Turf Talk Newsletter – 26 June, 2025

Eight On Eighteen’s sheer physical presence made him a stand out at the Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallops on Thursday morning. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Eight On Eighteen stood out in the Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallops at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Thursday morning and is a deserved short-priced favourite.

The impressive son of Lancaster Bomber worked with stable companion Makazole and after getting a tow from the 1600m mark he moved past Makazole readily in the straight. It was his physical presence that separated him from the rest and avoiding traffic in the straight will likely be his biggest danger in the big race.

Last year’s third-placed runner Royal Victory showed his character by refusing to gallop in the blinkers that were fitted just for the gallop. A number of horses who were behind him in the order had to gallop before him, but he eventually got going when the blinkers were removed and was impressive as he made up considerable ground in the straight on his companion.

The second favourite Oriental Charm did a good pre-recorded gallop on the Highveld.

His James Crawford-trained stable companion Pomodoro’s Jet also had a pre-recorded Highveld gallop and stretched out impressively.

Madison Valley got the ball rolling at Hollywoodbets Greyville and put up one of the best gallops of the day.

On My Honour also put up a fine gallop, although he did spook and jump slightly at the end of the gallop for some reason.

The only female in the race Rainbow Lorikeet, put up a fine gallop and recorded the fastest 400m to finish time.

Selukwe also put up a superb gallop on his own.

My Best Shot was not asked to do much in his pe-recorded gallop from Faiview but looked to be enjoying himself.

The Real Prince did not move past his companion in ultra impressive style as was expected, but trainer Dean Kannemeyer explained that the latter, Rosh Kidesh, is known to be a very strong work horse while The Real Prince is a sort who does not over exert himself.

Reserve runner Litigation stretched out nicely in a pre-recorded Highveld gallop.

Native Ruler worked on his own and stretched out impressively.

See It Again got permission to not gallop as he had a slight temperature, but he paraded with jockey Raymond Danielson up and looked in good shape.

Gladatorian rocketed home in an impressive work out.

Okavango was not asked to do much on his own but looked in good shape.

Atticus Finch did a short 800m workout on the Highveld earlier in the week and stretched out nicely.

Immediate Edge did nothing wrong in his pre-recorded gallop o the Highveld earlier in the week and was reportedly having a proper gallop on Thursday morning.

Reserve runner Son Of Raj stretched out nicely in his pre-recorded Highveld gallop.

Purple Pitcher also stretched out nicely on the Highveld.

Confederate worked on the sand under Warren Kennedy on the Highveld and looked in good shape.

 

Madison Valley put up a superb gallop at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Thursday morning at the Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallops and has consequently been supported. (Candiese Lenferna Photography). 

The Frank Robinson-trained Madison Valley is one of the local hopes in the Hollywoodbets Durban July and he was the biggest mover in the betting after putting up a magnificent gallop at Hollywoobets Greyville on Thursday morning at the official Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallops, shortening from 33/1 into 20/1.

He will be out to give local owner Sid Moodley a dream result with his first runner in the big race and it will be a first July win too for Robinson and a second for jockey Gavin Lerena if they do it.

Frank said, “I was very happy, very, very happy. with the gallop. He did what we intended to do with him. He showed his fitness and showed his well-being. He was very happy with his ears pricked and he moved over the ground very, very well. I couldn’t have asked for more. Gavin Lerena was very impressed with him. He said, ‘I was very impressed with the horse. He did everything 100%, and more, I’m very happy. We are a massive runner.'”

Lerena rode Madison Valley to victory in the Michaelmas last year and said he had come on tremendously since then.

He was gelded subsequent to his excellent Betway Summer Cup run and has been brought on slowly, culminating in a fine win last time out in the Gr 3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial over 1800m.

Madison Valley comes out well on the formlines of the Summer Cup, so if he has improved since then he must indeed be a big runner.

He has a plum draw of two.

Other horses to shorten with the sponsor were On My Honour from 33/1 to 25/1, Purple Picther from 50/1 to 40/1, while the drifters were Native Ruler from 33/1 to 50/1, Atticus Finch from 25/1 to 33/1 and Okavango from 20/1 to 25/1.

The great Klawervlei Stud-based champion stallion Captain Al was a son of Roberto’s champion stallion son Al Mufti. (Picture: Klawervlei Stud).

Sarah Whitelaw

The 1972 Epsom Derby winner Roberto has left an indelible mark on the thoroughbred. From siring such top-class stallions as Kris S, Red Ransom, Dynaformer, Lear Fan and Silver Hawk, to coming up with such outstanding broodmares as Modena, Slightly Dangerous, and Immense, Roberto has left such a mark on the breed that even today his name continues to come to the fore in top-class thoroughbreds.

Roberto has also exerted a considerable influence on the South African turf. Through his champion sire son Al Mufti alone, Roberto ensured that his name would linger in the local stud book for generations to come.

The regally bred Al Mufti (his half-sister Weekend Surprise produced the breed shaping stallion A.P. Indy among others) sired more than 50 stakes winners, of which 12 were G1 winners. Among Al Mufti’s stars were Dubai star Victory Moon, South African champion Arabian Lass, Al Nitak, Cataloochee, Almah and Royal Aproval, as well as such G1 winners as Alastor (J&B Met), The Sheik (SA Guineas, Cape Derby), Royal Fantasy (Thekwini Fillies Stakes) and Captain Al (Cape Guineas).

The latter became an outstanding sire and broodmare sire, with Captain Al also enjoying notable success as a sire of sires. His sire sons include proven G1 stallions Captain Of All and William Longsword as well as Erik The Red and One World. The latter was South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire last season, while Erik The Red heads the same list in 2024-2025.

Captain Al, who sired more than 100 stakes winners, is an exceptional broodmare sire, with his daughters having produced such outstanding performers as Eight On Eighteen, Kommetdieding, Eden Roc, Sandringham Summit, and former Horse Of The Year Princess Calla.

Al Mufti would also enjoy considerable success as a broodmare sire, with his daughters producing such notable G1 winners as Al Sahem, Bold Silvano, Jay Peg, Yorker and Rock Opera. The latter, in turn, produced G1 Criterium International winner Royal Meeting (the sire of G1 winner Hayasugi) and multiple group/graded stakes winner Heavy Metal. Rock Opera’s G1 placed full-sister Rock Concert is the dam of G1 Gold Medallion/G1 Mercury Sprint winner Van Halen.

Another son of Al Mufti, the dual G1 winner The Sheik, is the broodmare sire of champion Quid Pro Quo.

While he never stood in South Africa, Red Ransom was another son of Roberto who made a considerable impact on the local turf. Not only is Red Ransom’s top-class son Intikhab the broodmare sire of former July winner and Horse Of The Year Igugu, but Red Ransom himself sired 2012 G1 Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas winner Rumya. Another daughter of Red Ransom, Cinnas Ransom, produced champion Captain’s Ransom while Red Ransom horse Charge Forward sired G3 Sycamore Sprint winner San Fermin.

Ridgemont’s G1 winning young stallion Hit The Road is inbred to the wonderful Red Ransom.

Another top son of Roberto to have left his mark on South Africa was the outstanding Kris S. The latter’s G3 winning son Philanthropist left behind a host of smart South African performers, including dual G1 winner Golden Ducat, and Philanthropist also ranks as the broodmare sire of this season’s G2 World Sports Betting Guineas winner Sail The Seas. Kris S’s G1 winning son Arch also made his presence felt in the country, with Arch rating as the sire of champion Overarching (herself the dam of G1 Woolavington 2000 winner Lady Of The House). Arch is also the sire of G3 Yellowwood Handicap winner Arch Mistress, while his daughter Archerfield is the dam of three black type performers including Listed Ardmore Jamaica Handicap queen Princess Irene.

Among the stallions currently standing at stud in South Africa, the following all have Roberto in their pedigrees. Buffalo Bill Cody, Captain Of All, Eden Roc, Erik The Red, Erupt, Expert Eye, Hit The Road,Ideal World, Kommetdieding, Malmoos, One World, Royal Mo, Sandringham Summit, Sharp Frank, The United States, Thunderstruck, Twice Over, William Longsword and Willow Magic are all South African based thoroughbred stallions with at least one line of Roberto in their pedigrees. Oriental Charm, set to join the stallion band this season, is another top-class South African galloper with Roberto in his pedigree.

(Captain Al’s champion son One World is inbred to Roberto, with One World’s broodmare sire Giant’s Causeway sporting Roberto’s daughter Immense as his granddam).

Roberto’s full-sister Glorious Spring also made her mark on the local stud book -her son Rollins is broodmare sire of seven time South African Champion Sire Jet Master, with the latter having headed the Leading Sires of Broodmares premiership on four occasions.

This season’s top-class three-year-old filly Fiery Pegasus has a pedigree which features both Roberto and Glorious Spring up close.

Mullineaux, a full-brother to Roberto, sired G1 Cape Fillies Guineas runner up Eastern Venture and G2 Merchants winner Heavyweight, as well as multiple graded stakes winner Cape Saffron.
Perhaps one of the best examples of the influence that Roberto has exerted on the South African turf can be found in the pedigree of the late Captain’s Ransom.
South Africa’s Horse Of The 2021-2022, the six time G1 winning Captain’s Ransom was inbred to Roberto.

Not only was Captain’s Ransom sired by Captain Al, but her dam Cinnas Ransom was sired by Red Ransom.

Gavin Lerena clinched a quick treble when keeping the Candice Dawson-trained A Bit Of Class going well in the fifth race. (JC Photos).  

Gavin Lerena rode three in a row at Turffontein Inside today and that took him one ahead of Richard Fourie in the thrilling race for the national jockeys title.

Lerena was at his best despite having had to ride his Hollywoodbets Durban July candidate at Hollywoodbets Greyville this morning before flying back to Johannesburg.

Craig Zackey did the same and his single win keeps him in touch.

Lerena is on 237 wins at a strike rate of 24.97%, Fourie is on 236 wins at 25.08% and Zackey is on 230 wins at 17.38%.

There were also doubles for Callan Murray and Piere Strydom.

Strydom only had two rides at the meeting and produced two vintage performances on the Grant Maroun-trained Hollywood Racing-owned Busstopinhounslow and the P/J Vermeulen-trained Richard The First. The latter gave the great jockey a torrid time all the way to the start, but that didn’t stop him still winning on the William Longsword gelding.

Murray is now on 18 wins at 18.18%. He must be trying not to think of a horse wih Eighteen in his name at present, but it must be tough not to with those stats!

Strydom is on 64 win at 25.20%.

Gaynor Rupert – enjoying success internationally (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)

Sporting Post

Wasn’t it great to see South African-bred Distant Winter open her stateside campaign on a winning note late last week?

Gaynor Rupert – enjoying success internationally (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)

It was very much a case of patience rewarded, as the Drakenstein homebred returned to action 16 months after she had closed out her local career in the 2023 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Gr2 Golden Slipper at Hollywoodbets Greyville, where she finished fourth.

The reason for this lengthy absence? The daughter of What A Winter had been sidelined due to injury, according to Drakenstein owner Gaynor Rupert: “She cracked a hip and was in rehab for quite some time.”

Kudos to the veterinarians, as the filly showed no ill-effect of the injury with her exhilarating, late-charging victory at Delaware Park.

Her victory wasn’t the only cause for celebration this past weekend. On the final day of the Royal Ascot meeting, juvenile colt Thesecretadversary caught the eye with a fast-finishing second in the Listed Chesham Stakes.

Drakenstein’s British division Cayton Park Stud races and bred the colt in partnership with Coolmore.

A half-brother to the Irish stakes winner Too Soon To Panic, the Stack-trained colt is out of Oratorio’s Gr3 winning daughter Scream Blue Murder, who just happens to be a half-sister to the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint runner-up Gibraltar Blue.

She was trained by Mike de Kock for Klawervlei Stud and won all of the Gr2 KRA Fillies Guineas, Gr2 Tibouchina, Gr2 Ipi Tombe Challenge, in addition to which she beat the boys in the Gr3 Joburg Spring Challenge.

International racing outfit Team Valor, whose ties with South African racing go back a long way, was also in clover at the Royal meeting when Quai De Bethune hung tough to win the Golden Gates Stakes on the final day’s undercard. Raced in partnership, the three-year-old Persian King colt is trained by Andrew Balding.

If that wasn’t enough, Team Valor earned further bragging rights, with four-year-old filly Uluru claiming the Listed EBF Martin Molony Stakes across the Irish Sea at Limerick.

By Zoffany out of a Galileo mare, the Joseph O’Brien-trained four-year-old opened her stakes account in style to win the 2500m race by just over a length. It was a well-deserved maiden stakes win for the filly, who already boasted small black type, courtesy of a second in the Gr3 Prix de Psyche and a third in the Listed Prix Charles Laffitte.

Team Valor is certainly having a fine time of it lately.

“We have won eight of our last 15 starts, it’s insane,” Team Valor founder and chief executive Barry Irwin enthused. When you’re hot, you’re hot!

Barry also had news of champion filly Quid Pro Quo, who was purchased in a further sign of growing enthusiasm for South African bloodstock following the lifting of an EU travel ban.

“She is booked on a July 17 flight to France where she will be trained by Jerome Reynier,” he confirmed.

All going smoothly, the Lance filly will be targeted at next year’s Dubai Carnival, where it is hoped she will follow in the footsteps of former standout Team Valor purchases Ipi Tombe and Irridescence.

A champion at two and a dual Gr1 winner of the Allan Robertson Championship and Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes, Quid Pro Quo ran only twice at three this season. In her most recent start, she finished third behind Spumante Dolce and VJ’s Angel in the Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Gauteng Fillies Guineas. Prior to that, she handed male rivals a 2,50-length drubbing in the Gr2 Betway Dingaans.

Bingwa is fancied to complete a hattrick. (Pauline Herman Photography).

Jack Milner (Tab4Racing)

When they talk about a “miler”, the name Bingwa can be included in the definition.

Seven-year-old gelding Bingwa has now won nine races, including his last two starts, and seven of those victories were over 1600m.

Trained in Joburg by Johan Janse van Vuuren, the son of Pathfork won the Grade 2 Charity Mile two years running but sadly he was just below the top echelons. He did compete in a couple of Grade 1 races and while he did not disgrace himself, Bingwa was unable to beat the best.

Then, just when it seemed his career was over, the decision was taken to send him to Gavin Smith in the Eastern Cape, and the gelding has found a new lease on life. He finished second on debut in the province in a 1400m race and then went on to win the Non-Black Type Fairview 1900, over 1900m.

He returned from a break to win a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m on the turf and went on to beat Mhlabeni by 0.50 lengths.

Bingwa lines up in Race 4 on Friday, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1600m, on the turf. He should strip fitter this time and is well weighted to win this race comfortably if running anywhere near his merit rating.

Bingwa comes into this race as the best weighted runner by at least 4.5kg and will have Craig Zackey on his back.

The last race at Fairview is usually a nightmare for punters, but in Race 8, a Classified Stakes over 1200m, Coastal Path should go close to winning it this week.

The Global View gelding is not an easy ride and has often found one or two better on the day. He has, however, been very good over this course and distance lately, and Richard Fourie knows how to bring out the best in him.

 

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 5 North Star, 2 Ready, 1 Above The Horizon, 3 Air Born Lady

Race 2: 4 Mio Destino, 10 Wild Fig, 12 Olive Oyl, 6 Pick A Pomodoro

Race 3: 1 Garden Sun, 2 Henry’s Hedge, 4 Pardon Me, 9 Preserve Forever

Race 4: 1 Bingwa, 2 Zinovi, 4 Bush Tracker, 6 Global Ally

Race 5: 10 Winter Emeralds, 3 Dynalley, 1 Final Try, 4 Lanciafiamme

Race 6: 7 Family Power, 8 Fire Alarm, 9 Flower Festival, 6 Chere For Me

Race 7: 1 Kingdundee, 2 Cliff Top, 6 Play Act, 3 Anuschka’s World

Race 8: 1 Coastal Path, 13 King Rahul, 5 Imaginable, 9 Bob

 

BEST BET

Race 1: 5 North Star

VALUE BET

Race 2: 4 Mio Destino

BEST SWINGER

Race 7 1×2

 

BIPOT

R192

Leg 1: 5

Leg 2: 4, 6, 10, 12

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4

Leg 4: 1, 2

Leg 5: 3, 10

Leg 6: 6, 7, 8, 9

 

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 4, 10, 12

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 3, 10

Leg 5: 7, 8, 9

Leg 6: 1

Leg 7: 1, 13

 

PICK 6

R1440

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 9

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 10

Leg 4: 6, 7, 8, 9, 13

Leg 5: 1, 2

Leg 6: 1, 5, 13

 

JACKPOT 1

R120

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 10

Leg 3: 6, 7, 8, 9, 13

Leg 4: 1, 2

 

JACKPOT 2

R120

Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 10

Leg 2: 6, 7, 8, 9, 13

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 1, 5, 13

Littlemissmillion could build up a fan club as she is tiny and has an exciting way of running, sitting at the back before sweeping past the field. She has won both of her starts by over three lengths. (JC Photos).

Tyrone Zackey lost one of his biggest owners when he got an elevated TCO2 reading in the early days of the testing and believes he was a victim of the teething problems there were with the testing as his horse on that occasion only had a reading of 36, whereas the limit is now 38.

He lost 15 hores and was left with vitually an empty yard.

However, this led to him buying some stock on BSA online sales and these included the exciting little filly Littlemissmillion, whom he picked up for his daugher and son-in-law Kevin and Nadine Backos for just R50,000.

The tiny Croft Stud-bred filly is by Elusive Fort out of the four time-winning Kahal mare Brigtnumberfive and today (Thursday) at Turffontein Inside followed up on her debut win with an equally impressive victory.

On both occasions she has come from lat and wept past the field with an impressively big action for such a small horse.

Zackey voided the Gr 2 Splashout Golden Slipper as she is not the calmest of horses and the hustle and bustle of Hollywoodbets Durban July day wit the festive crowds is not easy for some hres to handle.

However, he will be entering her in the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes on Gold Cup day.

He said, “She has done Kebn and Nadine proud and done me proud.”

Asked whether he was expecting her to be this good he replied, “Yes, whem I saw her on the grass I could see the difference.”

He added, “On her first run he came from the back and ran the last 400m in 22.7 seconds and I thought today the Turffontein Inside track wouldn’t suit her, but I had to let her run because she was so full of herself and she did us proud again. She was so relaxed at the back and Craig said he just had to straighten her ad give her two cracks and she just strode away.”

She won the Juvenile Plate by 3,40 lengths after being backed into 18/10 favourite.

Tyrone continued, “Craig want to stay on her, he loves her, he is very impressed with her. He has got big stables he rides for and he would know! It makes me want to train more horses again.”

One other horse Tyrone bought on the BSA online sales was La Moohal, who won the Gr 3 Sea Cottage for him, and he also bought a horse from another yard called Lava Fire, who has won twice, including beating the subsequent Gr 1 SA Classic winner and Hollywoodbets Durban July runner Confederate.

What  is the biggest margin of victory in Durban July history?

The picture gives a clue to the answer.

In 1974 20/1 shot Riboville trained by George Azzie (pictured) and ridden by Marti Schoeman won by 4,50 lengths, the biggest margin of victory in July history, although the riderless Jamaican Music actually crossed the line before him.  It was George Azzie’s third July win.