Last year’s winner Shangani is the topweight for this year’s World Pool Gold Cup and the weight structure is in his favour (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
Gold Cup Weights Favour Topweights
1st R625000, 2nd R200000, 3rd R100000, 4th R50000, 5th R25000
WORLD POOL GOLD CUP (Grade 3)
Open
WFA: 3yrs-3.5kgs 4yrs-0.5kgs
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
1 1 Raiseahallelujah 54 99 A J P v’d Merwe Candice Dawson
2 2 Senso Unico 55.5 108 A S Veale Vaughan Marshall
3 3 Future Pearl 55 112 T A R Fourie Sean Tarry
4 4 Arumugam 54 94 B A *K A Brewer Weiho Marwing
5 5 Fight Song 54 94 A *S Hlengwa Gareth van Zyl
6 6 Shangani 60 120 B A C Zackey Tony Peter
7 7 Nebraas 59 117 TB A L Hewitson Sean Tarry
8 8 Rockie Reef 54 92 A T Godden Peter Muscutt
9 9 Flying First Class 54 91 H A C Habib David Nieuwenhuizen
10 10 One Way Traffic 56 108 B A G van Niekerk Justin Snaith
11 11 Black Thorn 54 102 A K de Melo Mike de Kock
12 12 Sea Master 54 99 P A A Mgudlwa Gareth van Zyl
13 13 Aragosta 57.5 114 C A S Khumalo Mike de Kock
14 14 Crimson King 54 101 A K Matsunyane Brett Crawford
15 15 Salvator Mundi 56.5 109 A G Lerena Justin Snaith
Reserve Runners
16 0 Electric Surge 54 83 A Reserve 1 Robbie Hill
Al Muthana has to jump from the widest draw of all in the Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Gold Cup, but he has the advantage of coming in fresh and facing a number of horses who have come out of a hard race in the Hollywoodbets Durban July (Picture: Wayne Marks).
Top Class Horses To Light Up World Pool Gold Cup Day
The Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Champions Cup over 1800m sees 14 in the line up including See It Again, who will have a strong chance of being named Equus Champion Three-year-old male and Equus Horse Of The Year if he can win it from draw 13. Al Muthana is full of class and goes for a second wfa Gr 1 this season, but he has drawn widest of all. However, he is capable of a powerful finish from off the pace. Princess Calla has been exemplary over sprints this season, but stays this trip and has an electric turn of foot. The long-striding front-running sort Dave The King is ideally distance suited and will be a threat from draw one. Zapatillas will be running fresh which often favours horses in this race running against tired Hollywoodbets Durban July runners. Trip Of Fortune ran on well in the July, but has had a long season. Safe Passage had no luck in the July, so this could be his race. Rascallion also deserves a change of luck and is distance suited. Bartholdi is a top sprinter and is interesting running fresh over this trip. Pomp And Power is full of class. but he is temperamental and is his own worst enemy. MK’s Pride has class and should see out the trip. Second Base is doing very well for his new yard and is a dark horse.
In the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint Gimme A Prince will be hard to beat from draw five over an ideal trip. Isivunguvungu is a top class sprinter too, but has to prove he is as effective over 1200m as he is over 1000m. William Robertson went close last year and is capable of winning this as he can eat up ground with his long stride. It is hard to see any of the others challenging those three. Sheela might do so though, because she has speed and a kick so should enjoy this around-the-turn Gr 1. Pearl Of Asia sprang a big surprise by winning this race two years ago and he can’t be ignored because on his day he possesses an electrifying turn of foot, although he usually needs some luck coming from last.
In the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes the top two-year-old male, the undefeated Lucky Lad, lines up and will likely have to use his exhilarating turn of foot, because he might well be dropped out from draw 13. His possible chief rival Sandringham Summit is drawn even wider in 14, but came from a mile back when winning the Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe. The undefeated Main Defender could still be anything and is drawn well. Longsword, Ermelo and The Africa House are scopey, long-striding sorts who could earn cheques.
In the Gr 1 Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes Platina Princess has eyecatching form and will be improving being by Danon Platina, but she does have a tough draw. Secret Identity has shown class and should be running on strongly from a wide draw. Rascova finished second to the crack Mrs Geriatrix in the Gr 2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper. Egyptian Mau was just behind her. Distant Winter was fourth in the latter race and also has a shout. Let’s Go Now is a full-sister to Bless My Stars and she still has plenty of scope for improvement. Dolcezza has some useful form and has a shout. That’s My Baby is well regarded, but does have a tough draw.
Please click on this link for the fields.
Crimson King, winner of the Gr 3 DSTV 2200, has attracted betting support for the World Pool Gold Cup (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
A Gem And A Pearl Dazzling Punters Ahead Of Gold Cup Day
One entrant that has excited a flurry of money is Crimson King
Mike Moon (The Citizen)
Smith And Greeff Battle Continues On The Poly Tomorrow
CLICK HERE TO WATCH SMITH AND GREEFF COMMENTS
Below is the At The Races guide to the meeting
1 12:40 PM – Welcome To Nelson Mandela Bay Maiden Juvenile Plate
Watch out for: EXECUTOR (2)
Parterre just holds on under Karis Teetan (HKJC)
Hong Kong Success for Flower Alley
Cape Breeders
Wilgerbosdrift’s in form stallion Flower Alley had a memorable day on Sunday, with the sire’s son Parterre winning in Hong Kong, and Flower Alley coming up with two smart winners at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the same day.
The Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein bred Parterre claimed his first success in Hong Kong on Sunday when he won the Big Profit Handicap at Sha Tin.
Under Karis Teetan, the Tony Millard-trained Parterre hit the front two furlongs from home in Sunday’s seven-furlong contest before holding on well to win by a neck.
The six-year-old son of Flower Alley had won twice in South Africa, where he also ran third in the 2020 G3 City Of Cape Town Politician Stakes and fourth in the same year’s G1 ARF Commemorative Cape Derby. He was trained by Brett Crawford.
A R650 000 purchase from the 2018 National Yearling Sale, Parterre is out of the Oasis Dream mare Square Dance, who has a Danon Platina colt on offer at the 2023 August Two Year Old Sale.
His sire also supplied two winners at Greyville on Sunday, with Flower Alley geldings Syx Hotfix and Iron Bark claiming races four and five respectively.
The Alyson Wright-trained Syx Hotfix defied 62kgs to win Sunday’s Global Bloodstock Logistics MR 78 Handicap in thrilling fashion. Under a superb ride from Rachel Venniker, the four-year-old stuck his head down where it mattered most to win by a short-head.
Bred by Moutonshoek, Syx Hotfix has now won five of 16 outings.
Syx Hotfix, who is out of the Jallad mare Kiss For Kate, was an R340 000 buy from the 2020 National 2YO Sale.
His paternal half-brother Iron Bark provided Flower Alley with a second win at Greyville on Sunday when he ran out a convincing winner of the Thanks To The Loyal New Turf Staff MR 94 Handicap (1000m). Under Anthandiwe Mgudlwa, the four-year-old made it three wins on the bounce when romping home to a near one-and-a-half length win. One of four winners on the day for Gareth Van Zyl, the Dr Ian Heyns-bred Iron Bark has now won seven of 21 starts and four of his last five outings.
Flower Alley has had another wonderful season in 2022-2023 with his flagbearers including G1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes/G1 South African Fillies Sprint queen Princess Calla and dual Oaks winner None Other.
His 118 runners have run 736 races this season and his 53 winners have won 95 races between them for a decent winners to runners percentage of 44.9. His six individual stakes winners have won 12 stakes races between them and his progeny have earned 11,687,675 in stakes (R11,881,175 if restricted races are counted). He is lying in 7th place on the national sires log.
Become A Vital Part Of Racing’s Future, Today!
The Sporting Post
One of South African horseracing’s most extraordinary evolutionary journeys continues with the news this week of the official launch of the Cape Turf Club (CTC) on the back of exciting landscape-defining developments at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
EMBRACING HORSERACING INTERESTS AND THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, WHILE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CITY OF CAPE TOWN, CAPE RACING IS ON ITS WAY TO ESTABLISHING A UNIQUE, GROUNDBREAKING LIFESTYLE DESTINATION AT HOLLYWOODBETS KENILWORTH THAT WILL BE A FIRST ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT.
Talking to the Cape Racing Chairman Greg Bortz, who was also recently appointed CEO of JSE-listed Grand Parade Investments, a company he now controls, one gets the sense that the launch of the Cape Turf Club is a quantum leap to providing a structure and benefits for the loyal base of patrons who will be accredited to get the most out of the exciting journey.
The Cape Turf Club provides everybody, from the dyed-in-the-wool established racing stakeholder to members of the local community, the opportunity to become a role-player in the planned new-look Southern Suburbs lifestyle destination centre with horseracing at its heart, and the passion and spirit of the sport of kings coursing through its veins.
“The Cape Turf Club is one of the most important aspects of our foundation plans. We sent out the official notice of the CTC membership options recently and have had excellent feedback and buy-in. It makes sense as it’s a value proposition where the benefits are many, and the cost is small. Plans are well advanced for the development of a 365-day-a-year, 24/7 lifestyle and entertainment complex, where the sport and stakeholders, as well as the local community, benefit. The reciprocal spin-offs are there as we raise racing’s profile, create the lifeblood of additional income streams, in tandem with the injection of a community vibrancy and energy into a safe and secure environment,” enthuses Bortz.
As regards the specifics of what Cape Turf Club members and the public at large can expect, the energetic businessman is at pains to stress that they and their professional teams are working very closely with the City in regards to what is planned to transition Hollywoodbets Kenilworth into a landmark destination, and that respect for due process and red-tape dictate that he is not ready yet for the ‘big reveal’.
“The focus will be on a secure, convenient lifestyle centre of excellence, structured around horseracing, providing a 365-day culinary, sport and entertainment experience, together with conferencing and event facilities, unique to the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town. CTC members will enjoy privileges and access beyond racing events and can avail themselves on a preferential basis to all we have on offer,” he added.
“WE CANNOT YET ELABORATE IN ANY DETAIL ABOUT OUR PLANS – AS MUCH AS WE ARE CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO DO SO! WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT CONSTRUCTION IS WELL UNDERWAY. THE PROPERTY IS LOOKING AMAZING, AND YET WE ARE PERHAPS ONLY 5% DONE! THERE IS A LONG WAY TO GO, AND PERMITTING AND APPROVALS CAN TAKE CONSIDERABLE TIME.
This is a complex development with substantial challenges. One of the biggest of these challenges is our parking. We expect our property to be busy every day of the year once our plans have been completed. We are working with the City to implement the appropriate traffic management plan. Our primary access point will become our Wetton Road gate. A new secure parking facility will be made available to all our patrons and customers on the Wetton Road side of the property. There will still be some parking available on the Rosmead side, but this is very limited and will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Furthermore, on race days, our suite holders already have their own dedicated unreserved suite-holder parking In the Rosmead parking lot, exacerbating the Rosmead parking challenges come race days. “
Bortz explained further that security enhancements and power generation have been the primary focus so far. “We have trenched and laid power and cable around our entire property, not a small task! We now have cameras, lights and beams protecting our entire property. We are monitored 24/7/365 offsite and have round-the clock-security constantly patrolling onsite, both on-foot and via Quad bikes. Top-of-the-line generators have been added, and a new solar farm is in the works. Our property is safe, secure, and able to operate around the clock, a prerequisite for any entertainment venue. “
He explains that there are three tiers of CTC membership:
Social Membership: FREE access for all Social members who wish to come onto the property at any time, whether for racing or various other amenities. The only requirement will be for the Social members to complete the sign-up process. This will ensure that these members receive the necessary accreditation for course and facility access and provides for a more secure environment whereby every person on the property is registered.
Club Membership: – Exclusively available for horse owners registered as colour-holders with the NHA.
Club Membership includes a personalised badge displaying the owner’s colours, a guest badge and access to dedicated unreserved parking for Club Members via Wetton Road at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and allocated parking at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. It also included access to the Parade Ring when the member has a runner declared in a specific race, as well as access to the 1881 Lounge, which is exclusive to CTC Club and Centurion members and guests. The cost of this level of membership is R2,500 plus VAT per annum.
Centurion Membership: Exclusively available by application only to those qualifying owners who are either NHA or Gold Circle Life Members or who have enjoyed over 100 career winners. Benefits include a personalised Centurion badge displaying the owner’s colours, a guest badge, access to dedicated unreserved parking for Centurion Members at the Rosmead Avenue entrance to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth and on-course parking at Hollywoodbets Durbanville. The Centurion package also includes permanent access to the Parade Ring at all race meetings, including all Grade 1 races and priority table bookings in the Cape Turf Club’s 1881 Lounge. The cost of this membership is R10 000 plus VAT per annum. In light of the limited availability of Rosmead parking spaces, this Centurion membership will, in turn, be limited in number and allocated on a first come-first served basis.
BORTZ WENT ON TO SAY THAT GIVEN THE VASTLY IMPROVED FACILITIES AVAILABLE, THE COSTS WERE VERY REALISTIC AND THAT ALL OF THE OWNER, REGULAR RACING FAN, AND CASUAL VISITOR EXPERIENCE WOULD BE ENHANCED.
“There is a price point for everyone. For example, an infrequent visitor, or a visitor not interested in some of the benefits of the other tiers, is welcome to choose the Social Membership, enabling access to most of what our property has to offer for no cost at all. Of course, there are two other offerings, the Club Membership priced at R2,500 and the Centurion Membership at R10,000, which are also available and may be suitable or desirable to some of our other patrons. The bottom line is – everyone is welcome and everyone is free to choose whatever tier works best for them. We look forward to a buzzing, diverse, inclusive, active property all year around.”
Greg Bortz – excited and making things happen (Pic – Troy Finch)
BORTZ SAYS THERE ARE MORE EXCITING THINGS IN THE PIPELINE FOR THE CTC, INCLUDING SYNDICATE MEMBERSHIP, CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP, PUNTER’S CLUB MEMBERSHIP, AND APPRENTICE MEMBERSHIP (CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 13 YEARS).
“We also welcome all owner members of Gold Circle and 4Racing on our course. The Gold Circle membership programme is longstanding, and we believe 4Racing is considering its own membership programme. We will make sure that all their members are given appropriate temporary CTC membership when on our property and are made to feel most welcome.”
“We have had questions regarding the reciprocity of the Racehorse Owners Association. We do not have any affiliation or association with the ROA. While their badges or membership have no standing on our racecourse, anyone wishing to attend a race day of ours can very quickly sign up on the day for free Social Membership and receive free access. Furthermore, we welcome all owners in the parade ring, and an NHA registered colour holder coming to watch his or her horse run will be given a temporary access lanyard for the parade ring. Our policy is one of inclusiveness, not divisiveness – we want anyone passionate enough to have bought into a horse to know they are always welcome on our course and in our parade ring!”
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Robyn Collyer: robyn@caperacing.co.za or Tel: +2778 342-5624
Say Yes (Gimmethegreenlight) was one of three winners at the Vaal Classic track today for both Tony Peter and Craig Zackey (JC Photos).
Zackey Treble, Peter Treble, Lerena, Magner And Schwarz Doubles
Tony Peter had a treble at the Vaal Classic track, two of them ridden by Craig Zackey, who scored a treble himself.
There were double for all of Gavin Lerena, Dennis Schwarz and Roy Magner.
Peter goes to 44 wins for the season, having had his first runner on January 5, and he has done it at a strike rate of 26.19%, easily the highest on the national trainers log.
Magner goes to 36 winners at 9.89%.
Lerena is on 105 wins at 16.83%.
Zackey is on 56 wins at 10.51%.
Schwarz is on 59 wins at 12.32%.
James Piccione built the house (right) and stabling complex on the farm he founded in Mooi River, Greenfields. (Credit: artefacts.co.za).
Today’s Question
Which horse owned by Mooi River’s James Piccione became the first to win both Johannesburg and Durban’s main races? Piccione founded Greenfields and bred and trained thoroughbreds from there, the same farm from which Adam Kethro did the same a century or so later.
Question answer at the bottom of the newsletter
The Greenfields stabling complex photographed by Roger Fisher in 2007 and used at the time by former KZN owner and trainer Adam Kethro.
with large, ornate gables facing North.
