Andrew Harrison

At last count, Carl Hewitson only had eleven, mostly older gallopers, in his Summerveld yard with a couple of youngsters still to come in, but there is no doubt that as an accomplished trainer knows his way around a racehorse. 

Not one for the limelight, Hewitson saddled the first two past the post in the Form Guide www.gallop.co.za Handicap, the top liner on a seven-race card on the poly at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday just to drive home the point.

It was the third winner for Craig Zackey who had no hesitation on taking Chelsea Flower to the front. Although challenged hard by stable companion Aspoestertjie the six-year-old mare kept rolling to keep her year-younger rival at bay. 

The scratching of ante-post favourite Lady Of Vix possibly made things a little easier for Diyarani who made a cracking come-back in the first after a lengthy lay-off due to shin problems. The money for Frank Robinson’s filly came in spades and there was no stopping the daughter of Buffalo Bill Cody who made most of the running and cruised to the line, flattering runner-up Dressedtothenines who in turn was many lengths clear of the rest.

Tardy out of the gate at her previous start, the only instruction from Robinson to Sean Veale was; “get her out of the pens and she’s a pointer.”

The first leg of the Pick 6 did not get off to the best starts for backers of the favourite Good Living as 20-1 chance Cappellino finally got it all together for Wendy Whitehead at his 13^th start to hold off the challenge from Mind Map in the finish to the second. The two went to the front from the jump and it was neck-and-neck crossing the subway, but Cappellino finally wore down his rival with Mind Map making promising improvement on his modest Cape form.

Class always tells, especially when it comes to modest maiden fields, and Dean Kannemeyer’s filly Meritorious has class written all over her. Dee Day, always game but never quite there, was sent out a short priced favourite but the two debutantes, Meritorious and Mocha Blend, did look a cut above their rivals in the paddock.

Meritorious made Zackey work hard for victory but the smart looking daughter of Ideal World kept finding in the straight to win well and certainly looks to have a few more wins in her locker. Mocha Blend also ‘fills the eye’ as a bloodstock agent would put it, and with Robinson commenting earlier that she is more of an Oaks filly, she is another for the notebook.  

Tristan Godden, ‘Toothy’ to owner Tony Jelinski, is finally spreading his wings and had a double at Hollywood Durbanville last Saturday for Piet Botha. Godden has matured as a rider and gave Brave Bomber the perfect ride to win smartly in the fourth. The son of Lancaster Bomber has come on with each outing and nailed it yesterday with Mike Miller’s assistant Craig Eudey confident that their charge is far from done.

Nicolette Roscoe, KZN assistant to Dean Kannemeyer, caution punters earlier that Prince Florian still had a lot to learn and so it proved as he missed the kick and was never helping his rider. The vet may not be far off!

If you don’t have ‘bottle’ as the English say, then race riding is not for you. Godden had an armchair passage on Brave Bomber in comparison to his ride on Forest Jump as the Darryl Moore-trained eight-year-old turned in a sterling performance to win the fifth.

There was no wiggle room on the inside rail up the straight as pacemaker L’Ultimo found One Irish Rover leaning onto him and in turn keeping Forest Jump tight to the rail. But once Marco van Rensburg got One Irish Rover to straighten up and Rachel Venniker leaving some room on L’Ultimo, Godden took his opportunity and punched Forest Jump into action and the veteran of 57 starts responded with a late effort.

It was brave from both horse and rider and a tribute to Moore’s skill to keep Forest Jump sound and firing after seven seasons.

Not much went right for Ginger Delight in the last with some serious scrimmaging on the turn compromising a few runners chances, not least Beautiful Rania who had Muzi Yeni standing up in the ions. Zackey shifted wide to avoid a possible pileup; “I thought Muzi was going to come down,” commented Zackey post-race. But he kept Ginger Delight wide and out of trouble and she responded in the straight to win well.

RACE 1     

4 JILTED 1 CAT O’CLOCK 11 SWEET SOPHIA 2 LIKE A BUTTERFLY

Preview: 4 JILTED looked the winner last time before losing equipment and having to be disqualified and she is drawn on the right side here. 1 CAT O’CLOCK is knocking on the door but a high draw might be against her. 11 SWEET SOPHIA made a fair debut and is drawn towards the right side. 2 LIKE A BUTTERFLY has shown enough to be able to place here. (David Thiselton 4-1-11-2)

RACE 2     

1 MIA MOO 3 HAPPY MO 6 IT’S HER WAY

Preview: 1 MIA MOO drawn five which could be tricky but she has come class and has a shout. 3 HAPPY MO is drawn on the right side and looks capable of further improvement. 6 FREE IN SEATTLE is capable of placing in this event. (David Thiselton 1-3-6)

RACE 3     

3 SOLAR SAIL 1 OKLAHOMA TWISTER 2 KALEESH CYBORG

Preview: 3 SOLAR SAIL should enjoy the step up in trip and has a chance despite a tricky draw of seven. 1 OKLAHOMA TWISTER is drawn one and this will give him a chance of placing. 2 KALEESH CYBORG has the form to go close but has a high draw. (David Thiselton 3-1-2)

RACE 4     

2 CYMRIC 4 ELEGANT ICE 6 MOVING IN 3 KINSHIN SHA 1 BIOFARMER 5 BUFFALO STORM CODY

Preview: 2 CYMRIC is drawn towards the right side and his class can pull him through here, despite being 7kg under sufferance with the best weighted Elegant Ice. 4 ELEGANT ICE is well weighted in this race and must be included despite being drawn wide. 6 MOVING IN is also quite well treated at the weights and has a chance. 3 KINSHIN SHA has a nice low draw and is not out of it over this trip. 1 BIOFARMER bounced back over a sprint in August and that augurs well for his chances here. 5 BUFFALO STORM CODY has speed and will also be a runner in a wide open race. (David Thiselton 2-4-6-3-1-5)

RACE 5     

1 RED LEGEND 4 ROMAN’S REVENGE 5 VAVA VEGAS

Preview: 1 RED LEGEND should enjoy the step down in trip and is well drawn. 4 ROMAN’S REVENGE won his maiden well and starts off on a reasonable 84 merit rating albeit from a tricky draw. 5 VAVA VEGAS just failed last week and has a shout here again. (David Thiselton 1-4-5) 

RACE 6     

6 DIESEL’S SHADOW 9 ROMEO’S MAGIC 2 PLAYER 1 JUDGEMENT DAY

Preview: 6 DIESEL’S SHADOW went close to Eiger Sanction last time and the latter has come out and won again since, so he should have a significant weight pull and has a plum draw. 9 ROMEO’S MAGIC can be competitive over a suitable trip from pole position. 2 PLAYER has plenty of ability and has a fair draw over a suitable trip. 1 JUDGEMENT DAY has the ability to be involved and from a good draw has a 2,5kg claimer up but he is returning from a layoff. (David Thiselton 6-9-2-1)

RACE 7     

2 GORGEOUS KLEIN 1 OPEN HIGHWAY 4 AMPERSAND 5 SUPER AWESOME

Preview: 2 GORGEOUS KLEIN is on the up and is drawn in pole. 1 OPEN HIGHWAY is capable of a strong performance and is drawn on the right side and has a 4kg claimer up. 4 AMPERSAND could earn here from a low draw. 5 SUPER AWESOME has dropped to a competitive mark and could earn. (David Thiselton 2-1-4-5) 

RACE 8     

6 ESQUEVELLE 8 HALBERDIER 11 KARATE KID 

Preview: 6 ESQUEVELLE is drawn on the right side and has plenty of ability over this trip. 8 HALBERDIER is also a smart sort and from a good draw can go close in this drop in class with Yeni up. 11 KARATE KID is going the right way and should enjoy this step up in trip. (David Thiselton 6-8-11)

David Thiselton

Punters should get off to a good start at the Vaal today with the Alson Ndzilana-trained Jilted, although the talented Anathi Feni has to carry 1kg overweight, which is a slight concern.

Jilted had winner written all over her over 1450m at Turffontein Inside last time before some equipment fell off which saw her disqualified. She now jumps from draw one down the straight over 1400m and with the outside rail in by 12m her low draw will be favourable by trends. Cat O’Clock is knocking on the door but a high draw will be against her and she might also prefer a touch shorter. Sweet Sophia was not disgraced in a well beaten third on debut and could improve being from the Roy Magner yard and being a Flower Alley and trying further. Like A Butterfly is limited but has run numerous places up to as far as 1450m and she could earn here. First-timer Mischief managed is by Wings Of Desire out of the Gr 1 Woolavington 2000 winner Zirconeum. 

In the second race over 1500m Mia Moo was second to runaway winner Double Grand Slam in the Gr 3 Umzimkhulu Stakes over 1400m at Hollywoodbets Greyville. She won on her reappearance following a six month layoff and should have come on from that run. She is easily best in at the weights. Happy Mo is drawn on the right side and looks capable of further improvement. Free In Seattle is capable of placing in this event.

In the third over 1400m Solar Sail did his best work late over 1200m last time and on pedigree should relish the step up in trip being by Querari out of a Mambo In Seattle mare who won five times from 1200m up to 1800m. Oklahoma Twister is drawn one and this will give him a chance of repeating his placed effort last time when staying on. Kaleesh Cyborg has good form, but only beat Oklahoma Twister by 0,70 lengths when they last met and he now has an unfavourable high draw.

In the fourth race it might be worth including the field despite it being a Graduation Plate. Cymric displayed class as a two-year-old over this 1100m trip, beating the subsequent Gr 2 winner Cats Pajamas in the Gr 3 Godolphin Barb at Hollywoodbets Scottsville. He is potentially better than rated so can overcome his weight disadvantage in which he is 7kg under sufferance with the best weighted Elegant Ice. Elegant Ice was drawn on the wrong side last time back in July, so can be forgiven that effort, and over this trip she can get away with rustiness caused by a three month layoff. She has the ability to go close but does have an unfavourable high draw, albeit in a small field. Moving In will need to bounce back from her last run, which followed an eight month layoff, but she is well weighted and capable. Kinshin Sha is 10kg out with Elegant Ice, but that is alleviated by a 4kg claimer and a low draw and he is also fit from recent runs. Biofarmer bounced back with a fine run last time but was suspended for epistaxis. He is officially 3,5kg under sufferance but has the number one draw and in form Gavin Lerena up. Buffalo Storm Cody is officially 6kg under sufferance with Elegant Ice but has a lot of speed. 

In the fifth over 1700m Red Legend won his maiden well over 1600m.l He then ran a good third over 2000m off an 87 merit rating, where he ran on well from way back after being dropped out from a wide draw. He can do well over this suitable trip from a good draw. Roman’s Revenge won his maiden well over 1800m and starts off on a reasonable 84 merit rating albeit from a tricky draw. Vava Vegas only just failed over course and distance last time and as his three runs over a mile or more have led to a narrow fourth, a win and a narrow second, this trip might well be his game.

In the sixth over 1700m  Diesel’s Shadow went close to Eiger Sanction last time over 2000m and the latter came out and won again. Diesel Shadow’s three wins are from 1600m to 1800m so he should go close from a plum draw. Romeo’s Magic was only beaten 0,55 lengths by Diesel Shadow when they last met and is drawn in pole over a trip that is slightly on the short side. Player has a lot of ability and has been given two points relief by the handicapper, which puts him four points above his last winning mark. His last win was over this trip and he is well drawn. Judgement Day has the ability to be involved and from a good draw has a 2,5kg claimer up, but he is returning from a layoff. Millahue and Shinto Shrine are hard to ignore.

In the seventh over 1200m Gorgeous Klein has some fine form and can take advantage of the number one draw with Lerena up. Open Highway will be dangerous if producing his best with a 4kg claimer up. Ampersand is 3kg better off with Gorgeous Klein for a 2,5 length beating and now has a 2,5kg claimer up from a nice low draw.

In the eighth over 1200m Esquevelle has ability and is the one to beat from a nice low draw. Halberdier has been facing stronger and will be a big runner here too from a low draw. Karate Kid is promising and can make his presence felt too. Bob’s Your Uncle and Rock Of Bismantova are the best weighted pair, but both have wide draw. Richard The First and Wyzeact would also make appeal if better drawn.  

David Thiselton

Big Johannesburg-based South African owner Larry Nestadt has three part-owned horses still standing their ground in the Melbourne Cup and one of them, Just Fine, who won the Gr 3 Bart Cummings at Flemington on October 5, is one of just three horses who are now exempt.

The other Nestadt part-owned horses who are still standing their ground are Military Mission and Royal Patronage, who are in 16th and 44th places respectively on the latest Melbourne Cup order of entry log.

The Irish-bred Just Fine (Sea The Stars) won the Gr 1 Metropolitan Handicap over a mile and four furlongs at Randwick last September and was made the ante-post second favourite for the 2023 Melbourne Cup, but he was scratched after running flat in his next start. 

He will go into this year’s race fresh by Australian standards having not had to run since October 5. 

Just Fine was the only front-running sort in the 2500m Bart Cummings at Flemington on October 5 and jockey  Jordan Childs dictated before kicking into a big lead at the top of the straight and holding on in soft conditions. 

Military Mission, who ran tenth in last year’s Melbourne Cup, is an Irish-bred by Mastercraftsman. 

He has not been in top form this season and finished last on Saturday in a Gr 3 over 2600m, but he won two Gr 2 staying races at Caulfield last year and that sees him maintaining his position in the order of entry.

Royal Patronage is the only one of the three part-owned horses who carry the Nestadt colours.

Nestadt’s all royal blue colours are well known in South Africa.

He part-owns Equus Horse Of The Year Dave The King and the 2010 Equus Horse Of The Year Irish Flame ran in his colours. 

In Australia his colours are also royal blue but with yellow epaulettes.

Nestadt is the chief owner in five-year-old French-bred entire Royal Patronage, who was purchased at a Tattersalls horses in training sale.

However, he might prove to be better over shorter than the 3200m of the Melbourne Cup.

As a two-year-old Royal Patronage won the Gr 3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes over seven furlongs at York and the Gr 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes over a mile at Newmarket. In the latter race he beat ill-fated Dubawi colt Caroebus, who went on to win the Gr 1 2000 Guineas and the Gr 1 St. James Palace Stakes.

All of Nestadt’s horses are trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

Waterhouses’s expert eye spotted Royal Patronage, whose sire Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) commands a fee of €200,000. 

Royal Patronage is an exciting prospect as was seen on his Australian debut when winning a Gr 2 over 1400m at Randwick.

Since then he has had three more runs including a third in a Gr 1 over 1600  at Randwick and third in a Gr 3 over 1900m at Rosehill.

He is an entry in this Saturday’s Cox Plate, Australia’s most prestigious weight for age race, which takes place at Moonee Valley over 2040m, where he will face only eight other horses.

Royal Patronage has a good kick and might have been ridden a touch too handy in his last two starts, so is an interesting contender in the Cox Plate.

Winning it will give him an automatic ticket into the Melbourne Cup.

The Cup has an interesting system of entry.

The selected entries for the Melbourne Cup are nominated in the first week of August. From an initial Melbourne Cup field of 300 to 400 horses, the committee will select the final 24 starters. However, after nominations, the owner of the runner must confirm their intention to run four more times leading to the race.

This system allows owners to gauge the competition as the selection process moves forward. This way, they are given four times to decide whether they want to continue with the selection process by paying a fee, or to back out. Thus, the owners are essentially betting that their horse will be selected in the final field with every fee that they pay.

How is the 2024 Melbourne Cup Order of Entry Determined?

Approximately two months before Melbourne Cup day, the chief handicapper of Racing Victoria releases the weights and the first weekly Melbourne Cup order of entry.

When determining the field, horses are ranked by the amount of weight that they are handicapped to carry in the Melbourne Cup, compared with the weight-for-age scale.

With the entry of more international contenders in recent years, the scale has been complicated because international runners are virtually guaranteed a start by virtue of their larger allocated handicaps. 

The winners of several elite races from around the world are awarded ballot exemption. That means they qualify automatically for the race, without needing to enter the nominations system.

The horse that wins any of the following events will be exempt from ballot: the Lexus Hotham Stakes, Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup, The Bart Cummings, Roy Higgins Quality, Andrew Ramsden Stakes, Belmont Gold Cup and the Ebor Handicap will be invited to take part in the Melbourne Cup.

The winners of several international races will be invited to contest the Melbourne Cup: the Arlington Million, the San Juan Capistrano Handicap in the USA, the Doncaster Cup in the UK, the Irish St. Leger, and the Tenno Sho and Sankei Sho in Japan.

Under a further tweak to Melbourne Cup conditions, any placegetter from a golden ticket race, or any Group 1 held over 2000m or further, will pass the first ballot for the race that stops a nation.

Racing Victoria officials identified a trend of higher injury rates among overseas horses during the past decade, so they have toughened up their entry criteria.

Horses from overseas must now complete a series of pre-export tests to gauge their ability to complete this gruelling race without suffering an injury. 

The final field of 24 runners will be unveiled at 4.30pm local time on Saturday, November 2nd, three days before the race takes place.

The barrier draw is revealed at 7pm on November 2nd and this is a very eagerly anticipated event among punters.

Johannesburg, 15 October 2024 – 4Racing in conjunction with the Handicappers have published the first log for the 2024 R6 million Gr1 Betway Summer Cup to be run at Turffontein on Saturday 30 November.

Second entries close at 11am on Tuesday 05 November, and final entries at 9am on Monday, 18 November 2024, after which weights will be announced. Declarations must be in by 11am on Wednesday, 20 November 2024 and barrier draws will be conducted at a Betway event on 20 November 2024. The final log will be published on Tuesday 05 November 2024.