Turf Talk Newsletter – 06 January, 2025

One Stripe Emulates The Great In Full Flight

One Stripe gives both Gavin Lerena and Vaughan Marshall their first respective victories in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate. (Picture: Wayne Marks)

The Vaughan Marshall-trained One World colt One Stripe became only the third horse in history to win both the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate in the same season and he provided stalwart trainer Marshall, who has won the Cape Guineas a record equaling six times, with a first ever King’s Plate victory.

One Stripe went off as the 11/10 favourite after being backed in from 5/2 and he proved the adage about form being the best guide.

Gavin Lerena gave him a fine cool-headed ride.

He was happy to drop back initially from draw five to ensure cover and after being forced off the rail just before the turn he was in a one out position with cover behind King Regent.

Lerena did not panic despite being behind the biggest outsider and with his chief market rival Snow Pilot not only ten lengths ahead of him but opening up a lead in front. In the straight Lerena drove the One World colt with the hands all the way to the 200m mark and then gave him a smack. The response was instantaneous and he took off before bursting through between Montien and Gimme A Prince to win by a cosy 1,75 lengths.

It was Lerena’s first victory in South Africa’s premier weight for age mile.

One Stripe provided Drakenstein with a fourth LKP as breeder.

This One World colt should go from strength to strength.

Owner Rikesh Segoolam has a lot to look forward to.

Racing is always an easy game in retrospect and Saturday’s LKP result was easily explainable afterwards.

In fact it was like Dick Whitford, the founder of modern handicapping, once said after studying thousands of racing results during the war while on a British patrol ship, “I kept on making fascinating discoveries – groups of horses that meshed with each other with astonishing precision.”

The first five home on in the LKP on Saturday, One Stripe, Montien, Gimme A Prince, Royal Aussie and Snow Pilot, also meshed with astonishing precision from previous formlines and pundits would have been wondering why they had not seen the obvious beforehand.

In his first race of the season in a Progress Plate over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on October 12, One Stripe gave last year’s Cape Guineas winner Snow Pilot 1kg, meaning he was 7,5kg worse off than weight for age, and lost by only a length.

So under the weight for age conditions on Saturday he was going to be an effective 7,5kg better off with Snow Pilot, meaning he would on paper beat the latter by 6,5 lengths.

However, Snow Pilot had been enormously impressive in his second start of the season to the extent that a lot of pundits had tipped him to win the LKP.

But in the end it was form that won the day in their clash on Saturday, with Snow Pilot only managing a 5,30 length fifth, although the race did not pan out perfectly for him from a draw 13 out of 13.

In last year’s King’s Plate Snow Pilot had been beaten 1,90 lengths by third-placed Royal Aussie.

This year Royal finished fourth and beat Snow Pilot by 1,05 lengths.

Montien had finished fifth last year, beating Snow Pilot by 1,25 lengths and losing to Royal Aussie by 0,60 lengths.

However, he had a valid excuse as his rider had dropped the rein at the 300m mark.

So perhaps Montien’s recent Cape Mile run was a better reflection of his ability.

In the latter race he had received 1kg from Royal Aussie and beat him by 2,30 lengths, so on that form should have beaten him by 1,30 in the LKP.

It wasn’t far off as he beat Royal Aussie by 2,80 lengths.

In the Cape Mile Montien had given the versatile Gimme A Prince 1kg and lost to him by a head, meaning he should beat him by 0,90 lengths in the LKP. On Saturday he beat by 0,80 lengths.

The only two horses who did not mesh correctly were See It Again and Al Muthana.

See It Again was the runner up last year, beating all of Royal Aussie, Al Muthana, Montien and Snow Pilot, but this year finished last, while Al Muthana finished fourth last year, but only beat one horse home this year.

However, the race panned out terribly for the KZN star See It Again and not well for Al Muthana.

From draw eight See It Again was about to slot in behind King Regent in a one out position in midfield just before the turn when Al Muthana slowing down on the rail forced One Stripe behind him to come off the rail, thus forcing See It Again out wide again.

It was surprising the incident was not mentioned in the stipendiary steward report, particularly considering Alistair Cohen had said in his commentary, “Al Muthana’s just dropping back on the rail and causing a bit of traffic.”

However, the actual cause of this might have been the perennial problem in SA racing of a horse crossing another horse without being sufficiently clear, a problem the stipes often seem to ignore.

Montien crossed to the rail to take the lead and forced JP van der Merwe to strangle Oriental Charm as the former was not sufficiently clear.

In fact Oriental Charm even pecked.

The stipendiary steward report said, “Racing into the turn at the 1200m, ORIENTAL CHARM (JP van der Merwe) was steadied when close to the heels of MONTIEN (C Orffer).”

If he was close to the latter’s heels, then it follows Montien was not suffiently clear when crossing him, but no inquiry?

Gimme A Prince was behind Oriental Charm and Al Muthana was behind the latter, so Al Muthana could be excused for slowing down.

After that incident See It Again remained out wide for the rest of the race and he duly found nothing in the straight.

Al Muthana was not unduly effected by the aforementioned incident, but is not the horse he once was.

However, Oriental Charm might have been effected as he did peck and he did not find in the same way he had found when winning the Gr 2 WSB Green Point Stakes impressively. He finished a disappointing 8,95 length seventh.

Snow Pilot’s race on Saturday did not pan out well and it has to also be said his optimum trip is 1400m.

From a wide draw of 13 he was going to ideally reach the turn first and take up his favourite role, dictating from the front.

However, the other two known front-running types in the field, Montien and Oriental Charm, got there in front of him and he was forced to go around Montien on the turn to find the front.

He opened up a clear lead, but could not maintain it, suggesting he prefers 1400m, although having to work harder than ideal for the lead probably took its toll too.

One horse who did not disappoint was Lucky Lad, who turned for home way out of his ground in last place and ran on well for a 5,70 length sixth, thus proving he is effective over a mile.

The first to ever do the Guineas/King’s Plate double was Convalesce (by Asbestos II out of Recuperate). He did it in the year 1948 when the King’s Plate was run on October 30. Most of the field were three-year-olds and Convalesce only had to carry the equivalent of 48kg, whilst topweight amongst the older horses was 60.5kg.

The second to do it was the legendary In Full Flight in 1972. David Payne still rates this son of New South Wales as the best he ever trained. In the Guineas run at Milnerton on February 5 1972, Sentinel under Michael Roberts got first run on him and in one of the most famous results in the big race’s history In full Flight, under Clive Hyde, could only get up to dead-heat. However, In Full Flight showed who was boss in the Queen’s Plate. He beat Sentinel by 2,45 lengths under Raymond Rhodes with the ten-year-old stalwart William Penn beaten 4,25 lengths into third and twice Queen’s Plate winner Chichester finishing a 4,50 length fourth.

Interestingly, In Full Flight carried only 50kg and received 7kg from the older topweights, while One Stripe only received 5kg on Saturday. The race must have had other conditions attached back in 1972.

Double Grand Slam Confounds The Critics

Double Grand Slam storms home under Richard Fourie to win the Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes (Pic – Wayne Marks)

Justin Snaith won the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes over 1800m for the seventh time in his career at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday as the filly Double Grand Slam provided him with his first Gr 1 win since Double Superlative’s victory in last year ‘s WSB Met.

A R1 million National Yearling Sale purchase, Double Grand Slam was bred by Varsfontein and is by Maine Chance kingpin Vercingetorix (Silvano) out of the two-time winning Captain Al mare Princess Peach.

Double Grand Slam has now won 7 races with 6 places from 15 starts and took her stakes earnings to R1 893 088.

There were doubts that Double Grand Slam would stay the trip in her first attempt at a middle distance race, but she proved the doubters wrong when finishing strongly to beat her Perennial rivals Red Palace and Rascova by a cosy margin.

It was the tenth time she had met Rascova and the score is now 6-4 in Double Grand Slam’s favour and it was the fith time she had met Red Palace and the score is 4-1 in Double Grand Slam’s favour.

Double Grand Slam is owned by Drakenstein Stud in partnership with Dave MacLean and Gary Player.

It was a halcyon day on Saturday for MacLean as he had shares in three of the winners.

Cape Racing wrote the below report about the Paddock Stakes:

Richard Fourie sat for as long as possible before unleashing DOUBLE GRAND SLAM with a devastating late move to win the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes (for fillies and mares at WFA) over 1800m.

As expected, the early pace was set by tearaway LAVENDER BAY with RASCOVA, RED PALACE and LITTLE SUZIE stretched out in Indian file. Fourie had the daughter of Vercingetorix settled some way off the action, tracking SAARTJIE up the straight before weaving past tiring rivals and drawing off for a resounding score with an impressive 23.3 second 400m finish sectional. The final time was 109.86 seconds.

“I didn’t even need to use the crop – she won so easily”, a suitably impressed Fourie said afterwards.

RED PALACE was game to attend such a hot pace and still keep on, but she drifted outwards as she tired and could not match DOUBLE GRAND SLAM’s come-home sectional. The same applied to RASCOVA, who held third from RAINBOW LORIKEET.

DOUBLE GRAND SLAM is trained by Justin Snaith. The conditioner was confident as one can be going into hard-to-win Gr 1s, describing her as enjoying a “near-perfect prep and being in super shape.”

That assessment proved prophetic as the Varsfontein Stud bred filly attained her 7^th and most significant win from 15 starts. In so doing the 33/20 favourite proved conclusively that she can carry her brilliance in a hard run, nine-panel test.

Gareth van Zyl Lands A Graded Double at LKP Meeting

Asiye Phambili converts meeting banker status under Richard Fourie (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Cape Racing

ASIYE PHAMBILI, a late charging second in the race last year to October Morn, went one better in the Gr 2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

Richard Fourie bought her through smoothly in the centre of the track to justify heavy market support (3/1 into 17/10) and fend off the dashing rails run of smart 3YO filly, ROCCAPINA.

GIMMIES COUNTESS progressed from the rear to be third without really threatening over three lengths back.

ASIYE PHAMBILI is a five-year-old mare by speed sire, What a Winter ex Cast a Spell.

When in Cape Town she is trained by Gareth van Zyl.

This eighth victory from 21 starts took her career earnings over the million-rand mark.

Van Zyl’s stayer, KING PELLES romped in the Gr 3 Glorious Goodwood Chairman’s Cup over 2500m. HOLDING THUMBS tracked the well-backed, pace-setting lightweight, DAIMYO, and tried to keep rolling but could not match the Duke of Marmalade gelding in the last 200m. The margin of victory was 1.75 lengths.

The 20/1 winner, who was ridden by Athandiwe Mgudlwa, has really come into his own this summer in the Cape. Prior to an unexpectedly weak recent start he had been consistently in the money. He bounced back to form for a fourth score from 16 starts, and with his boundless stamina, there is the promise of more to come in tests of endurance.

Rascallion Ensures A Great Day For Vaughan Marshall

Rascallion shows fine resolve to get up on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth (Picture: Wayne Marks).

The L’Ormarins King’s Plate saw the first five home confirming formlines in remarkable fashion and left some wondering whether Rascallion might have been the runner up had he taken part.

However, his connections did not go home empty-handed as he reclaimed the race he had won two years ago, the Gr 2 Anthonij Rupert Wyne Premier Trophy over 1800m.

The Vercingetorix gelding won the Gr 3 Cape Mile last time out, beating all of Montien, Gimme A Prince and Royal Aussie, who were second, third and fourth respectively in the King’s Plate.

However, Rascallio n is ideally suited to a touch further.

He once again relished the course and distance of the Premier Trophy and was given a fine ride by Sean Veale.

Cape Racing wrote the below report on the race:

RASCALLION is the horse you want on your side in a tight tussle, and he again showed his tenacity and will to win when outduelling market mover (10’s into 9/2) MAGIC VERSE in the Gr 2 Anthonij Rupert Wyne Premier Trophy over 1800m.

RASCALLION

LITIGATION and FUTURE SWING rounded out the placings in a blanket finish where the first five home were covered by a little over a length.

“Just imagine what he would have accomplished if he was sound his whole career,” mused trainer Vaughan Marshall, who has done an amazing job to constantly patch up and revive the valiant son of Vercingetorix.

Sean Veale gave the winner a perfectly judged vigorous ride and RASCALLION will no doubt shorten considerably in the World Sports Betting Cape MET ante-post market from long shot quotes of 40/1 – after all it’s a race he finished second in 2024 behind Double Superlative.

SA Jockeys' Mixed Fortunes In HK as Purton Nears Whyte's Record

Another World (far side) bursts through for a victory under Lyle Hewitson that had seemed impossible 100m from home. (Pictures: HKJC)

Zac Purton is closing in on the 1813 race victories in Hong Kong record of Douglas Whyte.

He scored a double at Sha Tin on Sunday to go to 1805 wins, so is now within just eight of equalling Whyte’s record.

Lyle Hewitson produced an amazing finish to land a rare winner at Sha Tin on Sunday, but at present it is Luke Ferraris who is getting closest to making the breakthrough that the ex-pat South Africans are always aiming at.

The fortunes of the trio of ex-pat South Africans plying their trade there at present provides ample proof of how tough an environment it is for a jockey.

Keagan de Melo is having a particularly tough time this season.

Hewitson’s admirable professionalism enabled him to be back in the saddle just one week after a bad fall on December 15 and he has raked in two wins since then.

In the ninth race on Sunday, a class 4 event over 1400m, Hewitson was on the Benno Yung-trained Another World, a Kermadec four-year-old gelding who had won third time out over this course and distance.

He was paying HK$11.00 on the Tote and was drawn nine out of 14.

Lyle dropped him out and secured a rails position and had him beautifully relaxed.

In the straight the horse made up ground along the rail quickly after initially being baulked for a run.

However, just as he reached the leader, the second-placed horse shifted inward and slammed the gap Another World was about to take shut.

Lyle checked and wanted to angle outward but a quick backward glance told him he was not far enough clear of another horse running on that line.

Another World was still ambling around with a ton in hand and his supporters must have been throwing their tickets in the air in despair.

Andrea Atzeni had been the rider aboard the horse who had cut Another World off and due credit to him he as aware of what the Horse had done and corrected it.

This saw a gap opening for Another World at the 100m mark by which stage it was surely to late.

Howver, Lyle drove for the gap and the horse flew through it and got his nose down on the line with the help of Hewitson’s copybook left arm stretch to the top of the horse’s head.

He got up by a short-head and looks to be one to follow.

Lyle has now had nine wins this season, a disappointing return considering he had 50 wins two seasons ago and they are almost halfway through the season.

Meanwhile, Luke Ferraris had a winner on New Year’s s day to take him to 19 for the season and that puts him in lone fourth place on the log.

To put that into perspective the only jockeys ahead of him are Purton, Hugh Bowman and local hero Vincent Ho.

Ferraris is one win ahead of perennial top three incumbent Karis Teetan.

Furthermore, Ferraris has the joint second highest strike rate of 12% together with Hugh Bowman, only behind Purton’s 24%.

Keegan de Melo is having a dismal time of it and it would be no surprise to see him back in South Africa next season. It is hard to understand how a rider of his talent has only had 81 rides the whole season. Only three of the 24 who have race-ridden on the island this season have had less rides than Keegan.

He has remianed stuck on four wins since November 20, although he did at least have five rides at Sha Tin on Sunday. On the other hand that is only the third time this season he has had as many as five rides at a meeting.

Splicethemainbrace Can Get Back To Winning Ways

Splicethemainbrace has won seven of nine career starts. (Pauline Herman Photography).

Fairview Poly Tuesday Formguides And Selections

Gold Circle

R1 (1) MISS PRIOR has been holding consistent form and will be a huge contender with the in-form rider Craig Zackey aboard. (7) ALADO’S HABIT was disappointing in the last start however wasn’t beaten far and will have a big say here. (3) FLYING SOLO is making steady progress and will get closer. (8) BAIE MOOI is well bred and comes from a top yard who generally have their unraced runners ready so any market support must be respected. ( Devonne Govender 1-7-3-8).

R2 (5) LEGAL THRILLER has been fancied in recent starts, he may have found the right field here respectfully so is the firm first selection. (3) UNION ROSE showed plenty of determination in that last win and another big run in expected. (1) AMERICAN DREAM shoulders top weight but was impressive in that last victory when demolishing his rivals, huge chance. (2) GOLD GUNNER is capable of much better and must be respected. ( Devonne Govender 5-3-1-2)

R3 (1) SPLICETHEMAINBRACE is classy, although well beaten in a high class event up in the Cape she is back to home soil and will take some beating. (3) IGNITETHELIGHT looks like a very progressive type and will be in the mix with a light mass. (4) HAPPY HOLLY is holding her form and must be respected here. (6) REGINA LOU is capable of running into the quartets. ( Devonne Govender 1-3-4-6)

R4 (6) ICE CAP ran a cracker in the last start and will be a huge contender here. (5) ELUSIVE MATA ran well at big odds and if repeating will be in the firing line. (2) IQEMBULABESIFAZANE ran well in the last start and will be in the mix. (4) WALKONTHEWILDSIDE was fancied in the last start and wasn’t beaten far so can be thrown in, she has plenty scope to progress. (Devonne Govender 6-5-2-4)

R5 Tough race. (5) CLAP OF THUNDER needed the last run and will be big runner. He will appreciate a solid tempo and can produce a big finish on his day. (1) SWEET AND TRUE is never too far back and has scope to go well here. (3) HOLOCENE is another who is very capable on his day so throw into everything. (8) POTENT CAPTAIN has the ability to win a race of this nature so must be included. (Devonne Govender 5-1-3-8)

R6 (8) SWISS WALT ran a cracker in the last start and a massive run is expected once again with the apprentice taking 4kgs off. (1) COOL CAT is another who was narrowly beaten in the last start at big odds and is expected to be in the firing line. (3) WHATEVER NEXT is never far back and will be in the mix so respect his chances with Richard Fourie aboard. (5) PURPLE OPERATOR has been supported recently in the betting market and can pop on best form. ( Devonne Govender 8-1-3-5)

R7 (2) LADY ZULTANITE is holding form, she can produce a powerful finish on her day so will be a huge runner here. (4) CANFORD QUEEN was narrowly beaten at big odds in her last start and will be in the mix again. (6) VOORSMAAKIE wasn’t beaten far in that post maiden run and is expected to be there. (8) MILLENNIUM DANCER is never far back and can get into the action (2) LADY ZULTANITE is holding form, she can produce a powerful finish on her day so will be a huge runner here. (4) CANFORD QUEEN was narrowly beaten at big odds in her last start and will be in the mix again. (6) VOORSMAAKIE wasn’t beaten far in that post maiden run and is expected to be there. (8) MILLENNIUM DANCER is never far back and can get into the action. (Devonne Govender 2-4-6-8).

R8 (5) SWEET NOTHINGS made a decent provincial debut and can build on that. (1) ANGEL OF MY HEART is consistent so must be respected. (4) LADY SONATINE ran a much-improved race in the last start and can get into the action if building on that. (6) LADY THEIA is capable of running into the quartets. ( Devonne Govender 5-1-4-6)

R5 Million WSB Cape Town Met Weights Published

Justin Snaith has six runners still standing their ground in this year’s WSB Met and is going for a third successive victory and a fourth overall (Picture: Cape Racing)

After Saturday’s potentially gamechanging L’Ormarins King’s Plate day, a total of 28 thoroughbreds remain in contention for the 163rd renewal of the R5 million World Sports Betting Cape Town Met after the weights were published for the Cape flagship Grade 1 on Monday 6 January 2025, writes The Sporting Post.

The ill-fated Flag Man, Frances Ethel, and Cape Eagle, as well as the Snaith quartet of Snow Pilot, Hluhluwe, Get Impressed and Triple Time have been withdrawn from the original entry draft for the 25 January showdown, with SA Champion trainer Justin Snaith holding a strong hand with six still in contention.

Snaith goes for his fourth success in the big race and is in line for a rare Met treble after he saddled Double Superlative to victory in the 2024 Cape Town Met, following Jet Dark’s success in 2023.

Visiting trainers with likely runners include Mike de Kock, Sean Tarry, Alec Laird and Johan Janse van Vuuren.

R5 000 000 2000m
WORLD SPORTS BETTING CAPE TOWN MET (Grade 1)
Open to horses at Weight For Age
WFA: 3yrs-6kgs 4yrs-0.5kgs
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance

0	See It Again		(5G)	60	131	BA	Michael Roberts
0	Gimme A Prince		(6G)	60	129	A	Dean Kannemeyer
0	Montien		(5G)	60	129	A	Piet Botha
0	Dave The King		(5G)	60	128	A	Mike de Kock
0	Royal Aussie		(5G)	60	124	A	Justin Snaith
0	Rascallion		(7G)	60	122	BA	Vaughan Marshall
0	$Atticus Finch		(5G)	60	121	AT	Alec Laird
0	Zapatillas		(6G)	60	119	A	BJ Crawford/JI Crawford
0	Billy Bowlegs		(5G)	60	117	A	Eric Sands
0	Master Redoute		(6G)	60	117	AT	Andre Nel
0	Al Muthana (AUS)		(7G)	60	116	A	Ricky Maingard
0	$Future Pearl		(5G)	60	116	AT	Sean Tarry
0	Pacaya		(6G)	60	116	A	Justin Snaith
0	Without Question		(5G)	60	115	A	Justin Snaith
0	Future Swing		(5G)	60	114	A	Justin Snaith
0	$Litigation		(6G)	60	113	CAT	Sean Tarry
0	Cape Eagle	Scratched	(7G)	60	110	A	Andre Nel
0	Triple Time	Scratched	(5G)	60	110	A	Justin Snaith
0	Baratheon		(6G)	60	106	A	Piet Botha
0	Green With Envy		(4C)	59.5	127	A	Dean Kannemeyer
0	Flag Man	Scratched	(4G)	59.5	126	A	Gareth van Zyl
0	Oriental Charm		(4C)	59.5	125	A	BJ Crawford/JI Crawford
0	Snow Pilot	Scratched	(4C)	59.5	125	A	Justin Snaith
0	Barbaresco		(4G)	59.5	122	A e	J A Janse van Vuuren
0	Hluhluwe	Scratched	(4G)	59.5	118	A	Justin Snaith
0	$Magic Verse		(4G)	59.5	114	A	Justin Snaith
0	William Iron Arm		(4G)	59.5	111	A	Dean Kannemeyer
0	Get Impressed	Scratched	(4G)	59.5	106	A	Justin Snaith
0	Saartjie		(5M)	57.5	116	A	Andre Nel
0	Red Palace		(4F)	57	119	A	Dean Kannemeyer
0	Frances Ethel	Scratched	(4F)	57	117	PA	Candice Bass-Robinson
0	Silver Sanctuary		(4F)	57	117	A e	Mike de Kock
0	Eight On Eighteen		(3C)	54	115	A	Justin Snaith
0	Greaterix		(3C)	54	106	A	Mike de Kock
0	Heather’s Boy		(3C)	54	102	A	Mike de Kock
(35)

The recently revealed 2025 Met theme, ‘Couture Unleashed’ is set to make this year’s event the ultimate social occasion, attracting both fashion lovers and racing enthusiasts.

Today's Question

The great Paddy Lunn-trained Model Man with Basil Marcus up was the winner of the 1987 Met.

The WSB Met is traditionally run on the last Saturday of January and occasionally on the first Saturday of February.

However, in 1987 it was run in April.

Why?

FIELDS, Tuesday, 7 January

Fairview Poly

Today’s Question Answer

Equine flu was brought to South Africa by six horses who had traveled from the US and arrived on Friday, December 5, 1986.

A veterinarian treated two of them for travel fatigue and unwittingly carried the flu virus to Ricky Howard-Ginsberg’s Turffontein stable.

The devastating virus, which effected horses’ respiratory systems and sometimes led to further complications, had soon swept through yards on the Highveld, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.

A week or so later after those US horses had arrived race meetings had to be cancelled in the above regions.

The Highveld had its first comeback meeting on February 11, 1987, and Cape Town had its first comeback meeting on March 21.

The virus fortunately did not reach Natal and racing continued normally there.

The great Paddy Lunn-trained Model Man won the Met on April 18, 1987, and but for the equine flu outbreak this horse might have won more than five career Grade 1s. A number of big races were cancelled when he was at his height as a four-year-old that season, including the Queen’s Plate.

Picture: Model Man with Basil Marcus up led in by trainer Paddy Lunn after winning the 1987 J&B Met (The Racing Museum).