Fourie Barometer 347
Important Changes To Hollywoodbets Durban July Conditions
Winchester Mansion, pictured fending off the three-year-old star See It Again by 0,25 lengths, would have had to carry 54kg and not 53kg last year had the weight conditions of the Hollywoodbets Durban July been the same as this year (Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images)
An important change has been made to the weight structure of the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
Furthermore, the Hollywoodbets Durban July conditions no longer contain automatic qualifying criteria.
The weight conditions used to be such that the minimum weight for any male runner was 53kg and the minimum weight for any female runner was 52kg.
However, the new conditions make the minimum weight for three-year-old males 53kg and the mnimum weight for males of four years and older 54kg.
The minimum weight for three-year-old fillies is still 52kg, but the minimum weight for females of four years and older is now 53kg.
Had this condition been in place last year the 0,25 length runner up See It Again would have had to give only 2,5kg to the winner Winchester mansion instead of 3,5kg, so on paper there would have been a different result.
It has long been been observed by both pundits and trainers that progressive four-year-olds often come into the July well weighted, so this looks to be a good conditions change.
The maximum weights remain the same i.e. 60kg for males of four years and older, 59kg for females of four years and older, 57kg for three-year-old males and 56kg for three-year-old females.
There used to be a number of races in which the winner automatically qualified for the July.
They included the Gr 1 events the L’Ormarins King’s Plate, the WSB Cape Town Met, the Splashout Cape Derby, the SA Classic, the Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic, the SA Derby, the Premier’s Champions Challenge, the Daily News 2000, the Woolavington 2000 and the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge.
There were three races where the winner was given preferential consideration for inclusion in the final field, they being the Grade 1 Betway Summer Cup, the Grade 2 WSB 1900 and the Grade 3 Cup Trial.
That condition has also been removed.
The changes will put the ball in the court of the final field panelists.
Most of the winners of those races would usually be automatic qualifiers anyway.
However, last year the lowest rated horse in the race was actually a winner of one of the automatic qualifying races i.e. Bless My Stars, who won the Gr 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic.
When she lined up off her 109 merit rating carrying the minimum weight for a three-year-old filly i.e. 52kg, she was 3kg under sufferance.
However, she vindicated her position in the final field by finishing third.
The July log is still a part of the conditions.
Read the conditions of the Hollywoodbets Durban July below:
Graffiti Artist Unveils Hollywoodbets Durban July Theme
The Sporting Post
Renowned Graffiti Artist Shaun Oakley, popularly known as ‘Damn Vandal”, unveiled the spectacular Hollywoodbets Durban July theme through a billboard vandalism stunt.
Shaun Oakley is painting the town purple!
The recent “vandalisation” of Hollywoodbets’ billboard on Sandton Drive in Johannesburg has sparked a citywide conversation about art, advertising, and the upcoming Hollywoodbets Durban July.
What initially seemed like an act of mischief turned out to be a breathtaking artistic statement by the Durban-born artist.
The incident, which occurred during peak hour traffic on Monday 18 March, saw the massive billboard transformed into a vibrant canvas showcasing the theme of this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July, “Ride the Wave”.
The bold graffiti art captured the essence of the event, carefully crafted to ignite imagination and spark inspiration, weaving together the elements of horseracing, fashion and entertainment.
Stephen Marshall, Events and Marketing Executive Gold Circle says, “Sound, greetings, emotion, and change, these are the waves of the 2024 Hollywoodbets Durban July.
From the music to the thundering hooves, the celebrations with friends old and new, the thrill of horseracing and the social spectacle all adding to an experience that has evolved over time.”
Hollywoodbets Brand and Communications Manager, Devin Heffer commented,
“We are proud to be partnering with Africa’s Greatest Horse Racing event once again, and we believe the coastal city of Durban with it’s gorgeous Golden Mile, will provides the ideal backdrop for this year’s theme of “Ride The Wave.” The cultural waves generated by the event’s fashion and entertainment, along with the seismic enormity of the thoroughbred competition on the track, will make this year’s edition one to remember. Save the date now for the 6th of July as we converge on Hollywoodbets Greyville for a day that will send shock waves around the country.”
The Hollywoodbets Durban July takes place on Saturday 6 July at Hollywoodbets Greyville racecourse. Tickets will go on sale in April on Ticketpro website.
Did 4Racing Cost Danon Platina A First Stakes Winner?
The well handicapped One Fell Swoop denies White Pearl by a quarter-of-a-length (JC Photos))
A 4Racing Operator’s condition that limited placed horses to a three point raise in the Listed Swallow Stakes might inadvertently have cost Danon Platina from having his first stakes winner.
This is somewhat ironic considering the Oppenheimer family’s well documented involvement in 4Racing.
The Tony Peter-trained One Fell Swoop ran to a considerably higher mark than 99 when finishing second in the Listed Swallow Stakes over 1160m on January 20.
The three-year-old Lancaster Bomber filly could only be raised three points from 96 to 99 due to the operator’s condition.
She has subsequently reeled off two Gr 3 wins in succession.
Last Saturday she defeated the Danon Platina filly White Pearl by 0,25 lengths when receiving 5kg from the latter.
Had that condition not been in place she woud likely have received only 2,5kg and there might have been a different result.
It was White Pearl’s fourth Gr 3 runner up finish.
The Mauritzfontein Stud-based Danon Platina has been popular at the sales and has had a number of successes in Sales races, including in the big one, the R7,5 million Gold Rush won by the Justin Snaith-trained Danon Platina gelding Rapidash.
The Japanese-bred son of Deep Impact has a winners to runners strike rate of 35% and average earnings per horse of R43,066.
His progeny have always been regarded as ones who would get better as they matured, so they might only blossom as four-year-olds.
However, his lack of a stakes winner deep into his first crops three-year-old season must be a touch concerning for his shareholders.
The handicappers pointed out the One Fell Swoop anomaly in their Handicapping Update earlier this week (see below).
Betway Sycamore Sprint (Grade 3)
ONE FELL SWOOP has had her rating adjusted to 104 from 99 after winning the Grade 3 Betway Sycamore Sprint over 1160m at the Turffontein Standside Track on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the opinion that 4th placed IN THE BEGINNING made for the most suitable line horse here and her rating remain unchanged on 94.
The winner aside, two more runners received upward adjustments in their ratings. Runner up, WHITE PEARL, was adjusted to 112 from 109 and third placed, GOOD QUEEN BESS, goes up to 97 from 94 after both finished 1.50 and 1.25 lengths respectively, ahead of the line horse.
No fewer than four runners received drops in ratings. PLATINA PRINCESS is down to 93 from a mark of 95, ALULA’S STAR drops to 107 from 108 and FLOWERBOMB is down to 100 from 101. Lastly, GIMMEALIGHT drops two pounds from 83 to 81.
ONE FELL SWOOP was gifted her 2nd successive Grade 3 win due to the Merit Rating protection she received in the Listed Swallow Stakes. As a consequence, ONE FELL SWOOP was well-treated in this Handicap courtesy of the Racing Operator, and almost certainly denied WHITE PEARL her 1st Graded Stakes win.
See extracts from previous Press Release:
From Betway National Currency Sprint (Grade 3) Press Release
It should be noted that ONE FELL SWOOP ran to a considerably higher rating in her previous run in the Betway Swallow Stakes, but her increase had to be capped. See excerpt from the Betway Swallows Stakes press release:
ONE FELL SWOOP was only increased by 3 points from 96 to 99 despite running to a considerably higher level here due to the specific race conditions that state that placed horses may only receive a maximum adjustment of 3 points. This means that ONE FELL SWOOP will benefit from a 4,5kg swing at the weights with TROPPO VELOCE for a 0.10 of a length beating, and a 3,5kg swing at the weights with CULLINAN BLUE who she beat here, should they meet on Handicap terms in the future.
Enquiries:
The Handicapping Team
Cunha Has 50 Horses And Some Early Season Targets
Picture: Dylan Cunha took over the historic Phantom House in Newmarket upon the retirement last year of veteran trainer William Jarvis
Former Summerveld trainer Dylan Cunha made waves in the UK in his first full season there last year and he hopes to get his flat season off to a flier at Doncaster on Saturday with two-year-old Zminiature.
Newmarket-based Cunha told The Sun newspaper, “It is unusual for me to have such an early one, but he’s got bags of pace and is ready to go. From day one when he came in I said he would be my Brocklesby horse. I’d love to win the season’s first two-year-old race and really lay down a marker. If the race was over four furlongs he would be a good thing as he is small and quick. It is just him getting the five furlongs – but I don’t see any reason why he won’t. We’ve done plenty of work with him and he’s taken everything in his stride. If he finishes in the frame I will be over the moon.”
Cunha will also run Dirtyoldtown at the same meeting.
He said, “He galloped well on Saturday. He’s the sort of horse who could go and win easily or equally come last! You don’t know what you are going to get.”
Cunha is excited about his growing string.
“This time last year we only had a few. Now we have 50 in, including 25 two-year-olds. That’s where we hope to find a good one.”
He added, “Silver Sword will start in the Listed Paradise Stakes at Ascot and then go for the Diomed Stakes at Epsom .”
Dylan trains out of the historic Phantom House stables in Newmarket.
Dermot McLoughlin Looks Ahead At Irish Grand National
Lord Lariot gave trainer Dermot McLoughlin a second successive Irish Grand National Winner in 2022 (Image: PA)
Two-time Irish Grand National winning trainer Dermot McLoughlin: My 25-1 dark horse could win me a third National, Fairyhouse comes to a standstill on raceday and it’s tough to compete with Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott – but I know my level
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County Meath trainer Dermot McLoughlin won back-to-back BoyleSports Irish Grand Nationals in 2021 and 2022 with Freewheelin’ Dylan and Lord Lariat
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Freewheelin’ Dylan was the biggest price winner in the history of the race, landing odds of 150-1 in 2021, while Lord Lariat was another big-price winner at 40-1
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McLoughlin has a live chance to make it a three Irish Grand National wins in this year’s race with 25-1 chance Digby
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The trainer admits it is tough for smaller yards like his to compete with powerhouse trainers Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott
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McLoughlin lifts the lid on his double National winning celebrations – and reveals his success hasn’t translated into closing the gap to the big guns
My 25-1 dark horse could bring up a hat trick of Irish Grand National wins
DM: You never know! We have a horse called Digby who is still a novice. He has an entry. He hasn’t even run in a handicap yet with the ground being so bad all winter. He was due to run a couple of times but with the ground so heavy I haven’t risked him.
He is more of a spring horse and could easily sneak into the field. With the weights announced this week. Twenty five have to come out of it but 15 of them are probably going to Aintree. So, I think he will sneak in.
Freewheelin’ Dylan was my first National winner in 2021 – it was a great experience for us all
DM: That was in the middle of COVID so there was a very small crowd [at Fairyhouse]. He was named after Bob Dylan and I bought the horse for a girl who works in our yard, Sheila Mangan. She calls him Bob and his nickname in the yard is obviously Bob.
He progressed, winning his point-to-point and then a Hunter Chase at Listowel. Then he won the Midlands National at Kilbeggan. After that I said to myself: “There’s only one place for you.” That was Fairyhouse as long as the ground was right.
In the Kilbeggan National he won on good ground, jumped out, made all and just got home. That was exactly the same at the Irish National. He bucked out, jumped like a stag and won.
It was a great experience and changed Shelia’s life. She was offered to sell the horse a couple of times but wouldn’t.
He is still up there on the comeback trail. He cracked a bone in the back of his knee in the cross country at Punchestown last April and we gave him the whole winter off. He will run again in a little race after the National if the ground dries out and we’ll have him back for the Spring.
My phone never stopped ringing after the win
DM: Fairyhouse did their best to make an atmosphere, but obviously with no-one there it wasn’t the same.
The phone never stopped hopping after I came home. There were a few people in the yard wearing masks but the owner wasn’t there because she had left the yard after feeding the horses to watch the race on television.
It lifted her no end. She has had her ups and downs. At 150-1, he was the biggest priced winner in the history of the race.
It got him an entry to Aintree in 2022. There he just got tired but still finished seventh. It paid for his trip over, plus she got a few quid out of it! And she had a great time.
2022 winner Lord Lariat gave me the same instincts as Freewheelin’ Dylan – I knew he’d be a National horse
DM: Now that was different! I had only had Lord Lariat for three or four months and he won a Ladies’ race. When he went by the line all he kept doing was galloping. I said to myself again: “I know where you’re going too.”
That was before Christmas. I gave him a run at Leopardstown in desperate ground in January and I put him away. He was very lucky to get in the National – one of the last.
Lo and behold, that was the start of the luck. Talking with Paddy (O’Hanlon) the jockey I said, “We’ll try and get moving early doors.”
The first mile of any National, there’s a lot of pace there. He was able to hold his position. He jumped so well. Paddy sent him for home and he stayed on the best and won at 40-1.
That was a completely different story. The whole place erupted. We came back, the road was lined, there were people in the yard and people in the yard ringing me from there to see when I was getting back. It was carnage down here!
I could take it all in a bit more because the previous year was a lonely place. People were coming into the yard for the next three or four days.
Now when you come into the yard there is a big picture of the two horses looking at each other. So when you’re having a bad day you can always look up and say to yourself that “whatever happens, that has happened and on you go.”
The second National win didn’t have much of an effect on my yard – Willie Mullins can buy any horse he wants
DM: It did and it didn’t. A lot of the owners here stay with the big lads. I got plenty of phone calls. We never have an empty stable, but the calibre horse I am working with is different. Lord Lariat cost €5,500, Freewheelin’ Dylan was €20,000.
A lot of people called afterward to have a chat about my father, Arkle, and Flyingbolt. I’ll talk to anyone because you never know who is ringing. But I don’t want a bigger yard, forty is a perfect number. But the calibre and cost of horses here has gone through the roof – and Willie [Mullins] and Gordon [Elliott] get the pick.
We had one runner at the Dublin Racing Festival – it’s all a one way street.
It is the same in any sport. If you are at the top, you stay at the top and he is well able to stay there and can buy any horse he wants to. The National win didn’t have a material effect, we got no big clients in.
I would have loved to have been training at Cheltenham but only a select few can afford those types of horse
I enjoy what I do. I would have loved to have been at Cheltenham last week and I’d love to be going to Aintree. But the calibre of horse for that, we just don’t have at the moment.
I have been to Aintree and at Cheltenham and I know what you need to do to go there and what you have to acquire. It is just going to get harder and harder. There’s only a few people who can afford these horses but expensive horses don’t always win, you know.
The bigger lads stay with the bigger lads and don’t seem to move around. Years ago, Gigginstown probably had ten different trainers. Now they’re with two, Willie or Gordon, and maybe one or two with Henry [de Bromhead] or Joseph [O’Brien].
I know my level and just have to play my game. The horses are running well and with better ground my horses will be better for it.
Training is tough but when you get big winners, it gives you a huge boost
Yes. We all need a bit of hope. I’ve been training just over ten years now and everyone knows how tough it can be. But if you enjoy it and are having a few winners then it’s good. When you get the bigger winners like the Irish National that gives you a boost.
I love Fairyhouse. It is my local track – I’d love to have a runner in the race every year.
The local village near the course is brought to a standstill every Easter Monday
DM: I have been going to Fairyhouse since I was six or seven. I live ten minutes from the track. I was so proud of the fact that my father Liam rode a winner of it – Kerforo in 1962. He was also Arkle’s first jockey before Pat Taaffe, and I worked at [trainer] Jim Dreaper’s yard for 15 years. When I first started there, I realised what the National meant.
The local village here in Ratoath, County Meath, was brought to a standstill every Easter Monday. The crowds, the cars, people used to leave their vehicles and walk the mile and a half up the road because the traffic was so unbelievable.
I always looked forward to having a runner in the race, let alone winning it. To win it once was great, to win it a second time was unbelievable.
Lord Lariat will go for the Kerry National in September – it was a real shame he couldn’t defend his title last year
DM: Ten days before the race last year, he did a piece of work. We were deciding whether to send him to Aintree or keep him at Fairyhouse. Of the two lads who own him, one wanted to go one way and one the other.
But they decided that winning the Irish National three times in a row hadn’t been done for a long time. Jim Dreaper, my old boss, was the one who did it last, so we aimed for Fairyhouse.
But after the last piece of work, I went to feel his leg. The harm had been done. I got to him in time and he will be back, but we didn’t run him this year.
All the rehabilitation has been done and we have him out in the field next week. I think he’ll go for the Kerry National in September all being well. It was all very unfortunate.
The 2016 Grand National at Aintree was a big miss for me – Vics Canvas could have won
I was third in the Aintree National in 2016 with Vics Canvas behind Rule the World. He was 150-1 and the oldest horse in the race.
He was in front at The Elbow, then made a mistake at Beechers and was lying on the ground. [Jockey] Barry Geraghty said to me afterwards at least 20 horses must have gone past him. By the time he got up and got going again, he’d lost 25 lengths and he was beaten 14 lengths, so that was a miss!
No matter who you are, these are the days when you get such a buzz.
Ruvan Boshoff Wins LKP Moments Compo For Photographers
The winner of the LKP Moments competition for photographers was announced about a month ago, so apologies for the belated report, but the fine picture he took which is shown above is worth sharing.
Ruvan Boshoff won a R20,000 ORMS voucher for beating what was sure to have been a fine field of entrants.
Turffontein Inside Thursday Formguides And Selections
Fourie and Van Zyl Doubles
Flying The Flag filly Convocation makes it a fourth career win and gives both Richard Fourie and Gareth van Zyl individual doubles on the day (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Richard Fourie and Gareth van Zyl scored individual doubles at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today (Wednesday).
Fourie is now on 221 wins for the season achieved at a strike rate of 21.90% and his projected number of wins for the season is now 347.
Van Zyl is on 40 wins at 12.16%.
The KZN Trainers Championship continues to be intriguing.
Wendy Whitehead leads on 33 wins, with Van Zyl on 32, Garth Puller on 31, and Mike Miller and Alyson Wright are both on 29.
Today’s Question
The picture provides a clue to the answer.
What notable riding feat happened on July day 75 years ago?
Midweek FIELDS
Turffontein Inside, Thursday
Today’s Question Answer
Harold “Tiger” Wright rode five winners, including July winner Milesia Pride, as well as a second and a third on July day 1949.
