Picture: Royal Aussie (Wayne Marks)

Suzette And Basie Have Gold Rush Options

Negotiations will be taking place in the camp of leading owners Basie and Suzette Viljoen this festive season. Their two WSB Gold Rush prospects, Royal Aussie (Royal Mo) and Stratospheric (What A Winter), will be the subject of discussions and Suzette joked: “I think talks may get quite spirited!”

Here is the thing: Basie holds the 4th Prospector’s Ticket to the R7,5-million race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 28 January, but Suzette and her partners own the 97-rated Royal Aussie, the original Gold Rush log leader and still in the Top 6. Suzette is the outright owner of Stratospheric, rated 85 and is also in with a chance of making the final field.

Suzette commented: “I am not so sure at this point whether we will have to negotiate with Basie or whether he will come to us. Either way we are hoping to have a runner in the family, and if it is Royal Aussie my partners Dr Jill Warner and Dane Squance will share in the excitement.”

Royal Aussie was originally pinhooked at the 2021 Cape Premier Sale by Grant Knowles and then sold at the Ready To Run Sale. Suzette recalls: “I liked him, he was a beautiful strong colt and I asked Sue Snaith to give me her opinion. She confirmed that he looked the part so we bought him. I had Dr Jill Warner at my table that day, she was keen on him too and asked if she could buy in. We don’t often race with partners but this was a special occasion.

“Then, after the sale, Dane Squance phoned from Australia to ask if he too, could take a share. He liked the colt’s Australian female line. He is out of the Australian-bred Abelia, who also produced one my earlier buys, Angry Warrior (Vercingetorix). We like to follow thoroughbred families. We named him Royal Aussie for his dam, and for Dane’s interest.”

Royal Aussie has always been considered a strong candidate for Gold Rush honours and he topped the log for several weeks following his two wins and three places from five starts. “He had a bout of colic before the Ready To Run Stakes in October and his prep was interrupted, but he still finished less than half-a-length back in third,” Suzette said. “We had discussions with trainer Justin Snaith and we have decided to go via the G1 Cape Guineas into the Gold Rush, with the second race as his main mission. We believe he will do very well over 1600m.”

Stratospheric remains a Maiden after seven runs, but he’s taken good places behind some of the leading lights of his generation so far, including Charles Dickens and Champion Warrior, and should win soon. “We hope he can win before the Gold Rush, so his rating can go up. He’s a good back-up for us, a decent horse,” Suzette said.

Picture: Dave The King took way too strong a hold on Saturday in the Cape Punters Cup over 1600m, whereas his previous run had suggested he was looking for that trip at least, so if the rider manages to settle him in the Gold Rush he will be a massive runner.

WSB R7.5m Gold Rush Updated Log

The Justin Snaith-trained Itsrainingwilliam (William Longsword) was the biggest mover on the log over the weekend.

He finished fifth in the strongly contested Sophomore Sprint, beaten 3.05 lengths by impressive stablemate We’re Jamming, and the handicappers have raised him from and 88 merit rating to 94.

See Log Below:

Picture: Shoemaker (JC Photos).

Shoemaker Has A Wide Draw Plus Hardknockers To Beat

The Mike de Kock-trained Shoemaker was an unlucky loser in the Grade 3 Allied Steelrode Graham Beck Stakes over 1400m last time out and now has another wide draw to contend with in the Grade 2 Jonsson Workwear Dingaans over 1600m at Turffontein Standside on Saturday.

The draw should not stop him considering he was dropped out to last in the Graham Beck and was scything through the field like a hot knife through butter when stopped in his tracks by a gap closing in front of him. He had to be snatched up and switched and he then flew to be beaten just half-a-length. He should relish the step up in trip being by Gimmethegreenlight out of Mogok mare Moggytwoshoes, whose five wins were from 1400m to 1600m, including twice over the latter trip.

The Graham Beck third-placed Royal Victory, who jumped from draw eight in the that race, is also drawn wide in 12 out of the 13 Dingaans runners. He is a nice type who has trained on. He came from a wide draw with a strong run to finish a 0,90 length second to Cousin Casey in the Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m and then proved he stays this 1600m trip by finishing second to Cousin Casey in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes.

Union Square is interesting because he was also dropped out from a wide draw in the Graham Beck and came from joint last to be beaten 2,25 lengths into fourth. He took a while to get going in the straight, going for his run down the inside, and was doing his best work late. That suggested he would enjoy the step up to this trip. He is by Rafeef out of an Oasis Dream daughter of Front House, a Sadler’s Wells mare who won two Grade 2s over 2400m, one in SA and one in Dubai. So, on pedigree Union Square will also relish the step up in trip and he has pole position.

East Coast, stablemate to Shoemaker and Union Square, is also a runner having run second in the Grade 3 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m, despite carrying the same 51kg weight as the year-older winner Litigation. He is drawn three and would prefer further, but will be staying on strongly.

Billy Bowlegs came from a long way back in the Graham Beck and had to be switched a long way inward to get a clear run and then had to be eased late when a gap closed near the line. His three length fifth was thus a good effort. He beat Total Protection to win his maiden over this trip and the latter franked that form well this week, so Billy Bowlegs is an interesting runner from draw two under astute and in-form big race rider Raymond Danielson.

Argo Alley was just behind Billy Bowlegs in the Graham beck and although he has recorded a fine time over 1400m before his pedigree suggests he will stay this trip. He is by Argonaut, a Grade 1 winner over 1600m as a two-year-old, out of Jam Alley mare Dance Alley, who won five times from 1600m to 2000m and who has produced the like of Modus Vivendi mare Dance Class, a seven time winner from 1800m to 2600m.

Unzen disappointed in the Graham Beck after running on strongly to win the BSA Sales Cup over 1450m. However, it might have been a flat run and being by Erupt out of a Toreador mare who has produced a 2400m winner, albeit by Irish Flame, he might see out this trip.

Thunderstruck was caught wide in the Graham Beck, so can be forgiven for petering out in the straight. He now has another tricky draw of nine, but if able to find cover will have a chance to prove he retains the class his two-year-old season suggested he had.

His perennial rival Prophet was caught wide briefly in the Graham Beck too, but did then have cover behind Thunderstruck, before fading to last.

The fact both of them have such close form against each other and both failed in that race has to be a concern.

Electric Gold won three in a row in fine style for Paul Peter, but this is a step up in class and he comes off a below par run in his first outing for a new trainer. He also has a wide draw to overcome.

Meridius has run three good races since his maiden win, but this is a big step up, although he does have a good draw.

Vesuvio and Otto Luyken are rated only in the 70s so this a big step up in class even if they are from the yard of Tyrone Zackey, who is an outstanding conditioner of big race runners.

Picture: Thefutureisbright is eased before the line by Richard Fourie (Wayne Marks).

Thefutureisbright Puts His Hand Up For The Western Cape Stayers

The Justin Snaith-trained Thefutureisbright cruised to an effortless victory over 2400m under Richard Fourie at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today, further confirming the growing evidence that Futura’s progeny get better and better with age.

The four–year-old gelding, whose merit rating going in today’s race was 92, was officially 2,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted runner under the Middle Stakes conditions, his stablemate Double Check, a 78 rated filly who only had to carry 50.5kg.

Carrying 60kg, he travelled comfortably throughout in fifth place one out with cover in the seven horse field.

In the straight he moved up under the hands and his big stride had soon carried him into the lead.

Richard Fourie just had to drive him with the hands to repel the challenge of Over Two You, whom he beat by two lengths.

The rest of the field were beaten 6,25 lengths and more, and that included MWOS Gold Cup fifth-placed Chewbaca, who carried 62kg and was beaten 8,80 lengths.

Considering he hardly came off the bit and is progressing all the while, Thefutureisbright looks an exciting stayer in the making and should be a big player on WSB Met day in the Grade 2 Western Cape Stayers over 2800m.

Picture: Lyle Hewitson (HKJC.com)

Hewitson Rides Double At Happy Valley

It has been a tougher season than many predicted for Lyle Hewitson in the most competitive racing arena in the world, but he has moved into fifth place on his own on the Hong Kong jockeys after a double tonight.

He won aboard the Danny Shum-trained Sunny Delight (Power) over 1650m in a class 4 event and on the Chris So-trained Exceptional Nice (Tavistock) in a class 3 race over 1650m.

He is now on 12 winners for the season, 34 behind the log leader Zak Purton, and he is two wins ahead of his compatriot Luke Ferraris.

Picture: Constitution Hill smashes the Cheltenham two mile and half-a-furlong course record when winning the Supreme Novices Hurdle by 22 lengths at last year’s Festival. (Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos))

Hurdles Superstar To Reappear At Newcastle

Nicky Henderson: ‘We’ve made the decision – Constitution Hill runs at Newcastle’

By Lewis Porteous (Racing Post)

Champion Hurdle favourite Constitution Hill is set to join stablemate Epatante in Saturday’s Grade 1 Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle (2.10) at Newcastle.

Last season’s impressive Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner was ruled out of his intended seasonal reappearance in the Grade 2 Coral Hurdle at Ascot last weekend due to drying ground conditions but trainer Nicky Henderson wasted little time finding an alternative option as he revealed to the Racing Post on Wednesday that Constitution Hill will head to Newcastle.

“We’ve made the decision this morning and we’re going to run Constitution Hill at Newcastle this weekend,” said Henderson. “We’re happy for him to go there and Epatante will run there as well.”

A general 5-4 favourite for the Unibet Champion Hurdle, Constitution Hill won his three races as a novice by a combined 48 lengths last season, including a 22-length demolition at Cheltenham in March.

However, stablemate and former Champion Hurdle winner Epatante is not a rival to take lightly and she will be bidding for a third consecutive win in Saturday’s Fighting Fifth, having landed the race for the first time in 2020 before dead-heating with Not So Sleepy 12 months ago.

Sponsors Betfair make Constitution Hill the 1-3 favourite for Saturday’s race on the firm’s sportsbook, with Epatante next best at 3-1 and Not So Sleepy rated a 10-1 shot.

“As sponsors we are obviously delighted with the news,” said Betfair’s Barry Orr. “It’s not only great for the race but also for the National Hunt game in general that Nicky, with the respective owners, have elected to run both horses.

“That competitive element has been sadly lacking in recent renewals of this but this is a step in the right direction and will make the Fighting Fifth the must-watch race of the weekend.”

Regular rider Nico de Boinville is set to continue his association with Constitution Hill at Newcastle.

Following three dry days the going at Newcastle was described as good to soft, soft in places on Wednesday, with selective watering taking place.

Light showers are forecast for Wednesday and Thursday evening, with dry weather expected on Friday through to the start of Saturday’s seven-race card.

Officials at Newbury are also continuing to water before the track’s two-day Coral Gold Cup meeting beginning Friday, with the going described as good.

The course had around 8mm of rain on Wednesday morning and further rain is forecast on Thursday afternoon and during racing on Saturday.

Picture: Bonika (Jackson) clinched the double for Snaith and Fourie today (Wayne Marks).

Fourie/Snaith Double, Crawford, Marshall Doubles

Richard Fourie rode a double for Justin Snaith at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today and Brett Crawford and Vaughan Marshall also scored doubles.

Fourie moved into joint second on the national jockeys log on 65, 36 behind Keagan de Melo.

De Melo has just been handed a seven day suspension, which will enable Fourie to close the gap.

Snaith has had the most winners of any trainer in the country this season, 53 at a strike rate of 14.13%.

Crawford is in second place on the log both in number of winners and stakes.

He has had 43 winners at a strike rate of 17.70%.

Marshall has had 13 wins at 8.28%.

Picture: Horseracing had massive attendances in its heyday, as is seen from this picture of a Christmas day crowd in Southern California.

Today’s Question

How many people attended the 21 race meetings at Greyville for the measured year ending in May 1953?

(Answer at bottom of newsletter).

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Picture: Hollywoodbets Durban July day always attracts a big attendance. (Gold Circle)

Today’s Question Answer

347,746 people attended those 21 meetings, an average of 16,559.

Turf Talk Newsletter – 23 November 2022