The Hollywoodbets Durban July weights seem set in stone too most at present, but the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge on June 10 could bring about a dramatic change to that structure and so could the supplementing of either Charles Dickens or Al Muthana before the final supplementary stage on June 13
How The July Weights Can Still Change
There are still two or three scenarios that could have a dramatic effect on the Hollywoodbets Durban July weight structure:
- Al Muthana is used as the line horse in the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge and a July entry runs close to him.
- Charles Dickens is supplemented into the race.
- Al Muthana is supplemented into the race.
Scenario 1 has a realistic chance of happening.
One person who will hope it does not happen is Piere Strydom, because it might scupper his chances of riding See It Again in the big race.
Strydom has said he would not be able to ride in the July at any weight lower than 57kg.
Al Muthana has a very real chance of being made the line horse in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge. After all he has won two Gr 1 weight for age races over a mile … you can hardly get more consistent form than that when looking for a line horse in a Gr 1 wfa mile.
The July entries among the Gold Challenge entry list are:
Do It Again (124), Safe Passage (124), Zapatillas (122), Cousin Casey (122), Rascallion (122), Shoemaker (114).
All of them risk being raised if Al Muthana is made the line horse and they finish close to him.
If one of the three-year-olds among that lot gets raised to the exclusion of the others it will be good news for Strydom.
Let’s assume Cousin Casey is raised to 132, because that would be the same as scenario 2) i.e. the 132-rated Charles Dickens being supplemented.
If a three-year-old rated 132 is thrown into the current weight structure, call him Charles Dickens, then he would be the highest net merit rated horse in the race on 128 an the weights would have to be structured around him.
He would initially be given 60kg, Safe Passage and Do It Again (124 net) would be given 58kg, See It Again (120 net) would be given 56kg, Dave The King and Cousin Casey (118 net) would be given 55kg and Without Question (116 net) would be given 54kg.
However, the clause about three-year-olds not being allowed to carry more than 57kg would then come into it and Charles Dickens would be dropped to 57kg.
The topweights Do It Again and Safe Passage would then be 58kg.
Therefore, they will have to be dragged up 2kg to 60kg.
The rest of the field would have to be dragged up accordingly, so Do It Again and Safe Passage would end up on 60kg, Charles Dickens would end up on 59kg, See It Again on 58kg, Cousin Casey and Dave The King on 57kg and Without Question on 56kg.
This would be a bad news scenario for the bottom weights like Pacaya, who at present is sneaking into the handicap with 53kg.
He would have to carry 55kg, while the bottom weighted females would have to carry 54kg.
If an older horse, Safe Passage for example, gets a significant raise by running close to or beating Al Muthana and the rest don’t then it could scupper the chances of Strydom riding See It Again.
Let’s assume Safe Passage is raised to 133, because that would be the same as scenario 3) i.e. Al Muthana being supplemented.
Safe Passage would then carry 60kg and as things stand Do It Again would carry 55.5kg, See It Again would carry 53.5kg, and Cousin Casey, Dave The King and Without Question would all carry the minimum weight for a three-year-old of 53kg and would all be under sufferance, the first pair by half-a-kilogram and Without Question by 1,5kg.
Below are the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July weights as they currently stand (merit rating order):
Do It Again (8G) 124 60kg
Safe Passage (4G) 124 60kg
See It Again (3C) 124 57kg
Pomp And Power (4G) 123 59.5kg
Puerto Manzano (ARG) 123 59.5kg
Cousin Casey (3C) 122 57kg
Dave The King (3C) 122 57kg
Rascallion (5G) 122 59kg
Zapatillas (4C) 122 59kg
Rain In Holland (4F) 120 58kg
Second Base (5G) 120 58kg
Without Question (3G) 120 56kg
Billy Bowlegs (3C) 118 55kg
Nebraas (6G) 117 56.5kg
Silver Darling (4F) 117 56.5kg
Time Flies (4F) 117 56.5kg
Jimmy Don (3C) 116 56kg
Union Square (3C) 116 54kg
Son Of Raj (3G) 115 53.5kg
Aragosta (4G) 114 55kg
Shoemaker (3G) 114 53kg
Litigation (4C) 112 54kg
East Coast (3C) 111 53kg
Airways Law (5G) 110 53kg
Pacaya (4G) 110 53kg
Quasiforsure (4G) 110 53kg
Bless My Stars (3F) 109 52kg
Rockpool (3G) 109 53kg
Rule By Force (3C) 108 53kg
Pyromaniac (4G) 106 53kg
Electric Gold (3C) 103 53kg
Flying Bull (5G) 103 53kg
King Regent (3G) 103 53kg
Winchester Mansion (4G) 103 53kg
Cape Eagle (5G) 100 53kg
Raiseahallelujah (5G) 99 53kg
Future Prince (4G) 96 53kg
Charles Dickens is one from one at Hollywoodbets Greyville, having won the Gr 2 WSB Guineas last time out (Candiese Lenferna Photography).
Charles “Goosebumps” Dickens Puts Up Good Gallop
Candice Bass-Robinson’s Gr 1-winning pair Charles Dickens and Trip Of Fortune galloped around the turn at Summerveld last week and “put up some really nice work.”
She added, “So everything is on track for the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge (June 10 at Hollywoodbets Greyville). Charles Dickens has come on nicely for that last run and I am very happy with him.”
She is also very happy with Trip Of Fortune and concluded, “I’m very happy with all of my horses at Summerveld.”
Charles Dickens will likely be a short-priced favourite for the Gold Challenge where he will bid to exact revenge on his L’Ormarins King’s Plate conqueror, Al Muthana.
The superstar Trippi colt, who is nicknamed either Charles or “Goosebumps”, proved his superiority over the mile trip last time out in the Gr 2 WSB Guineas when still needing the run.
Candice said the “Goosebumps” nickname had come about early in his career when a jockey got off and said he had given him “goosebumps.”
Charles Dickens is not a Hollywoodbets Durban July entry but Candice did not totally dismiss the idea of supplementing him when asked recently whether there was any chance of it happening.
He was deemed to have not stayed when beaten by See It Again in the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby, but the latter’s subsequent form points to that still being a fine effort and he would only have to give See It Again 1kg as things stand (see first article in the newsletter).
Without Question has been raised one point to 120 (Picture: Wayne Marks)
Handicapping Ratings Update
The Daily News 2000 ratings updates have had no significant impact on the Hollywoodbets Durban July, with just Without Question gaining half-a-kilogram.
SEE IT AGAIN, who was rated to win on official merit ratings, remains unchanged on a rating of 124 following his success in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 over 2000m on the turf track at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday 27 May. The Handicappers were unanimous in their view that SEE IT AGAIN himself made for the best line horse, which explains his unchanged rating. In assessing the race this way 2nd placed DAVE THE KING, who was rated joint 2nd on official merit ratings, also runs to his mark effectively making him a line horse as well and leaving him unchanged on a rating of 122.
In the process of winning here SEE IT AGAIN fully vindicated the 124 rating he received after winning the Grade 1 Cape Derby in February.
WITHOUT QUESTION’s twenty pounds adjustment for running 3rd in the Grade 1 Cape Derby proved fully justified after confirming that the run was no fluke when running 3rd in the Daily News 2000. WITHOUT QUESTION actually got 0,5 of a length closer to SEE IT AGAIN when compared to his run in the Cape Derby and accordingly goes up from 119 to 120.
There were also increases for the relatively unexposed recent Handicap winners, RIVER ROMEO and STREET ART. RIVER ROMEO was adjusted from 84 to 107, and STREET ART, was raised from 88 to 103.
The only ratings drop was for EAST COAST, who is down slightly from 112 to 111.
- Woolavington 2000 (Grade 1)
RAIN IN HOLLAND remains unaltered on a rating of 120 after she won the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000 for fillies and mares over 2000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. Here too the Handicappers believed that the winner made for the most suitable line horse, hence her unchanged rating.
Runner-up TIME FLIES was raised from 96 to 117, while 4th finisher HOLD MY HAND goes up from 104 to 115. There were also increases for the 7th placed dead-heaters LIGHT OF THE MOON and PEACH DAIQUIRI, who both go up to 110 from 105 and 106, respectively.
There were drops for two horses. 3rd placed SILVER DARLING is down from 120 to 117, keeping her in line with the two who beat her, while 5th placed MARINA was dropped from 117 to 115 to make her the equal of 4th finisher HOLD MY HAND, bearing in mind that there was no more than a short head between them here.
- Lonsdale Stirrup Cup (Handicap) (Grade 3)
SEA MASTER has had his rating raised from 95 to 99 after winning the Grade 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup (handicap) over 2400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. The Handicappers believed that 2nd placed RAISEAHALLELUJAH and 3rd finisher ARAGOSTA made for the most suitable line horses, leaving them unchanged on 99 and 114, respectively. In assessing the race this way 7th finisher REX UNION also runs to his mark, effectively making him a line horse as well and leaving him unchanged on a mark of 97.
SEA MASTER was three pounds or 1.5 kgs under sufferance at the weights, which largely explains the five-point raise in his rating.
4th finisher OTTO LUYKEN was no fewer than 14 pounds or 7 kgs under sufferance at the weights. Accordingly, his rating goes up from 90 to 103. There were no other ratings increases, but three horses were given a drop.
ONE WAY TRAFFIC is down slightly from 110 to 109, SHANGO is down to 107 from 108, and lastly SENSO UNICO was dropped from 111 to 110.
- Milkwood Stakes (Listed)
PHEDRA remains unchanged on a rating of 103 after she won the Listed Milkwood Stakes for fillies and mares over 1000m on the Polytrack at Fairview on Friday. The race was originally scheduled for the turf course but was moved to the Polytrack because of weather-related reasons.
In assessing the race, the Handicappers felt that PHEDRA would at least have equalled the 94 she ran to when finishing 3rd in a similar Listed event over 1200m at Fairview in February and used that level to rate the Milkwood Stakes. Interestingly, in rating the race this way 4th placed WINTER FURI runs to a mark of 87, having also run to 87 on the only previous occasion that she visited the Eastern Cape. Accordingly, her rating goes up to 87 from 82.
There were also increases for runner-up TIPSY TINA, who was raised from 81 to 93, and for 3rd placed EUROPEAN SUMMER, who is up from 81 to 89.
The only drop was for FRANCA, who is down from 96 to 93.
Sean Tarry has won 15 Grade 1 races at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and has a fine chance of adding to that record on Saturday (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Hollywood Scottsville Festival Of Speed Meeting Has Four Top Class Gr 1 Fields
Gold Circle
Gimme A Prince will be looking to stake a claim for the EQUUS Champion Sprinter crown by lifting the coveted R850 000 Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint title on Saturday at Hollywoodbets Scottsville as he takes on a quality field of 16 runners. Rio Querari finished 2nd to Gimme a Prince in the Pongracz Cape Flying Championship in January and won his prep run in the Champagne Stakes in the Cape in early May. Both he and We’re Jamming will be having their first runs in KZN for the season. Last year’s Gold Medallion winner, Thunderstruck, will be looking to recapture his form from a year ago. Seeking The Stars had his first run in a year in the IOS Drill Hall Stakes and only faded late, so will not be without a chance over the 1200m straight. The very versatile champion filly, Under Your Spell, has chosen to take on the boys rather than take her place in the South African Fillies Sprint. Other notable entries are Bartholdi and William Robertson who ran 2nd in the Golden Horse Sprint and Mercury Sprint last year.
The South African Fillies Sprint, brought to you by The Witness, has attracted a small but high-quality field of 10 runners. Princess Calla and Desert Miracle renew their rivalry, but Golden Hostess, Cold Fact and Stiptelik will be looking establish their Grade 1 credentials in this highly competitive sprint.
The Jackpot of Grade 1 Sprints is kicked off by the two 2-year-old races. The Allan Robertson Championship for fillies has the unbeaten Mrs Geriatrix who won the WSB SA Fillies Nursery last time out, taking on the very well related Winter Cloud. With many of the field of 12 fillies only having run a few times, there is likely to be a lot of improvement from many of the fillies in the first Grade 1 two-year-old race of the season.
The R700 000 Gr1 Gold Medallion has Red Bomber, Cliff Hanger and Lucky Lad who are joined by the only filly in the race, Egyptian Mau as four of the eleven runners yet to taste defeat.
Once again, Sean Tarry, who has been so successful at this race day in the recent past, has a very strong hand in each of the Grade 1 sprints with Mrs Geriatrix, Lucky Lad, Princess Calla and Under Your Spell leading his charge this year.
Race-5 (Turf / Stand) R 700,000 1200m 14:20 Ref-809
1st R437,500, 2nd R140,000, 3rd R70,000, 4th R35,000, 5th R17,500
ALLAN ROBERTSON CHAMPIONSHIP (Grade 1)
For 2 year-old Fillies
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
1 1 MOVING IN 60,0 0 A G Lerena J A Janse van Vuuren
2 2 GOLDEN TATJANA 60,0 0 A G van Niekerk Glen Kotzen
3 3 RASCOVA 60,0 0 A K de Melo Glen Kotzen
4 4 CAPTAIN’S CHRISTY 60,0 0 A S Khumalo Mark Dixon
5 5 GLOBAL THUNDER 60,0 0 A M Yeni Corrie Lensley
6 6 TROPPO VELOCE 60,0 0 A R Danielson Ashley Fortune
7 7 RED HOT ROSE 60,0 0 BA C Habib Mike de Kock
8 8 ELEGANT ICE 60,0 0 A C Zackey Lucky Houdalakis
9 9 CULLINAN BLUE 60,0 0 A K Matsunyane Brett Crawford
10 10 WINTER CLOUD 60,0 0 A A Domeyer Candice Bass-Robinson
11 11 HOT PEARL 60,0 0 A S Moodley Wendy Whitehead
12 12 MRS GERIATRIX 60,0 0 A R Fourie Sean Tarry
Same Trainer
(2,3)
Race-6 (Turf / Stand) R 700,000 1200m 14:55 Ref-810
1st R437,500, 2nd R140,000, 3rd R70,000, 4th R35,000, 5th R17,500
GOLD MEDALLION (Grade 1)
For 2 year-olds
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
1 1 ICY BLAST 60,0 0 BA S Veale Vaughan Marshall
2 2 LET THE FLAG FLY 60,0 0 BA T Godden Tienie Prinsloo
3 3 GUY GIBSON 60,0 0 A M Yeni Roy Magner
4 4 RED BOMBER 60,0 0 A G Lerena J A Janse van Vuuren
5 5 OUTLAW KING 60,0 0 A K de Melo Dean Kannemeyer
6 6 THE AFRICA HOUSE 60,0 0 A S Khumalo Sean Tarry
7 7 WARRIOR OF ROYALTY 60,0 0 A R Khathi Nathan Kotzen
8 8 EGYPTIAN MAU 57,5 0 A C Zackey Lucky Houdalakis
9 9 CLIFF HANGER 60,0 0 A B Jacobson J A Janse van Vuuren
10 10 THE ABDICATOR (IRE 60,0 0 Ae L Mxothwa Brett Crawford
11 11 LUCKY LAD 60,0 0 A R Fourie Sean Tarry
Same Trainer
(4,9) (6,11)
Race-7 (Turf / Stand) R 750,000 1200m 15:25 Ref-811
1st R468,750, 2nd R150,000, 3rd R75,000, 4th R37,500, 5th R18,750
SOUTH AFRICAN FILLIES SPRINT (Grade 1)
For Fillies and Mares at Weight-For-Age
WFA: 2yrs-8.5kgs 3yrs-1.0kgs
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
1 1 PRINCESS CALLA 60,0 127 A R Fourie Sean Tarry
2 2 AUNTY LIZZY 60,0 102 A G van Niekerk Lorenzo Karriem
3 3 COLD FACT 60,0 112 PA D Schwarz Tony Peter
4 4 STIPTELIK (AUS) 60,0 108 A L Mxothwa Brett Crawford
5 5 WHOA WHOA WHOA (AUG) 60,0 108 Ae K Matsunyane Brett Crawford
6 6 AMEENA 59,0 112 A S Moodley Glen Kotzen
7 7 IPHIKO 60,0 107 BA A Mgudlwa Mike de Kock
8 8 GIMME A SHOT 59,0 113 A K de Melo M G Azzie/A A Azzie
9 9 GOLDEN HOSTESS 59,0 119 TBA A Domeyer Candice Bass-Robinson
10 10 DESERT MIRACLE 60,0 124 A C Zackey Mike de Kock
Same Trainer
(4,5) (7,10)
Race-8 (Turf / Stand) R 850,000 1200m 16:00 Ref-812
1st R531,250, 2nd R170,000, 3rd R85,000, 4th R42,500, 5th R21,250
GOLDEN HORSE SPRINT (Grade 1)
Handicap
WFA: 2yrs-8.5kgs 3yrs-1.0kgs
No Apprentice / Female Sex Allowance
1 1 BARTHOLDI 57,0 119 BA C Zackey M G Azzie/A A Azzie
2 2 FULL VELOCITY 54,0 110 BA K Matsunyane Sean Tarry
3 3 SEEKING THE STARS 59,5 124 BA R Khathi Vaughan Marshall
4 4 WE’RE JAMMING 55,0 117 BA G van Niekerk Justin Snaith
5 5 SURJAY 56,0 117 A L Mxothwa Brett Crawford
6 6 SUPREME WARRIOR 57,0 119 BA D De Gouveia M G Azzie/A A Azzie
7 7 GOOD TRAVELLER 54,0 113 A #R A Venniker Michael Roberts
8 8 THUNDERSTRUCK 54,0 115 TBA S Khumalo Sean Tarry
9 9 COUNTDOWN 54,0 109 T A S Moodley Glen Kotzen
10 10 WILLIAM ROBERTSON 60,0 125 JA G Lerena Corne Spies
11 11 AFTER THE RAIN 54,0 105 A A Mgudlwa Gareth van Zyl
12 12 GLADATORIAN 54,0 110 T A S Veale Stuart Ferrie
13 13 RIO QUERARI 59,5 124 A R Fourie Justin Snaith
14 14 GIMME A PRINCE 60,0 125 A K de Melo Dean Kannemeyer
15 15 TAIKONAUT 55,0 117 A M Yeni Roy Magner
16 16 UNDER YOUR SPELL 54,5 114 T A C Habib Sean Tarry
Reserve Runners
17 0 PEARL OF ASIA 54,0 105 TBA Reserve 1 Robbie Hill
18 0 TREAD SWIFTLY 54,0 103 BA Reserve 2 Gareth van Zyl
Same Trainer
(1,6) (2,8,16) (4,13) (11,18)
Al Muthana, seen above after winning the L’Ormarins King’s Plate, will be defending his Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge crown at Hollywoodbets Greyville on June 10 (Candiese Lenferna).
Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge Entries Out: Charles’ Chance To Exact Revenge On Al
The Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge entries are out and it is going to be a humdinger.
GOLD CHALLENGE (Grade 1)
| 5 | Al Muthana (AUS) | Ricky Maingard | 132 | |
| 10 | Bingwa | J A Janse van Vuuren | 122 | |
| 4 | Charles Dickens | Candice Bass-Robinson | 132 | |
| 12 | Cosmic Highway | Dean Kannemeyer | 113 | |
| 1 | Cousin Casey | Glen Kotzen | 122 | |
| 13 | Do It Again | Justin Snaith | 124 | |
| 8 | Gimme A Prince | Dean Kannemeyer | 125 | |
| 2 | Rascallion | Vaughan Marshall | 122 | |
| 9 | Royal Aussie | Justin Snaith | 116 | |
| 6 | Russian Rock | Dean Kannemeyer | 108 | |
| 7 | Safe Passage | Mike de Kock | 124 | |
| 11 | Shoemaker | Mike de Kock | 114 | |
| 3 | Trip Of Fortune | Candice Bass-Robinson | 127 | |
| 14 | Zapatillas | Brett Crawford | 122 | |
| (14) | ||||
Rockpool Draws Pole Position In Cup Trial
The Justin Snaith yard made a last minute decision to send Rockpool to KZN for a last ditch attempt to qualify for the Hollywoodbets Durban July.
The Gr 3 Cup Trial was the target race and he will probably need to win it off a 109 merit rating to force his way into the big race line up.
Last time out the big-striding Futura gelding caught the eye with a late charge in the Gr 3 WSB Legal Eagle Stakes over 1800m where he had to come from last on the tight Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Old Course.
The Hollywoodbets Greyville course is also tight, but from pole position Richard Fourie will have every chance to get him handy.
There are some other interesting three-year-old entries who will be out to qualify for the July, Union Square, Shoemaker, East Coast and Electric Gold.
Union Square and Electric Gold are also entered in another last gasp qualifier, the Jubilee Stakes at Turffontein, and the latter has drawn better there so might takes his chances in Johannesburg.
The Gr 2 Tibouchina Stakes has attracted a fair field including the luckless Feather Boa, who deserves a big race success after a number of near misses, as well as the smart Golden Hostess.
CUP TRIAL (Grade 3)
| 4 | Cape Eagle | Andre Nel | 100 | |
| 13 | Captain Fontane | Garth Puller | 109 | |
| 14 | Divine Odyssey | J A Janse van Vuuren | 107 | |
| 12 | East Coast | Mike de Kock | 111 | |
| 20 | Electric Gold | Tony Peter | 103 | |
| 7 | Flying Bull | Glen Kotzen | 103 | |
| 16 | Future Prince | Brett Crawford | 96 | |
| 3 | Litigation | Sean Tarry | 112 | |
| 9 | Lord William | Glen Kotzen | 107 | |
| 8 | Platinum Sky | Dean Kannemeyer | 99 | |
| 18 | Pyromaniac | Sean Tarry | 106 | |
| 6 | Quasiforsure | Peter Muscutt | 110 | |
| 17 | Queue Wing | Garth Puller | 98 | |
| 1 | Rockpool | Justin Snaith | 109 | |
| 19 | Senso Unico | Vaughan Marshall | 110 | |
| 10 | Shoemaker | Mike de Kock | 114 | |
| 11 | Silvano’s Timer | Dean Kannemeyer | 108 | |
| 2 | Union Square | Mike de Kock | 116 | |
| 15 | Whafeef | Stuart Pettigrew | 107 | |
| 5 | Winchester Mansion | Brett Crawford | 103 | |
| (20) | ||||
TIBOUCHINA STAKES (Grade 2)
| 9 | Bon Vivant | J A Janse van Vuuren | 112 | |
| 11 | Feather Boa | Stuart Pettigrew | 114 | |
| 14 | Going Up | Candice Bass-Robinson | 107 | |
| 6 | Golden Hostess | Candice Bass-Robinson | 119 | |
| 4 | Hollywoodbound | Gareth van Zyl | 99 | |
| 3 | Homely Girl | J A Janse van Vuuren | 99 | |
| 12 | Humdinger | Mike de Kock | 108 | |
| 15 | Let It Snow | Wendy Whitehead | 90 | |
| 10 | Macara | Wendy Whitehead | 97 | |
| 2 | Maharanee | J A Janse van Vuuren | 112 | |
| 13 | Marigold Hotel | Sean Tarry | 107 | |
| 1 | Miss Cool | Candice Dawson | 102 | |
| 5 | Mrs Browning | Sean Tarry | 97 | |
| 7 | Shantastic | Dean Kannemeyer | 101 | |
| 8 | Tipsy Tarragon | Tony Peter | 109 | |
| (15) | ||||
Pyromaniac is one of the horses Sean Tarry is trying to qualify for the Hollywoodbets Durban July (JC Photos).
Tarry Hopes To Qualify More July Horses
Sean Tarry has a definite Hollywoodbets Durban July runner in Rain In Holland, while Nebraas was number 19 on the first log so still has a chance of getting in.
However, the twice Durban July-winning trainer is still trying to qualify Litigation and Pyromaniac.
He sent Litigation back to Randjesfontein after his unplaced run in the Gr 2 WSB 1900, in which he was only beaten 2,20 lengths.
His reasoning for sending him back was he might draw better in the Jubilee Stakes than in the Cup Trial.
However, as luck would have it he landed draw 8 in the Jubilee and a plum draw of 3 in the Cup Trial, so he might be on his way back to KZN.
Tarry sounded very keen to run Pyromaniac in the Cup Trial, but he has drawn 18 there and 5 in the Jubilee.
He pointed out Pyromaniac was unlucky last time out when runner up over 1800m at Turffontein. He was running on strongly and suddenly jumped over something, either a patch or a shadow, and it might well have cost him the one length that he lost by.
Tarry thinks the July is particularly attractive to enter this year due to the tightness at the top of the weights, meaning the lower weights are not going to be much under sufferance if at all.
Tarry scratched Future Pearl from the July after his unplaced run in the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, where the slow pace was against him.
Shango also ran unplaced there, but Tarry said he was not as forward going into the Lonsdale this year as he was when winning it last year.
He felt Shango would be a big runner in the July consolation race this year, as he should be cherry ripe by then and his career record shows that he has a top run in KZN every season, including winning the July Consolation race two years ago and the Lonsdale last year.
Diego De Gouveia clinched his double on the Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained Millahue (JC Photos)
Fortune And De Gouveia Score Doubles
Ashley Fortune and Diego De Gouveia both had doubles at the Vaal Classic track today, a meeting in which the last race was abandoned due to inclement weather.
Fortune goes to 49 wins for the season at s trike rate of 10.68%.
De Gouveia goes to 27 wins at 9.12%.
The subject of the question pictured above (Picture: Sports Illustrated)
Today’s Question
Which outstanding filly won the Epsom Oaks by ten lengths 60 years ago?
Noblesse winning the Epsom Oaks by ten lengths.
Noblesse was expected to run in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot after the Oaks. However, she injured a hock and was withdrawn; her stable companion Ragusa deputised for her and won the race.
As a result of her hock injury, it was decided to give Noblesse a couple of months rest before preparing her for a tilt at Europe’s richest race, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October. Her preparatory race was to be the Prix Vermeille which is run over the same course and distance as the ‘Arc’. Ridden by Lester Piggott in the ‘Vermeille’, Noblesse started a short-priced favourite but was beaten into third place and returned lame to the unsaddling enclosure. Since very little time remained to get her back fit and ready to run in the ‘Arc’, she was retired.
Noblesse retired to stud in America and was a very successful broodmare. She had 5 foals before her death in 1972 and all five won races, two of them being stakes winners whilst all of them were stakes placed. Her final foal, Where You Lead (by Raise A Native), emulated her mother by winning the Musidora Stakes at York and finished second in the Oaks at Epsom behind the 1,000 Guineas winner, Mysterious. As a broodmare, Where You Lead produced winners including Slightly Dangerous (by Roberto), a graded winner who also finished second in the Oaks. She in turn produced English and Irish Derby winner Commander in Chief (by Dancing Brave), Champion 2-y-o & 3-y-o colt Warning (by Known Fact) as well as seven other foals who won or were placed in stakes races. Where You Lead also bred I Will Follow (by Herbager), a stakes winner in France who bred the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and Coronation Cup winner Rainbow Quest (by Blushing Groom), himself a leading sire.
Noblesse’s name appears in the pedigrees of numerous top-class racehorses today. The Noblesse Stakes, a Group 3 race for fillies and mares which is run every year over one-and-a-half miles at Cork racecourse, is named in her honor.
