Turf Talk Newsletter – 01 November, 2023

Marshall, Fosters, Captain Al On Cusp Of History

Jane Truter leads in the Vaughan Marshall-trained Querari gelding Questioning, bred and owned by Alec and the honourable Gillian Foster, after his win in the Gr 3 Cape Classic on Sunday (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Former Champion sire Captain Al has been the National Champion Damsire for the last two seasons and this great horse’s former trainer Vaughan Marshall, together with owners and breeders Alec and The Honourable Gillian Foster, have the chance to make some probably unique Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas history with him through his grandson Questioning.

Marshall won the Gr 1 Cape Guineas with Captain Al in the year 2000.

That was his third Cape Guineas win following Sea Warrior (Complete Warrior) and Face North (Northfields) in 1986 and 1990.

Marshall has had unbelievable success going back to the well during his career and Captain Al is in fact out of a Complete Warrior mare.

Since Captain Al’s Cape Guineas win, Vaughan has added two more victories in this sire-producing event, and both of them were with sons of Captain Al.

William Longsword, who is now a successful sire, won it for him in 2016 and Tap O’ Noth did it in 2017.

Tap O’ Noth was a homebred of Alec and Gillian Foster’s.

So this makes Saturday’s Gr 3 Cape Classic winner Questioning a most interesting Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas prospect.

He is not only a homebred of the Fosters, but he is also out of a Captain Al mare called Wheredowego.

Wheredowego, who resides at Varsfontein Stud, had already given the Fosters a stakes winner in the Marshall-trained Senso Unico, who has won both of his starts this season including the Listed Hollywoodbets Settlers Trophy over 2000m.

Senso Unico is by Twice Over and is a rangy type who always looked likely to need time to fulfil his potential. He is coming into his own now and runs in the Listed Woolavington Stakes over 2400m on Saturday.

Questioning, on the other hand, is by Querari, so not surprisingly is more forward and has more speed than Senso Unico had as a three-year-old.

Vaughan said Questioning had come out of Saturday’s race “a hundred percent” and he would decide next week what his route into the Cape Guineas would be.

If he does manage to win the Cape Guineas it will mean Marshall has won the great race with three generations of the same horse, Captain Al, while the Fosters would have done it with two generations of Captain Al.

An exciting point is that the Fosters have two more horses on the ground from Wheredowego and both will obviously be sent to the Marshall yard. One of them is by Varsfontein’s national champion sire Gimmethegreenlight and the other is a full sibling to Questioning, being by Querari.

Vaughan has already gone desparately close to winning the Cape Guineas with three generations of Captain Al through Linebacker in 2020. The latter was a son of Captain’s Al’s son Captain Of All. Not only was he caught wide in the running, but he shifted away from the whip in the final stages when probably just needing to stay straight to win. He lost the race by an agonising neck to Russian Rock. He later proved himself superior to Russian Rock over both a mile and further.

Alec Foster has quite a simple breeding philsosphy.

He breeds cattle in the U.K. and said after Tap O’ Noth’s victory, “When you have a very good bull and good cows, you will produce top quality cattle. It is exactly the same in horseracing.”

He continued, “Not only did Tap O’Noth’s champion sire Captain Al win the Cape Guineas, but his dam Wintersweet was by champion sire Western Winter, who has produced two Cape Guineas winners.”

However, a lot is still about chance and Alec said, “Every horse you breed you have a champion in mind, but you can’t dictate whether he will be a champion or a plodder.”

One bit of fate in Alec and Gillian’s favour relates to the fortunes of Alec’s beloved England cricket team.

He is a cricket fanatic and in fact his first visit to South Africa was in 1977 with the Eton Ramblers cricket team and toured with them again in 1981.

When Tap O’ Noth won the Cape Guineas England were on there way to a third successive defeat in an Ashes series, which they went on to lose 4-0.

Currently, England fans are having it even worse, because they are propping up the cricket world cup table!

However, the question is whether Questioning can provide some consolation for Alec just as Tap O’Noth did six years ago.

His win on Saturday under Bernard Fayd’Herbe was eyecatching and he looks to have a progressive profile. Of course his chances of winning the Cape Guineas will be enhanced if the mighty Johannesburg pair, Sandringham Summit and Main Defender, do not make the journey down.

Meanwhile, Wheredowego’s value as a broodmare is set to skyrocket if her son does go on to Guineas glory.

The Times They Are A-Changin' For The Sport Of Horseracing

Ricky Maingard’s new racing syndicate, Wolf Power Syndicate, will bring back memories to mature racing fans (Picture: Cape Racing)

David Mollett

In 2024, it will be 60 years since the release of one of the most famous songs in the music world. Do you recognize the lyrics?.

Come Gather ‘Round People

Wherever You Roam

And Admit That The Waters

Around You have Grown

Yes, you got it in one. The 1964 Bob Dylan song “The Times They Are A-Changin’.”

A changing of the times in the world of horse racing is exactly what has happened.

Owners

People are always banging the drum that punters are the lifeline of racing, but without owners it would grind to a halt.

Until recently, we had become pretty accustomed to the Gr 1 races being plundered by rich owners and breeders and those feeding the more moderate animals were simply the supporting cast. Many fell by the wayside because the monthly cost was too expensive.

Now – rather like special offers at your favourite supermarket – carrots are being dangled to attract new owners to the sport. Syndication is the new name of the game.

A Cape Racing media release before their Ready-To-Run Sale stated “most of the region’s trainers have come on board with customized offers on newly purchased horses designed to attract individuals from all walks of life.”

Some familiar names are getting involved. Ricky Maingard has formed the “Wolf Power Syndicate” named after the best horse I’ve seen here (but not in the world) in 51 years in the sport. Ricky has put together a six-horse package and said “Our aim is to be a boutique-style training quality rather than quantity.”

Michele Rix and Ashwin Reynolds have launched the “Kommet” syndicate (no prizes for the reason they chose this name) with a professionally designed client brochure and a website. Another top trainer going the syndiction route is Glen Kotzen.

The next plus for owners is the “Double Bonus” incentive announced prior to the Cape Ready-To-Run Sale. 23 lots of 89 lots offered were eligible for this bonus which sees an owner receive R200 000 in prize money if his/her horse wins as a juvenile.

The studs which came to the party for this bonus were Normandy Stud (10 lots also as agent), Soetendal (6 lots as agent), Woodhill (3 lots), and Beaumont, Ridgemont, Paarl Diammant (as agent) and Riethuiskraal one apiece.

Grooms

Thanks to the Racing Operators and top businessmen, the financial lives of grooms have improved markedly compared to a few years ago. Indeed, some of the older grooms must be shaking their heads in disbelief.

In this month’s Betway Summer Cup, the sponsors will give R20 000 to each groom looking after one of the 20 runners. This is a big payday and, of course, those attached to the winner and placed horses will get their usual percentage.

In August, 4Racing CEO, Fundi Sithehe, announced the Turffontein grooms accommodation renovation project to ensure their living quarters were improved.

At the time, Turffontein grooms representative, Nceba Magazi, said: “We can proudly say that we are seen, our voices are heard and we are recognized. Having a voice was all we ever desired.”

Devin Heffer, communications manager at Hollywoodbets, is a young man with his feet on the ground and he said: “The focus of this grooms initiative was always more than just rewarding them over and above their normal earnings. It was about highlighting the importance of their role in the ecosystem.”

Punters

After my recent spell in the UK, I was amazed by the number of special offers daily advertised by bookmakers and the tote to attract clients. Some layers were paying six places on the Ebor Handicap at York and we’re talking about a quarter the odds a place – not the lesser odds offered here.

However, Betway, a sponsor with big involvment in sport both here and in the UK, have surely attracted new clients by announcing they will pay the 6% government tax usually deducted from a punter’s winnings.

Will this tempt other big firms such as Hollywoodbets and World Sports Betting to follow suit? Punters will certainly hope this is the case.

It’s also worth remembering that entrance to most race meetings in SA is free. This doesn’t happen in the UK, Australia or America. Entrance to the County Stand for their big meeting at York in August was 70 pounds (R1600). You are very much behind the eight-ball before you place your first bet!

Yesterday, I checked out the special offers advertised by some of the leading bookmaker firms. Paddy Power were offering 50 pounds (R1150) in free bets for new clients while Skybet and Betfair were both offering 30 pounds (R690).

For new customers, the Tote were offering 30 pounds (R690) in free bets once a 10 pound (R230) wager had been placed.

Horses

Of course, the horses are – like footballers in the Premier League – the stars of the show.

Right now, I doubt there has been such excitement about our equine athletes for many a year.

This time in 2022, we were raving about Charles Dickens possibly emerging as good as Horse Chestnut – or for us older guys – as good as Wolf Power or Elevation.

We still have Charles Dickens to look forward to but both Main Defender and Sandringham Summit have put their hands up as possible future champions with their magnificent battle in the Betway Graham Beck Stakes.

So, yes, the Times They Are A’Changing and some would say about time too. The bottom line is the sport of horseracing is on an upward spiral which looked highly unlikely two years ago.

Handicapping Ratings Update

Puerto Manzano’s Gr 2 Allied Steelrode On A Mission mile win has seen him being raised two points to 125 (Picture: JC Photos).

NHA Press Release 31 October 2023

Allied Steelrode – Onamission Charity Mile (Handicap) (Grade 2)

PUERTO MANZANO has seen his merit rating increase from 123 to 125 after winning the Grade 2 Allied Steelrode – Onamission Charity Mile (handicap) over 1600m on the standside track at Turffontein on Saturday 28October. The Handicappers were of the opinion that BLESS MY STARS made for the ideal line horse here, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 119.

The only other increase was for runner-up COUSIN CASEY, who was adjusted from 122 to 123.

BINGWA and MARIGOLD HOTEL were dropped by 1 pound each from 119 to 118 and 107 to 106 respectively. The following horses were given a 2 pounds drop each, SHOEMAKER was dropped from 114 to 112, DAVE THE KING who failed to confirm his brilliant 3^rd place finish in the Champions Cup behind PRINCESS CALLA and SEE IT AGAIN was dropped from 126 to 124, SAFE PASSAGE from 119 to 117 and LADY OF POWER was dropped from 109 to 107. Only one horse was given a 3 pounds drop, SECOND BASE saw his rating cut from 120 to 117.

Betway Graham Beck Stakes (Grade 3)

MAIN DEFENDER remains on a rating of 121 after winning the Grade 3 Betway Graham Beck Stakes for three-year-olds over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday. Here it was 3^rd placed GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE who was deemed to make for the best line horse, leaving him unchanged on a rating of 108. It must be borne in mind that the top two runners here, conceded 2 and 3 kilograms respectively to their rivals. This explains the significant difference in their ratings over their rivals for 3,25 and more lengths superiority.

In rating the race this way, MAIN DEFENDER only achieves a rating of 119 hence his unchanged rating, SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT was increased to 121 as his performance was calculated to be better than the winner due to the greater penalty, he received at these weight terms for being a Grade 1 winner.

The specific race conditions do not permit increases of more than 4 pounds for the placed runners. Accordingly, THE AFRICA HOUSE had to be capped at a rating of 98 despite actually running to a higher figure.

There were no other changes made to the runners in this race.

HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes (Grade 3)

EGYPTIAN MAU has had her rating picked up from 105 to 110 following her win in the Grade 3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes for three-year-old fillies over 1400m at Turffontein on Saturday. Here it was runner-up WHITE PEARL who was considered to make for the best line horse. The Handicappers believe that WHITE PEARL would not have run worse than the 109 she achieved in her last start and as such used that mark of 109 to rate this race. In doing so, WHITE PEARL goes up from 105 to 109.

The specific conditions of this race do not allow for an increase of more than 4 pounds for placed runners, LET’S GO NOW was only adjusted to a rating of 95 from 91 despite actually achieving a higher rating.

There were no other changes made in this race.

Golden Loom Handicap (Listed)

DYCE has had his rating raised from 106 to 116 after emphatically winning the Listed Golden Loom Handicap over the straight 1000m course at Turffontein on Saturday. It was 3^rd placed I AM GIANT who was used as the line horse here, leaving him unaltered on a rating of 98.

Runner-up CAPTAIN HINDSIGHT was increased by 4 pounds from 106 to 110 for beating the line horse, I AM GIANT, by 2 lengths.

The only other change was for FULL VELOCITY, who was dropped from 104 to 102.

Allied Steelrode Java Stakes (Listed)

ZEUS has had his rating raised from 103 to 111 following his success in the Allied Steelrode Java Stakes over 2400m at Turffontein on Saturday. It was 3^rdplaced FLYING BULL who was used as the line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 96. In rating the race this way, ZEUS actually runs to a mark of 114 however, the specific race conditions only permit a maximum eight-pounds ratings rise for the winner so, accordingly the prolific ZEUS had to be capped at a rating of 111.

The runner-up BLACK THORN was raised by 3 pounds, from 99 to 102 which he also achieved in his previous start when 2^nd in a Middle Stakes, this effectively makes BLACK THORN a line horse as well.

The only runner to receive a drop was last year’s winner ARUMUGAM, who was dropped from 102 to 98 after failing to confirm his Grade 3 Gold Cup run in two subsequent performances.

Cape Classic (Grade 3)

The hugely progressive QUESTIONING has had his rating raised from 91 to 111 following his win in the Cape Classic over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Sunday. It was 3^rdplaced GREEN WITH ENVY who was used as the line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 101.

Runner-up SNOW PILOT was raised to 105 from 95 after beating, the 101 rated, GREEN WITH ENVY at level weights by 2.25 lengths.

GREETING MY MASTER and TENANGO were increased to 95 and 94 respectively so that they meet on correct Handicap terms with GREEN WITH ENVY and ZIL MORRIS in future handicaps, furthermore, their ratings will now also place them in the correct order for elimination purposes.

The following horses received ratings drops, JUST VAR from 94 to 90 and PARATROOPER was dropped to 96 from 97.

There were no other changes to this race.

The Who's Who of Bloodstock Buyers Expected at CPYS 2024

Sales Topper from CPYS 2023, Maine Chance Farms-bred Gimmethegreenlight colt (Lot 107) (Picture: Wayne Marks).

CPYS 2024 is on 25 January, 2024, Save The Date!

Entries have been finalised for the 2024 Cape Premier Yearling Sale renewal, set for the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) on Thursday, 25 January 2024. The event will be hosted for the second time under the auspices of Cape Racing and powered by Tattersalls, Europe’s leading bloodstock auctioneers.

CPYS 2024 promises to showcase the best in the South African breeding industry, featuring 140 top-notch yearlings that will attract serious interest from the most discerning thoroughbred experts. A formidable bench is expected, with the sale being held just two days before the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met and a host of horse buyers, racing fans and holidaymakers in Cape Town.

Last year’s Premier Sale attracted a gathering of the who’s who of thoroughbred buyers, with leading, prominent international interests represented. They included the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), Bjorn Nielsen, Amanda Skiffington, Peter and Ross Doyle, Fiona Carmichael, and the Niarchos family. The HKJC secured the top seller, Valley of The Kings (Lot 107, Gimmethegreenlight), for R3.8 million from Maine Chance Farms.

Spirited bidding can be expected with the bar set this high, and new benchmarks are possible. Graduates from the 2024 Premier Sale onwards will qualify for all of Cape Racing’s incentive schemes and the Golden Slipper, the new “sales race”. Bonuses of R100,000 will be paid for the first juvenile win of any race, and this will be payable not only in Juvenile races but with a broader reach to include open Maiden races won by juveniles. The inaugural Golden Slipper (featuring 2023 Premier Sale graduates) will be held on Met Day in 2024 with R1.25 million on offer. The Slipper’s purse has already been increased to R1.5 million for 2025, open to all graduates from the 2024 sale.

“We have positioned the Cape Premier Yearling Sale powered by Tattersalls as a go-to for breeders with high-quality forward types. We are excited to be offering a selection of classic yearlings, marked by our inspectors for having increased quality and depth,” said Justin Vermaak, Racing & Bloodstock Executive for Cape Racing.

Save The Date: 25 January 2024!

Watch the Cape Racing Premier Yearling Sale 2023 Highlights

Snow Pilot Following In Dam Snowdance's Footsteps

Snowdance winning the Gr 1 Cape Fillies Guineas in 2017 (Picture: sahorseracing.com)

The Justin Snaith-trained Drakenstein Stud-homebred Snow Pilot ran a fine 1,75 length second to Questioning in the Gr 3 Cape Classic over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Sunday, especially considering it was his seasonal reappearance.

Jonathan Snaith said about the big Lancaster Bomber colt, “It was very much a prep for the Cape Summer. He will be aimed at the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas. He’ll improve a couple of lengths on that run as he was heavy going into the race and blowing considerably after.”

Both the winner and runner up of the Cape Classic were out of mares by Captain Al, the former national Champion Sire who has been national Champion Damsire for the last two seasons.

However, Snow Pilot must be considered to have the more illustrious pedigree of the pair because his dam Snowdance emulated her Cape Guineas-winning sire by winning the Cape Fillies Guineas.

Jonathan recalled, “Snowdance romped home in the fillies Guineas – she had a huge stride and was very imposing. She was extremely athletic and that’s why you’re already seeing her offspring do incredibly well. She’s going to be an exceptional broodmare, no doubt.”

Snowdance achieved a prestigious hattrick in the Cape Summer of her three-year-old season, winning the Gr 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship over 1400m, the Gr 1 Cape Fillies Guineas (beating the season’s Equus Horse Of The Year Oh Susanna by 3,25 lengths) and the Gr 1 Majorca Stakes over 1600m.

She was destined to only win one more race, but Snow Pilot is her first foal at stud and looks to be a top quality horse in the making.

Second Betway Summer Cup Log

The Brett Crawford-trained Drakenstein-homebred Trippi gelding Winchester Mansion is going for a rare Hollywoodbets Durban July/Betway Summer Cup double and is in second place on the latter race’s second log (Picture: Liesl King)

With his victory in the Grade 2 Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile on Saturday at Turffontein over 1600m, Puerto Manzano has cemented his place at the top of the latest Betway Summer Cup log.

The six-year-old looks perfectly primed to defend his Summer Cup title, thereby securing a third Grade 1 career victory.

Cousin Casey, who made his Highveld debut for his new yard, has jumped up four places on the log to fourth, with third-placed Charity Mile finisher Bless My Stars now in third spot.

Durban July-winner Winchester Mansion remains second on the log after finishing fourth in the Charity Mile.

A notable change on the Summer Cup log sees Dave The King drop to sixth from third.

Zeus is the only newcomer, now in position number 18, while Lady Of Power has dropped out of the top 20.

Here is the latest log, in order A = latest log position; B = previous log position; C = Age; D = Sex; E = name of horse; F = updated merit rating; G = nett merit rating; H = difference between current and previous merit rating; I = previous merit rating; J = previous nett merit rating; K = name of trainer.

Top 20
A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K
1	1	6	G	PUERTO MANZANO (ARG)	125	125	2	123	123	J A Janse van Vuuren
2	2	5	G	WINCHESTER MANSION	121	121	0	121	121	Brett Crawford
3	4	4	F	BLESS MY STARS	119	118	0	119	118	Sean Tarry
4	8	4	C	COUSIN CASEY	123	122	1	122	121	Sean Tarry
5	5	4	G	ANFIELDS ROCKET	120	119	0	120	119	Grant Maroun
6	3	4	C	DAVE THE KING	124	123	-2	126	125	Mike de Kock
7	6	4	G	FUTURE PEARL	116	115	0	116	115	Sean Tarry
8	7	5	G	SAFE PASSAGE	117	117	-3	120	120	Mike de Kock
9	9	6	G	BINGWA	118	118	-2	120	120	J A Janse van Vuuren
10	11	4	G	EYE OF THE PROPHET	119	118	0	119	118	Paul Matchett
11	10	6	G	SECOND BASE	117	117	-3	120	120	Robyn Klaasen
12	12	4	C	BILLY BOWLEGS	117	116	-1	118	117	Brett Crawford
13	13	5	G	RUNAWAY SONG	116	116	0	116	116	Dean Kannemeyer
14	14	4	G	SON OF RAJ	115	114	0	115	114	Weiho Marwing
15	15	4	F	NONE OTHER	110	109	0	110	109	Lucky Houdalakis
16	16	7	G	NEBRAAS	115	115	0	115	115	Sean Tarry
17	17	5	G	ARAGOSTA	114	114	0	114	114	Mike de Kock
18		5	G	ZEUS	111	111	13	98	98	Fabian Habib
19	18	4	G	SHOEMAKER	112	111	-2	114	113	Mike de Kock
20	20	4	G	MERIDIUS	110	109	0	110	109	Tony Peter
Merit Rating Order
		6	G	HOEDSPRUIT	112	112	0	112	112	Kelly Mitchley
		4	C	EAST COAST	110	109	-1	111	110	Mike de Kock
		5	G	LITIGATION	110	110	0	110	110	Sean Tarry
		4	G	UNION SQUARE	110	109	0	110	109	Mike de Kock
		4	G	STAR COIN	108	107	-1	109	108	Alec Laird
		4	G	ATTICUS FINCH	107	106	6	101	100	Alec Laird
	19	4	F	LADY OF POWER	107	106	-2	109	108	M G Azzie/A A Azzie
		6	G	INFINITE WONDER	103	103	0	103	103	Paul Matchett
		4	G	ELECTRIC GOLD	102	101	0	102	101	Tony Peter
		6	G	CRIMSON KING	101	101	0	101	101	Brett Crawford
		4	G	RIVER ROMEO	101	100	0	101	100	Paul Matchett
		7	G	SAVANNAH STORM	101	101	0	101	101	P P / J M Vermeulen
		4	G	STREET ART	101	100	0	101	100	Tony Peter
		5	G	ARUMUGAM	98	98	-4	102	102	Weiho Marwing
		5	G	SOLAR POWER	98	98	0	98	98	Brett Crawford
		6	G	FLYING BULL	96	96	-2	98	98	Tony Peter
		4	F	SAY YES	91	90	0	91	90	Tony Peter
		5	H	ROYAL GUIDE	90	90	0	90	90	Alec Laird
		4	G	TROIS TROIS QUATRE	87	86	0	87	86	Mike de Kock
Scratched
		4	C	RULE BY FORCE	108	107	0	108	107	Joe Soma
		4	G	BRAVE VIKING	90	89	0	90	89	Joe Soma

Jumps Jockey Brian Cooper On Frankie, On Mullins' Dominance, And More

Willie Mullins is threatening to become the Aidan O’Brien of Irish jumps racing i.e. all dominant (Picture: RacingTV)

Exclusive with jockey Bryan Cooper: Frankie Dettori has copied Lionel Messi in heading Stateside and young people won’t know what ITV is when new docu-series is released – it would be better on Netflix

Cooper was speaking to Boylesports who offer the latest Cheltenham betting markets, CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK

Bryan Cooper is a retired Irish jockey who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2016 and was considered one of the sports brightest talents before surprisingly calling it a day
Cooper believes the newly announced racing docuseries is a great idea – but it shouldn’t be on ITV
It was no surprise Frankie Dettori reversed his retirement – he’s following in the footsteps of Lionel Messi and David Beckham
Jumps racing is becoming the Willie Mullins show – but Michael O’Leary and Gigginstown are spending big again

Frankie Dettori is following in Lionel Messi’s footsteps – but maybe he dealt with things the wrong way before reversing his retirement

I thought he was maybe following in the footsteps of those higher echelon footballers, you know your Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, David Beckham, going off to live the glamorous lifestyle!

Unfortunately, I didn’t have that opportunity! I can see where he is likely coming from, he is still riding at the top level, yes he said he was going to retire but I know as a jockey that when you are still racing, you have that bug, it is very hard to give it up and walk away. Especially with Frankie after he rode those two winners at Ascot the way he did, he couldn’t have left it at that.

Yes, maybe he dealt with it in the wrong way when he signed out at Goodwood and all of these other places when it was supposedly going to be his last time but I firmly understand where he’s coming from.

I’ll be looking forward to seeing him back on the track soon. He’s a great rider, a great character and hopefully we will see him on this side of the water again soon.

Flat jockeys have a much more glamorous career than jumps – I should know

BC: You can extend your career more and flat jockeys certainly have a better lifestyle than us that went over the obstacles, that’s for sure. It is a worldwide sport for them, they can head off to Dubai or Saudi and ride around in glamorous conditions whereas we were trekking around in winter tracks in minus one degrees and torrential rain.

It is a very high end sport on the Flat, the prize money has shot up, and when Frankie was earning that he probably found it hard to step away when he was racing on the big days.

I knew when I was getting out. I’d had a lot of injuries and was worried about getting another one. I was waking up every morning with a worry and that’s not what you want. Frankie I suppose is waking up in the California sunshine!

I got out on my terms and in one piece and knew I was never going to go back but if I had the career that Frankie has had, then I might have done things a bit differently.

I had two or three winners on the flat but things worked a little bit too quickly for me on the flat, my brain didn’t react as quickly so that stopped my career as a flat jockey.

The Irish jumps is in danger of becoming the Willie Mullins show

BC: Both on the jumps and the flat, to be fair, there is a semblance of one yard of dominance. If you look at the flat results over the last few months, Aidan O’Brien was probably one and two and then Joseph O’Brien third and Donnacha O’Brien fourth.

The jumps for sure too, it is becoming a Willie Mullins show. Then there’s Gordon Elliott, Henry de Bromhead and now Gavin Cromwell is doing very well too. I think Willie has simply set the bar for everyone and is getting bigger and bigger.

He’s also spending bigger at the sales too, I have seen it myself. They are lucky they have loyal owners and can pump the money in. Gigginstown have been spending an awful lot as well.

Gigginstown are making a resurgence despite initially scaling back their involvement

BC: From what I can see, they have spent a lot of money, yes. They have bought a fair few point to point winners, they have a lot of horses back with Gordon now so they seem to be spending a lot more.

I know Michael [O’Leary, Ryanair boss and Gigginstown owner] said he was getting out and scaling back but it wouldn’t be like Michael to play a few mind games…it is great for them to stay in the game and support the sport.

It would be great to see one or two smaller trainers, like Emmet – I know he is a Mullins but he paddles his own canoe with a lesser string – but he is doing exceptionally well, as is Gavin Cromwell.

I bought a horse called Butcher Hollow. I think he will be a very smart horse this winter. He won a point to point by 18 lengths in February and, at the time, his sire Kingston Hill wasn’t too popular then within the space of two months, everyone wanted to buy a horse that was by Kingston Hill, so I think we have a bargain.

If there was one dark horse to follow, I think he could be very competitive this coming winter.

It’s great that the jumps are back and it’s tough to pick a standout Mullins horse – he has so many

BC: I have noticed social media a lot over the last few weeks has certainly become more active now that the jumps are back.

It’s all about Willie Mullins again. I have been through his stable tour and my god he has some unbelievable horses in his yard. It’s tough to pick a couple of his horses to follow from him but it is also hard to stray away from his yard because you want to keep an eye on other horses.

One I was looking forward to seeing though, away from Mullins yard, is Inthewaterside for Paul Nicholls. He won two bumpers last year, he was very impressive and could be one of Britain’s best chances going forward in the novice hurdle division at the top end.

It is a very exciting time of the season and a very important couple of months are coming up.

I’m looking forward to Allaho’s return and one particular Mullins novice

BC: I am always looking at his novices. Kargese won the same race that Gala De Marceau won last year in Auteuil and was brought by the same connections since, I imagine she will go down the same route in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham. She’s one I am definitely looking forward to seeing.

Then there is Corbetts Cross for Emmet Mullins. I think he is a bit of a forgotten horse as he ran out in the Albert Bartlett earlier in the year at the last, but he won between two and three miles so if he goes novice chasing for Emmet this year, he could be very interesting.

I’m looking forward to seeing Allaho come back as well, if he comes back, he could be a massive King George contender. He missed last year through injury so hopefully he gets a good crack at it this year.

Gordon Elliott will be keen to put up a fight to Willie Mullins this year

BC: He has spent a lot of money on some point to point horses, so I will be very interested to see where they go.

I am very interested to see where Gerri Colombe goes on soft ground, he is probably Gordon’s standout horse. I am also keen to see where Irish Point goes, he won at Aintree, if they go chasing with him he could rank highly.

Teahupoo as well, he has paid his way. Gordon has some money spinners there and he is always interesting to follow in the big field handicaps. He throws a lot of firepower at them and then the Paddy Power Chase at Christmas time and the Irish Grand National too. He’s very determined on putting it up to Willie as best as he can.

I think he is doing things differently this season, a few of their winter horses have taken a run whereas previously they might have been waiting at this time of year so maybe he is attacking it in a different way.

Bryan Cooper’s five to follow this season

Kargese – Willie Mullins

Mirazur West – Willie Mullins

Inthewaterside – Paul Nicholls

Corbetts Cross – Emmet Mullins

Butcher Hollow – Tom Cooper

Today’s Question

The jockey in question is pictured above (AP Photo/Julia Cortez File, New Jersey Herald).

Who is the winning-most jockey in Breeders Cup history?

Midweek FIELDS

Turffontein Inside Fields, Thursday

Today’s Question Answer

Mike Smith was born in Roswell, New Mexico, August 10, 1965. Smith began riding races in New Mexico at age 11. Shortly after launching his licensed career in 1982 at age 16, he won his first race with Forever Man at Santa Fe in New Mexico.

Suffered major injuries in two separate spills in 1998. In March he was out for two months with a broken shoulder, and a spill in August resulted in a broken back; Smith wore a body cast for months, but made it back to riding during the 1999 Gulfstream meet.

Smith moved his tack to California in 2001 after spending the bulk of his career in New York, where he had been located since 1989.

Some of the major awards Smith has won include: inducted into Racing’s Hall of Fame in 2003, Eclipse Award winner as outstanding jockey in 1993 and 1994, presented with the 2000 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, was named recipient of the Big Sport of Turfdom Award for 2010 from the Turf Publicists of America. The year before, Smith was a part of “Team Zenyatta,” accorded the honor for 2009. Included in the 2009 award were owners Jerry and Ann Moss and trainer John Shirreffs and his wife, Dottie. The annual honor is bestowed upon a person or group of people who enhance the coverage of Thoroughbred racing through cooperation with media and Thoroughbred racing publicists.

In 2005, Smith rode Giacomo to an upset victory in the Kentucky Derby, resulting in a $102.60 payoff on a $2 bet. They went on to finish third in the Preakness and seventh in the Belmont.

Mike Smith will always be remembered as the jockey of Zenyatta, the 2010 Horse of the Year. Smith rode the superstar mare in 17 of her 20 races. Zenyatta and Smith were victorious in 16 of those 17 races, with their only loss being a second place finish in the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Classic, Zenyatta’s last race.

Smith was in the irons for the 2013 run for the roses and Belmont Stakes aboard Palace Malice, a colt in the string of runners training with Todd Pletcher. Smith ended his year by having major success at the Breeders’ Cup, winning two of the races. That year also included a win in the Kentucky Oaks on Princess of Sylmar, and the Santa Anita Handicap on Game On Dude. His overall Grade 1 total for 2013 was 15 races won.

In 2014, Smith was the regular rider on Shared Belief, who won four graded stakes races with Smith aboard. Smith won seven Grade 1 races on the year, including a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Judy the Beauty. The next year, the jockey rode Songbird to a win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies to give him 22 lifetime wins at the Breeders’ Cup, a record for a jockey that Smith would continue to add to.

Smith’s success with fillies continued in 2017, riding 3-year-old filly Unique Bella to dominant wins in three straight graded stakes before she was sidelined. Smith then got the mount aboard Abel Tasman, who finished second in the Santa Anita Oaks and then won the Kentucky Oaks. Later that year, the Hall of Famer added to his record Breeders’ Cup win total by piloting Caledonia Road to an upset in the 14 Hands Winery Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar on Nov. 4, 2017, giving him 26 total wins.

In 2018, Smith swept the Santa Anita Oaks and Santa Anita Derby with Midnight Bisou and Justify, respectively. He guided Justify to victory four weeks later in the Kentucky Derby to earn his second win in the first jewel of the Triple Crown. The pair’s success continued in Baltimore, as Smith and Justify won the Preakness Stakes on another sloppy track. Three weeks later, Smith skillfully guided Justify around the Belmont Park oval, setting the pace and rolling home to win the Belmont Stakes and with it, the Triple Crown.

Smith again held a strong hand for the Kentucky Derby in 2019, guiding Roadster to victory in the Santa Anita Derby and Omaha Beach to wins in a division of the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes and the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby.

As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the world in 2020, Smith missed the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland that fall, but the Hall of Famer returned in 2021 to extend his record number of World Championships victories to 27 at Del Mar when Corniche won the TVG Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.