Turf Talk Newsletter – 24 February, 2026

Robert Barrett Soon To Be SA's Newest Licensed Trainer

Robert Barrett greets another winner and could soon be leading in his own yard’s winners (Picture: Crawford Racing)

27-year-old Manchester-born Robert Barrett will become South Africa’s newest licensed trainer and starts out at Futura Park with a handful of horses and the numbers will hopefully be boosted at the forthcoming Sales in Cape Town, where he will be available to be approached by prospective buyers.

Robert wrote his trainers license exam last week having gained a lot of experience in his years since leaving school by spending six months with John Koster at Klawervlei Stud, five years with Mike Stewart at his Noordhoek Beach-based training operation and two years at Futura Park, which consisted of just over a year with Brett Crawford and nearly a year with James Crawford.

Robert’s deep passion for racing all began when watching every Saturday morning, together with his father, Britain’s iconic racing program, the Channel 4 Morning Line, which featured such racing legends as John Francome, John McCirick, Derek “Thommo” Thompson, John Oaksey, Jim McGrath, Lesley Graham etc and for the rest of the day, if they were not at the races, they would watch all of the live racing on Channel 4, whose signature tune you might find Robert humming to himself even today.

He grew up idolising Frankie Dettori, as well as Manchester City long before their successful era, and wanted to be a jockey himself, but that was never to be as he has grown up into a 6 foot, 90kg adult.

He recalled Frankie’s first Derby win on Authorized and continued to follow British racing with passion when moving to South Africa at the age of eleven.

He completed high school in South Africa but that didn’t stop him following the like of the great Frankel’s career from afar.

Robert’s passion for racing grew to new heights in Cape Town as he was able to see it from an inside angle as his Grandfather owned horses.

His Grandfather’s best horses were the like of Fabiani, a Glen Kotzen-trained Gr 2 Green Point Stakes winner (giving Karis Teetan his first Graded winner) and he also ran in the July and finished third in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate to the mighty Pocket Power; Sea Cat, a Listed-winning five-time winner trained by Paul Reeves; and recently he has owned two good Mike Stewart-trained horses, Helen’s Ideal (Listed-winning six-time winner) and Pretty Betty (Gr 3-winning five-time winner).

As a fifteen-year-old Robert used to stay with Paul Reeves and family for a week or two during the school holidays and go to work with him every morning.

He met John Koster through the annual Klawervlei Farm Sale, which his Grandfather always used to attend, and at one of the first he attended John said to him, “When you’ve done school come to the farm and I’ll make you into a horseman.”

Every year John would say, “Have you done school yet?”

Robert said, “So as soon as I had finished school I waited until after Christmas and went straight to Klawervlei.”

“I spent just short of six months there going to all of the big Sales and learning a helluva lot in a short space of time. I always had the idea of going to a racing yard from there and as I lived Noordhoek-side the opportunity arose to spend time with Mike Stewart. I almost started out by just helping out but he then gave me a job and I was with him for five years. I did my qualifications like stable employee and assistant’s etc while with Mike.”

He continued,”I only weighed 70kg when leaving school and Mike said to me one day, ‘If you’re going to be a trainer you will have to learn to ride a horse as well, so he taught me how to ride which was a big plus. I rode plenty of horses work along the beach.”

Mike Stewart is also used by many big yard’s to rehabilitate injured horses because of the sea water being alongside his facility and among those who recuperated with him while Robert was there was Double Superlative. The big horse spent about six months there and went on to win the WSB Met.

Robert said, “You never really get a perfect horse at Mike Stewart’s, you’re either inheriting horses from other trainers with issues or you fixing a horse for someone else before sending it back to them. So this was a fantastic learning curve for me, working with such horses taught me a lot. Mike is a very underrated horseman too, he is a phenomenal horseman.”

He continued, “The time came when I needed to move to a bigger yard, before I went on my own, in order to work with top class horses and see how the big yards operate with big strings etc. Brett wanted me when I told him I wanted to move on and it was all done very quickly.”

Brett’s string had grown to about 150 when Robert joined him in the March after Brett’s first Hollywoodbets Durban July win with Winchester Mansion.

” I was with Brett when Oriental Charm won the July and so it was a fantastic time and I learnt a huge amount from him. I have been with James since Brett moved to Hong Kong. The Futura Park training facilities and tracks are phenomenal as the record of the Snaiths and the Crawfords proves.”

Chasingtherainbow is Robert’s Grandfather’s horse who has followed him from Mike Stewart’s to The Crawfords and will now join his own yard. This Potala Palace gelding won a fine race on Sunday to make it five wins from just 12 starts and Robert reckoned he had the potential to be even better if he learnt better racing manners.”

There are 60 boxes in the yard Robert is moving into.

He is full of nervous excitement and concluded, “It has always been my dream and now it is reality.”

For Robert’s contact details see advertisement below:

Frankie Dettori Deserves To Be Rated A Sporting "Great"

Frankie Dettori’s iconic career ended at the end of last month and he will be remembered as one of the all time greats (Sky Sports Racing)

Dave Mollett

Among the many words of wisdom hailing from the UK’s Timeform organisation, is the following. “The adjective “great” has been so overused that it has virtually lost its meaning.”

Probably very true, but I believe that on January 31 we said goodbye to a sporting “great” in world-renowned jockey, Frankie Dettori.

That last Saturday in January was memorable for two jockeys both in their fifties. Andrew Fortune rolled back the years to land a four-timer at Hollywoobets Kenilworth (including the WSB Met) while Fanke Dettori – presumably for a huge appearance fee – hung up his saddle with a double in Brazil.

There was no lack of criticism of the Italian in the British media for not having his last ride in the UK, but the 55 year-old won’t care about that especially with his much-publicised tax problems.
For Andrew Fortune, now sadly sidelined with a broken shoulder, it has been a question of getting up off the canvas. For a bounce back from adversity, his story takes some beating.

Both Andrew and Frankie have had their problems with drugs. Andrew has made no secret about this, but it came as a shock to Frankie’s legion of fans when – in 2012 – he was slapped with a 6-month ban by the Paris stewards after failing a test.

If one googles the videos of Frankie’s career, what stands out – and makes him great – is his winning association with the best horses in the world’s best races.

So many are household names – Enable, Dubai Millennium and Cracksman are three who immediately spring to mind, particularly the first-named who will surely always have a special place in Frankie’s heart because of her Arc exploits. Worth remembering that – as a three year-old – she won the Oaks, King George and the Arc.

Though Dubai Millennium ran out an eight lengths winner of the Dubai World Cup, I’m not sure I would rate him ahead of Cracksman whose victories in the 2017 and 2018 Champion Stakkes can only be described as “super impressive.”

When he reflects on his career spanning 35 years which he now has time to do, Frankie might well ask “did that all really happen to me?” That all included 288 Gr 1 winners, three UK jockey championships, six Arcs and Gold Cup glory on Stradivarius. He had to wait till he was 36 – at his 15th attempt – for his first Derby win on Authorized.

Of course, the biggest day of his career came at Ascot in September 1996 when he rode all seven winners on the card. The headline was the “Magnificent Seven” and bookmakers reportedly lost millions of pounds.

His charismatic character made him the perfect target for other sports to turn his way and he was torch-bearer for the Olympic Games and made a number of appearances on TV shows.

The downside included losing the Godolphin job after many as well as his fall-out – then make-up- with John Gosden. Enable really cemented that partnership with Frankie saying she simply “had a will to win.”

Then there was the crash of a light aircraft in June 2000 which left Frankie and fellow jockey, Ray Cochrane, scrambling for safety and the pilot dead. Frankie escaped with just a broken ankle.

Frankie married his wife, Catherine, in 1997 and they have five children. In 2008 – while Frankie was here to ride in an “international” race at Turffontein- Phumelela asked if my wife and I would chaperone the couple – as well as Mick Kinane and his wife also Catherine – on a three-day visit to Mala Mala.

To say this trip was an eyeopener is an understatement. On arrival at the game reserve, Frankie’s first question was “Molly, where’s the bar – I need some champagne.” The only stipulation was that the six of us had nightly dinners with Mike Rattray which was an outstanding experience with some great wine.

On our departure, I asked the bar manager how many bottles of champers had been consumed and his reply was 27. I said “Blimey, that’s going to cost us a pretty penny,” and there was considerable relief when he said “Mr R says it’s on the house”. What did I learn about Frankie on that trip? Mainly that this is a guy with a happy go lucky persona and it’s simply fun to be in his company.
Of course, it is Frankie’s flying dismounts that have become a trademark following his many big race successes. Sad to think we won’t be witnessing those any more as the 2026 British Flat season draws near.

We all have our different favourites in sport, but if asked to nominate a “great” footballer I’d go for Diego Maradona and – in tennis – probably Novak Djokovic just shading Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Lester Piggott was obviously a great but so – I believe – was Frankie Dettori. His big race wins all over the world mark him as someone special.

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Exciting new names in the stallion ranks will be the big drawcard for next Sunday’s Cape Yearling Sale in Constantia.

Two of the most talented and popular performers in recent years have been Jet Dark and Kommetdieding. Interestingly, both are represented by seven of their progeny in the 140-lot catalogue.

Three of the first four yearlings through the ring on Sunday are by these two sires and there could be some early fireworks for Drakenstein’s Jet Dark colt, Fill My Heart (lot 4) as the youngster is a half-brother to Gr 3 winner, Hold My Hand. This filly has also been placed in the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000.

Drakenstein have come up with a catchy advert in the catalogue stating that Jet Dark Yearlings Are Ready for Take-Off. Flight Plan: Black Type.

Varsfontein (as agent) send the first yearling into the ring and this is a daughter of Jet Dark out of the seven-time winner, Elusive Fortune. The majority of Varsfontein’s strong draft are sons or daughters of Erik The Red.

The same stud, whose drafts are always worth close scrutiny, will be expecting some lively bidding for their Master Of My Fate colt, Mansa Musa (lot 106). This youngster is a half-brother to Cape Guineas third, Randolph Hearst.

Wilgerbosdrift have a draft of 15 yearlings by a number of different sires including Buffalo Bill Cody, Fire Away and Hawwaam. A son of Buffalo Bill Cody named Saint Louis (lot 134) catches the eye on pedigree as he is out of the Sadlers Wells mare, Dagana.

The first produce of Durban July and Met winner, Kommetdieding, have been eagerly awaited and Klawervlei will have some choice youngsters headed for the National Yearling Sales at Germiston in April.

Prosper Stud (as agent) have consigned one of his sons (lot 44) who is out of the four-time winning Australian mare, More Than That. The same stud have the second yearling into the ring in the Captain Of All filly, All A Lady, also out of an Australian mare.

Grant Van Niekerk Lands Plum Cape Derby Ride

Grant van Niekerk wins the 2021 Cape Derby on Linebacker (Picture: Wayne Marks)

The talented Grant van Niekerk needs a break to win back his status as a sought after jockey and riding Note To Self in the Gr 1 Lucky Fish Cape Derby gives him a good opportunity.

The ride became available when Richard Fourie jumped off Note To Self upon Wish List becoming available due to the sidelining of Andrew Fortune.

The Justin Snaith-trained trio of Wish List, Happy Verse and Note To Self are dominating the top of the betting boards.

Note To Self is officially way under sufferance, but he is unexposed and was hugely impressive when cruising to victory over 2000m on WSB Met day.

Van Niekerk has a strike rate of 17.48% this season, but he has had just 18 wins because he has only had 103 rides.

He and Des McLachlan have formed a good partnership and this included a treble on the 11th of this month and a double on the 22nd.

Van Niekerk was victorious in the 2021 Cape Derby on the Vaughan Marshall-trained Linebacker, who went on to also win the Gr 2 WSB Guineas and the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 before only just failing to win the July.

Note To Self, a big, long-striding Futura gelding has a tricky draw of five out of eight.

He will make a bold bid.

Klawervlei Stud Offer A Blue-blooded Draft At Premier Sale

Quality is the name of the game in Klawervlei Stud’s draft for the 2026 Premier Yearling Sale. Not only is Klawervlei offering, yearlings sired by such top-class stallions as Vercingetorix, Gimmethegreenlight, Rafeef, and One World, the farm will also be offering yearlings from some of the best families in the stud book. Another notable factor in this draft is the number of high-quality yearlings from Klawervlei’s exciting young sire Kommetdieding’s first crop. Kommetdieding’s first yearlings include a half-sister (Lot 17) to the classy North Point, a filly (Lot 92) out of a stakes winning daughter of Silvano, and a colt (Lot 249) out of Gimmethegreenlight’s multiple graded stakes winning daughter Green Plains. A number of the July/Met winner’s first crop’s pedigrees have duplications of either, or both, Al Mufti and Fort Wood as well as duplications of the mighty Captain Al. Klawervlei will be offering a number of offspring out of top-class stakes winners, with the likes of Gibraltar Blue, Green Plains, Heaps Of Fun, Moon In June, Return Flight, Thunder Dance, Trinity House and Witchcraft all represented. Potential standout lots in this draft are:

Lot 123: Unnamed c Vercingetorix – Thunder Dance

A full-brother to Listed Irridescence Stakes winner Ukuduma and three-parts brother to the stakes placed She’s A Rainbow, this colt’s first two dams are both multiple Gr 1 winners. His dam Thunder Dance won both the Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes and Gr1 Paddock Stakes, while his granddam, Shadow Dance, a half-sister to Gr 1 Cape Guineas winner and outstanding sire Captain Al, won the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas and Gr1 Majorca Stakes. This colt is also bred on very similar lines to the Vercingetorix sired Gr 1 TAB The Premier’s Champions Challenge winner Astrix.

Lot 64: Unnamed c Gimmethegreenlight – Return Flight

By multiple champion sire Gimmethegreenlight, whose progeny includes stars as Gimme A Nother, Yulong Prince, and The Real Prince, to name a few, this colt is out of a top-class racemare in the form of Return Flight. Equus Champion 2YO Filly of 2017-2018, Return Flight was an exceptional performer at two when she won three of five starts (by an aggregate of more than 20 lengths) including the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes. At three, Return Flight won two legs of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara namely the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic and Gr 2 SA Oaks.

Lot 241: Unnamed f Vercingetorix -Gibraltar Blue

By the Klawervlei Stud bred champion and champion sire, this filly is a full sister to the stakes placed Cullinan Blue and to recent course record breaker I’m A Fireball. A half-sister to the smart pair of Battleoftrafalgar and Pillar Of Hercules, she is out of the outstanding racemare Gibraltar Blue, whose five black type wins include a triumph in the Gr 2 KRA Fillies Guineas.

Lot 60: Unnamed f Vercingetorix -Quite Frankly

By last season’s champion sire who is again heading the South African sires premiership, this filly is out of a Frankel half-sister to Gr 2 Post Merchants third Teflon Man, who recently ran second to the highly rated All The Rage. Quite Frankly, also a half-sister to the smart Love In Winter, is out of a Dark Angel half-sister to two stakes winners, one of which produced Gr 1 winning two-year-old Sudirman. This is the family of legendary Japanese champion Gentildonna among others.

Lot 102: Vauxhall Cross c Vercingetorix -Sovereign Secret

By the sire of recent Gr 1 winners Double Grand Slam and Quickstepgal, Vauxhall Cross hails from one of the best families in the South African stud book. His first three dams are all stakes winners, with his stakes winning dam Sovereign Secret a three-parts sister to champion Bela-Bela. His granddam, triple Gr 1 winning Equus Champion All Is Secret, is a full-sister to Gr 1 winner The Secret Is Out and a three-parts sister to dual Gr 1 winner Snowdance (dam of Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot) and to the dam of Horse Of The Year Eight On Eighteen.

For more information on this draft, please speak to Tracey Nash on (066) 185 7197

Fortune Still Optimistic Despite Injuries Being Worse Than Expected

Andrew Fortune (black and white cap) steers Double Grand Slam to victory in the Maine Chance Farms Gr1 Majorca Stakes, beating his son Aldo Domeyer on Rainbow Lorikeet (Pic – Wayne Marks)

Sporting Post

“I could ride Double Grand Slam with one hand and win the Gr1 Empress Club Stakes. That’s seven weeks away and who knows what a strong mind and modern medical science can achieve!”

A typically jocular Andrew Fortune, despite being in excruciating pain, was chatting to the Sporting Post from the Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport in Gqeberha on Tuesday afternoon en route to Cape Town after being discharged from hospital following his accident during the running of the fourth race at Fairview last Friday.

Fortune listed six broken ribs, punctured lungs, a fractured clavicle and a shoulder blade ‘severed in half’, as part of the battle wounds inflicted on his 58 year old frame at a racemeeting that he ironically wasn’t originally even supposed to be riding at.

“Half my body is broken. I am no baby, but I am in agony. I can’t sit. I can’t lie down on my back. I can’t lie on my side. It’s painful when I breathe. But otherwise I am all good, and bloody happy to be alive,” he laughed as he termed it ‘suddenly the shortest comeback ever’.

The Candyman’s glorious comeback season came to a grinding halt when riding Witching Hour for Zietsman Oosthuizen.

He was negotiating some tight galloping room down the inside rail when his mount appeared to clip heels and stumble. His colleague Eldin Webber picked up a 14 day holiday for his role in the incident.

Pushed for a response to some quarters of public opinion that suggested Webber deserved a stiffer sanction, Fortune laughed and asked ‘how many races have all the experts ridden in?’

“Anything can happen in a race. Three strides before it happened, I knew I was in trouble. I went down and thought, ‘do I still get to ride Double Grand Slam on 4 April’? Seriously, she was my first thought next to trying to put on a brave demeanour for my family, who were watching. I still cannot believe the list of injuries I incurred from that fall. It didn’t feel that bad when it was happening and it now feels a bit surreal. But, hey, it’s all part of the journey and was meant to be! Maybe it’s a sign that I should be slowing down, rather than gathering momentum?”

He added that he was taken aback by the level of support and well wishes that he had received since his fall.

“It’s an amazing turnaround – from being not wanted and having folk look the other way, to having some of the game’s major players sending me messages of goodwill. All the messages on social media and whatsapp etc are much appreciated, believe me!”

Fortune said, rather optimistically, that he was still aiming to be back in seven weeks to ride Snaith champion Double Grand Slam in the Grade 1 at Turffontein on 4 April.

“I hear there were five jockeys who pitched for work in the Snaith ring this morning. Good to see my colleagues are on their toes!” he laughs.

“One has to stay positive and aim high. I will take it week by week and give the hyperbaric chamber a shot. It’s either that, or a comeback bid to win the Hollywoodbets Durban July and a possible goodbye at season end. But it’s all in God’s hands and I am not accepting that it’s all over, just yet!” he added.

In a fairytale moment at the end of January, Fortune rode his first WSB Gr1 Cape Town Met winner on See It Again, and also won the Gr1 Majorca Stakes on Double Grand Slam on the day – with 4 winners in total on a memorable afternoon.

Fortune has ridden 38 winners this season at a win strike-rate of 16,6% and place strike-rate of 46,7%, his rides having earned gross stakes of R9 586 585.

Ed – Hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases delivery of oxygen to the body by providing pure oxygen in an enclosed space with higher than normal air pressure.

Hiawatha Goldberg can Score Third Career Win

Hiawatha Goldberg has been tipped to win the seventh race (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Race 1

8 WINTER PIRATE ran a great race on debut, he stayed on well for third behind World Series on the 4th of February at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, with natural improvement expected from this well-bred colt, he definitely has a winning chance in this field. There’s very little exposed form to go on, so the betting market will be our best guide. We have some well-bred runners from powerful yards lining up in this race, it would be no surprise to see one of them win. (Brandon Bailey: 8 – 7 – 6 – 1)

Race 2

3 RHYTHM KING stayed on nicely for second behind Klein Karoo at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 11th of February, the blinkers have been fitted to this gelding on Wednesday, there is no doubt that he can win a race like this on his best form. 9 TROIS SEPT HUIT ran a great race last time, he was doing some good work late for third behind Trailfinder on the 13th of January, he is improving with every start, if he brings that last run to the track on Wednesday, he will be tough to beat. 7 RED WAVE was a touch disappointing at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 11th of February, he went extremely fast early, and he stopped to a walk late, he is much better than that performance, if he bounces back to his best form, he will be competitive. 8 HEDRIVESMECRAZY ran a much better race last time, he finished fourth behind Different World on the 4th of February, the blinkers stay on, he could sneak into the places at a decent price. (Brandon Bailey: 3 – 9 – 7 – 8)

Race 3

2 TOTHEMOONANDBACK finished two lengths behind Midway at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 21st of January, he stays well, he is in good form at the moment, he never runs a bad race, he will be right there in the finish from a good draw. 6 HELIOTROPE needed her last run back after a long rest, she caught the eye late for third behind Double Dash on the 11th of February, she steps up in trip now to 2500m, in hope that she stays, she will be competitive in this tricky race. 5 TWICE THE MASTER finished just over two lengths behind Gentleman Joe on the 4th of January, he has dropped a point in the ratings from his last run, and he gets the 4kgs apprentice claim off his back on Wednesday, he will go close to winning. 1 ELEGANT NOBLE could be the value play in this race, he ran a cracker last time behind Note To Self on the 31st of January, he is a beautiful horse with a big action, if he stays the trip of 2500m, he definitely has a winning chance. (Brandon Bailey: 2 – 6 – 5 – 1)

Race 4

5 KITUBA ran a fair race at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on debut, she finished just under seven lengths behind Raffish Trend on the 21st of January, she is very well-bred this filly, with natural improvement expected, she should go close to winning. 4 ALESSIA ASHEVILLE had absolutely no luck in running from a wide draw at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 11th of February, she still ran a great race finishing just over one length behind Winter In Auckland, even though she is a well-tried maiden, she will be competitive in this field. 8 KISSES has been rested for 77 days, she stayed on well for fifth behind Cassandra on the 10th of December, she is a speedy filly that likes to be handy in her races, the drop in trip to 1200m could be key for this individual, watch her closely. 10 GQEBERHA disappointed terribly at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 17th of January, she was beaten just under eight lengths by South Of France, she is much better than that poor performance, if she brings her debut run to the track on Wednesday, she will be there amongst the places. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 4 – 8 – 10)

Race 5

3 BEAUTIFUL ONE ran a brilliant race behind her stable companion on the 21st of January, she certainly caught the eye late for second behind Amayah, the form of that race has worked out nicely, this doesn’t look to be the strongest maiden, from a good draw on Wednesday, she will be tough to beat. 5 PACIFIC WATERS has been rested for 77 days, she ran a terrific race for third behind Cassandra on the 10th of December, she loved the 1600m trip, jockey Keagan de Melo has been booked to ride this filly on Wednesday, she will be right there in the finish. 4 RED TAFFETY finished just over two lengths behind South Of France on the 17th of January, she will appreciate the step up in trip here, include her into all bets. 9 UP IN FLAMES disappointed last time at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, she was beaten just over ten lengths by Lark’s Song on the 13th of January, even though she is drawn wide, the key for this filly will be the drop in trip to 1600m, watch for major improvement. (Brandon Bailey: 3 – 5 – 4 – 9)

Race 6

8 PRAIRIE DAWN won his maiden super impressively at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 21st of January, he quickened up like a smart horse, this is a stronger field on Wednesday, but he has a wonderful turn of foot, and he looks extremely progressive, he can definitely win again. 4 UNITED FRONT finished strongly for second behind Foudre on the 31st of January, the blinkers and the tongue tie stay on this gelding, the yard thinks highly of this individual, he has a big winning chance in this field. 1 SOMMERSTERN won a good race at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 17th of January, he was given six points for that win, from a neat draw, he will be storming home late, include him into all bets. 2 IN A TIMELY MANNER was drawn poorly last time, he finished just over five lengths behind Foudre on the 31st of January, he should get the run of the race from a good draw on Wednesday, watch him closely. (Brandon Bailey: 8 – 4 – 1 – 2)

Race 7

1 HIAWATHA GOLDBERG stayed on well for fifth behind Sooty on the 11th of February at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, he will be just off the speed early, and he will be doing some good work late, watch him closely now that he is back sprinting at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. 5 CELTIC CHIEF needed his last run badly, he still ran a good race finishing just over three lengths behind Rattlesnake on the 4th of February, he will be much fitter on Wednesday, include him into all bets. 9 OZARK has been rested for 66 days, he was doing some good work late for second behind Hiawatha Goldberg on the 21st of December, if he doesn’t need the run back from a small break, he will be competitive. 2 TRUE HORIZON finished just under four lengths behind Wyze Declaration at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 21st of January, she will be running on strongly late, if the gaps open at the right time, she will be right there in the finish. (Brandon Bailey: 1 – 5 – 9 – 2)

Race 8

2 GIVEN TO FLY must have a good winning chance in this field, she was doing some good work late for fourth behind Black Path on the 17th of January, she has a good draw on Wednesday, and she has the 4kgs apprentice claim coming off her back, there is no doubt she will run a big race. 3 ACT OF GRACE just got touched off last time, she ran a lovely race for second behind Lovers Lane on the 21st of January, jockey Chad Little sticks with this filly, from a good draw, she will be right there in the finish again. 8 BLACK PATH finished four lengths behind Gin Palace on the 4th of February at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, she will be towards the back of the field early, and she will be eating up the ground late, watch her closely here. 10 MEG’S LEGACY stayed on really well for third in the same race as Black Path last time, she travelled well in her race, and she fought hard all the way to the line, even though she is drawn poorly here, she will be switched off early, and she will be running on strongly, include her into all bets. (Brandon Bailey: 2 – 3 – 8 – 10)

Miami Mountain Raised Five Points To 105

Miami Mountain wins the TAB National Currency Stakes in fine style (JC Photos)

NHRA Press Release

Handicapping Ratings Update

TAB NATIONAL CURRENCY SPRINT (Grade 3)

MIAMI MOUNTAIN has received a revised rating of 103, up from 98, following his victory in the TAB National Currency Sprint (Grade 3) for three-year-olds over 1100m at the Turffontein Standside track on Saturday. The Handicappers unanimously agreed to use the runner-up, WILD JUSTICE, as the key horse in assessing this race, leaving his rating unchanged at 104.

POP CHART, who finished third, was raised to 95 from 93, while BLAZING FURY, the fourth-place finisher, moved up to 90 from 87.

Two horses had their merit ratings reduced. CHARMING CHEETAH dropped to 107 from 110, and ZALATORIS was lowered to 102 from 105.

LADY’S PENDANT (Listed)

SYMPHONY IN WHITE remained unchanged on her rating of 103 after capturing the Listed Lady’s Pendant over 1200m at Fairview Racecourse on Friday. In fact, both the winner and the fourth-place finisher, SWEETIE DARLING, were used as the line horses to assess this race.

The specific conditions of the race did not permit any increases for the placed runners, and therefore no rating changes were made.

IBHAYI STAKES (Listed)

BUFFALO BILL had his rating increased from 107 to 109 following his victory in the Listed Ibhayi Stakes over 1400m on Friday. The Handicappers considered the runner-up, ROYAL KINGDOM, to be the most suitable line horse for assessing this race, leaving his rating unchanged at 103.

Due to the race conditions, no increases were permitted for the placed runners. As a result, POMP IT UP remained unchanged on 95 despite achieving a performance that merited a higher mark.

Enquiries:

The Handicapping Team