SA record at yearling sale
PUBLISHED: January 24, 2015
Liesl King
A new South African record for a yearling was achieved on Thursday night, at the first session of the Cape Premier Yearling Sale, when Piet du Toit paid R5.2 million for Lot 48, a Dynasty colt out of the imported mare Shina(GER), consigned by Maine Chance Farms.
The aggregate for Session One was R60,2 million, with an average of R620,619 and a median of R350,000.
Chief Operating Officer of CTS Adrian Todd was extremely pleased with the results achieved. “We knew we had a quality draft of horses and a solid local and international buying bench. We have achieved exceptional results during the first Session, which is a credit to the South African breeder and the South African thoroughbred.”
An ex school teacher from Thabazimbi, Du Toit currently owns a game farm in Rustenburg and was delighted that he managed to buy such an outstanding specimen. “ I am so pleased that we managed to get him. I am going to name him Tsunami and he will be trained here in Cape Town by top trainer Mike Bass.”
Candice Robinson, daughter of Mike Bass, who trains with her dad at their Milnerton stables, stated that they loved the colt and considered him the pick of the sale. “He has a real classy look about him. He walks well, has a lovely pedigree and he looks like a racehorse, even at this young age.”
Owner of Maine Chance Farms, Dr. Andreas Jacobs was delighted by the price achieved. “With Silvano doing so well here, we decided to send Shina to South Africa, carrying a foal to Tiger Hill (IRE), on a Southern Hemisphere cover. Lot 48 is her second foal to be born here. We were expecting a good price, but we never dreamt that he would shatter the South African record!”
Du Toit was back in action when he signed for Lot 79, the half sister to the outstanding three-year-old filly Cold As Ice, at R2.5 million. The filly, by South African leading sire Trippi, will also join the Bass stable and Robinson was delighted to be getting her. “She is a sister to a great filly and a beautiful mover. I am so pleased that she will be joining us.”
Picture: Sale Topper – Lot 48 Cape Premier Yearling Sale 2015 (Liesl King)
Legislate ‘all good’ so far
PUBLISHED: January 23, 2015
David Thiselton
Legislate scoped one hundred percent clean after his J&B Met gallop yesterday and according to trainer Justin Snaith is now “in the same boat as all of the yard’s runners” in that he must pass next week’s tests before being allowed to line up at next Saturday’s J&B Met meeting.
Snaith said, “He galloped very well and gave Richard (Fourie) a good feel and he pulled up well. He then scoped clean so it is all good so far, but there is still a long way to go. Basically all will be good until something wrong happens. We know about the problems this time unlike before his last start.
“So we know now that he can run, but before he takes part we must know that he will be able to run well and have a winning chance. Therefore he must have a good workout next Tuesday and a good sprint up next Thursday and come out of both well. But it is the same for all of our horses. They must all pass those tests before being allowed to race.”
Legislate drifted out slightly to 5/2 with Betting World after yesterday’s gallop, while Futura is now a 2/1 shot and Louis The King is at 28/10.
Picture: Legislate (Snaith Racing)
Pleasing workout from Legislate
PUBLISHED: January 22, 2015
David Thiselton
The J&B Met Gallops this morning at Kenilworth centred around Legislate, whose participation in the big race on January 31 is still up in the air, and his fine workout pleased the connections and impressed all and sundry.
Later, in the barrier draw ceremony he landed a favourable starting position.
Legislate was given a lead by Astro News in the gallop and showed good acceleration when asked the question at the top of the straight before striding out well all the way to the line.
He will now have to pass a veterinarian examination before being allowed to line up.
All fifteen of the contestants looked to be in good shape and did little wrong with the exception of Astro News, whose saddle slipped forward meaning he couldn’t be given the required assistance.
There were a number of eyecatchers, including the favourite Futura and third favourite Louis The King, who both looked in peak condition.
Jet Explorer always impresses with his long stride and there was no repeat of the shoe pull which injured him at the gallops last year.
Dynamic strode out particularly well and Gold Onyx worked very enthusiastically, defying his seven years of age.
Last year’s surprise third-placed Punta Arenas looked nice and relaxed and should be primed by race day.
Legislate’s much anticipated draw was pulled by part-owner Gaynor Rupert of Drakenstein Stud and she could not have asked for a better one than his barrier position of four.
Louis The King and Futura drew side by side in positions eight and nine respectively.
Alice to turn it on
PUBLISHED: January 22, 2015
David Thiselton
The Gr 1 Betting World Cape Flying Championships over 1000m at Kenilworth tomorrow heads the weekend action and is a highly intriguing contest as there is strength in depth as opposed to the previous few years where there have been one or two high class horses that have stood out above the rest.
The luck of the draw will have an effect on the result and as the forecast predicts a North Westerly to Westerly wind, as opposed to the prevailing South Easterly headwind, the low draws could well be favourable.
Carry On Alice has travelled well from Johannesburg according to trainer Sean Tarry and as one with good cruising speed and a fine turn of foot, she will be right there from an ideal looking draw of six as she should be able to sit behind the speedy Normanz, who jumps from barrier five.
The Yvette Bremner-trained Port Elizabeth raider Copper Parade proved in last year’s Gr 1 Computaform Sprint that if able to stride freely behind a strong pace before unleashing his devastating finishing kick he is world class. He should get a fair pace tomorrow and Piere Strydom has reportedly said that the seven-year-old gelding has felt even faster this season than last. From a draw of seven he will have plenty of options.
Daring Dave has been prepared for this race from day one of the season and as a speedy sort who can kick on this trip will suit him down to the ground. His draw of one might be favourable on the day.
Alboran Sea has tremendous natural speed and is another capable of kicking on. The three-year-olds start coming into their own at this time of the year, so she will be a major threat from draw two if the low draws indeed turn out to be favourable.
Captain Of All will be cherry ripe having his third run after a rest and he should be able to use his early speed from draw nine to find a good position. He is capable of quickening from the front and is a big runner.
Trip Tease is a courageous horse who not only has the winning habit, having won nine of his last ten starts, but he is also suited to this minimum trip and he has a nice low draw.
Fly By Night beat Copper Parade in the Mercury Sprint over 1200m when producing a late burst. This tall mare has really come into her own and has the sort of uncomplicated action that makes her a reliable runner in the highest classes, but if low draws are favourable she might be in trouble from draw eleven.
Normanz is a speedy frontrunner who is able to sustain a good pace throughout when at his peak as he will be, but his Gr 1 win did come when carrying a light weight under handicap conditions.
Last year’s third-placed Tevez and his stablemate Castlethorpe would have preferred a headwind as they will be doing their best work late.
Asstar has proved himself capable of upsetting horses of this quality but is none too reliable.
Happy Forever is a handy runner who has run just behind the best but his draw of ten might be tough on the day.
Dressed In Cotton looks outgunned at the weights.
The selection is Carry On Alice to beat Copper Parade with Daring Dave, Alboran Sea and Captain Of All next best.
The draw might play a part in the R1million Cape Thoroughbred Sales Stakes over 1200m, but the classy Kingvoldt has an excellent record over this trip and his fantastic turn of foot might be too much for the opposition to match.
The classy filly Alexis bounced back to her best last time out when dropped back to this trip and also possesses a terrific turn of foot.
Zambezi River won the R2 million Lanzerac Ready To Run Stakes and trainer Sean Tarry believes his Gr 1 Grand Parade Cape Guineas run was “not his run”. That was his first de feat and he will be a big player, although his high draw of 15 might be a concern on the day.
Brutal Force finished second in the Ready To Run Stakes from a wide draw. His only win was over this course and distance and this big horse is improving all the time, so he will be a big runner from a nice low draw.
Beloved Country has matched it with some of the best three-year-olds in KZN and will also be running on strongly over what should be an ideal course and distance and a possibly ideal draw of six.
Equity Kicker beat two horses, Castlethorpe and Happy Forever, that are involved in the Cape Flying Championship and jockey Grant van Niekerk
knows now that he is better when ridden from off the pace. He should see out the trip if those tactics are repeated and he has a low draw.
Spanish Dawn needed her last start quite badly and as a big striding, speedy sort could earn.
The selection is Kingvoldt to beat Alexis with Zambezi River, Brutal Force and Beloved Country next best.
Music App should beat the horses to have raced in the fist leg of the PA, but the three first-timers all have interesting pedigrees and must be considered.
In the first leg of the Pick 6 Bella Espumante looked like a promising sort on debut and can be forgiven her last outing when having to travel to Johannesburg. Al’s Bonanza should also be included.
Perini looks to be the right one in the first leg of the Jackpot as he ran on well after a slow start over 1000m last time and should relish the extra distance.
In the 8th race over 1400m the consistent Dangerous Liaison comes from some strong formlines and is off a competitive merit rating. He is drawn well over a suitable trip.
The last race is open and Revved Up, Fort De Oura, Count Dracula, Three Balloons and Arctic Teon make the most appeal.
J&B MET GALLOPS AND BARRIER DRAW A RESOUNDING SUCCESS
PUBLISHED: January 22, 2015
All eyes were on the Legislate at yesterday’s J&B Met gallops, as his participation in the big race on January 31 at Kenilworth depended partly on how he performed, and he appeared to come through it with flying colours.
The J&B Met Barrier Draw ceremony followed the gallops and Legislate drew virtually perfectly in stall four.
Legislate was given a lead by Astro News and after striding out well around the bend he turned it on down the straight in fair style and appeared to be enjoying himself. His participation will now depend on how he comes out of this workout. Astro News’ saddle slipped forward so his below par workout can be ignored.
The standouts of the gallops were the big race favourite Futura and the popular Gauteng stalwart Louis The King.
Futura wasn’t asked to do a lot but strode out well and was clearly in magnificent condition.
Louis The King worked with his stable companions Tellina and Killua Castle and without being asked to do a lot they all strode out well, but Louis The King was doing it easily and his superiority was clear to see.
The seven-year-old Gold Onyx, given a lead by Serissa, had the bounce of a two-year-old and clearly gets on well with Grant Behr, who rode him to third place in the L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and has retained the ride.
Jet Explorer worked out enthusiastically and showed off his big stride.
Paterfamilias and Helderberg Blue worked together and didn’t give much away but did nothing wrong.
Punta Arenas caught the eye working with Big Cat and looks to be peaking at the right time as he did last year when running third.
Dynamic has a nice action and strode out well on his own.
Johnny Rockets, who is not the soundest and has a high head carriage, had his ears pricked throughout in an easy workout.
Arion worked within himself but certainly caught the eye.
Power King only worked over 800m with Blackmore. He will be having his third race after gelding and looked in good shape and moved well.
The draw was all important. Power King was the first out the hat and drew well in seven.
The three market leaders Futura, Legislate and Louis The King all fared satisfactorily in barriers nine, four and eight respectively.
Helderberg Blue was arguably the unluckiest, drawing widest of all in 15.
Jet Explorer drew the pole position berth, which is not always regarded as the best draw but is never complained about.
Dynamic’s draw was awaited as he is a possible pacemaker and if those tactics are indeed the plan then he could hardly have drawn better than his barrier six berth.
A good crowd attended the gallops and were treated to the traditional free coffee and sticky buns as well as being given a complimentary entrance ticket to the J&B Met.
However, every person who purchases a general entrance ticket for the big day at www.computicket.co.za will stand a chance of winning a diamond pendant valued at a breath taking R500, 000.