Two legends, Piere Strydom and Michael Roberts, after See It Again had won the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 (Picture: Tumi Pakkies/African News Agency(ANA)

Roberts Looks Forward After HWB July Defeat

Michael Roberts has no criticism of Piere Strydom’s ride of the Hollywoodbets Durban July favourite See It Again in the big race on July 1.

Looking back on the race, he began, “See It Again was in tip top condition, he is a very easy horse to train and everything in his preparation went perfectly. The race then panned out exactly to the tee how we had discussed it.”

Roberts felt See It Again’s position in the running was perfect.

The Twice Over colt slotted in at the Drill Hall and sat one out and three horses behind the second placed horse, who had sat well off the fast fractions set in the first half of the race by Dave The King.

See It Again travelled supremely throughout and his supporters would have been confident.

Roberts continued, “The scrimmaging at the top of the straight did probably force him to go too soon.”

There are some who say Strydom should have waited longer.

However, his options appeared to be to take the gap that presented itself and go for the inside or stay in the scrum and follow the 33/1 shot Bless My Stars.

The majority of top jockeys would surely have taken the same option he did given those choices.

Roberts said, “It is very easy to criticise afterwards. He is a veteran who has won four Julys and it is unfair to criticise for what could have happened after the race. People also forget that jockeys ride the July differently to a normal race. It is our greatest race and everybody wants to win it, so you need luck in running. In fact, I have admitted in interviews that in my July win I was worried during the closing stages I had gone too soon. I have seen the July change many times in the last 200m.”

Roberts was quoted as saying in one article about his July win on the David Ferraris-trained Super Quality in 1997, “And then as we were turning for home a big gap opened to my left. I was able to switch to the outside and the rest is history. I did remember thinking how often a July leader is caught in the closing stages, but fortunately it did not happen.”

So he moved at almost exactly the same time as Strydom did on July 1 this year, if not sooner, and for exactly the same reason.

That is most interesting considering if a poll was taken on the two greatest riders South Africa has produced Roberts and Strydom would probably be the two choices.

In the July when a gap presents itself it is advisable to take it.

A gap did not present itself for Do It Again in 2021. He was continually baulked for a run and it could well have cost him the race, considering how well he was travelling.

Roberts concluded, “It would have been a fairytale if See It Again had won, but it was not to be. I can’t criticise anything about the ride. That’s racing.”

He added, “My comment beforehand that he was the best horse in the race proved to be correct and to go so close giving 3,5kg to an older horse … it was only the handicapper who beat us.”

See It Again, who carried 56,5kg, went within a quarter of a length of breaking a weight-carrying record for a three-year-old July winner.

The record is held by Legislate, who carried 56kg to victory in 2014, although in weight for age terms Igugu’s feat of carrying 55kg as a three-year-old filly to victory in 2011 was a greater performance.

Roberts continued, “And there is still next year. We also have the Cape Summer Season to look forward too.”

See It Again might well take his place in the Gr 1 Hong Kong World Pool Champions Cup over 1800m on the last day of the season at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

Roberts admitted the horse had had a hard race in the July, but he said he had come out of it well and his participation in the Champions Cup would be “played by ear.”

He said See It Again had been “fresher” before his Gr 1 Daily News 2000 victory than he had been for the July, because he had to leave a little bit in reserve for the July.

He said he would now have to freshen him up for the Champions Cup.

If he does run in the Champions Cup he will be in line to be named Equus Three-year-old champion and Equus Horse Of The Year, although whatever happens there is going to be little between him and the other superstar in the country, Charles Dickens.

See It Again looks a virtual certainty to be named Equus Middle Distance Champion as things stand having won both the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby and Gr 1 Daily News 2000 as well as finishing a narrow second in the July.

Variety Club and Gimmethegreenlight fought out the Equus 3yo Male Champion award eleven seasons ago and it is just as an intriguing contest this season. (Picture: avontuurestate.co.za).

Can Champions Cup Victory Swing Equus 3yo Award See It Again’s Way?

A few of the Equus Awards look to be cast in stone, but there is still intrigue surrounding the Champion Three-year-old Male award.

The importance of the three-year-old male award this year is seen in that it will likely decide the outcome of the Equus Horse Of The Year Award (although Princess Calla and Gimme A Prince are still in contention too).

The two protagonists are Charles Dickens, who is currently the favourite to get it, and See It Again.

The latter is is not at all out of it as things stand.

Furthermore, See It Again might well take his place in the Gr 1 weight for age Hong Kong World Pool Champions Cup and if he wins that it might even put him in pole position for the award.

Candice Bass-Robinson confirmed yesterday Charles Dickens would not run again this season.

Michael Roberts admitted See It Again had had “a hard race” in the HWB July. However, he said he had come out of it well and would thus be entered in the Champions Cup and he would “play it by ear” as the race approaches.

Charles Dickens is regarded by one of the top yards in the country as the best horse they have ever trained in fifty years of glittering success.

Therefore, that the award is not already cast in stone is a huge accolade in itself to See It Again.

In fact, the respected racing analyst Karel Miedema has given his highest AR (Ability Rating) of the season, i.e 120, to See It Again’s second place finish in the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July.

No three-year-old had carried more than 56kg to victory (Legislate 2014) in the July and See It Again went within a quarter of a length of doing so carrying 56.5kg.

Charles Dickens’ feature race successes this season are the Gr 3 Cape Classic by three lengths, the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas by 4,25 lengths, the Gr 2 WSB Guineas by two lengths and the Gr 1 weight for age Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge by 1,40 lengths.

He also finished a neck behind Al Muthana in the most prestigious Gr 1 weight for age mile in the country, the L’Ormarins King’s Plate, and he finished a 1,25 length second to See It Again in the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby over 2000m.

The points that favour Charles Dickens over See It Again is that he has won a Gr 1 in open company and it was at weight for age level too i.e. the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, while See It Again’s two Gr 1s victories in the Cape Derby and Daily News 2000 were both against three-year-old opposition.

Charles Dickens has only tasted defeat once over his best trip of a mile, a neck defeat to Al Muthana in the prestigious L’Ormarins King’s Plate, and he exacted revenge on the latter in the Gold Challenge.

Charles Dickens was also a highly impressive winner of probably the most prestigious three-year-old Gr 1 event in the country, the sire-producing Cape Guineas, where he annihilated a classy field that included previous Gr 1 winner Cousin Casey by 4,25 lengths easing up after showing an exhilarating turn of foot from off the pace.

Furthermore, in their two clashes, Charles Dickens emerges slightly ahead of See It Again mathematically.

He beat See It Again by two lengths in the WSB Guineas over his best trip, whereas he lost by only 1,25 lengths to See It Again over the latter’s best trip in the Gr 1 Splashout Cape Derby.

Furthermore, Charles Dickens supporters can add a Gr 3 and a Gr 2 to his two Gr 1 wins, while See It Again’s supporters can only add a Listed win to his two Gr 1s.

Lastly, Charles Dickens was a comfortable 24 points clear of See It Again in the Equus Three-year-old award points table even before he won the Gold Challenge.

He would have gained 48 points for that win as it is regarded as a “super Grade 1”, whereas See It Again would have gained just 20 points for his July second place finish, which puts Charles Dickens an unassailable 52 points clear of Charles Dickens.

However, See It Again can close the gap to just four points if he takes his place in the Champions Cup and wins it.

The awards are decided by three entities, a straight points table, the expert panel opinion and a public vote and last year they each had equal weight.

In See It Again’s favour is his defeat of Charles Dickens occurred at Gr 1 level and his loss to him was in a Gr 2.

Furthermore, he might not have won an open event at Gr 1 level, but he was comfortably the best performing horse at the weights in the Hollywoodbets Durban July. That race is not weight for age, but it is nevertheless the country’s premier horse race and he was worse off than weight for age with every horse except Trip Of Fortune. He was only 1,5kg worse off than weight for age with the latter and beat him by 5,65 lengths.

A win in the Gr 1 Champions Cup will see See It Again equaling Charles Dickens as the winner of an open Gr 1 at wfa level and will see him going 3-2 ahead in the Gr 1 victories tally.

So as things stand Charles Dickens is the favourite to take the three-year-old award and with it the Equus Horse Of The Year award.

But there is still the Champions Cup to come.

Whatever happens the Equus Champion Three-year-old Male award is full of importance and intrigue this year and there will be some intense moments of anticipation on Equus Awards night in August.

Shangani, last year’s winner, is among the entries for this year’s Gr 3 World Pool Gold Cup (Candiese Lenferna Photography).

World Pool Gold Cup Day Attracts Big Entry Lists

World Pool Gold Cup meeting now sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club has a fine field of stayers.

The last two winners of the race, Nebraas and Shangani, have both been entered. Future Pearl and Crimson King were impressive winners of Gr 3 2400m and Gr 3 2200m events respectively on Hollywoodbets Durban July day. Runaway, winner of the Gr 3 Track And Ball Derby, disappointed in the soft going in the DSTV Gold Vase (won easily by Future Pearl) and might be hoping for faster conditions. Salvator Mundi, winner of the Gr 2 New Turf Western Cape Stayers over 2800m is entered. An interesting entry is the 83-rated Mike de Kock-trained Mambo Come Tesio, because this one looks every inch a stayer and still looks to have a lot to come.

Older runners Al Muthana and Trip Of Fortune could take on See It Again and Dave The King in the Gr 1 HKJC World Pool Champions Cup. An interesting entry here is the versatile mare Princess Calla, who is also entered in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint.

Gimme A Prince, winner of the Gr 1 Pongracz Cape Flying Champions and Gr 1 Golden Horse Sprint, and Isivunguvungu, winner of the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint are both entered in the Mercury Sprint.

Sean Tarry’s crack two-year-old filly Mrs Geriatrix is absent from the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes entry list, but his crack colt Lucky Lad is among the entries for the Gr 1 Premier’s Champoion Stakes and has drawn well too.

All The entry lists are shown below:

WORLD POOL GOLD CUP (Grade 3)(Open) R1000000 3200m

8 SHANGANI (A P Peter) 60.0

9 NEBRAAS (S G Tarry) 59.0

18 RUNAWAY SONG (D Kannemeyer) 58.5

19 ARAGOSTA (M F De Kock) 57.5

21 SALVATOR MUNDI (J S Snaith) 56.5

15 ONE WAY TRAFFIC (J S Snaith) 56.0

2 SENSO UNICO (V H Marshall) 55.5

4 FUTURE PEARL (S G Tarry) 55.0

3 WITH PLEASURE (D Kannemeyer) 54.5

5 ARUMUGAM (W H Marwing) 54.0

16 BLACK THORN (M F De Kock) 54.0

10 CHEWBACA (W A Nel) 54.0

20 CRIMSON KING (B Crawford) 54.0

22 ELECTRIC SURGE (R A Hill) 54.0

7 FIGHT SONG (G van Zyl (Jnr)) 54.0

14 FLYING FIRST CLASS (D Nieuwenhuizen) 54.0

11 MAMBO COME TESIO (M F De Kock) 54.0

6 MASTER REDOUTE (W A Nel) 54.0

1 RAISEAHALLELUJAH (C Dawson) 54.0

12 REX UNION (D Kannemeyer) 54.0

13 ROCKIE REEF (P B Muscutt) 54.0

17 SEA MASTER (G van Zyl (Jnr)) 54.0

THE HKJC WORLD POOL CHAMPIONS CUP (Grade 1)(Horses at Weight-For-Age) R1250000 1800m

14 AL MUTHANA (R Maingard) 60.0

7 BARTHOLDI (M/A Azzie) 60.0

3 FOREVER MINE (M F De Kock) 60.0

10 MK’S PRIDE (R R Sage) 60.0

9 POMP AND POWER (J S Snaith) 60.0

6 RASCALLION (V H Marshall) 60.0

5 SAFE PASSAGE (M F De Kock) 60.0

11 SECOND BASE (R Klaasen) 60.0

4 TRIP OF FORTUNE (C Bass-Robinson) 60.0

2 ZAPATILLAS (B Crawford) 60.0

1 DAVE THE KING (M F De Kock) 58.5

8 ROYAL VICTORY (N Kotzen) 58.5

13 SEE IT AGAIN (M L Roberts) 58.5

12 PRINCESS CALLA (S G Tarry) 57.5

MERCURY SPRINT (Grade 1)(Horses at Weight-For-Age) R1000000 1200m

9 CABINET SHUFFLE (R Klaasen) 60.0

16 COSMIC HIGHWAY (D Kannemeyer) 60.0

4 DANILO DANILOVITCH (P F Matchett) 60.0

5 GIMME A PRINCE (D Kannemeyer) 60.0

12 ISIVUNGUVUNGU (P B Muscutt) 60.0

13 PEARL OF ASIA (R A Hill) 60.0

1 PRAY FOR RAIN (C Hewitson) 60.0

17 SEEKING THE STARS (V H Marshall) 60.0

15 SILVER OPERATOR (V H Marshall) 60.0

8 SURJAY (B Crawford) 60.0

10 TEMPTING FATE (D Kannemeyer) 60.0

6 VAL D’ORCIA (A P Peter) 60.0

14 WILLIAM ROBERTSON (C Spies) 60.0

2 GLADATORIAN (S H Ferrie) 59.5

7 THUNDERSTRUCK (S G Tarry) 59.5

11 PRINCESS CALLA (S G Tarry) 57.5

3 SHEELA (M/A Azzie) 57.5

WORLD POOL MOMENT OF THE DAY PREMIERS CHAMPION STAKES (Grade 1)(For 2 year olds) R700000 1600m

20 CAPTAIN WARA (C Spies) 60.0

11 DOWN BY THE RIVER (P B Muscutt) 60.0

12 EMPORIUM (P F Matchett) 60.0

8 ERMELO (D I Campbell) 60.0

18 GIMMEANOTHERCHANCE (M F De Kock) 60.0

6 HOTARUBI (S G Tarry) 60.0

9 JUST VAR (R Maingard) 60.0

14 KYOMAI (A P Peter) 60.0

4 LONGSWORD (S G Tarry) 60.0

17 LUCKY LAD (S G Tarry) 60.0

7 MAIN DEFENDER (A P Peter) 60.0

2 OUTLAW KING (D Kannemeyer) 60.0

15 PURE PREDATOR (F Bronkhorst) 60.0

13 ROMANCE IN ROME (M D Miller) 60.0

19 SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT (D Nieuwenhuizen) 60.0

21 SNOW PILOT (J S Snaith) 60.0

16 THE AFRICA HOUSE (S G Tarry) 60.0

5 WE ARE THE LOGANS (A P Peter) 60.0

3 ZOOMBOMBER (C Spies) 60.0

10 EGYPTIAN MAU (M N Houdalakis) 57.5

1 FRANCINE (M/A Azzie) 57.5

DOUGLAS WHYTE THEKWINI STAKES (Grade 1)(For 2 year old Fillies) R700000 1600m

18 AFRICAN BEAT (M D Miller) 60.0

20 BETULA (S T Pettigrew) 60.0

8 BITCOIN BABY (M D Miller) 60.0

23 BOSNAY (D W Moore) 60.0

5 DISTANT WINTER (C Bass-Robinson) 60.0

9 DOLCEZZA (R Klaasen) 60.0

17 DUAL AGENT (G S Kotzen) 60.0

15 EGYPTIAN MAU (M N Houdalakis) 60.0

11 EPIC VIEW (M D Miller) 60.0

4 FLYING V (J S Snaith) 60.0

3 FORESHORE (G S Kotzen) 60.0

12 FRANCINE (M/A Azzie) 60.0

26 GIVERS GRACE (C Hewitson) 60.0

19 IVY LEAGUE (B/Y Botes / Vosloo) 60.0

10 KEY ELEMENT (P F Matchett) 60.0

7 KINGDOM OF GOLD (S G Tarry) 60.0

14 LADY LACEWING (M D Miller) 60.0

24 LEAVING LAS VEGAS (A P Peter) 60.0

2 LET’S GO NOW (S G Tarry) 60.0

16 LITTLE MIZ SWAGGER (F Bronkhorst) 60.0

21 PLATINA PRINCESS (M F De Kock) 60.0

6 RASCOVA (G S Kotzen) 60.0

22 SECRET IDENTITY (H/M Crawford/Rix) 60.0

13 SILVER SANCTUARY (M F De Kock) 60.0

1 SOLDIER’S EYE (W H Marwing) 60.0

25 THAT’S MY BABY (S G Tarry) 60.0

RIDING HIGH TOGETHER GOLD BRACELET (Grade 2)(Fillies and Mares at Weight-For-Age + Penalties) R300000 2000m

8 BLESS MY STARS (S G Tarry) 58.5

9 GILDED BUTTERFLY (S T Pettigrew) 58.5

13 MARINA (C Bass-Robinson) 58.5

4 CAPETOWN BEAUTY (W Badenhorst) 57.0

6 DAWNOFANEWDAY (D Kannemeyer) 57.0

7 ELECTRIC SURGE (R A Hill) 57.0

5 MACARA (W Whitehead) 57.0

15 MONASHADA (L Gila) 57.0

1 PEACH DAIQUIRI (A G Laird) 57.0

12 SILVER DARLING (J S Snaith) 57.0

11 SOUTHERN CAPE (P V Lafferty) 57.0

10 HOLD MY HAND (G S Kotzen) 55.5

14 ROCK THE FOX (S G Tarry) 55.5

2 SAARTJIE (W A Nel) 55.5

3 VIRGINIA SWEET (G S Kotzen) 55.5

@WORLDPOOL TWITTER UMKHOMAZI STAKES (Grade 2)(For 2 year-olds) R250000 1200m

24 SANDRINGHAM SUMMIT (D Nieuwenhuizen) 57.5

22 AMPERSAND (P F Matchett) 56.0

6 CAPSAICIN (M/A Azzie) 56.0

18 CAPTAIN WARA (C Spies) 56.0

15 CIRCLE OF GRACE (C Spies) 56.0

11 DREAMLAND (M N Houdalakis) 56.0

14 ICY BLAST (V H Marshall) 56.0

20 KING RAHUL (C Spies) 56.0

21 LET THE FLAG FLY (M N Prinsloo) 56.0

5 MOUNT PILATUS (P F Matchett) 56.0

1 OUTLAW KING (D Kannemeyer) 56.0

3 QHAWE LAMI (C Binda) 56.0

25 QUESTION OF FAITH (P V Lafferty) 56.0

27 RAPIDASH (J S Snaith) 56.0

8 READY TO CHARGE (M/A Azzie) 56.0

2 RED MOUNTAIN (R A Hill) 56.0

10 TAIL OF THE COMET (S G Tarry) 56.0

23 THE AFRICA HOUSE (S G Tarry) 56.0

4 UNDERWORLD (J S Snaith) 56.0

9 ZOOMBOMBER (C Spies) 56.0

7 BAVARIAN BEAUTY (A P Peter) 53.5

19 CALA MURETTA (H/M Crawford/Rix) 53.5

13 DOLCEZZA (R Klaasen) 53.5

17 HEIRLOOM (R Klaasen) 53.5

16 JUST BE LEKKER (C Dawson) 53.5

26 LEAVING LAS VEGAS (A P Peter) 53.5

12 MOVING IN (J J van Vuuren) 53.5

WORLD POOL WITH GOLD CIRCLE DEBUTANTE (Grade 2)(For 2 year old Fillies) R250000 1200m

13 AFRICAN FOLKLORE (M D Miller) 56.0

27 AMERICAN GRAFFITI (S G Tarry) 56.0

18 BAVARIAN BEAUTY (A P Peter) 56.0

12 BUBBLES ON ICE (C Hewitson) 56.0

9 CALA MURETTA (H/M Crawford/Rix) 56.0

14 DISTANT WINTER (C Bass-Robinson) 56.0

31 DIVINE MOONLIGHT (W C Marwing) 56.0

23 DOLCEZZA (R Klaasen) 56.0

21 FAIRY TRIPP (G S Kotzen) 56.0

19 GOLDEN TATJANA (G S Kotzen) 56.0

25 HEIRLOOM (R Klaasen) 56.0

26 HIGHLYCONFIDENTIAL (J S Snaith) 56.0

5 IDITA (G D Smith) 56.0

28 JUST BE LEKKER (C Dawson) 56.0

16 KINGDOM OF GOLD (S G Tarry) 56.0

30 KNOCKOUT (J S Snaith) 56.0

4 LEAVING LAS VEGAS (A P Peter) 56.0

15 MAMAS BABY (G van Zyl (Jnr)) 56.0

7 MIST IN SCOTLAND (P F Matchett) 56.0

6 MOVING IN (J J van Vuuren) 56.0

11 NO FILTER (D Nieuwenhuizen) 56.0

2 ORIENTAL BOUQUET (D C Howells) 56.0

22 PIECE BY PIECE (M L Roberts) 56.0

20 QUERANDI (G S Kotzen) 56.0

24 SECRET IDENTITY (H/M Crawford/Rix) 56.0

17 SHE CAN (M D Miller) 56.0

8 STORMY CHOICE (D Nieuwenhuizen) 56.0

10 STRIKING ANGEL (F Bronkhorst) 56.0

3 THAT’S MY BABY (S G Tarry) 56.0

29 THE CHARLESTON (C Bass-Robinson) 56.0

1 VISION TO ACHIEVE (P M Gadsby) 56.0

HKIR IN DECEMBER UMNGENI HANDICAP (Listed)(Handicap) R150000 1000m

24 DANILO DANILOVITCH (P F Matchett) 60.0

25 IPHIKO (M F De Kock) 59.5

14 TEMPTING FATE (D Kannemeyer) 59.5

12 MOVER AND SHAKER (F P Habib) 59.0

4 PRAY FOR RAIN (C Hewitson) 59.0

7 FLOWERBOMB (C Spies) 58.0

15 CABINET SHUFFLE (R Klaasen) 57.0

5 FAR AWAY WINTER (M/A Azzie) 56.5

8 AFRICAN SKYLINE (G B Puller) 55.5

21 MAGIC TATTOO (S G Tarry) 55.5

18 VASEEM (P V Lafferty) 55.5

23 BOLD ACT (M F De Kock) 55.0

1 MR MASTER STARTER (D Kannemeyer) 55.0

6 WINTER FLIGHT (P B Muscutt) 54.5

26 RULERSHIP (M D Miller) 53.5

2 WARSHIP (M L Roberts) 53.5

22 TEXAS RED (R Klaasen) 52.5

13 AMARANDI (W Badenhorst) 52.0

17 BAUBLES AND BEADS (L Gila) 52.0

20 BLACK EGRET (C Binda) 52.0

3 HOOVES OF TROY (W Whitehead) 52.0

9 LOVE IN WINTER (V H Marshall) 52.0

19 MIST IN SCOTLAND (P F Matchett) 52.0

11 PASSAGE OF POWER (R A Hill) 52.0

10 SMITH AND WESSON (P F Matchett) 52.0

16 TIPSY TINA (Z Oosthuizen) 52.0

TABGOLD DARLEY ARABIAN (Listed)(Handicap) R150000 1600m

8 RUNAWAY SONG (D Kannemeyer) 64.0

19 SILVANO’S DASHER (B Crawford) 62.5

44 QUASIFORSURE (P B Muscutt) 62.0

1 COSMIC HIGHWAY (D Kannemeyer) 61.0

42 GOOD TRAVELLER (M L Roberts) 61.0

2 ROYAL VICTORY (N Kotzen) 61.0

14 AMEENA (G S Kotzen) 60.5

11 CAPTAIN FONTANE (G B Puller) 60.5

35 FOREVER MINE (M F De Kock) 60.5

24 LOOK FOR HOUNDS (V H Marshall) 60.0

23 RUSSIAN ROCK (D Kannemeyer) 60.0

7 BATTLE FORCE (P B Muscutt) 59.5

40 TEMPTING FATE (D Kannemeyer) 59.5

4 WHAFEEF (S T Pettigrew) 59.5

16 COUNTDOWN (G S Kotzen) 59.0

6 SILVANO’S TIMER (D Kannemeyer) 59.0

12 LORD WILLIAM (G S Kotzen) 58.5

17 MERIDIUS (A P Peter) 58.5

30 AFTER THE RAIN (G van Zyl (Jnr)) 58.0

21 MONEY HEIST (G van Zyl (Jnr)) 58.0

36 CABINET SHUFFLE (R Klaasen) 57.0

32 FLYING BULL (G S Kotzen) 56.5

41 SACHDEV (J S Snaith) 56.5

29 PLATINUM SKY (D Kannemeyer) 55.5

5 TARANTINO (Z Oosthuizen) 55.5

3 EMERALD PRINCESS (S G Tarry) 55.0

38 INDLAMU (S G Tarry) 55.0

34 QUEUE WING (G B Puller) 55.0

27 FUTURE PRINCE (B Crawford) 54.0

33 SOUTHERN CAPE (P V Lafferty) 54.0

18 STRATOSPHERIC (A P Peter) 53.5

25 VIRGINIA SWEET (G S Kotzen) 53.5

22 ATTICUS FINCH (A G Laird) 53.0

28 BOUNDLESS BASH (W Whitehead) 53.0

31 NOW I GOT YOU (C J Lensley) 52.5

20 FORMAGEAR (P B Muscutt) 52.0

9 KITCHAKAL (D C Howells) 52.0

39 MASTER OF DESTINY (S H Ferrie) 52.0

15 PONTE PIETRA (D Kannemeyer) 52.0

37 RIVER QUERARESS (S G Tarry) 52.0

10 ROCK THE FOX (S G Tarry) 52.0

13 SCALLYWAG (A P Peter) 52.0

26 STORMY WINTER (D Nieuwenhuizen) 52.0

43 WILLOW EXPRESS (S G Tarry) 52.0

Supp Entries Closes: 11:00 Tuesday 18 July 2023

Declarations Closes: 11:00 Thursday 20 July 2023

Richard Fourie is led in after his 2000th career win on the Alan Greeff-trained Path Of Choice (Pathfork) (Pauline Herman Photography).

Richard Fourie Reaches The 2000 Wins Mark

Richard Fourie scored the 2000th win of his career aboard the Alan Greeff-trained Pathfork gelding Path Of Choice last Friday on the Fairview polytrack.

It is easy to work out he has ridden an average of 100 wins per year.

He rode his first winner in his fifth career ride on July 8 2003 and his 2000th winner happened on July 7 2023, almost exactly 20 years later.

Fourie joined the South African Jockeys Academy (SAJA) in 2001 and his fellow colleagues who are still riding were Raymond Danielson, Muzi Yeni, Keanan Steyn and Gavin Lerena.

It was a vintage intake considering three of them (Fourie 2nd, Yeni 4th, Lerena 8th) are in the current top ten on the national log and another of them, Danielson, added another Gr 1 to his CV this season.

Fourie recalled his first win in an interview with the Sporting Post about ten years ago, “It is unforgettable, Groovy Baby for Mr Dennis Bosch. She was my fifth ride as an apprentice and I sat last in the race at Scottsville over 1700m. I came into the straight and carved through the field to win by 2 lengths.”

Fourie had probably the best season of his career in the 2021/2022 term when scoring nine Grade 1 wins.

This season he has scored six Grade 1 victories and will likely have four chances to add to that tally on World Pool Gold Cup day.

Fourie is one of the few to ride back to back Hollywoodbets Durban July winners, doing it with Do It Again in 2019 and Belgarion in 2020.

He won the WSB Met for the first time this season on Jet Dark.

He is yet to ride the winner of Johannesburg’s traditional biggest race, the Betway Summer Cup.

Pauline Herman Collage Leaves Tara Laing In Awe

The above collage was compiled by East Cape photographer Pauline Herman to mark the recent 500th winner of East Cape trainer Tara Laing.

The latter posted it on her facebook page with the following message:

Wow!

Is this magnificent or what?

Thank you so much to the very talented Pauline Herman Photography for this brilliant collage, to celebrate my 500 winners as a licensed trainer.

Having the lion Rampant in the background is very fitting as these are my personal silks.

Absolutely in awe of this framed masterpiece

Charles Dickens is well clear in the Equus Horse Of The Year points table. (Picture: Wayne Marks).

Charles Dickens Regains Lead In Race For Equus Horse Of The Year Honour

Charles Dickens (144 points) leads the Equus Horse Of The Year table into the final month of the season.

His win in the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge saw him climb above stablemate Trip Of Fortune and open a large lead on his rivals.

It is reported that he will not race again this season and his current points tally is therefore likely to be what he carries through to the end of season.

Princess Calla (126) climbed to second place after her two wins in the Grade 1 Ridgemont Garden Province Stakes on Saturday and the Grade 1 South African Fillies Sprint in early June, adding to her previous three Graded race wins this season. Should she contest and win the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint at season end she would add 40 points to her tally which would then surpass Charles Dickens.

May’s log leader Trip Of Fortune (117) only added 6 more points to his tally after finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, while Puerto Manzano (108) added 10 points to his tally with a victory in the Grade 3 Jubilee Stakes, his fourth win at Turffontein racecourse this season.

Both these geldings have the Grade 1 Champions Cup as a possible season ending target and a win in that race could likely catapult them to the top of the table.

While See It Again (92 points) narrowly missed out on winning the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July he only occupies seventh spot on the table and cannot surpass the points tally of fellow sophomore Charles Dickens for Horse Of The Year honours even if he wins the Grade 1 Champions Cup at month end.

The two other movers on the table were Gimme A Prince (110) after his easy win in the Grade 1 Golden Horse Sprint and, Desert Miracle (110) who bagged two second places in two Grade 1’s in the period under review.

Champion Three-Year-Old Colt

Charles Dickens has this category sewn up for the season after his Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge win. A win for See It Again in the season ending Grade 1 Champions Cup will see him four points shy of Charles Dickens. No other three-year-old male made any progress on the log in the review period.

Charles Dickens (144 points) leads from See It Again (92), Anfields Rocket (52), Cousin Casey (40), Billy Bowlegs (38), and Son of Raj (32).

Champion Three-Year-Old Filly

With no dominant performances from any three-year-old filly since January, Make It Snappy remains firmly in the lead in this category, despite having not raced since then.

She now, however, has three potential challengers for season end honours after the third place of Bless My Stars in the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets July Handicap. A win in the season ending Grade 2 Gold Bracelet would lift either of Feather Boa or Bless My Stars above Make It Snappy on the table.

None Other added to her points tally after winning the Grade 2 Track and Ball Oaks in June. She could also add to her points tally by winning the Grade 2 Gold Bracelet and thereby equal the points tally of Make It Snappy.

Make It Snappy leads the table on 64 points, followed by Bless My Stars and Feather Boa (both 52), None Other (48), and retired Ciao Bella (32).

Champion Older Male and Female

There are no new entrants into the Champion Older Male category this month. Trip Of Fortune (117 points) has a slender lead over Gimme A Prince (110) and Puerto Manzano (108). Al Muthana (78) and Jet Dark (70) make up the table. The outcome of the final two Grade 1 races, The Mercury Sprint and Champions Cup, will likely have an influence on the final points tally in this category.

Princess Calla (126) and Desert Miracle (110) have drawn well clear of their rivals in the Champion Older Female category. Rain In Holland (64), new-entrant Humdinger (45), and Under Your Spell (38) make up the table.

Distance Categories

Gimme A Prince (98) maintained his slender lead in the Champion Sprinter category over Princess Calla (94). Both have an opportunity to ensure they top the table at season end by competing in and winning the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint at month end. Isivunguvungu (50), Rio Querari (28), and new-entrant Thunderstruck (26) make up the table.

While Charles Dickens won the Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge, he remains in fourth spot in the Champion Miler category and will need the voting public and expert panel to intervene on his behalf in their two-thirds share of final votes in order to be crowned Equus Champion Miler. Trip Of Fortune (112) retains his large lead from Desert Miracle (88), Al Muthana (78), Charles Dickens (72), Humdinger (45), and Under Your Spell (38)

Puerto Manzano (100) maintains his clear lead on the Champion Middle Distance table. Rain In Holland (64) remains in second position while Grade 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner, Winchester Mansion (58), is a new entrant. Retired Jet Dark (48) and dormant Make It Snappy (32) make up the table. A win in the month-end Grade 1 Champion Cup for either of the top-three could seal the top of the table in this category for the winner.

Future Pearl (20) was the main mover on the Champion Stayer table after his easy victory in the Grade 3 DSTV Gold Vase on Saturday 1 July and he joins Nebraas and Arumugam (both on 20) in joint second spot. Despite having not added any points to his tally in the KZN Winter Season, Salvator Mundi (23), still tops the table, while None Other (16) enters the table for the first time. The outcome of the month-end Grade 3 Durban Gold Cup will likely decide the table-topper of this category.

Champion Two-Year-Old Colt

Unbeaten Lucky Lad (56 points) has secured top position in this category and cannot be displaced by his closest rivals after his win the Grade 1 Gold Medallion. Outlaw King (18), Sandringham Summit (16), Guy Gibson (12), and Gimmeanotherchance (10) make up the table.

Champion Two-Year-Old Filly

Winter Cloud (32 points) has a theoretical chance of sharing honours at the top of the table in this category should she contest and win the Grade 1 Thekwini Stakes at month end. Current leader Mrs Geriatrix (64) would need to skip that race or be unplaced for that occur. Distant Winter (12), Elegant Ice (12), and Golden Tatjana (10) make up the table.

The final Equus Points Tables for season 2022/23 will be published in the first week in August. Voting for the top-two to top-four candidates in each category – the exact number of candidates, in order of points, for voting to be confirmed by the Equus panel – will then be open to the public for a week while the expert panel deliberate on their final agreement of award.

The final equally weighted tally for each voting component will then determine the winner of each category and these will be announced at an awards ceremony on 23 August 2023, hosted by 4Racing.

Sharon Kotzen and Luyolo Mxothwa teamed up to win the Non-Black Type Walmer Handicap over 1800m on the Fairview Poly last Friday (Picture: Pauline Herman).

Smith One Ahead With Three Meetings Left – Habib Durban Double

Alan Greeff scored a four-timer on the Fairview poly on Friday, fighting back after Gavin Smith’s early double in the meeting had put him five wins clear in the thrilling duel for the East Cape Trainers championship.

There is now just one win in it as Smith is on 118 wins in the East Cape for the season (strike rate 10.02%) while Greeff is on 117 (strike rate 12.99%).

Richard Fourie rode three of Greeff’s winners and passed the career 2000 wins mark with the first of them.

Fourie scored a rare blank at Hollywoodbets Greyville today so remains on 239 wins for the season at a strike rate of 22.03%.

He had some good rides and it could have been interesting had he had had a good day because national log leader Keagan de Melo had a blank for his fourth meeting in succession and has in fact only had one win in his last nine meetings.

Fourie has thus closed the gap to 26 wins.

Calvin Habib was the only double scorer at today’s meeting and goes to 87 wins for the season at a strike rate of 9.50%.

Vaal Classic Fields, Tuesday

Today’s Question

Who is this famous Australian sprinter and what gene does he clearly carry?

Question answer at the bottom of the newsletter

Apache Cat.

ANSWER TO TODAY’S QUESTION

Sabino (SB) is a white spotting pattern in the horse characterized by white patches on the face, lower legs, or belly, and interspersed white hairs on the midsection. Based on comparable phenotypes in humans and pigs, the KIT gene was investigated as the origin of the Sabino phenotype.

Apaches Cat carried the “sabino gene” as can be seen by the big white patch on his face.

He was a top class racehorse too.

Foaled in 2002, he had 43 starts for 19 wins (including eight Group One (G1) victories) and was placed on another 11 occasions for just under $4.6 million in prize money.

He was born and bred at Chatswood Stud in Victoria.

He was ostensibly a sprinter but one of his Gr 1 wins was over a mile (the Australian Guineas).

Turf Talk Newsletter – 10 July, 2023