Owners Andrew Brand (right) and Jonathan Snaith (left) give Rule Of Thumb congratulatory pats after the Royal Mo gelding’s win under Craig Bantam at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday (Photo: Wayne Marks).

Miracle Horse Rule Of Thumb Wins Again

The Justin Snaith-trained Klawervlei Stud-bred Royal Mo gelding Rule Of Thumb injured himself so severely when kicking something last year that the recommendation was to euthanize him.

His patience was displayed here again.

The four-year-old gelding was purchased at the 2021 Cape Premier Yearling Sale for R125,000.

He showed early promise, finishing third on debut over 1200m and then second to subsequent Gr 3-winning stablemate Itsrainingwilliam also over 1200m, before winning comfortably when stepped up to 1400m on July 4 last year.

The untimely injury then occurred.

After the highly successful operation, the connections decided to persevere with Rule Of Thumb and he miraculously reappeared on the racecourse on 22 December. In his comeback he finished only 2,25 lengths behind Itsrainingwilliam, who finished third in the event, and although he was receiving 4kg it showed that he was still a capable racehorse.

He finished unplaced in his next two starts and this included a further setback when he felt amiss after an awkward stride and JP van der Merwe eased him out of the race.

He came back from that to finish unplaced over 1400m.

However, he ran an encouraging fifth over 1600m next time out over 1600m.

Nevertheless the handicappers dropped him a further five points for that race, meaning he had come down from an 87 to a 72 for Saturday’s Class 4 Handicap over 1600m.

He was ignored in the betting and started 25/1.

Bantam dropped him out from draw seven in the nine horse field and found a good position on the rail. There were just two horses on the rail in front of him and Rule Of Thumb, who has plenty of substance, traveled beautifully under Bantam’s good hands.

Rule Of Thumb ran on resolutely down the inside rail and got up by 0,30 lengths from 11/2 shot Gentleman Joe.

Andrew Brand thanked the Snaith team and made special mention of the fine ride by Craig Bantam, saying, “They are so diligent in looking after him and making sure he is all fine and they did an amazing job … I couldn’t be prouder, he is such a lovely horse. There is a quality about him and he’s not going to stop here, I think there is a couple more left in there. He’s a beautiful horse and I really want to call out the ride today. Craig doesn’t get a a lot of rides but he showed today he’s got quality as a jockey, he positioned him beautifully and he’s got good hands, he saw it through really nicely, so well done to him.”

Robert Bloomberg

Bloomberg Research Points to 334 Target Being “Well-nigh Impossible”

• by publishing the article below written by Robert Bloomberg, Turf Talk do not intend to detract from Anthony Delpech’s incredible feat of riding 334 wins in a season. As he pointed out himself the more one rides in a season the more chance of injury and the more chance of suspension due to the mental fatigue which sets in, so riding 334 wins in a season under any circumstance is an unbelievable feat and has for a long time been called the safest record in SA sport. Furthermore, he did it in one of the greatest eras of South African jockeyship and had to compete against the like of Piere Strydom, Jeff Lloyd, Weichong Marwing, Anton Marcus, Karl Neisius, Mark Khan, Rhys van Wyk, Kevin Shea etc. The article also does not intend to detract from Hollywoodbet’s praiseworthy offer of R1 million to anybody who beats that record. It has added further intrigue to a racing season which Hollywoodbets do a lot to bolster anyway. The article merely intends to reveal, through a careful study of the statistics, the enormity of the task which faces Richard Fourie and others who are out to chase the record (Fourie himself has set himself a more realistic target of 300 wins).   

Robert Bloomberg

Anthony Delpech finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place in that his employers Hollywood have in laudatory fashion “dangled a carrot” of R1 million if any rider can top his praiseworthy record of 334 winner attained in the 1998/99 racing fashion and which by association he must promote. I say that because in his heart of hearts he must know full well that this milestone is well-nigh impossible to achieve in this day and age.

We need to compare apples with apples here. When Delpech attained his record, we had 488 meetings (which included 52 Zimbabwe meetings whose results were included in our stats). His total equated to 0,684 winners per meeting (“wpm”). He had 1,672 rides at a win strike rate of 20%.

Last season Keegan De Melo had 277 winners from 1434 mounts at a win average of 19.3% and 0,758 wpm. Importantly, and significantly, there were only 365 meetings. Delpech therefore benefited to the tune of 123 more meetings and 238 more rides. Based on 488 meetings, De Melo would have ridden around 370 winners, 36 more than Delpech.

Richard Fourie had 258 winners from 1170 rides at a win average of 22.1% and 0,706 wpm. He had 264 less rides than De Melo and 502 less than Delpech. Had he also benefited from 488 meetings, he would have ridden around 345 winners, 11 more than Delpech.

This season, meetings have been further reduced to 350. So, De Melo fell short of Delpech’s record by 57 winners and Fourie by 76 and they now have 15 less meetings in order to surpass the record! Fourie would have to ride virtually a winner a meeting and that’s riding at all 350 meetings! This is of course without taking the possibility of injuries and suspensions into account or the abandonment of meetings which cancellations were more readily replaced in those days.

To put 138 less meetings into perspective, that’s a drop of 28.3%!

The equivalent of 334 winners from 488 meetings would today be 240 winners from 350 meetings so nobody will get remotely close to the magic number of 335, hence my statement that Hollywood’s money is very safe. Perhaps consideration should be given to reducing the mark for the “pot o’ gold” to 300 winners. I doubt very much that even that mark will be breached, but at least there would be considerably more interest.

• Turf Talk Ed – the question was asked, “How does it benefit a jockey when there is an average of more than one meeting per day, because a jockey can only be in one place at one time?” Robert replied, “There were more riding options and more options  for plum rides. No jockey is going to travel for 365 days. Delpech was KZN based and would have at least another 30 meetings to ride at locally. Guys also used to ride in Johannesburg in the day and KZN at night and vice versa.”

Responding to Mr Bloomberg’s letter, Hollywoodbets’ Dermot O’Connell confirmed that the R1 million incentive is a gesture of acknowledging the superb record set by Anthony Delpech, while at the same instance maintaining public interest and providing every local jockey with a dream goal to aim at.

He added that Winning Form, Sporting Post and SplashOut sponsored riders are incentivized per winner and also via progressive bonuses for specified winner intervals, as well as being paid a substantial cash bonus for winning the national championship. Therefore, there is great value in attempting the record, regardless!

“We note Mr Bloomberg’s comments, but it is a reality that Anthony Delpech was never given any form of external incentive to achieve his benchmark when he did. And while the racing programme may well look very different today as to what it did 25 years ago, Anthony Delpech also did not ride at Kimberley or in Zimbabwe, which both counted towards the statistics at the time. Either way, there is still great value in attempting it,” he suggested.

Ryan Munger wins on Silent Miracle in his first ever ride in Canada back in May and he is now set to ride him in the prestigious King’s Plate on Sunday at Woodbine. (Photo: Mike Burns).

Beerenberg, pictured here as a baby, can make it a fifth career win at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Tuesday.

Follow Woodruff at Hollywoodbets Durbanville

Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)

With the heavy rains in the Western Cape generally a thing of the past, the going at Hollywoodbets Durbanville is improving rapidly and the ground was relatively quick at the previous race meeting on Saturday. The change in going from the heavy underfoot conditions experienced over the last couple of months does mean that some of the recent form is not going to stand up as the better weather takes hold.

Cape Racing stages an eight-race programme at the country course this afternoon and the Lucinda Woodruff stable could be worth following. She won the last race on Saturday with Café Culture at a big price and she could be on the mark with Beerenberg in Race 3, the R125 000 Cape B Stakes over 1000m. The conditions of the race do favour the Adam Marcus-trained What A State and she will receive as much as 9 kgs from Beerenberg which could swing the outcome in her favour. In addition What A State won her only start over track and trip in March earlier this year and the daughter of What A Winter has generally held her form quite well since. Gareth Wright who rode a double at the course over the weekend takes the ride.

But Beerenberg has won twice at Hollywoodbets Durbanville from only three starts and is clearly course suited. It has been a long time since Beerenberg last campaigned over the minimum trip and on that occasion, a year ago, he ran second in heavy going behind Ragnar Lothbrok who is also engaged here today. Beerenberg’s winning form has always been on better going and although side-lined since May, the son of Erupt could come out fresh and run a very forward race.

Woodruff saddles the coming-back-to-form Bullitt in Race 4, also over 1000m. The ante-post favourite here is the ultra-consistent Jury Duty but the 6yo daughter of Greys Inn will have it all to do from the worst of the draw. Bernard Fayd’herbe takes the ride on Bullitt and he may choose to adopt similar pillar-to-post tactics which saw him boot home Café Culture for the stable on Saturday. On the evidence of their last run, there is not much to choose between Charlie Malone and Bullitt but I fancy that Bullitt may be able to reverse the order over the minimum trip. Final Move and Worsdsworth have upset chances but Bullitt could be on target.

In Race 6 Woodruff sends out two runners, best of which seems to be My Flower Fate. The lightly raced daughter of Master Of My Fate has won her last two starts and Corne Orffer retains the ride. She appears to have scope for further improvement and it counts in her favour that she won her maiden at the country course. Stable companion Island Treasure, Veronica Mars and track specialist Fleeting could be the principal dangers but there is every reason to believe that My Flower Fate can complete the hat-trick.

The first race on the programme is also the richest race on the card, the R150 000 Cape A Stakes over 1250m, and the bang-in-form Silver Falcon is a short-priced favourite to score his fifth consecutive victory. However he will face stiff opposition from the useful 4yo Wecangoallnight who is 2 kgs better off for a half-a-length beating last time at Kenilworth. Interestingly both Silver Falcon and Wecangoallnight have won at Durbanville but it remains to be seen whether Silver Falcon is going to be as effective on the faster ground. Wecangoallnight has been desperately unlucky in his last two starts and, from the widest draw of all, he is again likely to have to come with his customary flying finish from well off the pace turning for home. After The Rain is very speedy and with Richard Fourie in the saddle, he could surprise the two chief protagonists.

Kythera shapes up as being the nap of the day in the second race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1000m. She has finished third in both starts to date and from a handy draw, Kythera should take a power of beating. She probably has most to fear from Nile The Boss but Kythera should get the job done and rates a confident Place Accumulator and Bipot banker.

The first leg of a double for Kinmount Stud homebreds as Malcolm’s Dream, ridden by Cole Dicken, is led in by owners Keyan and Mary Carlisle (right) and Hayley Dixon (left) (Picture: Candiese Lenferna).

Kinmount Stud’s Fairytale Story Continues With First Ever Double 

The Kinmount Stud of the late Avison Carlisle and his widow Mary is a KZN racing fairytale that has seen a family who knew little about racing taking the plunge into ownership and after immediate success in that field they started breeding one day partly due to a poor performance by the Proteas on the cricket field.

From small beginnings the small stud operation had produced 50 wins by the time of Avison’s passing in August three years ago.

On Sunday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville Kinmount scored in two successive races with Malcolm’s Dream and If You Say So, both trained by Mark Dixon.

It was Kinmount’s first ever double.

Malcolm’s Dream, a five-year-old mare by Master Of My Fate, is named after one of the Carlisle’s good friends Malcolm Phillips. Malcolm raced the dam of Malcolm’s Dream, Misty Morn (Go Deputy).

The owners of Malcolm’s Dream are Estate Late Mr A E Carlisle & Mrs M J Carlisle & Mr A K & Mrs C M Carlisle.

Malcolm’s Dream lay handy on the rail under Cole Dicken having jumped from pole position in the 1400m fillies and mares handicap event. She ran on very well to win by an easy 3,70 lengths, her third career victory.

Keyan Carlisle, son of Avison and Mary, was fittingly on course with his mother to lead her in and to speak for the winning interview.

If You Say So is also a Kinmount homebred five-year-old mare and has exactly the same Carlisle family owners as Malcolm’s Dream.

Craig Zackey showed outstanding professionalism in this 1950m fillies and mares maiden. He had picked up from those who had ridden her before she can be vey lazy if covered up. He failed to find the lead as planned and when she dropped the bit with cover, he opted to pull her one out. The plan worked as she then began traveling again. She found plenty in the straight from the one out and one back position to win by 1,50 lengths from the Cole Dicken-ridden Gary Rich-trained Free Will. It was the Flying The Flag mare’s 14th career start. She was named after an incident at the Sale.  Mary had shown somebody one of her homebreds called News Stream at a Sale and asked whether he thought he was a nice horse and the reply was, “If You Say So.”

The Kinmount Stud fairytale began when Avison and Mary were  introduced to racing by Scotch Ferrie, father of trainer Stuart Ferrie. Scotch was the assistant headmaster at Keyan’s school Weston Agricultural College. Three years later the Carlisles bought their first horse Rebel Patriot for R75,000 at the Yearling Sales in Durban.

Duncan Howells trained this Exclusive Patriot gelding to six wins.

His success was the beginning of the Carlisles love affair with the sport.

In 2002 Howells notified them that Rebel Patriot’s dam, Rebel Qui, was up for sale together with her weaning at a dispersal sale at The Dargle in KZN.

They were not really interested but on the day of the sale Avison needed to escape the frustration of watching the South African cricket team losing, so he and Mary decided to go and have a look.

They returned to announce to the family the purchase of Rebel Qui for a paltry R1,200 and her foal for R14,000.

Rebel Qui thus became the foundation mare of Kinmount Stud, based on the Carlisle’s farm, which is situated between Howick and Nottingham Road.

The weanling was Ravenscraig, who won three-in-a-row early in his career and was good enough to be entered in the Grade 2 KZN Guineas. He went on to win one more race.

The Carlisles sent Rebel Qui to Winter Romance and she was soon in foal.

In 2003 while holidaying in the UK and traveling on the Flying Scotsman headed for Edinburgh Avison and Mary received an SMS from their daughter Kristy to let them know Rebel Patriot was running that day.

Later, upon arrival at a quaint hotel recommended by a taxi driver, the phone beeped again and this time the SMS said simply, “He won!!”

They were standing at the time on the front mat and after a joyous celebratory outburst they looked down and read the words “The Howard.” In an instant the name of Rebel Qui’s pending foal was decided. The Howard won a 1600m race at Clairwood and later added another win at Flamingo Park. He was no great shakes but gave many people a lot of enjoyment including the owners of The Howard Hotel in Edinburgh who posted regular reports of his progress on their communications billboard. Such was the infectious enthusiasm for the sport the Carlisles have.

Rebel Qui’s next foal was Rebellious Streak, a Deep Sleep gelding who won five races and was placed 12 times.

The next two foals were both by the disappointing stallion Requiem, one being unraced and the other unplaced.

However, the unraced one, Quinarius, produced a four-time winner and two-time winner both by Lion Tamer.

Rebel Qui then produced one time winner and seven-times placed filly Yet Again by Muhtafal. Yet Again went on to produce a twice winner by Toreador.

Then came a windfall when Rebel Qui’s next foal, Patriotic Rebel was purchased for R100,000 by Brett Crawford.

This Stronghold gelding went on to win twice and finish placed in two stakes races, including the Grade 1 Investec Cape Derby, before being bought into the Mike de Kock yard, for whom he finished a narrow second in the Grade 3 Mango (Campanajo) 2200. However, he was destined to only win one more race.

At around the same time of Patriotic Rebel being sold at the Ready To Run Sale, the Carlisles bought Rebel Patriot’s full-sister, Polish Rebel, who was in foal to Silvano, for a bargain R60,000 at a Cape mare and weanling sale.

The resulting foal was Regal Eagle, who won five of her first eight starts and later finished fifth in the Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint.

Rebel Qui’s also produced the three-time winner Crystal Ball by Visionaire.

The Carlisles appear to stick to successful lines so it is not surprising If You Say So is out of a Muhtafal mare.

Avison and Mary’s passion for racing has not only rubbed off on to their children but also on to their grandchildren.

Avison’s passion for the sport led to him being the long-time chairman of the South African Jockey Academy.

It is also well documented how the Carlisles have often gone beyond the call of duty in their racing endeavours to help others less fortunate then themselves.

This picture of apprentice Brevan Plaaitjies and his grandmother says it all after the youngster’s first career win at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

First Win For Apprentice Brevan Plaatjies

Apprentice Brevan Plaatjies was having just his fourth career ride on the Michael Roberts-trained Canford Cliffs gelding Sea Vista when winning by two lengths in the last race over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday, a MR 70 Handicap.

Plaatjies had finished unplaced in his first three rides and Sea Vista drifted out alarmingly from 9/2 to 25/2.

Howeever, the youngster showed an excellent natural seat throughout and the Canford Cliffs gelding was hence well balanced throughout.

From a prominent position he kicked late and Plaatjies just guided him by showing him the stick over the last 100m.

Roberts was concerned about the 1200m trip, believing the horse to ostensibly be a 1000m horse, and he said Brevan had obeyed his instructions perfectly, which were to hang on to him until at least the 200m mark.

It was a fourth career win for Sea Vista, who is owned by Adam Kethro Property Trust in partnership with Messrs J R M Tostee and  D D B Band.

Brevan was brand new to horseracing when joining the Academy.

He tanked the connections for the ride as well as the Academy for all they had done for him.

Brevan reserved a special thank you for former national champion jockey MJ Odendaal.

He said, “A big thanks to Mr Odendaal. Mr Odendaal has been teaching me and after every ride he tells me what is wrong and what’s right and I’m learning a lot from him, I’m really thankful to Mr Odendaal.”

     Ladies Win Shergar Cup … Again

Hollie Doyle and Saffie Osborne doubles help Ladies to Ascot victory after dramatic finale

Great Britain & Ireland’s Quinault, who had been seeking a seventh victory in a row, grabbed third, with Doyle and Washington Heights fourth to take the Ladies five clear of the Rest of the World.

The final individual standings and team standings respectively are shown below:

Hollywoodbets Durbanville Fields – Tuesday

The horse in question is pictured above. 

Today’s Question

Who is the only horse to have won the Guineas races in all of Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban?

Question answer at the bottom of the newsletter