John Everett Reflects On Narrow Creek's Rise
Narrow Creek Stud was only founded in 2011 and continue to have progressive success on the racetrack and at the Sales. The above picture is of lot 237 at the Race Coast Sales Premier Yearling Sale, a Rafeef colt sold for R1 million (Picture: Chase Liebenberg)
John Everett’s Narrow Creek Stud had a fine Race Coast Sales Premier Yearling Sale and only the big guns Klawervlei Stud, Maine Chance Farms and Drakenstein Stud were ahead of them on aggregate.
Their 12 lots sold returned R 10,225,000 and they also achieved a fine average of R852,083.
“Hard work” is the chief reason the stud is where they are today, but that has to be coupled with a good breeding philosophy.
Before getting on to what makes the stud farm tick, John spoke about the Sale itself.
He revealed that the SA Fillies Sprint-winning mare Singforafa, whose Rafeef colt fetched the highest price of R4 million on day one of the two day Sale, actually belongs to Terry and Annabel Andrews, although the colt was born, bred, raised and prepared on Narrow Creek’s farm at Wolesley in the Breede River Valley.
Narrow Creek had three seven figure lots and all three were colts by Rafeef.
John only owned one of the mares of those three though.
He said about Rafeef, “I have always liked Rafeef and I was one of the few fortunates who managed to get hold of a share in the beginning. I send about ten or 12 mares to him, but it’s getting harder and harder as the service fee goes up.”
He said about the seven figure Rafeefs on this Sale, “The big one out of Singforafa I thought would definitely get a million but I then thought maybe another bid or two and up to R1.5 million, but I had never been thinking R4 million. To me anything over and above a million in a yearling’s value depends on whether two people want it. But he was also a beautiful colt and the other clinching thing was he moved so well. It was actually hard to show horses after him, because there was nothing who could walk like him. The other two seven figure Rafeefs I estimated at around R700,000 to R800,000.”
John owns the three time-winning Gr 3-placed Dynasty mare Indaba, whose Rafeef colt went for R1.3 million. This half-brother to Gr 2-winning sprinter Cold Fact (What A Winter) was purchased by the ASSM Racing Syndicate and Mike and Mathew de Kock.
Narrow Creek’s other seven figure Rafeef colt, bought by Justin Vermaak, is out of the Jackson mare Freed From Desire, a six time-winning Listed-winning sprinter.
John does not own Freed From Desire, but nevertheless had a fine personal Sale because he does own Querari mare Ferrari Red, whose Jet Dark filly was bought by Jonathan Snaith for R900,000, and overall the progeny of his mares did very well.
John was “not really surprised” by Jet Dark’s sensational stats and said, “The right people were always going to be all over them. My filly was a magnificent filly and I thought she would be about a R600-R700,000 horse, but when I saw what I was bumping, and there were 30 of them and a lot of them from Drakenstein female lines, I did get nervous. I bred her for that January Sale … when I bred her that Sale was still going and I knew she was a mare who threw nice big horses, she was a forward horse and there would have been a lot less competition at the January Sale, but she was a beautiful looking horse though.”
John advised a client who stands his mares with him to withdraw another Jet Dark filly who was out of the speedy mare Sarah (What A Winter), because the intention was just to get her into a Sales race, but it would not have been worth the excercise if she was going to be a seven figure horse, which he believed she might have been.
He himself was disappointed to have to withdraw a Real Gone Kid filly, who bumped a knee three days before the Sale.
Narrow Creek bred the current highest rated horse in the land, the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint winner Buffalo Storm Cody, but although his dam Musical Romance (Trippi) no longer stands at Narrow Creek, John still likes Buffalo Bill Cody as a stallion and his colt on this Sale went for R400,000.
John also bred the dual Gr 1-winning sprinter Isivunguvungu (What A Winter), who races in the USA at present.
Isivunguvungu’s dam Miss Tweedy (Tiger Ridge) is still at Narrow Creek and has a Malmoos (Captain Al) at foot and she is back in foal to Malmoos.
John is a big fan of Malmoos and his pair of Malmoos colts on this Sale went for R300,000 and R400,000 respectively, both purchased by Justin Vermaak.
John Said, “I like Malmoos a lot, he throws a very nice type and he’s got off to a very good start, I think he has had six runners and three winners, including a Listed winner.”
He had a What A Winter colt and filly on the Sale and got R275,000 and R400,000 respectively. He said he had always liked What A Winter, but admitted he was “getting on a bit now.” The R400,000 one was out of a Querari half-sister to Isivunguvungu.
John felt buyers were a bit “sticky” towards Hawwaam.
He said, “They underpaid for the Hawwams I thought. I am not sure why because he was never going to be a sire of two-year-olds. They are all classic types and then on Saturday his son Diogenes comes and win the Listed Hawwaam Stakes over 2000m. That showed they are going to need a trip. I won’t knock him until the end of his progeny’s three-year-old careers.”
Narrow Creeks’ pair of Hawwaam colts went for R500,000 and R300,000 respectively.
The farm’s Erupt filly went for R450,000.
John said, “That was a very nice price. I have had a share in Erupt and used him a lot, but it will be more difficult now as he has moved further away (to Riethuiskraal Stud). It will be difficult to use a stallion like him that far away because there are so many like him close by, but I’ve done well with Erupt over the years including breeding the exciting Heath House, who is two from two. I heard he will be coming back soon.”
John has vast experience in thoroughbred breeding having spent three years with Allem Brothers in Viljoenskroon and nine year stints as stud manager with both Odessa Stud and Wilgerbosdrift Stud before going on his own.
He said his core breeding philosophy besides sheer hard work was to feed and medicate properly.
He said, “Never cut corners on feed and treatments. For treatments I am not talking about a scratch here and a cut there, I am talking more about the fundamental medicines, like deworming, the important things. It’s a hard game, hard work and you have to buy good quality food and feed it to them, it’s no good buying food and keeping it in the bag.”
What he meant by the last statement was that although he likes to let horses run out in paddocks and gives them very little stable time, and does not like pampering them, he never skimps on the feed he provides them with.
He said, “I am more of the old school in that I like to know what I am feeding them, rather than them feeding on something out of the ground where I don’t know what they are getting. It’s not that I don’t have some grazing, but it’s not grazing that I take into account when it comes to how much food they get a day. The grazing is just there to keep them occupied. So whether they are in a big paddock or are in one the size of a tennis court, the volume of food I give them from the bale or the bag is the same.”
Another interesting concept for the layman is that the horses are not fed separately.
John said, “They must fight for their food.”
Presumably that builds toughness and a winning attitude into the horses.
John uses Tesio a lot to help him with matings, but he likes to follow his own ideas too.
He said, “I like inbreeding a bit and there are certain crosses that I like that don’t have any scientific proof to them. I would never advocate my system to anybody, it is just a personal thing. Broodmare sires for me are an important factor. When picking young stallions before they are two expensive, I will only commit to one of these stallions after I have seen their foals. I have been fortunate as I have been right more than I have been wrong. There are no hard and fast rules and I don’t like some of these theories where they say a mare from stallion ‘A’ crossed with this stallion will work because of this horse, this horse and this horse, because it is often obvious that the cross will have a lot of success only because those stallions stood on the same farm as the mares and stallion ‘A’ stood there before them too, meaning there will be a lot of those crosses occurring.”
He continued, “On the broodmare sire line, I like to look at the first three dams and I also look at the female line.”
He added, “There are occasions when going a few generations back I will find something I like.”
John said about conformation from a breeding angle, “You have to know the conformation of your mare and of your stallion. For instance if you have a mare with a long back, then for me you don’t want to send her to a stallion with a long back, but rather choose a close coupled stallion. So you look for matches that can iron out faults or breed in good assets. i.e you try and get rid of a mare’s negatives through a stallion’s positives.”
He said trainers were big on conformation at the Sales, but he added, “If you go to a big race day with ten races of which about six are features and you stand at the winner’s enclosure and look at the victorious horses, you might be horrified if you are a big conformation person. They run with all types of legs and shapes. Obviously you try and breed out conformational problems, because you know otherwise you are going to get a hiding at the Sales.”
He continued, “The back end to me is a lot more important than the front end. The front end keeps them up, but without the back end pushing them forward, it doesn’t matter how good the front end is.”
He said, “I breed much more for the hind end than the front end, but I do need to look at the front end because then I wouldn’t be able to sell the horse.”
John reckoned asking anybody which race they would like to win would return answers like the Met and the July and yet the incentives at the Sales through Sales races invariably necessitate a push to breed horses which will have early speed.
However, he reckoned the classic type might be making a comeback and said, “If you look at some of the stallions that are coming in they have more classic type pedigrees than before, like Ridgemont’s new stallion Hit The Road (More Than Ready), Jet Dark too and a few others. I think it might be coming back to the Met and the July rather than the Nursery’s.”
John himself likes to ideally breed a horse who will have some early speed and will be able to go on to win the big races.
Athandiwe Mgudlwa's Return To Race-Riding Is Imminent
Athandiwe Mgudlwa is targeting the Hollywoodbets Greyville meeting on Friday 27 March for his comeback to raceriding (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Athandiwe Mgudlwa suffered a neck sprain and concussion in a shocking fall at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on January 25, but he is back riding work and hopes to race ride again on the 27th of this month at the Hollywoodbets Greyville night meeting.
Athandiwe recalled waking up in hospital and had no recollection of the incident at all and said the whole day was quite blank in his memory.
However, there were no broken bones or fractures and he said, ” I fortunately did not have to have any kind of operation.”
He has wisely taken the recovery step by step and done it thoroughly with no attempt to rush anything.
He continued, “I am still having appointments to strengthen the neck muscles. I have had the follow up appointment and the doctor has given me the go ahead to proceed. I went as far as having an MRI scan and I have also taken the time off to make sure I am ok. Sometimes you rush an injury and a couple of years down the line it comes back worse. I have gone through every step to make sure I am alright. I still want to compete at the highest level, so it had to be done.”
Athandiwe might be back at the meeting at Greyville this Sunday, the 22nd of March, but only if he gets a ride that has half-a-chance. He said he was otherwise targeting the 27th.
He has been feeling good and strong while workriding and added it was probably a blessing he did not remember the incident as such a happening could play on the mind.
He said, “Not remembering is a way of protecting me as it helped me to be able to get on to a horse again.”
He added, “I’m grateful to be able to get on the horses and carry on doing what I enjoy.”
He is not attached to any yard at the moment and said he would start off by riding work as much as he could and hopefully pick up a couple of rides to get back into the swing of things.
He said, “Things look to have tightened up a bit in Durban, so it doesn’t look easy, but I ride light so I should be able to pick up a few nice rides.”
See It Again Among The Premier's Champions Challenge Entries
WSB Met winner See It Again is one of two Justin Snaith-trained entries in the GR 1 wfa Premier’s Champions Challenge to be run over 2000m at Turffontein Standside on April 4. (Picture: Wayne Marks)
The first entries stage for the Champions Day races to be held on April 4 at Turffontein Standside closed on Monday and the Gr 1 World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge over 2000m had some interesting entries.
The WSB Met winner See It Again, who comes off a second place finish in the Gr 1 wfa Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes at Turffontein, is one of the raider entries.
His Justin Snaith-trained stablemate Okavango, who comes off a fine fourth in the Met and a win in the Listed King’s Cup, is also entered.
Both of these Cape horses are being prepared out of Summerveld.
The Nathan Kotzen-trained Madison Valley is a Summerveld resident who has also been entered, although he has a bit to find under weight for age conditions.
Kotzen’s former winner of this event, Royal Victory, is also an entry although he is now trained by Weichong Marwing.
Last year’s winner the Alec Laird-trained Fire Attack is entered and so is his former Betway Summer Cup-winnning stablemate Atticus Finch.
Tony Peter has two entries in The Ultimate King and The Equator, who both have tough tasks off 117 merit ratings.
This season’s Summer Cup runner up Olivia’s Way is an entry and she will have a tougher task under wfa conditions than she did in the Summer Cup, although going on the actual form of the Summer Cup makes her an interesting runner.
The talented Jimmy Don returned recently for a new stable, that of Joe Soma, after a layoff of about two-and-a-half years but Soma has worked miracles before in Gr 1 events.
The Gr 1 HKJC World Pool SA Classic winner and runner up Grand Empire and Trust are entered and another three-year-old, Copper Eagle, is also entered but will be severely under sufferance.
It is certainly going to be an intriguing race.
Below is a list of all the big race fields on the day:
WORLD POOL PREMIER’S CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE (Grade 1)
For all horses at Weight for Age
WFA: 3yrs-3.5kgs 4yrs-0kgs
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
| 0 | See It Again | Accepted | (6G) | 60 | 130 | A | Justin Snaith |
| 0 | Atticus Finch | (6G) | 60 | 127 | BAT | Alec Laird | |
| 0 | Fire Attack | (4C) | 60 | 124 | A | Alec Laird | |
| 0 | Royal Victory | (6G) | 60 | 124 | BA | Weichong Marwing | |
| 0 | Okavango | Accepted | (4G) | 60 | 123 | A | Justin Snaith |
| 0 | The Equator (IRE) | (5H) | 60 | 117 | BAT | Tony Peter | |
| 0 | The Ultimate King | (4G) | 60 | 117 | A | Tony Peter | |
| 0 | Madison Valley | (5G) | 60 | 116 | BA | Nathan Kotzen | |
| 0 | Jimmy Don | (6G) | 60 | 114 | AT | Joe Soma | |
| 0 | Olivia’s Way | (4F) | 57.5 | 114 | CA | Roy Magner | |
| 0 | Grand Empire | (3G) | 56.5 | 120 | AT | Sean Tarry | |
| 0 | Trust | (3C) | 56.5 | 119 | A | Candice / Tammy Dawson | |
| 0 | Copper Eagle | (3G) | 56.5 | 100 | A | Robyn Klaasen | |
| (13) | |||||||
TAB EMPRESS CLUB STAKES (Grade 1)
For Fillies and Mares at Weight-for-Age
WFA: 2yrs-12.5kgs 3yrs-2.5kgs 4yrs-0kgs
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
| 0 | Double Grand Slam | Accepted | (5M) | 60 | 122 | A | Justin Snaith |
| 0 | Almond Sea | (4F) | 60 | 119 | A | Tony Peter | |
| 0 | Rainbow Lorikeet | (5M) | 60 | 115 | A | Candice Bass | |
| 0 | Callmegetrix | (5M) | 60 | 113 | BAT | Sean Tarry | |
| 0 | Rodeo Drive | (4F) | 60 | 113 | A | Sean Tarry | |
| 0 | Minogue | (5M) | 60 | 112 | A | Candice / Tammy Dawson | |
| 0 | Kisshoten | (5M) | 60 | 107 | A | Tony Peter | |
| 0 | Famous Lady | (4F) | 60 | 103 | HAT | David Nieuwenhuizen | |
| 0 | Past Is Prologue | (4F) | 60 | 81 | A | Gareth van Zyl | |
| 0 | Golden Palm | (3F) | 57.5 | 115 | A | Alan Greeff | |
| 0 | Scarlett Heart | (3F) | 57.5 | 108 | BA | Fanie Bronkhorst | |
| (11) | |||||||
WILGERBOSDRIFT BRIDGET OPPENHEIMER SA OAKS (Grade 2)
For 3 year-old Fillies (3rd Leg of SA Triple Tiara)
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
| 13 | Hazy Dazy | (3F) | 60 | 117 | HA | Corne Spies | |
| 7 | Golden Palm | (3F) | 60 | 115 | A | Alan Greeff | |
| 4 | Charge It | (3F) | 60 | 113 | A | Alyson Wright | |
| 3 | Daisy Jones | (3F) | 60 | 108 | AT | Mike Azzie | |
| 5 | Littlemissmillion | (3F) | 60 | 107 | A | Tyrone Zackey | |
| 2 | Drumnadrochit | (3F) | 60 | 105 | BA | Mike / Mathew de Kock | |
| 6 | Curious Girl | (3F) | 60 | 92 | A | Mike / Mathew de Kock | |
| 14 | Ethical | (3F) | 60 | 85 | A | Candice / Tammy Dawson | |
| 11 | Amazon Queen | (3F) | 60 | 81 | BA | Mano Pandaram | |
| 12 | Alta Capitana | (3F) | 60 | 80 | BA | Sean Tarry | |
| 8 | Top Shelf Teddy | (3F) | 60 | 80 | HAT | Sean Tarry | |
| 10 | Shadowline | (3F) | 60 | 78 | A | Stuart Pettigrew | |
| 9 | Stampede Ahead | (3F) | 60 | 76 | AT | Adam Azzie | |
| 1 | Clouds Clearing | (3F) | 60 | 74 | HAT | W O Marwing/W H Marwing | |
| (14) | |||||||
TAB SA DERBY (Grade 2)
3 year olds (3rd Leg SA Triple Crown)
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
| 0 | $Ethical | (3F) | 0 | 85 | A | Candice / Tammy Dawson | |
| 13 | Radio Star | (3G) | 60 | 107 | A | Mike Azzie | |
| 9 | Tommy Shelby | (3C) | 60 | 101 | Ha | Fabian Habib | |
| 15 | Copper Eagle | (3G) | 60 | 100 | A | Robyn Klaasen | |
| 14 | Salani Kahle | (3C) | 60 | 97 | A | Gareth van Zyl | |
| 5 | Texas Missile | (3C) | 60 | 94 | A | Alec Laird | |
| 6 | Titans Of War | (3G) | 60 | 91 | A | Roy Magner | |
| 4 | Bellerophon | (3G) | 60 | 89 | A | Fabian Habib | |
| 16 | Master Spy | (3G) | 60 | 88 | A | Sean Tarry | |
| 2 | Sword Speed | (3G) | 60 | 87 | A | Alyson Wright | |
| 10 | Diogenes | (3G) | 60 | 86 | A | Weichong Marwing | |
| 7 | Culturati | (3G) | 60 | 85 | A | Grant Maroun | |
| 8 | World Of Royalty | (3G) | 60 | 78 | A | Weichong Marwing | |
| 11 | Reign On Impact | (3G) | 60 | 74 | A | Frikkie Greyling | |
| 12 | Charge It | (3F) | 57.5 | 113 | A | Alyson Wright | |
| 1 | Drumnadrochit | (3F) | 57.5 | 105 | BA | Mike / Mathew de Kock | |
| 3 | Curious Girl | (3F) | 57.5 | 92 | A | Mike / Mathew de Kock | |
| (17) | |||||||
TAB COMPUTAFORM SPRINT (Grade 1)
For all horses at Weight for Age
WFA: 2yrs-10.5kgs 3yrs-2kgs
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
| 0 | Buffalo Storm Cody | (4G) | 60 | 132 | A | Tony Peter | |
| 0 | Kingdundee | (4G) | 60 | 127 | AT | Dean Smith | |
| 0 | William Robertson | (7G) | 60 | 124 | JA | Corne Spies | |
| 0 | Truth | (4G) | 60 | 120 | A | Candice / Tammy Dawson | |
| 0 | Taxi To The Moon | (4G) | 60 | 119 | A | Tony Peter | |
| 0 | Ziyasha | (5G) | 60 | 117 | T | Clinton Binda | |
| 0 | Future Variety | (5G) | 60 | 116 | A | Candice Bass | |
| 0 | Luhamba Phambili | (4G) | 60 | 112 | A | Gareth van Zyl | |
| 0 | Quantum Theory | (6G) | 60 | 112 | CAT | Sean Tarry | |
| 0 | Arctic Wizard | (4G) | 60 | 110 | BA | Greg Ennion | |
| 0 | Mover And Shaker | (6G) | 60 | 109 | A | Fabian Habib | |
| 0 | Chocolate Soldier | (4G) | 60 | 108 | JA e | Corne Spies | |
| 0 | Winds Of Change | (4G) | 60 | 102 | A | Mike Azzie | |
| 0 | Constellation | (3C) | 58 | 114 | AT | Mike / Mathew de Kock | |
| 0 | Chapbook | (3C) | 58 | 106 | B T | Clinton Binda | |
| 0 | Almond Sea | (4F) | 57.5 | 119 | A | Tony Peter | |
| 0 | Mia Moo | (5M) | 57.5 | 119 | A | Sean Tarry | |
| 0 | Whistle The Tune | (4F) | 57.5 | 116 | CA | Candice / Tammy Dawson | |
| 0 | Rodeo Drive | (4F) | 57.5 | 113 | A | Sean Tarry | |
| 0 | Green Diamond | (3F) | 55.5 | 111 | AT | Sean Tarry | |
| (20) | |||||||
Big Cap Moved To April 11 At HWB Greyville
Hollywoodbets Greyville is the venue for this year’s Big Cap (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
The R5 million Race Coast Big Cap has been moved from its original slot of 12 April to Saturday 11 April at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
Kaiboy (Aldo Domeyer) (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Candice Bass-trained Kaiboy is at 9 on the log (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
The Big Cap, which is open to RCS sales graduates, is a slots race with 14 berths being sold at R350 000 each before entry date.
According to Race Coast, two berths are still available.
The slot-holders can either use their slots for their own qualifying horses, or sell or share them with connections of other horses that may become eligible for the final lineup.
The RCS Big Cap will be run as a handicap, with conditions over 1400m.
The maximum field is 14 runners, with capacity for six reserves. Entries close at 11h00 on Thursday 2 April.
The top 100 horses per 12 March:
1 OKAVANGO (4G) 123
2 GREAT PLAINS (4G) 122
3 ALMOND SEA (4F) 119
4 TAXI TO THE MOON (4G) 119
5 JUST BE LEKKER (5M) 116
6 VJ’S ANGEL (4F) 114
7 HAPPY VERSE (3C) 113
8 RANDOLPH HEARST (3G) 112
9 KAIBOY (4G) 108
10 MALMESBURY MISSILE (3G) 108
11 ROLAND GARROS (3C) 108
12 SCARLETT HEART (3F) 108
13 WINTER SNAP (3G) 108
14 KISSHOTEN (5M) 107
15 MUSICAL SCORE (4G) 107
16 VAPOUR TRAIL (3G) 107
17 DUMBLEDORE (5G) 106
18 SHE’S MY WORLD (3F) 106
19 TALK TO THE MASTER (4G) 106
20 BJORN IRONSIDE (4G) 105
21 ESTEEMED (3C) 105
22 ISIVIVANE (4G) 104
23 LITTLE BALLERINA (4F) 104
24 CALL ME SECRET (3F) 102
25 CAPTAIN WEST (4G) 102
26 DEMANDING DAVE (3G) 102
27 PRETTY PERSUASIVE (3F) 102
28 ZALATORIS (3G) 102
29 NORTH POINT (3G) 101
30 PORRIDGE BOY (3G) 101
31 TOMMY SHELBY (3C) 101
32 DREAMWORLD (3G) 100
33 I’M SO PRITTI (4F) 100
34 MISS HANNIGAN (5M) 100
35 TREATY OF PARIS (3G) 100
36 ANCHORAGE (3F) 99
37 EMPIRE STATE (4G) 99
38 GOLDEN RULE (4G) 99
39 READ ALL ABOUT IT (3G) 99
40 CAPTAINS ENVY (3F) 98
41 CONNERY (5G) 98
42 MASTER CASPER (4G) 98
43 SORCERESS SUPREME (4F) 98
44 THE GREY KING (5G) 98
45 GIMMETHEGOODLIFE (4G) 97
46 RAFA BAY (4G) 97
47 THAT’S MY BABY (5M) 97
48 THE SHEPHERD (5G) 97
49 TOUCHED BY ANGELS (3G) 97
50 CHURCHILLIAN (3G) 96
51 FESTIVAL CHIC (4F) 96
52 VOORLOOPERTJIE (5G) 96
53 BLACK EAGLE (3G) 95
54 BRUH (3C) 95
55 LA PULGA (4G) 95
56 ON TARGET (4G) 95
57 TULIP FIELDS (3F) 95
58 DAWN TILL DUSK (4G) 94
59 GLASTONBURY (3F) 94
60 KANAAL SKATER (3G) 94
61 QUEEN REGENT (3F) 94
62 THE ABDICATOR (IRE (5G) 94
63 TOM’S DINER (5G) 94
64 BONJOUR LA VILLE (3F) 93
65 BUTTERCUP BABY (4F) 93
66 GOLD GIBOSKI (3G) 93
67 MISS ARGONAUT (4F) 93
68 MO MENT (5G) 93
69 ROYAL CITY GIRL (3F) 93
70 ASCALON DANCER (3C) 92
71 HAH LAH LAH (3G) 92
72 HANDSOME PRINCE (4G) 92
73 IN A TIMELY MANNER (3G) 92
74 OBJET D’ ART (3G) 92
75 QUERARI ROSE (4F) 92
76 WARM WINTER NITE (5G) 92
77 BLACK CHEETAH (3C) 91
78 CIRCUMBENDIBUS (4G) 91
79 DUCHESS OF PALOMA (4F) 91
80 MISTER SPEAKER (4G) 91
81 SPIRIT (3G) 91
82 STATED (4G) 91
83 CORAL BLAZE (4F) 90
84 FREEDOM FIGHTER (3G) 90
85 MAKAZOLE (4G) 90
86 MILITARY COMMAND (3G) 90
87 TOP DIVISION (3G) 90
88 VIKINGS REVENGE (3G) 90
89 FUTURE FREE (3G) 89
90 ROMAN’S REVENGE (4G) 89
91 SAFE TRAVEL (3G) 89
92 TWO G’S (4F) 89
93 WHAT A FORTUNE (4G) 89
94 BUZZ BOMB (4G) 88
95 LADY BLUNT (3F) 88
96 MERRYWEATHER (3F) 88
97 VIHAAN’S BOMB (5G) 88
98 ALPHA WORLD (3G) 87
99 ASTRONOMICAL BOY (3G) 87
100 FEW DOLLARS MORE (5G) 87
Sooty Could Be Burning It Up Again
Sooty has been tipped by Brandon Bailey to win Race 5 (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Hollywoodbets Durbanville Wednesday Formguides And Selections
RACE 1: Hollywoodbets DURBANVILLE WELCOMES YOU MAIDEN JUVENILE PLATE R140 000
4 WINTER PIRATE 6 ENTICEMENT 7 PLATINUM GREY 1 TAG AND RELEASE
4 WINTER PIRATE stayed on well for second behind Rich Man’s World at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 25th of February, he is a lovely horse with a great action, he will be very hard to beat in this field. 6 ENTICEMENT showed tremendous speed on debut, she ran a great race for second behind Grapes Of Wrath on the 28th of February, with natural improvement expected from this filly, she should be right there in the finish. 7 PLATINUM GREY has been rested for 87 days, he was well beaten for third by Marseilles on the 21st of December, he should improve going into his second run on Wednesday, top jockey Richard Fourie has been booked to ride this colt, watch him closely. This field is packed with several well-bred first timers, keep a close eye on them in the parade ring and monitor the market carefully for any significant support. (Brandon Bailey: 4 – 6 – 7 – 1)
RACE 2: JOIN THE RACE COAST TURF CLUB OPEN MAIDEN R90 000
1 PITERAQ 2 SICILY 10 SKY ROCKET 4 WALK RIGHT IN
1 PITERAQ was beaten just under one length in a driving finish by Winter In Auckland on the 11th of February, she has a good draw on Wednesday, and she drops in trip to 1000m, there should be absolutely no excuses for this filly, she has a big winning chance in this field. 2 SICILY has run two excellent races in succession, he can be a tricky ride, on his best form, he will be right there in the finish, include him into all bets. 10 SKY ROCKET finished just over five lengths behind Fast Train on the 22nd of February, he is a young horse that will improve with every start, unfortunately the wide draw on Wednesday will make life tough for him, if he gets some luck in running, he should finish amongst the places. 4 WALK RIGHT IN ran a much-improved race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 22nd of February, she ran third behind Starting Point, if she can build on that run, she will be competitive. (Brandon Bailey: 1 – 2 – 10 – 4)
RACE 3: LUCKY FISH DIAMOND RISE OPEN MAIDEN R90 000
9 READY FOR THE ROAD 3 I AM SAM 7 O’FELLOW 1 QUIET PLACE
9 READY FOR THE ROAD moved up like a winner when finishing second behind Bonelli on the 14th of February, he will love the step up in trip to 2000m on Wednesday, the blinkers stay on, he has a big winning chance in this field. 3 I AM SAM ran a fair race behind Tunguska at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 28th of February, he was beaten just under six lengths in a competitive field last time, Richard Fourie sticks with this colt, he steps up in trip and he has a neat draw, there is no doubt he will be right there in the finish. 7 O’Fellow finished like a train for third in the same race as Ready For The Road last time, he is a big horse with a massive action, if he brings that run to the track again on Wednesday, he will go close to winning at a decent price. 1 QUIET PLACE is much better than his recent form, the blinkers have been fitted to this gelding, and he steps up in trip, watch for sharp improvement. (Brandon Bailey: 9 – 3 – 7 – 1)
RACE 4: ONE WORLD RACING SYNDICATE APPRENTICE CLASS 5 (F & M) R80 000
4 RAFFISH 5 LOVE SHACK 7 ALESSIA ASHEVILLE 1 TRUE HORIZON
4 RAFFISH TREND ran a great race for third behind Lady Look Alike on the 14th of February, she is a young filly that is getting better and stronger with more racing, she definitely has a big winning chance here. 5 LOVE SHACK travelled beautifully in her race when finishing fourth behind Moody Blue at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 4th of March, she has dropped even further in the ratings, and she steps up in trip to 1250m again, if the race works out for her, she will go close to winning. 7 ALESSIA ASHEVILLE won a gutsy race on the 25th of February, she has no weight on her back on Wednesday, she loves Hollywoodbets Durbanville, she could be the value play in a tricky race, watch her closely at a decent price. 1 TRUE HORIZON stayed on nicely for second behind Avignon on the 25th of February, she never runs a bad race, her chances must be respected from a good draw. (Brandon Bailey: 4 – 5 – 7 – 1)
RACE 5: BET WITH TOTE www.tote.co.za CLASS 4 R125 000
2 SOOTY 1 DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT 7 WORLDLY 6 PALACE GIFT
2 SOOTY was given a terrific ride by Jockey Richard Fourie on the 11th of February, he won a good race beating Dawn’s Early Light, even though he has more to do at the weights on Wednesday, he will go very close to winning again from a neat draw. 1 DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT has run two great races in succession, he was just touched off by Sooty last time, the yard is in great form at the moment, he will be right there in the finish from a perfect draw, include him into all bets. 7 WORLDLY was doing some good work late behind Spirit on the 22nd of February, he can be a tricky ride, if the gaps open at the right time for this gelding, he will be competitive, watch him closely. 6 PALACE GIFT has been rested for 84 days, he quickened up smartly to win well on the 24th of December, if he doesn’t need the run back from a small break, he should run a cracker again. (Brandon Bailey: 2 – 1 – 7 – 6)
RACE 6: P3 RACING SYNDICATE APPRENTICE CLASS 4 (F & M) R110 000
3 GIRL LIKE US 1 ACT OF GRACE 2 DECEMBER DAWN 7 BLACK ERIKA
3 GIRL LIKE US could be tremendous value in this race, she was only beaten just over two lengths by Seven No Trump at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 22nd of February, she runs really well at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, and she has dropped even further in the ratings, this looks to be the perfect race for this mare to win again, include her into all bets. 1 ACT OF GRACE ran a great race for second behind Lovers Lane on the 21st of January, the drop in trip to 1250m should be no problem for this filly, she will be running on strongly, watch her closely from a good draw. 2 DECEMBER DAWN ran a much better race on the 14th of February at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, she stayed on well for third behind Caribbean Gold, if she gets some cover early, she will be storming home late. 7 BLACK ERIKA ran a nice race behind Lady Look Alike on the 14th of February, she was only beaten just over two lengths in a competitive field last time, she will need some luck in running from a tricky draw on Wednesday, if the race works out for her, she will be amongst the places. (Brandon Bailey: 3 – 1 – 2 – 7)
RACE 7: LUCKY FISH CRAZY TIME B STAKES R140 000
8 YAMAKAZI 3 BOOGIEFIED 6 SHERIFF JOHN STONE 7 HANDSOME PRINCE
8 YAMAZAKI must have a good winning chance in this field, he stayed on strongly for fourth behind Foudre at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 31st of January, he has no weight on his back on Wednesday, he will be switched off early, and he will be running on strongly late. 3 BOOGIEFIED won a great race on the 14th of February, he was given three points for that win last time, he is very consistent, there is no doubt he will have a big winning chance again in this field. 6 SHERIFF JOHN STONE was only beaten just over four lengths by Chasingtherainbow on the 22nd of February, he would have needed that run badly after a long break, he should be much fitter on Wednesday, and the blinkers have been fitted, watch for sharp improvement from this good-looking gelding. 7 HANDSOME PRINCE finished two lengths behind the winner in the same race as Sheriff John Stone last time, he definitely has a place chance on his best form. (Brandon Bailey: 8 – 3 – 6 – 7)
RACE 8: Hollywoodbets BRIGHT FUTURE APPRENTICE CLASS 5 R100 000
5 LANDSEER 3 BACKINTHEFASTLANE 8 FORT RED 9 BATON ROUGE
5 LANDSEER ran a much better race at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 11th of February, he ran second behind Double Dash, this doesn’t look to be the strongest race on paper, if he brings that run to the track again on Wednesday, he will go close to winning. 3 BACKINTHEFASTLANE ran a fair race behind Money Extractor on the 28th of February, he was beaten just over five lengths, he should get the run of the race from a good draw, include him into all bets. 8 FORT RED won a top race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 3rd of December, he has been rested for 105 days, if he stays this trip of 1600m, he will go close to winning, watch him closely. 9 BATON ROUGE has been rested for 87 days, if he bounces back to his best form, he can win a race like this easily. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 3 – 8 – 9)
Max Que Can Round Off The Happy Valley Meeting
Max Que has been tipped to win the last race (Picture: HKJC)
At The Races’ tipster Tim Carroll previews and provides selections for Wednesday’s nine-race card at Happy Valley, which kicks off at 12H40 SA Time.
The feature of the meeting is race 7, the Class 2 Daisy Handicap, offering prize money of more than £280,000.
Now onto this week’s selections…
Media Eclipse Award For Photography Won By Skip Dickstein
Irad Ortiz escaped serious injury when unseated in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Saratoga, but this photograph won a Media Eclipse Award for “Skip” Dickstein
The Media Eclipse Awards, which were announced back in January but it is worth rewinding to have a look at all the winners and their winning submissions.
Today's Question
What was Labour MP’s famous quote about Frankie Dettori at a Labour Party Conference in 1996?
The picture is of John Prescott (LinkedIn)
FIELDS, Wednesday, 18 March
Hollywoodbets Durbanville
Today’s Question Answer
“The only Tory worth backing to win at the moment is Frankie Dettori!”.
That is a famous quote from the late John Prescott, the Labour Party’s Deputy Leader, during his speech to the Labour Party Conference in 1996.
Context: Prescott made this joke shortly after champion jockey Frankie Dettori famously rode all seven winners on a single day at Ascot in September 1996.
Significance: It was a witty way for Prescott to mock the Conservative government under John Major, implying that none of the actual Tory politicians were worth supporting, and the only “winning” Tories were in horse racing.
This quip is often cited as a classic example of Prescott’s humour during the lead-up to Labour’s landslide election victory in 1997.
