David Thiselton

The KZN Racing awards will be held on 30 August in the Classic Room at Hollywoodbets Greyville and there is going to be a quandary this year about the KZN Horse Of The Season just as there was last year.

The Horse Of The Year award, unlike the other awards, are open to horses from the yards of trainers who are not domiciled in KZN as long as the subject horse has had three or more runs in KZN. It can thus be won by an out of province horse who has excelled in KZN during the season. The other awards can only be won by horses from KZN  yards, although Glen Kotzen and Dean Kannemeyer count as KZN yards because they have had satellite yards in KZN for many years.

The Horse Of The Year exclusion was probably made due to there not being a suitable candidate for some seasons in recent times. However, should not genuine KZN-trained horses like the Michael Roberts-trained See It Again last year and the Nathan Kotzen-trained Royal Victory this year be acknowledged in some way? Everybody in the industry would have viewed the former as the best horse from KZN in the 2022/2023 season, although the Peter Muscutt-trained Isivunguvungu could also have laid a claim, and this season Royal Victory is viewed by all and sundry as the best horse from KZN, although the Gareth van Zyl-trained Flag Man could also lay a claim having performed better on paper than Royal Victory in both the Gr 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July and Gr 1 wfa HKJC Champions Cup.

The Highveld racing awards could also potentially lead to an out of province horse being named Horse Of The Season. They are actually called the Highveld Feature Season awards as they go on performances of horses on the Highveld in features races during the season. Royal Victory was thus named the Champion Middle Distance Horse and Champion Older Male in the Highveld feature Season awards this year and he was only ousted in the Horse Of The Season award by the outstanding Mike de Kock-trained Gimme A Nother.

However, the big difference is that the Highveld features only have a sprinkling of out of province horses competing in them. The Horse Of The Season award will virtually always be won by a Highveld horse and was this year it went to the outstanding Mike de Kock-trained Gimme A Nother, even though Royal Victory became the first out of province horse in history to win both of the Highveld’s biggest races, the Gr 1 Betway Summer Cup and the Gr 1 World Pool Premier’s Champions Challenge.

The KZN horses, on the other hand, have to compete with every champion from every province, because all champions from around the country descend on KZN for the three month long world famous racing festival, The Champions Season.

Last year the Horse Of The Season was won by the Sean Tarry-trained Princess Calla, who won three Gr 1s in KZN during the season.

This year the favourite must be the Mike de Kock-trained Dave The King. He qualifies because he ran in KZN three times in the season and he won two open weight for age Gr 1s in KZN. He was in fact the only horse in the country to have won two open wfa Gr 1s last season.

However, Royal Victory is a history-making KZN horse. On top of being the first out of province horse to do the Highveld double of the Summer Cup and Premier’s Champions Challenge, he is in fact the first out of province horse to have ever won the Premier’s Champions Challenge and the second out of province horse this millennium to have won the Summer Cup.

He could well go home empty-handed on KZN Awards night. If Dave The King is to be named Horse Of The Season then he must also surely be named Champion Older Male. Furthermore, the Dean Kannemeyer-trained Green With Envy ran three times in KZN during the season, so qualifies for awards as explained earlier by Kannemeyer’s KZN status, and like Royal Victory he won two middle distance Gr 1s during the season and one of them was in KZN, so he must be in pole position to win the Middle Distance award.

So the widely acknowledged best horse in KZN, Royal Victory, might be completely unacknowledged in his home province.

There are special awards occasionally put on at racing award ceremonies and this might be a case in point of creating one.

However, what would probably be better considering the realities of racing in KZN during any given season, would be to create a new permanent award to acknowledge KZN’s best horse of the season. The award should only be open to horses from KZN yards. 

Here’s good news for TabGold customers who take Trifecta bets on races in Australia, the UK, Ireland and France. 

Commingled Trifecta pools with Tote Ireland will be offered on all Irish races for the first time from this Friday and simultaneously the unit cost of commingled Trifecta bets on Australian, UK and French races will be reduced from R2 to R1. The unit cost of the Trio on French races also drops to R1. 

Commingled Trifecta bets on racing in Australia, France and the UK were introduced last month.
The benefits of commingling Trifecta pools with host totes (Tabcorp in Australia excluding thoroughbred venues in Victoria and South Australia; PMU in France, the UK Tote and Tote Ireland), as opposed to local pools, are many more Trifecta betting opportunities on races in those countries and bigger pools, which in turn afford TAB customers the chance to win bigger payouts.

Summer is around the corner in Australia, meaning it’s time for the scorching Perth Summer Carnival to kick off with five consecutive Saturday’s making up The Pinnacles at Ascot. Day One has two major highlights with firstly, the G3 $300,000 WA Champion Fillies Stakes for three-year-old fillies over 1600m. In recent years, this race has been a launching pad for superstars from the west and a key lead up to the G1 Northerly Stakes in three weeks. Arcadia Queen won in 2018 before winning multiple Group 1’s and Kay Cee placed in 2019 before winning the Northerly Stakes. The Placid Ark Stakes has had its prizemoney boosted to $500,000 in recent years and provides an opportunity for up & coming three-year-old sprinters to make a name for themselves. The undercard includes the G3 R.J. Peters Stakes offering a last chance to qualify for next weeks Railway Stakes plus the G3 Colonel Reeves Stakes and Listed Jungle Mist Classic for sprinters.

Western Mail (Lochie Taylor & Scott Embry cover the feature races and feature stories for the first day of the Pinnacles)

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Trackwork Interviews

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• Trevor Andrews, trainer – Paris Calling, Ayumi & Krysanova.
• Mitchell Pateman, trainer – Almighty Class.
• Jake Casey, co-trainer – Hanchi, Snow Prince, Read Admiral & Laverrod.

The Sydney Everest Carnival may have officially ended but the great racing continues as the feature meetings move to the country stand-alone meeting at Newcastle. The feature of the day is the $1 million The Hunter over 1300 metres, with the $300,000 The Beauford for stayers and $250,000 Spring Stakes for three-year-olds also on the card.

Interviews

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• ANNABEL NEASHAM – Trainer Annabel Neasham on Military Expert (The Hunter) and Numerian (The Beauford) at Newcastle on Saturday.
• DARREN BEADMAN – Darren Beadman for James Cummings/Godolphin with the latest ahead of The Hunter. Also on Vilana, which may run in Melbourne instead of The Hunter.
• GARY PORTELLI – Trainer Gary Portelli re Kintyre in the Spring Stakes at Newcastle on Saturday.
• NEIL PAINE – Neil Paine for the Waterhouse/Bott stable on Dajraan (The Hunter), Invincible Spy and Sly Boots (Spring Stakes) and Youth Spirit (The Beauford).
• PAUL SNOWDEN – Co-trainer Paul Snowden with the latest on Mazu ahead of The Hunter.
• TIM CLARK – Jockey Tim Clark on Dajraan (The Hunter), Invincible Spy (Spring Stakes) and Youth Spirit (The Beauford).
• TYLER SCHILLER – Jockey Tyler Schiller on Coal Crusher (The Hunter), Canberra Legend (The Beauford) and Heads You Lose (Spring Stakes) at Newcastle on Saturday.

Andrew Harrison

Mike Miller is having a phenomenal run of late with five winners at Hollywoodbets Scottsville last Saturday and carrying on where he left off as Skytrix made a winning debut in the card opener at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday.

Given a copybook ride by stable rider Tristan Godden, the daughter of Vercingetorix made a winning debut as she stayed on well to shake off the attentions of the more seasoned runners and repel the challenge from fellow debutante Nellie Melba who finished off her race nicely and should not be long in going one better.

MJ Odendaal has always had a high regard for Addabar, Rabada spelt backwards but with an added D to make for seven letters, and his judgment has been on the mark as the gelding skated home to his fourth win in just nine starts. According to Odendaal he may possibly have another outing before receiving his second compulsory AHS vaccination and then be readied up for a crack at Champions Season.

Addabar blotted his copybook last time out but Odendaal revealed that he had a dodgy blood picture which probably accounted for the disappointing effort.

The blood was right yesterday as Calvin Habib took him to the front and was not for the catching put five lengths on his field with favourite Pirate Prince failing to fire, Capetown Beauty and Paris Pike fighting it out for the minor money.

Barring accidents Richard Fourie is an odds-on shot for the national jockey’s championship as he streaks away from his nearest rival in Muzi Yeni. Fourie is getting support in all of the centres and won 15 races in KZN last month.

He was on the money again for Garth Puller as Flagman proved too strong for his rivals in the third. The colt’s antics in the gate could well prompt a visit from the vet but he has made natural progression and looks capable of winning a few more. First timer Shoot The Rapids was a distant second but also well clear of the rest in a promising debut for Frank Robinson.

The Michael Roberts yard has been a little quiet of late, See It Again is last winner, and consequently also rubbing off on his stable rider Rachel Venniker. Roberts alluded to the fact that his horses tend to go a little ‘off’ once they have had their AHS vaccinations, hence the slow run of form but Piece By Piece got it all together for the trainer and rider combination as the filly held off a challenge from rank outsider Sweeter Than Honey to win the fourth. Fourie made an ambitious move up the hill on Weststockmarketborse but it came to naught as he was tracked down by Piece By Piece and Sweeter Than Honey.

Two races later, the combination were back in the winner’s enclosure as Umhlali put in a determined finish to touch off Drive By with Chase Maujean looking for his second winner. Owner Tommy Crowe has a bit of a ‘thing’ with towns in the east of the country with many of his horses named after towns in that area, Umhlali, Nonoti and Ermelo just three that come to mind. 

The one watchword for owners in racing is ‘patience’. Add to that, deep pockets and a bit of luck, and you have the perfect owner. Pascali has been one of those trying horses that needs it all to go his own way and it did yesterday as Puller went home with a double. Chase Maujean has struck up a relationship with Louis Goosen and was in town for three rides but he has also been a regular aboard Pascali. He’s a horse that ‘doesn’t have a trip’ and a mind of his own according to Puller and Maujean concurred. The win was something of a surprise but Pascali quickened smartly off a genuine pace and won with plenty in hand that suggests that he has a win or two left in him.

Regular paddock observers often got pointers from watching trainers and their patrons. When legendary trainer Herman Brown Snr was surrounded by owners, you knew it was ‘game on’.  Yesterday the word was out early that Dennis Bosch was ‘suited up’. Dennis is always a natty dresser but when he arrives on course dressed in a suit, you know it’s ‘game on’. Judged on his post-race comments, he was expecting a bigger day than just one winner but Diani obliged, Serino Moodley getting him home in the shadow of the post to touch off a wall of horses.

Carl Hewitson does not have a big stable with horses of modest ability but he turns out winner after winner. Aspoestertjie has been consistent and did not get the best of passages at her last start but she put that behind her as Serino Moodley completed a double in fine form as he got the filly home in a tight three-way finish denying Fourie another winner with Cinnamon Blush a head behind and in turn, a head ahead of Star Choice.

David Thiselton

The Vaal Classic track holds an intriguing nine race meeting today which should give exotic and on the nose punters come opportunities.

The headliner is likely the fifth race, a Graduation Plate over 1200m. Richard The First was beaten 5,30 lengths over by Raven Black in his penultimate start and the latter who followed up with another easy 3,25 length win. He was then beaten seven lengths by the crack colt Main Defender in the Gr 3 Graham Beck Stakes when receiving just 2kg. He finished just 1,25 lengths behind the 106 rated Sovereign State in the latter race. He is just 1,5kg under sufferance with the best weighted Tsar Bomba here and has a fair draw of four. Silver Tudor, also 1,5kg under sufferance with Tsar Bomba, has draw five in his third run after a layoff so he should get closer to Richard The First than he did the last time they met when making his reappearance and beaten 4,20 lengths. He has plenty of ability. Tsar Bomba is consistent and distance suited but does have a tricky draw of six. However, he should be right there as the best weighted runner. Godspeed is 5,5kg under sufferance with Tsar Bomba, but has shown signs of ability. One Fell Swoop has run two good races on the Highveld and considering her good draw and Tony Peter’s ability to do well with former Cape Horses she can’t be ignored despite officially being 3,5kg under sufferance with Tsar Bomba.

The previous race is the first leg of the Pick 6 and is a Middle Stakes event over 2400m. Flying Bull’s last two runs over this trip have been well beaten third place finishes to Zeus, but the latter has come into his own and is regarded by Fabian Habib as the best he has trained. It is also now Flying Bull’s third run after a layoff and he is just half-a-kilogram under sufferance with the best weighted. Rule Book is lazy at home so would have come on from his last run 12 days ago. He is also officially just half-a-kilogram under sufferance and has a fair draw carrying just 52kg over a suitable trip. Professor Snape is one of the joint best weighted and looks to have scope for further improvement so will be a contender from draw three. Battleground is another one of the joint best weighted runners and is proving to be a useful stayer. However, he has to bounce back from a 20 length defeat by Zeus, where Flying Bull was 13,25 lengths ahead of him. Nothing amiss was found  by the on course vet that day. Mambo Come Tesio is a promising stayer who is also a joint best weighted runner and he would not be a surprise winner either. He is in fact 6kg better off with Flying Bull for a 4,25 length beating last time which puts him ahead of the latter on paper.

The eighth race is a MR 86 handicap over 1600m and looks competitive. However, Dungeons strikes as a  decent sort who is on the up and this trip should be right down his alley plus he has a fair draw of five. Royal Mo is having a fine trot as a sire at present which indicates his progeny take a bit of time and this augurs well for Mo The Man, who is five points higher for his last win over this trip and he is now drawn in pole.  Fort Lauderdale won well when stepped up to 1450m last time and his pedigree suggests he needs this trip at least. Bob’s Your Uncle has a lot of talent but has to overcome a wide draw. Archimedes and Captain Of Grit could both earn.

In the sixth over 1200m the progressive Esquevelle has landed a plum draw of three as he attempts to follow up on his easy Highveld debut win. He is seven points higher in the merit ratings but considering his record with blinkers on reads three wins and a third in four starts he could have more to come. Strydom stays aboard. Chocolate Bomb is capable of better than last time and is well drawn. PrinceOfGreen is interesting stepped back in trip and he also looks to be on the up since blinkers have been applied. Siberian Steel is in fine form and only three points higher for his last win but he has a tricky draw of seven. Pinch Hit is a capable sort on his day.

In race seven over 1450m Duenna has won over 1200m and done well over 1600m so the 1450m trip should be right down her alley from a good draw. She should be progressing being from the Stuart Pettigrew yard. Coming In Hot has fine recent form over this distance category and is well drawn so will be dangerous. Full Go is capable of running on, so from pole position is interesting in his first run out the maidens over the same course and distance and off a reasonable merit rating. Parker Getrix is in good form and can be right there is able to overcome a tricky draw. Godfather always tries hard and is well drawn.

The  last race over 1450m sees Sweet Basil returning having won her debut in May over 1400m. She only has an 80 merit rating but has a wide draw. However, this race is ultra competitive and as many as possible must be included.

The first leg of the PA over 2000m should be fought out by Romeo’s Magic, Viva Brazil and Kambulu, the former being a reliable sort and the latter pair up and coming. 

Earlier, Karoo Gold, being by Ideal World, should love the 2000m trip in the first leg of the Bipot.

Breath Of Magic looks the one to beat in the first race over 1500m, a workriders event where he will be ridden by the accomplished rider Siyabonga Mkhumbuzi.

Graeme Hawkins

On the form of last season, the Glenn Kotzen-trained Rascova looked well held by both Mrs Geriatrix and Winter Cloud but that proved to be of little account in Saturday’s R400 000 Western Cape Fillies Championship (Gr 2) over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Durbanville as the daughter of Lancaster Bomber stormed home from pillar-to-post under Craig Zackey to score a dominant victory.

Racing in the now familiar blue and white silks of Eugene and Sandy Arundel’s Itssa It & Business Solutions, Rascova, who was voted KZN’s Champion 2yo filly of last season, defied odds of 40/1 to make a sensational start to her 3yo campaign. The race was over as a contest halfway up the home stretch and it was left to the well-supported Double Grand Slam and the winner’s stable companion, Royals, to chase her home, but they were more than three lengths adrift at the line.

So, what happened to Mrs Geriatrix and Winter Cloud? It’s not a good habit in our profession to make excuses for beaten horses but sometimes you just have to pretend a race “never happened”. Things went completely awry from the start for Mrs Geriatrix (just as with then unbeaten Lucky Lad on World Pool Gold Cup raceday), only this time Mrs Geriatrix was drawn 5 and not 15 as was the case with Lucky Lad. Nonetheless Mrs Geriatrix never settled, had difficulty in trying to negotiate the Durbanville corner and found herself hopelessly wide on the bend.

Even the most optimistic fan of Mrs Geriatrix would have known then already that the writing was on the wall, and it was testimony to her courage and ability that she recovered somewhat to finish fifth. I chatted to Sean on Sunday morning and fortunately it would appear that, save for a few minor “cuts and scratches”, Mrs Geriatrix pulled up sound and the R1,25million WSB Fillies Guineas (Gr 1) on 2 December is still very much on her radar.

Winter Cloud on the other hand was not persevered with and trailed in more than thirteen lengths behind Rascova. She was also headstrong in the early stages and never travelled comfortably, but fortunately the own sister to Clouds Unfold has also pulled up well and was in good shape on Sunday morning. Speaking to Candice Bass-Robinson, she is keeping an open mind as far as the WSB Fillies Guineas is concerned, as she harbours some doubt as to whether Winter Cloud will be effective over 1600m. The Sceptre Stakes may be her preferred route, leaving Beach Bomb as one of the stable’s Fillies Guineas’ options.

Saturday’s race meeting at Durbanville also saw the return of the reigning Horse-of-the-Year, Princess Calla, in a Cape A Stakes over 1250m, and what a fine comeback run it was. Fourie gave the 6yo mare every chance, but she just failed to get to terms with the in-form and race-fit King Regent with a neck separating the pair at the post. Princess Calla, having her first run since winning the 1800m HKJC Champions Cup (Gr 1) in July, will no doubt come on a ton from this race and looks very much on track for another highly successful Cape Summer Season. Given her versatility, Tarry is spoilt for choice when plotting the immediate way forward for Princess Calla.

But all credit to King Regent, who is clearly a sprinter of some class. Although he has been tried over varying distances of up to 1800m, it is clear that the son of Dynasty is in fact a quality sprinter. He is unbeaten over 1200m to 1250m with all four career victories coming over these distances. Given his pedigree, one can’t blame Glenn Kotzen for believing King Regent should be effective over further, but the formbook certainly suggests otherwise.

The “old man” and former Champion Sprinter, Rio Querari, was doing his best work late to grab third spot ahead of the winner’s stable-mate Countdown and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that the 7yo son of Querari could add another major victory to his impressive CV.

Trainer Piet Botha has done an amazing job with Montien, and the son of Louis The King stepped up in class with aplomb to deny Richard Fourie and Royal Aussie victory in the R300 000 Cape Mile (Gr 3). Royal Aussie appeared to be in control with 200m to run but Montien found another gear close home and snatched victory in the shadow of the post. Cosmic Highway ran on steadily at the finish to complete the Trifecta. Unfortunately, Trip Of Fortune bled (bilateral epistaxis) and was pulled out of the race halfway up the home straight.

On a highly frustrating afternoon for Richard Fourie, he also had to settle for the runner-up berth in the 1000m Laisserfaire Stakes (Listed) on the well-backed favourite October Morn. In a fast run race October Morn settled about five lengths off Candy Town with the speedy Baltic Secret in a handy position. Baltic Secret took over from Candy Town approaching the final 200m, getting first run on October Morn who accelerated smartly but failed narrowly to make up the leeway.