Turf Talk Newsletter – 28 August, 2025

Picture: Serino Moodley judged the pace to perfection in a fillies and mares handicap over 1000m and the Var filly Valieva duly gave him and trainer Fanie Bronkhorst a double together on the day (JC Photos)

Serino Moodley confirmed to interviewer Neil Andrews at the Vaal today after riding his second winner that when you are riding full of confidence “you see things before they happen and when you are looking at races you study them differently, you go in with confidence and you’re backing yourself as well.”

He added, “But you can’t do without the chances and if you get the chances you have to produce the goods. When trainers like Mr Bronkhorst are turning out horses like this on days like this, you just have to make sure you bring your ‘A’ game.”

Serino’s double was secured on two Fanie Bronkhorst-trained horses and it took him to the joint top of the national log with Craig Zackey on 16 wins apiece.

Serino is quietly establishing himself as a top echelon jockey.

He has been one of the best in KZN for a while, but the change to top echelon is usually quite subtle and often coincides with tipsters starting to say things like “and he has Moodley aboard” without having to qualify the statement i.e. the statement speaks for itself.

He has become a high class professional in the saddle and out and for example he said after romping home on the Bronkhorst-trained Valieva (Var) by 3,50 lengths in a 1000m fillies and mares handicap, “When I drew my speed maps last night I saw there was a lot of speed in the race and she is a filly who loves to get off the back of an extreme pace.”

Serino duly dropped the filly out to last and sat on her patiently when realising they were, as he had predicted, going too fast. He drove her into the race with the hands and it was soon clear that it was going to be a matter of how far as she swept past the tiring horses.

Serino has done it at a strike rate of 21.33% this season.

He should break through the 100 wins in a season barrier for the first time in his career and at this rate could finish in the top five.

He is definitely a jockey on the up and one to follow.

Ombudsman wins the Gr 1 Juddmonte International (Picture: Sky Sports Racing)

Now Gosden And O’brien Camps Eye The Arc In October

Dave Mollett

“A horror movie with a happy ending” was my verdict on the Juddmonte International at York – a race eventually won by Ombudsman but not before 150-1 shot, Birr Castle, had put the frighteners into racing fans worldwide.

The Gosden stable had paid 85000 pounds to supplement the French horse to act as pacemaker for Ombudsman and it can be argued that jockey Rab Havlin did his job as requested.

What hadn’t been factored in was the actions of some of the other riders – notably the Japanese jockey on Sheema Classic winner, Danon Decile.

“The Japanese jockey just kept taking back and back so the whole field took back and let Rab slip the field,” said John Gosden after the race.

“However, this horse produced an amazing performance and he’s very, very special and showed all his attributes today,” added the Newmarket trainer.

One report stated that there was “a sense of disbelief, verging on anger” amongst York racegoers and – as I was one of them – I must confess to feeling that the pacemaker had thrown a spanner in the works regarding the expected finish concerning the five contenders in the betting market.

Delacroix finished second three lengths behind the winner, Birr Castle finished third and the well-fancied filly, See The Fire, ran fourth but never threatened to get involved. Both the Japanese and French horses were disappointing.

John Gosden now has the choice of three targets for Ombudsman – the Arc de Triomphe on Oct 5 or the Irish or English Champion Stakes.

Ladbrokes quote the son of Night Of Thunder at 8-1 for the Arc behind Kalpana (6-1) and Whirl (7-1).

“The worry is one rarely gets fast ground in the Arc and he needs that to show his best as he’s proved here,” said Gosden.

Another possible Arc runner is Minnie Hauk who was cut to 8-1 for the Paris race following her decisive win in the Yorkshire Oaks on the second day of the York meeting.

The filly is certainly bred in the purple being by Frankel out of a half-sister to Kingman and Aidan O’Brien was understandably upbeat after Minnie Hauk’s third Oaks win. The master of Ballydoyle commented: “She does everything right – the Arc and Breeders Cup Turf are there for her.”

Named after an American opera singer, Minnie Hauk is the eighth filly to achieve the Oaks treble of Epsom, the Curragh and York. While Ryan Moore suggested Whirl might be the favoured candidate for the Arc, several pundits felt the Paris race is the right route for Minnie Hauk and I agree with them.

Ombudsman would only run if the ground is quick and – if the going is not too soft – it would not inconvenience her.

The two fillies are likely to be kept apart by O’Brien who was winning his ninth Yorkshire Oaks. Minnie Hauk cost 1,8m euros and her earnings are now just shy of 1 million pounds.

Coolmore’s Michael Tabor commented: “My view is that if the ground is soft at Longchamp it would be Whirl for the Arc and Minnie Hauk for the Breeders Cup. What’s the point of them racing against each other when one can go for the Arc and the other can go to the Breeders Cup.”

Tabor added that he had been “flabbergasted” that Delacroix could only finish second to Ombudsman. “To be honest, I thought Delacroix was a good thing.”

Ryan Moore, winning his fifth Yorkshire Oaks, rarely says much to the media but did comment: “She is a very straightforward filly, is professional and does everything right. When she gets to the front she’s not inclined to do much, but when I asked her to stretch she put the race to bed.”

It wasn’t a memorable York meeting for Aidan O’Brien with his Derby hero, Lambourn, beaten in the Great Voltigeur and Delacroix soundly beaten in the Juddmonte. He quipped: “We had a tough day on Wednesday and things didn’t work out – that’s the way it is sometimes.”

With the two year-olds never in contention, the Nunthorpe Stakes on Friday proved a red-letter day for the Aussies with their seven year-old mare, Asfoora, scoring in the hands of Oisin Murphy. She had gone off the boil since winning at Royal Ascot in 2024.

Former SA trainer, Dylan Cunha, also saddled a winner on Friday with veteran jockey, John Egan, partnering Asgard’s Captain who grabbed the verdict in the opening event right on the line. The owners, Quest Thoroughbreds, were over the moon with the win by the Make Believe gelding. It was Egan’s first York win since 2017.

Cunha’s total of winners this season is now 35 and he’ll soon pass his 2024 figure of 37.

Gaynor Rupert will not have enjoyed watching her runner, Skukuka, in the first race at York on Saturday as Ryan Moore had a troubled passage throughout the race. The Ed Dunlop inmate finished fast but had to settle for third place.
On Sunday, William Derby, CEO at York, announced a rise in attendance with crowds up on each of the four days of their big meeting.

The Phillip Labuschagne-trained Kiss Of Fire (Erupt) secures a treble for 4kg claiming apprentice Girish Samo-Burthia (JC Photos)

Mauritian jockey Girish Samo-Burthia is learning his trade at the South African Jockey Academy and, despite only having ridden six wins in his fledgling career before the meeting, he scored a treble at The Vaal on Thursday.

The 4kg claimer scored on the Tony Peter-trained Sea Wolf (Vercingetorix) at odds of 18/10, the Grant Maroun-trained In The Ether (Announce) at odds of 8/1 and the Phillip Labuschagne-trained Kiss Of Fire (Erupt) at odds of 6/1.

Serino Moodley rode a double for Fanie Bronkhorst and St. John Gray bred two of the winners on the day, owning and training one of them.

Prominent jockeys on the log, Craig Zackey, S’Manga Khumalo and Calvin Habib, all had blanks on the day.

Zackey and Moodley lead on 16 win at 15.09% and 21.33% respectively.

Samo-Burthia has had four wins at 25%.

Bronkhorst has had six wins at 11.11%.

When every cent is carefully stretched to make a difference, few causes resonate as strongly with the racing community as the Highveld Horse Care Unit (HHCU). On Saturday, 6 September, Turffontein hosts a special charity race day in their honour — a chance to support the Unit’s tireless work in rehoming and providing veterinary care for retired and rescued racehorses, donkeys and other equines, giving these noble animals the second chances they deserve.

Click here to read Charl Pretorius’ Artcile on HHCU

Future Variety is in top form and can make the step up in trip from pole position (Picture: Candiese Lenferna Photography)

R1 Summary: COCCOLINA (5) drifted in the market on debut under the weight of strong support for the winner. He was a close-up second and should come on from that effort. LIGHT THE FIRE (7) has shown up well in two starts over the distance. He has had a short break but should run well. DEVOTED (3) was short in the market on debut but also drifted. He finished down the field but is sure to improve on that showing. MAGIC SURPRISE (1) has come on with each outing but all recent runs have been on the poly. (Andrew Harrison: 5-7-3-1).

R2 Summary: VENCEDOR (1) made marked improvement when sent over a mile last time out. A repeat should see him in the money again. DIRECTOR (5) has shown promise and has the benefit of having see the course. He should be right there. PIED PIPER (4) has shown promise in his two starts and was not far back over the trip last time out. TEE DOG (7) has been knocking at the door in recent outings. If holding form he should feature again. (Andrew Harrison: 1-5-4-7).

R3 Summary: CALL ME WILD (2) has come to hand nicely and was narrowly beaten on this course last time out. He has a good draw and should have the run of the race. LIMELIGHT LEGEND (11) is lightly raced but is in good recent form. He stays the trip well although he does have a wide draw to contend with. FINE WINE (7) is a lightly raced mare who ran well below best last time out. Her recent form has been on the poly but she should feature in this company. INVICTUS JET (1) was much improved with cheek pieces last time out. She started at long odds that day and has another money chance against males. (Andrew Harrison: 2-11-7-1).

R4 Summary: ZARA’S WINTER (4) has made steady recent improvement and looks primed for this. Although he did have a 4kg claimer aboard last time out there should not be much between him and Carnival Park. CARNIVAL PARK (1) has been struggling to shed his maiden but should have his chance here. His recent form is much improved and he has the best of the draw. KING CELTILLUS (3) his lightly raced and took on winners last time out. He stays the trip and should feature. CALL ME HARRIET (6) takes on males but was close up on this course last time out and has been consistent of late. (Andrew Harrison: 4-1-3-6).

R5 Summary: FUTURE VARIETY (1) has come good of late and was a feature race winner last time out beating a useful field. He steps up in trip here but does have the best of the draw and should see it out. THE SHEPHERD (5) just needed his last run after a lengthy break. He should come on from that and will be a strong contender. AFRICAN SKYLINE (3) has been taking on useful opposition of late and not far behind. He has a 4kg claimer aboard and should feature. DIANI (8) is way better than his last run. He has a handy weight and goes well over course and distance. (Andrew Harrison: 1-5-3-8).

R6 Summary: Competitive handicap. ROSH KEDESH (9) is in fine form and won well last time out. There are a few closer to him in the weights this time around so he will be hard-pressed to win again. AMOR FATI (6) is lightly raced and has come on nicely at his last two after a lengthy break. PLAZA ACCORD (10) is 2kg better off with Rosh Kedesh on their last meeting and can make up the four lengths. Stable companion NELSON BAY (12) has a tough draw but is also 2 kg better off with Rosh Kedesh on their last meeting but has to make up nearly five lengths. (Andrew Harrison: 9-6-10-12-1).

R7 Summary: LADYBUG (3) had it tough from a wide draw on the poly last time out. She has a way better gate this time around and is overdue a win. RUGGER LOVER (5) was not far back when trying further last time out but her most recent win has been over this trip on the poly. AVERNIAN GODDESS (6) is seldom out of the money. He recent form has been on the poly but she is 1kg better off with Rugger Lover on their last meeting. SIBERIAN WINTER (1) has a handy weight and the best of the draw. She was close up last run over a furlong further but this trip does suit. (Andrew Harrison: 3-5-6-1).

R8 Summary: GOLDEN MOMENT (4) showed up well over course and distance first run for her new stable. She had useful Highveld form prior to that and should go well here. HAPPY ANALIA (6) was up against fair opposition last time out. She has many miles on the clock but looks capable on her day. HAPPY FORTUNE (1) was a touch disappointing on the turf last time out after two good showings on the poly but he does have the best of the draw. ON BOARD (7) returns from a short break but her recent form has been solid. (Andrew Harrison: 4-6-1-7).

R9 Summary: POSITION OF POWER (2) was a late starter but followed up his maiden win with a solid handicap effort. He could be the stable elect. BLAZING BEAUTY (5) has come back well after a lengthy break. She was only a maiden winner last run but could still be under the handicapper’s radar. PHUTULICIOUS (6) showed signs of coming back to his best form last time out and did find some long-shot market support and is one for all exotics. MUSIC IS LIFE (1) took advantage of a drop in ratings last time out and is back up but is consistent and can feature again. (Andrew Harrison: 2-5-6-1).

Via Sistina, James Mcdonald, Chris Waller / Illustration By Idol Horse

The Chris Waller-trained wonder mare Via Sistena won her tenth Gr 1 on Saturday at Randwick, but even though her win was in the Winx Stakes it did not steal all of the headlines, because Waller did not want the race to be run on the Saturday after heavy rains.

He felt it should have been postponed a day of two, but the problem is the stakes in Australan racing have reached phenomenal levels and  in order to maintain those levels Saturday racing must go ahead even when a postponement would make more sense and big Saturday meetings must take place at certain courses.

Click here to read about Chris Waller’s valid gripe

Main Man (far side) holds on by a whisker from Model Man in the 1987 Mainstay International at Clairwood with Bush Telegraph third 

There was literally no parking space left on course at Clairwood on July 25, 1987, and cars had to park on the roads surounding the course or perhaps even on the highway.

The occasion was at the time called “The Race Of The Century” as it saw the Durban July one-two, Bush Telegraph and Model Man, clashing and crack Johannesburg Gr 1-winning three-year-old Main Man was also involved.

Bush Telegraph was bidding to remain unbeaten after ten starts, which would have been one short of Home Guard’s record of eleven.

Other Gr 1 winners or subsequent Gr 1 winners in the eleven horse field were Uncle Percy, Sloop, Heir To Riches, Yamani, Enchanted Garden and Jungle Rock.

The Paddy Lunn-trained Model Man put up possibly the best ever July peformance in defeat when going down by 1,25 lengths to the Bert Abercrombie-trained Bush Telegraph, as he was left out of his ground and his thrilling charge was only just not enough, despite having to concede 8kg to the three-year-old,.

Nevertheless, he was going for a fourth Gr 1 in the season in the Mainstay and despite having to carry 57kg again, he was now giving just 4kg to Bush Telegraph.

The four-year-old duly started 8/10 with Bush Telegraph 18/10.

However, the 10/1 shot Main Man was given a brilliant ride by Jeff Lloyd and carrying just 49kg he stole a march and stole the race.

Model Man, ridden again by Basil Marcus, failed by just a short-head to catch him and Bush Telegraph, with July-winning jockey Garth Puller aboard, was beaten 1,30 lengths in third.

It is interesting to note Main Man is still represented on the track today through his daughter Roman Miss.

Emannuel Kaknis trains his homebred Mafiabagsthemoney, who is by Eviction out of Roman Miss, and this six-year-od gelding runs on the Fairview turf on Monday.

Profile of the top class Main Man:

MAIN MAN (1983c Trocadero – Madam Magic by Adamastor).

Bred at Len Starke’s Koeberg Stud in the Western Cape, Main Man went under the hammer at the select portion of the 1985 National Yearling Sales and was purchased by Jean Heming for client JP “Zwi” Heroldt for R36.000.

The colt raced in the interests of Heroldt, Jaap van de Vendel and Jean Heming. Conditioner Jean Heming pronounced him “the best two-year-old I have ever had” and Main Man enjoyed an exemplary 2yo career, getting first past the post in all of his juvenile starts, including the Gr1 SA Nursery Plate.

Following a short head victory over Bush Telegraph in the last race of his 2yo career, the Gr1 Smirnoff Plate, Main Man was relegated to 2nd after an objection. He opened his 3yo career with an easy B Division victory and then cruised home in the SA Invitation Stakes. Two below-par runs in B Division company led to allegations of nobbling by conditioner Heming, but Main Man returned to form for the 1987 Natal season. Although going down a neck to Sloop, Main Man set such breakneck fractions in the SA Guineas, that the winning time broke both the race and track record. He finished 3rd behind Model Man in the Champion Stakes, but a superb ride by Jeff Lloyd in the Mainstay got them home fractionally ahead of the same adversary.

The race was so exciting, it was dubbed “The Race of the Century”. Main Man was subsequently catalogued on a horse-in-training sale at Gosforth Park and sold for R1 million to dissolve the partnership. Heming and van de Vendel retained their shares with Joe Stravino buying out Zwi Heroldt. A shock 9 length defeat in the November Handicap had the connections scratching their heads, but worse was to come in the Barclays National 200 000. After a strong start, the colt hit a brick wall and stopped so abruptly that jockey Muis Roberts was prompted to predict ‘ticker trouble.’

Veterinary examination shed no light and the colt rallied to win an A Division handicap. The 1988 Met and Computaform Sprint were disappointing. Main Man managed to pick up place money in the Administrator’s Stakes Trial and Drill Hall Stakes before retiring to stud at Stoneleigh Farm. In 19 seasons at stud, Main Man proved a didsappointment, his best progeny being Gr2 winners Golden Man and Sovereign Seas. His daughter Special Day (a full sister to Golden Man) got Gr1 placed Gr2 winner Rememberance.

(Raceform)

*Model Man still has plenty of runners representing him through his daughters today, but Bush Telegraph has none.

Which presenter said to French jockey Olivier Peslier, “As we say in England ‘Bonne Chance'”

Picture: The subject of the question