This picture adequately sums up why everybody wants a runner in the Hollywoodbets Durban July (Anthony Grote/Gameplan Media).

Nightmare Faces July Final Field Panelists

The Hollywoodbets Durban July betting board shows the Gr 2 WSB 1900 winner Pacaya and Gr 3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial winner Winchester Mansion as two of four horses who are joint second favourite for the big race.

Considering the skinny price of 8/1, it is obviously a little known fact that the pair will somehow have to leapfrog at least three horses who are above them in the qualifying process to make it into the all important top 18 when the final field plus two reserves is announced next Tuesday.

The supplementing for the big race of Trip Of Fortune this morning made it even more difficult for the panelists.

However, the later scratching of Cousin Casey made the task slightly less of a nightmare.

Trip Of Fortune will be the new incumbent topweight, as he is merit rated 127.

So, he will likely be high up in the qualifying process … unless the panelists decide that as a horse who has never raced beyond 1600m he does not warrant a place.

The five automatic qualifiers for the big race are See It Again, Puerto Manzano, Rain In Holland, Bless My Stars and Son Of Raj.

If Trip Of Fortune is indeed high up in the qualifying process then for both Pacaya and Winchester Mansion to make it into the top 18 they will have to leapfrog three of these horses: Trip Of Fortune, Do It Again, Safe Passage, Pomp And Power, Dave The King, Rascallion, Zapatillas, Second Base, Without Question, Billy Bowlegs, Time Flies, Silver Darling, Jimmy Don and Nebraas.

The WSB 1900 and the Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial winners are given preferential consideration for the final field.

However, the difficulty is that after Pacaya’s WSB 1900 win he was only put at number 20 on the log.

Just taking the number 19 on the log, Nebraas, and the number 18 on the log, Jimmy Don, as examples of the task the panelists face:

Is it fair to drop Nebraas below Pacaya when neither have run since the final log publication?

Jimmy Don only ran fifth in Sunday’s Gr 3 Jubilee Stakes, but is it fair to drop him on the performance of a preparation run? His run on Sunday was well below his run in the Gr 1 WSB SA Classic, in which he actually beat the no. 16 on the log, Billy Bowlegs.

Winchester Mansion was not on the log at all, but won the Cup Trial impressively which gives grounds to put him into the top 18 … except that in the WSB 1900 Pacaya gave him 2kg and a beating.

Winchester Mansion was returning from a four month layoff in that race, but Pacaya was also returning from a layoff, albeit only two-and-a-bit months.

There are likely to be a few disgruntled connections after the final field announcement next Tuesday, June 20.

But if Pacaya and Winchester Mansion do not make the final field, there will be a number of punters who will be more than just disgruntled.

Who would want to be a final field panelist?!

They will be hoping for two or three scratchings before next Tuesday.

Christophe Soumillon wins the Gr 1 Schweppes Majorca Stakes on the Mike de Kock-trained Desert Miracle (Picture: Wayne Marks).

Soumillon to ride Safe Passage in HWB Durban July

Mike de Kock has confirmed Christophe Soumillon will be riding Safe Passage in the G1 Hollywoodbets Durban July on Saturday, 1 July. He will also be engaged for Desert Miracle in the G1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes.

A potent combination around the world, Mike and Christophe last partnered on Met Day 2023 when Desert Miracle won the G1 Schweppes Majorca Stakes.

“Christophe will be jetting in on Friday, June, and back out again after races on Saturday. He will be looking for a few other plum rides. We hope to have another ride or two available earlier in the day,” said Mike.

Soumillon showed on WSB Met day at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth why he is regarded as one of the world’s most naturally talented riders.

The 42-year-old Belgian is a ten-times champion jockey in France and is known for his sublime balance and superb hands.

Indeed, he settled Desert Miracle beautifully in the Majorca before producing her at just the right time to win.

He also won two other races on the day, including a Listed event.

It is a thing of beauty to watch Soumillon in action and what he brings to the table will compensate for his lack of experience of the tight horseshoe-shaped Hollywoodbets Greyville racetrack.

There will not be many criticising the connections’ decision to engage him.

Safe Passage is a four-year-old Drakenstein Stud-homebred by the late Silvano.

He will be out to become the sixth July winner by Silvano, who is the most successful sire in July history.

He will also be out to become De Kock’s sixth July winner.

Trip Of Fortune has more stamina in the pedigree than his current sprint-miler profile suggests (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Trip Of Fortune Surprise HWB Durban July Supplementary Entry

The Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Drakenstein Stud homebred Trippi gelding Trip Of Fortune was a surprise supplementary entry for the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July today.

It is a surprise move because he has built a reputation as a sprint-miler.

However, Trip Of Fortune is actually from the same family as the Trippi gelding Winchester Mansion, who was an easy winner of the Gr 3 Hollywoodbets Dolphins Cup Trial over 1800m over the weekend and who also won the Gr 3 WSB Pocket Power Stakes over 2400m as a three-year-old.

Winchester Mansion being by the same sire and from the same family, coupled with his ability to stay, might have been what prompted the connections to enter Trip Of Fortune.

Trip Of Fortune himself has never raced beyond a mile.

The classy four-year-old gelding’s career stakes victories have been a Listed win as a two-year-old over 1200m, a Gr 3 win over 1400m as a three-year-old and this season he has won a Gr 1 over 1600m, a Gr 2 over 1600m, a Gr 2 over 1400m and a Gr 3 over 1400m.

His sire Trippi is generally viewed as a speed influence who can also get top class horses over middle distances with twice L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate winner Jet Dark, who also won the WSB Met, being the best example and Winchester Mansion being an example of one who even gets staying trips.

As a racehorse Trippi won a Gr 1, two Gr 2s and a Gr 3 over 1400m and also a Gr 3 over 1800m.

Trip Of Fortune’s dam Louvre by Doowaley won the Gr 2 Tibouchina over 1400m, but was also Graded placed from 1450m up to 2000m.

Drakenstein have five homebred entries who are either in the field or in with a chance of making the final field.

Rain In Holland is an automatic qualifier, Safe Passage is a certainty to get in, Winchester Mansion won the Hollywoodbets Dolpins Cup Trial, whose winners get preferential consideration for inclusion in the final field, Silver Darling was in 17th position on the final July log and then there is Trip Of Fortune, who is now the incumbent topweight.

Only Winchester Mansion’s relative weight will be effected by Trip Of Fortune’s presence, as he will go from sneaking into the handicap to being half-a-kilogram under sufferance.

Drakenstein also bred the favourite See It Again as well as Pacaya and the latter’s relative weight will be effected as he will now be 1,5kg under sufferance as opposed to just 1kg under sufferance.

There are bound to be some conspiracy theories in the air though and there will be some who might wonder whether Trip Of Fortune’s entry is a strategic move.

The one possible way it could be a strategic move is if the final field panelists follow the preferential consideration clause for Winchester Mansion and thus include him in the final 20 but make him one of the reserves – if he is first reserve Trip Of Fortune could be scratched to make a place for Winchester Mansion.

However, that is just a hypothesis and is not likely to be the reason behind the entry of a Drakenstein-homebred.

The most likely reason for his entry is because Drakenstein and Candice Bass-Robinson believe he has a winning chance.

Another hypothetical reason for his entry though could be to ensure a good pace, Trip Of Fortune being a horse who has proven he can compete with the best over sprints and over a mile.

However, that would also likely just be a view of comspiracy theorists because as a Gr 1 weight for age miler who must at least have some stamina doubt due to his speed, the most likely tactic for him would be to ride him as quietly as possible.

If somebody went a step further and used the word “pacemaker” to describe a reason for his entry that would definitely be something to be scoffed at – a Gr 1 wfa mile winner being used as a pacemaker! Lol.

Nevertheless, the July is a race that never fails to be full of intrigue and today the intrigue, with the supplementing of Trip Of Fortune and the scratching of Cousin Casey, started in real earnest!

Bernard Fayd’Herbe is free to ride in the Hollywoodbets Durban July, despite facing a lengthy suspension dished out by Mauritius stewards. (Hamish Niven Photography).

Fayd’Herbe To Ride Pomp And Power In The July

Bernard Fayd’Herbe is free to ride in the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

He spoke on social media today of the privilege of landing the July ride on the Justin Snaith-trained Pomp And Power.

He also thanked his Mauritian employers for allowing him the ride and said he would have many loyal Mauritius fans following him and he hoped to make them proud.

Fayd’Herbe has won the big race twice, on the great Mike Bass-trained Pocket Power, who dead-heated for first in 2008, and on the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Marinaresco in 2017.

Fayd’Herbe was recently handed a one year suspension by the Mauritian Authorities, who apparently have strict rules about riding horses with necessary vigour and in their opinion he did not do so when riding a horse called Castle Of Glass, who finished a short-head second to a horse who had shortened dramatically in the betting.

However, it seems that he has been granted permission to ride while waiting for an appeal process to be completed.

The incident occurred on May 13 and he was riding at a meeting as recently as June 3.

One of the ironies of the severe suspension imposed on Fayd’Herbe is that he had been in devastating form.

In his three meetings prior to the May 13 meeting he had had eight wins in eleven rides, including a perfect four-timer on 29 April.

In his immediate rides after the incident he had two wins in three rides.

His form has understandably tailed off since hearing of the suspension.

The best tonic for the gifted rider now would be to go and win the July.

Cousin Casey has been scratched from the 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Cousin Casey July Dream Put On Hold

Media release by Woodhill Racing on Tuesday 13 June 2023.

In what has been a tough decision for his connections, Gr1-winning Cape 3yo Cousin Casey will be scratched from the 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Making the announcement on Tuesday afternoon, trainer Glen Kotzen said that it was felt that in the collective best interests of their smart horse and the racing public, the son of Vercingetorix will not race again this Champions Season and will be given a few months off at the magnificent Woodhill Estate in Paarl.

“I must stress that there is no injury or any direct health issues with Cousin Casey. His blood picture is fine. He’s emptying the manger. But even though just running a matter of lengths off them prior to Saturday, when he overraced in the Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge, he just has not been at the top of his game this season up in KZN, and has not matched anything near his sparkling form of the Cape summer,” added a disappointed Glen Kotzen.

He said that the team and owner Ravi Naidoo had sat down and weighed up the fact that the Gr1 and dual Gr2 winning Cousin Casey is a valuable and very special horse, and that his performances were his way of asking for time off.

“He has a tremendous following and we know how good he is. If he is not ready to do his best, then we’d rather ease off and bring him back for greater things in the Cape summer. We feel for the public who have backed him into the Hollywoodbets Durban July. But when dealing with flesh and blood, these unforeseen occurrences are a reality.”

Glen Kotzen, who won the Durban July in 2009 with Big City Life, said that his yard was not at its best at the moment.

“The wheel turns and we are just not firing on all cylinders as a stable either at the moment. It’s tough to accept it, but we have too many good owners and great horses not to bounce back. We will make it our goal to bring Cousin Casey back in 2024 for a tilt at the Hollywoodbets Durban July,” concluded Kotzen.

Lot 1 at the Cape Racing Winter Mixed Sale

Nadeson Park Consignment To Cape Winter Sale

Hassen Adams of Nadeson Park provided comments on the yearlings from his stud, drafted to Friday’s Cape Racing Winter Sale at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

Lot 1 Rendesvous In Rio
“We open up the sale with this beautifully proportioned Trippi filly out of one of my foundation mares, Fairyinthewoods, a speedy mare who was unbeaten in six starts and won the G2 Southern Cross Stakes. She has produced some good horses. CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL

Lot 2 Fate Of Peace
“A nice, strong filly by Master Of My Fate out of Flichity, another of our foundation mares.” CLICK HERE TO SEE PEDIGREE IN DETAIL

Lot 3 Unnamed
“A Captain Of All from Fortissimus, a bold black type mare by Mogok. Beatifully topped and proportioned, I think a lot of her.” CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL

Lot 4 Lady William
“A filly by William Longsword. She is big and strong, could be a nice filly to buy at a reasonable price.” CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL

Lot 28 More Inclined
“A filly by Master Of My Fate out of a four-time winning More Than Ready mare. I like her, she looks a bit light, but I think that’s the way this family starts off. I think she’ll grow into something nice. More Than Ready is the sire of Gimmethegreenlight, his fillies are sought after all over the world.” CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL

Lot 29 Greenlight Jet
“A colt by Gimmethegreenlight out of Mysterious Jet, by Jet Master, whose full-sister La Bella Mia won eight races. He’s only starting to develop now, will be a stunning colt as a late two-year-old.” CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL

Lot 33 Green Street
“Here we have a Gimmethegreenlight filly, an absolute beauty and the best of my fillies. The blood says it all, she is from the close family of Vercingetorix.” CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL

Lot 36 Rama Forseca
“This is a magnificent colt by What A Winter, one of our best. He is out of Omega Force (Gimmethegreenlight), from the potent Aquila Rapax family. CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL

Lot 47 Global Rock
“He is by Global View out of a Rock Of Rochelle mare who in turn is by our foundation mare, District Six. Good family.” CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL

Lot 52 District Master
“A very nice colt by Captain Of All from Six Of The Best, a Jet Master mare who has done well so far, with Cane Lime and Soda one of her runners.” CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL

Lot 56 Path To Heaven
“A smart Pathfork colt out of Spring Orchid from the great Spring Lilac (Mystic Spring) family. Spring Palace (her Potala Palace colt), won just a few weeks ago.” CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL

Lot 66
“By Potala Palace out of What A Gal, who has produced many good runners including stakes winner Perovskia. A strong family.” CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL

Lot 68 Aftershock
“This is an Erupt filly from a Western Winter mare who has already produced a small black-type horse by Vercingetorix and a promising two-year-old by William Longsword. A decent entry buy for newcomers.” CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL

Lot 69 All Is Green
“A Captain Of Al filly from Arctic Green, herself by Gimmethgreenlight out of G1 Allan Robertson winner
Silver Arc. A well-topped filly from good family.” CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL

Lot 70 Fencing Captain
“By Captain Of All out of Arikara, from the extended family of Rock Lobster, Tellina and Tibouchina. A well put together colt, strong hind quarters and good girth. CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL

Lot 73
“An Erupt filly, she is a first foal, born from Captain Wheelson, by Captain Al, she’s a nice filly and I like the family. She could go for a reasonable price, another entry-level horse for first-time buyers. CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL

Lot 81
“A beautiful Horizon filly from a mare who has produced 100% winners, including speedy Chrome Tourmaline who won in her second start recently.” CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL

Lot 85 Winter Emmeralds
“A magnificent What A Winter colt out of a Galileo mare, well put together from a strong international family.” CLICK HERE TO VIEW PEDIGREE IN DETAIL

ENDS

Lot 113, this What A Winter mare is a half-sister to Master Archie.

Master Archie’s Siblings On Sale

Winterbach Stud has consigned five broodmares and a weanling to the 2023 Cape Racing Winter Mixed Sale on Friday, 16 June, at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

Known for its quality, the Winterbach stock is always worth looking at and Hendrik Winterbachmcommented: “We are moving on a few mares we’ve had some success with. That’s the way it is, it is time for other breeders to have a try with them.”

Winterbach singled out his Lots 113 and 120.

Lot 113 Princess Blitz, chestnut mare
“She is by What A Winter out of La Volta, by VAR, and hence a half-sister to Master Archie, and is herself
in foal to Rafeef, a top mating. Her first foal by Potala Palace sold well, her second is the weanling we have on sale at this auction. Princess Blitz is a lovely young mare being sold to dissolve a partnership.” CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PEDIGREE IN DETAIL

Lot 120 Saints Alive, bay mare
“She is a nice, big, stakes-placed mare by Elusive Fort. Her first two foals are both unraced by One World and they are very nice. She is in foal to Talk Of The Town and another beautiful foal is expected. I believe she’ll throw a number of good other foals in future.” CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PEDIGREE IN DETAIL

The weanling, he noted, is Lot 166, and she’s unnamed
“She is a nice-sized foal by Master Of My Fate from La Volta, and a very good extended family.” CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PEDIGREE IN DETAIL

Ends.

Gavin Lerena rode a fine race on the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Sheldon as he had to overcome an unfavourable high draw (JC Photos).

Lerena Treble, Janse van Vuuren Double

Gavin Lerena rode a treble at the Vaal today and Johan Janse van Vuuren sent out a double.

Lerena goes to 83 wins for the season at a strike rate of 15.72%.

Janse van Vuuren is on 69 wins at 14.47%.

The Hollywoodbets Kenilworth meeting scheduled for today has been postponed until Sunday.

The subject of the question is shown above (Twitter).

Today’s Question

Who is the only jockey to have ridden two USA Triple Crown winners?

Question answer at the bottom of the newsletter

Eddie Arcaro after winning the Kentucky Derby on the great Citation (Kentuckyderby.com)

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION

Eddie Arcaro rode Triple Crown winners Whirlaway (1941) and Citation (1948).

He retired with 4,779 victories & is rightly perceived as one of the greatest jockeys of all time in US horse racing.

Turf Talk Newsletter – 13 June, 2023