Turf Talk Newsletter – 04 March, 2025

Sean Tarry receives the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes trophy. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Sean Tarry can never be written off and his unusually low national log position of tenth at the halfway mark of this season was unlikely to last long and he has duly climbed up to a current fourth position behind runaway leader Justin Snaith with Alan Greeff and Vaughan Marshall in second and third places respectively.

Tarry could be second to Snaith for the third time in succession by the end of the season as he looks to have a lot of firepower approaching the remaining Highveld season features and the Champions Season features, although he looks to be too far behind Snaith to mount a challenge for a sixth title.

Tarry said the Maine Chance Farms-bred Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes winner Cosmic Speed would probably go for either the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes or Gr 2 WSB Guineas into the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge.

Cosmic Speed is a full-brother to the Gr 2-winning sprinter Cosmic Light and a half-brother to the useful twice Gr 2-winning sprint-miler Cosmic Highway, so would not be a certainty to stay further than a mile, although his speedy dam is by stamina influence Silvano and he runs as if he will get the 1800m of the Gr 1 Champions Cup.

Twice Gr 1-winner over 1200m, Lucky Lad , did not stay on Saturday as he faded late to finish last in the Horse Chestnut and Tarry said he would be coming down in trip for his future targets. The Gr 1 wfa Computaform Sprint will be first on his agenda and there will be the Gr 1 wfa Mercury Sprint over 1200m at the end of the season and races like the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m, with possibilities also being the now Gr 2 Golden Horse Sprint over 1200m, which he won last year but whose handicap benchmark has not yet been set, and the Gr 2 Post Merchants over 1200m.

Tarry’s next Gr 1 winner, to the surprise of some, could be Rascova. The Lancaster Bomber filly is coming off a win in the Gr 1 Maine Chances Farms Majorca Stakes and has been moved to Tarry’s Randjesfontein yard. She takes in the Gr 1 Empress Club Stakes on March 29 and Tarry said another obvious target would be the Gr 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes and the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint could be an option too.

He will have another Gr 1 chance on March 29 in the SA Derby with Legend Of Arthur, whom he clearly thinks highly of. The Lancaster Bomber colt was a 4,10 length third in the Gr 1 TAB SA Classic over 1800m on Saturday after a slow start.

Tarry said, “He was just too far out of his ground, but was finishing like a steam train. He would have had a very good prep going into the Derby and he is a Daily News July kind of horse. This horse is going to come and smash a field soon, he just has to relax in my opinion.”

Don’t Cry For Me finished a disappointing last in the SA Classic having won well over the course and distance last time.

Tarry said, “He has won in the going before. I don’t know if he travelled a bit too freely early on, I’m not too sure and haven’t got an answer.”

He will have options for the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks too with the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic third and fifth-placed fillies World Of Alice and Gerbera, who were beaten seven lengths and 11,25 lengths respectively by the easy winner Fiery Pegasus.

He said, “World Of Alice ran a very good race, she just gets a little bit too far back. That run will serve her well going into the Oaks. Gerbera didn’t run a bad race. She’s a big, heavy girl and I don’t know if the heavy going would have effected her, because she is 500kg plus. It might be trickier for a heavy horse like her to get out of the mud than a lighter horse. But, either they go in the going or they don’t and I thought she ran a fair race to a point and we’ll have to just see whether we go forward into the Oaks or not.”

Hotarubi had an amazing win over 1400m as he was seemingly beaten before switching outward and storming home under Piere Strydom.

Tarry said, “He is such an irritating horse. He ran a cracker but he doesn’t aways give of his best. Sometimes he pulls, sometimes he won’t go. He’s not stubborn but seems to do his own thing. I will probably nominate for the Gr 1 Premiers Champions Challenge, because I don’t know whether there are many highly rated horses around in Jo’Burg, and I will nominate for the July.”

Tarry believes Let’s Go Now, who ran second in the Listed Wilgerbosdrift Acacia Stakes over 1600m with topweight, would also be going for the Empress Club Stakes. He said Durban would be on the agenda for her but he said she had not seemed to enjoy it there last season, so he would have to look at changing the approach.

Tarry is not sure of the number but said he thought he had won 76 Gr 1 races to date and he could win more this season. Apart from the races above already mentioned, his two-year-olds are starting to shape up for his favourite Hollywoodbets Scottsville meeting and he should have a number of runners there too for the SA Fillies Sprint (Rascova, Mrs Browning, Troppo Veloce etc) and one or two for the Golden Horse could materialise.

Fiery Pegasus has the field stretched out like the washing in the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic. (JC Photos).

NHA Press Release

Handicapping Ratings Update

WILGERBOSDRIFT H F OPPENHEIMER HORSE CHESTNUT STAKES (Grade 1)

COSMIC SPEED was increased from 116 to 120 following his victory in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m at the Turffontein Standside Track on Saturday.

The Handicappers unanimously agreed that the third-place finisher, IMILENZEYOKUDUDUMA, was the most suitable line horse for assessing this race, leaving his rating unchanged at 114.  Runner-up TEXAS RED also saw an increase in his rating, going up to 115 from 110 for beating the 114-rated line horse at level weight terms.

No downward adjustments were made to any runners in this race.

TAB SA CLASSIC (Grade 1)

CONFEDERATE’S official merit rating was adjusted to 118 from 107 after he led from start to finish to win the Grade 1 SA Classic for three-year-olds over 1800m.

The Handicappers decided to use the third-place finisher, LEGEND OF ARTHUR, as the line horse, keeping his rating unaltered at 109. Besides the winner, three other horses received merit rating increases. Runner-up FIRE ATTACK was raised from 111 to 116 after finishing 3.40 lengths ahead of the 109-rated line horse at level weights. Fourth-place finisher GREY JET moved up from 96 to 108 after finishing just 0.40 lengths behind the line horse at level weights. Lastly, BUSSTOPINHOUNSLOW was increased from 95 to 104.

CHESTNUT BOMBER was the only runner to receive a drop in ratings, dropping slightly from 106 to 104.

WILGERBOSDRIFT SA FILLIES CLASSIC (Grade 1)

FIERY PEGASUS has had her rating increased from 115 to 119 after she won the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic for three-year-old fillies over 1800m.

The Handicappers considered WORLD OF ALICE to be the most suitable key horse for assessing this race, leaving her rating unchanged at 108. Runner-up OLIVIA’S WAY was one of two other horses that received upward adjustments, moving her rating from 110 to 112. GERBERA, who finished 0.50 lengths ahead of the 98-rated CARE FORGOT, was adjusted from 88 to 99.

No runners received a drop in their merit ratings in this race.

TAB J J THE JET PLANE STAKES (Grade 3)

WILLIAM ROBERTSON’S official merit rating has been adjusted from 125 to 128 following his victory in the Grade 3 J J The Jet Plane Stakes over 1000m.

The Handicappers selected the third-place finisher, MOVER AND SHAKER, as the line horse, leaving his rating unchanged at 112.

Three horses received downward adjustments in their ratings after the race. TAXI TO THE MOON and EXCHANGE STUDENT each received slight drops, with TAXI TO THE MOON going from 105 to 104 and EXCHANGE STUDENT from 106 to 105. MRS. BROWNING saw a drop of three points, from 118 to 115.

WILGERBOSDRIFT ACACIA STAKES (Listed)

GIMMEFABULOUS’ rating has been raised to 102 from 96 after winning the Listed Wilgerbosdrift Acacia Stakes over 1600m.

Due to the specific conditions of this race, which do not allow for an increase of more than six points for the winner, GIMMEFABULOUS’ rating was capped at 102, even though her performance warranted a higher rating.

Third-place finisher LADY FALLON was used as the line horse to assess this race, leaving her rating unchanged at 102. FRANCINE, who finished fourth, was the only other runner to see an upward adjustment, increasing from 100 to 101.

Three horses received drops in their ratings: CAPE LIGHTS went down to 91 from 92, ELEMBEE was reduced from 81 to 79, and KEY ELEMENT dropped by one point from 98 to 97.

BREEDERS GUINEAS (Listed)

SPLICETHEMAINBRACE’S rating remains unchanged at 108 following her victory in the Listed Breeders Guineas over 1600m at Fairview Racecourse on Friday.

The Handicappers unanimously agreed to use the runner-up, CAN’T SAY NO, as the line horse, leaving her rating unchanged at 87. Two other runners received merit rating increases: BELA VISTA was raised from 81 to 86, while FROM A DISTANCE was increased to 85 from 81.

There were no downward adjustments for any runners in this race.

Enquiries:

The Handicapping Team

Meetatthewindsor (Pomodoro) gives Charles Ndlovu a double and Alan Greeff a four-timer on the Fairview poly today (Tuesday) and it was also Greeff’s 100th win of the season in the East Cape. (Pauline Herman Photography).

Alan Greeff reached the century mark for the season at Fairview today after scoring a four-timer on the poly and has overall had 101 wins with just one of them being out of province.

His 100 wins in the East Cape have come at a strike rate of 17.61% and if he keeps up his current number of runners per day rate and his current strike rate he will end the season on 169 wins in the East Cape, just seven short of his record number 176 set in the 2018/2019 season.

Greeff’s four-timer today was unusual because the honours were shared between Richard Fourie and Charles Ndlovu, who both scored a double for him.

Gavin Smith had a double but is now 24 behind his arch rival. His 76 wins in the East Cape have come at a 12.93% strike rate.

Craig Zackey rode one of Smith’s winners and had a double on the day to stretch his lead at the top of the national log.

He is now on 165 wins, 16 clear of Gavin Lerena, and he has achieved it at a strike rate of 18.81%.

Richard Fourie is on 147 wins, 18 behind Zackey, and is going at a strike rate of 24.79%.

Ndlovu has had nine wins at 7.26%.

William Robertson was in a different league to the opposition on Saturday. (Candiese Lenferna Photography). 

Cape Breeders

Ridgemont’s flagship sire Rafeef was responsible for a pair of feature race winners at Turffontein on Saturday.

Not only did his evergreen son William Robertson win the G3 TAB J J The Jet Plane Stakes, but Rafeef filly Glastonbury captured Saturday’s Wilgerbosdrift Ruffian Stakes.

Trained by Corne Spies,  the six-year-old William Robertson claimed the 14th win of his career when he stormed home to a two and a quarter length win in Saturday’s 1000m sprint.

Under Ryan Munger, the Ridgemont Highlands bred gelding romped home to score convincingly by two and a quarter lengths.

William Robertson has a trio of graded wins to his name, with the son of Rafeef having also won the 2022 G2 Topbet Mike O’Connor Joburg Spring Challenge and the same year’s G3 Tony Ruffel Stakes.

Rafeef sons ran 1-3 in the 2025 J J The Jet Plane Stakes with William Robertson vanquishing his paternal half-brother, and 2024 G3 J J The Jet Plane Stakes winner, Mover And Shaker into third place on Saturday.

Rafeef came up with his 23^rd stakes winner on Saturday when his daughter Glastonbury won the Listed Wilgerbosdrift Ruffian Stakes (1000m).

Under Rachel Venniker, the Paul Matchett trained two-year-old was always prominent in Saturday’s Listed feature for two-year-old fillies.
When asked the question, Glastonbury quickened up smartly to go away and win by over two lengths.

Bred by Pippa Mickeburgh, Glastonbury, winner of two of three starts, had won on debut before finishing second, to fellow Rafeef filly Easy Tiger, at Turffontein last month.

Glastonbury, out of the Gimmethegreenlight mare Gimme London, was a R250 000 purchase from the 2024 Premier Yearling Sale Powered by Tattersalls.

She is one of three two-year-old winners this season thus far for her sire Rafeef.

The latter is enjoying another fine season in 2024-2025, with Rafeef’s flagbearers this season including such graded stakes winners as Chasing Happiness, Mon Petit Cherie, and Outlaw King.

Currently sixth on the General Sires premiership, the son of Redoute’s Choice has 16 lots on offer at the Premier Yearling Sale, and a further 34 lots on sale at the National Yearling Sale.

Legend Of Arthur looks to have good Hollywoodbets Durban July credentials (JC Photos) 

Hollywoodbets have priced up for the Hollywoodbets Durban July and this ante-post market has come out before first entries so is sure to be quite volatile.

The horse who strikes as the best value is the Gr 1 SA Classic third-placed Legend Of Arthur at 33/1. He was slowly away on Saturday but ran on exceptionally well from last place. He is highly regarded and has scope for further improvement and should also improve as he goes further, being by Lancaster Bomber out of a Galileo mare who won four times from 1200m up to 2500m. Furthermore, he is trained by Sean Tarry, a five-times national champion trainer who has won the July twice.

Fire Attack is the one who makes most appeal as the winner at present as he ran on well for second in the SA Classic and is progressive and looks likely to enjoy the July trip. At present off a 118 merit rating he would carry the minimum weight for a three-year-old of 53kg, although that could change before race day if he does well in Gr 1 races before then like the SA Derby and Daily News 2000.

Sail The Seas is still maturing and could be a different proposition by July day, so he could be a big runner if going in well weighted.

See It Again could go in well weighted, so if producing his best then 14/1 could be fair value.

Royal Victory could be good value at 16/1 if his merit rating remains as it is now.

The price list can be seen below:

Lot 25 is a colt by Querari out of Listed Jacaranda Handicap winner Insignis, a full-sister to Listed Settlers Trophy winner Arezzo.

Expert Eye, an exciting addition to the South African stallion line up, was an exceptional racehorse. The son of the late Acclamation showed top-class form at both two and three, with Expert Eye crowning his career with a spectacular victory in the 2018 G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile.

In landing the Breeders’ Cup Mile, Expert Eye accounted for such standout performers as Divisdero, One Master, Lightning Spear, Happily, and Oscar Performance.

From the family of top sire Chief’s Crown, Expert Eye has already sired a string of high-class gallopers led by group winning fillies Entrancement and Juniper Berries, as well as Listed Chesham Stakes winner Snellen and the very classy Witness Stand.

Paardeberg Stud, the home of Expert Eye, will be bringing a very attractive draft to the upcoming Premier Yearling Sale. Their Premier consignment is headed by the yearlings sired by such popular stallions as Hawwaam, Malmoos, One World, Querari, and What A Winter.

Lot 25: Big Dipper c Querari -Insignis

By one of South Africa’s most consistent stallions, this colt is out of Listed Jacaranda Handicap winner Insignis, a full-sister to Listed Settlers Trophy winner Arezzo.

Insignis is out of the Western Winter mare Alula, a full-sister to Equus Champion Ice Cube as well as G2 Green Point Stakes winner Jagged Ice. Further back, this is the family of champion Whistling Dixie and her top-class son Grand Emporium as well as the Querari sired G2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper winner Cockney Pride.

A high quality, well made, immature colt

Lot 47: Life In Colours c Malmoos -Mina Salaam

From the first crop of his Triple Crown winning sire, this colt is a half-brother to five winners notably G3 Magnolia Handicap/G3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap winner True To Life. His dam is a multiple stakes winning Medaglia D’Oro half-sister to G1 Premier’s Champions Challenge winner Deo Juvente, and granddam is G1 winning champion Circle Of Life. The latter was one of three G1 winners produced by outstanding producer Teclafields. Medaglia D’Oro is broodmare sire of more than 120 stakes winners including such G1 winners as Olympiad, Rock Fall, Prince Of Monaco and Preakness Stakes winning champion National Treasure.

He is a impressive, quality, well grown colt.

Lot 53: Danny Atlas c Hawwaam -Now You See Her

Champion Hawwaam has made a very pleasing start with his first two-year-olds including debut winner Read All About It. This colt is a half-brother to G3 Byerley Turk winner Strawberry Bear and his dam is a daughter of champion sire and broodmare sire Captain Al. Now You See Her is out of Mystery Of Magic, a six time winning three-parts sister to dual G2 Merchants winner Arabian Mist, a half-brother to multiple Equus Champion Nhlavini. Captain Al is an exceptional broodmare sire whose daughters have produced such star performers as Kommetdieding, Princess Calla, Sandringham Summit, Proceed and Double Grand Slam.

This is a classy, well balanced, smart colt.

Lot 123: World Princess f One World -Arissa

Met winning champion One World has made a superb start to his stud career, with his first crop having already unleashed 10 horses who have either won or been placed in stakes races. Star of his first crop is One Stripe, winner of both this season’s G1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate and G1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas. Silvano mare Arissa finished second or third in five black type races, and is a full-sister to Listed Storm Bird Stakes winner American Graffiti and Listed Somerset 1200 runner up Arabian Air. This filly is bred on the same One World/Silvano cross as star colt One Stripe.

This is a beautiful, quality, athletic filly.

Lot 230: Spencer Tracy c Erik The Red -What A Player

One of the leading first season sires this year, multiple graded stakes winner Erik The Red is a son of Captain Al and from the same family as top-class sire Master Of My Fate.

A half-brother to two winners, this colt is out of a stakes placed daughter of What A Winter, with his dam a half-sister to smart stayer S’il Vous Plait. What A Player, whose dam Shaan Madary was sired by the outstanding sire and broodmare sire Darshaan, is descended in female line from Queen Of Light, whose numerous top-class descendants include South African stars Captain America and Kommetdieding.

He is a late foal, who is athletic, balanced, and very strong behind

For more information regarding this draft, interested parties are asked to speak to Sally Bruss on 066 220 1587.

Picture: Lot 106 is a Rafeef colt who is a three-parts brother to Gr 1 Computaform Sprint-winning sire Master Archie. 

Avontuur Estate enjoyed great success at the Summer Sale earlier this year. Avontuur consigned the second top lot at the Summer Sale in 2025, selling a Vercingetorix half-sister to champion Thunderstruck for R2 000 000, while the Avontuur consigned Malmoos filly out of Jetorio was knocked down for R800 000.

The estate sold four yearlings fetch R3.625 million at the Summer Sale, where the Avontuur quartet averaged an impressive R906 250.

Avontuur has long lived up to its motto as a “home of fine wine, fast horses, fabulous food and fantastic hospitality”. Among the long list of top-class horses bred by the estate are champions Legal Eagle, Thunderstruck and Val De Ra. Between them, they won 13 Gr 1 races and earned a staggering R16 629 703 in prize money!

Avontuur will be offering an exceptional consignment at the upcoming Premier Yearling Sale, with this string including yearlings sired by Gimmethegreenlight, Master Of My Fate, One World, Rafeef and What A Winter. Resident sire Talk Of The Town, a son of Avontuur’s late, great sire Var, has four choicely bred lots on offer. The farm’s Pippa Mickleburgh picked out a few choice lots to follow in Avontuur’s draft.

Lot 106: Bolero c Rafeef – Valeta

This is a big, strong, correct and imposing colt.
Bred on the same Rafeef/Var cross as the Avontuur bred champion Thunderstruck, this colt is a three-parts brother to Gr 1 Computaform Sprint winning sire Master Archie. His Gr 1 placed dam Valeta has produced ten winners headed by Gr 3 Starling Stakes winner She’s A Giver and this season’s Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers third Triple Time.

Lot 152: Exposure c Gimmethegreenlight – Dream De Ra

This is a gorgeous and powerful colt. He is very good looking and strong, and good boned. He has a super pedigree, awesome genes.
Half-brother Dreamworld made an impressive winning debut at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, and he looks very talented.
By South Africa’s reigning champion sire Gimmethegreenlight, Exposure, a half-brother to the speedy Dreamland, is out of a daughter of champions Oasis Dream and Val De Ra.

Lot 157: World Series c One World – Easy Game

I am very proud of this colt he is very high quality. Again, good boned and well grown, he looks quick.
By current boom sire One World, World Series is out of a stakes winning daughter of Var from the family of Golden Slipper winners Capitalist and Merlene.

Lot 162: Eyecatcher f Gimmethegreenlight – Esteemal

This is a tall, elegant, classy filly with great presence. Half-sister to the talented three-year-old Musical Score.
Bred on the proven Gimmethegreenlight/Captain Al cross, Eyecatcher is out of a Gr 3 placed half-sister to multiple graded stakes winner Elusive Silva.

Pippa is also keen on the Talk Of The Town yearlings on offer, saying, “The Talk Of The Towns are all impressive yearlings. These are big,strong, powerful yearlings. The fillies out of Pan Amm and Academia are special, and the Jeter colt is a belter.”

For more information on Avontuur’s Premier draft, interested parties are asked to contact Pippa at stud@avontuurestate.co.za or on (083) 658 4404.

 ENDS

“Flying filly” is a term often used in racing, but who was the original flying filly?

The subject is pictured above (wikipedia).