Turf Talk Newsletter – 10 July, 2025

The Drakenstein Stud-bred What A Winter gelding Romilly impressed on debut and gave Gavin Lerena one of five wins at Turffontein Inside today and one of four wins for trainer Johan Janse van Vuuren. (JC Photos). 

Gavin Lerena had a record 42 wins in June 2015 when locked in a battle for the championship and that allowed him to race away from the opposition to secure his first title.

Ten years later he is attempting to pull away from the opposition late in the season again and a five-timer at Turffontein today (Thursday) has left Craig Zackey and Richard Fourie with a mountain to climb as Lerena is now nine wins clear of both of them.

Lerena’s five-timer took him to 251 wins for the season, while Richard Fourie rode a double today at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth to join Craig Zackey in second place, but his chances of closing the gap were scuppered when the meeting was abandoned after four races.

Zackey chose to ride at Turffontein on the day and had two seconds, but no winners.

His chance of a first title are fading.

Lerena will be hard to beat in his bid for a second championship.

However, Fourie always has the chance of multiple wins for the powerful East Cape yard of Alan Greeff, so it might still go down to the wire despite there being just 21 days of the season remaining.

Lerena’s first win today was aboard the Tyrone Zackey-trained Danon Platina filly Japanese Garden in the first race over 1200m. She enjoyed the step down in trip, but seemed to have a lot to do to catch the runaway leader, the well-backed Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained first-timer Saragossa Cat, but she stayed on resolutely and won by a comfortable 1,50 lengths in the end to convert 18/10 odds.

Lerena won the second easily on the Van Vuuren-trained first-timer Romilly (What A Winter), who was backed in to 2/1 but won the race like an odds-on shot, dominating from the off.

In the fifth race over 1600m Lerena’s mount, the Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Singleton Sam came in for a ton of support to start at 18/10 and after getting to the front from draw seven the two-year-old One World colt relaxed well and pulled clear to win by a convincing 3,50 lengths.

Lerena also won the sixth race over 1600m by 3,50 lengths on the Van Vuuren-trained 5/4 shot Merryweather (Gimmethegreenlight).

In the last race his mount Ensuing (William Longsword) ran on strongly from a handy position to win by 1,75 lengths, clinching a five-timer for himself and a four-timer for Johan Janse van Vuuren.

Fanie Bronkhorst scored a double at the eight race meeting.

Lerena’s 251 wins in the season have been achieved at a strike rate of 25.13%.

Fourie’s 242 wins have been at 25.21%.

Zackey’s 242 have been at 17.46%.

Janse van Vuuren is on 45 wins at 15.10%.

Fourie’s two wins at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth were both for Justin Snaith.

If the national trainers championship went on number of wins it would be equally thrilling as Snaith’s 161 wins is identical to the number of wins Alan Greeff has had.

However, Snaith is close to R16 million clear of second-placed Greeff in stakes and Sean Tarry is in third place narrowly behind Greeff.

Snaith’s strike rate is 14.68% and Greeff’s is 17.81%.

King Pelles looked a natual born stayer on Saturday when galloping resolutely down the straight to win the Gr 3 Durban Gold Vase easily and he possesses a fine turn of foot too. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

King Pelles looks the one to beat among the entries for the Gr 3 World Pool Gold Cup.

There have been unofficial staying “triple crown” winners recently with both Hermoso Mundo in 2017 and Future Pearl in 2023 winning all of the Gold Bowl over 3200 at Turffontein Standside, Gold Vase over 3000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville and Gold Cup over 3200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville in the same season, all of them Gr 3’s.

However, King Pelles could go one better than them as he will be going for a fourth Gr 3 staying race this season. He won the Glorious Goodwood Chairman’s Cup over 2500m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on L’Ormarins King’s Plate day, the Tote Derby over 2400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and the Durban Gold Vase over 3000m on Hollywoodbets Durban July day.

The 3000m event was his easiest win and what was so impressive about it was the turn of foot he showed coupled with a resolute finish. He went from midfield into the lead in a matter of strides at the top of the straight and never showed any sign of tiring as he galloped down the straight to a comfortable three length victory, despite carrying joint topweight of 60kg.

He looks capable of overcoming a six point raise and although he will be near the top of the weights, the Gold Cup favours the top weights with the bottom weight being 54kg and the weights being compressed.

Last year’s unlucky Gold Cup runner up, the Frank Robinson-trained Shoot The Rapids, had every chance in the Gold Vase but was beaten 4,85 lengths. However, he will be 2kg better off with King Pelles in the Gold Cup.

Shoot The Rapids’ stablemate Madison Valley was too far back in the Gold Cup last year, but ran on strongly. He was the Gold Vase winner last year and has improved this season and should be a big runner coming off a fine fifth place finish in the Hollywoodbets Durban July for which he did not incur a merit rating raise. The 115-rated four-year-old will carry 1kg less than the 118-rated King Pelles, who carries 59kg as things stand with the topweight being the 121-rated Purple Pitcher.

Holding Thumbs has been runner up to King Pelles in his last two runs and is 1kg better off for the three length beating in the Gold Vase.

Alan Greeff has been in devastating form away from home this season, meaning the East Cape have had unprecedented success in out of province features. He could do it again with Bournemouth, who has won his last three races over 2400m, 2700m and 2800m rspectively in easy fashion.

Former SA Derby winner Son Of Raj won well on the Highveld on Sunday, so looks to be in fine fettle, and he could be a contender despite having to carry 59,5kg off his 119 rating.

Future Swing is capable of better than his last two runs, but he was beaten 8,40 lengths and 6,65 lengths by King Pelles respectively, so that does not augur well as he will just be half-a-kilogram better off for the latter defeat.

Nebraas is a former Gold Cup winner, but was beaten 7,65 lengths by King Pelles in the Gold Vase and is only 1,5kg better off.

Th Equator seemed all at sea in the Gr 3 Magical Zulu Kingdom 2200 when finshing last despite being backed to favourite, but he is likely better than that and will appreciate the step up in trip.

Purple Pitcher’s only start over a staying trip was when winning the SA Derby and he kept on finding in that race, so is an interesting runner here.

My Soul Mate is a useful stayer and could be a contender, although the compressed handicap won’t favour her.

Field Marshall was beaten 3,60 lengths by King Pelles in the Tote Derby and will be 1kg better off. He is progressive and could be a runner.

Those are the ones who make most appeal.

The field is shown below:

Despite having a relatively few number of runners to his name, the Stonehill Stud resident sire Royal Mo continues to have success.

His chief flag bearer, the Justin Snaith-trained Royal Aussie, added a fourth place finish this year in the country’s premier weight for age mile, the Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate, to his third place finish in that race last year. Royal Aussie’s biggest win was of the R7,5 million Gold Rush and he also won the Gr 2 Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m last year, beating the champion and soon to to be sire Cousin Casey. Royal Aussie’s other stakes win was in the Listed Jet Master Stakes over 1600m and he also has four Gr 1 places to his name from 1200m up to 1600m, as well as a Gr 2 second over a mile, a Gr 3 second over a mile and a Gr 3 third over 1400m.

Royal Mo scored his second stakes winner recently when the Glen Kotzen-trained three-year-old filly Sweetie Darling won the Listed East Cape Breeders Stakes over 1200m at Faiview.

Tyrion Lannister was a Ryal Mo feature race winner as he won the Newlands Stakes over 1400m in courageous fashion at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in March last year.

Trainer James Crawford thinks a lot of Royal Mo’s three-year-old gelding Count Huhtikuu and said recently, “He is a horse I’ve thought a lot about for a long time. I entered him in the Gr 1 SA Derby early in his career and it probably just came a little too soon for him. I still think he’s going to be a nice horse, he is a full sister to Donna Mo, who I thought was going to win a couple of features for me this season, but she unfortunately had a bit of a problem. I think he’s better than her. He’s really on the up and is a big improver.”

Count Huhtikuu was under sufferance in the Gr 3 Magical Zulu Kingdom 2200 on Hollywoodbets Durban July day and finished just 2,95 lengths back, which saw his merit rating raised to 95.

Another promising Royal Mo three-year-old was the Lucky Houdalakis-trained Count Invicto, who won three out of his four starts and among the horses he defeated was subsequent Gr 1 winner Confederate. Count Invicto has not been seen since December, unfortunately.

Houdalakis also trains the ultra consistent Royal Mo warrior Bob’s Your Uncle. This five-year-old sprint-miler has won six races and has had six seconds and five thirds.

Among Royal Mo’s two-year-olds is the Mike Miller-trained Soldier Boy, who won on debut over 1200m and in his third start on Hollywoodbets Durban July day he finished a 2,50 length fifth in the Gr 2 Omoda Golden Horseshoe over 1400m.

Royal Mo also has the stakes-placed two-year-old filly, the Kelly Mitchley-trained Royal City Girl.

Royal Mo has remarkable success considering his lack of numbers.

The talented Royal Mo won twice from just six starts, and he scored his biggest win when landing the G3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes of 2017. In landing the Robert B. Lewis Stakes, Royal Mo had subsequent G2 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner Irap three and a half lengths adrift back in second.

His jockey on that occasion, Victor Espinoza, said of the Uncle Mo colt, ““He’s improving a lot.From the last few races to this race, he’s really coming along. He’s going in the right direction. Hopefully, we keep going all the way.”

Following his Robert B. Lewis victory, Royal Mo went on to finish a close up third, beaten just a length, in the G1 Santa Anita Derby, one of the principal trials for the G1 Kentucky Derby. Unfortunately, a career ending injury forced his retirement while Royal Mo was being aimed at the G1 Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the US Triple Crown.

Royal Mo is a son of champion racehorse and outstanding late sire Uncle Mo. The latter went unbeaten in three starts at two, winning the Gr 1 Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile by four and a quarter lengths, and the historic Gr 1 Champagne Stakes by a four and three quarter lengths.

North America’s Champion 2YO Colt of 2010, Uncle Mo won all three starts at two by an aggregate of 23 lengths, with the colt having scorched to a 14 length win at the first time of asking.

Despite suffering from various physical maladies, Uncle Mo still managed to win both the G2 Kelso Handicap and Timely Writer Stakes at three, when he was also runner up in the G1 Foxwoods King’s Bishop and third in the G1 Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial Stakes. He retired having won five of eight starts and earned more than $1.6 million in prize money.

Retired to stud at Ashford Stud in Kentucky, Uncle Mo had instant success at stud and was North America’s Leading First-Season Sire of 2015, and also topped North America’s Leading Sires of 2YOs premiership in 2015.

His stellar first crop produced a staggering 25 black type winners, headed by Kentucky Derby/Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Nyquist and fellow G1 winners Unbridled Mo, Outwork, and Gomo.

The versatile Uncle Mo, whose tally of black type winners was over 100, including 15 individual Gr 1 winners, headed by Belmont Stakes winner Mo Donegal, dual Breeders’ Cup winner Golden Pal, and FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic Stakes hero Arabian Knight.

The Ashford Stud resident has already become a highly successful sire of sires and an outstanding broodmare sire.

Royal Mo is the only so of Uncle Mo standing in South Africa and breeders should not be missing out on this good value sire.

Gimmethatpearl will attempt to equal a record for Drakenstein Stud by winning the Listed East Cape Paddock Stakes on Friday. (Picture: Chase Liebenberg). 

Drakenstein Stud have been locked on 20 stakes winners for the season for some time and opportunities to equal or break their own South African record of 21 stakes winners in a season are fast running out.

Justin Snaith raids Fairview on Friday and included in his runners is the Drakenstein Stud homebred Gimmethegreenlight filly Gimmethatpearl, who runs in the Listed East Cape Paddock Stakes over 1600m.

The Snaith team are well aware of Drakenstein’s record bid as they have mentioned it recently in winner’s eclosure interviews, so they will be determined to do it with Gimmethatpearl.

Gimmethatpearl will have a fine chance if repeating her penultimate start.

She came from backward of midfield with a strong finish in the Listed Ladies Mile to be beaten just 0,60 lengths at Hollywodbets Kenilworth by the consistent Time For Love.

A concern is that she played up in the stalls as the starter pressed the button in her last start, causing her to lose a length or two. However, she was not disgraced in that run over 1400m as she gave a decent looking winner called Russian Royal (Rafeef) 10kg and was only beaten 4,90 lengths.

She shoud be a big runner in the East Cape Paddock Stakes under Muzi Yeni.

If she does not win then the only stakes race available for Drakenstein before World Pool Gold Cup day will be the Listed Champion Juvenile Cup over 1400m at Fairview on July 25 and they could well win that because Justin Snaith has entered the exciting Drakenstein Stud-bred Vercingetorix colt Happy Verse, although on the downside he has draw 17 of the 18 entries.

On Gold Cup day Drakenstein have a number of entries including the Alan Greeff-trained Bournemouth and the Snaith-trained Future Swing in the Gr 3 Gold Cup, the Michael Roberts-trained See It Again in the Gr 1 HKJC Champions Cup, the Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Winds Of Change in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint, the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Chieftan, the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Symphony In White and the Snaith-trained Un Bel Di in the Listed Umgeni Handicap and the Mike Miller-trained Narina Trogon and the Sean Tarry-trained pair The Africa House and Don’t Cry For Me in the Listed Darley Arabian.

Cardinal Chief becomes leading first season sire Erik The Red’s 14th winner. (Candiese Lenferna Photography). 

Cape Breeders

Varsfontein Stud’s homebred stallion Erik The Red is set to be crowned South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire for 2024-2025.

The multiple graded stakes winner came up with his 14th first crop winner when his son Cardinal Chief won at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Wednesday.

Trained by Garth Puller, two-year-old Cardinal Chief was making just his second start on Wednesday, with the Erik The Red colt having finished third on debut.

Under Siphesihle Hlengwa, Cardinal Chief stormed home to get up and land the Online Form Guide www.gallop.co.za Maiden Plate (1200m) by a length.

Bred by Malachi Stud and Racing (Pty) Ltd, Cardinal Chief races for Mr and Mrs Steadman.

The colt, who is out of the Silvano mare Africa’s Delight, was a R110 000 buy from the 2024 August Two Year Old Sale.

Cardinal Chief is one of a growing number of winners for his sire Erik The Red, with the latter’s first crop including the stakes placed performers Polar Light, Vapour Trail and Reigning Alice.

Closely related to boom sire Master Of My Fate, Erik The Red has three sons entered for the G1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Premiers Champion Stakes.

Marksman Queen (GB) asserted herself early and led every step of the way to defeat Dreaming of Mo by a half-length in Saturday’s 12th running of the $219,665 Keertana Stakes (Listed) at Churchill Downs. (Picture: Churchill Downs).

Cape Breeders

The blue blooded Marksman Queen, a half-sister to Drakenstein Stud’s exciting young sire Sharp Frank, picked up her biggest win to date when she won Saturday’s G3 Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park.

Marksman Queen earned her first Graded Stakes victory much the same way she captured her Stakes debut in her previous start – by leading at every point of call and having enough left in the tank late to hold on for a head victory in the G3 Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes at Delaware Park on Saturday, 5 July.

A compact field of five fillies and mares went to the post in the 11-furlong turf contest, with Marksman Queen going off as the favorite. The daughter of Dubawi didn’t disappoint, always racing comfortably throughout, with plenty left in the tank to hold off the late challenge of Spanish Eyes to  win.

Trained by Graham Motion (who was winning the race for a tenth time), five-year-old Marksman Queen has won five wins from 18 starts with earnings of $382,424.

The progressive mare, who had won the Keertana Stakes prior to her Robert G. Dick win, is one of six winners, and four black type horses produced by her top-class dam Sharp Susan.

The latter, whose Frankel son Sharp Frank stands at Drakenstein, is also the dam of 2017-2018 South African Horse Of The Year Oh Susanna, whose daughter Little Suzie won the recent G2 Woolavington 2000.

Sharp Susan herself won six times including the G2 Lake Placid Stakes and the  G3 Herecomesthebride Stakes, and is a half-sister to G1 winners Spring At Last and Sharp Lisa.

Luna Halo could be the one to beat in the Listed East Cape Paddock Stakes. (Pauline Herman Photography).

Fairview Turf Friday Formguides And Selections

RACE 1

Open race. (6) RUBY CLAIRE is holding consistent form and rates a winning chance. (14) SALAGADOOLA is making progress and will get much closer with scope to improve. (1) AMERICAN EAGLE ran a cracker in the last start at big odds so include. (9) DUCHESS OF SEVILLE can get into the quartets. (Devonne Govender 6-14-1-9).

RACE 2

(10) WISHES AND DREAMS ran a top race in the last start and looks tough to beat. (7) MONEY GALORE is holding consistent form and will be there, she must be respected. (2) DARLINGBUDSOFMAY can get much closer with the experience under the belt. (8) TANZANITE comes from a yard who do extremely well with unraced runners, keep a close eye on the market. (Devonne Govender 10-7-2-8)

RACE 3

(12) WILD FIG was fancied in the last start and ran a cracking race, he should take some beating here. (3) HALF MOON ISLAND has made solid progress and if continuing to build on that will be a huge contender. (1) ACTION AMERICA is making steady progress and will be in the mix, include in all bets. (10) ROCK OF FUTURA ran well enough on debut and will get much closer. (Devonne Govender 12-3-1-10)

RACE 4

(7) LANCIAFIAMME has been very impressive and will have another huge chance here from a decent enough draw. (1) MASTER FORESTER ran a cracker in the last start and another huge run is expected. (9) HOLOCENE is another who is holding solid form and will make his presence felt so respect. (6) CHEEKY LADDIE is capable of much better so ignore the last run. (Devonne Govender 7-1-9-6)

RACE 5

(3) GOLDEN PEACE is holding solid form and rates a big winning chance here. His last win was extremely impressive and he is expected to go very close. (1) BINGWA is always there, he needed his last run and should be much fitter now hence he deserves the utmost respect. (2) FIREALLEY ran well in the last start and will be right there again. (7) GIMME MORE TIME won a gutsy race in the last start and can get involved once again however does meet some hard knockers here. (Devonne Govender 3-1-2-7)

RACE 6

(1) BOURNEMOUTH packs plenty of class and will undoubtably love this trip, although shouldering 62kgs and returning from a short break he will be a serious contender here. (2) ZATARA MAGIC loves to race handy and will be in the firing line if allowed to dictate here. (3) JUAN CARLOS is a very honest type and he has had a good prep into this so must go into all bets. (9) REPETITION represents Cape form which stands up well here so could get into the placings. (Devonne Govender 1-2-3-9)

RACE 7

(3) LUNA HALO ran a cracker in the last start and packs plenty of class, she will be a huge runner here. (2) SPLICETHEMAINBRACE is clearly better than her last start and that run is best ignored, she will be there. (1) TIME FOR LOVE brings decent Cape form into this, she has a top rider aboard and must be respected. (4) LADY SILVANO is a very honest type and can run into the placings. (Devonne Govender 3-2-1-4)

RACE 8

(5) ENCHANTING CHOICE won easily in her last start and those form-lines are good enough for her to be very competitive here. (6) CONCERTO ran cracker in the last start and will be the main danger to the top selection. (3) MONTELENA is holding form and caught the eye in the last start, big runner. (2) CATCH YOUR BREATH won a gutsy race in her last start and can get involved here. (Devonne Govender 5-6-3-2)

RACE 9

(1) CHILI BOMB is holding consistent form and rates a strong winning chance. (9) CAPTAIN TIK wasn’t far in the last start and can get much closer. (3) IGUGULETHU has been racing well and another decent run is expected, he does have a wide draw but can produce a big finish on his day. (10) FOUR JACKS wasn’t far in the last start and run into the quartets. (Devonne Govender 1-9-3-10)

What was the sigificance of the Cape Derby run on February 19, 1947?

The picture gives a clue to the answer.

King George VI and Queen Elzabeth and Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret were at the meeting and it was run for the biggest ever stake in South Africa at the time of £8,025. Mayor of Cape Town Abe Bloomberg was instrumental in organising the race meeting at Kenilworth to especially coincide with the Royal visit and it was the first and only race meeting the prime minister, General Jan Smuts, ever attended. The Derby saw an exacta for Syd Garrett with Menlo and Bengal, both bred by the Birch Brothers and both by their champion sire Asbestos II. The Highveld Champion Danny Boy was favourite but only managed third after a disrupted preparation. Syd Garrett and jockey Stanley Amos were presented to the King and Queen.