Turf Talk Newsletter – 4 February, 2026

Snow Pilot winning the sire-producing Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas (Picture: Wayne Marks)

The owners of Grade 1 winner Snow Pilot, a son of deceased War Front stallion Lancaster Bomber, have extended an invitation to join them as they syndicate the class galloper for stud.

The opportunity includes the balance of his racing career at no cost.

A total of 50 shares will be sold at R80 000 each plus vat, and the share entitles the holder to two services per year for the first four years, and thereafter one service per year.

The service fee will be set by the Management Committee.

The 2023 Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas winner, Snow Pilot registered his fifth win last Saturday and is now being targetted at the SA Champions Season in KZN.

His likely targets include the IOS Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes and the R2 million Hollywoodbets Gr1 Gold Challenge.

In an innovative move, all costs associated with Snow Pilot’s Durban campaign, including training fees, transport, entry fees and related expenses, will be funded from stakes earned during this period. Should there be a shortfall, this will be covered by Drakenstein Stud.

Syndicate members thus participate fully in the racing campaign, without downside risk.

Watch Snow Pilot’s Hollywoodbets Gr1 Cape Guineas victory:

Bred by champion breeders Drakenstein Stud, Lancaster Bomber was one of more than 100 stakes winners sired by War Front.

Lancaster Bomber won the 2018 Gr1 Tattersalls Gold Cup and finished second or third in six other Gr1 races.

Lancaster Bomber hailed from a hugely successful family, and one which has made a considerable mark on the South African turf.

A half-brother to triple Gr1 winner Excelebration (Exceed And Excel), Lancaster Bomber was one of four group/graded stakes winners produced by his dam Sun Shower (Indian Ridge).

The latter’s fifth dam Fantan also ranked as the granddam of South African champion Politician (Oligarchy), and is also ancestress of top-class, Al Mufti sired local gallopers as Al Nitak, The Sheik and Top Seller.

Lancaster Bomber, who is the sire of current SA Horse Of The Year Eight On Eighteen, sadly passed at the age of 7, while standing at Drakenstein Stud. He has sired twelve stakes winners, five of which, Snow Pilot, Beach Bomb, Eight On Eighteen, Rascova and Legend Of Arthur, won at Gr1 level

Snow Pilot was the first foal out of Captain Al star Snowdance, and like her son, she was trained by Justin Snaith.

Bred at Cheveley Stud, Snowdance commanded a R2-million price tag at the National Yearling Sale, an investment she would return with interest and more.

Raced by Drakenstein in partnership with the late Jack Mitchell, Snowdance opened her stakes account in dominant style when claiming the Gr2 Western Cape Fillies Championship.

She again impressed in the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas, taking the classic in sizzling style.

Sent off a short-prized favourite on the strength of her front-running tour de force in the Fillies Championship, different tactics saw her covered up, but she quickened into the lead at the quarter mark and cruised home to win geared down, the winning margin of just over three lengths flattering stable companion and future Horse of the Year Oh Susannah.

On to the Gr1 Majorca Stakes and in yet another flawless performance, she defeated a stellar field of mainly older fillies and mares.

Although Snowdance failed to hit the same dizzying heights at four, she nevertheless added seconds in both the Gr1 Gold Challenge and Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint and a third in the Gr1 Garden Province Stakes, before signing off on her career when fourth behind champion Kasimir in the Gr1 Mercury Sprint.

For further details on Snow Pilot’s syndication, please contact Jonathan Snaith, Kevin Sommerville or Tarryn Putz.

Muzi Yeni gets Rose Woott home in the Clapham Stakes (Picture: Wayne Marks)

The Clapham Stakes (Non-Black Type) was the feature at the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth ten-race meeting on Wednesday and it was the Andre Nel-trained Australian-bred Rose Woott who prevailed under Muzi Yeni at 20/1 odds.

The favourite Beach Verse had appeared to be in with a fine chance of victory in the 1600m event for fillies and mares when striking the front close to home on the inside of the seven runners, but she shied away from a right-handed smack and that appeared to cost her valuable momentum.

Rose Woott took full advantage and burst through to win by 0,40 lengths.

Kattekwaatkwadraad, who was 1kg overweight at 53,5kg with Andrew Fortune up, was third, beaten 0,70 lengths, and the rest of the field were beaten close to five lengths and more.

Having just her fifth start, the Wootton Bassett filly Rose Woott clocked 99,98 seconds for the 1600m race.

Now a winner of 2 of her 5 starts with a single place, Rose Woott took her earnings to R189 170.

Bred by Queensland-based Dr DJ O’Brien, she was purchased by James Bester Bloodstock off the 2024 Inglis Easter Sale for A$600 000 – the equivalent in today’s terms of R6,7 million.

Gavin Lerena and James Crawford both scored individual doubles at the meeting.

Lerena is now on 52 wins for the season achieved at a strike rate of 18.98%.

James Crawford is on 44 wins at 11.55% and is in 7th place on the national log.

Picture: Owner Mark Allen with the subject of the movie 50 to 1 

The movie 50 to 1 appears to have been a box office failure, which is surprising because it is a 100% true story and was riveting to this horseracing fan.

Click here to watch the movie 50 to 1 on Youtube – if you don’t want any spoiler information about the movie then stop reading here.

50 to 1 is the true story about the horse Mine That Bird and it’s appeal is that it fits into the view of the horseracing industry being “the dream industry” and into the adage “It takes just one horse.”

The connections of Mine That Bird are a salt of the earth group of cowboys and trainer Chip Woolley is the horse’s third trainer.

His results in his first two runs as a three-year-old for Woolley are alright, a second placed finish in the Borderland Derby, which is known as a pointer race to the Listed Sunland Derby, and he then runs a moderate fourth in the Sunland Derby.

However, the connections then learn they have qualified for the Kentucky Derby chiefly because of Mine That Bird’s good two-year-old results in Canada, where he won four out of six races and was voted Canadian Champion Two-year-old male.

Mine That Bird is thus transported 1700 miles in a horse box towed by a pickup truck by Chip Woolley and his assistant trainer Kim Craft to Churchill Downs to compete in “The Run For The Roses”.

To give an idea of the characters, Chip Woolley meets Mine That Bird’s chief owner Mark Allen when he helps him out in a bar fight.

Mark Allen owned a ranch and was not short of money.

He and his racing partner Leonard Blach shelled out $400,000 to buy Mine That Bird.

However, the cowboys are unlikely owners of a Kentucky Derby runner, especially when having to rub shoulders with Bob Baffert’s clients and the Godolphin entourage etc.

Their jockey is a fine match for them though, Calvin “Borail” Borel.

Long known as a top journeyman rider in his home state of Louisiana and the Midwest, Borel burst on the national scene in 2007 with an emotional reaction after winning the Kentucky Derby on Street Sense. Borel had a great run at Saratoga that summer, riding three Grade 1 winners, including Street Sense in the Travers.

He is known as “Borail” because of his penchant for hugging the rail, an unusual tactic in the USA and he played himself in the movie.

While the connections are not blending too well into the usual Churchill Downs Kentucky Derby owners section of the stand, their friends have gathered 1700 miles away to watch the race in their local bar in New Mexico.

I won’t go any further.

Hope you enjoy the movie!

To continue on the theme, it has to be said that movie biographies are often boring, perhaps because the story is well known already.

That is perhaps what made Sea Biscuit such a great movie – nobody outside of the USA really knew the incredible story behind the battler who became an equine hero.

However, there is one way to ensure a movie on Andrew Fortune will not be boring and that is for him to play himself!

Picture: One of the greatest performances in SA turf history, Horse Chestnut wins the SA Derby under Weichong Marwing and completes the Triple Crown (JC Photographics)

With the 2026 Highveld Feature Season just a week away, Turffontein once again prepares to host two series of South Africa’s key three-year-old classics.

The journey begins next Saturday, 7 February with the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas and Wilgerbosdrift Gr2 Fillies Guineas over 1600m, the opening legs of the SA TAB Triple Crown and Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara. Attention then turns to Saturday, 7 March, when the Gr1 SA Classic and SA Fillies Classic over 1800m raise the bar, before the championship paths reach their ultimate tests on Saturday, 4 April in the Gr1 SA Derby and Gr2 SA Oaks over 2450m.

In 2026, a bonus of R2-million will be payable to the winner of the Triple Crown, with R1-million on offer to any filly who can win all three legs of the Triple Tiara.

Click here to read Charl Pretorius’ Full Article

Wayne has been tipped to win the sixth race, a MR 100 Handicap over 1600m, at the Vaal Classic track meeting on Thursday (JC Photos)

A MR 100 handicap over 1600m is the main race of the Vaal Classic track eight race meeting today and Wayne looks the one to beat

This Lucky Houdalakis-trained Vercingetorix gelding won his second start over 1400m, beating the promising Jaffa, and he followed up with an easy win over 1475m. He disappointed last time in the Gr 3 Got The Greenlight Stakes over 1400m, but he had a wide draw and was up against some of the country’s best three-year-olds. Interestingly, the only horse he beat home in that race, his stablemate Agoge, came out and won next time out. Wayne should relish the step up in trip as he out of an unraced Tiger Ridge daughter of Fort Wood mare Carolina Cherry, who won the Gold Circle Oaks. Wayne sneaks into the handicap carrying the minimum weight and has drawn 4 out 7 runners with Muzi Yeni up. Birthright has disappointed in his last two starts and has a wide draw, but he’ll appreciate the step back up in trip to 1600m meters and he is off a competitive mark. Hopefully he can overcome the draw to get into a handy to front-running position. Tenjiku has been a bit disappointing lately, but he now has Craig Zackey aboard and could bounce back. Beynac is capable of a good performance and Callan Murray up gives him a chance. Player is capable of earning on his day. Hotarubi is talented but frustratingly unreliable. However, he has his 3rd run for Chris Jonker and the change of environment could perhaps help him.

In the first leg of the Pick 6, a Maiden Plate over 1600m, Indian Spice has improved with blinkers and gets a good opportunity to prevail here over an ideal trip from a good draw of three. Smuggler ran fifth, beaten 5,40 lengths, when stepped up to 1600m second time out and as the winner was the talented Agoge he could have the ability to earn here, although on the downside he has a tough draw of nine. Millennium Warrior was 2,30 lengths behind Smuggler in that race and could possibly earn here. Palace Guard has shown enough to able to earn here. Underdog and Terrence are others to consider for places.

In the second leg, a MR 91 Handicap for fillies and mares, Future Date is a progressive sort and can overcome a four point raise for her good win last time as she is thriving over middle distances and has a good draw. Futura’s progeny are capable of continual improvement. Dimako’s Jet beat Future Date the last time they met and is now 1kg better off, so has the latter held on paper, but Future Date strikes as one who is on the up and she can defy that form. Art Nouveau is 1.5kg better off with Future Date for a one length beating. Boom Boom has the potential to be a runner here as she is distance suited and has a fair draw. Todoque could be dangerous from pole position.

In the fifth race over 1800m Duchess Of Paloma has caught the eye lately as one with plenty of scope and she has a fine chance from pole position. Lady Blunt is in cracking form and will love this trip so can go close from draw five. Rosy Lemon is another one who could have a shout as she is admirably consistent especially against her own gender. Kensal Green was thrashed by Duchess Of Paloma last October, but has run two good races since and can’t be ignored. Chickasaw and Surprise Party are hard to ignore.

In the seventh over 1450m Peregrine Falcon is knocking hard and could earn over a suitable trip if able to overcome a draw. Monkey Puzzle has shown enough to be able to earn in this line up. Longsword is capable of a strong finish and could be in the shake up. Gulf Of America won well in the maidens and the form has been franked. Never Never Land won well last time and Gavin Lerena stays up off a three point higher mark.

In the eighth over 1000m Precocious, who had some fair form in Cape Town, won well last time and can follow up off an 86 merit rating. Magic Carpet Ride is capable of a much better showing than her last two and can bounce back over the minimum trip. Blindfire has pace and with a 1,5kg claimer up has a chance here.

In the first over 1800m Falconfly should relish the step up in trip and can go close from draw 2.

In the second over 1600m Utsaah will be hard to beat if repeating her last performance, which was the first time she had run in blinkers.

How many horses have done the Irish Gold Cup/Cheltenham Gold Cup double in the same season?

The picture gives a clue to the answer