The Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Winchester Mansion is in fine shape ahead of the Gr 1 World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge (Picture: Liesl King)

Racing Today’s Johnny Geroudis spoke to James Crawford about Brett Crawford Racing’s runners on Champions Day and the yard are bullish of having a good day.

They run their Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Winchester Mansion in the Gr 1 World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge and James said, “He’s doing very well at home. His prep into the Summer Cup wasn’t ideal, there was always a little niggle here, a litle niggle there, so it never reallly played into our favour, but in saying that I don’t think he disgraced himself … he only ran 4,20 lengths behind Royal Victory (and is now 4kg better off). He’s had the necessary time off, we’ve treated him accordingly. His work and well-being going into this race is probably the best I’ve had hin since the July, so very, very happy with him. I wish we had a better draw, but I’m very happy with him and I’m quite bullish he will run a good race.”

In the Gr 2 TAB Hawaii Stakes over 1400m the yard run the 124 merit rated Querari gelding At My Command and James said, “He’s very well. In his last run he looks like he got a bit stuck with that heavy going, but you can’t discredit him on that run by any means (8,50 lengths behind Main Defender in the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m). We’re bringing him back to a trip that I think is more suited to him. We don’t have the best of draws and it looks to be quite a competitive field, but looking at the field it looks like there is going to be a genuine pace and I think that’s going to play into his hands. If we can just get him nice and settled and in a good rhythm and let him run on from there. If you look at merit ratings in the race he must be a respected horse as he has the highest handicap mark and carries only 58kg. He is very well at home, I am very happy with him.  I wish he had a bit of a better draw, but with how I see the race being run I don’t think it is going to be too much of a factor.”

In the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer SA Oaks, they run the progressive Rafeef filly Frances Ethel and James said, “She hasn’t put a foot wrong and looks to be a very progressive filly. She’s on the up and everytime I have stepped her up to a bigger challenge she’s comje and proven it to us, so very happy with her. Obviously this is a really big step up carrying level weights with some of the top, proven fillies who have run in features and Gr 1s. It is a big challenge for her, but I don’t think she’s going to have any problems seeing the trip out and on her work and well-being coupled with how progressive she is you must respect her on the day.”

In the Listed 4Racing Caradoc Gold Cup over 2850m they run six-year-old Dynasty gelding Crimson King and he said, “He won a very nice race last time out (over 2400m). We put him back to a trip that is more suitable. He’s stepping up in trip now, but I don’t think it’s going to be a problem by any means. He should have come on a ton from that last race. Striker always gets the best out of horses without using the crop. He is going t0o come on from that type of ride. very happy witih him, very happy with his well-being and a lot of the field look like they are out at the weights, which I think plays massively into our favour. There are one or two horses I am concerned about, but barring that on his work and his well-being I think he is also going to be a big runner on the day.”

Craig Zackey rides the Khaya Stables-owned At My Command and Kabelo Matsunyane rides the other three.

Puerto Manzano just gets up in last year’s Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Chalenge to deny rank outsider Second Base (JC Photos)

Johan Janse van Vuuren is deliberately light on runners on Champions Day and explained in an interview with Racing Today’s Vicky Lerena, “On big days like this I prefer having runners who can earn money instead of having runners just for tihe sake of it.”

Puerto Manzano is the defending champion in the Gr 1 World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge and is going for his third ccourse and distance Gr 1.

Johan said, “He’s moving better than he was before his last run. I did say before his 1600m run  last time that we struggled with him at the same time last year with a couple of niggles that we managed to fix. We have got a decent amount of work into him. He is always going to be a scratchy horse, he’s getting old now and we have mentioned in the past he has never been a very fluent mover. He’s over his right trip now and when Gavin worked him this morning (earlier this week) he said his work was very good. So once again, as I’ve said, we’ve struggled a bit so I’m not overly confident, but I do feel we have him a lot better than we had him for the mile last time. He’s in a smilar position to where he was last year this time and last year he did win it, so I definitely think he is the type of horse you have to give a good shout to on the day.”

In the Gr 1 TAB SA Derby he runs the Oratorio geldng Presley, who is out of Silvano mare Charisma, whose only win was over 1600m. He said, “None of us are 100% sure he is going to stay. We’re taking a chance … as Mr De Kock said in the interview last week many of these horses have stamina doubts, so we are prepared to take our chances. One thing about him is he switches off nicely and he also has a helluva turn of foot. So we will be happy to sit a bit off them, get him relaxed and try to ride him as patiently as possible. Hopefully he gets the 2450m and shows the turn of foot that we knows he has towards the end of the race … so I would say he can be put in larger Pick 6s. He’s very well in himself, but I’m not overly confident mainly because none of us are 100% sure he is going to stay.”

In race 3, the Gr 2 TAB SA Nursery, he runs the Erupt colt Mount Pinatubo and said, “He’s a helluva nice two-year-old. He’s a little bit coltish at the moment, but he’s putting up some tremendous work. If he brings his track work to the races, which I think he most probably will, he will win or run very close. ”

In the Master Archie at Stud Maiden Plate over 1160m, the meeting’s opener, he runs the hard knocking Vercingetorix filly So Seductive. He said, “This is her third run after a rest, she’s feeling good, she had a very go0d workout this morning (earlier this week). She will win or run very close.”

There will be a big crowd at Turffontein on Saturday and the way to play is on the Tote because it will be comingled into the World Pool, which will have massive pools (JC Photos)

For all the newcomers in the world of horse racing betting, understanding what a World Pool event is can seem daunting, but fear not, with this beginner’s guide to what one needs to know about World Pool events, especially the upcoming Champions Day. This will be day 3 of 4Racing’s 4-Part ‘The Championships Season’ which will take place on 6 April at the historic Turffontein Racecourse. This year’s Champions Day, hosted by 4Racing, is set to be the most electrifying yet, elevating the excitement to unprecedented levels.

1.     What is World Pool?

World Pool is the largest globally commingled betting pool in the world. It’s managed by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, allowing punters from 28 countries worldwide to bet into a single, massive pool. This means that all the bets placed by punters around the world are combined into one big pool, creating huge prize funds and exciting betting opportunities.

2.     How is it Different?

World Pool events are different from regular fixed odds in several ways. Firstly, the pools are much larger and more liquid, which means there’s more money in the pot for winners. World Pool also offers five different bet types, including Win, Place, Exacta, Quinella, Swinger, giving you more ways to bet and win.

3.     Why Bet on World Pool?

One of the biggest advantages of betting on World Pool is the higher odds that winners receive compared to starting prices. This means you can potentially win more money with World Pool betting. The larger pools also mean that you can place bigger bets without being restricted, and there’s the chance of a massive pay-out from a small stake on exotic markets.

4.     Benefits to the Industry?

World Pool events are not only exciting for punters but also beneficial for the horse racing industry. They help racecourses increase stakes for World Pool fixtures, which attracts top horses and enhances the overall quality of racing. World Pool also promotes international commingling partnerships, building collaboration among racing jurisdictions and supporting the sustainable funding model of pari-mutuel betting.

Champions Day being a World Pool event offers a thrilling and potentially lucrative betting experience for beginners and seasoned punters. To join the excitement racegoers can come enjoy a day at the race at the Turffontein Racecourse free of charge.

For those unable to attend and see the action live , the event will be broadcasted on Racing 240, DStv Channel 240 and on Racing Today’s YouTube channel, allowing fans to watch and bet from the comfort of their homes. So, get ready to place bets and enjoy the excitement of one of the biggest events on the South African horse racing calendar!

Don’t Cry For Me is still in the hands as he shocks favourite backers by beating the 4/10 shot Winds Of Change over 1200m at the Vaal Classic track today (JC Photos)

Winds Of Change by What A Winter has been unfortunate to bump into two smart One World colts in his last two starts, although today’s defeat came as a bit of a shock as he was sent off a 4/10 favourite.

Today the ice cool Piere Strydom allowed Winds Of Change to overtake his mount, the Sean Tarry-trained One World colt Don’t  Cry For Me, as he was travelling well and he knew he had something in the tank.

He duly cut back the deficit with ease late in the race to win easing up by half-a-length, although an indication of this pair’s class is that the rest of the field were beaten eight lengths and more.

At Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on WSB Cape Town Met day, Winds Of Change made his debut in the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1100m and was beaten 0,40 lengths at level weights by the previous winner Roman Agent (Vercingetorix).

Then on Splashout Cape Derby day he was runner up again, this time by 1,25 lengths to One World colt One Stripe in the Gr 3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery over 1200m.

It was not surprising he went off at such short odds today.

However, circumstances conspired against him, because he had a good draw of seven until they changed venues to the Vaal Classic track, whch meant he was widely drawn around the turn in the 1200m maiden.

Winds Of Change did not break well, but Muzi Yeni managed to get cover for him as they came into the straight.

He went through the gears impressively to strike the front.

Meanwhile, Don’t Cry For Me had broken well from draw one and got a lead which enabled Strydom to move him over towards the favourable going near the outside in the straight.

He had stolen a couple of lengths early on the favourite.

The wily Strydom then kept some fuel in the tank as usual and was content to just gold his mount together in the front.

Winds Of Change accelerated past while still in the hands and then set sail for home.

However, it was soon clear he going to battle to keep Don’t Cry For Me at bay as the latter was still cruising. And so it proved.

Don’t Cry For Me was One World’s 8th individual winner.

He is six winners clear of Buffalo Bill Cody in the freshman sire standings.

Piere Strydom revealed yesterday that the ASSM Syndicate, to whom he is cntracted to for three months, have some decent babies and Don’t Cry For me looks to be one of them.

National Colour’s grandson Celestial Legend (red striped cap) shows courage to win the Gr 1 Randwick Guineas (Picture: ANZBloodstockNews.com)

SA-bred National Assembly mare National Colour’s grey daughter by Snitzel, Sarraqa, is dam of current Australian-based Gr 1-winning colt Celestial Legend. This grey Dundeel colt won the Gr 1 Randwick Guineas on March 9 and this Saturday goes for the Gr 1 Aus$4million The Star Doncaster Mile, a handicap race which had its inaugural running over 150 years ago in 1866.

The Doncaster Mile has 20 runners and four reserves and among the reserves is the Territories five-year-old gelding Navajo Peak, who is trained by South African legend David Payne.

Zac Lloyd, the sensational 20-year-old apprentice, is riding in the race. The son of SA legend Jeff Lloyd will be aboard the Chris Waller-trained Lonhro gelding Lindermann, who is coming off a Gr 3 win over 2000m.

Celestial Legend is trained by Hall Of Famer Les Bridge, who has been training out of his Randwick Stables for 60 years. The Arrowfield-bred colt was an $AUS220,000 purchase. He carries just 49kg on Saturday and will be ridden by Tyler Schiller.

Celestial Legend is second favourite on the Tote paying AUS$8.50 and Lindermann is also fancied at AUS$17.

The race is due to start at 07H35 SA Time and is run at Randwick.

National Colour, who was bred by Advocate Altus Joubert, was one of the best sprinting fillies ever seen in ths country and this year’s BSA National Yearling Sale will mark the 20th anniversary of her being sold at this same Sale.

The Sean Tarry-trained grey was known for her exceptional gatespeed and blistering pace, two assets which enabled her to win the 2006 Gr 1 Computaform Sprint over 1160m by 4,25 lengths as a three-year-old.

She followed up by winning the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint and the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint.

She then went to Dubai and won a sprint on the dirt over 1000m before failing in the Gr 1 Golden Shaheen on the dirt.

She then went to England and was sixth in the Gr 1 Kings Stand Stakes at the Royal Ascot meeting, before being caught late in the Gr 1 Nunthorpe and losing by a half-a-length.

The Nunthorpe was unfortunately run at Newmarket that season, because the usual flatter and faster York venue would have suited her.

Her swansong was in the Gr 1 Prix de l’Abbaye, a course and distance which would have also suited her down to the ground, but unfortunately a false start caused chaos and ruined the race.

However, National Colour more than made up for her tough luck in Europe by becoming a magnificent broodmare.

She is the dam of Gr 1-producing SA-based sire Rafeef (Redoute’s Choice) and is dam of Rafeef’s full brother Mustaaqueem, who won the SA Nursery when it was a Gr 1 and now stands at stud in Chile.

Her legacy is now continuing in to the next generation via Celestial Legend.

Muzi Yeni clinched the first leg of his double today aboard the Mike de Kock-trained Danon Platina filly Platina Princess (far side), although it has to be said the runner up Soldier’s Eye was a touch unlucky, having been baulked at a crucial stage. (JC Photos).  

Muzi Yeni was the only double scorer today at the Vaal meeting, which was switched to the Classic track.

Yeni goes to 139 wins for the season at 13.31%.

The subject of the question is picture above (Image: Takarazuka Kinen)

Who was tihe first foreigner to win Japan’s jockey championship?

Christophe Lemaire became the first foreigner to win Japan’s jockey championship in 2017 and he won it for five years in succession up until 2021 and won a 6th title in 2023.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT CHRISTOPHE LEMAIRE’S CAREER