Last year’s Betway Summer Cup winner Royal Victory was the highest earning horse of the 2023/2024 season. He also won the Gr 1 World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge and had season’s earnings of  R4,625,250. (Picture: JC Photos)

4Racing press release

The countdown is on for the 2024 Betway Summer Cup. Continuing to lead the charge for horse racing in South Africa, Betway and 4Racing are proud to announce an increase in the 2024 Betway Summer Cup to a record-breaking R6 million.

The increase in prize money makes this the richest race in Africa and further highlights Betway’s commitment to sport in the continent, while recognising and celebrating both the sport and the country’s rich history, alongside being committed to being a key driver in the sport’s growth.

“This is the third year in partnering with 4Racing for the Betway Summer Cup – a renowned event where racing heritage meets urban sophistication. Our commitment to this relationship underscores our dedication to both the sport of horse racing and the vibrant community that it engages. The R6 million stakes this year (up from R5m in 2023) is a thrilling incentive not only in making history, but also set to elevate excitement among stakeholders and spectators alike. We look forward to showcasing South Africa’s best race horses, fashion and entertainment taking place at Turffontein Race course, on 30 November 2024” said Jonathan Blumberg – Betway Africa

In addition to the stakes, the grooms with horses in the Betway Summer Cup race, who are also an integral part to horseracing and particularly on the day, will also be acknowledged for their role and automatically will receive a R20 000 prize. “Grooms are the lifeblood of the sport; their dedication for and love of horses, knows no bounds, so we want to celebrate them and thank them for their continued hard work in the sport” Blumberg added.

“The Betway Summer Cup is distinctly Joburg and with Betway’s support, we have now transformed the People’s Race into Africa’s Richest Race with an extraordinary R6 million stakes. This stake will no doubt attract interest from owners and trainers from around the country. Our mission is to also gather people from all walks of life to experience the glamour and adrenaline of what promises to be a phenomenal race day. This event is the start of Gauteng’s festive season – and what better way to do it than celebrating with Silks In the City – the theme for the 2024 Betway Summer Cup,” remarked Fundi Sithebe, 4Racing CEO”.

Horseracing fans and the general public looking forward to a fantastic day in the Gauteng summer and eager to secure their spot, can visit Ticketpro to purchase general access tickets from just R100 as well as the various Hospitality Packages. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details. For additional information and ticket purchases, please visit https://www.betwaysummercup.co.za/.

Lady Christine Laidlaw of Khaya Stables leads in her homebred Dean Kannemeyer-trained Gimmethegreenlight colt Green With Envy after he had won the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby under Craig Zackey (Picture: Wayne Marks) 

Cape Racing

The star colt Green With Envy has been named as Cape Racing Horse of the Year at their annual awards gathering at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday 17 August, headlining a day where 16 different category winners were honoured.

Green With Envy was a double-winner, also being named Champion Three-Year-Old Colt. He won five times in the 2023/24 season in the colours of owner Lady Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables and is trained by Dean Kannemeyer.

Green With Envy’s three-year-old season was dotted with wins, including the Gr3 Schweppes Politician Stakes, Gr1 SplashOut Cape Deby and the Gr1 Daily News 2000 and he started favourite for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Other category winners included two Grade One winners who featured earlier in the season. Chares Dickens put a full stop to his racing career in style when winning the Gr1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate before being retired to stud, while Beach Bomb won the Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes before being exported to the United States to continue her career.

In paying tribute to the winners, Justin Vermaak, Cape Racing: executive racing & bloodstock, said: “Well done to all the winners and indeed to everyone who contributed to the success of the 2023/24 Cape Racing season. The winners are recognised by the panel as the best in their categories and they represent some of the finest in their fields in the country.

“Particular mention must be made of Champion Trainer Justin Snaith, Champion Jockey Richard Fourie and Champion Owner Drakenstein Stud, all of whom won Equus awards earlier in the week which saluted them as leaders in their fields.

“Cape Racing is fortunate to oversee the best of the best when it comes to the equine racing industry and while we reflect on the 2023/24 season that has ended, albeit it in the midsts of one of the wettest Cape winters on record, we want to thank all our patrons and staff and the public for making it the success that it was. We are working hard to ensure that 2024/25 will be just as memorable and successful as a region,” Vermaak said.

Double category winners on the day were Green With Envy and Charles Dickens, while trainer Andre Nel enjoyed success with owners and breeders Plattner Racing when they won Champion Older Female with Saartjie and Champion Stayer with Master Redoute.

ALL THE CATEGORY WINNERS

Juvenile Male: One Stripe

Juvenile Female: Kinda Wonderful 

Three-Year-Old Male: Green With Envy

Three-Year-Old Female Beach Bomb

Older Male: Charles Dickens

Older Female: Saartjie

Champion Sprinter: Surjay

Champion Miler: Charles Dickens

Champion Middle Distance: Double Superlative

Champion Stayer: Master Redoute

Champion Work Rider: William Bambiso (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Champion Jockey: Richard Fourie

Champion Trainer: Justin Snaith

Owner of the Year: Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs GA Rupert)

Horse of the Year: Green With Envy

Tony Peter after landing the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes with Main Defender last season (Picture: JC Photos)

Trainer Tony Peter and family have been the subject of rumours and inuendo since events on Betway Summer Cup day last year.

On December 23 the National Horseracing Authority confirmed in a media release that the investigation carried out by O’Sullivan Brosnan & Associates, surrounding the events that transpired at the stables of Tony Peter on Saturday 25 November 2023, had been completed.

The NHA said Messrs A P Peter (Trainer), P A Peter (Assistant Trainer) and M D Peter (Stable Employee) would be required to answer to charges at an Inquiry which was set down for Wednesday, 24 January 2024.

However, this inquiry is still dragging on and has just been postponed again until October.

This has prompted the Peter family to issuing the statement below.

We have been inundated with enquiries regarding the delay in the finalization of the enquiry regarding the events of Summer Cup Day, which until to date we have not commented on.

However, as a result of recent events, we feel that it is necessary, and without going into the merits of the case to state the following.

It is in the punters interest that we clarify the present situation.

We have been subjected to the most unfair and intense public scrutiny, including videos that have been edited and commented on by anonymous sources, who clearly lack the courage to identify themselves. This has been done in an effort to fully deal with what transpired in the hearing and we will make the entire transcripts available for anybody who wishes to read them.

We would have at all times been happy to keep the betting public and other industry stakeholders reliably informed regarding the enquiry proceedings and even from the outset requested the NHA that hearings be made public, including livestreaming. This request was denied by the NHRA.

We ask you, the reader, to consider, that if we were guilty of any offence why would we request the streaming of the hearing? It is not our doing to keep these proceedings as secretive as possible and invite the NHRA to make all the transcripts of the enquiry available to the public on their website.

This, we believe would stop the rumour mill and possibly assist all of those punters who lost money on Summer Cup Day when our horses were scratched to better understand what actually transpired. At this time the NHRA is still busy presenting its case, and we have not begun to present our case.

The latest delay at the hearing, (which is still subject to a ruling by the panel and as such, we cannot go into actual details thereof) was caused by a blatant and admitted contravention of one of the most basic and honoured rules regarding witnesses under cross-examination, which necessitated an application by us to the panel.

At all times we have attempted to resolve this matter as speedily as possible. The matter has now been postponed until 10 and 11 October 2024.

All The Equus Award winners for the 2023/2024 season (Picture: Wayne Marks)

The Equus Awards have come and gone and there was no controversy about the winners this year as every one of them was a largely expected result.

However, to avoid future controversy there should be clarification on the situation where the three-year-old restricted races do not count towards the distance awards points tables: does that mean winners of three-year-old Gr 1s who are not on the points table are ignored by the panelists in the discussion for the award? It seems in some instances they are, but in other instances they are not.

Last year there was much controversy when See It Again lost out on the Equus Middle Distance award despite having won the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby, the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and finished second in both the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July and Gr 1 weight for age HKJC Champions Cup.

Those were three-year-old events but it was pointed out by pundits that he had in any case performed a few lengths better than the award recipient Winchester Mansion in the July as he had finished 0,25 lengths behind him on a massive 5,5kg terms worse than weight for age.

This year many considered the middle distance award to be a straight duel between Royal Victory and Green With Envy, the only two horses who had won two Gr 1s each over middle distances, although most of those expected Royal Victory to get it and he duly did deservedly win the award.

Like See It Again, Green With Envy had won both the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby and the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and he also won the Gr 3 Schweppes Politician Stakes.

However, Royal Victory had made history by becoming the first out of province horse to win both of Johannesburg’s biggest races, the Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup and the Gr 1 weight for age Premier’s Champions Challenge, and in fact he was the first out of province horse to win the latter race.

Royal Victory and Green With Envy met in the July and at the weights it was Royal Victory who performed better. However, on paper the margin he performed better by was only a neck, so was pretty much negligible.

So how is it that Green With Envy was not even a nominee for the middle distance award?

The answer can probably be found in the following two criteria for the awards:

The final list of nominees for each award will be derived from the final points standings amongst the relevant categories. The panel of judges will then use the tables derived from the points system as a guide when making their final decision.

However, the four distance-related categories (Champion Sprinter, Miler, Middle Distance, and Stayer) will EXCLUDE performances in Age-Group restricted races, and points for these categories will only accrue from races where all ages may participate.

Green With Envy did not make it on to the points table due to the latter criterium.

However, when it seemed last year that See It Again was not going to make it on to the points table (he eventually made it into fifth place courtesy of his July second and Gr 1 HKJC Champions Cup second) it was explained by an Equus Awards spokesman, “The Equus Committee has the option, however, once the final season points tables are concluded, to include certain horses in distance categories despite their low(er) points tallies, if the committee is of the opinion that doing so is justified. Charles Dickens in the Miler category, See It Again in the Middle-Distance category and Son of Raj may need such favour.”

This season, like Son Of Raj last season, the Gr 1 SA Derby winner Purple Pitcher did make it as a nominee for the Equus Stayers award, despite not being on the points table.

However, by doing so are the committee saying that Green With Envy’s two Gr 1 wins in races restricted to three-year-olds were not worthy of a nomination?

What makes that more absurd is that the Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Oriental Charm did make it as a nominee and Green With Envy had not only beaten him by 3,25 lengths in the Cape Derby, but on paper he performed better than him in the July too.

The blame for the Middle Distance blunder last year was put on the criterium that the public vote held a third of the weight for the award.

The public vote was removed this year, although it was not stated in the criteria this year why it was removed.

However, even with the public vote removed the winner of the country’s biggest handicap, The July, once again emerged ahead of the country’s stand out middle distance three-year-old in the middle distance category as Oriental Charm was at least a nominee.

Green With Envy’s performances over middle distances were so outstanding that they contributed to him being the Equus Champion Three-year-old.

As this article is only about nominees, it might be viewed as petty, but these are important awards and there needs to be clarification on how the criteria works: on one hand the proven best middle distance three-year-old in the land is not promoted by the committee into a position as nominee but the winner of the SA Derby, based on just that one run, is promoted as a nominee for the stayers award.

To avert future controversy this needs to be transparently clarified.

There is also the confusion about why some prominent points scorers were ignored as nominees.

For example, Cousin Casey was second on the points table in the Older Male category, but did not appear as a nominee. He had little chance of winning the award as he did not win a race, but making him a nominee would have acknowledged the great season he had with three Gr 1 seconds and two Gr 2 seconds. It would have also made the weight the points table carries and the weight the panel opinion carries a touch clearer.

A picture taken three years ago of Kingman colt T’Challa with his SA-bred mother Ebony Flyer (Jet Master) (via Meta)

The Andrew Balding-trained Team Valor-owned T’Challa, a Kingman colt out of the SA-bred star Ebony Flyer, made it a career second win in his fifth start at Newbury on Saturday.

The three-year-old colt enjoyed the step up to a mile and two furlongs, having only ever raced over a mile before.

Under Oisin Murphy he made all carrying 8 stone 13 pounds off an official rating of 85.

He always looked to be doing enough and won by three-quarters of a length from Houstonn, who is by SA-based stallion Expert Eye.

He returned odds of 5/1 and earned a cheque of £15,702.

Ebony Flyer was one of the most talented fillies to ever race in South Africa, but was unable to reach her full potential due to a breathing issue.

The Jet Master filly was one of only two horses to ever beat the great Igugu on South African soil, doing so in the Gr 1 Cape Fillies Guineas in December 2010.

She had to have a tie back operation after a subsequent third place finish in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate, which meant she missed the Champions Season in her three-year-old career.

However, she came back to win more races, including the Gr 1  Majorca Stakes and Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint.

She was trained by Justin Snaith and raced by Team Valor.

She has been a bit of a disappointment at stud.

Her best runner to date has been Cot Campbell (Trippi), who was bred by Drakenstein Stud and Team Valor in partnership and raced by that partnership too. He won one race and finished fourth in both the Gr 1 Cape Guineas and CTS 1600 and was third in a Gr 3 before departing for Hong Kong, where he was unsuccessful.

Ebony Flyer’s son Captain Of Tortuga by Captain Al won four times.

Ebony Flyer also had a three time-winning Silvano filly called Black Silver who was a Listed runner up.

Her only other runner in the UK to date besides T’Challa has been a Dark Angel filly who ran one fourth in six starts.

T’Challa was officially bred by Gaynor Rupert’s UK breeding operation Cayton Park Stud in partnership with Team Valor and Cad Racing.

King Pelles (Duke Of Marmalade) makes it a double on the day for both trainer Gareth van Zyl and jockey Grant van Niekerk and a treble on the day for two of his owners, Gary Player and David MacLean (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)

Kwa-Zulu Natal Champion trainer Gareth Van Zyl has endured a lean and frustrating time with his small satellite string in the Western Cape, but he bounced back with a fine race-to-race double at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday.

The good-looking Otto Luyken had signalled a return to form in his last start back in June and he stepped up nicely under a powerful ride from Aldo Domeyer to edge out Blue Bay in the sixth race, a Class 3 Handicap over 1800m. Greg Bortz and Gina Goldsmith bought Otto Luyken for Gareth Van Zyl during the course of last year, but the 5yo son of Flower Alley has taken time to notch up his third career victory. Van Zyl followed up in the seventh race, a Cape C Stakes over 2000m, when his charge King Pelles, a desperately unlucky loser behind Sudden Song two weeks ago, strolled home to a bloodless victory under Grant Van Niekerk.

King Pelles is part-owned by Gary Player and Dave MacLean and the pair had two winners earlier in the afternoon, both in the famous Player white and black silks. Plus Four (10/1) returned from an 8-month absence to take out the third race, a Maiden Plate over 1400m, in the manner of a horse who could be worth following. The favourite Cumbre Vieja (13/10) tried to make all the running but he had no answer to Plus Four’s surging run from near the back of the field. Trainer Candice Bass-Robinson was clearly impressed by the performance and is upbeat about the future for the 4yo son of Vercingetorix.

Player and McLean will be equally pleased that Holding Thumbs appears to have turned the corner after several indifferent efforts. Trained by Glen Kotzen and ridden by Dennis Schwarz, Holding Thumbs (9/4) was a dominant winner of the fifth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1600m, drawing clear of the opposition to win by the proverbial country mile.

Brett Crawford’s good form continued at the rain-affected meeting with two excellent winners in the second and fourth races. Captain West (28/10) took up the running shortly after the start of the second race, the R200 000 Restricted Maiden Plate over 1250m, and thereafter the 3yo son of One World was never in danger of defeat. Runner-up On My Honour caught the eye on debut and he will improve a ton with the benefit of this run under his belt. Festival Chic (28/10) was an equally impressive winner of the fourth race, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1400m. Having only her third career outing, the daughter of William Longsword beat her stable companion National Disgrace a tad cosily and there should be further improvement to come.

Justin Snaith saddled the exacta in the opening event, a Maiden Plate (F&M) over 1000m, with the lesser fancied of his pair, Elizabeth Grace, proving too speedy for stable companion Champagne Kisses. From A Distance (7/10) was a big disappointment here, but may be worth another chance over a touch further as she appeared to be run off her feet in the early stages of this dash.

Following the running of the seventh race, the jockeys lodged a successful protest due to rapidly deteriorating track conditions and the last three races were abandoned.

Green Flash has been tipped to bounce back to winning ways in the 6th race despite Gavin Lerena having to ride 1kg overweight (JC Photos).

A fillies and mares MR 92 handicap over 1000m, A Middles Stakes event  and a fillies and mares MR 90 handicap over 2000m have ensured there are some good horses turning out at Tuesday’s Vaal Classic track meeting.

In the MR 92 handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m, the talented Green Flash is reunited with Gavin Lerena who won easily on her when she made her debut over 1160m at Turffontein Standside. She is not the easiest ride because she tends to take too strong a hold if covered up, but Lerena should know how to get the best out of her over her optimum trip. However, he does have to ride 1kg overweight. Mist In Scotland showed her talent in her penultimate when easily winning but she was given an eight point raise and is none too reliable. However, on the plus side that win was over this course and distance and she has two close seconds over this course and distance to her name too. Virginia Beach won over this trip last time with first time blinkers on and off a two point higher mark should be right there again. War Queen has a good record over this trip and should be in the shake up. Golden Aspen is capable of a flying finish so can’t be written off as a fast 1000m might suit her.

In the Middle Stakes event the Paul Matchett yard send out the consistent Law Of Success whose last win was over this trip down the straight. This Wylie Hall mare is the second best in at the weights and is only half-a-kilogram under sufferance with the best weighted Sunshine Day, who has a tough draw. Carrying just 52,5kg under regular partner Philasande Mxoli, she should go close. The Sean Tarry yard is having a rare lean spell, a winless run which has extended to 59 races, but it must just be a matter of time before the dynamic five times champion trainer bounces back and it could happen here with The Africa House. This horse has been shown before to have top class potential over sprints, but has not always enjoyed the best of luck. He now gets a fair draw of six around the turn over 1200m under in form Gavin Lerena. However, he is 2kg under sufferance with the best weighted. Linkin Navigator has talent and should have come on from his last run and is only 1,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted, but he does have a tricky draw of eleven. Rainbow Reward is in good form and is course and distance suited but he is 2,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted and he has a tricky draw of ten. CallmewhenUneedme won in fine style last time over this trip but was raised a maximum eight points. However, she is only 1kg under sufferance with the best weighted and is well drawn with  2,5kg claimer Trent Mayhew up.

In the MR 90 handicap over 2000m the long-striding Indian Ocean can progress again with Piere Strydom staying aboard after her last game win over 1800m. She is four points higher but has class and that could see her fending off Apache Fighter again, despite being 1kg worse off for a mere 0,30 length beating. Avoontoast might be a bigger danger because this horse always struck as one with plenty of ability and she has suddenly come into her own and goes for a hattrick here over an ideal trip.

The meeting starts with a Work Riders maiden over 1000m for fillies and mares and Phenisile Mongqawa is the one to beat on the Tony Peter-trained hard knocker Bellissivar, who disappointed last time but was found to have cast a shoe. She has a lot of pace so should enjoy the prevailing fast ground.

In the second over 1000m Pacific has improved and has a fair opportunity here. Smashing is never far off and has a chance in this line up. Pursuit Of Fame ran a much improved race when stepped down in trip last time.

In the fourth over 1800m Blackberry Breeze is off an attractive mark and will relish the extra 100m trip. Diesel’s Shadow is in fine form and is well drawn over an ideal trip. Thunee Playa is distance suited and off a four point higher mark for a good last win with second time blinkers on can earn if able to overcome a wide draw. Viva De Janeiro has talent but is none too reliable so from a good draw with Khumalo up over the trip of his last win he could be dangerous. Majestic Touch is hard to ignore from pole position over what should be an ideal trip.

In the seventh over 1000m Kinshin Sha is ultra consistent and is off a competitive merit rating. What A Tiger beat Kinshin Sha by a neck last time and has in form Lerena up. Secret Chord is in fine form and off just a two point higher mark can claim the hattrick. Nkandla Gold has speed and is always dangerous over the minimum trip. On Cue should be right there as usual.

In the last race over 1000m The Navy Lark has a lot of pace and is ideally course and distance suited and is enjoying the prevailing fast ground. Red Carpet Girl is suited to this distance and should be right there. Phantom Express hit form last time in her third run after a rest and has a chance over a suitable trip. Waitforgreenlight has the form to earn here. Justthetwoofus should enjoy the step down in trip and could be involved.

Picture: Flint Jack (image: rimondo.com)

Jack “Barnato” Joel was a British-South African mining magnate and a top thoroughbred owner and breeder and his horse Tag End won the Nunthorpe three times in succession (1928-1930).