Lerena On Special Horses Summit And Zeus
The Fabian Habib-trained Soft Falling Rain gelding Zeus wins for the tenth time at Turffontein on Saturday and in all ten of the wins he has been ridden by Gavin Lerena (JC Photos)
Tarry Speaks About His Stable Stars
Two Players Share Hollywoodbets Punters Challenge Jackpot
Picture: The Grant Maroun-trained In The Ether (Announce) lands the jackpot for two lucky players after overcoming a wide draw under Ryan Munger (JC Photos)
Sporting Post
Two lucky players became the first jackpot winners of 2024 in the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge when they shared the R720 000 jackpot prize by selecting all eight winners on the Turffontein card on Thursday.
There were ten jackpot winners of South Africa’s most popular free-to-play horseracing competition in 2023, and on Thursday players Sketts and EnQ made the best imaginable start to 2024, when they won R360 000 each.
On a relatively favourite friendly afternoon, competition was tight, but it was Sketts and EnQ who sweated through the last race to shout Grant Maroun’s In The Ether home under Ryan Munger.
EnQ is an unemployed Mom from Laudium in Johannesburg, and was thrilled when the Sporting Post contacted her.
“I am very happy. Thank you Hollywoodbets. This will mean a lot to me and my whole family.It will improve our lives,” she added.
Sketts did not answer our calls.
The Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge has created a multitude of winners over close on 4 years, with the top 20 players on the leaderboard sharing the designated must-be-won daily prize.
While Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge players pit their wits, skill, and racing knowledge against fellow competitors, the ultimate aim for a big payday, is to select all of the winners on a card as Sketts and EnQ did on Thursday.
Hollywoodbets offer the all-or-nothing jackpot prize to the player, or players, who correctly pick all the winners on any race day – and that’s all local race-meetings, as well as Hong Kong and Singapore.
For local racemeetings, the value of the all-or-nothing prize is determined by the number of runners at the race meeting multiplied by R10 000, for all venues.
For example, if there are 88 carded runners and 5 scratchings, then the all-or-nothing prize will be based on 83 runners at R10 000 each, giving a value of R830 000 as the prize!
At Hong Kong and Singapore racemeetings, the jackpot prize is R500 000.
As an added incentive to players, to top this, the all-or-nothing prize and the daily must-be-won prize will be doubled on local SA racemeetings for those players who have had a bet on the Punters’ Challenge Bet Slip, to the value of R50 or more, prior to the running of the first race.
The Bet Slip is programmatically generated and all you have to do is indicate an amount of R50 or more that you wish to wager.
Unfortunately Sketts and EnQ did not have their minimum bet, so did not double their respective payouts.
Over and above the premier aim of finding all the winners, daily prize money of R5 000 for each of the scheduled race meetings will be shared by the top 20 players on the points leaderboard at the end of the day.
The winner will be awarded R2 000, with the runner-up R1 000, and the balance apportioned in terms of the published rules down to the 20th finisher. These payouts are also doubled if the minimum R50 wager on the bet slip is taken.
The Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge is really easy to understand and to play.
All you need is a Hollywoodbets account and the choice is yours to either select one horse in each of the races at the designated race meeting or opt to make use of the ‘quick-pick’ option and take a chance!
There are five great chances to win this weekend, between Fairview on Friday, Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and Turffontein on Saturday, and Hollywoodbets Scottsville and Kranji (Singapore) on Sunday.
No Secret Smith, Greeff Will Have Fairview Wins
Gavin Smith (Pauline Herman Photography)
Jack Milner (Tab4Racing)
Pundits often claim there is no such thing as a racing certainty, but these days one can be assured the chances of either Gavin Smith or Alan Greeff, and inevitably both, coming away from a Fairview meeting without having trained a winner is almost nil.
Finding the right ones is not so easy as Smith saddles 18 runners on the turf at Fairview on Friday and Greeff 16.
But hopefully we can come right as both Silvonian in Race 1 and Official Secret in Race 4 are coming off excellent runs and they are expected to win at this meeting.
Smith sends out three runners in the opening event, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m, with Silvonian being joined by two newcomers, Family Law and Shoulda Known, but the former looks the right one.
The Horizon colt found no betting support on debut but those who backed him can be considered unlucky as Silvonian was slowly away and showed inexperience until very late in the race when he kicked on strongly to be beaten 0.25 lengths by Ravilious.
Jockey S’manga Khumalo was the rider that day, but Craig Zackey will replace him this time.
Greeff-trained Official Secret contests a Pinnacle Stakes over 2000m for fillies and mares in Race 4. This five-year-old mare arrived in his yard a two-time winner from 19 Starts but has already picked up three wins in just six starts for Greeff.
After her first two wins Greeff made a bold move by running her in the Lady’s Bracelet on the turf over 1600m and her fourth-place finish was highly creditable as she ran way above her then rating of 78.
She ran a week later in a MR 80 Handicap against the colts, and stepped up to 2000m, ran out a 5.25-length winner over Magical Midlands.
The handicappers have raised her a whopping 14 points to 92 for her last two performances and although it will not affect her in this Pinnacle Stakes, it has almost certainly will give her a stiff task in future handicaps.
Richard Fourie takes the ride once again.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 7 Silvonian, 5 My Best Shot, 3 Golden Link, 8 Serendipitous
Race 2: 1 Global Lady, 4 Venetian Moonlight, 8 Tune Again, 7 Sunset Roar
Race 3: 6 Raptor Island, 5 Puerto Plata, 3 Swiss Walt, 2 Captain Efficient
Race 4: 3 Official Secret, 6 Dame Of Flames, 2 Medlers Tart, 7 Heartsease
Race 5: 2 Guerra, 1 King Of Seville, 7 Bridgerton, 4 The Charioteer
Race 6: 8 Beau Kala, 1 Gideon’s Daughter, 6 United Express, 5 Amazing Colours
Race 7: 4 Warm Winter Nite, 5 Fiery Duke, 8 Graduation Time, 1 Pompei Warning
Race 8: 9 You Win Again, 1 Misty Cliffs, 7 Global Goddess, 4 Symbol Of Love
BEST BET
Race 4 No 3 Official Secret
VALUE BET
Race 6 No 8 Beau Kala
BEST SWINGER
Race 1 5×7
BIPOT
R108
Leg 1: 5, 7
Leg 2: 1, 4, 8
Leg 3: 5, 6
Leg 4: 3
Leg 5: 1, 2, 7
Leg 6: 1, 6, 8
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R216
Leg 1: 1, 4
Leg 2: 5, 6
Leg 3: 3
Leg 4: 1, 2
Leg 5: 1, 6, 8
Leg 6: 4, 5, 8
Leg 7: 1, 7, 9
PICK 6
R2000
Leg 1: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Leg 2: 3
Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 7
Leg 4: 1, 4, 5, 6, 8
Leg 5: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8
Leg 6: 1, 4, 7, 9
JACKPOT 1
R100
Leg 1: 3
Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 7
Leg 3: 1, 4, 5, 6, 8
Leg 4: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8
JACKPOT 2
R400
Leg 1: 1, 2, 4, 7
Leg 2: 1, 4, 5, 6, 8
Leg 3: 1, 4, 5, 7, 8
Leg 4: 1, 4, 7, 9
This Week In History: Jockey Grabs Mane, Dangles Across Finish Line
For an observer on the ground, it’s easy to forget just how much strength jockeys carry in their light frames, because they make their very difficult job look so effortless race after race. Now and then, though, something will happen that reminds us all of the extraordinary risks they take, and the incredible athleticism they possess.
Such was the case in Febuary 1989, when jockey Nate Hubbard, early in his second full year in the saddle, piloted a maiden named Sweetwater Oak in the deep, muddy stretch at Golden Gate Fields in Albany, California. The mare, by then a 4-year-old, was making her 12th start in a $20,000 claimer and taking aim at frontrunner Current Lady on the outside and, for a few seconds, it seemed she might finally notch her first win. She leaned just a little to her left inside the sixteenth pole and stumbled – it’s not clear whether she clipped heels or just tripped – sending Hubbard lurching forward out of the tack.
After a deliberation, Golden Gate stewards determined that Sweetwater Oak had carried the jockey’s entire weight across the finish line (displaced though it was) and therefore was considered to have officially placed second.
Sports Illustrated writer Craig Neff wrote that Hubbard returned to the frontside to dismount properly to thunderous applause.
“Rival jockeys marveled at the strength Hubbard had displayed,” read an SI report. “The next day Hubbard went back to business as usual; despite a large bruise on his left thigh where Sweetwater Oak had kneed him, he rode four winners, equaling the best performance of his career.”
This iconic image of the moment exists because of the quick thinking of photographer Peg Grueneberg, who was dispatched by track publicity to get some photos of the riders in the muddy conditions. Like Hubbard, she got a little more than she’d bargained for, and the photo has made the rounds through local and trade press now and then ever since.
Hubbard continued riding, primarily in Northern California, through 1991 but his starts tapered after that and his 1999 season would be his last. The internet seems to remember him mostly for his tenacious ride on Sweetwater Oak, and it’s not clear what he did after retiring as a jockey.
Sweetwater Oak would run twice more, still failing to break her maiden, before being retired to a breeding career. The daughter of Highland Blade and Crème dela Crème mare Cream of Society would go on to produce six foals, including three starters and one winner – Solid Oak, a gelding by Alnaab who finished third in the Black Tie and Tails Stakes in 1996.
Starlust for Dubai Trophy Victory
Picture: Ralph Beckett (racingfotos.com)
Tab4Racing.co.za
Ed Marnane
Ralph Beckett’s Starlust, a Group 3 winner at Kempton last September, can build on an encouraging comeback when second to Star Of Mystery in the Al Wasl Stakes last month and win the AED 350,000 (R1.8m) Dubai Trophy, the highlight of Friday’s bumper nine-race card at Meydan.
Not seen since finishing a good third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint two months ago, Starlust was no match for Star Of Mystery on his UAE debut but lost little in defeat behind Charlie Appleby’s exciting filly, who was getting 2.5kg.
The winner gave the form a timely boost when defeating Dubai Dash winner Ponntos and 11 others next time in the Group 2 Blue Point Stakes, the daughter of Kodiac’s first start taking on her elders.
Seven Questions, trained by George Scott for Victorious Racing & Fawzi Nass, rates the chief threat to Starlust. He finished 1.50 lengths behind Beckett’s star sprinter in the Al Wasl Stakes and wasn’t disgraced in the aforementioned Blue Point Stakes, finishing less than six lengths behind the Godolphin-owned winner last time out.
However, the son of Kodiac will need to take a step forward to reverse form with Starlust and is likely to have to settle for a minor role.
Starlust, winner of three of his nine races, is entitled to strip fitter for his recent run and is confident selection to open his UAE account under regular rider Hector Crouch.
Nass and Andre de Vries team up with the Argentinian-bred Condor Pasa in Race 2, the 1600m maiden on turf. By Orpen, he produced a much-improved effort when beaten one length by Al Arbed in a 16-runner 1200m maiden at Meydan, shaping as he would appreciate a step up in distance.
In a modest event, Condor Pasa can shed his maiden tag at the seventh time of asking.
A field of eight go to post for Race 3, the 1400m conditions race on dirt for three-year-olds. The most interesting runner is the South American import Auto Bahn, who has to concede weight to his rivals on local debut. He arrives in the Middle East with unblemished record, impressing when winning a maiden at Palermo in March last year.
Auto Bahn, by Asiatic Boy, the Dubai Triple Crown winner, looked an uncomplicated colt and ran on strongly in the closing stages when defeating Dark Lover on his debut, the pair pulling well clear of their nine rivals. The race worked out very well, as the runner-up went on to win at Grade 1 level and has since been sold to race in the USA.
Trained by Julio Olascoaga for Sheikh Mohammad bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, Auto Bahn is fancied to defy a lengthy absence and start his UAE career with a bang in the hands of Mickael Barzalona, an eye-catching booking.
Progressive Nevershow Weakness, trained by Bhupat Seemar, sets the standard in Race 5, the 2000m handicap on dirt. The choice of Tadhg O’Shea of the Seemar-trained runners, he has won his last two starts, both over the course.
He’s a lightly raced colt who has more to offer and holds sound claims of landing his hat-trick.
Al Jaddaf, a winner twice at Meydan earlier in the campaign, appeals off his light weight under Connor Beasley, the season’s leading rider. He had excuses for his latest run when third behind Imperial Empire, having been badly hampered when the ill-fated Master Sergeant broke down badly in the closing stages. The step up to 2000m is a query but if seeing out the trip, he should be thereabouts.
Racing rounds off with a competitive 2000m handicap on turf and Keffaaf gets the vote. Trained by Michael Costa, who leads the championship with 29 wins, for Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum, he was a solid third behind Franz Kafka in a 16-runner handicap three weeks ago.
In the circumstances, he did well to finish less than two lengths behind the surprise winner, having met trouble in running. Keffaaf is very unexposed on turf and is only having his third start on grass.
Doug Watson-trained Waness has shown little since arriving in the UAE. A four-time winner for Shadwell when under the care of Charles Hills in England, he rediscovered his form when third behind Royal Dubai, staying on nicely in the closing stages having been held up.
It’s a slight concern he is backing up in seven days, but can’t be overlooked under Jim Crowley, who rode him to victory in two of his wins in the UK.
Godolphin are responsible for four of the eight runners declared for the Vazirabad Handicap, the 2410m turf event named after the three-time Dubai Gold Cup winner. Charlie Appleby, who has saddled 15 winners this season, runs Al Nafir and Ruling Dynasty, the choice of William Buick.
It looks significant that Buick has chosen Ruling Dynasty, who ran poorly when sent off favourite for a similar event over the course and distance last month. He had excuses as he was found to be lame and scoped poorly after the race.
Ruling Dynasty is very unexposed and is having just sixth start of his career. He’s open to further improvement and is ideally berthed in stall No 4.
Best Bet: 1 Starlust [Race 6]
Best Value: 3 Keffaaf [Race 9]
Best Swinger: 16 Condor Pasa and 1 Algernon [Race 2]
Jackpot
[Races 6-9]
R48
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 3, 5, 6
Leg 3: 3, 4, 5, 7
Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 4
Jockey Bashing - Should There Be Race-Riding Ratings?
I was asked recently why there are never jockey ratings after select races in the same way there are player ratings for important football and rugby matches.
Rating jockeys’ rides might be a way of formalising the two common practices of post-race “jockey lauding” and “jockey bashing”.
As there is only one winner of a race, the lauding is usually significantly less per race than the bashing.
However, an expert who takes an objective view of a race can pick up great rides that weren’t winning ones.
For example, MJ Byleveld believes last month’s Emperor’s Palace Ride Of The Month should have gone to Bernard Fayd’Herbe for his great WSB Cape Town Met ride on Rascallion, who was only caught late.
However, horseracing viewers are notoriously subjective and while footballers are usually rated on how they performed on a given day, a jockey can be regarded at Messi level half-an-hour before being written off as useless.
Owners can be just as critical as punters, if not more so.
However, it was interesting to hear the views last week of the country’s current most successful individual owner, Nick Jonsson, who lies third on the national owners’ log behind Drakenstein Stud and the Hollywood Syndicate.
The prolific Durban-based owner, who has just landed a second successive WSB Cape Town Met, is a fine horseman in his own right having played a high level of polo.
Nick said, “Race riding is a very difficult, precise, fast-moving profession. I don’t think pe0ple really realise how difficult it is and they often criticise jockeys with no knowledge and very unfairly. I never have complaints about how any jockey rides my horse, I don’t think it is fair to complain. The jockeys have to make split second decisions so often and I find often pe0ple who complain have never sat on a horse. Having ridden all my life, horses have a mind of their own, they aren’t always the same. I am full of admiration for what jockeys do. Bearing in mind the decisions they make are normally split second ones, if there is something they might have done differently we can have a conversation around it, but I think it is unfair for people to criticise jockeys all the time on their riding. Any other thing you criticise them for I understand, but not for riding.”
To be fair on the armchair critics, the criticism is often knee jerk and often related to a losing bet i.e. the old adage about talking from the pocket, and some will later retract their harsh words when looking at the replay more objectively.
However, would jockeys ratings done for select races, in the same way player ratings are given for football and rugby matches. be feasible?
Such an excercise would probably attract a lot of interest.
Constructive criticism is welcomed by most dedicated sportsmen. It gives them something to aim at so they can raise the bar.
Jockey ratings could perhaps be done by an astute ex-jockey, who would perhaps have greater insight in to how a jockey’s ride aided or disadvantaged a horse.
However, the massive detraction to the excercise is that, unlike in football and rugby where the individual is to a large extent in control of what he does, the chief athlete in racing is not the jockey but the horse.
The jockeys performance is limited by the athlete he is riding.
For example, how would one compare, through means of ratings, a ride on a horse that is 10kg out at the weights and is beaten ten lengths to a ride on the winner who is well treated under the race’s conditions?
In conclusion, it could be a valid idea in order to stimulate conversation about a race.
However, whether it would add value to race riding and help jockeys improve is a longshot.
Schwarz/Fabian Habib Double, Matsunyane Double
The Brett Crawford-trained A Place In The Sun provided the first leg of a double for Kabelo Matsunyane (JC Photos)
Dennis Schwarz rode a double for Fabian Habib at Turffontein Inside today.
Kabelo Matsunyane also rode a double.
Schwarz is now on 35 wins for the season achieved at a strike rate of 8.75%.
Matsunyane has 45 wins at 9.89%.
Fabian Habib goes to 33 wins at 16.26%.
Today’s Question
The subject of the question is pictured above
Which stallion has sired the most stakes winners in thoroughbred horse racing?
Today’s Question Answer
Galileo has sired 364 stakes winners and 98 Gr 1 winners (100 if jumps racing is included), both records.
