Tarry's Rodeo Drive to Steal the Spotlight in Turffontein's Charity Mile
Picture: Rodeo Drive: Is she on the fast lane to fame?
Guest columnist ANDREW HARRISON previews Saturday’s Allied Steelrode-Onamission Charity Mile and the Graham Beck Stakes.
Sean Tarry is a master at getting his runners spot on for the big days. He saddles 16 runners at Turffontein tomorrow including the mare Callmegetrix and the filly Rodeo Drive in the Allied Steelrode-Onamission Charity Mile that heads a 10-race feature filled card.
The Gr2 event has attracted a good mix of runners and those charities represented in the 16-runner field can all be hopeful with an upset a distinct possibility.
However, Tarry’s pair met last time out with Rodeo Drive almost delivering a 20-1 shock with short-priced favourite Callmegetrix getting home by a neck. Rodeo Drive is bottom weight on Saturday and 1kg better off with her stable companion so the inference is obvious as both have favourable draws.
Fabian Habib will have been disappointed with 14 gate for Confederate who was back in mustard form with a convincing last win. The Hollywoodbets Durban July is the only real hiccup in his form line but he likes to go forward and Rachel Venniker will need some luck in running if Confederate is to find a favourable slot with a couple of runners on her inside also likely to be keen.
That said, Confederate looks smart enough to overcome the draw.
If Habib was disappointed with his draw, Erico Verdonese will have been mortified with gate 16 for Choisaanada who also likes to go up handy. The son of Querari found himself caught for closing speed in the recent Jo’Burg Sprint Stakes over a trip on the short side but he was only a length behind the lightly weighted and progressive Tin Pan Alley. He does get the vastly experience Gavin Lerena aboard which is in his favour.
There are plenty of others in with strong chances, the more obvious ones being Atticus Finch, Spumante Dolce and Otto Luyken with Fairview raider Zinovi something of an unknown quantity but from a stable that is red-hot.
The PA kicks off with the Golden Loom Handicap where Charming Cheetah enjoyed reverting to a sprint when beaten by the smart Miami Mountain last time out and she has the benefit of a light weight. Chieftain has been rested but won his last two over course and distance while Karate Kid is overdue another win. Surprise package could be raiding King Of The Gauls who has been under performing of late but the raid suggests that he is back to his best.
Elegantrix is likely to start a short price for the Gr3 Starling Stakes, first leg of the Pick 6. She may just have needed her seasonal debut when second behind World Of Alice in a Graduation Plate and that run should have brought her on. However, she faces three unbeaten fillies in Stormy Day, Ovation Star and Warm Reception. Stormy Day was scratched from her intended start this last Thursday as was Ovation Star who was due last Sunday. Warm Reception was equally impressive on debut although easing in the market.
The Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes is a fascinating contest. Tarry saddles Tin Pan Alley who ran on stoutly to win the Jo’Burg Spring Challenge from a fast-finishing Atticus Finch who was giving the winner 10kg.
Mike and Mathew de Kock have three smart runners. Whispering Death looked a little lethargic in his last start but it was his first since March so understandable. Muzi Yeni rides with Callan Murray opting for Miami Mountain who got the better of Charming Cheetah at just his third start. Third on the De Kock’s list is runaway maiden winner One Eye On Vegas with Hollywood Racing’s retained rider, Sean Veale aboard. Paul Matchett’s gelding Zalatoris was 1.5 lengths behind Miami Mountain last time out but did have the worst of the draw on the inside track. He now has pole and the extra furlong will suit.
A big treble for Dean Smith and Craig Zackey
Picture: Kingdundee (Craig Zackey) in the winner’s box with Dean Smith, Jessica Parker (left) and groom, Thabiso. (Pauline Herman).
Youthful Dean Smith enjoyed a fittingly wonderful afternoon at Fairview on Friday to end the week in which he had to write his trainer’s exam so he could officially take over duties following the untimely passing of his father, Gavin, on 19 October
Smith saddled three winners, including Zatara Magic (Rabada), who brought magic to the track and tears on course as he stormed home to an emotional win in the 2025 Betway Algoa Cup. They were all ridden by Craig Zackey.
On course host Neil Pretorius commented: “It’s like this had to happen today, so that Gavin could see, all is well, Dean can take Smith racing forward.”
Speaking after the race Zackey, himself celebrating an Algoa Cup double after victory aboard Fire Alley in the 2024 renewal, commented, “When I got the lead and he pricked his ears, I just felt this weight off my shoulders. I just felt very confident and going through the 600m I was smiling because he’s never had it so easy in his career.”
Referencing the fact that it was the second consecutive hometown win, he added, “I’m just glad I’ve been able to keep it local, I think it’s an emotional win for everyone involved and I think we can all agree if there’s a horse in PE that deserved a big win like this, it’s Zatara Magic.”
An emotional Dean confirmed this had always been the target with Zatara Magic, and added, “I said to my dad, we’re winning the Algoa Cup this year.”
A R120,000 purchase from the 2021 BSA National 2YO Sale, Zatara Magic races in the interests of Messrs Dennis Armstrong, F du Toit, M B Manthe, A Puggia, the late GD Smith, P M Chetty & R Chetty.
Owner Clive Murphy’s Kingdundee once again proved his brilliant ability with his seventh win from 10 starts, beating Roman Agent and Cruise Control in a keenly contested sprint handicap. Zackey said: “He is good enough to win anywhere in the world.”
When we were in the pub, Mr Player was on the putting green or pumping iron!
by Dave Mollett
The standing ovation given President Trump recently at the Israeli parliament could be bettered by the one Gary Player will receive at his 90th birthday bash at Sun City this weekend.
Gary has reached his milestone by his sheer fortitude. The assessment that he “practiced harder, travelled further and was more meticulous about his diet and fitness than any other golfer of his generation” is 100% correct.
Gary won nine majors and – for my money – his biggest feat was winning the Open Championship in three different decades. His first came at Muirfield in Scotland in 1959 (despite a double bogey on the final hole) and he also won in 1968 and 1974.
This weekend Gary will host the “Gary and Vivienne Player Invitational” at the Sun City and Lost City courses and it reminds us what an important role his wife, Vivienne, played in his life. They had six children and have 22 grandchildren. Sadly she died from cancer in August 2021.
The guest list at Sun City contains some famous personalities including former football star Sir Kenny Daglish, Miss World Rolene Strauss, rugby star Bryan Habana, Lucas Radebe and David Frost.
Gary’s last major win came in the 1978 Masters at the age of 42. He amassed a total of more than 160 tournament wins in his spectacular sporting career.
There have been many notable quotes from Gary including “the harder I practice, the luckier I get.” Yet – demonstrating that he’s very “au fait” with world affairs – maybe one of his latest has big significance. He said: “We must not give in to the cynicism of the world and to keep fighting to be kind.”
The other lovely quote came from ABC’s, Dave Scott, who said: “The difference between Gary Player and us was that when he was having a round of golf we were having a round of drinks.”
Gary is the breeder of champion, Dave The King, and – following a win by Double Grand Slam at Kenilworth – I wrote an article for the Sporting Post in 2024, and said: “Don’t you just love Gary Player. It is such a boost for racing to have SA’s golf legend so involved in the sport.”
Amen to that.
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Question: Where is Rodeo Drive?
Answer: It is a two mile stretch in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles famous for luxury shopping.
There is also a racehorse named Rodeo Drive housed at Sean Tarry’s barn at Randjesfontein and – at odds of 13-1 – the filly looks worth an each-way punt in Saturday’s Allied Steelrode Charity Mile at Turffontein.
If Rodeo Drive can reproduce the form that saw her run so well behind Quid Pro Quo in last season’s Allan Robertson, she will surely have a serious shout off bottom weight of 53 kg.
Also on my shortlist is Pomodoro’s Jet – a son of Pomodoro who gave hugely-popular former champion owner, Chris van Niekerk, the first of two Durban July victories.
James Crawford doesn’t strike me as a guy who uses a lot of expletives, but he must have come close when Pomodoro’s Jet drew wide at stall 17 for Saturday’s race.
Turf Talk editor David Thistelton was on leave this week. I hope he mails me his assessment of the race which sees R1 million distributed amongst 20 charities. He is usually on the mark in the country’s big races. I wonder if he will side with the favourite, Confederate?
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There are 14 Breeders Cup races at Del Mar in California this weekend (Fri 31st and Sat 1st) with the Breeders Cup Classic carrying a gross stake of 2 866 142 pounds and Kentucky Derby winner, Sovereignty, is the hot favourite.
However, the big attraction for SA racing fans is One Stripe with the Hollywoodbets-owned Gr 1 winner taking on Charlie Appleby’s, Notable Speech, in the Breeders Cup Mile late on Saturday night.
Hollywood’s Devin Heffer has told Turf Talk that trainer Graham Motion is expecting a much improved performance from One Stripe as the SA champ has worked well since his unplaced run in Canada.
The Ladbrokes ante post market has Notable Speech as the 7-4 favourite with One Stripe available at 33-1. One would imagine Hollywood and Rikesh Sewgoolam will be hoping for a first-four finish in this prestigious event on Saturday.
HWB Kenilworth: Three-year-olds start the road to success
Picture: Randolph Hearst could hit the news. (Race Coast).
By Alistair Cohen
There is nothing more exciting than three-year-old feature races. The sequence towards big Grade 1 races starts at Turffontein with the Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes on Saturday but a day later, Hollywoodbets Kenilworth hosts the Grade 3 Cape Classic over 1400m. With many blank canvases regarding possible targets, who might make the grade and who will not, excitement builds.
Randolph Hearst has always struck as a horse that could have all the attributes to become an excellent horse. Regular rider and his partner on Sunday, JP van der Merwe has always sung this horse’s praises while trainer Justin Snaith has hinted that he is one of a few to follow from his yard. During winter, he was beaten by his stable companions, Roland Garros and Absolutely Yes, but some factors contributed to his defeat. Mainly a slow pace on 1 June when he found his stride late but Roland Garros held him at bay. A run later, in the Grade 3 Langermann over 1500m, a sodden track compromised him from finding his feet until the very end again.
Recent weather in Cape Town has been perfect and the course seems to be in wonderful condition, having not raced at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth since August. There should be no excuses regarding the going on Sunday.
What may count against him is that he has not run since June so fitness needs to be taken on trust. Bear in mind that this is not his “cup final” either but none of his rivals on Sunday will come into the race fired up and revved up with the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas less than two months away. Hopefully, Randolph Hearst has enough class to go close in all the marquee races on the horizon, starting here.
Aristocratic put in a pleasing performance in the Grade 3 Race Coast Matchem Stakes over this distance at Hollywoodbets Durbanville last month when he finished four lengths behind Questioning in fourth. That run could give him a fitness edge and harden him up, taking on well-performed older horses so soon in the season. Aristocratic seems to have some promise and he is another horse to keep an eye on in the coming months. He should not disgrace himself under Craig Zackey for Dean Kannemeyer.
Absolutely Yes is up on the scoreboard over Randolph Hearst so he cannot be taken lightly. He also seems most comfortable over this sort of distance. He gave the impression that his two-year-old career could be his most fruitful but it would be unwise to judge him until he maintains or loses his form. Muzi Yeni is carded to ride.
Saudi Cat could be anything and this race will indicate whether he is a sprinter through and through or whether he has the capabilities to match it with the best of his generation. He has the most questions to answer but he might be up to the task. Gavin Lerena is to take the ride for Vaughan Marshall.
The supporting feature is the Listed Southeaster Sprint, race 6 over 1100m. The Us Of A has such a positive turnaround at the weights to make him a serious contender. Arctic Wizard is a promising sprinter and he does not have his legs tied up in this race, but The Us Of A beat him in August by nearly nine lengths. He is 4kg better off at the weights. No matter the excuses Arctic Wizard might have had, that swing should be more than enough to give a strong gauge how The Us Of A should fare. His biggest weapon is his turn of foot. He is seriously effective from off the pace. Richard Fourie is sweating to 53,5kg to take the ride for Paddy Kruyer.
Dean Street is a well-performed veteran who is holding form and regularly gives the best he has. He is 3,5kg better off with Arctic Wizard for a 0,5-length beating in September. This is the type of race which fits his CV and possibly his best chance of feature race success this summer. S’Manga Khumalo makes a rare visit to Cape Town to take the ride.
Scottish Kiss has turned the corner and he is breaking through after looking quite moderate at the start of the year. Three wins on the spin has placed him on the map as a lively chance. Although life becomes more difficult as he rises in class, he raises his game with every start. He won his last start despite a slipped saddle through the race, a testament to the desire of horse and rider Callan Murray, who is back aboard.
Laydelay could put her last run behind her when she failed to fire when finishing far behind the promising Calanque. She gets workrider Louis Burke in the irons. Burke rode four winners from five rides in these ranks last season. He is a popular man in these races.
Gallic King has loads of improvement to come from his debut to his second start. He lines up in race 2 over 1200m. He found his feet too late but he finished the race with intent, jumping from a wide gate of No 10. He is a good-looking individual too. Any progress should count him as a winning chance. Louis Mxothwa takes the ride for James Crawford.
Blue Lagoon has been reasonable in her two starts to date but in a shallow race 3 over 1200m, she is picked on top. She had no luck from her wide draw in her last start but she plugged away to finish fifth behind Calanque. If that form is franked earlier in the card, Blue Lagoon will have her chances enhanced. It is not a race to be confident about.
Hazel Green is overdue and she could gain a reward for consistency in race 4 over 1400m despite another wide gate of No 11. She was all over a winner in her penultimate run when touched off by a short head over this distance at Hollywoodbets Durbanville before being turned over by debutante Saachi One in her most recent outing. She is a natural inclusion in all bets.
Stablemates Native Ruler and Okavango have loads to come this season. This is their first outing since the Hollywoodbets Durban July. They compete in race 5 over 1600m. This distance is evidently short of their best but they set such a high standard in this race. Okavango beat Native Ruler in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 by 0,25 lengths when finishing third behind Horse Of The Year, Eight On Eighteen. Native Ruler returned the favour in the July, finishing nearly three lengths ahead. Native Ruler carries 55,5kg which should swing the scales in his favour but Okavango is definitely no mug.
Some promising youngsters are taking on solid in-form rivals in race 8 over 1200m. This trip might be sharp for Star Major but he is held in high regard by James Crawford while Nightrain is a brother to a Champion Sprinter. Both runners are hugely interesting and they could fight out the finish. This race will add some hair to their chests. Street Outlaw, One Liner and Green Garnet are all well performed and they are not without a chance of beating these whippersnappers.
Up In Flames seems to have found the right race to exit the maidens. She is possibly the best bet on the card when she runs in race 9 over 1800m. Van der Merwe is carded to take the ride for Michelle Rix. Her last run confirmed her steady improvement when she made good late progress to finish second behind Sesame over this distance at Hollywoodbets Durbanville in September.
The next thrilling chapter in the One Stripe story
Picture: One Stripe had a look-see in the paddock at Del Mar Racecourse yesterday. (Supplied).
From the moment he first saw the light of day at Drakenstein Stud farm in the magnificent Franschoek Valley of the Western Cape, to Del Mar, ‘Where The Surf Meets The Turf’, on the shores of the Pacific Ocean in the Golden State, California!
The next chapter in the fairytale of an extraordinary South African thoroughbred will be written this weekend when champion One Stripe takes on the best the world has to offer in the 42nd renewal of the Breeder’s Cup World Championships.
The son of record-breaking stallion One World won six races, including two elite level Grade 1 contests in the Fairest Cape, before setting out on his epic transglobal journey via France into Maryland, including a race in Canada, before setting hoof on the hallowed turf of Del Mar to face the best from 13 nations across the world.
South Africa will be getting behind the fleet-footed star as he proudly carries our flag in the Breeders’ Cup Mile in the early hours of Sunday morning. Our best wishes go out to trainer Graham Motion and his team, and leading jockey Juan Henandez.
The race will be televised at 1:05 on Sunday morning.
Two-year-old Skiathos fetches 150,000gns
Picture: Skiathos, a son of Wooton Bassett.
The top lot on the fourth day of the Autumn Horses in Training Sale was the promising two-year-old SKIATHOS, who was offered by trainer Karl Burke’s Spigot Lodge Stables on behalf of Clipper Logistics. Unraced prior to catalogue publication SKIATHOS has posted two smart updates in October and proved duly popular with buyers, realising 150,000 guineas to Henry Dwyer Racing, Jamie Piggott and Harvey Williams.
The sale had a decidedly international dimension with Jamie Piggott on a plane to the USA and trainer Henry Dwyer at home in Australia, and bidding duties were carried out with aplomb by Harvey Williams, the son of trainer Ian Williams.
“It’s the first time I’ve bought a horse whilst flying over Michigan!” commented Piggott. “I’m on the way to Del Mar. Henry is a good friend, we’ve had a lot of good times together in the UK and Australia over the last couple of years.
“He’s obviously done amazingly with Asfoora here and back home, and he was looking for something to race here and then likely take back to Australia. This colt could be anything. I watched him win well whilst in the Green Room on Monday and immediately remembered that he was in on Thursday.
“He’s a lovely athletic individual with scope to get the mile next year. Harvey Williams did a great job with the bidding, we’ve bought five smart prospects with his dad Ian over the last couple of days, couldn’t be happier!”
SKIATHOS finished second on debut earlier this month before impressing with a stylish front-running victory at Redcar just three days ago, earning a Timeform rating of 86p. The son of WOOTTON BASSETT is an own-brother to the Listed Roses Stakes winner ATTAGIRL out of the Listed winning PASTORAL PURSUITS mare CATALINA BAY.
Forever Young is one for the shortlist in Breeders' Cup Classic
Picture: Forever Young, strong Japanese raider.
Forever Young – the narrow conqueror of Hong Kong’s Romantic Warrior in February’s G1 Saudi Cup (1800m, dirt) – is one of the leading chances in Sunday’s (2 November) US$7 million (approx. HK$54.5 million) G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic (2000m, dirt), North America’s richest race.
In two previous US runs, Forever Young – trained by Yoshito Yahagi and to be ridden by Ryusei Sakai – almost became the first Japanese-trained G1 Kentucky Derby (2000m, dirt) winner and, a year ago, finished third in this race after sitting close to the ferocious pace.
In this weekend’s nine-runner encounter, Forever Young will again face late-surging Sierra Leone – who was ideally suited by electric fractions last year to deliver the race of his life and run down Fierceness, who also reopposes.
Sierra Leone’s trainer Chad Brown and jockey Flavien Prat are hoping that Florent Geroux will galvanise pacemaker Contrary Thinking to deliver a repeat of last year’s frantic tempo.
Sierra Leone finished second to Antiquarian – another rival on Sunday – in the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup (2000m, dirt) at Saratoga, but only after early drama in which Mindframe, another Breeders’ Cup Classic rival, unseated his rider Irad Ortiz Jr.
“Sierra Leone had to jump over Ortiz and then spot the field many lengths but still came back and almost won. I think that sums up what this horse is made of,” says Brown, who described the four-year-old’s final piece of work prior to the Breeders’ Cup Classic as “exceptional.”
Besides Fierceness (John Velazquez) and Mindframe, trainer Todd Pletcher also fields Antiquarian. And Pletcher – the all-time winning-most US trainer in terms of prizemoney – certainly doesn’t dismiss the prospects of the four-year-old mount of Luis Saez, who comes off a career-best performance when winning that contentious Jockey Club Gold Cup.
“It has been all about physical and mental maturity with him. He has kept on showing more talent than he did as a three-year-old,” Pletcher said.
The concluding Breeders’ Cup race is the highly competitive G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf (2200m). The Europeans look strong even though two of their most obvious candidates – See The Fire (Oisin Murphy) and William Buick’s mount Cinderella’s Dream – have drawn stalls 14 and nine, respectively. – hkjc.com.
But those wide gates might not be such a disadvantage with both fillies having a closing profile.
Start studying for big Pick 6 carryover!
There is a R1-million Pick 6 carryover to Saturday’s Charity Mile meeting at Turffontein, and a pool of R5-million is expected.
The Computaform for this meeting has been published and is available here, so you can start making form notes to catch the big fish this weekend.
It’s a quality card which, aside from the Allied Steelrode Onamission Charity Mile includes five other features and some big names, including Tin Pan Alley, Elegantrix, World Of Alice and Perfect Miracle, potentially the new sprinting sensation on the block.
The meeting sees the return of Champion Jockey Gavin Lerena, joined by the formidable Richard Fourie and other title-chasers Craig Zackey, Muzi Yeni, Sean Veale and Serino Moodley.
Today's Question
Picture: One horse has won two renewals of the Allied Steelrode-Onamission Charity Mile in the last 20 years. Name him, and the two trainers he won for.
Today’s Question Answer
The photo in our question above would have been a good clue for most. BINGWA (Pathfork) is the only horse in Charity Mile history to have won twice. His first win was for Dorrie Sham in 2021, and he followed up for Johan Janse van Vuuren in 2022.
