Charles Dickens proves his superiority in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and KZN racing fans will hoping to see more of him in the Gr 1 Hong Kong World Pool Champions Cup on Gold Cup day (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
Please Charles, We Want Some More
South African racing appears to be on an upward trend and fittingly it has coincided with a superstar racehorse in the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Drakenstein Stud homebred Charles Dickens.
Aldo Domeyer revealed in the winners enclosure after Saturday’s Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge that his nerves disappear the moment he mounts the brilliant Trippi colt.
Charles Dickens’ explosive turn of foot is his key asset and Domeyer now knows how to use it to its maximum.
In the Gold Challenge it was noticeable that Domeyer free-wheeled all the way to the 300m mark and such is Charles Dickens cruising speed that this allowed him to join his stablemate Trip Of Fortune in front. Domeyer then just shook the reins at him which saw him changing up a gear. However, it was only at about the 150m mark he delivered the first smack which saw him accelerating away from the dangerous looking Zapatillas.
He won the Gr 2 WSB Guineas in similar fashion.
Al Muthana showed he is not a twice Gr 1 wfa Mile winner for nothing and was closing in late on Saturday, having come from near the back on the outside. He finished just 1,40 lengths back in second.
However, Charles Dickens had exacted revenge for his L’Ormarins King’s Plate defeat to Al Muthana.
Domeyer looks to have learnt how to extract the maximum performance from Charles Dickens.
Reserving that explosive turn of foot for as late in the day as possible was seen on Saturday and is likely the way he will be ridden in the future.
It is not a risky move because his high cruising speed enables him to get to the front, or close to it, anyway.
It would be risky to use that turn of foot too early as he probably does not have the longest run in once he has been unleashed.
He did need his key asset on Saturday, but there might be the odd race where it is not needed.
But what a luxury to have that explosive acceleration in reserve!
Mark Bass, brother of Candice Bass-Robinson and who plays an important role in the running of the yard, said, “I think what makes him special is his terrific leg speed and the way he gets down and gallops.”
Charles Dickens has usurped Pocket Power as the greatest horse ever trained by the Bass family, who have been training thoroughbreds at the highest level for 50 years.
She said, “He is a completely different horse to Pocket Power, who had longevity and was also a brilliant horse. We have never had a horse before who can turn it on like he does, he is phenomenal to watch and gives you a feeling that no other horse will be able to give you.”
Charles Dickens has made a big impact on SA racing and among the potential converts to racing because of him is apparently Johann Rupert, husband of Charles Dickens’ breeder and owner, Gaynor Rupert of Drakenstein Stud.
Aldo Domeyer said in his post race interview Mr Rupert had been starting to follow racing because of Charles Dickens.
Charles Dickens has been a life-changing horse for Domeyer himself and he said in the post-race interview, “It looked like I was ready to throw in the towel when this horse came around and changed everything for me.”
From broken neck to Gr 3 winner and probable Hollywoodbets Durban July runner … Winchester Mansion (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
Miracle Horse Is Drakenstein’s Record-equaling 18th Stakes Winner Of The Season
The Brett Crawford-trained Winchester Mansion won Saturday’s Gr 3 Hollywoodbets Cup Trial under Kabelo Matsunyane and this saw Drakenstein Stud equaling a record they had set last season and which they must now have a good chance of surpassing.
Winchester Mansion was the 18th individual Drakenstein Stud-bred stakes winner of the season.
Not bad for a horse who broke his neck as a youngster.
Shortly before the Yearling Sales he charged head first into a pole and broke a vertebrae in his neck
Kevin Sommerville, racing manager of Drakenstein, said he had been a model patient.
A cracked vertebrae cannot be plaster cast and relies on the patient to be as still as possible to give the cracked bone a chance to knit.
Winchester Mansion, a now four-year-old gelding by Trippi, was box rested for three-and-a-half months.
However, he was happy to just stay calm and look over his door every day.
He was also happy to eat out of a feed container put above his head, because lowering his head for extended periods would have been bad for the healing process.
Winchester Mansion recovered superbly and shows no ill effects of the injury.
He could not go to the Sales, as was intended, so Drakenstein raced him themselves.
He has rewarded Drakenstein for the excellent care they gave him.
Winchester Mansion now has a fine chance of being included in the Hollywoodbets Durban July final field.
He wore second-time cheekpieces in Saturday’s 1800m event and this helped him get handy before turning it on well in the straight to win by a convincing 3,10 lengths from local July entry Quasiforsure.
The latter’s chances of making the July were gone and so were the chances of fourth-placed Cape Eagle, fifth-placed Rockpool, sixth-placed Union Square, seventh-placed Litigation, ninth-placed Shoemaker and tenth-placed Flying Bull.
Drakenstein’s 18 individual stakes winners have won 30 stakes races this season between them, which is already five more than the 25 stakes races Drakenstein Stud-breds won last season.
It is a remarkable achievement by a stud who were only founded about 20 odd years ago.
Zapatillas has become the incumbent Hollywoodbets Durban July topweight. Image: Wayne Marks
July Picture Changes Slightly After HWB Gold Challenge Meeting
Humdinger Of A Day For De Kock
Mike de Kock won two stakes races at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday.
His Ridgemont-bred What A Winter filly Humdinger has progressed tremendously over the last year and she added a third stakes win and a second Gr 2 to her CV when holding on to win the East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes over 1400m.
She was caught one out and one back without cover in the running which made her win all the more commendable.
JP van der Merwe accepted the position and relaxed her well. He also kept her on a perfectly straight line in the straight, using the whip sparingly, and this bee-line helped her hold on by a neck from the fast-finishing Marigold Hotel with Tipsy Tarragon only a further -,75 lengths back in third.
The 1400m trip is clearly the optimum for Humdinger for although she won the Listed Off To Stud stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville at the beginning of the season, her two Gr 2’s have come over 1450m and 1400m and she was found wanting in the Gr 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes over 1600m on the tough Turffontein Standside 1600m.
Nevertheless, she might be seen in the Gr 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes on Hollywoodbets Durban July day because the Hollywoodbets Greyville 1600m is a touch easier than the Turffontein Standside one.
Earlier, De Kock’s Gimmeagreenlight colt Gimmeanotherchance justified odds of 46/100 by winning the Listed The Sharks Gatecrasher Stakes.
Keagen de Melo had him in the lead on the rail from pole position. In the straight he ran on resolutely before kicking away impressively in the final 100m to win by 3,20 lengths from the Mike Miller-trained Winter Games and the Doug Campbell-trained Ermelo, who finished a short-head apart.
Mike de Kock and Jehan Malherbe chose Gimmeanotherchance together at the BSA National Yearling Sale and bought the Varsfontein Stud-bred colt for R800,000 on behalf of Lady Chistine Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables.
He is out of Gr 2 Golden Slipper winner Final Judgement, so the Gr 2 Golden Horseshoe is obviously going to be next assignment for Gimmeanotherchance.
De Kock said he looked like “an athlete” at the Sale and so he has proved to be.
Rix And Reynolds Look To Have Another Good ‘Un
Kommetdieding’s deserved retirement to stud seemed likely to leave the Michelle Rix/Harold Crawford stable facing up to the reality of racing as an ultra tough game in which good horses for small yards are few and far between.
However, they look to have another classy customer in the Ridgemont Stud-bred Canford Cliffs filly Secret Identity and fittingly she races in the same Ashwin Reynolds blue and red colours which Kommetdieding made famous.
Sy het met die ding gekom on Saturday in the Listed Hollywoodbets Super League Devon Air Stakes over 1400m when Grant van NIekerk produced her with a storming finish from a long way back in the running to win impressively by half-a-length from the Robyn Klaasen-trained Dolcezza and the Paul Matchett-trained Tamil Tigress.
That added to her eyecatching Maiden Juvenile win over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville in her previous start.
Michelle chose her at the BSA National Yearling Sale having liked the pedigree and the well balanced, athletic specimen.
It was not long later that, whilst not being as good as Kommetdieding, she was giving the trainer the feel of being a feature class horse.
Her Antonius Pius dam Dinesen was a Listed runner up and a half-sister to Gr 1 winner Divine Jury and to a host of other black type performers including the Jet Master sire Divine Jet.
Rix landed her on behalf of Reynolds for R130,000.
It has taken her just three races to earn bold black type and the Gr 2 Golden Slipper will likely be her next race.
Do It Again will only have to carry 57.5kg in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, as things stand, after being dropped three points to 121 for his unplaced Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge run (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
Handicapping Ratings Update
NHA
- Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge (Grade 1)
CHARLES DICKENS remains unchanged on a merit rating of 132 after capturing the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge on WFA terms over 1600m on the turf course at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday 10 June. It was CHARLES DICKENS himself who was considered to make for the most suitable line horse, which is the reason for his unchanged mark. In assessing the race this way, 6th finisher RASCALLION also runs to his mark, leaving him unchanged on a rating of 122 and effectively making him a line horse as well.
Two horses received a rating’s increase. 3rd placed ZAPATILLAS is up from 122 to 126, while ROYAL AUSSIE goes to 118 from 116.
Four horses were given a drop. Runner-up AL MUTHANA is down to 130 from 132 to make him lower than CHARLES DICKENS, SAFE PASSAGE was trimmed from 124 to 123, BINGWA drops from 122 to 120, and lastly DO IT AGAIN was dropped from 124 to 121.
- East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes (Grade 2)
HUMDINGER has had her rating raised from 108 to 110 after winning the Grade 2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that runner-up MARIGOLD HOTEL made for the best line horse, which leaves her unchanged on a mark of 107.
There were increases for 4th placed MISS COOL, who is up from 102 to 106, while 5th finisher MRS BROWNING is up from 97 to 103. The only other increase was for 7th finisher MACARA, who goes up slightly from 97 to 98 to at least have her higher than 11th placed HOLLYWOODBOUND, who drops from 99 to 97.
Aside from HOLLYWOODBOUND, the only other horse to receive a ratings drop was BON VIVANT, who is down from 112 to 110.
- Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial (Handicap) (Grade 3)
WINCHESTER MANSION has had his rating upped from 103 to 112 after easily winning the Grade 3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial (handicap) over 1800m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. It was 3rd placed LORD WILLIAM who was used as the line horse here, which leaves him unchanged on a rating of 107.
Aside from the winner, the only other increase was for runner-up QUASIFORSURE, who is up from 110 to 112.
There were ratings drops for three horses. UNION SQUARE is down from 116 to 114, LITIGATION drops from 112 to 110, and lastly SILVANO’S TIMER is down to 106 from 108.
- Jubilee Stakes (Grade 3)
PUERTO MANZANO remains unchanged on a mark of 123 after winning the Grade 3 Jubilee Stakes over 1800m on the standside track at Turffontein on Sunday 11 June. It was PUERTO MANZANO himself who was used as the line horse here, hence his unaltered rating. In assessing the race this way 3rd placed ELECTRIC GOLD runs to his mark as well, effectively also making him a line horse and leaving him unchanged on a mark of 103.
The specific conditions of this race do not allow for any ratings increase for any horse beyond the winner and accordingly runner-up WHAFEEF remains unchanged on a rating of 107 although actually achieving a mark of 108.
There were ratings drops for four horses. PYROMANIAC drops from 106 to 104, LAGUNA VERDE drops from 104 to 101, ANOTHER LEVEL is down from 99 to 98, and lastly INDLAMU drops from 99 to 98 as well.
A Good Variety From Maine Chance
Maine Chance Farms have a good variety of yearlings and mares for stud coming to the Cape Racing
Winter Sale at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Friday, 16 June.
Among the yearlings, they’re offering seven by different sires, and yearling manager, Danni Kuttel, is
especially pleased with two fillies and a colt. Her comments below:
Lot 5 Genteel
“An alert, good-looking filly by Quasillo out of Girl On The Run, by Silvano, her second foal. She has pace
and stamina in her pedigree.” CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL
Lot 16 Like Minded
“She’s a nice grey, a strong type by Heavenly Blue out of La Calisto, by Silvano. Her dam has already
produced a stakes-placed runner in La Quinta.”
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL
Lot 72 Blue Ribbon Day
“A lovely, racey-looking colt by The United States, he is the second foal of Bandola, by Silvano, from the
family of current top level sprinter, Bereave.”
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL
Hundra Prins of the Maine Chance Mare Division provided notes on her choice of broodmares:
Lot 143 Catraz, bay mare
“She’s a mare by Captain Al and a half-sister to Gold Cup and Summer Cup winner, Aslan. She is in foal to
What A Winter.”
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL
Lot 147 Daffodil Day, bay mare
“A mare by Silvano, she is the dam of Listed Ruffian Stakes winner, Dagmar. She is in foal to Querari.”
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL
Lot 89 Flight Zone
“Here is a mare by Jet Master, she’s a half-sister to Durban July winner Bold Silvano and is in foal to
Vercingetorix.”
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL
Lot 94 Good Time Girl
“She is a G1-placed mare by Royal Air Force from the family of SA Derby winner, Al Sahem, and she’s in
foal to Erik The Red.”
CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL
ENDS.
Paul Lafferty sent out the exacta in race 3 today, Release Me and Ice Kingdom, and this was the first leg of a quick double for Muzi Yeni (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
De Melo, Yeni and Dicken Doubles
Keagan de Melo, Cole Dicken and Muzi Yeni all scored doubles on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly today.
De Melo goes to 257 winners for the season at a strike rate of 20.14% (123 of his wins have been in KZN).
Yeni is on 126 wins for the season at 11.30%.
Dicken is on 15 wins at 7.58%.
The subject of the question is shown above at stud (Sporthorse-Data)
Today’s Question
Why was the Epsom Derby of 60 years ago controversial?
Relko won the Derby by six lengths in 1963, but was only eventually officially awarded the race in the October of that year. (Allbreedpedigree.com)
Nevertheless, Relko goes down as one of the best Derby winners and Timeform awarded him a 136 rating.
