Picture: Trainer Darrell Moore, owner Preggie Somasundram and breeder Professor Ian Sanne received the Champion Two-year-old filly award for the Oldlands Stud-bred Canadian Summer (Oratorio) (Candiese Lenferna).

Captain’s Ransom Equus Horse Of The Year

The Justin Snaith-trained Captain’s Ransom (Captain Al) was announced as Horse Of The Year in the most eagerly awaited Equus Award at tonight’s ceremony at the Emperor’s Palace.

The Suzette and Basie Viljoen-owned Moutonshoek stud-bred filly finished narrowly behind her stablemate Jet Dark on the points table, which constituted one third of the weighting for the award’s election process.

The other two components, which also constituted one third of the weighting, were voting by an expert panel and voting by the public.

Captain’s Ransom was also named Champion Older female and Champion Sprinter.

Jet Dark also won three awards.

He was named Champion Older Male, Champion Miler and Champion Middle Distance horse.

The Glen Kotzen-trained Cousin Casey (Vercingetorix), the Mike de Kock-trained Safe Passage (Silvano) and the Sean Tarry-trained Rain In Holland (Duke Of Marmalade) were expected to be named Champion Two-year-old Male, Champion Three-year-old male and Champion Three-year-old filly respectively and were duly announced as the winners of those awards.

The Champion Two-year-old award was tighter and it went to Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes winner, the Darrel Moore-trained Canadian Summer (Oratorio), whose additional win of the Listed Devon Air Stakes must have swung it her way.

The Champion Stayer is the Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Sparkling Water, whose win of the Grade 2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m would have clinched her the award.

The Champion Broodmare was Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein’s Gay Fortuna (Fort Wood), who has produced dual Grade 1 winner Marinaresco (Champions Cup and Durban July), Listed winner Mercurana and last season’s Grade 2 and Grade 3 winner, Marina. All three of Gay Fortuna’s black-type progeny were trained to their stakes successes by Candice Bass-Robinson.

The late Silvano is now a six-time Champion Sire.

His son Vercingetorix won the Outstanding Sire award as the leading stakes producing stallion of the season.

Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein wrested the Champion Breeders title back from Klawervlei Stud.

Drakenstein Stud won the outstanding Breeder award for their record-breaking feat of 18 individual stakes winners in a season.

Nominees and winners of 2022 Equine categories:

Champion Two-year-old Colt (Distance Immaterial)

· Thunderstuck

Winner: Cousin Casey

Champion Two-year-old Filly (Distance Immaterial)

· Ameena

· Sweet Pepper

Winner: Canadian Summer

Champion Three-year-old Colt (Distance Immaterial)

· Aragosta

· Pomp and Power

Winner: Safe Passage

Champion Three-year-old Filly (Distance Immaterial)

· Big Burn

· Chansonette

Winner: Rain in Holland

Champion Older Colt/Gelding (Distance Immaterial)

· Astrix

· Kommetdieding

· MK’s Pride

Winner: Jet Dark

Champion Older Filly/Mare (Distance Immaterial)

· Princess Calla

· Sparkling Water

Winner: Captain’s Ransom

Champion Sprinter (1000-1200 Metres, Age/gender Immaterial)

· Alesian Chief

· Big Burn

· Bohica

· Master Archie

Winner: Captain’s Ransom

Champion Miler (1400-1600 Metres, Age/gender Immaterial)

· Al Muthana (Aus)

· MK’s Pride

Winner: Jet Dark

Champion Middle Distance Horse (1800-2200 Metres, Age/gender Immaterial)

· Astrix

· Kommetdieding

· Sparkling Water

Winner: Jet Dark

Champion Stayer (2400 Metres upwards, Age/gender Immaterial)

· Black Thorn

· Nebraas

· Shangani

Winner: Sparkling Water

2022 Breeder Awards:

Champion Broodmare: Gay Fortuna

Champion Stallion: Silvano

Champion Breeder: Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein

Outstanding Stallion: Vercingetorix

Outstanding Breeder: Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs GA Rupert)

2022 Media Awards

Print Robyn Louw Underdogs who now rule the Sport of Kings

Broadcast Warren Lenferna In the box seat with Greg Bortz

Still Photography Candiese Lenferna Captain’s Ransom enjoying the Waves

2022 Human Categories:

Champion Apprentice: Rachel Venniker

Champion Jockey: Warren Kennedy

Champion Trainer: Paul Peter

Champion Owner: Drakenstein Stud (Nom: Mrs GA Rupert)

2022 Horse of the Year:

Winner – Captain’s Ransom

Special Award to the Groom of the Horse of the year:

Winner – Isaac Mwelasa

Picture: The Piet Botha-trained Ragnar Lothbrok (Vercingetorix) wins for the third time on Saturday (Wayne Marks).

Vercingetorix, Highest Stakes Producer Last Season, In The Spotlight Again

PEDIGREE PROFILE-RAGNAR LOTHBROK

by Sarah Whitelaw

While beaten into second place, by his sire Silvano, on last season’s South African General Sires List, there can be no denying that former Equus Champion Vercingetorix enjoyed a fantastic season in 2021-2022.

The champion son of Silvano came up with more stakes winners last season in South Africa than any other sire, with Vercingetorix supplying 14 black type winners of 21 stakes races in 2021-2022.

His versatility was well to the fore last season, with Vercingetorix’s top level winners coming from 1200m (G1 Golden Horse Sprint) to 2000m (G1TAB The Premier’s Champions Challenge, G1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby) in 2021-2022.

Vercingetorix has once again come out firing in the first part of the 2022-2023 racing season, and currently ranks third (at the time of writing) on the general sires list.

His son Ragnar Lothbrok, a R200 000 purchase from the 2020 Cape Premier Yearling Sale, turned the seventh race at Kenilworth into a one horse-race, with the Piet Botha trained gelding romping home to score by four and a quarter lengths.

Ragnar Lothbrok hails from one of the very best families in the stud book -and one which continues to produce high-class performers all around the world.

The gelding is out of useful racemare Dijla, who finished second in the 2009 G2 The Debutante, where beaten just a short head by the victorious Captain’s Call. Ragnar Lothbrok is one of two winners produced by his dam thus far, with Dijla also responsible for the dual winning Musaytara.

Dijla, in turn, was sired by now deceased US champion sire Elusive Quality, who made waves as a broodmare sire last week through the deeds of his brilliant maternal grandson No Nay Never (by Scat Daddy out of the Elusive Quality mare Cat’s Eye Witness).

The latter, whose 2022 flagbearers also include G1 Darley July Cup winner Alcohol Free and seven length G1 Keeneland Phoenix Stakes victor Little Big Bear) had a memorable weekend this past week, with No Nay Never supplying a trio of group winning two-year-olds. Not only did No Nay Never’s juvenile son Blackbeard (previously successful in the G2 Darley Prix Robert Papin) land Sunday’s G1 Darley Prix Morny, the No Nay Never sired two-year-olds Mediate and Aesop’s Fables won the G2 Alpha Centauri Debutante Stakes and G2 Galileo Irish EBF Futurity Stakes one day earlier.

Dijla, whose dam Furaat was sired by the immortal Danehill, numbers none other than Courtly Dee as her fourth dam.

A daughter of Never Bend, Courtly Dee was North America’s US Broodmare Of The Year in 1983, with her progeny including US champion Althea and fellow G1 winners Ali Oop (Sapling Stakes) and Ketoh (Cowdin Stakes).

Courtly Dee, the third dam of top sire and broodmare sire Arch (damsire of prominent sire Uncle Mo among others) also ranks as the granddam of top sire Green Desert, with the latter having become a hugely influential sire of sires through the likes of Cape Cross, Invincible Spirit and Oasis Dream.

Other notable performers descended from Courtly Dee include G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Bayern, Japanese classic winner One And Only and the 2022 G2 Brooklyn Stakes winner Fearless.

Picture: Greg Ennion

GREG ENNION OPTIMISTIC WITH STAKES INCREASES

Cape Racing

Now aged in his mid-70’s and down to only 12 horses, senior Cape trainer, Greg Ennion is still persevering at his craft. Owners may be hard to come by and budgets are tighter than ever these days, yet this vastly experienced horseman sets off for the Bloodstock South Africa sales in Johannesburg equipped with an attribute that money cannot buy – a deep and abiding knowledge of thoroughbred racehorses.

“It’s nice to have the pedigree and I’ve had success supporting undervalued local sires but it’s all about looking at a horse and picking out one that appeals to the whole eye.” explains Ennion. He rode successfully in amateur Cape Hunt meetings before getting his professional license as an owner/trainer with ten boxes in a prime location at Milnerton. That riding ability, together with in innate knack for seeing past the obvious when assessing the physical conformation of horses, gave Ennion an edge back in the

day, and remains the key to his longevity in an exceedingly tough game.

One of his biggest success stories was Symbolize, an older horse in training that he acquired as he felt ‘”it was crying out for more ground.” Putting the gelding over a longer route proved transformative and Symbolize went on to win multiple races at the highest level.

Like many an old school horseman, the self-confident, Ennion was not averse to backing his judgement at the betting windows and taking on the bookies in the Gold and Silver Rings. He diligently kept a “Black Book” noting horses from other yards who hinted at untapped potential that he could use in exotic combinations, such as Place Accumulators. He was also sufficiently shrewd, and bold enough, to occasionally win substantial sums wagering on his own horses at long odds when he thought they would outperform the market. By riding them at work he could properly gauge their quirks and fitness levels. Then, when they were tuned up and raring to go, Ennion was unafraid of taking on seemingly unstoppable hot shots from the big- name stables.

That giant killing act with cannily- bought racehorses, turned out in mint condition, continues – even if those victories to celebrate have been more sporadic of late (there were just seven winners from 167 horses saddled during a horrid last season.)

Take Saturday’s heavy-going Maiden victor at Kenilworth, Masterful Guy as an example. Bred by Barry Irwin of Team Valor International, this Master of My Fate gelding was a virtual throw out off Bennie Marais’ Klipdrift Stud with a parrot mouth and a problematic knee deterring other buyers.

Masterful Guy eventually found form this Winter, after taking a while to get underway whilst Ennion toiled against a bothersome virus in his stable for the first half of this year. A last start speed figure of 86 at his 15th outing, over the course and distance on the 31st of July, suggested he would be a big runner in Saturday’s 1600m Maiden.

The straight-talking, Ennion gave fellow owners (fishing friends, WD Mealing and Etienne Braun) some confidence. He advised that main rivals Future Turn and Allez Moris were immature youngsters, who would be stretched to their limit by the unusually deep and tiring track. Masterful Guy was given a fine front running steer by JP van der Merwe. They kept going gutsily to beat off challenges from the three-year-olds, just as the wily, Ennion predicted.

The jock said afterwards, “He is a decent sort who will win more and can stay further.” But, even holding on to in-form horses can be tricky, with offers from Mauritius forthcoming before Saturday’s victory by Masterful Guy. However, the substantial increase in Race-Cape stakes effective 1 st September, together with appearance fees of R2500 per start for the new season, now make it viable for owners to stay in horses that can pay their way locally. Given this “reprieve”, Ennion will be using all his “nous” to maximise Masterful Guy’s earnings. And, with his sharp eye for a horse, he might be able to discover yet another hidden gem, at the upcoming Johannesburg sales.

A pragmatic and usually upbeat person, Ennion admitted the lack of patronage was making him despondent – he was on the verge of not renewing his trainer’s license for ‘22/23. That is, until Greg Bortz Investments/ Hollywoodbets SA announced drastic plans to salvage Cape Racing. This exciting new overhaul prompted the veteran to rethink quitting – and instead soldier on.

Over many decades in racing, Ennion has repeatedly proven his ability to pick out inexpensive thoroughbreds that can run, get even the most awkward of horses fully fit, then place them correctly to optimize their latent ability. It would be great to see this resilient character, who has been struggling under the radar over the last couple of years, find a rare diamond in the rough and pull off another inspired, Symbolize- like coup or again campaign a high-class animal reminiscent of legendary speedball, Karthala.

That would be a cool send-off before the stalwart eventually calls time on a storied racetrack career and revs up the outboard motor on his fishing ski boat to relax for good and swap yarns with his sea-faring mates.

Bob Baffert (Picture Ron Flatter)

Kentucky Hearing On Bob Baffert’s Appeal, Day 1

Horseracing Nation

The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission hearing on trainer Bob Baffert’s request to have his 90-day suspension for Medina Spirit’s betamethasone overage in the 2021 Kentucky Derby removed began Monday at 1 p.m. EDT.

The KHRC requested that witnesses be sequestered during the course of the hearing so they would not hear one another’s testimony. Clay Patrick, the presiding officer for the hearing, granted that request.

Jennifer Wolsing, general counsel for the KHRC, framed the case in straightforward terms during her opening statement. “This is a very simple case,” she stated. “Betamethasone is a class C medication which has been prohibited in Kentucky.”

Wolsing continued her opening statement with a discussion of Baffert’s history of drug infractions in Kentucky. She explained that Baffert indicated that he did not know the betamethasone standards in Kentucky after Gamine tested positive for it after the 2020 Kentucky Oaks, citing text messages between him and chief steward Barbara Borden.

Wolsing also outlined Baffert’s infractions in Kentucky in the year leading up to Medina Spirit’s positive test. She noted that he had four violations during that time period and pointed out that Kentucky’s documented sanctions for drug violations go only as far as three violations in a year.

Monday’s opening statements continued with Clark Brewster, an attorney representing Baffert. Brewster disputed the KHRC’s claim that there was a “limit of detection” rule that could be applied. Brewster stated that his client had not been suspended in 30 years, and that in the last 20 years he had been subject to only five medication rulings against him.

In his opening statement, Brewster also sought to discredit Industrial Labs, which returned the positive test on Medina Spirit, suggesting that the company needed to come back with positive tests to stay in business.

Brewster also drew a distinction between injecting betamethasone and using it topically and cited a KHRC rule that permits ointments. He shared a photo of Medina Spirit’s skin lesion and stated that Otomax, a skin ointment that contains betamethasone, had been prescribed for the lesion. Brewster quoted Barbara Borden, Kentucky’s chief state steward, as saying that there was not a specifically stated threshold. Brewster also stated that the 14-day stand-down period should apply to the ointment.

Opening statements concluded at 2:30 p.m. EDT. After a brief break, the KHRC called Bob Baffert to testify.

Wolsing presented Baffert with a copy of the trainer-responsibility rule, which Baffert said he was “probably” aware of. When Wolsing showed Baffert documents related to a 2020 medication violation in Arkansas, he responded, “They threw them out.” After several questions, Wolsing was granted permission to treat Baffert as a hostile witness, meaning that she can ask him leading questions.

Wolsing went on to ask Baffert about the medication rule in Kentucky in 2020, about which he had the text conversation with Borden. After questioning, Baffert eventually admitted to not knowing the answer.

After that point, Wolsing responded, “You say you run a tight ship, and you know what the regulations are. … But you told Miss Borden you didn’t know the rules.”

This line of questioning led to objections from Craig Robertson, a member of Baffert’s defense team, taking issue with the framing of Wolsing’s questions about Baffert’s knowledge of zero-tolerance rules, and alleging that Wolsing was misleading the witness by conflating injections and ointments. On the other hand, Wolsing alleged that the objections from Baffert’s counsel was “feeding” Baffert answers.

When testimony continued, Baffert was asked to read the ingredient list for Otomax, which includes betamethasone valerate.

Baffert was also led to say that “regulators got it wrong” when they wrote a 14-day withdrawal period for betamethasone.

Wolsing then went into a line of questioning about Bob Baffert’s relationship with and knowledge of Dr. Vince Baker, who treated Medina Spirit. However, Robertson objected, equating that to a trial of Baker. Patrick agreed, ending that line of questioning.

The hearing then moved to discussing Baffert’s oversight of the barn. He had promised to be more vigilant in following regulations, but stated that COVID prevented an advising veterinarian from flying out to lead oversight in Kentucky. Baffert also stated that he did not reach out to the KHRC to verify whether Otomax was legal, since he thought it was compliant.

Baffert continued, “I won’t say it was a mistake (to give Medina Spirit an ointment the day before the Derby). If you use an ointment to humanely heal a rash, it’s not a mistake.” He compared Medina Spirit’s skin condition to diaper rash, explaining that it is important to treat “right away”.

Questioning then shifted to the positive test result. Baffert recounted how he heard about the positive test from assistant Jimmy Barnes. Then, questions focused on the details of the testing of Medina Spirit’s sample.

Baffert then stated that Dr. Baker had convinced him Medina Spirit had not been given betamethasone, hence the statement at his May 9, 2021 news conference.

After a brief break, Baffert was questioned further about his statement that Medina Spirit had not been given betamethasone. Wolsing also asked Baffert about a phone conversation with Borden that had been taped. Baffert stated that he was unaware that the conversation was taped, but Kentucky is a one-party state, meaning that the call could be legally taped with only one party on the line being aware of that fact. Baffert stated on the call that there would not be any salves in the barn, and stated on the stand that it was his belief at the time.

Questioning moved back to the May 9, 2021 news conference. Video of part of the conference was played at the hearing, and Baffert stated that his confidentiality had been violated, and alleged that either the KHRC or the testing lab leaked the results of Medina Spirit’s positive test.

Baffert was on the witness stand for about 2 1/2 hours on Monday, and he was the only witness to be questioned during Monday’s portion of the hearing, which concluded at 5:20 p.m. EDT. It will resume Tuesday at 9 a.m. EDT, when Wolsing plans to call Kentucky chief steward Barbara Borden.

Picture: Arrogate (TDN)

Griffiths-De Kock’s Arrogate Two-year-old Is Owned By South Africans

The late Arrogate (Unbridled’s Song) (pictured) has his first horse registered in Australia, a two-year-old named Sacredarro with Robbie Griffiths and Matthew de Kock.

The youngster is owned by South African heavyweights like Mike De Kock, Lindsay Ralphs and Larry Nestadt.

He is a half-brother to Argentine G1 winner Rabid In The Rye (Catcher In The Rye).

Arrogate won the Travers Stakes in a track record time in his first stakes appearance in 2016. He then won the Breeders’ Cup Classic and was named the American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse and World’s Best Racehorse of 2016.

To start his four-year-campaign, he won the 2017 Pegasus World Cup in a new track record followed by a win in the Dubai World Cup. On returning to the United States however, he suffered three straight defeats and retired with a record of seven wins from eleven starts.

Arrogate had a Grade 1 winner in his first crop at stud, the Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath.

In the last week of May 2020 Arrogate’s stud schedule was suspended when he appeared to be suffering from soreness in his neck. He then fell in his stall, was unable to get back to his feet. He was sent for treatment which was unsuccessful and he was humanely euthanased.

The Griffiths/De Kock yard had a fine 2021/2022 season with 43 winners, including a Group 3 and two Listed wins.

They have started this season in good form with 4 winners at a strike rate of 15.4% and 7 places at a strike rate of 42.3%.

Rabid In The Rye won two Grade 1s over 2000m and 2400m respectively, so Sacredarro is a potential Melbourne Cup horse.

Mark Johnston (Picture: Sky Sports)

Daniel Muscutt Boots Home Mark Johnston’s 5000th Career Winner

Mark Johnston became the most successful trainer in British racing history when Poet’s Society won at York’s Ebor Festival in August 2018, which at the time was his 4,194th winner.

Today in the UK he reached the 5000 career winners milestone when Dubai Mile scored in impressive fashion at Kempton Park under Daniel Muscutt, son of Summerveld trainer Peter Muscutt.

Sent off the 6/5 favourite Dubai Mile – a son of Roaring Lion – was quickly to the fore in the British Stallion Studs EBF Restricted Novice Stakes and while Super Mo was a brief threat, the market leader really strode on through the final furlong to win in style.

The Scottish Mark Johnston is based in MIddleham, North Yorkshire.

In 1994 his charge Mister Baileys (Robellino) became the first Northern horse to win a British classic for 17 years.

Below is a list of his biggest wins:

1,000 Guineas – (1) – Attraction (2004)

2,000 Guineas – (1) – Mister Baileys (1994)

Ascot Gold Cup – (4) – Double Trigger (1995), Royal Rebel (2001, 2002), Subjectivist (2021)

Cheveley Park Stakes – (1) – Lumiere (2015)

Coronation Stakes – (1) – Attraction (2004)

Dewhurst Stakes – (1) – Shamardal (2004)

Falmouth Stakes – (1) – Nahoodh (2008)

Middle Park Stakes – (2) – Awzaan (2009), The Last Lion (2016)

St. James’s Palace Stakes – (1) – Bijou d’Inde (1996)

Sun Chariot Stakes – (1) – Attraction (2004)

He has had close to 50 Royal Ascot winners.

Johnston’s horses are known for their front running style and bravery in a finish, two attributes that were best advertised by the exploits of Attraction.

De Melo, Moodley And Snaith Doubles

Keagan de Melo (pictured above), Justin Snaith and Serino Moodley all scored doubles at the Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack meeting today.

De Melo goes to ten winners for the season at a strike rate of 18.18% and Moodley has now ridden four winners this season at 11.76%.

Snaith has had eight winners at 12.70%.

Today’s Question

Who holds the record for the most wins by a two-year-old in Britain?

Picture: Sun Chariot (Painting by Alfred James Munnings).

Turffontein Inside Fields

Today’s Question Answer

The Robert Peck-trained The Bard (Petrarch) (1885), the Bill O’Gorman-trained Provideo (Goldswalk) (1984) and the Bill O’Gorman-trained Timeless Times (1990) all won 16 times as two-year-olds.

Provideo, despite being rated twenty pounds below the best horses of the year, was named Horse of the Year by the Timeform organisation and topped the official British Horse of the Year poll conducted by the Racegoer’s Club.

His record is shown above and a picture of him is above the question (b2yor.co.uk).

Turf Talk Newsletter – 24 August 2022

Captain’s Ransom Equus Horse Of The Year

Vercingetorix, Highest Stakes Producer Last Season, In The Spotlight Again

GREG ENNION OPTIMISTIC WITH STAKES INCREASES

Kentucky Hearing On Bob Baffert’s Appeal, Day 1

Griffiths-De Kock’s Arrogate Two-year-old Is Owned By South Africans

Daniel Muscutt Boots Home Mark Johnston’s 5000th Career Winner

De Melo, Moodley And Snaith Doubles

Today’s Question

Turffontein Inside Fields

Today’s Question Answer