Turf Talk Newsletter – 01 September, 2026

The apprentices and staff members of SAJA were all present at the ceremony to open the renovated dormitories (Picture: Candiese Lenferna)  

Spring day is a fine day for a new chapter to begin and this happened at the South African Jockey Academy (SAJA) with the opening of the International & Female Dormitories.

The former Block C has been renovated into these two dormitories and they could virtually pass as five star hotel accommodation.

Tarryn Mason, the COO of SAJA, revealed that the Hollywood Foundation SAJA Renovation Project had projected a R17.3 million investment to be delivered across four phases, of which the International & Female Dormitories renovation made up phase one.

She hence said the ceremony conducted yesterday was not just the opening of a building, but the opening of a new chapter.

She said she could not help comparing the four phases to the four seasons with Winter being a time for preparation, Spring being a time for renewal and new beginnings, Summer being a time for growth and flourishing and Autumn being a time to reflect on what had been achieved.

She thanked Hollywood for recognising that infrastructure was not simply about construction, it was about creating an environment in which young people ccould be valued, supported and inspired.

She added, “Your projected 17.3 million investment is an investment in SAJA which is ultimately an investment in the people who will shape the future of racing.”

She said she hoped the equivalent of four seasons of accomplishments would emerge from the renovations.

She thanked everybody involved in the project from SAJA chairman Basil Thomas to the project managers and construction team.

Paul Basson, Hollywood’s head of Projects, Maintenance and Facilities, is the team leader and is assisted by project manager Keshlin Perumal.

Paul has a background in construction and Keshlin has a background in architecture, so they work well together and have a fine team underneath them.

Among the guests attending was Vincent Curtis, a former jockey and a now retired riding master who has been involved with SAJA for years.

Vincent did his apprenticeship at SAJA when it was still located at Mariannhill before the move to Summerveld.

He said the facilities had been excellent at Mariannhill, while other former jockeys who did their apprenticeship at the Summerveld SAJA location in the late 1960s and mid 1970s i.e. Michael Roberts, Gavin van Zyl and Paddy Wynne, said their facilities had been very good.

However, the buildings at present are generally in a relative state of disrepair and the Hollywood funded project is going to restore a world famous institution from one which was beginning to crumble back to its former glory.

Devin Heffer also spoke at yesterday’s ceremony and to highlight the turnaround the project is bringing he revealed that SAJA was on the point of closing down six years ago and it was the sponsorship of apprentices by Hollywood that had enabled it to continue.

So to now be on the edge of converting it into a state of the art facility for the education of young jockeys is testament to Hollywood’s commitment and reiterates their well known philosophy of doing rather than talking about doing.

There are separate dormitories for the female apprentices and for the international apprentices.

There is a lounge area with a big screen TV and a comfortable sofa and chairs and a pool table.

The passage adjoining it has pristine floors and a number of rooms on either side.

Each room has two very comfortable looking beds with plush bedding and furniture.

The toilet and bathroom facilities are also first class.

Officially the renovation was done to “living areas, shared spaces, entertainment area and visitor’s kit.”

Devin Heffer said with Hollywood there was no such things as “good enough” and the evidence was provided by SAJA, which six years ago had been talked about in terms of how it was going to survive and was now being talked about in terms of how it was going to thrive.

He said what had been seen so far from Hollywood was just scratching the surface of what an impact on horseracing Hollywood was ultimately going to have.

He reminded of the recent Equus Awards where racing people sat in a facility as members of an industry that no longer had “us and them” factions, but were all part of the positive vibe that had swept over the industry.

The next phases of the renovation to SAJA will be eagerly watched by the industry and will surely have a huge impact on the quality of horsemanship and jockeyship coming out of the world famous institution.

The Vercingetorix filly Louis Goosen bought for R450,000 at this year’s BSA August 2YO Sale (Picture: BSA)

Louis Goosen has managed to buy a Vercingetorix at the last two BSA August Two Year Old Sales.

The one he secured last year turned out to be a lucrative pinhook.

He picked up an Ascot Stud-bred Vercingetorix colt out of the mare Flight Zone for R425,000 and resold her on the Race Coast Sales Two-year-old Sale just a couple of months later for R1 million.

He did it all on behalf of his owners, who doubled their money and paid him a handsome commission.

This filly is now trained by Paul Matchett and called Navigatrix and she won by 2,40 lengths on debut on 30 July this year at the Vaal Classic track over 1200m from draw three under Philasande Mxoli.

Interestingly, the same connections who bought Navigatrix for R1 million i .e. TKP Racing, bought her half-sister by Fire Away at the BSA KZN Yearling Sale for R300,000 shortly before Navigatrix had made her debut.

They obviously must have known Navigatrix was good.

Nevertheless, she started at odds of 10/1, drifting out from 9/2, because she was up against the 1/3 shot Rafeef’s Queen, who was coming off a good second place finish.

However, the 10/1 odds did not stop Navigatrix from winning in commanding style.

It just goes to show that there is not necessarily anything wrong with a horse who goes for a below average price … and R425,000 is way below average for a Vercingetorix.

Amazingly, Navigatrix’s dam Flight Zone is a six-time winning half-sister to the champion Bold Silvano, so one would have expected a higher price.

At this year’s August Two-Year-Old Sale Louis purchased a Millstream Farm-bred Vercingetorix filly for R450,000.

The difference this time is he has decided, at that value, to keep her.

He has already put together 75% of her.

Louis gave his opinion on how he got the two fillies: “We always try and fly slightly below the radar. There is a lot of value in horseracing, but you have to work hard and you have got to look for it.”

He continued, “Horses just sometimes fall under the radar, it happens. Everybody goes for the most popular ones with the mare for example being a Gr 1 winner and you only need two people who want the same horse. The biggest pocket wins and a R300,000 horse can easily go for R1 million and vice versa. Maybe it is also because sometimes people look for a ready-made horse. Those ones are easier to sell. So all in all there isn’t a specific reason the filly went for R450,000 … there is certainly nothing wrong with her and she is a nice filly.”

The filly is out of a one-time-winning Encosta De Lago mare and she is a full-sister to five-year-old Miss Ladyaterix, a four-time winner currently rated 93.

At this year’s Sale Louis also got a Declarationofpeace filly for R160,000, a Digital Age filly for R150,000 and a Last Winter filly for R60,000.

Anita Akal was honoured at the Friday night Hollywoodbets Greyville meeting last week after announcing her retirement after 55 years of providing superb photographs for the racing industry.

The KZN-based Anita’s influence will not be lost as she has for a few years shared her position with her daughter Anneke Akal Kitching and watch this space soon for a story about Anita’s colourful career in racing.

But for the moment there was some irony when the Hollywood Racing-owned horse the mother and daughter were given the honour of naming, i.e. Kitchakal, has been retired this week.

Kitchakal (pictured above) was a useful gelding who only just failed to win the Non-Black Type Newlands Stakes over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on one occasion.

The now seven-year-old Master Of My Fate gelding won four races and reached a high of a 92 merit rating.

However, she is unlikely to have been the best horse Anita was associated with.

That honour might well have gone to the Elevation gelding Versailles, whom she part-owned. She recalled nearly dropping her camera when Versailles flew up to finish second in the 1984 Durban July!

Green Energy is pictured winning his maiden (Picture: Vermaak Equine) 

Adam Azzie revealed his promising Gimmethegreenlight three-year-old Green Energy  had been gelded and might be campaigned in Cape Town.

He said, “We will see how he comes through the gelding, but we had intentions of taking him down to the Cape for the season and if he comes through the gelding well and all goes according to plan then that will still be part of the process.”

A campaign in Johannesburg might also be considered according to how the aforementioned process transpires.

Green Energy ran six times as a juvenile.

He finished a close up third on debut over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and followed up with two wins over 1000m and 1400m respectively at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and Hollywoodbets Greyville.

He then disappointed in the Listed Ridgemont Gatecrasher Stakes over 1400m, but made amends by earning small black type when finising a 0,40 length second to Vibe Check in the Gr 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe over 1400m.

His final run as a two-year-old saw him finishing a 3,20 length fifth in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Premiers Champion Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Adam mentioned Miss World (One World) as a mare to keep an eye on as he believed she would win more races.

Constitution Hill’s popularity was clear to see when he switched from jumps racing to the flat as ordinary all weather meetings attracted huge crowds

At The Races

Constitution Hill’s Melbourne Cup dream to become clearer at Kempton
The nine-year-old heads for the September Stakes with Australian aspirations on the line.

Nicky Henderson expects to have a much clearer idea of whether the Melbourne Cup dream can become a reality for Constitution Hill after Saturday’s William Hill September Stakes at Kempton.

The former superstar hurdler was among 101 initial entries for the Flemington showpiece released on Tuesday, and Henderson revealed he has had “various visitations” from the Victoria Racing Club team to set the wheels in motion ahead of a potential trip to Australia.

However, while the nine-year-old has made an encouraging start to his career on the Flat with a couple of low-key all-weather wins earlier in the year, he does not even qualify for the ‘race that stops a nation’ as things stand and his trainer is fully aware he faces a far sterner test in this weekend’s Group Three contest.

“We’ve had various visitations from Melbourne Victoria and it’s not just like we can pop him in a horse box and go and run there like we normally do. There’s a lot of red tape and quarantines and veterinaries (checks) and things like that,” Henderson told Nick Luck’s daily podcast on Tuesday.

“We decided to put him in, in which case you’ve got to go through the process. Unfortunately this is all taking place before he runs on Saturday, and Saturday is going to tell us everything.”

With Constitution Hill’s potential Saturday rivals include significantly higher-rated horses like Gethin, Bay City Roller and Pride Of Arras, Henderson admits he has his work cut out just to get into the money.

He added: “We’ve bumped into an impossible race where I think he’s nearly the lowest-rated horse in it…but this will tell us where we belong.

“We’re taking on Group One horses, which is crazy, but with the ground the way has been it was the obvious place to try and go.

“The first thing he has to do, talking about Australia, is he has to finish in the first three, otherwise he’s not qualified full stop. In a Group Three, you have to be placed in the first three, so he’s got to finish first, second or third and if he doesn’t then Melbourne is out instantly – that is game over. And he needs to go up 6lb or 7lb to have a chance getting into the race, so they are the two principal criteria.

“If he did finish in the first three and he did go up 6lb, then it would be possible, and I know Michael (Buckley, owner) is very keen. I’d love to do it, but we will only know by Sunday morning whether it’s a complete no-no or it is still a possibility.”

While seemingly pessimistic of his stable star’s chances of victory in Sunbury, the Seven Barrows handler could not be happier with his condition ahead of what will be his first competitive outing since winning at the track in late March.

“I’ve got say I would be very, very happy with him – I think he’s back,” said Henderson.

“There’s no doubt he will come on for this race, he’s had his five months break, so I think he’s really well.

“He looks sharp, he looks fantastic in himself and yes he’ll come on, but I won’t have too many excuses.”

Constitution Hill is one of 23 international entries for the Melbourne Cup, with representation from four countries – England, Ireland, Japan and the United States.

Dual Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Joseph O’Brien has nominated 11 horses including the well-fancied Defiantly and last year’s runner-up Goodie Two Shoes, while his father Aidan has a five-strong team headlined by Derby hero Christmas Day.

Nine-year-old Barney McGrew, pictured winning way back in November 2021, has been tipped to win Race 7 

RACE 1

1 IN THE AIR TONIGHT ran a much better race last time, he stayed on well late to finish second behind Bolero at a big price, in hope that he brings that run to the races again, he will go very close to winning from a decent draw. 4 NADIA NERINA has been rested for 140 days, she ran a great race on debut behind Magma Flow on the 15th of April, with natural improvement expected from this well-bred filly, she must have a serious winning chance in this field. 12 WORKINGCLASSHERO finished fifth in the same race as In The Air Tonight on the 5th of August, top jockey Richard Fourie has been booked to ride this gelding, if he gets some luck from a tricky draw, he will be right there in the finish. 9 STEALTH has been rested for 156 days, he ran well behind his stable companion on the 30th of March, watch him closely, he will be doing some good work late.

RACE 2

3 WINTER BLOSSOM ran a terrific race on debut behind Over My Shoulder on the 5th of August, she is a beautiful filly with lots of ability, from a good draw here, she will be hard to beat. 7 SABRE WING has run two lovely races in succession, the yard thinks highly of this filly, she will be flying at them late, include her into all bets. 6 MOSAIC WORLD has been rested for 88 days, this will be her first run at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, she looks progressive, watch her closely. 1 SYLT stayed on well late to finish just under six lengths behind World Of Secrets on the 7th of July, she will love the step up in trip, her chances must be respected from a good draw.

RACE 3

6 MISS ARIZONA improved nicely from her first run into her second run, she was a game second behind Merriment on the 25th of July, in hope that she has made further improvement back at home, she will take lots of beating in this race. 10 LOVE HER MADLY stayed on well late for third behind Crown Chaser on the 18th of July, the blinkers stay on, unfortunately the wide draw here will make it tough for her, but she is consistent, and she will run a good race. 5 KIM CHANEL has run three nice races in succession, this will be her first run at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, she could sneak into the places from a good draw. 8 JACK A DANDY has been rested for 71 days, she is much better than her last start.

RACE 4

1 RED HOT RIFLE must have a good winning chance in this field, he ran a great race for third on debut behind Ile Moris on the 12th of August, he will love the step up in trip, and he has a good draw. 9 TIME OF OUR LIVES finished second in the same race as Red Hot Rifle last time, unfortunately the bad draw here will make it tough for him, he looks like a nice colt in the making, include him into all bets. 2 GATHER QUICK ran well on debut, he was beaten just over two lengths by It’sgood It’snice on the 5th of August, he can only improve going into his second start, watch him closely from a neat draw. 4 WREATH OF SNOW drifted in the market on debut, he was very green, watch for big improvement now that he steps up in trip.

RACE 5

4 BIG CITY ROLLER was a touch unlucky on debut when flying late to finish second behind Ulez Camera on the 12th of August, he will love the step up in trip, and he has a good draw, he will go very close to winning. 2 CALIFORNIA CAT ran a lovely race for second on debut, he was doing some good work late behind Mordechai on the 7th of July, top jockey Richard Fourie sticks with this beautiful colt, he will be right there in the finish again. 5 SPINNAKER has been rested and gelded, he was beaten just over three lengths by Hero’s Journey on the 24th of May, the form of that race has worked out well, he should run a decent race here. 8 GODRIC GRYFFINDOR comes back to the races from a rest and gelding, the blinkers have been fitted, and he steps up in trip, his chances must be respected in this tricky race.

RACE 6

4 CORK BAY was heavily supported in the market when finishing third behind Lyrical Gangster on the 5th of August, he is a big gelding with a lovely action, this looks to be the right race for him to win again, on his best form, he will beat this field easily. 6 ESCARPMENT didn’t find much under pressure last time, he was beaten just over four lengths by Palace Gift on the 15th of August, he has dropped further in the ratings, and he gets 4kgs off his back from the apprentice claim, he should run a much better race here. 5 MARSEILLES will be cherry ripe for this race, he still needed the run behind Lyrical Gangster on the 5th of August, include him into all bets. 7 KELP FOREST disappointed terribly last time, if he bounces back to his best form, he will run a big race.

RACE 7

3 BARNEY MCGREW was comfortably beaten by Peace Of Mind on the 18th of July, he will be given every chance from a good draw, include him into all bets. 4 AXIS POWER changed stables on the 12th of August, he ran a great race at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last time, the form of that race has worked out well, the blinkers stay on, he could be the value play in this tricky race, watch him closely. 8 PUSHING LIMITS has been rested for 109 days, if the gaps open at the right time, she will be right there in the finish late.

RACE 8

1 CHINWAG tried really hard last time, she was gutsy behind Golden Shimmer on the 15th of August, she will be very hard to beat from a good draw. 4 FUTURE RUNWAY stayed on well for third behind Red Flag on the 15th of August, she will love the step up in trip, include her into all bets. 5 CLOUDY DAY ran a much better race on the 5th of August, she was beaten just over four lengths by Over My Shoulder, the step up in trip will help her chances, watch her closely. 7 GIMME PERFECT got going very late behind Merriment on the 25th of July, she looks progressive, and she will love the extra, if the gaps open at the right time for this filly, she will be competitive at a decent price.

Alistair Cohen (Race Coast)

Three quarters of the card at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Wednesday are Maiden Plates. Do not be put off by that fact because there are some extremely well bred youngsters who will go around with some appealing form behind huge reputations to match. A crystal ball is needed to know who could end up being above average and who will be left below the curve but there could be some notebook entries by the end of this meeting.

To be fair, it starts quietly with a fairly shallow event in race 1 over 1000m. Nadia Nerina brings a good run on debut into play but one needs to recall that she was scratched heading to the start on 12 August with an injury reported. It is a good sign that she is back so quickly so trainer Justin Snaith must be happy with what he sees. Gavin Lerena makes the trip to Cape Town for a good book of rides. He is engaged to ride. Nadia Nerina finished third, six lengths behind Magma Flow in April. Time off must have suited her. She weighred 524kg on debut as a two-year-old. Experience must be worth its weight in gold. Other form horses have deep draws. Naughty Princess, Workingclasshero and Cape Town Deern will not have it easy from wide gates.

Winter Blossom ran a ripper on debut behind the huge reputation of Over My Shoulder over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth when she was a length behind the half-sister to Eight On Eighteen. She runs in race 2 over 1250m and a repeat of that run should see her in the winners’ box. Callan Murray retains the ride for Lucinda Woodruff. Sabre Wing has something about her too. She was a head behind Winter Blossom last time but she had an extra run. Winter Blossom should have a touch more to come.

Race 3 over 1250m is not strong at all. A chance is taken on the improved Kim Chanel if she can maintain her recent good work over 1000m over the extra trip. Her last start was the first indication that she might have the tools for the distance when she got going late behind Viridian Ruby. Michelle Rix has her yard in good heart. If she does not win, she should go close. Keep an eye on any market support for first timers. Again, some well bred newcomers go to post who will not need to be great shakes to feature.

One can work with a few in race 4 over 1400m. Preference is for Time Of Our Lives is given a narrow nod despite gate No 9. He stayed on strongly on debut to finish close-up behind Ile Morris over 1250m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and he should have improvement to come.

The same can be said about Red Hot Rifle, Wreath Of Snow and Gather Quick. Red Hot Rifle was lost on debut but he motored home behind Ile Morris and Time Of Our Lives. Wreath Of Snow can only improve over the extra trip but he is all reputation for now being a R9-million yearling. Expect a better showing than his never nearer fourth first up. Gather Quick did a lot right on debut when he finished fourth behind It’sgood It’snice but his formline might be a little inferior.

Two horses look set to fight out race 5 over 1400m. Big City Roller and California Cat both ran second on debut in eye-catching circumstances. Big City Roller naturally ran past a whole lot of runners while California Cat did similar hinting that the further he goes, the better he will be. Both got a run over 1250m at different racetracks. California Cat raced at Hollywoodbets Durbanville first-up while Big City Roller was at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Big City Roller might come from a slightly stronger formline which gives him the slightest verdict.

The next two races are for winners and Andre Nel and Muzi Yeni look to hold a strong hand. Cork Bay looks the part in race 6 over 1250m. A string of consistent runs should shift him towards winning and he would deserve it for his admirable recent runs. His last three starts read third behind Witch Hazel 1,55 lengths behind over this course and distance. Over the same track and trip three weeks later he pushed Lyrical Gangster all the way to the line for a narrow defeat. He was strongly supported in the market too when starting 9/10 favourite. He suffered defeat to Lyrical Gangster again at his next run over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

Nel has his yard in good heart at the moment. Cork Bay might be making his connections and his supporters wait for that next victory but he might not have found himself in a better set of circumstances to gain an overdue third career win.

There will not be a dry eye in the house if the nine-year-old, Barney McGrew wins race 7 over 1000m. He has legitimate claims too with recent runs suggesting that he is close to a seventh-career win. Preference is for Pushing Limits for Yeni and Nel again. This is only her third run this year so fitness needs to be taken on trust. He last effort was encouraging when she looked like winning until late when Black Erika collared her towards the line over this trip down the road at HQ. The low mileage six-year-old could have just a little more in the locker.

Chinwag should exit the maidens in race 8 over 1600m. A slow pace cost her last time when she took a hold in behind and just missed behind Golden Shimmer over this trip at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Her third-place in the Listed Iridescence Stakes less than a length behind Grapes Of Wrath in June sets a high standard. That came at this course which is another boost. Murray is back aboard for Rix. Do not be shocked if she sets her own pace and catches them on the stretch.