Picture: The Grade 3 Graham Beck Stakes winner Anfields Rocket faces a vintage field in the R2 million Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas on December 17, but is a significant runner nevertheless because it will be his first run for the big race’s sponsor.

Anfields Rocket Up Against The Heavyweights Admits Delpech

Anthony Delpech, the former champion jockey and current Hollywood Syndicate manager, is one of the many who have begun comparing Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas favourite Charles Dickens to some of the best in history.

He said, “It is a very long time since I have seen a horse like that.”

He mentioned some of the others in the Cape Guineas field as “serious, proper horses” too and said the Hollywood-owned Grant Maroun-trained Anfields Rocket would “be up against the heavyweights.”

Delpech recently spoke of the need for Hollywood to get a Grade 1 horse.

It came sooner than expected as the Brett Crawford-trained Make It Snappy won Saturday’s WSB Cape Fillies Guineas.

However, Delpech knows all about winning Grade 1s, having won so many as a jockey, and tasting it again must have only brought a craving for more.

“That was just the first one,” he quipped.

Owen Heffer will be hoping to be present when Hollywood win their next Grade 1.

He could not make it to Hollywodbets Kenilworth on Saturday because he was at the wedding of his son Tyson.

It seems to be a good omen to have your son’s wedding on a Grade 1 race day as this also brought a first victory at the highest level for trainer Corrie Lensley with Alesian Chief in the Golden Horse Sprint earlier this year.

Anfields Rocket will be up against it on the 17^th .

A more realistic Hollywood Grade 1 candidate could be Isivunguvungu.

The strongly built Peter Muscutt-trained sprinter proved himself best suited to the minimum trip on the last weekend of last season when slamming them in the Listed MWOS Umgeni Handicap on the poly.

He has not been seen since because it is not easy to find races for 110 rated 1000m horses.

Delpech said, “He is coming out in the next two or three weeks and has been doing really, really well.”

The chief targets for the What A Winter four-year-old gelding after one preparation run will likely be the Grade 1 Cape Flying Championship over 1000m on WSB Met day and the Grade 2 Khaya Stables Diadem Stakes over 1200m on February 25.

Delpech also has feature hopes for the progressive Imilenzeyokududuma after his impressive win over 1600m in his first start in Cape Town.

He is probably ideally looking for further, so the Grade 2 Peninsula Handicap and/or the Grade 2 Premier Trophy, both over 1800m, could be possible races for this four-year-old Dynasty gelding, although he will battle to get into those races off a 95 merit rating.

Meanwhile, Hollywood’s Willie Mullins-trained Ireland-based hurdler Il Etait Temps has a long term target of the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

“Owen absolutely loves jumps racing,” confirmed Anthony.

Picture: Make It Snappy wins the Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas (Wayne Marks).

Make It Snappy Raised To 115

Make It Snappy has had her merit rating raised from 100 to 115 after her success in the Gr1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday 3 December.

The Handicappers took the view that 2^nd placed Ciao Bella made for the ideal line horse after again beating all of those that finished behind her when she won a Grade 2 event three weeks earlier, which leaves her unchanged on a mark of 110.

There were increases also for 3^rd placed Hold My Hand and 4^th finisher Golden Hostess, who are both up to 108 from 102 and 106, respectively. Happy Chance goes up from 93 to 106.

There were no ratings drops for any runners in this event.

Gr2 wsb.co.za Southern Cross Stakes

Princess Calla remains unchanged on a mark of 121 after landing the wsb.co.za Southern Cross Stakes for fillies and mares over 1000m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

Here it was 4^th placed Santa Maria that was deemed to make for the best line horse, which leaves her unchanged on a rating of 106. In assessing the race this way Princess Calla only runs to a rating of 112, hence her unchanged mark.

There were increases also for runner-up Iphikoand 3^rd placed Stiptkelik, who both go up to 107 from 96 and 92, respectively. Furthermore, Bella Chela goes up from 105 to 106, and lastly Going Up was raised from 98 to 100.

The only drop was for Gimme Dat, who is down from 109 to 107.

Gr2 WSB Green Point Stakes

Trip Of Fortune remains unaltered on a rating of 119 after he captured the Grade 2 WSB Green Point Stake over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday. It was Trip Of Fortune himself who was considered to make for the best line horse, hence his unchanged rating.

The only ratings increase was for runner-up Universal, who was raised from 114 to 116, but there were drops for three horses.

4^th placed Golden Ducat down from 128 to 125, Rascallion is down to 122 from 124, and last Pomp And Power drops from 118 to 116.

Gr3 Drakenstein Stud Cape Summer Stayers Handicap

Navy Strength has had his rating raised from 91 to 99 after he won the Grade 3 Drakenstein Stud Cape Summer Stayers Handicap over 2500m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.

It was runner-up Master Redoute who was used as the line horse here, leaving him unchanged on a mark of 99. A large part for the increase for the winner lies in the fact that Navy Strenth was 6 pounds or 3 kgs under sufferance at the weights. Add to this the minimum 2 pound or 1 kg upward adjustment that any handicap winner must receive and Navy Strength had to be raised no less than the eight pounds by which his rating was raised.

3^rd placed Arctic Drift, who was 3 pounds or 1.5 kgs under sufferance at the weights, goes up from 91 to 93, having finished one pound behind the line horse. The only other increase was for 4^th placed Thefutureisdright, who goes up to 95 from 93.

There were drops for three horses. Crome Yellow is down from 109 to 106, Rex Union was trimmed from 105 to 104, and last Follow The Star drops from 97 to 95.

Picture: Charles Dickens (Wayne Marks).

Do 3yos Have It Easier Or Tougher In The Met Today?

Will the three-year-old WSB Met entries Charles Dickens and Cousin Casey have it easier or tougher than the like of Horse Chetnut (1999 winner) and Badger’s Coast (2000 winner) had it?

Three-year-olds are very rare winners of the WSB Met.

However, the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained Charles Dickens is not only being compared to the great Mike Bass-trained three-time Met winner Pocket Power, but also to the two horses who generally vie for greatest SA thoroughbred in history i.e Sea Cottage and Horse Chestnut.

The other three-year-old Met entry, Cousin Casey, has swept all before him in his last five starts and nobody knows yet whether he is as good as Charles Dickens.

Charles Dickens has been priced up as 7/2 ante-post Met favourite by the sponsor and Cousin Casey is 14/1.

The question is whether this pair will have to be as good or even better than the select group of three-year-olds who have previously won Cape Town’s biggest race?

It would be no surprise if the panel discussion pundits come out and say today’s three-year-olds have it even tougher in the Met, because it is now run under weight for age conditions. They will thus have to carry more weight than three-year-olds invariably had to carry under the former handicap conditions of yesteryear.

However, read on, because that sentiment might be way off the mark.

The last three-year-old to win it was the Justin Snaith-trained Oh Susanna, who was possibly the first sophomore filly to win the big race in history.

Three-year-old males have only a slightly better record.

Mike de Kock has done it twice with three-year-old males, the legendary Horse Chestnut slamming the field by eight lengths in 1999 and Badger’s Coast then winning it in 2000.

However, the previous three-year-old winner before Horse Chestnut was the Syd Garrett-trained Feltos, way back in 1945.

Feltos carried 48kg to victory and thus received a whopping 18kg from the previous July winner Monteith.

Horse Chestnut, the only three-year-old runner in 1999, carried 51kg to his easy victory.

Badger’s Coast, one of two three-year-olds in the race (alongside Paddock Stakes winner Mythical Play), also carried 51kg when winning by a quarter of a length the following year.

Charles Dickens and Cousin Casey will carry 54kg under weight for age conditions.

They will receive 6kg from all of the horses five years and older and 5,5kg from all of the four-year-olds.

Horse Chestnut and Badger’s Coast received 7kg from the topweight, but it should be emphasised they only received that amount from the topweight and on average received a whole lot less from the older horses.

Horse Chestnut, for example, only received 5,5kg from the previous July winner Classic Flag, he received only 1kg from subsequent July winner El Picha, he received only 3kg from Flying Duel, who had beaten Classic Flag in the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 before being beaten 2,35 lengths into fifth in the July. Horse Chestnut only received 7kg from one horse, the topweight North By Northwest, who finished last.

Badger’s Coast did receive 7kg from July-winning runner up El Picha, but he only received 2,5kg from six-year-old former Grade 1 Cape Derby winner Shah’s Star, he received only 3kg from Free My Heart, who had won the Grade 1 Daily News 2000 and Grade 2 Clairwood Derby and went on to be a seven-time Grade 1 winner, he received only 3kg from Ingleside, who went on to be a Summer Cup winner, he received 6kg from Classic Flag, he received only 1,5kg from subsequent dual Grade 1 winner and narrow July runner up Young Rake and he received only 1kg from former Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas winner Indiscreet Fantasy.

Oh Susanna was highly regarded but not spoken about in the same terms as Charles Dickens and she beat a top field by half-a-length in the 2018 Met. She carried only 51.5kg and thus received 8,5kg from all of the Grade 1 winners Marinaresco, Captain America, Legal Eagle, Sail South and Coral Fever, 8kg from top class four-year-old Gold Standard and 6kg from the top Grade 1-winning fillies Nother Russia and Nightingale.

So those who say Charles Dickens and Cousin Casey are going to have it tough carrying 54kg should be challenged.

Picture: Charles Dickens is the ante-post Met favourite (Wayne Marks).

Picture: Electric Gold was knocked down at the BSA Turffontein September Sale for R700 000 to Suzette Viljoen.

Electric Gold Franks The Dingaans Form

The Sean Tarry-trained Electric Gold, a Bush Hill Stud-bred Suzette Viljoen-owned three-year-old colt by Flying The Flag, today became the latest horse to frank the form of the Grade 2 Jonsson Wokwear Dingaans.

The long-striding former Paul Peter-trained horse was officially 4,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse, Bold Fortune, in today’s Middle Stakes event over 1800m at Turffontein Standside.

Howwever, he made light of that and, after sitting in a one out position with cover in midfield, he showed a tremendous turn of foot when asked the question on the outside by Calvin Habib.

He finished 3,50 lengths clear of the consistent Flashy Apache, who was officially 4kg under sufferance with Bold Fortune.

The well weighted and ultra consitent Kind Judy, who had a 2,5kg claimer up, was third and Bold Fortune was beaten 6.75 into fourth, despite having a 4kg claimer up, which added to her weight advantage.

Tarry was the victim of a Dingaans runner on Saturday when the Tyrone Zackey-trained Flower Alley colt Otto Luyken came out and beat his R7 million colt Celestial City.

Otto Luyken was beaten nine lengths into tenth place in the Dingaans and finished a length clear of Celestial City, despite giving the latter 2,5kg if the 1,5kg claim of Rachel Venniker is included.

However, Electric Gold finished 3,75 lengths clear of Otto Luyken in the Dingaans.

Therefore, he was going to have to have a good chance today.

Tarry would have had a good line into the race and might have gone in with some confidence.

Electric Gold won three in a row for Paul Peter, all over 1600m, after two fair maiden runs.

He has now added another win over 1800m.

Considering he went in merit rated 98 and yet was 4,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted runner, who also had a 4kg claimer up, and beat that one by nearly seven lengths, he has proved himself a worthy of a berth in the Grade 1 WSB SA Classic over this same course and distance on March 4 next year.

Meanwhile, Flying The Flag has moved down to Advocate Altus Joubert’s Riethuiskraal Stud in Stilbaai in the Western Cape.

Electric Gold is his best runner, but he has not set the world alight and Altus said to the Sporting Post recently, “His female line has been spectacular and it was Paul Peter who suggested I stand the horse, as he had a couple of promising youngsters. I have used him, but only sparingly.”

Picture: Time Fo Orchids (right) finishes second to Ciao Bella in the Grade 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship, her first run in the colours of Gold Rush ticket holder Riskesh Sewgoolam (Wayne Marks).

Gold Rush Log Topper Yet To Prove She Stays 1600m

The Gold Rush log topper Time Fo Orchids ran in the Grade 1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas on Saturday and it confirmed that 1400m, as opposed to the 1600m of the Gold Rush, is probably her best trip.

The former Sean Tarry-trained filly is now trained by Vaughan Marshall.

She was drawn wide but found cover one out in midfield on Saturday.

She moved up exceptionally well in the straight on the outside to challenge the eventual winner and runner up, Make It Snappy and Ciao Bella respectively.

However, unlike in the Grade 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship over 1400m where she was beaten just 0,75 lengths into second by Ciao Bella, she did not go through with the effort.

This time she was 5,60 lengths behind Ciao Bella.

The only change on the log saw the Sean Tarry-trained Asiye Phambili creeping up from joint 25th place to joint 23rd after winning over 1500m at Vaal Classic last Tuesday.

The log is shown below:

Picture: “The People’s Horse” Kommetdieding failed to convert odds on favouritism in the Grade 2 WSB Green Point Stakes on Saturday and is seen in this picture behind the winner Trip Of Fortune. He was pipped for second place, but it was nevertheless a good preparation run on the road to his chief target, the WSB Met. (Wayne Marks).

The ‘People’s Horse’ Now More A Bookies Friend?

Kommetdieding has failed to win in six starts since his victory in the Cape Met in January

David Mollett (Business Day)

It’s a question Kommetdieding fans never dreamt would be asked. Is the “People’s Horse” going to end his career as the “Bookies Horse?”

Make no mistake — punters lost thousands of rand on the 2020 Durban July winner when he was beaten in last Saturday’s Green Point Stakes at Kenilworth.

After the withdrawal of Jet Dark, Kommetdieding was generally trading at even money with most bookmakers, but an avalanche of support saw the five-year-old start at 83-100.

There is no escaping the fact that the “People’s Horse” has failed to win in six starts since his victory in the Cape Met in January. So — unlike Frankel who won 14 out of 14 in Britain — the tag is now slightly embarrassing.

Punters were entitled to think that the Harold Crawford-Michelle Rix son of Elusive Fort would make it seven wins from 16 appearances. He had the highest merit rating of 129, 10 points higher than the eventual winner, Trip Of Fortune.

When the two horses met in the Queen’s Plate last January, Trip Of Fortune finished three lengths adrift of Kommetdieding and was receiving 5kg. Last Saturday Candice Bass-Robinson’s four-year-old was only receiving 2kg.

Universal — placed second in the Green Point — went into the race with a merit rating of 114. That is 15 points inferior to Kommetdieding.

It was recently announced that Kommetdieding has been syndicated to stand at Klawervlei Stud and his investors — no doubt shocked by Saturday’s defeat — will be hoping he follows in the footsteps of another well-performed SA horse, Gimmethegreenlight, who has excelled at stud.

As far as the L’Ormarins King’s Plate is concerned, bookmaker reaction to the Green Point result was to push Kommetdeding out to 4-1 (from 3-1) and shorten Trip Of Fortune’s odds to 10-1.

Universal, who was having only his second outing in nine months, has been clipped to 16-1 but the Vaughan Marshall duo of Linebacker and Rascallion are now 20-1 and 33-1 respectively for next month’s race.

While Gavin Lerena felt the cards didn’t fall for him in last Saturday’s race, perhaps Kommetdieding’s best chance of signing off with a big race win is the Met at the end of January. He has already proved he loves the course and distance.

In the King’s Plate, he will be taking on unbeaten Charles Dickens — if they accept to run — Jet Dark and stablemate, Captains Ransom, if she also gets the green light to compete. If one knew she was a definite starter, there would be plenty of takers of the 12-1 now on offer.

Trainer Bass-Robinson will be disappointed that her star three-year-old, Charles Dickens, has drawn 12 out of 16 for the forthcoming R2m Cape Guineas.

But even madder will be trainer Glen Kotzen with his entry, Cousin Casey, being allotted barrier 15 of the 16 entries. Last Saturday the stable’s useful filly, Hold My Hand, was drawn on the nearby highway in the Cape Fillies Guineas but Calvin Habib got a tremendous finishing run out of the daughter of Gold Standard to take the third cheque.

Mike de Kock will be pleased that his two entries, Shoemaker and Union Square, fared well enough drawing barriers eight and five respectively.

Union Square — Business Day’s winning tip for the Dingaans — looks an exciting prospect and he might well be a Durban July contender in seven months.

Picture: JP Van der Merwe score the first leg of his double at Turffontein Standside today aboard the Alec Laird-trained Gold Standard gelding Star Coin (JC Photos).

Van der Merwe, Lerena, Azzie Doubles

JP Van der Merwe and Gavin Lerena rode doubles at Turffontein Standside today.

Mike and Adam Azzie saddled a double.

Van der Merwe is on 40 wins for the season at a strike rate of 9.35%.

Lerena is now on 26 wins for the season at a strike rate of 15.85%.

The Azzies are on 16 wins and their strike rate of 24.62% is the highest on the national trainers’ log.

Picture: Kevin Lerena has Daniel Dubois in trouble in the first round and would have been declared the winner had a British rule not saved his opponent. (Daily Express).

Today’s Question

Kevin Lerena unfortunately lost his championship bout on Saturday night despite knocking the long odds-on favourite for the bout down three times in the first round.

Had the fight taken place in any other country he would have been declared the winner.

“It is critical to note that in bouts governed by the WBA rules three (3) knockdowns in the same round automatically end the bout by TKO. Also, WBA rules specify that the bell cannot save the fighter in ANY round,” reads the WBA referee manual.

However, the British Boxing Board of Control does not permit the rule in fights under their auspices.

Daniel Dubois was thus able to launch his spirited comeback.

Kevin rode a winner in a workrider’s race a few years ago.

Which current prominent jockey in the world was once a champion boxer?

Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Fields, Wednesday

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Picture: Franny Norton (Skysports.com)

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION:

English jockey Franny Norton, who had never sat on a horse until he was 16, was making a name for himself in the boxing gyms of Britain through the mid-1990s.

In 1995 he got to the Amateur Boxing Association finals.

He turned down a place in the 1998 Commonwealth Games team in Kuala Lumpur.

A decade earlier he received a trophy from Nigel Benn for winning a stable lads’ boxing title – an event he won eight times.

However, it was an offer from another sporting crossover that led Norton to concentrate on riding.

Just as he was contemplating going pro in the ring, former England striker Mick Channon asked Norton to ride for him.

That led Norton to plump for racing and a spot in the stable of Southampton’s record goalscorer.

But Norton’s ability in the ring almost came back full circle in 2005, in the most unlikely of circumstances.

Speaking of when he was invited to fight on a night of charity bouts in Manchester, Norton told The Times: “I went back to train and, to get to the level of where I used to be at, I hated it.”

“Anyway, funnily enough it was Ant or Dec (a duo of TV presenters) that I was going to fight.

“They pulled out because their management didn’t want it.”

Norton, in his early 50s, is showing no signs of slowing down and keeps getting the better of jockeys half his age

Norton is known as “The King Of Chester” because of his mastery of the tight Cheshire track.

His biggest success is winning the Chester Cup, a lucrative handicap run over two miles, two furlongs and 140 yards that this year had a stake of 151,080 pounds.

He won it aboard the Mark Johnston-trained Making Miracles in 2019 at odds of 16/1.

Turf Talk Newsletter – 6 December 2022