Turf Talk Newsletter – 13 November, 2024

Gimme A Prince has his second run after a layoff of nearly a year on Saturday. (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Dean Kannemeyer has a proud record in the Cape Summer season, which is now officially called Cape Racing’s Cape Summer Festival Of Racing, and his Gimmethegreenlight trio of Green With Envy, Gimme A Prince and Gimmie’s Countess will be the trio he will chiefly be looking at to bring the yard more Gr 1 silverware.

All three horses are homebreds of Lady Christine Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables.

Green With Envy, who was the Equus Champion Three-year-old male last year, has not run since finishing a disappointing 2,60 length seventh in the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

The race panned out terribly from draw five and he got caught too far back, so had little chance of making up the deficit through traffic.

Dean backed off him after the July and “just played with him and kept him ticking over”.

He will come back in the WSB Green Point Stakes over 1600m on December 7 before lining up in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate and the WSB Met.

Dean said Green With Envy had been doing very well and confirmed, “All is good with him.”

Gimme A Prince has his second run after a long layoff on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in the Gr 3 Cape Mile. He is merit rated 130 and carries 60kg, meaning he is easily best in at the weights. However, just like Gimmie’s Countess had to do last Saturday, he has to overcome the widest draw of all in the ten horse field.

Dean said, “Gimme A Prince is flying. I’m testing him over a mile on Saturday from a bad draw. He’s never gone a mile before, but he’s only ever run five times before over 1400m and they were all great runs. I ran him over 1400m the other day and he had only been back in training for not even two months and he ran a great race (following a layoff of just under a year). The only thing is I said to Jehan Malherbe and Lady Laidlaw of Khaya Stables, I’m going to run him in this race on Saturday because I think he will go a mile, but the race will tell. And the reason is I want to set him up for L’Ormarins King’s Plate. If he doesn’t stay then I can scrap the King’s Plate and concentrate on the sprint races. So that is what I am doing with Gimme A Prince. I’d like to have been better drawn, but he is well in at the weights, so the race should still tell whether he stays the mile or not. He’s a very good horse, he’s amazing. His legs always need a little bit of attention, that’s why he’s lightly raced. But I remember when giving Keagan (De Melo) a leg up for the Golden Horse Sprint a couple of seasons ago, saying to him, ‘This is a tough race!’ and he said to me, ‘Don’t worry this is the best horse in South Africa,’ and he duly gave Thunderstruck 6kg that day and beat him.”

Gimme A Prince lost out on the Equus Champion Sprinter award that season to Isivunguvungu, whom he beat when winning the Gr 1 Pongracz Cape Flying Championship, but then lost to him in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint.

Thunderstruck was the Equus Champion Sprinter last season, which shows just how good Gimme A Prince is when at his best, considering he gave him 6kg and a beating.

Gimmie’s Countess is a full sister to Gimme A Prince.

She had a wide draw (12 from 12) to overcome last Saturday in the Gr 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship over 1400m and she failed by only 0,55 lengths to get up after producing a strong finish for an unlucky fourth place.

Dean said, “She ran a very good race, the winner went down the inside and she had to move out. The mile would probably be her maximum distance. Hopefully, she will draw well in the Cape Fillies Guineas and then we’ll see, but that will be the maximum trip she will go.”

The WSB Cape Fillies Guineas is on December and 7 and Gimmie’s Countess will be one of the favourites.

Matthew de Kock and Robbie Griffiths in December last year after landing a Group double at Caulfield (via X)

mikedekockracing.com

In exciting breaking news, Mathew de Kock—the son of legendary trainer Mike de Kock—has wrapped up his four-year training partnership with Robbie Griffiths in Cranbourne, Australia. Mathew will soon return to South Africa to join forces with his father in the launch of a new training partnership.

M and M de Kock will operate from both Randjesfontein in Johannesburg and Summerveld in Durban for a powerful collaboration on home turf. Mathew’s impending return is also aligned with the stable’s long-term objective of reclaiming its position as a competitor on the international racing stage.

Mathew (33), and his wife Monique emigrated to Australia in 2020 to broaden their knowledge and skill set. Their son Liam was born in 2022 and daughter Olivia followed just recently. Mathew said: “The move back to South Africa is obviously a major one for Monique and I, and several factors have played a part in our decision. The over-riding reason is that our family dynamic has changed and that we’d like to be closer to family and friends.”

Mathew described his Australian venture as “very humbling, with friendships and memories made that will be carried fondly with us wherever we go”. The Griffiths/De Kock partnership was highly successful, yielding close to 250 winners (including 12 stakes winners). The partnership occupied a regular Top 10 position on the Victorian Trainers’ Log, a remarkable achievement considering Victoria has over 800 registered trainers.  “We’ll be forever grateful to Robbie and Shiranee Griffiths for the opportunity they gave us to join their established business. We have learnt much working alongside them and will be taking the knowledge we have gained back to South Africa with us. They have been fantastic and understanding of our decision.”

Mathew shared that, initially, he’ll be based full-time at De Kock racing’s Randjesfontein barn while Mike oversees operations from Summerveld. However, they’re keeping their plans flexible. “We’ll be able to devote quality time to our horses at both centres, and eventually, we’ll consider a satellite string in Cape Town,” he revealed.

Mathew is confident that settling back into SA won’t be too challenging. “Every time I visited over the past few years, it still felt like home. My main priorities will be to get back into the SWING OF THINGS and to attend various sales to acquire new horses. We already have a promising group of young horses, but we’ll be looking to grow the stable to remain competitive,” he explained. He’s also excited to rekindle connections with former patrons and friends in this next chapter. “I am thankful to the South Africans who bought horses for me and took up shares in horses while I was in Australia.”

He believes that Australia is the most competitive racing centre in the world. “Overall, the most challenging and enriching aspects were settling in as a young trainer in a new country, overcoming numerous challenges and obstacles along the way. But we did it, we made a success of the venture and we’re stronger and wiser for the experience. I’ll be able to carry this knowledge forward into other racing jurisdictions in the future.”

Mathew, who started the Onamission Syndicate in 2016 and enjoyed a reasonable amount of success before his departure, said that he’d gained an insight and had some fresh ideas on syndication, a massive enterprise in the Australian racing fraternity. “Aside from my customary duties I will be focusing on communication with clients and engaging with the media, which are two aspects of the business which were very professionally executed in Australia,” he said.

Mike de Kock, who has 141 Grade/Group 1 winners and around 3,800 career winners to his name, said that he’d come close to retiring just a few months ago. He explained: “I was on the verge of retiring, but Mat’s decision has given me a new lease on life. He is a top trainer in his own right, most capable of taking over from me in due course.

“For now, I am postponing retirement. Mat is ambitious, young and talented. We are able to continue the De Kock legacy, and he’ll start off with more than I did when I was his age. I will eventually take a back seat, oversee the transition and, if all goes well, help him to set up yards in other parts of the world so we can compete in suitable races. From what I’ve seen recently from SA-breds in the US, our horses are not too far off the higher world ranks, even after the period of relative isolation. This is an exciting turning point for our family.”

In exciting breaking news, Mathew de Kock—the son of legendary trainer Mike de Kock—has wrapped up his four-year training partnership with Robbie Griffiths in Cranbourne, Australia. Mathew will soon return to South Africa to join forces with his father in the launch of a new training partnership.

M and M de Kock will operate from both Randjesfontein in Johannesburg and Summerveld in Durban for a powerful collaboration on home turf. Mathew’s impending return is also aligned with the stable’s long-term objective of reclaiming its position as a competitor on the international racing stage.

Mathew (33), and his wife Monique emigrated to Australia in 2020 to broaden their knowledge and skill set. Their son Liam was born in 2022 and daughter Olivia followed just recently. Mathew said: “The move back to South Africa is obviously a major one for Monique and I, and several factors have played a part in our decision. The over-riding reason is that our family dynamic has changed and that we’d like to be closer to family and friends.”

Mathew described his Australian venture as “very humbling, with friendships and memories made that will be carried fondly with us wherever we go”. The Griffiths/De Kock partnership was highly successful, yielding close to 250 winners (including 12 stakes winners). The partnership occupied a regular Top 10 position on the Victorian Trainers’ Log, a remarkable achievement considering Victoria has over 800 registered trainers.  “We’ll be forever grateful to Robbie and Shiranee Griffiths for the opportunity they gave us to join their established business. We have learnt much working alongside them and will be taking the knowledge we have gained back to South Africa with us. They have been fantastic and understanding of our decision.”

Mathew shared that, initially, he’ll be based full-time at De Kock racing’s Randjesfontein barn while Mike oversees operations from Summerveld. However, they’re keeping their plans flexible. “We’ll be able to devote quality time to our horses at both centres, and eventually, we’ll consider a satellite string in Cape Town,” he revealed.

Mathew is confident that settling back into SA won’t be too challenging. “Every time I visited over the past few years, it still felt like home. My main priorities will be to get back into the SWING OF THINGS and to attend various sales to acquire new horses. We already have a promising group of young horses, but we’ll be looking to grow the stable to remain competitive,” he explained. He’s also excited to rekindle connections with former patrons and friends in this next chapter. “I am thankful to the South Africans who bought horses for me and took up shares in horses while I was in Australia.”

He believes that Australia is the most competitive racing centre in the world. “Overall, the most challenging and enriching aspects were settling in as a young trainer in a new country, overcoming numerous challenges and obstacles along the way. But we did it, we made a success of the venture and we’re stronger and wiser for the experience. I’ll be able to carry this knowledge forward into other racing jurisdictions in the future.”

Mathew, who started the Onamission Syndicate in 2016 and enjoyed a reasonable amount of success before his departure, said that he’d gained an insight and had some fresh ideas on syndication, a massive enterprise in the Australian racing fraternity. “Aside from my customary duties I will be focusing on communication with clients and engaging with the media, which are two aspects of the business which were very professionally executed in Australia,” he said.

Mike de Kock, who has 141 Grade/Group 1 winners and around 3,800 career winners to his name, said that he’d come close to retiring just a few months ago. He explained: “I was on the verge of retiring, but Mat’s decision has given me a new lease on life. He is a top trainer in his own right, most capable of taking over from me in due course.

“For now, I am postponing retirement. Mat is ambitious, young and talented. We are able to continue the De Kock legacy, and he’ll start off with more than I did when I was his age. I will eventually take a back seat, oversee the transition and, if all goes well, help him to set up yards in other parts of the world so we can compete in suitable races. From what I’ve seen recently from SA-breds in the US, our horses are not too far off the higher world ranks, even after the period of relative isolation. This is an exciting turning point for our family.”

The progressive Gr 3 Betway Victory Moon Stakes winner Greeting My Master has not yet been supplemented for the R6million Betway Summer Cup, but the connections have not ruled it out yet.

Trainer Alec Laird is well aware the horse would be considerably under sufferance if taking his place but said there was “a small chance” of him being supplemented.

The Master Of My Fate gelding would be 5kg under sufferance carrying bottom weight of 54kg as things stand as he is merit rated 110 compared to See It Again’s 131 and four-year-olds receive half-a-kilogram over the 2000m trip at this time of the year.

However, the Summer Cup is a race that has been won two out of three times by under sufferance runners since the bottom weight was raised to 54kg.

The topweight always carries 60kg, so there is only a handicap spread these days of 6kg.

In 2021 the Sean Tarry-trained winner Flying Carpet (Judpot) was officially 4kg under sufferance off a 107 merit rating. The first four past the post that year were all under sufferance with runner up Majestic Mozart 2kg under sufferance, third-placed Golden Pheasant 1kg under sufferance and fourth-placed Johnny Hero 4kg under sufferance.

Last year the winner Royal Victory was officially 1,5kg under sufferance, whilst the fourth and fifth placed horses, Zeus and Shoemaker were both 1kg under sufferance.

In 2022 the fourth, fifth and sixth-placed horses were all under sufferance.

If the trend shows that the Summer Cup can be won by an under sufferance horse, then a progressive sort like Greeting My Master should be competitive even if asked to run when 5kg under sufferance.

However, in his case he will have a hard task confirming form with two horses he has just beaten in the Betway Victory Moon Stakes, i.e. Main Defender and Purple Pitcher. He will be 6kg worse off with Main Defender for a half-a-length beating and will be 9.5kg worse off with Purple Pitcher for a four length beating.

The connections have until November 18 to supplement Greeting My Master.

Picture: Crack filly Majorca, who was bred at Klawervlei Stud by Ralph Koster, who was the grandfather of today’s Klawervlei owner John Koster.

Maine Chance Farms have announced they will be sponsoring the prestigious Gr 1 weight for age Majorca Stakes, a 1600m event for fillies and mares which these days is run on WSB Met day.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE NEW SPONSORSHIP 

This year’s Met actually heralded the 60th anniversary of the first running of the Majorca Stakes, so it will be the 61st anniversary when run this season.

This article first takes a look at the horse the race is named after and then looks at some achievements by horses and trainers in the Majorca Stakes.

𝗠𝗔𝗝𝗢𝗥𝗖𝗔 (1959) B.m. by Preamble II- Majolica II by Niccolo Dell’arca.

Written by Richard. A. Bidnick

Majorca was out of the first crop of foals sired by Preamble II. She would set the stage for his becoming a major sire in South Africa with her outstanding racing career. Majorca was one of the best fillies seen in South Africa since Kings Pact. She was bred by the Kosters out of the imported mare Majolica II.

Unfortunately she was born in the same year as Colorado King, Hifrac and Doctor John all excellent three year olds who won classic races.

She was an impressive racehorse with good looks and a passion for racing and she was spared little rest.

She had a busy season at both two and three years of age as she was heavily raced. She showed good form as a two-year-old to win both the The Breeders Free Handicap at Kenilworth and the JG Hollis Memorial Plate over 1600m at Clairwood in June of 1962.

As a three-year-old she competed with the best racehorses in the country. On January 1, 1963 she participated in the Queen’s Plate a rare event then and now for a three-year-old filly and she ran an outstanding race to finish 3rd, one length behind the winner Time to Shine with the great Jerez finishing far behind her. Time To Shine established a new race record in the process.

Her next Cape adventure was in the Cape of Good Hope Paddock Stakes which was then and is still today the top filly and mare race in the country. She ran the field into the ground and won by more than 4 lengths.
She then went on to run in the Cape of Good Hope Guineas running against one of the all-time greats, Colorado King. She finished third behind “The King”, but she really stamped her greatness with an outstanding run in the Cape of Good Hope Derby run on February 23, 1963.

Majorca lead the field for most of the way and when they headed into the straight she was more than 7 lengths ahead of the field. She was running great guns and even Colorado King’s jockey said that he never thought he would be able to catch her but shortly before the finish line something made Majorca jolt and she lost a little ground and Colorado King was just able to get up and pass her at the line in track record time of 2:29.6!

It was an amazing performance for both Colorado King and Majorca and they were both given great accolades after this race. Majorca went on to win the Country Cousin Handicap and place in the Gordon’s Gin Handicap and she lead the field well into the straight in the 1963 Rothmans July but finished unplaced. Her hard runs during the Cape Summer Season must have taken a toll on her as she competed in 4 top level races in a two months..

She was retired early in her fourth year and had a long stud career producing the stakes winners Haiti (1965) by Oligarchy, Aegean (1968) and Samothrace (1969) both by Jerez (1957).

Her name lives on today as the WFA Grade 2 Majorca Stakes is run on Met day in January each year.
Total Stakes in SAF over 3 seasons – R16,420 Runs: 25 Wins: 7 Placed: 11

Majorca Stakes achievements:

Legendary trainer Terrance Millard won the Majorca seven times and one of his winners, Peacable Kingdom filly Fast Piece, won it twice, in 1976 and 1977.

Millard’s first Majorca winner was Kentucky Belle in 1972 and he rounded off a golden era with the great Olympic Duel in 1990.

Peter Kannemeyer won it twice in succession with the top class Northfields filly Alpine Silk, in 1986 and 1987.

Clodagh Shaw won it twice in succession with Donatella (Fine Edge) in 1999 and 2000.

Mike Bass won it twice in a row with Inara (Trippi) in 2015 and 2016.

Justin Snaith won twice it twice in a row with Captain’s Ransom (Captain Al) in 2021 and 2022.

The victory roll of honour has become littered with other big names like Ecurie (1985), Wainui (1989), Paraca (2003), Sun Classique (2007), Dancer’s Daughter (2008), Mother Russia (2009), Ebony Flyer (2012), Beach Beauty (2014) and it was won last season by Equus Horse Of The Year Princess Calla.

The evergreen Written In Stone could round the meeting off from pole position over 1200m as he has been going well for Louis Nhlapo (JC Photos)

There are some good opportunities for punters in the Turffontein Inside eight race meeting today.

In the first race over 1500m Mist In Ireland made a good debut and will relish the further trip on pedigree. She has a good draw of four and represents an in form yard and has one of the best workriders up. Spy Story has good enough form to be a contender in this line up and rates the chief danger.

In the second over 1600m Honorable Member was thought highly enough of to take her place in the Gr 1 Thekwini and looks to have a reasonable merit rating of 81. Gavin Lerena is an eye catching booking but she does have a tricky draw. Guerilla Warfare has shown ability and from a middle draw over an ideal trip looks to be the chief danger.

In the third race over 1200m Vibe SA has been costly to follow but looks to have found a good race for his comeback and Lerena is aboard from a middle draw. He was always beaten by fair sorts and there does not look to be any other horse in the race who can match him. Lloyd Wright ran well second time out over 1160m and must have a shout but he has a tough draw to overcome.

In the fourth over 1200m Milo’s Millionaire is capable of better than last time and from pole position with Lerena up is the one to beat. She should have come on from that last run and had shown some signs of ability last season. Montana Lights did well in her reappearance against lesser opposition than she had previously faced. However, she does have a tricky draw. Intro has shown enough to be able to have a shout in this race.

In the fifth over 2600m Clear The Path has shown fair form up to 2000m in a handful of starts and should handle the step up in trip against an uninspiring field. The Merciful did well over 2000m last time and is out of a Silvano mare so should also manage the long trip. There is not much between her and Splashlanding. Those three look set to fight it out although Clear The Path is preferred.

In the sixth over 1800m Dimako’s Jet is the only filly in the race but has some eye catching form and has Lerena up from a good draw over an ideal trip. The last time she went over this trip she was just 3,50 lengths behind Olivia’s Way, who is now rated 110. The danger could be Circle Of Grace but he does have a tough draw. The Octagon starts off handicapping  on a reasonable merit rating of 71 and has looked to have ability and he might enjoy the step up in trip so can do well from draw six with a 2.5kg claimer up.

In the seventh race over 1200m Valieva has faced better without being disgraced and has a good opportunity from draw four out of seven. Lady Of Memphis made a good winning debut and from pole position and a reasonable 81 merit rating she could follow up. Ride On has a tricky draw but has a chance under Lerena for an in form yard.

In the last race over 1200m Written In Stone goes well for Louis Nhlapo and can do it from pole position. Commander Of All and His Lordship should go close too.

The highlight of today’s poly meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville was the win of the Glen Kotzen-trained Connery as it made him a perfect three from three in KZN and it was a fourth career win in succession. The Ten Einde Stud-bred What A Winter gelding runs in the colours of Robert Bloomberg, who owns him in partnership with Messrs Anthony Attieh, Andre Louw, W Luthi, R P Macnab, S Poriazis & Eric Wong, Miss Natasha C Pretorius & Woodhill Racing Syndicate and was ridden by 2,5kg claimer Nirvan Nastili . (Candiese Lenferna Photography) 

Craig Zackey scored a double on the Greyville poly on Wednesday to draw within seven wins of the lead in what is turning out to be an intriguing national jockeys championship.

Zackey is now on 61 wins achieved at a strike rate of 15.14%, while the sidelined Muzi Yeni is on 68 wins and Gavin Lerena is just one behind him on 67.

Richard Fourie is on 57 wins.

Fourie is still odds on favourite to take the title with Hollywoodbets at 7/10, with Lerena at 3/1, Zackey at 4/1 and Yeni at 7/1 and Sean Veale is next best on 50/1.

The below report was written on today’s poly meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville by Andrew Harrison.

Andrew Harrison (Gold Circle)

It takes faith in your ability to keep fighting when the odds are seemingly stacked against you, but Yadav Singh, with only three horses in his string reaped the rewards in the first at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday as the cleverly named Chakpori obliged with Kabelo Matsunyane taking over in the saddle from a suspended Cole Dicken.

The Greyville poly is running quick these days and with a strong tailwind to help them home, Matsunyane always had Chakpori in contention as Head Girl took up her customary roll. The two came together a long way out with Chakpori gradually eating into Head Girl’s lead and getting up close home.

Hot favourite Princess Goldie did not appear to be enjoying the afternoon and Craig Zackey commented later in the day that the filly just didn’t come to the races. He was at her from the jump and eventually had ‘to take my medicine’.  “She shows good work on the sand back home so this was a disappointing effort,” he said. “She will be back!”

With everything in her favour, barring top weight, War Empress enjoyed the wind at her back and Louis Goosen’s mare won well in a small field. She was always handy under Chase Maujean and kicked on nicely in the run for home to win rather comfortably from Happy Analia and Jane’s Vision.

The scratching of Star Of The Future from the first leg of the Pick 6 saw Gimmethegoodlife top the bookmakers boards and he landed the odds for Gareth van Zyl although it was a close call as Richardthefearless lived up to his name and was not giving in as he pressed Gimmethegoodlife all the way to the line. It was Gimmethegoodlife’s first attempt at a mile and he took Marco van Rensburg on from the start, refusing to settle, so it was a win full of merit.

Every horse has its peculiarities and Lucretius seemingly inherited his ornery temperament from his sire Eightfold Path whose progeny were notoriously difficult. Carl Hewitson has done wonders with the gelding who, at one stage had him wondering if he could win a maiden. At times he just refuses to work in the mornings but he was in a galloping mood yesterday as Zackey, his now regular rider, got him to respond up the inside rail to gradually wear down rivals Porfirio and Wave Warrior with favourite Mr Hotstepper making the pace before emptying out in the straight.

Zackey is a little under the radar when it comes to the national title chase but he is hot on the heels of log leaders Muzi Yeni and Gavin Lerena. Princess Goldie was an obvious disappointment but he had two in the bag by the running of the sixth to take his tally for the season to 61 behind Yeni, six behind Lerena and four ahead of Richard Fourie. He posted his second win of the afternoon as he scraped home aboard Garth Puller’s charge Way To Burn  in the fifth, with the judges having to consult the photo finish to separate his filly and Mark Dixon’s Doctor’s Orders. Zackey made all the running on Way To Burn and punched for home crossing the subway and seemingly having the race the won. However, Calvin Habib had all the while been hunting him down. Making up ground from last coming up the hill, Doctor’s Orders delivered the slow poison up the outside and it was a piece of paper that separated the two at the line.

A frustrated Habib has made the second box his home so far this season, with 51 seconds to add to his winning tally of 26.

Dennis Bosch, an exceptional rider in his day before the dreaded scale got the better of him, does not have the fire power that he used to have when starting his training career but there are few better. He has kept Knight Warrior sound and competitive in all of his racing career that now stretches into his seventh season.

Serino Moodley had the veteran galloper out and racing from his inside draw and was not for the catching. It was a smart ride from Moodley who was in jocular mood post-race. “The way the track’s running you have to ride like you don’t know what you doing. That’s what I did. I rode like an apprentice,” he quipped.

It’s never easy for a horse to win three-on-the-bounce let alone four as the handicappers come a-hunting but gelding appears to have kept Connery’s mind from wandering and it was four up on Wednesday. Glen Kotzen’s charge made all the running and was not for the catching under Mauritian apprentice Nirvan Nastili. Kotzen’s assistant at Summerveld, John Buckler, has turned to apprentices in his three local runs with a suspended 4kg claimer Jaycee Botes being replaced by Nastili’s 2.5kg claim that could be a ploy to keep the handicappers in check but Connery has jumped 13 points in the ratings for his last two wins and is sure to get another hike after this success.

Stevie Gee finally got Habib out of the second box as the Geof Perkins home-bred, named after one of his sons, pulled out all the stops. For Wendy Whitehead it was a deserved win after a string of placed starts as he kicked on strongly to put daylight between himself and the late-charging Mac Hardy who just got his nose in front of the chasing scrum.

A typical Melbourne Cup crowd (bets.com.au)

What is the biggest ever Melbourne Cup crowd?

The highest Melbourne Cup Day attendance to date was 122,736 in 2003.