MEDIA RELEASE
SUBJECT: Racing and the coronavirus
DATE: Monday 16 March 2020
RELEASED ON BEHALF OF: Phumelela Gaming and Leisure, Kenilworth Racing, Gold Circle, the Racing Association, the National Horseracing Authority and the Thoroughbred Horseracing Trust

In light of the guidelines and restrictions regarding public gatherings as announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday 15 March to limit the spread of the coronavirus, Phumelela Gaming and Leisure, Kenilworth Racing, Gold Circle, the Racing Association, the National Horseracing Authority and The Thoroughbred Horseracing Trust have unanimously agreed to implement the following Protocols and Procedures with immediate effect:

1.            Racing to continue, but with no public attendance on course

From Tuesday 17 March, all race meetings will be closed to the public until further notice. Consequently, the Jo’burg Prawn Festival at Turffontein scheduled for 4 April and the Klawervlei raceday scheduled for Durbanville on Saturday 28 March are cancelled, although the race meetings at which they were scheduled will take place.

Only essential racing participants will be allowed access to racecourses on race days. These include owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms, officials and staff deemed necessary to host a race meeting safely and successfully.

2.            Access control to be strictly adhered to and facilities for participants to be limited

Access points to racecourses will be limited, as will hospitality venues for participants allowed at racecourses on raceday in order to strictly comply with the guidelines and restrictions imposed.

3.            Sanitization measures to be put in place

Hand sanitizer, accompanied with the necessary signage and instructions, will be made available to all racing participants allowed on course.

The same sanitization measures will be applied at training centres which will include all grooms. In addition, various restrictive measures to be implemented as a cautionary, as well as potential lockdown procedures, are being put into place in the eventuality of an outbreak at any of the grooms’ accommodation.

4.            All non-racing events cancelled

All non-racing events, such as conferences, hosted at the various racecourses across the country will be cancelled with immediate effect.

5.            Off Course Betting Outlets

In line with the published restrictions, attendance at all Off-Course Betting Shops will be limited to under 100 persons as required. In addition, sanitization measures will be put in place at all outlets.

Racing fans are encouraged to open online betting accounts instead of placing bets at Off-Course Betting Shops.

6.            Government Hotline

Attention is drawn to the government hotline – 0800 029 999 – which provides easy access to important information on the subject.

The Racing Operators reserve the right to deny access to any of their venues to any person displaying Covid-19 symptoms.

The Vaal straight course has an eight race meeting tomorrow and with three staying races, a handicap sprint and two fillies and mares 1 600m handicaps making up the Pick 6 there should be a big dividend.

In the first race over 1400m the long-striding Duke Of Marmalade gelding Lord Melbourne has been backed in but on the downside the in-form Marco van Rensburg is out for up to six weeks with a fractured collarbone and this is one of the first good rides he misses out on. He has been replaced by Mathew Thackeray. Lord Melbourne lost a length on debut over 1200m and ran on well for third and he should appreciate this step up in trip.

In the second race over 2 000m Ideal Wolff will relish the step up in trip and is progressive.

Magic Duke caught the eye staying on well over 1 600m on debut and although out of a National Emblem Grade 3 Poinsettia Stakes winner this Duke Of Marmalade gelding looks likely to enjoy the trip. Ideal Man disappointed last time but was found to have a nasal discharge.

If he finds the form of his debut when second over this trip to Imperial Ruby, he should be right there.

In the third race over 2 400m Heliocentric is n interesting runner as she looks to be crying out for this trip having plugged on over 1 600m last time.

She is by Visionaire out of Windrush mare Zodwa, who won over 2 600m. Wishonaire placed second over this course and distance in her penultimate start, albeit in a slow time.

Stratplan Dora has stayed on over 2 000m on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly before despite being a bit headstrong, so has a chance here if settling.

Lightoftheunicorn was staying on over 2 000m last time after a slow start although was still five lengths back at the line and being by Gimmethegreenlight out of a Count Dubois mare who won from 1 000m to 1 450m she is not a certainty to stay. Grey Flyer tried 2 600m last time and did not have a smooth passage so can be given another chance.

Artscape has to be considered for the Pick 6 in this uninspiring field.

in the next race over 2 400m Emerald Bay has just failed in her last two starts over this trip and runs off the same mark as last time, although she does have a wide draw.

The Sash moved up before finding no extra last time and is now 2,5kg better off with Alicante for a two length beating. Alicante is 2kg worse of with Emerald Bay despite beating her by only a head, although she is a three-year-old so will be improving.

However, she comes out here three days after finishing ten lengths back in the Listed Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial on Saturday which was run in testing going. Pink could be involved if using more conservative tactics than last time when leading in her first try at this trip and being beaten just four lengths by Alicante.

Ever Fair won her maiden easily over 2000m and must carry topweight in her first attempt at this trip.

Glamarous Scandal is four points higher than her mark when winning over this trip but could earn.

Wings Of Light could earn if reproducing her best.

The Joceleyn Tree won her maiden easily over this course and distance, albeit in a slow time. 

In the next race, a Middle Stakes event over 2 800m, Fife will have to be bankered considering the difficulty of the rest of the card.

She won a Middle Stakes event easily over 2400m last time and now carries only 52,5kg and has a 2,5kg claimer aboard too. She is officially best in at the weights and has a classy pedigree being by Silvano out of Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes winner Stratos. Master And Man looks to be the back up for the risk averse.

In the sixth race over 1 000m Palace Assembly might find this a touch sharp but will be finishing strongly and with the recent rains the likely testing going could be in his favour.

Galactic Warrior will enjoy the step back down to the minimum trip.

Ring Of Fire is ultra consistent over this trip and is a must include.

Aqua Delta overraced over 1 200m in his first run as a gelding and is interesting dropped in trip.

Greasepaint is nine-years-old but goes for a hattrick under Piere Strydom.

Big Blue Marble is full of ability but tends to ruin it by being headstrong so he is interesting returning from a layoff. Touch Of Fate, Isphan, Battle Creek, Topmast and Mr Whatson are hard to ignore.

In the seventh race over 1 600m Ex’s ‘N Ohs has a 2,5kg claimer up and will enjoy the step back to this trip.

Circle Of Latitude has some class and will enjoy the step back down in trip. Elusive Force won easily from the front in the maidens last time and starts off

handicapping off a reasonable 82 merit rating.

Soul Of Wit has been right there in her last two starts including with the saddle slipping last time.

Afrostar has come down to a competitive merit rating. Loaralei is the favourite and represents the lethal Peter/Kennedy combination.

In the last race over 1 600m Fly North won going away over 1 400m last time so can overcome a four point raise if enjoying this trip.

Charlie’s Jet overraced over 2 000m last time and is interesting dropped in trip. Tigermil was plugging on over 1 200 last time and might be looking for this trip. Westwing Belter has been disappointing but has plummeted down the merit ratings and can start threatening a win.

Picadilly Square has a form chance.

Serendipity and Midnight Top are hard to ignore.

By David Thiselton

Paul Reeves is to send a team of horses to Durban for the first time – and Skidoo will be among them after making pretty much all the running under Liam Tarentaal to record his third success off the reel in the Betting World Handicap at Durbanville on Saturday.

Reeves, who rode nearly 300 winners and started training in 2009, said: “I went to Durban with Sea Cat early in my training career but I haven’t been since. However I am taking ten horses in a week’s time. They will include some juveniles that we think a lot of and nice speed horses like Pippielangkous and Photocopy as well as Skidoo who could be a poly candidate. Basically I am looking for more options as there is so little racing for them in Cape Town at the moment.”

Brett Crawford is a deliberately slow starter with his two-year-olds and Remus, who made all under Greg Cheyne in the opener, was only the fourth of his current 50 at Philippi to run and the first to win. “I like to give them a bit of time,” explained the trainer who had drawn an uncharacteristic blank at the previous three Cape Town meetings. He went some way towards making up for this when the Corne Orffer-ridden Indi Anna sprang a 12-1 surprise in the TAB Telebet Handicap.

The second juvenile race was also Greg Cheyne-ridden with 19-4 newcomer Zarina proving too strong for the favourite Soft Day. Both first and second carried Marsh Shirtliff’s distinctive colours but were from different stables; he backed the favourite but covered the winner.

Asked if the filly’s win was a surprise to her, Candice Bass-Robinson said: “Ability-wise no but she worked poorly when Greg rode her on Thursday. I took her blood and scoped her but nothing showed up.”

Keagan de Melo is enjoying a tremendous season – he is third on the Western Cape log as well as one the national one -and he followed up success on the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Meet At The George (named after a pub in Durban) with a comfortable success on Eva Eileen in the Racing Association Handicap.

De Melo had ridden the Paddy Kruyer-trained 8-1 shot on her previous three starts but he only got the mount after M.J. Byleveld was unable to make the weight.

He said: “I was very fortunate to get back on her. I had been waiting for another filly in the race but she ended up being scratched.”

De Melo’s enterprising riding is beginning to change the accepted wisdom of riding Durbanville. Before he came along few jockeys were bold enough to attempt to challenge on the inside for fear of the gap being slammed shut in their faces but he often finds a way through on the rails – Meet At The George was a typical example – and Anthony Andrews did the same on 10-1 shot Six Degrees in the Interbet.co.za Handicap.

That winner is going to Mauritius after being purchased by fish magnate Bahim Taher in what Glen Kotzen described as “a risk buy.” The Woodhill trainer explained: “The horse wouldn’t pass any vetting. He had a problem with his breathing and we had to cut a growth from the back of his throat.”

Radiant Love got up close home under Orffer in the last and Mike Robinson reckoned the decision to geld the horse earlier in the season had paid the expected dividend. “I hadn’t wanted to geld him as he wasn’t really coltish but he was haemoconcentrating badly.”

By Michael Clower

Dual Vodacom Durban July hero Do It Again has made an amazing recovery from the ulcers that were believed to be the cause of his disappointing performances in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and the Sun Met.

“It took a month but we have scoped him again and he is now 100% clear,” said Justin Snaith at Durbanville on Saturday, getting out his phone to illustrate his point with a series of pictures.

The first, taken by the trainer’s vets using a camera inserted into the horse’s stomach, was real x-rated material showing a mass of ulcers – appearing as white spots with many of them having blood coming out of them. The second was the same picture taken the same way a month later with not a white spot to be seen.

The third picture was a video of Do It Again being led away down a track at Summerveld, immediately after coming off the float from Cape Town. He was bucking, and kicking out with his hind legs, in obvious delight and seemingly in a picture of health.

“We took him to Durban early this time so that he could get his stressing over with,” said Snaith who is at this stage treading warily with the horse’s programme – “I haven’t yet decided where and when he will run because I want to see how he gets on before I decide anything.”

But a crack at a record-breaking third July is high on the wish list: “If all goes well with him Do It Again, Bunker Hunt and Belgarion (Peninsula Handicap) will give us a very strong hand in the July – and I need a strong Durban season to make up for the summer in Cape Town.”

By Michael Clower 

The highest rated race at the Hollywoodbets Greyville polytrack meeting yesterday was the seventh, a MR 98 Handicap over 1 400m, and the useful Padre Pio clinched a double on the day for the Dennis Bosch and Craig Zackey combination.

The three-year-old Vercingetorix gelding has always been well regarded and after a disappointing Cape Town campaign got back on track here when showing a fine turn of foot from near the back and winning easing up by 1,30 lengths from Georgina Rose and the favourite Mount Anderson.

The first race, a qualified Maiden over 1900m, saw Ashton Arries producing the Alyson Wright-trained three-year-old Wylie Hall gelding Bhakka from midfield with a strong run to beat the 25-1 longshot Command Respect by 1,30 lengths. The widely drawn Belshazzar ran on from the back for third and is one to watch out for when better drawn in a similar event.

Highveld trainer Weiho Marwing targeted the second race, a Maiden over 2 000m, a few weeks ago for his three-year-old Flower Alley filly Adorable Alley.

Muzi Yeni said Marwing had told him three weeks ago at track at Turffontein she would “definitely win”.

She duly obliged to give Yeni his first win after his long layoff.

The pace was good and Yeni was able to slot in easily before going on to convert favoritism by 3,80 lengths from Alabama Slide with Brave Lass a further 2,70 lengths back in third.

The third race over 2 000m was run at a slow pace which allowed Warren Kennedy to get up from a handy position on the widely drawn Gavin van Zyl-trained Oratorio filly Oratorina.

The favourite Green Ice jumped from pole and traveled well but could not make up the leeway off that slow pace and finished unplaced.

The low drawn jockeys didn’t learn from the previous race and allowed Craig Zackey on the outside drawn Joy Maisha to claim the lead without doing any work in the fourth race over 2 000m.

The Argentinian-bred Dennis Bosch-trained filly built up a sizeable lead steadily and held on by 1,30 lengths from the favourite What A Thrill.

The handy horses came out trumps in the fifth over 2 000m too and it was Raymond Danielson on the MJ Odendaal-trained Querari gelding Wildlife Safari who held on from the favourite Favour and High Green.

In the sixth over 1 000m the Louis Goosen-trained Main Aim mare Yaas, a 20-1 shot, was given a good ride by Billy Jacobson.

He managed to slot in behind the leader from a draw of eight and extract the necessary extra to prevail in a blanket finish.

In the last race over 1 600m Gareth Wright wisely went handy from pole position on the Andre Nel-trained Run To Denmark and the Black Minnaloushe gelding ran on well to beat Hexatonic by 1,10 lengths with Dutch Alley next best.

By David Thiselton

Mount Anderson looks to be a bright prospect after an eye-catching win in his first handicap outing last month.

Lightly raced, Dean Kannemeyer has treaded carefully with a gelding that looks to have loads of ability and much should be revealed when he runs in the Greyville Convention Centre Handicap on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly on Sunday.

Mount Anderson struck as a horse with a future when romping home in his handicap debut while Master Of Illusion and Padre Pio are two other sophomores that have potential. Sunday should tell whether any of the trio can make the step up to Champions Season features as they take on some useful older opposition.

Dean Kannemeyer stepped Mount Anderson out in a 90 MR Handicap first run out of the maidens and looked a lost cause approaching the home turn in the seven-furlong event.

But once rousted along by Keagen de Melo, the penny half-dropped, and although still green he quickened away in the straight to win in a manner that suggested that he still has a bit to learn.

Kannemeyer obviously suspects that his charge has potential. “Dean asked if I could sweat a bit to make the weight, otherwise he wasn’t going to run him,” confessed De Melo post-race.

“1400m is a bit sharp,” said stable assistant Nicolet Roscoe, “and he probably needed the run. He doesn’t show much at home and he will probably be better as a four-year-old.”

Sunday’s race will tell.

Dennis Drier is back on his shooting stick at Summerveld after an extended spell in Cape Town and will be looking for a better showing from Master Of Illusion, although the gelding’s form is consistent. He makes his poly debut but has some smart form to some older and accomplished sprinters.

He steps out with cheek piece and a tongue-tie for the first time.

Padre Pio was deemed good enough to make the trip to Cape Town for the season but his one good outing was bracketed by two disappointing efforts. His home ground form suggests that he is far better than his Cape form shows but he has been lumbered with 60.5kg giving lumps of weight to his fellow three-year-olds.

Garth Puller has engaged confident 4kg claimer Thabiso Gumede to partner the filly Georgina Rose who won well in a useful field last time out. Puller did not come down with the last shower of rain so a forward showing can be expected.

Of the older runners, Waywood, Q The Music and the mare Oloye will provide stiff opposition so this will be a test for that the three-year-olds will need to pass if they are to have any chance in the Classics in Champions Season.

It’s not an easy card made up mostly with weak maidens and lowly handicaps.

In the fifth, Favour may just have needed his last run and should strip a lot fitter this time around but Gentleman’s Wager has been is holding form and goes very well over course and distance. He has not been out of the money in his last five starts. Wildlife Safari found form with a tongue- tie. He has been trying further but has been up against the fast improving Twice Golden while High Green is always dangerous over his best course and distance and can go in again with a 4kg claimer up.

By Andrew Harrison

To take a bet go to www.tabgold.co.za or www.trackandball.co.za

Savea, who won in good style for the Paddy Kruyer-Anton Marcus old firm at Kenilworth a fortnight ago, appeals at 9-2 in the Betting World Handicap at Durbanville tomorrow.

The four-year-old has been raised 3kg for that win but the manner of his victory – sweeping into the lead in the final furlong and drawing away – suggests there is more to come despite the task being considerably more difficult on paper.

Apollo Ace, winner of two of his last three, and the hat-trick seeking Skidoo are vying for favouritism and are obvious dangers. At the weights the Paul Reeves runner could be the bigger danger.

This is a far trickier card than usual, particularly in the first two races where all but seven of the 27 runners are newcomers. The early money in race two has been for the Glen Kotzen-trained Gayleactic Star whose price has tumbled from 14-1 to 6-1 but it might be worth taking a chance with Our World.

As her name suggests, this filly is closely related to One World- by Coup de Grace, she is out of a half-sister to the Sun Met winner. She was bought by Ken Truter for only R200 000 at the 2019 CTS Premier and runs in the same ownership as One World. Perhaps even more to the point, she is trained by Vaughan Marshall who has few equals when it comes to getting a horse ready first time. At 17-2 she is worth backing each way.

The last race is every bit as intriguing – and just as difficult because the most obvious form choices are badly drawn – and, even over a mile, the draw is important at Durbanville. Morse looked a certain future winner on his last two starts, The Second Wave has been second in his last four but both are drawn halfway to Durbanville town. The equally consistent Radiant Love (15-4) is rated only just behind them and gets the vote.

An interesting runner, albeit weak in the early market, is Marcus’s mount Private General who is by Silvano out of the high class Jet Master mare She’s On Fire. But it’s expecting a fair bit to imagine him collecting on debut against such smart maidens. One to bear in mind at a big price (16-1) is Alfred’s Legacy. Although not particularly well drawn here, he was only a length and a quarter behind Morse last time despite being denied a clear run at a crucial stage.

Meet At The George is Dean Kannmeyer’s only runner of the day and she may just be good enough in the Tabonline.co.za Maiden (race four).

By Michael Clower

To take a bet go to www.tabgold.co.za or www.trackandball.co.za

Tomorrow’s feature meeting at Turffontein Standside will see Mr Flood attempting to take one step closer to proving himself the best sprinter in the country when he runs in the Grade 2 Senor Santa Stakes and there are five other features races to look forward to.

Mr Flood was not too bothered by a potentially disadvantageous low draw of three when winning the Tommy Hotspur cosily over 1000m at this track last time so he should be able to overcome a low draw of two here. He has plenty of pace and then always seems to find more gears when challenged in the final stages. He is now attempting to make it six wins on the trot. Mardi Gras (1) always struck as one who would develop into a top class sprinter and he proved last time that he has blossomed. His draw of five is also on the low and he has to give weight to the field, including 2kg to Mr Flood, so it is not going to be easy but his class should pull him through. Warrior’s Rest is an admirable sort who always gallops all the way to the line and from a nice high draw he should be staying in when others are starting to tire. Basadi Faith is an interesting runner who is potentially top class. She is blessed with a lot of speed and should enjoy this fast course. She failed in her only previous attempt at this course and distance in the SA Fillies Nursery but that was as due to her bleeding. Rebel’s Champ makes the most appeal of the rest on lines through Mr Flood and he can get closer to Basadi Faith over this trip as she went like the clappers from  the off over 1000m on the Inside track last time and those coming from off the pace were left to far out of their ground. 

In the Listed Derby Trial Master Supreme is weighted a racing certainty as he runs off his old 85 merit rating due to the weights for this race having been published five days before his run in the SA Classic. His new rating is 100 so he is effectively carrying 7,5kg less than he should be and he is also well draw over this ideal trip. Cornish Pomodoro has plenty of scope for improvement and should enjoy this trip but he does have topweight and a tough draw to overcome. Our Man In Havana is 2kg better off with Master Supreme for a 3,75 length beating and this rangy sort looks capable of better Nebraas could represent value as he looks to be progressive and on the evidence of his last win over 1800m should enjoy this trip. Furthermore, he is drawn in pole. Set The Standard was unlucky the last time he tried this trip and could earn.

In the Listed Ormond Ferraris Oaks Trial Wild Date stayed on well to win over 1600m last time and on pedigree should enjoy this trip. Smoking Hot rallied in the closing stages of her maiden over this trip to win going away and from a good draw with a low weight she should be involved. Pomander has won both of her starts over this course and is well drawn but does have to carry topweight. Tartan Dancer is the other topweight and being by Ideal World should enjoy the step up in trip. Machali can also improve over this trip.

In the Listed Bauhinia Handicap Pool Party has a plum standside draw and has a good opportunity considering Dancing Queen is drawn low. Singforafa runs well fresh and is a contender too.

In the Gold Rush Sprint Vaseem has a fine chance coming off his third place in the CTS 1200.

In the Sun Chariot Handicap Factor Fifty is progressive and can beat Flichity By Farr and Sebille Orange. 

By David Thiselton

To take a bet go to www.tabgold.co.za or www.trackandball.co.za

Leading bookmaker Hollywoodbets handed over bursaries to the value of R565 205 to seven apprentices at South African Jockey Academy (SAJA) on Tuesday. The bursaries cover training and accommodation fees, enabling these apprentices to pursue their dream of becoming top jockeys.

Graham Bailey, headmaster of SAJA, expressed his gratitude at the company’s commitment to growing the sport of horse racing. “Hollywoodbets has come on board this year, assisting us by awarding a number of bursaries to seven apprentices who are unable to meet the required training fee. If we don’t receive these fees it impacts our ability to provide the type of service we need to provide to the apprentices. Having this support just enables us to continue doing what we know we need to do in order to develop professional jockeys into the future,” said Bailey.

Apprentices receive quality academic and vocational training from the SAJA. From the age of 15 they work hard to achieve the goal of having 60 winners. In order to pursue this the apprentice’s live on site where they receive three nutritional meals a day as well as support from a multi-disciplinary team including seasoned riding masters, all ex-jockeys, a dietician, sports psychologist, sports scientist, biokineticist and medical sister.

According to Hollywoodbets Transformation Consultant Babongile Mkhize, the company was impressed with the good work being done by SAJA. “We were so excited to be in a position to help when the South African Jockey Academy approached us for support. We had just recently started collaborating with our various brand ambassadors as well as Nomzamo Mbatha’s Lighthouse Foundation where we awarded tertiary bursaries to many South Africans who needed that helping hand. It is truly an honour to now be able to offer assistance to the future stars of the horse racing industry, an industry that is such a key part of our business,” she said.   Former Champion Jockey Anthony Delpech, horse racing Brand Ambassador for Hollywoodbets, is happy to see the company come on board in support of the sport at this early stage. “This is the learning curve. This is where you start to learn about your trade and if you don’t learn how to find your style as a jockey and how to grow from an apprentice to a jockey, you will struggle. This is where you learn to become a great jockey and I don’t think it’s possible to do it without the academy. I think it’s fantastic that Hollywoodbets is part of this process by helping youngsters who can’t afford to get this opportunity otherwise and that they are giving back to racing in this way.”

Caption: Hollywoodbets Transformation Consultant Babongile Mkhize, Hollywoodbets horse racing Brand Ambassador Anthony Delpch and Graham Bailey, Headmaster of the South African Jockey Academy.

Justin Snaith, who has won four of the 15 two-year-old races run in Cape Town this season – more than any other trainer, has the favourite in both the juvenile events at Durbanville on Saturday. And both horses are newcomers by Gimmethegreenlight, ridden by Richard Fourie and carrying the colours of Nic Jonsson.

Litchfield has been priced up at 28-10 for the opening Maiden Juvenile Plate ahead of the Glen Puller-trained Unbroken Promises who went close on New Year’s Eve but is badly drawn. Wayne Agrella comes down to ride this one.

Agrella also partners 8-1 shot Soft Day for the Puller stable in the fillies equivalent 35 minutes later but Snaith’s Golly Miss Golly is favourite at 28-10  with the Glen Kotzen newcomer I’m A Lady (Sandile Mbele) second favourite at 9-2.

By Michael Clower