Head Honcho, winner of last season’s WSB Premier Trophy and beaten less than a length when third in the Sun Met the following month, has been retired.

The six-year-old finished last in this year’s Met, the final one of his 23 starts and Andre Nel said: “I think the writing was on the wall when he disappointed in his previous race (the Green Point) but he had run the race of his life in the 2019 Met and it is hard to run like that two years in succession.

“He won nine races, four of them stakes races, so he earned his keep. He is still on our West Coast farm but we are looking for a home for him. I would like him to go somewhere he can compete because that is what he likes.”

Stable companion Capoeira, third in last season’s Daily News and more recently second to Crown Towers in the Selangor Jet Master, will renew rivalry with that winner in the Kings Cup at Hollywoodbets Greyville on Sunday when he will be ridden for the first time by Anton Marcus.

Nel said: “Hopefully Anton can give us an opinion on the horse because we have had conflicting views from the jockeys who have been riding him recently.”

By Michael Clower

“Barring a catastrophe, we need to make it happen in some format.” That was the determined response from Chris Haynes, executive director of Bloodstock South Africa when quizzed on how the National Yearling Sale will cope with the new 100-people gathering limit.

BSA yesterday postponed its flagship sale by four weeks to May 20-22 but the new date is provisional and is to be reviewed on April 16 in order to mirror the government’s target date for the evaluation of Covid-19 and its measures to combat the pandemic.

The sales company has also put back the Cape Mare Sale and the KZN Yearling Sale by three weeks – the new dates are June 11 and July 23-24. The Emperors Palace National Two Year Old Sale will now be held on September 17-18 but the Emperors Palace Ready To Run/November Two Year Old Sale remains on November 1.

Haynes said: “On April 16 we should get more updates from the government on whether the gathering limit increases or whether they leave it the same – and at that point we will have to see if we can work around it with things like limiting people into areas.”

By Michael Clower

Railtrip has paid the price of showing early potential and from a merit rating high of 100 drops to an 88 on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville today. Not that this makes any difference as she contests a set weights Graduation Plate that has attracted only five other opponents.

Railtrip has been battling under big weights in handicap races mostly against males of late so Gavin van Zyl will no doubt have targeted this set-weights race as it comes as a relief as far as Railtrip’s burden is concerned.

With ‘only’ 56.5kg to shoulder Railtrip will feel as if she is running loose and in deed comes out well on top of the best weighted column, especially with the scratching of Electric Surge that in theory gives her a 3kg advantage in that regard.

In spite of her big weights, Railtrip has still managed to be consistent and this may be her the break for her third win. But she does take on a couple that could make things difficult.

Duncan Howells has been enduring a particularly difficult time as his stable battles a virus – not connected to Corona. The normally prolific yard has not had a winner for some weeks but Howells has made a few changes and commented on Monday that his horses are looking a lot better.

He saddles Special Blend who made a smart poly debut behind course and distance specialist High Green last time out, coming from way back only to fail by half-a-length. The blinkers come off and Craig Zackey stays aboard.

Land Of Mystery looks safely held by both Railtrip and Special Blend if recent form is anything to go on but the blinkers are replaced by cheek pieces and a slight ‘tweak’ can often produce major results.

Michael Roberts and jockey Serino Moodley has struck as a combination to follow and they team up with Ad Altisima in the Greyville Convention Centre Handicap, one of the more difficult races to puzzle out.

Ad Altisima has smart form over course and distance and has not been out of the money since being gelded. He was run out of it late in Graduation company last start but although he has drawn a little wide, he should make a bold showing. Dennis Bosch was again tempted into sending Mutawaary over further last run but he seems more at home of this shorter trip and he looks a lightly threat to the selection.

But the list of possible winners is a long one and includes Kingston Rock, Captain Cobalt and High Voltage.

Rachel is something of a family affair in the sixth as she will be ridden by Warren Kennedy, is trained by Barbara Kennedy and her brother Wayne and is owned by their mother.

Rachel has come to hand nicely after a break and racing in blinkers and has her peak run. She went close last time out and can go one better. Her biggest danger could be recent maiden winner Brunilda who was a facile winner last time out. Garth Puller commented that she had been unlucky at her two previous outings and was not surprised by the ease of her win.

Sheik’s Storm is always game but does appear a length or two better over an extra furlong while Valeriana may just have needed her last run and can improve.

Gary Rich is a vastly under rated trainer and gets the most out of his limited stable talent. Pina Colada has been full value for her two wins to date and can break a string of runner-up berths in the seventh.

She does not have the best of draws but goes very well over the trip and is consistent.

Regular pilot Billy Jacobson has been signed on as stable rider to Louis Goosen so has been obliged to jump ship to partner Goosen’s mare Fleek with Sherman Bown taking over on Pina Colada. The mare and Rich are due a change of fortune. Of the balance, Popova’s last run is best ignored as she pulled up lame and coughing. She had been showing signs of winning again prior to that and from pole position should be much improved.

• Due to the Corona virus outbreak and in line with Government regulations, all race meetings around the country will take place behind closed doors until further notice. The general public will not be allowed access but all races will be shown live on Tellytrack, DSTV channel 239.
• To take a bet go to TABgold.co.za

By Andrew Harrison

Hollywoodbets Greyville Wednesday Tips and Race Previews by Andrew Harrison

Race 1

3 FLYING PETER   2 TREAD SWIFTLY   1 LIGHT THAT LOOSE   5 THE SNOW WAR
Preview: FLYING PETER (3) made a promising debut. That run should bring him on nicely. TEAD SWIFTLY (2) caught the eye in a barrier trial behind the promising older filly Dancing Feather and is one to watch in the betting. The same goes for LIGHT THAT LOOSE (1). Andrew Harrison: 3-2-1-5).

Race 2

8 MACALLAN   9 TONIGHTSFIGHTNIGHT   11 TRANSONIC   4 TROMSO
Preview: Open race. MACALLAN (8) has been costly to follow having been a beaten favourite at his last three starts but he can do better over this trip. TONIGHTSFIGHTNIGHT (9) was green on debut but was not far back. He is sure to come on from that effort. TRANSONIC (11) was touched off over course and distance last run. He has drawn wide again but must rate a strong chance. TROMSO (4) made a fair debut and is another that should come on with the experience. (Andrew Harrison: 8-9-11-4).

Race 3

1 SPANISH OASIS   5 HIGHLAND HEATHER   10 BLANCHETTA   8 LEADING LYRIC
Preview: SPANISH OASIS (1) Has her third run after a break. She is seldom far back and has a big chance in this line-up.  HIGHLAND HEATHER (5) has had one run back since a break. She is lightly raced and has shown ability. BLANCHETTA (10) was a well beaten second last run but meets a weak field here and has a chance of going one better. LEADING LYRIC (8) raced green in a fair debut and can finish in the money. (Andrew Harrison: 1-5-10-8).

Race 4

3 RAILTRIP   2 JOSEPH JAGGER   6 SPECIAL BLEND   5 ELECTRIC SURGE
Preview: RAILTRIP (3) has been costly to follow but she may now be in the right race. She has been lumping big weights and is better off in this set weights contest. JOSEPH JAGGER (2) is unbeaten in both starts on the poly. Both were close finishes. SPECIAL BLEND (6) has consistent form in blinkers and was touched off last run. The stable is quiet at the moment but will turn eventually. ELECTRIC SURGE (5) is way better than her last run. She has a light weight and can finish in the money. (Andrew Harrison: 3-2-6-5).

Race 5

9 AD ALTISIMA   8 MUTAWAARY   6 KINGSTON ROCK   10 CAPTAIN COBALT
Preview: AD ALTISIMA (9) has smart form over course and distance. He has drawn a little wide but should make a bold showing. MUTAWAARY (8) tried further last run but seems more at home of this shorter trip. KINGSTON ROCK (6) has consistent form to weaker but only has 50kg to should which should make him competitive. CAPTAIN COBALT (10) is always dangerous. He is better than his last run. (Andrew Harrison: 9-8-6-10).

Race 6

6 RACHEL   7 BRUNILDA   9 SHEIK’S STORM   3 VALERIANA
Preview: RACHEL (6) has come to hand in blinkers and went close last time out. She can go one better. BRUNILDA (7) was a facile maiden winner last start. She had been a little unlucky at her two previous outings and has a strong chance of going in again. SHEIK’S STORM (9) is always game but does appear a length or two better over an extra furlong. VALERIANA (3) may just have needed her last run and can improve. (Andrew Harrison: 6-7-9-3).

Race 7

12 PINA COLADA   1 POPOVA   7 SPIFFY   5 KEEP ON DANCING
Preview: PINA COLADA (12) does not have the best of draws but goes very well over the trip and is consistent. She is due a change of fortune. POPOVA (1) last run is best ignored as she pulled up lame and coughing. She had been showing signs of winning again prior to that and from pole position should be much improved. SPIFFY (7) showed up nicely in her first run back from a break. The cheek pieces go on. KEEP ON DANCING (5) was a comfortable maiden winner last outing. That form has stood up but she does have a big weight. (Andrew Harrison: 12-1-7-5).

Race 8

11 FADE TO BLACK   5 TILMEETH   4 BACKPACKER   9 TEICHMAN
Preview: FADE TO BLACK (11) has drawn wide but has put in two promising recent efforts and looks the part. TILMEETH (5) makes his debut for his new stable. He has shown some fair Highveld form and at best should go close.  BACKPACKER (4) was a well beaten second last run but took to the poly surface and should be competitive. TEICHMAN (9) was not too far back from a wide draw. He is lightly raced and can be dangerous. (Andrew Harrison: 11-5-4-9).

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

Do It Again will win the Vodacom Durban July this year if one historical pointer repeats itself.

There have been six horses who have won the big race twice, but the three previous dual winners to Do It Again all ended their sequence on a year ending in zero.

Pamphlet won it in 1918 and 1920, Milesia Pride won it in 1949 and 1950 and El Picha won it in 1999 and 2000.

Can Do It Again keep up this trend by winning it in 2018, 2019 and 2020 and thus become the first in history to win it three times? 

El Picha was trained by five times SA champion trainer Geoff Woodruff. 

His father-in-law, the late great trainer Terrance Millard had trained a number of good horses from Argentina, including July winners Tecla Bluff and Illustrador as well as the immortal Empress Club.

After his retirement in 1991 he continued his purchasing journeys to Argentina on behalf of Woodruff and his son Tony.

One day in the mid-1990s his shipping agent phoned him to tell him there was one space left in the jet stall he had paid for and would he like to fill it.

Millard immediately thought of a small black horse who had caught his eye but had ultimately failed to make it on to his shortlist. He managed to secure this horse, El Picha, for $15,000.

Woodruff described El Picha yesterday, “He was right up there with the best I have trained, although I would not say the best. He was easy as pie to train and one of my favourites. He was laid back and a friend to everybody and I think he knew that.”

The 1994-born gelding by Tough Critic won seven races in Cape Town, including the Grade 3 Peninsula Handicap over 1800m.

However, the key to his success could have been Woodruff’s move to train in Johannesburg.

Woodruff revealed to the Racegoer a few years ago that El Picha had a naturally low “blood count” but in his first three months on the Highveld his blood count improved “out of sight.” Horses at that altitude have to be worked harder in order to get fitter because the thinner air provides less oxygen and El Picha began to thrive. In his second start on the Highveld he finished fifth in the Grade 1 Champions Stakes, beaten five lengths by Fort Defiance, and he then travelled down to Durban. After running a three-quarter length third in the Greyville 1900 from a wide draw he was set to carry just 53kg in the July. Robbie Hill rode a peach of a race from a wide draw and he denied Classic Flag a July double by 0,75 lengths.

As a five-year-old El Picha won the Summer Cup, finished second in the Met, second in the Grade 2 Colorado King Stakes, second in the Grade 1 Champions Stakes at Turffontein and then easily won the Grade 3 Jubilee before defending his July crown under Anton Marcus with a hair’s breadth victory over Young Rake despite carrying top weight of 58kg. He went on to win a Grade 1 over 2000m at Clairwood. That was the last race he won but he did well enough to continue racing until the end of his seven-year-old season.

Woodruff said he then proved to be a “useless” showjumper and thus spent the rest of his life, until the age of 22, happily eating grass in a paddock at Randjesfontein together with his pony friend “Andy.”

Racing historian Jay August wrote about Milesia Pride in his informative facebook page Notable South African Thoroughbreds.

Milesia Pride, a chestnut who stood at about 16 hands, was bought in Ireland by Mr JT Amery of KZN for £1150. The 86-year-old Amery had harboured the desire to win the “July” for near fifty years but had managed just one third place in 1918 with a horse named Draughtsman and two unplaced efforts in 1916 and 1945. Milesia Pride arrived by boat in Cape Town and was later sent to the yard of Jim Morrison.

Imported unraced horses were only allowed to run in Top Division events in those days, so Milesia Pride, having to start his career as a two-year-old running against top older horses, finished unplaced in his first five starts. He then claimed a fourth place and then ran second in the Kings Cup. He then won a top division race to secure his July place. After two sharpeners he won the 1949 July comfortably under Tiger Wright carrying 49kg. He thus became the second youngest horse to win the July Handicap, at 39 months of age, the only younger one being two-year-old Nobleman in 1911.

Milesia Pride won the July narrowly in 1950 under Basil Lewis carrying 57kg. He was unlucky in 1951, finishing seventh carrying 62kg. He had one more attempt at the big race in 1953 and was later retired to stud.

He only produced one foal to race and was put back into training in Bloemfontein where he was to pass away of what racing writer Mordaunt Milner suspected might have been a “broken heart.”

Milesia Pride’s sire Montrose was the first horse to sire the winner of four “July’s” and the first to sire three individual winners

According to Jean Jaffee’s book, They Raced To Win, Pamphlet was imported by Mr A. Britton (the racing nom-de-plume of Albert Lavenstein) from Britain at the same time as Trocko, who won the Johannesburg Summer Handicap in 1916.

Pamphlet won that race in 1917 before going on two win his two Durban Julys.

Pamphlet was reportedly a huge horse who according to renowned industry an Alex Robertson would have done justice to a team of “vanners” (Gypsy Cob horse).  

Although, he looked like a stallion while in training he proved “useless” at stud, the best of his progeny being the filly Pavlova who finished second in the 1929 Summer Handicap.

By David Thiselton