Turf Talk Newsletter – 11 July 2022

Jet Dark, Kommetdieding To Renew Rivalry In Champions Cup

Jet Dark slammed Kommetdieding by 2,25 lengths in the weight for age (wfa) L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate over 1600m before losing to him by 0,75 lengths in the wfa WSB Met over 2000m and then beating him by 1,10 lengths in the Hollywoodbets Durban July over 2200m at level weights. They are now both entries in the wfa Champions Cup over 1800m on July 30 at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Jet Dark won this race last year running fresh, but this year comes in off a July campaign and might not come into the race as fresh as Kommetdieding.

The latter was given a break and then freshened up for the July after two disappointing runs on the Highveld in April.

Jet Dark, on the other hand, ran in the IOS Drill Hall Stakes in May and the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge as a springboard into the July.

He was given a hard ride in the July to get up for second and was in fact struck five times more than the whipping rule limit of 12.

Jet Dark came from behind Kommetdieding off the slowish pace in the July, which augurs well for him over this shorter trip.

However, he did enjoy a better passage, having had cover all the way, whilst Kommetdieding was caught wide in stages.

Kommetdieding has now drawn well in four.

Jet Dark is drawn eight and will have another tough task of overtaking the field in the short Greyville straight from his normal far back position.

He is still the horse to beat though considering his class and distance suitability.

However, it is a race which can throw upsets and fresh horses often do well here.

Two Grade 1-winning entries who will be running fresh are MK’s Pride and Russian Rock.

MK’s Pride has enjoyed little luck with draws this season and gets another tough one. However, he did not use up too much energy in the Gold Challenge when coming around to get into the box seat, yet both Linebacker and Jet Dark swept past him late.

Russian Rock is drawn in pole and if things go his way he will be a big runner. He was caught wide in a handy position in the Gold Challenge, so did well to stay on to be beaten just 1,95 lengths. He should get cover this time, with front-runner Crown Towers drawn three and handy sort Astrix drawn two, and his relative freshness will be in his favour in the straight.

Linebacker is among the entries and is drawn eleven out of 13.

He was the most disappointing runner in the July, beaten over 14 lengths. However, the slowish pace did no favours to those swinging wide into the straight from midfield or beyond and he was then hampered by Pomp And Power, who was angling out for a run.

He has just 0,95 lengths to make up on Kommetdieding from the Met and a neck to find on Jet Dark.

Astrix has a plum draw and is the dark horse as he is ultra tough and progressive, so one can easily imagine him in contention late in the race and fighting all the way to the line.

Al Muthana won the Gold Challenge in fine style and stayed on from way back in the July, so this trip will suit him.

Marina ran on well for a two length second over a too sharp 1600m in the Brentford F.C Garden Province Stakes and will have a point to prove having been left out of the July. If she lines up she will be attempting to emulate her full-brother Marinaresco by winning this race from a wide draw.

Waterberry Lane ran on well in the Daily News 2000 and this trip will likely be right down his alley, but he has had a busy campaign.

His stablemate Mount Anderson is in fine form although wfa class might be a touch beyond him.

Handy tactics did not work for Puerto Manzano in the July and given a chance from a good draw he might be able to run on into the money.

Firealley looks a bit outgunned here, although he is perfectly distance suited.

The entries:

R1 000 000 1800m (Turf)
CHAMPIONS CUP (Grade 1)

9	Al Muthana (AUS)	Mike de Kock	125
2	Astrix	Paul Peter	122
3	Crown Towers (AUS)	Justin Snaith	115
12	FireAlley	Candice Bass-Robinson	112
8	Jet Dark	Justin Snaith	130
4	Kommetdieding	HWJ Crawford/M Rix	128
11	Linebacker	Vaughan Marshall	125
13	Marina	Candice Bass-Robinson	117
10	Mk’s Pride	Paul Peter	122
7	Mount Anderson	Dean Kannemeyer	110
5	Puerto Manzano (ARG)	J A Janse van Vuuren	120
1	Russian Rock	Dean Kannemeyer	120
6	Waterberry Lane	Dean Kannemeyer	117

Picture: Kommetdieding, Jet Dark and Linebacker fighting out the Met finish. All three are entered in the Champions Cup (Wayne Marks).

Nebraas/Aragosta Entered In Gold Cup – One Way Traffic Scratched

Nebraas receiving the Equus Stayer’s award last season received criticism from some quarters because the Grade 1 SA Derby and WSB Triple Crown winner Malmoos thus went empty-handed.

This year there fortunately should not have to be that annual Gold Cup/Derby debate because WSB SA Derby winner Aragosta lines up.

Furthermore, Nebraas can prove a point because if is able to carry topweight to victory over a field that includes the SA Derby winner there can be no doubting he deserved his award last year.

He has proved himself a classy stayer who can carry big weights and he stays every inch of a two mile trip.

The five-year-old Vercingetorix gelding is merit rated 118, the same rating which three-year-old Aragosta has.

The weight for age allowance for a three-year-old over 3200m at this time of the year is 3.5kg.

Aragosta was a touch unlucky in the Hollywoodbets Durban July as he was unable to find a clear run in the straight.

He is an exciting entry in this race and will attempt to add to the credentials of his sire Rafeef.

One Way Traffic was also an exciting entry and was priced up joint favourite with Nebraas in the opening market. However, he was scratched later this afternoon.

The entries:

R750 000 3200m (Turf)
GOLD CUP (Grade 3)

12	Aragosta	Mike de Kock	118
9	Black Thorn	Sean Tarry	100
4	Chewbaca	Andre Nel	96
13	Chollima	Glen Kotzen	102
10	Crimson King	Glen Kotzen	108
17	Decorated	Frank Robinson	100
8	Electric Surge	Robbie Hill	72
18	Flying First Class	David Nieuwenhuizen	78
2	Follow The Star	Glen Kotzen	93
15	Imperial Ruby	Corne Spies	104
16	Lamborghreeni	Paul Peter	74
5	Monashada	Kumaran Naidoo	100
7	Nebraas	Sean Tarry	118
22	One Way Traffic	SCRATCHED	111
20	Out Of Your League	Fabian Habib	102
3	PayBackTheMoney	Nathan Kotzen	90
24	Rex Union	Dean Kannemeyer	86
21	Salvator Mundi	Justin Snaith	100
19	Shangani	Paul Peter	116
14	Shango	Sean Tarry	111
23	Silver Maria	Dean Kannemeyer	95
1	Smoking Hot	Candice Dawson	100
11	Space News	Carl Hewitson	64
6	Spring Fling	Glen Kotzen	96
(24)

Picture: Nebraas will be out to retain his Gold Cup crown (Candiese Lenferna)

Alesian Chief Draws Well In The Mercury Sprint, Captain’s Ransom Entered

Trainer Corrie Lensley said the Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint winner would not make the journey down if he was “drawn anything outside of six or seven” and he has drawn seven out of 33 in a race which will cut up considerably.

The most interesting entry is Captain’s Ransom, who had nothing go right for her in the Brentford F.C. Garden Province Stakes, having won the Grade 1 SA Fillies Sprint brought to you by The Witness before that. She has drawn well in four, so Justin Snaith will be tempted to run her.

All the big gun sprinters from around the country are entered with the notable exception of Rio Querari.

The other two joint highest rated sprinters in the land, the 125-rated Grade 1-winning pair Bohica and Master Archie, are both among the entries.

Big Burn (122) is also entered and is well drawn in three.

Last year’s winner Pearl Of Asia (112) has landed pole position.

The entries:

R1 000 000 1200m (Turf)
MERCURY SPRINT (Grade 1)

24	African Rain	Candice Bass-Robinson	119
28	After The Rain	Gareth van Zyl	98
7	Alesian Chief	Corrie Lensley	123
29	Ambiorix	Vaughan Marshall	102
25	Anna Capri	David Nieuwenhuizen	109
19	Battle Force	Peter Muscutt	118
3	Big Burn	Paul Peter	122
26	Bohica	M G Azzie/A A Azzie	125
15	Captain Fontane	Garth Puller	105
4	Captain’s Ransom	Justin Snaith	124
8	Chimichuri Run	Sean Tarry	115
21	Cosmic Highway	Dean Kannemeyer	116
11	Eden Roc	Sean Tarry	110
23	Full Velocity	Sean Tarry	113
30	Gallic Princess	Candice Dawson	115
9	Good Traveller	Glen Kotzen	118
18	Homely Girl	J A Janse van Vuuren	108
31	Kayla’s Champ	Fanie Bronkhorst	103
12	Master Archie	Paul Peter	125
10	Mount Pleasant (AUS)	Duncan Howells	104
1	Pearl Of Asia	Robbie Hill	112
13	Petra	Robbie Hill	88
22	Pray For Rain	Dennis Drier	107
27	Prince Of Fire	J A Janse van Vuuren	114
33	Safe Return	Vaughan Marshall	105
5	Smorgasbord	Paul Peter	118
17	Supreme Quest	Corne Spies	108
6	Tempting Fate	Dennis Drier	108
20	Ultra Magnus	Peter Muscutt	112
2	Val d’Orcia	Paul Peter	111
16	William Robertson	Corne Spies	117
32	Winter Stories	Paul Peter	114
14	Zarina	Candice Bass-Robinson	111
(33)

Picture: Alesian Chief (Candiese Lenferna).

Paul Peter Looks Home And Hosed

Justin Snaith has the ante-post favourite in both of the R1 million events on Marshalls World Of Sports Gold Cup day.

In the Grade 1 Champions Cup he has Jet Dark and in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint he has Captain’s Ransom.

However, the winning cheques for those two races only add up to R1,250,000.

He is R2,752,288 behind Paul Peter in the race for the national trainers championship at the time of writing.

Snaith does also have runners in other features, but the combined winning cheques of those races are not going to add up to the R1.5 million he will need to add to the R1,25 million.

Therefore, it is safe to state Peter cannot be caught.

Peter needs just two more wins to reach 216 for the season, which will surpass the record of 215 set by Sean Tarry in the 2016/2017 season.

Picture: Paul Peter with leading owner Mary Slack (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)

Kotzen’s Pair Cousin Casey And Ameena Both Draw Wide

Glen Kotzen’s Grade 2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper winner Ameena (Quasillo) has drawn 29 out of 29 in the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes and his Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe winner Cousin Casey (Vercingetorix) has not fared much better in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes, drawing 34 out of 36.

Not only that but Grinkov and Countdown have drawn 30 and 32 respectively in the Champion Stakes.

However, there is some family cheer, because his Drakenstein homebred Hold My Hand has drawn three in the Thekwini, while his brother Nathan’s Golden Horseshoe runner up Royal Victory has drawn three in the Champion Stakes.

The one-two in the BSA Sales Cup for colts and geldings, Mover And Shaker and Now I Got You, are both in the Champion Stakes and drawn 19 and 13 respectively.

The winner of the BSA Sales Cup for fillies, Feather Boa, is entered in the Thekwini but has drawn wide in 28.

The runner up in that race, Canadian Summer, has drawn two and will attempt to give the Ivan and Darryl Moore yard their first Grade 1 winner since Fighting Warrior won the Golden Horseshoe on July day in 2011.

River Queraress is an interesting entry in the Thekwini. She finished third in the Grade 1 Allan Robertson Championship, but is bred to go this trip. She has drawn quite well in 13 depending on how it cuts up.

Golden Slipper runner up Woodland Retreat has drawn wide.

Impressive Highveld fillies Gobsmacked, None Other and Lady Of Power are other notable entries.

Another interesting Thekwini entry is today’s debut winner Shantastic (Rafeef), a stablemate and half-sister to the Dean Kannemeyer-trained stalwart Waterberry Lane.

Itsrainingwilliam and Mercantour are among the notable entries in the Champion Stakes.

Maharanee, who undid her impressive unbeaten record by pulling in the Golden Slipper, is entered in both the Thekwini and Champion Stakes as is her stablemate River Queraress.

Entries:

R500 000 1600m (Turf)
PREMIERS CHAMPION STAKES (Grade 1)

35	Acorn	Roy Magner	0
29	Billy Bowlegs	Alec Laird	0
34	Captain Casey	Tony Rivalland	0
32	Countdown	Glen Kotzen	0
20	Cousin Casey	Glen Kotzen	0
23	Drop Of Time	J A Janse van Vuuren	0
10	Electric Gold	Paul Peter	0
17	Eyjafjallajokull	David Nieuwenhuizen	0
14	Gladatorian	Dennis Drier	0
28	Golden Prospect	Sean Tarry	0
30	Grinkov	Glen Kotzen	0
24	In With A Chance	Dennis Drier	0
15	Itsrainingwilliam	Justin Snaith	0
9	Laguna Verde	Lucky Houdalakis	0
33	Lovers Lane	J A Janse van Vuuren	0
18	Maharanee	Paul Peter	0
36	Mercantour	Stuart Pettigrew	0
31	Meridius	Ashley Fortune	0
1	Miss Daisy	Billy Ruiters	0
19	Mover And Shaker	Fabian Habib	0
13	Now I Got You	Corrie Lensley	0
22	Port Louis	Brett Crawford	0
27	Promettere	Dean Kannemeyer	0
7	Prophet	Corne Spies	0
2	Quantum Theory	Robbie Sage	0
4	Raffles	Roy Magner	0
5	Ready To Fly	Mike de Kock	0
8	Ridgerunner	J A Janse van Vuuren	0
6	River Queraress	Paul Peter	0
3	Royal Victory	Nathan Kotzen	0
21	Stepping Out	David Nieuwenhuizen	0
11	Superior Force	Michael Miller	0
12	Swing Upon A Star	Paul Peter	0
26	Thambi	M G Azzie/A A Azzie	0
16	Wiccan Warrior	Gareth van Zyl	0
25	Without Equal	Sean Tarry	0
(36)

R500 000 1600m (Turf)
THEKWINI STAKES (Grade 1)

29	Ameena	Glen Kotzen	0
20	Antigua Night	Sean Tarry	0
6	Bless My Stars	Paul Peter	0
5	Butterfly Beauty	Justin Snaith	0
2	Canadian Summer	Darryl Moore	0
14	Eau De Vie	Carl Hewitson	0
28	Feather Boa	Stuart Pettigrew	0
24	Girl Of Tregunter	Peter Muscutt	0
1	Gobsmacked	J A Janse van Vuuren	0
18	Golden Hostess	Candice Bass-Robinson	0
3	Hold My Hand	Glen Kotzen	0
16	I Am Regal	Paul Peter	0
19	Ipso Facto	Ashley Fortune	0
27	Kill Shot	Fanie Bronkhorst	0
23	Lady Of Power	Joe Soma	0
8	Littlemarysunshine	Mike de Kock	0
17	Maharanee	Paul Peter	0
10	Miss Cool	Paul Peter	0
7	Miss Daisy	Billy Ruiters	0
9	None Other	Lucky Houdalakis	0
25	Only Hearts	Michael Miller	0
15	Orarari Gold	Corrie Lensley	0
12	Princess Ozma	Wendy Whitehead	0
22	Ready To Fly	Mike de Kock	0
13	River Queraress	Paul Peter	0
21	Rock The Fox	Sean Tarry	0
11	Shantastic	Dean Kannemeyer	0
4	Time Fo Orchids	Sean Tarry	0
26	Woodland Retreat	Michael Miller	0
(29)

Picture: Cousin Casey (Candiese Lenferna)

CTS Launched New Website Today

Cape Thoroughbred Sales (CTS) has redesigned their website and it was launched today on Monday, 11 July 2022.

CTS’s site administrator Cheryl Cawcutt commented before the launch: “We will be launching with a fresh new look and improved functionality features for site users, including online entry forms in addition to the downloadable versions.”

Grant Knowles, MD of CTS, said: “The new site is in line with the latest trends in website functionality, and a part of our commitment to delivering the best possible experience to our clients.”

Top Quality Among 11 In CTS Horses In Training Sale (Turffontein 16 July)

Click Below To View The 11 Lot Catalogue

CTS 2022_Horses In Training Sale

Captain Lannister, the consistent and lightly raced classic performer, is one of nine lots to be sold at a Horses In Training Sale after the race meeting at Turffontein on Saturday, 16 July, which will be conducted under the auspices of Cape Thoroughbred Sales (CTS).

Lot 4, Captain Lannister, is a son of Captain Of All from Ashley Fortune’s yard, who showed his talent early with a fourth in the 2021 G1 Gold Medallion over 1200m, won from 1000m – 1450m, and then proved his scope and versatility with an excellent and close–up third to Red Saxon and Safe Passage in the G1 SA Classic over 1800m.

Also from Fortune Racing is Lot 1, Winter Smoke, a fast and classy, multiple–Graded winner by What A Winter, with bold black type and a good female line, and has good paddock value.

While two-year-old Gimme The Flame (Lot 2) has not won a race in six starts, she has good form to show against high class sorts Prophet and Time Fo Orchids (both G2 placed on July Day), and her first taste of success is not far off. As a daughter of Gimmethegreenlight out of a Captain Al mare, she already has future broodmare potential.

Lot 3 is Galla Vanting, the smart unbeaten daughter of Querari, and winner of the G3 Pretty Polly Stakes; all class, and set for a top career.

Lot 5 is Rosy Lemon, an unraced filly by Ideal World from a mare by Strike Smartly, bred for ground from the family of Meranti, and related to eight-time winner Amazing Strike.

Lot 6, Lidl Miss Sunshine, is a beautifully bred daughter of Silvano and a mare by Fastnet Rock. She has shown ability with an early 1400m win from just six starts, and promises more.

Lot 7, Funky Music (Capetown Noir), has won three races, with 14 places to his credit. His most recent win came at the Vaal late in May. He has not raced since, but is a perennial bread-and-butter handicapper, with more in his tank at four years of age.

Lot 8, Edward Longshanks is a perfect fun horse, with a win and six places from 15 starts, a consistent low handicap form, and who will win more races. He is by William Longsword out of a mare by leading broodmare sire, Var.

Lot 9 is the five-year-old mare Before The Dawn, whose record shows 7 wins and, still, an apparent zest for racing. She is a quality sprinter by Oratorio out of a mare by Var, with a good stud value, and she may well win again before she departs to a broodmare barn.

CTS MD Grant Knowles said: “This is a small sale of horses in training in which quality and much promise is reflected in the race records and pedigrees. With two weeks to go, we will keep the entries open, as this sale will attract a good share of buyers.”

Picture: The unbeaten Grade 3 Pretty Polly Stakes winner Galla Vanting (Querari) (JC Photos).

Entry Form For CTS Ready To Run
& Unbroken Two Year Old Sale 2022

29 October 2022

Entry Form Closing Date 30 July 2022

CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM: CTS RTR SALE 2022.pdf

The CTS RTR SALE 2022 will be held at Kenilworth Racecourse.

Please complete the above form IN FULL and return to: entries@cthbs.com

Contact And EFT Details are listed on the Entry form.

Daniel Muscutt Scores First Group Win

Skysport.com

Just five days after his wedding, jockey Danny Muscutt (son of Summerveld trainer Peter Muscutt) enjoyed another landmark date when registering his first ever Group win in the Bahrain Trophy last Thursday at Newmarket.

Many racegoers missed the first race of the July festival due to heavy traffic problems but those of the 10,500 crowd who made it in time for the second were treated to a grandstand finish in which Muscutt’s mount Deauville Legend prevailed.

The Group 3 victory was a first of the season at that level for winning trainer James Ferguson, who was gaining some compensation for seeing the son of Sea The Stars finish a close second in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot last month.

Off a strong pace set by Al Qareem, Deauville Legend sat third before striking for home in the Dip and doing just enough to deny the rallying front-runner and Walk Of Stars close home.

Muscutt said: “It’s been a remarkable couple of days, first getting married and now registering my first Group winner, and I’m delighted it’s for James as he’s been a big supporter of mine over the past couple of years.”

As he is a gelding, Deauville Legend cannot follow the usual path from the July course to Doncaster for the St Leger, but is entered for the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes at York next month for which he was cut to 10-1 (from 14-1) by Paddy Power.

Picture: Deauville Legend ridden by Daniel Muscutt (left) (Skysports.com)

Kennedy Ok, Will Be Back On Thursday

Warren Kennedy was dislodged at the start of the second race on Saturday at Turffontein after his mount Barmaid jumped awkwardly outwards making contact with the left front gate.

Kennedy was stood down with a sprained neck and did not ride yesterday and was booked off today.

However, he revealed he was fine and was not riding only as a precautionary measure for possible concussion issues.

He will be riding again on Thursday at Turffontein.

His goal through the second half of the season had been to reach 300 winners, but that is now out of reach.

He is on 255 winners and said he would continue travelling until the end of the season with the aim of reaching as high a number as possible.

Kennedy is keeping his options open for a possible overseas position and has had interest from Australian and New Zealand parties.

However, he said there had not been a word from Hong Kong, which would be the number one prize.

This does not make sense considering his expertise on the tight Hollywoodbets Greyville track, his home course and similar in layout to both Sha Tin and Happy Valley racecourses.

However, Hong Kong’s loss will be South Africa’s gain.

Cropped Picture: Candiese Lenferna Photography

Venniker Comes Back In Admirable Style

Rachel Venniker showed what she is made of yesterday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville when scoring a double in her first meeting back from the bitter disappointment of missing the Hollywoodbets Durban July through an enforced concussion layoff.

She won on her second ride back on the 75/1 outsider Sun Blushed (The United States).

CLICK HERE TO WATCH SUN BLUSHED WIN AND INTERVIEWS

She later won on the 16/1 chance Hey Bill (Flying The Flag).

CLICK HERE TO WATCH HEY BILL WIN AND INTERVIEWS

Both horses are trained by her guv’nor Michael Roberts.

Picture: Hey Bill gets up in a 2400m handicap on Sunday (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Waterberry Lane’s Half-Sister By Rafeef Wins On Debut

Keagan de Melo kicked off today’s Hollywoodbets Greyville poly meeting with a quick double and the second leg thereof over 1200m saw him producing an eyecatching flying finish from the Hollywood Syndicate-owned Shantastic, a Rafeef half-sister to the classy Waterberry Lane (Soft Falling Rain).

CLICK HERE TO WATCH REPLAY

Shantastic is entered in the Grade 1 Thewkwini Stakes on Marshalls World Of Sports Gold Cup day.

De Melo is now on 184 winners for the season at a strike rate of 16.53% and is just three winners behind Richard Fourie in the battle for second place on the national log.

Peter Muscutt and Tristan Godden combined for a double.

Muscutt is now on 47 winners for the season at a strike rate of 15.67%.

Godden has ridden 22 winners at a strike rate of 7.51%.

Glen Kotzen also scored a double at the meeting to go to 66 winners for the season at 10.93%.

Picture: Shantastic after winning on the Hollywoodbets Greyville Poly (GTV via Youtube)

Today’s Question

Which distance record is often considered in America to be unbreakable.

See Answer At The End Of Newsletter

Picture: The horse in question pictured winning the Suburban Handicap.

Vaal Classic Track Tuesday July 11 Fields

Today’s Question Answer

Dr. Fager won the 1968 Washington Park Handicap over a mile by 10 lengths without any urging from jockey Braulio Baeza.

He had also run the one-mile race in 1:32 1/5, despite winning under the hands.

He had shattered the American record for a mile on dirt.

His record still stands today.

It was a breathtaking performance and has to be seen to be believed (CLICK HERE TO WATCH REPLAY).

In that season of 1968, Dr. Fager had what many consider one of the greatest single racing seasons by any horse in the history of the sport.

At age four he became the only horse to ever hold four American titles in one year when he was named the Horse Of The Year, champion handicap horse, champion sprinter, and co-champion grass horse.

He went on to also become the leading sire in North America in 1977.

Picture: Dr. Dager (America’s Best Racing)