Ian Longmore's Care And Patience Pays Dividends
The right laryngeal nerve has a simple route, branching off from the vagus nerve, which comes from the brain, and travelling directly to the larynx.
However, the left laryngeal nerve instead must travel all the way to the heart, where it wraps around a large pulsing artery, before coming all the way back to the larynx. It is the longest nerve in the horse’s body and so it stands to reason that it is commonly damaged.
The most common cause of any abnormal respiratory sound is idiopathic left laryngeal hemiplegia (paralysis of the left side of the larynx).
This condition is caused by degeneration of the nerve that supplies the left side muscles of the larynx.
The left side of the larynx consequently “hangs” inward, instead of moving in and out in symmetry with the right side.
Anecdotal evidence from an experienced trainer a few year ago suggested that wind ops on this problem only had about a 50/50 success rate.
One of the problems was when a horse stood up after surgery they could injure themselves or any implants in the operated area could become dislodged.
Tenango was a victim of this breathing disorder and Ian decided to send him to Syrilla Stud for the wind operation and for recuperation.
Tiaan Ellis, stud manager of Syrilla Stud, said, “It was suggested by Dr. Andrew Gray he had to come to the farm for a while before the op so he can just relax and settle down. As Candice Bass-Robinson has mentioned in interviews he was quite a nervy horse and he wasn’t a happy horse, so he came to the farm and we settled him down beautifully. The difference in the wind op procedure was basically that they did it with the horse standing up. I think there was an implant to hold the tie back in place. Then after that he had another almost six months recovery on the farm. We do things a bit differently and give a lot of attention to the horses. We had to hand walk him around the block, because he wasn’t allowed outside to get any dust. So we even hand walked him at night sometimes just to allow him time out of his stable. He also had nasal flushes and was given other attention. He recovered absolutely like a bomb. He changed completely as well from a nervous horse to a happy horse and a very easy horse to work with. It is such a relaxed, no rush environment and he calmed down completely.”
The professionalism employed and the patience displayed has paid handsome dividends as Tenango’s record since the op is seven starts for five wins and two seconds.
Candice Bass-Robinson spoke about his change in demeanour in the winner’s interview on Saturday and said, “He hasn’t been to Hollywoodbets Scottsville, but he is just a consummate professional, he has just got such a wonderful temperament and takes everything in his stride.”
Mark Bass is also a part-owner of Tenango and explained how that came about, “I’m fortunate enough to call Ian a very good friend of mine, we’ve been together at Bass Racing for about 23 years now, and we played a round of golf a few weeks ago and he said, ‘Why don’t you join me for the ride (with Tenango)?’ and I said, ‘I couln’t be more honoured’, so thank you to Ian and Debbie.”
The bay has an exceptional turn of foot and Ian said,” Andrew Fortune, he is quite character, he told us, ‘The horse was saying to me, can we go yet, can we go yet?!'”
Ridgemont have always believed in Canford Cliffs, who won five Gr 1s in succession in Britain and Ireland before being beaten by Frankel in his final start.
He has been firing this season and is just outside the top ten on the national sires log.
The part of Tenango’s story where no luck is involved is Tenango’s transformation in happiness and performance after time was taken to sort out his issues.
The Gr 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the last day of the season seems the obvious target for Tenango whose merit rating was raised from 118 to 126 and the Gr 2 Post Mechants on Hollywodbets Durban July day is also a possibility.
Mia Moo Up To 117, Tenango Up To 126
Mia Moo (orange and blue quartered cap) prevailed by a whisker in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
Handicapping Ratings Update (NHA Press Release)
SOUTH AFRICAN FILLIES SPRINT (Grade 1) brought to you by The Witness
MIA MOO’S official merit rating has been adjusted to 117 from 115 following her victory in the Grade 1 South African Fillies Sprint, brought to you by The Witness, for fillies and mares over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the view that the runner-up, ASIYE PHAMBILI, was the most suitable horse to assess the race, leaving her rating unchanged at 116.The following horses also had their merit ratings increased based the official margins behind the 116-rated line horse at level weight terms:
Third-place finisher, MRS BROWNING, was raised to 115 from 113.
Fourth-place finisher, CHASING HAPPINESS, was adjusted to 115 from 112.
The ratings of the following runners have been adjusted to reflect improved performances. However, the Handicappers considered the close finish—where the top ten horses were separated by just 2.50 lengths—which may have led to an inflated assessment of those finishing outside the placings. As a result, the increases listed below were not full adjustments.
WHISTLE THE TUNE was raised to 109 from 105.
FROZEN FANTASY was adjusted to 107 from 99.
MAI SENSATION went up to 106 from 105.
There were no ratings drops for any runners in this race.
GOLDEN HORSE SPRINT (Grade 2)
The official merit rating for TENANGO has been increased from 118 to 126 following his impressive victory in the Grade 2 Golden Horse Sprint over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. The fourth-place finisher, TRUTH, was selected as the line horse for evaluating the race, with his rating remaining unchanged at 116.
The merit ratings for both the runner-up and third-placed finishers were also increased. O’TENIKWA, who finished second, had his rating raised from 110 to 115, while KING OF THE GAULS, in third place, had his rating adjusted from 109 to 111.
Three horses received merit rating reductions following this contest:
FUTURE VARIETY was lowered to 110 from 112.
MELECH was reduced to 118 from 119.
ANFIELDS ROCKET went down to 109 from 112.
Enquiries:
The Handicapping Team
70 Years On From Tiger Wright's Record-breaking July Win
Picture: Harold “Tiger” Wright lands what was at the time a record-breaking fourth July victory on Preto’s Crown in 1955, a feat which has since been surpassed only by Anton Marcus and equalled by Anthony Delpech and Piere Strydom.
70 years ago in July 1955 Harold “Tiger” Wright became the first jockey to ride a fourth July winner when he brought home the George Azzie-trained 12/1 shot Preto’s Crown to an easy victory.
The late Jay August made some wonderful contributions to racing, including an analysis of statistics to aid with race programming and handicapping and much more, but he also kept an archive of South African racing history in a website called https://southafricanracehorse.wordpress.com/
It is an apt time to reproduce the below article which was archived within the aforementined website.
Title: Harold “Tiger” Wright (1921-1995)
By Alan Breck – SA Racehorse magazine – July 1973 – pgs 78-79
The phrase, “a legend in his lifetime”, particularly when applied to sportsmen and athletes, is used thoughtlessly and, in my opinion, can only be employed in reference to fewer than half-a-dozen who have graced the sporting scene in South Africa during the present century. And, at the head of that very select list I would place Harold William Wright who, since the death of his greatest rival, Harold “Cocky” Feldman in 1950, and his own retirement from race riding in 1964 was the dominant personality on the South African Turf.
A youthful Tiger Wright as an apprentice
Toss in an ejaculation like “Benny” or “Graeme” into any sporting conversation, and it would be necessary to add Osler or Pollock before the significance of the reference penetrated the full awareness of the listener. But just mention the word “Tiger”, even in a company of present day racegoers, the younger of whom may never have seen Wright in the saddle, and I’ll wager that not one would ask for an explanation of identity.
In the course of a career which extended over some twenty years Wright rode well over 2 000 winners. This magic figure, which possibly only Charlie Barends and the still active Stanley Amos have also attained on South African tracks, was hoisted when “Tiger” got the filly Effort first past the post at Turffontein on March 14th, 1959. He was champion jockey on eleven occasions, not only in opposition to the seven times champion H. Feldman, but against colleagues of such calibre as Charlie Barends, Johnny Westwater, Bert Sage, George Patmore, the late J. “Snowy” Martin, A. de la Rey, the then much younger Johnny McCreedy, Joe Byrnes, Stanley Amos, H. (Johnny) Cawcutt, Duncan Alexander, Harry Berry, Basil Lewis and Vic McMurtry.
It was rivalry of a quality and far greater intensity than the more recent champions, Gerald Turner and Raymond Rhodes, have encountered, or are likely to encounter in the foreseeable future. Earlier such as Cyril (Bunky) Buckham, George (Ticky) Nicoll, Ike Strydom, Leslie Hammon, Fred Maisch, Teddy Jacobie, W. Rugg, Paynie Bundy, Ted Shaw, Cecil Ray, Eric McMurtry, Leon Fernandez, E. Lariviere, Cecil Bowles and, for a short spell, Syd Garrett had been leading knights of the pigskin, both here and overseas, but, taken by and large, the standard of riding in the decade following the cessation of hostilities in World War Il was, collectively, the brightest in South Africa’s racing history.
Wright congratulates Charlie Barends on his crowning as South African champion jockey in 1956.
The rivalry between Feldman and Wright was intense with both claiming a following of punters fanatical in their adherence. On balance the older and more forceful Feldman (appropriately nicknamed “Cocky”) was the more successful in that, between 1941 and 1949 he was champion six times as against Wright’s two. Between them they monopolised the championship, but with the difference that Feldman never hesitated to dash off to a minor meeting (he gained one championship by riding six winners in one day at Port Elizabeth) whereas Wright remained loyal to his employers.
Initially apprenticed to the late R. (Bob) Whiteford at a time when, in the 1930’s, the latter had private stabling near the Kenilworth racecourse in the Cape, Wright finished his apprenticeship with the late Walter Krog in Johannesburg. Bob Whiteford, father of the present highly successful Natal trainer R. “Sonny” Whiteford, was himself a jockey of considerable achievement. It is on record that he twice rode six winners in one day at Cape Town meetings.
It is also notable that, in addition to Wright, Walter Krog also had a hand in shaping the career of Charlie Barends as a fledgling jockey.
Like Feldman a year or so before him Wright was unsuccessful as a young apprentice (which bears out the contention that the quality of riding and the fierceness of the competition was particularly high in those days) and it was not until December 10th 1936 that he rode his first winner.
Appropriately this was in a feature event- the Chairman’s Cup Handicap at Germiston – and was gained on the filly Jane Hoo trained by George Azzie for the late J. H. Webster.
Wright in the unsaddling enclosure after another of his 2454 wins in South Africa
From that red-letter day Wright’s career pointed only one way -forward. Three seasons later he was champion jockey for the first time with, again to show the keenness of the competition, a total of only 69 winners. In six of the next seven seasons Feldman, an unremitting hunter for mounts with outstanding chances, deprived Wright of the championship.
At this point a comparison of the riding styles of Feldman and Wright is not out of place. Both were fortunate in that they were natural lightweights. Of the two Feldman was by far the more forceful, possibly the quicker thinker in an emergency, and extremely effective in a close finish. A bustling, live wire personality Feldman would, in the pursuit of victory, go for openings which a more cautious jockey would disdain.
Wright was the more stylish rider and, perhaps, a slightly better judge of pace than Feldman. Always perfectly balanced in complete co-ordination with his mount. Wright hated the use of the whip. Only as a last resort was the “stick” brought into action and, to those who knew his style of riding best, a sign that the prospects of success were fading.
Both were masters of their craft. The tragically sudden death of Harold Feldman—he collapsed after riding track work at Turffontein on the morning of April 4th 1950 – not only deprived South Africa currently most successful jockey, but made it easier for colleagues he left behind to ride winners.
As a natural corollary from then existing circumstances “Tiger” profited most. Such was the demand for his services that in the 1949-50 season he had no fewer than 731 mounts nearly 200 more than in his previous season – and from which he obtained the South African seasonal record of 175 winners.
Seven years later (1956—57) “Tiger” had 759 mounts and is the only jockey to have topped the 700 mark in one season’s work on South African tracks. His record number of winners (175) in the 1949—50 season is likely to stand for all time. So, too, is his achievement of riding 158 winners from 613 mounts an average of 25,77 per cent—in the following season.
Johnny McCreedy (1952—53) and Charlie Barends (1955-56) interrupted “Tiger’s” run of success in the championship which, after the death of Feldman, he won nine times in eleven years.
When “Tiger” retired to take up training in 1964 he had ridden not only well over 2 000 winners but had been successful in every feature event on Transvaal, Cape and Natal tracks bar one. The exception was the Gold Cup Handicap at Greyville which evaded him just as the July Handicap had escaped Charlie Barends since his one and only victory in 1938. Although he failed to win it outright Wright was placed on no fewer than eight occasions in the Cup, including a third on Brookhill who fell lame with the race apparently at his mercy in 1947.
Wright and Brookhill being led in by Len Oates after winning the 1947 Durban July Handicap.
Of the three other major handicaps, the “July”, Summer and “Met” he won the Greyville race four times in the order of Silver Phantom (1942), Brookhill (1947), Milesia Pride (1949) and Preto’s Crown (1955). The Johannesburg Summer Handicap yielded him victories on Cape Heath, who deadheated with Danny Boy in 1946, Nagaina Hall in 1954, Java in 1956 and again in 1958, and White Foam in 1960.
“Tiger” won the Cape Metropolitan at Kenilworth twice and in so doing established a sequence which may never be equalled. In those days, prior to the mid 1940’s, the Metropolitan had always been run in October. In that month of 1946 “Tiger” had won the race on the filly Bovidae and within a week or two the Executive of the South African Turf Club decided to reform their annual programme and defer the Metropolitan to January. Thus, within another three months another Metropolitan Handicap came up for decision. “Tiger” also won this – on the imported colt Thorium, who was a “maiden” at the time – and so achieved the singular feat of winning the same major handicap twice in one season.
That Bovidae was the only filly to have the “Met” at that stage – and remained unique in that respect until Renounce came along twenty years later – and that Thorium was recording the first victory of his career added to the rarity of the sequence.
Another little-known anecdote concerning “Tiger” is how he just missed riding a Derby winner at Epsom. It was on the second of what I think were the only two visits he made to Britain (1947 and 1961) that he was offered the mount on the French bred and trained Psidium at Epsom. At that time under contract to the late Charles Engelhard Wright was on the point of return to the Republic when he was approached to ride Psidium. Although his presence in Johannesburg was desired for the Winter meeting at Turffontein permission for “Tiger” to remain in Britain would readily have been granted had the Derby offer been for something better credentialled than Psidium. In the circumstances Wright considered that Turffontein was more attractive than Epsom and so he declined the ride on Psidium.
It is history how, with French jockey R. Poincelet in the saddle Psidium (a half-brother to the locally based stallion Thymus) confounded the book of form, and everybody except the bookmakers, by coming from last in the straight to win at the odds of 66/1. And that’s how “Tiger” missed being the first South African born jockey to ride a winner of the Derby at Epsom.
Just before his retirement from the saddle I asked “Tiger” what he considered to be the best horse he had ever ridden. After due reflection he came up with Silver Phantom, an imported grey gelding trained by the late Ted Shaw, who gave both trainer and jockey a notable double in the July and Clairwood Winter Handicaps of 1942. Only Mowgli (A. R. Ellis and B. Lewis) in 1952 and Sea Cottage (S. Laird and R. Sivewright) 1967 have accomplished the same double in the same season.
Silver Phantom, 1942 Durban July winner, and rated by Wright as the best horse he rode
Silver Phantom was undoubtedly a stylish racehorse – he accounted for the South African bred champion Lenin in both the July and Winter Handicaps – and the fact that he was a gelding was an incalculable loss to the breeding industry of this country. He was by Easton (second to Windsor Lad and ahead of the hot favourite Colombo in the Epsom Derby of 1934) from that great race mare Myrobella, who later became the dam of Big Game.
Towards the end of his riding career “Tiger”, who will be 52 in July this year, became more and more enamoured of the thought of training and breeding in Natal. To this end he leased a property at Lion’s River and took his last ride on Nagaina’s Son (unplaced) at Greyville on 7th November 1964.
His last winner was on Bright Herald at Clairwood on 17th October 1964. Two races earlier he had scored on King Bruce, and it was fitting that both winners should be trained by his ex-riding colleague Eddie Harvey in the colours of Jack Stubbs and Barry Wilson, respectively.
Like several top-class jockeys before him, notably George Patmore, Basil Lewis and Vic McMurtry, “Tiger” found that the training of thoroughbreds required a completely different approach than did the riding of them in races. As a trainer he was not a success, and it occasioned no surprise when, shortly before the sudden death of his wife Barbara in February this year he had turned their horses over to R. “Sonny” Whiteford for stabling at Summerveld.
Trainer Wright with jockey Kenny Michel
Thus, the start, as an apprentice jockey, and his intimate association with thoroughbreds as an owner, began and ended for H. W. Wright with the Whiteford family.
——-oooOooo——-
Lerena Closes Gap On Fourie With Treble
Gavin Lerena clinches his treble on the smart Tony Peter-trained Buffalo Storm Cody, who made it three wins in succession. (JC Photos)
Richard Fourie was in devastating form over the weekend wih a treble at Fairview on Friday, a treble at Hollywodbets Scottsville on aturday and a treble at Hollywoodbets Kenlworth on Sunday which saw him opening up a gap of ten wins on seccond-placed Gavin Lerena in the national jockeys championship.
However, Lerena closed the gap to seven with a treble at Turffontein Standside today (Tuesday).
Fourie is on 224 wins for the season achieved at a strike rate of 26.23%.
Lerena is on 217 at 25.59.
Craig Zackey had one win today and is on 212 at 17.49%.
Denis Schwarz had a double today and is on 34 wins for the season at 6.16%.
Delacroix Still In Pole Position To Lead Ballydoyle Derby Charge
Delacroix looks increasingly likely to be Ryan Moore’s Derby ride. (Sky Sports Racing)
Big-race decision looming for Ryan Moore.
At The Races
Ryan Moore appears increasingly likely to side with Delacroix over stablemate The Lion In Winter in Saturday’s Betfred Derby, with a final decision on his Epsom mount to be made before Wednesday lunchtime.
The Lion In Winter spent the winter months at the head of ante-post lists for the premier Classic, and while an interrupted spring campaign and a sixth-place finish on his Dante Stakes comeback dented his reputation, the Sea The Stars colt has remained prominent in the betting.
However, Delacroix – who has impressed in winning each of his two starts at Leopardstown so far this season – hardened as Derby favourite after trainer Aidan O’Brien said last week “I would imagine Ryan will find it hard not to ride him”.
On a media Zoom call hosted by the Jockey Club on Tuesday, O’Brien was again asked if he expected Moore to side with the son of Dubawi, and said: “I think so, it’s very hard to know and obviously he doesn’t have to make up his mind until 1pm tomorrow.
“Ryan will always ride the horse he thinks he has the best chance, that’s always been his way regardless and that’s the way it has to be.
“Ryan rides the horse we think is going to win, sometimes we’re right and sometimes we’re wrong, but he looks at their ability, where they are the suitability of the horse for the race and tries to get on the one he thinks is going to win.
“Obviously no one gets that right all the time, so we’ll just have to see how it goes.”
On whether he would try to sway Moore in one direction or another, he added: “No, I think you have to be very clear thinking all the time, you have to make calculated decisions all the time and you can’t let your heart rule your head. That’s what we always try to do really.”
O’Brien plans to fire a three-pronged assault in his bid for an 11th Derby success, with Delacroix and The Lion In Winter set to be joined by Chester Vase winner Lambourn. Wayne Lordan and Colin Keane will ride the two horses passed over by Moore.
Delacroix has been ridden positively in his last couple of races and O’Brien expects similar tactics to be employed this weekend, saying: “I’d imagine so, that will be Ryan’s decision if he rides him. He’s a straightforward horse and uncomplicated we think, so I would imagine if he does ride him he’ll probably ride him forward. He’ll decide that himself when the gates open.
“His sister by Galileo (Grateful) got a mile and six (furlongs) well and as everybody knows he’s by Dubawi. You never know until you do it, but we always thought there was a good chance that he would get the mile and a half.”
While The Lion In Winter appears likely to line up as the Ballydoyle second string, O’Brien believes he will take a big step forward from his Dante performance.
He added: “We think he’s made good progress since York, which we obviously thought he would. He was only just ready to start that day and you’re probably better off in a trial knowing that you’re going to come forward and everything goes wrong, rather than running in a trial when you think you’re fit and everything goes right.
“He was a bit fresh and a bit behind fitness-wise but everything has gone well since, we got a run into him, it looked like he was going to get a mile and a quarter well, he got a little bit of interference in the straight and Ryan looked after him. If he hadn’t got that he might have been third and if he hadn’t have run a little bit keen early he might have been closer.
“This is only going to be his second run and you’d imagine whatever he does he’s going to come forward again.”
The trainer will also be triple handed in Friday’s Betfred Oaks, with Cheshire Oaks winner Minnie Hauk, Lingfield Oaks Trial scorer Giselle and Musidora Stakes victor Whirl appearing three of the biggest threats to Charlie Appleby’s 1000 Guineas heroine Desert Flower.
“I’d imagine Ryan will probably ride Minnie Hauk, but obviously that could change if he changes his mind tomorrow,” O’Brien revealed.
“We liked her last year, she had two runs and won the second time. She’s a lovely, straightforward filly and we think she’s come forward loads from Chester.”
On the importance of the two Epsom Classics, the trainer said: “They’re obviously vital, it’s where the whole thoroughbred breed is gauged.
“The Derby and the Oaks are the most important races for colts and fillies of the year and for the three-year-old generation.”
Future Flo Looks Good To Go
Future Flo is in fine form and can record a fifth career win. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
Andrew Harrison (Race Coast)
Punters face a competitive card when racing switches to the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday.
The highest rated race is the eighth, a Middle Stakes event over 1000m. Future Flo has hardly put a foot wrong since winning his maiden and reverting to sprints. He is over his optimum distance and should put in another bold showing. Connery was back to his best when a comfortable winner last time out. He only got a three-point raise in the handicap and can go in again. Jet Legacy started favourite in the race won by Connery, finishing two lengths back. They meet on the same terms so the result should be confirmed. Ibhele has been threatening for some time now and can surprise. He has a light weight and the best of the draw.
The race that will attract most attention is the first leg of the Pick 6, race four on the nine-race card, where Cherry Oh Baby will attempt to snap her string of runners-up placings.
She has finished second in her last five starts and a beaten favourite at her last two. Jockey Andrew Fortune came in for a ton of criticism for his ride on Mike and Mathew De Kock’s filly, believing that he had been caught napping by the faster finishing and well supported Long Street over 1400m. Whatever your opinion, there is an enquiry pending but this longer 1800m trip could finally see her into the winner’s circle although she does take on males.
MJ Odendaal saddles O Space O who makes his poly debut and does seem better than his last two with his best recent effort in the soft. Sanbeenee also takes on males but was a narrowly beaten second over course and distance last time out and should feature again. Takeyourbestshot looks held by Cherry Oh Baby on their last meeting but the gelding does appear to be coming to hand.
The card features a host of lower division handicaps starting in the fifth where Richardthefearless could help out. Frank Robinson’s gelding found good market support last run but lacked finish. Craig Zackey stays with the ride and he gets first time blinkers that could see further improvement. Future Saint was a well beaten favourite last start but still garnered a three-point rise in the handicap. He has been knocking at the door and this trip should suit. Bally Magic has improved in cheek pieces and was a close-up second last run back on the poly and is a must inclusion in all exotic bets.
In the sixth, One Path was much improved with a tongue-tie last time out. This will be her third run after a long break and she goes well on the poly. The unknown is Meritorious who was rested after a poor second run with no explanation given. She has since changed stable and has her first outing for Alyson Wright but won well enough one debut to suggest that she has some ability. Skytrix was narrowly beaten last start and Mike Miller’s charge appears to have come to hand again. Visiting Corne Spies sends out We Will Rock You who showed signs of a return to form last outing. She is useful on her day and with a 1.5kg claimer aboard she could prove dangerous on her poly debut.
The seventh is another competitive handicap where many of the main protagonists met last time out. Sky Velocity and My True Love meet again. Sky Velocity romped home in her first start for her new stable. She had consistent Fairview form prior to that. However, My True Love is 2.5kg better off and has the better draw so can turn the tables. Miss Paget finished third in that same race and is now 5.5kg better off with Sky Velocity taking her 4kg claiming apprentice into account. Noodsberg started favourite for the race finishing 3.70 lengths back and is 2kg better off with Sky Velocity. All four look capable.
The final leg of the Pick 6 is a minefield with plenty in with chances. Kom Naidoo saddles Andy Coogle who is back on his favourite surface and showed up well last time out. Masterbling enjoyed the poly last run and was touched off in a tight finish. He can go one better. Warrior Of Royalty has a tricky draw but gets 4kg relief from the saddle and has a strong money chance. Trafalgar Square seldom runs a poor race and his recent form is consistent. He should enjoy this surface as he tries for his eighth win.
Another World Can Get Another Win At Happy Valley
Another World (far side) has been tipped to win Race 8. (HKJC)
Tim Carroll (At The Races)
Tim landed his NAP & NB on Saturday and has selections for Wednesday’s card at Happy Valley.
This Wednesday sees a competitive nine-race card from Happy Valley getting underway at 12.40am SA Time. The feature of the meeting is the finale, the Class 2 Wan Chai Gap Handicap, over 6 furlongs, offering prize-money of more than £284,000.
Now onto this week’s selections.
Race 1: Class 5 Mount Butler Handicap (12.40pm) (1mile 3 furlongs)
9 MR ALADDIN is a long-standing maiden, but he has run through the line doing his best work late his last three over shorter trips and will enjoy stepping up the mile & three furlongs for the first time since placing here in March from a 3lb higher mark. The Pierre Ng 5yo was last seen when fourth here over 9 furlongs having been given plenty to do from a high draw, which is similar to what he did the start prior when runner-up, and although his zero from twenty -two starts is hardly inspiring, he has a good opportunity to break his duck with Purton takin the ride for the first time this season.
Dangers:
Super Hong Kong is a 7yo that hasn’t won for nearly two years, but that was from a 20lb higher mark, he’s been consistent of late, and he was runner-up from the same mark when last seen over this trip in March.
11 Leather Master was unplaced his only try over this trip at the back end of last season, but he did win over 9 furlongs at his penultimate start, and he was one spot in front of the selection last time over the same trip.
1 Storm Runner has shown very little in seven starts, but he drops into the bottom grade, a 7lb claimer goes on and he may enjoy stepping up beyond the mile for the first time.
Race 2: Class 4 Mount Nicholson Handicap (13.10pm) (9 furlongs)
2 SUNDAYS SERENADE has had just the three spins at Happy valley, all over the mile, winning back-to-back races before an unplaced effort last time that is easily forgiven. The selection was snagged back to last from a high draw that night and although it’s impossible to say where he would have finished, he was coming with a run up the inside in the straight but lost all chance when stopped in his tracks. Jamie Richards, who has sent out winners at two of the last three meetings on the city track, steps him up to 9 furlongs, and given he has come from the tail of the field in both his winners and the way he was picking up last time before being blocked for a run, he should relish going over this trip for the first time.
Dangers:
6 Mission Strike is a low mileage maiden that has shown enough in five starts to suggest he should be winning at this level, and this is very much a trip he’ll enjoy, but Purton does jump off to ride the selection.
12 Kasa Papa has just one win from thirty-five starts, but that win was when he was last seen here at Happy Valley and although it was at a level below this, he carries 15lb less here and lurks from the very foot of the handicap.
3 Can’t Go Wong was well held last time when having his first try at this trip, and although he didn’t have the rub of the green that night, he was beaten too far to make excuses, but he had been runner-up his previous two over 9 furlongs and could bounce back.
Race 3: Class 4Wong Nai Chung Gap Handicap (13.40pm) (6 furlongs)
4 MEGA BONUS, who was a thrice winner over course & trip last season, is yet to get on the board during the current campaign, but the Ricky Yiu 7yo does have a few things in his favour here. The selections like to punch forward and with the other pace runner (Jolly Companion) drawn to his outside, he should either be able to grab the front or track the leader, without too much pressure early. He had to work across from a high draw before finishing fifth in a slightly stronger contest last time, but he was runner-up the start prior from a similar draw to what he has here, and with a 7lb claimer booked for the first time this season, he effectively runs from a 13lb lower mark than his last win from just over a year ago.
Dangers:
2 King Eccellente, who draws in 2, has been unplaced his last five, but they’ve all been in Class 3’s and he’ll enjoy dropping down to Class 4 company having won from the same mark when last seen at this level in December.
10 Good Prospect is yet to shed his maiden tag in ten goes, but he has been runner-up in three of his last five starts, all over course & trip, and he should have all the favours from the low draw.
11 Vulcanus has just the one win from twenty-three starts and that came on the all-weather track at Sha Tin, but from his last three spins at Happy valley dating back to November of last year he’s been runner-up twice and he does draw the inside.
Race 4: Class 4 Shouson Hill Handicap (2.10pm) (1 mile)
1 MIDORI FUJI goes from the top of the handicap and draws toward the outside, which isn’t normally a winning combination on the city track, but the eight-start maiden has improved with every run and looks a winner in waiting having been runner-up his last two. The selection was probably a tad unlucky not to have won last time, given plenty to do from a high draw but running through the line strongly, only beaten a lip with connections looking at the patrol footage before electing against lodging a protest against the winner for contact over the concluding stages. He does go up 2lb for that, but he has plenty of scope, and although drawn high, they like to ride him cold, and there is a solid gallop on offer.
Dangers:
7 Nebraskan, who drops 2lb in the handicap, is yet to taste success is eighteen local starts, but he has placed from higher mark in the past and he tries this trip for the first time, which he may enjoy given he looks a tad one paced.
2 Setanta is a tad hard to catch, but a 2lb drop in the handicap sees him on his last winning g mark and he should have a nice set-up from the low draw.
10 To Infinity recorded his sixth win over course & trip last time at start forty, but he does go up 6lb meaning he is now 3lb above his peak winning mark.
Race 5: Class 4 The Crickey Club Vally Stakes (Handicap) (2.40pm) (6 furlongs)
2 BIENVENUE broke his duck over course & trip when having his tenth start but just his second spin at Happy Valley last time. The David Hayes 3yo looks an improving type and although he goes up 7lb for the win, he had to work from a high draw to sit outside the leader that night but was still strong through the line winning a tad cosy by just over a length. The selection draws down in 2 this time, which should see him on the front end without having to spend any earlier pennies, and given there is no more than a modest gallop on offer, he should be afforded every opportunity of recording back-to-back wins.
Dangers:
8 Loving Vibes broke his duck over course & trip two back before a solid enough in defeat when placed from this mark, but Purton jumps off to ride the selection.
7 Tactical Command won back-to-back races over course & trip before a couple of unplaced efforts that were more likely due to high draws than his new mark, but he ran well enough in defeat last time when fourth and is likely to me in the mix.
3 Bowser hasn’t been outside of the top four in three runs over course & trip this year including when only beaten 0.5 lengths in third last time, but he does have a high draw to contend with and may need some luck.
Race 6: Class 3 Stanley Gap Handicap (3.10pm) (6 furlongs)
5 STORM RIDER, who is a twice winner at Sha Tin and should be breaking his Happy Valley duck soon enough having been runner-up and not beaten far over course at his last three starts, including last time when less than a length behind an unexposed improving type that was landing a two-timer, when clear of the others. The David Hayes 4yo draws down in 2 and should have all the favours most likely stalking the speed as he has done his last three spins on the city track. Purton, who looks set for a big evening, sticks solid having been on board for the first time this season at his latest start, and connections add first-time blinkers.
Dangers:
3 Beauty Infinity, who won over course & trip in March, will require a career best from his current mark, but he’s a consistent type and the race strongly from the 5 draw.
11 Storming Dragon, who has won twice over this trip during the current campaign, was just over a length behind the selection when third last time, he’s on slightly better terms with that rival, and he should get a solid gallop to aim at.
4 Giant Leap has won his last two over course & trip when at double figure odds in the market, and although he goes up 7lb for his latest success, they like to punch forward with him, thus the draw in 1 is ideal.
Race 7: Class 3 Tai Tam Gap Handicap (3.45pm) (9 furlongs)
7 CASA ROCHESTER, who won a 7-furlong maiden at his only start in New Zealand, broke his local duck over the mile here two back at just his sixth Hong Kong start when running through the line from off the pace with plenty of purpose, then finished in fifth over the same trip here last time when luckless in the straight. It would be a stretch to say he should have won, but he was beaten 2 lengths having been held up over the final furlong and would have made it interesting with a clear round. The Mark Newnham 4yo steps up to 9 furlongs for the very first time and he should relish going over this trip, and the champion jockey, Zac Purton, is a first-time booking.
Dangers:
2 Cambridge, who contested the 2024 Dante Stakes at York when with Aidan O’Brien, recorded his first local success at start six when winning over course & trip last time and although he goes up 7lb for that, he should have more to offer.
5 Sharpen Bright is a tad one paced but he hasn’t been outside of the top four in his last eight starts, which includes a couple of wins, the latest over course & trip, and he’s likely to sit handy in a race that offers no more than a moderate gallop.
4 Star Mac has more ability than his overall record would suggest and should be included in any exotic type bets, but he’s a late closer that needs a strong gallop and to be seen at his best, and I doubt he’ll get that here.
Race 8: Class 3 Violet Hill Handicap (4.15pm) (1 mile)
3 ANOTHER WORLD is a promising type that has won three of his nine starts at Sha Tin and will be making his Happy Valley debut. The Benno Yung 4yo is yet to win beyond 7 furlongs, but he was placed in a stronger race than this at his only try over this trip in February and he should have no issues seeing out the mile on the tight city track layout. The selection is no leader, but he’s not devoid of pace, as he showed when he last won in March, thus he should be able to lay up in the first half of the field, and provided he takes to the city track, he should take plenty of stopping as he brings the best recent form and a progressive profile to the contest.
Dangers:
8 Harmony Galaxy, who was twice Group 1 placed in Brazil, went winless in his first thirteen local starts but has enjoyed stepping up to 9 furlongs, having won his last two over this trip, and although he moves up in grade under a 7lb penalty and drops back to the mile, he carries 10lb less here and should once again get a strong gallop to aim at.
5 Excellence Value was a well exposed twice winner (14 starts) in Australia, but Mark Newnham has got a good tune out of the now 4yo who broke his local duck over course & trip in March and has been runner-up his last two over 9 furlongs and is likely to be thereabouts again despite going up 1lb in the handicap.
9 Highland Rahy has had a good second half of the season recording back-to-back wins over course & trip before two solid efforts when placed, and he once again should give a bold sight from the front from the low draw.
Race 9 Class 2 Wan Chai Gap Handicap (4.50pm) (6 furlongs)
5 HORSEPOWER, who won two of his four starts in Australia, looks an exciting prospect having now won three of his four local spins. The selection has been lumped 9lb for his latest success, but it’s impossible to argue given he came from what looked an unlikely position on the bend to win by over a length running away with a subsequent winner back in second. He does have more on his plate at this level & he only carries 8lb less in a race than runs much deeper, but he ran a time that was slightly quicker than standard for this grade last time, he possesses a serious turn-of-foot, and he should relish going over 6 furlongs.
Dangers:
11 Colourful King, who won two of his five Australian starts, has hit the ground running, winning twice from four local spins and ran with merit in defeat last time when runner-up at his first spin at this level, & he does go from the foot of the handicap, but he’s a pacey type in a race with several who like to belt along & he tries this trip for the first time.
7 Kaholo Angel has won two of his last three and although he goes up 6lb for his latest course & trip success when winning by a narrow margin, with the gallop on offer here, if he gets the breaks when needed from the low draw, he should be finishing with a rattle.
1 Aurora Lady goes from the top of the handicap, but there’s only 9lb top to bottom (not including claims), and he’s perfectly drawn in 1 given he’s an on-pace runner, but there is plenty of it here.
8 Mid Winter Wind set a strong impression when winning over this trip at Sha Tin on his local debut in January and whilst the former South African galloper has been a tad disappointing since, he makes his first visit to Happy Valley and given the way he came from last to first when he won, he should enjoy the strong gallop on offer here.
WEDNESDAY’S PLACEPOT
Today’s Tote Place Pot will be races 4 through to 9. All up we will be playing 27 combinations (3x1x1x3x1x3), which will cost £2.70 for a 10p stake and so on. Good luck.
LEG 1- 1 MIDORI FUJI 2 SETANTA 7 NEBRASKAN
LEG 2- 2 BIENVENUE
LEG 3- 5 STORM RIDER
LEG 4- 2 CAMBRIDGE 5 SHARPEN BRIGHT 7 CASA ROCHESTER
LEG 5- 3 ANOTHER WORLD
LEG 6- 5 HORSEPOWER 7 KAHOLO ANGEL 11 MID WINTER WIND
TIM’S BEST BETS (scale 1-5 points)
1.40pm HAPPY VALLEY
4pts win BIENVENUE
2.10pm HAPPY VALLEY
3pts win STORM RIDER
3.15pm HAPPY VALLEY
2pts win ANOTHER WORLD
Today's Question
When was the first time the Durban July was commercially broadcast?
The picture gives a clue to the answer.
FIELDS, Wednesday, 4 June
Hollywoodbets Greyvlle Poly
Today’s Question Answer
In 1950 South African Breweries were given permission to relay the July at a fee of £250. The breweries insisted Ernie Duffield (pictured) do the commentary and it proved so popular they applied again in 1951 and 1952.
