Turf Talk Newsletter – 20 July, 2026

Future Pearl, who won the World Pool Gold Cup in 2023 and lines up again this year, is one of a number of runners in Sunday’s big race who have Sadler’s Wells close up in their pedigree (Picture: Candiese Lenferna)

Saah Whitelaw

When looking at results of leading staying races around the world, it is hard to overlook the influence exerted in these by contests by descendants of the legendary stallion Sadler’s Wells.

Sadler’s Wells, whose offspring included four time G1 Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats and dual G1 Gold Cup hero Kayf Tara, is present in the pedigrees of five of the last six Gold Cup winners, while the great stallion’s name can be found in eight of the last nine winners of the English St Leger.

Another famous staying race, the G1 Melbourne Cup, has also felt the Sadler’s Wells influence.

Last year, the Melbourne Cup was won by Half Yours, whose sire St Jean was a paternal great grandson of Sadler’s Wells. The late St Jean was sired by Sadler’s Wells’ grandson Teofilo -who also sired Melbourne Cup winners Cross Counter, Twilight Payment and Without A Fight.

The Sadler’s Wells influence is felt even more strongly in the Irish St Leger thanks to his great son Galileo. Not only is Galileo the broodmare sire of 2025 Irish St Leger winner Al Riffa, but he is also the sire of Irish St Leger winners Kyprios, Search For A Song, Flag Of Honour, Order Of St George, Alandi and Sans Frontieres.

Remarkably, Galileo runners won the Irish St Leger every year from 2017-2020! In terms of chef-de-race dosage classification, Sadler’s Wells is assessed as a Classic/Solid influence. (A classic influence is said to be a stallion who throws a balanced mix of speed and stamina, while a solid influence is a stallion whose progeny tend to be best around middle to long distance).
In South Africa, similar trends can be found in major staying races as the entries for this year’s G3 World Pool Gold Cup clearly underlines.
Of the 14 horses entered for the Gold Cup, seven have Sadler’s Wells close up in their pedigrees.

This includes defending Gold Cup winner King Pelles, who is out of Galileo’s outstanding broodmare daughter Grail Maiden.

Galileo also ranks as the broodmare sire of the five time-winning KZN-based stayer Vihaan’s Bomb, who was entered for the Gold Cup but was not declared.

Sadler’s Wells’ paternal great grandson Futura looks set to be doubly represented in the Gold Cup, through his progressive son Ahead Of The Facts and former Equus Champion Stayer Future Pearl. The latter won the World Pool Gold Cup back in 2023.

Futura’s sire Dynasty also ranks as the sire of Irish Flame, with the latter represented by Enflame. Enflame has enjoyed a fine season with his efforts in 2025-2026 including a five length win in the Listed Wilgerbosdrift Caradoc Gold Cup and a three and a half length score in the Listed TAB Gold Bowl.

The first three home in last year’s Gold Cup, King Pelles, Holding Thumbs, Future Swing, all have Sadler’s Wells close up in their pedigrees.

The key to the Sadler’s Wells male line success in staying races has been through his son Fort Wood.

The latter sired Equus Champion Stayer Thundering Star, who won the (then) G1 Canon Gold Cup back in 2007.

Fort Wood is also broodmare sire of 2009 G1 Canon Gold Cup winner Mokaro, who vanquished Fort Wood gelding Noblewood into second spot when he captured his Gold Cup, while Fort Wood’s champion son Dynasty was responsible for Gold Cup winners Ancestral Fore, It’s My Turn and Dynasty’s Blossom.

Alice B Toklas can make amends for the bad luck she suffered in the Gr 2 Amusnet Golden Slipper (Picture: Race Coast) 

The two two-year-old races are often stumbling blocks in the Pick 6 on World Pool Gold Cup day as the juveniles often mature at different rates and unexpected results can transpire.

The Gr 2 Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes over 1600m looks to be a race in which punters can go narrow and they will be hoping there are no surprises. Master Of My Fate filly Alice B Toklas was desperately unlucky in her last start in the Gr 2 Amusnet Golden Slipper over 1400m. After being settled near the back she was slicing through the field like a hot knife through butter while still on the bit and she was then unfortunately badly squeezed out. Even more impressive was that she picked herself up and rallied, passing a few horses late to finish second. Her Hussonet dam Alice Springs’ four wins included three over this trip and furthermore Alice B Toklas is a half-sister to the One World filly World Of Alice who finished a shorthead second in the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks over 2450m among other good performances. So, on pedigree evidence Alice B Toklas should relish the step up in trip and her running style also lends herself to that belief. She has a plum draw of three with Richard Fourie staying aboard and at first sight could be a banker consideration. However, both Marchland and Within Reach are two others who need to be taken seriously. In Marchland’s case it must be remembered that an East Cape raider, Golden Palm, won this race last year. Marchland is by the exciting up and coming sire Malmoos and she has won her three career starts at Fairview from 1200m to 1400m with consummate ease and looks to be full of class. The form of her last win in a Listed race over 1400m on the poly has worked out very well. She has a fair draw of six and her regular rider Muzi Yeni is aboard. Within Reach is a Sean Tarry-trained stablemate to Alice B Toklas and impressed last time when surging through to win fluently over 1400m. She was receiving 2kg from the runner up Queen Leila, who has some fair form. Within Reach is also by Malmoos and considering her Oratorio dam Jetorio’s two wins were over 1600m and 1800m respectively she will relish the step up in trip. She has a tricky draw of seven but Keagan de Melo up is a plus and she could be a threat. Those three should suffice for the Pick 6.

The Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes is more open. Sean Tarry could be in the winner’s box here too. Prayersandpromises ran on in eyecatching style after ending up last in the Gr 2 Golden Horseshoe over 1400m from a wide draw. He should enjoy the step up in trip and has a chance from a better draw of seven. Moana is not visibily eyecatching, but her form is noteworthy. She beat Within Reach in her second start over 1400m, albeit when receiving 3kg, and she has followed up with two wide margin victories over 1600m. She has a good draw of five with Calvin Habib aboard and her 2,5kg gender claim will help. Vibe Check is an imposing, classy sort who creates a big impression. He likes to set the pace and has a wide draw, which creates a concern because on pedigree he has a slight stamina doubt despite two easy wins over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville which preceded his narrow victory in the Gr 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville. He is by Querari out of Captain Al mare Vicoria Lavelle, whose four wins were from 1000m to 1200m, and furthermore Vibe Check has two decent half-sisters who are both sprinters despite being by Vercingetorix and Silvano respectively i.e. Tulip Fields and Virginia Beach. He is likely to lead but will he be able to hang on? Red Spice is a must include despite a wide draw. He was inconvenienced at the start of the Golden Horseshoe and ended up too far back. However, he stayed on well for a 1,25 length fourth. On pedigree there must be a stamina doubt as he is by speedster Erik The Red out of a Right Approach five-time winning sprinter. However, he is held in high regard and Erik The Red does seem to be fairly versatile as a sire and he also gives the impression he could stay this trip. The Corne Spies-trained gelding Life In Colour won his last start over 1400m in impressive style and although he was only running off an 87 merit rating he is well related, being a a half-brother to Gr 3-winning and Gr 1 SA Fllies Sprint runner up True To Life. Being by Malmoos he might be able to stay the trip and is worth considering. Erik Dubois is a big and maturing son of Erik The Red who ran on well from a wide draw in the Golden Horseshoe and from a good draw here he could be a threat. Secretary Bird, Green Energy, Bachata, Better Never Ends and Viking Leader have all caught the eye before, so all in all this looks like a race to consider putting the whole field in.

The two races are often the pivotal ones of the Pick 6.

Those who can get through them with narrow selection could find themselves in the pound seats, but there often regrets that wider choices were not taken.

Riethuiskraal Stud will be bringing a large, quality string to this year’s August Two Year Old Sale.

With a wide range of stallions represented, and two-year-olds hailing from high-class female lines, it is safe to say that this draft has a horse for every budget.

From proven stallions such as Buffalo Bill Cody, Master Of My Fate, One World and What A Winter, to exciting young horses such as Digital Age, Kommetdieding and Master Archie, Riethuiskraal’s August Sale draft contains two-year-olds sired by some of South Africa’s most popular sires.

Marmaris (Lot 2) is a filly by emerging star sire One World, and she is out of a winning daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar from the family of Australian stars Levendi and Tully Thunder and US G1 winner Black Mamba.

Master Of My Fate is another high-class stallion represented in Riethuiskraal’s August Two Year Old Sale string. The perennially successful stallion is the sire of Lake District (Lot 306), a filly, bred on the same cross as the brilliant Anotherdanceforme, who is out of a four time winning daughter of What A Winter.

Digital Age, Kommetdieding and Master Archie are young G1 winning stallions represented in this draft. Digital Age filly Painted Lady (Lot 131) is out of a nine time winning daughter of multiple champion sire Silvano, while Kommetdieding colt Vreesloos (Lot 64) is a half-brother to the stakes performers Balalaika and Dixieland Band. Rafeef’s G1 winning son Master Archie also has a member of his first crop on offer in the form of Bird Of Paradise (Lot 160), a colt whose dam won four times.

Other appealing prospects on sale include Rhapsody In Blue (Lot 129), a filly by The United States out of a mare who won seven, and Life’s Adventure (Lot 237). The latter is a daughter of What A Winter and the Var sired Listed Syringa Handicap winner Way Of The World.

This draft can be viewed from Block B at the TBA Complex in Germiston.

High-class sprinter Outlaw King is a wonderful advertisement for the quality of thoroughbred bred by Sandown Stud.

A R300 000 buy from the 2022 National Yearling Sale, Outlaw King has earned more than R1.681 million during a career which has seen the son of Rafeef win all of the 2023 G2 Tabgold Umkhomazi Stakes, 2024 De Grendel Cape Merchants, and 2025 G2 SplashOut Cape Merchants.

Sandown Stud will be offering Iwanttobreakfree (Lot 236), a full-brother to the wonderful Outlaw King at this year’s August Two Year Old Sale. By one of South Africa’s top sires Rafeef, this colt is out of the four time winning mare Way Of Escape, a half-sister to two black type horses led by dual G3 winner My Choice.

Resident sire, and proven source of G1 winners, Pathfork has three well bred lots on offer. Powerful Passage (Lot 13), a half-brother to a multiple winner, is a colt out of a six time winning three-parts sister to G3 Politician Stakes winner Blaze Of Noon. Pathfork filly Written In Red (Lot 156) is a half-sister to three winners including Listed East Cape Nursery winner Vision Of Wonder.

Sandown will also be offering, as agent for La Berg Stud, a Pathfork colt (Lot 41) whose dam the won the G3 Final Fling Stakes, and this colt’s granddam is a half-sister to Listed Spook Express Handicap winner Miss Galilei.

The red hot Legislate, whose flagbearers this season include the likes of Wish List and Legal Counsel, is the sire of Lay Down The Law (Lot 327), a colt whose four time winning dam is a half-sister to the G3 placed Chosen Goddess. This colt hails from an outstanding family whose members include this season’s G1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met winner See It Again.

This draft can be viewed from Block F at the TBA Complex in Germiston.

Sarsden Stud will be offering a filly with classic bloodlines on both side of her pedigree at the upcoming August Two Year Old Sale.

Salimah Warrior (Lot 166) is a filly by G1 Cape Guineas winner Act Of War, whose daughters also include champion War Of Athena, G1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic winner Hazy Dazy and such smart performers as Lady Fallon, Sally Port and Bold Act. A half-sister to two winners, Salimah Warrior is out of the winning Trippi mare Salimah, a full-sister to G1 SA Nursery runner up Ziparana and half-sister to G3 UAE 2000 Guineas runner up Zanzamar. The latter was sired by Fort Wood, the paternal grandsire of Act Of War.

Salimah is also a half-sister to high-class producer Zayna, the dam of G2 Hawaii Stakes winner Zouaves and current smart performer Zinovi. The latter, who has earned more than R1 000 000, has won his last four starts in a row.

Trippi, the broodmare sire of Salimah Warrior, has proved to be an outstanding broodmare sire, with his daughters having already produced more than 60 stakes winners including star sires Not This Time and Liam’s Map, and South African stars The Real Prince and Gimme A Prince.

This filly can be found in Block C at the TBA Complex.

Graduates of Soetendal Estate have enjoyed another fine season in 2025-2026, with the likes of Vibe Check, Aquae Calidae, Rich Man’s World and Questioning having all shone on South African tracks.

Further afield, Soetendal’s former charge One Stripe ran second in both the G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes and G1 Maker’s Mark Mile Stakes, with the Equus Champion having romped home to a five and a quarter length win at Gulfstream Park in December.

Soetendal will be offering, As Agent for Owloon Horses, two choicely bred colts at the August Two Year Old Sale.

Frosty McFreeze (Lot 188) is a colt by the consistently successful Rafeef. This flashy grey is out of the smart racemare Snow Palace, a six time winner who ran third in the G1 Thekwini Stakes, and this is the famous Lily family. Among Snow Palace’s numerous top-class relatives are such G1 winners as Bold Thatch, Coral Fever, Ravishing, Vega and Villandry, to name a few.

Winter Kisses (Lot 295) shares his four time G1 winning sire What A Winter with a host of high-class horses including globetrotting champion Isivunguvungu and 2026 G1 South African Fillies Sprint winner Asiye Phambili. This colt is out of the stakes placed Calandra, a half-sister to G3 Champion Juvenile Cup winner O Tamara, and Winter Kisses’ fourth dam is G2 SA Oaks winner Rootin’ Tootin’.

These two colts can be viewed from Block A at the TBA Complex in Germiston.

Summerview Stud will be offering a very appealing consignment at this year’s August Two Year Old Sale.

Amongst the stallions represented in this string are such exciting prospects as Digital Age, Eden Roc, and Jet Dark, as well as such proven sires as Act Of War, One World, Pathfork and Rafeef.

Colleen De Klerk had the following comments to make about her August Sale draft:

Lot 59: Supasonic c Jet Dark -Joyful Noise
A quality colt by Champion Jet Dark out of the seven-time winner Joyful Noise (by Vercingetorix), a stakes-performed mare from the prolific family of Proud Peyton. A well-made, athletic individual with plenty of appeal, quality and scope, he combines an exciting young sire with a proven, durable female family. Remarkably, this colt’s first four dams are all black type performers!

Lot 69: Norse Ruler c William Longsword -Lady Carter
A well-balanced colt with good size and an excellent topline. By William Longsword out of Lady Carter, he is a half-brother to the stakes-performed Just Carter and comes from a current family that continues to produce winners. Bred on similar lines to the high-class sprinter Cartel Captain, this colt’s third dam is a full-sister to three high-class performers including G1 KwaZulu-Natal Oaks winner Carolera.

Lot 142: Polly Poppet f Eden Roc -Polly’s Destiny
A quality, speedy and correct filly out of the well-related Polly’s Destiny. An attractive individual with good balance and athleticism. By the exciting young sire Eden Roc, she combines an appealing pedigree with an eye-catching physique. This filly hails from the same family as such top-class fillies as Along Came Polly, Marie Galante, and Rock Opera.

Lot 165: Digital Divide c Digital Age -Sahara
A nicely put together, correct and well-balanced colt by Digital Age out of the outstanding producer Sahara. He is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Matador Man and stakes performer Hawker Typhoon. Sahara has an exceptional production record, having produced eight winners from nine foals to race. A quality individual with plenty of balance and substance, he represents an outstanding combination of proven pedigree and athletic physique. This colt is directly descended in female line from the great mare Marchetta.

Lot 200: Ace Of Blades f Rafeef -Steelheart
A gorgeous filly by the proven sire Rafeef out of Steelheart, from the distinguished family of ARCSA Champion Damasco. An eye-catching individual with an outstanding topline, she is well balanced, athletic, walks well and covers ground. Combining a strong pedigree with excellent physical attributes, she is an exciting racing prospect.

Lot 244: Desert Victory f Act Of War -Writteninthesand
A correct, precocious filly by the proven sire Act of War out of Writteninthesand, a daughter of the outstanding producer Sahara. A quality individual with plenty of balance and athleticism. Combining a proven sire with one of the farm’s strongest female families, she offers plenty of appeal.

Lot 276: f One World -Awfaa
A lovely filly by the exciting and well-performed One World out of Awfaa. A well-balanced individual with a strong topline and plenty of quality, she is a half-sister to the mare’s only runner to date, already a three-time winner. From a current, active family, she combines a progressive pedigree with an athletic physique, making her an appealing racing prospect. Bred on the same cross as champion One Stripe, this filly hails from the immediate family of G1 winning females On Her Toes and Savannah Queen.

Lot 290: Bourbon Balls c Pathfork -Bon Bon
A handsome colt by the proven sire Pathfork out of the six-time winning mare Bon Bon. An athletic, quality individual with an excellent topline, plenty of scope and a fluent walk. His combination of proven race performance on the dam’s side and an appealing physique makes him an attractive offering. His granddam is a G2 winning daughter of Kahal -the broodmare sire of Pathfork’s champion son Royal Victory.

This draft can be viewed from Block E at the TBA Complex in Germiston.

There are still five spots available in the 2026 Racing Masters Golf Tournament, an annual good fun fixture in which racing industry people can  have two or three  days off to enjoy themselves after a hard season of work.

The competition for the green jacket is fierce though and there are four former champions in this year’s 47-strong field so far, the reigning champion Ruan Neethling, three-times champion Grant Knowles, Kevin Shea and Paul Marks.

This year’s competition sees a move from what had become the traditional venue of the Wild Coast to the iconic Durban Country Club, a world renowned course which has recently been revamped by the club’s chairman, the well known racing man Nick Jonsson, and his team.

Its redesign has brought improvement in every aspect, including aesthetically, and the Masters field will have the privilege of playing on a course that golf aficionadas around the world consider the one they would most want to play in South Africa.

It would be a treat to spend two days playing the course together with the apres activities at the end of each day.

To book a place click here

The field of 47 so far are:

For more about the Racing Masters and abouts its history and a list of its champions click here

Money Heist (far side) has been selected to win the Pinnacle Stakes event over 1600m (JC Photos)

The Turffontein Standside meeting on Tuesday has ten competitive races and the highest rated of them is a Pinnacle Stakes race over 1600m in which there is one of two interesting imported horses running on the day for owner Willem Ackerman.

The entire Deepone is by the Irish-bred Deep Impact stallion Study Of Man and he won his first two starts in Ireland for trainer Paddy Twomey and in his fifth start won a Gr 2 race over a mile at The Curragh. In his final start overseas he won a Listed race over seven and-a-half furlongs at Tipperary on October 5, 2025. He was purchased by Willem for 30,000 gns at a Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale. Willem Ackerman is a partner of Advocate Nigel Rily in Heversham Park Stud and Deepone is likely to join the stallion ranks there at some stage. He is being trained out here by Stuart Pettigrew and runs off an opening mark of 119, which sees him carrying joint topweight of 60kg in this Pinnacle. He has drawn well in three in this 1600m contest. He will likely need this run, but it will be exciting to see him taking to South African conditions well as his form proves him to have obvious class.

The hard-knocking Money Heist looks the one to beat jumping from pole position and carrying a nice galloping weight of 54kg. If Texas Red produces his best he can go close despite carrying joint topweight.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1600m Korcula has been knocking on the door and can get out of the maidens at the 8th time of asking under Craig Zackey. She is by Hawwaam so will be improving all the time, although she does have a tricky draw of six out of nine. Flying World only has 1,40 lengths to make up on Korcula from their last meeting over this trip on the Inside track and she is drawn well in three so should make a bold bid under Keagan de Melo. Vixeninthevineyard has the form to be a contender and is drawn well in two.

In the sixth race over 1600m Bay Empire is well drawn and can go close over a suitable trip. He over-raced last time when caught one wide without cover over this trip at the Vaal Classic track so if getting cover from his good draw this time he should be right there. Michal Faraday is drawn in pole and has the ability to go close over course and distance. The Mightiest beat Bay Empire by almost three lengths in the aforementioned race at the Vaal Classic track and can bounce back from his disappointing race over 1800m last time as he is just half-a-kilogram worse off with Bay Empire from that previous race and he has a fair draw.

In the seventh over 2000m Dual Prophecy is well drawn and should be cherry ripe to deliver his best over an ideal course and distance. He did well at this time last year and this full brother to four-time Gr 1 winner See It Again is much better than his recent form suggests. Hat Furious is knocking on the door and can do well over an ideal trip if able to overcome a wide draw. Itsnowornever should enjoy the step back up in trip but also has to overcome a wide draw. Play With Fire has become a reliable mare and should be thereabouts from a good draw. Guerilla Warfare is interesting stepped up in trip from a pole position draw that suits his handy running style.

In the eighth over 1400m Father Christmas was unlucky last time when a gap closed on him and he had to be snatched up. He can make amends from a fair draw here. Blizzard Quest was third last time to a promising two-year-old and over this suitable trip should be in the shake up from a good draw. Ariovistus is drawn well and is interesting taking a step down in trip.

In the ninth over 1400m Longsword did not have much luck last time over 1450m and from a pole position draw can make amends. Shoreybomba is back to his winning trip category and has a good draw. Kotinos has the ability to be in the shake up here from a fair draw of five out of nine.

In the tenth race over 1160m Maverick Queen is favoured by the Classified Stakes conditions and should be in the shake up. WhatsdamaddawithU won well last time and is an interesting two-year-old running off a reasonable 85 merit rating. Quiet Winter has run well in her last two and under the Classifed Stakes conditions is only half-a-kilogram out with Maverick Queen, who is the joint best-weighted runner.

In the third race over 1500m Mission To Mars is the first of the interesting Willam Ackerman imported horses. This Irish-bred Sea The Stars five-year-old gelding finished second on debut when flying home from last over 1500m and he should take a power of beating from a plum draw over 1600m here. Truro Legacy looks to be improving and could be the main danger.

Minerva Fae looks to the one to beat in the second over 1100m having made a fine debut as she is likely to improve and has Gavin Lerena up.

In the first over 1100m Queen Leila has the form to win and is the first choice.