Turf Talk Newsletter – 20 October, 2025

Zackey And Crawford Smiling After Eventful Weekend's Racing

Craig Zackey got the favourite, the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Outlaw King, home in the headliner at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday (pictured above – Wayne Marks) and then scored a treble at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

Chad Little and JP van der Merwe both scored trebles at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday and Craig Zackey reached the 50 winner for the season mark on Sunday, while Brett Crawford clinched his third win in Hong Kong on Sunday to boost an already decent strike rate and it was his former stable jockey Karis Teetan who delivered for him.

The Hollywoodbets Durbanville results sheet looked unusual after six races on Saturday, because Chad Little had won three of the races and JP van der Merwe the other three.

Chad Little’s guv’nor Glen Kotzen gave him two of his wins and that included a first-timer by Legislate called Midnight Lady.

Legislate is also the sire of Kotzen’s Gr 1 Gold Medallion winner Good For You.

JP van der Merwe won one of the highest rated races on the day, a Progress Plate for fillies and mares over 1250m, as the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Horizon filly Scarlet Macaw bounced back to the form of her Gr 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas runner up finish.

The other highly rated race of the day was an A Stakes event over 1400m and it was won by the Dean Kannemeyer-trained gelding Outlaw King, who gave the increasingly prominent sire Rafeef yet another winner, and he was ridden by Craig Zackey.

Zackey and Richard Fourie ended Saturday locked together on 49 wins apiece at the top of the national jockeys log, but Zackey claimed a treble on Sunday at Hollywoodbets Greyville to go three ahead on 52.

His wins included a fine win on the Frank Robinson-trained Betway Summer Cup contender Madison Valley in a Conditions Plate over 1400m, although the victory was overshadowed by the race favourite See It Again’s scratching at the start after appearing to not being given a fair chance to load.

On Sunday at Sha Tin in Hong Kong Brett Crawford won the first race, a Class 5 event over 1400m, with the New Zealand seven-year-old 24-rated Showcasing gelding Double Show. Karis Teetan had the gelding handy on the rail from pole position and he quickened well and went on to win by 1,75 lengths converting 12/1 odds. It was the horse’s second career win and Crawford’s third win in Hong Kong with just his 19th run. That gives him a strike rate of 15.7%. Teetan went on to claim a double and Lyle Hewitson also rode a winner. That put the top jockeys respectively on eight and seven wins for the season.

Luke Ferraris is also on seven wins for the season. On Sunday he not only had a blank but had to also see his biggest feature horse, the Mark Newnham-trained My Wish (Flying Artie), winning the Gr 2 Sha Tin Trophy with another rider, Alex Badel, aboard because he could not make the feather weight of 115 pounds.

Keagan de Melo has yet to have a winner this season, but he finished second on Copartner Prance in the HK$5.35 million Sha Tin Trophy and it was his second runner up finish in a Group race on this horse this season.

It was an exiting weekend of racing globally as Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Star proved himself the world’s best sprinter by winning the world’s richest turf race, The Everest at Randwick in Sydney, while Jamie Melham became the first woman to ride the winner of the Caulfield Cup and Arc-winning trainer Francis-Henri Graffard completed a memorable season by landing the Champion Stakes with King George winner Calandagan

Earlier on Saturday at Randwick in Sydney the naysayers said Ka Ying Rising had just been beating the same horses in Hong over and over again and didn’t deserve his tag of world’s best sprinter. However, that did not stop him from starting favourite for the Aus$20 million The Everest over 1200m and he then made it look like another Hong Kong race as he easily claimed the box seat in the running under regular rider Zac Purton before taking over in the straight in effortless fashion to win by a comfortable 1,2 lengths. The David Hayes-trained New Zealand-bred Shameexpress gelding has now won his last 14 races in succession.

Meanwhile, at Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne, Jamie Melham (nee Kah), who was the first ever jockey to ride 100 wins in a Melbourne Metropolitan season, had her 17th career Gr 1 win and first major race win when scoring in the Caulfield Cup. She became the first woman jockey to win this big race and gave the $2.50 favourite, the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Half Yours (St Jean), a magnificent ride.

In the UK at Ascot on Saturday, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner, the Irish-bred Gleneagles gelding Calandagan, gave the Arc-winning combination of trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, jockey Mickaël Barzalona and owner Aga Khan Studs SCEA yet another major race winner as he fended off the challenge of market rival Ombudsman to win the Gr 1 Qipco Champion Stakes.

Tribute To Popular Many-Times Champion Trainer Gavin Smith

The many-times East Cape champion trainer Gavin Smith was one of the most well-liked people in South Afrcan horseracing and this became especially apparent after the shock of his passing over the weekend had sunk in.

All who commented spoke about him being an absolute gentleman, who was always friendly and approachable and always had time for others and he was usually smiling and full of good humour.

Gavin’s father, Andy, was the son of a jockey and Gavin himself began workriding at the age of eleven.

He rode in amateur events but grew to big to make jockeyship a professional career.

Andy Smith was also one of the top East Cape trainers of his time and had a keen rivalry with Stanley Greeff, a rivalry that has continued into the next generation with their respective sons Gavin and Alan.

Gavin took over the training reins from his father in 1995 and inherited from him good clientele and good horses.

Since then he has attracted some good new clients.

“We have been lucky to have bought some very good horses for reasonable prices,” he said about 18 years ago.

He also gave a clue at that time why he had decided to stay put in Port Eizabeth and not move to a major centre, where he would no doubt have held his own.

He said, “PE racing is very competitive and good money is being made on the tote pools. These days a horse that wins in PE could win a race in Kwazulu Natal in the off-season. I am very settled in Port Elizabeth and am not considering moving but raiding is definitely an option.”

Gavin was easily approachable and welcoming to the press, even to the out of province press.

He was well known for his transparency and a good example came when he provided information for some Gold Circle publications for a meeting at Arlington on September 28, 2007, which was an unusual occurrence and might have happened due to a KZN meeting being rained out.

Here are the comments he provided with the results of the horses he mentioned then displayed in bold.

Race 1: “Caryl’s Pride and Saucy Model could fight it out. Dancalgreg is very well bred and is a very nice horse but has a lot of problems.” Caryl’s Pride 1st, Saucy Model 3rd, Dancalgreg 4th (10 horse field).

Race 2: “Martella is a very one paced sort and I’m trying something completely new with him to see if he stays. The headgear comes off and we will drop him off the pace. Mr. Beuarocrat was a cheap buy who is a very smart sort. Tara’s Hills, like Mr.Beuarocrat, has improved with blinkers, and is also a contender here. But Matinee Idol is the one to beat.” Matinee Idol 1st, Mr Beaurocrat 2nd, Tara’s Hills 8th, Martella 9th (11 horse field).

Race 3: “Classia loves this track and trip. His last run was below par, but Fairview has a long straight and he is better suited to a course like Arlington. Mangula has his first run for me so I don’t know much about him but he is making good progress.” Mangula 1st, Classia scratched (7 horse field)

Race 4: “Chou Choo Wooga will turn into a nice stayer and is a big runner here. Doblecito won well last time but faces a little stronger here.” Chou Choo Wooga 1st, Doblecito 5th (10 horse field).

Race 5: “Tacoma is a very nice filly who has no stamina doubts but he carries a lot of weight for a trip of this length. I am wary of Polzeath who just failed behind one of my horses, Maple Run, over 1800m on Monday.” Tacoma 1st, Polzeath 2nd (6 horse field).

Race 6: “Cast A Spell is very big runner. There is not much between him and Compleat Angler in work. Compleat Angler is enjoying herself on the coast but might find this trip a little sharp.” Cast A Spell 1st, Compleat Angler 3rd (7 horse field).

Race 7: “Classic Fashion didn’t run a bad race from a wide draw last week. From another wide draw he will be competitive and can run in the first four.” Classic Fashion 6th (14 horse field).

Race 8: “Di Maggio is very honest and is a good PA horse. Southern Spirit is a similar sort.” Di Maggio 2nd, Southern Spirit 4th (16 horse field)

The comments could hardly have been any more accurate!

Gavin was the East Cape champion trainer at the time of that interview, having had 150 wins the previous season.

He won the title 13 times in all.

The best horse he trained was probably Bold Silvano.

This Silvano colt was purchased for R300,00 and he was able to tell owner Gill Thomson he was “something special” soon after he had gone into training.

He soon fulfilled that prediction by winning easily on debut over 1100m at Fairview on 20 march, 2009, after being backed in to 16/10.

He followed by finishing runner up in both the Listed East Cape Nursery and Listed Dahlia Plate, both over 1200m at Fairview.

After being stepped up in trip he was unbeaten in three more starts in Port Elizabeth, winning the Gr 3 Champion Juvenile Cup over 1400m, the non-Black Type Racing Association Plate over 1400m and the Listed Racing Association Stakes.

He then went for a campaign in Cape Town and later Gill Thompson decied to send him to Mike de Kock for the Champions Season.

Thereafter she received an offer for a share in the horse from de Kock’s chief client Sheik Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum that she “could not refuse”, and the horse famously went on to win the Gr 1 Durban July and the Gr 2 Maktoum Challenge in Dubai.

Gavin had one July runner himself, Shoes Of Silver, who finished tenth in 2004.

Gavin’s latest East Championship wins were in 2021/2022 with 134 wins and in 2022/2023 with 126 wins.

Gavin had multiple winners at many a meeting, but none better than his seven wins in the nine races of the 2022 Algoa Cup meeting. the East Cape’s traditional biggest meeting.

Gavin leaves the stable in good hands with his son Dean.

Turf Talk personnel extend their condolences to the Smith family.

Mike Moon of the Citizen also wrote a tribute to Gavin.

Click here to read Mike Moon’s tribute to Gavin

Roberts Furious After See It Again's Scratching At The Start

Michael Roberts leads in See It Again after he had won the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby in 2023. (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Trainer Michael Roberts was left fuming by what looked to be a premature scratching at the starting stalls of See It Again in an important Conditions Plate race over 1400m at Hollwyoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

See It Again, who was the last to load went three-quarters of the way in and appeared to then back out. The handlers then moved him back towards the gate. When he did not immediately go in the hood was removed. He then circled a few times without the hood on. Then to the astonishment of the racing public, it was announced he had been scratched for refusing to load.

Roberts said, “When I saw them taking the hood off and him circling I thought maybe he had kicked the back of the gates and they are just checking him. But the next thing it comes over the blower that he is scratched. I went into the inquiry room to watch the replay of the loading. I watched it numerous times and they just never gave the horse a chance. He goes more than three-quarters of the way in and the handler in the front then jumps up to get on to the side railing. They are big fellas and you can see when zooming in on the video that when going up the handler actually pushes against the horse’s head. He has a hood on, so he can’t see and he obviously resents being pushed in the head and half rears and then backs out. Shortly afterwards Rachel (Venniker) was told the horse was delaying the start and he was scratched. The amazing thing is here you have a race the whole racing fraternity around the country and the punters are waiting to see, because they are hedging their bets for the richest race in the country (the R6 million Betway Summer Cup) and there are four fancied Summer Cup entries running in this race. People wanted to see the progress horses were making and the favourite in the race is just ignored by the starter!”

The inconsistency was another point Roberts raised.

He said, “The other day there was a horse who must have been given about five minutes and many chances to go in – we actually commented among ourselves when watching and said, ‘How long are they going to give this horse?’ It surely can’t go on how quietly the other horses are standing. Every horse should be given the same opportunity to load.”

Roberts said the response, upon pointing out it had appeared to be the fault of one of the handlers that See It Again had backed out in the first place, was that the starter had been unable to see what was happening in front of the horse.

Roberts added, “They couldn’t see it happening, but then ignore what the jockey tells them!”

He added, “They said they were trying something different, but in fact the last time this horse had a mark on his passport was way back in 2022. He is not the easiest to load, but he is not crazy and once he is in he is in. In hindsight, what should have happened was a handler should have been on the side rails before loading him, not this handler jumping up and pushing him back. The horse should also have been given another proper chance to go in. It is not just about See It Again, it is about the whole race and the public who are concerned in wanting to see the race.”

Roberts went on to say it had not only been a stepping stone race for the Summer Cup, but once again the punter had suffered because the favourite had been taken out and the new favourite had then run unplaced, so it had put a lot of tickets out of the exotics.

He continued, “See It Again has been jumping out of his skin and was 10kg over his racing weight and the race would have tightened him up nicely for his next start (a race over the same course and distance on November 7). Rachel galloped him back from the start, but the stampers were already on the course, so she had to stop two furlongs from home. So he only got about a five furlong gallop.”

The stipendiary steward report said, “SEE IT AGAIN (R A Venniker) refused to load. Trainer M L Roberts will be advised to reschool this gelding.”

He added that more than one of the jockeys had told him his horse had not been given a fair chance, which was unusual for a jockey to say about an opposition runner, and Craig Zackey had even mentioned it in the winner’s interview and so did Frank Robinson.

Roberts said he also been inundated with messages and phonecalls from around the country from friends and colleagues who had disagreed with the decision made by the starter, who on the day was KZN’s official assistant starter, Sean Leslie.

He emphasised, “Gill Drier phoned me from Cape Town and said it was ‘a disgrace’ what had happened there.”

Roberts concluded, “I might just take See It Again to Greyville for a gallop before November 7. But the race on Sunday was planned three weeks from his next start and then three weeks into the Summer Cup and he was pretty there for this race, everything was working out so nice.”

He concluded, “But the horse is well and, don’t worry, he is looking magnificent and we will be back!”

Frank Robinson Plans Next Step For Madison Valley

Madison Valley cruised to a comfortable win in an important Conditions Plate race over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday (Picture: Candiese Lenferna)

Frank Robinson was thrilled with Madison Valley’s win in a strong Conditions Plate event over 1400m at Hollywodbets Greyville on Sunday.

He was particularly pleased with the manner of the win.

The five-year-old Clifton Stud-bred Mambo In Seattle gelding was given just two backhanders in the straight.

His long stride took him effortlessly to the front late in the race and he won by 1,80 lengths, from the Paul Lafferty-trained lightweight Bruh, with Claw, On My Honour, Gimmefabulous and Royal Victory next best in a race which ended up having nine runners after the controversial scratching Of See It Again.

Robinson said an agreement to have Craig Zackey on for the Betway Summer Cup, and for the build up races, had been made about a month ago.

However, he is now in two minds whether to run him in the Gr 2 Allied-Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile at Turffontein Standside on November 1 or to just go for the Conditions Plate race over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on November 7.

Madison Valley was raised one point to 116 for his win on Sunday and Robinson is weary of getting more points for running well in the Charity Mile.

At present with See It Again and Royal Victory the highest rated entries on 125, Madison Valley will have a nice galloping weight of 55,5kg in the Summer Cup.

The Robinson yard also have the Ideal World filly Mocha Blend in the Summer Cup.

In her seasonal reappearance over 1600m on the poly she flew up late to finish a 0,30 lengths second to Rollo The Viking, whom Frank used to train but whom is now trained by Nathan Kotzen.

He has a high regard for this 104-merit rated filly and the Listed Yellowwood Handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m at the Allied-Steelrode Charity Mile meeting on November 1 is a possibility for her, otherwise she might have to go for the Gr 3 Betway Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m, also at Turffontein Standside on November 9.

Frank’s top class sprinter Cats Pajamas might also be going to the Summer Cup meeting.

Last time out this 121 Rafeef gelding was seen flying up from a wide draw to finish a fine 1,40 length third to I Am Giant at level weights in an A Stakes race over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Frank believes this Gr 2 Umkhomazi Stakes winner is better around the turn and will likely avoid the Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Mechants on Summer Cup day and rather run in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1400m.

Meanwhile, Madison Valley is a 10/1 shot with the sponsor the Summer Cup, while Mocha Blend is a 33/1 chance.

Royal Victory In A Happier Space Than Ever, Contrary To Rumours

Royal Victory has been a lifechanging horse for two families as was well documented after his two Gr 1 victories (JC Photos)

Nathan Kotzen was pleased with Royal Victory’s run in an important Conditions Plate race over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday, despite him finishing a 3,75 length sixth.

This was the first of two Betway Summer Cup preparation races for the six-year-old Pathfork gelding and Nathan said all he had wanted to see was him running on well in his usual style after being dropped out from a tricky draw of seven.

He did just that under Chad Little, whom Nathan confirmed would be his rider for the Summer Cup.

Royal Victory will run next in a Conditions Plate event over 1600m at Hollywodbets Greyville on on November 7.

Nathan pointed out the twice Gr 1-winning stalwart had been in a better space than ever after six sessions with “horse whisperer” Glyn Redgrave.
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Royal Victory had ended last season under a cloud.

He was seen by all an sundry to “stick up” at the Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallops, stopping at the 1600m mark and refusing to budge.

It took a long time to coax him to gallop and other horses behind him in the gallop order had to go before him.

However, that had not stopped him from running an excellent fourth in the July after jumping from draw 17 and coming from way back in the running.

However, in the Gr 1 Champions Cup on World Pool Gold Cup day he stopped in the back straight on the way to the start and refused to go any further, so had to be scratched.

Rumours had begun circulating that Royal Victory was tired of racing.

This is firstly not backed up by his race record as he must be one of the most consistent horses in training with only three unplaced runs in his last 15 starts.

Nathan said, “He never had any issues, but one night, it was on July day (July 2023 which was before he became famous by winning two Gr 1 on the Highveld) he was cantering down to the start when the lights went out. He came back, it was pitch dark and he was distressed and dripping with sweat. The jockey was moaning the horse had just wanted to run away from him and he had been unable to see in front of him and he could not hold him, so he must have been fighting the horse the whole way back. I took that jockey off after that. But I had never before seen Royal Victory like that before. So that is what made him the way he became i.e. every now and then he would stick up, because he wanted to look. But he has never ever shown me any signs of sourness. I know what a sour horse looks like. Royal Victory’s ears are never pressed back, he is always alert with ears pricked before the race in the preliminaries and in the race itself.”

Part of Royal Victory’s schooling to get him over his sticking up habit was to take him to Hollywoodbets Greyville for a night meeting where he could approach the stalls and jump in between races. Ionically it was that night that for the first time in his life he did not want to jump, so as it was under the lights it might have been related to that night on July day 2023.

He was later taken to Hollyoodbets Scottsville during a meeting and went down fine and jumped fine.

In fact Nathan believes he is better than ever since completing his six sessions with Glyn Redgrave.

He said, “You could see on Sunday he was fine in the parade and the canter down and they put him in the gates fine, they took him out fine and put him back in fine and he jumped fine.”

Royal Victory was also seen bucking and rolling after a workout at Summerveld recently and looked a picture of well-being and contentedness.

See It Again’s last four starts at Turffontein Standside have been a win in the 2023 Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup, a win in the 2023 Gr 1 weight for age World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge, a three length sixth in the Summer Cup and a 0,25 length second in the Champions Challenge in which his objection was overruled.

He has proved he is up to his 125 merit rating and being in such a good space he could offer some value at 14/1 ante-post odds for the Summer Cup.

Ka Ying Rising Surges Into Racing History

Ka Ying Rising powers away to land The Everest

By Leo Schlink (HKJC) in Sydney

Ka Ying Rising emphatically confirmed his status as the world’s premier sprinter with a devastating display to win the AU$20 million (approx. HK$101 million) G1 The Everest (1200m) on Saturday (18 October) at Royal Randwick in Sydney, Australia, delivering career-high thrills for Zac Purton and David Hayes.

Purton and Hayes both declared the win the highlight of their decorated careers as Hong Kong, China’s Ka Ying Rising (129lb) banished the doubters who questioned his temperament, spearing into history as the first overseas horse to win the world’s richest turf race, earning AU$7 million (approx. HK35.3 million, R78.47 million) with victory over Tempted (112lb) and Jimmysstar (129lb) in 1m 08.13s.

Ridden perfectly by Purton, Ka Ying Rising enhanced his record to 15 wins from 17 starts – and extended his unbeaten streak to 14 wins, a Hong Kong sequence bettered only by fellow champions Silent Witness (17) and Golden Sixty (16), while taking his career prizemoney beyond HK$100 million.

Settling third after jumping smoothly from barrier seven, Ka Ying Rising emerged from the slipstream of leaders Mazu and Overpass to claim the lead inside the last 200m and comfortably held off his pursuers, clocking 33.62s for the last 600m.

Ka Ying Rising races into history

Describing the victory as the “biggest moment of his career”, eight-time Hong Kong champion jockey Purton said Ka Ying Rising was not at his absolute best – but was still superior to the cream of Australia’s sprinters.

“I would say probably the single biggest moment (of his career) just because of the stature the race has got now and everything that came with it. The build-up, the horse, coming from overseas, all those things – I think it was probably the single biggest moment,” Purton said.

“He got a little edgy in the gates but to his credit he still began well and we had a beautiful run in the race. Overpass skipped clear (at the top of the straight) but to my horse’s credit he got moving and chased him down and we just coasted to the line after that.

“He’s a special horse. I don’t think we saw him at his best today but even not at his best, he’s still good enough.”

David Hayes was jubilant post-race
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David Hayes said: “It was an absolute thrill and I can’t wait to watch the replay and enjoy it. It’s a long straight, Randwick, when you hit the front, but I think he held on pretty well.

“Great ride by Zac and I was actually going to be shattered today if he lost. I think there’s more to come with this horse but it’s certainly the biggest thrill in my life – and it’s been the longest 10 days in my life.

“I really have to thank my team, they haven’t missed a beat with him and they’ve given just a wonderful effort.”

Representing the Ka Ying Syndicate, Mr Leung Shek Kong immediately indicated he wanted Ka Ying Rising to return to The Everest next year.

“We want to come back next year,” Mr Leung said. “We have all enjoyed our time in Sydney and we want to thank the ATC (Australian Turf Club) and TAB (Totalisator Agency Board). I want to thank David Hayes and his team and The Hong Kong Jockey Club.

“I was very nervous before the race but after the parade, I was more comfortable. I felt confident after the parade rings.”

Determined to avoid a repeat of the anxiety Ka Ying Rising experienced before his barrier trial at Royal Randwick on 7 October, Hayes was given approval to keep the gelding cosseted away from the milling crowd in a quiet area of the tie-up stalls.

Hayes briefly took Ka Ying Rising to his allocated stall, where he was greeted by spectators who stood 10-deep in front of his box to catch a glimpse of the sprinter, before whisking him back to a more secluded stall.

Hayes said the heavily scrutinised barrier trial when Ka Ying Rising finished third behind Linebacker – who easily won the G3 Silver Eagle (1300m) at Royal Randwick today and Overpass (fourth in The Everest) – was pivotal to today’s success.

“He blew out all the mothballs and a lot of people were very critical of the trial. He still beat Group 1 winners and he still ran third. The trial was important for him to get used to Randwick,” Hayes said.

Purton said the raucous atmosphere created by a capacity crowd of about 50,000 had created a pre-race challenge for Ka Ying Rising.

“The crowd did a good job of buzzing him up before the race. I didn’t expect them to boo him and be as vocal as they were when he came out onto the track and it was all the way down until he got to the end of the crowd,” Purton said.

“He handled it really well and I was impressed with that and I just love him – he’s such a nice horse to ride.”

Purton struck in the race immediately before The Everest with a brilliant ride on Robert Heathcote-trained Rothfire in the G3 Sydney Stakes (1200m).

Ka Ying Rising is scheduled to fly out of Sydney early next week and will be prepared for the HK$28 million G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint (1200m) at Sha Tin’s HK$130 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races on 14 December.

Calandagan Completes A Beautiful Double

Calandagan completed the King George-Champion Stakes double (Picture: Sky Sports Racing)

Francis Graffard echoed the views of many of the thousands who had packed into the Ascot stands to witness three of Europe’s finest do battle in the most fitting of Flat season finales, describing the Qipco Champion Stakes emphatically won by Calandagan on Saturday as simply a “beautiful race to watch”.

Click here to read the full article