Turf Talk Newsletter – 12 March, 2026

Grand Empire after winning the Gr 1 HKJC World Pool SA Classic (JC Photos)

Sean Tarry could be called the Bruce Fordyce of horseracing because he makes an annual charge in the second half of the season and on at least a couple of occasions has put himself in a position to overtake Justin Snaith, who usually has a big lead at the halfway mark.

The five-times national champion trainer looks unlikely to challenge Snaith this season because the latter has plenty of firepower, but he did have a fine Classic Day with two Gr 1 wins and two Listed exactas, which saw the gap between Snaith and the rest closed to about R8 million.

Tarry said about the HKJC World Pool SA Classic winner Grand Empire’s targets, “There are various options, I haven’t got a set program. It depends on whether you have aspirations of going the for the July or the Daily News or both, or whether you want to go for the Premier’s Challenge. There are a lot of options but I haven’t firmed up a path.”

He didn’t mention the SA Derby as an option.

Grand Empire’s merit rating at present is 120.

However, there is apparently an appeal against his and other ratings emanating from the handicapping updates made after the SA Classic.

The outcome of that could help decide the route to take.

Tin Pan Alley, winner of the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m, has more obvious targets.

Tarry said, “It’s pretty straight forward, the WSB Guineas and the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge.”

He added, “The Hawaii is an option but you have to be mindful of him carrying a Gr 1 penalty there, it would still make him well weighted according to his rating, but we don’t always try and test the rating, we try and keep a weight for age horse at level weights while he’s got that advantage.”

Tin Pan Alley hasn’t been tried over further than a mile yet, but the way he won the Horse Chestnut Stakes suggests the relatively easy 1800m of Hollywoodbets Greyville could make the Gr 1 wfa Champions Cup an option for him at the end of the sesson.

Tarry scored exactas in both the Listed Ruffian Stakes over 1000m with Secretary Bird and Griselda and with Care Forgot and Warning Sound in the Listed Wilgerbosdrift Acacia Stakes over 1600m.

The two-year-old Rafeef filly Secretary Bird qualifies for the R3 million Race Coast Sales Slipper to be run over 1200m on April 11 at Hollywoodbets Greyville together with stablemates Status Symbol and Turn It Up.

Status Symbol is a colt by Gimmethegreenlight out of the former Tarry-trained Tiger Ridge mare Trophy Wife, who had the Gr 2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes over 1800m among her seven wins.

Status Symbol won second time out over 800m having finished fourth to the lightning fast Heath House on debut.

Turn It Up is a Querari colt who is a half-brother to Tarry’s Gr 1 Gold Medallion winner Proceed.

Turn It Up fnished a running on second to Heath House on debut before winning by 5,30 lengths second time out over 1000m.

Tarry is also looking to be building up a strong string for his annual assault on the Hollywoodbets Scottsville Festival Of Speed meeting and Griselda will likely be in that team.

The Festival Of Speed meeting used to have a Jackpot of Gr 1 races, but was down to three Gr 1s last year when the Golden Horse Sprint was downgraded and this year it will only have two Gr 1s, because the Allan Robertson has now been downgraded to a Gr 2 also.

The best has likely not been seen yet of On My Honour, who has recovered from his nasty fall at Turffontein in the Betway Summer Cup and he put up a good gallop on Monday at Summerveld (Candiese Lenferna Photography) 

On My Honour was the horse who came down in the Betway Summer Cup in a nasty incident, but he has recovered well and put up a fine gallop at Summerveld on Monday.

It was his first gallop since the incident and Trainer Glen Kotzen said, “He pulled up sound and is happy.”

On My Honour has shown signs of huge potential and the best has probably not been seen of him, so he could represent good value in the pre-noms betting for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Hollywoodbets have him at 75/1 for a win and 12/1 for the first four.

He should be seen out again soon in his bid to qualify for another run in the July.

He did not have the best of luck in the race last year.

Holding Thumbs is another Kotzen-trained horse who could try and qualify for the July.

This courageous horse has fine recent form over staying trips that has seen his merit rating rise to 119.

Kotzen has one of the best maidens in the land, the two-year-old Erik The Red colt Roskilde, who has finished a close up third to Red Spice in the Listed JC Le Roux Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1100m and he followed up with 0,40 length second to Red Spice in the Gr 3 Ridgemont Gr 3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery over 1200m, where he received only 1kg.

Roskilde qualifies for the R3 million Race Sales Slipper over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on April 11.

Kotzen finished third in the Cape Of Good Hope Nursey with another maiden juvenile, the filly Lady Nancy (Legislate).

He mentioned her and Lady Jean (Real Gone Kid), who won second time out, as two others who have qualified for the Slipper.

The useful four-year-old Global View filly Disting is among other Kotzen-trained horses who will be campaigning during the Champions Season.

Tintin (Rafeef) clinched a hattrick at Turffontein Inside on Thursday and the win gave Sean Tarry a treble on the day and Craig Zackey a double (JC Photos) 

Sean Tarry has a treble at the Turffontein Inside meeting today, two of them ridden by Craig Zackey.

Keagan de Melo had a double at the meeting.

Zackey has now had 168 wins this season and has done it at a strike rate of 16.75%.

He is now 35 wins clear of Richard Fourie and is made a 1/5 shot by Hollywoodbets to win the Jockeys Championship, with Fourie at 23/10.

De Melo is on 56 wins at 17.78%.

Tarry is on 74 wins at 14.98%.

Mike Cattermole (At The Races)

I am so looking forward to this year’s Boodles Gold Cup (18H00 SA Time Friday), which should be run at a true gallop. You need to stay and have plenty of ability to win Friday’s feature, and some will fall short on both counts.

I could certainly see Haiti Couleurs trying to do a Native River by making most. Can anything catch him up the hill? Can Gaelic Warrior last home? Will the real Inothewayurthinkin show up? Is Grey Dawning good enough? Can one of Jango Baie or The Jukebox Man take a big stride forward? Or will there be a shock? See my thoughts below…

1. ENVOI ALLEN
Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe | Trainer: Henry de Bromhead

This could be the curtain call for this extraordinary horse who appears at the Cheltenham Festival for the seventh time. He is a three-time Cheltenham Festival winner, landing the Champion Bumper in 2019, the Ballymore Novices Hurdle the following year and then the Ryanair Chase in 2023, the same race he has been placed in for the last two runnings. He was also third in the 2022 Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Sure, he may be past his best, but he was still able to claim his 10th Grade 1 in the Down Royal Champion Chase over three miles last November in great style and was then put by to come into this as a fresh horse. Now he tackles the big one and a new trip for the first time. It is likely to be beyond him but let’s hope he comes back unscathed and is set for a long retirement.

Will he be regarded as an all-time great? On ratings, perhaps not, but certainly one of great distinction who promised probably too much when he began his career with 12 straight wins. But who would not always admire and celebrate a 10-time Grade 1 winner?

2. FIREFOX
Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott

This is his third Cheltenham Festival appearance after a third in the 2024 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and a sixth in the Jack Richards last year. He began the season with a Grade 2 win at Down Royal over just short of two and a half miles, confirming that he is a smart chaser.

But this step up in trip is going to stretch him, judged on his fourth in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown when he tried three miles for the first time. He was dropped right out and tried to stay on but even those extreme tactics had him treading water at the end, as he finished a neck behind a below-par Galopin Des Champs and 14 lengths behind Fact To File.

Looks overfaced in many ways here.

3. GAELIC WARRIOR
Paul Townend | Willie Mullins

A very well-named and extremely talented five-time Grade 1 winner who has shown amazing versatility, trip-wise, in his career. He was an impressive winner of the 3m Grade 1 Novice Hurdle at Punchestown in 2023 and came out the following spring to drop back and win the 2m Arkle Chase here, going one better than in his two previous appearances at the Cheltenham Festival.

Hard to find fault in his last five runs, beating Grey Dawning by 3 lengths in the Aintree Bowl over 3m1f last April, taking the Oaksey Chase with ease at Sandown before reappearing with an epic defeat of stablemate Fact To File in that never to be forgotten John Durkan at Punchestown.

Then he was right in the thick of it in a King George for the ages, beaten two noses by The Jukebox Man and Banbridge, with Jango Baie in fourth. He was no match for Fact To File in the Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown last month but never gave up, albeit looking all out on the run-in.

His tendency to race a bit keenly, although not always, is a factor to consider as he tries the Gold Cup trip for the first time. At the back of the mind, too, is that he is Flat-bred (by the Niarchos family). But he is trained and ridden by two of the very best. I wish him well but have a feeling he may come up a touch short.

4. GOLD TWEET
Clement Lefebvre | Gabriel Leenders

A rare French challenger in our most prestigious chase, he won the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle here in 2023 and wasn’t disgraced when fourth behind Grey Dawning, beaten 16 lengths, last November.

On that evidence, he has much to do here, though was a very creditable third in the Prix la Haye Jousselin (French equivalent of the King George) over just short of three and a half miles last November.

The nine-year-old warmed up with an indifferent run over hurdles at Fontainebleau last month.

5. GREY DAWNING
Harry Skelton | Dan Skelton

A strong traveller in his races, he put up a career-best to take the Betfair Chase at Haydock last November from course specialist Royal Pagaille, reversing form from the previous year.

He by-passed the King George and was kept by for the Cotswold Chase here in January when a mistake at the second last proved costly as he took third, beaten ¾-length and 4¼ lengths, behind Spillane’s Tower and L’Homme Presse, the winner receiving 6lb from the two placed behind him. It wasn’t a bad effort, and Dan Skelton was happy enough in the circumstances.

The trainer will not entertain any thought of his grey failing to stay the trip and so perhaps more of a question is his level of talent. As very smart as he is, is he quite good enough? He was beaten three lengths by Gaelic Warrior in the Aintree Bowl last April, remember.

A previous Cheltenham Festival winner, he won the Turners Novices’ Chase here two years ago. On the plus side, he arrives here fresh and will be tuned to the minute.

6. HAITI COULEURS
Sean Bowen | Rebecca Curtis

Winner of six of his eight chase starts, he arrives here as an Irish and Welsh National winner, unbeaten in two at Cheltenham, including last year’s National Hunt Novice Chase, and with the ability to handle any form of ground. Clearly the stamina box is ticked, in bold, and his style of racing is usually uncomplicated with a sound jumping technique. Expect Sean Bowen to go forward on him to make use of those stamina reserves.

His season has gone well, for the most part very well, excepting the blowout in the Betfair Chase when pulled up after some moderate jumping – most unlike him. Rebecca Curtis assured everybody he would show that to be all wrong, and he duly did the job in style on unusually fast ground in the Welsh National the following month.

Warmed up by dismissing L’Homme Presse in the Denman Chase at Newbury in a professional manner and, although that form needs improving on, there is a chance that there is more to come. Looks sure to run well and a solid each-way shout.

7. INOTHEWAYURTHINKIN
Mark Walsh | Gavin Cromwell

The defending champion who has been a shadow of the horse who ended Galopin Des Champ’s reign 12 months ago and yet has been well supported in the market of late to bounce back in his first time cheekpieces. Trouble is, we don’t know the way he is thinking, in spite of following exactly the same programme that he did last term.

Like last season, he began by being tailed off in the John Durkan. In the Savills Chase last year, there was an improvement, a 15-length defeat by Galopin, which was reduced to just over 7 lengths in the Irish Gold Cup. This time, he was tailed off in the Savills, and then legless and well behind and weary when falling at the last in the Irish Gold Cup.

In spite of not being the most natural jumper, that was his first fall. On the plus side, he is unbeaten in two here, having also won the 2024 Kim Muir, and the stable has been going largely okay this week with a winner on Wednesday.

Not for me, but, if he does take this again, Gavin Cromwell will be anointed.

8. JANGO BAIE
Nico de Boinville | Nicky Henderson

Last year’s unlikely Arkle hero (and 2/2 here) bids to make history by following up in the Gold Cup. It has never been done, although rarely attempted. Pendil nearly did it when beaten a short head in the 1973 Gold Cup.

Nicky Henderson has had a very good week, and there is a good chance that this seven-year-old – the youngest in the line-up – still has more to offer. His comeback at Ascot was highly impressive, as he thrashed the smart Gidleigh Park, and he followed that with a close fourth in a vintage King George, where he has just ½-length to make up on The Jukebox Man and Gaelic Warrior.

That was his first start at three miles and now he goes further. But he is uncomplicated, travels well in his races, handles any ground and arrives here fresh and no doubt primed to perfection. Big player, although there’s that damning stat!

9. L’HOMME PRESSE
Charlie Deutsch | Venetia Williams

Good to see Veneta Williams smiling again after Martator’s unlikely but welcome success on Wednesday. The season had been a struggle to that point, but L’Homme Presse had still been performing with credit, running a stormer under top-weight in a handicap over this course and distance on his reappearance.

He was then a highly creditable second in the Cotswold Chase, failing by ¾-length to give 6lb to Spillane’s Tower, with Grey Dawning (levels) just over 4 lengths behind in third. On some days his jumping can lack fluency, and that was certainly the case when beaten 7 lengths by Haiti Couleurs (receiving 2lb) at Newbury.

Overall, this three-time course winner and two-time Grade 1 hero, including the Brown Advisory here in 2022, has been a great servant but he didn’t quite get home at this level when fading into fourth in this two years ago – and he is now two years older.

10. SPILLANE’S TOWER
Harry Cobden | Jimmy Mangan

There is a fairytale to be unlocked here should Jimmy Mangan’s Cotswold Chase winner lift the big one. Jimmy may be a former Grand National-winning trainer, but he has never had the ammunition to be in the big league, and this very smart chaser is one of just eight he now looks after in County Cork.

A two-time Grade 1 winner, he had been a little inconsistent until putting himself in the picture here in January when beating L’Homme Presse by ¾-length but in receipt of 6lb. Grey Dawning was behind in third after making an error at the second last.

The trainer thinks there is more to come and there could be, but even then it may not be enough.

11. THE JUKEBOX MAN
Ben Jones | Ben Pauling

Unbeaten in four chase starts and with the promise of more to come, Ben Pauling’s star has a major chance here. Stepped forward to land a thrilling renewal of the King George VI Chase at Kempton, looking held until lunging late to deny Banbridge and Gaelic Warrior, with Jango Baie ½-length further back in fourth.

Essentially, it was his stamina that won the day and although we are guessing about whether the trip will suit here, the portents look promising. There is a lot of staying blood in his make-up.

Doubters will point out to his run in the Albert Bartlett Hurdle two years ago when he jumped the last around 4 lengths clear only to get reeled in by Stellar Story on the heavy ground. You would imagine that he will be a stronger horse now and connections might have learned something from that, too. The ground won’t be as testing this time, either.

He has proved he handles any sort of going and the yard has been enjoying a best-ever campaign so there is good reason to believe that Harry Redknapp’s dream of winning this might well come true.

MIKE CATTERMOLE’S VERDICT

Only Native River has kept the Gold Cup at home over the past decade, but the Brits must fancy their chances of doing it again in Friday’s feature. There are big questions surrounding defending champion Inothewayurthinkin, who seems so out of sorts this term. Gavin Cromwell’s charge certainly wouldn’t be the first horse to suffer from winning a Gold Cup.

Gaelic Warrior is such a trooper and will do his best as always, but he had a hard race last time and will no doubt be dropped out in order to be given every chance by the excellent Paul Townend. Grey Dawning may just fall a little short, while Haiti Couleurs looks rock solid to at least run a big race.

With further progress to come, Jango Baie should also be bang in the mix, but THE JUKEBOX MAN beat him in the King George and could be even better suited by this greater test of stamina. As a result, Ben Jones’s mount looks the one to beat for Ben Pauling and owner Harry Redknapp.

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