Picture: The Alyson Wright-trained What A Winter gelding Aggressivo is led in by Hollywood Syndicate racing manager Anthony Delpech (right) and team member James Rich. (Candiese Lenferna).

Hollywood Syndicate Need A Group 1 Horse

The Hollywood syndicate had more winners than any other owner in the country last season, 101, and were crowned KZN Champion owners.

In the national championship they were second only to Drakenstein Stud in stakes.

This season they are out in front in the national championship in both stakes and number of winners.

Their 28 winners is more than double second-placed Drakenstein Stud’s 13 and their stakes earnings of R2,471,175 is more than double Drakenstein’s 1,047,325.

However, Hollywood Syndicate’s racing manager Anthony Delpech believes they might still be short of the firepower that wins national championships.

Delpech said it had meant a lot to win the KZN Championship last season and added, “Every time you achieve something it starts with goals and our first goal was to be Champion Owners in KZN. Obviously our bigger goal is to be National Champion Owners and that will come with time when we find a Group 1 horse … I think the most important thing is for us to find a Group 1 horse, but at the moment we are having a lot of winners and things are going well.”

He continued, “You have got to aim a little bit higher than last season. Our numbers have grown, we have more horses.”

There is a competition among the Hollywood team to see who can get closest to predicting the number of winners for the season.

Delpech said, “My number was 125 winners.”

He added, “But you know how racing goes … you’re having a good run and things can change. But we have been very lucky we have been able to lease a lot of horses from Ridgemont, which has made it much easier for us. Those kind of horses are well bred and you wouldn’t be able to purchase them at the sales. We have been lucky enough to have a great partnership with them, allowing us to lease these horses which is giving us a lot of winners, so let’s hope this relationship grows stronger.”

Regarding Grade 1 potential among the Hollywood Syndicate string, Delpech said, “Well, it’s early days. We’ve got a lot of three-year-olds who are showing us they are not too bad. I think you have to go one step at a time and let them first achieve it. But we do have one or two three-year-olds who I believe will give us the opportunity this season to maybe crack it.”

Of the older horses he said, “Isivunguvungu is one of the horses going to Cape Town for the season and it will be nice to see how competitive he is there. He is a horse who is improving and doing better all the time, so let’s hope he does us proud in Cape Town.”

Delpech agreed this son of What A Winter was appearing to be a 1000m specialist. He said, “He is the kind of a horse who tries to do too much early on. When we go six furlongs he just over-races and doesn’t find much. Over five furlongs they run a bit faster and he is able to settle just off the speed and finish the race off a little better. So I think he is a better horse over five furlongs. But with more time he may be able to settle and get six furlongs.”

Delpech also received a personal award at the KZN Awards, the KZN Personality Of The Year award.

He said, “I am not sure who gave it to me! It was a bit of a shock, but anyway I will take it. Whoever did give it I appreciate it. We try hard to achieve goals and I work with a fantastic team and good people. I am enjoying my job and things are going well.”

Delpech confirmed he was proud of Hollywoodbets’ impact on racing and elaborated, “It is fantastic what they are doing for racing in KZN and at Hollwyoodbets Durbanville and Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. I was at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday and it was unbelievable. There was a fantastic atmosphere. There was a huge crowd, the parking was really full. There was more than just racing. A lot of people were there not just to bet on horses but for a day out, which is fantastic to see. There was a lot of wine-tasting, there were a couple of pubs outside, beer areas, there was just so much going on at one time. It was festive. I enjoyed sitting outside more than sitting upstairs. because it just felt good. It didn’t feel like being at a race meeting it was like being at a festival.”

Picture: The crowd lines the rail on Saturday. (Freemanstallion Twitter).

Crowds Are Back In Cape Town

There was a festival like atmosphere at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday and Cape Racing’s formula to bring people back to the course has been a phenomenal success so far. These two pictures tell a story on their own.

Picture: Luke Morris celebrates riding Alpinista to victory at Longchamp on Sunday. Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

MUST-READ: The Stories Behind Alpinista’s Arc Triumph

Groom Annabel Willis joined trainer Mark Prescott’s yard as a teenager, was allocated yearling Alpinista a year later and has been the star’s constant companion for four years.

Mike Moon (The Citizen)

To watch 20 horses ploughing through belting rain at Longchamp on Sunday, colours and coats indistinct in gloom and flying mud, it was a challenge to know what was going on – let alone appreciate the wealth of backstories the 2022 Prix de la Arc de Triomphe was delivering.

In the end, Europe’s most prestigious race was won by English mare Alpinista, who started as the 33-10 favourite. But that wasn’t half the story.

The horse:

The gunmetal grey was sired by Frankel, possibly the best thoroughbred to have raced, and is the first five-year-old mare to have won the Arc since 1937 – and the eighth female victor in the last 12 runnings. Alpinista has been sparingly raced, with 15 starts since her debut as a juvenile in 2019. Ten wins, including six Group 1s, are the proceeds.

Before Sunday, her trainer said he thought she’d run well – as long as the ground didn’t have too much give (it was officially declared “very soft”). Her trainer also says she has improved with every run in the last two years; her jockey says she “surprises” him every time; her groom says she has “the heart of a lion”.

The groom:

The French press hilariously describe Annabel Willis (23) as a “stable girl”; Brit journos wimping out with “minder”. Willis joined trainer Mark Prescott’s yard as a teenager, was allocated yearling Alpinista a year later and has been the star’s constant companion for four years.

A highlight of the Arc TV coverage was Willis jumping up and down as Alpinista passed the post, then running onto the turf, arms spread wide, to embrace “the sweetest horse”. Later Willis said: “I feel like, if she were a person, she would just say, ‘Let’s get on with the job’. So, she has to hold my hand quite a lot.”

The jockey:

A Racing Postwriter describes Luke Morris as “deeply unassuming”, while another hack quips you wouldn’t buy a used car from him – as he’s the “hardest working jockey in England”.

From a family line of jockeys, Morris isn’t exactly a journeyman, having won a clutch of Group 1s, but he does shy from the limelight. And he is loyal. Eleven years of dedication to the smallish Prescott operation was amply rewarded in the Paris deluge. His ride was described as “impeccable” by many a scribe.

Morris and Alpinista had a big advantage from the No 6 stall, allowing them to position well for the trip. Said Morris: “She has towed me into the race and I was able to sit on her until nearly the furlong pole. The last week I must have watched 25 Arcs and I’ve not seen one sit to the furlong pole, so she is extremely special.”

The owner-breeder:

Kirsten Rausing is familiar to South Africans as she’s had horses in training in Cape Town for many years. She is ranked among the top 10 richest women in the world and might be the richest in the UK nowadays. The money comes from the Swedish Rausing family who invented Tetra Pak, which transformed liquid packaging in the 1960s.

It is said Kirsten is the most influential person in what is now the Tetra Laval group, but her obvious passion is racing – with three stud farms, hundreds of horses in training and as a dedicated office holder in the top echelons of the sport.

Kirsten Rausing with trainer Sir Marc Prescott after winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamps on 1 October. Picture: Horsephotos/Getty Images

The trainer:

Sir Mark Prescott, 74, wasn’t knighted by racing fan Elizabeth but inherited his baronetcy. He is one of the great characters of the game. After a brief career as a jumps jockey, and near-paralysis after a bad fall, he became the youngest trainer in Newmarket in 1970, at historic 50-box Heath House stables, where horses have been trained since the 17th century.

Some 53 years later he is the oldest kid on the block and a revered institution – still with just 50 horses, from 59 fiercely loyal owners. Prescott is hailed as racing’s finest raconteur, with archival knowledge and sharp wit. He’s also “eccentric”, “old school” and “a martinet”, renowned for getting the best out of ordinary horses and planning long-range for big wins, placing runners in races with great thought.

He rises every morning at 3.30am to be on the gallops – neatly shaven, always with a tie, even if denims complete the outfit. Woe betide anyone arriving late with chin stubble. On Sunday, he said: “I always thought the best day of my racing life was when I rode a winner on my first ride at 15 or 16. It had no chance of winning, and it won. I had a girlfriend and we walked out down the track, and there was an old man banging in divots and he said: ‘What won the first?’ And I said: ‘I did,’ and I thought it was the best moment of my life, but this is every bit as good.”

Picture: The imposing What A Winter gelding Stratospheric (seen finishing second) had to be switched after being baulked for a run in this above race. He then ran on strongly and was closing fast on the promising Champion Warrior (Twice Over).

Is Stratopheric A Good Thing Or Will Carriacou Spoil The Party?

Race 3 at Hollywoodbets Durbanville tomorrow sees the clash of two promising sorts.

The Justin Snaith-trained three-year-old What A Winter gelding Stratopheric would have caught the eye of many when an unlucky second behind the promising Champion Warrior last time out over 1250m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, espeically considering he gave his contemporary 2kg in the Maiden Special Weights event.

In the replay below he jumps from draw 14 in the familiar blue and pink colours of Suzette Viljoen.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE REPLAY

However, it always pays to check out the opposition and those Stratospheric supporters who did so will be wary of the Eric Sands-trained three-year-old colt Carriacou (Captain Of All).

In the replay below Carriacou jumps from draw 6 over the Hollywoodbets Durbanville 1250m trip in a 58kg level weights maiden.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE REPLAY

Stratospheric was probably more eyecatching, but he has had five runs, whilst Carriacou has only had one, so is arguably open to more improvement.

On the other hand Stratospheric was having his first run last time out after a three month layoff and gelding.

There are only two collateral formlines and they come through Master Josh and Furie Nocturne.

Stratospheric beat Master Josh when they were both making their debuts by 3,05 lengths over 1000m at Kenilworth.

Carriacou beat Master Josh by 2,90 lengths when having his only run in the aforementioned 1250m event.

Futrie Nocturne lost by 4,15 lengths to Carriacou at level weights and by 3,95 lengths to Stratospheric when receiving 1kg.

Master Josh is actually second favourite tomorrow and this must be on the grounds of him finishing third to Dave The King and second to Colloidal Gold in his previous two starts before the last unplaced run. He also over-raced a touch from a wide draw last time and the race just did not pan out well, so he could do better.

Stratospheric ran the 1250m last time in 75.63 seconds, which was faster than the winning times of the two fillies and mares maidens on the day, but considerably slower than the 73.69 seconds recorded by Silvano’s Dasher (carrying 58kg) in a Middle Stakes event and also slower than the 74.92 seconds and 74.97 seconds recorded by three-year-olds All Lit Up (52kg) and Street Outlaw (56kg) in another Middle Stakes event.

Carriacou completed the 1250m trip in 75.47 seconds.

However, this is slower than the winning times of both the other maidens that day, Gimme’s Lassie (58kg) doing it in 74.40 seconds and Tough Terrain (58kg) doing it in 74.59 seconds.

There is a formline that swings it Stratospheric’s way from the Tough Terrain race.

The latter’s runner up Master Point (58kg) finished six lengths behind Tough Terrain in 75.56 seconds, only marginally slower than Carriacou’s time on the same day.

Master Point then runs against Stratospheric next time out and finishes 3,85 lengths behind him.

He was drawn out in 13 but Stratospheric was drawn 14.

Therefore, Stratospheric is the confident selection to win race 3 tomorrow.

Picture: Kelsey Mayhew led from the off on Miss Soho and managed to keep her going with hand and heels (JC Photos).

Kelsey Mayhew Wins In First Ever Race Ride

Kelsey Mayhew had her first ride at the Vaal today in a Workrider’s event over 1000m and it was a winner.

There were tears of emotion from both her mother Judy and the trainer and part-owner of the winner Ashley Fortune.

Kelsey led from the off and, under a hands and heels ride, managed to keep the Master Of My Fate filly Miss Soho going just long enough to prevail by a head.

The victory was made sweeter because Kelsey owns a share in Miss Soho.

It was a first ever winner for Adam and Shan Rosenthal, who make up the rest of the ownership partnership.

Kelsey is the daughter of former trainer Craig Mayhew.

She has bragging rights over both her brother Trent Mayhew and her top jockey husband Ryan Munger as they have both failed to win on Miss Soho before. Ryan in fact has ridden Miss Soho seven times without finding the winner’s enclosure.

Kelsey’s dream began while in Singapore, where she wanted to ride work but was not good enough at that stage.

She thus made it her goal upon returning to SA.

She is now an assistant trainer to Ashley Fortune and rides plenty of work for her.

IFHA Conference Focused On Building Engagement, Future Challenges

By Bill Finley

The 56th International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) Conference was held Monday (October 3) in Paris and the focus was on key challenges and opportunities, including the issues of integrity and fan engagement, facing the industry around the globe.

“Integrity lies at the foundation of our sport and must inform every decision that we make,” said IFHA Chair Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges. “The pandemic has inherently changed the way that fans and punters enjoy and participate in horse racing. A good digital customer experience is key, and the general trend of digital evolution further emphasizes that all industry players need to adapt quickly to emerging technologies and behaviors.”

The conference also featured an address by U.S. Jockey Club Chairman Stuart Janney. Janney was among delegates from 40 different countries.

Janney used his opportunity to update the delegates on the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA), the advancements the sport has made in recent years in the U.S. and the challenges it will face in the years ahead.

Janney said that if HISA had not been passed into law, the sport in the U.S. faced a perilous future. Lisa Lazarus, CEO of HISA, also provided the attendees with an overview of the establishment and work of HISA, its current challenges, and its future plans.

“There was no certainty of success,” Janney said of the chances the bill would be passed. “But we did know that the state-by-state regulatory process in the United States was a failure, and with our partners in support of the bill, including Breeders’ Cup and the IFHA, we needed a dramatic change if the sport was to be sustainable.”

Still, Janney was clear that the sport in the U.S. still has its problems and that its long-term success depends on viable solutions to those issues.

“Things will still have to change for American racing–and perhaps for all of us–as challenges remain,” Janney said.

He touched upon several issues, including changing attitudes regarding animal welfare.

“First off, the urbanization of America means four out of five people now live in densely populated communities, which means that fewer and fewer people are directly familiar with farming and livestock,” he said. “As a result, we’ve seen matters of animal welfare become policy drivers for important parts of our governments as well as lead stories in mainstream media. And beyond America, we see the same in many other corners of the world: how well we treat our equine competitors will become an important component for the growth and popularity of Thoroughbred racing.”

Other issues he raised included the Jockey Club’s mission to ensure the integrity of the breed, and his comments touched upon his group’s desire to maintain diversity in the breed.

“There is no doubt that there has been a narrowing of the genetic profile of many of the horses in our stud books, and we need to study the effects of these practices and consider remedies,” he said.

Noting the high-profile arrests in March of 2020 that came after an FBI investigation into doping in the sport, Janney said the industry must continue to be rigorous in its efforts to catch the cheats.

“With what is at stake in purses, betting pools and in the sales ring, collective actions to prevent crimes like these must be a top priority,” he said. “To that end, the American Jockey Club will continue to use our human and financial resources to protect the integrity of the game and to grow the sport. And we enthusiastically support the work of HISA, which we believe will help the sport in America…”

Despite his concerns, Janney said he believes there are plenty of reasons for optimism when it comes to U.S. racing.

“In a lot of ways, American racing is very much on the upswing and again leading the world in many important measurements,” he said.

Those measurements, he said, include rising handle totals, expanded TV coverage, booming horse sales and the ever-increasing popularity of meets like Del Mar and Saratoga and the major events like the Triple Crown races and the Breeders’ Cup.

Following a discussion of HISA, several experts were interviewed on the subject of fan engagement. Tony Parker, the former NBA star who has become a prominent Classic-winning Thoroughbred owner in his native France, said racing needed to convey a message that it is not just a sport for the wealthy.

“Everyone, the vision they have of horse racing is that it’s for billionaires,” said Parker. “They think normal people can’t come into the horse world. It really is the total opposite. How can we change that image and get everyone involved? Use social media and try to do different stuff. I want to bring something different and try to make it more fun for younger people for people to come and watch horse racing.

“My friends, because I am on social media, they are like, ‘Okay, how do you go into this world?’ If you are worried about it or you think it’s too much money, just start with 5%. Go slow and you can learn the horse world. We have to do a lot more if we want a bigger audience. You have to go to them and promote it.”

Near the end of the conference, Carly Dixon, Executive General Manager, Stakeholder, Customer & Corporate Affairs, Racing Victoria, presented on the upcoming 39th Asian Racing Conference (ARC), which will be held in Melbourne in February 2023.

Picture: A Time To Flower (Flower Alley) provides the first leg of a combined double for Kabelo Matsunyane and the Brett Crawford yard. (JC Photos)

Matsunyane/Crawford Double, Fortune Double

Kabelo Matsunyane combined for a double at the Vaal Classic track today.

Ashley Fortune also scored a double.

Matsunyane goes to 32 winners for the season at a strike rate of 14.75%.

Crawford goes to 19 winners for the season at a strike rate of 18.10%.

Fortune is on ten winners at 10.42%.

Today’s Question

Why was Granville Gorton’s win aboard Hussein in the 1927 Durban July regarded by many to be just reward?

What else was the 1927 July notable for?

Picture: The CE Wade-trained Hussein, winner of the 1927 July, ridden by Granville Gorton.

Hollywoodbets Durbanville Fields

Picture: Moosme (no. 10) was controversially adjudged to have won the 1926 July.

Today’s Question Answer

In the 1926 July Granville Gorton built up a commanding lead on the favourite Narrow Guage (Brown Ronald (GB)), but was caught close to home by Moosme (GB) (Santoi (GB)), ridden by Teddy Jacobie. With the pair wide apart they flashed past the post together.

After a long wait the WW Knapp-trained Moosme’s number was hoisted on to the number’s board at the instruction of judge Harry Solomon, causing a storm of controversy.

There were no photo-finish cameras back then and the result was received with scorn by the angry crowd.

There were nasty on course scenes.

On the Monday the letters-to-the-editor columns in the Durban newspapers carried angry complaints from punters, one of them stating, “If Narrow Guage did not win, and by a long-neck at that, then the sun, which has never yet let us down, is a liar.” (presumably the shadows of the two horses had also told a story).

It was thus regarded by many as just reward when Gorton won the following year’s big race on the CE Wade-trained Hussein (GB) (The Vizier (GB)).

Later in the year Hussein became the first of seven horses in history to win both the July and the Met. He was also ridden by Gorton in the Met.

Hussein was owned by one of racing’s most knowledgeable patrons, JWS Langerman, after whom today’s important Kenilworth two-year-old race, the WSB Langerman, is named.

The great four-times July-winning trainer Jim Russell recommended the purchase of the horse to Langerman.

The 1927 July was also notable as being the last time the race was called the Durban Turf Club Handicap. The race was popularly known as “The July” and in 1928 its official name became The Durban July Handicap.

It was also broadcast live for the first time in 1927. JT Wallace applied to do the commentary on behalf of the African Broadcasting company and a box platform was erected for him near the Gold Ring scratchings board.

Turf Talk Newsletter – 04 October 2022