Beach Bomb Leading Overseas Earner
Beach Bomb working out at Del Mar before the Breeders Cup last year (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
It is expensive sending a horse overseas to race, but it was worthwhile in the case of the diminutive Drakenstein Stud homebred Lancaster Bomber filly Beach Bomb, because she earned the equivalent of R7,547,937 in her USA campaign during the months that made up the 2024/2025 South African season.
The Graham Motion-trained filly ran seven times for two wins, three seconds and a third.
Both of her wins were on the Gulfstream Park turf, the first being on March 1 this year in the Gr 3 Very One Stakes over one mile and three furlongs and the second being in the Gr 3 Orchid Stakes over one-and-a-half miles on March 29.
Motion showed just what a fine trainer he is by converting her into a frontrunner after it was proving tough to win with her normal hold up tactics.
The result was two successive victories.
Luis Saez rode her in both of those wins and she earned US89,280 and US$92,070 for the two victories respectively.
Beach Bomb’s only unplaced run was in the Gr 1 Breeders Cup Filly and Mare turf at Del Mar, where she finshed 8th.
Beach Bomb stepped up to Gr 1 level again last time out and finished a gallant half-a-length second in the New York Stakes at Saratoga over one mile and one-and-a-half furlongs.
Beach Bomb is set to run in the Gr 2 Beverly D. Stakes at Colonial Downs on Saturday over a mile and one-and-a-half furlongs. That race has previously been won by a South African-bred, the Advocate Altus Joubert-bred Elliodor mare Crimson Palace winning it in 2004 under Frankie Dettori for owners Godolphin.
The second highest overseas earner was also a Drakenstein Stud-bred, the What A Winter gelding Mid Winter Wind, who is trained by Mark Newnham in Hong Kong. He won his Hong Kong debut in devastating style, coming from last to first under Luke Ferraris in a 1200m class 3 event worth HK$ 1,860,000. In a further five starts he only managed two fifths, but his earnings were the equivalent of R2,816,227, which underlines just how high the stakes are in Hong Kong.
The Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein homebred Gimmethegreenlight filly Gimme A Nother left these shores unbeaten in seven start, including two Gr 1 wins, so it is thus disappointing she has not won in North America yet, but she has come second three times in just four starts and those were in two Gr 2s and a Gr 3. She ran below par in the only Gr 1 she contested. At the long-straighted Turffontein racecourse she gained a reputation for turning it on in the final 300m from off the pace, so with that style there have been some teething problems finding a racing style to suit her as the courses are tighter in the USA and the straights shorter.
In fourth place for overseas earning on the equivalent of R1,999,701 is Narrow Creek Stud-bred Hollywood Racing-owned What A Winter gelding Isivunguvungu. He won on debut in the USA in the Black Type Da Hoss Stakes over five-and-a-half furlongs at Colonial Downs on the turf, where he used his early pace and fine turn of foot to good effect and held on under Manuel Franco. He had another third place finish sandwiched in between his runs in the Gr 1 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint over five furlongs, where he was taken out when prominent in the straight, and in the Gr 1 Al Quoz Sprint over six furlongs, where hold up tactics proved all wrong. He disappointed in his last start but gets a chance to make amends in the Van Clief Stakes over five-and-a-half furlongs on the turf at Colonial Downs on Saturday.
Graham Motion trains both Gimme A Nother and Isivunguvungu.
The fith highest earner was the Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein-bred Flower Alley gelding Parterre, who earned the equivalent of R703,156 after a disappointing season in Hong Kong in which he managed one third in eleven starts. He has now been retired.
Karel Miedema's July Sectional Timing Chart Tells A Story
The Real Prince’s acceleration at the 400m mark was the key to Hollywoodbets Durban July victory (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
A look at the Hollywoodbets Durban July sectional timing chart compiled by the racing analyst guru Karel Miedema tell a story.
It is clear the pace was slowed between the 1400m and the 600m mark, which led to the sprint for home.
The Real Prince’s 200m sectional time between the 400m and 200m was the second fastest 200m section of the race and the 11.21 seconds he ran it in was the key to victory.
The Confederate ran the fastest 200m section of the race doing the 2000m to 1800m section in 11.12 seconds.
However, he paid the price and finished second last.
It would pay to read Karel’s charts regularly in order to try and get a feel for sectional timing.
Gimmethegreenlight Sales Topper Improving For Dylan Cunha
THe Maine Chance Farms-bred Gimmthegreenlight colt Valley Ofthe Kings was the sales topper at the CRS Cape Premier Yearling Sale of 2023, fetching R3.8 million (Cape Racing Sales)
The Gimmethegreenlight Sales Topper from the CRS Cape Premier Yearling Sale of 2023, Valley OfThe Kings, ran an improved race second time out for Dylan Cunha in the U.K.
Valley Of The King was bought by the Hong Kong Jockey Club for R3.8 million at that January 2023 Sale.
However, he apparently failed a veterinary test in Europe before the final leg of his journey to Hong Kong and was sold on.
On debut over six furlongs at Doncaster in a Novice event he ran fourth out of eight, beaten five lengths.
On Saturday over the same course and distance in another Novice event he was prominent before being outpaced two furlongs out.
He kept on, but had no chance with the winner inside the final furlong and finished a four length second.
Kyle Strydom has ridden him in both starts.
Valleyofthekings was bred by Barry Irwin’s Team Valor Internatonal and is out of the Captain Al mare Victoria Lavelle, who won four races from 1000m to 1200m, including the Listed Laisserfaire Stakes over 1100m.
He is speedily bred but might get a mile and should continue to improve.
His Vercingetorix half-sister, the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Tulip Fields, won in fine style second time out over 1100m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville recently, romping home by 2,40 lengths.
Meanwhile, Dylan Cunha’s remarkable rise in the U.K continues and he has now had 86 wins in all, at a strike rate of 13%, since arriving in Newmarket and starting with one horse called Mr Fayez. who gave him his first UK runner in April 2022.
Kyle Strydom has been riding in the UK since April 2023 and has had 20 wins at a strike rate of 11%.
Buzz In The Air Ahead Of Breeding Season
There is a buzz in the air for the 2025 thoroughbred breeding season. Across South Africa, breeders are getting their best mares ready to meet some new and established stallions. There are also some exciting new prospects fresh off the racetrack, ready to make their mark in the broodmare barns. The blend of experience and fresh promise keeps this industry ticking, and this season looks full of potential. Charl Pretorius has been catching up with some of the leading breeders to find out which stallions will be popular picks, and which mares are ones to watch in the season ahead.
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Woodruff Walks Home On A Wing
Wing Walker gives Lucinda Woodruff another winner (Candiese Lenferna Photography)
Andrew Harrison (Race Coast)
Lucinda Woodruff heads back to a wet Western Cape on Saturday with a song in her heart after a successful raid on Champions Season. Her last three runners have been winners but particularly satisfying will have been Wing Walker notching up a hattrick of wins at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday to round off her raid and get her season off to a winning start.
Wing Walker arrived in KZN a maiden but after a promising start when second at Hollywoodbets Scottsville he ramped up his performance, shedding his maiden by five lengths and following up with a hard-fought victory first up in handicap company.
He made further progression yesterday. Stepped up to 1400m for the first time he finished off his race smartly to round off a hattrick before heading home. He appears to be a late maturing son of Rafeef and a mile looks well within his compass.
Run To Rio was game in defeat as he went clear over the subway but was unable to hold of Wing Walker’s challenge.
Go Grayson Go and Solar Sail were at the top of the boards for the opening leg of the Pick 6, but the race resulted in a major boil-over as rank outsider Master Josh got the better of Go Grayson Go in a tight finish with Solar Sail outpaced in fourth place behind Down By The River and Mark Khan’s raider probably looking for further.
Master Josh was having his first run for Yadav Singh and was confidently ridden by Jason Gates who is never one to back off in a finish. Serino Moodley saw him coming and in a tactical move allowed Go Grayson Go to gradually press his rival towards the outside rail. However, Master Josh started to hang in and without coming together, Gates pressured Go Grayson Go to finally get the job done.
The meeting got off to a delayed start as apprentice Dezahn Louw was dislodged on his way to the start on She’s A Trackstar and it took time to replace him with fellow apprentice Girish Dookhit.
Garth Puller’s charge Mohave Prince, a close-up second to the promising Green Gateway at his last start, vied for favouritism with Mark Dixon’s runner Master Du Rouvray who was coming off a lengthy break.
The money proved to be a reliable guide as the pair pulled clear of their rivals up the straight with Mohave Prince possibly just the fitter as he edged out Master Du Rouvray with Global Warrior chasing them home for third but well back.
Catch A Penny finally made her exit from the maidens in the second after earning a cheque in all of her previous ten outings; but it was a close run thing. Starting deep in the red, those supporters who took the cramped odds about the favourite were preparing to tear up their tickets with 100m left of the race as the first timer Oklahoma Girl kept finding and was only run out of it on the line.
Muzi Yeni tried to keep all honest as he set a brisk pace on second favourite Intro with Chad Little seemingly in no hurry as Catch A Penny dropped off the pace. Little had Intro in his sights off the false rail but it was Oklahoma Girl who was the surprise package as she went past Intro and had the line in
her sights. Catch A Penny moved up along sides her rival under a driving ride and it finally came down to a bob of the heads.
Blinkers, a light weight and a change of stable brought out the best in Queen Of The Spear as she ran out a comfortable winner of the Open Maiden. There was obviously stable confidence as she found steady market support in spite of her run of seven duck eggs. Apprentice Mxolisi Mbuto tracked the early pace and took the brakes off Queen Of The Spear at just the right moment as she had to work the last bit to hold off a late-charging Ms Galore who will be worth following.
The Class 5 Handicap always had an open look about it and so it proved as Music Of Life gave Gareth van Zyl his second winner of the afternoon backing up from Queen Of The Spear. The pace was on from the jump and the contested turned into a test of stamina to see who lasted the longest. Nicholas Patel took the shortest way home jumping from his good draw and Music Is Life kept finding up the inside rail as challenges fell away leaving him in front. Whereverilaymyhat stayed on gamely for second with a blanket separating the next three home.
In a day of upsets, Grand Appeal continued the trend as he finished with a wet sail under Mathew Thackeray. Iron Will cut the early fractions with Yadav Singh hunting his second win but was closely tracked by Run Forest Run.
Iron Will was the first to faulter as Run Forest Run took up the running but Thackery, who sat comfortably mid-field, slipped Gold Appeal up the inside of the pack and MJ Odendaal’s runner charged home to put the race to bed.
Jazz Café and Prom Queen made full use of their good fortune in the last avoiding a pile-up at the start. Blowin In The Wind, drawn two, took a sharp right turn out of the gate hampering most of the field except Jazz Café, dawn one, and Prom Queen drawn 11.
These two raced unhindered and came together crossing the subway with Tristan Godden getting maximum out of Robbie Hill’s filly to hold of Prom Queen and Callan Murray.
Hotaru Could Defy A 91 Merit Rating
Hotaru won her maiden easily over the course and distance of the fifth race at the Vaal’s Thursday meeting (JC Photos)
A fillies and mares 80 handicap over 1200m is the highest rated race in an interesting eight race meeting on the Vaal straight course today.
The course set up at present has the outside rail at zero for the races down the straight, meaning high draws should be favourable, while the two races around the turn will have a six metre spur at the 600m mark.
Three-year-old Hotaru is the one to beat in the headliner as she won a maiden handicap over course and distance by 4,25 lengths carrying topweight in June and followed up with a far from disgraced 6,95 length 12th in the Gr 2 Splashout Golden Slipper over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville which was won by the unbeaten star Anotherdanceforme. However, Hotaru does have to run off a 91 merit rating, which will make it tough, although she does have a nice high draw of eight out of nine and is the one to beat. Global Thunder has won his last two starts in good style, but does have to overcome a ten point raise as he was under sufferance when winning last time, so it won’t be easy for her either, altough she does have the highest draw. THe Navy Lark is an honest sort with plenty of pace and she should make a bold bid in the fast conditions, although draw three might be against her. Sheets and Goggles has shown enough form to earn here fom draw five with Jacey Botes claiming an effective 3,5kg and carrying no dead weight. Valieva comes off a nice win over 1160m and with Khumalo aaboard could be a runner from draw six off just a three point higher mark.
In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1000m Inspector James ran a cracker last time, beating Jet Querari by over two lengths, and he should also be in the shake up.Jet Querari ran an improved race next time out, also over this trip, and can go close with a repeat, although draw two might be problematic. Time Will Tell is a big runner too, as one who has been knocking on the door and has a nice draw under S’Manga Khumalo. Chilli Marmalade ran well over 1000m in her penultimate start and can earn with a repeat. has a chance if producing her best. Cyber Spirit could earn in this line up.
In the second leg of the Pick 6 over 1000m Mister Wilson won a good race last time and the form has been franked so he is the one to beat here on ability, but he has not raced for five months and has a low draw. Arilena ran well last time off this mark and is distance suited and has a high draw, so should be right there. Nazare has a good rider aboard and should be in the shake up. Blindfire will enjoy the step back to the minimum trip and should also be right there. William West looks best suited to this distance and had some fair form in the strong centre of Cape Town, so has a definite chance here, although he has not raced for three months.
In the sixth race over 2400m Silver Flare did well over this trip last time and being by Silvano she can continue to improve. Stop The Traffic did well over 2000m last time and althoughhe is by Willow Magic he is out of a Traffic Guard mare, so might enjoy this trip, but he does have a wide draw. Cartagena looks to be an improving stayer and if overcoming a tricky draw will be right there. Rosy Lemon is an honest sort who should enjoy this trip. Hat Furious is interesting stepped up in trip because although his sire Hat Puntano was a miler, he is out of a Fort Wood mare who won over 1900m.
In the seventh race over 1800m Futurewolff is always thereabouts and from a good draw looks the one to beat. Mizzen Sword won well last time in just his second start over a middle distance trip and he should be right there off a reasonable opening handicap mark of 75. Gimmeachoice has been knocking on the door over shorter and has a chance of staying this trip in his seond attempt at it being by miler to middle distance sort Gimmthegreenlight, although his dam by Lecture only raced over 140m and her only win was over 1200m. Trident King looks to be distance suited here, but does have a wide draw to overcome. Crepuscolo is only half-a-kilogram under sufferance and could earn.
In the eighth race over 1400m Cape Saffron is in fine form and is distance suited, so could be the one to beat here. Dylan’s Champ will enjoy being back on the Highveld and has a form chance. Paul Revere has ability and if at his best could be a factor. Peregrine Falcon has been thereabouts over shorter and should manage this step up in trip. Titans Of War has a much easier task than last time and won well before that, so has a definite chance in thi line up.
In the first race Trip To States did well over 1600m last time and this 1400m trip looks ideal, although a low draw makes it tough so Frere Jacques must be considered.
In the second race over 1400m Chantilly Dream is taken to improve from her debut and she shoud enjoy the step up in trip too.
Moreira's Great Day Back At His Roots
Picture: Joao Moreira
When Joao Moreira was a struggling apprentice at São Paulo’s esteemed jockeys’ school, he didn’t harbour dreams of winning the biggest races in Hong Kong or Japan; he dreamt of winning feature races next door at Cidade Jardim.
So when Moreira won two of three Group 1 races in São Paulo on Saturday, among four stakes races and five races in total on one of South America’s biggest race days, the emotion was clear. Later that evening, his day became even better when he was awarded the Troféu Mossoró as Brazil’s leading rider for the 2024-25 season, which ended on June 30.
Today's Question
Who is considered by many to be Brazil’s greatest ever racehorse?
The picture is of the subject
FIELDS, Thursday, 6 August
Vaal
Today’s Question Answer
Itajara was a triple crown winner and was never beaten.
