Turf Talk Newsletter – 10 December, 2024

Oriental Charm makes a fine seasonal reappearance, winning the Gr 2 WSB Green Point Stakes under JP van der Merwe. (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Oriental Charm is the 33/10 favourite for the Met with Hollywoodbets, while See It Again is out at 11/2, and yet See It Again has the former well held on Hollywoodbets Durban July form.

That means Oriental Charm is a 33/10 shot to become only the eighth horse in history to win both the July and the Met.

Oriental Charm was 5kg better off than weight for age with the topweighted See It Again when winning the July and he only beat him by 1,80 lengths.

That is not to mention that he hampered See It Again as well and the latter would have otherwise finished considerably closer.

The Met is run on weight for age terms, so it means Oriental Charm will need to have improved by 4kg to 5kg since the July to reverse form with See It Again.

Oriental Charm’s rise to the top of the ante-post Met boards happened after his eyecatching win in the Gr 2 WSB Green Point Stakes on Saturday.

Ironically, that is the same race See It Again won last year and which saw him gaining the Met future winner tag. In both cases the win in the Green Point was over a trip that was viewed as short of the horse’s best. 2000m is probably the optimum trip for both See It Again and Oriental Charm.

See It Again is a horse who gets a lot of flak on social media from people who have little understanding of the game and the likely reason for this is his lack of a Graded win for just over a year since winning the Gr 2 Green Point Stakes.

At this time last year he was viewed as a penalty kick for the WSB Met and there is little reason why his credentials shouldn’t be viewed in the same light this year, although the final field should be stronger than it was last year.

See It Again had two below par runs in Cape Town after the Green Point, when second in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate and fourth in the Met, but he clearly wasn’t himself and neither were a lot of the horses in the stables around him at Milnerton.

His three subsequent Champions Season runs did not yield a victory, but he had excuses, especially in the Hollywoodbets Durban July when hampered late – it probably cost him third place.

Nothing went right for him in the Gr 1 HKJC Champions Cup over 1800m.

He was subsequently gelded and won well first time out before running a 2,50 length fifth in the Betway Summer Cup.

That run was no disgrace as he had to carry 60kg and gave 6kg to three of the horses who beat him and he gave 4,5kg to the runner up, the Dual Gr 1 winner Purple Pitcher, who beat him by 1,40 lengths.

It would be no surprise if punters abandoned him due to his long streak in Graded events without a win, but the Met might be the wrong race to do it in.

It is interesting to look at the comments of Brett Crawford on behalf of Oriental Charm and Piere Strydom on behalf of See It Again this week.

Brett said about Oriental Charm’s Green Point win, “I was quite impressed with him on Saturday. He was obviously stepping up to level weights for the first time and I thought it was a very good win. He can only but improve from that run, so it looks like he’s making good progression as he gets older.”

Strydom said about See It Again’s Summer Cup run, “He beat Royal Victory and they sort of ran to form. Always giving away weight when there are young horses coming through is not easy and is not ideal for him. Maybe he will race fresh in the King’s Plate and then go for the Met, where he will be well handicapped (he will be the highest rated horse under weight for age conditions).”

The first big question then is whether Oriental Charm has improved about 4kg to 5kg since the July, presuming See It Again has remained at the same level.

One of the most interesting formlines would be the one through Royal Aussie.

See It Again beat Royal Aussie by five lengths when winning the Green Point, whereas Oriental Charm only beat him by a length.

See It Again later beat Royal Aussie by 1,25 lengths in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate, although both trainer Michael Roberts and Strydom fetlt See It Again had run below par.

Oriental Charm did it from the front in the Green Point and created a good visual impression. He will have come on from the run too.

See It Again will have to bounce back to the sort of performance he produced in the Cape Derby and it will not be easy for him having travelled up to Johannesburg and then having to travel to Cape Town.

So the second big question is whether See It Again can produce his best in the Met.

The two big questions will be partly answered in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate on January 4, a race both horses will be running in.

There are of course other contenders in the Met.

The leading female horse in the Met betting is the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Red Palace and interestingly she comes under the hammer at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth after racing tomorrow (Wednesday) in order to dissolve a partnership.

The Met 5/1 second favourite is Green With Envy, who is under a cloud after finishing tailed off last in Saturday’s WSB Green Point Stakes.

Trainer Dean Kannemeyer said, “He was coughing after the race, but pulled up sound. I had four runners on Saturday who coughed after the race and am busy now with lung washes and blood counts.”

If Green With Envy is able to bounce back he will become one of the horses to beat again in the Met considering his impressive win in last season’s Splashout Cape Derby, which he followed with good wins in the Gr 2 WSB Guineas and Gr 1 Daily News 2000.

Dave The King also has a cloud over his head folowing disappointing runs in his last two starts and the Met trip will stretch him too. He did not scope well after his latest below par run though, so could bounce back.

The Mike de Kock-trained three-year-old stablemates Heather’s Boy and Greaterix are both interesting Met entries. Heather’s Boy is unbeaten in three starts and as a big scopey sort should continue to improve and Greaterix is better than his last run in the Betway Dingaans when finding himself in front, which was unlikely to be ideal.

Snow Pilot has come into his own this season, but odds of 10/1 are too skinny for a horse who has stamina doubts.

Gimme A Prince has never been this far either and is a twice Gr 1 winner over sprint trips so is also a risky play at 16/1.

Red Palace is better value at 16/1 as she has class and will see out the trip.

Frances Ethel is also a fascinating runner at 25/1 as she is definitely better than her Summer Cup effort, although she will have a harder task at the weights in the Met.

Eight On Eighteen is a highly regarded three-year-old whose 20/1 odds include a doubt he will even line up.

Silver Sanctuary did not scope well after her last place finish in the Summer Cup anc could bounce back.

Rascallion can never be ignored as he proved last year when a narrow runner up.

Without Question was third last year and is capable, so his odds of 67/1 look to be fair value.

Meanwhile, Flag Man has been scratched from the Met and will be out for the season as he requires surgery to a fetlock.

Greg Bortz and Gina Goldsmith lead in Oriental Charm after his win in the Gr2 WSB Green Point Stakes. (Picture: Wayne Marks)  

Handicapping Ratings Updates (NHA Press Release)

World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas (Grade 1)

FATAL FLAW has seen her rating adjusted to 115 from 110 after comfortably winning the Grade 1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. SYMPHONY IN WHITE, who finished fourth in this race, was deemed to be the most suitable line horse to rate the race, leaving her rating unchanged on 107.

The following horses also received increases in their ratings. Second placed SCARLET MACAW went up to 111 from 93 for beating the 107 rated line horse by 2.15 lengths (4 points) at level weights. Third placed LITTLE SUZIE went up to 107 from 103 for finishing 0.40 of a length ahead of the 107 rated line horse at level weights.

MAI SENSATION was the only runner in this race to receive a drop in the ratings and she dropped to 94 from 99.

World Sports Betting Green Point Stakes (Grade 2)

ORIENTAL CHARM remained unchanged on a rating of 125 after his win in the Grade 2 World Sports Betting Green Point Stakes. Here it was third place finisher SUGAR MOUNTAIN who was used as the line horse, leaving his rating unaltered at 116. In rating the race this way, first and second finishers actually run below their official ratings of 125 and 124 respectively.

The only runner to receive a ratings drop was WITHOUT QUESTION, who was dropped to 118 from 120.

World Sports Betting Southern Cross Stakes (Grade 3)

ASIYE PHAMBILI remained unchanged on a merit rating of 116 following her fluent win in the Grade 3 World Sports Betting Southern Cross Stakes over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that third placed SUMMER LILY made for the ideal line horse to rate this race, leaving her unchanged on a rating of 100. In rating the race this way, second placed CANDY TOWN also runs to her mark of 101 effectively making her a line horse as well.

MISS WORLD, who finished fourth in this race, was the only other runner to receive an upward adjustment in the ratings and she went up to 99 from 97.

There were no drops in the ratings for any runner in this race.

World Sports Betting Cape Summer Stayers Handicap (Listed)

HOLDING THUMBS has seen his rating adjusted from 93 to 99 after winning the World Sports Betting Cape Summer Stayers Handicap (Listed) over 2 500m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the opinion that second placed LOVE IS A ROSE made for the most suitable line horse to rate this race, leaving her rating unchanged on 101. It must be borne in mind that HOLDING THUMBS, who was rated 93 (nett 90 after the deduction of Weight for Age), was 4 points under sufferance at the weights, due to the race being benchmarked at 94 = 52kg and therefore his adjustment of 6 points was inclusive of the under-sufferance amount.

There were no other changes to any of the other horses in this race.

Enquiries:

The Handicapping Team

The Glen Kotzen-trained Vercingetorix gelding Holding Thumbs won the Listed WSB Cape Summer Stayers Handicap over 2500m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday under Sean Veale. (Picture: Wayne Marks).

Cape Breeders

Maine Chance Farms (Pty) Ltd’s outstanding stallion Vercingetorix was usurped from the top of the national sires standing by Master Of My Fate after the Betway Summer Cup, but he was back on top a week later after a day to remember on Saturday

Vercingetorix had seven individual winners in South Africa on Saturday, with Vercingetorix runners winning six of the ten races run at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

Vercingetorix sons Oriental Charm and Holding Thumbs won Saturday’s G2 World Sports Betting Green Point Stakes (1600m) and Listed World Sports Betting Cape Summer Stayers Handicap (2500m) to provide their inform sire with a memorable Cape feature race double.

Winner of both the G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July and G3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial last season, star colt Oriental Charm made a winning return to the track when he won Saturday’s World Sports Betting Green Point Stakes.

Under a fine ride from JP Van Der Merwe, the four-year-old made much of the running in Saturday’s R250 000 race to win by a length. Trained by Brett and James Crawford, Oriental Charm, a leading contender for both the G1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate and G1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met, has won his last three in a row (all graded features), and has won five of 11 starts.

Bred by Cheveley Stud, Oriental Charm, out of the Greys Inn mare Souk, was a R375 000 buy from the 2022 National Yearling Sale.

Vercingetorix came up with his 46th stakes winner when his Glen Kotzen-trained son Holding Thumbs won Saturday’s Listed World Sports Betting Cape Summer Stayers Handicap. Third in the Listed Woolavington Stakes previously, the gelded four-year-old was given a fine ride by Sean Veale, with Veale keeping Holding Thumbs long enough to win by a diminishing long neck.

Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Holding Thumbs, out of the Fort Wood mare Withbatedbreath, has won five of 14 starts. Saturday’s winner was a R1 100 000 buy from the 2022 August Two Year Old Sale.

Holding Thumb’s victory came in the eighth race on the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth card, and the progeny of Vercingetorix would go on to win both the ninth and tenth races on Saturday. His son Magic Verse made a big impression when romping to a five-length win in Saturday’s Jonsson Workwear Cape B Stakes (2000m), while the following race, Vercingetorix gelding Gallic Dream picked up his second career win when landing the Pamela Isdell Class 3 (1400m) by a length and a half.

Vercingetorix had also posted two winners earlier at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth with his sons Honor Of Kings and Garrix victorious in races two and four respectively. The regally bred Honor Of Kings, a half-brother to champion Princess Calla, got off the mark in convincing fashion when he won Saturday’s Freeman Stallions Maiden Plate by two and a quarter lengths, while the very promising Garrix made it two wins from three starts with a convincing, two and three-quarter length win in the Amy Miller Memorial Class 4 (1400m).

The sensational Vercingetorix also had success at Turffontein on Saturday with his daughter Komati River victorious in the second race on Saturday.

Bred and owned by Advocate Althus Joubert, three-year-old Komati River stormed home to land the Take A Bet Wina Numba Numba Maiden Plate (F and M) (1160m) by a length and a quarter.

Trained by Tony Peter, Komati River, who is out of the Second Empire mare Venus Rising, was ridden by Kaidan Brewer.

Vercingetorix is also the sire of former Equus Champion Mrs Geriatrix, with the latter named KZN Breeders’ Champion 3YO Filly for 2023-2024 on Friday night.

Hollywood Racing’s owner Owen Heffer realised a dream when leading in a Gr 1 winner in January 2023 after Make It Snappy had landed the Cartier Paddock Stakes, her second successive Gr 1 victory. (Picture: Wayne Marks).

The instantly recognizable purple and yellow silks proudly carried by runners racing under the banner of the Hollywood Syndicate will be known as *Hollywood Racing* with effect from Tuesday 10 December 2024.

Making the announcement earlier this week, Hollywood Racing spokesman Devin Heffer said that the modernized name better described the scope and diversity of their operation in the present times and that the philosophies and principles underscored by a passion and love of the horse, and of the sport of racing, would remain unchanged.

Ever since Splendid Night stormed to an icebreaking victory in 2002, the Hollywood Syndicate, the racehorse ownership platform of South Africa’s leading sportsbook operator Hollywoodbets, has become a fixture on South African racecourses and recently celebrated their 600 winner milestone.

The Hollywood Syndicate silks were also carried to victory five months ago by former SA speed champion Isivunguvungu when the son of What A Winter won the Da Hoss Stakes at Colonial Downs in Virgina. In a watershed moment for all involved, the 6yo went on to acquit himself with honour in the Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Del Mar in early November.

“The administration of the name change has been a seamless exercise and we thank the National Horseracing Authority for their assistance and professionalism. Anthony Delpech remains the nominee of Hollywood Racing and it’s all systems go from today’s Hollywoodbets Greyville racemeeting,” concluded Devin Heffer.

Million Voices (Vercingetorix) bounced back to her best on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly today and gave Tristan Godden and Mike Miller a double together on the day (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Tristan Godden rode a double for Mike Miller on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly today (Tuesday) and Sean Veale and Dennis Bosch had individual doubles on the day.

Godden goes to 20 wins for the season and has done it at a strike rate of 10.58%.

Veale mis on 51 wins at 14.01%.

Miller goes to 14 wins at 10.61%.

Bosch goes to nine wins at 10.47%.

The picture gives a clue to the answer (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Who were the last two horses to have won the July without ever having raced in KZN before?

The Mike de Kock-trained Sparkling Water (2022) and the David Ferraris-trained Super Quality (1997) were the last two horses to have won the July without ever having raced in KZN before.