Sean and Daniel Tarry are all smiles after Future Pearl had completed the unofficial stayers’ triple crown last year (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Sean Tarry has a strong hand on World Pool Gold Cup day and has winning chances in a number of feature races.

In the Gold Cup itself he runs the reigning champion Future Pearl and the 2021 winner Nebraas.

Hollywoodbets have the pair at 11/10 favourite and 8/1 joint second favourite respectively and Tarry said, “They are both very well. It’s hard to say which one is the right one, because just at the weights Nebraas can beat Future Pearl, but Future Pearl is a champion stayer, there is no doubt about that. In fact I believe if Richard had ridden him in the July he would have definitely been in the money. Nebraas hasn’t won for a while, but looking at last year’s Gold Cup he had a big weight and I thought he went too early, otherwise he would have been a clear second. Nebraas also seems to run well when he travels, he seems to enjoy Cape Town and he seems to enjoy Durban, and he is healthy and well. Future Pearl has got them all beat at the weights except for One Way Traffic and Nebraas. One Way Traffic is the only one of the others who should be able to give Future Pearl a go at the weights. Nebraas has got Future Pearl beat at the weights, but Future Pearl is top class and he can step up, he could have more fight in him.”

Seven-year-old Nebraas carries 55,5kg from draw five and four-year-old Future Pearl carries 59,5kg from draw six.

Nebraas is effectively 5kg better off with Future Pearl from last year’s Gold Cup if all the weight for age considerations are taken into account and he only has to make up 2,65 lengths.

However, he can not compete with Future Pearl on the looks and visual impressiveness scale as the latter is a big horse with a fine action and superb turn of foot. He is also only a four-year-old and looks to be getting better and better.

Future Pearl also has the bonus of Richard Fourie up.

Nebraas does have in-form Gavin Lerena up.

Fourie won the race for the first time last year and Lerena’s only win in this race was also for Tarry with Aslan in 2012.

Tarry has won this race three times.

Sean spoke about the rest of his runners on the important day, in which he has to make up a leeway of about R1,4 million on Justin Snaith in the race for the trainers championship.

He runs the classy The United States filly Rodeo Drive from draw two in the Gr 2 With Gold Circle Debutante over 1200m.

He said, “She looks awesome and is a massive runner. I think she’s got a future.”

He runs DantonfromSandton from draw seven out of ten in the Gr 2 World Pool Twitter Stakes over 1200m and said, “He is doing very well. I think he’s a big runner. It’s a little more competitive this race, but he’s got a good chance.”

He runs World Of Alice and Varvara in the Gr 1 Douglas Whyte Thekwini Stakes and said, “World Of Alice needs the trip, she’s doing well and she’s a runner, she can win it. She has Quid Pro Quo and Lock And Key to beat.”

He continued, “Varvara, I felt her last run was a bit below par, so I have to ignore that run. But her run before that was very good. Hopefully she has a place chance. I’m not sure about the trip, but she was finishing strongest of all over 1400m.”

He runs the favourite Cosmic Speed, who comes off a win in the Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m, and second favourite Legend Of Arthur in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes.

He said, “I think they both can run. They’re both doing well. Richard obviously had a choice and he went for Legend, so that is worth noting, but he is drawn the widest. In his last run (where he was overtaken by Mount Pinatubo to finish a two length third over 1400m) it was winter going, he needs further, it was a prep run and he gave the winner 2kg. Legend Of Arthur will definitely appreciate the step up in trip. Cosmic Speed, we respect the fact we are stepping up in trip, but he looks like he is high quality (and he seemed to find another gear late last time over 1400m). I don’t know for certain he will get the trip, but I should imagine it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Cosmic Speed jumps from draw nine and Grant van Niekerk rides.

Lucky Lad is the favourite for the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m, despite being drawn widest of all in the 13 horse field.

Sean said he was doing “very well”, but added that although he comes from off the pace, the draw was still a problem.

He said, “He is the best horse in the race and has the worst draw. You can say he’s going to come from behind anyway, but it all depends on a lot of factors. But, he is very well and if he gets some luck from the draw he’s a big runner.

He also runs Mrs Browning in the Mercury and said, “Based on her form and her rating she’s got to have some sort of chance. She’s well.”

He runs Cousin Casey in the Gr 1 HKJC Champions Cup over 1800m and said, “I couldn’t have him better, he’s really, really well.”

Asked whether there were still concerns about his headstrong antics, he replied, “Well there were concerns about it last time, but it did not materialise, so over 400m less from pole position he should be fine.”

He runs Red Maple in the Gr 2 Riding High Together Gold Bracelet over 2000m. She won the Gr 2 Tabgold Oaks over 2400m in her penulimate start, but was beaten 10,50 lengths in the Gr 2 Splashout 2200.

He said, “She did return with a little bit of an issue after that last race, but we are hoping we are on top of that. She wasn’t quite right after that last race and previously she didn’t seem to be getting home over those marathon trips (so the Gold Cup was avoided). I think she is a decent filly and I think she will prove to be a lot more consistent next season.”

He runs Magic Tattoo in the Listed LHKIR Umngeni Handicap over 1000m and he said, “He has a draw and must have an each/way chance.”

One Way Traffic will be out to further improve the outstanding record his sire Dynasty has in the Gold Cup (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Sarah Whitelaw

In 1978, the first crop of Hobnob arrived in South Africa. From that crop came four stakes winners, notably Royal Line, winner of the 1984 G2 Gold Bowl, and Big Bentley, runner up in the 1984 Gold Bowl.

From there, Hobnob would go on to sire a host of Derby and Oaks winners, as well as a number of the country’s top stayers. Hobnob’s third crop produced G1 SA Oaks winner Novenna (third dam of dual South African Horse Of The Year) while his following crop produced Iglesias, whose wins included a triumph in the now defuct Listed Gauteng Cesarewitch.

Perhaps his best crop, born in 1985, produced G1 OK Gold Bowl winner Honey Chunk, Respectable and Penance, first and second in the 1989 G2 Natal Oaks, G2 SA Oaks runner up National Beauty, G2 SA Derby winner Kadarko, and G1 Gold Cup runner up Hula King.

Neil Orford, who stood Hobnob, had the following to say about his late star sire, “Hobnob was a wonderful stallion and I remember both Fred Rickaby and Terrence Millard said he would be a good stallion before he had runners. One year, his Topa Inca won the SA Derby, his daughter St Just won the the SA Oaks and Hula King finished a close second in the G1 Gold Cup. He was a beautiful very well balanced horse with perfect legs and was rated at 118. His best produce all had very good conformation and the neck to head attachment had to just flow in if that was not right they didn’t run.”

Since the days of Hobnob, however, there has been a scarcity of stallions viewed as a source of pure stamina. Trends in South Africa follow international ones, with modern day Gold Cup and St Legers invariably shunted off to the National Hunt sire ranks when retired to stud. The fact that local races run over 2400m are regarded as staying races, whereas in many countries overseas a 2400m race is a middle distance or classic contest, further underlines the lack of stamina and lack of depth in “staying” races in general.

The parcity of stayers and staying races in South Africa is such, that our premier staying race, the Gold Cup, has been downgraded to a G3 contest.

A look at the pedigrees, in terms of stamina, of the runners for the 2024 G3 World Pool Gold Cup make for interesting reading.

One Way Traffic: Dynasty -Careful Hiker

A son of July winning champion Dynasty, One Way Traffic shares his sire with former Gold Cup winners Ancestral Fore, Dynasty’s Blossom, and It’s My Turn, while another son, Made To Conquer, finished second, to Dynasty’s Blossom, in the 2019 Gold Cup. Dynasty also sired Blake and Let It Rain, both of whom ran third in the Gold Cup. (Dynastry is also sire of Futura, whose son Future Pearl won the Gold Cup last year and is hot favourite this year). One Way Traffic’s dam Careful Hiker won from 1400m to 2000m, and ran third in the G1 Thekwini Stakes over 1600 metres. Careful Hiker, a daughter of Broodmare Of The Year Our Table Mountain (who won up to 1600 metres), is a half-sister to G1 winners Cloth Of Cloud and Silver Mountain, as well as to the temperamental Helderberg Blue, runner up in the 2016 Gold Cup. She is also a half-sister to Listed Aquanaut Handicap winner Wonderous Climber, a Dynasty three-parts brother to One Way Traffic.

Breeze Over: Twice Over -Lebombo Breeze
From the same family as Fort Wood (sire of Gold Cup winner Thundering Star and champion stayers Elusive Fort and Saddlewood), Breeze Over’s four time G1 winning sire Twice Over won from 1600 to 2100 metres, has sired graded stakes winners over a host of distance with his son Sand And Sea winning the G1 Gold Medallion over 1200 metres, and another son, Doublemint, twice victorious in the G3 Chairman’s Cup over 2500m. Breeze Over is out of the Giant’s Causeway mare Lebombo Breeze, a winner over 1800m, and he is a half-brother to 2023 G3 Cape Punters Cup winner Hluhluwe (by Trippi) who has won from 1200m to 1600m, as well as to Listed East Cape Guineas third You Know Who -a son of What A Winter who won four times up to 2000m. Lebombo Breeze is a half-sister to G3 Victress Stakes winner Fresnaye (who beat Gold Cup winner Dynasty’s Blossom when victorious in the Listed Winter Oaks over 2200m) as well as to Howl, the winning (over1400m) over recent G3 Langerman runner up All Out For Six.

Master Redoute: Querari -Lady Redoute
A son of German champion Querari, who won from 1400-2000m including the G1 Premio Presidente Della Repubblica GBI Racing over 2000 metres. Himself a son of champion sprinter and G1 winning two-year-old Oasis Dream, Querari has sired G1 winners Bavarian Beauty, Querari Falcon and Rio Querari but is yet to sire a G1 winner over further than 1600 metres. His dam Lady Redoute, whose multiple champion sire Redoute’s Choice won G1 races from 1200m to 1600m, won twice over 1600m, and her dam Macedon Lady won four times up to 1750 including the G1 MRC Thousand Guineas.

Son Of Raj: Duke Of Marmalade -Freudiana
The deceased Duke Of Marmalade, winner of five G1 races including the 2008 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes over a mile and a half, was a sire who made his mark in top class staying races. Not only did he sire Big Orange (winner of the G1 Gold Cup over about 4000m), but he also sired St Leger winner Simple Verse and Melbourne Cup runner Marmelo among others. Son Of Raj is a full-brother to G3 Gold Cup runner up Arumugam, who won the Listed Racehorse Owners Association Stayers over 3200 metres.

Nebraas: Vercingetorix -Noor Dubai
Equus Champion Stayer of 2020-2021, Nebraas is by Vercingetorix -whose sire Silvano sired Gold Cup winners Aslan and Wavin’ Flag. However, Vercingetorix has shown himself as more than capable of top sprinters and has sired Alesian Chief, Ambiorix, Mrs Geriatrix and Vernichey-all of whom won G1 races over 1200 metres. Winner of the 2021 Gold Cup, Nebraas is out of Noor Dubai, who won once over 1900 metres. Noor Dubai, whose third dam is outstanding miler and ten time G1 winner Miesque, was sired by Archipenko (sired by Miesque’s son Kingmambo) -winner of six races up to 2000m including the 2008 G1 Audemars Piguet QE II Cup at Sha Tin.

Future Pearl: Futura -Arabian Pearl
Winner of the Gold Cup last year, Future Pearl shares his four time G1 winning sire Futura (who won up to 2000m and ran third and fourth in the G1 Vodacom Durban July over 2200m) with horses varying from Sweet Future (winner of the Listed Bauhinia Handicap over 1000 metres) to the likes of G3 Chairman’s Cup winner and fellow Gold Cup hopeful Future Swing, G2 Track And Ball Oaks winner Pink Tourmaline and Listed Durbanville Cup winner
Thefutureisbright. He is out of G1 Woolavington 2200 runner up Arabian Pearl (who won up to 2400m), the granddam of Explosive Bond -winner of the Listed TAB Spook Express Stakes over 2400m. Arabian Pearl has produced horses who have won from 1200m to 3200m. Arabian Pearl was sired by former Epsom Derby runner and G1 July Handicap runner up Al Mufti, who shares his sire Roberto with dual St Leger winner Touching Wood.

Madison Valley: Mambo In Seattle -Valdovino
By G1 Travers Stakes runner up (over 2000m) Mambo In Seattle (whose three parts brother Lemon Drop Kid won the Belmont Stakes), Madison Valley (like Future Pearl out of a mare by July runner up Al Mufti) is a half-brother to nine winners notably Chefano and Vino Veritas.The former, won Hong Kong’s G3 Queen Mother Memorial Cup over a mile and a half, while Vino Veritas won up to 2200m and ran third in the G2 Gold Circle Oaks over 2400 metres.
His dam Valdovino won five times up to 1900m and her full-sister Vanilla Silk produced Sunshine Silk -winner of the 2019 G3 Gold Bowl over 3200 metres.

Baratheon: Jackson -Pure Class
From the same family as 2024 G1 Golden Horse Sprint (1200m) winner Lucky Lad, Baratheon is out of Pure Class, who won four times from 1000m to 1400m. Pure Class, a full-sister to G1 Empress Club Stakes winner Little Miss Magic, is out of Al Nibari, a daughter of Al Mufti who won three times from 1400m to 1600m. Baratheon shares his triple G1 winning sire Jackson with stakes winners ranging from Freed From Desire (winner of the Listed Swallow Stakes over 1160m) to dual G3 winner Pretty Young Thing.

Master Fuego: Master Of My Fate -Umlilo
Master Of My Fate, who won from 1200m to 1800m, has sired 25 stakes winners ranging from Tempting Fate (winner of the G1 Gold Medallion over 1200m) to African Adventure (winner of the G3 WSB Best Odds, First Caradoc Gold Cup over 2850 metres). Master Of My Fate’s sire Jet Master won eight G1 races, including the Cape Flying Championship over 1000 metres. Master Fuego, whose broodmare sire Fort Wood is also damsire of Gold Cup winner Mokaro, is a half-brother to six winners notably Eye Of The Prophet, winner of the 2023 G2 World Sports Betting Gauteng Guineas (1600m). His dam Umlilo won over 1950m, and her own brother Cask won the G2 Midmar Premier Trophy over 1800 metres.

Aragosta: Rafeef –Miss Galidora
The 2022 G1 World Sports Betting SA Derby winner, eighth in the 2023 Gold Cup, is a son of G1 Computaform Sprint winner Rafeef, whose progeny include a pair of G1 Computaform Sprint winners in Master Archie and Thunderstruck.
Aragosta is a full-brother to G2 TAB Camellia Stakes/G3 Joburg Tourism Carry On Alice Stakes winner Mrs Browning (who has won up to 1450m). Their dam Miss Galidora was sired by the mighty Galileo, sire of Ascot Gold Cup winners Order Of St George and Kyprios.

Future Swing: Futura –Carousel Swing
By the same sire as defending Gold Cup winner Future Pearl, Future Swing is bred on the same Futura/Trippi which has produced runners ranging from Sweet Future (a stakes winner over 1000m) to Pink Tourmaline (winner of the G2 Track And Ball Oaks over 2400m). His dam Carousel Swing won twice from 1400m to 1600m and was sired by sprinter-miler influence Trippi. However, Carousel Swing, out of a G2 Oaks winning daughter of Badger Land) is a half-sister to Equus Champion and Gold Cup winner Jeppe’s Reef.

Ponte Pietra: Vercingetorix –Fair Verona
One of two runners in the race out of mares sired by dual Derby winner and legendary sire Galileo (sire of Gold Cup winners Kyprios and Order Of St George), he will be looking to provide Vercingetorix with a second Gold Cup winner, with Vercingetorix sire of 2021 Gold Cup winner Nebraas. Ponte Pietra’s dam Fair Verona only ran once, but she is a full-sister to At First Sight, runner up to Workforce in the 2010 G1 Investec Derby over a mile and a half.

Raiseahallelujah: Querari –Flo Jo
One of two runners in the race for Querari, he is out of Flo Jo, a twice placed daughter of top miler Black Minnaloushe. Flo Jo is a half-sister to three stakes winners notably Seal, who won the G1 SA Derby (2450m) and G2 Gold Vase (3000m).

Zeus: Soft Falling Rain –Lil’ Bacio
Zeus will be bidding to go one better than his half-brother Paybackthemoney, who finished second, beaten less than a length, in the 2020 Gold Cup. Another half-brother, Indian Ocean, is second reserve runner for the 2024 Gold Cup. Lil’ Bacio, also dam of 2020 G1 SA Derby winner Out Of Your League, is an unraced daughter of Bacio, winner of six races including the Listed Durbanville Oaks (Bacio shared her sire Del Sarto with Gold Cup winner Voodoo Charm among others.

Shoot The Rapids: Erupt –Rapid Flow
One of the best staying sons of Dubawi horse Erupt, whose wins included the 2016 G1 Pattison Canadian International over 2400 metres. His dam Rapid Flow, from the family of Arc winner and outstanding sire Vaguely Noble, won six times up to 2400m and ran third in the Michaelmas Handicap over 1900 metres. A granddaughter of outstanding sprinter Dayjur, Rapid Flow’s sire Modern Day won 8 times up to 1600m including two runnings of the Listed Kings Cup over 1600m.

The one-eyed Mister Monocle is one of nine rides Gavin Lerena has for the powerful Justiin Snaith yard (Picture: Wayne Marks)   

Graeme Hawkins (Gold Circle)

Today’s 9-race rain-delayed race meeting in the Western Cape has been switched from Kenilworth to Hollywoodbets Durbanville, the first race meeting at the country course since November last year and punters are advised to check for scratchings and other changes before finalising their selections. As it is Gavin Lerena and Kabelo Matsunyane have been flown into town by Justin Snaith and Brett Crawford respectively to replace Richard Fourie, Sean Veale and apprentice Nastilli, who are committed to riding at Hollywoodbets Scottsville this afternoon.

Gavin Lerena has “inherited” a good book of rides for the Snaith yard, and he could be victorious on all of Please Be True in the opener, Landoftherisingsun in the second race, Champagne Kisses in the fourth race, Groovejet in the fifth race, Mister Monocle in the seventh race and Among The Clouds in the ninth race. Interestingly in today’s headliner, the R165 000 Cape A Stakes over 1800m, billed as the eighth race on the programme, Lerena has replaced Veale on Rapidash while Louis Mxothwa has been engaged to replace Fourie on ante-post favourite Pacaya.

Sugar Mountain and Flower Of Saigon are early withdrawals from this race, leaving only six runners, five of which will be saddled by Snaith. The lone “outsider” in the field is Love Is A Rose from the Greg Ennion stable and ironically, she could prove to be a real thorn in Snaith’s side as she makes plenty of appeal, despite Grant Van Niekerk putting up 1kg overweight, and the daughter of Master Of My Fate will not be unduly troubled by the late switch to Durbanville.

Sachdev ran a better race last time when running on well behind Sugar Mountain and its worth noting that his last victory came when scoring at big odds over this track and trip back in November. Snaith’s remaining two runners, Salvator Mundi and Navy Strength, may have a bit to find but could surprise in a trappy contest in which tactics could play a large role in the outcome.

Landoftherisingsun and Groovejet are arguably Lerena’s best chances to land a winner for the Snaith team but the vote for nap of the day goes to the Vaughan Marshall-trained Sahara Cat in the third race, a Juvenile Plate (Fillies) over 1250m. Ashton Arries takes over the reins from Fourie and the daughter of One World should resume winning ways after finding the 1500m of the Irridescence Stakes a touch beyond her last month.

Race times have been changed to complement the off times at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and the first race at Durbanville is now scheduled to start at 12:15. Due to differing track configurations, races 1, 3 & 4 will now be run over 1250m and the distance for Race 7 has been reduced to 2000m.

Trois Trois Quatre is coming to hand (JC Photos)

Jack Milner (Tab4Racing)

Timing is everything, even for a racehorse.

This South African season has been focused in the main on whether any jockey would be able to break Anthony Delpech’s record of 334 winners in a season.

In fact, a bounty of R1-million was put up for any jockey who could better that total.

All eyes were on Richard Fourie who travelled the country in search of winners and on 8 June, with just under two months left to run in the season, Fourie rode winner No 335 to push him past that total.

After retiring from riding, Delpech went to work for Hollywoodbets as their racing manager, and this total had become quite an obsession, they named a horse after that record. And because Delpech was born in Madagascar and was brought up speaking French, the horse was named Trois Trois Quatre.

This son of Rafeef looked to be quite special and appeared to be heading for the top when winning three successive races as a lightly raced four-year-old. Trained by Mike de Kock, talk of a feature-race success was bandied about.

However, after winning that third race in September last year, Trois Trois Quatre seemed to freeze. Despite finding betting support and starting favourite on numerous occasions, this gelding was unable to notch up another victory.

But then something weird happened. In his first race following Fourie’s breaking the record, which came 10 days after that event, Trois Trois Quatre suddenly found his best form and romped to a 3.75-length victory.

It was as if Trois Trois Quatre had been hanging on to that record and when it was over, he could finally let go of it.

To add to the irony, Fourie was in the irons.

On Wednesday Trois Trois Quatre returns to Hollywoodbets Scottsville, the course where he broke his maiden, to line up in Race 5, a MR 94 Handicap over 1950m, and will be looking to continue that winning run.

Interestingly De Kock has engaged 4kg claiming apprentice Brevan Plaatjies and that will see his weight drop from 59kg to 55kg. Hopefully that will be enough to see him claim win No 5.

His main threat is likely to come from Sean Tarry-trained Willow’s Wish, who ironically will be ridden by Fourie.

This six-year-old gelding also had a lengthy spell of more than a year before finally winning his last start, but that was on the Polytrack at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

He did win at Scottsville, but that was three-years back and he could battle giving 6kg and a beating to Trois Trois Quatre.

Race 1: 5 Saudi Sweep, 8 Ayuwi Yuwi, 13 Lady Slipper, 6 Say It Loud

Race 2: 6 Vihaan’s Web, 4 Isikwishikwishi, 8 Luhamba Phambili, 2 Actor

Race 3: 11 Captain Marsala, 4 Landseer, 7 Milan’s World, 6 Rototo

Race 4: 5 Intuitive Spirit, 8 Future Flo, 7 French Trip, 1 Bella’s Pablo

Race 5: 7 Trois Trois Quatre, 9 Willow’s Wish, 2 Pas De Nom, 8 Pirate Prince

Race 6: 9 Lucky Dollar, 13 Selukwe, 1 To The Rescue, 6 Palermo

Race 7: 10 Patants Heir, 2 Shanta’s Pride, 4 La Divina, 1 Chelsea Flower

Race 8: 16 Moya Wa Laliga, 7 Fire Tonic, 15 Mar Del Plata, 2 Intrepid

BEST BET

Race 2: 6 Vihaan’s Web

VALUE BET

Race 6: 9 Lucky Dollar

BEST SWINGER

Race 3 4×11

BIPOT

R192

Leg 1: 5, 6, 8, 13

Leg 2: 6

Leg 3: 4, 11

Leg 4: 5, 7, 8

Leg 5: 7, 9

Leg 6: 1, 6, 9, 13

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R216

Leg 1: 6

Leg 2: 4, 11

Leg 3: 5, 8

Leg 4: 7, 9

Leg 5: 1, 9, 13

Leg 6: 2, 4, 10

Leg 7: 7, 15, 16

PICK 6

R2160

Leg 1: 4, 7, 11

Leg 2: 5, 7, 8

Leg 3: 2, 7, 8, 9

Leg 4: 1, 5, 6, 9, 13

Leg 5: 1, 2, 4, 10

Leg 6: 7, 15, 16

JACKPOT 1

R240

Leg 1: 5, 7, 8

Leg 2: 2, 7, 8, 9

Leg 3: 1, 5, 6, 9, 13

Leg 4: 1, 2, 4, 10

JACKPOT 2

R240

Leg 1: 2, 7, 8, 9

Leg 2: 1, 5, 6, 9, 13

Leg 3: 1, 2, 4, 10

Leg 4: 7, 15, 16

Mascherina won by an easy 3,90 lengths and could go on to bigger things (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Classy filly Mascherina, a half-sister to Ridgemont’s young stallion Malmoos, made a positive impression when she romped home to a clear-cut win at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday.

Later the full brother to Talk Of The Town, the Tony Rivalland-trained Harley Street, caused a 50/1 shock.

A three-year-old daughter of Gimmethegreenlight, the Peter Muscutt trained Mascherina powered home, under Tristan Godden, to win Sunday’s Open A Tabgold Account -031 314 1874 FM 90 Handicap (1500) by nearly four lengths.

Bred and owned by Varsfontein Stud, Mascherina has now won three of seven starts, with this consistent filly having won or finished second in five of her seven outings.

Mascherina, bred on the hugely successful Gimmethegreenlight/Fort Wood cross, is out of Fort Wood’s Listed Spook Express Handicap winning daughter Justthewayyouare.

The latter has a Vercingetorix colt (Lot 180) on offer at the upcoming August Two Year Old Sale.

A half-sister to prominent sire Master Of My Fate, Justthewayyouare has produced six winners thus far including dual G3 winner Captain Splendid and Ridgemont’s Triple Crown winning sire Malmoos.

The latter shares his outstanding sire Captain Al with current boom sire One World amongst a host of other champions.

Harley Street won the last race over 1500m, getting up in a blanket finish to convert 50/1 odds under Mathew Thackeray.

This Var four-year-old gelding was having only his seventh start and has won two of them.

Rebel’s Romance has won in six different countries (QREC Photo) 

‘It’s a race he certainly deserves to take his chance in’.

At The Races

William Buick is backing the globetrotting Rebel’s Romance run a big race in his bid to further an “already glittering” CV in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Qipco Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

Charlie Appleby’s six-year-old has won 13 of his 19 career starts, a record which includes victories in no less than six different countries.

In 2022 he enjoyed back-to-back Group One triumphs in Germany before taking out the Breeders’ Cup Turf in America, while 2024 has already yielded big-race wins in Qatar, Dubai and Hong Kong.

Rebel’s Romance is five from five in Britain, and while he has plenty on his plate on what will be his first start on domestic turf in almost exactly two years, Buick is expecting a bold showing.

“He’s been a top horse from when he was a three-year-old,” he told Sky Sports Racing.

“Obviously he’s had an extraordinary year so far this year, but it’s easy to forget that he is a Breeders’ Cup Turf winner. That was a couple of years ago, but he’s a very good horse and at the age of six he’s arguably better than ever.

“Charlie and the team have done a fantastic job with him. Charlie was very clear in his campaign this winter – he found a very good opportunity for him at Kempton, where he had a nice confidence booster, he really made the most of that and took his travelling really well.

“He started off in Qatar, then to Dubai and then to Hong Kong. I saw him when he got back from Hong Kong and he looked even better than when he went there, so he’s taken it really well and I’m just thrilled that he’s being given his chance in this country now.”

Coral reported support for both Rebel’s Romance and Ralph Beckett’s Bluestocking on Tuesday afternoon, trimming both from 7-2 from 4-1 behind their 5-4 favourite Auguste Rodin.

The latter disappointed behind Rebel’s Romance in the Dubai Sheema Classic earlier in the year, but showed his true colours in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot last month and Buick is intrigued to see how his mount fares against him back in the UK.

He added: “He’s a little bit hard to measure up against some of the horses here. He’s actually unbeaten in this country, but he’s never raced at Group One level, so it is a little bit hard to measure him up.

“If you go off the form of his Sheema Classic win, that’s absolutely out of the top drawer. Obviously Auguste Rodin didn’t perform to his best that day and we’ve seen a much better horse since.

“I think it’s fascinating and it’s a race he certainly deserves to take his chance in. It would be lovely to add to his already glittering CV.”

Buick continued: “The King George is a midsummer highlight. The Derby winner always used to turn up, as obviously Adayar did, and the three-year-olds are always the main dangers in the King George as the weight allowance probably sways in their favour if they are of that calibre.

“Sunway is obviously a three-year-old and is going to get a lot of weight so it’s going to be interesting, but it’s a good King George, as you would always expect it to be.

“He wouldn’t want soft ground – he’s a top of the ground horse and a good mover, so if the forecast stays as it’s supposed to do I think that should suit everybody.

“Don’t forget he’s a UAE Derby winner on dirt as a three-year-old, so he’s a pretty versatile horse.”

The Mark Khan-trained Douglas Dragon, ridden by Jarryd Penny, secures a double for Lancaster Bomber and is the first leg of a double for Bush Hill Stud (JC Photos)

Bush Hill Stud as breeders and the late sire Lancaster Bomber were the only double scorers at the Vaal meeting today.

Lancaster Bomber, who stood at Drakenstein Stud and was last season’s champion freshman sire, scored with the David Nieuwenhuizen-trained Varsfontein Stud-bred Pressonregardless, who was ridden by Marco van Rensburg, and the Mark Khan-trained Bush Hill Stud-bred Douglas Dragon, who was ridden by Jarryd Penny.

Bush Hill Stud also bred the Phillip Labuschagne-trained winner Party Punch (New Predator), who was ridden by Philasande Mxoli.

Bush Hill have bred 21 winners of 36 races this season from 362 runs by 78 runners.

Lancaster Bomber’s 110 runners this season have had 663 runs and his 58 winners have won 86 races.

Picture: Nijinsky after his Epsom Derby win (picture: michaelchurchracingbooks.com)

Nijinsky lost most of his hair due to ringworm, but was ready in time for the St. Leger and completed the Triple Crown with an easy victory. In the 54 years since then no horse has won the English Triple Crown.

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