LAFFERTY RATES LOVE STRUCK FIT, FIT, FIT

Click above to watch the official preview of the 2012 Cape Premier Yearling Sales Guineas (Gr1)
(Image and Footage : Andrew Bon)

CAPE PREMIER YEARLING SALES GUINEAS (Grade 1)
Kenilworth, Turf, 1600m
22 December 2012

David Thiselton
Gold CircleThe Paul Lafferty-trained Grade 1 Cape Premier Yearling Sales Guineas contender Love Struck travelled down to Cape Town a day or two after winning the Listed Guineas Trial at Clairwood over 1600m on November 18 and has been staying at Shane Humby’s Milnerton yard.

Lafferty commented, “He galloped very well at Kenilworth last Wednesday with his Guineas rider Karis Teetan aboard. He is fit, fit, fit. He won his last two races, both from pole position, so it could be a bit of an omen that he is drawn in pole again, although this is obviously a tougher field.”

Alesh Naidoo, one of his owners, drew the magical number one berth when there was apparently only that one together with barriers eight and twelve remaining in the draw.

The rangy Summerhill-bred gelding finished third in the Grade 1 Premier’s Champion Stakes over 1600m at Greyville, also from pole position, in his last start as a two-year-old and will have to find three lengths on The Hangman from that race. However, The Hangman will have to deal with a tricky draw of six in the twelve horse field.

Love Struck has impressed in his last two starts, winning a Graduation Plate over 1400m at Scottsville by 6,25 lengths before giving the field 2kg and a 1,75 length beating in the Guineas Trial. On a line through Guineas Trial third-placed Wild One, he has a chance. He gave Wild One 2kg and a 4,75 length beating, while The Hangman only beat Wild One by five lengths in the level weights Dingaans despite the latter’s jockey carrying about 1kg overweight. However, it has to be said that Wild One was still very green in the Guineas Trial.

EDDINGTON caps memorable Gomma Gomma for Piere Strydom

Eddington (freeracer)Eddington was runner-up to Lion’s Blood (SAf) in the G2 Dingaans here at Turffontein November 24 before winning the Listed Sea Cottage Stakes back at this track January 6. Seventh in the March 1 G2 Gauteng Guineas on his third visit, he returned for a fourth time to run third behind Kings Gambit (SAf) in the April 5 G1 SA Classic and earned his own stripes in the absence of that rival here. Breaking well and taking up the early advantage, the bay capped a memorable day for Piere Strydom by making every yard of the running and registering an ultimately comfortable score.

Saturday, Turffontein, South Africa
GOMMAGOMMA CHALLENGE-G1 , R3,500,000, Turffontein, 5-3, 3yo/up, 1 1/4mT, 2:08.35, gd/sf. 1—EDDINGTON (SAF), 117, g, 3, by Model Man (SAf)  
    1st Dam: Sit Alkul, by Mr. Prospector
    2nd Dam: Lypatia (Fr), by Lyphard
    3rd Dam: Hypatia (GB), by High Hat (GB)
O-G L O’Brien, A R Burke & W Oakley; B-D Cohen & Sons (Pty) Ltd; T-Dominic Zaki; J Piere Strydom; R2,187,500. Lifetime Record: 9 starts, 5 wins, 3 places.
2—She’s On Fire (SAf), 119, m, 5, Jet Master (SAf)— Cream of the Crop (SAf), by Concertino (Fr). O-Team Valor (Nom: B Irwin); B-Scott Bros; T-OrmondFerraris.
3—Catmandu (SAf), 117, g, 4, Makaarem—Gypsey Spirit (SAf), by Coastal. O-Hendrik L van der Westhuizen; B-Summerhill Stud (Pty) Ltd; T-Andre Kirsten.

Click for the Eddington eNicks report and 5-cross pedigree.

Extract from Thoroughbred Daily News 

Second international sponsor for Goldcircle

Following the Dubai Racing Club’s sponsorship of All Stars Day, Goldcircle has also announced that The Falcon Sprint and Goldfields Sprint for three-year-old males and females respectively will each carry added stakes of R60 000 and be run over 1160m at Turffontein on Saturday 30 September in order to utilise a race sponsorship offered by the USA-based Keeneland Association.

The Keeneland Association will hold a seminar at Turffontein Racecourse on Friday 29 September and has also generously offered a $20 000 grant to be utilised for boosting the prize money of suitable races at the race meeting at Turffontein the next day.

In order to take advantage of the grant, both the Falcon and Goldfields sprints have been moved from 10 October as originally programmed and will be run on Saturday 30 September instead.

The Keeneland Association Falcon Sprint and the Keeneland Association Goldfields Sprint will each carry prize money of R185 000 and nominations for both races will close at 9am on Friday 22 September. Final acceptances will fall due at 10am on Tuesday 26 September.

Two of the minor races originally programmed for the Turffontein meeting on Saturday 30 September – the MR66 Handicap over 1000m (event 5 in the trainers’ brochure) and a Maiden Plate over 1160m (event 9 in the trainers’ brochure) – will now be run on 10 October in order to accommodate the two feature races.

The Falcon and Goldfields are the first feature events for three-year-olds of the season in Johannesburg and provide part of the build-up to the Grade 2 Dingaans and the Steinhoff Fillies Mile at the Steinhoff Summer Cup race meeting on the last Saturday in November.

Keeneland is a combination of a racecourse and a sales company near Lexington in the heart of the famous Kentucky bluegrass region. Keeneland strives to maintain horseracing’s finest traditions and promotes the industry through sales, live racing and simulcast racing. It’s Keeneland Association Contributions Programme has a special interest in projects related to thoroughbred breeding and racing.

“Phumelela is delighted to be hosting the Keeneland Association seminar at Turffontein,” said Robert Garner, general manager marketing and communications at Phumelela. “Keeneland is planning on bringing a team of seven to South Africa, including a breeder, an equine surgeon and an equine internship co-ordinator. The seminar will be aimed at owners, breeders, trainers, racing operators and horseracing writers.”