Turf Talk Newsletter – 14 May, 2026

Luyolo Mxothwa’s jockey license has been cancelled with immediate effect following him being found guilty of serious integrity related allegations and sentenced.

Some of the public have asked why Sean Veale only received a rap on the knuckles for the voice note he sent, while Mxothwa has been given a serious sanction?

The likely answer is because Veale’s misdemeanour related to a horse he was riding himself and which won, whereas Mxothwa’s was about a horse he was riding against.

An inquiry notice published by the NHRA said:

Rich Man’s World is Vaughan Marshall’s latest Captain Al descendant to be a good prospect and he looks to be on his way to superstardom (Picture: Julia Marnewick)

Sarah Whitelaw

Few, if any, trainers were more closely associated with the late, great Captain Al than Vaughan Marshall.

Not only did Vaughan train Captain Al himself, he has also trained numerous sons and daughters of the late champion sire.

From One World, Tap O’ Noth, Hill Fifty Four, and William Longsword, to such notable fillies as All Is Secret, Wheredowego (the dam of the Marshall’s top class galloper Questioning) and The Secret Is Out, Vaughan has conditioned some of the very best Captain Al runners around.

Captain Al himself was an easy horse to train, a great athlete he had a tremendous will to win.

He has passed much of his will to win on to his descendants who, like Captain Al, thrive on their work and have a tremendous desire to win.

The top-class full-sisters All Is Secret and The Secret Is Out (whose multiple graded stakes winning dam Secret Of Victoria was also trained by Vaughan) completed an unusual family double when they won the G1 Allan Robertson Championship in 2012 and 2016 respectively. Vaughan remembers the sisters as being completely different individuals. Whereas All Is Secret is big and strong, her sister takes after Secret Of Victoria as being small, but gutsy.

The Marshall trained Wheredowego led home a Captain Al sired 1-2-3 finish when she won the 2013 G3 Kenilworth Fillies Nursery.

Retired to stud, Wheredowego has produced not only multiple graded stakes winner Questioning but also Listed Settlers Trophy winner Senso Unico.

In 2016 and 2017, the Captain Al sired pair of William Longsword and Tap O’ Noth provided the Marshall with back to back wins in the G1 Cape Guineas (a race Captain Al himself won in 2000).

William Longsword would go on to win The CTS Mile before retiring to Klawervlei Stud, where he has sired the likes of top sprinter Dyce and fellow graded stakes winners Back In Business, Itsrainingwilliam and Rulership.

Champion One World was conditioned by the Marshall stable to win ten of his 14 starts, with One World ending his career on a memorable note when he downed champion Rainbow Bridge to win the 2020 G1 Sun Met.
Retired to Drakenstein Stud, One World was Leading First Season Sire of 2023-2024 and Leading Second Season Sire of 2024-2025.

One World not only provided the Marshall stable with a memorable win in the Met, but he is also the sire of champion One Stripe, whom Vaughan saddled to win both the 2024 G1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas and 2025 G1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate.

One World is also the sire of Vaughan’s current star two-year-old Rich Man’s World who is unbeaten in three starts and recently won the G3 Tote Godolphin Barb Stakes by seven and a half lengths.

Vaughan says of One World that the champion stamps his stock, and both One Stripe and Rich Man’s World strongly resemble their outstanding sire.

However, One World was not the first son of Captain Al trained by Vaughan who won the Met.

In 2014, gallant gelding Hill Fifty Four benefitted from a fine front running ride from Anton Marcus to land the J&B Metropolitan by 2014.

In the process, Hill Fifty Four made amends for a runner up finish in the 2013 Met.

Mia Moo (orange colours) wins last year’ SA Fillies Sprint to give Sean Tarry a 21st Gr 1 win at Hollywoodbets Scottsville (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

“The King Of Pietermaritzburg”, Sean Tarry, has won a record 21 Gr 1s at the Hollywoodbets Scottsville and he once again has a strong team for the Festival Of Speed meeting on 23 May.

He goes for a tenth Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint and he runs  last year’s winner Mia Moo in the 1200m wfa event this year.

He said, “I am very happy with Mia Moo. I thought her run in the Computaform Sprint was very good and it should have set her straight for this race. Double Grand Slam has a profile that is a lot higher and she has been doing well and I respect her and there is also Asiye Phambili, but you have to race, you can’t just give them the trophies.”

Mia Moo did beat an unlucky Double Grand Slam in this race last year and also touched off Asiye Phambili.

Tarry also runs Rodeo Drive and One Fine Winter in the SA Fillies Sprint.

He said, “Rodeo Drive’s disappointing run in the Empress Club was her second run after a layoff, which followed her win in the Gr 2 Ipi Tombe, and it came a bit too soon. But she bounced back nicely last time with a second in the Camellia Stakes.”

However, she does have a lot to do being merit rated 12 points lower than Double Grand Slam and seven lower than Asiye Phambili and six lower than Mia Moo.

One Fine Winter disappointed in the Swallow Stakes and came back full of mucus in her next run. Sean said a line could be drawn through those two runs and he was “very happy” with her 2,30 length sixth in the Camellia.

However, she has a lot to do in this weight for age event off a 105 merit rating.

Jerusalema Rain is doing very well in the build up to the Gr 2 Golden Horse Sprint over 1200m. Ironically when Ashley Fortune left for Australia Sean had asked the owner, who had a a share in a horse in his yard, to send Jerusalema Rain to him, but he declined and sent him to Cape Town instead. However, the Captain Of All gelding has eventually ended up in the Tarry yard and is clearly enjoying being back on the Highveld. He raided Hollywoodbets Greyville in his penultimate start and finished just a half-a-length behind the top class Questioning over 1200m, albeit when receiving 9kg if apprentice claims are included. He then returned to the Highveld and won the Gr 2 TAB Senor Santa Stakes over 1160m. He carried bottom weight in the Senor Santa and went up nine points to 109. He will get into the final field for the Golden Horse. He is set to carry 52,5kg, so he is an interesting contender, considering he is on the up.

Tarry said about Jerusalema Rain’s regular jockey, Mickaelle Michel, “Her confidence is growing and she is starting to deliver.”

Cosmic Speed is an interesting entry in the Golden Horse.

Tarry said, “He got four pounds for running third in the Senor Anta. which didn’t help him.. He took a terrible bump in the Met and that rattled him a little bit. His first two runs after that were around the turn and didn’t help his confidence and he then seemed to enjoy running down the straight again in the Senor Santa. We don’t need to change it for now, but it doesn’t mean that I’m sticking to sprints. I will nominate him for the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge.”

Tarry said The Specalist might not have a high enough merit rating to get into the Golden Horse, but he hoped Speed Man would get in and reading between the lines it would seem he believes Speed Man to be his chief hope of wining the race, despite the fact he would be under sufferance if he did get in off his 105 rating.

Tarry said, “The In Full Flight over 1100m at Scottsville is always seen as a qualifier and a good showing there often gets them in.”

Speedman ran a cracking 0,40 length second to Kaalvoet in that race. He had won four out of his previous five starts before that and is clearly an exciting prospect.

In the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Tarry has entered Get Up, Griselda, Secretary Bird and Ocean Mistress.

He said, “Secretary Bird’s last run in the Race Coast Slipper I thought was a very good run and she and Get Up are my main two here.”

Sean has also nominated Get Up for the Gr 1 Gold Medallion and he had not decided yet which one she will run in, although he did admit that the Vaughan Marshall-trained Rich Man’s World and the Mike de Kock-trained Haute Couture were two “very nice horses” and they will likely be taking their places in the Gold Medallion.

Tarry also has Status Symbol and Egremont in the Gold Medallion and said, “It’s obviously going to be tough for them. Status Symbol did run second in a feature last time, but this is definitely a way stronger race. Egremont won his maiden on debut and I’m looking at him and I will see how he goes during the week.

Sean runs last year’s winner Mia Moo in the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint.

He said, “I am very happy with her. I thought her run in the Computaform Sprint was very good and it should have set her straight for this race. Double Grand Slam has a profile that is a lot higher and she has been doing well and I respect her and there is also Asiye Phambili, but you have to race, you can’t just give them the tropheies.”

Mia Moo did beat an unlucky Double Grand Slam in this race last year and also touched off Asiye Phambili, which was proof that anything can happen, or go wrong, in a race.

Tarry also runs Rodeo Drive and One Fine Winter in the SA Fillies Sprint..

He said, “Rodeo Drive’s disappointing run in the Empress Club was her second run after a layoff, which followed her win in the Gr 2 Ipi Tombe, and it came a bit too soon, but she bounced back nicely with a second in the Camelllia Stakes.”

However, she does have a lot to do being merit rated 12 points lower than Double Grand Slam and seven lower than ASiye Phambili.

One Fine Winter disappointed in the Swallow Stakes and came back full of mucus in her next run, so a line was draswn through those two runs, so he was “very happy” with her 2,30 lentgth sixth in the Camellia. Howeverm she has a lt to do in this weight fr age event off a 105 merit rating.

Item powers home to win the traditional Derby pointer, the Dante (Picture: Sky Sports Racing)

Item appears a serious Epsom Derby contender after his unbeaten run continued with a win in the Dante Stakes at York.

A son of racing great Frankel, the 11-2 priced Item had won both of his races as a juvenile and was ridden confidently by Colin Keane to claim the statement win.

In his first run of the season, Andrew Balding-trained Item stayed close to race leader Action before pulling away in the final furlong to finish nearly three lengths clear, with Action (4-1) and the 11-4 favourite Christmas Day running in second and third.

The result presents owners Juddmonte with another Derby prospect after Legacy Link won the Musidora on Wednesday.

Juddmonte racing manager Barry Mahon said of Item: “He does his work nicely at home, but he’s not flashy and we were a little unsure where we were, but that was a good performance.

“We’ve won a trial so the obvious place to go is the Derby, Juddmonte buy and breed these horses to compete at the top table in the best races and the Epsom Derby is still one of the best races in the world.

“Colin said he felt like a horse who would get further so we’ll talk to the owners, but hopefully they’ll want to go to Epsom.”

Magic Carpet ride gives both Keagan de Melo and Sean Tarry their respective 100th win of the season (JC Photos)

When Keagan de Melo and Sean Tarry combined to win the fourth race at the Vaal Classic track today with Magic Carpet ride, they both notched up their 100th respective wins of the season and they went on to score a double together.

De Melo scored a treble for the day as he also rode a winner for Lucky Houdalakis, who scored a double.

De Melo’s 101 wins have come at a strike rate of 19.02%.

Tarry’s 101 wins have come at a strike rate of 15.47%.

He is one of only three trainers to have had 100 or more wins this season joining Alan Greeff (116 at 16.09%) and Justin Snaith (103 at 13.45%).

Lucky Houdalakis is on 35 wins at 14.58%.

Strawberry Thief has his second start in the East Cape and has been tipped to win the fifth (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Fairview Poly Friday Formguides And Selections (Trevor Reid)

RACE 1

SAY A PRAYER was not disgraced on debut. She now has Richard Fourie in the irons and could score. CARNIVAL will carry the same colours as that rival but represents trainer Dean Smith. She makes her debut but would not be a surprise winner. RIVER VIEW and SEATTLE GLOW are both on debut for trainer Alan Greeff and can get involved with the finish. J LORDI showed pace on debut and could improve trying the Polytrack.

RACE 2

RULES OF CONDUCT is threatening a first success and should beat these rivals. APPLES AND TEA tries the Polytrack and could improve. GLOBAL THRILLER was not disgraced in both starts and could contest the finish. PROFUMO was not disgraced on debut but does try the Polytrack this time. BLAZING FLAME and ON THE OUTSIDE need to do more to score but can earn some money.

RACE 3

A competitive looking race. SATELLITE WORLD is threatening a winning turn. TRIP TO PEACE makes a local debut and would not be a surprise winner. GREY WARRIOR has been a disappointment so far but could earn some money. OSMIUM showed improvement on local debut and could score this time around. STRAIGHT RED and MEDITERRANEANFLAME both need to do more to win but can make the frame.

RACE 4

A very open leg of the Pick 6 and we may have to go very wide to get through this leg. GARDEN SUN was not disgraced last time out and could pop up. A BIT CHILLY has held form of late and would not be a surprise winner. HENRY’S HEDGE has run in better fields than this of late and must be respected. PAST AND PRESENT and DEANDRE’S DREAM both make their local debuts and must be included in all bets. SAN QUINTIN, MIGHTY MAC and REFLECT are others to consider.

RACE 5

Trainer Alan Greeff has 5 of the 9 runners so we will look to stable jockey Richard Fourie. STRAWBERRY THIEF was given a soft debut and looks likely to improve. ENCHANTING CHOICE is in very good form and will challenge her stable companion for victory. EPIKLEROS has had a very good season and is clearly not out of it. FAMILY POWER is consistent and must be considered a possible winner. GINGER DELIGHT could return to form on this surface.

RACE 6

DUPONT EMERALD has been in good form of late. She is not well drawn and has to prove herself on this surface but is clearly the right one on form. STAR IN MOTION makes his local debut and should show improvement. STRANGE MAGIC has not been reliable but would not be a surprise winner. EL CAPITAN and HONORINE’S GIMMIE are both capable of better than their last runs would suggest and are capable of getting into the mix of things.

RACE 7

TINTAMARRE clearly likes the Polytrack and now has four wins on the surface. Two of them were over this particular distance and he could prove hard to beat. GOLDEN PAVILON does not always show his best side but is not out of it. PRINCESS HANNAH and BLACK EGRET are both capable of improvement and could prove dangerous this time around. CHAMPONELLE, ALESIA’S LOVE and ONE TOO MANY are also capable of making the frame.

RACE 8

A very open looking last race handicap. ALEX MILLER is badly drawn and is a difficult filly to win with but does have claims in a tricky race. PARADISE WAY is capable of improvement from a good draw. AYUWI YUWI found betting support last time out and won so must be respected for that. GENOVEFA loves the Polytrack and is capable of another victory. JAMBO SANA, KENTUCKY LASSIE and MIDNIGHT MUSIC all seem better than their disappointing last runs.