Turf Talk Newsletter – 18 September, 2025

Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship winner Direct Hit makes her reappearance on Friday at Fairview (Candiese Lenferna Photography) 

Alan Greeff is used to being a champion as the many-times top trainer in the East Cape, but he enters new territory this season and it starts on Friday when Direct Hit and My Best Shot make reappearances.

Halfway through last season Greeff had the belief that he had three two-year-old fillies, Golden Palm (Master Of My Fate), Direct Hit (Canford Cliffs) and Anotherdanceforme (Master Of My Fate), who could compete at the highest level and they turned out to be the three best two-year-old fillies in the country.

He also had the East Cape’s first Hollywoodbets Durban July runner for 21 years, My Best Shot (Fire Away).

So this season competing at the top level is not a hope for Greeff, but instead it is an expectation.

He will no doubt relish the extra pressure, for when there was the weight of expectation on his shoulders last season he delivered every single time.

However, the new territory is that he will now have strong classic contenders, which is a different ball game to two-year-old features.

The country will now be backing the Equus Champion two-year-old filly, the highly impressive Golden Palm, to deliver in classics like the Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas and in Breeders Cup “win and you’re in” races like the Gr 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes.

Golden Palm, whose four victories victories included the Gr 2 SA Nursery over 1160m, a ten length win in a Listed race over 1400m at Fairview and the Gr 1 Douglas Whyte Stakes over 1600m, was defeated only once and that was on debut by  stablemate Anotherdanceforme.

The latter went on to be unbeaten in five starts, which included two facile Listed victories over 1200m and a Gr 2 win over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville. She looks to be one of those horses who is at her best over 1400m, the no man’s land of horseracing. So her route will be difficult for Greeff to plan and there will no doubt be the uncertainty of whether to try her over a mile or stick to sprints.

Direct Hit’s route will likely be easier to plan as she is out of a Great Britain mare whose three wins were all over 1000m.

Direct Hit’s unbeaten run of four starts included a 7,25 length victory in a Maiden Juvenile Plate on debut over 1000m at Fairview, a 2,75 length win in the Gr 3 Splashout Cape Of Good Hope Nursery over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, a 4,75 length win in the Listed East Cape Nursey over 1200m at Fairview and a 1,10 length triumph in the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

On Friday she runs in a Pinnacle Stakes event for fillies and mares over 1200m at Fairview and has a tough task, because she has to carry level weights of 61kg with two 100 rated older females.

In a weight for age race she would be getting 6,5kg from them and in fact she is only the fourth best weighted runner in the race. Off her 109 rating she is officially 2kg under sufferance with Ellorix and Sweetie Darling and 1kg under sufferance with Montelana.

Therefore her 1/6 odds at time of writing are absolutely absurd.

Ellorix, Sweetie Darling and Montelana are consequently attractively priced at odds of 7/1, 25/2 and 25/2 respectively.

Later, the East Cape Horse Of The Year My Best Shot runs in the Non-Black Type Friendly City Stakes and he also has a tough task because off his 116 rating he has to carry level weights of 60kg with the 120-rated Royal Aussie and with the 116-rated Bingwa.

The four-year-old is thus officially 3kg under sufferance with Royal Aussie and 1kg under sufferance with Bingwa in the 1800m event.

However, his 11/10 price is realistic because Royal Aussie will be stretched by the trip and Bingwa is eight years old and probably past his best.

Few, if any, farms have enjoyed more notable success at the upcoming Two-Year-Old Sale than has Normandy Stud. The farm’s flagbearers from this auction include the Gr 1 winning sprinters Rio Querari and Sergeant Hardy, with a strong supporting cast of high-class stakes winners. For a small stud, it is safe to say that Normandy Stud punches well above their weight!

Oscar Foulkes is confident that buyers will like what they see in Normandy’s draft for this year’s Two-Year-Old Sale and had the following comments to make about his string:

Lot 28: Lady Nancy – Legislate – Lady Wylie (filly):
Named for Britain’s first woman MP to take her seat, Lady Nancy Astor, this filly is out of a half-sister to Sergeant Hardy. Bred on the hugely successful Sadler’s Wells/Danehill cross, she is super athletic and bred for the classics.

Lot 37: Russian Fort – Elusive Fort – Matushka (colt):
The final foal of Mother Russia’s full-sister. He’s a big, rangy horse who has taken time to fill into his frame.

Lot 41: America First – The United States – Miss Putin (filly):
Her parentage presented an interesting naming opportunity, and we hope we’ve delivered on the challenge. She’s the first foal of a talented black-type performer. She is inbred to the great mare, Urban Sea, a pattern that has been hugely successful in Europe. She’s always had presence and has impressed with her athleticism.

Lot 50: Puhpowee – Erupt – Pelaya (colt):
His name is the Native American word that describes the force which causes mushrooms to pop up overnight (is that an eruption?). With his plain bay coat, there is nothing flash about him, but he is every bit a racehorse. His dam produced the talented Ocean Warrior by Coup De Grace and her three-year-old, Miami Summer, ran a cracker on debut over 1250m.

Lot 95: Bicameral – Legislate – Twice As Nice (colt):
Out of a half-sister to Mother Russia, he is a classic example of the family. He’s neat, well put together and moves like a dream.

Lot 97: Profumo – Legislate – Two Hearts (colt):
It was a blessing in disguise that we had to withdraw him from the January sale. He has absolutely blossomed as he’s matured. Not only is he a magnificent, eye-filling individual, but he also takes to the track as if he owns it. The first foal of his dam, a daughter of the top race filly Joshua’s Princess, is a winner since the catalogue was printed.

Lot 108: Sans Serif – Futura – Yekaterina (filly):
As streamlined as the sans serif font after which her sire is named, this filly is very racy. Her dam has a 100% record, with some talented performers. Like her dam, and most other representatives of the Mother Russia family, “size” is a comment that many will make. Mother Russia’s performances on the track gave her greater stature than she had in the flesh – take a look at the attached lead-in pic to see just how tiny she was.

Lot 119: Line Call – Legislate – Azarenka (colt):
This mid-November colt is only now starting to fill into his frame. He’s a super mover, by one of the country’s best stallions, out of a stakes-place mare with a 100% record.

For more information on this draft, please contact Oscar on (083) 297 3402

All horses purchased off the RCS Two-Year-Old Sale qualify for the RCS Slipper. The Slipper is run over 1200m for qualifying 2yo graduates of Race Coast Sales. This lucrative race will be run in mid-April for a purse of R3 Million in 2026 at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Miami Mountain (Canford Cliffs) gives Callan Murray a quick double and owners Hollywood Racing the first leg of a quick double (JC Photos)

Callan Murray and apprentice Girish Samo-Burthia both rode doubles at the Vaal today, while Lucky Houdalakis sent out a double.

Champion owners Hollywood Racing also enjoyed a double.

Murray’s second winner was the Mike de Kock-trained Miami Mountain, who is the second horse to frank the form of the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Flower Alley gelding Banyan, who runs in the first race at Turffontein Inside on Saturday.

Miami Mountain is by Canford Cliffs out of the Gr 1 Allan Robertson winner Miss Florida (Captain Al) and this three-year-old colt is not big but has substance and a nice stride. He won going away and should win more races.

He provided Hollywood Racing with the first of a quick double and the champion owners’ tally for the season is already 25 wins.

Murray is on 14 wins and has achieved it at a strike rate of 16.09%.

Samo-Burthia is on 8 wins at 20%.

Craig Zackey had a single winner and is now on 32 wins at 15.46%, eight clear of second-placed Calvin Habib, who also had a single winner, and nine clear of Serino Moodley, who had a blank.

Houdalakis is on five wins at 13.51%.

Komati River Gives Reigning Champion Sire Vercingetorix his second double in two days (JC Photos)

Maine Chance Farms’ champion sire Vercingetorix struck twice at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Wednesday and he repeated the feat a day later at the Vaal.

It was a good response to the three-times champion sire Gimmethegreenlight’s four-timer on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Durbanville.

Gimmethegreenlight had gone into Thursday’s meeting marginally ahead of Vercingetorix on stakes earnings for the season, R2,440,783 to R2,330,241, but that has likely changed now after the two wins of Vercingetorix’s progeny at that meeting.

The son of Silvano, Vercingetorix, has had 110 runners this season, who have had 141 runs between them, and he has had 24 winners of 26 races.

Gimmethegreenlight has had 122 runners,who have had 175 runs between them, and he has had 21 winners of 25 races.

Vercingetorix enjoyed a 100% strike rate on Wednesday with his only two runners both ending up in the winners box.

Vercingetorix struck first when his son King Celtillus won the Tote For The Win Maiden Plate (1800m).

The Gareth Van Zyl trained gelding kept finding in front and, under S’Manga Khumalo, won by a length and a half.

Bred by the Gary Player Stud, who own King Celtillus in partnership with Messrs P M Chetty & R Chetty, E A Budlender & P R Rencken, King Celtillus is out of the Ideal World mare Josephine Baker.

Vercingetorix’s second success on Wednesday came when his daughter Ubukhwebezana stormed home to win the Lucky Fish Diamond Riches Class 4 (F and M) (1400m) by just over three parts of a length. Trained by MJ Odendaal, and ridden by Sean Veale, the inform Ubukhwebezana has won three of her last four starts and five times overall.

Owned by Hollywood Racing, the Maine Chance Farms bred Ubukhwebezana is out of the Noordhoek Flyer mare Felicity Flyer.

On Thursday Vercingetorix had no fewer than nine runners.

The winners were the Mike and Adam Azzie-trained Majulun and the Tony Peter-trained Komati River.

Majulun is a Klawervlei Stud-bred four-year-old gelding out of the unraced but well related Galileo mare Zippy Zitter and he cost R625,000 at the BSA KZN Yearling Sale.

Majulun battled in his first five starts, having begun racing in November last year, but he finished third over 1800m sixth time out and he won today in his seventh start over 1700m under 4kg claimer Girish Samo-Burthia.

The Tony Peter-trained four-year-old filly Komati River is a homebred of Advocate Altus Joubert’s and won for the third time today in just her 12th start.

Vercingetorix has some well bred lots on offer at the upcoming Two Year Old Sale.

His draft includes a full-sister (Lot 91) to Listed Irridescence Stakes winner Ukuduma, and a full-sister (Lot 132) to G1 World Sports Betting Cape Fillies Guineas winner Chansonette.

Last year’s Arc winner Bluestocking with his South African groom and workrider, Eric Ngwane (Racingfotos.com)

The Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe is probably regarded as the world’s most prestigious horse race and this year’s renewal is just over two weeks away.

Here is a look at some interesting facts about the race:

racingandsports.com.au

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 race run under Weight For Age conditions for three year olds and up (but not geldings) at Longchamp conducted by France Galop.

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is run over 2400m. It was first run in 1920 and was won by Comrade.

It is the most famous race in France and one of the biggest in world racing alongside the Derby, Melbourne Cup, Japan Cup, Dubai World Cup and Kentucky Derby.

In marketing the race, it was once described this way – “Ce n’est pas une course, c’est un monument” – “It’s not a race, it’s a monument”.

It is only relatively young by European standards being just under 100 years old. The Arc was born just after WWI and celebrated the victory and the historic memorial.

The race was not run at the start of WWII then two editions were run at Le Tremblay.

Eight horses have won it twice – Ksar, Motrico, Corrida, Tantieme, Ribot, Alleged, Treve and Enable.

Several times the race has been won on protest including Priori, Saint Crespin and Rainbow Quest.

Frankie Dettori has the most Arc wins with six including some champion 3yos like Lammtarra, Golden Horn and Enable.

Andre Fabre holds the record as trainer with eight with his most recent being Waldgeist in 2019 following on from Rail Link in 2006.

There have been winners trained out of five countries – France (69), Great Britain (17), Ireland (8), Italy (6) and Germany (3).

Australian horse Strawberry Road finished fifth in the 1984 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe while So You Think (then with Aidan O’Brien) ran fourth in 2011.

Since 1994, there have 30 Arcs with the three year olds winning 19 of them.

Urban Sea won the 1993 edition and she produced the likes of Galileo, Black Sam Bellamy and the mighty Sea The Stars who also won the Arc in 2009.

Enable chased history in 2019 but was beaten in the last 100m by Waldgeist. She tried again in 2020 but it was too much on the very heavy track.

One of the biggest surprises in Arc history came in 2021 in a field which was considered one of the greatest depth wise. On a bog track the German 4yo Torquator Tasso (80-1) surged out wide run over that star-studded field.

The 2016 and 2017 editions were run at Chantilly as Longchamp was under its long term redevelopment.

The last non-French winner was Bluestocking in 2024 for Ralph Beckett.

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was worth €5,000,000 in 2024.

Notable winners of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe include Bluestocking (2024), Ace Impact (2023), Alpinista (2022), Torquator Tasso (2021), Sottsass (2020), Enable (2017/2018), Found (2016), Golden Horn (2015), Treve (2013/2014), Workforce (2010), Sea The Stars (2009), Zarkava (2008), Rail Link (2006), Sinndar (2000), Montjeu (1999), Peintre Celebre (1997), Helissio (1996), Lammtarra (1995), Carnegie (1994), Urban Sea (1993), Suave Dancer (1991), Dancing Brave (1986), Sagace (1984), Alleged (1977/1978), Allez France (1974), Mill Reef (1971), Sea Bird (1965), Ballymoss (1958), Ribot (1955/1956), Tantieme (1950/1951), Djebel (1942), Corrida (1936/1937), Brantome (1934), Motrico (1930/1932), Pearl Cap (1931) and Ksar (1921/1922).

The 2024 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was won by Bluestocking from Aventure and Los Angeles.

Click here to read more about “The Arc”

East Cape Horse Of The Year makes his reappearance on Friday (Pauline Herman Photography)

Fairview Turf Friday Formguides and Selections

R1 (2) AWAY WITH RED has been consistent recently and will be a strong contender. (1) AMERICAN MATADOR ran well in the last start and is overdue to win, include in everything. (3) BOMBER STREAM is capable of much better, he should be involved and should be respected as he makes his provincial debut. (12) MONEY GALORE is holding good enough form and has scope to go well. (Devonne Govender 2-1-3-12).

R2 (1) DIRECT HIT has been very impressive, she oozes class and will take an absolute power of beating here, banker in everything. (3) SWEETIE DARLING is capable of much better and that last run is best ignore, she can place at best. (2) ELLORIX won a gutsy race in her last start and is another that should get into the placings. (4) MONTELENA is a very honest type and must be included in the quartets. (Devonne Govender 1-3-2-4).

R3 (15) FULL OF MAGIC is holding consistent and will have a strong winning chance. (10) ICE CAP is another who has always been there in the mix and will be a big challenger. (1) JAPANESE GARDEN won well when shedding her maiden and has scope to go well. (13) JUST ONE KISS has plenty scope to go well, she wasn’t far in her last run and should be respected here. (Devonne Govender 15-10-1-13).

R4 (7) SPORTS FAN ran a cracker in the last start, she has plenty scope to continue progressing hence she is the top choice. (2) SMASHING is holding consistent form and looks the main danger to the top selection, she is very capable on her day and needs to be respected. (1) FIERY COUNTESS won a gutsy race in the last start, she cracks the ace draw and will be in the firing line. (5) ENCHANTING LADY hasn’t been far in recent starts and could add value to the quartets. (Devonne Govender 7-2-1-5).

R5 (7) BEER WITH THE BOYS is holding form and will be in the firing line from the ace draw. (2) BACK FOR MORE ran a cracker in the last start and a repeat will see him challenging strongly. (4) STRANGE MAGIC is never far back and could represent value with a top rider aboard. (1) ALWAYS SHINING is capable of much better, although he jumps from a tough draw he has a top rider up and must go into larger perms. (Devonne Govender 7-2-4-1).

R6 (8) OUTBACK EXPRESS is knocking on the door and looks set to run a cracker. He was narrowly beaten in the last start and will go extremely close to winning. (1) BOMBER BAY jumps from the ace draw however has had many chances. She will need to be respected with a top rider up. (4) SEMPRE BELLA is another who is holding form and very capable of running a big race, include in everything. (6) DARLING GIRL ran a much improved race in the last start and must go into the quartets. (Devonne Govender 8-1-4-6).

R7 (3) MY BEST SHOT packs plenty of class, he clearly may have needed his last start back in the province and is expected to bounce back with a bang, banker in all bets. (1) ROYAL AUSSIE ran a cracker in his last start and another honest run is expected however he will need to lift to beat the top selection. (2) BINGWA is never far back and could get a lot closer so he needs to be respected. (8) LANCIAFIAMME is holding good consistent form and is on the up, he meets a strong field but could get into the action. (Devonne Govender 3-1-2-8).

R8 (8) GOLDEN GREY is holding solid form and looks very tough to beat from the best draw. (3) GRAND ALLEGRO is another who has been consistent and is expected to be in the firing line. (1) NEW MEXICO was a sudden improver in the province and is expected to go well again. (2) FRENCH FLAME ran well in the last start and will be in the mix once again. (Devonne Govender 8-3-1-2).

With plenty of mares by German-bred champion sire Silvano active, coupled with German-bred Querari being a perennial top five sire, there are opportunities to buy quality German inbred thoroughbreds.

Germany have a proud record of three Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winners.

That might not sound impressive, but in fact only five countries have produced Arc winners, France, Britain, Ireland, Italy and Germany.

It should be remembered too that Arc winner Urban Sea’s female line was largely German and she not only produced Arc winner Sea The Stars, but also Galileo, whose influence on the Arc winner’s role has been vast.

So it might be worth looking for some German inbreeding at the forthcoming Race Coast Sales Two-year-old Sale.

Last season’s Gr 1 wfa Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes winner, the Sean Tarry-trained Cosmic Speed, is by Querari out of Silvano mare Cosmic Dream.

There was also the Candice Bass-trained Rainbow Lorikeet, who is by Querari out Silvano mare Nightingale, and she won a Listed race, two Gr 3s and a Gr 2.

From the same crop as her is Bavarian Beauty, who is also by Querari out of a Silvano mare, and she won the Gr 1 Thekwini as a two-year-old.

The only Querari out of a Silvano mare opportunity for buyers at the two-year-old sale is lot 58, a Maine Chance Farms-bred filly out of an unraced full-sister to Pyromaniac, three-parts sister to Native Ruler and half-sister to Passchendaele.

Vercingetorix and Hawwaam are by Silvano and there might be some opportunities to buy their progeny out of Querari mares at forthcoming sales.

Which two jockeys hold the record for the most Kentucky Derby wins?

The picture gives a clue to the answer