Andrew Fortune Wins His Appeal In Cherry Oh Baby Case
- The Appeal was upheld and the decision of the Inquiry Board was overturned; and
- The Appeal fee is to be refunded to Jockey Fortune.
A Fine Day For Ferrie, Veale And Hollywood At Hollywoodbets Greyville
I Am Giant was possibly too handy when disappointing in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint and he confirmed the form of his Gr 2 Post Merchants win when reverting to hold up tactics on Sunday over the same Hollywoodbets Greyville 1200m course and distance. He gave Stuart Ferrie a quick double, Sean Veale the second leg of a treble and Hollywood Racing the third leg of a four-timer (Picture: Anneke Akal Kitching)
Andrew Harrison (Race Coast)
Rachel Venniker finally made it out of the second box to get Pioneer Square home in the Michaelmas Handicap (Non-Black Type) that headed the card at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.
Candice Dawson was in two minds whether to takes their chances from the widest draw but considering that the gelding had never finished out of the money, a place cheque would have paid for expenses.
It was a close-run thing however as Venniker took the brave decision to head for the lead. Drawn widest she first had to fight off Celtic Beauty and Go Grayson Go before settling into a rhythm.
Pioneer Square still had the lead at the top of the straight but was threatened by a wall of horses. The son of Querari is not lacking in intestinal fortitude and kept finding with the result down to the wire where he kept his nose in front to hold off Johnny The Thief by the narrowest of margins with the ever consistent Cape Eagle another short head back in third.
Cognac looked to be one of the better bets on yesterday’s card in spite of his high merit rating garnered after his impressive maiden win and 61kg on his back. It was not all plain sailing but the Rafeef colt got the deed done and is now headed for the Cape Summer with Stuart Ferrie’s string that includes Gladatorian and the G1 Cape Guineas is possibly on the agenda.
Stable companion Luneluck set a blistering pace and although, according to Sean Veale having his first win back from suspension, the plan was to settle Cognac in the running. However, Veale seemed to be caught a little off guard at the start with El Dante playing up on his inside and consequently missing the break. Cognac appeared to be well out of his ground half-way up the straight with Luneluck still going great guns, but like a good horse, Cognac responded to Veale’s urging and put the race to bed inside the final 50m.
The Ferrie-trained I Am Giant is also Cape Town bound and confirmed the Gr1 Post Merchants form as he got the better of O’Tenikwa in the fifth race, an A Stakes event over 1200m. With King Of The Gauls setting a solid gallop, Veale elected to settle in off the pace while O’Tenikwa was hung out to dry, racing three wide with Serino Moodley trying to make it to the rail and using up plenty of gas. This was possibly the difference between the two as I Am Giant quickened through a perfect split with O’Tenikwa flat to the boards on the outside. Cats Pajamas ran an eye-catching third, coming from close to last to finish a close-up third.
This was Veale and Ferries double for the day and Hollywood Racing third win.
Forward Motion went back-to-back in the Progress Plate over 1400m, sixth race on the card, with hot favourite Whispering Death a well-beaten fourth. KMV Retrofit set the pace with Muzi Yeni keeping a close eye on Whispering Death. When the gloves came off at the 400m mark Forward Motion hit the front and refused to give in getting the better of Bristol Hercules.
Whispering Death was the disappointment of the race but he is obviously not straight forward, missing a lot of last season through injury at home and the vet was called in. He went to the start in earmuffs and being off the track since March possibly took its toll. He was staying on well enough and should not be written off on the back of this run.
Given her form, Quickstepgal was the best bet on the card in the seventh and Tienie Prinsloo’s filly duly obliged. Under promising four-claiming apprentice Dezahn Louw, she pulled herself to the front early and was not for the catching as she booked her ticket for the Cape summer.
She was having her first run for the Wernars family and Harry Willson who bought her for an undisclosed amount at the conclusion her two-year-old season that saw her win three of her five starts including a close-up second to the unbeaten Anotherdanceforme in the Gr2 Golden Slipper.
A well beaten second but far from disgraced was Ladyofdistinction. A substantial daughter of Vercingetorix, she was carrying plenty of condition and should come on lengths with this run.
Friendless in the market, Johnny Boy belied his 10-1 odds, running out a good winner of the card opener. Drawn widest in the 13-horse field, Callan Murray had no hesitation in taking Peter Muscutt’s colt to the front where he had a comfortable lead.
Kicking for home early crossing the subway, Johnny Boy held on gamely with challengers aplenty. Second placed, the grey Eastern Highlands was closing relentlessly with Touched By Angels finishing best of all to take third, edging out hot favourite The Marquee. Serino Moodley missed the break slightly on The Marquee but was quickly onto the rail and then making up ground into a better position. At one stage he looked poised for a big challenge as the gaps opened, but although running on, he didn’t quicken enough for a major challenge.
Different stable, same tactics in the second. Murray recorded back-to-back wins sending Pied Piper to the front leaving the field to follow. It was a finely timed front-running ride by Murray who continues to impress since his return from Australia and is now one of the country’s leading riders. Also impressing is Vengi Masawi who trains the Hollywood Racing string out of Ashburton. He learnt his trade under Mike de Kock and it was back to his mentor for advice on Pied Piper. The cheek Pieces were added and the result spoke for itself.
Favourite Green Glow was given a chance to run on, as is the want from Dean Kannemeyer-trained runners, making up plenty of ground from well off the pace to finish a comfortable second. Definitely one for the notebook.
Things didn’t go according to plan with The Marquee in the first but the Plattner team made amends in the first leg of the PA as Miss Twinkle came through to follow up on her maiden win. A relatively late start to her career, KZN assistant to Andre Nel, Byron Forster alluded to the fact that the filly had shown an aversion to the starting stalls and it had taken time to get her settled. It was a wait well worth it and Miss Twinkle can go on as she steps up in trip.
Doug Campbell’s runner Sascha’s Dream was game in defeat with favourite Spinmyangelspin running on for third.
Buddy Boy started favourite for the final leg of the Pick 6 but raced very green around the turn and failed to turn it on in the straight. All this time Craig Zackey was biding his time towards the rear of the pack before unleashing Kanaal Skater in his first try over a mile to pick off the opposition in good fashion with Jazz Festival a game second.
Hollywood Racing rounded off a fine afternoon with the Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Gotta Go Eddie going on to convert favouritism in the last giving Hollywood their fourth winner of the afternoon and Veale his third after returning from an enforced two-week holiday.
Oldlands Stud Offer Five Fabulous Lots At Two-year-old Sale
Oldands Stud use biodynamic principles to produce quality, well developed thoroughbreds and it shows in the fine results and reputation they have built over the years (Picture Supplied)
Oldlands Stud is a farm which continues to produce top-class thoroughbreds. Last season, the Oldlands bred Good For You showed his class when he won the Gr 1 Gold Medallion. Other recent smart performers representing Oldlands include Hotarubi, Taxi To The Moon, and Taxhaven. The latter captured the Listed TAB Gold Bowl at Turffontein last season.
Based in the Hemel ‘N Aarde valley, Oldlands will be bringing five well-related two-year-olds to the 2025 Two-Year-Old Sale.
Lot 67: Miss Moffett – Royal Mo – Sapsan (filly):
By the underrated Royal Mo, a son of the legendary Uncle Mo, Miss Moffett is a half-sister to two winners. This filly is out of the smart racemare Sapsan, who ran third in the Gr 1 Golden Slipper. Sapsan is a half-sister to the Oldlands bred Gr 2 Selangor Cup winner Rocket Countdown, and this is the family of classy globetrotter Nocturnal Affair among others.
Lot 80: Simply Elusive – Elusive Fort – Simply Blue (colt):
By the sire of Gr 1 Vodacom Durban July/Gr 1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met winning sire Kommetdieding, Simply Elusive is a half-brother to four winners. His dam is a four-time winning half-sister to dual graded stakes winner, and equine millionaire, Kangaroo Jack and the stakes placed Fly My Flag.
Lot 87: Three Guesses – Horizon – Sydney Opera (colt):
By the same sire as smart performers Scarlet Macaw, Claw and Silvonian, this colt is a full brother to a winner. His dam Sydney Opera was sired by US champion Bernardini, a top-class sire and outstanding broodmare sire. In 2025 alone, Bernardini mares produced more than 20 stakes winners led by Gr 1 Kentucky Derby/Gr 1 Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty.
Lot 107: Mythical Wind – Royal Mo – Windspiel (filly):
By the same sire as the likes of Royal Aussie, Count Invicto and Donna Mo, this filly is a half-sister to seven winners including Listed Zimbabwe Guineas winner Jacky Sparrow and the stakes placed Tiger Play. Windspiel is a daughter of outstanding broodmare sire Captain Al, the damsire of stars Princess Calla, Kommetdieding, Sandringham Summit and Eight On Eighteen.
Lot 136: Elusive Diamond – Elusive Fort – Diamonds N Dust (colt): A three-parts brother to the stakes placed Fort Anne, this colt is out of a three-time winning daughter of Oratorio -broodmare sire of Gr 1 winners as Jan Van Goyen and VJ’s Angel. His granddam Dream River is a daughter of champion and hugely influential sire Oasis Dream, and this is the female line of such Epsom classic winners as Lammtarra, Pour Moi and Snow Bride.
For more information about Oldlands’ Two-Year-Old Sale draft, please contact Barbara Sanne on (082) 566 3450.
All horses purchased off the RCS Two-Year-Old Sale qualify for the RCS Slipper. The Slipper is run over 1200m for qualifying 2yo graduates of Race Coast Sales. This lucrative race will be run in mid-April for a purse of R3 Million in 2026 at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
Van Niekerk's Bid For A High Court Interdict Fails
Grant van Niekerk misfortunes have snowballed after a joyous moment of victory in the R5 million Big Cap on All Out For Six on March 16
Grant can Niekerk’s urgent application to the High Court for an interdict has failed as the judge ruled it lacked urgency.
Van Niekerk had launched an urgent application against the National Horseracing Authority in order to have his recent penalties suspended pending review proceedings being brought in the High Court.
The Judge did not dismiss the case, but rather struck it off the roll as he felt it lacked urgency.
Van Niekerk’s suspensions could have been concluded by now had he apologised to the racing public.
He was given a 90 day suspension with 60 of them suspended, but the suspension of the 60 days was subject to him apologising.
He failed to apologise by the stipulated date, so his suspension now ends on December 8.
However, a review of his case still stands before the high court.
His suspension will likely have ended by the time the case is heard, but presumably he will be able to sue the NHA for loss of earnings if he wins the case.
The NHA’s press release about Van Niekerk’s failed bid to get an interdict is shown below:
Following an Appeal heard on 14 August 2025 and the press release below, Jockey van Niekerk subsequently filed papers in the Gauteng South High Court on 25 September 2025. The application sought was to have an interdict granted on an urgent basis to have his penalty held in abeyance, until the potential hearing and finalisation of an intended review application by his legal representatives.
Judge Noko concluded that “the application is fraught with some insurmountable difficulties and is bound to fail”.
The judgment was handed down electronically by Judge MV Noko on 10 October 2025, as follows:
The application is struck off the roll for lack of urgency, with costs including the costs of counsel on Scale B.
Following an Appeal heard on 14 August 2025 and the press release below, Jockey van Niekerk subsequently filed papers in the Gauteng South High Court on 25 September 2025. The application sought was to have an interdict granted on an urgent basis to have his penalty held in abeyance, until the potential hearing and finalisation of an intended review application by his legal representatives.
Judge Noko concluded that “the application is fraught with some insurmountable difficulties and is bound to fail”.
The judgment was handed down electronically by Judge MV Noko on 10 October 2025, as follows:
The application is struck off the roll for lack of urgency, with costs including the costs of counsel on Scale B.
Michael Shackleton
NHA Legal Advisor
A press release following the failed appeal by Van Niekerk to the NHA is shown below:
APPEAL – JOCKEY G VAN NIEKERK
The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa (NHA) confirms that an Appeal was heard at its offices in Johannesburg on Thursday, 14 August 2025.
Background:
At an Inquiry held in Johannesburg on Friday, 4 July 2025, Jockey G van Niekerk was charged with a contravention of Rule 72.1.26.
The particulars being that Jockey van Niekerk behaved or conducted himself in such a manner which has or might have the effect of discrediting horse racing or which does or might bring into disrepute the good name of the NATIONAL HORSERACING AUTHORITY, a RACING OPERATOR, any training establishment, the ACADEMY, the STEWARDS or members of any committee of the NATIONAL HORSERACING AUTHORITY or any INQUIRY BOARD, APPEAL BOARD, INQUIRY REVIEW BOARD, the LICENSING BOARD, any OBJECTION BOARD or any RACING OPERATOR or any official of the NATIONAL HORSERACING AUTHORITY or RACING OPERATOR.
The charge originated from comments made by Jockey van Niekerk during a post-race interview following the running of Race 2 at Hollywoodbets Durbanville Racecourse on Wednesday, 26 March 2025.
Jockey van Niekerk pleaded not guilty but was found guilty of the charge.
After considering the nature of the offence, the rule violation, Jockey van Niekerk’s personal circumstances, and the interests of the racing community, the Inquiry Board ruled as follows:
A 90-day suspension from race riding, of which 60 days are suspended for three years, subject to the following conditions:
1.1 Public Apology: Jockey van Niekerk must issue a public apology to the NHA via the
media within ten days of this ruling.
1.2 Jockey van Niekerk must not be convicted of Rule 72.1.26 during the three-year
suspension period.
1.3 The nine days suspension already served will be taken into account in determining
the dates of the remainder of the 30 days’ suspension. Accordingly, the 30-day suspension could be served from 27 March 2025 to 26
April 2025, subject to his right of appeal.
A fine of R100 000 was also imposed, of which R75 000 was suspended for three years, on condition that Jockey van Niekerk is not convicted of another Rule 72.1.26 violation during this period.
Jockey van Niekerk was given the right to appeal the finding and the penalty imposed, which he exercised.
Appeal Board Ruling:
The Appeal Board issued the following order:
- The appeal is dismissed and the decision of the Inquiry Board is confirmed.
- The appellant (Jockey G van Niekerk) is ordered to pay an amount limited to R50 000 towards the NHA’s legal costs of the day.
- The appellant (Jockey G van Niekerk) is further ordered to pay the costs of the Appeal Board which convened on 14 August 2025.
- Jockey van Niekerk’s appeal fee is forfeited.
For the sake of clarity, the NHA wishes to indicate that the Inquiry Board considered the possibility that 9 days of the 30-day suspension was already served by Jockey van Niekerk but made it clear that it was subject to Jockey van Niekerk indicating in the Inquiry that he does not intend to appeal, in which case the suspension does not come into effect. Jockey van Niekerk failed to make such indication therefore the 30-day suspension period must be served.
Suspension dates 10 September – 9 October 2025 (both days inclusive)
Further, as per the Inquiry Board ruling which was upheld in this instance, the reduction of the 90-day suspension to 30 days is contingent on several factors, including that Jockey van Niekerk must issue a public apology to the NHA via the media within ten days of this ruling (by 15 September 2025).
Failure to do so will trigger the full 90-day suspension being enforced after ten days of this ruling.
A D Hyde
Racing Control Executive
Van Niekerk’s public criticism of the NHA followed an inquiry on March 25 in which he was given a 21 day suspension and a R50,000 fine. The press release pertaining to the appeal against the offense which brought the 21 day suspension and the R50,000 fine can be read below:
The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa (NHA) confirms that an Appeal was heard at its offices in Johannesburg on Thursday, 24 July 2025.
Background:
At an Inquiry held in Cape Town on Tuesday, 25 March 2025, Jockey G van Niekerk was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.7.
The specifics of the charge were that, whilst riding ALL OUT FOR SIX, he failed to ensure that he did not cause interference to THE GREY KING and ONE STRIPE when he shifted in at the 150m in Race 8 of the HSH Princess Charlene Big Cap run over 1400m at the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Racecourse on 16 March 2025.
Jockey van Niekerk pleaded not guilty and was found guilty of the charge.
After consideration of the mitigating and aggravating factors, including Mr van Niekerk’s recent disciplinary record related to similar contraventions and the status of the race, the Inquiry Board imposed the following penalties:
A suspension from riding in races for a period of twenty-one (21) days.
A fine of R50 000 (fifty thousand rand).
Jockey van Niekerk was given the right to appeal the finding and the penalty imposed, which he exercised.
Appeal Board Ruling:
The Appeal Board issued the following order:
The appeal is dismissed.
The appellant (Jockey G van Niekerk) is ordered to pay an amount limited to R50 000 towards the NHA’s legal costs of the day.
The appellant (Jockey G van Niekerk) is further ordered to pay the costs of the Appeal Board which convened on 24 July 2025.
Jockey van Niekerk’s appeal fee is forfeited.
Media release by NHA on Thursday 24 July 2025
Chronicle King Proves His Class
Chronicle King holds on from Sukhumvit (far side) and Echo Check in a thriller (JC Photos)
Chronicle King, winner of the Gr 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe on Hollywoodbets Durban July day, proved his class at Turffontein Inside on Saturday.
Following his Golden Horseshoe win, the Candice Dawson-trained Vercingetorix colt proved that was no fluke by finishing a fine third to crack colts Jan Van Goyen and Tin Pan Alley in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Gold Cup day.
The form of the latter race was franked when Tin Pan Alley won the Gr 2 Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m on October 4 at Turffontein Inside.
Nevertheless, Chronicle King only started second favourite on Saturday in a 1450m Graduation Plate event such is the high regard the Fabian Habib-trained Echo Check is held in.
The pair had been set to carry the same weight of 58,5kg but Echo Chck did have the 1,5kg gender allowance of Rachel Venniker as an advantage.
Muzi Yeni tucked Chronicle King, who jumped from barrier five, in behind the pacemaker Echo Check, who jumped from barrier three and was bidding to make it three from three.
Echo Check opened a two length lead coming off the elbow but Chronicle King was soon making inroads, while the classy Alec Laird-trained Silvano mare Sukhumvit was taking advantage of a light weight of 53kg as she was making a bold bid on the inside, despite returning from a layoff of nine-and-a-half months.
Echo Check could not find the necessary extra and Chronicle King passed him late and held off Sukhumvit by a head.
Echo Check was beaten half-a-length into third.
The win followed the victory of the Dawson-trained Truth (Heavenly Blue) on Thursday at the Vaal, which stamped him as a top class candidate for sprints this season, and it preceded the victory of the Dawson-trained Pioneer Square (Querari) at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday in the Michaelmas Handicap, so it has been a halcyon few days for the Dawson yard.
Warning Sound Can Keep Tarry Machine Ticking Over
Egyptian Mau Wins At Santa Anita Park
Eqyptian Mau is pictured winning in SA (JC Photos)
Cape Breeders
Wilgerbosdrift’s top-class sire Fire Away enjoyed success in the USA on Friday with the former Lucky Houdalakis-trained Dave Shawe-owned mare Egyptian Mau.
Fire Away’s high-class daughter picked up her first win in North Ameica on Friday, after smart efforts in two two previous outings.
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The Neil Drysdale trained mare won an allowance optional claiming race at Santa Anita despite having a rough start.
Under Mike Smith, Egyptian Mau overcame a bobble at the start of Friday’s six and a half furlongs turf contest to get up close home and win by half a length.
Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Egyptian Mau had finished third and second in her first two starts in the USA.
Now racing for Team Valor International, Egyptian Mau is out of the Fort Wood mare Savannah Cat.
Friday’s winner, a half-sister to G3 Godolphin Barb Stakes winner Cymric, was a R425 000 buy from the 2022 National Yearling Sale when knocked down to Titanium Racing.
Egyptian Mau showed high-class form in South Africa, where she won the G3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes and ran second in the G1 Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes.
She is from the first crop of G3 Dixie Stakes winner Fire Away, with this crop also producing G3 World Sports Betting Langerman winner My Golly Molly, East Cape star Luna Halo, and Listed TAB Spook Express Stakes winner Explosive Bond.
Today's Question
Which life-saving leg operation cost £25,000 and was called “an extortianate liberty” by the trainer of the horse in 1972.
The picture is of the subject of the leg operation
FIELDS, Tuesday, 14 October
Vaal Classic
Today’s Question Answer
Veterinary surgeon Jim Roberts operated on the great Mill Reef’s broken leg and did not send a bill until his first mares were in foal. The bill read, “For saving Mill Reef’s life: £25,000.” That’s about £300,000 in today’s money. Trainer Ian Balding was outraged and called Mill Reef’s breeder and owner Paul Mellon, who yet again showed his generosity and said, “Pay it.”
Mill Reef’s leg operation cost was later proven to be well worthwhile as he sired multiple Group One winners and two Derby victors: the 1978 winner Shirley Heights (who sired the 1985 winner Slip Anchor) and the 1987 winner Reference Point.
