Turf Talk Newsletter – 16 July, 2025

Laurence Wernars and friends after their 2023 Champions Challenge win with Puerto Manzano.
(JC Photos).

Leading owner Laurence Wernars celebrated his second seasonal century of winners when Better Man (Rafeef) captured Race 1 over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Tuesday. Owned in partnership with his son Jarryd and Rikesh Seewgoolam, the Vaughan Marshall-trained runner delivered the milestone victory.

The 100 quickly became 101 on Wednesday, when Corrupt, trained by Mike and Mathew de Kock, won Race 4 over 1800m on the polytrack at HWB Greyville. With this result, Wernars equalled his personal best of 101 winners, achieved last season.

With around two weeks left in the season and a strong team of runners still in action—including several well-fancied contenders at Turffontein on Thursday—Wernars is well on track to surpass his previous mark. “I am delighted,” he said. “Every winner is special. We’re always aiming higher.”

Wernars has long been a major supporter of South African horseracing and has established himself as one of the country’s most prolific and passionate owners. Last season, half of his winners carried his familiar red, white, and black silks, a trend that has continued this year. The remainder have come through various partnerships, giving him an interest in races on most days of the calendar for his deep enjoyment and consistent involvement in the sport.

Laurence with Gavin Lerena (JC Photos).

He said that the accolades belong to his racing partners: “I’d like to pay tribute to Mukund Gudjadur, Rikesh Sewgoolam, Harry Willson and Dayalan Chinsammy. Without these individuals, the benchmark of 100 winners would not have been reached, and of course we would only have had half the fun!”

A devoted enthusiast for the thrills of the sport, Laurence watches all the races he has an interest in, and attends race meetings when possible. “We enjoy having a bet. Sometimes we back the wrong horse, and there are times when things go a bit quiet, but that is all part of the game.”

Wernars said that he has a nice crop of two-year-old runners for next season, and that good things are expected from his current racing prospects, including Graded-placed Tin Pan Alley, Alpine Jet, the mentioned Better Man, Night Rain and Randolph Hearst.

He said in an interview earlier this year: My son, Jarryd, and daughters Teneille and Montana have also learnt to enjoy the sport of racing – Jarryd more so than the girls. They, he joked, “are still in the party stage of racing”. But they’ll all be getting more involved over time, because their dad’s blood is in their veins.

“I want to leave a fund for them to continue my racing interests one day. Racing has taught me that passion fuels perseverance, and perseverance opens doors to possibilities we might never have imagined. It’s all about having fun, and I sure am!”

John and Thady Gosden have strengthened stable protocols.
(Picture: irishracing.com)

Drug users working in racing stables are becoming a problem worldwide, because they come into contact with horses in their care, and the substances show up in urine samples taken from their runners by assigned veterinary officials on race days.

The problem is, trainers and their management staff are not always able to identify potential suspects – normally grooms – because they hide their use (or abuse) so well that nobody suspects wrongdoing.

It is evident that compulsory drug tests may have to be performed on workers to eliminate this problem, which taints the industry. Drug abuse is not unique to racing at all – it is rife in all sectors of the economy – but it presents further ammunition for those who are plotting racing’s downfall.

The latest incident involved a handler at the stables of top-ranked UK trainers, John and Thady Gosden. The Gosdens have been fined £3,000 after two of their horses tested positive for the banned substance ketamine last summer.

The Racing Post reported that the breaches were found to be the result of cross-contamination from a female staff member who was a recreational user of the drug. In a statement, the Gosdens said they “remain committed to the highest standards of care and integrity in their operations and are taking every possible step to avoid any recurrence”.

The BHA conducted out-of-competition testing at Clarehaven in July and August last year after Zilfee, a half-sister to Enable, and Morophore produced positive post-race samples for ketamine. 

Ketamine is legally used in medicine but is also tightly controlled due to its potential for recreational use and dissociative effects. Ketamine is used as a recreational drug for its hallucinogenic and dissociative effects. When used recreationally, it is found both in crystalline powder and liquid form, and is often referred to by users as “Ket”, “Special K” (not the Kelloggs Corn flake cereal version) or simply “K”.

Gosden’s female staff member admitted to taking ketamine three times a week when not working. She looked after Morrophore, while her kitbag was used on the day Zilfee tested positive. She denied direct administration, but believed cross-contamination was possible as she was “not always washing her hands before coming to work”.

The disciplinary panel found the Gosdens had no knowledge of ketamine being administered, while the staff member voluntarily left the yard last August. A statement from their solicitor Dutton Gregory said: “The horses tested positive for a minute trace amount of ketamine, but it is important that the context of this matter is properly understood. The source of the contamination was a former member of stable staff who had been using ketamine recreationally.

“Prior to this incident, Clarehaven Stables already maintained strict protocols around contamination and welfare. These have since been reviewed and strengthened further. While no system can guarantee complete prevention in every circumstance, Mr John Gosden and Mr Thady Gosden remain committed to the highest standards of care and integrity in their operations and are taking every possible step to avoid any recurrence.”

Donavan Mansour is back to ride in Mauritius. (Pic: Racing and Sports).

After a remarkable comeback in New Zealand, Donavan Mansour is heading back to familiar ground – Mauritius. The former South African has been confirmed as stable jockey for Paul Foo-Kune, bringing his career full circle in a story once thought to be over.

In October 2019, Mansour was airlifted to Waikato Hospital after sustaining a broken pelvis and numerous internal injuries after his mount, Lets Roc, reared up near the starting gates, went over backwards and came down on top of him.

Mansour underwent a couple of surgeries, and while he was hopeful of a return to the saddle, he was soon resigned to the fact that his career as a jockey was over following feedback from specialists.

However, in October last year, Mansour defied the odds by returning to the saddle after a five-year layoff. He returned a winner and is now set for the next chapter of his journey.

Mansour has been cleared by the Gambling Regulatory Authority, has already resumed trackwork and is ready to compete. His addition brings serious class to the 2025 jockey roster, especially with Brazil’s Manoel Nunes already signed to the powerhouse Gujadhur yard. Two elite riders, two heavyweight stables—Mauritian racing just got a lot more exciting.

Mansour is no stranger to the Champ de Mars faithful. He was crowned Champion Jockey in 2016 while riding for Rameshwar Gujadhur, and previously turned out for Serge Henry and Hurlywood yards. Across three prior stints on the island, he racked up 57 wins and earned fan-favourite status.

Ridgemont’s five-time G1 winning stallion Canford Cliffs has had a fine season in 2024-2025. The star miler’s good run continued at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Tuesday when he was responsible for two winners on the card. He got close to having a treble, when his daughter Kisses finished second in the fifth race.

Canford Cliffs struck early when his son African Memoir won the third race impressively. Under Corne Orffer, the Andre Nel trained three-year-old romped home to win The Social Squad Maiden Plate (1000m) by a length and a half.

Making just his third start, the Ridgemont Highlands bred gelding had finished fourth on debut before running second next time out. African Memoir, who is out of the Antonius Pius mare Dinesen, races for Sabine Plattner.

Canford Cliffs is also the sire of Escarpment, who lived up to notable pre-race support when winning the sixth race. The Piet Botha trained gelding stayed on gamely in the closing stages of the Celebrating Centurion Member Etienne Braun’s Birthday Class 4 (1000m) by nearly half a length.

Escarpment, who was winning for a fourth time, was bred by Ridgemont Highlands. He races for Miss K Bosman, Messers MB Bloemstein, MA Givender, M Le Roux and WG Weiss.

Canford Cliffs, whose flagbearers this season include the unbeaten G1 Allan Robertson Championship winner Direct Hit as well as G2 Golden Horse Sprint hero Tenango, has three lots on offer at Bloodstock SA’s August Two Year Old Sale.

Picture: Top Division was an impressive debut winner. (JC Photos).

Jockeys S’manga ‘Bling’ Khumalo and Gavin Lerena dominate the 10-race Highveld card on the Inside track at Turffontein on Thursday 17 July and followers of both riders should be smiling all the way to the bank as the two former champion jockeys will likely be responsible for seven winners on the day.

Title-chasing Lerena put breathing space between himself and National Jockeys’ Championship rivals Richard Fourie and Craig Zackey with a handful of winners at the same venue seven days ago and he is good value to add another four winners to that five-timer in his bid to reclaim South African riding honours.

Gimmethegreenlight gelding Top Division looked every bit as his name suggests when winning on debut under Lerena six weeks ago and the exciting Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained two-year-old should get his rider off the mark at the meeting in Race 2 over 1200m.

Top Division stretched clear inside the final 400m to beat older rivals by 2.8-lengths over 1000m and gave the impression that the extra 200m will be even more to his liking, especially with that experience to count on.

After two pleasing introductory sprints, the step up to 1450m should also suit two-year-old filly Wise Counsel who Lerena rides for Lucky Houdalakis in Race 4. This daughter of Fire Away is out of a Jet Master mare that won twice up to 1950m, so a sterner test of stamina will be welcomed.

Fanie Bronkhorst’s William Longsword filly Hopscotch finished a close-up second over 2000m two starts back and, despite finishing a creditable third over 1500m three weeks ago, should bounce back to break her duck with Lerena aboard in Race 5 over 1800m.

Vercingetorix gelding Phil The Fluter belatedly opened his account last month when improving on his Highveld debut second to win a Work Riders’ maiden over 1600m. Robyn Klaasen’s charge makes his handicap bow in Race 10 over 1450m and he won’t need to improve much under Lerena to double his tally in the lucky last.

‘Bling’ – as Khumalo is affectionately known – has a 25% Win strike-rate for Mike & Adam Azzie and that bodes well for the chances of Elusive Fort colt Safe Travel in Race 3 over 1450m. The Azzies saddled the youngster to finish third in both of his outings over 1000m but his pedigree suggests the extended trip will be more to his liking and it should unlock improvement.

Last-start winner Miss Hannigan (Race 8) and consistent hard-knocker Play With Fire (Race 9) are other Khumalo mounts with genuine winning credentials. – TAB News.

Racing analyst and journo, Mark van Deventer, has launched his first published book, ‘Sharp Betting Strategies in Modern Horseracing’.

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TO WIN A COPY OF MARK’S BOOK, SEND YOUR DETAILS TO info@wordslingers.co.za.  We are giving away TWO copies, which will be sent by courier to your address, courtesy of Turf Talk. The two winners will be selected at random.

More information on ‘Sharp Betting Strategies’ on www.sharphorseplayer.com

Grant Behr: Many good years left in the saddle. (Sporting Post).

Popular jockey Grant Behr has quietly re-appeared on the Cape racing scene, following an absence of two years. He decided to take a break from racing in May 2023, and has taken six rides since his comeback at the end of June, 2025.

Behr (46), said he wanted to get away from racing for a while to work on his focus and mental strength, and that the spell on his self-imposed ‘vacation’ did him the world of good.

He said: “I relaxed, did some gardening, worked on clearing my mind and I’ve come back, I believe, positive and strong. I still have sealegs, but I’ve been riding as much work as I can for as many trainers as I can. I’m getting fitter and I’d like to get my weight down from 57kg to 56kg, at which I most comfortable and competitive. The opportunities will come to ride some better horses again.”

Behr started his career in 1993 and has ridden well over 500 winners, including a handful during a short spell in Mauritius, where he said the experience on the tight track proved to be very helpful back in South Africa.

He received his grounding from the late Peter Kannemeyer, who was often outspoken in his praise for Behr; then spent a long time the second stable jockey to Karl Neisius at Dean Kannemeyer’s yard. “Uncle Peter seldom gave instructions. He said a good jockey doesn’t need instructions. He only cautioned against racing wide, he hated that, and to this day I try not to race wide on any of my mounts.”

Most of Behr’s 15 Graded or Listed winners have been for the Kannemeyer team. He won the G2 Selangor Cup in 2004 on Mercury Chief, when they beat the more fancied stablemate, Rabiya. Also in 2004 he won the Gr3 Peninsula Handicap on Roman Charger. In 2015 he won the Listed Southeaster Sprint on Captain Alfredo for the same yard.

His career highlight was a surprise win for Kannemeyer in the 2019 Cape Guineas on Russian Rock. He said at the time: “Dean has been good to me. And I like his no-nonsense style. Like his Dad, he is a man who never blames the easiest target – the jockey. It gives one confidence.”

But Behr will be taking a wide approach to his riding this time. “I think I’ve been too modest over the years and being reserved doesn’t help much. I always turned away when friends and racing fans praised my riding, but I am a different man now. I am offering my skills to all, keen to ride winners and hoping to make a good contribution.”

The picture is a pretty good clue to today’s question:

Who is the jockey that won the 1975 Gold Cup at (Hollywoodbets) Greyville on a horse called Numerator?

Picture: Cat Stevens (a/k/a Yusuf Islam, original name Steven Demetre Georgiou).

Don’t be confused. Cat Stevens, the famous musician, did NOT win the 1975 Gold Cup. It was won, however, by jockey Tony “Cat” Stevens on Numerator (Numeral), trained by Ricky Howard-Ginsberg. We do not have a photo of jockey Cat Stevens, something that will be worth a few bob, because Cat was a respected rider and quite the character. He disappeared from the racing scene somewhere in the 1970s. Details are sketchy and not confirmed, but he is said to have died in an explosion at his house in Orange Grove, Johannesburg.