The Gr 2 Betting World 1900 to be run at Greyville this Friday night has attracted a full field of 16 plus one reserve, but they hail from only seven stables, which is perhaps a reflection of the country’s decreasing ownership base.

However, well known Maine Chance Farms racing manager Justin Vermaak is working wonders in ensuring a healthy future for the Sport Of Kings.

In the same way the Western Province Regional Racing Association have recognised Vermaak’s  importance by making him a board member, KZN racing could perhaps include 3A Racing’s Wesley Bowman in the decision making process in recognition of his efforts to bring young blood to the sport.

Bowman and his friends have done a lot for the game already and have always been keen to extend their influence.

Vermaak’s Greenstreet Bloodstock, whose aim is to bring young owners to the game, has about 38 syndicated horses in training in the space of just two years.

His negotiation skills have already seen positive changes made to red tape which pertained to a different era, so syndicate members can now have their names on the race card as nominees without having to spend yet more money on colours.

He has also built potentially budget-breaking veterinarian bills into the training fees as a fixed amount per month.

By David Thiselton

The Craig Eudey-trained six-year-old Var gelding Sabadell is an intriguing runner in tomorrow’s highest rated race, a MR 99 handicap over 1200m on the polytrack.

The race is intended to be his final preparation race with an aim of getting him into the Gr 3 Cup Trial.

He is better over further but did win three times from 1200-1400m as a young horse so does have some speed.

The most significant point is his four point drop down to a 99 merit rating, so he won’t have to give lumps of weight away like he did last time.

It is also the big horse’s third run after a long layoff of a year and he has been putting up “exceptional” work on the polytrack at Summerveld.

“He should get much closer this time,” said the yard.

Brandon Lerena rides from a plum draw of two.

The yard also expect a much better run from Academy Princess provided, unlike last time, she is ridden to instruction and dropped out. She will be an interesting runner, provided she can find cover early from a tricky draw of nine, as she has been dropped another 6 points down the merit ratings and over this, her probable best trip of 1400m, she is capable of producing a strong finish. Warren Kennedy rides.

By David Thiselton

The first race meeting on the new Vaal turf track will be held on Thursday (May 19) and trials on the new surface suggest that the track is going to be a winner.

The new track will be known as the Vaal Classic track and replaces the sand track. Work began last November and everything has gone according to plan. Trials were held on the new surface and senior jockey Sherman Brown is among those impressed with the track: “The track was very nice, very even all over the place. I sat behind a horse and didn’t get much kick back, pulled out to the middle of the course and the horse really enjoyed the going.”

The configuration of the new track is identical to the previous sand track. It’s a right-handed course with a 2800m circumference and a 1000m straight course. Races over 1000m are up the straight with 1200m races starting in the middle of the bend and 1450m races at the entrance of the bend.

Phumelela Horseracing Executive Clyde Basel said: “Not many turf tracks in SA have a 1000m run-in, giving every runner ample opportunity to get into a winning position. Many thanks to the track management team for working long hours to get the Classic track ready. We plan to stage about 20 racemeetings from now to the end of the year on the new track.”

   –   TABnews

Picture: Supplied

National Champion jockey elect S’Manga Khumalo reached the 200-winner mark for the first time in his career when winning the World Sports Betting (WSB) Poly Challenge 1600 aboard the Justin Snaith-trained Jet Explorer at Fairview on Friday.

Khumalo has established himself as National Champion trainer Sean Tarry’s chief jockey this season.

Tarry believes it is simply an increase in confidence which has enabled Khumalo to take it to a new level.
He emphasised how important it was to his team effort to have Khumalo riding confidently.

He added, “It was great to see him get the double century. Every bit helps his confidence and confidence enables him to ride to his best.”

Khumalo’s Vodacom Durban July victory on the Tarry-trained Heavy Metal in 2013 elevated his self belief on to the same plain as his ability, which has always been there in abundance.

He duly won the national jockeys championship the following season.

He was unable to retain his title last season, but did help Tarry win his first National Trainer’s title.

Khumalo has proved himself to be as hungry as ever this season and his professionalism is proven in that he is in regular contact with his new “mentor”, ex-jockey great Felix Coetzee.

Coetzee has always been the ultimate professional and, as one whose success came as much through hard work as natural talent, he was always destined to be a good “coach”.

Khumalo is not the only one who is benefitting as Coetzee is playing an important role in the nurturing of one of the most exciting female riding talents in the world, Hong Kong apprentice Kei Chiong.  Chiong has surpassed expectations by riding 23 winners in Hong Kong so far this season, which puts her in 10th place on the world’s most competitive jockey’s log.

Coetzee is contracted to the Hong Kong Apprentice Jockeys School as a consultant and flies out their every six weeks.

However, he mentors Chiong over the phone at least four times a week. This is on top of the tutelage she receives from the Hong Kong Academy’s chief riding master, ex-patriot South African Craig Benton.

Tarry is dominating this year’s championship and looking at the strength of his two-year-old crop he looks set to become as entrenched in the number one spot as Mike de Kock once was.

Therefore, Khumalo will be difficult to dethrone if he remains in favour with Tarry.

Therein lies the Importance of Coetzee’s role, a background figure who knows all about the pressure of being at the top and who can nip any niggling loss of confidence in the bud.

Coetzee’s role could be likened to the benefit of a swing analyst to a professional golfer.

On Friday Khumalo proved how good his judgement of pace has become.

He was in third place in the running, but swung his mount out and went for home early, having recognised the moderate pace of the race.

It was a party spoiling win as Port Elizabethans had been hoping to embrace a “triple crown” winner of their own.

The five-year-old Jacque Strydom-trained Go Deputy gelding Gogetthesheriff needed to win the race to land a R250,000 bonus from WSB for his owner Freddie Van Onselen, as he had been victorious in the first two legs of the Challenge over 1200m and 1400m respectively.

Unfortunately, he was strong in the early running behind the slow pace.

He still managed to run on bravely under JP van der Merwe to finish a half-a-length third.

Van Onselen did land a R50,000 consolation bonus, but was clearly devastated by the loss. However, he gathered himself to take the mic and thank all the fans of “The Sheriff” who had come to the course to support him.

“He was beaten by the better horse but it won’t be the end of the Sheriff,” he concluded.

Khumalo is unbeaten in two rides aboard Jet Explorer. First time up in February he had extracted the first win out of the courageous seven-year-old Jet Master gelding since the shocking fall in the Gr 1 Rising Gold Challenge two years ago which had left the horse requiring life-saving surgery to repair a shattered jaw.

Khumalo is 26 clear of second-placed Anthony Delpech on the national log and can probably afford this seven day suspension he is currently under.

By David Thiselton

Apprentice Lyle Hewitson proved yesterday he can mix it with the best even on a level playing field when winning the Gr 3 World Sports Betting East Cape Derby over 2400m at Fairview aboard the Justin Snaith-trained Captain Al gelding Captain Splendid.

Hewitson dropped his mount out to last from a wide draw and had him perfectly relaxed behind a decent pace.

The Fred Crabbia-owned horse made steady progress up the inside rail to catch the favourite Welsh Emperor and win comfortably in the end.

Hewitson has been making record-breaking progress in the apprentice ranks.

However, this was an especially significant victory as he was not allowed to claim his usual 2,5kg.

It was Hewitson’s first Graded race success.

By David Thiselton

Picture: Lyle Hewitson (Nkosi Hlophe)