A handsome son of AP Indy out of Pas De Reponse by Danzig, AP Answer sadly died at Clifton Stud after a severe colic attack. A hard decision was made to put the horse down due to his suffering.

A stallion with an unusal facial marking of a blaze that started halfway down his nose, his 16hh size was misleading. He was a compact stallion with mighty hindquarters which he passed onto his progeny.

AP Answer was a dream come true for Peter Blyth when the advert for his prospective sale arrived in Peter’s inbox – the stallion was a combination of all of his favourite stallions that he had seen overseas on a trip to Kentucky in America, which included the supreme greats AP Indy, Seattle Slew, Danzig, Mr Prospector and Storm Bird – the latter is in the female line of AP Answer through his fourth dam South Ocean.

Blyth has always held Danzig in very high regard and had plenty of success with Allied Flag at stud, a son of Danzig that produced Vodacom Durban July winner Classic Flag for Clifton Stud.

AP Answer produced the likes of Gr1 and Gr3 placed Beckedorf and was crowned Zimbabwe’s Champion Stallion for the season 2015/2016 with Clifton Stud as Zimbabwe’s Champion Breeder.)

His daughters and full sisters Print The Pounds and Duffi’s Call flew the flag high north of the South African border, whilst his South African horses to impress include Stakes Placed By Jove and Cutting Edge who took home the winnings from the KZN Yearling Sale Million.

– KZN Breeders

Candice Bass-Robinson has split with her retained stable jockey Grant van Niekerk who is to ride freelance from now on.

Van Niekerk would not comment when contacted yesterday but the Milnerton trainer said: “We have decided that we are going to go our separate ways. Grant is going to go freelance and we will also freelance [as regards jockeys] for a while.

“There are no hard feelings or anything like that. It’s just that we decided that this might be best, and we will see how we go from here.”

Mike Bass caused some surprise when he picked Van Niekerk to be his number one two and a half years ago. Just turned 23, the rider was young and comparatively inexperienced compared with the likes of Karl Neisius and Bernard Fayd’Herbe whose boots he was being asked to fill.

But he slipped into the job as if it had been made for him, promptly put himself into the 100-plus winner-a-season bracket and won both the 2015 Paddock and Majorca for the stable on Inara.

Last season was even better. He won three more at the very top level on Inara as well as the Champions Cup on Marinaresco after so nearly snatching the Vodacom Durban July on the three-year-old.

The stable seemed to take a little while to hit top form this season – Mrs Robinson’s first at the helm – but the horses were really motoring by Sun Met day. Marinaresco might have failed to produce his very best in the big one but Nightingale gave her trainer her first Grade 1 in the Klawervlei Majorca.

True, the stable jockey went for the wrong one –Silver Mountain was only fifth – but the pair shared in a lucrative CTS $500 000 with Live Life.

Aldo Domeyer has long been a key player in the Bass Racing riding arrangements but he has commitments to Sabine Plattner and Andre Nel that seem to take priority.  Certainly Mrs Robinson’s phone looks like being hot with jockeys suddenly wanting to ride work!

Van Niekerk’s decision to let three interference suspensions roll over until later this month looked a sensible course of action at the time. Now he is probably wishing to be in the public eye – or at least trainers’ eyes – without that interruption. But he has already shown that he is too good a jockey for this to be much more than a temporary setback.

By Michael Clower

There are chances of good runs from several of Mike de Kock’s Blue Stable representatives at this weekend’s two meetings at Meydan – eight go to post on Thursday evening, five on Saturday afternoon.

Daqeeq (Race 2, Meydan Classic Trail on Turf over 1400m, Jim Crowley) is one of the most interesting runners. Sheikh Hamdan’s Australian-bred by former Dubai World Cup winner Medaglia D’Oro won his 1200m debut on turf in May 2016 in the fashion of a decent horse and has been brought to the desert with sand racing as his ultimate objective.

De Kock commented: “Daqeeq is a nice horse, he has a US sand pedigree so we’re expecting him to do well in Dubai, but of course he’s had to do some travelling to get here. The competition is strong, so we’re starting him off in this turf race to see how he goes, to get some confidence. After this, we’ll look at the Listed Al Bastikiya over 1800m on sand. Megnaas (Christophe Soumillon) ran a poor race first time out on sand, but we’ve drawn a line through that. We’re switching him to turf and a much better run is likely.”

Mastermind (Bernard Fayd’Herbe), is one of the joint highest-rated runners in Race 4 over 1200m on turf. He has fair form over the course and distance and is well exposed, and De Kock said: “Mastermind’s 105 rating is a bit high, that will need to drop before he’ll be fully competitive again, he has a place chance.

Another Australian-bred, former South African racer with excellent form is three-year-old Fursa (Soumillon), who will have her first run on sand on her Dubai debut, The UAE 1000 Guineas over 1600m on dirt. “Fursa is smart, we know that, but one can never be certain on this surface. They either deal with the sand here, or they hate it.  Fursa is by Hard Spun, who is a predominant stallion on dirt, but there are no guarantees. Godolphin have a smart filly in the race, it looks a tough first call for our filly after her travels,” De Kock said.

Nine-year-old Anaerobio is still doing fine in his work and he has a chance to earn another stake for the stable in the Range Rover Handicap over 1400m on turf.  Pat Cosgrave gets the ride. The stable choice of three in the race is Tahanee, who was fancied to go close to winning both her Meydan runs to date and will go to the start well fancied, again. “She is extremely well and we’re hoping for a big run,” De Kock said.  Johan Strauss, the problematic six-year-old entire, is expected to be in need of his first outing in almost a year. He’s talented, but will improve for the run.

Mike feels that Whistle Stop (Jim Crowley) is a horse that can yet win a race in the desert, despite having been a hard one to train. He’s having another run in Race 7, a handicap over 1800m on turf, and De Kock said: “If we can get him Whistle Stop to relax and race handier, he can definitely finish in the money. We’re going to use pacifiers to this end and I’m expecting him to be thereabouts.”

COMMENTS FOR MEYDAN, SATURDAY 11 FEBRUARY:

Race 3: Gr3 Firebreak Stakes, 1600m on dirt
Lindo Amor (Soumillon)
“Having drawn at Number 1 is a huge plus for us. Lindo Amor very much likes being drawn near the rail as opposed to away from it, we’ve seen it on the work track too when he runs with others. A tough field here, but he should run a good race.”

Race 4: Handicap over 1200m on turf
Dream Dubai (Cosgrave)
“This little horse is coming along steadily, he has improved and can run into the money somewhere.”

Race 6: Zabeel Feedmill over 1600m on turf
Suyoof (Crowley) and Muwaary (Antonio Fresu)
“Suyoof is the more talented of the pair, but Muwaary is fitter and coming to hand. I think both will run well, Jim Crowley picked Suyoof, he has been showing some good work after his travels.

Race 7: The Meydan Hotel over 2435m on turf
Saltarin Dubai (Soumillon)
“Saltarin Dubai has been our most disappointing runner this year, he doesn’t reproduce his work. We’ve tried just about everything, now we’re going over ground with him and we’re hoping for better.”

Mikedekockracing.com

Arrogate, officially recognised as the world’s best racehorse of 2016, has been nominated for the Saturday March 25 Dubai World Cup, along with a host of other global stars of racing.

The Bob Baffert-trained four-year-old, who was the runaway winner of the Pegasus World Cup, produced his star performance to date when beating the 2016 Dubai World Cup winner, California Chrome in the Breeders’ Cup Classic last year. Arrogate was crowned Longines World’s Best Racehorse at a ceremony in London.

Also nominated to the Group 1 $10m Dubai World Cup sponsored by Emirates Airline at the free nominations stage, is the Art Sherman-trained Dortmund, winner of the 2015 Santa Anita Derby when trained by previous handler, Baffert.

Hoppertunity, the third-placed runner in the 2016 Dubai World Cup field and winner of the Group 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes at Belmont in the US in October 2016 has also been nominated by Baffert.

Baffert will be bidding for a third Dubai World Cup having tasted victory in 1998 with Silver Charm and 2001 with Captain Steve, whose distinctive orange and yellow colours are also carried by Hoppertunity.

Songbird, the mighty US filly trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, also carries a nomination to the Dubai World Cup. A seven-time Grade 1 winner and unbeaten in 11 starts she was heartbreakingly pipped by a nose into second by Beholder in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in November.

The 2016 Dubai World Cup runner-up, Mubtaahij, now back in the care of South African trainer, Mike de Kock has been nominated once again for the big race. The highly consistent 2015 UAE Derby winner returned to the US for a repeat campaign during the summer, claiming second by a head in the Group 1 Woodward Stakes to Shaman Ghost.

Attempting to achieve a feat that Mubtaahij could not in 2016 is the Mikio Matsunaga-trained Lani, last year’s UAE Derby winner, who, if successful in the Dubai World Cup, will become the first horse to win the UAE Derby and Dubai World Cup in consecutive years.

Four previous de Kock-trained UAE Derby winners have returned the following year for the Dubai World Cup but none have been successful; Victory Moon (3rd in 2004), Asiatic Boy (2nd in 2008), Musir (7th in 2011) and Mubtaahij (2nd in 2016).

Nominated to the Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World field is the Mark Casse-trained race mare, Tepin. The US-based six-time Group/Grade 1 winner traveled to Royal Ascot in the summer to land the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes. She is being campaigned for the $6m Dubai Turf and will return to action in the Grade 3 Endeavor Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs in February.

Postponed, the Roger Varian-trained winner of the 2016 Dubai Sheema Classic has been nominated for a defense of his title.

Aidan O’Brien’s all-conquering Ballydoyle has nominated a strong team including Group 1-winning filly, Seventh Heaven for the Dubai Sheema Classic. The globetrotting Highland Reel, winner of the Breeders Cup Turf and runner-up in the Hong Kong Vase in November and December respectively, holds a nomination for both the Longines Dubai Sheema Classic and the Dubai World Cup.

In the sprinting divisions Limato, the Henry Candy trained Group 1 star, Hong Kong’s perennial flag bearer, Peniaphobia and compatriot, Lucky Bubbles have been nominated for the Al Quoz Sprint, which is now held at 1200m. Australian speedballs, Darley Classic victor, Malaguerra and Signs of Blessing, winner of the Group 1 Prix Maurice du Gheest trained by Phil Damato also hold nominations.

The 1200m dirt sprint, the Dubai Golden Shaheen sponsored by Gulf News has seen the Chad Summers-trained Mind Your Biscuits, winner of the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes and Baffert’s Defrong the unbeaten 2016 Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner from the USA nominated to its ranks. Also in the running are Japanese runner, Nero and Hong Kong based, Dundonnell trained by Caspar Fownes.

Dubai Racing Club received 1,549 nominations for 779 horses from 22 countries for the 2017 Dubai World Cup day. The 2016 renewal of the event received 1,572 nominations from 709 horses from 20 countries at the same stage.

The first supplementary stage for all races on Dubai World Cup day will close on Wednesday February 8, 2017 when connections can nominate their horse for 0.1 per cent of the prize money of their chosen race.

The second supplement is on Monday March 6, 2017 and horses can be supplemented for 1.0 per cent of the prize money. Declarations and the final, third supplementary stage for Dubai World Cup day 2017 take place on Monday March 20, 2017, five days before the event is staged at Meydan Racecourse. At this point horses can be supplemented into the race for 10 per cent of the prize money.

Malih Al Basti, Meydan Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Meydan Racing Committee said: “With 22 countries represented among the 2017 Dubai World Cup nominations we once again look forward to hosting a truly global day of racing on Saturday March 25.

“The Dubai World Cup is not only the world’s richest day of racing but also a day when racing communities from all corners of the globe come together before the eyes of the world on Meydan Racecourse’s purpose-built stage in the spirit of competition.

“We are gratified that our support for international racing in the form of subsidies and prize money continues to attract such a strong response from the world’s biggest names.

“Yet we are just as pleased to welcome to the Dubai World Cup the relative newcomers to the world stage from countries such as South Korea. Our wish, and that of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, when he founded the Dubai World Cup in 1996 was to create a truly global event and it is rewarding to see that vision fulfilled year after year.”

2017 Dubai World Cup Nominations by Numbers:
Total Horses: 779
Total Nominations: 1549
$10m Dubai World Cup, Group 1 2000m (dirt): 168
$6m Dubai Sheema Classic, Group 1, 2410m (turf): 181
$6m Dubai Turf, Group 1 1800m (turf): 248
$2m Dubai Golden Shaheen Group 1 1200m (dirt): 167
$1m Al Quoz Sprint, Group 1, 1200m (turf): 192
$2m UAE Derby, Group 2, 1900m (dirt): 155
$1m Dubai Gold Cup, Group 2, 3200m (turf): 115
$1m Godolphin Mile, Group 2, 1600m (dirt): 264
$1m Dubai Kahayla Classic, Group 1 (PA) 2000m (dirt): 59

www.emiratesracing.com

 

A virus is unlikely the cause of Playboy Buddy’s modest effort in the Flamboyant Stakes on New Year’s Day, but rather some strong opposition over a distance short of her best. The race won by visiting Fort Ember contained some smart fillies in the line-up including Lala and Impala Lily who finished first and runner-up respectively at Scottsville on Sunday.

The Dean Kannemeyer-trained Playboy Buddy takes a substantial drop in class at Greyville this afternoon and although she takes a corresponding rise in the weights she looks good enough to land the Interbet FM 82 Handicap over 1900m.

Playboy Buddy’s form before the Flamboyant was impeccable having finished second to the more than useful Lala and going one better to beat Princess Varunya. All of her best recent form has been on the poly track and back on her favoured surface from an inside gate makes her the one to beat.

Johan Janse van Vuuren acquired a taste for KZN racing with a string based at Ashburton for Champions Season and has raided successfully since. He saddles Readyforyourlove who makes her poly debut and who looks to be the main threat to Playboy Buddy’s chances.

The imported daughter of Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown has something of a dirt pedigree and the switch to the poly track could bring out the best in her. She has not been finishing off her races, leading for much of the way before being caught over the final furlong. With only 53,5kg to shoulder, in receipt of 8kg from Playboy Buddy, she could make all the running.

The light weight, Iced Up and Waity Katie look pick of the balance but Playboy Buddy may just have enough in hand to chase down Readyforyourlove but it is likely to be a close-run thing.

Wild Wicket didn’t make it to start when fancied to win on his handicap debut after knocking himself on the way to the start and being withdrawn by the vet. He lines up again in the Lightning Shot Bar Handicap and Duncan Howells will be hoping that the gelding continues on his winning ways.

Much was expected of Wild Wicket in his first three starts but after letting the side down for the third time it was a case of “three strikes and they’re out” and his last run was as a gelding. The transformation was instant and Wild Wicket doddled home to his maiden win – closely tracking the early pace and quickening away to win as he liked.

The handicappers were also impressed by his performance and his rating rocketed from a 71 to 84.

He takes on some seasoned campaigners this afternoon but shows plenty of scope.

Ahead of Wild Wicket in the maiden won by Mr O’Neill – who incidentally has also made major improvement since gelding – was Black Forest who finished second. Frank Robinson’s horses looked a picture of health at Scottsville on Sunday where he was rewarded by Bank The Cash and strictly on that form he looks a threat to Wild Wicket.

However, he took a further two runs to shed his maiden and the form of those races is not strong. However, Black Forest has not been out since his maiden win in November last year and is likely to have strengthened up in the interim.

Janse van Vuuren sends out the lightly raced Nala in the Durban View Restaurant FM 76 Handicap where the daughter of Trippi will be out to keep a clean sheet on the poly. The four-year-old obviously has problems having only raced three times with months off between outings. However, both her wins have come on the synthetic surface and given her record Janse van Vuuren is likely to have her fully prepped for this race even though her last outing was in August last year.

Others returning from lengthy breaks are Sister Cosmos and Vine Street Star, both of whom look capable and worth following in the market.

By Andrew Harrison