SP Sprint 22 March 2023

Wednesday 22 March 2023

Who Said Green Is Unlucky?

St Patrick's Day fun on the final day of Cheltenham 2023image courtesy of Cheltenham

MEYDAN MAGIC ON SATURDAY

We are just three sleeps away from one of the most spectacular days of racing on the global calendar on Saturday at Meydan. It will be the 27th running of the Dubai World Cup meeting, which offers $30.5 million in prize-money across nine races.

The feature event is the Gr1 Dubai World Cup, sponsored by Emirates Airline, where Country Grammer attempts to become just the second horse to win two Dubai World Cups. The defending champion was the star attraction on the main track at Meydan on Monday,

Assistant to trainer Bob Baffert, Jimmy Barnes said: “Country Grammer arrived here directly after his assignment in Saudi Arabia and shipped well. He likes the surface here and this is more of a trip that would suit him.

Senor Toba and Russian Emperor appeared in fine condition at Meydan on Tuesday morning as the pair strode powerfully down the turf straight as one, much to the delight of the grey’s trainer Caspar Fownes, who watched

on from the grandstand.

Douglas Whyte trains Russian Emperor and was in the saddle, while Senor Toba was partnered by Alberto Sanna –who reunites with the former this weekend – as preparations continued for their Gr1 Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m) test this Saturday night (25 March).

Setting off down the back straight at Meydan, Senor Toba and Russian Emperor motored through their hit out, matching strides to pass the winning post in unison as the sun began rise.

“He’s (Senor Toba) been a bit disappointing his two runs overseas this prep but I think he’s a little bit better now. We’ve been treating him for some internal issues and I give him a chance to finish between fourth and sixth in a race like this.

“It’s a very strong race and obviously you’d like to have seen him in better form leading into this race, but at the same time horses can turn things around pretty quick,” Fownes said.

Senor Toba has raced twice in the Middle East, finishing seventh in the QAT Gr1 H.H. The Amir Trophy (2400m) in Qatar and eighth in the Gr2 Dubai City Of Gold (2410m) at Meydan earlier this month.

Senor Toba will get the

services of superstar jockey Frankie Dettori this weekend.

“I just wanted to see who was available and obviously when I saw Frankie was there I jumped at him. He’s a superstar, one of the greatest jockeys of all time and his record is incredible,” Fownes said.

Russian Emperor has also raced twice. He won the QAT Gr1 H.H. The Amir Trophy (2400m) before closing for an eye-catching fifth in the Gr1 Jebel Hatta (1800m) at the start of March.

Japanese Horse Of The Year

Equinox – a two-time Group 1 winner with a limited but already towering record – is shaping as the horse to beat in the US$6 million race (approx. HK$47.04 million).

The four-year-old – trained by Tetsuya Kimura in Japan –sent cameras into a frenzy as he strutted his stuff in front of the media scrum in the early hours.

“This is his first overseas trip and he’s still getting used to his new surroundings, although I think he’s getting better day by day and I am happy with how he moved this morning,” Kimura told the Dubai Racing Club.

The Kitasan Black colt is owned by Silk Racing Co Ltd. He boasts four wins from six starts, including victories in the 2022 Gr1 Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m) and 2022 Gr1 Arima Kinen (2500m) at his most recent outings.

FRANKIE AND BOB TO KEEP IT COUNTRY

Two of global racing's biggest names in Frankie Dettori and Bob Baffert combine with Country Grammer in a Dubai World Cup title defence on Saturday.

The win in the big race last year was Frankie’s fourth World Cup but his first at Meydan since the days of Nad Al Sheba.

Dettori said his 16-year drought in the biggest race

staged in a country that has been his second home, has been an itch he was desperate to scratch, and revealed the story of how he got the ride on Country Grammar.

"I've equalled Jerry Bailey now and he's a hero of mine," said Dettori, whose three previous winners before 2022– Dubai Millennium, Moon Balad and Electrocutionist – came in the Godolphin Blue.

"Once I got a smell of

Country Grammer being free, I disturbed Mr Zeddan in his polo game. He told me to ring Bob, who made me swear I was free to ride.

"I've known Bob for over 30 years from my time in California and I've galloped horses for him in the past, but I really believe it's my first [race] ride for him."

This is Frankie’s farewell year and after being beaten into second by Japanese long-shot

Panthalassa in the $20-million Saudi Cup in February, Country Grammar will be cherry ripe on Saturday after he skipped the Breeders’ Cup Classic with the Saudi Cup and Dubai always the aim.

And Frankie will want to go out with his customary fireworks.

“I went to Santa Anita

because I was asked to go instead of spending winter in Dubai. Then I move onto the European programme and Royal Ascot should be my last one. Then the Breeders’ Cup should be my last meeting. I don’t know, maybe the Melbourne Cup could materialise, but basically this year will be my last. I will be 53 in December and hopefully I will finish at the

top. It’s very hard to choose the right moment but I want to have another life after racing. It’s been 36 years and I’ve really enjoyed myself on some champion horses so I have been very lucky.”

Follow all the Dubai World Cup news on wwww sportingpost.co.za

LOYALTY PAYS DIVIDENDS

There can be few more staunch jockey-horse partnerships around than that between Apprentice Philasande Mxoli and the game Red Ray 4yo Alula’s Star.

The duo showed their mettle in fine fashion again at Turffontein on Saturday with a thrilling victory in the R200 000 Gr3 Sycamore Sprint.

Only one other rider has ever been behind the controls for the very smart Alula’s Star’s 19 starts, and then she ran downfield.

On Saturday, young Mxoli made it 6 wins, and a second stakes success, in 18 outings, when the Winterbach Stud-bred daughter of Red Ray produced a sustained finish at 10-1 to gain a narrow edge over the 2-1 favourite Kiss Me Captain in a time of 67,04 secs for the 1160m dash.

Cold Fact (25-2) was always thereabouts and stayed on well for a 1,25 length third.

The winner was saddled by Hollywoodbetssponsored Stuart Pettigrew.

A R60 000 CTS Ready To Run purchase, the winner was bred by Winterbach Stud and is a talented dual stakes-winning daughter of Red Ray (Western Winter) out of the six-time winning Captain Al mare Solar Voyager.

Alula’s Star’s Gr1 Mercury Sprint winning sire Red Ray, who shares his sire Western Winter with boom stallion What A Winter, made the perfect start to his stud career, with Alula’s Star one of two graded stakes winners to have emerged from Red Ray’s small first crop. Red Ray’s first crop was headed by Gr1 World Sports Betting SA Classic victor and millionaire, Red Saxon.

The son of Western Winter has a single lot on offer at the upcoming National Yearling Sale.

A winner of 6 races with 8 places from 19 starts, Alula’s Star has now won stakes of R650 062.

KLAASEN AND PIETERSE CELEBRATE FEATURE WIN

Just a fortnight after booting home his career first feature success, 20 year old Gabriell Pieterse rode a cracker from the front to win the R150 000 Listed Jacaranda Handicap on the 66-1 longshot Bureau Des Legende at Turffontein on Saturday.

While it was a popular outcome for the minority that included the Legislate 4yo in their Pick 6 perms, Pieterse did the honours in professional style and marked a maiden stakes victory for new lady trainer, Robyn Klaasen.

On Classic Day, the young jockey was in the cockpit when Infinite Wonder won the Europa Point Listed Drum Star Handicap and he was clearly thrilled on Saturday to have his Zambia-based Mum Candice on course to enjoy the moment.

It was a straightforward affair, with Bureau Des Legende breaking well and dictating matters for much of the 1800m trip. This was her maiden stakes success and her first victory beyond a mile. Into the run for home,

the gutsy filly drifted out marginally but maintained a good gallop to hold the more fancied and overdue Queen Of Shadows (9-2) under overweight Keagan de Melo to 0,40 lengths in a time of 111,05 secs.

Terra Time (6-1) looked well in the preliminaries and stayed on best for third, a further 0,60 lengths back.

Bred by Drakenstein Stud, the winner is a 4yo daughter of Dynasty stallion Legislate out of the twice-winning Western Winter mare, Arabian Winter.

Legislate made a spectacular start to his stud career with his small initial crop producing four graded stakes winners and two other stakes winners. South Africa’s Horse Of The Year in 2013-2014, four-time Gr1 winner Legislate has two lots on offer at this year’s National Yearling Sale.

A R30 000 purchase off the August Online Sale of 2022, Bureau Des Legende is raced by NuAtlas Racing (Nom: Mr P J Klaasen) and took her stats tally to 6 wins with 4 places from 21 starts for stakes of R424 625.

WINTER

ARRIVES EARLY

The late Western Winter really made his presence felt at Turffontein on Saturday, with the former multiple champion sire impressing yet again as both a sire of sires and broodmare sire.

Not only did Western Winter son Red Ray supply Saturday's Gr3 Sycamore Sprint winner Alula's Star, the stallion's daughter Arabian Winter is dam of Listed Jacaranda Handicap queen Bureau Des Legende (Legislate). Western Winter is also broodmare sire of Jacaranda Handicap fourth place finisher Sister

Light (Visionaire), while his son What A Winter is the sire of Sycamore Sprint third Cool Fact.

What A Winter also made his mark on Saturday with his three-year-old daughter Nettleton catching the eye when making a winning debut at Turffontein. In winning the first race on Saturday, Nettleton bested her paternal half-brother Iron Sky to win by a length. The Drakenstein Stud resident went on to enjoy a double at Turffontein with What A Winter gelding Siberian Steel landing the

spoils in the ninth and final race on the day.

Western Winter, South Africa's Leading Broodmare Sire in 2017-2018 , is currently third on the Broodmare Sires lis

What A Winter is enjoying a tremendous season this year, with the former sprint champion currently second on the General Sires List. Also currently South Africa's Leading Sire of 2YO’s by stakes earned for 2022-2023, What A Winter has been responsible for graded stakes

winners Humdinger, Miss Cool and Winter Cloud this season.

Red Ray and What A

Winter are not the only sons of Western Winter to enjoy success of late, with the Western Winter sired champion Capetown Noir responsible for recent Gr2 World Sports Betting Hawaii Stakes winner Under Your Spell, and the unbeaten Cherry Ano. The latter has won all three of his starts and looks a progressive sort in the making.

Yet another son of Western

Winter, Met runner up, Last Winter is set to be represented by his first yearlings in 2023.

Western Winter, South Africa's Leading Broodmare Sire in 2017-2018 , is currently third on the Broodmare Sires list, with runners having already banked more than R9.9 million this season. Western Winter daughters have produced five stakes winners in 20222023 thus far, including Gr1 WSB Cape Fillies Guineas/ Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes heroine Make It Snappy (Dynasty).

Inbreeding to Western Winter has also produced good results of late, with this pattern responsible for, among others, recent Listed Hollywoodbets

Durbanville Cup hero

Thefutureisbright (Futura), as well as the graded stakes winners Miss Cool (What A Winter) and Snow Report (What A Winter).

Bulleting Home (Western Winter), who won the 2017 Gr3 Kings Cup, is not inbred to Western Winter but he is closely inbred to the latter's dam Chilly Hostess.

THE FIRE’S BURNING BRIGHT!

Wilgerbosdrift’s impeccably bred War Front stallion Fire Away celebrated his first stakes success when the progressive Luna Halo stormed clear under Richard Fourie to win the R150 000 Listed East Cape Fillies Nursery.

On a day where Alan Greeff saddled a treble, with Richard Fourie piloting a double, Luna Halo (11-10) came home powerfully as a popular winner in a time of 70,72 secs.

Cape raider Siddeley (5-2) stayed on well 1,50 lengths adrift in second ahead

of he 7-1 shot, Idita.

Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, the winner was a R160 000 National Yearling Sale purchase and has won 2 races with a place from 3 starts for stakes of R153 575.

Out of the Captain Al mare Sun Sentinel, the winner is by Fire Away who won seven times, and earned more than $600 000, during his career with his trio of stakes wins headed by a triumph in the 2018 G3 Dixie Stakes.

The latter race has been won by a plethora of equine stars

previously, with past stars to have won the Dixie Stakes including such Breeders’ Cup winners as World Approval, Better Talk Now and Lure, as well as highly successful sire Nassipour, and champions Bowl Game and Fort Marcy.

Fire Away is a half-brother to graded stakes winners Vigilantes Way (G3 Eatontown Stakes) and Mr Speaker (Gr1 Belmont Derby). The latter has also enjoyed success at stud, with Mr Speaker having sired the Gr1 winners Speech (Ashland Stakes) and Speaking Scout (Hollywood Derby).

Fire Away: War Front ex Salute (Unbridled)

Fire Away’s dam Salute, a daughter of Kentucky Derby winner and outstanding sire Unbridled, won at two when she also finished runner up in the Gr2 Demoiselle Stakes and third in the Gr3 Tempted Stakes.

Salute, a half-sister to the Gr1 winners Miner’s Mark, My Flag and Traditionally, was produced by unbeaten champion, and Gr1 Breeder’ Cup Distaff winner Personal Ensign. The latter, whose son Our Emblem sired Kentucky

Derby winner War Emblem, was USA’s Broodmare Of The Year in 1996.

She is one of six first crop winners, thus far, for Fire Away, who had a notable double at Turffontein on Thursday where son Fire ‘N Flames and daughter Egyptian Mau both won their respective races.

The red hot Fire Away is also the sire of exciting filly Rani Of Kittur, who holds entries for both the Gr3 Protea Stakes and Gr3 Pretty Polly Stakes.

Fire Away’s 11 lots on offer at this year’s National Yearling Sale include a half-sister (Lot 260) to the graded stakes winners Our Emperor and Platinum Class, as well as a full-brother (Lot 319) to impressive recent debut winner Rani Of Kittur, mentioned above.

STRYDOM JOINS VARIAN YARD

While his legendary Uncle Piere is mulling over the choice of a rocking chair and other retirement options after an illustrious four decades in the saddle, 21 year old former SA Champion Apprentice Kyle Strydom strapped himself in to an economy class seat all set for a new challenge in his fledgeling career as he jetted out of Gqeberha on Sunday en route to what is likely to be a chilly London.

The 2020/21 SA Champion Apprentice will join the powerful Roger Varian yard and the world’s surely his

oyster as a racing blueblood. Beyond Uncle Piere ‘Striker’ Strydom, both Dad Jacques , and now retired Oupa Hekkie, are top trainers.

The enthusiastic Pearson High School graduate, who followed the same workrider/postmatric route to saddle stardom as the now Hong-Kong based multiple SA Champion Lyle Hewitson, was excited as he spoke to the Sporting Post before his departure with 19 year old partner Emily Cunha on Sunday.

Emily also hails from top racing stock. She is a daughter

of recently emigrated SA Gr1 conditioner and present day Newmarket trainer Dylan Cunha. Her grandparents on both sides are longstanding racing folk.

After six months on the sidelines with a wrist injury, that included damage to his triangular fibrocartilage discs, Kyle recently returned to the saddle and was keen to go out on a high on Friday. In the end, he had to be content with two longshot runner-up credits at Fairview.

“I am really very excited about the opportunity of joining

the Roger Varian yard at Newmarket. I rode work there on a previous visit and was always keen to go back. I am very fortunate and appreciative of the fact that the SA Jockey Academy have allowed me to travel and represent the institution, until I come out of my time in a few months,” added Kyle.

It certainly is a plumb opportunity for the young Strydom.

Roger Varian is a Classicwinning trainer with over 1200 winners to his name, including 21 at Gr1 level. The team is based at Carlburg Stables since Roger purchased the yard in January 2017.

This historic stable boasts state-of-the-art facilities and is situated in the heart of Newmarket just a stone’s throw from the world-renowned Limekilns grass gallops.

Kyle has been riding work, with a lead rein at times, since about the age of ten at his Dad’s stables. He rode in four workrider races to prove that he had the makings of a future jockey. His first winner came at Fairview on 9 August 2019 on Flame Up for his Dad.

He made his professional debut in June 2020 at Hollywoodbets Scottsville and duly won at just his second pro ride when scoring on Transonic for Dennis Bosch.

He names the former jockey, as well as trainers Garth Puller and Louis Goosen as important role-players and mentors in his short career.

Taller than average for a jockey, Kyle has adapted his riding style and frames his style around the likes of lanky colleagues Bernard Fayd’herbe and Donovan Dillon as guides, as well as some

overseas jockeys.

“I am happy with my weight at 55,5kgs and, like in golf, I want to use my height to optimise my ability to extract the best out of every horse,” he observes as he looks forward to building on his 103 career winners to date.

While Kyle and Emily bid an emotional farewell to the assembled well-wishers on Sunday, they are excited about taking up the challenge.

“My Dad Jacques, Mom Dalene, and elder sister Johane are my greatest fans and supporters, and with technology we will stay in touch all the way. I’d like to thank all the trainers and owners for the support, as well as Mrs Suzette Viljoen and Mr Basie Viljoen of Ludeim for their belief in standing by me and sponsoring me from early on,” added Kyle.

BOMBER UNDER FIRE – A FASCINATING FIRST SEASON DUEL

The battle for supremacy amongst the class of first crop stallions never fails to grab the imagination and this season, the race to freshman sire honours has all the makings of a hotly contested affair.

According to latest NHRA statistics, the main protagonists appear to be Lancaster Bomber and Fire Away, who are currently engaged in a titanic tussle, with little separating them as far as earnings are concerned.

Remarkably, both are sons

of War Front, Danzig's most accomplished stallion son barring Danehill and Green Desert. A champion on the track and also a leading American stallion, War Front's influence is becoming ever more conspicuous as a sire of sire, via his sons War Command, Declaration Of War and US Navy Flag. Lancaster Bomber and Fire Away are his first sons to enter stud in South Africa.

A Gr1 winner from a classic family, Lancaster Bomber arrived after spending one season at the National Stud

in Newmarket but sadly, his tenure at Drakenstein Stud was a brief one, his demise at the premature age of seven coming as a huge shock.

Ironically, he was the first to sire a stakes winner, his Glen Kotzen-trained daughter Rascova leading home an all-filly finish to the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Met day. Although he has sired just three winners to date, that total is sure to grow, considering he has a good number of placed runners knocking at the door.

‘The main protagonists appear to be Lancaster Bomber and Fire Away, who are currently engaged in a titanic tussle, with little separating them as far as earnings are concerned’

Lancaster Bomber will be represented at the upcoming National Yearling Sale by a sizeable draft of 26 youngsters from his second and final crop, amongst which offspring by Gr1 winners Inara, Gabor, Siren's Call and Chestnuts N Pearls, as well as a full-brother to Rascova.

On earnings, Wilgerbosdriftbased Fire Away narrowly trails Lancaster Bomber, yet he is well ahead on number of winners, with six of his first crop progeny having greeted the judge.

Top of the heap is the filly Luna Halo, who gilded the fledgling career of her sire with a storming victory in the Listed East Cape Fillies Nursery at Fairview.

Fire Away's first crop runners also include stakes-placed Fire 'N Flames. Runner-up in the

Listed Storm Bird Stakes, the Johan Roux-trained youngster was his sire's first winner and recently notched up a second career win.

Interestingly, his latest victory came at the expense of the Wernars homebred Pure Predator, who just happens to be by another freshman sire, New Predator.

A dual Gr2 winning sprinter/ miler raced by the Wernars, this Australian-bred grandson of the revered Galileo is off to a flyer with his first runners and already boasts a tally of four winners from just seven runners.

That New Predator started his stallion career under the radar would be an understatement.

Notwithstanding the fact that he mixed it up with the best

on the track, one can but speculate that the lack of a Gr1 victory on his resume saw him eschewed by Western Cape studs. Be that as it may, he ended up standing in KZN and it would be fair to say that he did not have access to the same quality of mares as did Fire Away and Lancaster Bomber, which makes his early success that more remarkable.

At this stage, he looks to be the joker in the pack and who knows, may well give the leading pair a run for their money, should he continue in similar vein.

New Predator's ten lots catalogued for the National Sales include a half-sister to the Gr1-performed Gr3 winner Neptune's Rain and foals out of stakes winning mares The Angelus, Alinga and Winter Passion.

JOCKEYGATE – THE DRAMA UNRAVELS

The Gauteng High Court has pulled the proverbial crop out on the National Horseracing Authority and ordered that the Yeni-Jacobson Inquiry be concluded by 29 March.

Yeni, who together with colleague Billy Jacobson, was served with an interim

suspension after a series of jockey room incidents at Hollywoodbets Greyville racecourse on Monday 13 February, applied for urgent relief in the Gauteng High Court on Friday 17 March to be permitted to accept rides.

He was carded to ride at Turffontein on Saturday, but

was flagged as being under an interim suspension.

The urgent Gauteng High Court application was postponed sine die on Friday afternoon, but the Acting Honourable Justice Randera has ordered that the underlying Inquiry, which was rather ambitiously rostered

for only a single day on 14 March at the offices of NHA Attorneys Norton Rose Fulbright in Sandton, is now to continue on Thursday 23 March, Monday 27 March, Tuesday 28 March and Wednesday 29 March.

For the industrious Yeni, one of our busiest riders, the urgency of returning to income generating race-riding will have been frustratingly placed on ice again.

But it was ordered that in the event of the inquiry not being concluded on 29 March 2023 that he may approach the Court again.

This whole exercise must be costing the defendants – and indirectly the racing operators – a small fortune and it is noted that an order in respect of costs of Friday’s action has been reserved.

The first respondent in the matter was the National Horseracing Authority , with Inquiry Board members Advocate Karen LaphamFourie and Ms Bibi Loonat, and Billy Jacobson listed as fourth respondent.

Jacobson, who was included in the Yeni application as a corespondent to be permitted to accept rides, did not apply for any relief. He is being represented by leading Capebased horseracing specialist attorney Robert Bloomberg, while Yeni has both attorney John Bolus and Adv Nigel Riley acting for him.

In an interesting observation from the court papers, it is noted that Inquiry Board member Advocate Lapham-Fourie advised the NHA counsel at the 14 March Inquiry that she did not believe that a further continuation of the interim suspension was legitimate. It is stated that she instructed Attorney Andrew Strachan to convey her sentiments in this regard to the NHA.

A request during the initial Inquiry by Yeni’s legal team to have both the NHA CEO, Vee Moodley, and Racing Executive, Arnold Hyde, testify was granted by the Inquiry Board. This will open up an opportunity to have further questions answered.

The media was refused access to the Inquiry on 14 March. No reasons have been given.

MUZI’S PARTNER OBJECTS TO NHA

The ongoing Jacobson-Yeni Inquiry has taken another twist with suggestions by the partner of one of the riders that the National Horseracing Authority has misrepresented the findings of the Acting Honourable Justice Randera in the Gauteng High Court on Friday afternoon.

Shamim Kibowa, in her capacity as Muzi’s partner, writes in the Sporting Post Mailbag in order to correct the NHA’s media release of 17 March 2023.

Ms Kibowa writes:

I was present in court during the hearing and also have a copy of the order of Judge Randera.

The media release of the NHA is extremely misleading and is incorrect and appears to be a poor attempt by the NHA to legitimise the suspension imposed on Muzi.

At the hearing, the judge told the NHA that it is extremely unfair for the hearing not to be concluded speedily in order

for Muzi to be able to then earn a living.

The judge never said that the suspension could continue.

The judge did tell the NHA that he was not prepared for the hearing to only start again on 3 April 2023 and he was going to make sure that the hearing of the inquiry was “fast-tracked”. Because of this, he decided at that time not to deal with the suspension.

The judge took the middle ground. This can be seen by him not dealing with the costs of the urgent application yesterday. Instead, he has given Muzi the chance to return immediately to court in the event that the inquiry is not finished on 29 April 2023.

The judge clearly thought that Muzi had a good case as the judge did not dismiss Muzi’s application with costs or refuse to hear it because it wasn’t urgent. What he did was take a ‘Solomonic decision’.

Please click here for a copy of the signed judge’s order, where you can see the judge has fast-tracked the inquiry as Muzi is being prejudiced.

It also makes NO mention of any suspension at all. I find it very unfair and questionable of the NHA to put out media statements which are false and misleading and also harm Muzi further.

It is also shocking that they are attempting to badly misquote a judge’s order. This could only have been done deliberately as no person could make that mistake accidently.

I trust that the article will be rectified to reflect this to avoid further damage to the good name of my partner.

RACING INTO THE FUTURE

Event of the Year! When last was racing even nominated for something like this?

There is no known ‘Grey List’ for sports, sporting disciplines or, for that matter, sporting events. But if there were, horse racing would probably be on it. Not in terms of having to be monitored for financial misdemeanours or shady deals, but for potentially becoming less visible, or getting stuck in a state of depression, as musically represented in the New Wave band Visage’s 1981 chart-topper, ‘Fade To Grey’.

The State President has told South Africans that our recent ‘greylisting’ by the Financial Action Task Force (FAT) is not near as depressing or problematic as it appears to be. Like, no worries… we’ll be okay, brethren.

But there comes a time when words alone can no longer alleviate the throbbing discomfort of knowing that all is not well; or prevent the dire, looming prospects of financial collapse from taking a grip on the throat.

Our racing industry recently side-stepped disaster with the intervention of a few ultrawealthy individuals, admirably all true lovers of the sport. We sighed collectively in relief.

However, we need a constant flow of new customers to stay afloat. To survive, like all other businesses, we need fundamental innovations. And not without haste. Ours

is perhaps not the absolutely unique industry we seem to believe it to be.

Hong Kong’s Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the most respected racing administrator in the world, identified nine major barriers to the growth of racing at the recent Asian Racing Conference in Melbourne. An ‘ageing customer base’ and ‘engaging Generations Y and Z’, were among them.

We’ve seen several laudable efforts, especially in the Western Cape, to ‘make racing great again’. Several professionally staged events have drawn bigger crowds and exciting vibes were created.

We don’t know, however, how many of the young people who came racing for the first time will return because they enjoyed the racing more than the salmon bites and champagne. Are we hooking young people to come racing, for life? How long can the elder statesmen- and women keep the sport’s supporter base sound enough to keep going?

Celebrity Chef Anthony Bourdain, in one of his last TV documentaries in May 2017, spent a day at Aqueduct Racecourse in New York and remarked: “I love this place. The ponies, the beers, the looming sense of despair and melancholy. The glory days of horse racing are long gone.

All that’s left is a few die-hards with some bucks and a dream…”

Bourdain’s sombre tones seemed to make more sense overall when he was found hanging from a rope in his chambre at a small French hotel a year later – a man overcome by the same poignant emotions experienced on his last visit to a racetrack.

Global Team Horse Racing

(GTH) has an award-winning product. A racing product that broke through into the mainstream by winning Event of the Year at the Hollard Sports Awards last year, beating the Rugby World Cup Sevens Final in Cape Town in the process. When was the last time a racing event was even nominated for something like that?

GTH aims to give racing the turbo-boost it needs to attract generations Z (Zoomers) and X (Those between babyboomers and millennials).

Our sport needs a breakthrough of proportions. At the very least, a window opened to new horizons. We risk a depressing alternative: fading into grey obscurity. Our failure to explore original, imaginative promotional avenues and revenue streams will be suicidal.

Media release by Global Team Horseracing on 20 March 2023

Cheltenham Racecourse

The favourite is home! Paul Townend salutes as Galopin Des Champs wins smartly

6 FOR MULLINS AFTER 4 GREAT DAYS

Punchestown is next on the agenda after Galopin Des Champs became the 29th Irish-trained winner of the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday, St Patrick’s Day, and the final day of the Cheltenham Festival.

The 7-5 favourite gave Willie Mullins and Paul Townend a third success in chasing’s blue riband with a sevenlength supremacy over the Paul Nicholls-saddled Bravemansgame.

It was a third Cheltenham Gold Cup win for both trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend following Al Boum Photo (2019, 2020).

The seven year old came home the comfortable seven-length winner from Bravemansgame. Galopin Des Champs is the 19th seven year old to be successful. Galopin Des Champs is the 33rd favourite in 95 runnings to prevail.

It was Galopin Des Champs third appearance at The Festival. He won the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle in 2021 and fell at the final fence when looking the likely winner of the Turners Novices’ Chase in 2022.

Willie Mullins said: “I didn’t realise what pressure I was under. I’m absolutely delighted for Audrey and Greg Turley and for Paul (Townend), who was under huge pressure to, but he gave him a peach of a

ride. He had the confidence to drop him in and come through.

I just said to him I think you are on the best horse and the fastest horse so as long as he doesn’t get running with you. He said he will tuck him in somewhere and put him to sleep and he did. It just worked out and he give him a brilliant cool ride. We thought that (it was going to be a true test) as everyone was questioning his stamina.

“They were going to plenty fast enough so I didn’t want him up in there in the early stages. I thought if he has the class he will come through but if he hasn’t fair point. All thoughts were going through my head like are we too far back but they went such a

gallop something had to give. One or two fell and we missed all that so we had a lot of luck as well. I think that man on board when the pressure comes on he is very good. I was surprised myself how I was over the last two fences.

“We elected him as our Gold Cup horse where as Al Boum Photo sort of happened and with this fellow we thought he was good enough and that puts you under pressure until the actual day when it has happened and now it has happened. He is brilliant under pressure and the more pressure the better he

So here we are today, beautiful sunshine day, Galopin has won and we are thrilled.”

rides. I’m delighted for Paul because it is a tough job and he handles it well and I can be tough too. He stayed so well. The fact he won over three miles as a novice hurdler (gave us confidence he would stay) and every time we upped him in trip there was no problem.

“He has that little bit of class you could run him over two miles, two and a half miles. He has that little bit of speed when you want it. You just have to conserve it. Over those shorter trips he likes to get on with the job and that was to me the whole key today not to let him get running early on in the race. He would

have got to free otherwise and it would have played into the others hands. There are certain ways you can train them to do that (get them to settle) and eventually they listen. He was not a runaway he was just keen.

“I wouldn’t say that (it ranks above other Gold Cup wins). There was just more pressure that was all. That was the most pressure I’ve felt. We felt we stuck our necks out and said he is a Gold Cup horse. Last year here he ballooned the first four fences and I said to Paul I don’t want you up there I want you to get over the first four fences

and get him settled.”

Paul Townend said: “It was messy for me - I couldn’t get a clean passage early, and he started jumping in the air a little bit, but when I got a bit of room, in fairness to him he came back into a rhythm with me and was very, very brave. I think he got me out of a fair hole, to be honest - I was a lot further back than I wanted to be, but it was just the ride I had to give him.

“There was so little fresh ground that everyone wanted to be in it, and the start was very messy. I think we didn’t get the rub of the green at

the start and that put us on the back foot, but when you have that little bit of ground, no one wants to be out off it. He was good and brave. There were horses going left of me and right of me [when the two horses fell at the top of the hill] and he always just found a leg, and you need that luck in racing.

“He missed one of the fences coming down the hill, and I thought that was going to put me on the back foot a bit again, but no, straight back on the bridle for me. I don’t think the horse understands how good he is, to be honest.

“I was happy that when I grabbed hold of him and he picked up for me again, got straight at the last and galloped all the way up the hill

and through the line. There’s no doubting his stamina now, anyway.

“He’s matured, he’s grown up. He’s a bit older, a bit wiser [than last year]. I suppose he surprised me how well he settled the first day [his seasonal debut] at Punchestown, and then going to Leopardstown, I was halfafraid to light him up to see what would happen, but I did away from the stands that day and he came back underneath me after a big jump, so he’s just the full package now. He has to be to win from where I came from, I think!

“We’ve had a good week. But I like to take it race by race, win, lose or draw, and move on to the next one, so I haven’t been looking at the winners

or the losers up to now, and we’re not finished yet.

“The Gold Cup brings winning to a different level. Cheltenham is very important, but the Gold Cup just has that little bit more spice to it.”

Audrey Turley, the winning owner, told ITV Racing: “It’s like a dream come true. It’s like something I’ve never dreamt of. We never thought we would be here with such a wonderful horse as Galopin Des Champs, winning the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival. Really and truly myself, my daughter Sarah and my husband Greg, we are just so thrilled. We’ve huge support here, all our family are here so the excitement has been high all week, well actually much longer than that.

“I am [shaking] I don’t know what to say, what to think, what to say! It’s just so unbelievable and wonderful. And really we have to thank magnificent Willie Mullins and all the team in Closutton. We wouldn’t be here, having this wonderful day without them. They have just been fantastic. We are going to forget all of that [last year], these things happen and in racing anything can happen as we know. So here we are today, beautiful sunshine day, Galopin has won and we are thrilled.”

Groom Adam Connolly, leading up, told ITV Racing: “I am absolutely over the moon. Came here last year and thought he was going to

absolutely sluice up and just came down. And I said all year he could make for the Gold Cup and I’m glad he’s done it now.”

Paul Nicholls, trainer of the runner-up Bravemansgame (61), said: “What can you say, I’m just super proud of him and everything went right. He jumped well and he travelled well and I could just see Galopin stalking him a little bit. We wouldn’t do any different.

“I hate coming second, you know me, but I can’t be anything but proud of the horse. He ran a blinding race and we’ll give it another go next year. We’ll see about Aintree, he had a hard race. The only places he’ll run are Punchestown and Aintree, but we’ll play it by ear and see how he is. If he didn’t run again this season it wouldn’t be the end of the world, but he’s only run once since Christmas so we could go to Aintree. We’ve got Clan Des Obeaux coming along nicely for that. He’s a young horse, so three or four runs a year is plenty and if we don’t run again we’ll go Charlie Hall, King George and again here next year.

“The winner is a very good horse and he looks a superstar. One of the best.”

DERBY DAY ENTRIES ARE IN

Entries were received on Monday morning for the WSB SA Derby day features, that includes the Gr1 Horse Chestnut Stakes with entries from the Candice BassRobinson and Brett Crawford yards.

The WSB SA Derby is set for a fascinating renewal with a number of recent winners, including Son Of Raj and Good Council, throwing their names into the hat.

WSB Gauteng Guineas winner Eye Of The Prophet, who ran fourth in the SA Classic when his rider was sanctioned, is

also amongst the 14 entries.

Summerveld-based Robbie Hill is the only likely visitor, and has entered recent Hollywoodbets Greyville winner Paris Pike, a son of exciting Maine Chance stallion Erupt.

Grant Maroun’s eyecatching recent WSB SA Classic winner Anfields Rocket has finally pulled a decent gate as he is one of 14 entries for the HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes.

Candice Bass-Robinson and Brett Crawford are the only two away yards, with an entry apiece.

Sean Tarry’s eyecatching Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies

Classic winner Bless My Stars is joint top-rated with Gauteng Fillies Guineas winner Lady Of Power in the thirteen-strong Gr2 SA Oaks entry.

Runner-up in the first two legs of the SA Triple Tiara, Feather Boa is a notable absentee, her connections no doubt believing she won’t go the trip.

Supplementary entries close at 09h00 on Monday 27 March.

Declarations are due by 11h00 on Tuesday 28 March.

OWNER GETS CLARITY OVER WOOLAVINGTON

It came as a total shock not only to me but to every trainer and racing pundit I’ve chatted to this week when the news broke that the premier KZN Gr1 Woolavington for 3 year fillies was no longer limited to the younger generation but an open race to older filly’s and mares under ‘weight for age’ conditions.

Owner Mark Campbell writes in the Sporting Post Mailbag that he quickly grabbed the programme to check if the colts equivalent for 3 year olds, The Daily News, had also been butchered. Thankfully

sanity prevails and at this stage it remains a race for 3 year olds only ! But for how long ?

Gold Circle recently advised that the conditions of the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 have been changed with immediate effect.

Formerly restricted to three-year-old fillies, the Woolavington 2000 will now be open to all Fillies and Mares at Weight-for-Age.

The change in conditions was approved by the Asian Pattern Committee (APC) and Gold Circle Racing Committee and

the race will retain its Grade 1 status.

“The Woolavington 2000 was struggling to maintain the levels required by the APC for a Grade 1 3yo fillies’ race and we are confident that the depth of quality will improve significantly now that it is open to all fillies and mares,” said Gold Circle Racing Executive Raf Sheik.

“In addition, the change of conditions adds a significant Grade 1 opportunity for older fillies and mares over a middle distance and fills a

gap in our Champions Season programme.”

Mark Campbell writes that the fact that no communication had been publicized prior to this change has left the majority of the racing fraternity puzzled and bewildered.

KZN have one , yes one 3 Year old filly’s Grade 1 race in the champions season.

This race offers a very unique opportunity for the best 3 year old fillies from our three main racing jurisdictions to compete against each other for the undisputed title of the best 3 year old filly in the country over 2000m.

Surely it is one of the big drawcards of the KZN championS season with past winners including the likes of Promisefrommyheart, Igugu, Smart Call , Bela-Bela, Summer Pudding and War Of

Athena, to name but a few !

Clearly the new weight for age conditions at the end of May suit the highest rated older Fillies and Mares and there’s no doubt any 3 year old filly that does take her place in this race will do so under sufferance all but putting paid to their chances of winning or placing, in what, as I suggest already, should have been a race showcasing the top 3 year old fairer sex crop of this generation .

The KZN feature race programme has been set and was published at the end of the 2022 racing season some eight months ago, so for this change to happen at the eleventh hour is surely unacceptable.

Trainers and owners have planned meticulously and placed horses with this race in mind for

many months now. And breeders scramble over each other to grab a 3 year old filly that’s placed or had the fortune of winning this illustrious race!

Who has the right to chop and change Gr1 races at the eleventh hour without consulting with trainers , owners and breeders on a transparent forum. Certainly makes me think there is something far more sinister going on!

Sadly with racing in the doldrums and struggling to

stay afloat, massive decisions taken without engaging the stakeholders is nothing short of a disgrace.

We the owners go to the sales and spend copious amounts of money with a dream of winning a Gr1 race. Yet a few in this racing dictatorship feel they can make these huge decisions without openly consulting the people that count – the owners, trainers and breeders!

Clearly the bar has been set , decisions will be made without any engagement and without

the people who give racing a heart beat . Sadly no lessons have been learnt from the previous racing administrators that took our beloved sport to the brink of failure. Racing is, and will be for a very long time on ICU.

Continue to make such big decisions with a total disregard to the owners, trainers and breeders and I’ve no doubt you will all be scrabbling for your UIF applications sooner rather than later !

I am left bemused and bewildered!

WHAT THEY SAID

The www.sportingpost.co.za comments platform is SA horseracing’s speaker’s corner.

Greg Bortz said:

I understand Mark’s sentiment. I am similarly negatively impacted by this change ( my horse Silver Links). But I understand why it happened. The race was so weak last year it was being downgraded from Group 1 status anyway. Perhaps owners don’t understand how this works. For example, the Cape Derby may well be downgraded to a Group 2 next year because of the absence of a strong field this year – a direct impact of Cousin Casey not running. This is not something we will CHOOSE to have happen. It is something the APC will MAKE happen!. Similarly, the Woolavington was being downgraded. Not by Gold Circle voluntarily. So it appears there were two choices – have the race be downgraded to a Group 2 race for 3 year old fillies OR change the conditions to make it open to older horses in order to keep

Group 1 status. Either way, like it or not, this means that there would be no Gr 1 for 3 year old fillies – regardless.

These are decisions for the racing operator to make. They chose the latter. With respect to Mark, you cannot operate a business having to consult with stakeholders for each and every decision. I chose to cancel racing today in the Cape because of the shutdown . I did not consult stakeholders. A call needed to be made. I made it. Some liked it. Some didn’t. Can you imagine the dysfunction if one needed to consult stakeholders for each business decision? And particularly one of such a routine nature?

So, sadly Mark, our fillies are going to have to find a way to beat some hard-knocking older horses…..I don’t think Silver Links is likely to prevail!

Graeme Hawkins said:

“I think the reasons for the change have been published. Whether some pundits out

there agree or disagree, I am not sure there is much more that we could add. The alternative was to downgrade the Woolavington to a Grade 2 if the race conitnued as a 3yo only fillies race – changing the conditions and adding depth of quality was surely the better option in order to retain Grade 1 status? As far as the late notice is concerned, we had to wait for approval from the Asian Pattern Committee (APC) before publishing, but the matter was discussed at a Graded races meeting last year. Regards.”

Vee Moodley said:

“To ensure the pattern flow and Gr 1 status, this change was unanimously agreed by the Local-graded races pattern committee and subsequently approved by the Asian Pattern committee members on 14 February 2023, unanimously i may add, and that excludes my vote as a SA member on the committee.Thank you.”

STOP PRESS - EU AUDIT UPDATE

In order to update stakeholders on the EU audit process, Department of Agriculture, Land Reform, and Rural Development (DALRRD) and SAEHP can confirm that the draft EU report for the audit conducted in October 2022 has been received.

DALRRD is currently reviewing the report and will provide comments on the report’s findings to the EU auditors. Once the final report has been received, an Action Plan will be drawn up to address the resulting recommendations for any corrective action.

This is the next step in the finalisation of the audit process and DALRRD and SAEHP are pleased with the progress to date.

HIGH FIVE FOR QUERARI

Maine Chance Farms’ highclass sire Querari enjoyed a good last weekend, when the Gr1 winning son of Oasis Dream came up with five winners in three different provinces.

Querari’s first success over the weekend came when his daughter Esther romped home to an impressive win at Fairview on Friday.

The Alan Greeff-trained threeyear-old had finished a close second on debut and made no

mistakes when romping home to shed her maiden by two and a quarter lengths on Friday.

Bred by Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein, Esther, who was ridden to victory by Asitandile Gwadiso, is out of the Fort Wood mare Queen Of Persia.

She was one of two Fairview winners for Querari on Friday, with Querari gelding Uncle George storming home to shed his maiden by a length

and a quarter when victorious in the third race on the card.

Bred by Boland Stud, the Sharon Kotzen-trained gelding had finished third and fourth in his two previous starts respectively.

Remarkably, Querari went close to having four winners at Fairview on Friday with his son Questor finishing a closeup second in the second race on Friday and another son of Querari, Ferrari Ice, finishing second in the fourth race.

Querari struck again at Turffontein the following day when his Mike de Kock-trained son Sequoia stormed home to land the Play Soccer 6,10 and 13 MR 84 Handicap under a fine ride from Richard Fourie.

Bred by Maine Chance Farms, four-year-old Sequoia pulled clear to win by over a length and three-quarters when claiming Saturday’s 1600m contest.

Now a three-time winner, Sequoia is out of the Rakeen mare Shasta Daisy and is thus bred on the same cross as the Querari-sired G2 Zulu

Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper winner Cockney Pride.

Querari’s fine run continued at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Sunday, where his daughters African Folklore and Isn’t She Bonny won the first two races on the card.

Two-year-old African Folklore made it two wins from just three starts when she stayed on nicely to win Sunday’s Open A tabgold Account -031 314 1874 Juvenile Plate (Fillies) (1200m) by just over a length and a quarter.

Bred by Narrow Creek Stud, African Folklore is out of the Jet Master mare Lightning Bird.

Her year-older paternal half-sister Isn’t She Bonny gave Querari a Sunday double when romping home to break her maiden by nearly five and a quarter lengths.

Out of the Mogok mare Pretty Woman, Isn’t She Bonny had been placed in each of her three previous starts.

RACHEL’S STORY –WORTH A WATCH!

Rachel – overcoming the hurdles

She rode her way into the male-dominated world of horse racing and faced discrimination at every turn. Rachel Venniker broke barriers and shattered stereotypes in pursuit of her dreams.

Witness Rachel’s journey as she faces sexual prejudice from the racing fraternity, disrespectful comments from punters, and resentment from her fellow jockeys. Despite the doubt and obstacles in her way, Rachel never gave up on her passion for horse racing.

With her unwavering determination, hard work, and the support of her loved ones, Rachel rises above the discrimination and becomes a mentally and physically tough jockey. Michael Roberts, an influential figure in the racing industry, speaks to Rachel’s

incredible journey and how she overcame the challenges that came her way.

The South African Jockey Academy played a significant role in Rachel’s development, and she credits the Academy for helping her achieve her goals. In a remarkable turn of events, Rachel recently won the Gauteng Guineas Grade 2 race, cementing her status as a force to be reckoned with in the racing world.

Join us on this inspiring journey with Rachel Venniker, and witness her triumphant rise to success in the face of adversity. This is a story of courage, perseverance, and the power of believing in oneself. Don’t miss this captivating documentary that will leave you feeling inspired and empowered.

BMW BUBBLE BURSTS

Defying expectations, Voyage Bubble provided trainer Ricky Yiu with one of his greatest victories and jockey Alexis Badel with the perfect finale to a challenging week with an incredible triumph in the HK$24 million Hong Kong Derby at Sha Tin on Sunday.

Starting at 45/1 and from the outside barrier of 14, Voyage Bubble became the Classic’s longest-priced winner since Ivan Allan’s Holy Grail triumphed at 98/1 in 1999 after an audacious ride by Badel, who lost the ride on star sprinter Wellington in the day’s other feature, the G1

Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m).

Despite winning the first leg of the Four-Year-Old Classic Series – the Hong Kong Classic Mile (1600m) on 29 January – Voyage Bubble was largely shunned in Derby discussions after finishing sixth behind Super Sunny Sing in the traditional Derby lead-up, the Hong Kong Classic Cup (1800m) on 26 February.

Undaunted, Badel became the first French jockey to win the BMW Hong Kong Derby since Maxime Guyon in 2011 with a nerveless and tactically bold display on the son of Deep

Field, who bravely delivered veteran handler Yiu’s first success in the Hong Kong’s most prized race.

Restraining Voyage Bubble to last and dropping to the fence, Badel waited until the long back straight to improve his position, moving immediately outside race favourite Beauty Eternal on the home turn before striking the front in the shadows of the post and fending off Tuchel by a short head. Beauty Eternal was third, a further short head away.

Underlining pedestrian tempo, the overall time of the race was 2m 02.78s, the slowest

since Rapper Dragon clocked 2m 02.88s in 2017.

Badel, 33, was predictably elated post-race as he reconciled the disappointment of losing the ride on Wellington to Ryan Moore and being offered his first mount on Voyage Bubble in the Derby.

“It’s not over until it’s over, which is great. It’s a good example that you have to bounce back, you have got to keep going. I’m grateful for Ricky and the connections for calling me for this horse. He’s obviously a very talented horse.

“Everybody thought the gate was bad, but it was actually probably the reason I won the race because I had to come back. We had to change our

plan and the tempo wasn’t very quick and I had my horse relax early and I saved ground and then I had no hesitation to improve a bit on the back straight. The horse was tough, he’s got a great heart and he really showed some quality in the straight.

“He was brilliant and I’m very happy for the connections, the owners and myself. I still can’t believe it, actually. It’s like the race isn’t finished yet. It’s very special.

“Being a jockey, you go through ups and downs and this season has been very difficult for me. I came back from injury and suspensions and it means everything to win such a big race in Hong Kong as a jockey.

“All you are really looking for

are the Group 1s, the major races and the (BMW) Hong Kong Derby is just history so I’m very grateful to Ricky, his stable and all the connections – the people who gave me the support on the horse and I’m very, very happy. I feel blessed that I was able to produce such a good performance today and the horse was superb.”

Hong Kong Champion Trainer in 2019/20, Yiu has been more renowned for his association with outstanding sprinters such as Sacred Kingdom and Fairy King Prawn and, in seven previous Derby attempts, his best previous result was seventh with Outdoor Pegasus in 2011.

At 65, Yiu has been given the chance to extend his career beyond the usual retirement

age providing he satisfies certain performance criteria and, with a double today, he sits in second place in this season’s championship with 41 wins behind 11-time champion John Size (46).

“Of course, this is the most prestigious race in Hong Kong racing and I’m very, very happy and grateful to win this Derby race,” Yiu beamed, admitting he harboured stamina doubts over Voyage Bubble.

“Over the trip, 2000 metres, I was a little bit doubtful, and then again with the wide draw. We needed to try something different. We even looked at the previous Derby races, horses drawn from the outside and where they finished and where they made a move,” he said.

“We just stuck to the plan. He had to be relaxed at the first bend, as relaxed as possible, and make the run from the back stretch slowly, gradually. Alexis did a very good job, a tremendous job.

“Over the 2000m we tried something different and he (Voyage Bubble) still managed to perform. He is an incredible horse. This horse is very versatile, over the mile or 2000m. Obviously he’s got a great heart.

Hong Kong racing continued at Happy Valley today.

The Hollywoodbets Punters’ Challenge will be available to play for free, again!

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