The Cambridgeshire is one of the biggest flat racing betting heats in England and tomorrow 35 runners will face the starter on the Rowley Mile (off time 16H40 SA time) (Picture: Irish Sun).
Greg Cheyne Rides In Tomorrow’s Cambridgeshire (Saturday)
It is difficult to break through in the U.K. and this is highlighted by Greg Cheyne’s seven winners, including a big Heritage Handicap at the York Ebor meeting, coming at a high strike rate of 18% and yet his booked rides amount to one today (Friday), one tomorrow (Saturday) and one on Sunday.
His ride tomorrow is in the famous Cambridgeshire handicap, which together with the Cesarewitch in two weeks time, makes up what is known as “The Autumn Double”.
Cheyne gets the ride on the Peter Chapple-Hyam-trained long shot Sayf Al Dawla, a five-year-old Frankel gelding who has won two turf races in seven career starts, five of which have been on turf.
Both of his wins were over a mile and two furlongs.
The Cambridgeshire is run over a mile and one furlong on the Rowley Mile and 35 horses will face the starter.
The race was established in 1839 and is a big betting event.
One of the most famous gambles landed was by the Sir Mark Prescott-trained Pasternak in 1997.
The horse was owned by a syndicate who included the founding editor of The Racing Post, Graham Rock, and Pasternak was aimed at just two races the whole season, the John Smith’s Magnet Cup at York and the Cambridgeshire.
He duly won the Magnet Cup.
On the morning of the Cambridgeshire a famous Racing Post headline, obviously inspired by the transparent editor Graham Rock’s association with the horse, proclaimed: ‘Why you must back Pasternak’.
Twenty-four hours before the big race he was on offer at 12-1, but the headline sparked a massive countrywide gamble that saw him backed down to 4-1.
Pasternak fended off stable companion Rudimentary to win by three-quarters-of-a-length and was reported to have cost the betting industry £5 million, one of the most successful gambles in recent times.
Tomorrow’s renewal is off at 16H40 SA time.
The stake cheque earned by the winner is £103,080.
WSB Cape Town Met Theme Unveiled – Cape Splendour
The WSB Cape Town Met theme, Cape Splendour (see above), will be welcomed by fashion afficionados as well as everyday racegoers as it has rich cultural connotations and should see creativity reaching high levels.
Watch the promo video below:
Puerto Manzano winning last year’s Betway Summer Cup (Picture: Candiese Lenferna).
2023 Betway Summer Cup – First Entries
4Racing Media Release
A total of 40 entries, headed by defending champion Puerto Manzano (ARG) and Hollywoodbets Durban July champion Winchester Mansion, were received on Wednesday for the R5 million Gr1 Betway Summer Cup.
The 2023 Betway Summer Cup is the flagship of the Highveld season and is set to take place at Turffontein Racecourse on Saturday, 25 November 2023.
Defending champion Puerto Manzano (ARG) heads the line-up. The 6yo son of Seek Again made his seasonal debut in the Betway Get Way More Pinnacle Stakes at Turffontein on 16 September, conceding a welterweight 12kgs to finish 2.25lengths second under regular big race rider, Gavin Lerena. Puerto Manzano (ARG) is trained by Johan Janse van Vuuren and races in the well-known silks of Messrs J F & L M F Wernars & Mrs T J Wernars.
He is joined by Hollywoodbets Durban July hero, Winchester Mansion, owned and bred by Drakenstein Stud and trained by Brett Crawford.
Other Gr1 winners include Anfields Rocket (WSB SA Classic, 2023), Bless My Stars (Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic, 2023), Safe Passage (Daily News 2000, 2022), Aragosta (SA Derby, 2022), Son Of Raj (SA Derby 2023) and Cousin Casey (Premiers Champion Stakes, 2022).
Of particular interest is Cousin Casey. The son of Vercingetorix was named Champion Two-Year-Old Colt in 2022 and has recently joined the Sean Tarry string at Randjesfontein. Tarry has nominated five runners and could have a strong hand with the likes of Cousin Casey, Bless My Stars, Litigation, Nebraas and talented stayer Future Pearl.
Mike de Kock has nine Summer Cup titles to his name, but has not won the race since Flirtation’s victory in 2010. He fields seven entries – Safe Passage, Aragosta, Dave The King, East Coast, Shoemaker, Union Square and up-and-coming Trois Trois Quatre. Safe Passage may have been a touch unlucky in last year’s race when finishing a 0.50-length second to Puerto Manzano. If he regains his best form, the Silvano gelding will be a massive runner.
First Entries: 11:00 Wednesday, 27 September
Second Entries: 11:00 Tuesday, 31 October 2023
Final Entries: 9:00 Monday, 13 November 2023
Weights: Monday, 13 November 2023
Declarations: 11 Wednesday, 15 November 2023
Barrier Draws will be conducted at a Betway event on 15 November 2023.
R5 000 000 2000m (Standside Track)
BETWAY SUMMER CUP (Grade 1)
First Entries:
ANFIELDS ROCKET (G J Maroun)
ARAGOSTA (M F De Kock)
ARUMUGAM (W H Marwing)
ATTICUS FINCH (A G Laird)
BILLY BOWLEGS (B Crawford)
BINGWA (J J van Vuuren)
BLESS MY STARS (S G Tarry)
BRAVE VIKING (J A Soma)
COUSIN CASEY (S G Tarry)
CRIMSON KING (B Crawford)
DAVE THE KING (M F De Kock)
EAST COAST (M F De Kock)
ELECTRIC GOLD (A P Peter)
EYE OF THE PROPHET (P F Matchett)
FLYING BULL (A P Peter)
FUTURE PEARL (S G Tarry)
HOEDSPRUIT (K Mitchley)
INFINITE WONDER (P F Matchett)
LADY OF POWER (M/A Azzie)
LITIGATION (S G Tarry)
MERIDIUS (A P Peter)
NEBRAAS (S G Tarry)
PUERTO MANZANO (J J van Vuuren)
RIVER ROMEO (P F Matchett)
ROYAL GUIDE (A G Laird)
RULE BY FORCE (J A Soma)
RUNAWAY SONG (D Kannemeyer)
SAFE PASSAGE (M F De Kock)
SAVANNAH STORM (P/J Vermeulen)
SAY YES (A P Peter)
SECOND BASE (R Klaasen)
SHOEMAKER (M F De Kock)
SOLAR POWER (B Crawford)
SON OF RAJ (W H Marwing)
STAR COIN (A G Laird)
STREET ART (A P Peter)
TROIS TROIS QUATRE (M F De Kock)
UNION SQUARE (M F De Kock)
WINCHESTER MANSION (B Crawford)
ZEUS (F P Habib)
Betway ante post betting is now open
Betway Summer Cup Ante-Post Betting
Hopefully the rain will stay away allowing a big crowd to enjoy another festive meeting at Hollywoodbets Durbanville tomorrow (Picture: Cape Racing)
Hollywoodbets Durbanville Matchem Stakes Meeting Up In The Air
Cape Racing
“If we raced today (Friday) it would be all systems go. But we must caution that we are unable to give a 100% green light for Saturday’s race meeting at this stage, in view of the 10mm of rain forecast overnight. If we do indeed receive that precipitation, it could be the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back,” he lamented.
Read the full article here:
Jim Crowley and Hukum make a great team (Picture via Great British Racing meta page).
Inseparable duo Crowley and Hukum seek crowning success in Arc
France24.com
Paris (AFP) – Jim Crowley would not “swap” his ride on Hukum for any of his 14 rivals in the “world’s most prestigious flat race”, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, he told AFP.
Hooked — Jim Crowley told AFP no matter the offer he would stick with Hukum for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe having ridden him in all 17 of his races.
The 45-year-old English jockey is as seasoned a campaigner as Hukum, who he has ridden in all 17 of his races, finishing outside the first four on only two occasions.
Hukum would be the first six-year-old to win the race and the oldest since seven-year-old Motrico in 1932.
After being injured after winning the Coronation Cup in 2022, Hukum returned this year to add two more Group 1 races to his laurels, The Lockinge Stakes and, under an inspired ride by Crowley, The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
That race cost Crowley a 20-day ban for overuse of the whip as he fought out a thrilling duel with Rob Hornby on Westover, who also features on Sunday at Longchamp.
“I respect the opposition but in all honesty I would not be swapping him for another horse in the race,” he told AFP.
“He ticks all the boxes, there are no negatives.
“Some people think he is not quite good enough, perhaps because he has not won a classic, but he has proved them wrong in his last three starts. He stays very well and has a turn of foot.”
Crowley, who was champion jockey in 2016, experienced the low of finishing last in the 2022 Arc which took place in torrential rain.
This time round the sun is forecast to shine and he expects to be involved in the business end as well as having Westover on his shoulder again.
‘Arc is THE race’
He also likes the French Derby winner Ace Impact, although it will be the first time the three-year-old will take on older horses.
“He (Hukum) is a character, absolutely, in a good way,” said Crowley, whose one concern will be being drawn on the wide outside, 14 of 15.
“He is a very tough, genuine horse, he gives his all. I don’t fear anything but I fully respect Westover.
“Ace Impact is very good but he is entering deep waters, he is in with the big boys now. It is a step up for him.
“There are plenty of good horses which is what it should be but there have been Arcs in the past won by horses who no one ever expected to be contenders. It pays to respect all the opposition.”
Crowley is full of praise also for Hukum’s trainer Owen Burrows, who like him is a former jumps jockey.
“What a way to showcase your talent!” said Crowley.
“Hukum has felt even better than before he was injured.”
Crowley has won many prestigious races since he made the move to switch to the flat from the jumps in 2004 despite “9 out of 10” people telling him he would not make it.
“I had a little bit of an ‘Up yours’ attitude,” he said.
“I had one eye on training in the future and I thought it would be valuable experience to learn.”
Crowley concedes the “camaraderie of the jumps jockey weighing room” is better.
“At the time I thought flat racing is for sissies,” said Crowley.
However, given the passage of time his opinion has changed.
“Now I am washing in different water,” he says laughing.
The water may turn into champagne should he and Hukum pass the post first on Sunday in front of around 30,000 spectators.
“The Arc is THE race, I mean for any jockey,” he said.
“Every jockey wants to win the world’s most prestigious flat race in the world. It would be great to win it.”
Stunning Klawervlei Filly Has A Champion’s Pedigree
The above Klawervlei Stud-bred filly is by dual Gr 1 winner Vercingetorix out of dual Gr 1 winner Thunder Dance.
Vercingetorix is by six times national champion sire Silvano and Thunder Dance is by seven times national champion sire Jet Master.
A mating of champions and the filly has the looks to match!
River Tiber has been selected to win the Gr 1 Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (Picture via IrishRacing.com meta page).
Newmarket Group 1 Meeting Saturday Formguides And Selections
At The Races
1 2:50 PM – Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes (Group 2)
A quality renewal with several of these holding Group 1 aspirations in the near future. Capulet was only narrowly beaten by a highly-touted stablemate in Group 2 company at Leopardstown last time and has strong claims once again with the promise of more to come. However, slight preference is for AABLAN, who shapes like this step up to a mile will really suit. The son of Dubawi has looked very professional in winning both his starts so far and he can take this on route to bigger things. The unbeaten Ghostwriter has also been impressive in his two outings to date and the son of Invincible Spirit is no back number.
Top Tip: AABLAN (1)
Watch out for: CAPULET (4)
2 3:25 PM – Juddmonte Cheveley Park Stakes (Fillies’ Group 1)
It is very hard to get away from RELIEF RALLY, who has looked better with each run and has won four out of five, despite things not really falling right on a couple of occasions. The stiff finish will almost certainly play to the daughter of Kodiac’s strengths and she looks sure to run a huge race. Jasna’s Secret is a fascinating contender over from France having won with ease on both starts to date and any strong market move would need noting. Persian Dreamer and Cherry Blossom both remain on an upward curve and could push the principals all the way in what looks a cracking renewal.
Top Tip: RELIEF RALLY (8)
Watch out for: JASNA’S SECRET (3)
3 4:00 PM – Juddmonte Middle Park Stakes (Group 1)
Vandeek got the better of RIVER TIBER in the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville last month but there are strong reasons to believe that form can be turned around here. River Tiber had an interrupted preparation for that race, having previously won the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, and the son of Wootton Bassett also didn’t look entirely at ease on the very soft ground at Deauville. Back on a much better surface, Aidan O’Brien’s charge can turn the tables on Vandeek and get back to winning ways. Jasour was well-held when eighth in that same race in France but maybe the ground was also an issue for him and he could bounce back. The unbeaten Task Force could take another step forward.
Top Tip: RIVER TIBER (5)
Watch out for: VANDEEK (9)
4 4:40 PM – bet365 Cambridgeshire (Heritage Handicap)
A typically-competitive renewal sees a chance taken on the stand out GREEK ORDER, who arrives here seeking a hat-trick after wins at Haydock and most recently at Newbury. Harry and Roger Charlton’s charge did plenty wrong despite bolting up by more than four lengths over 1m2f at the latter venue, where he raced keenly and plenty of improvement can be expected. This son of Kingman has been raised 10lb for that success but with the second Maximilian Caesar subsequently franking the form, he could defy that burden to complete the hat-trick. Fellow last-time-out winner Dual Identity isn’t ruled out of overcoming his 8lb rise after a four-and-a-half-length win over 1m2f at Sandown, while Oviedo (second) is on slightly better terms with his last-time-out conqueror Astro King and could reverse that form.
Top Tip: GREEK ORDER (23)
Watch out for: DUAL IDENTITY (15)
5 5:15 PM – Blandford Bloodstock Maiden Fillies’ Stakes (GBB Race)
Better can be expected of STRUTTING, who raced greenly on debut over 1m at Sandown earlier this month and she is fancied to take big strides forward today. This daughter of Frankel cost 425,000gns so better can be expected of a filly from powerful connections and that experience won’t have been lost on her. Islanova is one of the more interesting debutants for Sir Michael Stoute, whose debutants always warrant a closer look, and the services of Ryan Moore are a major positive, while Chorus is also respected.
Top Tip: STRUTTING (18)
Watch out for: ISLANOVA (6)
6 5:50 PM – British Stallion Studs EBF ‘Jersey Lily’ Fillies’ Nursery
Wild Goddess drops in class after coming home sixth in the Group 3 Sweet Solera Stakes last time out and, with the Charlie Appleby string in better form recently, she could go well despite top-weight. Whether she can successfully give 10lb to SHIN JIDAI is another question. The 7f maiden winner weakened to finish third over 1m at Thirsk latest and, now dropped in trip, she may have a lot more to offer. Falling For You and Miss Information are others to consider in a highly-competitive renewal.
Top Tip: SHIN JIDAI (8)
Watch out for: WILD GODDESS (1)
7 6:25 PM – Lope Y Fernandez First Foals 2023 Handicap
Three-year-olds get a 3lb age allowance here and that may tip the scales in the favour of Andrew Balding’s GLENFINNAN. Put up 6lb for a win at Ascot last time out, he was value for more than the official margin of half a length suggests and may have more improvement to come after only seven starts. Darkness is capable of a big run off this mark for a stable in among the winners recently, while Modesty could also get involved where it matters if the cheekpieces help him to keep a straighter course.
Top Tip: GLENFINNAN (5)
Watch out for: DARKNESS (4)
Hollie Doyle
Hollie Doyle’s Preview Of Her Weekend Rides
At The Races
Hollie Doyle
Sky Sports Racing’s ambassador gets back aboard star stayer Trueshan on Saturday at ParisLongchamp, while also picking up a couple of interesting outside rides.
Thursday 28 September 2023
Blog
EMILY THE MAIN DANGER TO TRUESHAN’S CADRAN BID
Everything looks in place for another big performance from my star stayer TRUESHAN in Saturday’s Group 1 Prix du Cadran at ParisLongchamp (1.33) – and it’s live on Sky Sports Racing.
I missed out through suspension when he won the 2m4f feature two years ago in the capable hands of James Doyle, so it would be nice to finally add this great race to my own CV.
The soft conditions in Paris will be ideal for Alan King’s seven-year-old, who loves to get his toe into the ground and couldn’t be in better form after landing the Doncaster Cup on his first start since that successful wind surgery.
I’m surprised to see that only five stand their ground against him, including Emily Dickinson. Aidan O’Brien’s filly looks the main danger after running so well in the Gold Cup at Ascot over the Cadran trip and in the Goodwood Cup over 2m last time. Like Trueshan, she thrives in soft ground.
Two years ago he returned to Ascot to win his second British Champions Long Distance Cup – a race he landed for the third time last year. Whether he heads back to Champions Day remains to be seen and that plan will no doubt be up for discussion after Saturday.
CHECK OUT CHALLENGE IN PRIX DOLLAR
The Group 2 Prix Dollar at Longchamp on Saturday (4.43) looks an ideal target for William Knight’s four-year-old CHECKANDCHALLENGE.
He’s a talented if not straightforward colt who ran well at this level in the York Stakes last month and may benefit from the fitting of blinkers for the first time, having sported a first-time visor last time out, and running well.
A Group 3 winner in France over 1m last year, he proved himself in soft ground when third in the Group 2 Prix Daniel Wildenstein on Arc weekend last year and remains unexposed at this 10f trip.
GET SET FOR BOLD SHOW IN LONGCHAMP HANDICAP
French-based Brit Andrew Hollinshead has booked me for his GET SET in the heritage handicap, the Qatar Prix de La Place Des Vosges (2.15).
This reliable six-year-old appears to have the right credentials for the 12.5f contest having won over a shorter trip at the Paris track in June.
He’s evidently trip-versatile and acts well in soft ground but we will have to overcome a tricky draw in stall 16 to be involved at the business end of the race.
Watch every race from Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe weekend at ParisLongchamp on Sky Sports Racing (Sky 415 | Virgin 519) on Saturday 30th September and Sunday 1st October.
CONTINUOUS HAS ARC APPEAL BUT HEART SAYS HUKUM
My heart says British raider Hukum will claim the glory in Sunday’s mouth-watering Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (3.05) – live on Sky Sports Racing – but the draw hasn’t been kind to Owen Burrows’s stable star.
It would be wonderful to see Sheikha Hissa Hamdan Al Maktoum round off another great season by winning Europe’s greatest race with her brilliant King George hero. However, being posted out in stall 14 will be a challenge to Jim Crowley who will hopefully get enough luck in running to play a part in the finish.
The draw’s been kinder to Aidan O’Brien’s St Leger winner CONTINUOUS who was undeniably impressive at Doncaster and could provide all the answers. It’s a quick turn-around but the fact that he’s been supplemented by the Coolmore operation speaks volumes.
I’m off to ride in Japan again later this year and would love to see their representative Through Seven Seas go well for trainer Tomohito Ozeki and owners Carrot Farm. His second to the Dubai Sheema Classic winner Equinox in Group 1 company in Japan in June looks solid form.
Ralph Beckett’s Westover, who was runner-up in that Meydan contest, also carries significant hopes for the British challenge and it’s great to see Rob Hornby again entrusted with the task of turning round that King George form with Hukum.
PATTERN SUCCESS IN GERMANY
My trip to Cologne last Sunday turned out to be a success, mainly thanks to Amy Murphy’s filly GEOLOGIST winning the Listed Winterkonigin Trial.
She made just about all the running in the 7.5f feature and was brave when she had to be to get the better of her rivals in a three-way finish.
I was third on her in a Group 3 in Deauville in July after Tom (Marquand) won a novice on her at Ripon. She subsequently finished second in a valuable sales race at Newmarket so certainly deserved this.
GOLD CUP TARGET FOR KEATLEY SPRINTER
WOBWOBWOB will be targeted at the Ayr Gold Cup next season after we won the Silver version at the Scottish track last Saturday.
Ontoawinner’s gelding posted a personal best to take the 6f handicap and set himself up for a return to the Western Meeting next year when his trainer Adrian Keatley says the Gold Cup itself will be on his agenda.
It was a near miss in the big one, however, on Archie Watson’s enigmatic Albasheer who finished less than a length behind the winner in fourth. A quirky sprinter, he didn’t travel at all in the first part of the race but flew home at the death and can win a big pot when he’s in the mood.
HOLLIE’S HOT SHOT
TREVAUNANCE
I was thrilled with Jessie Harrington’s filly who finished second for me in a Group 1 in Germany last weekend. It was a first try at 12f for Moyglare Stud Farms’ daughter of Muhaarar who saw it out well and definitely has what it takes to strike at the highest level in Europe over this new distance.
The horse in question is pictured above (Picture: America’s Best Racing)
Today’s Question
Which Argentinian-bred was undefeated in six starts, three in Argentina and three in USA, never won by less than three lengths, once set a time .01 seconds outside the world record for 1600m on turf, and became a top ten USA-based sire?
