Emperor’s Palace Ride Of The Month, Vote And Win A Prize

Turf Talk have chosen five rides in February for the Emperor’s Palace Ride Of The Month competition.

Vote for one of the rides listed below and stand a chance to win a nice prize (last month the prize was a one night stay with breakfast at the Peermont Mondior Hotel at Emperor’s Palace).

To have a chance of winning submit your choice to editor@turftalk.co.za

An explanation of each ride is given acompanied by a video link.

When submitting, send the ride number of your choice and jockey’s name.

Fayd’Herbe was going to have to attempt to use Cafe Culture’s speed while making sure there was something still in the tank for the last 200m, considering this horse had been swamped late over this trip in his previous start when attempting a trip beyond a sprint for only the second time. From draw four Fayd’he duly used the Lucinda Woodruff-trained four-year-old Var gelding’s asset of speed to claim the rail. He then reined him in and was left in the box seat in about fourth place after widely drawn horses had come around. Inamorare moved up around the turn to get handier after the pace had slowed. The latter set sail for home, but Fayd’Herbe watched on without making any serious move until the 250m mark. He got a clear run and Cafe Culture had enough in reserve to use his asset of speed for the second time in the race. However, he had to make up two lengths in the last 150m. Fayd’Herbe got the most out of him with rhythmical use of the crop in the left hand and a right hand sliding up and down from mid-neck right up to the ears. Jockeys attempt to flatten a horse on the line in a tight finish in order to get the head stretched out and Fayd’Herbe put the stick away for the last three strides. He helped the horse get his head down on the line with his arms stretched full length and his hands actually pushed the horse’s head forward in the all important last lunge. As the race was won by the narrowest of margins, Fayd’Herbe’s tactical awareness, riding skills and strength in the finish made all the difference.

Thunderstruck had only just failed under Piere Strydom in his previous start in the Gr 1 World Pool Cape Flying Championship over 1000m when leading and narrowly beaten by the other frontrunner in the race Dyce. This time there was no Dyce and Fourie sat on the quarters of the leader Countdown to ensure there was something in reserve for the finish of the 200m longer race. When Future Variety began flying at him in the last 200m, Fourie had to draw on those reserves. He extracted the necessary extra and aided the horse in this frantic finish with not just one, but two deft changes of whiphand in the last 150m. Thunderstruck was odds-on and Fourie’s tactics and riding skills ensured that one of the meeting bankers arrived.

This Grant Maroun-trained five-year-old Announce mare has gained a reputation for her short but devastating run in. Munger was riding her for the third time in quick succession, so knew her well by now and from a wide draw duly dropped her out to last in this 1000m contest on Turffontein Inside. He crucially switched her on to the outside train when the opportunity arose, which ultimately ensured a clear run down the outside. The temptation when such a horse becomes detached  halfway through a 1000m sprint would be to begin begin chasing. However, Munger did not fall to that temptation and kept her in the hands all the way until the 300m mark. He then gave her some light backhanders and In The Ether swept forwards. A deft change of whiphand was required when she began hanging outward away from the whip. In the post race interview it was also revealed she responds particularly well to a left-handed backhander. He executed the whiphand change well and two left-handed taps saw her taking off to win by a cosy length. Munger could afford to put the crop away when the horse began hanging inward late in the contest.

This Gavin Smith-trained What A Winter gelding had shown improvement with blinkers when winning over 1000m in December despite not getting the best of breaks. He was raised five points and two runs later Yeni was aboard for this 1200m race. Some might have questioned Yeni having the horse in the leading line without cover after a good break. However, in his aforementioned win two runs earlier under a different jockey he had been slowly away, yet took the lead before halfway, a potentiallly energy sapping manoeuvre, and still won easily. Furthermore, he had finished fourth under Yeni in the Listed RA Stakes ovber 1600m. Yeni would thus have known this horse not only had speed but also the ability to stay on. He duly holds the horse together in the lead until the 300m mark then drives him with the hands. The horse  just required a couple of backhanders to see off a late challenge to win by a cosy 1,25 lengths under the always tactically astute Yeni.

The Yogas Govender-trained Gimmethegreenlight gelding All The Time is a horse who has a lot of zip and takes quite a keen hold, so ideally one needs to get him covered up early in a 1200m event down the straight. Rachel executed the perfect start from draw 2 , not slow but just slow enough to slot in behind the inside drawn horse. She kept All The Time glued to the back of that horse through the first half of the race. However, the latter had wandered over to the rail and didn’t have the cruising speed of All The Time, so it was wise to switch him outward into fresh air at about the halfway mark to 1) avoid being boxed in as the field often drifts over to the inside in the closing stages and 2) to allow him to stride more freely. After switching him into fresh air,  she kept him perfectly relaxed until the 350m mark and then asked the question. All The Time responded and  then, with the joint favourite El Draque looking dangerous towards the outside, she gave him a smack at the 200m mark. He duly repelled the challenger and Rachel just had to keep him going straight in the last 150 metres. He emerged a comfortable 0,90 length winner.

Craig Zackey had full confidence in his horse and from a tricky draw of six reined him in early in order to ensure cover. He sat one out with cover on the back of the outer train and showed no sign of panic despite the race being reduced to an absolute crawl. He stayed put behind Hhuhluwe all the way around the turn and while the others began sprinting for home Zackey was still sitting high in the saddle until the 400m mark. He then got to work and the superior horse in the field swept past the opposition to win by 2,75 lengths. It could be called an armchar ride, but Zackey knew how good his mount was and his ice cool ride ensured there was no mistake.

Rachel Venniker’s winning ride in Saudi Arabia was one of the highlights of the month and would have been regarded as a well nigh perfect ride in SA, but she unfortunately broke a local rule so it can’t be included.