David Thiselton

DO IT AGAIN will be making his second attempt at winning a record three Vodacom Durban July’s this year, 70 years after Milesia Pride was unlucky in his bid to win the big race for a third time.

The colours Milesia Pride wore to victory in 1949 and 1950 are still in use today and are registered by his owner JT Amery’s great-grandson Rob Kershaw.

A dream came true for Rob in March 2013, when Milesia Pride’s colours were carried to victory at Kenilworth by the Shane Humby-trained Queen Of Diamonds.

Today the colours are carried by the promising Humby-trained Jay Peg filly Star Act, who has won two of her three starts.  

Kershaw is indebted to Gavin Almanza for the fun he is enjoying with Star Act and said, “Gavin said he had never known anybody as enthusiastic about racehorse ownership. He thus offered me a share in Star Act and I am really grateful.”

Almanza also allowed the filly to run in Rob’s colours.

Rob has always been a lucky owner and before that momentous victory in March 2013 had enjoyed 23 wins, most of them trained by Herman Brown Snr.

However, Queen Of Diamonds was the first winner he had running in the colours he had worn as a six-year-old child when pretending to be a jockey and racing his brother around the garden.

He recalled, “I was often picked up by my great grandfather and taken to see the horses at Newmarket Stables in Durban. My mother made me a replica jersey of his racing colours, red with green sleeves and a quartered cap.’’

Amery had predicted that Milesia Pride would win the country’s most prestigious race three times in succession. Sadly, he passed away before the second win, and the horse then raced for his late estate. However, his prediction nearly came true.

Kershaw related, “I was told later by jockey Basil Lewis that had he not been interfered with in 1951 in the early stages, meaning he had to come from the tail of the field, he could have won.’’ Milesia Pride started favourite for the first time that year and finished seventh, two lengths adrift.

Amery’s colours were initially taken over by his grandson, Sonny. Upon Sonny’s passing in 1975 they were inherited by his son Brian. However, in roundabout 2005 Rob received a phone call from Brian, his second cousin, telling him he was giving up racing and would he like to take over the colours.

“I didn’t hesitate,’’ said Rob.

He continued, “I retired to Cape Town in 2010 and met Shane Humby at Kenilworth. Shane arranged for me to lease Queen of Diamonds with four other partners. Thanks to Shane, my biggest dream finally came true 63 years after I had worn the famous colours as a child.’’

Kershaw recalled, “My mother in later years told me that my great grandfather used to look forward to taking me to the stables because my love of horses reminded him of himself.’’

History looked like repeating itself as Rob’s grandson Caydin was at the races the day Queen Of Diamonds won and the bug seemed to have bitten. However, Caydin inherited the family’s sporting genes and is now focused on soccer. Rob’s brother Dave Kershaw was a legendary Durban City player who also played for South Africa.

JT Amery was in fact the last full share owner to win the July two years in succession before Chris van Niekerk emulated this feat in 2012 and 2013.

Fred Murray holds the record in this regard having been the full share owner of all four of the successive July winners he trained from 1910 to 1913, Sir Caulin, Nobleman, Lombard and Caged Bird.

Alec and the honourable Gillian Foster have a chance to emulate Amery and Van Niekerk this year as they are full shareholders of Belgarion.

Racing historian Jay August unearthed a number of fascinating facts about Milesia Pride in his blog The South African Racehorse.

Milesia Pride, at 39 months, is the second youngest horse to win the July, the only younger one being two-year-old Nobleman.

In official terms he was six months younger than his three-year-old contemporaries as he was bred in Ireland.  

He would have been one of only four to have run in the July five times had he not missed the 1952 edition through injury.

He surpassed the great Lenin as the highest earner in South African racing history in July 1950. He equalled the July race record of 2 min 10 seconds for 2100m in 1949, giving jockey Harold “Tiger” Wright a then record third July.

His sire Montrose was the first horse to sire the winner of four July’s and the first to sire three individual winners – Monteith (1944), Monasteraven (1948) and Milesia Pride. Montrose, in 1950, became the only non-resident sire to head the South African General Sires List.  

Milesia Pride was foaled late in April 1946 and sold at the 1947 Dublin Horse Show, He was subsequently sold to J.T. Amery of Natal for £1150. The 86-year-old Amery had harboured the desire to win the July for near fifty years but had managed just one third place in 1918 with a horse named Draughtsman and two unplaced efforts in 1916 and 1945.

Milesia Pride arrived by boat in Cape Town in November 1947 and acclimatised in Mooi River before being transferred to the yard of Jim Morrison.

Unraced foreign bred horses were not permitted to enter any race other than a Top Division event at the time.

Milesia Pride was in actual fact still a two-year-old on debut in November 1948 and ran unplaced in his first four starts.

He then snuck a fourth placed finish before running second in the King’s Cup.

He earned his July berth next time out with an easy win in a fast time.

David Thiselton

ON Friday on the Fairview turf top jockey Richard Fourie not only won the day’s feature event, the Listed Dahlia Plate over 1200m, but also made the frame in all eight races at the meeting and was very nearly in the first three in every race.

There were also two Winter Series features at Kenilworth on Saturday and both were won by Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Stud-bred horses.   

Fourie’s win in the Dahlia Plate for two-year-olds was aboard the Alan Greeff-trained Whatever Next. The What A Winter colt got up in the last stride to pip his market rival Norton Sound. Both colts were seeking hattricks. 

Fourie had a finishing position sequence of 2nd (Arctic Advance 25/1), 1st (Blingking 4/10 favourite), 1st (Rooibos 10/7 favourite), 4th (Calandra 100/33), 3rd (Rock Aloe 91/20), 2nd (Broadside (20/11), 1st (Whatever Next 4/3) and 2nd (Teofilia 17/2) in his full card. 

The last person to place in the top three in every race on the card in a KZN meeting was Anthony Delpech.

In an eight race Greyville polytrack meeting on the 25th of February 2018 his mounts finished 2nd (Falkland 21/20 favourite), 2nd (Rose Hill 61/20), 3rd (Cat’s Legacy 4/1), 1st (Savuti 27/4), 2nd (Savuti 71/20) , 3rd (Go With Flo 9/2), 1st (Gadget Man 2/1 favourite) and 2nd (Palace Mystery 41/10).

Stuart Randolph also achieved the feat in a Greyville turf meeting on 29 April 2011, riding two winners, three seconds and three thirds.

This season S’manga Khumalo made the frame in all nine races at a Vaal Classic track meeting on 16 February this year and was out of the first three only once. On that momentous day he rode six winners and two thirds in the first eight races and finished fourth in the last race.

Khumalo also had eight first three finishes on Classic Day at Turffontein Standside in 2017. In a 12 race program he had ten rides and had four winners, three seconds and a third as well as a sixth and a seventh. 

Weichong Marwing had eight first three finishes on Summer Cup day 2015. On a twelve race program he had nine mounts and rode two winners, four seconds, two thirds and a fifth.

The late Alec Forbes was in the frame ten times and had nine first three places finishes in eleven rides on Daily News 2000 day in 2010, riding two winners, three seconds, four thirds as well as a fourth and a ninth. 

Meanwhile, at Kenilworth on Saturday the Justin Snaith-trained Hoedspruit became the first Graded winner for former Vodacom Durban July winner Legislate. The Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Stud-bred gelding won the second leg of the Winter Series, the Grade 3 WSB Legal Eagle Stakes over 1800m, under Luyolo Mxothwa. Hoedspruit thus became the fourth stakes winner from Legislate’s first crop.

The second leg of the Winter Series for fillies, the Listed WSB Stormsvlei Stakes over 1800m, was won easily by the Candice Bass-Robinson-trained and Wilgerbosdrift and Mauritzfontein Stud-bred Silvano filly Marina under Keagan de Melo.   

Andrew Harrison

PUNTERS will have their work cut out at Hollywoodbets Greyville today with eight wide-open races on the poly.

In the card opener, Rizzoli meets a weak maiden field and had some useful Highveld form before a change of stables. She could be the one to beat in spite of taking on males. Patronage has patchy form but was much improved when blinkered for the first time and can do better this trip. The Saracen is lightly raced is lightly raced. He has shown some improvement of late and could now be looking for this trip.

In the second, Flying First Class has her first run for a new stable. She has patchy Highveld form but was out-classed in the SA Oaks and not far behind last time out. Winter Time has consistent form in cheek pieces and should feature prominently while Trip To Freedom was close-up at long odds last start and takes a rating drop. Short Skirt Flirt loves the poly but there were plenty in this field close-up behind her last run so this could be harder.

The opening leg of the Pick 6 is another difficult handicap. Justfortheepenny is has seldom been far back and takes a drop in class. He was close-up last run and must have a strong chance on that showing. Command Control failed narrowly first run out of the maidens and is 2.5kg better off with Straight Up who shows consistent form. The tables should be turned. 

In the fourth, Ingakara took on much stronger last outing and was staying on gamely. Her form before that was solid and she must have a decent chance. Cozy Dot Com ran a cracker over course and distance last start and from a better draw can go one better. Suntrax has desperate form on the turf but won well first up on the poly. She must have a decent chance on her maiden showing and she comes from a shrewd stable. Legend Has It has drawn wide but has a 4kg claimer up and has consistent form over further. Trip may suit.

Smart William has been costly to follow but has his third run for his new stable. He was been a beaten favourite at his first two and may be worth another chance. Montana Sky finished just ahead of Smart William last outing and they are drawn alongside each other so there should not be much between them again. Snow In Seattle is a veteran of the track and older horses often do well first up on the poly. He is a seven-time winner. White Cedar is coming along the right way and can feature in another tricky affair.

Some quick horses line up in the sixth but So Var has been doing well in stronger and also takes a two-point rating drop. Magicallee is another that has been up against stronger of late. She takes on males but is back on the poly and from a good draw can feature prominently. Duran is a course and distance specialist but has the worst of the draw. Rocket Fire and Winter Waves are others to consider.

In the seventh, Alsflamingbeauty has dropped in the ratings and has been taking on stronger of late. She gets 4kg relief from Gabriel Pieterse which could make the difference. Arctic Princess has not had the best of luck at her last two. She is better drawn here and is very capable. Irish Belle is drawn wide but is quick and should improve on her last effort when out of her depth. Flying The Star does not have the best of draws but ran a cracker first up out of the maidens and has a chance on that showing.

If you are still running in the exotics come the last, the best of luck. Rachel has been close-up in all of her recent starts and from a good draw she should be right there. Top Honours is lightly raced and still a maiden. But she appears to be coming along the right way and does not have much to beat here. Beckoning Beauty was much improved in blinkers while Sweet Spring needed her last run and has a much better draw. Not a race to go light in.

Andrew Harrison

THE Hollywoodbets Scottsville straight course will find out any horse that is short of race fitness and it is often labelled as a ‘horses for courses’ track.

Ishnana, recent winner of the (Listed) In Full Flight Stakes, a case in point.

 Top horses can get away with it through sheer class but the course, with its dip to the 500m and rise to the finish, has been the undoing of many a smart galloper.

A look at the track is always beneficial for aspirants to the Gr1 Golden Horse Sprint, and the three other Gr1 features on the day, that have not raced there. Ever the professional, Justin Snaith has had Gr1 Computaform Sprint winner Rio Querari stretch his legs there, but whether the gelding lines up on Saturday, June 5, is yet to be decided.

One horse with the Golden Horse on his agenda is Spydas Corner. Duncan Howells seldom runs a horse without a planned agenda but he will be looking for a big effort from his charge in the eighth on Sunday.

Spydas Corner, named by former Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Brian Baloyi,  is no stranger to the course, having made three visits for a win and a second, and since being fitted with blinkers, the gelding has hardly put a foot wrong. His most recent victory came on this course where he got the better of the hard-knocker Good Rhythm.

He is down in class here so takes a corresponding rise in weight but he will need a forward showing to come into contention for a place in the Golden Horse line-up.

Blaze Of Silk is something of a course specialist, four of his five wins coming over course and distance and Corine Bestel has saddled him up at Scottsville 20 times out of his 28 starts.

He is slightly better off with Spydas Corner for when last they met but while the three-year-old has something to come, the six-year-old should have reached his peak.

An interesting runner is Hail Columbia. The Irish import has temperament issues but does give the impression that on his day, he could match it with the best. He made his debut over course and distance, going down to the highly rated Captain Fontane after a protracted duel to the line.

The form has been patchy since and the stable is quiet at present but Dennis Drier knows how to ready them up in Scottsville sprints so expect a big effort.

Dean Kannemeyer almost caused a major upset when Sir Michael pressed Do It Again to the line at Hollywoodbets Greyville last Sunday, and the stable is starting to fire.

He saddles Silver Maria in the seventh and she looks primed for this race, this being her third run after a lengthy break. She was run out of it late in her first two runs back over further, but this mile should suit down to the ground and she could prove difficult to beat.

Garth Puller’s stable is in a rich vein of form of late and Wishful Girl Linn could be the biggest threat to Silver Maria. Puller’s filly has the benefit of an inside draw and has not been far behind in useful company of late. However, her recent successes have been on the poly which may be a factor against her.

Work riders’ races in KZN are always tricky and never races to risk the house keeping on, but Captain Tatters should take some beating in the card opener. Snaith’s runner is rated a division better than the opposition and has smart form over the trip. Nathan Kotzen saddles the useful filly Stella Act who won her last race over course and distance and is smart on her day. She has bottom weight but also an inexperienced rider which could count against her.

Colinda Austin, assistant to Ashburton-based Shane Humby, is an accomplished work rider and partners Ziva La Winter for Kom Naidoo. The gelding is quick and has been up against stronger opposition than what he meets here and could be a threat to Captain Tatters.

David Thiselton

Turffontein Standside has a low key nine race meeting today in which the highest rated race is the seventh, a fillies and mares MR 92 Handicap.

The Paul Matchett-trained three-year-old Twice Over filly has always struck as promising and last time out she ran  above her rating with first-time blinkers on when finishing a two length second to the ever improving Thumbs Up. She is officially 2kg under sufferance tomorrow but if repeating that effort she can win this race from a nice high draw. The 4kg claimer Xola Jacobs keeps the ride, although he rides 1kg overweight, meaning Bella Black carries an actual weight of 49kg. All Of Me is always thereabouts and this is the easiest task she has had for a while so she should be right there from a high draw. Kayla’s Champ will enjoy stepping back down in trip on recent evidence and a 4kg claimer up alleviates some of the 61.5kg she was allotted after a six point raise for her last win. Ann Boleyn has plenty of pace but against her is the number one draw. May Queen can also win if able to bounce back to her best after two disappointing runs.

The previous race is a Graduation Plate event over 1160m which should be at the mercy of Caralluma. This filly has been disappointing considering the esteem she was held in early in her career. However, she does possess lengthy of speed and dropping to a sprint trip might be what she is looking for. The only threat looks to be Vaseem. who was not disgraced last time when it did not pan out to well over 1000m and yet he was staying on at the end for third, just 2,30 lengths behind the promising Al Sakeet. 

In the first leg of the Pick 6 over 1400m Bold Act, who is by Act Of War out of the Grade 1 Garden Province winner Bold Ellinore, ran on well on debut from a wide draw over 1200m and now has a fair draw of five over a step up in trip she will relish. Wokonda will be distance suited and should have improved after two decent third over 1160m and 1450m. Coral Dawn, a Global View half-sister to Grade 1 winner Coral Fever, can also be a threat after a good second run. Lollapalooza could improve, as she looked like she needed her debut and will enjoy the step up in trip. Tinder Dry and Northern Glow also warrant consideration.

Twice The Trip should be good enough to win the fifth race over 1160m from a nice high draw.

The three that make the most appeal in the last leg of the Pick 6 are Swingthewillow, Tuscan Winter and Power Ranger. The latter is a full-brother to Pyromaniac, who despite his stout breeding being by Silvano out of SA Oaks winner Pine Princess, is unbeaten in two starts over sprints.