Turf Talk Newsletter – 16 April, 2025

Hobday Bullish About Equine Exports And Tariffs

Candice Hobday is the CEO of Hobday Equestrian Enterprises, who are the chief company through which South African horses are being exported to Europe, and she is bullish about the number of flights that will be available this year for those wishing to export and she is also optimistic that Trump’s tariffs will actually play into the hands of South African horses.

She said about the flights, “We’ve got another one in May, and then hopefully another one in July, and then another, if we have enough numbers, in November. The numbers are a little bit small still, but that’s a wheel that’s going to take time to build up, because a lot of people haven’t been breeding, and now that it’s open, the buyers are starting to come back. The cycle takes a bit of time. I think we’ll really start getting some momentum from 2026. But I think if we do pull three flights off of 21 horses each this year, it will be amazing, and I think it can only get better from here.”

There are 32 stables in the Kenilworth vector protected quarantine station and that limits the maximum number per flight to 32 horses.

There are two chartered airplanes available: the smaller chartered airplane is capable of carrying 21 and the bigger one can carry 70.

However, the bigger plane is limited to carrying 32 because there are only 32 stables in the quarantine.

The cost of the flight is not per horse but per airplane. So the whole cost would be the same whether there were 32 or for example 27 horses … if there were only 27 horses the cost per horse would go up considerably.

The smaller plane costs less, meaning the cost per horse would be about the same if there were either 21 horses on the smaller plane or 32 horses on the bigger plane. 21 and 32 are the two optimum nymbers.

Thoroughbreds are coming out strong in numbers on the flights again.

Candice said, “At the moment, I would say it’s on average 25 to 30% thoroughbreds and then the rest are made up between polo, endurance, show Arabs, sport horses and pets.”

She said about the USA Tariffs, “It’s hard to have a total opinion about it until it’s settled down because there’s so much flux at the moment, the exchange rate is in flux, the whole tariff war is in a bit in flux, nobody really knows what’s going on. What I am fairly confident about, and this is just an educated opinion, is that it is affecting everybody, so I don’t think it’s going to disadvantage South Africa and our positives will still give us a step ahead in terms of the quality of the horses for less money at the strong exchange rate. Studies have even shown that South African horses are better value than most.”

The tariff on a lesser price will be less, meaning the value argument for SA horses will be further bolstered, and the exchange rate will make the South African horse even better value.

Candice also explained that tariffs are also usually set by where the horse was born. For example, tariffs on an Irish horse are greater than tariffs on a U.K horse (one can’t get around it by moving the horse to the U.K. and then exporting, because it goes on where the horse was born). Tariff rates on South African horses would probably not be among the highest.

Tariffs on geldings are more than tariffs on entires and females, because of the possibility that the latter might bring genetic improvement.

There are also different tariffs on permanent exports as opposed to temporary exports.

The Paulick Report recently stated that tariffs paid to bring horses in to compete in the USA would be potentially exorbitant, but would be reimbursed as long as the horses is out of the country within a year.

Meanwhile, Adrian Todd, managing director of SAEHP is in the UK working on the next step in South Africa’s favour, the opening of direct flights to the U.K. At present direct flights to Europe are allowed, but not yet to the U.K.

The Peters - The Voices Of The July Setting New Records

Father and son commentary team, Craig and Sheldon Peters (Picture: Hollywoodbets)

Winter is approaching and in Durban that means the Hollywoodbets Durban July is just around the corner and two men who are always caught up in July fever are Craig and Sheldon Peters, the stalwart commentators who enthrall crowds with the excitement they manage to inject into the big race year after year.

Craig Peters is the most experienced Durban July commentator of all time and is in fact the most experienced horseracing commentator in South African history full stop. The 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July will be his 39th July, which can be compared to Ernie Duffield’s 29 Julys. Craig has called over 25,000 races in South Africa, also a record.

In third place on the July list is Craig’s son Sheldon, who already has 23 July commentaries under the belt.

These days on July day Sheldon is the on course commentator and is also on the 4Racing, Gallop TV and DSTV feeds, while Craig is on the SABC feed.

Craig and Sheldon are passionate about the sport and have a wealth of memories, particularly about the country’s greatest race, the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Craig recalled his first memory of the July, “My first recollections was back in the 1960s with Sea Cottage when he got shot three weeks before the July. I was about six or seven years old at the time and living in Mayfair, Johannesburg with my parents. We used to listen to the July commentary by Ernie Duffield on the radio and it was a sad day in 1966 when he ran fourth to Java Head (with the bullet still lodged in the soft flesh of his hindquarter). I remember shedding a lot of tears that day because he was such a great horse. They used to call him the immortal Sea Cottage. Then the next year he dead-heated with Jollify giving him 27 pounds. We listened to the commentary and it was extremely exciting, but Ernie Duffield gave the race to Jollify. He said, “I think Jollify might just have held on!” So we didn’t know and then Duffield had to cross back to the studio because the judges took a while. It was only sometime later on Pat Carr’s Forces Favourites program that we heard it was a dead-heat and I was absolutely elated. We saw the photo in the Stop Press and about two weeks later we watched the African Mirror footage of the race at the Drive-In. I remember also being at Sea Cottage’s last ever race, the Cutty Sark at Gosforth Park, which attracted a massive crowd. I watched by standing on the bonnet of my father’s car.”

Craig’s commentary career started in Johannesburg and he recalled, “I never thought it would happen and it was then a dream come true when I moved back to Durban in 1982 which gave me the opportunity to commentate on the July. My first July commentary was when Devon Air won in 1984, Terrance Millard and Felix Coetzee, it was an unbelievable experience. But then the great calls I remember are Pocket Power and Dancer’s Daughter dead-heating (2008) and I also enjoyed Flaming Rock (1991) coming from the absolute clouds and getting up on the last jump. But I think one of my best July commmentaries was Illustrador (1990). I called it on course and the crowds went berserk with the raise of my voice tone at the top of the straight. In the July the crowd are with you and they hang on to every single word you say.”

Most of the crowd’s money would have been on Illustrador, the Terrance Millard-trained favourite, and few who were there will ever forget Craig’s words just after they had turned for home.

He was rattling off through the field in a rising tone as they fanned off the false rail when suddenly his tone changed and his voice echoed around the course, “… BUT … ILLUSTRADOR!!!”

In those days when there was no video footage in the off course “rooms” punters relied on the commentaries and Craig was a favourite due to the excitement he was able to generate with his changes of tone. His style had the same effect on the on course punters. As he never got it wrong when emphasising a horse’s name and seldom got a photo finish wrong he acquired the nickname “Eagle Eye”.

Illustrador duly stormed into the lead and with a delirious crowd roaring him home he won by 1,30 lengths from his two stablemates Olympic Duel and Jungle Warrior.

Craig sees a bright future for the July and KZN racing.

He said, “It’s great now that Hollywood have taken over the sponsorship, it’s going from strength to strength and as you can see every year there is a big improvement and the crowds are with it. It’s absolutely phenomenal and I’m really enjoying it.”

An indication of how good a commentator Sheldon Peters is can be gleaned from his first July in 2002. He was the youngest to ever call the great race, being in his early twenties, and there was only 0,4 lengths separating the first six home. However, his voice never faltered and he picked out the winner Ipi Tombe for special emphasis in the closing stages.

It is hard to fathom how a commentator handles such situations but on getting that one right Sheldon said, “Born and bred!”

He added, “The adrenaline pumps so much, the nerves start to settle, but once the gates open you basically just fire away.”

He said about his first July recollection, “I was about ten or eleven when Flaming Rock won (1991), it was my first taste of the July, and then the first time I was on course was when Surfing Home won (1994) but lost on objection … Space Walk was declared the winner. My best July was when Dynasty won (2003).”

He said about the experience of his first July commentary, “It was a dream in a million. Obviously as a commentator you want to call the biggest race in the country, and one of the biggest races in the world, and with the crowd on the course and everything it’s just a race of a lifetime.”

He added, “Dynasty (2003) and Eyeofthetiger (2006) were my favourite calls. Both horses were owned by Field Spring Racing and trained by Dean Kannemeyer.”

One of his most famous calls was when Do It Again became the sixth horse in July history to win the big race twice and the fifth to do it twice in succession.

As the big horse approached the line Sheldon called, with impeccable timing, “… and he will DO IT AGAIN!!!”

Those words are also now part of July folklore.

The Peters father and son combination are the voices of the July and it seems the only person who could possibly ever break Craig’s record is Sheldon.

More Champions Season Campaigners Arrive From The Cape

New Turf Carriers tansported the horses. (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

The Champion Season horses of Piet Botha and Lucinda Woodruff arrived at Summerveld on Wednesday.

Botha’s kingpins Montien and Baratheon arrived a fortnight ago.

Montien went close in both the Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate and Gr 1 WSB Met.

Woodruff’s chief campaigner is likely to be the top class sprinter Cafe Culture, who comes off a second place finish to the best sprinter in the country, Gimme A Prince, in the Gr 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes.

Cafe Culture was the winner of the Gr 2 Post Merchants last season.

The Golden Horse Sprint, now a Gr 2, is likely to be om his agenda.

Mai Sensation is a decent filly in the Woodruff yard and might also have been on one of the trucks, while Sohot Sowhat is another up and coming filly who could be among the string.

Among the horses who have already arrived for the Champions Season are a string of 32 horses from the Justin Snaith yard.

Feast Of Action At The Vaal

Hong Kong has been tipped to win the tenth race. (JC Photos)

There is an intriguing eleven race meeting on the Vaal straight course on Thursday and with the outside rail at zero metres the high draws should be favourable in the races that are down the straight, while low draws will be favourable for the two races around the turn, the 1700m events of race four and five.

The highest rated event is race 8, a 101 merit rated handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m. Calantha was inconvenienced by a low draw last time out and the best has probably not been seen yet of this well-bred sort, who now has a standside rail draw. Night Vigil was aided by a high draw last time out and just got up to beat One Fell Swoop. She is progressive and is in fine form and should make a bold bid. Kindred Heart won a good race over this distance last time and off a five point higher mark could still make her presence felt, although she has quite a low draw. Wings Within Me has four lengths to make up on Calantha, but is only half-a-kilogram better off, although she does havea 4kg claimer up so could earn. Green Flash has a lot of ability, but tends to take too strong a hold. However, she did stay on over 1160m last time, so she is capable of surprising if it pans out well.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Cape Saffron was caught wide last time and can do better so is preferred from pole position to the other chief protagonists. Nkwenkwezi showed good resolve last time when second over 1600m and has a good chance if able to overcome a wide draw. Arctic Silver could earn, although on formlines she is held by Nkwenkwezi.

In the fifth race over 1700m The Ultimate King chased home Count Huhtikuu last time over 1800m and they were in a different race to the rest of them, who were beaten 14,75 lengths and more by the winner. Count Huhtikuu had some decent form, so The Ultimate King should be hard to beat from a good draw. Chieftan’s Shield is capable of running on and from pole position should be in the shake up. Future King is a progressive sort who should relish this trip, although he was due to run on Tuesday.

In the sixth race over 1600m Obsidian won very easily over 1400m in the maidens and runs off a reasonable 79 merit rating over a suitable trip and is drawn towards the outside. Douglas Dragon comes off a good run in a stronger field over 2000m, but the concern is whether the trip will be too sharp, as he has been running from 1800m to 2400m in his last ten starts, and he also has the potentially unfavourable number one draw. Safe Space is in good form and is distance suited and has a plum high draw.

In the seventh over 1400m Presley would have come on from his last start and over a suitable trip should be staying on, especially considering he has a nice high draw. Bob’s Yiur Uncle was not bothered by an unfavourable low draw over 1160m last time and this versatile sort could make his presence felt again. The Africa House has become ultra consistent and over a suitable trip is drawn towards the right side, so he sould be involved too.

In the ninth race over 1200m Cars Big As Bars is drawn towards the right side and is in fine form, so looks the one to beat. It’s Her Way has ability and if able to overcome the effects of a low draw should be staying on. Exceedingly Glam has a fair form chance here with leading jockey Craig Zackey up.

In the first race over 1200m War Of Kingdoms has a draw towards the low side but after a good debut faces an uninspiring field and Zackey could get off to a good start. Mizzen Sword has a potentially unfavourable number one draw, but is in good form and can fight it out. Asian Delight, Time Will Tell and Trip To States could earn.

In the second over 1200m Red Amber is drawn on the right side and comes out of race which has worked out well. Green Extreme has fair form but is drawn towards the low side. Genovefa, Tipperary and Blindfire can’t be ignored.

In the third over 1400m Green Street did well when stepped up to this trip last time but has to overcome the number one draw. Ichacha and Crescendo return from layoffs but have the ability to go close.

In the tenth race over 1200m Hong Kong looks to be full of potential and can carry topweight to victory.

In the last race over 1000m Virgin River is very quick and from a plum high draw can beat home Phantom Express and Rock Of Bismantova, who have to overcome low draws.

Field Of Gold Produces Dazzling Craven Display

Picture: Field Of Gold powers home at Newmarket on Wednesday (Sky Sports Racing)

Imposing grey rockets to 2000 Guineas favouritism

At The Races

Field Of Gold shot to the head of the betting for the Betfred 2000 Guineas with a dazzling display in the bet365 Craven Stakes at Newmarket.

John and Thady Gosden’s son of Kingman had shaped with real promise as a two-year-old, winning the Group Three Solario Stakes before finishing the year competing in Group One company.

Putting his Classic credentials to the test on his first start at three, he was sent off the 100-30 favourite in the hands of Kieran Shoemark who rode the strapping grey with supreme confidence.

Exiting the famous Rowley Mile dip, Shoemark just had to pause his challenge momentarily, but soon slipped his mount into top gear as he surged past the likes of eventual second Wimbledon Hawkeye and third-placed Aomori City for the most impressive of victories.

He returned a three-and-a-half-length verdict over James Owen’s Wimbledon Hawkeye, as Gosden senior – who has so far never won the 2000 Guineas – picked up the Craven for the first time since 1993.

Field Of Gold was made Paddy Power’s 11-4 favourite to do what his illustrious sire could not manage and claim the opening Classic of the year, with the colt’s success also strengthening the hand of owners Juddmonte after the Greenham triumph of Andrew Balding’s Jonquil and the win of Harry Charlton’s Cosmic Year over the past week.

Gosden said: “Strangely enough, despite the stalls being down the middle they brought the race over to the stands rail and immediately you’re down on the rail with about eight horses in front of you. Kieran has done the right thing, he had enough horse and got out.

“He’s had a good blow, this is a trial, it’s not the Guineas and you’re not fully wound up for this. The race puts them where you want them, that’s the idea of the trials.

“I think he’ll get a mile and a quarter, I don’t seem him getting a mile and a half. One day he might be good enough to run in a race like the Eclipse, we’ll see, but I see him more on that trajectory than the other (Derby).

“He showed a lot of speed today. I probably haven’t had a colt win a Guineas trial like that before, he did it in splendid style.”

On potentially winning his first 2000 Guineas, he said: “It would be nice, but it’s not something you necessarily worry about – I don’t think about it at all.

“I suppose Kingman was slightly unfortunate, he went four lengths clear and thought he’d done enough and got caught late by a very good horse called Night Of Thunder who became a top stallion.

“It’s lovely to have a horse going for the Guineas and it’s great for Juddmonte because they have both the winner of the Greenham and this, so they’re double-handed if they want to be.”

Winning rider Shoemark added: “He’s a very exciting horse to look forward to this year. He got me out of trouble, but I had so much horse underneath me. He’s got an incredible amount of ability. He’s pretty special.”

Fortune Treble, Snaith, Bass-Robinson, Crawfords Doubles

Andrew Fortune lands a treble as the Paddy Kruyer-trained Wehaveasituation (Master Of My Fate) wins for the second time in succession. (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Andrew Fortune was in sublime form at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today and his treble consisted of two 10/1 shots and an 8/1 shot.

Justin Snaith, Candice Bass-Robinson and Brett and James Crawford all sent out doubles.

Fortune is now on 13 wins for the season at a strike rate of 17.11%.

Snaith is on 121 wins at 14.94%.

Bass-Robinson is on 61 wins at 11.75%.

Brett and James Crawford are on 32 wins at 12.03%.

Craig Zackey scored a blank today, so remains on 187 wins for the season and he remains nine clear of Richard Fourie and Gavin Lerena, neither of whom rode at today’s meeting.

Ferraris Picks Up A Winner And A Suspension

Luke Ferraris wins on the mark Newnham-trained Fatal Blow paying HK$12 on the Tote (HKJC)

Luke Ferraris went to 36 wins for the season when scoring on the Mark Newnham-trained Fatal Blow at Happy Valley today. He remains in 5th place on the log.

However, he also picked up a one meeting suspension for his ride in the first race.

The stipendiary steward report stated:

L Ferraris (ACE TALENT) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 100 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of SPICY SO SMART, resulting in SPICY SO SMART losing its rightful running and having to be steadied to avoid ACE TALENT. L Ferraris was suspended from riding in races for one Hong Kong raceday to be conducted on Wednesday, 30 April 2025 at Happy Valley. In assessing penalty, the Stewards determined the carelessness grade 2 and the consequences grade 2 and also considered his very good race riding record.

Read a report on today’s meeeting below:

Andrea Atzeni fires in treble as Jamie Richards, Mark Newnham post doubles

By Leo Schlink

Andrea Atzeni continued a blazing form run to slot a treble as Jamie Richards posted his first double of the season to share training honours with Mark Newnham at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (16 April).

Atzeni’s sizzling strike rate continued with a three-timer, teaming with Mark Newnham’s Crimson Flash (118lb) to land the first section of the Class 3 Violet Handicap (1200m), Giant Leap (119lb) for Ricky Yiu in the second section of the Class 3 Violet Handicap (1200m) and A Americ Te Specso (116lb) for John Size in the Class 3 Chamomile Handicap (1650m).

Boosting his haul this season to 43 wins, Atzeni has slotted 17 wins across the past 11 meetings as Crimson Flash collected a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million.

“It’s good going, we hit the ground running but I’ve had good support,” the Italian said. “It’s always nice to come racing with good chances and because I can ride light, it makes my job a little bit easier especially with horses like Crimson Flash, who was up in class with a light weight.

“He looks like a nice horse and the plan was to go forward, but he jumped slow but Plan B worked out.”

Atzeni’s strength and timing were apparent on both Giant Leap and A Americ Te Specso, who delivered Size’s 48th win of the campaign and a seven-win lead over David Hayes (41) with Yiu (38) next.

Newnham continued an excellent season with Fatal Blow’s impressive win in the first section of the Class 4 Dianthus Handicap (1200m) under Luke Ferraris to have 36 wins for the term, while Yiu was delighted with Giant Leap’s triumph, showing rare emotion in victory.

“It’s not often you see a horse win straight away from Class 4 to Class 3. The biggest encouragement, like I said to the jockey, he was 15 pounds lighter and he’s racing fit. He’s a very genuine horse at the Valley,” Yiu said.

“You haven’t seen the best of him yet. He’s still got something in the tank. In the closing stages, I yelled and shouted and the officials (in the weigh-in area) were surprised – they said: ‘You haven’t yelled for a long time, not even for a Group 1′.”

Richards boosted his seasonal tally to 15 wins, having endured a string of near misses with 18 seconds and 20 thirds and was clearly relieved after Iconical and Sunday’s Serenade scored under seven-time champion jockey Zac Purton.

“It’s been a pretty tough old struggle to be honest, but hopefully we can get things going again. It’s not the sort of place you want to have a lean spell in, but we’re working hard, made a few little changes and hopefully we can be strong towards the end of the season,” Richards said.

Iconical led all the way to land the first section of the Class 4 Thistle Handicap (1650m) while Sunday’s Serenade ran on strongly from the tail of the field to snare the Class 4 Ewo Challenge Trophy Handicap (1650m).

“We probably weren’t in the positions we thought we would be with both horses,” Purton said.

“With Iconical, preferably we would have liked to get cover but he came out strongly and nothing was going forward so he took himself to the front.”

“He was quite eager through the first couple of sectionals until he started to relax and in the straight, he was quite one-paced and out on his feet but he’s lightly-raced and did a good job in the circumstances and hopefully he can go on.”

“Sunday’s Serenade did the opposite. I got a little bit further back than I thought I would be and, as it turned out, the pace was strong and it suited him and he came with a strong run. He’s another one who’s turned the corner – it’s taken him a few runs – but he’s going the right way now.”

Lucky Planet swept to successive wins with a four-length romp in the second section of the Class 4 Dianthus Handicap (1200m) for Cody Mo. Urged to the front by Matthew Chadwick, the Pariah gelding ran his rivals ragged to continue the form which delivered a solid Sha Tin victory on 23 March.

Benno Yung posted his 100th winner at Happy Valley when Hong Kong International Sale (HKIS) graduate Day Day Victory finished powerfully under Alexis Badel to land the Class 5 Aster Handicap (1000m).

“That’s great,” Yung said of the milestone. “This horse is a late maturer, so I think he can still improve. He has just taken time to mature.”

Tonight’s success boosted Yung’s career tally to 354 before fellow HKIS purchase Management Folks paraded his stamina with a tough win in the Class 4 Bellflower Handicap (2200m) under Karis Teetan for David Hall.

Hong Kong racing continues with the Easter Sunday meeting at Sha Tin on 20 April.

Today's Question

Can both parents of a grey horse be non-grey?
Can two grey horses produce a non-grey offspring?

Picture: Preakness winner Seize The Grey (MillRidge.com)

FIELDS, Thursday, 17 April

Vaal

Today’s Question Answer

Grey horses must have at least one parent that also carries the grey gene to pass it on to their offspring. The grey gene is dominant, meaning a horse only needs one copy of the grey allele to become grey.

Two grey horses can produce a non-grey horse, but it’s dependent on their individual grey gene makeup. If both parents are heterozygous for the grey gene (Gg), there’s a 25% chance of producing a foal that inherits two non-grey genes (gg) and will not turn grey. Conversely, if either parent is homozygous for the grey gene (GG), all offspring will inherit the grey gene and will turn grey.

Click here to read about GREY HORSES