Snaith Barometer: 192
Target: 222
One Stripe All Set For The Big Cap
One Stripe surges home in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate (Picture: Wayne Marks).
The Big Cap is the highlight of the final meeting of the Cape Summer Festival Of Racing and the Sporting Post wrote an article which provides an insight into what the R5 million race is all about (read below).
The inaugural running of the R5 million CRS Big Cap at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 16 March, the final day of the inaugural Cape Racing Sales Festival, is set to host what could be the final local appearance of internationally-bound dual Gr1-winning 3yo star One Stripe.
Newnham and Ferraris Await Classic Cup Test - Mondial Draws Well
My Wish was an impressive winner of the Hong Kong Classic Mile. (HKJC)
The Mark Newnham-trained My Wish, winner of the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile under Luke Ferraris, has had similar luck with the draw in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup. Ferraris had to negotiate a draw of 8 out of 14 in the Mile and he will have to overcome a draw of 9 in the Classic Cup over 1800m at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the South African-bred Flower alley gelding Mondial has landed a plum draw of three in the Classic Cup, which will be his Hong Kong debut where he is trained by David Hayes. The SA Derby third-placed stayer will be ridden by Derek Leung.
Leo Schlink wrote the below aticle about Newnham’s thoughts on the Hong Kong Classic Cup.
By Leo Schlink (HKJC)
Mark Newnham is hopeful My Wish’s improving race manners will allow the lightly-framed gelding to continue a barnstorming surge through the Four-Year-Old Classic Series with success in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (2 March).
Weighing only 990lb, My Wish defied more powerfully-built rivals with narrow victory under Luke Ferraris on 31 January in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) – the first leg of the HK$52 million Four-Year-Old Classic Series.
Newham trialled My Wish last Friday (21 February) and was pleased with his effort to finish third over 1200m on Sha Tin’s dirt as the Flying Artie gelding maintained a familiar routine.
“I’ve been really pleased with him. He’s come through the Classic Mile in good shape, held his condition well. He’s been able to follow the same programme that he has had pretty much all season with the month between runs with an easy trial in between,” Newnham said.
“He’ll have one gallop later in the week, so the preparation is the same as it has been the whole way through and he’s in good form.”
Starting the season as a 54-rater, My Wish has risen to 95 in the handicap with four wins from 1200m to 1600m.
Better racing manners and a more settled approach generally have been integral to his progress, leaving Newnham optimistic his charge can stay 1800m.
“He’s still got to tick that box (getting 1800m) but the one thing we’ve seen from him as the season’s gone on is that he’s relaxing in races and conserving energy well. He got himself into a perfect spot last start with good gate speed and then was able to relax and wait,” the Australian horseman said.
“I think that’s the big difference we’ve seen in him in the last few starts in that he’s learning to save his energy, relax through the race and breathe and that’s giving him a good kick at the end. So, if we can do that over 1800m, he’s going to be hard to get past.
“He keeps improving because he’s improving with his manners more than anything – his race manners and his race craft have improved. He’s starting to relax and that’s what is helping him hold his weight and keep condition. All the little one percenters, he’s improving in.”
Luke Ferraris, who savoured the most important Hong Kong win of a burgeoning career with Hong Kong Classic Mile success, will again partner My Wish.
The young South African is fourth in the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship with 27 wins behind Zac Purton (84), Hugh Bowman (41) and Vincent Ho (27).
The Hong Kong Classic Cup entry also features Packing Hermod, Rubylot, Divano, Johannes Brahms, Stunning Peach, Mickley, Noisy Boy, Cap Ferrat, Californiatotality, Packing Angel, Mondial, Steps Ahead and Sky Trust.
Sunday’s (2 March) feature is the second leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series which culminates in the HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) on 23 March.
How Good Are Spacebound and His Sire Declarationofpeace?
Spacebound powers home to an easy win on debut. (Picture: Wayne Marks)
When the Peter Muscutt-trained Military Command won in devastating style over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Wednesday, the question had to be asked, “How good is his stablemate Spacebound and the new season sire Declarationofpeace?”
Spacebound led from start to finish on debut over that same course and distance and accelerated away to win by four lengths with Military Command (Fire Away) beaten six lengths.
Spacebound was the third runner and second winner for the new season sire, the KZN-based Declarationofpeace.
Spacebound has a good female line.
He is a half-brother to the Gr 3 winner Taikonaut (Twice Over) and to the Listed winner Mercury Rising (Gimethegreenlight) among other winners.
He was purchased for R280,000 at the BSA National Two-year-old Sale.
It has been fine year in South Africa for War Front.
His late son, the freshman champion sire Lancaster Bomber, is sire of the Gr 1 WSB Met and Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby winner Eight On Eighteen and of the Gr 1 Maine Chance Majorca Stakes winner Rascova.
Lancaster Bomber’s daughter Beach Bomb will be out to land a Gr 3 in the USA on Saturday.
War Front’s son Declarationofpeace is now making an immediate impact too.
Spacebound was bred by Rathmor Stud.
They splashed out R320,000 to buy his dam Earth’s Orbit from the BSA Cheveley Stud Farm Sale and it looks likely to pay dividends.
There are currently no Declarationofpeace progeny carded to race, but horsemen will be looking out for his next runners.
Beach Bomb Runs In Gr 3 At Gulfstream Park On Saturday
Maine Chance's Power Packed Premier Sale Draft
Lot 6 is a colt by Vercingetorix out of winning Oasis Dream mare Granja, who is a a full-sister to German stakes winner Goiania.
Maine Chance Farms is home to a growing band of exciting stallions. From current star stallions Vercingetorix and Querari, to dual G1 winner Erupt, Maine Chance has something for everyone breeder.
The Robertson farm recently announced that Point Lonsdale would be standing at Maine Chance in 2025, and this globe-trotting star looks sure to prove popular in the breeding barn.
By one of Galileo’s best sons in the form of Australia, the remarkable Point Lonsdale, who raced in six different countries, won four of five starts at two, including the G2 Futurity Stakes.
Also, runner up in the G1 National Stakes as a two-year-old Point Lonsdale would go on to win seven races during his career, with this tally including five group races.
Maine Chance Farms will be offering a stellar draft at the Premier Yearling Sale, with the string including no fewer than nine yearlings sired by their outstanding stallion Vercingetorix.
Stars of Maine Chance’s Premier Sale string include:
Colts
Lot 6: Gentian c Vercingetorix -Granja
Silvano’s son Vercingetorix looks set to be crowned Champion Sire in South Africa this season. At the time of writing, Vercingetorix had been responsible for such graded stakes winners as Double Grand Slam, Spumante Dolce, Greaterix, Zeitz, Rascallion and Oriental Charm this season. A three-parts brother to a multiple winner, Gentian is out of the winning Oasis Dream mare Granja, a full-sister to German stakes winner Goiania. In turn, Granja is out of German G3 winner Goathemala, and this is the family of Irish Derby winner Fame And Glory, top-class sire Farhh and 1000 Guineas winner Legatissimo among many others.
Champion Oasis Dream is an outstanding broodmare sire, with his daughters having produced such G1 winners as Desert Miracle, Siskin, Sioux Nation,
Lot 62: Prized Possession c Vercingetorix – Princess Royal
Bred on the same Vercingetorix/Captain Al cross as G1 winners Double Grand Slam and Vernichey, this colt is a half-brother to Princess Calla, Horse Of The Year in 2022-2023, and twice Equus Champion Older Female Line in South Africa. A five-time G1 winner, the now retired Princess Calla won a staggering 11 graded races. Her G2 Sceptre Stakes winning dam Princess Royal, also the dam of the Silvano sired G3 placed galloper Platinum Sky, is a three-parts sister to dual Equus Champion, and four-time G1 winner, Princess Victoria.
Further back, this is the family of champions Hoeberg and Petrava as well as former champion sire Jallad.
Fillies
Lot 5: Girl For Me f Malmoos -Girl On The Run
South African Triple Crown winner Malmoos shares his sire Captain Al with hot young stallion One World as well as the very promising Erik The Red.
The Silvano sired Girl On The Run was a top-class racemare, who won six times including both the G3 Victory Moon Stakes and G3 Yellowwood Handicap, with Girl On The Run finishing first, second or third in five graded stakes races.
A half-sister to Listed Wolf Power 1600 Handicap hero Sabadell, Girl On The Run is out of the Badger Land mare Girl From Grenada, a daughter of G3 Kenilworth Fillies Futurity queen Lady Of Cadiz.
Lot 78: Miss Ironside f Vercingetorix -She’s A Giver
By the same sire as such star fillies as Double Grand Slam, Vernichey, Spumante Dolce, and Chansonette, Miss Ironside is a half-sister to G2 TAB SA Nursery runner up Mount Pinatubo.
She is out of G3 Starling Stakes winner She’s A Giver, who finished second in the G1 Garden Province Stakes and third in the G2 Ipi Tombe Challenge. A half-sister to recent G3 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers third Triple Time, She’s A Giver is out of the G1 placed Valeta, a full-sister to the stakes winning dam of G1 Computaform Sprint winning sire Master Archie.
Lot 139: Cloudy Day f Gimmethegreenlight -Cavallaria
By the same sire as such star fillies as Bless My Stars, Gimme A Nother, VJ’s Angel, and She’s A Keeper, this filly is bred on the same Gimmethegreenlight/Galileo as the now retired Equus Champion Green With Envy.
Cavalleria has produced two winners to date including this season’s Listed 4Racing Dr Richard Mayona Handicap winner Thunee Playa, and is a winning Galileo half-sister to the French G3 winning dam of G1 Canadian International winner Sarah Lynx.
Legendary sire Galileo, sire of Cavallaria, is broodmare sire of more than 360 stakes winners including the G1 winners Auguste Rodin, City Of Troy, Night Of Thunder, The Autumn Sun, Dyce, to name but a few.
For more information on Maine Chance’s Premier consignment, interested parties are asked to speak to Danni Kuttel on 083 700 7351.
For more information please contact Vicky Minott – vicky@caperacing.co.za or Janine Van Blerk – janine@caperacing.co.za
Splicethemainbrace Can Add A Fifth Listed Race To CV
Lerena , Yeni, Habib Doubles
Plus Four got into the last race today (Thursday) as reserve and was backed in from 20/1 to 5/4 favourite. The former Cape-based Vercingetorix gelding was having his first start for Candice Dawson and won effortlessly by 2,25 lengths to give Gavin Lerena a double on the day. (JC Photos).
Gavin Lerena, Muzi Yeni and Fabian Habib all had individual doubles at the Turffontein Inside meeting on Thursday.
Craig Zackey had a blank and this enabled Lerena to get within nine wins of him at the top of the log.
Zackey is on 158 wins for the season to Lerena’s 149 and Richard Fourie’s 140.
Lerena has scored those 149 wins at a strike rate of 25.96%.
Yeni is on 91 wins at 13.91%.
Habib is on 33 wins at 15.71%.
Today's Question
Which 2000 Guineas is regarded as probably the greatest running of this English Classic?
The picture above gives a clue to the answer.
FIELDS, Friday, 28 February
Fairview Turf
Today’s Question Answer
BRIGADIER GERARD – 1971 2000 GUINEAS
Few horses have achieved a rating of 140 or more in the 70 years that Timeform has been assessing Flat racing horses. So, it’s extraordinary to consider that two of them – Brigadier Gerard and Mill Reef – went head to head in the 2000 Guineas in 1971.
Mill Reef had started the 6-4 favourite, while Brigadier Gerard – unbeaten in four starts at the time – went off at 11-2.
With only six runners going to post what the race lacked in quantity it certainly made up for in quality, with the first three in the betting boasting 16 wins from 17 races under their belts at the time.
Brigadier Gerard won the 2000 Guineas by a comfortable three lengths.
He went on to a career in which he was beaten only once, at York.
His rating of 144 has been bettered by one horse since – the legendary Frankel.
