Picture: The Glen Kotzen-trained Visioinaire gelding Dowser (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Visionaire Accumulating A Good Book Of Karoo Mares

Schalkie van der Walt reports that he has received plenty of enquiries from Karoo Breeders about Visionaire in his first season standing at his Gelykfontein Stud in Venterstad.

He is expecting the son of Grand Slam to receive at least 30 mares from Karoo breeders, whose number includes multiple national champions Birch Brothers, David Southey’s Southford Stud and The Gary Player Stud etc.

Visionaire’s progeny have been firing lately.

Glen Kotzen has done well with Visionaires and added two more two-year-old winners to his record with them over the last week or so.

On Sunday on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly the yard’s Visionaire gelding Dowser upset the applecart by beating the 46/100 favourite Ready Or Not (Rafeef) by 4,90 lengths. The favourite did admittedly have some traffic problems but Dowser looked a picture before the race and ran accordingly. It was a convincing win.

Dowser is owned by staunch UK-based racing partners Gisela Burg and Martin Wickens in partnership with MA Govender, F Vahab and popular KZN couple Marius and Gill Mostert.

This gelding has apparently been earmarked for the R7.5 million CTS Gold Rush race in January, which means one of the owners must have a ticket.

A week earlier on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly over 1400m the Kotzen-trained two-year-old Visionaire gelding Famous And Rich won in good style under Jason Gates. Sally Bruss remembered how good he had looked as a foal when she was still stud manager at Lammerskraal and this chestnut has plenty of substance today.

Kotzen’s highly tried Visionaire maiden Imposing, who finished a close second on debut, is out of a half-brother to the dam of Good Traveller, so is closely related.

He finished a 4,30 length sixth in the Grade 1 Gold Medallion second time out and an accolade to his class was that Richard Fourie then chose to ride him in the Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe, which was won by stablemate Cousin Casey. Another stablemate in the race, Countdown, won by a street on Monday on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly.

Kotzen said before the Golden Horseshoe he believed Fourie had made the wrong choice because he believed Imposing would still need one more gallop and he was proved right. However, Imposing should be a player in next season’s classics.

Meanwhile, the Roy Magner-trained Visionaire filly Emirate Gina had some good early form against the best juvenile fillies on the Highveld and then won a good race over 1450m in her sixth start. She beat Feather Boa (Flower Alley) and Kill Shot (Elusive Fort) and the latter pair came out and finished first and third in the BSA Sales Cup for fillies on Hollywoodbets Durban July day.

The Sean Tarry-trained two-year-old Visionaire filly Antigua Night won well second time out over 1160m and three winners have come out of that race. She has drawn well in the Grade 2 The Debutante over 1200m on Marshalls World Of Sport Gold Cup day.

Visionaire sadly attracted no support from Cape breeders when sent there after doing well in KZN without ever getting top class mares.

Lammerskraal Stud, where he stood, were forced to support him themselves.

However, owner Peter Graaff then sold his share which is why he now stands at Schalkie van der Walt’s Gelykfontein Stud in the Karoo.

Visionaire has produced two Grade 1 winners to date, Taking The Peace and Good Traveller.

He has produced eight individual stakes winners and 20 individual stakes placed horses.

He could have done better with better support, but a few of his progeny can be followed next season.

His black type statistics should increase.

Picture: Luke Ferraris after winning on the David Hall-trained Melbourne Hall (Harbour Watch) at Sha Tin on Saturday, the first leg of his double.

Luke Ferraris Looks Back On His First Hong Kong Season

Luke Ferraris’ first season in Hong Kong finished with a bang when he scored his first double on the island on Saturday at Sha Tin.

It took his tally for the season to a nice round 20 winners.

He said, “I thoroughly enjoyed it (his first season) and learnt a lot. As far as first seasons go in Hong Kong I think I have done relatively well. Naturally I would have liked to have done a bit better, but I’m not complaining. I’m pretty pleased with myself. There have been a few suspensions which halted some momentum during the season. Nonetheless, I am pretty pleased with my performance. I finished the season strong, which is important going in to next season, and am looking forward to it.”

Ferraris had 28 seconds, 29 thirds and 31 fourths.

He had 397 rides in total.

His stake earnings were a cool HK$32,311,100 (R70,227,110).

He said he would not be riding on Marshalls World Of Sport Gold Cup day.

Lyle Hewitson had 27 winners, 20 seconds, 31 thirds and 26 fourths in 341 rides for earnings of HK$31,547.780 (R68,542,627).

Picture: The SAJA apprentices and students of 2012 with Blade Nzimande

Weight Rule Change Took Academy Recruitment Officer Paddy Wynne By Surprise

Paddy Wynne, a former top lightweight jockey and riding master who is now part of the recruitment drive at the South African Jockeys Academy, said the new rule amendment to the weights had taken him by surprise.

The amendment among other changes gives all female jockeys a 1,5kg allowance for their entire careers.

Wynne said there had never been a special drive to attract female jockeys to the academy.

He did not believe the announcement of a 1.5kg allowance would make any immediate impact on recruitment as it would be meaningless to most candidates.

Wynne said Nadine Low Ah Kee had “hit the nail on the head” with her statement about race-riding having little to do with brute strength.

However, he admitted that strength probably did make a difference in a “ding-dong finish”.

Paddy deliberately kept his weight down as a youngster in order to secure good light-weight rides.

He said, “I was one of the best lightweights in the country, so that got me the ride on Jamaican Rumba (won the July carrying 48kg), on Tropicante (unlucky second in the July carrying 52kg, won the Gold Cup carrying 54kg) and North Island (won the Holiday Inns (Summer Cup) carrying 50kg, but the downside was keeping to that strict diet meant you didn’t feel great. Everybody uses the term ‘weak’ in a finish, but the difference between a 48kg rider and a 57kg rider is like a lightweight boxer versus a heavyweight, the latter are bigger and stronger. Today you have strong riders in a finish like Richard Fourie and Bernard Fayd’Herbe and others, and there were plenty of them in my day too, Felix Coetzee, Freddie Macaskill, Johnny Cawcutt, Dennis Bosch, Kenny Michel, Bert Abercrombie and too many others to mention.”

However, Wynne then qualified what he had just stated by concluding, “At the end of the day you need the best horse.”

Wynne said applying to the academy was open to all and, ironically, he had gone down to Cape Town recently to interview the only online applicant from that region, a female.

The drive will now be able to include visits to schools and other such institutions again, now that lockdown is over.

Better performance statistics by female riders might have an impact on recruitment as has apparently happened in France where female jockeys are given a weight allowance.

On the other hand no weight allowance in the UK has not stopped plenty of females from becoming jockeys.

It is also debatable whether it is fair, considering the success recently of female jockeys of the like of Hollie Doyle, Rachel Blackmore and Rachel Venniker.

Only time will tell what impact the new rule changes will have.

However, what appears to be emerging is the lack of consultation on the matter with relevant industry players before implementation.

Picture: Justin Vermaak (Kenilworth Racing).

Kenilworth Racing Appoints Justin Vermaak Head Of Racing Operations

Kenilworth Racing press release

Kenilworth Racing (Pty) Ltd (“KR”) is delighted to announce the appointment of Justin Vermaak (of Vermaak Equine) as the Head of Racing Operations with immediate effect.

In KR’s recent history, Racing Operations has been managed or overseen remotely under management agreements by third parties on KR’s behalf. Given the critical nature of this role KR as a matter of priority and urgency sought to bring this key position inhouse. Having Racing Operations locally based will go a long way to improving and enhancing communications and engagements with owners and various industry stakeholders.

The role of Racing Operations is extensive, and includes essential functions such as scheduling local fixtures, developing an optimal racing programme, initiating strategies and developments to increase the horse population in the province, developing initiatives to increase field sizes, working with trainers to ensure the calendar, programmes and initiatives are optimized, as well as general oversight of racing related activities on the ground.

The necessary skills and knowledge required are highly specialised and include having an outstanding knowledge of handicapping, race grading, programme development, the racehorse life cycle from breeding to racing and thereafter, the ability to communicate with regulators, handicappers, owners, trainers, punters, sponsors, and the public at large. And in Justin Vermaak, KR has secured the absolute ideal candidate.

Justin’s knowledge of all equine affairs (on both a global and local basis) is unparalleled. His love for racing started as a 4-year-old and has continued to grow exponentially ever since. Justin started his career in the equine industry as an assistant trainer, before going on to build a successful agency serving some of the country’s top jockeys. Thereafter, Justin was hired by the National Horse Racing Authority to serve as a handicapper, and was the youngest official handicapper in the world at the time, being only twenty-one years of age. Thereafter, he was recruited by Dr Andreas Jacobs to serve as the Racing Manager of one of the country’s top breeders, Maine Chance Farms. Additionally, during this period, Justin successfully founded the racehorse syndication company Green Street Bloodstock, and so began his parallel path to becoming one of South Africa’s leading bloodstock agents, selling South African horses around the world under the “Vermaak Equine” brand. As a bloodstock professional and racing manager, he has had extensive dealings with most of the trainers, owners,

operators and breeders throughout South Africa, and consequently will be able to provide the perfect link between the industry role players and KR as the operator.

Justin will be exclusively focused on KR’s racing operations and will play a critical role in the renaissance and rebirth of racing in the Cape. Work has already begun on broadening the programme to cater for the current horse population in the Western Cape, and developing exciting new festivals and concepts, with the aim of attracting new horses, owners (local and international) and trainers to Cape Town. Justin will also help to oversee the continued upliftment of the grooms and work riders in the province, which has been a longstanding focus of KR over the years.

KR wishes Justin all the success and looks forward to sharing many more positive upcoming developments with all stakeholders in the near future.

-ends-

For further information, please direct queries to: Racing Operations: Justin Vermaak, justin@caperacing.co.za

Commercial & Events: Donovan Everitt, donovan@caperacing.co.za

Media & Marketing, Kirsti Lyall: kirsti@caperacing.co.za

Equine African Horse Sickness Vaccination Priority Policy during Supply Crisis Times

PRESS RELEASE 07 July 2022

To all Equine Owners, Managers, Veterinarians, and other Stakeholders,

Background:

The National Horseracing Authority has noted that Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) Is experiencing a crisis in the supply of the registered African horse sickness (AHS) live attenuated vaccine. Consequently, this has resulted in industry stakeholders such as vets, trainers, owners, and breeders having limited access to AHS vaccines.

It is recommended that during this time, and any other time, when supply may be an issue, the administration of the AHS vaccine that does become available should be done in a prioritized manner to ensure that optimal disease control is achieved under the crisis of supply.

Below is the order in which vaccination administration should be prioritized by veterinarians during a time of supply crisis:

Horses that are under the age of 3 years old, or with less than 3 sets of vaccinations previously should be vaccinated as priority as they would be at highest risk of infection and disease. This is especially important for horses within the controlled area that are likely to travel as vaccination for these horses can only occur between June and October.

Horses within the AHS controlled area that are likely to travel out of the AHS controlled area and have not been vaccinated within the last 24 months should be prioritized.

Horses in South Africa with less than 6 sets of vaccinations in their life and/or horses that are competing or moving regularly therefore increasing the risk of AHS spread.

AHS controlled area impact

Regarding horses resident in the AHS controlled area (free zone, surveillance zone and protection zone), the legislated permitted AHS vaccination period of 1 June to 31 October 2022 remains in place unless/until DALRRD rule otherwise. The NHA will re-evaluate NHA rules for horses that reside in the AHS controlled area that may be affected by the unavailability of the AHS vaccine individually and in consultation with SV Boland.

“It is an offence to vaccinate horses in the AHS controlled area after 31 October 2022, unless a written exemption has been granted to do so by the national Director: Animal Health at DALRRD. Individual written and motivated applications for permission to vaccinate outside of the legal window period may be considered, under appropriate and strict vector protected conditions.” DALRRD

AHS infected zone impact

Whilst vaccinating outside of the AHS controlled area – in the AHS infected zone – is not recommended to be done post 31 October, it is permissible without written exemption from the national Director: Animal Health at DALRRD. After consultation with industry stakeholders, it has been deemed in this instance that the risk to the population of having a large number of unprotected/poorly protected animals in the AHS endemic areas of the country, especially in areas where AHS outbreaks occur every year, should be mitigated where possible.

As a result, the deadline for vaccinations as per Rule39.1.1 has been extended from 31 October 2022 to 31 December 2022 for all horses that are resident in the AHS endemic/ infected zone.

We urge all responsible persons to consider shielding equines vaccinated after 31 October 2022 from Culicoides midges through the appropriate use of stabling and turn out times, screening over stable openings as applicable, and the responsible use of insecticides and insect repellents registered in terms of the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act No. 36 of 1947).

As per the Fertilizers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act No. 36 of 1947), the OBP African horse sickness vaccine is the ONLY AHS vaccine registered for use in South Africa.

“The use of unregistered products is strongly discouraged, regardless of their claimed properties, as the safety and efficacy of unregistered products have not been assessed in equines by the mandated Registrar of Act 36.” DALRRD

Please consult the Veterinary Procedural Notice for African horse sickness control (AHS VPN), Important Information Regarding Vaccination against African Horse Sickness (AHS) In South Africa and the Animal Disease Regulations R2026 of 1986 on the DALRRD website for more information.

Links:

http://www.myhorse.org.za/ahsvpn/

https://www.dalrrd.gov.za/Branches/Agricultural-Production-Health-Food-Safety/Animal-Health/importexport/legislation/diseaseact

Canford Cliffs Is Making It Happen!

Ridgemont Highlands five time Group 1 winning stallion Canford Cliffs (Tagula) maintained his extraordinary momentum as a pacesetting South African Freshman Sire this season when celebrating his 14th individual winner in the shape of the smart-looking Tabby Kat, who won at her fourth start at Turffontein on Saturday.

By reaching the milestone 14 winners mark, Canford Cliffs maintains his position at the top of the freshman charts and equals the achievement of star stallions Western Winter, Trippi, Gimmethegreenlight, and his own barnmate Rafeef, for first season juvenile winners.

“We really could not have asked for more from Canford Cliffs in his first season, and the combination of the start he has made mixed with the fact that his progeny seem to get better and better the closer they get to a mile is very impressive. He introduces a mix of speed and stamina, and the encouraging aspect is that his offspring were never anticipated to show any precocity. So they are up and running on ability, with plenty of scope. All the trainers have done a fantastic job with the Canford Cliffs progeny they have, and the reports we get back are very exciting!”, said Craig Carey

Having shown good toe over the sprints, the Azzie family-trained Tabby Kat won at odds-on at her second try at a mile on Saturday, and looks to be a youngster going places.

Bred by Ridgemont Highlands from the Machiavellian four-time winner Kindly Kat, Tabby Kat was a R325 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale purchase and has provided thrills and an early return for owner Adam Azzie.

With just two weeks left of the South African racing season, and with his runners showing form across the country, the future is looking very bright for Canford Cliffs and his progeny.

*The second highest number of winners for a freshman sire is the eight scored by Erupt and the fact the NHA have confirmed Canford Cliffs is not eligible for the Freshman Championship, having stood overseas before, will not detract breeders and buyers from their interest in Canford Cliffs.

Entry Form For CTS Ready To Run
& Unbroken Two Year Old Sale 2022

29 October 2022

Entry Form Closing Date 30 July 2022

CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM: CTS RTR SALE 2022.pdf

The CTS RTR SALE 2022 will be held at Kenilworth Racecourse.

Please complete the above form IN FULL and return to: entries@cthbs.com

Contact And EFT Details are listed on the Entry form.

Picture: Richard Fourie wins easily on the bred-in-the-purple Drakenstein homebred Inara’s Dynasty, a filly by Dynasty out of five-time Grade 1-winner Inara (Trippi) (Chase Liebenberg).

Snaith Four-timer, Treble For Black Type-Leading Rider Fourie

Justin Snaith scored a four-timer at Kenilworth today to go to 180 winners for the season at 13.21%.

Richard Fourie rode three of Snaith’s winners and is now just six short of reaching the 200 winner mark for the season.

Fourie’s 194 winners for the season have come at a strike rate of 18.37%.

He has wrapped up the Western Cape Jockeys title, his 88 winners (21.31%) in the region being eleven clear of Aldo Domeyer’s 77 (23.26%).

Fourie is the leading stakes-winning jockey of the season.

He has ridden seven Grade 1 winners to match the 2006/2007 feat of Jeff Lloyd which is said to be a record, although the archives should be checked in detail to confirm this is so. For example Felix Coetzee must have at least gone close to achieving that number in one or two seasons during the Millard era.

Fourie has also had six Grade 2 wins, eight Grade 3s and three Listed wins for a stakes race total of 24.

Three riders have had three Grade 1 winners this season, S’Manga Khumalo, Muzi Yeni and Calvin Habib.

Grant van Niekerk and Gavin Lerena have both had two Grade 1 wins apiece.

Warren Kennedy has only ridden one Grade 1 winner, but has had five Grade 2s, three Grade 3s and eight Listed wins for a stakes race total of 17.

Grant Van Niekerk has had 15 stakes wins in total.

Keagan de Melo has not had any Grade 1 wins this season, but has had two Grade 2s, six Grade 3s and six Listed wins, a total of 14 stakes wins.

Lerena had had 12 stakes wins in total.

Muzi Yeni is the other double figures stakes-winning rider with eleven in total.

Today’s Question

Who was the easiest ever winner of the St. Leger, which is the final race of the English Triple Crown and will be run this year on 10 September at it’s usual venue of Doncaster over 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 115 yards (2,921 metres).

Picture: The St. Leger Festival crowd at Doncaster racecourse. (Donaster-racecourse.co.uk)

Hollywoodbets Scottsville Wednesday July 19 Fields

Today’s Question Answer

Never Say Die started a 33/1 outsider in a field of twenty-two runners for the Derby. According to some accounts, he would have started at even longer odds if his memorable name and the publicity attracted by his eighteen-year-old jockey Lester Piggott had not made him a popular choice with many members of the public. The colt was always well-placed and was sent into the lead early in the straight by Piggott. He won comfortably by two lengths from Arabian Night and Darius to record only his second win in his tenth start.

Never Say Die next contested the King Edward VII Stakes at Ascot Racecourse. In an extremely rough and unsatisfactory race he finished fourth behind Rashleigh. Piggott was immediately suspended by the racecourse stewards for his riding of Never Say Die and was reported to the Jockey Club who extended the riding ban to six months.

The suspended Piggott was replaced by Charlie Smirke for Never Say Die’s run in the St Leger at Doncaster in September. The colt started 100/30 favourite in a field of sixteen. He won very easily by twelve lengths, the biggest winning margin officially recorded in the race’s history. He was retired to stud shortly after his win at Doncaster.

Source: wikipedia

Picture: Never Say Die after winning the Derby under Lester Piggott, who was serving a six month suspension when the horse won the St. Leger by 12 lengths. (TheGuardian.com)

Turf Talk Newsletter – 19 July 2022