The Weiho Marwing-trained Son Of Raj emerges an easy winner of Saturday’s Grade 1 WSB SA Derby to the disbelief of his owner and breeder Steven Chetty. (Candiese Lenferna).

Steven Chetty Is Still Pinching Himself

One horse who will be among the Hollywoodbets Durban July entries when they are unveiled in two weeks time will be the Grade 1 WSB SA Derby winner Son Of Raj, although when his owner and breeder Steven Chetty sees his name he will still not be able to believe it.

“We entered him in the July today and to have a horse going for the July … I just can’t believe it!” exclaimed the Durbanite. “This journey is awesome … I can’t even explain the feeling I have in me … and it doesn’t matter whether we we win lose or draw.”

“Obviously we want him to win, but at the moment I can hardly sleep at night and if he does win, well, I think then they will have to book me into ICU!” he laughed.

The journey started when former trainer Herman Brown Jnr contacted him about an issue on his road in Kloof that required an engineer’s imput.

They became good friends and one day Herman asked him if he would like to get involved in horse ownership.

Steven’s first horse was called Winning Edge and as his debut coincided with Herman’s retirement he was trained by Frank Robinson, who was a long-time assistant in the Brown yard before becoming an official training partner.

That Malhub gelding won two races in a long career.

However, the most important horse Steven bought early in his owning career was a Black Minnaloushe filly called Freudiana for R300,000 at the BSA National Yearling Sales.

It was not surprising Herman, who signed for this filly, was interested in her. Freudiana’s dam Rippling Star by Fort Wood was a half-sister to Rippling Ring, who was bought in training by one of the Brown yard’s chief overseas clients James Atkinson after finishing fourth in the Cape Derby, winning the Derby Trial and finishing third in the SA Derby.

Freudiana was given a luxury start by her new connections.

She was taken from the sales to Herman Brown’s Summerveld small-holding, which had lush paddocks. She was taken care of there by Herman’s wife Natasha, and prepared for the rigours of racing which lay ahead.

However, Herman retired shortly thereafter and moved to Cape Town.

Freudiana was thus trained by Frank Robinson and won three races and placed six times in just 13 starts.

Her career was halted by a tendon injury. An attempt to make a come back with a different yard after a year’s layoff was eventually given up on.

She was then sent down to Eugene Freeman’s Boland stud.

Her first foals were twins and both passed away.

She foaled down successfully after her next pregnancy. Steven named the filly Gengamma after his mother.

However, this filly was soon adjudged to be “useless” and never raced.

Frank Robinson was instrumental in recommending Duke Of Marmalade for Freudiana’s next cover.

Eugene Freeman approved of the choice.

Steven also mentioned the many valuable lessons in breeding he had been given by Eugene.

Freudiana successfully delivered two foals in successive seasons by Duke Of Marmalade, both colts.

Steven has two important father figures in his life … his late biological father, Raj, and the father who helped bring him up, Arumugam.

He named the first colt Arumugam.

He wanted to name the second one Raj, but was not allowed to by the NHRA, so settled for Son Of Raj.

Ironically that means the two full-brothers represent father and son i.e Arumugam and Steven himself, because he is after all the son of Raj.

Steven is extremely grateful for the excellent care both Arumugam and Son Of Raj were given by their respective first trainer, Peter Muscutt.

He said without the Muscutt yard’s professionalism and horsemanship, the pair would never have achieved what they had done today.

However, he recognised Arumugam needed a more galloping track than the tight ones in KZN and that was the sole reason for his recent move to the Highveld.

Steven said, “Peter is a great trainer, we remain friends, and he will get more horses from me.”

Steven has had shares in a number of horses with Weiho Marwing, so he was the automatic choice of trainer when moving Arumugam to the Highveld.

His intuition about the horse needing a galloping track proved spot on.

Arumugam made his Highveld debut over 2400m in a Listed race. It was his first attempt at a staying trip and by complete surprise he won it at 20/1 odds. Steven had not even travelled up to watch.

He followed up by winning a Listed race over 3200m.

Steven decided Son Of Raj, being a full brother to Arumugam would have to go the same route.

He also won by complete surprise on his Highveld debut, downing the R7 million horse Celestial City over 1800m.

He followed with a place and then booked his place in the Derby with an easy three length win over 2000m in the Listed 4Racing Derby Trial, although he was carrying joint bottom weight of 55,5kg.

Derby Day coincided with the school holidays, so Steven’s whole family flew up with him for the big day, all dressed up in red to reflect Steven’s colours.

He said his hope of winning the race was more of a dream than anything else. He never believed with any conviction it could happen against such a strong field.

He spoke of the fortunate circumstances which had allowed Keagan de Melo to be available for Son Of Raj’s last two starts.

Weiho had noticed Keagan was without a ride in the Derby Trial.

He told Steven there was no reason the best jockey in the country should be sitting on the sidelines for that race.

“He is not the number one jockey in the country for nothing,” reiterated Steven.

De Melo read the slow pace perfectly on Saturday and sent Son Of Raj for home at the top of the straight.

With the fitness imparted by the probable best trainer of stayers in the country coupled with his stout pedigree he was never going to be caught.

However, when Son Of Raj crossed the line 2,25 lengths clear it all seemed surreal to Steven … and he is still pinching himself.

He described it also as a “Jack moment” … “Jack Daniels” had helped him stay calm in the build up and helped him celebrate the win afterwards.

The champagne flowed in the family’s hotel room and they could not stop chatting and laughing … it was a memorable celebration.

The next morning they went to see their horse at the Marwing yard.

Steven said the Marwings always welcomed him with open arms and took fantastic care of him whenever he came up to see his horse, whether it was just to see him train or to to see him race.

And they did the same when he brought his whole family to the yard.

As for Son Of Raj, “He looked so full of confidence, he was showing off and was on his toes and strutting like a champion. A happy horse is a healthy horse and he looked happy … he had a beautiful shining coat, his ears were pricked and he was swishing his tail.”

Steven said his family were not racing people at all, but with this victory “the bug has now bitten.”

He is now just hoping Keagan will be available for the July!

Trip Of Fortune provided an 18th stakes win for Drakenstein Stud-breds this season, achieved by 13 individuals (Chase Liebenberg).

Drakenstein Pair Lead the Equus Horse Of The Year Table for 2023

Equus Awards

Trip Of Fortune (87 points) added to his Grade 2 World Sports Betting Green Point Stakes win by completing his first Grade 1 victory in Saturday’s HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes and vaulted above his stable companion Charles Dickens (80 points) to lead the Equus Horse Of The Year table.

The two Drakenstein inmates of the Bass-Robinson yard now occupy the top two spots in the quest for Horse Of The Year honours for 2023. Anfields Rocket (52 points), winner of the Grade 1 World Sports Betting SA Classic, and Princess Calla (52 points), winner of the Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes, are new entrants onto the table for March in sixth and seventh position respectively.

Retired Jet Dark (70 points) is in third position on the table, with Gimme A Prince (66 points) and Make It Snappy (64 points) making up the remainder of the table.

Several Grade 1 races will be run on the Highveld to end the Highveld Autumn season and these races should have a strong bearing on the leadership for Horse Of The Year honours and the various sub-categories leading into the KZN Winter Season.

Champion Three-Year-Old Colt

With most of the three-year-old action concentrated on the Highveld in March, Anfields Rocket (52 points), now second, made inroads into the lead of Charles Dickens (80 points), although the latter is still far ahead in the quest for sophomore colt honours for 2023.

Two new entrants onto the table are Grade 1 World Sports Betting SA Derby winner Son Of Raj (32 points), and placegetter in both the Grade 1 World Sports Betting SA Classic and Grade 1 World Sports Betting SA Derby, Billy Bowlegs (32 points). They join See It Again (32 points) on the table.

Champion Three-Year-Old Filly

With no Highveld sophomore filly able to complete a win in two of the Triple Tiara races, Make It Snappy (64 points) remains comfortably in the lead in this category.

Bless My Stars (34 points) moves onto the log into second position after her narrow victory in the Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic. None Other, another new entrant after finding the extra distance of the 2450m Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer SA Oaks much to her liking, joins Ciao Bella and Feather Boa on 32 points.

Champion Older Male and Female

Trip Of Fortune (87 points), the only change to the Older Male category, takes over from Jet Dark (70 points) at the head of the table. Gimme A Prince (66), Puerto Manzano (50), and Al Muthana (48) make up the table.

With another sprint victory to her credit, Princess Calla (52 points) leaps above her closest rival, Desert Miracle (46 points), for Older Female honours. Both are likely contestants in the upcoming Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes in April. Now retired Captain’s Ransom (36 points) remains in third position, with Under Your Spell (34 points) and Humdinger (21 points) in fourth and fifth position respectively.

Distance Categories

Two females, Princess Calla (52 points) and new entrant Grade 3 Sycamore Sprint winner Alula’s Star (16 points), were the only movers on the Champion Sprinter table in March. However, Gimme A Prince (66 points) remains firmly in the lead with Bereave (24 points) and Rio Querari (20 points) making up the table.

Trip of Fortune (82 points) leads the Champion Miler category to add to his Horse Of The Year and Older Male category leads. The only new entrant onto the table is MK’s Pride (24 points) who finished second to Trip Of Fortune in the Grade 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes on Saturday. Al Muthana (48 points), Desert Miracle (40 points), Under Your Spell (34 points), and Charles Dickens (24 points) complete the table.

There were no changes to the Champion Middle Distance category in March and Jet Dark (48 points) remains in the lead, followed by Puerto Manzano (42), Make It Snappy (32), Nexus (32), and Kommetdieding (24).

Nebraas (20 points) won his second Grade 3 World Sports Betting Caradoc Gold Cup on Saturday and moves to second spot on the Champion Stayer log. This leaves him marginally below table-topper Salvatore Mundi (23 points) while Arumugam (15), Chrome Yellow (10), and Senso Unico (10), make up the table.

Equus Awards 2023 – Points Tables to 2 April 2023

Horse of the Year	Age	Sex	Pts
TRIP OF FORTUNE (SAF)	4	G	87
CHARLES DICKENS (SAF)	3	C	80
JET DARK (SAF)	5	H	70
GIMME A PRINCE (SAF)	4	G	66
MAKE IT SNAPPY (SAF)	3	F	64
ANFIELDS ROCKET (SAF)	3	G	52
PRINCESS CALLA (SAF)	5	M	52

Champion Three-Year-Old Male	Age	Sex	Pts
CHARLES DICKENS (SAF)	3	C	80
ANFIELDS ROCKET (SAF)	3	G	52
COUSIN CASEY (SAF)	3	C	36
SEE IT AGAIN (SAF)	3	C	32
SON OF RAJ (SAF)	3	G	32
BILLY BOWLEGS (SAF)	3	C	32

Champion Three-Year-Old Female	Age	Sex	Pts
MAKE IT SNAPPY (SAF)	3	F	64
BLESS MY STARS (SAF)	3	F	34
CIAO BELLA (SAF)	3	F	32
FEATHER BOA (SAF)	3	F	32
NONE OTHER (SAF)	3	F	32

Champion Older Male	Age	Sex	Pts
TRIP OF FORTUNE (SAF)	4	G	87
JET DARK (SAF)	5	H	70
GIMME A PRINCE (SAF)	4	G	66
PUERTO MANZANO (ARG)	5	G	50
AL MUTHANA (AUS)	5	G	48

Champion Older Female	Age	Sex	Pts
PRINCESS CALLA (SAF)	5	M	52
DESERT MIRACLE (SAF)	4	F	46
CAPTAIN’S RANSOM (SAF)	5	M	36
UNDER YOUR SPELL (SAF)	4	F	34
HUMDINGER (SAF)	4	F	21

Champion Sprinter	Age	Sex	Pts
GIMME A PRINCE (SAF)	4	G	66
PRINCESS CALLA (SAF)	5	M	52
BEREAVE (SAF)	5	G	24
RIO QUERARI (SAF)	6	G	20
ALULA’S STAR (SAF)	4	F	16

Champion Miler	Age	Sex	Pts
TRIP OF FORTUNE (SAF)	4	G	82
AL MUTHANA (AUS)	5	G	48
DESERT MIRACLE (SAF)	4	F	40
UNDER YOUR SPELL (SAF)	4	F	34
CHARLES DICKENS (SAF)	3	C	24
MK’S PRIDE (SAF)	5	H	24

Champion Middle Distance	Age	Sex	Pts
JET DARK (SAF)	5	H	48
PUERTO MANZANO (ARG)	5	G	42
MAKE IT SNAPPY (SAF)	3	F	32
NEXUS (SAF)	7	G	32
KOMMETDIEDING (SAF)	5	H	24

Champion Stayer	Age	Sex	Pts
SALVATOR MUNDI (SAF)	5	G	23
NEBRAAS (SAF)	6	G	20
ARUMUGAM (SAF)	4	G	15
CROME YELLOW (SAF)	8	G	10
SENSO UNICO (SAF)	4	G	10

Jockey Richard Fourie, trainer Lucky Houdalakis and owner and breeder Mary Slack are all smiles after the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer Oaks won by Flower Alley filly None Other, whose merit rating was raised from 104 to 110. (JC Photos).

Handicapping Ratings Update

NHA press release

H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes (Grade 1)

TRIP OF FORTUNE has seen his merit rating increased from 119 to 125 following his success on WFA terms in the Grade 1 H F Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes over 1600m on the Turffontein standside track on Saturday 1 April. The Handicappers were of the view that 4^th placed UNDER YOUR SPELL made for the best line horse here, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 114.

There were also ratings increases for runner-up MK’S PRIDE, who was raised from 120 to 122, for 3^rd placed ANFIELDS ROCKET, who goes up from 118 to 120, and for GIMME A SHOT, who was raised from 112 to 113. The last named encountered considerable interference in running and would doubtless have finished closer otherwise, therefore the Handicappers are comfortable with a slight increase in her rating.

No horses were given a ratings drop from this race.

WSB SA Derby (Grade 1)

SON OF RAJ has had his rating raised from 81 to 115 following his success in the Grade 1 WSB SA Derby for three-year-olds over 2450m at Turffontein on Saturday. The Handicappers were of the opinion that 3^rd finisher RULE BY FORCE made for the best line horse here, which leaves him with an unaltered rating of 108.

There were also ratings increases for 4^th placed FUTURE PEARL, who goes up from 81 to 100, and for 5^th finisher TOP SAIL, who was raised to 96 to 86. The latter has been rated relative to FUTURE PEARL, ensuring that these two would meet on the correct terms should they clash in a handicap race.

The only drop was for ELECTRIC GOLD, who is down from 106 to 104.

Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer SA Oaks (Grade 2)

NONE OTHER has had her rating lifted from 104 to 110 after she won the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Bridget Oppenheimer SA Oaks for three-year-old fillies over 2450m at Turffontein on Saturday. Here it was 2^nd placed RENY who was deemed to make for the correct line horse, leaving her unchanged on a mark of 106. In assessing the race this way 5^th placed SILVER HILLS also runs to her mark, effectively making her a line horse as well and leaving her with an unchanged rating of 100.

The winner aside, the only other increase was for 6^th placed IPSO FACTO, who goes up from 89 to 94 to make her at least one pound higher than the 93-rated 8^th finisher LITTLEMARYSUNSHINE.

No horse from this race received a ratings drop.

Europa Point Man O’ War Sprint (Grade 3)

MERCANTOUR has had his merit rating raised from 110 to 116 after winning the Grade 3 Europa Point Man O’War Sprint for three-year-olds over 1100m at Turffontein on Saturday. The Handicappers were unanimous in their opinion that 3^rd placed TROMPIE made for the best line horse here, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 99.

In assessing the race this way MERCANTOUR actually runs to a mark of 124, but the specific conditions of the race do not allow for an increase of more than six pounds in the rating of the winner, and accordingly the Handicappers were obliged to cap MERCANTOUR at 116. Similarly, the race conditions do not permit for a rating’s increase for horses other than the winner and as such runner-up GOBSMACKED remains on a mark of 113 despite actually running to a rating of 118.

There were no ratings drops from this race.

WSB Caradoc Gold Cup (Grade 3)

NEBRAAS has had his rating raised slightly from 116 to 117 after winning the Grade 3 Caradoc Gold Cup over 2850m at Turffontein on Saturday. Here the Handicappers were of the unanimous view that runner-up SHANGANI was the right line horse, which leaves him unchanged on a mark of 120.

Here again, the specific race conditions do not permit for any increase in the rating of a horse other than the winner, and so 3^rd placed ARUMUGAM and 4^th finisher ARLINGTON ACTION remain on marks of 94 and 84, respectively, despite actually achieving ratings of 98 and 91, respectively.

No horse in this race was given a rating’s drop.

Umzimkhulu Stakes (Grade 3)

SHANTASTIC has had her rating elevated from 90 to 101 after she captured the Grade 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes for three-year-old fillies over 1400m on the turf course at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday 2 April. Here it was runner-up CANADIAN SUMMER who was used as the line horse, which leaves her unchanged on a rating of 108.

Aside from the winner the only other ratings increase was for 3^rd placed LET IT SNOW, who goes up from 85 to 90. No horse from this race was given a rating’s drop.

Byerley Turk (Grade 3)

STRAWBERRY BEAR has had his rating upped from 99 to 106 after winning the Grade 3 Byerley Turk for three-year-olds over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday. Here it was 4^th placed CAPTAIN CASEY who was deemed to make for the most suitable line horse, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 103.

Aside from the winner the only increase was for 6^th placed GOLD INDEX, who goes up from 78 to 84 to at least make him two pounds higher than the 82-rated 8^th finisher AERIAL DISPLAY.

No horse in this race was given a rating’s drop.

Kwazulu-Natal Stakes (Listed)

ANCIENT EPIC has been given a small rating’s increase from 84 to 85 after she won the Listed Kwazulu-Natal Stakes for fillies and mares over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday. Here it was 3^rd placed AMARANDI who was used as the line horse, leaving her unaltered on a mark of 87.

Aside from the winner the only other ratings increase was for 2^nd placed SABATINI, who goes up from 89 to 91.

There were drops for three horses. 4^th placed WARSHIP is down slightly from 93 to 92, BEVIES DELIGHT drops to 95 from 97, and lastly TIME FO ORCHIDS drops from 107 to 105.

Crisp (right) is beaten by Red Rum in the 1973 Grand National Credit: Rex Features

50 Years On From The Greatest Jumps Race Of All Time

English racing journalist Neil Morrice is well known to South Africans and a facebook post he put up this week said it all:

“Fifty Years Of Wanting To See Him Hang On – It’s The Race That If You Saw It, You Will Never Forget It”.

He was referring to the 1973 Grand National in which the giant Australian-bred Crisp put up the most magnificent display of jumping ever seen at Aintree. But alas, under a welter burden the long run-in, like it had done to so many before and since, was too much for him after 4 miles of big jumps and he began to wilt.

Crisp was carrying 12 stone and although he had built up a huge lead the horse who had been chasing him relentlessly in second place was just as far ahead of the rest and was closing inch by inch

This smaller, more slight horse was carrying just 10 stone 5.

As the crowd willed the mighty Crisp on Red Rum continued to chase energetically and caught him in the shadow of the post.

And the lightweight party pooper’s name … Red Rum.

Of course today the Grand National is synonymous with Red Rum. He is buried at the Grand National winning post, not far from just one of the statues erected in his honour. He is probably Britain’s greatest equine hero of all time, the only horse to win the National three times, and needs no introduction.

Even as far away as South Africa we knew who Red Rum was and he became a household name out here one Saturday afternoon when through crackling atmospherics on the radio we heard him being called home for his third national victory in 1977, following wins in 1973 and 1974 and seconds in 1975 and 1976.

Neil Clark of the Daily Express wrote about that great race, the 1973 Grand National, last weekend. Read his fine article below:

It’s 50 years since Red Rum’s iconic Grand National win – but it’s as amazing as ever

Red Rum remains the only horse to have won the Grand National three times.

It’s Saturday March 31, 1973, and we’re about to witness one of the greatest horse races of all time. Yet even though the winner would go on to become the nation’s favourite racehorse, at the time he was considered something of a party pooper. Red Rum may have won the first of his three historic Grand Nationals, yet it was the favourite he defeated that many felt sorry for.

Australian-bred chaser Crisp, ridden by Richard Pitman, takes the lead in the Grand National at Becher’s Brook on the first circuit.

Jumping superbly, he soon establishes a commanding lead, which just keeps growing.

BBC commentator Julian Wilson tells millions of viewers watching at home he can’t remember a horse so far ahead in the Grand National.

Crisp is still 20 lengths clear as he leaps over Becher’s second time round and 15 lengths ahead as he surmounts the last fence.

But who’s this coming up in his wing mirror?

Red Rum, 9-1 co-favourite, is making up ground. Crisp looks like he is just going to hold on for a gallant victory, but in the shadow of the post Red Rum overhauls him.

CLICK HERE to Watch The Replay of the 1973 Grand National

Back in 1973, it was Crisp who earned the accolades as “the greatest hero of them all” for his tremendously brave front-running performance.

And the horse that cruelly denied him in the dying strides of the four mile four furlong marathon was seen as spoiling the party.

Yet four years later, it was a very different story, when Red Rum won the race for a record third time. By now he was firmly established as the nation’s best-loved racehorse, having done so much to revive interest in the Grand National at a time when its future looked far from certain.

Fifty years on from his dramatic first victory in the world’s most famous steeplechase, “Rummy’s” popularity shows no sign of waning.

A new book Red Rum: The Emperor of Aintree, by Rupert Collens, tells the story of how a horse bought for just £400 as a yearling went on to become a sporting legend.

Collens said: “His name is still recognised by horse-minded children at the age of six. It’s remarkable.”

Yet, had a Merseyside taxi driver not picked up a certain passenger in his cab over half-a-century ago, the Red Rum story might never have ended in the fairytale way it did.

Enter Ginger McCain. As a working-class lad from South-port, Merseyside, McCain was captivated by the Grand National, attending the race for the first time with his aunt in 1940 when he was only nine.

He took out a permit to train horses in his 20s but struggled for winners.

To make a living he sold second-hand cars and drove a taxi. One of his passengers was Frank Sinatra. McCain chauffeured “Old Blue Eyes” to Blackpool several times but never once received a tip.

Far more lucrative however was his association with another cab passenger, Noel Le Mare. A local octogenarian millionaire, Le Mare shared McCain’s dream of winning the Grand National. Bidding on Le Mare’s behalf, McCain bought Red Rum for 6,000 guineas at the Doncaster Sales in 1972. The horse had feet problems but they were cured by his regular paddles in the Southport sea. McCain and Red Rum never looked back. “Rummy” won five races in a row in the autumn of 1972.

That campaign culminated in his epic victory over Crisp, but the 1973/4 season was even more impressive. He won the Grand National again, this time carrying top weight of 12st, showing his victory 12 months earlier was no fluke. He won the Scottish Grand National a few weeks later.

For the next two years, Red Rum finished a gallant runner-up in the National but in 1977, at the age of 12, he sealed his place in history with a remarkable third win.

Now ridden by Tommy Stack (Brian Fletcher had been on board for his first two victories), Red Rum was left in the lead at the second Becher’s following the fall of Andy Pandy.

“He’s getting the most tremendous cheer from the crowd,” cried commentator Peter O’Sullevan as Red Rum cleared the last.

“He’s coming up to the line to win it like a fresh horse in great style….It’s hats off and a tremendous reception, you’ve never heard one like it at Liverpool. Red Rum wins the National!”

His historic treble mirrored the success of another emerging red sporting giant just four miles away. In the same five-year spell, Bob Paisley’s Liverpool won three football league titles and were runners up twice, making it a memorable period for sport on Merseyside.

Anfield was rocking as Liverpool marched towards a League and UEFA Cup double, but for sheer euphoria at a racecourse, that day at Aintree would be hard to beat. Grown men burst into tears – the local hero had done it!

Perhaps it was for the best that in the following year, a late injury ruled Red Rum out of the 1978 National. It meant he could retire safely at a time when the Aintree fences were far more formidable than they are today.

But the story doesn’t end there. Rummy stole the show at the 1977 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Show when he was led into the television studio by his proud trainer. The horse, who had become the people’s favourite, enjoyed A-List celebrity status and made regular public appearances at the opening of supermarkets, fetes and even at the switching on of the Blackpool Illuminations, drawing a huge crowd wherever he went.

Every year he led the Grand National parade, usually looking fit enough to run again.

He died in 1995 at the ripe old age of 30 and appropriately enough his ashes were buried alongside the winning post at Aintree.

His epitaph reads: “Respect this place, this hallowed ground, a legend here, his rest has found. His feet would fly, our spirits soar, he earned our love for evermore.”

From party pooper to national treasure, it was quite a story.

John Velazquez guides Hopper to victory in the G3 Oaklawn Mile

Son Of SA-bred Mare Irridescence Wins Second USA Group 3

The Mike de Kock Caesour mare Irridescence gave South African racing fans a moment of immense pride in April 2006 when winning the Grade 1 QE II Cup at Sha Tin in Hong Kong under Weichong Marwing.

It was her third career Grade 1 as she also won the SA Fillies Classic and the Woolavington 2000.

She also won the Grade 2 Gerald Rosenberg and the Listed Balanchine Stakes in Dubai.

She was ridden by Marwing in all of her Graded victories.

Irridescence was bred by Mr and Mrs H. Winterbach.

She was raced by Barry Irwins’s Team Valor in partnership with Richard Masson.

After she was beaten a head in the Grade 2 $750,000 Beverly D. at Arlington Park on August 11, 2007, she was acquired in full by Richard Masson for his Green Lantern Stable stud farm in Kentucky, USA.

Her second foal called Perfect D’Or by Medaglia D’Oro was sent to Russia where he won two Grade 2s and was runner up in three Grade 1s.

However, her last foal called Hopper, born in 2019 and trained by Bob Baffert, has turned out to be her best.

He is by Declaration Of War and won a Grade 3 over 8-and-a-half furlong as a three-year-old before winning the Grade 3 Oaklawn Mile at Oaklawn in Arkansas on Saturday, his first run outside of California.

The Paulick Report reported on the race:

Baffert’s California Invader Hopper Takes Oaklawn Mile

by Press Release|04.01.2023|4:38pm

Hopper made his first start outside of California a winning one as he drew away from his competition to win Saturday’s $400,000 Oaklawn Mile (G3) for owners Lanni Bloodstock, Madaket Stables LLC and SF Racing LLC.

Hopper, with John Velazquez in the irons, stalked the pace from third early as Atoka led the field through opening fractions of :22.42 and :45.56 for the first half mile. The winner and Caddo River began to engage the pacesetter around the turn for home with the later taking the narrow advantage, but he was unable to hold off Hopper, who drew off to win by 1 ¾ lengths.

Smile Happy, the 6-5 favorite, got up for third after being last at one point in the race. The winning time was 1:37.63 for one mile over a fast track.

Hopper, a 4-year-old colt by Declaration of War out of the Caesour mare Irridescence and trained by Bob Baffert, improved his record to three wins from six starts and has earned $419,000. He returned $4.80 for the win as the 7-5 second choice.

Hopper was bred in Kentucky by Green Lantern Stables.

Oaklawn Mile Stakes Quotes:

Winning trainer Bob Baffert by phone (Hopper): “That was the plan and it worked out. Sometimes, it doesn’t work out.

Asked about removing blinkers for the Oaklawn Mile: I think he’s just learning how to run. He’s a big, strong horse. The first time we ran without blinkers, the rider said he got beat because he was looking around, but I think he just got tired. I put the blinkers on him (for the March 4 Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles) and he was just really wanting to be a little rank and he got tired. Came back and worked really well. After his work, I thought, ‘You know what? This would be a good spot for him.’ So, I backed him up a little bit. Looks like a steady horse that can go a mile and a quarter. He’s bred to go a mile and a half, a mile and a quarter, but he’s got speed. So, I think he’s just figuring it out. These were good horses, tough horses.”

Winning assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes (Hopper): “This is one of our favorite spots on the tour. We just told him (Johnny Velazquez) to get him out of the gate, don’t chase, and see what happens. It sure worked out for him.”

Winning jockey John Velazquez (Hopper): “It worked out the way we thought. He broke from the outside. Coming from the outside, he was a little slow the first two jumps. He got into the race pretty easily going into the first turn. Got into the position I wanted, just kind of sat and waited for the other horses to come to him. And he put up a good fight.”

On first time Velazquez had ridden him: “He definitely has a lot of talent. He obviously hasn’t run very much. He’s still learning. Like even when he came down the lane, he’s looking at the infield and drifting out a little bit. I tried to keep his mind on business, and he got it done.”

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, second with Caddo River: “We ran second to a good bunch of horses. I thought at the top of the stretch we might get them. Made that little move and thought we might have them. Got beat by a better horse, maybe.”

Kenny McPeek (trainer, third-place and beaten 6-5 favorite Smile Happy): “It was a good run. He had a tricky trip. The 3 (Hero Status) kind of stopped in front of him and he had to try to wiggle his way through. Look, we knew the first finish line was going to tricky. But he’s a tough horse to train. He’s an Alpha, and we felt we were better off running him than trying to fight him to train. He’ll probably come back in the (G2) Alysheba at Churchill. That was the plan, (this was) kind of a one-mile paid workout. He needs more ground, though.”

While McPeek said Smile Happy wouldn’t run in the Oaklawn Handicap, “I’ve got Classic Causeway for that race.”

Francisco Arrieta (jockey, Smile Happy, third-place finisher): “He just came back from a long layoff. This is a nice horse. I think if it was a mile and a sixteenth, I get it. I had a little trouble from the half-mile to the quarter pole. I found a spot finally, and he came running.

Darryl Maree (left) has a huge following through the Weighted To Win show which is hosted by Clyde Basel (right).

No More Waiting To Win As Darryl Tops Charts On Day 4

Top form studier banks the daily prize

Sporting Post

Weighted To Win’s Darryl Maree is the Day 4 winner in the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge Racing Stars competition, after a tricky day at the office on the Turffontein card on Tuesday.

“After the first few days of racing, I thought I was out at the weights, but after today I could well be weighted to win!” quipped the man who is widely regarded as one of the most astute form studiers in the country.

Darryl Maree is pictured on the left with wing man, Clyde Basel

Darryl shaded Gqeberha galloper Neil Pretorius, with KZN handicapper David Thiselton back in third.

Cape young gun MJ Byleveld showed good improvement today in fourth, with the enigmatically talented Gr1 star Shaheen Shaw flashing in fifth, and suggesting that it could be a massive Day 5 at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Wednesday.

Have a look at the top 10 on the daily and progressive logs

Computaform’s Germaine Maharaj is clinging on to a narrow lead in the overall standings after 4 days.

The new fun competition hosted within the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge platform for South Africa’s racing presenters, personalities, commentators and journalists pits the faces and voices of racing against each other, competing on every South African race meeting, covering KZN, Western Cape, Gauteng, and Eastern Cape.

The racing public are reminded that the Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge is available on all local racemeetings, as well as Hong Kong and Singapore.

It’s free to enter and is your chance to take on the professionals!

The Mike Destombes own-bred filly Platina Princess (Danon Platina), trained by Mike de Kock and ridden by Craig Zackey, won in impressive fashion over 1450m at Turffontein Standside today.

Matsunyane, De Kock, Tarry Doubles

Kabelo Matsunyane, Mike de Kock and Sean Tarry all had doubles at Turffontein Inside today.

The highlight of the day was a breathtaking performance put in by the De Kock-trained Mike Destombes homebred Danon Platina filly Platina Princess, who despite being the only two-year-old in a fillies and mares maiden and it being only her second career start, obliterated them by 6,20 lengths under Craig Zackey.

Matsunyane goes to 81 wins at a strike rate of 9.65%.

De Kock goes to 39 wins for the season at 11.54%.

Tarry goes to 71 wins at 15.60%.

The Grand National (HuffPost.co.uk)

Today’s Question

Which jockey has had the most rides in the Grand National?

Turffontein Inside Fields, Tuesday

Four-times champion jockey Richard Johnson (Picture credit: Bill Selwyn).

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION:

Richard Johnson, now retired, famously holds the record for most rides in the Grand National. He also holds the record for most rides without a win. 21 attempts since 1997 and the best he placed was second.

Turf Talk Newsletter – 4 April 2023