Master Archie enjoying himself in his paddock at Winterbach Stud and the horses in the neighbouring paddock are clearly interested in him.

Master Archie Well Received At Stallion Day

The stallion day to introduce Rafeef sire Master Archie at Winterbach Stud last Thursday had good attendance and some shares in the Gr 1 weight for age Computaform Sprint winner were sold.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW A VIDEO OF MASTER ARCHIE’S STALLION DAY (“Master Archie Final Conform.mov”)

Rafeef was also a Gr 1 Computaform Sprint winner, but had class as well as speed. His progeny are following in his footsteps. Two of his three Gr 1 winners to date have been sprinters and the other one is a SA Derby winner.

Master Archie’s damsire sire Var was an outstanding speed stallion.

Master Archie’s dam La Volta, an eight time-winning Listed-winning sprinter, is a half-sister to Gr 2-winning middle distance horse Chesalon, who finished third in the July, and she is also also a half-sister to Gr 2 Senor Santa Stakes and Gr 2 Merchants handicap winner Mardi Gras.

La Volta’s dam Sarabande was a Gr 1 Majorca Stakes winner.

So Master Archie’s pedigree is a mixture of top drawer speed and class.

He is going to be a most interesting addition to the South African stallion pool.

Master Archie was bred at Winterbach Stud.

Two of the three owners of his dam La Volta, Shaun Hanna and Vasan Harry, had a policy of keeping every alternate foal and racing them.

Master Archie fell on a “keep” year.

La Volta, who is also owned by Adam Azzie, has done enormously well at the Sales.

At the Cape Racing Sales Premier Yearling Sale this year her Querari colt sold for R900,000 to Laurence Wernars.

At last year’s BSA National Yearling Sale her Potala Palace colt sold for R600,000.

At the 2019 Cape Premier Yearling Sale her Soft Falling Rain colt fetched R800,000.

Hendrik Winterbach Jnr said, “La Volta throws a very, very good horse every year and it doesn’t matter who we send her too. She throws you a beautiful foal and those prices show you that her progeny look decent.”

Master Archie as a youngster was sent straight from Winterbach Stud to pre-training with Julia Pilbeam and he then went to the Candice Bass-Robinson yard.

He ran three decent races in Cape Town, but really began to thrive on the fast tracks of the Highveld after being sent up to the yard of Paul Peter.

He won his first outing up there over 1000m at the Vaal by 7,50 lengths.

However, it was in his next start over the same course and distance where he truly gave a taste of what was to come.

In that race he faced Dyce at level weights and slammed him by 2,50 lengths.

Dyce, who was always held in high regard, won the Gr 2 Umkhomazi Stakes over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville by 4,30 lengths in his next start.

Master Archie started his three-year-old campaign in good style with an easy win over 1000m. By the time April had arrived he had only had three further runs, one of them a 4,75 length demolition of the Gr 1 winner Under Your Spell in the WSB Sophomore 1000, although he disappointed in two runs on either side of that win.

However, he put the second of those disappointments behind him by winning the Gr 3 Man O’ War over 1100m with topweight, meaning he gave the runner up Cleaver Green 8kg. He ran at level weights that day with subsequent Gr 1 Golden Horse Sprint winner Alesian Chief and slammed him by six lengths.

In his next start he was about two lengths off the pace in a furiously fast run Computaform Sprint and had to be switched way inward for a run. He ended up on what is invariably perceived to be the unfavourable side of the Turffonteim Standside straight course. However, that did not stop him romping home by two lengths after showing a magnificent turn of foot.

Master Archie did not perform to his best around the turn at Hollywoodbets Greyville in the subsequent Gr 1 Mercury Sprint.

The following January nothing went right in his trip to Cape Town for the Gr 1 Pongracz Cape Flying Championship.

However, he bounced back with an outstanding win over the Turffontein Standside 1000m. Carrying 62kg, he gave the Gr 1 runner up Bartholdi 2kg and a two length beating.

He was widely fancied to successfully defend his Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint crown in what was to be his swansong.

However, he bruised his foot the day before the race and had to be scratched.

Forty to fifty people attended the stallion day last week and Hendrik said, “He showed himself very well and we sold a couple of shares on the day, so I think he was well received.”

There were 55 shares available and 16 have been sold.

However, there has already been a request for two covers from an outsider and Hendrik is hoping he will cover a total of about 60 mares during the season.

He stands for R15,000, made up of R5,000 nom and R10,000 for a live foal.

Hendrik has teased him with a few mares who are in season and he is clearly going to relish his new job.

Hendrik said, “He is nice and quiet in his paddock during the day but when he comes in he is very alert and looks out his window and over his door and checks out the property and every now and then he gives a stallion call. He is nice to have on the farm, it keeps everybody awake.”

Hendrik added Master Archie was easy to handle at this stage.

He said, “When we take him to the mares he is on his toes but he is not mean.”

His duties will start on September 1.

Picture: Sovereign State was an impressive winner at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday and is one to follow.

Frank Robinson And Sid Moodley’s Cracking Start To Big-Spending Venture

Frank Robinson’s biggest owner Sid Moodley bought him 15 horses at both last year’s and this year’s big sales, meaning he acquired 30 horses from Sid in all, and the venture has made a perfect start with two wins from two runs.

On Sunday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville the first of the purchased batch to run, Sovereign State, produced an astonishing debut performance under Robert Khathi to beat what looked to be a top class maiden field.

Then today on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly, the second of the batch to be turned out, Mexican Pete, also put in a fine winning performance on debut.

The 1200m event the Visionaire gelding Sovereign State took part in on Sunday had tongues wagging beforehand, because a number of horses arrived on course with bullish sentiments behind them.

The good looking bay was loaded quite early in stall three and seemed to fall asleep, because, having jumped well in his starting stalls tests at Summerveld, he walked out of the gates.

He officially lost three lengths.

At the halfway mark he was way out of his ground.

He then started making up ground.

Frank said, “I thought maybe he could run into a place and that’s a very good run after being left like that. But he was behind horses on the inside and I thought he’s not going to get a gap there. He then moved out and moved out and he ended up winning it! What I particularly liked about the run was if you watch the replay from the side on his ears are pricked forward, so he is doing it while looking at everything. He could be anything.”

The time was 57,07 seconds, which compared well with the 57,80 seconds of the fillies maiden on the day.

Jockey Robert Khathi said afterwards, “I’ve probably never ridden a horse who jumped so slowly over 1000m and still won the race. This was an impressive win.”

Robert landed the ride by chance.

He recalled, “I was working around the turn one day and Frank was coming to work with a couple of babies and said to me, ‘Hey don’t you want to sit on a horse for me and just feel him and tell me what you think.’ I came back from the work out and said ‘This will win first time out.’”

Robert galloped the horse later and Frank stuck with him for the race.

The favourite was the Garth Puller-trained Star Performer (What A Winter), who had finished a 1,10 length third to the smart Main Defender in a maiden in March over 1100m. He hadn’t run since, but Main Defender had gone on to win the BSA Sales Cup and finish second in a strong renewal of the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes.

However, there had also been a lot of talk about a couple of first-timers.

Frank said, “Sean Veale worked my horse and said, ‘He is a class horse, very nice horse’, so I said, ‘What you riding there?’ and he said, ‘No, I’ve got to ride for De Kock and he will win.’ I also asked Tony (Rivalland) and he told me he had actually taken his horse to gallop at the course and he beat Coin Spinner in the gallop. So then I thought wow this is a strong field, it’s like a Smirnoff (Gold Medallion) field.”

Meanwhile Sovereign State had not lost one of his gallops and Frank added, “He has moved easily next to whoever he has galloped with.”

Mike de Kock’s runner Beamonesque is the Rafeef half-brother to the decent twice winner Aravidicio (Flower Alley), a twice Listed runner up and once Gr 3 runner up.

Tony Rivalland’s runner King Of The Gauls is by Vercingetorix out of a High Chaparral mare and he is a half-brother to Galla Vanting (Querari), who won a Gr 3 in just her second start.

Frank said, “I saw King Of The Gauls in the ring and he looked very well and he went to the start very well. I was worried looking at that horse. All of the other bombs went down well and when our horse went down he looked so out of tune, he was looking at everything. “

King Of The Gauls was prominent throughout after jumping to his left. Star Performer moved up well down the inside rail. However, Beamonesque moved up well on their outside and looked all over the winner. However, he didn’t go through with it and Star Performer then took over the lead. However, he was nabbed late by the flying Sovereign State. King Of The Gauls did get cramped for room late and was only beaten 1,35 lengths in fourth place.”

Frank said Sovereign State had come out of the race exceptionally well and reckoned his next race would tell how good he was.

He added, “If you look at him he is quite strong and I thought he would be more a sprinter, but when I looked at him the ring yesterday I was quite surprised because he looked more like a middle distance horse. I said to Sid he has got such good length, when you see him walk, and he stands over a lot of ground.”

Frank had liked the pedigree before the BSA November Sale and had loved the pictures of the horse. All of his positive sentiments were reinforced when he saw the horse ion the flesh. He was concerned he would go for a lot of money, especially when he had asked Glen Kotzen, who has done very well with Visionaires, about him and he had also liked him.

Therefore, he was shocked to land him for a mere R80,000.

Sid spent a lot at this year’s BSA National Yearling Sale on some lovely horses, but Frank always believed Sovereign State was just as good as the yard’s more expensive newcomers.

Robinson and Moodley can be excused for feeling excited about this horse.

By coincidence, today’s winner Mexican Pete went for exactly the same price of R80,000 at the same BSA November two-year-old sale.

Frank did not expect much of him as he views him as a Derby type and he did not have him at “a hundred percent” and he felt the weakness of the field might have helped.

Mexican Pete is by Master Of My Fate out of a Gitano Hernando mare who won twice from 1200m to 1600m and is a half-sister to Gr 3 Cape Fillies Nursery winner Hot Affair and to the useful five-time-winning Master Of My Fate gelding Mr Master Starter. That makes Mexican Pete a three-parts brother to Mr Master Starter and the latter’s wins have only come from 1200m to 1400m. However, Met winner La Fabulous is in the pedigree and both Master Of My Fate and Gitano Hernando were middle distance types.

Sovereign State is out of Fort Wood mare Maple Story, who won second time out beating a fair field and she only had one more run after that. Maple Story is in turn out of Listed-winning speedster Aquila Rapax (Western Winter). The third dam is Tawny Red, a half-sister to July winner Royal Chalice and dam of the like of Gr 1 winners Set Afire and Rudra and also dam of Nacarat, who was the dam of Gr 1 winners Nania and Red Ray and also of Gr 2 winner and Gr 1 runner up Brutal Force.

The Frank Robinson and Sid Moodley combination should be watched.

Jockeys in the 2023 King’s Plate and CEO Jim Lawson at the King’s Plate Post Position Draw (LR Front row) Eswan Flores, Sahin Civaci, Kazushi Kimura, Jose Campos, Jim Lawson (Woodbine CEO), Gary Boulanger, and Patrick Husbands, (back row L-R) Daisuke Fukumoto, Rico Walcott, Ryan Munger, Emma-Jayne Wilson and Rafael Hernandez (Michael Burns Photo)

Ryan Munger Draws 9 In Woodbine’s King’s Plate (Sunday)

Ryan Munger’s first ever ride in Canada back on May 6 yielded a win on the John Mattine-trained Silent Miracle.

He has been kept aboard the son of Silent Name and will thus be one of the riders in Sunday’s Can$1 Million King’s Plate over a mile-and-a-quarter on the Woodbine tapeta.

Silent Miracle has drawn nicely in barrier position 9 in the full 17 horse field.

The King’s Plate is the oldest continuously run race in North America and form’s the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.

The King’s Plate is clearly a massive race in Canada and the following report was published by Woodbine.com after the draw ceremony was completed this morning.

TORONTO, August 16, 2023 – Seventeen sophomores, including Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser winner Elysian Field, and Plate Trial victor Paramount Prince, both trained by dual hall of famer Mark Casse, will contest the $1 million King’s Plate, first leg of the OLG Canadian Triple Crown, highlighting an outstanding stakes-filled Sunday card of racing at Woodbine.

The 164th edition of King’s Plate, North America’s oldest continually run race, contested at 1 ¼ miles on the Woodbine Tapeta, is the first event in the tri-surface series for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.

Wando, bred and owned by the late Gustav Schickedanz, was the last horse to accomplish the feat, in 2003, while becoming the seventh to record the unique triple. The $400,000 Prince of Wales, run at 1 3/16 miles on the dirt at Fort Erie on September 12, is the second leg. The $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes, at 1 ½ miles over the world-renowned E.P. Taylor Turf Course at Woodbine on October 1, concludes the series.

It is also the first time since 1951 that the race will be run as The King’s Plate, in keeping with the tradition of naming the race after the ruling British monarch.

The King’s Plate breakfast festivities, including the post-position draw, was co-hosted by Woodbine TV personality/commentator/handicapper Jeff Bratt and Woodbine track announcer Robert Geller, and held at Woodbine’s Trackside Clubhouse. The event was attended by many of the race’s connections, and included remarks from Jim Lawson, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment.

This year’s edition of The King’s Plate highlights a mix of established stars, and intriguing longshots, talented fillies, colts, and geldings, along with high-profile owners, trainers, and jockeys. The fillies, Elysian Field and Wickenheiser, will each carry 121 pounds, while all other starters carry 126 pounds.

Cool Kiss, a son of Kantharos-Hot Kiss, is one of three (Stanley House and El Cohete is the other) Mike De Paulo trainees. Owned by Newtop Stables, John Russell and De Paulo’s son Joseph, the dark bay is 2-2-0 from eight starts. Emma-Jayne Wilson, who won the 2007 Plate with Mike Fox, gets the call.

“We had a partnership years ago called Super Six Stable,” recalled Mike De Paulo. “One of the horses in the stable was a mare called Hot Kiss. She was a hard-knocking filly, who won the Trillium Stakes and second in the Maple Leaf. We decided to breed her and her first foal, Repeat the Heat, was a nice horse. Cool Kiss is the second one. He’s a character. His mother was a lunatic. This horse, the first time we went to run him, I’m in the Finish Line Bar at Woodbine and I hear there is a scratch in the race, number five. I thought, ‘Okay, one less horse for us to go up against.’ And then I realized that was Cool Kiss. He dropped Emma under the tunnel. But here they are, back together again.”

Owned by Rocco D’Alimonte and Frank Annecchini, El Cohete (“The Rocket”) has posted a top-three finish in three of his four starts, including a maiden-breaking performance over 6 ½ furlongs on the E.P. Taylor Turf on June 15. Trained by Mike De Paulo, who also sends out Cool Kiss and Stanley House, the son of Society’s Chairman-Diannecantretire was third in his most recent race, at 1 1/16 miles over the Tapeta, on July 30.

“He’s a good-feeling horse,” noted De Paulo. “He’s always been a good work horse. We had a little shin trouble with him last year, but he’s been okay this year. We always thought he could run. Hopefully, he shows that again on Sunday.”

Elysian Field, trained by dual hall of famer Mark Casse, heads into the Plate off a sterling score in the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser. The daughter of Hard Spun-Elysian, owned by Team Valor International and Gary Barber, is 2-2-0 from six starts. The chestnut filly was bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms Ont. Inc.

“Coming into a race like this, some horses are thriving and getting better, and that would describe her,” said Casse, who won the 2014 Plate with Lexie Lou and the 2018 running with Wonder Gadot.

Kalik, trained by Chad Brown for owners Robert LaPenta, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Madaket Stables LLC (the group also owns Moon Landing), will make the Plate his first start in Canada. The son of Collected-Coronation Street won three straight starts, all turf, from March to June of this year, including the Pennine Ridge Stakes (G2T) on June 3. The chestnut is 3-1-0 from six starts.

“With Chad, you know the horse will be in top condition coming into the Plate,” said jockey Kazushi Kimura. “To be in The King’s Plate is amazing. The race has so much history. You can feel the excitement building and I hope that we can say we won the first King’s Plate since 1951. I know I have a big chance with this horse.”

A grey son of Mr Speaker-Grey Pride, Kaukokaipuu has been a model of consistency for trainer Ted Holder and Culpepper Island Syndicate. Bred in Ontario by Sean Fitzhenry, the colt is 2-7-0 from 11 starts, including a victory in the 1 1/16-mile Queenston Stakes over the Tapeta on June 11.

“His pedigree says that it is not a problem,” said Holder, of the Plate distance. “Mr Speaker was a mile and a quarter, to mile and a half horse on all surfaces, and he is out of a granddaughter of Radiant Ring who is tested at the classic distances in the early to mid-90s.”

Owned by Tucci Holdings, Midnight in Malibu, trained by Sid Attard, sprung a 32-1 upset in his most recent race, a 1 1/16-mile race over the Tapeta. The son of Midnight Lute-I Thirtyfive is 2-0-0 from five starts. The dark bay colt broke his maiden over one mile and 70 yards on the Tapeta last December.

“I think he’ll go the distance no problem,” said Attard. “Every time we work him five or six furlongs, he gallops out strong.”

Owned by Robert LaPenta, e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and Madaket Racing Stable LLC, Moon Landing, trained by Kevin Attard, won at first asking, the victory coming at Woodbine over 6 ½ furlongs on the Tapeta. The son of Nyquist-Fragrance, who is 1-0-1 from six starts, was bred by Anderson Farms Ont. Inc. and Rod Ferguson Farms Ltd.

“He really dug down deep in the late running and just missed getting it all,” said Attard, of Moon Landing’s third-place effort in a 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race on July 23. “We’re hoping that he’s able to build off that last race and show the type of skill that he does have.”

Trained by Renico Lafond for owner Kris Manohar, Morstachy’s was a recent $40,000 claim. The son of Mor Spirit-Wekiva Mist, bred by Al and Bill Ulwelling, is 1-3-2 from 11 starts. The bay won in his final start of 2022, a 4 ¼-length triumph at 6 ½ furlongs over the Woodbine Tapeta. The gelding has finished in the top three in four of his past five races.

“His closing speed would be his best attribute to this race, he has an eye-catching turn of foot,” praised Lafond. “He is not a big horse, but he covers ground immensely.”

A chestnut son of Society’s Chairman-Platinum Steel, Paramount Prince heads into The King’s Plate off a wire-to-wire, five-length performance in the Plate Trial on July 23. Bred by Ericka Rusnak, the gelding, trained by Mark Casse and owned by Michael Langlois and Gary Barber, is 2-2-1 from five lifetime starts.

“After the race, he kept going, he galloped out a good mile and a quarter so I don’t think the distance [for The King’s Plate] would be an issue for him,” said Casse, of the Plate Trial. “And I think Patrick [jockey, Husbands] let him do it too because we knew down the road, he’s going to have to run a little farther.”

Canada’s champion 2-year-old male Philip My Dear, trained by Kevin Attard for Raroma Stable Inc., is 3-0-2 from seven starts. Last year, the son of Silent Name (JPN)-Involuntary won the Soaring Free and Cup and Saucer, both contested on the E.P. Taylor turf. The colt was bred in Ontario by Adena Springs.

“He’s had a tough start this year, but I think he’s starting to round into the form that helped earn him a Sovereign in 2022,” said Attard.

Bred and owned by RCC Racing Stable, Silent Miracle, 3-0-1 from five races, will test out the stakes ranks for the first time in the Plate. Trained by John Mattine, the son of Silent Name (JPN)-Broken Meadow notched consecutive wins starting last December (in his 2-year-old finale) over 6 ½ furlongs on the Tapeta, before a victory at seven panels on the same surface in his 3-year-old debut this May.

“I think he’ll get the distance,” said Mattine. “I asked (jockey) Ryan Munger after his last race if he had anything left in the tank and he said yes.”

Stanley House, owned by John and Diana Russell, is 2-3-0 from seven starts. Trained by Mike De Paulo, the son of Army Mule-Stormy’s Song recorded back-to-back runner-up finishes to start his career in the fall of 2022. His maiden victory came at Gulfstream Park on March 25 at 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta. Javier Castellano, aboard for that milestone win, will be in the irons again Sunday.

“I liked him when we bought him,” said De Paulo, of the $120,000 (U.S.) purchase at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale. “It was a bit of a gamble because he is from a first-year sire and the first foal out of the mare, so you were basically just looking at an athlete. We had him broke in Ocala with Mike Cooke and he liked him all along. Any time this horse did something, he did it well. He’s always had a lot of class and showed ability in every work he had.”

Touch‘n Ride, a Chiefswood Stables homebred, has made just two starts, but both efforts produced pleasing results. After a third to launch his career on July 1, where the son of Candy Ride (ARG)-Niigon’s Touch rallied impressively in the one-mile turf race, the bay was even better next time out. Sent off at 9-2 in the 1 1/16-mile Tapeta race on July 30, the gelding romped to a 5 ¼-length score.

“He’s been training well,” said trainer Layne Giliforte. “My feeling is that we have a fresh horse and fresh legs. Distance and fitness shouldn’t be an issue.”

Twin City, trained by Stuart Simon, who co-owns with Brent, Russell, and Roy McLellan, brings a record of 2-4-1 from eight starts into the Plate. The son of Klimt-Minnie Apple Is took the King Corrie this May, a nose win in the seven-furlong Tapeta race. Bred in Ontario by Frank Di Giulio, Jr., the bay will be ridden by Gary Boulanger.

“A good quality of his, which will certainly help with the big crowds and all the fanfare on Sunday, is his laid-back demeanour,” said Simon. “He’s a pretty cool customer, which is a nice quality to have. We’re thrilled to have him in The King’s Plate.”

Bred, owned, and trained by dual hall of fame conditioner Roger Attfield (who is tied with Harry Giddings, Jr. for the most Plate wins by a trainer with eight), Twowaycrossing has run four of his six races on the turf. The son of English Channel-Double Guns Girl won at first asking last October over seven furlongs on the E.P. Taylor turf and is 2-0-0 from seven starts.

“I think he is turning around now, but he’s not going into the Plate how I would normally go into a Plate,” said Attfield.

Velocitor, a son of Mor Spirit-Polar Plunge, has a mark of 3-1-1 from eight starts for trainer Kevin Attard and owner/breeders Al and Bill Ulwelling. The dark bay won two straight races including last year’s Coronation Futurity at 21-1. The gelding finished second in his debut last May before a 7 ½-length romp at the same distance and over the same surface, five furlongs on the Tapeta, next time out in June.

“I was really thrilled with the way he kept on battling to the wire,” said Attard, of Velocitor’s fourth in the Plate Trial on July 23. “I thought it was a nice effort from a horse who has certainly shown he is capable of running a big race.”

Bred in Ontario by Sean Fitzhenry, Wickenheiser (1-2-0 from six starts), named after Canadian hockey icon Hayley Wickenheiser, finished a rallying second to Plate rival Elysian Field in the Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser on July 23. Kevin Attard, who sent Moira out to an Oaks-Plate double last year, trains and co-owns the daughter of Lemon Drop Kid-Game (FR) with Al and Bill Ulwelling, and Clay Scherer.

“We made the decision to name this horse after Canadian hockey great Hayley Wickenheiser,” said Attard, who is also a member of Wickenheiser’s ownership group. “And as this filly has shown in her career, she’s the ultimate competitor. She has been in every race over her career and her two efforts this season have been really encouraging.”

Sunday’s card also features a trio of standout stakes: the $200,000 Dance Smartly (G2T) (1 1/16 miles on the E.P. Taylor turf for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up), $125,000 Catch a Glimpse (6 ½ furlongs on the E.P. Taylor turf for 2-year-old fillies) and $125,000 Soaring Free (6 ½ furlongs on the E.P. Taylor turf for 2-year-olds).

First post for Sunday is 12:25 p.m. (ET), with the featured King’s Plate scheduled as Race 10 (5:39 p.m. ET). The national Plate broadcast will be televised on TSN and CTV starting at 4:30 p.m.

For the latest information, fans can follow @WoodbineTB on both Twitter and Instagram.

Jockeys in the 2023 King’s Plate and CEO Jim Lawson at the King’s Plate Post Position Draw (LR Front row) Eswan Flores, Sahin Civaci, Kazushi Kimura, Jose Campos, Jim Lawson (Woodbine CEO), Gary Boulanger, and Patrick Husbands, (back row L-R) Daisuke Fukumoto, Rico Walcott, Emma-Jayne Wilson and Rafael Hernandez (Michael Burns Photo)

Post – Horse – Trainer – Jockey – Morning Line Odds

1 – Stanley House – Michael De Paulo – Javier Castellano – 4-1

2 – Elysian Field – Mark Casse – Sahin Civaci – 8-1

3 – Philip My Dear – Kevin Attard – Daisuke Fukumoto – 30-1

4 – Twin City – Stuart Simon – Gary Boulanger – 30-1

5 – Morstachy’s – Renico Lafond – Leo Salles – 50-1

6 – Kalik – Chad Brown – Kazushi Kimura – 3-1

7 – Velocitor – Kevin Attard – Justin Stein – 30-1

8 – Wickenheiser – Kevin Attard – Rafael Hernandez – 12-1

9 – Silent Miracle – John Mattine – Ryan Munger – 30-1

10 – Midnight in Malibu – Sid Attard – Adam Beschizza – 30-1

11 – Touch’n Ride – Layne Giliforte – Jose Campos – 12-1

12 – Cool Kiss – Michael De Paulo – Emma-Jayne Wilson – 30-1

13 – Paramount Prince – Mark Casse – Patrick Husbands – 10-1

14 – Twowaycrossing – Roger Attfield – Antonio Gallardo – 30-1

15 – Kaukokaipuu – Ted Holder – Rico Walcott – 6-1

16 – El Cohete – Michael De Paulo – Eswan Flores – 50-1

17 – Moon Landing – Kevin Attard – Luis Contreras – 20-1

Flashy Apache has been selected by Jack Milner to win the day’s headliner Picture: JC Photos.

Expect A Flashy Win For Zackey

Jack Milner (Tab4Racing)

While there are only seven races at the Vaal on Thursday, they do appear to be quite competitive.

Headlining the card on the Classic track is Race 5, a Pinnacle Stakes over 1800m, and sadly three scratchings have seen this field reduced to just six runners. Nevertheless, it remains a decent field but one needs to give considerable thought as to what kind of pace this small field is likely to produce.

That is relevant because two of the key players have not won over the distance and a pedestrian pace could well bring them into the reckoning.

Eye Of The Prophet caused a major upset last season when coming up trumps in the Grade 2 World Sports Betting Gauteng Guineas, holding off favourite Royal Victory by a short head at odds of 33-1.

However, when next going 1800m in the Grade 1 WSB SA Classic, he moved up at the 400m but had little in the tank late in the race and finished a 2.50-length fourth behind Anfields Rocket. He then failed to stay in the WSB SA Derby and was then rested.

Eye Of The Prophet made a winning comeback over 1450m on the Inside track at Turffontein but then disappointed in a Pinnacle Stakes over 1700m on the Vaal track, finishing fifth, but beaten just 1.25 lengths by Melech.

Duke Of Sussex is very much in the same boat. He has won up to 1600m but has finished unplaced in three starts over the 1800m. However, if the pace is not on, it could assist both of them.

But based on form and distance Flashy Apache could be the one to beat. While he has placed four times in five starts over 1800m, he has not won over the trip, but he has triumphed twice over 2000m, so the distance will be no problem.

His last start was in that race won by Melech where he was a fast-finishing third, beaten just 0.40 lengths. He had Eye Of The Prophet 0.85 lengths behind him and as they meet at the identical weights over 100m further, Tyrone Zackey’s charge should be able to confirm that form.

Jeffrey Syster rode the five-year-old Apache gelding on that occasion and he is back in the irons once again.

Interestingly, filly Emirate Gina is the best weighted runner. Fillies get a 2.5kg allowance and that sees her come in with just 50kg on her back.

Roy Magner’s charge ran some excellent races as a three-year-old but then lost her form towards the end of last season but also did not have much luck.

Two runs back, however, she did finish a 1.75-length third behind Bless My Stars in a Pinnacle Stakes and Sean Tarry’s charge went on to run third in the Hollywoodbets Durban July and then ran out an easy winner of the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet.

Emirate Gina went on to run in the Grade 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes but suffered interference at the 700m and ended up near the back of the field.

She should not have any issues with the distance and has a good record at this course, which includes a victory over Feather Boa when winning her maiden.

Muzi Yeni takes the ride, and this filly needs to be included in all larger exotic perms.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 1 Tamil Tigress, 5 Storm Player, 2 Pass The Baton, 3 Contra Fiscum

Race 2: 3 Babylon, 2 Here With Me, 10 Sovereigns Call, 1 Lt Alexander

Race 3: 1 Village Green, 9 Crystal Maiden, 5 Villa Semaya, 6 Courageous

Race 4: 4 Scarlett Pimpernel, 1 Purple Pitcher, 7 Kudzu, 6 I Spied

Race 5: 4 Flashy Apache, 9 Emirate Gina, 1 Eye Of The Prophet, 2 Duke Of Sussex

Race 6: 1 Rain Or Shine, 2 Here Is The Tiger, 5 Care Taker, 3 Dungeons

Race 7: 4 Arividicio, 3 Scallywag, 6 Kotinos, 8 Funky Music

BEST BET

Race 2 No 3 Babylon

VALUE BET

Race 7 No 4 Arividicio

BEST SWINGER

Race 2 3×3

BIPOT

R192

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 3

Leg 3: 1, 5, 6, 9

Leg 4: 1, 4, 7

Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 9

Leg 6: 1, 2, 3, 5

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R243

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 3

Leg 3: 1, 5, 6, 9

Leg 4: 1, 4, 7

Leg 5: 1, 4, 9

Leg 6: 1, 2, 5

Leg 7: 3, 4, 6

PICK 6

R2250

Leg 1: 3

Leg 2: 1, 2, 5, 6, 9

Leg 3: 1, 4, 7

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9

Leg 5: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

Leg 6: 2, 3, 4, 6, 8

JACKPOT 1

R450

Leg 1: 1, 2, 5, 6, 9

Leg 2: 1, 4, 7

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9

Leg 4: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

JACKPOT 2

R450

Leg 1: 1, 4, 7

Leg 2: 1, 2, 4, 6, 9

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7

Leg 4: 2, 3, 4, 6, 8

Even mother and baby often have perfectly synchronised strides when walking next to each other (Photo: John Lewis).

John Lewis Notices Stride Synchronicity In His Farm Photos

Top racing photographer of decades experience, John Lewis, posted a group of photographs taken in the Mauritzfontein Stud veld recently with the accompanying text: “In racing you will often hear a commentator saying that horses are fighting out a finish stride for stride, I often find that when photographing two horses that are moving close together, even foals with their mothers, their strides are totally synchronised.”

Desert Crown: on course to take on Paddington and Mostahdaf at York Credit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

Desert Crown On Track For Juddmonte Clash With Paddington And Mostahdaf

www.attheraces.com

Last year’s Derby winner Desert Crown remains on course for a sizzling clash with Paddington and Mostahdaf in next week’s Juddmonte International having come through his latest gallop in good style.

The four-year-old was put through his paces by Ryan Moore, who will be on Aidan O’Brien’s Paddington on the Knavesmire, in a spin on Wednesday morning.

Desert Crown has only been seen once since his Epsom victory, when he lost his unbeaten record in finishing second to Hukum in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes in May.

He was then a late absentee from the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes, with familiar adversary Hukum taking home the Ascot showpiece.

“Desert Crown worked this morning, he worked nicely and everybody was happy with him,” said Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail.

“He’s not a great worker, as has been stated before, but everyone was very happy with him this morning and everything went as well as expected.”

William Buick had been announced as his jockey in the King George before he was ruled out, but he is expected to be aboard next week.

“William didn’t ride him. Ryan Moore rode him this morning. He’s ridden him a lot of times at home and Sir Michael just sometimes likes a different opinion,” Raymond went on.

“It’s really shaping up into a great race. One thing I can definitely tell you is this horse needed it badly at Sandown, it wasn’t said at the time but Michael was quite surprised how much he was blowing afterwards.

“He had worked on the grass but nowhere near as much as we would have liked as it kept on pouring down.

“Having spoken to Richard Hills (assistant racing manager for Shadwell, owners of Hukum), their horse had been working really, really well for a long time, so we met a very fit horse that day and he’s gone on to prove again he is a very good horse as he’s one of the favourites for the Arc.

“We’re looking forward to next week. Where else could you take a horse like that? He’s got to go somewhere and when you are in his class, there are only certain races you can run in.”

Muzi Yeni completes a four-timer on the Nathan Kotzen-trained Anotherdayinafrica (Pomodoro) (Photo: Candiese Lenferna)

Yeni Opens Up Lead With Four-Timer, Robinson Double

Muzi Yeni rode a four-timer on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly today to open up a four win led in the national jockeys championship.

The favourite for the title, Richard Fourie, had a day in which his mounts were interfered with on at least a couple of occasions by what looked to be wayward riding, otherwise he might have registered more than just win.

Frank Robinson scored a double.

Yeni is on 12 wins and has done it at a strike rate of 25%.

Robinson has taken the early lead in the KZN Trainers Championship with five wins in just nine runs, meaning he has a strike rate of 55.56%.

Vaal Classic Fields – Thursday

Above is a painting of the race in question by John Frederick Herring Sr

Today’s Question

What is the oldest continuously run regulated horse race in the world?

Question answer at the bottom of the newsletter

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION

The oldest regulated horse race in the world is the Doncaster Cup. The Doncaster Cup starred in 1766. Now, it is run at a distance of over two miles long as opposed to the original four-mile total and is a Group 2 contest. It is open to horses that are three years of age or older, and it happens each year in September.

Turf Talk Newsletter – 16 August, 2023