Picture: The Paardeberg yearlings have spent most of their lives running out together and have never been stabled, so look well grown and good boned, like lot 263, a Master Of My Fate filly (via Meta)

If a hardy yearling, who is going to withstand the rigours of racing, is what buyers are looking for then the first ever draft sent to the BSA National Yearling Sale by the country’s newest stud farm, Paardeberg Stud, will be a good option.

Paardeberg shareholder and stud manager, Sally Bruss, has vast experience in breeding thoroughbreds and revealed, “The interesting part about these yearlings is they have never been stabled. Usually yearlings are prepared by keeping them stabled for months, being closed up and mollycoddled and hand-walking them and hardly turning them out … this lot have never seen the inside of a stable.”

These yearlings were born at Sorrento, where Sally resided and managed the stud during a short partnership with Sorrento Stud Farm.

She continued, “They are all nice yearlings. It is interesting because they have continued to run together in their groups in the paddock and have never been separated. I think they look really healthy and robust and well grown. Excercise grows the muscular skeletal system and a number of people have said to me, ‘Wow, they are well grown, with good bone’ and I’m wondering in years to come whether it will sink in that we confine young horses too much, for too long … after all, excercise is the best thing for a young horse.”

The yearling colts pictured together in February

Sally was the stud manager of leading breeder Lammerskraal Stud for many years and she revealed, “I have always disliked sending babies into training too soon, because they are standing in the stables at least 22 hours per day. How good can that be for them? At Lammerskraal we broke in all our two-year-olds and I sent them in when I believed them to be mature enough. The two-year-olds still ran together. We used to go and fetch them early in the morning to give them a brush and excercise them before putting them back in the paddock rather than them standing an additional six months in a stable while waiting to get fit enough to race. It is more beneficial for a young, developing racehorse to be out in the paddock, moving as much as possible, rather than standing in a box or being confined on its own to a tiny ring.”

She said, “I am happy with the string. They are all athletic, well-made horses and travelled well up to the Sales ground (arrived at 04H30 on Tuesday morning).”

Paardeberg have sent up a string of ten horses to the Sale.

Four of them are by Master Of My Fate (two colts and two fillies), one is by One World (colt), one by Querari (colt), one by Rafeef (filly), one by Soqrat (filly), one by The United States and one by What A Winter.

Their first lot is Lot 16, a Master Of My Fate colt out of Listed placed What A Winter mare What A Player, who has had one runner by Vercingetorix, Storm Player, who won by 5,25 lengths second time out. This colt is from the family of Kodi Bear (Kodiac), who won the Gr 2 Celebration Mile at the Glorious Goodwood meeting in 2015 (This yearling’s second dam is a half-sister to the dam of Kodi Bear).

Lot 35 is a filly by The United States out of Listed-winning 1200m to 1400m mare Comtesse Dubois, who is from the family of the like of Gr 2 winners Biarritz, Outstanding Star and Kapil.

Lot 188 is a Master Of My Fate colt out of Listed winner over 1800m Insignis (Go Deputy), who is from the family of the like of dual Gr 1-winning champion Ice Cube and Gr 2 winner Jagged Ice.

Lot 192 is a Querari colt out of Gr 3-placed Izora (Western Winter), who is a three-parts sister to Equus Champion Spinter (Russett Air) and an own sister to the dam of dual Gr 1 winner Make It Snappy.

Lot 210 is a One World colt out of a twice-wining Western Winter mare whose second dam is Gr 2 winner Trojan Belle, who is a half-sister to Gr 1 Cape Guineas winner Little Ballerina (Truely Nureyev).

Lot 254 is a What A Winter filly out of a Oratorio Gr 2 runner up, who is from the family of Triple Crown winner Abashiri and Equus Horse Of The Year Yard-Arm.

Lot 263 is a Master Of My Fate filly who is out of a twice-winning full-sister to the dam of Lot 210 (see above).

Lot 264 is a Rafeef filly, who is out of a placed Captain Al mare and this filly is a half-sister to the smart Gr 3-winning speedster Strawberry Bear (Flying Flag) and from the family of the like of champion sprinter Nhlavini and Gr 1 winner Mystery Guest.

Lot 312 is a Soqrat filly out of a three-time winning What A Winter mare and this filly’s third dam is the top broodmare Nacarat, dam of Gr 1 winners Red Ray and Nania and four other stakes winners.

Lot 378 is a Master Of My Fate filly who is out of a five-time winning Go Deputy mare, who is from the family of July winner Royal Chalice and Gr 1 winners like Set Afire, Rudra, Red Ray, Nania.

Meanwhile, Paardeberg’s British-bred imported stallion Expert Eye looks to have a promising colt in France called Rock Hunter. This smart Amy Murphy-trained colt, who is out of a Dutch Art mare, won by three lengths over five furlongs at Chantilly on debut.

Sally said about the Acclamation stallion, “He has settled down nicely. He made a very good impression at our open day and we sold some more shares in him after the day.”

The finishing touches are being put to the state of the art barn on the farm, so everything will be in place by the new breeding season.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW A VIDEO OF PAARDEBERG STUD’S OPEN DAY

Il Etait Temps pictured winning a Gr 1 in Ireland

The Hollywood Syndicate and Barnane Stud-owned Gr 1-winning chaser Il Etait Temps runs in a Gr 1 race at Aintree on Thursday this week in the opening race of the three day Grand National meeting (14H45 SA Time).

The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old runs in the Gr 1 Close Brothers Manifesto Novices’ Chase over two miles and four furlongs and Mullins’ number one jockey Paul Townend rides him for only the second time, having won on him in his chase debut last November.

Mullins said about Il Etiat Temps’ chances, “He moves up to two-and-a-half miles on Thursday. I don’t think he will have a problem staying, he’ll like the ground and I don’t anticipate any problems for him around Aintree. I think he has a good chance.”

Il Etait Temps is one of just five runners.

He is generally 3/1 with the even money favourite being the Dan Skelton-trained Grey Dawning, who won the Gr 1 Novices Chase over this distance at the Chltenham Festival.

Paul Nicholls (Picture Credit: PA)

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls previews his day one Grand National meeting runners – including the return of Bravemansgame (courtesy of https://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/)

• Thursday marks day one of the Grand National meeting at Aintree and Betfair ambassador Paul Nicholls sends six runners to the north west on day one

• Stable star Bravemansgame is back in action having finished fifth in last month’s Cheltenham Gold Cup

• Nicholls has high hopes for runner Ginny’s Destiny in the opening race of the first day at 1.45

Aintree

1.45 – Ginny’s Destiny

He’s made giant strides since joining us this season, winning three times at Cheltenham before another cracking run when second to Grey Dawning in the Turners at the Festival. He will love the ground at Aintree and is in good shape.

As with all of ours who ran at Cheltenham, no one can tell you for sure how they have come out of their races but they have had a nice, easy fortnight before we started tuning them up again. They did their last piece of work on Saturday and head to Aintree fresh and well.

2.20 – Kalif Du Berlais

He’s a horse with a big future and maintained his unbeaten record with a determined success in the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton under a 5lb penalty. It was always the plan to miss the Triumph Hurdle and wait for this race at Aintree.

We’ve deliberately given him time and although this is a step up in class for him, he seems to be improving physically and I think he is in better shape than he was before his last run.

2.55 – Bravemansgame

Things haven’t quite gone to plan for Bravemansgame this season. He hated the testing conditions at Cheltenham and it was clear from an early stage in the Gold Cup that he wasn’t handling them. The flat track at Aintree will suit him better and the ground shouldn’t be as deep as at Cheltenham.

We are putting cheekpieces on Bravemansgame to help sharpen him up. It’s something we almost tried last time. His regular rider Scott Marshall was very pleased with the way he worked on Saturday morning.

4.05 – Cap Du Mathan

He bounced back to form with an easy success down in grade last time at Leicester where he hacked up. He should give my daughter Olive a great spin over the National fences and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him run tidily.

Although he would also probably prefer better ground it was very testing at Leicester.

4.40 – Sans Bruit

New to us this season he has plenty of decent form on soft ground in France and looked set to win over fences at Chepstow recently until he was caught close home.

He has been raised 3lb since then but is 2lb out of the handicap so is effectively running off his correct mark. He seems to be coming back to form and a fast run race round a tight track like Aintree will suit him very well.

5.15 – Jubilee Alpha

She made the perfect start to her career with a fluent success in a mares’ bumper at Wincanton where she was always prominent and strong at the finish. The first two that day looked smart and she deserves her chance in this better grade.

Viva De Janeiro in Race 7 stands out as the best bet on tomorrow’s work riders’ meeting at the Vaal. Picture: JC Photographics

Jack Milner (Tab4Racing)

The work riders get the opportunity to show off their skills at the Vaal on Thursday.

The eight-race card is made up of a Classified Stakes over 1000m, a MR 68 Handicap over 1600m and six Maiden Plates.

However, while one might throw up one’s arms in frustration, one needs to be reminded that Maiden Plates are at fixed weights and more often than not the best weighted runner wins.

Handicaps are usually the bigger concern, especially lower-level ones, as they can be extremely tricky.

Nevertheless, in this case that event, Race 7, could provide the best banker on the card in Viva De Janeiro.

This Fanie Bronkhorst-trained runner stands out after his runaway victory last time out.

Last time out the four-year-old Oratorio gelding hit top form, finding plenty of betting support and then running out a facile 4.75-length winner over Green Sceptre.

He did pick up an eight-point (4kg) penalty for that victory but he still looks good enough to beat a field of this nature.

That race was over 1600m at this track but there will a difference this time as that race was up the Vaal straight, but on this occasion, it will be raced around the turn.

Viva De Janeiro is drawn slightly wide in barrier No 7 but that should not be too much of a concern as there are only nine runners in the field and there is also a long home straight.

Goodman Dadamasi is one of the best work riders around and he has picked up the ride.

Bronkhorst will also be hoping to pick up Race 4, which is the Classified Stakes over 1000m.

He sends out five-year-old Red Carpet Girl who easily won her last race over 1160m at Turffontein. This five-year-old Pomodoro mare caught the eye with that 3.50-length victory and if she can repeat that performance, she is in with one heck of a chance.

That race was in open company so there is no issue about taking on the boys again, and she does come into this race with a very tidy 52.5kg on her back.

She will be ridden by Vusunzi Sithetho.

However, the one concern is that although she is a winner of three races, Red Carpet Girl has yet to win over 1000m.

With that in mind there could be value in going for Brett Webber-trained Nkandla Gold, who was a runaway 5.25 length victor over this course and distance last time out.

It was a Work Riders Maiden Plate but the three-year-old Linngari gelding was ridden by Anathi Feni who will be aboard again this time.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 1 Delphi Dancer, 7 Offer The Light, 2 Golden Argo, 9 Bellissivar

Race 2: 2 Trombettista, 1 Phala Millions, 4 Oklahoma Twister, 5 Trip To States

Race 3: 8 Intro, 7 Redcherry Lane, 1 The Navy Lark, 6 Eve’s Apple

Race 4: 3 Nkandla Gold, 9 Red Carpet Girl, 1 Lulu’s Boy, 5 JJ’s Eagle

Race 5: 1 In A Blue Moon, 2 Pomo Clapper, 6 Agamemnon, 5 Master Tik Tok

Race 6: 10 Incredible Indrani, 1 City Lights, 12 Sensoria, 4 Perform

Race 7: 3 Viva De Janeiro, 4 His Master’s Voice, 6 Aunt Pittypat, 8 Carnelo

Race 8: 4 Pike Place, 1 Breath Of Magic, 2 Hat Furious, 9 Chieftain’s Shield

BEST BET

Race 7 No 3 Viva De Janeiro

VALUE BET

Race 4 No 3 Nkandla Gold

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 1×2

BIPOT

R384

Leg 1: 1, 2, 7, 9

Leg 2: 1, 2

Leg 3: 7, 8

Leg 4: 3, 9

Leg 5: 1, 2, 5, 6

Leg 6: 1, 10, 12

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 1, 2

Leg 2: 7, 8

Leg 3: 3, 9

Leg 4: 1, 2, 6

Leg 5: 1, 10, 12

Leg 6: 3

Leg 7: 1, 2, 4

PICK 6

R720

Leg 1: 1, 6, 7, 8

Leg 2: 1, 3, 9

Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 6

Leg 4: 1, 10, 12

Leg 5: 3

Leg 6: 1, 2, 4, 9, 12

JACKPOT 1

R36

Leg 1: 1, 3, 9

Leg 3: 1, 2, 5, 6

Leg 4: 1, 10, 12

Leg 4: 3

JACKPOT 2

R60

Leg 1: 1, 2, 5, 6

Leg 2: 1, 10, 12

Leg 3: 3

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 9, 12

Above: Francois “Pietersburg” Naude (left) with Corne Spies

Off The Record with Charl Pretorius

We kick off Part 2 with a contribution from Cape-based racing scribe Mark van Deventer, who will soon be publishing his first book. Mark recalled a time when he and a good sporting mate, who is a pro-punter, would discuss the card on race day mornings. They combined their knowledge and Mark said: “He respected my form analysis. Combined with his knack for figures, refined betting instincts and razor sharp suss of the odds/probabilities, this made for a neat combination.”

“There was no formal financial agreement in place – it was simply a spirited exchange of pre-race opinions which would either turn out to be inspired or worthless. Successes were celebrated and even after dismal days, we’d often end up partying together at the local Sports Club.”

“One Saturday morning we went through the card together in typically good humoured, jaunty style. My mate was keen to get involved as there was a big P6 carry-forward and an expected pool of R4-million. I mentioned a few horses that I considered potential winners, set off for the track and got on with my job there. As usual I had no idea what my friend was betting on – that was his personal and professional domain. Other than passing on my opinion there was no strategic discussion about constructing tickets nor amounts wagered.”

“Obviously, there are many days when my choices miss by a mile despite all the diligent research, but this was one of those rare occasions when the selections, some at big prices, followed the script perfectly and ran to their projected speed figures.”

“There was also a huge ‘bomb’ result in the third Leg of the P6 which knocked out many perms. An impossible- to- find, Erica Beck-trained sprinter ridden by Glen Hatt shook loose on the lead and stole a fortuitous victory as a massive, long shot.”

“After the final ‘good thing’ I labelled arrived in the penultimate race (this was a long time ago, but I think it was Wethreekings, trained by Vaughan Marshall) I received an unexpected call from my excited buddy. ‘Thanks for your help, bru,’ he said. ‘I took a Pick 6 built around your tips and we have the Field running in the final Leg. The dividends range from 60k upwards and there are a couple of spooks paying over a million. You’ve got 10% of whatever happens – let’s pull for a weird result!’”

“This was very generous. As mentioned, we had no formal partnership agreement. What’s more, I’d had nothing to do with the precise construction of the play which is such an important element of crafting horizontal exotics and taking multi tickets to cover nuanced opinions. Being right when going short and lucky when playing wide is optimal. As it turned out my mate had not overcomplicated things and had simply gone 5 x 2 x F x 2 x 2 x F, outlaying R2800 on a single, full ticket.”

“I sat calmly in the grandstand above the finish line. Horseplayers acknowledge that beyond doing the work, coming up with sharp picks and betting them as intelligently as possible, we are powerless as the outcome is completely beyond our control. The result lies in the ‘lap of the Gods.’ On that balmy mid-summer afternoon, the ‘Racing Deity’ smiled kindly upon our endeavours. In a desperate finish it looked like the second favourite would prevail for a return of around 80K, until one of those rank outsiders, Arts Academy (trained by Piet Steyn) mugged it on the line. The official dividend was one million and eighteen thousand Rand!”

“My mate was true to his word, gifting me a 100K ‘gelukkie’ at a time when it made a big difference in my life. He also bought a house up the West Coast for himself and a car for a family member. Perhaps more importantly, it provided the greatest currency boost of all – confidence. That attribute has helped my friend endure the peaks and ‘valiums’ of gambling/trading for a living. As a thank you memento, I gave him a framed photo of all six winners. He hung it up in his gambling den at home and glancing at it would be a source of inspiration even many years later. Some of those results were indeed weird. The two ‘spooks’ that caused such a spectacular dividend never won again. And the generosity shown to me was unexpected and deeply valued.”

Race caller Nico Kritsiotis told of an incident that happened in the commentary box at Turffontein just a few weeks ago. While he was calling an 1800m race – about 400m into the race – the ledge that supports the binoculars and stand completely ripped off its hinges, taking the amplifier with it to the ground!”

Said Nico: “I was left holding the stand and the binoculars with Naqeeb Munshi and Barry Redford trying to put everything back together whilst I called the rest of the race. What none of us realised was that the amplifier became unplugged in the process and there was no commentary for the race going out, anyway. This was completely unexpected and definitely a first!”

Grant Knowles has a racing story which goes a long way to show that, as a big or small racehorse owner, a bit of luck and some patience can take you a long way. All you really have to do is ‘show up’ for every opportunity.

Grant said: “In 2009 I was looking for a nice horse for the Groom’s Trust. Adrian Todd, Brett Crawford and I bought a weanling from John Slade for R200,000. He was well-bred, by Silvano out of the stakes winner Garland. We took him to a sale, but he was very narrow, so narrow he could run through a Palisade fence without touching it. There was no bid for him.”

“We took him to a second sale, where we got a bid from a fellow in KZN, but he pulled out a week after the sale and we were stuck with the horse. I was a bit despondent, but we managed to get a few other partners in to cover costs and race the horse ourselves. In the end there were six of us. He was named Wavin’ Flag and the early news was not too exciting. Brett put him into training, he was still narrow and he proved to be on the slow side. He started his career finishing 15th of 16 in a Maiden Plate over 1600m at Kenilworth. Needless to say, there were a few disappointed investors. I wanted to switch my phone off.”

“Bret said to give him a few more chances. While Wavin’ Flag was slow, he seemed to have plenty of stamina. He actually stayed on in his second start after labouring at the back for most of the race and finished fourth. After that, he was narrowly beaten in a 2000m race at Kenilworth and, by now, I was confident that our partners would recover their outlay.”

“We found a 2400m for him at Kenilworth in June 2013, as a late three-year-old, and Karis Teetan got him home to win by three quarters of a length. Our guy proved that he had an engine inside that narrow chest and Brett had what sounded like an impossible hope. He said: “You know what guys, this horse stays forever. I think we can win the Gold Cup with him!”

“However unlikely Brett’s prediction seemed, over the next few months Wavin’ Flag won again over 2400m, placed second at Grade 2 level over 2800m and then third over 3200m in the Grade 3 Chairmans Cup. When the 2014 KZN season rolled along, Brett put him on a float to Durban where he stepped out over 1900m and got within three lengths of his star stablemate Futura in a 1900m race, followed by a fourth in the Grade 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup and a close defeat in the Grade 2 Gold Vase on Durban July Day. There was a touch of class in the ‘narrow one’ too.”

“On 26 July, 2014, Wavin’Flag lined up for the Gold Cup, the last time it was run as Grade 1 race. He was fourth in the betting at 7-1 behind Master Sabina, Wild One and Alexander. He enjoyed a trouble-free run, stayed on from off the pace and won under a great ride from Glen Hatt. Most of us were there, a memorable occasion that was just a pipe dream when he’d finished almost last on his debut just a year earlier. That was my first and only Grade 1 win so far, almost by default. Wavin’ Flag went on to finish fourth to Louis The King in the Summer Cup. He earned R1,2-million in stakes.”

Next, a story from near 30 years ago, courtesy of trainer Corne Spies and former jockey Francois Naude. On 20 May, 1994, Francois was riding at a Friday meeting at Arlington in the old Port Elizabeth. He was carded to ride the filly Autumn Song for Corne’s father, Tobie, in the SA Fillies Classic at Scottsville in Pietermaritzburg the following afternoon, Saturday, 21 May, 1994.

Francois notified Tobie Spies that he would be flying straight in to Pietermaritzburg that Saturday morning and asked Corne to pick him up at the airport near the racetrack, at 11am.

Corne recalled: “When I got the airport it was deserted, there were no aeroplanes on the runway, not even a security guard at the gate. I waited half an hour, but there was still no aircraft in sight. Those were the days when mobile phones had just been launched into the market. I had one of those old, heavy, ‘brick’ phones. I made a few calls, eventually found a number for Air Traffic Control at the Durban Airport. The officials in charge were perplexed. They said there were no flights coming in from Port Elizabeth to Pietermaritzburg that day. They even investigated whether there were any late flights chartered. But there were no records, whatsoever, of anything.”

“At this point I was getting worried that something bad may have happened. Francois was unreachable, and nobody had any knowledge of his flight. But then, what felt like a long time after he was supposed to arrive in Pietermaritzburg, my phone rang. It was Francois’ voice, and on the old mobile technology he sounded far away. Well, he was. ‘Corne,’ said Francois. ‘There was a mess-up. I landed in Pietersburg (Polokwane)!’ “

Francois explained what had happened: “When I went to the ticket counter in Port Elizabeth the lady must’ve heard me saying ‘Pietersburg’ instead of ‘Pietermaritzburg’. The flight codes, I found out later, were almost similar, like PB vs PBZ, so I didn’t notice that stepping on. Our plane was a six-seater and I got to speak to the captain and his co-pilot. They saw my saddle and, not knowing anything about race days and venues, wished me well on my day’s rides.”

“The flight felt on the long side, but it was a small plane so I only felt puzzled when we came in for the landing and I saw no big buildings or a racetrack nearby. ‘What’s going on,’ I asked the captain. ‘Is Scottsville far from here?’ Of course we were closer to the Limpopo river than to Scottsville Racecourse. It was an embarrassing situation for all of us. They offered to fly me back to Durban, but at that point it was too late. I wouldn’t have got to the track in time.”

“I flew back on the same plane, was dropped off in Johannesburg. Deon Sampson replaced me on Autumn Song and as it happened, she finished last. Journalist Chad Cooke wrote the story for a mainstream newspaper. Everyone got to know about it and for the next several months I was known as ‘Pietersburg Naude’ even by the race callers!”

Tara Laing said she had a whole host of racing stories to tell. The popular Gqeberha-based trainer singled out two incidents from her time as assistant to James Goodman at Randjesfontein in the 1990s. She recounted: “James played a lot of golf, and spent a lot of time in the IGN studios as a presenter. So he often left me, his very young assistant, to hold the fort.”

James had two vehicles in those days. He drove a gold Mercedes Benz and a smaller one of maroon or purple colour. Tara said: “I can’t remember what make it was, but I used it to buzz around the stables and go up and down to the track.”

“One day James decided to drive his Merc to the track. He didn’t go up the normal tarred road, instead took the route the horses walked, at the back of the stable complex. We’d had a lot of rain, so the alternative road was muddy, slippery and a downright bog. I don’t know what possessed him to drive that way, that day but, to cut a long story short, he lost control of his car and careered through the railings, almost completely writing off the prized Merc!”

“So, I decided, I would have a bit of a laugh. I got my hands on some second-hand tyres, bought rope, tied all the tyres together and wrapped it around James’ purple/maroon car (as the Merc had to go in for repairs), to make it look like a bumper car! Needless to say, the next morning I got the swearing of my life!”

“There was also a mass strike of workers in that period of time. It went on for weeks. James hired a private security company, armed with pump-action shotguns, to sit outside our barn doors. We had a lot of volunteers helping us muck out, saddle, ride work etc, including my father.”

“Our runner Cowabunga, my personal favourite in the stable, was the horse of the moment. He was very good, but rather a feisty fellow. Jockey Donovan Habib and I got lumbered with him. I would tack him up and trot him up to track. Don would work him, then I would bring him home and hose him down.”

“One morning as I was unsaddling Cowabunga, one of the security guards decided to give his shotgun a bit of a ‘pump’ as a test and a loud and unexpected shot rang out. The horse took off at what felt like a hundred miles an hour. I had to hang on for dear life. I was thinking, ‘if I let this horse go, James would kill me!’ So, I clung on. I was actually skiing beside Cowabunga on the sand walkway, that’s how fast he was going.”

“Eventually, coming to the back of Diane Stenger’s yard, a distance away, he slowed down. My gloves had holes in them, my fingers were bleeding and the soles were hanging off the bottom of my riding boots! I got him back to the stable, swore at the security guard (he was whiter than a sheet), and proceeded to wipe Cowabunga down. I sighed a huge sigh of relief when I had him safely back in his stable.”

https://news.4racing.com/off-the-record-21

Lyle Hewitson is pictured swinning on the Manfred Man-trained E Universe (Pictures: HKJC), although he nearly got himself into serious trouble as he was not aware of the proximity of the runner up and eased his mount well before the line.

The stipes report stated: When questioned regarding his riding out over the concluding stages, L Hewitson stated that near the 100 Metres when he was of the opinion that he had established a sizeable lead on the field, he then discontinued from riding his mount out to the finish of the event. He added that he was surprised DOUBLE BINGO improved to his inside close to the finishing line and agreed that he had made an error of judgement although E UNIVERSE was able to hold first placing. L Hewitson was reprimanded for failing to ride his mount out to the finish of the event. He was advised that in similar circumstances he would be expected to show better judgement and ensure that his mounts are appropriately tested to the finish. Sent for sampling post-race.

Lyle Hewitson goes to 29 wins for the season.

Later Keagan de Melo rode a winner to go to 18 wins.

Zac Purton reached 1700 wins in Hong Kong in pursuit of Douglas Whyte’s recored of 1813.

A report on the meeting was filed by the Hong Jockey Club (Read below):

By Leo Schlink

Zac Purton’s relentless pursuit of Douglas Whyte’s Hong Kong record of 1,813 wins annexed another important milestone at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (10 April) when the Australian slotted a treble to become only the second jockey to ride 1,700 winners or more in Hong Kong.

Chasing a seventh Hong Kong jockeys’ championship, Purton extended a gaping lead in the 2023/24 standings to 30 wins over Karis Teetan (61) after the Australian snared a three-timer to take his seasonal tally to 91.

In the midst of his 17th Hong Kong season, Purton is bearing down on his ninth century of winners in Hong Kong, having previously achieved the feat in 2013/14, 2016/17, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23 – when he set the record for the most wins in a season with 179.

Purton opened his account aboard Moments In Time in the Class 2 Geranium Handicap before slotting his 1,700th on Francis Lui’s Copartner Prance in the first section of the Class 4 Freesia Handicap (1200m) and then crowning the night by piloting Sports Legend to victory in the Class 3 Oncidium Handicap (1200m).

“It’s nice to get to 1,700 wins – it’s a big number,” Purton, 41, said. “It’s nice to get it on a progressive horse (Copartner Prance), so hopefully there’s a few more wins there.

“(Whyte’s record) is still a way off. There’s still a bit of water to go under the bridge yet. He (Copartner Prance) is still learning, he doesn’t know what he’s doing, he’s doing a few things wrong and when he’s in front, he’s looking around.”

With 25 meetings left in the season, Purton trails Whyte’s colossal figure by 112 wins.

Now a successful trainer after retiring as a jockey in 2019, 13-time Hong Kong champion Whyte had 12,269 rides in Hong Kong, amassing 1,813 wins at a winning strike rate of 14.78%.

Purton has had 9,854 rides in reaching 1,701 wins at a strike rate of 17.26% since moving to Hong Kong for the 2007/08 season.

Moments In Time earned a HK$1.5 million PP Bonus and gave Danny Shum the first two legs of his treble.

“It was a very good effort, he (Moments In Time) pulled really hard through the first half of the race,” Purton said. “It wasn’t ideal, normally they don’t finish off when they pull like that.

“So, for him to put himself into the race was encouraging for him going forward. He had the race and then he went to throw it away and then he fought for it again – he’s still learning, but there’s something there.”

Shum also scored with Hong Kong International Sale graduate Nice Birdie in the Class 5 Flamingo Flower Handicap (2200m) under Jerry Chau before teaming with Sports Legend in the last race.

Four-time Hong Kong champion trainer Caspar Fownes is poised to become the fourth horseman to saddle 1,100 Hong Kong winners after Capital Legend snared the Class 4 Lavender Handicap (1650m) under Hugh Bowman.

Fownes has 1,099 victories in the city to trail only John Moore (1,735), John Size (1,534) and Tony Cruz (1,501).

Glorious Journey (135lb) overcame barrier 12 under a patient Matthew Chadwick ride to clinch the Class 4 Lusitano Challenge Cup Handicap (1650m) for Frankie Lor before Ricky Yiu and Teetan combined with Golden Link in the second section of the Class 4 Freesia Handicap (1200m). Yiu now has 995 Hong Kong wins.

Ivy League scored his second course and distance win under Keagan De Melo when fending off Simply Maverick in the Class 3 Kalanchoe Handicap (1650m) for Whyte after E Universe swept to his second course and distance success under Lyle Hewitson in the third section of the Class 4 Freesia Handicap (1200m) for Manfred Man.

Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (14 April).

Alyson Wright is full of admiration for Querari  gelding Ultra Quick, who clinched respective inividual doubles on the day for her and Rachel Venniker. (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Alyson Wright increased her lead in the KZN Trainers Championship on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly today (Wednesday) when scoring a double.

One of them was ridden by Rachel Venniker, who also scored an individual double on the day.

Venniker goes to 53 wins for the season scored at a strike rate of  10.77%.

Wright is now on 38 wins at 11.62%.

The KZN Trainers Championship log sees Wright leading on 38 wins, three ahead of Wendy Whitehead on 35, with Garth Puller on 34 and both Gareth van Zyl and Mike Miller on 33 apiece.

The subject of the question is pictured above.

Which horse holds the oldest standing North American record time?

Swaps holds the North American record on dirt for the distance of one mile and five furlongs set at Hollywood Park on Nuly 25, 1956.

Swaps: A Speedy, Well-Oiled Machine