Author Archives: Nikita

Bernard Fayd'Herbe (Nkosi Hlophe)

Fayd’Herbe gets Snaith job

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Bernard Fayd’Herbe will take over as stable jockey to Justin Snaith when Richard Fourie moves to Hong Kong next month and in the meantime Fayd’Herbe will regain the ride on Futura in Saturday week’s Champions Cup.

Fayd’Herbe, 33, has had a long association with Snaith and has won five of the trainer’s 22 Grade 1s. He also won this season’s L’Ormarins Queen’s Plate and J & B Met on Futura when the horse was trained by Brett Crawford.

He said yesterday: “I am very happy to be back on Futura and to ride for Justin again. Riding for Joey Ramsden has been a pleasure but it was a no-brainer when I got the opportunity to join Snaith Racing. I have been a bit restricted in the big races because Joey’s main owner is Markus Jooste who has his own jockey.”

Fayd’Herbe was replaced by Sean Cormack on Futura in the KZN season because he was committed to the Ramsden-trained King Of Pain and even under the new arrangement Wayne Kieswetter’s Ridgemont Stud operation will have first call on him.

Snaith, who paid tribute to both Fourie and Cormack, said: “Bernard has always had close ties to the stable and, although he has big shoes to fill, I am certain he will add enormous value to our stable. I was extremely pleased with Futura’s run in the July with top weight and he has come through it particularly well.”

Legislate (Fourie) will race over 1 200m for the first time since his debut two years ago on Saturday and a week later he is pencilled in for a further showdown with Futura.

Jonathan Snaith said: “Legislate runs in the Mercury Sprint and if he pulls up well he will then run in the 1 800m race.”

At Kenilworth this Saturday Fayd’Herbe partners last year’s winner Jet Supreme in the stable’s bid to win this Grade 3 for the third successive year. Snaith will also run Cat And The Moon.

King Of Pain, winner of last year’s Rising Sun Gold Challenge, was scratched from the Vodacom Durban July a few weeks before the race and has not raced since. “There is nothing wrong with him. He is just having a holiday,” said Ramsden.

Act Of War, the surprise packet among the Mercury Sprint entries, will not be declared this morning – Ramsden had some unprintable comments to make about the horse’s widest-of-all draw – but the Cape Guineas winner just might run in the Champions Cup.

Ramsden said: “It’s a possibility. We will see how we go.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Bernard Fayd’Herbe

 

Gold Cirle Horse Racing

Rider Cup teams announced

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The Hawks will be taking on the Eagles and the Falcons and racegoers will get an opportunity to watch three teams of the country’s top 12 jockeys compete in the inaugural Interprov Rider Cup at Greyville Racecourse on Saturday, July 18.

The Highveld Hawks have a particularly strong team and will be represented by champion jockey elect, Gavin Lerena, with strong support from current champion S’Manga Khumalo, former champion Piere Strydom and recent Daily News 2000 winner Raymond Danielson.

The Western Cape Eagles will fly with the internationally experienced Richard Fourie and Greg Cheyne along with Grant van Niekerk and Corne Orffer.

The KZN Falcons will swoop with former champions Anton Marcus and Anthony Delpech and top riders Muzi Yeni and Sean Cormack making up their quartet.

Bernard Fayd’Herbe was originally pencilled in for the Western Cape team but has to honour contractual obligations at Kenilworth on the same day while Anthony Delpech has been laid low by a heavy bout of flu but will hopefully be back in the saddle come next Saturday.

“We are always looking for ways to promote and add entertainment to our racedays and this format has proved successful in the past,” said Gold Circle’s Racing and Marketing Executive, Graeme Hawkins. “It will give racegoers the opportunity to watch the best jockeys in the country go head-to-head and the bragging rights that go with winning the Interprov Rider Cup will hopefully add a competitive edge to the races.”

In order to give all riders an equal opportunity, the horses in each race will be ceded by a panel of form experts into four categories of three from top to bottom. The riders from each team will get a chance to ride in each category with the choice of horses done by ballot. This will give each rider a chance to showcase their skills on the best and the worst.

All riders will carry the owners’ colours but will be distinguished by different coloured caps. The KZN team will wear black caps with the Western Cape blue and the Highveld red.

The riders will contest four races, including two Listed features, with points being allocated as follows. 20 for first 16; 14; 12; 10; 8; 6; 5; 4;3;2;1 with 7 points for a scratched ride. Because of the narrow band of points allocation it is hoped that competition will be close and contain a little “needle”.

Miss Varlicious (Nkosi Hlophe)

Miss Varlicious to rock on

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KZN stages a low key eight race meeting at Scottsville this weekend and most punters will likely be attempting to recover losses from the Vodacom Durban July, which produced an upset result. An MR 86 Handicap over 1400m is the highest rated race. Will Pays has a wide draw but has talent and looks likely to enjoy the step up in trip. Entree looks to be perfectly course and distance suited and after running two good races over 1600m here he drops back to the trip of his easy maiden win, albeit off a four point higher mark.

Scottsville is a ‘horses for courses’ type of track and Azincourt is unbeaten in two starts here over 1200m, while he also once ran 1,75 lengths behind subsequent Cape Guineas winner Elusive Gold in a 1600m event, so he should stay this trip. He is seven points higher than his last win so it won’t be easy, but he has a fair draw.

Always Al has come down to an attractive merit rating and is drawn well over his best trip. Aware is four points higher than his highest winning mark but is well drawn over a suitable course and distance.

The second highest rated race is a MR 84 Handicap over 1000m for fillies and mares and the top weight Miss Varlicious could be the one to beat. She will effectively be 0,5kg better off with Easy Game for a 0,35 length defeat over course and distance last time out.

The draw bias has been seen to even out a bit lately at Scottsville so her high draw shouldn’t be a big factor, although earlier races should be monitored. On paper there won’t be much to separate her and Easy Game, but a negative for the latter is that Mike Azzie’s Summerveld Champions Season yard had a dip in form on July day. Rock On Baby found some support on debut and looks hard to oppose in the first over 1000m, although Nikki is a first-timer to consider. Whiskey Joe bumped a good one last time and could win the second over 1600m from pole position, although the maiden Team Guys caught the eye last time and with a 3kg advantage could be a big danger.

Melliflora was not disgraced in a Gr 1 over 1400m last Saturday and she should be perfectly suited to the 1600m of the third from a good draw. Tide is Turning looks hard to oppose in the fourth, a weak maiden over 1000m, although first-timer Cyclone Sassie makes some appeal and must not be ignored. Bold Attitude is the one to beat in the seventh over 1400m as he has run some fine races at this track and is well drawn over a trip he is effective over, although he would probably prefer a touch further. Snap Shap is a decent two-year-old but doesn’t have an easy task at the weights. First Sea Lord has been a bit expensive to follow in his last two but from a good draw over a suitable trip should get it right in the last race over 1600m.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Miss Varlicious (Nkosi Hlophe)

Stick with Solar Night

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Justin Snaith may be on the point of losing his trainer’s crown but for the third successive season he will train the most winners and he should waste no time in adding to his tally (currently 174) at Kenilworth tomorrow.

Aspara, who lost ground at the start last time, should be able to beat the poorly drawn Top Of The Rock in the opening Welcome Maiden but 35 minutes later it is Silver Mountain who stands out. The Mike Bass-trained filly went into the Winning Ways notebook with a cracking first run and she looks impossible to oppose.

Her danger is probably Blu-Tack who returned with a mouth injury last time. “It was a minor thing, nothing really,” says Dean Kannemeyer. “She disappointed us the first time but she then improved and she will continue to improve.”

Mamselle Al is proving expensive and has started favourite in her last three races. Even so, she looks worth another chance in the Soccer 6 Maiden and can reverse the form with So Suspect.  “She jumped sideways last time, taking out four or five horses, and had the wind knocked out of herself,” says Glen Kotzen.

Glen Puller was bullish about Solar Night on debut and the gelding proved him right by going under by only a short head to the highly regarded Cuban Emerald. Brandon Morgenrood’s mount looks a ready-made winner in the Winter Holidays Maiden.

Stan Elley is intent on the Racing.It’s A Rush Handicap being run at a strong pace. “My World (4-1 in the Betting World forecast) is looking for a mile and a half plus and so we will chase him along early,” reports the gelding’s trainer. “If he can get to the front then we will have a chance.”

Paolo (7-2) stands out on recent form but he has been raised a kilo for last time’s second and Johnny Rockets is better off with Paolo, Friendly Tibbs (9-2) and Tribal Dance (5-1). Johnny Rockets was ridden from the back last time, and was still last two furlongs out, but he is 28-10 favourite in the forecast and that is short enough. If he drifts to 7-2 or better, and he could well do so, he would be worth considering.

Snaith boldly pitches two-year-old winner A Time To Dream into handicap company against older horses in the last and, while the handicappers appear to have taken no chances with an 84 rating, the filly still appeals.

One worth considering each way at a decent price (8-1) is Alzerra who returns after nearly three months off. “She may just need it but we have put quite a lot of work into her and she is well drawn which is a big advantage,” says her trainer.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Brandon Morgenrood

silvano

Slade values instinct

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Maine Chance Farms stud manager John Slade was a speaker at the Summerhill Winter Workshop held in at the stud farm’s renowned School Of Excellence this week, a few days after the farm achieved an international rarity by breeding the one-two-three of the country’s premier race, the Vodacom Durban July.

Furthermore, all of Power King, Punta Arenas and Tellina were by Maine Chance Farms’ champion stallion Silvano.

Slade has sometimes been driven to distraction by trainers who have pushed progeny of Silvano too early and by others who have given up on them too soon. He emphasised that they needed time and the dividends would then be reaped. All of Power King (four-year-old), Punta Arenas (six-year-old) and Tellina (four-year-old) have proved his point.

Slade admitted that delving deep into pedigrees to discover such elements as genetic siblings was usually above his head and he preferred a less scientific approach. He takes note of obvious nicks but a lot of his mating selections were simply based on it “feeling right”.

He is unmistakably a fine horseman and quickly learns which types of mares suit a particular stallion.

However, even a farm as professional as Maine Chance can make mistakes and their most famous one was when a particularly meticulous breeder sent two mares to be covered by Victory Moon and Silvano respctively. Slade knew well that on conformation the “scrawny” mare would suit Victory Moon and the “big” mare would suit Silvano. This coincided with the breeder’s reams of notes explaining why Victory Moon and Silvano would be perfect matches for her respective mares.

However, just after the first mating was completed, Slade suddenly realised that they had somehow got the mares mixed up. The mare was soon shown to be in foal, so the error could not be rectified. For some two years the breeder was unable to forgive Slade. However, the Silvano foal turned out to be Vodacom Durban July winner Heavy Metal.

Slade, like many breeders, has his own ideas on conformation. He is not too bothered by “offset knees”. He explained a trip to a game park will show that all impala have a knock knee look, meaning the knee can support the bodyweight from underneath. In his opinion an offset knee is often achieving the same thing. However, he regarded back legs in a straight line to be of importance. He concluded this section by saying, although perhaps slightly tongue in cheek, that due to all the power a horse with perfectly conformed hindquarters generated, the front legs would be going so fast they hardly touched the ground.

Slade regarded Maine Chance’s racing manager Justin Vermaak as a valuable asset to the farm as he was very much in touch with the modern world and was a dynamic type of a person and also more of a people’s person than himself.

Slade will soon be retiring and will be replaced by Tim Bootsma, who is currently stud manager at Highlands Farm Stud.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Silvano

Power King (Nkosi - Hlophe)

No rush with Power King

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Power King has recovered from his Vodacom Durban July exertions much quicker than expected and Dean Kannemeyer is now considering the Champions Cup even though he concedes that it is odds-against the horse running.

Kannemeyer, who won the 2002 race with Free My Heart, said yesterday: “I am keeping the door open on the Champions Cup. I will discuss it with the owner and Jehan Malherbe.

“There is a big question mark as we would be meeting horses like Futura and Legislate at level weights so it might not be fair on him. He ran his heart out in the July but he has taken his run very well and I am happy with him.”

Stuart Randolph felt the gelding wobble when he remounted for the victory canter-past and promptly dismounted.

Kannemeyer said: “Power King was exhausted – he had put so much effort into winning the race – and he did a similar thing after the Betting World 1900.

“We gave him water and hosed him down. Straight after the dope-testing we dripped him to put the fluids back in and the next morning he was jumping out of his skin.”

But, whether he runs on July 25 or not, Power King will not return to Cape Town until September. Kannemeyer stressed that he is a firm believer in keeping his horses in the warmth of Durban until spring arrives and even then some of the Summerveld horses will stay put to campaign in KZN and raid Johannesburg.

By Michael Clower

Picture: Power King (Nkosi Hlophe)

Legal Eagle (JC Photos)

Legal Eagle stays 120

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Beaten Durban July favourite Legal Eagle and Tsogo Sun Sprint winner Captain Of All are now officially the best horses in the country following the handicappers’ decision to drop Futura for his fourth under top weight last Saturday.

Legal Eagle has been left unchanged on 120 despite finishing behind Futura when he ran off his old mark of 112. In effect he met the Queen’s Plate and Met winner on terms 4kg better than weight-for-age.

The handicappers caused some surprise, and attracted criticism, when raising Legal Eagle 4kg for his Jubilee Handicap win previously.

But Ken Nicol explained yesterday: “Legal Eagle stays on 120 as we can’t really judge him on his July run. He found some interference and it’s a short run-in. Futura ran to 119 in the Met and we gave him an extra half-kilo because of the ease of his victory. He ran a good race on Saturday but we have now taken that half-kilo back.”

Power King has been raised 1.5kg to 109 and runner-up Punta Arenas 1kg to 111. Third-placed Tellina has gone up 2kg to 112.

Majmu, winner of the Avontuur Cape Fillies Guineas and the Jaffee Empress Club, disappointed and has been left on 114. She could now be facing retirement.

Mike de Kock said on his website: “It is Sheikh Hamdan’s policy to retire all his fillies to stud at the end of their three-year-old careers and she is due to be exported to Shadwell in the UK. We will, however, be discussing her future with him. She has racing left in her.”

De Kock believes she may not have stayed the trip in the July – “She got into a challenging position and just didn’t kick on as strong as we expected. She had a good preparation, she pulled up physically fine after the race, there are no excuses. Perhaps she is simply at her best up to a mile.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Legal Eagle (JC Photos)

Same Jurisdiction (Nkosi Hlophe)

The fairytale continues

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The Duncan Howells-trained Same Jurisdiction was raised two points to 113 after her impressive win in the Gr 1 Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes over 1600m at Greyville on Saturday and is now only one point lower than the highest rated filly of her age in the country, Majmu, who ran disappointingly in the Vodacom Durban July, albeit under a welter burden for a horse of her age and gender.

Same Jurisdiction was one of two Gr 1 winners bred by Klawervlei Stud on the day, the other being the Dennis Drier-trained Seventh Plain, who won the Durban Golden Horseshoe over 1400m.

The fairytale story continues for original owners Larry Vermaak, Dr Ralph Katzwinkel, Maureen Powell and Howells himself.

Same Jurisdiction (Nkosi Hlophe)

Same Jurisdiction (Nkosi Hlophe)

The Mambo In Seattle filly was bought for R270,000 at the Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale, but one of Howell’s chief owners Ian Van Schalkwyk felt the price was too high so only took half. Dr Katzwinkel came in after being asked by Howells.

Maureen Powell takes up her side of the story, “My Dad’s always been an avid race fan and one of the things I have always wanted to do is buy a racehorse and name it Phillipe after him. I mentioned this to my husband who told me his partner Larry Vermaak was involved with horses. So when I popped in to the office one day Larry said why doesn’t he give Duncan a call and ask him what horses are available. He phoned and Same Jurisdiction was available and suggested I take a share. I said pleasure and she is the first horse I have ever been involved in.”

Vermaak took a share at the same time. Powell is savouring every moment of Same Jurisdiction’s career and has not bought into any other horses yet. However, she still has that dream and pondered over the possibility of naming Same Jurisdiction’s first foal Phillipe.

She spoke of the thrill of winning big races, “It’s overwhelming every time, it’s an amazing feeling.”

Van Schalkwyk sold his share in Same Jurisdiction to Drakenstein Stud after her first Gr 1 victory, the Thekwini Stakes over 1600m at the end of last season.

Saturday was her second Gr 1 win and she maintained her unbeaten record in three starts over the course and distance. Her phenomenal turn of foot makes her suited to the tight Greyville track.

She is likely to now be targeted at races like the Gr 1 Maine Chance Farms Paddock Stakes over 1800m and the Klawervlei Majorca Stakes over 1600m at Kenilworth in the Cape Summer Of Champions Season.

She is from the first crop of Mambo In Seattle and appears to be getting better and better.

Another improving horse from this first crop is the Howells-trained gelding Saratoga Dancer, who should be a big race contender next season. Mambo In Seattle certainly looks to have a bright future.

By David Thiselton

Heart Of A Lion (Nkosi Hlophe)

Lion shows heart

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Silvano stole the show at Vodacom Durban July day but the feel good story might well have belonged to the lesser known stallion Seul Amour.

Silvano’s progeny, Power King, Punta Arenas and Tellina, finished first, second and third in the July and all of them were bred by Maine Chance Farms. A rare occurrence for a country’s premier race anywhere in the world.

Earlier Seul Amour’s progeny Just Ask Me and Heart Of A Lion, both trained by Gavin van Zyl, had won a MR 83 Handicap over 1400m on the poly track and the Gr 2 SABC Gold Vase over 3000m respectively. Seul Amour, a New Zealand-bred, has a superb pedigree being by Zabeel out of four-time Gr 1-winning mare Grand Archway (Archway). He was raced in Australasia by well known South African owner Larry Nestadt and won a Listed race.

He began his stud duties in Australia but was brought to South Africa by Brad van der Riet and Alf Dickerson in 2011 and stands at Van der Riet’s Vanree Stud. Dickerson, his nephew Dennis Fraser and breeder Terry Andrews, had earlier bought the Counter Action mare, Action Lady. They sent her to Lake Coniston and her first foal Dance Club won a race at Fairview, albeit in her 19th start.

Heart Of A Lion (Nkosi Hlophe)

Heart Of A Lion (Nkosi Hlophe)

However, her next visit was to Seul Amour.

The foal was born and the trio now had two Seul Amours and didn’t know which one to keep. They decided to sell Heart Of A Lion for a “give away” price. Nick van Veen bought 50% and another owner was supposed to take the other 50% but defaulted.

Dickerson and Fraser then took a share each and the Van Zyl yard agreed to take the remainding 25% and to train him.

Heart Of A Lion ran fifth in his first two starts on the Highveld over 1160m and 1400m respectively and then ran second over 1400m to the useful Judicial.

However, it was when he was stepped up to 1600m in the May of his two-year-old that he showed his potential, winning his maiden by eight lengths at Turffontein. It didn’t escape the notice of Seul Amour’s former owner Larry Nestadt who made an offer and bought half of Van der Veen’s share for an apparently sizeable sum. At the same time Edwin Foster’s Bold Moves 860 syndicate bought the Van Zyl yard’s share.

He won his next two races to record a hat trick and looked to have a bright future as a three-year-old when finishing a 3,15 length fifth in the Gr 1 Premier’s Champions Stakes over 1600m at Greyville in his final start as a juvenile.

However, it was only when stepped up to staying trips this season as a four-year-old that he has really begun to fulfil his potential.

He finished third in both the Gr 3 Caradoc Gold Cup over 2850m and the Gr 2 Gold Bowl over 3200m, both at Turffontein. Then in his penultimate start he caught many a pundit’s eye running on strongly in the Gr 3 Lonsdale Stirrup Cup over 2400m at Greyville.

His regular rider Muzi Yeni gave him a fine ride on Saturday, dropping him out from a wide draw, relaxing him beautifully and he then ran on strongly in the straight to just prevail over Wild Ash and Solid Speed.

The handicapper has only raised him one point to 96 and this augurs well for his chances in the Gr 1 eLan Property Group Gold Cup over 3200m at Greyville on the last Saturday of this month. Terry Andrews is the official breeder of both Heart Of A Lion and three-year-old gelding Just Ask Me so July day 2015 will always be a memorable one for him.

By David Thiselton