Turf Talk Newsletter – 18 November, 2024

Heather’s Boy is one of three Mike de Kock-trained horses entered in the Gr 1 R2 million Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas (JC Photos)

One Stripe, who is widely regarded as the most exciting three-year-old in the land, has landed a plum draw of two in his date with destiny in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas. His trainer Vaughan Marshall trained One Stripe’s paternal grandfather Captain Al to Cape Guineas glory and has trained two of Captain Al’s sons to win the Cape Guineas, William Longsword and Tap O’ Noth – can he now do it with a paternal grandson of Captain Al?

Marshall also has the One World colt All Out For Six entered.

Mike de Kock has entered his two exciting colts Greaterix (Vercingetorix) and Heather’s Boy (Rafeef) and they have drawn six and seven respectively and he has also entered the promising Artist’s Model (Buffalo Bill Cody).

Sean Tarry also has a pair of entries, the hard knocking The Specialist (The United States) and the scopey Legend Of Arthur (Lancaster Bomber).

The Alec Laird-trained SA Nursery winner Fire Attack as well as the well regarded Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Bjorn Ironside are other Highveld entries.

The entries:

Fatal Flaw saunters to victory in the Gr 3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes (JC Photos) 

The Brett Crawford-trained Gr 3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes winner Fatal Flaw (New Predator) has drawn widest of all in a small but classy entrylist for the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas.

Crawford also has the Gr 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship winner Mon Petit Cherie (Rafeef) entered.

Fatal Flaw, who is from the Crawford Highveld satellite yard, and the Alan Greeff-trained East Cape stalwart, Splicethemainbrace (Master Of My Fate), are the only two out of province entries.

The entry list is shown below:

Simulated Draw
Hollywoodbets Kenilworth – Saturday 07 December 2024
Race-7 (Turf) R1 250 000 1600m (CFGU) For 3 year-old Fillies

Rascallion beats Zapatillas and Gimme A Prince to land a third career Graded stakes win (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)

Less than half-a-length covered the first four past the post in a thrilling renewal of the R350 000 Cape Mile (Gr3) at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday with the evergreen 7yo Rascallion coming out on top over Zapatillas, Gimme A Prince and Montien. Rascallion was returning from an injury-enforced layoff after finishing third in the Legal Eagle Stakes back in May and his victory on Saturday represented a fantastic training feat by Vaughan Marshall.

Ridden by Gavin Lerena and taking the shortest way home, Rascallion quickened nicely from a handy position turning for home and kept going strongly to hold out Zapatillas by a neck. Attempting the distance for the first time, Gimme A Prince was dropped out to the rear of the field from his wide draw but was gaining strongly at the line and Dean Kannemeyer confirmed post-race that the L’Ormarins Kings Plate (Gr1) on 4 January will be his target. “We will probably give next month’s Green Point Stakes (Gr2) a miss and go directly into the LKP” added Kannemeyer.

Brett Crawford will no doubt be equally thrilled with the progress Zapatillas has made since being gelded. The former WSB KZN Guineas (Gr2) winner has endured an injury interrupted career, but Saturday’s Cape Mile was his third run back and he has improved with each outing. He is a classy and impressive-looking son of Master Of My Fate, but Crawford has to nurse him along and is keeping his options open as to when Zapatillas will next appear.

Back to Saturday’s winner Rascallion, who earlier this year finished runner-up to Double Superlative in the WSB Cape Town Met. In the post-race interview following his nail-biting victory in the Cape Mile, part-owner Marsh Shirtliffe expressed his desire to see Rascallion have another crack at the R5-million WSB Cape Town Met on 25 January and if he maintains his form, and Marshall can keep him sound, there is no doubt that Rascallion will have a realistic chance of going one better on the Cape’s biggest race day.

Montien ran his heart out but came up just a little short on Saturday. He will be no pushover in the forthcoming Feature races and, although no doubt disappointed with getting scant reward for such a valiant effort on Saturday, trainer Piet Botha will be cautiously optimistic his big-striding son of Louis The King will nevertheless have a major part to be play during the Cape Summer Season. Royal Aussie attracted solid support on course but failed to go through with his effort and finished a rather one-paced fifth, close on three lengths behind the leading quartet.

But while the Cape Mile was a humdinger, it was the performance of Snow Pilot earlier in the day that got the Kenilworth tongues wagging. Last season’s Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas (Gr1) winner was sent out a short-priced favourite to win the third race, a Progress Plate over 1400m, but it was the manner of victory that created a buzz around the racetrack. Snow Pilot hopped out in front, setting brisk fractions from the jump, and then pulling further and further clear of the opposition to win gearing down by six lengths. He appears to have matured into an exciting four-year-old and the Drakenstein owned and bred son of Lancaster Bomber could well be on track for a second career Grade 1 victory.

Richard Fourie and Craig Zackey shared the riding honours with a double apiece while Justin Snaith’s mustard form continued with a treble for the Philippi-based yard.

Romantic Warrior steams clear under James McDonald (Picture: HKJC)

HKJC

Romantic Warrior Reigns Supreme In Return Group 2 Victory

Champion stayer Romantic Warrior’s imperious G2 BOCHK Jockey Club Cup (2000m) triumph at Sha Tin on Sunday (17 November) has laid the foundations for Danny Shum’s ambitious 2024/25 campaign, crowned by a bid for a third consecutive HK$40 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup (2000m) victory next month.

Extending his current winning streak to six, Romantic Warrior (128lb) claimed his second BOCHK Jockey Club Cup with a commanding performance under James McDonald, defeating Ka Ying Generation (123lb) and Nimble Nimbus (123lb) in 1m 59.70s.

Taking his overall record to 16 wins and three seconds from 21 starts, Romantic Warrior boosted his prize money earnings to HK$154.92 million to continue his pursuit of retired Golden Sixty’s world record haul of HK$167.17 million.

Jumping from barrier one, Romantic Warrior settled in sixth place behind Sword Point and, as the field approaching the home turn, McDonald angled off the fence and fanned four-wide to challenge. Taking over at the 400m, Romantic Warrior exploded clear to win – eased down – by four and a quarter lengths.

Returning to Hong Kong for a five-week stint, McDonald was awestruck by Romantic Warrior’s victory, marking the New Zealander’s ninth win from 10 rides on the Hong Kong International Sale graduate.

“He’s like the prize fighter, isn’t he? Heavyweight champion of the world. You never really get nervous on him because he’s so good. He’s an incredible horse. I love him to bits and he’s very good,” McDonald said.

“You still got to go out and do it and (from) barrier one, you’re dictated to a little bit but he’s just so good – he can get you out of situations that other horses can’t. Just a phenomenal horse, I’m so proud of him. He’s come back in terrific order, he never lets you down ever and he’s just got this amazing will to win. It’s something I’ve never come across.”

Shum was pleased with his champion’s performance ahead of what he expects to be a far tougher assignment on 8 December.

“He was a little bit keen because he’d been off for five months, so he was a bit fresh. James put him in behind them and the fast pace suited,” Shum said. “He (McDonald) told me the horse is still improving, but I told him on 8 December it will be two different stories. The field will be totally different – much, much, much stronger than today. You see the entries – wow, so many good horses. So, it’s a tough race on December 8.”

Shum will vaccinate Romantic Warrior tomorrow (Monday, 18 November) in preparation for possible tilts at the G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) in Riyadh in February and the G1 Dubai World Cup (2000m, dirt) in April.

“It will be tough for him and the team not only in the next few weeks, but the next six months,” Shum said. “If he runs good on December 8, the owner, Peter (Lau), is really keen to go (overseas). He deserves to have try. It’s once-in-a-lifetime.”

Romantic Warrior was the second leg of a Group 2 double for McDonald, who also partnered Ricky Yiu’s Voyage Bubble to victory in the G2 BOCHK Private Wealth Jockey Club Mile (1600m).

Zac Purton snared jockey honours with a treble, headed by Ka Ying Rising in the G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m), Fast Network and Super Love Dragon.

Matthew Poon enhanced hopes of contesting the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley on 4 December with Bravehearts’ win in the Class 3 BOC Credit Card Handicap (2000m) for Mark Newnham.

Poon sits in fifth place in the Hong Kong jockeys’ championship with 14 wins to trail Purton (40), Hugh Bowman (19), Vincent Ho (16) and Karis Teetan (14). With Purton and Ho already locked in for the four-race series, and Bowman comfortably placed, Poon is locked in battle with Teetan for the final spot.

A Group 1 winner in Argentina, Bravehearts boosted Newnham’s season haul to 15 wins.

Dennis Yip attributed the addition of blinkers to Fast Network as one of the factors in the lightly-raced gelding’s devastating victory in the Class 3 BOCHK Wealth Management Handicap (1000m) under Purton.

“I think the blinkers really helped today,” Yip said after the Wrote gelding clocked a blistering 55.83s in sweeping to a four and a half lengths margin. Purton also produced a superb, ground-saving ride on Chris So-trained Super Love Dragon to land the Class 4 BOCHK SME in One Handicap (1400m).

Meowth made a successful debut for Luke Ferraris and Cody Mo, who then sealed a double with Hong Kong International Sale graduate Markwin in the Class 4 BOCHK “Banking Trendytoo” Handicap (1400m).

David Eustace and Teetan struck with Silvery Breeze in the Class 3 BOCHK BOC Pay Handicap (1400m) before ex-Singapore galloper Young Superstar won the Class 3 BOCHK Asset Management Handicap (1200m) for Tony Cruz and Angus Chung.

Formerly known as Kungfu Hero, the Press Statement gelding won his only start in Singapore before joining Cruz’s stable and is raced by the HKJC Racing Club Limited.
Pierre Ng also combined with Britney Wong and Spicy Spangle, the second standby starter who gained a start with the scratchings of Exceed The Wish and Top Scorer before winning the Class 4 BOCHK Cross-Border Services Handicap (1200m).

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (20 November).

Ka Ying Rising Smashes Sha Tin Course Record

Ka Ying Rising’s irresistible surge towards Group 1 glory continued at Sha Tin on Sunday (17 November) when David Hayes’ emerging champion sprinter powered to victory in the G2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint (1200m), breaking Sacred Kingdom’s long-standing track record.

Clocking 1m 07.43s despite being eased down over the last 100m by Zac Purton, Ka Ying Rising improved his overall record to eight wins and two seconds from 10 starts and took a stranglehold on the HK$26 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin on 8 December.

Reeling off successive sectionals of 21.93s and 22.14s from the 800m, Ka Ying Rising (123lb) swept to a three and a quarter length victory over Howdeepisyourlove (123lb) with Helios Express (123lb) a further short head away in third to eclipse Sacred Kingdom’s mark of 1m 07.50s, set in the same race on 17 November, 2007.

There is no doubt Ka Ying Rising could have recorded an even faster time had Purton ridden out the Shamexpress four-year-old, but such was the gelding’s superiority Purton had time to blow a kiss to a camera on the inside of the track.

Settling third behind Victor The Winner and Copartner Prance after crossing from barrier 10, Ka Ying Rising stalked the speed before challenging at the 300m and, such was the 1.1 favourite’s blinding acceleration, the race was effectively over 200 metres from the finish line.

“I knew it was a track record, so I thought I would seal it with a kiss,” Purton said of his celebration. “It’s getting scary now how good he’s becoming and how easily he’s doing it. It’s a nice top-up run for the big one (LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint) next month.

“He’s certainly come a long way in a short period of time. I was on Aethero, who ran as favourite in the Hong Kong Sprint as a three-year-old but, unfortunately, he had some health problems.

“This guy is the only other horse who’s improved as rapidly as that, that I’ve been on. He’s just perfect to ride. He’s got great gate speed, he relaxes beautifully mid-race and he’s got a great turn of foot – it’s everything you need in a sprinter. He hasn’t won at Group 1 level yet, so he’s still got to do a bit.

“Every race, you need things to go right and we had things fall right in our favour today, so that was pleasing, but it was more pleasing for him to do what he did.”

David Hayes was relieved and elated post-race.

“He’s broken the track record and Zac was waving to the camera with 100m to go. What I loved about it was he forced the issue early the way he come back under him to sit third and fourth. From a trainer’s point of view, that is really something to look forward – to have a horse that relaxes in the run,” the dual Hong Kong Champion Trainer (1997/98 & 1998/99) said.

“It’s a course record held by a superstar (Sacred Kingdom). You’ve got to be pretty good to get the course record at Sha Tin when you see all these wonderful, promising horses racing on fast ground. To have your horse in the book is a bit of a thrill.

“I love looking at his action on race days – he just has that extra action. When it’s time to accelerate, when he ambles up, he really lengthens and puts races to bed really quickly. He’s a bottomless pit at the moment.

“He was a late-furnishing horse. I think that probably was why he got defeated a couple times (by Wunderbar) – he was a little bit immature. He thinks he’s undefeated because he was beaten a millimetre twice. When you see him walking around, some of the big, established sprinters here in Hong Kong look a bit more furnished than him, so there’s plenty more to come from this horse.”

Regarding the LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint, Hayes said: “All he has to do really now is hold his form and I can’t see any reason why he won’t. We’ve got 21 more sleeps before the big Group 1 in three weeks, so we’re really looking forward to it.

“I think he’s the horse they have to beat. I’m not sure what is coming at the moment but they will have a big job to beat him.”

John Size-trained pair Howdeepisyourlove and Helios Express again caught the eye with charging runs from the tail of the field. Howdeepisyourlove clocked the race’s fastest sectionals (21.57s, 21.86s) in storming from 10th, while Helios Express stormed from eighth (21.69s and 22.15s).

Group 1 winners Invincible Sage, Victor The Winner and California Spangle – all carrying 128lb – finished fifth, seventh and eighth, respectively.

Hong Kong racing continues at Happy Valley on Wednesday night (20 November).

Formguides And Selections For Tuesday’s Hollywoodbets Kenilworth meeting (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Race 1

1 PHIL THE FLUTER ran a much better race last time behind Elizabedi Gold, the form of that race should work out nicely over the next few weeks, he is still very much improving and should be involved in the finish. 11 RAFA BAY has run three good races in succession, on his best form he should go very close to winning this race. 5 MANEKI NEKO has had many chances to get out of the maiden ranks, he drops back in trip which should help him run a much better race, include him into all bets. 8 CASA ESTIVA ran a great race on debut from a wide draw at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, she will be looking for a bit further in time, but there is no doubt there will be huge improvement from run one to run two, she is a big runner.

(Brandon Bailey: 1 – 11 – 5 – 8)

Race 2

2 ELECTRIC FEELS won a super race last time beating Lovers Lane, she likes to be held up for as long as possible and then works into the race smartly late, with the right run in transit, she will go very close to winning again. 1 LOVERS LANE has been in great form lately, he quickened up smartly in his last start when finishing second, he will be right there in the finish. 8 CASINO ACE ran a cracker behind Electric Feels on the 29th of October, he is very speedy and will try and lead them from start to finish. 4 MRS SHACKLETON never runs a bad race, on her best form she could sneak into the places and earn again.

(Brandon Bailey: 2 – 1 – 8 – 4)

Race 3

7 COURTLY was beaten at very short odds in his last start behind Sansa Stark, he is a big striding individual that is going to get better and stronger with more racing, he drops back in trip to 1800m, and he gets the services of champion jockey Richard Fourie again, he will be right there in the finish. 3 DUBBELOSIX will love the step up in trip, he is a good-looking son of Vercingetorix that should get the run of the race from a good draw, include him into all bets. 6 ARDABIL ran a great race behind Pinot Grigio last time, he was poorly drawn and stayed on well, if he can build on that performance, he should be amongst the places at a decent price. 15 CONGRESSMAN likes to race up on speed, on his best form he could sneak into the Quartets, the draw will make it tough for him.

(Brandon Bailey: 7 – 3 – 6 – 15)

Race 4

12 DIAMOND BOMBER took off to run a great second behind Two G’s in her last start, her recent form has been excellent, there is no doubt she will love the step up in trip, if the race works out for her from a tricky draw here, she will be hard to beat. 4 LOTUS ISLAND had no luck in running from a bad draw in her last start at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, from a decent draw in this race, she will go very close. 7 EXQUISITE has been rested for 73 days, she is improving with every start and must be respected. 13 BIRD ON A WING will need lots of luck in running from a poor draw, she is very well related, the step up in trip will give her a massive winning chance.

(Brandon Bailey: 12 – 4 – 7 – 13)

Race 5

4 KAMCHATKA has won her last two starts super impressively, the yard think highly of this filly, if she can bring her last run to the races on Tuesday afternoon, she will go very close to winning again. 10 ENCHANTING CHOICE at the weights will get much closer to Kamchatka, there was nothing in it at the line when they last met on the 29th of October at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, she likes to switch off early and then run at horses late, watch her closely. 5 JET TO THE SUN never runs a bad race, her form is super consistent, with some luck in running she will be amongst the places again. 2 HAMPSTEAD HEATH showed signs of returning to form last time, if she can build on that performance from a good draw, she could sneak into the Quartets.

(Brandon Bailey: 4 – 10 – 5 – 2)

Race 6

3 UNSOLVED RIDDLE won a super race with Richard Fourie last time at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, Augusta Blue franked the form lines of that race by winning well at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 9th of November, Lunga Gila has done exceptionally well with Unsolved Riddle, with a similar performance of his last start, he will take some beating. 5 WHAT A FORTUNE has run two good races in succession, the 1400m trip will help his chances, include him into all bets. 11 NAUSHON needs a particular ride, in hope that the race works out for him from a wide draw, he should be involved at the finish. 2 BLAME IT ON ME ran a much better race on the 26th of October, with a low weight on his back he could sneak into the places at a big price.

(Brandon Bailey: 3 – 5 – 11 – 2)

Race 7

1 SENHORA VICTORIA will love the step up in trip to 1400m again, she has been very consistent through her entire career and must have a good winning chance in this race. 9 TRES CHIC won exceptionally well last time, unfortunately she has drawn poorly for this Class 5 event which won’t make life easy for her, if she can get some luck in running, she will be right there again. 8 ALESSIA ASHEVILLE has been improving with every start, her recent run behind December Dawn was very good, she is crying for the step up in trip, watch her closely at a good price. 5 WEHAVEASITUATION was heavily supported in the market when running on strongly for second behind Kamchatka, on her best form she can earn. (Brandon Bailey: 1 – 9 – 8 – 5)

Race 8

6 AIR RAID would have needed his last start badly when running unplaced behind Twentytwentyvision, the yard think highly of this individual, now that he steps up in trip, he will go very close to winning. 3 INDUSTRIALSTRENGTH drops back in trip to 1400m, ignore his last start behind Song To The Moon, the race never worked out for him on that occasion, watch for sharp improvement now that he gets a decent draw. 9 DAWN TILL DUSK ran a cracker behind Radicchio on the 19th of October, his form is very good and there should be absolutely no reason as to why he shouldn’t be competitive again. 7 WINTER PEARL ran a fair race behind a very nice type last time, with the services of Richard Fourie, he must be respected in this tricky race.

(Brandon Bailey: 6 – 3 – 9 – 7)

Race 9

11 ALL ABOUT AL was touched off in the finish by Bluff On Bluff last time, he has run some decent races behind some nice horses through his career, now that his confidence is up, he should run a cracker again. 2 SHIFTING PATH is much better than his most recent performance on the 29th of October, there is no doubt he would prefer 1200m, but on his best form in this Class 4 event he could earn again for Piet Botha and his team. 7 RATTLESNAKE comes back to the races after being rested and gelded, his form is excellent, if he doesn’t need the run badly, he will go very close to winning. 3 COUNTER ATTACK has been rested for 154 days, he ran a great race out the maidens behind Escarpment, with a similar performance, he could run a place.

(Brandon Bailey: 11 – 2 – 7 – 3)

Breeders’ Cup 2024 at Del Mar (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Paulick Report

All post-race test samples taken from contenders in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup World Championships Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club have been cleared by the Horseracing Integrity & Welfare Unit (HIWU). Purse distribution has begun accordingly.

2024 marked the second year the Breeders’ Cup World Championships were run under the full jurisdiction of the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Authority (HISA), including the Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program, which took effect in May of 2023 and is implemented and enforced by HIWU.

As was the case under Breeders’ Cup’s anti-doping and medication control rules that were in place before HISA’s ADMC Program was implemented, medication is prohibited within 48 hours of the 14 Championship races and the undercard. All potential Breeders’ Cup competitors were also subject to out-of-competition testing for banned substances leading up to the event.

The subject is pictured above

Which tiny 1930-born horse won the Epsom Derby, the St. Leger and the Prince Of Wales Stakes as a three-year-old before becoming a six-time champion sire of Britian and Ireland?

Hyperion’s influence is still felt today.

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