Category Archives: Gold Cup

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Persian Rug a real treasure

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The Ideal World filly, Persian Rug, who races in the silks of Mike de Kock’s assistant trainers Stephen Jell and Natie Kotzen, seemed to have the Thekwini Stakes (Grade 1) over 1600m sewn up. However, as Kotzen relates it, “when S’manga Khumalo starts going after her, she pricks her ears, ducks to the left and then digs her toes in” approaching the line made by the grandstand’s shadow.

Khumalo, obviously feeling the crop was doing nothing for her chances, hid it away against his body and rode her hands and heels to the wire. Persian Rug took off in the final 50m and finished third, a rapidly closing 0.50 lengths behind winner Lauderdale.

Said Kotzen: “Anton Marcus, who won on her first time out, said she did the same thing to him. She’s just green and doesn’t know what’s going on yet.”

Even though she didn’t win the race, Kotzen was pleased with the filly, leased to the partnership by Jessica Slack’s Mauritzfontein Stud. “It was a great run. At least we know she’s got ability.

“She’s a big horse who is still immature and is going to strengthen up. She’ll come into her own as a late three-year-old,” he said.

De Kock has already sent the horses he is taking to Dubai for next year’s Carnival to Mauritius, so Persian Rug, who won her first two starts, is staying in South Africa for at least her three-year-old career, according to Kotzen. “I’d love to see her race in Dubai, but that decision has to be Jessica’s.”

Initial plans, he said, were the Triple Tiara in Johannesburg next year, so the filly, who he has had in his care since she first came into training, will be leaving his Durban stable bound for Randjesfontein.

* According to Charl Pretorius, editor of De Kock’s website www.mikedekockracing.com, the stable’s Dubai-bound horses currently in quarantine in Mauritius are: Australian-breds Ertijaal, winner of the Cape Derby; Almashooqa, runner-up in the 1400m Golden Slipper, and two-time winner Mutamakkin, as well as an ex-Joey Ramsden-trained Trippi four-year-old Liquid Mercury, winner of the Winter Derby, and former Geoff Woodruff-trained Tellina. Highly regarded grey filly Majmu, who at this point is retiring to stud in the UK, is also in Mauritius.

– TABNews

Picture: Persian Rug finishing third to Laurderdale in the Thekwini (Nkosi Hlophe)

Mike Azzie (Nkosi Hlophe)

Split targets for Azzie duo

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Mike Azzie will rest his Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes winner Rabada and give him his African Horse Sickness (AHS) vaccinations before aiming him at the R2 million Ready To Run Stakes over 1400m at Turffontein on October 31. He will then possibly send the Summerhill Stud Brave Tin Soldier colt to Cape Town for two big Gr 1 events, the Grand Parade Cape Guineas and the Investec Cape Derby.

His Premier’s Champions Stake third-placed Go Deputy colt Abashiri will also be rested and given his AHS vaccinations. He will then be aimed at next Autumn’s Triple Crown.

Azzie also has big race hopes for Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes runner up Melliflora and his older horse Deputy Jud.

His Summerveld Champions Season string were on their way back home to Randjesfontein yesterday.

Azzie has no doubt the unbeaten Rabada will stay the 2000m trip of the Cape Derby and said, “Anton (Marcus) has always maintained that is the trip he is looking for and that he would be best on a galloping track. We didn’t give him any stamina work at Summerveld, we kept his work short and sharp, because of the nature of the 1400m and 1600m races he ran in at Greyville. We haven’t seen the best of Abashiri yet. He is one very serious horse and is a very exciting prospect for the future. If you analyse the way the race panned out on Saturday, when he wanted to make his run he had to be switched out and come eight or nine wide into the straight. It could otherwise easily have been a different result. He was not as sharp as Rabada because the penny hasn’t dropped with him yet and when it does the sky could be the limit.”

Azzie didn’t allow the one week postponement of Super Saturday to add any pressure and simply took the view that everybody was in the same boat.

He said about the Querari filly Melliflora, who ran on well from midfield for a 0,25 length second in the Thekwini, “She is gangly and immature and I have not let up on her, so now that I can give her some down time I think she will do some developing and blossom. I think she will also prefer a galloping track and the way she cruised to victory at Scottsville in her previous start has made me quite excited about her.”

He was also pleased by the Judpot colt Deputy Jud’s 6,5 length eighth in the Gr 1 Champions Cup over 1800m and said, “It was an improved performance and I have been given permission to do what I have wanted to do for a year, geld him. I think he will now keep his mind on the job and do what he’s supposed to do.”

Azzie said he had left Summerved with “heavy feet”.

He elaborated, “It is the best training centre in South Africa. It is away from the humdrum of racing and the fact that my unsound horses came sound there speaks volumes for the tracks. I love KZN, the staff and people are so friendly and always make our visit pleasurable.”

Azzie became emotional in the winner’s enclosure on Saturday when talking about his own staff and this includes his younger son Ryan who has recently joined older son Adam as part of “The Azzman” team. Yesterday he could not help drawing a parallel between his two sons and the Snaith brothers Justin and Jonathan, whose results as a team speak for themselves.

He said, “Ryan was always the one who spent most time at the stables with me as a kid, but is business orientated and always has his finger on the pulse. Adam is laid back and will not allow the silly things that have sometimes worried me to get to him. I will one day be more in the background offering advice because together I think they will make a formidable team.”

By David Thiselton

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More success for Mogok

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One of the country’s most underrated sires, The Scott Brothers’ USA-bred Storm Cat stallion Mogok, had the fourth Gr 1 winner of his career when the Mike de Kock-trained Wild One stormed home on Saturday to convert favouritism in the country’s premier staying race, the eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m.

Mogok was originally owned and bred by the one of the world’s most prominent racing families, the Niarchos’s.

The Scott Brothers seized an opportunity to bring in a stallion with a magnificent international pedigree when noticing Mogok up for auction on a French Sale as an unraced two-year-old.

The Niarchos family are known for their high quality band of broodmares. The Scotts had also noticed Mogok had been given two wind operations before attempts to race him were abandoned. Therefore, they knew the connections must have thought a lot of him.

Another bonus was that, as a mere two-year-sold, he would have a long stud career ahead of him. Indeed, despite having already thrown eleven crops, he is now only 15 years of age, so has a good few seasons still left in him.

At the time of Mogok’s purchase, Storm Cat was one of the most expensive stallion s in the world at around $400,000 a service with no guaranteed return.

His female line was even more attractive. Mogok is a half-brother to Machiavellian, who was one of the leading sires in Europe. His third dam is Natalma. The dam of the possibly most influential sire in the history of the thoroughbred breed, Northern Dancer

Mogok is also a half-brother to two French-based Gr 1 winners, Exit To Nowhere and Coup de Genie.

Furthermore, close to the time of the Scotts’ purchase, Mogok’s family produced a winner of one of the world’s most prestigious races, the Gr 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, with the Niarchos-bred Nashwan colt Bago.

Robin Scott pointed out breeding was not an exact science, “it’s luck”, and what separated a good stallion from the also rans was that when a big horse was produced they were “very big.”

However, in Robin’s opinion, Mogok could well have been a champion sire if standing in the Cape, where the mares are of superior quality.

Mogok has not only produced four Gr 1 winners from the lesser KZN mares, but two of them have taken on some of the best in the world and beaten them. His daughter Gypsy’s Warning won a Gr 1 in the USA, while The Apache won the prestigious Gr 1 Arlington Million, beating many international Gr 1 winners, before being demoted to second after an objection. The Apache also finished second in two Gr 1s in Dubai, having earlier won a Gr 2 there.

Yet Robin is of the belief that the big, strong and rangy Mogok colt Orbison, who downed the like of Pocket Power and Bold Silvano when winning the Gr 1 Champions Cup of 2010, was even better than The Apache. Unfortunately, Orbison broke down in Dubai and never raced again after leaving South African shores.

Wild One has benefitted from a long layoff and is at present as sound as a bell. His versatility has been displayed in his last three starts, finishing second in both the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m and the KZN Breeders Million Mile before winning the Gold Cup over 3200m. He is still lightly raced, despite being six-years-old, and looks to have a bright season ahead of him, although a lot could depend on the punishment the handicapper hands him for Saturday’s win.

Meanwhile, Scott Brothers have another blue-blooded formerly Niarchos-owned stallion standing on the farm, Eightfold Path. He is owned by the Chinese national Hui Guo. Eightfold Path is by six-time Gr 1 winner and three-time American champion sire Giant’s Causeway out of the European Champion Kingmambo mare Divine Proportions, who won five Gr 1 races in France. Guo has a few broodmares on the farm too and is likely to be looking ahead to when China unbans horseracing, which looks to soon become a reality.

ThereEightfold Path showed tremendous speed to win a Gr 3 over six furlongs as a two-year-old in France and after going wrong he came back to win a Listed event over a mile as a five-year-old. Robin believes he could become an important sprint stallion.

Mogok and Eightfold Path stand for bargain fees of R20,000 and R10,000 respectively.

However, Robin did divulge that he would likely be more selective with the mares he accepts for Mogok this season.

Robin and his brother Des have a proud history in breeding over nearly a half-a-century and are seldom out of the news. Their success is based on a combination of careful stallion selection and a high quality broodmare band. On top of the imported stallions, they have also brought in excellent pedigreed mares from USA and Europe.

The first of these imported mares was Ofa (Ribot), who produced the mighty Durban July and dual J&B Met winner Politician. Others were Carnet De Dance (Dance In Time), who went on to produce July and Dubai Duty Free winner Ipi Tombe, and Northern Banner (Nothern Dancer), who produced July-winner Teal.

By David Thiselton

Picture: eLan Property Group Gold Cup winner Wild One (Nkosi Hlophe)

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Champion duo take a break

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The Equus Horse Of The Year elect Futura and last season’s Horse Of The Year Legislate have both arrived safely at Drakenstein Stud where they will enjoy a one month holiday before being brought back for the Cape Summer Of Champions Season.

The Justin Snaith-trained pair of five-year-old Dynasty entires finished first and third in the Gr 1 Champions Cup over 1800m at Greyville on Saturday. Futura put in a phenomenal performance and will thoroughly deserve the country’s highest accolade. He hit the starting gates before they had opened and this caused him to lose ground.

Snaith revealed the reason for him hitting the starting gates was probably due to getting a fright when Legislate alongside him kicked the back of the gate. Legislate did the same in the IOS Drill Hall Stakes and had to be scratched after his foot became momentarily stuck between the two back gates.

However, Gold Circle reacted to this and a subsequent incident by padding the back gates with rubber, which not only softens the blow but also prevents the foot from slipping through, and this paid dividends in respect of Legislate on Saturday as he ran his race and was beaten fair and square by two firecrackers.

After losing about a length-and-a-half Futura had to be used up significantly by Bernard Fayd’Herbe to get into the desired handy position. The effect of such fuel burn is usually revealed in the latter stages of the race, but not in the case of Futura, who must have a massive engine on top of his athleticism and wonderful action.

Ice Machine, who was given the perfect tow by Legislate until being switched out at the 300m mark used his tremendous turn of foot to overtake Futura and looked to have the race in the bag, especially considering he had the peerless Anton Marcus aboard. But amazingly Futura fought back under hard and superbly rhythmical driving from Fayd’Herbe to snare Ice Machine on the line.

Ice Machine has blossomed in the Charles Laird yard and deserves a Gr 1 victory. There looks to be no reason why he can’t continue racing as a seven-year-old, especially as he is by Silvano, whose progeny get better with age.

Snaith paid tribute to the gallant Futura, whom he felt beforehand would be in tip top condition and he proved correct.

Part-owner Jack Mitchell pointed out that one of Furura’s best career runs was in the Vodacom Durban July, considering he had carried a welter 60kg.

Both Snaith and another part-owner John Freeman paid tribute to Futura’s groom, Cyprian Mkhonowana, who gained some fame in 2008 because the decision to fly him in from Cape Town half-way through the Champions Season appeared to turnaround the fortunes of the filly he was devoted to, Dancer’s Daughter.

Drakenstein are part-owners in both Futura and Legislate and will be looking forward to them standing at stud one day, although not before they have likely added more big race success to their already glittering CV’s. They have now each won four Gr 1’s apiece and Futura has won the Champions Cup two years running.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Legislate left Futura right (John Lewis)

Lauderdale claims third Thekwini for Howells

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Duncan Howells landed his second Gr 1 victory of the Champions Season when retaining his crown in the Thekwini Stakes over 1600m at Greyville on Saturday with the Elusive Fort filly Lauderdale and jockey Muzi Yeni has certainly grabbed the opportunity of being stable jockey to this powerful yard with both hands as this was his second Graded race win for them in the space of two weeks.

It was the third time Howells had won the Thekwini and was his first Gr 1 winner for a new owner in the yard, Brian “Buffalo Bill” Burnard, who also won this race with the Gavin van Zyl-trained Along Came Polly two years ago.

Lauderdale, who was bred by Dr Jim Antrobus, was pin-hooked by Allan Bloodlines at the Cape Thoroughbred Sales (CTS) March Yearling Sale last year for a mere R40,000. The filly is from the second crop of the Fort Wood stallion Elusive Fort, whose first crop filly Siren’s Call went within a stride of landing this year’s Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara. Lauderdale was later bought by Burnard on the Bloodstock South Africa Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Sale for R220,000.

Lauderdale (Nkosi Hlophe)

Lauderdale (Nkosi Hlophe)

Lauderdale was sent off at odds of 12/1 on Saturday.

Howells said after the victory that he had been confident of finishing in the first three, “If you watch her last race she broke well from a good draw and then was kept out the whole way, so she had to race flat out the whole 1400m and it was very difficult for her to finish the race. I knew she was crying out for the 1600m and also knew she is quite precocious in herself so thought this would make it a lot easier for her to get a good position before holding her up and making a sprint for home. Muzi, I must hand it to him, rode a great race.”

Yeni got Lauderdale right up there from the off from his tricky daw of eight and it then panned out perfectly when the big striding Mike de Kock-trained Persian Rug went to the front as this enabled Yeni to shadow her about a length behind.

Persian Rug stretched away impressively in the straight and looked to have it won until being confused by the grandstand shadow and digging her toes in. This must have been a heartbreaking moment for owners Nathan Kotzen and Steven Jell, who are assistant trainers to De Kock and own the Ideal World filly together. However, it enabled Lauderdale to pounce from the perfect position on the outside and stay on to win by 0,25 lengths from the Mike Azzie-trained Querari filly Melliflora, who ran on well from midfield under Donovan Dillon. Persian Rug did amazingly well to pick herself up and run on for third and she will undoubtedly be a big horse for the classics this season.

The favourite Chestnuts N pearls, who won the Gr 1 Zulu Kingdom Explorer Golden Slipper over 1400m, stayed on for tie fourth with Flying Ice, who was the other hard luck story of the race as she had to be brought around them into the straight, then switched inward and was a bit tight for room in the last few strides.

Howells commented on how strong Lauderdale was for her age and is an admirer of her honesty. She will qualify for the country’s hitherto richest ever race, the CTS Million Dollar, which is due to be run over 1400m at Kenilworth on January 23 next year. She also qualifies for the R2 million Ready To Run Cup over 1400m at Turffontein on October 31 and will likely go for this season’s fillies classics .

The Burnards were unusually not on course on Saturday having had a family celebration to attend to on their farm, but were represented by on course presenter Warren Lenferna, who has a long association with the Howells yard.

Yeni’s first graded win for the Howells yard was with Cosmic Light in the Gr 2 Debutante Stakes over 1200m at Greyville on July 18. This was another feather in cap for Howells’ partner Cathy Rymill, who selected her at the National Yearling Sale where she was bought for R200,000, as she provided the exciting news season stallion Querari with his first Graded winner. Cosmic Light looks to have tremendous scope and will surely make her presence felt in next season’s classics.

Two years ago Rymill selected Same Jurisdiction at the Suncoast Yearling Sale, before Howells secured her for R270,000. This filly is from the first crop of Mambo In Seattle and proved herself possibly the best filly in the land when winning the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m in ultra classy style on Vodacom Durban July day. Same Jurisdiction won the Thkekwini last year, having earlier won the KZN Yearling Sales Million, and her Johannesburg classic campaign this season was plagued by bad luck. Significantly, the Howells yard also have the probable second best Mambo In Seattle in the land too, the ever improving gelding Saratoga Dancer, selected by Rymill at the Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Sale for a bargain R140,000. Saratoga Dancer looks sure to step up to the top flight this season.

Howells first winner of the Thekwini was Gypsy’s Warning, who was from the second crop of Mogok, and after her victory in this race at Clairwood in 2008 she was sold on and went on to win the Gr 1 SA Fillies Classic and the Gr 1 Matriarch Stakes in the USA.

By David Thiselton

Wild One and jockey Anthony Delpech (Nkosi Hlophe)

“He’s my Wild One”

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Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup-winning owner Sean Phillips summed up the roller coaster ride he has enjoyed with his prized horse Wild One when saying at the end of his victory speech on Saturday, “He’s my Wild One”, and this will certainly become of one of racing’s feel good stories of the year.

Despite being six-years-of-age the Mike de Kock-trained Scott Brothers-bred Mogok gelding is at present as sound as a bell and relatively lightly raced, so he will likely be an interesting contender this season in big races like the Gr 1 Sansui Summer Cup and others.

In Wild One’s first start for De Kock in May last year he gave Phillips a first ever Graded victory, winning the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m, and he followed up by finishing a 0,5 length second in the Gold Cup over 3200m.

However, a soft tissue injury then saw him side-lined.

Phillips later reached a point where he had  become “disappointed” with the game and organised a  dispersal sale at Summerveld.

He takes up the story, “I expected to get at least half-a-million for Wild One but he quickly went down from 500, to 400, 300, 200, I put in an offer at 200 and nobody else counterbid. I believed he was worth far more than that so kept him.”

The lack of bidding was perhaps not surprising considering the long layoff and Wild One also having been a notable scratching from the SANSUI Summer Cup.

In fact De Kock had initially believed the injury might be “career ending”, and praised Phillips for his “heart and patience” and allowing the yard time to bring the horse back to soundness.

The amazing faith Phillips showed in the gallant bay gelding has paid handsome dividends as he has earned over a million rand in his first three comeback runs.

Furthermore, Phillips admitted the Gold Cup win had “most definitely” re-ignited his own fervour for the game.

Phillips praised “the genius” of De Kock. He added that without disputing the skills of his many friends in training he was now of the firm belief that it was a “must” to send a top horse to a trainer who had had a lot of big race experience and success and this was especially the case where there was international opportunity, which he believed Wild One had. He said, “It’s these type of wins that make us come back.”

Wild One’s win provided De Kock with a third Gold Cup victory and saw Anthony Delpech ending a hoodoo, as he has come second in the country’s premier staying race on no fewer than six occasions.

De Kock and Delpech had an early morning start last Tuesday when leaving the Wild Coast at 4:30 a.m in order to gallop Wild One at Summerveld, before returning to the coastal resort to play in the second round of the popular Gold Circle Racing Masters golf tournament. De Kock said before and after the race that Wild One had enjoyed an absolutely  faultless preparation.

Phillips, having begun Saturday just thrilled to have two Gold Cup horses running in his colours, was pinching himself as the other one, the Joey Soma-trained Savage Wind, finished third.

He said, “I’m over the moon and very happy for Joey too, he’s done a great job for us as well.”

Wild One was spotted at the Suncoast Casino KZN Yearling Sale of 2011 by Summerveld trainer Jeff Freedman, who bought him for R95,000.

Phillips became the sole owner and it was soon clear that he and Freedman had a good horse in their hands.

However, the first up-and-down moment happened on day one of Wild One’s racing career.

The connections were confident he would win that debut over 1450m at Clairwood on 10 October, 2012 and Wild One was consequently backed in from 25/1 to 48/10. He duly won, but alas, the hot favourite Flyfirstclass was then declared a non-runner, having been adjudged to have not had a fair start, and all bookmaker winning bets were subjected to a massive deduction.

Wild One was already showing signs of ideally needing further after a subsequent third in the Listed KZN Guineas Trial and a strong-finishing sixth in the Dingaans.

In his second career victory over 1600m at Greyville he ran all over the course and has raced in blinkers ever since.

In first-time blinkers he was a very unlucky 0,5 length second in the Listed Derby Trial at Turffontein.

Potential buyers began showing an interest after he had subsequently finished third in the Gr 1 SA Derby over 2450m, having been dropped out from a wide draw and running on strongly.

However, Phillips held on and a dream came true when Wild One was accepted into the 2013 Vodacom Durban July field, despite an unlucky unplaced run in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000. Wild One finished unplaced in the July but Phillips, dressed in his yellow and red suit to reflect the colours, had a memorable day out with family and friends.

Freedman then took a share in the horse, but Wild One appeared to lose his way a bit and five runs later, after finishing fourth out of five runners in a Non-Black Type event over 1950m at Scottsville, Phillips wondered whether the horse was as good as they had originally believed. He was probably lamenting not having accepted those earlier offers to sell.

There was more disappointment next time out when only managing a 5,5 length fourth in a Graduation Plate over 1600m at Clairwood, although in retrospect the winner was none other than Futura.

However, Phillips retained faith and after becoming sole owner again he sent the horse to De Kock.

Having shown such versatility in his last three runs from 1600m up to 3200m the world now appears to be Wild One’s oyster and Phillips is in for some more of those heady highs and lows that are always part and parcel of the Sport Of Kings.

By David Thiselton

Wild One and jockey Anthony Delpech (Nkosi Hlophe)

Wild One gets it right

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The Mike de Kock-trained Wild One went one better than last year when winning the country’s premier staying race, the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m, at a sun-bathed Greyville yesterday under Anthony Delpech.

Later the country’s highest rated horse, the Justin Snaith-trained Futura, secured the Equus Horse Of The Year title with a stunning victory in the Gr 1 Champions Cup over 1800m under Bernard Fayd’Herbe, despite not getting the best of starts.

The Scott Brothers-bred six-year-old Mogok gelding Wild One provided a first Gr 1 win for passionate Hillcrest-based owner Sean Phillips and his yellow and red colours also flashed past the post in third place as he owns a share in the Joey Soma-trained Savage Wind.

It was a third Gold Cup win for De Kock and a first for Delpech. The latter had finished second in the race on no fewer than six occasions.

Wild One and jockey Anthony Delpech (Nkosi Hlophe)

Wild One and jockey Anthony Delpech (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Dean Kannemeyer-trained rank outsider Balance Sheet ran a gallant second. The Dominic Zaki-trained Gauteng raider Storm Warning ran fourth and the Geoff Woodruff-trained Wild Ash was the first female home in fifth place.

After his narrow second in last year’s Gold Cup, Wild One was given a ten month layoff due to a soft tissue injury. De Kock said that he had come back sounder than ever and his problems appeared now to be behind him. This has been shown in his recent starts, as he finished second in both the Gr 3 Cup Trial over 1800m and the KZN Breeders Million Mile in his two comeback runs.

Kingston Mines led for the first half of the race and Savage Wind then took it up. Wild One was beautifully positioned in a handy position throughout.

Savage Wind set sail for home on the inside rail and looked full of running, but Wild One soon had his measure. Balance Sheet then appeared from nowhere and looked dangerous, but as he came alongside the blinkered Wild One the latter found another gear and surged to the line a one length winner. Balance Sheet pipped the gallant Savage Wind for second. Storm Warning stayed on well to catch Wild Ash and secure the final quartet position.

Phillips had a dispersal sale in January and expected to get a good price for Wild One, but it was not to be. However, his decision to buy him back for R200,000 has now paid dividends.

Summerveld trainer Jeff Freedman found Wild One at the KZN Yearling Sale and bought him for R95,000, before training him for Phillips for his first couple of seasons.

In the Champions Cup Futura appeared to hit the gate before they had opened and lost a little bit of ground early. He consequently had to be used up quite significantly to find a good position and this left many of his supporters a tad concerned. His stablemate and chief rival Legislate began pulling his way around horses just before they turned for home and the Charles Laird-trained Ice Machine was sitting in behind him ominously. When Ice Machine switched out it looked race over because he showed his usual magnificent acceleration to shoot past Legislate and he had Futura in his sights.  However, the incredible Futura, despite having used that early energy, clawed his way back after being overtaken and got his nose in front on the line. Legislate finished third.

The five-year-old entire Futura, owned by John Freeman, Jack Mitchell and Drakenstein Stud and bred by Guy Murdoch, will be a most deserved winner of the Horse of The Year Award as he also won the L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate and J&B Met. However, his sire Dynasty will not be so lucky because the prize money for the Champions Cup counts towards the new season and he would otherwise likely have overtaken Captain Al and won the National Sires title.

The Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes over 1600m saw one of the meeting bankers, the Mike Azzie-trained Brave Tin Soldier colt Rabada, keeping his unbeaten record in impressive style under Marcus.

He was given a lead by his stablemate High Game and went for his run down the inside. Meanwhile, the Zaki-trained raider Prospect Strike and Rabada’s stablemate Abashiri were flying home on the outside.

However, Rabada held on to win by 0,75 lengths with Abashiri a shorthead further back. Mogok Master and Nephrite were next best.

It was the third time Azzie had won this race. Rabada was bred by Summerhill Stud and is owned by Markus and Ingrid Jooste.

Earlier, the De Kock-trained Ideal World filly Persian Rug looked to have the Gr 1 Thekwini Stakes wrapped up as she hit the front early in the straight and was beginning to stretch away from them. However, she dug her toes in when she came to the grandstand shadow and this allowed the Duncan Howells-trained Elusive Fort filly Lauderdale to take the lead and stay on to win under Muzi Yeni. The Mike Azzie-trained Querari filly Melliflora stayed on well for a 0,25 length second and Persian Rug came back in eyecatching fashion for third. The latter looks to be a class sort in the making. Flying Ice was another unlucky horse as she had to come wide into the straight and then had to be switched inward. She only finished 0,75 back in tie fourth. The favourite Chestnuts N Pearls was having her first run in the Drakenstein Stud silks as a share was sold in her after her fluent win in the Gr 1 Zulu Kingdom Golden Slipper Stakes over 1400m. She was lying in a handy position turning for home and ran on for tie fourth. Lauderdale is owned by Brian Burnard and was bred by Dr RJ Antrobus.

The Gr 2 Gold Bracelet saw a deserved win for the ever improving Joey Ramsden-trained Silvano filly Gallica Rose, who produced a late run to overtake the De Kock-trained Estidraaj and the Snaith-trained Acrostar was third.

The Mike Bass-trained Trippi gelding Night Trip retained his Listed Darley Arabian crown over 1600m on the poly with a flying finish under Anton Marcus, despite being eleven points higher in the merit ratings and carrying topweight.

By David Thiselton

wildonenkosihlophe

Wild One fits the bill

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All the pieces but one are in place for Wild One to complete the puzzle in today’s Gr 1 eLAN Properties Group Gold Cup. Injury, illness, bad draws and bad rides can often scupper well laid plans but Mike de Kock looks to have avoided all those pitfalls and given some luck in the running at Greyville this afternoon, Wild One will fit the final piece to the jigsaw and go one better than last year for owner Sean Phillips.

Wild One has long been the ante-post favourite after two exceptional efforts in his lead-up. Second to Wavin’ Flag last year, the gelding was not seen out until June this year where he made his seasonal debut in the Cup Trial over 1800m, a distance regarded by most pundits as way too short.

He trailed most of the field turning for home but then unleashed a powerful late run under Anthony Delpech to finish runner-up to the rejuvenated Punta Arenas. Next up was a crack at the KZN Million Mile and again he switched on the afterburners in the straight to run Gr 1 winning “miler” Bezanova to within a length.

Although racing off a six-point higher rating than last year, the handicappers have only given Wild One a single point increase for his last two showings. Given his record over ground, a plum draw at five and a handy galloping weight, only bad luck in running or an exceptional performance by one of the opposition stands in his way.

That performance could come in the form of Solid Speed. Dean Kannemeyer has had an exceptional Champions Season and while Power King provided the icing by winning the Vodacom Durban July, Solid Speed can add the cherry.

Power King carried the silks of Lady Christine Laidlaw’s Khaya Stables and Kannemeyer and Stuart Randolph would pull off a rare double should Solid Speed prevail for Khaya Stables.

Since arriving for Champions Season Solid Speed has landed the Highland Night Cup and the Lonsdale Stirrup Cup, both over 2400m, and then went down less than a length in the 3000m Gold Vase lumping 60kg.

He was not stopping in the Vase and with 7kg off his back and an inside draw this afternoon the extra furlong should hold no fears and he looks the biggest threat to Wild One.

Bookmakers are giving very little away with the majority of the 16-horse field quoted at 16-1 and less so they are expecting a tight finish. However, Wild One and Solid Speed have everything in their favour and can inflict some financial damage on the gentleman of the crossbar.

Highlight of the meeting and a fitting end to the season – although strictly speaking a day over into the new term – will be the clash between stable companions Futura and Legislate in the Gr 1 Champions Cup; at stake the Equus Horse of the Year crown currently held by Legislate.

It has been a tumultuous year for the connections of both horses with illness and backroom discord amongst the various owners adding some intrigue. Justin Snaith has been treading on egg shells since both horses ended up in his yard and it has been a difficult juggling act trying to keep all happy and picking the right races.

After his move from Brett Crawford, Futura won his opener for Snaith rather more easily than the winning margin would suggest, but there were a few raised eyebrows when the stable companions met in the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge. Legislate, dictating from the jump, kept finding while Futura, trailing for much of the race, got going too late to affect the result.

Since then the two have taken opposite routes into today’s race with Futura finishing a very creditable fourth in the VDJ under top weight while Legislate was caught for finishing speed in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint won by Captain Of All.

Bernard Fayd’Herbe is back aboard Futura and with the two drawn alongside each other and over what looks to be the optimum trip for both, we will hopefully be in for a fascinating tactical battle.

Of the balance, although Punta Arenas had two lengths to spare over Futura in the July he is now 3.5kg worse off and looks held, particularly if judged on the J&B Met form, while Ice Machine’s stamina limitations were exposed in the July and he will be much more at home over today’s trip and he is fully capable of an upset.

Best bets

Greyville

Race 2: (6) In Other Words

Greyville

Race 6: (12) Rabada

Greyville

Race 8: (1) Futura

By Andrew Harrison

Wild One (Nkosi Hlophe)

Wild to go one better

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The Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup is always one of the most exciting races of the year and Saturday’s running at Greyville will be no different.

Wild One (Nkosi Hlophe)

Wild One (Nkosi Hlophe)

Ruling favourite Wild One finished second last year and appears to have improved since being given a long rest. He has landed a good draw of five and has a nice galloping weight.

Storm Warning has benefitted from a breathing operation and bounced back to his best last time out over 3000m at Turffontein. He won’t mind a wide draw because he likes to be dropped out and has the necessary turn of foot to do well at Greyville.

Coltrane has a reasonable weight for a horse of his class and stamina capacity and has been working well since being freshened up.

Kingston Mines could set the fractions and comes in with a fair galloping weight. He didn’t appear to go on with it the last time he tried this trip on the Highveld but on the coast it could be a different story.

In form Solid Speed loves Greyville and is well drawn and nicely weighted. He gives the impression he will stay this trip and has enjoyed a similar preparation to Kannemeyer’s 2012 Gold Cup winner In Writing.

Vino Veritas appears to love her racing and gives the impression she could gallop all day, but she is quite high in the weights for a female.

Hot Ticket is the reigning Equus Champion Stayer and will be a tough nut to crack off a lowered merit rating, but the slight concern is that this is the first time he has tried this trip since a wind operation.

Gold Onyx loves Greyville and gets on well with jockey Grant Behr, but is six points higher in the merit ratings than when finishing third in this race last year.

Solid Speed (Nkosi Hlophe)

Solid Speed (Nkosi Hlophe)

Wild Ash was staying on when runner up in the Gr 2 SABC Gold Vase over 3000m, but will now be 3kg worse off with Solid Speed for a neck beating, although she will now be cherry ripe.

Disco Al was only accorded a one point merit rated raise for winning the Gr 2 Track And Ball Derby over 2400m at Scottsville last time out and is 1kg better off with Solid Speed for a 1,25 length beating over 2400m at Greyville before that. However, he is not a certainty to stay the full two miles.

Ash Cloud fought back to win the Gold Circle Oaks and has little to lose as this is her final start before going to stud. However, she has a big weight for a filly and is eight points higher in the merit ratings than last year when finishing sixth.

J’s Outsider won the Gold Bowl over this trip at Turffontein and should be cherry ripe. He has a light weight, but his wide draw makes it tough.

Balance Sheet was running on well in the Gr 3 tabGold 2200 and on pedigree has a good chance of staying the trip.

Kolkata is well handicapped on his second place finish in this race in 2011, but has not been in the same form this season.

Gone Baby Gone was found to be a bit anaemic after staying on fairly well in the Gold Vase for fifth and with treatment is expected to be in better shape. He went close in the Gr 3 Chairman’s Cup over 3200m at Kenilworth, but faces the winner Coltrane on 3,5kg worse terms.

Savage Wind was just 0,2 lengths behind Disco Al in the Track and Ball Derby and is now 3,5kg better off. That didn’t appear to be a true run race, but his form in Johannesburg also puts him in with an outside chance.

Futura & Sean Cormack (Nkosi Hlophe)

Futura (Nkosi Hlophe)

Wild One is selected to beat Storm Warning, with Coltrane, Kingston Mines and Solid Speed next best.

Futura and Legislate are the main protagonists in the Gr 1 Champions Cup over 1800m. However, Ice Machine is full of class and is tipped to mow them down under Anton Marcus.

Chestnuts N Pearls could give Dennis Drier an amazing sixth Champions Season Gr 1 win in the Thekwini Stakes over 1600m. Flying Ice and Melliflora could follow her home and Persian Rug and Old Em make most appeal of the rest.

The Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes over 1600m sees the top class Rabada facing his first true test and on his first two career performances he looks hard to beat. Prospect Strike is unfortunately widely drawn but will nevertheless be a huge runner and Abashiri, Rikitikitani, Malak Al Moolook, Captain’s Causeway and Cutting Edge are others to consider.

The classy and versatile Jet Belle could retain her Gr 2 Gold Bracelet crown from Gallica Rose and Patchit Up Baby.

The Listed Darley Arabian over 1600m on the poly could see Night Trip retaining his crown as he has recently matched it with the best milers in the country.

The Listed Umgeni Handicap could see a deserved win for Al Ciberano, who has a nice galloping weight. Brutal Force, Barbosa, Moofeed, Tiger Territory and Mod Barley make most appeal of the rest.

Cape Speed impressed last time out and will relish the 1900m trip of the third, which is always one of the most interesting races on the Super Saturday card. He could beat home the well regarded Mooghamir, who was green on debut and should improve.

By David Thiselton

Mike Bass (Nkosi Hlophe)

Bass still with a chance

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Mike Bass has not enjoyed the best of Champions Seasons by his high standards but still has a chance of going home to Cape Town with a Gr 1 trophy as he contests a couple of big races at Greyville’s Super Saturday meeting this weekend.

He runs Helderberg Blue and Ashton Park in the Gr 1 Champions Cup over 1800m.

He said perhaps a bit too much use had been made of Helderberg Blue early in the Vodacom Durban July, but the Jet Master gelding has come out of the race well and is now well drawn. However, he does face a tough task at the weights with the like of Futura, Legislate, Ice Machine and Punta Arenas in the race, at least according to official merit ratings. Donovan Dillon rides.

The Champions Cup often sees the relatively fresh horses who have not run in the July doing well and Ashton Park fits into this category. He has not been seen out since the Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m on June 6. Bass admitted there was a question mark about him staying this 1800m trip, but he could be an interesting contender if finding cover behind a slow pace, because he has a fine turn of foot and is suited to the tight Greyville circuit. His draw of seven will make it tricky to find the cover he needs. However, veteran jockey Karl Neisius rides and as a good reader of a race will give him every chance of doing so.

Bass runs the Visionaire colt Jet Air in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m. The yard rate him although Bass admitted Rabada looked hard to beat. Jet Air was stepped up to 1600m for the first time at Scottsville last time out and won well, beating the well regarded Mike de Kock-trained first-timer Mooghamir by 2,5 lengths. The colt unfortunately has a tough draw of eleven to overcome. Nevertheless, he looks be an interesting contender with Bernard Fayd’Herbe up.

The yard run the Count Dubois mare Counting Angels in the Gr 2 Gold Bracelet over 2000m. She has a tough task on paper in this weight for age race plus penalties as she is only off a merit rating of 87. Furthermore, she is drawn wide in 14. However, she did over race a bit last time out in the Listed Queen Palm Stakes over 2400m and still managed to finish second, so she should love this trip. Furthermore, she should be cherry ripe. Donovan Dillon rides.

Bass’ classy Trippi gelding Night Trip defends his crown in the Listed Darley Arabian over 1600m and has a plum draw of three with Anton Marcus up. Marcus was booked off his last three rides at Scottsville yesterday (Wednesday) when not feeling well, but is likely to be rearing to go again for Saturday’s big meeting. Night Trip, like most Trippi’s, loves the poly.  He is off a 106 merit rating in this handicap event compared to a 95 last year, but has recently shown his class against the best over a mile so looks to have improved. He finished 0,2 lengths behind Futura over 1600m at Greyville when receiving only 1,5kg and then finished just 1,4 lengths behind Legislate in the weight for age Gr 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge over 1600m, a race in which Futura beat him by just a-quarter-of-a-length. Bass added Night Trip had been doing well and he expected him to run well.

He also runs the Jet Master gelding Mountain Master in the Darley Arabian and sounded quite bullish about his chances. Since his Champions Season pipe opener in the IOS Drill Hall Stakes over 1400m the yard have tried him over trips from 1900m to 2400m. He is interesting coming back to this trip off a lowered merit rating, considering he won a good race on the Greyville turf over 1400m in May last year. Jet Master’s progeny seem to love the poly too. He could be in with a shout here with just 53kg on his back from a good draw with Richard Fourie up.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Mike Bass (Nkosi Hlophe)