Turf Talk Newsletter – 18 October, 2024

The Glen Kotzen-trained Dynasty gelding King Regent made history on the Fairview polytrack today under regular rider Denis Schwarz (Pauline Herman Photography) 

The Glen Kotzen-trained King Regent did not disappoint at Fairview today (Friday) and produced his usual devastating finishing burst under regular rider Denis Schwarz to become the first horse to ever land all three legs of the Nelson Mandela Bay Poly Challenge.

He thus claimed a R250,000 bonus for owners Martin Wickens and Giselle Burg.

The Challenge was inaugurated in 2016 and the previous closest to winning all three legs was in that inaugural year when the Jacques Strydom-trained Gogetthesheriff won the first two legs before finishing a 0.50-length third to Jet Explorer in the final leg.

King Regent’s chief danger today was probably himself due to his issues at the starting stalls.

He would have benefited in his career from being able to jump out of the hood, but that is no longer allowed and it is now a matter of timing to remove the hood just before the starter presses the button.

However, he tends to “bunny hop” out of the stalls.

Today, he lost about a length, but from pole position he was able to stick to the rail and get into fifth place in the seven horse field.

Coming off the false rail the Ridgemont-bred Dynasty gelding was switched to the centre by Schwarz and he took off.

The five-year-old passed the three horses inside of him to win by 1,25 lengths from pacemaker Cherry Ano with Bush Tracker and The Mauritian next best.

His easiest win was in the first leg over 1200m, which he won by 3,25 lengths, and he then produced a devastating finish from last place to win the second leg over 1400m by half-a-length from one of the best horses in the East Cape, Luna Halo.

Every leg of the challenge carried a total stake of R175,000, so he earned R328,125 in first place prize money plus the R250,000 bonus.

It was King Regent’s seventh career win which has come in just 17 starts and his official stakes earnings are now R1,183,187.

Denis Schwarz, who rode him in all three legs of the challenge, said the “not too quick” pace had been suitable for the horse today and he had been confident coming onto the straight.

He added, “The front horse skipped away, I thought he ran a cracker , he stayed up there for very long and it wasn’t easy to peg him back. But King Regent did it!”

Kuyan Kotzen represented his father Glen on course and said, “The King has done it!”

He spoke of the many cogs that had to work to get the wheels turning and thanked the whole Woodhill Racing team, as well as owners Martin Wickens and Giselle Burg, and he thanked Sharon and Greg Kotzen for helping the team during their raids to Gqeberha.

Double Grand Slam clinches Richard Fourie a new record number of wins for a SA  season in the Gr 2 East Coast Radio Tibouchina Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville back in June (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Mark van Deventer (Cape Racing)

Stakes winners, DOUBLE GRAND SLAM and RED PALACE have a big class edge in Race 3 over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, though there is a slight conditioning query as they make their seasonal debuts on Saturday. This after being off track for three months since successful KZN Winter campaigns.

DOUBLE GRAND SLAM (OMR 118) has an excellent record between 1400/1600m – but for some torrid trips would have won more than five times from 12 starts. She will target Gr1’s during the Summer under the judicious handling of Justin Snaith. The daughter of Vercingetorix is 6/10 odds on for this assignment.

Fellow 4YO, RED PALACE (OMR 119) is best from a mile upwards but is ideally course suited with her pace pressing style perfect for the fast-running, bendy Hollywoodbets Durbanville circuit. Candice Bass-Robinson’s entry is 5/2 second favourite in this Prestige Plate.

Snaith will fancy the chances of LOTUS ISLAND in the following race. The Ideal World filly made a big stretch run from miles back when second behind Little Suzie and with further improvement likely, it could be her turn to exit the Maidens.

She had only one horse behind her with just two panels to go and cannot afford to give as much start as she did last time when drawn 13/14. If Craig Zackey can position her closer to the early action, then she could prove too strong for LAVENDER BAY, ENGLISH MISTRESS and EXQUISITE. POCKET DIAL, DOUBLE DASH and FORGOTTEN SONG are also plausible contenders.

Snaith is teed up for a big day – SONG TO THE MOON is another with persuasive claims in Race 5, a Class 4 over 1600m. The 4YO gelding has twice rushed home from hopeless positions and is due a change of fortune.

On collateral form to shock winner DEVIL A SAINT, INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH rates upsides and arguably has more scope given that it’s only a fourth start for Dean Kannemeyer’s entry.

Race 5 is the First Leg of Jackpot 1. Punters seeking a wider spread can add promising and well-drawn, youngster, LA PULGA and Andre Nel’s, HOODIA with BARDOLINO a tempting 14/1 each way overlay on his best efforts at this class level. Maybe, strong rider Luyolo Mxothwa can get roust him sufficiently and stage a wake-up.

Class 3 handicaps are especially competitive in the Cape. Race 7 over 1400m has at least half of the 12 runners in with a shout. Bookies go 11/2 the field in early quotes, reflecting the openness of the race.

Fluent last start victor, OLIVER; the adaptable and now peaking, ROSH KEDESH; ultra-game, seven panel expert INNAMORARE; talented, GALLIC DREAM; TOUT A FAIT; five-on-the-bounce front-runner, ASPECT and 3YO, MAURITIUS KESTREL makes the not-so-short, list.

Race 8 is for bottom of the barrel Class 5 exponents. There is not much separating the 11 entries in this race which, given all the handy types, should go at a testing pace for the class level.

Under the circumstances, it sometimes pays to shop for a price horse in closely clustered, weaker contests. The value suggestion is PRINCE OF TIBET who can come to light at long odds now that he gets his preferred firmer ground.

He is of similar ability to these modest rivals, receives some relief from the handicapper and now gets the skilled services of JP van Der Merwe. Should the cheap speed around him cave in, then van der Merwe, a canny waiting rider, might be able to roust Piet Steyn’s charge for a telling rally and reward each way backers.

Steyn will also loom to close out the meet with MISS MARGUERITE in the nightcap under the same pilot.  The mare is trying to snap a losing streak stretching back 485 days and her off the pace running style is not tactically the answer for this course. That said, she has been closing off willingly and should be involved in the finish.

Exotic bettors participating in the second Jackpot may want to add a few to get over this Leg 4 hurdle. Course suited dasher, HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL and in-form, BE MERRY are must-use Snaith Racing representatives; speedster, PORQUE TE VAS takes a drop in class and 3YO, SAHARA CAT can build on juvenile promise already shown for Vaughan Marshall.

The Vaughan Marshall-trained Global View gelding Aspect has been tipped to make it a sixth win on the trot (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Race 1

4 CORK BAY moved up extremely well in his last start to run a cracking second, there is no doubt that he will get the run of the race from a good draw, and he will be very hard to beat here. 1 SHIPINDANI should improve quite a bit from her last start, her comeback run behind Alltheboysiveloved was very good, watch her closely from a neat draw in this race. 6 GOOD SHINE ran a fair race last time in a strong maiden plate, there have already been two direct winners from that form line, he drops in trip to 1000m which should unlock further improvement. 9 GIMMEATHRILL comes back to the races after a small break of 86 days, he ran a lovely race on debut from a wide draw behind Walk With Me, if he doesn’t need the run badly, he could sneak into Quartets.

(Brandon Bailey: 4 – 1 – 6 – 9)

Race 2

2 PACAYA had absolutely no luck in his last start behind Mount Anderson in the Friendly City Stakes, from a good draw in a small field here, there should be no excuses for this gelding, on his best form he will be tough to beat in a competitive race. 1 RAPIDASH has been in great form of late, if the race works out for him, he can finish powerfully, include him into all bet types. 3 FUTURE SWING has been rested for 83 days,  this race will be the start of his Summer Festival campaign, he is packed with class, if he doesn’t need the run badly, he will make them all work for victory. 6 OTTO LUYKEN unfortunately didn’t have the race work out for him last time, he ideally wants some cover early and then runs on strongly late, he must have a good Quartet chance, the yard is in great form as well.

(Brandon Bailey: 2 – 1 – 3 – 6)

Race 3

5 DOUBLE GRAND SLAM has been rested for 105 days, she is a top filly that will take all the beating here. There is no doubt that she might just need the run, but her class should prevail in this small field. 6 RED PALACE wrapped up her KwaZulu-Natal campaign in style when beating Saartjie in the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet at Hollywoodbets Greyville, she is a lovely big striding filly that wants to race up on speed, this might be on the short side for her, but if she gets cheap sectionals up in front, she will be hard to peg back, include her into all bets. 1 PRINCESS IZZY never runs a bad race, she is very consistent, from a good draw she must have a place chance. 4 TIME FOR LOVE should appreciate the drop in trip, she might be able to sneak into the places at a decent price.

(Brandon Bailey: 5 – 6 – 1 – 4)

Race 4

4 DOUBLE DASH ran a terrific race last time in a big field behind a very nice sort, the step up in trip should unlock further improvement, she will go very close to winning from a good draw. 6 LAVENDER BAY ran a super race last time from a wide draw here at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, on her most recent form, she must have a good each way chance. 8 POCKET DIAL will appreciate the step up in trip to 1600m again, she finished her race off strongly last time behind My Only Weakness, watch her closely late. 10 LOTUS ISLAND improved nicely last time when stepping up in trip from a bad draw, with the right run in transit here, she must have a good winning chance.

(Brandon Bailey: 4 – 6 – 8 – 10)

Race 5

7 SONG TO THE MOON must have a massive winning chance here, he unfortunately hasn’t had much luck with draws of late, from a decent enough draw in this race, he will be storming home late. 8 INDUSTRIALSTRENGTH ran a huge race last time behind Devil A Saint, it was his first run in the Western Cape at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, he will be a lot more streetwise now, watch for sharp improvement from him. 1 LA PULGA comes back to the races from a rest and gelding, he won extremely well on the 3rd of August, with natural improvement on the cards from a good draw and stepping up in trip, he should be amongst the places. 3 ALL ABOUT RONNIE ran a much better race in his last start, if he can build on that performance, he could be one for the Quartets.

(Brandon Bailey: 7 – 8 – 1 – 3)

Race 6

1 RADICCHIO absolutely loves Hollywoodbets Durbanville, life will be tough for him now off his new rating of 82, he is very gutsy, and he gets a good draw, there is no doubt that he will have a big winning chance again in this field despite the big weight on his back. 10 DALMENY FACTOR won his maiden in style, he looks to be way above average, if he can beat the bad barrier draw here, he will have a good winning chance again. 2 SHAVOUT is far better than his last start, ignore that run completely, from a neat barrier draw in this race, he should bounce back to best. 7 DEVIL A SAINT won at a huge price in his last start, he simply galloped them into the ground, with a similar performance, he could earn again.

(Brandon Bailey: 1 – 10 – 2 – 7)

Race 7

4 ASPECT will be looking for six straight wins on the bounce, he likes to race up on speed, from a decent draw, he must have a good winning chance again despite his merit rating climbing. 2 ROSH KEDESH has been rested for 73 days, on his recent form, he must have a good each way chance in a very competitive race. 9 OLIVER is very consistent, he quickened up very well to win a great race last time, there is speed in this race which will suit him down to the ground, watch him late. 12 INNAMORARE won well last time, unfortunately he will need lots of luck from a bad draw here, if the race works out for him, he could finish amongst the places.

(Brandon Bailey: 4 – 2 – 9 – 12)

Race 8

2 MON PETIT CHERIE won with authority in her last start, the yard think highly of this filly, from a neat draw here and with natural improvement on the cards, she will go very close to winning again. 6 KING OF SPIN went hard up in front in his last start and still won a great race beating One Liner, with a similar performance he will be hard to catch in this competitive race. 9 MAPHAKA could be anything, he won his maiden very impressively at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, this will be his first run in the Western Cape at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, if he handles the track and doesn’t need the run badly, he will have a nice each way chance. 10 O’Tenikwa is highly rated by the stable, he ran a lovely race from a wide draw last time, with some luck in running, he could earn again.

(Brandon Bailey: 2 – 6 – 9 – 10)

Race 9

1 ISCHYRO quickened up very nicely to win going away in his last start, from a good draw here, he should go very close to winning again. 3 TRY ME ran a good second to Ischyro last time, at the weights it will get much closer between the two horses, include Try Me into all bets. 8 GRUE OF ICE ran a lovely race in testing conditions last time, she has been fairly consistent of late and must have a good money chance again. 7 LADY LOXTON will appreciate the drop in trip, on her best form, she can make the exotics pay.

(Brandon Bailey: 1 – 3 – 8 – 7)

Race 10

6 MISS MARGUERITE ran a lovely race last time behind Nordic Quest, she was drawn poorly on that occasion and was staying on strongly late, now that she gets a better draw, she will go very close to winning at a nice price. 1 SAHARA CAT is very speedy, from the perfect draw of one on a track that is running very fast, she will be difficult to peg back late. 7 BE MERRY is clearly improving at a rate of knots, she won a great race last time from the front, this is undoubtedly a stronger race for her, if she can beat the tricky draw, she will have a good each way chance with Jockey Richard Fourie. 5 PORQUE TE VAS ran a fair race last time from a wide draw, she drops a point in the ratings, and she gets a better draw now, watch for a decent performance.

(Brandon Bailey: 6 – 1 – 7 – 5)

We Are The Logans wins comfortably last time out (JC Photos)

There is an eight race meeting at Turffontein Inside on Saturday and in the highest rated race, a MR99 handicap over 1450m, the classy We Are The Logans could follow up on his win last time out, although cases can be made for a number of the opposition.

The Tony Peter-trained Flying The Flag four-year-old showed his class early in his career when finishing a 4.30 length third to Sandringham Summit and Main Defender in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Premiers Champion Stakes over 1600m at Holltywoodbets Greyville. He then went off the boil and had a highly disappointing three-year-old campaign. However, off a merit rating that had dropped to 85 he has come back to form this season. Last time out over 1400m was the first time he had been ridden by Gavin Lerena and the key to him might have been found in that outing. Lerena left him alone for the first half of the race and when he eventually delivered him he had plenty in the tank and won easing up by 2,25 lengths in the small five horse field. He was raised five points but has a fair draw and Lerena will likely use the same tactics from a tricky draw of six of nine. The Sean Tarry-trained Willow Express has been in good form, winning three of his last five starts. He came from last last time out over 1600m and won comfortably after producing a strong finish. He could be dropped out from a wide draw here and try and do the same, although he is off a six point higher merit rating. The Futurist will be interesting on this tight track because he is capable of setting a strong gallop and staying on. Southern Blaze has won three of his last four including his last two but in his hattrick bid he has to overcome a four point raise and a wide draw. A wide draw did not stop him last time when dropped out to last over 1400m and running on and on a line through Pressonregardless he has We Are The Logans well beaten. However, he has not raced since August 10, so there is a concern he might need this. Run For Cover has a good draw over a suitable trip and can’t be ignored.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Dance King  looks the one to beat having finished just 3,25 lengths behind the promising Heather’s Boy last time when stepped up to 1450m and he now has a good draw over a 1600m trip he should enjoy. Milan’s World was stepped up to this trip in his third career start in July and ran a fair race. He might have benefited from the layoff and is drawn in pole with Piere Strydom up. Jabberwocky, Gamer and Spy Story could all earn if reproducing their best performances.

In the second leg of the Pick 6 over 2000m Quello Che is in good form and now tries a step up to a trip she has failed over before. She is by Querari out of a Gimmethegreenlight mare who won over 1400m and was tried up to 2400m, while her second dam won over 2000m and is a half-sister to July runner up Young Rake, so there is hope she will get the trip and she does not have a lot to beat. Fetching Flyer is in good form and being out of a Silvano mare might enjoy the step up in trip. Perform is capable of a strong finish and could earn here. Lunar Rainbow ran well when stepped up to 1800m last time. African Beauty has shown some ability and could be the surprise package.

In the fifth race over 2600m Battleground has the class to go in. This is his second outing since winning the PE Gold Cup over 3200m and he should have come on from his last start. Twenty Drachmas has plenty of ability as a stayer and could start coming into his own. Mambo Come Tesio could be in the shake up too.

In the sixth over 1450m Pressonregardless ran well last time against We Are The Logans and now has a plum draw. Theres A Light ran a good race over 1200m first time out the maidens and should enjoy the step up in trip. Ombudsman won his maiden well when stepped up to 1600m and should also enjoy this slightly shorter trip. Salute The Flag is a capable sort returning from a layoff. Doitwithdiamonds has a tricky draw but is in fine form and can’t be ignored.

In the last race over 1600m Chestnut Bomber could prove hard to beat as he should have come on from his last two starts and he is well drawn over an ideal trip. This runner heralds the reunion of the Johan Janse van Vuuren/Gavin Lerena partnership.

In the first race over 1000m, the first leg of the Bipot, Blingual has a good opportunity as she has some form and faces an uninspiring field from a good draw.

In the second race over 1000m, the first leg of the PA, Rondebosch looks to have plenty of ability so could overcome a layoff of close to five months and a wide draw to go close. However, Let’s Play Poker and Kwagga Blitz should also be included.

Jockey Daniel Tudhope, owner/workrider Amedeo Dal Pos and trainer Dylan Cunha with the fairytale horse Prague after he had won the Group 2 Joel Stakes (Racingfotos)

The fairytale story surrounding Dylan Cunha, his stable employee Amedeo Dal Pos and a horse called Prague is big news in the U.K. ahead of their date with destiny in tomorrow’s Gr 1 QE II Stakes at Royal Ascot and the below article appeared in the Daily Mail today on Dylan’s birthday.

Why former pilot Dylan Cunha went from parading the skies to one-time reject Prague’s proud trainer

Cunha decided to stop his successful career as a pilot and become a trainer

The former flight expert now trains Prague who was once sold for just £10,000

Cunha reached his goal for the year of training 30 winners on Wednesday night

By Dominic King

The symbolism is inescapable and Dylan Cunha cannot help but laugh as it is pointed out: here he is, a former pilot turned trainer, watching an equine ‘aeroplane’ fly past.

This is one of those magical Newmarket mornings, when everything is still and all you can hear on the famous Limekilns gallops are the thunder of hooves. The hooves we have come to see belong to Prague, the fairytale horse Cunha will saddle in today’s Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.

Fairytale can be an overused term but not here. Prague, a son of the great Galileo, was once in Aidan O’Brien’s care but never made the track for the master trainer. When he was sold last autumn, the last thing O’Brien would have envisaged was to see him line-up at Ascot on QIPCO Champions Day.

‘This is how to put it,’ says Brett Little, a friend of Cunha’s who owns the nearby Gee-Gees wine bar and has joined us to watch this workout. ‘It’s like Man City sold Erling Halaand from their reserves to Newmarket United and now he’s scored the goals to put Newmarket in the Champions League.’

It’s a beautiful analogy, one that works on every level. When a horse is sold for £10,000 out of Ballydoyle, the most you might expect is for it to run at provincial tracks but Prague, under Cunha’s astute guidance, has hit the big time and will compete for a £655,709 first prize this afternoon.

How he has ended up in such a situation is remarkable. He was bought by Amedeo Dal Pos, a Venetian, who has worked for Cunha for 18 months. He has spent his life in racing, the last 12 years in Newmarket, and with some scrimping, saving and a little help from lifelong friend Hugo Zaneni was able to buy Prague.

‘I love him,’ says Dal Pos, in the way a parent would say about a child. He goes into Cunha’s yard each morning at 4:30am to check on all the horses but Prague gets that little bit of extra attention and how you can tell as his bay coat gleams. There won’t be a better turned out runner at Ascot.

‘He is my best mate and I am living a dream with him. You can see he has the same passion as I do. I call him “Pipo” and I know how to handle him. If he doesn’t know you, he will try to bite you! He always tries so hard and his heart is so big.’

Dal Pos rides him in all his work and what we witness was all the evidence Cunha needed to pay the £70,000 supplementary fee to add him to the QEII field on Tuesday. Prague, who has won two of his five races for Cunha, almost pulls his owner’s arms out as he bounds past and “travelled like a tank.”

But this has always been the way since he arrived in Newmarket. Dal Pos recalls, wide-eyed, the gallop in February when he made up 20 lengths on his work companion and finished 10 lengths clear at the end. There was no surprise in the yard, then, when he won his maiden at Sandown at 40/1 in April.

Prague’s place in Saturday’s outstanding race is owed to a thumping triumph in the Group Two Joel Stakes at Newmarket last month, the £55,700 prize pot giving them the funds to take a gamble. Support is building for him around town, with many messages of goodwill coming the stable’s way.

‘I remember Amedeo and I looked at him the first time,’ said Cunha. ‘We were like “wow!” Someone said you had better get the vets in because we thought there must be something wrong. How could we have got him for £10,000? You’ve seen him yourself, he’s such a beautiful specimen, isn’t he?’

He really is. Victory would be transformative for Dal Pos and his wife, Federica, and it would be too for Arsenal-devotee Cunha, who arrived in Newmarket during Covid in November 2020 with his wife Taryn and children Ayrton and Jordan carrying just the bags they had travelled with from Durban.

Cunha had been a trainer in South Africa, a Group One winner no less, but called it quits in 2009 having trained to be a pilot. He wasn’t being sent horses, so took to the skies and might still have been up there had the pandemic not intervened. The airline he was flying for went bust.

‘Flying taught me discipline,’ he says. ‘We did loads of long-distance routes: Johannesburg to Jordan was one of the longest. My favourite was Johannesburg to Zanzibar, because Zanzibar is a lovely place. I went into Iraq during war time: Basra, Erbil, Kirkuk.

‘I had a contract for a few months for Royal Jordanian airlines, we flew to places in the Middle East you would never go. It was brilliant. I was on the 737-800 but I flew all the others. I was a lucky boy. When you have your pilot’s licence, you never stop studying.

‘I was wondering what to do, as initially I thought I would only not be flying for a couple of weeks. When I came over here, I had a chance to fly for Ryanair. That was an option. I’ve nothing against them and I fly with them all the time but I just felt like I needed a change.’

That change, a real sliding doors moment, led him to the headquarters of horseracing.

‘I will never forget it,’ he recalls. ‘It was freezing, we walked into the house and it was empty. Neither of us had jobs and we didn’t know what the future would hold. The smallest things would set you off – not having a tin opener or a cheese grater. But we have kept going.’

They certainly have. Cunha, whose phone persistently rings to the theme tune of Only Fools and Horses, reached his ambition for the year of training 30 winners on Wednesday, when Cartwheel was successful at Kempton and each one has vindicated his decision to turn away from a life in the air.

‘I came here and started training with three horses,’ he says, proudly. ‘What I’m doing now is a dream.’

* The QE II Stakes will be run at 16H15 SA Time on Saturday.

Question: Who was the first horse ever flown into South Africa?

The first horse to be flown into South Africa was Wilwyn (pictured), who was imported by Harry and Bridget Oppenheimer’s Mauritzfontein Stud in 1959.

That was the same year the Oppenheimer’s won their first July with Tiger Fish, who was by the first stallion they imported in 1951, Janus.

Four years after being imported Wilwyn was crowned South Africa’s Champion Sire, as a result of his top-class progeny, King Willow, Smash And Grab and Uncle Ben.

He became a fantastic broodmare sire too.

His daughters produced, among others, Sentinel, Hidden Magic, Faro and Canyon Creek.

Wilwyn’s son, Col. Pickering, is also the broodmare sire of the famous Horse Chestnut.