Category Archives: Gold Cup

rabada its my turn

Delpech dilemma

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Anthony Delpech was left with a headache any jockey would like to have after winning the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 on Saturday aboard the Justin Snaith-trained Bela-Bela and Anton Marcus also now faces a tough decision on whom he will ride in the Vodacom Durban July after the Mike Azzie-trained Rabada’s win in the Gr 1 Daily New 2000.

Both riders would set a new mark of five July victories in the saddle were they to win the big one this year as they are currently joint-record holders with the great Harold “Tiger” Wright.

On Saturday Delpech’s narrow Daily News runner up was ironically named It’s My Turn as the top jockey was coming off five SA Champions Season Graded race victories in succession – somebody else finally had a turn.

Rabada-It's My Turn

Anton Marcus ‘flicking the reins’ at Rabada with It’s My Turn (Delpech) closing in (Nkosi Hlophe)

Marcus admitted dropping the whip shortly after turning for home on Rabada had been a worrying moment, especially aboard a horse who had always responded well to reminders. However, like a true professional he compensated by flicking the rein into Rabada’s range of vision and the robust bay duly found extra to repel Investec Cape Derby winner It’s My Turn. However, the latter would likely have been pencilled into more July note books as he has an impressive stride and was closing rapidly despite the earlier crawl they had travelled at. He failed by 0,25 lengths to give both Snaith and Delpech what could well have been a unique Guineas and 2000 double-double, the pair having won both the Daisy Fillies Guineas and Canon Guineas with Bela-Bela and Black Arthur respectively at the beginning of the month.

Delpech’s only loss in the six previous SA Champions Season Graded races this year was in the opening one aboard the now retired Legislate in the IOS Drill Stakes.

Anton Marcus, when posed the question about Rabada staying the July trip, replied, “The pace today was pedestrian.”

This played into the Summerhill Stud-bred Brave Tin Soldier colt’s hands as he found the box seat behind the leader from a good draw and his stamina reserves were not put to the true test.

“At the moment I am just happy to have won this race for Markus,” he continued,  referring to champion owner Markus Jooste, for whom he is the retained rider. Rabada’s July participation will likely be discussed by Azzie, Jooste’s racing manager Derek Brugman and jockey Marcus. Jooste’s leading July hope at present among a few contenders would likely be fast-finishing Betting World 1900 runner up St. Tropez.

Another eyecatching July Trial in Saturday’s Daily News was run by the Gavin Van Zyl-trained Rocketball, who reached top gear close to home and was finishing strongly with an impressive stride. Third-placed Mambo Mime also ran on well representing last year’s July-winning combination, Dean Kannemeyer and Stuart Randolph, and so did fifth-placed Ten Gun Salute.

However, the three-year-old males are all likely to carry the minimum allowed July weight for their age and gender of 53kg, because even the current 106 merit rating of the highest rated of them, Rabada and Black Arthur, means being 2kg under sufferance with top merit rated entry Legal Eagle (120).

Rabada might go up a point or two if Rocketball, rated 105 and beaten 1,5 lengths is used as the line horse, and It’s My Turn (101) and Mambo Mime (100) will in that case be raised too, but it will all be superfluous in the July picture unless Legal Eagle is scratched before the setting of the weights.

Black Arthur put up a gallop before the first race on Saturday and, striding out very well under Delpech, pulled away effortlessly from his companion, who had given him a lead. The work out pleased both Delpech and Snaith.

Bela-Bela with Anthony Delpech up (Nkosi Hlophe)

Bela-Bela with Anthony Delpech up (Nkosi Hlophe)

Cheveley Stud-bred Dynasty filly Bela-Bela might also be raised a point or two from 107 if 104-rated Heaps Of Fun, beaten 2,1 lengths, is used as the line horse, especially considering the ease of the win. This will be significant because for every point above 108 she will carry 0,5kg above the minimum allowed July weight for a three-year-old filly of 52kg.

Delpech spoke about Bela-Bela’s amazing turn of foot and described her as the second best filly he had ever ridden after 2011 July hero Igugu.

The energetic grey, like a lot of world class fillies, nods her head in the running, perhaps an indication of how much she loves her job, and she looked the winner a mile out.

Negroamara stayed on well for a 1,75 length second and Nightingale, hampered around the turn when Ruler Of The Sky broke down, was staying on even stronger for a  good third.

Negroamaro’s owner Laurence Wernars still seeks his first Gr 1 win after 25 years of owning racehorses, but this was another of a few Gr 1 seconds he has had. Drill Hall winner New Predator later disappointed in the Wernar colours in the Daily News and likely didn’t stay the trip.

Earlier, Kannemeyer and Delpech had combined to win the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m. The first time Kannemeyer put this Silvano gelding beyond 2000m he finished second in the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup and this was only his second attempt beyond that distance. He remains in the July picture. However, winning the Lonsdale off a 98 merit rating at the expense of a slightly unlucky Heldeberg Blue might not be enough to get into the big race. The Gr 2 Gold Vase and/or Gold Cup route looks more sensible anyway.

David Thiselton

rabada

Rabada – read all about it

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Give the man half a chance and he will take your whole hand. There were many hard luck stories back in the scrum as a slow pace marred the running of the Gr1 Daily News 2000 but for Anton Marcus it was manna from heaven as he nursed favourite Rabada through to win from It’s My Turn, Mambo Mime and Rocketball.

With none of the riders willing to commit it was left to Sylvester The Cat to pull himself to the front but once there, Craig Zackey put on the brakes.

Marcus had Rabada in the box seat while Anthony Delpech, looking for a hat-trick of feature wins, was forced to track wide to avoid the scrum on his inside and the two fancied runners joined battle at the top of the straight.

With Marcus dropping his stick at the entrance to the straight it looked as if It’s My Turn had his measure but Rabada kept finding to the

Rabada edges It's My Turn (Nkosi Hlophe)

Rabada edges It’s My Turn (Nkosi Hlophe)

line. “I had my doubts about him staying,” said Marcus post-race. “But we were helped by the slow pace up front.”

“I dropped my stick at the top of the straight and was just flicking the reins at him. It was a really game win.”

“I always maintained that he was a good horse,” said Michael Azzie and Rabada has repaid that faith. It was also the second Grade 1 win for Rabada a son of Summerhill-based Brave Tin Soldier.

Earlier Justin Snaith would not be drawn on whether star filly Bela-Bela would take her place in the Vodacom Durban July after landing the odds in the Gr1 Woolavington 2000. It was an impressive performance by the grey who was given another professional ride by Delpech.

“I never had any doubt that she would stay,” said Snaith but neatly side-stepped the July issue. “She’s a very good filly and we will have to make the right decision. It will be up to the owners.”

“She saddled up very quietly, and I thought ‘Oh no! not another one,’” referring to the now retired Legislate. But she carried her temperament into the race. “She seemed half asleep in the race but there are few horses that have a turn of foot like she’s got,’ said Delpech.

Bela-Bela with Anthony Delpech up (Nkosi Hlophe)

Bela-Bela with Anthony Delpech up (Nkosi Hlophe)

The crack rider had Bela-Bela racing one off the rail with arch rival Nightingale on his inside. He kept Grant van Niekerk tight on the rail and got first run at the top of the straight. With Delpech’s stick flicking down her neck, Bela-Bela quickened past longtime leader Negroamaro who battled gamely to hold her advantage but she was swallowed by Nightingale and Heaps Of Fun who were both running on strongly.

Balance Sheet looks on track for the eLan Gold Cup with a game win in the Gr3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, getting home ahead of Helderberg Blue, No Worries and Crime Victim. Pressed on whether Balance Sheet would take his chances in the July, Dean Kannemeyer was hesitant. “Possibly, but we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves.”

“The Gold Cup was the first time he went passed 2 400m last season and he ran second. I took him back to Cape Town but I wasn’t happy with the way he was moving and threw him out.”

“The owners were patient. Marsh (Shirtliff) and Bryn (Resssell), they ran first and second today and deserve all they get.”

It was another masterful ride from Delpech who got over from a wide draw to find the perfect place on the rail. “I can’t even tell how I got there. Sometimes things just work out for you.” He moved Balance Sheet smartly up the inside rail in the chase for home and rode the finish without the whip. “I rode with the hands. He wanted to hang out and I didn’t want to cause interference.”

But it was the early shift that possibly won him the race as he shifted onto a tiring pacemaker who in turn rolled onto Helderberg Blue who got unbalanced for a couple of strides.

No Worries appears to have taken a new lease on life since being put over ground and was fighting hard at the finish while Crime Victim found traffic and may well have finished closer.

Andrew Harrison

 

solid speed

Solid Speed confirms his credentials

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Solid Speed had his Gr1 Vodacom Durban July odds slashed by half after converting favouritism in the Gr2 Betting World 1900 at Greyville on Friday evening. 20-1 before the event, Solid Speed was cut to 10-1 by the sponsors while the odds on runner-up St Tropez were slashed from 55-1 to 14-1 after running the favourite to a neck.

Dean Kannemeyer and rider Anthony Delpech had to chew their nails on the outcome of a race review but although Solid Speed did shift off a straight course, he did so following St Tropez, and there was no further action.

It was a race were many had chances but Solid Speed hammered his peg into the ground as far as the July goes.

A winner of the Gr2 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup this time last year, but Power King the preferred July runner,

Solid Speed (Nkosi Hlophe)

Solid Speed (Nkosi Hlophe)

Kannemeyer aimed Solid Speed at the then Gr1 eLan Gold Cup rather than the July. Starting favourite for the Gold Cup he finished with just three behind him after pulling up lame behind.

 

Since then he has won three of his four starts, two over a ‘mile’ – a distance deemed short of his best – and on Friday night’s performance he will have gained a host of new supporters for the July, a race that Kannemeyer has won three times, first up with champion sire Dynasty, the sire of Solid Speed.

St Tropez put a disastrous Gr1 Summer Cup behind him as Kegan de Melo followed Solid Speed through the traffic and chased him hard to the line to enhance his July credentials.

A piece of paper separated Dynamic and The Conglomerate although both were given every chance. But with the July in mind, it was a decent showing by both from tough outside draws.

Also catching the eye was the grey King Of Pain. A former winner of the Gr1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m at Clairwood, he looks to have matured into a solid stayer. He won over two miles last time out and was doing his best work late on Friday. The Gr3 Gold Vase and the Gr2 eLan Gold Cup look tailor made.

Earlier Sail, in spite of getting herself into a stew before the start, put her hand up for the Gr1 Allan Robertson Championship in a fortnight’s time with a game performance in a Juvenile Plate. She bounced her way to the start but once in the race settled nicely and quickened through into the lead as pacemaker Announcing Rain folded. She was chased hard by Dawn Calling, the line coming just in time, but it was a top effort.

This was a seven-furlong event but previously she had doddled her maiden over the Allan Robertson course and distance which augurs well for her chances.

By Andrew Harrison

Betting World 1900 to be the decider

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Joey Ramsden has an intriguing hand in the Gr 2 Betting World 1900 and how his four runners, The Conglomerate, King Of Pain, St Tropez and Disco Al, do will likely decide their routes through the remainder of the SA Champions Season.

The Conglomerate (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Conglomerate (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Conglomerate ran in the Gr 2 Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m last time and stayed on quite well from a handy position over a trip short of his best to finish a 5,65 length sixth, which was not a bad effort considering it was his first run since January 9 and he was caught wide early from a tricky draw of nine.

Anton Marcus said, “It was a fair run.”

He should have benefitted from the run, but Marcus added, “He doesn’t give much away at work.”

This Australian-bred son of Lonhro won last season’s KRA Guineas, where he relished the strong pace. He then had no excuses when finishing a decent third in the Daily News 2000. Then in the Vodacom Durban July he had nowhere to go on the outside rail and the jockey understandably switched him inward, although in retrospect he would have got a lot closer than five lengths had he remained patient.

The Conglomerate ran unplaced in all three of his runs in the Cape summer. His merit rating has duly dropped from a high of 108 down to 101, but unfortunately his rating is near the bottom of the 100 to 104 band pertaining to the conditions of Friday’s race, so he is officially 1kg under sufferance with the best weighted horses.

He should relish the course and distance and Marcus has retained the ride, despite facing another tricky draw of 14.

Assistant trainer Alson Ndzilana is happy with The Conglomerate, but said all three of the other runners would need their runs.

However, all of them stay further so they can’t be written off.

King Of Pain (Nkosi Hlophe)

King Of Pain (Nkosi Hlophe)

King Of Pain beat a top class field in the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge two years ago, but is not an easy horse to train and his only win since was last time out in the Gr 3 CTS Chairman’s Cup over 3200m in February. That win has opened up new doors, as he could now be an eLan Property Group Gold Cup contender, especially coming from a yard who has an excellent record with stayers. However, his Gold Challenge win followed a similar layoff to the one he is coming off now so he could be a contender on Friday night off a reasonable merit rating of 106, which means he is only 0,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted horses in the race. He also has a tricky draw of 12 and Brandon Lerena rides.

St Tropez is one of the joint best weighted horses in the race having to carry 56kg off his 99 merit rating and being by Silvano should now be coming into his own as a four-year-old. He hasn’t run since his disappointing effort in the Sansui Summer Cup. However, he is yet to fulfill his considerable potential and his fine turn of foot makes him suited to the tight Greyville track. He won the East Cape Derby impressively last season so the staying option is open to him too. He is a dark horse on Friday from a good draw of six and the astute Keagan de Melo should suit him perfectly as a rider who usually times it right when coming from off the pace.

Six-year-old Disco Al was beaten a length by St. Tropez in October over 1800m and faces him on identical terms if the weight for age scale is taken into account. In this class he would probably prefer further but is an honest sort and won’t be far back. He is drawn nicely in seven and stable jockey Donovan Dillon is aboard.

By David Thiselton

Baritone (Nkosi Hlophe)

Baritone to step up

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Rabada (Nkosi Hlophe)

Rabada (Nkosi Hlophe)

The SA Champions Season kicks off with three Gr 2s at Greyville tonight and Justin Snaith should go close to landing a feature race treble.

In the Canon Guineas Baritone has to overcome a tricky draw. However, he looks to be an ever improving sort and should have come on from his Byerley Turk run, where he ran on strongly and only just failed. He came from a wide draw that night and was carrying 4kg more than the winner Mambo Mime. He should appreciate the 200m step up in trip.

His stable companion Black Arthur is highly regarded and the form of his Gr 3 Cartier Politician Stakes win has worked out well. Before that he beat Mambo Mime by 0,5 lengths over 1600m and the latter is now 5kg better off with him. This puts Baritone’s Byerley Turk effort into a good light on strict formlines. Mambo Mime is learning all the time and improving so could earn a cheque.

Rabada won a Gr 1 over course and distance as a two-year-old and has come on in leaps and bounds from his recent

victorious comeback from injury. His SA Triple Crown-winning yard is on a high and he is a big runner, despite a wide draw.

Prospect Strike finished just 0,75 lengths behind Rabada in the aforementioned Gr 1 and is coming off a 1,2 length defeat by the latter over 1400m. He should now be cherry ripe and will relish the step up to this trip. The downside is the very wide draw.

Muwaary was disappointing in the Gr 1 SA Classic, but the maestro trainer Mike de Kock is likely to have got to the bottom of it and this classy sort could bounce back.

Redcarpet Captain has had excuses for his last couple of starts, including over racing, and from a good draw with the blinkers off he could use his telling turn of foot from off the pace to run a good race.

It’s My Turn won the Investec Cape Derby in good style and should be staying on after being dropped out from a wide draw.

Exit Here’s last run can be ignored, as he hated the sloppy conditions on the poly after a torrential downpour, and he will relish the step up to 1600m from the 1400m of the Million Dollar where he ran a fine fifth considering the slow pace didn’t suit him.

Sylvester The Cat and Ten Gun Salute both have plenty of class and it would be no surprise to see them involved in the finish, although the former has a tough draw.

It's My Turn (Liesl King)

It’s My Turn (Liesl King)

Victorious Jay is better than his last start and could bounce back.

Malak Al Moolook could earn if repeating his Gauteng Guineas third place.

Royal Armour has to prove he is as good on turf as he is on the poly.

The selection is Baritone to beat Rabada and Black Arthur, with Mambo Mime and Redcarpet Captain next best.

The Daisy Guineas sees a much anticipated clash between Silver Mountain and Bela-Bela, who are both packed with class. Silver Mountain should be perfectly suited to Greyville with her zippiness and fine turn of foot.  Bela-Bela is much better than her Cape Fillies Guineas run, when well beaten by Silver Mountain. Her subsequent Paddock Stakes third proved how good she is and the best has probably not been seen of her yet, so a victory over Silver Mountain would not be a great surprise. Trainer Neil Bruss is bullish about the chances of Flying Ice, who will relish the step up in trip and who has been unlucky in her last two starts when finishing second in both. The Bella Sonata yard believe she is better than her form suggests and she has enjoyed a fine preparation. Shatoosh has a long stride and a fine turn of foot. She could be the dark horse. Intergalactic has a chance on her Empress Club Stakes run when a 1,4 length third to Inara. Fromafar raced wide when winning a feature here over 1400m last time, so can’t be written off.  Nightingale and Negroamara both have class but would both prefer a touch further. Alexa has a good draw for a change and is an interesting runner as one who made up a lot of ground from hopeless positions in the Gauteng Guineas and SA Fillies Classic. Our Destiny over raced with blinkers on and they are now off so she could earn if repeating her Cape Fillies Guineas runner up finish. Taffety Tart and Lala have the ability to earn but have tough draws. Killer Woman looks to have some class but will have to put her last poor run behind her.

The selection is Silver Mountain to beat Bela-Bela and Flying Ice with Shatoosh and Bella Sonata next best.

Ice Machine (Nkosi Hlophe)

Ice Machine (Nkosi Hlophe)

The IOS Drill Hall Stakes could be won by Ice Machine if things pan out right for him.

There does not look to be much hope of the good pace he will prefer and Legislate could in that case dictate from the front.

However,  Ice Machine is still tipped to fly up and touch off Legislate, with Night Trip, who seems to love Greyville, staying on for third. The dark horses are Saratoga Dancer, who has plenty of class and the best has not yet been of him, and Triptique, who has been doing very well but there is a question mark over the trip. New Predator also has to be given a lot of respect on his best form.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Baritone (Nkosi Hlophe)

sean tarry

Legal Eagle not certain for July

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National Champion Trainer Sean Tarry has warned that in his opinion Legal Eagle was unlikely to line up for the Vodacom Durban July.

However, the final decision on whether he participates is yet to be discussed with the connections.

Owner Markus Jooste’s racing manager Derek Brugman said in initial discussion with Tarry he had agree the July would probably not be the ideal race for the horse, as he would have to carry 60kg. However, he added there was still two months to go so it was still not known which of Jooste’s horses would line up and which wouldn’t. He said it was too early to start officially declaring horses as “doubtful.”

Sean Tarry

Tarry had another halcyon day at Turffontein’s Champions Day on Saturday, landing three Gr 1s and a Gr 2 as well as a Gr 1 second, a Gr 1 third and a Gr 2 second.

Among the Gr 1 victories was a brilliant performance by Legal Eagle to win the R4 million Premier’s Champions Challenge under Anton Marcus.

The four-year-old Greys Inn gelding has put himself in line to be named Equus Horse Of The Year as that was his third Gr 1 victory of the year. Two of those Gr 1s were weight for age miles and Saturday’s victory over 2000m was a weight for age with Gr 1 and Gr 2 penalties. The other of Legal Eagle’s four career Gr 1 wins was in the SA Derby last season over 2450m.

Not surprisingly Tarry now regards him as among the best he has ever trained.

He said, “National Colour and Mythical Flight were freaks, but Legal Eagle is probably the best classic horse I have ever trained.”

Legal Eagle’s stable companion French Navy bounced back to form in the Premier’s on Saturday. He found his usual strong finish to only just deny Brazuca second place and might move into second place on the July betting boards behind SA Triple Crown hero Abashiri if the bookmakers do list Legal Eagle as doubtful. At present Legal Eagle is favourite at 5/2 with Betting World, Abashiri is 7/2 and French Navy is 14/1.

French Navy (Nkosi Hlophe)

French Navy (Nkosi Hlophe)

Tarry’s Captain Al filly Carry On Alice cruised to her third career Gr 1 in the WSB Computaform Sprint on Saturday under S’Manga Khumalo and will likely start a short-priced favourite in the defence of her Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Sprint crown on June 4. She will also race in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint, depending on the draw she is allotted. She will be sent to her breeders and part-owners Klawervlei Stud after her racing career is over. It has not yet been decided whether she will race as a five-year-old next season.

Tarry’s unbeaten Captain Al two-year-old filly Cloth Of Cloud is following in the footsteps of Carry On Alice as she landed the Gr 1 SA Nursery against the boys on Saturday after producing a devastating late finishing burst under Khumalo. Tarry is not yet sure whether she will campaign in the SA Champions Season, but said if she did the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championships over 1200m at Scottsville on June 4 would be her only race.

Tarry said about her quirkiness, “Fortunately talent also comes with the package and the temperament can be worked with.”

Tarry’s ultra consistent four-year-old Tiger Ridge filly Trophy Wife finally landed the bold black type she so richly deserved when winning Saturday’s Gr 2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes over 2000m under Khumalo. Tarry was not sure yet whether the July would be a target of hers, although a race like the Gr 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m on Gold Cup day would likely be on her program.

 

By David Thiselton

No Worries (Nkosi Hlophe)

No Worries enjoying the extra

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The Gavin Van Zyl-trained No Worries has come out of his win in the Highland Night Cup over 2400m at Scottsville on Sunday well.

Stable jockey Warren Kennedy said he had always been a good horse who was just a few lengths off the best, so a staying campaign would suit him because firstly the competition was not as strong and secondly he had proven his liking for the trip on Sunday by winning going away despite carrying joint topweight of 61,5kg.

“It is just nice to have him back to himself and the win might bring renewed confidence,” added Kennedy.

It was only the second time the six-year-old Summerhill-bred Kahal gelding had attempted the trip. The eLan Property Group Gold Cup looks to be on the cards.

By David Thiselton

Strydom ponders Greyville option

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Port Elizabeth trainer Jacques Strydom has not yet planned to bring his polytrack hero Gogetthesheriff to run in the Listed R150,000 Darley Arabian over 1600m on the Greyville poly at the end of the South African Champions Seasons, but is aware of the option. An appearance by the five-year-old gelding at Greyville will add a further twist to the Super Saturday meeting on the last weekend of the season, because the Darley Arabian would then shape as a South African polytrack championship event.

Gogetthesheriff is the reigning East Cape Polytrack Horse Of The Year and on Monday put his owner Freddy van Onselen in line for a R250,000 bonus by adding the second leg of the World Sports Betting (WSB) East Cape Poly Challenge series over 1400m to his first leg win over 1200m.

The long striding chestnut has a short run in so has to be waited with for as long as possible and therefore the course and distance of the tight Fairview polytrack suit him perfectly.

Ryan Munger dropped him out from a wide draw on Monday and he produced a devastating late charge down the inside rail to win by a length.

Port Elizabeth’s legendary commentator “Bumpy” Schoeman didn’t reserve many plaudits for the final leg of the Poly “Triple Crown” as he screamed “What a Beaut! What A Beaut! … Hero-Hero!”

Strydom bought Gogethesheriff as a one-time winner at a dispersal sale at the end of the 2014 season. The Go Deputy gelding had previously raced for one of Mike de Kock’s chief international clients, Sheik Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, and his only win had been a seven length romp at Clairwood in a maiden over 1600m.

Strydom and Van Onselen bought him with the dream of landing Port Elizabeth’s most prestigious race, the Algoa Cup.

Gogetthesheriff

Gogetthesheriff (Pic – Coastal Photos)

However, at the time of the purchase Fairview was experiencing some problems with the turf course, so Strydom eventually decided to put him in a poly race over 1200m. He stormed home to win from a wide draw at odds of 20/1 and has not looked back. He has notched up seven wins and a second from eight starts on the poly and his winning distances range from 1200m to 1900m.

Strydom and Van Onselen are still chasing the Algoa Cup dream and Gogetthesheriff has thus had eleven starts on the Fairview turf for three wins. However, last year the dream was ended by Gogetthesheriff contracting an illness. Strydom thus planned a tilt at the East Cape Poly Challenge series. He was criticised for bringing the horse back from illness with three turf races, considering the Challenge was on poly. However, he knew when he won the last of the three preparation turf races over 1400m his charge was “spot on.” He then “freshened him” up for the Challenge 1200m event, which he won by a head, and gave him “normal” work into Monday’s 1400m race. He will now just keep him ticking over for the East Cape Poly Challenge 1600 on May 13, which is sure to attract a lot of interest from around the country because a win will land Van Onselen the R250,000 bonus from WSB.

The merit rated band conditions of each race of the series has made Gogethesheriff hard to beat at the weights, despite him having to carry 62kg on each occasion, because the upper band includes horses merit rated 100 and upward and he is merit rated 108.

Strydom will see how Gogetthesheriff goes in the Challenge’s last leg before planning the horse’s future, but the Darley Arabian and/or the Algoa Cup look the obvious target or targets.

The Frank Robinson-trained Dynasty filly Olma is likely regarded as the best poly horse in KZN, having recently added the Gr 3 Kings Cup over 1600m against the boys to her fine record on the surface. However, the Mike Bass-trained Night Trip could lay claim to being the best poly horse in the country at present as he has won the last two renewals of the Darley Arabian and is merit rated 109.

There is no award at present which recognises the best poly horse in the country, but if the Darley Arabian winner is recognised as such it might be possible the snubbed Lammerskraal sire Go Deputy has the best turf and poly horse in the country for the season as he is sire of both Gotthesheriff and the Triple Crown-chasing Abashiri.

By David Thiselton

r futura

Futura retired to stud

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Futura has been retired to stand at Drakenstein Stud but fellow quadruple Grade 1 winner Legislate is to race in Durban before joining him before the end of the season. The Rising Sun Gold Challenge (June 11), which he won last year, is a possible objective.

The office of part-owner and stallion manager John Freeman issued  the details on Friday afternoon, saying that most of the shares had been sold overnight and adding: “The plan is to send Legislate to Durban for another attempt at Grade 1 glory in either or both of the two Grade 1 weight-for-age events there.”

Justin Snaith paid tribute to Futura, saying: “He was a very good and very impressive racehorse. He has everything a stallion needs, including temperament and soundness, and he is by a great sire.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Futura (Nkosi Hlophe)

wildonenkosihsite

Unfortunate end for Wild One

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The Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup winner Wild One has died following a routine procedure to the check ligament in order to treat tendonitis.

Wild One was standing up after recovering from the procedure when he suffered a heart attack.

Saddened trainer Mike de Kock said, “You think you are doing the best for the horse and then this goes and happens.”

The six-year-old Mogok gelding looked to have plenty of racing still in him. He finished third in the Gr 1 SA Derby as a three-year-old, when trained by Jeff Freedman, and this earned him a place in the Vodacom Durban July. He ended his four-year-old season by winning the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, his first run for the De Kock yard, and then finished third in the Gr 2 Gold Vase and second in the Gold Cup.

However, the Scott Brothers-bred horse appeared to have really come into his own this past season after returning from a long layoff, finishing second in both the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m and in the KZN Million Mile before winning the Gold Cup.

The roller coaster ride owner Sean Phillips has enjoyed with Wild One is well documented and the passing of his beloved horse left the Hillcrest-based man “distraught” at the end of a month in which he had received both the Equus Champion Stayer and KZN Champion Stayer awards.

David Thiselton