Turf Talk Newsletter – 7 November, 2025

Stormwatch (far side) just holds on from Wish List over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville (Picture: Wayne Marks)

By Mark van Deventer (Race Coast)

Last Sunday 3YO colts with Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas aspirations stepped out in the Cape Classic – a messy, false paced affair won comfortably by heavily backed Vapour Trail.

This coming Saturday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth sees the turn of ten select 3YO’s with World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas hopes, in the Western Cape Fillies Championship (Gr2) over 1400m.

Off time is 16h10 and it is carded as Race 7 on a ten-race program.

Going from low-to-high in barrier order, She’s my World draws the inside alley. She will try to reprise her 40/1 boil over victory in the Diana Stakes in September. Everything broke right for her on that occasion as she finished off purposefully from a perfect track position. Muzi Yeni sticks solid after giving her a great ride from a wide draw last time, and the One World filly should again feature racing handily.

Princess of Gaul was five lengths back on that occasion when disappointed for a run in the closing stages. She is better assessed on her defeat of well-performed, Elegantrix in the Debutante Stakes at Hollywoodbets Greyville. On official merit ratings the daughter of Vercingeterix is right in the mix with a mark of 107.

Gimme What I Want has many rating points to find if her O.M.R. of just 88 is an accurate reflection. She won a Maiden and then followed up immediately when finishing enthusiastically in Class 4 company and has earned the right to take on stronger. Justin Snaith trains the progressive, Gimmethegreenlight filly.

He also saddles, Lowveld Lily (by Legislate), a winner of two from five starts, who will also need to bump up her rating substantially. Beating Angel’s Oasis in a Class 5 is a much easier assignment than what she faces on Saturday.

Electromagnetism is another unproven at this elevated level. After a couple of educational runs to get her career underway, she has been consistently competitive, including a narrow miss behind Ukuduma in the mid-winter Irridescence Stakes when just ahead of She’s My World. On official ratings, the Bass Racing entry has several lengths to make up on the principals.

Keukenhof is by The United States, a sire starting to make an impact. She was an eye-catcher in the Diana Stakes, rushing through a swift closing sectional after being caught too far back at the quick running Hollywoodbets Durbanville circuit.

She also finished off well at her previous start in the Debutante when upsides of Dean Kannemeyer trained stable companion, Princess of Gaul, and was doing her best work late in both the Gr1 Allan Robertson behind Direct Hit, and Slipper when drawn hopelessly wide.

Form at that level qualifies her as short list material though she cannot afford to give away too much start as she tends to do. There will again probably not be much between Keukenhof and Princess of Gaul on the pick of their KZN runs.

Tienie Prinsloo brings Quickstepgal down from KZN with Gavin Lerena riding this zippy, Vercingeterix filly who could be the dominant speed. Lerena is very astute tactically and will try pace her just right to stretch rivals out of their comfort zones and get his mount to last home – a tricky balancing act.

In July, Quickstepgal was defeated by Anotherdanceforme in the Slipper at Hollywoodbets Greyville. Alan Greeff’s unbeaten Master of My Fate filly dashed past Prinsloo’s pacesetter, who could not hold on despite enjoying a soft lead on the Durban circuit which often plays favourably to on pace runners. The Eastern Cape invader will again try confirming her superiority.

Ace jockey, Richard Fourie has cautioned about Anootherdanceforme’s nervousness and behavioural quirks. But he gave her big kudos too in saying, “she’s got wings” after an Eastern Cape Fillies Nursery romp in March. On that occasion, she earned a notably fast time adjusted figure for a juvenile – achieved without being extended and where Fourie could have won on her riding backwards.

Stormwatch was an unlucky loser of the Diana Stakes. She was caught too far back, then had to switch in deep stretch. That she got within half a length of She’s my World was a sterling effort. The nimble daughter of Vercingetorix flashed a fine turn of foot in defeat and her determination to overcome trouble in running marks her as a foe to be feared. Eric Sands trains: Callan Murray takes over the steering.

Wish List (by Legislate) gave Stormwatch a kilogram and was only just pipped when they clashed two months ago so is respected on collateral form. S’manga Khumalo must somehow work out a decent passage from the outside stall (10.)

The disproportionate impact of a few stallions on the breed in S.A. is noticeable. Half the ten-runner field are by Vercingetorix and Gimmethegreenlight. Two Legislate’’ and progeny of The United States, One World and Master of my Fate comprise the balance.

In summary, Anotherdanceforme arrives with a big reputation and a flawless record. She has started short-priced favourite at all six starts and has handled every challenge with aplomb. The betting market expects her to go in again. She may indeed do so, but there are a few niggling queries which rivals may exploit.

Even though defeated in the Diana Stakes, Stormwatch did something exceptional – showing great acceleration and determination from a hopeless situation. At the prices she may have more potential as an each way value play against a hot, visiting favourite that, as brilliant as she is, has shown a tendency to hang and is going left-handed for the first time.

Dean Kannemeyer’s two entries, Keukenhof and Princess of Gaul enter the reckoning as legitimate back-up’s, with proven winner Quickstepgal respected as the lone speed on a course with a short run in, for a high percentage, strategically sussed, jockey.

Justin Snaith’s She’s My World and Wish List are possibilities for wider P6 and Jackpot perms. They are must-use gallopers in the lower slots of single race exotics.

Legend Of Arthur winning the SA Derby (JC Photos)

Sean Tarry believes the Gr 3 Betway Victory Moon Stakes, to be run on Sunday at Turffontein Standside, will be a stepping stone race for Gr 1 SA Derby winner Legend Of Arthur, who is the 11/1 joint fourth favourite for the Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup.

Tarry said about the Lancaster Bomber colt, “This run will bring him to his peak. It is his second run after a rest and it does come a little bit soon after his reappearance, he is a little bit out at the weights (3,5kg under sufferance) and he has a wide draw. If he had to be running on to finish fifth or sixth I would be more than happy as that would give me three weeks until the big one and I’m sure that will work perfectly for him.”

Tarry explained recently that Legend Of Arthur’s downturn in form last season after the Derby had likely been due to allergies brought on by the winter dust and he had seemed to have recovered from that setback

He said about his other Victory Moon contender, One World gelding Don’t Cry For Me, “He’s got some good form over the distance. You can put a line through his two bad runs because he pulled in those races, although one of them was over 2450m. His runs to both Choisaanada and Confederate at the weights were very good runs and he needed his last run, so I think with 51kg, a half-decent draw and  he enjoys the softer going I think he is a runner.”

He concluded about the Victory Moon, “Both of mine seem to go well in the soft, but you don’t want muddy, sloshy going, especially at this crucial stage of Legend Of Arthur’s prep.”

Tarry has three runners in the Listed Betway Summer Pudding Handicap over 1600m an said, “Gerbera has had a beauiful prep, there is a lot in her favour, she has a decent chance. Care Forgot is very similar in that it is her third run after a rest, she needed her first run back badly, made good improvement just a fortnight later and that should have brought her on a lot, she’s not out of it. That’s My Baby is a talented filly who seems to have an affinity for Hollywoodbets Greyville, we just hope she settles on Sunday, she does often tug a bit too hard, she’s won over the distance before and only had three attempts at it, however this trip at Turffontein in the soft might be a tough ask.”

On My Honour was one of four winners for Serino Moodley at the Hollywoodbets Greyville twilight meeting on Friday 

It is easy to criticise from the sidelines, but Michael Roberts did say after See It Again had failed to load on October 19, ” In hindsight, what should have happened was a handler should have been on the side rails before loading him, not this handler jumping up and pushing him back.”

The starter did appear to have a handler ready on the partition when attempting to load See It Again for a Conditions Plate event at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Friday, which was an important preparation event for a number of Betway Summer Cup contenders including See It Again.

However, the handler who led the hooded horse in while facing him once again tried to jump on to the partitions before the horse had been fully loaded and as soon as he did so, See It Again backed out again.

Subsequent efforts were without a hood and with just one handler, which was never going to work.

See It Again will now have to go to the Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup without a single preparation run instead of the intended two runs.

It remains to be seen whether he will be scratched or whether he will still take his chances.

When the 1600m race did get under way it was On My Honour who cruised up to the pacemaker  Claw in the straight and duly found extra under Serino Moodley to win by 0,60 lengths from a flying King Pelles, who came from last.

Claw had led at a crawl and was beaten 0,90 lengths, a short-head ahead of Royal Victory. The latter made a big effort in the straight so would at least have been given some sort of workout in the canter-sprint affair.

Chill In The Air and Sequoia were well beaten.

Gareth van Zyl and Nathan Kotzen would have been pleased with the runs of King Pelles and Royal Victory respectively, although they might have liked a better pace and thus a harder race.

Generally speaking placed horses in Conditions events are not given merit rating increases.

However, Glen Kotzen will now have to sweat on whether the winner On My Honour is going to be given a merit rated raise.

His current 116 merit rating is the perfect number for a four-year-old in the Summer Cup, because it would see him sneaking into the handicap with the minimum weight of 54kg.

On My Honour was well weighted in Friday’s race with all accept Royal Victory, with whom he was 1kg under sufferance. So if the handicappers make Royal Victory the line horse then On My Honour will get four points and go to 120, meaning he will carry 56kg in the Summer Cup.

On My Honour was 3,5kg well in with King Pelles and considering the latter ran so well in a sprint last time he could be the wiser line horse and in that case On My Honour will escape without a raise.

In another interesting result on the night the Stuart Ferrie-trained star Gladatorian showed how good he is by giving the Gr 2 winner Cats Pajamas 10kg (if apprentice claims are included) and getting up to beat him by a short-head in a 1200m Conditions Plate event under Sean Veale.

Cap Ferrat’s only career win was in Hong Kong’s traditional biggest race, the BMW Hong Kong Derby (Picture: HKJC)

By Paul Ryding (HKJC)

Cap Ferrat’s only career win came in the 2025 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m).

Champion jockey Zac Purton believes the best is yet to come from Cap Ferrat (127lb) as he prepares to ride the Francis Lui-trained galloper for the first time in Sunday’s HK$4.2 million G3 Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Handicap (1800m) at Sha Tin.

Remarkably, the sole victory on the five-year-old’s 21-race record (including 13 in Australia for trainer Chris Waller) is the 2025 BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m), but Purton thinks it’s just a matter of tapping the Snitzel gelding’s potential.

“I still don’t think we’ve seen the best of Cap Ferrat yet,” Purton said. “He’s a horse that, to me, appears as if he hasn’t really committed himself 100 per cent. And if the penny drops one day, I think there’s a little bit more left.”

With the HK$130 million LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR) approaching on 14 December, Sunday’s feature looms as a key trial for several contenders.

Purton said drawing barrier 13 doesn’t help Cap Ferrat’s chances, but remains confident of a bold run and hopes he’s found a HKIR mount.

“(The draw) is not ideal, especially for a horse like him that can overrace; they want to do a little bit too much if they see daylight for too long. But we’ll work it out.

“I’m looking for a horse to ride in the Group 1 mile races and hopefully, he’s going to be it,” Purton added.

Cap Ferrat isn’t the only BMW Hong Kong Derby champion with LONGINES HKIR ambitions on Sunday. Massive Sovereign (124lb) is another contender who has failed to build on a career-defining win in Hong Kong’s most prestigious contest.

David Eustace’s charge has seen his progress hindered by injury and surgery since his 2024 BMW Hong Kong Derby triumph, limiting the five-year-old to just seven outings as he enters his third year in Hong Kong. But the British handler was pleased with Massive Sovereign’s Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse tune-up in October, finishing fourth in the Class 2 Panasonic Cup Handicap (1600m).

“We were delighted with him,” Eustace said. “He quickened up well. He’s had one run in 12 months, basically. So, he was always going to need it, and he’ll come on for it, I’m sure.”

The versatile No Nay Never gelding will be partnered by Luke Ferraris for the first time on Sunday and steps from gate four.

Meanwhile, there’s plenty of intrigue around a Douglas Whyte debutant in Sunday’s Class 2 Santa Monica Handicap (1400m).

Shanwah (115lb) arrived in Hong Kong in August on the back of some superb form in Australia, where he was trained by Ciaron Maher. The four-year-old earned over AU$753,000 (approx. HK$3.79 million) during a sensational two-month spell in Victoria, which included wins in the G2 Caulfield Autumn Classic (1800m) and the G2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m).

His quick integration into life in Hong Kong suggests a possible Four-Year-Old Classic Series tilt, but Whyte said the Too Darn Hot gelding is ready to get going.

“He’s a lovely horse. He’s come with some good form around him,” Whyte said. “It’s been a bit of a rushed preparation, but he’s handled everything correctly. He’s going into his first run as fit as one would want him. I think he’ll improve a lot for the outing.”

Sunday’s (9 November) 10-race Sa Sa Ladies’ Purse Day fixture at Sha Tin begins at 07H00 SA Time with the Class 5 L’Oreal Paris Handicap (1600m).

Doncaster Racecourse

The last flat race meeting on turf in the U.K every year is the raditional November Handicap meeting at Doncaster and it is always an enjoyable one to attend or follow online.

See a guide to the meeting  below:

At The Races

1 1:37 PM SA Time – Virgin Bet Training Series Final Apprentice Handicap
It Just Takes Time landed a division of this off the same rating last year and is one of several with decent claims. Eminency and Irish raider Dragon Of Malta have revived of late and are highly respected, while Lir Speciale beat Shazani over C&D a fortnight ago, with Golden Pharaoh back in fourth, and isn’t ruled out. However, TALIS EVOLVERE is 8lb below his last winning mark and, reverting to 7f, he can gain an overdue second career victory on turf.

Top Tip: Talis Evolvere (1)
Watch out for: It Just Takes Time (4)

2 2:15 PM SA Time – Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Cock O’The North EBF Maiden Stakes (GBB Race) (Div 1)
INVINCIBLE BOY was keen in the early stages of his debut at York, but he picked up well to finish second behind a filly who was pitched into the Listed Bosra Sham at Newmarket next time out. That was a highly encouraging introduction and Richard Fahey’s nicely-bred colt is suggested as the one to be with. Mollstar, Big Harry and Pilgrim’s Progress have all shown some promise and are other notable contenders.

Top Tip: Invincible Boy (3)
Watch out for: Mollstar (9)

3 2:50 PM SA Time – Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Cock O’The North EBF Maiden Stakes (GBB Race) (Div 2)
Perfect Ruler, Footstepinthewoods and See That Spark weren’t disgraced on debut, but already have improvement to find. With that considered, well-bred newcomers LEONETTO and I’ll Be Back are suggested as the pair to focus on. The former, a son of Frankel, is a half-brother to former top-class racemare Lady Bowthorpe and shades the vote as the more intriguing of the duo.

Top Tip: Leonetto (4)
Watch out for: I’ll Be Back (3)

4 3:25 PM SA Time – Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Wentworth Stakes (Listed)
It’s hard to get away from MONTASSIB. William Haggas’ seven-year-old took last year’s Sprint Cup at Haydock and wasn’t beaten far into third at Group 3 level at Newbury on his belated return to action in September. He followed that up when only seventh in the Champions Sprint at Ascot, but this is a lot easier. Spycatcher regained the winning thread at Chantilly and is also a C&D winner so he has to be respected. Art Power completes the shortlist.

Top Tip: Montassib (4)
Watch out for: Spycatcher (2)

5 4:00 PM SA Time – Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Nursery
Sing The Blues shed her maiden tag at the third time of asking at Goodwood and has to be considered on her nursery bow. However, THE RESDEV SCHOLAR completed a double over 7f here on his most recent outing and is just 1lb higher. Dropping back a furlong shouldn’t pose the son of Mehmas any problems and he looks the way to go. Go Vince Go is another to keep an eye on.

Top Tip: The Resdev Scholar (8)
Watch out for: Sing The Blues (5)

6 4:35 PM SA Time – Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Handicap
Evening Saigon made his first start in a handicap a winning one on his return from the sidelines at Chelmsford and provided he transfers that form to turf, he could have a say. DURAN finished a neck behind Smart Vision when second over 5f here recently, but is 2lb better off this time around. The son of Invincible Spirit remains on a workable rating and could be the one to side with. Fine Interview, a stablemate of Evening Saigon, bids for a hat-trick and also has a chance.

Top Tip: Duran (19)
Watch out for: Evening Saigon (14)

7 5:10 PM SA Time – Virgin Bet A Good Bet Irish EBF Gillies Fillies’ Stakes (Fillies’ And Mares’ Listed)
DANIELLE has a good record when there is plenty of cut in the ground and that includes a second to the high-class Estrange in this contest 12 months ago. The daughter of Cracksman ran well in Group 2 company twice before a respectable fifth in the British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes at Ascot and she could prove to be a class above. Anna Swan’s second at Yarmouth suggests that she may be the main threat to the selection, although this trip may be ideal for Elwateen and she should not be discounted.

Top Tip: Danielle (6)
Watch out for: Anna Swan (11)

8 5:45 PM SA Time – Virgin Bet November Handicap (GBBPlus Race)
The unexposed MASTER VINTNER has won both starts since joining Ralph Beckett’s yard, albeit in novice company. This obviously is more demanding, but the unexposed three-year-old is likely to have plenty of improvement forthcoming and it would be no surprise to see him play a leading role. His stablemate Lord Melbourne took this 12 months ago and won his sole subsequent start at Epsom in September. Stressfree is more than capable of going well in a race of this nature, while Hopewell Rock and Castle Cove are others to note.

Top Tip: Master Vintner (22)
Watch out for: Lord Melbourne (3)

When was the first Jockeys International held in South Africa?

The picture gives a clue to the answer