It will be fitting if Lyle Hewitson wins the Gr 1 Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes on World Pool Gold Cup day because it is named after his chief supporter in Hong Kong. Hewitson and Whyte are pictured together after a winner on the racing mad island. (HKJC.com).

Hewitson Secures Good Gold Cup Day Rides

Lyle Hewitson, who is just two short of reaching 50 wins for the season in Hong Kong, will partner the Sean Tarry-trained Nebraas (Vercingetorix) in the Gr 3 World Pool Gold Cup on July 30 at Hollywoodbets Greyville and among his other rides is the Mike de Kock-trained Safe Passage (Silvano) in the HKJC World Pool Champions Cup.

He has also booked rides on the Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Francine (Silvano) in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Premier’s Champion Stakes, where she has drawn in pole position compared to 12 in the Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes, the Glen Kotzen-trained Rascova (Lancaster Bomber) in the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes, the Mike And Adam Azzie-trained Sheela (The United States) in the Mercury Sprint, the Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Ready To Charge (Gimmethegreenlight) in the Gr 2 @Worldpool Twitter Umkhomazi Stakes and the Glen Kotzen-trained Hold My Hand (Gold Standard) in the Gr 2 Riding High Together Gold Bracelet.

He added, “I’m waiting on Sean Tarry still for the fillies 2yo G2 1200. The two listed races I may or may not ride in, depending.”

Tarry has three entries in the Gr 2 World Pool with Gold Circle Debutante, That’s My Baby (Master Of My Fate), American Graffiti (Silvano) and Kingdom Of Gold (Pomodoro).

If Hewitson does ride in the Debutante it will mean he will have a ride in all eight Graded events on the day and if he rides in the two Listed events he will have a full book of ten rides.

Looking at his mounts, he should have a few winning chances.

He said, “I head hunted the horses myself as best I could. Of course the top 1 and 2 in each race had regular pilots so I had to look where there could be some value for myself!”

Hewitson won the Gold Cup two years ago on a then four-year-old Nebraas, but the Vercingetorix gelding does look to be the stable second choice runner this year as Future Pearl will be going for the unofficial Stayers Trip Crown.

Richard Fourie partners the latter, a three-year-old gelding by Futura who has won both the Gr 3 WSB Gold Bowl and Gr 3 DSTV Gold Vase, meaning if he lands the third “Gold” staying race he would have matched the 2017 feat of the Weiho Marwing-trained Hermoso Mundo.

Safe Passage was one of the unluckiest runners in the Hollywoodbets Durban July and was staying on late in eyecatching fashion. He is enigmatic but capable and will be a contender in the Champions Cup.

Hewitson said about the milestone of 50 wins in the Hong Kong season, “My outset goal this season was to broaden my support base and relationships with more trainers and owners which in turn naturally would lead to more winners. As the season progresses from there I think it’s more realistic to start making goal posts. Of course we want to better our previous season, so I will be pushing for more winners and hopefully some feature success next season.”

South African champion jockey elect Keagan de Melo will be joining the ex-pat South African jockey contingent of Hewitson and Luke Ferraris next season in Hong Kong.

That will make it four South African Jockey Academy (SAJA) graduates riding there because there is also the high-flying Mauritian Karis Teetan.

Spectators look on at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong, which is managed by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. Picture: Lo Chun Kit/Getty Images

By Mike Moon

The Citizen Horse racing correspondent

One of the world’s major racing centres has thrown its weight behind KZN racing operator Gold Circle

The significance of the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s sponsorship of the Gold Cup race meeting at Greyville at the end of July shouldn’t be underestimated.

Full details of the financial injection into South African racing by the Chinese benefactor have yet to be announced. But the prestige of the linkage and the clear moral support is massive.

The KwaZulu-Natal provincial government has been busy white-anting racing with its plans to purloin a big chunk of the game’s operational revenue. Therefore, a helping hand from one of the world’s richest racing regions is most welcome. KZN racing operator Gold Circle and its CEO Michel Nairac must be congratulated on a coup.

Hong Kong is the fifth biggest racing jurisdiction in the world. It has an estimated annual value of HK$7-billion (about R170-billion).

“There has always been a strong connection between the Hong Kong and South African racing industries, particularly when it comes to participants. So it is exciting to collaborate with them,” said Michael Fitzsimons, executive director of wagering for the HKJC.

The HKJC has a monopoly licence to run racing in the enclave. And it returns the favour by being the biggest charity funder in the region. The R6.6-billion (R16-billion) that it handed to 292 local community causes in 2021 put it in the world’s top 10 charity funders.

The Gold Circle-HKJC relationship has been cemented over the past two years with a number of World Pool events. These see punters around the world watching a TV “simulcast”. And they bet into giant “comingled” pools on local races – thanks to sophisticated Hong Kong digital technology.

“Gold Circle have been wonderful supporters of World Pool and they recognise the benefits of having a robust pari-mutuel offering,” said Fitzsimons.

“And Hong Kong customers are quite fond of the product as well. In fact, the 2022 Gold Cup meeting produced record turnover in Hong Kong for a simulcast meeting of HK$394.7-million.”

In his statement, Nairac said: “We are excited to launch the first HKJC World Pool-sponsored race day worldwide.”

The Grade 3 3200m World Pool Gold Cup, South Africa’s premier marathon horse race, is still accorded a stake of just R1-million. But the foreign largesse has been spread across the race card. Many races on the
programme have shed their old names for a more Asian flavour.

The HKJC brand is reserved for the prestigious Grade 1 1800m Champions Cup. This promises to be a hotly contested affair offering enticing fare for foreign punters.

One of the renamed races is the Grade 1 Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes, which honours the great South African jockey, a native of Durban. He won 13 championships in Hong Kong and is now a prominent trainer in that city.

One thing that might put off millions of watchers and bettors around the world is the possibility of a government load shedding fiasco of the sort that short the recent Hollywoodbets Durban July meeting.

With 10 races scheduled, it was likely that one or two would be run under floodlights. However, Gold Circle could opt to play it safe and start the meeting a bit earlier than usual.

Princess Calla (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Tarry Swinging Towards Champions Cup For Calla

Sean Tarry’s top class mare Princess Calla has wrapped up the Equus Champion older female award but there is still the possibility she could add the Equus Champion Sprinter award as well as the Equus Horse Of The Year award.

She is entered in two Gr 1 weight for age races on World Pool Gold Cup, the HKJC World Pool Champions Cup over 1800m and the Mercury Sprint over 1200m.

If she wins whichever one she runs in she will go top of the Equus Horse Of The Year points table.

However, despite the champion sprinter title being on the line, Tarry is swinging towards the Champions Cup.

The Flower Alley mare has drawn badly in both events, 12 out of 14 in the Champions Cup and 11 out of 17 in the Mercury Sprint.

However, the country’s joint highest rated sprinter Gimme A Prince has drawn well in five and that is one of the reasons Tarry felt the Champions Cup would be a better option.

Princess Calla has proven she stays middle distances, finishing third in the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes in just her fifth career start, second to War Of Athena in the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 and a 0,70 length fourth to Captain’s Ransom in the Gr 1 Paddock Stakes last year.

A number of horses entered in the Champions Cup ran in the Hollywoodbets Durban July and Tarry said that the July could “rattle” horses. That is another reason he is opting for the Champions Cup for Princess Calla, although he did point out that Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge third-placed Zapatillas would come in fresh and was well drawn.

Tarry’s crack two-year-old colt Lucky Lad also drew wide in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes. He said he would see how things panned out with scratchings before deciding to run him.

He said about his other potential leading runners on the day, “We are obviously considering running Bless My Stars in the Gr 2 Gold Bracelet (the July third-placed horse has drawn 8 out of 15). Thunderstruck has a tough task at the weights in the Mercury (where he drew reasonably well in 7 out of 17).”

Meanwhile, the new darling of the SA turf, Mrs Geriatrix, is enjoying a deserved holiday on the Precentor Place farm of Sue and Jodi Pieters.

Dylan Kitts: suspended for 14 days earlier this year and is now under investigation again. Credit: John Grossick

Recent Non-Trier Case Has Gone Viral In The U.K.

The Guardian have carried the below follow up article on the ride of a conditional rider in a hurdles race that has caused a storm on social media.

Hillsin, Dylan Kitts and one of the most talked-about races of 2023

Greg Wood (The Guardian)

Before joining the rush to suggest that a 22-year-old conditional rider with 94 rides to his name should be banned for life, it is probably best to wait for the investigation to conclude.

It is, as they say, a very ill wind that blows nobody any good, and the organisers of the Wacky Weekender Festival at Worcester racecourse this month must be quietly ecstatic that the handicap hurdle for conditional jockeys, which they sponsored at the track last Wednesday, has turned out to be one of the most talked-about races of recent months.

For the rest of us, though, it remains a horrible watch, as Dylan Kitts, the rider of Hillsin, sat stock-still all the way up the straight on a horse that looked to be travelling like a surefire winner, and finished third, a length-and-a-quarter behind the winner. It was, in Timeform’s typically understated view, “an unedifying ride that failed to get the best out of him, to say the least”, and the local stewards promptly banned Hillsin from running for 40 days while referring Kitts’s ride to the British Horseracing Authority for further consideration.

A BHA investigation into the running and riding of Hillsin is under way and there are all manner of unusual circumstances surrounding the race that may – or may not – prove to be significant. Kitts, for instance, told the stewards that his horse had made “a respiratory noise” on “several occasions” during the race, but a subsequent veterinary inspection found nothing amiss. The rider had recently returned from a 14-day ban under the “non-trier” rules, for a very similar ride, after which he also told the stewards that his horse had made a “respiratory noise”.

Hillsin was also making his first and, as it turned out, only start for trainer Chris Honour, as the handler asked Alan Clegg, the gelding’s owner, to remove Hillsin and another of his horses, Colonel Lesley, from the stable during the social-media frenzy – including, apparently, death threats – that followed the Worcester race.

Kitts, meanwhile, was having his first ride for Honour, and this, according to the trainer, was at Clegg’s insistence. Clegg, though, told the Racing Post this was not the case, saying: “I’m gutted. I backed the horse and I’ve done nothing wrong, so I don’t know what’s going on.”

And then there are the betting patterns, before the race and also on Betfair’s in-running market. Hillsin was backed from a double-figure price on Tuesday down to around 2-1 the following morning, but drifted out to 11-1 before the off.

Perhaps most remarkably of all, Betfair’s results page suggests that even when Kitts was making ground in the straight with an apparent triple-handful, Hillsin did not trade any lower than 13 (or 12-1), in the live market. This number has been the subject of much interest and James Moore, the BHA’s principal betting investigator, suggested it was a mistake and that Hillsin was matched at 2.36, roughly 11-8.

It seems, though, to be not so much a mistake as a result of Betfair’s approach to calculating the in-running “low”, which as the firm’s spokesperson, Barry Orr, explains is based on bets with a minimum of £100 matched. Orr reports that £88 was matched on Hillsin at 2.36 in-running, with small amounts matched at other prices up to the official “low”. The simple fact that this race, and Hillsin in particular, seemingly attracted so little significant money when he looked the likeliest winner at the last is still something that will require a full explanation.

Kitts is awaiting his referral hearing and another unusual aspect of the case is that he has been given what amounts to an indefinite interim ban while the investigation continues. The BHA said last week it had been “agreed” Kitts would not take rides or even attend any racecourses “at this time” and while he is still able to visit licensed premises, to ride work in the morning for instance, this is arguably the only significant difference in his situation to being warned off without a hearing.

The BHA is always careful not to comment on an investigation, but this unusual move does feel at least like a suggestion that a serious charge, or charges, could be imminent.

Were he to continue riding Kitts’s every move would be subject to intense scrutiny and, perhaps, real-world abuse to go along with the online pile-on since last Wednesday. On social media, he has – predictably – already been tried, found guilty and sentenced to life, while there is still so much around this race and ride that remains opaque.

It is true that even on the most generous possible reading of the situation – that Kitts horribly overdid his instructions to hold up his mount for a late run, or the “cock-up” theory for short – he is facing a significant ban. He was banned, after all, for a similar offence a couple of months ago so the penalty for a repeat will be severe and nothing undermines faith in the sport’s integrity like the sight of a horse clearly being prevented from running up to its best.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE RACE

Lot 1 at the recent BSA KZN Yearling Sale, an unnamed Filly by Vercingetorix out of Palace Dreams from Millstream Farm

The Pedigree Obsessor Was Impressed By Recent BSA KZN Yearling Sale

Encouraging endorsement for the SA Industry

The Pedigree Obsessor

Given the turbulent and challenging times of the past 12 months and last few years, both beyond and within SA Horseracing, it is very fair to conclude that an extremely encouraging 2023 KZN Yearling Sale took place on 29 June.

In the day prior to the Sale the mood seemed almost nervously celebratory, yet smiles were in abundance and the general confidence appeared propped up with the never-say-die positivity that South African’s have mastered through the storms of time. Friendliness could be observed across the Sales Ground, interactions between Vendors and Buyers were plentiful nd the central stars of the show, the horses, were resplendent and breath-taking.

Despite the torrential rain that belted down 2 days prior to the sale saturating the stables, the weather lifted on Wednesday. Come sales day on Thursday the precinct was bathed with a calm temperate sunshine under a gloriously blue Durban sky but tainted with a subliminal air of general apprehension. Perhaps this apprehension is no different to the moments before any sale, however in the context of prevailing market conditions, it may have been “peppered” with a natural concern stemming from the recent past.

When the bell sounded the bidding was immediately robust with a lovely Vercingetorix filly from Jan Mantel @ Millstream causing the Auctioneer to swing his head left and right across the marquee and finally knock her down to Tony Peter for a sale tone setting “entrée” of R360,000.

And so it had started encouragingly with the Auctioneering Team hardly having to cajole Buyers into action the entire day. One could almost see the veil of pre-sale uncertainty slide off the faces of Vendors and by mid-afternoon many had smiles that spoke a thousand words.

For those with an analytical outlook, statistics provide an opportunity to note the shifts, the periodic trends and further contemplation of the underlying dynamics.

Exactly the same number of horses were sold (147) as for the 2022 Sale generating total sales of R27.1million @with average price leaping up by 49.72% . This is significant in statistical parlance.

It is correct to say that 2022 was not a great benchmark/yardstick, because of the (non) events of the previous 2 years, but the shift in results remains significant enough not to be dismissed.

The trend shift within the Top 30 priced horses warrants noting.

The Top 30 priced horses fetched gross R12,36million vs the R10,175million of 2022, an increase of 21.47% confirming that the market paid more for horses beyond the top 10 priced lots – in fact +36.25% for top 11-20 horses and +56.35% for 21-30.

The visual, conformation and pedigree quality of the stock on offer was outstanding once again, testimony to a very robust and professional Breeding industry who delight us with beautiful specimens year in and year out. That they have endured arguably the toughest years in many a decade and still produced what they have is outstanding and each is to be afforded the credit they so deserve. It would be grossly unfair to single any 1 Breeder out from the rest and credit must be given to them all as a collective.

If it is possible to pick out some without prejudice to many other fine horses, here are 2 that captivated this writer….

Lot 16

Lot16, a colt consigned by Ascot Stud and named NIGHT ROCKER (Global View x Rockie Bright) was an exceptional looker, almost incredibly forward for a yearling and much in the mould of his famous Grand Sire GALILEO. Peter Muscutt, who successfully trains a half-sister, ROCKIE REEF, could not resist snapping up this one for R325 000 and who can blame him!. Remember the name, NIGHT ROCKER even if only to catch a glimpse of this fine specimen in the flesh.

Another to catch this eye both on pedigree and physically was a splendid filly, this time consigned by James Armitage’s Sandown Stud, Lot115 named WARRIOR ROSE (Pathfork x Duchess Delight). Bidding was fervent and eventually nabbed by Gareth Van Zyl with both hands for R460 000. Remember this name too.

Lot 115 – Warrior Rose by Pathfork out of Duchess Delight from Sandown Stud

Buyers must be given credit for their willingness to reward the Breeders and the quality of their product by paying higher prices. Without the Buying support Breeders would be very hard pressed to continue investing the time and money they do into the industry.

In the final analysis it was a wonderful sale, professionally delivered by Bloodstock South Africa and well supported with confidence boosting results. This beautiful industry is alive and well and has the resolve to weather the storm and emerge stronger. The Breeders have demonstrated again that they are professional, there for the long haul and remain very capable of producing high quality stock regardless of the market conditions. The Buyers respected that fact by being more than willing to reward quality with their stretched and under-pressure budgets.

Onwards and Upwards.

A bronze statue of Arc winner Alpinista is the latest addition to the famous Jockey Club Rooms at racing headquarters, Newmarket.

The Jockey Club Rooms Add Another Splendid Artefact

In 1752, The Jockey Club leased a plot of land in Newmarket where a Coffee House was constructed in the High Street as a meeting place for its members. Soon The Jockey Club purchased the freehold, which became known as the Jockey Club Rooms, as it is today.

Brian Finch, a South African racing industryman and owner who is now the Chairman of Epsom Racecourse, a Trustee of the National Horseracing Museum at Newmarket and a Racecourse Committee Director at Sandown Park, visited the Jockey Club Rooms this weekend and took the picture of this bronze statue of Arc winner and now broodmare Alpinista.

Brian wrote on Twitter, “A fabulous addition since my last visit to the Jockey Club Rooms is this magnificent bronze of the outstanding broodmare Alpinisita, owned by Mrs Rausing & trained by Sir Mark Prescott. There is so much to see and enjoy at the Rooms.”

A renowned restaurant is just one way the ordinary public can experience the Jockey Club Rooms.

Non-members are also able to stay there at certain times of the year as is advertised on the Jockey Club Rooms website.

The attributes of the Jockey Club Room as listed on their website are “Accommodation”, “Gardens” and “Gallops” and it has an entrance that captures its historic significance.

Underneath the heading of “National Horse Racing Museum” are the attributes “Courtyard”, “Stables”, “Restaurant” and “Museum”.

The National Stud, which has a magnificent avenue entrance, is also part of the Jockey Club and the stable block there is state of the art.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE JOCKEY CLUB ROOMS WEBSITE

Muzi Yeni poses with owner Jonathan Nassif, who has a share in both of the Fabian Habib horses, Absolute Value (Master Of My Fate) and What A Tiger (What A Winter), who Yeni rode to victory at the Vaal Classic track today. (JC Photos).

Yeni/Habib Double At Vaal Classic Track

Muzi Yeno rode a double for Fabian Habib at the Vaal Classic track today.

Yeni goes to 140 wins for the season at 11.43%.

Habib goes to 28 wins at 9.59%.

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Fields, Wednesday

A painting of the founder of racing at Newmarket (britannica.com)

Today’s Question

Who recognised the Newmarket Heath as a perfect site for racing and introduced racing to the town and also built the first grandstand there.

Question answer at the bottom of the newsletter

The Rowley Mile (Geograph.org.uk)

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION

It was King James I who introduced the sport to the sleepy village of Newmarket in the early 1600s after having stumbled across the open stretch of heathland whilst out hunting. Already a lover of equestrian pursuits, he recognised its potential and built the first grandstand on the heath. However, it was during the reign of Charles II that horseracing flourished and developed.

Charles II was competent in the saddle and, along with womanising and generally making merry, he loved nothing more than the company of his jockeys. He had a palace built and from 1669 onwards moved his entire court, including all his ministers, to Newmarket twice a year for the racing season.

Newmarket became known as the ‘unofficial’ capital where affairs of state were conducted alongside racing, hawking and cock-fighting. Newmarket Racecourse’s Rowley Mile takes its name from Charles II’s nickname, ‘Olde Rowley’. It’s amusing to note that Olde Rowley was a stallion at the Royal stud and this nickname alluded to the many illegitimate children Charles II was known to have sired!

Turf Talk Newsletter – 11 July, 2023