The Molly Awards
It’s Time For Dave Mollett’s Annual “Honours List”. In May The Veteran Scribe Reached The Milestone Of 50 Years As A Racing Journo In South Africa.
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In the jockey and trainer categories, those who finished in the top five in last season’s national logs are ineligible.
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2022 Molly Awards
HORSE-OF-THE-YEAR: CHARLES DICKENS
On December 19 2043, Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” was published in the UK – fast forward 179 years and the song being sung by racing fans this Christmas was in praise of Candice Bass-Robinson’s colt.
Once again, a top horse has been well-named. Charles Dickens was the most popular novelist of the Victorian era.
What I liked about Candice’s post-race interview after the colt’s Cape Guineas success (nearly as long as a certain Mr Khumalo) is that the 48 year-old trainer dedicated the race to her father, Mike Bass. Amazingly, he never won the Guineas but just about every other race in the racing calendar. He should be inducted into racing’s “Hall Of Fame.”
Bookmakers have Charles Dickens at 6-10 for the L’Ormarins King’s Plate where he is set to clash with 2022 winner, Jet Dark. The layers have probably got their sums right.
Experts (in alphabetical order) like Robin Bruss, Charles Faull and Karel Miedema have been quoted in Sporting Post as to where Charles Dickens fits in against other champions such as Horse Chestnut. Just like Flightline stole the show in the USA this year, we must simply be happy to have a debate about a rising star in our own country.
The big question is – if Charles Dickens wins on January 7 – will Gaynor Rupert accept the invitation to run in the Breeders Cup at Santa Anita at the end of November. No doubt the Drakenstein boss will be guided by her lieutenant, Kevin Sommerville, and hopefully he will want to see – unlike our non-involvment in the World Cup in Qatar – a South African horse strutting his stuff on the world stage.
Thus, there remains the possibility that Aldo Domeyer may be taking on Frankie Dettori at his last race meeting as a jockey. No surprise if Phil Georgiou is already planning a trip for SA racing fans.
If Charles Dickens had never been born, this award would have gone to Steve Moffatt’s game old mare, Rouge Allure. But now comes the saddest news possible – the mare passed away shortly after her arrival in KZN.
“She contracted colic at the stud I sent her to – it’s a terrible shock,” said owner Albert Rapp.
Rouge Allure made her racecourse debut (finishing fourth) at the Vaal in August 2016 and – three months later – won her first race in the hands of Craig Zackey.
Gavin Lerena piloted the now nine year-old to the 15th win of her career at Turffontein at the end of July.
One has to take your hat off – or hand a Castle Lite – to Steve Moffatt for keeping Rouge Allure on the boil for so many years.
TRAINER: JOHAN JANSE VAN VUUREN
After an 11th place finish last season, Johan would have said to himself “a top-five finish must be my target next term.” He has far surpassed that with – statistics up to Dec 23 – showing the 40 year-old in third place in the national trainers log.
Johan’s success – and that of his chief patron Laurence Wernars – will have delighted trainer Geoff Woodruff who is currently in Saudi Arabia. The Vereeniging-born youngster was his assistant for 13 years.
Johan will be as aware as any trainer that – if you don’t have quality stock in this game – one can end up on the slippery slope to nowhere. Thankfully Laurence Wernars hasn’t been shy to invest in the bloodstock world – in a way there is a comparison with Sean Tarry and the much-missed Chris Van Niekerk who was responsible for getting the Tarry train on the rails.
Johan’s tally of winners this term is 36 – and his four year-old filly, Bon Vivant, notched the sixth win of her career at Turffontein on Christmas Eve. It was a race of mixed fortune for the stable as a recent Wernars acquisition, the four-time winner Maharanee – unshipped Gavin Lerena as the gates opened.
But that race is an indication of Johan’s talent as another filly in the field, Moonshiningthrough, has won twice in the last two months.
Of course, the cherry on top of Johan and Laurence’s year was Puerto Manzano’s win in the Betway Summer Cup – just one of a number of outstanding rides for their regular pilot, Keagan De Melo.
In an interview when he had just taken out his licence, Johan said his dream was to become “champion trainer.” With Laurence’s financial firepower, that dream might become a reality.
JOCKEY: KABELO MATSUNYANE
Kabelo’s path of success has pretty much followed that of Johan Janse van Vuuren – from 18th place last term to sixth this season and not far off his regular rivals S’manga Khumalo and Muzi Yeni.
Last season he rode 53 winners – he passed that total two weeks ago and there are still seven months of the season remaining.
What has become evident is that Kabelo, who rode his first winner at the Vaal in June 2018, has got the attention of Brett Crawford who just happens to be in second place in the trainers log.
Kabelo has been entrusted with most of the rides for Crawford’s Highveld sattelite yard run by his son, James. He has also flown to the Cape to partner a number of Crawford runners and Justin Snaith booked the up-and-coming rider for Pomp And Power in the Green Point Stakes.
One of two SA Jockey Academy students chosen to spend time at the British Racing School in 2018, Kabelo doesn’t get many rides for the top yards of Mike De Kock and Sean Tarry. That many change if his good form continues.
OWNER: DAVID SHAWE
It really is some feat to own the first two horses home in the WSB Grand Heritage – a race with the biggest field assembled in the racing calendar. Similar to an owner running first and second in the Grand National.
For businessman David, the 1-2 by Duke Of Sussex and Dyce has to be the highlight of his time as an owner and reward for his investment in the sport over the last few years.
He also owns the promising three year-old, Munchkin, who wasn’t a cheap buy at R500 000. He looks one to follow in 2023.
But it is the comeback of Dyce which will have David raising his glass at New Year. Lucky Houdalakis told Turf Talk that the son of William Longsword had suffered a “horrific” injury which resulted in him being sidelined for over a year. A screw had to be inserted into his fetlock.
The injury occurred soon after Dyce’s impressive four lengths feature race win at Hollywoodbets Greyville on the last day of the 2020/21 season.
Duke Of Sussex – who cost David R425 000 when purchased from Drakenstein Stud – has repaid that outlay with eight wins and is another talented performer sired by the deceased stallion, Duke Of Marmalade. The five year-old may be aimed at the Listed Wolf Power 1600 on the day after the WSB Cape Met.
BREEDER: DRAKENSTEIN STUD
The one question probably worrying Drakenstein matriarch, Gaynor Rupert, is whether 2023 can be as good as 2022? Quite possibly, it could easily surpass it.
The stud got off to a flying start to the new year with Rain In Holland winning the Triple Tiara and events continued on an upward spiral. Their four year-old son of Trippi, Jet Dark, sold to Messrs Tommy Crowe and Nic Jonsson, ran second in the Durban July and then won the Gr 1 Champions Cup.
Trippi was also the sire of Allan Robertson winner, Sweet Pepper, but the stallion, still alive and well at the stud at the age of 25, was to really hit the headlines with his son, Charles Dickens.
Following his four lengths romp in the Cape Guineas, Mrs Rupert described it as her best day on a racecourse. But that could be pushed into second place if her colt wins a race at what is basically her personal meeting – the L’Ormarins King’s Plate.
That too could be surpassed if Charles Dickens ventures to America at the end of the year to take on the best thoroughbreds in the world.
ACHIEVER: The “WEIGHTED-TO-WIN” team.
This award goes to the trio of Clyde Basel, Darryl Maree and Daryn Burroughs whose preview and tips prior to every meeting has become one of the most popular daily features of 4Racing.
It’s a simple fact that punters love tips and – with this trio – the racing public get the end result of some serious form studying.
The return of Darryl Maree is particularly welcome. Along with many of us, Darryl was sidelined for two years as a result of the Phumelela debacle. At the time, he had a big following and many of those have now returned.
In the last few months, the team has come up with a number of Pick 6 wins. Yes, sometimes the perms involve a big outlay but a punter can always take a percentage.
PRESENTER: NADINE RAPSON AND NEIL PRETORIUS
This Eastern Cape duo is a combination which works – they set a terrific standard to the rest of the country to match up to and compliment each other greatly.
Nadine, who married Gary Low Ah Kee 10 years ago, is a former jockey in the province so she can give punters valuable information as she knows the leading players like Alan Greeff and Gavin Smith better than anyone.
POSTHUMOUS: MICHAEL JAVETT
A stalwart of the racing ranks for five decades, Michael Javett passed away recently at the age of 86. He was a top businessman and Patron Of The Arts.
In their tribute, the Sporting Post stated that Mr Javett was the “driving force” behind the creation of the Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria.
In partnership with Fane Tenderini, Mr Javett had his most memorable day as an owner when Politician won the Durban July (then sponsored by Rothmans) in 1978. Syd Laird’s champion won 18 races including 11 Gr 1’s.
He always hoped to find another horse as talented as Politician and he was a big spender at the country’s bloodstock sales. He once quipped to me “I’m searching, Molly, but lightning rarely strikes twice in this game.”
On his website, Mike De Kock got it 100% right when stating “Mr Javett was a gentleman from the old school in business and racing, a humble private man who enjoyed his horses and cared for the industry. We were honoured to have him in our ranks for so many years.”
BEST QUOTE of 2022: GREG BORTZ
On his first involvement with Cape racing, Greg said: “The patient’s not critical, the patient’s dead.”
Ormond Ferraris’ Autobiography Is A Page Turner
“Thoroughly”, the recently released autobiography of master trainer Ormond Ferraris ghostwritten by gifted scribe Charl Pretorius, is a page turner which should be enjoyed by all racing fans.
The layout has short, concise, easy to read chapters and the content reaffirms Ferraris’ reputation as a dedicated trainer who puts his horses first.
Ormond develops expertise in all facets of training and his most rewarding finds at the Sales range from a R200 purchase to the brilliant Australian-bred Tracy’s Element.
His famous dedication to his profession was in fact emphasised on the day he spotted Tracy’s Element.
It followed an exhausting flight to Australia, but rather than rest in the hotel and wait for the next day he went straight to the sales grounds where he spotted the filly walking by soon after arriving there.
The book also confirms Ormond to be a forthright man, particularly when believing he has been wronged.
The first time a wealthy owner pushed him too far the twenty-seven year-old Ormond jumped in his car and drove to the latter’s office. The subsequent confrontation makes interesting reading!
However, the sometimes rocky relationships he had with owners, some of whom had reputations as people not to be messed with, is trumped by his expertise as a horseman.
Therefore, his career progresses steadily.
Ormond’s career truly took off after moving to the Vaal, a fact which would probably not be known by many.
His reasoning for the move, i.e. the training tracks had no clay underneath them and thus drained well, proved spot on.
Ormond also had up and down relationships with some jockeys, as the book will reveal.
However, what shone through was his loyalty to jockeys, and vice versa, which always allowed a flourishing partnership to develop with the good ones.
One of the fascinating aspects of the book is it gives insight into different eras of racing in South Africa.
Stable punting was essential to survival in his early years because trainers and jockeys, amazingly enough, did not get a percentage of the stakes money. All of the stake money went to the owner.
The pressure was high and reached such a zenith in Ormond’s career that in the mid 1960s, following a spell of gambling losses which ate into one particularly big win, he packed up training.
Luckily for SA racing, he was soon back where he belonged.
There were then the boom years of the 1970s,1980s and the first part of 1990, when massive crowds attended the races, the stakes increased and the quality of the thoroughbreds competing was as good as ever.
The horses were bred tougher in those days and this is emphasised when Ormond states matter-of-factly that his top class colt Distinctly made his debut over 800m on October 10 of his two-year-old season!
Of course Distinctly is at the centre of Ormond’s most disappointing day on a racecourse, the 1975 July.
Another aspect mentioned by Ormond is that throughout the dark days of apartheid, peace and harmony existed between the various races of South Africa on the racecourse, even in the times when they were forced on to separate grandstands.
The era which followed the boom years was the corporatisation of racing, which was deemed necessary due to the legalisation of casinos, which brought with it a steady dwindling of crowd attendance at the races as well as a downturn in betting turnover.
One of the owners Ormond most admired was American Barry Irwin and he mentioned the latter’s outspoken opposition to the nepotism and capture of racing by the elite which characterised the corporate era.
The reader is kept captured throughout by insight into the memorable horses he trained like Tracy’s Element, Wagga Wagga, Distinctly, Pretty Border, Vigliotto, Fine Regent, Miss Averof, Rakeen, St. Just, Travel North, Overarching, Cherry On The Top etc, his affinity with sires like Hobnob and his stints at numerous training venues, including Milnerton.
There are plenty of fascinating side dramas too which keep the pages turning.
Christophe Soumillon Pays A Price – But Picks Up A Golden Ducat
Mike Moon (The Citizen)
Soumillon arrived in Cape Town today to fulfil an engagement with trainer Eric Sands’s six-year-old Golden Ducat in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate on Saturday.
World renowned jockey Christophe Soumillon has chosen Kenilworth Racecourse on the southern tip of Africa to make his comeback to the saddle following a 60-day ban for an infamous incident in France in which he elbowed a fellow rider off a horse in mid-race.
Soumillon arrives in Cape Town on Tuesday to fulfil an engagement with trainer Eric Sands’s six-year-old Golden Ducat in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate on Saturday.
The Belgian’s good friend and fellow jock Bernard Fayd’Herbe said on Cape Racing’s Twitter feed that Soumillon had been “skiing and getting fit” in Europe while serving out his two-month banishment from the racetracks of the world.
The presence of such an illustrious racing figure adds a layer of lustre to an already eagerly anticipated event. The venerable race – the Queen’s Plate for the past 70 years, but now acknowledging Britain’s new monarch – is the top mile contest in South Africa and has been won by great racehorses down the years.
Excitement for the 2023 race is heightened by the participation of wonder colt Charles Dickens, from the Candice Bass-Robinson yard, whose sensational performances in his six-race unbeaten career has evoked memories of Sea Cottage and Horse Chestnut.
Charles Dickens, to be ridden by local ace Aldo Domeyer, is quoted at 11-20 in the ante-post market, while Golden Ducat, a two-time Grade 1 winner, is a 16-1 fourth favourite.
Christophe Soumillon
Soumillon has ridden at the highest level for many years and his gongs include the Prix de la Arc de Triomphe, the Breeders’ Cup Turf, the Japan Cup and the King George. But he suffered a moment of madness at Saint-Cloud on 30 September when riding a horse called Syros in the Group 3 Prix Thomas Bryon. In the back straight, he violently elbowed Irish jockey Rossa Ryan, who plummeted to the turf at about 60km/h.
Ryan was not injured but television viewers were shocked and outraged – as were the local stipes, who disqualified Syros, the eventual runner-up, because of Soumillon’s antics.
The guilty man immediately apologised and vowed to pay all the unfortunate visiting Irish horse’s stable’s costs. Ryan was forgiving, but the authorities were not and handed Soumillon his 60-day “holiday”.
The punishment wasn’t over. The Aga Khan, one of the world’s prominent racehorse owners, tore up the jockey’s lucrative retainer, in place since 2014.
As the bans didn’t kick in immediately, Soumillon was permitted to ride the Aga Khan’s horses over the next few days – winning on a couple at the Saint-Cloud meeting and then running second in the famous green and red silks aboard Vadeni in the Arc two days later.
Soumillon’s last ride before his enforced layoff was at Keenelend in the US for top Irish trainer Aiden O’Brien – finishing third in a Grade 1 mile race.
‘Totally unacceptable’
A very contrite jockey remarked to journalists: “It was a terrible thing that happened … I made a mistake and I am upset for my owner and trainer as well as for his … I totally understand the reaction of people who question what happened and feel it was totally unacceptable, so it is for me to suffer the consequences … I have to serve a suspension, which is certainly a heavy punishment but nonetheless justified.”
Phlegmatic Ryan told Racing Post: “I just got a bump and lost my balance. It’s just one of those things that happens.”
“Pace Makes The Race” – Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes Preview
Cape Racing
“Pace makes the race” is a racing adage that may well have a bearing on the result of the Cartier Paddock Stakes at Kenilworth on Saturday. Fervent supporters of favourite Captain’s Ransom will believe that this extraordinary filly will win regardless of the early tempo, but she could be taken out of her comfort zone in a hard run 1800m should Fillies Guineas winner, Make It Snappy, or Bass Racing entry Echo of Life force the issue to help her deep-closing stable companion, Marina.
The mare, Captain’s Ransom is a phenom having won 13 of her sixteen starts, including multiple G1’s. She scrambled home in this race last year from Chansonette and a late charging Marina, but her absolute best figures have been attained between 1200 and 1600m. She uses exceptional acceleration to get the job done – expert jock, Richard Fourie, who has won on her 11 times out of 13, again takes the reins.
2022 Durban July winner, Sparkling Water also looms a threat. On official merit ratings Mike de Kock’s entry is only two points behind Justin Snaith’s champion – 122 vs 124. Her versatile running style will stand her in good stead as she can come from off them or race handily, as required.
Hold my Hand was 2.25 lengths off Make it Snappy in the Fillies Guineas but that does not convey the full picture. Whilst Brett Crawford’s runner did not encounter a straw in her path setting even fractions upfront, bad things were happening to Hold My Hand from her wide draw of 14/14. It is a credit to Hold my Hand’s latent ability that she got as close as she did after being blocked in the straight and she is worthy of respect, too.
Rain in Holland won the Triple Tiara on the Highveld between February and April of 2022 and would be a factor if regaining that form, but her recent efforts have not hit those heights.
A bigger menace could be Marina – striving for her first G1. The Silvano mare is capable at the highest level, and she will be passing tiring rivals late. She can only hope that Captain’s Ransom’s brilliant and typically decisive turn of foot will be blunted over this longer trip.
Winter Cloud, Full-sister to Clouds Unfold, Impressed Today
Candice Bass Robinson and Drakenstein Stud are proving to be a lethal combination this season.
The Bass Robinson-trained Drakenstein homebreds Charles Dickens, Trip Of Fortune and Santa Maria have already secured five Graded victories between them this season and others might join them, including Winter Cloud.
Today, the two-year-old What A Winter filly ran in a Maiden Juvenile Plate over 1000m in her second career start and after travelling well within herself she moved to the front effortlessly and pulled clear to win as she liked by 3,25 lengths under Aldo Domeyer.
She is a full-sister to the dual Grade 1 Majorca Stakes winner Clouds Unfold, who was also trained by Bass-Robinson.
Their mother Montelissima is an unplaced Irish-bred daughter of Montjeu.
However, Montelissima is a half-sister to Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes winner Arria (Antonius Pius).
Winter Cloud might follow in Arria’s footsteps because the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes over 1100m on WSB Met day will be an option.
Their first win together was with Van Hunks (Silvano), who swept past Tout A Fait, whose rider landed a seven day suspension for hampering Max The Otter at the 150m mark, causing the latter to be eased and finish unplaced.
Later they combined with another progeny of Silvano, the filly Silverlinks.
Fourie is now on 88 wins for the season, 36 behind leader Keagan de Melo, and he has done it at a strike rate of 19.78%.
Snaith is now on 67 wins at 12.93% and he is over R1.2 million clear of Johan Janse van Vuuren in the national trainers championship.
Distinctly with Tobie van Booma up has been carried out on to the outside rail by Gatecrasher, who was ridden by Garth Puller, in the controversial finish to the 1975 July.
Today’s Question
Distinctly was one of the unluckiest July losers in history.
However, What July first did this Ormond Ferraris-trained colt establish?
Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.
Click Here To See Hollywoodbets Greyville Poly Fields, Wednesday
NB Please wait a few seconds for fields to appear.
Picture: Unfortunately for trainer and part-owner Ormond Ferraris the horse on the far side, Principal Boy, crossed the line ahead of Distinctly, who was part-owned also by Bennie Peznik, Dave Kopping, Harry Suckerman and Mordley Zimmerman, meaning Distinctly could only be promoted to second place after the objection against the winner Gatecrasher was upheld.
