The National Yearling Sale Is in Its Final Day Today and If The

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 april 2018 1

Thursday 26 April 2018

fairview turf Friday Best Roving Banker: R8-(8)African Victory(5/1)

greyville poly Friday Best Roving Banker: R3-(1) Suzi Woo (12/10)

TURFFONTEIN Saturday Best Roving Banker: R8-(5) Cals Crush (3/1)

kenilworth Saturday Best Roving Banker: R3-(7)Sans Regrets(15/10)

SCOTTSville Sunday Best Roving Banker: R6-(3) Canukeepitsecret (5/1)

Friday 20 April Greyville– race 1 Sporting Post Best Handicapped Madame Defarge The National Yearling Sale is in its final day today and if the momentum and enthusiasm of the first two days WON 12/1 is maintained, we are heading for close on a seven year high – a thought that would have been rejected as an April Fool’s funny had we predicted it on the first day of this month…

With the long dark Joostegate cloud still hanging petition in the sales ring and we all want the million ominously over the industry, it has been an acid test rand big buyers. But when the sun goes down and the of a month with our two sales companies offering red wine is in the glass, we can feel that the camara- 869 yearlings in a fortnight - and having to find derie and the vibe is back. It’s like the old days again,” enough buyers with enough cash and sufficient will said Carl de Vos of Varsfontein, who broke their own to put their hands up and pay reasonable prices. 2017 R5 million record with a R5,2 million Dynasty colt After the relative gloom of the CTS April Yearling topseller so far. That is the new standard after 40 years. Sale, this National Yearling Sale has turned the On the aspect of Varsfontein having topped the ship around and broken cloud to expose a ray of charts for a second consecutive year, Carl said it was sunshine not seen in a while. the product of much hard work and planning – and a “This is an honest sale. There is plenty of com- lot of cash investment. SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 April 2018 2 the vibe's back WEEKEND RACING

“The top end of the market remains stallion focussed. That’s not unusual. And then we keep our own and buy in the strong Bring On The Rain damlines. The quality must jump out of the page. Varsfontein has Gr3 Winter Guineas Kenilworth proven itself a nursery of champions. It’s the soil, the climate, the The Cape Winter Series kicks off on the Kenilworth summer care and the passion. It’s pride in producing the right horse for course on Saturday and with five favourites winning the last sev- the occasion. Things can always go wrong, but we work hard on en renewals, it could be a race for exotic players to go narrow. trying to get it right more often than not,” he said. Dean Kannemeyer, who has secured both of the top two lots The contest is run at a base weight of 58 kgs for colts and geld- so far, and who will train the new recordholder, endorsed Carl’s ings and 55,5kgs for fillies. comments. Winners of Group races – there are “It feels like 20 years ago. People are smiling again. Ironically, only two in the eleven strong field - seeing the R5,2 milliion Dynasty colt took me back to the day incur penalties and Gr2 Selangor Cup my Dad, myself and John Freeman first saw Dynasty. It feels like winner Rocket Countdown carries top yesterday. My Dad put his hand on my shoulder and said : “Son, weight of 60kgs, with Gr3 Politician that’s the best horse on the sale. We have to have him.” Stakes winner Doublemint carrying History shows that John Freeman signed for him on behalf of 59kgs for his Gr3 Politician Stakes victory on the day of the L’Ormarins Fieldspring Racing and the rest is well documented. Doublemint| Candiese Marnewick Another man who is on top of the world is Duncan Barry, who Queen’s Plate. has been breeding horses out at Riverton Stud in Robertson for Race fitness looks likely to play a major part, with most of the 35 years. He currently holds the honour of the highest priced filly better rated runners looking to possibly need the run. on the sale - and his personal highest ever. Joey Ramsden saddles a duo headed by the only filly in the The Riverton bred Captain Al daughter Cousin Liz was bought by field in Western Winter daughter, Fresnaye. Third placings in both Kerry Jack Bloodstock at R2,9 million for Mario Ferreira. She will the Cape Fillies Guineas (Snowdance) and Paddock Stakes (Oh be trained by Candice Bass-Robinson. As if to celebrate the mo- Susanna) suggest there is no lack of class and she was also not ment, her half-brother Gimme The Night (Gimmethegreenlight) disgraced in the Cape Derby when 5 lengths off Eyes Wide Open. won a nice race at Kenilworth on Wednesday. Girls don’t have much of a record in this race. “Five minutes on Tuesday evening lifted the cloud of gloom and has changed our lives,” the veteran breeder of Gr1 Champions, Ramsden also saddles the luckless Ancestry, a son of Oratorio, whose previous highest price was R600 000, told the Sporting who ran two class seconds in the Gr2 Golden Horseshoe and Gr1 Post. Premiers Champion Stakes as a 2yo, but has failed to go on with it “The Captain Al’s have been so good to me. I bought the dam as a 3yo. He has not run since a poor showing in the CTS 1600 on at Lammerskraal. She is all quality. When we took Cousin Liz out Met day. of her box on Tuesday evening I had a good feeling and told the Justin Snaith, who scored with Readytogorightnow (2013) and team to go make it happen. And it did!” African Night Sky last year, saddles the consistent Doublemint, The third and final day commenced at 11h30 this morning. who comes in off a 16 week break since winning the Politician Stakes at the L’Ormarins Queen’s Winter Guineas Plate Festival Of Racing earlier past winners this year. The son of Twice Over 2015 Nice One Piet 1 Act Of War 60.0 ( 9) 1/4 has been kept in the Cape with The 7yo Jay Peg gelding Silicone Valley stormed home 2 Sail For Gold 57.0 ( 4) 50/1 this series as his main mission and 3 Royal Dreamer 57.0 ( 7) 50/1 down the inside to win the R120 000 Pinnacle Stakes over 2016 can go close if not tripped up by 1 Marinaresco 58.0 ( 7) 2/1 1200m at Kenilworth on Wednesday to register his seventh 2 Whisky Baron 58.5 ( 8) 6/1 fitness. win from twenty three starts. 3 Vilakazi 58.0 (13) 20/1 2017 Snaith also saddles the relative- Trained by Glen Puller, the versatile gelding won the Cape 1 African Night Sky 60.0 (14) 10/1 ly unexposed and well-bred Love 2 Our Mate Art 60.0 (13) 5/1 Merchants over the course and distance in December beat- 3 Loadshedder 60.0 ( 6) 16/1 Happens, who beat Chatuchak ing Dutch Philip by three-quarters of a length when conced- – who he holds again here - to reg- ing 4kg. The weight-for-age scale in April left the son of Jay ister his sec- Peg with a theoretical 2kg advantage on Wednesday and he START PA6/PICK SIX5/JACKPOT4 ond win at duly disposed of his younger rival again. 4:45PM Gr3 Winter Guineas - 1600m Durbanville Kenilworth 8 SAME TRAINER:(1-4-7)(2-5)(3-11) It is not often we see a jockey express emotion in the recently. Alado 1 Rocket Countdown(C Bass-Robinson)A Domeyer.11 60.0 winner’s enclosure, but veteran Piet Botha was genuinely Twice Over 2 Doublemint(J Snaith) G v Niekerk...... 8 59.0 Love Hap- Oratorio 3 ANCESTRY(J Ramsden) D Dillon...... 2 58.0 moved. Judpot 4 Ben-Hur(C Bass-Robinson) A Andrews...... 9 58.0 pens steps “If I could talk to this horse I would tell him how proud Silvano 5 Love Happens(J Snaith) B Fayd’herbe...... 1 58.0 up a notch Captain Al 6 Tsitsikamma Dance(BJ Crawford) C Orffer.... 7 58.0 I am of him. And one day when I’m old and forgetful and What A Winter 7 What A Joker(C Bass-Robinson) R Khathi.... 5 58.0 in class but Tiger Ridge 8 Chatuchak(A Nel) G Cheyne...... 3 58.0 somebody asks me to name the best I rode, I will remember Gitano Hernando 9 Man About Town(ELP Steyn) G Behr...... 4 58.0 looks pro- Silicone Valley.” Ideal World 10 Rainbow Bridge(AE Sands) R Fourie...... 10 58.0 gressive. Western Winter 11 Fresnaye(J Ramsden) M Byleveld...... 6 55.5

can be purchased here SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 april 2018 3

WEEKEND RACING

Candice Bass-Robinson saddles a trio headed by Selangor to renew rivalry against a backdrop of a winner Rocket Countdown. The son of Alado failed to confirm serious challenge from the new gener- his form with his subsequent runs in the Cape Guineas and ation. CTS 1600 but won three on the trot earlier –including his Magical Wonderland, winner of the maiden, and may enjoy the winter conditions. Cartier Sceptre before finishing third in Recent debut winner Rainbow Bridge may be best of the bal- the CTS 1200, is a top class 3yo, whose ance. The son of Ideal World steps up to a mile at his second start season aim is the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint and could be anything after an impressive 1200m strike first time next month at this venue. She is report- out. It is encouraging that Richard Fourie sticks with him. Magical Wonderland| Wayne Marks edly a filly who doesn’t take much work Ancestry, Rocket Countdown and Doublemint look the right and her running here comes as a change trio to hammer this out. Fresnaye could make a bold state- of plans after the stable announced that she would not race before ment for the fairer sex. Love Happens and Rainbow Bridge are the Gr1 next month. the unexposed quantities. The switch of the recent Listed KZN Stakes to the Greyville poly disrupted the prep of the promising Dynasty filly Statute who runs fresh off a seven week break. She has won 2 from 4 and is headed in the right direction. Heat Of The Winter! Neptune’s Rain was one filly who refused to allow the switch of The Mike Bass trained champion Pocket Power was the that feature to impact on her progress. The daughter of Antonius first horse to win the Cape Winter Series Triple Crown way Pius produced an electrifying turn of foot to win from a fairly hope- back in 2006. Bass saddled eight Winter Guineas winners. less position and has been labelled a Gr1 performer by her astute In 2017, Justin Snaith pulled the ace out of the pack with trainer. Anton Marcus rides her again and she is another who is the Dynasty gelding African Night Sky, who repeated the being aimed at the big sprint raceday. feat and went all the way from the mile opener to the Listed Laisserfaire Stakes winner Sommerlied’s form has tapered stamina sapping 2400m final leg. negatively since her win back in November but she broke the 1000m 2017 was a watershed year for leading Cape breeders record at this track and cannot be discarded. Highlands, Part of Ridgemont. Topweighted Live Life is the second of the Bass-Robinson duo. She It was their opening year of sponsorship of the prestig- comes in off her dazzling and fast-finishing third to Sergeant Hardy in ious series and they also bred the winner! the Cape Flying Championship on Met day. The daughter of Trippi, The second leg is the R250 000 Gr3 Winter Classic run who ran third in this race last year, is over 1800m on the Kenilworth Winter Course on Satur- Poinsettia S. 2,5kgs worse off with The Secret Is day 26 May.The series reaches a climax with the running past winners Out, and is likely to need the outing. 2015 Last year’s winner, the lightly of the R250 000 Gr3 Winter Derby run over 2400m on 1 Jet Belle 60.0 ( 7) 3/1 the Kenilworth Winter Course on Saturday 30 June.A bo- 2 Varikate 60.0 ( 6) 16/1 raced The Secret Is Out has won 5 3 Goldie Coast 58.0 ( 9) 16/1 nus of R250 000 will be paid to owner/s of the horse that 2016 of her 10 starts and showed pace in 1 Real Princess 58.0 ( 6) 9/2 a barrier trial blow on 8 April. The wins all three legs. 2 Lanner Falcon 60.0 ( 2) 9/2 3 Victoria Lavelle 56.5 (10) 13/1 daughter of Captain Al is top class 2017 1 The Secret Is Out 58.5 (14) 17/2 and could achieve the double – but 2 Vision To Kill 55.5 ( 5) 36/1 she did bleed when winning at Dur- 3 Live Life 57.5 (10) 26/10 banville back in October 2017. A tricky and START PA6/PICK SIX5/JACKPOT4 quality race A Sip Of Speed 4:15PM Gr3 Poinsettia Stakes - 1200m where Magical Scottsville 8 SAME TRAINER:(1-3)(4-6)(5-11)(7-10) Gr3 Poinsettia Stakes Scottsville (15-16) Wonderland

Trippi 1 Live Life(C Bass-Robinson) B Fayd’herbe...... 13 60.0 and Neptune’s Here’s an SA Champions Season aperitif if we have ever seen Captain Al 2 The Secret Is Out(VH Marshall) M Byleveld....14 58.5 one! A quality field of our top speed fillies and mares go What A Winter 3 Magical Wonderland(C Bass-Robinson) A Domeyer.. 8 58.5 Rain could hold Antonius Pius 4 NEPTUNE’S RAIN(DC Howells) A Marcus...... 16 57.0 to post for the R250 000 Poinsettia Stakes at Scottsville on Var 5 Sommerlied(DR Drier) S Veale...... 3 57.0 the edge. Windrush 6 Lunar Rush(DC Howells) L Hewitson...... 11 57.0 Sunday. Captain Al 7 Princess Peach(GS Kotzen) R Fourie...... 9 57.0 With the start of the big season just five days later, the tempo Muhtafal 8 Isingamoya(M Dixon) K De Melo...... 2 57.0 Trippi 9 Love To Boogie(A Nel) C Zackey...... 15 57.0 of racing in the holiday province has been upped and we get Judpot 10 Final Judgement(GS Kotzen) C Orffer...... 6 57.0 Count Dubois 11 Anime(DR Drier) T Godden...... 4 57.0 a taste of better and bigger things to come! Dynasty 12 Gratuity(LW Goosen) G Wrogemann...... 1 57.0 Var 13 Miss Varlicious(PM Gadsby) C Murray...... 7 57.0 The 1200m contest is run at weight-for-age plus penalties Var 14 Casual Diamond(J Snaith) G v Niekerk...... 10 55.5 and has attracted a class field of 16. including last year’s win- Dynasty 15 Statute(ML Roberts) A Arries...... 5 55.5 Gimmethegreenlight 16 Marsala(ML Roberts) W Kennedy...... 12 55.5 ner The Secret Is Out and third-placed Live Life, who are set

can be purchased here SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 April 2018 4

WEEKEND RACING Facing The Music Speed - No Secret Here Gr3 Godolphin Barb Scottsville Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes Scottsville Vaughan Marshall and his regular jockey MJ Byleveld bid A smart field of eight 2yo fillies lines up at the Scottsville 1100m for a double in the R200 000 Gr2 Godolphin Barb Stakes at on Sunday for the R200 000 Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes. The impressive Scottsville on Sunday with the well named Top Of The Class Var flyer Val-La-Ree is the only two-time winner in the line-up and spearheading their attack. could maintain her impeccable record. The Milnerton combination have an outstanding strike-rate Doug Campbell trains the Hallmark down the Scottsville straight and Top Of The Class was suita- Throughbreds bred Val-La-Ree, a winner bly impressive when winning at Durbanville on 10 March – in of both her starts to date by an aggre- a winner’s race. He beat subsequent dual winner and Summer gate 7,75 lengths. Anton Marcus takes Juvenile Stakes fourth placed Twist Of Fate readily in receipt of over the riding honours from Denis 3kgs and is bound to have come along with the run. Schwarz and she looks very capable of Much vaunted Oratorio debut winner Cue The Music stepping up the extra 100m to register showed the benefit of his barrier trial with a fluent victory a first stakes win. She mixed it with the on the Greyville polytrack 1000m at his first race proper. If he boys last time, which adds merit to her reproduces similar form on the turf, he can win again and the Val-La-Ree | Gold Circle win there. dogs are barking already! Tobie Spies sends out Star Flyer who ran a 5 length fourth in the Another Oratorio son, the well-tried Spies galloper Van Listed Ruffian Stakes behind subsequent Pretty Polly runner-up Halen, shows a lot of speed but has twice flopped at stakes Dagmar. Beaten 8,45 lengths by Celtic Sea in the Pretty Polly, she will level. His respiratory noises are also a cause of concern but he need to up her game here. will strip fit after being beaten a length by Louis The Seventh Candice Bass-Robinson sends out the Sail From Seattle filly Western at Turffontein last Saturday. Angel, who won on debut and ran an eyecatching fifth behind Traces The one-eyed Cape visitor Traces has not seen action since (and PE star Carlita!) on Met day in the Listed Summer Juvenile Stakes. beating the well-performed Carlita in the Listed Summer That race is a fair barometer of 2yo strength in the Cape. Juvenile Stakes on Met day. The Crawford-Orffer combination Vaughan Marshall and MJ Byleveld are the proven firm when it have proven lethal so far this season and the son of Snitzel can comes to the 2yo’s and they team up with facile recent Durbanville feature, if not in need of it. maiden winner Canukeepitsecret. Very highly regarded, she hails from Goliath Heron beat subsequent runaway winner Clifton a family of speed winners and her full sister is a big runner in the Poin- Crusher by 4 lengths on debut at Greyville and that form could settia Stakes on the same day – and a past winner of this race! be deceptively better than it appears. Robbie Hill’s Oratorio debut winner Petra won her Greyville 1000m Mike Miller’s Vertical Descent has not run in the 21 weeks opener going away after the benefit of a barrier trial (which she won) since winning at Scottsville on his well-backed 800m debut. in February. She is highly regarded. Dean Kannemeyer’s Good Buddy never runs a bad race but Mark Dixon’s Ideal World debut winner Inverroche put up a decent performs like a fellow who may be looking for further in time barrier trial earlier this month and could be anything as she is prop- to come. This may count against him here as there won’t be erly exposed for the first time in decent company. She is bound to go any hanging around over the 1100m.. further in time but won’t be found wanting on what she has shown Glen Kotzen’s Rock Spirit makes his debut and must be held so far. in some regard by the top stable. The son of Rock Of Gibraltar Dean Kannemeyer sends out the second Var in vastly improved lost a shoe when running in recent debut winner Ella Va. Well backed at her first start at Greyville, Godolphin Barb S. a barrier trial at this track a Strelitzia S. she won a cracker from a 13/13 past winners fortnight ago. The top-class past winners draw to win going away and will ap- Richard Fourie rode him there preciate the minor increase in trip. 2015 2015 1 Seventh Plain 60.0 ( 8) 12/10 and must have been shown 1 Royal Pleasure 60.0 ( 8) 18/10 Kom Naidoo’s Noble Tune filly 2 Beat The Retreat 60.0 ( 9) 9/2 2 Miracle Rising 56.0 ( 6) 12/1 3 Mr Roy 60.0 ( 4) 12/1 something to recommend a 3 Princess Royal 60.0 ( 4) 28/10 Awesomely Tuned is the most 2016 Gr3 debut. Watch the betting! 2016 experienced galloper in the race – 1 Red Chesnut Road 58.0 ( 5) 13/20 1 The Secret Is Out 58.0 ( 2) 3/1 2 Over Sure 58.0 ( 7) 25/1 We will find out how good 2 Seattle Singer 56.0 ( 3) 9/2 with Star Flyer - and followed up on 3 Timedtoperfection 53.5 ( 1) 15/1 3 Touching 58.0 ( 1) 10/1 2017 Cue The Music is on Sunday. 2017 her maiden win at this track with a 1 Woljayrine 56.0 ( 1) 30/1 He is selected ahead of Top Of 1 Neptune’s Rain 60.0 ( 8) 10/1 solid 2 length third to Master Keys 2 Sir Frenchie 60.0 ( 6) 37/10 2 Made In Hollywood 60.0 (11) 14/10 3 Varallo 60.0 ( 7) 16/10 The Class and Goliath Heron. 3 Gold Image 60.0 ( 9) 37/10 after showing good pace last time. Val-La-Ree has to give START PA5/PICK SIX4/JACKPOT3 START PA4/PICK SIX3/JACKPOT2 3:40PM Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes - 1100m 3:05PM Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes (2yo f) - 1100m 2kgs away Scottsville SAME TRAINER:(-) Scottsville SAME TRAINER:(-) but looks very 7 6 Oratorio 1 Cue The Music(DS Bosch) A Marcus...... 4 60.0 Var 1 Val-La-Ree(D Campbell) A Marcus...... 1 60.0 smart and can Master Of My Fate 2 Goliath Heron(DR Drier) S Veale...... 3 60.0 Noble Tune 2 Awesomely Tuned(KG Naidoo) L Hewitson.... 5 58.0 Elusive Fort 3 Good Buddy(D Kannemeyer) K De Melo...... 6 60.0 Captain Al 3 CANUKEEPITSECRET(VH Marshall) M Byleveld..... 8 58.0 make it three- Var 4 Top Of The Class(VH Marshall) M Byleveld.... 7 60.0 Var 4 Elle Va(D Kannemeyer) B Fayd’herbe...... 7 58.0 from-three. Snitzel 5 TRACES(BJ Crawford) C Orffer...... 2 60.0 Ideal World 5 Inverroche(M Dixon) K De Melo...... 3 58.0 Oratorio 6 Van Halen(T Spies) C Zackey...... 8 60.0 Oratorio 6 Petra(R Hill) D De Gouveia...... 6 58.0 What A Winter 7 Vertical Descent(MD Miller) B Fayd’herbe... 1 60.0 Sail From Seattle 7 Star Flyer(T Spies) C Zackey...... 2 58.0 Rock Of Gibraltar 8 Rock Spirit(GS Kotzen) R Fourie...... 5 58.0 Sail From Seattle 8 Western Angel(C Bass-Robinson) A Domeyer... 4 58.0 SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 april 2018 5 SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 April 2018 6

Nationals - Champions Day Takes Shape Champion Miler and dual SA Horse Of The Year Legal Eagle returns ‘Best In Years’ to action on Champions Day 5 May and is out to set the record straight in the R4 million Gr1 Premier’s Champions Challenge, after The 2018 National Yearling Sale winds down later being beaten by Deo Juvente last year. today and things are certainly looking up! The 2000m contest, won by Legal Session one concluded with an aggregate over Eagle in 2016, has attracted a R98 000 000, with exceptional healthy average and medi- smart field of 13 and includes an prices of R600 000 and R340 000 respectively. recent Gr1 Empress Club Stakes Session two continued in a positive fashion on winner Nother Russia, who took Wednesday, with the average and median reaching the Tarry star all the way to the R197 000 and R160 000 respectively, with one of the wire in the Horse Chestnut Stakes at her penultimate start. most positive aspects of Wednesday’s session being Legal Eagle & Nother Russia meet again that session two achieved an impressive clearance rate The draws for this feature will be of 80%- which equalled the result of the select session. done at a function today. Also declared on Wednesday were the Gr1 Computaform Sprint, The aggregate on the second day reached R17 million which has attracted a capacity field including Snaith’s speed star which pushes the sales’ overall aggregate to over R115 Sergeant Hardy, and the Gr1 SA Derby, where Anton Marcus rides July million-a fantastic result from a sale which has outper- hopeful Majestic Mambo. formed expectations. The Gr2 SA Oaks only declares on Monday 30 April. Bloodstock South Africa’s Gary Grant was delighted Click here to see the final fields so far with the continued success of the sale, commenting, “This sale has seriously endorsed the BSA product. In my opinion, this has been the best local sale in years, SA Champions Season – with a happy and positive atmosphere translating into exceptional all-round results.” The Starting Gun A new record for a Bloodstock South Africa sold yearling was achieved on Wednesday, when the Varsfontein Marinaresco took his first SA Champions step to Vodacom Durban Stud consigned Track Attack (Lot 191) was sold to Form July glory by winning the Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes in 2017. Is there Bloodstock for R5 200 000. another big hitter lurking in the 13 runners declared on Wednesday for the 2018 renewal? This surpasses the R5 million which Var filly Goddess This competitive 1400m race under the lights is a traditional starting Var (also consigned by Varsfontein) fetched when sold point for many SA Champions Season feature hopefuls and it has at- at the 2017 National Sale. tracted a nationally representative field again, with Brett Crawford’s Gr1 Track Attack is a son of Highlands Stud’s perennial winner Sail South topping the weights. Crawford also has the exciting leading sire Dynasty and Listed Syringa Handicap runner 3yo and recent Gr3 Byerley Turk winner Undercover Agent in his attack. up Little Indian. The latter’s previous foals include four Another Crawford - this time Harold - saddles his recent Jet Master winners, notably 2014 Equus Champion Older Male Stakes winner Perovskia, seen as something of an optimistic visitor to Yorker and G2 The Nursery runner up The Raj. the holiday province. He has drawn well and gets the services of Callan Dynasty, himself a former graduate of the National Murray. Yearling Sale, was also responsible for Wednesday’s The other two features declared for the opening night of the 2018 second top lot sold -a colt named Oscar Wilde, who SA Champions Season are the Gr2 Daisy Guineas and the Gr2 Daisy fetched R4.5 million to the bid of Form Bloodstock’s Fillies Guineas. The exciting Justin Snaith filly Snowdance makes her Jehan Malherbe. KZN debut as the highest rated of nine runners. Bernard Fayd’herbe gets the ride. Her stablemate and Sun Met winner Oh Susanna is pitted against the boys iin the Daisy Guineas. Justin Snaith always said he would keep the stars on separate tracks! See the fields here

Passioneight Louis The Seventh WON at Greyville, 22 April WON at Turffontein, 21 April T: Niklaas Van Wyk J: D De Gouveia B: Scott Bros T: T Zackey J: R Fourie B:Clifton Stud SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 april 2018 7 louw flyer Planes,Trains & Autombiles Racing Gets An Intervention

If opportunities are a bit like buses, in that you can wait ages restructure the racing industry, incorporating the assets of the for one and then several show up at once, it seems seismic Totalisator Agency Board (TAB), the Highveld Racing Authority and events on the racing landscape work the same way. the existing clubs in the province into a single corporate entity. The Markus Jooste / Steinhoff implosion of December 2017 This entity, which we know today as Phumelela, was to take has raised questions about the implications of his investment over the management of the sport in the province and be listed and the extent of his involvement in horseracing, as seen in the on the JSE, with the shareholding split as follows: 30% to the Union threats ahead of the Met. Then came the news that Public Racing Trust, 22,5% to Black Economic Empowerment Groups, Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane is launching a public hearing into 20% to Strategic Investor Management, 2.5% to Employee Share horse racing and has started contacting a list of key individuals to Program, 15% to the General Public and 10% to the Racing Public. assist with their fact finding process. Phumelela Gaming and Leisure was listed on the JSE in June 2002. Background Additional Features Around the world horse racing has been run on a turf club basis for about 400 years. The South African industry dates back to It is important to understand that while the MOU catapulted the late 1700’s and was established on the same lines. However, racing into a corporate structure, the intention was to develop thanks to the advent of democracy – as well as the introduction racing into a vehicle for transformation and empowerment and of the lottery and casinos in the new South Africa, the local model to ensure the survival of the sport in an environment that had changed in 1995. become fraught with the advent of legalised gambling. In line with other organisations at the time, horse racing need- To this end, the Thoroughbred Racing Trust (normally referred ed to transform in order to sustain itself. To that end, in October to as ‘The Trust’), was formed with the intention of holding at 1995, the Highveld Racing Authority (HRA) formed a steering least 30% of the new company and, according to a circular issued committee comprising representatives of the various bodies by the Racing Clubs to members at the time, “which assets would which made up the horse racing industry in Gauteng to form a be devoted to promoting the non-commercial interests of racing, plan for the future development of horse racing in the province. with specific emphasis on black development and affirmative In December 1995, Jabu Moleketi, the then MEC for Finance action.” and Economic Affairs for the Gauteng Provincial Government, That circular, which was disseminated to members of all the stated that he wanted the racing industry to be privatised by the affected clubs, also chronicled the establishment of the Racing end of 1996, with the aim of developing racing into a vehicle for Association to represent the traditional racing interests of club transformation and empowerment. To facilitate this, the Steer- members and owners in Gauteng. It states that the Association ing Committee appointed a Negotiation Committee, comprising was intended “to control the racing industry’s intellectual prop- Messrs A.S. Barnes, P.F. Jaeger, B.D. Mehl, O.H. Philpott, J.B. Wal- erty, including broadcasting and television rights and through this ters and D.R. Wiid, tasked with conducting negotiations with the safeguard the levels at which stakes are paid.” Gauteng Government. In addition to gearing the intellectual property rights to safe- This negotiation process culminated in a Memorandum Of guard stakes, the circular also stated that the Provincial Govern- Understanding (MOU) signed in 1997 between the provincial ment would decide on the level of taxation to government and the three clubs that had run racing in the region be imposed on the industry, but that it (Turffontein, Newmarket would be applied on and Gosforth Park). Party an equitable basis to this agreement was consistent with other Jabu Moleketi (as repre- forms of gaming and sentative of the Gauteng furthermore, that the Government), and Brian industry’s share of the Mehl, Peter Jaeger and 6% bookmakers levy Derrick Wiid, represent- would be increased to ing the three Gauteng 50% to further assist race clubs. its sustainability. Memorandum Of Under- Phindi’s Complaint standing The current process In the MOU, the parties agreed to reorganise and SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 April 2018 8 planes, trains & Automobiles traces back to January 2012 when Phindi Kema lodged an official as well as considering the series of strategic decisions that fol- complaint with the PP’s office regarding corporatisation, or more lowed and the effects those have had on the industry as a whole. specifically, the transaction described above between the Gaut- Those effects include issues such as the conflict of interest eng Government and the racing industry in the formation of what posed by SASCOC’s Gride investment (Pty) Ltd's shareholding we know today as Phumelela. in Phumelela, the dissolution of the Horseracing Development Thuli Madonsela found a prima facie case of malpractice and Fund and transfer of funds into Phumelela, the grooms accom- improper conduct and launched a probe to establish whether modation, the stakes agreement, the sale of racetracks, intellec- the provincial government had ever had the authority to sell the tual property rights and the case against the bookmakers, lack of horse racing properties and whether due process was followed in development and transformation, bookmakers tax collections, privatising the industry. and machinations on the Racing Trust. And probably a few others I haven’t thought of. What Is The Fuss All About? Enquiry Of course, a lot of water has flowed under the bridge since 1997. A number of additional transactions have occurred, -ex The issues are complex and multi-faceted and therefore the tending beyond the boundaries of Gauteng to include the Vaal, Public Protector is launching a public hearing where it can all be Bloemfontein, Flamingo Park, Arlington and Fairview, allegedly aired. Her office has contacted an extensive list of witnesses con- without proper processes and necessary public participation. firming their personal details so subpoenas can be issued to get There have been changes to the Trust Deed, somehow the them to shed light on the consequences of the Gauteng Provincial ownership of racing’s intellectual property has transferred to Government’s construction of the corporatisation of the industry, Phumelela, the Black Empowerment owned portion of Phumelela examine items that may demonstrate conflicts of interest and has dropped alarmingly to 12% - its lowest ever level - and black distortions that have led to bad decisions and ultimately to the participation in the sport remains extremely limited. In short, the decline that has cost the industry 85 000 jobs over the past 16 majority of the objects it was tasked with achieving have been years. ignored and to date, transformation in the hands of the Trust has The hearing will be conducted to ascertain who is responsible failed. – is it only the Gauteng Government for failing to provide the nec- In addition, huge conflicts of interest have arisen which have essary oversight and monitor transparency and accountability? seen Phumelela shareholders making decisions that impact the Or is there truth to allegations that the process may have been sport. The Trust has been subverted into a strategic organisation derailed by corrosive elements within racing which redirected to push up the value of Phumelela and used the Stakes Agree- what should have gone to the sport to themselves instead? ment to tip money back into the company. Questions In its quest for profits, the public company placed itself in a po- A lot of questions are going to be raised about the conduct of sition to earn substantial revenues which have ultimately arisen various bodies and various individuals in racing over the past 16 out of the sport and resulted in a situation whereby almost all years, but hopefully, once it has been ascertained how we got parties are putting in and only a handful are taking out. Instead from there to here, the more important question can be ad- of bolstering the industry, the opposite has happened and as it is dressed of what we do now? currently structured, racing is basically bankrupt. While it is perhaps a pity that racing will need to suffer the igno- Public Protector miny of a public hearing in order to clean house, there seems to In short, things seem to be in a bit of a mess and we are now be a widespread agreement that change is necessary, albeit that being subjected to outside intervention. there has been an equal reluctance for anyone to take the lead. We know that Thuli Madonsela found a prima facie case of As one stakeholder put it, if the people who count can't be malpractice. We also know that the Gauteng Government counted on, perhaps this intervention is necessary to get racing approached Kema and the Public Protector in September 2015, to a place where it is more aligned with what was originally conceding they would support the Public Protector's recommen- intended. dations to that effect. As an aside, despite being advised about Hopefully the process will result in constructive remedial action, the investigation as early as 2015, Phumelela have yet to issue a suggestions for a better dispensation for the Horse racing industry cautionary to the JSE in this regard and have continued to trade as a whole and one which is more workable and equitable for all. as normal. They say opportunities often come couched as challenges. If Busisiwe Mkhwebane took office in October 2016, inheriting so, like buses it seems we may just have a great big double decker the case from Madonsela. She now has to examine the original bus on our doorstep. Perhaps, it is just the vehicle we need for transaction and the legitimacy of the process that formed and change. All aboard? capitalised Phumelela with public assets and industry revenues Also read Phumelela response on page 9

can be purchased here SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 april 2018 9

Local

Public Protector July, Retirement For Guv Jeff Lloyd has confirmed that the 2018 Brisbane Winter Carnival Phumelela Responds will be his last – and he will also be looking for a Vodacom Durban Phumelela Gaming has responded to the Phindi Kema July ride. Lloyd has never won Africa’s greatest race and is very hopeful complaint with the Public Protector against the Gaut- of securing a ride in the big one at Greyville, where he began his eng Provincial Government for allegedly exceeding its career and won multiple premierships after his family migrated authority by transferring five racetracks located in other from England. provinces to Phumelela. “I think I have run third in the July 11 times but never won or Phumelela’s response states: “Ms Kema has a history of even run second,” he said. His last attempt was in 2012 when he instituting meritless complaints and litigation against Phu- ran third on Chesalon. melela. This includes a matter in which Ms Kema appealed Racing Minister Stirling Hinchliffe officially launched the 2018 against a finding of the Competition Tribunal, without Brisbane Racing Carnival, an internationally renowned event fea- success, to the Competition Appeal Court and the Consti- turing world class horseracing, food and fashion, last Friday. The tutional Court. Both of these courts granted cost orders carnival runs from 12 May to 9 June. against Ms Kema. These taxed costs are in excess of R250 “The Brisbane Racing Carnival attracts tens of thousands of 000 (excluding interest thereon) and Ms Kema has, despite racegoers every year, and always manages to unearth a future star demand, failed to settle the cost orders. of the turf,” he said, adding that Winx had kicked off her 25-straight Ms Kema’s original complaint, which was made in winning run in Queensland, scoring her first Gr1 win at the Bris- 2013, was that in 1997 the MEC in Gauteng transferred bane Racing Carnival in 2015. the Arlington Racecourse in Port Elizabeth to Phumelela Lloyd was a special guest at the carnival launch and confirmed his without following due process. The obvious and immediate plans to retire later this year. He won last season’s Brisbane metro- question must certainly be how likely is it that the Gauteng politan and Queensland jockey titles and is set to do the same again government owned a race course in Port Elizabeth? The this season. allegation is hilarious, to put it mildly. “This will be my last carnival as it is time to spend more time with Phumelela has substantiated to the Public Protector my family,” Lloyd told www.punters.com.au. My older boy is at the that Arlington has not been owned by the South African SA Jockey Academy and my younger son is also keen to be a jockey.” Government or by any public authority since at least 1815. “I want to devote time to helping them. They say go out when Phumelela has acquired its racecourses from racing clubs, you are top and hopefully I can do that.” which belonged to their members. It did not buy any race- Lloyd has ridden 94 Gr1 winners around the world but will chase course from government. the one that got away when he visits his son after the Brisbane Phumelela has co-operated and will continue to co-op- carnival. Lloyd, 56, suffered a stroke in 2013 and made a remarka- erate with the investigation of the Public Protector insofar ble recovery to return to riding. He has won Gr1 races in Australia, as it pertains to state affairs or in the public administration. South Africa, Hong Kong and Singapore. Phumelela has reserved its rights to request compensation for the expenses it has incurred in connection with the investigation, in accordance with section 10 of the Act.” Champions Season Is Here! Also read Louw Flyer - page 7 The Vodacom Durban July entries last week also signalled the exciting reality that Gold Circle’s 2018 SA Champions Season is upon us. The festival of racing launches at Greyville Race Course next Friday 4 May with the running of three Gr2 features and also marks the start of the 2018 Charity Turf Challenge. The online entry system is now live on the Racing South Africa website (www.racingsouthafrica.co.za) for the R100 000 competition that pits race fans in a mix skill and a dash of good fortune . A reminder that there is a free bonus entry for every 5 entries submitted for online users – in other words, the sixth entry is free! Take 12 entries and only pay for 10. SA Champions Season, often referred to as the National Championship of horseracing in South Africa, showcases the very best the sport of horse racing has to offer from the begin- ning of May to the end of July each year, and attracts contest- ants from all over the country. Is Your Stallion Entered for 2018? Comprising 25 Race Meetings and 217 races, Champions Season contact - Kiki 082 878 2231 boasts more than R46-million in prize money including 13 Grade 1 [email protected] races; 9 Grade 2 races; 9 Grade 3 races and 7 Listed races. SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 April 2018 10

Personality

Robert Khathi

With a productive stint in Mauritius behind him, Robert pers in his first year and have his first race ride for Mark Dixon at Khathi is settling back in to life in Cape Town and the man with Scottsville in late 2001, where he finished 2nd. That was followed the megawatt smile is finding himself in a good space, both by a lot of places before he cracked his first winner for the late personally and professionally. At 33 years old, he’s established Cyril Naidoo at Clairwood on 22 December 2002 aboard Teeny a firm niche for himself in the Cape and is now stretching his Bopper and support from the likes of Clodagh Shaw, Mark Dixon, sights further afield to PE and Kimberley. David Payne and Vaughan Marshall saw him on his way. He cites his role models as being Robbie Fradd, Alec Forbes Background and Anthony Delpech. “Robbie Fradd was a great role model and Simukeliswa (Robert) Khathi hails from Umlazi, just outside Dur- helped me with kit and so on.” The Delpech family often opened ban, where, along with his brother Sandile (a popular fixture on their home to him and S’manga Khumalo on visits home to Dur- the PE jockey roster), he was spotted by the SA Jockey Academy’s ban. “It was difficult to get transport from home to Summerveld, Mr Sbisi on a scouting mission back in 2000. so we used to stay there when we were in Durban, which helped Invited to attend the follow-up interviews with the Academy a lot.” along with two other candidates, Robert remembers that he weighed 35kgs at the time while his year younger brother Sandile Move to Cape Town weighed 33kgs. “Sandile was their first choice as they were wor- As there was a shortage of apprentices in the Western Cape at ried I’d get too heavy, but they said I could come along to the final the time, Robert was transferred to Cape Town in 2003, initially interview and in the end we both got in.” living with Gwen Heyns as there was no Cape Town Academy at Not being from a family with any horse or racing background, it the time and completed his apprenticeship in Cape Town, finish- came as a shock to his mother, who had raised the two boys and ing his final year as Champion Apprentice of the Western Cape. their two younger sisters on her own after their father passed After completing his time in 2006, Robert transferred to Port away when they were still young. “My mom didn’t think we’d Elizabeth for a busy and productive year and a half riding for both go at the same time, but she was very supportive.” Gavin Smith, before Billy Prestage persuaded him to return to the Robert and Sandile joined the 2001 SA Jockey Academy Cape. “I won for him at my first meeting back on Moon- intake alongside the likes of Randall Simons, Chase light Gambler in the Sophomore Sprint,” he remem- Maujean, Sihle Cele, Lance Pagel, Sean Veale, Beth bers. “That set the tone and everything has gone Martin and the late Sylvester Mtshali (who sadly smoothly since. It’s home now and I love Cape passed away in a car accident in 2010). He admits Town.” that his English was not great at the time, so having his brother with him as well as Sean Veale who Freelance also didn’t have English as a first language was Despite being a freelance rider, thanks to his a great comfort, but it’s just yet another hurdle work ethic and professional attitude, Robert they’ve all overcome in their pursuit of a career in is on call to a number of top stables. Asked to the saddle. And he is also very proud of the fact that name some of the top moments of his career so the majority of his intake are still riding. far, he opts for Pocket Power, who he partnered in his maiden race and remembers the outing as a Determined to succeed special thrill. “It was too short for him – only 1200m Robert says that while the Academy has a – and we finished 5th. But we always knew he reputation for being tough, particularly was a nice horse.” on the first years, his intake were Other highlights include riding different and largely did away the Vaughan Marshall galloper with the kit boy system. “I Tribal Dance in the 2013 was there to work. I didn’t J&B Met and the Justin need someone else to Snaith-trained Elusive wake me up or clean Silva to a Gr3 Winter my kit.” Derby victory in It was this 2016. single-minded “I love what I dedication do. You learn that saw something him sign new from his pa- every SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 april 2018 11

Robert Khathi race.” Asked whether there are any down sides to the job, he children love racing and when I go to work, I have to sneak out in has to think long and hard, but finally says that racing in the the morning, or they try and come with me.” heavy going and poor visibility of the Cape winter is not his While he would like an opportunity to ride abroad again, he is favourite. “You are always worried the horse might stumble.” content to focus his energies on getting re-established on home soil for the time being. International experience He has been back on home soil since September last year and has Although mainly focussing on getting established in South easily slotted into his previous routine and splits his time evenly be- Africa, Robert has grabbed a number of opportunities to get tween Milnerton, Philippi and Plattner Racing’s West Coast training some international experience on his CV, starting with Kenya centre. “I try to balance it as evenly as possible, depending on what in 2015. “S’manga used to ride up there and when he got too rides I have.” busy, they contacted me about taking over. I had a great time He is pleased with a healthy 6.5% win and 40% place strike rate at in Kenya – I had 22 rides and 15 winners.” His wins included the moment. “It’s not bad for someone that’s been away, but I’ve three of the Kenyan ‘majors’ – the Kenya Derby, the St Leger got myself an agent. Hadley Isaacs, who is helping me book rides in and the Fillies Guineas. PE and Kimberley as well now.” He had a short stint in Bahrain in 2016, but cut his visit short Are there any horses he has his eyes on for the coming season? in order to take up an opportunity in Mauritius for the Shirish “It’s a bit too early to tell. All the new horses are babies at the mo- Narang stable, where he achieved 14 winners last season, de- ment, but it’s an exciting part of the season and I enjoy teaching the spite suffering an injury setback. “I fell off and hurt my coccyx young horses and seeing them progress.” at work one morning. It was only fractured though, so I stayed Robert is booked to ride Say No More for Grant Paddock in the on and rode a few more winners before coming home.” forthcoming EC Nursery and hopes to focus his energies on the Cape winter season, while some of the Cape bigger stable jockeys Public support are away chasing the Champions Season prizes. Reflecting on the difference between the public support in He is well suited to being competitive in both centres, riding most Mauritius to the smaller crowds back home, he says it is great comfortably at 53,5kgs, although quipping that he’s happy to get to ride in front of a crowd, but he appreciates all the home down to 53 for a winning ride! town support. “It means a lot to have those guys on the rail. The could choose to sit and watch racing from the Tote, but they like coming to the course.” He is also acutely aware how much is riding on every horse. “One of those guys might have R10 on you to ride a place and if you do, someone could be rich, so I ride the 100-1 shots the same as the even money horses.” A Slow Boat, My China! It has earned him the attention of Winning Form, who have Here is the story (so far…) of Albacore (IRE), a horse the been long-standing sponsors and support him with racing gear, Mike de Kock stable has nicknamed, “The QEII”, because form study material and assistance in booking a flight here or he’s slow, like a Big Boat! there, for which he is very grateful. “Every little helps.” Mike de Kock relates on www.mikedekockracing.com: Keys to Success “Owner Michael Javett wanted a two-year-old to compete When German visitor Martin Seidl was asked for an opinion in the UK’s juvenile features so we went to the Tattersalls on the local riding ranks earlier this year, he singled out Robert Sale and found Albacore (IRE) a beautiful colt by Fastnet for praise, adding, “He makes very few mistakes in a race.” Rock from Starfish, by Galileo. Mary Slack joined as Javett’s Robert smiles at the compliment, but ascribes his proficien- partner.” cy to studying form and watching as many replays as he can. Albacore was taken to a pre-trainer but to the dismay of the “Being freelance is a big advantage. Because I ride everywhere connections he soon reported: “Albacore is on the slow side, and ride work for a lot of stables, I know a lot of horses and he won’t run as a two-year-old”. it puts me a step ahead, because I know which horses are The colt was taken out of pre-training and shipped to South going to be where in a race.” This comes in handy for chance Africa, where quite a shock awaited Mike, Mathew and the opportunities, when he can easily step into the breach for an team at Randjesfontein. indisposed rider when needed, but the down side is that one “Slow is not the word! Albacore couldn’t keep up with doesn’t often get to stay with the good horses, but he accepts horses going in a common canter. He is one of the slowest that as part of the job. horses ever to be booked into our stable complex. We named him “QE11” (big, clumsy and very slow) and I reported to the Home is where the heart is owners that we had problem on our hands. Outside of racing, Robert is a family man, focussing on his Read more here wife and three children, who he says are his biggest fans. “My SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 April 2018 12

Irwin Cuts Ties With SA Racing Mayfair Speculators It is with sadness and regret that I have taken a decision to leave South Afri- can racing and breeding, writes Team Valor International CEO Barry Irwin. I will come up with a plan to liquidate my racing Take Lifeline and breeding stock. Some of the stock will be moved Lenders have given Mayfair Speculators until to different countries. It will be an orderly process the end of this year to sell as much as R2.08bn in so as to disrupt as few people’s lives as possible. As assets ranging from real estate to racehorses to some of you may or may not know, I have over the repay almost R1.6bn of loans to the banks and past few months put in an effort to make heads or other creditors. tails (and even tales!) out of the export protocol strat- Fin 24 reports that as well as the lenders, cred- Barry Irwin | photo by egies. No matter what you hear or read, progress is itors include two companies tied to Steinhoff -In Summerhill Stud considerably less rosy than it has been portrayed. ternational Holdings former chief executive officer I sent one of the world’s leading equine immunologists to South Africa Markus Jooste and his son-in-law, Stefan Potgieter, on a fact-finding mission. He reported that the scientific progress as which may realize more than R200m from the being directed by Dr. Guthrie and his associates in the Western Cape has disposals. been impressive. From what I have been told by my contacts, however, Mayfair will also be able to keep any proceeds left the business end of affairs is not up to the same standard of the scien- over after creditors are repaid, which could amount tists involved. to about R500m. I have learned that as long as Chris van Niekerk continues to be Jooste has thus been thrown a lifeline by banks as involved in the effort that the initiative is likely to continue to be slow- the global retailer he oversaw for 18 years struggles track because the international community wants nothing to do with to survive an accounting scandal that happened Markus Jooste or anybody tainted by him. I don’t know Mr van Niekerk. under his watch. For all I know he is a wonderful fellow. But the cooties he collected from The 57-year-old’s personal investment company being involved with Markus Jooste is something he cannot easily shed. Mayfair Holdings owes Sanlam’s capital markets For the greater good of the industry, he should agree to step aside so arm, Investec and ABSA, a banking unit of Barclays that the effort can present a better front. Africa Group, a combined R959m backed by Stein- Furthermore the initiative in South Africa has as presented by the hoff stock, according to an agreement between export group led by Adrian Todd leads outsiders to believe that the com- Mayfair and its creditors seen by Bloomberg. mercial and self-serving aspects of the effort far outweigh the beneficial After Steinhoff shares crashed when the company nature of the progress a viable export protocol can have on the entire reported a hole in its accounts in December last South African racing and breeding community. year, Mayfair defaulted on the loans and wasn’t I personally tried to cause a change, but I must sadly report that not able to immediately repay them. That gave the enough support was received, so it’s business as usual–except it will tod- banks an option to liquidate the company or come dle on without my involvement.I love my South African horses, friends up with a breakup proposal to release capital. and horsemen and women, but I can no longer stand by and be involved with people that simply are unable to help themselves. Marwing Returns Home Former SA champion jockey Weichong Marwing has been released from his commitments to the Gilbert Irwin: Van Niekerk & Todd Respond Rousset yard for the remainder of the 2018 Mauritius Approached at the National Sale, Chris Van Niekerk said in reference racing season. to Barry Irwin’s comments: “Rather to be thought a fool than open your Marwing has suffered from recurring back pain and mouth to remove all possible doubts!” will return home to South Africa shortly. Adrian Todd, Managing Director of SAEHP, said that he was disappoint- He rode one winner – Brass Bell at the first meeting – ed and surprised by Irwin’s remarks. Todd said: “SAEHP, as the implemen- in only 8 rides for the Rousset yard. tation arm of the Import/Export Task Team has a widely representative One of our most accomplished and experienced board of directors including myself, Mike de Kock, Chris van Niekerk, Lee jockeys, Marwing previously rode on the island for the Scribante and Marc Greene of the TBA, Dr John Grewar, Mick Goss and former Koon Stable in 1991 and also at the internation- Brian Finch. Gary Grant of the Equine Group assists on the accounting al meetings of 1997, 2006 and 2007. side. The board represents all sectors of our industry and carries its inter- The 47 year old was SA Champion Jockey in 1996/7 ests with urgency, honour and commitment. and rode 6 winners on the Turffontein card on 1 January “To date the SAEHP has created successful partnerships with govern- 1992 – a feat he repeated at the Vaal on 8 April 2004. ment. A number of regulatory tasks have been delegated to us by govern- The veteran Rousset has not released the name of ment. We also have successful ongoing interaction with foreign govern- a replacement yet. He hass a powerful string and has ments.” been training for 30 years and was champion in all of "SAEHP is a non-profit organisation with our sole focus being the estab- 1987, 2009 -11, 2013, 2016, and was champion last lishment of long-term sustainable imports.” year with 40 winners. SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 april 2018 13 Short Heads

Good On His Back Composed Former KZN jockey Glyn Schof- ield will have some time to get Aidan O'Brien has confirmed that stable jockey Ryan Moore is Company over a back injury which result- set to miss the Qipco 2000 Guineas to ride Sheikh Fahad’s Qatar Racing ed in him being hospitalised. Mendelssohn in the Kentucky Derby enjoyed their first South Schofield was suspended at on 5 May. Ever since Mendelssohn African winner at Kenil- Saturday’s Randwick meeting produced a brilliant performance worth on Saturday when for an incident in the Gr3 J H B under Moore to win the UAE Derby the Donovan Dillon ridden Carr Stakes after which he was at Meydan last month, there has Tarsus became the first 2yo forced to forfeit his remaining been speculation that O'Brien’s to beat the older horses in rides because of the recur- son of Scat Daddy would bid to the Cape this season. Joey rence of the back problem. become the first European-trained Ramsden’s son of Var, who He was taken from the course winner of the 2400m Classic. races in a partnership with on a stretcher and given pain his breeders Maine Chance relief in hospital to help with Farms, was only receiving his back spasms. His Saturday 3kgs from his elders but wasn’t a complete wipe-out won like a horse with a though – he rode Queensland promising future. Qatar Derby-bound Higher Ground Have A Bite Rock Solid Racing have over 90 horses to a narrow victory in the Gr3 Duke Of Marmalade’s ice- in training in the UK. Frank Packer Plate. breaking first winner from his Klawervlei’s Seventh Rock has first SA crop at Kenilworth on been enjoying a run of win- Saturday would have added ners and the son of Rock Of Gi- further impetus to the interest braltar enjoyed a memorable in his son The Sandwich Man treble, from only four runners, (#467) who comes up in the at the Vaal last Thursday, with In Full Bloom Summerhill draft on Thursday his runners Cassini, Colour Wilgerbosdrift sire Flower Alley, who had 31 yearlings catalogued at the National Yearling Sale. Of Light and Seven Lives all on this week’s National Yearling Sale, enjoyed a major turf success He is a half-brother to Triple winning . Seventh Rock has at Santa Anita on Sunday. Nessy landed the first graded win of Tiara hopeful Takingthepeace two yearlings on the final day his career when victorious in the Gr3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes, (Visionaire), whose earnings of the National Yearling Sale downing a high-class field in the process. An own-brother to re- already exceed R1,4 million. this week. cently deceased G1 winner Bullards Alley, Nessy picked up the third win of his career, and pushed his earnings to over U$300 000 with a one length win for jockey Mike Smith and trainer Ian Wilkes. The San Juan Capistrano has a rich and prestigious past, with past Wet, winners including such champions as Kotashaan, Lemhi Wet, Gold, and John Nadeson Park stallion Time Henry. Thief’s Australian Gr1 win- Wet ning daughter In Her Time’s Mauritius lost its scheduled progress is being closely 4th meeting on Saturday due followed here. She could to heavy ground. The MTC head for The Everest during reported as we went to print the spring and a trip to Hong Delayed that the Island was under the Kong is also on the cards at A delayed flight with passengers Yeni, Penny and Munger on influence of the moderate the end of the year. In the board to Kimberley on Monday created opportunities for jock- tropical depression Fakir and short-term, In Her Time is eys who don’t always get the better chances. It was good to see a Class 1 cyclone warning was likely to have an exhibition Shadlee Fortune ride a double – he has 17 wins on the board in issued on Monday. This has gallop at Newcastle on Satur- the Northern Cape this season. Lucas Bester didn’t have words affected training schedules day week before heading to to describe the pleasure of his winning ride aboard Roque- and the form may be erratic – Brisbane for the Doomben brune. “I just sat there” said the jockey, whose sixth winner it that’s if they race on Saturday. 10,000 on 12 May. was this term. Muzi Yeni wasted no time – winning on his first ride Kultwanoslove for Corrie Lensley in the eighth. SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 April 2018 14 international Two Minutes - Millard’s Sling Can Set Sunday Alight Trainer Tony Millard has his sights set on next season Unlimited Romance! with Hong Kong Classic Cup winner Singapore Sling, but he The most exciting two minutes in sport, the Kentucky is still hopeful of a big effort when the SA-bred four-year- Derby – the 144th renewal - will be run on Saturday 5 May old drops back to 1600m for the Gr1 Champions Mile at at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. Sha Tin on Sunday. The Kentucky Derby is the first leg of the US Triple Crown Singapore Sling is the and is followed by the Preakness Stakes on 19 May and the only four-year-old among Belmont Stakes on 9 June. There have been 12 Triple Crown the nine runners for this winners in history with American Pharoah in 2015 the most year’s Champions Mile. recent. There has only been one Bolt D'oro, Magnum Moon and Mendelssohn are the early winner from that age co-favourites to win the 2018 renewal. They all have great group in the last decade back stories! – the John Moore-trained Take the undefeated Magnum Moon who has deep ties to Xtension in 2011 – while all historic Claiborne Farm. Not only was he born and raised at four Classic Cup winners to the Paris, Kentucky, nursery, but his pedigree features past run in the Champions Mile Singapore Sling | JC Photos Claiborne patriarchs, and his breeder, Ramona Bass, has a have been unplaced. longstanding relationship with the farm. That connection actually goes back to Bass’s father, Arthur However, Millard did taste spring glory with a Classic Cup A. Seeligson Jr., whose homebred Gr1 Belmont Stakes win- winner in Ambitious Dragon, preparing the champion to take ner Avatar began his stud career at Claiborne. Among the the Gr1 Audemars Piguet QEII Cup (2000m) in 2011. leaders of the 1975 classic crop, Avatar captured the Gr1 San- “I thought he deserved his chance in here,” Millard said. “A ta Anita Derby and grabbed the lead in the stretch run of the lot of these horses have been on the go all season and he has Kentucky Derby, only to be overtaken by champion Foolish only had five starts, so he’s got a bit of freshness on his side.” Pleasure. Another Seeligson homebred, Avatar’s half-brother Singapore Sling, a winner of the Gr2 Dingaans (1600m) Unconscious, was dispatched as the 5-2 favourite in the 1971 at Turffontein pre-arrival, has proven to be a solid indicator Derby, finished fifth behind Venezuelan shipper Canonero among this year’s four-year-old crop. A strong second to the II, and came out of the race with an injury. Unconscious John Size-trained Nothingilikemore in the Hong Kong Classic went on to win two major races as a four-year-old, the 1972 Mile in January, he then took the Hong Kong Classic Cup Charles H. Strub S. and San Antonio S. before another game performance when runner-up to Size’s Bass has become a well-known owner and breeder in her Ping Hai Star in the BMW Hong Kong Derby (2000m) last own right in recent years. In addition to campaigning multiple month. Grade 1-winning turf mare Avenge (and several others in var- Millard had the choice between the QEII Cup and the ious partnerships), she bred reigning champion sprinter Roy Champions Mile for Singapore Sling, but decided that the son H, hero of last fall’s TwinSpires Gr1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint. of Philanthropist would benefit long-term from a step back in Magnum Moon was conceived in 2014, the year after Orb trip. became the 10th Kentucky Derby winner born and/or raised “I have no concerns about him running out 2000m,” at Claiborne. The timing is significant, for Magnum Moon is Millard said. “I think he showed last start that he is capable bred along very similar lines to Orb, a Stuart Janney III and of seeing out that trip. What I’m thinking about though is Phipps Stable homebred. By replicating that cross, the hope having a horse for next season. Coming back to the mile gives was to replicate that type of horse, a potential classic winner. him a softer run to end this season, which is still his first in Hong Kong, and hopefully it is a good stepping stone to next season’s big races.” The Champions Mile is one of three Gr1 features at Sha Tin Hollywood – Owning The World on Sunday, Hong Kong’s Champions Day. The Hollywood Syndicate were celebrating at Greyville The $24 million Audemars Piguet QEII Cup sees a last Friday evening when the nattily named Sunny Bill mouth-watering clash between Hong Kong Cup winner Time Du-Toy stormed home under Anton Marcus to shed his Warp, Hong Kong Derby winner Ping Hai Star, last year’s maiden tag at his third start by over three lengths. runner-up Pakistan Star and Japanese duo Al Ain and Danbur- Their only other runner on the evening, Honest Prince, ite, while Godolphin saddles up a dual-continent assault on ran a close second and should not be long in winning again. the $16 million Chairman’s Sprint Prize. The boys in blue will The Hollywood Syndicate currently has 21 horses in send out Japanese Gr1 winner Fine Needle and English Gr1 training, based in stables in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and placegetter Blue Point to tackle Hong Kong’s best sprinters, the Eastern Cape. including Mr Stunning, Beat The Clock and Lucky Bubbles. Follow the fortunes of the Hollywood runners and enjoy the pre-race trainer comments. Read more here SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 april 2018 15

BREEDING

Drakenstein Duke Is Firing Ascot - A Royal Entry! Drakenstein stallion Duke Of Marma- Entries for the eight Gr1 races at lade celebrated his first winner from his Royal Ascot in June were revealed on first South African born crop of foals at Wednesday, with representation from six countries - Australia, France, Hong Kenilworth on Saturday, when the good How horses performed in South Africa’s looking chestnut Santa Clara followed up Kong, Ireland, Japan and the USA. black type races, expressed in points based on her promising debut to score well. The potential raiders include 12 Amer- on the kind of races and how far behind The former Cartier Champion’s beautifully ican entries, three each from Australia the winner they finished. bred 2yo daughter looked promising on her and Japan, plus one from Hong Kong. A full explanation of the point system and the complete list of point earners is on the Durbanville debut when pipped by stable- Staged from Tuesday, 19 June to Satur- Sporting Post website. mate Lesedi La Rona, and she duly delivered day 23 June, inclusive, Royal Ascot 2018 offers record prize money over the five at short odds for trainer Candice Bass-Rob- Top earners for 2017/2018 inson in the 1200m Maiden Juvenile Plate. days of £7,305,000. This is an increase (to 21 April 2018) Bred by Maine Chance Farms, the filly is of 10% on the £6,665,000 in 2017. horse age sex points races out of an unraced full sister to Champion Nick Smith, Director of Racing and Legal Eagle 6 c 284 4 Oh Susanna 3 f 172 3 Sire Silvano. She is raced by Drakenstein Communications at Ascot, commented Snowdance 3 f 170 3 Stud and was a R1 million purchase from : "We're very pleased with the variety Nother Russia 5 f 154 4 the 2017 Cape Premier Yearling Sale. and quality of the Royal Ascot entries Eyes Wide Open 3 c 120 2 Santa Clara’s full-sister (#35) was sold this year. Sergeant Hardy 4 c 100 1 for R800 000 at the 2018 Emperors Palace Takingthepeace 3 f 100 2 "Seven countries, including Britain, are Liege 5 c 100 1 National Yearling Sale on Tuesday. represented, and amongst them a Hong Coral Fever 5 c 94 3 Her sire Duke Of Marmalade, Cartier Kong Chairman's Sprint Prize winner, Captain America 7 c 90 3 Champion Older Male in 2008, has already two US-trained Breeders' Cup winners Marinaresco 5 c 78 2 been represented by five first crop runners Wonderwall 3 c 76 3 and a dual winner of the Group One Will Pays 6 c 76 3 to earn, including Sweet Preserve, who was Newmarket Handicap in Australia. Lobo's Legend 3 c 70 1 second in open company recently. "With a record 110 entries from Ireland, Tap O' Noth 3 c 70 1 The five time Gr1 winner is already a Last Winter 4 c 70 2 a large number of them naturally from proven sire on the international stage and Monks Hood 3 c 60 2 the Coolmore team, and after the flying has over 50 stakes horses to his credit, with Silicone Valley 7 c 50 1 start to the year by Godolphin, it looks Milton 6 c 50 1 his offspring having banked more than like the 2018 competition will be just as Let It Rain 5 c 50 1 U$31 000 000 in earnings. competitive." Hat Puntano 4 c 50 1 His most notable runners include Gr1 Bishop's Bounty 4 c 50 1 winners Big Orange, Star Of Seville, Simple Tandava 5 c 50 1 Verse, Sound Of Freedom and Nutan, and The Thinker 4 c 50 1 Social Order 4 c 50 3 Duke Of Marmalade has been represented Royal Presence Copper Force 4 c 46 1 by classic winners in all of Britain, France, Girl On The Run 5 f 45 2 Germany and Italy. Sorrento Stud’s Triple Crown winner Sail South 7 c 43 1 The champion is also broodmare sire of Louis The King is the latest addition to a Live Life 4 f 42 2 promising 3yo Chilean, winner of the GR3 star-studded line-up for the Highlands part Fort Ember 5 f 40 2 of Ridgemont Stallion Parade evening on White River 3 c 40 2 Prix La Force, and the promising juvenile Trip To Heaven 6 c 38 1 Jackstar Friday 25 May. For more information, or to Green Top 3 f 36 2 The Duke is a son of the great sire, and reserve a place at Highlands for the parade Like A Panther 3 c 34 2 sire of sires, Danehill, and hails from the which commences at 18h00 on Friday 25 Bella Sonata 5 f 32 2 May, interested parties can contact Silvan Star 5 f 32 2 same family as sire standouts A P Indy, Raja Al Danza 4 f 31 1 Baba, Summer Squall, Lemon Drop Kid and Amanda Carey on (082) 465 4020 or Rocket Countdown 3 c 30 1 Al Mufti. [email protected] SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 April 2018 16

BREEDING

The world of thoroughbred ing Gr1 winners Vega Magic, racing lost a true giant, with Belardo (now standing at stud the passing of former Horse Of in Ireland), Jemayel, The Right The Year, Giant’s Causeway, at Man, Santa Ana Lane and 2018 Ashford Stud recently. classic hope Capla Temptress. The son of Storm Cat, 21 Also sire of Irish champion, years old at the time of his Endless Drama, and Italian death, left behind a legacy, as a champion, Hero Look, Lope De sire of top class stakes winners, Vega’s success at stud has seen sire of sires and broodmare sire. his fee rise to €60 000. A six time Gr1 winner, with Giant’s Causeway’s unbeaten high class form on both dirt 2000 Guineas winner, Foot- stepsinthesand, has more than and turf, Giant’s Causeway is Giant's Causeway officially recognised as the sire 50 stakes winners among his of 178 stakes winners, more than 30 of which are Gr1 winners. tally, but is yet to be represented by a Gr1 winner in either Britain The champion enjoyed top flight success the world over, and was or the USA, and he is not in the same league, commercially or responsible for G1 winners in all of Britain, USA, South Africa, statistically speaking at this stage, as Shamardal. Australia, France, Japan, Chile, and Germany. One of the world’s top broodmare sires, Giant’s Causeway is His first Northern Hemisphere crop, which numbered 149 in currently atop the Leading Broodmare Sires List for 2018, with total, produced an impressive 14 black type winners. Giant’s his maternal grandson, Gun Runner, having banked almost half of Causeway’s first crop could hardly have been more impressive, the total $14 143 215 earned by offspring out of Giant’s Cause- and included the Gr1 winners Shamardal, Footstepsinthesand, way mares. In 2018 thus far, Giant’s Causeway mares have been Maids Causeway, Aragorn and My Typhoon. responsible for eight stakes winners include major race winners Gun Runner (Pegasus World Cup) and Hawkbill (Dubai Sheema Improved Classic). Hawkbill is one of two Gr1 winners produced by the His second crop was even better than the first, with the 20 Giant’s Causeway mare, Trensa (also dam of Breeders’ Futurity black type winners emerging from that crop including Gr1 win- winner Free Drop Billy). His legacy as a broodmare sire could yet ners Carriage Trail, Frost Giant, Heatseeker, and successful stal- continue through young stallions Gun Runner, Verazzano and lion, First Samurai. The latter has a number of his own sire sons at Planteur - with the latter one of the leading first crop sires in stud now, including Claiborne’s Gr1 Donn Handicap winner, Lea, France last year. Giant’s Causeway also featured as broodmare and Gr1 winning sprinter, Justin Phillip, who made a promising sire of short-lived sire, El Padrino (Pulpit), the Leading First Crop start with his first 2yo runners in 2017. Lea’s first crop have been Sire in Pennsylvania in 2017. well received, with Giant’s Causeway’s grandson’s first weanlings The Rain Falls proving popular in sales rings around North America. His subsequent crops included the Gr1 winners Red Giant, Gold In South Africa, Giant’s Causeway is broodmare sire of cham- Cup hero Rite Of Passage, 1000 Guineas winner Ghanaati, Ger- pion Soft Falling Rain (National Assembly), whose first yearlings man Oaks heroine Penelopa, and Breeders’ Cup winning champi- have already made a splash in sales rings around the country. on Take Charge Brandi, to name a few. His legacy promises to live The best son of multiple champion sire Storm Cat, Giant’s on, especially through his son, Shamardal, and the latter’s French Causeway was produced by multiple graded stakes winner Derby winning sire son, Lope De Vega. Mariah’s Storm. His own sister Pealing produced Irish National Shamardal, also sire of popular young stallion, Mukhadram, Stud sire and triple Gr1 winner Decorated Knight (Galileo), while is Giant’s Causeway’s best sire son, with his tally of 113 stakes another sister to Giant’s Causeway, Gr2 Cherry Hinton winner, winners including 18 individual Gr winners, and he is also a prom- You’resothrilling, produced champions Gleneagles and Happily, as ising broodmare sire. Shamardal mares have already produced well as Irish 1000 Guineas winner Marvellous, to the cover of Gal- such group/graded winners as Awtaad (Irish 2000 Guineas), ileo. His full-brother, Freud, has also enjoyed success at stud, with Anda Muchacho (Italian 2000 Guineas), and Diamond Fields, Freud’s top runners including US Gr1 winners as Sharp Azteca, Strathspey, Gifted Master and Royal Youmzain. Franny Freud and Giant Ryan. Giant’s Causeway was from the same female line as was the French Classic recently pensioned Dansili (Danehill). The latter left behind 20 Lope De Vega, who is closely inbred to Machiavellian, at this Gr1 winners and is fast emerging as a broodmare sire of note, stage does perhaps look the most likely of Giant’s Causeway’s de- even if Dansili mares have a long way to go to match the records scendants to carry on his success at stud. The dual French classic of Giant’s Causeway and his daughters. winner already has nearly 40 stakes winners to his name, includ-

Missed recent results? Click here for a quick link to the Sporting Post website SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 april 2018 17

Leading breeders by Stakes season 2017/2018 • 1 August - 22 April 2018 Stakes Breeder rnrs AEPR runs wnrs wns wnr/ SW SW SW/ plcs plc/ SP top earner with stakes rnr% wnrs wns wnr% rns% & % of total stakes 16,151,775 Klawervlei Stud 342 47,227 1676 110 150 32% 8 9 7% 492 29% 7 Lobo’s Legend 1,350,775 8% 15,203,500 Summerhill Stud 316 48,112 1771 98 139 31% 3 4 3% 452 26% 5 Takingthepeace 1,350,000 9% 11,129,750 Drakenstein Stud 102 109,115 490 52 68 51% 2 3 4% 156 32% 8 Oh Susanna 3,687,375 33% 10,949,188 Maine Chance 149 73,484 724 57 94 38% 7 7 12% 203 28% 6 Liege 1,203,250 11% 10,160,688 Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein 190 53,477 905 77 110 41% 7 8 9% 279 31% 6 Zen Arcade 484,375 5% 9,596,788 Moutonshoek 120 79,973 596 44 66 37% 3 3 7% 157 26% 1 Undercover Agent 4,041,875 42% 7,987,850 Highlands 140 57,056 724 65 87 46% 4 6 6% 189 26% 6 Eyes Wide Open 878,000 11% 7,096,388 Varsfontein Stud 98 72,412 518 42 59 43% 2 3 5% 165 32% 13 Surcharge 1,045,000 15% 6,335,100 Scott Bros 153 41,406 864 52 67 34% 0 0 0% 237 27% 4 Premier Show 375,475 6% 5,844,075 Ascot Stud 83 70,411 429 36 51 43% 4 5 11% 134 31% 7 Coral Fever 635,000 11% 4,816,275 Hemel ‘n Aarde Stud 108 44,595 596 43 57 40% 0 0 0% 173 29% 4 Tommy Waterdevil 201,950 4% 4,718,725 Avontuur Farm 64 73,730 273 21 30 33% 1 3 5% 85 31% 4 Legal Eagle 2,075,500 44% 4,636,550 IR Heyns 49 94,623 272 23 40 47% 2 3 9% 91 33% 5 Rings And Things 621,075 13% 4,283,050 Cheveley Stud 58 73,846 290 23 32 40% 2 4 9% 91 31% 3 Snowdance 1,516,000 35% 4,221,488 Rex Stud 9 469,054 55 4 4 44% 0 0 0% 23 42% 1 Dutch Philip 3,823,975 91%

Leading SIREs by Stakes season 2017/2018 • 1 August - 22 April 2018 Stakes Sire rnrs AEPR runs wnrs wns wnr/ SW SW SW/ plcs plc/ SP top earner with stakes rnr% wnrs wns wnr% rns% & % of total stakes 18,089,563 *Captain Al 155 116,707 701 65 91 42% 9 13 14% 237 34% 13 Undercover Agent 4,041,875 22% 13,692,438 Silvano 214 63,983 1005 89 136 42% 9 11 10% 309 31% 14 Marinaresco 537,500 4% 11,731,725 Trippi 129 90,944 632 60 87 47% 2 3 3% 232 37% 8 Miss Katalin 1,663,250 14% 10,437,200 Dynasty 136 76,744 588 64 96 47% 11 13 17% 158 27% 10 Liege 1,203,250 12% 9,747,801 Var 209 46,640 998 75 106 36% 2 3 3% 302 30% 8 Star Burst Galaxy 342,700 4% 8,167,401 What A Winter 89 91,769 353 37 43 42% 1 1 3% 100 28% 3 Dutch Philip 3,823,975 47% 8,041,800 Querari 114 70,542 522 49 73 43% 5 6 10% 157 30% 5 Monks Hood 1,030,875 13% 7,138,700 Gimmethegreenlight 143 49,921 700 49 61 34% 1 2 2% 197 28% 11 Surcharge 1,045,000 15% 6,253,125 *Kahal 115 54,375 669 46 69 40% 1 1 2% 193 29% 5 Pure Blonde 356,600 6% The pressure will be on 6,240,301 *Sail From Seattle 139 44,894 655 58 83 42% 1 2 2% 172 26% 0 Zouaves 254,700 4% 5,413,325 Visionaire 104 52,051 499 37 53 36% 2 3 5% 120 24% 0 Takingthepeace 1,350,000 25% multiple champion sire 5,053,600 *Western Winter 69 73,241 358 28 38 41% 3 3 11% 115 32% 5 Last Winter 1,143,750 23% Captain Al sons William 4,962,038 Judpot 122 40,672 589 41 46 34% 1 1 2% 162 28% 6 Coral Fever 635,000 13% 4,927,650 Ideal World 89 55,367 456 32 53 36% 2 3 6% 135 30% 5 Zen Arcade 484,375 10% Longsword and Captain Of 4,915,875 Elusive Fort 88 55,862 488 39 49 44% 1 1 3% 150 31% 4 Fort Ember 538,400 11% All to go on and do great things after the void left by Leading SIREs of 3yo’s by Stakes season 2017/2018 • 1 August - 22 April 2018 the passing of their great Stakes Sire rnrs AEPR runs wnrs wns wnr/ SW SW SW/ plcs plc/ SP top earner with stakes rnr% wnrs wns wnr% rns% & % of total stakes Dad in July 2017 was high- 12,097,788 *Captain Al 49 246,894 259 29 45 59% 4 7 14% 92 36% 3 Undercover Agent 4,041,875 33% lighted over the three days 7,579,126 What A Winter 63 120,304 304 32 37 51% 1 1 3% 89 29% 3 Dutch Philip 3,823,975 50% 6,948,625 Trippi 41 169,479 212 26 35 63% 1 1 4% 86 41% 4 Miss Katalin 1,663,250 24% of the National Yearling 5,197,713 Silvano 83 62,623 371 41 63 49% 2 2 5% 114 31% 4 Platinum Class 234,250 5% Sale. 4,709,400 Gimmethegreenlight 74 63,641 411 29 36 39% 1 2 3% 113 27% 7 Surcharge 1,045,000 22% 4,590,300 Querari 47 97,666 229 21 30 45% 3 4 14% 65 28% 1 Monks Hood 1,030,875 22% A Captain Al colt topped day 4,225,750 Dynasty 56 75,460 237 27 35 48% 4 5 15% 59 25% 4 Eyes Wide Open 878,000 21% one of the Sale on Tuesday 4,092,876 Var 72 56,846 383 32 41 44% 0 0 0% 130 34% 1 Speedpoint 269,100 7% 4,033,425 **Street Cry 4 1,008,356 21 4 7 100% 1 2 25% 5 24% 2 Oh Susanna 3,687,375 91% when knocked down to 3,471,000 Oratorio 72 48,208 373 34 41 47% 0 0 0% 109 29% 1 Mrs O 221,250 6% Form Bloodstock's Jehan Malherbe for R4.75 million. Leading SIREs of 2yo’s by Stakes season 2017/2018 • 1 August - 22 April 2018 And international blood- Stakes Sire rnrs AEPR runs wnrs wns wnr/ SW SW SW/ plcs plc/ SP top earner with stakes rnr% wnrs wns wnr% rns% & % of total stakes stock expert James Bester 949,850 Var 31 30,640 60 11 13 35% 0 0 0% 17 28% 2 Val-La-Ree 128,125 13% bought a Drakenstein bred 762,525 *Sail From Seattle 31 24,598 70 10 10 32% 0 0 0% 25 36% 0 Across Seattle 88,000 12% Captain Al colt out of the 673,225 Oratorio 20 33,661 44 6 10 30% 1 1 17% 12 27% 2 Carlita 214,375 32% 655,675 Bold Silvano 13 50,437 34 4 8 31% 1 2 25% 6 18% 0 Bold Eagle 284,375 43% winning Elliodor mare 617,250 Querari 23 26,837 39 7 9 30% 1 1 14% 14 36% 3 Arianos Shadow 156,250 25% 588,275 What A Winter 26 22,626 49 5 6 19% 0 0 0% 11 22% 0 Agent Of Fortune 218,750 37% Zeigler for R1 million. He 491,850 Pomodoro 14 35,132 36 4 4 29% 0 0 0% 16 44% 2 Royal Italian 136,625 28% said the beautiful looking 491,375 *Captain Al 21 23,399 37 5 5 24% 1 1 20% 12 32% 0 Celtic Sea 147,000 30% 454,225 Crusade 20 22,711 50 5 6 25% 0 0 0% 17 34% 0 Lady Abigail 98,000 22% colt had the potential to become his sire's heir. Leading SIREs by Stakes on Polytrack season 2017/2018 • 1 August - 22 April 2018 "I've never seen anything Stakes Sire rnrs AEPR runs wnrs wns wnr/ SW SW SW/ plcs plc/ SP top earner with stakes more like the stallion," he rnr% wnrs wns wnr% rns% & % of total stakes said. "He's an awesome 1,966,213 *Sail From Seattle 67 29,346 198 25 31 37% 0 0 0% 63 32% 0 For Luck Sake 169,000 9% 1,845,600 Trippi 49 37,665 148 14 22 29% 0 0 0% 69 47% 0 Miracle Bureau 269,225 15% beast, from his head to his 1,617,313 Silvano 58 27,885 136 20 27 34% 0 0 0% 33 24% 1 Argenteus 172,500 11% 1,510,950 Visionaire 49 30,836 118 15 22 31% 0 0 0% 37 31% 0 We’re Watching You 207,100 14% tail he looked like Captain 1,491,725 Var 84 17,759 237 13 14 15% 0 0 0% 71 30% 1 Miss Varlicious 143,875 10% Al. He had an amazing hind 1,374,000 Querari 44 31,227 132 16 22 36% 0 0 0% 39 30% 0 Desert Wisdom 176,600 13% 1,281,325 Gimmethegreenlight 56 22,881 147 12 17 21% 0 0 0% 39 27% 0 Accidental Tourist 150,000 12% quarter, a great forearm 1,169,300 *Antonius Pius 36 32,481 150 14 18 39% 1 1 7% 40 27% 0 Golden Shamrock 120,225 10% and gaskin. I think the next 1,115,313 *Captain Al 55 20,278 128 14 16 25% 0 0 0% 46 36% 1 Flight Captain 129,100 12% big Captain Al becomes the The FULL Statistics ONLINE http://www.sportingpost.co.za/horse-racing-statistics/ *Stallion dead or Retired **Stallion Not Standing in RSA next big stallion prospect.” **Breeding operations not based in RSA - Statistics for Breeders & Sires reflect all earnings, incl. restricted races & handicap races SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 April 2018 18

Leading TRAINERS by STAKES season 2017/2018 • 1 August - 22 April 2018 trainer runs wins win fav fav wfav 2nd 2nd 1st 1st stakes stks/ % % % % four four% runs Luke’s Ahead J Snaith 840 121 14% 151 18% 32% 94 11% 379 45% 19,887,300 23,675 SG Tarry 889 90 10% 130 15% 25% 92 10% 348 39% 16,148,800 18,165 SAJA 4kg claiming apprentice C Bass-Robinson 697 76 11% 91 13% 29% 71 10% 302 43% 12,821,125 18,395 MF de Kock 549 90 16% 167 30% 32% 70 13% 288 52% 11,659,663 21,238 Luke Ferraris rode the first two win- BJ Crawford 552 75 14% 104 19% 25% 72 13% 252 46% 11,394,950 20,643 ners of his short career at the Vaal AC Greeff 730 100 14% 144 20% 35% 97 13% 363 50% 7,229,350 9,903 GS Kotzen 603 62 10% 61 10% 26% 55 9% 229 38% 6,482,250 10,750 on Tuesday – both for his legendary PA Peter 447 65 15% 80 18% 29% 39 9% 185 41% 6,425,338 14,374 MG & AA Azzie 382 47 12% 62 16% 24% 53 14% 163 43% 5,925,350 15,511 Grandfather Ormond. The son of DR Drier 402 53 13% 82 20% 38% 49 12% 193 48% 5,456,038 13,572 Hong Kong-based and July winning D Kannemeyer 341 48 14% 59 17% 44% 39 11% 151 44% 5,199,650 15,248 JAJ v Vuuren 344 45 13% 56 16% 29% 50 15% 170 49% 5,199,525 15,115 trainer David has a pedigree second Luke Ferraris – sizzling GV Woodruff 362 49 14% 76 21% 34% 39 11% 154 43% 4,937,350 13,639 to none and his 400-1 Vaal double AG Laird 338 40 12% 61 18% 33% 39 12% 144 43% 4,926,488 14,575 start to career GD Smith 837 54 6% 51 6% 29% 79 9% 287 34% 4,560,188 5,448 will go down as a fairytale start to Y Bremner 537 61 11% 64 12% 23% 54 10% 237 44% 4,458,350 8,302 an exciting career in the saddle. Leading jockeys by WINS season 2017/2018 • 1 August - 22 April 2018 jockey rides wins win fav fav wfav 2nd 2nd 1st 1st stakes stks/ % % % % four four% rides A Delpech 532 139 26% 214 40% 38% 98 18% 346 65% 14,523,638 27,300 L Hewitson 1029 121 12% 133 13% 28% 122 12% 471 46% 12,314,163 11,967 M Yeni 945 100 11% 145 15% 23% 92 10% 415 44% 10,617,051 11,235 Fortune Fires Up A Marcus 397 98 25% 187 47% 36% 69 17% 246 62% 10,368,638 26,117 C Murray 711 93 13% 126 18% 32% 82 12% 298 42% 9,119,600 12,826 While her first runner Pachanga A Domeyer 471 92 20% 142 30% 35% 63 13% 286 61% 8,406,075 17,847 failed to deliver the goods at the K De Melo 795 91 11% 104 13% 29% 93 12% 355 45% 9,139,425 11,496 R Fourie 485 89 18% 111 23% 31% 67 14% 261 54% 8,377,200 17,273 Vaal on Tuesday, big things are pre- G Wrogemann 774 89 11% 82 11% 37% 85 11% 330 43% 9,368,301 12,104 G Cheyne 550 87 16% 127 23% 32% 83 15% 322 59% 7,580,975 13,784 dicted for SA’s newest lady trainer, G v Niekerk 423 83 20% 92 22% 27% 65 15% 255 60% 17,084,250 40,388 Ash Fortune. A past assistant to G Lerena 347 74 21% 131 38% 32% 61 18% 210 61% 7,116,626 20,509 C Zackey 820 70 9% 71 9% 25% 77 9% 313 38% 8,332,801 10,162 Noelene Peech in Zimbabwe and R Munger 940 68 7% 36 4% 33% 63 7% 299 32% 5,706,575 6,071 W Kennedy 562 59 10% 53 9% 30% 60 11% 225 40% 5,269,300 9,376 Ashley Fortune – hungry Joey Ramsden at Miilnerton, Ash K Zechner 719 59 8% 48 7% 15% 66 9% 268 37% 5,594,076 7,780 for winners has 26 horses - and empty boxes P Strydom 406 51 13% 78 19% 18% 54 13% 175 43% 7,069,138 17,412 to fill - at her new Vaal base. Her Leading trainers/jockeys by wins % husband Andrew, a former SA cham- season 2017/2018 • 1 August - 22 April 2018 pion jockey, will be keeping a close eye on things and was trainer/ runs wins win fav fav wfav 2nd 2nd stakes stks/ jockey % % % % runs seen at the TBA Sales complex this week, buying new stock. BJ Crawford/A Delpech 30 12 40% 16 53% 31% 7 23% 881,725 29,391 GV Woodruff/G Lerena 43 14 33% 22 51% 45% 7 16% 1,073,800 24,972 MF de Kock/A Delpech 104 32 31% 48 46% 46% 15 14% 3,200,075 30,770 J Ramsden/A Marcus 33 10 30% 15 45% 47% 5 15% 899,600 27,261 D Kannemeyer/A Delpech 78 22 28% 37 47% 43% 17 22% 2,110,975 27,064 AC Greeff/A Domeyer 68 19 28% 35 51% 43% 8 12% 1,100,275 16,181 PA Peter/G Lerena 39 11 28% 19 49% 32% 7 18% 1,309,675 33,581 Pirate Strike J Snaith/G v Niekerk 181 44 24% 50 28% 34% 28 15% 9,471,925 52,331 PL Lunn/K De Melo 45 11 24% 6 13% 50% 5 11% 768,175 17,071 When Morne Winnaar won the C Bass-Robinson/G v Niekerk 43 10 23% 5 12% 0% 7 16% 4,388,050 102,048 AC Greeff/G Cheyne 262 55 21% 96 37% 32% 59 23% 3,987,475 15,219 last race at Kenilworth on Saturday J Snaith/B Fayd’herbe 148 31 21% 39 26% 31% 17 11% 5,593,225 37,792 on Geoff Woodruff’s 20-1 shot J Snaith/R Fourie 82 17 21% 26 32% 31% 10 12% 1,315,925 16,048 MF de Kock/C Murray 171 32 19% 67 39% 27% 24 14% 3,903,400 22,827 Piracy, he took his win strike-rate for T Laing/C Murray 151 29 19% 30 20% 40% 20 13% 1,966,800 13,025 the Milnerton satellite yard run by Geoff’s daughter Lucinda Woodruff Lucinda to 66%. Racing To Win and Morne Winnaar The underrated have found a Winnaar has been winning recipe something of a nomad during his riding career, starting out in Cape Town during his apprenticeship with Joey Ramsden and then trying to find his niche over the years. Hopefully Lucinda will give him some more support – he can certainly ride winners!

Black type results

Turffontein (stand side) show of loyalty, Craig Zackey has been R50 000. She is out of the two-time winner Champs Saturday, 21 April aboard at all of those! Course Variant: 0.73s slow (straight) – 2.22s slow (bend) The winner was bred by Wilgerbosdrift by Elysees (Victory Moon) and hails from the Just 5.2mm or rain fell in the seven days leading up to the deceased Tiger Ridge out of the cham- family of Cover Look, Winter Fever and this meeting. With no irrigation the penetrometer read 22, and the going was posted as good. The false rail pion Windrush racemare, Mother Russia. Orange Alert – the latter racing as Brilliant was out from 3m in the back straight to 8.5m on the Gr1 Empress Club Stakes 1600m One in Hong Kong with six wins. bend. There was an 8.5m spur at the 700m mark, and a Winner Nother Russia (best handicapped) moderate 11km/h north westerly cross/head wind. Bankable was the first son of Medicean (by raced fifth; ran on strongly to lead 100m Runner-up Al Danza raced 2nd; led 350m; Machiavellian) to stand in South Africa and outrun late died suddenly from colic complications in Gr1 Empress Club Stakes R1000,000 Third Silvan Star (2nd best handicapped) January 2012. raced 3rd and held every chance He has only had 44 runners on the track, Chestnut Champion’s Time: Although the time in itself was a fair one, comparatively it was the third fastest of with 2015 Listed Derby Trial winner Bank- Royal Double able Teddy and stakes performers Bank- Nother Russia registered a terrific double in the seven races around the turn. The pace was not a fluent one, and the race decided ing April and Let’s Go Get It leading the the mile feature to emulate her champion in a speed contest for home. charge, before being joined on Saturday by dam and showcase her lionhearted ability. We gave the 4th horse (prev best 95) 95 which makes the winner (prev Parisienne Chic. Mike de Kock saddled the winner’s star dam A handsome individual with a regal Mother Russia to win this race in 2010, as 102/94/92/92/103) 101, the runner-up (prev (54/79/68/90/91) 101 and the third (prev pedigree – being out of a Sadler’s Wells’ well as Europa Point (2012), Majmu (2015) 100/98/92/93/100) 98 mare, in turn out of an Irish River/Habitat and of course, Nother Russia in 2017. 101 1 0.00 Nother Russia (1) 60.0 C Zackey 19/20 5 ch m Tiger Ridge - Mother Russia (Windrush) mare, Bankable won three times in Dubai On Saturday, De Kock brought a powerful 101 2 0.40 Al Danza (6) 60.0 C Maujean 55/1 4 b f Captain Al - Jet Danza (Jet Master) including a Gr2 and Gr3 with a Timeform four-pronged attack to the party – but 98 3 1.70 Silvan Star (3) 60.0 R Fourie 5/1 5 b m Silvano - Bold Choice (Lecture) Rating of 122. almost saw his well-laid plans derailed by a 95 4 2.30 Folk Dance (5) 57.5 K De Melo 11/1 Spook Express Handicap (F&M) 2450m 95 5 2.80 Safe Harbour (9) 60.0 L Hewitson 16/1 clever ride by Chase Maujean on the Geoff 95 6 3.05 Simply Royal (7) 60.0 R Danielson 10/1 Winner Parisienne Chic raced 5th; led 250m 92 7 4.45 She’s A Giver (12) 60.0 R Simons 55/1 Woodruff runner, Al Danza. 91 8 4.75 Orchid Island (13) 60.0 M Yeni 20/1 Runner-up Patchit Up Baby raced second 88 9 5.95 Gimme Six (10) 60.0 P Strydom 12/1 to last; was some five lengths behind the The grey She’s A Giver carted them along at 85 10 7.45 Cascapedia (11) 60.0 C Murray 10/1 84 11 7.95 Tahini (4) 60.0 G Wrogemann 36/1 winner entering the straight; ran on a solid gallop, ahead of Al Danza with Noth- 80 12 9.95 Heaps of Fun (2) 60.0 D Schwarz 50/1 78 13 10.15 Fish River (8) 57.5 R Munger 55/1 Third Arte raced 7th; hanging; stayed on er Russia relaxed further back in running. Time: 98.94s (61.84s avg/1000m, or 58km/h) SP Total %: 123% Time: The pace for most of the journey was 1st T:MF de Kock O:Mauritzfontein (Pty) Ltd (Nom: Miss J B Slack) At the 500m marker, Maujean made his B:Wilgerbosdrift an unusually good one for a race of this move and went past the tiring She’s A distance, and the overall time was a good. We gave the third horse (prev Giver as Al Danza grabbed a few lengths 68/65/64/71/73) 73 which makes the winner on Nother Russia. (prev 55/76/60/73 – has done 78) 79 and the runner-up (prev 90/93/74/93/89) 92 With Al Danza running powerfully inside Spook Express Handicap (L) R150,000 78 1 0.00 Parisienne Chic (9) 52.0 M v Rensburg 8/1 the 250m, Nother Russia appeared to mo- 5 b m Bankable - Champs Elysees (Victory Moon) 92 2 1.20 Patchit Up Baby (4) 59.5 R Fourie 6/1 mentarily hit a flat spot, before gathering Spooked! 6 b m Ideal World - Qui Liz(USA) (Benny the Dip) 73 3 2.60 Arte (3) 52.0 K Zechner 10/1 herself for a final surge which took her St John Gray’s Bankable mare Parisienne 4 b f Ideal World - Idler (Fort Wood) 74 4 2.65 Pennington Sands (10) 52.5 R Munger 15/1 past Al Danza and victory by just under a Chic has been a flagbearer for her late 84 5 3.65 Bondiblu (12) 57.5 M Yeni 9/1 74 6 4.85 Royal Utopia (1) 54.0 G Wrogemann 71/10 half length in a time of 98,94 secs. sire since becoming his first winner on 28 69 7 5.35 Subtle Force (11) 52.0 D R Lerena 13/1 76 8 9.25 Witchcraft (2) 58.5 L Hewitson 71/10 Al Danza, who started at 55-1, ran a ster- March 2015. 56 9 14.25 Monarch Air (5) 53.0 D Schwarz 28/1 55 10 15.15 Emerald Bay (6) 53.5 C Zackey 113/20 ling race to stay on ahead of Cape chal- On Saturday she registered what her 67 11 16.85 Tambalang (7) 60.0 C Murray 71/10 22 12 32.85 Beautiful Shay (8) 52.0 C Maujean 36/1 lenger Silvan Star – not disgraced just 1,70 in-form trainer will regard as a deserved Time: 154.5s (63.06s avg/1000m, or 57km/h) SP Total %: 116% 1st T:SD Gray O:Mr St John D Gray B:Balmoral Stud lengths off the winner. maiden stakes success. Folk Dance again showed a lack of spark in Parisienne Chic also became Bankable’s the finish but managed a decent enough first fairer sex stakes winner when storm- fourth. ing home to win the R150 000 Listed The Mauritzfontein- Wilgerbosdrift-spon- Spook Express Handicap over the 2450m sored Craig Zackey confirmed the anxiety standside track. felt by the master De Kock in the latter Marco van Rensburg – who has formed a stages of the straight. winning team with the veteran condition- “It was a good ride by Chase Maujean. er – got her up to hold off a late challenge Al Danza appear to have skipped at the from the ever game Patchit Up Baby by right time and Chase made it harder than I 1,20 lengths in a time of 154,50 secs. She expected. But Nother Russia loves a scrap went off at 8-1. and she went on strongly to fetch her.” From her sire’s one and only crop, Parisi- Nother Russia was an inspired purchase by enne Chic has won 7 races with 19 places Form Bloodstock on behalf of Jessica Slack from 51 starts for stakes of R674 100. for R550 000 off the National Yearling Sale. She was bred by Nicola and Marc Coppez, She took her stakes earnings on Saturday formerly of Balmoral Stud. to R2 690 875 and was registering her 8th Parisienne Chic was purchased by St John win with 8 places from 17 starts – in a rare Gray at the 2014 Ready To Run Sale for SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 April 2018 20

Black type results

Greyville (turf & poly) Lady as Luna Child led them from Fantasy is a daughter of Silvano (Lomitas) out of Sunday, 22 April Lady and Premier Dance. the three-time winner Sensational Secret (Camden Park). She is a full-sister to the Course Variant: 1.99s slow (turf) Into the straight, Fantasy Lady pressed for This meeting was originally scheduled to take place the lead as Premier Dance found her stride former Duncan Howells galloper Hunting at Scottsville. The distances for both The Scarlet Lady Owl, who showed promise early on. and The Sledgehammer were changed to 1800m from down the inside, with Parabola taking off 1750m. With only 3mm of rain during the week leading wide out. The Scarlet Lady (F&M) (L) 1800m (turf) up to this meeting and no irrigation, the going off a Winner Parabola raced 8th; led 160m penetrometer reading of 23 was posted as good. The Looking for company at the 300m, Pa- Runner-up Premier Chance raced 3rd; false rail was out 7m, and there was a moderate 18km/h rabola drifted inwards and caused a few challenged strongly south westerly tailwind. jockeys to gather their mounts up. Third Leaves Of Grass raced in the rear; But despite her wayward move, Parabola was at the back of the 13 going through the The Scarlet Lady (F&M)(L) R150,000 300m; ran on strongly and was gaining at was always well in control and stayed on the finish to beat the classy joint topweight and tote Time: Four lengths clear for most of the Cape Duo On Mark journey, Luna Child set a good pace Cape combination Brett Crawford and favourite Premier Dance by half a length in a time of 110,60 secs. throughout and the time comparatively was Corne Orffer continued to make waves the quickest of the three races run on turf. ahead of the SA Champions Season launch Leaves Of Grass came from the clouds to We gave the runner-up (prev on 4 May celebrated a nice feature double grab third, ahead of the eyecatching Luna 94/90/72/92/91/89) 94, which makes the winner (prev 76/61/78/62/78) 86 and the at Greyville on Sunday. Chiold, who came again after having a rough passage late. third ((prev 76/75/76/71/69) 78 We were searching for some staying talent 86 1 0.00 Parabola (5) 55.5 C Orffer 71/10 Astutely purchased second hand for 4 ch f Silvano - Sensational Secret (Camden Park) just last week and Hero’s Quest, a prom- 94 2 0.50 Premier Dance (2) 60.0 S Veale 71/20 R70 000 by Blue Rock Investments off the 4 b f Silvano - Akinfeet (Fort Wood) ising son of Ideal World, went all the way 78 3 2.00 Leaves Of Grass (7) 54.0 G Cheyne 14/1 De Broglio dispersal at the BSA August Ke- 4 b f Poet’s Voice - Promotional(AUS) (Al Maher) under Orffer to win the Highland Night 90 4 3.00 Luna Child (9) 57.0 C Zackey 14/1 nilworth Sale in 2017, Parabola looks capa- 79 5 3.15 Kahula (4) 55.5 A Arries 16/1 Cup. A half hour later, the pair were back 74 6 3.40 Star Evolution (8) 50.0 S Moodley 22/1 ble of building on her 4 wins with a place 82 7 3.45 Franking (6) 54.0 R Fourie 8/1 amongst the winners, with Silvano 4yo 81 8 3.95 Fantasy Lady (3) 57.0 G v Niekerk 10/1 from 8 starts and stakes of R295 625, 86 9 4.70 Ngaga (12) 60.0 K De Melo 4/1 Parabola picking up her first stakes win. 72 10 4.95 Ideal Winter (10) 54.0 W Kennedy 10/1 Bred by Attorney Mike De Broglio, Parabo- 72 11 5.00 Onesie (13) 54.0 M v Rensburg 30/1 Orffer had Parabola relaxed in midfield in 67 12 7.75 The High Life (11) 54.0 D De Gouveia 44/1 la, who races in the silks of Rod Mattheyse, 70 13 11.00 Lala (1) 58.5 B Fayd’herbe 22/1 the 1800m R150 000 Listed The Scarlet Time: 110.6s (61.44s avg/1000m, or 59km/h) SP Total %: 117% 1st T:BJ Crawford O:Mr R T Mattheyse B:M De Broglio Doing The Splits Turffontein, 21 April Sporting Post (AR) 1st 2nd false 400m finish time/ 2nd call- frail/ 400m/ ability ratings call call rail 1000m f/rail finish finish puts every horse in its place 1400m Maiden ---- 15.20 43.66 62.00 85.83 (61.3) 28.46 42.17 23.83 Maiden (FM) ---- 15.73 43.89 61.81 86.58 (61.8) 28.16 42.69 24.77 MR82 ---- 15.63 44.18 61.99 85.69 (61.2) 28.55 41.51 23.70 MR65 ---- 15.78 44.03 61.83 86.31 (61.7) 28.25 42.28 24.48 1600m Progress ---- 28.94 59.50 76.85 100.29 (62.7) 30.56 40.79 23.44 Empress Club S. ---- 27.88 57.55 75.07 98.83 (61.8) 29.67 41.28 23.76 Phumelela Shareprice 1800m MR87 23.06 39.68 70.03 88.12 112.05 (62.3) 30.35 42.02 23.93 date close high low volume 25Apr 1600 1600 1400 375 2450m 24Apr 1600 1700 1600 33,455 Spook Express H.61.73 78.41 109.98129.08 154.29 (63.0) 31.57 44.31 25.21 23Apr 1700 1700 1630 1,456 20Apr 1625 1730 1625 5,749 After picking up a soft lead from a wide draw, She’s A Giver set a pretty moderate pace in 19Apr 1740 1740 1740 0 the Gr1 Empress Club Stakes. The overall time was marginally the joint-fourth fastest of 18Apr 1740 1740 1740 660 the seven races around the turn (comparatively). 17Apr 1740 1749 1701 1,283 The Progress Plate over 1600m was a false run race, decided in a sprint home. The times 16Apr 1749 1749 1705 210 for the segments show how different it was run compared to the Gr1 Empress Club S. 13Apr 1701 1701 1701 0 over the same distance. 12Apr 1701 1701 1701 1,500 11Apr 1700 1745 1680 28,066 They went a surprisingly good clip early on in the 2450m Spook Express handicap. That 10Apr 1680 1698 1600 59193 took its toll on pacemaker Beautiful Shay, and suited those running from off the pace. 09Apr 1678 1678 1501 3750 It also explains why the closing segments appear slow compared to the other races, 06Apr 1501 1550 1501 2900 which went slow early/fast late. 05Apr 1500 1500 1499 36192 SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 april 2018 21

Black type results Digest Diary

The Sledgehammer (L) R150,000 Fairview (turf) Friday, 20 April Features To Come Honcho All The Way Course Variant: 0.24s slow (straight) – 1.65s slow (bend) Vodacom Durban July entries filled the Rain and irrigation totalled 8.5mm in the seven Fri 27 April (L) East Cape Nursery (2yo’s) days leading up to this meeting and as a result the 1200m Fairview (T) top five places in Sunday’s R150 000 penetrometer read 21 and the going was posted as good. Listed The Sledgehammer run over There was a 13km/h easterly tail wind on the straight Sat 28 April Gr3 Winter Guineas (3yo’s) course, whilst in races around the turn the false rail was the adjusted distance of 2000m on the out from 4.5m to the 1200m mark increasing to 9.5m with 1600m Kenilworth (S) Greyville turf. a 9.5mspur at the 800m. (L) Sweet Chestnut S. (3yo’s) Greg Cheyne took full advantage of a 1400m Kenilworth (S) chance ride for the indisposed Keagan East Cape Oaks(3yo Fillies)(L) R150,000 Sun 29 April Gr3 Poinsettia S. (F&M) De Melo. He stepped into the breach for 1200m Scottsville the Sabine Plattner team when riding a Lyle’s Lamp well-judged race to go from start to finish A phone call from Sally Bruss of Lammersk- Gr3 Godolphin Barb S. to win the feature rescheduled from raal after the 2016 Cape Ready To Run Sale (2yo’s) 1100m Scottsville Scottsville. at Durbanviille saw leading owner Hedley Gr3 Strelitzia S. (2yoF) A son of form sire Querari, the 4yo Head McGrath pick up one of the bargain buys in 1100m Scottsville Honcho registered his first stakes win his long association with the game. (L) In Full Flight Handicap when he kept on powerfully to go all the “Sally (Bruss nee Jourdan) phoned me after 1100m Scottsville the sale. She didn’t get a bid for Widow’s way. Fri 4 May Gr2 Daisy Guineas But not befor some drama as Pack Leader Lamp and said I could have her for R50 000. 1600m Greyville (T) checked off Head Honcho’s heels around She said I couldn’t go wrong at the price. Gr2 Drill Hall Stakes the 400m marker. On Friday this smart 3yo registered her first 1400m Greyville (T) It is possible that Pack Leader ran on to stakes success and took her stakes tally to the leader’s heels and he did have every over R360 000. Let’s say it was a good call Gr2 Daisy Fillies Guineas chance to get past Head Honcho. from a top breeder and I’m glad I listened!” 1600m Greyville Greg Cheyne kept his head down though said a thrilled Hedley McGrath after the Sat 5 May Gr1 Champions Challenge and Head Honcho lasted long enough daughter of Go Deputy had powered to 2000m Turffontein (S) to hold off a determined challenge from victory in the R150 000 Listed race. Gr1 SA Derby Cape Derby third-placed Pack Leader by a Regular pilot Lyle Hewitson rode a confi- 2450m Turffontein (S) short head in a time of 111,60 secs. dent race in the 2000m feature, relaxing 15 Gr1 Computaform Sprint Dark Moon Rising was a further 0,75 lengths back at the rear on Widow’s Lamp as 1000m Turffontein (S) lengths away in third, with favourite The Joking Dice went hell for leather out front. Slade staying on for fourth. At the 450m Hewitson started weaving his Gr1 SA Nursery 1160m Turffontein (S) A La Plaisance Stud home-bred, Head way through the fading front-runners and Honcho has won 5 races with 4 places Deputy’s Lamp came home smoothly to Gr2 SA Oaks from 13 starts for stakes of R410 500. A score by 2,25 lengths in a time of 124,62 2450m Turffontein (S) son of Querari (Oasis Dream) Head Hon- secs. This was the second leg of a double Gr3 Gold Bowl cho is out of three-time winner School for Yvette Bremner and Lyle Hewitson and 3200m Turffontein (S) Captain (Captain Al), who also ran in the took the Avontuur-sponsored apprentice to Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery Plattner silks in her racing days. within 17 wins of the log-leading Anthony 1160m Turffontein (S) The Sledgehammer (L) 1800m (turf) Delpech. Winner Head Honcho set the pace; kept on Widow’s Lamp has only failed to earn at Gr2 Gerald Rosenburg S. strongly over the final 400m 2000m Turffontein (S) Runner-up Pack Leader raced 2nd; chal- two starts and has won 5 races with 7 plac- lenged strongly es from 14 starts and stakes of R363 250. Gr2 Camellia Stakes Third Dark Moon Rising raced 5th; ran on A daughter of Go Deputy (Deputy Minister), 1160m Turffontein (S) strongly she is a first foal of the four-time winning Time: Run one second slower than the listed Scarlet Lady. Possibly not a true run race, Western Winter mare, Idatorod. The latter paratively, this was the second fastest of the where ratings may not work out. We gave the is a half sister to the talented performers four races around the turn. third (prev 77/80/72/86/86) 86 which makes Juan Two Three (who scored his 9th win We gave the 4th horse (prev 70/69/73/71/81) 72, which makes the winner (prev the winner (prev 87/74/80/81/87) 88 and the from 18 starts at Fairview on Friday), Gen- runner-up (prev 69/90/95/91/85) 98 76/82/86/86/86) 80, the runner-up (prev eralissimo and the exported Counter Ridge. 79/75/89/88/77) 76, and the third (prev 88 1 0.00 Head Honcho (10) 55.5 G Cheyne 22/1 4 b g Querari - School Captain (Captain Al) East Cape Oaks (3yo f) (L) 1800m (turf) 60/57/60/62/71) 74 98 2 0.05 Pack Leader (8) 57.0 R Fourie 31/4 Winner Widow’s Lamp (2nd best handi- 80 1 0.00 Widow’s Lamp (12) 60.0 L Hewitson 71/20 3 b c Philanthropist - First Arrival (Northern Guest) 3 b f Go Deputy - Iditarod (Western Winter) 86 3 0.80 Dark Moon Rising (2) 55.5 C Zackey 6/1 capped) raced second to last; ran on well, 76 2 2.25 Queen Forever (9) 60.0 G Cheyne 47/20 4 b g Ideal World - Full Moon Rising (Second Empire) 3 b f Gimmethegreenlight - Queen Of All (Jallad) 91 4 1.80 The Slade (3) 58.5 A Marcus 21/20 to lead 200m out; won going away 74 3 3.25 Searching (3) 60.0 B Fayd’herbe 16/1 90 5 3.55 Elusive Silva (11) 60.0 B Fayd’herbe 12/1 Runner-up Queen Forever (best handi- 3 ch f Jay Peg - Riva(GER) (Acatenango) 80 6 3.80 Blackball (4) 52.5 W Kennedy 22/1 72 4 4.50 Esteemal (8) 60.0 G v Niekerk 71/20 79 7 4.30 Legend (7) 55.5 D De Gouveia 50/1 capped) was slow away and lost 1 length; 70 5 5.25 Data Link (5) 60.0 C Murray 44/1 79 8 4.45 Redeemer (6) 55.5 C Orffer 8/1 64 6 8.75 Giovanna (7) 60.0 T Gould 75/1 85 9 4.50 Mambo Mime (12) 58.5 G v Niekerk 15/1 raced 8th; ran on 64 7 8.80 Joking Dice (10) 60.0 M Thackeray 66/1 81 10 5.00 Wild Wicket (1) 57.0 M v Rensburg 50/1 Third Searching raced 5th and held every chance 59 8 11.55 Woodstock Fairy (4) 60.0 R Khathi 9/2 81 11 6.50 Mr Winsome (5) 58.5 S Randolph 44/1 52 9 14.80 Gitango Tonight (6) 60.0 M Yeni 16/1 75 12 8.00 Ollivander (9) 57.0 M Byleveld 22/1 Time: The first two stood out on paper. With 52 10 15.05 Three Times A Lady (1) 60.0 S Khathi 44/1 Time: 111.6s (62s avg/1000m, or 58km/h) SP Total %: 119% 28 11 27.55 Piera (2) 60.0 X Ndlovu 100/1 1st T:A Nel O:Mrs S Plattner B:La Plaisance Stud most needing to improve, the field was very 0 12 99.99 Summer Moon (11) 60.0 C Orffer 28/1 strung out turning for home and the pace Time: 124.62s (62.31s avg/1000m, or 58km/h) SP Total %: 115% 1st T:Y Bremner O:Messrs F H McGrath & Anthony Williams looked to be faster than it really was. Com- B:Lammerskraal Stud SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 April 2018 22

JACKSON (Dynasty) 1st & 2nd season sires – 2yo’s My Boy Jack 2c (Lady’s Desire by Lizard Island) Fairview 1 Maiden Juvenile Plate 1000m (27/04) ATO (Royal Academy) Bonaire 2c (Coral Garden by Tiger Ridge) Seven Colours 2c (Rainbow Ridge by National Emblem) Fairview 1 Maiden Juvenile Plate 1000m (27/04) Greyville 10 Barrier Trial 1000m (27/04) Larry Jack 2c (Weather Report by Silvano) Queen Of The Dance 2f (Personify by Personal Hope) Kenilworth 1 Maiden Juvenile Plate 1200m (28/04) Turffontein 1 Maiden Juvenile Plate 1000m (28/04) Crowded House 2f (Tarragon by Toreador) Hey Jude 2f (Beyond Reproach by Muhtafal) Kenilworth 3 Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) 1400m (28/04) Scottsville 2 Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) 1500m (29/04) Easy Ginger 2f (Diligence by Kahal) MARCHFIELD (A P Indy) Scottsville 2 Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) 1500m (29/04) Carefree 2f (Relentless Storm by Hennessy) Greyville 10 Barrier Trial 1000m (27/04) AWAIT THE DAWN (Giant’s Causeway) Fairy Ring 2f (Magic Aura by Al Mufti) Aloysius 2c (Rush To Stardom by Windrush) Turffontein 3 Maiden Plate (F&M) 1200m (28/04) Fairview 7 East Cape Nursery (2yo’s)(Listed) 1200m (27/04) MASTER OF MY FATE (Jet Master) BYWORD (Peintre Celebre) One Destiny 2c (Lady Asrai by Flaming Rock) Adalfieri 2c (Bedouin by Var) Greyville 10 Barrier Trial 1000m (27/04) Fairview 7 East Cape Nursery (2yo’s)(Listed) 1200m (27/04) Goliath Heron 2c (Water Bird by Silvano) By The Way 2f (Oxbow Lake by Fort Wood) Scottsville 7 Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes 1100m (29/04) Scottsville 2 Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) 1500m (29/04) NOBLE TUNE (Unbridled’s Song) CRUSADE (Mr Greeley) Noble Joshua 2c (Mia Joshua by Joshua Dancer) Be Happy 2f (Sauna’s Rose by Tamburlaine) Greyville 10 Barrier Trial 1000m (27/04) Greyville 1 Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) 1000m (27/04) Awesomely Tuned 2f (Awesome Beauty by Cataloochee) Getaway 2f (Hargraves Bell by Royal Academy) Scottsville 6 Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes (2yo Fillies) 1100m (29/04) Greyville 1 Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) 1000m (27/04) Alfeo 2c (Singapura Cat by Black Minnaloushe) ORATORIO (Danehill) Fairview 7 East Cape Nursery (2yo’s)(Listed) 1200m (27/04) Sacred Story 2f (Isabella Island by Western Winter) Open Fire 2c (Real Tabasco by Dynasty) Greyville 10 Barrier Trial 1000m (27/04) Fairview 7 East Cape Nursery (2yo’s)(Listed) 1200m (27/04) Not Now Pussycat 2f (Ginger Cat by Black Minnaloushe) Reliable Man 2c (Generous Girl by Modern Day) Scottsville 2 Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) 1500m (29/04) Turffontein 2 Maiden Plate 1200m (28/04) Petra 2f (Loupe by Fort Wood) Scottsville 6 Gr3 Strelitzia Stakes (2yo Fillies) 1100m (29/04) DUKE OF MARMALADE (Danehill) Cue The Music 2c (Minelli by Elliodor) Sans Regrets 2f (State Coach by Jet Master) Scottsville 7 Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes 1100m (29/04) Kenilworth 3 Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) 1400m (28/04) Van Halen 2c (Rock Concert by Lecture) C’est Serra 2f (Misty River by Western Winter) Scottsville 7 Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes 1100m (29/04) Scottsville 2 Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) 1500m (29/04) Sweet Preserve 2f (Surfers Eye by Elliodor) THE APACHE (Mogok) Scottsville 2 Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) 1500m (29/04) Cape Leopard 2c (Darley Rose by Fusaichi Pegasus) Fairview 7 East Cape Nursery (2yo’s)(Listed) 1200m (27/04) EIGHTFOLD PATH (Giant’s Causeway) Eight Got Zip 2c (Flashy by Gold Press) TWICE OVER (Observatory) Greyville 2 Maiden Plate 1000m (27/04) Second To None 2f (Stern Line by Captain Al) Born A Bully 2c (Love Leah by Restructure) Greyville 1 Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) 1000m (27/04) Fairview 7 East Cape Nursery (2yo’s)(Listed) 1200m (27/04) Doubled Over 2f (Countess Corlia by Count Dubois) Happy Snappy 2c (Terra Firma by Caesour) Kenilworth 3 Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) 1400m (28/04) Turffontein 1 Maiden Juvenile Plate 1000m (28/04) Hartleyfour 2c (Summer Dew by Joshua Dancer) Turffontein 1 Maiden Juvenile Plate 1000m (28/04) SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 april 2018 23

WHAT A WINTER (Western Winter) IRISH FLAME (Dynasty) Wonder Woman 2f (Breeze Past by Qui Danzig) Irish 3f (Truly Scrumptious by Northern Guest) Fairview 1 Maiden Juvenile Plate 1000m (27/04) Turffontein 6 MR 90 HAndicap (F&M) 1600m (28/04) Tundra 2c (Lena by Woodman) MARCHFIELD (A P Indy) Fairview 1 Maiden Juvenile Plate 1000m (27/04) March Affair 3f (Wild Liasion by Captain Al) Tasunke 2f (Roczinta by Rock of Gibraltar) Fairview 5 MR 72 Handicap (F&M) 2000m (27/04) Fairview 3 Maiden Plate (F&M) 1400m (27/04) Unrivalled 3c (Rosie Perez by Cordoba) Russet Air 2c (Icy Air by Jallad) Kenilworth 9 Maiden Plate 2500m (28/04) Kenilworth 1 Maiden Juvenile Plate 1200m (28/04) ORATORIO (Danehill) Vertical Descent 2c (Lavender Sky by Elliodor) Ancestry 3c (A Daughters Legacy by Windrush) Scottsville 7 Gr3 Godolphin Barb Stakes 1100m (29/04) Kenilworth 8 Gr3 Winter Guineas (3yo’s) 1600m (28/04) WHERE’S THAT TIGER (Storm Cat) Opera 3f (Dual Honour by Al Mufti) Bhowani Junction 2c (Fashion Week by Second Empire) Turffontein 8 MR 88 Handicap (F&M) 1000m (28/04) Fairview 1 Maiden Juvenile Plate 1000m (27/04) Trust In Gold 3c (Gold Class by Lecture) Scottsville 1 Maiden Plate 1200m (29/04) Grande Maestro 3c (Felix The Cat by Black Minnaloushe) Scottsville 1 Maiden Plate 1200m (29/04) 2nd season sires – 3yo’s TWICE OVER (Observatory) AWAIT THE DAWN (Giant’s Causeway) Ohsobright 3f (Sidera by Galileo) Come As You Are 3f (Beauty Queen by Jallad) Fairview 2 Maiden Plate (F&M) 1200m (27/04) Greyville 3 Maiden Plate (F&M) 1200m (27/04) Suzi Woo 3f (Gibraltar’s Secret by Rock of Gibraltar) Greyville 3 Maiden Plate (F&M) 1200m (27/04) BYWORD (Peintre Celebre) No More Words 3f (Adella by Toreador) Lady Elliodor 3f (Val De Vie by Goldmark) Turffontein 8 MR 88 Handicap (F&M) 1000m (28/04) Greyville 5 MR 64 Handicap 1400m (27/04) Due Volte 3c (Ocean of Time by Refuse to Bend) CRUSADE (Mr Greeley) Kenilworth 4 Maiden Plate 1400m (28/04) Ascalon 3f (Pashley by Count Dubois) Doublemint 3c (Nepeta by Tale of the Cat) Greyville 3 Maiden Plate (F&M) 1200m (27/04) Kenilworth 8 Gr3 Winter Guineas (3yo’s) 1600m (28/04) Rockina 3f (Badgerina by Badger Land) Parade Of Nations 3c (Plaisir De Fete by Fort Wood) Kenilworth 2 Maiden Plate (F&M) 1200m (28/04) Kenilworth 9 Maiden Plate 2500m (28/04) Colombina 3f (Hard To Get by Fard) Turffontein 3 Maiden Plate (F&M) 1200m (28/04) WHAT A WINTER (Western Winter) Purdey 3f (Secret Babe by Labeeb) Snow Crystal 3f (Cork Bush by Fort Wood) Turffontein 7 MR 75 Handicap (F&M) 1600m (28/04) Fairview 9 MR 70 Handicap 1200m (27/04) Swell Time 3f (Lite Spark by Sportsworld) Cause And Effect 3f (Karma by Dr Fong) Turffontein 9 MR 66 Handicap 1000m (28/04) Greyville 11 Barrier Trial 1000m (27/04) Colour Crusade 3c (All Colours by Silvano) Whiteout 3f (Visionary by Best By Test) Scottsville 1 Maiden Plate 1200m (29/04) Turffontein 5 MR 62 Handicap (F&M) 1800m (28/04) The Grey Crusader 3c (Corre Solta by Ski Champ) What A Joker 3c (Sharada by Parade Leader) Scottsville 1 Maiden Plate 1200m (29/04) Kenilworth 8 Gr3 Winter Guineas (3yo’s) 1600m (28/04) Dr Henry 3c (Magic Treasure by Goldkeeper) Cold Front 3c (Up Front by Count Dubois) Scottsville 3 Maiden Plate 1600m (29/04) Turffontein 9 MR 66 Handicap 1000m (28/04) Slightly Scottish 3c (Lilly Pilly by Diesis) Magical Wonderland 3f (Magical Miss by Al Mufti) Scottsville 4 MR 86 Handicap 1600m (29/04) Scottsville 8 Gr3 Poinsettia Stakes 1200m (29/04) EIGHTFOLD PATH (Giant’s Causeway) Number Eight 3c (Out Of Time by Anytime) Scottsville 1 Maiden Plate 1200m (29/04) SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 April 2018 24

Sports and Betting Notable Maiden Winners CAPTAIN AL English Premier League Rated AR 80 Captain’s Princess (2f Jet Flyer by Jet Master) Manchester United vs Arsenal | Sunday 29 April | Old Trafford (17:30) Juvenile Plate (fillies) Vaal (outside) (1200m) (19/4) Pitched in against what looked to be a fair field here on debut, Manchester United and Candice Dawson’s charge raced in midfield during the early part Arsenal battle it out at Old of the race. She ran on strongly from halfway, and won well by a Trafford this Sunday, with half after taking up the running 100m from home. arch-enemies Jose Mour- inho and Arsene Wenger PHILANTHROPIST facing each other for what Rated AR 81 Clifton Crusher (2c She’s A Pippa by Var) could be the last time Maiden Juvenile Plate Greyville (poly) (1400m) (20/4) after the Frenchman confirmed that he will leave at the end of After showing good improvement in his second start last time out, the season. This will also be the first time the clubs meet since Dean Kannemeyer’s charge was supported into odds on here. He was Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan switched sides in Janu- soon positioned close to the speed, and after striking the front at the ary. Both players will have something to prove on Sunday. top of the straight he cruised clear to score by seven. One to follow. To catch up with Chadley Nagel previews click here Silvano Rated AR84 Arabian Air (2c Arabian Empress by Al Mufti) To Win Maiden Plate Kenilworth (1200m) (25/4) Man United 5/10 Racing in open company in this his first racecourse appearance, Draw 34/10 Joey Ramsden’s charge was soon up handy. He was ridden to lead Arsenal 57/10 going through the 400m and with some in hand he comfortably Manchester United accounted for his eight rivals by two and three quarters. Interest- ingly, the time of this race was just 22/100th of a second slower Manchester United will be looking to complete a Premier League double over Arsenal for the first time since the than that of the 117 rated pinnacle stakes winner Silicone Valley. 2011/2012 campaign. In that season, United inflicted Certainly one to follow! arguably the worst humiliation of Wenger’s time in charge, an 8-2 defeat at Old Trafford that still scars plenty of Gunners Horses To Follow supporters. The Red Devils will look to rip those scars wide open on Sunday and with seven wins in their last 10 home SEVENTH ROCK league meetings against Wenger’s side, they’ll be confident Rated AR 90 Seven Lives (3g The Cat Returns by Tale Of The Cat) of claiming victory. MR95 Handicap Vaal (outside) (1000m) (19/4) Mourinho’s men have been impressive at Old Trafford this Now a winner of three from five, Paul Peter’s progressive young geld- season, winning 13 of their 17 games played, letting in just ing was always handy. He was ridden to lead as they approached the eight goals – the only side in the league yet to go into double 100m pole and went on to score in good style by two and a quarter. figures of goals conceded at home – keeping 11 clean sheets. United did taste defeat in their last league game at Winners Bred Abroad Old Trafford, a shocking 1-0 loss against bottom-placed West Brom, but prior to that, the Reds won five home games in a row, including victories over Chelsea and Liverpool. Streetfighting Man(AUS) 3g So You Think - Quick Thinking (NZ) (Starcraft) Arsenal Durbanville 1800m (17/04) Arsenal are in a season-defining moment as they have a daunting Europa League semi-final tie against Atletico Laat Lammetjie (AUS) 3f Dream Ahead - Asia(AUS) (Danehill) Madrid in between their matchup against Manchester Greyville 1600m (18/04) United. The Gunners host the Spanish giants three days before they visit the Theatre of Dreams and will travel to Moon Shadow (AUS) 4g Pluck - Saigon Moonlight(NZ) (Stravinsky) Madrid four days later. Greyville 1200m (18/04) There’s no doubt that Wenger’s side will prioritize the Europa League and they know that if they get past Atletico Madrid, they’ll have a strong chance of lifting the trophy at Agencefrancepresse (AUS) 4g Lope de Vega - Belle Bizarre(AUS) the Parc Olympique Lyonnais on May 16, which will earn (Dauberval) them a place in next season’s UEFA Champions League. Greyville 1600m (20/04) Prediction: Sanchez to Score Anytime & Man United Lord Balmoral (AUS) 4g Star Witness - Balmoral Belle(NZ) (Zabeel) Win (18/10) Greyville 1400m (22/04) Is Your Horse One To Follow?

Check the Notable Maiden Winners & Horses for the Notebook on this page - see how promising the Sporting Post ability ratings (AR) say they are. SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 april 2018 25

Clockwatching with Steve Furnish Last Week’s Top Rated Speed Ratings winners incl. won 113/20 Jet Start ...... won 61/20 Roy’s Taxi ...... won 26/10 Albacore ...... won 26/10 Great Shaka won 21/10 A Secret Worth Keeping Hafla ...... won 21/20 Sunny Bill Du-Toy ...... won 9/10 Royal Italian ...... won 5/10 A review of the week's best speedratings Exquisite Touch ......

Anton Marcus, the 3yo daughter of Antonius Silently Progressing Pius raced in midfield for most of the jour- Turffontein 17th April Top speed ratings ney. She ran on best of all in the short home for this weekend A pinnacle stakes topped the bill on Tuesday straight and won going away after striking the evening’s card and in what proved to be by far front 60m from home. (Ratings shown have already been adjusted to allocated weights) the fastest of the three 1000m races, the 4yo The MR82 Handicap was not surprisingly ROCK VALLEY caused a major upset. In under the faster of the two 1200m races and here Fairview (fri) sufferance with most, the 18/1 shot was soon victory went to the easy to back MOON Race 1: (7) Super Socks 12 Race 2: (4) Ohsobright 6 at the head of affairs. Three lengths covered all SHADOW. Freely available at 71/10 on the off, Race 3: (3) Valentine’s Girl 7 and his advantage was just that of a neck going the Sporting Post’s Roving Banker was soon up Race 4: (6) Caballo Blanco 63 through the 400m. Answering every call at the handy. He was ridden to lead going through Race 5: (11) Jungle Fairy 33 business end of the race through, the Seventh the 400m and comfortably accounted for the Race 6: (1) True Master 67 Race 7: (3) Aloysius 32 Rock gelding ran on strongly and went on to win regular place getter PANZA by two. Race 8: (9) Captain Marooned 71 fair and square by a length. Rock Valley has now The only other distance to stage more than Race 9: (13) Arcsign 46 won five from twelve and is silently progressing one race was 2000m where the faster of the Greyville (fri) very nicely. two handicaps was the MR63 affair won by Race 1: (7) Second To None 3 Sharing top billing in terms of prize money PAMPAS. Well weighted on his earlier form, Race 2: (1) Lucara 19 was a MR104 Handicap over 2000m and here Race 3: (1) Suzi Woo 8 Michael Roberts’ charge was always handy. He Race 4: (1) Bravo Zulu 14 the St John Gray trained DAWN ASSAULT com- put his head in front shortly after passing the Race 5: (12) Russian Girl 28 pleted a smart double. Soon positioned close to 200m marker and won well from the running Race 6: (11) Expresso Martini 26 the speed, the son of Call To Combat asserted on NIGHT LOCK by two. Race 7: (6) Karatage 45 Race 8: (12) Got Your Back 43 his authority over the final 200m and won well Titbits Racing in the rear after being by a length. Turffontein (sat) squeezed at the start, PERCIVAL was finishing Race 1: (10) Queen Of The Dance 13 Two 1400m handicaps brought the evening’s best of all when a 0,55 length third in the Race 2: (1) King Of The Delta 23 fare to a close and not surprisingly the faster MR90 Handicap over 1000m. Race 3: (2) Hurricane Lass 14 of these was the MR98 affair won by FINCHAT- Race 4: (3) Spring Breeze 54 TON. Nibbled at on course into 13/1 from 20’s, Race 5: (15) Casino 35 Race 6: (8) Dressed To Impress 62 (EW) the 6yo RIGHT APPROACH gelding made all. He Lives To Spare Race 7: (9) Serendipity 37 was a length and a quarter clear going through Vaal 19th April Race 8: (1) Movie Show 45 the 400m and didn’t surrender an inch of his They raced on the outside track on Thurs- Race 9: (15) Terroncito 32 (EW) advantage on the run to the line. Runner up day where five of the afternoon’s nine races Kenilworth (sat) COUNT TASSILO didn’t find the clearest of pas- were staged over 1200m. The MR93 Handicap Race 1: (6) Machiavelli 7 sages before running on late. for the girls was the fastest of these and here Race 2: (1) Love Of My Life 16 Race 3: (1) Crème De Menthe 8 Titbits A running on third in his only previous PENNY ROYAL registered her second career Race 4: (7) Deepston 17 racecourse appearance less than three weeks victory. Sent off a rather uneasy favourite at Race 5: (5) Royal Chian 36 ago, ALBACORE again finished well from off 113/20, this lightly weighted daughter of Cap- Race 6: (8) Ahoy Me Matey 56 the pace when winning the maiden plate over tain Al was soon up handy. She ran on strongly Race 7: (3) Platinum Class 67 Race 8: (11) Fresnaye 69 1600m going away by four. in the closing stages of the race and with the Race 9: (9) Zanadu 22 rest well beaten, she got the better of LILY Scottsville (sun) THERESA by a neck. Race 1: (1) The Grey Crusader 17 Diamonds Are Forever The MR95 Handicap was the faster of the Race 2: (11) Sweet Preserve 2 Greyville 18th April two 1200m races and here we saw a smart Race 3: (1) Dr Henry 7 This was the meeting originally scheduled to Race 4: (8) World Mission 49 performance from the progressive 3yo SEVEN Race 5: (14) Wynkelder 98 be run at Scottsville on 15th April. The after- LIVES. Now a winner of three from five, Paul Race 6: (3) Canukeepitsecret 25 (NAP*) noon’s feature event was the listed Kwazulu Peter’s charge raced prominent throughout. Race 7: (5) Traces 36 Natal Stakes over 1000m and in what proved He put his head in front as they approached Race 8: (5) Sommerlied 88 marginally to be the fastest of the three races the 100m marker and after quickly drawing Race 9: (14) Myelisha 47 over the distance we saw a smart performance clear he won well by two and a quarter. Nap bets from NEPTUNE’S RAIN. Confidently ridden by The two remaining races were both hand- * Fancied ** Strongly fancied *** Very strongly fancied SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 April 2018 26

Clockwatching cont.

icaps over 1600m and in by far the fastest Titbits Backed into odds on at the track, of these (the MR90 affair) the Jay Peg CLIFTON CRUSHER won the maiden juvenile filly EMILY JAY registered her fifth career plate over 1400m going away by seven. (Number of races run in each category shown in brackets) success. Always handy in a race devoid of * Times taken by Clockwatcher speed early on, Brian Wiid’s charge took up Turffontein (old) 17th April the running shortly after passing the 200m From Russia With Love Penetrometer 23 – Going Good marker. She kept on strongly in the latter Turffontein 21st April Course Variant: 1,37s slow 1000m (3) Rock Valley 57,55 stages and beat the running on KILLUA The Gr1 Empress Club Stakes topped the bill 1160m (1) Royal Italian 69,64 CASTLE by a neck. on the old stand side track on Saturday and in 1400m (2) Finchatton 85,31 Titbits In the rear going through the what not surprisingly proved to be the faster of 1600m (2) Albacore 101,29 400m, ESPLORATORE was flying at the finish the two 1600m events, the favourite NOTHER 2000m (1) Dawn Assault 125,87 RUSSIA did the business. Nicely positioned in Greyville (poly) 18th April when only beaten 0,3 lengths in the MR76 Going Standard Handicap over 1200m. fifth in what was a very strung out field turning Course Variant: 0,46s slow for home, Mike De Kock’s charge was always 1000m (3) Neptune’s Rain 57,50 perfectly placed to strike. The hat-trick seeking 1200m (2) Moon Shadow 69,80 A Walk In The Park 55/1 shot AL DANZA was the first to make a 1400m (1) Piaget Prince 84,40 Greyville 20th April 1600m (1) Laat Lammetjie 96,90 move and on striking the front 350m out, she 2000m (2) Pampas 120,00 This was the meeting originally sched- looked to have done everything right. Nother Vaal (outside) 19th April uled to take place on Wednesday 18th Russia quickened nicely below the distance Penetrometer 22 – Going Good April. As tends to be the norm nowadays though and just as if scripted she got up late to Course Variant: 0,27s slow score by almost a half. 1000m (2) Seven Lives 57,04 at Greyville, a barrier trial over 1000m got 1200m (5) Penny Royal 69,93 proceedings underway. In what proved to The supporting act was the listed Spook 1600m (2) Emily Jay 94,63 be a very typical barrier trial in terms of ef- Express Handicap over 2450m and here victory Greyville (poly) 20th April fort, the form horse (Princess Vicky) cruised went to the 5yo mare PARISIENNE CHIC. For an Going Standard in by nine and a quarter without ever really event of this nature the race was run at a fair Course Variant: 0,78s slow 1000m (2) Princess Vicky 58,77 being asked to race. clip early on and nicely positioned in fifth turn- 1200m (1) Roy’s Taxi 70,20 Four of the evening’s eight races were ing for home, St John Gray’s charge was always 1400m (4) Collabro 82,80 run over 1400m and in what proved to going to have a say. She put her head in front 1600m (1) Agencefrancepresse 96,48 be by far the fastest of these COLLABRO shortly after passing the 300m marker and 1800m (1) Sunny Bill Du-Toy 110,24 although PATCHIT UP BABY finished well from Turffontein (old) 21st April registered his second career victory. Always Penetrometer 22 – Going Good handy, Collabro ran on strongly over the second last, she still had a length and a quarter Course Variant: 0,73s slow final 400m and beat the 3yo HEART OF A to spare at the wire. 1000m (1) Exquisite Touch 57,33 LEGEND fair and square. Running on stoutly Four of the afternoon’s ten races were staged 1160m (1) Louis The Seventh 68,88 from midfield, the eventual third placed over 1400m and stopping the clock in the 1400m (4) Star Of Joburg 85,75 1600m (2) Nother Russia 98,94 runner, SEA URCHIN was hampered 150m fastest of these was the 3yo STAR OF JOBURG 1800m (1) Jet Start 112,17 out. in the MR82 Handicap. Soon up handy despite 2450m (1) Parisienne Chic 154,50 A maiden plate for the girls over 1400m being a little slow into stride, Erico Verdonese’s brought proceedings to a close and here charge took up the running 200m out and kept we saw a smart performance from the on strongly late to fend off a determined chal- lightly raced ESCAPE CLUB. Sent off a strong lenge from SHOGUN by three quarters. favourite at even money, Dennis Drier’s Titbits Well-supported HAFLA won the maid- Horses worth following at their next few starts... charge ran on well from midfield and won en plate over 1400m going away by five and going away after taking it up 100m out. three quarters. Clifton Crusher (D Kannemeyer, KZN) SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 26 april 2018 27

Doing The Splits Splits for Greyville 29 July