Turf Talk Newsletter – 07 September, 2026

The brilliant Charles Dickens’ dam Demanding Lady was out of a Northern Hemisphere-imported mare, Demanding Damsel (USA)

Sarah Whitelaw

Northern Hemisphere bred mares have a wonderful record in South Africa.
One of the best examples is that of Our Table Mountain, who followed up a highly successful racing career with an even more successful career at stud.

Directly descended in female line from Frizette (also ancestress of such legends as Mr Prospector and Seattle Slew), Our Table Moutain (by Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus out of G1 Santa Anita Oaks winner Hidden Light) won six of 16 starts with her wins including the Listed Olympic Duel Stakes of 2007.
Retired to stud, Our Table Mountain, a half-sister to G1 Breeders’ Cup Mile winning sire Artie Schiller, was named Equus Champion Broodmare Of 2015-2016. Her nine winners, from 10 runners, were headed by Equus Champion Cloth Of Cloud and G1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Silver Mountain. Our Table Mountain is also the second dam of 2022 G3 Vodacom 2200 winner One Way Traffic.

Our Table Mountain’s influence has been also been felt overseas. Her once beaten, G1 SA Nursery winning daughter Cloth Of Cloud (by Captain Al) is the dam of promising two-year-old Drumbeat (by Wootton Bassett), who holds entries in both the G1 Golden Fleece Stakes and G1 Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes.

However, Our Table Mountain is but one of a large number of imported mares to have made their mark on the South African stud book.
It is worth remembering that Drohsky, one of the most influential broodmares in South African history, was bred in Britain. Drohsky’s lasting influence is clearly seen in the form of Questioning, Equus Champion Miler of 2025-2026. Drohsky is the eighth dam of the six time graded stakes winning Questioning, who traces back in female line to Drohsky’s daughter Lindro.

Another hugely important imported broodmare was the British bred Sister Sublime. Among the numerous stars descended in female line from that daughter of Dante were champions National Emblem, Roland’s Song, and Prairie Oyster.

Few, if any, imported mares in recent times have made a bigger impression on the South African turf than Mystic Spring. An Irish bred daughter of Royal Academy, the grey produced 11 winners from 14 runners, with Mystic Spring’s seven stakes winners headed by champions Bela-Bela and the ill-fated Rabiya. Her numerous top-class descendants include champions All Is Secret and Eight On Eighteen, as well as such G1 winners as Snowdance, The Secret Is Out and Snow Pilot. The latter is standing his first season at Drakenstein Stud in 2026.

Drakenstein Stud has enjoyed great success with imported mares, with this group including the likes of Imvula and Montelissima, to name but a few.

(Another imported mare Aquilonia produced Equus Champion and subsequently hugely successful Drakenstein Stud based sire One World while One World’s stablemate and fellow South African bred champion What A Winter is out of the Irish bred mare Waseela).

Demanding Damsel, a US bred daughter of Deputy Commander, left her mark through the deeds of her G2 Ipi Tombe Challenge winning daughter Demanding Lady. South Africa’s Broodmare Of The Year in 2022-2023, Demanding Lady has produced black type horses notably multiple G1 winning champion Charles Dickens.

While there have been numerous top-class mares in South Africa to have been bred in the Northern Hemisphere, a few really standout. From Alexandra Bi, Diorissimo and Welsh Woman to the likes of Leucothea, Northern Pine, and Ofa, NH bred mares have made a huge contribution to the local stud book.

A few other mares imported from the Northern Hemisphere to have produced one or more G1 winners in South Africa relatively recently include Acquavella, Agabalat, Alignment, Cinnas Ransom, Gardener’s Delight, Miss Coco, Miss Galidora, Overarching, Polar Charge, Riva and Welwitschia.

For breeders seeking to acquire their own future imported broodmare star, the 2026 Tattersalls December Mares Sale represents a wonderful opportunity to source some of the best bred mares around.

Arguably the most important breeding stock in the world, Tattersalls’ December Sale will once again offer mares by, and in foal to, some of the world’s greatest stallions.

• Should any breeders wish to attend the sale, please contact the SA Tattersalls Representative Jo Knowles (083 399 6353  jo@turftalk.co.za)

Anaas Mosaheb clinched a four-timer from just five rides when Who Blinked won the seventh race (Candiese Lenferna)

On Friday night at Hollywoodbets Greyville apprentice Anaas Mosaheb made it seven wins in his last 12 starts at the venue, adding a four-timer to his treble at the previous Friday night’s meeting.

He has spoken of the hard work he puts into his riding with the aim of repeating the accomplishment of his late idol Nooresh Juglall, who was a twice Champion Apprentice, and he said he had the feeling that horses were now “running for him.”

His wins on Friday night were on the Kumaran Naidoo-trained 20/1 shot Guild The Lilly (Erupt), the Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained 8/1 shot Next Of Kin (Canford Cliffs), the Sean Tarry-trained 11/2 shot United Offer (The United States) and the MJ Odendaal-trained 5/4 shot Who Blinked (Erupt).

The eight race meeting was switched from turf to poly at the halfway mark due to heavy rain.

Anaas’s four-timer saw him losing his 4kg claim.

He had three rides at Turffontein on Saturday, but did not add a winner, so in all he has had 21 wins in South Africa at a strike rate of 13.21% and has had one win in Mauritius.

Justin Snaith and Drakenstein Stud clinched a four-timer together when Black Cheetah won the last race and it was also a fourth win for Richard Fourie (Picture: Wayne Marks)

At Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Sunday Drakenstein Stud and Justin Snaith kicked the day off well and it got better as Drakenstein bred four of the winners on the day and they were all trained by Snaith.

Richard Fourie was aboard for three of the wins and added another to make it a four-timer.

Thee-year-old colt Le Soleil, a homebred by Vercingetorix out of the top class dual Gr 1 Majorca Stakes winner Clouds Unfold, came from someway back with a late charge to win the first race over 1250m at odds of 18/10 under Fourie. Drakenstein own him in partnership with Greg and Gina Bortz.

Snaith, the Bortz’s and Drakenstein-breds then made it a double together when the Soqrat first-timer gelding Swaziland won over 1250m under JP van der Merwe, although the Snaith-trained third-placed Bart Nel (Futura) was unlucky and is one to follow. Drakenstein bred Swaziland and the Bortz’s own him in partnership with Leon Ellman.

The third race saw Drakenstein’s homebred Verse For Suzanne, a Vercingetorix filly out of Met-winner-at-the-age-of-three and Equus Horse Of The Year Oh Susanna, producing her best work late under Fourie to get off the mark at the second time of asking in a 1400m maiden for fillies and mares.

The last race was won by the Snaith-trained Drakenstein-homebred Black Cheetah, although they part-own her in partnership with Fiona Carmichael’s Westward Bloodstock Ltd. He was ridden to a cosy win by Fourie.

Muzi Yeni was the only other double scorer of the day.

Fourie is now on nine wins for the season at a strike rate of 25%, which puts him 19 wins off the pace being set by Keagan de Melo.

Yeni is on 12 wins at 13.95%.

Snaith is on 19 wins at 18.81% and is three wins clear of Alan Greeff and Tony Peter on the number of wins column.

Drakenstein have had 13 wins at 14.13%, not far behind Varsfontein on 22 wins at 18.80% and Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein on 21 wins at 10.94%.

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The 2026 edition of the Gr 1 Maiden Cup saw a decisive, flawless victory for the six-year-old Danon Platina gelding Rapidash, a former winner of the R7.5 million Gold Rush. Ridden by Pierre Corne Orffer, the Subiraj Gujadhur stable’s runner dominated the field to secure a classic double, having won the Gr 2 Duchess Of York Cup in April over the same 2400m distance.

With 11 horses in the line up, the race promised to be a tactical affair, and it certainly lived up to that billing. From Courtly (Danielson) taking the early lead and Good Council (Schwarz) taking over, to Future Swing’s (Mansour) charge in the final 600 meters and Rapidash (Orffer) slipping through along the rail on the final bend, there was never a dull moment.

Ultimately, the race crowned a worthy winner, and the Subiraj-Abhishek Gujadhur team deserves every accolade.

After his Maiden Cup triumph, Orffer repeated the feat in the very next race with Formagear, riding for his employer, Aqua Stallions. He crossed the finish line ahead of Royal Wulff and Captain Lannister.

It was a lucky day for the Awotar stable, which celebrated a fine double. The mare Warbird defeated her rivals in the second race, while Isikwishikwishi claimed a maiden victory in the fourth. Both horses were ridden by Grant Van Niekerk.

Meanwhile, Iannish Taka made the most of his only ride of the day by steering That’ll B Day (third race) to a third victory in as many starts on the local turf.

This classic race day also saw the Gujadhur stable shine thanks to Diamond Days. Breaking well, the sprinter quickly established a prime position before racing away to victory.

After showing improvement in recent outings, Lomu (Schwarz) secured his first victory in the opening race. The grey horse beat Indigenous to the line, delivering a valuable win for the Ruhee stable.

Having faced bad luck throughout the day, Manoel Nunes managed to come out on top in the final race aboard the favorite, Fear Of Fire. Despite a late surge from Trick Or Tequila, the favorite held on to win.

I’m A Fireball scores emphatically at Turffontein Inside (JC Photos)

The Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained I’m A Fireball (Vercingetorix) proved himself a force over racing’s in-between distance category (1450m) on Saturday at Turffontein Inside.

I’m A Fireball carried 54 kg off his 108 merit rating in the Pinnacle event and it was never going to be easy to get into his favourite pace-setting role from draw three with the front-running type Parisian Walkway drawn in pole position.

However, he had got there by the early part of the turn and Muzi Yeni said he had responded well when asked to have a breather going up the hill.

He stayed on resolutely to beat the long-striding Dianne Stenger-trained Mastership (Master Of My Fate), who was always handy from draw two, by 1,75 lengths.

Texas Red also enjoys the in-between distance cetagory, which is neither a sprint nor a mile and is traditionally not a distance that is well catered for when it comes to big Gr 1 races. He relaxed well despite being caught wide in a handy position from a wide draw and stayed on for a 2,75 length third.

Money Heist ran on well for a three length third, while Parisian Walkway probably did not enjoy the soft going and after having the box seat he could only plod on for an eight length fifth.

I’m A Fireball will have the Grand Heritage over 1475m in December as an option.

The Gr 2 Joburg Spring Challenge over Saturday’s course and distance could be an option, but it is a weight for age with penalties race, so will be a tough ask, but could answer the question of whether he is up to races like the Gr 2 Hawaii Stakes over 1400m.

I’m A Fireball was bred by Klawervlei Stud and was purchased for R1 million at the National Yearling Sale.

He is out of the Irish-bred Rock Of Gibraltar mare Gibraltar Blue, who was trained by Mike de Kock in South Africa for seven wins, including three Gr 2s, a Gr 3 and a Listed race.

Gibraltar Blue and her progeny raked in a lot of money in the recent Klawervlei Dispersal Sale. She herself went for R325,000 but two of her daughters fetched seven figure sums with Vercingetorix mare Cullinan Blue, a three time-winner from just eight starts, fetching a Sales-Topping R3.1 million.

Yeni had earlier scored with Brave Waam, a Tony Peter-trained gelding who confirmed the impression that the stallion Hawwam is going to follow in the footsteps of his sire Silvano by having progeny who will continually improve. Brave Waam only started his career in the February of his three-year-old season and took four runs before getting off the mark in June, has has now won three of his last four starts.

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Johannesburg, South Africa — The 2026 East Cape Awards were held in the Bold Silvano Room at Fairview Racecourse on Saturday, 5 September 2026.

This year’s judging panel comprised Henk Steenkamp, Nico Kritsiotis and Neil Pretorius.

Alan Greeff’s powerful Halo Stables was the big winner on the night, going home with the Champion Two Year Old Colt/Gelding award with U S Ranger (Act Of War – Rainbow Rock), Champion Three Year Old Filly and Champion Polytrack Filly/Mare honours with Anotherdanceforme (Master Of My Fate – Destiny Dancer), the Champion Polytrack Colt/Gelding title with Mercantour (Var – Winter Wood) and, lastly, taking home his sixteenth East Cape Champion Trainer title.

Dean Smith crowned a stellar first season by lifting the trophies for Champion Older Colt/Gelding, Champion Sprinter and the coveted Horse Of The Season award with Mr Clive Murphy’s Kingdundee (The United States – Miss Marmalade).

Mauritian apprentice Bavish Soodoo earned a standing ovation for winning the East Cape Champion Apprentice award as well as being crowned the region’s Champion Local Jockey.

A full list of the categories and award winners follows:-

CHAMPION 2 YEAR OLD FILLY
Marchland

CHAMPION 2 YEAR OLD COLT/GELDING
U S Ranger

CHAMPION 3 YEAR OLD FILLY
Anotherdanceforme

CHAMPION 3 YEAR OLD COLT/GELDING
Buffalo Bill

CHAMPION OLDER FILLY/MARE
Epikleros

CHAMPION OLDER COLT/GELDING
Kingdundee

CHAMPION SPRINTER
Kingdundee

CHAMPION STAYER
Bad Medicine

CHAMPION POLYTRACK COLT/GELDING
Mercantour

CHAMPION POLYTRACK FILLY/MARE
Anotherdanceforme

CHAMPION WORK RIDER
Sibongile Liyaba

CHAMPION APPRENTICE
Bavish Soodoo

CHAMPION LOCAL JOCKEY
Bavish Soodoo

CHAMPION JOCKEY
Richard Fourie

CHAMPION TRAINER
Alan Greeff

CHAMPION OWNER
Mr P J Moor

HORSE OF THE SEASON
Kingdundee

CHAMPION GROOM
Tabiso Ayavuma Gabelana

Miss World impressed at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday night when inadvertently making her poly debut due to the meeting being switched from turf to poly at the halfway mark (Picture: Julia Marnewick)

Andrew Harrison (Race Coast)

In something of a first, racing was switched from turf to poly midway through the meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday evening. The heavens opened shortly after the finish of the third race and by the fourth it was obvious that the turf would not hold up. After consultation between jockeys, trainers and the stipendiary stewards the decision was taken to switch racing to the poly track.

Adam Azzie learnt well from his father whose horses were always turnout out immaculately and so was Miss World who lived up to her name with an empathic victory in the Middle Stakes that headed the card. Never out of the money in four previous starts for Azzie, she made short work of the opposition as Serino Moodley slipped her up the inside rail and was quickly clear of the opposition. Sohot Sowhat was a forlorn chaser with Match That coming from last in the straight to finish an eye-catching third.

In the seventh, Who Blinked was backed like his connections already knew the result – and they were not wrong. From an opening ante-post call of around 5-1 MJ Odendaal’s gelding was back in to 14-10 before the jump and he delivered in style under apprentice Anaas Mosaheb giving him his fourth winner on the evening’s card. Out in a flash from his draw of nine, Mosaheb rushed Who Blinked into the lead, gave him a short breather approaching the turn and setting sail for home at the top of the straight to stretch away and win as he liked. Gamble landed.

Odendaal pegged Mosaheb as a promising rider from day he made it to the training tracks and has mentored him to where he regards Mosaheb as a professional jockey with an apprentice claim.

Mosaheb got off to a winning start on Kom Naidoo’s outsider Guild The Lilly in the first. The gaggle of geese marching around the paddock before the race may have been an omen as Guild The Lilly, with nine ‘duck eggs’ in her formline, made all the running. Form horse in the race Blenheim Palace was friendless in the market drifting alarmingly in the face of market support for Chantilly Lady and Lilbitofmonica, but the light-framed Guild The Lilly, stepped up in trip, led all the way to win, the 50kg on the filly’s back obviously a big factor with the tote paying R17.90.

Lilbitofmonica finished closest of the money horses in second with Chantilly Lady very green and Blenheim Palace seemingly battling in the soft conditions.

Serino Moodley took his chances from his 14 draw in the second, charging to the front on Mustang Highway, and it almost paid dividends. However, Chad Little always had Danny Atlas handy on the rail and ran him down over the final furlong. Chasing hard was favourite Dreadnaught who was making up ground hand over fist on the winner but took too long to find his feet. His day should not be long in coming. This trio pulled six lengths clear of the opposition and all three should pay to follow.

Mosaheb is riding with bullet-proof confidence but he will seldom get an easier ride than Next Of Kin that notched up the 20th win of his career and he will now claim 2.5kg. Mike and Mathew de Kock’s runner made short work of the opposition in the C Stakes, quickening up the inside rail to put daylight between himself and Song To The Moon who snatched second ahead of favourite Zagreb. De Kock was most complimentary of Mosaheb’s handling of his grey who he said had a soft mouth and required soft hands – always a big asset for any rider.

It was three up for Mosaheb in the fourth as he had another armchair ride for Sean Tarry when United Offer came home lonely in pouring rain. A measure of Mosaheb’s racing ‘nous’ is that his instructions were to make the running, but when Spirit Of Shimla took off to lead, he was content to sit in off the pace before making his move in the straight.

First up on the poly saw apprentice Dezahn Louw shed his 2.5kg claim as he led all the way on Taylor’s Version for Candice Bass and assistant Terry Fripp to record his 40th win. The yard were a little nervous about the switch to the synthetic surface but they need not have worried in spite of Taylor’s Version making an awkward start as she went to the front and was not for the catching.

The one-eyed Sugar Bush rounded off the meeting for Andre Nel giving Moodley his second winner of the evening.