Turf Talk Newsletter – 28 January, 2026

Silent Witness was so adored that even the officials were taken by surprise the day he scored his 17th win in a row unbeaten, which was at the time a modern world record that eclipsed the feat of the 16 unbeaten wins of Ribot, as a rush for souvenirs caused at least 21 people to have to be treated for injury on course (Picture: HKJC)

Felix Coetzee said in an interview with Turf Talk he was “comfortable” with Ka Ying Rising equaling the successive wins record of Silent Witness.

Felix said, “Kaying Rising is an absolutely brilliant horse and you want to see great horses coming through all the time.  I don’t feel any sense of loss that the record is equaled or going to be broken, because to me it is more about the individual. I had so many amazing experiences with Silent Witness both in racing and  in track work. He was an awesome character. He had enormous presence and there are the memories of the support he got from the people and the crowds on  course. I have just got wonderful, wonderful memories of Silent Witness.”

Ka Ying Rising equaled the 17-in-row record of Silent Witness when he won the Gr 1 Centenary Sprint Cup over 1200m on Sunday.

That made his overall career record 18 wins and two seconds in 20 starts.

Ka Ying Rising won on debut over 1200m at Sha Tin by 2,75 lengths, but then lost his next two starts over the same course and distance by a nose and a shorthead respectively, both in class 3 events.

However, he has never looked back and has won his next 17 starts, including seven Gr 1s and those seven include two Hong Kong Sprints and the Everest in Australia, which is the world’s richest turf race. He has earnings of HK$129,855,900.

Silent Witness won eight Gr 1s, including two Hong Kong Sprints and the Sprinters Stakes in Japan, and had earnings of HKD$62,496,396.

However, his one up on Ka Ying Rising is he was still unbeaten when getting his 17-in-a-row.

There is also little doubt the adulation he received was greater than that which Ka Ying Rising receives.

Felix said about the level of adulation Silent Witness received, “We were watching back some films the other day, and wow, if you see the crowd! Without any bias it is my feeling he received greater adulation. You see it was also during SARS time and they sort of called him a symbol of hope, but take nothing away from Ka Ying Rising, he is a phenomenal horse.”

Felix said both of the superstars had similar racing styles, possessing the ability to win it at the start with their gatespeed and early speed, but at the same time being versatile because if did not pan out that way they were quite comfortable coming from off the pace.

WSB’s Racing Manager Steve Karam hosted Piere Strydom and Andrew Fortune in a discussion about all of the races on WSB Met day.

It is well worth watching the two riding legends going through the card and offering their insight.

Click here to watch the panel discussion

Rafa Bay has been tipped to win the headliner (JC Photos)

The highest rated race at the Vaal Classic track meeting on Thursday is the fifth race, a MR 104 Handicap over 1000m, and the one to beat could be Rafa Bay.

The Tony Peter-trained Rafeef gelding has been ultra consistent lately with two wins, three seconds and two thirds in his last eight starts. He was 1,25 lengths back in second last time over 1000m on the Vaal straight course and has the highest draw of all in this race. High draws are favourable over this course and distance, which is down the straight, and Rafa Bay has proved up to his current merit rating of 89 and should go close under 4kg claimer Blaine Marx-Jacobson, even if he does have to carry 1,5kg overweight. That will mean he will only have to carry 50kg. He has run once over this course and distance before and he finished a close third. African Pride has a lot of pace too and should go close from a nice draw of eight. Karate Kid will enjoy the likely strong pace of this race and should be finishing strongly as usual. Night Bomber might prefer 1200m but has consistent form and could earn. Cosmic Star went close in a Gr 3 over 1160m in his penultimate start and was not disgraced last time in a Gr 3 over 1000m, so he is also a contender.

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1800m Catfish has finished second in both starts and on both occasions it was to a well-bred promising sort, so he looks the one to beat, although he does have an unfavourable low draw of two. Buffalo King Cody has just a longhead to find on Catfish and looks to have plenty of scope for improvement so will be a big threat, although he is also drawn on the wrong side in barrier position three. Time Is Precious made a good debut and has a chance too, but is also drawn on the wrong side in one. First-timer Perfect Sky is beautifully bred being by Vercingetorix out of a Captain Al half-sister to the champion sprint-miler Princess Victoria and with Craig Zackey up he is an interesting runner from a nice draw of six. Two Tigers is by Flower Alley out of a once-winning Captain Al mare and Calvin Habib is up.

In the second leg of the Pick 6 over 1000m Rock Music is improving and over an ideal trip is drawn nice and high and has a 4kg claimer up, so looks the one to beat. Treasure State made a good debut and can be involved if able to overcome the low draw of one. King Redoute is well-brd being by Rafeef out of Var mare She’s A Pippa, who won four times including a Listed race over 2000m, so the betting on him must be watched.

In the fifth sixth over 2000m Repetition has gone close in his last two over this trip and should be right there again from a middle draw of six under Ryan Munger. Jordan will relish the course and distance and off a three point higher merit rating than his last winning mark he could go close from a plum draw of three. Gimmeachoice went close last time and can reverse form with The Playboy Bomber, especially considering he will enjoy the 200m step up in trip. The Playboy Bomber is in good form and having enjoyed the step up to 1800m he should relish the step up to 2000m and he should be right there, despite a five point higher mark for that last win. Storm Ahead is always capable of popping up.

In the seventh over 1600m Agoge caught the eye with his maiden win over this trip and his subsequent run in a Gr 3 at least showed how well he is regarded, although he did finish a 12,25 length last. He was slowly away in that race and he can bounce back in this race, despite a tricky draw of seven, as this is a much easier task. Peace Treaty is in good form and should be in the shake up from a fair draw of five. Carnelo is four points higher for his last win but has a plum draw here and should be right there. Express Yourself was well beaten by Carnelo last time, but now has a much better draw, draw four compared to draw eight last time and he can bounce back. Unsolved Riddle is drawn in pole and has the form to earn with a 2,5kg claimer up.

In the last race over 1200m African Prince had some decent Cape Town form and after a good Highveld debut should take a power of beating from draw two under Muzi Yeni. Kwagga Blitz has the form to be in the shake up. Drivelikeamaster is knocking on the door and still has scope for improvement and he is well drawn, but the drop in trip might not suit. Antonio Gaudi has a fair draw and was not disgraced off this mark last time after being raised three points for a win. Vibe SA has ability and could bounce back from a pole position draw.

In the first race over 1000m El Zani is a first-timer by Hawwaam out of a four-time winning Captain Al mare and she would not have to be a superstar to beat the raced runners. Power Of Tiger is knocking on the door and should be right there. Varachino’s Champ could be a contender in this line up.

In the second race over 1000m Secretary Bird is by Rafeef and is a full-sister to the promising Tintin, so is the one to beat although she is drawn on the low side. No Drama has shown ability and should be in the shake up. Versatility will be a threat from a nice high draw.

The Alyson Wright-trained Professor Lupin gives Keagan de Melo a treble (JC Photos)

Keagan de Melo scored a treble on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly today and although he is too far back in the national championship he has already put himself in contention for the KZN championship.

Calvin Habib rode a double for Wendy Whitehead to go third in the national championship, while Whitehead’s double took her into third place in the KZN trainers championship.

De Melo is now on 30 wins for the season and has done it at a strike rate of 16.67%.

He has had 19 of those wins in KZN and that puts him just 17 wins off the pace set by Serino Moodley, who 36 wins is four in front of Tristan Godden.

Moodley has just returned from a six-and-a-half week layoff for injury.

Habib is on 76 wins for the season at 12.12% and goes one ahead of Yeni and three ahead of Callan Murray in the tussle for third place on the national log.

Whitehead is on 18 wins at 9.42%.

All of her wins have been in KZN and she is in third place on the KZN log behind the joint leaders Gareth van Zyl and Alyson Wright, who are both on 27 wins in KZN.

Stanley Amos, Cookie Amos, Champion Trainer Syd Garret and Freddie Hayman pictured with the great twice Met winner Moonlit, whom Stanley rode to his second Met victory in which he carried 145 lbs (65kg)

A race that has been run for 164 years is bound to become more than just a list of winners.

The Cape Metropolitan Stakes, now known as the Grade 1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met, has lived through different eras, adapted as the sport has changed, and along the way has gathered a treasure trove of stories that go far beyond what’s written in the record books.

Some of those stories are well known and often retold. Others survive only in memory – in the recollections of people who were there, or in the kind of anecdotes that get passed around racing circles over time.

Over the years, a few of these have been quietly collected and held onto.

With the 165th renewal of the great race just around the corner, this is a chance to dust them off and revisit some of those moments – stories of Met legends from across the ages.

Click here to read the whole story by Charl Pretorius

What was the great Moonlit called by Syd Garrett’s grooms?

The picture is of the subject