SA Owners Win With Rafeef Relative In Aus
National Code wins comfortably at Knyeton (Racing.com)
A four-year-old filly by Written Tycoon out of National Colour’s daughter Sarraqa won in fluent style for owners Mike de Kock, Larry Nestadt, Hollywood Racing (Mgr: D Heffer) and the Barnane Stud of the Kieswetter family at Knyeton Racecourse in Australia on Wednesday.
The horse is trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes and was having her second career start in a Maiden Plate race over 1103m at Knyeton racecourse in Victoria.
The grey filly was purchased for Aus$160,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in 2023 and runs in the Barnane Stud colours.
Sarraqaa was unraced but is a three-quarter sister to the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint winner and highly successful sire Rafeef, as she is out of Rafeef’s dam National Colour and is by Snitzel, who is a son of Rafeef’s sire Redoute’s Choice.
Furthermore, National Code’s value since being purchased has skyrocketed because she is the half-sister to Dundeel colt Celestial Legend, who won both the Gr 1 Doncaster Mile and Gr 1 Randwick Guineas last year.
National Code jumped well under apprentice Daniel Stackhouse on Wednesday and took an early lead in the race around the turn.
However, Stackhouse allowed Tassorting to go ahead.
National Code sat in second place in the running in a one out position.
She quickened superbly in the straight and won by 1,80 lengths with just three smacks required.
National Colour was a Riethuiskraal Stud-bred Sean Tarry-trained grey by National Assembly and was the joint Horse Of The Year together with Ilha da Vitoria in the Equus Awards of 2005-2006, having won the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint, Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint and Gr 1 Mercury Sprint, among other victories, and she went on to win a race in Dubai and finish a half-a-length second in the Gr 1 Nunthorpe Stakes in England.
She was retired to Arrowfield Stud in Australia and besides Redoute’s Choice stalwart Rafeef she also produced Rafeef’s full-brother Mustaaqeem.
Rafeef was trained by Mike de Kock and won the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint. He has gone on to produce four Gr 1 winners himself and is always prominent on the South African Sires standings.
Mustaaqeem was also trained by De Kock and won the Gr 1 SA Nursery.
National Colour also produced Circle Of Speed, a one-time winner who produced the Gr 2 winner Full Velocity.
It would be a big boost for SA breeding if National Code was imported to South Africa by her owners.
Complaint Against Assistant Starter On Behalf Of See It Again Fails
See It Again, pictured winning the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 as a three-year-old, runs in a Conditions Plate on Friday night at Hollywodbets Greyville, having missed his previous intended stepping-stone race after being scratched at the start
Virtually all and sundry in the racing industry were surprised by the lack of time given to See It Again to load in his last start at Hollywoodbets Greyville before being scratched, especially considering the importance of the race as a preparation opportunity for the R6 million Betway Summer Cup.
However, trainer Michael Roberts’ complaint against the assistant starter who made the decision has not led to any action being taken and his deposit fee was forfeited.
The details of the inquiry are published below:
The National Horseracing Authority of Southern Africa (NHA) confirms that an inquiry was held in Durban on Tuesday, 4 November 2025, following a complaint lodged by Trainer M L Roberts against the Assistant Starter in terms of the provisions of Rule 6.9.
The complaint related to the alleged unfair withdrawal of the horse SEE IT AGAIN at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on Sunday, 19 October 2025 in Race 8.
The Inquiry was chaired by an independent Legal Representative appointed by the NHA.
Both the Complainant and the Respondent were afforded a fair opportunity to present their respective version of events. The matter was thoroughly ventilated.
The particulars of the complaint were noted.
The Inquiry Board found that there was no error on the part of the Assistant Starter, and the complaint was dismissed. It was emphasised that the Starter and Assistant Starter amongst their many responsibilities, must consider the welfare and safety of all horses, jockeys, and staff members involved at the start.
The Inquiry Board further stated that all parties should remain cognisant of one another’s roles and positioning on race day. Given the fast-paced nature of horseracing, differing perspectives may arise; however, the Starter and/or Assistant Starter are empowered under the Rules to exercise judgment and discretion in such circumstances.
Each party is to bear their own costs, and the Complainant’s deposit fee is forfeited.
A D HYDE
RACING CONTROL EXECUTIVE
Madison Valley Will Go Straight Into Summer Cup
The US Of A Capped Fine Weekend For The United States
Moutonshoek’s red-hot sire The United States enjoyed yet more feature race success on Sunday, when his son The US Of A won the Listed Southeaster Sprint (1100m) at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth.
Just one day earlier, The United States’ gelding Tin Pan Alley had lifted the G3 Betway Graham Beck Stakes, while The United States’ daughter Rodeo Drive had run third in the G2 Allied Steelrode-Onamission Charity Mile.
Trained by Patrick Kruyer, the five-year-old The US Of A stamped himself a sprinter to watch this season with a breathtaking performance in Sunday’s R225 000 feature.
Under Richard Fourie, The US Of A stormed home from off the pace to win going away by a length and three quarters.
Bred by Riverton Stud, The US Of A races for Robert Bloomberg, Ashwin Reynolds and the RAR Syndicate.
Now a five time winner from 16 starts, Sunday’s Listed winner is out of the Greys Inn mare Pippi.
The US Of A, who has won three of his last four starts, was a R130 000 purchase from the 2022 November Two Year Old Sale.
His G1 Ranvet Stakes-winning sire could bid for more feature race success in the coming weeks.
The United States’ daughter Keukenhof holds an entry for the G2 Western Cape Fillies Championship, his son Navajo Nation has been entered in the G3 Betway Victory Moon Stakes, and daughter Care Forgot has been entered for the Listed Summer Pudding Handicap.
Progressive Hazy Dazy Can Win Again
Join SA Racing Presenters' Movember Challenge Fundraising Effort!
MJ Byleveld, a former jockey turned presenter, is a long-time supporter of the Movember men’s health charity drive and will be doing it again this season (Picture: Sporting Post)
South Africa’s racing presenters are usually a clean cut group, but don’t be surprised to see them looking a bit scraggly for the next month, because they are taking part in the Movember Challenge!
This challenge is constituted of various charity options, including the one the presenters will be participating in i.e. growing a moustache for the whole of November, in order to raise awareness and funds for men’s health issues, including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health and suicide prevention.
Crawford's First Win At Happy Valley, Ferraris Scores Again
Brett Crawford is all smiles after his first win at Happy Valley (Picture: HKJC)
Brett Crawford’s first win at Happy Valley was with the horse who gave him both his fist runner and first winner in Hong Kong, the New Zealand-bred six-year-old gelding Speedy Smartie.
In the second race of the Wednesday meeting this week, Speedy Smartie started favourite under Jerry Chau, paying 2.80 on the Tote.
The bay gelding jumped from a tough draw of nine but Chau did not rush him and he was always traveling well in midfield.
Chau managed to find cover and cornered expertly.
In a blanker finish it was Speed Smartie who found extra to prevail by a neck, denying Lyle Hewitson on the David Hayes-trained Oriental Surprise.
Later, Luke Ferraris maintained his second place on the log position by winning a class 4 handicap over 1200m on the Ricky Yiu-trained Chaming Babe, who paid 3.20 on the Tote and came from the box seat to win by a length.
Hollie Doyle had earlier scored her first win in the first meeting of her short-term contract.
Today's Question
Who said, “People used to say to me, ‘I can tell what you’ve backed’ and I’m glad to say 90% of the time they were wrong. Which pleased me.”
The picture is of the subject (Sky Sports Racing)
Today’s Question Answer
Sir Peter O’Sullevan, who was known as “Voice Of Racing”, continued, “I tried to keep my bias to myself. Even when I was haemorrhaging fiscally, they couldn’t spot it.”
