The Glen Kotzen-trained William Longsword colt Commanding gives Richard Fourie his 300th win of the season at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Richard Fourie’s 300th winner of the season at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday was fittingly for Glen Kotzen as the latter also gave him the first Gr 1 winner of his career when Badger’s Gift won the Gr 1 Paddock Stakes on New Year’s day in 2007, at which time Richard was still an apprentice.

The Kotzen-trained William Longsword colt Commanding gave Fourie the all important 300th win, converting 7/10 odds by a commading three lengths.

Fouries’ chances of breaking Anthony Delpech’s record of 334 in a season were regarded as highly unlikely at the beginning of the season even by his reckoning and he had thus made it his “realistic goal” to ride 300 wins.

He reached the latter mark on Sunday with more than two months of the season remaining.

He now just needs to sstay safe and sound to win the R1 million bonus offered by Hollywoodbets to break Delpech’s record.

Fourie scored a treble at Sunday’s meeting to go to 302 wins for the season overall.

The second of those wins gave him his 100th win in KZN for the season.

In the winning interview after the 300th win, Fourie thanked the many who had helped him to reach the milestone.

“Thank you very much to Mr Kotzen and your team , it looks like our paths always cross at exactly the right time, and it is your horse who has made the target that myself and Ken Nichols set in the beginning of the season come true and we really appreciate that.”

“I have a lot of important people in my life to thank: first of all my kids, I’ve sacrificed a lot of time away from home, and obviously to my ex-wife Tatum for being patient and allowing me to achieve my dream and also to my partner Andrea for all the many times of me not being at home but still staying positive through it all. So thank you very much to them and all the support from all the trainers, all the owners and the guys behind the scenes doing all the hard work.”

“Even for the competitiveness in the jockey room, it’s nice, it’s good, it’s clean. There’s lots of warnings in the races, when you shift a little bit the guys shout. Five years ago the jockeys room was a different place, if you were  gonna get time the guy would keep quiet. But now you know they’ll stand up, so it’s been good clean racing, but very competitive and I appreciate that from the boys in the jockey room. You know we’re technically family, we see each other every day, I think we see more of each other than we see of our family, so it’s been great all around.”

“I have to say also to the guys that drive me around, Gavin, thank you my man, all my drivers, all my friends in Joburg, and in PE as well, I got a driver there so I can rest in between. I really appreciate all the help and all the good messages that I’ve received throughout the season, so I’m glad we’ve got to 300 winners. Now it’s the chip in the pot we’ve spoken of between myself and Ken, so let’s get it done! To become part of the 300 club was what we dreamed of and wanted to work at, not many jocks have done it, so I’m just happy to be in that club. So this one was important to me and obviously now we’re going for Mr Delpech’s record, let’s hope we stay sound and safe and we can get there!”

The projected number of wins Richard will reach by the end of the season based on his current rides per day rate and his current strike rate for the sesson now stands at 276.

Green With Envy has been priced up as 7/10 favourite with Hollywoodbets for Saturday’s Gr 1 Daily News 2000 (Pitcure: Wayne Marks) 

The final fields for Saturday’s Grade 1 Daily New 2000 and Tabgold Woolavington 2000 over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville were finalised on Monday.

The Daily News field contains the Hollyowoodbets Durban July favourite Green With Envy, winner of the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby and Gr 2 WSB Guineas in his last two starts, as well as Pure Predator, who finished fourth in the Gr 1 TAB SA Classic and second in the Gr 1 TAB SA Derby before winning the Gr 2 TAB Colorado King Stakes.

William Iron Arm, third in the SA Classic, has always looked to have the potential to be a big race contender over middle distances.

Hotarubi is not far off Pure Predator, finishing fifth in the SA Classic, fourth in the SA Derby and just 0,75 lengths back in second in the Colorado King Stakes.

Barbaresco has the potential on racing ability and pedigree to be an interesting contender.

The Cape challenge is led by the well regarded Hluhluwe, who will have his second run as a gelding over a trip he should relish.

The supplemented Flag Man, who won a Middle Stakes race over 1900m well in his last start, is the only KZN entry.

However, he was receiving 5kg from the 1,40 length runner up The Grey King in that race and now faces him at level weights.

Mid Winter Wind was a touch disappointing in the WSB Guineas and will have to prove he stays too.

The  Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 field, which is open to all ages, is headed by Frances Ethel, winner of her last four starts including the Gr 2 SA Oaks.

Silver Sanctuary has been a bridesmaid to top horses in Cape Town and the Highveld.

Gilded Butterfly is an interesting entry as she was unlucky in this race last year.

Saartjie comes off a good win in the Listed KRA East Coast Cup over 2000m and had a mixture of good and most unlucky feature races runs at this course as a three-year-old.

Beating Wings is a progressive sort who comes of a good win in the Gr 2 TAB Igugu Stakes over this trip.

My Soul Mate was runner up in the Igugu Stakes and The Oaks.

Hold My Hand has plenty of class and comes off a Gr 3 win over this trip at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

However, Future Girl will be 2kg better off with her here for a mere 0,40 length beating.

Bellevarde is 1kg better off with Beating Wings for a one length beating.

Perfect Witness has plenty of class and is distance suited.

Red Maple will appreciate the step down to this trip.

The field are shown below.

DAILY NEWS 2000 (Grade 1)(For 3 year-olds) R2000000 2000m

1 - 1 WILLIAM IRON ARM (A P Peter) C Habib 60.0 - 117
2 - 2 FLAG MAN (G van Zyl (Jnr)) S Moodley 60.0 - 92
3 - 3 PURE PREDATOR (F Bronkhorst) R Fourie 60.0 - 119
4 - 4 MID WINTER WIND (S G Tarry) M Yeni 60.0 - 116
5 - 5 GREEN WITH ENVY (D Kannemeyer) C Zackey 60.0 - 123
6 - 6 HLUHLUWE (J S Snaith) G van Niekerk 60.0 - 117
7 - 7 BARBARESCO (J J van Vuuren) G Lerena 60.0 - 109
8 - 8 THE GREY KING (J S Snaith) S Veale 60.0 - 96
9 - 9 HOTARUBI (S G Tarry) S Khumalo 60.0 - 116
Same Trainer: (4,9) (6,8) 
 
TABGOLD WOOLAVINGTON 2000 (Grade 1)(For Fillies & Mares at Weight-For-Age) R1500000 2000m
1 - 1 SILVER SANCTUARY (M F De Kock) R Fourie 57.5 - 116
2 - 2 FRANCES ETHEL (B Crawford) K Matsunyane 57.5 - 118
3 - 3 RED MAPLE (S G Tarry) S Khumalo 60.0 - 94
4 - 4 PERFECT WITNESS (C Dawson) D De Gouveia 60.0 - 105
5 - 5 FUTURE GIRL (B Crawford) M K Katjedi 60.0 - 97
6 - 6 SAARTJIE (W A Nel) C Orffer 60.0 - 110
7 - 7 GILDED BUTTERFLY (S T Pettigrew) G Lerena 60.0 - 108
8 - 8 MY SOUL MATE (C Dawson) M Yeni 57.5 - 115
9 - 9 BEATING WINGS (S T Pettigrew) C Habib 57.5 - 114
10 - 10 HOLD MY HAND (G S Kotzen) C Zackey 60.0 - 108
11 - 11 BELLEVARDE (J A Soma) S Moodley 60.0 - 110
Same Trainer: (2,5) (4,8) (7,9) 

The Mike de Kock-trained unbeaten three-year-old filly Gimme A Nother was named Horse Of The Season at the Highveld Feature Season Awards 2024 at The Galleria in Sandton on Saturday, hosted by leading horse racing operator 4Racing, having earlier been named Champion Three-year-old Filly.

The Nathan Kotzen-trained KZN-based horse Royal Victory also walked away with two awards, the Champion Older Horse and the Champion Middle Distance Horse.

He was unlucky to have run there in the same season as the outstanding Gimme A Nother, because in any other year he would have walked away with the Horse Of The Season award too.

He not only won the Highveld’s two biggest races by tradition, the Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup and the Gr 1 weight for age Premier’s Champions Challenge, both over 2000m on Turffontein Standside, but he made history in the process.

He became the first out of province horse to ever win the Premier’s.

He was only the second out of province horse to win the Summer Cup this millennium, the first being the Dylan Cunha-trained Strategic News in 2007.

The awards celebrated and honoured the outstanding achievements of the season’s top performers.

Gimme A Nother, trained by Mike de Kock and owned by Mauritzfontein (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mrs JB Jell), has won all of her seven races, including the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic and the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes.

The daughter of Gimmethegreenlight will soon be flying out to the USA to continue her racing career.

The evening was a glittering affair, showcasing the finest talents in Highveld racing and commemorating the culmination of a thrilling season that concluded with the Championships Finale on 27 April. With excitement in the air and anticipation at its peak, the awards ceremony unfolded, revealing the deserving winners across various categories, each awarded for their exceptional contributions to the sport.

Among the highlights of the evening were the prestigious awards presented to the following champions:
Champion Two-Year-Old Filly: Little Ballerina

Champion Two-Year-Old Colt/Gelding: Fire Attack

Champion Three-Year-Old Filly: Gimme A Nother

Champion Three-Year-Old Colt/Gelding: Main Defender

Champion Older Filly/Mare: Feather Boa

Champion Older Horse: Royal Victory

Champion Sprinter: Thunderstruck

Champion Middle Distance Horse: Royal Victory

Champion Stayer: Purple Pitcher

Horse Of The Season: GIMME A NOTHER

In addition to these equine accolades, the event also recognised outstanding individuals and entities within the racing community:

Champion Work Rider: Anathi Feni

Champion Apprentice: Malesela Katjedi

Champion Breeder of the Season: Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein

Champion Owner of the Season: Mauritzfontein (PTY) Ltd (Nom: Mrs JB Jell)

Champion Jockey of the Season: Richard Fourie

Champion Trainer of the Season: Mike de Kock

The awards were determined through a meticulous voting process led by Nico Kritsiotis, chairman of the panel, along with esteemed judges Jack Milner and Bradley Ralph.

Their dedication ensured that each recipient truly exemplified excellence in their respective categories.

“It is truly an honour for 4Racing to be at the forefront of an occasion that not only celebrates excellence but also highlights the unwavering dedication and remarkable talent within the horse racing community.

“This event serves as a testament to the passion and commitment shared by all involved in this exhilarating sport. I extend my sincerest congratulations to all the winners and nominees, whose contributions have enriched the framework of Highveld racing.

“Together, we continue to elevate the standard of excellence in our beloved sport,” said Fundi Sithebe, 4Racing CEO.

4Racing extends its congratulations to all the winners and nominees on yet another successful Highveld Feature Season Awards.

Lot 36 from Wilgerbosdrift Stud is a Fire Away colt out of a Listed winning Fort Wood mare and he is from the family of Horse Chestnut (Cape Racing Sales) 

Situated between craggy mountains near Piketberg, Wilgerbosdrift continues to produce top-notch, rugged thoroughbreds. The stud sends half a dozen yearlings to market on the 6th June at the Cape Racing Winter Yearling Sale, taking place at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.

First up is City of Love, a Rafeef colt out of Isle de France, scheduled to go in as Lot 15. This is a venerable Wilgerbosdrift / Mauritzfontein family as the second dam is SA Oaks victress, Ilha Bela and third dam, Ilha da Vitoria was South Africa’s HOTY in 2005/6. Rafeef, of course, was SA’s leading first season sire in 2020/21, so potential buyers will be beating a path to inspect Stable B10.

Lot 36 is a bay Fire Away colt out of Loupe named Tommy Atkins. The well-performed dam has already thrown Black Type performers, Opera Glass (9 wins) Petra (5 wins), and Eternity Ring (4 wins).

What a Winter produces the goods each year – his running total is now 334 winners from 518 representatives including 24 Stakes Winners. Lot 46, a mating to Noor has resulted in a bay colt called, Matroosberg. The second dam is Jet Master mare, Express Queen who threw 7 x winner, Platinum Class and Mauritian Champion Stayer of 2017/18, Our Emperor.

Lot 49 is a filly, Without Hesitation, a first foal out of Passion Peach and by the American stallion, Fire Away. There is plenty of Black Type going back a couple of generations – African Appeal, Mary Lou, and Brave Mary feature under third dam, Kentucky Lass.

Wilgerbosdrift follow up soon after with Lot 55 another filly, the grey Proxima by Rafeef ex Punta Chica. The female side has strong Argentinian links through second dam Printemps.

Lot 105, Safari Camp by Rafeef ex Chitengo comes towards the end of the sale and is worth waiting for given the tempting blend of speed and stamina in the pedigree.

Despite his accomplishments over the short cuts, Gr1 Computaform Sprint hero, Rafeef is proving a versatile influence over a wide range of distances, while Chitengo, second dam Gorongosa, and Shangani were all “lang-asem” marathon runners.

The Pinhook incentive scheme, introduced in 2023, will again be a feature of this sale. The incentive allows speculators to make purchases at CRWYS while only having to pay for the stock once selling at the Ready to Run Sale in October.

Note too, that all graduates qualify for the CRS Juvenile bonus, which pays R100,000 to the winning connections.

Further enquiries about Wilgerbosdrift’s quality draft can be directed to Shane van Zyl via shane@wilgerbosdrift.co.za or 082 872 8229.

Dave The King stretches clear of The Shepherd in Sunday’s Pinnacle Stakes event over 1500m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Dave The King sauntered to an impressive three length victory at Hollywoodbets Scottsville over 1500m in a Pinnacle Stakes event on Sunday under Craig Zackey.

The Mike de Kock-trained Global View gelding wouldn’t have run to his 126 merit rating, considering the 125-rated Royal Victory was likely using this as a comeback run.

Nevertheless, he was commanding in victory.

Dave The King was known as an entire to take a strong hold in the running.

He has settled somewhat as a gelding.

However, Zackey wisely decided to relinquish a brief covered up position down the back straight, because a slowed up pace in front was threatening to cause horses to gallop into each other in behind.

Dave The King then pulled himself up to the leader Itsraingwilliam’s quarters under a strong hold.

His big stride took him into the lead in the straight on tihe outside.

He is a giant of a horse and the others resembled greyhounds in behind him as he sauntered to victory with just three backhanders required.

This was a good preparation for the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge where he will be out to prove he is a genuine 126 merit rating.

He did perform well over 2000m and 1800m in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 and Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Champions Cup respectively last season, so if he has settled significantly since,  then the 2200m trip of the Hollywoodbets Durban July is a possibility.

However, he did still take quite a strong hold on Sunday, so him getting the July trip remains debatable.

Royal Victory put in a most encouraging Hollywoodbets Durban July preparation.

He was settled by Deryl Daniels well off the pace and was doing his best work late to be beaten 3,50 lengths by Dave The King at level weights.

They both carried a welter 62kg.

The three length runner up was The Shepherd, who carried 51kg plus the 1kg overweight of Serino Moodley.

Itsrainingwilliam finished fourth, beaten 4,70 lengths carrying 57,5kg, so is one to side with in a handicap next time, considering he is rated 108 and would have carried 4,5kg less weight compared to the winner in a handicap.

The July entry Shoemaker ran on well for fifth and also ran a good race at the weights.

Richard Fourie can afford to smile at the camera after Cafe Culture had produced a devastating late burst to win comfortably (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)

Café Culture ran a career best at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday when taking out the R165 000 Taking The Reins Cape A Stakes over 1400m. Riding his 299^th winner for the Season, Richard Fourie initially made his move down the inside of the field but then gradually angled Café Culture towards the outside, taking dead aim on the pace-setter San Pedro.

For a long way it looked as if Ashton Arries had ridden the perfect race on the lightly-weighted San Pedro, but Fourie was not to be denied on the Lucinda Woodruff trained 4yo son of Var, and Café Culture responded well under a powerful drive to hit the front close home and forge ahead to score by a length. Café Culture began this season off a mark of 78, but five victories since August 2023 for the Fullard-Drew partnership has seen his rating now climb to above 100.

San Pedro is holding form well and was well clear of the third-placed runner Wecangoallnight. The latter threatened briefly on the standside rail, but he failed to sustain his finishing effort and was nearly two lengths in arrears of San Pedro at the line. Making his return after a ten-month absence following knee surgery, Zapatillas enjoyed the run of the race but came up for air in the closing stages and was touched off for the minor placing by Sugar Mountain. He should improve significantly with the benefit of this race under the his belt.

Arries and Vaughan Marshall began the race meeting on the front foot when Bank Street just prevailed in the opener, a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1200m. Bank Street was allowed to ease in the market to 9/2 as money came for the newcomer Express Yourself, but Bank Street kept on resolutely to narrowly hold out two other debutants, Sail The Seas and Captain West, with Late December under a length back in fourth. Express Yourself fluffed his lines at the start and was never in the hunt thereafter.

The second race saw a thrilling finish between the Snaith-trained odds-on favourite Eight On Eighteen and the diminutive Krim, who held a clear advantage approaching the final 200m. Fourie threw the kitchen sink at Eight On Eighteen over the last 200m and the pair only just got there in the very last stride to deny Louis Mxothwa by a nostril. But Mxothwa and Brett Crawford had their revenge two races later when Charlene (3/1) finally put her act together to hold out Fourie and Be Merry (13/10) by a neck. These two had the race pretty much to themselves and finished comfortably clear of the consistently-placed Ellorix.

Lucinda Woodruff sent out the first of her two winners in the fifth race, an Open Maiden over 1600m. Partnered by Aldo Domeyer, Azzuri (4/1) turned for home about four lengths off the pace, but the improving 3yo son of Pomodoro raced away in the closing stages to put daylight between himself and the runner-up Amancio. Long-time maiden, Greenland, was all the rage here, starting an unrealistic 11/10 favourite, but he never threatened and was relegated into fourth by Golden Grey who was doing his best work at the finish.

Consistency has never been Carriacou’s strong point, but he turned it on well for Sean Veale and trainer Eric Sands in the sixth race, a Class 4 Handicap over 1400m. The pace was solid and Carriacou came from some way back to beat Touchdown and In The Bag. This was Touchdown’s first run since returning from an epistaxis-enforced suspension and the half-brother to Grade 1 winner Linebacker could yet be one to follow.

Josh Solomons does not get too many opportunities but he made the most of a chance ride on Coulditbe (7/1) in the eighth race, a Class 4 (F&M) over 1800m. Leading all the way, Coulditbe found hidden reserves when challenged at the 200m pole and had more than enough in hand to ward off the challenge of race favourite, Plum Pudding, who made good late headway from the rear of the field.

The bomb landed in the final race, a Class 4 Handicap over 2000m, when 66/1 chance Baton Rouge led from pillar-to-post under Keanen Steyn, coming home lonely in the manner of an odds-on favourite. Although results through the day were generally favourable, Baton Rouge’s unexpected victory ensured a bumper Pick 6 return of R469 000. The warm-order favourite, Marshall Field, ran well below expectations and trailed in a long way down the field.

Barbara Kennedy, wife of champion jockey Warren Kennedy and a former Summerveld-based trainer, is to take over the stable of Peter and Dawn Williams as the latter couple have retired (Picture: Loveracing.nz)

Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

20 May 2024

Warren Kennedy has made waves in the New Zealand jockey ranks since moving from his native South Africa, and now his wife, Barbara, is hoping to do the same as a trainer.

The 32-year-old horsewoman has spent her life in racing and trained in South Africa for a few seasons before moving to New Zealand with her husband and children a couple of years ago.

“I have been in the industry my whole life,” Kennedy said. “My Dad was a jockey for 24 years. When he retired, he became the course manager at one of the tracks in South Africa for 21 years. My sister went to the jockey academy and was an apprentice for a couple of years, but it didn’t work out for her. Our whole family is into racing, so I was born into it, it is in my blood.”

Upon leaving school, Kennedy went to work in a racing stable and that is where she got hooked on the sport and decided she wanted a career in the industry.

“I worked in the yard straight out of school. I had a really great opportunity with a trainer (Dean Kannemeyer) in South Africa where I ran his satellite yard in Durban where we had about 50 horses, and I was with him for four years.

“That is where it hit me that that (training) is what I wanted to do, and I took out my own trainer’s license. I had my first daughter at that time, and I went into a training partnership with my brother, and I trained for three years. We were pretty successful, we had 59 winners in the three years, with one of those being hindered by COVID.

“Warren then decided that we needed to get out of the country to give our girls a better life. It was always a goal to get back into it in New Zealand, we just didn’t expect it to happen so soon.”

While Warren has been kicking goals in the saddle, Kennedy said she felt a bit lost in the early stages of their move to New Zealand, but found comfort in helping out Byerley Park trainers Peter and Dawn Williams.

“It was really tough coming over here because I went from that busy lifestyle of training. Coming over here, Warren kicked off as normal and I sat at home not doing anything and I did get a bit depressed during those times,” she said. “It has been good to see him come here and do so well from the get-go. It is really difficult coming to a new country, but the amount of support that he has been given has been great.

“Since we moved to New Zealand, they (Williams’s) had always been very good to Warren, and Warren has ridden a lot for them. They extended to come out to the yard with the girls and I did mornings there mucking out stables and we have become really close with Peter and Dawn, we have adopted them as our family here.”

With Peter and Dawn Williams deciding to retire from racing at the end of the month, they approached Kennedy to see if she was interested in taking over their stable, and she has jumped at the opportunity.

“We have become really close and we were chatting recently, and with this decision of them retiring, they thought I was young, willing to do it, so let’s give this a shot.

“It is exciting. It has happened quite quickly, but we are taking this opportunity with both hands. I am grateful that Peter and Dawn have trusted me enough to hand everything over to me, so we will be forever grateful for that.

“I officially start on the 1st of June. For the month of June, they will be around and I can bounce as many questions off of them as possible.

“The majority of the clients have agreed to stay on with me, which is really positive. We will be getting in contact with all the clients during the next week or so and get to know everyone and get our career and relationship going.”

In her time in New Zealand, Kennedy has noticed a few differences from racing in South Africa and is looking forward to tackling those challenges.

“The tracks are the biggest one,” she said. “We are not used to racing over the winter season in such heavy going. That will be a big adjustment for me, getting used to running horses on these different tracks. We don’t travel as much as the horses here, our racecourses are fairly close to each other and there aren’t as many.

“I have got Warren behind me, and Peter and Dawn, and I can give them a call whenever I have any questions, they are here to help me.”

Kennedy said she is lucky to have family in New Zealand to help make the transition smoother.

“We have two girls – Jamie, 5, and Ryleigh, 3,” she said. “We have got Warren’s family over here, so his mum is going to join us for a couple of weeks and help out with the girls.”

While having a husband as the country’s leading jockey is a bonus, Kennedy said Warren will continue to have his priorities outside of the stable.

“It is a bonus having Warren around, but he has got to keep his ties with Cambridge Stud,” she said. “As much as he will be a part of the yard, he won’t be tied down and he has to fulfil his own obligations to Cambridge. He will help me out as much as he can, but he will be keeping with his Cambridge connections.”

In terms of what Kennedy is looking forward to the most with her return to training, the answer is easy – winning.

“It is just getting back out there and getting the success with winners,” she said. “Everyone aims to win the big ones and they are definitely on my radar.”

Hardy Eustace won at the Cheltenham Festival for three years in succession, including two Champion Hurdles.

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT HARDY EUSTACE