SP Sprint – Wednesday 21 January 2026

MET CLASS OF ’26

TIME! WSB CAPE TOWN MET

12

The Class Of 2026

Eleven line up for the big one

Magic Of Majorca

The fairer sex clash

Fortune Favours The Old Age is but a number

Gavin At Gulfstream

The One Stripe dream continues

On the cover

Could this be the WSB Cape Town Met pacemaker? Okavango (Oisin Murphy) was captured by Chase Liebenberg winning the Anthonij Rupert Gr2 Premier Trophy from start-to-finish on L’Ormarins King’s Plate day. He is one of six Snaith Racing flagbearers in the big race on 31 January.

Timeform Horse Of The Year

Hong Kong star reigns supreme

– DO THEY MATTER? THE BARRIER DRAWS

Race connections and trainers were on the edge of their seats at an event at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Tuesday 20 January when the all-important barrier draw took place ahead of the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met, scheduled for Saturday, 31 January.

The Barrier Draw function is a longstanding tradition among trainers, owners and sponsors, determining both how much luck

a horse would need to win, as well as the jockey’s strategy and tactics on the track.

The 2026 race will feature a small, packed field with 11 runners on the card, including reigning Equus Horse of the Year and 2025 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met defending champion, Eight on Eighteen, and The Real Prince, who won the 2026 L’Ormarins King’s Plate on 10 January and the 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July.

2026 WORLD SPORTS BETTING CAPE TOWN MET BARRIER DRAW

Cosmic Speed 1 Sean Tarry

Eight On Eighteen 2

Sail The Seas 3

Justin Snaith

Johannesburg raider - winner of the Wilgerbosdrift HF Oppenheimer Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes in March 2025

Reigning Equus Horse of the Year & 2025 WSB CT Met Winner

Justin Snaith 4th in the 2026 L’Ormarins King’s Plate

Gladatorian 4 Stuart Ferrie

Garrix 5 Piet & Elbert Steyn

The Real Prince 6 Dean Kannemeyer

Legal Counsel 7

Durban raider - winner of the HKJC Champions Cup (Gr 1) in July 2025

Valiant 2nd in the weight-for-age Gr2

Ridgemont Green Point Stakes behind Dave the King

Winner of the 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July & 2026 L’Ormarins King’s Plate

Justin Snaith Gr3 Cape Mile Winner in November 2025

Native Ruler 8 Justin Snaith

Takes his place here after sterling run in the Hollywoodbets Durban July

The Equator (IRE) 9 Tony Peter International import & Johannesburg raider

See It Again 10

Okavango 11

Justin Snaith 3rd in the 2026 L’Ormarins King’s Plate

Justin Snaith

Winner: Anthonij Rupert Gr2 Premier Trophy on 10 January 2026

The World Sports Betting Cape Town Met powerhouse boasts a hat-trick of victories with Jet Dark in 2023, Double Superlative in 2024, and Eight On Eighteen in 2025, and is betting on a 4th consecutive win. He was particularly thrilled with defending champ Eight on Eighteen’s #2 draw – an inside barrier position that has produced two winning horses in the past seven years.

Snaith, however, doesn’t rely on the luck of the draw alone. His three consecutive Mets came from three different “zones” - Barrier 4 (Inner), Barrier 2 (Inner), and Barrier 9 (Outer), which suggests that trainer preparation and jockey tactics often outweigh the starting position on the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Summer track.

While inside draws (Barriers 1–5) are mathematically favourable, high-quality horses have also come from middle and outside draws the past decade.

The 2000m start provides a long back straight of approximately 800m before the first turn, which allows jockeys jumping from wide positions ample time to find a slot. As a result, the draw bias is less severe in Cape Town when compared to Durban.

Historically, low draws are preferred for frontrunners who want to save ground on the sweeping turn, and barriers 2 and 4 have seen significant success, having produced two wins each in the past 8 years alone. However, One World (2020) proved a wide draw is not a death sentence by winning from Barrier 12.

Statistically, Barriers 1 through 6 account for 60% of winners over the last decade. However, because the Hollywoodbets Kenilworth Summer track is considered “fair,” a horse with a high Merit Rating (OMR) and a strong finish can win from almost anywhere, provided the pace is sufficient.

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS

• Eight On Eighteen (2025) made history as only the second three-year-old in 25 years to win the race.

• Pocket Power is the only horse to win the Met three times consecutively (2007, 2008, 2009). His sister, River Jetez, famously ended his streak by winning in 2010.

• Snaith Dominance: Trainer Justin Snaith currently dominates the World Sports Betting Cape Town Met with three consecutive wins, and has a 4th consecutive win firmly in his sight.

• The Margin Record: Horse Chestnut holds the record for the largest winning margin after destroying the field by 8 lengths in 1999.

The World Sports Betting Cape Town Met takes place at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday, 31 January 2026. The final fields for the full racecard will be released later today.

– 11 CLASH ON 31 JANUARY MET FIELD UNVEILED

Three visitors and the defending champion are amongst a high-quality field of eleven who will line up for the 164th renewal of the R5 million World Sports Betting Cape Town Met which headlines Race Coast’s Cape flagship raceday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday 31 January.

The field of eleven matches that of the 2024, 2022 and 2021 renewals in terms of quantum, with sixteen lining up last year, nineteen in 2023 and a lucky thirteen in 2020.

South African champion trainer Justin Snaith looks set to rewrite the history books as he saddles six of the eleven runners in the 2000m contest, bidding to win the race for an unprecedented fourth consecutive time.

While the barrier draws are important in a race where decisions will hinge on split second calls, the pace will unquestionably be key, and here Justin Snaith holds all the aces. Jonathan Snaith has indicated that Okavango is the most likely candidate of the Snaith sextet to play the hare.

Snaith broke his duck in 2018, when the Drakenstein bred and raced Oh Susanna made history as the first 3yo fairer sex galloper to win the race in over a century, and his recent treble of victories are all males carrying the silks of leading owner, Nic Jonsson.

While reigning SA Horse of the year Eight On Eighteen bids to defend his title, were either of the Jonsson-owned See It Again or Okavango to win, it would mean that the feat of four on the trot was achieved with four different horses. Heady stuff!

A confident Andrew Fortune bids to win his first Met in what looks likely to be his last season in a distinguished career, and after drawing gate 10, he suggested that ‘whatever beats me, will win’.

Dean Kannemeyer has won most Grade 1 races countrywide, but the Met silverware has remained elusive.

The Milnerton veteran saddles the L’Ormarins King’s Plate and 2025 Hollywoodbets Durban July winner The Real Prince, who looks to carry the label of potential chief party-spoiler for the rampant Snaith team from his 6 draw.

Piet and Elbert Steyn are the only father-and-son training combination represented in the 2026 Met, with Garrix jumping from a 5 draw and looking to put the disappointment of a below-par run in the L’Ormarins King’s Plate behind him.

The visiting trio is represented by senior statesman Sean Tarry, who last won the Met in 2005 with Alastor and saddles Cosmic Speed.

KZN-based Stuart Ferrie saddles his first runner in the shape of Gladatorian, as does Highveld

conditioner Tony Peter, who is represented by the Galileo import, The Equator, who will be ridden by Arc-winning jockey, Rene Piechulek.

On 31 January, Hollywoodbets Kenilworth will come alive in a multi-sensory celebration where horseracing, fashion, music, and movement unite in perfect harmony — this is the Symphony of Style.

Think opulent, surreal, elegant, and dramatic.

The 2026 World Sports Betting Cape Town Met promises an unforgettable journey of elevated fashion, captivating performance, and unbridled sophistication.

The Symphony of Style fuses the artistic grace of a symphony with the opulent whimsy and theatrical flair of an elegant circus — a seamless blend of style, spectacle, and sensory indulgence.

Tickets start from R200. Secure yours via Computicket now and prepare to compose your own masterpiece at the Symphony of Style!

A reminder that it is a strictly no under-18 event.

THE KEY TO MET RICHES? SNAITH SIX-PACK

SA Champion trainer Justin Snaith turns up at the R5 million World Sports Betting Cape Town Met party on Saturday 31 January with a mean ‘six-pack’ in his bid to win the Cape showpiece for the fifth time and the fourth consecutive year, and rewrite another chapter of racing history.

Owner Nic Jonsson’s pink, green and white silks were carried by all of Snaith’s three consecutive winners and Eight On Eighteen, See It Again and Okavango are all wearing the same flag. If one of the latter duo were to win it, the Snaith-Jonssonfour on the trot record would carry the extra rarity that it was achieved with four different horses. What’s the chances of that being equalled in our lifetime?

Heading the Snaith attack is defending champion Eight On Eighteen (129), the mount of Richard Fourie, who at this stage is the only active jockey with more than a single Met winner to his name. Fourie won the Met in 2023 with Jet Dark and last year on Eight On Eighteen.

JP van der Merwe partners Native Ruler (119) and, together with Aldo Domeyer and Gavin Lerena are the only other declared jockeys with a past winner. JP scored in 2016 on Smart Call for

Alec Laird, while Aldo won it in 2013 on Martial Eagle for Yogas Govender and Sabine Plattner. Gavin Lerena won on Kommetdieding in 2022 for the Rix-Crawford combination.

At age 58, Andrew Fortune is still on the hunt for his maiden Met winner, in what is likely to be his final season.

Fortune partners the revitalized See It Again, who could assist him in becoming the oldest jockey to win the big race in the modern era. Extraordinarily, Fortune has a full card of rides on the twelve-race programme on 31 January – an amazing advert for his longevity, and a massive billboard for Salusa 45!

The winningmost Met jockey is Bert Hayden, who rode Force Ten (1972), Yataghan (1974) and then three in a row with Bahadur (1977) the last of his five Met winners in 1979 at the age of 33, when Politician capped a double.

Other current active jockeys with a past Met winner credit – but no ride this year - are Grant van Niekerk (Oh Susanna in 2018), Luke Ferraris (Rainbow Bridge in 2021), and Danny Muscutt (Double Superlative in 2024).

ENJOY THE GALLOPS

TOMORROW!

While the mandatory public gallops were scrapped some nine years ago after trainer resistance to being obliged to gallop their big race candidates nine days ahead of the raceday, Race Coast will be hosting Breakfast Gallops on course tomorrow from 08h00 with declared horses running on the big day.

All horses brought to Hollywoodbets Kenilworth will be there on a voluntary basis.

“We will be serving mimosa’s, coffee and breakfast from the 1881 Lounge and all are welcome. The veranda is the perfect place to view the gallops from! There is also going to be a live stream,” confirmed Race Coast Racing: Marketing & Commercial Manager, Kirsti Lyall.

RSVP for catering purposes: justine@racecoast.co.za / whatsapp 071 012 0486.

Don’t miss your moment to be part of Cape Town’s most stylish and unforgettable social event. Enjoy a day of opulence and dance the night away at the official after party.

The race is run at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on 31 January. Tickets start from R200.

Secure your tickets via Computicket now and prepare to compose your own masterpiece at the Symphony of Style!

A reminder that the raceday event is strictly no under-18!

– CONJURING UP THE MAGIC MAJORCA STAKES

The clock is ticking towards Hollywoodbets Kenilworth's flagship Met meeting and while the WSB Gr1 Cape Town Met is the showpiece race on the twelve-race card, it also features one of the most important weight-for-age races for fillies and mares, the Maine Chance Farms Gr1 Majorca Stakes.

One wonder how many of our readers actually know that this mile race, first contested in 1964, was only upgraded to Gr1 status in 2003, which is unprecedented, considering that in recent years, some of South Africa’s most notable Gr1 races have been downgraded, with little prospect of regaining their lofty status.

As for the Majorca, it was afforded Gr3 status when the pattern race system came into being in the early seventies, and by the time Roman Fantasy scrambled home in 1997, the race was run at Grade 2 level for the first time.

Some outstanding Majorca winners followed, notably Donatella, who won the race in 1999 and again in 2000. She twice triumphed at Gr1 level, winning the SA Fillies Guineas and Garden Province Stakes, whilst 2002 Majorca winner Velvet Green also claimed the Garden Province. It is safe to say that their achievements played no small part in the Majorca being upgraded to the elite level six years later in 2003, since which a steady stream of superior winners have made the race one of the coveted prizes on the South African racing calendar, and fully deserving of its Gr1 status.

Let’s take a trip down memory lane. Argentine import Paraca captured the first Gr1 renewal in 2003. Trained by Geoff Woodruff, she had been voted the previous season’s Champion Juvenile filly when she won the Gr1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship and was part-owned by Woodruff’s father-in-law, the legendary trainer Terrance Millard, who raised the trophy on no less than six occasions, starting with Kentucky Belle in 1972 and ending in 1990 with outstanding champion, Olympic Duel.

Captain Al’s half-sister Shadow Dancing added the 2005 Majorca to her victory in the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas and at stud produced Gr1 Paddock Stakes winner Thunder Dance, who in turn is the dam of talented three-year-old filly, Ukuduma.

Champion Jamaica won the 2006 Majorca at the advanced age of six, her victory coming off the back of a gallant second in the Gr1 Queen’s Plate to Horse of the Year, Winter Solstice.

She was followed in 2007 by the Bass-trained Sun Classique, who dominated the Cape season with wins in the Cape Fillies Guineas

and Majorca. To that she subsequently added the Gr1 Woolavington 2200, an achievement good enough to clinch the 3YO fillies championship. She went on to conquer Dubai and never tasted defeat, winning all of the Gr1 Dubai Sheema Classic, Cape Verdi and Balanchine.

Another import, the English-bred Dancer’s Daughter, left no doubt as to who was best in 2008, winning the Majorca with contemptuous ease. Six months later, she reserved her place in history by sharing the spoils with the mighty Pocket Power in the Vodacom Durban July.

Mother Russia claimed the 2009 renewal when she turned the tables on Sparkling Gem, who had beaten her by a neck in the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas. She went on to win four Gr1 races, the highlight of which her victory in the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queens Plate at age five. Sadly, her broodmare innings yielded just a single foal, a filly named Nother Russia, a champion who stepped into the history books as the first back-to-back winner of the Gr1 Empress Club Stakes, a race her daughter Gimme A Nother also won prior to being named Champion 3YO Filly and becoming a Gr2 winner in the States.

The 2010 Majorca delivered the sole deadheat in the race’s history and proved a triumph for leading stallion Jet Master, with the judges unable to separate his daughters Love Is In The Air and Gluwein. The champion stalllion would add a second Majorca winner in 2012, courtesy of his strapping daughter Ebony Flyer, who powered clear of her rivals to score by the best part of two lengths.

Love Is In The Air’s attempt at a Majorca double was thwarted in 2011 when she had to settle for second behind Varsfontein homebred Covenant, who in time, became the dam of promising young stallion Erik The Red.

The 2014 Majorca went the way of one of the best modern-day distaffers, Beach Beauty. Fresh off a scintillating repeat victory in the Maine Chance Paddock Stakes, the champion overcame the widest draw to take the Majorca by a clear-cut 1.25 lengths. Now a priceless broodmare for Drakenstein Stud, she is the dam of four stakes winners, the most noted of which Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas and Cartier Paddock winner Beach Bomb, a subsequent Gr1 performed stakes winner Stateside.

Drakenstein Stud first tasted Majorca success in 2015 with homebred Inara. Twelve months later, she successfully defended her crown in what was also a clean sweep for the stud, leading home part-owned runner-up Same Jurisdiction and fellow homebred Lanner Falcon.

In 2017, Silvano’s daughter Nightingale provided the Wilgerbosdrift/Mauritzfontein outfit with a Majorca success - also trainer Candice Bass’ first Gr1 success - and this year, her Gr2 winning daughter Rainbow Lorikeet, from the same yard, will attempt to emulate her dam, in what would be a historical first.

Drakenstein Stud returned to the winner’s enclosure in 2018 when Snowdance completed the Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas/Majorca double. Raced In partnership with the late Jack Mitchell, this daughter of Captain Al has made a flying start to her broodmare career by producing Gr1 Cape Guineas hero Snow Pilot as her first foal.

The stud dominated the Majorca for the next two years, with homebred Clouds Unfold landing both the 2019 and 2020 renewals. As a three-year-old, she claimed the scalp of the previous season’s champion juvenile filly Lady In Black and twelve months later held off champion Celtic Sea by a neck.

In 2022, Suzette Viljoen’s splendid filly Captain’s Ransom repeated her Majorca success of 2021. It was one of a quartet of Gr1 victories in an exemplary season which earned her a coveted Horse of the Year Title.

Princess Calla was the reigning Horse of the Year when she registered her fifth top level success in the 2024 Majorca at age six, defeating the three-year-younger Rascova, who promptly set the record straight twelve months later with a shorthead defeat of Double Grand Slam. The latter returns a champion and with two Gr1 successes already under her belt, will be the pick for many punters to go one better.

Dionne Warwick (That’s What Friends Are For) and West End Girls (The Pet Shop Boys) were on the top of the charts as fate and the weather conspired with the South African Turf Club to make the 1986 J&B Metropolitan Stakes one of the most successful meetings ever. Nothing went wrong and the hot, still afternoon kept the big crowd at the course until long after the last race.

With the early favourite Fools Holme (USA) out of the race with a sprained hock, the outcome was fairly predictable.

The 22/10 favourite Wild West, the only horse really in the betting (6/1 and better being offered about the rest of the field), fulfilled all expectations. Trainer Ralph Rixon sent him out in magnificent shape and stable jockey Greg Holme did the rest, in spite of dropping his whip at a crucial stage of the race.

Voodoo Charm set a fair pace from the break with Supreme Sovereign in second spot and Wild West next best – a position they kept into the straight. Holme then sent Wild West after Voodoo Charm, catching him just inside the 200-marker. Holme kept him going to hold off strong challenges from High Wonder (Christie Blom), who had raced wide all the way, and Mauritzfontein (Karl Neisius).

Wild West passed the post ¾ length clear of the fastfinishing High Wonder and Mauritzfontein (GB), who were separated by a short-head, to give Ralph Rixon his first Metropolitan Stakes winner. He carried the colours of the Circle Seven Syndicate (nominee Dr A Moffson) and to that date had earned close on R400 000.

A striking looking chestnut, and never more magnificent than in the Metropolitan preliminaries, Wild West was bred at Paul de Wet’s Zandvliet Stud by the Derring Do sire Roland Gardens (Ire) out of the New South Wales (GB) mare Wild Ash, a winner of seven races up to 1600m, including the Cape and Natal Fillies Guineas.

Her dam Ashplant (Herculaneum (GB)) produced among others, Whiteoak (Noble Chieftain (Ire)) who won nine races and was placed in both the Cape Guineas and the Metropolitan.

Interestingly, 16 horses started in the 1986 Met. Next Saturday we have 11.

FINDS HER BEST FORM DAUGHTER OF VERCINGETORIX

Canada-based SAJA graduate Ryan Munger rode a well-judged race to bag his first feature success on his current busman’s holiday when he stuck to his station down the inside to win the R225 000 Betway Listed Swallow Stakes on the Corne Spies-trained Elegantrix at the Vaal on Saturday.

The fixture was moved from the Turffontein Standside early in the week and produced some competitive racing.

In a fascinating visual spectacle, Gavin Lerena, who jetted out to the USA on Monday to partner One Stripe in the Pegasus Invitational at Gulfstream Park, kept the previously unbeaten Rifle Queen hard up the outside, while the balance raced down the inside.

Right into the final 200m, Rifle Queen flashed her oodles of pace and dug deep all on her own.

But Munger had timed it perfectly, and despite dispensing wasted nervous energy giving the handlers a hard time before going into the gates, Elegantrix (33-10) broke her eightmonth drought when drawing away to beat the gallant ‘loner’ and tote favourite Rifle Queen (7-2) by 1,50 lengths in a time of 68,09 secs for the straight 1200m.

Clinton Binda’s Season’s Greetings (100-1) caught the eye with an improved effort, a further 0,90 lengths back in third.

Raced by Trevelen Pillay’s TKP Racing Rob Macnab, Braam van Huyssteen, & S Poriazis, the winner was bred by the Greenacres Trust and Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud and is an R850 000 BSA National 2yo Sale graduate. She is out of the once winning Danehill Dancer mare, Elegantes.

Now a winner of 3 races with 5 places from her 13 starts, she took her stakes earnings to R748 519.

TO THE RESCUE! THE CANDYMAN

Justin Snaith jokes that he fears he may have ‘created a monster’, but Andrew Fortune keeps us entertained and the SA Champion trainer in the winner’s enclosure meeting after meeting.

The combination struck early at the Hollywoodbets Durbanville twilight meeting on Saturday.

“I see he has given the German a lot of rides today,” quipped the Candyman in a reference to visiting jockey Rene Piechulek’s full card of rides for the SA Champion.

Raced by the Charlie’s Angels Syndicate, of whom well-known owner Dr Jill Warner is the nominee, the handsome Avontuur-bred Meet The King (11-2) floated through down the rail after the

favourite Volegov (2-1) had run out of steam, to win the opening leg of the Pick 6.

Meet The King beat the 50-1 Oh So Onederful, on whom 4kg -claimer Eduan Muller, having his first ride in the Cape, ran a cracking second. Volegov stayed on for PA players in third, with the well-backed Snaith stablemate No Pressure (6-1) capping the quartet.

Dr Jill Warner told how Meet The King had been cleverly named by Avontuur as he was born on the passing of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. Apparently, the decision to purchase the gelding had been made at a dinner on the same day as King Charles 111’s coronation in May 2023.

In his excellent weekly Off The Record column, Charl Pretorius writes that Andrew Fortune’s extraordinary career is well documented and not only defined by the 1488 winners in the record book or the 60-plus stakes trophies on his mantelpiece.

Much has been said and written about the breathtaking wins, the ups and downs and controversies that have marked his 43 years as one of our racing community’s favourite sons.

Fortune’s is a mindset that refuses to accept final counts. It is shaped by discipline sometimes bordering on obsession, and by a level of selfbelief that has repeatedly carried him back from places most never return.

Last Saturday at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, Fortune added another chapter to his remarkable story.

At 58 years of age, riding off 54 kilograms – a weight he had not seen in three decades – he partnered two graded winners on King’s Plate Day. That success was followed by four further masterclass victories at Turffontein on Sunday and midweek at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth, reminding everyone that his name still belongs in racing’s biggest conversations.

Fortune has shed 36 kilograms since leaving South Africa as a retired, assistant trainer in June 2023, a physical transformation so dramatic that it has become as much a talking point as his February 2025 comeback itself.

When he stepped onto a flight bound for Sydney with his wife Ashley, daughter Kylie and son Sean, Fortune weighed 90 kilograms, but this figure began to fall rapidly once the family had settled at Bong Bong Farm in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales.

He recalls: “While Ashley was pre-training and spelling young horses for trainer Ciaron Maher, I was tasked with mucking out stables every day, from dawn till dusk, not exactly a model of

fitness at the time. The result was that I dropped 20 kilograms in just two months, simply by being active again.”

His days as a stable groom at Bong Bong brought perspective and renewed strength, but they also rekindled an old restlessness, a reminder that his relationship with the saddle was not yet finished.

One day, Fortune recounts, he was on a call with former champion jockey Jeff Lloyd, who at the time was having lunch in Brisbane with Robbie Fradd and visiting trainer, Mike de Kock. “They put me on the speakerphone so we could all have a chat, and Jeff told Mike that I wanted to ride again. Mike nearly choked on his lobster and said, ‘What? Andrew, are you kidding? You’re fatter than me. How the hell are you going to ride again?’

“That, right there, was like a spark to a flame. From that moment, I decided I would plan my way back to race riding and do it with full intent.”

The same engagement with social media that once landed Fortune in hot water in South Africa would, ironically, come to his aid this time. “I kept seeing promotional content pop up on Facebook about intermittent fasting, and I started

experimenting with the recommended approach,” he explains.

The fasting experiment produced the desired results. “I’d eaten badly for six years, so I had to retrain my body for good habits,” he says. “But while I was doing that, I remained kind to myself. If I overate on a day, I put it behind me and started afresh the next day. Eventually, I got well below the 70-kilogram mark and applied for a track licence (to ride work) in Australia, but my application was denied. That course of events forced my hand and ultimately led me back to South Africa and the reissuing of my licence in 2025.

“It took me 14 months to get my licence back in South Africa. To be honest, at the end of that frustrating period, I came very close to giving up and flying back to Australia. But as I was about to call it quits, I received notice that I was granted a licence and could ride again.”

Initially restricted to 58 kilograms, Fortune has steadily reduced his riding weight to 54 kilograms. He walked off the track at Kenilworth weighing 52.5 kilograms after the high-octane action of King’s Plate Day.

“In most of the 2000s, as you’ll recall, I could only ride at 60 kilograms, sometimes 58,” he says. “Back then I was walking around at about 62 kilograms, so I had to take off four kilos just to make 58kg for most of my rides, which was very taxing on my body. Now, my official riding weight is 54kg and there is no wasting before a race. My level of energy is frightening, I think it is there for all to see.”

With his fasting habit now engrained, Fortune eats just one full meal a day. He begins his early mornings with a cup of black coffee and keeps boiled eggs in the fridge. “I grab one when I’m low on fuel,” he explains. “When the main meal of the day approaches and I start getting hungry, I push myself to wait another hour. Then I’ll have chicken breasts with eggs or vegetables. I stick to high-protein food – no carbs, artificial food or fizzy drinks.

“Also, I’ve noticed, when I replace chicken with fish, the weight drops off even faster. I ate mostly fish when I got down from 57kg to 54kg. This is not rocket science; anyone can do it. There’s a fundamental difference between dieting and fasting. Dieting involves a set of rules, which is always hard to stick to, because people tend to overeat on ‘cheat days’. When you overeat on bad things, you pick up weight quickly, but when you overeat on good things, you tend to get away with it.”

He continues to follow an exercise programme, though not as rigid as in the past. “Interval training works for me,” he explains. “I do maybe half an hour every few days, typically walking for a minute and then running hard for a minute, alternating the pace.”

With body and mind now once again in sync, the skills that made Fortune a champion are once again unmistakable, and he’s finding winning

ways on horses that have defeated others. “Justin Snaith said the other day that he thinks I’m riding better now than I did before my retirement, and he may well be right. We’ve got a good thing going, and I hope it can continue.”

In a recent Off The Record article, Fortune’s jetsetting South African colleague, Ryan Munger, offered a broader perspective on elite riders, noting: “Jockeys like Piere Strydom and Andrew Fortune are so good because they’ve mastered race-defining skills – balance, timing, and getting a horse to change its lead. That’s why they’re always one step ahead.”

Fortune, while describing Piere Strydom as “truly gifted”, concedes that he, too, belongs in that

rare category. “I said to some of the jockeys the other day, ‘We can all ride horses, but we don’t all understand horses.’ When you can feel what they’re about, they run for you.”

He made a similar observation in an article published in The Citizen in 2008, reflecting on his first few months as an apprentice jockey, back in 1981: “…as the weeks went by, I felt something click. I couldn’t explain it, but I started noticing that horses responded to me in a different way to what I saw with other apprentice riders. I listened to them and they listened to me. They did what I asked them to do.”

Enjoy the rest of the story by clicking on the image below:

‘AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ DANCER’S DAUGHTER’S GRANDSON

The well-bred Behave Harris (Hawwaam) made a big impression when he romped home to win the first race at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday. The winner, an R800 000 National Yearling Sale buy, is raced by Wales-based, Mr and Mrs Harris – hence his name.

One of two winners over the weekend for his five-time Gr1 winning sire Hawwaam, Behave Harris’s victory brought back memories of his wonderful granddam Dancer’s Daughter (Act One).

Dancer’s Daughter, a grey like her grandson, was an exceptional performer whose five Gr1 victories included an unforgettable dead-heat in the 2008 Vodacom Gr1 Durban July.

The daughter of Act One won Gr1 contests from 1600m to 2200m, with her other triumphs including scores in the TBA Paddock Stakes, 2008 Fancourt Majorca Stakes, 2008 Gold Challenge and 2009 Empress Club Stakes.

Winner of 11 of 18 starts, the charismatic grey, one of the most popular horses of her generation, was crowned Equus Champion Older Female Miler in 2008 and Equus Champion Older Female in 2009.

Dancer’s Daughter was also invited to compete in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup meeting, but an injury forced her retirement to stud. One can but speculate as to what she might have achieved in America!

While Dancer’s Daughter failed to produce anything of her own class, she has been responsible for five winners, sired by five different stallions.

Her progeny included Listed Kings Cup winner Born To Perform (by Silvano), the stakes placed Step Lively (Pathfork), and the smart filly Artiste (Canford Cliffs). The latter won two of her first four starts and was rated good enough to take her chance in the 2025 Cartier Gr2 Sceptre Stakes.

Behave Harris was produced by Dancer’s Daughter’s twice winning Western Winter daughter Dashing Scarlet.

The latter had enjoyed success previously as the dam of the six-time winning Red Sash (The United States), and the useful pair of Grand Bay and Silvano’s Dasher (both sired by Silvano). Silvano’s Dasher showed smart form early in his career when he won three of his first five starts.

This season’s classy three-year-old Shadowfax (One World), second in last season’s Follow@WorldPool on X Gr2 Umkhomazi Stakes, was produced by Dashing Scarlet’s daughter Dipladenia (Flower Alley).

Sired by a son of Silvano, Behave Harris is very closely related to both Dancer’s Daughter’s classy son Born To Perform and the aforementioned Grand Bay and Silvano’s Dasher.

Behave Harris is also bred on a similar cross to Gr2 SA Oaks winner Wind Chill - the dam of recent Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes winner Wish List. The latter was sired by Silvano out of the Western Winter mare Windin The Willows.

While Dancer’s Daughter’s descendants could well still further her impact on the South African stud book, they will have a long way to go to match the feats of Dancer’s Daughter half-sister Imvula. The daughter of Aqlaam produced three blacktype horses, chief of which was dual Equus Champion, and Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara winner, Rain In Holland (Duke Of Marmalade).

Another half-sister to Dancer’s Daughter, Princess Magdalena (Pennekamp), produced dual Gr2 Merchants winner and top sprinter, Search Party (Captain Al).

BEST BEHAVIOUR HARRIS ON HIS

The first of the seven races at the country course on Saturday was the HWB Durbanville Welcomes You Maiden Plate (3yo’s) over 1250m , and here the joint 5/2 favourite BEHAVE HARRIS scored a very easy victory.

On leaving the stalls it was Red Wave who elected to make the running, and between the 1000m and 600m markers they recorded the fastest time of the afternoon.

The son of Hawwaam meanwhile raced some four and a half lengths behind the leader in sixth. He was ridden to lead 150m out by J P van der Merwe, and after quickly shooting clear, he won easing down by four and three quarters.

Fellow joint favourite Big Deal (25/2 into 5/2) didn’t find the clearest of passages in the straight, and although never a threat, he ran on strongly in the closing stages of the race to finish second.

Another to win with authority on this card was the well-supported EDUCATOR in the Team Blu Syndicate Class 4 (f&m) over 1600m

Considered good enough to contest the WSB Gr1 Cape Fillies Guineas in her penultimate start, Dean Kannemeyer’s charge broke well and was soon positioned just three lengths off the speed.

She was always travelling well and only had to be shaken up in order to strike the front 300m out. The original favourite Boozy Susie tried her best to make a race of it, but only having to be ridden with hands and heels in the closing stages, the daughter of One World went on to score quite a bit more easily than the official winning margin of a length and a quarter would suggest.

Going: Good

Penetrometer: 22

Rain: Last 7 days Nil

Irrigation: Last 24 hours 10mm –Last 7 days 60mm

False Rail: 2m spur at 550m; inside rail 2m out from 550m to pull up

Wind: 16-19km/h South Westerly head wind

Course Variant: 1,6s fast

In terms of stake money, the Hangover Syndicate C Stakes over 1000m topped the bill and here it was nice to see the 8yo ALL ABOUT AL register a well overdue sixth career victory.

Racing off a mark some fourteen points below that of his earlier best, Adam Marcus’ charge was soon positioned just a length and a quarter off the fair pace set by the fancied Flying South.

He put his head in front shortly after passing the 200m marker, and although he was challenged strongly by the 4yo Moody Blue over the final 100m, he did have that one held by three quarters of a length at the wire. Despite being bumped at the start, racing with his head up early, and reported by the vet as coughing, the runner up recorded a time of 21,71 seconds over the final 400m which proved to be the fastest of the afternoon for that segment.

The only distance to stage more than one race was 1400m where, by far the quickest of the three, was the Hollywoodbets Bright Future C Stakes

won by the Gimmethegreenlight gelding SOMMERSTERN.

Nibbled at on course into 8/1 from 25/2, Lucinda Woodruff’s charge raced seventh and was easily five lengths off a good pace set by the well supported favourite Devil A Saint (9/2 into 28/10).

The money horse (carrying 0,9kg overweight) kept up a healthy gallop throughout and still two and a half lengths clear of the field going through the 200m, it looked as though he would go on to land the odds. Sommerstern found an extra gear over the final 150m though, and under a determined ride from Chad Little, he got up with just 10m left to travel.

Fastest Times: 1400m (3) Sommerstern 83,80 400-finish Moody Blue 21,71

END OF AN ERA IN PAARL FOR KOTZENS

The powerful Glen Kotzen racing operation based at the beautiful Woodhill Racing Estate in Paarl will relocate to the Milnerton Training Centre in a move that brings to a close 25 wonderful years for the famous racing family.

In a statement issued to their patrons on Tuesday evening, the Woodhill Racing Team confirm that they will hand the keys over to their neighbours Varsfontein Stud.

The statement records that in 2001, with a shared dream and a deep love for the land, the charming gentleman Neil Smith and his delightful wife Maureen founded Woodhill Racing.

On the recommendation of Carl de Vos of Varsfontein Stud, they purchased the beautiful farm opposite that iconic nursery of champions, unknowingly laying the foundation for what would become one of South Africa’s most treasured racing estates.

In partnership with the Smiths, Glen Kotzen transformed Woodhill into a truly world class private training establishment.

Over the next 25 years, Woodhill would write an extraordinary chapter in South African racing history, producing countless Equus Champions and a remarkable roll of honour.

Among them was the legendary Big City Life, born on this very soil, who went on to capture four Grade 1 victories, including the unforgettable 2009 Durban July.

For Glen and Kathi Kotzen, Woodhill was never just a training centre – it was home.

Here they raised their family from tiny tots into the engaging young adults they are today.

Their roots run deep in this land, and they feel profoundly privileged to have been able to call Woodhill their home for so many formative and treasured years.

With full hearts and great faith in the future, the Kotzen family have now decided to pass the baton to their wonderful neighbours, Varsfontein Stud.

They do so with complete confidence that Woodhill will be taken to even greater heights under such exceptional guardianship.

They extend their warmest wishes for every success in the years ahead and take great comfort in knowing that this special farm will continue to be loved, nurtured and respected and that they will always be welcome to return and visit.

While this marks the end of the Kotzen family’s tenure at Woodhill, it is by no means the end of their commitment to their horses.

Their care and welfare will, as always, remain at the heart of every decision. In partnership with Race Coast, training will continue from Milnerton and extend to Durban, while still making use of all racing tracks across the country.

In closing they state that they offer their deepest and most heartfelt thanks to their valued patrons, for their unwavering support, encouragement and friendship over the years. It has been an honour and a privilege to share this remarkable journey with you.

HABIB AGAIN RED-H T

Having registered his first Cape Grade 1 success when winning the World Pool Gr1 Cape Flying Championship on Kingdundee two Saturdays ago, the SplashOut-sponsored jockey Calvin Habib maintained his good form when booting home three winners, including Splicethemainbrace to score in the R150 000 Non Black-Type Lady’s Bracelet, at Fairview on Friday.

There was just no stopping Splicethemainbrace and Calvin Habib in Friday’s Fairview feature | Credit: Pauline Herman

In another example of a beautifully judged gun-to-tape ride, Habib had the Alan Greefftrained topweight Splicethemainbrace (20-1) rolling out front from the jump and the talented 4yo daughter of Master Of My Fate kept at her task all the way up the home run to hold Hoerikwaggo (5-2) to a 4,25 length defeat in a time of 97,09 secs for the mile.

The 28-10 tote favourite East Coast Girl moved up late but had to be content with third place.

Bred by Varsfontein Stud, Splicethemainbrace has won 11 of her 17 starts with a place for stakes of R887 282.

A daughter of Varsfontein’s Jet Master stallion Master Of My Fate, Splicethemainbrace is out of the Sail From Seattle mare Summer Cruise and was a R200 000 buy from the 2023 August Two Year Old Sale.

Up to the running of the feature, Tara Laing and Wayne Agrella had registered a double, with the in-form Dean Smith and Alan Greeff also on the same par on the scoreboard.

The next East Cape racemeeting is at Fairview on the polytrack on Friday 23 January.

MOVES ON UP ELEGANTRIX

Following her victory in the Betway Listed Swallow Stakes over 1200m at Vaal Racecourse, Elegantrix has had her official merit rating raised from 104 to 106.

The Handicappers identified Malibu , who finished fifth, as the most appropriate line horse for assessing this race, leaving her rating unchanged at 92.

Two more horses received merit ratings increments. Rifle Queen , runner-up,

improved from 96 to 99, while Season’s Greetings , who finished third, was lifted from 81 to 84.

Season’s Greetings increase was capped at 84, in accordance with race conditions that limit the maximum adjustment for placed horses to three points.

Two horses saw their ratings reduced after this race. Anchorage dropped from 101 to 99, and Jazz Pianist was lowered from 85 to 82.

Media release by the NHA on Monday, 19 January 2026.

IN STYLE OPENS ACCOUNT ADAM AZZIE

After a frustrating run of eleven places from his first 19 runners, Summerveldbased Adam Azzie finally broke the ice in good style at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday.

Having her third start, the Drakenstein raced and bred Thought Control (33-10) – a daughter of speed champion What A Winter – stayed on strongly to give Keagan de Melo the first of his three winners on the afternoon and beat a fast-finishing Spirit Of Shimla (33-10) by 0,70 lengths in a time of 83,55 secs for the 1400m.

Like rising Gqeberha star Dean Smith, Adam is a fourth-generation trainer.

He dissolved a longstanding partnership with his Dad Mike, packed up the Gauteng family home, and left his Randjesfontein base and moved to Race Coast’s Summerveld Training Centre in KZN in September last year.

His small string is installed at the yard once occupied by ‘Uncle’ Joe Joseph of Sentinel fame.

Adam and his Dad were amongst the 21st century pacesetters in the family stable

partnership stakes made popular by, amongst others, the likes of Gavin and sons Gareth and Chesney van Zyl, Michelle Rix and Harold Crawford, Brett and James Crawford, and, more recently, Mike and Mat de Kock.

The 38 year old Adam is married to Callie (nee Miller), whose Dad, Mike, is one of the most experienced trainers at Summerveld.

Adam, who has saddled Grade 1 winners, has empty boxes available and can be contacted via email at

adam@azzieracing.co.za or callie.azzieracing@gmail.com .

Alternatively, via mobile/whatsapp – 082 940 5381.

The next KZN racemeeting is on Sunday 25 January at Hollywoodbets Scottsville.

GOOD TIME GAUTENG RAIDER’S

The Live It. Love It. Own It

Conditions Plate over 1400m was the top liner in terms of stake money on the Hollywoodbets Greyville turf track on Sunday, and in what proved to be comfortably the fastest of the three races over the distance, the Gauteng raider Wild At War registered his second career victory.

The only runner on the card for Candice & Tammy Dawson, the son of Danon Platina sat fifth for most of the journey just three lengths off the fair pace set by Cymric. He ran on stoutly at the business end of the race and in an event where marginally over half a length covered the first four home, he got up in the dying strides. Wild At War carried 0,8kg overweight and was reported as coughing by the vet.

Just 0,41 seconds separated the winners of the two 1000m races. The Greyville Convention Centre Class 4 (f&m) was the quicker of the two and here the friendless PERFUME POWER (25/2 out to 14/1) gained her second win from just seven starts. The favourite Arverni Princess made the running and the pace was a good one. The daughter of Canford Cliffs raced just a half-length away in second though, and was always poised to strike.

Battle commenced as they approached the 300m marker and it was only in the final 100m that Duncan Howells’ charge began to get the upper hand. Interestingly, fifth placed Clickbait running on from towards the rear recorded the fastest 400m to finish time in the race, and that proved to be the quickest for that segment of the afternoon.

Going: Good

Penetrometer: 23

Rain: Last 7 days Nil

Irrigation: Last 24 hours Nil – Last 7 days 15mm

False Rail: 2m

Wind: 35-70km/h South Westerly tail wind

Course Variant: 1,10s fast

The KRA Cup Class 4 was by far the fastest of the three 1600m races on the card and here victory went to the nibbled at MAGMA MAGIC (10/1 into 8/1). A winner of just one from twenty coming into the race, the Erupt gelding was taken straight to the front by Tristan Godden and aided by the strong tail wind he kept up a healthy gallop throughout. Tony Rivalland’s charge was three lengths clear of the remainder when challenged by Numzaan 400m out, and after quickly getting the better of that one he went on to score comfortably by a length and a half.

The Hollywoodbets Bright Future Class 4 (f&m) over 1400m brought the afternoon’s proceedings to a close and all the rage here was the Pathfork filly HAPPY FORTUNE.

Sent off a well-supported favourite at 2/1, Trainer Darryl Moore’s only runner on the card raced eighth, a good six lengths off the pace. Very confidently ridden by Keagan De Melo (three winners on the card) though, he quickly made headway under just hands and heels in the straight. He was only really asked to race when the always handy Gorgeous Girl (led 200m) found extra when challenged 100m out, and with the rest comfortably beaten, he went on to score by a neck.

Fastest Times:

1000m (2) Perfume Power 57,45

1400m (3) Wild At War 82,33

1600m (3) Magma Magic 95,60

400-finish Clickbait 22,00

TURFFONTEIN: JANUARY MEETINGS MOVE TO VAAL

Following a track inspection, it has been determined that the Turffontein track surfaces require additional recovery time to return to optimal condition. Accordingly, 4Racing notifies patrons and stakeholders that the following venue changes will be implemented for January:-

• The meeting scheduled for 22 January 2026 will be moved to the Vaal Classic Track.

• The meeting scheduled for 24 January 2026 will be moved to the Vaal Main Track.

Race times remain as scheduled, and all distances remain unchanged.

A decision regarding the meeting scheduled for 1 February 2026 will be communicated pending an inspection next week.

MANY DREAMS! ONE STRIPE…

Reigning South African champion jockey Gavin Lerena touched down in Florida on Tuesday morning and takes his first ever ride on US soil on Saturday when he partners SA star One Stripe for internationally acclaimed trainer Graham Motion in the $1 million Gr1 Pegasus World Cup Turf at Gulfstream Park.

As a first-time visitor, the dual SA champion jockey won’t have much time to take in the stunningly beautiful beaches, but he will be keeping a beady eye out to avoid contact with one of the 1,3 odd million alligators that have made the Sunshine state, their home!

While for some jockeys, the big ride in a highprofile international event at a foreign track could be seen as a professional ‘baptism of fire’, Gavin has done his homework, knows the special horse very well, and will be taking advice and walking the Gulfstream Park course many times between now and the 23h54 off-time on Saturday.

The signs are good though as history shows that Gavin has done well first up at big events across the globe – enjoying success in the first internationally endorsed thoroughbred event held in Mainland China, the inaugural 2013 China Equine Cultural Festival Race Day in Hohhot, where he rode a winner.

During his first reign as SA champion, Gavin made his first appearance in the LONGINES International Jockeys’ Championship a hugely successful one in December 2015, when swooping late to take the last two legs of the four-leg series, and pocket the HK$500 000 winner’s cheque.

With Lerena leading the charge, the Rest of the World team secured the 2016 Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup silverware at Ascot after a thrilling finish to the competition which went right down to the wire.

So even as a 40 year old newbie at the annual race meeting at Hannandale Beach, Florida, Gavin is confident he has a fit and superbly talented dual Gr1-winning star to take South Florida’s premier horse racing and social event by storm. The event gets its name from a 30m-high statue of the Greek mythological horse in the grounds of Gulfstream Park.

The Drakenstein Stud-bred One Stripe is raced in partnership by Hollywood Racing and Rikesh Sewgoolam and bounced back to form when winning an Optional Allowance Claiming race with ease at the end of December. The son of Met winner One World has drawn perfectly in 4 for Saturday’s showdown!

The 2026 renewal marks the 10th running of the Pegasus World Cup, which first hit world headlines in 2016 as the richest race in the world – its $12-million purse surpassing that of the Dubai World Cup.

The prize pot rose to $16-million in 2018, but dropped to $9-million in 2019. Thereafter, entry fee structures and rules changed – including from buy-in to invitational – and the supporting Turf races were added and took slices of the stakes.

Gavin Lerena hails from a family steeped in racing. His great grandfather and grandfather were trainers, while Great Uncle Frederick Chapell was also a jockey and trained the winner of the 1957 Durban July – a 3yo filly called Migraine.

Another relative is Uncle Spike – a former jockey and a popular and successful present day Gauteng trainer – who trained the great Jungle Rock.

Gavin’s cousin Brandon is a jockey, while Gavin’s Dad Tex, a dead-ringer for rock legend Mick Jagger, was a top jockey for 22 years, who also rode successfully in Mauritius, before weight issues put paid to his career. Tex was in the 1970 academy intake that included the late Tobie Van Booma and now retired Cape veteran, Karl Neisius.

Gavin rode his first winner at Clairwood on 3 November 2002 when Waves Of Argosy won for trainer Jeff Freedman and owners Mr and Mrs Van Der Bank.

Two decades on, Dad Tex acts as his good son’s manager and only time constraints around a visa prevented him from joining Gavin on the incredible journey.

“I would have loved to have been there with Gavin, but he is experienced and a true professional. He has already done plenty of homework and will be ready to do his best for the connections and their fabulous horse,” Tex told the Sporting Post.

While he now has two national championship titles under the belt, Gavin hasn’t forgotten the character-building 2012 season championship chase that went right down to the wire at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on the final day of the term. On the day, Anton Marcus won on Scaky Phane and Pirate Flag to beat him by just a solitary winner. That was despite Gavin breaking his leg in the April and being off for six to seven weeks.

Gavin smashed Michael Roberts’ 30-year record for total wins by an apprentice in 2007, when he notched 238 successes en route to three champion apprentice titles. Incidentally, the apprentice record was subsequently improved by Lyle Hewitson in 2018 when he registered 285 wins.

In 2015, Gavin made headlines by riding 42 winners in June — a South African monthly record — to seal the national title, redeeming that heartbreak loss three years earlier to Anton Marcus on the final day.

In a dramatic season of highs and lows, Gavin rode 277 winners last term at a strike-rate of 24,8% and total stakes of R36 724 998 to beat the then reigning record-breaking champion Richard Fourie by 18 wins.

Gavin, who won the WSB Cape Town Met in 2022 on Kommetdieding, is carded to ride Cosmic Speed for Sean Tarry in next Saturday’s renewal of the Cape showpiece. A multiple former SA champion trainer, Sean Tarry’s only Met win to date was in 2005 when Garth Puller rode Alastor to victory. One would have to say the Randjesfontein master conditioner is overdue another.

The Gr1 Pegasus World Cup Turf is the 12th race on a thirteen-race Gulfstream Park card. Off-time is 23h54 on Saturday evening and you can enjoy the stride-by-stride action on Gallop TV. Remember to check the programme and play your special edition Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge!

TO KINGDUNDEE TEAM WORLD POOL MOMENT

The World Pool Gr1 Cape Flying Championship on L’Omarins King’s Plate raceday went the way of Dean Smith’s Kingdundee, who was ridden by Calvin Habib, marking a milestone victory for the young trainer and the Highveld-based jockey.

It was Dean Smith’s first Grade 1 win, achieved just months after taking out his official training licence and Habib’s maiden Grade 1 success in the Cape.

In recognition of this memorable victory, Dean Smith Racing was awarded the World Pool Moment of the Day, and a cheque of R100 000, a fitting honour that will undoubtedly provide a valuable assistance and serve as a major kick-start for what promises to be an exciting training career.

A special mention to KINGDUNDEE’s groom, Bongi Mtwesi, for his outstanding contribution.

BSA’S 2026 CAPE YEARLING SALE

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CATALOGUE NOW ONLINE!

The Cape Yearling Sale remains one of the best value for money thoroughbred auctions in South Africa.

It has a proud and impressive roll of honour, with past graduates ranging from the likes of champions Pocket Power and Mother Russia to recent graded stakes winners Buffalo Storm Cody, Main Defender, One Fell Swoop, Pistol Pete, and Rascova.

Bloodstock South Africa has announced that the catalogue for the 2026 Cape Yearling Sale is now online and can be viewed on their website.

The sale is set to take place at the SARDA Centre in Constantia on 01 March, with the auction set to commence at 12h00.

Many of the Cape’s top stud farms will be represented at the 2026 Cape Sale, and leading stallions Gimmethegreenlight, Master Of My Fate, One World, Querari, Rafeef, Vercingetorix and What A Winter all have at least one yearling on offer at the March auction.

The sale will also offer yearlings from the first crops of such exciting prospects as Digital Age, Jet Dark, Kommetdieding and Master Archie.

Among the numerous exciting prospects on offer are:

• Lot 1 – a Jet Dark filly out of Listed Jamaica Handicap winner Elusive Fortune

• Lot 4 – a Jet Dark half-brother to Gr3 Summer Fling Stakes winner Hold My Hand

• Lot 5 – a Flower Alley half-sister to recent Listed Betway Mother Russia Stakes winner Warm Reception

• Lot 6 – a Malmoos filly out of Gr2 Gold Bracelet winner Fort Ember

• Lot 17 – a Malmoos half-brother to Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint runner up At My Command

• Lot 28 – an Erik The Red half-sister to stakes winners Maleficent and Blackball

• Lot 38 – an Erik The Red half-brother to Gr3 winner Star Express, the dam of champion Bless My Stars

• Lot 44 – a Kommetdieding colt out of a four-time winning daughter of More Than Ready

• Lot 46 – a Hawwaam colt out of Gr3 winner Neptune’s Rain

• Lot 50 – a One World colt out of Gr3 Champagne Stakes runner up Ostinato

• Lot 55 – a Digital Age colt out of Listed

Syringa Handicap winner Persian Rug

• Lot 57 – a The United States filly out of an Iffraaj half-sister to Gr1 winner Pornichet

• Lot 63 – a Buffalo Bill Cody half-brother to Gr2 KRA Fillies Guineas winner Alexis

• Lot 91 – a Querari filly out of Gr3 Sycamore Sprint winner Tzigane

• Lot 92 – a Kommetdieding half-brother to Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery third Strike A Match

• Lot 96 – a Rafeef filly out of a Gr3 winning daughter of Jet Master

• Lot 100 – a Fire Away half-sister to Walls Of Dubrovnik

• Lot 101 – a One World half-sister to the stakes placed African Beauty

• Lot 106 – a Master Of My Fate halfbrother to this season’s top-class 3yo Randolph Hearst

• Lot 113 – a One World half-sister to smart performers Slalom Queen and The Mauritian

• Lot 119 – a Gimmethegreenlight filly out of a four-time winning daughter of Commands

• Lot 120 – a The United States half-brother to the smart One Eye On Vegas

• Lot 122 – a full-brother to Listed Wolf Power 1600 hero Irish Pride

• Lot 131 – a Declarationofpeace colt out of a Gr3 winning daughter of Captain Al

• Lot 135 – an Erik The Red filly whose dam is a Rafeef half-sister to globetrotting champion sprinter Isivunguvungu

FOR CAPE NEW STALLION

Forever Young’s emphatic victory in last month’s Breeders Cup Classic was yet another timely reminder of the strength of Japanese racing and breeding.

Cape breeders Mauritzfontein, Ridgemont and Wilgerbosdrift have announced their recent acquisition of the Japanese Grade One winner, Danon Scorpion. This purchase was only made possible due to their long standing relationship with the sellers.

He will take up stud duties next season at Wilgerbosdrift. He is very good-looking and stands just over 16 hands.

A brilliant racehorse, Danon Scorpion showed speed and precocity.

At 2, he won easily on debut and went on to win a stakes race at his second start, defeating 2yo Gr1 winner Killer Ability.

At his only subsequent start at 2, finished an excellent third in the Gr1 Asahi Futurity, only beaten by two official Champions in Do Deuce and Champion Sprinter Serifos. To put values into perspective, Do Deuce has taken up stud duty at Shadai Stallion Station where his fee is in excess of R1 million.

At 3 Danon Scorpion ran third in the Gr2 Fuji Stakes, again only defeated by two official champions in Serifos and Champion Miler Soul Rush (Dubai Turf).

He also won the Gr3 Arlington Cup and overcame barrier 18 to win one of Japan’s most prestigious 3yo races, the Gr1 NHK Mile Cup in Tokyo, defeating Serifos once more

Watch the NHK Mile Cup (JPN) by clicking on link.

From a pedigree perspective, Danon Scorpion offers breeders a great link to Kingmambo – via Champions Lord Kanaloa and Kingkamehameha (Multiple Champion Sire in Japan).

Lord Kanaloa was a Champion racehorse and Champion Freshman sire and upgrades his mares on AEI He was runner-up on the Japanese sires list for the past six consecutive years and has a number of sons at stud in Japan and Australia, including Saturnalia, who was leading 2nd crop sire in Japan in 2025 and produced Cavallerizzo, Champion 2YO of Japan in 2025

Danon Scorpion’s dam Lexie Lou was a brilliant race filly on both turf and dirt. She

defeated the best colts in the Queens Plate and has been inducted into the Canadian Hall Of Fame.

Her titles include, Horse Of The Year, Champion 3YO Filly and she was twice Champion Turf Female.

Watch Lexie Lou by clicking on link.

Syndication Details

Danon Scorpion has been syndicated into a 50-share syndicate. Each shareholder is entitled to send two mares per season for the first four seasons.Thereafter, one mare per season. He is already fully syndicated, but as with their previous investments, the partnership are always happy to make shares available to fellow Breeders on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.

• Shares priced at R190k each (Less than 25% of a single nomination to Do Deuce!)

• Estimated price – subject to exchange rate and shipping.

• Price includes full first-year insurance and congenital infertility cover.

- REAL GONE KID NEW SIRE OFF THE MARK

Ridgemont’s blue-blooded speed machine

Real Gone Kid has made an early impact as the son of Snitzel marked his first winner at Fairview on Friday, courtesy of the Dean Smith-trained first-timer, Master Mtoto, who won the first East Cape juvenile race on the turf this season.

“He’s got a beautiful action and a future,” added Craig Zackey who rode a well-judged finish on the 7-1 Master Mtoto, who showed good ability and maturity to beat the more experienced 8-10 shot Fyfield Legend and US Ranger (3-1), in a rousing finish to clock 56,05 secs for the 1000m.

The winner was bred by Ndoro Stud and is out of the one-time winning Flower Alley mare, Castello Campanula.

A R200 000 2025 KZN Yearling Sale purchase by the late Gavin

Smith, the bravely named Master Mtoto understandably raced marginally green.

“He’s got a beautiful action and a future,” added Craig Zackey who rode a well-judged finish on the 7-1 Master Mtoto, who showed good ability and maturity to beat the more experienced 8-10 shot Fyfield Legend and US Ranger (3-1), in a rousing finish to clock 56,05 secs for the 1000m.

The winner was bred by Ndoro Stud and is out of the one-time winning Flower Alley mare, Castello Campanula.

A R200 000 2025 KZN Yearling Sale purchase by the late Gavin Smith, the bravely named Master Mtoto understandably raced marginally green.

FOR PATHFORK THREE WINNERS

Sandown Stud’s high-class Distorted Humor stallion Pathfork enjoyed three winners this past weekend.

Pathfork mare Black Path caused the upset when she won the sixth race at Hollywoodbets Durbanville on Saturday, while the stallion’s only two runners at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday both won their respective races.

The Peter Wrensch owned and trained Black Path made a mockery of her 33-1 starting price when she won Saturday’s Lucky Fish Aviator Class 5 (F and M) (1500m).

Under Keanen Steyn, the seven-year-old stormed home down the inside of the track to get up close home and win by nearly half a length.

Bred by the Cape Leopard Trust, Black Path is out of the Black Minnaloushe mare, Black Belvedere.

Pathfork struck twice at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday when his daughters Mountainsofthemoon and Happy Fortune won races seven and eight, respectively.

Under Craig Zackey, the Robbie Hill- trained Mountainsofthemoon made all the running to claim the Lucky Fish Fire Strike Class 5 (F and M) (1600m) by nearly three-parts of a length. Bred by Sandown Stud, the five-year-old races for Messrs C Holwill, Robbie Hill & M U Tayob.

Four-year-old Happy Fortune made it two wins from her last four starts when she won the Hollywoodbets Bright Future Class 4 (F and M) (1400m).

Under Keagan de Melo, she came with a strong late run to get up and win, going away, by a neck.

Happy Fortune races for Classic Racing (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Mr Willie Pieters) (M Dhanai, A E Du Sart, J P Du Sart, Pramodh Ora) & Al Khayl Breeders (Pty) Ltd.

Another bred by Sandown Stud, Happy Fortune is out of the Almushtarak mare, Joyful Dancer.

JOINS THE PURPLE TEAM MICHAEL OWEN

The Hollywoodbets’ list of brand ambassadors is nothing short of star-studded and the globally recognised brand has just added another legend to this list – the legendary English footballer Michael Owen was officially welcomed to the team as a brand ambassador at Hollywoodbets Greyville last Wednesday.

Owen is one of football’s most iconic strikers, best known for:

• Winning the Ballon d’Or in 2001

• Representing England on the world stage

• Playing for legendary clubs including Liverpool, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Newcastle United

• Scoring epic goals and becoming one of the most recognised names in international football

His career is defined by excellence, competitiveness and determination, values that strongly align with the Hollywoodbets brand while his hands-on involvement as a racehorse owner and breeder reflects a genuine, shared passion for the sport.

Owen’s impressive roster of racehorses includes:

• Brown Panther – winner of the Dubai Gold Cup, Irish St Leger, and Royal Ascot’s King George V Handicap

• Galileo Gold – Gr1 winner of the St James’s Palace Stakes

• Covert Love – Winner of the Gr1 Darley Irish Oaks

• Ebro River – Gr1 winner of the Phoenix Stakes

• Brad The Brief – Gr2 winner of the Greenland Stakes

Manor House Stables was founded and established by Owen in 2007.

A former cattle barn in Cheshire, it has been turned into a world-class thoroughbred training facility with the major facility housing around 130 horses.

This game-changing partnership looks set to strengthen Hollywoodbets’ presence on the international sporting stage while keeping fans at the heart of the action.

CARRIES SA FLAG DAUGHTER OF LANCE WITH PRIDE

Dubai Beach was a popular winner of the Gr2 Cape Verdi [sponsored by Azizi Developments] at Meydan on Friday evening when she gave veteran Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor his sixth win in the 1600m fillies and mares’ contest.

Before the race, much of the attention was on dual South African Gr1 winner Quid Pro Quo, who went on to run a superb race on local debut, lunging late between Dubai Treasure and Dubai Beach and failing to catch the latter by a neck.

“She made a little hard work of it, but she’s clearly improving and this fillies’ division is there for the taking,” said winning rider Kieran Shoemark

On Dubai Beach’s chances in the Gr2 Balanchine, over 1800m, he added: “She’ll stay nine furlongs as she hit the line strongly today so she should have no trouble seeing it out.”

Quid Pro Quo’s trainer Jerome Reynier was philosophical in defeat, saying: “Adrie [De Vries, jockey] was very happy with the filly. She fought hard to the post, and he thought he was going to win, but unfortunately, we got beaten very narrowly.”

Quid Pro Quo, who, after her sale in 2024, races in the internationally recognisable silks of Team Valor International, has an emotional rags-to-riches back story and remains close to many SA racing fans hearts.

We’d love to see her break through on the world stage, and Friday evening’s showing suggests she will. The grey Dubai Beach (Kieran Shoemark) powers

The daughter of unheralded Jet Master stallion Lance was bought back by her breeder Gerald Kalil due to a lack of interest, for just R60 000 (that’s about $3650 today!) at the 2023 KZN Yearling Sale and raced her in partnership with his wife Karen, before her sale to the new owners.

The Equus champion is out of the five-time winning daughter of The Sheik, Delightfull Diva and her breathtaking victory, with the odds stacked against her, in the R1 million Gr1 Douglas Whyte Stakes on 2024 World Pool Gold Cup day, saw her enter the SA racing history books.

She was to become the first filly to win all of the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship over 1200m, the Gr2 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m, culminating in the Gr1 mile, where she ran without front shoes after spreading a plate on the way to the start.

A former jockey, the late Barend Botes marked his 30th year as a trainer with a maiden Gr1 victory when Quid Pro Quo won the 2024 R1 million Allan Robertson Championship.

CHASE DRAMA CLARENCE HOUSE

Jonbon made it back-to-back victories in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot on Saturday as favourite Il Etait Temps fell at the second-to-last fence.

Ridden by Paul Townend, the grey Il Etait Temps had beaten Jonbon in their previous two encounters.

In reports from the Willie Mullins yard on Sunday, the Sporting Post learns that Il Etait Temps was home safely and went straight

to the feed pot. “He is in good form and very bright,” added a spokesman in what will be good news for the grey’s legion of followers.

Drama before the start saw James Bowen take Jonbon’s saddle after intended rider Harry Cobden had to be assessed for injury following an earlier race.

In a four-horse field, Jonbon swept clear of Thistle Ask as the pair headed towards the finish line.

Willie Mullins-trained Il Etait Temps had been expected to make it six straight wins and started the race as 2-5 favourite.

Jonbon’s trainer, Nicky Henderson, admitted he had not expected the 10-year-old to take victory as they approached the final stretch of the Grade One two-miler, but he believed stamina helped him.

Speaking to ITV, he said: “I came in here thinking his record of never being out of the first two was under big threat. I really did fear that.

“He was amazing. That was an end-to-end gallop. It seemed to test them all. I thought

he was beaten three out, but then he keeps going.He was a very fast horse. Now he’s not as fast as he was, but his stamina kicks in. He’s got older legs, but he’s brave, he jumps. You’ve got to be proud of him. That was a brave boy to come and do that.”

He was unsure, though, when asked whether Jonbon would now be a Cheltenham Champion Chase contender.

“I’d love to be trying him over further distances, but things have invariably gone wrong, when I have.” Henderson said.

Gidleigh Park pulled up with six fences to go.

GREEN AND GOLD COBDEN GOES FOR

Former British champion jockey Harry Cobden will don the famous green and gold colours of JP McManus from May 2026, having been appointed the leading owner’s No 1 rider for the start of next season.

Cobden, Britain’s Champion National Hunt Jockey in 2024, has signed an agreement as retained jockey for McManus, the most powerful owner in the UK and Ireland.

McManus simply said: ‘I’m delighted to secure Harry Cobden’s services for next season.’

This is a smart move by McManus, as Cobden is very well regarded by trainers on both sides of the Irish Sea. Last April he displayed great horsemanship aboard the Willie Mullins trained outsider Captain Cody to win the Scottish Grand National.

Cobden, 27, told the press: “It’s a massive opportunity for next season and obviously I’m very much looking forward to it.

“It’s obviously nice and a privilege to be asked. It’s a huge position; they’ve got lots of very good horses and I’m looking forward to it.”

“Ireland is obviously where the majority of the green and gold horses are. There’s lots of quality there, it’s great.”

Cobden was keen to acknowledge and praise fourteen-time champion trainer Paul Nicholls for the part he has played in his career and insists his “primary focus” is on doing as well as he can for his current boss before his new role begins.

He added: “I’ve really had one job in racing and that’s with Paul Nicholls, so I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.”

“The support I’ve had off him and his owners over the last 10 years has been unbelievable and without them an opportunity like this

wouldn’t have come along because nobody would know who I am.”

Irishman Mark Walsh has been McManus’ chief rider in Ireland since Barry Geraghty’s retirement five years ago, but Cobden looks set to take over that role.

When asked whether he plans to have a base in Ireland, Cobden added: “I don’t know, we’ll take it as it comes.”

McManus has more than 350 horses in training on both sides of the Irish Sea and he will head to Cheltenham with a number of outstanding chances, including Fact To File, who will bid to win the Ryanair Chase for a second consecutive year.

ENCOURAGING SIGNS FOR

AUSSIE RACING

The 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival has delivered its most significant economic impact on record, generating a Gross Economic Benefit of A$533 million to Victoria – a 6% increase on 2024 – according to the latest research conducted by market research company IER.

The 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival generated a Gross Economic Benefit of A$533 million to Victoria – the highest economic impact on record and an increase of 6% year on year.

Lexus Melbourne Cup Day delivered A$848 million to the national economy, also up 6% year-on-year.

71,690 visitors travelled to Victoria specifically for the event – the highest since 2017.

A record 7,4 million Australians engaged with Lexus Melbourne Cup Day.

18-29 age group attendance up 49.5% since 2019, reaching highest levels since 2015.

The annual Victorian economic impact study demonstrates the Carnival’s ongoing importance to Victoria’s visitor economy, with 71,690 visitors travelling to the state specifically for the event, the highest number since 2017 and up from 68,898 in 2024.

The Melbourne Cup Carnival’s economic impact extended nationally, with Lexus Melbourne Cup Day driving an A$848 million uplift to the national economy, a 6% year-onyear increase fuelled by rising attendance at functions and hospitality venues throughout Australia, according to the latest research conducted by market research company Quantum.

Interstate and international visitation reached impressive milestones across the 2025 Carnival:

• NSW visitors: 40,272 attended the Carnival, the highest figure in six years and approaching the 2019 record of 41,617

• New Zealand visitors: 12,375 travelled to Melbourne for the event, representing the highest level in 15 years

• International reach: Visitors attended from 37 countries, the most diverse international audience since 2014

• The visitor influx generated substantial economic activity across multiple sectors:

• Fashion, grooming and retail: A$63.4 million

• Accommodation: A$46.6 million across 248,500 commercial bed nights

• Food and beverage: A$35.9 million

• Fashion purchases in Victoria: 343,495 transactions

Critically, 81 cents in every dollar spent by visitors to the Melbourne Cup Carnival

provides benefits to the broader Victorian economy, demonstrating the event’s significance.

Lexus Melbourne Cup Day itself delivered significant national impact, with engagement reaching a record 7.4 million Australians (37.5% of the adult population) – the highest level ever recorded and representing a 2% increase on 2024.

Overall, 11,7 million people (59% of adult Australians) either watched, listened or engaged in an activity to celebrate Melbourne Cup Day.

The 2025 Carnival also saw increased attendance amongst the 18-29 age group, reaching levels not seen since 2015, with 68,288 attendees across the week. This follows three consecutive years of growth for this demographic – an increase of 24.8% since 2023 and 49.5% since 2019, demonstrating the event’s ongoing strong appeal and relevance to younger audiences.

IS TIMEFORM HORSE OF THE YEAR SPEED KING

Six-time Group 1-winning sprinter Ka Ying Rising has been crowned Timeform’s Horse of the Year (2025). Trained by David Hayes, last season’s Hong Kong Horse of the Year (2024/25) also earned the accolade as Timeform’s Champion Sprinter (2025).

A record-breaking phenom, Ka Ying Rising has earned HK$122.57 million and has won 17 of 19 career starts, including 16 in succession – equal to Golden Sixty’s record and one shy of Silent Witness’ all-time record in the city (17).

According to Timeform, New Zealand-bred Ka Ying Rising had five individual performances where he rated 130 upwards last year when he

collected five Group 1 wins and two in Group 2 – all part of his 16-race unbeaten streak, which he puts on the line in this Sunday’s (25 January) HK$13 million Gr1 Centenary Sprint Cup at Sha Tin.

“He’s the best horse I’ve trained, and he’ll be the best horse I’ve seen if he keeps going the way he is,” Hayes said. “His best attributes are his highcruising speed and his ability to lengthen at the business end of his races.”

Ahead of his second consecutive HK$28 million Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint success last December, the five-year-old’s HK$3.72 million

Class 1 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap

win at Sha Tin under Zac Purton earned him the unmatched Timeform rating of 135 to claim top spot for the year.

Conceding nine pounds to second-placed Group 1 winner Lucky Sweynesse, Ka Ying Rising lumped 135lb to first-up victory on 7 September over 11 rivals – many of whom carried 115lb – before then travelling overseas, where he claimed the world’s richest race on turf at Royal Randwick in Sydney, Australia – the AU$20 million (approx. HK$101 million) Gr1 The Everest – as the first foreign horse to achieve the feat.

Earlier in his career as a four-year-old in 2024, Ka Ying Rising won the HK$5.35 million Gr2 BOCHK Private Banking Jockey Club Sprint, remarkably lowering Sacred Kingdom’s 17-year 1200m turf track record at Sha Tin from 1m 07.50s to 1m 07.43s.

Over a month later in his first 2025 triumph, Ka Ying Rising then powered home in an extraordinary 1m 07.20s to land the Centenary Sprint Cup – leg one of the Hong Kong Speed Series – in what was the first of eight wins throughout the year.

Ka Ying Rising then claimed the Hong Kong Speed Series and the HK$5 million bonus with success in the HK$13 million Gr1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup and Gr1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize to round out his 2024/25 season in Hong Kong.

Mr Vitality (1995/96), Grand Delight (2002/03), Silent Witness (2003/04 & 2004/05) and Lucky Sweynesse (2022/23) have previously claimed the Hong Kong Speed Series.

The remaining awards for 2025 saw Calandagan named Timeform’s Champion Middle-Distance performer on 133; Field Of Gold was Timeform’s Champion Miler on 127; Minnie Hauk was acclaimed Timeform’s Champion Filly/Mare on 127, while Trawlerman was Timeform’s Champion Stayer, also rated 127.

Founded in 1948 by Phil Bull, Timeform is a leading sports data and content provider based in Halifax, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom.

KA YING RISING – CAN HE EQUAL SILENT WITNESS’ LONG-STANDING RECORD?

Bidding to equal Silent Witness’ long-standing record for the most consecutive wins by a Hong Kong, China-trained horse, Ka Ying Rising swept to an imperious barrier trial victory at Sha Tin last Thursday ahead of his tilt at history on 25 January.

Preparing to chase a 17th straight victory when he contests the HK$13 million Gr1 Centenary Sprint Cup at Sha Tin next week, Ka Ying Rising cruised over 1200m on Sha Tin’s dirt course under Zac Purton,

clocking 1m 10.36s, and beating stablemate Romantic Son by three-and-three-quarter lengths with Galax Patch third, while Helios Express was a sedate sixth.

The six-time Group 1 winner pleased trainer David Hayes as he vies to match the towering winning streak of Silent Witness, who was unbeaten in 17 starts from December 2002 to April 2005, when he was toppled by Tony Cruz stablemate Bullish Luck in the Champions Mile by a short head.

“Ka Ying Rising was very good. That was probably the fastest I’ve seen him jump out of the gates,” Hayes said. “His gate speed was incredible and then he was happy to just cruise along and won as you would expect.

“Zac said he had a healthy blow afterwards and that’s why he trials because he needs a tune-up before his race. He had a bit of striding work this morning (Wednesday, 21 January), he’ll do a bit more work and then he’ll be ready to go.

“He’s giving the impression he’s not going backwards. It’s hard to say he’s better than the performances he’s been giving recently but he looks like he’s right on song for 25th January.”

Since losing twice by narrow margins to Wunderbar as a three-year-old, Ka Ying Rising has soared to dizzying heights in 16 subsequent starts since February, 2024 –annexing six Group 1s, including the world’s richest sprint race, the Gr1 The Everest, twice breaking Sha Tin’s 1200m record and rising from 69 in the ratings to 138 as Hong Kong’s highest-rated horse.

Acclaimed as Hong Kong’s Horse of the Year for his unbeaten eight-win 2024/25 season, Ka Ying Rising returns to competition next week for the first time since surging to victory in the Gr1 LONGINES Hong Kong Sprint on 14 December.

If successful in the three-race Hong Kong Speed Series’ opening leg, the Centenary Sprint Cup, Ka Ying Rising would then have the chance to take outright ownership of the record for the most successive wins by a Hong Kong, China-trained horse in the HK$13 million Gr1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup.

Gr1 FWD Champions Mile winner Red Lion limbered up for the HK$13 million Gr1 Stewards’ Cup on 25 January by finishing second to David Eustace’s Greater Bae at Sha Tin this morning.

Ridden by Hugh Bowman, the gelding finished three-quarters of a length behind Greater Bae, who clocked 1m 10.81s on the dirt.

Red Lion will clash with Romantic Warrior, Voyage Bubble and My Wish in the Stewards’ Cup, which is the first leg of Hong Kong’s Triple Crown.

THAN JUST

TORQUE! HE’S MORE

Torque To Be Sure survived a protest in the stewards’ room to shrug his maiden tag on the biggest stage with a win in the A$3 million Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas on Saturday.

Torque To Be Sure (Ben Melham) survived a protest in the stewards’ room on Saturday | Credit: Magic Millions

The Matt Dunn-trained gelding was wayward in the straight under Ben Melham and made contact with odds-on favourite Ninja on several occasions, prompting jockey Tommy Berry to lodge a protest on behalf of connections.

While stewards took their time to consider the interference and deliberate over the result, they could not be satisfied that the contact cost Ninja the race and dismissed the objection.

For Dunn, the lucrative win was one to savour and came after a string of near misses with the son of Shamus Award. Torque To Be Sure had run minor placings in five of his 10 starts prior to Saturday.

“He’s been a frustration and I’m lucky I’ve got a very patient ownership group in him,” Dunn said. “But look what he did today, he’s certainly always had the talent and he did a wonderful job. The sky is the limit, who knows what he can do.

“We probably should’ve finished right next to Ninja two starts ago when Ninja nearly shoved him through the inside fence so maybe that was a square up late today.

“The A$3 million races are special, especially when you have a maiden going into them. This week is incredible and it’s getting bigger, it’s a wonderful carnival.”

Dunn combined with Neil Jenkinson to buy Torque To Be Sure for A$260,000 out of the Attunga Stud draft at the 2024 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

The duo partnered on four yearlings during Book 1 of the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, including a colt and a filly by Harry Angel.

Melham said Torque To Be Sure’s win was full of merit, despite the interference in the concluding stages of the race.

“He is a horse that can do a little bit wrong as we saw but he was dominant today I felt,” Melham said. “He was a bit wayward but he had a margin on the second horse.”

The win advanced Torque To Be Sure’s career earnings to just shy of A$2 million.

Crash The Party finished fourth in the race and, in addition to A$135,000 prizemoney, picked up A$162,500 as the first of the horses eligible for the Magic Millions Racing Women Bonus past the post.

Icarian Dream (7th – A$50,000), Hi Barbie (9th – A$25,000) and Norty Forty (16th –A$12,500) also picked up Magic Millions Racing Women bonuses for their female connections.

TAGALOA FILLY TOPS

A beautiful filly by Blue Diamond Stakes winner Tagaloa topped the final day of the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale on Sunday when selling for A$270,000.

Cape Schanck Stud, the successful Victorian thoroughbred operation for the Ottobre family, secured the top seller during Sunday’s Book Two session. Catalogued as Lot 1113, the good looking brown filly was offered by Yulong, the stud which stands her sire Tagaloa, himself a former Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase.

The filly is from a winning full sister to another Blue Diamond Stakes winner (and AJ Moir Stakes) in Extreme Choice – the superstar sire who now stands at Newgate Farm and sire of one of the week’s overall Book One top sellers at A$2 million.

Tony Ottobre, best known through the outstanding exploits of his Jenni horses including front running crowd favourite Pride of Jenni, was pleased to secure the A$270,000 filly.

“I was after some value,” Ottobre said moments after the filly’s purchase. “But obviously the other guys (underbidders) were on her as well. She’s a nice filly and I thought she was a strong enough horse to bid that high.

“I paid a fair price for her,” Ottobre added

Earlier in the afternoon local trainer Jay Bellamy went to A$200,000 to secure the full sister to last year’s A$1 million Magic Millions National 2Yo Classic winner Isti Star.

The filly, catalogued as Lot 1077, was presented by the Foster family’s Yarramalong Park and is from a Redoute’s Choice half sister to Group One winner Rewaaya.

“It’s tougher for us little fellas,” Bellamy said. “But we got lucky today and got one. These clients have had A$150,000 the whole time and we couldn’t get one. So I said we’ll have to go higher for this one and we got it.”

“That was our last bid,” Bellamy added. “So we were lucky.”

Across the Book Two sale over A$9.2 million was traded on 179 lots sold at an average price of A$51,466 and clearance rate of over 84 per cent.

Over the week of selling Book One and Two combined grossed over A$212.8 million at an average price of A$228,407 for 932 lots sold.

“I thought for Book Two it was a really solid day,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. “I think it (the one day format) worked very well.”

“The vendors received it well. They all had their horses in to parade on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.”

“The vibe and the new faces on the results sheet across the day was great – a new influx of buyers and they really supported the sale. The numbers today were great. We’ve got a gross over A$9.2 million and a clearance over 84 per cent.”

“All in all to have 140 less horses (catalogued) and have a really healthy and solid day it’s turned out a good format – it was really solid and ends the sale well.”

Bowditch said he couldn’t have been happier with how the entire carnival played out.

“It’s been the most incredible carnival. From the Gold Raceday to the Pacific Fair Polo and Showjumping, the Barrier Draw and of course TAB Magic Millions Raceday.”

“That alongside an incredibly successful sale has made it a hugely successful event. To everyone that has played their part we thank you. From the security staff to the bar staff, transport companies, the leaders and stud staff – there’s so many that make this sale very special.”

“We thank everyone for their participation and their efforts,” Bowditch added. “My team at Magic Millions have worked tirelessly and helped deliver the most remarkable event – I am so proud of them all.”

Entries are now open for the next Magic

Millions Digital Sale

(23-28 Jan) and will close on Wednesday. To find out more or to lodge an entry click here.

To view the results of the Gold Coast Yearling Sale or to make an offer on a passed in lot click here.

Book 2 Statistics (2025 In Brackets):

• Lots Catalogued: 241 (380)

• Lots Sold: 179 (235)

• Lots Passed In: 34 (102)

• Lots Withdrawn: 28 (43)

• Sale Gross: A$9,212,500 (A$10,673,500)

• Top Price: A$270,000 (A$185,000)

• Average Price: A$51,466 (A$45,419)

• Median Price: A$42,500 (A$36,000)

• Sold %: 84 (70)

Book 2 Top Sellers:

• A$270,000 – Tagaloa-Mightily filly (Lot 1113)

Vendor: Yulong (As Agent) / Buyer: Cape Schanck Stud (Vic)

• A$200,000 – Better Than Ready-Istiraaha filly (Lot 1077)

Yarramalong Park / Jay Bellamy (Qld)

• A$180,000 – Bivouac-Rebel Cry colt (Lot 1154)

Eureka Stud (As Agent) / Brett Cavanough Racing (Qld)

• A$170,000 – Tassort-Pinot Madam filly (Lot 1141)

Blue Gum Farm (As Agent) / Mishani Enterprises (Qld)

• A$150,000 – Better Than Ready-Haven colt (Lot 1060)

Telemon Stud (As Agent) / Gollan Racing Pty Ltd (Qld)

• A$150,000 – D’Argento-Sadler’s Wish colt (Lot 1163)

Bowness Stud / Wenguang Niu (China)

WITH SAJA KRA STRENGTHENS TIES

The South African Jockey Academy (SAJA), in partnership with Race Coast, was proud to welcome Executive Director of the Racing Division, Mr. Song Daeyoung, alongside Mr. Ma Jeongseok, Director of the Race Planning Department, and Mr. Cho Minkyo, Senior Manager of the Race Planning Team from the Korea Racing Authority (KRA), marking a significant milestone in international collaboration within the global racing industry.

The visit began at SAJA in Summerveld, where the delegation was received and introduced to the academy’s training philosophy and programmes through a guided tour, offering insight into its facilities, including stables, training tracks, classrooms and onsite accommodation, all designed to support the holistic development and wellbeing of apprentice jockeys.

From Summerveld, the delegation travelled to Hollywoodbets Greyville, where they were hosted in the Chairman’s Box. During Race 2, the delegation was officially welcomed on the big screen, acknowledging the crowd as the racecourse commentator extended a special greeting on behalf of the industry.

A standout moment of the afternoon took place during Race 6, which included a ceremonial escort of the delegates to the Gold Horseshoe, the lead-in of the winning horse, the presentation of the horse blanket, official photographs and post-race interviews.

The occasion concluded with formal addresses and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Korea Racing Authority and South African Jockey Academy.

SAJA representatives confirmed that the agreement marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter of cooperation between the two organizations.

The MOU provides for five Korean apprentices, four male and one female, to

join a mutually agreed two-year professional training programme at SAJA under the guidance of the Academy’s Riding Masters and operational team.

Speaking at the ceremony, Academy

Chairman Mr. Basil Thomas highlighted that the partnership reflects a shared commitment to excellence, professional development and meaningful global engagement within horse racing.

The agreement was formally signed by Mrs. Tarryn Mason, Chief Operating Officer of the South African Jockey Academy, and Mr. Song Daeyoung, Executive Director of the Racing Division of the Korea Racing Authority.

• Media release by SAJA on Tuesday, 20 January 2026.

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