Turf Talk Newsletter – 01 October, 2025

Lerena Stands Down From One Stripe Breeders Cup Ride

Gavin Lerena, jubilant after another big win on One Stripe (Picture: Chase Liebenberg)

Gavin Lerena was set to have a dream come true on November 1 at Del Mar when riding One Stripe in the Gr 1 FanDuel Breeders Cup Mile, but in a selfless act which proves his high level of professionalism he has decided to pull out.

A ten day suspension added on to the end of two suspensions for 30 days and seven days respectively means his suspended period extends from September 12 to October 28 and he has not heard from the high court after making an urgent application about those penalties, so today he decided to inform the racing manager of Hollywood Racing, Anthony Delpech, that he would not be able to take the ride.

He said, “I am not match fit. I’m not in the zone and it would not be fair for me to take the ride. I have been workriding as much as possible, but there’s nothing like race fitness. That mental sharpness is so important for making the right decisions in a split second. If you haven’t ridden for a month or so, it wouldn’t be fair to go and ride on new track and not be mentally in the zone of making the best decisions. When you’re riding well and you’re riding winners everything happens naturally …you make the right split second decisions and it’s all natural.”

Gavin was actually offered the ride for One Stripe’s entire overseas campaign.

He revealed, “I was offered the ride for his international campaign, but with visa issues I would never have made it to Woodbine in time.”

Hall Of Fame jockey John Velazquez was criticised by some for his ride on One Stripe in the Gr 1 Woodbine Mile, but that was a knee jerk reaction as the replay showed he was left with nowhere to go due to the path taken by a slow horse who should not have been in the race.

Gavin, commenting on the ride, said, “I think he just found the bad horse and it impeded him a bit early in the race.”

Gavin’s suspension for the Gates whipping offense runs from September 12 to October 11.

He had lost an appeal on that case and then on September 15 lost an appeal about an incident when riding Buffalo Storm Cody on June 3 at Turffontein, so the seven days for that incident was added to his suspension, meaning it was now going to end on October 18.

The week after the Buffalo Storm Cody appeal failed he made an urgent application to the high court to have the penalties suspended, pending review proceedings being brought in the High Court.

However, he has not heard from the high court and apparently Grant van Niekerk, who made the same application about his penalties, has not heard from them either.

Meanwhile, a ten day suspension has been added on to Gavin’s existing two suspensions.

On July 21 there had been an inquiry into his ride on Seeking The Stars in a race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in February. He was given ten days and as he was on suspension at the beginning of this season he applied to have the ten days added on to the end of that suspension, meaning it would go from about August 19 to August 28. However, he was a couple of days too late to apply for those dates and it thus went to the review board.

The review board sat at the end of last week and added the ten days on to the end of the two other suspensions meaning the suspension now only ends on October 28.

Lerena said, “So that was the end of my hopes. The Breeders Cup is on my bucket list so it is a huge blow and a bitter pill to swallow.”

He said he was hoping he would still pick up the ride on One Stripe after the Breeders Cup.

Gavin has been keeping himself busy during suspension work riding as much as possible and spending quality time with his children, but he said not racing is tough for a jockey because it is not only racing sharpness and fitness which is lost, but also keeping the weight down and associations with good horses can potentially be lost or missed out on.

Resignation Of NHA Board Members Including Chairperson

The National Horseracing Authority confirms that the following National Board Directors shall resign effective close of business on 30 September 2025.

1. Mrs Susan Rowett (Chairperson)
Mrs Rowett was appointed to the National Board in terms of Clause 15.4.5.3 as a Member domiciled in the Western Cape Racing District on 23 February 2024.

2. Mr Satch Mathen
Mr Mathen was appointed to the National Board in terms of Clause 15.4.5.1 as a Member domiciled in the Central Provinces on 27 January 2021.

3. Mr Nithia Nalliah
Mr Nalliah was appointed to the National Board in terms of Clause 15.1.2 as an Independent person on 6 April 2020.

4. Dr Ashley Parker
Dr Parker was appointed to the National Board in terms of Clause 15.4.5.4 as a Member domiciled in the Eastern Cape Racing District on 22 January 2020.

5. Mr Dave Rosevear
Mr Rosevear was appointed to the National Board in terms of Clause 15.4.5.1 as a Member domiciled in the Central Provinces on 5 June 2020.

6. Mr Rikesh Sewgoolam
Mr Sewgoolam was appointed to the National Board in terms of Clause 15.4.5.2 as a Member domiciled in the KwaZulu-Natal Racing District on 26 May 2021.

The remaining non-executive Board Directors and Executive Management of the NHA thank each director for their valuable contribution, having given much of their time and expertise to the ensure the independence and strong regulation, and integrity of the racing industry.

Media release by the NHA on Tuesday, 30 September 2025.

Concerned Stakeholders Response To Susan Rowett Letter

Picture: Colour holders (owners) are among those who enjoy the day out of the Pocket Power room at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth

1 OCTOBER 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

____________________________________________________________________

This communication is being disseminated by the representatives of the majority of the stakeholders in the National Horseracing Authority (NHA), referred to collectively as the Concerned Stakeholders, as laid out below:

(i) The South African National Trainers Association (SANTA) – representative of the racehorse trainers nationally, and, for the process outlined below, also the jockeys;

(ii) The Thoroughbred Breeders Association (TBA) – representative of breeders nationally;

(iii) 4Racing – the racing operator staging horseracing in the Gauteng and Eastern Cape provinces;

(iv) The Racehorse Owners’ Association (ROA) – ownership body representing owners nationally, with a predominance in the Gauteng and Eastern Cape provinces;

(v) Race Coast – the racing operator staging horseracing in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, and the operator of the owners club known as the Race Coast Turf Club; and

(vi) Mr Mark Currie- the Owner’s representative currently serving on the Nominations Committee of the NHA

The Concerned Stakeholders are aware of two communications disseminated on Tuesday, September 30^th by the NHA, namely; i) a press release noting the resignation of six of the National Board Directors of the NHA, and, ii) a letter addressed to all members by the outgoing Chair, Susan Rowett. It is the second communication we wish to address. Whatever Mrs Rowett’s intention, the said communication was in the public domain within minutes of its distribution. Furthermore, the timing of Mrs Rowett’s letter implies (whether inadvertent or deliberate) that the other five resigning board members share the same views as Mrs Rowett. Based on conversations held by certain representatives of the Concerned Stakeholders with some of the resigned board members, the Concerned Stakeholders are aware that this is not the case. Accordingly, this response is absolutely necessary.

The Concerned Stakeholders are horrified at Mrs Rowett’s false and skewed narrative. The reality is almost the 180-degree opposite of the picture painted by Mrs Rowett.

Before delving into the pertinent details, some context and background are necessary. The NHA is the regulator of the thoroughbred horseracing industry in Southern Africa. One of its primary purposes is to uphold and ensure integrity in thoroughbred horseracing. Notwithstanding its regulator status, the NHA is an association made up of members. These members mainly comprise of owners, trainers, jockeys and breeders. The NHA is governed by its constitution (its laws). The constitution is decided on and determined by the members, and serves to govern the conduct of the National Board of the NHA and the board’s selected executive management.

The NHA’s existing constitution is an outdated document which, in the collective view of the Concerned Stakeholders, is no longer fit for purpose. It was written in a previous era, references outdated concepts and geographies, and has limited the NHA from functioning at its maximum potential. For example, the current constitution makes it very difficult to select the best possible candidates for seats on the board – archaic rules pertaining to outdated geographic representation, for example, do not lend themselves to selecting the best. The sport of horse racing and the integrity thereof have suffered as a result.

Regrettably, the NHA has had a litany of missteps over the recent past. Change is not only needed, but it is needed urgently, for the benefit of the entire racing industry. It is with this ideal in mind that the Concerned Stakeholders commenced the process of engaging with the NHA.

The Concerned Stakeholders have long sought meaningful changes to the Constitution and to the board composition. Efforts to bring about meaningful change have been frustratingly slow, with the National Board, under Mrs Rowett’s leadership, serving to delay the process. Inexplicably so. The National Board, under the chair of Mrs Rowett, has sought to control the process at every step, trying to ensure that the National Board “conducted the band” when it came to changes to the constitution and its own composition. After over a year of stilted progress and considerable frustration, the Concerned Stakeholders took it upon themselves to get together and hold discussions without representatives of the National Board of the NHA being present. These meetings took place over the last two months. After many weeks of hard work, rigorous debate, and compromise, the Concerned Stakeholders arrived at a unified view of a draft of a new constitution (the New Constitution) to be presented to the members for consideration and approval at a Special General Meeting (SGM). Each of SANTA, 4Racing and Race Coast was advised by their own experienced outside law firms, to ensure a balanced, comprehensive and rigorous process was followed in arriving at the draft of the New Constitution.

In terms of the current constitution of the NHA, signatures of 100 members of good standing are mandatory to request the board of the NHA to call for an SGM. The Concerned Stakeholders gathered considerably in excess of this amount and are thus in a position to call an SGM.

Mrs Rowett called a meeting of the stakeholders in early September for the purpose of chairing a forum in which the stakeholders could discuss their differences. This meeting took place on September 16^th. Unbeknownst to Mrs Rowett, the Concerned Stakeholders and their legal representatives had already met, conferred and resolved all differences. The Concerned Stakeholders arrived at the meeting with both a completed draft of the New Constitution and the requisite signatures needed to call an SGM.

Part of the draft of the New Constitution presented requires the board of the NHA to step down immediately upon its approval at the SGM by the members. Thus, Mrs Rowett became aware that the Concerned Stakeholders had been able to resolve all their differences, prepared a new constitution for approval, and were requiring the resignation of the entire board at the SGM. The Concerned Stakeholders were requested by the Chief Executive of the NHA, Mr Vee Moodley, to delay submitting the signatures to the NHA to allow the NHA National Board the opportunity to call the SGM on a “friendly” or “voluntary” basis, and agreed to provide any National Board feedback to the drafted New Constitution by September 30^th. Instead, all that was received was the press release outlining the resignation of six board members and the misleading, inflammatory letter of Mrs Rowett. To be clear, at the September 16^th meeting, the Concerned Stakeholders confirmed that they would willingly receive comments on any clauses that caused the Board concern. In fact, preliminary discussions took place regarding some of the expressed concerns at the meeting. The door was not shut.

We now turn our attention to some of Mrs Rowett’s libellous and inflammatory statements.

Statement 1 direct quote from Mrs Rowett’s Letter to Members:

“Whilst the operators clearly feel entitled by virtue of the operator levy (which is commensurate with the safeguarding the integrity of the race meetings) to have increased influence over the NHA, it is questionable whether it is appropriate and in the best interests of racing industry, for them to have the concentration of power that they want. It is my opinion that the group’s proposed constitution is a shameless and monstrous power grab by Race Coast and 4Racing, and to a lessor extent by other entities”.

This statement is false and misleading on numerous fronts:

1. The New Constitution expressly prohibits the racing operators (4Racing and Race Coast) from serving on the National Board of the NHA. That is the opposite of “concentration of power”. It is critical to the racing operators for racing to have integrity, and for the regulator to be independent of the racing operators. It is for this reason that all the bodies overseen by the NHA are excluded from being eligible to sit on the board.

In short, the New Constitution ensures that the racing operators have no power on the board. This is the opposite of Mrs Rowett’s allegations, which state “for them to have the concentration of power they want”. As much as the racing operators would like to have a degree of oversight over the many tens of millions of rands paid to the NHA to support its existence, the racing operators have not done so.

The only area of involvement of the racing operators is in serving on the Nominations Committee. The New Constitution proposes that there are five members of the Nominations Committee:- a SANTA representative (representing trainers and jockeys)
– a 4Racing representative
– a Race Coast representative
– an owner’s representative, to be jointly appointed by SANTA, the ROA and the two racing operators
– a NHA existing National Board memberIt is the Nominations Committee that appoints new board members, and the New Constitution requires that at least three out of five members must approve a candidate. This is the opposite of a concentration of power – the racing operators have only two seats on the Nominations Committee and are precluded from sitting on the National Board of the NHA. Importantly, why would it be assumed that the Operators will always agree? They are separate businesses with no common areas of control.Statement 2 direct quote from Mrs Rowett’s Letter to Members:

“In my view, the group’s proposed constitution amount to capture and would severely compromise the independence and autonomy necessary for the NHA to fulfil its role as a strong regulator safeguarding the integrity of the racing industry.”

The most obvious point to debunk this false narrative is that the New Constitution is being put forward to members for their consideration and vote at the SGM. How can anyone be capturing the NHA if the members have the opportunity to vote in favour of or against the New Constitution? No constituent of the Concerned Stakeholders has the right or ability to impose the New Constitution on anyone. It is subject to a “one member, one vote” democratic process at the SGM. Mrs Rowett is entitled to vote for or against it, just like all the other members.

Furthermore, members will receive a complete draft of the New Constitution to review, along with a detailed document summarising all proposed material changes and the rationale behind them. In short, the members will have an opportunity to consider the proposals and vote as they see fit.

Of course, as described previously, no racing operator, trainer, or jockey can serve on the National Board. So how is it possible for there to be a capture of any sort by the racing operators or SANTA?

The irony here is that the funders of the NHA (the racing operators) are precluded from serving on the board, while other stakeholders are free to do so. This is an extreme distortion of the truth – the exact opposite of Mrs Rowett’s allegations is true.

In closing, it is disappointing that Mrs Rowett would be so disrespectful of those who saved the very sport that the NHA regulates. Were it not for the funders of the operators, there would be no horseracing to enjoy. Collectively, their largesse has seen billions of Rands directed to this industry rescue and not a single Rand has been taken out. Yet Mrs Rowett alleges that the funders are ultimately capturing the sport via 4Racing and Race Coast. For what gain?

Sadly, the good intent of 4Racing, Race Coast, SANTA, the TBA and the ROA has been twisted to create a negative narrative that is self-serving. The participants of the thoroughbred horse racing industry in South Africa need each other in order to stimulate growth and create a sustainable future in which horse racing thrives. When one considers that the Concerned Stakeholders comprise and represent almost the ENTIRE industry, and are speaking with one voice for the first time in a long time, one can be forgiven for being confused by and disappointed in Mrs Rowett’s outrage.

*****

Authorised for distribution by the entities detailed in (i) – (vi) above

Gr 1 Gold Medallion Winner Proceed Is On The Comeback Trail

Proceed winning the Gr 1 Gold Medallion (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Gavin Lerena has been riding a lot of work during his suspension and made mention of three horses in particular.

The Sean Tarry-trained 2024 Gr 1 Gold Medallion winner Proceed has not raced since finishing second to his Medallion runner up Cosmic Speed in last year’s Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m, so has been out for fifteen months.

However, this Laurence Wernars-homebred Gimmethegreenlight colt is apparently close to making his reappearance and Gavin said, “He’s coming back nicely. He is going to improve for sure and I think he will get a mile. I think he is having his comeback run soon.”

Proceed’s form looks great on paper. On debut he ran a 5,25 lengths second to the Tony Peter-trained Almond Sea in the Summer Cup day Maiden Juvenile Plate, meaning he was out as early as November in his two-year-old year.

He followed with a three length third to Pistol Pete in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m at the Vaal, ridden by Gavin Lerena.

Gavin then rode him to an impressive 7,25 length win in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1160m at Turffontein Standside.

His 3,25 length fourth in the Gr 2 SA Nursery under Richard Fourie was disappointing, but the winner was subsequent Gr 1-winning Highveld Horse Of The Year Fire Attack and the decent pair Mount Pinatubo and Pistol Pete were second and third respectively.

Fourie then won the Gr 3 Protea Stakes and Gr 1 Gold Medallion aboard Proceed before finishing second on him in the Golden Horseshoe. He was a horse who always looked to have plenty of scope and it will be an exciting day for Wernars and racing fans when he reappears.

Gavin has also been workriding the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint winner Buffalo Storm Cody and said, “He’s doing very well. He had a little bit of a break and he’s coming back nicely.”

Gavin was asked whether he believes this Tony Peter-trained Buffalo Bill Cody gelding would become as effective down the straight as he was around the turn and he replied, “I am hoping so because he is so effective around the turn. He switches off down the straight as well, but his turn of foot around the turn is exceptional.”

He said he was not sure why he had not been able to produce the same down the straight to date, but elaborated, “Maybe it because you’re running in a straight line for so long or the pace of the race is slightly different, I’m not 100% sure.”

Gavin is also impressed with the unbeaten Johan Jansen van Vuuren-trained filly Stormy Day, whom he won on by 4,25 lengths on debut over 1160m in July.

The imposing filly made her reappearance on Sunday with Craig Zackey replacing the suspended Lerena.

She might have only won the Turffontein Inside 1200m contest by 0,30 lengths, but she impressed with her obvious scope for plenty of improvement and she did have to carry topweight of 59kg off her 90 merit rating.

Gavin said, “She looks like she can be decent. I thought she would have won a bit more cosily, but she’s definitely going to improve.

Smith, Zackey And Varsfontein Dominate Fairview Poly Meeting

Sweet Julia (What A Winter) gives Gavin Smith a five-timer on the day, Craig Zackey a four-timer and Varsfontein Stud a treble (Pauline Herman Photography)

Gavin Smith proved he will be no pushover in the East Cape championship by sending out a five-timer on the Fairview poly today (Wednesday).

Four of them were ridden by Craig Zackey, who had been going through a bit of a lean spell until riding a treble at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday followed by a double at Turffontein on Sunday and he has now opened up a five win lead on Richard Fourie with his four-timer today.

Varsfontein Stud bred three of Smith’s winners.

The sire William Longsword scored a double on the day.

Zackey goes to 42 wins for the season at a strike rate of 15.27%, while Richard Fourie is on 37 wins at 25.87%.

Next best in order are Calvin Habib on 28 wins at 13.8%, Muzi Yeni on 27 at 13.04% and Serino Moodley on 27 at 14.36%.

Smith goes to 20 wins for the season at a strike rate of 11.36%, but that still puts him 12 wins behind the increasingly dominant Alan Greeff, who had one win today to go to 32 wins at a strike rate of 19.39%.

Progressive Streisand Can Get Her Nose In Front

Streisand is progressive and can step up in the fifth race (JC Photos)

A fillies and mares MR 98 handicap over 1600m is the highest rated handicap race of the Vaal eight race meeting today and there is also a Middle Stakes event over 1800m which has attracted some good horses.

The Robyn Klaasen-trained Streisand is an impressive specimen and this big William Longsword filly’s last run can be ignored, because she was outpaced early and then had to use up petrol early when wide on the turn and going forward. She not surprisingy found no extra late. She now has a good draw and Kaidan Brewer woul have learnt from that run and his confidence should also be up after his successful two weekend stint in Malaysia. The scopey Streisand’s three career wins have all been over this trip and she should make a bold bid from draw three in the nine horse field. Kisshoten is in fine form and is on the up, but did cop a nine point raise for her last win and there isn’t much between her and Across The Pond. Kisshoten beat Across The Pond by a head last time over this trip and is now half-a-kilogram worse off so there won’t be much in it. Its Her Way goes for a hattrick over an ideal trip and last time gave Kisshoten half-a-kilogram over this trip and a 1,80 length beating and she is now getting 3kg from Kisshoten, so should confirm the form on paper. However she returns from a short layoff and has a wide draw. Warning Sound is a well-bred sort who should improve but she returns from a four month layoff and is drawn wide.

In the Middle Stakes event over 1800m The Ultimate King is expected to go places this season so from pole position over a suitable trip he will be hard to beat. Palace Dancer has good form and should give a good account of himself. Hawkbill is always capable of popping up and has a good draw. Luce Verde won well last time, beating the Ultimate King, and is only half a kilogram worse off. However, the latter should have come on from the run. Vesuvio will enjoy the step down in trip and could be a factor.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1000m His Lordship has always struck as a scopey, progressive sort and he has a high draw, which is favourable over the Classic course 1000m. Trent Mayhew claims 1,5kg and ended his long drought on Tuesday so his confidence should be up. Inafix has not raced for four months but was busy for a long time so might well have benefited from the layoff. He had four wins last season and is only two points higher than his last win and he has the favourable standside draw. In The Ether will enjoy stepping back to this trip and with a 4kg claimer up could earn if repeating her penultimate start.

In the second leg over 1600m Fair Proposal should come into her own this season and with Muzi Yeni up she can overcome her tricky draw over a step up in trip she should relish. Chantilly Dream was ot disgraced first time out the maidens in just her third career start and can still improve. Sigfrid Swing narrowly beat Chantilly Dream lasttime, but had a draw advantage that day and there should not be much in it this time with both having tricky draws.

In the sixth race over 1700m Red Sparrow beat Bob Lee Swagger by 5.9 lengths last time and faces him on close to the same terms, so should confirm the placings. Bob Lee Swagger can do better than last time from a fair draw and he should have come on from that run whch followed a layoff. Rosy Lemon is an honest sort who’s drawn in pole and she should give another good account of herself, although it is never easy against the boys. Trident King has the ability to be right there if able to overcome a wide draw. MIchael Farraday should have benefited from his first two Highveld runs and is well drawn over a step up in trip he might well enjoy these days as he did do well in two 1600m races in Cape Town.

In the last race Eiger Sanction whould be right there from a good draw. Futurewolff and Coppola have plum draws and have the form to go close. Street Art has the ability to be a contender and Follow The Master won a weak maiden by 10,50 lengths and is off a reasonable 77 merit rating has a 4kg claimer up.

In the first race over 1000m Gaslight Dancer has a nice high draw and after a good second start she faced a good field last time and can do better in this lesser company.

Botti Targets Transatlantic Glory With Gaynor Rupert Horse

Great Generation is looking a picture in Keeneland

Newmarket-based trainer Marco Botti is looking ahead to a busy weekend with runners in key races across Europe and the USA. Multiple Group 3 winner GREAT GENERATION (Holy Roman Emperor), who was purchased December 2024 by Gaynor Rupert, lines up in the Grade 1 First Lady Stakes at Keeneland on Saturday, while 2024 Group 1 Hong Kong Vase winner GIAVELLOTTO heads to the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in Paris on Sunday.

Botti has an impressive international record with over 20 Stakes wins overseas. His roll of honour includes the 2014 Grade 1 Beverly D. Stakes with EURO CHARLINE (GB) for Team Valor.

The trainer is hoping for more success stateside with Great Generation, who has won three Group 3 races for the stable, including on debut this year in the Group 3 Chartwell Fillies’ Stakes at Lingfield.

Marco Botti spoke to Great British Racing International (GBRI) about the filly’s Keeneland target:

“She’s been training very well at home. She travelled on Wednesday and is settling fine. The race looks strong, as you would expect for a Grade 1, and it is the first time she will run over the mile but with two bends we hope she will go well. She has a good turn of foot and likes fast ground so we are hopeful.

“Those international races are very important for us and for the owners as it gives them the opportunity to travel with their horses and we have been fairly successful. Our owners are usually keen to take those opportunities and so we are always looking for the right horses to go abroad.”

The four-year-old filly was purchased privately by leading South African owner-breeder Mrs Gaynor Rupert in December 2024. Mrs Rupert, who owns leading South African farm Drakenstein Stud, has also set up a breeding farm in Britain at Cayton Park Stud. On the filly’s private acquisition, Botti said:

“She was purchased by Mrs Rupert with a long-term view of becoming part of the broodmare band of Cayton Park Stud. She was already a black-type filly and I was delighted to win another Group race with her in the colours of the Ruperts. They kept her in training with me and I was happy to win that race for them. She has all it takes to be a fantastic broodmare in the future.”

Lucie Botti, an integral part of the training operation, is with the filly in Keeneland. She spoke to GBRI about how Great Generation has settled to life in the USA:

“She settled in beautifully here at Keeneland and has shown her usual professionalism in everything we have asked of her. Over the years we’ve been fortunate to enjoy success in the U.S with Grade 1 wins and several consistent black-type performances. To bring a filly of her quality here is very exciting.”

The team is also eagerly awaiting Giavellotto’s run in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. The six-year-old has been lightly raced this season but was last seen winning at Group 3 level. Talking about Giavellotto’s chances, Botti said:

“We made the decision to run Giavellotto in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe as the forecast looks quite dry and he wants good ground. Hopefully the rain will stay away. He is in good form and is lightly raced this year. We have Andrea Atzeni coming to ride him. It is a tough race but he deserves to be there so we take on the challenge and aim to go back to Hong Kong in December.”