Turf Talk Newsletter – 28 July, 2025

King Pelles wins the big one to add to his other three Gr 3 staying race triumphs during the season. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

The Gareth van Zyl-trained Drakenstein Stud-bred four-year-old Duke Of Marmalade gelding King Pelles became the first horse in history to carry 60kg to victory in the country’s premier staying race, the Gr 3 World Pool Gold Cup over 3200m, and yet he went off as the short-priced 5/4 favourite and did not give his supporters many anxious moments.

There have been other topweight winners of this race, such as the David Payne-trained Icona in 1991 and the Anne Upton-trained Furious in 1980, but the topweight back then was 58kg.

King Pelles not only has a seemingly bottomless supply of stamina, but has class as well, because he is able to quicken superbly in the straight.

He had about five lengths to make up in the straight on Sunday and had a wall of horses in front of him and that would have been the only anxious moment his supporters had, because with topweight he suddenly looked to have a bit to do.

Before that he had lobbed along in his usual usual relaxed style.

His supporters were breathing again when a gap opened and would have been confident when S’Manga Khumalo pressed the button as he quickened well and even after having to be switched inward it was clear he was running on best of all.

His finish is resolute and he had reeled in the brave pacemaker Future Swing with  100m to go.

He was being eased at the line when his perennial runner up Holding Thumbs closed to within 1,20 lengths of him.

In recent years both Hermoso Mundo (Ideal World) and Future Pearl (Futura) did the unofficial stayer’s triple crown, by winning the three “Gold” stayer’s races, the Gold Vase over 3200m at Turffontein Standside, the Gold Vase over 3000m at Hollywoodbets Greyille and the Gold Cup over 3200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Those races are all Gr 3s these days, so King Pelles might have upstaged them by winning four Gr 3 races at three different tracks during the season.

Holding Thumbs finished second to him on every one of the four occasions.

King Pelles won the Gr 3 Glorious Goodwood Chairmans Cup over 2500m, the Tote Derby over 2400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, the Gold Vase over 3000m and the Gold Cup on Saturday. The last three wins were done between 14 June and 27 July inclusive, which is a six week space, so Van Zyl did a fine job to have him in such fine shape for each one of the races.

Interestingly all of Hermoso Mundo, Future Pearl and King Pelles each lost a staying race in their victorious season.

In King Pelles’ case he lost by 2,45 lengths to the Justin Snaith-trained Mucho Dinero when finishing fourth in the Gr 3 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m on WSB Met day and interestingly he was receiving 2,5kg from Mucho Dinero, meaning he was 1kg worse off than weight for age with the latter at that time of the year.

Therefore, it was a pity Much Dinero was not sent to KZN for a staying campaign.

Snaith went close in the Gold Cup both last year and this year with Future Swing, beaten 0,90 lengths into fourth last year and 1,80 lengths into third this year, but it remains one of the only big Cape Town or Durban races that continues to elude him.

King Pelles provided a great day out for the owners, the Lucky Vest 12 CC (Nom: Mr Ravi Padayachee), Messrs D D MacLean, G J Player & N V Parmanand. Gary Player was away in Italy, but Ravi Padayachee and friends and family ensured the pink and blue coolours of King Pelles were prevalent on course in support of the horse.

Sean Veale salutes as Gladatorian gives trainer Stuart Ferrie a first Gr 1 victory and outgoing Race Coast CEO Michel Nairac a day to remember (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Those who followed the theory that “fresh” horses run better in the Gr 1 wfa HKJC Champions Cup would have been rueing that decision as form proved a better guide.

A “fresh” horse is regarded as one who did not run in the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

The first two home in the Gr 1 weight for age HKJC Champions Cup on Sunday, Gladatorian and The Real Pince, both ran in the Hollywoodbets Durban July and later on the July runner Rainbow Lorikeet won the Gr 2 Bet With The World Gold Bracelet over 2000m.

Gladatorian and The Real Prince beat home five other horses, all of whom would have fitted into the “fresh” category.

Gladatorian gave Stuart Ferrie a deserved first Gr 1 victory after a perfectly timed charge by Sean Veale.

Ferrie said, “He got into a nice position on the rail in a small field and the pace was honest and even. It opened up nicely for him and he did his normal run on thing.  Sometimes I think he is going to get there and he doesn’t get there, but today he got there, although you never know until the line comes.”

He said about the feeling of winning his first Gr 1, “It’s unbelievable, it is hard to describe.”

He said about the future for Gladatorian, who will be a six-year-old next season, “We obviously might have to think about Cape Town, but we will figure that out.”

The victory capped a memorable day for outgoing Race Coast CEO Michel Nairac. The first race of the day, the Listed Michel Nairac Appreciation Stakes, honoured his more than 20 years at the helm and he later celebrated Gr 1 victory as he is a part-owner of Glaatorian together with Messrs Late Agasthamuni Gujadhur, E G Hart de Keating and M L Jean Hardy.

Gladatorian was the logical form choice in retrospect.

He had already proved he stays 1800m with an impressive win at Hollywoodbets Scotsville over 1750m.

Gladatorian only has one way of running and that is to be left alone from off the pace and produce a late charge and having drawn two in a seven horse field, as opposed to eight in a twelve horse field in the Gold Challenge, he was always likely to have less ground to make up and was also likely to get a clearer run.

Dave The King had looked ominously like the winner approaching the final turn, because unlike the Gold Challenge when boxed in he had led at a slow pace early and this had allowed him to begin his well know long run in from the 800m mark.

However, one disadvantage he had is that opposition know him well now and know that he is not going to come back to the field.

The Real Prince might have been an impressive winner of the Hollywoodbets Durban July and he was equally eyecatching in the IOS Drill Hall Stakes, but he was unexposed over this trip.

Craig Zackey kept Dave The King’s in his sights when the latter began stretching them a long way out, but the Real Prince’s acid test was going to be whether he could make an impression on Dave The King in the straight.

Meanhile, See It Again was enjoying much more luck than he had in the race last year as he had perfect cover from Montien, who was lying one out and one back and Gladatorian was perfectly placed behind The Real Prince on the rail.

To the surprise of a few The Real Prince was soon all over Dave The King and See It Again was proving last year’s run was all wrong, because he was also all over the big horse.

Keagen de Melo used his experience of the tight racing in Hong Kong to keep The Real Prince in.

However, DaveThe King had left just enough room for The Real Prince to sneak through between him and the rail.

It then became clear that The Real Prince, despite hanging outward, had the measure of See It Again.

However, Gladatorian, as usual got into top gear at the 200m mark and was making inroads.

A deft change of whiphand by Sean Veale as close to home as the 50m mark might well have been the difference between victory and defeat as Gladatorian found an extra gear surged past the three-year-old The Real Prince to win by 0,40 lengths with See It Again a further 1,20 lengths back.

Fire Attack was another closer who relished the fast pace in the latter half of the race and he ran on strongly to be beaten just 2,35 lengths.

Dave The King was beaten 2,95 lengths into fifth.

Gladatorian boosted the champion sire Vercingetorix’s earnings to over R38 million, which is a new SA record.

Princess Of Gaul becomes Vercingetorix’s 23rd stakes winner of the season, a South African record. (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Vercingetorix is no longer just the King Of The Sales Ring, but also the King Of The Racetrack, because in landing his first national stallion championships he has smashed the record earnings of R30,623,225 (restricted races excluded) that Gimmethegreenlight set last season.

The Maine Chance Farms-based Vercingetorix’s earnings to date this season are R38,358,456 (restricted races excluded).

Vercingetorix has also smashed the record for number of individual stakes winners in a season.

The Dean Kannemeyer-trained Clive Murphy-bred Fred Crabbia-owned Princess Of Gaul’s win in the Gr 2 World Pool with Race Coast Debutante  saw Vercingetorix’s number of stakes wins for the season end on 23 and between them they have won 33 stakes races.

Gladatorian became Vercingetorix’s 13th Gr 1 winner.

However, on Sunday Vecingetorix was upstaged by Master Of My Fate.

The latter was responsible for both Gr 1 juvenile winners on the day, the Alan Greeff-trained Golden Palm and the Mike de Kock-trained Jan van Goyen, who won the Douglas Whye Stakes and the World Pool Moment Of The Day Champion Stakes respectively, both over 1600m.

They were ridden by Richard Fourie and Callan Murray respectively, and both  showed why they are held in such high regard by their respective stables. 

They both impressed as horses with big classic race futures, especially Golden Palm, whom Fourie rode with extreme confidence.

Master Of My Fate ends the season in third place on the national log behind the two big guns Vercingetorix and Gimmethegreenlight.

Interestingly, Vercingetorix is by the six-times national champion stallion Silvano, while Master Of My Fate is by the seven-times national champion stallion Jet Master.

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Picture: A joyous moment for the Alan Greeff yard after Golden Palm had won the Gr 1 Douglas Whyte Stakes. (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Alan Greeff’s incedible season will surely be honoured in some way at the Equus Awards, perhaps through a Special Achievement Award.

Greeff, despite being from the perceived lesser racing centre of Gqeberha, has the three best two-year-old fillies in the country, among other stalwarts.

He has raided Hollywoodbets Kenilworth four times this season and whilst unsuccessful with crack three-year-old filly Splicethemainbrace (Master Of My Fate) and with two-year-old filly Silva City (Global View), he finished fifth in a Gr 3 with four-year-old filly Joy And Peace and later won the Gr 3 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery Stakes with the hitherto unbeaten Canford Cliffs filly Direct Hit, who is a homebred of Ridgemont’s and is also part-owned by Devin Heffer.

Greeff later raided Hollywoodbets Scottsville with Direct Hit and won the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m, although on the same day his four-year-old gelding Fairy Night (Global View) finished unplaced in the Gr 2 Golden Horse Sprint.

Earlier, Greeff had raided Turffontein Standside with the Varsfontein Stud-bred Peter Moor-owned Master Of My Fate filly Golden Palm and won the Gr 2 SA Fillies Nursery over 1160m by 2,30 lengths.

Greeff then had the East Cape’s first Hollywoodbets Durban July runner since the Gavin Smith-trained Shoes Of Silver in 2004 and although his three-year-old runner My Best Shot finished a 9,60 length twelfth he had a Gr 2 winner on the day when his unbeaten filly Anotherdanceforme, who is the only horse to date to have beaten Golden Palm, ran out a 1,40 length victor in the Splashout Golden Slipper over 1400m. Anotherdanceforme is also a Varsontein Stud-bred by Master Of My Fate and is also owned by Peter Moor.

Greeff was back for World Pool Gold Cup day on Sunday and Golden Palm proved herself the likely Equus Champion two-year-old filly by winning the Gr 1 Douglas Whyte Stakes over 1600m by an effortless 2,80 lengths.

Greeff and Richard Fourie had thus made history by winning all three legs of the unofficial KZN two-year-old fillies Triple Tiara and in unprecedented fashion they had done it with three different fillies.

Greeff also had a runner in the Gold Cup, but Bournemouth (Canford Cliffs) was beaten 12,60 lengths into tenth place.

Anotherdanceforme is unbeaten in five starts and besides her raiding win also won the Listed East Cape Fillies Nursery over 1200m by 5,25 lengths and the Listed WSB Dahlia Plate over 1200m at Fairview by 3,25 lengths.

Direct Hit is unbeaten in four starts and besides her two raiding wins she also won the Listed East Cape Nursery against the boys by 4,75 lengths.

Golden Palm lost to Anotherdanceforme by 2,35 lengths over 1000m on debut and has since then been unbeaten in four further starts. Sandwiched between her SA Fillies Nursery win and Douglas Whyte Stakes win was a ten length victory in the Listed Lady’s Slipper Stakes over 1400m at Fairview.

Greeff has all in all had 170 wins in the season, one more to date than national champion trainer Justin Snaith, and he has earnings of R16,202,596 (excluding restricted races), which puts him in second place on the national log.

In the East Cape he had 165 wins, which is just eleven short of his East Cape record mark of 176.

Picture: Buffalo Storm Cody storms to victory in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint. (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Cape Breeders

Wilgerbosdrift exciting young sire Buffalo Bill Cody made headlines at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

The son of Redoute’s Choice came up with his first G1 winner when his son Buffalo Storm Cody won the G1 Mercury Sprint (1200m).

Trained by Tony Peter, three-year-old Buffalo Storm Cody (who hails from his sire’s small first crop) made it four wins from his last five starts with a fluent performance in Sunday’s R1 000 000 contest.

Under a positive ride from Gavin Lerena, Buffalo Storm Cody powered home to land his biggest win to date by more than a length and a half.

Bred by Narrow Creek Stud, Buffalo Storm Cody has won five of 12 starts, including this season’s Mythical Flight Sprint.

Buffalo Storm Cody, who is out of the Trippi mare Musical Romance, races for Kestorm Investments.

The three-year-old was a R410 000 buy from the 2023 Cape Yearling Sale.

His sire Buffalo Bill Cody also looks to have a very promising two-year-old to his name in the form of Rifle Queen. The latter made a big impression when she made a winning debut at Turffontein on Saturday.

Rifle Queen is the fourth two-year-old winner this season for Buffalo Bill Cody.

A son of legendary stallion Redoute’s Choice, Buffalo Bill Cody has two lots on offer at the August Two Year Old Sale.

Du Maurier has been tipped to win the fifth race (Picture: Chase Liebenberg)

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Tuesday Formguides And Selections

Race 1

7 SAUDI CAT won very impressively on debut, even though the market suggested that he may need the run, he quickened away from his field like a smart horse, he will take lots of beating again. 3 ALL THE RAGE ran a cracker over 1500m last time, he ran third behind Roland Garros in a tight finish, the yard thinks highly of this individual, now that he is back up the straight again at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, he could certainly trouble them all in the finish. 2 DEMANDING DAVE has been rested for 86 days, he finished like a train in the Grade 3 Winter Nursery on the 4th of May, his form is very good, if he doesn’t need the run badly, he will have a good place chance in this field. 5 SPIRIT won a good race on the 12th of June, it was his first run back after gelding, and he finished strongly to win going away at the line, he is clearly still improving, watch him closely. (Brandon Bailey: 7 – 3 – 2 – 5)

Race 2

2 SWIFT SERENITY has shown good improvement with every run, she was just off the speed early last time, and then stayed on nicely for third behind Stormwatch, this doesn’t look to be the strongest race on paper, if she can build on her recent performance, she will have a massive winning chance here. 4 ALESSIA ASHEVILLE has been rested for 125 days, she has run two very good races in succession from wide draws at Hollywoodbets Durbanville, if she doesn’t need the run badly on Tuesday, she will have a big winning chance at a decent price. 3 HERITAGE RIDGE ran a fair race on the 12th of June behind Clair De Lune, she has been well tried in the maiden ranks, her form is consistent, she must have a good place chance in this field. 7 PENNY’S CHOICE disappointed terribly on the 17th of June, she was very one paced, the blinkers have now been fitted, hopefully that will help her improve. (Brandon Bailey: 2 – 4 – 3 – 7)

Race 3

2 SIERRA SAGRADA was a touch unlucky in his last start behind Dricus, it was his first run back after gelding, he really caught the eye late when running on powerfully from a long way back, he will take lots of beating in this field from a good draw. 3 RED WAVE has been rested for 69 days, he ran a terrific race over 1000m last time behind Three Tigers, he now steps up in trip and he gets a neat draw, watch him closely. 1 GETUPANDGO has been rested for 65 days, he will need to improve quite a bit to win, he is definitely better than what his form is showing, watch for major improvement now that he steps up in trip. 7 GREEN COMMANDER ran a shocker on the 12th of June behind Late December, perhaps the step up in trip will help him improve. (Brandon Bailey: 2 – 3 – 1 – 7)

Race 4

5 GIMMELIGHTNING has run two lovely races in succession behind progressive sorts, he enjoys the underfoot conditions being on the softer side, he will be switched off early, and he will come with a strong run late, include him into all bets. 1 SURGE OF POWER bounced back to form last time, he won a super race on the 1st of June, he has always been a talented sprinter, he was given two points for that gutsy victory, if he can back that performance up on Tuesday, he will go very close to winning. 4 SCOTTISH KISS must have a good each way chance here, he ran a nice race on the 1st of June behind Boogiefied over 1400m, if the drop in trip doesn’t worry him, he will be right there in the finish. 3 MAURITIUS KESTREL gets the tongue tie fitted on Tuesday afternoon, he is very consistent and he has dropped in the ratings, watch him closely. (Brandon Bailey: 5 – 1 – 4 – 3)

Race 5

9 DU MAURIER won her maiden in stylish fashion on the 24th of June up the straight at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, she travelled beautifully in her race, and then quickened away from the field to win convincingly, she is a young filly with lots of potential, there is absolutely no doubt that she will go very close to winning again. 11 ROSA OSIRIA ran a lovely race last time behind Over The Atlantic, she fought hard all the way to the line, she never really runs a bad race, if she can bring her last performance to the track again on Tuesday, she will be very competitive. 7 GOLDEN TATJANA ran a shocker behind Pink Pigeon on the 12th of June, she is much better than that, she has dropped even further in the ratings, and she gets the services of leading jockey Gavin Lerena, she could be the value in this tricky looking race. 1 GOLDEN IDEAL has run some fair races in her career, top jockey Richard Fourie gets the ride on this filly, on her best form, she will have a good winning chance. (Brandon Bailey: 9 – 11 – 7 – 1)

Race 6

3 KING’S QUEST won really well on the 24th of June at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, he was given four points for that impressive victory, again he gets a good draw, he must have a good winning chance in this field. 2 AFRIQUE ran second to King’s Quest last time, he was doing some good work late, now that he is better off at the weights, he must have an obvious winning chance, include him into all bets. 6 BEL CANTO DREAM ran a good race in testing conditions on the 17th of June, he was just off the speed early, and then stayed on well enough to finish just over four lengths behind the winner, even though he carries a big weight on Tuesday, he should be amongst the places on his best form. 5 SHOW OFF had no luck in running from a wide draw last time, he still managed to run a decent race behind King’s Quest, now that he gets a decent draw, he certainly can be very dangerous in the finish. (Brandon Bailey: 3 – 2 – 6 – 5)

Race 7

4 STATE CAPITOL moved up like a winner in her last start behind Baton Rouge, her form of late has been excellent, if this race hasn’t come too soon for her, she will take lots of beating. 5 MIDWAY found solid support in the market on the 17th of June, he was given a great ride by jockey Luyolo Mxothwa to win a gutsy race, it was a deserved victory for this gelding, he was given two points for that win, on his current form, he can certainly win again. 2 SAINT BRIGID stayed on well for third behind Music Of The Night on the 21st of June up the straight at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, she is consistent, and this does look to be a better trip for her, she will be running on strongly. 10 MELA STRENGTH never runs a bad race, unfortunately the wide draw and the big weight won’t make life easy for him, if he gets some luck in running, he could sneak into the Quartet. (Brandon Bailey: 4 – 5 – 2 – 10)

Which SA Nursery, Benoni Guineas and SA Derby winner wemt on to become the first SA-bred horse to be champion sire?

The picture is of the subject