Main Defender canters to a 6,50 length victory in last year’s Gr 2 Betway Jo’Burg Spring Challenge, the race in which he will be defending his crown on Saturday (JC Photos).

Main Defender is “spot on” ahead of his defence of the Gr 2 Betway Jo’Burg Spring Challenge trophy, which is to be run over 1450m at Turffontein Inside on Saturday, and Gavin Lerena will be riding him for the first time.

Muzi Yeni, who is missing Saturday’s meeting as he has been invited to ride in Kranji’s final ever meeting, replaced Calvin Habib on the Tony Peter-trained Pathfork gelding last time out and Lerena now takes over from the national log leader.

Spokesman for the Main Defender connections, Frankie Zackey, said, “Gavin will be riding him for his next few starts.”

Asked whether the twice SA Champion Jockey was now the first choice rider for the Paul Peter yard, Frankie replied, “I’m not a hundred percent sure, but I think it is heading that way.”

Lerena rode a winner for Peter both on Saturday and today.

Frankie said about Main Defender’s well-being, “He is spot on , top of his game, he’s flying. He will win.”

He said about Main Defender’s route towards the Betway Summer Cup, “The Onamission Mile (Gr 2 over 1600m on November 2 at Turffontein Standside) is a question mark as he will be giving a chunk of weight away there, so we might instead go the Victory Moon (Gr 3 over 1800m on November 9 Turffontein Standside) and then the Summer Cup. Going the Victory Moon route will also give us a better indication of whether he will see out the 2000m of the Summer Cup.”

Main Defender is drawn 8 in the 14 horse field on Saturday as opposed to the draw of five he had last year.

In an August interview Frankie dismissed Main Defender’s run in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge as not being his run as he was returning from an incident in which he was injured when being TCO2 tested before the IOS Drill Hall Stakes.

Subsequently to the Gold Challenge he was rested and needed his last start when beaten into second over 1400m by distance specialist Unzen, to whom he was giving 8kg.

Main Defender’s best performance to date was when comfortably winning the Gr 1 wfa Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m at Turffontein Standside. Nothing panned out well for him that day, including going down so far when stumbling at the start that he hit his head, and yet he still beat two Equus Horses Of The Year, Dave The King and Princess Calla, with ease. Gr 1 winners Cousin Casey, Son Of Raj, Puerto Manzano, Safe Passage and MK’s Pride were also among the vanquished.

Main Defender’s Jo’Burg Spring Challenge victory last year was also out of the top drawer as he powered clear in effirtless fashion to beat older horses by 6,50 lengths and more. The runner up that day was Thunderstruck, who went on to become Equus Champion Sprinter.

Frankie is clearly confident the real Main Defender will be turning up on Saturday.

The field for the race is shown below:

Muzi Yeni found the winner’s enclosure in a rare visit to Hollywoodbets Durbanville in October last year. (Picture: Wayne Marks) 

David Mollett

As far as the SA Jockeys Championship is concerned, 37 year-old Muzi Yeni will probably feel he’s got enough silver and bronze medals.

Despite a number of close calls, the title continues to elude the Durban-born rider, but after two months of the new season there’s a suspicion this could be his year.

Muzi has made no secret of his desire to be champion. In 2019 he told Winning Form “I don’t think I will stop trying till I have ticked the title off on my CV.”

The same website added that “He’s a travelling salesman workaholic in every sense of the word.”

That’s accurate when one studies the statistics of Muzi’s mounts over the last decade.

2014/15 season: 1263, more than any other jockey.
2020/21 season: 1419 mounts.
2023/24 season: 1494 mounts.

Of course, last season Richard Fourie pretty much had the jockeys title sewn up after six months, but Muzi battled on riding 191 winners and earning another silver medal.

I wrote a story in Business Day in July 2023 headlined “Still No Cigar in jockey Muzi Yeni’s rollercoaster career.” Sadly, the business newspaper no longer covers racing.

This time it wasn’t a close call unlike the 2018/19 season when it went down to the wire with Lyle Hewitson prevailing by three winners.

Muzi rode a winner for Mike De Kock at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday and, interestingly, it was the former champion trainer who provided him with his first winner at Clairwood in 2003. If he can continue to get rides for such a powerful stable, it will be an important factor in his title bid.

Eight years after his first win, Muzi rode his first Gr 1 winner, Happy Landing, I think trained by Joe Soma, in the Premier’s Champions Challenge at Turffontein in April 2011. The horse started at 55-1 so punters weren’t overjoyed with the result.

They were much happier when Muzi got KZN raider, Royal Victory, home in the same race at the city track five months ago.

On the social media front, Muzi has probably caused more comment than any other jockey. First was the incident with Lyle Hewitson which resulted in a three months ban.

Then – in February 2023 – there was the Greyville weighing room fracas with jockey Billy Jacobson which resulted in both riders receiving interim suspensions. The incident even made the mass-circulation UK newspaper, The Daily Mirror.

Muzi will be aware that recent champions Warren Kennedy and Richard Fourie came out of the starting blocks at the beginning of the season as fast as Usain Bolt. So he has followed their lead and – as a result – is around 20 winners ahead of his nearest rival.

In last month’s column, I advised taking the 6-1 World Sports Betting were offering on Muzi to clinch his first title and those odds have been trimmed to 4-1. I have taken a double with Muzi to win and Kamala Harris to take the US Presidential election.

Watching CNN, I’ve been impressed by Harris’ performances while Donald Trump spends most of his time making disparaging remarks about his Presidential rival.

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To say that top trainer, Aidan O’Brien, faces an important next five weeks is an understatement.

Apart from City Of Troy being on course for the Breeders Cup Classic at Del Mar on November 2, the Ballydoyle maestro has five entries in Sunday’s prestigious Qatar Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

Los Angeles and Continuous have always been aimed at the Longchamp race, but O’Brien surprised the media on Monday when saying that – if the ground was good – Auguste Rodin could make the trip to France. His other two entries are Opera Singer and Luxembourg.

Renowned French trainer, Andre Fabre, is housing the 4-1 favourite, Sosie, as he bids to win the Arc for the seventh time.

However, UK bookmakers report sustained support for Japanese raider, Shin Emporer (11-2) who ran a creditable third in the Irish Champion Stakes. Japan are still chasing their first success in the race.
The winner’s purse on Sunday is 2,48 million pounds which – if my maths is correct – is over R50 million!

Despite his defeat by Sosie last month, it might pay to back 6-1 chance, Look At Vega, who was so impressive in the French Derby.

The NHA have allowed some leeway in TCO2 testing with a second test required only if the concentration is more than 36 mmol/L (previously 35 mmol/L) and withdrawal of the horse only if the level is more than 38 mmol/L (previously 37 mmol/L).

NHA Press Release

UPDATE ON TCO2 ANALYSIS CONDUCTED ON RACE DAYS

The National Horseracing Authority (NHA) hereby provides a further update on the Total Carbon Dioxide (TCO2) analysis conducted on race days.

In furtherance of the protocols and collection procedures referred to in the NHA’s press release of 28 June 2024, the NHA has carried out TCO2 nationwide testing spanning numerous race meetings. Between 29 June 2024 and 29 September 2024, 2 772 TCO2 analyses were administered on 2 482 horses. Of these, 274 horses (11%) tested above 35 mmol/L, as a result of which, was subjected to a second test on the expiry of no less than 10 minutes post the first test, with 16 horses (0.6%) being withdrawn from races due to elevated TCO2 levels, i.e. levels on such second test exceeding 37 mmol/L.

From 6 April 2024 to 29 September 2024, a total of 4 998 TCO2 analyses were administered on 4 509 horses. During this period, 57 horses (1.3%) were withdrawn from their respective races, which include 3 horses scratched on more than one occasion. The remaining 4 452 runners had TCO2 levels with an overall mean of 33.1 mmol/L and a standard deviation of 1.7 mmol/L. In a normally distributed population, this suggests that 68% of horses will have a TCO2 level between 31.4 and 34.8 mmol/L, 95% will range between 29.7 and 36.5 mmol/L, and 99.7% will fall between 28 and 38.2 mmol/L. These results are consistent with data communicated on 28 June 2024.

To reduce the number of horses requiring a second test, and in an effort to ensure that the above 99.7% normal population of horses is catered for, the following new specimen collection procedures for TCO2 analysis will be implemented on race days, with effect from 1 October 2024:

1.     TRAINERS will, prior thereto, be notified of the HORSES selected for pre-race TCO2 testing and ANALYSIS.

2.     A blood SPECIMEN will be collected from each selected HORSE approximately 60 minutes prior to the published RACE time. Immediate ANALYSIS will be performed by means of an NHA approved handheld blood gas analyser “the first test”.

3.     Where such ANALYSIS shows that a HORSE has a TCO2 concentration of more than 36 mmol/L, a second blood SPECIMEN “the second test” will be collected, a minimum of 10 minutes after the first test.

4.     If the TCO2 concentration of the second blood SPECIMEN is more than 38 mmol/L, the STEWARDS shall withdraw the HORSE from the RACE and detain the HORSE for additional SPECIMEN collection.

5.     Under these circumstances, a third blood SPECIMEN will be collected a minimum of 30 minutes after the second test.

6.     The STEWARD/S may, at their sole discretion, instruct a SPECIMEN COLLECTOR to subsequently collect further SPECIMENS from the HORSE, for inter alia analytical testing of all PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES.

7.     The STEWARD/S will notify the race day commentator of any HORSE which is passed to run, which underwent a second test.

As the season progresses, we remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency and testing integrity. These procedural enhancements will allow the NHA to increase the number of horses tested pre-race. Additionally, TCO2 analysis will extend to out-of-competition specimens collected from stable yards, based on intelligence, to further develop the TCO2 biological passport for each horse. This passport will enable us to analyze and track TCO2 levels over time for every horse tested.

We will continue to keep all stakeholders informed of any updates and reaffirm our commitment to delivering accurate and timely information on this critical aspect of our operations.

Vee Moodley

Chief Executive

Compare the above to the previous measures in place as outlined in a press release on 28 June:

With immediate effect from 28 June 2024, the following SPECIMEN analysis and collection procedure for TCO2 measurement will apply on race day:

1. TRAINERS shall be notified of the HORSES selected for pre-race TCO2 sampling and ANALYSIS via the Notice of Pre-Race Blood Collection.
2. A blood SPECIMEN shall be collected from each selected HORSE approximately 60 minutes prior to RACE time. Immediate ANALYSIS shall be performed using an NHA approved handheld blood gas analyser.
3. Where such ANALYSIS shows that a HORSE has a TCO2 concentration of more than 35 mmol/L, a second blood SPECIMEN shall be collected, a minimum of 10 minutes later.
4. If the TCO2 concentration of the second blood SPECIMEN is more than 37 mmol/L, the STEWARDS shall withdraw the HORSE from the RACE and detain the HORSE for additional SPECIMEN collection.
5. Under these circumstances, a third blood SPECIMEN shall be collected a minimum of 30 minutes later. If the TCO2 concentration of this SPECIMEN is less than or equal to the international threshold of 36 mmol/L, no penalty shall be imposed on the TRAINER.
6. The STEWARDS may, at their discretion, instruct a SPECIMEN COLLECTOR to subsequently collect SPECIMENS from the HORSE for analytical testing of all PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES.

As per Rule 75.3.2, if the taking of a SPECIMEN from that HORSE is refused by the TRAINER and/or the PERSON in control of such HORSE, then that HORSE shall be withdrawn from the RACE in question.

Gimmie’s Countess bounced back from her disappointing run in the Gr 2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper on Hollywoodbets Durban July day to win the Gr 3 Baker McVeigh Diana Stakes in emphatic style on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Durbanville (Picture: Wayne Marks)  

NHA Press Release

BAKER MCVEIGH DIANA STAKES (Grade 3)

GIMMIE’S COUNTESS has had her rating increased from 105 to 111 following her impressive win in the Grade 3 Baker McVeigh Diana Stakes over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday, 28 September 2024.

The Handicappers unanimously agreed that the ever consistent and third placed, PRINCESS IZZY, made for the most suitable line horse to rate this race, and leaves her rating unchanged on 99. In rating the race this way, fourth placed, GOLD POKER GAME also runs to her mark of 107 effectively making her a line horse as well.

The specific conditions of this race do not allow for an increase of more than 4 points for placed runners and as such, second placed, SUMMER LILY received a partial increase to her rating, from 92 to 96, despite achieving a higher mark.

UNCONQUERABLE LADY was the only runner in this race to receive a ratings drop, and she goes down to 94 from 96.

KUDA MATCHEM STAKES (Grade 3)

QUESTIONING has seen his rating adjusted to 124 from 122 after winning the Grade 3 Kuda Matchem Stakes over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday.

Third placed, AT MY COMMAND, was deemed to be the most suitable key horse to rate this race and as such his rating remains unaltered on 119. Owing to the specific conditions of this race, that do not allow for an increase of more than 4 points for placed runners, second placed MONTIEN could only be adjusted to 120 from 116 even though he ran to a slightly higher mark.

No fewer than 3 runners received a ratings relief following this contest. Fifth placed ZAPATILLAS was dropped to 119 from 123, while seventh placed ZIL MORIS was reduced to 100 from 102. Lastly, LOOK FOR HOUNDS’ rating was dropped from 108 to 104.

Enquiries:

The Handicapping Team

Keagan de Melo showed his class in the last race at Sha Tin today (Pictures: HKJC)

Keagan de Melo’s support in Hong Kong has dried up, but that has not stopped the talented former SA Champion Jockey winning two races this season from a paltry 13 rides.

There have been eight meetings in Hong Kong this season and he did have a suspension which saw him missing at least one meeting.

He has only ridden in six of the meetings, so is averaging about two rides a meeting.

This abysmal support is a complete mystery considering how skilled a rider he is.

What is even more surprisimg is the quality of ride he is getting.

The dividend of his first eleven rides this season for a R1 unit on the comingled Tote were R32, R77, R19, R13, R17, R137, R48, R191,R 59, R124 and R22.

He took advantage of that relatively fancied horse in the eleventh ride, paying a dividend of R22, to get his first winner of the season.

That was on Sunday September 22 at Sha Tin on the David Hayes-trained handy type Harmony ‘N Blessed and he rode a finely judged race from draw five. He had the eight-year-old Australian-bred Magnus gelding up just off the pace from draw five. However, he reserved enough in typical De Melo style and Harmony ‘N Blessed duly found extra in the straight to win by a comfortable 1,25 lengths. Hayes’ decision to stick with De Melo after he had finished fourth on Harmony ‘N Blessed in his previous start, when he was paying R32 on the comingled Tote, had paid dividends.

Keagan then missed the next two meetings, with at least one of them being due to suspension, and made his comeback today with just two rides.

He finished sixth on a horse paying R35 in the 6th race.

Then in the tenth and last race, a class 3 event over 1400m, Keagan was on the Chris So-trained favourite Winning Gold, who was paying R4.90 on the comingled Tote.

De Melo had ridden this Australian-bred four-year-old Brazen Beau gelding to two successive victories over this course and distance at the end of last season, so was going for a hattrick on him.

He knows him well as the only jockey to have ever ridden him in seven previous starts and from draw eleven was content to just sit on him from the off as he dropped back to third last. He held the ear-muffed horse back behind the pack until switching him out at the top of the straight.

“And Winning Gold is a long way back!” said the commentator.

However, he crept up steadily under the hands. This was followed by a hands drive and then a first crack of the whip from the patient De Melo at about the 150m mark. Winning Gold surged forward and won by a cosy half-a-length. It was the ride of a champion.

Hong Kong racing is renowned for a riders’ perceived luckiness being an important factor, so De Melo having now won twice in his last three rides is not certain to see him winning more support.

Hopefully, it will get his season rolling though.

Lyle Hewitson also had a winner on the day. He goes to four wins for the season from 51 rides.

Luke Ferarris has had three wins from 30 rides.

De Melo has only had two wins but from only 13 rides.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club carried the following article on today’s meeting:

Leo Schlink

Beauty Waves continued an impressive rise through Hong Kong’s sprint ranks with victory in the HK$4.2 million G3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin on Tuesday (1 October) as Pierre Ng and Alexis Badel combined successfully with the former Irish speedster.

Beaten last start by highly-rated Ka Ying Rising, Beauty Waves took his record since joining Ng’s stable to four wins, two seconds and a third from seven starts, while Badel posted his second victory in the National Day Cup after previously winning it on Super Wealthy.

Settling fifth behind pace-setter Nervous Witness, Beauty Waves (115lb) forged stylishly into contention as Badel allowed the Starspangledbanner gelding to build momentum before striking the lead 150 metres from the line to down Magic Control (115lb) by half a length.

Whizz Kid (115lb) was third, a further three quarters of a length away in 55.72s.

Last year’s winner Stoltz was scratched on veterinary grounds before the race, while G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize (1200m) winner Invincible Sage (135lb) finished sixth, four lengths behind Beauty Waves.

Pierre Ng will take a conservative approach with Beauty Waves.
Pierre Ng will take a conservative approach with Beauty Waves.
Ng indicated his planning with Beauty Waves would be dictated by how high the 93-rater rises in the handicap following today’s triumph.

“He improves every race for me. Last time we were running against a very good horse (Ka Ying Rising) and he still ran second. He did everything well today,” Ng said. “We’ll see how many points he’s going to be put up.”

Badel said: “I was confident. He’s a good horse, he only got beaten last time by a very special horse. Coming back to a shorter trip didn’t worry me. He’s got class and he’s got speed. He began very well and I didn’t want to face the breeze the whole way. I was just trying to rate him as good as possible and his class with the light weight (115lb) made the difference.”

With eight winners for the season, Ng maintained his lead at the top of the trainers’ championship over Danny Shum, Caspar Fownes and Mark Newnham – all with seven wins – when Drombeg Banner claimed the Class 2 Beijing Handicap (1400m) under Andrea Atzeni.

Hugh Bowman made a successful return from illness with a double. The Australian sprang into action atop The Khan for Fownes in the Class 5 Shenyang Handicap (1400m) after being sidelined for Saturday’s (28 September) Sha Tin meeting and missing the winning rides on Daily Trophy and Rubylot.

“I wouldn’t say I’m all over it (the illness), but my balance is back so that is the main thing,” Bowman said before piloting David Hall-trained Geneva to victory in the first section of the Class 4 Chongqing Handicap (1200m).

Dennis Yip snared a double with Great Spirit, who won the first section of the Class 4 Chongqing Handicap (1200m) under Matthew Poon and View Of The World, winner of the Class 4 Chengdu Handicap (1400m) for Zac Purton.

“He’s a nice horse. Last season he had two races and finished very well,” Yip said of View Of The World. “I know he can stay 1400m and I spoke to Zac after his Happy Valley trial and he said he would be fine. I decided to run over 1400m so Zac could ride for me.

“Later on, he might be able to go to a mile, he’s a very honest horse. We’ll stay at 1400m for now and let him mature for one or two races.”

Packing Power remains undefeated

Purton secured a double when Shum’s Packing Power maintained his unbeaten record after three starts with a strong win in the Class 3 Shanghai Handicap (1200m).

“He’s getting more switched on with his race craft every start, which is good,” Purton said. “It was nice that we were to get across in the manner that we did, but what I liked the most was the way he relaxed during the mid-stages of the race – he was off the bit, just cruising along waiting for the signal.

“It’s a good sign. So, he’ll give himself a chance to run a mile when he needs to. We’ll take our time.”

Michael Chang and Jerry Chau combined with Commanding Missile to land the Class 5 Nanning Handicap (1200m) before Newnham teamed with Lyle Hewitson to win the Class 4 Jinan Handicap (1800m) with Happy Hero.

“He’s been a really good horse for the stable. He was our first winner in Hong Kong and now he’s got four wins and he’s graduated out of Class 5. He’s still improving,” Newnham said.

“He had a nice light weight (118lb) and had the benefit of having had a race already this season. Once he got in the clear he really let down strongly.

“I love him to bits because he’s a really genuine horse. When he arrived, he had 10 starts and hadn’t run closer than eighth but I wasn’t in a position to be fussy. He really hasn’t put a foot wrong and he’s a really solid, durable and tough horse.”

Brazen Beau gelding Winning Gold made it three wins in a row after steaming home under Keagan De Melo to land the Class 3 Tianjin Handicap (1400m) and shapes as a possible Four-Year-Old Classic Series contender for trainer Chris So.

Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (6 October).

Dyce cruises to his ninth career win (JC Photos)

Vaal trainer Lucky Houdalakis said his William Longsword gelding Dyce had not looked himself in the aftermath of his gelding in April last year and likened him to someone wearing pyjamas that were to big as his skin looked to be too big for his body.

He said all this after Dyce had made it two from two this season when winning a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1100m down the Vaal straight in cosy style by two lengths under his new regular rider Piere Strydom.

Striker showed his experience by taking Dyce to the outside rail from a worryingy low draw of three as the going is known to be best on the extreme outside when the rail on that side is at zero metres.

Dyce traveled within hmself and just had to be let go at the end to beat Cliff Hanger, to wom he gave 6kg, by a couple of lengths.

When speaking about Dyce’s condition after gelding which prompted the decision to back off him last season, Lucky said, “He lost his muscle tone and his skin was still there and he needed to firm up, I didn’t know how to explain it to people but I know what I am seeing.”

Dyce has clearly now tightened up and the big horse is back to his best.

Lucky concluded, “I believe he is the best sprinter in the land, unless there is something on the way up.”

Striker  is also at his best at present despite being in his late 50s and had a double today from just two rides and that followed a treble on Saturday.

Tony Peter also scored a double on the day.

Strydom is on 17 wins for the season at a phenomenal strike rate of 31.48%.

Peter is on 12 wins at 11.76%.

Apprentice Girish Dookhit Wins On Debut

Another noteworthy happening today was apprentice Girish Dookhit riding a winner in his first ever race ride. He kept the pacey Bridget Stidolph-trained Smelting going to just get up in a blanket finish to an 1100m handicap event for fillies and mares. Girish was led in by some of his fellow apprentices (picture below).

The picture is of the subject (Image: Realtor.com)

Question: Which jockey great won eight of his first eleven races?

Panama City-born jockey Laffit A. Pincay won eight of his first eleven races and went on to at one stage be the world’s winning-most jockey with 9530 career wins and he is currently about third on the list many years after his retirement.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT PINCAY