President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation last night and announced that the country remains on adjusted alert level 3 and therefore the status quo of ‘Racing Behind Closed Doors’ as per the NHA’s Press Release on 29 December 2020 remains in place.

Some salient points of the President’s speech last night are:

1. The pandemic in our country is now at its most devastating level.

1. The number of new infections, hospital admissions and deaths is higher now than it has ever been since the first case was recorded in our country in March 2020.

1. Since New Year’s Day, we have recorded nearly 190 000 new infections.

1. The country has recorded more than 4 600 Covid-19 deaths so far this year alone with more than 33 000 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.

1. As a proportion of the population, the province with the highest average number of cases over the last seven days is KwaZulu-Natal, followed by Western Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. 

1. New infections in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape have grown fast and have now far exceeded the peak during the first wave.

1. Infections in Gauteng are growing exponentially and are expected to increase further as more residents of Gauteng return to the province following the festive break.

1. We do know that this new variant of the virus spreads much faster than the earlier variants. This explains the fact that many more people have become infected in a far shorter space of time.

1. Now more than ever, we must each make a deliberate decision to avoid any unnecessary contact with other people.

1. Given the risk of widespread transmission, most indoor and outdoor gatherings are not permitted.  This includes social gatherings and gatherings at sports grounds, etc.

A further update will be provided by 26 January in respect of Riders being domiciled in one region.

The NHA reiterates that the proven non-pharmaceutical measures of wearing of masks, hand sanitizing/washing for at least 20 seconds and social distancing of at least 1,5m apart, is critical and the Chief Compliance Officer, Mr Arnold Hyde, together with his team shall continue to ensure same is done throughout a race meeting.  

Please be reminded that the wearing of masks in a public place is mandatory and is one of the best ways to prevent transmission.

As and when the President announces any further amendments, the NHA will advise accordingly.

SUMMER PUDDING was scratched from the Cape Town Met Gr 1, Tuesday 12 January 2021 @13.54. No reason given.

THE race meeting scheduled for the Turffontein Inside track on Saturday 16 January has been moved to the Standside track.

Frequent rain and overcast weather conditions have retarded grass growth over the recently installed drainage systems at the pull-up area and the 1100m and 900m marks on the Inside track.

The surface should still be ready for racing on 16 January, but with more rain forecast over the next few days, it has been decided to move the race meeting to the Standside track as a precautionary measure.

The following distance changes apply: 1450m races now 1400m and 1500m races now 1600m.

The National Horseracing Authority (NHA) confirms that at an Inquiry held on 10 November 2020, adjourned and resumed on 11 January 2021, Stable Employee Mr Andrew Fortune was charged with a contravention of Rules 72.1.25, 72.1.26 and 72.1.43:

Rule 72.1.25 – in that Mr Fortune misbehaved himself or conducted himself in an improper manner by physically assaulting Jockey Gavin Lerena in the weighing room after the running of Race 7 at Turffontein Racecourse on Saturday, 24 October 2020.

Mr Fortune pleaded guilty to the charge.

The Inquiry Board found Mr Fortune guilty of the charge in terms of Rule 72.1.25 and after considering the mitigating factors presented, imposed a penalty of a fine of R20 000 (twenty thousand rand) of which R10 000 (ten thousand rand) is suspended for 24 months, provided that Mr Fortune is not found guilty of a similar offence during the 24-month period.

Mr Fortune has the Right of Appeal against the penalty imposed.

In terms of Rule 72.1.26, the Inquiry Board took no further action.

In terms of Rule 72.1.43 – in that Mr Fortune published, communicated or uttered words or statements or posted on any social media platform or channel material, content or comments, or conducted himself in a manner which could reasonably be construed to be either obscene, offensive, defamatory, racist, threatening, harassing, discriminating, sexist or abusive to any other person or entity involved in the racing industry, or bring the good name of any person or entity in the industry or the NHA into disrepute, after the running of Race 7, on 24 October 2020, at Turffontein Racecourse and during the occurrence of the physical assault on Jockey Gavin Lerena in the weighing room.

Mr Fortune pleaded not guilty to the charge and was found not guilty.

Furthermore, Mr Fortune’s suspension in respect of the attendance of race meetings, has been lifted.

NHA PRESS RELEASE

ANDREW HARRISON

THERE were more questions than answers after the second day of the L’Ormarins Racing Festival held at Kenilworth on Saturday.

Given the closing odds, Jet Dark’s victory in the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queens Plate was not quite the surprise that many had expected.

Even though he was some 12.5kg under sufferance with runner-up Rainbow Bridge, his official starting price was given as 9-1 and the tote paid an eye-brow raising R4.90.

Post-race Mike de Kock was lavish in his praise of this year’s sophomore crop but in hindsight, was it a case of a young and accomplished ‘miler’ taking on older horses that have may have lost a little ‘toe’?

Saturday’s result, and indeed the Greenpoint Stakes, shows that there is little to choose between Rainbow Bridge, Belgarion and Do It Again at level weights over 1600m.

All three were out-sprinted by their younger rival in the Queen’s Plate but there is a school of thought that Rainbow Bridge and Do It Again are over the hill. However, both are sure to be more effective over the 2000m Met trip. Belgarion suffered his first defeat as a gelding but Justin Snaith commented post-race that his charge was not a ‘miler’.

The result of the Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes is also gave food for thought. Summer Pudding was ideally placed but never quickened from midfield and she had to be content with seventh position, just under five lengths off the winner.

 It was unfortunate that Summer Pudding lost her unbeaten record but she was reported to be coughing with a nasal discharge after the race. That would explain her lack lustre performance and could possibly see her participation in the Met out of the window.

Queen Supreme on the other hand was most impressive in victory. She was cruising a long way out and it would have taken a stellar effort from any of the opposition to close her down.

De Kock, who said this was mission accomplished for Queen Supreme, expressed empathy with his colleague Paul Peter.

“It’s not easy to travel – sometimes we get lucky. Then first time from a wide gate on a new course in a field of this calibre. I’m sure Summer Pudding will be back,” he added.

Queen Supreme is definitely not over the hill and with the Met only a furlong further and a sex allowance in her favour, De Kock must have thoughts of having a tilt.

 While all the Met ante-post money prior to the running of the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate was for Belgarion, who had steadily shortened in, Saturday’s racing changed the complexion of the big race betting.

Hollywoodbets spokesman Patrick Bradley, writing in the Sporting Post, summed up matters. “After Saturday we shortened Paddock Stakes dual winner Queen Supreme in to 8-1, and the possibility is that she could still opt for the Majorca ahead of the Met.

“Also shortening were stablemates Rainbow Bridge and Golden Ducat, as well as Do It Again, who ran fourth in the Queen’s Plate. Paul Peter’s Summer Pudding was drifted out to 11-2, although I think a line can possibly be drawn through her run as a vet exam after her unplaced run showed she had mucous on her lungs and was coughing. 

“Belgarion should strip a far bigger threat over the 2000m of the Cape Met.

“The biggest shorteners were Premier Trophy placers African Night Sky and stablemate Sachdev into 25’s.”

With just under three weeks to go, this year’s Met on Saturday 30 January, is panning out into one of the most interesting in some years.

JET DARK, the only three-year-old in the 2021 G1 Queen’s Plate, delivered a knockout blow to accomplished older horses in a 1600m epic, just as Gimmethegreenlight had managed for the self-same training outfit, Snaith Racing, when also pitted against the big guns as a three-year old in 2012.

After Hurricane Harry had set a steady pace with Cirillo and Silver Operator stalking, it was Rainbow Bridge who made what seemed the decisive move in deep stretch down the centre of the Kenilworth Summer course. However, casting eyes towards the rail it was noticeable that Jet Dark was hurtling through best of all down the inner under Grant van Niekerk, and this momentum carried the Trippi colt past Rainbow Bridge just short of the wire. Short priced favourite, Belgarion stayed on from near the back to get third with Do It Again making progress into the quartet slot.

Wry cynics have given jockeys a dubious reputation for often- times being the worst judges – even American Hall of Fame rider, Eddie Arcaro quipped that when retired he wanted to be the bookie taking bets in the Jockey Room!

However, Justin Snaith paid fulsome tribute to Grant van Niekerk, revealing that he only supplemented Jet Dark for the Queen’s Plate on the advice of this emerging, world class jockey after a particularly impressive early morning workout.

“Grant has magic in his hands and can win on anything.” extolled Snaith who decided to enter the bargain 200K BSA 2019 National Yearling Sale graduate in a nick of time, a move fully supported by owners, Nick Jonsson and varsity mate, Tommy Crowe.

Described by Snaith as a “precocious miler who only got beat in the Cape Guineas after being drawn in the bush”, Jet Dark is out of the Jet Master mare, Night Jet and was bred at Drakenstein Stud. Peeking far into the future is tricky even for knowledgeable pedigree buffs – Snaith speculated that this outstanding three-year-old from what is shaping up as a potent crop may even end up back at his Franschoek home in the stallion shed!

It was mission fulfilled for Queen Supreme in the Cartier Paddock Stakes (G1) as she doubled up on last year’s romp in this prestigious WFA contest for fillies and mares. The Irish-bred, Exceed and Excel mare stamped her class in a true run 1800m after Heart Stwings had set a torrid pace. What A Winter mare, Clouds Unfold, herself a G1 winner snared three-year-old, Princess Calla in a head bobber for second. Another of the new generation fillies, Chat Ching ran an honourable fourth.

Winning horseman, Mike de Kock who is always a major force when bringing entries to G1’s in Cape Town, described Queen Supreme as a quirky customer and was full of praise for his charge who really raised her game when it counted. She sat a perfect rail-hugging trip with jockey Keagan de Melo following the tactical insights conveyed by his brother-in-law to-be, Johannesburg jockey, Callan Murray (who has previously partnered Queen Supreme to multiple victories) precisely.

Clouds Unfold tried her heart out but was out-finished. Still, trainer Candice Bass Robinson was more than satisfied with her brave effort. Third placed Princess Calla (by Flower Alley) also met with her trainer’, Adam Marcus’’ approval, “I was just excited to be part of things, so to be placed is great! She was still green, dropping the bit but this was an excellent effort at only her fifth start.”

17.2 hands giant, Golden Ducat rallied for a most courageous victory in the Glorious Goodwood Premier Trophy (G2). The even money favourite found himself in front down the backstretch at a pedestrian tempo only to be passed by a resolute Sachdev when the race began in earnest and looked sunk with 200m to go as that one surged past. Golden Ducat is made of stern stuff however and used his bulk and big heart to eke out a slim verdict, thereby repeating a similarly narrow defeat he handed out to rival, Sachdev in the 2020 Cape Derby.

– kirsti@caperacing.co.za

DAVID THISELTON

THE Turffontein Standside meeting today features the Listed Swallow Stakes over 1160m and two up and coming sorts could dish it out to some more experienced rivals. 

The Johan Janse van Vuuren-trained What A Winter filly Celestial Love returned from a layoff to obliterate a maiden field by 6,25 lengths over this course and distance in early December and her time was a full second quicker than the first race over that distance on the same day, despite winning easing up. So, she could be the one to beat off a nice galloping weight of 55kg. She is officially 8kg under sufferance with the best weighted horse, Anna Capri, but she is still unexposed and should rise above her current merit rating. 

Bequest is unbeaten in three starts and is a big strong filly who could also be anything, so the fact that carrying 59kg puts her 8.5kg under sufferance with Anna Capri should not be too much to be concerned about as she is also still unexposed and on the up.

Ecstatic Green has proven class having been a narrow runner up in the Grade 1 Allan Robertson over 1200m last season and she won the Grade 2 Debutante over 1200m easily. This season she was narrowly defeated by the top class War Of Athena at level weights over 1200m and then finished fourth in a Grade 3 over 1400m, a trip which stretched her. In her last start in the Grade 3 Magnolia Handicap over 1160m she was all the rage carrying just 52kg, but horses drawn high that day were not going through with their runs and she was one of them. She can bounce back on Sunday and should be a big runner.

Sweet Sensation has substance and although officially 6.5kg under sufferance with Anna Capri she beat the latter by a head in her penultimate start over 1000m when receiving just 2kg.

Anna Capri would likely prefer 1000m as she is capable of blitzing a field and she might attempt the same here over this quick 1160m, but she is going to be vulnerable late. 

Zimbaba made a fine debut when beaten just three-quarters of a length by the talented War Room over 1000m, who was exported as an unbeaten winner of three starts. Zimbaba returned after a eight month layoff to win a maiden over 1200m and there have been six winners out of that race. However, she needs to bounce back from a lacklustre effort over 1100m in November when beaten 11,50 lengths in a handicap over 1100m off an 89 rating. 

Rapid Fire was precocious, winning impressively first time out, but she did not progress and her next win came off an 84 rating in an uninspiring field. However, she did win easily so it heralded a form return and she is not completely out of it.

They are selected in the order mentioned.

DAVID THISELTON

BELGARION is the most forward horse in today’s L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and looks set to add a second Grade 1 victory to his ever impressive CV.

Meanwhile, Summer Pudding is in fine fettle to increase her unbeaten run to ten ahead of the Grade 1 Cartier Paddock Stakes, although she has never faced a horse as classy as the defending champion Queen Supreme and her current price of 7/10 is likely to drift.  

Rainbow has not yet shown any sign of decline as a six-year-old, but he is not going to be getting any better.

Belgarion, on the other hand, put up the best performance of career in his last start in the Grade 2 Green Point Stakes when beating Rainbow Bridge at level weights by 0,40 lengths and looks to be on the up.

He won a tad cosily after running on powerfully from last.

Both he and Rainbow Bridge would have come on from that run as it was their first outing of the season.

However, Rainbow Bridge has shown a tendency to run a bit flat in his second run after a layoff.

That is certainly not a problem Belgarion has as he won the Vodacom Durban July in his second start after a five month layoff. 

Cirillo was beaten only 0,45 lengths in the Green Point but that was his third run of the season. Furthermore, his career record shows him to be consistently just behind the best. 

Whilst Do It Again’s overall performance declined last season, his form in the second half whilst in KZN was a lot better than his earlier Cape Town form.  This was due to an ulcer problem which had led to poor eating habits during the Cape Summer season being treated and cured. This year Do It Again comes into the Queen’s Plate fresh as it his first outing of the season. As a four-year-old he won the Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge after an identical layoff of just over four months so he is going to be the dark horse. Can he reproduce his best form? 

The time is ripe for a newcomer to burst on to the scene but on form Silver Opreator does not look close to as lively a competitor as his Adam Marcus-trained stablemate Vardy was at this time last year. Silver Operator is held by all of Belgarion, Rainbow Bridge and Cirillo on a line through all of Captain of Stealth, Wild Coast and African Night Sky.

A more likely candidate for an upset is Jet Dark. He flew up from well back in the Grade 1 WSB Cape Guineas for a 1,65 length fourth. The three-year-old male crop’s reputation took a hammering in that race because a 100/1 shot won but there is no doubting the ability of the race’s runner up Linebacker. Jet Dark has beaten Line backer once and finished just 1,45 lengths behind him in the Guineas. He still looked a touch green too so can improve again.

Sovereign Spirit has a tough task at the weights being rated 28 points lower than Rainbow Bridge. However, quickened well off a crawl to win the Grade 2 Campanajo 2200 on Vodacom Durban July day, so it will be interesting to see what he is capable of against this opposition off a likely quicker pace over a shorter trip, but he does strike as one who will be capable of raising his game.  

Hurricane Harry, who is one of four Justin Snaith-trained runners, looks outgunned but as a handy to front-running sort drawn in pole he could ensure a decent pace.

In the Paddock Stakes Paul Peter is not concerned about Summer Pudding’s wide draw as this will give her freedom to travel at her own pace rather than being boxed in. She has clearly come back stronger this season and was super impressive when destroying the Summer Cup field carrying 59.5kg. She will be using that big action to power home today again, although the ground will be faster so she won’t be able to afford the flat spot she hit at the top of the straight as a three-year-old. The handicappers raised her to 129 after the Summer Cup, three points clear of Queen Supreme. 

However, Queen Supreme is Northern Hemisphere-bred so has effectively matured six months into a fully grown mare since winning the Paddock Stakes last year. She was impressive in her last two runs on the Highveld and when winning her last race by 4,25 lengths against decent opposition it was clear that she oozed class. She has a good draw, so it could well be a thriller.           

Clouds Unfold is not out of it either. She does have a stamina doubt though, although trainer Candice Bass-Robinson said jockey Aldo Domeyer believed she would get the trip. He will be bringing her from off the pace as usual so the two principles will be wary of going too early as this could play into her hands. 

Princess Calla is a fascinating runner too as she is still progressing and has always struck as one who was looking for this trip.

The same could be said for Chat Ching and Dazzling Sun, who were just behind Princess Calla in the Cape Fillies Guineas.

Silvano’s Pride is always dangerous from the front over this trip and they won’t be able to let her go too far ahead.

Driving Miss Daisy is hard to assess as one who is lazy at home but she was runner up last year and herself and Hearstwings, who is thriving in the Cape, can’t be ignored for the quartet.

The remainder, Miyabi Gold, Kelpie and Sing Out Loud are no slouches either in what is a vintage renewal.

The Grade 2 Glorious Goodwood Premier Trophy looks to be at the mercy of the top class Golden Ducat.

ANDREW HARRISON

SOME fascinating match-ups add loads of spice to the second day of the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate Racing Festival at Kenilworth tomorrow.

Between Covid 19 and AHS, South African horse racing walks a tightrope of lockdowns and jockeys, trainers and their owners have had to use a crystal ball to plan campaigns. With the Western Cape offering boosted prize money for their season, but more pertinently, important Black Type features like tomorrow’s Gr1 L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes, it was always going to be a lure for the top horses.

A small but quality field is due to line up in the Queen’s Plate with Rainbow Bridge looking to turn the tables on Belgarion with the front-running Cirillo there to once again keep the field honest and former winner Do It Again looking to regain his best form.

Belgarion is unbeaten since Justin Snaith and owners Gillian and Alec Foster decided to geld the son of Dynasty and although his paddock value was terminated, it was the correct decision as far as the racecourse was concerned.

Belgarion is in line for his seventh straight success since stepping out two-stones lighter, races that included the Vodacom Durban July but more importantly, the recent Green Point Stakes.

He was the best weighted horse in the July as Snaith did a masterful job of getting his charge into the race on favourable weight terms so his win was hardly surprising. More importantly, in the Green Point he met Rainbow Bridge at level weights but still disposed of him in emphatic fashion.

Rainbow Bridge was handy for most of the race as he gave his new pilot, apprentice Luke Ferraris an arm-stretch, while Richard Fourie had Belgarion settled at the tail of the field.

Once Fourie released the handbrake, Belgarion strode past in majestic fashion, leaving no doubt that he is primed for tomorrow afternoon.

The ever game Cirillo made most of the running and while having no answers to Belgarion’s finishing burst, he fought a titanic battle with Rainbow Bridge with the latter edging him out on the line.

Cirillo ran his heart out in his usual fashion but there is a question mark over Rainbow Bridge. Eric Sands will no doubt have left some meat on the bone for tomorrow’s race and what was encouraging is that Rainbow Bridge looked dead-and-buried a furlong out but came back at Cirillo.

Whether he can make the necessary improvement, only the race will tell but given the ease of Belgarion’s victory he has the wood on both rivals.

Former winner Do It Again missed his intended warm-up in the Green Point and with his current form having tailed off, he could prove a better proposition in the Met.

As a mouth-watering appetiser to the Queen’s Plate, Horse of the Year Summer Pudding puts her unbeaten nine-race winning streak on the line in the Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes.

Trainer Paul Peter and owners Jess and Stephen Jell could well have taken the safer route and left Summer Pudding with the easier pickings of the Highveld autumn season but they showed in electing to make the trip to Durban for the Woolavington 2000 after a testing Tripe Tiara campaign that they have a filly of rare talent and they are not keeping her wrapped in cotton wool.

With the Paddock Stakes and a likely tilt at the Met on the agenda, Summer Pudding will be fully tested, no more so in her clash with the highly rated Mike de Kock mare Queen Supreme. The Irish import appears to have some temperament issues but on her day is supremely good.

Like Summer Pudding, she makes her Cape Town debut, but as she races in the same silks as Summer Pudding the connections are covered either way.

It is seldom that the local contingent play second fiddle in the market to raiders but Candice Bass-Robinson has not been shy to pit Clouds Unfold against the best males around, taking them on in the Gold Challenge and the recent Green Point Stakes. Just how Summer Pudding and Queen Supreme fare against Clouds Unfold should give us an indication as to just how good the two Highveld raiders are.

ANDREW HARRISON

THE two-day L’Ormarins Racing Festival kicks off at Kenilworth this afternoon and while tomorrow’s meeting is the festival highlight with the running of the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queens Plate and three other Graded features including the Gr1 Cartier Paddock Stakes, there is a lot to look forward to today.

Celtic Sea is as game and sound as they come and she will be in short order to defend her title in the Gr2 Cartier Sceptre Stakes.

With jockey’s locked in to the province of their choice for this month, Gavin Lerena has elected to team up with Sean Tarry’s Cape Town raiders and Celtic Sea should get his month off to a winning start.

Celtic Sea seldom runs a bad race and all things being equal she should prove difficult to beat in a race where she has much in her favour. In spite of giving weight to all of her eight rivals, she is still 3kg to the good given that this is a WFA contest plus penalties.

Versatile, winning from 1000m to a mile, today’s 1200m is arguable her optimum trip and the manner in which she disposed of the top class and distance suited Run Fox Run over 1000m in her seasonal Cape debut, only an unusual ‘off’ day will get her beaten.

A likely threat could come in the form of Brett Crawford’s filly Pretty Young Thing but on current form she looks held safe by Celtic Sea. After showing good pace in the Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint at Hollywoodbets Scottsville, she folded quickly at the business end as Celtic Sea got the better of Run Fox Run in a desperate finish. That was not the case in the Gr1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m where she finished alongside Celtic Sea beaten a neck, both behind surprise winner Temple Grafin.

Pretty Young Thing could prefer it a furlong further which should again give Celtic Sea the edge.

Of the balance, Glen Kotzen has a knack of priming his runners for the big occasion, Temple Grafin springs to mind, so one can expect a forward showing from both of his runners with Third Runway with stable rider Morne Winnaar aboard the likely pick.

Justin Snaith dominates with numbers and none of his trio can be written off lightly but in the final analysis it should be a scramble for the minor money behind Celtic Sea.