The Sean Tarry-trained five-year-old Greys Inn gelding Litigation has halved in price to 33/1 for the Hollywoodbets Durban July following his easy 2,25 length victory in the Gr 3 Betway London News Stakes over 1800m at Turffontein Standside on Saturday.

It was his second successive stakes win over the course and distance.

His Turffontein Standside 1800m course and distance record now reads six starts, four wins, including two Gr3’s and a Listed race, one second in a Listed race and a fourth in a Gr 3.

The key to his two sucessive feature race wins has been the employment of the front-running tactic.

Gavin Lerena aboard for his wins in both the Listed Richard Maponya Handicap and his win on Saturday.

Saturday’s race was run under weight for age plus penalties conditions.

Litigation was drawn well in four and after breaking well did not have to work hard to get to the lead because Street Art drawn one inside of him was content to be reined back in order to be in the box seat.

Litigation went at a steady pace under a nice long rein.

However, at the 400m mark viewers couuld be forgiven for believing he was likely to be swamped, because Street Art and Meridius had begun good looking runs.

However, Lerena only actually started asking Litigation at the 400m mark and had left plenty in the tank.

Litigation duly found extra and the challengers weren’t able to make any inroads.

Litigation’s highclass stablemate Bless My Stars was running in the colours of Barry Irwin’s Team Valor International syndicate for the first time.

She was joint best in at the weights together with Bingwa and after being dropped out from draw five stayed on quite well for a 3,25 length fifth.

The Fanie Bronkhorst-trained Pure Predator was drawn wide and was dropped out. It was his first attempt at a middle distance race and he ran on in eyecatching fashion to claim a three length fourth.

However, he was receiving 5kg from the winner so was just half-a-kilogram under sufferance with him. On paper there was nothing special about the run compared to the winner, but compared to Bless My Stars it was a fine effort as he was 4kg under sufferance with her and beat her by 0,25 lengths.

Tarry identified the Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm-bred-Litigation as a possible July horse in his three-year-old year, but in the last two seasons this son of 2004 July winner Greys Inn has been a borderline horse who ultimately failed to make the final field on both occasions.

The courageous five-year-old gelding is making a bold bid this season to qualify for the country’s most famous race as was evidenced on Saturday.

Litigation ran off a 111 merit rating on Saturday and the Tony Peter-trained 107-rated runner up Street Art, beaten 2,25 lengths, was carrying the same weight.

If the latter is used as the line horse Litigation may escape with no raise at all. Street Art could well be used as the line horse, because he has very consistent middle distance form.

However, third-placed 110-rated Meridius is an equally suitable line horse having finished 0,30 lengths behind Litigation in the Richard Maponya at level weights and he has a Listed second to his name over the course and distance too.

He ran at level weights with Litigation on Saturday and was beaten 2,35 lengths.

If he is used as the line horse Litigation will likely be raised four points to 115 and that is a likely scenario, because it was a good performance and therefore the handicappers will likely want to raise him.

If they really want to punish him thay can use his stablemate, fifth-placed Bless My Stars as the line horse, because he was 3,5kg under sufferance with her and beat her by 3,25 lengths. She won the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic over this course and distance last season among other fine performances which saw her named Equus Champion Three-year-old filly.

Under the conditions of Saturday’s race, the maximum raise for the winner is eight points and the maximum for placed horses is four points.

Two KZN and South African cricketing greats, Mike Procter and Barry Richards Picture: Allsport/Getty Images/Hulton Archive 1993

The great allrounder loved the gee-gees – just like his brother Anton.

Mike Moon (The Citizen)

Michael John Procter was a one-in-a-million cricketer but he had one major failing: he was mad for horse racing. Amid all the dazzling bowling and batting statistics trotted out in innumerable tributes and obituaries, there is little mention of the great man’s other passion.

I remember seeing and talking to “Proc” at Greyville racecourse in the ’60s and ’70s, where he was a familiar figure, intently studying his form guide and happy to chat to fellow racegoers about what might win the next race – though not so much about the form of teammates in the Natal cricket team.

He owned racehorses at various times, often in partnerships, with the 2012 Grade 2 Post Merchants winner Mike’s Choice, trained by Muis Roberts, probably his most successful runner.

He grew up in a racing-keen family in Durban and his older brother Anton – also a first-class cricketer in his youth – went on to become a bookmaker and then a successful thoroughbred breeder in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.

Anton, who died two years ago, worked at the championship-winning Summerhill Stud of Mickey Goss and other establishments, including in Zimbabwe. He eventually ran his own boutique stud, Burwell, near Howick. He was instrumental in importing to South Africa the successful stallion Rakeen – one of the last sons of the legendary Northern Dancer.

My first encounter with Mike Procter was on the verdant sporting fields of Hilton College, where he was schooled (though not I). We weren’t actually on the same cricket field, but on adjacent ones. He was hitting sixes from the main pitch onto our field with such regularity that it was putting our teenage lives in danger. A spotter was put in place to alert us “lighties” to cover our heads as another red leather bomb descended from the sky.

In 2020, along with former champion jockey Anthony Delpech, Procter was made a “brand ambassador” for Hollywoodbets, the rags-to-riches Durban bookmaking firm started by Owen Heffer.

The company’s myriad brand sponsorships cover the KZN racecourses, women’s soccer, men’s rugby and several stadia – including Kingsmead on Durban’s Old Fort Road, the stage for many of Proc’s mighty cricketing deeds.

*Ed* Mike named a Hollywood-owned horse Might Mashona and this Peter Muscutt-trained Master Of My Fate gelding won one race and is now a riding pony for Hollywood’s racing manager Anthony Delpech’s daughter Brooklyn. The name came about because it was while living and playing for Mashonaland that Mike represented Rhodesia in the Currie Cup and scored a world record six successive centuries. *Ed*

Hollywoodbets and the Mike Procter Foundation have been working in tandem in sports coaching in deprived areas of KZN. During the pandemic, they delivered tonnes of food to needy people. Mike’s face beamed with pride and joy when he talked of these things.

When he first suffered heart trouble a while back, the media pictured him recovering in his hospital bed with the latest Winning Form racing guides in hand.

Sadly, another round of heart surgery was not successful and the great man died aged 77 at the weekend.

He will be remembered as a magnificent cricketer – among the handful of best allrounders to have played the game – but also as a good-natured, easygoing guy, proud but modest – and sick for the gee-gees.

Wisden Cricketers’ Almanac has all the stats, but it’s hard to resist mentioning the following:

Only 11 men in the history of first-class cricket have scored a century and got a hat-trick in the same match — Only one has done it twice.

In all, MJP took four hat-tricks in his career (his one hattrick in a Benson and Hedge final in England was within a spell of four wickets in five balls); he took 1,417 first-class wickets at 19.53; took 10 wickets in a match 15 times and five in a match 70 times; took 344 one-day wickets at 18,76; and scored 21,936 first-class runs at 36.01, with 48 hundreds and a highest score of 254.

*Turf Talk Editor*

My two best cricketing memories of Mike Procter was 1) the crowd settling in for the first ball of a Currie Cup match vs arch rivals Transvaal at the Pietermaritzburg oval in January 1977. There was the usual electric anticipation in the air for a game of such importance. Proccie turned and began that long rhythmical run up and the anticipation rose a notch. The crowd was hushed as he executed that whirlwind delivery off the wrong foot. It was followed almost immediately by a loud snick and a slap as the ball hit Henry Fotheringham’s hands in the slips. The crowd erupted and rose to their feet as one and a dejected Transvaal captain David Dyer was on his way to the pavilion. Proccie got Robbie Muzzel and Clive Rice cheaply too. He ended the match with a fivefor in both innings for a ten wicket haul and Natal won by 7 wickets.

2) An indirect memory was when I was at Highbury preparatory in Hillcrest in the mid 1970s. The school’s best batsman Paul Rayner was on 206 in a match at Durban Preparatory. Everybody present was aware that the school record was Mike Procter’s 210 made about 15 years earlier. There was a buzz of excitement as he looked to have the record in his grasp. Alas, Paul was caught above the fielders head right on the boundary going for his 19th six of the innings! Proccie’s 210 record still stands today.

Mike was of course a regular at the races and was a truly down to earth man who loved his racing.

Picture: Masters of their art! Darryl Hodgson with Gerrit Schlechter and Dr Hassen Adams

Darryl Hodgson Obituary by The Sporting Post

Described as a top-class horseman, a great human being, and a man who would give his last cent to help others, tributes have continued to pour in for multiple Grade 1 winning trainer Darryl Hodgson who passed away at the age of 74 on Wednesday 14 February.

A low-key gentleman and a personality who shunned the camera and the spotlight, Darryl Hodgson’s passing came as a shock to many of us.

He had faded from the racing scene about five years ago, and had spent the last stages of his life with his good friend Savas Pastellides in Betty’s Bay.

While 2011 Met winner Past Master was regarded as the best he trained, he also won the Queen’s Plate in 1991 with I’m Taking It and the great Reinels Hass-owned filly Vesta, who won three Gr1’s, including the Cape Fillies Guineas, the SA Fillies Guineas and the Champion Stakes, was always very close to his heart.

Born and schooled in the Turffontein area, where he spent more time studying the gee-gees than geometry or geography, Darryl was fascinated by horses and started training in the Eastern Cape, after his banking career lasted exactly a month.

“Counting paper clips just wasn’t for me,” he once reflected of his short-lived time as a clerk at Standard Bank.

Leading breeder and a champion owner, Dr Hassen Adams spoke fondly about a trainer who gave him 35 wonderful years of ‘victorious moments’ in the racing industry.

Dr Adams owned top horses like Gimmethegreenlight and Past Master, who won the Met in 2011.

He told the Sporting Post that even in his days of health challenges and semi retirement from active business, he treasured and reminisced about those golden racing moments all the time.

“Darryl was just a wonderfully patient and tolerant person who, as a trainer, always put the horse first. His knowledge of the thoroughbred was impeccable, especially when it came to judging conformation. Darryl was truly a great personal trainer, and even a legend like Terence Millard praised him as a formidable conditioner. When I fell ill with cancer in 2018, I never saw Darryl again. Then about two weeks ago Chris Snaith phoned to inform me that Darryl wanted to come and see me. I welcomed the idea. Chris, Darryl and myself had a magical relationship, winning the J&B Met, Queens Plate and many Group races,” he recalled.

Sadly Darryl passed away days before the reunion could happen.

“I want to respectfully pass my condolences and sympathies to his family. Hamba Kahle my dear Hodgsy, may you find peace in the heavens that await you.”

Former leading owner Bernie Langton, who is now based in Michigan in the USA, recalled that her most precious memories were of Darryl Hodgson and his much-loved horses, and of him pacing up and down before a race.

“Shouting our horses home, the suspense of objections, the wins, the losses and post-mortems. What memories we have to cherish! The most precious are of Darryl and his horses,” she added as she reflected how they were enjoying a successful run in the Cape with the Trudi Houareau/Garth Puller team when tragic circumstances prompted the relocation of their horses.

“After many discussions with Garth and our partners, including Nando Braz, Gerald Kalil, Mike Mort, John Meyer and others, we decided to support the Darryl Hodgson/ Andrew Fortune team with their move to KZN. Through all the years of highs, lows and the in -betweens of racing, I got to know Darryl and we grew very close. When we were not together for gallops, visits or racing, we spoke on the phone regularly. Although he did not relish the paperwork side of training, Darryl loved the horses in his care and treated them like his babies.”

Bernie remembered Abbeys Lad, Monastery, Wise King, Flaming Thunder, Troubled Nation, Western Night, Delaware Park, Mission Control, National Native, Quarry, Gentle Princess and Madison Square, and many others.

“Darryl always tried to do the best for them and was an exceptionally talented trainer. I will always remember how we both bawled our eyes out when we lost Abbey’s Lad at just 3 years old. And Darryl pulling off the rare feat of winning three Michael Roberts features in three years with Flaming Thunder. Then early morning gallops and breakfast at Summerveld, stable visits, Darryl and Andy preparing for the races, get togethers after good wins with our friends and connections. Nando Braz, Garth Puller, Andrew Fortune, Trudi Low-Shang and Andre Nel, John Meyer, Malcolm Vercuiel, Hassen Adams, the late Ivan Pickering, Les Hodnett, Poof Yengwa, Eric Frisch – what days! And how after some of the losses, Manny would say to Darryl: ‘I’m just going home to have a good cry’. What a special time of our lives!”

Former SA Champion jockey Andrew Fortune rode his first Gr1 winner for Darryl Hodgson at the age of 20.

“We won a good few more. Darryl was always the same and would give his last dime to help somebody else, that’s why he was always broke, when I think about him. I’m sad, but can laugh. They were good days. He was a hard person to be upset with because he was really a special person.  I’m really going to miss you Hodge. I’m sure we will meet again brother,” added the Candyman.

Gerald and Karen Kalil, who are still involved as owners and breeders and had a winner for Barend Botes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday, labelled Darryl a good friend and a humble , reserved and generous man. And, to top it all,an outstanding trainer.

“He gave us so much joy as owners and friends. The thing we remember most is how,when he went to the stables, every horse would ‘call’ and stick their heads out for a wrestle, hug or a kiss. He would do favours for people without thinking twice. When we were in Cape Town he took time out of his busy schedule to drive us around sightseeing. We are sure he’s very happy in heaven ,where his old friends come galloping, happy to see him, and he is smoking 200 fags a day! Darryl, till we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hands.”

Garth Puller told the Sporting Post that Darryl was a fine horseman and a top judge of a thoroughbred.

‘I think one can see the man’s standing in the manner that all of us who knew and respected Darryl stepped up to assist readily when Trudi-lee Low-Shan was arranging a dignified funeral. It’s very sad to see that he passed in these circumstances, but he lived his dream, won his Grade 1 races, and he left knowing that many held a special place in their hearts for him,” added Garth.

Longstanding owners Andre Nel and Trudi-lee Low-Shan, who run a school near Hollywoodbets Greyville, recalled that it had been a long journey with Darryl, ‘some good some bad’, but that the memories would forever be etched in their hearts.

“The horses, the stables, the long talks, the music, the wine, the tears. The list is endless. We will smile with hope and gratitude when one day we meet again,” added the long-time friends.

Darryl’s son David Hodgson had the last word and thanked the racing community for their generosity and the spirit of camaraderie.

“It means so much to me to see how loved and appreciated Dad was. I’m obviously feeling devastated by the loss but seeing his community around him all pull together has really warmed my heart and made the sadness so much easier. I’m so sad that I can’t come over to pay my last respects in person. I am currently studying in the UK, living off rands and spending pounds, so I haven’t been able to contribute much either. I’m grateful for all the caring angels in his life helping to give him a heartfelt sendoff that I haven’t been able to provide myself at this time. So I just want you all to know it really means the world to me!” he added.

David’s final thought on his Dad probably best summed up the man.

“There is so much I didnt know about him as he tended to keep me at a distance. I’m still processing everything. But hearing some of the wonderful stories and information about him over the past few days has made me feel a lot closer to him.”

While a number of horseracing folk and friends stepped forward with financial aid, benefactor Sita Govender kindly covered the costs of the funeral.

Dr Hassen Adams will host a wake to celebrate Darryl Hodgson’s life at his Nadeson Park Stud in Hermanus at 14h00 on Wednesday 21 February. Drinks and lunch will be served.

RIP Hodgsy.

Ed – we thank Dr Hassen Adams and Trudi-lee Low-Shan for supplying the photographs. We regret that the quality in some cases is not 100%, but the memories certainly make up for that.

*Turf Talk Editor –

Picture: Sandringham Summit (JC Photos)

South Africa’s leading three-year-old Sandringham Summit who scored an emphatic win in the TAB Gauteng Guineas earlier this month is an entry in both the Grade 1 H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes and Gr 1 SA Classic to be run on Classic Day, March 2 at Turffontein Standside.

It would be a surprise if he lined up in the Horse Chestnut as his Triple Crown chances are still alive.

On the other hand the connections might decide the SA Derby distance is beyond him and that a Gr 1 weight for age mile win will look good on his stallion CV.

If he does take his chances in the Horse Chestnut he might face his arch three-year-old rival Main Defender, who is in that race but not in the Classic.

It is not clear why Main Defender was not declared for the Gauteng Guineas. Was he physically incapacitated at the time or was it a strategic move to avoid Sandringham Summit and target the Horse Chestnut instead?

The Horse Chestnut has its probable best entry list for some time.

It not only includes Sandringham Summit and Main Defender but also Equus Horse Of The Year Princess Calla, Hollywoodbets Durban July hero Winchester Mansion, top Cape horses At My Command and Without Question, former winner of this race MK’s Pride, who is back with Tony Peter, Gr 1 winners Puerto Manzano, Safe Passage, Cousin Casey and Anfields Rocket, and a number of other classy customers like Melech and Feather Boa and also the imported Mujbar.

In the SA Classic William Iron Arm will relish the step up in trip and will be a threat to Sandringham Summit. Other exciting entries are the crack filly Silver Sanctuary, the recent revelation Barbaresco and the improving Sean Tarry pair Hotarubi and Storm Brasco.

The smashing filly Gimme A Nother has been unstoppable and bids to remain unbeaten in six starts in the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic. She may meet Bavarian Beauty, who like Sandringham Summit was the top filly as a two-year-old. Silver Sanctuary will also be a threat if she lines up.

Brilliant racing, bring it on!

 
HORSE CHESTNUT STAKES (Grade 1)(Weight-for-Age) R1,5 MILLION 1600m
17 ANFIELDS ROCKET (G J Maroun) 60.0
6 AT MY COMMAND (B Crawford) 60.0
19 BACK IN BUSINESS (J A Soma) 60.0
15 COSMIC HIGHWAY (D Kannemeyer) 60.0
21 COUSIN CASEY (S G Tarry) 60.0
14 DAVE THE KING (M F De Kock) 60.0
10 MELECH (R R Magner) 60.0
20 MK'S PRIDE (A P Peter) 60.0
12 MUJBAR (M F De Kock) 60.0
3 PUERTO MANZANO (J J van Vuuren) 60.0
5 SAFE PASSAGE (M F De Kock) 60.0
9 SON OF RAJ (W H Marwing) 60.0
4 SUGAR MOUNTAIN (C Bass-Robinson) 60.0
16 TEXAS RED (R Klaasen) 60.0
2 UNZEN (R R Sage) 60.0
11 WINCHESTER MANSION (B Crawford) 60.0
7 WITHOUT QUESTION (J S Snaith) 60.0
18 FEATHER BOA (S T Pettigrew) 57.5
8 PRINCESS CALLA (S G Tarry) 57.5
13 MAIN DEFENDER (A P Peter) 57.0
1 SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT (D Nieuwenhuizen) 57.0

 
SA CLASSIC (Grade 1)(For 3-year-olds) (2nd Leg of SA Triple Crown)) R1,5 MILLION 1800m
12 BARBARESCO (J J van Vuuren) 60.0
7 GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE (M F De Kock) 60.0
10 GUY GIBSON (R R Magner) 60.0
8 HOTARUBI (S G Tarry) 60.0
3 MONDIAL (M/A Azzie) 60.0
9 NAVAJO NATION (R A Hill) 60.0
2 PURE PREDATOR (F Bronkhorst) 60.0
1 PURPLE PITCHER (R Klaasen) 60.0
11 SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT (D Nieuwenhuizen) 60.0
5 STORM BRASCO (S G Tarry) 60.0
6 WILLIAM IRON ARM (A P Peter) 60.0
4 SILVER SANCTUARY (M F De Kock) 57.5


SA FILLIES CLASSIC (Grade 1)(For 3-year-olds) (2nd Leg Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara)) R1,25 MILLION 1800m
4 BAVARIAN BEAUTY (A P Peter) 60.0
3 BEATING WINGS (S T Pettigrew) 60.0
2 CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL (M F De Kock) 60.0
5 EGYPTIAN MAU (M N Houdalakis) 60.0
7 GIMME A NOTHER (M F De Kock) 60.0
6 LET'S GO NOW (S G Tarry) 60.0
1 MY SOUL MATE (C Dawson) 60.0
8 SILVER SANCTUARY (M F De Kock) 60.0
9 TAMIL TIGRESS (L Karriem) 60.0

Rachel Venniker has a potentially lucrative opportunity in the Saudi Cup meeting’s International Jockeys Challenge to be held on Friday.

Last year the jockeys received 15% of the prize-money their mounts earned in each of the four $400,000 races in which they competed and there was a further $100,000 for the overall competition, with  $30,000 of that going to the champion.

The race card is not out yet so it is unknown how much the races are worth this year, but presumably the structure is the same as last year.

Meanwhile the provisional field for the Saudi Cup has been announced (see bottom of this article).

Saudi Cup – provisional field

horse, trainer, nation

1 Carmel Road (USA) Abdullah Albadah Saudi Arabia

2 Crown Pride (JPN) Koichi Shintani Japan

3 Defunded (USA) Abdulaziz K Mishref Saudi Arabia

4 Derma Sotogake (JPN) Hidetaka Otonashi Japan

5 Hoist the Gold (USA) Dallas Stewart United States

6 Lemon Pop (USA) Hiroyasu Tanaka Japan

7 Meisho Hario (JPN) Inao Okada Japan

8 National Treasure (USA) Bob Baffert United States

9 Power In Numbers (USA) Ahmed Mohamoud Saudi Arabia

10 Saudi Crown (USA) Brad Cox United States

11 Senor Buscador (USA) Todd Fincher United States

Tuesday’s Vaal card is expected to provide a challenge to bettors and there is no obvious standout bet on the card.

But one runner was a very unlucky loser last time out and as a result it could be worth giving Vix Princess a second chance.

Tony Peter’s charge lines up in Race 8, a MR 96 Handicap for fillies and mares over 1450m on the Classic track. She was previously trained in the Western Cape where she won her maiden over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville at the fourth time of asking before moving to the Highveld.

The three-year-old daughter of Vercingetorix had a great start in her new environment, beating Willow Express by 2.75 lengths over 1400m on the Turffontein Standside track.

She was fully expected to follow up in her next start over this course and distance, and went off at odds of 83-100, but for whatever reason according to the stipes report she “raced with an awkward head carriage around the turn and into the straight”.

In the end, she went down 0.40 lengths to In The Beginning who went off at 33-1 for trainer Joe Soma.

Many pundits have expressed the view that but for that incident around the turn Vix Princess would have won.

Hopefully Peter will have sorted out what may have troubled the filly and we will see the best of her on this occasion.

She will face In The Beginning again and they will meet at the same weight differential and it is worth noting that although In The Beginning went off at a big price, it was her first start in blinkers and that might account for her improvement and she should run well again.

On the other hand, Vix Princess was having her second race after a layoff last time and that may have had some sort of negative effect.

Calvin Habib retains the ride and they will jump from No 2 draw.

Mike de Kock-trained East Coast ought to record the third win of his career in Race 2, a Graduation Plate over 2000m. As a three-year-old, this son of The United States finished second in the Grade 3 Victory Moon Stakes and third in the Grade 3 Gauteng Guineas, but it has been almost 500 days since his last victory.

While his merit rating has come down as a result, the decision to geld East Coast prior to his penultimate outing appears to have done him the world of good.

In two starts this year as a gelding, De Kock’s charge has acquitted himself well and in good company too. He was just 3.50 lengths off unbeaten Taegan’s Champ over 1600m last month before finishing fifth (5.50 lengths) behind Zeus over 2400m just over a fortnight ago.

The drop in distance together with the favourable conditions of the race – he comes in as the best weighted runner by at least 6.5kg better off with the opposition – will suit East Coast.

Ryan Munger has been making merry on his busman’s holiday from Canadian racing, and he will take the ride on this gelding for the first time.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 1 Princess Lola, 2 Empressofnormandy, 11 Sensual Kiss, 9 Ilha Da Orange

Race 2: 4 East Coast, 5 Hawkbill, 1 Viva Spirit, 7 Forgiveness

Race 3: 10 Blue Quartz, 9 Great Barrier, 1 Prized Platinum, 4 Trippis Tune

Race 4: 2 Karoo Gold, 1 Atarime, 9 Teo Torriatte, 3 Rock Of Bismantova

Race 5: 6 Damostar, 2 Say Yes, 1 Ipso Facto, 8 Special Charm

Race 6: 7 Ideal Future, 1 Ariel’s Jet, 6 Azaleas For All, 3 Pretty In Pearls

Race 7: 1 Ryans Boulevard, 2 San Simon, 5 Mizzen Sail, 7 Laughing William

Race 8: 8 Vix Princess, 4 River Queraress, 1 Celtic Rumours, 2 In The Beginning

Race 9: 4 Andi’s Girl, 2 Mighty Goddess, 5 Alesia’s Love, 1 Kakiebos

BEST BET

Race 8 No 8 Vix Princess

VALUE BET

Race 6 No 7 Ideal Future

BEST SWINGER

Race 4 1×2

BIPOT

R324

Leg 1: 1, 4, 5

Leg 2: 1, 9, 10

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 1, 2, 5

Leg 5: 1, 6, 7

Leg 6: 1, 2

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 1, 9, 10

Leg 2: 1, 2

Leg 3: 1, 2, 6

Leg 4: 1, 6, 7

Leg 5: 1, 2

Leg 6: 8

Leg 7: 2, 4

PICK 6

R1080

Leg 1: 1, 2, 9, 10

Leg 2: 1, 2, 6, 8, 11

Leg 3: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9

Leg 4: 1, 2, 5

Leg 5: 8

Leg 6: 2, 4, 5

JACKPOT 1

R90

Leg 1: 1, 2, 6, 8, 11

Leg 2: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9

Leg 3: 1, 2, 5

Leg 4: 8

JACKPOT 2

R54

Leg 1: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9

Leg 2: 1, 2, 5

Leg 3: 8

Leg 4: 2, 4, 5

Picture: They tend to go like the clappers from the off in British jumps racing (planetsport.com) 

Perhaps South African racing’s reputation for being crawl-sprint is not such a bad thing after all.

That is when compared to recent criticism of jumps racing in the U.K. in an article by Lee Mottershead in the Racing Post in which he quotes trainer Harry Fry and jockey Aidan Coleman.

The latter pair believe the pace in British jumps racing is too fast and leads to a situation, especially in heavy ground, where the winner is the last horse still standing.

At Chepstow recently a two-and-a-half mile event with 12 runners saw eight of the 12 being pulled up.

In a four-runner chase the same day there was only one finisher.

Fry went into the stewards room to ask what they thought and was told the jockeys had gone too fast.

Fry’s owner than asked him why their jockey had not gone the pace the conditions called for and Fry explained that if he had been 25 lengths adrift with a circuit to go and had then failed to get into the race, he would have been called into the stewards room.

He said jumps jockeys in the U.K.  faced the same dilemna as cyclicts.

“You can’t allow the breakaway too much rope in case you don’t bridge the deficit.”

He said the mindset had become “to go as fast as you can for as long as you can and the last man standing wins.”

He believes this is leaving the gulf between Ireland jumps racing and the UK’s even greater, pointing out young horses were having bad experiences at the races from their first race and also there were less opportunities to race horses because they took so long to recover from their runs.

He added, “I think its one reason we are struggling compared to Ireland. Whereas we go flat out from flag fall, jockeys in Ireland seem to let their mounts find their feet and then quicken over the last half-a-mile.”

Top former jockey and now TV pundit Mick Fitzgerald agreed, saying, “I think it is wrong to generalise, but, as a rule, jockeys in Ireland are more likely to be told off for getting there too soon and getting beat, whereas in Britain you’re in trouble if you don’t get there.”

Aidan Coleman said, “It’s something I feel passionately about. When you look at how fast we go, it’s no wonder the Irish then come over and spank us. It seems to be getting worse as well. We can’t keep on like this. If we do I hate to imagine what speed we will be going over the first two in the future – and then what speed we will be going over the last two.”

Coleman and Fry believed one of the reasons for this phenomenon was trainers instructing jockeys to be prominent in the belief their runners had a fitness advantage that, in most cases, did not exist.

Coleman said Ireland and Britain also had contrasting perspectives of what was right and wrong.

He said in Britain a jockey being prominent or upsides turning for home and then fading away would likely be given a pat on the back. A jockey riding a patient race and then overtaking horses late to finish second or third would likely be asked questions.

He wondered how much jockeyship was involved anymore, because he said one sometimes wondered why the field was going so fast in a race and one would then hear a jockey saying. “I am just doing what I’ve been told.”

He added one might as well use 7 pound claimers in handicaps if one had to tell jockeys what they should do and where they should do it.

He said social media backlash for patient rides was more severe than for horses being ridden too aggressively.

Fry agreed with Coleman and said jockeys feeling they had to adhere to instructions was taking the horsemanship out of racing.

Picture above question: Angel Cordero Jr., the King of Saratoga,   comes back to the winner’s circle after winning the Preakness Stakes on Gate Dancer. (Blood-Horse photo)

Ángel Cordero Jr. was the first Puerto Rican jockey to win all three of the American Classic Races, the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes, though not all in the same year.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT ÁNGEL CORDERO JR.