Turf Talk Newsletter – 23 July, 2025

Pippa Aims At Improved Experience For Everybody

Pippa Mickleburgh has landed a new position at Race Coast where her goals will be to improve the experience for the racegoer at the racecourse and also attempt to grow the CRS (Cape Racing Sales) Sales.

She said, “Originally I wanted to help Race Coast make the day better for the racegoer, make the whole experience better, including the food service and wine service, but the job has morphed a little bit and now they want me to help with the Sales as well.”

She continued, “So the latter will entail vendor liaison, buyer liaison, making the Sales grow, get more support, make sure the vendors are happy and the buyers are happy, choose the right horses and make sure the Sales are run efficiently by MJ (Byleveld) and Vicky (Minott). MJ and Vicky are extremely dedicated and energetic, but they’re new at it and I think they need a nice leader to help them tick all the boxes and I bring experience from both sides, vendor and buyer. They both have the right ideas and I think we will work together well.”

Pippa explained what she meant by the “right horses, “We know there are two Sales companies and the breeders have a choice. The way I look at it is that when I was at Avontuur I supported both entities. I used to send the right horses to the right Sale. It is like a trainer putting a horse in the right race. Choose the right Sale for the horse. I will be able to help breeders a lot with that as that has been my job for just about all my life. It would be nice if the two Sales were not so close together and maybe in the long run there is a chance the two companies could work little bit more together if possible, but that is not my mandate right now, I have got to try and grow the Sales I’ve got to look after.”

Pippa will also be attempting to attract buyers, including overseas buyers, and said, “It is hard to have a full time job and then try and get buyers. TheTBA has a hundred years of expertise whereas Cape Racing Sales has only two or three, so it is quite hard to grow. But they have a great starting point and we need to take it to the next level now and that is really what I have got to do to try and help them and I am looking forward to it.”

She said about racemeetings, “My job will be to look after the clients and ensure everybody has a wonderful day’s racing and that includes everybody from the man in the street to the rich and famous. We will be out to make it a great day for everybody not just the members and it is the same at the Sales … there are some big, powerful people in the Sales arena and then there are lots of small people in the Sales arena. Life is like that … sometimes you feel you are not so famous or you are not so popular and maybe you are not getting the care you need, so we must fix all those gaps.”

Pippa is approachable and personable and is well known by everybody in racing, so she will be able to ask the grandstand patrons as well as the ones in the more elite places how they are enjoying the day and what can be improved on.

She said, “I want to try and fix as many problems as a I possibly can. It is a big job, but nobody is doing it at the moment. At Hollywoodbets Kenilworth there are a lot of people working very hard, but they need more direction.”

She concluded, “So that is what I will be trying to do and for some unknown reason everybody talks to me, so I am not saying I will be fantastic, but I know I will try hard and I talk to everybody, Kings, Queens, Butchers and Bakers, everybody, and will try and see where I can help.”

Pippa gained vast experience in throughbreds and hospitality as the general manager of Avontuur Estate for decades and Justin Vermaak, Race Coast Executive for Racing and Bloodstock, summed up what she would bring to the table, “Avontuur’s world-class standards applied in the diversity of their operations, from breeding champions to customer service in the sales arena, and their award-winning restaurant, and is a microcosm of what we are striving to achieve at Race Coast. Pippa’s vast experience and her no-nonsense roll-up-the-sleeves approach is the tonic that will inspire our youthful team to perform at the standard required to take us to the next level. We are privileged to welcome her on board.”

Kannemeyer Yard Can Put Up Another Princely Performance

The Real Prince will be out to win back to back Gr 1s (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Dean Kannemeyer felt the odds were against The Real Prince running in the Gr 1 HKJC Champions Cup shortly after he had won the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July and the fact he is lining up tells the story of how well he has pulled up from that toughest of races.

Kannemeyer also has a number of other runners with chances on World Pool Gold Cup day on Sunday.

He said about the July hero, The Real Prince, “He took his July run so well. The next morning we trotted him out and it didn’t look like he had had a run and he cleaned up his manger. So we nominated him and we have decided to give it a go.”

He continued, “We had to box smartly to come into the July with the correct weight, that’s why we didn’t race him in other races, because the next thing you run fourth in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge behind Dave the King and I’ll end up carrying 58kg in the July or something. So we prepared him from home to win the July, which he duly did. He is now drawn one in a Gr 1 weight for age race. It is a different type of race to the July, but it is a very competitive weight for age race, it could be even more competitive than the July and that is what weight for age races are all about. All went well for us in the running in the July. He was perfectly placed in midfield, a nice sedate pace and he turned it on, he has got a helluva turn of foot.”

He said about the opposition on Sunday, “Dave The King has earned his stripes, especially over the 1600m trip, I know this is 1800m. Gladatorian ran a great race in the Gold Challenge. I think Royal Victory ran a great race in the July and others can be mentioned.”

He added, “The Real Prince is not out of place in this race at all. He’s a 125, he’s got the turn of foot and maybe he’ll even be better over the 1800m trip than the 2200m.”

Dean concluded, “Everybody always says third run back after a rest must be the best run and this is his third run after a rest! I say that tongue in cheek of course, but all is good with him. He is in great shape and he took his run exceptionally well.”

Dean has the favourite Princess Of Gaul in the Gr 2 World Pool With Race Coast Debutante over 1200m and said, “Who did she beat on debut? Some of those horses I could have run faster than, but she won by ten lengths, so you can’t do more than that. She’s nicely drawn, but has never been to Hollywoodbets Greyville and they can get lost. These two-year-old races, anything can happen. You have to be cautious first run out of the maidens, but she is a nice type of filly and she’s doing well and she galloped well on Monday morning.”

Dean fancies his other runner in the Debutante, Keukenhof, as much as Princess Of Gaul, but she does have a wide draw of eight to contend with.

He said, “She ran a great race in the Golden Slipper over 1400m on July day from a wide draw, she was flying and another stride she finishes fourth. Before that she was only beaten 1,50 lengths into fourth on the Gr 1 Allan Robertson over this trip. I might have preferred this to be a 1400m, but all is good with her.”

In the Gr 2 Follow @World Pool On X Stake Dean runs the promising Danon Platina colt Aristocratic, whom he put down in trip rather than run from a wide draw in the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes over 1600m.

He said, “Last time he was bowled (in the Gr 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m). He jumped, it was an awkward bounce, and then he got himself into a lovely position, but the bloke outside of him just decided ‘I’m going there’. I don’t know if any action was taken against him but it was terrible riding, so Aristocratic actually clipped and was then suddenly third last. He flew up for fourth. I might have been a little bit more comfortable over 1400m, but he was still inexperienced last time and he’s doing well.”

Dean runs Teflon Man in the Listed Michel Nairac Appreciation Stakes over 1600m.

He said, “It is the first time I have tried him over a mile, but in his 1200m wins he ran as if he would go 1400m to a mile. His last two runs have been a bit below his best, but his gallop on Monday was nice.”

He runs Outlaw King in the HKIR In December Umngeni Handicap over 1000m and said, “I had him in the Mercury, but he drew wide. He could be more comfortable over 1200 meters. However, he ran a very good race last time. He ran fifth in the Gr 2 Post Merchants. He should have been closer. It didn’t quite work out for him.”

From a fair draw of seven the Rafeef gelding could make amends.

Striker The Legend Part 2

J J The Jet Plane, rated by Piere Strydom as the best he ever rode (Picture: Gold Circle)

In part 2 of the series soon to be retired Striker was asked about the best horses he rode and his best racing memories and also about his favourite racecourse and fiercest rival and he touched on the greatest trainer and jockey debate.

He said, “The best horse would probably be JJ The Jet Plane. He had good gatespeed and enough speed to be in touch and then had a kick. At the 600m or 500m when all the other horses were off the bit he would still be cruising. There was also Jet Master and Gimmethegreenlight and London News. Goldmark had the best action of any horse I rode. He used to float. It didn’t feel as if his legs hit the ground, so it didn’t feel like a gallop, it was smooth.”

His two best racecoure memories were the Lucky Houdalakis-trained J J The Jet PLane winning the Gr 1 Hong Kong Sprint on December 12, 2010, and his first Hollywoodbets Durban July win on the Alec Laird-trained London News on July 6, 1996.

J J drew what turned out to be a great draw of eight in the Hong Kong Sprint over 1200m at Sha Tin.

The pacemaker Dim Sum was just one stall wide of him, while the speedy legend Rocket Man was just two inside of him.

Strydom was able to settle J J one wide in fourth place behind the cracking pace set by Dim Sum with Ultra Fantasy and Rocket Man in second and third respectively.

Turning for home Rocket Man angled out and with J J joining him on his outside and an almighty duel ensued.

Rocket Man had the edge until the final stride.

Striker then produced his famous magic in the finish, extracting a final lunge that saw him just get his nose in front.

It was a great moment for South African racing, because the Singapore-based Rocket Man was trained by ex-pat South Afican Pat Shaw and was owned by South African Fred Crabbia.

Striker said, “The way the race just worked out, you couldn’t have planned it any better. I don’t like to ever say ten out of ten, but that was close to a ten out of ten.”

He said about the first of his four July wins, “It was especially memorable because it was the 100th running. I remember at the traditional Friday night cocktail Henk Vos was there with his big painting and there was one spot left for the 100th winner and I can still remember saying to someone that I think my picture’s going to be up there. And it happened!”

“London News was a lekker horse to ride because he had gate speed, a lot of natural speed and he would travel right up there in front and he had a good kick. But at the top of the straight I thought with a light weight let me just let the reins go a bit and get a length or two for the short straight. But he accelerated way quicker than I had expected and that’s when he made up three or four lengths on the field. Obviously it was going to tell at the end and he was stopping quite badly at the end. I heard the horses coming and I was just hoping for the line and he held on. But I was a little bit doubtful whether he did hold on, because the angle obviously favours the outside horse (Sleek Machine, ironically ridden by Doug Whyte, who badly wanted to win as owner Laurie Jaffee took him off London News after his defeat in the Cape Guineas). So I was a bit worried but his ability got him through and he was made for Greyville. When the numbers came up there were almost tears and I was shouting and screaming, I think the whole grandstand heard me!”

Piere’s favourite racecoure might come as a bit of a surprise to some.

He said, “You know, it’s going to sound funny, but the Vaal is probably the nicest course in South Africa and the simple reason is because it’s flat, it’s wide and there are no funny little gaps, if I can call them that.”

“Why I’m saying that is because Turffontein would have been great had it not been for the downhill pull up, which makes it unpleasant. Even the international jockeys when they rode here questioned how they could make a track with a downhill pull up like that. The horses get tired or they start getting lazy when they pull up and then they stumble. Numerous jockeys have fallen there and had breakages over the years. And then also as you go down that hill, you’ve got the gap where they go out the gate and sometimes they duck out at the gate. I’ve seen jockeys going at pace going through the rails there. So it’s unfortunate, but it is not nice.”

He continued, “Hollywoodbets Kenilworth is a great track, but you’ve got the crossover. Horses will sometimes duck for it or dig their toes in or shy away from it.”

“Hollywoodbets Greyville has the best vibe. But when when you ride there with appies, who are learning learning the trade it has it’s difficulties and if you don’t get a position or you don’t jump well, you have often lost your race already.”

He mentioned Borrowdale as being a very good track, but for it’s rails and steel poles.

He remembered Douglas Whyte as being his fiercest rival.

He said, “He was very hungry to win the championship when we were both going for it the one year just before he went to Hong Kong. We were going head to head for probably about nine months into the season and then one day I realized I’d fallen behind a few winners and I hadn’t seen him ride any winners. So then I found out he was riding at Kimberley. So it made me keep up by having to ride Kimberley as well. Then a month later I saw that I’d fallen behind again and then I see he had started riding Zimbabwe, because in those days Zimbabwe counted, so that made me ride in Zimbabwe as well. I think I beat him by about eight, nine or ten wins in the end, but it was really so much traveling. But it just shows where being competitive and hungry for the game can get you (Douglas Whyte went on to win a record 13 Hong Kong Jockey Championships). In fact, when I rode with Doug we would actually box one another in during a race. If I knew he had a winning chance or he knew I had a winning chance we would actually ride to keep the other one in the pocket. After a while you just accepted it, because I knew I was going to get him back and he knew he was going to get me back.”

Piere felt the best trainers and best jockeys should simply be judged by their results.

However, he added, “In golf it is just you and your golf club and the same with tennis etc, but as a jockey or trainer you are working with a horse, so it is difficult to judge.”

He said, “This Longines best jockey in the world thing is a lot of rubbish. If you’re not based in Europe, Hong Kong or Japan and you’re not exposed to those big races you have no chance.”

He continued, “Looking at the greatest jockeys, Frankie Dettori is probably one of the best, but he’s traveled the world. What about some of the jockeys who have just been stuck at home and people didn’t realize how good they were?”

Gallic Victor May Well Be Special

Vercingetorix colt Gallic Victor storms home on debut after coming from last (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Andrew Harrison (Race Coast)

Race caller Sheldon Peters may have jumped the gun after Gallic Victor stormed home in the first leg of the Pick 6 at Hollywoodbets Scottsville yesterday, labelling Dean Kannemeyer’s colt a future Hollywoodbets Durban July winner.

A brave prediction considering that the next July is twelve months away and it was just a maiden race but the signs are good.

Making his debut, Gallic Victor was all at sea from the break. He blew the start and was all over the place on the turn as Gavin Lerena settled him down off the pace. The son of Vercingetorix, still green in the straight, was good enough to put the race to bed with an impressive turn of foot.

If he can win the July, Peters will be the ultimate sooth sayer, but on yesterday’s evidence he may not be too far off the mark.

With stable rider Craig Zackey in the ‘naughty box’, Lerena will have taken his absence with both hands as he booted home a double for Kannemeyer starting in the card opener.

It was not the most inspiring of fields as the Lerena/Kannemeyer combination counted coup with Tulip Fields speeding clear of her field to win comfortably.

Vengi Masawi, who was recently appointed Hollywood Racing’s Ashburton trainer, will have to wait another day for his first winner as Mfethu was run out of it late by the Mike and Mathew de Kock-trained Exocet.

The two joined up to fight it out at around the 200 m mark but Exocet slowly wore down his rival under Callan Murray to deny Lerena another winner to put his jockey championship further out of reach of reigning champion Richard Fourie.

Nathan Kotzen will been having a few sleepless nights as he prepares Royal Victory for the Gr1 HJKC Champion Stakes this coming Sunday but Amor Fati eased some of the anxiety, running out a convincing winner of the Gallop Form Class 4.

However, he will probably have slept even sounder after Now I Got You gave him a double on the day. Apprentice Dezahn Louw recently won his first race as an apprentice and followed up with a more polished ride on Now I Got You. Tracking the early pace, he asked for a final effort at just the right time and won comfortably ahead of race favourite Prankster to deny Lerena another winner.

Masterofthedesert looked to be one of the better bets on the card and duly obliged to round off the meeting although one of his main threats was taken out at the start. Lerena was left in the gates as Mar Del Plata reared when the gates opened and the horse came home riderless. Rachel Venniker steered Candise Bass-Robinson’s charge home to a bloodless victory for KZN stand-in Terry Fripp, a veteran of the trade.

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Futura Has A Colt To Follow

Note To Self wins impressively on Tuesday. (Picture: Wayne Marks)

Cape Breeders

Drakenstein Stud resident, and former Horse Of The Year, Futura, has been in fine form of late.

The champion son of Dynasty was at it again when his son Note To Self made a winning debut at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Tuesday.

Trained by Justin Snaith, two-year-old Note To Self made a mockery of his 66-1 starting price with a fluent performance in the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Welcomes You Maiden Plate (1200m).

Under Gareth Wright, Note To Self stormed home to get up close home and win going away by a length and three quarters.

Bred by Varsfontein Stud, Note To Self is out of the Judpot mare Guiding Light.

Tuesday’s winner races for Jonathan Bloch, Nancy Hossack and Jonathan Snaith.

His four time G1 winning sire Futura went close to having a double on Tuesday, with Futura gelding Superhero narrowly beaten into second place in the fourth race.

Futura, also responsible for such promising two-year-olds as Open Sesame and Blind Date, has 12 lots on offer at the upcoming August Two Year Old Sale.

Unsolved Riddle Can Follow Up

Piere Strydom has stayed aboard Unsolved Riddle, who won well on Saturday over 1600m, and he has been tipped to win the third over the same trip at the Vaal Classic track on Thursday (JC Photos)

Vaal Classic Thursday Formguides And Selections

R1 (1) TRAIL RUNNER has been fancied in previous runs and will be a huge contender here especially with Gavin Lerena aboard. She comes from the powerful Sean Tarry yard and is expected to go closer on overall form. (2) FIRE STARTER drops back in trip and should go very well here. He does have some decent form specifically the run behind Chronicle King so needs to be respected. (3) EMPRESS WU has been consistent and should be in the placings once again. (4) SHIMMERING has plenty scope to get much closer. (Devonne Govender 1-2-3-4)

R2 (1) JOHNNY DRAMA ran extremely well in the last start and looks a serious contender in this field respectively. (4) CODEWORD ran well at huge odds and can build on that. (5) TRIP TO STATES hasn’t been far and can make his presence felt but has been a long time maiden. (6) WINCHESTER can get into the quartets. (Devonne Govender 1-4-5-6).

R3 (1) UNSOLVED RIDDLE has been racing well. He is very capable on his day and needs to respected here. (7) COPPER EAGLE won well on debut and could be anything, big chance. (3) LAUGHING WILLIAM ran a cracker in the last start and on best form he can win this. (2) WAR REPORTER has scope to go very well, the last run was good and he should be included in all bets. (Devonne Govender 1-7-3-2)

R4 (5) KIA KAHA has always been rated by the yard and will be a huge contender here. (1) COSMIC QUEEN comes of the same form-line as the top selection so will be right there in the mix. (2) BOSUM BUDDY is capable of much better so ignore the last run, she will be there. (8) GLOBAL THUNDER won a gutsy race in the last start and another decent run is expected. (Devonne Govender 5-1-2-8)

R5 (8) PHALA MILLIONS is holding form well and will be a strong contender in an open looking contest. (4) FALCON STRIKE won well in the last start and repeat showing will see him go close. (3) ALONE TIME wasn’t behind the second selection and another decent run is expected. (2) SAIL THE SKY is capable of getting involved here, he drops in trip and gets a top rider up. (Devonne Govender 8-4-3-2)

R6 (7) CARTAGENA is holding top form and goes for four wins in a row, she has a light mass and can pull this off. (10) RAINY SEASON is holding form and will get close once again. (2) ARTIC SILVER hasn’t been far in recent starts and can get involved, she has the scope to go well. (4) LAVA LAMP has scope to go well here, the form seems to be holding up so she must be respected. (Devonne Govender 7-10-2-4)

R7 Very open looking race. Play as wide as your budget allows. (1) SNEAK PREVIEW gets a top rider up, on best form she will have a big say. (2) HAT FURIOUS hasn’t been too far back and can get a lot closer. (7) KISS OF FIRE gets the claimer up and with the light mass on her back she can feature. (6) CIRCLE OF GRACE loves to race handy and could have a say if getting things his own way. (Devonne Govender 1-2-7-6)

R8 (4) RED AMBER ran a cracker in the last start and will be a strong contender here. (6) SHEETS AND GOGGLES wasn’t far in the last start and will be right there. (10) NORTHERN KITTEN is capable of a big finish on her day and will be a big runner on best form. (1) GIMME A STORM is capable of much better and can pop up. (Devonne Govender 4-6-10-1)

Hollywood Break Their Number Of Wins In A Season Record

Uzwano makes it three on the trot and it is a milestone moment for owners Hollywood Racing (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

When The Dean Kannemeyer-trained Ideal World gelding Uzwano won the fifth race at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today(Wednesday) it saw Hollywood Racing set a new personal best for number of wins in a season – 125.

Hollywood Racing awarded winning trainer Kannemeyer with a R10,000 bonus, the winning jockey Gavin Lerena with a R10,000 bonus, winning groom Isaac Gwumba with a R2,500 bonus and the commentator of the race Craig Peters also received R2,500.

It was the Wilgerbodrift and Mauritzfontein-bred three-year-olds fourth career win and it was his third win in succession.

Hollywood Racing recorded 100 wins in a season for the first time in the 2021/2022 season and ended on 101 wins that term.

In the 2022/2023 season they bettered their record to 124 wins.

Last season they could not match that and ended on 117.

However, they set a new mark for themselves today and could increase it by a few more before the end of the season in about a week’s time.

Shock At News Of Passing Of Barend Botes

The Sporting Post

The Sporting Post is sad to learn of the tragic passing of trainer Barend Botes on Wednesday 23 July.

A former jockey, the 55 year old Barend Botes moved from the Vaal to Summerveld in March 2024, and three months later celebrated his 30th year as a trainer with a maiden elite victory courtesy of Quid Pro Quo’s win in the R1 million Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship.

The daughter of Lance became an Equus Champion and KZN Horse Of The Year and was purchased by Team Valor International. She is set to continue her career in France.

In October of last year, Barend Botes returned ‘home’ to Turffontein, to better service his Highveld owners.

Barend Botes firmly believed he had found the answer for pedigree nicks in a software programme he has systematically developed over the last 15 years. He named his software ‘Pedigree Perfect’, and described it as a state-of-the-art system that included all the required stallion statistics, and had a strong emphasis on broodmare sires.

Our sympathies are extended to his family and friends at this very sad time.

Today's Question

The Birch Brothers-bred Sea Cottage was regarded as the best horse in SA history until Horse Chestnut challenged him for the title. Which Birch Brothers-bred horse was regarded by many as South Africa’s greatest of the first half of the 20th century?

Picture: The picture is of the subject

FIELDS, Wednesday, 24 July

Vaal Classic

Today’s Question Answer

Lenin^[1] (foaled 1937) was a South African-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who was a Champion at two and three years of age in South Africa. He was purchased for 650 guineas by Maurice Lipschitz at the 1939 Rand Yearling Sales in Johannesburg. He raced from 1939 to 1943 in South Africa and won 18 of his 44 starts and earned £15,943, an earnings record at the time. Among his wins were The South African Derby,^[2] Johannesburg Summer Handicap, Champion Stakes, Benoni Guineas and Natal Guineas. He won from 1000m to 3200m. He is regarded as the best racehorse to have run in South Africa in the first half of the 20th century.

Click here to read about Lenin