Category Archives: Y-Champions Season

Weiho Marwing

Marwing trio not to be ignored

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The Weiho Marwing-trained pair Mac De Lago and Rampant Ice were the surprise packages of the Gr 2 KRA Guineas at Greyville on the opening day of Champions Season, finishing second and fifth respectively, and the never to be under-estimated Ashburton-based trainer is predicting good performances from both of them in the Gr 1 Daily News 2000 at Greyville this Saturday.

He also believes his reserve runner Illuminati will run well if he gets in.

Mac De Lago was backed in from 33/1 to 20/1 in the Guineas while Rampant Ice started at 75/1, but their runs didn’t surprise Marwing, who said, “Mac De Lago is a good horse and has come on nicely, although he hasn’t got the best draw. He will stay and Illuminati and Rampant Ice will also run well.”

All three horses had previously run in the Gr 1 SA Classic. Mac De Lago finished 13th, beaten 15,75 lengths, and Rampant Ice finished 10th , beaten 11,5 lengths. However, that did not tell the story that they had both moved up quite well but had unfortunately been caught on the inside of horses where the going was palpably inferior than the outside strip from which the winner and all of the placed horses came. Illuminati began his run from well back on the favourable outside but had to switch to the inside to get a clear run, so he also ended in the unfavourable going. He finished 9,75 lengths back in seventh place.

Many were of the opinion that Mac De Lago’s run in the KRA Guineas was a fluke due to his merit rating of 86. However, after winning his maiden over 1160m on debut, backed in from 33/1 to 12/1, he then achieved the rare feat of beating older horses in a handicap in just his second career outing. He ran off a 78 merit rating and thrashed them by 4,25 after producing a resolute finish from the near the back of the field under Marco van Rensburg.

Among the vanquished was the twice Gr 1-placed Daily News contender Deputy Jud, whom he beat by 4,3 lengths, although he was receiving 4kg. In his next start in the Gr 3 Tony Ruffel over 1450m, Mac de Lago was backed in from 12/1 to 7/2 but was found to be striding short in both front legs after running below par. Two runs later he was actually a touch unlucky in the Guineas because, after relaxing well on the rail from a pole position draw, he had to be eased for a stride or two at the top of the straight due to the compounding pacemaker Riff Raff.

However, he still managed to run on strongly for a two length second to the comfortable winner The Conglomerate. Australian-breds have been achieving fantastic results in South Africa this season and Mac De Lago could be one of the most under-estimated members of a non-vintage three-year-old male crop. His sire Encosta Delago was a twice leading sire in Australia and has produced horses ranging from sprinters to Oaks winers, so Mac Delago should stay the 200m trip, especially when considering that his Gr 1-winning dam Macavelli Miss (won a Gr 1 over 1600m) is by stamina influence Vettori.

Rampant Ice couldn’t initially go with them in the straight in the KRA Guineas but then began to run on strongly and was doing his best work late to finish 3,15 lengths back. He is by Go Deputy so should relish the extra trip and progeny of this sire also improve noticeably as late three-year-olds. His full sister out of the KRA Fillies Guineas runner up Strawberry Ice won impressively on debut over 1400m at Scottsville on Saturday, so he is a well-bred sort.

Illuminati came from last in the KRA Guineas and followed his stablemate Mac De Lago. He kept up with him until the final few strides and finished 3,6 lengths behind the winner. He is by the miler Lateral out of a dam by Fasliyev, who was a sprinter. This dam has tended to produce sprint-milers, so on pedigree there could be a slight stamina doubt. However,  Illuminati has raced over 2000m before, in a MR 89 Handicap on Turffontein Standside in December, and he was finishing well despite being caught three wide and running off a 96 Handicap to finish four lengths behind Vodacom Durban July entry Henry Higgins, who was only running off an 86 that day.

Mac de Lago is drawn 18 out of 18 with Weichong Marwing up, Rampant Ice has drawn well in six with Bernard Fayd’Herbe aboard and Illuminati is drawn 16 and Ian Sturgeon will likely ride if he gets in. However, it should be remembered that in the recent Gr 2 Betting World 1900 at this course the first five finishers came from double figure draws.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Weiho Marwing

Entisaar (Nkosi Hlophe)

Entisaar mission accomplished

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Mike de Kock won the Gr 1 Allan Robertson Championships for the second time in succession with the Australian-bred More Than Ready filly Entisaar, who relished the tough track and won by a length under Johnny Geroudis from a somewhat unlucky Princess Royal, who had to switch to the outside for a clear run.

Entisaar is a sprinting type and will likely not run again this season. De Kock will probably be presented by yesterday’s failed favourite Shaama in the remaining Gr 1s over 1400m and 1600m respectively.

The Highveld raider Madam Dubois ran a tremendous race from a high draw and could be a big runner in the Gr 1 Golden Slipper over 1400m on July day. The pacy Speedy Suzy led and stayed on for a five length fifth while fifth-placed Royal Pleasure surprisingly didn’t employ her usual dominant tactics and could only stay on at one pace in the final stages.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Entisaar (Nkosi Hlophe)

Seventh Plain (Nkosi Hlophe)

Golden Horseshoe next for Seventh Plain

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The big Klawervlei Stud-bred colt Seventh Plain used his long stride to pull clear of the field in the latter stages of the Gold Medallion. He should get the 1400m of the Gr 1 Golden Horseshoe  on July day and that will be his next mission.

The connections of runner up Redcarpet Captain, another who flew the Captain Al flag on the day, believe he will be better over 1400m and third-placed Prospect Strikes also stayed on very well from a tough draw. Fourth-placed Muwaary faded late and jockey Anthony Delpech said that the bump he took at the start had not significantly affected him.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Seventh Plain (Nkosi Hlophe)

Carry On Alice (Nkosi Hlophe)

Options for Alice

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The Equus Champion Sprinter award might be decided by the Mercury Sprint outcome, because the Sean Tarry-trained three-year-old Captain Al filly Carry On Alice, who was third in the Cape Flying and second in the Computaform, exacted revenge on Alboran Sea in Saturday’s Gr 1 City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint.

The Klawervlei Stud-bred filly lifted a shoe on the way to the start, so had to be reshod, but this didn’t stop her showing her usual good cruising speed from a favourable low draw under S’Manga Khumalo. When she kicked Alboran Sea, who had come from a high draw, couldn’t go with her and the former clearly relished the extra 200m.

Fly By Night loves KZN and Scottsville and ran a fine race from a tough draw, only just failing to repeat her runner up spot from last year. David Nieuwenhuizen has done miracles to keep the R10,000 sales throw out Virgo’s Babe going for so long considering her less than perfect legs and she ran a gallant fourth from draw one ahead of Jet Aglow, who showed fine pace for a horse that prefers a mile.

Carry On Alice’s next options are either the Mercury Sprint or the Jonsson Workwear Garden Province Stakes on Vodacom Durban July day.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Carry On Alice (Nkosi Hlophe)

captain of all cormack lk site

Drier and Jooste to the fore

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Masterful trainer Dennis Drier and leading owner Markus Jooste were once again to the fore at the country’s biggest sprint meeting at Scottsville on Saturday and combined for two more Gr 1s.

Klawervlei Stud, part-owned by Jooste, bred two of the day’s Gr 1 winners while their leading stallion Captain Al was sire of two Gr 1 winners and their new kid on the block Seventh Rock produced a second successive winner of the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion. Seventh Rock in 2007 became the first of six wins Jooste has had in this race and the first of five for his retained jockey Anton Marcus.

Drier has also won six Gold Medallions and has won five of the last six Renewals, including the last four in succession. The last three of those, Captain Of All, Guiness and Saturday’s winner Seventh Plain all ran in the Jooste silks and the last two were ridden by Marcus.

On Saturday Captain Of All, a strapping four-year-old Riverton Stud-bred colt by Captain Al, joined greats like J J The Jet Plane to have won the Gr 1 Tsogo Sprint over 1200m with top weight. It was Drier’s first win of this race, but Jooste was winning it for the fourth year in succession.

Jockey Cormack described Captain Of All as a clever racehorse and even when Barbosa had come alongside 800m out he had not overreacted, so he was still able to power up the hill with 60kg on his back and win comfortably at odds of 7/2.

Gulf Storm did well to finish second having been punished nine points for winning the Listed In Full Flight Stakes. Sheik’s Brashee was the unlucky horse in the In Full Flight Stakes, but consequently received no merit rated raise and duly finished a fine third at odds of 33/1. Three-year-old Bichette was the only filly in the race and ran a cracker off a 108 merit rating to clinch fourth ahead of second favourite Willow Magic.

The race was marred by a delayed start after Brutal Force had kicked the gate and been vet-checked for as a consequence many horses had to stand in their gates for a long time. Furthermore, Chekilli had to be euthanized after breaking down in the running.

The merit of Captain Of All’s victory was enhanced by him having to come from a tricky draw of nine, while the other earners were drawn favourably in the four lowest numbered barriers. Captain Of All came back bigger and better after missing most of his three-year-old season and Cormack rates him the best sprinter in the country, especially over 1200m. Over the tough Kenilworth 1000m he failed by a whisker to catch three-year-old filly Alboran and was defeated comfortably by the latter in the Gr 1 Computaform Sprint over the quick Turffontein 1000m.

Jooste’s racing manager Derek Brugman said Captain Of All would likely become Captain Al’s first son at stud next season, so his swansong could be in the Gr 1 Mercury Sprint over 1200m at Greyville, depending on the draw he lands.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Captain Of All (Liesl King)

Louis The King (Liesl King)

Louis off to stud

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Geoff Woodruff’s star Black Minnaloushe colt Louis The King has been retired from racing following an injury sustained in work and can now look forward to a career at stud.

Woodruff, after confirming that the horse had fractured a sesamoid, said, “We are gutted, but he has done more than enough.”

The public hero became the first horse since the great Horse Chestnut to land the Triple Crown last season.

This season he won a third career Gr 1 when carrying 59kg to victory in the SANSUI Summer Cup.

The Alchemy Stud-bred horse was the ultimate rags-to-riches story. He went through the ring at the Suncoast KZN Yearling Sale unsold and was later purchased for just R60,000 in a deal brokered in the sales car park. Woodruff had only gone to the sale to pick up some Vodacom Durban July tickets and bumped into The Alchemy’s owner Philip Kahan looking disappointed at not having sold his “best colt on the sale.”

He was later bought by a client of Woodruff’s, Tiaan van der Vyfer, who then named him after his son Louis and gave him to the latter as a gift. He was the first racehorse that Louis had ever owned.

Louis The King followed his Summer Cup win with a flying 0,75 length second to the best horse in the country, Futura, in the Gr 1 L’Ormarin’s Queen’s Plate in January.

However, he ran below par in his next outing in the J&B Met and then ran dismally in both the Gr 1 HF Oppenheimer Horse Chestnut Stakes and the Gr 1 President’s Champion Challenge at his favourite stamping ground, Turffontein.

Rather than gelding him a decision was then made to remove one testicle, which he had apparently been pulling up while galloping, causing pain.

A previous Woodruff inmate Royal Air Force had the same operation and it did not affect his subsequent stud career.

It is a pity Louis the King could not have had his swansong in the country’s premier race, the Vodacom Durban July, especially considering the roar he received from the crowd on the way to the start last year before having terrible luck in running.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Loius The King (Liesl King)

entisaar site

Entisaar was the right one

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“There was very little between the two but sadly a jockey has to choose,” were the consoling words from Mike de Kock for stable first call rider Anthony Delpech after stable elect Shaama came up empty in the Gr 1 Allan Roberts Championship. The chips fell the way of stable companion Entisaar and veteran Johnny Geroudis took full toll as the Australian-bred daughter of More The Read slipped through a gap up the inside to put the race to bed in a matter of strides, winning by a length from Princess Royal and outsider Madame Dubois.

With Speedy Suzie setting quick early fractions the field stretched out a little which gave all plenty of galloping room as the field drifted towards the inside fence. 18-10 favourite Shaama was in the firing line as the field entered the dip and headed up the hill, but when asked for an effort the tank was empty.

But for Geroudis the race panned out in his favour. “I was always travelling well. At the 200 I got a little gap between myself and Anton (Royal Pleasure) and she quickened away nicely.”

“She was baulked a little and that suited her well,” said De Kock who intimated that we had seen the last of the winner in this country.

Entisaar drifted alarmingly in the ante-post market from 7-2 to 7-1. “Before the race I would have told you that there was very little between the two but Shaama wants a ‘mile’ and that was probably the difference,” surmised De Kock.

The meeting played out in front of a large crowd in what has always been one of the big social attractions on the Capital’s calendar.

By Andrew Harrison

Picture: Entisaar (Nkosi Hlophe)

Seventh Plain (Nkosi Hlophe)

Drier’s medallion

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Dennis Drier and owners Markus and Ingrid Jooste have gained something of a stranglehold on the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion. Owners and trainer teamed up for the third year in succession as the son of Seventh Rock, himself a winner of this race back in 2007 for the Joostes, Anton Marcus and Charles Laird, scored  comfortably leaving Redcarpet Captain, Prospect Strike and Muwaary fighting over the scraps.

Drier always had the race tagged. “Don’t worry Ant, the hill will get them,” were his only instructions to Marcus who also boasts an exemplary record in the race. The words proved prophetic.

Marcus tracked the early pace set by Just Africa and was never in trouble. As the race got towards the sweaty end, Muwaary and Seventh Plain moved in together for the kill but Muwaary’s challenge was short lived as Seventh Plain, with Marcus just flapping the reins and flashing the whip in encouragement to keep the colt honest, quickened away to win comfortably. Redcarpet Captain stuck doggedly to his guns up the inside and stayed on gamely to hold off Prospect Strike with Muwaary emptying out but still a close-up fourth.

By Andrew Harrison

Picture: Seventh Plain (Nkosi Hlophe)

Carry On Alice (Nkosi Hlophe)

Alice gets it right

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This year’s crop of sophomore fillies has proved exceptional and Carry On Alice and Alboran Sea drove home the point in the Gr 1 City of Pietermaritzburg Sprint at Scottsville yesterday. Alboran Sea has had the wood on Carry On Alice in recent meetings but the stretch to 1200m on the testing Scottsville track saw Sean Tarry’s filly turn the tables in no uncertain manner.

Jet Aglow and Varikate cut the early gallop with Alboran Sea and Carry On Alice head-to-head stalking the pace. Through the dip and up the hill both jockeys went for broke but it was Carry On Alice who was able to pick up best. The two locked horns for a few strides but Carry On Alice eventually ground her way to the front and extended to win by nearly two lengths with Alboran Sea just holding a fast-finishing Fly By Night at bay.

Tarry was in two minds as to Carry On Alice’s next mission. “I think the Mercury is an option or the Garden Province. It could all depend on where she draws in the Garden Province because an outside draw at Greyville is never easy.”

By Andrew Harrison

Picture: Carry On Alice (Nkosi Hlophe)

Captain Of All (Nkosi Hlophe)

King Drier does it again

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Dennis Drier was the king of Scottsville yesterday. The master Summerveld trainer saddled the winners of both the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Sprint and the Gr 1 Tsogo Sun Medallion for owners Ingrid and Markus Jooste.

Captain Of All, a magnificent son of Captain Al, was an absolute picture in the paddock and showed his superiority on the track as he lumped top weight to victory in a devastating display of galloping. The 4-1 chance put over a length between himself and second placed Gulf Storm with rank outsider Sheiks Brashee a head back in third.

Captain Of All, a winner of the Gold Medallion two season’s back, has been patiently handled by Drier who has always had faith in the colt. “I picked him at the sale but he had such an off-set knee that I said to Derek (Brugman) that I can’t ask Markus to buy him. But Markus did and handed me the release papers.”

“He had a couple of niggly problems (after his juvenile season) and I said to Derek that he needed a break, a long break. He was good enough to have faith and thank God it has worked out.”

“This was always his race and now that he has a Group 1 behind his name I think he will be the first son of Captain Al to go to stud. If all goes well I think the Mercury will be his next race.”

In spite of top weight, Captain Of All was always up with the pace along with Normanz, Gulf Storm and Willow Magic. But when the pressure was on Captain Of All kept up a relentless gallop that had the opposition floundering. Gulf Storm, given a hefty penalty for his last win, was game in second while rank outsider Sheik’s Brashee ran a cracker in third with the filly Bichette the best of the Sean Tarry-trained trio.

By Andrew Harrison

Picture: Captain Of All (Nkosi Hlophe)