Turf Talk Newsletter – 02 June, 2025

Chad Little extracted a last lunge from Good For You to win the Gr 1 Gold Medallion. (Candiese Lenferna).

Turf Talk sponsored jockey Chad Little’s comeback from the depths of despair is well documented and the man who gave him a second chance at a career, which had begun in highly promising fashion 25 years ago, was Glen Kotzen so it was fitting that Little clinched the first Gr 1 win of his career on a horse trained by the latter at the Festival Of Speed meeting at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday.

Kotzen had been confident of a big run from the Legislate gelding Good For You and told Turf Talk last Thursday, “He has had a very good prep. He got touched off last time in the Gr 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes over 1100m and he ducked from the stick. The filly that beat him (Elegantrix) is well regarded by Corne Spies and runs in the Allan Robertson. He’s got a good draw. Obviously its a very competitive race, but he’s in good form. He’s got some of the formlines I would like to have going in to this race.”

Good For You had beaten Military Command by 3,40 lengths in the Godolphin Barb over 1100m and it looked a fair and square beating and as Military Command had been the only horse to date to have beaten the exciting prospect Dreamland that augured well for Good For You’s chances.

He had also struck as being a tough sort in the Godolphin Barb as he had stayed on resolutely despite the going being soft.

So the official soft going on Saturday was in his favour and when Elegantrix ran second to the unbeaten Direct Hit in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship it was a further boost to his chances.

Of course the biggest boost to his chances had come with the scratching of the hot favourite to win the race, the Gr 2 SA Nursery-winning filly Green Diamond.

Good For You was backed in to 4/1, but was not as short as Zalatoris and Military Command, who were 33/10 and 7/2 respectively, although on the Tote Zalatoris only just ousted Good For You as favourite,paying R3.70 to R3.80, while Military Command was R4.90.

Good For You showed himself to be a courageous horse once again as he found extra under pressure in the closing stages.

He led from the off but began hanging outward from the 200m, despite Chad having the stick in the left hand.

Chad put the stick away when he continued to hang and managed to straighten him in the final few strides, a crucial move that saw him getting up by 0,30 lengths from Charming Cheetah.

Outsider Intensity was next best and was followed home by Military Command and Zalatoris with the latter beaten just 1,35 lengths.

Intensity ducked sharply after the line and dropped Marco van Rensburg, who was unable to weigh in, but after a doctor’s assessment he was able to continue riding.

It was also a first Gr 1 win for Legislate and for some of the owners of Good For You, who is owned by Messrs Deven Govender, R P Macnab, S Poriazis, Sivan Ramsamy & S L Russo.

It was a third Festival Of Speed Gr 1 winner for Glen Kotzen.

His first Hollywoodbets Scottsville Gr 1 winner was Lady Windermere in the SA Fillies Sprint in 2009 and then the champion Victory Moon filly Princess Victoria won the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship in 2011.

Saturday’s post race comments are shown below:

CHAD LITTLE :

“All glory to God. I’ve been to hell and back. I’m emotional as this is my first Group 1 winner. Thanks so much to Glen and his owners for the support. It’s a good feeling. He’s such a funny horse as he looks to hang onto other horses. Two weeks ago, he got beat because he hung in. He hung on to Military Command today and then as he saw the horse coming up on his inside, he started hanging the other way. He actually had a lot in hand. He’s still a green little horse. I think he’s got quality and will go on from this. He’s still got levels to go. Fantastic day … 2 winners and a 2nd and a Group 1. All glory to God and thanks so much to everyone for their support.”

GLEN KOTZEN : “It’s a first for so many. A first Group 1 for Chad and some of the owners … it’s amazing. The guys were screaming and going mad. Well done to Oldlands Stud … a small stud. Every year they find a Group 1 and thank God I found it. To the Legislate syndicate … Vaughan Koster was on the phone and he was ‘fly jumping’. He’s a really exciting stallion … he had fertility problems and now he has come right. I think you will find a lot of Legislates been bought at future sales. He’s had a bit of racing and will have to chat to the boys. I’m not in a hurry to run him again. He’s a super little horse and I think we have a lot of fun with him going forward.”

OWNERS :

Direct Hit remains unbeaten and is on her way to being named Equus Champion two-year-old filly. (Candiese Lenferna Photography). 

The East Cape had their first Gr 1 winner at Hollywoodbets Scottsville’s Festival Of Speed meeting for 17 years on Saturday when the Alan Greeff-trained Ridgemont homebred filly Direct Hit won Saturday’s Allan Robertson Championship under Richard Fourie.

The last to do it was the Nic Claassen-trained Geepee S, who dead-heated for first place in the Allan Robertson Championship in 2008.

The Ridgemont-homebred Direct Hit is now unbeaten in four starts and she gave sire Canford Cliffs a first Gr 1 winner and part-owner Devin Heffer a first Gr 1 winner under his own name.

It was Direct Hit’s third stakes success and second Graded success in an out of province centre.

She also won the Gr 3 Splashout Cape Of Good Hope Nursery at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

Richard Fourie has been aboard for all of her starts.

It was Fourie’s seventh Gr 1 win at the Festival Of Speed meeting, a remarkable statistic considering he was winless at this meeting before the 2022 renewal.

Direct Hit looks set to be named Equus Champion Two-year-old and if so will become the first East Cape horse to win an Equus Award since Cereus (Desert Team), also trained by Alan Greeff, won the Champion Stayer award in the 2001-2002 season.

Direct Hit and and Gr 2 Golden Horse Sprint-winner Tenango shared the prize for the most impressive winners of the day.

Direct Hit’s odds of 56/100 told the story. She was the meeting banker and it never looked in doubt despite her having to run in going with cut for the first time, as the penetrometer reading was 24, and she also had a high draw, which appeared to be the unfavourable side for most of the day.

She threw her head up briefly after breaking well as Fourie restrained her.

However, she had soon settled and free-wheeled into the leading line just three wide of the inside rail.

Going through the 300m mark she was the only one not off the bit and yet she had assumed the lead, marginally ahead of the Corne Spies-trained Elegantrix.

When Fourie asked the question she maintained her narrow lead but did have to be given the renowned Fourie drive including about six slaps of the whip to keep the imposing and persistent Elegantrix at bay.

However, she passed the line 1,10 lengths clear with Fourie saluting.

The fancied Tarry-trained One Fine Winter was third with two rank outsiders, Keukenhof and Limitless Sky, fourth and fifth respectively.

RICHARD FOURIE : “Special filly. Everything is special about this filly. It’s a dream come true. It was the mission from the day she started and she’s never let us down. Travelled well in the race and never looked back. She was going too well and I almost tried to bring her back, but I thought to myself that I would manipulate the easy speed that she has. I thought let me rather just leave her and sit longer. Quality filly. Glad to have another Group 1. When Alan travels, he travels with a purpose … he’s not just a runner, but he’s very strong. He comes here to get the best out of them.”

ALAN GREEFF : “I’ve been very fortunate this season. People write off PE for a million different reasons, but the guys back home, work hard. Hopefully we can fly the flag for PE trainers. We took this filly down to Cape Town where she ran a cracking race and the next mission was the Alan Robertson. It is a plan come together. It is wonderful for all the guys and I think it’s the first Group 1 winner for Canford Cliffs. It’s a huge undertaking … the horses took a long time to get here through distance travel, but they travelled well. Thanks everybody and well done!”

DEVIN HEFFER : “Got to take your hats off to everyone involved. It’s great to have Craig Carey and the Ridgemont team here. To Wayne and Belinda, Owen and Lesley …we’re just the youngsters and repping here. It’s all to them. I’m so proud to be a part of this partnership. What a season it’s been so far. A special week for us with the launch Race Coast. To win the Allan Robertson is something you dream of. Bright future ahead with Direct Hit.”

CRAIG KIESWETTER : “It’s great to be here … it’s special. It’s special for the family … well done to Mom and Dad, Owen and Lesley. We’ve got a big team here today. For the farm, this is quite incredible. Canford Cliffs was the first stallion that Wayne and Craig Carey bought and there has been a lot of belief in him. This is his first Group 1 worldwide. Trainers like Alan and jockeys like Richard, make Devin and my job a lot easier. Full credit to Alan and his team in Port Elizabeth … it’s a sensational achievement. Very proud to be a part of it.”

Andrew Fortune points to the crowd as Tenango cruises home. (Candiese Lenferna Photography). 

The Gr 2 Golden Horse Sprint at the Festival Of Speed meeting at Hollywoodbets Scotsville on Saturday gave Canford Cliffs a Gr 2 winner on the heels of his first Gr 1 winner and it was of a race that only lost its Gr 1 status this year.

The Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Ian Longmore homebred gelding Tenango, who is part-owned by Mark Bass, gave Andrew Fortune a second stakes win since his comeback in March, the other one being in the Gr 3 Champagne Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on this same horse.

There were concerns beforehand about Tenango’s high draw of 16 in the Golden Horse Sprint. On the other hand the inside going was a touch cut up. As it happened the strong horse Surjay broke well from draw 15 and travelled well throughout, so Andrew Fortune was able to get a nice tow from him. Tenango showed a tremendous turn of foot to hit the front. It was vintage Fortune in the closing stages as he came home pointing at the crowd and licking his lips. The four-year-old gelding cruised in by 1,20 lengths from O’Tenikwa with pacemaker King Of The Gauls beaten 2,70 lengths in third and Truth and Cruise Control next best.

Tenango was one of the most impressive winners of the day and the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m around the Hollywoodbets Greyville turn is likely to be next on his agenda.

Since having a successful wind operation the gelding has had seven starts for five wins and two seconds.

ANDREW FORTUNE : “I woke up this morning and could just see God everywhere. I knew that in this comeback there would be a Grade 1 or 2 in it. I just knew and it’s coming. You’ve got to turn up for yourself … if you want to achieve in life, you’ve got to turn up. You’ve got to do things. Some mornings I’m tired and I don’t want to do it, but I go to work. Aldo has allowed me to take over the ride on this horse. There’re a couple of people who I thought would support me, but they’ve not, but the Bass’s were there to say, ‘ja, we’ll give you a go’. And look at this!”

CANDICE BASS-ROBINSON : “I don’t have a lot to bring up to Durban as mostly have a lot of young horses. It’s nice to have a horse like this, especially with the way he’s improved over the last couple of months. Everything has just gone perfectly for him. Ever since he’s had a wind op, there’s been no stopping him. He’s improved with every run. That last feature race that he won in Cape Town, he did with such authority that I thought we had to bring him up to Durban. He hasn’t been to Scottsville, but he’s a consummate professional … he’s got a wonderful temperament and just takes everything in his stride. He’s got a wonderful turn of foot and couldn’t be happier with him. To Ian and Debbie … I had offers to sell him earlier on and I said to them, please not to sell him. Thank you to them for keeping him on. He definitely won’t stop where he is now. Andrew rode a perfect race on him. Earlier in the week I was worried about being drawn out wide, but he had a perfect horse to follow … he sat on him beautifully and produced him at the right time. Well done to everybody … it’s a great team effort. It’s a wonderful day here today.”

IAN LONGMORE : “It’s definitely luck. I have to thank Syrilla Stud who gifted this mare to me. There was a toss up between Canford Cliffs and Potala Palace … so the flick of a coin it was Canford Cliffs. So it is luck and I’ll take it with both hands.”

MARK BASS : “I think Ian is the luckiest owner. The only reason I‘m standing here today is because we played a round of golf a few weeks ago and Ian said, ‘why don’t you join the ride with me?’ So thank you Ian and Debbie. Well done to Canford Cliffs … I’ve always been a big fan of his and he’s had a Group 1 and 2 today.”

Absolutely Yes becomes Danon Platina’s fourth stakes winner. (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Graeme Hawkins (Race Coast)

Absolutely Yes dug down deep to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in yesterday’s R250 000 Somerset 1200 (Listed) for two-year-olds at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. Absolutely Yes was probably an unwilling early leader in a race devoid of initial pace as the 5-horse party ambled though the opening 600m, and the son of Danon Platina looked certain to be swallowed up by Churchillian and Three Tigers inside the last 100 metres. But Absolutely Yes refused to lie down under a powerful ride by JP van der Merwe and he kept on resolutely to ward off Churchillian and Three Tigers in a hard fought three-way-go to give Justin Snaith his fourth winner of the afternoon.

Absolutely Yes (9/4) was bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein out of the Tiger Ridge mare Maybe Yes, whose five wins included the KRA Fillies Guineas (Gr2). She’s My World (13/10) was smashed in the market prior to race time and supplanted Absolutely Yes at the top of the betting boards. The daughter of One World met with some late interference, but she appeared well held at that stage.

The opening race, a Juvenile Plate over 1500m, yielded a thrilling finish between Roland Garros, Randolph Hearst and All The Rage, all of whom are being teed up for a crack at the R500 000 Langerman (Gr3) over the same course and distance in three weeks’ time. Roland Garros (9/2) made the early running under Richard Fourie and rallied strongly in the closing stages when challenged on either side by Randolph Hearst (28/10) and All The Rage (9/10) to gain the verdict by the narrowest of margins. All three appear well above the average and we look forward to a possible re-match in the Langerman.

Apprentice Brevan Plaatjies has been making the most of the limited opportunities thrown his way and he was seen to good advantage on the Eric Sands-trained Russian Royal (5/1) in the second race, a Middle Stakes (F&M) over 1400m. Making full use of a very light weight, Plaatjies assumed control of the race from the jump and although Kamchatka (7/2) applied some pressure in the home straight, Russian Royal found another gear and stretched away to score comfortably.

The third race, a B Stakes over 1950m, produced a blanket finish with Ahead Of The Facts (8/1) getting up in the very last stride under JP van der Merwe to snatch victory from Pinot Grigio. The heavily supported Dubbelosix (11/10) went forward halfway through the race but found no extra when challenged by Ahead Of The Facts and Pinot Grigio and was beaten less than a length into third spot.

Fourie is now starting to forge ahead in the Jockeys’ Championship and he struck for a second time when steering Ariovistus (6/1) to a facile victory in the opening leg of the Pick 6, an Open Maiden over 1950m. The favourite Past And Present (17/10) ran a shocker, finishing well down the field, but the Piet Botha-trained Ariovistus quickened up smartly from a few lengths off a decent gallop and raced away to score by more than three lengths. Real Stunner (9/2) and Beautiful Side (9/2) completed the Trifecta ahead of Moment Of Truth who made some progress from the rear of the field.

For the third consecutive race meeting Fourie completed a hat-trick with a smooth and uncomplicated victory aboard the Justin Snaith-trained Swiatek in the fifth race, a Class 4 Handicap (F&M) over 1400m. La Divina was a late scratching at the starting gates, but fortunately for her supporters Swiatek was sent off as the tote favourite. Swiatek (2/1) turned for home in a midfield position but made good headway down the inside running rail and collared the pace-setting Rahhabba (25/1) inside the final 100m to win going away by more than a length. Oni San (28/10) stayed on for third with Supreme Fate (17/2) rounding out the Quartet.

Boogified, a good-looking 4yo gelded son of Justify (USA), attracted solid on-course support ahead of the running of the sixth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1400m, and he rewarded his fans with a storming start-to-finish victory under Corne Orffer. Scottish Kiss (15/2) was gaining rapidly over the final 200m but the post came in time for Boogified (7/2) to hold on by a diminishing half-a-length with Trippi’s Silk a well-beaten third.

Greg Ennion finally ended a long and frustrating absence from the winner’s enclosure when Surge Of Power (12/1) got the better of a protracted duel with Circumbendibus (2/1) to land the eighth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1200m. The pair joined issue a long way out with Surge Of Power finding that little bit extra under a good ride by Brevan Plaatjies to edge out the favourite by a neck. The 2yo Electromagnetism (5/1) took out the ninth race, a Class 5 Handicap (F&M) over 1200m, while the tenth race, a competitive Class 4 Handicap over 1700m, was won by the 8/1 chance Chasingtherainbow for James Crawford and Louis Mxothwa.

Which two topically-named horses won at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday?

The picture gives a clue to the answer (Image: Wayne Marks)