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Master Farrier Robbie Dawson Out To Plate 8th July Winner

Robbie Dawson is from a famous KZN horse family and is one of the country’s, if not the world’s, most respected thoroughbred farriers.

He has plated seven Hollywoodbets Durban July winners, including the last five.

He said, “It’s a pretty high pressure week but the horses don’t know who they are, so it’s just the numbers for that meeting which are high, particularly with all the July runners. You do always get that little feeling down in the pit of your stomach this week, but other than that it is all cool. We have nearly 60 to plate for the meeting, which is fantastic, very fortunate to be in that position.”

He is plating about seven or eight of Saturday’s July runners.

He said there was nothing special about the way a July runner was plated and added, “They are just special horses to have reached that level. You get to know them during the season. Linebacker, he is a gentleman, Do It Again is a gentleman, they are all just proper, really nice horses to work on.”

He said one of the bonuses for July week was no midweek racing and all of the trainers go to the sales too, so the farriers can just get on with their jobs.

He said the timing of the shoeing for a July runner varies.

He said, “Some of the guys like their runners plated a week-and-a-half before, but in general they are plated in the week of the July.”

Those who like it done a week-and-half before are the trainers who consider it important for a horse to have a gallop in the new shoes to get used to them before the race.

Robbie said, “I prefer it if they gallop in their old shoes and are then re-plated.”

He said it was not considered vital for a horse to try out his or her new shoes before the race.

He said, “I know some trainers who like to have their horses plated the day before the race, so it is not that important, as long as everything goes according to plan – it can go awry and leave you in a bit of trouble!”

He said for this year’s July meeting he himself had started shoeing on Monday and would have them all finished by today or tomorrow (Thursday).

A master farrier like himself can make an immense difference to a horse’s career.

An example is the Peter Muscutt-trained Gentleman’s Wager, who arrived at the Muscutt yard in August 2020 on a 73 merit rating and he is now a 105 merit rated-Listed winner.

Muscutt’s training and horse care skills combined with Dawson’s farriery skills played a part in the turnaround.

Robbie said about the seven-year-old Oratorio gelding, “He had a foot issue which hampered the early part of his career quite a lot. We basically threw the book at him and then threw the book away and had to think a little bit out of the box. We did a little bit of unconventional shoeing on him and he became sound, but then he went off again. He tells you very quickly when he’s not a hundred percent right. We trotted him up this morning (Tuesday) and he is a hundred percent right. A lot of it has to do with pressure on certain areas and it is so hard to isolate exactly where it is and what has caused it etc. So you have to think out of the box and take away the pressure and keep your fingers crossed that it all goes to plan. At the moment he’s got a three-quarter shoe on. I have also had heart bars on him, I’ve had reverse bars on him, I had sole packs on him, I had casting tape on him, I threw the book at him. Pete and the owners have been very generous with their time.”

Gentleman’s Wager runs in the Listed Compendium Insurance Brokers Handicap over 1600m, having been unlucky last time out in the Grade 3 Cup Trial over 1800m.

Robbie’s family are well known in KZN beyond horseracing having run a riding school called Stoneyhurst, which started in Zambia before moving to KZN and having various locations including Hillcrest before settling in Hammarsdale.

Today, Robbie uses the same property in Hammarsdale for his Leckhampton Valley Spelling and Pre Training facility, conveniently situated just 21km form Summerveld.

Picture: Robbie Dawson (Gold Circle)

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Hollywoodbets Durban July Broadcast Schedule

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Hollywoodbets Greyville Turf Track In Great Shape For The Big Day

Track manager Kurt Grunewald and his assistant Kevin Searle and their team have delivered the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf track in fine condition for the last couple of Durban July meetings and Saturday should be no different.

Kurt said, “We’re very happy where it is at this time of the year. I think it has held up very well for the amount of racing we’ve had. We have to preserve a virgin strip for the horses to run on on July day. It is a bit tougher to achieve these days with the narrow track compared to the pre-poly days, but we have kept a minimum of races on that strip. You will notice the strip is a lot more green and pure.”

The strip is about four metres wide and runs all the way from the 1600m mark to the straight.

The back straight is used relatively seldom so this special management was not required on that section of the track.

The track did not suffer any long term damage from the recent floods.

Kurt said, “Fortunately, it drained very well. We wouldn’t have had to move any meetings, but it was just due to the time of the year, when we were moving into our season, that we decided to stay off the track – it would have got cut up and taken time to recover. Apart from that there were no issues at all.”

He continued, “We have otherwise been fortunate with the weather. We had that one cold snap and everybody thought winter had arrived in a big way, but then we were back to just about summer weather. Obviously the daylight hours aren’t as long and that is what the grass needs to grow long and stay strong, but for this time of the year it is looking very good.”

The grass is looking nice and lush and Kurt confirmed the roots were strong.

It should lead to a great day’s racing.

Picture: Kurt Grunewald and Kevin Searle at the Holywoodbets Durban July Gallops (Candiese Lenferna).

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Hollywoodbets Durban July Video Preview And Trainers’ Comments

Saturday 02 July 2022

WATCH MICHELE WING’S HOLLYWOODBETS DURBAN JULY PREVIEW VIDEO

Safe Passage: “He’s got to give the other 3-year-olds a kilo and a half; it’s not going to be easy”, Mike de Kock.

Linebacker: “He’s very, very well. He’s done everything I’ve asked him to do and he’s enjoyed it”, Vaughan Marshall.

Sparkling Water: “She must be a big runner. She is extremely well handicapped. This is a good distance for her as well”, Mike de Kock.

Pomp and Power: “He can settle if he’s given half a chance to get his head in the right position and if he does so, then everybody is in trouble in the race”, Justin Snaith.

Do It Again: “Do not leave this horse out of anything. The draw is absolutely immaterial”, Justin Snaith.

Hoedspruit: “I think we’ve prepped him correctly, by bringing him into the race fresh. Perfect draw at 3”, Justin Snaith.

Jet Dark: “Do not count this horse out. He’s proven that he can run 2000m as we saw in the Met. S’Manga has chosen Mike de Kock’s horse, but in life we all make mistakes”, Justin Snaith.

Kommetdieding: “After watching the gallops (yesterday), I think things are rounding off and I have no doubt that it’s going to end on a high”, Michelle Rix.

Aragosta: “I don’t mind the draw at all. We had him forward last time and he ran well; that is roughly what we want to do with him”, Mike de Kock.

Zapatillas: “I think he has come along even more since his last win”, James Crawford.

Waterberry Lane: “He sometimes can be a bit tricky to ride, but draw 7 is perfect. I am quite positive he will get the trip”, Dean Kannemeyer.

Al Muthana: “He’s done very, very well here (KZN); in fact he’s grown another leg here. He’s not 100% guaranteed to get the distance”, Mike de Kock.

Belgarion: “It’s the soundest we’ve had him in a long time. Piere Strydom, champion jockey, deserves the opportunity”, Justin Snaith.

Flying Carpet: “Group 1 winner carrying 53.5kg; I’m very happy with the way he’s handicapped in the race. I think’s it’s an open July”, Sean Tarry.

Puerto Manzano: “The horse is in extremely good shape at home. The only thing with Puerto Manzano is that he likes a long straight”, Johan Janse van Vuuren.

Red Saxon: “They did have the fasted 400 to finish (official gallop), but maybe we have to give him another gallop. Draw doesn’t really worry me”, Joey Soma.

Astrix: “I was very impressed with his gallop. In recent years, the big numbers (draw) have won the July”, Paul Peter.

Second Base: “Ever since the Summer Cup, he hasn’t really found his best form at home. We’re going to freshen him up for the July”, Johan Janse van Vuuren.

WATCH VIDEO ABOUT TRAINERS REACTIONS TO THEIR BARRIER DRAWS

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Equus Awards Hinge Equally On Points System, Panel Vote And Public Vote

The Equus Awards organising committee have begun in earnest with preparations for the South African Horseracing’s premier awards. The event will take place on Wednesday, 24th August 2022 at The Emperors Palace Convention Centre.

The basis for the awarding of the equine categories for the Equus Awards from the current season (1 August 2021 to 31 July 2022) has been changed to a South African version of the UK’s Cartier Racing Awards. These are awarded each year based on a combination of the following three elements:-

· Pattern Race Points System

· Expert Panel Rating

· Public Vote

For the new South African version each of these three elements will carry an equal weighting (33,3%) in the final award calculation. The Pattern Race points system will be based on the result of the season’s Graded races, followed by an expert panel rating and a public vote which will collaboratively determine the Equus Award in each of the equine categories.

The list of nominees for the expert panel rating and the public vote in each of the equine categories will be determined by points accumulated by each horse during the season in Graded races, with an exception made for the Champion Stayer category where Listed performances are to be included. The points system will ensure that South Africa’s best races are awarded the most points in each category and each horse nominated to the final voting list has demonstrated potential Champion status.

The expert judges panel is:

Deez Dayanand Graeme Hawkins

Nico Kritsiotis Ken Nicol

Rouvaun Smit

The Equus Committee is pleased to announce that we will once again be featuring the media award category. The judging panel will be Alison McKenzie, Howard Wright and Neil Morrice and the criteria for this category will be released in due course.

Enquiries regarding the 2022 Equus Awards event can be directed to: Penny Morsner: penny@racingassociation.co.za

Natalie Turner

Chair

Equus Committee

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Good Looking Foal From A Family of Greyville Stalwarts Has Blossomed Into A Golden Horseshoe Candidate

Richard Fourie had a choice of two or three Glen Kotzen-trained charges for Saturday’s Grade 2 Durban Golden Horseshoe and opted for the Lammerskraal-bred Visionaire gelding Imposing, who is pictured above as a foal.

He is out of Stawberry Lane and is thus a half-brother to two Grade 1 winners, Solo Traveller (Western Winter), who won the Cape Guineas and Grade 2 KRA Guineas at Greyville, and Redberry Lane (Western Winter), who won the Grade 1 Garden Province Stakes on July day in 2018.

Imposing is also a half-sister to Skylar Lane (Western Winter), who is the dam of the Kotzen-trained Good Traveller (Visionaire).

That makes him a three parts brother to Good Traveller, who was named Equus Champion two-year-old male last season after finishing a one length third in the Golden Horseshoe and then winning the Grade 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes.

Imposing is also a half-brother to Strawberry Line (Western Winter), who is dam of Coin Spinner, who is second favourite for Saturday’s Grade 2 Post Merchants.

Good Traveller also runs in the Post Merchants and has a good chance from a good draw.

Kotzen was surprised Fourie chose Imposing above Countdown (Gimmethegreenlight).

He said about the gelding, “He’s a very smart horse. He ran in front of Countdown but I think Countdown had a lot of excuses. Imposing is just lacking racing experience. He’s got all the ability. He’s cracked a good draw and he’s got Richard up. I think he would just need one more run to be really effective but we’re building him up to something big. He is a really smart horse and he’s going to love the extra ground.”

Fourie had maybe looked up the success of the family at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Other close up members of the family to have done well at Greyville are Purple Diamond (Var), who won the Golden Horseshoe, Jalberry (Jallad), who finished second in the Golden Slipper when it was still a Grade 1, Silvano’s pride, who won the Grade 1 Woolavington and Grade 2 Tibouchina, and Flying Ice, who won the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet.

Sally Bruss sent the photograph of Imposing as a foal at Lammerskraal and remembers him to be “a cracker”.

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Gondolier Was The Last Small Yard July Success Before Kommetdieding

Eric Antelme, son of Gondolier’s trainer Pat Antelme, was at the Hollywoodbets Durban July Gallops last week and spoke about that memorable win back in 1985.

He said, “I was only three years old at the time, but there is a lot of memorabilia at home and over the years I have got to know the story of Gondolier’s win well.”

Pat Antelme bought the horse at the Natal Sale for more than the budget he was given by owners John Rayner and Chris Taylor.

“My Dad liked the horse on pedigree and conformation. He was big on studying pedigrees. ”

Gondolier was by Jamaico, who in fact sired three July winners, the legendary Jamaican Music as well as Jamaican Rumba and Gondolier.

Gondolier was out of a mare by Oligarchy, sire of the great 1978 July winner Politician.

Eric continued, “My Dad phoned John immediately after the purchase and told him he had got a horse and John’s first words were ‘How much?’ There were apparently some expletives after he had replied! But My Dad then guaranteed him this horse would be in the July line up.”

“He is one of the only horses to run in five Julys. He finished second in 1983, then fifth in 1984 ( behind Terrance Millard-trained winners Tecla Bluff and Devon Air respectively), and then he won (by a comfortable 2,75 lengths). He then went to Paddy Kruyer in the Cape and ran two more Julys, finishing 6th and 7th respectively.”

Eric believes he left the Antelme yard due to an ownership disagreement.

He continued, “Those are my memories but I still have the re-runs on betamax and the interviews with Martin Locke.”

On the build up to the 1985 July, Eric said, “My Dad was very confident. He had prepped the horse well and everything was spot on. It was tragic that his regular jockey Peter Sieg passed away in an accident, but Billy Harvey had been with My Dad when Gondolier was a young horse and actually broke him in, so he was offered the ride and won the July.”

Harvey dislocated a shoulder in a training ride a week prior to the big race and it was doubtful he would be able to meet the engagement. However, a well known Durban acupuncturist solved the problem with needles and massage.

Gondolier was also given acupuncture, according to Eric, by the legendary horse physiotherapist “Winks” Green.

He said, “My Dad was big into homeopathy and Winks Green worked on Gondolier a lot.”

He continued, “My Dad was treating his own horses and shoeing his own horses up until he stopped training, so there were no vet and farrier bills.”

Of the actual race, he said, “Gondolier had a nice turn of foot. He sat in midfield and I think he was on the rail. There were some nice horses, it was the Millard era, and there was the like of Bodrum and Uncle Percy in the race as well as Spanish Pool, Turncoat and Count Du Barry. But Billy was very confident. He got fined for saluting before the line and standing up in the saddle. It must be a big joy to win the July.”

Eric elaborated, “Gondolier was one of those horses who had a mind on him and you had to get him right and you had to teach him how to run the proper way. Knowing my father and his methods he was probably given a nice easy prep and a nice easy July gallop, but on the day he was spot on and he used that fine turn of foot to burst clear.”

Eric is still an avid horseracing fan and has a strong fancy for this year’s renewal.

He said, “I am a big Safe Passage man. I was very impressed with his Daily News win. I also like a bit of Linebacker. You can’t discount the Cape horses when they come to Durban. He has been well prepped and so have the Snaith runners so you have to beware of them too.”

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July Quiz Competition – Win Tickets To The Hollywoodbets Durban July

Please send answers to joanne@cthbs.com.

The first six to correctly answer the questions, or get closest to doing so, will all win a digital ticket to the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

1. Who is the best performed horse in the history of the Durban July if the criteria used is the number of best performances at the weights.

2. Two horses, who are in the 18 horse final field plus two reserves, can this year become the first July winner to have a July-winning sire AND July-winning grandsire. Who are they?

3. Which sire has the best July record in history.

4. Which July winner holds the record for the biggest margin of victory?

5. Who holds the record time since the July was increased to 2200m in 1970.

6. Who is the only person to have ridden, trained and owned July winners.

7. Which four horses in July history have crossed the line first but not been awarded official victory?

8. Which jockey in this year’s line up will be out to equal the record of most July wins.

9. Who was the youngest trainer to win the July.

10. Who was the youngest rider to win the July?

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Bass Robinson Five-Timer And Ton Up, Domeyer Four-Timer

Candice Bass-Robinson enjoyed a halcyon day at Durbanville today, winning five races in the eight race meeting.

Four of them were ridden by Aldo Domeyer.

In the process Bass-Robinson reached the hundred mark for the season and has now had 103 wins at a strike rate of 12.68%.

Domeyer has now had 90 winners this season at 23.68%, which is the highest strike rate in the country.

Greg Cheyne rode the other Bass-Robinson winner and had a double on the day. He has ridden 106 winners this season at a strike rate of 14.89%.

Picture: Sun-Dazed (What A Winter) gives the Candice Bass-Robinson yard a five-timer and Aldo Domeyer a four-timer when winning the last today (Cape Thoroughbred Sales).

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Today’s Question

Who is the oldest jockey to win the July?

Picture: Australian Danny Miller was over 70 when he had his last race ride in 2018.

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Turffontein Inside Thursday June 29 Fields

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Today’s Question Answer

The age of the winning jockey is not included in the archives, but considering the longevity of sportsman these days compared to days gone by Piere Strydom is likely to be the oldest.

He was 50 years old when winning on the Joey Ramsden-trained The Conglomerate in 2016.

Any debate on the matter will be put to bed if he wins the big race this year at the age of 56.

Picture: Piere Strydom (Gold Circle)

Turf Talk Newsletter – 29 June 2022