* Newsflash – Rachel Venniker Out Of The July *
Danie Torien (The Citizen)
Rachel Venniker is out of the July.
Booked to ride Red Saxon for trainer Joe Soma, and in the process becoming the first female jockey to ride in the Hollywoodbets Durban July this coming Saturday, she suffered a freak accident today at Greyville in the last race when her mount, Kileigh’s Fate, fly-jumped and she was dislodged.
Hitting her head on the rail at the gate, she suffered a concussion and has to be side-lined for at least ten days.
“It’s really a tragedy,” said her mentor and trainer of Kileigh’s Fate, the legendary Michael Roberts, this afternoon.
“She is out of the July. She is devastated, but there’s nothing anyone can do.
“It was a freak accident, and unfortunately it happened to her at the worst possible time.”
According to Roberts she is, apart from the concussion, in good shape. She hasn’t suffered any fractures and she has not been hospitalised, he said.
He added she will take a few days to work through the trauma, and her privacy must be respected in this time.
“Racing is a dangerous sport,” said Roberts.
“When someone suffers a concussion, it is important to ensure that they recover completely. We are talking about people’s lives here,” he said.
“I’m convinced she will want to get back to riding as soon as possible, but protocols have to be followed.”
– Danie Toerien
Two Horses Who Appeal On Hollywoodbets Durban July Day
David Mollett
So you’ve been bombarded with tips from TV experts, ex-jockeys who have won the race and even your next-door neighbour has chipped in with a selection.
But now it’s time to nail your colours to the mast and decide which horse will carry your money in next Saturday’s Hollywoodbets Durban July.
Possibly, you’ve put aside a sum you’re prepared to lose on SA’s most famous race. Which brings us to the possibility of reducing that outlay if one can land a double – dare we say even a treble – in the races leading up to the July.
This writer spends most of his time studying the UK form, but the Greyville card deserves close scrutiny and here are two horses – running in race two and race six – who might put punters in the money prior to 16h00 – the start time of the big race.
Race 2:
Horse: TAIKONAUT
Trainer: Roy Magner
Jockey: Gavin Lerena
Odds: 33-10
One has to take your hat off to Roy Magner because – without any mega rich owners – he has sent out a steady stream of winners since leaving Zimbabwe, where he won the trainers championship three times.
One might describe Roy as “Mr Unruffable” – he always seems calm in any circumstances whereas some of his colleagues boil over with the speed of an electric kettle.
When Taikonaut won his first race at Turffontein in May, Roy told presenter Lyall Cooper that the horse was “decent.” This pricked my ears as Roy is not a trainer who rates his geese as swans.
Unfortunately, I was overseas for Taikonaut’s next start against older horses where he romped home by nearly five lengths.
4Racing expert, Daryl Maree, also spotted the Twice Over colt’s potential, but has one concern about Saturday’s race. “He’s trying 1300m for the first time.”
Good point so we need to examine the pedigree which shows that the Cheveley Stud bred youngster is out of Earth Orbit who won four races up to 1400m. He is a half-brother to two-time winner, Mercury Rising, who hasn’t won beyond 1200m.
Taikanaut wasn’t cheap costing Hong Kong owner, Robert Chung, R600 000 and it was no surprise that Roy was interested in his half-brother (by Querari) at the National Sales in April. Unfortunately, Greg Bortz had the youngster on his shopping list and he usually secures any thoroughbred he wants. The colt was knocked down at R700 000.
Bookies have Muzi Yeni’s mount, Now I Got You, as favourite for the BSA Sales Cup which is fair enough given his excellent second in the Gold Medallion. The Birch Bros-bred gelding was 20-1 for that race so Corrie Lensley’s runner wasn’t on pundits’ radar despite a good debut run at the Vaal in May.
Yeni has a better draw than Gavin Lerena but – though he’s sure to talk up the chance of Kommetdieding and rides the favourite, Grinkov, in the sixth race – Taikonaut might be his best mount on the card.
If Taikonat wins the second race, it will be a boost for Lucky Houdalakis’ runner, Laguna Verde, who beat the Magner inmate by three lengths in March. It looks as though Craig Zackey has chosen Laguna Verde in preference to Formagear. The answer? Take the swinger.
Race 6:
Horse: IMPOSING
Trainer: Glen Kotzen
Jockey: Richard Fourie
Odds: 8-1
In studying the form for the Gr 2 Golden Horseshoe, this writer kept coming back to Imposing – one of four runners from Glen Kotzen’s stable.
Bookies have Grinkov as favourite and this Normandy Stud-bred colt is chasing a hat-trick and looks a bargain buy at R75 000.
Nevertheless, Imposing ticks a lot of boxes – he’s drawn in pole position, has Richard Fourie in the saddle and hails from one of Lammerskraal’s best families.
Imposing, who cost R350 000 as a yearling, is the 11th produce of the mare Strawberry Lane and a half-brother to six-time winner Solo Traveller and five-time winner, Redberry Lane.
One can argue that Imposing’s sixth place finish in the Gold Medallion was nothing special and Ocean Time finished in front of him. Yet, he has plenty in his favour regarding jockey and draw and – at 8-1 – appeals as an attractive each-way bet.
The right horses for the swinger with Imposing may be Bright Green (unfortunately drawn on North Beach) and Lucky Houdalakis’ runner, Laguna Verde, who beat Taikonaut in March. It looks as if Craig Zackey has chosen the Highveld raider in preference to Formagear.
So how do you put Taikonaut and Imposing together with your July fancy?
1. Taikonaut to win, Imposing to win and your July selection to win.
2. Taikonaut to win, Imposing to place (evens) and your July selection to win.
3. The win double of Taikonaut and Imposing.
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Chatting on air to Nico Kritsiotis at the Vaal last week, commentator Alistair Cohen posed the question whether the July gallops were really “any value” in determining the winner of the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
With many of the big race runners working on their own, what punters learnt was that their July fancy hadn’t passed away overnight!
Sheldon Peters, who will call his 19th July on Saturday (some achievement), appeared particularly excited about the workout of last year’s winner, Kommetdieding. This column’s view is that he falls into the same predicament as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, he needs to win back his supporters.
There was a deadly hush at Turffontein when “Kommet” failed to justify odds of 8-10 in the TAB Premier’s Champions Challenge in April and the four year-old might drift from his current price of 12-1.
Former winning July jockeys, Anthony Delpech and Kevin Shea, knew they were going to be asked for their opinions at the gallops and the latter’s choice of Waterberry Lane for the July had me wondering if someone had slipped a prohibited substance into his coffee.
Yes, Dean Kannemeyer knows what is required to win the July but – unlike 2003 victor Dynasty who had no stamina limitations – Waterberry Lane is unproven over 2200m.
There were probably nods of approval from many people when Anthony Delpech sided with SA Derby winner, Aragosta, to be ridden for the first time by champion elect, Warren Kennedy.
No disrespect to Kabelo Matsunyane, but Aragosta hung in the Daily News and perhaps did well to finish only two lengths behind stablemate, Safe Passage.
Some pundits have expressed the view that pole position is a distinct disadvantage. James Goodman – happily back on our TV screens – has an answer to that. “The fact remains that no jockey rides Greyville better than Warren Kennedy.”
Those punters with ante-post bets on Pomp And Power will feel far from happy after the gallops where the son of Vercingetorix turned in a “Charlie Sheen” performance. In January this year, the actor was fired from “Two And A Half Men” for erratic behaviour, drug use and inflammatory comments.
Richard Fourie probably wishes he could ride stablemate, Jet Dark, but the Snaith camp have opted for 40 year-old Bernard Fayd’Herbe which means no dead weight on the Queen’s Plate winner.
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Of the 15 or so racing personalities canvassed in last month’s column to give their selection for a Daily News-July double, only three are through with live tickets.
Nico Kritsiotis (commentator): his selection was Safe Passage to win the Daily News and Sparkling Water to place in the July.
Lance Michael (bookmaker): his selection was Safe Passage onto Linebacker in the July.
Dave Scott (African Betting Clan): his selection was Safe Passage onto Sparkling Water to win the July.
Hollywoodbets Durban July Broadcast Schedule
Narina Trogon being led in on Saturday (Wayne Marks).
Well Named Narina Trogon Kicked Off Drakenstein’s Memorable Saturday
One of the greatest horseracing stories in recent times was about the Dennis Drier-trained Dynasty filly Beach Beauty.
On Saturday at Kenilworth her well-named son Narina Trogon, a Drakenstein homebred colt by Silvano trained by Candice Bass-Robinson, won on debut over 1000m in fine style under Keagan de Melo.
He lost a couple of lengths at the start and was still green, but quickened superbly in the final stages to win by 1,50 lengths.
The win was in fact a bit reminiscent of Beach Beauty’s debut win by three lengths over 1450m at Clairwood where she displayed the superb turn of foot she was to become famous for.
Beach Beauty was raced in honour of the late Mark Armitage.
Mark was a keen birdwatcher and his best ever sighting was of the colourful but elusive forest bird, the Narina Trogon.
Marks’s best friend Warren Kidd recalled the day he spotted the bird and said, “I’d never seen anyone so excited about anything, let alone a bird!”
The Narina Trogon (wikipedia).
The colours of the Narina Trogon were thus used as the official colours of the Shanks syndicate, called after Mark’s nickname at University.
Beach Beauty in action in her colourful silks (Gold Circle).
The syndicate was made up of Mark’s widow Ruth and children and close friends.
Beach Beauty, bred by Mark’s father Trevor, was the first horse to race for the Shanks Syndicate.
She was viewed by some of her owners before she started racing as a pet who enjoyed being patted, but in fairytale fashion the tiny filly became a five-time Grade 1-winning champion.
Beach Beauty was named by Mark’s eldest daughter Kate.
It was fitting her first foal, the Grade 2-winning Wild Coast (Trippi), was born on the birthday of another of his daughter’s Hannah.
Drakenstein purchased Beach Beauty after her racing career was over.
It is now fitting a colt named after the bird Beach Beauty was so closely associated with has won on debut and he looks to have a promising career ahead of him.
Later on at Saturday’s meeting, The Brett Crawford-trained Trippi colt Winchester Mansions provided a record-extending 17th stakes winner this season for Drakenstein, when winning the Grade 3 World Sports Betting Pocket Power Stakes over 2400m under Luyolo Mxothwa.
The Drakenstein homebred came from the back of the small seven horse field and ran on strongly down the inside to beat the Futureisbright (Futura) by half-a-length
The Piet Steyn-trained Gem King was attempting to win the winter series Triple Crown and the fact that he failed to make any inroads from behind, while the winner was able to, suggests his stamina capacity had more to do with his last position finish than the sedate pace.
Crawford had a double on the card.
He won the next race, the WSB Live Casino Hybrid Stakes with Surjay (Vercingetorix), who was ridden by S’Manga Khumalo.
Drakenstein have now had 23 stakes wins this season by 17 individuals.
July Theme “Show Me The Honey” Explained
The former marketing manager of Gold Circle Ken Tweddell is responsible for the Hollywoodbets Durban July theme every year and explained the thinking behind this year’s one.
“It all happened during the lockdown period. I am quite a big aloe and orchid gardener and I noticed after a couple of months of lockdown there were all of sudden bees back in the garden. So they hadn’t been squashed by buses and cars and whatever is driving up and down the road and were actually starting to regenerate. I thought what a great theme for the Hollywoodbets Durban July. I did a lot of research into bees and different types of bees. One thing I read about was bees pollenating orchards. Apparently, there are farms where bees are produced for the sole purpose of taking them to orchards, so they can fly around pollenating the fruit trees to bring a greater fruit yield. It’s a fascinating subject and I just thought a great idea for the theme.”
He continued, “A lot of theme names were bandied about. The Hollywoodbets Durban July is all about making some money on a bet etc, so I came up with the title ‘Show Me The Money’. We then had a nice little rhyme in there with ‘money’ and ‘honey’ and it became ‘Show Me The Money, Honey’ but we thought it was a bit too long, so we changed it to ‘Show Me The Honey’, which is all about sweetness and success and honey is the most amazing curative substance too.”
Ken’s theme poem for this year’s big race:
There’s a buzz in Mzanzi,
We’ve been patient a long while!
Swelling buds burst open,
And racegoers will be back in style.
Fashionistas all abustle,
Parading their creations.
Who will taste sweet success?
Couturier sensations!?
Bees dart from flower to flower,
Gathering pollen before sunset
Like punters look for info,
On which horse to place a bet.
But horseracing is what it’s all about,
And nothing could be sweeter.
Than to shout your fancy home,
The new equine world beater.
Jay August’s Hollywoodbets Durban July Speed Map And Other Stats
Jay August, the country’s foremost statistical racing analyst, has formed a speed map and mentioned some other likely July outcomes, although he reiterated they were all based on historical precedent and not anticipated positioning.
He said, “Pomp and Power is very unlikely to lead unless he cannot be restrained.
Astrix is very likely to want to lead as his best chance is to control the pace, but he first has to overcome his wide draw.
Aragosta rated with the pace last time out and given his pole position and light weight will likely be up with the pace again.
The optimum pace for any winner is to cover the first 1200m in ~73s and the final 1000m in ~60s.
Anything slower to 1200m than that is sub-optimal by the degree of variance.
No winner I have timed off video has ever won the July after having covered the first 1200m in anything faster than 72.96s, and that time was London News from a wide draw and in front in 1996. He won in 133.24s (my timing, the official time was 133.5s).
While four-year-olds have the highest historical numerical participation, three-year-olds have the best conversion rate. Expect that trend to continue this year as three-year-olds are almost always likely to be slightly underrated in the July and likely to improve several points.
Do It Again is probably the best handicapped horse on his best Greyville form, but he has age to overcome. No seven-year-old has won the race since 1950. The two oldest winners since 1950 have been Beau Art (6yo – 1980) and Java Head (6yo – 1966).
The closest a seven-year-old has come to winning from 1950 was Flaming Rock in 1994, beaten 0.60 lengths into second. Interestingly another seven-year-old, Pas de Quoi, finished fourth in the same race (and he was most unlucky not to win, having been twice badly interfered with in the straight – Ed) – the next best performance by a seven-year-old.
History and draw stats since 2014 (new course layout and wider draws) favours a likely winner from a three- or four-year-old, drawn 8 and up.”
Picture: Jay August’s speed map for this year’s Hollywoodbets Durban July (Supplied).
Peerless Piere Talks To IRC After Comeback Victory
And He Spoke To Turf Talk About Belgarion.
International Racing Club
PIERE’S ADVICE FOR BOOKMAKERS: “I’m so good all my rides should be 7-10 favourites!”
Piere Strydom, the legendary jockey, was a surprise guest at a braai (South African barbeque) held for the IRC and visiting company at Louis Goosen’s Summerveld Stables on last night.
Fresh off his first comeback ride in a year (Nexus, a winner at Greyville in the KZN Breeders Mile), ‘Striker’ was in good spirits and told about his return experience following an extended eye problem.
“I’ve been riding a bit of work and the muscles that served me woke up, they are all still there. I was sore under my arms after the first day, my legs were a bit wobbly the next but the fitness has come quick. Yesterday’s ride on Nexus was to me like a good ‘grass gallop’ for a horse. It will bring me on, I have a few more rides this week and will be 100% on Saturday.”
The close finish of Sunday’s race gave Piere’s 56-year-old muscles a proper workout and it was like he’d never been away from track, winning the race after an exciting two-horse tussle. He said: “Justin Snaith wanted me to come from off the pace, but I asked if I could sit close because I suspected Craig Zackey would go fast on Battle Force so I wanted him in sight and Justin agreed.”
“When the race was on over the last 400 I got in between Battle Force and the fence and he was hanging on to me a bit, Craig was race riding and giving me a contest, but Nexus is a decent horse, he fought very well to win.”
Piere said he felt like crying when the Greyville crowd received him, cheering. “I had a wonderful reception after the race from my fellow jockeys too, it was touching. I have to admit, I’m looking forward to Saturday’s paddock and canterdown for the Durban July, I know the crowd will be special and there will be goosies coming on.”
He’s 10 winners short of 5,500 and said: “This is like an in-between figure, doesn’t sound as good as 5000 or 6,000 so I’m not going to put myself under pressure. I actually enjoyed my year off, I didn’t miss riding. We’ll see what happens Saturday and thereafter, I’m not committing to anything.”
Piere’s wife Chrisna had a few hilarious stories to tell as this party progressed; we’re looking forward to the couple joining us for the IRC’s Golf Day at the Belfry in August. Host Louis Goosen was in top form in the latter part, too, telling tales from his late father Danie Goosen, erstwhile champion trainer in Port Elizabeth.
Champion owners Suzette and Basie Viljoen were there – Suzette’s really so fond of all of her horses and told us about the three retired old-timers they keep on their farm in Schweizer Reneke. She’s nervous about their star filly Captain’s Ransom for Saturday, but excited all the same. She’ll be watching with Basie from the Durban View Room. “I get on with all my horses but Captain’s Ransom always gives me plenty of cheek whenever I visit her and I wonder why?” said Suzette.
Striker talked to Turf Talk this morning and among other things revealed he had just done light work on his Hollywoodbets Durban July mount Belgarion this morning, so could not tell much.
However, he said the horse was quite frisky and wanted to get on with it, so he believed he will turn in the next couple of days.
Picture: Striker enjoying himself at Louis Goosen’s braai last night.
Feature Double For Nel And Plattner
The Andre Nel-trained Sabine Plattner homebred Twice Over filly Young Love won Saturday’s supporting feature, the Listed WSB River Jetez Stakes over 2400m under Grant van Niekerk. In the straight she came from midfield and drifted to the outside to join the pacemaker Maria Querol, whom she beat by half-a-length, with the rest of the field in a different race 6,75 lengths further back.
It was a pity Young Love missed the second leg of the series over 1800m, won by Maria Querol, because she won the first leg, beating Going Up by 0,40 lengths.
The latter is a Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Ridgemont Highlands-bred daughter of Gimmethegreenlight owned by the Hollywood Syndicate and at Saturday’s meeting she won the Listed WSB Bet With The Best Olympic Duel Stakes over 1200m under Keagan de Melo.
Earlier, Nel had scored the first leg of a feature double when the Legislate filly So Flawless upset the applecart by winning the Listed WSB Sign Up Now Ladies Mile, running on strongly from midfield under Corne Offer at 16/1 odds. Her stable companion Fusillade (Black Minnaloushe) had started favourite, but despite being on the rail from pole position she had little cover throughout, as the pacemaker Do Angels Cry stayed slightly wide, and she could only manage fourth place.
So Flawless is owned by Plattner and was bred by GJ Armitage.
Picture: Young Love (Wayne Marks).
Light Speed Looks To Be An Exciting Prospect
The most impressive winner of Saturday’s Kenilworth meeting was the Justin Snaith-trained Light Speed, a big, rangy son of Gimmethegreenlight, who won the Grade 3 WSB Langerman over 1500m from start to finish under Grant van Niekerk.
The Langerman for two-year-olds is the first pointer to the crop’s classics.
Light Speed bounced out very well from pole position and Van Niekerk was soon dictating in front.
The Brett Crawford-trained Port Louis, also by Gimmethegreenlight, moved up threateningly in the straight, but Light Speed had plenty in the tank and drew away again to win by a comfortable 1,75 lengths.
Light Speed is owned by Thomas Lines and was bred by Maine Chance Farms.
Picture: Light Speed (Wayne Marks)
July Quiz Competition – Win Tickets To The Hollywoodbets Durban July
Please send answers to joanne@cthbs.com.
The first six to correctly answer the questions, or get closest to doing so, will all win a digital ticket to the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
1. Who is the best performed horse in the history of the Durban July if the criteria used is the number of best performances at the weights.
2. Two horses, who are in the 18 horse final field plus two reserves, can this year become the first July winner to have a July-winning sire AND July-winning grandsire. Who are they?
3. Which sire has the best July record in history.
4. Which July winner holds the record for the biggest margin of victory?
5. Who holds the record time since the July was increased to 2200m in 1970.
6. Who is the only person to have ridden, trained and owned July winners.
7. Which four horses in July history have crossed the line first but not been awarded official victory?
8. Which jockey in this year’s line up will be out to equal the record of most July wins.
9. Who was the youngest trainer to win the July.
10. Who was the youngest rider to win the July?
First Winner Today For Robyn Klaasen, Doubles For Snaith And Syster
Turffontein-based trainer Robyn Klaasen had her first winner today at Hollywoodbets Greyville when the Pomodoro filly Meteoric got up under Jeffery Syster at 50/1 odds in the poly event over 1200m. It was her 31st runner and she had had six places before this win.
Syster scored in the next race on the Gary Rich-trained 16/1 shot Not Now Pussycat to go to 16 winners for the season at a 5.08% strike rate.
Justin Snaith scored a double at the meeting to go to 149 winners for the season at a strike rate of 12.97%.
Picture: Jeffery Syster wins on the Robyn Klaasen-trained Meteoric (Candiese Lenferna).
Today’s Question
Who is the only person to have owned an English Derby winner and a July winner?
Picture: The horse pictured is Pommern (Polymelus) and is relevant to the question.
Vaal Straight Course Tuesday Fields
Today’s Question Answer
Answer: Solomon “Solly” Joel, who made a fortune in diamonds in Kimberley, won the English Derby with Pommern in 1915 and won two Julys, in 1921 with Longstop and in 1928 with Glen Albyn.
His English Derby success in 1915 was in a race called the “New Derby Stakes” and was run at Newmarket as a substitute for the classic Epsom Derby, which was cancelled that year due to the war. Pommern actually did a version of the Triple Crown that year, winning the 2000 Guineas as well as the New Derby Stakes and The September Stakes, which was run at Newmarket as a substitute for the cancelled classic, the St. Leger.
Pommern was an elegant, good-looking bay horse and was officially bred by Joel too. He bought the mare Merry Agnes for 500 guineas in 1911 when she was already in foal with the future Derby winner. The mating of Merry Agnes to Joel’s outstanding stallion Polymelus was actually arranged by the mare’s previous owner Sir Alan Johnstone.
Joel won the July in 1921 with his British-bred homebred Longstop, who was by the St. Simon stallion St. Dennis.
He won it again in 1928 with the outstanding Glen Albyn, who carried second top weight of 9 stone and broke the SA record for the distance of a-mile-and-a-quarter. Glen Albyn was also a British-bred and was by Bridge Of Earn.
Both Of Joel’s July winners were trained by George Weale.
Picture: GLEN ALBYN (1923) by Bridge of Earn – Alarmed by Santoi. Not eligible for the General Stud Book, he won 10 races in England and South Africa, including the Johannesburg Summer Handicap with 122lbs, by 5 lengths, the Durban July Handicap with 126lbs and the Rosmead Handicap with 131lbs. He was narrowly beaten in the Gold Cup with 136lbs in 1931. He stood at the Henry Nourse Stud and was 3rd on the Sires List in 1940 (https://southafricanracehorse.wordpress.com/).
