Turf Talk Newsletter – 03 September, 2026

Jason Gates earned his riding fee on Spy Story, driving him vigorously  from a long way out to win cosily (JC Photos)  

St. John Gray and Jason Gates combined for another win on Wednesday at the Vaal to keep up their high strike rates.

Kabelo Matsunyane is in lone second place on the national Jockeys log after riding a treble at the meeting.

Gates only had three rides at the meeting, all of them for Gray, and in the last race, a MR 74 Handicap over 1400m, he won on the Bezrin five-year-old gelding Spy Story.

Spy Story had the advantage of a high draw and was prominent throughout.

He did not appear to be traveling particularly well as they approached the business end.

However, Gates drove his mount from a long way out and the gelding responded well to win by 1,10 lengths at 6/1 odds, beating the 7/1 shot Sunset Warrior and the 17/2 chance Unsolved Riddle.

Gates has now had eight wins for the season at a strike rate of 25.81%.

Gray had six runners at the meeting and also clinched two third place finishes.

He is on nine wins for the season at a strike rate of 29.03%.

Matsunyane rode a double for Tony Peter on Noble Saint (Fire Away) and Art Nouveau (Querari) and his other winner was the Sean Tarry-trained Peace Treaty (Act Of War).

He has had 18 wins for the season at a strike rate of 21.95% and he lies second on the national log, nine wins behind Keagan de Melo.

De Melo had one win at the meeting on the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Periodic Table (Danon Platina) and is on 27 wins for the season at a strike rate of 27.84%.

Mathew Thackeray pictured winning a race at Borrowdale on the Thomas Mason-trained Pocket Watch, who went on to win the country’s most iconic race, the Gr 1 US$50,000 Castle Tankard, although Mathew was not aboard him for the latter race (Picture: Tomcat Racing)

Zimbabwean racing was miraculously kept going through Covid and some other challenging economic situations, thanks to the passion and commitment of the racing fraternity in the country, and it now looks to have emerged from the worst and is on the up.

Mathew Thackeray is a regular rider up there and said they were actually looking to increase the stake for maiden plates to US$10,000, which is the equivalent of about R160,000.

During Covid the emphasis was just on getting enough income to feed the horses and the jockeys took a cut in payments, as they were not as badly hit as the trainers.

However, it has now picked up and payments for jockeys, after about five years of taking lesser fees, is now back to normal.

The field sizes for Sunday’s racemeeting tell a story as there are 36 horses running in the six race meeting, which is an average of six runners per race.

That is not a lot, but is big compared to what it was at one stage.

On Sunday there is one race for US$2000, four for US$3000 and one for US$4000.

“The stakes are getting better and if you win the Tankard you can walk away with the equivalent of a R40,000 cheque,” said Mathew.

The Gr 1 Castle Tankard is the richest race in the country and carries a stake of US$50,000.

Mathew continued, “The stakes are not where they want them to be yet, but part of the Borrowdale racecourse, just behind where the current jockey room is, is being sold for a huge amount.

The racecourse itself, as far as Mathew understands, is going to be shortened from about 2800m to 2000m, although the 2000m and shorter races will be on exactly the same course as in the past.

Mathew said, “There is also farming in the middle and a Woolworths shop and I understand they are getting something like US$50,000 rental for the shop per month.”

Betting also brings some income.

Mathew continued, “Zim racing is definitely getting better.”

He added, “Our pay per ride compared to South Africa is a little bit less, but it is not that bad. The club pays half and the trainers pay the other half when they are paid their stakes. They are good with the payments.”

He continued, “For their sake I hope what they plan to do with the course works out for them, because Borrowdale is still one of the best courses around. A lot of people still say it is one of the best courses to ride on.”

He added, “But the fact that racing kept going is amazing. They are tough people, because at one stage they were racing just to feed the horses and keep themselves going. They have been so resilient and have done very well.”

He said, “I don’t think the changes being made are a bad move as long as they don’t destroy the course.”

Borrowdale in the old days used to be rolled with tobacco leaves and scarified often and it is still well maintained.

Mathew remembers on one occasion it “bucketing” down before a meeting, but it was still fine to race on.

He said, “The course’s pen meeting was something like 38 and we finished the whole meeting without a horse going wrong. It was consistent the whole way.”

The trainers at Borrowdale at present are Debra Swanson, Bridget Stidolph, Thomas Mason, Gavin MacLeod, Mike Mallett and Amy Parham.

If the stakes do go up as expected it might be worth it for South African owners to send horses to race there.

Fairy Knight has been tipped to win the 7th (Pauline Herman Photography) 

Jack Milner (TAB4Racing)

Rain has fallen once again in the Eastern Cape and as a result Friday’s race meeting at Fairview has done its predictable flip – from turf to poly.

The rain began to fall in the province on Sunday and there was more yesterday. With the precipitation expected to continue today, they were left with no option but to make the switch.

The only change at the meeting is that Race 4, originally carded to be run over 1800m, has now been increased to 1900m.

The change of surface could work out quite well for Alan Greeff-trained Fairy Knight, who lines up in the feature race of the day, the Non-Black Type Betway Speedsters Stakes over 1000m.

The runner-up last year, Fairy Knight will be looking to go one place better this time.

The winner that day, Song Of Myself, won by 3.50 lengths, but is missing from action this year.

Fairy Knight has won three times since then, but over further, and he can bounce back to claim this event under regular rider Richard Fourie.

The race is usually run at a furious speed which usually sees Fairy Knight, who tends to lose ground at the start, sitting too far. However, going around the turn this time could suit him better as it is likely to slow down the early pace to some degree and could see Fairy Knight sitting a little closer to the leaders.

The main threat is likely to come from Danish Dynamite and Anuschka’s World.

Danish Dynamite is pacy and she has won five of her 12 starts. Clearly at her most lethal on the Polytrack so the change of surface will suit her, she also goes particularly well for jockey Craig Zackey.

One World gelding Anuschka’s World has been at his very best this year, and his last run at Greyville is easily dismissed. In addition, jockey Muzi Yeni knows how to get the best out of him.

It could also bring speedy Cliff Top into the reckoning as he has a record of three wins and five places in nine runs over the course and distance.

It is a very open race and recent recruits to racing in the Eastern Cape, Mover And Shaker and Mount Pilatus, are both capable of scoring.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 9 Lightscameraaction, Princess Chante, 8 Dancing Amber, 1 Champagne Blaze

Race 2: 8 Caravantovaccares, 6 Silva Streaker, 1 Time Honored, 2 Monkey’s Wedding

Race 3: 1 Heliotrope, 2 George Handel, 4 Anatolian Silver, 3 Hollandia Bakkerij

Race 4: 6 Past And Present, 1 Johnny Drama, 2 Kaleesh Cyborg, 8 Amanzimtexas

Race 5: 1 Made To Measure, 2 Redlight Lane, 3 Burning Desire, 4 Witching Hour

Race 6: 7 O Space O, 5 Crimson Clover, 1 Rhydian, 3 Sliver Of Sunshine

Race 7: 1 Fairy Knight, 6 Danish Dynamite, 2 Anuschka’s World, 5 Cliff Top

Race 8: 9 Chatterbox, 3 Make Believe, 4 Morfeliha, 5 Sweet Julia

BEST BET

Race 5: 1 Made To Measure

VALUE BET

Race 6: 7 O Space O

BEST SWINGER

Race 5 1×2

BIPOT

R162

Leg 1: 4, 8, 9

Leg 2: 1, 6, 8

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 1, 2, 6

Leg 5: 1

Leg 6: 1, 5, 7

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R162

Leg 1: 1, 6, 8

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 1, 2, 6

Leg 4: 1

Leg 5: 1, 5, 7

Leg 6: 1, 6

Leg 7: 3, 4, 9

PICK 6

R1440

Leg 1: 1, 2, 4

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7

Leg 5: 1, 2, 5, 6

Leg 6: 3, 4, 5, 9

JACKPOT 1

R120

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7

Leg 4: 1, 2, 5, 6

JACKPOT 2

R80

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7

Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 6

Leg 4: 3, 4, 5, 9

Andrew Harrison (Race Coast)

Racing in KwaZulu-Natal at this time of the year can be trying times for punters. All the big guns have gone home or being prepared for the forthcoming feature seasons in the three provinces, and now it is the turn of the lessor lights.

Punters face another competitive card on the turf at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday night, but there is always opportunity for those prepared to marry the form with the market.

Heading proceedings is a Middle Stakes for fillies and mares over 1200m. It is a tricky handicap with a number of runners with winning credentials. Assistant Terry Fripp saddles SCARLET MACAW for Candice Bass and he has dropped the mare to a sprint. However, she has useful form in Gr 1 company and although fluffed her lines last time out when hot favourite, her class could see her make amends.

Frank Robinson does duty for Justin Snaith when he saddles MATCH THAT who showed up well first run in KZN. She steps to a trip that should suit although she does have a wide draw to contend with. INFINITY EDGE has been hammered by the handicappers, racing off a rating of 103 after just one win. She is slowly coming down in the ratings, but still has a big weight. The blinkers come off and she has the best of the draw. MISS WORLD is seldom out of the money and runs well on this course.

Supporting feature is a C Stakes over 1200m, seventh on the card, where SCOTS WAE HAE will be out to make amends after blowing the start of his last race when starting favourite. The colt had shown promise in his first two and could be worth another chance. Stuart Ferrie sends out KID FROM THE SOUTH, who showed up well first run out of the maidens. He shed his maiden over course and distance and looks progressive. WHO BLINKED showed up well on the poly last run, but his turf form is consistent, and he has the benefit of a 4kg claimer aboard. XENOPHON is Sean Tarry’s only runner on the night. The gelding has patchy form but will be competitive on his day and is one to watch closely in the market.

In the first, BLENHEIM PALACE is likely to start a short-priced favourite as her last three runs have been promising and the form of the opposition looks to be decidedly thin. Danger could be CHANTILLY LADY who is lightly raced and was much improved at her second start. With little improvement she could be the biggest danger.

The second is a competitive maiden, but Clinton Binda makes the trip from the Highveld with DREADNAUGHT, his only runner on the day. The colt has shown up well in both starts and was a close-up third over the distance at just his second outing. He may be the one to beat. But he faces plenty of opposition. JUDICIARY was disappointing last run after making a promising debut, but Keagan de Melo stays with the ride from an in form stable. DANNY ATLAS was narrowly beaten first up on the poly with blinkers. It was not the strongest field but he is improving. SEBASTIAAN improved nicely in a sprint at just his second start and should much prefer this trip. He is one to watch in the betting.

Peter Muscutt is looking after Ricky Maingard’s runner in KZN and he saddles ZAGREB in the first leg of the Pick 6. The gelding is lightly raced and showed up well first run out of the maidens. He does appear to have more to come and is slightly down in class. SONG TO THE MOON is never far back and has come down two points in the ratings. He also has the best of the draw. NEXT OF KIN is hardly ever out of the money and is better than his last run on the poly. He gets a useful 4kg claimer aboard which adds to his appeal.

Only seven runners line up in the fourth but it is tough to call. CAPTAIN’S PRIDE and BLUE POPPY meet on exactly the same weight terms as last time out with a neck separating them. It should be close again, but CAPTAIN’S PRIDE was finishing the stronger and could go one better. Winner that day, RIKKITIKKITAVI meets this pair on 1kg worse terms. She led all the way in a desperate finish in what was her first run after showing useful Cape form. SPIRIT OF SHIMLA was a comfortable winner of her last start but got a five-pound increase in the ratings.

In the fifth, TAYLOR’S VERSION is down in class and has a useful claiming apprentice up from a handy draw. She should be a big runner in what is an open affair. Garth Puller sends of AMPHITRITE who has not been too far back since shedding her maiden but has come down in the ratings. She only has 48.5kg to shoulder and could go all the way. MOUNTAINSOFTHEMOON has consistent recent poly form, but her recent turf form is suspect and she does have the widest draw. OCOTILLO has her third run after a short break but her last two runs were on the poly which may be a concern.

Rounding off the evening is a Class 5 sprint over 1000m. TIPPERARY took an age to shed her maiden, winning at her thirty second start. However, she was always consistent and could follow up in field of exposed handicappers. ANGEL’S OASIS needed her last run in her first outing for a new stable. She should come on from that and be competitive in a tough handicap. SOVEREIGN GEM is improving as her rating drops, and she should be competitive in this line-up. Japura returns from a lengthy break but has shown ability and if not short of a run she can go close.

Trainer David Hayes declared sprint sensation Ka Ying Rising “totally clear” following a minor injury scare going into Sunday’s (6 September) season-opening HK$4.2 million G3 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin.

The first Group contest of the season had long been planned as the lead-up race to a defence of Ka Ying Rising’s AU$20 million (approx. HK$112 million) G1 The Everest (1200m) crown at Royal Randwick in Sydney on 17 October. But the discovery of bruising on the champion sprinter’s left hind foot momentarily threw his preparation into doubt.

“I think he kicked his concrete feed bin, and bruised his hind foot,” Hayes said. “He was definitely sore on Monday. But Tuesday, Wednesday and today he’s been perfect. He’s had Doppler scans, CT scans and an X-ray, so he’s totally clear.”

Hayes admitted to having some concerns ahead of a gallop on Thursday morning (3 September), but his worries were allayed when the world’s top-rated sprinter, who will start as comfortable favourite despite giving the maximum 20 pounds to the remainder of the six-horse field on Sunday, came through his work with ease.

“If he wasn’t right, I wasn’t going to run him,” Hayes said. “I was shattered on Monday morning, but I’m very happy today. This horse, I can assure punters, will be fine at the weekend.”

The focus now switches to Sunday’s contest, which Ka Ying Rising will bid to win for a third straight year and extend his record winning streak to 21 victories, before attention turns to The Everest.

Hayes was confident when discussing the champion sprinter’s prospects after the six-year-old completed an easy 400m gallop in 25.4s on the Sha Tin dirt.

“He was really good. The riding boy certainly thought he was at the top of his game, so that’s always nice to hear,” Hayes said.

The two-time Hong Kong Champion Trainer (1997/98 & 1998/99) said lessons had been learned regarding his preparation for the Sydney showdown, and that he was aiming to have Ka Ying Rising at his brilliant best for The Everest, starting with the pre-Everest trial.

“I probably had him too fresh going into that trial,” Hayes said. “He got very stirred up with the big crowd all going to see him. I think this year he’ll have just a little bit more work, and he won’t be as fizzy. And, hopefully, he won’t have all the problems after the trial that we had with the perception that he was not right.

“Visually, (The Everest) was his worst performance of the season, but he still won by a length-and-a-half, and didn’t have the whip on him. I think this year, hopefully, Australians can see him at his best, and we’re doing everything we possibly can to have him at his best,” he added.

Champion jockey Zac Purton said he felt Ka Ying Rising was an improved horse going into this season.

“He’s a bigger, heavier, stronger horse now than what he was back then,” Purton said. “We’ve seen that when he went to Australia, he developed down there, and he continued to get bigger and stronger as the season went on. And it was a good sign that he got even bigger in Conghua when he had that break.

“He does look like a much stronger horse, definitely than what he was 12 months ago, but even from what he was at the end of last season. He could go well for another good season, hopefully.”

Sunday’s (6 September) 10-race fixture at Sha Tin starts at 12.30pm with the Class 5 Glenealy Handicap (1200m). Admission to the racecourse opens at 10.30am.

Romantic Warrior is the highest-earning racehorse in history, amassing HK$288.74 million (approx. US$36.83 million) in prizemoney.
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Hong Kong racing community pays tribute to ‘complete package’ Romantic Warrior

HKJC

The Hong Kong racing fraternity has paid tribute to Romantic Warrior following confirmation on Wednesday (2 September) that a leg injury has brought down the curtain on the career of the five-time Champion Middle-Distance Horse and two-time Hong Kong Horse of the Year.

The Peter Lau-owned eight-year-old will be transferred from the yard of his trainer Danny Shum to Conghua to undergo rehabilitation before a later decision is made about where he will be retired.

The Hong Kong International Sale graduate ended his glittering racing career with a record of 24 wins from 31 starts, crowned by 15 Group 1 wins. He is also the highest-earning racehorse in history, amassing HK$288.74 million (approx. US$36.83 million) across one of racing’s finest careers.

The son of Acclamation has dominated Hong Kong racing in recent years, yet a selection of trainers who attempted the unenviable task of overhauling Romantic Warrior, as well as jockeys who competed against him, spoke about his impact on Hong Kong racing.

Many pointed to his blistering turn of foot, remarkable versatility and exceptional temperament, while others highlighted the intelligence and determination that made him such a formidable competitor.

Nine-time Hong Kong Champion Jockey Zac Purton noted Romantic Warrior’s unerring ability to produce a decisive kick when it mattered.

“He was a very hard horse to beat and a couple of times when I thought I had him beat, he would just find that bit extra when he needed. He knew where the winning post was,” Purton said.

“He just did everything right. He had good gate speed, put himself in the right spot, he was versatile. He could race on the speed or a little bit further back off it if the speed was hot. And he could do it at the top level from a mile (1600m), all the way to 2400 metres. I don’t think I’ve seen a horse as versatile as him in my time,” he added.

Master trainer John Size agreed that Romantic Warrior’s knack of finding the line set him apart.

“He seemed to know where the winning post was, and he knew how to get there first,” Size said. “He’s far and away better than any horse I’ve ever had. There’s nothing I’ve got to compare with that.”

Douglas Whyte was one of the few trainers to saddle a horse that beat Romantic Warrior at Group 1 level when Russian Emperor beat him by a neck in the 2023 G1 Standard Chartered Champions & Chater Cup (2400m).

“I think Romantic Warrior was coming to the end of his preparation; he had had a long season, and he found himself in front in the Champions & Chater Cup. He didn’t really get a breather,” Whyte said. “It was a rain-affected track as well, which my horse obviously appreciated. So, circumstances helped me out, but (Romantic Warrior) is one of the best I’ve seen and one of the hardest to get past.

“He was nothing flashy to look at. But he certainly had heart and that dominance that he wants to win. When you get that in a horse, it just sets him apart from the rest,” he added.

Russian Emperor was ridden that day by Australian Racing Hall of Famer Hugh Bowman, who is perhaps best known for his long association with another racing great, the legendary mare Winx.

He also played a part in Romantic Warrior’s career, assisting trainer Shum with helping prepare the gelding in recent years.

“Over the last couple of years, I’ve just helped with some trials and a little bit of trackwork when required,” Bowman said. “He’s just a very special individual. He’s just got such a good temperament and such a good heart. They can’t beat him at 2000 metres.”

Bowman said Romantic Warrior was the only horse he would compare with 25-time Group 1 winner Winx.

“On the first day I rode him, in a gallop at Sha Tin, (he was) the only horse that I would say I could talk about in the same sentence as Winx. Whether he beats her or she beats him is a meaningless discussion, but I think it’s fair to compare the two.”

Karis Teetan was in the saddle for Romantic Warrior’s Four-Year-Old Classic Series campaign and rode him to victory in the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) and the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m). He said while he and Shum knew they had something special in Romantic Warrior, they couldn’t have known how dominant he would go on to become.

“When I sat on him the first time, in the (Hong Kong) Classic Mile, he gave me a really good feel,” Teetan said. “Going towards the (BMW Hong Kong) Derby, he just gave me a lot of confidence. We knew we were on the right horse, and I’m not surprised where he’s ended up because the feel he gave me then, it just shows in what he’s gone and done.

“Honestly, I did not realise he would be that good. What he’s done in his career, season in, season out… He’s come back from injury and he’s actually performed even better. So, we knew he was a very good horse. He felt very special when I rode him.”

Mark Newnham trains My Wish, who will be aiming to take Romantic Warrior’s place as Hong Kong Champion Miler in the new season. Before making his Group 1 breakthrough in last season’s FWD Champions Mile (1600m), Newnham’s charge had twice trailed home behind James McDonald on Romantic Warrior.

“Well, it’s a difficult task when you look at his record,” Newnham said. “Really, you’ve got to hope that he doesn’t run up to his best, because his best is better than everybody else’s. You could only prepare your horse and hope that (Romantic Warrior) didn’t perform to his best. But that didn’t happen very often.

“His racing brain was what made him great. He was always quick out of the barrier, quick to get a position, relax and save energy. He had a good turn of foot and would fight hard. So, he was the complete package. He didn’t make any mistakes,” Newnham added.