Turf Talk Newsletter – 20 May, 2026

Star Major was hugely impressive in the Gr 2 WSB Guineas (Picture: Race Coast) 

The entries for the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 were announced on Monday and the question is will the race lead to big merit rating increases as is often the fear.

Two years ago it seemed a safe race for the Hollywoodbets Durban July favourite Green With Envy to run in, because on 123 he was rated seven points higher than any other horse in the race.

However, such was the way the race panned out that he was raised four points.

The connections appealed and their deposit was forfeited with the conclusion of the panelists being the controversial line horse was correct based on the fact that had other suitable line horses been used Green With Envy’s rating would have been even higher.

So this will cause the connections of the chief Hollywoodbets Durban July horses involved in next Saturday’s race, Note To Self (118), Jan Van Goyen (118), Star Major (118), Hazy Dazy (117), Chronicle King (115), Viva’s Liberte (114) and Happy Verse (113) to be nervous.

Most of these horses will be viewing the race as a “preparation” for the July.

However, among them the connections of the colt Star Major might be viewing it as a good opportunity to improve their horse’s stallion credentials.

Star Major by Querari has always been highly regarded and is progressing into the star they thought he could be.

He was ultra impressive when winning the Gr 2 WSB Guineas last time, showing a magnificent turn of foot that saw him bursting through the centre to claim victory by 0,90 lengths at odds of 25/2, upsetting the 8/10 favourite Tin Pan Alley, who admittedly did not have things pan out well for him.

Star Major was a decent 3,20 length fourth in the Gr 1 Lucky Fish Cape Derby, where he was beaten 2,45 lengths by Note To Self and a neck by Viva’s Liberte.

However, he has clearly come into his own since then.

The distance should not be a concern for him, because he is out of a Silvano mare, who is in turn out of a Galileo mare.

So all in all Star Major looks the one to beat.

Tin Pan Alley is by Galileo sire The United States, but he has a speedy female line and is at this stage considered by most to be a 1400m to 1600m horse.

However, he has plenty of class and if settling better than he did in the WSB Guineas he could see it out.

Viva’s Liberte is another classy sort who needs to settle better.

Note To Self is already proven over the trip and this massive-striding son of Futura is currently the July favourite.

Jan Van Goyen ran a cracker in his first run as a gelding and the high regard he is held in has already been backed up by a magnificent win in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas. He is by Master Of My Fate, who can impart stamina, out of an Oratorio mare, but his female line is quite speedy. He is a small horse with a big action and the race will tell whether he gets the trip.

Hazy Dazy has a fine turn of foot and with her gender allowance could be dangerous over an ideal trip. That is if the connections choose to run her here instead of in the Gr 2 Woolavington 2000.

Happy Verse looks held on Cape Derby and WSB Guineas form, so has to be considered a slight disappointment to date for one who has always been held in high regard.

Chronicle King won well last time when stepped up to 1700m and he should be cherry ripe. He is by former Daily News winner Vercingetorix out of a Western Winter mare whose three wins were from 1200m to 1600m, but that mare was in turn out of a mare by stamina influence Saumarez.

The Daily News 2000 is a major three-year-old race in SA and it is a feather in the cap to win it.

One top trainer once said it is best to go all out to win a build up event, because what you might otherwise gain by the merit rating not increasing you will lose in the value of  the preparation.

The entries for the big race are shown below:

All Out For Six wins the Big Cap (Picture: Wayne Marks)

The South African-bred One World gelding All Out For Six had his fourth start in Hong Kong at Happy Valley on Wednesday, but could only manage a 3,50 length sixth in the Class 3 event over 1200m.

He has had two fifths and two sixth places to date on the island.

However, only one of the runs was over his preferred distance of 1400m and the other three have been over 1200m.

His three wins in South Africa were all over 1400m, including in the lucrative R5 million Big Cap, and the best run of his four runs in Hong Kong has duly been over 1400m.

He finished 1,50 lengths back in that race, his second outing on the island after carving out a big lead from the widest draw of all, then being swamped, but then fighting back in eyecatching style.

From that run it would seem the drop back to 1200m was the wrong move.

However, his championship-chasing trainer Mark Newnham might just be keeping him ticking over while waiting for the right race over 1400m for him.

I the meantime his merit rating has dropped two points from 80 to 78 and might drop again after today’s run.

By the time Newnham finds that right race the Drakenstein Stud-bred four-year-old One World gelding might be handily weighted.

Every win will count for Newnham in the tight battle for the championship, in which he currently lies in third place, two off the pace.

So watch for All Out For Six when he is reintroduced over 1400m or even 1600m, a distance he has only tried twice for a 1,75 length second to One Stripe in the Punters Cup and an 8,45 length sixth to One Stripe in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas.

Tin Pan Alley’s performance in routing the opposition in the Gr 1 wfa Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes earned him the Highveld Feature Season Awards Horse Of The Season accolade (JC Photos) 

By Mike Moon (The Citizen)

Horse racing always evokes diametrically opposed feelings of joy and anguish. For every race there is a winner and plenty of losers – among the runners, the connections and the punters. On a broader canvas, the same goes for each racing season.

This was spotlighted last week as trophies were handed out amid many claps at the 2026 Highveld Feature Season Awards ceremony at Turffontein Racecourse. Well done the champions!

But a topic of murmur among the dickie-bowed great and good in the elegant setting of the Aquanaut Room was the klap delivered to jockey Luyolo Mxothwa – an effective two-year banning announced the day before.

The National Horseracing Authority cancelled Mxothwa’s riding licence for five years – with three years suspended – for a voice note in which the jockey seemingly passed on “inside information” about an upcoming race.

The shocking aspect of this matter was the severity of the sentence handed out – amounting to a devastating blow to Mxothwa’s livelihood and reputation.

Most people in racing want the game kept as clean as possible with strong disincentives to cheating, but many would have winced to learn of the evisceration of “Louis”, a talented and popular figure not generally associated in the public mind with dodginess.

The jockey pleaded guilty to charges of bringing the game into disrepute, but did the punishment fit the crime?

Fairview race in question
It’s difficult to find an informed answer to that as the NHA hasn’t provided much detail about the case.

Meanwhile, former champion jockey Richard Fourie caused a minor stir by refusing to comment on TV on prospects of his rides at a meeting in case he, too, could be found guilty of providing inside info.

In a press release, the NHA said: “During or about December 2025 or early January 2026, he [Mxothwa] transmitted a voice note recorded by him to an unknown person, alternatively Noor Iqbal, alternatively Zaheer Ali, in which it was stated by the respondent as follows:

“Mr L Mxothwa: ‘The thing is I don’t know the horse, if it was a horse I knew, then I would confirm easy. You know, and it’s a new horse, it’s a bad field but I spoke to the trainer of the other horse, they said Zackey will win the race. So let’s have a go, let’s see what happens. Ja, so let’s do it. Chat later’.”

The race in question, at Fairview in Gqeberha, was won by jockey Craig Zackey aboard Dean Smith-trained Champagne Problems at short odds of 67-100, with Mxothwa’s mount, MME Huntress, trained by Zietsman Oosthuizen, finishing unplaced at 10-1.

Veteran racing journalist Charl Pretorius commented in Sporting Post: “… the finding … strongly implies something far darker than anything he actually admitted to. This is a method of public parading for which the NHA is renowned.

“The authority has still not furnished the public with a clear and detailed explanation of exactly what it is that has effectively ended Louis’ career and will likely shame him for years to come.

“From what I have managed to establish, Louis pleaded guilty to disseminating a single message to an unknown third party. This was a message in response to a query from a “friend” among his social media contacts, one he barely recalls sending. It was uncovered in a data dump of mails and messages used in the gathering of evidence against [fellow jockey] S’Manga Khumalo.

“I have searched in vain for any evidence that Louis fixed a race, accepted a bribe, profited from corruption, or participated in the manipulation of an outcome. In the absence of clarity, the inevitable inference is that Louis was involved in outright race corruption. The damage to his reputation will be destructive.”

Many observers are thinking along those lines and fearing the worst for former champion jockey Khumalo, who faces an upcoming hearing on apparently related or similar charges.

All this would have had a slightly chilling effect on the Highveld Awards function.

Still, the show must go on. Operator 4Racing’s CEO Patrick Duff said on the night: “… it takes more than winners to make a season and (we) thank every one of our owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms and all the unseen hands behind the scenes who helped make it a season to remember.”

It’s important to keep troops onside when there might be fear and loathing in the ranks.

The Highveld Feature Season Awards Horse of the Season was three-year-old Tin Pan Alley, trained by Sean Tarry.

Other winners:

Champion two-year-old filly: GET UP
Champion 2YO colt/gelding: BETTER NEVER ENDS
Champion 3YO filly: HAZY DAZY
Champion 3YO colt/gelding: TIN PAN ALLEY
Champion older filly/mare: DOUBLE GRAND SLAM
Champion older horse: SEE IT AGAIN
Champion sprinter: BUFFALO STORM CODY
Champion miler (1400-1600m): TIN PAN ALLEY
Champion middle-distance horse (1800-2000m): SEE IT AGAIN
Champion stayer: CURIOUS GIRL
Champion work rider: Phenisile Mongqawa
Champion apprentice: Trent Mayhew
Champion breeder: Varsfontein Stud
Champion owner: Mrs S Viljoen
Champion jockey: Craig Zackey
Champion trainer: Sean Tarry

The winners at the Equus Awards two years ago (Picture: Equus Awards)

Johannesburg, South Africa — The annual Equus Awards honour excellence in the local horse racing industry, recognizing both equine and human achievements across various categories.

The 2026 Equus Awards will be held on Tuesday, 18 August and hosted by 4Racing at The Galleria in Sandton.

2026 Equus Awards – Equine Achievement Categories

The nominees / winners for the equine categories are determined through a points-based system and a judging panel.

The first official table will be published on 8 June, the second table published in early July and the final log in early August.

The judging panel for this year’s Equine Categories comprises:-
Graeme Hawkins (Chairman), Robert Bloomberg, Karel Miedema, Aveen Sewpersad and Darryl Maree.

This year’s Equine Achievement categories are:-
Champion Two-Year-Old Filly
Champion Two-Year-Old Male
Champion Three-Year-Old Filly
Champion Three-Year-Old Male
Champion Older Female
Champion Older Male
Champion Sprinter (1000m – 1200m)
Champion Miler (1400m – 1600m)
Champion Middle Distance Horse (1800m – 2200m)
Champion Stayer (2400m+)
Champion Sire
Champion Broodmare
Horse Of The Year

2026 Equus Awards – Human Achievement Categories
The winners of the Human Achievement categories will be determined by their standing on the national log at the close of the 2025/26 season.

This year’s categories are:-
Champion Apprentice (based on number of wins)
Champion Jockey (based on number of wins)
Champion Trainer (based on stakes – excluding restricted races)
Champion Owner(s) (based on stakes – excluding restricted races)
Champion Breeder(s) (based on stakes – excluding restricted races)

Groom of the Year honours will be awarded to the groom of the 2026 Horse Of The Year.

2026 Equus Awards – Media Awards
Submissions for this year’s Media Awards will open in early August and the judging panel will be announced in due course.

This year’s categories are:-
Print Media
Still Photography
Broadcast

Further updates and information will be published on the official Equus Awards website (www.equusawards.co.za) and social media channels.
ENDS.

Caspar Fownes and Joao Moreira celebrate after completing a double at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (HKJC)

Caspar Fownes is known as “The King Of The Valley” in Hong Kong due to his prolific success at Happy Valley, where he has notched up 630 career wins, a record since Hong Kong’s professional era of racing began in 1971/1972.

He scored a valuable double at the Valley today (Wednesday) as it saw him closing the gap on Danny Shum in what has become a six-way Trainers Championship thriller.

Read the report on Wednesday’s Happy Valley meeting below:

Fownes closes gap in trainers’ championship with Happy Valley brace

By Paul Ryding
21/05/2026 00:26

Happy Valley specialist Caspar Fownes fired in a valuable double at the city track on Wednesday night (20 May) as the Hong Kong trainers’ championship developed into an increasingly congested battle.

Fownes had endured an uncharacteristic lean spell at the last three meetings before landing his 52nd and 53rd winners of a superb season in tandem with stable jockey Joao Moreira.

Danny Shum leads the standings on 54 wins, with Fownes second (53), Mark Newnham in third (52) and in-form Francis Lui rallying in fourth (50). David Hayes has 48, and defending champion John Size has 46.

Odds-on favourite Decision Link (121lb) justified strong market support to land the first section of the Class 4 Dandelion Handicap (1650m) for Joao Moreira and trainer Fownes.

“It was just unfortunate that in his last few runs, even when he won, he drew the widest gate,” Fownes said. “We’ve always felt he’d get to 1650m and he’d be at his best, so we’re happy to get that.”

The Fownes-Moreira axis claimed its second win of the night when The Heir (127lb) struck for the first time since the opening day of the 2025/26 season. In claiming the second section of the Class 4 Dendrobium Handicap (1200m), the six-year-old son of Impending ended a run of four placings with his second Hong Kong victory.

“He’s more than paid his way, and he’s run some nice races without getting his nose in front, so it’s nice to see that result for the owner,” said Fownes, who put his spell of 27 runs without a winner down to the conditions wrought by the onset of Hong Kong’s rainy season.

“We’ve had a couple of quiet meetings, but to tell you the truth, for me, the tracks have been atrocious. It’s no one’s fault – we’ve had no sun. But it’s been very on-speed bias.

“It was great to get back on the “A” course tonight. It looks like a proper Hong Kong track,” he added. “Hopefully, we get some sunshine over the next few weeks to help with the repair of the tracks.”

Group 1-winning sprinter Victor The Winner (116lb) ended an 843-day drought when he claimed his first win since victory in the 2024 G1 Centenary Sprint Cup (1200m) in the Class 2 Thistle Handicap (1200m) for trainer Pierre Ng – his third handler since he last made his way to the Winner’s Arch.

The speed-packed contest promised to be the highlight of the card, and it didn’t disappoint with a group of front-running horses blitzing their way through the opening sectionals. Under a driving effort from Angus Chung, the 118-rated galloper hung on to the line at 58/1.

Performance of the night honours went to fast-rising Tony Cruz gelding Tycoon Resources (134lb), whose extraordinary late dash from the rear of the field under Chung – who claimed a double on the night – delivered a second win from two runs for the eye-catching three-year-old in the Class 4 Ewo Challenge Trophy Handicap (1000m).

Cruz made it a double when Flying Wrote (123lb) stayed on gamely to claim the Class 3 Violet Handicap (1200m) under a fine ride from Jerry Chau.

Zac Purton moved to within five victories of his 2,000-winner landmark when Vivacious Win (122lb) stormed clear by five lengths for his maiden victory in the second section of the Class 4 Dandelion Handicap (1650m), allowing trainer David Eustace to celebrate his second winner this month.

“He’s been threatening to win for a little while,” the Englishman said. “He’s been a touch unlucky. Obviously, you don’t expect them to win as well as that, but he got a good draw, and the race set up nicely. There was good speed on early, and Zac judged the tempo of the race perfectly, and he put them to bed.

“I hope the handicapper doesn’t get too carried away. I didn’t think it was the strongest race on paper, and I think the pace early probably exaggerated the margin.”

King Alloy (128lb) claimed the first win of his career in the Class 5 Celosia Handicap (1000m) under Richard Kingscote. It took 16 attempts for the son of Cosmic Force to get his nose in front for trainer Jimmy Ting, but the four-year-old did so with aplomb, letting down nicely from 100 metres out to win by half a length.

Dylan Mo found some form at the right time with a patient ride to guide 24/1 chance Vulcanus (134lb) to a fifth Hong Kong win in the first section of the Class 4 Dendrobium Handicap (1200m) for trainer Me Tsui.

Mo will be aboard Winning Wing in Sunday’s feature, the G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m).

Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (24 May).

Falconfly looks capable of progressing again (JC Photos)

The Vaal has an intriguing nine-race meeting on Thursday and the published course structure at the time of going to press had the outside rail on the straight course being in by six metres, so there might not be any draw bias on the day.

In the seventh over 1600m Falconfly has the number one draw so hopefully the low draws are not at a disadvantage as this lightly raced five-year-old has been in fine form and should be spot on in terms of maturity as a daughter of Futura. She can rise above her current merit rating of 73. Utsaah has improved since blinkers have been fitted and with Craig Zackey in tremendous form she can do well off a reasonable merit rating of 77 in her first start out of the maidens. Alta Capitana would prefer further but she has come down to a competitive rating and could earn.

The highest rated race for the meeting is the sixth, a MR 95 handicap for fillies and mares over 1600m, and Woman’s World makes appeal as the one to side with. The James Crawford-trained Woman’s World has a draw of four, which is a slight concern because if there is a draw bias it is likely to be in favour of high numbers, so the trends must be monitored on the day. The Global View mare’s four wins have been from 1800m to 2400m and she comes off a good 0,70 length third to Gerbera in the Listed East Coast Cup over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville. In October last year she went close over 1500m on the Vaal Classic track, showing she is effective over shorter trips. The Vaal straight course probably requires horses to have a bit of stamina as the horses generally tend to be more exposed to daylight down the straight. Mickaelle Michel is riding at the top of her game, she knows the horse and she has a useful 1,5kg gender claim. Lady Sabrina ran a cracker over this trip on the Vaal Classic track last time out from a tricky draw and can go close from draw 5. Lady Blunt has the ability to be a contender and is another fancied runner with a low draw (three). Azaleas For All gets a nice high draw and comes off a good run over 2000m. Her four wins are from 1800m to 2000m, but she has done well over this trip before and can do so again. Ringa Ringa Roses is usually thereaouts and can’t be ignored.

In the first leg of the Pick 6, a Maiden over 1200m, Highwayman Harry will go close if low draws are advantageous. He is in consistent form over sprint trips. The two-year-old Sands Of Valhalla ran a cracker on debut over course and distance and jumps from a middle draw of ten. Echoes Of War ran three fine races last year from four starts before being laid off and unless he needs it he could have a say.

Corrupt has always struck as one with plenty of scope and as a staying type, so he should have come on from his last run following a short layoff and he should now start coming into his own, so he has a fine chance from draw two in the fifth over 2400m. Futurewolff is a fascinating runner as he has won both of his starts since being stepped up to this 2400m trip and off a five point higher mark he is drawn in pole again. He is 1kg worse off with Damova for a 3,10 length beating if gender claims are ignored and is otherwise 2,5kg worse off, but on both scores he emerges ahead on paper. Damova found her form agan when the blinkers were removed after she had run two well below par runs, so she should be right there.

In the eighth over 1400m Drivelikeamaster has been knocking on the door and over an ideal trip can finally get out of the second box. Wild As The Wind won well on debut and has a lot of scope for improvement so should be right there. The form of Shivering Light’s debut win has worked out well and he also has a chance, although he has to come back from a short layoff. Bristol Hercules has ability and could pop up. Chieftan’s Shield is capable of a resolute finish and should be in the shake up.

In the ninth over 1400m Legendary steps up to a suitable trip and has come down to a mark one point higher than his last win. Empress Wu is an honest sort who starts off handicapping on a competitive mark of 64. Pretty Analia is capable of a strong finish from off the pace and is just three points higher than her last win.

In the first leg of the PA over 1200m Rendezvous In Rio looks ready to score with her three seconds interrupted by one run over further in which she was only fifth. She went well in first time blinkers last time and Muzi Yeni is now up. Miss Fantastic should make a bold bid too.

In the first leg of the Bipot over 1400m should be fought out by Raptor King and Life In Colour, who both made good debuts. The latter is by Malmoos and is a half-brother to the like of True To Life and African Pride, so is given the nod.

In the first race over 1400m Snap Your Fingers’ good debut run was over this trip and she will appreciate the step back down to this trip. However, she will be vulnerable to a decent first-timer and Secret Fate is by Master Of MY Fate out of Elusive Fort Gr 2 SA Oaks winner Secret Potion, so she could be the one.