Turf Talk Newsletter – 16 January, 2025

Striker Gets Through Comeback With Flying Colours

Neerah (Vercingetorix) wins the last to give Piere Strydom a double in his comeback meeting from injury. (JC Photos)

Piere “Striker” Strydom came through his comeback from injury with flying colours today (Thursday), recording two wins and two seconds from four race rides and he then still felt strong enough to gallop his Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Cape Flying Championship defending champion, the Lucky Houdalakis-trained star sprinter Dyce.

He said, “I had to start riding because the Met is just nine days away.”

He continued, “I was worried beforehand about injury, I was worried about fitness, and the last time I rode a horse I fell, so I didn’t even do any track work because my injuries were a little bit tender. However, I decided to just go straight into it. The doctor was worried it was too early to be riding for the stitches, which included internal stitches, as they normally require a month to heal. He eventually decided I should just ride in the first race and see how it went. Luckily the horse won and I felt okay.”

Piere was aboard the Clinton Binda-trained 2/1 favourite Legendary in the 1450m maiden and nobody would have knwon he was returning from injury. He placed the William Longsword gelding in the box seat around the turn behind the pacemaker and sat behind him in the straight. He switched him out at the 400m mark and then drove him with the unmistakeable Strydom style to win by 0,40 lengths from 11/2 chance Chieftan’s Shield.

Therefore, Striker got the go ahead to continue through the day and it was as if he had never been away for two-and-a-half weeks, let alone been injured.

His other win was in the last race on the Barend Botes-trained Vercingetorix filly Neerah. He was not too happy to be on Neerah, because he had lost to her in a previous race when unlucky on the stablemate My One And Only and he felt today that at the weight turnaround My One And Only would be hard to beat. However, he produced a gem of a ride on Neerah. He stuck to the outside rail and always looked to have My One And Only beaten. The latter eventually suffered bad traffic problems and finished unplaced.

However, Striker did start feeling the effects towards the evening.

He revealed, “I can feel a little bit of bruising still and aches.”

He said the stitched area did not feel bad and it was actually his one finger which was most noticeable.

He said, “They took X-rays on my arm, my hip and neck but did not X-ray the hand and I think one of my fingers is bruised, well I hope it is just bruised and not broken.”

He added, “It is sore, but I am managing.”

He said he would treat it and crack on to the Met.

He said about his Met ride, “See It Again got a terrible draw. He is drawn in no man’s land (12 out of 17).”

He added, “But look I know the horse, so I am going to do what I normally do and the blinkers are off, so I can maye be more positive on him and I will chat to Muis and see what he thinks.”

Piere agreed that the three-year-old Eight On Eighteen looked to be the one to beat as he finished close to One Stripe and is not only progressive but will appreciate the step up in trip.

He said, “I think the three-year-olds are strong – One Stripe beat the older horses and that’s all that is around.”

See It Again wasn’t himself for last year’s Met or for this year’s King’s Plate, but every season he has produced a single phenomenal performance in Cape Town.

In 2022/2023 it was in the Gr 1 Splashout Derby and last season it was in the Gr 2 WSB Green Point Stakes. He downed Charles Dickens in both of those races.

Perhaps his one top Cape Town run this season will be in the WSB Met.

Piere thinks his best ride on the day will be on Dyce, the Lucky Houdalakis-trained sprinter who will be defending his title in the Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Cape Flying Championship.

He said, “I galloped him after the last race today and he galloped very nicely.”

He has five rides in total on Met day.

Majorca Stakes Could Be The Clash Of The Day

Double Grand Slam adds the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes to her impressive CV. (Picture: Wayne Marks).

The Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes is in an unusual slot at this year’s WSB Met meeting, Race 2, but this looks to be part of a well thought out plan to make the first Jackpot a very attractive bet for fans of top horses.

The first leg of this Jackpot is the Listed Heineken Summer Juvenile Stakes, which is a level stakes race for the best two-year-olds around, with the fillies getting 2,5kg from the boys.

The Majorca forms the second leg and will get the vote by some as the race of the day.

The third leg is the Gr 3 Tsogo Sun Summer Fling Stakes over 2000m, a weight for age plus penalties event for fillies and mares.

The last leg seees the Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m moving from its traditional spot right near the end of the meeting to the fourth race of the day.

This first Jackpot is going to provide an intriguing start to the day and the main focus will be on race 2, the Gr 1 Maine Chance Paddock Stakes.

The reason why some will view this as the race of the day is that it features the possible clash of the day between the best four-year-old filly in the land, Double Grand Slam, against the second best three-year-old filly in the land, Fatal Flaw … and the latter might soon inherit the number one spot when Quid Pro Quo departs overseas.

Both Fatal Flaw and Double Grand Slam have put in five star Gr 1 performances during the Cape Summer Festival of Racing, Fatal Flaw sweeping to a two length victory in the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and Double Grand Slam coming with a devastating late burst to win the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes by 1,50 lengths.

This race will also feature the clash of last season’s record-breaking 378 wins in a season man, Richard Fourie, who rides Double Grand Slam, with this season’s national log leader, Craig Zackey, who replaces Piere Strydom on Fatal Flaw as the latter can’t make the weight of 55kg.

It also pits two top yards against each other, the Brett and James Crawford yard of Fatal Flaw against the Justin Snaith yard.

Double Grand Slam is drawn four and Fatal Flaw is drawn on the outside in seven.

Fatal Flaw has outstanding gatespeed and was able to get to the front comfortably in the Cape Fillies Guineas from draw 13 of 13, so she will not be hindered by a draw seven of seven.

Double Grand Slam is versatile but has tended to come from off the pace recently and then uses her fine turn of foot.

She will actually appreciate the step back to a mile.

Her arch rival, the Glen Kotzen-trained Rascova, can not be ignored. This pair have clashed ten times and the score is 6-4 in favour of Double Grand Slam.

Rascova was third in the Paddock Stakes, but will very much enjoy the step back in trip to a mile.

She is a handy type and can lead so with Gavin Lerena up from draw two it will be interesting to see whether she allows Fatal Flaw to go to the front or sets the pace herself. That is one of the questions that makes it an intriguing race, because Rascova’s presence could make it tricky for Fatal Flaw … Double Grand Slam will be glad they are both in the line up as they could be a hinderance to each other.

Scarlet Macaw was allowed to go off at 40/1 in the WSB Cape Fillies Guineas, despite catching the eye in some of her races before that, and she finished second to Fatal Flaw.

She could give some cheek.

The One World filly Roccapina has won twice in five starts and both wins have been over 1000m. She is out of Fort Wood sprinter Scandola, so is not sure to stay but the Fort Wood influence might help her and in the prevailing fast conditions she is an interesting runner.

Celtic Rumours won the Gr 2 Jo’Burg Spring Fillies And Mares Challenge over 1450m, but will need to improve on her overall form to challenge.

Kinda Wonderful was supported in the Cape Fillies Guineas, but was welll beaten and needs to show sudden improvement to get close to Fatal Flaw and even to Scarlet Macaw.

The Majorca will be a race full of intrigue.

The field is shown below:

Race-2 (Turf / Summer) R1 000 000 1600m 12:25 Ref-344
1st R593750, 2nd R190000, 3rd R95000, 4th R47500, 5th R23750, RCIS R50000
MAINE CHANCE FARMS MAJORCA STAKES (WFA) (Grade 1)
For Fillies and Mares at weight for age
WFA: 3yrs-5kgs 4yrs-0kgs
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance

1	1	Kinda Wonderful	55	104	A	Athandiwe Mgudlwa	Eric Sands
2	2	Rascova	60	119	T A	Gavin Lerena	Glen Kotzen
3	3	Roccapina	55	111	T A	Juan Paul v’d Merwe	Candice Bass-Robinson
4	4	Double Grand Slam	60	122	A	Richard Fourie	Justin Snaith
5	5	Celtic Rumours	60	107	A	Grant van Niekerk	Sean Tarry
6	6	Scarlet Macaw	55	111	A	Kabelo Matsunyane	Candice Bass-Robinson
7	7	Fatal Flaw	55	115	A	Craig Zackey	BJ Crawford/JI Crawford
Same Trainer
(3,6)

Dyce Out To Prove He's The Best

Dyce will defend his his title as fastest sprinter in the land at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on WSB Met day (Picture: Wayne Marks).

The best sprinters in the land gather for an almighty clash in the Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Cape Flying Championship over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

Last year’s winner Dyce is back to defend the crown and represents the famous combination of Piere Strydom and Lucky Houdalakis. Strdydom believes the horse is better at 1200m but this is a tough 1000m and last year he had the speed to match Thunderstruck and then drew away late. He is a gelding now and has been in top form.

The main threat is likely to come from the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Gimme A Prince. He ran third in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate a couple of weeks ago, but has defied logic before, including when winning this race two years ago, as he was always considered to be better over 1200m and more.

Asiye Phambili, recent winner of the Cartier Sceptre Stakes for trainer Gatreth van Zyl, has burst into the picture and Richard Fourie sticks with this classy sort.

Lucky Lad ran a cracker in the LKP when coming from way off the pace to be sixth and he is capable of a devastating finish over sprint trips.

Questioning looks to have had a good preparation and his speed and class is the right combination to have for this event.

Cruise Control is a prolific winner in Gqbertha and went close in the Golden Horse Sprint, but at weight for age terms it will be tougher, although he should enjoy the tough 1000m as he has excellent natural pace and kicks on.

King Of The Gauls is very quick out of the gates and in the prevailing fast going could be an outsider to consider, although his high draw is not favourable by current trends.

Future Variety has a lot of class and is an interesting runner from the currently favourable number one draw.

Surjay can never be ignored as a consistent type who is a Gr 1-winner over this trip and he has a low draw.

Ziyasha could be a contender if repeating his last start.

Cafe Culture could be better than his 113 merit rating suggests and is in fine form.

Bereave has been thereabouts often in big races.

King Regent has pace and some class, but it all depends on how well he jumps.

Seeking The Stars is seven now and will need to bounce back from a below par run last time.

Cosmic Highway is capable but is off form at present.

FIELD

(number & draw, name, weight, MR, trainer, jockey)

HKJC World Pool Cape Flying Championship, Grade 1, 1000m, R1.5m, open @ WFA:

1 Future Variety 60 112 Candice Bass-Robinson Aldo Domeyer

2 Cruise Control 60 118 Gavin Smith Muzi Yeni

3 Surjay 60 124 BJ Crawford/JI Crawford Luyolo Mxothwa

4 Dyce 60 128 Lucky Houdalakis Piere Strydom

5 Ziyasha 60 119 Clinton Binda Raymond Danielson

6 Gimme A Prince 60 129 Dean Kannemeyer Craig Zackey

7 King Regent 60 114 Glen Kotzen Denis Schwarz

8 Cafe Culture 60 113 Lucinda Woodruff Serino Moodley

9 Lucky Lad 60 125 Sean Tarry Grant van Niekerk

10 Questioning 60 124 Vaughan Marshall Juan Paul v’d Merwe

11 Seeking The Stars 60 118 Vaughan Marshall Gavin Lerena

12 King Of The Gauls 60 109 Tony Rivalland #Rachel Venniker

13 Asiye Phambili 57.5 116 Gareth van Zyl Richard Fourie

14 Cosmic Highway 60 115 Dean Kannemeyer Sean Veale

15 Bereave 60 116 Adam Marcus Kabelo Matsunyane

My Best Shot Is Mr Maloney

My Best Shot will be out to land a 6th career win at Fairview on Friday (Pauline Herman Photography).

Jack Milner (Tab4Racing)

Trainers Alan Greeff and Gavin Smith have been slugging it out all season and both can get their fair share of winners on the turf track at Fairview on Friday

The Alan Greeff-Richard Fourie combination can get things started with My Best Shot in Race 3, the Sophomore Plate over 1400m.

The Fire Away gelding has won five of his 11 starts and has four wins in just five starts over this course and distance. Fourie has been aboard him for four of those wins, having ridden him in 10 of those starts.

My Best Shot was a bitter failure in his penultimate start, over 1600m on the Fairview Polytrack 1600m but made amends for that with his most impressive win to date when threshing them last time out over the same track and trip.

Only five runners take him on but two of them have some class about them too.

Golden Link, trained by Sharon Kotzen, and has three wins in his 11 starts. It is worth noting he was 2.75lengths behind My Best Shot when they met over this course and distance in September and is now 2.5kg worse off.

Golden Ruler, the Kelly Mitchley-trained colt, made his debut in a smart field at Kenilworth and was not disgraced when finishing fourth.

He impressed when scoring in his second start over 1200m at Fairview.

That was back in March and the next we saw of him was in July when he took a shot in Group 2 company in the Golden Horseshoe over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Durban July day. But, after suffering interference, he dropped away to finish well beaten.

He returns from a 195-day break but would not be a surprise winner with jockey Muzi Yeni in the irons.

Mr Maloney runs in a competitive Race 6, a MR 68 Handicap over 1600m. The six-year-old gelding won on local debut for trainer Gavin Smith and has not been disgraced in his three starts since then

He clearly found 2000m a step or two too far last time out. Back on the turf and over this distance he can keep rolling to score.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 2 Velvet Valour, 1 Greenlight Express, 11 Extraction, 13 Opera Verse

Race 2: 9 Direct Hit, 7 Supreme Judge, 6 Royal Kingdom, 1 Above The Horizon

Race 3: 1 My Best Shot, 4 Golden Rule, 2 Golden Link, 5 Global State

Race 4: 3 Fire Alarm, 4 Global Scene, 5 Regina Lou, 6 Ms Patty

Race 5: 1 Heart Stealer, 7 San Quintin, 8 Millennium Dancer, 4 Head Gardener

Race 6: 2 Mr Molony, 7 Arividicio, 1 Legal Thriller, 5 Kanimambo

Race 7: 3 Holocene, 4 Oliver Twist, 6 Ravilious, 7 Chroniclesofnania

Race 8: 2 Passchendaele, 1 Three Rocks, 5 Gocekwithlove, 6 Symbol Of Love

BEST BET

Race 3: 1 My Best Shot

VALUE BET

Race 8: 2 Passchendaele

BEST SWINGER

Race 7 3×4

BIPOT

R54

Leg 1: 1, 2, 11

Leg 2: 6, 7, 9

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 3

Leg 5: 1, 7

Leg 6: 1, 2, 7

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R36

Leg 1: 7, 9

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 3

Leg 4: 1

Leg 5: 1, 2, 7

Leg 6: 3, 4

Leg 7: 1, 2, 5

PICK 6

R160

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 4

Leg 3: 1, 4, 7, 8

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7

Leg 5: 3, 4

Leg 6: 1, 2, 5, 6

JACKPOT 1

R40

Leg 1: 4

Leg 2: 1, 4, 7, 8

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7

Leg 4: 3, 4

JACKPOT 2

R160

Leg 1: 1, 4, 7, 8

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7

Leg 3: 3, 4

Leg 4: 1, 2, 5, 6

Avontuur's Fab Five Will Be The Talk Of The Town

Pippa Mickleburgh is especially excited about new sire Talk of The Town, understandably so given his tremendous looks and potent pedigree.

Jeter, dam of Sean Tarry’s eight- time winner, Litigation, has a Talk of the Town chestnut colt (Lot 19) on offer at the Summer Sale, which is bound to cause a stir.

This Lot 19 (pictured above the headline to the article), Debatable, is a half-brother to Caesura, a versatile Oratorio colt who won ten races between 1400m and 2400m, so Jeter is a proven producer. Second dam, Sports Chestnut won the Cape Fillies Guineas, in an impressive page resplendent in Black Type.

Talk of the Town, a handsome stallion, is starting out his career in the breeding sheds – his oldest progeny are three-year-olds.

He also has a beautifully bred colt out of the speedball, Viva on auction. Lot 68 (pictured above), Tabloid will be sought after, for sure, as Viva (herself a 7x winner) has already thrown the high- class sprinter/miler, Cold as Ice, who did great on the Turf in SA and on the All-_Weather at Lingfield in the UK; and G2 Sceptre Stakes winner, Live Life.

Stable C3 is where this bay colt can be appreciated.

Lot 20 (pictured above) is by freshman sire, Malmoos, who won the Triple Crown in SA in 2020/21. Within Reach is a first foal of Jetorio. Second dam, River Jetez, a sister to turf legend, Pocket Power, won 12 races up to G1 level in SA and the UAE, so there is considerable substance to this bloodline.
Significantly, River Jetez has already produced a G1 winner of the Computaform Sprint in the Azzie trained, Rivarine.

Talking about power-packed pedigrees – Lot 66 (pictured above) is Proud Mary, a daughter of Vercingetorix out of supa-quick Var mare, Varikate, winner of the G2 Post Merchants. That makes this bay filly a half sister to Thunderstruck, the Champion Sprinter in SA in 2023/24.

All of Varikate’s foals have won races. Apart from the stellar achievements of Thunderstruck, Before the Dawn (seven wins) and Patronage (six wins) also cultivated the winning habit. Stable C6 is certain to receive many interested visitors.

The last of the Lots from this pristine farm on the slopes of the Helderberg, is Bachata, a Rafeef colt ex Courante (Lot 91 pictured above) . This first foal hails from an impeccable Avontuur lineage as the grey second dam, Sarabande was high class. Winning the G1 Majorca Stakes represented her career top.

She is an awesome producer, too as the dam of Mardi Gras (9 wins), Chesalon and La Volta (dam of G1 Computaform Sprint victor, Master Archie.)

Bachata, who, notably, is a three parts brother to G1 Computaform Sprint hero, Master Archie, will go through the ring as Lot 91 (pictured above).

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

Hopes And Dreams' Dapper Couple Will Deliver

HOPES & DREAMS STUD – CAPE RACING SUMMER SALE 2025

Hopes and Dreams Stud who stand son of champion sire Frankel(IRE), Frantastic (IRE), are a young operation who have already produced winners on the racetrack. Suzette Viljoen and her team present two colts at this auction.

Lot 10 (pictured above the headline to the article) is a What a Winter ex Heart’s Content (by Jet Master) – all four of her foals have won races. The second dam Jalberry is a prolific producer. Included amongst her progeny are Purple Diamond, Love to Boogie and Mr Fantastic who have won 21 races between them in SA and Singapore.

Lot 73 (pictured above) is a One World out of the Irish mare, Wiqaaya. The grey colt is a half- brother to Bold Ransom, a well-performed sprinter familiar to Highveld racegoers. He’s bred along the same lines as HOTY Captain’s Ransom, being Captain Al onto a Red Ransom mare. One World is the Leading First Season Sire in SA in 2023/24 with son One Stripe recently winning the G1 Cape Guineas and G1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate.

Suzette Viljoen will gladly provide further info on 082 773 3811.

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

Ambiance Bring Quality Not Quantity

AMBIANCE STUD:

Dr Marianne Thomson despatches four yearlings from her beautiful Nuy Valley sanctuary. Two are by freshman sire, Hawwaam with Fire Away and Vercingetorix fillies’ part of the attractive consignment.

The Fire Away filly (Lot 18) (pictured above the headline to the article) is a first foal of G2 placed Futura mare, Jasmine. The dam is a three-quarter sister to accomplished stayer, Alexander.

Lot 26 (pictured above) is by Hawwaam ex Lana Belle. The second dam, Trojan Belle was a prolific seven-time winning sprinter/miler who raced at the highest level, winning the Majorca Stakes and placing in the G1 SA Fillies Sprint and Filllies Guineas.

Lot 77 (pictured above) is a chestnut filly by Vercingetorix out of the Var mare, All in the Mind will get the pulse racing. She is a full sister to Alesian Chief who forged his reputation with trainer Corrie Lensley by winning the G1 Scottsville Golden Horse Sprint. She can be viewed is stable A4.

Dr Thomson, who also bred the remarkable, champion full- brothers Al Nitak and The Sheik plus Met victor, Alastor and ace sprinter, Cataloochee, can be contacted on 082 557 1442.

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

Today's Question

Who was the last horse to do the L’Ormarins King’s/Queen’s PLate and WSB Met double in the same season?

Picture: Subject horse (credit: hamishNIVENPhotography)

FIELDS, Friday, 16 January

Fairview

Today’s Question Answer

Today’s Question Answer

Picture: Futura wins the Met in cosy fashion Hamish Niven Photography).

The Brett Crawford-trained Futura (Dynasty) won both the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and Met in January 2015, ridden in both races by Bernard Fayd’Herbe.