Turf Talk Newsletter – 14 November, 2023

Who Will Make The Summer Cup Final Field?

Muzi Yeni and S’Manga Khumalo with the Betway Summer Cup at the media launch for the big race last week (Picture: 4Racing)

Turf Talk

Final field announcements are usually accompanied by grumbling from connections of the borderline cases who don’t get in.

The final field panellists for the Betway Summer Cup will have had a difficult task due to the factors of recent form versus merit rating versus Summer Cup log position.

The final field will be announced on Wednesday (15 November) and the official barrier draw will take place in the evening with an 18H00 for 18H30 start at Marabi Club in downtown Johannesburg.

Turf Talk predict the field will be made up of the following 20 horses but recent form might see the panellists having a different opinion:

Puerto Manzano (125)

Cousin Casey (123)

Winchester Mansion (121)

Anfields Rocket (120)

Bless My Stars (119)

Bingwa (118)

Safe Passage (117)

Second Base (117)

Billy Bowlegs (117)

Future Pearl (116)

Son Of Raj (115)

Nebraas (115)

Aragosta (114)

Shoemaker (112)

Zeus (111)

Atticus Finch (111)

Royal Victory (111)

None Other (110)

Meridius (110)

Litigation (110)

The unluckiest ones if that is the field would be East Coast (110), Lady Of Power (107) and Electric Gold (105).

However, the recent form of the former pair makes it hard to make a case for them and the latter horse’s low merit rating makes it easier to leave him out than others.

The possible grumbles could be that Meridius has only ever raced in one stakes race and that was a win in a Listed race over 1600m. He has placed over 1800m, but has never raced beyond that trip and has never raced in a stakes race over a middle distance trip.

However, Meridius was number 20 on the last log.

East Coast and Lady Of Power have done little to prompt a leapfrogging over him.

Electric Gold, on the other hand, finished second in the Gr 3 Betway Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m. However, at the weights his peformance was below that of a number of Summer Cup entries, including Litigation and even East Coast.

He did perform slightly better at the weights than None Other, but the latter was the winner of the Gr 2 SA Oaks and the Gr 2 Track And Ball Oaks and was 15th on the last Summer Cup log.

Another grumble could be that Nebraas, who was in 16th place on the last log, finished downfield in the Victory Moon and was well beaten by both Electric Gold and East Coast and performed worse than them at the weights too. Nebraas’s two best middle distance performances have been a 2,25 length second to Rain In Holland over the Summer Cup course and distance in a Gr 2 race when giving her half-a-kilogram and he was a 2,30 length fifth in the Gr 1 weight for age Premier’s Champions Challenge over the Summer Cup course and distance. Those two performances underline his potential and proved he was up to his merit rating over middle distances. However, will they count more than rcent form?

Former SA Derby winner Aragosta, 17th on the last log, performed even worse than Nebraas in the Victory Moon and was beaten 14,25 lengths. His best recent middle distance perfomance was a second place finish in the Gr 3 Splashout 2200 where he carried 60.5kg and beat Nebraas, carrying 62kg, by four lengths and another Summer Cup entry River Romeo by 5,15 lengths.

Supplementary entry Royal Victory has not placed in a middle distance Graded race, but he was comfortably clear of both East Coast and Electric Gold in last season’s Gr 1 SA Classic over 1800m when finishing a three length fifth to Anfield’s Rocket at level weights and he will receive 3kg from the latter in the Summer Cup. Royal Victory recently showed his effectiveness over middle distances when winning the Non-Black Type Michaelmas over 1900m in impressive style despite carrying 61.5kg.

Talking of the SA Classic both East Coast and Electric Gold were well clear of Shoemaker in the latter race. The latter’s best middle distance performance has been a 3,70 length fifth in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000, where he did beat East Coast and also Summer Cup entry and SA Derby winner Son Of Raj. However, River Romeo a Summer Cup entry rated just 101, was only 0,90 lengths behind Shoemaker that day, which opens the question of whether that performance by Shoemaker is good enough to warrant a place. Shoemaker was 19th on the last log and his only run this season has been a 3,75 length eighth in the Gr 2 Allied Steelrode On A Mission Chariry Mile, where he was narrowly in front of Meridius.

So there were some difficult decisions for the panellists to have made, but the anticpation of their decisions does always add some intrigue to big races.

My Sanctuary's Fame Is Outdoing Her Earlier Infamy

My Sanctuary’s daughter Silver Sanctuary finishes fast for a smart win in the Listed Summer Pudding Stakes (JC Photos).

Turf Talk

The infamous race at Clairwood which caused a meeting to be abdandoned back on St, Patrick’s day March 17, 2013, should have just become a foootnote but it keeps on cropping up through the two main protagonists in the drama that day, Captain Al filly War Path and Antonius Pius filly My Sanctuary.

My Sanctuary’s stall did not open that day but she managed to burst through, losing many lengths, while War Path went on to victory.

My Sanctuary was the favourite and the fact that she ran on to finish third in the six horse field meant she had to be declared a runner because the rule states that any horse finishing in the first four can not be declared a non-runner.

This led to outrage by the punting public who refused to let the jockeys come out for the next race and the meeting had to be abandoned.

My Sanctuary went on to win the Gr 2 Debutante and her name was up in lights a few years later through the exploits of her Gr 1 Daily News 2000-winning Silvano son Safe Passage, who also won the Gr 2 Dingaans and Gr 2 Gauteng Guineas.

My Sanctuary’s name is up in lights again because Safe Passage’s full sister, Silver Sanctuary, is following in his footsteps.

She impressed when flying home to win the Listed Summer Pudding Handicap over 1600m by 0,75 lengths at the Big T on Saturday under JP van der Merwe.

Mike de Kock trains both Safe Passage and Silver Sanctuary, who are both Drakesnstein Stud homebreds, and he said, “She was eight pounds out at the weights so this was a very good run from Silver Sanctuary. We wanted to see if we had a Guineas filly, I thought this was her minimum trip, but she is on the up and she will stay. Well done to Drakenstein Stud, a good breeding feat with her dam.”

De Kock’s Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Stud homebred Querari filly Bonete, who is out of his former SA Oaks winner Ilha Bela, was a good second in the Summer Pudding Stakes and also has promise.

Meanwhile, War Path ironically made the news recently in a scenario that had shades of that infamous St. Patrick’s day event ten years ago at Clairwood.

Her daughter She’s A Klawer was declared to be a runner at the Vaal despite leaving the jockey behind in the stalls. The stipendiary stewards deemed that the the jockey had ridden the horse “in an unprofessional manner by failing to take all reasonable measures to ensure that he was sufficiently prepared for the start whilst in the stalls and under Starter’s orders, which led to the horse jumping riderless from the stalls.”

On this occasion the horse was not the favourite and in any case both bookamers and the Totea decided to refund punters who had backed the horse. That led to a the NHRA writing a letter to the operators concerned that they had acted against the rules and they explained the potential repercussions which setting such a dangerous precedent could have.

War Path has produced the Hong Kong-based Vercingetorix gelding Super Warrior, who was called Fearless Warrior in South Africa when running second in the Gr 3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery and winning twice. War Path has also produced Bella Chica, a six time-winning Listed winner.

Handicapping Ratings Update

Rascova being led in after her Gr 2 win on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Durbanville (Picture: Wayne Marks).

NHA Press Release

14 November 2023

Western Cape Fillies Championship (Grade 2)

RASCOVA has had her merit rating raised from 104 to 110 following her success in the Grade 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship for three-year-olds over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday 11 November. The Handicappers were of the view that 4^th placed LUNA HALO would not have run below her best ability in this Grade 2 event and accordingly opted to use her as a line horse in rating the Western Cape Fillies Championship.

There were ratings’ increases also for four other fillies. 2^nd placed DOUBLE GRAND SLAM was adjusted from 99 to 104, ROYALS received a 9 pounds adjustment from 94 to 103. These adjustments will ensure that all of the 1^st four past the post will meet on correct handicap terms in the future, both 2^nd and 3^rd should not be rated lower than the 103 rated line horse LUNA HALO as they beat her here at level weights in this Grade 2 contest. The only other increase was for JUST BE LEKKER, who went up 2 points from 97 to 99.

The only runner to receive a drop in ratings was FRANCINE, who dropped from 101 to 98.

Cape Mile (Grade 3)

MONTIEN had his rating adjusted from 99 to 105 after winning the Grade 3 Cape Mile over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday. The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that 4^th placed MONEY HEIST made for the most suitable line horse and as such he remained unchanged on his rating of 106. In rating the race this way MONTIEN actually runs to a mark of 108, but had to be capped at 105 due to the specific race conditions that state that the winner may only be increased by a maximum adjustment of 6 points and the placed horses may not be increased.

The following horses were given a ratings’ drop, DOUBLE SUPERLATIVE was dropped from 125 to 120, LINEBACKER from 114 to 110 and FUTURE PRINCE was dropped from 96 to 93.

Laisserfaire Stakes (Listed)

The 3-year-old filly, BALTIC SECRET, had her rating adjusted from 93 to 101 after landing the Listed Laisserfaire Stakes over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the view that the 4-year-old filly HUNTING TRIP made for the most suitable line horse here, especially as the 1^st four positions in this handicap event was dominated by unexposed 3-year-olds. The winner here was fully 8 pounds under sufferance in the benchmarked Handicap (benchmarked 52kg = 88).

The unlucky OCTOBER MORN received an increase of 2 pounds from 103 to 105. ONI SAN and CANDY TOWN who were both under sufferance received adjustments from 89 to 98 and 94 to 96 respectively.

Two horses received a rating’s drop, PACIFIC GREEN was dropped from 90 to 88 and AMEENA was dropped from 108 to 106.

Summer Pudding Handicap (Listed) formerly the Syringa Handicap (Listed)

The only 3-year-old filly to participate here, SILVER SANCTUARY, has seen her rating increased from 96 to 107 in the Listed Summer Pudding Handicap over 1600m at Turffontein on Sunday 12 November. EMIRATE GINA was considered to be the most suitable line horse, and she remains on a rating of 105. It should be noted that SILVER SANCTUARY was actually 8 pounds under sufferance hence her ratings increase of 11 pounds.

Five horses received drops – MAGICAL FLIGHT was dropped from 89 to 88, JULIET TANGO was dropped from 94 to 92, CRIMSON PRINCESS was dropped from 99 to 97, TERRA TIME was cut from 92 to 89 and SISTER LIGHT was given a 2-pound drop from 90 to 88.

Sophomore Performances in Handicaps

It was noted by the Handicappers that 3-year-olds comfortably accounted for the older ‘hard knocking’ horses in the Laisserfaire Handicap (Listed) at Hollywoodbets Durbanville while it was also observed that the only 3-year-old in the Summer Pudding Handicap (Listed) run at Turffontein also comfortably accounted for the older ‘hard knocking’ runners in that event. This further confirms the recent Sophomore Crop Review published on 3 November 2023 by the Handicappers, where the data clearly showed that the 3-year-olds continually outperform their older counterparts at handicap terms. This sort of data should be mentioned by pre-race presenters and racing journalists to inform the betting public with facts rather than perpetuating the myth that somehow and despite the evidence that older ‘hard knocking’ horses are difficult to beat.

“It is usually futile to try to talk facts and analysis to people who are enjoying a sense of moral superiority in their ignorance.”

― Thomas Sowell

Deviation from Handicapping Guidelines (Exceptional Performance for a 4yold Maiden Winner)

The Handicappers deemed that EDWARD RYE put up an exceptional performance when easily beating a Maiden field at Turffontein on Sunday over the 1160m trip. In terms of the Handicapping Guidelines, the Handicappers would usually cap a 4-year-old at a 75 rating. The Handicappers deemed this performance to be exceptional as EDWARD RYE achieved a performance figure of 83 (8 pounds higher than the suggested guideline cap) and won with ease. The time of the race was 1.84 seconds faster than the filly’s Maiden plate on the day and was the only time on the day that was faster than the class average time. The Handicappers further felt that this 4-year-old was not a typically well exposed 4-year-old maiden winner, as this was only his 4^th career start. It was further considered that EDWARD RYE was returning from a 236 day lay-off and having his 1^st run for a new stable. EDWARD RYE was given a rating of 83 which was his performance figure for his win on the 12 November 2023.

Siren's Call And Pine Princess Still Fighting It Out

Grant van Niekerk can afford to look around as Call To Unite gallops clear today over 1800m (Picture (cropped): Wayne Marks)

Turf Talk

The former Sean Tarry-trained Elusive Fort stalwart Siren’s Call looked to have the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara in her grasp back in 2015 when fetching Pine Princess (Captain Al) and overtaking her in the closing stages of the Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks. She had won the first two legs, the Gr 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas and the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic, and was fancied to complete the treble and claim the Tiara. The commentator even shouted, “We have a Triple Tiara winner!” … But then Pine Princess fought back and spoilt the party, winning by a head.

In an amazing quirk of fate today (Tuesday) at Hollywoodbets Durbanville the progeny of Siren’s Call and Pine Princess won two successive races respectively.

Siren’s Call, who was a homebred of Peter de Beyer’s, is now owned by champion breeders Drakenstein Stud and all three of her runners are winners.

Her first stakes winner was the Tarry-trained Trippi homebred sprinting filly Sound Of Warning, who won two Gr 3 sprints and had multiple Graded places including a Gr 1 runner up and a Gr 1 third place finish.

However, today it was her Justin Snaith-trained gelding son by Vercingetorix, Call To Unite, who had the wow factor over a trip of 1800m.

It might have just been a maiden but it was only his third career start and he jumped from a wide draw.

He led down the back straight before Protagonist took it up.

In the straight Call To Unite showed a good turn of foot considering he is a big horse.

He then drew away under Grant van Niekerk and could have won by a lot further than 3,25 lengths had he not been eased before the line.

He is owned by Nick Jonsson, who won last year’s Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby and Gr 1 Daily News 2000 with See It Again and he looks to have another type who will be suited to those two events. Time will tell whether Call To Unite has the class to win either of those races. Today gave hope and he is certainly going in the right direction.

Then in the next race the Glen Kotzen-trained Querari filly Passchendaele, who is a daughter of Pine Princess, won her maiden over the same course and distance and actually recorded a time 0,80 sec0nds quicker than Call To Unite.

She is already stakes placed having finisheed third to Beach Bomb in the Listed WSB Irridescence Stakes over 1500m in July. She won today by an easy 2,50 lengths and also has classic pretensions considering she was a go0od fifth recently in the Cape Racing Sales Ready To Run Stakes over the probably too sharp 1400m.

Pince Princess has also produced the useful Gr 2 WSB Gauteng Guineas runner up Pyromaniac, ironically trained by Tarry.

Jonsson, owner of Siren’s Call’s son Call To Unite, scored a double on the day as he also owns the last race winner, the Snaith-trained Dynasty gelding Kingdom Of Heaven.

In between those two wins Jonsson had a favourite running on the Newcastle All Weather track in the U.K.

HIs William Haggas-trained Zoustar colt Mahato had won easily on debut over six furlongs at Windsor and was the 8/13 favourite to follow up today (Tuesday) over seven furlongs.

After a slow start he moved up, but at the furlong mark he hung to the right and weakened and was beaten 6,50 lengths into fourth place in the 12 horse Novice Stakes field. However, he was found by the veterinarian to have sustained a wound to his right fore so he had his excuses and will hopefully bounce back.

Ruby Walsh On The Past Flat And Current Jumps Season

Former jockey great and now presenter Ruby Walsh (Picture: theirishfield.ie)

Exclusive interview with Ruby Walsh: legendary jockey gives his top horses to follow this season, comparisons with Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher and why Irish racing will remain dominant

Ruby Walsh is an ambassador for Racing TV and considered by many one of the best Jumps jockeys of all time
The racing legend looks ahead to the November Meeting, shown live on Racing TV, at Cheltenham this weekend – where many stars of the future will be on show
The former jockey believes the Irish dominance of racing will continue – but the Brits are starting to fight back
Walsh also paid tribute to his good friend and racing colleague Graham Lee, who is currently in intensive care after a nasty fall at Newcastle last week
Where used, please credit: Racing TV is the only channel showing every race live from Cheltenham’s November Meeting – start your FREE MONTH TRIAL now at racingtv.com/freetrial but hurry, there are only 500 left.

The summer season was great in racing – the winter jumps has a lot to live up to

RW: I thought the summer was great, there was some great action and meetings on the Flat. Royal Ascot, York, Irish Champions Festival, there was some great racing.

You look back now at the Derby and see Auguste Rodin beating King Of Steel and where they both ended up.

To me, racing keeps going 12 months around but I think the action of the course of the summer was great and lets hope the Jumps season lives up to the bar that was set over the summer.

Big Evs was some story in the Summer, the horse that won the Nunthorpe – Live In The Dream – watching him win that with the way he bounced out of the stalls was incredible.

I loved the Breeders Cup, with Auguste Rodin on the inside rail up against Frankie Dettori and King Of Steel – that was some battle.

The November Meeting is when the jumps season really kicks into gear – it’s like a mini Cheltenham Festival

RW: I look at it and think that when the cameras are at Wetherby, Down Royal, the November meeting at Cheltenham, that’s when you know the jumps season is in full flow, it steps up again this weekend.

The November Meeting is not the Cheltenham Festival, but it’s like a mini one. There are always great crowds, a great atmosphere, it’s a really enjoyable vibe. I am really looking forward to it.

It really starts ramping up this weekend.

You could have the likes of Delta Work and Galvin in the Cross Country race – they are two massive names. Who knows who we might see in the novice hurdle or novice chase, the likes of Unexpected Party for example, who won’t be a novice for much longer, but he could run.

You’re looking at the November Meeting and wondering who are going to be the future stars, you saw Down Memory Lane in Down Royal, Ile Atlantique at Gowran Park, on Friday there was Brighterdaysahead and Mahon’s Way on Sunday, horses coming out of bumpers, horses coming from foreign fields, all that new talent is coming through and it’s such an exciting time of year.

I’ve been compared to Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville on punditry – I enjoy what I do, especially when there’s good racing

RW: I do enjoy it a lot. Whatever way you look at it, I always worked, so hopefully I will be in work and it is great to be able to continue to do something in horse racing. I enjoy doing what I’m doing, especially when there’s good racing.

I probably have to work a bit hard harder when there is lesser racing but i am enjoying all aspects of the sport, whether that is on the flat or national hunt, whatever happens in the sport i would imagine that pundits in other sports, you watch the Rugby World Cup for example, people educated us all about their sport and we look at it in a different way.

Betting is a massive part of racing but there are also tactical parts of racing and if you can somehow combine the both, then it will make a much better product for people to watch.

It’s not too early for Cheltenham Festival talk – it is what the punters want

RW: I suppose that’s what punters want. Are you going to give somebody an antepost price about a horse for a novice chase in December, when you don’t really know where it is going to go, like to the Challow or the Tolworth?

Or in Ireland, will they go to the Royal Bond, wait for the Christmas Festival at Leopardstown, the Lawlors at Naas after Christmas? There are plenty of good races along the way but ultimately, it is about Cheltenham where they are almost likely to meet so that’s why we often get these quotes early on.

In football, you won’t get a price about a team reaching the quarter final or semi final of the cup, but you’ll probably get a price on them winning the final.

Gordon Elliott is driving Willie Mullins on – the Irish will remain dominant but the wheel will turn eventually

RW: Gordon Elliott had a brilliant weekend at Down Royal. He is the one that keeps driving Willie Mullins forward, then there’s the likes of Henry de Bromhead and Gavin Cromwell who are driving Gordon forward. Every sport requires competition.

The Irish dominance of the racing isn’t going away just yet, but that wheel will eventually turn, just not yet. There’s a lot of good horses in Ireland and a lot of people who are investing big money in Irish racing, which is a huge help. The success will have to keep coming and you just don’t know what the next generation will bring.

Fair play to Frankie Dettori for going on I’m A Celebrity – I wouldn’t do it but I also wouldn’t be asked

RW: For sure, anything anyone can do to paint the sport in a positive light is good in my book. I wish him well, can’t say it is something that appeals to me but fair play to him. He is still fit, riding extremely well, loves what he’s doing and look, he has the chance to go and forge another career so fair play to him.

Constitution Hill is the flagbearer for British racing – the Irish are coming for him though

RW: Of course they can, any horse can. Is it likely? Probably not but people are always going to have a go at him.

People always had a go at Kauto Star, always had a go at Big Buck’s, Hurricane Fly and they will always have a go at Constitution Hill. Eventually they all got beaten too. Look, he’s a great horse, the flagbearer for English National Hunt racing but look, the Irish are coming for him.

Graham Lee managed to do what a lot of jockeys can’t – these accidents don’t happen often but once is too many

RW: I know him very well, I rode with him for a long time. He was very dedicated to his craft, a gentleman obviously and gave everything to his profession. I just feel so sorry for him, you hope that every bit of news you get going forward is positive and my thoughts are with him, Becky and his kids. It is a very worrying time for them and you just hope that god is good.

They don’t happen often but once is too often. We all know the risks involved but you just hope it never happens to anybody.

He is such a good jockey, very stylish and tactical, he managed to do what a lot of people can’t, which is go from a very successful National Hunt jockey to a very successful flat jockey. How many jockeys have won Grand Nationals and then Group Ones on the Flat? Not many.

It’s a fair double – an Ascot Gold Cup on Trip To Paris and then a Grand National on Amberleigh House – that doesn’t happen by luck.

Ruby Walsh’s horses to follow this season

RW: What’s created the impression so far and what’s to come but from what I have seen so far this year, I think that Found A Fifty was very impressive at Down Royal in the novice chase, Grangeclare West was impressive at Naas on Sunday and also Affordale Fury was very good at Galway at the end of October.

In the UK, I thought that Iroko was very good at Warwick, I really liked Stay Away Fay at Exeter and Knappers Hill at Exeter. Both of them looked impressive in the chasing division.

Over the hurdles in the UK, I really liked Personal Ambition at Warwick, Willmount at Newbury, and Deafening Silence was tough at Exeter for the Skelton’s.

In Ireland, Mahon’s Way and Slade Steel looked really good for Henry de Bromhead, Brighter Days Ahead and Down Memory Lane for Gordon Elliott too, Ile Atlantique for Willie Mullins, and Redstone for Gavin Cromwell.

Cromwell has a big team and they are in really good form, he had a brilliant October festival at Cheltenham and has trained Cheltenham Festival winners.

Homeless Kiwi scoops a million bucks on Melbourne Cup

The 2023 Melbourne Cup finish (via Youtube)

‘Robert’ is going to buy a house with his winnings

Mike Moon (The Citizen)

Trainer Sam Freedman and jockey Mark Zahra celebrate after their horse Without A Fight won the Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse on November 7. Picture: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

The Melbourne Cup in Australia last week produced its usual melee of folklore. This time one of the more entertaining stories comes from neighbouring New Zealand, across the Tasman Sea.

A homeless man in the city of Wellington won NZ$106,000 (R1.17-million) for correctly predicting the order of the first four horses home (a Quartet bet in South Africa) in Australia’s most famous horserace – traditionally run on the first Tuesday in November. His outlay was NZ$5 (about R55).

The man, who only wished to be referred to as Robert, told the New Zealand Herald newspaper his winnings would go towards a deposit for a new house. He had been living rough in a garage for nine months.

Robert struck the bet while drinking with a group of friends in a working men’s club in Petone, Wellington, and discovered he had landed the bet when smoking a cigarette in the garden bar.

He celebrated the life-changing win by buying drinks for his mates and the club gave him a celebratory bunch of flowers.

“It was quite, quite an emotional process, mate,” the man told the New Zealand Herald. “I couldn’t believe it, and I thought to myself, there must be something wrong here.

“So, I went into my easybets and realised that there was a green tick next to my $5 first four easybets with $106,000. I’ve gone from being homeless, sitting in a garage, to finally being able to afford a deposit on a house now.”

Last Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup was won by 7-1 chance Without A Fight, with Soulcombe (17-12) getting second, Sheraz (150-1) third and Ashrun (25-1) fourth.

TAB, New Zealand’s largest pool betting firm, said it recorded record turnover on the Cup meeting, with NZ$28.4-million staked.

In Australia, one of the biggest wins to reach the news was a Win bet on Without A Fight, which netted A$900,000 (R10.7-million) for a $100,000 (R1.2-million) outlay.

Snaith Four-timer, Van Niekerk and Marshall Trebles

Youreyesonly ridden by Ashton Arries gives William Longsword a quick double and Vaughan the middle leg of a treble (Picture: Wayne Marks).

Turf Talk

Justin Snaith had a four-timer at Hollywoodbets Durbanville today (Tuesday), three of them ridden by Grant van Niekerk and two of them owned by Nick Jonsson mand two of them sired by Vercingetorix, and Vaughan Marshall had a treble, two of them sired by William Longsword.

Snaith goes to 34 wins for the season at a strike rate of 11.56%.

Marshall is on 12 wins at 9.60%.

Van Niekerk is on 25 wins at 17.24%.

Van Niekerk leads the Cape jockeys log on 25, with Richard Fourie on 21 and Aldo Domeyer on 19.

Today’s Question

Chris Evert is pictured above (pininterest)

The original New York fillies Triple Tiara consisted of three races at Belmont Park and the third filly to land all three was called Chris Evert. Why is this filly significant to South Afrian racing?