Turf Talk Newsletter – 10 November, 2025

Princess Of Gaul Rises In The Pecking Order

Princess Of Gaul showed true class in the Gr 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday and put herself in line for the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas, although jockey Craig Zackey believes she will be formidable over 1200m (Picture: Wayne Marks)

The Dean Kannemeyer-trained Princess Of Gaul’s win in the Gr 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday has set up a possible clash with Alan Greeff’s Gr 1-winning star Golden Palm in the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas, although it will not be a two horse race as there have been a few other fillies to have shown classic credentials and if jockey Craig Zackey’s advice is taken Princess Of Gaul might go down in trip to 1200m anyway rather than up in trip to a mile.

The Alan Greeff-trained Anotherdanceforme had arrived at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday unbeaten in six starts, including beating Quickstepgal by 1,40 lengths in the Gr 2 Splashout Golden Slipper over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Hollywoodbets July day.

Anotherdanceforme had hung across Quickstepgal that day and the latter’s trainer Tienie Prinsloo was not the only one in the country who was viewing the Western Cape Fillies Championship as chiefly being about Quickstepgal’s chance at revenge.

The pair dominated the early market.

However, Stormwatch, who had caught the eye finishing strongly in her previous start in the Gr 3 Schweppes Diana Stakes, came in for stong support and this saw her shortening to 5/1.

Anotherdanceforme and Quickstepgal drifted out to 13/10 and 6/1 respectively, which was a reflection of how strong the field was.

Meanwhile, Princess Of Gaul drifted out from 8/1 to 10/1, with some believing a line could be drawn through her previous start when cramped for room on the inside, while others believed the speed she had shown over sprints put a question mark on her suitability for races beyond sprints.

However, pedigree is often the best guide to stamina capacity and Princess Of Gaul is in fact closely related to Hawwaam, who won five Gr 1s including three over 2000m. Her sire Vercingetorix is a son of Hawwaam’s sire Silvano and her one time-winning dam Miss Marmalade is not only by stamina influence Duke Of Marmalade but is a half-sister to Hawwaam’s Equus Broodmare of the Year dam, Halfway To Heaven.

Princess Of Gaul jumped well from draw two and was able to slot in behind the pacemaker She’s My World, the winner of the Diana Stakes.

Quickstepgal was caught without cover one out and one back and did not settle perfectly prompting Gavin Lerena to rein her in. She sat a length behind Princess Of Gaul who was on her inside.

Anotherdanceforme looked nice and relaxed behind Quicktepgal and the writing seemed to be on the wall for her opposition.

However, in the straight Craig Zackey went for home down the inside as soon as Princess Of Gaul had come off the false rail and it was soon clear he had read it well.

Quickstepgal was staying on, but she was not making inroads and Anotherdanceforme was battling to overtake Quickstepgal.

In the end it was the 100/1 outsider, the Justin Snaith-trained Legislate filly Loweveld Lily, who got closest to Princess Of Gaul (1,50 lengths). She had sat two positions behind Princess Of Gaul on the rail in the running and was the only other horse to go down the inside.

Princess Of Gaul’s stablemate Keukenhoff (The United States) came from a similar position as Lowveld Lily, albeit on the outside, and was only a shorthead behind the latter in third.

Quickstepgal was a gallant fourth, just ahead of the widely drawn Wish List, who ran on.

Princess Of Gaul had never looked like losing after quickening into the lead, but the question mark is whether she will stay the WSB Fillies Guineas trip? Her pedigree, as already mentioned, suggests she will, but Craig Zackey believes 1400m is her maximum trip as he said she was packed with speed and had taken a strong hold in the Western Cape Fillies Championship.

Quickstepgal can’t be written off considering it didn’t pan out well for her.

Lowveld Lily, Keukenhof and Wish List will also have supporters considering they ran on well on Saturday over the 1400m trip.

Reet Pateet put her hand up on Monday when remaining unbeaten in three starts and winning her first attempt at a mile with ease.

Bred by Clive Murphy, Princess Of Gaul was a R600 000 National Yearling Sale purchase. She has only had four starts and yet two of her three wins have been at Gr 2 level. She has earned R628 282 in stakes for owner Fred Crabbia.

Supporting Feature Double For Snaith And Bluesky Thoroughbreds

Legal Counsel was an impressive start to finish winner of the Gr 3 Cape Mile and gave both Justin Snaith and Bluesky Thoroughbreds a feature double on the day (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Justin Snaith won two of the three supporting features at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday with Legal Counsel and Ahead Of The Facts respectively, while Bluesky Thoroughbreds also had a double as they bred both Legal Counsel and the other supporting feature winner on the day, Disting.

Legal Counsel is a rangy type who keeps on improving and he had a taking win in the Gr 3 Cape Mile as he led from start to finish under Callan Murray.

Considering he jumped from draw nine out of nine that was no mean feat.

He might be a useful participant in the Gr 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate.

It is difficult to see him winning it, but his presence could well ensure a good pace and he could make a bid from the front to steal it.

However, he has won over 1800m before and the Gr 2 Premier Trophy over 1800m on LKP day would be a more likely option and he will have plenty of supporters if he does run there.

Justin Snaith labelled the winner a horse ‘who does everything right and has stayed under the radar. He remains a summer season feature prospect.”

Bred by Blue Sky Thoroughbreds, Legal Counsel is by the 2013/14 SA Horse Of The Year Legislate (Dynasty) out of the Silvano mare Imperial Wish.

Legal Counsel is owned by Jonathan Bloch, Etienne Braun, Tony Cotterell and the Stonebridges and has won 5 of his 10 starts with 2 places for stakes of R897 127.

Underrated East Cape jockey Yuzae Ramzan was brought to Cape Town by Justin Snaith for the 2023 Listed Woolavington Stakes in order to ride Mucho Dinero, who had been set a weight of 50kg, and he duly won the race, which was run over 2400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville that year.

Snaith did not forget that and he brought in Ramzan for Saturday’s Woolavington to ride Ahead Of The Facts, who had also been set 50kg.

It was over 2500m this time and Ramzan rode a peach of a race, coming from second last to win going away by 2,50 lengths on the Syrilla Stud-bred Futura gelding.

The King Pelles staying form has often been franked lately and it was franked again in this race as Ahead Of The Facts had finished a 4,60 length third to King Pelles in the Gr 3 Durban Gold Vase over 3000m on Hollywoodbets Durban July day.

Ahead Of The Facts was a bargain R100 000 National Yearling Sale purchase, inspired by Jonathan Snaith, and has won 3 races with 5 places from his 12 starts for stakes of R386 275.

The Futura (Dynasty) gelding is out of Silvano mare Nicety and is owned by Zev Blieden, Ryan Copeland, Darren Smith, Jarrid Murcia, Dave Musikanth & Garth Musikanth.

The ride of the day was by Craig Zackey on the Glen Kotzen-trained Disting in the Listed Laissefaire Stakes over 1100m. The long-striding Global View filly was squeezed out at the start from draw six. At the 400m mark she was last with a whole field of horses in front of her in the 15-runner contest. Zackey managed to switch her to the outside without losing momentum. The four-year-old filly’s big stride then began eating up the ground and she won going way by 0,30 lengths.

She is owned by Viv Burgess.

A R140 000 graduate of the 2023 BSA KZN Yearling Sale, the previously stakes-placed Disting now has two wins from 15 starts, with 5 places, and she has valuable black type.

Her stakes earnings are now R330 813.

The Ultimate King Shakes Up Summer Cup Market

The Ultimate King books himself a berth in the Gr 1 R6 million Betway Summer Cup (JC Photos)

The Tony Peter-trained The Ultimate King’s victory in the Gr 3 Betway Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m at Turffontein Standside on Sunday under Rachel Venniker saw him shortening to 10/1 for the Betway Summer Cup.

The Ultimate King relished racing on the Standside track and produced a resolute finish from midfield to win by 1,10 lengths to give Vercingetorix a 63rd stakes win.

It will be interesting to see whether the fast-finishing runner up Field Marshal is supplemented for the Summer Cup.

This Frank Robinson-trained Lancaster Bomber gelding ran at level weights with the winner on Sunday, carrying 51kg, and was beaten only 1,10 lengths.

Navajo Nation, who came from a handy position, was beaten 2,85 lengths into third giving the first two 1kg each and he is a 25/1 short for the big race.

Meanwhile, the Glen Kotzen-trained On My Honour, who won at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday night, is now a 16/1 shot.

The Gareth van Zyl-trained King Pelles was an eyecatching runner up in that race and is 13/2 third favourite..

Royal Victory, who finished fourth in Friday’s race at Hollywoodbets Greyville is now a 20/1 shot.

See It Again was also intended to be a runner in that race, but failed to load for the second time in succession, so will have to arrive at the Summer Cup without a run this season if he is to take part. He has drifted out to 20/1 as well.

Tony Peter scored a feature double on Sunday and a four-timer in all.

Calvin Habib scored a Listed double on the Tony Peter-trained Erupt mare Kisshoten and the Candice Dawson-trained Whistle The Tune (Captain Of All) respectively. They respectively won the Listed Betway Summer Pudding Stakes over 1600m and the Listed Betway National Colour Stakes over 1000m respectively.

Frank Robinson was runner up to Peter in both the Victory Moon and the Summer Pudding and in the latter his Ideal World filly Mocha Blend was only 0,30 lengths behind joint topweight Kisshoten.

Mocha Blend is now a 25/1 shot for the Summer Cup with the sponsor.

Brett Crawford Lands A Gr 3 In Hong Kong

Brett Crawford has 39 raced horses in his yard and 37 of them are rated 72 and below. Yet he claimed a Gr 3 race on Sunday with ostensibly his only high class horse, the 101-rated Encountered (pictured above – HKJC), who has bounced back from a lean spell since joining the Crawford yard (Picture: HKJC)

By Leo Schlink (HKJC)
09/11/2025 19:22

Brett Crawford celebrated the most significant triumph of a burgeoning Hong Kong, China career when the South African combined with familiar ally Karis Teetan to land the HK$4.2 million G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m) with Encountered (115lb) at Sha Tin on Sunday (9 November).

Saddling only his 31st starter this season since arriving at Sha Tin after a decorated South African career, Crawford exulted in a stirring victory after Teetan drove Encountered – the 2023 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse victor – to a short-head margin over Happy Together (129lb) and Moments In Time (127lb) in 1m 47.35s in front of a 34,784 crowd.

“It’s stuff that you probably couldn’t script. I’m super excited – he’s (Encountered) actually very similar to a Group 1 horse Karis rode at home called Jackson, he’s very similar in stature and it brought back a lot of memories,” Crawford said.

“The guys at home have worked really hard on this horse and I can’t thank them enough. It’s a fairytale start for me – to win a Group 3 in Hong Kong within your first season is really amazing.

“I could see him making up the ground and I knew he had a good chance, but there was a horse (Happy Together) who got just ahead of us and I wasn’t sure if we were going to get him in time.

“It really came down to the wire – it was a great race. I’ve really got to give credit to Karis, he rode a really good race and put a lot of hard work into the preparation.”

Pitted against 11 LONGINES Hong Kong International Races nominees, Encountered reprised his best form to charge from eighth on the home turn, clocking 23.36s, to win his first race since the 2023 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse, while favourite Cap Ferrat was eased out of the race.

Crawford said possible plans to contest the HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) on 14 December would hinge on the six-year-old’s recovery.

“We’ll go one race at a time,” Crawford said. “I’m pretty sure he will feel this race tomorrow. He’s a horse who takes his racing quite hard. We’ll enjoy the moment and reassess everything tomorrow.”

Teetan said: “Myself and Brett, we go a long way back. He gave me a chance when I was still young and he taught me a lot – not just about being a jockey, but about being a human being and how to deal with life after you come out of your apprenticeship.

“He’s been a great part of my life and I’m glad that he’s here (in Hong Kong), and he’s continuously giving me support and winning this race for him just means a lot.

“I worked him (Encountered) through week and I thought it was the best I had felt him in a long time. The horse was happy, felt good – today, the last 50 (metres), I needed him and the horse responded well.”

Teetan rode several elite winners for Crawford in South Africa and today’s Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse success marked Teetan’s third victory in the race after wins on Horse Of Fortune (2016) and Ensued (2024).

Without a winner in 87 runners since 21 September, 13-time champion trainer John Size launched a familiar November charge with a treble through Sight Hermoso, Ka Ying Power and Szeryng to move to five winners for the campaign.

Following his usual pattern of making a measured start to the season before his runners hit top form in November, the Australian struck with Sight Hermoso (127lb) in the Class 4 Grace One Handicap (1000m) under Brenton Avdulla, Ka Ying Power (118lb) for Keith Yeung in the Class 5 Kate Tokyo Handicap (1400m) and Szeryng (132lb) under Zac Purton in the Class 4 Suisse Programme Handicap (1200m).

“Normally, as you’ve probably read 1000 times, we have slow starts to seasons but as long as we get going eventually, that’s the main thing,” Size said.

Circuit Grand Slam (119lb) made a stunning Hong Kong debut for Manfred Man and Britney Wong by sweeping from the rear of the field to easily win the Class 3 Canmake Tokyo Handicap (1200m), clocking 45.26s for the final 800m to earn a PP (Privately Purchased) Bonus of HK$1.5 million plus the winners’ purse of HK$1.04 million.

A full brother to dual Group 1 winner Blackbeard and Royal Ascot Group 2 victor Charles Darwin, the No Nay Never gelding won over 1200m at The Curragh in June, 2024 when he raced as Tunbridge Wells for Aidan O’Brien.

“Before I got on, I didn’t think there was much chance of winning because he was having his first start as a European but everything went to our favour, because the race really didn’t favour the lead, it didn’t favour the fence,” Wong said.

“It was good that we could just jump neutral and we didn’t have to be up the front, we didn’t have to urge him during the race and I just had to keep him balanced and help him travel and he was still very green and I think he will improve from that.

“Certainly, he showed his ability today and so hopefully he can forward and upwards.”

Dennis Yip slotted a double with Super Love (128lb) under Hugh Bowman in the Class 4 Elizabeth Arden Handicap (1400m) and Thriving Brothers (115lb) for Matthew Chadwick in the Class 3 Neogence Handicap (1400m) before David Eustace’s Light Years Charm (130lb) provided Purton with a double with a brave display in the Class 2 Santa Monica Handicap (1400m).

Matthew Poon (118lb) celebrated his 32nd birthday in style when David Hall’s Mr Good Vibes held on tenaciously to land the Class 5 L’Oreal Paris Handicap (1600m) before James Orman drove Me Tsui’s The Auspicious (130lb) to a head victory over Audacious Spirit (126lb) in the Class 4 La Estephe Handicap (1600m).

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday (12 November).

Vanakkam Can Greet The Judge

Vanakkam has been tipped to win Race 7 (JC Photos)

Vaal Tuesday Formguides And Selections

RACE 1

7 REECE’S WISH 2 TOP SHELF TEDDY 6 RED SECRET 8 SHADOWLINE

Preview: 7 REECE’S WISH made a fine debut and can do well here from pole position over a step up in trip which should suit. 2 TOP SHELF TEDDY did well in her second two starts and with a step up in trip can improve again over a further step up in trip. 6 RED SECRET has disappointed since making a good debut but could possibly bounce back for an in-form yard. 8 SHADOWLINE Was not disgraced on debut and could improve over the step up in trip. (7-2-6-8)

RACE 2

2 COCOMELON 5 AVOONTOAST 3 ACCEPT COOKIES 1 DOITWITHDIAMONDS

Preview: 2 COCOMELON is better than her last couple of starts, and if bouncing back will be a big runner. 5 AVOONTOAST should be dropped out from a. wide draw and in a small field could make a bold bid to mow them down. 3 ACCEPT COOKIES is a decent sort and should be in the shake up. 1 DOITWITHDIAMONDS needed her last start and if able to recapture her form will be a big threat. (2-5-3-1)

RACE 3

1 REAL STUNNER 9 ROYAL ENGAGEMENT 5 SPACE MISSION 4 WAR SUMMIT

review: 1 REAL STUNNER stayed on well from a wide draw last time and from a better draw should go close. 9 ROYAL ENGAGEMENT made a good debut and from pole position should be a big runner. 6 SPACE MISSION has shown enough to be able to earn in this field. 4 WAR SUMMIT disappointed last time and will appreciate the step back down in trip. (1-9-5-4)

RACE 4

4 SIGRID SWING 1 BOOM BOOM 6 OPEN SESAME 8 LADY BLUNT

Preview: 4 SIGRID SWING is in fine hard knocking form and over a suitable trip with Gavin Lerena up should be in the shake up, although she does have a tricky draw. 1 BOOM BOOM has found consistency and should be right there again. 6 OPEN SESAME won well second time out but does now return from a layoff. 8 LADY BLUNT won a good race last time and the form has been franked. (4-1-6-8)

RACE 5

3 BELLEROPHON 2 ARTIC SILVER 4 REDLIGHTGREENLIGHT 1 FUTUREWOLFF

Preview: 3 BELLEROPHON is appointed last time, but can do better and from a good draw has Gavin Lerena up. 2 ARTIC SILVER won well last time and off a four point higher mark from a plum draw she could go close again. 4 REDLIGHTGREENLIGHT has useful form and should be thereabouts. 1 FUTUREWOLFF has ability and is always capable of popping up. (3-2-4-1)

RACE 6

2 UNITED OFFER 4 FIRE IN HER SOUL 5 FISH HAWK 7 GIMMEFORSURE

Preview: 2 UNITED OFFER Has run two good races and will relish the step up in trip. 4 FIRE IN HER SOUL When Whirlwind stepped up to this trip and the form has been franked. 5 FISH HAWK When will second time out and looks to have plenty of ability so should be in the shake up. 7 GIMMEFORSURE Has ran three fair races and is still capable of improvement. (2-4-5-7)

RACE 7

8 VANAKKAM 2 BANYAN 3 TRAJANUS 6 SPIRITRIX

Preview: 8 VANAKKAM Is in fine form and should go close.2 BANYAN disappointed last time, but back over 1000m should be a contender. 3 TRAJANUS won easily last time and it would be no surprise to see him follow up. 6 SPIRITRIX has fair form, but does return from a layoff. (8-2-3-6)

RACE 8

8 ECHO CHECK 2 GIMMETHEGOODLIFE 3 SILVER TUDOR 6 RICHARD THE FIRST

Preview: 8 ECHO CHECK is highly regarded and finished close to a Gr 2 winner last time. 2 GIMMETHEGOODLIFE can do well if ridden more conservatively than last time. 3 SILVER TUDOR has a strong finish and can never be written off. 6 RICHARD THE FIRST is an interestig runne dropping back to this trip. (8-2-3-6)

James Crawford And Candice Bass Score Trebles

The James Crawford-trained Rafeef filly Reet Pateet put her hand up as a Gr 1 WSB Fillies Guineas candidate when easily winner her first attempt at a mile at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Monday under Richard Fourie to make it three wins from three career starts (Picture: Wayne Marks)

James Crawford and Candice Bass both had trebles at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Monday, whilst all of Aldo Domeyer, Richard Fourie, JP van der Merwe and Justin Snaith had doubles

James Crawford is now on 26 wins for the season achieved at a strike rate of 14.21%.

Candice Bass is on 19 wins at 10.56%.

Justin Snaith is on 43 wins at 14.68%.

Richard Fourie is now three wins behind Craig Zackey on the national jockeys log.

His 69 wins have come at 25.94%.

JP van der Merwe is on 22 wins at 17.19%.

Aldo Domeyer is on seven wins at 13.46%.

Tattersalls December Mares Sale Enjoys 5 Winners at Big Flemington Day

Via Sistina winning the Gr.1 Champions Stakes

Tattersalls December Mares Sale Enjoys Remarkable Five Winners at Flemington’s Champions Stakes Day

Champions Stakes Day at Flemington on Saturday produced a remarkable set of results for the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, with the winners of all five Group races, including the three Group 1s, either bought at the sale or out of mares bought at Europe’s premier breeding stock sale.

Leading the way was the outstanding VIA SISTINA who took her earnings beyond $17,000,000 when taking out the Group 1 Champions Stakes easily, her twelfth victory at the highest level, eleven of them coming following her purchase at the Tattersalls December Mare Sale in 2023 for 2,700,000 guineas. Owned by Yulong Investments, VIA SISTINA is out of the FASTNET ROCK mare NIGH who was purchased at the 2019 December Mares Sale by Meah Lloyd Bloodstock for just 36,000 guineas before being resold at the same renewal of the sale as her daughter for 200,000 guineas.

A race earlier CEOLWULF won his fourth Group 1 race when winning the Champions Mile for trainer Joseph Pride and taking his prizemoney to just short of $9,000,000. The son of TAVISTOCK was bred by Cambridge Stud who purchased his dam LAS BRISAS for 50,000 guineas at the 2018 Tattersalls December Mares Sale.

Ceolwulf battling to victory in the Gr.1

The Group 1 Champions Sprint was taken out by GIGA KICK, the winner of the ‘Everest’ in 2022 and recording his third victory at the highest level, with earnings above $13,500,000. Raced by Jonathan Munz’s Pinecliff Racing, having been bred by his GSA Bloodstock, GIGA KICK is out of REKINDLED APPLAUSE who was sourced at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale for just 57,000 guineas by Hugo Merry Bloodstock.

Further success for the December Mares Sale at Flemington came via the win of SUNSET PARK in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes for trainer Brad Widdup. The daughter of SEA THE STARS was winning her fourth race in Australia, and her first in Group company, having been purchased by agent Ross Doyle on behalf of Adrian and Darcy Whittingham for just 60,000 guineas from the ever-popular Godolphin draft.

The fifth and final Group winner for the day at Flemington on Saturday with roots in the December Mares Sale was the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner WHISKY ON THE HILL whose dam NINJA LADY went through the ring at Tattersalls in 2013 where she was purchased for 60,000 guineas by Federico Barberini from the renowned nursery of Meon Valley Stud.

There are 885 lots catalogued for the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, which runs from Monday 1st December to Wednesday 3rd December headlined by the fourth renewal of the acclaimed Sceptre Sessions on Monday 1st December and Tuesday 2nd December. The catalogue features four Group 1 winning fillies in what looks an outstanding renewal of the sale. Catalogues are online now at www.tattersalls.com and are available from Tattersalls and Tattersalls representatives now.

Contact Jo Knowles 083 399 6353 if you’d like a catalogue for the 2025 December Mare Sale