Dutch Philip looks set to give the Tsogo Sun Gold Medallion a miss on Saturday fortnight and stay at home for the Cape Of Good Hope Nursery on the same day despite making it three out of four with a convincing performance in the Somerset 1200 at Kenilworth on Saturday.

“We did talk about Scottsville but I’m not sure that I really want to take him there,” said Candice Bass-Robinson. “He is going in the right direction and he can only improve.”

That right direction is heading tantalising towards the Cape Guineas. True, the colt’s task was made easier by the viral infection sweeping through Joey Ramsden’s horses – Ricardo Sobotker found it in half the 14 he tested including Morning Catch and Speedpoint, but Dutch Philip was conceding weight all round and he won in good style.

There is a certain inevitability when Aldo Domeyer begins to wind up a fancied contender and it was obvious that the 14-10 shot was going to win well before he hit the front 300m from home. Certainly he looked value for a little more than the length he beat the 4kg-receiving Kasimir.

“I knew he would get there when I needed him to but I didn’t want to give them too much start with me giving them all weight,” Domeyer related. “At the 400m mark I felt I couldn’t hold him back any longer – I was interrupting his stride – and he quickened like I thought he would.

“He has quite a bit of class and a really nice turn of foot. He should get a mile in time because he switches off like a lamb.”

Magical Wonderland, who followed up for the same connections in the Perfect Promise Sprint, will also be back in action on May 27 – for the Kenilworth Fillies Nursery – and she is also by What A Winter. Little wonder that Marsh Shirtliff has already bought nine yearlings by the sire he raced with such success.

What A Winter also describes the present climate but nobody follows the weather patterns more closely than Mike Stewart and the Noordhoek trainer is convinced the rain will come – and that, when it does, he will clean up with Al Wahed. Donovan Dillon’s mount took the 1 000m handicap despite the fast ground.

“Al Wahed is going to win plenty – he has such a low rating. At one time he was running off 89 and he will only get three points for this,” Stewart explained before adding, tongue in cheek, “At the end of the winter he can retire and become a trail horse.”

Platinum Prince, who initiated Domeyer’s treble with a comfortable win in the mile handicap, is seemingly also one to put in the notebook.

“At one time Richard Fourie rated him our best two-year-old,” Jonno Snaith recalled. “He is going to be a really nice stayer and I’m just sad we didn’t put him in Saturday’s East Cape Derby. It looks particularly weak this time.”

Michael Clower

History was made when a Var filly was knocked down for R5 million on Friday, the final day of the 2017 National Yearling Sale.

The filly, named Goddess Var, is the most expensive yearling ever sold at BSA auction, surpassing the R4.75 million paid for Savannah Cat in 2015 and she was knocked down to Shadwell South Africa. Consigned by Varsfontein Stud she will be trained by Joey Ramsden.
The sale proved favourable for buyers, with many picking up notable bargains, but a lack of middle market was once again in evidence and reflected in the sales’ overall statistics.

While the aggregate of the 2017 National Sale rose from R106 885 000 to R11 770 000 (a rise of nearly 5%), both the average price and median dropped. The average fell from R320 015 to R304 550 (or 5%), while the median dropped from R200 000 to R180 000.

The number of horses failing to sell increased notably from 58 a year ago to 68 in 2017.

Jehan Malherbe of Form Bloodstock was by far and away the leading buyer his 29 yearlings purchased grossing a total of R20.245 million. Next on the list was Shadwell South Africa, whose five lots grossed R9.2 million and included Goddess Var.

Varsfontein Stud headed the vendors list, with 23 of their 27 lots offered grossing R15.495 million, averaging R673 696. Mauritzfontein, Wilgerbosdrift, Lammerskraal and Drakenstein Stud rounded off the top five vendors.

CEO Michael Holmes said, “In the face of difficult trading conditions, the sale held up well. We are pleased with the aggregate increase, and, while the median is down, the overall result was commendable given the current economic climate the clearance rate is higher than 2016 and we plan on improving it further over the coming years. The market remains very quality conscious and lacks depth, a fact which is reflected in the results.

– Bloodstock SA

A colt named after the greatest of all world leaders ruled on the Rowley Mile, just as so many had predicted he would, with the beautiful beast that is Churchill converting two-year-old dominance to Classic glory thanks to a wonderfully authoritative triumph in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas on Saturday

When Coolmore supremo John Magnier’s wife Sue handed the son of Galileo and Meow the same surname as Britain’s iconic wartime prime minister, she set him a mighty task.
He lived up to that task quite brilliantly to give Aidan O’Brien an unmatched eighth win in the showpiece the sport’s pre-eminent trainer has come to dominate.

As has so often been the case in recent years, Sheikh Mohammed played second fiddle to Coolmore, whose latest champion beat Godolphin’s Barney Roy into second, with French raider Al Wukair a strong-finishing third. Churchill’s Ballydoyle stablemate Lancaster Bomber took fourth.

“He’s not Frankel, but he’s a good horse,” said part-owner Michael Tabor, whose blue and orange colours were donned by Ryan Moore in a Guineas in which the simplicity of the success was striking.

 

Always Dreaming wins Kentucky Derby

With Godolphin’s Thunder Snow taking virtually no part in proceedings, trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez – in many ways the old firm of US racing – joined forces yet again to claim the 143rd Kentucky Derby in emphatic fashion courtesy of Always Dreaming on Saturday.

The fifth straight favourite to win America’s most celebrated race, the Florida Derby victor was always handy as he splashed through the slop in a dominant performance in front of a crowd of 158,070 beneath the iconic Twin Spires at Churchill Downs.

On the other hand, Godolphin’s Kentucky Derby dreams were crushed when UAE Derby winner Thunder Snow, said to be the Dubai team’s best-ever chance of success by trainer Saeed Bin Suroor, seemed to lose his footing from the gate and started bucking. His mount unrideable, Christophe Soumillon had no choice but to pull him up in front of the stands first time around. No injury came to light in an initial veterinary examination.

Long since regarded as the most powerful combination in American racing, Pletcher and Velazquez have teamed up for a multitude of big-race triumphs over the years. They had each won the Derby once before, with Super Saver (2010) and Animal Kingdom (2011) respectively; never, though, had they managed to win in tandem.

“It does mean a lot,” said Velazquez, 45. “We’ve had so much success in the past but we’ve never won the Derby and he’s just an incredible horse. This is the best horse Todd and I have ever come to the Kentucky Derby with. Nothing against all the others, but this was the best horse.”

– Racingpost.com

Callan Murray is a rising star amongst the jockey ranks and Mike de Kock has been quick to recognise his talents – major recognition from a world-respected trainer – so it was more about Murray’s feat of landing three Gr1 victories in an afternoon than the shock defeat of Legal Eagle in the Gr1 Premier’s Champions Challenge.

Geoff Woodruff is also a Murry supporter and they plotted the downfall of Legal Eagle. It was the relatively unheralded Deo Juvente who came up trumps in a desperate finish with two short heads separating the winner, Legal Eagle and the filly Nother Russia.

“We obviously schemed of a way to beat Legal Eagle; not nice I know. But we felt that he did not truly see out 2000m, his best ratings coming over a mile,” said Woodruff.

Marcus certainly rode a confident race on the 1-5 favourite and when he moved into contention approaching the 400m mark the writing appeared to be on the wall. At this stage in the past Legal Eagle would have taken command but this time he had a battle on his hands. Deo Juvente stuck to him like glue and in spite of Marcus shifting in on his rival, Murray was not intimidated and nore was Deo Juvente who battled all the way to the line. Nother Russia was tremendous in defeat and boasts a superbly consistent record.

In an afternoon of high drama, Carry On Alice was all the rage for the Gr1 Computaform Sprint but the De Kock genius was to the fore again as a drop to a sprint and a set of quarter-cup blinkers brought out the best in Rafeef, a full brother to the earlier SA Nursery winner Mustaaqeem.

Carry On Alice inched ahead of the chasing pack approaching the 300 m mark but was clearly hard-pressed to hold her lead under a driving ride from S’Manga Khumalo. But all his efforts came to naught as Rafeef came charging home as did Talktothestars who finished strongly to deny Carry On Alice second. “He quickened like a machine,” was Murray’s ecstatic comment after the win.

With this victory under his girth the Gr1 Tsogo Sun Sprint at Scottsville would be an obvious target for Rafeef.

Al Sahem, runner-up in both the first two legs of the Triple Crown, made good in the Gr1 SA Derby, running out a fluent winner from Pagoda and hot favourite Heavenly Blue. Stamina was hardly put to the test as King Of Blues and Captain At Sea towed the field along at a pedestrian gallop with Al Sahem and Heavenly Blue content to settle in amongst the back markers.

Heavenly Blue tracked Al Sahem into the straight and the pair gradually built up momentum as the opposition struggling to quicken. Heavenly Blue was going well enough as he tracked Al Sahem but went the chips were down he cashed in early and never got to his rival and it was left to outsider Pagoda to do the chasing, though the truth be told, Al Sahem was never in danger of defeat.

Everything went my way and he got to the front so easily,” said Delpech. “I knew it would take a good one to beat me.”

Al Sahem gave the starter’s assistants a tough time and according to Tarry it was a matter of timing. “He was always behind the black ball fitness wise in the first two legs (of the Triple Crown). But we stuck to the plan and when he got off the float this morning I knew he was a bomb.”

It was an Australian one-two in the Gr1 SA Nursery as Mustaaqeem put the field to the sword with stable companion Naafer a well-beaten second but also clear of the chasing pack.

Whorly Whorly set a smart gallop but Mustaaqeem was always in the hunt with Naafer back early. Approaching the halfway Naafer had moved into a challenging position but when all went for home approaching the 400 m marker, it was race over. “When he dug down at the 400 I knew it was race over,” confirmed Murray. “Coming into this race I was confident and I tell you what I still had a bit more in hand.” Barrack Street, who had moved up alonsides Mustaaqeen, was quickly disposed of as Murray punched is mount out hands and heels. Naafer tried to make a fist of it but once Murray drew his stick,

Mustaaqeem kicked again and won going away. Mike de Kock commented that it did not always work out when putting the best to the best but it certainly worked out yesterday. Champion Redoute’s Choice and National Colour was a great filly and was only touched off in the Nunthorpe. Hopefully he will go to stud in this country. We need this sort of blood but I won’t be surprised if I’m instructed to take him overseas.”

“I will put him away now. I don’t want to run the legs off him but the other one (Naafer) will probably go to Scottsville.”

Joey Soma has pulled of more than one surprise on a big day and it was the turn of Wind Chill to freeze out the opposition in the Gr2 Wilgerbosdrift Oaks. Orchid Island and Smiling Blue Eyes, winners of the first two legs of the Wilgerbosdrift Triple Tiara, were in warm order for the Oaks but neither got in a blow as Wind Chill moved smoothly through her field under Anton Marcus to win with the minimum of fuss and turning the tables on Oriental Oak who had beaten her two runs back.

Both fancied runners were towards the tail end of the field for much of the early exchanges but came up empty when asked the question.

A big raceday seldom passes without champion trainer Sean Tarry taking home a trophy and it was the Gr2 SA Fillies Nursery that got his day off to a cracking start as Green Plains stormed to victory to beat home Winter’s Forge with the hither to unbeaten Daring Diva in third. Approaching the 400 m mark, Fortune went for broke on pacemaker Daring Diva but Green Plains was always travelling ominously well while Winter’s Forge was making up ground quickly on the inside.

Daring Diva tried gamely to hold onto her lead but Green Plains soon had her measure. Winter’s Forge came through quickly on the inside of this pair and although making up ground on the winner she was unable to get to terms with Green Plains.

Andrew Harrison

Pictures: JC Photos
1- Deo Juvente (centre) holding off Legal Eagle (closest) and Nother Russia
2- Al Sahem
3- Mustaaqeem

A big purchase price does not automatically ensure performance on the racetrack but record yearling buy Horizon has been giving out all the right signals of late.

After a poor debut there were concerns in some quarters that he may be a ‘lemon’ but he has improved with age and distance and victory in the Gr3 Politician Stakes during the Cape summer will have added immediate paddock value should he make it that far.

A seemingly below par performance in the Investec Derby when starting favourite gave fuel to the neighsayers but that could all be water under the bridge come the Gr2 Daisy Guineas at Greyville tomorrow and the R5.2 million forked out at the sales will have been money well spent.

Candice Bass-Robinson had the colt nicely prepped for his Champions Season opener where he finished with a wet sail to beat favourite and Derby runner-up Zodiac Ruler over the Greyville 1400m. Given that performance and his effort in the Politician Stakes, tomorrow’s ‘mile’ trip will be more to his liking.

Sean Tarry has a wealth of talent in his yard and Africa Rising turned in a similarly impressive performance in the Gr3 Bayerly Turk over the same course and distance, coming from mid-field to snaffle Copper Force close home and win going away.

What made that victory all the more emphatic was that the colt raced in brushing boots that had not been removed at the start – one coming off in the running.

Copper Force has smart Cape form to his credit but was nailed late by Africa Rising and on that showing could play second fiddle again.

Zodiac Ruler, winner of the Gr2 Golden Horseshoe back in July last year, was gelded after a string of disappointing efforts, his second to Edict Of Nantes in the Gr1 Investec Derby the final straw. His second to Horizon was his first after gelding so there may still be more to come.

Of the balance, Janoobi pulled up sort in the Gr1 SA Classic, fading badly over the final 100m, this after a fighting performance in the Gr2 Gauteng Guineas.

A mile appears to be his optimum trip and his chances will be enhanced by a pole position draw, always a major advantage over the Greyville 1600m on the turf.

Duncan Howells has been in cracking form of late and he has set his sights on the Gr1 Daily News 2000 and the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July for the grey Secret Captain.

Given a lengthy break after a disappointing Highveld sojourn, the colt made an eye-catching debut in a competitive sprint last time out. He is highly rated by the stable and one can expect a forward showing in what is a competitive race.

The Gr2 Daisy Fillies Guineas is an equally difficult puzzle but Gimme Six, most impressive when winning her local debut, had many of this field behind her, including Final Judgement who started favourite on the day. On that showing she should have her measure again and also that of Sail and Dawn Calling, although the latter will much prefer this trip.

A possible dark horse is Philae out of the Andre Nel yard. She was deemed good enough to be sent to Turffontein for the G1 SA Fillies Classic but trips to the Highveld by Cape-based runners has always been tricky. She was in contention 400 m out but became the meat in the sandwich in some early scrimmaging and never recovered.

Of the balance Ektifaa should have found her last outing on the short side and will much prefer this trip. She comes from a powerful yard and it will be interesting to see how the Highveld form pans out here.

The Gr2 Independent On Saturday Dill Hall Stakes is the traditional pipe-opener for the July and as such is a tricky race with many warming up for bigger things during the season. Both Marinaresco and Captain America have not been out since the Met but are top class and effective over the trip. But they may just need it while New Predator is both course and distance suited and has been on the go since January. He should strip at the top of his game. Saratoga Dancer is versatile and ran an excellent sprint last time out. He can finish in the money at decent odds.

By Andrew Harrison