Turf Talk Newsletter – 29 April, 2026

Rich Man’s World looked to have a good test ahead of him when arriving at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today (Wednesday) as his chief market rival Master Magician had similarly impeccable form, but the opposition proved no match for him as he sauntered to a 7,50 length victory without coming out of second gear (Picture: Julia Marnewick)  

Just a dozen days after Gaynor Rupert’s homebred filly I’m The One galloped her way to Epsom Oaks favouritism, a Vaughan Marshall-trained One World colt who traces back to the same German-bred matriarch announced himself as South Africa’s new potential superstar.

Two-year-old Rich Man’s World had won his first two starts, both over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, by two lengths and 5,25 lengths respectively and made his KZN debut in the Gr 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today (Wednesday).

He started favourite but only just because there was plenty of support for the local hope, the Mike Miller-trained Master Magician, a Querari colt who had won his first two starts, both over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville by 5,40 and 4,20 lengths respectively.

Rich Man’s Gold drifted out from an opening call of 56/100 to even money as Master Magician’s price remained steady on 14/10 in the seven horse field.

Masgter Magician went to the front from the highest draw of seven and Richard Fourie on Rich Man’s World, who jumped from draw six, was happy to let the latter drift inward in front of him.

Tristan Godden gave Master Magician more rein at the 400m but Rich Man’s World loped alongside moving effortlessly.

When Fourie asked him he changed legs and accelerated before stretching away to win by 7,50 lengths.

It was a highly impressive performance run in a time of 61.95 seconds, 1.59 seconds faster than the fillies event.

Rich Man’s Gold was bred by Boland Stud and is out of the German-bred Silvano mare Sommersonne, who won her 9th start over 1600m after placing five times in the maidens and she was then retired.

Ironically, it was Mike Miller who trained Somersonne’s previous best runner, the Gimmthegreenlight filly Just Reckless, who won the equivalent race for fillies that Rich Man’s Gold won today, the Gr 3 Strelitzia Stakes over 1100m, and she went on to win the Gr 2 World Pool With Gold Circle Debutante over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville over 1200m on Gold Cup day.

Just Reckless only had one start as a three-year-old, finishing a good second.

Hopefully, Rich Man’s Gold will train on as well as his Marshall-trained paternal half-brother One Stripe, who had three wins from four starts as a two-year-old, including two Gr 3s, before becoming a dual Gr 1-winning superstar as a three-year-old and he is now one of the best turf horses in America.

Richard Fourie said after the race, “Beautiful horse, good attitude, sleeps, a phenomenal turn of foot and he just behaves like a six-year-old, his attitude is everything and he’s going to win a lot of races.”

He continued, “I thought we would go nice and fast and I would get cover in behind Tristan, but this horse’s action is just so big I kept having to pull him back and even when I got to him at the 400m mark I was just trying to sit as long as I could, he was just doing everything naturally. Eventually I had to move …”

Fourie said he had never really come out of first gear or second gear.

He concluded, “He is special and we’ll keep the good stuff for the big races.”

Vaughan Marshall has been in the game for decades and and that is one reason he never gets ahead of himself.

He said, “He’s done what we have asked him to do, but let’s just keep our feet on the ground.”

Rich Man’s World traces back to a bottom line female called Schwarzgold, a legendary German-bred thoroughbred matriarch, and this is the same bottom line female that Gaynor Rupert’s sensational homebred in the UK, I’m The One, traces back to.

Schwarzgold is still regarded as one of the best racing fillies ever bred in Germany.

Unfortunately she had to be put down at a relatively young age, because she was suffering from an incurable disease. At stud she only produced two foals and yet founded one of the strongest German and European families, which includes Stuyvesant, Schonbrunn, Sagace, Slip Anchor, etc.

Turf Talk have often highlighted the seemingly underestimated influence of a 1930-born German-bred stallion Alchimist, who  was also a German Derby winner.

He was the sire of Schwarzgold and he appears three times in Rich Man’s World’s pedigree, twice via his dam and once via Silvano.

Rich Man’s World is owned by Messrs R L Gabler & K P Truter & Mesdames C L Gabler & Jane Truter.

He was purchased for R450,000 at the BSA National Yearling Sale.

His Rafeef half-brother Continental King has also shown promise. The 84-rated Dianne Stenger-trained gelding has had four runs, including a 3,75 length victory over 1160m at Turffontein Standside in his penultimate start in the maidens.

Turn It Up had Gold Medallion winner written all over him when cruising to victory in the Race Coast Sales Slipper recently, but there is now suddenly a major obstacle called Rich Man’s World in his way (Picture: Race Coast)  

Today’s clash in the Godolphin Barb between Rich Man’s World and Master Magician caused a stir, but after the former had doddled to victory a quick mental scan of the opposition he would face in the Gr 1 Gold Medallion immediately brought the Sean Tarry-trained Turn It Up to mind.

Keagan de Melo said after Turn It Up had produced an electrifying finish in effortless fashion in the Race Coast Sales Slipper over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville, “I haven’t felt a 2yo like this in a long time.”

Sean Tarry is known as The King Of Hollywoodbets Scottsville, having won a record 21 Gr 1s at the venue.

However, in the Gold Medallion his four victories is actually just one better than Marshall’s three Golden Medallion triumphs.

Tarry has dominated the Gold Medallion over the last few years, winning his first in 2019 with Eden Roc (Var), then with Thunderstruck (Rafeef) in 2022, Lucky Lad (Gimmethegreenlight) in 2023 and he got the exacta with Proceed (Gimmethegreenlight) and Cosmic Speed (Querari) in 2024.

Marshall has won ten Scottsville Gr 1s and has won a Gr 1 there in four different decades.

His three Medallion wins have been with Villandry (Var) in 2009, Always In Charge (Captain Al) in 2016 and with Ambiorix (Vercingetorix) in 2020.

Turn It Up is a half-brother to Tarry’s previous Gold Medallion winner Proceed.

Turn It Up, unlike Rich Man’s World, has been defeated once before.

On debut over 800m at Turffontein Standside on Betway Summer Cup day he was beaten 3,50 lengths by the Tony Peter-trained Heath House.

Heath House, who is by Erupt, followed up with a seven length win over 1000m and a 7,25 length win over 1000m.

However, the latter two wins were in a five-horse and a three-horse field respectively.

Heath House would likely not be seen as much of a threat to Rich Man’s World and Turn It Up, because he is known to be a ball of speed, a tearaway who would have a stamina doubt over 1200m.

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see whether Heath House does go to the Festival Of Speed meeting.

Whatever happens, the clash between Rich Man’s World and Turn It Up is one which will cause a lot of excitement.

Rich Man’s World will likely be the favourite, considering he did not come out of second gear today.

How much more does he have is the big question?

Turn It Up was also effortless in his last victory and has a progressive profile.

Fourie would obviously like to stick with Rich Man’s World, but he is retained by Ridgemont, so it will depend on them having a participant.

Ridgemont (and Devin Heffer) are owners of the Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery winner, the Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Good Day Sunshine, but she fluffed her lines last time out in the Gr 3 Pretty Polly Stakes over 1100m and it seems if she does go to the Festival Of Speed meeting she will stick to the easier task in the Gr 2 Allan Robertson Championship rather than take on he boys in the Medallion.

De Melo is retained by Turn It Up’s owner Laurence Wernars.

So it does look likely that both horses will have champion jockeys aboard and they will both have trainers capable of producing Gr 1 magic at the Pietermaritzburg venue.

It is going to be a humdinger and is one to put in the diary.

Favourite backers had some nervous moments in the Gr 3 TOTE Strelitzia Stakes over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today (Wednesday) as the odds-on favourite Querari Dancer looked to have left her run to late, but the doubters had not counted on the composure under pressure of Andew Fortune.

The veteran jockey extracted the Justin Snaith-trained filly from trouble and got up in the nick of time to win by 0,30 lengths.

The Nick Jonsson-owned Querari filly was the first two-year-old winner of the season, winning an 800m event at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on November 22.

She followed with two close up fourths at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in a Juvenile Plate over 1000m and in the Gr 3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery over 1200m respectively, both of them behind Red Spice.

She had traffic problems in both of those starts.

She did not face a vintage field in the Strelitzia as her seven opponents had only mustered four wins in total between them and none of them had won more than one race.

So her price of 6/10 certainly looked justified.

However, yet again, Querari Dancer did not have a smooth passage.

She was squeezed between two horses at the start and in the running was placed  awkwardly in behind the leading line off what looked to be a moderate pace.

She had to be switched a long way inward to get a run after going through the 400m mark.

The gap towards the rail she was going for began to close, meaning she probably interfered with Flower Tryst, who was inside of her and was going for the same gap.

Querari Dancer was already almost at the 200m mark when she could let down and go for the line.

However, she still had a couple of lengths to make up on the pacemaker Menagerie and she had not had much momentum to build on up until then either.

Menagerie had finished a close second on debut and this was just her  her second career start, but she kicked on in the latter stages.

Ferrari Flair was also finishing strongly on the outside.

Punters would have been aware that the Hollywoodbets Scottsville angle usually favours horses on the outside too, so the writing looked to be on the wall for favourite backers.

However, Querari Dancer somehow managed to find the necessary extra under strong urgings from Fortune to get up by 0,30 lengths. A late change of whip hand might well have been the difference between victory and defeat and was an example of the veteran rider’s composure under pressure.

The gallant Stuart Ferrie-trained Menagerie (Rafeef) was second with Ferrari Flair (Vercingetorix) just a shorthead further back,

Rushing Chimes (Chimichri Run) and Lady Godiva (Captain Of All) were next best.

Fortune quipped afterwards that it was only his status as a “world class” rider that had got the filly home and opined that most other riders would have panicked.

Snaith admitted Hollywoodbets Scottsville had not been a happy hunting ground for him in the past, despite his family’s strong ties with the city, and he must have feared the trend was going to continue.

He said this filly had been a “class individual” from day one, but had to race against colts in Cape Town features and added she should have still beaten them had she not found trouble both times.

Fortune delivered on his prediction to the public that he would win, although not on his prediction that he would not have to move on her.

The form of the race will not look great shakes, but Querari Dancer is likely to get a much better pace in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson and will have a chance to show exactly how good she is.

Snaith and Jonsson teamed up to win the Allan Robertson in 2019 with Jonsson’s homebred Miss Florida (today a stalwart broodmare of Graded winners Miami Mountain and Good Day Sunshine).

Querari Dancer will likely be a leading candidate for the Allan Robertson on May 23 and Fortune will likely retain the ride.

The Clifton Stud-bred filly is out of the stakes-placed six-time winner Dancing Queen (Mambo In Seattle) and was purchased by Jonathan Snaith for R280 000 at the 2025 BSA KZN Yearling Sale.

Querari Dancer has earned R372 876 to date.

Glen Kotzen, Vaughan Marshall and Serino Moodley were the three double-scorers at the meeting.

An inquiry board look set to pass judgement on S’Manga Khumalo on May 25 after all the evidence in his well documented case was presented over the last two days (April 28 and 29).

Inquiries which do not end with admissions of guilt at the NHA usually drag out and take a while to conclude, but this case in which two jockeys (the other one being Luyolo Mxothwa) are denied being able to earn a living while waiting for the case to conclude, highlights how problematic this trend is.

The NHA Press Release is shown below:

The Inquiry into Jockey S’manga Khumalo reconvened before an appointed Inquiry Board on 28 and 29 April 2026.

Mr Khumalo elected to continue the proceedings without legal representation.

All evidence was presented before the Inquiry Board. The Inquiry Board has reserved its judgment, and the matter has been adjourned and will resume on 25 May 2026.

Mr Khumalo’s interim suspension remains in place pending the finalisation of the Inquiry.

MICHAEL SHACKLETON

Legal Executive

The picture sequence gives a good idea of the brave route Luke Ferraris took to victory on Bottomuptogether

Winners are never easy to come by for jockeys in Hong Kong racing and Luke Ferraris scored only his third win this month at Happy Valley today (Wednesday), but it took him to a highly respectable 30 wins for the season, which puts him in joint sixth place on the log.

Ferraris was successful in a Class 2 event over 1000m on the Australian-bred Shamus Award gelding Bottomuptogether, a name which is likely translated from the Chinese word “Ganbei” (干杯), which is the equivalent of the Western word “Cheers” but literally means dry cup or “bottoms up” (with the bottom of the cup pointed upwards after downing the drink) .

The Frankie Lor-trained five-year-old won his first three starts and has campaigned in class 2 from his fifth career start onward, except for one race in Class 1 and a tilt at both a Gr 2 and a Gr 3.

He started 6/1 from draw 4 and ran off a rating of 95, down from a high of 102.

His superb gatespeed and early pace allowed him to fid the rail and sit behind the pacemaker.

He cornered superbly and that allowed Ferraris to squeeze through a narrow gap between the pacemaker and the rail.

Bottomuptogether did not flinch and found another gear once he was through the gap to win by 0,75 lengths.

It was only the second time the horse had run at Happy Valley and he is now two from two at the course.

It was his sixth career win.

A report on the whole meeting can be read below:

Mark Newnham continues superb season by reclaiming trainers’ championship lead

By Leo Schlink

The Hong Kong trainers’ championship continued a season of constant fluctuation as Mark Newnham reclaimed the lead in the battle for 2025/26 title honours from Caspar Fownes at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (29 April) to crown a glorious month.

Having saddled Invincible Ibis to victory in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) in March, Newnham claimed his first Hong Kong Group 1 trophy with My Wish’s triumph in the FWD Champions Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (26 April).

And with Armor Golden Eagle’s (123lb) success in the Class 3 Jeju Handicap (1650m) under eight-time Hong Kong champion jockey Zac Purton, Newnham moved to 50 wins for the season and vaulted back to the top of the standings with more second placings than Fownes.

Danny Shum (49) and David Hayes, who improved his tally to 48 with a double, are also pressing for championship honours along with Francis Lui (43) and John Size (41).

Purton needs only 14 more wins to become the first jockey to post 2,000 victories in the city after scoring on Honest Witness, Giant Ballon and Armor Golden Eagle, who collected a PP Bonus of HK$1.5 million after sweeping to a three-and-three-quarter length margin.

“It was a good night, they (trebles) help, nice way to finish,” the Australian said. “He (Armor Golden Eagle) drew the right gate (four), had the right run and he was quite soft on the line. He was a bit lost when he got there, but there’s more there.”

Triumphant after Ka Ying Rising’s G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) victory on Sunday, Hayes fired in a double to maintain hopes of a third Hong Kong trainers’ championship.

He combined successfully with Harry Bentley for the 11th time this season with Dashing Maurison’s (134lb) bold display in the Class 5 Daejon Handicap before Honest Witness (129lb) strolled to a four-and-three-quarter length win in the third section of the Class 4 Yeongcheon Handicap (1200m) for Purton.

Hayes applied blinkers for the first time to Dashing Maurison and the gear change produced the desired result.

“I really felt this horse (Dashing Maurison), if he concentrated, would be too good for the horses in Class 5. He definitely went through it (rain-affected ground), so if it rains in the back part of the season, it’ll be good for us. I think he’s probably got another win in him this season,” Hayes said.

Douglas Whyte took training honours on the night with a treble with Find My Love, Gameplayer Elite and Giant Ballon to move to 20 wins for the season.

The 13-time Hong Kong champion jockey was delighted after Hong Kong International Sale graduate Giant Ballon (124lb) collected an ISG Bonus of HK$1 million for landing the Class 3 Busan Handicap (1200m).

“We’ve only had five runners, three winners, a fourth. It’s been a great night. The Valley has always been a special place for me, more so as a trainer than as a jockey. It’s vibrant, tactical, and leaves no room for error,” Whyte said.

Bentley continued an excellent season by completing a double aboard Whyte-trained Gameplayer Elite (125lb) in the Class 4 The Korea Racing Authority Trophy Handicap (1200m) after Find My Love (129lb) slotted his fourth Hong Kong victory with success in the first section of the Class 4 Yeongcheon Handicap (1200m) under Hugh Bowman.

Formerly trained by John & Thady Gosden in England, where he was known as Find, the seven-year-old relished the Good to Yielding conditions.

“He’s dour and he’s honest. He’s on a good and competitive rating (54), so there was a lot in his favour tonight,” Whyte said of the Frankel gelding. “He wants 1400m but he also doesn’t – he’s in between distances. I think the cut in the ground and the barrier draw (gate two) certainly served it up to him.”

Cody Mo’s Super Goldendragon (121lb), another Hong Kong International Sale graduate, broke through for his first win at his sixth start with a strong display in the Class 4 Daegu Handicap (2200m) under Derek Leung. Sent off at 87/1, the Kitten’s Joy gelding finished stoutly in the rain-affected ground to down Double Win (129lb) and Joyful Prosperity (123lb).

Matthew Chadwick returned to the winners’ list when Me Tsui’s Another Zonda (131lb) held on grimly in the Class 4 Incheon Handicap (1650m).

“It was a good performance and he ran to his form,” Chadwick said. “He went pretty hard, considering the track and, the 500m I just made the decision to go and get them off the bit and if it worked, it did and if it didn’t it – this time it did work.

Luke Ferraris posted his 30th win of the campaign after coaxing the best out of Bottomuptogether (125lb) in the Class 2 Seoul Handicap (1000m) for Frankie Lor.

Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (3 May) with the HK$4.2 million G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup Handicap (2400m).

The Africa House is today owned by Nadine and Kevin Backos and is pictured winning when still owned by Laurence Wernars. He has been tipped to win a competitive Middle Stakes race, and thus gain just his fourth career win (JC Photos)

 

The Turffontein Standside meeting on Thursday has nine competitive races and there could be some decent dividends.

The highest rated race is the sixth, a Middle Stakes event over 1400m and the one to beat could be The Africa House. This What A Winter gelding has his fifth start for the astute trainer Tyrone Zackey, and as he has improved in his last two starts, going close in both, he can be right there from a fair draw of five, especially considering he is one of the best weighted males in the race. A Bit Of Class is the best weighted runner and has her third run after a layoff. She has got plenty of class and would not be a surprise winner. Erupt gelding Paul Revere has turned out to be a 1400m specialist and after an easy win last time over 1450m on the Inside track, he was raised seven points to 92. He is just one point off the top of his merit rating band and is officially only half-a-kilogram out with the best weighted males, although he is 2,5kg out with the best weighted runner, the filly A Bit Of Class. However, 2,5kg claimer Blaine Marx-Jacobson stays aboard and that is a bonus as this rider has come from nowhere to be leading apprentice such has been the rich vein of form he has found since relocating to the Highveld. Richard Fourie will be aboard the consistent Kamensky, who is one of the best weighted males and he is versatile so will enjoy this trip. He is drawn in pole, but does have a big weight of 62kg to carry and this is first apppearance for eight months. Craig Zackey takes the ride on the talented Slinky Mapimpi, who is likely going to try and get to the front from a wide draw. If he gets there without using up too much energy he will be dangerous.

The seventh is a MR 96 handicap over 1160m and Lead The Charge has the form to go close under Marx-Jacobson. The chief concern though is his low draw of three but the bias has not been that noticeable overall this season. The talented Quickfreeze will be a threat. He would prefer further but from a high draw he could mow them down late. African Prince is knocking on the door and although not having an easy task with Vibe SA, being only 2,5kg better off for a 3,5 length beating, he has a nice high draw and could be in the shake up. Palace Prince has not been disgraced against good sorts in his last two sprint starts and he has a chance as long as low draws do not prove to be a major disadvantage. Night Bomber ran well after a layoff last time and can run well here again after another short layoff. Secret Chord was most disappointing last time, but he is talented and can never be ignored. Vibe SA has to be considered too.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1600m Winds Of Grace is a nice type and the form of her last second, beaten 2,20 lengths, was franked when the winner Kensal Green came out and won next time out by an easy 3,30 lengths off an 83 merit rating. She runs off a 72 and will go close if able to overcome a tricky draw of eight. War Reporter ran a good race over 1700m last time and from a good draw of two should make a bold bid. Blood Of Eden was raised three points for his win over 1800m last time, but looks capable of being competitive again in this line up. Golden Aspen is well drawn and is interesting tried over 1600m again. Redlightgreenlight will enjoy the step down in trip and is drawn in pole.

In the fifth race over 1800m World Of Royalty can progress again as he is very much suited to the Turffontein Standside course and is drawn in pole. Page Boy last ran in January, but looked to be a progressive sort and he might have benefited from the layoff. The form of his win over 1700m that day has worked out exceptionally well. Terrence won well in the maidens and off a 78 merit rating has a chance.

In the eighth race over 1160m Sosoru won well in the maidens and starts off handicapping off a reasonable 81. Traditional Belief should go close dropping back in trip as long as low draws are not a major disadvantage. Saketini also makes appeal on form but also has quite a low draw.

In the last race over 1000m Mrs Stormiatrix is on the up and can clinch a hattrick. from a nice high draw. The honest Blindfire is distance suited and has a nice draw and she goes well for Blaine Marx-Jacobson, so should be in the shake up. Kia Kaha has more ability than his form suggests but off a lowered merit rating and from a high draw over an ideal trip he could be involved with the gender allowance of the excellent Mickaelle Michel being another bonus.

In the first leg of the PA over 1600m What A Warrior looks to be going places and can do well from a good draw over a suitable step up in trip. Moana won well second time out over 1400m and will enjoy this step up in trip. Snap Your Fingers will relish the step up in trip and will be dangerous carrying a light weight as a female and a non-winner.

In the first race over 1160m Elusive Dragon can confirm form with Indecent Obsession, although this race won’t take a lot of winning so the two first-timers’ betting must be monitored. Cosmic Cap was a talking horse on debut and disappointed but look for improvement.

In the 2nd race over 1160m Royal Tiara came in for support on debut and ran a fair third. Storm Avalanche was 4,40 lengths behind the talented Alice B Toklas and could be the chief threat.