Picture: There should be a another big crowd at the big L’Ormarins King’s Plate meeting on Saturday (Image: capetown.travel)

David Mollett

Amidst looming legal battles which has racing resembling the TV show “Law & Order”, the sport has achieved one notable goal in 2023. The efforts of the racing operators have been rewarded with people returning to the racetracks.

My eyes nearly popped out 48 hours before the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas when a Cape Racing media release arrived stating the “House Full” sign was up for the Saturday meeting at Kenilworth and there would be no tickets for sale online or at the gate.

It meant that the hard work by Greg Bortz and his team had paid off. In a short space of time, the charismatic businessman has everyone in the Cape singing from his hymn sheet and that’s some achievement.

The transfer window in the Premier League only opens in January, but Bortz acted swiftly here to snap up the services of two talented Gauteng-based young men in Alistair Cohen and Brandon Bailie. Social media has revealed the latter has his detractors, but there’s no denying his enthusiasm for the sport.

Prior to the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, Jonathan Snaith did admit in an interview on this website that “the field has been criticised as not being as strong as in previous years.” He did add that he felt the Guineas winner might be a factor in the King’s Plate and that could be a good call as well-drawn Snow Pilot rates a good each-way chance against See It Again and Charles Dickens.

In Gauteng, 4Racing CEO, Fundi Sithebe, has had many issues to deal with in 2023 but she’s not flinched one inch.

Most recently, she has called for clarification from the NHA as to what is being called the Petergate affair.

Being at York, I missed Fundi’s speech at the Equus awards in August, but the much-missed Jermaine Craig sent me a copy.

The CEO generously praised other provinces in her opening address.

“I would like to commend my colleagues at Cape Racing and Gold Circle for the constructive manner in which we have all worked together this year for the good of racing.”

“Our is a powerful, world class racing product and we need to do everything we possibly can to protect it locally and expand it globally.”

“Ours continues to be an extremely difficult industry and we look to entice punters and patrons in the context of a global Tote industry that remains under considerable economic strain.”

Quite correctly, Fundi praised Mary Slack for her role in the sport. “Mary Slack in her own dignified way has been the biggest champion of transformation. Not only behind the transformation of the grooms lives but importantly transforming this industry as a whole.”

When names changes to some feature races were announced including the Mary Slack SA Fillies Guineas, Mike De Kock was quick out of the blocks with an immediate response. “Without the passion and generosity of Mary Slack, the survival of our industry would simply not be possible.”

“It would be impossible to ever repay her kindness, but honouring her in this way (naming a race after her) was the least we could do.”

De Kock’s contribution was also recognised with the Ipi Tombe Challenge being named after SA’s best-known trainer who has won more than 3400 races, 133 Gr 1’s (possibly more!) and flown this country’s flag in the USA, Hong Kong, the UK, UAE and Singapore.

Before there is too much backslapping for the progress in 2023, it’s worth recalling the words of the world’s best jockey, Ryan Moore. In accepting his fourth Longines “Best Jockey In the World” award three weeks ago, the 40 year-old voiced his opinion that other countries could learn from Hong Kong.

Moore said: “They run racing as well as anyone could and there’s a lot to be learned from it. I think Hong Kong is probably the most competitive racing in the world.”

As we head into the New Year, there are a number of questions that will be answered in the next 12 months.

1. Can Richard Fourie beat Anthony Delpech’s record of 334 winners in a season and pocket the R1 million prize being offered by Hollywoodbets?

My bet would be no – Hollywood will not have to pay out the money. We’ve been down this road before with Warren Kennedy and it proved a bridge too far with the now New Zealand-based rider hitting a total of 263 winners in the 2021/22 season.

That’s not to say the keen fisherman won’t give it a real shot. He told TT editor, David Thiselton, that he hadn’t yet reached his “purple patch” and when he did 300 winners were in sight.

2. Can Charles Dickens get back in the winning groove in the King’s Plate and reward his loyal fans? Those experts who ranked him better than Horse Chestnut and on a par with Sea Cottage have egg on their faces with the son of Trippi beaten at 2-9 in the Queen’s Plate, 1-5 in the Cape Derby and, most recently, 5-10 in the Green Point Stakes.

In media interviews, both Candice Bass-Robinson and Aldo Domeyer have stated they expect a big run in the King’s Plate. Will the See It Again team of Michael Roberts and Piere Strydom be losing any sleep – I doubt it.

3. A horse to follow in 2024: Marauding Horde.

The fact that five breeders – yes five – have each chipped in R150 000 to acquire the son of Vercingtorix at the 2022 National Yearling Sale is an eyeopener. The quintet are Drakenstein, Lammerskraal, Ridgemont, Wilgerbosdrift and Laurence Wernars.

Looking up the pedigree of the colt reveals he’s the ninth produce of the one-time winner, My Lady Bluff, and a half-brother to the eight-time winner, Hard Day’s Night.

These breeders will be more than happy with Marauding Horde’s debut run for Mike De Kock. Drawn wide at Turffontein, the three year-old was given a considerate introduction by Kabelo Matsunyane but was eating up the ground in the closing stages. He should pay to follow in the coming months.

Picture: Speed Machine (Credit: Chase Liebenberg)

Turf Talk

Jonathan Snaith hinted that the 106-rated six-year-old Legislate gelding Speed Machine has been entered in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate to ensure a good pace.

Speed Machine is one of five runners trained by Justin Snaith and is one of four runners owned by Durban businessman Nick Jonsson.

Jonathan said, “Speed Machine will set good fractions so it will be a solid pace which will produce a true run mile which normally results in a fair race for all participants. A Gr 1 could produce an upside down result if we adhere to the classic Cape Crawl, there is nothing worse than watching a canter then sprint show. What invariably happens when there is no pace – certain favourites can fight their riders and run poorly which is disappointing for punters and their owners.”

He added, “Looking at the field there will be plenty of pace with Montien also looking to set a good, solid tempo.”

Jonathan is realistic about the Snaith yard’s chances.

Their runners are this year’s Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas first and third finishers, Snow Pilot (Lancaster Bonmber) and Hluhluwe (Trippi), 2021 Cape Guineas winner Double Superlative, Gold Rush winner Royal Aussie and Speed Machine.

Nick Jonsson owns Hluhluwe, Double Superlative and Speed Machine and also the odds-on 9/10 favourite, the Michael Roberts-trained See It Again.

Jonathan said, “We are swimming upstream!. See It Again and Charles Dickens are the two highest rated horses in SA so on weight for age terms they’ll be hard nuts to crack.”

However, he still has hope and added, “It is no secret Red Palace is strongly fancied to win the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes (which takes place one race before the LKP) and if she does it will produce an excellent formline for the three-year-olds in the King’s Plate (she finished a narrow second to Snow Pilot in the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas).”

Picture: Master Redoute goes for a Peninsula/Premier Trophy double (Credit: Wayne Marks)

– Written by Mark van Deventer (Cape Racing)

The Anthonij Rupert Wines Premier Trophy (G2) is Race 5 on Saturday’s card- for- connoisseurs. Off time is 14h50 and 13 entries have accepted.

At My Command showed encouraging signs of a form return behind See It Again last time in the World Sports Betting Green Point Stakes. He ran some huge races against the pace/track bias at three years of age against top class foes, Charles Dickens and Cousin Casey, so can he contend here now that Brett Crawford has him back at full throttle? The 4/1 shot should work out a perfect stalk and pounce trip under Craig Zackey from drawn 4 – another plus factor.

Drawn next to him is Greyville 1900 victor, Pacaya – a formidable adversary priced up as early 7/2 favourite. He flashed through a spirited closing sectional despite traffic problems in the Ridgemont Peninsula Handicap won by Master Redoute which indicates that he too is rounding back to a peak.

For his part, Master Redoute produced an admirable career best in the Peninsula but now moves sharply up the weights and will have to take another big step forward to mix it with this field.

Defending Premier Trophy champion, Rascallion thrives in the Cape and has shown top class form throughout his career, belying the fact he is “only” a four-time winner from 22 starts. He’s held his own against the best in SA over middle distances, is tremendously game, and based on their Greyville 1900 tussle, Pacaya may struggle to beat him on these more onerous weight terms. At 16/1, Rascallion is a tempting each way play.

Very stylish, Woolavington winner, Mucho Dinero comes back in trip after obliterating rivals in that 2400m contest. The Twice Over gelding is habituated to winning- that was his third success in a row. Sure, he faces much stronger here and 1800m might be at the low end of his distance spectrum, yet it seems best to keep the 6/1 middle pin onside as a progressive, classy youngster with still untapped potential.

The consistent Sugar Mountain has been in the money at 80% of his starts and again should contend for the places. He was comprehensively out finished by Pacaya in the Peninsula Handicap however, and it’s a stretch to see him winning.

Rival, Waterberry Lane gets a favourable swing on these weight terms (4.5kg’s better off for 1.8 length beating by Sugar Mountain) and might be able to burgle a place consequently but he too falls slightly shy of what it takes to get into the No 1 box.

Brave frontrunner Baratheon is vulnerable to the swoopers down the 600m long Hollywoodbets Kenilworth straight whilst talented performers, Rockpool, Without Question and Gem King need form returns to trouble the scorer.

Gentleman Joe faces a daunting task based on official merit ratings and Runaway Song seems too severely assessed to be a factor off an OMR of 114.

The contender shortlist resolves itself into four main candidates for the Premier’s: At My Command, Rascallion, Pacaya, and Mucho Dinero. Focusing on them should be sufficient for PA, Bipot, and perhaps Jackpot and P6 purposes, too.

Picture: Pocket Power powers to another victory under Bernard Fayd’Herbe

The legendary Pocket Power at this time back in 2011 was being readied to equal a world record by winning the same Gr 1 race, the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, for a fifth time in succession.

Alas, the Mike Bass-trained superstar gelding was beaten 4,25 lengths into fourth place by the favourite for the race, the Mike de Kock-trained Mother Russia, whose influence is still being felt through her unbeaten three-year-old granddaughter Gimme A Nother.

Pocket Power went on to have a fifth crack at the Met and could only manage 8th place.

He was eight-years-old and had earned a deserved retirement.

The Zandvliet Stud-bred Jet Master gelding won 20 races in 46 starts, included nine Grade 1s, three Grade 2s and three Grade 3s.

His Grade 1s included the two record breaking feats of winning the Queen’s Plate four times in succession and the J&B Met three times in succession, all at Kenilworth. His other Grade 1s were the Vodacom Durban July at Greyville and the Gold Challenge at Clairwood.

He also won the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes three times and was the first horse to ever win Kenilworth’s Winter Triple Crown.

His first win was in his fourth start on 15 November 2005 over 1600m at Kenilworth and co-incidentally he was ridden that day by Gerrit Schlechter, who won the Met on Past Master in Pocket’s last appearance.

Pocket was the king of Kenilworth and subsequent to his maiden win he remained undefeated around the turn at that course until he was beaten into third place by his full-sister River Jetez in the 2010 Met.

He had an unbeaten ten race streak over the Kenilworth 1600m, which ended in the 2011 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate.

He earned R25,000 in the Met in his last race and that left him about R32,000 short of R10 million in earnings.

He only failed to earn a cheque twice, in a Maiden Plate over 1400m in November  2005 and then almost five years later in the 2010 July.

Pocket Power had a massive stride, but became infamous for his “flat spot”. He took a long time to wind up into top gear, but his devastating kick, usually at roundabout the 200m mark, will always be part of his legend.

He usually idled when in front but with his huge stride he was very difficult to pass.

In fact in the 2010 Met River Jetez became the first horse to ever overtake him in the straight.

Pocket Power had his detractors, who felt the new weight conditions of the Met made it easier for him whilst his career also co-incided with many of SA’s top older horses racing overseas.

However, in his prime he won with contempt and none of his detractors at the time could name an overseas horse from South Africa that would have been able to beat him.

In a fitting tribute in his last day at the races Pocket Power cantered past the cheering crowd before the last race  adorned with a garland of red flowers with his regular jockey Bernard Fayd’herbe aboard in the famous  Marsh Shirtliff blue, white and pink silks.

Most of the connections stood on the fashion stage and waved to the great horse.

It was a highly emotional moment and the tears flowed freely among them.

His connections include owners Marsh Shirtliff and Arthur and Rina Webber; trainer Mike Bass, his wife Carol, his son and marketing manager Mark and daughter and assistant trainer Candice Robinson; assistant trainers Robert Fayd’hebe, Trevor Taylor, Juan Nel and Betina Bonhage; Pocket’s regular workrider Belinda Haytread; his farrier Greg Dabbs; his groom BoyBoy Jevu;  and Shirtliff’s girlfriend Dr. Karin Norman.

Carol Bass remarked later that in a country like Australia Pocket Power would have been an absolute  hero, but in South Africa, which does not have the same horseracing culture, tributes such as these are reserved for a handful of horses such as Sea Cottage, Horse Chestnut and just a few others.

Therefore the connections were highly appreciative of the gesture by Gold Circle.

Mark Bass commented that the saddest part for him was that Pocket came out raring to go as if he was about to race.

Mike Bass opted to retire Pocket Power to Belinda Haytread’s smallholding in Constantia as he had many quirks and it took a person who knew him to be able to work with him.

Among his quirks was that he spooked very easily, he requireds a lead when he went to work or into the parade ring (he even needed one for his farewell canter) and he backpedalled when something was worrying him.

Bernard Fayd’herbe hads to coax him forward with a clump of grass before mounting him at home otherwise he became difficult.

He famously never entered the winner’s enclosure and this stemmed from his first win when he clearly disliked the foreign surface.

He would also never enter his box at home until he himself was ready to do so.

He mellowed as he aged and had a playful nature in his last days at the Bass yard, mock-biting his attendants and visitors. He used to hate the attention of too many people, but appeared to have become fairly tolerant of photographers. However, he never enjoyed being fussed over.

Pocket Power’s biggest love, besides his groom BoyBoy Jevu, was food.

He never left an oat even in the night after a race.

Pocket Power’s courage was reflected in his ultra consistent record, but was magnified when considering he had very soft feet, which bruised easily, specifically the inner corn of his near fore.

His feet were treated with rubberised concussion pads, but Mike Bass and his team must still take enormous credit for taking him to such heights considering this problem.

Pocket Power was the only horse during his career who was consistently known outside of racing circles.

He was synonymous with big races as well as rumours before big races regarding the well-being of himself and his infamous feet.

He had a massive following in Australia, who got live feeds of many of his races.

Pocket Power ended up becoming best friends with another Bass yard July winner, Marinaresco, whom he shared a paddock with at Hemel ‘N Aarrde Stud.

He passed away a day before his 19th birthday on July 31, 2021.

Richard Fourie and Garth Puller clinched a double together when Banzai Pipeline (Mambo In Seattle) won the sixth race (Picture: Candiese Lenferna).   

Richard Fourie rode a double for Garth Puller on the Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack today and Muzi Yeni and Alyson Wright had individual doubles.

Fourie is now on 127 wins for the season at a strike rate of 19.39%.

Yeni is on 98 wins at 13.73%.

Wright is on 19 wins at 9.55%.

Puller is on 20 wins at 8.44%.

The intriguing KZN Trainers Championship is led by Mike Miller on 21 wins with Puller and Peter Muscutt second on 20 wins each, Wright and Gareth van Zyl have 19 wins each, Wendy Whitehead and Duncan Howells have 18 wins each and Louis Goosen is also in the hunt on 17.

The Mike Bass-trained Pocket Power (Jet Master) won one July, three Mets and four Queen’s Plates; the Syd Laird-trained Politician (Oligarchy) won one July, two Mets and two Queen’s Plates; the Syd Laird-trained Yataghan (Marsolve) and the Alec Laird-trained London News (Bush Telegraph) both won all three races once apiece.