Turf Talk Newsletter – 19 November, 2025

Landslide Vote In Favour Of New NHA Constitution

Picture: Greg Bortz, representing Race Coast, will serve as Chairman of the Nominational Committee (Picture: Chase Liebenberg)

NHA Press Release

The NHA – Special General Meeting

1. At the Special General Meeting held today at the Head Office of the NHA, two resolutions were voted upon as follows:

Special Resolution Number 1:

Proposed by members that the Constitution be amended by the replacement thereof in its entirety with the New Constitution.

Voting For

441

Against

Percentage

96.9%

Ordinary Resolution 1:

Proposed by members to note the resignation, or where applicable, the deemed resignation or vacation of office, of the current Directors other than the Chief Executive, with effect from the close of the Special General Meeting.

Voting For

450

Against

Percentage

99.6%

A total number of 448 proxy votes were received and voting by physical attendance was 7.

The changes to the Constitution will be with immediate effect.

2. In terms of Clause 15.2 of the amended Constitution, the Nominational Committee will be made of the following persons:

15.2.1 Mr Mark Currie (National Board member and owner director)

Mr Gayasuddin Ahmed (National Board independent director)

15.2.2.1 Mr Gregory Bortz (will serve as Chairman representing Race Coast)

15.2.2.2 Mr Bradley Ralph (representing 4 Racing)

15.2.2.3 Mr Anthony Rivalland (representing SANTA)

3. Post the Special General meeting the Nominations Committee re-appointed the following persons:

Mr Mark Currie (Chairman)

Mr Gayasuddin Ahmed

Mr Brenden Fegen

Mr Laurence Wernars

and

Mrs Jacqueline Sparke is the newly appointed board director.

Mrs Sparke is a qualified Chartered Accountant and a self-employed finance and tax consultant having retired from MODO (Mary Oppenheimer Daughters) after working for nearly 20 years for the Oppenheimer Group in various roles including CFO for MODO.

Mrs Sparke’s previous employment included FD of Primeserv Group Limited as well as Financial Manager for Vodacom, Teljoy, Colgate Palmolive and British American Tobacco.

Mrs Sparke currently serves on the Board of the Racehorse Owners Association and is a member of Magical Lady Syndicate.

Additionally, Mr Rikesh Sewgoolam has rejoined the Board with immediate effect.

The Nominations Committee is currently evaluating a list of candidates to fill the role of an independent director. This process will consider diversity as skills required on the board and, as such candidates are identified and screened, they will be added to the National Board. As noted in the new constitution the board should consist of between 7 – 9 directors and Nomco will ensure those criteria are met and maintained as part of their mandate.

Vee Moodley

Chief Executive

Click here to see the Constitution amendments and rationale behind them

The Favourite Draws Well In Summer Cup

The Equator has drawn well in three for the Betway Summer Cup and is now the 22/10 favourrite (Picture: JC Photos)

Danie Toerien (4Racing)

The draw for this year’s Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup elicited the customary cheers and jeers, with trainer Tony Peter smiling widest after The Ultimate King was drawn in pole position.

Sean Tarry, on the other hand, was left puckered after Legend Of Arthur was alloted the proverbial parking lot for a starting gate, drawing the dreaded 20.

The R6-million race will be contested over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday 29 and after the draw, held at Katy’s Palace in Kramerville on Wednesday 19 November, it will come as no surprise should early favourite The Equator, also from the Peter yard, shorten to close on even money after drawing gate 3.

Peter’s third string in his bow, Son Of Raj, drew gate 4, giving his three runners the perfect opportunity to hog the rail early on, settle handy, or even perhaps set the pace.

Defending champion and top-weight Atticus Finch, trained by Alec Laird, drew gate 2, the same gate from which he won this event last year.

Royal Victory, who won this race in 2023 for trainer Nathan Kotzen from gate 13, drew gate 14 this time round, so should have no problem replicating his run from two years back.

The final field for the R6-million Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup, in order number, draw, horse, weight, jockey, and trainer, is:

1 – 2 ATTICUS FINCH 60.0 – Calvin Habib, Alec Laird

2 – 14 ROYAL VICTORY 59.0 – Chad Little, Nathan Kotzen

3 – 11 KING PELLES 57.5 – S’manga Khumalo, Gareth van Zyl

4 – 4 SON OF RAJ 55.5 – Kabelo Matsunyane, Tony Peter

5 – 3 THE EQUATOR (IRE) 55.0 – Gavin Lerena, Tony Peter

6 – 20 LEGEND OF ARTHUR 54.5 – Malesela Katjedi, Sean Tarry

7 – 18 MADISON VALLEY 54.5 – Craig Zackey, Frank Robinson

8 – 8 OTTO LUYKEN 54.5 – JP v’d Merwe, James Crawford

9 – 12 MY BEST SHOT 54.0 – Richard Fourie, Alan Greeff

10 – 5 ON MY HONOUR 54.0 – Serino Moodley, Glen Kotzen

11 – 10 SPUMANTE DOLCE 54.0 – Callan Murray, Mike/Mathew de Kock

12 – 16 PARISIAN WALKWAY 54.0 – Philasande Mxoli, Alec Laird

13 – 7 BUSSTOPINHOUNSLOW 54.0 – Rachel Venniker, Grant Maroun

14 – 9 OLIVIA’S WAY 54.0 – Grant van Niekerk, Roy Magner

15 – 1 THE ULTIMATE KING 54.0 – Muzi Yeni, Tony Peter

16 – 15 WILD INTENT 54.0 – Marco v’Rensburg, Lucky Houdalakis

17 – 17 ANFIELDS ROCKET 54.0 – Sean Veale, Grant Maroun

18 – 19 SOLAR SAIL 54.0 – Jarryd Penny, Mark Khan

19 – 13 MOCHA BLEND 54.0 – Tristan Godden, Frank Robinson

20 – 6 NAVAJO NATION 54.0 – James Lihaba, Warrick/Weiho Marwing

The 2026 L’ormarins King’s Plate -the Countdown Begins!

Vaughan Marshall holds the L’Ormarins King’s Plate after One Stripe’s victory last season (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Sarah Whitelaw

One of the highlights on the South African racing calender, the G1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate, is set to be run this season at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on January 10th 2026.

This will be the 165th renewal of a race, which has been run, at various times in its history, as the Queen’s Plate.

The race was first run in 1861 in honour of Queen Victoria, and has been won by some of the greatest thoroughbreds to grace the South African turf. Among the numerous equine superstars to win the Queen’s Plate are Royal Affair, Sea Cottage, In Full Flight, Sledgehammer, Politician, Foveros, Wolf Power, Flaming Rock, Empress Club, London News and Jet Master. The latter went on to make his presence felt as a sire in the Queen’s Plate with Jet Master’s champion son Pocket Power winning the race on four occasions. Jet Master is also broodmare sire of dual LQP winner Jet Dark.

Since L’Ormarins first sponsored the Queens’ Plate in 2005, the race has been won by a host of champions.

Triple Horse Of The Year Pocket Power made history when he won the race four times in a row, with “Pocket” winning the LQP in 2006,2007, 2009 and 2010.

His Queen’s Plate winning streak finally ended in 2011, when Pocket Power could only finish fourth, behind another champion Mother Russia.

Another champion to dominate the Queen’s Plate was Legal Eagle, with that eight time G1 winning champion winning the L’Ormarins sponsored showpiece in 2016, 2017, and 2018.

Between Pocket Power and Legal Eagle’s triumphs, however, the LQP was won by a host of stars including multiple champion sire Gimmethegreenlight (2012), subsequent G1 Champions Mile hero Variety Club (2013) and Horse Of The Year Futura.

Following Legal Eagle, champions to win the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate included Do It Again (2019), Vardy (2020) and Jet Dark (2021 & 2020).

Following King Charles III’s accession to the throne, the race name was altered to the King’s Plate, with Al Muthana causing an 80-1 shock when winning the first running in 2023. Champions Charles Dickens (who had finished second to Al Muthana in 2023) and One Stripe subsequently won the LKP in 2024 and 2025 respectively.

However, it is not only the winners on the honour roll of the L’Ormarins sponsored feature which make for impressive reading.

Horses beaten in the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth showpiece include such outstanding performers as Hawwaam, Kommetdieding, Charles Dickens, Soqrat, Rainbow Bridge, Jet Dark, Legal Eagle, Pocket Power, Big City Life, Variety Club, What A Winter, and Legislate.

The dress code for the 2026 King’s Plate is, once again, blue and white, with the day set to get underway at 12:00 PM. A fantastic day of racing will be followed by a night of dancing under the Cape Town skies.

L’Ormarins King’s Plate day promises racegoers an outstanding day of racing and it promises to be one of the highlights of the New Year.

Cape Flying Now A Win And You're In Breeders Cup Qualifier

Gimme A Prince wins the Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Cape Flying Championship back in January this year (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Flagship Cape Sprint Now A Breeders’ Cup Qualifier
A big carrot for the winner!

A trio of world-class races at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in South Africa will anchor a blockbuster qualifying day on Saturday 10 January for the 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships via the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In.

Horses from around the globe will qualify for the 43rd running of the World Championships through the Win and You’re In program, which will enter its 20th year in 2026.

Consisting of 14 Grade 1 races run during a two-day festival worth purses and awards of more than $34 million, the 2026 World Championships will be held on 30 and 31 October at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, the Horse Capital of the world.

The World Pool Gr1 Cape Flying Championship, a 1000-metre weight for age race, will serve as an automatic qualifier for the Prevagen Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.

The race joins the L’Ormarins Gr1 King’s Plate , a one-mile race for 3-year-olds and up which provides a free berth to the FanDuel Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Mile, and the Cartier Gr1 Paddock Stakes Gr1, an 1800m race for fillies and mares 3-year-olds & up that is an automatic qualifier for the Maker’s Mark Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf.

As part of the benefits of the Challenge Series, Breeders’ Cup will pay the entry fees for the winners of the three South African races to start in the respective Breeders’ Cup divisions.

“Breeders’ Cup Limited is pleased to continue the expansion of our international Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series with the addition of the World Pool Cape Flying Championship,” said Dora Delgado, Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Officer of Breeders’ Cup Limited.

“We’re grateful for the collaborative efforts that brought this partnership to fruition and look forward to welcoming top South African contenders to the World Championships.”

“The inclusion of the World Pool Cape Flying Championship in the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series is a landmark moment for South African racing,” said Justin Vermaak, Executive Racing & Bloodstock, Race Coast.

“Hollywoodbets Kenilworth has long showcased some of the sport’s most thrilling performances, and we are honoured that our flagship sprint now serves as a gateway to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. This partnership reflects the growing stature of South African racing on the world stage, and we look forward to seeing our horses compete at Keeneland alongside the best in the world.”

Breeders’ Cup will also provide a travel allowance for all starters based outside of North America to compete in the World Championships.

The Challenge winner must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program by the pre-entry deadline of 19 October 2026, to receive the rewards.

Cosmic Speed Could Be Too Good In Reappearance

Cosmic Speed winning the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes. He is slung in at the weights in his reappearance on Thursday at the Vaal (JC Photos)

The Vaal straight course will have the standside rail brought in by ten metres, so the low number draws should have at least as much chance as the high numbers in the races down the straight and might be advantageous.

The headliner of the meeting is a Conditions Plate over 1400m and the Gr 1 winner Cosmic Speed is the one to beat. This will be his seasonal reapparance after a layoff of over five months, but the trip should be ideal for this miler who has also won a Gr 2 over 1400m and he is well treated at the weights. His Sean Tarry-trained stablemate Shadowfax is offically way out at the weights but is a promising sort who can bounce back from his disappointing run last time. Texas Red is ideally distance suited and if producing his best could earn, although he is 9,5kg under sufferance with Cosmic Speed. Those three should get punters through.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 Babette’s Feast has run two good races and over an ideal distance looks the horse to beat. Delaware River went close last time over 1450m and should also be right there. Nothing Compares could earn here if able to reproduce her best run. Lady Limoncello ran a good race last time over 1400m and also has a chance. Savara’s Princess has some good form and has to be respected too.

In the fifth race over 2000m Douglas Dragon is a consistent sort who is distance suited and carrying 52kg he is only 1kg under sufferance with the best weighted runner. However, he does have a wide draw of eight to overcome. Hotarubi has plenty of ability, but his attitude is in question and he cannot be relied on. However, if he is going to have an on day he does have a good opportunity here from a good draw over a suitable distance. Imperial Mster should relish the step up in trip. He has a fair draw and should go close with a 1,5kg claimer aboard. Royal Edition is a bit in and out, but he can’t be ignored over an ideal trip from a plum draw. Flashy Apache is the joint best-weighted and from pole position should be in the shake up.

In the sixth race over 2000m Hazy Dazy looks full of promise and has scope for plenty of improvement. This tall filly is ideally distance suited and has a good draw. She looks to be the best bet on the card. Nkwenkwezi, Kissing Machine, and Cartagena all have the ability to challenge her. Arctic Silver in fine form too, but does have a four point merit-rated raise and a wide draw to overcome.

In the seventh race over 2000m Match A Mint disappointed last time but is interesting tried over a step up in trip from pole position. Ethical is proven over this trip and should be right there from a good draw. Rejuvenated had some hard-knocking maiden form before getting off the mark when stepped up to 1800m on the poly at Hollywoodbet Greyville. She is interesting over a trip she should relish on pedigree. Pomozelous is not very consistent, but is distance suited and can’t be ignored. Hopscotch can do better than her last two starts and could earn.

In the eighth over 1700m Michael Faraday has the ability to beat this field over an ideal trip from a good draw. Scarlett Heart won easily in the maidens and starts off handicapping off a reasonable mark. Gamer is capable of earning from a fair draw. The Mightiest can earn if producing her best. Bob Lee Swagger has his third run after a layoff and can do better than last time.

In the tenth over 1200m She’s All Mine is in fine form and will go close. Peregrine Falcon won well last time and off a three point higher mark can earn again. Captain Efficient can be in the shake up if repeating his last start. Captai Selvie has the form to be a contender. Quiet Winter starts handicapping off a reasonable merit rating after an easy win in the maidens over 1160m and has to be considered.

In the first leg of the PA over 1400m Winds Of Grace is knocking on the door and has a good opportunity here. Al Greenga made a good debut and will go close with expected improvement. Onceinabluemoon has shown some ability and can earn here.

In the first race over 1400m Amandla Ngawethu and World Order should fight it out.

In the second race over 1400m Lance Alot and Tommy Atkins are the pair to beat and should get punters through the Bipot.

Richard Fourie Favourite To Win Jockeys Championship

Richard Fourie was a record-breaking champion in 2023/2024 but didn’t chase the title last year when finishing 17 wins behind Gavin Lerena. He is now a 9/10 shot to regain the title, despite currently being 17 wins behinds Craig Zackey (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Bookies take no chances with Richard Fourie

By Mike Moon (The Citizen)

Craig Zackey had a lead of 15 wins over rival Richard Fourie on the jockey championship log when the latter was made odds-on favourite for the title when betting opened at the weekend.

Zackey has now had 87 wins and is clearly making a concerted bid to win his first championship, travelling a lot and riding for a wide range of trainers. Hollywoodbets priced him up at 1.11 and he remains on tha price despite having extended his lead to 17.

Fourie, who set a new record of 378 winners when he became champion in 2023/24 and narrowly failed to defend the title last season, has indicated he’ll be expanding his travelling itinerary in the near future. That was enough of a hint for odds layers who promptly posted him at 0.91.

Callan Murray, who returned to South Africa from Australia as stable jockey to the newly powered-up Mike & Mathew de Kock yard, is a fairly distant third favourite at 12.50.

Given his commitment to the KwaZulu-Natal and Highveld bases of his paymasters, it seems unlikely Murray will be a major contender – but never say never in the racing game.

Reigning champion Gavin Lerena, who rode like a demon in the closing months of the 2024/25 campaign to pip Fourie at the post, is a longshot at 33.00 after having had to serve a longish early-season suspension that allowed the opposition to a big advantage.

Justin Snaith is a red-hot 0.5 to land his seventh champion trainer title – unsurprisingly given the stockpiles of explosive ammunition in his Cape Town stables.

Sean Tarry – a sometime champ himself – is a 6.25 shot. Given the promising young talent he has coming through, a few smart bets are likely to go the way of the likeable Highveld conditioner.

The trainer championship is based on stake money won, not number of winners.

BETTING
Jockeys:
(current log position, name, odds)

2 Richard Fourie 0.91
1 Craig Zackey 1.11
5 Callan Murray 12.50
4 Muzi Yeni 20.00
6 Calvin Habib 33.00
15 Gavin Lerena 33.00
3 Serino Moodley 33.00
8 S’Manga Khumalo 50.00
7 Sean Veale 75.00
– Keagan de Melo 75.00
10 Luyolo Mxothwa 100.00

Trainers:

1 Justin Snaith 0.5
4 Sean Tarry 6.25
5 Mike & Mathew de Kock 6.25
3 Tony Peter 8.33
6 James Crawford 20.00
9 Dean Kannemeyer 20.00
2 Alan Greeff 33.00
8 Candice Bass 33.00

Eric Sands Pulls Off A Fine Training Feat With Foudre

Foudre was not hard pressed to earn a comfortable victory (Picture: Wayne Marks)

The Eric Sands-trained Khaya Stables-owned Foudre returned from a layoff of more than 21 months to win a Maiden Plate over 1200m by 1,25 lengths under Craig Zackey at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Wednesday.

It was the Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein-bred Fire Away gelding’s first run for Sands.

He is a half-brother to multiple Gr 1-winning equine celebrities Rainbow Bridge (Ideal World), Hawwaam (Silvano) and Golden Ducat (Philanthropist), being out of the Equus Champion Broodmare Halfway To Heaven (Jet Master) and he fetched R1,6 million at the 2022 National Yearling Sale.

He had run three seconds, a third and a fourth in five starts between August 2023 and January 2024 over distances from 1250m to 2000m.

Foudre broke well and was in the leading line from the off on Wednesday, although just off the leader Gale Warning.

He assumed the lead 400m out when the latter began fading, but was still under the hands and it was only at the 200m mark that Zackey produced the stick.

Foudre then drew clear of the challenger Give It Laldy, a Lucinda Woodruff Hollywood Racing-owned One World who had been backed into 9/2 second favourite.

The 3/1 favourite Pritti United had travelled well and seemed to be moving up well, but was no match for Fourde and others and could only manage a 3,65 length sixth.

Sands also trained Rainbow Bridge, whose five Gr 1 wins included two Mets, and he trained twice Gr 1 winner Golden Ducat too.

He had also trained their mother Halfway To Heaven, so he was obviously a good choice of trainer when Khaya Stables were looking for somebody to take over the reins in the training of Foudre.

Sands said in the interview after Foudre’s win, “It’s really great to have my first runner for Lady Christine Laidlaw and thank you to Mary (Slack) for being so patient with this horse … that’s just Mary and I’m really honoured.”

Mary Slack’s Wilgerbosdrift Stud team had looked after Foudre for more than a year when he was recovering from a tendon injury.

Asked about the plan with Foudre, Sands said, “He had a tendon so we’ve got to keep him sound. 1200m is not his game. Rainbow Bridge won over 1200m, and I’m not saying he is in that quality yet and I’m not going to blow up his case, but it will be lovely one day if he carried on to get to the top.”

Zackey reminded that the members of this equine family were actually at their best as four and five-year-olds, so there is still hope for Foudre. Zackey said there had always been high expectations.

He said, “On the way to the post I was smirking, because even though he was big he was light on his feet. I would have liked to have followed one or two but he came out running. I liked the way he stayed on. He is looking for further and winning is a bonus. Great training feat by Mr Sands.”

It was the first leg of a double for Zackey.

Vaughan Marshall was the only other double scorer on the day.

Today's Question

Where does shock Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike stand at stud?

The picture is of the subject

FIELDS, Wednesday, 19 November

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth

Today’s Question Answer

Rich Strike was sent to stud at Irish Hill & Dutchess Views Stallions in Stillwater, New York.

TDN wrote on January 1, 2025.

Derby Winner Rich Strike To Stand at Mountain Springs Farm in Pennsylvania

By Bill Finley

After on-again, off-again attempts to bring Rich Strike (Keen Ice–Gold Strike, by Smart Strike) back to the races, owner Rick Dawson has decided to retire the 2022 GI Kentucky Derby winner. Dawson revealed the news in a Facebook post on New Year’s Eve.

“I have entered into a P&S Agreement to stand Richie as stallion at Mountain Springs Farm in Palmyra PA w/ owner Rich Miller,” he wrote. “A final contract should be executed very soon & Richie will ship shortly thereafter. I personally plan to support Richie with several quality mares each season. GO RICHIE & OFFSPRING!!”

Mountain Springs Farm is located in Palmyra, PA, and is owned by Miller.

“This is more than a little exciting,” Miller said. “I don’t know what to expect yet, but we’re seeing that there’s a lot of interest in him.” Miller said he was not aware if a stud fee had been set yet.

When it comes to highs and lows, few horses have had careers quite like that of the chestnut 6-year-old.

After running 10th in his debut, a maiden special weight turf race at Ellis Park, he was claimed for $30,000 out of his next start by Dawson and trainer Eric Reed. That was in a maiden claimer going a mile on the main track at Churchill Downs, which he won by 17 1/4 lengths. Five starts later he managed to finish a distant third in the GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park, but earned enough points to be on the bubble for the Derby. Rich Strike only got into the race because there was a late scratch and he drew in off the also-eligible list.

The causing a major shock, he won by three-quarters of a length at odds of 80-1. Rich Strike became the second longest priced horse to have won the Kentucky Derby after Donerail in 1913. Donerail was 91-1.

The Derby was the last race he would ever win and he made just one start in 2023, finishing a distant fifth in the GII Alysheba S. Dawson said the horse was suffering from suspensory injuries, but he held out hope they could be healed to the point that he could return to the races. Meanwhile, Dawson and Reed parted ways over a dispute involving the rights to a movie about Reed, his father and Rich Strike. Rich Strike was turned over to Hall of Famer Bill Mott and more time was given for him to get over his injuries. This time stem-cell treatments were tried, but he was never able to get back to his self.

He recovered to the point that Mott was able to work him four times this summer at Saratoga, but injury problems persisted and he was retired with a record of 14-2-1-3 and earnings of $2,526,809. He was bred by Calumet Farm.

“I was approached about him weeks ago and we just kept discussing it,” Miller said. “It looks like there’s quite a bit of interest coming from out of state. But the breeding program here in Pennsylvania is excellent and that’s probably why they decided to come here. They approached me and I must have watched the Derby 20 times. I still can’t figure out how he got from last to first. What a run. What a race.”

Miller is a veteran Pennsylvania breeder, whose farm stands some of the best stallions in the state. The most notable is Uptowncharlybrown (Limehouse), who was the leading stallion in Pennsylvania in 2024. They also have, among others, Uncle Benny (Declaration of War), who was second in the 2018 GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, and Enticed (Medaglia d’Oro), a two-time graded stakes winner.