Turf Talk Newsletter – 03 September, 2025

Richard Fourie clinches a four-timer, Vaughan Marshall scores a treble and Hollywood Racing land a double as Black Eagle (Rafeef) wins the last race at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Wednesday (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Reigning champion jockey Richard Fourie and reigning champion apprentice Brevan Plaaitjies had a four-timer and treble respectively at Hollywoodbets Durbanville today (Wednesday) and three of Fourie’s wins were for stalwart trainer Vaughan Marshall.

The Greg Ennion-trained One World filly Marketa had hard-knocking maiden form behind some decent horses and she impressed in the first race over 1000m to give Plaaitjies his first win of the day. She came from midfield with an effortless finish on the outside to win by 1,25 lengths from market rival Call Of The Karoo (William Longsword).

The quick  Michelle Rix and Harold Crawford-trained Captain Of All five-year-old gelding Elusive Winter made it two start to finish victories in succession when converting 5/10 odds against three other rivals over 1000m in the second race, although he had to stay on doggedly under Plaaitjies to fend off Roman Agent.

In the next race over 1000m Inside Voice had beaten Marketa by 1,55 lengths when winning her maiden over 1000m and the Hollywood Racing-owned Pathfork filly confirmed the strength of the form by winning by an easy 4,50 lengths to give both Fourie and Marshall the first of their winners on the day.

In the fourth race over  1400m the Des MacLachlan-trained Master Of My Fate gelding Jet Force was officially the worst in at the weights in the Progress Plate event off an 87 merit rating and was in fact officially 5kg under sufferance with the best weighted Captain West. However, he is highly regarded and started 18/10 favourite. He got the run of the race in the five horse field. He sat in the box seat under Grant van Niekerk and got up on the inside by 0,40 lengths from three-year-old Langerman winner Absolutely Yes, while Gimmelightning caught the eye finishing well for a 0,45 length third.

In he fifth race over 1800m Fourie and Marshall made it a double together and it was also a double for One World as three-year-old gelding 89-rated Better Man quickened well from a handy position and stretched out beautifully to steal a march, although in the end he lasted just long enough to hold off a flying King’s Quest, who was a touch unlucky in the Class C event.

In the sixth, a D Stakes event over 1000m, Plaaitjies scored his treble when winning by an easy 3,25 lengths on the Paul Reeves-trained 52-rated lightweight Country Time. Du Maurier let down the Inside Voice and Marketa form, as she had split them in a maiden over 1000m. She was slow away and ran on well from last for second, but had no chance with Country Time on the day as the latter won easing up.

In the seventh over 1250m, a Class 5 event for fillies and mares, the Justin Snaith-trained Legislate filly Lowveld Lily was dropped out to third last in a stretched out field as Bonne Bouche set good fractions in front. The tall Lowveld Lily had many lengths to make up in the straight but flew late and caught Angel’s Oasis on the line.

In the last race the Marshall-trained Hollywood Racing-owned three-year-old Rafeef colt Black Eagle gave Fourie his four-timer and Marshall his treble when getting up by a neck in the 1250m Class 4 event over 1250m.

Naqeeb Munshi in the commentary box at Turffontein (JC Photos)

In under three years behind the microphone, Naqeeb Munshi has established himself as one of South African racing’s most promising voices. He recently called his 1,500th race, a milestone that reflects both his steady progress and his growing presence in the industry. Fellow commentator Alistair Cohen describes him as “unflappable,” a fitting compliment in a profession where every word is under the spotlight. Speak to Naqeeb, and you meet a young man with surprising emotional maturity and a calm temperament that the role demands. Naqeeb made his first race call at 19 and, now 21, has already navigated the testing late-teen years in the company of seasoned professionals, much like fellow callers Cohen and Clyde Basel once did. In Gauteng’s ‘Lion’s Den’ — the commentary box — he has settled in with patient guidance, plenty of laughs, and the occasional mistake.

Click here to read Charl Pretorius’ article on Naqeeb Munshi

Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges with a 3D digital version of Golden Sixty at Sha Tin’s new Champions Connection facility.

Latest phase of HK$14 billion racecourse master plan is rolled out ahead of Sunday’s season-opening meeting

by Jay Rooney (South China Morning Post)

The Hong Kong Jockey Club unveiled the latest phase of its HK$14 billion racecourse master plan on Tuesday, with two new facilities at Sha Tin designed to elevate racing as one of the city’s biggest tourist attractions.

Hailed as a “game-changing racecourse arrival and customer experience at grandstand 2”, the new Champions Connection and Genso Eki facilities feature digital entertainment aimed at attracting the younger generation to the races and promoting Sha Tin as a “platinum race-going experience” for locals and tourists.

Racing fans will get their first look at the new facilities when the 2025-26 racing season launches at Sha Tin on Sunday.

“The club has invested more than HK$10 billion into a multi-year racecourse master plan to systematically revitalise Sha Tin and Happy Valley racecourses,” Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the club’s CEO, said.

Andrew Harding, Dennis Hau, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Raymond Tam and Philip Chen at the entrance of the new Champions Connection facility at Sha Tin.
Andrew Harding, Dennis Hau, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, Raymond Tam and Philip Chen at the entrance of the new Champions Connection facility at Sha Tin.

“It is our plan to invest another HK$4 billion in the next phase to transform our racecourses. This is a key enabler of the club’s vision to develop our racecourses into world-class sport and entertainment venues.

“Champions Connection and Genso Eki, with their cutting-edge digital technology and vibrant, modern settings, will redefine the arrival and racecourse experience for racegoers, particularly the younger generation, cultivating a greater interest in the sport of horse racing.

“We look forward to seeing these new attractions make a big contribution to racing tourism, an important pillar of Hong Kong’s tourism development with significant economic and social value.”

Champions Connection, labelled the “gateway between the MTR’s Racecourse Station and grandstand 2”, features three-dimensional digital displays of champion Hong Kong gallopers Golden Sixty, Romantic Warrior, Beauty Generation, Silent Witness, Sacred Kingdom and Able Friend in virtual stables.

It also includes a mechanical galloping horse sculpture, a full-sized lifelike robotic horse, digitally rendered thoroughbred horses on columns along the second and third floors, showcases of jockeys’ real-life lockers with personalised racing gear and pop-up kiosks offering popular local brands of food and beverages, gifts and souvenirs.

Genso Eki, one of several venues to which Champions Connection links visitors, is a four-storey destination with immersive digital racing experiences and dining options.

It includes “Maze Race”, where customers can learn about the history of racing by solving racing-related puzzles; “Gensoverse”, where visitors take a virtual ride on one of Hong Kong’s legendary horses through extended reality (XR) technology; and “Gensosnap”, an AI photo booth that allows racegoers to take racing-themed selfies to share on social media.

There is also a digital parade ring and interactive AI horse selection stations, much like what was introduced last season at Happy Valley racecourse, and two dining options – the Fudo Town food hall and Izakaya restaurant.

Engelbrecht-Bresges also revealed new plans for Penfold Park, which is located in the infield of Sha Tin Racecourse.

“In January 2026, the park will have all enhancement works completed and fully reopen, followed by the addition of a new attraction, Pony World, in April,” he said.

“Designed to strengthen Penfold Park’s appeal as a family-friendly destination for both Hongkongers and tourists, Pony World will offer educational activities and foster a culture of horse appreciation.

“Access to Penfold Park will initially be limited to non-race days, while the club is formulating appropriate safeguards that would allow entry on race days while maintaining a strict separation from any wagering activities.”

Felix Coetzee on 1990 July winner Illustrador

Lucinda Woodruff fittingly had a fine Champions Season campaign as it was in fact 35 years ago in July that her legendary grandfather Terrance Millard had the last of of his six July wins in what was known as “The Millard era”.

Millard’s stalwart stable jockey Felix Coetzee recalled Millard’s dominance, in which he won six Julys in eight years and had an unerring ability to peak a horse at the right time.

He said in an article about 12 years ago, “Mr Millard had us all very committed. There was a terrific amount of discipline in the yard, but his best quality was that as well as being a great winner, he was a very good loser. Once he trusted you he didn’t put pressure on you and this allowed us to ride positively and confidently.”

One of the toughest aspects of being Millard’s number one jockey was choosing the right horse.

In 1983 Coetzee chose Arctic Cove for the July and he was beaten into third. He recalled, “I had gone close on Arctic Cove as a three-year-old and he had won the Met, so I chose him on his proven ability.”

However, the stablemate ridden by Mark Sutherland, the Argentinian-bred filly Tecla Bluff, gave Millard the first of his six famous victories in the big race.

Felix said about this grey filly, “Tecla Bluff had been improving at the time and had a very good pedigree.”

The following year the mighty imported mare Devon Air gave Felix his all important first victory in South Africa’s premier horseracing event.

There is a good story behind her purchase told by the man who found her, Durban Bloodstock Agent Andy Williams, who was also behind the great stallion Foveros’ import to SA.

Williams had attended the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with a number of SA industrymen in 1981 and on that same trip they attended a meeting at Ascot which featured the Group 3 Hoover Fillies Mile, a two-year-old event which is a Group 1 held at Newmarket these days.

The Queen’s huge filly Height Of Fashion won the race to remain unbeaten as a two-year-old and she went on to win the Group 2 Princess Of Wales Stakes in record-breaking fashion before producing the great Nashwan at stud as well as the like of Unfuwain and Nayef.

However, the horse who caught Williams eye in the Fillies Mile was a big bay maiden called Devon Air who ran on strongly to be beaten about 2.5 lengths into fourth. This contradicts previous reports that Devon Air’s UK form had been “dismal”, although she did not build on that form and remained a maiden throughout the following season.

Williams attended a sale at Newmarket a year or so later and noticed Devon Air going through the ring unsold.

He recalled, “She was trained by a guy called Jack Cann, who was largely a jumps trainer and had not trained a winner on the flat for over a year.”

SA breeder Robin Scott of Scotts Brothers was at the Sale and Williams approached him advising him to buy the filly.

Williams said, “In those days breeders Mick Goss and the Scott Brothers etc were attempting to improve the quality of SA-bred broodmare and had certain criteria. Females who did not have a black type dam or who were not black type themselves did not qualify and you couldn’t bring in a maiden.”

Robin was initially sceptical and Williams recalled him saying ‘But her timeform rating is only 69.'”

However, Williams knew this horse was better than her recent form suggested and persisted.

Robin’s brother Des, who has always been more interested in racing than breeding, was ultimately contacted on the telephone from the Sales grounds.

Williams continued, “Des asked me what her rating was and I replied 96. He said ok then buy her.”

Williams was questioned by colleagues about the white lie and he replied, “If he ever asks me I will just tell him I’m dyslexic!”

Des and Robin sent Devon Air to Millard in the Cape.

Her first SA start was in a B Division event over 1900m at Milnerton on July 16, 1983, and carrying just 49kg she won by eleven lengths.

She arrived in Durban for the 1984 winter season with a further two wins under her belt, including a 13 length demolition of the opposition in a 2400m Listed event. She followed the latter race with a third place finish in the Met, beaten just 1,75 length by the great Wolf Power with Spanish Pool second.

In Durban Devon Air kicked off a fine winter season by winning the Grade 2 Republic Day Handicap over 1900m at Greyville by 3,25 lengths.

Now the July.

Felix said, “She was a massive, bold mare and was a strong galloper, with a high cruising speed. I felt if they took me on she would wear them into the ground and if they didn’t they wouldn’t get to me.”

Coetzee dictated at a solid gallop and she had them all off the bit turning for home. “The last 200m seemed like an eternity. With 50m to go you realise it’s going to happen and you just want to reel in the line. The feeling when you cross the line is difficult to put into words, it’s jubilation, relief, triumph, and the congratulations from the other jockeys adds to the feeling.”

The Scott Brothers had previously bred July winner Politician and Des made it three July wins in 1990 as part-owner of the great Millard-trained Illustrador.

Devon Air later made it a famous Greyville hattrick by winning the Gold Cup by 4,5 lengths.

At stud Devon Air produced two stakes winners with her first two foals but then went off the boil and was sold to Zimbabwe in 1996. However, her daughter Bushgirl, born in 1999, has produced Grade 1 winner August Rush (Var) and stakes winner Miss October (Var) and the latter has produced Grade 1 winner Tempting Fate and the Gr 1 winner October Morn, so Devon Air’s influence lives on.

In 1986 Coetzee rode another magnificent imported horse, Fools Holme, but admitted he was beaten by a better ride as the outsider of Millard’s one-two-three finishers, Occult, won under Bartie Leisher.

“Bartie dictated and I fell into the trap. I wasn’t as sharp in those days with my pacing and Bartie had ridden internationally. He rode a smashing race.”

In 1987 Coetzee had a scare when his mount Potomac stepped into a hole, stumbling badly and costing him any chance. In 1988 Coetzee had a tough choice between the speedy Royal Chalice and the out and out stayer Tensing, but he chose the right one. “I knew I had to switch Royal Chalice off and idle around the turn. The plan fell into place perfectly. He used no energy for the first 1 800m, so was able to use his explosive acceleration in the straight.”

In 1989 Coetzee felt that the favourite Castle Walk had not enjoyed the heavy going.

Coetzee regards the 1990 winner, the three-year-old Illustrador, as the best Terrance Millard-trained horse he ever rode.

This Argentinian-bred won at the highest level from 1 200m up to the 3 200m of the Gold Cup.

However, Coetzee still had a tough choice picking the right one, considering the weights, and was swung by his agent Alan “Snowy” Reid’s words, “This horse knows how to win.”

That was the second of Millard’s one-two-three finishes.

At the end of the following season he handed the reins over to his son and assistant trainer, Tony.

Which horse was Simon Barnes referring  to when he wrote, “There is nothing in racing to compare to that glorious late turn of foot, that magical moment when a horse takes wing and metamorphoses before your eyes into Pegasus. That shocking instant of disbelief has in it the quintessence of sport.”

The picture is of the subject