Fourie Barometer 342
July Second Favourite Arrives On Friday
Mucho Dinero will arrive at Summerveld on Friday (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Justin Snaith already has a string of ten at Summerveld for the Champions Season and the Hollywoodbets Durban July second favourite Mucho Dinero arrives on Friday.
The ten already there are Double Grand Slam, Future Swing, Snow Pilot, Baltic Secret, Underworld, Triple Time, One Way Traffic, Kwintas Light, Impact Investor and Dark Winter as well as J Roops the lead pony.
Arriving on Friday together with Mucho Dinero are Royal Aussie, Hhluhluwe, Lighning Glow, Get Impressed and Makazole.
The traditional Champions Season pipe openers for good Cape Town three-year-olds are the Gr 3 Byerley Turk over 1400m for colts and geldings and the Gr 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes over 1400m for fillies.
This meeting takes place on March 31 at Hollywoodbets Greyville and Jonathan Snaith said impressive Gr 3 Prix du Cap winner Double Grand Slam, a Vercingetorix filly who is named after and part-owned by Gary Player in partnership with Suzette Viljoen and Dave McLean, would be there.
The hard-knocking Querari three-year-old colt Underworld is also earmarked for that meeting and so is the Listed-winning Querari sprinting filly Baltic Secret.
The latter looks likely to run in one of the other features on the day, the Non-Black Type Kwazulu-Natal Stakes over 1000m, considering her Listed win was over the minimum trip.
The achievements of the rest of the string are:
Snow Pilot (three-year-old Lancaster Bomber colt) – Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas winner.
Hluhluwe (three-year-old Trippi colt) – Gr 2 Cape Punters Cup (1600m) winner, Cape Guinesas third-placed.
Mucho Dinero (four-year-old Twice Over gelding) – Gr 2 Anthonij Rupert Wine winner plus a Listed win.
Kwinta’s Light (five-year-old Gimmthegreenlight sprinting mare) – Gr 2 Southern Cross Stakes winner and two Listed wins.
Future Swing (four-year-old Futura middle distance to stayer gelding) – Gr 3 Glorious Goodwood Chairman’s Cup 2500m) and Listed Jonsson Wokwear Algoa Cup 2000m).
Royal Aussie (four-year-old Royal Mo gelding) – R7.5 million Gold Rush winner (1600m) and Listed winner over 1600m, third in the Gr 1 wfa L’Ormarins King’s Plate.
Triple Time (Twice Over four-year-old gelding) – two Gr 3 staying race second place finishes.
One Way Traffic (six-year-old Dynasty gelding) – Gr 3 Vodacom 2200 winner and a Listed winner.
Impact Investor (two-year-old Gimmethegreenlight colt) – won second time out over 1100m by 3,75 lengths.
Dark Winter (two-year-old What A Winter filly) – won third time out over 1200m, fifth in Non-Black Type race over 1000m on debut.
Lightning Glow (Vercingetorix three-year-old gelding) – five starts, won last two and now merit rated 88.
Get Impressed (Vercingetorix three-year-old gelding) – one win, merit rated 92.
Makazole (Trippi two-year-old colt) – won second time out over 1000m by 1,50 lengths.
See It Again Is Back At Home
See It Again winning the Gr 2 WSB Green Point Stakes (Picture: Wayne Marks)
See It Again has arrived at Summerveld after a month long rest at the place of his birth Drakenstein Stud following his disappointing WSB Cape Town Met run.
Trainer Michael Roberts said his chief target now will be the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July.
He said the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge would be his stepping stone into that race
He added he would try and find a suitable race for him before the Gold Challenge.
He said he was not sure about the traditional pipe opener for top horses i.e. the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall, being the race because he said 1400m was a touch on the sharp side for him.
He said about the disappointing fourth place finish in the Met , “It was obviously disappointing … very disappointing. I know that he is a very good horse and the Met was his worst performance … I was gutted. I couldn’t believe it but thank goodness he came out of it alright and he looks well. I was on the farm (a couple of weeks ago) to have a look at him and everything was hunky dory. They did a good job with him over there. I am very pleased they accepted our request to look after him.”
He arrived at Summerveld looking good and had put on a bit of weight having let down nicely on the farm.
It was obviously not the Twice Over colt’s run in the Met and although they were unable to put a finger on anything being wrong the circumstantial evidence, considering some other below par runs from Milnerton-based horses on the day coupled with his own below par L’Ormarins King’s Plate effort, could have pointed to him having an underlying virus.
Roberts said about See It Again’s Champions Seaon campaign,”He doesn’t really need much to reach his peak.”
Therefore the two runs into the July after his farm rest should suffice.
He is still the highest rated active horse in the country on a merit rating of 132.
He is top of the ante-post board too with the sponsor on 9/2.
He is owned by Nick Jonsson as is the 5/1 second favourite, the Gr 2 Anthonij Rupert Wine Premier Trophy winner Mucho Dinero.
However, it has to be said 9/2 is poor value.
Last year he failed to win at starting odds of 7/2 off a 124 merit rating, despite enjoying a good trip in the race, and this year he will, as things stand be running off an eight point higher mark.
As things stand he will be out to be tihe fifth topweight vthis century to win tihe July following Do It Again (2020), Marinaresco (2017), Pocket Powwer 2008) and El Picha (2000).
The Gr 1 TAB SA Classic winner Purple Pitcher was given a merit rating of 120 and he has shortened in to 20/1 for the July with the sponsor. As things stand, presuming See It Again will be topweight off 132, Purple Pictehr will carry the minimum weigtht for a three-year-old male of 53kg, although he will be 1kg under sufferance..
SA Classic runner up Sandringham Summit is now at 17/1, third-placed William Iron Arm is at 33/1 and fourth-placed Pure Predator has shortened into 67/1.
Storm Brasco and Barbaresco disappointed and are 75/1 shots.
Cousin Casey caught the eye in the Horse Chestnut running on well and is out at 20/1.
Horses who were earmarked as July horses in their three-year-old season but then fail to deliver often come back as older horses and prove the sentiment right. Cousin Casey falls into that category.
Il Etait Temps A Gallant Third In Arkle
Il Etait Temps can be seen in the Hollywood Syndicate yellow and purple stars colours plugging on for third place (Picture RTE.ie)
South Africa was represented in a Gr 1 at the Cheltenham Festival today by the Willie Mullins-trained French-bred grey Il Etait Temps and the small but courageous horse fought back in a style he has gained a reputation for to finish a gallant third.
Il Etait Temps is owned by Owen Heffer and family of Hollywoodbets in partnership with fellow South Africans the Wayne Kieswetter family, who race under the name of their Ridgemont Stud in South Africa and under their Ireland-based Barnane Stud in Ireland and in the UK.
The Willie Mullins-trained French-bred grey ran in the My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase over two miles and jockey Danny Mullins wore the familiar Hollywood Syndicate colours.
Il Etait Temps was coming off a Gr 1 win in the Irish Arkle, where at odds 0f 6/1 he beat, among other, the 4/7 favourite, the much vaunted Marine Nationale. His runner up, by a neck, that day was Found A Fifty.
However, the ground was more testing today (officially soft), which was against him as he is a small horse.
He had also only managed fifth place in both of his previous starts at Cheltenham.


Il Etait Temps being saddled up and on parade (Supplied)
The 2/1 favourite was his stablemate Gaelic Warrior, who had defeated him by 5,5 lengths over two miles three-and-a-half furlongs at Limerick in heavy ground in December.
Il Etait Temps stuck to the inside today and remained in midfield for most of the contest.
However, he did not jump too well and made a serious mistake four jumps out at a crucial stage just before they came down the hill and that meant he was a bit out of touch with the leaders.
He was a touch outpaced down the hill too, but rallied gallantly coming up Cheltenham’s famously testing hill for the last two or three furlongs which includes ta couple of jumps.
His stablemate Gaelic Warrior started 2/1 favourite as Il Etait Temps drifted out before firming into 7/2.
Gaelic Warrior relished the conditions and had the race won a long way out.
From a handy position he went clear in the run in to win impressively by over eight lengths with the Gordon Ellliott-trained 13/2 shot in second.
Il Etait Temps was beaten just over 13 lengths into third but made up plenty of places from the top of the hill to the finish.
Willie Mullins increased his number of festival winners to 95 with that victory and he added two more later to go to 97. He is the winning-most trainer in Cheltenham Festival history.
Mullins said of his winner, who was well-beaten when unseating Townend at the Dublin Racing Festival: “You could see what difference a hood made to him. He wasn’t trying to jump right and Paul could ride a race on him.
“I thought coming down the hill ‘what was I doing running him over three miles last season when he has that speed’. I think he has enough class now to do two miles and he’ll probably stick to that game now, although you could push him out to the Ryanair distance as well. He’s very adaptable.
“When you saw how good he was at Limerick at Christmas you wouldn’t believe he could run like he did at Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival, I don’t know what happened.
“I thought he was going to boil over again in the parade ring, but once he got out and away from the crowd he became a lot more settled. It made him so much easier to ride in the hood.
“I think he’s found his calling now, he looks a Champion Chaser, he could be a Ryanair horse and he won over three miles over hurdles.
“It’s satisfying to get a win here with him after watching what he does at home all the time, to do it in the Arkle is fantastic.
“It’s a huge relief to get one on the board, when we got beaten in the first I felt ‘oh no’ when it looked like we had it won.”
Owner Rich Ricci, who famously does not watch his horses when they race, said: “I obviously didn’t watch it but it sounded like it went smoothly, which was great to hear.
“The week is fine now, we’ve had a winner!
“I was fine with going for the Arkle. Ahead of Leopardstown, Willie really wanted to run him over two miles but we won that argument and it didn’t work out.
“We had a chat, I told him I was relaxed about two miles and it worked out very well.
“The right thing to do with him was probably go to Fairyhouse and Punchestown as they are right-handed tracks, to come here and have the decision justified is very rewarding.
“He’s a horse with immense ability, he has his quirks and if you saw him in the parade (ring) at Leopardstown, he can be a bit mad but that is wonderful.”
Former England cricketer Craig Kieswetter, whose family are part-owners of Il Etait Temps, said: “I say it every time and I mean it every time, as a family and as part-owners we’re delighted to be part of the big festivals and have big runners, but the most important thing the horses are coming home safely.
“Il Etait Temps is a small fella with a big heart, he tried his best and we’re very, very chuffed.
“There were a couple of poor jumps coming home, but we know that he’s an inconsistent jumper and with his (lack of) size and scope the ground may not have suited him, but still the team are very happy.”

Craig Kieswetter being interviewed by Rishi Persad (Supplied)
Barnane Stud also had two other runners on the day, but Echoes In Rain was pulled up and Karia Des Blaises, who is owned in partnership with Own Heffer, fell.
Guide to Day 2 Of The Cheltenham Festival
Ballyburn has been selected to win the first race on Day 2 (Oicture: RTE.ie)
Jamie Codd’s blog (At The Races)
At The Races’ Cheltenham columnist runs the rule over every contest on Wednesday, day two of the Festival.
1.30pm – Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle
It’s hard to oppose BALLYBURN in Wednesday’s opener. He’s been very good since his defeat to Firefox, winning his maiden hurdle with ease and then kicking good horses like Slade Steel, who won the Supreme on Tuesday, and King Of Kingsfield out of the way at the Dublin Racing Festival.
I expect Paul Townend will keep it very simple. He’ll pop out in the first two or three and let the horse do his thing and hopefully he’ll justify his big reputation. Handstands is still unexposed for the in-form Ben Pauling and has an each-way squeak, but he’s got a good bit to find with the Irish. I’ve heard good things about Jimmy Du Seuil, so he’s definitely one to keep an eye on too. In fact, all five of Willie Mullins’ runners here look to have big potential for the future. The strength in depth at Closutton is simply scary.
2.10pm – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
I’ve been a big fan of STAY AWAY FAY for a while, and I’m as strong as ever on him in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase. He jumps nicely, stays well and comes here already a Cheltenham Festival winner, having landed the Albert Bartlett over hurdles last year.
His last run in open company behind Capodanno and The Real Whacker is a proper piece of form and he’s still open to plenty of improvement in first time cheekpieces, which I’m guessing Paul Nicholls feels will sharpen him up for the big day. I’m really looking forward to the race.
2.50pm – Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle
I’m very keen on JIGORO here for Gordon Elliott and the Morans. He’s very unexposed first time into a handicap and has run well behind Tullyhill and Mystical Power, which looks useful form after Mystical Power ran so well in the Supreme.
Jigoro could look well-treated off a mark of 141. He’s stepping up in trip and will need some luck in running, but he should stay, and he’s well worth an each-way interest at decent odds of 14-1.
3.30pm – Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase
I’m happy to admit I’ve got a soft spot for Jonbon, but head has to rule heart here, and EL FABIOLO should really have enough in hand to land the Champion Chase. He was impressive in the Arkle last year, and while he’s not always been foot perfect with his jumping since then, he’s never looked in trouble and has notched three more wins since, two of those in Grade 1s. The ground will be fine for him and the race promises to be well-run, with a couple of obvious pace angles in there.
I’m sure they’ll go forward with Edwardstone again, but I fear he’s shown his hand to some extent. He was good at Newbury, but if he’d popped out and done that for the first time in the Champion Chase, he might just have caught them by surprise.
4.10pm – Glenfarclas Chase
I know the Cross Country track at Cheltenham well, and given the wet weather we’ve had and the lack of drainage at the course, this promises to be hard work. What a race this is though, with several Festival winners in action including 2021 Gold Cup winner MINELLA INDO , who has plenty going for him.
He really did take to the task well in December when he was giving lots of weight to his rivals and he’s been freshened up since. There are very few negatives with him and he’s the best horse in the race, so why doesn’t he win?
Delta Work has to be respected in his hat-trick bid but Galvin would like nicer ground, and I think Coko Beach could be the pick of Gordon Elliott’s. It’s his first try at this, but he handled the banks well at Punchestown and he’s a classy handicapper who goes well on soft ground.
4.50pm – Johnny Henderson Grand Annual
I think MASKADA can hit the heights again and go back-to-back in the Grand Annual for Darragh O’Keefe and Henry de Bromhead. She’s now 8lbs higher than last year, but given she had Dinoblue well behind in second that day, I feel she still could be well enough handicapped on that form.
She had to do the donkey work in front in a couple of smaller field races so far this year and wasn’t disgraced behind El Fabiolo in the Hilly Way. A return to this sort of test is what she needs and to me she’s been crying out for a lead and a strong pace to run at. That’s what you get in a Grand Annual which is a race tailor-made for her. I think there’s a big run in this mare.
5.30pm – Weatherbys Champion Bumper
Nothing has blown me away in the bumper division this year and this race looks wide open. Two catch my eye, but how can you not tip one of Willie Mullins’s in the bumper? TEESHAN was hugely impressive in his point to point, and arrived at Exeter with a big reputation, winning by seven lengths on bad ground. He’s open to improvement and should go well for a team who came close with Captain Teague last year.
I also like THE YELLOW CLAY , who ran a cracker on his return from a fair old break when fourth at Leopardstown last time. He didn’t get the smoothest run that day and I’d say he’ll be ridden for luck again, which can be a smart tactic in a race which is often run at a good gallop. I won two races on him last year, and he’s a good horse who tries hard and handles soft ground.
State Man wins Champion Hurdle for Willie Mullins
Paul Townend celebrates victory on State Man in the Champion Hurdle. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian
Frank Keogh – BBC Sport at Cheltenham
State Man won the Champion Hurdle as trainer Willie Mullins moved closer to 100 Cheltenham Festival victories.
The 2-5 favourite, ridden by Paul Townend, was runner-up last year but went one better in the absence of defending champion Constitution Hill.
Mullins would be the first person to reach the centenary and is on 97 victories after Gaelic Warrior and Lossiemouth also won on Tuesday.
State Man saw off Irish Point in second, with Luccia third.
Nicky Henderson, who saddled Luccia, ruled Constitution Hill out of the race last week after a poor workout.
Mullins was asked after the race how he felt State Man would have fared had Constitution Hill been fit to compete.
“He’s probably a better horse around Leopardstown, but he’s a Champion Hurdle winner,” said Mullins.
“You’ve got to turn up to win a Champion Hurdle – we turned up.
“He probably doesn’t produce his best at Cheltenham and of course we were aware when Constitution Hill came out that the expectation grew, but he’s a very good horse and he deserves this.
“I’d imagine Nicky will get Constitution Hill back and we can have another crack next year. Any day you get a winner here is good.”
Pioneering female jockey Blackmore celebrated another Chetlenham success.
Rachael Blackmore won the opening Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on 7-2 chance Slade Steel for trainer Henry de Bromhead.
It was a 15th Festival triumph for Blackmore, 34, who became the first woman to be leading jockey at the meeting three years ago.
“I love this place and it’s amazing to be coming here and riding these kind of horses,” she said.
In gruelling rain-softened conditions, the race was run in a time of four minutes, 12.87 seconds – the slowest running of the contest this century.
Mystical Power was second for Mullins as Irish-trained horses finished in the first five places, although his favourite Tullyhill was back in eighth, having faded badly.
It was not long before Mullins was on the scoreboard, with Gaelic Warrior running out an impressive winner of the Arkle Chase.
Townend was roared home on the 2-1 favourite, who triumphed by eight and a half lengths from Found A Fifty.
The jockey and trainer combined again to win the Mares’ Hurdle with Lossiemouth (8-13 favourite).
On a day where the name Mullins dominated, trainer Emmet won the concluding National Hunt Chase run in memory of his late grandmother Maureen with Corbetts Cross.
The 17-length triumph earned the 15-8 winner quotes of 14-1 for next year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup.
A first British-trained success of the 2024 meeting came courtesy of Chianti Classico in the Ultima Chase.
Ridden by David Bass, the 6-1 chance ground out victory for trainer Kim Bailey, who won the race 25 years earlier with Betty’s Boy.
Lark In The Mornin (9-1) took the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle under JJ Slevin for trainer Joseph O’Brien.
There was sad news as Highland Hunter, who was pulled up in the Ultima Chase, was fatally injured.
Trainer Fergal O’Brien said he was “absolutely devastated”.
Highland Hunter had been a favourite of point-to-point jockey Keagan Kirkby, who died in a fall during a race last month.
The grey horse had led the procession at Kirkby’s funeral last week in the Somerset village of Ditcheat, near where the rider worked for champion trainer Paul Nicholls.
Ose Partir was a second equine fatality of the day after being brought down in the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle.
From 'Zama-Zama' to Grade 1 Owner: Stinky Pooe's Inspiring Story
Picture: Stinky Pooe (glasses on head) leads in Purple Pitcher after his Gr 1 TAB SA Classic victory
Off The Record with Charl Pretorius
Purple Pitcher showed gritty determination in his beating of Sandringham Summit in last Saturday’s TAB SA Classic over 1800m at Turffontein. With this, he made SS Pooe South Africa’s newest Grade 1 winning thoroughbred racehorse owner, and rewarded him with a whopping R937,000 purse.
Purple Pitcher (Kabelo Matsunyane) was two lengths clear going up the notorious Turffontein hill that precedes the home bend. He brought the field into the straight at a steady clip. As the pacemaker in top-level company, he was probably going to throw in the towel within the next 300m, a victim of the toughest 1800m in South Africa. With 400m to run, Purple Pitcher was, indeed, headed by his first challenger, William Iron Arm. However, at the 300m-mark he regained the lead and persevered, tenaciously. Star colt Sandringham Summit quickened from off the pace and moved in for the ‘kill’ at the 150. But he found a rival who simply refused to let go of his lead. Purple Pitcher won by half a length, convincing enough to say there was no luck involved. This was a meritorious success.
Asked how he felt when Purple Pitcher fought back when Sandringham Summit was looming, the smartly-dressed Pooe told post-race interviewer Cecil Mthembu: “Once he hit the front I knew it was over, they weren’t going to catch up. He’s a stayer, we waited for 1800m for a long time and in the next one (SA Derby), he’ll have a big chance.”
Pooe is the embodiment of what South African racing needs more of – affluent black individuals who love owning horses and betting on them. He is a quiet and reserved gentleman, but always approachable, and enthusiastic when asked about his background. His life story is marked by the same guts and perseverance so beautifully displayed by his Grade 1 winner.
***
Pooe’s rags-to-riches journey started on 2 February 1957 in Charterson, a small ‘location’ near Nigel on the East Rand. He was named ‘Stinky’ at birth – to clear up the confusion for those who consistently make the other connotation. He said: “ ‘Stinky’ is my birthname. It is an African name that means ‘small diamond’; it was not a nickname given to me as a result of my surname. I only became aware of the meaning some people ignorantly attached to it, later in my life, when I was already doing business. I’ve always just laughed it off.” And, for the record, his surname is pronounced, ‘Po-Weh’, not ‘Poo-wee’!
His mother was an orphan, and Stinky himself grew up without a father in a period of protests, political upheaval and extreme hardship for people of colour. In 1957, South Africa was led by Prime Minister JG Strijdom. It was the very year in which the much-dreaded ‘Pass’ laws were introduced for black women. They were forced to carry an identification ‘pass’ at all times, needed police permission to be in white suburbs after dark and faced arrest and even torture if they failed to adhere to requirements.
He recalled: “My mother worked as a domestic at Nigel High, which was a whites-only boarding school. The domestic workers were called ‘maids’ in those days. She cleaned the classrooms and offices every day and did all the other chores required, including cooking meals for the boys.”
The Pooe family was forced to resettle to the township of Duduza, 30km away from Nigel, because Charterston was considered by the government to be too close to a white town. ‘Duduza’ means ‘comfort’, but conditions were all but comfortable and in later years this became one of the most highly active townships in South Africa in the fight against apartheid.
On the brighter side, there was ‘bush racing’ in the area, much enjoyed by the township folk. This is where Stinky first came into contact with horses and betting. “The kids loved going to a bush race. We took small bets among each other on which horses would win and this was exciting.”
Despite their challenging conditions, Stinky’s mother managed to provide schooling for him in a creche and then into Sub A and onward for the completion of primary school. Later, they had to move to the small farming town of Matatiele in the Eastern Cape for Stinky to complete his secondary education. “We had no choice but to relocate again because of the poor state of schools in Daveyton, which bordered Duduza. In Matatiele, I was enrolled for classes in a makeshift facility for students within a boarding school for girls. It was a good decision and I matriculated in 1976.”
Stinky’s grandfather had mining in his blood. He worked on the gold reefs around Johannesburg and his passion for retrieving the rare and much in demand gold dust from the rich reserves of the Witwatersrand was passed on to his grandson. With no job opportunities, Stinky returned to the East Rand and started digging for gold himself, mainly on the mine dumps – large deposits of waste rock, sand or other residue that is produced during the course of mining operations – scattered on the outskirts of towns like Brakpan, Boksburg and Benoni.
“I had to earn a living. I had a hammer, a chisel and an old carpet to filter sand through water so I could get to particles of gold dust. There were environmental difficulties and zoning problems, today still, and problems with water. I used old sewage pipes to channel some water for my activities.”
Small particles of gold dust, scraped together, become grams of gold, then ounces. Soon, Stinky started to prosper and he drew some of his friends into his venture. What they were doing wasn’t technically legal, but the dumps consisted of material unwanted and abandoned by the mining companies and was there for the taking.
“I think you can say that I was the father of the original Zama-Zamas – by its official meaning, people who work illegally in abandoned mining areas and mineshafts in order to retrieve metals or minerals. But I have to say that being a Zama-Zama was something to be very proud of in the 1980s and 90s. There weren’t many of us, our only objective was to earn money to survive and we worked long, hard hours in awful conditions. There were copper cables in the vicinity of the dumps. We were friendly with the police, we helped them to protect those cables and catch the cable thieves. There were no criminals among us. Today, sadly, with the influx of people from neighbouring countries and increasing poverty, the criminal elements invaded the Zama-Zama’s and things have turned violent and nasty.”
With some cash on hand, Stinky started attending race meetings, mostly at the old Gosforth Park and Newmarket tracks, in the 1980s. He discovered a knack for picking the right outsiders and cashed out big money, often. He met regular race goer Jomo Thsabalala, still a good friend and associate today, and Jomo recalls: “Stinky likes outsiders, he finds them well. One day at Gosforth Park he marked a horse that came from Port Elizabeth that nobody liked and won a massive Pick 6. There were only two winners that day.”
With a new government in place and plans for expansion of his business, Stinky applied for a mining licence. He battled for several years, but the licence was eventually granted in 2000. This led to the establishment of his company, Copper Eagle Trading, near Brakpan. He employs 12 workers.
***

Stinky bought Purple Pitcher for R170,000, a horse selected by his original trainer, Billy Ruiters. “Billy wanted this horse at all cost. It was his only choice at the 2022 BSA Two-Year-Old Sale. He wouldn’t stop saying what a nice horse it was, so I went to 170k to get him. Normally, I buy in the 30k to 40k range. I’ve had most of my winners from that bracket, including Miss Daisy, Tried And True and Mighty Goddess.”
When Stinky parted ways with Ruiters in 2023, Purple Pitcher was sent to up-and-coming lady trainer Robyn Klaasen, with about 30 other runners spread between the Marwing brothers, Tony Peter, Lunga Gila and Jannie Borman. “I try to support small trainers because I don’t like to see anyone struggling. I come from struggling, and I know how it feels.”
He has no immediate plans to secure a potential champion to follow Purple Pitcher, and said: “I have four unraced horses and the reports I’ve had on all of them are encouraging. They look smart. I want to wait for a while to see how they go before I plan my next buys.”
To conclude, a question often asked: How do we get more owners involved in the sport of racing?
Stinky’s view: “I believe that the racing industry, like most others, is linked to the country’s economy. People do not have money to spend. Our government needs to fix the economy and create jobs. This is the only way to get racing to flourish again. Racing is popular still, people love it. They’ll come back the moment they have jobs and earn money. It is that simple!”
Stinky said that the dire unemployment problem in South Africa can also be dealt with decisively. “My solution is this: Our government needs to licence mining activities for individuals, followed by strict control and policing of the industry. Let me tell you, there is plenty of gold all over South Africa, enough for everyone for at least the next century. The only thing a worker needs to start a business is a chisel, a ten-pound hammer and a big towel to use as a filter. They can all make money.
“The gold price today is well over US$2000. An ordinary worker can easily retrieve just a gram a day, that will put R300 or R400 in his pocket. Or he can gather the particles over time for a bigger payout. Here we have a ready-made industry that will serve our needs and help to get crime under control. The government should buy the gold from the prospectors, regulate the industry and create a win-win for all. It is not rocket science, not a pipe dream either. I don’t know why they are not doing it!”
‘Fourie Spotting’ Leads Us To Cupid’s Song
Richard Fourie will be attempting to win on Cupid’s Song for a tihird time (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Jack Milner (Tab4Racing)
We have all kinds of hobbies that involve spotting – Train spotting, plane spotting, car spotting, bird spotting etc.
But currently in South African horseracing we have a new kind of hobby called “Fourie spotting”.
The first item people rush to when the ComputaForm comes out is to find out what jockey Richard Fourie is riding at the meeting.
He is the most sought-after jockey and with him chasing for the jockeys’ title and a record number of winners, he often ends up with the best rides.
For example, on Wednesday Fourie is aboard Cupid’s Song for trainer Tony Rivalland in Race 5, a MR 79 Handicap over 1600m on the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville.
A glance at the form shows he has ridden this six-year-old gelding twice and has won both those races. Of more relevance, both were on the Polytrack, over 1700m and 1400m respectively.
Each of those wins resulted in a merit rating increase of 2kg, but that should not stop Cupid’s Song from making the necessary improvement.
In addition, the Oratorio gelding will get the benefit of jumping from pole position. Always useful over this course and distance.
Jack Milner’s selections
Race 1: 3 Sweet Julia, 6 Head Girl, 8 Emerald Green, 1 Vathomvlaffie
Race 2: 1 Play With Fire, 3 Floral Fantasy, 11 Valli Gal, 2 Sacred Lily
Race 3: 3 Madison Valley, 5 El Rey Viene, 2 Pirate Prince, 8 Syx Hotfix
Race 4: 4 Circle Of Grace, 3 Lucretius, 7 Wyatt’s Choice, 1 Fine Admiral
Race 5: 1 Cupid’s Song, 9 Future Of Energy, 5 Midnight Caller, 7 Pascali
Race 6: 3 Spring Kiss, 4 Oh So Squishy, 12 Pretty Analia, 8 Gilda Gray
Race 7: 1 Wyzeact, 7 Sleek As Silk, 6 Morgan La Fay, 2 Ralph The Rascal
Race 8: 8 Phaka Imali, 10 Knight Warrior, 2 Dancing Dora, 6 Big Slick
BEST BET
Race 2 No 1 Play With Fire
VALUE BET
Race 4 No 4 Circle Of Grace
BEST SWINGER
Race 5 1×9
BIPOT
R144
Leg 1: 3, 6, 8
Leg 2: 1
Leg 3: 3, 5
Leg 4: 3, 4, 7
Leg 5: 1, 9
Leg 6: 3, 4, 8, 12
PLACE ACCUMULATOR
R324
Leg 1: 1
Leg 2: 3, 5
Leg 3: 3, 4, 7
Leg 4: 1, 9
Leg 5: 3, 4, 12
Leg 6: 1, 6, 7
Leg 7: 2, 8, 10
PICK 6
R1440
Leg 1: 2, 3, 5
Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7
Leg 3: 1, 9
Leg 4: 3, 4, 8, 12
Leg 5: 1, 6, 7
Leg 6: 2, 6, 8, 10
JACKPOT 1
R120
Leg 1: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7
Leg 2: 1, 9
Leg 3: 3, 4, 8, 12
Leg 4: 1, 6, 7
JACKPOT 2
R96
Leg 1: 1, 9
Leg 2: 3, 4, 8, 12
Leg 3: 1, 6, 7
Leg 4: 2, 6, 8, 10
Greeff Four-timer, Fourie, Minnie and Smith Doubles
Kendall Minnie made it a double when scoring on 40/1 shot Cool Winter (What A Winter) having earlier won on 20/1 chance Lady Chatterley (Rafeef) (Picture: Pauline Herman Photography)
Both Richard Fourie and Kendall Minnie rode doubles for Alan Greeff on the Fairview poly today (Tuesday) as the latter scored a four-timer.
Gavin Smith also scored a double.
Fourie goes to 210 wins for the season and has achieved it at a strike rate of 21.76%.
Minnie goes to nine wins at 5.77%.
Greeff is now on 79 wins at 15.11%.
Smith is on 85 wins at 11.99%.
In third place on the East Cape Trainers log is Kelly Mitchley, whose win today took her to 41 wins for the season at 9.51% and put her in 20th place on the national log.
Today’s Question
The above is a recent picture of the question’s subject (Racing Post)
Who was the first woman to win a race at the Cheltenham Festival?
Midweek FIELDS
Fairview Poly, Tuesday
Today’s Question Answer
Caroline Beasley’s win on Eliogarty in the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase on 17th March 1983 was the first time a woman had triumphed in a Cheltenham Festival event. Three years later, she teamed up with the same horse and became the first of her gender to win over Aintree’s Grand National fences in the Foxhunters’ Chase.