Turf Talk Newsletter – 18 August, 2025

Drakenstein And Varsfontein Shone Brightly At Equus Awards

Gaynor Rupert accepts the Equus Champion Breeders award at last Thursday night’s award ceremony from TBA Chairman Bradley Ralph (left) and on stage with her from the left are Drakenstein Stud’s racing manager Kevin Sommerville, Drakenstein’s stud secretary Kira Pickford and Drakenstein’s stud manager Gavin Pickford (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Drakenstein Stud are the champion breeders for the second time and did it with record earnings and they were the most prominent entity at the Equus Awards, which took place at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Thursday evening, while Varsfontein Stud also shone brightly.

Both studs are known for their pursuit of top quality bloodstock to breed with and the dividends are being reaped as they dominated the stakes races of the season.

There were 176 stakes races in South Africa in the 2024/2025 season and Drakenstein-breds won 30 of them, while Varsfontein won 23 of them.

That means between the two studs they won 30% of the stakes races available.

Drakenstein won 17% of the stakes races available and Varsfontein won 13%.

There were 27 Gr 1 races in SA in the 2024/2025 season and Drakenstein-breds won six of them with three horses, while Varsfontein won four of them with three horses.

So the two studs between them won 37% of the Gr 1 races available, with Drakenstein winning 22% of them and Varsfontein winning 15%.

Khaya Stables also excelled as they are a relatively small breeding operation and bred two Gr 1 winners of two races. Khaya Stables board their mares at Varsfontein Stud. So the number of Gr 1 winners born and raised at Varsontein during the 2024/2025 season was five and they won six Gr 1 races between them.

The other two breeders who bred two Gr 1 winners of two races in the 2024/2025 season were Ridgemont and Laurence Wernars respectively.

The progeny bred by Drakenstein Stud earned R40,073,561 last season if restricted races stakes are included and it is believed this is the first time the R40 million mark has been supassed.

Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein-breds earned R34,055,620 and Varsfontein were next best on R28,332,868.

Drakenstein also equalled their own South African record of 21 stakes winners in a season, with Varsfontein not far behind on 15 stakes winners, while Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein had ten stakes winners.

Drakenstein were officially acknowledged as champion breeders at the Equus Awards.

However, they were on stage for a number of other awards too.

They bred the Equus Horse Of The Year Eight On Eighteen, who is by their late resident sire Lancaster Bomber.

The Justin Snaith-trained colt runs in the colours of Nick Jonsson and also walked away with the Equus Three-year-old Champion Colt award and the Equus Champion Middle Distance Horse award.

Furthermore, Eight On Eighteen is part-owned by Drakenstein owner Gaynor Rupert’s husband Johann Rupert.

Drakenstein also bred Eight On Eighteen’s chief rival for the Horse Of The Year award, the Vaughan Marshall-trained One World colt One Stripe, who is now in the USA with trainer Graham Motion.

One Stripe, who is by Drakenstein’s resident sire One World, was named Equus Champion Miler.

Drakenstein also bred the Equus Champion Stayer, the Gareth van Zyl-trained King Pelles, who is by the stud’s late resident sire Duke Of Marmalade.

So it should be noted that all of Drakenstein’s Equus Award winners were by their own resident sires

Drakenstein are also part-owners of the Equus Champion Older female, the Justin Snaith-trained Vercingetorix filly Double Grand Slam.

Varsfontein Stud bred Double Grand Slam and they also bred the Equus Champion two-year-old filly, the Alan Greeff-trained Golden Palm.

The Champion two-year-old colt was the Mr & Mrs R J Trotter, Messrs R E Alexander & B B Campbell-bred Jan van Goyen.

Both of the two-year-old Equus Award winners were by Varsfontein’s stallion Master Of My Fate.

Varsfontein’s former champion stallion Gimmethegreenlight also featured as the sire of Equus Champion Sprinter, the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Khaya Stables homebred gelding Gimme A Prince.

Khaya Stables also walked away with the Champion Broodmare award with Real Princess, dam of Gimme A Prince and of Hollywoodbets Durban July winner The Real Prince and of another stakes winner in Gimmie’s Countess, all trained by Kannemeyer.

The Real Princess is obviously thriving at her Varsfontein Stud base.

However, it was Drakenstein Stud who were the leading light of the Equus Awards.

Jonathan Snaith’s opinion of Drakenstein’s excellence summed it up well.

He said, “Drakenstein start with the finest – and finish with the winners. Excellence in, Champions out.”

Indeed, Gaynor Rupert has gone to great lengths to bring top quality bloodstock on to her farm and so have John Kalmanson and Susan Rowett of Varsontein Stud.

South Africa racing industry people are gratefully reaping the rewards of the excellence of these two stud farms, although that is not to downplay any of the other farms who are all playing a part in ensuring South African-bred thoroughbreds are regarded as possibly the best value in the world when comparing cost to performance.

Gosdens Confident Of Turning The Tables In Juddmonte International

Ombudsman can exact revenge on his Eclipse conqueror Delacroix (Picture: Sky Sports Racing)

Dave Mollett (Reporting from York)

YORK – When it comes to the Juddmonte International, which is to be run on Wednesday at York, one feels Thady Gosden – who holds the training licence with his famous father John – is in awe about both the race and the racecourse.

As his Newmarket stable put the finishing touches to their York raiding party, Thady commented: “It’s a career-defining race for a lot of horses. If you win the Juddmonte it certainly means a lot. York is a very fair track and so often the best horses win and it’s something everyone aspires to.”

“It’s a wonderful place, wonderful track and we’re always looking forward to it enormously.”

Of course, Thady is hopeful that Ombudsman – 15/8 joint-favourite in the ante-post market – can turn the tables on Aidan O’Brien’s runner, Delacroix, who is the other joint-favourite, after going down in a photo-finish in the Coral Eclipse at Sandown.

Some pundits felt Ombudsman – a £1,5m son of Night Of Thunder – was an unlucky loser that day, but the difference between victory and defeat may have been yet another superb ride by Ryan Moore.

“He won the Prince Of Wales first time in a Gr 1 and shows he’s up to that level,” said Thady. “In the Eclipse, he ran a very good race, beaten by a top-class three year-old coming through. He’s come out of that race well, had a little freshen up and is now headed for the Juddmonte.”

The Gosden stable is always well represented in this Gr 1 race which this year carries a first stake of £708,000. The father and son partnership are clearly confident of another success with Thady adding “He’s such a genuine horse, has got the speed required and hopefully he can run a good race.”

Aidan O’Brien knows how to win this race having scored with Australia (2014), Japan (2019) and City Of Troy (2024).

The only blemish on Delacroix’s CV is his ninth place finish in the Betfred Derby, but since then he has been dominant and beat his elders in the Eclipse at Sandown.

No horse outside Europe has ever won the Juddmonte, but top Japanese trainer, Shogo Yasuda, is out to change that statistic with his country’s champion, Danon Decile.

Winner of the Japan Derby, Danon Decile won the Sheema Classic on Dubai World Cup day beating the French horse, Calandagan. That now looks useful form as the runner-up has since won two Gr 1’s.

“It’s quite a long journey but fortunately we had a good trip and he’s settling in very well. Every day he’s in a better and better condition. On the mental and physical side, he’s doing well,” said Yasuda.

Perhaps the biggest worry for Danon Decile’s backers is the fact that his rider, Keita Tosaki, three-times champion in Japan, hasn’t ridden in the UK since competing in the Shergar Cup in 2017.

Which brings us to this writer’s fancy, See The Fire, who returns to his favourite track. He waltzed home by 12 lengths in the Middleton Stakes here in May.

The right bet might be the trifecta with See The Fire the roving banker with Ombudsman, Delacroix, Danon Decile and the French horse, Daryz. This will cost R36. (although the field has now cut down to six runners since this article was written).

Jeff Smith, who owns See The Fire, remains confident that Andrew Balding’s star can trouble the fancied runners. “Conditions were dreadful at Goodwood but she ran well and we’re pleased. On her day, with fast ground, she’s very good.”

It’s 33 years since a juvenile filly won Friday’s Nunthorpe Stakes and the winner that year (1992) was Lyrical Fantasy ridden by none other than Muis Roberts.

This year Irish-trained youngster, Lady Iman, will try and put her name in the history books and – following her impressive win in the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood – has been installed as the 4-1 ante-post favourite for the Gr 1 race.

Trainer Ger Lyons wasn’t keen on Lady Iman taking on her elders, but has been overruled by the filly’s owner, Roger O’Calaghan. He commented: Too often in racing we’re afraid to have a go. This sort of adventure might only come along once.

17 Years On From SA's Near Miss In Arlington Million

A luckless Archipenko (left) is unable to catch start to finsh winner Spirit One in the 2008 Arlington Million (Picture: Ocala.com)

The year 2008 was probably the greatest in history for the South African thoroughbred industry from an international performance point of view and it was very nearly capped by triumph in one of America’s most iconic races, the Arlington Million, which became the first race in the world to have a US$1 million stake.

At the 2008 Dubai World Cup Carnival, Herman Brown and Anton Marcus won the Gr 1 US$5 million Dubai Duty Free in new course record time at Nad Al Sheba with the South African-bred Jay Peg (Camden Park) and later that night the Mike de Kock-trained Sun Classique won the Gr 1 US$5 Million Dubai Sheema Classic under Kevin Shea after that partnership had earlier won the Gr 2 US$2 million UAE Derby with Honour Devil. Jay Peg went on to win the Gr 1 US$3 million Singapore Airlines Cup, while DeKock won the Gr 1 QE II Cup at Sha Tin with Archipenko, while the Sean Tarry-trained National Colour finished a narrow second in the Gr 1 Nunthorpe Stakes in England, among other successes for South African racing personalities or horses that year.

The Arlington Million was run on August 9, 2008, and Archipenko started favourite at the equivalent of about 12/10.

The Kingmambo colt broke well under Kevin Shea, but Johnny Murtagh, riding the Aidan O’Brien-trained Mount Nelson, who was third favourite, immediately locked on to Archipenko on his outside as the Philippe Demercastel-trained French raider Spirit One set the pace.

Shea eventually dropped his mount a length further behind Spirit One in a probable attempt to shake Mount Nelson off.

However Murtagh didn’t relinquish his position one wide of the rail and another horse had moved up behind his mount.

Shea, therefore, had little choice but to remain on the rail.

As had become normal for him, Archipenko appeared to be moving no better than any of his rivals as they moved into the final turn.

However, he once again found the gear he had become well known for and was all over the back of the leader as they straightened.

Archipenko was unlucky not to win the big Chicago race as he continued to be kept in a pocket by Murtagh.

The De Kock-trained stalwart was eventually extracted by Kevin Shea after Mount Nelson began fading, but it was too late and he could only fly up for a 0,75 length second behind Spirit One, who was ridden by Ioritz Mendizabal.

“Johnny had me in all the way around,” said Shea later. “When it was time to go, I begged him to let me go and he wouldn’t let me through.”

Shea had to stop riding him and there is little doubt that he would have won had it not been for the raceriding tactics of Murtagh.

Murtagh explained, “I secured a pocket on the rail [running second] and I was where I wanted to be. At the half-mile pole, I thought we were going to get there. We just couldn’t get there.”

De Kock was upset by the result according to Racing Post’s Nicholas Godfrey.

“That’s the most ungentlemanly piece of riding I’ve seen in a long time,” said an angry De Kock. “It was as if he was looking for our horse all the way round. I’m very disappointed in Johnny. In my opinion, he rode his horse to keep us in rather than to actually win the race. There was no need for Johnny to keep us in like that.”

Mount Nelson was owned by Coolmore, former owners of Archipenko.

Archipenko, a four-year-old son of Kingmambo, had been transformed as a racehorse since being sold out of O’Brien’s yard and moving to de Kock.

He now had stallion potential and Coolmore and the latter would not have been happy to have lost him, although with their stallion riches it was unlikely they would have viewed it as a big blow.

Dr Ashley Parker, who together with his mother Rose of Ascot Stud owned a 40% share of Archipenko, watched the race with a party of 40 people in his hometown of Port Elizabeth.

Although disappointed and confirming that de Kock had been upset, he was philosophical about the result.

De Kock came in for some criticism for his reaction, but explained it away in an article in the South African press which appeared a couple of days later. Michael Roberts also gave his opinion in the article, which can be read below as it appeared at the time:

Mike de Kock spoke of the emotions that himself and Kevin Shea had felt after Archipenko had been unlucky not to win the Arlington Million on Saturday and admitted that he had reacted in “the heat of the moment” when accusing jockey Johnny Murtagh of “ungentlemanly” riding.

Archipenko had been trapped on the rail throughout the race and was kept in a pocket in the straight by Murtagh on Mount Nelson. But for that it seems probable that he would have won. When he finally got out, he flew at the winner, but it was too late, and he had to settle for a 0,75 length second to the pillar-to-post winner, Spirit One.

“It was probably the most important race of my career and I felt he was the best horse in the race and should have won,” said de Kock. “To win a Group I in Europe or North America would be like winning a major in golf. Can you imagine, the horse would also now have been a winner of Group races on four different continents. Winning the race would also have been a huge boost for his stallion potential. With the emotion we said things in the heat of the moment and I didn’t afford Johnny the respect he deserves. He rode a tactically sound race. I can also not find anything by which to criticise Kevin. Archipenko was keen early on but when he was eventually able to drop him a length back of Mount Nelson, another horse had come up behind Mount Nelson. There was not a single opportunity for Kevin throughout the race to get off the rail.”

De Kock said that there had been no fall-out whatsoever with Murtagh, who rides for him in Dubai.

“He is a great jockey and I’m looking forward to him riding for us in Dubai again,” he said.

De Kock added that he had spoken to the Racing Post editor and made a retraction and the editor admitted at the same time that the Racing Post reporter covering the race had gone a bit overboard in his reporting of post-race events.

Back home, Michael Roberts, who is the only South African to have ever won the U.K jockey Championship, didn’t watch the Arlington Million so couldn’t comment on the race itself.

However, from his Karkloof training centre yesterday, he spoke of the difficulties of riding from an inside draw on the tight American tracks.

“They don’t give an inch out there or in England,” he said. “In South Africa we have false rails and generally ride very loosely but I soon learnt how different it is overseas. Racefans over here look at American jockeys riding and can’t understand why they are going wide on their mounts. For example when Kent Desormeaux rode Big Brown in the Belmont. But I know Kent and know that he is one of the world’s best jockeys. He was simply not going to gamble on keeping the inside rail where he could end up trapped.”

Roberts continued, “I didn’t watch the race on Saturday but I did gather beforehand that Mike (De Kock) was not happy with the draw and I can understand why. It is very, very difficult to ride from the inside draw. What do you do? I sometimes used to gamble on the inside rail and get away with it. But I can tell you that in England if you were in contention and let a winner through down your inside you were often booed in the weighing room. It’s a very tough school overseas and if you are a foreigner it’s even tougher. Also, through experience you learn which jockeys will keep you in at all costs and which jockeys you have a chance with. I can imagine that Johnny Murtagh falls into the former category. If he didn’t he would not have got such a top job as the Ballydoyle rides. I myself, if I felt my mount had no chance, would let another jockey through on my inside and expect him to do the same for me at a later date in a similar situation. But if I had a chance, even a place chance, I would hold my position and would not give an inch.”

Five years later in 2013 there was more disappointment for South Africans at the Arlington Million as the SA-bred De Kock-trained The Apache (Mogok) past the line first under Christophe Soumillon but was demoted to second after an objection, although there were few gripes about the upheld verdict.

Rodeo Drive Wins At Last

Rodeo Drive gets home under Craig Zackey (JC Photos)

There was some decent racing at Turffontein Inside on Sunday and the winner of the highest rated race, a Graduation Plate over 1200m, was the classy Sean Tarry-trained The United States filly Rodeo Drive.

At this time last year Rodeo Drive looked a likely candidate for the Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint as she had oozed class as a two-year-old.

However, she was never able to rise to those expected heights and her merit rating actually declined during a winless 2024/2025 campaign from 105 to 103 and she has still not earned bold black type, despite being a 0,30 length runner up in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville as a two-year-old.

She did not enjoy much luck during last season and Sunday’s win would have done her confidence some good.

Form studiers would have jumped at the chance to back her as she was bigger in the betting than the young three-year-old Nyaka Nyaka, who might have finished second to the subsequent Gr 1 winner Jan Van Goyen last time out, but on official ratings was a whopping 13,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted Bjorn Ironside and he was 10,5kg out with Rodeo Drive.

Bjorn Ironside had not run since a February 1100m outing at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and also came out worse than Rodeo Drive on collateral form through Symphony In White.

Rodeo Drive did have to overcome a wide draw of seven out of seven, which was a bit of a concern.

However, she broke well and reached the front in effortless fashion under Craig Zackey and she then responded well when Zackey settled her to set no more than a steady pace.

She then kicked well when asked the question and opened a lead that proved unassailable.

She passed the line 1,60 lengths clear of Nyaka Nyaka with Bjorn Ironside a neck further back.

The Sandown Stud-bred Rodeo Drive has a good pedigree and Tarry will be keen to get some bold black type with her in her four-year-old season.

Her sire The United States, whose sire Galileo is the most successful Gr 1 sire in history, is from one of the hottest families in the stud book.

The United States’ full-sister Salsa is the dam of this season’s G1 Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes/G1 Qatar Nassau Stakes winner Whirl, with Whirl currently second favourite for the 2025 G1 Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.

Another star three-year-old hailing from this family is Henri Matisse, winner of the G1 Emirates Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas). The latter’s third dam is Mill Princess, the fourth dam of The United States.

Rodeo Drive is out of the Listed-winning Horse Chestnut mare Crystal Cavern, whose five wins were from 1200m to 1600m and she is a half-sister to three other stakes winners, one of them being a sprinter, another a miler and another a stayer.

Rodeo Drive could stay further on pedigree, but seems to be a sprinter and she should have a good season.

Another interesting race on Sunday saw the well regarded Tony Peter-trained The Ultimate King (Vercingetorix) only just failing to carry topweight to victory in a MR 90 Handicap over 2000m. He had to give 2,5kg to the James Crawford-trained Gimmethegreenlight gelding Luce Verde and had to come from last after being dropped out from a wide draw. He made up the ground rapidly in the straight, but Luce Verde had something left in the tank and might have a suppressed merit rating, this being only his second start on the Highveld after having some decent form in the strong centre of Cape Town. Luce Verde prevailed by 0,70 lengths and denied The Ultimate King four wins in succession, although both horses look worth following as they were 2,50 lengths clear of the rest of the field.

The Candice Dawson-trained Warm Reception is another worth following. This three-year-old Fire Away filly is a half-sister to the smart but ill-fated Heather’s Boy and won on debut over 1200m by four lengths.

Later, the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Vercingetorix filly Pretty Persuasive made it two wins from three starts when winning first time out of the maidens over 1200m in a handicap off an 89 merit rating and she also looks one to keep an eye on.

The Tony Peter-trained Buffalo Bill Cody filly Rifle Queen won a handicap for fillies and mares over 1200m by 3,20 lengths off an 88 merit rating to be unbeaten in two starts and is another exciting prospect.

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Fire Away And Buffalo Bill Have Two Good 'Uns

Warm Reception cruises to an easy victory on debut (JC Photos)

Wilgerbosdrift Stud’s exciting young stallions Fire Away and Buffalo Bill Cody look to have a pair of good three-year-old prospects, Warm Reception and Rifle Queen respective, who both won at Turffontein’s Inside meeting on Sunday.

Cape Breeders wote the below article on them:

Warm Reception made a big impression when making a winning debut at Turffontein on Sunday.

Trained by Candice Dawson, three-year-old Warm Reception was allowed to jump a 25/2 shot in Sunday’s 4Racing Welcomes You Maiden Plate (3-year-olds) (1200m).

However, under Serino Moodley, the daughter of Fire Away turned the race into a one horse contest, with Warm Reception drawing off to score an emphatic four length win on debut.

Bred and owned by Wilgerbosdrift, Warm Reception is out of the Tiger Ridge mare Folk Dance and is thus a half-sister to the unfortunately ill-fated Heather’s Boy, a Rafeef colt who won his firs three starts impressively before disappointing as second favourite for the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas.

The filly shares her G3 Dixie Stakes winning sire Fire Away with a growing list of exciting performers including G1 TAB SA Classic winner Confederate, G1 HKJC World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge hero Fire Attack and the East Cape stars My Best Shot and Luna Halo.

Fire Away is also the sire of last season’s Cape Racing Sales Cape Slipper winner Military Command.

By the same sire as the likes of the much missed Lancaster Bomber as well as recent G1 Arlington Million winner Fort Washington, Fire Away has seven lots on offer at this week’s August Two Year Old Sale.

Rifle Queen made it two wins from two starts.

Trained by Tony Peter (also the handler of Buffalo Bill Cody’s top-class sons Buffalo Storm Cody and Pistol Pete), three-year-old Rifle Queen was quickly sent to the lead in the Racing Today FM 74 Divided Handicap.

Under Louis Nhlapo, Rifle Queen kept going and she powered away close home to win decisively by nearly three and a quarter lengths.

Bred by Narrow Creek Stud, the filly had made a big impression when she won on debut by a length and a half.

Owned by the Hyperpaint Syndicate, Rifle Queen is out of the Elusive Fort mare Elusive Force.

Her sire Buffalo Bill Cody, a son of the mighty Redoute’s Choice,made a bright start to his stud career when his small first crop unleashed the graded stakes winners Buffalo Storm Cody (G1 Mercury Sprint) and Pistol Pete (G3 Betway Lebelo Sprint).

Buffalo Bill Cody has two lots on offer at this week’s August Two Year Old Sale.

Blind Date Can Follow Up

Blind Date is led in after winning second time out (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Tuesday Formguides And Selections

R1 MAGICAL PLACE (3) has run two very good races and looks ready for the win. OBJET D’ART (4) caught the eye on debut and with the Apprentice claim again, can go very close – big runner. FRANKIE FINGERS (12) and TRIP TO CAMELOT (11) might be able to get into the thick of things first time at the races. Watch the betting. (Warren Lenferna 3-4-12-11)

R2 Preview: LATE DECEMBER (3) won his maiden well and followed up with an even more impressive, run-away victory straight out in open company and is confidently selected to win again and achieve the hat trick. JET FORCE (2) is rested but also clearly talented and can race fresh and race well – include. ROLAND GARROS (5) can be forgiven for the last run and is a horse with ability – each way claims. SCOTTISH KISS (6) has claims and is a must for the quartet. (Warren Lenferna 3-2-5-6)

R3 GOLD GIBOSKI (3) keeps running third but looks ready and hard to beat here. WORLD WARRIOR (8) is making huge improvement at every run and he too, has a bright winning chance. Plenty cheek can be expected from him. GETUPANDGO (2) and BUGLE BOY (7) are trifecta and quartet horses. (Warren Lenferna 3-8-2-7)

R4 SIGNOR DANTE (3) is showing promise and gets an attractive draw. He can be given serious consideration for the win position. YAMAZAKI (7) is improving with racing and should win soon – big danger. LOVE FROM AFAR (6) can start really making an impression and JOSHUA (8) is the selected place value. (Warren Lenferna 3-7-6-8)

R5 RULE OF THUMB (1) boasts solid and consistent form, is never far adrift the action and with the weight off, will have a sparkling winning chance. WE HAVE TOUCHDOWN (5) is taking time for the next win but showed last time that the next victory is near. Strong place claims. TENPENNY (4) won well last time and has an undeniable chance of following up. KAMCHATKA (2) can never be ignored – her form is very consistent. (Warren Lenferna 1-5-4-2)

R6 NARETOI (2) is still a maiden as are many others in this D Stakes but his last run was good. STATE CAPITOL (4) was in the same race as Naretoi won by Baton Rouge and should be right there at the finish again. TORI’S GIRL (1) and FORT IMPREZA (6) are worth including on the shortlist. (Warren Lenferna 2-4-1-6)

R7 BLIND DATE (5) beat Black Eagle in the maidens last time and Blace Eagle has franked the form. He could be anything, this colt and record back-to-back wins. He is the first choice. SPIRIT (6) caught the eye first time out the maidens and should be in the first three again. GREEN PLANET (3) finished 2nd at long odds last time and if reproducing that effort again, will be there – include. SARDINIA BAY (4) gets weight off the back – quartet must. (Warren Lenferna 5-6-3-4)

R8 TAMBOURINE MAN (7) ran a cracker last time when nearly getting it all right. He is confidently selected to go one more. LOVERS LANE (1) can be forgiven for the below par last run and expected to bounce right back to near best – each way. ROYAL LYTHAM (10) is the value and must be respected and included and VIVO PER LEI (9) has a place chance. (Warren Lenferna 7-1-10-9)

Quickstepgal Has Been Sold To Laurence Wernars and Harry Wilson

Quickstepgal easily wins the Listed Ridgemont Devon Air Stakes (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

The outstanding multiple stakes-winning Vercingetorix filly Quickstepgal has changed hands and will race in the widely recognized white, red and black silks of leading owner Laurence Wernars in the new season, writes The Sporting Post.

A winner of 3 of her 5 starts as a 2yo, Quickstepgal won the Tote Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes and the Ridgemont Listed Devon Air Stakes.

She ended her campaign with a cracking second in the SplashOut Gr2 Golden Slipper behind the undefeated Anotherdanceforme on Hollywoodbets Durban July day.

Quickstepgal was bred by the Greenacres Trust and is out of the three-time winning Jet Master mare Victoriana. She is thus bred on the same Vercingetorix/Jet Master cross as top-class performers African Warrior, Padre Pio and Rascallion.

Originally a R450 000 KZN Yearling Sale graduate, Quickstepgal was raced by KZN owner Rakesh Singh. She was sold for an undisclosed sum.

She will race in the interests of Laurence Wernars and Harry Wilson, and will remain with Summerveld trainer Tienie Prinsloo, who has done so well with her.