Celestial City is the second highest-priced horse ever sold at the BSA National Yearling Sale, going for R7 million in 2020, and he won four races and finished second in a Listed event before being retired to stud. He is a full brother to sought after sire Hawwaam, so could still be anything. (JC Photos)

By Sarah Whitelaw

RECENT HISTORY OF NATIONAL SALE TOP PRICED YEARLINGS
The pages of history are littered by top priced yearlings who have lived up to expectations. Fusaichi Pegasus, a $4 million sales topper, was sold for an alleged $60 million following a career which saw him win four graded stakes notably the 2000 G1 Kentucky Derby. He would go on to enjoy a successful stud career, siring 76 stakes winners, led by such standout G1 winners as Haradasun (sire of South African champion Harry’s Son), Bandini, Champ Pegasus, and Roman Ruler, as well as 2005 G1 Belmont Stakes runner up Andromeda’s Hero.
Fusaichi Pegasus is also the sire of high-class South African racemare Our Table Mountain, the Equus Champion Broodmare of 2015-2016, and dam of the G1 winners Cloth Of Cloud and Silver Mountain.
Other standout performers to have topped respective yearling sales were such champions and breed shaping stallions as A.P. Indy and Nureyev, two of the best sires in history.
However, inevitably, for every top priced yearling to live up to his/her price tag, there have been many famous pricey yearlings who have proved disappointing.
With the National Yearling Sale set to take place in Germiston this week, it is perhaps a good time to look back at the past performances of recent National Sale top priced lots.

2024: MAN OF HIS WORD c Gimmethegreenlight -Honorine
R6 000 000
The top priced lot sold at the 2024 National Yearling Sale, Man Of His Word has yet to start.

2023: KOMMETJIE STORM f Elusive Fort -Adorable
R3 200 000
A full-sister to G1 Vodacom Durban July/G1 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met winner and promising sire Kommetdieding, Kommetjie Storm made a promising start to her career.
After finishing third on debut, when beaten just over a length and a half, Kommetjie Storm made a big impression when winning next time out. Under Gavin Lerena, the blue blooded filly stormed home to shed her maiden by five and a half lengths. Kommetjie Storm was not disgraced next time out when she ran third, to subsequent G3 4Racing Sycamore Sprint winner Mia Moo, over 1160m. Kommetjie Storm only subsequent start, thus far, saw the filly finish eighth in the G2 Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas.

2022: FOREST GOD c Silvano -Touch The Sky
R3 300 000
Forest God made just three starts, finishing sixth on debut before filling the second berth next time out. His only subsequent start saw the son of Silvano pulled up when it turned out that Forest God was lame.

2021:CHEEKY LADDIE c Gimmethegreenlight -All Is Secret
R2 800 000
One of four winners thus far for triple G1 winner and Equus Champion 2YO Filly of 2012 All Is Secret, Cheeky Laddie’s third dam is legendary South African broodmare Mystic Spring.
Cheeky Laddie accounted for a subsquent star performer when he made a winning debut over 1200m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in August 2022. Back in fourth place was See It Again, whose seven victories include the 2023 G1 SplashOut Cape Derby and G1 Daily News 2000. While Cheeky Laddie has never reached any such heights, the gelding has won or been placed in ten of 20 starts thus far. Among his better efforts was a defeat of subsequent 2024 Listed Christmas Handicap winner Formagear over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Scottsville in 2003, and a runner up effort, behind the very smart Aspect, over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth in April 2024.

2020: CELESTIAL CITY c Silvano -Halfway To Heaven
R7 000 000
A full-brother to champion Hawwaam, and half-brother to both former Horse Of The Year Rainbow Bridge and dual G1 winner Halfway To Heaven, Celestial City is one of four black type producers for his dam Halfway To Heaven.
The beautifully bred Celestial City was well placed by his trainer Sean Tarry, and he won or finished second in each of his first four starts. After scoring a half length win on debut, Celestial City went on to finish second in each of his next three starts. Beaten just a length by Otto Luyken, runner up in the 2024 G3 Ridgemont Peninsula Handicap, over 1600m at Turffontein, Celestial City then filled the runner up berth behind African Torrent next time out.
The form of Celestial City’s next race was well franked when his conqueror Son Of Raj went on to win all of the Listed 4Racing Derby Trial, G1 World Sports Betting SA Derby and G3 Betway London News Stakes.
Celestial City himself would go on to win four more races, and he ran a creditable second, beaten just over two and a quarter lengths, in the Listed Kings Cup of 2024.

2019: MASAKI c Silvano -Quickwood
R9 000 000
Masaki, who set a (then) new South African record for a yearling bought at auction, never raced.

2018: TRACK ATTACK c Dynasty -Little Indian
R5 200 000
A half-brother to exported champion Yorker, Track Attack failed to match his sibling’s record on the track. It took Track Attack ten starts to break his maiden, and he would win just one more race in six subsequent outings.

2017:GHAALLA f Var -Fidelity
R5 000 000
As a Var daughter from one of the best families in the stud book, Ghaalla provided her wonderful female line with yet more black type. The filly downed dual Equus Champion Celtic Sea when she made a winning debut over 1160m at Turffontein in March 2018. Ghaalla confirmed the promise of her debut when she ran second, to subsequent G1 HSH Empress Club Stakes winner Ronnie’s Candy, in the2018 G2 SA Fillies Nursery where Ghaalla again defeated Celtic Sea. Two unplaced runs preceded Ghaalla finishing third in both the G2 Joburg Spring F and M Challenge and G3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes, before she gained her biggest win when victorious in the 2018 G3 Fillies Mile. Her beaten rivals on that occasion included the aforementioned pair Ronnie’s Candy and Celtic Sea as well as champion Return Flight.Ghaalla had a Gimmethegreenlight filly, subsequently named Status Quo, sell for R1 200 000 at the 2022 November Two Year Old Sale.

2016:SUGAR GIRL f Trippi -Ilha Grande
R2 500 000
Sugar Girl, a half-sister to G1 SA Fillies Classic winner Orchid Island, showed promise early on. A good winner on debut, she ran second, to subsequent G3 Final Fling Stakes winner Platinum Class, next time out. Sugar Girl made it two wins from three starts when she romped home to defeat Call Me Winter by two and a half lengths next time out.While Sugar Girl failed to win again, she put up a good effort when running third, to Freedom Charter, in the G3 Poinsettia Stakes, where Sugar Girl was beaten less than a length and a half. The daughter of Trippi had a Vercingetorix colt fetch R2 000 000 at last year’s National Yearling Sale.

2015: SAVANNAH CAT f Fort Wood -Kapen Cat
R4 750 000
Savannah Cat, whose dam Kapen Cat was a half-sister to multiple champion sire Western Winter, took four runs to break her maiden. The daughter of Fort Wood scored her single success when she won a maiden over 1400m at Greyville. While she failed to win again, Savannah Cat has gone on to enjoy success at stud. Her first three runners have all won, and include the exported G3 HSH Princess Charlene Starling Stakes winner Egyptian Mau and G3 Tabgold Godolphin Barb Stakes victor Cymric. Savannah Cat’s offspring have also found favour in the sales ring, with Cymric fetching R1 200 000 when sold at the 2023 National Sale.

2014: NEBULA c Silvano -Seeking The Wind
R3 750 000
A full-brother to 2013 G1 J&B Met winner Martial Eagle, Nebula was a classy galloper who won six of 23 starts in South Africa before being exported to Mauritius. He broke his maiden at the fourth time of asking when Nebula scored a one and a half length win at Kenilworth. Rated good enough to take his place in both the 2016 G1 Investec Cape Derby and G3 Politician Stakes, Nebula picked up his second career win when he saluted over 1600m at Greyville. Following a creditable third place finish in the Listed Thukela Handicap, Nebula ran champion Edict Of Nantes to half a length at Durbanville before going on to win the 2016 G3 Betting World Algoa Cup by three-parts of a length. Nebula would go on to claim the Algoa Cup (then a Listed contest) again when he won the race in 2017.

2013: TREES OF GREEN c Dynasty -Wonderful World
R3 600 000
Trees Of Green, whose dam won six times including the G1 SA Fillies Sprint, was one of eight winners produced by Wonderful World. After finishing unplaced on debut, Trees Of Green went on to break his maiden at the second time of asking when he won over 1600m at Turffontein. Sixth next time out, Trees Of Gold then finished second, beaten less than a length, at Turffontein. After two poor runs, he was dispatched to the Eastern Cape, where Trees Of Green went on to win four times. He won five of 26 starts for earnings of R305,375.

2012: STRATOCRUISER c Jet Master -Gilded Star
R1 700 000
A full-brother to G1 Empress Club Stakes winner Stratos, Stratocruiser won six races without reaching the heights achieved by Stratos. After finishing unplaced in three of his first four starts, Stratocruiser went on to finish second over 1400m at Kenilworth. A fifth place finish was followed by his first victory, when Stratocruiser romped home to break his maiden by four and a half lengths in June 2014. He would go on to win two of his following three starts, with a four and a half length romp at Durbanville followed by a one length win at the country course. After failing to win again in the Western Cape, Stratocruiser was sent to the Eastern Cape, where he would win three more times, with his Eastern Cape wins including the 2017 Founders Trophy. In total, Stratocruiser won six of 49 starts and earned R474,225.

2011: HEART’S CONTENT f Jet Master -Jalberry
R3 200 000
The lightly raced Heart’s Content, whose female line continues to churn out high-class performers, made just seven starts. The filly showed promise at two, when finishing second on debut, before scoring by a length and a quarter next time out. Heart’s Content proved disappointing at three, and retired having won once from seven starts. The daughter of Jet Master is responsible for four winners including the smart Doitwithdiamonds (Silvano).
(The 2011 National Yearling Sale was dominated by the progeny of Jet Master, with the latter responsible for three of the top five lots. Jet Master son Master Of My Fate was the second top lot sold at that auction when knocked down for R3 000 000).

2010:DIVINE JET c Jet Master-Divine Nymph
R4 000 000
The regally bred Divine Jet, a half-brother to the ill-fated G1 SA Classic winner Divine Jury, showed plenty of promise early on. Divine Jet won his first three starts before finishing seventh, behind dual Horse Of The Year Variety Club, in the 2011 G1 Cape Premier Yearling Sales Cape Guineas. After winning his next start, Divine Jet finished seventh in the Listed Southeaster Sprint and second in two starts following that. He again caught the eye, however, when finishing a close third, beaten half a length, in the G2 Betting World Merchants. On that occasion, Divine Jet finished in front of such graded stakes winners as Cap Alright, Shades Of Indigo, Louvre, Captain’s Secret, The West Is Wide and champion Hammie’s Hooker. Divine Jet failed to win again, but he did finish fourth, beaten just over two lengths, in the 2103 Diadem Stakes, while accounting for the likes of Captain’s Secret, Castlethorpe, and Tevez.
Retired to stud, Divine Jet sired 26 registered foals, including the winners Gotcaughtspeedin and Jet Legacy.

While a number of recent sales toppers have proved disappointing, it is perhaps noting that Malmoos, Master Of My Fate, and Vercingetorix, all of whom are represented on this year’s National Sale, were all bought for upwards of R1 000 000 at past renewals of the National Yearling Sale.

Judging by the quality of colt on offer at this year’s sale, hopes are high that another Vercingetorix, Master Of My Fate or Malmoos will be unveiled at the 2025 National Yearling Sale.

The Dean Kannemeyer-trained Gurkha (Fire Away) converted 3/10 odds at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday and gave Craig Zackey the first leg of a double. (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

Craig Zackey was on fire for the whole of last week which first saw him claw back a deficit in the national jockeys champiosnhip and then saw him forge clear.

After the Champions Day meeting, at which both Richard Fourie and Gavin Lerena scored four-timers, the standings were Fourie 176, Lerena 174 and Zackey 171.

However, Zackey has since scored a double at last week’s Hollywoodbets Greyville Monday meeting, a treble at the Hollywoodbets Scottsville Wednesday meeting, he won both races at the Vaal Classic meeting last Thursday which was abandoned after the 2nd race, he rode a treble at the Fairview turf meeting on Friday and he rode a double at the Hollywoodbets Greyville meeting on Sunday.

The standings are now Zackey 183, Fourie 177 and Lerena 174.

Zackey’s 12 winners in the week came at a strike rate of 37,50%, while Fourie had only eight rides in the week for one win and Lerena had a blank from seven rides.

Fourie might have to up his travel rate to beat Zackey, but probably remains the favourite due to the devastating form his East Cape guv’nor Alan Greeff is in. Greeff has had 122 wins this season, 120 of them in the East Cape, and he should pass his own East Cape record of 176 wins in season, which he set in 2019.

Fourie should also easily beat his own East Cape record of 119 wins he set last season as he is already on 103.

Lerena has been handed a 90 day suspension of which 60 are suspended for the Jason Gates whipping incident. So he will be out of the title race unless he is able to stretch out the process in order to only take the effective 30 days next season. SA jockeys seem to be able to delay the taking of a suspension through the appeal process and the slowness and lack of uniformity in setting inquiry or appeal dates.

Fourie is leading the way this season for Gr 1 wins and black type wins.

He has had six Gr 1 victories this season already. The record is thought to be Weichong Marwing’s 13 Gr 1 wins in the 1998/1999 season.

Lerena has had four Gr 1 wins this season and Zackey has had three, so the three leading riders are also leading the Gr 1 count.

The other Gr 1 scorers are Calvin Habib, Piere Strydom and Ryan Munger.

Fourie has had 19 stakes race (black type) successes this season, including the six Gr 1s, Lerena has had 12, Zackey had had eleven, Strydom has had seven, Rachel Venniker has had six, Sean Veale has had five, Aldo Domeyer has had five, Muzi Yeni has had four, Munger has had four, Habib has had four, Kabelo Matsunyane has had four, Raymond Danielson has had three, Serino Moodley has had three, JP van der Merwe has had two, Marco van Rensburg has had two and Grant van Niekerk has had two.

Deryl Daniels is the only other jockey with more than one stakes success, although all three of his black type successes have been in Zimbabwe.

The East Cape Jockeys championship sees Fourie on 103 wins, Zackey on 56 and Chase Maujean on 21.

The KZN Jockeys championship is being led by Rachel Venniker on 46 wins with Sean Veale next best on 45 and Zackey is on 38.

The Gauteng Championship is led by Lerena on 122, Yeni on 63 and Strydom on 56.

The Western Cape Championship is being led by Fourie on 66, Van der Merwe on 44 and Domeyer on 42.

Trent Mayhew leads the national Apprentice Championship this season with 20 wins and is followed by Nirvan Nastili and Brevan Plaaitjies who each have eleven wins.

Meanwhile, in Hong Kong SA Jockey Academy (SAJA) graduate Karis Teetan rode a treble at Sha Tin on Sunday.

He has had a quiet time lately by his standards and the treble took him to 30 wins for the season and sixth on the Jockeys Log, one position behind ex-pat South African and SAJA graduate Luke Ferraris, who is having his best season on the island and is on 33 wins.

Lyle Hewitson and Keagan de Melo, the other two ex-pat South African SAJA graduates, are on 18 and eight wins respectively in seasons they will both be disappointed with to date. They lie 13th and 18th on the log respectively.

Isivunguvungu has never got out of the habit of taking a strong hold in his races, which is why he has always been at his most effective over 1000m and this was despite the efforts of his first trainer Peter Muscutt to teach him to settle. Graham Motion has obviously known of his antic and likely took measures to get him to settle too.

There were a few who were critical of jockey Christophe Soumillon for not taking advantage of Isivunguvungu’s good start by siezing the inititiative, as the horse has enjoyed doing over 1000m in the past. However, settling him in behind the leading line rather than trying to lead all the way with a horse who takes the aforementioned strong hold looked to be the thinking. In his last start in America he settled fairly well off the pace, but that was over 1000m where the pace is naturally faster.

As it happened on Saturday the writing was soon on the wall for Isivunguvungu because the Hollywood Racing-owned stalwart soon started overracing after slotting in behind Marbaan, who was facing daylight and was prominent.

Isivunguvungu duly found nothing late and trailed in last of the ten finishers.

In retrospect it might have been better to let him go to the front, because he did settle well in the front in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m in July 2023 when fighting back late to get up under Richard Fourie.

However, the Mercury Sprint was around the turn and is a whole different ball game to leading from start to finish over 1200m down the straight against some of the world’s best.

Nevertheless, Motion said afterwards, “He was quite sharp on the day and perhaps in hindsight it might have proven a better option that we should have let him go on. He didn’t seem to appreciate being taken back. He had to check a little bit and emptied out after that. He will be very competitive back home.”

Christophe Soumillon said, ““I was in a good position but he didn’t quicken.”

They will have both had it confirmed for them that Isivunguvungu is better over 1000m and prefers having daylight in front of him.

Considering his Breeders Cup run and this run it also has to be questioned whether he is quite up with the world’s best.

J J The Jet Plane was in a class of his own back in South Africa before going on to win races like the Al Quoz twice and the Gr 1 Hong Kong Sprint. He won the Golden Horse Sprint with topweight as a three-year-old by 2,25 lengths and won the Mercury Sprint by four lengths.

Isivunguvungu’s SA form just can not compare to that.

Another SA-bred who won the Al Quoz, Shea Shea, also departed for Dubai on the top of some scintillating form, winning the Computaform Sprint by 2,25 lengths despite the field containing the like of champion What A Winter.

On the other hand Isivunguvungu did not have adequate preparation time between quarantine and the Breeders Cup Sprint and he was unlucky in that race too, so he might yet prove himself up with the best in the world.

He couldn’t be in better hands if he is to still find improvement.

_________________________________

Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Purchase Believing Wins Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint

The Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up purchase BELIEVING became the fifth Group 1 winner from the sale in the last three years when taking the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night.

The five-year-old daughter of MEHMAS was purchased by Jake Warren’s Highclere Agency for 115,000 guineas from the draft of Michael Fitzpatrick’s Kilminfoyle House Stud, having been purchased at Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 70,000 guineas from Baroda Stud.

BELIEVING had previously been placed in five Group 1 races before she was offered as part of the Sceptre Sessions at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale where she realised 3,000,000 guineas for her Highclere syndicated group of owners to the bid of MV Magnier. Remaining with trainer George Boughey, BELIEVING’s victory today was for the Coolmore team of Magnier, Tabor and Smith along with Resolute Racing’s John Stewart.

BELIEVING continues the phenomenal run of Group 1 success for the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale following on from the success of Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas winner NATIVE TRAIL, 1000 Guineas winner CACHET, last season’s Futurity Trophy winner HOTAZHELL and dual Group 1 winning two-year-old VANDEEK.

The Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale takes place 14th – 16th April. Catalogues are online at www.tattersalls.com and are available from Tattersalls and Tattersalls representatives.

Hit Show wins the Dubai World Cup | Picture: Dubai Racing Club

Americans Hit Show, Mixto Finish 1-2 in Dubai World Cup
Heavily favored Forever Young finishes third

By Bob Kieckhefer (Bloodhorse)

Hit Show capped off a night of stunning upsets at Meydan Racecourse with the biggest surprise of all, leading an American-trained 1-2 finish in the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) with the massive favorite, Forever Young , relegated to third.

Florent Geroux booted the winner home with a ground-gobbling late rally for trainer Brad Cox, denying the Doug O’Neill-trained Mixto and jockey Frankie Dettori by a half-length. Forever Young, winner of the $20 million Saudi Cup (G1) in February, was another 1 1/2 lengths adrift in third.

Hit Show raced well back in the field through most of the 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles) but found a huge gap between rivals midway down the stretch. He quickly picked up when asked but Geroux said he wasn’t sure there was time to catch Mixto, who had raced forwardly through the race and opened up a daylight lead in the late going.

“About 100 meters,” Geroux said when asked when he thought he could get the win, admitting his prerace expectation for the World Cup did not extend to victory.

“To be honest with you,” he said, “I was looking for a placing. And he gave me more.”

Cox, who stayed behind in the United States to tend to his Kentucky Derby (G1) aspirants, seemed equally surprised.

“I still can’t quite believe it,” he said by phone to Dubai officials. “It’s unbelievable. I would have loved to be there but just with so much going on with these 3-year-olds and trying to get to the (Kentucky) Derby, I couldn’t make it.”

Dettori looked to have wrapped up a record fifth World Cup win and his second win of the day for O’Neill after scoring in the Godolphin Mile (G2) with odds-on favorite Raging Torrent . But Mixto, whose previous high point was a big upset win in the 2024 Pacific Classic Stakes (G1), ran out of gas in the final strides.

“He ran superb,” Dettori said. “I had the perfect trip. I couldn’t complain. It’s just a shame he got beaten on the line.”

While the result looked American as apple pie, the winning owner, Wathnan Racing, is a 3-year-old venture headed by the Emir of Qatar. And Geroux is a native of France.

Forever Young, the odds-on favorite in the international wagering, ran evenly behind the early speed but couldn’t find his usual extra gear in the final 200 meters. The 4-year-old son of Real Steel had used that late kick to win the 2024 UAE Derby (G2) over the same Meydan surface, post a photo-finish third in the 2024 Kentucky Derby, and to edge Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior in the Saudi Cup.

The Saudi Cup may have taken some starch out of both of those runners as Romantic Warrior was defeated by the narrowest of margins by Soul Rush two races before the World Cup.

Forever Young’s rider, Ryusei Sakai, said his colt “ran a great race in Saudi and I expected him to win if he ran his race … It was tough and we did our best. He wasn’t traveling at all. It wasn’t an easy race and (it’s) hard to keep winning.”

While most handicappers were hard pressed to nominate any long shot likely to go with Forever Young in Dubai, Hit Show would have been well down even on even those lists. Although he was an eight-time winner coming into the race, Hit Show had never won at the grade/group 1 level.

He was prominent on the 2023 Triple Crown trail, winning the Withers Stakes (G3) before finishing second in that year’s Wood Memorial Stakes (G1), fifth in the Kentucky Derby (G1), fourth in the Belmont Stakes (G1), and fifth in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course.

Hit Show, a 5-year-old by Candy Ride , ran for his breeders, Gary and Mary West, until he was sold privately to Wathnan after winning the West Virginia Governor’s Stakes (G3) at Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort Aug. 4, 2024.

He proved a good investment even before the Dubai shocker, winning the Lukas Classic Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs in September and the Fayette Stakes (G2) at Keeneland a month later. He reported third in the Clark Stakes (G2) in November but was disqualified to fifth.

He started 2025 with a victory in the Louisiana Stakes (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and finished third in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) before shipping to the Middle East.

Hit Show is the first top-level winner of the year for sire Candy Ride, who stands at Lane’s End in 2025 for a fee of $75,000. He is one of three winners from four starters out of the grade 2-winning Tapit mare Actress.

The World Cup this year was added to the roster of Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races, affording Hit Show a fees-paid, automatic spot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

Field Marshal (nearest) bounces back with a fine win. (Candiese Lenferna Photography). 

Andrew Harrison (Gold Circle)

Field Marshal has always struck as a horse with a feature race in him, especially after his close-up second in the Fever Tree Stakes at Hollywoodbets Scottsville two runs back behind surprise winner African Skyline but with some solid handicappers behind him.

So, his next start appeared to be below par as he battled home behind I Salute You but Frank Robinson put that run into perspective. “He was above himself that day with his head up in the air.”

This was largely a consequence of the rain which has plagued all training programmes at Summerveld but Field Marshal was back on track at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday

Always within striking distance of the pace in the B Stakes over 1800m Craig Zackey, hunting a double on the day, got Field Marshal to quicken out of the pack and was complimentary of his mounts victory, commenting post-race that Field Marshal still had some improvement to come.

Trois Trois Quatre and Johnny The Thief came from off the pace to fill the shallow end of the purse.

Kannemeyer made it four-on the bounce after his three winners at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last Wednesday as Gurkha lived up to his billing as favourite, making short work of the opposition in the card opener. Sitting off the pace in the early exchanges as is the want of Kannemeyer-trained horses, Gurkha came into the straight with some work to do. However, like a slow revving engine with plenty of ‘grunt’, when Zackey asked his mount to put it in, he upped a gear and won as he liked, sweeping past Firelighter and Shesha Ntombi.

The Kannemeyer run of winners snapped in the opening leg of the PA as Plaza Accord finished too strongly for favourite Golden Destiny. Zackey had Golden Destiny well placed for his challenge as he tracked the pace and went into the lead crossing the subway but ran out of gas the last furlong. Jabu Jacobs, who is enjoying a new lease on his career, got Peter Muscutt’s charge to respond up the outside of the field and Plaza Accord went back-to-back, comfortably putting the favourite to bed who was labouring the last bit.

Favourite Rich Folks Hoax denied Zackey a treble and Kannemeyer another win as S’Manga Khumalo extracted the best out of the under-achieving Quandary who recently has been threatening but never quite getting there. Khumalo threw everything, including the reins, at Gareth van Zyl’s gelding.

Buffalo Storm Cody has been tipped to win Race seven. (JC Photos).

Jack Milner (Tab4Racing)

Trainer Tony Peter and jockey Gavin Lerena can bring home a double in the last two races at Turffontein on Tuesday when they race on the Standside track

Peter’s highly rated three-year-old Buffalo Storm Cody could not have been more impressive on his return from a rest, during which he was gelded, as he spreadeagled his opposition to win by more than eight lengths over 1200m on the Turffontein Inside track just 19 days ago.

This son of Buffalo Bill Cody received a six-point penalty for that performance but one must remember that as it was a Graduation Plate, the handicappers are restricted as to the penalty they can hand out.

The reality is that Buffalo Storm Cody ran far above that rating so he comes into Race 7 this time where he contests a Middle Stakes over 1160m, means he should have a massive advantage over his runners that does not reflect in his merit rating.

Lerena rode him to victory last time and he will renew relationship with Peter’s runners.

Hong Kong lines up in Race 8, a MR 80 Handicap over 1160m, and although she is taking on the boys, this three-year-old daughter of Ideal World has the best form line in the field.

She was beaten by Big Boy Bruce on debut and at the weights Fanie Bronkhorst’s runner is weighted to beat her again, but if one looks at the trajectory of both runners, the filly looks to be the more promising of the pair. That race was her first start while Big Boy Bruce was having his fourth outing and benefited from the experience.

In her next outing Hong Kong won a very strong maiden where she beat Green Sapphire by 2.50 lengths. Sean Tarry’s charge has gone on to win four of her five races since then, including a Grade 3 feature in KwaZulu-Natal last time, and finished second in the other.

Hong Kong returned from a break last time and finished a 0.50-length second to Frozen Fantasy over 1200m at the Vaal last time but returned with a mouth injury. She should be a lot fitter this time and looks hard to beat.

Sean Tarry-trained Golden Alexia turned in a disappointing performance behind highly regarded Immediate Edge in her last start, but the daughter of Pomodoro had legitimate excuses for that display.

She was found to be not striding out in a post-race examination by the on-course veterinarian so that run is best ignored.

On the evidence of her two previous outings, Tarry’s charge needs only to bounce back to her earlier form to win the 1400m opener (Race 1) under work rider Siyabonga Mkhumbuzi.

Jack Milner’s selections

Race 1: 1 Golden Alexia, 8 Lava Lamp, 9 Sasha Lee, 2 Betty Mo

Race 2: 6 Opera Fan, 1 Alpha World, 4 One Tiger, 5 Sergeant Soqrat

Race 3: 1 Eight Hats, 7 Spiritrix, 8 Winter Belle, 2 Explosive Power

Race 4: 6 Green Street, 1 Ichacha, 9 Codeword, 7 Shamoon

Race 5: 7 Inclusion, 10 Art Nouveau, 11 Nkwenkwezi, 6 Future King

Race 6: 1 To The Rescue, 3 Romeo’s Magic, 4 Arlington Action, 9 Mo Ment

Race 7: 2 Buffalo Storm Cody, 3 Silver Tudor, 9 Bob’s Your Uncle, 7 Night Bomber

Race 8: 4 Hong Kong, 2 Longsword, 9 Phantom Express, 1 Warm Winter Nite

BEST BET

Race 7 No 2 Buffalo Storm Cody

VALUE BET

Race 5 No 7 Inclusion

BEST SWINGER

Race 1 1×8

BIPOT

R216

Leg 1: 1

Leg 2: 1, 4, 8

Leg 3: 1, 7, 8

Leg 4: 1, 6

Leg 5: 7, 10, 11

Leg 6: 1, 3, 4, 9

PLACE ACCUMULATOR

R162

Leg 1: 1, 4, 8

Leg 2: 1, 7, 8

Leg 3: 1, 6

Leg 4: 7, 10, 11

Leg 5: 1, 3, 4

Leg 6: 2

Leg 7: 4

PICK 6

R405

Leg 1: 1, 4, 6

Leg 2: 1, 6, 7

Leg 3: 7, 10, 11

Leg 4: 1, 3, 4, 7, 9

Leg 5: 2

Leg 6: 2, 4, 9

JACKPOT 1

R45

Leg 1: 1, 6, 7

Leg 2: 7, 10, 11

Leg 3: 1, 3, 4, 7, 9

Leg 4: 2

JACKPOT 2

R45

Leg 1: 7, 10, 11

Leg 2: 1, 3, 4, 7, 9

Leg 3: 2

Leg 4: 2, 4, 9

Embezzler’s mum was a bargain buyEmbezzler’s mum was a bargain buyImage: Kenton Wright / Race Images

by Paul Vettise / Loveracing.NZ News Desk (Monday)

Ross McCarroll didn’t have to think very long or hard to name a filly he bought for loose change at Karaka in 2007.

The Cambridge horseman handed over $100 for a yearling offered through Wentwood Grange’s draft at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Autumn Mixed Bloodstock Sale and her subsequent moniker was apt on two fronts.

“Because she was by Desert Fox, we called her Stole which is worn around your neck (often a fur), but now it’s become more the other way (price),” McCarroll said.

“I watched her at Karaka and she was a good walker, there were no bids so I got her, and she ended up a really good mare. It’s probably the best $100 I’ve ever spent.”

Stole emphasised the value of the bargain basement transaction during a career that netted six wins, a runner-up finish in the Group Two Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington and banked more than $230,000.

McCarroll has successfully bred from Stole and at Ellerslie on Saturday the money theme continued when he prepared her son Embezzler to win the open 2200m handicap.

The Contributor gelding is one of a quartet of winners for the mare, who collected three victories and six placings from her first 13 starts before she was sent to McCarroll’s good friend and expatriate Kiwi trainer Brian Jenkins in Melbourne.

“I already had a horse called Figure Of Speech over there and he was coming to the end of it, so I sent Stole over to Brian and brought the other horse back,” he said.

“I’ve got the mare in the paddock at home and she’s retired now. She’s got a little bit of a breathing problem, hopefully she should be around for a few more years.”

Stole’s last foal is a colt by Super Easy, who is making all the right moves.

“I really like him, he’s a two-year-old and is very much like Embezzler. She’s also had Pinched (three wins), who was good but broke down and Contraband was another really good horse.

“He won for us and we sold him to Hong Kong, but he didn’t do quite as well up there as I thought he would.”

Embezzler is a lightly tried five-year-old who has amassed three wins and two placings from his 15 appearances and could also venture across the Tasman.

“He’s not overly big so we have to be a bit careful with him,” McCarroll said.

“He may end up in Australia if they hammer him too much with the weight.”

Which horse only ever ran at Newmarket and his big wins only included the Champion Stakes and Coventry Stakes, but he became one of the most successful and influential sires of the 20th century?

The picture is of the subject.