Fire Away Relative tops Keeneland Session

Cape Breeders

Legion Bloodstock went to $375 000 to acquire a Nyquist filly (Hip 2611) at Tuesday’s Book 4 Session at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

The filly was consigned by St George Sales. Offered as Hip 2611, she is out of Raise the Flag (Awesome Again). “From a physical standpoint, the first time we saw her, she was a queen to us,” explained Legion Bloodstock’s Kristian Villante. “She was the one we really wanted today. He added, “We showed her to Jayson and his son Jackson, they loved her too. Really the whole team really loved her.”

The filly is a granddaughter of GI Coaching Club American Oaks heroine My Flag, herself a half-sister to Grade I winners Makers Mark and Traditionally. That daughter of Easy Goer is also responsible for juvenile champion filly and MGISW Storm Flag Flying (Storm Cat).
My Flag, also victorious in the 1995 G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, is one of three Grade One winners produced by unbeaten Breeders’ Cup winning champion Personal Ensign (Private Account), with the latter, Broodmare Of The Year in 1996, also granddam of Wilgerbosdrift’s successful young sire Fire Away.

The latter’s outstanding sire War Front has also been in the news of late, with the son of Danzig responsible for Saturday’s G1 E. P. Taylor Stakes winner Full Count Felicia. The latter, now a triple graded stakes winner, is one of 25 G1 winners for her sire, with War Front also sire of the inform stallion Omaha Beach. Omaha Beach, winner of the G1 Arkansas Derby, G1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship and G1 Malibu Stakes, is responsible for Saturday’s G1 Johnnie Walker Natalma Stakes winner And One More Time.

War Front’s son Fire Away has made a flying start to his stud career, with Fire Away’s first two crops having unleashed five stakes winners and a further four stakes placed runners.

Betway Summer cup 2024: A Racing, Style, And Entertainment Experience

Johannesburg, South Africa, September 18, 2024

The Artistry in Sandton provided the perfect backdrop for the exciting announcement of the Betway Summer Cup 2024 – a premier event hosted by 4Racing and Betway. Scheduled for November 30, 2024, at the Turffontein Racecourse, this year’s event promises to be a dazzling celebration of racing, fashion, and entertainment.

The Betway Summer Cup, known affectionately as ‘The People’s Race,’ is now also ‘Africa’s Richest Race’ with an extraordinary R6 million prize fund up for grabs. Turffontein Racecourse is anticipated to draw interest from owners and trainers from around the country, as well as punters and curious visitors eager to try their luck. Following the momentum of an initiative introduced in 2023, a cash award of R20 000 will be given to each groom for the main race in the Betway Summer Cup 2024.

Jonathan Blumberg, Betway Africa, commented: “We at Betway are committed to delivering an exceptional racing experience in partnership with 4Racing. Horseracing continues to be a key area of growth for us, and we are incredibly proud to be part of the Betway Summer Cup, Gauteng’s most anticipated horseracing event and now the richest group race in Africa.”

This year’s theme ‘Silks in the City,’ brings a sophisticated fashion and racing twist to the event, playing on the lively and colourful jockey silks to inspire chic fashion and dynamic experiences throughout the day. The 2024 theme design cleverly uses the colours of the last five Summer up winners to spell out the word ‘SILKS’ – whilst also paying homage to the iconic Brixton Tower.

Fashion aficionados are set to showcase their finest interpretations of this dynamic theme on the Betway Summer Cup Black Carpet, adding an extra layer of glamour to the event. Elevating the fashion stakes, is Glamour South Africa, a key partnership for this year’s event. “When we heard the theme ‘Silks in the City,’ we immediately saw the fashion potential for Glamour. After a few discussions, we’re thrilled to partner with 4Racing and Betway. We’ll be shooting a campaign in the iconic Johannesburg CBD, bringing ‘Silks in the City’ to life with a blend of racing tradition and urban sophistication,” said the Editor-in-Chief, Nontando Mposo. The shoot will be featured in the November issue as the lead-up to Betway Summer Cup. And in December 2024, and January 2025 we’ll feature the fashion, racing and celebrity highlights.

Lifestyle and broadcast heavyweights, BET Africa (DStv channel 129) added their name to the impressive list of event partners for this year’s event. “The Betway Summer Cup is not only an event with great history, but also one that is trending in the right direction. The BET audience is youthful and geared towards sophisticated lifestyle and entertainment events, and the Betway Summer Cup fits the bill perfectly for a partnership,” said Monde Twala, Senior Vice President, General Manager and Lead, BET International.

The SABC radio and television platforms were welcomed back as a partner for 2024 Betway Summer Cup. The public broadcaster provided comprehensive lead-up and on-the-day coverage of the racing, fashion and lifestyle at the 2022 and 2023 Betway Summer Cup – and will look to do so again as ‘Silks In The City’ takes centre stage.

One of the most exciting announcements of the evening was the reveal of the official song of the Betway Summer Cup ‘City Lights’. “We’re delighted to have collaborated with Universal Records artist Ricky Tyler and upcoming artist Gigi, who created a summer anthem perfect for the Betway Summer Cup. The track perfectly brings together what the Betway Summer Cup is all about – a celebration of summer, racing, fashion, and entertainment.” said 4Racing CEO, Fundi Sithebe.

Mi Casa will be headlining the halftime show while the Summer Garden area at Turffontein will host an after-party featuring broadcaster Zweli Mbhele, Ms Cosmo, and the FunkItUp DJs, including Chrizz Beatz and Vin Deysel.

Tickets for the Summer Garden are priced at R350, including access to Turffontein, an exclusive garden-style marquee, food vendors, bars, and the after-party. To celebrate Heritage Month, tickets are available at a 50% discount with the code ‘4Heritage’ until September 30 at Ticketpro.

General Access tickets are R100, while full hospitality packages start at R2000 per person. For those seeking an immersive experience, Circa’s inner-track marquee offers an “on-the-rail” Summer Cup experience for R4850 per person, complete with a curated menu and premium bar service.

The Summer Cup is perfect for corporate year-end parties and businesses are encouraged to book their packages soon, before hospitality areas reach capacity.

All tickets are available at Ticketpro, visit www.ticketpro.co.za.

More exciting partner announcements will be taking place in the lead-up to The Summer Cup 2024.

Take part in the excitement on social media using the hashtags #BetwaySummerCup and #SilksInTheCity and follow @summercupracing on Instgram and X and Summer Cup Racing on
Facebook. For more event information and to purchase tickets, please visit https://betwaysummercup.co.za/.

For media interviews contact:

Shandre Habib

ShandreH@4Racing.com

083 307 6036

Thabo Mboweni

thabo@vumareputation.com

062 097 6530

Hewitson Gets Season Rolling With A Double

Lyle Hewitson has ambitions of breaking through into the top echelon in Hong Kong and after riding 50 wins in the 2022/2023 season his return of 40 last season was therefore a touch disappointing.

Can he make a breakthrough this season?

It seemed unlikely after scoring just one win in the first three meetings, but today he scored in the second race on the Manfed Man-trained favourite and he scored on a fancied horse in the third for the reigning Champion Trainer Francis Lui.

Lui went on to score a treble.

It was a mixed day for South African Jockey Academy graduates.

Karis Teetan also had a double, his first two wins of the season.

Luke Ferraris had six rides for just one third place and he also picked up a one day suspension for careless riding in the second race. On the plus side, in assessing the penalty, the Stewards determined the carelessness grade 2 and the consequences grade 2 and also considered his excellent race riding record. Ferraris has to take the suspension on the Sunday 6 October meeting.

Keagan de Melo’s frustrating season to date continued with just two rides, although he did get a fourth place on an outsider to pick up just his second cheque of the season in just seven rides in total.

The following report on the day’s racing appeared on the HKJC website:

Francis Lui strikes with Happy Valley treble

By Leo Schlink

19/09/2024 00:00

Lui’s title defence gathered impetus with Sweet Briar, Forever Glorious and Brave Star’s victories to vault into second place in the standings with four wins behind Danny Shum, who also has four wins but leads overall with more minor placings.

“It’s surprised me, to have a few winners. Brave Star likes to run fresh, Sweet Briar was dropping in class and Forever Glorious is an honest horse, but he needs the situation to suit. Hopefully, I can keep going,” Lui said.

While Lui took training honours, Michael Chang claimed the evening’s feature – the Class 2 Deep Water Bay Handicap (1650m) – with Woodfire Bro, who was ridden brilliantly by Keith Yeung.

“You cannot believe this, I did not think he could win,” Chang said after Yeung drove Woodfire Bro, now a six-time winner from 24 starts, past Flamingo Trillion and Red Hare King to give Chang and Yeung their first victories of the season.

Lyle Hewitson attributes a solid start to the 2024/25 Hong Kong season to a brief riding stint in Australia during the summer break after the South African posted a double.

Hewitson had 26 mounts in Australia, riding three winners in Victoria, before returning to Hong Kong where last season he slotted 40 wins to finish eighth in the jockeys’ championship behind seven-time champion Zac Purton.

With a race-to-race double aboard Manfred Man’s Golden Luck in the first section of the Class 4 Wong Chuk Hang Handicap (1200m) and Lui’s Sweet Briar in the third section of the Class 4 Wong Chuk Hang Handicap (1200m), Hewitson’s off-season cameo is proving beneficial.

“I had no stress coming back regards to my weight, so I had a clear mind getting back into track work and, of course, I had a base fitness there already,” Hewitson said of the Australian foray. “Having your eye in, too, really works.

“I’m only on three winners so far but last meeting I had three seconds, a third and a fourth and was always in the money. So, it’s proving fruitful and hopefully a springboard for the rest of the season.”

A HK$3.2 million purchase at the 2024 Hong Kong International Sale, Perfect General swept to victory in the second section of the Class 4 Wong Chuk Hang Handicap (1200m) for Caspar Fownes and Hugh Bowman.

“He’s a nice horse, he showed that with his run getting beat down the straight 1000 (last season) and he came through the summer break very nicely and his work was good leading into this race,” Fownes said.

By Zoustar out of Pins mare Honey Rider, Perfect General surged to the lead under Bowman and eventually fended off Chateauneuf by a neck in 1m 09.56s.

“I decided to run him at Happy Valley and bring him for some experience for a young horse, so it was good – I’m glad we got a winning result. He relaxed when he got to the front and he’s not a one-style horse,” he said.

“We felt today’s race, looking at the competitors, we thought we had a chance to cross and get to the rail, so I used that for my advantage but, going forward, I think this horse can be ridden anywhere. He’s quite versatile and he’s quite nice.”

Runner-up in last season’s jockeys’ championship to Purton (130) with 86 victories, Karis Teetan fired into action with a brace, landing his first win of this campaign with veteran Happy Tango’s narrow success in the Class 5 Tai Hang Handicap (1000m) for Me Tsui.

“I can’t complain, to be honest – it’s just Hong Kong and I just had to keep my head high and just keep on working,” Teetan said of a frustrating start. “Happy Tango is a tough, old 1000-metre horse and I’m just grateful to Me Tsui and his owners for letting me ride the horse with topweight (135lb) and he dug in nicely, the horse, and got his head down at the right time.”

The Mauritian quickly followed up with success on David Hayes-trained Star Contact in the Class 3 So Kon Po Handicap (1650m). By Star Turn, Star Contact has won four times over the course and distance.

Andrea Atzeni broke through for his win of the term with Forever Glorious’ short-head win in the Class 4 Hong Kong Country Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1800m) for Lui.

“It’s always nice to get the monkey off your back,” Atzeni said. “I had a few seconds tonight – I knew I had decent rides coming into the meeting tonight – but you need a bit of luck. It’s nice to get that first win.”

Brave Star provided Lui with the third leg of his treble in landing the Class 3 Island Handicap (1200m) under Vincent Ho.

Hong Kong racing continues at Sha Tin on Sunday (22 September) with the running of the HK$4.2 million G3 Celebration Cup Handicap (1400m) and the farewell ceremony of champion Golden Sixty.

Mgheera Fails To Reach Her Reserve

The progressive French sprinter Mgheera (Picture: Tattersalls Online)

Mgheera (Zoustar) failed to make her reserve today at the Tattersalls Online September Sale after a highest bid of 150,000 gns.

The Listed-winning and Group 2-placed sprinter was lot 64 and was consigned by Ecurie M. Scandella-Lacaille of France.

The four-year-old filly has had a wind operation before.

However, she is a leading French sprinter.

She has a current Timeform rating of 107 and is due to line up in the Group 3 Qatar Prix du Petit Couvert at Longchamp this Sunday. She also holds an entry to the Group 1 Prix de L’Abbaye on Sunday 6th October.

A daughter of international sire sensation ZOUSTAR, the sire of Group 1 winners in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, MGHEERA is out of the winning INVINCIBLE SPIRIT mare BLUE AEGEAN who herself is a half-sister to Group 3 Firth of Clyde Stakes winner DISTINCTIVE.

MGHEERA has proven to be a revelation for trainer Manon Scandella-Lacaille having joined the Marseille-based handler last summer. The filly has progressed through the ranks from handicap success to Listed victory in the Prix Hampton at Chantilly, and also finished second in the Group 2 Prix du Gros-Chene at the same course in June. She finished third on her most recent start in the Listed Prix du Cercle at Deauville behind subsequent Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes winner BRADSELL.

Gray And Yeni Could Be Worth Following

Can New Predator gelding Guerilla Warfare bounce back for in form St. John Gray and Muzi Yeni over a more suitable 1400m trip? (JC Photos)

There is an eight race meeting at the Vaal Classic track on Thursday and punters can get off to a good start with Red Legend.

The Lucky Houdalakis-trained Red Ray gelding is no great shakes but last time out over this 1600m trip down the straight at the Vaal he had an unfavourable low draw but still managed to stay on well all the way to the line and failed by a head. The form of that race has worked out quite well in the context of this race and he now has a plum draw of two. Hat Trick Or Treat was staying on well for second down the straight over 1400m last time so will be a lively threat. He has tried 1600m before and although finishing downfield was not disgraced in a stronger field than this. Pike Place is a limited but solid sort and could well run a place from a good draw.

In the second race 2 Future Date put up a gallant effort last Saturday when taken to the front from a wide draw at Turffontein Inside and she stayed on well to lose by 0,75 lengths with the rest of the field beaten 6,25 lengths and more. She looks to have some scope and St. John Gray and Muzi Yeni are both in form plus she now has a middle draw of five out of nine, although that last race was only five days ago so this race does come soon. Ambitious Lady has shown some ability and could be the main threat, although she has to overcome the widest draw of all. Bella’s Charm, Pass The Baton and Tik Tok Addiction can be considered for quartets.

In the third race over 1600m AnnwithanE is no great shakes but has dropped to a competitive mark, as she proved last time, and she gets a good opportunity here against an unispiring field. Perini Palace has improved lately but was well beaten over 1400m last time. However, interestingly, the blinkers in which she has done well over sprint trips, have now been put on over this longer trip, although the draw of six makes it tricky. Count Your Chances has 2,25 lengths to make up on AnnewithanE but is only half-a-kilogram better off. She could earn if breaking on terms. Free In Seattle has 2,75 lengths to find on AnnewithanE and is only half-a-kilogram better off. Gimme The Flame has a very wide draw but has the form to place.

In the next over 1800m Flag Bearer has been knocking on the door and went well for this 4kg claimer last time so he can finally do it over a suitable trip from a middle draw. Manz Knight went well for Strydom last time over 2000m and he now has a plum draw. Callaburn, Guy Alexander and Full Go also have chances.

In the fifth over 2000m Silky Jet won easily when first stepped up to middle distances and can follow up off a reasonable merit rating of 67. Ideal Future has been busy but has the ability to go close from a good draw. Angel’s Wish has ability over this trip and could be in the shake up from a fair draw. Play With Fire and Summerland are in with a chance in this line up too.

In the sixth over 1450m Guerilla Warfare has mixed it with much better horses and was not at all disgraced when beaten six lengths by Mount Pinatubo in his penultimate start over this distance cetegory. Mount Pinatubo went on to beat the Gr 1 runner up The Specialist over 1200m. Guerilla Warfare also represents an in form trainer and jockey and has a good draw but he does have to bounce back from a lacklustre performance over 1800m, although he might have found that race too far. Captain Jim is in good form and from a middle draw could be in the shake up over a suitable trip off a reasonable opening handicap mark and how Red Legend fares in the first will give a clue to his chances too. . Written In Stone has always had ability and won well with this same rider up last time so is interesting here. Southern Style is always thereabouts and is distance suited but does have a tricky draw. Kittyboys Girl could be involved too having taken well to blinkers recently.

In the seventh over 1000m Dontshootthebarman won well last time and can overcome a four point raise with Strydom staying aboard. Nkandla Gold has pace and is 2,5kg better off with Dontshootthebarman for a 1,75 length beating. On Cue has proved competitive off his current mark and should place again. Axel Collins ran well last time and has his third run after a layoff. John Wick won easily last time but does have a six point raise to overcome.

In the last over 1200m Twice As Wild ran a cracker last time over 1100m when leading and caught late and should be in the shake up. Dark Tide was a touch unlucky in that same race as he didn’t get a good start and was only beaten three lengths so he could go close from a good draw. Dancing Dora is consistent and should be thereabouts. Commander Of All has the form to earn here. Inafix should be ready to step up to 1200m now from a fair draw under S’Manga Khumalo.

Player36 Lands The Hollywoodbets Punters Challenge

Player36 does it! Hippocrates comes home smartly under Sporting Post-sponsored Tristan Godden (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)

Tristan Godden rode a confident race on the Stuart Ferrie-trained Hippocrates to round off a perfect afternoon at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday for a Durban-based gentleman who selected 8 straight winners to bank the all-or-nothing prize of R780 000 in the ever popular Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge.

Finishing ahead of 11 988 other contestants, player36 became the 114th Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge jackpot winner in just over four years and his choices were particularly good considering none of the other 11 988 conetstants even got seven winners.

Despite exhaustive attempts to contact the latest big winner player36, the Sporting Post was unable to get hold of the man who found the mixed bag of 8 winners on an afternoon where the Pick 6 paid a dividend of R7149 and the Place Accumulator a healthy R2098.

Whether player36 was watching the last race or not, he would not have raised a sweat as Tristan Godden allowed the 6yo chestnut Hippocrates to lope along before squeezing him at the 250m for a convincing victory over the chasing Stevie Gee and the consistent Lou Lou The Legend. Racing can be so straightforward – the last race saddle-cloth numbers being 1,2,3!

South Africa’s most popular horseracing competition of all time, the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge reached a millennial milestone on Sunday 1 September 2024 with the 1000th renewal at Hollywoodbets Scottsville of the rewarding game of fun and excitement that has become a way of everyday life for thousands of seasoned and new generation punters.

Player36 becomes the first jackpot winner post the 1000 meeting milestone.

But, and it’s an agonisingly big but, he unfortunately did not wager a minimum of R50 on the programmatically generated bet-slip, that would have seen his payout automatically doubled to R1 560 000.

As a straight all-on, his 8 winners would also have paid approximate odds of 870 000 to 1!

Sporting Post

Frikkie Greyling Gets Off The Mark

Frikkie Greyling leads in Hurricane Cat with Deryl Daniels up (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Frikkie Greyling had a winner on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly today (Wednesday), his first winner since renewing his training license.

Greyling and Deryl Daniels have a long association, having both been attached to the Glen Kotzen Summerveld yard for a number of years, and Daniels also works the Greyling string so it was fitting that he brought home the three-year-old Var filly Hurricane Cat.

The small filly had run three places before and always looked likely to enjoy the poly as she has a lot of early pace.

She did benefit from the favourite Sun In My Pocket losing many lengths at the start and as the latter was beaten only 2,65 lengths in the end it might have been a different result had she started on terms.

However, as it happened Hurricane Cat jumped well and Daniels used her pace from draw two to secure the rail.

She turned for home in the lead together with Blowin’ In The Wind and Queen Of Ice.

However, unlike at Hollywoodbets Scottsville where she was found wating late, she kept going well this time and won by a cosy 1,10 lengths.

Greyling is training out of Blue Sky Thoroughbreds’ second farm, which used to be called Yellow Star Stud, and had his first runner back in February.

He is training the Blue Sky Thoroughbreds’ racing string for the owners of the stud operation Tinus Gericke and Bruce le Roux, including the horses they own and bred individually and the ones they own and bred in partnership.

Hurricane Cat i a homebred of Tinus Gericke’s.

Today was only the 13th runner Greyling has had since starting out with Bluesky, although six of those runs have been by Hurricane Cat.

Greyling thanked a number of people after today’s success and admitted the win meant a lot to him.

It was not the first win of Greyling’s training career.

He won two races with National Icon in Dubai in the February and March of 2005 when training in partnership with Dean Maroun and his first official winner as a trainer was Mariner on 11 May 2005 at Scottsville, three days after being granted his license.

Greyling has a wealth of experience as a former jockey who has been assistant to some of the top trainers in the country, on top of being a former licensed trainer himself.

He came out of his time as an apprentice in 1992 and rode for about six more years before weight problems forced him to retire.

However, he was snapped up by Mike de Kock, for whom he had ridden a few winners.

Shortly after he joined De Kock the great Horse Chestnut arrived and Greyling became his chief workrider as well as his babysitter.

He slept at the yard before big races as part of the security measure surrounding the superstar.

He also travelled with him on his American sojourn.

Greyling also traveled to Dubai with the like of Victory Moon and Ipi Tombe.

It was shortly thereafter that he had a stint as a trainer in Dubai in partnership with Dean Maroun before coming back to SA and being granted his trainer’s license.

Greyling later worked as assistant to Glen Kotzen at Summerveld, where he ran the satellite yard in the off season, and he played a role in the July win of Big City Life.

He has also worked for Mike and Adam Azzie and others.

He is known as a fine horseman, who has a rapport with animals of all varieties, and he has a strong work ethic.