptable, scoring in a distance range from 1200m – 2000m. Both her foals to date have won – with Dowser notching four wins and seeming best around a mile. This colt is also closely related to Capetown Noir and Across the Ice.

Lot 82 (pictured above): Malmoos x Blizzard Belle, called Brite Moon: the 1st dam won nine times over the short cuts. Second dam, Bardot is another venerable Lammerskraal matriarch. Her best foal was the G1 Woolavington heroine, Viva Maria.

Lindi Garlicki is available to handle any queries and co-ordinate viewings. Her cell number is 084 527 1257.

ENDS

For further information, contact
Vicky Minott vicky@caperacing.co.za
Janine van Blerk janine@caperacing.co.za
Phone: 021 700 1600

Social media
Facebook: @caperacingsales
Instagram: @caperacingsales
Twitter: @CapeRacingSales
Website: www.caperacingsales.co.za

Gavin Lerena landed a double when the Piet Botha-trained King Viserys (Gimmethegreenlight) won the last at Hollywodbets Kenilworth on Wednesday. Craig Zackey also scored a double to remain five ahead of Lerena in the title chase. (Picture: Wayne Marks). 

Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)

Justin Snaith and Richard Fourie teamed up to win the opening race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth yesterday, an Open Maiden over 1200m, with the Nick Jonsson-owned Secret Passage who finished too strongly for the front-running Happy Wives. Secret Passage (9/2), a 3yo son of Futura, was having only his second start as a gelding and he showed significant improvement on his previous start when finishing more than ten lengths off the pace. The favourite Cliff Swallow had every chance but was comfortably beaten into third spot and is proving very costly to follow.

For the second consecutive race meeting, punters were dealt a 100/1 stunner as It Is My Time led from gun to tape to hold out the red-hot favourite Victor Hugo in the second race, a Maiden Plate over 1400m. Ridden by Morne Winnaar for trainer Des McLachlan, It Is My Time showed unexpected resolution when tackled by Victor Hugo (9/10) inside the final 300m and stayed on well to score by under half-a-length.

The fast-improving Give Me Everything (13/2) took another step forward when winning the third race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1600m, for the Dean Kannemeyer / Craig Zackey combination. The 3yo daughter of Gimmethegreenlight, owned and bred by the Varsfontein Stud, overcame a wide draw to beat Blind Ambition and Hunga Tonga by the best part of a length. The well-supported English Mistress (18/10) was never in the hunt, finishing in the back half of the field.

The fourth race, a Maiden Plate over 1600m, produced a thrilling finish between Red Dawn (9/2) and Tenpenny (4/1) with the former getting up in the final few strides under a driving ride by Aldo Domeyer to score by a nose. The favourite Gran Canaria (9/4) failed to fire in the stretch and could only finish a never dangerous fifth, more than three lengths adrift of Red Dawn.

Noon Day Gun was the subject of solid support in the fifth race, a Class 5 Handicap over 1400m, shortening from 10/1 into 7/2, and the confidence proved well founded. Craig Zackey had the 4yo son of Gimmethegreenlight beautifully placed from a handy draw and Noon Day Gun ran on strongly all the way to the line to deny the top weight What A Fortune by half-a-length. The pair finished well clear of third-placed Givethatmanabells with Ozark rounding out the Quartet.

December Dawn (5/1) made light of 62,5kgs and an 8-point hike in the ratings, to score a dominant and impressive victory in the sixth race, a Class 5 Handicap (F&M) over 1200m. The 3yo Master Of My Fate filly, trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, has now won three on the bounce and given the stylish nature of her win here, December Dawn could yet have more to come in the higher divisions. The consistent Royal Lytham (9/2) was again the bridesmaid with Black Path (16/1) completing the Trifecta.

Title-chasing Gavin Lerena struck in the seventh race, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1200m, steering the Lucinda Woodruff-trained Sohot Sowhat to an eye-catching victory over the game and consistent Captain’s Destiny. Sohot Sowhat won her maiden at huge odds in good style last month, in only her second racetrack appearance, and yesterday coped with her handicap debut in a competitive line-up with absolute aplomb. Both Back At The George and First Masterpiece proved ultra disappointing, leaving the way clear for Tanneron (33/1) and Priscilla Maisey (33/1) to make up the frame. The Quartet returned a massive dividend of R79 514-50.

Barney McGrew, without a win for close on two years, landed a gamble in the eighth race, a Cape C Stakes over 1000m, shortening from 5/1 into 22/10 as ante-post favourite Furious Queen drifted sharply from 14/10 to 9/4 as race time approached. Not that Barney McGrew was winning out of turn as the 7yo son of Captain Of All had been placed in his last three starts, including a good second behind subsequent winner Kelp Forest five weeks ago. Rafa Bay threw out a late challenge over the final 100m, but Ashton Arries kept Barney McGrew rolling to score by half-a-length for trainer Andries Steyn’s loyal patron Andy Elton.

King Viserys, coming out of the same “Kelp Forest” formline as Barney McGrew in the prior race, gave Gavin Lerena his second winner on the card when storming home in the ninth race, a Cape D Stakes over 1000m, to easily account for the consistent Electric Feels by close on two lengths. Winning trainer, Piet Botha, also saddled the third-placed Easy Money who was doing her best work at the finish. The Pick 6 returned R44263-20.

Which horse recently broke the record in France for the most wins in a calendar year?

Picture: Subject horse

Today’s Question Answer

Picture: Zarica equals the record for the number of wins in a season in France | Scoop Dyga