The Joshua Dancer mare She’s A Winner is turning out to be a promising broodmare and one of the deserved beneficiaries is her former trainer Corinne Bestel.

On Sunday She’s A Winner’s three-year-old daughter by Fort Wood, the Bestel-trained She’s A Fortress, surprised connections by handling the soft conditions and beating a decent field in a MR 76 handicap for fillies and mares over 1000m by a comfortable two lengths off a merit rating of 68. The 2,5kg claiming apprentice Eric Saziso Ngwane thus made it two wins from two rides for the Bestel yard. She’s A Fortress has now won two starts from five. Her gate speed and natural pace are her chief weapons and she led from start to finish on Sunday.

Meanwhile, in Johannesburg, She’s A Winner’s Leon Erasmus-trained colt by Var, He’s A Var, showed tremendous speed throughout when winning a Juvenile Plate over 1000m on debut by a cosy length, despite ducking out in the closing stages. His runner up Rivarine was touched off in the Listed Storm Bird Stakes next time out; the third-placed horse Janoobi won his maiden next time out by seven lengths; and the fourth-placed Ribovar also won his maiden next time out. The form thus points to He’s A Var being feature race material and this is not surprising considering his impressive looks.

She’s A Winner, under Bestel’s nurturing, won on debut over 1200m at Scottsville back in March 2008. Second time out she won the Gr 3 Godolphin Barb Stakes over the same course and distance, thrashing the boys including subsequent twice Gr 1-winner, the Mike de Kock-trained Forest Path. She then started favourite for the Gr 1 Allan Robertson, but nothing went right for her that day. Breathing issues subsequently plagued her and led to her premature retirement.

She’s A Winner is owned by stalwart Durban-based owner and breeder Eric Buhr.

She stands at the Clifton Stud farm of Peter and Jenny Blyth. Her progeny are also bred under the banner of this KZN Midlands stud farm.

Her first foal Star Silvano by Silvano fetched R225,000 at the National yearling Sales, but unfortunately an injury while in training prevented her from ever racing.

Star Silvano is currently in foal to Summerhill’s champion freshman sire Visionaire, a mating which should yield plenty of speed and class.

She’s A Fortress was next in line for She’s A Winner. The filly did not crack the nod for the National Yearling Sales, so Buhr decided to race her and sent her to Bestel, a yard he has had a long association with. One of Bestel’s most loyal patrons, Judy Paterson, also now has a share and as a person who loves her racing is sure to be bubbling with enthusiasm over this horse.

He’s A Var was next up and was sold at the KZN Suncoast Yearling Sales for R340,000 and is owned by Mrs A Snyman.

She’s A Winner currently has a yearling by Var which Buhr plans to keep for racing and breeding.

She also has a filly foal at foot by the Scott Brothers-based Gr 1 Middle Park Stakes-winning sir Crusade.

She’s A Winner is currently in foal to Rathmor Stud-based Noble Tune, whose pedigree just gets better and better due to the continuing success of his relatives in North America.

She’s A Winner’s curtailed racing career certainly caused immense disappointment for her connections, but she is beginning to repay a passionate group of racing owners who have stood by both her and her former trainer Corinne Bestel.

By David Thiselton

Former Triple Tiara victor Cherry On The Top, who was named two weekends ago by legendary trainer Ormond Ferraris as one of the two best horses he had ever trained, has a foal at foot by former national champion sire Silvano and is now in foal to reigning national champion sire Captain Al.

Jessica Slack of Mauritzfontein Stud recalled the joy this filly had brought to her late grandmother, Bridget Oppenheimer, “Grandma was crazy about Cherry On The Top. She also got on really well with Ormond Ferraris.”

Slack also spoke of the fairytale ending to the ownership and breeding career of her late grandfather Harry Oppenheimer and how history later repeated itself.

Harry was in his 90s when the Oppenheimer owned-and-bred Horse Chestnut landed the Triple Crown.

The champion was defeated only once in a ten race career, which included an eight length victory in the J&B Met and a 5,5 length victory in his only start in the USA.

He is now widely regarded as the greatest thoroughbred racehorse to have ever graced the South African turf, although there are a few who still regard Sea Cottage as at least his equal.

Harry died in the year 2000, the same year in which Horse Chestnut had his final start.

Bridget, who was fondly known as “The Queen Mum Of South African racing”, was also in her 90’s when Cherry On The Top landed the Triple Tiara. Few will forget the moment when Bridget, sitting in her wheel chair, instinctively raised her arms in triumph as the great filly accelerated into the lead in the SA Oaks. Jessica and Mauritzfontein stud manager Guy Murdoch were standing beside her and were equally excited.

Cherry On The Top was bred by Bridget’s daughter Mary Slack of Wilgerbosdrift Stud and was by the latter’s resident sire Tiger Ridge. To crown it all Wilgerbosdrift Stud sponsored the Triple Tiara series of races. Cherry On The Top landed a R1 million bonus for Bridget upon pulling off the Triple Tiara.

The South African public were saddened to hear of Bridget’s death in October of that year. Earlier she had accepted four awards at the Highveld Feature Season awards, including Champion Owner and the Champion Breeder Award for her Mauritzfontein Stud. Cherry On The Top was named Champion Three-year-old filly and Horse Of The Season. She was later named Equus Champion three-year-old filly.

Jessica Slack said of her respective grandparents’ fairytale last days of ownership, “It was as if they saved the best for last.”

Cherry On The Top has twice been sent down to the Cape Town region to be covered. However, she returns to foal down at the Kimberley-based Mauritzfontein Stud.

She is described as the friendliest of mares and a “farm favourite”.

Her first foal was a filly and has been named Blossom.

By David Thiselton

Sylvester The Cat showed himself to be a horse with Classic potential when turning in a smart performance at Scottsville on Sunday. The gelded son of Black Minnaloushe formed part of a Duncan Howells treble and the stable has seemingly turned the corner after a quiet spell that was attributed to a low grade virus.

Sylvester The Cat’s win came in a particularly strong Graduation Plate but it was not so much the victory as the manner in which it was achieved that had tongues wagging. Jumping from an outside gate stable jockey Muzi Yeni found himself in front and went on to make all. “He jumped well and when I looked around to see that I didn’t cut anyone off he went half a stride forward and thought he was back in a 1200. I got him to come back to me and he raced with his ears pricked.”

Commenting post-race Howells said his charge could have a bright future but needs to control his temperament. “He’s his own worst enemy. He’s a fighter. He will fight you with everything he’s got.”

Most impressive was the gelding’s turn of foot as Bulleting Home loomed up alongside with the line in his sights. But Sylvester The Cat quickly found another gear and sped clear to win as he liked. “He was not 100% fit but he still found more. He’s still got a lot to prove but I think he’s above average and we will go the Guineas, Daily News route if things pan out,” said Howells.

Ten Gun Salute is another promising three-year-old in the Howells yard and the Michael Roberts Handicap winner is likely to follow the same route as Sylvester The Cat after being given a short break. “He’s back in full work. I think we might go the same route as Sylvester but I’m still debating. I think Sylvester’s best distances are from a mile to 2000m but Ten Gun will stay further.” He shed his maiden over 2400m.

Also in contention for a high profile South African Champions Season is the filly Cosmic Light however, it has not all been plain sailing. “She’s doing well but I battled to get her back on song after her trip to Cape Town. I think the SA Fillies Sprint (City Of Pietermaritzburg Fillies Sprint) is the right race for her but I’m still no sure at this stage.”

Former Howells inmate Same Jurisdiction leaves the Kenilworth quarantine station for Mauritius on March 27. Howells has a watching brief but said although the filly had lightened up a little – “one can expect that” – things were going well.

However, there has been a forced change of plans. “She tested positive for pyro and will not be allowed to race in America so I think her connections will be looking to race in Hong Kong,” said Howells.

By Andrew Harrison

Vodacom Durban July and Rising Sun Gold Challenge winner Legislate heads Justin Snaith’s 20-plus Champions Season team which also includes Cape Derby winner It’s My Turn and talented three-year-olds Black Arthur and Bela-Bela.

Snaith said: “I have a very strong string for Durban and I am looking forward to it. However I will take very few two-year-olds, maybe only a couple for Durban-based owners. It’s not worth taking them because they end up with very high merit ratings.”

Joey Ramsden, on the other hand, expects to be well represented on the two-year-old front, saying: “I have a nice string of juveniles for Durban although I am a bit short of three-year-olds this time as we have moved some of them on.

“I will be taking 20 horses, among them a number who went to Jo’burg and missed the summer including last year’s KRA Guineas winner The Conglomerate who had a throat infection and has been cut, St Tropez and the Track And Ball Derby winner Disco Al who is still reasonably rated.”

By Michael Clower

Picture: Justin Snaith

In the late 1980s legendary trainer Ormond Ferraris put his faith in a young apprentice named Weichong Marwing and the partnership developed into one of the finest combinations in the modern era of South African racing.

Marwing, who later became a worldwide name through his association with Mike de Kock and as a leading rider in Hong Kong, last week paid tribute to Ferraris in keeping with the latter achieving his 2500th career winner.

Back in the 1980s horseracing was one of the biggest industries in the country and crowds flocked to the racecourse.

On one particular Saturday, October 7 1989, young Marwing woke up with his name in the headlines and facing enormous pressure. He had ridden a five-timer at Newmarket the previous Tuesday, the last three of them for Ferraris, and was now confidently expected to bring home three favourites at the “Big T”.

Marwing well and truly arrived as a big name rider later that day when he brought all three of them home in the manner of a consummate professional, one of them for De Kock and two for Ferraris. The massive Turffontein crowd roared their approval in an era when jockeys and trainers were celebrities.

Apprentice Marwing took it to another level just a week later when winning the Gr 1 Ok Gold Bowl aboard the Ferraris-trained USA import Vigliotto for prolific owner Hilda Podlas.

Vigliotto beat three Gold Cup winners that day, Aquanaut, Castle Walk and Tropicante, as well as the Gr 1 Administrator’s winner Evening Mist.

Thinking back to those heady days, it came as no surprise when the Ferraris-Marwing partnership was renewed upon the latter’s return from Hong Kong a couple of years ago.

Marwing, speaking last week, counted himself as fortunate to have spent the last three months of his apprenticeship with Ferraris.

Upon attaining his jockey’s license the partnership continued unabated, yielding many big race winners.

Marwing confirmed Ferraris to be an extremely loyal man and added, “He is a very nice man to work for, you become more like friends than the normal trainer-jockey relationship. He is a true professional and sticks to one stable jockey who can expect to ride everything. As everybody knows, he is straight, and has never changed, there is only one way with him and that’s the right way, there is no bending of the rules.”

On the latter point Ferraris named his proudest achievement, upon being represented with a commemorative award two Saturdays ago, to be his 100% clean record.

Marwing continued, “It is a pity a lot of his big owners like Paddy and Moira Hinton have moved on and he also trained a lot of winners for the late Graham Beck. But 2500 winners is a remarkable achievement considering he has never had more than 60 horses in his string. The big trainers these days have at least 120 in their yards, so he did exceptionally well and was blessed to have had some top horses.”

Ferraris named the two best of these to be the four-times Gr 1-winning sprinting champion Tracy’s Element and the Triple Tiara winning-champion Cherry On The Top.

Marwing rode the Australian-bred Tracy’s Element to victory in three of her Gr 1s. He said, “She was top class and quite straight forward to ride, she had a lot of speed and then gave a kick. It was the early days of South Africans buying in Australia and the particular batch which came over with Tracy’s Element were outstanding.”

Paddy Hinton, an envelope magnate, allowed all of his fillies to race in the colours of his wife Moira, while the colts raced in his own colours.

Hinton sold Tracy’s Element back to Australia upon her retirement and she went on to produce dual Gr 1 winning filly Typhoon Tracy and two other black type horses, all three of them being by Red Ransom.

Veteran racing journalist Dave Mollet has noted Marwing is these days virtually the assistant trainer to Ferraris.

Marwing’s wife Anneli and son Wesley are now also involved in the yard as owner and budding jockey respectively. There was a special moment for the stable on Sansui Summer Cup day 2014 when Weichong rode Anneli’s filly Lazer Star to victory in the Gr 3 Magnolia Handicap. Since then he has won a Listed race and a Gr 2 aboard this classy Ferraris-conditioned filly.

Ferraris has an apparent aversion to the press, but Marwing said this is a misinterpretation. The great trainer in actual fact simply has an aversion to being misquoted. Marwing said, “He is from the old school and if he says ‘apples’ he expects it to be quoted exactly as he said it.”

Ferraris’ loyalty, as displayed through the Marwing family association, has been repaid to him. A good example is Peter Dimakogiannis, who has had horses with the yard since the early 1970s.

Therefore it was fitting Dimakogiannis’ promising colt Romany Prince scored the magic 2500th winner for Ferraris and even better that it happened in a feature race at Turffontein, the Listed Drum Star Handicap ( on March 12). The only pity was Marwing not being aboard as he is still recuperating from a back injury.

Wesley is also on the sidelines with a compressed fracture.

Weichong expects to start riding at the beginning of next month. He said both he and Wesley were as eager as each other to be back riding winners for the man who is affectionately known in the industry as “Uncle Ormie” and whose zest after 63 years of training remains undimmed.

By David Thiselton