David Thiselton

Following the shocking incident in the Betway Summer Cup in which two horses fell the two jockeys involved, Serino Moodley and Jarryd Penny, are on the mend and have estimated their dates of return.

In Serino Moodley’s case the incident illustrated the highs and lows of the game because the race before he had won the Gr 2 Jackpot City Dingaans on the exciting Candice Dawson-trained Trust.

He said about the unbeaten son of Heavenly Blue, “I don’t know how he is winning these races, because he is not mature and is still a big puppy. He has got a lot of improving to do, which just shows the quality of horse he is. He is a phenomenal horse.”

Serino said one of Trust’s best assets at present was “he is very economical in a race.”

That allows him to utilise his fine turn of foot as well as his most noteworthy characteristic to date of being able to find a late gear change when other horses are just trying to stay on.

Serino remembered there being room for his mount On My Honour in the Summer Cup incident and there was then suddenly no room. As he was trying to get out of it his horse  clipped heels and went down, meaning Serino hit the ground hard, although he does not know what position he was in as it all happened so quickly.

He was found to have a fracture to the C6 vertebrae, which was probably why he felt pain in his arm while lying on the track.

Fortunately, the fracture is not a serious one and does not require surgery.

However, he has to wear a neck brace for three weeks and has to rest and be cautious.

He said about a possible return date to race-riding, “Hopefully by the middle of January, but it all depends on the second X-ray to see how fast everything is healing up.”

Serino is still lying third on the national jockeys log with 61 wins, despite having been out for over a week already.

He is almost certainly the most improved jockey in the country and this is partly down to his professional approach.

He said, “I have always been one who is trying to improve. No matter how well you have been riding, my main objective has always been to try and improve at every meeting I go to. I have had a lot of people helping me like Anton Marcus and Anthony Delpech and I get a lot of help from my agent Deez Dayanand and I have a big support base, my wife and kids and My Mom and Dad.”

Jarryd Penny was riding Solar Sail and he said he saw On My Honour at the last minute, “lying beneath my legs and I could not avoid him in any way.”

He recalled being surrounded by people and not being able to breath while lying on the track, but he calmed after being administered oxygen, although he had a painful sternum.

He was found to have a fractured rib, but of more concern was a cut to the liver.

He said, “Fortunately, it was not a bad cut. It is about three to four centimetres long but is classified as a Grade 3. I was discharged and don’t have to go for an operation or follow up, they just want me to rest for six weeks.”

He said about a return to riding, “They have booked me back for the 5th of January, but I will have to get some fitness back into me and ride some work, so maybe I could take a ride or two by  the 10^th or 12^th of January.”

Jarryd is an underrated jockey who is also on the up and he gets a lot of support from Mark Khan and is the chief rider for Bridget Stidolph in Zimbabwe and rides for her in South Africa too, whilst he picks up a fair amount of rides from bigger yards.

Meanwhile, the Candice Dawson yard who train Trust have undergone a change as it will now be a joint operation, Candice and Tammy Dawson, who are reportedly the first ever sister partnership to train in South Africa.

Muzi Yeni looks to be the jockey who will be first call for the sisters while Serino is out.

Andrew Harrison

A tricky C Stakes handicap heads up the card on the poly at Hollywoodbets today but one that could be fought out between the progressive three-year-olds Green Glow and Spaarne Rivier.

Dean Kannemeyer’s charge Green Glow followed up his maiden win with a close-fought victory over Master Du Rouvray over 1900m with the balance of the field in another race. He has a big weight but shed his maiden over the distance in impressive fashion. Mike and Mathew de Kock’s Spaarne Rivier was disappointing last run but also friendless in the market that may tell a tail. However, he gets weight from Green Glow and may be more effective over this trip. Of the balance, the year older Ragnar The King has been knocking at the door and close-up over course and distance last start while World Of Our Own is due a big effort.

In the first, how much longer do we stay with Xiphos to shed his maiden? He has had numerous chances but tends to run out of gas the last bit. Rachel Venniker gives him some relief from the saddle that will help but he clearly cannot be relied upon. Gorgeous Bomb has shown some recent improvement and with only 50.5kg to shoulder she could finally run them out of it. Susurrando was most disappointing when starting favourite last time out as Fine Dining made all, cruising home to victory. He could prove better this shorter trip.

Louis Goosen saddles the lightly raced Malshana Mou in the second who was narrowly beaten over course and distance last time out. Craig Zackey stays with the ride and she can go one better. Berrington Blew is also lightly raced and raced green at her latest outing. The blinkers go on so watch for any market support. Sun In My Pocket came in for a ton of support at her last start but didn’t finish off her race. She is seldom too far back and the betting support must be respected. Sol E Sombra was very green on debut in quite a competitive maiden and can surprise.

Black Platina can open the Pick 6 in spite of being a struggling maiden but has been knocking at the door. He has been close-up at his last two and with a 4kg claimer up from the best of the draw he can get it right in this company. Kali Bwana takes on males but goes well on the poly and was touched off last run. She steps up in trip with an experienced rider aboard. Captain’s Dynasty was a well-beaten second last run but has shown some recent improvement and could finally be coming to hand while Augrabies  was much improved last run when starting at long odds. He could be better suited to this shorter trip.

A competitive apprentice handicap can muddy the waters but Mac Hardy has the best of the draw and his third run after a break. He had the worst of the draw over course and distance last time out and can do better. Gorgeous Dude has been knocking on the door for some time and was a close-up over course and distance last time out. He only has 49.5kg to shoulder from a good draw. Now I Got You is another not far off another win. He did well from a wide draw last start and can do better in this field. Veteran Circle Of Grace makes the trip from the Highveld for Corne Spies for a trip on the poly. He only has 49 kg to shoulder and ridden by a more than capable apprentice. However, it could pay to load up in this leg of the exotics.

In the sixth, Spinmyangelspin got a hefty shunt up the handicap for her last win over course and distance but may still be under the handicapper’s radar. Lightly raced, she has improved in blinkers and should be competitive from the best of the draw. One Path will be threat as she was run out of it late over course and distance last time out. She has only missed a cheque once in eight starts and that was in a feature on the turf. She’s A Machine was narrowly ahead of One Path when last they met but is now 5kg worse off in the handicap given the 4kg apprentice claim.

The seventh is another competitive maiden handicap. Dennis Bosch saddles Beautiful Rania who has been up against stronger at recent starts and goes well this course and distance while Purple Flower is also down in class but with a big weight but does have a 4kg claimer aboard who has won on the mare before. There She Goes has a tricky draw to contend with but is a seasoned veteran and has the most experience apprentice in James Lihaba aboard. Di Rosa finally shed her maiden last run when well handicapped but the runner-up has since won convincingly and had race favourite Xiphos well beaten. She faces much stronger but has a chance of following up.

Finally, United Nation is unbeaten in three starts since joining the Darryl Moore yard.  He jumped five points in the handicap for his last win but Moore has a 2.5kg claimer aboard to nullify the increase although it will be harder to make it four. Mfethu was a recent maiden winner and got a hefty mark in the handicap probably because of his effort behind the promising Exocet two runs back. He looks promising. Seven-year-old Fate Of Fortune has come well of late winning three of his last four. The handicappers have had no mercy and he jumped six points in the handicap for his last win. He has a tricky draw but a top rider aboard. Trippi T is back over what looks to be his optimum trip and from pole position draw he could be right up there.

1

6 XIPHOS   4 GORGEOUS BOMB   5 SUSURRANDO   1 QUINCY TOWN

Summary: How much longer do we stay with XIPHOS (6) to shed his maiden? He has had numerous chances but tends to run out of gas the last bit. Rachel Venniker gives him some relief from the saddle that will help but he clearly cannot be relied upon. GORGEOUS BOMB (4) has shown some recent improvement and with only 50.5kg to shoulder she could finally run them out of it. SUSURRANDO (5) was most disappointing when starting favourite last time out as Fine Dining made all, cruising home to victory. He could prove better this shorter trip. QUINCY TOWN (1) looks held on current form but has a more experienced rider aboard. (Andrew Harrison: 6-4-5-1).

2

7 MALSHANA MOU   3 BERRINGTON BLEW   4 SUN IN MY POCKET   2 SOL E SOMBRA

Summary: MALSHANA MOU (7) is lightly raced but was narrowly beaten over course and distance last time out. Craig Zackey stays with the ride and she can go one better. BERRINGTON BLEW (3) is also lightly raced and raced green at her latest outing. The blinkers go on so watch for any market support. SUN IN MY POCKET (4) came in for a ton of support at her last start but didn’t finish off her race. She is seldom too far back and the betting support must be respected. SOL E SOMBRA (2) was very green on debut in quite a competitive maiden. She can surprise. (Andrew Harrison: 7-3-4-2).

3

1 BLACK PLATINA   7 KALI BWANA   6 AUGRABIES   4 CAPTAIN’S DYNASTY

Summary: BLACK PLATINA (1) is struggling for his maiden win but has been knocking at the door. He has been close-up at his last two and with a 4kg claimer up from the best of the draw he can get it right in this company. KALI BWANA (7) takes on males but goes well on the poly and was touched off last run. She steps up in trip with an experienced rider aboard. CAPTAIN’S DYNASTY (4) was a well-beaten second last run but has shown some recent improvement and could finally be coming to hand. AUGRABIES (6) was much improved last run when starting at long odds. He could be better suited to this shorter trip. (Andrew Harrison: 1-7-6-4).

4

1 GREEN GLOW   2 SPAARNE RIVIER   5 RAGNAR THE KING   6 WORLD OF OUR OWN

Summary: Tricky handicap but one that could be fought out between the progressive three-year-olds GREEN GLOW (1) and SPAARNE RIVIER (2). Green Glow followed up his maiden win with a close-fought victory over Master Du Rouvray with the balance of the field in another race. He has a big weight but shed his maiden over the distance in impressive fashion. Spaarne Rivier was disappointing last run but also friendless in the market. He gets weight from Green Glow and may be more effective over this trip. RAGNAR THE KING (5) has been knocking at the door and close-up over course and distance last start while WORLD OF OUR OWN (6) is due a big effort. (Andrew Harrison: 1-2-5-6).

5

1 MAC HARDY   3 GORGEOUS DUDE   7 CIRCLE OF GRACE   4 NO I GOT YOU

Summary: Competitive apprentice handicap. MAC HARDY (1) has the best of the draw and his third run after a break. He had the worst of the draw over course and distance last time out and can do better here. GORGEOUS DUDE (3) has been knocking on the door for some time and was a close-up over course and distance last time out. He only has 49.5kg to should from a good draw. NOW I GOT YOU (4) is another not far off another win. He did well from a wide draw last start and can do better in this field. Veteran CIRCLE OF GRACE (7) makes the trip from the Highveld for a trip on the poly. He only has 49 kg to shoulder and ridden by a more than capable apprentice. It could pay to load up in this leg of the exotics. (Andrew Harrison: 1-3-7-4).

6

1 SPINMYANGELSPIN   2 ONE PATH   74 IZIBULO   7 SHE’S A MACHINE

Summary: SPINMYANGELSPIN (1) got a hefty shunt up the handicap for her last win over course and distance but may still be under the handicappers radar. Lightly raced, she has improved in blinkers and should be competitive from the best of the draw. ONE PATH (2) was run out of it late over course and distance last time out. She has only missed a cheque once in eight starts and that was in a feature on the turf. SHE’S A MACHINE (7) was narrowly ahead of One Path when last they met but is now 5kg worse off in the handicap given the 4kg apprentice claim. IZIBULO (4) has a light weight and in good form. (Andrew Harrison: 1-2-4-7).

7

7 BEAUTIFUL RANIA   5 PURPLE FLOWER   9 THERE SHE GOES   4 DI ROSA

Summary: Another competitive maiden handicap. BEAUTIFUL RANIA (7) has been up against stronger at recent starts and goes well this course and distance. PURPLE FLOWER (5) is also down in class with a big weight but does have a 4kg claimer aboard who has won on the mare before. THERE SHE GOES (9) has a tricky draw to contend with but is a seasoned veteran and has the most experience apprentice aboard. DI ROSA (4) finally shed her maiden last run when well handicapped but the runner-up has since won convincingly and had race favourite Xiphos well beaten. She faces much stronger but has a chance of following up. (Andrew Harrison: 7-5-9-4).

8

5 UNITED NATION   8 MFETHU   7 FATE OF FORTUNE   1 TRIPPI T

Summary: UNITED NATION (5) is unbeaten in three starts since joining the Darryl Moore yard.  He jumped five points in the handicap for his last win but Moore has a 2.5kg claimer aboard. Will be harder but he can make it four. MFETHU (8) was a recent maiden winner and got a hefty mark in the handicap probably because of his effort behind the promising Exocet two runs back. He looks promising. Seven-year-old FATE OF FORTUNE (7) has come well of late winning three of his last four. The handicappers have had no mercy and he jumped six points in the handicap for his last win. He has a tricky draw but a top rider aboard. TRIPPI T (1) is back over what looks to be his optimum trip and from pole position draw and should be right up there. (Andrew Harrison: 5-8-7-1).

David Thiselton

The small yard of Tienie Prinsloo triumphed in the Gr 1 WSB Cape Guineas with Vercingetorix filly Quickstepgal and it was a triumph too for the Wernars family and Harry Willson, who made the astute decision to buy her in training with the help of bloodstock agent Justin Vermaak.

Jockey Gavin Lerena’s strategy played a big part in the victory.

He said, “I always had it in mind to go to the front, but then I was hearing there were a couple of pacemakers in. I was quite happy to go forward to be in behind the pacemakers, but they didn’t come, so I was pretty happy to alone in the lead. She has got such a good action it would have been detrimental to have her in behind a slow pace and not using her action. As long as she was using her stride I was happy, whether it was in behind a fast pace or the pace I was at. She was very sensible in front, her ears came up very soon. She was just free-wheeling, she enjoyed it, she absolutely cruised around the course. From halfway around the turn I thought it was going to take a good one to beat me. She had cruised around so easily that I wanted the others to come off the bit early so I gave her a squeeze at the top of the straight. She lengthened beautifully and I felt I still had a lot of horse in hand, so if they were going to come at me, she was going to give me another kick.”

Lerena said Stormwatch had begun challenging, but he kept his mount in the hands until the 300m and then squeezed her again.

He said she responded superbly.

It was virtually race over at that point as she kicked away.

However, Reet Petite did produce a tremendous turn of foot when given a smack by Richard Fourie and Quickstepgal’s supporters had to hold their breaths again.

However, when Lerena gave her a smack at the 150m mark she found the necessary extra to keep the big-actioned Reet Petite at bay by three-quarters of a length.

James Crawford is trainer of Reet Petite and Crawford Racing were narrowly denied a win in the Gr 1 Classic for the second year in succession and for the third time in the last four years.

It was a first win of the Cape Fillies Guineas for Gavin and there can not be many Gr 1s around the country now that he has not won.

It was a first Gr 1 win for Tienie Prinsloo, who used to train in the backwater centre of Kimberley and he currently only has 13 horses in his yard.

Wish List ran on well from near the back of the field for a two length third.

She had sat behind Gr 2 Western Cape Fillies Championship winner Princess Of Gaul in the running and overtook the latter late in the race.

Princess Of Gaul ran on well initially, but appeared to not quite see it out and was beaten 2,50 lengths with Lowveld Lily 0,30 lengths further back in fifth.

The race was a nightmare for the hot favourite Golden Palm, the East Cape Equus Champion raider from the Alan Greeff yard.

She came out of stall seven hesitantly and and after the pack had been shuffled she ended up on the rail in midfield. With Quickstepgal dictating in front, and with there being just a narrow 1,5m false rail, she looked up against it from a long way out. However, it was not all down to luck in running. When she switched outward in the straight her usual kick was just not there. She took a long while to pick up, but did manage to do some good work late and finished a 3,80 length sixth. Time will tell whether she can bounce back. This was a filly being touted for superstardom and she started at odds of 91/100. Her next start will tell whether the bubble has burst. It must be remembered that a former East Cape star, Bold Silvano, bounced back from an unplaced run in the Cape Derby to win the July.

Gavin said in the winner’s enclosure that himself and Tienie had gone back a long way and he recalled being given some rides by him in Kimberley when  chasing the championship ten years ago and he said he had always called upon him along the way during his career.

He added, “It means so much to me to ride a Gr 1 winner for him. He’s always been a great trainer. He’s come from humble beginnings and it’s never been easy for him, but he keeps showing up and I am so elated he has got this Gr 1.”

He also thanked caretaker trainer in Cape Town, Eric Sands, and also the deserving owners, the Wernars family and Harry Willson.

Tienie said Quickstepgal had always quickened from the front and she knew she would have no problem with the 1600m trip. He said he could see Richard Fourie was off the bridle on Reet Petite after Quickstepgal had given her kick and “then I said there you go that’s our race!”

It was a double triumph for KZN-trained horses because the Gr 3 WSB Southern Cross Stakes was won by the Hollywood Racing-owned What A Winter mare Asiye Phambile, who thus retained her crown under Sean Veale. Lucinda Woodruff is her current trainer, but her home is Duncan Howells’ Summerveld yard and she will return to him after the Cape Summer season.

The Listed WSB Cape Prive Summer Stayers over 2500m saw a courageous victory for the Glen Kotzen-trained Holding Thumbs, who just got up by the narrowest of margins under Chad Little. The Vercingetorix gelding started at 16/1 as he was giving the runner up and favourite Ahead Of The Facts a whopping 11kg.

The phenomenal Vercingetorix had three winners on the day, two of them for the Kotzen/Little combination.

Gavin Lerena was booked off for yesterday’s meeting at Turffontein after an incident in the parade ring before the first which caused whiplash and a neck spasm, but he was treated and will be back for his next scheduled meeting.

Andrew Harrison

It was a big weekend for apprentice Damyan Pillay. Announced as Head Boy of the South African Jockey Academy at their year-end awards ceremony at the Summerveld Clubhouse on Friday morning, he rode out his 4kg claim just a few hours later. Riding a superbly judged race on Soho Star for Yogas Govender he scored the 20^th win of his fledgling career in the Middle Stakes that headed the card at Hollywoodbets Greyville.

The form was there to see, Soho Star finishing a close-up third to Gr1 winning Gladatorian, but a wide draw was always at the back of many punters minds. However, Pillay managed to navigate a handy position as Tara Star set sail from the jump.

For a long way up the straight and barely moving a muscle, Pillay looked to be ‘no good’, as the saying goes, but once he put his foot on the gas 250m out, Soho Star accelerated in a matter of strides with the apprentice timing the gelding’s run to perfection to get the better of Magic Surprise.

Ladyofdistinction has always shown a touch of class as her name and six-figure purchase price suggested and she ran out a smart if narrow winner of the Progress Plate for fillies in the second.

Michael Roberts has always held the filly in high regard and she showed plenty of intestinal fortitude to get up and touch off a game Sonata Samaritan, a nose separating them at the line.

It was not all plane sailing for the winner as Rachel Venniker had to steer the filly through a narrow gap before going on to tackle Sonata Samaritan. The two fought a nose-to-nose battle over the final 50 m with Ladyofdistinction getting her nose down to snatch it on the line.

Double Causeway touched 7-10 in the first race on the card before drifting late and crossing the subway the drift appeared to be significant with Callan Murray hard at work. However, Gareth van Zyl’s charge gradually got it all together and eventually got to the line with some to spare over Good Omen and Hammerhead who came from near last to finish a close-up third.

Salani Kahle built on a solid debut effort when putting the opposition to the sword in the opening leg of the Place Accumulator. Well supported in the betting, Sean Veale started to scrub away on the turn, making up ground to hit the top of the straight in touch with the leaders. From there on it was a matter of how far as Salani Kahle said good bye under hands and heels to win by the best part of six lengths with Intro finishing best of the balance.

Four rides back from an aborted stint in Hong Kong and former Champion Jockey Keagan de Melo was back in the winner’s box as he got Alyson Wright’s diminutive gelding King Bavarian home in a finish worthy of a Hong Kong scramble. Always travelling comfortably in the D Stakes over 1800m, De Melo showed his Hong Kong experience as he pulled off the rail for a clear run at the line. He only made his move just over a furlong out with Councillor chasing hard and Power Star refusing to throw in the towel. It was touch-and-go at the wire but King Bavarian just had his nose in front to deny Power Star with Councillor a neck back in third.