Turf Talk Newsletter – 6 October, 2026

The smart Kazenoyoni (Danon Platina) is on his way to Hong Kong (Picture: Race Coast)

Duncan Howells’ Summerveld yard is associated with three horses who either are or will be traveling to take on big fish, Asiye Phambili, Hierarchy and Kazenoyoni.

Howells and his partners in the Danon Platina colt Kazenoyoni forewent the chance of having a Hollywoodbets Durban July runner by selling the now three-year-old to a Hong Kong concern.

Duncan said, “I thought he was a very good horse and we never had the chance to run him over his correct distance. I got the impression he would have done 2000m on his coconut. I thought he was a bit unlucky not to have won the Gr 1 World Pool Moment Of The Day Premiers Champion Stakes on Gold Cup day. He did everything we asked of him. However, the money they offered was just far to big to say no.”

Duncan’s trusted life partner Cathy Rymill picked the colt at the BSA National Yearling Sale for R275,000 and he proved to be a bargain buy. He has had five starts for one win and three seconds, with two of those runner up finishes being in a Listed race and a Gr 1 respectively.

He was owned by the SA Punters Forum Syndicate (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mr Deva Govender), Messrs G D Bodill, D C Howells, W L Reich, T L Tait, N S Subban & S Gopaul.

For two of the owners he was the first horse thay had ever owned.

Kazenoyoni has  been gelded since his last run and the process to get him over to Hong Kong has begun.

He will be an interesting horse to follow out there, although he is likely to undergo a name change before running.

Meanwhile, the Gr 1-winning speedster Asiye Phambili was set to leave for Cape Town today (Tuesday). The What A Winter seven-year-old mare will, like last season, be trained by Lucinda Woodruff in Cape Town and will attempt to add the Gr 1 Cape Flying Championship to her Gr 1 SA Fillies Sprint win.

Howells’ other exciting older sprinter, the four-year-old Erupt filly Hierarchy, who finished fourth in the SA Fillies Sprint and won her last start over that same Hollywoodbets Scottsville 1200m course and distance in impressive style, is being aimed at the Listed Carry On Alice Stakes for fillies and mares over 1160m on Betway Summer Cup day. She is merit rated 114 and will thus be well treated in the Carry On Alice Stakes, because it is a merit rated -band conditions race and the top band states that the topweight of 61,5kg will be carried by horses with a nett merit rating of 110 and more. That condition would see her at least 2kg well in with all of the runners rated 110 and below.

Duncan learnt from one of the best, David Payne, and will get the best out of a horse if given the necessary time.

Futura gelding Blind Date will be going for a hattrick in the seventh (Picture: Wayne Marks)   

Alistair Cohen (Race Coast)

Blind Date was entered for the Listed Settlers Trophy last Saturday but trainer Justin Snaith has taken a soft approach with a horse who is evidently on the up. It mattered little because Snaith filled the Exacta with Miami Summer beating Prairie Dawn. Seeking a hat-trick of wins, Blind Date looks setup to

Blind Date was entered for the Listed Settlers Trophy last Saturday but trainer Justin Snaith has taken a soft approach with a horse who is evidently on the up. It mattered little because Snaith filled the Exacta with Miami Summer beating Prairie Dawn. Seeking a hat-trick of wins, Blind Date looks setup to win race 7 over 1600m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Wednesday.

The reason he rain checked the Settlers Trophy was Snaith’s reluctance to rush him back from a break over 2000m. This approach makes more sense especially with a confident horse with more to come. He has been workmanlike in his two recent wins seeming like he has something up his sleeve when he hits the line.

He takes a step in class but he looks ready to handle it. He caught the eye three runs back when he returned from a rest lasting four months with an excellent effort over 1200m behind the consistent Cork Bay. He simply is not a sprinter but he acquitted himself like a horse with upside. He did not let the team down in his next two runs.

Both starts came at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth over 1600m. He accounted for Chance Encounter and In A Timely Manner only by a combined distance of 1,4 lengths. He does not seem the type of horse who will run his opposition ragged. He just does enough and wears them down almost gracefully. Richard Fourie is carded to take the ride.

Better Man stands out as his main danger having run to a very good level during KwaZulu-Natal’s Champions Season and he may have left some effort out there in the process. On Hollywoodbets Durban July Day he was seriously unlucky when finding traffic the entire way down the lane to finish less than a length behind Talk To The Master who ran at Grade 2 level at Turffontein over the weekend. He followed up with a fair effort behind Zeitz in the Listed Darley Arabian less than 1,5 lengths behind. Keagan de Melo is carded to take the ride for Vaughan Marshall who has a good book of runners.

Respect Soho Heartthrob who backs up soon after running third in the Settlers Trophy. He finished third behind Miami Summer. He is a solid campaigner who should be involved in the money. He finished 0,45 lengths behind Blind Date a few months back. They meet on identical terms. JP van der Merwe rides for Dean Kannemeyer with Craig Zackey serving a short suspension.

Marshall has Rich Man’s World running in race 5 over 1250m. The hugely promising son of One World sauntered to an emphatic victory in the Grade 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in April. He dominated Master Magician by 7,5 lengths. He followed up with a top effort behind Haute Couture in the Grade 1 Gold Medallion when beaten by 0,3 lengths. Marshall made comment that he would ride out the rest of the KZN season with the sun on his back before preparing him for some marquee races in Cape Town this summer. He is clearly a name to keep in mind going forward. This is not his “Cup Final” by any stretch. He has 60,5kg so giving weight away makes his ask quite daunting. If he wins this short of his absolute best, he will head to the top of the three-year-old males list.

Shezaripper looks to be a very promising filly. She receives 8,5kg from Rich Man’s World. That is going to bring her right into play. She too should be short of her best with major races to come. She has been off since May so fitness must be taken on trust. Muzi Yeni is up for James Crawford. She must be watched closely.

In February, a debuting Snow Sniper ran 8,7 lengths behind Rich Man’s World. He was given a long break until early September when he showed vast improvement to finish 1,5 lengths behind Stealth. He has his third crack in race 1 over 1250m and he has the best form on offer. Athandiwe Mgudlwa takes the ride for Candice Bass. There are a few well bred first timers in the field who will not need to be top drawer to win so keep an eye on the market. The best of which could be Above The Law under Fourie for Snaith from gate No 1.

Jane Austen and Miss Arizona should fight out race 2 over 1250m. Preference is for the former who showed good appetite to guts it out with a massively improved second start behind Sabre Wing, when beaten by 3,25 lengths. Added to that is the runner-up from that start, First Bloom won last Saturday and she looks above average. Michelle Rix has her yard in good heart which gives more belief. Muzi Yeni takes the ride.

Trainer Lucinda Woodruff made mention that Sota Star was a horse to follow when he made his debut. From a terrible draw, he finished only 5,4 lengths behind Swaziland when given a quiet introduction. Keagan de Melo retains the ride and he has pulled draw No 5 which is far more comfortable than No 11 over 1250m on debut. Natural improvement must make him a lively chance in race 3 over 1250m.

Desert Ice showed good improvement from her debut to second start and she should continue that trend and take all the beating in race 4 over 1250m. Her last start came behind Verse For Suzanne when beaten half a length at this course over 1400m. De Melo is back aboard for Marshall. Unless a first timer is above average, she should have the goods to win.

It is hard to be confident in race 6 over 1250m. Shane Humby has three runners, all drawn next to each other. Richard Fourie on Rhythm King is a serious eye catching engagement. His last run was his best in a while when he finished three lengths behind Jet A One at this course over 1400m. He seemed to run out of steam at the end too. The clues are there for Rhythm King to have a major winning chance.

You Made Me Look beat his main rivals last time when he finished a two-length third behind Catch Me over 1600m at this course. He is back over the same trip in race 8. He had Cannon Bolt and Waiting Game behind him. There is no evident reason for that form to turnaround.

CAPTION: The Justin Snaith-trained BLIND DATE runs in Race 7 – the LUCKY FISH AVIATOR MIDDLE STAKES at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Wednesday 07 October 2026.

Rich Man’s World looks to have an exciting career ahead of him  (Picture: Wayne Marks) 

Brandon Bailey’s formguides and selections for Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Wednesday

RACE 1

7 SNOW SNIPER stayed on beautifully for second behind STEALTH on the 2nd of September, he will love the step up in trip to 1250m, in hope that he has made further improvement at home, he will be tough to beat in this field. 11 REDFORD has been rested for 141 days, he never runs a bad race, unfortunately the wide draw here will make it hard for him. With some luck in running early, he will be super competitive on his best form. There are some very well-bred first timers lining up here, watch them closely in the parade ring and keep a close eye on the market, that could be your best guide.

RACE 2

6 MISS ARIZONA has run two lovely races in succession, she was doing some good work late for second behind ONE STEP on the 2nd of September, she will go close to winning this race from a decent draw. 5 JANE AUSTEN improved nicely from her first run into her second run last time, the form of her last race has worked out well behind SABRE WING. She looks progressive, include her into all bets. Once again, we have some well-bred first timers in the race, follow the market closely and watch them moving down to the start.

RACE 3

4 LANTERN JACK caught the eye for fourth on debut behind his stable companion (LE SOLEIL), top jockey Richard Fourie gets the ride, in hope that he has made further improvement at home, he will be hard to beat from a good draw. 10 TEQUILA TANGO could be the value play here, he ran a great race from a bad draw last time, the blinkers stay on. He will be doing some good work late, watch him closely. 5 SOTA STAR finished just over five lengths behind SWAZILAND on debut, he will be much fitter going into this race, include him into all bets. Many first timers here, keep a close eye on the market.

RACE 4

7 DESERT ICE ran a terrific race for second last time behind VERSE FOR SUZANNE, she drops back in trip to 1250m, the yard thinks highly of this filly, she will be hard to beat. 6 WILD WEATHER ran sixth on debut behind ONE STEP on the 2nd of September, she can only improve going into her second start, watch her closely from a nice draw. 2 FROZEN ASSET was well beaten by VIRIDIAN RUBY on the 12th of August up the straight at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth. She was outpaced early before staying on late in a well stretched out field at the line, from a good draw, she could improve enough to be amongst the places. 4 SYLT has improved with every start, include her into all bets from a neat draw.

RACE 5

Great race! 6 RICH MAN’S WORLD has been rested for 137 days, he ran a cracker for second in the Gold Medallion Gr 1 at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on the 23rd of May. He is very smart, top jockey Richard Fourie knows this colt well, he will be hard to beat. 1 BEWARE has been rested for 92 days, he was last seen running third behind GOLD GIBOSKI on the 7th of July, the yard thinks highly of this gelding, he will be given every chance from a good draw, watch him closely. 5 SHEZARIPPER has been rested for 102 days, she stayed on well for second behind GRAPES OF WRATH in the Irridescence Stakes Listed on the 27th of June, even though she wants further, her chances must be respected with no weight on her back. 3 WORLD SERIES needed his last run, he will be much fitter going into this race, watch for sharp improvement.

RACE 6

3 SHIFTING PATH quickened up smartly to win a good race at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on the 23rd of September, he was given four points for that impressive win last time, he can absolutely win again from a good draw. 1 BOLERO has been rested for 63 days, he was heavily supported in the market when winning his maiden at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 5th of August. He is a magnificent colt with a beautiful action, he will be running on late from a good draw, include him into all bets. 10 VIRIDIAN RUBY put her head down at exactly the right time when winning her maiden on the 12th of August, she is a beautiful filly with lots of ability, her chances must be respected here. 9 RHYTHM KING gets the cheek pieces fitted; he can certainly run a place on his best form.

RACE 7

6 BLIND DATE has been rested for 108 days, he won impressively at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the 21st of June. Even though he has gone up in the ratings, he looks extremely progressive, in hope that he doesn’t need the run after a small break, he will be a big winning chance in this field. 4 SOHO HEARTTHROB stayed on well for third behind MIAMI SUMMER in the Settlers Trophy Listed last time, the drop in trip to 1600m is key for this individual, he will be running on powerfully late, include him into all bets. 3 VOORLOOPERTJIE quickened up in great fashion to win well on the 12th of August, he was given three points for that win at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, if the speed is on early, he will be running on strongly late. 7 BETTER MAN has been rested for 73 days, he can easily win a race like this on his best form.

RACE 8

4 YOU MADE ME LOOK stayed on well for third behind CATCH ME on the 16th of September, he will be given every chance to get it right from a good draw, include him into all bets. 2 CANNON BOLT finished fourth in the same race as YOU MADE ME LOOK last time, he will be just off the speed early, and he will be running on strongly late, his chances must be respected from a neat draw. 7 CAPTAIN’S ANGEL was gelded on the 17th of August, he was last seen running fourth behind WARRIOR OF DESTINY on the 12th of August, the blinkers have been fitted, he will be right there in the finish on his best form, watch him closely. 6 DALEY PARK improved nicely from his first run into his second run, top jockey Keagan De Melo gets the ride, he will love the step up in trip to 1600m, he could be the value play in what looks a tricky race on paper.

Timeform: Daryz didn’t need to be at his best to win Arc

Daryz didn’t have to run to the same level as 12 months ago to land his second consecutive win in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, ratings experts Timeform can reveal.

Achieving a rating of 130 in 2025, when he narrowly edged out Minnie Hauk, he ran to a rating of 128 this year in what was a tactical affair.

This year’s rating is 5lb below Enable’s first Arc victory in 2017 and 6lb below Treve’s first victory in 2013. Both horses went on to land consecutive victories in the race.

Daryz is the first colt since Alleged to win back-to-back Arcs, but his victories rate some way below that of the Vincent O’Brien-trained star, with Alleged achieving ratings of 137 and 138 for his wins in 1977 and 1978.

Timeform’s Senior Analyst Kieran Clark said: “Daryz became the first colt since Alleged to win back-to-back Arcs. It was nearly 50 years in the making, but he didn’t have to improve on his rating from last year to take out this year’s renewal.

“Alleged was rated 137 and 138 with Timeform for his two wins in the Arc, and looking at Arc winners this century, we have 14 horses running to 130 plus, including Daryz last year.

“Daryz is rated 128 this time due to it being a bit of a tactical race but he still won with a fair amount in hand.

“For the best performances this century in the Arc you have to go right to the start of it. We have Sakhee on 135, Sinndar on 134 but the best Arc performance since 1970 came in 1971 with the outstanding Mill Reef running to 141.

“Hopefully Daryz is back for another crack at it next year when he tries to become the first-ever three-time winner, and the geldings will be there to take him on as well.”

Nichola Yuen’s rapid start could threaten a record few thought would be broken

The 26-year-old holds an 18 per cent strike rate this season and sits second in the jockeys’ premiership

Owen Goulding (South China Morning Post)

We are only 78 races and eight meetings into the 2026-27 season, but there are already signs that Nichola Yuen Hang-yiu could threaten a record that most thought would never be broken.

Back in 2020-21, Jerry Chau Chun-lok posted the most wins by an apprentice in a single season, slamming home 58 winners at a strike rate of 12 per cent.

Before that remarkable season, the record was held by Matthew Chadwick, who recorded 43 wins back in 2008-09, which shows just how imperious Chau was that campaign.

It almost landed him the Tony Cruz Award for top local rider in his opening salvo, with Vincent Ho Chak-yiu edging him out of that accolade by just three winners.

It would take something special for someone to take that record off him, but Yuen’s start to the season and her career in general have raised plenty of eyebrows.

It has been a brilliant start for the 26-year-old who, as of October 4 and eight meetings, has ridden eight winners for a strike rate of 18 per cent from 45 rides. She sits second in the jockeys’ premiership and only Zac Purton can boast a better strike rate of 20 per cent.

By the same stage in his first full campaign, Chau had ridden three winners from 40 rides, for a strike rate of 7 per cent. Now, are these statistics fairly irrelevant? Possibly, but they give us an indication of just how rapid this start has been for Yuen.

Both Yuen and Chau have followed very similar paths, with the former making her Hong Kong debut in April before her first full season, while Chau made his in May.

Chau rode 7 winners from 95 rides, while Yuen rode 14 winners from 108 rides, reinforcing the point that she has made a much faster start.

As a result, Yuen has already lost her 10lb claim, which will make things tougher on paper, but that could easily be offset by more ammunition from her master Ricky Yiu Poon-fai moving forward.

It surely has not gone unnoticed that five of her eight winners so far this season have been for Pierre Ng Pang-chi, with just two coming for Yiu.

Most of her rides have come for Yiu, but it is only marginally so over Ng – 17 for Yiu opposed to 11 rides for Ng – and you would imagine he would now be keen to exploit her clearly potent 7lb claim before it starts disappearing thanks to winners from other trainers.

Better and more frequent opportunities from Yiu will certainly help her cause, while other trainers will also be noticing how strong she has been out of the blocks.

Is it a stretch to say she can keep this momentum up to threaten Chau’s record? Many would say yes, but I have a feeling we could be talking about this again later in the season.

Thescretadversary pictured winning the Gr 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot (Picture: Sky Sports Racing) 

The well below par run of the Thesecretadversary in the Gr 1 Prix De La Foret over seven furlongs on Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe day at Longchamp was the smart colt’s first run since being sold by his breeders and owners, Gaynor Rupert and the John Magnier family, to Sam Sangster, son of the legendary Robert Sangster.

Thesecretadversary started 9/4 favourite, a false price considering his two best performances, when winning the Gr 3 Jersey Stakes over seven furlongs at the Royal Ascot meeting and when winning the Gr 1 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville over seven furlongs, were both down the straight. He ran from the front in both of those big wins and in the Jean Prat he also had the advantage of the rail.

The question ahead of Sunday was how was his race going to pan out from a wide draw of five in a field of eight around the turn?

This was especially considering the second and third finishers in the Jean Prat, True Love and Nighttime, who were beaten by a narrow 0,5 lengths and 0,75 lengths respectively, were now drawn three and one respectively in the Prix De La Foret.

Thesecretadversary had enjoyed galloping resolutely down the straight without cover and it was soon clear on Sunday that he did not enjoy being held back by Christophe Soumillon and did not enjoy being in behind horses.

He began pulling and throwing his head up and his chances were soon gone.

The form of the Jean Prat stood up as True Love and Nighttime finished first and second, separated by a head.

However, Thesecretadversary was beaten 6,75 lengths.

He will bounce back when going down the straight again or when well drawn around the bend, while the tactic in future will likely be to try and get the lead or into a prominent position handy even if he is widely drawn. There are some horses who prefer running without cover as they enjoy using their actions and he looks to be one of them.

Sam Sangster was excited about the St Mark’s Basilica colt ahead of the Prix De La Foret and his sentiments about the purchase can be read in the following article:

Click here to read Sam Sangster’s sentiments after buying Thesecreadversary 

Picture: Model Man was the Horse Of The Year in 1986/1987 and would make it on to the shortlist of best ever horses in South Africa 

The racing season 40 years ago was one of the most remarkable in SA history for both good reasons and bad, not to mention interesting reasons.

The good reasons were top horses like Model Man, Bush Telegraph and Pedometer and the bad was an equine flu outbreak that forced the closure of racing for two or three months in the Western Cape, the Eastern Cape and in the Transvaal, while an example of an interesting reason was a new record-breaking price of R510,000 at the National Yearling Sale for a colt called Mr Hawaii.

Prompt intervention by veterinary and racing officials effectively closed off Natal from the rest of the country, allowing racing and training to continue uninterrupted there.

However, the flu did probably have an effect on some of KZN’s best horses, including the Horse Of The Year Model Man.

At his peak the Patrick Lunn-trained superstar by Elliodor was regarded as one of the best horses in SA history and yet his record could have been even better as the Gr 1 wfa Queen’s Plate was one one of the races that was scrapped due to the equine flu outbreak.

Model Man ended his three-year-old season by winning the Gr 1 Mainstay International over 1800m at Clairwood.

His four-year-old career began with one of the most memorable minor race performances in Greyville history. It was in an A Division Handicap over 1100m and he had to give 4,5kg to the filly who had won the Gr 1 Golden Spur earlier in the year i.e. Bold West. At the top of the straight Model Man must have had about ten lengths to make up on the speedy filly, but once he was in top gear his enormous stride began eating up the ground in exhilarating fashion. He won going away by a quarter-of-a-length in front of an enthralled crowd, which was always sizeable in the heyday of racing.

Next up was the Hawaii Stakes, which in those days was a Gr 1 over 1600m at Turffontein. The long straight of Turffontein suited him down to the ground and regular jockey Basil Marcus guided him to one of his career best performances, a five length victory over the top class Terrance Millard-trained four-year-old filly Enchanted Garden, to whom he gave 2,5kg. Enchanted Garden was coming off a five length win in the Gr 2 John Skeaping Trophy over 1800m at Turffontein.

The equine influenza then halted racing in Transvaal from early December until February 11 and in the Cape from early December until March 21.

The causative agent was identified as an influenza virus that had been circulating in horses in the United States and it was brought in by six imported horses. The unusually severe outbreak in South Africa may have been due to the lack of immunity to such viruses in our horse population.

Another big race scrapped was the sire-producing Gr 1 Cape Guineas (known then as the Richelieu Guineas).

Cape Town’s traditional biggest race, the Met, usually run in January, was saved by moving it out to April.

Trainers were advised to be cautious in bringing their horses back and they paid heed, meaning racing was soon in full swing again as if nothing had happened. Extra meetings were staged to make up for the loss of meetings.

Model Man came back to win an A Division event over 1600m at Clairwood by 5,5 lengths in late March.

Three weeks later he won the Met, giving Enchanted Garden 2kg and a 0,25 length beating.

The National Yearling Sale was held in April and a sensation was caused when a bay colt by the celebrated Geoge Azzie-trained Hawaii, who had sired an Epsom Derby winner after his glittering career in South Africa and the USA, was knocked down for R510,000, thus becoming the most expensive horse sold at auction in SA. The purchasers were George Azzie’s grandson Mike Azzie and bloodstock agent Robin Bruss of Delta Bloodstock. The underbidder was Colin Palm, whose trainer was Willie Pieters, and perhaps he was the lucky one in the long run, because despite his magnificent looks Mr Hawaii was destined to win only one race, on debut, although he did finish a close fourth in the Gr 1 SA Nursery.

In the meantime a three-year-old Jungle Cove colt trained by Bert Abercrombie called Bush Telegraph had made his comeback having won the Gr 2 Cape Of Good Hope Nursery, the Gr 1 Gold Medallion and the Gr 1 Adminstrators over 1400m as a two-year-old. He increased his unbeaten run to eight wins when winning both the Gr 3 Rupert Ellis Brown Plate over 1200m and the Gr 1 SA 2000 in the Durban winter season.

After the Met, Model man ran in the Gr 1 Clairwood Champions Stakes and sensationally spreadeagled the field, beating the top class grey Jungle Rock by six lengths.

However, if that was a wide margin big race victory it did not hold a candle to the sensational subsequent performance of the Jean Heming-trained Pedometer (Averof) in the Gr 1 Sun International. Johanneburg’s biggest race was postponed due to the influenza from its normal late April/early May slot until September and Pedometer romped home by an astonishing 14 lengths. For many years at Turffontein there was a wonderful blown up photograph that covered an entire wall of one of the bars with Pedometer on the one end and the nose of the second horse, Uncle Percy, showing on the other end.

But before the Sun International there were a couple of never-to-be-forgotten clashes between the titans Model Man and Bush Telegraph.

Garth Puller famously lived on a diet of stewed apples and ran everyday to slim down to 49kg to ride Bush Telegraph in the July. He got first run on a luckless Model Man, who put up one of the best ever performances in July defeat when eating up the ground to get within 1,25 lengths of the three-year-old, to whom he conceded 8kg.

Their next clash in the Mainstay International at Clairwood was called “The race of the century” and stories are still told about how cars filled the roads of all the neighbouring areas as even the vast carparks at Clairwood could not contain the massive attendance.

The light weight Jean Heming-trained Main Man this time got first run on Model Man who charged home as normal, but lost on the headbob. Bush Telegraph lost his unbeaten record by finishing a close up third.

Model Man went on to win the Gr 1 Champion Stakes over 2000m at Greyville in early August and he was crowned Horse Of The Year as well as Champion Older Male, while his Paddy Lunn-trained stablemate The Barbican was crowned Champion Sprinter.