SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 1

Thursday 17 May 2018www.bsa.co.za

CAPE MARE SAlE

24 MAY

Friday 11 MayGreyville– race 6Sporting Post

Best HandicappedLupo

WON 20/1

fairview poly FridayBest Roving Banker:r4-(1)Sacred Touch(5/1)

GreYviLLe SaturdayBest Roving Banker:r3-(1) Texas Sky (5/1)

keniLworTh SaturdayBest Roving Banker:r3-(13)russet air(8/10)

TUrffonTein SundayBest Roving Banker:r7-(5) Mrs o (4/1)

Six- time South African champion jockey Piere Strydom will be out of action for possibly six weeks following a freak snap of his stirrup iron at the Vaal a week ago.

In an exclusive chat with the Sporting Post Digest on Thursday morning, an audibly disappointed Striker confirmed the terrible setback.

“I heard on Wednesday evening that I will be off for 4-6 weeks. It was always suspected to be an old injury. But the fracture is outside of the vertebrae and serves as a support structure. The real danger lies in me having another fall before it fully heals. So the Doctors have issued their orders

Ol’ Man RiverHow does a top professional sportsman cope with the mental challenge of weeks

of inactivity during a peak season? A cocktail of a philosophical attitude, family commitments and even some travel are the tonic, suggests our greatest jockey of all time.

and that’s it,” he said glumly.Piere says he has ‘been down this road before’ and

that a jockey needed to be philosophical and take the unforeseen happenings on the chin, as there are so many things that can go wrong in race-riding.

“Nobody is at fault. I have spoken before about getting on the wrong horse at the wrong time and that is exactly what happened to me last Thursday. They jumped out the gates and I thought Refuge had jumped a little skew. That can cause one’s foot to come out of the stirrup iron, but most of the time you get it back inside in a matter of strides and start riding. This time I was quite amazed that I fell off in such an

7 Days To Go!

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 2

July fever!WSB Gr2 1900 Greyville

With just over six weeks to go to the Vodacom Durban July the big race hype is building and a few more questions will be answered at Greyville on Saturday with the running of the R500 000 Gr2 WSB 1900.

The feature hosts thirteen runners, which includes eleven Vodacom Durban July hopefuls, and is weighted on merit rating bands.

Topping our ratings is the Dynasty gelding It’s My Turn, winner of the 2016 Gr1 Investec Cape Derby and once upon a time, many people’s idea as a winner of the 2017 July.

Now with Dean Kannemeyer, Fred Crabbia’s R400 000 National Yearling Sale

graduate has lost his way and not won a race in two years. He finished third in this event last year when beaten 2 lengths by Ten Gun Salute. Rested seven months after last year’s Champions Cup, he has had two eyecatching return runs – his last a good third under a length behind Social Order in the Kings Cup. He is effective over Saturday’s course and distance and rates a big runner.

Fort Ember is the only mare in the race and from a good draw with the services of Piere Strydom, must rank as a contender at a course she loves. The daughter of Elusive Fort stayed on well at her penultimate start when chasing Coral Fever home in the Colorado King Stakes. She faded when 13 lengths back to the same horse in the Premier’s Champi-ons Challenge at her last start and is better than that.

Sean Tarry’s perennial slow starter Matador Man looks to have cured his tendencies to dwell at the jump and duly won his last start. He now steps up in class again but has a chance if he stays the 1900m.

Justin Snaith’s Platinum Prince leapt into the July picture when going down narrowly to Social Order in the Listed Sledgehammer at his opening start. While drawn wide, the son of Silvano is a threat at best.

Kampala Campari beat subsequent Drill Hall Stakes winner Perovskia at his penultimate start before staying on well at his last to beat the veteran Friendly Tibbs by 4 lengths in an MR 95 Handicap. Well drawn, this son of

Querari could be a dangerous pacemaker at this track.

Elusive Silva started favour-ite for this race in 2017 but could do no better than a 3,25 length fifth behind surprise

o l ' m a n r i v e r

It's My Turn| Wayne Marks

S a t u r d a y r a C i n G

START PA5/PICK SIX4/JACKPOT33:15PM GR2 WORld SPORTS BeTTInG 1900 - 1900MGReyvIlle 6 SAMe TRAIneR:(1-5)(2-7-8-12) Dynasty 1 It’s My turn(D Kannemeyer) K de Melo ....... 7 60.0 Silvano 2 ElusIvE sIlva(J Snaith) B Fayd’herbe .........13 60.0 Captain Al 3 Crowd PlEasEr(JAJ v Vuuren) M Khan ....... 8 60.0 Toreador 4 Matador Man(SG Tarry) l Hewitson ...........10 60.0 Philanthropist 5 thE sladE(D Kannemeyer) W Kennedy ........... 9 60.0 Philanthropist 6 PaCk lEadEr(GS Kotzen) R Fourie ................. 4 58.0 Captain Al 7 CaPtaIn sPlEndId(J Snaith) A Mgudlwa ..... 6 58.0 Silvano 8 PlatInuM PrInCE(J Snaith) G v niekerk ....12 58.0 Querari 9 kaMPala CaMParI(A Nel) C Orffer .............. 1 58.0 Elusive Fort 10 Fort EMbEr(PA Peter) P Strydom.................. 3 57.5 Silvano 11 ollIvandEr(C Bass-Robinson) S Randolph ... 5 56.0 Silvano 12 strathdon(J Snaith) G Cheyne ....................11 56.0 Ideal World 13 dark Moon rIsIng(PV Lafferty) C Zackey ... 2 56.0

2015 1 Dynastic Power 54.0 (12) 66/1 2 Power King 58.0 (11) 6/1 3 Punta Arenas 58.0 (16) 66/1

2016 1 Solid Speed 58.0 ( 9) 5/1 2 St Tropez 56.0 ( 5) 12/1 3 Dynamic 56.0 (14) 12/1

2017 1 Ten Gun Salute 58.0 ( 8) 36/1 2 Tilbury Fort 54.0 ( 1) 25/1 3 It’s My Turn 60.0 (10) 72/10 3 Mr Winsome 58.0 (11) 16/1

WSB Gr2 1900past winners

easy manner. But I only learnt later that my stirrup iron had snapped. We often have to replace our equipment through wear and tear - but how do you judge, if something is made of steel, where and when it is going to break?”

At the age of 51, Strydom is our most prolific winning rider of all time. But we asked if it was tougher coming back every time with father time breathing down one’s back?

“Look, I haven’t really noticed that it is ‘tougher’, as such. I have always maintained my fitness levels and looked after my body. I suppose age must be a factor. But Jeff Lloyd is still going strong at 56 – and what about that Aussie jockey that stopped riding at the age of 70 last week!”

In an interview conducted with Turf Talk recently, there were suggestions of a ‘conspiracy’ or a figurative boycott of the great jockey.

Piere laughed at that suggestion.“Racing is all about cycles. The wheel turns all the time.

There are flavours every month. Yes it was getting tougher and I haven’t been getting the quality of rides that maintains a pretty strike-rate. It is also true that my mounts often have false prices attached to them by the Bookies. So the snow-ball gathers momentum – people are saying he’s lost it – he isn’t riding well – as youu know, perceptions grow legs in this game! But they need to look at what I am riding first maybe.”

And does work riding, or the lack of it, contribute in any way to support from different yards?

“I haven’t ever ridden much work. But I’ve had to look after my knees after 40. If I am to ride for another five years I cannot be riding at the tracks in the morning and in races during the day. My knees just don’t have that mileage.”

He adds that, ironically, since the article was published, he has had plenty of calls and offers to ride.

“I am not finished yet! I have had plenty of offers to ride. And I say with determination that I will be riding in the July this year.”

Taxed on who he may be partnering in Africa’s greatest race, Piere says that he has the option of Surcharge or Abashiri.

Surcharge was runner-up in all three legs of the SA Triple Crown, while Abashiri – the 2016 SA Triple Crown winner – showed a welcome form return in the Premier’s Champions Challenge recently.

Piere rode his first July winner in 1996 on London News and his most recent in 2016 on The Conglomerate. He is keen to get number five on his CV.

“This injury doesn’t have me confined to bed. I am still mobile. I can drive and do the household chores. I just won’t be parachuting or scrumming down for the Lions for the next four weeks! But I will be working on maintaining my fit-ness levels and am looking forward to riding on 7 July. Don’t make the mistake of writing me off yet!” he laughed.

Just like ol' man river - he keeps on rollin' along!

can be purchased here

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 3

S a t u r d a y r a C i n G

winner Ten Gun Salute. He was reported to be changing legs in his return when not punished and running fifth in the Listed Sledgeham-mer. He is drawn widest of all but has a touch of class and cannot be written off.

Dean Kannemeyer’s Peninsula Handicap runner-up The Slade ran on steadily when beaten under two lengths into fourth in the Sledgeham-mer. The son of Philanthropist will strip fitter and should give a much better account of himself here.

The only 3yo in the field is Glen Kotzen’s Cape Derby placer Pack Leader. He may have just needed the run after a three month when just run out of it late in the Sledgehammer. He was bumped at the top of the straight there and could confirm his July claims here.

A possible July dark horse is Justin Snaith’s staying sort Strathdon, who has won his last four starts on the roll - and if not needing this too much after a 22 week break, should be running on at the business end.

Paul Lafferty’s Dark Moon Rising takes a step up in class after staying on for a good third behind Head Honcho in the Listed Sledgehammer last time out. He would need to go very close to confirm his July prospects.

In a race loaded with natural pace, Pack Leader is a promising youngster who takes on his elders. It’s My Turn is headed for another tilt at the July. He is all class and must go close. The Slade and Plati-num Prince may be next best.

Battle For A BerthThe WSB 1900 is an important stepping stone to the Gr1 Voda-

com Durban July and serves as one of four ‘preferential considera-tion’ races for the big one.

Sean Tarry’s July hopeful Liege won the first preferential consid-eration race, the Gr1 Sansui Summer Cup. The Gr3 Cup Trial and the Gr3 Jubilee Handicap – the latter known traditionally as the July last chance saloon- are the remaining two preferential consid-eration races still to be run.

There are also ten automatic qualifier race - or golden tickets - for the July.

But sadly five horses already in possession of those passes won’t be taking up the VIP admission.

Dual SA Horse Of The Year Legal Eagle won the Gr1 L’Ormarins Queens Plate and, as usual, won’t be racing in KZN this season.

Joey Soma’s SA Classic winner Lobo’s Legend has been ex-

ported. The SA Fillies Classic winner Takingthepeace was scratched by Mike de Kock from the July last week.

Gary Alexander’s SA Derby shock winner Hero’s Honour is not taking on the big guns and will be rested in advance of next season.

The Investec Cape Derby winner Eyes Wide Open is giv-ing the July a miss as trainer Glen Kotzen is worried about the weight albatross for his top-rated 3yo.

That leaves two golden ticket entries in the balance: Gr1 Sun Met winner Oh Susanna is only a ‘50/50

chance’ to run in the July – that in the words of Jono Snaith. Even the Premier’s Champions Challenge winner Coral Fever is no certainty. Trainer Robbie Sage told the Sporting Post that the Greyville track suitability was a se-rious consideration in determining whether the talented son of Judpot would make the trip to the coast.

Three golden ticket races still to be run are the Gr1 Daily News 2000 and the Gr1 Woolavington 2000 on 2 June, and the finally the Rising Sun Gold Challenge, which is run on 9 June.

The final July field is capped at twenty, with two reserve runners to be carded. Thus only eighteen can start.

Money Back ChanceTough results in recent weeks has seen exotic players under

the cosh and TAB customers can get ready for a Pick 6 carry-over bonanza with Pick 6 pools being boosted by carryovers totalling nearly R6 million over the next three weeks.

TAB had a mouthwatering amount of R5,8 million in the Pick 6 carryover kitty as of 6 May and Pick 6 players who got it wrong at Greyville and Turffontein will have a host of opportunities to win back their money and much more in inflated Pick 6 pools.

TAB has allocated the bulk of the carryover money to Pick 6 pools at selected major meetings, including R1-million carryovers to the Tsogo Sun fixture at Scottsville on Saturday 26 May and the Daily News 2000 meeting at Greyville a week later.

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 4

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 5

can be purchased here

l o C a l

Susanna – Snaith Caution Snaith Racing spokesman Jono Snaith has once again

requested that the betting public are well aware that Sun Met star Oh Susanna is a not a guaranteed runner in the Vodacom Durban July.

In a chat with Michael Clower on www.goldcircle.co.za, Snaith said that he was concerned that punters are latching on to Oh Susanna, currently joint second favourite at 8-1, in the belief that she is an intended runner.

Jono said: “Oh Susanna is only 50:50 to run in the July and we want punters to be aware of this. The owners are already thinking in terms of the next Cape season and going for a second Sun Met.”

Ante-post favourite African Night Sky is a notable absentee from the 13 declared for the World Sports Betting 1900 but he will still run at Greyville on Saturday.

Jono told Michael Clower: “He runs in the mile Pinnacle instead. Fred Crabbia (owner of African Night Sky) already had It’s My Turn in the 1900 and that one needs to qualify for the Vodacom Durban July. But most importantly African Night Sky is better weighted in the Pinnacle and, so far as his July weight is concerned, the right decision is to run in the Pinnacle.

3yo’s Bolster JulyThree talented three-year-olds, including two fillies

from KwaZulu-Natal stables, were added to the list of Vodacom Durban July hopefuls at the first supplementary entry stage on Tuesday.

They join the 46 remaining horses that stood their ground at yesterday’s first ac-ceptance stage for the R4.25-million Gr1 spec-tacle that draws massive local and international interest and claims the right to be rated the greatest race on the African continent.

The fillies that have joined the battle for a place in the final field of the 2 200m event at the Theatre of Champi-ons at Greyville in Durban on July 7 are the daughter of Go Deputy from the Alyson Wright stable, Flichity By Farr, and the Duncan Howells stable inmate Fiorella.

The third supplementary entry is the bay gelding Rocket Countdown from the Candice Bass-Robinson yard.

Flichity By Farr gave notice that she was to be given the utmost respect when finishing just over a length second to Secret Potion in the recent Oaks at Turffontein where Takingthepeace failed to win and secure the Triple Tiara. She had shown little before that to suggest she could be a July candidate but her earlier wins over 1 800m and 2 000m indicated that she would enjoy ground and her Oaks perfor-mance confirmed that.

Fiorella upstaged superstar Snowdance in the Daisy Fillies Guineas at Greyville recently and indicated that she had a fair amount of talent before that when one-and-a-half lengths fourth behind Takingthepeace in the SA Fillies Clas-sic at Turffontein.

The Howells stable is in top form and the Captain Al filly could make her final bid for a big-race invitation in the Gr1 Woolavington next month.

Rocket Countdown first put his hand up as a gelding worth following when beating the Brett Crawford-trained White River home in the Selangor Cup. White River has since finished second in the Cape Guineas and third in the Byerley Turk and is currently in the top 18 on the first Voda-com Durban July Log.

Rocket Countdown’s latest quest for consideration came when second from the widest draw to Rainbow Bridge in the Cape Winter Guineas confirming that he could be worth considering for a July ticket.

Exactly a third of the 69 original entries, including three horses featuring on the first July Log, were withdrawn at the first acceptance stage on Monday .

The next July is expected to be published on Wednesday 23 May. See the entries here

It’s Called Laying Down The Law!SA national log leading trainer Justin Snaith paid a generous

tribute to Gold Circle after his Vodacom Durban July entry and former SA Horse Of The Year Legislate had bounded home to win a Barrier Trial at Scottsville on Wednesday – in the process announcing that he was back in a winning mood.

A winner of the 2014 Vodacom Durban July on an objection, Legis-late retired to Drakenstein Stud after an illustrious track career that saw the son of Dynasty winning four Gr1 races, four Equus Awards, breaking the Kenilworth summer course mile track record and being crowned SA Horse Of The Year.

Fertility issues at stud led to him being brought back into training with the Snaiths earlier this year and Wednesday marked his first visit to a racecourse in over two years.

“I never thought I would be saddling Legislate again,” said a thrilled Justin Snaith after his charge had led his opponents a merry dance in the 1000m dash.

The top horseman thanked the big horse’s owners for their pa-tience.

“This has always been a special horse. I recall he broke the Kenil-worth course record in the Green Point Stakes. That was over 100 years of Queen’s Plate fields later! They could have brought all the champions in history that day. He annihilated them!” Read more

Legislate | Candiese Marnewick

Fiorella | Gold Circle

Watch the Barrier Trial HERE

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 6

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 7

l o C a l

MiSSeD reCenT reSulTS? Click here for a quick link to the Sporting Post website

Feature Awards The Nominees

larry Wainstein, CeO of The racing Association and Clyde Basel, racing executive of Phumelela, will be hosts in the Aquanaut room at Turffontein racecourse on Wednesday 23 May for the rA Highveld Feature Season Awards

The nominees:Champion two year old filly:Celtic Sea; Dagmar; Ronnie’s Candy

Champion two year old colt/gelding:Bold Eagle; William the Silent

Champion three year old filly: Folk Dance; Green Plains; Secret Potion; Takingthepeace

Champion 3 year old colt/gelding:Hero’s Honour; Lobo’s Legend; Monkshood; Surcharge

Champion older horse:Attenborough, Coral Fever; Legal Eagle; Liege; Nother Russia

Champion sprinter: Attenborough; Pinnacle Peak; Tandava; The Thinker

Champion Middle distance horse:Coral Fever; Legal Eagle; Monkshood; Nother Russia

Champion Stayer: Fortissima; Hero’s Honour; Just Cruised In; Let it Rain; Secret Potion

The above nominees are eligible for the much sought-after Horse of the Season Award and there will also be the special awards to industry players that have made, and continue to make, worthwhile contributions to this amazing industry.

kZn Challenge hots UpThe smart Alistair Gordon-trained Antonius Pius gelding Antony

Hotspur took the lead in the KZN Jockey and Trainers Challenge, being run in partnership by the KZN Breeders Club and Gold Circle, after a good win at Greyville on Sunday.

Antony Hotspur also gave breeder Bruce Campbell a double on the day.

The KZN Trainer and Jockeys Challenge will culminate on the KZN Breeders Race Day on 30 June at Greyville. The day is exclusively dedicated to horses registered with the KZN Breeders Premium Scheme and over R2,6-million in stakes is up for grabs.

The leading trainer at the end of the period will receive a R30 000 voucher to be used towards the purchase of any KZN-bred yearling at the 2018 KZN Yearling Sale, with the runner-up receiving a R15 000 voucher and the third placed trainer a R5 000 voucher.

Jockeys will compete for a cash prize pool of R50 000, split amongst the top three riders in the same ratio as the trainers.

July week Sale Catalogue Online

The seasoned team of Steve Davis, Graeme Hawkins and Andrew Miller will wield the gavel at the KZN Yearling Sale which will be held at Sibaya Casino outside of Umhlanga Rocks in the Vodacom Durban July build-up week.

The sale, hosted by South Africa’s longest estab-lished sales company Bloodstock South Africa, will be held on Thursday 5 July and Friday 6 July.

Both sessions commence at 12h00.Find the catalogue here

Cape Mare & Weanling Sale

The Future Is Here!

There will be fingers crossed that the positivity generated by the successful recent National Year-ling Sale will gain further momentum and spill over into the arena at the Mistico Equestrian Centre in Paarl on Thursday 24 May where the 2018 BSA Cape Mare & Weanling Sale will be held.

A bumper and quality catalogue of 270 lots, bol-stered by a Klawervlei contingent of 75, will come under the hammer after the Cape Breeders Club annual stallion services auction.

The stallion services auction – at 09h30 for 10h00 – will be offering the chance to acquire services to some of the Cape’s most popular and promising stallions – often at reduced rates. Read more on the stallion services auction here

Click here for an analysis of each lot on the Cape Mare & Weanling Sale

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 8

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 9

P e r S o n a l i t y

Peter WrenschThe top former Cape Hunt amateur jockey has ridden what

must be close to a record of over 40 000 horses in work at Mil-nerton in his forty years in the saddle.

A deep thinker, racing aficionado, and political commentator of many years standing, Kenilworth Racing and NHA Life Member Peter Wrensch knows most people in the game and plenty about horseracing – but says he still doesn’t have many of the answers to the issues facing the industry today.

“So much has changed – plenty for the good but sadly lots for the worse too. Like, for example, I reckon that 70% of our jockeys riding today would not have made the grade in the Cape Hunt and Polo Club amateur ranks of 30 years ago. Our safety record spoke for itself and everybody that was licenced to ride had come up through the no-nonsense hard school of stable culture and hands on horse education.”

Peter rode 20 Hunt Club winners, including four on the trot on Dark Lord for Dave Coleman. He earned the tag of Lester (after the legend Piggott) and remembers being motivated by a comment from fanatic Peter Dembitzer as he cantered to post – ‘you’ll never ride a winner,Lester’, was all the juice he needed!

“Many top trainers, including the likes of Geoff Woodruff, Justin Snaith and Dean Kannemeyer came through those ranks. We had top-class horsemen and women – the likes of Jeff Stead-man, Zayed Anthony, Gillian Ross and many, many more. It was a nursey that spawned the greats of the future – something that is sadly lacking today.”

Peter went on to recall how the Easter School Holiday amateur meetings would attract a crowd of 3000 plus.

“We only raced during the four school holidays. I remem-ber the late Mr Mike Tillett calling the jockeys in one very wet day. He said we shouldn’t race but knew how keen we were. So he instructed us to just give the oth- er guys space and no heroics. We got through the meeting without incident! I doubt that many pro-fessional meetings these days would have gone ahead in similar conditions,” he added.

Besides the vulnerable profile of 21st century jockeys, Peter suggests the horses of today are lesser physical speci-mens on average, too.

“Those days we would prep a horse and we could give the owners confidence to have a bet. Today we can’t

tip a wheelbarrow. I haven’t done any scientific research but have been on horseback almost every day for four decades. And ask the veteran Grooms what they think. The horses are not as hardy today and much less robust than thirty years ago. Possibly because they are kept in cotton wool and prepped to impress for the sales.”

Too LateOn the possible answers to revitalise the aspect of on-course

attendance, Peter reflected on the early 80’s. He says that Racing It’s A Rush and its well intended goals have probably come thirty years too late. He said that his experience at the 1993 Breeders Cup where Michael Roberts had ridden Barathea and Trevor Den-man had called the meetings, had left an indelible mark on him.

“We cant have an iconic experience every day. But Santa Anita showed me a passion and culture and love of the game that sent shivers up my spine.”

He added that the atmosphere on course in the years that It cost R2 to get into Charlie Parkers and a beer set one back a rand, was magnetic and ‘everybody knew everybody’.

“David Price, Robert Bloomberg, David Bywater, Neil Andrews and myself were a hard-core group of young guys who were at every race- meeting and didn’t know when to leave afterwards either. We were sick for the game and have the hard-luck stories, the t-shirts and the scars to show for what was, in hindsight, the best days of our lives.”

He recalled the day that the top-class Horatius took on Tucson at Milnerton. He was tied up in a cricket match in Gordon’s

Bay. Dolfie Maeder had suggested that Mini Wave would run third to the top two and that Peter should try get there to watch the race and have a bet.

“We won the toss and put them in to bat. We bowled them out for 60. I went in to bat, all the

while watching the clock and knowing I had to be at Milnerton by 16h30. I hit seven quick 4’s

and was out. I left the guys, asking them not to bugger things up. I Jumped in my Valiant and was at Milnerton within 25 minutes. The same trip today in snazzier cars takes double the time! And, by the way, the race

turned out spot on and we won the cricket! Dolfie was one of the

legends!”

PoliticsPeter says he is sad to

see the way stakeholders are treated in the modern game.

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 10

P e t e r W r e n S C H

“Horseracing is a bit like politics. The arrogant dominance of the power players. The lies to the community. A lack of empathy for the people who actually make it happen. Self-indulgence and poor com-munication. Broken promises,” suggests the past-member of the DA Federal Council and Chairman of the Milnerton branch of the party.

A popular member of the broader community, Peter talks emo-tionally about the part he played in lobbying for the establishment of the settlements of Joe Slovo and Du Noon. Joe Slovo Park, a housing development in the white middle-class suburb of Milnerton was designed to replace the shack settlement of Marconi Beam with an orderly working-class suburb.

“The Milnerton Grooms make up a major part of the local employ-ment market and why should they not have access to housing near to their place of work? The old way of migrant labour is long gone. The debate over whether the urbanisation model has worked is a chat for another day though,” he laughs.

Seeds SownThe Observatory born Bishops High pupil spent his formative years

in the then rural surrounds of Durbanville. His first playground was Durbanville Racecourse where his best mate was the son of the track manager, Bill de Klerk. The seeds were sown!

Peter’s father Aubrey was a Western Province goalkeeper, who also represented Pens and Callies, and sport played a big part in he and his, now late, sister’s upbringing.

“I started riding at the age of 5 with Ivy Marsciano in Table View. It is where Heron Waters is at the top of Blaauwberg Road now. In later years, I boarded at Bishop’s in Rondebosch and spent Sunday morn-ing at Bobby Salkinder’s Ridealong Ranch in Philippi.”

He got into racing through Gary Cawcutt, and then well-known Odessa Stud breeder Colin Cohen gave him a smart thoroughbred. A chance meeting with ex-jockey Alan Merrit and a subsequent friend-ship with apprentices Peter Sieg, Gavin Howes and Lawrence O’Dono-ghue saw Peter introduced to riding work at Milnerton in 1979.

“I rode work at the outset for Mike Bass – that’s where I met Mark Watters, a man who opened many doors in racing for me.”

It was during his ‘distinguished’ service in the SA Navy as a Radar Operator on the SAS President Steyn that Peter found a gap where he was able to dedicate more time to his work-riding.

“The administration wasn’t world-class. I was transferred from the President Steyn to another ship. When I returned from leave, that ship had been decommissioned. I sort of disappeared off the radar as it were! I left the Navy with a good record despite doing more work-riding than sailing in the final stages of my conscription!”

Marathon ManA fitness fanatic from a young age, Peter used to arrive at 04h30 at

Bert Abercombie’s yard and then dash up the road to Leslie and Johnny Cawcutt, Colin Palm and Freddie Heyman.

“I couldn’t get enough of it! After work I would run round the Milnerton track – about 4 km – to keep my weight at 62kgs. I live in Rondebosch these days but park my car at my Mom’s flat near Woodbridge Island and then run to and from Milnerton to ride work. I run everywhere, just about!”

Peter has eight SA Masters Gold Medals for the 400m, 800m, 1500m and 5000m.

“I love it. I have done the Comrades. I have my permanent numbers too for the Two Oceans 56km and half-marathon. Fitness is the key to a good and happy existence,” he adds.

Peter recently wrote his assistant trainer’s exam. He achieved 90% and it took him five hours.

“I was impressed. The test is pretty comprehensive. But they are a bit rigid in my view as regards the qualification periods for stable employees and assistants. I mean imagine telling Karl Neisius that he must do x amount of time as a stable employee? Karl was born in the saddle and has already forgotten what many of us are yet to learn!”

FriendshipPeter is assisting at the Sheehan yard these days.“The Firestone Amateur race over 1300m was an annual

event at Arlington. I went three times and this was the start of a great enduring friendship with Ronnie and Jackie Sheehan.”

The Zimbabwe born Ronnie Sheehan operates with a small string out of Barn 10 at Milnerton. He turns 82 in September and has suffered from ill health recently.

“Ronnie and I have always enjoyed a good relationship. He is a legend of the training ranks and it is an honour to work with him. I am hoping to bring a few owners in to bolster the ranks. But that is not easy. Thirty years ago, four salaried guys could still afford a horse amongst them and pay the rent and the school fees. It is not affordable any more. But we need to find solutions. Racing needs to survive for the next genera-tion. They don’t know what they are missing. But we need to get our house in order!”

Peter ended the chat by pointing out that horseracing pro-duces colourful characters like no other sport.

“Sadly, this is no longer the case. Three years ago, at the height of the Jooste illusion, I regularly asked people to identify any distinguishing feature he had. Compared to the era that incorporated Graham Beck, Selwyn Simpson, Solly Goldberg, Etienne van der Westhuizen, Martin Futeran and their ilk, racing today is drab.”

Born A Bully PLACED 3RD Dahlia Plate (Listed)

at Fairview, 12 May T: GD Smith J: R Fourie B: Clifton Stud

Alfeo WON Dahlia Plate (Listed) - Fairview, 12 May

T: AC Greeff J: A Domeyer B: Piemonte Stud

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 11

Age - A Number?Australia's oldest jockey Danny Miller's career is over after West-ern Australian officials ruled he is no longer able to ride. The 70 year old Miller began his career in 1962 and has spent the last 56 years in the saddle. Miller won Perth's Gr1 Railway Stakes aboard champion galloper Northerly in 2000 and had a ride in the 1967 Melbourne Cup. He had his final ride at Pinjarra last Thursday.

Short Heads

Rampant Rugg

Kimberley conditioner Jarett Rugg learnt from one of the best in the game in his late Dad Ver-non, and enjoyed his best afternoon since taking out his licence six months ago. At Flamingo Park on Monday he saddled a career-best four win-ners. Three were ridden by Nicolas Patel and the fourth – effectively the first of the lot – by his namesake, Jarryd Penny.

Some may shiver at the irony of the prospects of former SA champion owner Markus Jooste owning an Investec Epsom Derby winner in 2018. But the former Mayfair Speculators boss owns a share in Frankel son Rostropovich, who put his classic hand up with a good win in the Dee Stakes at Chester last week. He is raced by Jooste in partnership with Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Sue Magnier. With a UK book-maker offering just 1-5 on Aidan O’Brien winning a record-equal-ling seventh Derby next month, what’s the odds on it being with a Jooste galloper?

Fiery Ferraris

Apprentice Luke Ferraris took as much as a quarter century of rides to break the ice. In the end he started in style with a sensational double at the Vaal on 24 April. And the youngster has found his feet quickly, riding a further three winners this past weekend to take his career tally to six.

LyLe In STyLeReigning champion apprentice Lyle Hewitson has now passed the injured Anthony Delpech on the national jockey’s log and has set himself up to follow in the hallowed boot-prints of Michael Roberts as an SA Title holding appie. Hewitson won’t enjoy any rest though – not with the likes of Muzi Yeni, Callan Murray, Richard Fourie and Aldo Domeyer stalking – admit-tedly some lengths back!

Snaith SymmetryThe Gimmethegreenlight gelding Perfect Symmetry’s victory in the second at Kenilworth last Wednesday was an important icebreaker for the championship leading Justin Snaith team. It was their first –and probably latest ever – 2yo winner of the term. Stats show that the top yard had run all of 23 two-year-olds in 48 races before Perfect Symmetry’s success.

Breeders In Action

Unprecedented interest has seen the Highlands Stallion Parade to be held on Friday 25 May at near full capacity. Organiser Amanda Carey said they were looking forward to a great evening. She con-firmed that Craig Kieswetter would act as Master Of Ceremonies. The Cape Mare & Weanling Sale is being held at Mistico the day before and is preceded by the Cape Breeders Club Stallion Services Auction.Stallion Parade inquiries: contact Amanda Carey on (082) 465 4020 or Amanda@ridgemont.co.za

Odds ‘n EvensTobie Spies is now carrying the Spies Racing banner and the seasoned horseman probably harbours no aspirations of ever taking out a Bookmaker’s licence. He was at his best after Warm White Night 2yo All About The Bass won at 10-1 on de-but in open company at Flamingo Park on Monday. “I train the horses. I don’t know the difference between 10-1 and 1-10,” he quipped to Tellytrack’s Alston Naidoo.

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 12

Dadamasi is Champion Goodman Dadamasi clinched the 2018 Work Riders Challenge

title – and the first prize of r20,000 – with a remarkable victory in the last race of the three-meeting competition at Turffontein on Saturday.

Dadamasi booted home 28-1 outsider Flaming Hot for trainer Geoff Woodruff in Race 8 at Turffontein, slicing through the field from well back in the 1600m contest.

It gave him the points needed to fend off a deter-mined challenge from Chamu Mabaya – who had earlier won Race 7 aboard 13-1 shot Lady’s Knight for the Mike de Kock stable.

Up until the final two races the two leading riders had failed to make it into the winner’s circle, but Mabaya had closed the points gap on Dadamasi through the day. In the “lucky last”, Mabaya was aboard odds-on favourite Alnasl, also trained by De Kock, and the odds were on him snatching the series victory from Dadamasi.

The Work Riders’ Challenge, held over three full meetings, was introduced in 2008 by Phumelela, the Racing Association and the Thoroughbred Horseracing Trust to showcase the talents of riders who have graduated from the Work Riders’ Training Programme.

The programme is funded by the Thoroughbred Horseracing Trust and run by former champion jockey-turned-trainer James Maree.

Some of these professional work riders are in hot demand among trainers both locally and abroad – and the programme has resulted in a dramatic improvement in the earning potential of its graduates.

Phumelela stages work riders’ races nearly every week and, apart from earning riding fees on every horse they partner, they compete for the jockey’s portion of the prize money. The Work Riders’ Challenge carries a total purse of R50,000.

Riders score points for their finishing positions and the rider who scores the most points in each of the three legs gets R5,000. The rider who accumulates the most points over all three meet-ings gets R20,000. The runner-up is given R10,000 and the third rider gets R5,000. - Tabnews

Geoff Woodruff & Goodman Dadmasi

Snaith & Tarry Go Head To Head Reigning SA champion trainer Sean Tarry and his arch rival

Justin Snaith are level at 46th position on the most recently published TRC Global Rankings.

The two South African con-ditioners are tied with Aus-tralians Kris Lees and Anthony Freedman on a log headed by the unstoppable Aidan O’Brien.

Snaith and Tarry have been the dominant duo over the past five seasons here, with the latter gaining the ascend-ancy by R9 million in 2015/16 and by over R13 million last term.

Tarry won the championship for the first time in 2014/15 and is thus on a four-timer.

But the Cape based team of Snaith Racing have a R2 million lead as we enter the final quarter of this season. Mike de Kock is a further R3 million away in third.

Snaith won the SA Championship in 2013/14 and has a powerful SA Champions Season attack which could well give him the edge over the title-holder.

Time will tell, but the rare failure of Sean Tarry’s champion Legal Eagle in the Gr1 Premier’s Champions Challenge at Turf-fontein a fornight ago may well prove to have been a turning point in the championship race!

The TRC Global Rankings are a measure of an individual’s level of achievement over a rolling three-year period.

They are not based on prize money that the individuals’ representatives have won but on the quality of the perfor-mances those runners have put up in Group and Graded races. There are about 1450 qualifying races around the world every year.

Sean Tarry

l o C a l

all about SpeedAn entry of 106, including the first three past the post in

the recent Gr1 Computaform Sprint at Turffontein, have been entered for South Africa’s most prestigious racemeeting for speed horses.

Featuring four Gr1 races, the Tsogo Sun Sprint Race Day will be hosted at Scottsville Racecourse on Saturday 26 May with R3,25-million in stakes for the four races that form the official Jackpot at the meeting. See the entries here

From Our MailbagAn epiphany prompted me to invite a much younger

friend to the East Cape Derby at Fairview on Saturday.Ryan had never attended a race meeting and was raring to

go, writes Ralph Fell in the Sporting Post Mailbag.read more about ralph’s Derby day observations

can be purchased here

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 13

i n t e r n a t i o n a l

Winx On Top Of The WorldWith her dominating victory in the longines Gr1 Queen eliz-

abeth Stakes, Winx (AuS) [130] is now alone at the top of the third edition of the longines World’s Best racehorse rankings for 2018.

Winx won the Queen Elizabeth by 3 ¾ lengths over Gailo Chop (FR) [120], and in doing so, she improved her rating to 130 from 129. It was the Australian star’s 25th consecutive victory.

Her other wins this year include the TAB Gr1 Chipping Norton Stakes and The Agency Gr1 George Ryder Stakes.

Winx, who is currently on a spell, is scheduled to remain in Aus-tralia and continue her campaign there later this year.

Cracksman (GB) [125] and Justify (USA) [124] are also responsi-ble for notable changes near the top of the latest rankings.

Cracksman, who was the co-third highest rated horse of 2017, made his seasonal debut a winning one at the recently reopened ParisLongchamp. The 4-year-old Frankel colt posted an easy four length victory in the Prix Ganay – Gr1 Prix de l’Inauguration de ParisLongchamp.

Justify, meanwhile, improved his rating to 124 from 120 after winning the Gr1 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve by 2 ½ lengths over Good Magic (USA) [120].

Audible (USA) [120] was a head back in third. Justify, who is a perfect four-for-four, had previously won the Gr1 Santa Anita Derby in his first attempt at stakes company.

On the same day Justify took the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Saxon Warrior (JPN) [121] won the QIPCO Gr1 2000 Guineas Stakes by 1 ½ lengths at Newmarket in his first start of the year. The Deep Impact colt has also won all four of his career starts.

Elsewhere, during Champions Day at Sha Tin, Pakistan Star (GER) [120] won the Gr1 AP QEII Cup by three lengths, while Ivictory (AUS) [120] defeated Mr Stunning (AUS) [120] by a half-length in the Gr1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize .

it happens all overCriticism about track surfaces is not unique to South

Africa and this was underlined in no uncertain terms in France on Sunday.

The racing surface at Longchamp was once again the cen-tre of heated debate as officials were forced to switch the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches to the Grande Piste (outer track) after protests from a number of jockeys about the safety of the Moyenne Piste (middle track).

Jockey Christophe Soumillon berated officials on the rac-ing channel Equidia after initial requests to change courses were rejected.

Soumillon said: "Ryan Moore’s horse slipped in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains and he said the track is dangerous. With a ten-minute delay we could move the stalls to the Grande Piste.

"Maxime Guyon, Mickael Barzalona and Pierre-Charles Boudot asked for the same, and the stewards have told us to get on with it. What are we supposed to do?"

Soumillon was at the centre of concerns over wear and tear on the track a week ago.

He added: "The track is dangerous. I have done everything, ridden over jumps at Auteuil, but nobody is listening to us. It’s scandalous."

Longchamp racecourse

Winx

Speed PremierAdelaide's premier sprinting race The Goodwood boasts a his-

tory as rich as any Gr1 race in Australia – it was first run in 1881. Thanks to Black Caviar and the globetrotting Takeover Target though, the event has gone to a new level over the past decade.

On Saturday, The Goodwood offers a A$1 million purse and brings down the curtain on three weeks of Group One racing at Adelaide’s Morphettville racetrack. Speed machine Vega Magic will be aiming to win back-to-back titles.

MiSSeD reCenT reSulTS? Click here for a quick link to the Sporting Post website

Stars at De MarsSeveral VIPs will be on course at the Champ de Mars for

the 8th meeting of the season on Saturday.Hollywood stars, including Stephen Bishop, Vanessa Wil-

liams, Erica Ash, Rotimi and Tyson Beckford are on the island for the filming of Singleholic - and will be going racing!

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 14

How horses performed in South Africa’s black type races, expressed in points based on the kind of races and how far behind the winner they finished. A full explanation of the point system and the complete list of point earners is on the Sporting Post website.

TOP eArnerS for 2017/2018(to 13 May 2018)

horse age sex points racesLegal Eagle 6 c 284 4Coral Fever 5 c 194 4Snowdance 3 f 184 4Oh Susanna 3 f 172 3Nother Russia 5 f 154 4Attenborough 4 c 128 2Eyes Wide Open 3 c 120 2Takingthepeace 3 f 100 2Liege 5 c 100 1Sergeant Hardy 4 c 100 1Will Pays 6 c 90 4Captain America 7 c 90 3Marinaresco 5 c 78 2Wonderwall 3 c 76 3Let It Rain 5 c 75 2Hero's Honour 3 c 70 1Lobo's Legend 3 c 70 1Tap O' Noth 3 c 70 1Last Winter 4 c 70 2Monks Hood 3 c 60 2Secret Potion 3 f 54 2Do It Again 3 c 54 3Milton 6 c 50 1Hat Puntano 4 c 50 1Perovskia 4 c 50 1Bishop's Bounty 4 c 50 1Tandava 5 c 50 1The Thinker 4 c 50 1Abashiri 5 c 50 2Social Order 4 c 50 3Silicone Valley 7 c 50 1Fiorella 3 f 50 2Copper Force 4 c 46 1Girl On The Run 5 f 45 2Sail South 7 c 43 1Live Life 4 f 42 2Silvan Star 5 f 42 3Surcharge 3 c 40 2

d i G e S t d i a r y

Features To ComeSat 19 May Gr2 WSB 1900 1900m Greyville (P/T)

east Coast Cup (l) 2000m Greyville (P/T)

Sun 20 May Syringa Handicap (l) 1600m Turfontein (I)

Fri 25 May Glenlair Trophy (l) 3200m Fairview (T)

Sat 26 May Gr1 Tsogo Sprint 1200m Scottsville

Gr1 SA Fillies Sprint 1200m Scottsville

Gr1 Gold Medallion 1200m Scottsville

Gr1 Allan Robertson Champ. 1200m Scottsville

Gr3 Winter Classic 1800m Kenilworth (W)

Stormsvlei Mile (l) 1600m Kenilworth (W)

Olympic Duel Stakes 1200m Kenilworth (W)

Did You Know?Four time Equus Outstanding Stallion

Dynasty (Fort Wood), a former SA Horse Of The Year and Vodacom Durban July winner, marked his eighth individual local Derby winner when American Landing won the Listed World Sports Betting East Cape Derby at Fairview on Saturday.

Standing at Highlands, the brilliant Voda-com Durban July winner, whose son Track Attack made R5.2 million at the 2018 Em-perors Palace National Yearling Sale, has 2 yearlings on offer at July’s KZN Yearling Sale.

b r e e d i n G

it’s a Girl!Highlands Stud part of Ridgemont’s

young sire Jackson has made a tre-mendous start with his first two-year-olds this season, and Dynasty’s triple Gr1 winning son was represented by a fourth first crop winner when his daughter Beat It won at Scottsville on Wednesday.

The first filly to win for her sire, the Duncan Howells trained Beat It, third at her previous outing, justified tote favouritism when downing older rivals in a maiden plate over 1200m at KZN’s mid-week meeting.

Bred by the Narrow Creek Stud, Beat It was a R200 000 buy from the 2017 National Yearling Sale.

Jackson’s previous first crop winners included feature race contender Mr Crumford as well as very impressive debut winner Bonaire, and the 2012 Gr1 Investec Cape Derby winner, who was unraced at two, looks a young stallion with a very bright future ahead of him.

A triple Gr1 winner, Jackson was one of the best horses of his generation, and defeated such champions as dual Horse Of The Year Variety Club, four time Gr1 winner Princess Victoria, and multiple champion sprinter, and lead-ing young stallion, What A Winter.

From the same family as multiple champion sire Smart Strike, as well as Gr1 sires Sky Classic, Sail From Seattle and Strike Smartly, Jackson has now been represented by nine first crop runners who have won or finished in the money.

Jackson has nine yearlings on offer at the 2018 KZN Yearling Sale.

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 15

b r e e d i n G

Diary DatesThe Cape Breeders Club have a busy

fortnight ahead with their annual stallion services auction being the curtain-raiser to the Cape Mare & Weanling Sale, followed by a seminar on 29 May.

The stallion services auction incorpo-rates 45 services from the likes of the ex-citing recent stakes icebreaker Master Of My Fate, to Dynasty’s son Jackson, and the likes of Soft Falling Rain and Drakenstein’s Equus champion, What A Winter.

Full details will be available later this week on the brand new Cape Breeders Club website (www.capebreeders.co.za) and on www.sportingpost.co.za

Good Times - & Better Times! Promising filly in Good Time shares

several traits with the outstanding sprinter in Her Time that extends well beyond the fact they are both daughters of Time Thief.

Both have a fierce will to win and while Group 1 winner In Her Time put in a rare sub-par performance in the Gr1 Doomben 10,000, In Good Time kept her record at a perfect six for six when earning her first stakes success in Saturday’s Listed Emirates Park Den-ise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) at Scone.

Ridden by Matthew Cahill for trainer Tracey Bartley, In Her Time defeated She Knows (Denman) by a short-neck with Sheikha (Sebring) a long-head back in third.. (Photo Steve Hart).

“She’s very good, I tell everyone she’s our Winx,” Bartley enthused.

“We’ve travelled her everywhere but placed her beautifully and to reach that level in her first step is outstanding.”

Like the champion sprinter Brazen Beau, In Good Time was bred by for-mer trainer Bernie Howlett.

“Bernie Howlett bred this filly, got her out of the paddock and sent us a photo, we bought her for $10,000 and the rest is history,” Bartley said.

“I think we will set her for the spring so it’s onwards and upwards.”

In Her Time is the best of three winners from as many to race out of the winning Strategic mare turbo Rose who hails from the family of outstand-ing stallion Centaine.

In Good Time becomes the fifth stakes winner for Time Thief who now stands in South Africa.

Time Thief is one of seventeen stallions that will go on parade at the Highlands Stallion Parade on Friday 25 May.

The parade includes all of the Cape's leading stallions who will be paraded before a capacity audience.

Please also make a note of the CBC Seminar at Glen Carlou Wine Estate at 10h00 on Tuesday 29 May. Enquiries to Wendy Probert – secretary@capebreed-ers.co.za

The Cape Breeders Club NPC was incor-porated in 2001. Its aims and objectives are to assist the Thoroughbred Breeders in the Cape in all matters pertaining to the industry.

In recent years the focus has been on education and the Club instigated the Grooms Training Program, which is used as a benchmark for the qualification for eligibility for entry into the Co-ops.

The Club is funded by the generous donations of services by the Stallion Owners/Managers, which services are auctioned annually.

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 16

helped by fertility problems, enjoyed more success as a broodmare sire, and is also broodmare sire of graded winners Double Whammy (Judpot), Go Indigo (Indigo Mag-ic), and Redcarpet Captain (Captain Al).

Internationally, Fall Aspen is the ancestress of hugely promising French Derby winning sire, Intello (Galileo), who appears on the verge of a successful career at stud. The Cheveley Park based stallion was repre-sented by two impressive first crop group winners, and potential classic contenders, last week. Intello is the sire of talented French based 3yo, Intellogent, who became his sire’s first group winner when victorious in the Gr3 Prix de Guiche at Chantilly on Monday. Intellogent now looks likely to con-test the Gr1 Prix Du Jockey Club, a race won by Intello himself in 2013.

PrestigiousIntello enjoyed a quick-fire group race double last week, when

another member of his first crop, Young Rascal, won the prestigious Gr3 Chester Vase on Wednesday. Now a winner of two of his three starts, Young Rascal, who is inbred to legendary stallion, Danehill, looks a potential first Investec Derby starter for his very promising young sire, whose own sire, Galileo, won that Epsom classic back in 2001. The regally bred Intello, whose fifth dam is Fall Aspen, is a three-parts brother to Gr1 Arlington Million/G1 Atto Mile winner, Mondialiste. The latter, also now at stud, is a son of Galileo with Mondialiste (whose fourth dam is Fall Aspen) out of French Gr1 win-ner, Occupandiste (Kaldoun), with the latter a granddam of Intello.

The Gr1 Matron Stakes winning Fall Aspen (Pretense) is also second dam of outstanding, but short-lived racehorse, Dubai Millennium (Seeking The Gold), whose sire son, Dubawi, is one of the world’s elite stallions. Dubawi, whose progeny include more than 30 individual Gr1 winners, is enjoying another stellar season. Not only is the Irish 2000 Guineas winner already represented by 10 stakes winners in 2018, but his unbeaten Pretty Polly Stakes winning daughter, Lah Ti Dar, is currently favourite for June’s Gr1 Investec Oaks. Dubawi is sire of at least seven Gr1 winners whose dams are sired by a Sadler’s Wells line stallion.

Dubawi’s stakes winners this year include Dubai Gr1 winners, Benbatl (Dubai Turf) and North America (Maktoum Challenge), and he has built up a remarkable record with mares from the Sadler’s Wells line, being particularly successful when mated to daughters of Sadler’s Wells’ grandson, Singspiel (In The Wings).

Left HandOther high class performers bred on the Dubawi/Singspiel

cross include the likes of Left Hand (Gr1 Prix Vermeille), Wuheida (G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf), and Gr3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes winner, Laugh Aloud. Read more here

b r e e d i n G

Dynasty

The legacy of the outstanding brood-mare, Fall Aspen, continues to be felt throughout the world.

In South Africa, Fall Aspen’s deceased champion sire son, Fort Wood, continues to make his presence felt through suc-cessful sire sons, Dynasty and Elusive Fort, promising grandson, Jackson, and a host of outstanding broodmare daughters.

Perennially among South Africa’s top stal-lions, Dynasty, one of three sons of his sire named Horse Of The Year, made headlines again this weekend when his son, American Landing, won Saturday’s Listed East Cape Derby at Fairview.

The regally bred American Landing, one of nearly 60 stakes winners for Dynasty, is one of 6 black type winners to have emerged from his sire’s current crop of 3yos this season, with others including multiple Gr1 winner, Eyes Wide Open, Equus Champion, Lady In Black, the unbeaten Hash-tagyolo and KZN Guineas Trial winner, Sir David Baird. Dynasty is also sire of triple Gr1 winner, Jackson, who is currently one of South Africa’s Leading First Crop Sires.

Fort KnoxAnother Fort Wood sire son in the news is Equus Champion and

triple Gr1 winner, Elusive Fort, whose runners this season include Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift SA Oaks winner, Secret Potion, and Gr3 Vasco Taverna Prix Du Cap winner, Elusive Heart.

Fort Wood’s greatest son, on the racetrack, was undoubtedly Horse Chestnut, who has gone on to establish himself as a top class broodmare sire. This year, Horse Chestnut is damsire of out-standing US racemare, Fault (Blame), whose trio of graded wins this year include the Gr1 Santa Margarita Stakes. Fault was pro-duced by the Horse Chestnut mare, Chaming N Lovable, whose 3 career wins included the Flawlessly Stakes.

Fort Wood, who has dominated South Africa’s Broodmare Sires List in recent years, continues to fare well as a damsire, with his representatives this season including high class filly, Folk Dance (Tiger Ridge). His daughters, who fared so well when mated to Captain Al, are also responsible for Gr1 winners Cherry On The Top (Tiger Ridge), Capetown Noir (Western Winter), Forest Indigo (Judpot), Marinaresco (Silvano), Contador (Var), Real Princess (Trippi), Captain America (Captain Al), William Longsword (Captain Al) and Nightingale (Silvano).

Fort Wood was by far the most successful of the considerable number of Fall Aspen descendants to retire to stud in South Africa.

KaboolAnother descendant of Fall Aspen, French Gr2 winner, Kabool

(Groom Dancer), is broodmare sire of 2017 In Full Flight Handicap winner, Bold Respect (Bold Silvano). Kabool, whose career was not

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 17

Drakenstein Stud resident Galileo stallion Kingsbarns passed away from colic on Wednesday night – a sad loss to the Cape stallion band at the age of 8.The impeccably-bred Kingsbarns was one of the very best two-year-olds of his generation. Timeform of 2012 rated the colt at 120.Kingsbarns, described by Timeform as “a revelation….establishing himself as one of the leaders of his generation…most imposing physically, a rangy attractive colt”, won both his outings at two, with a seven length maiden win being followed up by a facile 1.75 length victory in the Gr1 Racing Post Trophy.Injury played havoc with Kingsbarns’ subsequent career, but the bay did finish third, beaten by Gr1 winner Olympic Glory in the 2013 Gr1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, where he beat Dawn Approach, Elusive Kate and Gordon Lord Byron.The young sire’s first SA crop are yearlings in 2018.

The FUll Statistics OnlIne http://www.sportingpost.co.za/horse-racing-statistics/ *Stallion dead or Retired **Stallion Not Standing in RSA **Breeding operations not based in RSA - Statistics for Breeders & Sires reflect All earnings, incl. restricted races & handicap races

leADinG BreeDerS by STAKES SeaSon 2017/2018 • 1 August - 13 May 2018

Stakes Breeder rnrs AEPR runs wnrs wns wnr/ SW SW SW/ plcs plc/ SP top earner with stakes rnr% wnrs wns wnr% rns% & % of total stakes

17,754,313 Summerhill Stud 322 55,138 1928 107 153 33% 4 5 4% 505 26% 5 Takingthepeace 1,400,000 8% 17,387,800 Klawervlei Stud 346 50,254 1805 116 161 34% 8 9 7% 531 29% 8 Lobo’s Legend 1,350,775 8% 12,546,100 Drakenstein Stud 108 116,168 535 57 78 53% 4 5 7% 169 32% 10 Oh Susanna 3,687,375 29% 11,937,488 Maine Chance 153 78,023 782 63 104 41% 7 8 11% 225 29% 8 Liege 1,203,250 10% 11,118,138 Wilgerbosdrift & Mauritzfontein 194 57,310 990 85 121 44% 8 9 9% 301 30% 9 Zen Arcade 484,375 4% 10,354,913 Moutonshoek 126 82,182 649 45 72 36% 3 3 7% 169 26% 4 Undercover Agent 4,141,875 40% 9,272,300 Ascot Stud 89 104,183 474 39 57 44% 5 7 13% 149 31% 8 Coral Fever 3,135,000 34% 8,742,025 Highlands 144 60,709 775 68 93 47% 4 7 6% 202 26% 7 Eyes Wide Open 878,000 10% 8,300,463 Varsfontein Stud 101 82,183 559 45 64 45% 3 4 7% 177 32% 14 Surcharge 1,445,000 17%

leADinG SireS by STAKES SeaSon 2017/2018 • 1 August - 13 May 2018 Stakes Sire rnrs AEPR runs wnrs wns wnr/ SW SW SW/ plcs plc/ SP top earner with stakes rnr% wnrs wns wnr% rns% & % of total stakes

19,311,538 *Captain Al 159 121,456 760 67 96 42% 10 14 15% 261 34% 18 Undercover Agent 4,141,875 21% 15,340,288 Silvano 217 70,693 1096 95 148 44% 9 11 9% 341 31% 19 Silvan Star 633,900 4% 12,334,175 Trippi 131 94,154 678 63 92 48% 3 4 5% 252 37% 9 Miss Katalin 1,663,250 13% 11,743,150 Dynasty 137 85,716 637 65 102 47% 13 16 20% 173 27% 11 Liege 1,203,250 10% 11,118,551 Var 216 51,475 1077 77 112 36% 3 5 4% 328 30% 10 William The Silent 693,750 6% 8,608,900 Querari 117 73,580 576 51 76 44% 5 6 10% 175 30% 6 Monks Hood 1,030,875 12% 8,576,700 Gimmethegreenlight 151 56,799 766 57 71 38% 2 3 4% 211 28% 12 Surcharge 1,445,000 17% 8,390,301 What A Winter 96 87,399 395 39 47 41% 1 1 3% 110 28% 3 Dutch Philip 3,847,975 46% 7,834,188 Judpot 128 61,205 628 43 49 34% 1 2 2% 171 27% 7 Coral Fever 3,135,000 40%

leADinG SireS of 3yO’S by STAKES SeaSon 2017/2018 • 1 August - 13 May 2018

Stakes Sire rnrs AEPR runs wnrs wns wnr/ SW SW SW/ plcs plc/ SP top earner with stakes rnr% wnrs wns wnr% rns% & % of total stakes

12,786,288 *Captain Al 50 255,726 279 30 47 60% 5 8 17% 99 35% 5 Undercover Agent 4,141,875 32% 7,695,126 What A Winter 63 122,145 326 32 39 51% 1 1 3% 93 29% 3 Dutch Philip 3,847,975 50% 7,088,125 Trippi 41 172,881 222 27 36 66% 1 1 4% 90 41% 4 Miss Katalin 1,663,250 23% 6,113,113 Silvano 83 73,652 417 45 73 54% 2 2 4% 131 31% 7 Chariot Of Gold 261,750 4% 5,680,325 Gimmethegreenlight 74 76,761 443 31 39 42% 2 3 6% 121 27% 7 Surcharge 1,445,000 25% 4,899,925 Querari 48 102,082 250 22 31 46% 3 4 14% 73 29% 2 Monks Hood 1,030,875 21% 4,774,825 Dynasty 56 85,265 263 28 37 50% 5 6 18% 68 26% 5 Eyes Wide Open 878,000 18% 4,461,600 Await The Dawn 40 111,540 243 20 26 50% 1 1 5% 60 25% 0 Hero’s Honour 1,354,600 30% 4,334,451 Var 72 60,201 411 32 42 44% 0 0 0% 139 34% 2 Speedpoint 369,100 9%

leADinG SireS by STAKES on Polytrack SeaSon 2017/2018 • 1 August - 13 May 2018

Stakes Sire rnrs AEPR runs wnrs wns wnr/ SW SW SW/ plcs plc/ SP top earner with stakes rnr% wnrs wns wnr% rns% & % of total stakes

2,018,313 *Sail From Seattle 71 28,427 210 26 32 37% 0 0 0% 65 31% 0 For Luck Sake 172,300 9% 1,937,500 Trippi 49 39,541 157 14 23 29% 0 0 0% 71 45% 0 Miracle Bureau 280,225 14% 1,753,825 Visionaire 50 35,077 135 17 25 34% 0 0 0% 47 35% 0 We’re Watching You 207,100 12% 1,683,113 Silvano 60 28,052 144 20 28 33% 0 0 0% 34 24% 1 Argenteus 172,500 10% 1,595,325 Var 90 17,726 256 14 16 16% 0 0 0% 77 30% 1 Miss Varlicious 143,875 9% 1,426,600 Querari 45 31,702 142 16 22 36% 0 0 0% 42 30% 0 Desert Wisdom 176,600 12% 1,374,900 Gimmethegreenlight 57 24,121 161 13 18 23% 0 0 0% 42 26% 0 Accidental Tourist 150,000 11% 1,256,575 *Antonius Pius 37 33,961 160 14 19 38% 1 1 7% 43 27% 0 Golden Shamrock 123,925 10%

leADinG SireS of 3yO’S by AEPR SeaSon 2017/2018 • 1 August - 13 May 2018

Stakes Sire rnrs AEPR runs wnrs wns wnr/ SW SW SW/ plcs plc/ SP top earner with stakes rnr% wnrs wns wnr% rns% & % of total stakes

12,786,288 *Captain Al 50 255,726 279 30 47 60% 5 8 17% 99 35% 5 Undercover Agent 4,141,875 32% 7,088,125 Trippi 41 172,881 222 27 36 66% 1 1 4% 90 41% 4 Miss Katalin 1,663,250 23% 7,695,126 What A Winter 63 122,145 326 32 39 51% 1 1 3% 93 29% 3 Dutch Philip 3,847,975 50% 4,461,600 Await The Dawn 40 111,540 243 20 26 50% 1 1 5% 60 25% 0 Hero’s Honour 1,354,600 30% 4,899,925 Querari 48 102,082 250 22 31 46% 3 4 14% 73 29% 2 Monks Hood 1,030,875 21% 1,963,275 Elusive Fort 20 98,164 135 10 15 50% 2 2 20% 34 25% 2 Secret Potion 935,600 48% 2,352,275 Ideal World 26 90,472 141 15 26 58% 3 4 20% 32 23% 2 Zen Arcade 484,375 21% 4,774,825 Dynasty 56 85,265 263 28 37 50% 5 6 18% 68 26% 5 Eyes Wide Open 878,000 18% 3,075,075 Visionaire 39 78,848 214 18 24 46% 1 2 6% 51 24% 0 Takingthepeace 1,400,000 46%

with 20 or more rnrs

leADinG SireS of 2YO’S by STAKES SeaSon 2017/2018 • 1 August - 13 May 2018

Stakes Sire rnrs AEPR runs wnrs wns wnr/ SW SW SW/ plcs plc/ SP top earner with stakes rnr% wnrs wns wnr% rns% & % of total stakes

1,823,775 Var 38 47,994 85 13 17 34% 1 1 8% 24 28% 3 William The Silent 693,750 38% 1,007,850 Oratorio 23 43,820 57 8 13 35% 2 2 25% 17 30% 4 Carlita 214,375 21% 942,175 *Sail From Seattle 37 25,464 99 12 12 32% 0 0 0% 32 32% 1 Star Flyer 91,500 10% 816,475 Bold Silvano 21 38,880 55 5 9 24% 1 2 20% 11 20% 0 Bold Eagle 334,375 41% 765,975 Pomodoro 16 47,873 45 4 5 25% 0 0 0% 17 38% 2 Cirillo 318,000 42% 749,875 Querari 25 29,995 55 8 10 32% 1 1 13% 19 35% 3 Arianos Shadow 156,250 21% 744,750 *Captain Al 24 31,031 51 6 6 25% 1 1 17% 21 41% 2 Celtic Sea 167,000 22% 726,700 Gimmethegreenlight 29 25,059 54 9 9 31% 0 0 0% 18 33% 1 Gimme A Brake Nate 101,625 14%

KingsbarnsKingsbarns

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 18

Burke’s Luck!The 4kg claimer Louis Burke rode

a great double at Kenilworth on Tuesday to take his winning tally to an admittedly modest 8 for the season. He won the second on China Wolf for Dan Katz. But it was his ride on the 15-1 Cavalleria that stamped him as a rider with a cool head. Slow away and lengths to

make up in the straight, the Paddy Kruyer filly weaved her way through to win a cracker. Burke’s first winner came at Flamingo Park in October 2016 on Jozi Babe for Sarel Von Willingh Smit.

Hot ShotJoey Ramsden saddled his 14th

2yo winner of the season at Kenil-worth on Tuesday when the Var colt Montego Bay improved dramatically on his debut to shed his maiden. JR also saddled the third race winner, the Twice Over gelding Rock My Soul, who made most of the pace to win the 2500m race at his first shot

at ground. “Joey is sharp. He said he would stay,” mused assistant Ricardo Sobotker when doffing his cap to his astute boss in the post-race interview.

Archie Has Last LaughThe Ashburton team of Gunter

Wrogemann and trainer Louis Goosen maintained their 18% win strike-rate when the Zeyn and Mari-lyn Kirsten owned Captain Al gelding

Archilles – aka Ar-chie - scored easily in the last at Scotts-ville on Wednesday. Archilles has been the victim of a host of bad draws and a few weather forced switches to the

polytrack in recent months. But with all factors in his favour, he was backed and duly won well.

R a c i n g T o W i n

FOLLOW US

Louis Burke – good day at the office

Louis Goosen and Gunter Wrogemann

– have formed a solid combo in KZN

Joey Ramsden – shrewd judge

leADinG TrAinerS by STAKESSeaSon 2017/2018 • 1 August - 13 May 2018

trainer runs wins win fav fav wfav 2nd 2nd 1st 1st stakes stks/ % % % % four four% runs

J Snaith 902 131 15% 159 18% 32% 102 11% 410 45% 21,126,250 23,422 SG Tarry 977 103 11% 157 16% 27% 102 10% 385 39% 18,055,150 18,480 C Bass-Robinson 748 82 11% 98 13% 28% 77 10% 325 43% 13,297,200 17,777 MF de Kock 595 96 16% 181 30% 33% 73 12% 308 52% 12,758,138 21,442 BJ Crawford 598 83 14% 114 19% 25% 78 13% 281 47% 12,411,425 20,755 AC Greeff 798 113 14% 160 20% 36% 106 13% 398 50% 8,226,225 10,309 GS Kotzen 651 67 10% 65 10% 28% 57 9% 249 38% 7,242,075 11,125 MG & AA Azzie 408 50 12% 64 16% 23% 54 13% 176 43% 7,030,550 17,232 PA Peter 494 69 14% 85 17% 28% 42 9% 199 40% 6,989,351 14,148 GV Woodruff 391 52 13% 81 21% 33% 46 12% 168 43% 5,917,875 15,135 DR Drier 439 56 13% 84 19% 38% 53 12% 208 47% 5,840,913 13,305 JAJ v Vuuren 376 51 14% 61 16% 31% 53 14% 186 49% 5,750,975 15,295 J Ramsden 396 46 12% 64 16% 30% 49 12% 177 45% 5,498,775 13,886 D Kannemeyer 370 49 13% 62 17% 44% 41 11% 157 42% 5,334,875 14,419 RR Sage 119 19 16% 11 9% 64% 9 8% 50 42% 5,218,275 43,851 GD Smith 914 61 7% 56 6% 30% 86 9% 323 35% 5,157,813 5,643

leADinG JOCkeyS by WinSSeaSon 2017/2018 • 1 August - 13 May 2018

jockey rides wins win fav fav wfav 2nd 2nd 1st 1st stakes stks/ % % % % four four% rides A Delpech 532 139 26% 214 40% 38% 98 18% 346 65% 14,523,638 27,300 L Hewitson 1125 137 12% 160 14% 30% 137 12% 521 46% 14,084,963 12,520 M Yeni 1057 109 10% 163 15% 23% 108 10% 470 44% 14,071,976 13,313 C Murray 787 105 13% 140 18% 33% 86 11% 327 42% 10,377,425 13,186 A Marcus 418 104 25% 199 48% 34% 77 18% 263 63% 11,218,613 26,839 G Cheyne 610 100 16% 143 23% 33% 91 15% 355 58% 8,473,650 13,891 A Domeyer 512 99 19% 150 29% 35% 71 14% 308 60% 9,970,475 19,474 R Fourie 535 98 18% 120 22% 32% 71 13% 291 54% 10,477,400 19,584 G Wrogemann 837 97 12% 89 11% 38% 89 11% 355 42% 10,659,851 12,736 K De Melo 850 96 11% 109 13% 29% 100 12% 375 44% 9,832,000 11,567 G v Niekerk 471 91 19% 98 21% 29% 69 15% 276 59% 17,645,575 37,464 R Munger 1015 78 8% 43 4% 35% 66 7% 322 32% 6,353,775 6,260 G Lerena 347 74 21% 131 38% 32% 61 18% 210 61% 7,116,626 20,509 C Zackey 899 74 8% 73 8% 25% 86 10% 343 38% 9,310,576 10,357 W Kennedy 608 63 10% 58 10% 28% 68 11% 249 41% 5,889,900 9,687 K Zechner 776 61 8% 50 6% 14% 71 9% 289 37% 5,915,226 7,623 M v Rensburg 569 56 10% 69 12% 22% 66 12% 225 40% 5,370,600 9,439

leADinG TrAinerS/JOCkeyS by WinS %SeaSon 2017/2018 • 1 August - 13 May 2018

trainer/ runs wins win fav fav wfav 2nd 2nd stakes stks/ jockey % % % % runs

DS Bosch/A Marcus 22 10 45% 15 68% 47% 7 32% 721,775 32,808 BJ Crawford/A Delpech 30 12 40% 16 53% 31% 7 23% 881,725 29,391 GV Woodruff/G Lerena 43 14 33% 22 51% 45% 7 16% 1,073,800 24,972 MF de Kock/A Delpech 104 32 31% 48 46% 46% 15 14% 3,200,075 30,770 J Ramsden/A Marcus 33 10 30% 15 45% 47% 5 15% 899,600 27,261 D Kannemeyer/A Delpech 78 22 28% 37 47% 43% 17 22% 2,110,975 27,064 AC Greeff/A Domeyer 71 20 28% 35 49% 43% 8 11% 1,194,025 16,817 PA Peter/G Lerena 39 11 28% 19 49% 32% 7 18% 1,309,675 33,581 C Bass-Robinson/G v Niekerk 48 12 25% 5 10% 0% 7 15% 4,438,050 92,459 J Snaith/G v Niekerk 204 49 24% 55 27% 36% 30 15% 9,849,725 48,283 AC Greeff/G Cheyne 296 64 22% 110 37% 34% 64 22% 4,573,325 15,450 PL Lunn/K De Melo 50 11 22% 6 12% 50% 5 10% 773,175 15,464 J Snaith/B Fayd’herbe 158 33 21% 41 26% 29% 18 11% 6,153,175 38,944 J Snaith/R Fourie 82 17 21% 26 32% 31% 10 12% 1,315,925 16,048 T Laing/C Murray 165 33 20% 34 21% 41% 21 13% 2,223,275 13,474

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 19

Sporting Post

ABiliTy rATinGS (AR)

puts every horse in its place

b l a C k t y P e r e S u l t S

FaIrvIEw (turf) saturday, 12 May

Course Variant: 1,47s slow (straight) – 1,73s slow (bend) With no rain and just 16mm of irrigation declared,

the penetrometer read 23 and the going was posted as good. The false rail was out 2,5m from the 1200m

mark with a 3,5m spur at the 800m. There was a south westerly cross wind of around 27km/h.

Dahlia Plate (2yo's)(listed) r150,000

Durban TicketThe smart Crusade colt Alfeo looks to have booked his berth at Greyville on 30 June for the richly endowed KZN Breeders Race Day after a facile victory in Saturday’s R150 000 Listed Dahlia Plate at Fairview.Second on the KZN Breeders Series log behind stablemate and fellow Piemonte Stud-bred Carlita before he went into Sat-urday’s feature, the promising 2yo made it three wins from four starts when slam-ming a field that included his stablkemate and recent conqueror in the East Cape Nursery, Madame Speaker.The race has been dominated by Alan Greeff and the Scribante family, as well as trainer Gavin Smith, and the top local yards and they filled the first four places again.Aldo Domeyer had Alfeo in touch up the outside as Super Socks led Madame Speaker.Alfeo started running at the leaders at the 300m and drew away to hold the fancied Madame Speaker to 1,25 lengths in a time of 71,1 secs.Born A Bully was slightly slow away and lagged behind the early charge to be beat-en into third, a further 2,25 lengths.The pacy Super Socks faded out to fourth, with the previously consistent Say No More producing no finish and running 7 lengths off the winner.Bred by KZN-based Piemonte Stud, Alfeo was bought back for R20 000 at the 2017 BSA KZN Yearling Sale and took his earn-ings to R211 850 with his third win and second place from five starts.A son of Crusade (Mr Greeley), Alfeo is out of the one-time winner Singapura Cat (Black Minnaloushe),Dahlia Plate (L) 1200m

Winner Alfeo was stubborn loading; raced 4th; led 150m; won going away Runner up Madame Speaker (best handi-capped) raced 2nd; led 300m; beaten 1,25 lengths Third Born A Bully lost 2 lengths at the start; raced in the rear, but just 1,5 lengths behind the winner; beaten 3,5 lengths Time: This comparatively was the slowest of the six sprint races on the card We gave the runner up (prev 63/73/79/81) 79

east Cape Derby (3yo's)(listed) r350,000

Happy LandingThe race, dominated by the Cape raiders for the past nine years, proved a walk in the park for the handsome Dynasty colt American Landing, who races in the famil-iar black and white of Delma Sherrell.Relaxed by Richard Fourie early as Golden Shamrock and Desert Chief went off to lead in what was effectively a seperate race. The pair were ten lengths ahead of the second group headed by Kimberley Star and Streetfighting Man.American Landing moved up swiftly in the home run. The good looking colt took the lead away from Golden Shamrock at the 350m marker and charged clear to win unchallenged by 5,75 lengths in a time of 150,61 secs.Yvette Bremner’s Go Deputy filly and recent Oaks winner Widow’s Lamp was not disgraced as she came out of the pack to chase and bank the R70 000 second cheque.West Coast visitor Run Red stayed on for third ahead of the game Golden Sham-rock, who was all of 7 lengths back in a scattered finish.American Landing has won 2 races with 2 places from 5 starts for stakes of R286 350.He was purchased off the De Broglio dis-persal on the 2017 BSA August Kenilworth Sale where he was by far the highest priced lot at R1,6 million.A son of Dynasty (Fort Wood), the winner was bred by Mike de Broglio and is out of the versatile five-time winner Sabina Park (Sportsworld), who won the SA Oaks in 2004.That makes him a full-brother to last week-end’s Gr2 Gerald Rosenberg Stakes winner Sabina’s Dynasty and a half brother to dual Summer Cup winner Master Sabina (Jet Master).East Cape Derby (L) 2400m

Winner American Landing was positioned 8th turning for home; ran on; shifted margin-

which makes the winner (prev 70/71/76/82) 88 and the third (prev 74/76/67) 74

88 1 0.00 Alfeo (9) 60.0 A Domeyer 31/4 2 c Crusade - Singapura Cat (Black Minnaloushe) 79 2 1.25 MAdAMe SpeAker (3) 57.5 T Gould 13/10 2 b f Pathfork - Word Perfect (National Assembly) 74 3 3.50 Born A Bully (4) 58.0 R Fourie 27/4 2 b g Eightfold Path - Love Leah (Restructure) 66 4 4.00 Super Socks (1) 55.0 J Penny 36/1 65 5 7.00 Say No More (8) 58.0 R Khathi 41/10 57 6 7.25 Cape Leopard (10) 55.0 M Thackeray 100/1 57 7 7.35 Tundra (7) 55.0 R Munger 18/1 42 8 13.10 Fairyinthemist (6) 55.5 X Ndlovu 18/1 41 9 15.60 The Highway Man (2) 58.0 M Yeni 13/1 41 10 15.65 Aloysius (5) 58.0 G Cheyne 11/1 Time: 71.1s (59.25s avg/1000m, or 61km/h) Sp Total %: 117%1st T:AC Greeff o:Messrs C G & L F Scribante B:Piemonte Stud

ally 300m; led 150m; won going away Runner up Widow’s Lamp (2nd best hand-icapped) was positioned 6th turning for home; ran on; carried in by the winner 300m; beaten 5,75 lengths; cut left hind lateral distal carpus Third Run Red was positioned 7th turning for home; stayed on; beaten 6,75 lengths Time: In what proved to be a very false paced affair, the horse racing in third was a good 15 lengths behind the pacemaker turning for home. Comparatively, this was the fastest of the four races around the turn. We gave the runner up (prev 82/86/86/86/80) 72 which makes the winner (prev 64/68/76/78) 85 and the third (prev 78/73/79/67/79) 74

85 1 0.00 AMericAn lAnding (11) 59.0 R Fourie 26/10 3 b c Dynasty - Sabina Park (Sportsworld) 72 2 5.75 WidoW’S lAMp (9) 57.5 L Hewitson 10/3 3 b f Go Deputy - Iditarod (Western Winter) 74 3 6.75 run red (7) 59.0 R Khathi 15/1 3 ch c Twice Over - Foxtrot Baby (Lizard Island) 73 4 7.00 Golden Shamrock (5) 59.0 M Yeni 50/1 69 5 7.50 Queen Forever (8) 57.5 G Cheyne 10/1 72 6 7.75 Streetfighting Man (4) 59.0 G v Niekerk 9/1 71 7 9.75 Sabbatical (13) 60.0 B Fayd’herbe 71/10 64 8 12.25 Belonje (2) 59.0 R Munger 44/1 64 9 12.50 Chappaquiddick (3) 59.0 J Penny 100/1 61 10 14.00 Desert Chief (6) 59.0 C Zackey 18/1 53 11 20.25 Kimberley Star (1) 60.0 A Domeyer 71/10 45 12 23.50 Multi Gold (12) 59.0 C Murray 44/1 22 13 37.25 The Dictator (10) 59.0 S Fortune 100/1 Time: 150.61s (62.75s avg/1000m, or 57km/h) Sp Total %: 115%1st T:BJ Crawford o:Mrs D J Sherrell B:M De Broglio

Phumelela Shareprice date close high low volume

15May 1550 1597 1400 13,75514May 1550 1550 1550 1,37111May 1600 1600 1450 3,38610May 1600 1600 1600 009May 1600 1600 1500 64,43508May 1500 1500 1500 392 07May 1600 1600 1600 004May 1600 1600 1600 003May 1600 1600 1500 60002May 1500 1600 1500 1,23330Apr 1600 1690 1435 2,464

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 20

1st & 2nd season sires – 2yo’sATO (Royal Academy)Queen Of The Dance 2f (Personify by Personal Hope)

Turffontein 3 Maiden Plate (F&M) 1000m (20/05)BYWORD (Peintre Celebre)Wordbuster 2c (Linsumi by Linney Head)

Greyville 1 Maiden Plate (Polytrack) 1600m (19/05)DUKE OF MARMALADE (Danehill)C'est Serra 2f (Misty River by Western Winter)

Greyville 2 Maiden Plate (F&M)(Polytrack) 1600m (19/05)Dubula 2c (Atlantic Beach by Right Approach)

Kenilworth 3 Maiden Juvenile Plate 1200m (19/05)JACKSON (Dynasty)My Boy Jack 2c (Lady's Desire by Lizard Island)

Fairview 1 Maiden Juvenile Plate (Polytrack) 1000m (18/05)Dancing Moonlight 2c (Silver Olive Grove by Dixieland Band)

Greyville 1 Maiden Plate (Polytrack) 1600m (19/05)Dynamite Jack 2c (Crystal Tiara by Beautiful Crown)

Kenilworth 3 Maiden Juvenile Plate 1200m (19/05)Larry Jack 2c (Weather Report by Silvano)

Kenilworth 3 Maiden Juvenile Plate 1200m (19/05)Jack Swift 2c (Ocean's Swift by Captain Al)

Kenilworth 3 Maiden Juvenile Plate 1200m (19/05)MARCHFIELD (A P Indy)March To Glory 2c (Ballyboro by Entrepreneur)

Greyville 10 Barrier Trial (Polytrack) 1000m (19/05)Kalahari Chrome 2c (Grey Rose by Tiger Ridge)

Turffontein 1 Maiden Plate 1000m (20/05)MASTER OF MY FATE (Jet Master)Polly's Destiny 2f (Princess Polly by Royal Chalice)

Kenilworth 1 Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) 1200m (19/05)Kawakami 2f (Miss Kiri by Jallad)

Kenilworth 1 Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) 1200m (19/05)NOBLE TUNE (Unbridled's Song)Albrandino 2c (Boreal Applause by Royal Applause)

Fairview 1 Maiden Juvenile Plate (Polytrack) 1000m (18/05)Frozen Tune 2c (Winter Feast by Western Winter)

Kenilworth 2 Maiden Juvenile Plate 1200m (19/05)Noble Approach 2f (Approach Me by Right Approach)

Greyville 2 Maiden Plate (F&M)(Polytrack) 1600m (19/05)ORATORIO (Danehill)Famous orator 2c (Fast 'n Famous by Jet Master)

Kenilworth 3 Maiden Juvenile Plate 1200m (19/05)

POMODORO (Jet Master)Cedar Man 2c (Dharmsala by Fantastic Light)

Kenilworth 2 Maiden Juvenile Plate 1200m (19/05)TWICE OVER (Observatory)Over The Way 2f (Leeway by Captain Al)

Kenilworth 1 Maiden Juvenile Plate (Fillies) 1200m (19/05)WHAT A WINTER (Western Winter)Wonder Woman 2f (Breeze Past by Qui Danzig)

Fairview 1 Maiden Juvenile Plate (Polytrack) 1000m (18/05)Russet Air 2c (Icy Air by Jallad)

Kenilworth 3 Maiden Juvenile Plate 1200m (19/05)Arriverdeci 2c (Lady Onassis by National Assembly)

Kenilworth 3 Maiden Juvenile Plate 1200m (19/05)Casual Wear 2f (Mink Coat by London News)

Turffontein 3 Maiden Plate (F&M) 1000m (20/05)

2nd season sires – 3yo’sAWAIT THE DAWN (Giant's Causeway)Bakkies 3c (Jordie by Fard)

Turffontein 2 Maiden Plate 1800m (20/05)BYWORD (Peintre Celebre)Poetry 3f (Maisonette by Elliodor)

Fairview 2 Maiden Plate (F&M)(Polytrack) 1000m (18/05)Silver Raisin 3f (Bay Leaf by Strike Smartly)

Greyville 2 Maiden Plate (F&M)(Polytrack) 1600m (19/05)Eternal Words 3f (Eternal Lady by Jallad)

Greyville 8 MR 86 Handicap (F&M) 1600m (19/05)Scrabble 3c (Cupid's Daughter by Ad Valorem)

Greyville 10 Barrier Trial (Polytrack) 1000m (19/05)CRUSADE (Mr Greeley)Joking Dice 3f (Slew per Jet by Jet Master)

Fairview 6 MR 72 Handicap (F&M)(Polytrack) 1600m (18/05)Romantic Crusade 3f (Romantic Drama by Model Man)

Kenilworth 8 MR 76 Handicap (F&M) 1400m (19/05)Colombina 3f (Hard To Get by Fard)

Turffontein 3 Maiden Plate (F&M) 1000m (20/05)Jaunita 3f (Perakeen by Rakeen)

Turffontein 3 Maiden Plate (F&M) 1000m (20/05)EIGHTFOLD PATH (Giant's Causeway)Three Ships 3f (Scotch Cat by Mogok)

Greyville 2 Maiden Plate (F&M)(Polytrack) 1600m (19/05)MARCHFIELD (A P Indy)Middlemarch 3c (Romantic Girl by Al Mufti)

Kenilworth 6 MR 68 Handicap 1800m (19/05)

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 21

contact - Kiki 082 878 2231kiki@sportingpost.co.za

is Your Stallion entered for 2018?

notable Maiden WinnersJUST AS WELLRated AR77 Calypso Dancer (2f Dancing Rhapsody by Qui Danzig)

Maiden Juvenile Plate Vaal (inside) (1000m) (10/5)Freely available at 30/1 at the off, Leon Erasmus’ charge raced in midfield early on. She ran on best of all at the business end of the race and won going away by a length and a half.

VARRated AR81 Jardin (2g Azabu Park by Bletchley Park)

Maiden Juvenile Plate Greyville (poly) (1000m) (13/5)Making his debut here after finishing first in his barrier trial, Vaughan Marshall’s charge led throughout. He was always in command, and going away at the finish won with much more authority than the official two lengths would suggest.

Horses To FollowHORSE CHESTNUTRated AR84 Socrates (3c Strait To Bed by Rakeen)

MR82 Handicap Greyville (poly) (1000m) (13/5)Now a winner of two from five Socrates impressed when getting off the mark in good time over 1400m at this circuit last time out, and he put in a repeat performance over much shorter here. Positioned in the backend of midfield as the ten runners came off the bend, Shane Humby’s charge didn’t find the clear-est of passages in the short home straight. Once seeing daylight though he quickened in good style, and again in good time won going away.

Winners Bred Abroadnautic Spirit (AUS) 3f Your Song - Karalli(AUS) (Chateau Istana) Vaal 1200m (10/05)

Flaming Hot (AUS) 4f Flying Spur - Inchita(AUS) (Encosta de Lago)Turffontein 1600m (12/05)

Touch Of Magic (AUS) 3f Sepoy - Moccasin Bend(AUS) (Eternity Range)

Greyville 1000m (13/05)

ORATORIO (Danehill)Sacred Touch 3c (Red Growler by Fort Wood)

Fairview 4 Maiden Plate (Polytrack) 2200m (18/05)Victor Victorio 3c (Victoria by Albert Hall)

Greyville 1 Maiden Plate (Polytrack) 1600m (19/05)Seraphic 3f (Menorah by Var)

Greyville 2 Maiden Plate (F&M)(Polytrack) 1600m (19/05)L'orfeo 3f (Badger Game by Tiger Ridge)

Greyville 2 Maiden Plate (F&M)(Polytrack) 1600m (19/05)Escamillo 3c (Sangria Girl by Wolfhound)

Turffontein 2 Maiden Plate 1800m (20/05)nuntius oratorion 3c (logontonews by london news)

Turffontein 2 Maiden Plate 1800m (20/05)Love And Power 3f (Red Spirit by Slew The Red)

Turffontein 3 Maiden Plate (F&M) 1000m (20/05)Ensemble 3f (Esoteric by Mogok)

Turffontein 3 Maiden Plate (F&M) 1000m (20/05)War Legend 3c (Bold Princess by Dolphin Street)

Turffontein 4 Middle Stakes 2600m (20/05)Divine Odyssey 3c (Divine Right by Dynasty)

Turffontein 6 MR 80 Handicap 1600m (20/05)Mrs O 3f (Ginger Hill by Western Winter)

Turffontein 7 Syringa Handicap (F&M)(Listed) 1600m (20/05)Opera 3f (Dual Honour by Al Mufti)

Turffontein 8 MR 78 Handicap (F&M) 1000m (20/05)TWICE OVER (Observatory)Ohsobright 3f (Sidera by Galileo)

Fairview 3 Maiden Plate (F&M)(Polytrack) 1300m (18/05)Over You 3f (Me 'n You by Captain Al)

Kenilworth 4 Maiden Plate (F&M) 1400m (19/05)Sweet Vittoria 3f (Sweet Allegra by National Assembly)

Greyville 10 Barrier Trial (Polytrack) 1000m (19/05)WHAT A WINTER (Western Winter)War Trumpet 3c (Clarion Call by Kabool)

Kenilworth 5 MR 84 Handicap 1000m (19/05)What A Winner 3c (Bella Diva by Eli's Star)

Kenilworth 5 MR 84 Handicap 1000m (19/05)Royal Frost 3f (Princess Elli by Elliodor)

Kenilworth 8 MR 76 Handicap (F&M) 1400m (19/05)Clear Winter Day 3f (Letsimpress by General Monash)

Turffontein 3 Maiden Plate (F&M) 1000m (20/05)Warrior's Rest 3c (Bardot by Badger Land)

Turffontein 5 Pinnacle Stakes 1600m (20/05)Mar Del Sur 3f (Pacific Dynasty by Dynasty)

Turffontein 7 Syringa Handicap (F&M)(Listed) 1600m (20/05)

Check the notable Maiden winners & horses for the notebook on this page

- see how promising the Sporting Post ability ratings (AR) say they are.

is Your horse one To follow?

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 22

rethink on ratingsFollowing further in-depth analysis and discussion, the

Handicappers have opted to re-rate the Gr1 Premier’s Cham-pion Challenge, run at Turffontein racecourse on Saturday 5 May 2018.

It was the unanimous opinion of the Handicappers that this was a particularly awkward race to assess, with two horses finishing four lengths and more ahead of the balance of the field.

Initially, the Handicappers took the view that by finishing a close second, ABASHIRI was very unlikely to have run worse than when he finished sixth in the Gr3 Victory Moon Stakes over 1800m on 9 November 2017.

Accordingly, the Premier’s Champions Challenge was rated using ABASHIRI to the level of 117 which he had achieved in the Victory Moon Stakes and also earlier on in his career.

This level for the race had the winner CORAL FEVER running to 120, ABASHIRI to 117, and every other horse in the race from 3rd place downwards running below his/her rating.

However, after considerable further reflection, the Hand-icappers decided to reconsider the race. The fact that the first two finishers beat the rest of the field by a wide margin was probably skewing the numbers and it was decided after much debate to reduce the level of the race by 2 pounds, even though most of the field was already running below their rating on the original, higher level.

It was decided that the 3rd placed SILVAN STAR would be used as a Line Horse, not to her rating of 108 (which she has achieved racing against fillies and mares), but to a rating of 108 minus the 5 pounds sex allowance which a filly receives in the race.

Rating the race using SILVAN STAR to a level of 103 drops the level by 2 pounds and accordingly CORAL FEVER has had his rating reduced from 120 to 118 and ABASHIRI has had his rating cut from 117 to 115. The balance of the field retain the adjustments as originally assessed.

The Handicappers are fully satisfied that this is the better of the two options, and have opted to err on the side of caution given the tricky nature of the race.

However, it was unanimously agreed that the race level would be far too low if either CORAL FEVER or ABASHIRI were used as the line horse/s and would not be fair in rela-tion to other beaten runners in the race.

S P o r t S a n d b e t t i n G

english fa Cup final Chelsea vs Manchester Utd | Sat, 19 May | Wembley Stadium (18:15)

Chelsea and Manchester United meet in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday with both sides looking to end the season with silverware. It is a repeat of the 2007

final when current United boss Jose Mourinho guided the Blues to a 1-0 victory after extra time. He’ll be hoping for the oppo-site this time. United will be looking to equal Arsenal’s record of 13 FA Cup wins. They last won this trophy in 2016, while the Blues, back in the final after losing to Arsenal in May, last won the competition in 2012 and are bidding to lift the trophy for the eighth time.

To catch up with Chadley Nagel previews CliCk Here

To Win Chelsea 18/10 Draw 2/1 Man United 16/10To Win Chelsea 1/1 Man United 8/10

ChelseaAntonio Conte guided Chelsea to the Premier League title in his first season at Stamford Bridge but has had a disastrous second campaign in England, finishing in fifth place, meaning that the Blues will play in the Europa League next season. Failing to finish in the top four after a season of such excitement and promise is a devastating blow for the club, but winning the FA Cup would at least provide an uplifting conclusion to a frustrating campaign. Conte will be desperate to salvage something from the season but club owner Roman Abramovich might be looking for a new manager regardless of the Wembley result.

ManChesTer UniTedManchester United finished their Premier League campaign in second place, earning their highest league finish since Sir Alex Ferguson bowed out as champion in 2013. United have improved, as Mourinho’s sides tend to do in his second seasons, but the Portuguese has been criticised for his negative style this season. For all the criticism though, the numbers do at least point to progress. United jumped four places in the table from the previous season, claiming more points, scoring more goals and conceding fewer, plus they’ve beaten every other side in the top six and have reached the FA Cup final.

PreDiCTiOn: Manchester United (15/10)

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 23

C l o C k W a t C H i n G W i t H S t e v e F u r n i S H

Change Of LuckKenilworth 6 May

Three of the eight races in Cape Town on Sunday were run over 1200m and stopping the clock in the fastest of these was TWIST OF FATE in the featured Somerset 1200m. Positioned 8th of the nine at the halfway mark, Joey Rams-den’s charge ran on best of all at the business end of the race and with the rest well beaten he got the better of his more fancied stable companion ARABIAN AIR by a neck.

The only other distance to stage more than one race was 1400m where the quickest home was STAR CHESTNUT in the pinnacle stakes. Soon up handy, the son of Horse Chestnut raced prominent throughout. He was ridden to lead shortly after passing the 300m marker and kept on strongly late to beat the running on NEW CALEDONIA (came from the back) by three quarters.

In terms of distance, the easiest victory on the card was recorded by KAMPALA CAMPARI in the four runner MR95 Handicap over 2000m. Backed into the red at the track, Andre Nel’s charge sat second for most of the journey. He put his head in front as they approached the 400m pole and drew clear easily in the closing stages of the race to score by four.

Titbits Soon clear, the 21/20 favourite FIRE WALKER was always in command when winning the MR68 Handicap over 1000m by three and a quarter.

Dressed For The PartVaal 8 May

A maiden juvenile plate over 1000m got proceedings underway at the classic track on Tuesday and here we saw a smart performance from the deposed favourite SULKA. Allowed to ease out to 26/10 from 14/10 as money came in buckets for the newcomer MOJITO MAGIC, the son of Gimmethegreenlight was soon up handy. He assumed command going through the 300m and although the money horse did run on strongly from midfield in the closing stages of the race, he had that one held fair and square by two and a quarter.

Three of the afternoon’s eight races were

run over 1200m. The MR80 Handicap was the fastest of these and here the easy to back CAPTAIN CHIPS registered his fourth career victory. Freely available at 9/1 on the off, Alec Laird’s charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. He ran stoutly over the final 400m and under a well-judged ride from Randal Simons, he got up late to deny his fellow 6yo CASCIANO.

Quickest home in the two 2000m handicaps was INN A MILLION in the MR88 affair. Run in a time close on four seconds quicker than that of the MR71 Handicap over the same distance, the 36/1 shot was content to amble along in the rear for most of the journey. He finished best of all after being baulked for a run 450m out and won going away after strik-ing the front close home.

Titbits Racing in open company, the 2yo newcomer KELLOHOLM LAD didn’t find the clearest of passages en-route from the back end of midfield when third in the maiden plate over 1200m.

Steadily ImprovingKenilworth 9 May

Racing returned to Cape Town on Wednes-day where the fastest of the three 1600m rac-es was the MR84 Handicap won by the easy to back TALITHA BOREALIS. Freely available at 8/1 on the off, the daughter of Ideal World raced sixth for most of the journey. She ran on stoutly in the home straight, and although KONKOLA finished well from the rear, she did have that one held by a half at the wire.

They also staged three races over 1000m, the quickest of which was the MR78 Handicap won by the steadily improving THE BOSTON ROSE. Another to leave the stalls at a price close to double figures, Justin Snaith’s charge raced at the head of a very tightly bunched field. She kept on strongly over the final 400m and won by a half from the running on OME-GA FORCE (came from the back).

The two remaining races were both run over 1200m and stopping the clock in the faster time here was the 3yo VALBONNE in the MR84 Handicap. On leaving the stalls it was STRIKEITLIKEAMATCH who elected to make the running whilst the son of Var was content

last Week’s top rated

Speed RatiNgS winners incl.

Inn A Million ................won 36/1

Quebec Queen .............won 14/1

Socrates ......................won 8/1

Talitha Borealis ...........won 8/1

The Boston Rose .........won 71/20

Queen Of War ..............won 26/10

Crimson Royale ...........won 8/10

new Zealand ...............won 4/10

FAirVieW (Fri)Race 1: (3) My Boy Jack 8Race 2: (1) Seattle Lily 10Race 3: (7) Raise Your Hand 11Race 4: (5) Big Jay’s 7Race 5: (2) Peach Delight 59Race 6: (10) Joking Dice 45Race 7: (10) Arctic Blast 58Race 8: (12) Blizzard King 47GreyVille (SAT)Race 1: (11) Podcast 16Race 2: (1) Pink Cadillac 9Race 3: (6) Inyati 36Race 4: (10) The King Of Random 39Race 5: (6) Kahula 64Race 6: (10) Fort Ember 84Race 7: (9) Count Tassilo 87Race 8: (10) If Only 60kenilWOrTHrace 1: (6) Mixed Signals 8 (nAP*)Race 2: (6) Frozen Tune 13Race 3: (13) Russet Air 9Race 4: (7) Rocket Girl 13Race 5: (8) Fire Walker 57Race 6: (7) Flying Ryan 36Race 7: (7) Mega Secret 49race 8: (14) love Of My life 44 (eW)TurFFOnTein (Sun)Race 1: (1) Coastal Torrent 7Race 2: (14) Candela 16Race 3: (8) Casual Wear 17Race 4: (9) War Legend 52Race 5: (7) She’s A Giver 85Race 6: (9) Bush Pilot 49race 7: (5) Mrs O 80 (eW)Race 8: (2) Best Kept Secret 48

Nap bets* Fancied ** Strongly fancied

*** Very strongly fancied

Top speed ratings for this weekend

(Ratings shown have already been adjusted to allocated weights)

a revieW oF tHe Week'S beSt SPeedratinGS

Preparing For Battle

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 24

(Number of races run in each category shown in brackets) * Times taken by Clockwatcher

kenilWOrTH (neW) 6 MAyPenetrometer 22 – Going GoodCourse Variant: 0,73s slow (straight)1000m (1) Fire Walker 59,061200m (3) Twist Of Fate 72,31 1400m (2) Star Chestnut 85,601600m (1) Earl Of Warwick 100,872000m (1) Kampala Campari 124,37VAAl (ClASSiC) 8 MAyPenetrometer 22 – Going GoodCourse Variant: 0,39s fast1000m (1) Sulka 56,14 1200m (3) Captain Chips 69,53 1600m (1) Mighty Valdie 96,362000m (2) Inn A Million 122,392400m (1) Sunshine Silk 150,48kenilWOrTH (neW) 9 MAyPenetrometer 22 – Going GoodCourse Variant: 1,88s slow1000m (3) The Boston Rose 59,94 1200m (2) Valbonne 72,701600m (3) Talitha Borealis 101,23 VAAl (inSiDe) 10 MAyPenetrometer 22 – Going GoodCourse Variant: 0,21s fast1000m (1) Calypso Dancer 57,47*1200m (1) Nautic Spirit 68,14 1400m (5) Quebec Queen 81,421800m (1) Barbie Doll 109,59GreyVille (POly) 11 MAyGoing StandardCourse Variant: 0,71s fast1000m (1) Kateecador 58,751200m (1) Lupo 70,151400m (2) Princess Analia 82,771600m (1) Expresso Martini 96,66 1800m (3) Bank The Cash 107,561900m (1) Crystal Ball 118,86

C l o C k W a t C H i n G C o n t .

the halfway mark. He put his head in front 100m later and with the race never in doubt thereafter, he won very comfortably by three and three quarters.

Titbits Friendless ALL I GOT came from the back when getting off the mark in the girl’s division of the maiden 1400m.

Big Double For LukeGreyville 11 May

First up on the poly on Friday evening was a maiden plate over 1800m and here we saw a comfortable victory for the Sporting Post’s best handicapped runner in the race KING’S MUSIC. Easy to back at 71/10 when the gates opened, Mike Miller’s charge led throughout. He raced just three quarters of a length clear for most of the journey before asserting his authority over the final 300m.

There were three races run over 1800m in total and the fastest of these was the MR64 Handicap won by BANK THE CASH. Ridden by the 4kg claimer Jason Gates, Bank The Cash was taken straight to the front and very quickly had the field well strung out. He held a big lead turning for home and staying on determinedly he went on to score unchal-lenged by three and three quarters.

Another to win well in a strung out field was SUNNY BILL DU-TOY in the MR64 Hand-icap. Nicely positioned in fifth coming off the bend, the 18/10 favourite took up the running 120m out and won going away by a length and a half.

Titbits Three of the eight races were won by apprentices claiming 4kg. Luke Ferraris rode two of them, and he was also first past the post in the barrier trial.

to sit in midfield. He ran on best of all over the final 400m, and with the rest well beaten he got up in the very last stride.

Titbits Detached at the back turning for home, the 44/1 rank outsider of the thirteen horse party MELIORA ran on best of all in the straight and was only beaten a length and a quarter when third in the MR68 Handicap over 1600m.

never In DoubtVaal 10 May

Thursday’s action took place on the inside track where five of the afternoon’s eight rac-es were staged over 1400m. Just 87/100th of a second separated the fastest from the slowest with the quickest being the MR75 Handicap won by the 14/1 shot QUEBEC QUEEN. Now a winner of four from thirteen, Paul Peter’s charge raced in midfield for most of the trip. She quickened well over the final 400m and comfortably accounted for the running on MAKE ME HAPPY by almost two.

A maiden juvenile plate for the girls over 1000m had opened up proceedings and here we saw a smart performance from the easy to back newcomer CALYPSO QUEEN. Freely available at 30/1 on the off, Leon Erasmus’ charge raced in midfield during the early part of the race. She quickened well from halfway and won going away after strik-ing the front 200m from home.

All the rage to win the maiden plate over 1400m was the Candice Dawson trained D’ARRIVEE and the 5/4 favourite didn’t let down his supporters. He got away well when the gates opened and was visibly cruising at

Horses worth following at their next few starts...

SulkA (JAJ v Vuuren, Gauteng)TWiST OF FATe (J Ramsden, W-Cape)

SPORTING POST DIGEST • THURSDAY 17 MAY 2018 25

Doing The SplitsSplits for Greyville 29 July