Racing is fortunate to have people and horses who are true professionals
The two words “True Professional” cropped up in Turf Talk recently and – while the country faces numerous problems – the sport of racing is lucky that it has people and horses who fit into this category.
It was Klawervlei CEO, John Koster, who stated that the popular Hollywoodbets Durban July winner, Kommetdieding, was “a true professional in the breeding barn.”
Bloodstock consultant, John Freeman, chipped in reminding readers of “Kommet’s” excellent career record. “He won his only start at two years over 1200m and then rocketed himself to stardom winning the Durban July as a three year-old and then reaffirmed his supremacy as a four year-old beating Jet Dark and Linebacker in the Cape Met.”
The news about Kommetdieding will certainly be sweet music to the ears of his shareholders and his progeny are likely to be highly popular when they reach the sales ring.
This brings us to an interesting question – who is the more popular right now with racing fans “Kommet” or Charles Dickens whose seasonal debut on Saturday had to be put on hold?
Possibly – at this stage – “Kommet” is closer to the hearts of racing fans given his exploits on the track but – just like Grand Prix racing needs Max Verstappen – we need an equine star and Candice Bass-Robinson’s nine-time winner is just that.
In the early market on the Cape Met, Charles Dickens is priced at 7-2 with See It Again at 11-4. It would be foolish to take the former’s price until we know the firm plans for the son of Trippi.
Hong Kong has been mentioned and how marvellous it would be if CD could follow in the hoofprints of Markus Jooste’s best horse,Variety Club. This writer would do everything in my power for a repeat visit – possibly my eighth trip – to the bustling city.
The Hong Kong Jockey Club have their own media team and – in contrast to the Cape – look after overseas journos superbly with five nights accommodation in a five-star hotel.
However, it is the opinion of Turftalk editor, David Thiselton, that Charles Dickens’ route will be next Saturday’s postponed Matchem (weather permitting!) followed by the Green Point Stakes and King’s Plate.
When it comes to “True Professionals” in our jockey ranks two, Warren Kennedy and Keagan De Melo, are now riding overseas but – on the home front – this column would nominate Richard Fourie and Gavin Lerena.
Fourie will be annoyed to pick up a suspension so early in the season which has allowed Muzi Yeni to speed off to the front like the afore-mentioned, Max V. Now those early gains in the season certainly contributed massively to the title wins of Kennedy and De Melo – will they work for Muzi?
Yes, says my better half, and we’ve got a bet (lunch at Joburg’s best steakhouse Thundergun). I kept it to myself that Richard F is 6-10 while Muzi Y is 6-1 – surely a huge price provided he avoids suspensions.
I have always been a huge supporter of Gavin Lerena and he’s started the new campaign in hot form and is in touch in the title race with around 30 winners this term. However, he did say in an interview last week that he didn’t intend to chase all over the country in search of winners so his price of 8-1 is no gift.
When it comes to racing headlines, Gavin is rarely in hot water with the authorities – too many times we’ve had to see how he’s doing after sustaining an injury.
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Fancy an early punt on the R5 mllion Betway Summer Cup – look no further than 8-1 shot Dave The King, one of seven entries from the powerful stable of Mike De Kock.
Actually, the stable has not been on the mark in this race in the last decade or so – the last win for the yard was Flirtation’s win in 2010. I remember Nico Kritsiotis’ commentary – he’s usually highly excited in finishes of Gr 1 races but this time his call resembled a eulogy at a funeral.
Dave The King’s Champions Cup third – beaten just 1,35 lengths by Horse-of-the-Year Princess Calla was a superb performance. On that form he holds stablemate, Safe Passage, so why the latter is ahead of him (6-1) in the early market is puzzling.
To their credit, World Sports Betting were out with the betting as soon as the 40 Cup entries were announced and few would argue that Winchester Mansion doesn’t deserve to be the early 5-1 favourite given his excellent performance in the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
The Brett Crawford inmate, who is presumably in the care of the trainer’s son, James, at Randjesfontein has more on his plate this time, but he hasn’t got that many miles on the clock. He has contested just four races in 2023.
Sean Tarry is always a man to be feared and he has five Cup entries. Hard to get excited about Litigation or Nebraas, but the trio of Bless My Stars (6-1), Cousin Casey and Future Pearl are all live candidates.
The debut this term of Cousin Casey – beaten in all four KZN starts during their season – is eagerly awaited. The four year-old is a 16-1 chance in the early market.
KOMMETDIEDING: As professional as stud, as he was on the racetrack. (klawervlei.co.za).
First log for the 2023 Betway Summer Cup
The first official 4Racing operator’s log for the 2023 R5 million Gr1 Betway Summer Cup to be run at Turffontein on Saturday 25 November gas been published.
The Wernars’ defending champion PUERTO MANZANO (ARG) from the Johan Janse van Vuuren yard heads the log. Van Vuuren has also entered dual Charity Mile winner, BINGWA.
In second position is 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner WINCHESTER MANSION, owned by Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs G A Rupert) and trained by Brett Crawford. WINCHESTER MANSION tops the Betway antepost betting boards (4/1) and makes up a quartet of entries for Brett Crawford, who has also entered BILLY BOWLEGS (33/1), CRIMSON KING (33/1) and SOLAR POWER (200/1).
In 3rd position is Mike de Kock charge, DAVE THE KING, owned in partnership byMessrs L M Nestadt & G J Player & Ralphs Racing (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Miss K Ralphs). De Kock fields a total of 7 entries with SAFE PASSAGE (6/1), UNION SQUARE (16/1), EAST COAST (25/1), ARAGOSTA (33/1), SHOEMAKER (33/1) and TROIS TROIS QUATRE (33/1) making up the balance.
Sean Tarry occupies 4th place with Kestorm Investments (Nom: Mr Kenneth Pillay)’s Equus Champion 3yo Female BLESS MY STARS. Tarry currently holds 5 entries including COUSIN CASEY, 2023 Equus Champion Stayer FUTURE PEARL, LITIGATION and NEBRAAS.
Also making the top 20 are Grant Maroun’s 2023 WSB SA Classic winner ANFIELDS ROCKET, Robyn Klaasen’s narrow WSB Premier’s Champions Challenge runner up SECOND BASE, Paul Matchett’s WSB Gauteng Guineas winner EYE OF THE PROPHET and Dean Kannemeyer’s Cape raider RUNAWAY SONG, as well as Weiho Marwing’s SA Derby winner SON OF RAJ, NONE OTHER from the Lucky Houdalakis yard and MERIDIUS from the Tony Peter string.
Second entries close at 11am on Tuesday, 31 October 2023 and final entries at 9am on Monday, 13 November 2023, after which weights will be announced. Declarations must be in by 11am on Wednesday, 15 November 2023 and barrier draws will be conducted at a Betway event on 15 November 2023.
Stallion Gold Standard moves to Birch Bros at Vogel Vlei Stud
Drakenstein Stud and the shareholders in Gold Standard have decided to give the son of Champion Sire Trippi a new opportunity at the historic Vogel Vlei Stud.
Kevin Sommerville of Drakenstein commented: “After four seasons at Stud here in the highly competitive Western Cape stallion ranks, shareholders felt that Gold Standard would receive the support he deserves while also boosting the bloodlines for Karoo Breeders.”
Gold Standard produced three exceptional stakes horses from limited opportunities from his first crop, which included the second highest rated 3YO filly in Golden Hostess. He also sired stakes-winner Gold Poker Game and the Grade 1 performed Hold My Hand. His second crop has already produced the stakes-performed colt, Royals.
Gold Standard hails from the family of Olympic Duel, one of the country’s most established families in the South African Stud Book. An outstanding performer on the racetrack for trainer Glen Kotzen, he is a magnificent individual with a wonderful temperament. He has the credentials to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Gaynor Rupert was quoted as saying “It was a sad day to see Gold Standard leave Drakenstein Stud, however the Western Cape’s loss will undoubtedly be the Karoo Breeders’ gain. Drakenstein Stud will continue to support Gold Standard at his new home and we wish Colin the best of luck in this exciting new chapter.”
For enquiries, please contact Colin Birch at Vogel Vlei Stud.
GOLD STANDARD: A new chapter starts in the Karoo.
Devoy hangs up his boots after a lifetime of service to racing
Gqeberha-based veteran jockey Shannon Devoy has decided to call it a day after a lifetime in the saddle.
“I have enjoyed a great innings. But at 64, I’m feeling the years and definitely not getting any younger. It’s time to go,” he told SPORTING POST.
He paid tribute to the late George Scott, with whom he enjoyed a good spell of winners in the old Transvaal in the 1980s. “He helped me a lot. Uncle George had my back. ”
Shannon has ridden his fair share of smart horses over the years. When asked to nominate the highlight of his career he says the 1997 East Cape Horse Of The Year Fighting Beat is the best East Cape horse he has ridden.
“I was Hekkie Strydom’s stable jockey in those years and rode many winners for him. The highlight was winning three in a row with Fighting Beat,” he recalls.
He also won the PE Gold Cup in 2012 on the Corne Spies trained Campo De Santana, a rank outsider on the day.
He looks forward to doing the things he enjoys from life: “I want to get more involved with my church. I find that extremely fulfilling. And then I need to do some road-running. After riding forever, one gets used to watching the diet and staying fit. I feel like I have already put on a bit of pudding!”
He said that he will be racing on occasion, but that his focus has already shifted: “I will undoubtedly miss the good people, but don’t see myself here every Friday. Please allow me to thank all the folk that have been there for me over the years. I hope South African horseracing prospers. I really do.”
A FOCUS ON GOOD THINGS: Shannon Devoy is looking forward to retirement.
WSB Cape Town Met Theme Unveiled – Cape Splendour
The WSB Cape Town Met theme, Cape Splendour (see above), will be welcomed by fashion afficionados as well as everyday racegoers as it has rich cultural connotations and should see creativity reaching high levels.
Watch the promo video below:
Thisel collects holiday cash in a tight HWB Punters Challenge finish
Turf Talk’s editor David Thiselton, on leave for a few days, collected some holiday cash on Sunday when he beat 11,000-odd rivals in the day’s Hollywoodbets Punters Challenge. Thiselton won the first prize of R2,000, and it was doubled to R4,000 because he’d invested a minimum of R50 betting on his own selections.
He said: “Having taken some leave I had more time to study form on Sunday. I went to the formgrids website and found a few good pointers. But I was still surprised to have won. After Race 7, I was in 83rd place.”
Awesome ‘Arc’ winner may be retired to stud
This stuttering Flat season was in search of a big moment and it finally got it on Sunday thanks to Ace Impact in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
The three-year-old colt lived up to the hype and won very impressively on quicker ground than normal for Europe’s premier middle-distance horserace.
Trained by Jean-Claude Rouget and ridden by Cristian Demuro, who both tasted Arc success for the first time with the four-year-old Sottsass three years ago, the son of Cracksman made it a super six from six racecourse appearances with a scintillating success.
It was put to Rouget in the aftermath that the majority of those in attendance were left speechless, but he said: “Actually, I more or less expected to see that turn of foot and that acceleration.
“He wasn’t able to show it at Cagnes-Sur-Mer or Bordeaux, but even after a slow beginning in the Prix du Jockey Club he literally flew home.
“At Deauville he wasn’t ready and I know people we were saying he had not run at Longchamp before, but I thought he would be able to deploy that acceleration, especially on the ground we have today.
“My last reflection before the start of the race was to say to myself, ‘it’s too good to be true’, but it was not too good, it was true!
“He’s a bit like a child, an adolescent who needs to be looked after and reassured constantly. If he was able to talk, he would tell you he’s a very sensitive being.
“I knew the horse was in stronger shape than he was for the Prix du Jockey Club, which is normal as he’s more mature now. He was in marvellous shape before the race.
“The best acceleration I’ve ever seen is Zarkava and this horse is not far off. Sottsass was a very good horse and a very strong horse, but he was not the same type of horse. He was an extraordinary horse, but this one has the power of acceleration of one of the top horses in the world.”
Ace Impact only made his racing debut in January and is still unbeaten after six trips to the track but Rouget said he may now be retired to stud. No doubt the horse’s tendency to get worked up in the preliminaries doesn’t help and it must be difficult keeping the lid on him but it is going to be a crying shame if this comet of a colt is only going to blaze through the racing world for just one year.
-Extracts from Sporting Life and The Guardian.
ACE IMPACT, stunning turn of foot.
“Richard’s given me a wake-up call!” – Muzi Yeni
RICHARD Fourie put five winners on the board on his return from a suspension, at Greyville on Sunday, pushing his seasonal tally to 37 winners, 16 behind the in-form log-leader, Muzi Yeni, who is on 53 winners.
They’re both worthy of and chasing their first SA National Jockeys crown, a long-time coming for both, and just over two months into the 2023/4 season their rivalry is getting even more exciting.
Muzi failed to get on the board, Sunday, and while he still has a nice cushion of winners, he, of all jockeys, knows how quickly things can go pear-shaped in racing.
He said on Monday: “Richard is a top rider and a great competitor and his five wins gave me a wake-up call. In my view, it could have been six. Either way, it just reminded me not to rest on any laurels, to stay focused and give my best. I am working tirelessly, seven days a week to achieve my goal of getting the title. It’s an ambition for Richard, too, so it will be a contest all the way.”
Muzi said that he’d reached a level of maturity and experience that serves him well. “I’ve been trying not to think of the championship every day, rather to focus on riding every horse to the best of my ability. Richard has KZN wrapped with most of the top trainers and he gets good rides elsewhere. My agent and I are trying hard to stay ahead on form, getting some choice mounts, but it’s not easy.”
He added that he didn’t want the challenge to become an all-consuming obsession. “If I don’t win it, then so be it. Richard is a professional, he is quoted at 6-10 or something like that to win and he should be! I read somewhere I am at 5 or 6-1. But if I can go along the way I have, riding consistently well, and if I can better my personal best this season, that will be good.”
Muzi rode a career best 216 winners in 2018/19, going down by just three winners to Lyle Hewitson. At his current rate of 25 winners per month he will get to 300. Richard posted 258 winners in his best season, 2022/3. Things are going to average out over the next few months as they compete for rides. Who is your money on?
ALL CLASS RIDER: ‘Richie Rich’ is back in town.
Today’s Question
Can you name them? This photo of South African racing personalities dates back near three decades. Scroll down for answer.
Today’s Question Answer
