Golden Palm To Give De Melo Dream Return
Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas – R1 250 000 | Final Field
Brett Crawford Scores Double With Help Of SAJA Graduates
Genius Baby seals a double for Brett Crawford (Picture: HKJC)
Brett Crawford only had two runners at the Happy Valley meeting in Hong Kong tonight (Wednesday) and both of them won.
The winners were ridden by South African Jockey Academy graduates Lyle Hewitson and Karis Teetan respectively.
The New Zealand-bred Ninja Derby was having his fourth run for the Crawford stable in the third race.
Crawford acquired him as a lowly 28 rated six-year-old and he was running off a 37 rating today following a win and two thirds.
Hewitson had to negotiate a draw of nine in the Class 5 event over 1800m.
He did so by taking the unimposing bay up there and then moving into the lead rounding the first turn.
He then dictated the pace and Ninja Derby displayed a good kick turning for home.
Under a hard ride he held on by a neck from the favourite Storm Runner.
Ninja Derby was the second favourite and paid a dividend of HK$4.70 for a win.
In the fifth race, a Class 4 over 1200m, Genius Baby, a four-year-old Australian-bred by Too Darn Hot, was having his second run for the Crawford stable.
He had not run better than sixth in his first eight career starts and immediately improved on that in the Crawford stable by running fifth first time out.
Today he was in a Class 4 event over 1200m and was jumping from draw five under Karis Teetan.
He was paying Hk$9.00 on the Tote.
Genius Baby was outpaced early and had to be driven just to hold his midfield position.
However, the bay picked up the bit nicely entering the straight and he bravely managed to squeeze through a tight gap close to home before winning going away by a 0,75 lengths.
It was fine day at the office for Crawford.
Of the 22 trainers on the table, Brett has had the least number of runs at 51.
However, his eight wins now give him the highest strike rate on the island this season at 15.6%.
Click here to read a report on the Wednesday Happy Valley meeting
Point Lonsdale’s Parallels With World's Best Calandagan
Calandagan (Mickael Barzalona, near side) gets the better of Masquerade Ball for a famous victory in the Japan Cup in Tokyo. Photo: France Galop
Cape Breeders
Maine Chance Farms’ exciting young stallion Point Lonsdale is bred on a similar cross to world superstar Calandagan.
While Point Lonsdale is by a son of Galileo (Australia) out of a mare by Acclamation, the brilliant Calandagan was sired by Galileo’s son
Gleneagles and his dam Calayana was produced by the Acclamation mare Clariyn.
Winner of four of his six starts in 2025, the brilliant Calandagan was recently crowned Cartier Horse Of The Year and Champion Older Horse following a season which saw him win four consecutive G1 races.
After finishing runner up in both the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic and G1 Betfred Coronation Cup, Calandagan went on to win all of the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud, G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes, G1 Qipco Champion Stakes and G1 Japan Cup.
In landing the 2025 Japan Cup, Calandagan became the first international raider to win the Tokyo showpiece since 2005.
To date, the Galileo grandson has won eight of 14 starts, with the gelding also recently crowned Longines World’s Best Racehorse (with a rating of 130) for 2025.
Another Galileo grandson, Point Lonsdale, was a top-class performer and group winner at two, four and five, with Point Lonsdale finishing first, second or third in ten group races.
A full-brother to champion Broome and three-parts brother to the National Stud’s G1 winning new sire Diego Velazquez, Point Lonsdale hails from the same female line as Maine Chance Farms’ late, great sire Silvano.
Moore Marks Riding Return With Lingfield Double
Picture: Ryan Moore (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Morrophone and Lazzar ensure triumphant comeback for jockey after injury absence
At The Races
Ryan Moore marked his return from injury with a double at Lingfield on Wednesday, highlighted by victory in the feature BetMGM Winter Oaks Trial Fillies’ Handicap aboard Morrophore.
The Ballydoyle number one has been out of action since late August with a stress fracture in his femur, missing out on partnering the likes of juvenile stars Diamond Necklace, Precise, Puerto Rico and Gstaad to top-level glory, while he was also absent for the career swansong of Delacroix.
Back on track in Surrey, Moore came close to the perfect return when George Boughey’s 11-8 favourite Sovereign Wealth was thwarted late in the opening Always Gamble Responsibly At BetMGM Nursery Handicap.
However, he did not have to wait long to correct the record, as he took the initiative aboard Richard Hughes’ 1-2 favourite Lazzar in the following Join The Midnite Movement Novice Stakes and never looked like being denied in a half-length triumph.
Moore told Sky Sports Racing: “It’s been a while so it’s good to be back.”
He then finished fourth aboard Evening Fades for William Haggas in the Win 250,000 With BetMGM’s Golden Goals EBF Restricted Maiden Fillies’ Stakes before pouncing late aboard John and Thady Gosden’s 5-4 favourite Morrophore in the meeting’s main event.
“She didn’t step great the last day and it would have been nice to be more forward, but we had cover and I got a nice tow and she’s a progressive filly – a nice, big scopey mare who will probably get a bit further,” said Moore.
“She’s a big girl and I just wanted to get her out in the clear, get her balanced and get her rolling and she showed a really good attitude and I was delighted with her.”
Moore, who was out of luck on his final ride of the day, is now looking forward to a trip to Hong Kong next week, with the Aidan O’Brien-trained Los Angeles and The Lion In Winter entered for the Vase and Mile respectively at the International meeting on Sunday week.
He has also been announced by the Hong Kong Jockey Club as a possible participant in the International Jockeys’ Championship at Happy Valley on December 10.
Moore added: “We have some runners there on the Sunday and I’ll be riding next week in Happy Valley so looking forward to that.
“The International Jockeys’ Championship is on Wednesday and I’m looking forward to it.”
Fourie, Snaith, Carruthers, Naidoo And Isdell Doubles
Richard Fourie rode a fine tactical race on Gold Giboski to clinch individual doubles for both himself and Justin Snaith (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Richard Fourie and Justin Snaith had individual doubles at Wednesday’s Hollywoodbets Kenilworth meeting,
There were also doubles for owner Francis Carruthers and for the combination of Ravi Naidoo, EN Isdell and Master Of My Fate.
Fourie had to be at his best to get the Shane Humby-trained 46/100 chance by Captain Of All, Digby, up in the first race over 1000m.
Digby is owned by Francis Carruthers in partnership with Mesdames K Bosman & J Hunter, E Hector & Ian Robinson.
Carruthers later scored a double when the horse he owns outright, the Eric Sands-trained Pomodoro gelding Kebonalasedi won a Class 5 race over 1400m by a neck under Callan Murray.
Fourie was at his best once again in the last race, a Class 4 race over 1000m, where he rode the Justin Snaith-trained Gold Giboski. Some would not have been pleased to see him taking a strong hold on the latter at the start, which ensured he was in last place in this fast race over the minimum trip.
However, it was all part of the plan and when Fourie switched the Gold Standard gelding outward in the latter stages it was clear he was going to accelerate past the field and he duly did so to win by half-a-length.
Snaith’s first win had been with the Master Of My Fate gelding Master Of Paris, who was bought to the outside by JP van der Merwe to win the 2200m event by 2,50 lengths.
Master Of Paris is owned by Nancy Cossack in partnership with Ravi Naidoo’s Kalinga and EN Isdell.
Naidoo and Isdell had also won the previous race over 1500m with the talented Candice Bass-trained Master Of My Fate gelding Major Master. The bay had sat in last place under Grant van NIekerk but produced devastating turn of foot in the straight to win by 0,40 lengths.
Fourie’s double took him to 82 wins for the season, just 12 behind national log leader Craig Zackey. He has done it at a strike rate of 25.79%.
Snaith has had 50 wins at 14.33%, which is seven less than Alan Greeff, although he is beating Greeff by a comfortable margin in stakes.
Read All About It At The Big T
Read All About It has been tipped to win the first race, read all about it below (JC Photos)
A Progress Plate and two fillies and mares high level handicaps are the highlights of the Turffontein Standside’s eight race meeting today.
In the Progress Plate over 2000m Read All About is the joint best in at the weights and and his 0,25 length second to The Ultimate King looks good now as the latter finished third in the Summer Cup. He and Don’t Cry For Me are officially 5kg better off with any of the other runners. Read All About it has a fair draw of three out of six. Don’t Cry For Me ran on Saturday over this same course and distance and was beaten 13,10 lengths, although the time of the race was a second quicker than the Betway Summer Cup, so he was not disgraced. He now has pole position as opposed to eight on Saturday. He has tended to take a bit of a hold and it was thus the great Piere Strydom who got the best out of him with his sublime hands. Craig Zackey, who is also known for his soft hands, is the perfect choice of rider for him. He should be right there. The one who makes most appeal for third place is Royal Edition.
In the seventh race, a MR 97 handicap for fillies and mares over 1160m, Stars and Bra’s has a chance on form from a nice high draw, but it is wide open. Tuscan Romance has been knocking hard too and also has a light weight to carry, but a low draw could be a slight concern. Frozen Fantasy has to give the former pair a lot of weight but has the class to be involved especially with Zackey aboard. Poblano has been running below her best but her best races have been with Muzi Yeni up and he gets the ride from a nice middle draw. Pointer could also bounce back to form from a nice high draw.
In the fifth. a MR 93 handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m, Accept Cookies goes for a third win in her last four starts and this progressive sort can do it off a three point higher mark. She enjoyed the step up to 1700m last time and being out of a See You Think mare will likely enjoy the further step up to 1800m. Warning Sound disappointed last time but the yard have had some virus issues and she is capable of a lot better and on pedigree should relish the step up in trip. Key Worker is well bred being a full sister to Surcharge and can follow on from her last win over 2000m as the yard is in form. Arctic Silver is in fine form and can earn again over the distance of her last two wins. Kissing Machine has the form to be a contender from a fair draw.
In the third over 1400m, the first leg of the Pick 6, Jaffa went close to the promising Wayne on debut and can go one better, although he does have a wide draw to overcome. Gavius Maximus improved stepped up to 1600m from sprints and should enjoy this trip too from pole position. Space Mission is improving and can go close with Zackey up.
In the next race over 1800m Anahita is a full sister to Rascallion and should relish the step up in trip but she does have a tricky draw. Real Stunner has the form to be a contender but does have a wide draw, although Gavin Lerena could help him overcome it. Onceinabluemoon could be in the shake up here as she should relish the step up in trip on form. Stokesy went close when stepped up to 1700m second time out and has a chance if able to overcome a wide draw. Naretoi has a fine chance from a fair draw if able to repeat his last run.
In the sixth race over 1800m Duchess Of Paloma is a progressive sort who will relish this trip and she starts off handicapping off a nice mark of 71, although her draw of six out of eleven is tricky. Surprise Party went close in her first try at a middle distance and has a plum draw. Scarlett Heart was not disgraced first time out the maidens and could earn. Lady Blunt is going for a hattrick but does have a four point raise to overcome. Red Sparrow is capable of popping up from a good draw.
In the eighth race over 1160m Victory In Orleans comes from a strong form race and should be in the shake up. Vamanos won her maiden well and starts on a reasonable mark. She’s All Mine has the form to be right there.
In the second race over 1400m, the first leg of the Bipot, Winds Of Change is knocking hard and gets a 4kg claimer up but does have a tricky draw. Kortvandraad was never far back in Cape Town and can improve on her Highveld debut. Delaware River is knocking on the door but does have a tricky draw. Pleiades Star stayed on for second over 1200m last time and should enjoy this trip. Utsaah is improving but does have a wide draw to overcome.
The Circles Of Life And A Summer Cup Winner
Harry and Bridget Oppenheimer’s daughter Mary Slack leads Mocha Blend in on behalf of her daughter and son-in-law Jessica and Steven Jell (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Sporting Post
Fate seems to work in mysterious ways. Victory by Mauritzfontein homebred Mocha Blend in the Betway Gr1 Summer Cup last Saturday brought to full circle a tale which started many years ago when the late Harry and Bridget Oppenheimer acquired the American import Michabo.
A two-time winner in her birth country, the daughter of Super Concorde boasted a fine pedigree nurtured at the famous Tartan Farms in Florida, the home of champion miler Dr Fager, who in fact is Michabo’s broodmare sire.
Like so many Mauritzfontein broodmares, Michabo traced to an influential taproot mare, this being the Princequillo mare Cequillo, ancestress of the successful Fappiano and Quiet American, as well as Gr1 winners Honour And Glory and Ogygian.
For Mauritzfontein, Michabo bred five winners from seven foals, the most notable of which Patache, won the Gr3 Breeders Challenge Stakes and was runner-up in the Gr1 Premiers Champion Stakes.
Her first foal, the Royal Chalice filly Stirrup Cup, put the family on the map so to speak with her Fort Wood son Hunting Tower. Successful in the Gr1 SA Classic, he became the fifth Oppenheimer homebred to win the Gr1 Durban July with victory in the 2007 renewal.
Hunting Tower’s full sister Mabola Plum managed just two places on the track, yet despite her pedigree credentials, was deemed superfluous to the stud’s needs and after being covered by Goldkeeper, was sold privately to then Maine Chance stud manager John Slade.
For him, Mabola Plum became the gift that keeps on giving, as all but two of her 14 foals toured the sales ring and sold for an aggregate of R8,385,000, the most expensive of which stakes winner Macchiato for R2.9-million. As John quipped: “Mabola put my kids through private school!”
By the time her Silvano filly Mocha Special came up for sale at the 2007 National Sale, Mabola Plum had produced her first stakes winner, the National Assembly filly Mocha Java. Successful in the Gr3 Tommy Hotspur Handicap, she also had the distinction of chasing home champion sprinters Mythical Flight and National Colours in the Gr1 Graham Beck Wines Cape Flying Championship and Mercury Sprint respectively.
In addition, Mochachino, a then juvenile full sister to Mocha Special, was also showing promise and would go on to win the Gr2 Camellia Stakes.
At the time, there was no longer a family member amongst the Mauritzfontein broodmare band, hence it came as no surprise that it was Mrs Bridget Oppenheimer who bid R1.2-million to acquire Mocha Special.
By the time Mocha Special retired to the Mauritzfontein paddocks a one-time winner, Mabola Plum had produced her third stakes winner, the Jet Master colt Macchiato, as well as Gr3-placed Americano.
Mocha Special too, became a stakes producer. Her Gimmethegreenlight colt Barahin, who was sold to Shadwell as a yearling for R2.6-million, came into his own as a late two-year-old by claiming the Listed Gatecrasher Stakes before outdueling stable companion Soqrat in the Gr2 Durban Golden Horseshoe. Trained by Mike de Kock, he added the Gr3 Jubilee Handicap at three, having chased Hawwaam home in the Gr1 SA Classic .
As the dam of a Gr1 winner in Mocha Blend, Mocha Special went one better than Mabola Plum. In hindsight, the decision to retain the filly was a wise move, as she followed in the footsteps of another illustrious Mauritzfontein homebred, who landed the Cup in 2020.
Like so many of Ideal World’s progeny, Mocha Blend has come into her own as a four-year-old and joins Met queen Smart Call as his second Gr1 winning filly.
A proud-as- punch John Slade added: “I am so pleased how the family has rewarded Mauritzfontein. Mrs O bought Mocha Special and now Jessica has bred Mocha Blend.”
Although Mabola Plum is no more, he kept her Count Dubois daughter Mochalette, who was born prematurely.
Be that as it may, as a broodmare Mochalette contributed to the family fortunes as the dam of Zimbabwe Derby and Oaks winner Coffeeberry and stakes-placed six-time winner Kazaar. The former, a daughter of Master Of My Fate, has returned to join John’s small but select broodmare band and is carrying her first foal to Querari, the sire of Kazaar.
And while the Oppenheimers’ grandaughter Jessica continues to keep the Mauritzfontein flame alive, the next Slade generation has also joined the breeding fraternity. John’s daughter Catherine, together with husband Brett, are the proud owners of Mocha Blend’s own sister Expresso Martini, one of three foundation mares for their fledgling breeding operation, Hole River Farm. A seven-time winner, she has a Got The Greenlight yearling and a Thunderstruck foal at foot.
Today's Question
FIELDS, Thursday, 4 December
Today’s Question Answer
The St. Leger Stakes is the world’s oldest Group 1 horse race. It was first run in 1776 and is held annually at the Doncaster Racecourse in South Yorkshire, UK.
