Turf Talk Newsletter – 23 April, 2025

The Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes is shaping up to have the best field of any race this season and considering the weights and the draws the Stuart Ferrie-trained Gladatorian could score an early Champions Season strike for KZN. (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Stuart Ferrie said training with the current rainy weather had been stop start, so he was particularly glad Gladatorian had got in the King’s Cup race.

He finished a flying neck second to Winter games in that 1600m race, which was run on March 23, and he was giving the winner 10,5kg.

Gladatorian was drawn four out of eight in the Drill Hall last season and finished a 0,55 length third behind Royal Aussie and Cousin Casey.

However, he carried topweight of 60kg due to the penalty for his Gr 2 Post Merchants win the previous season and he had to give both Royal Aussie and Cousin Casey 1,5kg.

This season he only has to carry 57kg and he receives 1,5kg from Royal Aussie, a 3kg swing, and he runs at level weights with Cousin Casey.

He is drawn six out of the 27 entries, so should get a good draw, while Cousin Casey is drawn 26 and will be returning from an injury enforced layoff.

Royal Aussie is drawn well in three.

Gimme A Prince, the highest rated horse in the country,  has drawn 19 and has to give Gladatorian 3kg.

Main Defender is one of the best 1400m horses in the country, but he has drawn 21 and has to give Gladatorian 1,5kg.

Eight On Eighteen is full of class and although this is on the sharp side for the WSB Met winner he has drawn well in five, although he has to give Gladatorian 1kg, meaning he is 3kg worse off than weight for age.

Cosmic Speed is another class three-year-old who has to give Gladatorian 1kg and he is drawn 13.

Dave The King will be a big runner if at his best, but he returns from well below par form and a long layoff and he also has to give Gladatorian 3kg.

Montien should be a big runner as an effective front runner and he is at level weights with Gladatorian, but has a draw of 14.

Cafe Cluture could be a contender too and is drawn in pole, although he has to give Gladatorian 1,5kg.

Barbaresco will be dangerous at level weights with Gladatiorian and from draw eight among the entries he could land a fair draw.

Questioning, drawn ten, is another who will be dangerous at level weights with Gladatorian.

Red Palace will receive 1kg from Gladatorian and could be a big runner too from draw nine.

Winds Of Change is a classy sort and will likely enjoy the distance, but he is drawn 17.

Three-year-old Great Plains is out at the weights, but is course and distance suited and gets 2kg from Gladatorian and is drawn well in four.

It is going to be a humdinger of a race and a signal of its quality is that if all of the entries stand their ground and the final field is chosen on merit ratings, then Gladatorian will only just scrape into the final field.

What makes Gladatorian a particularly attractive proposition is that Hollywoodbets have him out at 20/1 and 4/1 for the first four.

The entries are shown below:

Three-time Gr 1 winner Il Etait Temps might make his long overdue seasonal reappearance at Sandown on Saturday and if he does he could help Willie Mullins clinch a second successive British jumps racing Champion Trainer title after what is currently an enthralling duel with Dan Skelton. (Picture: Sky Sports Racing).

Last season Willie Mullins became the first Irish trainer since Vincent O’Brien in 1954 to become  British jumps racing Champion Trainer and there is a chance a horse running in the Hollywood Racing colours could clinch it for him in the thrilling duel for the title this season, which ends on Saturday.

Mullins has won the equivalent Irish title 17 times.

He had the fraction of winners that second-placed Dan Skelton had last season, but the title is decided on prize money and as Mullins is the most successful Cheltenham Festival trainer in history he is now putting himself into contention for the British title every year.

This year’s title is particularly thrilling and will go down to the wire.

This morning (Wednesday) before racing started Dan Skelton was on £3,285,030 gleaned from 173 wins and Mullins was on prize money of £3,232,253 gleaned from 33 wins, a difference of £52,777.

However, Mullins had a big team racing around the UK today (Wednesday) and he added two victories at Perth to his tally, earning £22,780 and £18,726.50 respectively.

Skelton fought back by winning the fifth race at Perth, but it was only for earnings of £8,713.65.

However, Mullins has four horses entered in the Gr 1 Celebration Chase over one mile 7 furlongs and 99 yards at Sandown on Saturday where the winner gets £99,662. Among the entries is the three-time Gr 1-winning Il Etait Temps, who runs in the Hollywood Racing colours and they own him in partnership with the Kieswetter family’s Barnane Stud. Il Etait Temps has had issues this season and if he does run it will be his reappearance.

Skelton has six horses entered in this race, but Mullins has a stronger hand with ten-times Gr 1-winning chaser Jonbon entered as well as three-time Gr 1-winning chaser Gaelic Warrior and twice Gr 1-winning chaser Impaire Et Passe, whilst Skelton’s leading hope is probably Gr 2 winner Boombawn.

Mullins also has seven horses entered in a Gr 2 chase at the Sandown meeting where the winner gets  £45,560 and he has no fewer than 15 horses entered in an expensive handicap chase where the winner gets £98,472.

He has four entered in a Gr 2 Hurdle, including the seven-time Gr 1-winning Lossiemouth, where the winner gets  £45,560.

He has entries in two class 2 races at the meeting worth £20,812 and  £18,210 to the winner respectively.

Skelton has multiple entries in all of those races too, but likely does not have as strong a hand.

However, he does have runners around the country on Thursday and Friday this week and will be hoping to arrive at the Sandown meeeting on Saturday with a substantially bigger lead than he has now.

Picture credit: Hattie Austin / focusonracing.com

Rachel Venniker had what she described as a “soft fall” on Friday on the sand at the starting stalls at Summerveld, but unfortunately her leg hit one of the curb stones that keeps the sand in from the side and snapped her tibia (shin bone).

Fortunately it is a clean break, which makes the prognosis a touch better.

However, she is provisionally out for six months, although the prognosis might shorten depending on how well the bone heals.

As it is a major bone in the leg rehabilitation will be required after the bone is mended.

She had an operation after the incident to insert a rod-like pin.

She said, “Thank goodness the surgeon who worked on me (Dr Michiel Ter Haar) is a sportsman himself, a very good cyclist, so he said he is going to make sure I come back ‘A’ ‘Ok’”.

Rachel is on crutches but times have changed since the old days of plaster of paris casts.

She said, “The rod-pin keeps the bone straight and I have a brace kind of thing on my foot in which the front bit is squidgy but the back part is hard in order to keep the foot at a 90 degree angle.

There is just soft bandage around the shin. He is more worried about keeping the flex in all my joints. He said when moving around I should just pop my toe on the floor, so I can get a little bit of weight bearing on it as this will help the blood flow around the injury. It is almost like a horse with an abscess, the more blood flow, the quicker the healing. But the main thing is this new methodology prevents the tendons from shortening. In the old days when they used to cast everyone, you take the cast off and you can’t straighten your leg!”

On the fall itself she said it was a fall of a magnitude one would normally just get up from straight away and walk away, but unfortunately she fell on to the supporting curb stones.

She said, “She gave like a little fly jump and then just sort of sidestepped a bit, so it was literally I just lost my balance and sort of flopped off. It was unlucky that I went a bit more to the side of the track than I should have and I must have fallen on that side. When you’re falling, you don’t really want to get underneath them, so I must have just shifted a bit more so that I didn’t get kicked or anything and just fell straight on to the stones.”

She is philosophical about the accident and said it was “just one of those things” and she will stay busy by helping out at the Roberts yard.

She said, “I actually popped in this morning, I got my mum to give me a lift on her way to work. I gave the horses some carrots. They were all very happy to see me. They were surprisingly not as afraid of my crutches as I thought they would be. In fact they loved them. I’ve got like a squidgy thing on the handle, so that my hands don’t get sore, and they all just wanted to put it in their mouths.”
However, she did lament some of the good rides she will be missing.

That includes Glastonbury, a classy Paul Matchett-trained Rafeef filly she was due to ride in the Gr 3 TAB Pretty Polly Stakes over 1100m at Turffontein Standside this Saturday.

The one she was most looking forward to riding again was the exciting Roberts-trained Fire Away colt Fortress Of Fire, who won his 1200m debut at Hollywoodbets Scottsville by 3,30 lengths in effortless fashion. He is running in the Gr 3 Tote Godolphin Barb Stakes over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.

Although, she will be disappointed to not be aboard she was glad to know Andrew Fortune had taken over the ride.

She felt his style in which he is not hard on a horse and uses the whip sparingly would suit Fortress Of Fire.

Tenango, pictured winning the Champagne Stakes with consummate ease, was highlighted in the Sporting Post’s sectional timing analysis column this week and the Candice Bass-Robinsin-trained sprinter is turining out to be a stalwart for owner Ian Longmore. (Picture: Wayne Marks

Click here to read the SP’s sectional timing column highlighting Tenango

Handicapping Ratings Update  (NHA Press Release)

CHAMPAGNE STAKES (Grade 3)

TENANGO’S official merit rating has been increased from 104 to 118 following his impressive win in the Grade 3 Champagne Stakes over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Monday. The Handicappers deemed the fourth-place finisher, SILVER FALCON, the most suitable line horse to assess the race, leaving his rating unchanged at 109.

The runner-up, GEM KING, was the only other horse besides the winner to receive a ratings increase, going up from 108 to 115.

Two horses received merit rating drops following the contest: SEEKING THE STARS went down from 123 to 121, while LION RAMPART was reduced from 111 to 110.

Enquiries:

The Handicapping Team

Heavyliesthecrown wins easing up on debut under S’Manga Khumalo (JC Photos).

Turffontein Inside Thursday Formguides and Selections

RACE 1

3 BRIGHT AND BRAZEN 2 BACK FROM WAR 5 MATCHA MINT 7 SHIMMERING

Preview: 3 BRIGHT AND BRAZEN has run two good races against better opposition than this and is drawn in pole over an ideal distance. 2 BACK FROM WAR is not far off Bright and Brazen on form lines. 5 MATCHA MINT made a fair debut and should be in the shake-up. 7 SHIMMERING is by The United States out of an Oratorio mare and is a half-brother to a horse who won second time out. (David Thiselton 3-2-5-7)

RACE 2

4 GEOSTORM 9 VIPINGO 8 PRINCESS KEIRA 1 ALPHA WORLD

Preview: 4 GEOSTORM is by Buffalo Bill Cody and is a half-brother to city by the Sea and full brother to Buffalo Storm Cody. 9 VIPINGO has run two good races and has a good draw over a suitable trip. 8 PRINCESS KEIRA has not been disgraced against much better company and should be in the shake-up. 1 ALPHA WORLD is by One World out of a Querari mare and is drawn in pole with S’Manga Khumalo up. (David Thiselton 4-9-8-4)

RACE 3

7 CONCORDIA 2 WINDS OF GRACE 3 MILO’S MILLIONAIRE 1 ON A JET PLANE

Preview: 7 CONCORDIA  jumps from a good draw with Gavin Lerena up and should improve over this trip. 2 WINDS OF GRACE  has a tricky draw to overcome but does have a form chance here. 3 MILO’S MILLIONAIRE has shown some form and could earn from a good draw with Craig Zackey up.  1 ON A JET PLANE disappointed last time but if that run is ignored she could earn her. (David Thiselton 7-2-3-1)

RACE 4

8 MIGHTY EAGLE 2 CURTISS CONDOR 6 AMANATTO 5 GOLDEN ALEXIA

Preview: 8 MIGHTY EAGLE is only a two-year-old but has run two decent races and the form of his last third place finish was franked so he could be the one to beat despite a difficult draw and having to face older horses.2 CURTISS CONDOR made a good debut and should improve with his step up in trip although he has a difficult draw to overcome. 6 AMANATTO is never far off them and from a good draw should be in the shake-up. 5 GOLDEN ALEXIA has run some decent races and from pole position should earn. (David Thiselton 8-2-6-5)

RACE 5

3 TOO LATE MY MATE 5 GLAMOROUS LADY 2 SOLDIER’S EYE 7 I AM REGAL

Preview: 3 TOO LATE MY MATE is drawn in pole over a suitable trip and should be the one to beat. 5 GLAMOROUS LADY is knocking on the door and has a good draw here again over a trip she should relish. 2 SOLDIER’S EYE is in good form and should be running on after being dropped out from a tricky draw. 7 I AM REGAL bounced back with a good effort last time and from a good draw could be in the shake-up. (David Thiselton 3-5-2-1)

RACE 6

4 SECRET RECIPE 3 WAGRAM 6 STREISAND 5 TANA MAREE

Preview: 4 SECRET RECIPE won well last time over this trip and from a fair draw off a four-point high mark and with Muzi Yeni staying aboard she could repeat. 3 WAGRAM won in her second start on the Highveld and comes into this race with a reasonable merit rating and she is drawn in pole over an ideal trip. 6 STREISAND  has been in good form and over an ideal trip is drawn well. 5 TANA MAREE won well in the maidens and was scratched last time at the start for coughing but seems to be well regarded and could be thereabouts. (David Thiselton 4-3-6-5)

RACE 7

5 MANZ KNIGHT 6 GAMER 4 WHISPERS OF WAR 2 CARNELO

Preview: 5 MANZ KNIGHT should have an opportunity here from a good draw over a suitable trip as he is usually thereabouts. 6 GAMER has been in good form and can run on after being dropped out from a wide draw. 4 WHISPERS OF WAR should be right there if repeating his best form over this trip. 2 CARNELO is well drawn and having gone close over 1800 meters before should be able to see out this 2000m trip. (David Thiselton 5-6-4-2)

RACE 8

4 HEAVYLIESTHECROWN 5 THERES A LIGHT 7 ONE PARTY

Preview: 4 HEAVYLIESTHECROWN won impressively on debut and could still be anything although she does have a tricky draw this time over the same course and distance. 5 THERES A LIGHT ran well over 1400 meters last time and from a fair draw could earn here. 7 ONE PARTY went close last time over 1100 meters and has a fair draw here so should be in the shake-up. (David Thiselton 4-5-7)

RACE 9

7 THERE SHE GOES 4 VITELLIUS 1 LAVA FIRE 9 SAHARA DAWN

Preview: 7 THERE SHE GOES  is in fine form but has a tough draw to overcome here. 4 VITELLIUS was facing stronger over further last season but was not disgraced over this trip after a long layoff and Gavin Lerena is an eye-catching booking. 1 LAVA FIRE has been facing stronger and with a 2,5kg claimer up off a reduced merit rating could earn here. 9 SAHARA DAWN has a form chance in this line up with Zackey up. (David Thiselton 7-4-1-9)

Picture: Frantastic

Cape Breeders

Hopes And Dreams Stud’s resident sire Frantastic had a handsome boost to his pedigree when his full-sister Queen Of Thieves won as she liked at Yarmouth on Tuesday.

A three-year-old daughter of Frankel and the Pivotal mare Rhadegunda, Queen Of Thieves romped home to land Tuesday’s Weekend Winners On Sky Sports Racing Maiden Fillies’ Stakes by an emphatic 11 lengths.

Trained by John and Thady Gosden, the three-year-old, making her third start on Tuesday, may be aimed at the Listed Cheshire Oaks.

Frantastic and Queen Of Thieves are full siblings to four time G1 winner Cracksman.

The latter, whose progeny include unbeaten champion Ace Impact, was Champion Sire in France in 2023.

Cracksman’s lightly raced full-brother Frantastic, who won twice in a brief career, is a direct descendant of legendary racemare and producer Mumtaz Mahal.

The Polly Gundry-trained Lossiemouth (left) could face off against her Grade 1-winning namesake on Saturday

Sandown’s jumps finale is set to be an intense conclusion to the trainers’ title race between Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton, but it could also feature a commentator’s nightmare if Lossiemouth – and Lossiemouth – both line up in the bet365 Select Hurdle.

The Mullins-trained Cheltenham Festival winner will be a strong favourite to beat her Polly Gundry-trained 129-rated rival of the same name in the Grade 2 event and is one of 38 entries Mullins has made at Sandown as he bids to win the British trainers’ championship for the second time.

Simon Holt, who has been commentating for almost 40 years, said the race had the potential to throw up something “very, very rare”. No race in Britain has featured two horses competing with the same name since an Irish-bred Averti took on a US-bred namesake in a conditions race at Yarmouth in 1994, with the pair finishing fifth and sixth. The same scenario occurred in Ireland three years ago when two Sierra Nevadas took on each other in a fillies’ maiden at Gowran Park.

Holt said: “I haven’t thought too much about it yet but my thinking is to call Polly Gundry’s horse the other Lossiemouth and keep it as simple as that. I could look at going the Mullins Lossiemouth and the Gundry Lossiemouth but the other Lossiemouth might work best, if that’s not too insulting.

“I’ve never had anything like this before, unless I’ve forgotten, but the other commentators might have. We’ve had duplication and repeated names but it is very rare that they run against each other. The other quirky one I remember was the horse called George Baker, trained by George Baker, a few years ago.”

Holt called home numerous Mullins and Dan Skelton winners as Plumpton proved a key battleground in the trainers’ title over Easter weekend and he said Absurde was “possibly the best horse to have ever run at Plumpton” after his impressive win in the Sussex Champion Hurdle.

“Plumpton was great and the trainers’ title certainly lifted the levels of interest,” he added. “That said, there were a few mumbles of discontent about Mullins coming in and almost gatecrashing the title. There’s plenty to think about around this.

“Sandown should be great on Saturday and a very fitting finale to the jumps season.”

What was the SA Fillies Sprint originally called and which top sprinter won it twice under its original name?

The picture gives a clue.