Itsrainingwilliam (Picture: Wayne Marks).

Snaith Stablemate Can Boost Without Question’s Durban July Prospects

Master Redoute, the mount of Corné Orffer, may pose the main threat to the Snaith quartet

David Mollett (Business Day)

Justin Snaith has four runners in Saturday’s WSB Pocket Power Stakes at Kenilworth and victory for Itsrainingwilliam will enhance the prospects of his stable companion, Without Question, for next week’s R5m Hollywoodbets Durban July.

Though jockey Richard Fourie has not partnered Itsrainingwilliam in recent outings, he will be well aware that the son of William Longsword finished third behind Without Question on his penultimate start.

While Thursday’s final Durban July gallops generally told punters not much more than their big race fancy hadn’t passed away overnight, Fourie is reported to have been extremely happy with Without Questions’ workout and the 37-year-old jockey has been in red-hot form in recent months.

The other July hope who got the thumbs up from a number of pundits after the gallops was Dave The King. The Gary Player-bred three-year-old will be trying 2,200m for the first time but he turned in an excellent performance in the Daily News 2000.

Those punters in the corner of Dave The King will be encouraged by the comments from Mike de Kock in an interview with Turf Talk.

He said: “Dave The King has improved a helluva lot — he is absolutely flying at home. He’s come on from his last start and he’s definitely improved.

“I do have a big question mark over 2,200m in the July because he has a tremendous amount of pace and he has a massive action.”

Regarding the draws for Dave The King and Safe Passage, De Kock said: “I was hoping for anything between 8 and 12 and got 10 and 14 so no complaints. I like to stay a little out of the scrum — I prefer that for the July. It can get a bit hectic depending on what your tactics are so it will be interesting to see what sort of tactics will be employed.”

In the Pocket Power Stakes, Master Redoute, the mount of Corné Orffer, may pose the main threat to the Snaith quartet. He has a merit-rating of 105 which is four points inferior to Itsrainingwilliam but is 1kg better off this time.

The supporting feature at Kenilworth — the Stormsvlei Stakes (Listed) — may chiefly concern Flower Of Saigon and the Candice Bass-Robinson duo of Gold Poker Game and Who Do You Love.

It’s an amazing fact that Flower Of Saigon has had a different jockey in each of her past seven starts and Grant van Niekerk has got the call-up this time. The mare should make a bold bid for a fourth career win.

Gold Poker Game has played her part in Drakenstein Stud’s earnings this season and — better drawn than her stablemate — has a chance of taking the R118,750 first purse.

Brett Crawford has five runners in this contest and Future Girl, the mount of Louis Mxothwa, may be the stable elect. The daughter of Futura has few miles on the clock.

Saturday is the final day of an enthralling week of top action at Royal Ascot and the feature event is the grade 1 Queen Elizabeth 11 Jubilee Stakes for which Australian raider Artorius heads the market at 3-1.

It will be interesting to see whether Highland Princess turns out again after John Quinn’s mare looked unlucky not to get the King’s Stand Stakes in the stewards room on Tuesday.

SELECTIONS

Pocket Power Stakes

(Kenilworth, Saturday)

1 (10) Itsrainingwilliam

2 (1) Master Redoute

3 (7) The Futureisbright

4 (5) Top Quality

Stormsvlei Stakes

(Kenilworth, Saturday)

1 (6) Flower Of Saigon

2 (7) Gold Poker Game

3 (11) Who Do You Love

4 (12) Fleeting

KZN Breeders Mile

(Greyville, Sunday)

1 (3) Captain Casey

2 (6) MK’s Pride

3 (7) Willow’s Wish

4 (9) Noble City

MK’s Pride (JC Photos).

MK’S Pride To Bounce Back

Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)

The R600 000 KwaZulu-Natal Breeders Mile at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday provides the classy MK’s Pride an ideal opportunity to get back on the winning trail.

Now trained by Robbie Sage the Grade 1 winning son of Willow Magic has not seen the winner’s enclosure since taking out the 2022 Horse Chestnut Stakes (Gr 1) some fifteen months ago, but MK’s Pride is rated head and shoulders above his rivals and he should take a power of beating. Three runs back he finished runner-up behind Trip Of Fortune in the 2023 renewal of the Horse Chestnut Stakes and his subsequent two starts were not over ideal distances. On Sunday he returns to his favourite trip of 1600m and Muzi Yeni should have little difficulty in coaxing him to victory.

Peter Muscutt comes with a two-pronged attack as he plots to bring about the downfall of MK’s Pride. Noble City is a talented 3yo who is very much on the rise. He has won three of his five starts to date and will again be partnered by Richard Fourie, but the Noble Tune gelding has been thrown in the deep-end here. His current form and well-being is certainly in his favour but he will need to catch MK’s Pride on an off day to have any chance of lowering his colours.

Stable companion Battle Force is an interesting runner. The former winner of the Golden Horse Sprint (Gr 1) has not tasted success for a very long time but he has only once been tried over 1600m, and that was in this race last year when finishing second behind the useful Nexus.

Lest we forget the merit of that performance, Nexus won a good race during the last Cape Summer Season and then ran an absolute cracker in the WSB Cape Town Met when finishing fourth behind Jet Dark and Kommetdieding. If Battle Force can reproduce that level of form he will have a bright chance of making his presence felt.

Captain Casey is another three-year-old with a bright future but faces an enormous challenge in this company. The handsome son of Captain Of All has his third run after being rested and gelded and will be cherry ripe on Sunday, but he may just have to settle for a minor placing at best.

Best of the rest in this nine-horse field appears to be Willow’s Wish but the Sean Tarry inmate takes a steep rise in class. He has been a model of consistency throughout his career but the 5-time winner is not well treated by the conditions of the race.

But while Tarry may struggle to secure victory in the main event, he will fancy his chances in the fifth and eighth races on Sunday. He saddles The Kop in the fifth race over 1900m and the son of Visionaire will be seeking to follow up on his victory in the same race last year. But he is rated six points higher this time around and meets Aquae Sulis on 2 kgs worse terms than last year. On that basis Duncan Howells’ mare has a real chance of turning the tables on The Kop but there are also a few others to consider in a highly competitive event.

African Dusk comes into the race with solid credentials but makes his debut on the Polytrack. The 3yo son of Ideal World has thus far been restricted to racing on the turf but there is no reason to believe he will not handle the change in surface. Raratonga Rose from the in-form stable of Lucky Houdalakis does not know what it is to run a bad race and the daughter of Flower Alley warrants serious respect. Pirate Prince is another for the short list but I am expecting lightning to strike twice and will give the nod to The Kop, although not with a great deal of confidence.

In the eighth race over 1600m Tarry sends out Magical Flight who has made the frame in all three starts to date on the Polytrack. Her form on the Highveld this season has been very consistent and four of her five victories to date have come over this trip. Magical Flight probably has most to fear from the improving Petit Verdot and the well-drawn Hatta from the stable of Michael Roberts.

The nap of the day comes in the very first race, a Juvenile Plate for fillies over 1200m, in the form of Platina Princess. The well-related daughter of high-riding freshman sire Danon Platina was bred by Henning Pretorius at Summerhill Equestrian and the strength of her form on the Highveld looks far superior to anything she comes up against here. She is likely to start at prohibitive odds but rates a confident Bipot banker.

Another Highveld-based 2yo could come out on top in the second race, the opening leg of the Place Accumulator. Trainer Paul Matchett saddles debut winner Mount Pilatus and he has secured the services of Richard Fourie to ride the son of Pomodoro who was bred at the Clifton Stud. In his first start Mount Pilatus beat the promising Hawkbill who has franked the form by winning since, but Teerex, Captain’s Christy and Strawberry Stinger have all done enough to keep him honest.

The most exciting supporting race on the programme appears to be the sixth race over 1600m. The very exciting and good-looking grey son of Flying The Flag, Strawberry Bear, goes head-to-head with the very accomplished Prince of Taranto and a good race can be expected between the pair. The older Prince of Taranto receives 4 kgs from the 3yo Strawberry Bear and that could just sway the outcome in favour of Tony Rivalland’s runner.

The second-placed four-ball at the fundraiser together with Jo Knowles. They are from left: Chris Kruger, Glen Hatt, Chris Jeenes and Welmar O’Reilly (Picture: Wayne Marks).

Rouvaun Smit Fundraiser Golf Day A Great Success

Equine Marketing Solutions (Grant & Joanne Knowles) hosted a golf day at Atlantic Beach Links on Wednesday to raise funding towards Rouvaun Smit’s exorbitant medical expenses.

A decent amount of approximately R25,000 was raised.

Equine Marketing Solutions thanked the following Sponsors (in alphabetical order) for their generous donations and prizes which contributed to making the day a success:

Betway

Charl Pretorius

Gold Circle

Hollywoodbets

IXU courtesy of the RX Group

John Finlayson

Shaheen Shaw

Snaith Racing

Sugar Hotel

World Sports Betting

A special thank you must go out to both HollywoodBets and World Sports Betting for their generous hole sponsorships.

Results of the day:

1^st Place Wynn Davies, Gill Davies, Bryann Shaw & John Spyker – 90 points

2^nd Place Welmar O’Reilly, Glen Hatt, Chris Kruger & Chris Jeenes – 89 points

3^rd Place Nicho Olivier, Ryan Olivier, Raymond Olivier & Jandre Kleynhans – 83 points counted in

4^th Place Paul Barrett, George Bowes, Vadi Pillay & John Savage – 83 points counted out

5^th Place Peter Waison, Karl Neisius, Amaro Fernandes & Patrick McGivern – 81 points counted in

Closest to Pin

Hole 3 Riyaaz Parker

Hole 8 Karl Neisius

Hole 14 Gill Davies

In addition to the golf day, Equine Marketing Solutions have managed to get some very generous support in the form of stallion services from leading stud farms in the Western Cape. Bloodstock SA have agreed to auction the services on Thursday after the KZN Yearling Sale.

Gallery:

Michael Roberts wins the 1997 Durban July on the tiny David Ferraris-trained Elliodor gelding Super Quality (Gold Circle)

Michael “Muis” Roberts Looks Back On His July-Winning Ride

South Africa’s Hall Of Fame jockey Michael Roberts is on the cusp of history as he attempts to join Syd Garrett, David Payne and Bert Abercrombie as July-winning jockeys to have trained a July winner.

He trains the ruling favourite for the Hollywoodbets Durban July, See It Again.

A few years back he looked back on his only win as a jockey in the big race.

What shone through was the importance of the race to the men and women in the arena, the jockeys and trainers.

Will there be another celebration for the Roberts family on July 1?

The Article:

Michael “Muis” Roberts is regarded by many as South Africa’s greatest ever jockey, yet at one stage he had resigned himself to forever being winless in his home country’s biggest race, the Vodacom Durban July.

Roberts was riding full time in the U.K, so the best July rides were usually booked, and the July also coincided with the Grade 1 Coral Eclipse.

His wife Verna used to brush over the missing July jigsaw piece by pointing out the Epsom Derby was the greatest race in the world and he would have a fair chance of winning that.

However, the July blank remained a sore point.

He said it had never gone as far as causing sleepless nights, but admitted, “What used to hurt me was when I would go to the cattle shows (Roberts owned a cattle farm) and the farmers who knew nothing about racing used to say, ‘But you have never won the July’. The championships I had won meant nothing to them.”

Roberts won eleven South African championships before his 17 year stint in the UK, where in 1992 he became only the sixth non-British or Irish jockey to have won the British Flat Jockey Championship.

One of Roberts’ biggest July disappointments was in 1975 on Sledgehammer, whom he regards as one of the best he rode in South Africa. In the 1970s the Queen’s Plate was run in mid to late-February and in retrospect Roberts wondered whether horses like Sledgehammer, who had endured arduous campaigns during the Cape Summer season, were quite ready for the July.

He added, “I also thought I had a chance on Majestic Crown (fourth in 1976).”

Then in 1979 he landed a plum ride on the brilliant three-year-old Bold Tropic. Durban readers woke up on the morning of the race to the front page headline, “Muis sleeps as July fever soars” which summed up both the importance of the race and just how idolised Roberts was. However, he could only manage fifth place and Roberts recalled, “I think he was tired by the time of the July.”

Roberts’ best finish in that era came on the 1981 runner up French Mustard, who was a pick up ride after his original mount was scratched.

In 1987, now riding full-time in Britain, Roberts bumped into prolific South African owner Laurie Jaffee at Royal Ascot. Jaffee believed he would win the July that year with Bush Telegraph and offered Roberts the ride as the horse’s regular rider Garth Puller was going to battle to make the weight. However, Roberts would never have considered abandoning the great horse Mtoto. Bush Telegraph duly won the July, while Roberts steered Mtoto to two successive Coral Eclipse victories.

Then in 1997 Roberts’ agent told him at the races one Saturday that South African trainer David Ferraris had phoned and offered him a July ride on a horse called North By Northwest. After the races Roberts gathered this horse had just won the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 and was the ruling July favourite.

“We were excited,” he recalled.

Roberts phoned Ferraris the next morning. However, there was bad news. He was informed stable jockey Weichong Marwing had changed his mind and had now opted to stay aboard North By Northwest for the July. Roberts recalled the disappointment.

However, Ferraris then offered him the ride on his other runner Super Quality, whom he described as a “game little bugger”. He added he would understand if he did not want to make the journey.

Roberts did not have any Coral Eclipse commitments and always liked to visit his farm in the Karkloof in the KZN midlands. It also did not escape him that Marwing had initially chosen Super Quality. So he accepted the ride.

He recalled the big day, “The worst part was when I was in the parade ring. I saw this tiny little horse walking in. Then I got on him and I couldn’t believe how small he was. I thought to myself, oh no, how embarrassing, journeying all this way to ride this horse. I asked the groom if he liked him and he replied, ‘No I like North By Northwest, he is a very nice horse.’ So my mood was down. But, then he went down to the start like an absolute bomb. I pulled him up at the 2400m mark and Garth (Puller) was alongside and I remember telling him how good the horse had felt.”

He continued, “David had only given me one bit of advice, which was not to bring him through horses, so to try and bring him to the outside.”

Roberts recalled having a rough passage in the early part of the race. “I remember screaming at Garth on my outside to give me some room because I thought I was going to go over the fence. But, after rounding the Drill Hall he was absolutely cantering. It was the first time I had travelled that hard in the July, you were usually starting to come off the bridle at that stage. And then as we were turning for home a big gap opened to my left. I was able to switch to the outside and the rest is history. I did remember thinking how often a July leader is caught in the closing stages, but fortunately it did not happen.”

Roberts shed tears of emotion in the winner’s enclosure and recalled, “I couldn’t talk.”

Later, he bought a bottle of champagne for his weighing room colleagues and remembered having a fantastic party in “the middle” (known these days as “tent town”).

He was inundated with well wishes from all over the country and a TV sports channel also had an interview with him at the airport before he flew back to England the following day.

Roberts concluded, “It was the pinnacle moment of my career in South Africa.”

Future Girl has been tipped by the At The Races Tipster to win the Listed WSB Stormsvlei Stakes (Picture: Wayne Marks).

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Saturday Formguides And Selections

www.attheraces.com

1 11:45 AM – Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Welcomes You Restricted Maiden Juvenile Plate

Competitive opener. On their recent meeting SPEED RACER finished ahead of TYRION LANNISTER, TWENTYTWENTYVISION and RIGHT ROYAL MO but it could get a lot closer all round. However, DIAMOND ROCK could hold SPEED RACER on an earlier meeting and rates the one to beat. NOON DAY GUN will enjoy the little extra and could prove the main danger. Watch SACAMBAYA who races before this, and the newcomers.

Top Tip: NOON DAY GUN (10)

Watch out for: DIAMOND ROCK (4)

2 12:20 PM – Cape Racing Sales Open Maiden

REMEMBER MY NAME rates the one they all have to beat. Stable companion STEADFAST wasn’t disgraced on debut and could challenge. RUN FOR ME is capable but comes off a rest and could still need it. Include the first-timers that attract money in exotics.

Top Tip: STEADFAST (12)

Watch out for: REMEMBER MY NAME (8)

3 12:55 PM – Racecape Powered By Hollywoodbets Cape B Stakes

FUTURE TURN beat BARDOLINO by a length but the 1.5kg difference could get them close together. CHARLIE CROKER and FUTURE TURN have collateral form with Gimme More Time and the former should make his presence felt. INTIMIDATOR is holding form and could make the Quartet. STEINBECK and PROMETTERE could get into the reckoning.

Top Tip: INTIMIDATOR (1)

Watch out for: FUTURE TURN (3)

4 1:30 PM – Winter Sprint

MR COBBS and MUFASA met recently and the latter was victorious by a neck. The meet at the same weights but the 100m further could see the result reversed. However, BEREAVE showed that he is the one to beat on collateral form, having finished over 2 lengths in front of MR COBBS recently. SPEED MACHINE must come into the equation on the same form line. Stablemates, SILVER FALCON and SACHDEV as well as RESONATE are also not out of it. Good race.

Top Tip: SPEED MACHINE (1)

Watch out for: MUFASA (2)

5 2:05 PM – Somerset 1200 (Listed) (2 Year Olds)

In this Listed race precocious filly BALTIC SECRET, who is improving with racing, could upstage her male rivals. Stable companion UNDERWORLD is on the up and capable of joining that fight for victory. ZOOMIE won last time and with DUMBLEDORE could make the Trifecta. LINES CROSSED is looking for minor money.

Top Tip: BALTIC SECRET (3)

Watch out for: DUMBLEDORE (2)

6 2:40 PM – Perfect Promise Sprint (Listed) (2 Year Old Fillies)

SUMMER LILY was impressive when winning on debut over this course and distance so gets the nod with improvement expected. OCTOBER MORN and SIDDELEY have the form and experience to mount a serious challenge. Last-start winners UNCONQUERABLE LADY and ONI SAN could get into the picture too, with further progress likely. ENCHANTED SKY, QUICK TRIP and LISTENTOTHEOCEAN also have earning potential.

Top Tip: SUMMER LILY (1)

Watch out for: OCTOBER MORN (2)

7 3:15 PM – World Sports Betting Stormsvlei Stakes (Listed) (F & M) (3 Years & Older)

A competitive Listed WSB Stormsvlei Stakes and punters need to include as many as possible in exotics. GOLD POKER GAME was unlucky last time and is one for the shortlist. Lightly raced FUTURE GIRL will have the run of the race from pole draw. LOVE IS A ROSE has a wide draw to overcome but has beaten VERONICA MARS who needs to jump on terms. FLOWER OF SAIGON, LADY SILVANO, WHO DO YOU LOVE, FLEETING and SUPREME DREAM could pull it off.

Top Tip: FUTURE GIRL (1)

Watch out for: VERONICA MARS (5)

8 3:50 PM – World Sports Betting Pocket Power Stakes (Grade 3) (3 Years & Older)

A competitive WSB Pocket Power Stakes (Grade 3) over 1950m. ITSRAININGWILLIAM beat MASTER REDOUTE (1kg better) by 0.5L and they should get close again. The former’s stablemates, SILVER HOST, TOP QUALITY and THEFUTUREISBRIGHT, are all in with winning claims. THE FUTURIST was never travelling last time – expect a better performance. Stable companion SOLAR POWER should be involved in the finish.

Top Tip: MASTER REDOUTE (1)

Watch out for: SILVER HOST (3)

9 4:25 PM – World Sports Betting Spinawina Class 4 (F & M)

Two year-old FLYING V has plenty of scope for improvement and could follow up on her maiden win. MAGNETIC DIME beat ENEMY TERRITORY (races before this) by 0.50 lengths recently, but the latter is only 0.5kg better off. It could get close between them again. WHERE’S THE PARTY (races before this), HEAR MY VOICE and FLYING FIRST shouldn’t be far behind them. APPLE CATCHER finds support and produced her form last time. She can go on.

Top Tip: WHERE’S THE PARTY (5)

Watch out for: MAGNETIC DIME (6)

Whilst studying the form, we have a dedicated horse racing free bets page where you can find offers on all today’s racing, as well as offers to use for races on our Ante-Post Prices page, which has markets available for upcoming major meetings as well as the Grand National 2023, Royal Ascot 2023 and Cheltenham Festival 2024.

10 5:00 PM – Hollywoodbets Bright Future Cape B Stakes

Difficult race to end. All of RAGNAR LOTHBROK, SUN DAZED, VELDSKOEN DANCE VARIETY (races before this), ROD THE MOD, MOUNT PLEASANT, TCHAIKOVSKY, BLUFF ON BLUFF and ELUSIVE TRADER make up the shortlist. It doesn’t stop there.

Top Tip: RAGNAR LOTHBROK (6)

Watch out for: VELDSKOEN (9)

Australian hero Artorius will attempt to land a British Gr 1 tomorrow in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (Photograph: Steven Cargill/racingfotos.com/Shutterstock)

Royal Ascot Meeting Day 5 Saturday Formguides And Selections

www.attheraces.com

1 2:30 PM – Chesham Stakes (Listed)

Aidan O’Brien has a fine strike-rate in this contest, as he has taken two of the last three renewals, and he has a strong hand once more with the top two in the market. Preference is for his PEARLS AND RUBIES, who just got up by a neck on debut at Navan over 5f and she shaped as if in need of this step up in distance. With potentially loads of improvement to come, she is fancied to come out on top to give leading jockey Ryan Moore another one to his tally. The main threat might come from Matnookh, who he did incredibly well to be beaten just under four lengths third on his first start at Windsor after being slowly away. He should have learned a lot from that experience and he is one to take seriously at a price. Another to note is Lightning Leo, who had Sayedaty Sadaty (second) and Quatre Bras (third) behind him last time and he isn’t ruled out in this open contest.

Top Tip: PEARLS AND RUBIES (16)

Watch out for: MATNOOKH (6)

2 3:05 PM – Jersey Stakes (Group 3)

Covey landed a treble in comfortable style at Haydock last month but, given the last 10 winners hadn’t run in a handicap on their previous start, it could pay to side with THE ANTARCTIC. A game winner of the Lacken Stakes at Naas most recently, Aidan O’Brien’s inmate has shaped as though he can progress further for stepping up in trip. He lost little in defeat behind Blackbeard in in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket last September and the 750,000gns purchase rates the one to beat. Enfjaar cost 240,000gns as a foal and caught the eye when beating subsequent Lingfield Derby Trial winner Military Order into fourth on his debut at Newmarket. Roger Varian’s charge made it 2-2 when bolting up under a penalty at Chelmsford on his most recent run and he likely has more to offer. Olivia Maralda and Zoology add further spice to a competitive renewal.

Top Tip: THE ANTARCTIC (2)

Watch out for: ENFJAAR (7)

3 3:40 PM – Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Australian sprinter ARTORIUS didn’t enjoy the smoothest of passages when finishing third in last year’s renewal of this contest and compensation could await. The Freedman-trained colt arrives in good form having added another Group 1 trophy to his cabinet at Randwick and then losing little in defeat at Rosehill just two weeks later. The son of Flying Artie can put his experience to good use and record a first success on these shores. Wellington will likely enjoy not running into Sha Tin superstar Lucky Sweynesse this time and is feared most on his first visit to Ascot, with Ryan Moore, who has ridden the six-year-old to success in the Hong Kong Sprint, a shrewd-looking jockey booking. Highfield Princess and Kinross head the list of dangers for the home team in an open-looking contest.

Top Tip: ARTORIUS (2)

Watch out for: WELLINGTON (13)

4 4:20 PM – Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2)

Hukum lowered the colours of the unbeaten Derby hero Desert Crown last time at Sandown in the Brigadier Gerard, and that was a mighty performance considering he was returning from a 356-day break over a trip that may have not been ideal. He is likely to be a warm favourite for this but, at the prices, he can be taken on with PYLEDRIVER. The son of Harbour Watch is no stranger to Royal Ascot as he took the King Edward VII in 2020 over C&D and that gives a big boost to his claims. The six-year-old is officially the top-rated in the contest with a mark of 124 and was last seen taking the King George VI here 11 months ago, which shows he goes well fresh. Free Wind is a lightly-raced five-year-old on the up and the form of her Middleton Stakes victory at York last month was franked by Rogue Milennium (second) securing the Duke Of Cambridge here on Wednesday, so she is also worthy of consideration.

Top Tip: PYLEDRIVER (6)

Watch out for: HUKUM (5)

5 5:00 PM – Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap)

ORAZIO looked a potential Group-class performer when running out an impressive winner over C&D last month and a 9lb rise might not be enough to stop him from landing the hat-trick. The form of his Newmarket victory at the Craven meeting was backed up by the runner-up, Probe, who is in opposition again having won on 2000 Guineas day. Connections have managed to book Ryan Moore for the ride and he has to warrant plenty of respect. Khanjar sports cheekpieces for the first time and has threatened to win a prize of this nature, while others worth noting include Bielsa, the former Ayr Gold Cup hero who scored at York last month, and Flaming Rib, who was runner-up in last year’s Commonwealth Cup.

Top Tip: ORAZIO (8)

Watch out for: PROBE (21)

6 5:35 PM – Golden Gates Stakes (Handicap)

Those drawn high have tended do well since the inauguration of this contest in 2020, with the first three places in last year’s renewal filled by runners drawn 13 and above. With that in mind, it may pay to take a chance on LION OF WAR. Having won his first two starts last summer, Charlie Johnston’s colt bounced back to form in eye-catching fashion when powering home to win well over 1m1f at Musselburgh three weeks ago and a 4lb rise still leaves him on a fair mark now back up in trip. Canute won with ease on his second appearance in a handicap at Navan earlier in the month and Aidan O’Brien’s colt is feared most, despite the handicapper raising him 11lb in the ratings. Knockbrex lost little in defeat when finishing fourth to subsequent Queen’s Vase third Chesspiece at York last month and completes the shortlist now eased in distance.

Top Tip: LION OF WAR (15)

Watch out for: CANUTE (6)

7 6:10 PM – Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions Race)

STRATUM arrives in search of a hat-trick of victories in this contest and the 10-year-old warmed up for this when not running too badly at Leopardstown on his return from a break. William Buick is reunited in the saddle and the pair boast strong credentials once again. Dawn Rising made up into a very useful hurdler during the winter months, placing at the highest level, and finished ahead of the selection when third in the aforementioned Leopardstown Group 3. He is respected, with the step up in trip potentially unlocking further improvement, while Cesarewitch winner Run For Oscar is likely to be a lot happier stepped back up in distance following his prep over 1m4f at the Curragh.

Top Tip: STRATUM (1)

Watch out for: DAWN RISING (3)

Mr Fayez after winning at Lingfield on Thursday (Catch Us If You Can Racing Facebook Page)

Lingfield Win For Cunha/Cheyne After Royal Ascot Disappointment

The Dylan Cunha-trained Silver Sword was balloted out of The Gold Gates Stakes, which will be run at the Royal Ascot meeting tomorrow.

However, Cunha and the booked jockey Greg Cheyne put that disappointment behind them by winning a Class 6 Handicao over five furlongs with the yard pet, Mr Fayez.

Mr Fayez is the “yard pony and lead horse”.

He was the horse that got the Cunha yard going after being bought for 2,000 pounds.

“Another win but this was the most special one,” said Cunha on his busy social media pages. “He is everyone’s favourite, we love you Fayezie.”

The five-year-old Irish-bred Ajaya gelding produced a strong late run after being outpaced early.

Cunha has now had 8 wins in all in the UK, but seven of them have been this season and he is going along this term at a fine strike rate of 24%.

Cheyne’s strike rate is even higher, his four wins coming at 29%.

Heathcliff wins the Racehorse Owners Association Pinnacle Stakes over 2700m today on the Fairview poly, the first leg of a quick double for Richard Fourie and Alan Greeff (Nelson Mandela Bay Racing).

Jacobs/Gila, Yeni/Mitchley, Fourie Greeff Doubles, Ramzan Double

Jabu Jacobs, Muzi Yeni and Richard Fourie rode respective doubles on the Fairview poly today for Lunga Gila, Kelly Mitchley and Alan Greeff respectively.

Yuzae Ramzan also rode a double.

Jacobs goes to 9 wins for the season achieved at a strike rate of 6.87%.

Yeni goes to 131 wins at 11.27%.

Fourie goes to 225 wins at 22.28%.

Mitchley goes to 32 wins at 10.53%.

Greeff goes to 109 at 12.99%.

Greeff is now just two wins behind Gavin Smith in the exciting tussle for the East Cape Trainers Championship.

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Fields, Saturday

Hollywoodbets Greyville Fields, Sunday

The legendary horse in question (thoroughbredancestry.com)

Today’s Question

The traditional last race of day 5 of the Royal Ascot meeting tomorrow will be The Queen Alexandra Stakes. Which multiple winner of this race is regarded as probably the most popular horse in Royal Ascot history?

Question answer at the bottom of the newsletter

Steve Donoghue and Brown Jack enjoyed a special relationship (The Irish Field)

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION

Bred in Ireland and born in 1924, Brown Jack was initially trained as a jumper by Aubrey Hastings. When he first arrived at the yard of his trainer, the gelding caught a serious chill and, suffering from a high fever, was nursed back to health on a diet of beer, eggs and whiskey!

He was viewed with a lack of interest bordering on contempt by the lads in the yard.

However, at age 4 (a juvenile in jumping terms) he made a promising start to his hurdling career, winning six races in 1927-28, and was then entered for the biggest prize of all, the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. On paper, he had no right to be racing in such elite company, as it was a mere seven months since he had made his debut and he was much too young and inexperienced to be taking on some of the best hurdlers around, at weight-for-age terms. Instead, displaying a tremendous turn of foot, he comfortably disposed of a small but high class field and served notice to the racing public that a hurdling superstar had arrived.

At this point, Fate intervened and his story took the strangest of turns.

Flat jockey Steve Donoghue is arguably the most popular British rider of the 20th century and certainly the greatest of the pre-war era. An instinctive horseman, with an almost telepathic ability to communicate with his mounts, he was ten times champion jockey and won just about every big prize on offer, including 6 Epsom Derbies and two Triple Crowns. Donoghue happened to be at Cheltenham on the day Brown Jack won the Champion Hurdle and he was asked by trainer Hastings if he thought Brown Jack could compete on the Flat, considering that he had remarkable acceleration for a hurdler.

Donoghue replied that he thought Brown Jack was capable of winning on the Flat and furthermore, he would ride the horse himself if he switched from jumping. This was an odd suggestion, to say the least. Flat horses at the end of their careers frequently make the transition to jumping; but it is unheard of for a jumper – and champion hurdler at that – to suddenly pursue a career on the Flat.

However, based on Donoghue`s advice, that is exactly what happened and within three months, Brown Jack was appearing on the biggest stage of all: Royal Ascot.

Royal Ascot is kind to stayers, offering a great platform for them to display their talents. One of the showpiece events is the Group 1 Gold Cup, run over 4000m, still the world`s premier staying event. For those horses who lack the class to compete at this level, there are two other prizes: the Ascot Stakes, also over 4000m and Queen Alexandra Stakes over 4400m – the longest Flat race in the world and traditionally the final race of the meeting.

Brown Jack had no pretensions to being of Gold Cup class, so instead was aimed at the Ascot Stakes in 1928 and he duly marked his Royal Ascot debut with a victory in this marathon event.

The following year he was entered for the same race and finished a short-head second, but three days later, he won the Queen Alexandra Stakes (emulating his father Jackdaw who had won it in 1912). Little did the crowd know then that a legend was taking shape before their very eyes.

When trainer Aubrey Hastings died, his successor Ivor Anthony followed a similar seasonal programme with Brown Jack, contesting the various staying handicaps and targeting Royal Ascot. In 1930 and 1931, the gelding completed a hattrick in the Queen Alexandra Stakes. Adding on his earlier Ascot Stakes win, he had now firmly cemented his place in history with his unique feat of winning for four consecutive years at the Royal Meeting. Granted, the Queen Alexandra was not one of the most prestigious events on the card, but it was still a remarkable feat of consistency and endurance from this wonderful old stayer.

By now Brown Jack was a firm favourite with the racing public, and his undoubted intelligence and charisma only added to their profound love for the old-timer. Very much a showman, there was something almost human about how he thrived on all the attention that came with winning. In addition, word got out that he was very fond of cheese and that he used to insist that his stable lad, Alfie Garrett, share his lunch with him! His fans started sending various types of cheese to the stables, but it turned out that Brown Jack would only eat cheap American cheddar.

With four consecutive Royal meeting wins to his name, the question on everyone`s lips was how much longer the fairy tale could continue. After all, he was now 7 and surely retirement – or maybe a return to jumping – was around the corner. It was unrealistic to expect the veteran to maintain this level of performance much longer and indeed, as Brown Jack got older, his form inevitably became a bit patchier.

Yet the old warrior seemed determined to confound the doubters and whatever the circumstances, a return to Royal Ascot each summer seemed to rejuvenate him. In 1932 and `33, he sent the crowd into raptures, by winning the Queen Alexandra again. He had by now galloped his way into racing folklore and into the very fabric of the Royal meeting, as no other horse had even come close to competing and winning across six consecutive years.

Where would it all end? In 1934, the 10-year-old Brown Jack returned to Royal Ascot, aiming for his sixth consecutive Queen Alexandra win. It was announced that this would be the final race of his career. A huge crowd was in attendance for the final race of the meeting, united in their wish that the pensioner should bow out in a blaze of glory.

Brown Jack faced eight rivals and conceded 8 pounds (3,6kg) to his main danger, the useful 4-year-old stayer Solatium. In the race itself, Brown Jack was forced to hit the front a mile from the finish, as his pacemaker Mail Fist weakened. Turning for home, he was still in front, but came under threat from Solatium who was going ominously well. It seemed Brown Jack`s old legs would not be up to the task of fending off his younger, fresher rival and to make things worse, Steve Donoghue had dropped his whip.

A tremendous tussle developed, with Donoghue having to ride him out hands and heels but inside the last 200m, Brown Jack pricked his ears, shrugged off his rival and pulled away to win by two lengths.

It is believed that no other Flat horse has ever received such a reception from the crowd as did Brown Jack on that day. Loud cheers engulfed Ascot, hats were flung high into the hair and grown men wept openly, ecstatic that this amazing horse had been able to churn out a final victory in the race he had made his own. Trainer Anthony, unable to bear the tension, had refused to watch the race and had sat under a tree in the paddock to await the result. It was only the roars of the crowd that told him his charge had won. Jockey Donoghue was adamant that this was the greatest and happiest moment of his career, even more so than any of his Derby or other classic victories.

Brown Jack then went into a happy retirement, with a record of 7 wins over hurdles and 18 on the Flat. Away from Ascot, he had won most of the key staying events, such as the Ebor Handicap, Chester Cup, Doncaster Cup and Goodwood Cup, races spanning distances from 2800m – 4200m. He passed away at age 25, recognised as a national institution.

When the Racing Post held their famous poll to determine their readers` favourite horses of all time, Brown Jack did not even make the top 100, but this is only because the majority of his fans are now dead. Scouring the history books, it becomes clear that he was probably the best-loved Flat horse of the century in Britain.

Brown Jack was not the classiest or most glamorous horse to grace the turf and he certainly had his limitations. But he was brave, honest and durable. His story is an inspiring and heartwarming one and there is a wonderful irony that a horse of such modest pretensions should etch his name in gold as the ultimate hero of Royal Ascot.

Donoghue, the horseman supreme, loved Brown Jack like no other horse – and Brown Jack loved Donoghue. On their final photo-call, Brown Jack leaned forward and licked Steve’s face from ear to ear.

Turf Talk Newsletter – 23 June, 2023