Turf Talk Newsletter – 29 July, 2025

Buffalo Storm Cody relished the 1200m around the turn of the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint and the Tony Peter-trained three-year-old’s merit rating has been raised to 125 (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

NHA Press Release 

Handicapping Ratings Update

HKJC CHAMPIONS CUP (Grade 1)

GLADATORIAN, winner of the Grade 1 HKJC Champions Cup, retains his merit rating of 127 after producing his trademark strong finish to land the 1800m contest at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

The Handicappers determined that GLADATORIAN had performed at the same level as in his previous outing in the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge in June, where he also achieved a rating of 127. Consequently, he was used as the line horse for this race.

Only one horse received an increased rating:

• THE REAL PRINCE (2nd): increased from 125 to 126 after finishing 0.4 lengths behind the 127-rated line horse at level weights.

Merit rating reductions were applied to the following runner:

·         SEE IT AGAIN: lowered from 127 to 125.

• MONTIEN, who failed to reproduce his efforts in both the Grade 1 L’Ormarins King’s Plate and Grade 1 World Sports Betting Cape Met, was reduced from 126 to 122.

MERCURY SPRINT (Grade 1)

Three-year-old gelding BUFFALO STORM CODY has had his merit rating increased from 113 to 125 after his victory in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m, contested run at weight-for-age conditions.

The Handicappers identified the third-place finisher, ASIYE PHAMBILI, as the most suitable line horse, leaving his rating unchanged at 116.

Rating increases:

• CATS PAJAMAS: raised from 115 to 121 following an improved performance.

Rating reductions:

·         CAFE CULTURE: adjusted from 126 to 124, failing to replicate his Grade 2 Diadem Stakes win across subsequent runs.

·         WILLIAM ROBERTSON: lowered from 128 to 127.

·         SURJAY: reduced from 124 to 122.

• QUESTIONING: down from 123 to 122.

BET WITH THE WORLD GOLD BRACELET (Grade 2)

RAINBOW LORIKEET’S merit rating has been adjusted from 111 to 113 after winning the Grade 2 Bet With The World Gold Bracelet for fillies and mares over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

The Handicappers unanimously selected third-place finisher VJ’S ANGEL as the line horse, with her rating remaining at 114.

Additional increases:

·         LITTLE SUZIE (2nd): raised from 108 to 113 after beating the 114-rated line horse by 1.1 lengths while receiving 1.5kg.

• MOCHA BLEND: adjusted from 102 to 104.

Rating reductions:

·         KNOCKOUT: reduced from 102 to 101.

·         INDIAN OCEAN: dropped from 109 to 107.

• MISS PLATINA: lowered from 94 to 92.

WORLD POOL GOLD CUP (Grade 3)

KING PELLES has had his merit rating increased from 118 to 122 following his commanding victory in the Grade 3 World Pool Gold Cup over 3200m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

The Handicappers elected to use the ever-consistent SHOOT THE RAPIDS, who finished fourth, as the line horse for this assessment, leaving his rating unchanged at 112.

In addition to the winner, several other runners received merit rating adjustments:

·         HOLDING THUMBS (2nd): increased from 110 to 113.

·         FUTURE SWING (3rd): raised from 115 to 116.

·         FIELD MARSHAL: up from 105 to 107.

• TAXHAVEN: increased from 90 to 96.

Decrease:

• NEBRAAS was the only runner to receive a rating reduction, dropping from 103 to 102.

HKIR IN DECEMBER UMNGENI HANDICAP (Listed)

FUTURE VARIETY’S merit rating has been increased from 110 to 114 following her win in the Listed HKIR In December Umngeni Handicap over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Third-place finisher UN BEL DI was chosen as the benchmark to assess the race, retaining his rating of 99.

Additional rating increase:

• OUTLAW KING (2nd): up from 110 to 112.

Rating reductions:

·         RODE DRIVE: 104 to 103.

·         SYMPHONY IN WHITE: 105 to 104.

·         DONQUERARI: 96 to 93.

·         ADDRESS THE NATION: 94 to 93.

·         LION RAMPART: 109 to 107.

·         KING OF THE GAULS: 111 to 110.

·         CHOCOLATE SOLDIER: 112 to 110.

·         NO FILTER: 101 to 100.

• HITEMHARDSUNSHINE: 106 to 105.

MICHEL NAIRAC APPRECIATION STAKES – DARLEY ARABIAN (Listed)

I SALUTE YOU has had his merit rating increased from 103 to 107 following his victory in the Listed Michel Nairac Appreciation Stakes (Darley Arabian) over 1600m.

Runner up WINTER GAMES was deemed the most suitable line horse and remains unchanged on 98.

Third-place finisher HAT’S PRIDE, who was three points (1.5kg) under sufferance at the weights, was raised from 91 to 94.

Rating reductions:

·         GUY GIBSON: lowered from 101 to 100.

·         NARINA TROGON: reduced from 106 to 105.

·         THE AFRICA HOUSE: dropped from 90 to 88.

• CHERRY ANO: adjusted down from 109 to 108.

Enquiries:

The Handicapping Team

The points tables for all the Equus Awards categories are shown below:

EQUUS HORSE OF THE YEAR
Eight On Eighteen 160
One Stripe 96
Gladatorian 92
Fire Attack 87
Double Grand Slam 80

CHAMPION 2YO FILLY
Golden Palm 48
Direct Hit 40
Elegantrix 32
One Fine Winter 32
Green Diamond 24

CHAMPION 2YO COLT
Good For You 36
Jan van Goyen 32
Chronicle King 24
Charming Cheetah 20
Tin Pan Alley 20

CHAMPION 3YO FILLY
Fatal Flaw 72
Fiery Pegasus 60
Spumante Dolce 56
Mon Petit Cherie 50
Olivia’s Way 49

CHAMPION 3YO COLT
Eight On Eighteen 160
One Stripe 96
Fire Attack 87
Cosmic Speed 70
Legend Of Arthur 42

CHAMPION OLDER FILLY/MARE
Double Grand Slam 80
Mia Moo 56
Asiye Phambili 54
Rascova 48
Rainbow Lorikett 36

CHAMPION OLDER MALE
Gladatorian 92
Gimme A Prince 75
Oriental Charm 72
The Real Prince 64
William Robertson 50

CHAMPION SPRINTER
Gimme A Prince 75
William Robertson 50
Tenango 46
Buffalo Storm Cody 40
Chasing Happiness 32

CHAMPION MILER
One Stripe 96
Cosmic Speed 54
Dave The King 48
Oriental Charm 48
Double Grand Slam 48

CHAMPION MIDDLE DISTANCE (1800-2200m)
Eight On Eighteen 68
THe Real Prince 64
Fire Attack 54
Gladatorian 48
Atticus Finch 44

CHAMPION STAYER (2400m & up)
King Pelles 36
Holding Thumbs 29
Mucho Dinero 12

Gimmethatpearl proved to be Drakenstein Stud’s latest stakes winner of the season (Pauline Herman Photography) 

It was a nailbiting day for Gaynor Rupert and Kevin Sommerville and the rest of the Drakenstein Stud team on Sunday at World Pool Gold Cup day as they had a few chances to break their own South African record of 21 stakes winners in a season.

They had equalled the record when the Justin Snaith-trained Gimmethatpearl (Gimmethegreenlight) won the Listed East Cape Paddock Stakes over 1600m at Fairview on July 11 and they looked all set to break the record for the fourth season in succession.

However, it ended up being down to a few horses on Gold Cup day to take them over the line i.e. Narina Trogon (Silvano) and The Africa House (What A Winter) in the Listed Michel Nairac Appreciation Stakes over 1600m, Future Swing in the Gr 3 World Pool Gold Cup, See It Again in the Gr 1 wfa HKJC Champions Cup and  Un Bel Di and Symphony In White in the Listed HKIR In December Umngeni Handicap over 1000m.

Narina Trogon and The Africa House never threatened, finishing a 4,50 length seventh and a 4,80 length eighth.

However, Future Swing led the Gold Cup and made a brave bid to hold on in the staight, retaining the lead until the 100m mark and finishing a gallant 1,80 length third.

See It Again looked dangerous at the top of the straight as he was traveling ominously well and was not only all over the pacemaker Dave The King but he seemed to have The Real Prince trapped in a pocket too.

However, The Real Prince managed to sneak through a gap between Dave The King and rail and See It Again was unable to match his finish. He could nt repel the challenge of the eventual winner Gladatorian either. See It Again was beaten 1,60 lengths into third.

Then in the last stakes race of the South African season Un Bel Di found the rail in front from draw three under Tristan Godden and quickened well at the top of the straight to put daylight between himself and the opposition. At the 200m mark he must have been about 1,5 to two lengths clear, but Outlaw King then burst out of the pack and Future Variety was flying from the back of the field.

Alas, Un Bel Di could not hold on and was beaten 1,45 lengths into third, while Symphony In White’s charge came too late and she could only manage a 2,75 length fifth.

Drakenstein  ended the season with 21 stakes winners of 30 races which was as opposed to their 21 stakes winners of 31 races last season.

Drakenstein did still have a lot to cheer about on Saturday as they bred King Pelles, the winner of the main race, the Gr 3 World Pool Gold Cup. He had won stakes races previously so did not count as an additional stakes winner.

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Grant Behr is elated after wining a Class 5 event (Picture: Wayne Marks) 

Comeback jockey Grant Behr had only one ride at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today (Tuesday) and his prospects didn’t look bright from an onlookers perspective because the horse, the Shane Humby-trained Captain Of All mare Bonne Bouche, was coming off a six month layoff and was a 40/1 chance.

However, the five-year-old led from pillar to post in the Class 5 1100m event and it never really looked in doubt as she pinged the gates from the highest draw of all in the eleven horse field before showing fine natural pace and striding out superbly, winning by 0,40 lengths.

Behr took a two year sabbatical from the game to work on his mental strength and this was only his fourth meeting back and the seventh ride of his comeback.

It was clearly a relief to get back in the winner’s enclosure, because he punched the air after keeping the mare going in fine style to repel the dangerous looking challenge of 20/1 shot Hear My Voice.

The Social Squad own the 67 merit-rated Hemel ‘N Aaarde-bred mare, who was having the 24th start of her career and it was her third win.

Grant said after the race, ““I was quietly confident, believe it or not! Bonne Bouche was working well and I suggested to Mr Humby that I felt that she didn’t need the compression mask in my opinion. It’s good to break through early and thanks to the Social Squad Syndicate and Mr Humby for giving me the opportunity. I came back to racing for the love of  horses – and this mare gave me all today.”

Explaining why he walked away from the game in May 2023, Grant said that his reasons were a combination of being stale and sour, and that he needed to spend some time focusing on the important things in life, like family and building a positive mindset.

A keen hobby gardener, Grant did volunteer work two days a week at the Babylonstoren Estate in Franschoek, where the renowned gardens are a tourist attraction.

“I cut out racing completely. I went back to basics and enjoyed my family and worked alongside the labour in the gardens. I met wonderful ordinary people and also experienced insight of the hierarchy of our society where so many people look down on others, just because they can. That may sound maverick, but it opened my mind as I had spent so many years not focused on myself, but trying to please people, some of whom didn’t really value or respect me.”

Grant said his wife Lanese and daughter Cassidy, who shares a birthday with all of our horses and turns 11 on Friday 1 August, were his backbone and supported his decision to opt out and press the refresh button.

“I am fortunate to have enjoyed my family’s support and I am feeling positive. Mr Humby is one of those trainers who listens to suggestions, and I am thrilled I could produce a winner for him. I am riding work at Milnerton three days a week and am getting fit. I started at 60kgs and I am now at 57 kgs. I want to get down to 56kgs, and race-riding promotes fitness at the same time.”

Asked whether he had felt rusty, Grant said that riding horses was much like riding a bicycle – just tougher, but not something one readily forgets to do.

“I took a while to get my co-ordination back, but I am getting there. I am looking forward to the new season and making a go of it,” he added.

Candice Bass-Robinson and Aldo Domeyer enjoyed a double together, a nice follow up on their stakes race double at the World Pool Gold Cup meeting on Sunday.

Nigel Gray, chairman of the Asian Racing Federation’s Handicapping Committee (Picture: HKJC)

The annual Asian Racing Federation Handicappers Conference was held in Durban this year and it took place last week from the 22nd to the 25th.

South Africa’s chief handicapper Lennon Maharaj said, “We met all the requirements and did what we were scheduled to do, despite some members including Hong Kong-based chairman Nigel Gray, having to join via Zoom due to a typhoon preventing them from flying in.”

Nigel was thus unfortunately unable to address the media as was intended.

The handicappers attended the World Pool Gold Cup meeting.

Lennon said, “They were absolutely thrilled with our racing. We gave them a tour of how everything worked, from the stipes boardroom, parading, the saddling areas etc.”

The international chief handicappers witnessed what is commonly regarded as the best day of racing in South Africa for the purist.

The racing was of a high quality and the local handicappers should take a bow as the form worked out exceptionally well and some of their decisions during the season were vindicated. For example the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Rainbow Lorikeet proved she was worthy of a Hollywoodbets Durban July final field berth by winning the Gr 2 Bet With The World Gold Bracelet over 2000m.

The handicappers were also proved right in not ever rating last year’s Equus Horse Of The Year Dave The King above 128 as he looked vulnerable to a field of classy closers in the Gr 1 wfa HKJC Champions Cup over 1800m.

The big long-strider was always going to be made to run all the way to the line and so it proved. In one of the races of the season Gladatorian surged late to beat the Hollywoodbets Durban July winner The Real Prince while the other two classy closers, See It Again and Fire Attack, also overtook Dave The King before the line.

The conference brings together the Chief Handicappers from ARF member countries—Australia, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates—to assess and agree on ratings for the top-performing thoroughbred racehorses across the southern hemisphere racing season.

The ARF Handicappers Conference was established in August 2009 following changes to the LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, which have served as the official global assessment of elite racehorses since 2004.

Originally published twice a year, the Rankings shifted to a single annual edition in January 2009, prompting the ARF to create its own conference to ensure southern hemisphere horses were fairly and consistently evaluated.

The ARF Handicappers Committee convenes to: 1) Agree on ratings for all horses trained or raced in ARF member countries that achieved an international rating of 112 or higher. 2) Evaluate horses that placed in the top four of Group/Grade 1 races, even if they did not meet the 112-rating threshold. 3) Provide data used by the Asian Pattern Committee and National Pattern Committees to assess race quality, determine grading adjustments, and consider new race inclusions.

At the 2024 Conference in Sydney, the committee reviewed and rated 373 horses and it would have been a similar figure last week, underscoring the scale and importance of this annual event.

The ARF Handicappers were present to a final rating assessment for South African horses that ran in the World Pool Gold Cup meeting. These evaluations completed the peer review process of South Africa’s final submissions, ensuring that all ratings are agreed upon for the Southern Hemisphere.

As part of the 2025 ARF Handicappers Conference, the South African Handicapper submitted a total of 37 performances by South African-trained horses that, in their view, achieved an international rating of 112 or higher during the 2024–25 South African racing season.

In addition, 62 performances by Grade 1 placed finishers that fell below the 112-rating threshold were submitted for consideration. These submissions were reviewed and discussed by the ARF Handicappers Committee to ensure consensus on the final international ratings.

Below is the Current SA Pattern Summary Table:

2Yo 3Yo 3Yo+ Total

Grade 1: 4       7     16       27

Grade 2: 6      8     19       33

Grade 3: 7      11    30      48

Listed:   12     11    44       67

Total :   29     38   112     175

It should be noted that the Status of the above Pattern is dependent on the international ratings and not the domestic ratings.

The NHA were honoured to welcome the ARF Handicappers to South Africa and were pleased it was another productive conference and fulfilled the aim of elevating the standards of thoroughbred racing.

The Andre Nel-trained Silvano filly Plum Pudding has been tipped to win the sixth race at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Wednesday (Candiese Lenferna Photography)

Andrew Harrison (Race Coast)

The southern hemisphere season ends tomorrow and it’s back to bread and butter racing at Hollywoodbets Scottsville today. The eight-race card does not have the biggest fields but there is plenty of competitive racing, the card headed by the Gallop TV Class 3, sixth race on the programme, and the Online Form Guide B Stakes, seventh on the card.

In the sixth, Andre Nel’s filly Plum Pudding is up against males but is unbeaten in two outings since arriving in KZN and has only gone up marginally in the handicap. She takes on some hard-knocking males but her form has worked out well and she does appear capable of a hattrick.

There should not be too much between View Of The World and Trois Trois Quatre with a length separating them when last they met. View Of The World is now 1kg better off and can turn the tables. Separating them could be Frank Robinson’s charge The Mikado. He was given a break after a below par performance behind Flying Cool back in February but word from the stable is that the gelding is working well and they are confident of a forward showing.

Dean Kannemeyer has his horses in a good space and he can add to his seasonal tally with Rosh Kedesh in the B Stakes over 1400m. He was a good second on the poly last run when jumping from a wide gate and has the best of the draw here. Obvious threat will be The Shepherd. Peter Muscutt’s charge was not the best behaved at the stalls early in his career but is loaded with ability. He was runner-up to Gr1 winning Gladatorian at his last start but has not been out since September last year which is a concern.

Stable companion Nelson Bay is better than his last effort on the poly. He has had a short break but stable is starting to fire again. Kitchakal seldom runs a bad race and is in good form of late so can feature.

One of the better bets on the card could come in the first leg of the Pick 6 where Lucinda Woodruff sends out Sohot Sowhat. The daughter of Soqrat has consistent current form and ran a cracker in a Gr3 feature last time out behind the smart Green Sapphire. A repeat should see her home. Convocation is two year’s older and showed a glimpse of her best form when runner-up on the poly last time out. She is smart on her day and can go close.

In the first, Spinmyangelsspin comes off a lengthy break but has some useful Cape form to her credit. If fit and well she should go close. Water Hyacinth should possibly be included in the Bi-Pot as back-up.

Lady Of Vix takes on males once again and steps up in class in the first leg of the PA. However, she only has 49kg to shoulder that should see her competitive again.

Of her male rivals, Major Tommie is lightly raced and finished third behind Lady Of Vix last time out. He is 1kg better off for a 2.5-length beating and should finish a little closer. Jet Legacy is 2.5kg better off with Lady Of Vix on their last meeting. He was beaten four lengths but should get a little closer this time around.

The fourth is an open maiden with form a little thin. Echo was a modest third last outing on the poly after going close at her previous start. She is lightly raced with a 4kg claimer up. Promise Of Fire has been a little disappointing but stays the trip and will go close on her best showing. Lightinthedarkness will likely start at long odds but has run her two best recent races in blinkers. The blinkers stay on and she has a 4kg claimer up.

Kannemeyer saddles Gurka in the fifth. He is useful and showed up well at his last two with the form of his last run being franked. French Trip has come to hand and was narrowly beaten on this course last time out. He drops in class. Harun Al Rashid was a little disappointing in his handicap debut but does look capable of better while World Of Our Own is down in class and should benefit from a 4kg claimer and pole position draw.

In the last, Sign Of Fate was narrowly beaten by Plum Pudding last run and shows consistent recent form. She is distance suited and Robbie Hill’s only runner on the day. Forward Motion was a comfortable winner last run under a light weight. She is down in class with a 4kg claimer up and can follow up. Beautiful Rania is holding form and has a light weight. Her last win was on this course.

Which horse’s July form on most websites reads: 18th, 99,99 lengths; fourth, 1,75 lengths; first.

The picture gives a clue to the answer.