Greg Ennion - 50 Years A Trainer And Has An Exciting String

Greg Ennion congratulates Captain Of All gelding Major Apollo, whose shareholders include one of SA’s most famous owners Marsh Shirtliff, whom Greg actually introduced to racehorse ownership (JC Photos)

Greg Ennion took out his license in 1974 so has been training thoroughbreds for 50 years and, despite operating on a shoestring sales budget in the country’s strongest centre, his current 35 strong string is one of the best he has had in recent times.

Training thoroughbreds demands a variety of horsemanship skills, all equally important, and every season that extra bit of experience adds to the trainers’ worth.

It all begins at the Sales and Greg admitted, “I buy the best I can for as little as I can.”

In cricketing parlance it could be said after 50 years of inspecting Sales horses Greg’s eye is in and it shows in the power of his three-year-old string.

Talking about one of them, the Varsfontein-bred Master Of My Fate filly Polynomial, he said, “I bought her at nationals (BSA National Yearling Sale) and paid 100 grand for her. She was an absolutely lovely filly, but she was underdone and very immature, but she caught my eye when she was walking in the ring.”

Greg took a further look at her and another aspect that contributed to his decision to buy her was she is from the family of Master Plan, whom Greg trained to win the Gr 1 Champions Cup over 1800m and the Gr 2 Betting World Derby over 2400m as well as the Gr 3 July consolation race.

On debut over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Polynomial was allowed to go off at 75/1 odds, which is not surprising as the form analysts look at the raced horses first and then consider the first-timers from the big yards.

A small yard first-timer is almost always ignored.

However, Polynomial burst through late down the inside and won by a cosy 1,50 lengths under Corne Orffer.

The first visual impression she gave was of being small and whippet-like and perhaps in the category of an early season horse who had the advantage of precocity.

However, Ennion’s first impression of her as being immature has proved to be the correct one, because in her last start it was obvious she had strengthened up considerably and had that classic look about her.

In her second start over 1250m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville in going that caused the meeting to be abandoned straight after her race, she turned for home way out of her ground and Corne Orffer, under the circumstances, wisely decided to not give her a hard time. However, she made up plenty of ground in eyecatching fashion to be beaten just 4,25 lengths.

Then in her next start on Tuesday last week in a handicap over that same Durbanville 1250m under Grant van Niekerk she once again turned for home way out of her ground, but this time in good going. A notably stronger looking Polynomial ran on superbly and only failed by neck to get there with the rest of the field beaten 2,75 lengths and more.

The run caught the eye of the handicapper, who bumped her up four points from 88 to 92.

Greg admitted he had high hopes for her.

He said, “I am going to nominate her for the Diana Stakes (Gr 3 over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on September 28). The problem is finding a jockey to ride her at 50kg. Otherwise I will just wait for the Western Cape Fillies Championship (Gr 2 over 1400m for three-year-olds at Hollywoodbets on November 9) and then the Fillies Guineas (Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas at Kenilworth on December 7) although she will need to win another race to get in there.”

Greg believes she wants some ground and added, “If she really does well my ultimate aim is to run her in the Paddock Stakes (Gr 1 wfa Cartier Paddock Stakes over 1800m in January).”

He continued, “She is filling out and growing into a very nice filly.”

He said about the intended jockey if she does run in the Gr 1 events, “Whatever decent jock I can get, because it is not easy. I am a small yard and the big yards grab the big jocks, it’s that simple!”

He added, “I use Corne Orffer and Grant van Niekerk as much as I can … hopefully I can get one of them.”

But having said all of that Greg revealed that Polynomial is not even the best three-year-old filly in his yard in his opinion.

He said, “Miss World (One World) is probably my best three-year-old filly. She’s also going to run in the Diana Stakes. She won her second start and then ran second to a good horse (Talk To The Master) and then second to a top horse (Lion Rampart and she beat Talk To The Master comfortably in that race). She then ran fourth in the Irridescence (Listed over 1500m), but did not handle the heavy track that day.”

He continued, “I also have Dixieland Band (The United States), who ran second in the Irridescence … she handled the going a lot better than Miss World did.”

He has other decent three-year-old fillies All Is Green (Captain Of All), who is returning from an injury (she finished five lengths behind Miss World over 1200m).”

Of his three-year-old males one-time winner Surge Of Power (Potala Palace) is merit rated 103 after finising a close up fourth in the Gr 3 Langerman over 1500m and Arctic Wizard (What A Winter) won well third time out on Saturday.

He has a hitherto unraced Master Of My Fate colt called Brigadier Billy, who he believes has a bright future.

He said, “I have a lot of very decent three-year-olds and no expensive horses. I have a lovely crop of babies this year too.”

He concluded, “My clients have been very good to me.”

Greg also landed the R200,000 Winter Country Championship final on the first day of the season with the Rafeef filly Silver Screen.

Greg mentioned some of the best horses he had trained in his 50 years in the game although there must have been many and he is likely to have over looked some.

He said Master Plan was one of the best and he reckoned the best filly he had ever trained was Model Man filly Model School who won the Paddock Stakes as a three-year-old.

He also recalled winning nine feature races with Symbolize, while Karthala won his first five and then broke down.

One of the horses he obviously omitted was Astro News (Silvano), who had various trainers but while with Greg he finished a narrow second in the Gr 2 Peninsula Handicap, was 6^th in the Met behind the great Igugu and placed behind the great Variety Club in the KRA Guineas.

Greg was usually involved in Cape Summer season and KZN Champion Season features at one stage and winning the Gr 2 J&B Reserve Summer Stayers two years in a row with Sangria Girl and at least three features in the KZN Champions season in 2012 as well as once running one-two in the Politician Stakes, a black type pointer to the Cape Derby, are memories that spring to mind.

There have been the near misses too, like the time he singled out two horses at the sales for owner John Harrison. One of them was Jay Peg, who was destined to become one of the highest earners in SA history with Gr 1 success in SA and abroad, but they opted for the other one for the simple reason that John wanted a grey.

Greg was responsible for John Harrison being involved in the sport and another big owner he introduced was the top owner Marsh Shirtliff.

Greg hopes some of his best horses ever might emerge from his current crop and said, “We always live in hope … a trainer lives in hope. Horses can’t speak so you never know where you are. You go on a day to day basis and see how they improve. But I am very happy with what I’ve got and I think some of my three-year-olds will match any that I’ve seen so far.”

Greg hails from a racing family and was once the leading rider in the Cape Hunt, so is a horseman through and through.

He invariably has a sunny disposition and clearly enjoys training.

Girish Samo-Burthia Scores First Career Win

Flag Bearer wins from pillar to post by a cosy margin (JC Photos)

South African Jockey Apprentice Girish Samo-Burthia scored his first career victory to day on the Fanie Bronkhorst-trained Flying The Flag six-year-old gelding Flag Bearer, who led from start to finish in an 1800m handicap at the Vaal Classic track.

The Mauritian youngster had ridden Flag Bearer, who is a resolute gallop rated 59, to second place over 1800m on Turffontein Inside in his previous start.

The form of that race looked strong and this time the blinkered six-year-old , who started 3/1 joint second favourite, kept on going under good pace judgement by Girish to win easily by 2,50 lengths.

Girish was transfered to Gauteng under the guidance of National Riding Master Robert Moore recently.

He made his debut on 8th August and today was his 12th ride.

Magazine On Fourie's Record-breaking Season To Be Published

Gary Lemke receiving his print-media Equus Award last year (JC Photos)

Top sports journalist, author and editor Gary Lemke is behind the idea of producing a magazine endorsed by Hollywoodbets and Winning Form about Richard Fourie’s record-breaking 378 wins season.

A range of writers will contribute and all aspects of the incredible feat will be touched on.

The magazine will be 116 pages and will include 30 pages of statistics.

It should be a fascinating read.

It is hoped the mag will be out in mid-October.

Hundreds Of Fans Expected For City Of Troy Gallop

City Of Troy, pictured working at Ballydoyle, will gallop at Souhwell all weather track in preparation for the Breeders Cup Classic on dirt (Picture: Patrick McCann (Racing Post))

Colt will gallop before the British public on Friday Sept. 20 before journeying to the U.S.

By Stuart Riley/Racing Post and David Jennings/Racing Post

Southwell, England, is expecting an outbreak of City of Troy fever Sept. 20 when more than 1,500 racing fans are expected to take advantage of the free entry to catch a glimpse of the highest-rated turf horse in the world as he stretches his legs in public on European soil for the final time this season.

The Justify colt has set the racing world alight—bouncing back from a ninth in the Two Thousand Guineas (G1) to win the Epsom Derby (G1), Eclipse Stakes (G1), and Juddmonte International Stakes (G1). And yet his biggest challenge lies ahead with his season—and quite possibly career—finale to come in an audacious bid for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on dirt at Del Mar Nov. 2.

Tapeta

Aidan O’Brien has opted for a day trip to the Tapeta of Southwell Racecourse with his stable star to help him adapt to the challenge of a first race on dirt—as the Ballydoyle supremo leaves no stone unturned in his long-pursued quest for a first Breeders’ Cup Classic.

Asked about the level of interest, Southwell clerk of the course John Holliday said: “Lots. Certainly more than we were expecting! We have 1,200 people booked in already with tickets and we’re expecting quite a few walk-ups, so it could be nearer 1,500 by the time we get to Friday.

“When it was initially discussed we expected a fair bit of excitement, but he’s a horse who’s really captured people’s imagination and if he were to win the Classic it would be great. As I said to Mr. O’Brien, if we can play a small part it would be fantastic.”

Responding to the interest, O’Brien said: “He’s always been such a fascinating horse for everyone so it’s great to hear the public are so interested in him as well, and fair play to the lads for allowing everything to be so open and transparent with the day out at Southwell.

“We want to give him the best chance we can of being at his best for the Classic and we feel that bringing him away for a day at Southwell will do just that. We’re obviously delighted to see so much interest from everybody and looking forward to bringing him over. Everything seems good with him at the moment.”

Spun to Run

Such is the interest, Holliday said Southwell would go above and beyond to provide gallop watchers with a fuller racing experience. He added: “Because of the interest he’s generated we’ll open some bars, the Tote will be open, we’ll put up the big screen and broadcast the racing off-course before the gallops because we’re expecting them to be a little bit later in the afternoon. We’ll be open from 1 p.m.

“They’re bringing their own American stalls, their own stalls team, ambulance, vets. All the hardware’s arriving Thursday, and then the horses are arriving Friday morning. It’s a fairly big operation. It’s getting towards being a full-blown race day from an organizational point of view.

“We have them in the stables, we’ve had 30-odd press requests, we’ve been asked for permission to film in the stables, I think it’ll be a busy old afternoon.”

O’Brien has gone close in the Classic before. Giant’s Causeway was beaten a neck at Churchill Downs in 2000, while a year later subsequent supersire Galileo was sixth at Belmont Park—with both races won by the only dual winner in the Classic’s history, Tiznow .

Both horses worked at Southwell in the build-up to their attempts to win America’s premier weight-for-age contest and, while O’Brien had moved away from using Southwell to prep his Classic contenders he has returned this year with a new, more intense approach.

Earlier this month the meticulous O’Brien said he envisioned a strenuous workout, with City of Troy working fast over a mile, with four or five others breaking from American-style starting stalls to try and replicate the early intensity of the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

In total O’Brien has saddled 14 runners in the Classic this century, with Henrythenavigator finishing second to Raven’s Pass at Santa Anita Park in 2008.

For more European racing, sales, and bloodstock news, visit RacingPost.com.

Meet The Top-ranked Racehorse In The World

Tadhg O’Shea salutes as Laurel River dominates the Dubai World Cup, photo Liesl King

Laurel River blitzed the World Cup – but little else.

Mike Moon (The Citizen)

Ask racing fans about Laurel River and you’ll get many a blank stare. Yet a nag with that name is officially the best racehorse in the world – according to the Longines Best Racehorse Rankings of the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities.

A few racing nerds might remember Laurel River as winning the Dubai World Cup. The six-year-old appeared from obscurity, started at long odds but hammered his rivals by more than eight lengths in the 2024 version of the famous race, then disappeared from view again.

He went from nowhere on the Longines top 50 list in March to the pinnacle in April with a ranking of 128. And he’s still on top of the latest pile released this month – ahead of Aidan O’Brien-trained superstar City Of Troy (127), who won the recent Juddmonte International Stakes in York in a new record time, and before that the Grade 1 Coral Eclipse and the Epsom Derby.

Further down the log are the French-trained duo Calandagan and Goliath, American Travers Stakes winner Fierceness and Irish hero Rebel’s Romance.

Racing publics in America, Australia, Europe and Japan will be puzzled.

USA to Dubai

Laurel River, bred and owned by Juddmonte, the well-endowed racing operation started by the late Prince Khalid bin Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, is still being trained in the UAE by young local Bhupat Seemar.

There is talk of targeting the current world’s richest race, the $20-million Saudi Cup, in February 2025.

And one presumes he’ll then defend his title at Meydan.

Laurel River has the right blood to be a champion, with his father being five-time American champion stallion Into Mischief. He raced in the States for a while, as a sprinter-miler, winning four from seven including a Grade 2 race.

After being suddenly switched to Seemar’s yard in Dubai, the colt was not seen on a racecourse for a full 17 months – before popping up in the Dubai Carnival, qualifying for the World Cup with a single win and then snatching it from under the noses of a battery of elite racers from all corners.

There are no South African horses in this month’s Longines rankings, which name a top 40.

Charles Dickens

Earlier this year, the massively popular colt Charles Dickens was featured – seventh in March, 11th in April and 15th in May, before he retired to stud at Drakenstein.

The 102 races around the world that the Longines judges use for their rankings make for interesting reading – and raise questions as to how the calculations are made.

Currently the only South African race on the roster is the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge at Greyville – at No 97. In previous years, the likes of the King’s Plate and the Premier’s Champions Challenge have featured.

The top-ranked race is the Japan Cup in Tokyo, with the Dubai Sheema Classic in second, followed by the Prix de la Arc de Triomphe, the King George VI Stakes and the Takarazuka Kinen.

Four of the top 10 races are in Japan, two each in Britain and France and one each in UAE and Ireland. The US gets a look in at No 11 with the Breeders’ Cup Turf and the Aussies at No 24 with the Cox Plate and the Kennedy Champions Mile. The Dubai World Cup is at No 33.

Favourites To Fire At Fairview

Splicethemainbrace can make it six races unbeaten on the Fairview turf on Friday (Pauline Herman Photography)

Jack Milner (The Citizen)

Punters of favourites could be in for a good day at Fairview on Friday as there are four runners priced up at odds-on on the eight-race card.

Three of them – My Best Shot, Splicethemainbrace and Three Rocks – are trained by Alan Greeff while the other is Justin Snaith-trained Pacaya.

The best of them for punting purposes could be My Best Shot who runs in Race 3, the Racehorse Owners Association Plate over 1400m.

The Fire Away colt had a couple of these rivals behind him in July over this course and distance and he can beat them all again.

My Best Shot has looked good since being sent around a turn, winning three of his last five starts. Two of those wins were over this track and trip.

He was a solid winner on the Polytrack last time out, coming from well off the pace to get up late.

Jockey Richard Fourie will be aboard him as well as Splicethemainbrace and Three Rocks.

The three-year-old filly Splicethemainbrace won all five of her juvenile starts so she goes unbeaten into Race 5, a MR 90 Handicap over 1000m.

She takes on some hard knockers and it is perhaps not her very best distance, but she keeps winning and it will take a brave punter to take her on.

Snaith has been at his done particularly well with his raiders recently and Pacaya will probably be the favourite to take out Race 6, the Friendly City Stakes (Listed) over 1800m.

The Trippi gelding has taken on some decent fields in the Western Cape and was only run out of it very late by stable companion Rapidash last time out

He is weighted to win this race comfortably and Muzi Yeni will give him every assistance from the saddle.

The Greeff-trained pair of Fairy Knight and Joy and Peace both had very good three-year-old campaigns and will be looking to pick up the pieces if Pacaya does not show his best.

More was expected from Fairy Knight in last year’s East Cape Derby but he proved no match for his stable companion, filly Joy And Peace, so it is interesting that Fourie will stick with Fairy Knight.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 1 War Sword, 12 Extraction, 11 Dancing In Winter, 9 Ponte Vecchio

Race 2: 11 Lady Luck, 10 Path Of Choice, 1 Sun Spectacular, 4 Four Jacks

Race 3: 1 My Best Shot, 4 Family Law, 3 Mister Speaker, 7 Sakurajima

Race 4: 7 Union Rose, 6 Arabian Red, 2 Nothingelsematters, 3 Gold Gunner

Race 5: 2 Splicethemainbrace, 3 Forest Spy, 8 Anuschka’s World, 5 Great Melody

Race 6: 1 Pacaya, 4 Fairy Knight, 2 Cherry Ano, 8 Joy And Peace

Race 7: 1 Three Rocks, 2 Miss Greenlight, 3 Gocekwithlove, 4 Golden Pacific

Race 8: 11 Komesans Passion, 8 Bytheliteofthemoon, 4 Blue Palace, 6 Cold Truth

BEST BET

Race 3: 1 My Best Shot

VALUE BET

Race 8: 11 Komesans Passion

BEST SWINGER

Race 5 2×3

BIPOT

R192

Leg 1: 1, 9, 11, 12

Leg 2: 1, 4, 10, 11

Leg 3: 1

Leg 4: 2, 6, 7

Leg 5: 2, 3

Leg 6: 1, 4

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R36

Leg 1: 1, 10, 11

Leg 2: 1

Leg 3: 2, 6, 7

Leg 4: 2

Leg 5: 1

Leg 6: 1

Leg 7: 4, 6, 8, 11

PICK 6

R240

Leg 1: 1

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

Leg 3: 2, 3

Leg 4: 1, 4

Leg 5: 1, 2

Leg 6: 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11

JACKPOT 1

R40

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

Leg 2: 2, 3

Leg 3: 1, 4

Leg 4: 1, 2

JACKPOT 2

R48

Leg 1: 2, 3

Leg 2: 1, 4

Leg 3: 1, 2

Leg 4: 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11

Jake White's Racing Connection Is Made Publically Visible

Jake White, former Rugby World Cup-winning coach and current coach of the United Rugby Championship finalist, appeared in a newspaper photograph wearing a Drakenstein Stud Jet Dark jersey (pictured above)!

Jake is married to Avontuur Stud owner Lindy White (nee Taberer), who is best friends with Gaynor Rupert of Drakenstein Stud, where the stalwart dual Queen’s Plate and Met winner Jet Dark stands.

Lerena, Binda Doubles

Inafix (Lancaster Bomber) wins under S’Manga Khumao to give Clint Binda a double (JC Photos)

Jockey Gavin Lerena and trainer Clint Binda both had individual doubles at the Vaal Classic track today.

Lerena is now on 25 wins for the season and has acieved it at a strike rate of 25.51%.

Binda is on six wins at 22.22%.

Today's Question

The picture gives a clue to the answer

What is the rarest colouring in thoroghbred racehorses?

Midweek FIELDS

Vaal Classic, Thursday

Today’s Question Answer

Picture: Splash of Paint by Profile In Style (USA) out of the Akhadan mare, Akhaali, who is a three-quarter sister-in-blood to Group 3 placed Terango, is pictured winning in Aus in 2022. (Racehorses Australia via meta)

The sabino gene can cause big splashes of white on a horse’s coat although like horses that just have the normal white blaze or socks the horses is registered under the chief base colour.

Splash Of Paint is registered as a brown horse.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT SPLASH OF PAINT