SP Sprint – Wednesday 05 November

CLASSIC TRAIL!

BESET (4yo filly by Expert Eye) wins the Guinness Finale Stakes (Listed) at the Curragh (IRE) by 7,5 lengths on 2nd November 2025 for trainer Joseph O’Brien; (RPR 103).

EXPERT EYE’S European stakes winners include WITNESS STAND (G2w), SNELLEN (G3w), ENTRANCEMENT (G3w), JUNIPER BERRIES (G3w), BESET (Lw), etc.

FILLIES CHAMPIONSHIP HEADLINER

11

Changes

NHA constitution changes evoke emotions

32

Unfashionable Sires

Producing stakes winners

49

Classic Vapour Trail

Smart showing by well-related colt

81 Breeders’ Cup Bonanza

Two terrific days

88 Via Africa

Daughter makes it 8 from 8

On the cover

Richard Fourie chats to trainer Vaughan Marshall after Vapour Trail’s convincing win in the Gr3 Cape Classic at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday. Chase Liebenberg took the photograph.

Issue: 44/2025

THE SECOND LOG BETWAY SUMMER CUP

After his resounding win in the Allied Steelrode – Onamission Gr2 Charity Mile at Turffontein on Saturday, Atticus Finch now tops the log for the Betway Summer Cup over 2000m at Turffontein on Saturday 29 November.

He moves into top spot at the expense of See It Again, who was scratched at the starting stalls in what was supposed to be his comeback run in a Conditions Plate over 1400m towards the end of October at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

See It Again will, however, get his first run of the season on Friday afternoon at Hollywoodbets Greyville in a 1600m Conditions Plate, where he will come up against champion stayer King Pelles, and 2023 Summer Cup winner Royal Victory, in a small field of just seven.

Trainer Michael Roberts made no secret of his disappointment after the scratching of See It Again last month, but he is confident the Twice Over gelding will be ready for action on Friday.

He confirmed that See It Again is doing well and he is expecting a performance worthy of a Summer Cup slot come Friday.

According to Roberts, his plan is to send See It Again up to the Highveld for the Summer Cup just a few days before the race –probably on the Thursday or Friday before the event – depending on the weather.

It is also interesting to note that three supplementary entries are included in the top20 on the Summer Cup log.

Eastern Cape raider My Best Shot, trained by Alan Greeff, finds himself in position 16 after his runner-up finish in the Listed Betway Algoa Cup over 2000m on Friday. This fouryear-old Fire Away gelding boasts 11 wins

from 20 runs and will be making his first trip up country. In recent years Greeff has had great success with his raiders, and My Best Shot demands respect.

Frank Robinson’s Shoot The Rapids is a rather surprise supplementary entry. He did finish just 1.50-lengths behind Pioneer Square in his comeback run in the Non-Black Type Michaelmas Handicap over 1900m recently, so it seems that connections are confident of his ability.

Anfields Rocket, who finished fifth in the Charity Mile, beaten 5 lengths by Atticus Finch, is the other supplementary entry who bounced straight into the top-20 on the Summer Cup log.

He last tasted success in the Gr1 SA Classic in March 2023, but with a merit rating of 109, he could find himself carrying a light weight in the R6-million race.

The Summer Cup log rankings are based on a combination of factors, including but not limited to merit ratings, recent form, form over the distance, performance in preparatory races, results in graded races.

The 2025 Betway Summer Cup is gearing up to being Johannesburg’s best end of year party. General Access tickets start at R100, while full hospitality packages start at R2250 per person.

The Betway Summer Cup is perfect for corporate year-end parties and businesses are encouraged to book their packages soon, before hospitality areas reach capacity.

Tickets are available via Ticketpro at www.ticketpro.co.za

You can Bet On Us with TAB at www.tab.co.za or our social media pages @ TABSouthAfrica on Facebook, Instagram and X.

To stay up to date with the latest event information, please visit our website https://betwaysummercup.co.za/ and social media pages @summercupracing on Instagram and X and Summer Cup Racing on Facebook.

SUSAN ROWETT

OPEN LETTER TO NHA MEMBERS AND STAKEHOLDERS

The Sporting Post is in receipt of an open letter addressed to all members of the NHRA and the racing community by former NHRA Chairperson Susan Rowett.

The letter is published below as incoming.

In my final letter as Chair to members dated 30th September (and prior to my resignation becoming effective), I explained to members that there would shortly be a requisition by a group of stakeholders for a SGM to consider their proposed constitution.

We were duly notified on the 8th October by the NHA that the requisition had arrived on 6th October, and on 27 th October the formal notice and supporting documents were sent out to members. In a cover letter, Chairman Mark Currie explained that the board had suggested some changes to the proposed constitution which the concerned stakeholders group had then accepted.

Before I deal with the proposed Constitution, I would like to raise concerns about the process followed for the SGM. The NHA, as the regulator, is the rule maker and rule enforcer of the industry. The Board need to ensure that the right processes are followed – it is their fiduciary duty to follow the Constitution, Rules, and good governance They owe this to the members and the industry, yet it is disappointing that the SGM process undertaken by the Board is flawed in two respects:

The Chairman has stated that following the boards suggestions, “amendments [were] made … to the proposed constitution” by the stakeholder group, which means that this proposed constitution put to members is different to what was requisitioned. It’s clear from his cover note that the Chairman knows the requisition could not be rescinded, but, on the same reasoning, what was requisitioned cannot be altered by the Board.

The Board are bound by the Constitution to call the SGM to vote on what was received; not what has been altered by them. The correct procedure would have been for the Board to put the requisitioned proposal forward to the members and added their own items to the agenda to deal with “Board supported proposed amendments”.

The Board should act act in accordance with the terms of the Constitution and the principles of good governance for the NHA status as a voluntary association. It is clear from clause 26, that any alteration, amendment or addition needs to be decided by a special resolution for each change. It should NOT be all in one resolution. Of course, it’s not the Board’s fault that the requisition was put forward in an inappropriate format, but the Chairman states his support for the resolution. He is wrong to give this support : what should have happened is that the Board should have ensured that members be given the opportunity to vote on separate resolutions. This would allow members to vote differently on each item – vote FOR certain items but AGAINST other items.

In my letter of 30 th September, I stated my opposition to the draft constitution from the stakeholder group. The proposed constitution for the SGM differs slightly to the draft that I saw, however I stand firmly by my earlier opinion. Now that the proposed constitution has been published and members have had a chance to study it, I would like to formally and publicly record my strong opposition to it and to give the reasons for my opposition. I have tried to cover the main points and in sufficient detail – but without making it too long.

The Sprint is interactive – please click here to read more.

Kind regards

Susan Rowett Life Member NHA

TO ROWETT BORTZ RESPONDS

Following former NHA Chairperson Susan Rowett’s open letter to the racing community and NHA members, the Sporting Post approached the ‘Concerned Stakeholders’ for a response.

Greg Bortz has responded and his letter is published as incoming below.

Dear Mr Editor

YOUR REQUEST FOR COMMENTS ON A LETTER DISSEMINATED AND PUBLISHED BY MS SUSAN ROWETT ON NOVEMBER 1, 2025

I confirm I received an email sent by Ms Susan Rowett of Varsfontein Stud on November 1 st , 2025.

I am aware that this email has also been published in certain racing publications.

The email was addressed to “all members of the NHRA and the racing community”.

Your publication has requested my comments on Ms Rowett’s correspondence. In response: In my opinion, Ms Rowett’s letter is highly inflammatory, self-serving, and inaccurate.

My thoughts and insights are shared below.

Please note that I am writing to you in my personal capacity as a racehorse owner and longstanding member of the NHA. While I serve as the Chair of the operator of horseracing in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal (“Race Coast”), I do not write in that capacity.

I suspect that lengthy correspondence may be glossed over by your readers, who are no doubt suffering from “NHA Fatigue”. For that reason alone, I will endeavour to keep my comments to a minimum.

A detailed response to the considerable inaccuracies in Ms Rowett’s letter will be dealt with separately (and will be shared with you at that point) in a more official capacity. However, in this personal communication, I wish to address three of the more salacious and “headline-grabbing” narratives of Ms Rowett before making some other brief points.

False

allegation of “CAPTURE” by Ms Rowett

Ms Rowett writes that “the proposed constitution would facilitate the capture of the NHA”.

We live in a country where the negative impact of “capture” is still being felt. Thus, the word “capture” has an enormously emotive impact on all South Africans, let alone the lovers of the sport of horse racing who have experienced their fair share of capture, turmoil and pain. For Ms Rowett to use the word in this context is scandalous, but no doubt deliberate.

Perhaps Ms Rowett needs reminding of the meaning of “capture”. In the case of the state capture we experienced and remember only too well, our government and representative institutions were plundered by their captors. Those doing the capturing benefited financially.

In fact, ridiculously so. Our economy has still not recovered.

In this case, the two owners of the racing operators – affiliates of Mrs Mary Slack and affiliates of Mr Owen Heffer – have contributed billions of rands to SAVE racing. The money is going in the wrong direction – from their pockets into racing!

Capture implies the opposite – from the “captured entity” to the “capturer”. Is Ms Rowett seriously implying that Mrs Slack and Mr Heffer have BENEFITED from saving the racing operators from their demise?

The answer is painfully apparent. The two ultimate beneficial owners of the racing operators have been SAVING racing, not capturing racing! Not a penny has come out –billions have gone in!

Ms Rowett no doubt enjoys the reactions to the negative headlines associated with the words “racing operators” and “capture”.

I suspect Ms Rowett would not be so quick to allege “capture” if she used the names “Mary and Owen” and not the nomenclature “racing operators”. Make no mistake, if Ms Rowett alleges the racing operators are capturing racing, she is in essence alleging Mary Slack and Owen Heffer are capturing racing. We all know this is not the case.

I believe that Ms Rowett, through her “capture” rhetoric, is tapping into pain felt after the failed Phumulela/Jooste era. Phumulela was clearly mismanaged and abused – as evidenced by its ultimate failure and subsequent liquidation.

The use of 3rd party debt to fund the payments and dividends (allowing for the enrichment of some) was reprehensible. The wounds are still

fresh, so the word “capture” hits all horseracing lovers hard.

The only problem here is that it is a false narrative in this context. Money has gone the other way, leaving the alleged “capturers” significantly poorer! Ms Rowett would be better served using the word “SAVE” as opposed to “CAPTURE”. Mrs Slack and Mr Heffer are saviours, not capturers.

Incorrect Interpretation of Clause 26 of the Constitution – Resolutions

Ms Rowett states that “it is clear from clause 26” that separate resolutions should be required for every proposed change to the constitution.”

Ms Rowett’s interpretation is incorrect. It is most certainly not clear! The Racehorse Owners’ Association (ROA), the Thoroughbred Breeders Association (TBA), the South African National Trainers Association (SANTA), 4Racing, and

Race Coast (collectively, the “Concerned Stakeholders”) have received legal advice from three different sets of lawyers.

The lawyers’ guidance is overwhelming – Ms Rowett’s contention that a separate resolution is required per change is incorrect.

The Concerned Stakeholders are proposing an ENTIRELY NEW CONSTITUTION to members for consideration. Members will either vote in favour of the new constitution or against it. It would be impractical and infeasible to vote on every word or sentence changed.

The Sprint is interactive – please click here to read more.

Sincerely,

Signed – G M Bortz

TO SUSAN ROWETT SANTA RESPONDS

As the initiator of the Special General Meeting (“SGM”) scheduled for 19 November 2025, the South African National Trainers Association (“SANTA”) believe it incumbent to respond to the misguided, distorted, malicious and disingenuous diatribe emanating from the pen of the former chair of the NHA, Susan Rowett (“Rowett”).

Sunset over Summerveld – image for illustration only (Pic – Candiese Lenferna)

Whilst we do not intend to deal with each and every allegation made by Rowett, and we have no doubt that the Operators (Race Coast and 4Racing), whom have been much maligned and defamed by her will be similarly responding, this should not be construed as any admission as to the correctness thereof, which is emphatically denied, but expressly reserve the right to do so in an appropriate forum in due course, if deemed necessary.

We shall therefore focus for now on a few vitally important falsehoods.

In so doing, we shall try and avoid duplication of the various succinct points raised by Mr Greg Bortz, in his personal erudite and pertinent response to Rowett, the content of which we wholeheartedly support and endorse.

1. The Operators, as well as SANTA, all had independent legal teams who worked

in conjunction with each other specifically to ensure the independence and autonomy of the NHA as a regulatory body. This was at the forefront of the amended Constitution. It is imperative to note that in terms of the current Constitution, the NHA only have two representatives on the Nominations Committee (“NOMCO”) and interestingly which they had no objection to prior hereto. In the initial draft, we reduced that to one – they shouldn’t have any – because in the ordinary course of any business, shareholders appoint directors to boards. Rowett wants the National Board to appoint their own so where is the independence in that? In order to address their complaints we reverted to two NHA appointees and removed the owners rep on the basis that both Operators reps and the SANTA rep are all owners anyway, and every single director of the interim NHA Board (bar obviously the CEO) is also an owner, so it’s not as if owners are not being represented on either the NHA Board or NOMCO, as Rowett mischievously tries to imply in her blatant attempt to inflame and antagonize owners.

2. Ask yourself this. Were it not for the decided lack of confidence in the NHA widely regarded in the industry as being allegedly incompetent, vindictive, and negligent, with wasteful expenditure, especially in regard to legal costs in excess of R10m per season, and with a zero lack of accountability as the regulator of our sport, would we now be seeking to implement an entirely new Constitution, solely for their benefit and

obviously by association, for the benefit of all stakeholders? Rowett has hardly had a successful tenure as chair and has in fact been an abject failure with no track record of any meaningful change, hence why we find ourselves at this crossroad today.

3. The major changes in the Constitution have all been fully substantiated in a Rationale Document which has accompanied the proposed new Constitution and which is freely available on the NHA website.

4. What is both self-evident and ironic, is the coming together of the entire industry in support of this proposal, in both Operators, SANTA which also represents both jockey associations on NOMCO, the ROA, and the TBA, all in unification for the first time in our racing history. Further, the current interim NHA Board, under the new chair Mark Currie, who has sadly inherited a dysfunctional organization left in total disarray by Rowett, has endorsed and supported the Resolutions, all of this versus the plaintive bleat of a disgruntled former chair and director of the NHA (and a few of her hand-picked proxies) who has lost control over an entity she

viewed as her own personal fiefdom. We must additionally point out, that the SGM automatically triggers the resignation of the entire NHA Board, and we would submit that Rowett, knowing that she had reached the end of the road and would not be reappointed by NOMCO, promptly resigned to avoid potential embarrassment and then proceeded to attempt to scupper the entire process in her own ostensibly power-hungry self-serving interests.

5. In finality, this is not about any takeover or capture, but the adoption only of a more workable, user-friendly, and adaptable constitution in order to make the NHA more independent and to reduce exorbitant costs in a seriously loss- making industry all for the benefit and betterment of the entire horseracing fraternity.

We accordingly implore ALL MEMBERS to vote “YES” in favour of, and in support of the proposed Resolutions.

Tony Rivalland Chair SANTA

RESPONDS TO SUSAN ROWETT BASIL THOMAS

The Susan Rowett open letter to NHA members and the racing community, which was published on 1 November 2025, has evoked much reaction across the board.

A former racing administrator and Consultant to the Hollywood Sportsbook Group, Basil Thomas writes that he has read Mrs Rowett’s published letter to all members of the NHRA and the racing community, and has noted a reply from Greg Bortz in that regard. You have invited comment from the “concerned stakeholders” and I will now attempt to make a pertinent contribution in this regard.

The narrative being projected by Mrs Rowett is most unfortunate. Not only is so much of it

factually wrong, but it is also in some respects disingenuous.

I will not waste any time on technical arguments which are being more than adequately dealt with by the numerous legal minds.

However, I do feel compelled to make comment regarding the emotional accusations made by Mrs Rowett in regard to the “capture of horse racing” by the Racing Operators.

Mrs Rowett knows full well that there is no such intention.

In recent months, I was personally involved in several meetings and related exchanges

of correspondence with Mrs Rowett in which I emphasised that as far as Hollywood and Race Coast are concerned, we are strongly committed to the independence of the regulator.

This despite the fact that we are responsible for approximately 50% of the NHRA funding.

The word “capture” is insultingly emotive and is intended to be a trump card to achieve an end that I simply cannot understand.

Put another way, I have no idea what the end game is. What does Mrs Rowett want to achieve?

Four years ago, the South African horse racing industry was on its knees. Phumelela had entered business rescue; Cape Racing was days away from a similar fate and Gold Circle was haemorrhaging losses that would exhaust its cash resources within 18 months.

A rescue was needed and needed urgently. Unfortunately, there was and still is little prospect that the businesses of the Racing Operators will miraculously turn a profit. Consequently, the only hope rested in passion and philanthropy.

Horse racing found two such persons who would selflessly embark on this rescue mission. The mission has not just been survival; it has been a commitment to upliftment and sustainability. A mission that will save thousands of jobs and dozens of related businesses that operate within the wider industry. Ironically, Mrs Rowett’s Varsfontein business has experienced its own upliftment and security of market as a result of this rescue mission. I repeat, what is the end game?

If, as Mrs Rowett contends, the Racing Operators have “captured racing”, what is their prize? The right to put in billions more to keep racing alive? The ludicrousness of this “capture” narrative defies belief.

The current Constitution of the NHRA is not fit for purpose.

Is there an expectation that the operators must be obliged to continue to fund an organisation with absolutely no input in regard to the appointment of suitable directors or any opinion on the decisions taken by the regulator?

To be honest, this whole matter is unpleasant. It seems as if the Racing Operators are being required to defend themselves against accusations of nefarious intent.

In summary:

• The Operators will not apologise for wanting a seat on Nomco.

• It is absolutely understandable that Funders would want some comfort/ assurance regarding the suitability of Directors.

• That does not make the appointees pawns of the Operators.

• That is insulting.

• Nomco is not a new thing. It exists in the current Constitution.

• The significant difference now compared to before is that the Operators previously only had one member on Nomco, and because they are very different businesses and NOT ONE, It was considered

inappropriate for one Operator to be speaking for the other.

• Why is it assumed that the Operators are a Cabal? They are fierce (but respectful) competitors.

• Here is a reality – if either one of the two current benefactors throws in the towel, there is no NHRA, because there will be no racing.

• This is not Phumelela – there is no evidence of the current funders taking a single Rand out – but billions have gone in.

• The simple and most important fact is that Operators have no representation on the Board (like they used to have, for years) –and we must respect the fact that Directors know their fiduciary responsibilities.

• Progress is measured by change. An inability or reluctance to change invariably results in stagnation and an uncertain future.

The owners of the Racing Operators have actually asked for nothing. They have humbly remained off the radar.

To be accused of an intended or enabled “capture” is beyond insulting. Surely that view cannot be shared by the thousands of persons who have benefitted from their benevolence?

BASIL THOMAS Consultant

to the Hollywood Sportsbook Group

TUNE IN ON SATURDAY MORNING!

The In The Box Seat Team will be hosting Race Coast’s Chairman Greg Bortz in a special edition on Saturday morning.

We expect to see many of the current questions raised regarding the NHA changes to be addressed in this episode. Tune in on Saturday at 08h00 to catch the interview.

SUMMER CUP! AND NOW FOR THE

Defending Betway Summer Cup champion Atticus Finch turned on the charm under joint topweight to run a supreme big race prep when powering home under Calvin Habib to win the R1 million Allied SteelrodeOnamission Gr2 Charity Mile at Turffontein on Saturday.

In the unique race dedicated to charity, and sponsored for the fifth consecutive year by Allied Steelrode, the East Rand Children’s Haven was paired with the winner, and banked R140 000 towards their great work, with a further 19 charities also benefitting from the balance of R860 000.

Saturday’s victory was a first-class training feat by veteran Alec Laird, after Atticus Finch had suffered an epistaxis and trailed in last in the Hollywoodbets Durban July.

After being given a three month break, he made his seasonal debut in the Betway Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge in early October, over a distance probably short of his optimum.

He flew up late there to be narrowly denied by the 3yo Tin Pan Alley, who subsequently franked that showing with a smooth win in the Graham Beck Stakes earlier on today.

On Saturday, having his second run after the break, Atticus Finch (8-1) was given every chance by the SplashOut-sponsored Calvin Habin and moved forward effortlessly at the 300m marker as the game mare Callmegetrix (4-1, tote favourite) made her move and looked dangerous.

But the body language of horse and rider said it all, and Atticus Finch floated clear to put 3 lengths between himself and Callmegetrix in a time of 100,49 secs for the mile.

Sean Tarry’s game The United States’ filly Rodeo Drive (14-1) did all the donkey work, and stayed on gamely for third, with the 40-1 Anfields Rocket emerging from the clouds to cap the quartet.

The fancied Confederate sadly went wrong in running and was humanely euthanised.

Now a winner of 9 races with 11 places from 26 starts, the evergreen 6yo took his stakes earnings to R5 059 000 for thrilled owners Lance Clark, Gary Basel, Gary Cornwall & Phil Gregory.

The Charity Mile was first run as the Germiston November at Gosforth Park, moving to Newmarket before finally settling at its current home at Turffontein in 2007.

It has a rich honour roll graced by some of our turf greats — Foveros, Wolf Power, 2022 Betway Summer Cup hero Puerto Manzano, and 2023 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner Winchester Mansion to name just a few.

Interestingly, Wolf Power is joined by the evergreen Bingwa (now plying his trade in the Eastern Cape), as the only horses to win back-to-back runnings of the Charity Mile.

A R150 000 National Yearling Sale buy, Atticus Finch is a Varsfontein Stud-bred son of Master Of My Fate (Jet Master), out of the Caesour mare Alexia.

Second entries for the Betway Summer Cup closed at 11h00 on Tuesday 4 November, with final entries closing at 09h00 on Monday 17 November.

Weights will be published on Monday 17 November, with declarations closing at 11h00 on Wednesday 19 November.

WIN FULL OF MERIT WIDE DRAW BUT A

The first favourite to win on the Charity Mile day feature programme at Turffontein on Saturday, Sean Tarry’s promising Moutonshoek-bred The United States gelding Tin Pan Alley was produced with fine timing by Gavin Lerena to win the R400 000 Betway Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes.

Trainer Sean Tarry scoffed at suggestions prior to the meeting that he ‘always produced the goods on the big days’.

“When we start today, that’s all history,” observed the Randjesfontein conditioner, but he couldn’t have been more impressed by Tin Pan Alley.

“That was quite a display from the draw and giving weight,” he said after Gavin Lerena had guided the recent Betway Gr2 Joburg Spring Challenge winner to an impressive follow-up success.

Tin Pan Alley (33-20) made his move at the 300m and went on powerfully to clock 86,92

secs (Valentina Balducci clocked 85,88 secs 45 minutes earlier) for the 1400m, to hold off flying recent debut winner Trust (16-1), who would have been a fairy-tale victor on Gary Player’s 90th birthday.

Nyaka Nyaka (11-2) was a further 0,30 lengths away in third, while the Hollywood Racing team will be pleased by the performance of One Eye On Vegas, who was miles back from his wide gate after throwing his head around in the early stages, yet stayed on well for fourth.

Gavin Lerena, labelled it ‘a win full of merit’ and said that the wide draw was tough over the 1400m, and that the ground was soft after the downpour.

Bred by Moutonshoek, Tin Pan Alley races for the Wernars family, for whom he was a second feature success on the day, in partnership with Dayalan Chinsammy.

A R500 000 National 2yo Sale purchase, Tin Pan Alley is by Moutonshoek’s Galileo stallion The United States out of the Querari mare, The Entertainer.

A winner of 4 races with 4 places from his 8 starts, Tin Pan Alley took his stakes earnings to R1 125 499.

AGAINST THE ODDS PRODUCING THE GOODS

In racing, the cream invariably rises to the top and while commercial breeders follow the maxim of ‘breed the best to the best and hope for the best’, last weekend’s stakes results featured a trio of stakes winners sired by unfashionable stallions, those who are largely ignored in terms of support.

On Friday, Zatara Magic was first off the mark when he captured the Listed Algoa Cup at Fairview, a poignant victory given that his trainer Gavin Smith, passed away recently. The six-year-old is also the first stakes winner sired by Rabada, whose stud career, it may be argued, was impacted by one of those sliding

door moments on which so much of breeding fate can hinge.

The son of Brave Tin Soldier retired to birthplace Summerhil for stallion duties and had his first foals on the ground when news broke that the famed stud had been sold.

For Rabada it was time to move and he relocated first to Blue Sky Thoroughbreds, and finally in 2022, to Bloomhill Stud near Wartburg. This change in fortune at a crucial time of a budding stallion career did the young stallion no favours and such has been the lack of support that he has received just a smattering of mares these past three seasons.

A member of Rabada’s first crop, Zatara Magic is the second stakes winner out of Maritime Mist, a daughter of Parade Leader, yet another under-appreciated stallion. She is also dam of accomplished galloper Jaeger Moon, who in fact, finished second in the Algoa Cup in 2022. He too, raced from the Gavin Smith stable and won both the East Cape Derby and East Cape Guineas.

He now races with great success in Zimbabwe, where he has claimed the Republic Cup and also ran second in the Castle Tankard.

A strong case can also be made for Potala Palace, who despite his bona fide credentials as a well-bred, Gr1-winning juvenile, has been neglected by breeders in recent seasons.

On Saturday, he notched up his latest stakes winner when four-year-old daughter Twostep

Queen made her rivals look downright ordinary with a commanding three-length score in the Listed Allied Steelrode Yellowwood Handicap at Turffontein.

Owned, trained and bred by St John Gray, she gave her rivals the slip under front-running tactics and kept up her relentless gallop to come home unharassed.

A R3,6-million yearling, Potala Palace returned to birthplace Ridgemont and showed his hand with a Gr1 winner when his daughter Singforafa won the SA Fillies Sprint. She was joined by undefeated colt Katak, who looked a star in the making after wrapping up the Cape Winter Series, only to be exported to Singapore, thus robbing his young sire of a potential Gr1 performer. Potala Palace added to that Gr3 Pretty Polly Stakes winner Palace Of Dreams and Gr1-placed duo Palace Chapel

and Snow Palace, as well as the Graded stakes performers Laetitia’s Angel, Russian Prince, Pay The Palace and Senatla.

The success of Katak no doubt guaranteed Potala Palace his biggest book in 2020, when he covered all of 113 mares and 87 the following year. However, not even the subsequent success of his multiple Gr1placed, Gr2 winning daughter Red Palace could stop the decline in her sire’s popularity and he has only received scant support in recent seasons.

Now a five-time winner, Twostep Queen was bred from Dance Alley, a half-sister to St John’s champion mare Dancewiththedevil. Sired by yet another unfashionable stallion in Jam Alley, Dance Alley may have lacked the talent of her illustrious half-sister, yet she won four races has been a fine producer at stud.

In addition to Twostep Queen, she is also dam of the admirable nine-time winner Argo Alley and the filly Dance Class, who scored seven times and finished fourth in the Gr1 Gauteng Summer Cup. Sadly, Dance Alley died after foaling to Charles Dickens this season, “a beautiful, big filly”, according to Cathy Martin of Hadlow Stud, where St John boards his mares.

Rounding out the stakes winning trio is lightlyraced three-year-old Valentina Balducci, a gutsy winner on Saturday of the Gr3 TAB Starling Stakes under similar front-running tactics. Under an enterprising ride, she never let up and when pressured by Ovation Star, showed grim determination to rally for a maiden stakes success.

She gave notice of her budding talent by winning her first two starts and confirmed that she is the real deal in the Starling, which

was her third win from just four outings. Her success is also a feather in the cap of breeder Dr Neil Orford of Bosworth Farm Stud, which is situated in the remote Klerksdorp area.

Her sire is the well-bred Jet Master horse Skitt Skizzle, a big, quality half-brother to Gr1 Gold Medallion winner Zeeno. Bred on the same Jet Master x Northern Guest cross as champions In The Fast Lane and Pomodoro, never raced at two and launched his racing career with a ten-length debut romp over 1200m at three. He eventually retired to Bosworth a threetime winner but the lack of black type and the remote locality of Bosworth were always going to be hurdles to overcome, hence Skitt Skizzle ended up covering mainly resident mares only.

Nevertheless, his first small crop of just nine foals, of which six became winners, included Listed Secretariat Stakes victress Cordillera and Tierra Del Fuego, who put up some of his best efforts in defeat, notably when second in the Gr2 Hawaii Stakes and third in both the Gr1 Champions Challenge and Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes.

From Skitt Skizzle’s second crop came Sycamore Sprint victress Cordillera and May Queen, a tough seven-time winner who went down by a longhead in the Bauhinia Handicap, whilst third-crop daughter True Beauty counted Zimbabwe’s premier race, the Castle Tankard, amongst her seven-win tally.

Interestingly, Valentina Balducci is her sire’s fourth stakes-winning filly and is out of Goede Hoop, who like her daughter, was trained by Robbie Sage and won four races. The Starling victress is her second foal, the first, Gideon’s Daughter, also by Skitt Skizzle, scored four times for Alan Greeff. Goede Hoop is by Byword (like Jam Alley, a Gr1 winning son of Peintre Celebre), and is a half-sister to Gr3 Gold Bowl runner-up Dromedaris, with the female line being that of Gr1 Met winner Angus and Gr2 Golden Slipper victress Dignify.

Tragically, Skitt Skizzle died in 2022, which was a bitter pill to swallow: “We lost Skitt Skizzle to African Horse Sickness as there was no vaccine available at the time,” Dr Orford remarked.

His last crop of just seven colts and a single filly will start their racing careers this season.

Breeding top racehorses remains a lottery, but clearly, the above trio are testament to the fact that the ability to sire a stakes winner is not the exclusive domain of elite stallions, those who have the advantages of bigger books, higher fees and greater quantities of quality mares.

The ability to sire a stakes winner is not the exclusive domain of elite stallions, those who have the advantages of bigger books, higher fees and greater quantities of quality mares

IN THE STARLING KAIDAN FLIES

The lightning and thunder that greeted the start of the R250 000 TAB Gr3 Starling Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday was the sign of a Pick 6 jolt to come, and it was Sporting Post-sponsored jockey Kaidan Brewer who led from gun-to-tape on the 14-1 Valentina Balducci.

It was a deserved feature success for the hard-working Kaidan Brewer who will be leaving South Africa at the end of November to take up a year contract with Malaysian champion trainer Simon Dunderdale. The 22-year-old jockey recently returned from

a successful short visit to Malaysia and is looking forward to the opportunity to show his skills.

While the projected nett Pick 6 pool on the R500 000 carryover fell short of the R3 million target, reaching R2 649 369, those that included the Robbie Sage-trained daughter of Skitt Skizzle were smiling, with the exotic paying a handsome R17-50 after the opening leg.

In a dramatic tussle to the wire, Brewer maintained his beautiful balance and a cool

head as another Sporting Post-sponsored rider in Sean Veale produced the recent polytrack debut winner Ovation Star (10-1) with a serious challenge down the inside.

In the drive to the line, Valentina Balducci showed the benefit of her experience as she clocked 85,88 secs for the 1400m to beat Ovation Star by 0,70 lengths.

Pretty Persuasive (4-1) stayed on to be beaten a further 1,90 lengths in third.

The fancied Elegantrix (4-1) ran sixth, while the tote favourite Stormy Day (28-10) failed to live up to the weather omens and ran last.

Raced by Martin Lieveaux, Larry Nestadt and JJ van der Linden,who celebrates his birthday on Sunday, Valentina Balducci was bred by Bosworth Farm Stud. She is a daughter of Skitt Skizzle (Jet Master) out of the four-time winning Byword mare, Goede Hoop, who was also trained by Robbie Sage.

Now a winner of 3 of her 4 starts, Valentina Balducci took her stakes earnings to R270 157.

GOES ALL THE WAY DAUGHTER OF POTALA PALACE

After being denied victory in a tight tussle in the Starling Stakes earlier in the day, Sean Veale took the fight to the enemy and went all the way to get St John Gray’s Twostep Queen home to win the R200 000 Allied Steelrode Listed Yellowwood Handicap at Turffontein on Saturday.

Registering her maiden stakes success, the daughter of Potala Palace was out smoothly from her pole position gate and was never headed as she galloped relentlessly.

At the line Twostep Queen (10-1, who clocked 114,02 secs for the 1800m, held a 3,25-length advantage over the 25-2 Lady Fallon.

Brett Webber’s Royal Invitation (40-1) completed the trifecta. The favourite World Of Alice was caught miles back and never got into the race.

The winner was bred by Graystone Stud and is a daughter of Potala Palace (Singspiel) out of the well-performed Jam Alley mare, Dance Alley.

Now a winner of 5 races with 8 places from 23 starts, Twostep Queen took her earnings to R433 525.

PUTS HIS BEST FOOT FORWARD SON OF ERUPT

Under a determined ride by Muzi Yeni, the 20-1 Cosmic Star produced his first winning performance in eighteen months when he burst through late to grab honours in the R250 000 Allied Steelrode Listed Golden Loom Handicap run at Turffontein on Saturday.

The opening leg of the Place Accumulator produced a knockout result with the lightly raced favourite African Pride (15-10) holding on well for third after tracking the free-running pacesetter King Of The Gauls for much of the way.

But it was the Stone-Stamcor sponsored Muzi Yeni, who showed his competitive spirit in a race where he well knew that he wasn’t riding the first stringer.

“Johan (Janse van Vuuren) told me ride him. I don’t like riding second string to Gavin (Lerena) but Johan knows his horses, and treated Cosmic Star for his back during the week. He felt good, and even though I thought I may have opted for the wrong gap, Cosmic Star changed legs and put his head down, “ said Yeni.

The race was coincidentally won at any price last year by Cosmic Star’s Flower Alley halfbrother and stablemate Chyavana, who also beat the luckless Taxi To The Moon, who had to play bridesmaid again on Saturday.

Cosmic Star clocked 57,5 secs for the 1000m and held Taxi To The Moon (14-1) by 0,20 lengths, with African Pride a neck back in third. Charming Cheetah (6-1) rounded off the R13 064 quartet.

A R500 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate, the winner is raced by the Wernars Family and was bred by Maine Chance Farms. A son of Erupt (Dubaawi), the winner is out of the three-time winning Querari mare, Cosmic Light.

Cosmic Star was registering his first stakes win and took his tally to 6 wins with 10 places from 26 starts for stakes of R726 950.

This race was named in honour of former SA champion sprinter Golden Loom. Fondly known as ‘Goofy’, he raced for the Abrosie family for nine seasons and chalked up his final race victory at the ripe age of 10. In all, he had 78 starts, won 22 of them and was placed 37 times, for a stakes haul of R2.8million.

After enjoying his retirement years on a farm at Kyalami, Goofy passed in 2010 at the age of 18.

OF VERCINGETORIX ANOTHER SMART SON

Alec Laird and Calvin Habib registered a double at Turffontein on Saturday, capping their Allied Steelrode Onamission Gr2

Charity Mile success with Atticus Finch, when the relatively lightly raced Daimyo made most of the running to win the R250 000 Allied Steelrode Listed Java Stakes.

Having only his third start for Alec Laird after transferring from the Snaith Racing operation in the Cape, Daimyo (5-1) stretched in the home run and held too many guns for his opposition, drawing clear to win by 3,40 lengths in a time of 157,98 secs for the 2400m.

The gallant 9yo former champion long-hauler Nebraas (25-1) hasn’t won in thirty months, but stayed on wide outside to grab second, ahead of the supported Corrupt (9-2).

The 5-2 tote favourite Enflame (5-2) ran unplaced and 5,10 lengths off the winner. The son of Irish Flame had no luck in running and was found to be not striding out in front. The scratching of the 7-1 Breeze Over due to being incorrectly equipped, is to be investigated.

Now a winner of 4 races, including the 2024 Listed Woolavington, with 6 places from 15 starts, Daimyo took his stakes earnings to R530 751.

A R600 000 November 2yo Sale graduate, Daimyo is raced by Messrs K P Nagendran & R V Norton & Mrs C Nagendran and was bred by Erasmus Thoroughbreds & Syrilla Stud.

A son of Vercingetorix, Daimyo is out of the Gr1 SA Oaks winner Juxtapose (Judpot).

CLASSIC TRAIL ON THE

Just over fifteen hours after his dual Gr1winning half brother One Stripe carried the SA flag in the FanDuel Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Del Mar, Vapour Trail stamped his own big season aspirations with a fluent victory in the R350 000 Gr3 Cape Classic run on the shorter run-in of the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth winter course.

While the One Stripe California dream will have to wait for another day after an uncharacteristic performance, the year younger Vapour Trail thrust himself into the Cape Guineas limelight, an environment his seasoned trainer knows very well.

Given a confident ride by feature-double hero Richard Fourie in a scrappy race with a few hard-luck stories behind him, Vapour Trail (9-2) burst clear at the 300m marker and powered clear to beat Good For You (7-1) by 2 lengths in a time of 87,29 secs for the 1400m.

Randolph Hearst (7-1) stayed on for third a further half length back, with the tote favourite Aristocratic (5-2) coming from lengths back for fourth.

“I may have gone a bit early but he will flourish over a mile,” said winning rider Richard Fourie.

Trainer Vaughan Marshall observed that while One Stripe knew what it was all about, Vapour Trail ‘had to be reminded that he was a racehorse’.

Bred by Drakenstein Stud, the winner is a son of Erik The Red (Captain Al) out of the threetime winning Silvano mare, Silver Stripe.

A R250 000 Cape Premier Yearling Sale graduate, Vapour Trail is raced by One Stripe’s part owner Rikesh Sewgoolam and has won twice with 3 places from 7 starts and stakes of R360 289.

The Cape Summer Season is now underway and runs until Saturday 28 February 2026. The season features 36 Graded and Listed

races, including the six premier Summer Festival of Racing days:

22 November: Punters Cup

6 December: World Sports Betting Fillies Guineas

13 December: Hollywoodbets Cape Guineas

10 January: L’Ormarins King’s Plate

31 January: World Sports Betting Cape Town Met

28 February: SplashOut Cape Derby

NO SECRET! THIS PACT IS

This past weekend’s South African feature races saw the descendants of the prolific producer Secret Pact to the fore.

On Saturday, Atticus Finch, a son of Secret Pact’s grandson Master Of My Fate (Jet Master), ran out an impressive winner of the Gr2 Allied Steelrode-Onamission Charity Mile. The following day, Erik The Red (Captain Al), another grandson of Secret Pact, was responsible for the eye catching Gr3 Cape Classic winner Vapour Trail.

While neither Erik The Red or Master Of My Fate won Gr1 races, both of their dams did.

Erik The Red was produced by Secret Pact’s top-class daughter Covenant (Western Winter), winner of seven races including the Gr1 Klawervlei Majorca Stakes, while Master Of My Fate is out of Secret Pact’s champion daughter Promisefrommyheart (Elliodor). The latter’s six wins included triumphs in the Gr1 South African Fillies Guineas and Gr1 Triple Tiara.

Both Covenant and Promisefrommyheart proved to be top-class producers. Covenant’s five winners including not only the multiple

graded stakes winning Erik The Red, but also Gr1 Gold Medallion runner up Varallo (Var) and the stakes placed dam of Gr2 World Pool With Gold Circle Debutante winner Cala Muretta (Gimmethegreenlight).

Her half-sister Promisefrommyheart, in a relatively short stud career, produced not only Master Of My Fate but also the Listed Spook Express Handicap winning dam of Malmoos and two other stakes winners, as well as Fidelity (Captain Al). The latter, a sister in blood to both Erik The Red and Malmoos, produced the Gr3 winners Ghaalla (Var) and Due Diligence (Silvano), with Fidelity’s daughter Tempton (Dynasty)

Consistently among the leading sires in South Africa, Master Of My Fate is enjoying another good season in 2025-2026, with his offspring having already earned more than R3,649 million in stakes. The sire of last season’s Equus Champions Jan Van Goyen and Golden Palm looks poised for another big season, with his flagbearers including not only the aforementioned trio of Atticus Finch, Golden Palm and Jan Van Goyen, but also the likes of Anotherdanceforme, Gem King, Echo Check, and Okavango.

His close relative Erik The Red, South Africa’s Leading First Season Sire of 2024-2025, has made a very pleasing start to his stud career, with his first crop headed by the graded stakes winners Vapour Trail and Zalatoris.

Secret Pact’s Triple Crown winning great grandson Malmoos (Captain Al), a threeparts brother to Erik The Red, could well add further gloss to this remarkable mare when his first runners race later this season.

A full-sister to dual South African Horse Of The Year, and disappointing sire, London News, Secret Pact (Bush Telegraph) also continues to make her presence felt through her daughters and their descendants.

Secret Pact is also the granddam of Morfeliha (One World), winner of the first race at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday. Out

of Secret Pact’s daughter Hidden Secret, Morfeliha is a half-sister to four winners.

The promising Exocet (Mehmas) is out of Secret Pact’s Gr3 Red Carpet Handicap winning granddaughter Three Hearts (Hat Trick).

THE US OF A

DEMONSTRATES HIS SIRE’S VERSATILITY!

One of the most consistent gallopers in training, the Riverton Stud-bred The US

Of A was rewarded with an overdue stakes victory at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday, when he slammed his 15 opponents

to win the R225 000 Listed Southeaster Sprint in the manner of a horse with more to come this summer.

Ridgemont rider Richard Fourie has been aboard at all of the Paddy Kruyer-trained 5yo gelding’s victories and made a special concession at the request of part-owner Robert Bloomberg to get down to 53,5kgs

to take the ride – something he hasn’t done since he won the ‘ghost’ 2020 Durban July in the bad old Covid-19 days on Belgarion.

“I said I would do it for this special horse and I am now focussed on a more disciplined approach where I will be in a position to take more of these lighter rides,” added the recordbreaking 2023/24 SA champion. The news will come as music to the ears of his legion of fans.

Maintaining a rich run of form for Milnerton trainer and former Cape jockey Paddy Kruyer, whom Richard labelled ‘one of the best horsemen around’, The US Of A was backed from 11-2 into 28-10, and proved a popular winner as he ran away from the rest to beat Dance Variety (40-1) by 1,75 lengths in a time of 64,34 secs for the 1100m.

Now a winner of 5 races with 8 places from his 16 starts, The US Of A took his stakes earnings to R559 551- a very decent return for Durban July winning owners Robert Bloomberg and Ashwin Reynolds, and Ricky Achmat’s RAR Syndicate, on his R130 000 BSA November 2yo Sale price tag.

Bred by Duncan Barry at Riverton Stud, the winner, who has amazingly not won beyond 1100m, is a mobile billboard for the versatility of Moutonshoek’s Galileo stallion The United States. He is out of the winner-producing Greys In mare, Pippi, who won 3 races.

ONE STRIPE HALF-BROTHER

LANDS THE GAMBLE

The Gr3 Cape Classic for 3yo’s over 1400m topped the bill on racing’s return to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday and here the half-brother to One Stripe, VAPOUR TRAIL, landed a major gamble.

Backed throughout the day into 9/2 from 10/1, Vaughan Marshall’s charge raced fourth for most of the journey just three lengths off a fair pace set by Pay The Palace, and then from the 700m by Aversator.

He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and after finding extra in the closing stages of the race to fend off a determined challenge from the deposed favourite Good For You (5/2 out to 7/1), he went on to score very comfortably by two.

Going: Good (both tracks)

Penetrometer: 23 (both tracks)

Rain: Last 24 hours Nil –Last 7 days 2mm

Irrigation: Last 24 hours 10mm –Last 7 days 40mm

False Rail: Inside rail 3m out from 1700m with 3m spur at 450m

Wind: 18-21km/h South Easterly cross wind

Course Variant: 0,53s fast (straight) –0,13s slow (bend)

The supporting act was the Listed Southeaster Sprint over 1100m and here we saw a smart performance from the lightly weighted THE US OF A. Another to attract serious betting support (11/2 into 28/10 favourite), the son of The United States raced tenth some five lengths of the pace set by the four timer seeking Sardinia Bay.

He only had to be pushed out in order to lead going through the 200m, and running on strongly all the way to the wire, he won in very good style by a length and three quarters from the running on Dance Variety. The runner up came from second last, two lengths behind the winner, and also finished very well. Interestingly, when interviewed after the race, Richard Fourie the rider of The Us Of A said that he rode below 54kg (53,5kg here) for the first time since 2019 and that he would be looking to get down to 52kg during the season.

Some very talented equine athletes contested the Lucky Fish Magic Mile Progress Plate over 1600m and here victory went to the heavily supported NATIVE RULER 15/10 into 7/10). Beaten less than four lengths into 6th in the prestigious Durban July last time out, this son of Vercingetorix was making his seasonal bow here. Just six went to post and nicely positioned in third off a steady pace, he was always poised to strike. He quickened best of all when the race developed into a sprint 300m out and won going away from the front running Captain West.

Three of the afternoon’s nine races were staged over 1200m and in by far the fastest of these, The Racing Club Class 4, the small

One World gelding ONE LINER registered his second career victory. Other than the eventual runner up Green Gateway (lost one length at start) who raced detached at the rear, barely four lengths covered all at the halfway mark, and although Michelle Rix’s charge sat eighth, he was only two lengths off the speed. He was always doing it easily and responded well when ridden to lead 70m out. Beaten just a length at the finish, Green Gateway ran on well in the closing stages, and did record the fastest 400m to finish time in the race.

With a time of 23,22 seconds, the running on SOUTH OF FRANCE registered the fastest

400m to finish time of the afternoon when third to Boozy Susie (23,23) in the Turf Talk syndicate Maiden Plate (f) over 1400m.

South Of France

COMES OUT FRESH LEAN MEAN XOLA

Racing returned to a sunny Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday for the first meeting since 19 August at the Southern Suburbs venue.

The opener, a Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Welcomes You Work Riders’ Maiden Plate for fillies and mares, produced a great ride by replacement rider Xola Tshayisa, who was having his first ride in probably fifteen years. A man who previously worked for Glen Kotzen, Justin Snaith team member Xola Tshayisa looked quite bemused, playing down any suggestions of ring rustiness, when interviewed afterwards by visiting presenter Deez Dyanand.

After her more fancied stablemate Laydelay had gone off down the outside like she had a plane to catch, Xola brought Morfeliha (6-1) down the inside with a sustained run and she went on well to clock 60,57 secs for the 1000m, in the process foiling something of an attempted betting coup on the runner-up, Playing Trix, who was backed from 25-1 into 11-2.

Besides Xola’s joy, the maiden victory of the Snaith-trained Varsfontein bred One World filly Morfeliha was a milestone first winner for Christian and Caroline Elleke, who own the magnificent Owloon Horses. which is located in the Rheebokskloof Valley, Paarl.

Owloon breed and raise thoroughbreds, and also farm table grapes, citrus and

pomegranates which are exported to Europe and the UK. The beautiful farm also offers luxury hospitality to international guests.

The winner is a daughter of One World (Captain Al) out of the unraced Caesour mare, Hidden Secret. She was purchased for R325 000 at the BSA Cape Yearling Sale and took her stakes tally to R85 382 with her first win and 2 places from 6 starts.

VALE WALLY SEGAL

The Sporting Post is sad to report the passing of widely respected racing administrator Wally Segal at the age of 96.

Wally Segal was appointed GM of Germiston Sporting Club in 1976. That same year he introduced the first international jockeys meeting and was to go on and achieve many noteworthy initiatives before retiring in 1994.

A longstanding friend, Basil Thomas told the Sporting Post on Monday that he was so sad to receive the news that his dear friend had passed away on Sunday afternoon.

“I met Wally in 1973 when I was the Assistant General Manager of the Mashonaland Turf Club (Borrowdale Park) in Harare Zimbabwe. There started a 52-year friendship that was never interrupted. When I took up a position at Clairwood Park in 1982, we continued to work closely, until his retirement in 1994. Wally taught me a great deal when I was a ‘rookie’ and despite our difference in age, he always treated me as a peer and colleague. After he retired, we never lost touch. Time passes and the guard changes, but it is good to remember the contributions made by our predecessors. Sincere condolences to Wally’s daughter, Desre, and his sons Gary and Marc. I wish them long life,” added Basil.

“The longer they have lived, the longer you have loved them.”

The Sporting Post extends condolences to Wally Segal’s family and friends at this sad time.

MHDSRIP.

HOLDS OFF THE FAVOURITE KNOCKOUT AS 33-1 SHOT

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house at Fairview on Friday as the young Dean Smith celebrated his first feature success since the recent passing of his Dad, Gavin, when the 33-1 Zatara Magic benefitted from a superb ride by Craig Zackey to win the R350 000 Betway Listed Algoa Cup.

While the Algoa Cup has dropped down the official rankings, it remains the ‘PE July’ and the prestige trophy on the East Cape racing calendar, and there was plenty of emotion as the Hollywoodbets-sponsored Smith Racing Team marked a three-timer on the afternoon in partnership with the title-chasing Zackey.

The 2000m feature looked to be at the mercy of Alan Greeff, remarkably looking for his first Cup success, and the money came for the Eastern Cape Horse Of The Year My Best Shot, who was backed into 15-10.

But Craig Zackey knows the 6yo Zatara Magic well and took up the pace, saying afterwards that his mount ‘never had it so easy’.

While the top jockey played down the achievement, it was no mean feat to dictate, and then thwart the pressing challenge of My Best Shot who came at the leader late. At the line, Zatara Magic had held on and clocked 123,52 seconds to beat the favourite by 1,50 lengths.

Glen Kotzen’s consistent Holding Thumbs (6-1) was a nose back in third, with Cliffie Miller’s 4yo Lanciafiamme (25-2) a length back in fourth.

A Summerhill bred son of the Bloomhill-based Brave Tin Soldier stallion Rabada, Zatara Magic is out of the five-time winning Parade Leader mare Maritime Mist who scored up to 2200m.

A R120 000 November 2yo Sale graduate, Zatara Magic has won 8 races with 13 places from 36 starts for stakes of R941 907.

LATEST NHA CALENDAR DEAN SMITH IS NOW A FULLY-FLEDGED TRAINER

The National Horseracing Authority Calendar is a summary of the past week’s penalties and registrations and is an easy-read snapshot of information.

Click on the image below to read the calendar:

MOVES TO 127 CHARITY MILE WINNER

The official merit rating for Atticus Finch, winner of the Allied Steelrode Gr2 Onamission Charity Mile over 1600m at Turffontein Standside track on Saturday, has been adjusted from 121 to 127.

The Handicappers were of the view that the runner-up, Callmegetrix was the most suitable line horse for evaluating the race, resulting in her merit rating remaining unchanged at 110.

No other runners received upward adjustments for this race.

However, the following horses received minor rating reductions:

• Imilenzeyokududuma :113 (from 114)

• Musical Score : 109 (from 111)

• Barbaresco : 120 (from 121)

• Aristotle : 108 (from 109)

Betway Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes

Tin Pan Alley retained his official merit rating of 116 following his victory in the Betway

Gr3 Graham Beck Stakes for three-yearolds over 1400m at Turffontein Standside on Saturday.

The Handicappers selected Zalatoris as the line horse for assessing the race, leaving his rating unchanged at 105.

By assessing the race in this manner, Tin Pan Alley in fact performs below his official merit rating.

Due to race conditions limiting merit rating increases to a maximum of four points for placed runners, the following horses were capped despite delivering performances that warranted higher adjustments:

• Trust : 92 (from 88)

• Nyaka Nyaka : 101 (from 97)

• One Eye On Vegas : 97 (from 93)

No further rating changes were made to the remaining runners in this race.

Tab Gr3 Starling Stakes

Valentina Balducci’s merit rating has been raised from 86 to 94 following her victory in the Tab Gr3 Starling Stakes over 1400m.

The Handicappers used third-place finisher Pretty Persuasive as the line horse for this assessment, leaving her rating unchanged at 93.

Due to the specific conditions of the race, which limit rating increases to a maximum of eight points for the winner, Valentina Balducci’s rating was capped at 94 - despite performing to a higher figure.

The race conditions also limited merit rating increases to placed runners to a maximum of four points.

Accordingly, the following horses were capped despite delivering performances that warranted higher adjustments:

• Ovation Star : 94 (from 90)

• Daisy Jones : 90 (from 86)

The only runner to receive a drop in rating was Back From War, who dropped to 92 from 97 after failing to confirm her Gr1 performance in her 2 subsequent starts.

Allied Steelrode Listed Golden Loom Handicap

Cosmic Star’s official merit rating has been increased from 97 to 100 following his gutsy victory in the Allied Steelrode Listed Golden Loom Handicap over 1000m.

The Handicappers identified runner-up Taxi

To The Moon as the most suitable line horse for assessing the race, resulting in his rating remaining unchanged at 110.

In addition to the winner, third-place finisher African Pride received a merit rating increase from 95 to 104. This adjustment reflects the fact that he raced 4.5kg (nine points) under sufferance at the weights, and his rating was adjusted accordingly.

Two horses received merit rating decreases following the running of this race:

• Karate Kid : 104 (from 105)

• King Of The Gauls : 109 (from 110)

Allied Steelrode Listed Yellowwood Handicap

Twostep Queen’s official merit rating has been increased from 95 to 101 following her victory in the Allied Steelrode Listed Yellowwood Handicap for fillies and mares over 1800m.

The Handicappers were unanimous in selecting second-place finisher Lady Fallon as the most suitable line horse for assessing the race, leaving her rating unchanged at 102.

The only other increase was for third-place finisher Royal Invitation , whose merit rating was raised from 84 to 90. She competed eight points under sufferance at the weights and finished just 0.75 lengths (equivalent to two points) behind the line horse and was adjusted accordingly.

Following the running of this race, two horses received merit rating decreases:

• Todoque : reduced to 96 (from 98)

• Cocomelon : reassessed to 95 (from 100)

Allied Steelrode Listed Java Stakes

Daimyo’s official merit rating has been increased from 92 to 99 following his victory in the Allied Steelrode Listed Java Stakes over 2400m. The Handicappers identified runner-up Nebraas as the most suitable line horse for assessing the race, leaving his rating unchanged at 102.

Third-place finisher Corrupt was capped at 86 (from 82), in line with race conditions that limit rating increases for placed runners to a maximum of four points.

No fewer than five horses received merit rating reductions following the running of this race:

• United Council : 104 (from 105)

• Hotarubi : 104 (from 106)

• Infinite Wonder : 91 (from 94)

• Silent War : 91 (from 93)

• Twenty Drachma : 87 (from 91)

Gr3 Cape Classic

Vapour Trail’s official merit rating has been increased from 101 to 107 following his victory in the Gr3 Cape Classic over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday.

The Handicappers selected third-place finisher Randolph Hearst as the line horse for assessing the race, leaving his rating unchanged at 100.

Two additional runners received rating increases based on their performances:

• Good For You (runner-up): 110 from 108

• Chapbook : who was rated to finish last but finished in 5th, was raised to 97 from 87

Count Of Rouen and Aversator each received two points drops: from 108 to 106, and from 104 to 102 respectively.

Listed Southeaster Sprint

The US Of A’s official merit rating has been increased from 97 to 104 following his impressive win in the Listed Southeaster Sprint over 1100m.

The Handicappers selected third-place finisher Un Bel Di and fourth-place finisher Dumbledore as the line horses for assessing

the race, leaving their ratings unchanged at 99 and 106 respectively.

Runner-up Dance Variety was the only other horse besides the winner to receive a merit rating increase, moving up to 113 from 112.

Two horses received merit rating reductions:

• Ziyasha : dropped to 117 from 119

• Kaalvoet : reduced to 97 from 99

Betway Listed Algoa Cup

Zatara Magic’s official merit rating has been increased from 108 to 111 following his victory in the Listed Betway Algoa Cup over 2000m at Fairview Racecourse on Friday.

The Handicappers unanimously selected runner-up, My Best Shot and third-place finisher, Holding Thumbs as the line horses for assessing the race, leaving their ratings unchanged at 116 and 113 respectively.

Fourth-place finisher Lanciafiamme , who raced six points (three kilograms) under sufferance at the weights but finished 1 length (2 points) behind the line horse, received a merit rating increase from 92 to 96.

The only other rating change in this race was a slight reduction for Blackberry Malt , who was reduced to 96 from 97.

• Media release by the NHA on Tuesday, 04 November 2025.

CHARGE IMPRESSES KANNEMEYER

Despite the conditions there were some very smart performances at Hollywoodbets Greyville last Friday evening. Amongst them that of the Gimmethegreenlight colt GREEN GLOW when opening his account at just the third time of asking in the Coastal Horse Care Unit Maiden Plate over 1600m. Backed into the red at the track (33/10 into 9/10), Dean Kannemeyer’s charge raced eighth for most of the journey some eight lengths off the pace set by the supported Director (4/1 into 33/10). He quickened smartly early in the straight and after striking the front 250m from home, he won easing down by five and a half.

Going: Soft

Penetrometer: 29

Rain:

Last 24 hours 15mm –

Last 7 days 25mm

Irrigation: Last 24 hours Nil –

Last 7 days 10mm

False Rail: 5m

Wind: 30-45km/h North Easterly headwind

Course Variant: 1,61s slow

Another to impress in the maiden ranks was AMELIA’S LEGACY (speedy cut left hind) in the Live It. Love It. Own It. Maiden plate (f&m) over 1400m. Always top of the boards, Frikkie Greyling’s charge also came from well off the pace. She was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 200m marker and another to be eased before the line by Serino Moodley, she won very easily by four. Both Frikkie and Serino spoke very highly of this filly after the race, most notably Frikkie stated that he really thinks that she is something special.

The Hollywood Foundation B Stakes over 1400m topped the bill and in what proved to be the faster of the two races over the distance, the 6yo Visionaire gelding IMPOSING completed a smart hat-trick. Rated 12 points lower than his earlier best here, Gareth Van Zyl’s charge had gained five of his six previous wins over todays distance, and he had also gained three of his six previous victories in the wet. The pace was a hot one here and taking into account that he set off from gate 13 he did well to get seventh position early, some eight lengths off the pace. He ran on strongly in the straight and won well by a length after striking the front 230m from home.

Three of the evening’s nine races were staged over 1200m and in the fastest of these, the Hollywoodbets Bright Future Class 4 (f&m) , the Mike & Matthew De Kock trained QUEEN BRAGANZA kept her unbeaten record intact. A facile winner of her only previous racecourse appearance, this 3yo daughter of Potala Palace was not the quickest into stride and raced fifth some four lengths off the pace set by Zena Rose. She responded in good fashion when determinedly asked to quicken 300m out, and after striking the front 200m later, she won going away.

Running on from the back, the 3yo Querari filly SIESTA SUNSET recorded the fastest 400m to finish time of the evening when finishing third in the Betfred – Come And Have A Go! Middle Stakes (f&m) over 1000m.

Fastest Times: 1000m (2) Arverni Princess 59,86 1200m (3) Queen Braganza 73,01 1400m (2) Imposing 85,12 400-finish Siesta Sunset 22,95

CLASSIC CALIFORNIA! JAPAN BIG IN

Susumu Fujita’s Forever Young (JPN), third in last year’s race behind Sierra Leone and Fierceness, turned the tables Saturday afternoon at Del Mar to win the 42nd running of the $7 million Gr1 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic for 3-yearolds and up by a half-length over Sierra Leone.

Trained by Yoshito Yahagi and ridden by Ryusei Sakai, Forever Young covered the mile and a quarter over a fast track in 2:00.19. The victory is the third for Yahagi in the World Championships and first in the Classic. It is Sakai’s first Breeders’ Cup win.

More forwardly placed than last year, Forever Young tracked in third behind Contrary Thinking and Fierceness through opening fractions of :23.04, :45.97 and 1:10.48.

Approaching the far turn, Sakai gave Forever Young his cue and he swept to the front with Mindframe and Journalism also on the move and Fierceness saving ground on the inside. Forever Young maintained a safe margin over Fierceness and then was able to hold the late charge from Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone finished a length in front of Fierceness who was 2 ¼ lengths in front of Journalism with Mindframe, Baeza, Nevada Beach, Antiquarian and Contrary Thinking following in order.

Forever Young is a 4-year-old son of Real Steel (JPN) out of the Congrats mare Forever Darling. The victory was worth $3,640,000 and increased his earnings to $19,358,590 with a record of 13-10-0-3 that includes three Grade or Group 1 wins.

BIG NUMBERS!

Total all-sources betting turnover for the two-day Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club was $180 036 799, Breeders’ Cup Limited announced, the third highest total handle in the history of the event and an increase over the 2024 total handle of $179 218 631.

Total common-pool handle on Saturday’s 12-race Breeders’ Cup card was $118 028 444. All-sources common-

pool handle on Breeders’ Cup’s 10-race Future Stars Friday card was $62 008 354.

On-track handle for the two days was $18 079 169. Saturday’s attendance was 35 173.

The Breeders’ Cup World Championships will return to Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. in 2026, when the 43 rd edition will be held October 30-31.

MET PICNIC SITES? REMEMBER THE

For over 50 years, George and Bill have shared a toast in the carpark before heading into the track for Lexus Melbourne Cup Day. Through distance, time, and loss, their friendship and their tradition has never wavered. Here’s to lifelong mates, cherished memories, and champagne in honour of those who once joined the celebrations.

PROPER STAR! NOW SHE’S A

She’s undefeated, she’s the new star of Australian racing and Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) is one very special mare. And particularly special for SA fans as the late Andre Hauptfleisch bred and raced her dam Via Africa in partnership with Albert Boshoff.

The daughter of Avontuur kingping Var was trained by KZN conditioner Duncan Howells and crowned SA Champion Sprinter in 2013.

Her 10 wins included the Gr1 Cape Flying Championship and Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint twice. But back to her daughter!

The 4YO Inglis Easter Yearling Sale superstar made it eight wins from eight starts on Saturday with a memorable victory in the A$10m Golden Eagle run over 1500m at Randwick.

Those closest to her are already running out of superlatives to describe Autumn Glow, the 2023 Easter sale-topper at A$1.8m, selling to Arrowfield and Hermitage Thoroughbreds out of the Silverdale Farm draft.

For Silverdale’s Steve Grant, she’s “amazing, just incredible’’.

Her trainer Chris Waller described her as a “star’’ while jockey James McDonald said the mare “gives me that ooh la la feeling’’.

Grant was at Flemington for Derby Day but watched on in awe as the filly his team prepared for and sold at Easter took her career earnings to A$7.3m, having won the Gr1 Epsom Handicap prior to the day’s A$10m feature.

“She’s just everything we try to do,’’ Grant said.

“All the preparation you put into them, teaching them how to stay cool, lead them across that treadmill every day, it’s all worth it and it just came so natural for her.

“The guys loved her when they saw her, but it is that thing, when you start teaching them how to be a young horse during that early education period, you know some are special and we knew she was special.

“It’s a pleasure to sit back and watch and it means everything for us. It’s remarkable when

you get a horse like this and the sky’s the limit for her, they’ve got so much to play with.’’

Winning trainer Chris Waller added: “She’s a star. It’s as simple as that. She does it each and every time.

“That heart and determination and presence that she has is really quite special. For her to open the shoulders up at the 100m mark was pretty special to watch.

“Hermitage has been right with me the past 10 years, we’ve had some great success and this is just a new level again and Mr and Mrs Messara and their team, they’ve got a great system, are great supporters of racing and breeding and for them to entrust me with a horse they paid a lot of money for is pretty special.’’

Autumn Glow is bred by Newhaven Park and is a three-quarter sister to Gr1 Golden Rosewinning Easter graduate In The Congo.

She will now be spelled and return in the autumn.

Autumn Glow led in an Inglis graduates quinella in the Golden Eagle, defeating Inglis Classic Yearling Sale graduate Sepals, already a Gr1 winner himself this spring in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes in September.

THIS IS THE VALLEY! 300:

Capitalising on Storm Rider’s promotion into the HK$2.84 million Class 2 Guangzhou Handicap at Happy Valley on Sunday, Karis Teetan slotted his 300th win at the city circuit to join Zac Purton as the only active jockeys in Hong Kong to achieve the feat.

Storm Rider (118lb) was promoted into the field as a standby declared runner with the withdrawal of Packing Bole, inheriting barrier 1 – and duly saluted – to continue David Hayes’ golden streak of success.

“You know you’re having a good run when that happens,” said Hayes. “Barriers win races and he drew the beautiful barrier. He’s gone all the way now to the upper class, which is wonderful. When he was second last time by a short head, he probably ran the best sectional of the day. I think he’ll be able to hold his spot in the upper class. He’s probably going to be better at 1400m.”

Teetan is the only jockey apart from eight-time Hong Kong champion Zac Purton (713 wins) on the current jockey roster to have 300 Happy Valley wins or more.

“I was lucky to pick up the ride – on Storm Rider’s last run, he was always a good ride in this race with no weight,” Teetan said. “Thanks to David and the owner for giving me the opportunity. He had a good run through from that draw (1) and it’s nice to get 300 wins at Happy Valley – how good.”

Purton maintained a relentless pursuit of a ninth championship with a treble, striking on Ragnarr, Hakka Radiance and Harmony N Blessed.

David Hall-trained Ragnarr (135lb) posted his second win in three starts with success in the Class 5 Dongguan Handicap (1200m) under an outstanding Purton ride.

“Pre-race, we knew we were in trouble with the barrier (10), but he just got into a great spot and showed what a great jockey Zac is,” Hall said. “Ragnarr has been in Class 5 for a while and he’s been a bit unlucky not to win a few previously, so it’s great that things are going his way at the moment.”

Harmony N Blessed slotted his 10th win at his 64th start when the nine-year-old fought tenaciously to land the Class 3 The Kwangtung Handicap Cup Handicap (1000m), leaving Hayes with 15 wins for the season and second in the trainer standings behind Mark Newnham (20).

Purton linked with Danny Shum to clinch the Class 4 Shenzhen Handicap (1800m)

with Hakka Radiance (123lb), who made it three wins in a row with an emphatic display. Formerly trained by George Boughey in the United Kingdom where he raced as Tempered Soul, Hakka Radiance had 24 winless starts in Hong Kong before embarking on his current streak.

Shum’s Fantastic Fun (132lb) made it two wins in a row when he edged out Samarkand (133lb) by a short head to snare the Class 4 Huizhou Handicap (1650m) under Hugh Bowman. Formerly trained by Chris Waller in Australia, where he was unbeaten in two starts as Heads You Lose, the Justify gelding swept to the line powerfully from the midfield.

“He was given a free kick last start with an inside draw and a slow pace and he won well,” Bowman said. “Today, he had an awkward barrier and I was able to fluke a really good spot with a genuine spot and he’s got improvement, too. He’s a big, strong horse with the talent to carry a big weight if he has to.”

Hayes and Shum’s doubles were matched by Douglas Whyte, whose strong affinity with Happy Valley continued.

Whyte’s Hong Kong International Sale graduate Dan Attack (117lb) notched his second win under a positive ride from Harry Bentley to land the first section of the Class 4 Foshan Handicap (1200m) before Argento Ocean scored.

“Last run I thought Dan Attack ran very well –he was a victim of circumstances. Today, he had a tricky draw, but Harry Bentley assessed the situation very well and it wasn’t our intention to lead, but he got there comfortably. He dictated the race and the horse kicked on well,” Whyte said.

“He’s just a healthy horse and when a horse is in a purple patch like that, they’ll give their best and that’s exactly what he’s doing.” Whyte sealed a double with Bowman when Argento Ocean (127lb) flew the start before settling third and emerging late for an easy win in the Class 4 The Hong Kong Country Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1200m).

“He’s shown us a nice bit of promise, he’s been plagued by awkward draws and he still lacks maturity, but he’s got an engine and he’s been developed nicely – he made his own luck today – and I think there’s still improvement to come with him mentally,” Bowman said.

Day Day Victory (119lb) maintained Michael Chang’s productive streak with victory in the Class 4 Shantou Handicap (1000m) for Alexis Badel, who slotted his 11th win of the season.

“It was a good win and I can feel he’s really improved – mentally and physically, he’s stronger – and he got me out of a difficult situation, there was nothing I could do,” Badel said. “I was trapped in the middle of the field and he needed a turn of foot to win the race and he gave it brilliantly.”

Francis Lui’s Brave Star (135lb) returned to form with a vengeance with his sixth course and distance triumph in the Class 3 Zhaoqing Handicap (1200m) under Vincent Ho. Winless in nine starts since posting three successive wins at the start of last season, relished the solid tempo from his inside gate to prevail.

Pierre Ng claimed the Class 3 Zhuhai Handicap (1650m) with I Can (128lb) as Luke Ferraris retained second place on the jockeys’ championship with 12 – 17 behind Purton (29).

A decade after Michelle Payne became the first woman win Australia’s most famous race, Jamie Melham has etched herself into racing history becoming the second steering Half Yours to victory in the Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m).

It was a 19th Group 1 win for one of the country’s most high profile jockeys along with Half Yours becoming the 13th horse to complete the famous Caulfield and Lexus Melbourne Cup double.

“What just happened? Oh my god!,” was Melham’s first reaction.

“I’ve had an amazing year. I got married, had some really great days on the track but nothing ever, ever compares to this feeling right now.”

Melham and her husband Ben — who rode Smokin’ Romans to finish 14 th — became the first husband-and-wife to ride in the same Melbourne Cup.

Half Yours scored by 2¾-lengths from Goodie Too Shoes to deny Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien a third Melbourne Cup with Middle Earth,who turned around his form over the longer trip 1½-lengths away, filling the minor placing.

Trained by father-son combination Tony and Calvin Mcevoy, the pair achieved a lifelong

dream especially for Tony who now boasts trophies from the big three races in Victoria.

The Cox Plate trophy with Fields Of Omagh in 2003 is now joined by Half Yours’ Caulfield and Melbourne Cup wins in 2025.

“I lost sight of him when that leader went out,” Tony said with reference to Land Legend taking a ten-length lead at the 1400-metre mark.

“My eyes aren’t as good as they were and I caught him ducking back to the inside. What a thrill and what a horse he is, and what a joy he is for us.”

Race favourite and French raider Prestige Nocturne finished 19 th

The five-year-old winner was inspected by Racing Victoria vets after the horse was seen bleeding from its mouth after the race.

Footage of the blood in Half Yours’ mouth was a distasteful look in the eyes of some spectators, but Racing Victoria Stewards have confirmed the horse did not require any medical attention.

Stewards said: “Post race examination by the raceday veterinary team found that Half Yours had sustained a minor laceration to the inside of its left cheek.The horse is fine and no veterinary treatment was required.”

The cheque, equivalent to R2,5 million, she received as her riding commission for winning Tuesday’s Lexus Gr1 Melbourne Cup at Flemington will no doubt go quite some way to furnishing the new marital home for 29 year old Jamie Melham, who made history when becoming only the second woman in history to win ‘the race that stops a nation’.

Mrs Melham, formerly Jamie Kah, steered Half Yours home in front of 80 000 spectators on a wet track under cloudy skies. The five-year-old gelding – ironically the only Australian-bred horse in the race – finished two lengths ahead of Goodie Two Shoes, with Middle Earth third.

Interviewed on the track immediately afterwards, Jamie Melham, who also created history as the first female jockey to complete the Caulfield-Melbourne Cups double, said: “What just happened? Oh my god. This is what we do it for, this is why we get up out of bed every morning at 4am, and work our asses off for the last 15 years that I’ve been in this industry,” she told Channel Nine. “It’s tough, it’s not all glorious and perfect, as everyone can see sometimes.”

Jamie’s hubby Ben rode Smokin’ Romans in the same race. He finished out of the money, and happens, coincidentally, to be the same horse Jamie rode in the 2022 Melbourne Cup!

Jamie’s victory comes 10 years after Michelle Payne became the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup on Prince of Penzance. Payne interviewed her after the race, saying: “Welcome to the club”.

Jamie confirms she has had an ‘amazing’ year, including a wedding and some successful days on the track, “but nothing ever ever compares to this feeling right now!”

The 29-year-old also became the first female jockey to win the Caulfield Cup last month, and overcame the sad news of the death of her grandfather last week.

“The last thing he watched was the Caulfield Cup and he was such a big supporter of mine, so he’s up there opening those gaps for me because I needed a few gaps opened.”

Michelle Payne said Jamie has ‘revolutionised racing’ and praised the bond she forms with the horses she rides, predicting more women would follow in their footsteps.

“She’s an out-and-out athlete and the fact that she just has these connections with the horses, you can see that,” Payne said. “Honestly, it’s just a new world we’re living in and the young girls coming through, it’s exciting.”

Jamie Melham’s rise to the summit of Australian racing has not been without adversity. She had to be placed in an induced coma in 2023 after a fall. Her mother, former Olympic speed skater Karen Gardiner-Kah, became emotional remembering that period. “It’s horrible for any parent to go through what we went through,” she said.

Her father, John Kah, another Olympic speed skater, said the victory was a relief after the high expectations of recent months. “She was a favourite for the Caulfield Cup, that was a month of being a favourite, that’s a long time, and then [she was] pretty well the favourite for this one as well,” he said. “Nice to get it done, I would hate her to finish a career without winning a Melbourne Cup. That is the pinnacle.”

Irish trained Al Riffa carried a topweight of 59kg and entered the day as favourite. By the afternoon however, late support had pushed Presage Nocturne into favouritism ahead of Al Riffa, Valiant King and Half Yours.

Winning trainer Tony McEvoy said it was an incredible moment. “From the days we grew up, the Melbourne Cup was everything,” he said.

His son and co-trainer Calvin described Half Yours as an “amazing” horse. “What a horse, he’s just continued to raise the bar,” he said.

Melham, 29, grew up in Adelaide, blessed with elite sporting genes, even though she described herself as a ‘little fat kid’ after her incredible win at Flemington.

Looking back, Jamie left school at 15, and began her apprenticeship in 2011.

Success quickly followed, with her claiming the Jockeys’ Premiership in her first full season, back in 2012/13.

Two more premierships followed in Adelaide, but trouble seemingly followed the pretty jockey - then competing under her maiden name Kah - off the track, after she moved to Melbourne in search of bigger riding challenges.

But those ‘scandals’ are seemingly well behind her and marrying her colleague in January this year is part of the ‘growing up’ process.

In terms of her future, Jamie wants to be a mother - but that won’t happen until she retires.

Given she only turns 30 next month, it is unlikely she will swap the jockey’s room for nappies anytime soon!

1,537,813 1,641,719 4,119,106 3,733,738 2,636,788 2,557,970 2,534,006

4,256,119 4,070,750 2,907,000 2,855,700 2,966,381 5,544,711 6,659,256 4,755,506 4,108,218 4,901,145

5,690,947 5,668,919 4,039,735 2,846,654 2,808,095 BREEDERS

6,247,019 5,163,971 3,779,844 3,661,001 3,398,550 S I RE S