Turf Talk Newsletter – 07 May, 2025

Seal Of Approval For Poly, Hollywood Four-Timer

Hollywood Racing completes a four-timer as Calvin Habib on the Alyson Wright-trained Ibutho (Duke Of Marmalade) is about to just pip the Garth Puller-trained Masterbling (Siphesihle Hlengwa).

The Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack was today praised by jockeys, who said there was not much kickback and what kickback there was was also below the chest level of the horses and they added it had a nice feel, while from both a jockey point of view and spectator point of view it was pleasing to see horses being able to win from the front or from off the pace and horses had a fair chance wherever they were in the straight i.e. today they won down the inside, down the centre and on the outside.

This was the first meeting after the rejuvenating of the polytrack, so the positive feedback from the jockeys and the fair racing was most pleasing to witness.

Hollywood Racing had a four-timer, which was fitting as Hollywoodbets are of course behind all of the changes being made, including to the poly, as they have now taken over control of KZN racing.

The results were also generally favourable for punters with only one double figure odds winner in the nine races.

Of course the acid test for the polytrack will be when it rains, because the chief reason for its construction was as an all weather track which would be able to save meetings that would otherwise have to be abandoned or postponed.

Hollywood Racing’s winners today were courtesy of the Peter Muscutt-trained filly Woza Nawe (Gimmethegreenlight), who started at 4/1 and was ridden by Sean Veale, the Mike de Kock-trained Rafeef gelding Trois Trois Quatre (Rafeef), who started at 11/2 and was also ridden by Sean Veale, the the “Bo” Ngcobo-trained Eventidor (Elusive Fort), who started at 9/4 and was ridden by apprentice Jacey Botes, and the Alyson Wright-trained Ibutho (Duke Of Marmalade), who was backed in from 25/1 to 14/1 and was ridden by Calvin Habib.

Besides Hollywood Racing’s four-timer and Veale’s double, there was also a double for Calvin Habib and a career first double for 4kg claiming apprentice Mxolisi Mbutho.

The intriging race for the KZN trainers championship sees Garth Puller on 36 wins, reigning champion Gareth van Zyl on 34 wins, Alyson Wright on 30 wins, Peter Muscutt on 29 wins and Mike Miller on 27 wins.

The KZN jockeys title chase sees Sean Veale leading on 51 wins, sidelined Rachel Venniker is on 46 wins and Craig Zackey is on 42 wins.

Andrew Harrison of Gold Circle wrote the below report on today’s meeting:

Andrew Harrison (Gold Circle)

The new poly surface at Hollywoodbets Greyville was under scrutiny yesterday but by all accounts passed with flying colours. After winning the first race run on the new surface, apprentice Mxolisi Mbuto commented that he was sat in behind runners and there was very little kick-back which was music to the ears of jockeys that had suffered the kick-back of the former aging surface, year’s past it’s sell-by date.

Looking to be one of the better bets on the programme in the card opener, the Mathew and Mike de Kock-trained Cherry Oh Baby touched 1-5 in the market but took an ominous drift in the betting just prior to the start with plenty of 11-10 available as some money came for long-time battler Longstreet.

Halfway up the straight, Longstreet supporters looked to have done their money as Andrew Fortune appeared to be sitting with a handful on the favourite.

However, apprentice Mbuto extricated Longstreet from behind horses and produced a telling late run up the outside of the field. Cherry Oh Baby rallied to Fortune’s urgings but Longstreet had the momentum and an 8kg weight advantage, getting home by a short head.

Given the market drift and Fortune’s ride, the stipendiary stewards have opened an inquiry.

When Cape Town trainers are in town for Champion Season it always pays to take note and include their horses in any plays. Glen Kotzen’s charge Master Bomber pulled the widest gate in the second but Chad Little had no hesitation as Master Bomber pinged the gate and was in front shortly after the start. He appeared to be a keen in the early exchanges with first time blinkers but once settled he had an easy lead.

Little got him to kick early in the straight and he pinched a winning break. Silver Platter was closing but was confined to the second box for the fourth time in succession. He is a horse with a huge, loping stride and a mile-and-a-half may be more to his liking.

Woza Nawe built on her comeback run behind One Smart Cookie to land the odds in the third. The judges were faced by a wall of horses approaching the final furlong but Sean Veale got his filly to kick out of the pack and hold off Faizah, this pair pulling clear. Green Valkyrie refused to jump.

The Middle Stakes over 2000m produced a thrilling finish with a short head separating the winner Trois Trois Quatre and Blackberry Malt with third placed Afropolitan a well beaten third. Crossing the subway the pair slowly pulled clear of the pack and they joined battle about a furlong out. Blackberry Malt was game in defeat with Cole Dicken hard at work but it was back-to-back wins for Hollywood Racing’s retained rider Sean Veale and Hollywood Racing after Woza Nawe.

It was three on the bounce for Hollywood Racing as Eventidor came with a telling late run to win the D Stakes over 1600m for trainer ‘Bo’ Ngcobo. It was not all easy going for the young apprentice Jacey Botes as he took the scenic route around the 1400 m mark and was in danger of running off the course. However, he managed to get it all under control and set off up the outside of the field, giving Eventidor a clear run at the line. The gelding responded with a sustained finish to win rather comfortably. Young Botes was brutally honest post-race, “I thought I had stuffed it up.” But if he ever gives up race-riding he can always get a job in a bakery as he ‘stirred’ up his mount using his reins rather than the stick.

Front running tactics on the new poly surface paid dividends yesterday as Calvin Habib followed the script taking the Wendy Whitehead-trained Sundance Kid into an early lead, kicking for home at the top of the straight and holding on to his advantage. It was a close-run thing as Muzi Yeni drove hard on Bristol Hercules up the inside fence but Sundance Kid had just enough left to hold on by a diminishing head in the sixth.

Mxolisi Mbuto is not your usual apprentice being a lot older than the usual SAJA intake. From serving tables in a restaurant to riding winners on a big stage has been a dream as he rode his second winner of the afternoon on the Darryl Moore-trained Quentasia. Sitting in just off the pace, Quentasia made use of her light weight and a balanced ride to scythe through her field to win comfortably.

Avernian Goddess has been costly to follow but she got it all together in the eighth as she got a dream run. The field bunched up the inside rail but stable rider to the Dean Kannemeyer yard picked a gap and his filly responded with a fine turn of foot to win well. With this confidence booster under her girth she can go on to win a few more. Not so lucky was stable companion Getoffofmycloud, who was the chief sufferer in the inside bunching, and is definitely a horse to follow.

Probably fitting with Hollywood having provided the means to revamp the poly track, Ibutho rounded off a fine day for Hollywood Racing with their fourth winner of the afternoon. In another close call, Alyson Wright’s veteran edged home ahead of Masterbling with Calvin Habib on the right end of another desperate finish.

Bortz To Take Over KZN Chairmanship But Only In August

Picture: Greg Bortz was officially appointed chairman designate of KZN racing at a shareholders meeting held today (Wednesday May 7), but current Gold Circle chairman Sadha Naidoo will remain in his position until the end of the Champions Season.

Durban – Following the acquisition of Gold Circle (Pty) Ltd by Hollywood Racing Enterprises (Pty) Ltd (Hollywood), a shareholders meeting was held on 2 May 2025 at which the following Directors were appointed to the Board of Gold Circle:

Suren Rampersadh

Zandile Maseko

Morgan Shandu

Greg Bortz

Sadha Naidoo

Subsequently, at a meeting of Directors held on 7 May 2025, Mr Sadha Naidoo was appointed Chairman of Gold Circle, an office that he will hold until the conclusion of the Champions Season on 31 July 2025.

The Board requested Mr Naidoo to accept this position in recognition of the part that he has played throughout the transition.

At the same meeting, Mr Greg Bortz was appointed as the Chairman Designate, to take office on 1 August 2025.

Andrew Fortune In Hot Water For Questionable Ride

Long Street ridden by Mxolisi Mbutho narrowly denies the favourite Cherry Oh Baby in today’s controversial first race. (Picture: Candiese Lenferna)

An inquiry has been called into the ride of Andrew Fortune on the favourite Cherry Oh Baby in the first race at Hollywoodbets Greyville today, which was unfortunate as it detracted from the return of racing to the polytrack, which has been rejuvenated into a world class surface.

Click here to watch a replay of the race:

The inquiry will look at Rule 62, which states:

62.1 Every HORSE shall be run and shall be allowed to run to the best of its ability and on its merits.

62.1.1. A HORSE must be ridden in such a manner as to benefit its best interests of the RACE in general. [Amended 10.05.2019]

62.2 The RIDER of a HORSE shall:- 62.2.1 take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout a RACE to ensure that his HORSE is given a full opportunity to win or to obtain the best possible placing;

62.2.2 ride his HORSE in a competent and professional manner;

The inquiry will have to decide whether there was either a) nothing untoward about the ride, b) it was an unprofessional ride or c) he deliberately threw the race.

If it is b) he will receive a suspension and if it is c) there will be serious repercussions.

The first noticeable thing about the race was the strange betting patterns with Cherry Oh Baby being longs odds-on, opening at 36/100 and going as short as 1/5, until the last few minutes before race time at which point she drifted out to 11/10.

However, ths is easily explainable as her price was totally unrealistic to begin with considering it was an Open Maiden and she had to give the eventual winner Long Street an effective 8kg.

Long Street only shortened marginally from an opening of 7/2 to 3/1.

Cherry Oh Baby had superior form to any other horse in the race, but an Open Maiden is a handicap of sorts and as she was the highest rated runner in the race she had to give weight to the rest of the runners.

Fillies do get a 2,5kg allowance in these races which aided her cause.

However, against her was that she had to give fellow four-year-old filly Long Street 4kg according to their merit ratings and, furthermore, Long Street had a 4kg claimer aboard, meaning Cherry Oh Baby had to give Long Street an effective 8kg.

Long Street had finished close up in her last few starts, so Cherry Oh Baby’s long odds on price was a false price and the drift before the off was simply a logical correction.

The subsequent ride looked suspicious … well at least to those who do not know Andrew Fortune’s style.

Fortune is never hard on a horse, but somehow horses run for him as he is a fine horseman and has exceptional hands.

Punters are used to him arriving on the scene with a few wiggles of the wrists and sitting pretty still.

He is also known to enjoy “posing” when in an unassailable position i.e. standing up and looking around.

A good jockey will always want his mount to have something in reserve in case challenged and a good jockey will not want to be hitting the front too soon.

Therefore, Fortune would have been in a quandry after switching out and gliding into the lead at the 350m mark and his mind would have been on leaving something in reserve for the final stages, in case he was challenged.

However, most analysts would have expected him to at least crouch down in the saddle and let out some rein, as that could have seen the horse putting the race to bed if she was good enough or at least having some momentum to accelerate off if challenged.

Instead, Fortune was sitting pretty upright and there appeared to be no change in his seat from what it was in the running to what it was from the top of the straight to the 170m mark.

There was also little movement of his hands. There were exactly three pumps of the left fist, timed at about one pump every eight strides.

Posing (which is frowned upon anyway and can be penalisable) could not be used as an excuse as it was too far out from the finish.

It was only when Long Street ranged alongside at roundabout the 170m mark that Fortune got to work.

He then used the whip in the left hand and drove with the right hand.

However, it was too late.

Long Street’s momentum compared to Cherry Oh Baby’s lack of momentum saw the former going into the lead in the last 100m.

Cherry Oh Baby did not have enough time to fight back, despite making a gallant effort to do so.

Most race riding analysts would also say Fortune had the whip in the wrong hand as his mount thus drifted inward costing her some ground.

Having it in the other hand would have kept her on a tighter line in the struggle with the horse on her outside, or she might even have drifted out slightly, thus making it harder for the other horse to overtake.

However, that would be more a discussion in a studio of racing analysts rather than in an inquiry.

In summary the chief question will be: was he too complacent in this case and did he preserve the horse too much and for too long?

Most would say that he could have given her some rein earlier and started riding earlier – the race could possibly have been put to bed with that tactic.

However, most have never ridden in a race before and few have been a) champion jockey or b) a widely respected horseman of the highest calibre.

However, even those who do admire him as a fine horseman might admit he made a mistake in this race.

They might at the same time be dreading the possibility of a new chapter in the somewhat turbulent life story of Andrew Fortune.

He is a legend who has made some incredible comebacks from seemingly hopeless situations, but at the same time he has almost always had the tendency to attract trouble to himself.

How big will the trouble be this time?

Hopefully, it will at most be viewed as unprofessional riding or even less i.e. just a horse that, when carrying 8kg more than the winner, was not good enough to find the necessary extra when challenged.

Fortune might also be feeling the effects of a punishing schedule.

On April 26 he had five rides at Turffontein, on April 27 he had six rides at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, on April 28 he had nine rides at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, on April 30 he had six rides at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, on May 1 he had four rides at Turffontein, on May 3 he had six rides at Hollywoodbets Greyville, on May 4 he had nine rides at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, on May 6 he had another nine rides at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and was back at Hollywoodbets Greyville today for another four rides. That is a lot of traveling and riding for anybody let alone a 57 year-old.

In the last race today he was aboard another favourite who had drifted out, from 72/100 to 15/10, and it finished unplaced.

He might be looking forward to his suspension (for a separate offense), which runs from the 10th to the 23rd of this month.

Master Archie And Master Of My Fate Boosted At Cape HQ

Churchillian gives a boost to his full-brother, the Winterbach Stud-based stallion Master Archie, when getting off the mark in a 1000m maiden at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Tuesday. (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Cape Breeders

Winterbach Stud’s well performed young stallion Master Archie got a notable update to his pedigree when his full-brother Churchillian won at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Tuesday.

The Rafeef sired two-year-old showed the benefit of experience when he ran out a convincing winner of the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Welcomes You Maiden Juvenile Plate (1000m).

Trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, the Aldo Domeyer ridden Churchillian was always up with the pace and kicked on in the closing stages to win by a length and a half.

Churchillian, who was making his fourth start on Wednesday, was bred by Messrs V Harry, S A Hanna & Adam Azzie.

The colt is the eighth two-year-old winner this season, thus far, for his sire Rafeef.
Churchillian, who is out of the stakes winning Var mare La Volta, is the seventh winner for his dam.

A full-sister to the G1 placed Valeta, La Volta (whose eight wins included a triumph in the Listed Bauhinia Handicap), is best known as the dam of the top-class performer Master Archie.
The latter won seven races notably the 2022 G1 Computaform Sprint, where Master Archie accounted for such graded stakes winners as Big Burn, True To Life, Alesian Chief, and Bohica among others.

Meanwhile, Varsfontein Stud’s homebred stallion Master Of My Fate has enjoyed another fine season in 2024-2025 and the son of Jet Master’s good run continued at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Tuesday.

Master Of My Fate had a pair of winners at the meeting, with the strapping bay going close to having a four-timer with his son Wehaveasituation running second in the sixth race and daughter Saint Brigid runner up in race seven.

Master Of My Fate filly Supreme Fate became her sire’s first winner on Tuesday when she won the Normandy Stud Syndicate Maiden Plate (F &M) over 1400m.

Under Louis Mxothwa, the Brett and James Crawford trained three-year-old stayed on strongly to break her maiden by a length.

Bred and owned by Luke Bailes, Supreme Fate had finished third two starts prior to her maiden win, and was making just her fourth start on Tuesday.

The filly is out of the Western Winter mare Supreme Sunset.

Master Of My Fate looks to have a very smart sort to his name in the form of Jet Force. The latter made it two wins from three starts when he stormed home to win the Hollywoodbets Bright Future Class 4 (1200m) by a length.

Trained by Des McLachlan, Jet Force was given a superb ride from Morne Winaar.

The Beaumont Stud bred three-year-old is out of the Var mare Ooh La Var and is a full-brother to smart Hierkommiebokkie.

Plus Four Can Defy His Merit Rating Raise

Plus Four won easily on his Highveld debut and like many horses who come from Cape Town he could still be ahead of te handcapper. (JC Photos)

Turffontein Inside Thursday Formguides and Selections

R1 (4) GULF OF AMERICA made a smart debut and is expected to go one better with Piere Striker Strydom aboard, she will relish the 1450m trip. (7) JAPANESE GARDEN wasn’t far on debut and is expected to get much closer. (2) BOLD ACTION has experience on her side and cannot be ruled out. (1) BACK FROM WAR Is another who is never far back and can make her presence felt. (Devonne Govender 4-7-2-1)

R2 (8) SCARLETT HEART is making steady progress and will be in the firing line. (5) REDLIGHTGREENLIGHT is well bred and a close eye must be kept on the market, if he receives any betting support he should be taken seriously. (9) WINGS OF ICE Is capable of better and that last run is best ignored. (Devonne Govender 1-8-5-9)

R3 (10) RACHEL WALL comes from a yard who do very well with unraced runners and must be respected. (2) GENOVEFA is never far back and can make progress with experience on her side. (6) RENDEVOUS IN RIO returns after a long break, she is extremely well bred and a close eye must be kept on the market for any support. She comes from a yard who know how to get them ready and must be taken seriously. (Devonne Govender 10-2-6)

R4 (9) ETHICAL has made good progress in her last start and will be a major contender with 56kgs on her back, firm first selection. (1) ART NOUVEAU is always consistent and another honest run is expected. (6) EXPLOSIVE GIFT was fancied on debut, she was given a break and wasn’t far back on her return, there should be more to come from her as she may have needed the last run. (8) REFLECTIVE wasn’t beaten far on debut and will get much closer. (Devonne Govender 9-1-6-8)

R5 (9) CLAW ran well in the last start despite the fact that he needed the run. He will have a big say here. (8) KUDZU is very capable and should be respected. (1) LA MOOHAL is capable of much better and that last run is best ignored. (13) JORDAN has always shown ability and it would be no surprise to see him run a big race. (Devonne Govender 9-8-1-13)

R6 Open race. (9) NORTHERN KITTEN is never far back and is capable of winning here. She does have a wide draw but gets on well with Jason Gates and should be respected. (5) CALL ME MASTER is a very honest type, he has been racing well and will have a big chance with Gavin Lerena up. (4) SAIL THE SKY won easily in his last start and must go in again. (2) CALIDA returns after a break but is better than that last run so should be thrown in. (Devonne Govender 9-5-4-2)

R7 (12) PLUS FOUR won impressively in the province and will be the firm first choice in an open looking contest. Although returning from a slight break he will be a big factor. (9) PRESSONREGARDLESS is holding consistent form and another huge run is expected. (2) NIGHT BOMBER is always in the mix, he is another who is holding form and will be in the firing line. (11) DECEPTION PASS is very capable on his day and ran well in the last start, deserves huge respect here. (Devonne Govender 12-9-2-11).

R8 (5) GREGARIOUS ran well enough in the last start and she looks to have plenty more to come hence she will be the first selection. (2) QUANTUM ran extremely well behind Princess Ilaria and warrants respect here. (1) WARNING SOUND has scope to go well in this field, although returning from a break she must be respected. (9) GHOSTBUSTER wasn’t beaten far in the last start and could make the quartets pay. (Devonne Govender 5-2-1-9)

R9 (2) SATYAGRAHA was an impressive maiden winner and looks to have plenty scope to progress further hence she is the top choice. (8) CARS BIG AS BARS disappointed in the last start but will bounce back so must be respected. (1) WILLOW EXPRESS is a very honest type and is capable on his day so needs to be respected. (4) KING OF NUMBERS won well in the last start and can be included in larger perms. (Devonne Govender 2-8-1-4)

Ferraris On The Board Again

Luke Ferraris moved to 38 wins for the season at Happy Valley last night and joined Australian jockey Brenton Avdulla in fourth place on the Hong Kong Jockeys log.

Ferraris won the last race, a class 3 event over 1200m, on the David Hayes-trained second favourite Chateauneuf (Fastnet Rock). He jumped well from pole position and too an early lead before just sitting on the rail and allowing another horse to move in front of him, which relegated him to fourth place. However, after switching the horse around the leaders at the entrance to the straight Chateauneuf rocketed into the lead and won by an easy 2,25 lengths paying HK$3.80 on the Tote.

A full report of the meeting can be read below:

Hugh Bowman, Douglas Whyte fire at Happy Valley

By Leo Schlink (HKJC)

A double in tandem with Douglas Whyte at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (7 May) propelled Hugh Bowman to the 60-win milestone for the 2024/25 season – and closer to a season-best tally in Hong Kong.

Bowman’s brace on Whyte-trained Goko Win and Ivy League further cemented the Australian’s second placing in the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship behind Zac Purton (104 wins), while Whyte improved his haul to 20 wins for the season.

Goko Win posted his first victory since February, 2023 under a well-executed Bowman ride in the second section of the Class 4 Chantilly Handicap (1200m). Worse than midfield after jumping from barrier one, the Love Conquers All gelding darted through a gap late to clinch his second win from 30 starts in Hong Kong.

Ivy League (135lb) fended off Thesis (133lb) by a short head in the second section of the Class 4 Saint-Cloud Handicap (1650m) to snare his third win from 35 starts in Hong Kong, despite Bowman fearing the pair had been pipped by Thesis.

“I think we got a bit lucky with the bob of the head there, I haven’t seen the replay but I wasn’t convinced I had won,” Bowman said of Ivy League, a son of Galileo who was Group 3-placed in Ireland for Aidan O’Brien before export to Hong Kong.

“He really put in for me. He was aided by a really sweet passage in the race but he was there when I needed him.

“Goko Win was down in class and I was beaten for speed but he travelled superbly and I got the gap in the straight to get the run through and he was solid.”

Bowman netted a career-high 69 winners in the 2023/24 season.

Keefy (126lb) posted his first victory since June last year with a tough win in the Class 3 Deauville Handicap (1650m) under Matthew Poon for Frankie Lor.

A highly-rated four-year-old, Keefy finished fourth in the 2023 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) behind subsequent Group 1 winners Voyage Bubble and Beauty Eternal (third), but has since struggled to consistently reproduce his best form.

Ridden confidently tonight by Poon, the All Too Hard gelding sat second throughout behind Highland Rahy (120lb) before edging clear to clinch his fourth Hong Kong victory.

Me Tsui’s Telecom Power (116lb) claimed his first win in the Class 4 The France Galop Cup Handicap (1200m) over Always My Folks (119lb) for Harry Bentley for a deserved success after posting three seconds this season.

“He’s obviously been knocking on the door, this horse, and I knew with a good draw (barrier four), I was going to have a really good chance with the light weight and the race went really smoothly,” Bentley said.

“Everything went to plan and once he hit the front, he certainly didn’t want to be there too long.

“I was hoping he would just hold which he fortunately did, which was good for me – I think that was the win he needed for next season.”

John Size combined with Keith Yeung as Perfect Pairing outstayed his rivals to land the Class 4 The French May Trophy Handicap (2200m) to take the 12-time champion trainer’s career tally of Hong Kong wins to 1,599.

Chris So-trained Cool Blue broke through at his 26th start with victory in the Class 5 Auteuil Handicap (1650m) under Matthew Chadwick before Day Day Victory (116lb) made it two wins in a row for Benno Yung with success in the Class 5 Maisons-Laffitte Handicap (1000m) for Alexis Badel.

“1000 metres and in Class 4 with a light weight would be suitable for him,” Yung said of the Hong Kong International Sale graduate. “He’s a later maturer and he’s getting better with experience, so I will just keep him going.”

David Eustace and Karis Teetan successfully teamed up with Amazing Award (123lb) to snare the first section of the Class 4 Saint-Cloud Handicap (1650m) over Satirical Fan (128lb) before David Hayes-trained Chateauneuf slotted a strong win in the Class 3 ParisLongchamp Handicap (1200m) for Luke Ferraris.

Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Saturday (10 May).

Kentucky Derby Winner Sovereignty Won't Run In Preakness Stakes

Sovereignty, with jockey Junior Alvarado aboard, wins the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby on May 3, 2025, at Churchill Downs in Louisville. (Photo by Jeff Moreland/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

Associated Press

Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty will not run in the Preakness Stakes, officials announced Tuesday, ending any chance at a Triple Crown for a seventh consecutive year.

“We received a call today from trainer Bill Mott that Sovereignty will not be competing in the Preakness,” said Mike Rogers, executive VP of 1/ST Racing, which operates the Preakness. “We extend our congratulations to the connections of Sovereignty and respect their decision.”

Editor’s Picks

Sovereignty outduels Journalism to capture Derby
4d
Mott told Preakness officials the plan will be to enter Sovereignty in the Belmont Stakes, the third jewel of the Triple Crown, on June 7 at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York. Mott on Sunday morning had foreshadowed skipping the Preakness in the name of long-term interests.

“We want to do what’s best for the horse,” Mott told reporters at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. “Of course, you always think about a Triple Crown, and that’s not something we’re not going to think about.”

Sovereignty won a muddy Kentucky Derby with jockey Junior Alvarado at odds of 7-1 by passing favorite Journalism down the stretch.

This is the fifth time since Justify won all three races in 2018 that the Preakness will go on without a true shot at a Triple Crown.

Elevated winner Country House and Maximum Security, who was disqualified for interference, each did not participate in 2019, the races were run out of order in 2020, Bob Baffert-trained Medina Spirit was DQ’d for a positive drug test in 2021 and long shot Rich Strike was held out in 2022 to rest him for the previously planned five weeks.

Mage finished third in the Preakness in 2023, and Mystik Dan was second last year after his owner and trainer also were initially reluctant to run him.

The two-week turnaround from the Kentucky Derby to the Preakness and changes in modern racing have sparked debate around the sport about spacing out the races.

Prominent owner Mike Repole earlier Tuesday posted on social media a proposal to move the Belmont to second in the Triple Crown order, four weeks after the Kentucky Derby and sliding the Preakness back further with the aim of keeping more of the top horses involved.

“The Preakness being run two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, in this new day and age in racing, shows the lack of vision and leadership needed to evolve this sport,” Repole wrote. “I expect the top three finishers of this year’s Derby to skip the Preakness and go right to the Belmont.”

No decision has been made on second-place finisher Journalism or third-place Baeza for the 150th running of the Preakness, the last at Pimlico Race Course before it is knocked down and rebuilt.

Today's Question

Which racehorse has won the most prize money in world history?

Picture: The picture is of the subject

FIELDS, Wednesday, 7 May

Turffontein Inside

Today’s Question Answer

The current Hong Kong horse Romantic Warrior holds the record for the most stakes money earned in world thoroughbred racing history, HK$179,668,247 (R422,687,159)

Click here to read about Romantic Warrior.