Turf Talk Newsletter – 10 February, 2025

Snaith Barometer: 196

Target: 222

July Winner Syndicated To Stud While Still In Training

Oriental Charm (JP van der Merwe) winning the Gr 2 WSB Green Point Stakes in impressive style. (Pic – Wayne Marks)

In the spirit of enthusiasm and shared opportunity, Greg Bortz and Gina Goldsmith have invited breeders and friends to embark on an exhilarating journey with them and their remarkable racehorse, Oriental Charm.

He is by the Equus outstanding sire, Vercingetorix, this season’s leading sire with 88 winners of 128 races at a winners to runners percentage of 44.9% and 12 stakes (black type) winners of 13 stakes races.

Vercingetorix has had a career 51 stakes winners at 11.8%, including 11 Grade 1 winners. Vercingetorix in turn is by six times national champion sire, Silvano.

His dam, Souk, by champion 3-year-old and Durban July winner Grey’s Inn, was a speedy three-time winner and listed-placed over seven furlongs. Oriental Charm hails from the family of Danehill, Northern Dancer and Halo, one of the most successful sire-producing families in the international studbook.

Oriental Charm had the speed to win first time out over 1250m and the class to stay 2200m, attributes so desirable to South African Breeders.

Over the past eight months, Oriental Charm has won the Cup Trial Gr3, Green Point Stakes Gr2 and the prestigious Hollywoodbets Durban July Gr1, beating nine individual Grade 1 winners in the process.

His Cape summer season concluded with a thrilling performance in the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met Gr1. Oriental Charm is undeniably a classic colt on the rise who is only coming into his own as a four-year-old.

The current owners are committed to funding his remaining racing career until he retires to stud at the end of July, following three races: the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge Gr1, the Hollywoodbets Durban July Gr1, and the HKJC Champions Cup Gr1, with a combined gross stake of R8,000 000. The new shareholders will benefit from a risk-free chance to recover a significant portion of their initial investment.

Brett Crawford expresses immense optimism for the upcoming KwaZulu-Natal season, stating, “Oriental Charm possesses a phenomenal temperament and the heart of a lion. He is a well-balanced colt with perfect confirmation, an overall joy to train.”

On the back of the Cape Racing Sales Summer Sale’s impressive average price of R619 400 and a median price of R500 000, market confidence is at an all-time high.

Oriental Charm offers breeders an opportunity to secure a share in one of the early favourites for the 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July and the first son of Vercingetorix to be syndicated for breeding. Capitalise on this thrilling chance to be part of racing history!

Oriental Charm will stand at leading breeders Drakenstein Stud Farm and will be managed by Jonathan Snaith.

Green With Envy Retired And Syndicated For Stud

Green With Envy saunters to a an effortless 2,75 length victory in the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby. (Picture: Wayne Marks)

We are pleased to announce that South Africa’s highest rated older colt and Equus Champion Three-Year-Old of 2024 will be retired to Varsfontein Stud.

A Champion son of a multiple Champion Sire Gimmethegreenlight, he is out of a daughter of the legendary Champion Galileo.

He stands 16.2, is an outstanding looker, and hails from a top class international family. His dam is an own-sister to an International Group winner, half-sister to two further Group winners, and 3 further black type horses including the dam of a Grade 1 winner.

He is being syndicated into 40 shares at R150,000 per share (excl VAT & insurance). Each shareholder may send an additional mare for the first four years as a bonus service.

In addition to Varsfontein Stud, many leading breeders have already taken up shares incl Blue Sky, Hemel & Aarde, Maine Chance, Mauritzfontein, Owloon, Syrilla, Wilgerbosdrift, etc.

Should you have any further queries, please contact Jehan Malherbe at your earliest convenience.

Jehan Malherbe�
FORM BLOODSTOCK
Mobile +27 (0)83 252 8146
Office +27 (0)21 510 1455
jehan@aro.co.za

Turf Talk-Sponsored Golf Day Raised Vital Funds For Equine Trust

Picture: Gary Player was at the day and joined various four-balls to play a couple of holes.

Ken Truter of the Western Cape Equine Trust sent a letter of gratitude to Turf Talk for the sponsorship of their Western Cape Equine Golf Day and the excellent advertising in the newsletter beforehand which led to a full field and plenty of sponsors coming to the party. Vital funds were raised and he hoped this would become an annual golf day in the build up to the WSB Met.

The letter and the results and pictures of the golf day can be read and seen below respectively.

10 February 2025

The Editor,

Turf Talk

On behalf the Committee and myself, I would like to thank Turf Talk for the sponsorship of our Western Cape Equine Golf Day held at Rondebosch Golf Club on Friday 24^th January 2025 together with their excellent advertising of the day in the Turf Talk newsletter every week leading up to the day.

As a Trust run entirely by volunteers, our income is solely dependent on donations from caring individuals and organizations and a yearly Race Day held at Kenilworth Racecourse.

This year on a beautiful Cape summers day a wonderful golf day was held with a full field of players competing for some fantastic prizes. A lot of fun was had by all and the day ended off with a lively auction and dinner where much needed funds for the Trust were raised.

A special thank you to all the sponsors for their generous prizes and auction items as well as to the golfers that participated. The day would not have been possible without the hard work and expertise of Jo and Grant Knowles as well as to their assistants on the day– they are an amazing couple who are always ready to help when approached to raise funds for the Western Cape Equine Trust.

We hope this will become a permanent event during the week leading up to the Met.

With sincere thanks and best wishes.

KEN TRUTER

CHAIRMAN

Oldlands Will Sell All Of Their Yearlings In The Cape

Barbara Sanne of Oldlands Stud contacted Turf Talk to inform buyers that this year all of the Oldlands Stud yearlings will be sold at the Cape sales.

She will be sending yearlings to both the CRS Premier Yearling Sale and the BSA Cape Yearling Sale.

She said, “I am getting older and older and also for practical reasons I think it is better to sell just in the Cape.”

This should serve as a warning to up country fans of Oldlands Stud that if they are hoping to buy one of their quality yearlings at the BSA National Yearling Sale they will be disappointed.

Oldlands have a fine record, with international achievers including Dubai winners Lucky Find and Sanshaawes and recent Gr 1 winners in South Africa including Canadian Summer, Zarina and Ambiorix.

Barabara confirmed that the Oldlands drafts at both Sales would be “wonderful” and include some “super” horses.

Candice Bass-Robinson Talks About Targets For Her Top Horses

Tenango produced a devastating turn of foot to win easily and impressively at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Candice Bass Robinson talked about targets for some of her best horses’, including Tenango, Future Variety, Rainbow Lorikeet, Roccapina, Scarlet Macaw and Winter Snap.

Candice has an impressive up-and-coming sprinter on her hands, the four-year-old Tenango, who on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth made it three wins from four starts after coming back from a nine-month layoff.

On Saturday, in a 1200-metre Class 3 handicap, Ian Longmore’s homebred Canford Cliffs gelding jumped from draw nine out of ten starters and sat off the pace early. Aldo Domeyer clearly had a double handful as the horse moved up into midfield during the race, although he was always nicely covered up.

Upon switching Tenango out for a run at the 400m mark the gelding took off and quicky put the field to bed, winning by two lengths under a tight hold.

The time told a story, too. It was just short of a second quicker than the previous race over the same course and distance won by Golden Destiny.

Bass Robinson was asked whether Tenango would travel to KZN for the Golden Horse Sprint.

She said she was not sure at this stage, one of the reasons being she doubted his merit rating would be high enough for him to qualify.

He won off a 98 on Saturday and even with an expected few points raise it would not be high enough for him to be a definite inclusion in the Golden Horse field.

Last year the lowest merit rating to qualify for the big 1200m sprint at Hollywoodbets Scottsville was 104, so he will is a border line horse at present as his merit rating looks likely to go up six points to that same mark.

However, Bass-Robinson said she was thinking of running him in the Gr 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes, which is run over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on February 22.

If he runs well there he should book his place in the Golden Horse as his merit rating will likely get a sizeable hike if he finishes close up to the like of the 134 merit rated Gimme A Prince.

The risk is getting too high a merit rating.

Aldo Domeyer, who rode a treble on Saturday, said after Tenango’s win, “He has always shown us he is going to be a smart horse and I think the step up to the 1200m was right up his alley. I loved it that he switched off whenever I needed him to. The pace was fair but it did not really matter because whatever I asked him to do he did quite professionally. I think he is a decent little sprinter and he keeps on improving. We’re not sure how mcuh more he will improve, but I think there is a feature race there, the way he turns it on and the length of time that he turns it on for is quite impressive. It’s nice we could build him up like we have up until now, but I think it’s time we pointed him in that direction now (features) as there is no reason we shouldn’t.”

Tenango’s nine month break was for a wind operation, which has clearly been a success.

Domeyer said with him being more mature and more relaxed his breathing now sounded as clear as a whistle.

Domeyer concluded by saying he did not think he had asked Tenango for top gear in the race, which augurs well for feature races to come.

Bass-Robinson said Tenango used to be quite an uptight horse before the breathing operation, but said his temperament had changed since the operation and he was now a “gentleman”.

Bass-Robinson’s other good four-year-old sprinter, Future Variety, would be running in the Diadem and might be taken to Johannesburg for the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint over 1000m at Turffontein on March 29. The big KZN sprints might be on the cards for him too.

She said Rainbow Lorikeet would be one defenite KZN campaigner, with the Woolavington 2000 being her chief target.

Scarlet Macaw, the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas runner up, was also a possibility for KZN.

However, Candice admitted the three-year-old fillies looked a bit below par this season with the exception of her own Roccapina, whom had stepped up to 1600m for the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Majorca Stakes and run a fine third, having run a fine close up second in the Gr 2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes over 1200m before that.

Candice said Roccapina (One World) would not get more than a mile.

She is not sure yet whether Roccapina will be going to KZN yet for the Champions Season.

Her obvious targets if she did go would be the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint and the Gr 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes.

She said Winter Snap, a What A Winter juvenile colt who won on debut, would definitely not be going to Durban.

She said, “He didn’t pull up too well after his win, so I will get him ready for the Nursery and then geld him and give him a break after that.”

Ferraris Lands Third Feature In Succession, Hewitson Double

Luke Ferraris makes it a third feature win in his last three meetings as Lucky With You powers home at Sha Tin on Sunday. Lyle Hewitson won the first two races of the meeting. (Picture: HKJC)

By Leo Schlink (HKJC)

Luke Ferraris continued a blistering form surge with success aboard veteran sprinter Lucky With You in the HK$3.72 million Class 1 TVB Cup Handicap (1200m) at Sha Tin on Sunday (9 February), leaving the young South African jockey with three feature victories in 10 days.

Buoyant after wins in the HK$13 million Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on My Wish at Sha Tin on 31 January and the HK$3.12 million Class 2 Tsun Yip Handicap (1650m) on Mr Ascendency at Happy Valley on Wednesday (5 February), Ferraris continued a stunning season with Lucky With You’s triumph.

Ferraris, 23, produced a copybook ride on Frankie Lor’s seven-year-old, who had been competing at Group 1 level against champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising and clearly appreciated the drop in grade.

Sitting fourth on the rails throughout, Ferraris drove dual Group 1 runner-up Lucky With You (129lb) between Harmony N Blessed and Magic Control inside the final 100m before powering clear of Gorgeous Win (123lb) and Magic Control (127lb) in 1m 08.47s.

Lor said: “Class 1 is different for him because usually he’s in Group 1 or Group 2. He’s seven years old now and it was great to get another win for the owners. Perfect ride by Luke.”

Having his first ride on the Artie Schiller gelding, Ferraris was elated after extending a remarkable run of form.

“He (Lucky With You) is a lovely, game horse. He’s a real soldier. He does have a bit of a short sprint so the way the race panned out was ideal. We got behind a nice horse, Magic Control, and he pulled us through to the 250m and when he had done his job, Harmony N Blessed started to fall away,” Ferraris said.

“It worked out really nicely and he hit the gap really strongly and powered away to the line, so thanks to Frankie and his team. Hopefully we can keep rolling. The support has been fantastic and I’ll be looking to keep that going and if it does, hopefully I can keep capitalising on the decent rides.”

Californiatotality advanced HK$26 million BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) hopes with victory in the Class 3 TVB Midlife, Sing & Shine 3 Handicap (1800m) for Tony Cruz. Ridden by Brenton Avdulla, the Zoustar gelding notched his fifth win from 16 starts.

Cruz made it a double when Righteous Arion clinched the Class 3 TVB Heroes In White Handicap (1200m) under Alexis Badel.

Jamie Richards posted his third winner in as many meetings when La Forza capped an eventful 24 hours with victory under Zac Purton in the Class 4 TVB Yan Chai Charity Show Handicap (1000m).

A three-year-old by Toronado, La Forza posted his second win from four starts after galloping riderless at Sha Tin on Saturday morning (8 February) after losing his rider.

“It was just unfortunate that he shied basically at the TV screen there. But he didn’t go too fast when he did a little quiet lap without the rider on and thankfully everything’s gone nice and smoothly for him today,” Richards said of La Forza’s trackwork incident.

“He’s a horse who last season was very immature and we backed off him and we thought we had him ready to go earlier in the season and we just had to back off him again because he was just a little bit shin sore. He was very weak last season but he’s put on a lot of weight and strengthened up.”

Purton took his tally to 84 wins for the season when David Eustace’s Light Years Charm swept to victory in the Class 3 TVB Tung Wah Charity Show Handicap (1400m) after Lyle Hewitson slotted a double, scoring aboard Benno Yung-trained Special Hedge in the Class 5 TVB Lok Sin Tong Charity Corner Handicap (1400m) and Francis Lui’s Gallant Epoch in the Class 4 TVB Yan Oi Tong Charity Show Handicap (1400m).

“Obviously, it’s fantastic. It’s just been a slow (start) this season but I feel like over the past two weeks, I’ve been feeling really good in the saddle and I think that is showing – and that’s a positive,” Hewitson said.

“On top of that, I’ve been given one or two opportunities each meeting which I’ve been able to convert.”

Pierre Ng reclaimed the lead in the 2024/25 trainers’ championship with Gale Saga’s victory for Matthew Poon in the Class 4 TVB Tung Wah Celebrity Show Handicap (1400m) before Dennis Yip’s Super Love landed the Class 4 TVB Pok Oi Charity Show Handicap (1200m) for Teetan.

Jimmy Ting posted his sixth win of the campaign when Flash Current snared the Class 4 TVB Po Leung Kuk Gala Spectacular Handicap (1200m) for Harry Bentley. Winning Gold claimed the Class 3 The Fading Gold Handicap (1400m) for Karis Teetan and Chris So.

Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Wednesday night (12 February).

Zac Purton Out For Six Weeks

Zac Purton recently became the winning-most jockey in Hong Kong history but is now out for an estimated six weeks. However, he is 46 wins clear of second placed Hugh Bowman on the jockeys log, so his title is not under threat. (Picture: HKJC)

There were two nasty incicents at the Sha Tin racemeeting on Sunday that led to the injuries of four jockeys and the passing of one horse.

In the first incident local hero Vincent Ho’s mount suddenly fell at about the 50m mark and he took a nasty fall.

In the second incident a horse broke down and veered left upon falling thus blocking the path of other horses with two of them falling.

The jockeys wee diagnosed later in hospital.

A report on their prognosis is shown below.

HKJC

Update Jockey Injuries – Sha Tin Racemeeting – 9 February 2025

The Club’s Chief Medical Officer has provided the following update in respect to jockeys that were injured at yesterday’s Sha Tin Racemeeting:

Vincent C Y Ho
Has undergone overnight monitoring in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). He sustained a head injury and minor fractures to his shoulder and neck. These injuries are expected to heal with conservative management. He is expected to be discharged from the ICU to the general ward within the next 24 hours.

Zac Purton
Will undergo surgery later today (10 February 2025) to manage a fracture of his left big toe. Likely to require approximately 4 to 6 weeks of rest and rehabilitation.

Keith M L Yeung
Sustained contusion injuries over his left shoulder muscles, thigh muscles and left buttock muscles. A full recovery is anticipated within 2 to 3 weeks.

Angus Y L Chung
Sustained a fracture of the right facial bone, which does not require surgery. He will be discharged from the hospital today (10 February 2025) and is expected to resume riding within 4 to 6 weeks.

Bombers In The Sky Can Follow Up

Picture: Bombers In THe Sky has been tipped to win race 7. (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Tuesday Formguides And Selections

Race 1

1 JORDASH ran a fair race on debut behind the very talented Winter Snap, she was very green in running and stayed on well to finish just under three lengths behind the winner, she will love the step up in trip to 1200m, if she has made the necessary improvement back at home, she will be hard to beat. 2 WHATASTAR has done everything right in her first two starts at the races, she is a lovely filly that tries really hard, there is no doubt she will be involved in the finish. 9 TAKE IT AS RED will enjoy the step up in trip to 1200m, her first two runs have been good, watch her late, she will be running on strongly. 5 PARALEGAL was only beaten just over two lengths on debut, she ran against winners in that race and caught the eye late, watch for big improvement from this well-bred filly.

(Brandon Bailey: 1 – 2 – 9 – 5)

Race 2

4 MISS WORLD has been in cracking form of late, she was heavily backed in the market last time when running second to Mai Sensation, the blinkers come off, on her best form, she will go very close to winning this tricky race. 5 BABELICIOUS quickened up smartly with the blinkers on to win a lovely race on the 28th of December, this will be a step up in class for her on Tuesday afternoon, but she is progressive and must be respected. 2 TRIP TO MAPUTO had absolutely no luck in running on the 18th of December, she had traffic problems throughout the race and then stayed on strongly to make up good ground late, watch her closely, she will be flying at the finish. 3 ARTISTE is much better than her recent start, she is very talented on her day, include her into all bets.

(Brandon Bailey: 4 – 5 – 2 – 3)

Race 3

5 ANOTHER DREAM was heavily supported in the market on the 18th of January when showing plenty speed early and then getting tired late behind shock winner Princessontherun, she needed that run quite badly and should improve significantly, include her into all bet types. 7 RAHHABBA has been in great form of late, she drops in trip for this Maiden Plate on Tuesday afternoon, she will be stalking the speed early and should be working into the race late, she must have a good each way chance here. 13 HOERIKWAGGO never got into the race when it mattered most last time, she was very disappointing, if she can bring her first run to the races and build on that performance, she will be hard to beat. 9 PLAYFUL JOULES ran a good race on the 18th of January behind Shesgotclass, on her best form she can sneak into the Quartet.

(Brandon Bailey: 5 – 7 – 13 – 9)

Race 4

11 MEG’S LEGACY comes back to the races from a small break of 62 days, her first run was super impressive behind Love Story and then she backed that up with a fair run behind Casa Estiva, she is well related this filly, she will be switched off early and then run on strongly late, watch her closely at a decent price. 5 FLYING FINLEY never runs a bad race, his form is solid and super consistent, Jockey Richard Fourie sticks with him, he will be right there again on his best form. 6 POETIC PRINCESS has been well tried in the maiden ranks, she was fairly beaten in her last start behind Shesgotclass, with some luck in running, she could earn some money for the connections. 4 HERITAGE RIDGE was well beaten in her last start, she is much better than that performance, include her into the play.

(Brandon Bailey: 11 – 5 – 6 – 4)

Race 5

8 LANDOFTHERISINGSUN gets the perfect opportunity to exit the maiden ranks, despite him carrying top weight in this Open Maiden, he brings in solid form and will be very hard to beat. 9 CRESCENT showed good improvement last time when running second behind My Archangel, he is still improving and should enjoy the step up in trip to 1600m, include him into all bets. 4 REAL STUNNER ran a much better race over 1600m in his last start behind Red Dawn, the form lines of that race have worked out well, from a good draw he will get the run of the race, watch him closely at a decent price. 5 ARIOVISTUS has changed stables and been gelded, he is a lovely looking individual that just needs time to mature, he could sneak into the places if he doesn’t need the run.

(Brandon Bailey: 8 – 9 – 4 – 5)

Race 6

7 PLEASE BE TRUE was desperately unlucky in his last start behind Legal Counsel, he was continuously baulked in running from the moment they turned for home, this is a smaller field, and he will love the step up in trip to 1600m, if the race works out for him, he will be extremely tough to beat. 6 KING’S QUEST ran a terrific race out of the maidens in his last start on the 25th of January, he looks very progressive and must be respected in a big way here. 3 TOUCHDOWN is much better than his last start when running just over four lengths behind the winner, he should enjoy the drop in trip, on his best form, he would have a good money chance. 1 BOOGIEFIED has been rested for a long time, if he doesn’t need the run badly, he could sneak into the places at a decent price.

(Brandon Bailey: 7 – 6 – 3 – 1)

Race 7

4 BOMBERS IN THE SKY quickened up really well to win a good race on the 18th of January, he is a lovely looking gelding that will get better and stronger with every race, this will be his first run out of the maidens, and he steps up in trip, off this rating, he will have a good winning chance again. 9 HELIOTROPE stayed on strongly from a long way back in her last start behind Aladdin’s Lamp, she stays well and she will keep grinding all the way to the line, watch her closely at a decent price. 5 PRIME VENTURE has been in good form of late, he needs a particular ride, if the race works out for him, he should be competitive. 8 FLY FUTURA has run two good races in succession, if he stays the 2200m trip, he will naturally have a good place chance.

(Brandon Bailey: 4 – 9 – 5 – 8)

Race 8

6 LA DIVINA is much better than her recent run behind Alltheboysiveloved, she unfortunately had one or two hard luck stories in the race, she can be a strong front runner on her day, if she manages to go off and lead the field, she will be hard to peg back late, include her into all bets. 5 SOHOT SOWHAT looks to be a smart filly in the making, her last two wins have been nothing short of impressive, the yard think highly of this filly, the step up in trip should be no problem at all for this individual, she will be the horse they all need to beat. 3 JOU LEKKER DING never runs a bad race, there should be no excuses for her from a good draw, she must have a good place chance again. 7 FROM A DISTANCE will need to improve quite a bit to win a race like this, but on her best form, she could easily sneak into the places and make the exotics pay.

(Brandon Bailey: 6 – 5 – 3 – 7)

Race 9

7 GRAVITY stayed on well in a driving finish to run third behind Electric Feels on the 1st of February, this looks to be a nice race for him to be very competitive again, if the race hasn’t come too soon for him, he should run a cracker for the connections. 1 WINTERONTHEGREEN has run two fair races in her last two starts up the straight at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, she looks like the type that will get better and stronger with every start, this doesn’t look to be a strong race on paper, she could easily show the improvement needed to win a race like this. 2 EASY MONEY always has a money chance at this level, if she can build on her recent performance behind King Viserys, she will be right there in the finish. 3 COUNTRY TIME continues to drop in the ratings, her recent form suggests that she is getting closer and closer to winning her next race, she could be the value in a wide-open race.

(Brandon Bailey: 7 – 1 – 2 – 3)

Today's Question

Which unfashionably bred filly cost just 500 Guineas as a yearling and went on to win the King George and earn a Timeform rating of 131.

The subject is pictured above. (Picture:)

FIELDS, Tuesday, 11 February

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth

Today’s Question Answer

Today’s Question Answer

Picture: Lester Piggott and Park Top storm to Coronation Cup success at Epsom in 1969

Park Top (May 1964 – 1989) was a top-class British racehorse. She had an unfashionable pedigree, cost only 500 guineas as a yearling and did not run as a two-year-old. Her Grand-dam Oola Hills was the dam of Pappa Fourway, but unlike him, Park Top was at her best over middle distances.

Her career tally was 13 races worth £136,440. She was disappointing as a broodmare and her few foals had shown minimal talent before she was retired in 1979. Park Top was bred by Joan Scott of Buttermilk Stud Farm, South Newington, Oxfordshire.

Click Here To Read About PARK TOP