Snaith Barometer: 191
Target: 222
SA-Bred Mondial All Set For HK$13M HK Classic Cup
Mondial winning a Middle Stakes race over 1600m at Turffontein Standside on December 5, 2023. (JC Photos)
The former Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Gr 1 SA Derby third-placed Flower Alley gelding Mondial is in 12th place in the “Priority To Start” list of the HK$13 Million The Hong Kong Classic Cup, to be run on March 2 at Sha Tin, despite having not had a race on the island to date.
If ever there was a horse who fitted the adage “stays all day” it is Mondial, so he could be a big runner in Hong Kong’s most prestigious local race, the HK$26 million Hong Kong Derby on March 23, although unfortunately for him it is over 2000m and not the traditional 2400m Derby distance.
The Classic series in Hong is for four-year-olds and the first leg, the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile, was won by the Mark Newnham-trained Flying Artie Australian-bred gelding My Wish, ridden by South African jockey Luke Ferraris.
The HK$13 Million Classic Cup forms the second leg and the Hong Kong race which as far as fever-pitch aniticpation goes is the island’s equivalent of the Hollywoodbets Durban July, the HK$26 Million Hong Kong Derby, is the third and last leg.
Mondial has had six barrier trails since arriving on the island.
He arrived last October, probably on the same flight as Mid Winter Wind.
A South China Morning Post racing writer ranked Mid Winter Wind as the 8th best contender for the Classic Cup, but that was before his run on Sunday, in which he appeared to not quite get home over the 1600m trip and he finished fifth. Mid Winter Wind does not appear in the Priority To Start list for the Classic Cup and is not even among the reserves.
Ferraris’ ride My Wish is number one on the Priority To Start list.
Mondial was bred by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein and is out of the Tiger Ridge mare Amur Affair, who won the Gr 3 Acacia Handicap over 1600m but did not appear to stay beyond a mile.
Among the horses she has produced have been the five-times winning sprinter Savea (Var), the three time-winning sprinter Herecomestherain (Soft Falling Rain) and the three time-winner from 1600m up to 2000m River Romeo.
Mondial must get his stamina from his sire Flower Alley, whose Gr 1 win was over 2000m and he is known as a stamina influence.
The big, rangy Mondial led the 2450m SA Derby from the start until the 450m mark at which stage he was overtaken by Purple Pitcher with Pure Predator also challenging.
However, he then fought back and had he not hung right across the track towards the inside in the final 50m he might well have won, because he was only beaten 0,40 lengths.
Mondial was purchased for just R120,000 at the BSA National Yearling Sale.
That will look like an absolute pittance if he wins either of the remaining classic series races, which in rand terms are worth R30,94 Million and R61.88 million.
He was owned during his South African racing career by Messrs Trevelen Pillay, Kovilan Padayachee, Deven Govender, Brian Peerimal & Power Of 5 Syndicate (Nom: Trevelen Pillay) and is now owned by James Lau Po Man & Alice Woo Wai See.
He is trained by Australian David Hayes.
Interestingly, Luke Ferraris has ridden him in four of his barrier trials and workrider CM Thabana and Lyle Hewitson have ridden him in the other two respectively.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH MONDIAL’S BARRIER TRIAL ON 15/02/2025
THe Priority To Start details for the HK13M Hong Kong Classic Cup are:
MY WISH (AUS) 95
PACKING HERMOD (AUS) 93
RUBYLOT (AUS) 93
DIVANO (AUS) 91
JOHANNES BRAHMS (GB) 90
STUNNING PEACH (IRE) 87
MICKLEY (IRE) 85
NOISY BOY (AUS) 84
CAP FERRAT (AUS) 83
CALIFORNIATOTALITY (AUS) 81
PACKING ANGEL (NZ) 81
MONDIAL (SAF) 80
STEPS AHEAD (AUS) 80
SKY TRUST (AUS) 79
Reserves:
R1 SKY HEART (NZ) 76
R2 ROMANTIC THOR (USA) 80
R3 LUCY IN THE SKY (AUS) 79
R4 TALENTS AMBITION (AUS) 80
Earlier this month on February 10 Jay Rooney of the South China Morning Post listed his top ten contenders for the Classic Cup (read below).
1. My Wish
Mark Newnham’s pint-sized gelding slipped slightly under the radar heading into the Classic Mile but stamped his claims as a force to be reckoned with.
Newnham made a great point post-race – when My Wish has hit the front in his races this season, he has not been headed.
He might be a son of a sprinting sire in Flying Artie, but there is some staying blood on his dam side and his ability to race on the speed and keep finding in the straight will again give him a big advantage over several key rivals.
2. Packing Angel
While he will face a rise in class and distance, Packing Angel will no doubt be an exciting addition to the four-year-old series after three straight wins.
Francis Lui Kin-wai’s promising galloper was a dominant Class Three winner over 1,400m on Classic Mile day, despite missing two days of work with a hoof abscess in the lead-up, and he was to be Zac Purton’s ride before he was injured. As a son of Melbourne Cup (3,200m) winner Shocking, he should handle further ground.
3. Mickley
The British import once again had excuses in the Classic Mile, but his eye-catching performance puts him right in the mix for the next two legs of the Classic Series.
Despite being unbalanced as a result of heavy contact from Markwin in the straight, the John Size-trained gelding stormed home in the second-fastest final 400m of the race to finish fifth.
4. Divano
Lui’s talented galloper dispelled any queries he would run a strong mile emphatically, almost pinching the Classic Mile with a barnstorming run from last.
He was the only horse to break 22 seconds for the final 400m when beaten a neck. If he can back that up rising to 1,800m, he can figure prominently again.
5. Rubylot
The David Hayes-trained gelding was snagged back to near last from gate 10 and made his run down the outside when sixth, running the third-fastest final 400m of the Classic Mile.
With his pedigree indicating the rise to 1,800m will be ideal, he is certainly capable of improving on that performance.
6. Noisy Boy
Another likely addition from outside the Classic Mile, Dennis Yip Chor-hong’s import will chase a third straight win after saluting over 2,200m and 2,000m.
The drop back to 1,800m might not be ideal, but the former Australian Group Two runner-up looks on track to run a big race en route to the Derby.
7. Cap Ferrat
Nothing went right for the Australian import in the Classic Mile, fading to finish 12th after travelling wide without cover for most of the race.
He was narrowly beaten on his Hong Kong debut behind Mickley and will get better over more ground, with his pre-import record highlighted by a second in the Group One Spring Champion Stakes (2,000m).
8. Mid Winter Wind
The South African import created a big impression on his Hong Kong debut for Newnham, rocketing home to score over 1,200m at Sha Tin.
While it would be a quick rise to make it to the Classic Cup and Derby, he was tested up to 2,000m pre-import and shapes as a contender with X-factor. Newnham plans to step him up to a mile on Sunday.
9. Californiatotality
Tony Cruz’s tough on-speed galloper looks a stayer in the making and is fresh from a strong 1,800m win on Sunday.
It was the son of Zoustar’s second success at the trip and Cruz is bullish about his prospects over the 2,000m of the Derby.
10. Packing Hermod
Sent off the $2.8 favourite in the Classic Mile, Lui’s quality galloper had every chance but fell short when beaten half a length in third.
While the step up to 1,800m is a query and Purton has jumped off, he is still more than capable and shouldn’t be written off.
Order Your ‘378- Richard Fourie’s Record Breaking Season’ Magazine
Richard Fourie salutes as he breaks Anthony Delpech’s 334 record on Double Grand Slam in the Gr 2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes. (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
A unique 124 page souvenir edition magazine with over 100 action photographs and interviews with trainers, jockeys, owners and racing personalities, as well as statistics of a remarkable season that rewrote the history books, is now available for purchase.
‘378- Richard Fourie’s Record Breaking Season’, was penned by a collection of South Africa’s leading media personalities and covers the story of a jockey who rode his way into SA racing folklore in twelve remarkable months.
Originally sponsored by Winning Form and now with Ridgemont, Fourie rode his way into the hearts of the racing public and the South African racing history books at Hollywoodbets Greyville on 8 June 2024 when he registered his 335th winner of a remarkable last season, that saw him displace retired champion Anthony Delpech as our winning-most rider of all time in terms of victories in a single racing season.
The Delpech magic mark of 334, set in the 1998/99 season, shattered Piere Strydom’s existing record at the time, and has thus stood the test of a quarter of a century of intense competition featuring some of the world’s greatest jockeys.
Fourie produced another exemplary performance in the saddle on Double Grand Slam for the Justin Snaith yard to register the new benchmark, in the process banking the Hollywoodbets Delpech 334 Challenge Incentive bonus of R1 million.
In a defining moment for South African sport, the winner is owned in partnership by golfing legend Gary Player, owner Suzette Viljoen and Dave MacLean.
At the commencement of last season, Hollywoodbets ignited unprecedented interest in the chase for a new national record when South Africa’s leading international sportsbook operator offered a record R1 million incentive for the first rider to break the Delpech record.
Richard Fourie became the second consecutive Winning Form-sponsored rider, after Hong King-based Keagan de Melo, to be crowned SA Champion Jockey, on 31 July 2024 , with a new benchmark of 378 winners on the board.
Outgoing record-holder, and present day Hollywood Racing Manager, Anthony Delpech was the first to step forward at the time and congratulate the new ‘number one’.
“I know how tough it is to travel and keep one’s shoulder to the wheel for so many months. It’s absolutely exhausting mentally and physically, and Richard Fourie made us all proud and showed himself to be a champion of enormous talent and mental strength. This record chase has been the talk throughout the season, and I believe it will be for many years to come. I am personally very proud to have played my small part,” added Delpech.
Now get the full story as told by those who watched every stride, as well as Richard Fourie’s personal insights of the season in his own words.
The magazine costs R200 and all profits will go to the Coastal Horse Care Unit.
Please email your order, along with your contact details and delivery address, to Devin Heffer at devinh@hollywoodbets.net.
Courier charges will be provided in the quote once the delivery address is confirmed.
Please note that courier fees are in addition to the publication’s price of R200.
The magazine will be made available for purchase at various racecourses soon.
The Star-Studded History Of The Cape Derby
The Justin Snaith-trained Legislate (Dynasty) provided proof that some three-year-olds are still unknown quantities at the time of the Cape Derby, because he won the iconic race by 1,45 lengths in the 2013/2014 season at odds of 28/1 and went on to win the Gr 2 KRA Guineas, the Gr 1 Daily News 2000, the Gr 1 Durban July, the Gr 2 Green Point Stakes and the Gr 1 Gold Challenge. In his three-year-old season he was Equus Horse Of The Year, Equus Champion 3YO Colt and Equus Champion Middle Distance Horse.
By Ada van der Bent
It is exactly 100 years since the filly Desert Born won the first running of the race we know today as the SplashOut Cape Derby Gr 1. Then named the Western Province Derby, it was contested over the true classic Derby distance of 2400m and carried a stake of £600, at the time the richest race in South Africa.
Renamed the Cape of Good Hope Derby in 1946, victory went to Feltos, who sprouted wings from a hopeless position in the straight to get up on the post. The result was a stunning triumph for the mighty Birch Bros, who were responsible for breeding the first four across the line. Trained by the great Syd Garrett and ridden by Stanley Amos, Feltos entered the Derby off a half-length victory in the Met.
In 1947, Garret and Amos made it back-to-back Derby wins with Menlo and also had the honour of receiving the King’s Cup trophy from King George, who, together with the Royal entourage, attended arguably the most famous Derby meeting.
Over the years, the Derby has been won by some extraordinary gallopers and its illustrious honour roll boasts the names of legends such as Colorado King, Sea Cottage, Mazarin, Politician and Bold Tropic. Since 1976, the race has been run over 2000m and those who have added their names to that exalted list include champions Dynasty, Jay Peg, Rabiya, Capetown Noir and Legislate.
That the SplashOut Cape Derby serves as a springboard to further Gr 1 success goes without saying with many of its winners subsequently embellishing their reputations not just in the country’s premier events, but also on the world stage.
Colorado King, who famously nabbed the filly Majorca on the line in 1963, was exported to American, where he raced with huge success, winning the Gr 1 Hollywood Gold Cup in a time which equalled the then world record for nine furlongs.
Another to race in the US was 1964 Derby winner Top Gallant, whose half-brother, the immortal Sea Cottage, won the classic in 1966.
Both were bred by the Birch Bros, as was Bold Tropic, a winner of the 1979 Derby by the widest margin ever recorded (8,5 lengths), and he too, was subsequently sold for a record price to the US where he continued on his winning ways.
More recently, 2007 winner Jay Peg was exported to race in Dubai and Singapore where he clinched three Gr1 races, breaking the track record in the Gr 1 Dubai Duty Free. He returned to South Africa as the highest rated and highest earning horse ever bred in South Africa.
A number of Cape Derby winners have also gone on to enjoy stallion careers and none have been more successful than 2003 winner Dynasty. The son of Fort Wood went on to win the Durban July from draw 20 and was named both Horse of the Year and Champion 3YO Colt. He has stamped his authority on the Cape Derby as the sire of four winners in the space of six years: Jackson (2012), Legislate (2014), It’s My Turn (2016) and Eyes Wide Open (2018).
Strange as it may seem, very few fillies have worn the Derby crown. Windlass emulated Desert Storm to win the 1930 Cape Derby, but it took another 21 years before Green Lass claimed the trophy in 1951. In modern times, only two exceptional fillies have managed that feat.
The Terrance Millard-trained champion Taima Bluff ripped through the 1980 season by defeating high-class colts Highborn Harry and Quarrytown in the Cape Derby having already won the Gr1 Paddock Stakes. An own sister to Horse of the Year Tecla Bluff, she would go on to add both the Gr 1 Natal Oaks and Gr 2 Natal Oaks.
She was followed almost 20 years later by the Oppenheimer homebred Dog Wood, who lowered the colours of future Gr1 winner Young Rake in 1999. She was the first of three Cape Derby winners trained by Mike de Kock who, like Millard before him, has never been averse to letting a talented filly tackle male rivals. Sadly, the Derby was the final start of her all too brief career and this dual Gr 1 winner (she also won the Paddock Stakes) was retired to stud later in the season as the Equus Champion 3YO Filly.
That was 25 years ago, since which there have been no female winners, although the now US-based Beach Bomb came close last year when running second to Green With Envy, with future Gr 1 Durban July winner Oriental Charm back in third.
Rich in history and boasting a storied past, it is entirely fitting that this time-honoured classic brings down the curtain on the Cape summer season.
Saudi Cup Final Field And Draws
Forever Young (JPN) with Ryusei Sakai up wins the G3 Boutique Group Saudi Derby, King Abdulaziz Racecourse, Mathea Kelley-Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia, Feb. 24, 2024 (Edward Whitaker (Racing Post))
A Field of 14 Entered for the “World’s Richest Race”
Saudi Cup: Forever Young Draws on the Outside, Romantic Warrior Draws on the Inside
USRacing.com
For a horse race billed as the richest in the world, there sure doesn’t seem to be much buzz around the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1), to be run in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday. While the winner pockets $10 million – yes, $10 million! — only a few highly-regarded contenders were officially entered in the 14-horse field on Wednesday.
For those who bet horse racing, though, this could be a chance to score big if the two favorites, Forever Young (8-5) and Romantic Warrior (2-1), come up short in the 1 1/8-mile race over the dirt track at King Abdulaziz Racetrack. The early betting line is based on international odds (gambling is prohibited in Saudi Arabia).
Forever Young, unbeaten in his seven races outside America and one of four Japan breds in the race, drew the outside 14 post. Trainer Yoshito Yahagi smiled after learning the post. “I don’t really have a preference for a gate, but I’d rather have outside than inside.”
Other notable entries include Ushba Tesoro (14-1, post 1), runner-up in the Saudi Cup last year, and Rattle N Roll (10-1, post 7), trained by Kenny McPeek and the only American-based horse in the field.
Among those who took a pass — for various reasons — on the long journey to the desert include 2024 Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Laurel River (injury), Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winners Sierra Leone (2024) and White Abarrio (2023), BC Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) winner Song of an Angel, and Todd Pletcher-trained Locked, runner-up in the Pegasus World Cup (G1).
The sixth running of the Saudi Cup will feature 10-time Grade 1 winner, Romantic Warrior, making his first start on dirt after compiling a resume of 18 victories in 23 starts and a bankroll of $22,798,595 for owner Peter Lau.
“It wasn’t an easy decision for the owner as we missed the Gold Cup and Stewards’ Cup in Hong Kong,’’ trainer Danny Shum said. “If we stayed there, we could win on the turf easily, but Peter really wanted to try the challenge of the world’s richest race and come to the Saudi Cup. We are really looking forward to it.”
Yahagi is, too, especially after Forever Young completed a final workout on Feb. 12 at Ritto Training Center near Kyoto.
“It is great that he has been able to train in the stable. He is at his peak right now,’’ Yahagi said.
Added assistant trainer Yuki Araki: “He is improving and finished well both physically and mentally. There are no concerns about his condition as he prepares to ‘conquer the world.”
James McDonald, the regular rider for Romantic Warrior, has high praise for the three-time Hong Kong Cup winner.
“Every time I get on him, I feel like he is unbeatable – he just gives you that feeling and that is incredible going to these big races like that,’’ McDonald said. “I just feel like he is getting better and better at the moment, so there is no reason why he can’t be the horse to beat in Saudi (Arabia) … He is still on an upward spiral and at the peak of his powers.”
Rattle N Roll comes into the race off a victory in the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup (G3) on Jan. 25. McPeek figures his 7-year-old has a “little advantage because we’ve won over this track.”
Half the field is listed at odds of 30-1 or higher: Intense For Me, Wilson Tesero, Wootton’son, Wait To Excel, Al Musmak, Defunded, and El Kodigo.
Post Time for the Saudi Cup is Saturday at 8:40 p.m. KSA (12:40 p.m. ET) (19H40 SA Time).
The field for the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1), from the rail out, with jockey, trainer, and early international odds:
1 Ushba Tesoro (JPN) (Akira Sugawara, Noboru Takagi), 14-1
2 Intense For Me (ARG) (Camilio Ospina, Abdulaziz Meshref), 66-1
3 Romantic Warrior (IRE) (James McDonald, Danny Shum), 2-1
4 Wilson Tesoro (JPN) (Yuga Kawada, Noboru Takagi), 40-1
5 Wootton’son (FR) (Ricardo Ferreira, Abdullah Al Kahtani), 66-1
6 Walk Of Stars (GB) (Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupart Seemar), 20-1
7 Rattle N Roll (USA), (Joel Rosario, Kenny McPeek), 10-1
8 Wait To Excel (GB) (Adel Alfouraidi, Thamer Aldaihani), 40-1
9 Ramjet (JPN) (Kosei Miura, Shozo Sasaki), 25-1
10 Al Musmak (IRE) (Muhammad Aldaham, Thamer Aldaihani), 33-1
11 Defunded (USA) (Antonio Fresu, Abdulaziz Meshref), 66-1
12 Facteur Cheval (IRE), (Mickael Barzalona, Jerome Reynier), 12-1
13 El Kodigo (ARG) (Gustavo Calvente, Abdulaziz Meshref), 33-1
14 Forever Young (JPN) (Ryusei Sakai, Yoshito Yahagai), 8-5
Reserve List
Scotland Yard (USA) (Luis Morales, Nicolas Bachalard), 66-1
Lifelong Racing Man Appeals For Help With Foot Injury Medical Expenses
Sean in action at Randjesfontein recently before his injury (Pic – Supplied)
A dyed-in-the-wool racing man from a well known family has approached the Sporting Post with a request to publish an appeal for assistance with medical expenses as he desperately tries to save his injured foot in order to allow him to continue to work with horses.
Born to ride! Sean on a Wolf Power lookalike – almost!(Pic – Supplied)
Horseracing is in the blood of the 55 year old Sean Paterson – his Mom was a successful trainer and his Dad a well-known jockey, trainer and stipe in his time.
Sean joined the South African Jockey Academy on 3 January 1985.
“In 1986, whilst in my second year at the academy I suffered a racing accident whilst leading one of my rides in, it freshed, swung round kicking me on the forehead resulting in emergency surgery to remove my frontal skull bone, a long stay in hospital and a silicone plate being inserted under the skin in place of my shattered forehead bone.With the long recovery time my apprenticeship fell away and I decided to return to school to finish my exams,” he tells.
Once Sean completed his exams he travelled to the UK for 2 years to work under the well know British trainer PJ Walwyn in the village of Lambourn on the Berkshire Downs.
Having completed his 2 years internship with PJ Walwyn, he returned to Zimbabwe to assist in the running of his parents yard in Harare.
In 1994, the Paterson Racing Yard was sold and he travelled to Sydney, Australia and returned to work here for the likes of the late Jane Thomas, Tony Millard, Alec Laird.
Stints in Hong Kong, Spain, France and Dubai followed, before he returned to SA about 15 years ago.
Sean now faces a crisis and told the Sporting Post that in 2023 he was kicked on the heel whilst work riding at Randjesfontein, causing his heel bone to splinter.
“I was unaware of the seriousness or magnitude of this injury until a piece of the splintered bone began to move. After attending one of the top Podiatrists in Johannesburg, a decision was made to remove the loose bone shards, which then led to a pressure wound developing on the upper side of my foot. I was advised to attend a Vascular Surgeon who recommended surgery following the results from sonar imaging,” explains Sean.
Following the removal of the bone shards the pressure wound turned into a full blown internal fungal infection.
“My first surgery was done in July 2024, by a Reconstructive Surgeon who ‘debrided’ my wound under general anesthetic, removing all dead and unhealthy tissue in order to assist the wound to heal. Following the operation, my Vascular Surgeon advised that in order to heal completely she advised surgery to insert 3 stents.These stents, two in my foot and one in my groin, would facilitate the blood flow to reach and heal the wounds.”
Sean and his wife Louisa (Pic – Supplied)
The Vascular Surgeon recommended immediate surgery and supplied a quote for the initial private treatment. It was R139 000 with aftercare costs including rehabilitation, medication and a wound nurse estimated at approximately R30 000.
“As I do not have private medical cover, I attended Steve Biko hospital to try and get the stents inserted through the public hospital system. The soonest I can get an appointment, with the resident Cardiovascular Specialist is two to three months, before being put on the waiting list for the operation to insert the stents. The concern now is that without immediate attention and surgery I may lose my foot, or worse,” he laments.
Sean stresses that this appeal is purely for medical expenses in order that he may save his foot and continue working with his beloved horses. He adds that any help will be appreciated.
If you are in a position to help, Sean is registered on the backabuddy platform http://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/seanpaterson-save-a-foot
Ed – anybody who wishes to contact the family directly can email Alyson Wynne on email: alyson_wynne@hotmail.com, or email editor@sportingpost.co.za for her whatsapp contact.
Romantic Warrior All Set For Saudi Cup
Highflying British Dual Purpose Trainer Olly Murphy Interview
An interview with British trainer Olly Murphy, who is lying in fifth place in the British jumps training log
(https://www.boylesports.com/sports/horse-racing/event/cheltenham-gold-cup)
Olly Murphy: Some racecourses should be ashamed at the appalling prize money they offer, there’s far too much bad racing in Britain with poor horses, I’m proud that my yard competes with the big boys and Cheltenham is still the holy grail
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British racing trainer Olly Murphy currently sits fifth in the British Trainers’ Championship standings
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The trainer has slammed some of the racecourses in Britain for their “appalling” prize money offerings and lambasted the quality of some of the racing in this country
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Murphy believes Irish trainers are no better at the top level than the British – they simply have more money and resources
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Murphy has hailed stable jockey Sean Bowen as the best rider in the country and has backed him to win the Jockeys’ Championship this season
How would you assess your season so far? A 24 % strike rate, fifth in the Trainer’s Championship and Second only to Dan Skelton in terms of number of winners – it’s going quite well, isn’t it?
Things have been going great. All that’s been missing this season is Grade 1 winner. Numbers wise we are well ahead of where we usually are. And we’ve added quality as well. We are certainly looking forward to spring now.
What’s been the trigger? Just gradual improvements since 2017 and greater experience?
Experience certainly helps. A slightly better type of horse and having Sean Bowen as a stable jockey and just learning year upon year. Rome was never built in a day, and it was always kind of the same with Warren Chase. It was always going to improve over time.
Do you feel happy now that you can rub shoulders with the best?
I think so. We have plenty of quality among the quantity as well. We are now an established big yard in National Hunt racing now and hope it will stay that way for a while and we will keep improving on what we are doing.
There are a lot of issues facing British racing and prize money is the main one. Is it as bad as everyone makes out?
Our premier days now are a big improvement of what they have been in recent years. But there are still certain tracks here putting up appalling prize money, and certain tracks which are making a big effort.
And it’s just plain as day to see now – without me naming any – tracks that are putting on 6,000 quid for a handicap and 3,500 quid for a bumper, they should be ashamed of themselves and they theoretically shouldn’t be supported.
But we’ve got that many horses training in England, we’ve got to run them, so we have to end up supporting those races to one, get young horses started, and two we’ve got that many horses to run we can’t run them all in the same races. So we end up having to support bad prize money which is theoretically not the way it should be happening.
Where do you stand on this suggestion that broadcasters should pay for access to trainers for post-racing thoughts?
It was all put across wrong in the aspect of trainers wanting to get paid. Trainers aren’t wanting to get paid. Trainers are wanting money from these media rights to be going back into the sport and going back to our owners.
It’s not that trainers want money to speak to the media. Trainers want the media rights that are going to racecourses that are putting up s**t prize money to go back into owners’ prize money, which it isn’t doing.
Something was said and fair play to Dan Skelton for standing up and making a point. His intentions were in the right place and he was theoretically looking out for owners more so than himself.
Sean Bowen is a great jockey and has a great chance of the title this year?
I think he can. He’s just got to keep doing what he’s doing. He’s a big asset to me and we’ve got a really good working relationship. I don’t see any reason why he can’t be the champion. He’s riding better than ever and hopefully we’ve still got plenty of ammunition to run now for the rest of the season for him.
What’s the thing about Sean that makes him stand out?
His dedication, his work ethic and obviously he’s got a lot of natural ability. He’s been a good rider for a while now but he’s still got youth on his side. He’s a great judge of pace and he’s just a very, very good all round jockey.
Would you say he’s the best around?
I personally think he is. We’ve got some very good jockeys in Britain at the moment with Harry Skelton, Harry Cobden, Sam Twiston Davies and Gavin Sheehan among them. He’s riding as well as anyone, if not better than everyone. Confidence also plays a big part.
I like to think I instill confidence in him and vice versa. He instils confidence in me as a trainer as well. That’s a big thing in sport. And when you’ve got plenty of confidence, it comes out in your riding.
Cheltenham is on the near horizon now. How’s your yard shaping up and how are your preparations going?
We are not going to have a massive team but we’ll half a dozen to eight for the handicaps more so than Graded races. Obviously, the handicaps haven’t closed yet, we’ll hopefully go there with some each-way chances and we’ll know a little bit more in a few weeks’ time.
Fingle Bridge in the Turners?
I don’t think he’ll go, I think he’ll wait for Aintree unless it was very, very soft. He’s just got to carry on improving. He has had issues in the past with the undulating track. Goodish spring ground would suit him. So, if it came up very soft, we might consider it, but I’d say we’ll be looking more at more.
Would the same be true for Strong Leader?
I’d imagine he’ll stay in the Stayers’ but he’ll be more likely to go back to Aintree as a fresh horse.
You were part of Gordon Elliott’s team for four years. What makes him so special and what did you learn from him?
I speak to him plenty. He’s been very good to me since I have come home. He keeps everything simple. He has a good team around him and a good routine,
He’s obviously very good at his job at training racehorses as well. He keeps himself in the best company and gets winners at all levels. He’s very good at that.
Was Don Cossack the best you were associated with when you were over there?
Yes, him and Tiger Roll when I was around. There was another very good horse called No More Heroes who got a bad injury in the RSA. Tiger Roll and Don Cossack were two very special horses and shouldn’t forget Apple’s Jade. I learned loads there and had a fantastic time there.
Elliott is part of a pretty dominant Irish training scene with the three big super yards. What is it that makes them stand out?
They’re very, very good trainers, they have an awful lot of horses and they are spending an awful lot of money on horses and they are winning most battles in the sales ring. It’s pretty straightforward to be honest!
Do I think Gavin [Cromlwell], Gordon and Willie are better trainers than the best in England? No, I don’t. They are very good at what they do but they are training a lot of quality as well. They have got big owners, they’ve got big spending power, and they’ve got a lot of horses that cost plenty of money with good pedigrees and when you’ve got enough of them, you tend to win more than people that don’t.
It’s so important that you’ve owners that will go and win in the sales ring that will give you that chance to go and win on the race track.
Is Gordon as good as Willie or is he still playing catch up a little bit?
Figures will tell you he hasn’t got the quality that Willie’s got. All the same, he’s got more quality than most. I can’t tell you how important it is if you don’t go and win in the sales ring if you don’t go and buy the best horses or with the most potential, you aren’t going to go and win the big races and that’s the long and short of it – you’ll win less than everyone else.
Is the pendulum starting to swing a little bit?
I think so. You can moan and groan about it as much as you want but until we go and take them on in the sales ring then we’re not going to be beating them on the racetrack. They’re better all round than us at the moment; hopefully the pendulum is turning, and it won’t be long before it turns around a bit more again.
One thing you’ve championed that was commonplace in Ireland is the schooling trials. Why?
They’re just starting over here. We’ve had a couple of them. We took a horse to Chaddesley Corbett point to point the other day. It was run very well. It’s a really good initiative and again that’s another thing that’s certainly going to help us.
They give you that extra chance of a horse seeing a race course, having a race course gallop, seeing what levels you’re at and getting that bit more experience before you have to kind of go and take others on. It’s only going to benefit English trainers, and it is a really good initiative.
Festivals like the DRF and Punchestown are big beasts in their own right now. Are they a threat to Cheltenham?
The Holy Grail is still Cheltenham. Willie Mullins will tell you that, and so will Gordon Elliott. But the Irish festivals are fantastic festivals in their own right; they do it right as well, they get fantastic crowds there.
They get well supported by good runners and hopefully more British runners will be able to support those festivals in time.
They’re two fantastic festivals I’d love to kind of support in the future when we’re that little bit more established again.
Amy Murphy is off to France and Joseph O’Brien’s talked about scaling back his exposure to the National Hunt and focus on the Flat for economic reasons. Where do you stand on dual yards?
More of my clients are probably National Hunt kind of racing fans. Obviously there’s a lot more money revolving around Flat racing and can see why I mean Amy’s moved over. Best of luck to her, but it is not something that would interest me. But I can see why people have.
But France offers good prize money at the right level, but at the same time, if you’ve got a bad horse over there, you ain’t going to win prize money, same as England.
If you were in charge of the sport, what would you change? Have you had a magic wand? What would the single thing be that you would like to introduce or you would introduce?
The most obvious thing to say is better prize money and less bad racing. We dilute our sport by having 0-95s and 0-100s and too much bad racing.
We need less bad racing and put more money into the better races. I appreciate I still have got a lot of owners, a lot of syndicates that haven’t got the money to potentially perform at that better level.
But if you get rid of some of this bad racing it’s only going to entice people to get a better horse or try and get a better horse and compete at a better level.
We’ve got that much bad racing, it’s too easy to go and buy a bad horse and compete in bad racing and I just think we should have less of it.
How do you attract that younger audience which is going to keep the lifeblood going? Documentaries like Full Gallop must help?
We need fresh blood and new owners.
John Hales passed away recently. We’ve obviously lost Trevor Hemmings and Paul Barber amongst plenty of others. They’ve been stalwarts for years and years in the National Hunt sport. And of course, we need young blood coming through. And I’m sure it will. But we’ve got to promote the sport. We’ve got to show young businessmen and women why they should come into racing and spend their money and have it as a passion.
Were you part of the Full Gallop documentary?
I was and I’m doing it again this year. I think it promoted the sport pretty well. It was good, it was well done and hopefully they’ll improve again on the next series.
Tell us one thing that the public doesn’t know about you?
I’m a big Aston Villa fan. I love spending my time at Villa Park now or at an away ground in the Premiership when I’m not racing.
It would be my one release away from horse racing.
They are my local team. I’ve got hospitality down there and take a lot of owners. I’ve supported them since I was a boy.
Ambition in life outside racing?
To see Villa win the title.
Within racing?
Be champion trainer and compete at the top for many years to come.
Today's Question
Who beat the great chasers Kauto Star and Denman in the 2011 Gold Cup?
The subject is pictured above.
Today’s Question Answer
Picture: Sam Bernard Waley-Cohen, an English entrepreneur and amateur National Hunt jockey, celebrates victory on Long Run. (Sporting Life)
LONG RUN
Guillaume Macaire had the mighty Long Run before he switched to Nicky Henderson and continued his fantastic career in the UK. However, before he made that move, he was a beast in France winning eight of his twelve starts and finishing in the top three on the other four runs. Notably he easily defeated Rubi Ball twice in grade 1 and grade 3 company at Auteuil before moving to Nicky Henderson.
Long Run won four grade 1 races in the UK. He landed two King George Chases at Kempton in 2010 and 2012 but the highlight of his career came in the 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup when he defeated the legends Denman and Kauto Star.
He ran in three Gold Cups in total, winning in 2011 and then placing third in the 2012 and 2013 renewals. Long Run also chased home Kauto Star in the 2011 King George inbetween winning the race in 2010 and 2012 and finished runner-up in the Betfair Chase twice.
There is no doubt that Long Run was a fantastic racehorse in both France and in the UK and will always be remembered for his defeat of both Denman and Kauto Star in the 2011 Cheltenham Gold Cup at the age of six.
For that achievement alone he is one of the greatest ever French jump racehorses, although his career provided so many other highlights as well.
