Author Archives: Devonne Govender

Reach for a dream Golf day Sponsorship.

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Gold Circle, Track and Ball Gaming, TabGold sponsored Reach for a dream golf day today the 09 September 2021, Reach For A Dream seeks to alleviate the strain that life-threatening illnesses place on sick children and their families by providing these dreamers with the opportunity to believe in their greatest wish. The Foundation has been providing dreams to children all around the country for 33 years in counting. These young children are under extreme pressure to deal with these medical issues and are in desperate need of encouragement. In addition, Reach For A Dream offers the child a magical moment to regain their childhood that is being lost to an illness.

The vision is to grow the Foundation to enable us to continue giving hope to children fighting critical illnesses. The Foundation hosts several national projects throughout the year to engage with the brave dreamers and wonderful donors.

200 grocery hampers help feed 200 families

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The staff outreach, held in the true essence of Ubuntu, was an extension of Mandela Month initiatives which were delayed due to last month’s civil unrest.

Gold Circle today donated grocery hampers to those of their part-time staff whose work schedule has been effected by the pandemic.

Their schedules were effected by the lack of spectators at race meetings but they have not been forgotten and Gold Circle donated 200 grocery hampers to help their families during these tough economic times.

Naval Secret can blow them away

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Andrew Harrison

Maidens and lower class handicaps that generally make up Monday fields on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly are mostly difficult races to have a plunge and that’s is the case today.

The highest rated race on the card is the seventh, a MR 79 handicap over 1400m and is a case in point. The majority of runners are in with winning chances but the three that sand out are Naval Secret, Shampompo Shampezi and Flying Peter.

Naval Secret made a cracking debut for his new stable and although his best previous form was over 1200m, he should have little trouble seeing out this trip from his pole position draw. The Duncan Howells stable is also in form at present as is rider, Muzi Yeni.

Alyson Wright saddled Shampompo Shampezi in feature company last time out and was not far off the winner. He is down in class here and the longer trip should also suit. Dean Kannemeyer sends out Flying Peter who is never far off the pace and is over his best course and distance so is also in with a shout as is Galway who loves the poly and although he has good form over further he may just have needed his last run and has a 4kg claimer up.

Sea Of Tranquillity found good betting support last run but faded late after pulling hard early. The blinkers stay on for the opening leg of the PA and he has a more experienced rider aboard. Angelic Fort has come on with each outing and looks primed for this while Varvacious has her first run for a new stable. She dumped her jockey last run but had shown promise before that.

Royal Virtue and Diedi look the main protagonists in the first leg of the Pick 6. Royal Virtue made a promising debut first up for his new stable and should come on from that. Diedi has shown some recent improvement with the blinkers removed. He was head-strong last run over further and can do better over this shorter trip. Atlantic City is a well-bred first timer from a strong stable and one to watch in the betting.

The fourth is wide open. Backstop is not the easiest at the gate and her last run is best ignored but first-time blinkers could bring out the best in her. Princess Sabrina has her first outing for a new stable and she has taken to the poly which is probably the reasoning behind the change. Kinskey’s Tune and Austen are others to consider.

Panna Cotta, Slievanorra and Flying First Class look the pick of the fifth. Panna Cotta found good market support last run but was left with a lot to do. The cheek pieces go on and she may be worth another chance. Slievanorra has been knocking on the door for some time now. She has been dropping in the handicap and was close-up last run, that form having been franked. Flying First Class has shown consistent form for her new stable and the stable is in good form. She has a 4kg claimer up and can do better here.

The sixth is another tricky handicap. Quest For The Best shed his maiden in good fashion and the form of that race has panned out well. He meets modest company here and looks to have some scope. Montana Sky seldom gives less than his best and with a 4kg claimer up he should be thereabouts again along with Brandenburg who has drawn wide but is a strong front runner and can go close over this shorter trip. High Purpose has been close-up at his last two and there should be little between him and Montana Sky.

In the last, Yogas Govender saddles Red Eight who has pulled a wide draw but showed up well first time out for his new stable and can go one better. Stanton Street never runs a bad race and finished just ahead of Red Eight last start. He has a better draw here but Red Eight may have improvement to come. We All Chomies has been showing signs of coming to hand for his new stable and Hewitson rides.

Apprentices ruled the roost

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Andrew Harrison

All Jockey Academy apprentices get their first taste of riding work in the quieter climbs of Ashburton where those trainers play guinea pig. But one soon knows when an apprentice has caught the eye of the Summerveld hordes when their trips to the riding ‘kindergarden’ become fewer and fewer.

Kaidan Brewer is now a rare sight at Ashburton and after watching his ride on Miss Emblem in the card opener at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday, it is not difficult to see why. It was a ride out of the top draw, Brewer showing tactical nous and nerves of steel to get his mount home for Carl Hewitson who has taken him under his wing.

Considering that Hewitson mentored his son Lyle, who will in a fortnight’s time collect his second jockey championship, Brewer is in good hands as “long as he keeps his head screwed on,” commented Hewitson Snr post-race.

After tugging hard in the early stages, Brewer settled Miss Emblem into rhythm as Tostada went clear. Once in the straight, Brewer sat almost motionless until 300m out before asking his mount for an effort. It was a comfortable win in the end but a ride well worth watching in a few replays.

There were a few ‘wag-n-bietjie’ races on Sunday and the trend continued in the second. If the early pace had been any slower the field would have broken into a canter, but it played into the hands of Keagan de Melo aboard Lord Of The Manor. Going 1800m for the first time and not certain to see out the trip, De Melo had the opposition behaving as if it was a false start as he slowed them up to a crawl. Richard Fourie final took up the challenge, sending What A Blast to the front but the damage had already been done. Lord Of The Manor kept rolling in the home stretch to hold on narrowly from a fast-finishing Cane Lime ‘N Soda.

Apprentice Thabiso Gumede, who rides regularly for Duncan Howells, employed similar tactics on the Howells-trained Parallax in the third in a bid for a second successive win, but fellow apprentice Jabu Jacobs delivered Smart William with a sweeping late run and there was little Gumede could do to hold the challenge from Peter Muscutt’s runner.

Jacobs was back in the winner’s enclosure three races later, again for Muscutt, as he produced Mr Piggalle with a telling late effort up the outside of his rivals to win going away.

Rachel Venniker’s determination to become a jockey is paying off in spades as she booted home her third winner in less than a month. Two of her wins have been for former 11-time SA Champion Jockey Michael Roberts including yesterday’s triumph on reserve runner Tupelo Honey, the grey leading from the jump to win the fifth.

 Female jockeys are making waves around the world with Rachel Blackman winning the Grand National, one of the most fearsome steeplechases in the world, Haley Turner and Hollie Doyle top riders on the flat in the UK and Lisa Allpress the four-time champion jockey in New Zealand to name but a few.

Gabriel Pieterse rounded off a fine day for the apprentices as he had Mind Set up with the pace from the jump and then pinching a break at the top of the lane. From there Louis Goosen’s runner never looked like getting caught although the line came in time as the pack was closing fast.

GOLD CIRCLE GIVING BACK ON MANDELA DAY

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The legacy of Madiba lives on as Gold Circle staff commemorate his birthday and the values he stood for such as humanity, kindness and selflessness, by giving back to those that are less fortunate. 
The Abalindi Welfare Society, is a non-profit organisation (NPO), with a residential facility situated in Inanda.  This NPO provides support to children and youth from 3 to 18 years of age. Most of these children are orphans and vulnerable children that have been legally placed in the care of Abilindi by the government. Volunteers working at the facility ensure that the children have shelter, clothing, food to eat and that their basic needs are met.  Abilindi also run a creche and pre-school for children aged 1 to 5 years, they run an old age home for those 60 years and older and provide home-based care services and an outpatient facility for the terminally ill.
Gold Circle staff spent the morning of Mandela Day at Abalindi by giving love and spending time with the children and the elderly.  Breakfast was prepared, some of the building structures were painted and a truck load of items from tables, chairs, toys for the play area, school bags and kitchen appliances were donated.  Gold Circle also arranged for a mobile clinic, sponsored by Aurora Medical, to be present to provide health and medical wellness to the children and elderly.  Pastor Sibisi and Mr Myeza, speaking on behalf of Abalindi were very grateful for the donations provided towards uplifting their facilities and their lives.
“There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return,” Nelson Mandela.

GOLD CIRCLE’s INVOLVEMENT IN RURAL RACING

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    The Coastal Horse Care Unit (CHCU) is a Section 21 company whose mission is to protect horses from abuse and alleviate their suffering by rehabilitating, campaigning and educating.  Their main objective is the welfare and care of horses and associated with this objective is the transfer of skills to disadvantaged rural communities to assist and educate rural communities to care for their horses.
    Gold Circle is a major financial contributor to the Coastal Horse Care Unit and also assists the organization to raise funds towards their various initiatives. Gold Circle is continuously embarking on projects that support and develop traditional racing, thereby informing and integrating a culture of horse care and welfare amongst rural communities. In partnership with Coastal Horse Care Unit, Gold Circle started a Rural Outreach initiative called “Empowering Equine Communities through Service”. The aim is to help educate rural communities on how to better take care of their horses which are used for racing, transport, herding and leisure. These programs highlight the racing industry and are an encouragement to horse owners to enhance their knowledge and skills to a more professional platform.
     
    Gold Circle is actively involved in these community based programmes to support equine welfare in rural areas. In this regard the company volunteers its personnel to undertake, together with the Coastal Horse Care Unit, various clinics and workshops within rural communities to allow skills transfer and to educate horse owners to care for their animals. These communities rely heavily on their horses for their transport and livelihood. The program offered not only teaches them the basics of horse care but provides them with the tools to gain better productivity from the animals in a conducive environment which is both horse and owner friendly.
    The most recent clinic took place at Endumeni and Nquthu in Dundee between the 27th to the 29th May 2021.  The team comprised CHCU, Gold Circle, the National Horse Racing Authority (NHRA) and Professor Alan Guthrie, who is the Director of the Equine Research Centre at the University of Pretoria.  The main aim of this clinic was to treat, register, vaccinate and microchip rural race horses so as to better develop and regulate rural racing.  209 horses were vaccinated and 57 horses were microchipped.
     
    Due to Covid-19 lockdown and protocol measures, there were no outreach programmes or clinics held for some time and it was noted that the condition of some of the more popular race horses had deteriorated since the last clinic visit. Whilst the Professor and his assistant carried out the microchipping and CHCU carried out the vaccinating, Gold Circle staff played a supportive role which included:

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    Assisting with translations;

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    Ensuring that Covid-19 protocols of sanitising and wearing of masks were adhered to and

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    Securing the horses during vaccinating and chipping
     
         
    The team also interacted with the Community, in particular children who play a key role in caring for horses.  It is well known that the passion and love for horses generally emanates from an early age, even with thoroughbred racing, and clearly the same holds true with rural horses as well. 
     
    Skills development amongst the youth in particular, must continue in order for rural communities to progress the relationship between man and horse and Gold Circle will continue to remain involved in such projects.
     
     
    The next clinic will be on the 18th to 19th June 2021 in Alfred Duma, Escort and Injisuthi districts.

    Rainbow Bridge draws pole

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    Andrew Harrison

    Justin Snaith is going all out to add to his Vodacom Durban July winning tally with four entries among the 18 runners carded to face starter Solly Ngcobo at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Saturday, July 3.

    Snaith goes into next Saturday’s race off a hat-trick of wins, having saddled Belgarion to win last year and prior to that Do It Again to back-to-back victories.

    Both horses are in the line-up again come next Saturday and will spear-head Snaith’s fifth winning bid in Africa’s greatest horse race, chasing the seven successes of the legendary Syd Laird and the six of Terrance Millard.

    S’Manga Khumalo, successful on Heavy Metal for Sean Tarry in 2013, will partner last year’s winner Belgarion with stable rider Richard Fourie, who is contracted to ride for leading owner Nick Jonsson, aboard Do It Again who will be out to make history as the only horse to have won the race three times. Both have drawn wide at 11 and 16 respectively.

    Other Snaith runners are supplementary entry Nexus with Craig Zackey booked, and Crown Towers who will see Louis Mxothwa having his first ride in the big race.

    Top weight Rainbow Bridge has it all to do, giving lumps of weight to all and it may well prove to be a bridge too far at his third attempt. However, the gelding has struck up a good rapport with rider Luke Ferraris and a change of running tactics has seen him unbeaten in his last three, the Gr1 Cape Met, the Gr3 Drill Hall Stakes and the Gr1 Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge. Weight will be an issue but Ferraris will need to avoid traffic in a notoriously rough race from his pole position draw but he could still pull it off for owner Mike Rattray who has been trying to win the race for over four decades.

    Muzi Yeni will have been mightily relieved to see Gr1 Woolavington 2000 and Triple Tiara champion War Of Athena defect to the Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes otherwise he would have had to choose between the filly and current ante-post favourite Got The Greenlight.

    Joey Soma has had the Vodacom Durban July in his sights since Got The Greenlight’s runner-up to Belgarion last year and the colt does appear to have had the ideal preparation and looks well in at the weights. He has drawn a little wide at 14 so should be able to avoid any early scrimmaging for position.

    Three-year-olds have an outstanding record in this race in recent years and this season’s crop has proved to be outstanding. In their favour is that all will carry the minimum weight for their age group.

    Vaughan Marshall launches a two-pronged assault with Linebacker and Rascallion who drew alongside each other at 7 and 6 respectively.

     Linebacker has reeled off three big races in succession, the Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby, the Gr2 WSB Guineas and the Gr1 Daily News 2000 and goes into the contest on the back of an ideal preparation that harks back to one of the best winners of this race, Illustrador, who followed a similar path into the race.

    Rascallion finished runner-up to Linebacker in both the Daily News 2000 and the Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby with little more than a length between the stable companions at the line.

    Kommetdieding has had to play second fiddle to Linebacker in both the WSB Guineas and the Daily News 2000 and the casualty has been regular jockey Sihle Cele who has been replaced by Gavin Lerena. Kommetdieding was a short-priced favourite for the Jonsson Workwear Cape Derby before side-lined by injury. He comfortably beat Rascallion in the Gr3 Politician Stakes and although beaten in both recent outings, he is far from a spent force. He pulled the widest gate at 18 but wide draws have been more to the fore in recent running’s with Golden Ducat, fourth last year, jumping from gate 18.

    Gareth van Zyl saddles the progressive filly She’s A Keeper who may still not have shown her full potential. She was a smart winner of the WSB 1900 and she carries bottom weight from a mid-field draw of 10. This is a major step up in class but her record speaks for itself and off a light weight she is far from a hopeful entry.

    Running Brave is a class mare but has been off her game in recent outings which is a concern.

    Johnny Hero was supplemented after winning the Gr3 Jubilee Handicap where he carried bottom weight of 52kg. However, trainer Tyrone Zackey almost pulled off a major upset with Samanjemanje in 2012 so Jonny Hero is not one to write of lightly.

    Sean Tarry saddled back-to-back wins with Heavy Metal and Pomodoro and sends out two runners in Cirillo and Shah Akbar.

    Cirillo is ever game but has not won beyond 1400m although finishing third behind Got The Greenlight in the Gr1 Champion’s Challenge over 2000m on the tough Turffontein track.

    Shah Akbar finished fourth to Linebacker in the Daily News 2000 with both Rascallion and Kommetdieding ahead of him but he could still prove competitive from a stable that has a knack of getting horses to peak on the day.

    Punters get a lesson in ‘that’s racing’

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    Andrew Harrison

    Punters found winners hard to find at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday. But the simple fact of racing is that lowly handicaps are the most difficult races to call with any certainty. Horses with issues – mentally and physically – but blessed with some ability, may be feeling their oats on the day and surprise both trainer and punters.

    As celebrated short story writer Damon Runyon so famously wrote, “that’s racing.”

    It started in the card opener. Top two in the betting, Seventh Song and Rodriguez, played up in the gate and both were scratched by the course vet.

    This left the way open for all takers and it was the lightly raced Quest For The Best (14-1) who continued apprentice Thabiso Gumede’s hot streak for Duncan Howells as he sent the Winston Chow home-bred up the inside to a comfortable victory.

    The third kept the starter busy as Mezzyoona burst through the front of her gate a fraction before the button was pushed and the call went out for a false start. The flagman in front of the stalls was already headed for the outside rail when the button was pushed but to his credit he was back in position and out with the red flag, none of the runners overdoing it.

    The finish prompted a race review as Serino Moodley allowed the winner One Night In Paris to shift ground to the outside, hampering Sea Of Tranquility with Muzi Yeni forced to snatch up. Space Oddity was also a victim of interference. In spite of all the running around, the Stipes were of the opinion that the result would not have changed but Moodley will be taking an enforced holiday.

    S’Manga Khumalo’s services are becoming more in demand on the local circuit and he booted home a double for Gareth van Zyl. Deep Global (9-1) finished with a rattle to claim the opening leg of the Pick 6 and a powerful ride saw Another Love (18-1) just get the better of Maidens Prayer two races later.

    Smart William was the only tote favourite to arrive on the day under a driving ride from Donovan Dillon but was relatively easy to back at 22-10.

    Ashton Arries is back in the saddle after lengthy lay-off due to injury and he added the final nail in the coffin for most Pick 6 tickets in the eighth. He took the shortest way home on the lightly weighted Rocky Coast (29-1) to score for Frank Robinson with favourite Fireonthetrack only getting going late to snatch second head of Double Gemini.

    Eastbrook at good odds

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    David Thiselton

    The Vaal straight course hosts an eight race meeting today which offers both on-the-nose and exotic punters a chance to make a profit.

    In the first race Master Archie has plenty of natural speed and has been in the mix in three strong sprint races in Cape Town so if he brings his ‘A game’ in his first run on the Highveld he will go close. Lulu’s Boy has improved and also has some pace so looks to be the main danger. Swingthewillow has champion workrider Joe Gingwizha up and should also be in the shake up. Jet Cat is a log time maiden who places often and he can earn again too. The first-timer French Rebel is by Rebel King out of an Australian-bred Danehill Dancer mare who won easily over this course and distance second time out as a juvenile but never won again and has not produced a winner yet from two runners. However, Paul Peter-trained first-timers appearing in workriders’ events always have to be respected. 

    The second race over 1200m could fall to the William Longsword colt Dyce who made a good debut when finishing just 1,10 lengths behind the decent Pyromaniac over this trip. He was a head behind William Robertson in that race but has a nice high draw here and Lucky Houdalakis yard horses usually come on from their first runs. William Robertson was a bit short of room in the aforementioned race and can do even better so it should be an intriguing duel. 

    In the third race over 1200m Mama Tembu was tailed off on debut over 1160m when green but ran on well for a six length sixth in a relatively good time. The form has worked out well with three winners coming out of the race to date. She is a half-sister to the Listed winner Zimbaba so has a good chance in this uninspiring field. Escape Artist was beaten 11,50 lengths on debut on Saturday over 1160m but the winner Big Burn looks to be an exciting prospect and Escape Artist did make some good late progress so could place here. Golden Aspen was not far behind the like of Follow Me, Freed From Desire and Eternity Ring last time so could also be in the shake up.

    In the fourth race over 1000m French Joy showed fair pace on debut and did not find much extra in the closing stages so being fitter for the run she should improve and go close in an uninspiring field. Miss Magician has run two places in two starts in uninspiring fields and could be the chief danger. Smelting and Quick Run have shown some ability but the first-timers might represent bigger threats. Moonshingthrough is the more fancied of the first-timers in the market. She is by Rafeef and is a half-sister to twice-winning 86 rated KZN-based filly Purple Moon’s Up (What A Winter). However, Queen Of The North makes more appeal on pedigree. She is by What A Winter and is a half-sister to the like of three-times stakes-winning Silvano mare Platinum Class.    

    In the fifth race over 1000m Emerald Crest turned it on nicely over 1200m last time but shifted about and was demoted from second to third after an objection. If cheekpieces help her stay straight she can go close as they should also help her get into the race sooner over this shorter trip. Greens was raised six points for an easy win over this trip last time. However, that is alleviated by the 4kg claim of apprentice Xola Jacobs and she has the ability to go close. Glowtoria has a fine recod over this trip this season with an easy win last time following two close seconds. She has been given a six point raise but Gavin Lerena has stayed with her. Showdown Kid is an interesting runner as she has plenty of pace and could well have strengthened during her 131 day layoff being by Var out of a Fort Wood mare.  Nina Amelia can’t be ignored either. She spread a shoe last time and can do better. Zodiac Princess could still improve and could also be right there. 

    In the sixth over 2000m Romeo’s Magic is in fine form and looks capable of landing a hattrick over this suitable trip. He was raised four points for his last win but the form has worked out well as three winners have come out of that race. Beyond him it is wide open. Tyrus Express has three wins, a second and a third in six starts over this trip and proved in an 1800m handicap last time he is up to his 94 merit rating. Nebraas went close from the front the last time he tried this course and distance and although he is equally effective coming from off the pace Hewitson might opt for those front-running tactics again from draw two as he will have an advantage if able to dictate in a small field like this. Trend Master won well over 1800m last time and is given a second attempt to prove he stays this trip after failing in his only attempt in the maidens last March. Heart Stwings has been running in much stronger company so would not be a surprise winner despite having to carry 60.5kg against the boys if the apprentice claim is included. 

    In the seventh, a Classified Stakes event over 1200m Big City Girl produced a late burst when just failing to get up over course and distance last time and she can reverse a short-head beating by Fromheretoeternity on 1kg better weight terms. They look capable of fighting it out again. Fantasy Flower, Samoa, Putin’s Promise, Master Uletide, Perfect Angel, Midnight Gem and Sheltering Sky can be included for those wishing to go wide in this leg.

    In the last race over 1200m East Brook should have benefited from his last run and if repeating his effort in December should go close despite being 3kg under sufferance with the  best weighted in this Classified Stakes event. The Makwakkers is also 3kg under sufferance with the best weighted but won fluently last time when coming from some way back and it could pan out better this time which puts him in with a shout. Pretty Jolly comes out fairly well on formlines so could be in the shake up too. Blue Eyes had a tough draw last time and is better than that. Informative can bounce back to form here and if he does he should beat East Brook at the weight turnaround from their meeting in December. Feather The Nest is the best weighted so can’t be ignored. Opening Gambit and Madame Patrice can also be considered.