Can SA Classic Win Back Its Good July Pointer Status?
Anthony Delpech salutes as Greys Inn wins the 2004 July. The Mike de Kock-trained USA-bred was the last horse to win the SA Classic and the July in the same season (Picture: sahorseracing.com)
The Gr 1 SA Classic was one of the best races for producing Hollywoodbets Durban July winners between 1970 and 2010, but it is 20 years since a winner of the race went on to win the July and 22 years since a winner won the July in the same season.
The 2006 SA Classic winner at Turffontein, the Charles Laird-trained Hunting Tower, won the July in 2007. He was in fact the last July winner to carry the famous Harry and Bridget Oppenheimer colours to victory in the July. The black with yellow sash, sleeves and cap colours are today used by the stud farm Harry and Bridget founded, Mauritzfontein Stud, which is now owned by their grand-daughter Jessica Jell and her husband Steven.
The last horse to win both the SA Classic and the July in the same season, the Mike de Kock-trained Grey’s Inn, also carried those iconic Oppenheimer colours. In 2004 he won the Gr 1 SA Classic at Turffontein by 2,5 lengths before winning the Gr 1 SA Derby narrowly, then finishing third in the Gr 1 Daily News to Grand Emporium, whom he had beaten in the SA Classic, and then winning the July. His July win was particularly iconic because he was the no. 10 horse and the organisers made his saddle cloth in the colours of the South African flag to mark ten years of democracy.
In 1998 the David Ferraris-trained Classic Flag won the Gr 1 Administrators Classic (SA Classic) at Gosforth Park and the July in the same season.
The Alec Laird-trained London News had pulled off the same feat two years earlier in 1996 at the same courses, Gosforth Park and Greyville respectively.
In 1983 the Eric Antelme-trained Gondolier won the SA Classic equivalent (Administrator’s Classic) at Gosforth Park and he won the July two years later in 1985.
The Syd Laird-trained Yataghan won both races in the same season, winning what was known as the Benoni Guineas in December 1972 at Gosforth Park and winning the 1973 July.
The Tony Furness-trained Tiger Fish, a Harry and Bridget Oppenheimer homebred, won the Benoni Guineas in December 1957 at Gosforth Park and won the July in the following season in 1959.
The first horse to do the double was the HE De Mestre-trained Winnipeg, who won the Benoni Guineas in December 1914 at Gosforth Park before winning the July the same season in 1915.
Mike de Kock was the last trainer to do the SA Classic/July double in the same season.
That is fitting because him and his son Mathew have a strong hand with four runners in the SA Classic on Saturday, Jan Van Goyen, Splittheeights, One Eye On Vegas and Yippee Kiyay.
Can a De Kock-trained three-year-old restore the SA Classic to its former status as a notable July winner-producing race?
The odds of any of the four doing so are:
70/1 for Jan Van Goyen (3.03/1 for the SA Classic and 17.67/1 i the pre-noms ante-post betting with Hollywoodbets for the July);
70/1 for Splittheeights;
450/1 for One Eye On Vegas;
900/1 for Yippee Kiyay.
Il Etait Temps Leads Hollywood/Barnane's Hopes At The Cheltenham Festival
Il Etait Temps goes for the Queen Mother Chase, a Gr 1 championship event, at the Cheltenham Festival next week (Sky Sports Racing)
Connections hoping it will be time for Temps to shine
Racing TV
With the absence of Marine Nationale altering the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase picture, hopes are high Il Etait Temps can leave his Clarence House Chase fall in the past and claim the elusive Cheltenham Festival victory missing from his CV.
The Willie Mullins-trained eight-year-old has won at the highest level at the Dublin, Aintree and Punchestown Festivals and announced himself as a major force in the two-mile chasing division with a bloodless Tingle Creek success at Sandown in December.
He was below-par when taking a tired fall at Ascot in a race won by Jonbon in January, but currently as short as 4-1 behind stablemate Majborough in the betting for the day two feature, connections are hoping he can finally show his best at a venue that has so far proven a cruel mistress.
“It took him a while to bounce back after Ascot and he took a tired fall there,” said Ross Doyle, racing manager for owners Hollywood Racing and the Kieswetter family’s Barnane Stud.
“The Champion Chase is beginning to open up a bit which is unfortunate for the people not getting to turn up.
“He’s going to go over as we speak, but he’s just got to get all his work done and get over in one piece which we’ve seen isn’t taken for granted and we’ll leave that down to Willie and his team.
“He’s a different horse nowadays compared to other years he’s gone to Cheltenham, he can switch off and go a good pace, so hopefully the race suits him.”
Il Etait Temps is the star turn for connections at the Cheltenham Festival, but the Hollywood Racing silks will also be donned by arguably one of the best maiden hurdlers in training, Roc Dino, who has some intriguing handicap entries.
Second to Mighty Park and El Cairos in his two outings in Ireland, his trainer has mooted the idea of stepping up in distance, with five-year-old the general 7-1 favourite for the Festival-ending Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.
“He’s run five times, three in France, two in Ireland and still hasn’t shaken his maiden tag, so it’s a big ask but he seems to be shortening in the markets for the Martin Pipe,” continued Doyle.
“Willie has him in the BetMGM Cup and William Hill County Hurdle as well and will probably make a decision quite late with a horse like him on which way he will go.
“He has mentioned stepping him up in trip slightly, but he’s not short of speed and has ran behind two very smart horses in his two starts in Ireland.
“He’s a lovely horse and looks like a very nice chaser long-term when you look at him. It’s great to be going to Cheltenham with a live chance hopefully and there’s a chance his form could get a very nice boost in the Grade Ones early next week.”
The Barnane Stud silks will also be in operation at the meeting when Karbau goes for William Hill County Hurdle glory, as former England cricketer Craig Kieswetter and his family search their own first moment of glory at National Hunt racing’s marquee event.
Craig Kieswetter was a T20 World Cup winner with England (Andrew Matthews/PA)
Second in the Limestone Lad at Naas in January, Karbau is prominent in the ante-post betting lists in an event his trainer has won five times in the last 10 years.
“We’re looking forward to Karbau and he looks nailed on to go to the County,” added Doyle.
“The UK handicapper has him up to 150 which is a good rating and it’s always a hugely-competitive race, but he’s a slick jumper and seems to be able to travel no problem. In that calibre of race, it will help him put his best foot forward.”
Middle East Tensions Cast Shadow Over Dubai World Cup
Graham Potter (Justhoresracing.com.au)
While there are obviously far more important and wide-ranging implications of the escalating conflict in the Middle East, where it really has become a matter of life and death, the disruption of racing can only be viewed as little more than a minor inconvenience … but it is a disruption, nevertheless.
While the Super Saturday meeting at Meydan went ahead, the meeting at Jebel Ali on Sunday was cancelled as the UAE came under threat from retaliatory missile and drone strikes by Iran in response to the USA and Israel’s attack on that country.
With no resolution in the short term, it is impossible to put a timeline on how long the conflict will impact proceedings, meaning that the US$ 30.5 million Dubai World Cup meeting on March 28, which is due to feature the likes of champion racehorses Forever Young and Calandagan, can effectively be considered to be in limbo at this time.
With the closure of the airspace over the territory and the resultant mass cancellation of flights, the same can be said of a host of racing identities … including trainers and jockeys … who were due to leave Dubai after Super Saturday with the expectation of returning to their home bases to continue business as usual.
Now their travel arrangements are in the lap of the gods.
On a separate front, the travel movement of horses has also been affected, including that of the Northern Hemisphere raiders looking to chase the Sydney Autumn Carnival riches.
These horses include two William Haggas trained horses, the multiple Group 1 winner Dubai Honour … who has won the last two Tancred Stakes in Australia … and Caviar Heights, who were both left stranded in England by the hostility in the Middle East
Their presence will add obvious lustre to the Carnival if a change of arrangement and a different, safe route to Sydney can be found.
The uncertainly of it all clouds the view moving forward and this unwelcome situation remains something that has to be worked through on a daily basis.
Prosper Stud’s Premier Draft Has An “Autumn Glow”
Prosper Stud brings some classy yearlings to the Race Coast Premier Yearling Sale
”She’s a star.” “Something special.” “She’s incredible”. These are just a few of tributes paid to unbeaten Australian star Autumn Glow. A winner of all eight of her starts, including the AUS$10 000 000 Golden Eagle and ATC Epsom Handicap Gr 1, Autumn Glow has earned more than AUS$7.35million in stakes thus far. Prosper Stud will be offering a relative to this current superstar at the 2026 Premier Yearling Sale.
Lot 114: f The United States – Swift Dancer
By one of the hottest stallions in South Africa at the moment, this full sister to the smart filly The Charleston is out of a winning half-sister to Via Africa. Equus Champion Sprinter of 2013 -2014, Via Africa was a lightning-fast filly whose ten career wins included a pair of wins in the South African Fillies Sprint Gr 1, as well as the 2014 Cape Flying Championship Gr 1. She has proved a sensation at stud, and is not only the dam of the aforementioned Autumn Glow, but also the latter’s ATC Golden Rose Gr 1 winning three-parts brother, and sire, In The Congo.
Other attractive prospects to be found in this consignment include:
Lot 71: Rosabelle f Rafeef – Rosenwind
By the sire of such top-class fillies as Chasing Happiness, Mon Petit Cherie and Reet Petite, Rosabelle is out of a smart racemare who won three of just five starts. A half-sister to Gr 2 Debutante winner Rosier, the well related Rosenwind is bred on similar lines to dual Whitney Handicap Gr 1 winner Commentator.
Lot 150: Master Chime c Master Of My Fate – African Chime
This colt shares his top-class sire with this season’s Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas Gr 1 winner Jan Van Goyen among many other high-class performers. His dam African Chime is a twice winning half-sister to Allan Robertson Championship Gr 1 heroine On Her Toes, and this is also the family of fellow Gr 1 winners Follow The Falcon, Querari Falcon and Savannah Queen.
Lot 187: Lady Archie f Master Archie – Charmz Luck
From the first crop of Computaform Sprint Gr 1 winner Master Archie, Lady Archie is out of a winning half-sister to the useful galloper Grey Light. This filly’s granddam Charmz is a daughter of sprint champions Orientate and Harry’s Charm, and fourth dam is the influential Stuttafords Cup Gr 1 winner Enchanting.
Lot 207: Orbit’s Lad c Kommetdieding – Down To Earth
This colt hails from the first crop of Vodacom Durban July Gr 1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met Gr 1 winner Kommetdieding. Closely inbred to champion sires Captain Al and Fort Wood, Orbit’s Lad is out of a twice winning half-sister to two stakes winners including Lebelo Sprint Gr 3 winner Taikonaut. A colt with a stallion’s pedigree, Orbit’s Lad hails from the same female line as champions Foveros and Hinterland, among others.
For more information on this draft, please contact Jikkie De Wet on (083) 288 811
Frankie Dettori's Bankruptcy Extended By Judge
Retired riding great’s bankruptcy order will remain in place until March 2027.
At The Races
Frankie Dettori will remain legally bankrupt for a further year after a judge at a specialist insolvency court ruled his bankruptcy should not be automatically discharged.
The Italian, who retired from riding last month, filed for bankruptcy in March last year due to unpaid tax resulting from his involvement in a “tax avoidance scheme”.
He said at the time he was “saddened and embarrassed” to have to take the measure after being left to “unravel the mess” in which a previous financial adviser left him.
Bankruptcy orders end automatically after a year in England and Wales, but can be extended by a judge, meaning the bankrupt is still bound by its terms and can face criminal prosecution if they do not co-operate.
At a hearing on Thursday, lawyers for the two trustees of Dettori’s bankruptcy asked for the order to remain in place for a further year.
Stefan Ramel, for the trustees, told the court in London that the former jockey “has not complied and is still not complying” with requests for information about his assets, including whether he owns properties abroad.
Dettori did not appear at the hearing and was not represented.
Chief Insolvency and Companies Court Judge Nicholas Briggs ruled that the bankruptcy order could continue until March 16 2027, which he said was “not an unrealistic period” given the “blatant failure” by Dettori to provide information when asked.
He said: “There is much to uncover in this bankruptcy, and it may well be that criminal sanctions will be a useful tool for the trustees.”
The judge said that the trustees interviewed Dettori in December last year about his assets, and when asked if he had ever owned properties abroad, he “said he did not”.
But he said it was later discovered that there were “a number of properties that had not been disclosed to the trustees, in particular in France and Italy”.
Judge Briggs continued that there were “other concerns”, including a Piaget watch, a wine collection worth around £70,000 and investments worth around £365,000.
He also said that Dettori could have attended court to make representations as to why an order should have been made, or instructed lawyers, but has “failed to do so”.
Dettori initially announced he would retire on Champions Day at Ascot in 2023, but later reversed his decision and continued his career in the United States and South America before his final race in February.
The jockey, who won every British Classic at least twice during his career and was British champion on three occasions, has since taken up an ambassadorial role for the Amo Racing team.
He has previously been embroiled in legal battles over his tax affairs, and in 2024 lost a bid to remain anonymous in proceedings at a specialist tax tribunal.
He originally brought an appeal to the First Tier Tribunal against HMRC’s decision to deny him some deductions for income tax.
In 2019, he asked for his case to be paused, and more than a year later, asked not to be named and for his case to be heard in private.
A judge in 2021 said that the “preliminary matters” could be heard in private, while a different judge in 2022 ruled that Dettori should be anonymised.
HMRC and media organisations, including the Press Association, challenged the decision, with the more senior Upper Tribunal ruling in December 2024 that there had been “material errors of law” and overturning the decision to have some of the hearings in his case in private.
De Melo, Munger, Tarry, Bronkorst, De Kock Doubles
Speedman wins impressively to make it four wins from five starts (JC Photos)
There were doubles at the Vaal Classic track meeting today (Thursday) for all of Keagan de Melo, Ryan Munger, Sean Tarry, Fanie Bronkhorst and Mike and Mathew de Kock.
The most impressive winner of the day was the Tarry-trained Vercingetorix three-year-old gelding Speedman, a Winterbach Stud-bred who was purchased at the BSA August Two-year-old Sale for R1,4 million.
He ran alongside Stoneywood, a full-brother to top sprinter Dyce, for the first half of a MR 99 Handicapover 1200m for three-year-olds, but when given some rein by Ryan Munger he pulled clear and won as he liked by 5,75 lengths. He was receiving 5kg from runner up Palace Prince, but he was giving Stoneywood 3kg and beat him by 8,75 lengths.
Later, the James Crawford-trained Duchess Of Paloma continued her admirable progression, cruising to a cosy half-a-length victory in MR 92 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m to make it four victories in her last five starts having taken 12 races to break her maiden. This Stone Hill Stud-homebred, who is also owned by
Mrs C Appalsamy, Messrs M Appalsamy & C Van Rooyen, is by Royal Mo out of Black Minnaloushe mare Eyona.
De Melo is now on 51 wins and has achieved it at a strike rate of 17.83%.
Munger is on 13 wins on his annual North American winter break from Canada and has done it at 12,50%.
Tarry is on 67 wins at 14.29%.
The De Kocks are on 58 wins at 17.90%.
Bronkhorst is on 27 wins at 7.96%.
Splicethemainbrace Can Sail Through Again
Splicethemainbrace is weighted to win the third race (Pauline Herman Photography)
Fairview Turf Friday Formguides And Selections
R1 3 ENGELANDPARK disappointed last time against a good sort but on her previous best form she has a chance although she still has to prove she can handle turf as well as the poly. 12 GINGER ROOD has poor form in Cape Town but might be able to earn in this lesser centre. 1 TANZANITE has the form to be a contender here. 6 TIMELINE is always thereabouts and has a fair opportunity here. (3-12-1-6)
R2 11 WILD STAR has run two fine races and will be hard ti beat here. 4 FATEFUL LOVE is by Master Of My Fate out of a USA-bred Cape Blanco mare. 2 CAMDEN SQUARE has four lengths to make up on Wild Star and could earn. 8 PRINCESS OF AJIAAL made a fair debut and has a chance. (11-4-2-8)
R3 1 SPLICETHEMAINBRACE is a prolific winner and bounced back to her best last time so can follow up. 2 ENCHANTING CHOICE is not far off Splicethemainbrace. 4 AVERNIAN GODDESS won i fine style last time and looks to be coming into her own. 3 EPIKLEROS beat Enchanting Choice narrowly last time but is now 4,5kg worse off. (1-2-4-3)
R4 9 MONT TREMBLANT has been knocking hard in Open Maidens and could get it right here. 4 PICK A POMODORO has hard-knocking form and should be right there. 5 MYSTIC VISION beat Pick A Pomodoro last time and must now confirm the form. 6 ONE SUMMER loved the step up to this trip last time in an Open Maiden. (9-4-5-6)
R5 1 TERMINAL VELOCITY is knocking hard and has a fine opportunity here over a trip she should enjoy. 2 PLAYMAKER enjoyed the step up to 1600m lst time and might take to this marathon trip too. 8 STRAIGHT RED enjoyed the step up to 2000m last time and can confirm the form by placing here. 6 SATELLITE WORLD has run some fair races in Cape Town so should earn here. (1-2-8-6)
R6 5 OVERTURE won well on debut and could follow up. 6 AMERICAN MATADOR won a nice race last time and was a hard-knocker before that. 9 ORIGINATOR could earn in this line up. 1 KEY NEWS has shown some ability land could earn. (5-6-9-1)
R7 2 NORTH STAR 1 has been knocking on the door for some time and could get it right at last.1 HAPPY WIVES has good dorm and should be right there. 3 SMASHING can go close if producing his best. 6 ICED MARMALADE can earn if repeating the form of his easy in last time. (2-1-3-6)
R8 1 BAD MEDICINE is in fine form and can make it a hattrick. 2 JUAN CARLOS is evergreen and should finish on top of Bad Medicine at these wights. 6 CURTISS CONDOR looks to have scope for further progress so can step from his win last time. 7 ANATOLIAN SILVER has talent and could earn from a good draw. (1-2-6-7)
Today's Question
Which SA-bred Champion Stallion won the equivalent of what is today known as the Gr 1 SA Classic?
The picture is of the subject
Today’s Question Answer
Picture: Dignitary
Dignitary (Greatorex) was the first SA-bred champion stallion and the only one until Elevation did it in 1984/1985. Jet Master then won it seven times from about 2006 onwards, Captain Al won it in 2014/2015 and Vercingetorix is the current champion stallion and threatening to become as dominant as Jet Master once was.
Dignitary won the race that is the equivalent of today’s Gr 1 SA Classic, the Benoni Guineas.
