The Triple Crown Beckons

Saturday proved to be something of a watershed for the young three-year-old Pierre Jourdan as he showed in the Gauteng Guineas that he is one of the best of his generation.

Piere Jourdan met a field of classy three-year-olds in the R1-million mile race at Turffontein, a distance he was attempting for the first time. The son of Parade Leader was the highest rated horse in the race and confirmed that rating as he easily beat the opposition by over two lengths.

Jockey Derreck David rode a mature and competent race as he settled the youngster off the pace in the last third of the field in the early going, the pairing traveling comfortably.

Coming into the home straight Piere Jourdan moved up the inside of the track where the going on the day had been decidedly poorer than elsewhere on the track. He moved past the leading horses and under a confident ride went on to score the victory in the first leg of the Triple Crown.

The manner in which Pierre Jourdan won suggested that the next leg of the Triple Crown could well be within his grasp and from what he has shown to date there appears to be many more wins in the tank.

Congratulations to all concerned.

 

Pierre Jourdan shows his class

Pierre Jourdan, the three-year-old son of Parade Leader, got back to winning ways at Turffontein on Tuesday evening 9 February when he won the Grade 3 Tony Ruffle Stakes over 1400m at the city track.

  The talented three-year-old came up against a quality field that included the two Charles Laird imports, Curved Ball and stable elect for the race, Galileo's Galaxy. The latter of the two Laird runners went off as favourite for the R200 000 contest and looked the part based on his Cape form and the 4kg weight advantage he had over Pierre Jourdan and his stablemate.

However, the weights as well as the formbook when out the window as the quality stable youngster came from off the pace to get the better of Galileo's Galaxy by a neck with Echohawk third and Curved Ball fourth, beaten two lengths by the winner.

 With this win under his belt and the scalps he claimed, Pierre Jourdan looks destined to enjoy a very good career.

 Good luck to all the connections.

 

Arabian Mist blows 'em away

Arabian Mist, a five-year-old son of Muhtafal and half brother to sprinting star Nhlavini, followed in his now retired sibling's hooves when he easily captured the Grade Defy Merchants at Turffontein on Saturday 28 November 2009.

The now seven-time winner had yet to meet a field of sprinters of this class but he showed in no uncertain terms that he is a quality thoroughbred, beating the field home by over two lengths. What makes the performance that much more impressive is that the gelding had the better of the likes of Red Flyer, winner of the Umgeni Handicap, and Sharks Bay, runner-up in the Grade 1 Mercury Sprint  and winner of the Grade 2 Post Merchants, over six lengths behind him.

The handicapper are sure to raise his merit rating on that performance but the son of Muhtafal looks capable of more back-type wins and should ensure his owners and breeder many more exciting race days. Congratulations to all.

Pierre Jourdan is a class act

Pierre Jourdan, the three-year-old son fo Parade Leader bred by Summerhill Stud, has established himself as one of the best of his generation by winning the Peermont Emperor's Palace Ready To Run Cup at Turffontein on Saturday 7 November.

The strapping bay gelding easily skipped clear of the opposition in the last 100m of the 1400m contest, going away from the field to win by an ever increasing margin of two lengths.

Rider Sean Cormack, a late stand-in for stable jockey Derreck David who fractured his ankle in two places in a fall at the Vaal on Thursday, rode a perfect race giving Pierre Jourdan every chance and showing what class this thoroughbred has.

Purchased for just R60 000, Pierre Jourdan has won in excess of R855 000 and looks destined to add substantially to that increasing tally.

Congratulations to owners Emilio Baisero and Gary Alexander.

(to view the finish of the race go to http://www.racingassociation.co.za/show_video.php?rid=4217)

 

Pierre Jourdan makes it two from two

Pierre Jourdan, a three-year-old son fo Parade Leader bred by Summerhill Stud, has been to the track twice and remains unbeaten, his last win coming at the expense of some decent sorts, albeit with the assistance of the Sitpendiary Stewards.

Having shown a touch of class when winning impressively on debut, the youngster comfortably managed the step up in class to win a Progress Plate over 1450m on the inside track at Turffontein on Saturday 24 October 2009. The winning margin is recorded as having been a head, but the verdict had to be delivered in the board room where the stipes agreed that had Piere Jourdan not been interferred with he would have won the race, beating feature-race placed Smanjemanje and two-time winner Winter's Night.

Pierre Jourdan looks destined for bigger things and is sure to give his owners many exciting moments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hidden Rave gives notice

Owner Fred Crabbia's Hidden Rave, a three-year-old son of Var, gave notice at Turffontein on Saturday 10 October that he is one to watch.

Bred by Fred, the youngster made his seasonal debut in the Listed Falcon Sprint over 1200m on the inside track at Turffontein, knocking heads with some promising thoroughbreds of his age.

Hidden Rave had a poor draw to contend with but made light of it and finished a very creditbale second to unbeaten Massimiliano, but beating home the likes of Bulsara, Forestation and Storm Crossing, to name a few.

Having finished fourth in the Nursery last season and now have opened this season with a listed-race second, Hidden Rave looks destined to carry the yard's flag with distinction.

 

Super day at Turffontein

Stable rider Derrek David booted home two winners for the yard at Turffontein on Saturday 12 September and was unlucky when second on a third of the stable horses.

The first winner for the stable and David came in the fourth race of the afternoon. Celestial Blue, a daughter of Jallad owned by Kirk Michael, Greg Sadie, Myron Berzack and Graham Beck, was a comfortable winner over 1600m in a fillies and mares handicap. (To view this performance, please click here http://www.racingassociation.co.za/show_video.php?rid=3858)

The second winner of the afternoon was Superfederation. The promising son of Kahal was having his third run after being gelded and battled gamely to get the better of in-form Iron Curtain over 1800m. There appears to be a few more in the tank for this youngster and owners Julie Alexander, Bruce Gardner, Kirk Michael, Len Smart and the Freeracer.co.za Syndicate look set to have a lot more fun going forward. (To view this performance, please click here http://www.racingassociation.co.za/show_video.php?rid=3861)

The unlucky runner of the day was the imposing Mick's Machine. Fedai Kahraman's charge looked to have the eighth race in the bag but traffic problems in the straight saw him being outgunned late, beaten into second. He is promising and is sure to recoup loses.

 

Derreck David joins the team

Apprentice Derrek David has joined the Gary Alexander Racing team as stable rider. Dean and Gary confirmed this week that South Africa's Champion Apprentice had agreed to come on board.

David secured last season's  Champion Apprentice title by winning 78 races over the year and in so doing taking the title. Although Derreck still has much to learn his drive and determination, two qualities that secured him the championship last season, are sure to stand him in good stead as he and the stable move forward through the season, both benefitting from a relationship that promises much.

 

Arabian Mist makes it 6 from 16

Arabian Mist, a five-year-old son of Muhtafal, recorded his sixth career win from just 16 outings at Turffontein on Saturday 22 August 2009 as he got the better of stablemate Mick's Machine over 1160m.

Mick's Machine, a four-year-old son of Muhtafal, had beaten Arabian Mist in their last outing when the latter was 5kg better off at the weights. With just 0,5kg in it on Saturday, the year older son of Muhafal got the verdict.

The performances of both horses were noteworthy and their respective owners look destined to have a lot of fun with these well-related individuals. 

 

Flintlock Fires

Six-year-old Flintlock gave his owners renewed hope at the Vaal on Thursday 6 August 2009 when over 1000m in the sand he bounced back to best and won the sprint in impressive fashion.

The son of Dominion Royale injured himself in last year's running of the Golden Horse Casino Sprint, a race after he had run the speed machine JJ The Jet Plane to a neck in the Computaform Sprint, giving the champion 1,5kg.

Flintlock had shown little of that level of ability following the Golden Horse Sprint, but the move to race him on the sand proved decisive as he added his seventh career win to his record, doing it the hard way as he came from last to mow down the opposition.

This win took the R190 000 purchase's earnings to over the R800 000 mark and this level looks set to rise based on today's performance.

Best wishes to the owners.

 

 South Country and Mick's Machine impress

Turffontein this past Sunday proved to be a good testing ground for promising three-year-olds South Country and Mick's Machine.

South Country recorded his third win in a row as he simply spready-eagled the opposition under an easy and confident ride by Champion Jockey elect, Andrew Fortune.

This was the fifth win for the son of National Assembly and took his earnings past the R300 000 mark. He appears to be getting better all the time and a 'big one' looks on the cards. Good luck to owner John Robertson.

Mick's Machine, the impressive looking son of Muhtafal, recorded an emphatic win over 1400m at Turffontein on Sunday, giving the opposition a lesson in racing.

This win was the second in just five outings for the three-year-old and if he continues on this path he looks set to many more victories. Best wishes go to owners Fedai Kahraman and Berdan Yerlikaya, Turkish-based patrons of the stable.

 

 

Meydan to open in January 2010

Meydan has announced January 28, 2010 as the date that global racing enters an exciting new era with the first meeting to be staged at Meydan.

The first meeting will coincide with the start of the 2010 Dubai International Racing Carnival and feature the opening round of the Group 3 Al Maktoum Challenge for thoroughbreds and Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge for Purebred Arabians.

Commenting on the announcement, the Chairman of Meydan, Mr. Saeed Humaid Al Tayer said, “It is with great pleasure and excitement that we announce the first meeting to be held at Meydan will be on January 28, 2010.”

“The racing facilities will be ready by October 31st this year,” Mr. Al Tayer added.

“By having it ready on October 31st, all horsemen, whether they are Dubai-based or visitors from abroad will have time to familiarize themselves with the facility to ensure they are prepared to compete to the highest standard when racing begins in January.”

“Meydan was introduced to the world on the eve of the Dubai World Cup in 2007 and to have it ready for racing in January 2010 is a remarkable achievement.”

“Horse racing around the world is showcased at great racecourses with wonderful histories and traditions, but with Meydan we believe we are taking the sport to a new level and into a new era.”

Meydan will encompass two tracks, a 1,750m all-weather surface inside a 2,400m turf course, while its Grandstand is unprecedented in the world of horse racing; accommodating 60,000 people and including a five-star hotel, marina, IMAX cinema, six haute cuisine restaurants and a museum.

“The opening of Meydan will be a defining moment in the sport's global history. Unparalleled levels of luxury, customer comfort and racing technology will be combined to create the ultimate horseracing experience,” Mr. Al Tayer said.

"We wanted to develop a world-class facility and I cannot think of any other racecourse in the world that will rival it.”

"As we are setting the benchmark in terms of world-class facilities, we want to complement that with increased prize-money of US$10 million, to continue to entice the best horses in the world for the 2010 Dubai World Cup.”

Derived from an Arabic word meaning „where people congregate and race‟, Meydan takes over from Nad Al Sheba which was Dubai‟s centre of racing from November 13, 1992 until the 2009 Dubai World Cup held earlier this year.

“Nad Al Sheba has had a proud history of racing in Dubai and that will continue with Meydan,” Mr. Al Tayer said, "But Meydan is not just for UAE, it's for the whole world."

The opening round of the Al Maktoum Challenge has been the traditional starting point for the Dubai International Racing Carnival and the first Carnival to be held at Meydan will again close with the Super Thursday meeting on March 4, 2010.

The first staging of the Dubai World Cup at Meydan will be on Saturday, March 27, 2010.

“To build such a facility and have minimal interruption to our racing has been phenomenal,” said Mr. Frank Gabriel Jr., CEO of the Dubai Racing Club.

“The Dubai International Racing Carnival will be held as usual in 2010 and while its growth has been evident throughout its six year existence, we are expecting unprecedented numbers next year.” - Dubai Racing Club

 

 

'Fourfa' at the Big T

 Big City Life proved too good for the best around as he took top honours in the Vodacom Durban July this past weekend.

Although not on the scale of Greyville, Gary Alexander Racing Stables also scored a coup this past weekend when they saddled four winners at Turffontein on July day.

The first of the victories came in the second race of the day where Woodland Wild easily accounted for a maiden field of fillies and mares.

Two races later Arabian Mist continued his winning ways as he made light of 62kg and ran away from the opposition under a hand-and-heels ride by Andrew Fortune. Stablemate Salcedo showed good improvement in finishing third.

The fifth race looked like one of the more competitive races on the card but the stable pairing of Connoisseur and Sirius Star proved too good with the latter prevailing over the former. Sirius Star's win came off the back of a lengthy break and the performance bodes well for the son of Fantastic Light who appears to have a few more wins in the tank.

Superfederation was next up and put up a good effort from a wide draw when finishing third in a handicap whilst, arguably, the performance of the afternoon came in the eighth race where promising South Country put up a gallant effort under 65,5kg to dead-heat with Cappoquin. The young speedster conceded 8kg to Cappoquin and the manner in which he performed suggests that he has far greater heights to reach.

Congratulations to all the owners and may there be many more.

 

 

 

 

 

 

JULY PEN PICS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.POCKET POWER

 Trainer: Mike Bass           Jockey: Bernard Fayd’Herbe

Runs: 30 Wins: 16 Places: 11 Stakes earned: R8 241 040

Comment: South Africa’s champion. He has done it all and looks for the July double after dead-heating last year with Dancer’s Daughter. His preparation has been perfect and he is unbeaten since winning the Queen’s Plate in January. He is the horse to beat.

 

2.OUR GIANT

Trainer: Charles Laird      Jockey: Anton Marcus

Runs: 28 Wins: 11 Places: 12 Stakes earned: R2 758 005

Comment: Very capable and the stable elect after he drew well and Smart Banker drew poorly. Has yet to prove he stays this distance and if the pace is on, which it is likely to be, then he could be found wanting late. In his favour is jockey Anton Marcus who has won the July no less than four times. Could make the frame if there is no pace.

 

3. BUY AND SELL

Trainer: Sean Tarry          Jockey: Felix Coetzee

Runs: 24 Wins: 7 Places: 9 Stakes earned: 1 995 755

Comment: Was well beaten by Pocket Power in the July last year and although he is better off at the weights this time round, his recent form has not been great and he could battle here. Looks like a mid-division finisher.

 

4. KAPIL

Trainer: Stan Elley            Jockey: Piere Strydom

Runs: 20 Wins: 7 Places: 8 Stakes earned: R897 040

Comment: Has had six runs in South Africa since campaigning abroad, including a very good run in the J&B Met where he finished fourth behind Pocket Power, beaten 3,5 lengths. He is 3,5kg better off at the weights now which should put him a lot closer to his conqueror. Many feel he does not stay but at the age of six he looks capable of seeing the trip out now and is one for the placings.

 

5. SMART BANKER

Trainer: Charles Laird      Jockey: Brian Nyawo

Runs: 14 Wins: 8 Places:  Stakes earned: R2 753 380

Comment: An obviously talented horse that was the initial stable elect but a draw of 17 changed things. He has only done enough when winning and the form of recent wins is not inspiring. He has it all to do from the draw but looks capable of running up close, but perhaps not making the frame.

 

6. RIVER JETEZ

Trainer: Mike Bass           Jockey: Glen Hatt

Runs: 24 Wins: 6 Places: 16 Stakes earned: R1 486 160

Comment: The full sister to Pocket Power has gotten better as she has gotten older. She was beaten a length by Pocket Power in the Met and is 2kg better off at the weights now which, theoretically, puts her right there with him. She has, however, drawn poorly which is like to see her coming from well off the pace over the last 400m. She still looks held by her brother but is one for the first three placings.

 

7. BIG CITY LIFE

Trainer: Glen Kotzen      Jockey: Greg Cheyne

Runs: 11 Wins: 6 Places: 3 Stakes earned: R1 620 625

Comment: Arguably the best three-year-old in the country at the moment. He has taken the classic route to the July, winning the KZN Guineas and then the Daily News 2000. He has drawn well and carries a light weight for an improving three-year-old. Was beaten by 2,25 lengths in the Green Point Stakes by Pocket Power and meets him at level weights on that performance, suggesting that he should again be about two lengths off the champion. Good sort and has place credentials.

 

8. TROPICAL EMPIRE

Trainer: Duncan Howells               Jockey: Brandon Lerena

Runs: 27 Wins: 7 Places: 11 Stakes earned: R756 400

Comment: This six-year-old entire has been at the top of his game of late, winning two of his last three runs, including the Greyville 1900. He has pole position from which he jumps which could be problematic if he is slowly away. Enjoys the course and looks capable of getting into the minor money.

 

9. FOREST PATH

Trainer: Mike de Kock    Jockey: Warren Kennedy

Runs: 13 Wins: 4 Places: 4 Stakes earned: R1 840 130

Comment: A talented three-year-old but he is as hot as a blue flame. He has the worst of draws to overcome and adding that to his temperament, this looks like a tough ask.

 

10. LIKEITHOT

Trainer: Charles Laird      Jockey: Alec Forbes

Runs: 31 Wins: 6 Places: 12 Stakes earned: R1 403 510

Comment: A game campaigner but he might be past his best. Has a wide draw to tackle and has not won since November last year. Tough task here.

 

11 ALUMINIUM

Trainer: Geoff Woodruff              Jockey: Mark Khan

Runs: 18 Wins: 5Places: 9 Stakes earned: R879 900

Comment: A very game front-runner and from draw 18 jockey Mark Khan looks to have no choice but to go to the front and make every post a winning one. Tough ask and looks set to be swamped late when the big guns start to fire.

 

12. CATMANDU

Trainer: Andre Kirsten   Jockey: Kevin Derere

Runs: 27 Wins: 5 Places: 13 Stakes earned: R984 360

Comment: A good handicapper who was given a chance of winning the July last year. He ran on late but finished out of the money. Has a better draw this year but there is little to suggest that he can get any closer this year.

 

13. THANDOLWAMI

Trainer: Craig Eudey        Jockey: Raymond Danielson

Runs: 25 Wins: 6 Places: 10 Stakes earned: R820 150

Comment: The first of the KZN runners. He has shown himself to be very capable on his day and from a good draw deserves respect. He still has to prove that he can mix it with the very best around so this will be his acid test. He looks capable of getting into the money.

 

14 BOUQUET-GARNI

Trainer: Mike de Kock    Jockey: M J Byleveld

Runs: 11 Wins: 4 Places: 1 Stakes earned: R1 086 375

Comment: This three-year-old has been highly touted by his stable and showed his ability when winning the SA Derby. Put up an eye-catching performance in a sprint last time out and could be looking to emulate his now-retired stablemate Greys Inn who won the Derby then the July. Keep an eye out for this one. He could be the surprise package here.

 

15 METEOR SHOWER

Trainer: Mike Bass           Jockey: Kelvin Jupp

Runs: 24 Wins: 7 Places: 6 Stakes earned: R434 060

Comment: Has really done very little to suggest that he can win, or even place, in this race, He has a good draw in his favour but that is about all.

 

16 THUNDERING JET

Trainer: Mike Bass           Jockey: Muzi Yeni

Runs: 22 Wins: 4 Places: 8 Stakes earned: R385 705

Comment: Looks pretty much in the same boat as his stablemate Meteor Shower. Also has a good draw but looks well held in this company.

 

17 CAPE TOWN

Trainer: Gavin van Zyl     Jockey: Karis Teetan (apprentice)

Runs: 21 Wins: 4 Places: 11 Stakes earned: R340 630

Comment: This KZN-trained competitor has come good at the right time and was flying when finishing second to Tropical Empire in the Greyville 1900. Has drawn well and is ridden by a very talented apprentice. Could take home one of the lesser stake cheques.

 

18 LONDON GUEST

Trainer: Tony Rivalland  Jockey: Derryl Daniels

Runs: 16 Wins: 6 Places: 8 Stakes earned: R485 760

Comment: A lightly-races six-year-old who comes into the July off a two-month break. Races well fresh and has a decent draw but is held on form by Tropical Empire which makes this a tough ask.

 

19 OUTCOME

Trainer: Mike Miller        Jockey: Gerrit Schlechter

Runs: 26 Wins: 10 Places: 6 Stakes earned: R842 890

Comment: A very talented mare trained in KwaZulu-Natal. She won the Garden Province Stakes last year and might be deemed best over a mile but she has done well when sent over further. Well drawn and partnered by Gerrit Schlechter who won this race aboard Eyeofthetiger in 2006. Definitely one to through into bigger quartets.

 

20 ZIRCONEUM

Trainer: Mike de Kock    Jockey: Anthony Delpech

Runs: 14 Wins: 4 Places: 9 Stakes earned: R1 251 550

Comment: The final thoroughbred in the field and the only three-year-old filly. She was impressive when winning the Woolavington in her last outing and dispelled any doubts about her staying but 19 draw asks a lot of this young lass. Stable jockey Anthony Delpech is the rider and is sure to give of his best but the pairing look likely to battle from this gate.

 

 

Just Julie’s

VODACOM DURBAN JULY PREVIEW

4 JULY 2009

 

Following is the transcript from the two Tellytrack shows that Julie Alexander did about the Vodacom Durban July:

It’s the race every owner, trainer, jockey thrives to win. It’s where thoroughbred’s become champions and champion’s become legends –

It’s no other than the Vodacom Durban July

Standing on the home ground of SA’s most prestigious horserace it brings to mind how many champions have graced this Greyville turf in the past, the likes of Sea Cottage, Numeral, Colorado King, Elevation, Politician, El Picha, London News & Ipi Tombe to name but a few.

With the Vodacom Durban July less than 4 weeks away many runners will be having their final preparations and others will be going out at their very best to win so they too can take a place in this year’s July.

And what a July it’s going to be…How unique that both brother and sister will be looking to take the throne of hierarchy in this year’s race….

Our Reigning King - POCKET POWER    (Clairwood – 24/05/09    Race  8     win)

Dead-heated with Dancer’s Daughter in last year’s July and with 58kg on his back stands out as the horse to anchor in all doubles and trebles. His scintillating win over 1450m recently showed what good form he’s in. He has done it all and looks set to do it all again.

The Queen - RIVER JETEZ    (Clairwood – 27/05/09    Race  8     win)

Stablemate and sibling to Pocket Power also gave notice of how well she is when winning over the same distance at Clairwood last month. On the form of her run in the J&B Met, she could be the biggest danger to her brother. Weight in the July will be the real indicator as to how well River Jetez will fare against Pocket Power.

SMART BANKER      (Turffontein – 25/04/09    Race  9     win)

Would have had his prep run on Saturday, his first run back since winning the Champions Challenge beating Aluminium and Thandolwami who many considered an unlucky loser. Albeit, that it was a good win, Thandolwami could not frank the form of that race in his next outing, the Betting World 1900 in which he finished 10^th..

 

TROPICAL EMPIRE    (Greyville – 22/05/09    Race  7     win)

Winner of the Betting World 1900 and of his last two starts, since relocating to his new stable of Duncan Howells. A few weeks ago he may not have been considered for the July, now with this victory behind him he is sure to make up the final field.

An age-old argument that raises its head at this time of year is how good the three-year-olds are relative to the older horses. Well, arguably, there has been very little to get excited about with the three-year-olds. The form of the three-year-old classic run earlier in the year is something of a mix-and-match.

 

BIG CITY LIFE   (Greyville – 12/05/09    Race  8     win)

However, Big City Life was impressive when winning the KZN Guineas at Greyville and could be the best of the bunch. He met older horses early in his three-year-old career, where he finished second to Pocket Power, beaten just over 2 lengths when receiving 7kg. He will not be getting that kind of weight in the July but he is a stronger and a better horse now.

BOUQUET GARNI  (Turffontein – 25/04/09    Race  8     win)

A three-year-old that deserves mention is the SA Derby winner, Bouquet Garni.  Prior to his win in the Derby he had given very little indication that he was a classy individual, but he won the Derby with authority, beating Magical and Fenerbahce comfortably. On the face of that form, it is not good enough to feature in the July this year but Greys Inn won the Derby and went on to win the July. Same trainer, same path?

 

CONCLUSION

I have only touched on a few horses tonight and with the Daily News 2000 and Woolavington having been run after this show was recorded, a lot more light will have shining on the three-year-olds. My next July update will be in a fortnight’s where I hope to give you a closer look at how the July could unveil.

 

SHOW 2

INTRO SHOW 2

In my first look at how the Vodacom Durban July could play out, I spoke about Pocket Power, River Jetez, Smart Banker and Tropical Empire and also looked at two three-year-olds, Big City Life and Bouquet-Garni.

Since that show we have seen the running of the Woolavington, the Daily News 2000 and the Gold Challenge. All three of these races saw July contenders in action. It is not just over 2 weeks to Africa’s Greatest Race and it is time to make those all important choices – who will win and who will fill the next three placings.

Like any good card game, you need luck and in racing that luck could come in running, so a good draw is important and this is something to keep in mind once the final field is announced.

1. THE ACE IN THE PACK

Few will be looking past Pocket Power as the winner of this year’s July and he does look hard to beat after winning the Gold Challenge in a very comfortable fashion. He looks as good as ever, has had a perfect preparation and looks every inch the champion he is.

2. The Queen

River Jetez also showed in the Gold Challenge that come Saturday 4 July she will be ready to put her brother and the rest to the test. She is a quality mare and has to be one for the minor placings.

3. The Joker in the Pack

A horse that shot to attention in Gold Challenge was Stan Elley’s Kapil. This six-year-old son of Jallad found the best of finishes in the Gold Challenge and ran second to Pocket Power at level weights. He will be better off at the weights in two weeks time and if he gets the trip he makes a lot of appeal to fill a first four placing.

The rest of the deck

Big City Life won the Daily News as expected but perhaps left a few more questions than answers. Was the win good enough to challenge the great Pocket Power? I guess only the race will tell but for me I think he might need a little more than he showed in the Daily News but he still rates as the three-year-old in the field.

Zirconeum dispelled any rumours that she could not stay 2000m when she easily won the Woolavington and that performance is sure to garner her support for the July, but she might be found wanting against the class she meets there.

Charles Laird’s Our Giant was run out of the placings in the Gold Challenge and has stamina doubts while stablemate Smart Banker could be the stable elect in the race.

 

CONCLUSION

Although I have not looked at all the runners that could possibly make up the final field and I might have missed one or two that deserved mention, I think that come the end of the day on Saturday 4 July, Pocket Power will be crowned King again with River Jetez, Kapil and Smart Banker all having to bow down in the lesser placings and acknowledge the ruler of the turf.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

JULY FINAL FIELD

The field for the continent’s greatest race, the Vodacom Durban July, was announced at a function at Greyville racecourse on Thursday afternoon and all went according to plan for South Africa’s champion race horse, Pocket Power.

The imposing gelding drew barrier position 12, a draw his trainer, Mike Bass, was not unhappy with. “I am pleased with his draw, especially relative to the other horses that I considered his main rivals”, said Bass on Thursday.

Pocket Power shared top honours in this race last year when he dead-heated with Dancer’s Daughter who is not in this year’s field due to injury.

One of the country’s top three-year-olds, Big City Life, drew well at barrier position 10 but has it all to do in this company.

The final field for the 2009 edition of the Vodacom Durban July, with saddle cloth number, draw, horse, weight, jockey and trainer, is:

1              12           Pocket Power                    58           B Fayd’Herbe     M Bass
2              2              Our Giant                            55           A Marcus             C Laird
3              13           Buy And Sell                       53           F Coetzee            S Tarry
4              5              Kapil                                      52.5        P Strydom           S Elley
5              17           Smart Banker                     52.5                                        C Laird
6              15           River Jetez                          51.5        G Hatt                   M Bass
7              10           Big City Life                         51           G Cheyne            G Kotzen
8              1              Tropical Empire                 51           B Lerena              D Howells
9              20           Forest Path                         51           W Kennedy        M de Kock
10           16           Likeithot                              51           A Forbes              C Laird
11           18           Aluminium                          51           M Khan                                G Woodruff
12           8              Catmandu                           51           K Derere              A Kirsten
13           7              Thandolwami                     51           R Danielson        C Eudey
14           14           Bouquet-Garni                  51           M Byleveld         M de Kock
15           6              Meteor Shower                                51                                           M Bass
16           3              Thundering Jet                  51           M Yeni                  M Bass
17           4              Cape Town                         51           K Teetan              G van Zyl
18           11           London Guest                   51           D Daniels             T Rivalland
19           9              Outcome                             50           G Schlechter      M Miller
20           19           Zirconeum                          50           A Delpech           M de Kock          

TURFFONTEIN 31 MAY
'Treble at Turffontein'

The stable saddled seven runners at Turffontein on Sunday 31 May and when all was said and done, three had been victorious.
The first winner of the afternoon was the Summerhill Stud-bred Mlamuli, a daughter of Albarahin. The three-year-old filly was having her fifth career run and under apprentice Derrick David made the most of the best draw on the inside track and recorded the victory for owners Peter and Ian Gibson, Ray Chan, J D M Chau, Andrew Yuen, Mark Watling, W Wu and Gary Alexander.
The second winner of the afternoon was the old 'war horse'Bhekinkosi, another acquisition from the Summerhill Stud.
This six-year-old son of Kahal recorded his 10th career win when under a driving ride from apprentice David he came through late to win well. The R65 000 purchase has now earned in excess of R600 000 and he looks capable of adding to that tally for his owners Ashnee Devachander, Greg Sadie, Fred Wilensky, R J Motlogeloa and Mr and Mrs G A Seager.
The last winner of the day came in the last race where the imposing Mick's Machine scored his first career win in very impressive fashion, thrashing the opposition by over 5 lengths. Although he has more to do to show himself as one better than the average, the three-year-old son of Muhtafal has much in his favour and looks like yet another good acquisition for Turkish-based owner Fedai Kahraman who this coming weekend will be in South Afirca to watch his Kahal colt Fenerbahce contest the Daily News 2000 at Greyville. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLAIRWOOD 27 MAY
'South Country blows 'em away'

 

John Robertson's talented three-year-old South Country had locked horns with the country's best speedsters in recent outings and had acquitted himself well.
At Clairwood on Thursday he dropped in class but the performance he delivered was nothing less than scintilating.
South Country easily spread-eagled the oppostion over the Clairwood 1000m and went past the winning post as if on a morning canter.
The youngster is learning to settle and if he continues to mature many more wins look inevitable.
Well done to all!


South Country


TURFFONTEIN 25 APRIL
'Good day at the office'

Although Arabian Mist was the only winner on Champions Challenge Day at Turffontein on Saturday 25 April 2009, the stable horses performed well throughout the day and these performances bode well for the upcoming Champions Season in KwaZulu-Natal.
Arabian Mist won well over 1100m with the blinekrs on and the manner of the victory suggests there may be more to come. Good luck to owners Mrs J P Gardner, & Messrs M Berzack, B Gardner, M Gerber, G Sadie and L van Rooyen.

Hidden Rave put up yet another good performance in top company and this son of Var's first win is not far off.
Lightning Lecture and South Country both did well in the Computaform Sprint, going down to arguably the best three sprinters in the country.
The horse that really came to the fore on the day was the three-year-old son of Kahal, Fenerbahce. He showed that his last two performances were not what he is all about and by finishing third in the SA Derby gave notice that the upcoming Classics are not out of his reach.




TURFFONTEIN 18 April 2009
'Bkekinkosi makes it win number 9'

Bhekinkosi, the six-year-old son of Kahal out of the Sunny North mare Amabokoboko, recorded his ninth career win at Turffontein on Saturday April 18.
The evergreen gelding continued to be a stalwart for owners Devachunder, Sadie, Wilensky, Motlogekia and the Seagars.
Bhekinkosi contested a 92 merit-rated handicap over 1600m and under apprentice David proved too good on the day under 59,5kg.
There's still a lot of racing in the 'young' six-year-old and more stake cheques look inevitable.



VODACOM DURBAN JULY ENTRIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

@ 16 APRIL 2009

 Greyville racecourse was the venue where the Champions Season launch took place on Thursday 16 April 2009.
Amidst the glitz and glamour of the unveiling was the announcement of the first nominations for the continent's greatest race, the Vodacom Durban July.
Gary Alexander Racing Stables has two nominees at this stage, Fenerbahce and Spring Garland, and should they progress at the top levels of ability they have shown, both might be representing the stable come the first Saturday in July.
The first nominees for the Vodacom Durban July are: 

HORSE	AGE	TRAINER
ALUMINIUM (ARG)	(4G)	Geoff Woodruff
ALWAYS	(3G)	Charles Laird
BIG CITY LIFE	(3C)	Glen Kotzen
BOUQUET-GARNI	(3G)	Mike de Kock
BUY AND SELL	(5G)	Sean Tarry
CAPTAIN SCOTT	(3C)	Alec Laird
CAPTAIN'S TABLE	(3G)	Dominic Zaki
CASEY'S SON	(4G)	James Butterworth
CATMANDU	(5G)	Andre Kirsten
CROWN OF POWER	(4G)	Charles Laird
DANCER'S DAUGHTER	(5M)	Justin Snaith
DUAL ALLIANCE	(3G)	Sean Tarry
EL PADRINO	(4G)	Dave Goss
FENERBAHCE	(3C)	Gary Alexander
FOREST PATH	(3G)	Mike de Kock
FULL POWER (ARG)	(4G)	Geoff Woodruff
GILMORE GIRL (BRZ)	(3F)	Dylan Cunha
GOAT	(3F)	Paul Lafferty
GYPSY'S WARNING	(3F)	Ormond Ferraris
JUST LIKE AL	(4G)	Brett Crawford
KAPIL	(6G)	Stan Elley
KEEN WARRIOR (NZ)	(5G)	Tony Rivalland
LIKEITHOT	(6G)	Charles Laird
LITTLEREDCORVETTE	(4G)	Glen Puller
LONDON GUEST	(6G)	Tony Rivalland
MAGICAL	(3G)	Ormond Ferraris
METEOR SHOWER (IRE	(6H)	Mike Bass
NECO	(4G)	Sean Tarry
ORACY (NZ)	(3C)	Charles Laird
OUTCOME	(5M)	Michael Miller
PIRATE'S GOLD	(5G)	Glen Kotzen
POCKET POWER	(6G)	Mike Bass
RAY SAUCE	(4G)	Sean Tarry
RIVER JETEZ	(5M)	Mike Bass
ROYAL REZ	(3G)	Tyrone Zackey
SENOR VERSACE	(4G)	Charles Laird
SINGING SWORD	(6H)	Tyrone Zackey
SMART BANKER	(4G)	Charles Laird
SPORTING BOY	(3G)	Alec Laird
SPRING GARLAND	(5M)	Gary Alexander
SURFIN' USA	(5G)	Mark Dixon
THUNDERING JET	(4G)	Mike Bass
TROPICAL EMPIRE (A	(6H)	Duncan Howells
VISION OF GRANDEUR	(5H)	Justin Snaith
ZIRCONEUM	(3F)	Mike de Kock

 

Total Entries: 45

 

Please note:

• First Supplementary Entries close at 11am on Monday, 4 May 2009
• Second Supplementary Entries close at 11am on Monday, 8 June 2009
• Weights Published on Tuesday, 9 June 2009
• Final Field will be announced live on Tellytrack on Thursday, 18 June 2009
• Public Gallops will take place at Greyville Racecourse on Thursday, 25 June 2009

 



VAAL 7 APRIL 2009
'Counter Tenor dominant in dirt'

The National Yearling Sale is history and it was back to racing on Tuesday where the meeting took place at the Vaal on the sand.
Counter Tenor contested the sixth race at the Free State track and it was into the winner's box again for the son of Opera King owned by John Finlayson and Dave Preston.
This win was the third win on sand for Counter Tenor and the dominant performance suggests that there could be more to come.
To see the performance, visit: http://www.racingassociation.co.za/show_video.php?rid=2949



NATIONAL YEARLING SALE

ALTHOUGH the provisional three-day aggregate of  R152,12 million recorded at the end of  the 2009 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale on Monday was 24% down on the 2008 figure of R201,05 million, accolades came from local and international buyers.

``In the current economic climate the South African National Yearling Sale is without a doubt the best performing thoroughbred sale in the world,’’ said Australian buyer Paul Guy, echoing auctioneer Steve Davis’ earlier assessment that this was his “strongest sale in the last six’’ he’d conducted around the globe.

Team Valor International’s Barry Irwin, on his fifth successive visit, secured eight foals and summed up the event, saying, “The value here is superb, it is a joy to come to this sale and I’ll be booking for next year.’’

Irwin, renowned as one of the shrewdest buyers on the planet, described his purchase of Klawervlei Stud’s Lot 587, a daughter of Captain Al from Grade 1 winner Roxanne, as “incredible, because I would have gone to well over R1 million for her and paid only R600 000.’’ He added: “She’s probably the nicest looking filly I’ve seen. They don’t come better looking than this.’’
Summerhill Stud enjoyed the honour of selling the top-priced colt and filly at the sale.  Lot 211, Uncle Tommy, a half-brother to Rebel King, was knocked down to Mike Bass for R2,4 million and Team Valor bought first-season sire Solskjaer’s daughter Matara Garden for R1,5 million. Mick Goss of Summerhill commented:  “This was a very good sale and we are delighted with our achievement.’’

Klawervlei Stud was the top vendor by aggregate and Stud Manager John Koster said: “We are very proud as Klawervlei had only 13 yearlings at all the sales when we started four years ago.’’ The Bonnievale stud farm sold 33 lots this year for a combined total of R14,555 million.
The leading buyer was trainer Mike Azzie, representing Prancing Horse Stud, who will be taking home 14 yearlings bought for R9,455 million.

Champion Stallion Jet Master topped the sires list with 47 of his offspring sold for R19,81 million or an average of R421 489.

BloodStock SA’s CEO, Jan Naudé said he was most pleased with the results as they were significantly better than figures posted at thoroughbred auctions around the globe since the start of the real economic meltdown. He noted also that the passout rate of 89% was much better than the corresponding rates at other recent sales worldwide. The average price of R310 449 was only 20.6% down on last year’s record average, R391 000.

BSA’s Sales Manager Caroline Simpson thanked Emperors Palace for their continued support and wished Emperors CEO Bob Yearham a speedy recovery from illness. “This was a good team effort from the top down and I am truly excited that we could hold our own in these times,’’ she said.

The final statistics for NYS 2009 are available on www.tba.co.za

TURFFONTEIN 4 April 2009
'Spring Time In Autumn'


Spring Garland, a five-year-old mare by Rambo Dancer out of the mare Garden Verse, showed her class when at the odds of 25-1 she battled gamely to get the better of well-performed She's On Fire in the Grade 2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes at Turffontein on Saturday 4 April 2009.
Spring Garland's win was the fifth of her career and by adding the first stake of R200 000 to her earnings, she has now amassed just over half a million rand for her owners Greg Sadie, Fred Wilensky, Myron Berzack, Barry Clements and Mick Goss, the nominee of the Summerhill Stud Syndicate.
Purchased for R180 000 at the National Yearling Sale in 2005, Spring Garland has already turned a tidy profit and when her days on the track are done a career as a broodmare looks inevitable.
Congratulations to the owners and keep those eyes peeled for the proginey of this talented mare.


TURFFONTEIN 28 MARCH 2009
'SUPER PERFORMANCE'

It might just have been Superfederation's third run but the son of Kahal showed that he is on his game and won the opening event of Classic day with ease.
The win was only in maiden company but the manner of the performance suggested that there could be far more to come.
Congratulations to owners John Finlayson, Bruce Gardner, Kirk Michael and the Freeracer Syndicate. 
Last but not least, congratulations also go to Julie Alexander in whose colours the Summerhill-bred colt runs.
To see the performance, visit http://www.racingassociation.co.za/show_video.php?rid=2852 

  
BATTLE LINES DRAWN FOR CLASSIC

With the withdrawal of Oracy, the R2 million Triple Crown bonus for winning the Guineas, the SA Classic and the SA Derby on 25 April will not be won this year.
Nonetheless there is a very strong field of 14 runners with second-place dead-heaters in the Guineas, Royal Rez and Cerise Cherry, leading the way.
Trainer Tyrone Zackey will be confident Royal Rez can get the victory he so narrowly missed in the Guineas, especially over the extra 200m. Jockey S’manga Khumalo dropped the rein with 100m to go and that probably cost him more than the short-head margin that he was beaten.
He is beautifully drawn at No 3 and will have in-form Gavin Lerena in the irons this time.
Paul Matchett holds a strong hand with Cerise Cherry, Mount Hood and Broadsword. While Cerise Cherry dead heated for second, Mount Hood was just a further 0.10-lengths back in fourth. Marthinus Mienie and Robbie Hill reprise their riding roles on Cerise Cherry and Mount Hood respectively.
Mike de Kock has Forest Path and Bouquet-Garni. On merit rating Forest Path is the best-weighted runner but it is questionable whether he will see out 1800m. He did run a very good second to Mentor over 1400m last Saturday in a field of older horses and was running on at the finish.
De Kock will no doubt be looking at Zirconeum to keep the stable flag flying in the SA Fillies Classic, also over 1800m. As an impressive winner of the Gauteng Fillies Guineas, the Jallad filly is in line to claim the R1 million bonus that goes with winning the Triple Tiara. She will need to win this event as well as the SA Oaks over 2450m at Turffontein on 25 April.
She will have to get the better of Gypsy’s Warning, who skipped the Fillies Guineas in favour of the Grade 1 Empress Club Stakes where she finished third to Dancer’s Daughter and Milk And Honey.
Piere Strydom rides Gypsy’s Warning for Ormond Ferraris while Johnny Geroudis is up on Zirconeum.       

Final fields for the feature to be run at Turffontein on Saturday, 28 March.
S A CLASSIC (G1) R2 million 1800m
1 - 9 FOREST PATH (M F De Kock) R Danielson 57.0 - 107
2 - 8 CAPTAIN'S TABLE (D Zaki) P Strydom 57.0 - 104
3 - 7 BOUQUET-GARNI (M F De Kock) A Delpech 57.0 - 101
4 - 13 CERISE CHERRY (P F Matchett) M Mienie 57.0 - 101
5 - 2 MOUNT HOOD (P F Matchett) R Hill 57.0 - 101
6 - 3 ROYAL REZ (T Zackey) G Lerena 57.0 - 101
7 - 12 SPORTING BOY (A G Laird) G Wrogemann 57.0 - 101
8 - 11 FENERBAHCE (G M Alexander) A Fortune 57.0 - 99
9 - 5 DISA LEADER (G V Woodruff) M Khan 57.0 - 96
10 - 14 ALWAYS (C Laird) A Marcus 57.0 - 94
11 - 4 BROADSWORD (P F Matchett) R Simons 57.0 - 94
12 - 1 SEATTLE ICE (G V Woodruff) F Coetzee 57.0 - 93
13 - 6 MPUMELELO (T Zackey) B Lerena 57.0 - 92
14 - 10 IRON WOOD (A G Laird) J Geroudis 57.0 - 91
Same Trainer: (1,3) (4,5,11) (6,13) (7,14) (9,12)

 SA FILLIES CLASSIC (G1) R1 million 1800m
1 - 4 GYPSY'S WARNING (O A Ferraris) P Strydom 57.0 - 105
2 - 8 ZIRCONEUM (M F De Kock) J Geroudis 57.0 - 100
3 - 11 ON HER TOES (M G Azzie) F Coetzee 57.0 - 99
4 - 5 SWEET THERESA (O A Ferraris) K Teetan 57.0 - 96
5 - 14 LOUPE (M F De Kock) A Delpech 57.0 - 94
6 - 1 SHARP MISTRESS (G V Woodruff) M Khan 57.0 - 93
7 - 7 FAKAZI (P F Matchett) M Mienie 57.0 - 92
8 - 2 GOLDEN SCOLD (P F Matchett) R Hill 57.0 - 92
9 - 9 KIRIBATI (S G Tarry) B Lerena 57.0 - 92
10 - 10 CAPTAIN'S GAL (S G Tarry)  ............... 57.0 - 89
11 - 13 BEDLOE'S ISLAND (S G Tarry) A Fortune 57.0 - 86
12 - 6 AUTUMN GOLD (S G Tarry)  ............... 57.0 - 81
13 - 15 BASTILLE BELLE (B Webber) G Lerena 57.0 - 81
14 - 12 CANDY SINGER (M F De Kock) R Simons 57.0 - 80
15 - 3 MAJESTIC LEGEND (C Laird) A Marcus 57.0 - 77
Same Trainer: (1,4) (2,5,14) (7,8) (9,10,11,12)
- Phumelela 19 March 2009

BROTHER BEAR

A stalwart of the stable and a sentimental friend to his owners and the yard, Brother Bear, suffered a life-ending bout of collic this morning and had to be put down.
The quirky son of Hanging Road was purchased by Dean as a weanling and, although not fashionably bred, went on to win six races from 34 career runs.
He always gave of his best and was a warrior in every sence of the word.
Although there have been better horses and there will be better horses than Brother Bear, he was an owner's dream and a sad loss to the stable, especially to Dean.
March 16, 2009

VAAL THURSDAY 12 MARCH 2009
'TIME AND RESOLVE PAY DIVIDENDS'

Argentinean-bred RESOLUTIVA defied odds of 9-1 and captured the fifth race at the Vaal, a 69 merit-rated fillies and mares handicap over 1200m. The daughter of Mutakddim put a few moderate efforts behind her and won well, giving owners John Finlayson and Dave Preston a good day as their second runner of the afternoon, COUNTER TENOR, finished third after coming off a break. The second winner of the day for the stable came in the eighth race, a 76 merit-rated handicap over 1600m, where TRADE TIME won well under Andrew Fortune. Trade Time was a welcome winner for stalwart owners Greg Sadie, Myron Berzack and Kirk Michael. Good luck to all and may there be many more.



TURFFONTEIN SATURDAY 7 MARCH 2009
'LIGHTNING STRIKES'

LIGHTNING LECTURE showed his class as he simply cruised past the opposition to win the fourth race on the Gauteng Guineas card. The five-year-old son of Lecture carried a hefty 62.5kg to victory and gave notice that he is back to best and looks well placed to add a few more wins to his very credible race record. LIGHTNING LECTURE is owned by Mrs Ashnee Devachunder who has a number of other useful thoroughbreds in the stable. Good luck to Ashnee and Lightning Lecture. Too view the race, go to http://www.racingassociation.co.za/show_video.php?rid=2687


picture: Racing Association

KZN Winter Season

The forthcoming new look KwaZulu-Natal feature race season, which incorporates Champions Season, launches on Wednesday, 1 April 2009, and promises punters and racegoers a four month treat of outstanding horseracing action.

 The revised programme is designed to ensure a better flow of feature races, increased opportunities for trainers and added earlier incentives to get the juvenile programme under way. In terms of Gold Circle’s commitment to the Graded Races Standing Committee’s minimum stakes criteria guidelines, certain of the Grade 1, Grade 2 and Listed races have enjoyed stakes increases.  For the duration of the season, a feature race has also been scheduled every weekend to maintain the momentum and public interest.

The Juvenile feature race programme has been restructured and sees two new races in the R100 000 Sentinel Stakes and the R100 000 King’s Pact Stakes (Fillies), which will be run at Clairwood over 1000m  on Wednesday 4 March and Sunday 8 March respectively.  The Grade 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes and the Grade 3 Strelitizia Stakes (Fillies), both previously run over 1200m,  will now be contested over 1000m at Clairwood on 1 April.
The Grade 2 Umkomazi Stakes and the Grade 2 Debutante will now be run on Sunday 3 May at Scottsville over 1200m – these two races were previously run over  1400m one week after the Grade 1’s at the end of May. They will now form an integral part of the build-up to the Grade 1 Gold Reef Resorts Medallion and the Grade 1 Allan Robertson Fillies Championship, both of which will, as previously, be run at the Golden Horse Casino Raceday on the last Saturday of May.

Two brand new races, the R120 000 Gatecrasher Stakes and the R120 000 Devon Air Stakes for fillies, have been scheduled to be run at Clairwood over 1450m on Saturday 13 June. These races are strategically placed two weeks after the Golden Horse Raceday and three weeks prior to the Grade 1 Golden Horseshoe and Grade 1 Golden Slipper for fillies, which will be run at Greyville on Vodacom Durban July day.

Champions day has lost two feature races as the Gold Circle Derby and the Gold Circle Oaks will now be run at Clairwood on Saturday 27 June  and no longer at the end of July, while the KZN Guineas (now the KRA Guineas) moves back into a May slot. A new race, the R120 000 In Full Flight Handicap, will be run over 1000m at the Greyville night meeting  on Friday 8 May, as a supporting feature to the Drill Hall Stakes. This new race is designed to give sprinters an alternate lead-up  opportunity to the Golden Horse Casino Sprint run three weeks later, bearing in mind that the WFA Computaform Sprint is run at Turffontein on Saturday 25 April.

The 1900m Darley Arabian will now be run as a race restricted to four year olds at Greyville on Canon Gold Cup day, which is three weeks after the KZN Breeders 1600m, which has been moved to July  from its original slot in May.

 For the record the feature race stakes adjustments are as follows:

Race	Venue	2009 Date	Distance	Old Stake	New Stake
GRADE 1
Golden Horse Sprint	Scottsville	30 May	1200m	R500 000	R600 000
Allan Robertson	Scottsville	30 May	1200m	R350 000	R500 000
SA Fillies Sprint	Scottsville	30 May	1200m	R350 000	R500 000
Gold Challenge	Clairwood	13 June	1600m	R600 000	R750 000
Golden Slipper	Greyville	4 July	1400m	R350 000	R500 000
Garden Province	Greyville	4 July	1600m	R350 000	R500 000
Mercury Sprint	Clairwood	19 July	1200m	R500 000	R600 000
Champions Cup	Clairwood	25 July	1800m	R500 000	R750 000
Thekweni Fillies Stakes	Clairwood	25 July	1600m	R350 000	R500 000
GRADE 2
Drill Hall Stakes	Greyville	8 May	1400m	R300 000	R350 000
KRA Guineas	Greyville	10 May	1600m	R300 000	R500 000
Greyville 1900	Greyville	22 May	1900m	R300 000	R350 000
Post Merchants	Greyville	19 June	1200m	R300 000	R350 000
Gold Circle Derby	Clairwood	27 June	2400m	R300 000	R350 000
Gold Vase	Greyville	4 July	3000m	R300 000	R400 000
Gold Bracelet	Greyville	1 August	2000m	R200 000	R250 000
LISTED
KZN Stakes	Scottsville	5 April	1000m	R100 000	R125 000
The Scarlet Lady	Scottsville	6 May	1800m	R100 000	R125 000
East Coast Handicap	Clairwood	24 May	2000m	R100 000	R125 000
Queen Palm Handicap	Scottsville	8 July	2400m	R100 000	R125 000
Darley Arabian	Greyville	1 August	1900m	R125 000	R150 000
Umgeni Handicap	Greyville	1 August	1000m	R125 000	R150 000

 -  Gold Circle

 

 

GAUTENG GUINEAS DAY

Gypsy’s Warning will be fully tested when she takes on Dancer’s Daughter in the Grade 1 Laurie Jaffee Empress Club Stakes on Guineas Day at Turffontein. The pair will clash over 1600m on Saturday 28 February.
The R1 million race is one of four graded races to take place on Guineas Day. The others are the Gauteng Guineas, the Gauteng Fillies Guineas and the Hawaii Stakes, all Grade 2 events.
The R1 million Gauteng Guineas also forms the first leg of the Triple Crown, the others being the R2 million SA Classic over 1800m on Saturday 28 March and the R1.5 million SA Derby over 2450m on Saturday 25 April. There is also a bonus of R2 million up for grabs for any horse who can capture all three races. All the races are scheduled to be run on the Turffontein standside track.
It could be another Mark Khan v Piere Strydom occasion in the Empress Club Stakes as the current champion jockey will ride Justin Snaith’s grey mare who has been in the care of Geoff Woodruff for the past few weeks.
Vodacom Durban July dead heater Dancer’s Daughter is weighted to win the race quite comfortably but Gypsy’s Warning has done well since joining Ormond Ferrais’s Turffontein yard and is one of the best of three-year-old fillies in the country.
Oracy has accepted for the Gauteng Guineas and is beautifully drawn at No 2. However, stable jockey Anton Marcus is slated to ride stable companion Always with no jockey named for the Dingaans winner at this stage.  
Missing from the field is Mike de Kock’s Meet A Malamala as the colt has been injured and had to be withdrawn. That leaves Bouquet-Garni as the only stable representative.
Captain’s Table ran second to Oracy in the Dingaans and should be competitive from a reasonably decent No 9 draw this time. Once again Piere Strydom gets the ride on Dominic Zaki’s charge.
The Gauteng Fillies Guineas has attracted a top-class field and looks the most competitive of the four features. De Kock has the talented Loupe, to be ridden by Anthony Delpech, and the consistent Zirconeum, Woodruff sends out Sharp Mistress and Charles Laird runs Thin Red Line.
Team Valor have two highly regarded runners in On Her Toes, trained by Mike Azzie, and newly acquire Sweet Theresa who is under the care of Ferraris.
Our Giant is weighted to win the Hawaii Stakes over 1400m but there are a number of runners who will be looking to lower his colours, including Succesful Bidder, Forest Path and Gliding High.    

Final fields
L JAFFEE EMPRESS CLUB STAKES (G1)(Fillies & Mares) R1 million 1600m
1 - 8 DANCER'S DAUGHTER (J S Snaith) M Khan 60.0 - 114
2 - 4 OUTCOME (M D Miller) R Hill 60.0 - 104
3 - 7 ORACLE NEWS (P V Lafferty) F Coetzee 60.0 - 101
4 - 2 GLENROSSAL (D N Stenger) F Naude 60.0 - 98
5 - 1 BLUE SWIFT (C Laird) A Marcus 60.0 - 97
6 - 5 KISS FOR KATE (P F Matchett) M Mienie 60.0 - 97
7 - 10 MOCHACHINO (M G Azzie) G Lerena 60.0 - 95
8 - 3 ANGEL FLIGHT (S G Tarry) A Fortune 60.0 - 92
9 - 6 MILK AND HONEY (M F De Kock) A Delpech 59.5 - 93
10 - 9 GYPSY'S WARNING (O A Ferraris) P Strydom 56.0 - 105
Same Trainer:
 
GAUTENG GUINEAS (G2) (1st Leg of SA Triple Crown)) R1 million 1600m
1 - 2 ORACY (C Laird)  ............... 57.0 - 106
2 - 9 CAPTAIN'S TABLE (D Zaki) P Strydom 57.0 - 104
3 - 12 SPORTING BOY (A G Laird) G Wrogemann 57.0 - 102
4 - 18 BOUQUET-GARNI (M F De Kock) A Delpech 57.0 - 101
5 - 17 CERISE CHERRY (P F Matchett) M Mienie 57.0 - 101
6 - 14 FENERBAHCE (G M Alexander) A Fortune 57.0 - 99
7 - 16 MOUNT HOOD (P F Matchett) R Hill 57.0 - 99
8 - 10 VERTICAL TAKEOFF (S G Tarry) G Figueroa 57.0 - 99
9 - 5 CHOISIR (G V Woodruff) F Coetzee 57.0 - 94
10 - 3 SEATTLE ICE (G V Woodruff) M Khan 57.0 - 93
11 - 11 MPUMELELO (T Zackey) B Lerena 57.0 - 92
12 - 7 ROYAL REZ (T Zackey) S Khumalo 57.0 - 92
13 - 8 IMPERIAL GESTURE (C Laird) G Lerena 57.0 - 91
14 - 4 CAPTAIN SCOTT (A G Laird) J Geroudis 57.0 - 90
15 - 13 GANGSTA FURY (B D Botes) D Habib 57.0 - 89
16 - 1 ALWAYS (C Laird) A Marcus 57.0 - 85
Reserve Runners
17 - 6 HUP-TWO-THREE (S J Gray)  Reserve 1 57.0 - 81
18 - 15 AL FELON (J Vos)  Reserve 2 57.0 - 80
Same Trainer: (1,13,16) (3,14) (5,7) (9,10) (11,12)
 

GAUTENG FILLIES GUINEAS (G2) (1st Leg SA Triple Tiara) R500 000 1600m
1 - 4 ZIRCONEUM (M F De Kock) J Geroudis 57.0 - 98
2 - 12 ON HER TOES (M G Azzie) G Lerena 57.0 - 99
3 - 6 SWEET THERESA (O A Ferraris) P Strydom 57.0 - 96
4 - 2 LOUPE (M F De Kock) A Delpech 57.0 - 94
5 - 5 FAKAZI (P F Matchett) M Mienie 57.0 - 92
6 - 14 KIRIBATI (S G Tarry) F Coetzee 57.0 - 92
7 - 11 THIN RED LINE (C Laird) A Marcus 57.0 - 91
8 - 1 SHARP MISTRESS (G V Woodruff) M Khan 57.0 - 88
9 - 9 GOLDEN SCOLD (P F Matchett) G Figueroa 57.0 - 86
10 - 10 RUTANA (S J Gray) S Brown 57.0 - 86
11 - 3 BASTILLE BELLE (B Webber) R Hill 57.0 - 81
12 - 8 AUTUMN GOLD (S G Tarry) A Fortune 57.0 - 81
13 - 7 SMART GIRL (R R Magner) G Wrogemann 57.0 - 75
14 - 13 PACIFIC PRINCESS (D N Stenger) D Mansour 57.0 - 70
Same Trainer: (1,4) (5,9) (6,12)
 
HAWAII STAKES (G2)(Open) R300 000 1400m
1 - 5 OUR GIANT (C Laird) A Marcus 60.0 - 111
2 - 2 SUCCESFUL BIDDER (S G Tarry) F Coetzee 57.5 - 108
3 - 7 LIKEITHOT (C Laird) P Strydom 57.5 - 104
4 - 13 SMART BANKER (C Laird) G Figueroa 57.5 - 101
5 - 9 FOREST PATH (M F De Kock) A Delpech 57.0 - 107
6 - 8 BUSCADOR (G V Woodruff) J Sampson 57.0 - 105
7 - 3 HORATIO (P F Matchett) D Habib 57.0 - 93
8 - 1 THEREALSLIMSHADY (A G Laird) J Geroudis 56.5 - 106
9 - 6 EARL OF SURREY (A I Harris) F Herholdt 56.0 - 108
10 - 10 GLIDING HIGH (B O Wiid) G Lerena 56.0 - 101
11 - 11 LUCKY BOY (G V Woodruff) M Khan 56.0 - 98
12 - 12 THE BIG ASK (M D Miller) R Hill 56.0 - 92
13 - 4 SURABI (D Zaki) B Lerena 55.5 - 103
Same Trainer: (1,3,4) (6,11)
-Phumelela Gaming & Leisure (20/2/09)



DUBAI CARNIVAL

Thursday night’s fourth meeting of the 2009 Dubai International Racing Carnival, kindly sponsored by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Derrinstown Stud, was highlighted by the second rounds of the Al Maktoum Challenge.

Godolphin’s My Indy repeated his win in the first round with a hard fought success in the Thoroughbred version, a Group 3 contest over 1800m on dirt.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was on hand to greet his winner who, under Frankie Dettori, repelled challenges from Happy Boy and Asiatic Boy to land the spoils.

Winning trainer Saeed Bin Suroor said: “That was a very pleasing effort and this horse has really improved over the winter. We have no rush to decide his future targets and will sit down and discuss it sometime soon.”

The team completed a quick double when Hatta Fort won the Marju Trophy, the following 1300m turf handicap to compensate for an unlucky passage on his previous outing.

Group 3 Cape Verdi, over 1600m and on the turf, was won in style by the Jerry Barton-trained Deem who was having her first start on grass and is now unbeaten in four starts.

Fernando Jara was in the saddle and explained: “I was impressed as she ran quite green in the straight and should improve for that run.”

Racing opened with the Group 1 Maktoum Challenge Round II, over 2400m on dirt, the only Purebred Arabian race on the card and was won for the second time by Sheikh Hamdan’s Al Jalfane – having scored in 2007.

Daragh O’Donohoe was in the saddle and made all on the eight-year-old, trained by Doug Watson and surely one of the toughest horses in training.

Watson concurs: “He just does not like being passed and has fought them all off bravely. He has been a great servant to the yard and it is lovely to see him win again.”

The Intikhab Trophy, a 1500m grass handicap, provided Johnny Murtagh with the perfect opportunity to make a winning return to the UAE and his first ride of the season, Summit Surge, won well.

The following 1400m dirt handicap, Bahri, was won by Sheikh Hamdan’s retained jockey Richard Hills, in the famous blue and white silks, on the Musabah Al Muhairi-trained Snaafy.

There were two 2000m grass handicaps, the Tamayuz and Alhaarth, with the first going to Mick Channon’s Halicarnassus and Tadhg O’Shea, with Ahmad Ajtebi winning the latter, the final race, on the Mubarak Bin Shafya-trained Eastern Anthem. - www.dubairacingclub.com - 6 Feb 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The J&B Met

Anyone who has an interest in the Sport Of Kings and witnessed the J&B Met last Saturday will have been in awe of the brilliance of Pocket Power.
The South African Horse Of The Year not only set a new record by winning the Cape's biggest race three times in a row, but he convincingly showed that he is the best there is.
His win was scintillatiing and he did it the hard way, battling off a very game Dancer's Daughter to show who the king of the Sport of Kings is.
Congratulations to all the connections of a magnificent acheivement.
As sad as it is to say, one hopes that Pocket Power is allowed the opportunity to race abroad and show the world what a wonderful talent he is and what great horses we breed in this country.
Chad Cooke 2 February 2009




The J&B Met
Kenilworth 2000m
Saturday 31 March 2009

1. POCKET POWER
South Africa's champion. He will be looking to re-write the history books and become the first horse to win the Met three times. He is the worthy favourite, has the form and is the best weighted horse in the field. History beckons!

2. BUY AND SELL
Has shown himself to be one of the best of his generation. Has locked horns with them all and has done well. Has Anthony Delpech in the irons and should again give a good account of himself.

3. AFRICAN APPEAL
Has done little since returning to SA after a campaign abroad. Will need to improve on recent runs but could make the quartet pay and might be a worthwhile inclusion.

4. KAPIL
Has good recent form and is one of the best milers around. Has yet to prove his prowess over this distance but with Felix Coetzee having stuck with him for this race he should be respected.

5. CATMANDU
A hard-knocking handicapper that has shown himself to be quite capable on his day. However, he has a lot to do here and could be found wanting.

6. SURFIN' USA
Had a great prep run for this race and on that basis of that has to be given a big chance. Showed versatility and has to form to back up a strong claim. Do well.

7. VISION OF GRANDEUR
Has put up some decent efforts since having landed on SA soil but looks better over further and could be found wanting here.

8. GREAT RHYTHM
Has good form and has come on well since coming back to South Africa. Has been in the care of 'old man' Brown and with Robbie Hill in the irons is one to consider strongly. Quartet chance.

9. FLOATYOURBOAT
Has failed to build on the promise he showed as a three-year-old. Looks set to be the pacemaker here and will be sacrificed for his more illustrious stablemates.

10. GOLDEN DICE
Good handicapper but has yet to prove his effectiveness in this company and over this trip.

11. PRINCE ASAD
Wonderfully-bred and winner of the J&B Reserve Stayers last year. Comes off a break and looks better over further.

12. QUICK MILLIONS
Badly beaten in the Queen's Plate and looks out of his depth in this class. Could have bitten off more than he can chew.

13. DANCER'S DAUGHTER
Disappointing last time and has to settle to have any chance. Kevin Shea settled her in the July and we saw what she is capable of. Big danger if giving herself a chance.

14. IVORY TRAIL
Comes into this contest having won his last three races impressively, but against far weaker. Up in class substantially but fancied by the stable and could be worth considering in quartet.

15. CASEY'S SON
Has shown little recently to get excited about and one has to feel that this is certainly a birdge too far.

16. RIVER JETEZ
A game mare that gives of best most of the time. Has every chance on recent form to Dancer's Daughter and could claim a place. One for the quartets.

Chad Cooke's selections for the Met:
1. Pocket Power
2. Surfin' USA
3. Dancer's Daughter
4. Kapil



CURLIN

January 27, 2009

Still skimming the international wave of his record-setting Dubai World Cup (Gr.1) victory, Curlin was crowned Monday night as America’s Horse of the Year for the second consecutive season, the first horse to earn that distinction since inaugural World Cup winner Cigar.

The rare honor and further laurels as American champion older male follow the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities’ World Thoroughbred Rankings’ designation of Curlin as the co-best horse in the world last year, along with Princess Haya's and Darley’s New Approach.

Curlin’s conditioner Steve Asmussen earned his first Eclipse Award as outstanding trainer, having set a North American record for wins as well as saddling the World Cup champion.

Additionally, Dubai Golden Shaheen (Gr.1) winner Benny the Bull was lauded as America’s champion sprinter, defeating two-time Breeders’ Cup Sprint (Gr.1) winner Midnight Lute in the balloting. Michael Iavarone, co-president of IEAH Stables, which raced Benny the Bull and three-year-old male champion Big Brown, reported that Benny the Bull will be brought out of retirement to race again this summer.

But the Eclipse Award celebration, held in Miami Beach, Florida, clearly belonged to Curlin and his connections.

“This is an honor beyond the dreams of somebody who dreamed he would someday own a champion racehorse when I saw Seabiscuit run in 1938,” said Jess Jackson, majority owner of Curlin, as he accepted the gold Horse of the Year statue.

Jackson reported that Curlin still wants to run. In fact, he quipped that Curlin gets depressed when he is returned from time in his paddock to his stall at William S. Farish’s Lane’s End, where the son of Smart Strike will begin covering mares next month.

“He doesn’t know what he’s up for; I think he’s going to be very pleased,” said Jackson, who suggested that Curlin's awards have elevated him into the ranks of America’s greatest racehorses. Some others who earned more than one Horse of the Year title include Triple Crown winners Secretariat and Affirmed.

Asmussen gave one of the more touching acceptance speeches of the evening, acknowledging the role of his parents, trainers Keith and Marilyn, in raising him and his brother Cash, who won the Eclipse Award as outstanding apprentice jockey in 1979.

“I can’t tell you how proud I am to win this award, especially for my parents. To have two kids fortunate enough to win Eclipse Awards is quite a feat, so congratulations to you,” Steve Asmussen said before thanking his staff and Jackson as well as Curlin.

“What a special horse,” Amussen exclaimed reverently. “We simply got out of his way.”

During his turn at the podium to accept Benny the Bull’s award, Iavarone praised the six-year-old son of Lucky Lionel for his trademark last-to-first runs and said he hopes the horse can repeat as champion sprinter of 2009. Benny the Bull had been retired last August when a bone chip was discovered in his right front ankle.

Iavarone also took time to recount the merits of Big Brown, winner of the Kentucky Derby (Gr.1) and Preakness Stakes (Gr.1) who earned the Eclipse Award as champion three-year-old male over Princess Haya’s and Darley’s Breeders’ Cup Classic (Gr.1) winner Raven’s Pass.

“He was the biggest dream any owner could ever have,” Iavarone said.

In other awards of note, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (Gr.1) winner Midshipman, who carried the Darley colors of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, gained the Eclipse Award as champion two-year-old male, while Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs and Stronach Stables earned the prizes as outstanding breeder and owner.

In the other Eclipse Award categories, winners were:

Two-year-old filly: Undefeated Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Filly (Gr.1) winner Stardom Bound, who was purchased by IEAH for $5.7 million at the Fasig-Tipton November sale;

Three-year-old filly: Kentucky Oaks (Gr.1) winner Proud Spell, who won the award over Godolphin’s Music Note, the ill-fated Eight Belles, Breeders’ Cup Mile (Gr.1) winner Goldikova and Indian Blessing;

Older female: Undefeated Zenyatta, a daughter of 2002 Dubai World Cup winner Street Cry who, along with Big Brown, were the other finalists for the Horse of the Year title;

Female sprinter: Indian Blessing, the 2007 champion juvenile filly who is being aimed at this year’s Dubai Golden Shaheen by trainer Bob Baffert, who also conditioned Midshipman for his championship campaign. Baffert has now trained ten American champions as well as Dubai World Cup winners Silver Charm and Captain Steve;

Male turf horse: Breeders’ Cup Turf (Gr.1) winner Conduit, also winner of the British classic St. Leger for Ballymacoll Farm and trainer Sir Michael Stoute;

Female turf horse: Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf (Gr.1) winner Forever Together, who prevailed in the voting over Goldikova and Godolphin’s American Grade 1 winner and UAE classic winner Cocoa Beach;

Jockey: Garrett Gomez, who led all American jockeys by mount earnings and took the Eclipse for the second consecutive year;

Apprentice jockey: Pascacio “Paco” Lopez, a native of Mexico who was based in Florida and led all apprentice riders with 171 wins; and

Steeplechase horse: Good Night Shirt.

In addition, Alice Headley Chandler, owner of Mill Ridge Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, was honored with the Eclipse Award of Merit for lifetime achievement in the Thoroughbred industry, while the American Association of Equine Practitioners was given a Special Eclipse Award for its On Call Program of public information at major racing events.- Dubai Racing Club

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTERNATIONAL
Dubai Carnival

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INTERNATIONALDubai Carnival

 

 

Juddmonte Farms’ brilliantly bred Champs Elysees, already a two-time Grade 1 winner on the turf, is being guided by American Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel on a path that could take him to the Dubai World Cup (Gr.1) program.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A six-year-old son of Danehill out of Hasili and thus a full brother to American champions Banks Hill and Intercontinental, Champs Elysees is slated to make his 2009 bow in the US$200,000 San Antonio Handicap (Gr.2) over Santa Anita Park’s synthetic track on February 8. Next on his schedule is a second consecutive effort in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap (Gr.1) on March 7, a race in which he was third in 2008.

Frankel said if all goes well in those races, he could opt to try the Dubai World Cup even though Champs Elysees has not competed on a dirt surface to date. However, Frankel said he could easily shift Champs Elysees to the Dubai Sheema Classic (Gr.1) as the horse has won both his Grade 1 efforts at 1 ½ miles on the grass.

“I just have to see him run first,” Frankel said when asked about the most likely scenario.

When Frankel sends horses to Dubai, they are always competitive. He dispatched Medaglia d'Oro to be a game second to Pleasantly Perfect in the 2004 Dubai World Cup and he also sent out Public Purse for third in the 2000 edition of the race. Additionally, he trained Marenostrum and Lido Palace, who were second and third, respectively, in the 2005 and 2001 runnings of the UAE Derby (Gr.2)

Champs Elysees, who started his career as a group stakes winner in Europe, wrapped up a career-best season in 2008 with a victory in the Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (Gr.1) at Hollywood Park on December 6. In September, the bay won the Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (Gr.1) at Woodbine Racetrack in Canada, and in between those two events, he finished 5 1/4 lengths behind winner Raven’s Pass in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (Gr.1) at Santa Anita.

Frankel said he has been pleased with Champs Elysees’ recent training. On Sunday, the horse drilled six furlongs at Santa Anita in 1:13.40. A week earlier, he had covered the same distance in 1:13.80.

Overall, Champs Elysees has won or placed in 16 of 21 career starts and has earned $1,354,761.

While he is the star of the barn, Champs Elysees is just one of seven horses Frankel has nominated to the Dubai World Cup program, including Brazilian-bred UAE Derby candidates Fluke and Runforthedoe. Both colts have solid group stakes credentials, with Runforthedoe a Group 1 winner in Argentina and Fluke a Group 3 winner and a Group 1 runner-up in Brazil.

Frankel also has nominated Juddmonte’s French Group 1 winner Zambezi Sun and his own Good Request to the Dubai World Cup and the Dubai Sheema Classic. He said he hasn’t decided definitely on Zambezi Sun’s first start in the United States, but added that it could come in the Santa Anita Handicap.

Other Frankel nominees to the Dubai World Cup program are Midships, who was third in the Hollywood Derby (Gr.1) last year and who has been nominated to the Dubai Duty Free (Gr.1) and the Dubai Sheema Classic, and Brother Keith, nominated to the UAE Derby. Frankel said that a slight illness has altered Midships’ potential schedule while Brother Keith, who is being aimed at a possible start in the Kentucky Derby (Gr.1), likely will stay in the United States. -Dubai Racing Club

J&B MET

The eagerly awaited clash between Vodacom Durban July dead-heaters Pocket Power and Dancer's Daughter willtake place at Kenilworth racecourse on the last Saturday of this month when the two lock horns in the J&B Met. Many might beleive that the contest will be a match race, but the Met has a habit of throwing up a few surprises and the contest might not be that cut and dried.

J&B MET

J&B MET

J&B MET

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J&B MET

2009 J&B Met Final Field

Sc# Horse	Mass	MR		Draw	B	A	T	Jockey	Trainer
1  POCKET POWER	58.0	120	(120)	10		A	B	Fayd'Herbe	Mike Bass
2  BUY AND SELL	58.0	113	(113)	5		A	T	A Delpech	Sean Tarry
3  AFRICAN APPEAL	58.0	104	(104)	15		A		G Cheyne	Mike Bass
4  KAPIL	56.0	110	(110)	12		A		F Coetzee	Stan Elley
5  CATMANDU	56.0	107	(107)	6		A	T	G Wrogemann	Andre Kirsten
6  SURFIN' USA	56.0	107	(107)	11		A		P Strydom	Mark Dixon
7  VISION OF GRANDEUR	56.0	104	(104)	9	B	A		A Fortune	Darryl Hodgson
8  GREAT RHYTHM	56.0	103	(103)	4		A		R Hill	Herman Brown
9  FLOATYOURBOAT	56.0	101	(101)	2		A	T	M Byleveld	Mike Bass
10  GOLDEN DICE	56.0	99	( 99)	7		A		F Anthony	Darryl Hodgson
11  PRINCE ASAD	56.0	99	( 99)	1	B	A		J Geroudis	Geoff Woodruff
12  QUICK MILLIONS	56.0	93	( 93)	8	B	A		...............	Glen Puller
13  DANCER'S DAUGHTER	55.5	114	(114)	13		A		K Shea	Justin Snaith
14  IVORY TRAIL	55.5	109	(108)	16		A		R Fourie	Joey Ramsden
15  CASEY'S SON	55.5	101	(100)	3		A		N Roebuck	J Butterworth
16  RIVER JETEZ	53.5	102	(102)	14		A		G Hatt	Mike Bass

Couplings: (1,3,9,16) (7,10)

 

INTERNATIONAL
DUBAI INTERNATIONAL RACING CARNIVAL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Africans Mike de Kock and Herman Brown may have the largest individual teams of the international trainers, but it is Europe who will supply the most trainers throughout the Carnival.

With handlers from the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Greece, Spain and Italy among those confirmed, ‘team Europe’ looks a strong and versatile one.

With internationally-renowned names such as Pascal Bary, John Hammond, Jim Bolger, John Oxx, Dermot Weld, Alain de Royer-Dupre, Mark Johnston, Sir Michael Stoute, John Gosden, Brian Meehan, Jeremy Noseda, Mick Channon, Luca Cumani and Clive Brittain all set to be represented, the European challenge is sure to be fierce.

Germany’s Quijano is a Carnival regular, with three wins in 2007 and he was third in last year’s Dubai Sheema Classic on Dubai World Cup night.

Ralph Beckett, fresh from winning his first Classic (Epsom Oaks) is set to bring his maiden Breeders’ Cup winner Muhannak to Dubai.

Brian Meehan’s Cat Junior was fourth in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat and is set to spearhead a select team for the trainer who won the 2006 Dubai Duty Free with David Junior.

Group 2 winning juvenile City Leader is another for Meehan who could bounce back to his very best.

Hearthshead Maison, a Group 3 winner for Mark Johnston, runs tonight at Nad Al Sheba, Apollo Star is a Group 2 winner in his native Germany, while dual Group 3 winner Vertigineux will represent France.

Purple Moon, runner-up in the 2007 Melbourne Cup filled the same position in the Hong Kong Vase most recently and is part of a Luca Cumani team and Spanish Moon has won three times in Listed company for Sir Michael Stoute.

David Nicholls will have the largest individual string from Europe with Valery Borzov one to keep an eye on, while Andrew Balding’s Banknote will be a first UAE runner for Her Majesty The Queen.

Other first night runners from Europe include Ireland’s Miss Goricia, Red Eye Express and Varsity, while France will be represented by Lessing, Estrela Boa, Estrela Do Oriente, Gloria De Campeao and Far From Old, Clifton Dancer, representing Tom Dascombe who was formerly de Kock’s assistant here at Nad Al Sheba, is another runner from the UK. - Dubai Racing Club

L'ORMARINS QUEEN'S PLATE

The anticipated clash between Vodacom Durban July deadheaters Pocket Power and Dancer's Daughter will not be realised when the L'Ormarins Queen's Plate is run over 1600m at weight-for-age terms on Saturday 10 January 2009.
 Trainer Justin Snaith has elected to make the Paddock Stakes the aim of his champion filly, a race she should have at her mercy.
The final fields for the L'Ormarins Queen's Plate and the TBA Paddock Stakes are:


THE L'ORMARINS QUEENS PLATE

No. Dr Horse             Wgt  M/R      Jockey         Trainer
 1  3 POCKET POWER       58.0 120   A  B Fayd'Herbe   Mike Bass           
 2  5 BUY AND SELL       58.0 113 T A  G Lerena       Sean Tarry          
 3  8 OUR GIANT (AUS)    58.0 111  BA  A Marcus       Charles Laird       
 4 10 KAPIL              58.0 110   A  F Coetzee      Stan Elley          
 5  6 VISION OF GRANDEUR 58.0 104  BA  A Fortune      Darryl Hodgson      
 6  9 FLOATYOURBOAT      58.0 103   A *A Domeyer      Mike Bass           
 7  1 THUNDERING JET     58.0 103   A  K Neisius      Mike Bass           
 8  2 AFRICAN APPEAL     58.0 102   A  G Cheyne       Mike Bass           
 9 11 ALVARO (AUS)       58.0 101   A  R Fourie       Justin Snaith      
10  4 QUICK MILLIONS (BR 58.0  93  BA  P Botha        Glen Puller        
11  7 MAJESTIC SUN       58.0  91   A  G Behr         Harold Crawford 

TTHE TBA PADDOCK STAKES

No. Dr Horse             Wgt  M/R      Jockey         Trainer
 1  3 DANCER'S DAUGHTER  58.0 114   A  B Fayd'Herbe   Justin Snaith       
 2  1 RIVER JETEZ        58.0 102   A  K Neisius      Mike Bass           
 3  4 QUEBEC EXPRESS (US 58.0  90   A  R Fourie       Justin Snaith       
 4  2 EMBLEM OF LIBERTY  57.5 102 T A  G Cheyne       Geoff Woodruff      
 5  6 NANIA              57.5 100   A  A Fortune      Joey Ramsden         
 6  7 REI REI            57.5  99   A  M Byleveld     Stan Elley          
 7  5 GONE WILD          57.5  86   A  F Coetzee      Basil Marcus        
 8  8 CONSENSUAL         52.0 102   A  G Hatt         Mike Bass

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

INTERNATIONAL

The Queen will be represented for the first time on a UAE racetrack after it was revealed Banknote will run at the 2009 Dubai International Racing Carnival.
The six-year-old had been aimed at the Carnival at Nad Al Sheba previously but setbacks prevented his participation.
The son of Zafonic showed he was in rude health when winning a conditions race at Lingfield in the UK on Saturday, and is reportedly firmly on target for the Carnival.
His trainer Andrew Balding said: “The Queen has been very keen to have a runner in Dubai and we tried to get him there for the last two Carnivals but he was never right.
“It might be a blessing in disguise in a way as his rating has dropped and we can set him off in some handicaps.
“He has won a race every year now and we’re looking forward to seeing how he gets on in Dubai.”
Banknote has some good form to his name, notably in 2007, when he won the Group 3 Badener Meile at Baden-Baden, and the Listed Doncaster Mile at Lingfield.
Another bound for Dubai is Dansant, who won the 2000m Listed race at the same meeting on the Lingfield Polytrack.
Winning trainer Gerard Butler told the Racing Post: “He was bought to win a Melbourne Cup. He is going to Dubai and the owner Barbara Keller has been aiming towards the Maktoum Challenge Series.” - Dubai Racing Club

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gape Guineas promises much 

A crack field of 16 three year olds has accepted for this year’s running of the R 1 million Bloodstock South Africa Cape Guineas (Gr 1) that will be run over 1600 m at Kenilworth on Saturday, December 20.   A maximum field is  headed by Big City Life and Jamaican Dream and the two smart fillies in Sparkling Gem and Mother Russia.  Big City Life, out of the Glen Kotzen yard, is a three-time winner including the Racing Association Stakes (Listed) and most recently warmed up for the Guineas with a classy second behind champion Pocket Power.   The Brett Crawford-trained Jamaican Dream numbers the Betting World Cape of Good Hope Nursery, the Betting World The Langerman and the Investec Cape Classic among his victories.  Most recently he finished unplaced behind Le Drakkar in the Selengor Cup but is likely to strip at his peak for this event and has also drawn well at two.

 Trainer Justin Snaith made no bones about what he thought of Sparkling Gem’s chances after her victory in the Avontuur Estate Cape Fillies Guineas last Saturday and she, along with Mother Russia who finished a close-up second, will be out to emulate the great Empress Club who was the last filly to win this important race.

Basil Marcus, who trained Jay Peg to win this race in 2006, sends out two runners in the highly rated Rudi Rocks and the talented Flying West.  His brother Anton has once again been booked to ride Rudi Rocks for Markus Jooste and his prospects of turning some strong-finishing placed efforts into a victory will be greatly enhanced by the long straight of the Kenilworth summer track.

Only four visiting runners have made the trip from the Highveld, headed by the Mike de Kock-trained Ant Of Agasta and the unbeaten Meet At Malamala.  Stable first call rider, Kevin Shea, will be aboard Ant Of Agasta but he has drawn wide at 15.  Anthony Delpech, first call rider when Shea is on international duty, drove Meet At Malamala to victory in the recent Secretariat Stakes at Turffontein, the race won by last year’s unbeaten  Bloodstock South Africa Cape Guineas winner Pointing North.   Pointing North has since been shipped overseas and is currently in France where he is being prepared for the Dubai Carnival.

Port Elizabeth is represented by  Mitch Wiese’s Lizard’s Desire who will be ridden by his regular pilot, Samango Khumalo. - Gold Circle.

The final field for the R1 million BloodStock South Africa Cape Guineas (Grade 1) is:   

Sc# Horse                        Mass   MR       Draw   B  A  T  Jockey                  Trainer
1  BIG CITY LIFE              57.0  103 ( 91)   10      A     B Fayd'Herbe            Glen Kotzen
2  JAMAICAN DREAM        57.0  103 ( 91)    2      A     K Neisius               Brett Crawford
3  RUDI ROCKS                 57.0  102 ( 90)    8   B  A     A Marcus                Basil Marcus
4  SPORTING BOY             57.0  102 ( 90)   12      A     J Geroudis              Alec Laird
5  MASTER OF ALL            57.0   99 ( 87)    9      A      ...............        Alec Laird
6  ANT OF AGASTA           57.0   98 ( 86)   15      A     K Shea                  Mike de Kock
7  BUSH PIRATE                57.0   98 ( 86)   14      A     A Fortune               Joey Ramsden
8  KINGS CROSS                57.0   98 ( 86)    5      A    *A Domeyer               Stan Elley
9  LE DRAKKAR                  57.0   98 ( 86)   16      A     M Byleveld              Dean Kannemeyer
10  CHIEF BLACKFOOT      57.0   96 ( 84)   18      A     M Winnaar               Riaan Van Reenen
11  FLYING WEST              57.0   94 ( 82)    6      A     G Hatt                  Basil Marcus
12  VOLPISTA                    57.0   91 ( 79)    3      A     S Randolph              Glen Kotzen
13  LIZARD'S DESIRE        57.0   90 ( 78)   13      A     S Khumalo               Mitchell Wiese
14  MEET AT MALAMALA   57.0   89 ( 77)    1      A     A Delpech               Mike de Kock
15  SPARKLING GEM          54.5  102 ( 90)   17      A     R Fourie                Justin Snaith
16  MOTHER RUSSIA          54.5  100 ( 88)    7      A      ...............        Joey Ramsden
Reserve Runners
17  EXPLORATION         57.0   91 ( 79)    4      A      Reserve 1              Basil Marcus
18  HEMINGWAY           57.0   89 ( 77)   11      A      Reserve 2              Dean Kannemeyer

 

J&B Met Nominations and weights

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nominations and weights for the  Grade 1 R 2,500,000  J&B Met which will be run over 2000m  at Kenilworth on Saturday 31 January 2009
Open to all Horses
WFA: 3yrs-6.0kgs 4yrs-0.5kgs
POCKET POWER       (6G)  0.0 120   Mike Bass        
DANCER'S DAUGHTER  (5M)  0.0 114   Justin Snaith    
BUY AND SELL       (5G)  0.0 113   Sean Tarry       
KAPIL              (6G)  0.0 110   Stan Elley       
BILL OF RIGHTS     (5G)  0.0 107   Mike Bass        
CATMANDU           (5G)  0.0 107   Andre Kirsten    
SURFIN' USA        (5G)  0.0 107   Mark Dixon       
FLOATYOURBOAT      (6G)  0.0 104   Mike Bass        
AFRICAN APPEAL     (7G)  0.0 103   Mike Bass        
BIG CITY LIFE      (3C)  0.0 103   Glen Kotzen      
GREAT RHYTHM       (7G)  0.0 103   Herman Brown     
THUNDERING JET     (4G)  0.0 103   Mike Bass        
RIVER JETEZ        (5M)  0.0 102   Mike Bass        
ALVARO (AUS)       (4G)  0.0 101   Justin Snaith    
CASEY'S SON        (4G)  0.0 101   J Butterworth    
AL ON THE RUN      (5G)  0.0  99 B Shane Humby      
GOLDEN DICE        (6G)  0.0  99   Darryl Hodgson   
PRINCE ASAD        (5G)  0.0  99 B Geoff Woodruff   
LE DRAKKAR (AUS)   (3C)  0.0  98   Dean Kannemeyer  
ROYAL AIR FORCE    (6H)  0.0  96   Geoff Woodruff   
BOUND TO TRAVEL    (5G)  0.0  94   Justin Snaith    
VISION OF GRANDEUR (5H)  0.0  94 B Darryl Hodgson   
QUICK MILLIONS (BR (5G)  0.0  93 B Glen Puller      
WINTER WIZARD      (6G)  0.0  93   Brett Crawford   
SKY BLASTER        (5G)  0.0  92   Mike Bass        
TUNA COWBOY        (5H)  0.0  91 B Basil Marcus     
LITTLEREDCORVETTE  (4G)  0.0  88   Glen Puller      
(27)            

 

International news
Caulfield Cup winner leads O'Brien's Dubai squad

Posted by ADMIN on December 1, 2008 - 10:41 pm
2007 Caulfield Cup winner Master O’Reilly looks set for a tilt at the US$5m Dubai Sheema Classic (sponsored by Nakheel), following Danny O’Brien’s reconnaissance trip to Dubai last week.
The leading Aussie trainer visited the Nad Al Sheba facilities for the first time, and was suitably impressed to nominate three horses for the 2009 Dubai International Racing Carnival.
"Our (Australian) racing is really struggling now and some other spots around the world are going really well so you have to have a look at them," said the Flemington trainer.
"Our racing has been stagnant for the last five years and to keep your business going you have look overseas to get a better return for your owners.
"With the way the US dollar is, races over there are worth 50 per cent more than this time last year."
O’Brien also intends to send 2008 Caulfield Cup third Barbaricus for the Dubai Sheema Classic, a 2400-metre race run on turf on Dubai World Cup night on March 28.
He said Master O'Reilly would run in the Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 7 before being flown to Dubai, while Barbaricus would leave earlier for suitable lead-up races, along with Valedictum
"Master O'Reilly will certainly run and we may take Barbaricus and Valedictum for some lead-up races," said O'Brien, who bids to follow in the footsteps of fellow Aussies Tony Vasil and Tony Noonan, who have plundered Dubai races.
"Barbaricus will probably head up there for the start of the carnival and have two or three lead-up runs into (the Sheema Classic) as his rating would allow him to do.
"It's a race that's no stronger than the Caulfield Cup if you go by recent years. It's on turf and early in the season for the Europeans.
"In the lead up to the World Cup meeting they have 10 weeks of racing and a lot of what we'd class as Listed or Group Three class races worth between $US150,000 to $US200,000 which is probably where Valedictum is now," O'Brien told AAP.
"He is probably a length short of the Group One races here and those were the races Tony Noonan's horses were very competitive in so he could go as a travelling companion for Barbaricus."
Noonan sent two horses to Dubai in 2007 with Benedetti winning two of his three starts there and Smart And Mighty one of his three appearances.
The Vasil-trained Elvstroem became the first Australian-trained horse to win in Dubai when he led all the way in the Dubai Duty Free (1777m) in 2005 with Nash Rawiller in the saddle. - Dubai Racing Club

 

RACING SEASON 2007/2008

The 2007/2008 racing season delivered many memorable performances and contests, none finer than the Vodacom Durban July where Equus Horse Of The Year Pocket Power dead-heated with the talented Graeme Beck-owned Dancer’s Daughter.

On the home front, Gary Alexander Racing Stables enjoyed a season that held, more than anything else, promise.

The yard has a number of young horses that came through the season well and have laid the foundation for a 2008/2009 challenge that should see continued growth and bigger prizes.

The two stalwarts of the yard, Flintlock and Lightning Lecture, showed that on their day they are as good as the best around and there should be more to come from these talented speedsters.

From a statistical point of view, the 2006/2007 saw the stable end 22nd on the National Trainers Log with 366 runners winning 50 races and place ratio percentage of 55. The stable amasses R3 052 450 in stake money according to the official statistics of the National Horse Racing Authority.

In the 2007/2008 racing year, Gary Alexander Racing Stables moved into the 16th position on the National Trainers Log. The stable sent out 400 runners for 55 wins and had a place ratio percentage of 56.

Earnings for last season were 26 percent up on the previous season, with gross stakes finishing on R4 098 688.



EQUUS AWARDS 2007/2008
 
The Equus Awards for the 2007/2008 racing season were announced at a Gala Dinner at Emperors Palace on Thursday night August 14 and Pocket Power was the toast of the night.
Not only did the Vodacom Durban July dead-heat winner secure the most coveted prize of the night, that of Horse Of The Year, but he also won the Champion Older Mile (male) category and the Champion Older Middle-Distance Horse awards.
The 2007/2008 Equus Award winners are:
Horse Of The Year - Pocket Power
Champion 2yo filly - Consensual
Champion 2yo colt - Rocks Off
Champion Sprinter - JJ The Jet Plane
Champion 3yo "Miler" (Female) - Captain's Lover
Champion 3yo "Miler" (Male) - Pointing North
Champion 3yo Middle-Distance (Female) - Wendywood
Champion 3yo Middle-Distance (Male) - Russian Sage
Champion Older "Miler" (Female) - Dancer's Daughter
Champion Older "Miler" (Male) - Pocket Power
Champion Older Middle-Distance Horse - Pocket Power
Champion Stayer - Kings Gambit/Thundering Star
Champion Stallion - Jet Master
Champion Broodmare - Stormsvlei
Champion Breeder - Summerhill
Apprentice Of The Year - Brandon Lerena
Champion Jockey - Mark Khan
Champions Trainer - Mike de Kock
Owner Of The Year - Markus and Ingrid Jooste
Outstanding Stallion Achievement Award - Camden Park
Breeder Award for Exceptional International Achievement - High Season Stud
Breeder of the Year Award - Zandvliet Stud (Dan De Wet)
Work Rider Award - Msiwakhe Abram Makhubo (Gauteng), Lungese Nhose (Western Cape)
Special Achievement - Owner - Marsh Shirtliff
Outstanding International Achievement (Human) - Trevor Denman
Outstanding International Achievmeent (Equine) - Jay Peg
Group Awards - Archipenko; Jay Peg; Sun Classique