Comprehensive Guide To Gold Cup Day

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR COMPREHENSIVE GOLD CUP DAY GUIDE

South African punters are bracing themselves for a feast of rewarding dividends which will come out of massive Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool win, place, swinger and quinella (boxed exacta) pools and boosted local exotic pools.

Marshalls World Of Sport Gold Cup day is not only a Hong Kong World Pool meeting, meaning massive Tote pools for popular bets, but it is full of top class action and the link at the top of this article provides a comprehensive guide from formguides and selections to jockeys, trainers and course statistics and an insight to riding Hollywoodbets Greyville by Piere Strydom.

Betting Opportunity And Viewing Details

Tomorrow brings down the curtain on another successful Champions Season with the running of the Marshalls World of Sport Gold Cup race meeting at Hollywoodbets Greyville that will feature 4 Grade 1 races in addition to the MWOS Gold Cup.

The horseracing industry is set for another massive boost as this race meeting is further elevated by the fact that it has been classified as a World Pool event by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which boasts the largest Tote pools internationally. World Pool will inject millions into the pools of the Win, Place, Swinger and Quinella (boxed Exacta) from races 2-10 as these bet types are commingled into the Hong Kong pools.

In addition to this, South African punters will also enjoy a R500 000 carryover in the Mercury Sprint (Race 6) Quartet which is expected to reach R3 Million. The Pick 6 will have the biggest boost with a massive R2 Million injection that will likely see this pool reach R12 Million.

For those that cannot attend the final major race meeting of the season, all the action will be broadcast on Gallop TV and streamed live on www.galloptv.co.za and via Gold Circle’s YouTube channel. Alternatively the race meeting will also be broadcast on DSTV channel 240 and SABC 3 will cross live to Hollywoodbets Greyville from 15h45 for the MWOS Gold Cup and the HKJC World Pool Champions Cup where Jet Dark, Kommetdieding, Linebacker and Al Muthana will not only be fighting out the final Grade 1 race of the season, but also looking to stake a claim for the coveted EQUUS Champion Horse of the Year title.

NOTE RACES 2 to 10: Win, Place, Swinger, Quinella commingled with Hong Kong Jockey Club. HKJC rules will apply. HKJC PLACE Rules: Less than 4 runners no Place betting; 4-6 runners payouts FIRST, SECOND; 7 or more runners payouts FIRST, SECOND, THIRD.

Picture: Gavin Lerena, Mark Khan and Muzi Yeni are the three captains of the teams who will be competing for around R3.5 million in stakes and the Championship Trophy in the GTH Live Series Championship.

Big Names Lead New Series’ Teams

GTH Connections Saddle Up For Debut Team Racing Live

Top Women Trainers Take The Manager Reins

Team riders include Champion jockeys and Grade 1 winners

Growing list of event sponsors

DURBAN – 29 July 2022. THIRTY local jockeys and three winning SA trainers have signed up for the Global Team Horse Racing series (GTH), running in front of a new family-friendly crowd at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on consecutive Friday nights from August 5 until September 2.

GTH is a team-based event. Meetings have been condensed into two and a half hours of exhilarating thoroughbred racing under floodlights. There will also be plenty of track-side entertainment for families.

GTH jockeys represent three teams, the Cape Stingers, the KwaZulu Royals and the Gauteng Gijimaz, competing for around R3.5-million in stakes and the Championship trophy.

Meet the Jockeys

Riding for the Cape Stingers are: Mark Khan (captain); Craig Zackey; Sean Veale; Rachel Venniker; Robert Khathi; Gareth Wright; Gabriell Pieterse; Khanya Sakayi; and Donald Gheerthsen.

The KwaZulu Royals are: Muzi Yeni (captain); Kabelo Matsunyane; Raymond Danielson; Jeffrey Syster; Ashton Arries; Thabiso Gumede; Athandiwe Mgudlwa; Jabu Jacobs; and Nicholas Patel.

Gauteng Gijimaz teammates include: Gavin Lerena (captain); Diego De Gouveia; Calvin Habib; Francois Herholdt; Tristan Godden; Cole Dicken; Jason Gates; Hennie Greyling; and Brian Nyawo.

Three reserve jockeys are on stand-by: Mpumi Mjoka; Sphe Hlengwa; and Mfanelo Zuma.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LINE-UP ON THE WEBSITE

GTH Team Managers

Experienced SA trainers will serve as team managers. Michelle Rix will lead the Cape Stingers, while Candice Dawson and Wendy Whitehead have control of the reins belonging to the Gauteng Gijimaz and KwaZulu Royals respectively.

One-third of the GTH all-female management team, Dawson started CK Racing with her sister, Tammi, and business partner Kathryn Ralphs. During her career, she has been linked to champion horses, including Jet Master, El Picha, Eventuail and Promisefrommyheart (source: SAHRacing (https://www.sahracing.com/index/contents/news/29895) ).

Another passionate horsewoman, Wendy Whitehead is a horse owner and trainer at Summerveld where she has worked for more than 32 years. Whitehead was instrumental in providing GTH with support during the many trials implemented during 2021.

Rix works alongside her father, Harold Crawford, out of the family’s yard in Milnerton, Cape Town. The duo’s top stars include 2021’s Vodacom Durban July winner, Kommetdieding.

Rix said she hoped to squeeze one more victory out of the current racing season and was looking forward to a different type of excitement on GTH race evenings.

Rix said: “Where GTH is going to benefit racing is by bringing in a younger type of crowd, a more social crowd and one that normally wouldn’t come to racing on a Friday night in Durban. Instead of indoor cricket, they’ll say: ‘Let’s go to the racecourse!’”

The Line-Up

Spectators can choose a team to support throughout the series and follow the action either at the live races, or by tuning in to the live broadcasts by SuperSport on DSTV’s Action channel (210) from 18h00.

The KwaZulu Royals and the Gauteng Gijimaz teams will race first at a meeting on Friday August 5. The following week, on Friday August 12, the KwaZulu Royals will meet the Cape Stingers. On the 19th, it will be the Cape against Gauteng. Teams will accumulate points for each race over the three weeks. Then, the teams with the most points will ride in the finals on Friday, September 2, 2022.

Teams can apply their own strategy to their spot in the final, see how the scoring works here (https://www.gthracing.co.za/gth-scoring/) .

A Winning Format

Rix said that three provinces competing against each other added to the excitement. “Horse racing is usually a singular sport, but this is a team sport. It will relate to so many more people outside of racing. That’s what racing really needs now.”

The trainer was confident that interest from the racing community would continue to grow. “Once this (GTH) is off the ground and everybody sees what a drawcard it is, they’ll be having a bit of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out),” Rix said.

She wagered: “If this runs well, we can look at attracting bigger sponsors and getting more people involved. There is no reason why this shouldn’t work.”

While still deciding which horses the Cape Stinger jockeys would ride, Rix concluded: “There has to be some fun! Racing is not anybody’s job, it is a way of life. Things don’t always go to plan. But, as tough an industry as it is, you’ve got to have fun.”

Meanwhile, GTH Marketing Director, Angus Campbell, was thrilled about the level of talent the series had managed to attract.

GTH has also partnered with the Riverside Hotel to add an accommodation special for visitors. “They are giving us reduced room rates, and we will be running GTH VIP giveaways together with East Coast Radio – another of our official event media partners – so stay tuned,” Campbell said.

GTH has invited South African social media influencers to apply to serve as event ambassadors through a GTH Social Pioneer programme, adding to the event build-up.

20 chosen Social Pioneers will be incentivised for every follower they bring to the races and have been challenged to come up with fun ways to show their support for their chosen team on race days.

GTH Social Pioneer/Influencer Manager, Avela Khuluse, said: “GTH is a new format of racing that requires an audience build. It’s a new concept that needs to be brought to the masses. We will work with Social Pioneers to help spread awareness about the event. We will also give away some awesome prizes, including cash prizes for Best Dressed and R5 000 for the best event theme designed around their chosen team.”

Tickets for the GTH series are already on sale at TIXSA (https://tickets.tixsa.co.za/event/global-team-horse-racing) . Prices start at R100 for general access. Children under 14 years old go free. Gates open at 17h00 each Friday and the action starts at 18h00, finishing by 20h30.

For more information, visit https://www.gthracing.co.za.
Press Kit (https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Zzv9Z4PAQmPx379bx0zEezKuyqJApBXQ?usp=sharing)

Gates open at 17h00 each Friday and the action starts at 18h00, finishing by 20h30. GTH is broadcast live by SuperSport on DSTV’s Action channel (210) from 18h00.

Global Team Horse Racing (GTH) is a fast paced, thrilling spectator sport, specifically aimed at a new generation of fans. GTH is a gamechanger, the definitive team horse racing product, that merges live and digital elements into an exciting entertainment product that is broadcast across multiple platforms, attracting, and engaging a younger, more diverse, and globally connected fan base.

GTH transforms the racing format without losing the essence of the grand traditions of the sport, resulting in a revolutionary and colourful spectator event, where team captains apply innovative strategies to achieve competitive advantage.

Picture: Kommetdieding Tipped To Win The HKJC World Pool Champions Cup (Zanele Zulu/African News Agency (ANA))

AT THE RACES SELECTIONS FOR GOLD CUP DAY

www.atheraces.com

1 12H20 – Marshalls World Of Sport Darley Arabian (Listed Handicap)

Great day – expect the pools to be exceptional and get your TAB bets on early! GENTLEMAN’S WAGER has been unlucky not to get his name on the scoreboard yet but this could be his day. He holds many on various runs and has no problems with the poly. REUNION has a bit to find with the former but may prefer the poly and could be hard to peg back once in front. SAVANNAH STORM is another that can get away if allowed to lead and needs to be taken seriously. There should be a good pace on and SILVANO’S TIMER like GENTLEMAN’S WAGER can mow them down. More with quartet claims.

Top Tip: GENTLEMAN’S WAGER (8)

Watch out for: LOOK FOR HOUNDS (2)

2 13H00 – Prosport International Debutante (Grade 2) (2 Year Old Fillies)

GOBSMACKED could be hard to beat on local debut. She is unbeaten on the Highveld and having won round the turn last time could remain so on her first visit to Hollywoodbets Greyville. RIDE ON has drawn a bit wide which is unfortunate. She showed class in the Grade 2 Golden Slipper and needs to be taken seriously. West Cape filly GOLDEN HOSTESS has improved with each start and ran out an easy winner last time. She could be anything and is bred for further too. ONLY HEARTS and ANTIGUA NIGHT both produced fair efforts in the Golden Slipper and have drawn well. Must go into exotics.

Top Tip: GOBSMACKED (6)

Watch out for: RIDE ON (10)

3 13H35 – Epol Umkhomazi Stakes (Grade 2) (2 Year-Olds)

FORMAGEAR was thrown in the deep end in the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe last time and after racing up handy for most of the way only tired out the money late. On a line through Laguna Verde though it could get close between him and MERCANTOUR who has been impressive on the Highveld. The latter will be out to maintain an unbeaten record over 1200 metres. It doesn’t end there. CAPTAIN BOMBSHELL was eye catching in the Grade 1 Gold Medallion and has room for further improvement. RIDGERUNNER showed inexperience when beaten by MERCANTOUR last time but can strengthen up. OCEAN TIME is also capable.

Top Tip: MERCANTOUR (5)

Watch out for: FORMAGEAR (4)

4 14H15 – Thekwini Stakes (Grade 1) (2 Year-Old Fillies)

Wide open as most are open to improvement over the longer distance. AMEENA impressed in the Grade 2 Golden Slipper and is unbeaten at Hollywoodbets Greyville but has drawn wide. TIME FOR ORCHIDS was also finishing well in the drive to the wire. AMEENA’s stable mate HOLD MY HAND finished second in open company on debut and then beat her elders easily. She could make the required improvement. CANADIAN SUMMER met a fair sort in Feather Boa last time – has every chance. BLESS MY STARS, LITTLEMARYSUNSHINE, NONE OTHER and KILL SHOT rate dangers as well.

Top Tip: AMEENA (14)

Watch out for: NONE OTHER (8)

5 14H50 – Premiers Champion Stakes (Grade 1) (2 Year-Olds)

COUSIN CASEY changed tactics by coming from off the pace winning the Grade 2 Golden Horseshoe easily. In his penultimate this versatile sort went start to finish and both form lines are looking good. LAGUNA VERDE had to overcome a wide draw when not far off COUSIN CASEY and now has the better draw. He could turn it around as he should also prefer the trip. QUANTUM THEORY held off LAGUNA VERDE by a nose earlier and is 2kg worse off. However he has gate one and also has scope. ROYAL VICTORY was eye catching behind COUSIN CASEY and has won over the trip. BILLY BOWLEGS could be the dark horse.

Top Tip: LAGUNA VERDE (5)

Watch out for: COUSIN CASEY (9)

6 15H30 – Mercury Sprint (Grade 1)

CAPTAIN’S RANSOM will be out to make amends after having not run to her best in her last two Grade 1 attempts here. Hopefully all goes right with her – she will enjoy a fast pace and is again weighted to win. MASTER ARCHIE found himself a bit far back when trying this track last time. He is also a lot better than the form line suggests and could prove a big threat. ALESIAN CHIEF was rewarded with a Grade 1 last time but along with BIG BURN has a bit to find to beat MASTER ARCHIE and it could get close. BIG BURN has drawn ideally and will also look to turn it around with CAPTAIN’S RANSOM.

Top Tip: CAPTAIN’S RANSOM (3)

Watch out for: MASTER ARCHIE (8)

7 16H05 – Marshalls World Of Sport Gold Cup (Grade 3)

The title of SA’s top stayer is up for grabs. The title went to NEBRAAS last year and while he won the Gold Cup with a light weight, he went on to impress with big weights in Highveld features. Worthy favourite. However there are a few that could depose him but will need luck. ARAGOSTA found trouble in running in the Hollywoodbets Durban July and could have finished much closer. He looks tailor-made for a race like this. SHANGANI put his best foot forward beating NEBRAAS in a prep and will be out to do it in a Grade 3! DECORATED has a knack of coming up with a big race effort – watch out!

Top Tip: NEBRAAS (4)

Watch out for: BLACK THORN (5)

8 16H50 – HKJC World Pool Champions Cup (Grade 1)

Last year’s victor JET DARK ran a cracker in the Hollywoodbets Durban July finishing ahead of, among others, KOMMETDIEDING, ASTRIX, AL MUTHANA and LINEBACKER. He takes a while to get going but now in top form should be the one. KOMMETDIEDING had his measure in the Cape Met but did have draw one versus JET DARK’s nine. Could get close. LINEBACKER had excuses in the July and he finished ahead of JET DARK in the Gold Challenge and could get into the fight again. However AL MUTHANA beat the pair with a swooping finish and is another to take seriously. ASTRIX and RUSSIAN ROCK deserve respect.

Top Tip: KOMMETDIEDING (4)

Watch out for: JET DARK (5)

9 17H25 – Gold Bracelet (Grade 2) (Fillies And Mares At Weight-For-Age + Penalties)

MARINA could be back to her best. She ran second in the Grade 1 Garden Province Stakes finishing ahead of Woolavington winner Silver Darling, Captain’s Ransom and others. She will need to get going sooner but is going the longer trip now. SPRINKLES has run some terrific races on the Highveld and wasn’t disgraced in the Woolavington. She races fresh and could come out firing. PINK TOURMALINE showed her class in the Track And Ball Oaks and is taking a drop in class. It’s anybody’s guess how she’ll go at this track. KAILENE, KEEP ON DANCING, FOLLOW THE STAR and SILVER MARIA have upset chances.

Top Tip: PINK TOURMALINE (6)

Watch out for: MARINA (10)

10 18H00 – Marshalls World Of Sport Umngeni Handicap (Listed)

Wide open race to end. MOUNT PLEASANT finished well behind AFTER THE RAIN, PRAY FOR RAIN and MR COBBS but is patently better than that run. He could appreciate the switch to the poly surface. AFTER THE RAIN is very hard to pass if allowed to lead. He has some very good form in the bank and could fend them off. Three-year-old ISIVUNGUVUNGU won a good race a few runs back beating some talented sorts and can get better as he is maturing. He wasn’t far back in the Grade 2 Post Merchants last time and could show the strength of that form. VASEEM and ANNA CAPRI could be anything on the poly.

Top Tip: AFTER THE RAIN (3)

Watch out for: GALLIC CHIEF (8)

Trainer Bob Baffert provided the above photograph, indicating the subject is Medina Spirit and the dermatitis on his hind end following the Santa Anita Derby

Case Against Baffert Might Be House Of Cards – Paulick Report

No Betamethasone In Medina Spirit’s Pre-Race Testing For Derby

by Natalie Voss (www.paulickreport.com)

Trainer Bob Baffert provided the above photograph, indicating the subject is Medina Spirit and the dermatitis on his hind end following the Santa Anita Derby

As attorneys prepare for the Aug. 22 appeals hearing in the ongoing Medina Spirit case, a pre-race test result has now become public for the first time.

In response to a public information act request filed by the Paulick Report, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has released results of the out-of-competition testing performed on Medina Spirit ahead of the 2021 Kentucky Derby.

An Industrial Laboratories form dated April 18, 2021, indicates blood was drawn from Medina Spirit at Santa Anita Park and assigned sample number E42871. (It is common for the Kentucky commission to work with official veterinarians in other states to do pre-race sampling of likely Derby contenders ahead of the race.) An undated page titled “Screening Results By Sample” lists several sample numbers along with drug amounts and concentrations. E42871 was found to contain 13.269 ng/mL of omeprazole sulfide, which is a common ulcer medication permitted in racehorses. It does not show any concentrations for betamethasone, although a separate sample from another horse whose results appear elsewhere on the page did indicate a level for .319 ng/ml of “dexamethasone or betamethasone.”

The colt famously tested positive for betamethasone after the Derby and was disqualified from his win by Kentucky stewards, who also fined trainer Bob Baffert and suspended him 90 days. Baffert has served his suspension, but the appeal by Baffert and owner Zedan Racing of the other sanctions is ongoing.

Baffert announced eight days after the race that he had been informed of the positive test result, which at the time had not been confirmed by split sample analysis. At that time, he indicated he had no idea how betamethasone could have been present in the horse. Several days later, he said the horse had been treated daily with Otomax, a topical product formulated for dogs, to combat a skin rash. Otomax contains betamethasone valerate as one of its active ingredients, a fact that is notated on the exterior packaging and on the bottle. Baffert indicated that the horse had been battling the skin rash since just after his win in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby on April 3. A photo of the affected area released to media on May 11 showed skin lesions consistent with a healing rash.

Medical records for Medina Spirit show that Otomax was dispensed in the colt’s name on April 9, 2021 and on April 19, 2021.

Baffert has long maintained that the colt received the ointment from his groom daily through the day before the May 1 Derby.

Craig Robertson, attorney for Baffert, did not respond to a request for comment by press time.

Clark Brewster, who represents Zedan Racing, told the Paulick Report he thinks the lack of betamethasone finding is an example of how unpredictable topical drug administrations can be.

“That’s the vagaries of using a salve or an ointment,” said Brewster. “Most vets, and I’m talking about leading vets, couldn’t believe you could get a positive from a salve or an ointment. Vince Baker [Baffert’s veterinarian who prescribed the drug] testified that he’s had Otomax dispensed to horses literally hundreds, if not thousands of times, and nobody reported a positive.

“It depends on, was the horse washed that day before they took the test? Did the horse have more of a lesion on him as the days went on so they used more? Who’s to say? But that’s the arbitrariness and the unfairness of having a reported positive from a topical.”

Further, Brewster pointed out, there is nothing on the document listing the screening limit for betamethasone for the pre-race tests. He also indicated that other pre-race tests taken from Baffert horses ahead of that race did not find betamethasone.

Despite the test results, Brewster said he is confident ahead of the Aug. 22 hearing.

“I feel very good about the facts, and the rules,” he said. “Without a doubt, he will win. The question is when? And the answer is whenever someone applies the facts to the laws in an unbiased way.”

Picture: Picture: Rachel Venniker after scoring her 70th win of the season on Monday aboard the Michael Roberts-trained Let’s Get Together (Gold Standard) (Candiese Lenferna).

Happy Compromise Can Be Reached On Female Weight Allowance Issue

The NHA rule change to allow 1,5kg to female riders for the entirety of their careers has met with stern opposition from most quarters.

However, following the example of the Hong Jockey Club’s allowance rules for local riders might be a sensible solution.

Local riders on the racing-mad island are given an allowance until they have ridden 250 winners at Hong Kong racecourses.

A lot of local Hong Kong riders begin their apprenticeships outside of Hong Kong, but when they arrive back on the island they start on zero wins again. Therefore, they will start with a 10 pound claim even if they have ridden more than 100 winners outside of the country.

(The only wins that do count outside of the country in such cases are ones that have Group or Listed status.)

An example is the excellent rider Matthew Poon, who was sent by the HKJC Apprentice Jockeys’ School to be trained in South Australia. He embarked in 2015 and was based with leading trainer Richard Jolly. His first race ride, a winner, came in October of that year. At the end of his first season, in July, 2016, he was crowned South Australia’s Champion Apprentice Jockey with 51 wins. His second season in Adelaide saw him ride 65 winners and at the time of his departure for Hong Kong in March 2017, he was sitting second in the South Australian jockeys championship. He attained the nickname “The Poon Train” in Australia such was his following.

However, upon return to Hong Kong he was allowed an apprentice claim of:

10 pounds until he had ridden 20 winners on the island;

7 pounds until he had ridden 45 winners;

5 pounds until 70 winners;

3 pounds until 95 winners;

Thereafter 2 pounds while still an apprentice.

However, it does not end there.

Upon ending their apprenticeship local riders are given “free lance jockey” status.

A free lance jockey’s claim has almost the same structure as an apprentice i.e. 10 pounds until 20 winners, 7 until 45, 5 until 70, and 3 until 95 (although all wins as an apprentice are also included in the official number of winners).

However, after they have passed 95 winners they continue to claim 2 pounds until they have ridden 250 winners.

Matthew Poon raced to 70 winners in Hong Kong at the second fastest rate this century and is now a fully fledged jockey.

However, he has only had 194 wins on the island in total so is still claiming 2 pounds and should be for another couple of seasons, considering he rode 34 winners this season.

This system has encouraged more local people to apply to be jockeys in what is one of the most competitive arenas in the world.

The system makes sense because it is a touch unfair on young locals that they have to compete at entry level against some of the world’s best, from all around the world, in their home country.

Likening that to South Africa, there is not the culture of racing here that England has where the like of Hollie Doyle and many other women were able to start race-riding as children in pony racing.

There will be those who will say it is still unfair even under these circumstances for women to be treated differently and will say it is kowtowing to identity politics.

However, at least it would be a compromise.

Those who support the 1,5kg claim are saying females in general do not get enough opportunity to hone their race-riding skills due to a view a) that physical strength is a factor in race-riding and females are not as naturally strong as males b) a mindset that females are generally inferior race-riders to males.

The many who are against it say it gives females an unfair advantage in a sport where those who are not good enough should not be separated according to gender.

One of the most worrying aspects for the adversaries of the rule change is that it has been proven, and not only in recent times, that female jockeys are potentially every bit as capable in race-riding as male jockeys.

The most glaring example in SA of the latter is Rachel Venniker, who will be crowned the country’s champion apprentice in her first full season of race riding, having competed on a level playing field with her male counterparts.

It will not only be unfair for her to claim and allowance, but also probably unfair on her, because if she were to ever be crowned champion jockey the feat would not be recognised by most due to the allowance.

So, the Hong Kong system ultimately separates those local jockeys who are good enough to make it from those who aren’t, but it also gives every candidate ample opportunity to prove they are good enough.

There is no better way to improve race-riding skills than race-riding itself and this system would be a far better solution than the 1,5kg allowance for an entire career.

Picture: A Picture speaks a thousand words. Trainer Stephen Moffatt and Rouge Allure, who had her 101st career start on Thursday and won for the second time in succession to take her career tally to 15.

Entry Form For CTS Ready To Run
& Unbroken Two Year Old Sale 2022

29 October 2022

Entry Form Closing Date 30 July 2022

CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM: CTS RTR SALE 2022.pdf

The CTS RTR SALE 2022 will be held at Kenilworth Racecourse.

Please complete the above form IN FULL and return to: entries@cthbs.com

Contact And EFT Details are listed on the Entry form.

Picture: Louis Mxothwa and Sharon Kotzen after their respective four-timers on the Fairview turf track today (Pauline Herman Photography).

Sharon Kotzen, Louis Mxothwa Both Score Four-Timers, Crawford/Mxothwa Win Feature

Sharon Kotzen and Louis Mxothwa both scored four-timers at today’s Fairview meeting, three of them together.

Mxothwa rode the winner of the Listed Champion Juvenile Cup, the Brett Crawford-trained Port Louis (Gimmethegreenlight).

Kotzen ends the season on 41 winners at a strike of 9.36%.

Mxothwa has ridden 93 winners this season at 11.36%.

He is in tenth place on the national jockeys log.

Today’s Question

How many jockeys have done the July/Gold Cup double in the last 50 years?

Picture: This picture gives a clue (Candiese Lenferna).

Hollywoodbets Greyville Saturday July 30 Fields

Race 1 Link

Race 10 Link

Kenilworth Sunday July 31 Fields

Today’s Question Answer

Jockey July/Gold Cup doubles in the last 50 years:

2018 Anton Marcus (Do It Again/ It’s My Turn)

1999 Robbie Hill (El Picha/ Place Of Gold)

1990 Felix Coetzee (Illustrador/ Illustrador)

1988 Felix Coetzee (Royal Chalice/ Castle Walk)

1984 Felix Coetzee (Devon Air/ Devon Air)

1983 Mark Sutherland (Tecla Bluff/ Hawkins)

Picture: The Terrance Millard-trained Illustrador was the last horse to do the July/Gold Cup double, in 1990, and was ridden in both races by Felix Coetzee.

Turf Talk Newsletter – 29 July 2022