Picture: Sugar Mountain gives jockey Devin Ashby the second leg of a treble at Kenilworth on Saturday (Wayne Marks).

Sugar Mountain Is One To Follow

PEDIGREE PROFILE -SUGAR MOUNTAIN

by Sarah Whitelaw

The late, great Silvano, recently crowned South Africa’s Champion Sire for 2021-2022, struck twice at Kenilworth last Saturday.

Not only did Silvano’s seven-year-old daughter Rosalie Runs capture the seventh race on the card, Silvano’s gelded son Sugar Mountain caught the eye when he won the sixth race, a competitive looking middle stakes over 1400 metres.

Four-year-old Sugar Mountain, a R425 000 buy from the 2020 CTS Ready To Run Sale, appears to be typical of the progeny of Silvano in that he looks open to improvement with age.

He is out of the placed mare Gettna, whose sire Var is enjoying increasing success as a broodmare sire.

Sadly, like Silvano, now deceased, Var daughters made their mark in a big way last season, with Var mares producing G1 winners in both Australia and South Africa during the 2021-2022 racing season.

Not only did In The Congo (out of Var’s champion daughter Via Africa) capture Australia’s G1 XXXX Golden Rose in 2021, but Var was also broodmare sire of SA G1 winners Alesian Chief (Golden Horse Sprint), Master Archie (G1 Computaform Sprint) and Thunderstruck (G1 Gold Medallion) in 2022. (Var’s maternal grandson In The Congo is apparently eyeing a tilt at the AUS $7.5 million Golden Eagle on October 29th).

In total, Var was broodmare sire of six stakes winners in South African last season, with these black type winners landing 10 graded or listed races. Var ended up sixth on South Africa’s Leading Broodmare Sires List in 2021-2022, with his daughters producing 62 winners last season.

(Alesian Chief’s sire Vercingetorix, like Sugar Mountain, was sired by

Silvano).

While Gettna never won a race, she took a strong pedigree with her when she retired to stud.

Out of the three time winning Fort Wood mare Derry Wood (and thus bred on the same Var/Fort Wood cross as 2013 G1 Golden Horse Sprint winner Contador), Gettna sports a pair of talented gallopers as half-siblings.

Her Rich Man’s Gold half-brother Royal Vintage showed high-class form in both South Africa and Dubai, with Royal Vintage capturing South Africa’s G2 Umkhomazi Stakes before becoming one of the best three-year-olds of his year in Dubai.

Getta also numbers G2 Peermont Emperors Palace Charity Mile winner Alderry (Al Mufti) as her half-sister, with Alderry arguably proving even more successful at stud than on the racetrack.

Alderry not only produced G1 SA Derby winner Al Sahem (by Silvano), she is also dam of G1 Summer Cup third place getter Al Mutawakel (by Silvano), as well as Listed Jacaranda Handicap queen Seehaam. The latter was sired by Silvano’s son Vercingetorix, making Sugar Mountain bred on similar lines to all of Al Sahem, Al Mutawakel and Seehaam.

Sugar Mountain is also bred on similar lines to the Silvano mare Tirza, another half-sister to Gettna. Tirza, like Gettna, failed to win but at stud produced G3 Diana Stakes/G3 Victress Stakes queen Goodtime Gal (by Royal Air Force) as well as the smart stayer Tirzan (by Seventh Rock).

Picture: Rachel Venniker about to clinch a treble at Turffontein Inside today aboard the Paul Peter-trained Flame Flower (JC Photos).

Venniker Bursts Into The Championship Picture

Rachel Venniker took full advantage of her 1,5kg female allowance at Turffontein Inside today and rode a treble.

Two of the wins were for champion trainer Paul Peter, whose stable jockey from last season is set to emigrate to New Zealand.

Venniker is now probably favourite, alongside Muzi Yeni, to land the position of first call rider to Peter.

If she does land the position her chances of landing the national championship will increase substantially.

However, those chances will also depend on whether she can land good rides in either Gqerberha or Cape Town, because riding in just two centres will likely not be enough.

Her treble today started with a finely judged victory on the Grant Maroun-trained Global View gelding Global Breeze in a 2000m Maiden Handicap. Global View is by Galileo so the three-year-old not surprisingly relished the step up in trip and he was also 2.5kg (plus the 1.5kg claim equals 4kg in total) better off with Clap Of Thunder for a two length beating, so it was somewhat surprising he drifted out to 6/1, whilst Clap Of Thunder started 2/1 favourite. Venniker had a lot of ground to make up in the straight after the light weight Inkosana had stolen a march, but the horse ran on steadily and got there by half-a-length in the end.

In the next race over 1600m she came from second in the running on the Peter-trained favourite Electric Gold (Flying The Flag) to snare pacemaker Indus Knight close to home and win going away by half-a-length. Electric Gold had thus claimed a hattrick of victories. Considering he was given only a three point raise for his last win and Venniker is allowed the 1.5kg claim, he effectively ran off the same merit rating as last time.

In the sixth race Venniker produced a fine front-running race on the Peter-trained Flame Flower (What A Winter) to hold on by 0,40 lengths in the 1600m event.

She had a slow start to the season but has now won five races at a strike rate of 9.62%, which is seven off the pace being set by Kabelo Matsunyane.

Johan Janse van Vuuren had a double at today’s meeting.

Kennedy 90% Certain Of Emigration To New Zealand

Warren Kennedy is still waiting for his visa for New Zealand to come through.

However, he said there was a 90% chance he would be emigrating to the Antipodean country.

His lawyers are confident he will get the visa.

They said it was just a matter of the relevant paper work being completed.

He has already signed a contract with a riding centre.

The twice SA champion jockey is enjoying a much deserved holiday with his family at present and has just returned from the Kruger Park.

They are now heading to Greece.

He will only be back here on September 9.

He said he would ride in SA temporarily if the visa had not come through by the end of his holiday.

In the unlikely event of the visa being declined he will obviously attempt to win back his old first call positions to the like of Paul Peter and Gavin Smith.

Picture: Warren Kennedy winning the MWOS Gold Cup aboard the Paul Peter-trained Shangani (Soft Falling Rain).

Picture: Royal Aclaim: a course-and-distance winner having landed the City Walls Stakes John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

‘He’s Been Smashed Up’ – Bookmakers Reveal Their Ebor Festival Fears

York’s four-day Ebor festival is a huge meeting for punters

By Liam Headd (Racing Post)

All eyes will be on York from Wednesday as the Sky Bet Ebor festival kicks off with some top-class action. Punters will be eager to bash the bookmakers and several leading firms have revealed who they fear the most . . .

‘We’re fearful of Stradivarius‘

Michael Shinners, Sky Bet

“Baaeed is a bad result in the Juddmonte International (3.35 Wednesday) as he opened up at 9-2 in April, but is now 2-5 favourite and we’ll be hoping Mishriff can get the better of him. Mill Stream has been strongly supported in the Acomb Stakes (2.25 Wednesday) and is 3-1 (from 7).

“On Friday, we’ll be fearful of popular stayer Stradivarius in the Londsale Cup (2.25). Punters having certainly favoured him in recent weeks and he’s evens (from 5-4), with old rival Trueshan weak at 9-4 (from 15-8).

“For the Ebor (3.35) on Saturday, we’ve seen support for the Jessica Harrington-trained Ever Present, who is 12-1 (from 16). Punters are also backing the William Haggas pair Candleford and Gaassee – the trainer loves a winner on the Knavesmire.”

‘Royal Aclaim would be our biggest loser’ – Paul Binfield, Paddy Power

“Baaeed has been well backed for the Juddmonte (3.35) since he opened up at 2-1, but from a sporting point of view it would be marvellous to see him continue his winning streak.

“Royal Aclaim is also a big-race favourite in the Nunthorpe on Friday (3.35) and has been very well supported since her impressive victory in the City Walls Stakes. She would be our biggest loser of the week.

“The Ebor on Saturday (3.35) is a Yorkshire institution and one of the big betting races of the season with Okita Soushi, John Leeper and Ajero already possessing fancy price dockets.”

‘Irish horses are proving very popular’ – Nicola McGeady, Ladbrokes

“We hope to see a good spread of business and hopefully don’t face any massive liabilities. It’s easier said than done with Stradivarius, who’s constantly in the headlines and still very much a public horse. He’ll be the main attraction of the week in the Lonsdale Cup (2.25) as he heads there with an unbeaten record at the track.

“Royal Aclaim is one punters have got stuck into early doors for the Nunthorpe (3.35) and is still popular this morning at 6-4. She is one we’d like to see beaten.

“The Irish horses are proving very popular in the Ebor (3.35) after they claimed the race last year with Sonnyboyliston. Earl Of Tyrone is the latest to come in for money this morning and is 7-1 (from 8), while Licence has been smashed up over the last week and is 16-1 (from 50).”

‘Our concern is a winning combination’ – Barry Orr, Betfair

“Our sportsbook wouldn’t have any significant single liabilities at present but our potential main concern, as it always is at major festivals, is a winning combination of certain jockeys and or trainers on any given day.

“A winning multiple for Frankie Dettori, Hollie Doyle or William Haggas would do damage on any given day but that liability grows exponentially during a major Flat festival such as York, so that would set alarm bells ringing.”

Picture: The Glen Kotzen-trained Famous And Rich has been one of the first three-year-olds this season to win a handicap against older horses and he was raised from an 84 to an 88 merit rating.

Stats Show Young 3yos To Not Be Overrated As Is Popularly Claimed

NHA Sophomore Crop Review 2021/22

(How did 3yos perform against older horses in handicaps?)

These Stats flow from the Press Release of 1 October 2021

CLICK HERE TO SEE LATEST PRESS RELEASE

The NHA Handicappers are tasked with ensuring that all horses in handicaps have an equal chance of winning as per the rules of the NHA (Rule: 47.3.2 a handicap, which shall be a RACE in which the weights to be carried by the HORSES are allocated by the handicapper for the purpose of equalising their chances of winning). It is, however, a trend that the three-year-old crop consistently outperform their older rivals in benchmark handicaps. This is likely due to their freshness in racing, their propensity to improve more rapidly than older horses, and the likelihood that trainers take advantage of the favourable WFA for the more mature three-year-old’s early in the season. This trend flattens as the months progress as the Handicappers are able to gain better insight into the merit of each three-year-old, and as the WFA allowance reduces.

The Handicappers have reviewed the handicap performances of the three-year-old crop after the last Southern Hemisphere season ending 31 July 2022. This review is done regularly to ensure that a balance between crops is maintained and that handicaps remain competitive.

The chart below displays the number of starters in benchmark handicaps for the 2021/22 season and is divided into three-year-old starters in yellow and four-year-old and older starters in blue. Participation by three-year-old’s steadily increases through the course of the season with the smallest number of three-year-old starters during the first quarter of the season.

The chart below shows the three-year-old win strike-rate in Green, and the four year and older crop win strike rate in blue. The strike rate is calculated by dividing wins for each group by the number of starters of each group and converting to percentages. But for two months in the 2021/22 season, November and March) the three-year-old crop outperformed their older competitors in every month of the season. As three-year-olds are likely more progressive than their older peers in handicaps, this higher overall strike rate is not abnormal.

The tables below break down the strike rate by month in season, by age group. The average net merit ratings (Ave NMR) columns indicate that the three-year-old’s average net merit rating increases marginally through the course of the season. Despite this, in the months of November 2021 and March 2022 does the four year and older group outperform the three-year-old crop. The dip in strike rate for the three-year-old crop in November and March is likely due to the better three-year-olds contesting the opening November Classic and Highveld March Classic races in those months, and due to the leading Western Cape sophomores likely breaking before the KZN Winter Season. The mostly-consistent outperformance of the three-year-old crop throughout the season is in part due to the constant adjustment of sophomore ratings as they disclose more of their ability through the season in benchmark handicaps.

Snapshot of the last three seasons, i.e. from August 2019 to July 2022.

Current season rating bands as of 1 August 2022 (gross ratings):

Please contact the Senior Handicapper Mr Lennon Maharaj at lennon@nhra.co.za for any queries.

Met Winner Smart Call To Foal Down Soon At Mauritzfontein

Above: Mauritzfontein Stud’s Met winner and international performer Smart Call, heavily in foal to Gimmethegreenlight – she is due to foal in the next few days. This will be her fourth foal and her second from Gimmethgreenlight. (Picture: John Lewis).

Picture: Mirren (seen winning today under Piere Strydom) secured another fine training feat for the Botes and Vosloo yard as they have had him for just two runs for a second and a win.

Striker Five Wins Away From Retirement

Piere Strydom had a typically perfectly-judged come-from-behind win today on the Barend Botes and Yolandi Vosloo-trained Mirren (Mambo In Seattle) and is now just five away from the magical 5500 career winners.

It is a magical number because he has stated he will retire upon reaching that figure.

He has now ridden six winners since returning to the saddle on June 26.

He has ridden the six at a strike rate of 12.77%.

Fans will now be trying to predict which meeting he will be bowing out at because many would like to be there to bid the legendary rider farewell.

Or perhaps somebody could sponsor a “farewell tour” where he visits each track after reaching the 5500 for hopefully one last victory at each venue and a chance for the respective local fans to say goodbye?

Today’s Question

This year’s Equus Horse Of The Year Award is too close to call.

What was the previous closest contest this century between two stand out candidates?

Picture: A clue to the answer.

Hollywoodbets Greyville Poly Wednesday Fields

Today’s Question Answer

In 2005/2006 the Equus Award judging panel decided the Horse Of The Year Award was too close to call and gave a joint award to the two superstar greys, the Mike de Kock-trained Ilha da Vitoria (BRZ) (Candy Stripes) and the Sean Tarry-trained National Colour (National Assembly).

Picture: National Colour seen working on the July course at Newmarket where she finished a close second in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes over five furlongs in 2008.

Turf Talk Newsletter – 16 August 2022