Turf Talk Newsletter – 06 October, 2025

Tin Pan Alley gave jockey Malesela Katjedi his first Graded win and stamped himself as a three-year-old to follow for the season. Part-owner Laurence Wernars was obviously thrilled with Katjedi’s fine ride (JC Photos)

Sean Tarry was on fire at Turffontein Inside on Saturday and did the Joburg Spring Challenge double, with the exciting three-year-old prospect Tin Pan Alley taking the Gr 2 Betway Joburg Spring Challenge over 1450m and the five-year-old Vercingetorix mare Callmegetrix winning the Gr 2 Betway Joburg Fillies and Mares Challenge over the same course and distance.

Furthermore, he got the exacta in the latter race as Rodeo Drive finished second.

Tin Pan Alley, in his first run as a gelding, ignited a season which could see him reach for the stars and he gave Malesela Katjedi a career first Graded success, while Luyolo Mxothwa’s journey to Joburg for just three rides paid dividends as Callmegetrix always seemed to have the measure of dogged stablemate Rodeo Drive in the fillies and mares race and the rest of the field were in a different province.

Three-year-old Moutsonhoek-bred The United States gelding Tin Pan Alley cantered down to the start of the Spring Challenge a warm favourite and carrying just 50kg he returned  in impressive style to win by 0,70 lengths under an excellent ride by the ever-improving Katjedi.

Smartly out of the starting gates from their no 2 draw, Katjedi secured a ground-saving position on the rail for the 15/10 favourite, tracking the early leaders into the straight. Highveld Winter Series hero Choisaanada had sat in a one out and one back position in the running and took the lead in the straight, but Tin Pan Alley was resolute and hit the front at the 150m mark before staying on well.

Betway Summer Cup winner Atticus Finch Atticus put in a magnificent reappearance effort as he came from near the back with a storming late run to pip Busstopinhounslow for second. The latter had also run on well from near the back. Choisaanada was overtaken late by the latter two but managed a one length fourth and there was then a further 2,10 lengths back to fifth-placed Nyaka Nyaka. The Tarry-trained second favourite Lucky Lad begun a threatening looking run early in the straight but found little extra and might revert to sprints.

Atticus Finch put in the best performance as his Gr 1 penalty meant he carried topweight of 60kg and he had to give Tin Pan Alley 10kg. He was thus 2kg worse off than weight for age with the winner and yet lost by just 0,70 lengths. This augurs well for the defense of his Summer Cup crown.

Tin Pan Alley is out of the Querari mare The Entertainer and is owned by Laurence Wernars and family & Dayalan Chinsammy.

A R500 000 National 2yo Sale purchase, Tin Pan Alley is now a winner of three races from his seven starts and he has four places. He was a Gr1 and Gr2 placed as a two-year-old and took his stakes earnings to R887 969.

Speaking after the race, trainer Sean Tarry commented, “His work has been phenomenal. He had the draw and he had the weight… so I’m very pleased it’s all come together.”

Malesela Katjedi was over the moon with his first Group race win, commenting, “As we hit the bend, I would say at about the 1200m mark, he started taking a hold as the pace came back slightly on to us. I would have liked for him to get a bit more relaxed so that he could get a better finish, but he was still looking around. We did touch the rail twice I think.” He added, “A big thank you and congratulations to Mr Tarry and to Mr Wernars and Mr Chinsammy for giving me this opportunity.”

The fillies and mares race was run earlier and was a two-horse affair with the favourite, Callmegetrix, coming from a handy position two back on the rail to get the better of stablemate Rodeo Drive, who had dictated at a good pace. Callmegetrix won by just 0.3-lengths. Third-placed Destiny Of Fire was a further 7.6 lengths back, slightly ahead of Minogue.

Callmegetrix is a five-year-old daughter of Vercingetorix out of Rathmor Stud’s twice-winning Kabool mare, Clarion Call, and is owned by Mario Ferreira.

A R450 000 BSA National Yearling Sale purchase, Callmegetrix has now won 6 races with 15 places from her 23 starts and stakes of R1 140 627.

Tarry was vocal in his tributes to both riders. “I must just say a very big thank you to Katjedi for taking the ride at short notice. And thanks to Louie Mxothwa for flying from Cape Town to come and help me, because there were jockeys suspended. I always scratch my head in wonder at how we can confirm jockeys and then they get suspended after being confirmed for feature races. But those are the rules, we made a plan at the last minute, and without the help of these two jockeys I would not have been able to get these horses out today. I am very thankful to them. There are no egos, they did their bit, and they deserve the accolades today. I appreciate their attitude and it goes a long way and we don’t forget those favours that jocks do for us from time to time.”

Nichola Yuen’s mount Dame Of Trix (far side) was pipped by Demanding Dave, but an objection was later upheld and their finishing order was reversed (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Hong Kong apprentice jockey Nichola Yuen arrived in South Africa a week ago and was celebrating a winner at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Sunday, even if it had to come via the boardroom.

In her third and final ride of her opening meeting out here, in the Woodruff Racing Syndicate Class 4 contest over 1000m, she was aboard the James Crawford-trained 16-1 shot Dame Of Trix and under a balanced ride came together with the well-backed Mike Stewart-trained favourite Demanding Dave (33-10) in the final stages.

With Demanding Dave running a bit green, and Richard Fourie accidentally striking his opponent’s crop from her hand in the final 100m, the Stewart gelding got the verdict by a nose.

The post race interview took place with Demanding Dave’s connections, but unfortunately for them the upheld objection spoilt what what would have been a dramatic story in itself.

Mike Stewart had been forced to get his Kalk Bay-based farrier Craig Sutton to fetch Demanding Dave and bring him to the County Course, after an accident on Ou Kaapse Weg created traffic delays en route from The Dunes in Noordhoek.

Trainer James Crawford lodged an objection on behalf of the runner-up on the grounds of interference in the latter stages. The Stipes  upheld it and Nichola Yuen had just registered the first winner of her career in the boardroom.

She’s a neat and balanced rider and could pay to follow with her 1,5kg claim over the next few months.

On the video evidence available to racings fans the decision might have seemed a touch harsh. Demanding Dave had been tending to hang outward but Richard Fourie then switches his stick to the right hand and straightens him. He then hangs inward and bumps Dames Of Trix on, or just before, the line. The stipendiary stewards would have been able to see exactly when the bump took place with their views from all angles and would have been able to adjudge the effect it had.

Here is the stipendiary steward report on the incident:

At the 100m Apprentice N Yuen (DAME OF TRIX) had her crop accidentally struck from her grasp by Jockey R Fourie (DEMANDING DAVE). In the latter stages DEMANDING DAVE (R Fourie), which initially shifted out and was straightened, then shifted inwards away from the crop and bumped DAME OF TRIX approximately four strides before the winning post. The Stewards called for a race review which was followed by Trainer J Crawford lodging an objection on behalf of the 2nd- placed horse DAME OF TRIX (*N Yuen) against the 1
st-placed DEMANDING DAVE (R Fourie) on the grounds of interference in the latter stages. The Objection Board, after considering the evidence, reviewing the patrol films and giving consideration to the margin of 0,05 of a length between
the two horses concerned, was satisfied that but for the interference DAME OF TRIX (*N Yuen) would have finished ahead of DEMANDING DAVE (R Fourie) had this incident not occurred and therefore upheld the Objection and amended the result.

Click here to watch the race replay

Click here to watch the belated winning interview 

Nichola arrived in South Africa a week ago with both Ms Amy Chan, Headmistress of the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School, and former South African champion jockey and Hong Kong legend Felix Coetzee, who is a consultant to the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Racing Development Board.

After walking the course early on Sunday under the guidance of Coetzee and Karl Neisius, the 1,5kg claimer, who has ridden 71 winners in Australia and New Zealand, achieved a remarkable outcome – albeit not in the way she would have chosen.

Varsfontein’s draft is always displayed with pride at the Sales (Picture supplied). Their resident stallions were chiefly responsible for the stud’s amazing 2024/2025 season return of 15 individual stakes winners of 23 races and third place on the national breeders log with earnings of R28,332,868

Varsfontein Stud’s resident stallions Erik The Red, Gimmethegreenlight and Master Of My Fate all enjoyed excellent seasons in 2024-2025. Erik The Red was South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire last season, multiple champion sire Gimmethegreenlight’s 14 individual stakes winners included Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner The Real Prince, and Master Of My Fate’s trio of Gr 1 winners included two Equus Champions.

Varsfontein will be offering five colts, each with a stallion’s pedigree, at the upcoming Two-Year-Old Sale. The string is made up of two-year-olds sired by the aforementioned Varsfontein trio, as well as by the red-hot Rafeef.

Lot 22: Vice And Virtue – Gimmethegreenlight – Juxtapose (colt): By multiple champion sire Gimmethegreenlight, Vice And Virtue is a half-brother to two winners including 2024 Woolavington Stakes Listed winner Daimyo. A three-parts brother to the Gimmethegreenlight sired stakes winner Pineapplemintgreen, this colt is out of the top-class racemare Juxtapose, winner of both the Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic and Gr 2 SA Oaks.

Lot 35: Diaval – Master Of My Fate –Maleficent (colt):

By the sire of champions Golden Palm, Jan Van Goyen and Tempting Fate, Diaval is a half-brother to three winners including the smart Handsome Prince. His dam won the Devon Air Stakes Listed and she is a full sister to Gr 1 SA Derby runner up Rocketball and half-sister to Michaelmas Handicap Listed winner Blackball.

Lot 70: Another Hero – Gimmethegreenlight –Sentbydestiny (colt):

By the same sire as such stars as Gimme A Prince, Green With Envy and The Real Prince, Another Hero is out of the Master Of My Fate sired Gr 1 Premiers Champion Stakes winner Sentbydestiny. The latter is a full sister to Listed World Sports Betting East Cape Derby winner American Princess and half-sister to the Gr 3 winning dam of champion Double Grand Slam.

Lot 134: Sossusvlei – Erik The Red -Desert Pride (colt):

Sossusvlei is a son of one of South Africa’s most exciting young sires, who is also closely related to the sensational Master Of My Fate. This colt, closely inbred to champion sire Al Mufti, is out of a three-time winning half-sister to Gr 2 Gold Circle Golden Slipper winner Desert Rhythm, and is from the family of last season’s Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes winner Cosmic Speed.

Lot 131: Caught Speed – Rafeef –Catchafallingstar (colt):

By the sire of Gr 1 Computaform Sprint winners Master Archie, Thunderstruck and William Robertson, Caught Speed is out of a Gr 2 placed Gimmethegreenlight half-sister to no fewer than three Oaks winners! This trio includes Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks winner Ash Cloud, the dam of stakes winners Pacaya and Silver Hills.

For more information on this draft, please contact Carl De Vos on (082) 800 8490.

All horses purchased off the RCS Two-Year-Old Sale qualify for the RCS Slipper. The Slipper is run over 1200m for qualifying 2yo graduates of Race Coast Sales. This lucrative race will be run in mid-April for a purse of R3 Million in 2026 at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe produced a thrilling finish that saw an eighth victory in the great race for the Aga Khan family and it was a poignant moment as the Aga Khan passed away in February.

The plans for the winner Daryz are yet to be finalised.

Click here to read an Arc follow up article

Valley Ofthe Kings pictured before the Race Coast Sales Premier Yearling Sale of 2023 (Race Coast Sales)

Former Summerveld-based trainer Dylan Cunha, who has had meteoric success training out of racing headquarters (Newmarket) in the UK, had a fine day for South African connections today (Monday), including winning with the Maine Chance Farms-bred Race Coast Sales-topping Gimmethegreenlight gelding Valley Ofthe Kings at Wolverhampton.

Earlier in the day Cunha had sent out the Irish-bred Galileo Gold gelding Gorgeous Mr George, who also has a couple of South African owners, for another decent cheque at his favourite course, Yarmouth.

Valley Ofthe Kingshas has qute a story behind him.

He is out of the Captain Al mare Victoria Lavelle, who Sold for R3,8 million at the 2023 Race Coast Sales Cape Premier Yearling Sale, Valley Ofthe Kings  is a son of champion sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) out of Captain Al’s stakes winning daughter, Victoria Lavelle.

Maine Chance Farms supremo Andreas Jacobs pointed out prior to the January 2023 sale that beyond the potency of Captain Al as his broodmare sire, Valley OftheKings had Western Winter as sire of his grandam, his fourth dam is by Surumo, who is to Germany what Northern Dancer was to the United States, and his seventh dam, Crape Band, was bought by Jacobs’ grandfather. She produced Caracol the first Gr1 winner for the internationally famous racing dynasty in 1972. “He was a very tough horse who won two G1s in one week and later became a stallion,” commented Dr Jacobs at the time.

Valley Ofthe Kings was signed for by Justin Vermaak, who was bidding on the line with the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s International Sale Manager Danny Rolston and was exported to the UK for preparation in advance of the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s International Sale.

He reportedly had one or two little issues and the HKJC weren’t comfortable with placing him on their big Sale.

Danny Rolston subsequently offered him to Justin Vermaak, who kept a small share and placed him with Cunha.

He races for The Kings Men Syndicate today.

Valley Ofthe Kings ran off a 73 Official Rating today having had three, seconds, a third and a fourth in six starts.

He pressed the leader early before taking it up after one furlong under Sean Levey. He then ran on from two furlongs out and although he drifted right over one furlong out he kept on inside the final furlong to win by a length.

He should win more races.

Meanwhile, Gorgeous Mr George gave his “The Gorgeous Gang” syndicate members more to cheer about and among them is the well known South African industry couple Marius and Gill Mostert.

The Mosterts have been able to enjoy three wins with Gorgeous Mr George, all at Yarmouth this year.

He has finished second in his last three starts, two of them at Yarmouth.

He is in fact the most successful horse at Yarmouth this season.

The Mosterts pay a visit to Newmarket every year and Gill explained the only reason they took a share in this one is because her father was nicknamed “Gorgeous Mr George.”

Those two horses were Dylan’s only two runners today.

He is nearing a milestone of 100 wins in the UK.

Valley Ofthe Kings gave him a 92nd win on the UK flat and he has had two wins over jumps.

This is an incredible feat considering how tough it is to breakthrough in the UK and that he started at Newmarket with just one horse only three years ago (his first first runner being on 28 April 2022)!

The Shepherd has had one run and one win on the poly and can make it two out of two on Tuesday at Hollywoodbets Greyville (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Hollywoodbets Greyville Poly formguides and selections

R1 BOMBARDIER BOY (5) found market support on debut and finished a close-up second. With that run under his girth one can expect further improvement. AUSTRIAN BEAUTY (1) takes on males but has come well for her new stable. She should make another bold bid from the best of the draw. CAPRICIOUS MISS (4) disappointed last run after a much improved previous showing on the poly. She needs a repeat of that effort. SMART STAR (6) starts for her new stable with first time blinkers and is one to watch in the market. (Andrew Harrison: 5-1-4-6).

R2 Summary: Tricky maiden where form is thin. Debutante OVATION STAR (8) comes from a strong stable and does not have to be too good to win here. KALI BWANA (3) has shown some ability and should show in this line-up. DEE DAY (9) pops up on occasion. Back to a sprint on the poly she can feature. CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT (4) is better than her last run and has a money chance. THE SCARLET CAT (1) has shown little to date but tries blinkers for the first time in her poly debut and has a light weight. (Andrew Harrison: 8-3-9-4).

R3 Summary: XIPHOS (3) has been much improved on the poly and first time blinkers. The step up in trip should suit and he has a strong chance in a weak maiden field. O SPACE O (1) has been disappointing of late but did show some ability early in his career. The blinkers are back on. CAPTAIN FRANK (2) has had two starts on the poly and steps up in trip. On pedigree he should enjoy the extra. SUSURRANDO (12) was not far back on debut and should improve on that showing although he does have a deep draw to contend with. (Andrew Harrison: 3-2-12-1).

R4 Summary: Visiting REJUVENATE (7) has shown her best recent form on the poly and a repeat of that effort could see her home. RED LHASA (4) has had two starts for her new stable and ran a smart race first up from a wide draw. She should be involved in the finish. FINE WINE (3) is lightly raced but she stays the trip, goes well on the poly and was close-up last run on the turf. CALL ME HARRIET (10) is better than her last two. She gets full-on blinkers and a 4kg claimer aboard. (Andrew Harrison: 7-4-3-10).

R5 Summary: THE SHEPHERD (7) is coming to hand slowly and looks about ready to show his best. MIOCHA BLEND (6) takes on males and returns from a break and has not been out since July. She would prefer it a touch further but has a touch of class and goes well on the poly. SIGN OF FATE (1) takes on useful opposition but has a light weight from a plum draw and can feature. There should be very little between stable companions INGQWELE (4) and OFFICER IN COMMAND (12). The former is 0.5kg better off in the handicap and has the better draw so could be the pick of the pair. Callan Murray was unlikely to make the weight on Ingqwele. (Andrew Harrison: 7-6-1-4).

R6 Summary: A competitive handicap, PRINCESS GOLDIE (6) has been tumbling down the ratings and is down in class so makes plenty of appeal. MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON (1) was a good second last run over a sprint with the blinkers and tongue-tie removed. The blinkers are back on over a more suitable trip and she appears to enjoy the poly. SCHIPOLE (4) was touched off in a tight finish last time out. Of concern is that she did not feature in her poly debut. MRSGLITTERSPARKLES (3) made a promising seasonal debut. She shed her maiden on the poly and does look to have improvement to come. (Andrew Harrison: 6-1-3-4).

R7 Summary: Tough handicap. SCHOOL POLICY (6) took on slightly stronger last time out. The switch to the poly could bring out the best. ILHA DA ORANGE (4) has improved in blinkers and her last two wins have come on the poly. She got a five-point jump in the handicap for her last win but has 5.5kg less to shoulder. PURPLE FLOWER (9) has a deep draw to contend with but loves the poly and has a handy galloping weight. EMERALD GREEN (1) made sudden improvement last run but a repeat performance from the best of the draw could see her go one better. (Andrew Harrison: 6-4-9-1).

R8 Summary: Wide open and it could pay to load up in the exotics. WORLD PHAROAH (2) has shown up well in his first two outings for his new stable. This is his third run after a break. BLESS ME FRED (4) is a bit of a Hollywoodbets Scottsville specialist but has been in good form over the trip of late and the switch to poly could see him holding form. IBHELE (5) has been dropping in the ratings and now also takes a drop in class. Not one to leave out of any calculations. CATAVAR (7) is in good form and over his best trip. He also goes well on the poly. (Andrew Harrison: 2-4-5-7).

Who was the only Irish-trained thoroughbred to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe twice and how many horses did he have to beat to do it?

The picture is of the horse