Pippa Mickelburgh Appointed To NHA Board 

Respected and popular industrywoman Pippa Mickelburgh, the general manager of Avontuur Estates, has been appointed to the NHA board to replace outgoing Ken Truter.

A NHA Press release stated:

“In terms of Chapter 4 of the Constitution of The National Horseracing Authority the Nominations Committee, consisting of Messrs M Currie, N Nalliah, B Ralph, A Rivalland and R Sewgoolam has appointed Miss Pippa Mickleburgh to fill the vacant position in terms of Clause 15.4.5.3 on the National Board.  The vacant position is due to Mr Ken Truter not making himself available to be re-appointed for another term.

Miss Mickleburgh is domiciled in the Western Cape and is a registered Colour Holder since 2008 and a registered Breeder since 1990.  Having been actively involved in the Horseracing Industry and having served on other Boards in the industry for a number of years, Miss Mickleburgh will add great value to the National Board.

The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa welcomes Miss Mickleburgh to the National Board and we believe that her passion of the sport of horseracing will stand her in good stead to ensure that the NHA’s objectives will continue to be met.

This appointment has been ratified by the National Board and is effective immediately.”

Imilenzeyokududuma Another Class Act For Dynasty

Pedigree Profile – Imilenzeyokududuma

Ciao Bela Bounces Back At Hollywoodbets Durbanville

The Justin Snaith-trained Ciao Bela, a homebred from Varsfontein Stud, is one of the best bred fillies in the land so the connections would have been pleased to see her bouncing back to winning ways at Hollywoodbets Durbanville today.

At My Command Stamps Langerman Form

Another Highly Rated Three-year-old Wins A Handicap 

The perennial lament is that three-year-olds are rated too high too early, but the statistics actually say the opposite and the impressive Brett Crawford-trained Querari colt At My Command was the latest too prove it at Hollywoodbets Durbanville today.

He jumped from pole position carrying 56kg off a 98 merit rating and after breaking well sat on the rail on the quarters of the pacemaker Path Of Choice.

In the straight the big gelding stamped his authority and drew further and further clear under Keagan de Melo to win by 2,25 lengths from the hard-knocking 92 merit rated six–year-old Hans Solo, who carried 61kg.

At My Command finished a 2,80 length fourth to Light Speed (Gimmethegreenlight) in the Grade 3 Langerman over 1500m last time out.

Today, he reversed form emphatically with Langerman third-placed Lord William (William Longsword), who finished a 4,25 length third today carrying just 1kg more than At My Command.

Light Speed won a well contested Graduation Plate himself over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville last week.

He is highly regarded so it looks like the Langerman is going to once again be an important pointer to the big Cape Summer season three-year-old events.

Commentator Malherbe  Tripped Up By American Numbering System

Commentator Jehan Malherbe exclaimed in the closing stages of today’s seventh race, “And At My Command is far too classy here, despite topweight he is powering home!”

Malherbe has been commentating for decades and number one in a handicap has always been topweight, so he can be forgiven for that mistake.

At My Command was in fact carrying 56kg, 5kg less than topweight.

However, last week the naming rights granted to Hollywoodbets for Durbanville and Kenilworth coincided with the American numbering system being introduced.

In this system the number is simply the same as the draw.

KZN have had this system since 2019.

KZN purists took a while to shake off the trained thought that told them numbers in handicaps were in weight order and there were sure to have been many who made the same mistake Malherbe did today.

In the beginning one has to constantly remind oneself the numbers are in draw order and not weight order.

The racing purists had to get used to it from a form study point of view too.

Under the traditional numbering  system one just needs to go to the bottom of the race numbers in a handicap to check which horses are under sufferance and tick them off.

Thereafter the weights can be studied easily from topweight to bottom weight by going from number one downwards.

In plate and conditions races checking which horses are well weighted under the American numbering system requires one to go up and down and backwards and forwards and it takes some getting used to.

However, there are not many grumbles in KZN any more.

This is likely because there are also some advantages to the new system.

Once the form study is complete and one is watching the horses go down, there is no need to make continual references to the race card to double check the draws.

It is also particularly useful for the last minute bet.

For example, one switches on the TV and sees a horse which is a stand-out looks-wise. There is no need to waste time checking how well it is drawn.

The saddle cloth colour coding, which coincides with the numbers, also helps one identify the horse. They are worth learning because sometimes the number on the cloth cannot be seen clearly. The colour coding must be particularly useful to commentators and judges.

The system should soon be accepted as normal in the Cape.

However, one traditionalist made a lament recently which could possibly be looked in to.

The number one horse has always had the honour of leading the field out for the Hollywoodbets Durban July. The number one horse used to be topweight and so was invariably the best horse in the country. That honour will now be lost, but perhaps there is some way that honour can be restored?

Today’s Question

Which horse won the most races in South Africa last season?

Picture: War Of Athena (Act Of War) won the most races in the 2020/2021 season, eight in all. (JC Photos) 

Hollywoodbets Greyville Poly Wednesday Fields

Today’s Question Answer

The Paul Peter-trained Shangani (Soft Falling Rain) won the most races in SA last season, seven.

He was ousted for the Equus Champion Stayer award by Sparkling Water (Silvano), who won five races last season and won the most stakes money, R4,030,000.