One Stripe To Clash With Point Lonsdale's Brother In Cup
One Stripe pictured at Graham Motion’s Fair Hill Training Centre in Maryland
One Stripe’s first race in North America could be at either Colonial Downs or Gulfstream Park, both Listed events, or otherwise there is a Gr 1 at Woodbine in Canada scheduled two weeks after those two races.
It will all depend on whether trainer Graham Motion decides on a softer debut for the One World colt out there or to put him to the test.
Whichever race he does take part in it will be a stepping stone to his chief target, the Gr 1 Breeders Cup Mile, where he might face new Maine Chance-based stallion Point Lonsdale’s three-parts brother Diego Velazquez.
Hollywoodbets Racing are the majority shareholders in One Stripe, whom they own in partnership with the original owner Rikesh Sewgoolam.
The One World colt has been in fine fettle and looks to have grown, so there are high hopes he can make a good stallion CV even better by winning big races in North America.
Diego Velazquez is the second G1 winner produced by the Acclamation mare Sweepstake. Winner of both the Listed National Stakes and Listed Bedanken Stakes, Sweepstake is also the dam of champion, and G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud-winning sire, Broome, as well as of the well performed Point Lonsdale.
Point Lonsdale, whose sire Australia, like Frankel, was sired by Galileo, was a group winner at two, four and five, and earned £724,572 in prize money.
At The Races wrote the below article about the plans for Diego Velazquez:
American adventure on the cards for Diego Velazquez
Prix Jacques le Marois hero has Breeders’ Cup Mile target.
Diego Velazquez will make the final two starts of his career in America after his poignant Prix Jacques le Marois success in the famous Sangster silks.
Transferred into the ownership of Sam Sangster on behalf of a syndicate he heads in the days prior to the Deauville Group One, Aidan O’Brien’s son of Frankel produced a career best to deliver a nostalgic victory that harked back to the glory days of old at Ballydoyle.
Now the Diego Velazquez team have their sights set on further big-race glory, with first a trip to Keeneland for the Coolmore Turf Mile on October 4, a race that serves as a ‘win and you’re in’ for the colt’s main objective, the Breeders’ Cup Mile in early November.
Reflecting on France and looking ahead to the future, Sangster said: “It was an incredible day and I was filled by confidence by Aidan before the Marois and he ran as he said he would. Aidan said he would give everything on the track and he’s so tough and genuine.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if he goes on and wins another one now before the season is out. We’ll absolutely take him to America now and he’s a horse who will really suit the Breeders’ Cup being at Del Mar.
“We wouldn’t be waiting for Del Mar so the obvious step would be Keeneland for the race there. He’s a horse that travels and it’s a ‘win and you’re in’ for the Breeders’ Cup Mile so it ticks a lot of boxes for his programme.”
Diego Velazquez’s Stateside adventure will bring the curtain down on his on-track career. He is set to join the National Stud for stallion duties in November and there is plenty of excitement building around the next stage of his journey.
“One chapter closes and the next one will start and hopefully this is a story of many chapters,” continued Sangster.
“Already talking to breeders from the UK and Ireland there has been a hugely positive response to the horse and he is going to qualify for some very nice mares.
“The guys who have bought into him are also very keen to support him with some proper mares, as will I myself.
“So the end of the racing career is just the icing on the cake for a project with the wheels already in motion to make sure we do everything we can to ensure the horse makes it as a stallion, and hopefully it all pays off.
“It was a dream day at Deauville and the world is his oyster now. He’s going to be a stallion to suit many people and as one door closes the next chapter will open at the National Stud in November.”
Lucky Sweynesse's Japan Bid Reminds Of Silent Witness And Felix
Felix Coetzee paid a visit to the South African Jockey Academy (SAJA) a couple of weeks ago, the place where it all began for him (Picture: SAJA)
The legendary Silent Witness was the first of two Hong Kong horses to win the Gr 1 Sprinters Stakes in Japan and Lucky Sweynesse will be attempting to become the third on September 28 next month.
Click here to read about Lucky Sweynesse’s bid and then read on for a recount of the incredible day the brilliant sprinter Silent Witness won the Sprinters Stakes in Japan with South African legend Felix Coetzee aboard:
Felix Coetzee, a three-times South African Champion jockey, was left contemplating an ordinary looking future when lying in a hospital bed towards the end of his sixth season in Hong Kong in 1998.
His career over there had been inauspicious up until then and he had hardly expected the wheel of fortune to change while lying on his back recovering from surgery. But change it did.
The humble Coetzee was amazed when Tony Cruz, a six-time champion jockey who was enjoying early success in his training career, visited him in hospital and offered him a retainer.
With Coetzee’s help Cruz won his first Champion Trainer title in the 1999/2000 season and retained it in 2004/2005.
Coetzee was no longer retained by Cruz by the time he ended his stint in Hong Kong in 2008, having had 643 wins in 16 seasons.
However, no amount of winners will top the fame he achieved through his association with the legendary Cruz-trained horse, Silent Witness.
Silent Witness became world famous in 2005 when breaking Cigar’s record of 16 wins in 16 starts. Coetzee rode him in every one of his races.
Silent Witness was bought in Australia by a Bloodstock Agent on behalf of the flamboyant Hong Kong businessman, Archie Da Silva.
Coetzee recalls how they battled in the beginning to get the gelding to accept slow work as he wanted to get on with it and show everybody what he had.
Although he later became very lazy at home he was always an extremely perceptive animal. “He never missed a thing,” recalls Coetzee.
Silent Witness was the last to work out in the mornings for if seeing other horses on the track he would want to take them on and beat them.
“He always seemed to know what to do,” said Coetzee about the sprinter.
“He timed his jump to perfection and would outpace everything early and secure the rail,” he explained.
“He would then relax, prick his ears and idle along gazing at something in the distance. However, he never lost concentration and could sense any horse coming up behind him. He would then simply step up a gear and see them off.”
On one occasion the race-commentator had roared: “This is all too easy! Felix is going to have to give his stake to the Community Chest!”
The pair enjoyed an indescribable connection and something about the horse’s posture and his ear-positioning seemed to say to Coetzee “Don’t worry I’ve got it under control.”
Silent Witness got the magic number 17 when sent over 1 400m for the first time in the Silver Jubilee.
He then tasted defeat when sent over a mile, losing in the last stride to Bullish Luck, a two-time Champion miler and the 2006 Hong Kong Horse Of The Year.
Two runs later he went abroad for the Sprinters Stakes in Japan. The day before the race, during a slow canter, Silent Witness suddenly stumbled and dived nose-first into the dirt. Coetzee was flung off and still wears the proud scar where Silent Witness stood on his arm before bolting. However at the time it all seemed a bad dream.
The gelding hurtled around the track and was only stopped on his second-time around.
It was no wonder that Coetzee punched the air when Silent Witness won from a wide draw the next day. His family was on-course and this had made it a doubly special moment.
Silent Witness is at a retirement farm for champion horses in Melbourne now and there is no mistaking who is boss of his paddock.
Coetzee is today the Chief Riding Instructor at The Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Apprentice Jockeys’ School.
Throwback To East Cape's Previous Champions Season Gr 1 Winner
Alan Greeff was the toast of this year’s Equus Awards and walked away with an Equus Special Achievement Award for his incredible season in which he had the three best two-year-old fillies in the land and between them they landed Graded events in all three of the major centres as well as at home in Gqeberha.
Two of them, the Canford Cliffs filly Direct Hit and the Master Of My Fate filly Golden Palm won Gr 1s in KZN.
It had been 17 years since an East Cape horse had won a Gr 1 race in KZN.
Greeff’s pair won the Allan Robertson Championship at Hollywoodbets Scottsville over 1200m and the Douglas Whyte Stakes over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Greyville respectively.
The below article recounts the day the East Cape were previously victorious at the highest level in KZN, on 31 May 2008 in Pietermaritzburg.
The article was written for the Sunday newspapers.
The R350 000 Alan Robertson Fillies Championship was the first of the four Grade I’s on the card at Scottsville yesterday and was shared by the Mike Azzie-trained On Her Toes and the Nic Claassen-trained Port Elizabeth raider Geepee S.
In a touching moment Azzie and Claassen clasped hands in a joint victory salute while holding their mounts shortly after the result was announced.
Claassen, celebrating his 82nd birthday, was very close to Azzie’s father and grandfather, Herbie and George respectively, who were colleagues of his on the training tracks many years ago.
Azzie recalled how he had once trained a horse called Forest King for “Oom Nic” but the latter took over the horse himself when deciding to come out of retirement and went on to win the Gilbey’s with him at this corresponding meeting in 1985.
The Corinne Bestel-trained She’s A Winner and the Charles Laird-trained Thin Red Line vied for favouritism, starting 28-10 and 3-1 respectively, but the horses drawn towards the inside seemed to travel easier throughout and the pair faded out coming up the hill in the final 400m.
In a ding-dong tussle with Geepee S, On Her Toes fought back at the line and jockey Weichong Marwing thought he had got up but the photo showed that Bernard Fayd’herbe on Geepee S had kept the latter going long enough to share.
Rock Concert finished third ahead of Zirconeum.
Claassen, asked on whether he thought his 25-1 shot had had a chance, replied: “I didn’t bring her here to see the bluegum trees!”, while Azzie said it had been wonderful to share a Grade I win with such a fine gentleman.
On Her Toes, who started at 11-2, is owned by Barry Irwin’s Team Valor in partnership with Vanashree and Anant Singh while Geepee S is owned by Brian Miskin and Albert Rapp in partnership with Claassen himself.
On Her Toes is by Western Winter and was bred by Highlands Farm Stud while Geepee S is by Goldkeeper and was bred by Daytona Stud.
Andrew Fortune Is Back Riding On Wednesday
Andrew Fortune after winning on Double Grand Slam in the Gr 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes on Hollywoodbets Durban July day (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
South Africa’s oldest – or let’s call it most senior – jockey by a country mile, Andrew Fortune makes a welcome return to the saddle at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Wednesday, writes The Sporting Post.
It’s his first meeting since Hollywoodbets Durban July day when he booted Double Grand Slam home in the Ridgemont Gr1 Garden Province Stakes.
The ‘Candyman’ takes four rides at Race Coast’s second Western Cape racemeeting of the month of August on Wednesday and told the Sporting Post on Tuesday evening that he was looking forward to getting back to doing what he enjoys.
“I got back from visiting the family in Australia about three weeks ago and have been riding work at as many yards as I can,” added the 58 year old former national champion who made a glorious return to the saddle five months ago after an eight year absence.
He rode 38 winners last season at a 13,1% win strike rate with 112 places (39,9%), and stakes of close on R6 million.
Asked about his fitness and whether he would ‘need a few runs’ to find his feet, Andrew laughed and said he was probably 2 kgs over his prime but was ‘ready’.
“Look, I have been doing this job long enough. I will be okay!”
The charismatic character was pressed for a highlight of his comeback year.
“Every winner, but riding a Gr1 victory for the Snaiths on Hollywoodbets Durban July day! Who would have thought?”
And the distinction – after the retirement last term of his good mate Piere Strydom – in his senior role as our oldest jockey, and one of only two riders in their fifties, the Capetonian said there was no substitute for experience.
“My battle against the odds to get back to riding is well documented. It’s obviously not easy physically and mentally as one gets older, but as long as I am enjoying it I will continue.”
We asked if the jockey room was a different place today than it was 35 years ago.
“Your parents grew up differently to the way you were raised, or the way your kids grew up. The world is a different place. The jockey room is very different today compared to when I started riding. I’d say it’s better today. There is more respect.”
Pressed for a likely retirement date, Andrew said nothing was cast in stone.
“Maybe I will bid for one more shot at winning the Hollywoodbets Durban July. So one more season. I don’t believe I have much more to prove.”
Dumbledore Back At His Favourite Stamping Ground
Dumbledore has been tipped to win race 7 (Picture: Chase Liebenberg)
Hollywoodbets Durbanville Wednesday Formguides And Selections
RACE 1
5 BEAUTIFUL ONE has been rested for 64 days, she is a lovely looking filly with decent form, if she doesn’t need the run badly on Wednesday, she will go very close to winning. 4 LAYDELAY drifted in the market on debut, but she ran a great race behind Heritage Ridge on the 29th of July, she will love the step up in trip here from a good draw, watch her closely, she will make tons of improvement from her first start into her second start. 10 PLAYFUL JOULES ran a shocker on the 10th of July behind Wish List, she is much better than that poor performance, if she can beat the draw, and bounce back to her best form, she could certainly finish in the money. 8 REDLIGHT LANE is very well bred, jockey Andrew Fortune has been booked to ride this filly for champion trainer Justin Snaith, watch the market and watch her move down to the gates, she could be anything. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 4 – 10 – 8)
RACE 2
8 BALZI ROSSI has been rested for 64 days, he is a lovely colt, he ran a great race behind his stable companion last time from a wide draw, he is still improving with racing, if he doesn’t need the run back from a small break, he will go very close to winning a race like this. 3 GREENCHOICE stayed on nicely for fifth on debut behind Sardinia Bay, he should love the step up in trip, from a decent draw, he could trouble them all in the finish. 2 SIRIANO ran a fair race behind Note To Self on the 22nd of July up the straight at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, he is improving with every start, he should get the run of the race from a good draw, include him into all bets. 4 QUICKSMART finished just over six lengths behind the winner on debut, he is very well bred, watch for good improvement now that he goes around the bend for the first time. (Brandon Bailey: 8 – 3 – 2 – 4)
RACE 3
9 BEACH VERSE has unfortunately drawn wide for this Maiden Plate on Wednesday, she has run two great races in succession, there is no doubt that she will love the step up in trip to 1500m, if she can beat the draw, she will take lots of beating. 12 WAIT FOR ME finished like a train last time behind Wander Dune, she was terribly green early, and then really caught the eye late to finish just over seven lengths behind the winner, watch for further improvement from this filly now that she is trying further. 4 LOUI’S STAR never runs a bad race, she is honest and she tries hard, on her best form, she will have a good place chance again in this field. 10 SPECIAL GLAMOUR will need to improve quite a bit to win this race, if she can build on her recent performances, she could sneak into the Quartet. (Brandon Bailey: 9 – 12 – 4 – 10)
RACE 4
1 WHAT A FORTUNE quickened up in great fashion to win a super race last time, he was given five points for that victory, even though he has gone up in the ratings and the weights, he will be right there in the finish from a good draw. 8 KATSU has been rested for 71 days, he is very consistent, on his best form, he certainly has a good winning chance. 7 CAPTAINS ALLIANCE has been rested for 64 days, he won a terrific race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 24th of June, the yard thinks highly of this colt, if he doesn’t need the run and he can beat the tricky draw, he could have a massive winning chance again. 9 BLIND DATE finished like a rocket to win his maiden in style on the 10th of July, the form of that race has worked out well, he will appreciate the step up in trip, include him into all bets. (Brandon Bailey: 1 – 8 – 7 – 9)
RACE 5
5 PLEASE BE TRUE was very unlucky in his last start behind Captain West, he unfortunately found lots of traffic in the home straight, once the gaps eventually opened up for him, he absolutely took off to run a great second, he is a smart gelding with tons of potential, he will take lots of beating. 8 SAN PEDRO was only beaten just under two lengths by Captain West on the 26th of July, he was well supported in the market with the blinkers fitted, if he can bring that performance to the track again on Wednesday, he will go close. 1 BOOGIEFIED never runs a bad race, he is extremely honest and his form is solid, even though this is a big jump in class for him, he should run a good race from a neat draw. 2 INNAMORARE won a good race at Fairview Racecourse on the 11th of July, he was given three points for that victory, watch him closely, he should be amongst the places. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 8 – 1 – 2)
RACE 6
5 WEHAVEASITUATION finished full of running last time behind Lavender Bay, she was a long way back when they turned for home, and she quickened up smartly to run second, she is very consistent, if she gets the right run in transit in this race, she will be very hard to beat. 9 LAVENDER BAY won a very good race on the 26th of July, she travelled smoothly and she gave a lovely winning kick inside the last 200m, she was given three points for that win, if she can beat the tricky draw, she will be right there in the finish again. 2 LADY SPRINGFIELD ran a much better race behind Elegant Noble on the 15th of July, if she can build on that performance, she will run a cracker from a good draw. 7 TAP SHOES ran a super race last time with the blinkers fitted, she ran third and was only beaten just under one length by Lavender Bay, the blinkers stay on and jockey Aldo Domeyer sticks with this filly, she could be some decent each way value in a tricky race. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 9 – 2 – 7)
RACE 7
8 DUMBLEDORE absolutely loves it here at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, he is way above average with some strong sprinting form, if he can get himself into a good position turning for home, he will be hard to beat. 7 SOHOT SOWHAT has been rested for 81 days, she is a decent filly with lots of ability, she will be switched off early from a tricky draw, but she will be flying at them late, include her into all bets. 2 LEGAL COUNSEL has been rested for 66 days, he won the Breeders Mile very well on the 22nd of June at Hollywoodbets Greyville, even though this trip is on the short side for him, he is a lovely horse with a great action, he could stay on and fill the places with jockey Andrew Fortune in the saddle. 9 LET IT BE SAID has been rested for 113 days, he will need lots of luck in running from a wide draw, but he is packed with class and ability, if he doesn’t need the run badly, he could surprise them all. (Brandon Bailey: 8 – 7 – 2 – 9)
RACE 8
9 MIDWAY ran a great race behind Saint Brigid on the 29th of July, he finished second in a driving finish, he should enjoy the drop in trip to 1400m on Wednesday afternoon, if he can beat the tricky draw early, he will take lots of beating in this race. 4 MELA STRENGTH finished his race off nicely behind Turbo Twenty on the 13th of August, he ran fourth and was only beaten three lengths at the wire, he now gets a good draw, and he gets the services of champion apprentice Brevan Plaatjies, watch him closely, he will run a massive race. 7 ISCHYRO has been rested for 71 days, he has run some decent races of late, even though he can be a tricky ride, he could certainly trouble them all in the finish. 3 OZARK could be the value in this difficult race, he gets a good draw, he has dropped in trip to 1400m, and he continues to slide in the ratings, on his best form, he can win a race like this quite easily. (Brandon Bailey: 9 – 4 – 7 – 3)
What It Takes To Win The Hollywoodbets Durban July
The Real Prince was the first Hollywoodbets Duban July winner the three-times champion sire Gimmethegreenlight had produced
The Hollywoodbets Durban July is always the highlight of the South African horseracing season, but as it is a handicap the winner often doesn’t get an Equus Award.
However, the winner will remain in racing fans’ memory banks forever, so in the season’s aftermath some space should be allocated to this year’s winner The Real Prince as well as to trainer Dean Kannemeyer, jockey Craig Zackey and owner-breeder Lady Christine Laidlaw.
The first ingredients a Hollywoodbets Durban July winner needs is class.
Lady Christine Laidlaw as well as her racing manager Jehan Malherbe and trainer Dean Kannemeyer must all take bows for that score.
Malherbe and Kannemeyer identified The Real Prince’s mother Real Princess (Trippi) and Laidlaw was willing to splash out a Sale-topping R2.7 million to secure her.
She has been a wonderful broodmare, as is well documented, and she was named Equus Champion Broodmare at this year’s awards.
The trio also identified Gimmethegreenlight as the stallion to send Real Princess to and Laidlaw boarded her mares at the top class and professional Varsfontein Stud, where Real Princess and her foals were always going to get the best care money can buy.
The next ingredient for a July winner is to be well handicapped and Kannemeyer and Malherbe ensured that would be the case by putting The Real Prince away afer his eye-catching running on fourth in the Gr 2 IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m.
That decision also included their belief that the horse would stay the 2200m trip of the July and, despite not many pundits agreeing with them on that score, they were ultimately proven correct. Sufficient stamina capacity is a vital ingredient of a Hollywoodbets Durban July winner.
Their decision to not have a race for nearly three months in the build up to the July also entailed the horse having a particularly good trainer and Kannemeyer proved it again by winning his fourth Hollywoodbets Durban July, despite having to get the horse fit enough only through the tracks and facilities of Summerveld and having the official July gallop as the finishing touch.
Luck is one of the biggest ingredients and the first bit of luck for The Real Prince was that he landed a low draw of five, which was going to be a bonus for a horse who had proven speed but was not proven over further than a mile.
He would need to be able to relax from a long way out and that draw gave him a good chance to do so.
It is usually essential to be within striking distance turning into the short 450m straight in the July, because there are no bad horses in the July.
Even with a strong pace, making up a lot of ground on top horses at this course is very difficult as was shown in 1987 when Model Man never looked like catching Bush Telegraph despite an incredible effort to do so.
Even a champion like Dynasty needed to be not more than three lengths back at the top of the straight to catch another champion in Yard-arm.
A horse thus needs adequate gate-speed and early pace.
The Real Prince broke on terms and his early pace proved to be a valuable asset.
Of course an essential ingredient is a good jockey and Craig Zackey made a crucial move early. He eased a touch and was able to dive behind the two horses drawn three and four and he then used The Real Prince’s early pace to secure the rail just behind the horses drawn one and two, Oriental Charm and Madison Valley.
However, the next bit of luck that played out was the slow pace set by Oriental Charm.
Off a faster pace The Real Prince might have been shuffled further back than he wanted to be as Madison Valley is not normally a handy type.
Furthermore, The Real Prince’s sprinting speed was going to be a big asset in the dash for home off this slow pace.
A good temperament is another asset and The Real Prince relaxed beautifully under Zackey, who is known for his good hands.
The jockey and luck play a big part in the straight.
A split second decision must be made on which route to take to the finish and that can be the difference between winning and losing.
The luck factor is that the gaps must open at the right time.
Zackey made the wise decision to switch off the rail coming up the hill towards the straight.
It was going to be important to get a clear run in the relatively short straight off that slow pace and a dream gap opened, allowing Zackey to switch The Real Prince all the way to the outside of the leading vanguard.
He had fresh air in front of him as early as the 400m mark.
The next essential is the horse must have a good turn of foot (acceleration), followed by the ability and courage to stay all the way to the line.
The Real Prince has an exceptional turn of foot and this enabled him to fetch the favourite Eight On Eighteen by the 200m mark.
He then had the resolve and the stamina capacity to see off the fight back of Eight On Eighteen, although the bit that probably played the biggest part in that eventuality was him being well handicapped. He was 2,5kg better off then weight for age with Eight On Eighteen and hence the latter, who was also a three-time Gr 1 winner over 2000m, put in a better performance on paper and was a deserved winner of the Equus Middle Distance Champion award.
When looking at all the factors that are involved in winning the country’s most iconic horse race, it is little wonder that it has the reputation of being an enormously difficult race to win.
Zackey and Moodley Doubles Improve Their Table Positions
Serino Moodley secured a double when winning on the St. John Gray-trained Potala Palace colt Palace Prince (JC Photos)
Craig Zackey and Serino Moodley both rode individual doubles at the Vaal today (Tuesday).
Zackey is one of the favourites for the title and Moodley is the dark horse as he is right near the top and is an ever improving jockey, who is more and more sought after.
Zackey has now joined Muzi Yeni on the top of the table with 15 wins apiece for the season.
His strike rate is 15.79% to Yeni’s 20.27%.
Moodley is just one win behind them and has done it at a strike rate of 20.27%.
Today's Question
Who said, “The weighing room is a cultural desert. This is not a criticism because the ability to recite poetry is bugger all use to you as you sail down to Becher’s.”
Picture: The subject of the question
FIELDS, Wednesday, 27, August
Hollywoodbets Durbanville
Today’s Question Answer
The quote was from Marcus Armytage, a journalist and former National Hunt jockey who won the Grand National as an amateur in 1990, riding Mr Frisk in a record time that has never been bettered.
