Andrew Harrison

GENERAL FRANCO caused something of a furore on debut. Firstly, because some took exception to his name, ostensibly named after the not-much-loved fascist ruler of Spain. But more probable given his pedigree – by super sire Frankel out of a Kingmambo mare – the name was more pretentious than anything to do with the Spanish dictator.

Secondly, he won smartly on debut, smartly enough for the handicappers to slap him with a rating of 102!

He hasn’t won since! Second horse home that day, Three Two Charlie, went on to win next time out and subsequently the Sophomore Sprint but has not been out since February last year and no longer appears on the NHA data base.

Since debut, it has taken the handicappers nearly two years to drop General Franco’s merit rating to today’s more realistic 84, two points lower than when last he raced after earning an extra two pounds for his runner-up berth behind Spydas Corner.

His last run was his first on the poly and second run after a break. With that experience under his girth, Justin Snaith back in town and Anton Marcus in the irons, he may be worth another chance when he lines up in the seventh at Hollywoodbets Greyville today.

He takes on some quick horses in this 1200m dash and the likes of Mashari, Di Mazzio and Double Espresso will provide a searching test.

Mashari has a light weight and is never far back. His best recent form has been on the synthetic surface and from a good draw he should be right there. Louis Goosen’s soldier Di Mazzio does prefer a furlong shorter and benefitted from a strong pace when narrowly beaten last week. But he does look to be back to his best and he loves the poly. Double Espresso won well last run but although he is never far back, he took a stiff five-point hit in the handicap.

Punters face another tricky card.

The first is best ignored as they are mostly first timers. Of the two that have run, Uncomplicated made marked improvement at his second outing and rates the one to beat while Vegas Gold has been priced by Hollywoodbets as best of the debutantes.

Inherit The Rain is the bookies favourite in the second after two fair recent starts on the Highveld but his only win has been a work riders maiden. There could be better value about Doug Campbell’s runner Vunderbar. He has first-time blinkers and does appear to be better than his current form would suggest. The experiment with blinkers failed with Dandolo and Sean Veale’s arms were a couple of inches longer than at the start. The blinkers come off and he has his third run after a break. He had shown early ability and may be worth one more stab.

Tony Rivalland, who sends out Dandolo, could be in with a quick double as he saddles Cupid’s Song in the third. The gelding has a bit of a tricky draw at 10 but he did show some improvement in blinkers and has made steady recent progress. He looks the one to beat.

Of the others, Master Dancer is battling but is way better than his last effort and the poly is his best surface while Diedi made sudden improvement last run under apprentice Kyle Strydom. A repeat showing can see him into the money again.

Marcus teams up with Gavin van Zyl in the fourth with Shape Of You who was a beaten odds-on chance last run. But she has put in three promising efforts over ground and can make amends. Top Me Up Holly looks a threat after improving nicely second time out from a tricky draw. She has the best of it here and has first time blinkers. However, she returns from a lengthy break and may just need this. Miss Missouri has run her best races over course and distance. She almost certainly needed her last run from a wide draw and can do much better here.

In the fifth, Laurel Lane has made steady improvement and had the worst of the draw last time out. She has pulled a better draw here and should have a big chance in a weak field. Emerald Palace has the worst of the draw and has been a beaten favourite at her last four outings. She is certainly due a change of fortune and must have a strong chance. Kinskey’s Tune is not always reliable but has shown flashes of ability and at best can feature prominently. 

The sixth looks wide open. Karoo Lark has finished runner-up in his last three and is down in class from his last showing. He stays the trip well and should go close again. Justfortheepenny is overdue.  He is never far back and makes strong claims along with Sea Master who was much improved with the blinkers removed last outing. He’s in a tough one here but should still be highly competitive. Jackinapot was a recent maiden winner but has come good in blinkers.

The last is another tricky affair. Chattertons Keeper has not had a good draw in his last three but has been up there in all three. He has a better marble here and if holding form will go close again. Master Of Destiny has been dropping in the ratings and was not far back from a wide draw last run. With a better draw and a light weight, he must have a big chance. Carl Hewitson has a few hidden in the wings and Brazil Nut may be one of them. He has been taking on much stronger of late and has dropped five points in the ratings after his last race and takes on weaker. King’s Crusade looks useful and was an easy winner last run while Goodtime Guy took a hike in the handicap after his maiden win but does look progressive and cannot be ignored.

David Thiselton

THE great Igugu made history ten years ago when becoming the first to land the Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara before going on to win the Vodacom Durban July and the filly who is attempting to emulate her, War Of Athena, has had a remarkably similar three-year-old career to date.

Another similarity between the 2010/2011 season and this one is the challenge issued by the Mike de Kock team to Justin Snaith to bring his best up to Johannesburg.

Igugu, an Australian-bred by Galileo, did not race as a two-year-old but won her first three starts as a three-year-old before suffering her first defeat in the Emperors Palace Ready To Run Cup over 1400m.

War Of Athena’s first and only defeat this season was also in the Emperor’s Palace Ready To Run Cup.

Igugu then traveled to Cape Town and was beaten in the Grade 1 Cape Fillies Guineas by the Snaith-trained Ebony Flyer.

She had no luck in the running and later, after Igugu had despatched a Wilgerbosdrift Gauteng Fillies Guineas field with consummate ease, jockey Anthony Delpech issued a challenge to Ebony Flyer’s connections to bring her up to Johannesburg. 

Ebony Flyer’s owner Barry Irwin’s response was that the ball was in the court of Igugu to seek a rematch with Ebony Flyer. Some of his sentiments irked the De Kock camp and the embers of the great trainer’s rivalry with Snaith, and its accompanying banter, can probably be found in that incident. 

Igugu was never defeated in her home country again and is acknowledged as one of South Africa’s greatest ever female racehorses. 

She was not only the first to win the Triple Tiara but is also one of only four three-year-old fillies to win the July and one of only seven horses to win both the July and the Met.

She deserved better than her untimely passing on 24 November, 2016, particularly as it was only reported the following July after a writer stumbled across an entry in an Australian Stud Book.

The news of her passing came as a huge shock to Mike de Kock.

He said at the time, “it boggles my mind that it took the best part of a year for us to get to know about Igugu’s death when she’s the type of mare who’d deserve a state funeral! Igugu was a wonderful champion in all respects, a top mare with vast amounts of courage and a big favourite to all in the yard.”

Anthony Delpech rode Igugu eight times for seven wins and a second.

He recounted, “She was definitely the best filly I have ever ridden, She could do anything. She could lead or if the pace was fast you could sit in behind. But she was not an easy ride, she always used to take a hold. If there was no pace on over a mile she preferred to be let go like we did in the Ipi Tombe.”

Despite coming off a five month layoff in the Ipi Tombe she set a cracking pace and stretched clear in the straight to win by 5,3 lengths easing up.

Delpech continued, “But, if there was a fast pace she was able to quicken and there were not many over here who could go with her. She did have speed out of the gates as a three-year-old but by the end of her time here she had become more of a dour stayer, she had the stamina to outstay them.”

In 2009 Mick Goss’s Summerhill Stud bought Igugu for Aus$65,000 with the aim of pinhooking her at the Ready To Run Sale.

Igugu was knocked down for R1 million at the latter sale to popular owner Andre MacDonald with De Kock the underbidder.

Igugu left the sales venue as the property of MacDonald and a consortium called the Summerhill Stud syndicate.

MacDonald sent her to trainer Brett Webber.

However, she was only with Webber for three months before being transferred to the De Kock yard.

Delpech rode her for the first time in the Cape Fillies Guineas where she was caught wide and was unable to catch the top class Ebony Flyer, losing by 1,25 lengths.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum bought out the Summerhill Syndicate’s share after that race and she won the Triple Tiara in his colours. All three legs were won by wide margins and she followed it with an equally easy win in the Grade 1 Woolavington 2000.

In the July, where she started 2/1 favourite, she used her early pace to take the lead. Delpech eased her back into third rounding the Drill Hall. She quickened off the false rail and held off the chargers to win by 0,90 lengths.

Five months later Igugu’s impressive victory in the Ipi Tombe chased away the opposition for the Grade 1 Paddock Stakes in Cape Town. 

However, she was scratched before travelling.

De Kock recalled, “She had a respiratory problem and an ongoing foot problem and that left us behind in our preparation for the Met. We ended up having to work her twice a day to catch up. She worked on the track in the morning and on the treadmill in the afternoon. There are not many horses that would have been able to take the work we gave her. But she was always willing to do whatever you asked her.”

To compound matters she had to reside under vector protected quarantine conditions until race day.

She did not have her usual speed in the race and was left with a lot to do to catch Bravura. 

Only pure courage got her over the line.

Her Met effort must have told and was perhaps the reason she did not live up to expectations overseas.

Igugu had two foals, both British-breds by Dansili, and the last of them, a colt called El Misk, has won three races and had four seconds for John Gosden in ten starts.

Andrew Harrison

TOP RIDER Richard Fourie was back in town at Hollywoodbets Greyville yesterday – and so was Justin Snaith.

The Snaith yard is ultra professional and Justin is always working on how to out-fox the opposition – especially arch Highveld rival Mike de Kock!

After the win by Crown Towers in the fifth yesterday, Snaith outlined his plans for KZN indicating that he will use his KZN base to raid the Highveld’s more lucrative features and that his principal KZN-based owner Nick Jonsson will in future base the majority of his horses in his home province.

Crown Towers, racing in the Jonsson silks, may not be the ideal Highveld raider as Fourie alluded to the fact that the gelding had often been used as the hare for his more fancied stable companions and it was something of a tricky ride.

Crown Towers pulled Fourie through to the lead, going quicker and quicker when challenged early, but he kept finding to the line to win rather comfortably.

KZN racing has been under the spotlight in recent weeks for producing a few ‘bomb’ results, but in truth, the other racing centres are no better. The fact is that at this time of the year in KZN, Gold Circle always caters for the lower divisions, and given that most of these horses in the lower echelons are there, either because they have physical issues or simply because a case of the slows, makes things tricky for punters.

Lightly raced horses are often ones to keep an eye on, simply because their connections feel that their patience is worth the wait.

Blue Planet had only had two starts before yesterday and according to his trainer Carl Hewitson, had been a touch unlucky at his previous start. The market gave nothing away, and given that co-owners were the International Racing Club and Braam van Huyssteen, their punt was probably off-shore.

Champion Season looms

Just how good are Malmoos and War Of Athena? The pair made short work of the opposition in the WSB Classic and the Wilgerbosdrift Fillies Classic at Turffontein on Saturday and they both hardly raised a sweat.

While one does not want to take anything away from their feats, one needs to face reality in that the opposition was hardly top drawer.

Muzi Yeni had an armchair ride on Paul Machett’s filly and War Of Athena won as she should have. On that showing the Oaks and the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara is there for the taking unless something comes out of the woodwork.

The same can be said of Malmoos. Mike de Kock’s colt looked to be in a scrap a furlong out but once Luke Ferraris got him straightened up, it was just a matter of how far. He settles well and the WSB Derby should be a formality.

Hopefully both horses will be in KZN for South African Champions Season. Locally, we again look short on class but with the Western Cape trainers up to meet their up-country rivals on level playing fields, this could be a vintage year for three-year-olds with the cream, of what appears to be an outstanding crop, hunting the top awards.

David Thiselton

THERE was a gulf between the respective purchase prices of the Mike de Kock-trained Malmoos and the Paul Matchett-trained War Of Athena but their now closely related careers provide a fine opportunity to highlight what the oft misused racing term “value” really means. 

Both horses have just one 2450m hurdle between them and respective WSB Triple Crown and Wilgerbosdrift SA Triple Tiara glory after being given superb respective rides by Luke Ferraris and Muzi Yeni on Saturday in the Grade 1 WSB SA Classic and Grade 1 Wilgerbosdrift SA Fillies Classic.

Ferraris is fast gaining a reputation for his ice cool big race temperament and Yeni displayed his understanding of pace when playing his part in the successful implementation of War Of Athena’s pre-race strategy.  

It is well documented that War Of Athena cost just R30,000.  

The only filly that now stands between her and the Equus Champion Three-year-old filly crown is Cape stalwart Captain’s Ransom.

War Of Athena’s pedigree runs deep too so she is already commanding big paddock value. 

However, she still has some way to go to match the value which Malmoos’ third dam Secret Pact represented. 

Varsfontein Stud broke a South Africa record price for a broodmare when they went to R750,000 to secure Secret Pact at a dispersal sale in 1998.

They had shortlisted her from the Cheveley Stud draught at the 1992 Yearling Sales but held back as they were not convinced by Bush Telegraph as a sire and had questions about the family. 

However, her full-brother London News then set the tracks alight and their determination to not make the same mistake twice was behind the record price of 1998.

Secret Pact was destined to become one of the leading matriarchs in the South African stud book and that R750,000 now looks like small change.  

Varsfontein will reap the rewards of her influence for years to come. This was evident when Malmoos fetched R4,4 million at the 2019 National Yearling Sales and even that price can now be described as good value considering his racing class and his blue-blooded pedigree.   

He is a son of Champion Sire Captain Al and his stakes-winning dam Justthewayyouare is a half-sister to the successful stallion Master Of My Fate. 

Justthewayyouare and Master Of My Fate are the progeny of Secret Pact’s dual Grade 1-winning champion daughter Promisefrommyheart. 

Another of Secret Pact’s Grade 1-winning daughters, Covenant, is dam of the current three-year-old Erik The Red, who has already been retired to stud as a superb looking winner of six races in ten starts, including two Grade 2s and a Grade 3.

Another of her stakes-winning daughters, Secret Heart, produced the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf winner and sire Pluck.

Other bold black type descendants of Secret Pact include Captain Splendid, Ghaala, Due Diligence, Favorita, Hashtagyolo, Hack Green and the USA-bred Three Hearts.

Malmoos unfortunately faces an uncertain future with the recent announcement that his owner Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum will disband the Thoroughbred holdings of Shadwell Stud Australasia and sell off his star horses in Australia and South Africa over the next few months.  

The classy colt will surely still be with De Kock for his WSB Triple Crown bid in the Grade 1 WSB SA Derby on April 3.

However, the question is whether he will still be here for the SA Champions Season as he had Vodacom Durban July candidate stamped all over him in the manner of his victory on Saturday. 

Malmoos has fine gatespeed so from draw six out of ten was going to require some luck, considering the handy to front-running pair Shah Akbar and Bingwa were in the field.  

And so it proved because after initially being caught wide of Binga, who had waited for Shah Akbar to slot into the lead in front of him, Malmoos was provided with fortuitous cover by Dr Doolittle, who on the back of slow initial fractions pulled his way around the favourite into a position one wide and one back. 

In the straight Ferraris soon realised Dr Doolittle was going nowhere so switched Malmoos out at the 600m mark. He did so in the nick of time as he otherwise risked being boxed in by Catch Twentytwo. Gavin Lerena aboard the latter had also summed up the situation and had switched off Malmoos’s heels a split second earlier.

Meanwhile, Second Base was bursting through towards the inside.

Ferraris knew he had a lot of horse underneath him and let out just enough rein to join Second Base.

He remained cool until the 150m mark before drawing the stick. 

Malmoos then accelerated away to win by a cosy two lengths.

Runner up Second Base can also be pencilled in as a July candidate. 

Catch Twentytwo was beaten only 2,25 lengths but could not match the turn of foot of the first two and was only making inroads in the final 100m, so it is questionable whether he will enjoy Hollywoodbets Greyville.

The big Judpot colt Flying Carpet, a 2,75 length fourth, was eyecatching in looks and performance. Raymond Danielson had some difficulty in reining him back into last position and yet he still ran on exceptionally well in the straight.

Fifth-placed Bold Jazz also stayed on well.

War Of Athena’s connections, in planning their strategy, had a number of known factors in their favour, i.e. she was proven better than the field, she relaxes well in the running and she has a tremendous turn of foot. There was only one unknown factor, the 1800m distance. On pedigree she should easily stay that trip but they had no need to risk finding out and thus nullified the stamina question mark by setting relatively slow fractions in front with War Of Athena’s pacemaker Only The Brave. 

The small Act Of War filly used her turn of foot to maximum effect and won easing up by 1,80 lengths from the outsider Netta with Magical Flight a further 2,45 lengths back in third.  

Andrew Harrison

PUNTERS looking to cut down on expenses at Hollywoodbets Greyville today could have a couple of decent opportunities to ease the pressure on their wallets.

Jacob’s Ladder in the third can get the Pick 6 off to a winning start and Myhopesandreams in the seventh may face a more difficult task but should make a fist of it.

Louis Goosen’s runner Jacob’s Ladder steps up in trip but has shown up well in two starts over a mile and he has been ten furlongs before. His pedigree suggests that he should stay the 2400m trip comfortably and rates the one to beat.

The opposition is a little thin but A Thousand Tunes and Do Re Mi, who made sudden improvement last time out, look possible threats.

Justin Snaith will be warming some runners up for the Highveld season that bleeds into South Africa’s Champion Season that officially starts on May 1.

Crown Towers will be warming up for a possible crack at the Champions Cup at the end of April and stable rider Richard Fourie has made the trip up from the Cape to give him a feeler in the fifth where he races over a trip that could be a touch short of his best. However, he is a strong front-runner and one hopes that the opposition will not be caught napping.

In the seventh, Myhopesandreams arrives with smart Cape form and goes well this trip and should make a bold bid. Shane Humby has his runners in a good space at present and Letaba tries a little further. He has smart form over shorter but goes very well over this trip and rates a strong chance. African Sunrise has been costly to follow but has been knocking at the door for some time now and is due a change of fortune. He had a tough draw last time out. Of the others, Banzai Pipeline takes a big drop in trip but shed his maiden over this distance and can be more effective here.

In the card opener, Austen has made steady improvement and was close-up second last time out. She has been around the turn and looks to be the one to beat. Moobheera comes out of a Sean Tarry dispersal and has her first run for Paul and Beth Gadsby. She found market support on debut at The Vaal and with Richard Fourie in town she is one to watch.

Soller has shown up nicely in two starts over further. She can do better over this shorter trip while Capriana has drawn wide but has shown some promise and can finish in the money.

In the second, Humby’s filly Star Act won well second time out and looks capable of further improvement but she does take on some seasoned opposition that includes Arianos Spinner who has shown consistent form on the poly but is distance suited and has a good draw. Matadoras Parade has been dropping in the ratings and can feature prominently.

The fifth is a tricky handicap. Mystic Master was a beaten favourite at his last two but was not far back. He has drawn well and should make a bold bid. Predator has drawn in Marriott Road and has it all to do from that draw but he has been in good form on the poly and must have a strong chance. Casimero has put in two sharp sprints and steps up in trip but his pedigree suggests that he should see this out comfortably. Protea Pride gets the services of Fourie and made good improvement at long odds last start for Corrine Bestel. From the best of the draw he can make further improvement.

The fifth is another competitive handicap but Priceless Ruler is well in here and although he has the widest draw, there are only seven runners. This is his optimum trip. Trip To Africa’s last two wins have come on the poly but he goes well over this distance and is nicely weighted. The cheek pieces have been exchanged for blinkers. Sniper Shot is struggling for his next win but has not been far back of late and will have a change of luck sooner rather than later. Include in everything.  Crown Towers may well be looking to warm up for bigger fish but his class can see them into the money. Not one to be ignored.

The sixth is wide open and it may prove prudent to include as many as possible in exotic perms. Aquae Solis took the step up in class in her stride last run and only got a two-point rise in the handicap. She goes this trip for the first time but the extra should suit. Fire Power is way better than her last start and she stays this trip well. Mike de Kock has not raided KZN for some time so she should be worth watching in the betting.

The last is a difficult maiden with many runners in form. Camora has only missed a place once in five starts and given his pedigree this should be right up his alley. Drogarati should also enjoy the extra, his last two being sprints. This is his third run after a break. My Lord And Master showed up well in a warm-up sprint after retuning from a break while Final Destiny shows some promise and should also benefit from a step up in trip.