A Letter From The King Of England Re The King’s Plate

Dave Mollett’s monthly column today was his entry for the L’Ormarins Writers contest. He imagines himself to be King Charles III writing a letter to Gaynor Rupert.

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This correspondence comes from the office of:

KING CHARLES 111

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It was dictated by His Majesty to his secretary on January 10 2023.

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Dear Mrs Rupert,

I am sending you this email on two counts – firstly to thank you for the invitation to present the trophy at last Saturday’s L’Ormarins King’s Plate and secondly to congratulate you on a successful racemeeting.

Our British High Commissioner in South Africa, Antony Phillipson, was in touch yesterday and – while he’s a rugby man – really enjoyed his visit to the races.

You will understand the reason a trip to South Africa wasn’t possible – we have had the whole family at Balmoral and then there has been the distraction of Harry’s book which hasn’t been well received with members of the family.

Then, we are also making preparations for my coronation on May 6.

My dear mother would have been up in arms about the date as the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket was scheduled for the same day. They will have to move the race to another date.

I have been asked what it has been like being the longest-serving heir apparent and – at 73 – the oldest person to accede to the British throne.

My answer is simple: it has been an absolute pleasure to serve under my mother – a Queen who will be long remembered for her resilience, compassion and duty to her people.

Antony has informed us that your day would have been more memorable if your horse Charles Dickens (good name!) had won the main race.

I understand the disappointment as I saw it on my mother’s face more times than I care to remember after she’d seen one of her horses defeated.

As you will know, my mother, bless her soul, was racing mad and actually had her first winner in 1949 when she was only 23. She insisted on using the colours of her father and great-grandfather.

I remember on one occasion I came into the room at Windsor Palace where she watched the racing and said: “Mummy, I need to speak to you urgently about Diana.”

She turned to me and said: “Not now, Charles. I’ve got a runner in the 3.30 at Kempton.”

My mother’s biggest racing success came with her horse, Emulate, in the 2013 Ascot Gold Cup. I travelled up the course with her in the carriage that day and remember her saying – in between a wave to the crowd – “I checked the Racing Post before we left and I can’t believe the majority of tipsters don’t give my horse a chance.”

To his credit, Antony Phillipson did some research ahead of his trip to Kenilworth and – in one article – you are quoted as saying “I love every aspect from breeding to racing – the Queen’s Plate (now King’s) is a race with great history and the fact that it’s a WFA race when the very best horse wins appealed to me as a sponsor. I believe everyone wants to see excellence.”

“The intimacy of the day makes it special and everyone can enjoy it without being crowded and standing in long queues.”

Antony says you make no secret that your high profile husband, Johann Rupert, much prefers golf to racing. However, he points out both you and Mr Rupert appreciate that the industry is a “high employer” of people.

Your statement that “we need to find ways to employ more people in South Africa so the growth of our industry is paramount” is right on the mark given the alarming high unemployment rate in the country.

I am told you have close ties with Goodwood racecourse and their famous meeting held on the rolling Sussex Downs at the end of July. To be honest, I preferred going there with my mother rather than the drawn-out pomp of Royal Ascot.

I know they have a pretty strict dress code at Goodwood and – according to Antony – the theme of blue and white colours at the King’s Plate meeting is something racegoers have embraced in recent years.

After the coronation, my office will be making plans for me and the Queen Consort to visit many countries around the globe.

I hope these will include South Africa and perhaps I will have the pleasure of meeting you. In the meantime all the best to you and your family – and your racehorse “Charles” – for 2023.

Yours Sincerely,

KING CHARLES 111

Desert Miracle is now the joint-highest rated female in the country together with Captain’s Ransom on 124. (Picture: Wayne Marks).

Big Mr Increases For Pomp And Power, Nexus, Cousin Casey, Desert Miracle, Gimme A Prince

NHRA Press Release

WSB Cape Town Met (Grade 1)

JET DARK remains unchanged on a rating of 130 after winning the Grade 1 WSB Cape Town Met on WFA terms over 2000m on the summer course at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday 28 January. The Handicappers took the view that GOLDEN DUCAT made for the most suitable line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 120. In assessing the race this way JET DARK only runs to a rating of 126, hence his unchanged mark.

There were ratings increases also for 3^rd placed POMP AND POWER, who was picked up from 114 to 124, for 4^th finisher NEXUS, who goes up to 122 from 114, for COUSIN CASEY, who goes up from 115 to 122, for WATERBERRY LANE, who was raised from 116 to 118, and lastly for WARRIOR, who finished 0.10 of a length behind WATERBERRY LANE and who accordingly goes up from 112 to 117.

Four horses were given a rating’s drop. DO IT AGAIN is down from 126 to 124, RAIN IN HOLLAND drops from 116 to 114, UNIVERSAL also drops from 116 to 114, and lastly LINEBACKER goes from 122 to 120.

Schweppes Majorca Stakes (Grade 1)

DESERT MIRACLE has had her merit rating upped from 113 to 124 after she won the Grade 1 Schweppes Majorca Stakes for fillies and mares over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. Here it was runner-up CAPTAIN’S RANSOM who was deemed to make for the best line horse, leaving her unchanged on a rating of 124. In assessing the race this way DESERT MIRACLE actually runs to a rating of 126, but the Handicappers opted to give her a rating not higher than that of CAPTAIN’S RANSOM at this stage.

3^rd finisher GOLDEN HOSTESS was raised from 108 to 115. She in fact ran to a mark of 121, but the Handicappers were unwilling to take this literally and gave her half the achieved increase, while waiting to see whether she can confirm this level of improvement going forward.

There were no other ratings increases, but two horses were given a drop. SILVER DARLING is down from 122 to 120, while CHANSONETTE drops to 113 from 116.

Pongracz Cape Flying Championship (Grade 1)

GIMME A PRINCE has had his rating raised from 114 to 123 after winning the Grade 1 Pongracz Cape Flying Championship (WFA) over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. Here the Handicappers believed that 4^th placed BARTHOLDI made for the best line horse, leaving him unaltered on a mark of 119.

Aside from the winner, there were increases for three other horses. 2^nd placed RIO QUERARI is up from 120 to 122, 3^rd finisher ISIVUNGUVUNGU goes from 110 to 119, and lastly SURJAY is up from 112 to 117.

There were ratings drops for three horses. BATTLE FORCE was trimmed from 112 to 111, MASTER ARCHIE drops from 125 to 122, and lastly HITHEMHARDSUNSHINE drops from 107 to 105.

New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers (Grade 2)

SALVATOR MUNDI has seen his rating climb from 99 to 109 after he won the Grade 2 New Turf Carriers Western Cape Stayers over 2800m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the unanimous view that CROME YELLOW would not have run below his best in a race of this nature and elected to use him as the line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 109.

There were increases for two other runners. 3^rd placed SENSO UNICO is up from 106 to 111, while 6^th finisher ARCTIC DRIFT was raised from 93 to 97 to make him one pound higher than the 96-rated 7^th placed BARATHEON.

Three horses were given a drop. Runner-up NEBRAAS was cut from 118 to 116, 4^th finisher SILVER HOST is down from 115 to 113, and lastly REX UNION drops from 101 to 99.

Wolf Power 1600 (Handicap) (Listed)

SAVANNAH STORM has had his rating raised from 98 to 101 after winning the Listed Wolf Power 1600 (handicap) over 1600m on the standside track at Turffontein on Sunday 29 January. Here it was 3^rd placed VANDERBILT who was used as the line horse, but as he carried half-a-kilo overweight his rating goes up from 100 to 101.

The only other increase was for runner-up PYROMANIAC, who was raised from 105 to 106.

Two horses were given a rating’s drop. 4^th placed IRISH TRACTOR is down from 103 to 102, while PERFECT WITNESS drops from 101 to 99.

Collen Storey: hoping to mix with the big boys in Britain. Photo: Mark Cranham / focusonracing.com

Fit For A King: Focus On Collen Storey, The South African Making A Name For Himself In Newmarket

Jon Lees (www.thoroughbredracing.com)

28-year-old jockey relocated from his homeland with his young family and is now attached to the Gosden stable – and he’s ridden winners for Godolphin and King Charles III. Interview by Jon Lees

GB: While South African racing has haemorrhaged some of its best riding talent to Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand, one jockey has chosen Britain as his new base.

Proud moment: Collen Storey riding (and winning) in the King’s silks. Photo supplied

Storey did not arrive with a CV quite like recent exports Lyle Hewitson, Callan Murray or Warren Kennedy, but he has made the best possible statement by riding a winner for King Charles III.

Johannesburg-born Storey entered the sport with no racing connections yet made the most of his opportunities to ride over 200 winners in his homeland.

When those began to evaporate he relocated to Newmarket with his wife Tara and two children, Casey and Cai, where he is starting from scratch again.

“We literally packed up in South Africa and decided to come here and start a new journey,” explains Storey, 28.

“I came from no racing background at all. With what I had I’ve done pretty well considering and I thought to myself I’ve done it before, I can do it again.”

Storey, who grew up in Centurion in Gauteng Province, did not choose a career in racing; rather, the career chose him, mostly due to his size. He is 5ft 3ins.

“I was always the smallest bloke around as I went through school,” he says. “I played rugby and cricket – I had to give up rugby because all my mates grew bigger than me.

“One of my uncles always said to me I should become a jockey because I was small, strong and fit. When I was 16 I got in touch with the jockeys’ academy to find out what the requirements would be and I seemed to meet them.

“I started my apprenticeship in Durban,” he goes on. “I started riding in the second year and rode for nine seasons, basically as a freelance and eventually got going. I’ve ridden 222 winners in South Africa.

“I was riding a lot at Flamingo Park but when that closed down all my support was gone. Before that one of the yards I was riding for in Port Elizabeth had issues with staff who attacked the horses and the stable closed.

“That slowed up business too because it’s really hard to get going in another yard so I thought, while I was young and the kids were young, it was the best time to leave.”

One of the reasons Storey chose Britain was that his wife has an ancestral visa, through a British grandfather. He arrived in September 2021 and went straight into a job with Simon & Ed Crisford, working as a groom and riding out.

Impatient to resume his riding career he moved down the road to John and Thady Gosden after six months in the hope of getting rides.

In time they came. Storey rode his first winner in July 2022 and got off the mark for the Gosdens on Frankel filly Kensington at Wolverhampton in October.

Then In January 2023 he tripled his score for the stable, steering royal filly Calmly to a maiden victory at Kempton and the following day won a conditions stakes at Newcastle on Godolphin-owned Forest Of Dean, his seventh winner in Britain.

“I asked one of the jockeys to take a picture of me the day I was in the king’s colours and little did we know it ended up winning and I had a bigger picture of me in the king’s colours,” he says. “It made my whole night. She extended away from the field like it was nothing, which she’d never shown at home.”

Storey hopes to use the winners as a springboard to more recognition but knows business may be quiet until the turf season starts in March.

“I would love to be a bit more busy but what I’ve done I have thoroughly enjoyed,” he says.

“I just hope it picks up a bit more. One thing that does go for me is I am quite strong for my weight. In summer I should comfortably be able to do 8st 5lb. A lot of jockeys in England are quite tall so that could work to my advantage.

“This is going to be my first full season but I am up for the challenge,” Storey goes on. “Mr Gosden has really tried to help me since I joined the yard. I am not scared of working. I ride out every morning, as many lots as possible, and then go racing.

“At the beginning fitness was really against me and also the cold, which was a bit of a challenge when trying to keep the weight down.

“I want to get my name out there. I came here with no claim so I have to compete with the best but I hope the winners I have ridden show I can keep up with the big boys.”

Nick Jonsson (left) looking chuffed after Jet Dark’s scintillating WSB Met victory on Saturday (Wayne Marks).

Jet Dark’s Next Move Is Not Yet Decided

Nick Jonsson has pointed out that many in the racing industry, including breeders, have assumed his five- times Grade 1-winning Met hero Jet Dark will be taking up stud duties at Drakenstein Stud.

This was probably exacerbated by some press reports which said so.

However, Nick said, “Jet Dark is still at the Snaith yard and Tommy (Crowe) and I are still in discussion about his next move. He has retired, his racing career is over and he will be standing at stud next season, but we have not yet decided where he will stand. He might well stand at Drakenstein Stud, who bred him, but he also might not.”

Nick was asked how it felt to now have achieved the rare feat of winning both the July and the Met, which are traditionally regarded as the country’s two biggest races.

He replied, “The July (won twice with Do It Again) must be the best one to win as there are 50,000 people there, but to be honest winning three Queen’s Plates (Do It Again once and Jet Dark twice) and winning the Cape Guineas (Double Superlative) were right up there with winning the Met. Also winning the Allan Robertson with a horse I bred (Miss Florida) was a great moment.”

Nick reckoned he had won about eleven or twelve Grade 1 races so far.

Zac Lloyd (left) celebrates with (from left) co-trainer Trent Edmonds, strapper Natahlia Johnson, mum Nicola, sister Tayah, brother Jaden and dad Jeff, in November 2020 after winning his first race ride. Picture: Three Way Photos

Zac And Jeff Lloyd Escape Serious Sanction For Rules Breach

Racingnsw.com.au

Inquiry Concluded Into Apprentice Zac Lloyd & Rider Agent Jeff Lloyd

Racing NSW Stewards today finalised an inquiry into the conduct of licensed apprentice jockey Zac Lloyd following an investigation being carried out by Racing NSW Investigators into his use of a mobile phone whilst in the jockeys’ room at race meetings under the jurisdiction of Racing NSW.

Stewards considered a brief of evidence submitted by Racing NSW Investigators who initially interviewed apprentice Lloyd on 5 January 2023 and took possession of his mobile phone under the powers of AR218(5) to facilitate his mobile phone being imaged.

Evidence obtained from apprentice Lloyd’s mobile phone indicated he had placed a minor multi bet which included a Thoroughbred race run outside of Australia.

Evidence was taken from apprentice Lloyd as well as his father and jockey agent Mr Jeff Lloyd on 26 January 2023.

Apprentice Lloyd was subsequently charged with being in breach of the following Rules:-

Charge 1

AR218(4)(b) – possession of mobile telephone in the jockeys’ room

The details of the charge being that he did have in his possession in the jockeys’ room a mobile phone at the following race meetings:-

Gosford 14 July 2022
Newcastle 20 August 2022
Kembla Grange 27 August 2022
Hawkesbury 3 September 2022
Kembla Grange 10 September 2022

Plea: Guilty

Charge 2

AR218(4)(c) – use of mobile telephone in the jockeys’ room

The details of the charge being that during the aforementioned race meetings he did use his mobile phone on 25 occasions in total, to exchange text messages with his father Mr Jeff Lloyd. It was established that all messages were exclusively with Mr Jeff Lloyd and related specifically to critiquing his riding at the meetings in question.

Plea: Guilty

Charge 3

AR 115(1)(c) – bet on any thoroughbred race in any racing jurisdiction anywhere in the world

The details of the charge being that he did bet on a thoroughbred race which was included in a $6 multi bet, namely a fixed place bet on the horse Neighbourhood at the Matamata (NZ) race meeting on 13 May 2022.

Plea: Guilty

Penalty

The following penalty considerations were taken into account.

Early guilty plea to all charges
Apprentice Lloyd’s full cooperation and frank evidence during the investigation
His inexperience and clean disciplinary record in respect of conduct matters
The small amount of the stake involved in the multi bet which was likely placed by accident
Principle of specific and general deterrence and publicly announcing to the industry that such conduct is not acceptable
Purpose of issuing penalties as a protective measure for the image and interests of the industry

Charge 1: AR218(4)(a) – 1 week suspension (reduced to 3 meetings for guilty plea)

Charge 2: AR218(4)(c) – 2 weeks suspension (reduce to 1 week for guilty plea)

Charge 3: AR115(1)(c) – 2 weeks suspension (reduced to 1 week for guilty plea)

Having considered the principles of penalty concurrency and totality, the Stewards determined the penalties for charge 1 and 2 be served concurrently.

The Stewards further ruled that the penalty relative to charge 3 be served cumulatively with charges 1 and 2.

Consequently, apprentice Lloyd was suspended for a total period of 2 weeks with this penalty to commence at the conclusion of a careless riding suspension which he is currently serving and which expires on Friday 3 February 2023.

Accordingly, Apprentice Lloyd is now able to resume race riding on Friday 17 February 2023.

Licensed Jockey Agent Mr Jeff Lloyd was also charged with being in breach of the following Rule:-

AR227(b) – being party to a breach of the Rules

The details of the charge being that he was a party to apprentice Zac Lloyd committing a breach of AR218(4)(c) by exchanging text messages with him in full knowledge that apprentice Lloyd was using his mobile phone whilst present in the jockeys’ room.

Plea: Guilty

Penalty

The following penalty considerations were taken into account.

Early guilty plea and contrition for the rule breach
Mr Lloyd’s full cooperation and frank evidence during the investigation
His exemplary disciplinary record over a long period and his standing in the industry
Principle of specific and general deterrence and publicly announcing to the industry that such conduct is not acceptable
Purpose of issuing penalties as a protective measure for the image and interests of the industry

Charge 1: AR227(b) – $1000 fine (reduced to $500 for guilty plea and other mitigating factors)

Relevant Rules

AR 115 Jockey and apprentice jockey misconduct

(1) A jockey or apprentice jockey must not:

(c) bet, or have any interest in a bet, or facilitate a bet, on any thoroughbred race or contingency relating to thoroughbred racing in any racing jurisdiction anywhere in the world;

AR218 No transmission of certain information in certain areas at racecourses

(4) Without the permission of the Stewards, a person (including but not limited to a jockey) must not:

(b) have in that person’s possession in the jockeys’ room any mobile telephone, tablet, radio transmitter, radio transceiver or any other appliance, apparatus, instrument or equipment capable of receiving or transmitting information.

(c)use in the jockeys’ room, any mobile telephone, tablet, radio transmitter, radio transceiver or any other appliance, apparatus, instrument or equipment capable of receiving or transmitting information.

AR227 Breaches of the Rules

Without limiting any other powers, a PRA or the Stewards may penalise any person who:

(b) attempts to commit, aids, abets, counsels, procures, connives at, approaches or requests another person to commit, conspires with another person to commit, or is a party to another person who commits, a breach of the Rules.

S G Railton – Chairman of Stewards

A thrown shoe at Cocklebarrow races (Michael Harris).

Amazing Action Shot By Michael Harris

This picture was taken in a race in January 2020 at Cocklebarrow racecourse in the UK.

The horse Susquehanna River has just refused at the 16th jump and ducked out, but as he does so a loose shoe from a horse in front flies above the head of startled amateur jockey Harry Arkwright.

The Justin Snaith-trained Silverlinks (Silvano) won the Non-Black Type The Clapham Stakes over 1800m for three-year-old fillies today at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth under Richard Fourie, beating the favourite Hold My Hand (Gold Standard) by 0,40 lengths. The Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein-bred filly is owned by Messrs Greg Bortz, A J Brand, J J Elley & D Musikanth & Ms Gina Goldsmith. (Picture: Cape Racing).

Fourie Five-timer, Snaith Four-timer, Van Niekerk/Nel Double

WSB Met-winning jockey Richard Fourie was in devastating form at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth today scoring five wins, four of them for his guv’nor Justin Snaith.

Grant van Niekerk rode a double for Andre Nel.

Fourie goes on to full nelson, 111 wins, and has achieved it at a strike rate of 20.94%.

He is now 41 wins behind Keagan de Melo, whose sole win today took him to 152 for the season at 20.79%.

Justin Snaith leads the national trainers championship by close to R4.5 million after winning the WSB Met on Saturday with Jet Dark. Restricted races don’t count towards the championship, otherwise he would be winning by more than R10 million after winning and placing in the WSB R7.5 million Gold Rush on Saturday.

Snaith is now on 80 wins for the season achieved at a strike rate of 12.78%.

Van Niekerk is on 14 wins for the season at 8.19%.

Nel is on 17 wins at 7.08%.

A noticeable feature of today’s racing was there was none of the going to the outside strip in the straight, which caused a lot of hard luck stories in the WSB Met on Saturday.

King Charles and Queen Camilla (Aaron Chown/PA)

Today’s Question

When did King Charles III have his first win in the royal silks?

See answer at the bottom of the newsletter

Hollywoodbets Scottsville Fields, Wednesday, CLICK HERE

NB Please wait a few seconds for fields to appear.

Justin Fine wins for King Charles III (Dan Abraham/focusonracing.com)

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION:

The Michael Stoute-trained Just Fine (Sea The Stars) ridden to victory by Ryan Moore on October 4, 2022, at Leicester was the first winner for King Charles III in the royal silks (BloodHorse).

Turf Talk Newsletter – 31 January 2023

A Letter From The King Of England Re The King’s Plate

Big Mr Increases For Pomp And Power, Nexus, Cousin Casey, Desert Miracle, Gimme A Prince

Fit For A King: Focus On Collen Storey, The South African Making A Name For Himself In Newmarket

28-year-old jockey relocated from his homeland with his young family and is now attached to the Gosden stable – and he’s ridden winners for Godolphin and King Charles III. Interview by Jon Lees

Jet Dark’s Next Move Is Not Yet Decided

Zac And Jeff Lloyd Escape Serious Sanction For Rules Breach

Amazing Action Shot By Michael Harris

Fourie Five-timer, Snaith Four-timer, Van Niekerk/Nel Double

Today’s Question

Hollywoodbets Scottsville Fields, Wednesday, CLICK HERE

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION: