Wilmien Fourie's Academy Dream Comes True

Wilmien Fourie won the only race she has ridden in on the Alyson Wright-trained Tribute To You and she will be out to make it two from two on Saturday in the Okapi Ladies International before joining the SA Jockey Academy on Monday (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Turf Talk

Wilmien Fourie rides in the Okapi Ladies International on Saturday at the L’Ormarins King’s Plate meeting at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and that will in fact be her last riding action as an amateur because she has been accepted in to the South African Jockeys Academy (SAJA) and moves in to their quarters as an apprentice on Monday.

This is a dream come true for Wilmien, who work rides for many yards at Summerveld and who won her only ever workriders race.

SAJA offered her the opportunity to work with Academy staff for a trial period of three months and the condition was they would consider her for enrolment if she was able to get her weight down to 53kg.

Through hard work, discipline and good advice she managed to achieve that goal and was duly accepted into the Academy.

She will have to still go through the normal “baby steps” of an apprentice before riding in races, despite her experience in workriding.

The yard she worked the most for was that of Alyson Wright and they also provided her with only race ride in July last year on the four-year-old year-old Wylie Hall colt Tribute To You.

Wilmien impressed with her strategy and patience in the 1200m event at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, sticking to her outside station after noticing the better ground on that line on the way to the start. She did not panic when out of her ground and the horse duly ran on strongly in the final stages to win by five lengths.

On Saturday Wilmien will be aboard the Glen Kotzen-trained What A Winter colt Connery.

She has been in Cape Town since Monday and worked Connery on both Tuesday and Thursday at Kotzen’s Woodhill Estate training centre, including in the presence on Tuesday of Robert Bloomberg, in whose colours Connery runs.

Those colours have been carried to July glory by the Mike Bass-trained Dunford (Shalford) in 2005, which will add to the excitement Wilmien has in anticipation of Saturday’s race.

She said she did have a game plan, but did not want to give too much away.

She added, “This morning he felt amazing and I think he has a fair chance.”

Connery did not enjoy blinkers last time and they have come off.

He had some fine earlier form, finishing two close up thirds and a close up fourth in his first three starts respectively from 1000m to 1250m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville.

Wilmien views the Justin Snaith-trained pair Noon Day Gun and Gravity as the horses to beat.

Wilmien will stay full time on the Academy premises from Monday and will be working with riding masters Martin Ball, Nicky Roebuck and Rocky Agrella.

She hoped they did not adjust her style too much.

“I really enjoy the way I ride!” she admitted.

Wilmien’s dream of becoming a jockey is now very much alive.

She concluded, “There are exciting things to come!”

Entering the Academy with a hundred percent race riding record will be a fine way to kickstart her stint at the world famous insitution, so watch out for a late charge from the bright orange colours with a blue cap in Saturday’s opening event at the famous L’Ormarins King’s Plate meeting at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT WILMIEN’S WORKRIDER’S RACE WIN AND HER HISTORY IN THE HORSERACING INDUSTRY

See It Again Out To End KZN'S 30 Year LKP Drought

Piere Strydom was the last jockey to win the Queen’s Plate (King’s Plate) on a KZN-trained horse, on the David Payne-trained Take A Walk 30 years ago in 1994, and he will be out to not only repeat that feat on Saturday but also to equal Anton Marcus’s record number of seven wins in the prestigious weight for age event. Strydom is pictured above winning the WSB Green Point Stakes on the ruling L’Ormarins King’s Plate favourite See It Again (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Turf Talk

Michael Roberts has been in Cape Town for the whole week and reports the L’Ormarins King’s Plate favourite See It Again to be in fine shape.

The Summerveld-based trainer is viewing Saturday’s race as a fine opportunity to bring the trophy for the country’s most prestigious weight for age mile back to KZN for the first time in thirty years.

An interesting coincidence is that the last time a KZN horse won the big race, back in 1994, the rider aboard the David Payne-trained NZ-bred winner called Take A Walk (Bakharoff) was none other than Piere Strydom, who rides See It Again on Saturday.

KZN trainers had actually dominated the Queen’s Plate in the early 1980s, Herman Brown Snr winning it with Foveros and Yamani in 1982 and 1985 respectively, Ricky Maingard winning it with the great Wolf Power in 1983 and 1984 and David Payne winning it with Spanish Pool in December 1984.

However, after Brown’s 1985 win, Payne was the next and last KZN trainer to win it when successful in 1994.

Michael Roberts won two Queen’s Plates as a rider, both of them on KZN-trained horses. He rates the Fred Rickaby-trained Sledgehammer the best horse he ever rode in South Africa and won the Queen’s Plate on him in 1975 (Sledgehammer also won the race in 1976 albeit under Garth Puller). Roberts’ other Queen’s Plate win was on Wolf Power in 1983.

Strydom has won no fewer than six Queen’s Plates and he will be out to equal the record of Anton Marcus, who won the big race seven times.

Michael Roberts said about See It Again’s current well-being, “He is in good nick. Everything is nice, I am happy with him, no problems. We just hope for a nice clean run race.”

Roberts is very happy with the draw of four and said on any track being drawn on, or towards the inside, was an advantage.

“The shortest way home is always the best way for me.”

Michael said about the superstar Twice Over colt’s impressive Gr 2 WSB Green Point Stakes win over what had previously been thought to be the too sharp LKP mile course and distance: “We can’t get carried away, the horse’s best trip is obviously a stamina test. But the way he won the Green Point as a prep run, I was very taken by that obviously. In saying that I think he has come on from the run.”

He reitereated, “The Green Point was not his mission. It was a come on run and although we can’t say we were surprised because we were all hopeful he could win, we can’t say we did everything in our power to win.”

He added, “It was probably the best ride Piere has had on the horse. He had a lovely trouble free run and was in the right place all the time and moved at the right time, which always helps.”

Michael concluded about the superstar 132-rated colt, “He is in good shape and I have no negatives about him.”

See It Again is owned by KZN businessman Nick Jonsson and was bred by Drakenstein Stud, which is housed on the lower slopes of the wine estate L’Ormarins, who sponsor the King’s Plate.

Sandringham In A Good Space Ahead Of Sunday's Big Clash

Picture: Sandringham Summit at the BSA National Yearling Sales where he was purchased for R1.7 million. (Image: BSA)

Turf Talk

Sandringham Summit faces his arch rival Main Defender on Sunday in the Gr 3 Betway Got The Greenlight Stakes over 1400m.

Trainer David Nieuwenhuizen gave the thumbs up about his well-being despite the horse having had to work hard in his last race in the Gr 2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans over 1600m.

Nothing panned out well for him in that race and he had to be content with third place after running on from a hopeless position.

On Sunday he has to give main Defender 1kg, just as he did in the Gr 2 Betway Graham Beck Stakes over the same course and distance, and he will be out to reverse a short-head beating.

Previously, they clashed in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment of The Day Champion Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville as two-year-olds and Sandringham Summit won by a comfortable 2,40 lengths.

David said, “He’s doing very, very well. He’s in a good space at the moment. He came out of his last race well. His work has been good;. I am very happy with him and we are going in to the race very confident that he will run a very, very big race.”

He said about his third place finish in the Gr 2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans, where he started at cramped odds of 1/3.

“We obviously have to draw a line through that run. He was interfered with by Dennis Schwarz, whose mount kept on hanging in on Gavin and trying to take his position. As he did that Muzi’s mount came out, so Gavin had to drop back and then he dropped the bit. So things didn’t work out there at all well. To be off the bridle and then have to pick it up again and then make up that number of lengths, he did exceptionally well to run so close.”

He continued, “We have to go forward now. There is new ownership and it is fantastic there is a racing and stud syndication through Varsfontein, who bred him. He still has a lot to do and obviously the 1400m is a little too sharp for him. This is just the beginning and he then goes in to the big races, the Gr 2 WSB Gauteng Guineas and the Gr 1 WSB SA Classic. Then we will take it from there.”

Despite having had to work hard in the Dingaans, the Gimmethegreenlight colt recovered well and “is in a good space.”

He has pole position and Gavin Lerena stays aboard.

Calvin Habib rode him in his Gr 1 win and had been another option, but he is not able to commit to being the horse’s full time rider for work and races because he is associated with Main Defender.

Grade One winners of 2023 -and who picked them

Drakenstein Stud had remarkable Gr 1 success with homebreds in 2023 (Picture: Candiese Lenferna)

Sarah Whitelaw

No fewer than 23 horses won 29 G1 races run in South Africa last year. In terms of individual G1 wins for 2023, South Africa’s reigning Horse Of The Year Princess Calla topped the log having scored three times at G1 level last year.

Four horses won a pair of G1 races in South Africa in 2023, namely Desert Miracle, Gimme A Prince, Isivunguvungu, and See It Again.

But who were the top sires and broodmare sires of Grade One winners last year? And how did home breds fare in Grade One races in comparison to horses purchased off sales?

Leading Sires of Grade One winners in 2023

South Africa’s Champion Sire of 2022-2023, Gimmethgreenlight, was responsible for four Grade One winners of five Grade One races in 2023. His quartet of top level winners last year were Bless My Stars, Lucky Lad, Sandringham Summit and Gimme A Prince, with the latter victorious in both the G1 Pongracz Cape Flying Championship and G1 Golden Horse Sprint in 2023.

Former champion sire Trippi was another stallion to have an outstanding year in 2023, with his sons Charles Dickens, Jet Dark, Trip Of Fortune and Winchester Mansion all winning Grade One races, with Jet Dark and Winchester Mansion providing their sire with a rare Met/July double with two different horses in one year. Trippi’s former stablemate Lancaster Bomber confirmed his premature death was a sad loss to South Africa, with his first crop runners Beach Bomb and Snow Pilot victorious in the G1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas and G1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas respectively.

Unfortunately enough, the other stallions responsible for two Grade One winners in South Africa last year, namely Dynasty and Duke Of Marmalade, are also now deceased. While Duke Of Marmalade was responsible for both G1 WSB SA Derby winner Son Of Raj and G1 Woolavington 2000 winner Rain In Holland, Dynasty’s daughters Desert Miracle and Make It Snappy captured the G1 Schweppes Majorca Stakes and G1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes and G1 Cartier Paddock Stakes respectively in 2023.

Leading Broodmare Sires of Grade One winners in 2023

The wonderful Dynasty also made his mark at the highest level as a broodmare sire in 2023. Charles Dickens (out of the G2 winning Dynasty mare Demanding Lady) won the 2023 G1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, while the impeccably bred Beach Bomb (out of Dynasty’s star daughter Beach Beauty) won the G1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas last year.

Another much missed stallion Silvano was also broodmare sire of a pair of Grade One winners in 2023, with Silvano mares Bandola and Star Express responsible for 2023 G1 winners Bavarian Beauty and Bless My Stars respectively, while the late Kahal was also broodmare sire of a pair of Grade One winners last year, with both Mrs Geriatrix (Allan Robertson Championship) and Royal Victory (Betway Summer Cup) out of daughters of Kahal.

However, it was Captain Al, South Africa’s Leading Broodmare Sire of 2022-2023, who was broodmare sire of the most Grade One winners in South Africa last year. Captain Al, who is currently atop of South Africa’s Leading Broodmare Sires premiership for 2023-2024, was broodmare sire of three Grade One winners last year, who won five Grade One races between them. Reigning Horse Of The Year Princess Calla (out of the Captain Al mare and G2 Sceptre Stakes winner Princess Royal) won all of the South African Fillies Sprint, Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes, and HKJC Champions Cup, Sandringham Summit (out of the G2 winning Captain Al mare Townsend) won the World Pool Moment Of The Day Premiers Champion Stakes, and Snow Pilot (out of Captain Al’s dual G1 winning daughter Snowdance) won the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas.

Sales ring vs homebreds?

Remarkably, six horses bred and owned by Drakenstein Stud won Grade One races in South Africa during 2023, with Drakenstein bred and owned runners Beach Bomb, Charles Dickens, Rain In Holland, Snow Pilot, Trip Of Fortune and Winchester Mansion all scoring at the highest level in 2023.

Other horses to win Grade One races for their owner-breeders in 2023 were Desert Miracle (twice), Gimme A Prince (twice), and Son Of Raj, while 2023 G1 Cartier Paddock Stakes winner Make It Snappy was leased by her breeders Ridgemont to Hollywood Syndicate.

Al Muthana, winner of the 2023 L’Ormarins King’s Plate, began his racing career for his breeder Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum before being sold to his current connections, while Anfields Rocket (sold for just R11 000 in 2020), was also sold by original owner Grant Maroun to the Hollywood Syndicate.

South Africa’s reigning Horse Of The Year Princess Calla was a R600 000 buy from the 2019 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, while G1 Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes winner Bavarian Beauty was a R250 000 buy from the 2022 Premier Sale.

Equus Champions, and 2023 G1 winners, Bless My Stars, Jet Dark, Mrs Geriatrix and Sandringham Summit are all past graduates from the National Yearling Sale, with Kestorm Investments putting up R250 000 to acquire Bless My Stars from the 2021 National Sale. Nick Jonsson went to R200 000 to buy now retired champion Jet Dark from the 2019 sale, while Sandringham Summit was knocked down to Rakesh Singh for R1 700 000 at the 2022 National Yearling Sale.

Charismatic filly Mrs Geriatrix did not make her original reserve but was later bought by Sean Tarry for R200 000 with Mrs Geriatrix having gone through the ring at the 2022 National Sale, while her eventual stablemate and Gold Medallion winner Lucky Lad was snapped up by Antony Beck for R850 000 at the same sale.

Summer Cup winnr Royal Victory was bought by Nathan Kotzen for R90 000 at the 2021 National Sale while dual Grade One winner in 2023 See It Again was a R120 000 buy from the 2021 Cape Premier Yearling Sale.

Champion sprinter Isivunguvungu, a dual Grade One winner in 2023, was purchased by Hollywood Syndicate privately in 2020, while 2023 World Sports Betting Premier’s Champions Challenge winner Puerto Manzano was bought for the equivalent of R550 000 by Justin Vermaak in Argentina.

Mark Van Deventer Tips Charles For LKP Glory

Can Charles Dickens give sponsors Drakenstein Stud their first L’Ormarins King’s Plate victory as owners? (Picture: Wayne Marks)

– Written by Mark van Deventer

the 2023 L’Ormarins King’s Plate (WFA), AL MUTHANA caused a serious boil over when stunning 2/9 favourite CHARLES DICKENS, under a superb steer by Bernard Fayd Herbe. These top-class milers will tangle once again in this year’s renewal, carded as Race 7, at 16h10 at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

Add middle distance star, SEE IT AGAIN, who sports the same 132 OMR as CHARLES DICKENS and can go some over 1600m, and it is shaping up to be an epic Grade 1 tussle.

These three runners tower over their opposition on pure ability, but they all come with “wealth warnings.” AL MUTHANA has run sterlingly in defeat in the Drill Hall Stakes and Gold Challenge, yet remains without a victory since that L’Ormarins King’s Plate stunner. He is drawn out wide at 12 and comes in off a well-beaten 7th place finish in the World Sports Betting Green Point Stakes won by SEE IT AGAIN. The market seems to be taking an especially dim view (again!) of his chances with early quotes as big of 33/1.

For all his undoubted brilliance, CHARLES DICKENS is a quirky individual that is difficult to train and ride. It’s amazing that he’s won nine of 12 high-level starts despite often not settling properly, then hanging badly in the closing stages. Notwithstanding those quibbles, bookies are justifiably wary of this brilliant equine star – he is on offer at 13/10.

SEE IT AGAIN needs a test of stamina to show his real worth. His considerable class is enabling him to win over shorter distances, and the even money favourite will require a hot early tempo to be seen to best effect. Whether he gets the right pace set up is hard to predict, making those skinny, even money offers unappealing.

Perhaps long-striding lurker, MONTIEN, pace-pressing SNOW PILOT and free-running but poorly drawn ROYAL AUSSIE will try get across and contest the lead to ensure a true run King’s Plate?

33/1 longshot, DOUBLE SUPERLATIVE is a dark horse. He won the ’21 Cape Guineas and ran with distinction at his next start when fourth behind KOMMETDIEDING in the ’22 MET. A subsequent tendon injury set him back big time, and it remains to be seen if he will ever regain the exceptional talent he flashed as a three-year-old when he was awarded a merit rating of 125. In his last sprint behind reopposing COSMIC HIGHWAY, he kicked on from dead last to finish midfield two lengths back, so he comes into the race with good heart.

For his part, COSMIC HIGHWAY is not the worst 66/1 shot you will find. He has hit form again after being gelded and returned home, winning the G2 Cape Merchants with a decisive burst a month ago. At three he ran close in the Concorde Cup and Cape Guineas (when DOUBLE SUPERLATIVE proved a couple of lengths superior over the distance), and he should get the run of the race from the inside alley.

Other than SNOW PILOT, who won the Cape Guineas three weeks ago with a perfect trip, the only other three-year-old is HLUHLUWE. He finished two lengths behind in that classic, having defeated his Justin Snaith trained stable mate by half a length at their penultimate clash when finishing much the better of the two. They are given equivalent probabilities with both offered at 16/1 in ante-post calls.

Of the remainder, SPEED MACHINE is a mudlark who won’t get his preferred ground in mid-summer; KING REGENT could be best as a sprinter, and the same can be said of his Glen Kotzen-trained stable companion, COUNTDOWN, while ANFIELDS ROCKET finished around half a dozen lengths off CHARLES DICKENS and SEE IT AGAIN in Durban Graded features, so seems comfortably held.

In summary, the magical miler with an awesome turn of foot, CHARLES DICKENS is marginally preferred over high-class, SEE IT AGAIN for the win in this historic G1, but neither appeal as betting propositions at such skimpy odds. They can probably be used to lock up the Leg by exotic bettors in Jackpots and P6’s, though.

Bigger priced each way alternatives for contrarian, spec bettors include live longshot, COSMIC HIGHWAY, under-rated defending champ, AL MUTHANA and mystery horse, DOUBLE SUPERLATIVE.

Juvenile fillies To The Fore At Fairview

Gavin Smith looks set for another good meeting (Pauline Herman Photography)

Jack Milner (4Racing)

Eastern Cape Champion trainer Gavin Smith has been in very good form of late and his runners could take centre stage once again at Fairview on Friday.

It is great to see it is a turf meeting with bigger fields and lots of competitive racing.

The meeting will kick off with the first Juvenile fillies only race and Heavenly Blue filly Happy Holly will represent Smith. This filly will be ready to run on debut.

Trainer Alan Greeff usually has a good one lined up for this race and Master Of My Fate filly Splicethemainbrace and the pair have been riced up joint favourites at 22-10.

The other newcomer to catch the eye is the Captain Of All filly Serendipitous with Muzi Yeni in the irons.

Jet Bund in Race 3, a Maiden Plate over 1600m, will be carrying the hopes of most exotic players as he could be a banker bet.

The Coup De Grace gelding has been runner-up in both of his local starts and should go one better this time.

Jet Bund was caught out of his ground on the Polytrack in November and was only run out of it late last time out on the turf. The step up to 1600m will suit him.

The main danger looks to be Give Us A Smile and Swingers and Exactas with the two looks the way to go in this race.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 7 Splicethemainbrace, 6 Serendipitous, 3 Happy Holly, 4 Magical River

Race 2: 11 Lady Majorca, 1 Horsefly, 4 Raptor Island, 3 Swiss Walt

Race 3: 4 Jet Bund, 5 Give Us A Smile, 7 Regazzo Grande, 6 Mo Flow

Race 4: 5 Ellis Island, 1 Then In Focus, 2 Mohandas, 7 Spirit Princess

Race 5: 1 Storm Commander, 5 Trip To Barberton, 4 On The Guest List, 3 Woodland Ridge

Race 6: 2 Concerto, 1 Regina Bellissima, 6 Global Goddess, 7 Mediteraneangoddes

Race 7: 2 Rosa Dourada, 4 Dawn Of Gold, 3 United Express, 1 State Of Mind

Race 8: 1 Waz Wouter, 7 Admiral’s Ransom, 5 Batik, 4 Kuznetsov

BEST BET

Race 5: 1 Storm Commander

VALUE BET

Race 7: 2 Rosa Dourada

BEST SWINGER

Race 3 4×5

BIPOT

R108

Leg 1: 6, 7

Leg 2: 1, 4, 11

Leg 3: 4, 5

Leg 4: 1, 2, 5

Leg 5: 1

Leg 6: 1, 2, 6

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R243

Leg 1: 1, 4, 11

Leg 2: 4

Leg 3: 1, 2, 5

Leg 4: 1

Leg 5: 1, 2, 6

Leg 6: 2, 3, 4

Leg 7: 1, 5, 7

PICK 6

R1250

Leg 1: 4, 5

Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 1, 2, 6, 7, 8

Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6

Leg 6: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7

JACKPOT 1

R125

Leg 1: 1, 2, 5, 6, 7

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 1, 2, 6, 7, 8

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6

JACKPOT 2

R125

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 1, 2, 6, 7, 8

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6

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

Fourie, Calvin Habib Doubles

Richard Fourie clinched his double today (Thursday) in the last race on the Tyrone Zackey-trained Home Of The Brave (The United States) who made it a third career win (Picture: 4Racing)

Richard Fourie and Calvin Habib both scored doubles at Turffontein Standside today (Thursday).

Fourie is now on 129 wins for the season at a strike rate of 19.52%.

Habib is on 66 wins at 11.98%

Today’s Question

The picture above gives a clue to the answer

Which horse whom SA Hall Of Famer Michael Roberts rode to Gr 1 glory was the highest rated filly ever trained by the great Sir Henry Cecil?

Midweek FIELDS

Fairview Turf Fields, Friday

Today’s Question Answer

The picture is of Indian Skimmer (Michael Roberts up) winning the 1988 Sun Chariot Stakes at Newmarket. Roberts won three Gr 1s on her, the Irish Champion Stakes, the Champion Stakes and the Sun Chariot Stakes.

Steve Cauthen also won three Gr 1 races aboard the USA-bred Storm Bird filly, who reached a Timeform rating of 133.

Roberts was offered the ride after Cauthen was sidelined with injury.

He said she is without doubt the best filly he ever rode.

He described Henry Cecil as a gentleman to ride for.

He revealed, “I wanted to discuss the rides so went to his house for a drink and I recall one thing in particular he said. He said, ‘Michael, the only thing I will tell you is do not tell me there is no pace in a race. If I run a horse of mine over a-mile-and-a-quarter he is fit enough to run it from anywhere, it is your judgement how to do it.'”

Michael continued, “If you go through his form book, Cauthen used to love going to the front.”

Cauthen advised Michael to lift the Cecil horses at the three furlong mark (600m from home) and said they would just keep on galloping.