Picture: Hawwaam looking a picture at Wilgerbosdrift Stud (Picture: Candiese Lenferna)

Sarah Whitelaw

There will be plenty of interest in the first yearlings by Equus Champion Hawwaam, with these yearlings set to go through various sales rings in 2024. Hopes are high that Hawwaam can follow in the footsteps of his paternal half-brother Vercingetorix, like Hawwaam a son of Silvano, and became a top-class stallion.

One of 110 stakes winners for his sire, Hawwaam made an instant impression. A beautiful yearling, Hawwaam was lame after getting injured in the paddocks, which appeared to make his chances of making the National Sale forlorn. However, the colt recovered and was eventually sold to Shadwell South Africa for R1 000 000 at the 2017 National Yearling Sale (his full brother Celestial City was knocked down for R7 000 000 at the National Sale three years later).

Sent into training with Mike de Kock, Hawwaam won his first three starts in impressive style. After making a winning debut over 1400m, he was jumped up in class when contesting the G2 Dingaans on only his second lifetime start. A win in that feature was followed by a gutsy triumph in the G3 Tony Ruffel Stakes, before losing his unbeaten record when finishing second in the G2 Gauteng Guineas.

However, Hawwaam made amends for that setback by winning his next five races in a row. After claiming the G1 SA Classic by five and three quarter lengths, he went on to win both the G1 Premier’s Champions Challenge and G1 Daily News 2000 (a race won previously by the aforementioned Vercingetorix) and was named Equus Champion 3YO Colt for 2018-2019.

At four, Hawwaam added wins in a Pinnacle Stakes (downing G1 winning sprinter Chimichuri Run over 1200m) and the G2 Premier Trophy before tasting defeat in both the G1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and G1 Sun Met.

However, Hawwaam bounced back to claim both the G1 H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes and G1 World Sports Betting Premier’s Champions Challenge, before connections elected to take their star colt overseas.

The son of Silvano never raced after leaving South African shores and he was retired to Wilgerbosdrift having won ten of just 13 starts and earned R6 769 775 in prize money.

It is safe to say that Hawwaam retired to stud as a highly attractive commercial prospect. Not only is he a champion son of a six times South African champion, Hawwaam is out of an exceptional broodmare in the form of Halfway To Heaven.

Herself a daughter of seven times South African Champion Sire Jet Master, Halfway To Heaven was a smart, if hot tempered performer, who won seven times including the 2013 G3 Two Oceans Racing Prix Du Cap and the same year’s Listed Off To Stud Handicap.

However, Halfway To Heaven, described as a “good sized mare with good legs” has proved a considerably superior broodmare. Her first three foals were all G1 winners, and Halfway To Heaven was South Africa’s Broodmare Of The Year in 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. Her first foal was Rainbow Bridge, South Africa’s Horse Of The Year in 2020-2021, Hawwaam her second and dual G1 winner Golden Ducat was the third foal produced by Halfway To Heaven. All three were sired by different stallions -a further feather in the cap for Halfway To Heaven!

Wilgerbosdrift’s Shane Van Zyl is delighted by what he has seen from Hawwaam’s first crop.

He says, “We are very happy with our Hawwaam yearlings and had some great feedback from other studs. Unfortunately, Hawwaam got injured in his first season at stud, and was out for a month so we only had six mares covered by him that year. We have one very nice one going to the Cape Sale out of a mare called Ortega by Tiger Ridge very classy with alot of scope. We have entered two colts for the National Sale – one out of Espumanti and one out of Dashing Scarlet- both of whom are classy with scope and very good conformation.
I definitely think he throws a very classy looking horse with scope (which he gets from Silvano) and a bit of substance(provided by his broodmare sire Jet Master) and good conformation and legs.I am looking forward to see what they will do on the track!”

Hawwaam, bred on the same Silvano/Jet Master cross as G1 Cape Guineas winner Kilindini and the G1 Woolavington 2000 winners Silver Darling and Silvano’s Pride, has 11 members of his first crop on offer at this month’s Cape Racing Premier Yearling Sale Powered By Tattersalls and two yearlings on offer at next month’s Cape Yearling Sale.

His draft for the Premier Sale this year includes Pivotal Role, a half-brother to South Africa’s reigning Horse Of The Year Princess Calla, and Capranica, a half-brother to this season’s G3 Cape Mile winner Montien.

Hawwaam’s two lots on offer at the Cape Yearling Sale are a filly out of a full-sister to the stakes placed Fleeced, and the aforementioned colt out of Ortega.

Silent War could be a banker consideration in race 6 at Turffontein Standside tomorrow (Saturday) (Picture: tab4Racing)

Gold Circle

RACE 1

3 PROFESSOR SNAPE 8 NAMAQUA BLOSSOM 2 ABSOLUTE VALUE 7 POSITIVE ATTITUDE

3 PROFESSOR SNAPE has scope for further improvement and is proven over this trip 8 NAMAQUA BLOSSOM has always struck as being a useful stayer and could start coming into her own 2 ABSOLUTE VALUE goes for a hattrick over staying trips 7 POSITIVE ATTITUDE ran a good second last time out and should be cherry ripe (3-8-2-7)

RACE 2

12 EMPRESSOFNORMANDY 1 BOB 11 PRIZED PLATINUM 12 GREEN FLASH

12 EMPRESSOFNORMANDY is knocking on the door and has a good opportunity here. 1 BOB has been right there since being dropped to sprints. 11 PRIZED PLATINUM, a Querari half-brother to four-time Gr 1-winner Princess Victoria, has run two fair sprint races and could improve. 13 GREEN FLASH is by Gimmethegreenlight and is a half-sister to the promising three-time winner Home Of The Brave. (12-1-11-13)

RACE 3

1 ENCHANTING LADY 2 GREAT BARRIER 4 DHOW SOLO 13 WORK OF TIME

1 ENCHANTING LADY, who is by William Longsword and is a half-sister to the crack Gqeberha sprinter Ekoria (Futura), ran a good second over 1000m last time and can continue to progress. 2 GREAT BARRIER will appreciate the step down in trip but her low draw might be a concern. 4 DHOW SOLO was a touch disappointing last time but ran well over this course and distance before that. 13 WORK OF TIME ran well on debut in June and the form has worked out well but she has not raced since and she has a potentially unfavourable low draw (1-2-4-13)

RACE 4

3 REGAL DAUGHTER 6 DARLING HARBOUR 9 KADIZORA 5 ARCTIC COMMANDER

Preview: 3 REGAL DAUGHTER is knocking on the door and is distance suited and drawn in pole. 6 DARLING HARBOUR ran well over 2000m last time and that improved effort might see her able to place over this shorter trip too. 9 KADIZORA was well beaten on debut but is well bred being by Querari out of the useful Montjeu stayer Gorongosa 5 ARCTIC COMMANDER is consistent up to 1400m and tries further from a tricky draw of seven. (3-6-9-5)

RACE 5

2 EMBLEM OF WAR 1 HAKAS KRAKAS 4 POLICY OF TRUTH 5 GREEN GARNET

Preview: 2 EMBLEM OF WAR has run three good traces from 1600m to 1800m and has a plum draw. 1 HAKAS KRAKAS has  moderate Cape Town form but that is a strong centre and he can’t be ignored on his Highveld debut. 4 POLICY OF TRUTH has useful form up to 1450m and has a chance of getting the on pedigree and he has a fair draw. 5 GREEN GARNET has run three fair races from 1200m up to 1600m but he does have a tough draw (2-1-4-5)

RACE 6

6 SILENT WAR 1 SHOEMAKER 5 SILVER HILLS 2 HOEDSPRUIT

Preview: 6 SILENT WAR can make amends for his Grand Heritage defeat when the inside drawn horses unexpectedly kept on going and his run down the centre came too late 1 SHOEMAKER is starting to show glimpses of the class horse he was always thought to be and should enjoy this course and distance. 5 SILVER HILLS caught the eye with a powerful finish in her penultimate start over course and distance and she is well drawn again. 2 HOEDSPRUIT is representing a yard who do well with former Cape-trained horses and he is interesting on his Highveld debut. (6-1-5-2)

RACE 7

1 WHITE PEARL 4 ELEGANT ICE 7 LADY FALLON 6 MARY’S GREENLIGHT

Preview: 1 WHITE PEARL is knocking on the door and from pole position over a suitable trip can give sire Danon Platina his first black type win. 4 ELEGANT ICE is drawn well in two and has a chance of staying the trip on pedigree. 7 LADY FALLON impressed last time out in her first attempt at 1600m and can progress further over this trip which also should be suitable. 6 MARY’S GREENLIGHT won well last time over 1600m and will also enjoy this trip (1-4-7-6)

RACE 8

1 MAIN DEFENDER 2 GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE 9 CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL 3 THE AFRICA HOUSE

1 MAIN DEFENDER is top class and ideally distance suited but does have a tough draw. 2 GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE is also top class and ideally distance suited but he does have 3,25 lengths to make up on Main Defender. 9 CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL is top class but might find this a touch on the sharp side. 3 THE AFRICA HOUSE should be running on well and can earn. (1-2-9-3)

RACE 9

2 CAPTAIN PEG 1 BLESS MY STARS 4 JULIET TANGO 3 TULIP TREE

Preview: 2 CAPTAIN PEG is ideally distance suited and has class so could be the one to side with from a good draw. 1 BLESS MY STARS has a lot of class but the trip will be a touch on the sharp side. 4 JULIET TANGO is on the up and should make her presence felt from a plum draw 3 TULIP TREE disappointed last time but is better than that and can bounce back (2-1-4-3)

RACE 10

2 RED MAPLE 4 DAMOSTAR 5 POORLITTLERICHGIRL 1 SAY YES

2 RED MAPLE should have come on from her last run and should come into her own this season 4 DAMOSTAR goes for a hattrick over a suitable trip. 5 POORLITTLERICHGIRL disappointed last time after a good Highveld debut and can bounce back 1 SAY YES is usually right there but might prefer a touch shorter (2-4-5-1)

RACE 11

3 FUSHIMI INARI 1 ROMEO’S MAGIC 7 HOLOCENE 9 THE INKOSANA

Preview: 3 FUSHIMI INARI is in fine form and can get it right from a good draw over a suitable trip. 1 ROMEO’S MAGIC is drawn in pole over an ideal trip and should be in the shake up. 7 HOLOCENE can do better than last time and has a good draw this time 9 THE INKOSANA could place if producing his best (3-1-7-9)

RACE 12

5 MAX THE OTTER 7 FULLIAUTOMATIX 6 SUGARY SWEET 13 TWICE AS WILD

Preview: 5 MAX THE OTTER showed some useful form in Cape Town and is drawn on the right side over what should be a suitable trip considering he is running fresh 7 FULLIAUTOMATIX is on the up and goes for a hattrick although he has to overcome a six point raise and has a potentially unfavourable low draw 6 SUGARY SWEET’s maiden win has been franked and she could earn. 13 TWICE AS WILD sneaks into the handicap with the minimum weight and has a 4kg claimer up and a nice high draw so could be in the shake up considering her good recent form (5-7-6-13)

Mark van Deventer fancies the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Master Of My Fate filly Windrunner in the sixth race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth tomorrow (Saturday) (Picture: Wayne Marks).

– Written by Mark van Deventer

In the light of what has happened recently, trailing in five lengths off an easing-up RED PALACE has a better sheen to it now, and that makes WINDRUNNER an attractive proposition in Race 6 at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

RED PALACE came into the Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas underdone after missing two intended preps, but only succumbed narrowly to SNOW PILOT. That rival followed up with a fine performance in CHARLES DICKENS’ L’Ormarins King’s Plate tour de force, finishing next to Snaith Racing stablemate, HLULHUWE, who RED PALACE had finished ahead of in the Hollywoodbets Guineas.

This is a roundabout way to show that RED PALACE is a top filly, and getting within five lengths of her when receiving only 1.5kgs suggests WINDRUNNER is smart enough to handle more humble Class 4 opposition.

The daughter of MASTER OF MY FATE has run since her drubbing at the hands of Candice Bass-Robinson trained stable companion, beating reopposing ENCHANTING CHOICE over the course and distance (1800m) without drawing deep breath. WINDRUNNER could well be quite a few points higher than officially rated (OMR 88) and is selected to double up.

Single race exotic back-ups to be used underneath include ENCHANTING CHOICE; front-running, PASSCHENDAELE; the now better-weighted duo of DUAL AGENT and SUMMER NIGHT CITY; stretching out SILVANO filly, CATTALEYA; plus Justin Snaith’s entries, CLOUD CHASER and EPIKLEROS.

Snaith has a good chance with LIGHTNING GLOW in Race 3, a Maiden Plate over 1600m. Gelded since being capsized at odds on three months ago by DAS GUTE, his fitness must be taken on trust. LIGHTNING GLOW is in expert hands though, and the VERCINGETORIX colt has most likely strengthened up during the break. He could be good enough to come out and win first up after a break, and seems – at least – a ready-made banker for PA and Bipot purposes.

The fourth is a hot Class 3 over 1600m – ROSH KEDESH, PROMETTERE, KINGDOM OF HEAVEN and FUTURE PRINCE seem likely to win races at a higher level than this as they develop. PROMETTERE was most impressive surging from dead last to beat WECANGOALLNIGHT two weeks ago, but he may be held (just) by ROSH KEDESH on earlier lines of form.

The fickle but talented, FUTURE PRINCE comes back (yet again) from two months off track yet has twice won on resumption so that cannot be held against him. On back form he’s a serious runner. KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is another campaigned sparingly at intervals, and though he mixes his form, would have a shake off 54kg’s.

Featured race on the program is the Summer Fling Stakes, a Grade 3 over 2000m, which comes up at 16h10 as Race 7. One-time winner from 14 starts, HOLD MY HAND is weighted to come home lonely, and Richard Fourie, the only jock to have won on her, is entrusted with riding duties. Maybe he can roust her sufficiently, but HOLD MY HAND’s problem is that she’s a deep closing-stretch runner that needs a pace meltdown on which to capitalise. In races run slow early, she only gets underway too late to win. Though she’s placed in the Oaks, SA Fillies Guineas and Woolavington, hence her OMR of 108.

ROYAL INVITATION and SILVERLINKS will race handy from low draws – even SUPREME DREAM goes forward at times, so there is contested speed on the inside. This could tire out the front-runners and tee things up FOR HOLD MY HAND’s finishing effort.

One to keep an eye on is lightly campaigned, FUTURE GIRL. Despite being far out of contention on official ratings and coming back from 134 days off track, she ran her best race fresh in May and could outrun her odds.

The Vaughan Marshall-trained Pomodoro gelding Promettere (yellow colours) ran well above his merit rating when winning last time out and Devon Pretorius fancies him to follow up in tomorrow’s (Saturday) fourth race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth (Picture: Wayne Marks) 

Gold Circle

R1 1 KING OF SPIN looks hard to beat in the first race of the meeting. He finished second behind The Grey King who subsequently came out to win again and certainly looks like a quality horse in the making. With that form behind him and from barrier 1, it’s hard to oppose King Of Spin. 7 GIVETHATMANABELLS is held by King Of Spin from that run but he did manage to finish third in his next start. He should be right here again. 12 SPELLING BEE has been gelded and should improve from his last start but he does have a wide draw to overcome. 4 PRESSONREGARDLESS was not disgraced first run after a rest and will strip fitter. Watch out for his next start. (Devon Pretorius: 1-7-12-4)

R2 6 ICE RAIN was doing her best work late from too far back and flew up to finish second behind Nile The Boss. Her best runs have been over this distance and she should be the one to beat. 8 ROCKING PEONIE is coming along the right way and also took off late in the closing stages in that same race. She’s improving with every run and could be the lurker in the pack. 11 SUN SPECTACULAR dropping back to 1400m is better suited and is also back in a normal maiden plate instead of conceding weight to the field. 9 CHARLENE is never too far back and should be involved once again. (Devon Pretorius: 6-8-11-9)

R3 3 MR BELVEDERE has shown big improvement in each of his starts and was unlucky not to have finished closer in his latest start. He’s the value bet for the day to beat 6 LIGHTNING GLOW who has been gelded and is arguably the form horse in the race. 1 VOORLOOPERTJIE showed big improvement in his second start from a strong formline which could have been franked in the first race. If King of Spin; Givethatmanabells or Spelling Bee won the first race then Voorloopertjie must be included in all bets. 2 BATON ROUGE also comes from that formline but has more of a quartet chance and is held by Voorloopertjie from that run. (Devon Pretorius: 3-6-1-2)

R4 5 PROMETTERE ran well above his merit rating when he won a progress plate a few weeks ago beating some quality horses. The maximum penalty for that win is 6 points so he is definitely better than his rating. A lurker in the field at good each way odds is 7 NEVADA KING. He needed his last start but his form from last year before taking a break is quite good beating the likes of Montien at level weights as well Future Swing. He can bounce back to form second run after a rest. 4 FUTURE PRINCE takes a big drop in class and should be competitive in this field if he does not need this run. 9 ROSH KEDESH is 2,5kgs better off than the first selection and should finish closer than his last start especially back at Kenilworth (Devon Pretorius: 5-7-4-9)

R5 A chance is taken on 13 OLIVER (SCRATCHED) to put his last start behind him and to bounce back to his best form. His penultimate start was too good to ignore against a better field than what he faces here. 3 PREVALENCE dropping in both class and distance must be respected from a good draw. Despite finishing sixth he was only 1.9 lengths off the winner in last start. 14 LINDBERGH ran a good first race out of the maidens but he does have a wide draw to overcome as well as top weight to shoulder against a few older horses which is never easy. 12 ROYAL SWAN MASTER still has scope for improvement and should be involved in the placings (Devon Pretorius: 13-3-14-12)

R6 6 WINDRUNNER won impressively in her last start when easing up at the line. The second placed horse, 8 ENCHANTING CHOICE, is 3kgs better off this time round but the manner in which Windrunner won certainly suggests there’s more to come. 5 PASSCHENDAELE was run out of it in her last start and should fight out the finish with the first selection. 13 EPIKLEROS is progressive but she does have a wide draw to overcome (Devon Pretorius: 6-5-8-13)

R7 Trainer Glen Kotzen has a strong hand here with both 5 FLOWER OF SAIGON and 6 HOLD MY HAND. The latter is more consistent and is well weighted however, she struggles to put her nose in front to win a race and therefore a chance is taken on the older mare Flower Of Saigon to win. 2 ROYAL INVITATION ran a great race in the Victress Stakes behind Saartjie at level weights and should be involved here. 3 SILVERLINKS has more of a quartet chance but if she finds her best form she is capable of upsetting. (Devon Pretorius: 5-6-2-3)

R8 Wide open fillies and mares contest with a few runners having good each way chances. 1 GIMMETHATPEARL has only had the two starts to date but the way she won on debut shows there’s more to her than her second start. Grant Van Niekerk is back in the saddle and she could bounce back to form from barrier 1. 9 LITTLE MISS PINK lost a shoe at the start in her last race so that run can be completely ignored. She’s never far off the action and is a consistent older horse carrying the same weight as a few of the unexposed 3 year olds. 15 SENHORA VICTORIA has a wide draw to overcome but bounced back to form when being backed from 40/1 into 16/1 in her last start. She holds off Trip To Maputo, Andi’s Girl as well as Kamakazi and a few others from that formline. Wide open race and it wouldn’t be surprising to see an upset here. Watch out for Rani Of Jhansi who was unlucky in her last start (Devon Pretorius: 1-9-15-3)

R9 4 BENJAMIN drops quite a lot in class after racing in the G2 Cape Merchants where he was 12,5kgs under sufferance against some of the countries top sprinters. Back in Class 4 company over an ideal track and trip, he should represent good value if he has luck in running. 9 WINTER PEARL is looking for a hat-trick of wins and was impressive when stepping up in class to win his last start. 2 STEADFAST has been gelded and drops in trip to a sprint. He was not disgraced over 1400m carrying 60kgs against some hard knocking older horses and should be involved in the finish here. 12 KINGS RANSOM was unlucky not to have finished closer in his last start and he’s another runner that could be at a good each way price. (Devon Pretorius: 4-9-2-12)

Picture: William Longsword gelding Morning Chess was Lunga Gila’s last winner in the Eastern Cape before he relocated to Cape Town at the beginning of this year (Pauline Herman Photography). 

Henk Steenkamp

It is the birthday of trainer Lunga Gila but there might not be time for celebrations.

The Lunga Gila Racing Stables moved from Nelson Mandela Bay to Cape Town at the start of the year and it is busy times at the new stable.

“Very busy but that is the way I like it,” Gila said on Friday.

“I have 20 horses at the moment and more is expected to arrive over the weekend. We are doing vet checks on all of them today before I get stuck in. I can’t wait,” he said.

Gila says he would probably step out his first runners since he relocated in two to three weeks.

And birthday celebrations?

“Maybe, maybe I will celebrate with a nice dinner tonight but you know me, it is the horses first.”

Picture: Down To Business winning the Gr 1 $70,000 Ok Grand Challenge at Borrowdale. Photograph: Laurent Viguie.

Summerveld trainer Peter Muscutt has three horses engaged to run in the NBT Michael Roberts Stakes over 1750m on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and seemed to be swinging towards the former Debra Swanson-trained Zimbawean horse Down To Business as his chief candidate.

The other two runners are Formagear, who comes off a win in the Listed Christmas Handicap over 1600m, and Rockie Reef, who comes off a win in the Gr 3 Flamboyant Stakes over 1600m.

He said, “Rockie Reef was given 10 points for her win, so its going to make it difficult for her. Formagear was also penalised (three points). He has never been stretched out beyond a mile, but he did settle beautifully in the Christmas Handicap and I thought he won with a bit in hand and is doing very well. Down To Business ran huge (3,10 length fourth in the Christmas Handicap on his SA debut and he will now be 1,5kg better off with Formagear). He just kept on coming. The step up in distance will be much better for him and he will be suited to Scottsville (and his is drawn in pole position).”

S’Manga Khumalo, Tristan Godden and Deryl Daniels stay aboard Formagear, Down To Business and Rockie Reef respectively and they jumps from draws 9, 1 and 8 respectively.

However, females have an advantage under the conditions and Rockie Reef is just half-a-kilogram under sufferance with the best weighted runner Capetown Beauty, while Down To Business and Formagear are both 3kg under sufferance with the latter according to official merit ratings.

Meanwhile, in Cape Town, other than Isivunguvungu’s good Gr 1 Cape Flying preparation run on Saturday, Muscutt can also look forward to the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes on WSB Met day, in which his promising Lancaster Bomber colt Cold Shine will run in, as well as to a 1400m event in which Quasiforsure will run.

Muscutt had a couple of Lancaster Bombers already when finding Cold Shine at the BSA National Yearling Sale and purchasing him on behalf of PM Murugasa for R320,000.

He added, “He was a well made, neat, compact type with plenty of scope and I was very impressed with the one or two Lancaster Bombers I had, so on the back of those reasons I bought him.”

Quasillo gelding Quasiforsure is ideally suited to 1400m and galloped at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Wednesday.

Picture: The Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Drakenstein Stud homebred Gold Standard filly Gold Poker Game became Drakenstein’s eleventh individual stakes winner of the season today (Friday) when scything down East Cape heroine Luna Halo in the final stages of the Listed Lady’s Bracelet over 1600m on the Fairview turf under Gareth Wright (Pauline Herman Photography). 

S’Manga Khumalom rode a four-timer for Gavin Smith on the Fairview turf today, while Richard Fourie rode a double for Alan Greeff.

Khumalo goes to 62 wins for the season achieved at a strike rate of 16.06%.

Fourie is on 136 wins at 19.54%.

Smith is on 61 wins at 11.73%.

Greeff is on 55 wins at 13.96%.

Russian Revival (Nureyev) only produced three individual stakes winners but these included the mike de KOck-trained gelding Imbongi, who won the Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas, the Gr 2 KZN Guineas, the Gr 2 Drill Hall Stakes, the Gr 3 Criterion Stakes over seven furlong at Newmarket in the UK and the Gr 2 Zabeel Mile on the Meydan turf in Dubai.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE WONDERFUL STORY OF IMBONGI