Turf Talk Newsletter – 13 April, 2026

Handicappers' Urge For Informed Decisions At SANTA Handicapping Workshop

The TBA Sales Complex at Gosforth Park is the venue for the BSA National Yearling Sale on Thursday and Friday this week and also for a SANTA handicapping workshop on Wednesday (Picture: BSA)

The professional handicappers of South Africa have sent out a press release urging stake holders who are attending the South African Trainers Association (SANTA) handicapping workshop on Wednesday, April 15, at the TBA Sales Complex at Gosforth Park, to only consider those decisions made at the workshop that are guided by data and evidence rather than by anecdotal or observational claims.

The handicappers themselves will abstain from the Workshop “for reasons that include the avoidance of becoming persuasive to the attendees, given that all evidence suggests that the current system and its application is statistically functioning as intended and designed.”

However, they sent out the press release to ensure “that all stakeholders have access to current information ahead of policy discussions at the forthcoming SANTA held Workshop.”

It is certainly an understandable lament in South African racing that superior horses find it more difficult to rattle off a number of wins at the beginning of their careers, as they were reportedly able to do under the old Race Figure system, before being weighted according to their true ability.

However, the NHA press release points out the dangers of embracing a system which offers dispensation from the current handicapping rules.

Whilst, purists of any sport like to watch the best against the best, the handicappers have to operate in a way that best sustains the entire racing population as well as the players associated with it.

In the press release they referred to the Handicappers’ mandate which is to: “By handicapping, distribute the stakes pot as equitably as possible.”

The press release provides some interesting statistics for stakeholders to absorb before rushing into changes which might not be based on data and evidence and which could potentially compromise the overall stability of the racing population and the players associated with it.

Click here to read the NHA Handicappers’ Press Release

Big Owners' Big Pay Day In The Big Cap

Roland Garros, JP Van der Merwe and Justin Snaith are the toast of the crowd on the opening day of Champions Season (Picture: Race Coast)

In the R6 million Race Coast Sales Big Cap over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greuville on Saturday the winner was Roland Garros from the yard of champion trainer Justin Snaith and this horse runs in the Greg and Gina Bortz colours, which were carried to Hollywoodbets Durban July glory by Oriental Charm two years ago. Greg and Gina need no introduction and own Roland Garros in partnership with Hong Kong-based JP Cuvelier.

Both Roland Garros and Oriental Charm are by Vercingetorix, a sire which Greg had famously targeted at the Sales before his stallion profile had reached the phenomenal heights of today. The strategy has brought him his two biggest pay days in racing.

Three-year-old Roland Garros was officially 2,5kg out with the best weighted runner, the filly Just Be Lekka, but he faced the four-year-old favourite Talk To The Master as well as the two other prominent three-year-olds, Randolph Hearst and Malmesbury Missile, on exact handicapping terms.

Roland Garros’ form on paper was virtually on a par with Malmesbury Missile, but he had the advantage of pole position, whilst the latter had a tough draw of nine in the 12 horse field.

Roland Garros was also entitled to have come on from his last start, a close runner up finish in the March Stakes over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on March 1, as it provided a springboard into the Big Cap.

Roland Garros had been beaten 1,40 lengths by his stablemate Randolph Hearst in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas, but his form points to him being better over shorter and in fact Roland Garros had beaten Randolph Hearst as a juvenile over 1500m, albeit by a shorthead.

Talk To The Master, like Roland Garros, was also well drawn, in barrier two, while Randolph Hearst had a fair draw of five.

As it happened JP van der Merwe used Roland Garros’s good gatespeed and good early speed to find the perfect position on the rail behind Isivivane, who was sitting behind the pacemaker Just Be Lekka.

The filly was setting a fair pace.

The 18/10 favourite Talk To The Master sat behind Roland Garros in the running.

However, Roland Garros was able to steal a march on him turning for home.

Talk To The Master came around What A Fortune, who turned for home alongside Roland Garros, but whilst Craig Zackey had to ride the favourite all the way down the straight, JP van der Merwe still had Roland Garros in the hands at the 200m mark. The writing was on the wall.

Roland Garros won by 1,80 lengths from Talk To The Master with What A Fortune staying on to be beaten just a head into third and next best were Isivivane and Randolph Hearst.

Malmesbury Missile had to come from last after being dropped out and was too far back, finishing a 4.05 length sixth.

The first prize was a cool R3 million, in comparison to the R2,94 million Oriental Charm had banked for his July win.

Greg Bortz purchased the Varsfontein Stud-bred Roland Garros for R1.3 million at the Race Coast Sales Cape Premier Yearling Sale.

Justin Snaith said it had been “a hard slog” to won the race with it having been switched to Hollywoodbets Greyville on a date which required him to come to KZN earlier than usual.

He was full of praise for his new Summeveld assistant trainer Frank Robinson, who has done a phenomenal job for Sanith Racing this season, having also helped prepare See It Again, Double Grand Slam and Okavango and travel with them for their successful Highveld raid.

Justin Snaith has won three of the four “buy a slot” sales races held in SA to date, winning the R7.5 millin Gold Rush with Royal Mo colt Royal Aussie, winning the R7.5 million Gold Rush with Danon Platina Platina gelding Rapidash in 2024 and now the R6 million Big Cap with Roland Garros.

Turn It Up Trots Up In The Slipper

Turn It Up treats the field with contempt in the R3 million Race Coast Slipper (Picture: Race Coast)

There was a remarkable result in the R3 million Race Coast Sales Slipper as the first three past the post were all part-owned by the racing partnership of Laurence Wernars, Rikesh Sewgoolam and Mukund Gujadhur, while Wernars was sole owner of the fourth-placed horse.

Sean Tarry was trainer of the victor, the Querari colt Turn It Up, who was the joint-most impressive winner of the day and looks to have an exciting future ahead of him.

The half-brother to the Gr 1 Gold Medallion winner Proceed (Gimmethegreenlight) was also bred by Wernars.

After being dropped out from a wide draw of ten in the 1200m contest he made up the ground effortlessly on the outside under Keagan de Melo and won easing up by 2,20 lengths.

The Vaughan Marshall-trained One World colt World Series was second followed by the Piet and Elbert Steyn-trained Gr 3 Ridgemont Cape Of Good Hope Nursery winner Red Spice (Erik The Red).

Next best were the Louis Goosen-trained Erik Dubois (Erik The Red) and the Tarry-trained Secretary Bird (Rafeef).

Turn it up will have a fine chance of following in the footsteps of his half-brother Proceed by winning the Gold Medallion.

He also looks to be a sort who will go further than sprints.

The other most impressive winner on Saturday was the Vaughan Marshall-trained Questioning, who won an A Stakes race over 1200m.

This result fitted in well with the two big Sales race results in the day, because Questioning is owned by Greg and Gina Bortz’s in partnership with Mukund Gujadhur and the Wernars Family.

Questioning came from a wide draw in Saturday’s race and carried top weight of 61,5kg, but he looked a class above the field throughout the race.

The 127-rated five-year-old found cover in midfield under Richard Fourie and in the straight he mowed the leaders down to win easily.

Jersusalema Rain ran a fine 0,5 length second, although he was receiving 9kg from the winner, and Aristocratic ran on in eyecatching fashion for third in his first run as a gelding.

Questioning has blossomed this season, winning the Gr 3 Race Coast Matchem Stakes over 1400m and the Gr 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over 1200m, although his best performance was undoubtedly his shorthead second in the prestigious Gr 1 wfa L’Ormarins King’s Plate.

The Querari gelding sounded a warning to the older horses in the Champions Season and will likely be a big runner in both the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 140om and the Gr 1 wfa Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge over 1600m, which are his likely big race targets.

Miami Mountain Lands Another Feature

Miami Mountain powers through late to just get up in the Mythical Flight Sprint and it gives Hollywood Racing a 131st win of the season, three better than their own record they set last season (JC Photos)

Cape Breeders

Ridgemont’s five time G1 winning stallion Canford Cliffs looks to have come up with another smart sort in the form of Miami Mountain.
The latter ran out a game winner of the Betway Mythical Flight Sprint (1100m) at Turffontein on Sunday afternoon.

Under Callan Murray, the Mike and Mathew De Kock trained three-year-old unleashed a fine turn of foot which saw Miami Mountain get up close home to score by a short-head.
A half-brother to recent G2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Nursery winner Good Day Sunshine, Miami Mountain showed tremendous courage in fighting on strongly in Sunday’s sprint.

A tilt at the G2 Golden Horse Sprint (won last year by another son of Canford Cliffs in the form of Tenango) could be on the cards for the Hollywood Racing owned Miami Mountain. The latter has won five of nine starts, with Miami Mountain’s victories also including this season’s G3 TAB National Currency Sprint.

Bred by Ridgemont Highlands, Miami Mountain is out of the Captain Al mare Miss Florida, who is also the dam of the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Nursery winner Good Day Sunshine.

Miami Mountain is one of 30 stakes winners for star miler Canford Cliffs.

King Harald Is The One To Beat

King Harald has been tipped to win Race 6 (JC Photos)

Vaal Tuesday Formguides And Selections

RACE 1

10 NORTHUMBERLAND 2 BILLION STARS 11 RAPTOR KING 12 SANDS OF VALHALLA

Preview: 10 NORTHUMBERLAND made a good debut and is the one to beat. 2 BILLION STARS is by William Longsword and is a half-brother to the like of Tail Of The Comet. 11 RAPTOR KING is by New Predator and is a half-brother to WSB Met runner up Legal Counsel. 12 SANDS OF VALHALLA is by Erik The Red and is a half-brother to a couple of multiple winners. (10-2-11-12)

RACE 2

5 PLATINUM SHAY 1 ALICE B TOKLAS 2 ARROGANCE 7 STORM AVALANCHE

Preview: 5 PLATINUM SHAY has run some fair races in fair fields and can go close. 1 ALICE B TOKLAS made a good debut and should go close. 2 ARROGANCE is a first-timer by Gimmethegreenlight out of a Captain Al mare. 7 STORM AVALANCHE is a first-timer by Rafeef out of a Dynasty mare. (5-1-2-7)

RACE 3

1 ROYALE JACKET 6 ASIAH’S TIARA 5 GREENSIDE GIRL 2 EMERALD CITY

Preview: 1 ROYALE JACKET has been in good form and has a good opportunity here. 6 ASIAH’S TIARA can go close if repeating her last start. 5 GREENSIDE GIRL has shown some ability and can earn here. 2 EMERALD CITY can be in the shake up if producing her best. (1-6-5-2)

RACE 4

2 GIMMESUMLUV 4 COOL REGGAE 5 VIXENINTHEVINEYARD 3 STORM BALLET

Preview: 2 GIMMESUMLUV looks set to come into her own over a suitable trip with De Melo up. 4 COOL REGGAE ran a cracker over 2000m last time and could be right there. 5 VIXENINTHEVINEYARD should also be in the shake up. 3 STORM BALLET has the form to be a contender. (2-4-5-3)

RACE 5

1 BATTLEGROUND 2 ONE MORE STAR 3 DAMOVA 5 FUTUREWOLFF

Preview: 1 BATTLEGROUND is a useful stayer on his day and in form Marx-Jacobson should suit him. 2 ONE MORE STAR enjoyed the trip last time and has a fine chance. 3 DAMOVA is in good form and goes well for this jockey. 5 FUTUREWOLFF won well over this trip last time and has a chance off a three point higher mark with Yeni up from pole position. (1-2-3-5)

RACE 6

1 KING HARALD 2 GOLDEN OPERATOR 3 WILD INTENT 5 STORM BRASCO

Preview: 1 KING HARALD has some class and should go close. 2 GOLDEN OPERATOR is on the up and should be right there. 3 WILD INTENT is the best weighted but returns from a layoff since the Summer Cup. 5 STORM BRASCO looked promising at one stage and should start coming into his own. (1-2-3-5)

RACE 7

2 RACHEL WALL 5 GREEN FLASH 6 ROAMING SPIRIT 7 BLIZZARD SNOW

Preview: 2 RACHEL WALL is quick and is the one to beat here. 5 GREEN FLASH has speed and can stay on too. 6 ROAMING SPIRIT has the form to earn here. 7 BLIZZARD SNOW is capable of popping up. (2-5-6-7)

RACE 8

7 LOVABLE 2 MISS NOVAX 1 CAROLINE ISLAND 3 WISE COUNSEL

Preview: 7 LOVABLE looks capable of stepping up in this race. 2 MISS NOVAX has the ability to be a contender here. 1 CAROLINE ISLAND should be in the shake up in tis line up. 3 WISE COUNSEL has ability and has a chance here. (7-2-1-3)

Waller Apologises After Autumn Glow's First Defeat

Autumn Glow on her way to the start on Saturday (Picture: Racenet.co.au)

“I got it wrong”: Waller shows enormous grace in Glow’s shock defeat.

She is the daughter of SA-bred Champion Sprinter Via Africa and considering the latter’s speed it is not surprising Autumn Glow did not stay.

By Adam Dobbin (racenet.com.au)

There’s an old saying in sport which states that you learn more in defeat than you do in victory.

And it’s an adage expected to ring true in the wake of Autumn Glow’s shock first loss in Saturday’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

The glamour mare, which had won 11 from 11 going into the $5 million blockbuster, had the racing world on her shoulders in the weight-for-age showpiece.

The build up was huge. The anticipation, immense.

Connections took the superstar into uncharted territory for her grand final with the rise to 2000m the only question mark hovering over her air of invincibility.

Safer options like the Queen Of The Turf were put to the side.

In the end the 10-furlongs proved a bridge too far but she was brave in defeat.

Despite the petrol tank reading empty in the latter stages, Australia’s newest darling of the turf was only beaten 2 ½ lengths by a bona fide weight-for-age star in Sir Delius.

Had it not been for a failed veterinary scan in the spring, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained import may have gone into Saturday’s QE as a Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup winner too.

This morning, trainer Chris Waller showed enormous humility in putting the defeat largely on his own shoulders.

It was an unnecessary move, but not a surprising one either given his standing, electing to shoulder the blame while also acknowledging the winning connections.

“I’m disappointed for the horse, as she gave everything in the race, but I simply got her distance range wrong,” Waller said.

“I apologise to everyone for that — we’ll accept defeat graciously and come back better.”

Most importantly, the champion mentor reported Autumn Glow had come through the stern 2000 metre test in good order.

“She has come through yesterday’s run well, which has been pleasing to see,” he added.

“We will now look ahead to the spring, where Autumn Glow can shine again.

“I’ll speak with the owners, map out an exciting preparation, and keep you updated.

“Congratulations to Sir Delius and their team on a brilliant win as well.”

While Autumn Glow’s unbeaten tag is gone, her spring storyline is going to be engrossing.

With 2000 metres now off the table, where she goes and what she becomes is set to engage the racing public.

And what is for sure is that she lost no fans following Saturday’s loss.

If anything, she gained them.

I Am Maximus Makes Grand National History

Marcus Armytage (Daily Telegraph)

There is no greater accolade than being an Aintree great and I Am Maximus cemented his position as one of the very best to grace this famous corner of Liverpool as he won the Grand National for the second time in three years.

The 178th National was one of the most eventful in recent times, a real throwback, as the winner survived mayhem to lead home a one-two-four for owner JP McManus.

He beat Iroko by 2½ lengths with Jordans – the only placed horse not carrying the green and gold silks of McManus – in third and Johnnywho fourth.

So it is two wins in three years for I Am Maximum, sandwiching his gallant second a year ago. It will be 12 months before he gets a chance to equal Red Rum’s three wins in the 1970s, but there are likenesses; he became the first horse since the immortal “Rummy” to carry top weight to victory and the first since him to regain the race.

It also means his trainer, Willie Mullins, joins George Dockeray, back in the mists of time, Fred Rimell and Ginger McCain as the joint-most successful trainer in the race’s history, with four wins, and the first since Vincent O’Brien in the 1950s to win the race three years straight. The fourth victory for McManus also puts him clear as the race’s most successful owner.

In recent years, since the raft of changes to the course, more horses have unseated their jockeys than fallen but, for some reason, the fences took a higher toll here claiming a number of high-profile runners, with seven falling and another seven unseating.

Grangeclare West went at the first and the well-backed Panic Attack stood way too far off the third, the first ditch. Mr Vango did similarly at Becher’s and Gerri Colombe went at the seventh. Oscars Brother and Banbridge both lost jockeys at the Chair.

At Becher’s the second time, I Am Maximus, while not quite struggling, had slightly lost his position and only had six behind him. But Amirite and Top Of The Bill had led them along at a strong gallop and, when they dropped off the pace, there was always something to take up the slack.

When Jordans took it up crossing the Melling Road and burst clear, stamina was going to be the key ingredient in the winner.

At that stage I Am Maximus was still 12th, but what so often looks like a race-winning move proves to be nothing of the sort and though Jordans was still six lengths clear at the last, Ben Jones had already been sending out distress signals.

I Am Maximus had been switched to the outside by jockey Paul Townend and, between the last two, really began to hit top gear. Despite jumping the last 10 lengths back in fourth he was the one finishing and, escorted by loose horses and beautiful timing, he got to Jordans with about 100 yards to run. Iroko was also flying at the finish, but from further back, and he also managed to collar Jordans late on.

Mullins admitted it took him a while to get over the disappointment of son Patrick going at the first but, at the other end of the race, disappointment became elation.

“I thought Paul [Townend] wasn’t able to get through and he kept getting pushed sideways [round the last bend], but it was just Paul keeping calm, Paul’s class told and he sat and waited,” he said.

With regard to the cheekpieces added to help I Am Maximus concentrate, Mullins added: “He worked the other day and we didn’t think he was doing a tap. Paul came back saying we should put them on, but that’s what you need in the National, a lazy horse.

“From the last it was ‘he wins’, unless anything stupid happens. You never know what will happen; loose horses, something coming from out of the clouds, Devon Loch, these things happen and it’s what makes the National. If I’d had my way I’d have gone for the Gold Cup but JP said, ‘Grand National’. I thought, ‘you’ve won a National, let’s try and win a Gold Cup now’, but he thought different.

“It’s the first race we all grew up watching and the race we aspire to win when we go into racing. It’s a race you want to be a part of. Just to have a runner is a tremendous sensation and for our owners, just to be involved and here at Aintree is great.”

Townend has now won the Gold Cup and National in the same season for a second time and had the choice of eight horses from the Mullins yard to ride.

“When they jumped off I got into a nice rhythm again, I still didn’t think he travelled with the enthusiasm of the first year, but I just thought the cheekpieces helped me in the middle part of the race,” he explained.

“I saw the horse in front [Jordans], I wasn’t going to be the one to go chasing them. I was able to get a lead to the Elbow and I didn’t know where the loose horse was going. He [I Am Maximus] is a really, really good horse, that’s why [I always believed in him]. Obviously, Grangeclare West’s preparation was really good in the Bobbyjo, but this lad wasn’t telling me not to ride him.”

In all, 16 horses finished the race. Robbie Dunne was taken to hospital after a heavy fall from Stellar Story, while three horses – Mr Vango, Top Of The Bill and Quai De Bourbon – were all taken back to the racecourse stables for further veterinary assessment after falls.

The winner will, doubtless, be paraded outside Mullins’s local, The Lord Bagenal, at some stage but do not expect it to last as long as the race.

Explaining the winner’s character, Mullins said: “Normally the horses come to the car park, we have an ice-cream van for the kids and people want their photographs taken with the horses.

“Galopin Des Champs was there for an hour and a half, Lossiemouth for two hours, but I Am Maximus… he ate about three babies and kicked about four pensioners. We had to load him and take him home after five minutes. That’s I Am Maximus, he’ll eat you without salt. He is a character – don’t stand in his way.”