Global Team Horse Racing recognises the need to attract Generation Z youngsters to horseracing (Picture GTH).
GTH – How To Get A YIB To Come Racing
Here is a real conversation with a South African man in his mid-20s. We’ll call him “Young Intelligent Bore” (YIB) – an individual from Generation Z – those whose participation in horseracing was noted at the 2023 Asian Racing Conference as essential to the growth and survival of the sport.
Puerto Manzano after winning the Grade 1 WSB Premier’s Champions Challenge last Saturday (Picture: WSB).
Equus Awards – Puerto Manzano Leaps to Top of Table
Puerto Manzano goes top in search of 2023 Horse of The Year Honours
Puerto Manzano became the first horse in the current season to win two open Grade 1 events and in so doing leapt clear of his rivals in search of Horse of The Year honours for 2023.
His narrow win in Saturday’s Grade 1 World Sports Betting Premier’s Champions Challenge at Turffontein saw his points tally rise to 98 for the season which places him clear of the Drakenstein pair of Trip Of Fortune and Charles Dickens.
Desert Miracle added the Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes to her Grade 1 Schweppes Majorca Stakes to propel her into fourth position on the log.
On 1 May 2023, the Horse of The Year Table has Puerto Manzano leading with 98 points, followed by Trip Of Fortune (87), Charles Dickens (80), Desert Miracle (78), Jet Dark (70), Gimme A Prince (66), and Make It Snappy (64 points).Several key contests mark the final three months of the season, and much will be up for grabs in search of Equus honours in the KZN Winter season.
Champion Three-Year-Old Colt
Only Billy Bowlegs added to his points tally in April after his fourth place in the Grade 1 World Sports Betting Premier’s Champions Challenge, which moves him from sixth to third on the log. Despite not having raced since February, Charles Dickens remains firmly in command at the top of the table on 80 points followed by Anfields Rocket (52), Billy Bowlegs (38), Cousin Casey (36), and the two Derby winners See It Again and Son of Raj both on 32 points.
Champion Three-Year-Old Filly
Feather Boa completed her fourth second in a Points race for the season when finishing behind Desert Miracle in the Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes and this helped her into second position behind Make it Snappy.
Make It Snappy, despite not having raced since January, remains firmly in control of the table on 64 points, followed by Feather Boa (48), Bless My Stars (42), and Ciao Bella and None Other on 32 points.
Champion Older Male and Female
Puerto Manzano (98 points) moves from fourth on the Older Male table to first and this places him above Trip of Fortune (87), Jet Dark (70), Gimme A Prince (66), and Saturday’s Grade 1 Computaform Sprint winner Isivunguvungu (50 points).
Desert Miracle’s win in the Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes propels her to top of the table in the Older Female category on 78 points, displacing previous table-topper Princess Calla
on 62 points. These two are well clear of the rest with Under Your Spell (38), Captain’s Ransom (36) and Rain in Holland (32) making up the table.
Distance Categories
Saturday’s Grade 1 Computaform Sprint winner Isivunguvungu (50 points) moves onto the Champion Sprinter table and into third position, but the table is still dominated by Gimme A Prince on 66 points, while Princess Calla (62 points) retains her second spot.
Monday’s Grade 3 Champagne Stakes winner, Rio Querari (28), remains in fourth spot with Bereave (26) in fifth position.
Desert Miracle (72 points) climbs to second position on the Champion Milder table, but Trip Of Fortune (87) remains at the top of the table.
Al Muthana (48 points), Under Your Spell (38), and Charles Dickens and MK’s Pride, both 24 points, complete the Champion Miler table.
Puerto Manzano is now well clear of the Champion Middle Distance table on 90 points after Saturday’s winning effort, followed by Jet Dark (48), and Make It Snappy, Rain In Holland, and Nexus, all on 32 points.
With the postponement of Saturday’s Grade 3 World Sports Betting Gold Bowl there was no movement on the Champion Stayer table in April. Salvator Mundi leads the table with 23 points followed by Nebraas (20), Arumugam (15), and Chrome Yellow and Senso Unico, both on 10 points.
Champion Two-Year-Old Colt
Saturday’s Grade 2 World Sports Betting SA Nursery winner Lucky Lad has a firm grip on the initial Two-Year-Old colt log entering the first Grade 1 juvenile races of the season. He leads on 24 points from Cliff Hanger and Jerusalema Rain, both on 8 points, and Gimmeanotherchance and Outlaw King, both on 2 points.
Champion Two-Year-Old Filly
Unbeaten Grade 2 World Sports Betting SA Fillies Nursery winner Mrs Geriatrix shares the top of the Two-Year-Old filly table with dual Grade 3 winner Winter Cloud on 16 points. They lead from Leaving Las Vega and Red Hot Rose on 8 points, and Golden Tatjana on 6 point
Equus Awards 2023 – Points Tables to 1 May 2023
| Horse of the Year | Age | Sex | Pts |
| PUERTO MANZANO (ARG) | 5 | G | 98 |
| TRIP OF FORTUNE (SAF) | 4 | G | 87 |
| CHARLES DICKENS (SAF) | 3 | C | 80 |
| DESERT MIRACLE (SAF) | 4 | F | 78 |
| JET DARK (SAF) | 5 | H | 70 |
| GIMME A PRINCE (SAF) | 4 | G | 66 |
| MAKE IT SNAPPY (SAF) | 3 | F | 64 |
| Champion Three-Year-Old Male | Age | Sex | Pts |
| CHARLES DICKENS (SAF) | 3 | C | 80 |
| ANFIELDS ROCKET (SAF) | 3 | G | 52 |
| BILLY BOWLEGS (SAF) | 3 | C | 38 |
| COUSIN CASEY (SAF) | 3 | C | 36 |
| SEE IT AGAIN (SAF) | 3 | C | 32 |
| SON OF RAJ (SAF) | 3 | G | 32 |
| Champion Three-Year-Old Female | Age | Sex | Pts |
| MAKE IT SNAPPY (SAF) | 3 | F | 64 |
| FEATHER BOA (SAF) | 3 | F | 48 |
| BLESS MY STARS (SAF) | 3 | F | 42 |
| CIAO BELLA (SAF) | 3 | F | 32 |
| NONE OTHER (SAF) | 3 | F | 32 |
| Champion Older Male | Age | Sex | Pts |
| PUERTO MANZANO (ARG) | 5 | G | 98 |
| TRIP OF FORTUNE (SAF) | 4 | G | 87 |
| JET DARK (SAF) | 5 | H | 70 |
| GIMME A PRINCE (SAF) | 4 | G | 66 |
| ISIVUNGUVUNGU (SAF) | 4 | G | 50 |
| Champion Older Female | Age | Sex | Pts |
| DESERT MIRACLE (SAF) | 4 | F | 78 |
| PRINCESS CALLA (SAF) | 5 | M | 62 |
| UNDER YOUR SPELL (SAF) | 4 | F | 38 |
| CAPTAIN’S RANSOM (SAF) | 5 | M | 36 |
| RAIN IN HOLLAND (SAF) | 4 | F | 32 |
| Champion Sprinter | Age | Sex | Pts |
| GIMME A PRINCE (SAF) | 4 | G | 66 |
| PRINCESS CALLA (SAF) | 5 | M | 62 |
| ISIVUNGUVUNGU (SAF) | 4 | G | 50 |
| RIO QUERARI (SAF) | 6 | G | 28 |
| BEREAVE (SAF) | 5 | G | 26 |
| Champion Miler | Age | Sex | Pts |
| TRIP OF FORTUNE (SAF) | 4 | G | 82 |
| DESERT MIRACLE (SAF) | 4 | F | 72 |
| AL MUTHANA (AUS) | 5 | G | 48 |
| UNDER YOUR SPELL (SAF) | 4 | F | 38 |
| CHARLES DICKENS (SAF) | 3 | C | 24 |
| MK’S PRIDE (SAF) | 5 | H | 24 |
| Champion Middle Distance | Age | Sex | Pts |
| PUERTO MANZANO (ARG) | 5 | G | 90 |
| JET DARK (SAF) | 5 | H | 48 |
| MAKE IT SNAPPY (SAF) | 3 | F | 32 |
| RAIN IN HOLLAND (SAF) | 4 | F | 32 |
| NEXUS (SAF) | 7 | G | 32 |
| 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 |
| Champion Two-Year-Old Male | Age | Sex | Pts |
| LUCKY LAD (SAF) | 2 | C | 24 |
| CLIFF HANGER (SAF) | 2 | C | 8 |
| JERUSALEMA RAIN (SAF) | 2 | G | 8 |
| GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE (SAF) | 2 | C | 2 |
| OUTLAW KING (SAF) | 2 | C | 2 |
| Champion Two-Year-Old Female | Age | Sex | Pts |
| MRS GERIATRIX (SAF) | 2 | F | 16 |
| WINTER CLOUD (SAF) | 2 | F | 16 |
| LEAVING LAS VEGAS (SAF) | 2 | F | 8 |
| RED HOT ROSE (SAF) | 2 | F | 8 |
| GOLDEN TATJANA (SAF) | 2 | F | 6 |
Angel of Empire Gets Slight Edge as Top Pick in Kentucky Derby
The 149th running of the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve drew a field of 20, plus three also-eligibles which may run if any of the first 20 withdraw by 9 a.m. ET on the morning of Friday, May 5. This is what happened in 2022, allowing eventual upset winner Rich Strike to run.
Angel of Empire ticks all the boxes to be a win contender in this year’s Kentucky Derby. In the first race of his career back in August 2022, Angel of Empire showed a lot of talent by winning at the distance of one mile on dirt and around two-turns, which is no easy task as horses normally need to work up to a race of a mile or more with a shorter one-turn race first. After a totally irrelevant race where he tried running on grass, Angel of Empire returned to the dirt and dominated by 6 1/4 lengths over the runner-up. Next tried in a stakes race for the first time this past January, Angel of Empire finished second, once more at a mile. When asked to run a mile and one-eighth for the first time in February in the important Risen Star Stakes, Angel of Empire showed a big burst of speed when making up four lengths with a quarter mile to run, also going from seventh to third while racing wide on the far turn, then was drawing off at the end to win by a length. Bettering that once more in the Arkansas Derby on April 1, Angle of Empire once again showed a tremendous response when asked to quicken his stride as he went from sixth with a quarter mile to run, three lengths behind the leader, to first within an eighth of a mile, then drew off by 4 1/4 lengths. That fast acceleration on the turn occurred while the colt was racing four paths wide as well. Throughout his three year old campaign, Angel of Empire has run faster, as evidenced by Equibase Speed Figures (which normalize for things we can’t see) of 80, then 92, then 96, then a 106 figure which is the highest (fastest) last-race North American figure in the field. A quick burst of speed like the one this colt possesses is often the key to Kentucky Derby success as it allows a horse to move by many horses in a short time on the far turn, at the same time many are figuratively hitting the wall. Getting in front in the stretch in the Derby with that kind of acceleration can make it difficult for other horses to pass in the late stages and that could be the key to Angel of Empire succeeding in the 149th Kentucky Derby. Angel of Empire is trained by Brad Cox, who also trains Hit Show, Jace’s Road and Verifying. Cox trained Mandaloun and Essential Quality, who finished second and fourth, respectively, in the 2021 Derby (Mandaloun was later awarded the win via disqualification).
Tapit Trice lost the very first race of his career back in November and is undefeated in four races since then. Like Angel of Empire, Tapit Trice has improved in his last few races, going from a 96 figure in February, to 98, then to 103 in his most recent race. That recent win came in the Blue Grass Stakes and in that race Tapit Trice showed a lot of mental toughness as he had to battle head-and-head with Verifying for the length of the stretch. At one point during that battle Verifying was in front by a head but Tapit Trice refused to yield and prevailed. Although that effort didn’t show the quick acceleration Angel of Empire displayed in the Arkansas Derby, Tapit Trice did demonstrate a big burst of speed one race before last in March when winning the Grade 3 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby, in which he moved from eighth to first in the final eighth of a mile. Just like Angel of Empire, Tapit Trice is on a pattern of improvement which suggests he can peak in this race and that makes him a formidable contender. Tapit Trice is trained by Todd Pletcher, who won the 2010 Derby with Super Saver and the 2017 Derby with Always Dreaming. Pletcher also saddles two other contenders in Forte and Kingsbarns.
Forte will likely enter the gate for the 149th Kentucky Derby as the betting favorite and for good reason as he has won six of seven career races including five in a row. He scored a 100 on every test starting with the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes last summer, then the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity and Fanduel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance last fall. Given three months off to grow up physically, Forte returned in March as if he had never been away from the races when easily winning the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes by four lengths. Next, Forte then won the Florida Derby in April. The 102 speed figure Forte earned last October in the Futurity, followed by a 105 figure in the Breeders’ Cup, were exceptional for a 2-year-old, so it was a bit of a happy surprise when he returned with a 106 figure effort in the Fountain of Youth. It was not a surprise, and of no real concern, when Forte earned a 104 figure in the Florida Derby because historically horses can run just a tad slower in their last prep before the Kentucky Derby and still win, as occurred with Derby winners I’ll Have Another, California Chrome and eventual Triple Crown winner Justify. Similar to the late kick Tapit Trice demonstrated in the Tampa Bay Derby, Forte put in a big kick in the stretch of the Florida Derby when going from fifth to win by a length in the final eighth of a mile. Although I am ranking Forte slightly below Angel of Empire and Tapit Trice on my list of win contenders, this is only due to the tremendous talent and strength among this year’s Derby field.
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Derma Sotogake is one of two likely Derby entrants who were born and raised in Japan. He is a grandson of 1989 Kentucky Derby winner Sunday Silence, who was sold to Japanese interests in 1991 and who has become one of the dominant sires in that country. Now Sunday Silence is a grandsire, and his genes continue to create great horses. Derma Sotogake won a very important race in Japan last November at the distance of one mile and one eighth, on the same week Forte won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at one mile and one sixteenth. Derma Sotogake ended his 2-year-old season by beating 13 other horses then took three months off to mature. Shipped to Saudi Arabia, Derma Sotogake finished third of 13 in the $1.5 million Saudi Derby then one month later when sent to Dubai the colt crushed a field of 13 in the United Arab Emirates Derby. In that race Derma Sotogake established the lead from the start and after taking on some challengers early drew off to win by five lengths while geared down in the final stages, earning a very strong 116 figure in the process. Although he led from the start in that race, Derma Sotogake put in a very strong late kick to win his final start of 2022 so it appears no matter the pace scenario in the Derby this colt could be a big threat to succeed.
Kingsbarns, yet another Todd Pletcher trainee, is one of the most lightly raced horses in the field, having run just three times. He’s undefeated to date and it must be noted that among 34 horses to enter the gate in the Kentucky Derby undefeated, nine exited the gate in the same fashion. That warrants tremendous respect, as does the fact Kingsbarns won the first two races of his career while sitting in third or fourth position early, while in his most recent victory in the Louisiana Derby, he led from start to finish and didn’t give any of the other 11 competitors a chance in the stretch while coasting to an easy win. Even though the time was slower than average, the fact is that Kingsbarns actually ran faster in the last eighth of a mile than many of the other entrants in this year’s Derby and that’s notable. Having improved from an 84 figure in his debut to 100 figures in his last two races, and being as lightly raced as he is, there is a lot of upside for Kingsbarns to take a big leap forward and to post a mild upset to win this year’s Derby.
Skinner rounds out the group of six that I feel have the best chance to win, but he appears less probable than any of the previous five mentioned. However, his high odds will make up for that, so don’t hesitate to bet him given the return potential for the risk. Unlike the previous five contenders I talked about, Skinner hasn’t won any of the fall or spring prep races for the Derby, and he was not scheduled to ship from trainer John Shirreffs home base in California unless one more of the main 20 horse likely to run withdrew from consideration, which happened earlier this week. Shirreffs saddled Giacomo to a $102 payoff winning the 2005 Derby. Giacomo had finished fourth in the Santa Anita Derby prior to the upset win and similarly Skinner finished third in the 2023 Santa Anita Derby in his most recent race. Although Skinner has just one win to his credit in six lifetime races, only the three this year are notable, and in those races, he’s run faster and faster, from a 94 speed figure in February (following four months off), to 103, then to 104. So, although the third-place finish isn’t as good as the wins the top five contenders all have coming into this race, the 104 figure compares favorably with the 100 to 106 figures as those other horses. Skinner is a son of Curlin, who finished third in the 2007 Derby, and whose son Good Magic finished second in the 2018 Derby. With the breeding to run the Derby distance of a mile and one-quarter and with a bit of a pattern similar to the trainer’s huge upset in the 2005 Derby, Skinner is an interesting longshot we may want to bet so we are not found kicking ourselves after the race has been run.
The rest of the Kentucky Derby field, with their best Equibase Speed Figures is Confidence Game (104), Continuar (102), Cyclone Mischief (101), Disarm (95), Hit Show (99), Jace’s Road (101), King Russell (99), Lord Miles (100), Mandarin Hero (105), Mage (102), Raise Cain (93), Reincarnate (103) Rocket Can (99), Sun Thunder (94), Two Phil’s (97), Verifying (102).
Win contenders in preference order:
You can get Ellis’ full card detailed analysis (about 10 pages in all), including more detailed comments on Kentucky Derby entrants, as well as and betting recommendations for all the races at Churchill Downs on Derby Day, Saturday May 6, at Equibase.com.
Auguste Rodin (Picture: Timeform).
Bet Big With TAB On 2000 Guineas Meeting At Newmarket
4Racing
The Qipco 2000 Guineas, the first Classic of the English Flat season and one of the most famous events for three-year-olds on the global racing calendar, will be run at Newmarket on Saturday and it’s another opportunity for TAB customers to bet big on the best international racing.
The 2000 Guineas, first run in 1809, headlines an eight-race card and TAB Win, Place, Swinger and Quinella (first two any order) bets on all races will be commingled into Hong Kong’s
massive World Pool.
World Pool turnover on the meeting is likely to be about R700 million and TAB customers can bet huge amounts without fear of significantly reducing payouts.
TAB will also operate local Exacta, Trifecta and Quartet pools on the Newmarket meeting, as well as a BiPot and Jackpot.
Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has won the 2000 Guineas a record 10 times and it’s no surprise that his charge Auguste Rodin is dominating the ante-post betting at around 13-8.
He finished second on his debut last year and then won his next three starts, wrapping up his career as a two-year-old with a 3.50-length victory in a 1600m Group 1 race at Doncaster. The
only potential chink in Auguste Rodin’s armour is whether this Derby candidate will have them speed to see off some high-quality 1600m specialists, but most expect his class to prove
decisive.
O’Brien holds a strong hand in the race and will also saddle likely second favourite Little Big Bear, who won four in a row last season after finishing runner-up in his debut. He has loads of speed and should pack sufficient stamina for this 1600m.
The Guineas will be run at 17:40 and there will be live coverage of the meeting on Racing240 on DStv.
The three-day Guineas Festival opens with an eight-race card on Friday with the Qipco 1000 Guineas for fillies headlining the final day on Sunday.
All in all it’s a grand weekend for TAB customers with a R500,000 TAB Pick 6 carryover adding excitement to the opening meeting of the KZN winter feature-race season at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday. Three feature races will be run and the Pick 6 pool is expected to total R3
million.
Naval Secret (far side) and Greenlightoheaven clash in a Pinnacle Stakes event over 1200m on the Fairview poly on Friday May 5. (Pauline Herman Photography).
Wait For The Greenlight
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A picture of last year’s awards (JC Photos).
Highveld Feature Season Awards -Nominees Announced
The event is hosted by the Racehorse Owners Association to honour and celebrate the achievements of our champions during the Highveld Feature racing season.
Media release by Racehorse Owners Association on Thursday 4 May 2023.
The nominees for the 2023 Highveld Feature Season Awards are:
Champion two year old filly
Only one nominee – will be announced at the Awards function
Champion two year old colt/gelding
Only one nominee – will be announced at the Awards function
Picture: Lady Of Power wins the Grade 2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas).
Champion three year old filly
- Bless My Stars
- Lady Of Power
- None Other
Picture: Anfields Rocket wins the Grade 1 WSB SA Classic.
Champion three year old colt/gelding
- Anfields Rocket
- Billy Bowlegs
- Eye Of The Prophet
- Royal Victory
- Union Square
Picture: Desert Miracle wins the Grade 1 HSH Princess Charlene Empress Club Stakes.
Champion older filly/mare
- Desert Miracle
- Princess Calla
- Rain In Holland
Picture: Isivunguvungu wins the Grade 1 Jonsson Workwear Computaform Sprint.
Champion older horse
- Isivunguvungu
- Puerto Manzano (ARG)
- Trip Of Fortune
Champion sprinter
- Isivunguvungu
- Princess Calla
Picture: Puerto Manzano wins the Grade 3 London News Stakes.
Champion Middle distance horse
- Anfields Rocket
- Bless My Stars
- Desert Miracle
- Puerto Manzano (ARG)
- Trip Of Fortune
Champion Stayer
The nominees for Champion Stayer will be announced after the running of the World Sports Betting Gold Bowl (Grade 3) on Sunday 7th May 2023.
The Chairman of the voting process is Nico Kritsiotis, and he is joined on the panel by Jack Milner and Lyall Cooper.
Some categories were fairly predictable, and others attracted lengthy discussion.
However, by the conclusion of the deliberations the judges were satisfied that a fair process had taken place and the correct decisions were taken.
Winners in the following categories are based on a points structure and will be announced at the Awards function:
- Champion Work Rider
- Champion Apprentice
- Champion Breeder of the season
- Champion Owner of the season
- Champion Jockey of the season
- Champion Trainer of the season
The following points structure was applied:
1st-2nd-3rd
Grade 1
12-9-7
Grade 2
9-6 -4
Grade 3
6-3-1
Listed
2 – –
All equine winners are then eligible for the prestigious Horse of the Season award.
We wish all nominees the best in their respective categories and look forward to hosting them on the evening.
Images by JC Photos and Candiese Lenferna.
David Payne-trained Mare Sells For Aus$3.4 Million
Yulong’s thirst for top class mares shows no sign of stopping, with the breeding giant behind the multi-million dollar purchase of Group 1 winners Montefilia and Icebath at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale on Thursday night.
Popular stayer Tralee Rose, a multiple Stakes-winning daughter of Tavistock that was offered as a racing and breeding prospect, was bought for $450,000 by Paul Lofitis’ Lofty Thoroughbreds, who also paid $625,000 for Dubawi mare Opulent in foal to Frankel.
Sir Gordon Richards (shutterstock.com)
Today’s Question
The great 26-time British flat racing champion jockey Sir Gordon Richards rode more than 200 winners in a season 12 times with a high of 269 in 1947. His last season riding more than 200 winners was in 1952. Who was the next jockey to break 200 in a season?
Answer at bottom of the newsletter.
Pat Eddery (Twitter)
